bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Gene co-expression networks in whole blood implicate multiple interrelated molecular pathways in obese asthma
Authors: Croteau-Chonka Damien C. , Chen Zhanghua , Barnes Kathleen C. , Barraza-Villarreal Albino , Celedón Juan C. , James Gauderman W. , Gilliland Frank D. , Krishnan Jerry A. , Liu Andrew H. , London Stephanie J. , Martinez Fernando D. , Millstein Joshua , Naureckas Edward T. , Nicolae Dan L. , White Steven R. , Ober Carole , Weiss Scott T. , Raby Benjamin A.
Published: August 2017

Background

Asthmatic children who develop obesity have poorer outcomes compared to those that do not, including poorer control, more severe symptoms, and greater resistance to standard treatment. Gene expression networks are powerful statistical tools for characterizing the underpinnings of human disease that leverage the putative co-regulatory relationships of genes to infer biological pathways altered in disease states.

Objective

The aim of this study was to characterize the biology of childhood asthma complicated by adult obesity.

Methods

We performed weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) of gene expression data in whole blood from 514 adult subjects from the Childhood Asthma Management Program (CAMP). We then performed module preservation and association replication analyses in 418 subjects from two independent asthma cohorts (one pediatric and one adult).

Results

We identified a multivariate model in which four gene co-expression network modules were associated with incident obesity in CAMP (eachP< 0.05). The module memberships were enriched for genes in pathways related to platelets, integrins, extracellular matrix, smooth muscle, NF-κB signaling, and Hedgehog signaling. The network structures of each of the four obese asthma modules were significantly preserved in both replication cohorts (permutationP= 9.999E-05). The corresponding module gene sets were significantly enriched for differential expression in obese subjects in both replication cohorts (eachP< 0.05).

Conclusions

Our gene co-expression network profiles thus implicate multiple interrelated pathways in the biology of an important endotype of obese asthma.

Key Messages

We hypothesized that individuals with asthma complicated by obesity had distinct blood gene expression signatures.

Gene co-expression network analysis implicated several inflammatory biological pathways in one form of obese asthma.

Capsule Summary

This work addresses a knowledge gap about the molecular relationship between asthma and obesity, suggesting that an endotype of obese asthma, known as asthma complicated by obesity, is underpinned by coherent biological mechanisms.

Abbreviations

CAMP

Childhood Asthma Management Program

WGCNA

weighted gene co-expression network analysis

Asthma BRIDGE

Asthma BioRepository for Integrative Genomic Exploration

GACRS

Genetics of Asthma in Costa Rica Study

CHS

Southern California Children’s Health Study

BMI

body mass index

BIC

Bayes Information Criterion

HUGO

Human Genome Organisation

PC

principal component

GSEA

gene set enrichment analysis

IL-1

interleukin-1

Hh signaling

Hedgehog signaling
Deep grey matter volume loss drives disability worsening in multiple sclerosis
Authors: Eshaghi Arman , Prados Ferran , Brownlee Wallace , Altmann Daniel R. , Tur Carmen , Jorge Cardoso M. , De Angelis Floriana , van de Pavert Steven H. , Cawley Niamh , De Stefano Nicola , Laura Stromillo M. , Battaglini Marco , Ruggieri Serena , Gasperini Claudio , Filippi Massimo , Rocca Maria A. , Rovira Alex , Sastre-Garriga Jaume , Vrenken Hugo , Leurs Cyra E , Killestein Joep , Pirpamer Lukas , Enzinger Christian , Ourselin Sebastien , Gandini Wheeler-Kingshott Claudia A.M. , Chard Declan , Thompson Alan J. , Alexander Daniel C. , Barkhof Frederik , Ciccarelli Olga , Ciccarelli Olga
Published: August 2017

Objective

Grey matter (GM) atrophy occurs in all multiple sclerosis (MS) phenotypes. We investigated whether there is a spatiotemporal pattern of GM atrophy that is associated with faster disability accumulation in MS.

Methods

We analysed 3,604 brain high-resolution T1-weighted MRI scans from 1,417 participants: 1,214 MS patients (253 clinically-isolated syndrome[CIS], 708 relapsingremitting[RRMS], 128 secondary-progressive[SPMS], 125 primary-progressive[PPMS]), over an average follow-up of 2.41 years (standard deviation[SD]=1.97), and 203 healthy controls (HCs) [average follow-up=1.83 year, SD=1.77], attending 7 European centres. Disability was assessed with the Expanded-Disability Status Scale (EDSS). We obtained volumes of the deep GM (DGM), temporal, frontal, parietal, occipital and cerebellar GM, brainstem and cerebral white matter. Hierarchical mixed-models assessed annual percentage rate of regional tissue loss and identified regional volumes associated with time-to-EDSS progression.

Results

SPMS showed the lowest baseline volumes of cortical GM and DGM. Of all baseline regional volumes, only that of the DGM predicted time-to-EDSS progression (hazard ratio=0.73, 95% CIs 0.65, 0.82;p<0.001): for every standard deviation decrease in baseline DGM volume, the risk of presenting a shorter time to EDSS worsening during follow-up increased by 27%. Of all longitudinal measures, DGM showed the fastest annual rate of atrophy, which was faster in SPMS (-1.45%), PPMS (-1.66%), and RRMS (-1.34%) than CIS (-0.88%) and HCs (-0.94%)[p<0.01]. The rate of temporal GM atrophy in SPMS (-1.21%) was significantly faster than RRMS (-0.76%), CIS (-0.75%), and HCs (-0.51%). Similarly, the rate of parietal GM atrophy in SPMS (-1.24-%) was faster than CIS (-0.63%) and HCs (-0.23%) (all p values <0.05). Only the atrophy rate in DGM in patients was significantly associated with disability accumulation (beta=0.04,p<0.001).

