bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Restructured low‐fat cooked ham containing liquid whey fortified with lactulose
Authors: Oliveira Cristiane A , Massingue Armando A , Moura Ana Paula R , Fontes Paulo Rogério , Ramos Alcinéia LS , Ramos Eduardo M
Published: July 2017

BACKGROUND

Current health concerns have driven consumers to request products with nutritional and physiological advantages, which can be achieved by using prebiotic ingredients. Lactulose is a prebiotic with excellent functional properties and can be easily incorporated into meat products through the addition of liquid whey. This study investigated the technological and sensorial quality of restructured cooked ham elaborated without liquid whey added (control) and with liquid whey containing different contents (0, 30, 60 and 100 g kg−1) of lactulose.

RESULTS

Liquid whey did not change any technological or sensorial characteristics of the product, but the general acceptability decreased due to addition of lactulose. Samples with higher lactulose concentrations had lower moisture content, pH and refreezing loss and increased carbohydrate content. Control and whey added samples had higher lightness and lower intense color than samples with lactulose. Liquid whey additions with higher lactulose content increased hardness and chewiness of the samples.

CONCLUSION

Restructured cooked hams formulated with liquid whey and 30 g kg−1 of lactulose had minimal effects on the technological properties and sensory characteristics and, due to the possible benefits conferred by the prebiotic, is a potential alternative to provide meat products with prebiotic activity. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry
Corrosion testing of metals in contact with calcium chloride hexahydrate used for thermal energy storage
Authors: Ren S. J. , Charles J. , Wang X. C. , Nie F. X. , Romero C. , Neti S. , Zheng Y. , Hoenig S. , Chen C. , Cao F. , Bonner R. , Pearlman H.
Published: July 2017

Thermal energy storage (TES) using a phase change material (PCM) has been proposed as a supplemental cooling system to improve the performance of power plant air‐cooled condensers (ACCs). In this proposed system, frozen PCM would remove heat from plant's condensing steam during the day, which would melt the PCM. The PCM would be frozen at night as its stored heat is rejected to the cooler atmosphere. Calcium chloride hexahydrate (CaCl2 · 6H2O) is an attractive material to serve as a PCM in this innovative system due to its appropriate melting temperature, low price, and relatively high latent heat of fusion. The corrosion of container materials is a major challenge in using CaCl2 · 6H2O. Any material used needs to survive constant exposure to the salt for several years to ensure a long operational life for the system. In this study, the corrosion behavior of four metals in contact with CaCl2 · 6H2O was experimentally investigated. Three different temperature conditions and two pH level conditions were considered under static metal exposure conditions.
Should managerial delegation contracts be made before or after union wage setting? A game‐theoretic analysis
Authors: Meccheri Nicola , Fanti Luciano
Published: July 2017

This paper analyzes a multiple‐stage game in which, at the final stage, two (managerial) firms compete over quantities in the product market. Prior to this stage, firm‐specific unions set the workers' wages, while the owners of both firms hire managers and provide them with incentive contracts. Owners can freely decide to arrange the managerial contract before or after the (non‐managerial) wage determination stage. Hence, the endogenous choice of the incentive contract stage is derived. The possibility of multiple equilibria arises, where both owners choose managerial contracts before or after unions' wage setting, crucially depending on unions' preferences. Such results also prove to be true for a remarkable degree of asymmetry in preferences over wages vis‐à‐vis employment across unions.
Accelerated three‐dimensional multispectral MRI with robust principal component analysis for separation of on‐ and off‐resonance signals
Authors: Levine Evan , Stevens Kathryn , Beaulieu Christopher , Hargreaves Brian
Published: July 2017

Purpose

To enable highly accelerated distortion‐free MRI near metal by separating on‐ and off‐resonance to exploit the redundancy of slice‐phase encoding for the dominant on‐resonance component.

Methods

Multispectral MRI techniques resolve off‐resonance distortions by a combination of limited excitation bins and additional encoding. Inspired by robust principal component analysis, a novel compact representation of multispectral images as a sum of rank‐one and sparse matrices corresponding to on‐ and off‐resonance respectively is described. This representation is used in a calibration‐free and model‐free reconstruction for data with an undersampling pattern that varies between bins. Retrospective undersampling was used to compare the proposed reconstruction and bin‐by‐bin compressed sensing. Hip images were acquired in eight patients with standard and prospectively undersampled three‐dimensional multispectral imaging, and image quality was evaluated by two radiologists on a 5‐point scale.

Results

Experiments with retrospective undersampling showed that the enhanced sparsity afforded by the separation greatly reduces reconstruction errors and artifacts. Images from prospectively undersampled multispectral imaging offered 2.6–3.4‐fold (18–24‐fold overall) acceleration compared to standard multispectral imaging with parallel imaging and partial‐Fourier acceleration with equivalence in all qualitative assessments within a tolerance of one point (P < 0.004).

Conclusion

Three‐dimensional multispectral imaging can be highly accelerated by varying undersampling between bins and separating on‐ and off‐resonance. Magn Reson Med 79:1495–1505, 2018. © 2017 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.
Nurse managers’ attributes to promote change in their wards: a qualitative study
Authors: Kodama Yoshimi , Fukahori Hiroki
Published: July 2017

Aim

The aim of this study was to explore the processes that nurse managers use to promote change in their wards.

Design

Qualitative research.

Methods

A grounded theory approach was used. Participants were 23 nurse managers and 17 nurses in Japan. Interviews were conducted between March 2014 – December 2015. Mainly, nurse managers’ data was analysed.

