bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Surface and wear mechanisms analysis of phosphorous-free and conventional engine lubricants on cylinder liner and piston rings surfaces
Authors: Özkan Dogus , Kaleli Hakan , BERTHIER Yves , Yüksek Levent
Published: July 2015

Purpose

– This paper aims to investigate the wear mechanisms, formations and effectiveness of tribofilms of new developed, antiwear additive which is called mercapthocarboxylate. The mercapthocarboxylate is a sulphur-based and non-phosphorus additive.

Design/methodology/approach

– The effectiveness of the additive was examined through a set of laboratory endurance tests that applied with single cylinder spark ignition engine. Two types of lubricants were used to compare the engine tests which were thiophosphate (ZDDP) containing engine lubricant (phosphorus containing) and mercapthocarboxylate containing non-phosphorus and non-ash crankcase oil. Lubricants were tested under identical operating conditions for 100 hrs. The surfaces of cylinder liner and piston rings were inspected through optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy techniques.

Findings

– Catalysis-friendly and sulphur-based mercapthocarboxylate additive can be an alternative antiwear additive package for lubrication oil due to better wear performance when compared to ZDDP.

Originality/value

– Sulphur-based mercapthocarboxylate is a new developed antiwear additive and was applied to lubrication oil in this study. This lubrication oil was tested in the real engine environment by using 100-hr engine bench tests.
Social needs in Finnish young adults’ mundane consumption
Authors: Syrjälä Henna , Leipämaa-Leskinen Hanna , Laaksonen Pirjo
Published: July 2015

Purpose

– This paper aims to show how social needs – the need for integration and need for distinctiveness – guide Finnish young adults’ mundane consumption behaviors.

Design/methodology/approach

– The study draws on literature on the fundamental importance of social needs for people’s social well-being and the healthy development of the young. The research uses qualitative methods, leaning on an interpretive approach that regards social needs as subjectively experienced and socially constructed phenomena. The empirical data were sourced from 56 Finnish university students’ narratives on their daily consumption behaviors.

Findings

– The findings present five categories: “Socializing through consumption”, “Consuming to affiliate”, “Uniqueness through consumption”, “Consuming to show off” and “Obedient consumption”, which are further linked to social needs.

Social implications

– The study opens up the ways social needs are connected to consumption behaviors, for example showing how quotidian consumption objects, such as branded clothes, may be used to satisfy social needs in a way that enables young adults to make independent and distinctive consumption choices. On the other hand, in regard to young consumers’ psychological and social well-being, the study finds that striving to satisfy social needs could also lead to destructive behaviors, such as alcohol consumption.

Originality/value

– The current research highlights the unavoidable importance of social needs in young adults’ mundane consumption and how they strive to satisfy them. Thereby, it yields implications for social well-being by shedding light on the pressures and possibilities faced by young adults in their everyday life.
“What brand do you eat?” The influence of food brands within children’s peer groups
Authors: Hemar-Nicolas Valérie , Gollety Mathilde , Damay Coralie , Ezan Pascale
Published: July 2015

Purpose

– This paper aims to explore the role played by food brands within children’s peer groups when they have a meal together.

Design/methodology/approach

– Sixty-four elementary-aged children participated in one of ten organized snack times (five with unbranded products, five with branded products). Based on a qualitative methodology, data collection methods comprise observations and focus groups with the children.

Findings

– Children mostly select the products according to their taste preference regardless of the brand name. They make individual decisions and are hardly influenced by their peers. Children use food brands as a common language to designate products, but they do not use them to convey their self-identity and enhance social integration.

Research limitations/implications

– This research contributes to a better understanding of the way children use food brands within peer group, and may be helpful when considering the future of children’s food marketing and tackling the issue of childhood obesity.