Interpretation

This large multi-centre and longitudinal study shows that DGM volume loss drives disability accumulation in MS, and that temporal cortical GM shows accelerated atrophy in SPMS than RRMS. The difference in regional GM atrophy development between phenotypes needs to be taken into account when evaluating treatment effect of therapeutic interventions.
Proto-ribosome: a theoretical approach based on RNA relics
Authors: Demongeot Jacques
Published: August 2017

We describe in this paper, based on already published articles, a contribution to the theory postulating the existence of a proto-ribosome, which could have appeared early at the origin of life and we discuss the interest of this notion in an evolutionary perspective, taking into account the existence of possible RNA relics of this proto-ribosome.
Mouse hepatitis virus nsp14 exoribonuclease activity is required for resistance to innate immunity
Authors: Case James Brett , Li Yize , Elliott Ruth , Lu Xiaotao , Graepel Kevin W. , Sexton Nicole R. , Smith Everett Clinton , Weiss Susan R. , Denison Mark R.
Published: August 2017

ABSTRACT

Coronaviruses (CoV) are positive-sense RNA viruses that infect numerous mammalian and avian species and are capable of causing severe and lethal disease in humans. CoVs encode several innate immune antagonists that interact with the host innate immune response to facilitate efficient viral replication. CoV non-structural protein 14 (nsp14) encodes 3'-to-5' exoribonuclease activity (ExoN), which performs a proofreading function and is required for high-fidelity replication. Outside of the orderNidovirales, arenaviruses are the only RNA viruses that encode an ExoN, which functions to degrade dsRNA replication intermediates. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that CoV ExoN may also function to antagonize the innate immune response. We demonstrate that viruses lacking ExoN activity [ExoN(-)] are sensitive to cellular pretreatment with interferon beta (IFN-β) in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, ExoN(-) virus replication was attenuated in wild-type bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMMs) and partially restored in interferon alpha/beta receptor deficient (IFNAR-/-) BMMs. ExoN(-) virus replication did not result in IFN-β gene expression, and in the presence of an IFN-β-mediated antiviral state, ExoN(-) viral RNA levels were not substantially reduced relative to untreated. However, ExoN(-) virus generated from IFN-β pretreated cells had reduced specific infectivity and decreased relative fitness, suggesting that ExoN(-) virus generated during an antiviral state is less viable to establish a subsequent infection. Overall, our data suggest MHV ExoN activity is required for resistance to the innate immune response and antiviral mechanisms affecting the viral RNA sequence and/or an RNA modification act on viruses lacking ExoN activity.
Ecophylogenetics Reveals the Evolutionary Associations between Mammals and their Gut Microbiota
Authors: Gaulke Christopher A. , Arnold Holly K. , Kembel Steven W. , O’Dwyer James P. , Sharpton Thomas J.
Published: August 2017

A tantalizing hypothesis posits that mammals coevolved with their gut microbiota. Unfortunately, the limited resolution of microbial taxonomy hinders the exploration of this hypothesis and specifically challenges the discovery of gut microbes that are linked to mammalian evolution. To address this, we developed a novel approach that groups microbes into new, more meaningful taxonomic units based on their common ancestry and ecological redundancy. Treating mammalian lineages as different ecosystems, we quantified the distribution of these microbial taxa across mammals. Our analysis discovered monophyletic clades of gut bacteria that are unexpectedly prevalent, or conserved, across all mammals, as well as conserved clades that are exclusive to particular mammalian lineages. These clades often manifest phylogenetic patterns indicating that they are subject to selection. Lineage - specific changes in clade conservation, including a human-accelerated loss of conserved clades, suggest that mammalian evolution associates with a change in the selective regimes that act on gut microbiota. Collectively, these results point to the existence of microbes that possess traits that facilitate their dispersion or survival in the mammalian gut, possibly because they are subject to host selection. Ultimately, our analysis clarifies the relationship between the diversification of the gut microbiome and mammalian evolutionary history.
Towards physical principles of biological evolution
Authors: Katsnelson Mikhail I. , Wolf Yuri I. , Koonin Eugene V.
Published: August 2017

Biological systems reach organizational complexity that far exceeds the complexity of any known inanimate objects. Biological entities undoubtedly obey the laws of quantum physics and statistical mechanics. However, is modern physics sufficient to adequately describe, model and explain the evolution of biological complexity? Detailed parallels have been drawn between statistical thermodynamics and the population-genetic theory of biological evolution. Based on these parallels, we outline new perspectives on biological innovation and major transitions in evolution, and introduce a biological equivalent of thermodynamic potential that reflects the innovation propensity of an evolving population. Deep analogies have been suggested to also exist between the properties of biological entities and processes, and those of frustrated states in physics, such as glasses. Such systems are characterized by frustration whereby local state with minimal free energy conflict with the global minimum, resulting in “emergent phenomena”. We extend such analogies by examining frustration-type phenomena, such as conflicts between different levels of selection, in biological evolution. These frustration effects appear to drive the evolution of biological complexity. We further address evolution in multidimensional fitness landscapes from the point of view of percolation theory and suggest that percolation at level above the critical threshold dictates the tree-like evolution of complex organisms. Taken together, these multiple connections between fundamental processes in physics and biology imply that construction of a meaningful physical theory of biological evolution might not be a futile effort. However, it is unrealistic to expect that such a theory can be created in one scoop; if it ever comes to being, this can only happen through integration of multiple physical models of evolutionary processes. Furthermore, the existing framework of theoretical physics is unlikely to suffice for adequate modeling of the biological level of complexity, and new developments within physics itself are likely to be required.
Heat dissipation analysis of continuously-moving plate undergoing thermal processing using Laplace Adomian decomposition method
Authors: Chen Cha’o Kuang , Chang Yu-Shen , Liu Chin-Chia , Chen Bang-Shiuh
Published: August 2017