Results

The change process led by the nurse managers was depicted as a four‐phased process of “having beliefs and empathizing with staff nurses to achieve goals explored by self.” Four attributes of nurse managers, “having both micro and macro perspectives,” “respecting own beliefs and external standards,” “being proactive,” and “having empathy for staff nurses,” were identified as indispensable factors promoting change in their wards.

Nursing administrators should support the cultivation of nurse managers’ attributes for successful change.
Biocompatibility evaluation of self‐assembled micelles prepared from poly(lactide‐co‐glycolide)‐poly(ethylene glycol) diblock copolymers
Authors: Liu Xue , Shen Xin , Sun Xiangke , Peng Yan , Li Rongye , Yun Peng , Li Chenglong , Liu Li , Su Feng , Li Suming
Published: July 2017

In this work, a series of PLGA‐PEG diblock copolymers were synthesized by ring‐opening polymerization of L‐lactide and glycolide using mPEG as macroinitiator and stannous octoate as catalyst. Spherical micelles were obtained from the various copolymers by using co‐solvent evaporation method. The biocompatibility of micelles was evaluated with the aim of assessing their potential in the development of drug delivery systems. Various aspects of biocompatibility were considered, including MTT assay, agar diffusion test, release of cytokines, hemolytic test, dynamic clotting time, protein adsorption in vitro, and zebrafish embryonic compatibility in vivo. The combined results revealed that the micelles present good cytocompatibility and hemocompatibility in vitro. Moreover, the cumulative effects of micelles throughout embryos developing stages have no toxicity in vivo. It is thus concluded that micelles prepared from PLGA‐PEG copolymers present good biocompatibility as potential drug carrier.
Effect of in situ reactive interfacial compatibilization on structure and properties of polylactide/sisal fiber biocomposites
Authors: Hao Mingyang , Wu Hongwu
Published: July 2017

The interfacial property is of great importance for polymer composites materials. In this study, polylactide (PLA) and sisal fibers (SF) were melt‐blended to fabricate bio‐based composites via in situ reactive interfacial compatibilization with addition of triglycidyl isocyanurate (TGIC). The interfacial adhesion between PLA matrix and sisal fibers was improved, which was confirmed by scanning electron microscope characterization. TGIC played a hinge‐like role between fibers and matrix, which bonded the PLA molecular chain to the fiber surface. FTIR analysis after Soxhlet extraction demonstrated the bonding of PLA molecular chain to the fiber surface. At the same time, the interfacial reaction and microstructures of composites were further investigated by thermal and rheological analyses. Differential scanning calorimetry and dynamic rheological measurement indicated that the mobility of the PLA molecular chain in composites was restricted because of introduction of TGIC, which also reflecting the improved interfacial interaction between sisal fibers and PLA matrix. The tensile properties of composites were improved because of improved interfacial adhesion between sisal fibers and PLA matrix. POLYM. COMPOS., 39:E174–E187, 2018. © 2017 Society of Plastics Engineers
The impact of non‐invasive prenatal testing on anxiety in women considered at high or low risk for aneuploidy after combined first trimester screening
Authors: Richmond Zara , Fleischer Ron , Chopra Maya , Pinner Jason , D'Souza Mario , Fridgant Yelena , Hyett Jonathan
Published: July 2017

What's already known about this topic?

High‐risk combined first trimester screening results may create high levels of state anxiety.

This anxiety usually resolves upon receipt of a normal karyotype result through invasive testing. However, invasive testing itself provokes anxiety.

What does this study add?

Both high‐risk and low‐risk combined first trimester screening populations demonstrated similar trait anxiety levels and experienced a statistically significant reduction in state anxiety to similar final levels after they received a low‐risk non‐invasive prenatal testing result.
Effect of the tether length upon Truce‐Smiles rearrangement reactions
Authors: Fuss David , Wu Yu Qi , Grossi Michael R. , Hollett Joshua W. , Wood Tabitha E.
Published: July 2017

This report examines the effect of substrate design upon the Truce‐Smiles rearrangement, an intramolecular nucleophilic aromatic substitution reaction. The length of the molecular spacer that tethers the carbanion nucleophile to the substituted benzene ring was found to have a strong influence on the ability of the substrate to undergo the reaction successfully. Our experimental results show highest yield of desired aryl migration product for substrates designed with a 3‐atom tether, which proceed through a 5‐membered spirocyclic intermediate. The results are interpreted in comparison with a survey of Truce‐Smiles rearrangements described in the literature and found to be consistent. Computational studies support the observed reactivity trend and suggest an explanation of a favorable combination of ring strain and electrostatic repulsion leading to optimal reactivity of the substrate designed with a 3‐atom tether. Comparison of our results with trends for related ring‐closing reactions illustrate the unique electrostatic features of the system studied herein.
Early versus late‐applied constraint‐induced movement therapy: A multisite, randomized controlled trial with a 12‐month follow‐up
Authors: Stock Roland , Thrane Gyrd , Anke Audny , Gjone Ragna , Askim Torunn
Published: July 2017

Background and Purpose

A direct comparison between the effects of constraint‐induced movement therapy (CIMT) applied early after stroke and that of CIMT applied in the chronic phase has not been conducted. This study aimed to compare the long‐term effects of CIMT applied 6 months after stroke with the results of CIMT applied within 28 days post‐stroke.