Originality/value

– Whereas prior research has mostly studied the social value allocated by children to durable goods’ brands, such as clothing and electronic items, very few previous studies have focused on food brands.
Integrated interpretation of 3D seismic data to enhance the detection of the gold‐bearing reef: Mponeng Gold mine, Witwatersrand Basin (South Africa)
Authors: Manzi Musa , Cooper Gordon , Malehmir Alireza , Durrheim Raymond , Nkosi Zamaswazi
Published: July 2015

We present an integrated approach to the seismic interpretation of one of the world's deepest gold ore body (Carbon Leader Reef) using three‐dimensional seismic data, ultrasonic velocity measurements at elevated stresses, and modified instantaneous attribute analysis. Seismic wave velocities of the drill‐core samples (quartzite, shale, and conglomeratic reef) from the mine are sensitive to uniaxial stress changes, i.e., they slowly increase with increasing pressure until they reach maximum value at ∼25 MPa. For all the samples, seismic velocities are constant above 25 MPa, indicating a possible closure of microcracks at stress corresponding to 1.0 km–1.5 km. A reflection coefficient of 0.02 computed between hanging wall and footwall quartzites of the Carbon Leader Reef ore body suggests that it may be difficult to obtain a strong seismic reflection at their interface. Our modified seismic attribute algorithm, on the other hand, shows that the detection of the lateral continuity of the Carbon Leader Reef reflector can significantly be improved by sharpening the seismic traces. Three‐dimensional seismic data reveal that faults with throws greater than 25 m that offset the Carbon Leader Reef can clearly be seen. Faults with throws less than 25 m but greater than 2‐m throw were identified through horizon‐based attribute analysis, while most dykes and sills with thickness less than 25 m were invisible. The detection of the lateral continuity of the Carbon Leader Reef reflector and its depth position is greatly improved by integrating the modified instantaneous attributes with controls from borehole observations. The three‐dimensional visualization and effective interpretation of the Carbon Leader Reef horizon shows a host of structurally complex ore body blocks that may impact future shaft positioning and reduce its associated risks.
Reconciling expert judgement and habitat suitability models as tools for guiding sampling of threatened species
Authors: Aizpurua Olatz , Cantú‐Salazar Lisette , San Martin Gilles , Biver Gilles , Brotons Lluís , Titeux Nicolas
Published: July 2015

Up‐to‐date knowledge on species distribution is needed for efficient biodiversity conservation and management decision‐making. Implementing efficient sampling strategies to identify previously unknown locations of species of conservation‐concern is therefore a key challenge. Both structured expert judgement and habitat suitability models may help target sampling towards areas where chances to find the species are highest. However, practitioners often object to the use of models and believe they do not result in better decisions than the subjective opinion of experts, thus potentially constraining an optimal use of available methods and information.

To illustrate the potential of habitat suitability models for guiding sampling strategies, we evaluated and compared the ability of experts and models to identify important areas for the conservation of a bird species (Lanius collurio) in Luxembourg. We conducted extensive fieldwork to find as many unknown bird territories as possible according to three independent sampling strategies: (i) a sampling strategy based on structured expert judgement, (ii) a sampling strategy based on the predictions of a habitat suitability model and (iii) a general‐purpose stratified random sampling strategy used as a baseline reference.

Both the expert‐based and the model‐based sampling strategies substantially outperformed the general‐purpose sampling strategy in identifying new species records. In addition, the model‐based sampling strategy performed significantly better than the expert‐based sampling strategy.

Synthesis and applications. This study explicitly shows that habitat suitability models can efficiently guide field data collection towards suitable areas for species of conservation‐concern. Results may facilitate the involvement of practitioners in the development of habitat suitability models with the objective of maximizing the robustness of modelling applications in conservation practice and management decision‐making.
Freshwater ice as habitat: partitioning of phytoplankton and bacteria between ice and water in central European reservoirs
Authors: McKay Robert M.L. , Prášil Ondrej , Pechar Libor , Lawrenz Evelyn , Rozmarynowycz Mark J. , Bullerjahn George S.
Published: July 2015