Purpose

This paper aims to use the Laplace Adomian decomposition method (LADM) to investigate the effects of thermal convection, thermal conduction, surface emissivity and thermal radiation on the heat dissipated by a continuously moving plate undergoing thermal processing.

Design/methodology/approach

In performing the analysis, it is assumed that the thermal conductivity and surface emissivity of the plate are both temperature-dependent. The accuracy of the LADM solutions is confirmed by comparing the results obtained for the temperature distribution within the plate with those reported in the literature based on the differential transformation method.

Findings

It is shown that the heat dissipated from the plate reduces as the Peclet number increases. By contrast, the dissipated heat increases as any one of the non-dimensionalized parameters of the system, i.e. Nc, Nr and B, increases. In addition, the temperature drop along the length of the plate reduces as parameter A increases owing to a more rapid heat transfer.

Originality/value

The results provide a useful source of reference for the choice of suitable materials and cooling fluids in a variety of practical applications.
An improved artificial bee colony algorithm for robust design of power system stabilizers
Authors: Guesmi Tawfik , Alshammari Badr M.
Published: August 2017

Purpose

Low-frequency oscillations of 0.1 to 3 Hz are prejudicial to the power system stability. Within this context, this study aims to present an improved artificial bee colony (ABC)-based algorithm for optimal setting of multimachine power system stabilizers (PSSs) under several loading conditions simultaneously.

Design/methodology/approach

The proposed approach symbolized by GCABC incorporates the grenade explosion technique and the Cauchy operator in the employed bee and onlooker bee phases to avoid random search. The parameters of the grenade explosion method and Cauchy operator based ABC(GCABC)-based PSSs (GCABC-PSSs) are tuned to place all undamped and lightly damped electromechanical modes in a prespecified zone in the s-plan.

Findings

Simulation results based on eigenvalue analysis and nonlinear time-domain simulation show the potential and the dominance of the proposed controllers GCABC-PSSs in the improvement of the system stability under several disturbances and large set of operating points compared with the classical ABC method and genetic algorithm-based PSSs.

Originality/value

The novelty of the study is to efficiently implement a new optimization method called GCABC for an optimum design of PSSs. The design problem is formulated as a multi-objective optimization problem. In addition, all PSS parameters have been included in the space research.
Implementing a collaborative mental health care model: the MHPN
Authors: Gibbs Chris , Murphy Barbara , Ratnaike Deepika , Hoppe Kate , Lovelock Harry
Published: August 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to describe the development and experience of the Mental Health Professionals’ Network (MHPN) in building and supporting a national interdisciplinary professional development platform in community mental health to enhance practitioner response to the needs of consumers.

Design/methodology/approach

The key components of the MHPN model are described highlighting effective ways of engaging practitioners and supporting interdisciplinary practice. The MHPN has two key programs – Face-to-Face Interdisciplinary Practitioner Networks and an Online Professional Development Program.

Findings

The MHPN model has had significant uptake in communities across Australia and continues to grow. Practitioners report positive outcomes in engaging with other practitioners, improving their professional knowledge and having gained increased confidence in the provision of mental health care to patients.

Practical implications

The progress and learnings to date offer some useful insights that can be applied to other settings to support integrated care for patients with mental health problems through enhancing collaborative care among practitioners at the primary care level.

Originality/value

MHPN is a unique, national, successful platform delivering opportunities for interdisciplinary professional development in the primary mental health sector. The model is cost effective, practitioner driven, and transferable to other settings.
The role of job dedication in organizational citizenship behavior performance
Authors: Muldoon Jeffrey , Keough Shawn M. , Liguori Eric W.
Published: August 2017

Purpose

This paper aims to attempt to clarify differences between organizational citizenship behaviors (OCBs) and attitudes as well as explore job dedication’s role regarding OCBs. Using social exchange theory, job dedication is hypothesized to mediate the relationship between leader-member exchange (LMX) and OCBs.

Design/methodology/approach

Hierarchical regression analysis was performed on data obtained from 190 supervisor/subordinate dyads from a number of firms to test the study hypotheses.

Findings

Results indicate that job dedication fully mediates the relationship between LMX and OCBs directed toward individuals and the organization, thus playing a role in the production of OCBs.

Research limitations/implications

Due to non-employment of an experimental design, causality cannot be determined. If managers use signals to determine performance, then scholars need to conduct further research to determine what the cues are.

Practical implications

Managers need to spend time in determining and care whether what they are actually measuring is accurate in terms of spontaneous behaviors performance.