Methods

This study was a single‐blinded, multicentre, randomized controlled trial with a crossover design. Forty‐seven patients received CIMT either early (within 28 days) or 6 months after stroke. Both groups received standard rehabilitation and were tested at 5 time points. The primary outcome measure was Wolf Motor Function Test (WMFT); the secondary measures were Nine‐Hole Peg Test (NHPT), the Fugl‐Meyer Assessment (FMA) of the upper extremity, Stroke Impact Scale, and Modified Rankin Scale (MRS).

Results

Compared with baseline data, both groups showed significant improvements in the primary and secondary outcome measures after 12 months. No significant differences between the 2 treatment groups were found before and after the delayed intervention group received CIMT at 6 months and during the 12‐month follow‐up. Both groups recovered considerably and showed only minor impairment (median FMA score of 64) after 6 months. The early intervention group showed an initially faster recovery curve of WMFT, NHPT, and MRS scores.

Discussion

In contrast to most CIMT studies, our study could not find an effect of CIMT applied 6 months after stroke. Our results indicate that commencing CIMT early is as good as delayed intervention in the long term, specifically in this group of patients who might have reached a ceiling effect during the first 6 months after stroke. Nevertheless, the early CIMT intervention group showed a faster recovery curve than the delayed intervention group, which can be a clinically important finding for patients in the acute phase.
The Hsp40 J‐domain modulates Hsp70 conformation and ATPase activity with a semi‐elliptical spring
Authors: Bascos Neil Andrew D. , Mayer Matthias P. , Bukau Bernd , Landry Samuel J.
Published: July 2017

Regulatory protein interactions are commonly attributed to lock‐and‐key associations that bring interacting domains together. However, studies in some systems suggest that regulation is not achieved by binding interactions alone. We report our investigations on specific physical characteristics required of the Hsp40 J‐domain to stimulate ATP hydrolysis in the Hsp40‐Hsp70 molecular chaperone machine. Biophysical analysis using isothermal titration calorimetry, and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy reveals the importance of helix rigidity for the maintenance of Hsp40 function. Our results suggest that the functional J‐domain acts like a semi‐elliptical spring, wherein the resistance to bending upon binding to the Hsp70 ATPase modulates the ATPase domain conformational change and promotes ATP hydrolysis.
Platelet-Derived Mitochondria Display Embryonic Stem Cell Markers and Improve Pancreatic Islet β-cell Function in Humans
Authors: Zhao Yong , Jiang Zhaoshun , Delgado Elias , Li Heng , Zhou Huimin , Hu Wei , Perez-Basterrechea Marcos , Janostakova Anna , Tan Qidong , Wang Jing , Mao Mao , Yin Zhaohui , Zhang Ye , Li Ying , Li Quanhai , Zhou Jing , Li Yunxiang , Martinez Revuelta Eva , Maria García-Gala Jose , Wang Honglan , Perez-Lopez Silvia , Alvarez-Viejo Maria , Menendez Edelmiro , Moss Thomas , Guindi Edward , Otero Jesus
Published: July 2017

Diabetes is a major global health issue and the number of individuals with type 1 diabetes (T1D) and type 2 diabetes (T2D) increases annually across multiple populations. Research to develop a cure must overcome multiple immune dysfunctions and the shortage of pancreatic islet β cells, but these challenges have proven intractable despite intensive research effort more than the past decades. Stem Cell Educator (SCE) therapy—which uses only autologous blood immune cells that are externally exposed to cord blood stem cells adhering to the SCE device, has previously been proven safe and effective in Chinese and Spanish subjects for the improvement of T1D, T2D, and other autoimmune diseases. Here, 4-year follow-up studies demonstrated the long-term safety and clinical efficacy of SCE therapy for the treatment of T1D and T2D. Mechanistic studies found that the nature of platelets was modulated in diabetic subjects after receiving SCE therapy. Platelets and their released mitochondria display immune tolerance-associated markers that can modulate the proliferation and function of immune cells. Notably, platelets also expressed embryonic stem cell- and pancreatic islet β-cell-associated markers that are encoded by mitochondrial DNA. Using freshly-isolated human pancreatic islets, ex vivo studies established that platelet-releasing mitochondria can migrate to pancreatic islets and be taken up by islet β cells, leading to the proliferation and enhancement of islet β-cell functions. These findings reveal new mechanisms underlying SCE therapy and open up new avenues to improve the treatment of diabetes in clinics.
Visco‐Plastic Constitutive Model for Cyclic Responses Simulation and Lifetime Prediction of Hot‐Work Tool Steel H13 at Elevated Temperature
Authors: Ma Ling , Luo Yuanxin , Wang Yongqin , Du Weiqi , Chen Yi
Published: July 2017

AISI H13 hot‐work tool steel is extensively used as tool material for the aluminum extrusion process and its working temperature is about 500 °C. It is essential to model cyclic responses and conduct lifetime prediction of H13 reasonably for optimization of the tools. In this study, uniaxial tests are conducted to investigate mechanical properties of H13. It can be observed that the material shows significant rate‐dependence and obvious cyclic softening effects. In addition, the evolution of ratcheting obviously has three stages: gradually decreasing stage, approximately constant stage, and rapidly increasing stage. Considering above‐mentioned characteristics, a modified visco‐plastic constitutive model is proposed to describe the cyclic plasticity responses in the whole lifetime by a combination of modified A‐F kinematic hardening rule and a new proposed isotropic hardening rule. Furthermore, its lifetime is predicted by involving a failure criterion with the critical size of yield surface. Accelerated ratcheting phenomena and peak stress reduction in failure phase are simulated reasonably. In addition, the simulation results of cyclic responses give a good estimation of plastic deformation under cyclic loading conditions. All in all, the comparisons of simulation and experimental results indicate that the proposed constitutive model predicts mechanical properties, as well as lifetime reasonably.
The pernicious problem of streambed colmation: a multi‐disciplinary reflection on the mechanisms, causes, impacts, and management challenges
Authors: Wharton Geraldene , Mohajeri Seyed Hossein , Righetti Maurizio
Published: July 2017