Abundant phytoplankton and bacteria were identified by high‐throughput 16S rRNA tag Illumina sequencing of samples from water and ice phases collected during winter at commercial fish ponds and a sand pit lake within the UNESCO Třeboň Basin Biosphere Reserve, Czech Republic. Bacterial reads were dominated by Proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes. Despite dominance by members of just two phyla, UniFrac principal coordinates analysis of the bacterial community separated the water community of Klec fish pond, as well as the ice‐associated community of Klec‐Sand Pit from other samples. Both phytoplankton and cyanobacteria were represented with hundreds of sequence reads per sample, a finding corroborated by microscopy. In particular, ice from Klec‐Sand Pit contained high contributions from photoautotrophs accounting for 25% of total reads with reads dominated by single operational taxonomic units (OTUs) of the cyanobacterium Planktothrix sp. and two filamentous diatoms. Dominant OTUs recovered from ice were largely absent (< 0.01%) from underlying water suggestive of low floristic similarity of phytoplankton partitioned between these phases. Photosynthetic characterization of phototrophs resident in water and ice analysed by variable chlorophyll a fluorescence showed that communities from both phases were photosynthetically active, thus supporting ice as viable habitat for phytoplankton in freshwater lakes and reservoirs.
Understanding Americans’ views on opioid pain reliever abuse
Authors: Barry Colleen L. , Kennedy‐Hendricks Alene , Gollust Sarah E. , Niederdeppe Jeff , Bachhuber Marcus A. , Webster Daniel W. , McGinty Emma E.
Published: July 2015

Aims

Opioid pain reliever abuse rates have increased sharply in the United States. This study examines Americans’ personal experience with opioid pain reliever use and abuse, and views about the seriousness of the problem, factors causing it, responsibility for addressing it and support for policies to resolve it.

Design

Public opinion survey.

Setting and Participants

A nationally representative US adult sample (n = 1111).

Measures

Experiences with opioid pain relievers and views about the seriousness, causes of and responsibility for addressing the problem, and support for policies to reduce opioid pain reliever abuse.

Findings

28.2 per cent of Americans reported using opioid pain relievers in the last 12 months, 69.5% have used them in their life‐time and 17.3% reported using these medications when not prescribed to them. Fifty‐eight per cent ranked the problem as serious, on a par with other major health concerns. Individual‐orientated factors, including a lack of understanding about how easy it is to become addicted (80.0%) and improper storage (65.1%) and disposal (64.1%), ranked highest as causes, and those abusing opioid pain relievers (83.8%) and their physicians (78.0%) were viewed as most responsible for solving the problem. Of the policies recommended to curb the epidemic, 14 of 16 were supported by a majority of Americans.

Conclusions

Americans view the problem of opioid pain reliever abuse as serious, and support nearly all the policies recommended by medical, law enforcement, disease control and public health experts to curb the epidemic.
Metabolizing Difficult Doctor–Patient Relationships: Reflections on A Balint Group for Higher Trainees
Authors: Mills Turlough , Smith Mike
Published: July 2015

This paper describes a Balint group in Leeds which, so far as we are aware, is unique in the UK for being aimed at higher level trainees. The paper is written from the trainee's perspective. The experience has been so useful that the group has concluded that this should be an integral part of all higher training schemes. The paper discusses two cases we brought to the group which illustrate some of the challenges faced by trainees at this level of their training. It also aims to inform the reader of the need for such an experience for higher level trainees. The cases presented were experienced by the doctors involved as troubling and disturbing to their sense of self. The Balint group provides a safe environment for discussion of the most disturbing cases, especially those which involve a hard‐to‐bear countertransference, and as such, fosters ongoing personal development. Standard supervisory models are considered unable to provide such a space. The Leeds group, which is made up of trainees from all specialties, have rated the Balint experience as one of the most important in their professional lives.
Discovery of Novel Peptidomimetics as Irreversible CHIKV NsP2 Protease Inhibitors Using Quantum Mechanical‐Based Ligand Descriptors
Authors: El‐labbad Eman M. , Ismail Mohammed A. H. , Abou Ei Ella Dalal A. , Ahmed Marawan , Wang Feng , Barakat Khaled H. , Abouzid Khaled A. M.
Published: July 2015

Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is a mosquito‐borne alphavirus. Recent outbreaks of CHIKV infections have been reported in Asia, Africa, and Europe. The symptoms of CHIKV infection include fever, headache, nausea, vomiting, myalgia, rash, and chronic persistent arthralgia. To date, no vaccines or selective antiviral drugs against this important emerging virus have been reported. In this study, the design, synthesis, and antiviral activity screening of new topographical peptidomimetics revealed three potential prototype agents 3a, 4b, and 5d showing 93–100% maximum inhibition of CHIKV replication in cell‐based assay having EC90 of 8.76–9.57 μg/mL. Intensive molecular modeling studies including covalent docking, lowest unoccupied molecular orbital energies, and the atomic condensed Fukui functions calculations strongly suggested the covalent binding of peptidomimetics 3a, 4b, and 5d to CHIKV nsP2 protease leading to permanent enzyme inactivation via Michael adduct formation between α/β‐unsaturated ketone functionality in our designed peptidomimetics and active site catalytic cysteine1013. Furthermore, small molecular weight peptidomimetics 3a and 4b satisfied the Lipinski rule of five for drug‐likeness and showed promising intestinal absorption and aqueous solubility via computational admet studies making them promising hits for further optimization.
Ovarian clear cell carcinoma with plasma cell‐rich inflammatory stroma: a clear cell carcinoma subgroup with distinct clinicopathological features
Authors: Kato Noriko , Kurotaki Hidekachi , Uchigasaki Shinya , Fukase Masayuki , Kurose Akira
Published: July 2015

Aims

Ovarian clear cell carcinoma has a unique stroma. Although a hyalinized or mucoid stroma is more common, the stroma sometimes shows a dense inflammatory infiltrate, simulating a dysgerminoma. The aim of this study was to analyse the character and significance of the inflammatory stroma.

Methods and results

Twelve of 60 (20%) clear cell carcinomas showed an inflammatory stroma. The inflammatory stroma and hyalinized/mucoid stroma were mutually exclusive. Inflammatory cells were predominantly composed of CD138‐positive plasma cells. As compared with the non‐inflammatory cases, the epithelial component frequently showed a solid growth pattern and immunoreactivity for cyclooxygenase‐2, one of the critical proinflammatory enzymes (P < 0.005). These findings were repeated after heterotransplantation of three clear cell carcinoma cell lines into athymic nude mice. In particular, xenografts of one cell line (JHOC‐5) were infiltrated by mature plasma cells, indicating that plasma cell differentiation was stimulated by JHOC‐5 cells, independently of T lymphocytes. Clinicopathologically, the frequency of International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics stage III was higher in the cases with an inflammatory stroma than in those without it (P < 0.01).

Conclusions

Clear cell carcinomas with an inflammatory stroma constitute a distinct clinicopathological subgroup. It is strongly suggested that tumour cells themselves are responsible for inducing inflammation and stimulating plasma cell differentiation in a paracrine manner.
Ovarian hilar proliferations resembling Sertoli cell tumours: microscopic neoplasms or non‐neoplastic remnants?
Authors: Taylor Jennifer , Clarke Blaise A , Hasan Noori U , Gasljevic Gorana , Cesari Matthew , McCluggage W Glenn
Published: July 2015

Aims

To describe four cases of incidentally detected microscopic ovarian hilar Sertoli cell proliferation, a phenomenon that, as far as we are aware, has not been previously reported, and to discuss the differential diagnosis of these lesions.

Methods and results

The proliferations occurred in women aged 35–62 years, and were composed of solid and hollow tubules that were morphologically and immunohistochemically in keeping with Sertoli cells. Two cases were bilateral.

Conclusions

We feel that these uncommon proliferations are likely to represent non‐neoplastic embryological remnants rather than hilar Sertoli cell tumours.
Pleomorphic giant cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder: an extreme form of tumour de‐differentiation
Authors: Samaratunga Hemamali , Delahunt Brett , Egevad Lars , Adamson Michael , Hussey David , Malone Greg , Hoyle Kirsten , Nathan Tim , Kerle David , Ferguson Peter , Nacey John N
Published: July 2015

Aims

Vesical pleomorphic giant cell carcinoma (PGCC) is a variant of urothelial carcinoma (UC) characterized by highly pleomorphic tumour with giant cells. Fewer than 10 cases have been reported, and our aim was to determine the clinical and pathological features of a series of tumours from a specialized uropathology laboratory.