Originality/value

First, this study has developed an explanation as to how managers can use job dedication as a means to track the behaviors of multiple subordinates based on social exchange theory. Second, this study provides empirical evidence of the mediating role job dedication plays on mediating the LMX/OCBs relationship.
Design workshops in the age of climate change
Authors: De Waegemaeker Jeroen , Kerselaers Eva , Van Acker Maarten , Rogge Elke
Published: August 2017

Purpose

As policy makers address the issue of climate adaptation, they are confronted with climate-specific barriers: a long-term horizon and a high degree of uncertainty. These barriers also hamper the development of spatial planning for climate adaptation. So how can spatial planners encompass these barriers and steer the general debate on climate adaptation? The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

This research analyzes the strengths and weaknesses of an international design workshop on climate adaptation, and drought issues in particular. Design workshops are originally an educational setting but they are increasingly employed as a tool to explore alternative futures on a complex, real-life design problem. The case study illustrates how climate-specific barriers emerged throughout the design workshop and clarifies how they were encompassed by the participating design students.

Findings

The research clarifies the added value of a design workshop on climate adaptation. The paper highlights specific promising characteristics of the design workshop: the visualization of future adaptation challenges and the current water system, the focus on a regional project instead of sectoral adjustments and the integration of the adaptation challenge with other socio-economic goals. In the case study Flanders, however, the necessary participation of climate experts and policy makers of other domains proved challenging.

Originality/value

The paper argues that a design workshop has the potential to enrich the debate and policy work on climate adaptation. In many countries with low-planning tradition, however, additional tools are needed to help set the “adaptation agenda.”
A decision support tool to mitigate decision-making problems faced by a building design team
Authors: Singhaputtangkul Natee
Published: August 2017

Purpose

There are a number of decision-making problems encountered by a building design team. This issue is apparent in assessment of building envelope materials and designs in the early design stage. The purpose of this paper is to develope a decision support tool based on a quality function deployment (QFD) approach integrated with a knowledge management system (KMS) and fuzzy theory to facilitate a building design team to simultaneously mitigate the decision-making problems when assessing the building envelope materials and designs for the first instance.

Design/methodology/approach

This study engaged a design team comprising three decision makers (DMs) to test the developed decision support tool through a case study of a representative building project. The study employed deductive qualitative data analysis with use of a framework analysis approach to analyze perspectives of the DMs after completing the case study through a semi-structured interview.

Findings

A mapping diagram derived qualitatively from the framework analysis suggested that the tool can help mitigate the identified decision-making problems as a whole.

Originality/value

Practical contributions of using the decision support tool include achievement of a more efficient design and construction management, and higher productivity of a project. In terms of academic contributions, this study expands capabilities of a conventional decision support system, KMS, and QFD tool to handle decision-making problems.
Macrobioerosion and Microbioerosion in Marine Molluscan Shells from Holocene and Modern Beaches (39°–40°S, South of Buenos Aires Province, Argentina)
Authors: CHARÓ Melisa P. , CAVALLOTTO Jose L. , ACEÑOLAZA Guillermo
Published: August 2017

The marine sediments of the area of Verde Peninsula – Jabali Island (39°28′S/62°19′W–40°28′S/62°11′W) Holocene in age (3–2 ky), and modern beaches contain a significant amount of bioeroded mollusc shells. Fifteen sites were analyzed, in which 20.11% of the mollusc shells (2168 valves) presented bioerosion traces, in 54 species (30 bivalves and 24 gastropods). Fourteen ichnogenera were reported: Entobia, Maeandropolydora, Iramena, Caulostrepsis, Pennatichnus, Pinaceocladichnus, Trypanites, and Gastrochaenolites (Domichnia), Gnathichnus and Radulichnus (Pascichnia), Finichnus and Centrichnus (Fixichnia), Oichnus (Praedicnia) (macrobioerosion), y Semidendrina (microbioerosion), the latter is first reported in mollusc shells in Argentina. Eleven ichnospecies were identified Finichnus peristroma, Maeandropolydora sulcans, Gnathichnus pentax, Pinaceocladichnus onubensis, Caulostrepsis taeniola, Centrichnus eccentricus, Radulichnus inopinatus, Oichnus simplex, Oichnus paraboloides, Oichnus gradatus, and Gastrochaenolites torpedo (lithic remains). The dominant ichnogenera in the Holocene deposits are Iramena, Entobia and Oichnus. The same ichnogenera are constant with different abundance in the modern beaches, and increasing representation of Pinaceocladichnus and Pennatichnus. The dominant ichnofacies in the Holocene deposits is Trypanites, revealing a benthonic marine community composed of cheilostome bryzoans, clionaid sponges, predator gastropods, regular echinoids, polychaete annelids, bivalves, thallophytas and fungi. Generally, the area was described as a sublittoral, low‐energy, stable environment with high rate of oxygenation, and sandy bottoms, with rocky bottoms at Villalonga locality.
Neoproterozoic‐Paleozoic Tectonic Evolution of the Northeastern Tarim Block: Constraints from40Ar/39Ar Geochronology in the Kuluketage Area, NW China
Authors: ZHANG Zhiyong , ZHU Wenbin , ZHENG Dewen , ZHENG Bihai , XIAO Wenjiao , LI Daming , HAN Chunming
Published: August 2017