The accumulation of fine sediments in rivers is a pernicious problem with wide‐ranging consequences for the healthy functioning of rivers throughout the world. It is linked to a range of landuse changes and human activities that have increased sediment inputs leading to elevated fine sediment loads that exceed the sediment transport capacities of rivers. Surficial deposits of fine material can also create the conditions for fine sediment to move into and accumulate within the coarser bed substrate, a process known as colmation and the focus of this review. Colmation, also referred to as clogging, fine sediment infiltration, fine sediment deposition, ingress, infilling, intrusion of fines, siltation, and the surface–subsurface exchange of particles, is particularly damaging to river habitats and ecosystems. It causes degradation through the physical effects of reduced porosity and flow connectivity and the biogeochemical changes arising from the hydraulic and hydrological impacts and the effects of sediment‐bound contaminants, all of which can impact on river ecology. Different aspects of the phenomenon of colmation have been studied across a number of disciplines and over several decades and this paper synthesizes this wide literature to provide a multidisciplinary perspective on the mechanisms, causes, and impacts of colmation and discusses some key management challenges. WIREs Water 2017, 4:e1231. doi: 10.1002/wat2.1231

This article is categorized under:

Water and Life > Stresses and Pressures on Ecosystems

Science of Water > Water Quality
Wastewater irrigation: past, present, and future
Authors: Zhang Yucui , Shen Yanjun
Published: July 2017

With population growth and social and economic development, water shortage is becoming a serious issue worldwide. As a key alternative water resource, wastewater can be used in agriculture to compensate for water shortages. Wastewater irrigation has a long development history and has undergone different phases in developing and developed countries. Untreated wastewater irrigation can come with numerous environmental problems. Strong management practices, such as the application of suitable treated and irrigated technologies, can be used to reap substantial benefits while minimizing risks. We discussed the major challenges associated with wastewater irrigation and its future use to help improve wastewater irrigation practices around the world.

This article is categorized under:

Engineering Water > Sustainable Engineering of Water

Engineering Water > Water, Health, and Sanitation
Subdifferential‐based implicit return‐mapping operators in Mohr‐Coulomb plasticity
Authors: Sysala Stanislav , Čermák Martin , Ligurský Tomáš
Published: July 2017

The paper is devoted to constitutive solution, limit load analysis and Newton‐like methods in elastoplastic problems containing the Mohr‐Coulomb yield criterion. Within the constitutive problem, we introduce a self‐contained derivation of the implicit return‐mapping solution scheme using a recent subdifferential‐based treatment. Unlike conventional techniques based on Koiter's rules, the presented scheme a priori detects a position of the unknown stress tensor on the yield surface even if the constitutive solution cannot be found in a closed form. This eliminates blind guesswork from the scheme and enables to analyze properties of the constitutive operator. It also simplifies the construction of the consistent tangent operator, which is important for the semismooth Newton method when applied to the incremental boundary‐value elastoplastic problem. The incremental problem in Mohr‐Coulomb plasticity is combined with limit load analysis. Beside a conventional direct method of incremental limit analysis, a recent indirect one is introduced and its advantages are described. The paper contains 2D and 3D numerical experiments on slope stability with publicly available Matlab implementations.
Sonocrystallization of Interesterified Fats with 20 and 30% of Stearic Acid at the sn‐2 Position and Their Physical Blends
Authors: Kadamne Jeta V. , Ifeduba Ebenezer A. , Akoh Casimir C. , Martini Silvana
Published: July 2017

Physical blends (PB) of high oleic sunflower oil and tristearin with 20 and 30% stearic acid and their interesterified (IE) products where 20 and 30% of the fatty acids are stearic acid at the sn‐2 position crystallized without and with application of high intensity ultrasound (HIU). IE samples were crystallized at supercooling temperatures (ΔT) of 12, 9, 6, and 3 °C while PB were crystallized at ΔT = 12 °C. HIU induced crystallization in PB samples, but not in the IE ones. Induction in crystallization with HIU was also observed at ΔT = 6 and 3 °C for IE C18:0 20 and 30% and at ΔT = 9 °C only for the 30% samples. Smaller crystals were obtained in all sonicated samples. Melting profiles showed that HIU induced crystallization of low melting triacylglycerols (TAGs) and promoted co‐crystallization of low and high melting TAGs. In general, HIU significantly changed the viscosity, G′, and G″ of the IE 20% samples except at ΔT = 12 °C. While G′ and G″ of IE 30% did not increase significantly, the viscosity increased significantly at ΔT = 9, 6, and 3 °C from 1526 ± 880 to 6818 ± 901 Pa.s at ΔT = 3 °C. The improved physical properties of the sonicated IE can make them good contenders for trans‐fatty acids replacers.
The development of the Norwegian wrasse fishery and the use of wrasses as cleaner fish in the salmon aquaculture industry
Authors: Blanco Gonzalez Enrique , de Boer Femke
Published: July 2017