Methods and results

Thirteen cases of PGCC of the bladder were identified. There were nine males and four females, ranging in age from 53 to 92 years (mean 72 years). Associated conventional high‐grade UC was seen in eight cases, while three cases also had micropapillary UC and one plasmacytoid UC. UC in situ (CIS) was present in five cases and occasional bizarre cells were seen in both UC and CIS. The proportion of PGCC present varied from 40% to 100% of tumour. Immunostaining performed on 10 cases showed uniform positivity for CK 8/18 and AE1/AE3, while most tumours were positive for CK7, CK20, uroplakin III and GATA binding protein 3 (GATA3). β‐human chorionic gonadotrophin (β‐hCG) was negative. Of 10 patients with follow‐up, five died within 1 year and four are alive with tumour.

Conclusions

The association of PGCC with UC and an overlap in immunoexpression suggests that PGCC represents an extreme form of UC de‐differentiation.
Trichoscopic changes in hair during treatment of hirsutism with 1064‐nm neodymium:yttrium–aluminum–garnet laser
Authors: Mohamed Essam‐elden Mohamed , Ahmed Amer Mohamed , Tawfik Khaled Mohamed , Ibrahim Shady Mahmoud
Published: July 2015

Background

Laser hair removal has become an accepted form of long‐term hair reduction and is now one of the most common dermatologic procedures. Trichoscan is a validated method of assessing hair length, thickness, and density and growth rate using dermoscopy.

Objective

The study aimed to evaluate the trichoscopic changes during treatment of hirsutism with 1064‐nm neodymium:yttrium–aluminum–garnet laser.

Methods

Seventy patients with idiopathic facial hirsutism referring to the laser centers of Al‐Azhar University hospital (Asyut and Cairo) between December 2012 and October 2014 were enrolled in this open‐label, multicentric study. All participants received six sessions of 1064‐nm Nd:YAG laser at 4‐week intervals. Mean hair density/cm2, percentage of terminal/vellus hair ratio, and hair thickness (mm) were assessed at baseline and 1 month after each session for six sessions using trichoscan.

Results

Seventy female patients completed the study protocol. At the final visit, mean hair density, terminal/vellus hair ratio, and hair thickness were significantly decreased from baseline (73.7 + 20.6, 72.5 + 14.7, 0.095 + 0.02, respectively) to (19.4 + 5.6, 21.3 + 5.2, 0.02 ± 0.007, respectively) (P < 0.05 for each).

Conclusion

One thousand and sixty‐four‐nm Nd:YAG laser is an effective and safe method in the reduction of unwanted facial hair. Trichoscan is an easy and more accurate method in monitoring the treatment of hair disorders.
Is the relative increase in income inequality related to tooth loss in middle‐aged adults?
Authors: Goulart Mariél de Aquino , Vettore Mario Vianna
Published: July 2015

Objectives

To assess whether Brazilian middle‐aged adults living in cities that experienced a relative increase on income inequality were more likely to have severe tooth loss and lack a functional dentition.

Methods

Data on Brazilian adults aged 35‐44 years from state capitals and Federal District from the 2010 Brazilian Oral Health Survey (SBBrasil 2010) were analyzed. Clinically assessed tooth loss outcomes were severe tooth loss (<9 remaining natural teeth) and lack of functional dentition (<21 natural teeth). Income inequality was assessed by Gini Index in 1991, 2000, and 2003 using tertiles of distribution. Variation in Gini Index was assessed by changes in the tertiles distribution between years. Multilevel logistic regression models were used to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95 percent confidence intervals (95 percent CI) between variation in income inequality and tooth loss outcomes adjusting for individual socio‐demographic characteristics.

Results

Prevalence of severe tooth loss and lack of functional dentition was 4.8 percent and 21.2 percent, respectively. Individuals living in cities with moderate and high increase in income inequality between 1991 and 2003 were more likely to have severe tooth loss and lack a functional dentition in 2010 compared with those living in cities with stable income inequality in the same period. Relationships between low family income and both tooth loss outcomes were significantly attenuated by relative increases in income inequality.