Seventeen new40Ar/39Ar analyses reported for ten Tarim Precambrian basement samples from the Kuluketage area, are applied to reconstruct the regional thermo‐tectonic history together with previously published data. Eight samples were taken adjacent to the Xingdi and Xinger faults, major structures in the study area, whereas a further two were sampled at some distance from the faults.40Ar/39Ar data from the latter record rapid cooling following a Neoproterozoic magmatic/metamorphic event and mild Paleozoic thermal disturbance. Paleozoic40Ar/39Ar ages from the study area, as well as from the Central Tianshan and eastern Southern Tianshan suggest two strong deformational periods at ∼390 Ma and ∼300 Ma. During the older period, argon isotopic systems were reset/disturbed by high temperature related to arc magmatism resulting from subduction of the South Tianshan paleo‐oceanic crust, possibly in combination with reactivation of Precambrian faults. The younger period is characterized by widespread late Carboniferous‐early Permian intracontinental deformation, which is related to the final amalgamation of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt. Previously published apatite fission track data attest to a long history of post‐collisional cooling, which is attributed to continued propagation of deformation within the Central Asian Orogenic Belt.
Approximated adjusted fractional Bayes factors: A general method for testing informative hypotheses
Authors: Gu Xin , Mulder Joris , Hoijtink Herbert
Published: August 2017

Informative hypotheses are increasingly being used in psychological sciences because they adequately capture researchers’ theories and expectations. In the Bayesian framework, the evaluation of informative hypotheses often makes use of default Bayes factors such as the fractional Bayes factor. This paper approximates and adjusts the fractional Bayes factor such that it can be used to evaluate informative hypotheses in general statistical models. In the fractional Bayes factor a fraction parameter must be specified which controls the amount of information in the data used for specifying an implicit prior. The remaining fraction is used for testing the informative hypotheses. We discuss different choices of this parameter and present a scheme for setting it. Furthermore, a software package is described which computes the approximated adjusted fractional Bayes factor. Using this software package, psychological researchers can evaluate informative hypotheses by means of Bayes factors in an easy manner. Two empirical examples are used to illustrate the procedure.
Groundwater Modeling with Stakeholders: Finding the Complexity that Matters
Authors: Castilla‐Rho Juan Carlos
Published: August 2017

Article impact statement: Agent‐based models can effectively engage stakeholders in the modeling process and improve decision making in groundwater hydrology.
Data‐Driven Approach for Analyzing Hydrogeology and Groundwater Quality Across Multiple Scales
Authors: Curtis Zachary K. , Li Shu‐Guang , Liao Hua‐Sheng , Lusch David
Published: August 2017

Recent trends of assimilating water well records into statewide databases provide a new opportunity for evaluating spatial dynamics of groundwater quality and quantity. However, these datasets are scarcely rigorously analyzed to address larger scientific problems because they are of lower quality and massive. We develop an approach for utilizing well databases to analyze physical and geochemical aspects of groundwater systems, and apply it to a multiscale investigation of the sources and dynamics of chloride (Cl−) in the near‐surface groundwater of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan. Nearly 500,000 static water levels (SWLs) were critically evaluated, extracted, and analyzed to delineate long‐term, average groundwater flow patterns using a nonstationary kriging technique at the basin‐scale (i.e., across the entire peninsula). Two regions identified as major basin‐scale discharge zones—the Michigan and Saginaw Lowlands—were further analyzed with regional‐ and local‐scale SWL models. Groundwater valleys (“discharge” zones) and mounds (“recharge” zones) were identified for all models, and the proportions of wells with elevated Cl− concentrations in each zone were calculated, visualized, and compared. Concentrations in discharge zones, where groundwater is expected to flow primarily upwards, are consistently and significantly higher than those in recharge zones. A synoptic sampling campaign in the Michigan Lowlands revealed concentrations generally increase with depth, a trend noted in previous studies of the Saginaw Lowlands. These strong, consistent SWL and Cl− distribution patterns across multiple scales suggest that a deep source (i.e., Michigan brines) is the primary cause for the elevated chloride concentrations observed in discharge areas across the peninsula.
Prescribing Oxygen for Cluster Headache: A Guide for the Provider
Authors: Tepper Stewart J. , Duplin Jessica , Nye Barbara , Tepper Deborah E.
Published: August 2017

Background

Oxygen is the standard of care for acute treatment of cluster headache. CMS, the US Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services, has made the indefensible decision to not cover oxygen for cluster headache for patients with Medicaid and Medicare insurance, despite the evidence and professional guidelines. Commercial insurance generally covers oxygen for cluster headache.

Objective

This is a “how‐to” guide for successfully prescribing oxygen in the US.

Prescription information is provided that can be incorporated as dot phrases, smart sets, or other standard templates for prescribing oxygen for cluster patients. In many states, oxygen is affordable and can be prescribed for Medicaid and Medicare patients who wish to pay cash. Welding or nonmedical grade industrial oxygen is almost the same cost as medical oxygen. However, it is less pure, lacks the same inspection of tanks, and is delivered without regulators to provide appropriate flow rates. Patients who pay cash should be strongly encouraged to buy medical oxygen.
GOVERNMENT SPENDING, ENTRY, AND THE CONSUMPTION CROWDING‐IN PUZZLE
Authors: Lewis Vivien , Winkler Roland
Published: August 2017