Norway leads the world aquaculture production of Atlantic salmonSalmo salarand farmed Norwegian Atlantic salmon is currently consumed around the globe. However, sea lice infestation is a major problem faced by the salmon aquaculture industry in Norway and elsewhere. The use of wild-caught cleaner fish, mainly wrasses, has been recommended over the other available methods as the most economical and environmentally friendly option to control sea lice infestation in salmon farming. Here, we review the development of the Norwegian wrasse fishery and the use of wrasses as cleaner fish. In this document, we address the sea lice problem and introduce the main wrasse species employed as cleaner fish, document the cleaning behaviour of wrasses, present the development of a new wrasse fishery associated with the salmon aquaculture industry, and finally, we identify the main challenges associated with the intensive use of wild-caught cleaner wrasses and provide some insight for future directions of the wrasse fishery and further development of aquaculture techniques to supply salmon facilities with domesticated cleaner fish.
A Subtle Difference: On Ending One's Own Life in Muslim Religious Thought
Authors: HARTUNG JAN-PETER
Published: July 2017

In the focus of this article is the complex problem to validate the deliberate disposal of a Muslim's own life for an Islamically sustained cause – popularmodus operandiin the contemporary religiously inspired militant contexts – from a range of religious perspectives. While the general tenor suggest that such an action constitutes deliberate suicide(qatl nafsah)and is to be firmly rejected, the eschatological concept of ‘martyrdom’(istishhād)adds an alternative interpretation that allows for a positive and even commendable appraisal of such an act.

It is shown here that, from the formative period of Islam onwards, Muslim exegetes, theologians, jurists and philosophers have struggled to come to some kind of agreement over what delineates ‘suicide’ from ‘martyrdom’. Underlying all those attempts is the question what constitutes ‘life’: it appears that the substantial differences in the appraisal of a Muslim's disposal of her or his own life are, in fact, rooted in different conceptions of ‘life’ itself. It is shown how the dismissal of such acts as ‘suicide’ or endorsement as ‘martyrdom’ was, and is, sustained by complex theological and philosophical arguments, including those of volition versus predetermination, as well as such on vegetative growth versus the eudemonistic ‘good life’. Depending on which view is being adopted, one and the same act of disposing one's own life can either be consistently denounced as religiously reprehensible, or equally consistently as religiously commendable.
The extravagant progressive: an experimental corpus study on the history of emphatic [beVing]
Authors: PETRÉ PETER
Published: July 2017

This article combines methodologies from corpus linguistics with an experimental-like setup more affiliated to psycholinguistic research. The resulting methodology allows us to gain more insight into cognitive motivations of language use in speakers from the past, and consequently to better assess their similarity to present-day speakers (the Uniformitarian Principle). One such cognitive motivation thought to be relevant in the early stages of grammatical constructionalization (grammaticalization) is covered by the evasive concept of ‘extravagance’ (i.e. the desire to talk in such a way that one is noticed). The methodology is tested on the Early Modern English extension of the [beVing]-construction to progressive uses in present-tense main clauses. It is argued, on the basis of recurrent contextual clues, that [beVing] in this novel use is motivated by extravagance. Interestingly, a comparison of two speaker/writer generations that are among the earliest to use this innovation with some frequency suggests that the encoding of extravagance shifted between them. At first, extravagance was signalled by coercion of the still stative semantics of [beVing] into a progressive reading. In the second generation it had become an entrenched characteristic of the construction itself.
A Haystack Heuristic for Autoimmune Disease Biomarker Discovery Using Next-Gen Immune Repertoire Sequencing Data
Authors: Apeltsin Leonard , Wang Shengzhi , von Büdingen H.-Christian , Sirota Marina
Published: July 2017

Large-scale DNA sequencing of immunological repertoires offers an opportunity for the discovery of novel biomarkers for autoimmune disease. Available bioinformatics techniques however, are not adequately suited for elucidating possible biomarker candidates from within large immunosequencing datasets due to unsatisfactory scalability and sensitivity. Here, we present the Haystack Heuristic, an algorithm customized to computationally extract disease-associated motifs from next-generation-sequenced repertoires by contrasting disease and healthy subjects. This technique employs a local-search graph-theory approach to discover novel motifs in patient data. We apply the Haystack Heuristic to nine million B-cell receptor sequences obtained from nearly 100 individuals in order to elucidate a new motif that is significantly associated with multiple sclerosis. Our results demonstrate the effectiveness of the Haystack Heuristic in computing possible biomarker candidates from high throughput sequencing data and could be generalized to other datasets.
Mountain gorilla lymphocryptovirus has Epstein-Barr virus-like epidemiology and pathology in infants
Authors: Smiley Evans Tierra , Lowenstine Linda J. , Gilardi Kirsten V. , Barry Peter A. , Ssebide Benard J. , Kinani Jean Felix , Nizeyimana Fred , Noheri Jean Bosco , Cranfield Michael R. , Mudakikwa Antoine , Goldstein Tracey , Mazet Jonna A. K. , Johnson Christine Kreuder
Published: July 2017