Conclusions

Relative increases in income inequality were significantly associated with severe tooth loss and lack of a functional dentition in Brazilian middle‐aged adults.
The need for histological subclassification of cirrhosis: a systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Kim Gaeun , Lee Samuel S. , Baik Soon Koo , Cho Youn Zoo , Kim Moon Young , Kwon Sang Ok , Cha Seung Hwan , Cho Mee Yon
Published: July 2015

Background & Aims

The need for further histological subclassification of cirrhosis has been increasingly recognized because of the heterogeneity of severity within cirrhosis. We sought to identify evidence in the literature regarding the histological subclassification of cirrhosis using the Laennec stage.

Methods

We conducted a systematic review and meta‐analysis by searching databases, including MEDLINE, EMBASE and the COCHRANE library, for relevant studies.

Results

Of 208 studies identified, 16 were eligible according to the inclusion criteria. With higher grades of the Laennec stage, clinical stages of cirrhosis and Child–Pugh scores/Model for end‐stage liver disease scores increased (P < 0.05). Higher Laennec stages were statistically associated with the development of liver‐related events, such as liver‐related death, liver cancer progression and variceal haemorrhage, as well as higher hepatic venous pressure gradients and higher liver stiffness values (P < 0.05). Two open‐labelled studies showed the usefulness of the Laennec system with regard to the evaluation of whether antifibrotic treatments were effective. The mean kappa value was 0.81 (range 0.61–0.87) for inter‐observer agreement.

Conclusions

Based on this systematic review and meta‐analysis, histological subclassification of cirrhosis using the Laennec system is useful to better predict prognosis and complications of portal hypertension.
A combined inverse method and multivariate approach for exploring population trends of Florida manatees
Authors: Littles Chanda J. , Pilyugin Sergei S. , Frazer Thomas K.
Published: July 2015

Given the expense and time required to monitor marine mammal populations effectively, approaches that fully exploit the resulting data certainly are warranted. We employed a two‐step modeling approach to estimate key demographic parameters, including immigration, from aerial surveys of manatees (Trichechus manatus latirostris) in the Northwest management unit of Florida. Abundances of adults and calves were predicted by multivariate adaptive regression spline (MARS) models, after accounting for heterogeneous detection rates caused by variable environmental conditions. The resulting predictions were incorporated into a stage‐structured, deterministic model that used an inverse method to estimate parameters with and without immigration. The model without immigration estimated mean survival probabilities of 0.966, 0.923, and 0.794 for adults, subadults and calves, respectively, with a per capita reproductive rate of 0.135. These parameter estimates yielded an overall mean population growth rate of approximately 1.037, which is comparable to rates from mark‐recapture studies. When we added an immigration term that accounted for the greater slope in adult counts since 1999, as identified by the MARS model, the estimated per capita reproductive rate was 0.122, with survival probabilities for adults, subadults and calves of 0.926, 0.920, and 0.833, respectively. These rates were coupled with an estimated mean winter immigration rate corresponding to roughly 5.2% of the adult and subadult population. In this latter scenario, the number of manatees in the core population of the Northwest management unit was predicted to remain constant, with a population growth rate near one, and additional manatees counted during aerial surveys were deemed to be immigrants. While further studies could certainly expound on the potential effects of migrants on population indices, we present this first published immigration estimate for wintering manatees in northwest Florida.
Transport efficiency through uniformity: organization of veins and stomata in angiosperm leaves
Authors: Fiorin Lucia , Brodribb Timothy J. , Anfodillo Tommaso
Published: July 2015

Leaves of vascular plants use specific tissues to irrigate the lamina (veins) and to regulate water loss (stomata), to approach homeostasis in leaf hydration during photosynthesis. As both tissues come with attendant costs, it would be expected that the synthesis and spacing of leaf veins and stomata should be coordinated in a way that maximizes benefit to the plant.