This article documents empirically that net firm entry robustly rises after a U.S. government spending expansion. We use this new finding to test the empirical validity of various model features that have been proposed to generate consumption crowding‐in after positive expenditure shocks. Endogenous‐entry models typically fail to generate the observed joint increase in consumption and entry. Model features that dampen the wealth effect, such as rule‐of‐thumb households or complementarity between labor and consumption in preferences, tend to reduce entry. We show that utility‐ or productivity‐enhancing public spending can reconcile the model with our documented fact and performs well empirically.
Mineralogical study of brown olivine in Northwest Africa 1950 shergottite and implications for the formation mechanism of iron nanoparticles
Authors: Takenouchi Atsushi , Mikouchi Takashi , Kogure Toshihiro
Published: August 2017

Martian meteorites, in particular shergottites, contain darkened olivine (so‐called “brown olivine”) whose color is induced by iron nanoparticles formed in olivine during a shock event. The formation process and conditions of brown olivine have been discussed in the Northwest Africa 2737 (NWA 2737) chassignite. However, formation conditions of brown olivine in NWA 2737 cannot be applied to shergottites because NWA 2737 has a different shock history from that of shergottites. Therefore, this study observed brown olivine in the NWA 1950 shergottite and discusses the general formation process and conditions of brown olivine in shergottites. Our observation of NWA 1950 revealed that olivine is heterogeneously darkened between and within grains different from brown olivine in NWA 2737. XANES analysis showed that brown olivine contains small amounts of Fe3+ and TEM/STEM observation revealed that there is no SiO‐rich phase around iron metal nanoparticles. These observations indicate that iron nanoparticles were formed by a disproportionation reaction of olivine (3Fe2+olivine → Fe0metal + 2Fe3+olivine + Volivine, where Volivine means a vacancy in olivine). Some parts of brown olivine show lamellar textures in SEM observation and Raman peaks in addition to those expected for olivine, implying that brown olivine experienced a phase transition (to e.g., ringwoodite). In order to induce heterogeneous darkening, heterogeneous high temperature of about 1500–1700 K and shock duration of at least ~90 ms are required. This heterogeneous high temperature resulted in high postshock temperature (>900 K) inducing back‐transformation of most high‐pressure phases. Therefore, in spite of lack of high‐pressure phases, NWA 1950 (= Martian meteorites with brown olivine) experienced higher pressure and temperature compared to other highly shocked meteorite groups.
Watching the News and Support for Democracy: Why Media Systems Matter
Authors: Goidel Kirby , Gaddie Keith , Ehrl Marco
Published: August 2017

Objective

We explore whether the effect of watching television on support for democracy is contingent on the type of media system. In countries with well‐developed public broadcasting systems, watching television news should enhance support for democracy. In more market‐oriented systems with more superficial and episodic news content, watching television news should weaken democratic attachments.

Methods

We utilize Wave 6 of the World Values Survey to investigate the relationship between watching television news and support for democracy in the United States, Germany, Sweden, and the Netherlands.

Results

Watching television news in public broadcasting systems increases the importance one places on living in a democracy and evaluations of democratic governance. Watching television news in market‐oriented systems increases support for authoritarian political systems.

Conclusion

The effect of watching television news on democratic attitudes is contingent on media system. Public broadcasting systems enhance democratic attitudes while market‐oriented systems weaken these democratic attachments.
PENURAS KUASA AKTIF PIRAU SATU FASA MENGGUNAKAN STRATEGI KAWALAN RINGKAS
Authors: Yusof Yushaizad , Radin Umar Radin Zaim , Abd. Rahim Nasrudin
Published: August 2017

This paper describes a single phase shunt active power filter system used in compensating current harmonics and improving electrical line’s power factor via simplified control strategy based on estimation of nonlinear load’s equivalent resistance. By employing MATLAB Simulink simulation tool, the proposed control strategy successfully compensated source current harmonics and corrected line power factor to near unity. Moreover, analysis on the system performance indicated that the system’s achieved fast time response, stabilized system and near zero steady state error. To verify the proposed system, experimental results also presented.
THE INFLUENCE OF POLYMER ON RHEOLOGICAL AND THERMO OXIDATIVE AGING PROPERTIES OF MODIFIED BITUMEN BINDERS
Authors: Bala Nura , Kamaruddin Ibrahim , Napiah Madzlan
Published: August 2017

Polymer modified bitumen (PMB) has been used for many years to improve the performance of asphalt concretes against premature pavement defects. In this research, modified samples were prepared with 2%, 3%, 4%, 5% and 6% Linear Low Density Polyethylene (LLDPE) polymer by weight of bitumen binder. The influence of LLDPE polymer was evaluated through binder properties test which includes penetration, softening point, storage stability, temperature susceptibility, rutting, fatigue and thermal oxidative aging resistance from a dynamic shear rheometer (DSR) measurements at a temperature of 20 OC to 60 OC. Results show that LLDPE polymer has a significant effect on binder properties. Penetration decreases and softening point increases with increasing LLDPE content on the modified binder after aging, which implies LLDPE improves the thermo oxidative aging resistance of the binder. Furthermore, the storage stability test shows that at higher LLDPE concentrations phase separation may occur. DSR analysis shows that modified binders have lower temperature susceptibility and higher aging resistance with increased stiffness and elastic behavior compared with unmodified binders. In addition, modified binders show enhanced resistance against high temperature rutting and at low temperature fatigue performance. It was found that the optimum LLDPE content is 6%.
AN INVESTIGATION ON LIGHT STRUCTURE MODAL PARAMETER BY USING EXPERIMENTAL MODAL ANALYSIS METHOD VIA PIEZOFILM SENSOR
Authors: Ramli Mohd Irman , Nuawi Mohd. Zaki , Abdullah Shahrum , Mohammad Rasani Mohammad Rasidi , Ahmad Muhamad Arif Fadli , Ko Seng Kho
Published: August 2017