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infects greater than 90% of humans, is recognized as a significant comorbidity with HIV/AIDS, and is an etiologic agent for some human cancers. The critically endangered mountain gorilla population was suspected of infection with an EBV-like virus based on serology and infant histopathology similar to pulmonary reactive lymphoid hyperplasia (PRLH), a condition associated with EBV in HIV-infected children. To further examine the presence of EBV or an EBV-like virus in mountain gorillas, we conducted the first population-wide survey of oral samples for an EBV-like virus in a nonhuman great ape. We discovered that mountain gorillas are widely infected (n = 143/332) with a specific strain of lymphocryptovirus 1 (GbbLCV-1). Fifty-two percent of infant mountain gorillas were orally shedding GbbLCV-1, suggesting primary infection during this stage of life, similar to what is seen in humans in less developed countries. We then identified GbbLCV-1 in post-mortem infant lung tissues demonstrating histopathological lesions consistent with PRLH, suggesting primary infection with GbbLCV-1 is associated with PRLH in infants. Together, our findings demonstrate that mountain gorilla’s infection with GbbLCV-1 could provide valuable information for human disease in a natural great ape setting and have potential conservation implications in this critically endangered species.
Kanyawara Virus: A Novel Rhabdovirus Infecting Newly Discovered Nycteribiid Bat Flies Infesting Previously Unknown Pteropodid Bats in Uganda
Authors: Goldberg Tony L. , Bennett Andrew J. , Kityo Robert , Kuhn Jens H. , Chapman Colin A.
Published: July 2017

Bats are natural reservoir hosts of highly virulent pathogens such as Marburg virus, Nipah virus, and SARS coronavirus. However, little is known about the role of bat ectoparasites in transmitting and maintaining such viruses. The intricate relationship between bats and their ectoparasites suggests that ectoparasites might serve as viral vectors, but evidence to date is scant. Bat flies, in particular, are highly specialized obligate hematophagous ectoparasites that incidentally bite humans. Using next-generation sequencing, we discovered a novel ledantevirus (mononegaviral family Rhabdoviridae, genus Ledantevirus) in nycteribiid bat flies infesting pteropodid bats in western Uganda. Mitochondrial DNA analyses revealed that both the bat flies and their bat hosts belong to putative new species. The coding-complete genome of the new virus, named Kanyawara virus (KYAV), is only distantly related to that of its closest known relative, Mount Elgon bat virus, and was found at high titers in bat flies but not in blood or on mucosal surfaces of host bats. Viral genome analysis indicates unusually low CpG dinucleotide depletion in KYAV compared to other ledanteviruses and rhabdovirus groups, with KYAV displaying values similar to rhabdoviruses of arthropods. Our findings highlight the possibility of a yet-to-be-discovered diversity of potentially pathogenic viruses in bat ectoparasites.
Postglacial range expansion and the role of ecological factors in driving adaptive evolution of Musa basjoo var. formosana
Authors: Chen Jui-Hung , Huang Chun-Lin , Lai Yu-Long , Chang Chung-Te , Liao Pei-Chun , Hwang Shih-Ying , Sun Chih-Wen
Published: July 2017

Genetic variation evolves during postglacial range expansion of a species and is important for adapting to varied environmental conditions. It is crucial for the future survival of a species. We investigate the nuclear DNA sequence variation to provide evidence of postglacial range expansion of Musa basjoo var. formosana, a wild banana species, and test for adaptive evolution of amplified fragment length polymorphic (AFLP) loci underlying local adaptation in association with environmental variables. Postglacial range expansion was suggested by phylogeographical analyses based on sequence variation of the second intron of copper zinc superoxide dismutase 2 gene. Two glacial refugia were inferred by the average FST parameter (mean FST of a population against the remaining populations). Using variation partitioning by redundancy analysis, we found a significant amount of explained AFLP variation attributed to environmental and spatially-structured environmental effects. By combining genome scan methods and multiple univariate logistic regression, four AFLP loci were found to be strongly associated with environmental variables, including temperature, precipitation, soil moisture, wet days, and surface coverage activity representing vegetation greenness. These environmental variables may have played various roles as ecological drivers for adaptive evolution of M. basjoo var. formosana during range expansion after the last glacial maximum.
Polydextrose changes the gut microbiome and attenuates fasting triglyceride and cholesterol levels in Western diet fed mice
Authors: Raza Ghulam Shere , Putaala Heli , Hibberd Ashley A. , Alhoniemi Esa , Tiihonen Kirsti , Mäkelä Kari Antero , Herzig Karl-Heinz
Published: July 2017

Obesity and dyslipidemia are hallmarks of metabolic and cardiovascular diseases. Polydextrose (PDX), a soluble fiber has lipid lowering effects. We hypothesize that PDX reduces triglycerides and cholesterol by influencing gut microbiota, which in turn modulate intestinal gene expression. C57BL/6 male mice were fed a Western diet (WD) ±75 mg PDX twice daily by oral gavage for 14 days. Body weight and food intake were monitored daily. Fasting plasma lipids, caecal microbiota and gene expression in intestine and liver were measured after 14 days of feeding. PDX supplementation to WD significantly reduced food intake (p < 0.001), fasting plasma triglyceride (p < 0.001) and total cholesterol (p < 0.05). Microbiome analysis revealed that the relative abundance of Allobaculum, Bifidobacterium and Coriobacteriaceae taxa associated with lean phenotype, increased in WD + PDX mice. Gene expression analysis with linear mixed-effects model showed consistent downregulation of Dgat1, Cd36, Fiaf and upregulation of Fxr in duodenum, jejunum, ileum and colon in WD + PDX mice. Spearman correlations indicated that genera enriched in WD + PDX mice inversely correlated with fasting lipids and downregulated genes Dgat1, Cd36 and Fiaf while positively with upregulated gene Fxr. These results suggest that PDX in mice fed WD promoted systemic changes via regulation of the gut microbiota and gene expression in intestinal tract.
Marangoni effect induced macro porous surface films prepared through a facile sol-gel route
Authors: Khan Shahid , Wang Kangkai , Yuan Guangzhong , Haq Mahmood ul , Wu Zhizheng , Usman Muhammad , Song Chenlu , Han Gaorong , Liu Yong
Published: July 2017