This study is conducted to determine the modal parameters namely natural frequencies and mode shapes of aluminum 6061 (Al6061). The parameters are done by conducting a free dynamic vibration analysis. Modal analysis study was conducted by both simulation and experimental approaches. The simulation was conducted via ANSYS software while the experimental work was performed through impact hammer testing to determine the vibration parameter. Two sensors i.e. piezoelectric film and accelerometer were used. The result obtained were ya = 302.02x – 52.51 (accelerometer) and yp = 295.78x - 41.73 (piezofilm). ya (accelerometer) and yp (piezofilm) is linear equation of the data plotted according to the reading from mode shape versus natural frequency. The relation between natural frequency from accelerometer and piezofilm for the rectangular-shaped specimen was ya = 1.02yp – 9.90 and can be concluded that the regression ratio of 1.02 was approximately 1.0 which agreed with the status of piezoelectric film sensor that can be used as an alternative sensor for accelerometer. There was a good results agreement between simulation and experimental work outcome.
IMPACT ON STRUCTURAL BEHAVIOR DUE TO INSTALLATION OF BILLBOARD
Authors: Neridu Sairam , Pasupuleti Venkata Dilip Kumar , Dongre Archanaa
Published: August 2017

Installation of billboards on various structures adjacent to busy roads has become common practice as they provide high economic to the local municipal corporation or private business organisations. Till recent, design of billboards and its installation on a structure was of less importance, but recent large wind cyclones had led to the collapse of billboards and structural cracks. This incident has raised doubts in structural engineering community for the resistance of buildings with billboards during earthquakes. In this study, an existing building with the recent installation of a billboard has considered, and dynamic analysis is carried out for three different ground motions viz. El Centro earthquake, Loma Prieta earthquake and Uttarkashi earthquake for understanding the change in its behaviour with and without billboard. The structure has shown an increment of response due to the installation of a billboard during earthquakes.
Reviewer Acknowledgements
Authors: Willianms Ellery
Published: August 2017

Business and Management Studies (BMS) would like to acknowledge the following reviewers for their assistance with peer review of manuscripts for this issue. Many authors, regardless of whether BMS publishes their work, appreciate the helpful feedback provided by the reviewers. Their comments and suggestions were of great help to the authors in improving the quality of their papers. Each of the reviewers listed below returned at least one review for this issue.Reviewers for Volume 3, Number 3 Andrzej Niemiec, Poznań University of Economics and Business, PolandAsad Ghalib, The University of Manchester, UKAshford Chea, Benedict College, USAChrister Thörnqvist, University of Skövde, SwedenIulia Cristina Muresan, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine ClujNapoca, Romaniaİzlem Gözükara, Istanbul AREL University, TurkeyJulia Stefanova, The Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, BulgariaKherchi Ishak, UHBC University, AlgeriaMarica Ion Dumitrasco, Academy of Sciences of Moldova, MoldovaMartin Sung, Hubei Economic and Finance University, ChinaMike Rayner, University of Portsmouth, UKMohammad Soliman, Fayoum University, EgyptOlha Komelina, Yuri Kondratyuk University, UkraineRashedul Hasan, International Islamic University Malaysia, MalaysiaRegina Lenart-Gansiniec, Jagiellonian University, PolandRocsana Tonis, Spiru Haret University, RomaniaZeki Atıl Bulut, Dokuz Eylul University, Turkey  Ellery WillianmsEditorial AssistantOn behalf of,The Editorial Board of Business and Management StudiesRedfame Publishing9450 SW Gemini Dr. #99416Beaverton, OR 97008, USAURL: http://bms.redfame.com
How an ocean climate cycle favored Harvey
Authors: Rosen Julia
Published: August 2017

Human factors may prolong storm-boosting Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation phase.
Hurricane Harvey provides lab for U.S. forecast experiments
Authors: Voosen Paul
Published: August 2017

New model and satellites test their mettle against the storm.
Toxic algae may be culprit in mysterious dinosaur deaths
Authors: Gramling Carolyn
Published: August 2017

Harmful blooms may explain 70-million-year-old deathbed of birds and dinosaurs.
India's dark matter quest
Authors: Bagla Pallava
Published: August 2017

Underground physics laboratory opens this week.
Adapting to the Anthropocene
Inheritors of the Earth: How Nature Is Thriving in an Age of Extinction
Chris D. Thomas
PublicAffairs, 2017. 308 pp.
Authors: Mooers Arne
Published: August 2017

A provocative treatise argues that, for many species, the era of extinction may be all right
Subcutaneous drug delivery: An evolving enterprise
Authors: Jones Graham B. , Collins David S. , Harrison Michael W. , Thyagarajapuram Nagarajan R. , Wright Justin M.
Published: August 2017