Based on TiO2 as a model system, the sol-gel one step facile method is established to fabricate the macro-porous morphology films on the basis of Marangoni effect. In this proposed mechanism, the binary mixture of hydrophilic CuCl2 and lipophilic Ti-O network is used in sol to produce phase separation. A suitable evaporation rate in the gel film process leads to the macro-porous film due to Marangoni effect. It is observed that the macro-porous morphology of the film sustains during the annealing process, which suggests the creation of porous surface morphology in gel film stage rather than due to annealing. To analyze the preparation mechanism, the sol-gel process and microstructure of films are examined using TG-DTA, SEM, TEM, XRD, Raman, UV-Vis, XPS and FTIR. Furthermore, the optical-thermal properties are studied for the potential applications of such porous surface films as solar selective absorber.
Structure of polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) synthase PhaC from Chromobacterium sp. USM2, producing biodegradable plastics
Authors: Chek Min Fey , Kim Sun-Yong , Mori Tomoyuki , Arsad Hasni , Samian Mohammed Razip , Sudesh Kumar , Hakoshima Toshio
Published: July 2017

Polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) is a promising candidate for use as an alternative bioplastic to replace petroleum-based plastics. Our understanding of PHA synthase PhaC is poor due to the paucity of available three-dimensional structural information. Here we present a high-resolution crystal structure of the catalytic domain of PhaC from Chromobacterium sp. USM2, PhaC
Cs
-CAT. The structure shows that PhaC
Cs
-CAT forms an α/β hydrolase fold comprising α/β core and CAP subdomains. The active site containing Cys291, Asp447 and His477 is located at the bottom of the cavity, which is filled with water molecules and is covered by the partly disordered CAP subdomain. We designated our structure as the closed form, which is distinct from the recently reported catalytic domain from Cupriavidus necator (PhaC
Cn
-CAT). Structural comparison showed PhaC
Cn
-CAT adopting a partially open form maintaining a narrow substrate access channel to the active site, but no product egress. PhaC
Cs
-CAT forms a face-to-face dimer mediated by the CAP subdomains. This arrangement of the dimer is also distinct from that of the PhaC
Cn
-CAT dimer. These findings suggest that the CAP subdomain should undergo a conformational change during catalytic activity that involves rearrangement of the dimer to facilitate substrate entry and product formation and egress from the active site.
A Simple Add-and-Display Method for Immobilisation of Cancer Drug on His-tagged Virus-like Nanoparticles for Controlled Drug Delivery
Authors: Biabanikhankahdani Roya , Bayat Saadi , Ho Kok Lian , Alitheen Noorjahan Banu Mohamed , Tan Wen Siang
Published: July 2017

pH-responsive virus-like nanoparticles (VLNPs) hold promising potential as drug delivery systems for cancer therapy. In the present study, hepatitis B virus (HBV) VLNPs harbouring His-tags were used to display doxorubicin (DOX) via nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA) conjugation. The His-tags served as pH-responsive nanojoints which released DOX from VLNPs in a controlled manner. The His-tagged VLNPs conjugated non-covalently with NTA-DOX, and cross-linked with folic acid (FA) were able to specifically target and deliver the DOX into ovarian cancer cells via folate receptor (FR)-mediated endocytosis. The cytotoxicity and cellular uptake results revealed that the His-tagged VLNPs significantly increased the accumulation of DOX in the ovarian cancer cells and enhanced the uptake of DOX, which improved anti-tumour effects. This study demonstrated that NTA-DOX can be easily displayed on His-tagged VLNPs by a simple Add-and-Display step with high coupling efficiency and the drug was only released at low pH in a controlled manner. This approach facilitates specific attachment of any drug molecule on His-tagged VLNPs at the very mild conditions without changing the biological structure and native conformation of the VLNPs.
MiR-30a targets IL-1α and regulates islet functions as an inflammation buffer and response factor
Authors: Jiang Xin , Xu Chenke , Lei Fan , Liao Meijian , Wang Wei , Xu Naihan , Zhang Yaou , Xie Weidong
Published: July 2017

Diabetes is an inflammatory disease. Inflammation plays an important role in islet functions. However, the exact mechanisms by which inflammation affects islet functions remain unclear. In this study, we investigated the regulatory effects of miR-30a on inflammation and islet functions. The results indicate that miR-30a serves as an inflammation-resolving buffer factor by targeting interleukin 1a (IL-1α) in immune cells and in islet cells, which might play an important role in inflammation homeostasis. miR-30a ameliorates islet functions in an inflammatory micro-environment by targeting the IL-1α/nuclear factor kappa B (NFKB) p65 subunit (p65)/p62 (SQSTM1)/insulin axis, which can be developed into a novel antidiabetic approach. miR-30a serves as a promising inflammation-response biomarker in inflammatory diseases and is possibly activated by the toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)/IL-1α/NFKB pathways. However, the exact molecular mechanisms by which miR-30a regulates inflammation and islet functions as well as the potential applications in transitional medicine require further elucidation.
Retinal degeneration in progressive supranuclear palsy measured by optical coherence tomography and scanning laser polarimetry
Authors: Stemplewitz Birthe , Kromer Robert , Vettorazzi Eik , Hidding Ute , Frings Andreas , Buhmann Carsten
Published: July 2017

This cross-sectional study compared the retinal morphology between patients with progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) and healthy controls. (The retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) around the optic disc and the retina in the macular area of 22 PSP patients and 151 controls were investigated by spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT). Additionally, the RNFL and the nerve fiber index (NFI) were measured by scanning laser polarimetry (SLP). Results of RNFL measurements with SD-OCT and SLP were compared to assess diagnostic discriminatory power. Applying OCT, PSP patients showed a smaller RNFL thickness in the inferior nasal and inferior temporal areas. The macular volume and the thickness of the majority of macular sectors were reduced compared to controls. SLP data showed a thinner RNFL thickness and an increase in the NFI in PSP patients. Sensitivity and specificity to discriminate PSP patients from controls were higher applying SLP than SD-OCT. Retinal changes did not correlate with disease duration or severity in any OCT or SLP measurement. PSP seems to be associated with reduced thickness and volume of the macula and reduction of the RNFL, independent of disease duration or severity. Retinal imaging with SD-OCT and SLP might become an additional tool in PSP diagnosis.
Clean Power Generation from the Intractable Natural Coalfield Fires: Turn Harm into Benefit
Authors: Shi Bobo , Su Hetao , Li Jinshi , Qi Haining , Zhou Fubao , Torero José L. , Chen Zhongwei
Published: July 2017

The coal fires, a global catastrophe for hundreds of years, have been proved extremely difficult to control, and hit almost every coal-bearing area globally. Meanwhile, underground coal fires contain tremendous reservoir of geothermal energy. Approximately one billion tons of coal burns underground annually in the world, which could generate ~1000 GW per annum. A game-changing approach, environmentally sound thermal energy extraction from the intractable natural coalfield fires, is being developed by utilizing the waste energy and reducing the temperature of coalfield fires at the same time. Based on the Seebeck effect of thermoelectric materials, the temperature difference between the heat medium and cooling medium was employed to directly convert thermal energy into clean electrical energy. By the time of December 2016, the power generation from a single borehole at Daquan Lake fire district in Xinjiang has been exceeded 174.6 W. The field trial demonstrates that it is possible to exploit and utilize the waste heat resources in the treated coal fire areas. It promises a significant impact on the structure of global energy generation and can also promote progress in thermoelectric conversion materials, geothermal exploration, underground coal fires control and other energy related areas.
Affinity purification of erythropoietin from cell culture supernatant combined with MALDI-TOF-MS analysis of erythropoietin N-glycosylation
Authors: Falck David , Haberger Markus , Plomp Rosina , Hook Michaela , Bulau Patrick , Wuhrer Manfred , Reusch Dietmar
Published: July 2017

Erythropoietin (EPO) is a heavily glycosylated hormone whose recombinant forms are used for treatment of anaemia. EPO glycosylation is important for its pharmacological properties. An analytical workflow, which can determine EPO glycosylation in an accurate and high-throughput fashion from cell culture supernatant (CCS) in approximately 24 h, offers the possibility to follow changes during production. To address this challenge, we present a complete workflow consisting of protein purification, glycan release, sialic acid derivatization, solid phase extraction, matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization - mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS) analysis and MassyTools data processing. EPO purification from CCS by anti-EPO antibody coupled Sepharose beads yielded excellent purity with acceptable recovery and was free of glycoform bias. Glycosylation profiles obtained by MALDI-MS were highly comparable to those obtained with an established capillary gel electrophoresis–laser induced fluorescence method. Our method delivers accurate results for the analysis of changes of important glycosylation parameters, such as sialylation and number of N-acetyllactosamine units, for the time course of a fermentation. We could resolve differences in glycosylation between several CCS samples.
Potential Mediating Biomarkers underlying the Association of Body Mass Index or Waist Circumference with Blood Pressure: Results from Three Population-based Studies
Authors: Wu Xiaoyan , Yang Xue , Shan Ruiqi , Li Tianjiao , Zi Tianqi , Li Ying , Na Lixin , Sun Changhao
Published: July 2017

We conducted a comprehensive and in-depth assessment of body mass index (BMI) or waist circumference (WC) related to blood pressure (BP) and determined whether the association is mediated by the possible potential mediators in the cross-sectional survey of the Harbin Cohort Study on Diet, Nutrition and Chronic Non-communicable Diseases of 7094 participants aged 20–74 years, and validated the significant findings in the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey four cross-sectional cohorts (2005–2006, 2007–2008, 2009–2010, and 2011–2012) and the cohort data of the Harbin People’s Health Study (a median of 4.2 follow-up years). We observed that BMI or WC was positively associated with BP (all P-values < 0.0001). Mediation analyses consistently indicated that these associations were mediated mainly by insulin resistance (IR) as measured by the homeostasis model (HOMA-IR), followed by triglyceride (TG) and total cholesterol (TC), and fasting glucose (FG) in the three studies. The proportions via the mediation of insulin/HOMA-IR were 25~40%, TG and TC were 15~20%, and FG was 2~8%, respectively. These findings suggest that the mediators, insulin/insulin resistance, TG, TC, and FG, could be targeted for preventing hypertension among populations who were overweight or obesity.