Recent advances in subcutaneous drug delivery and device design are transforming the biopharmaceutical sector and improving patient care.
Targeting the vascular and perivascular niches as a regenerative therapy for lung and liver fibrosis
Authors: Cao Zhongwei , Ye Tinghong , Sun Yue , Ji Gaili , Shido Koji , Chen Yutian , Luo Lin , Na Feifei , Li Xiaoyan , Huang Zhen , Ko Jane L. , Mittal Vivek , Qiao Lina , Chen Chong , Martinez Fernando J. , Rafii Shahin , Ding Bi-Sen
Published: August 2017

Targeted gene delivery and enzyme inhibition in vascular and perivascular cells promote engraftment of transplanted parenchymal cells for lung and liver repair.
More excitation for Rett syndrome
Authors: Novarino Gaia
Published: August 2017

D-cycloserine ameliorates breathing abnormalities and survival rate in a mouse model of Rett syndrome.
Widespread Fosfomycin Resistance in Gram-Negative Bacteria Attributable to the Chromosomal
fosA
Gene
Authors: Ito Ryota , Mustapha Mustapha M. , Tomich Adam D. , Callaghan Jake D. , McElheny Christi L. , Mettus Roberta T. , Shanks Robert M. Q. , Sluis-Cremer Nicolas , Doi Yohei
Published: August 2017

Fosfomycin is a decades-old antibiotic which is being revisited because of its perceived activity against many extensively drug-resistant Gram-negative pathogens. FosA proteins are Mn
2+
and K
+
-dependent glutathione
S
-transferases which confer fosfomycin resistance in Gram-negative bacteria by conjugation of glutathione to the antibiotic. Plasmid-borne
fosA
variants have been reported in fosfomycin-resistant
Escherichia coli
strains. However, the prevalence and distribution of
fosA
in other Gram-negative bacteria are not known. We systematically surveyed the presence of
fosA
in Gram-negative bacteria in over 18,000 published genomes from 18 Gram-negative species and investigated their contribution to fosfomycin resistance. We show that FosA homologues are present in the majority of genomes in some species (e.g.,
Klebsiella
spp.,
Enterobacter
spp.,
Serratia marcescens
, and
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
), whereas they are largely absent in others (e.g.,
E. coli
,
Acinetobacter baumannii
, and
Burkholderia cepacia
). FosA proteins in different bacterial pathogens are highly divergent, but key amino acid residues in the active site are conserved. Chromosomal
fosA
genes conferred high-level fosfomycin resistance when expressed in
E. coli
, and deletion of chromosomal
fosA
in
S. marcescens
eliminated fosfomycin resistance. Our results indicate that FosA is encoded by clinically relevant Gram-negative species and contributes to intrinsic fosfomycin resistance.

IMPORTANCE
There is a critical need to identify alternate approaches to treat infections caused by extensively drug-resistant (XDR) Gram-negative bacteria. Fosfomycin is an old antibiotic which is routinely used for the treatment of urinary tract infections, although there is substantial interest in expanding its use to systemic infections caused by XDR Gram-negative bacteria. In this study, we show that
fosA
genes, which encode dimeric Mn
2+
- and K
+
-dependent glutathione
S
-transferase, are widely distributed in the genomes of Gram-negative bacteria—particularly those belonging to the family
Enterobacteriaceae
—and confer fosfomycin resistance. This finding suggests that chromosomally located
fosA
genes represent a vast reservoir of fosfomycin resistance determinants that may be transferred to
E. coli
. Furthermore, they suggest that inhibition of FosA activity may provide a viable strategy to potentiate the activity of fosfomycin against XDR Gram-negative bacteria.
Long Telomeres Do Not Affect Cellular Fitness in Yeast
Authors: Harari Yaniv , Zadok-Laviel Shira , Kupiec Martin
Published: August 2017

Telomeres, the ends of the eukaryotic chromosomes, help to maintain the genome’s integrity and thus play important roles in aging and cancer. Telomere length is strictly controlled in all organisms. In humans, telomeres shorten with age, and it has been proposed that telomere shortening may play a causal role in aging. We took advantage of the availability of yeast strains with genetically or physiologically generated differences in telomere length to measure the effect that telomere length may have on cellular growth. By comparing the growth rates affecting telomere length of various yeast mutants we show that there is no correlation between their telomere length and cellular fitness. We also show that wild-type yeast cells carrying extremely long telomeres (~5 times longer than the average) showed no signs of mitotic or meiotic defects, and competition experiments found no differences in growth between strains with normal telomeres and strains with long telomeres. No advantage or disadvantage of cells with long telomeres was detected under stress conditions either. Finally, telomere length had no effect in a chronological life span assay, which measures survival of post-mitotic-stage cells. We conclude that extreme telomere length has no effects (positive or negative) on the fitness of yeast cells.

IMPORTANCE
Telomeres protect the chromosomal ends from fusion, degradation, and unwanted repair. Therefore, telomeres preserve genome stability and cell viability. In humans, telomeres shorten with each cell duplication event and with age. It has thus been proposed that telomere shortening may be responsible for human aging and that elongation of telomeres may be a way to rejuvenate cells and to combat aging. However, it is difficult to prove this hypothesis in human cells. Yeasts are easy to manipulate and have telomeres whose length is strictly maintained. Here we show that yeast cells manipulated to have extremely long telomeres (~5-fold those of normal cells) did not show any improvement or reduction in fitness compared to otherwise identical cells with telomeres of normal length under all the conditions tested. Moreover, an assay that measures cell aging showed no effect of the presence of extremely long telomeres. We thus conclude that extreme telomere length, at least in yeast cells, does not affect cellular fitness, aging, or senescence.