We propose an innovative geoprocessing method based on image editing and a geographic information system to study the quantitative relationships between vein and stomatal spatial patterns on leaves collected from 31 angiosperm species from different biomes.

The number of stomata within each areole was linearly related to the length of the looping vein contour. As a consequence of the presence of free‐ending veinlets, the minimum mean distance of stomata from the nearest veins was invariant with areole size in most of the species, and species with smaller distances carried a higher density of stomata.

Uniformity of spatial patterning was consistent within leaves and species. Our results demonstrate the existence of an optimal spatial organization of veins and stomata, and suggest their interplay as a key feature for achieving a constant mesophyll hydraulic resistance throughout the leaf.
Woody tissue photosynthesis in trees: salve on the wounds of drought?
Authors: Vandegehuchte Maurits W. , Bloemen Jasper , Vergeynst Lidewei L. , Steppe Kathy
Published: July 2015

See also the Commentary by Cernusak and Cheesman
Immune system changes after sexual abuse in adolescents
Authors: Ayaydin Hamza , Abali Osman , Akdeniz Nilgun Okumus , Kok Burcu Ece , Gunes Adem , Yildirim Abdurrahman , Deniz Gunnur
Published: July 2015

Background

The immunological changes in diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis have been found to be similar to the immunological changes in adults with post‐traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The biological consequences of and immunological disruptions associated with psychological trauma in sexually abused adolescents were investigated in this study.

Methods

Number of peripheral blood cells, intracellular cytokine level and cytotoxic activity of natural killer cells were measured on routine blood examination samples in adolescents aged 13–18 referred to the outpatient unit for forensic evaluation. Forty‐three adolescents (patients with present/lifetime PTSD [PTSD‐P/PTSD‐L] associated with a history of childhood sexual abuse, n = 33; and 10 controls) were evaluated.

Results

Eosinophil percentage was high (P < 0.05), whereas stimulated intracellular interferon‐γ was low (P < 0.05) in adolescents with PTSD‐L compared with the control group. In PTSD‐P patients exposed to repeated sexual abuse, CD3+ HLA‐DR+ T‐lymphocyte count was low (P < 0.05) compared with those with one‐time sexual abuse.

Conclusion

The increase in some immune system parameters and the decrease in several others, suggests a dysregulation of the immune system related to trauma in adolescents. Dysregulation of the immune system is known to cause autoimmune and chronic disease.
Noninvasive Optical Imaging of UV‐Induced Squamous Cell Carcinoma in Murine Skin: Studies of Early Tumor Development and Vitamin D Enhancement of Protoporphyrin IX Production
Authors: Rollakanti Kishore R. , Anand Sanjay , Davis Scott C. , Pogue Brian W. , Maytin Edward V.
Published: July 2015

Better noninvasive techniques are needed to monitor protoporphyrin IX (PpIX) levels before and during photodynamic therapy (PDT) of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the skin. Our aim was to evaluate (1) multispectral fluorescent imaging of ultraviolet light (UV)‐induced cancer and precancer in a mouse model of SCC and (2) multispectral imaging and probe‐based fluorescence detection as a tool to study vitamin D (VD) effects on aminolevulinic acid (ALA)‐induced PpIX synthesis. Dorsal skin of hairless mice was imaged weekly during a 24‐week UV carcinogenesis protocol. Hot spots of PpIX fluorescence were detectable by multispectral imaging beginning at 14 weeks of UV exposure. Many hot spots disappeared after cessation of UV at week 20, but others persisted or became visible after week 20, and corresponded to tumors that eventually became visible by eye. In SCC‐bearing mice pretreated with topical VD before ALA application, our optical techniques confirmed that VD preconditioning induces a tumor‐selective increase in PpIX levels. Fluorescence‐based optical imaging of PpIX is a promising tool for detecting early SCC lesions of the skin. Pretreatment with VD can increase the ability to detect early tumors, providing a potential new way to improve efficacy of ALA‐PDT.
It Is Much Bigger Than What We Thought: New Estimate of Trade Diversion
Authors: Cheong Juyoung , Kwak Do Won , Tang Kam Ki
Published: July 2015

Estimates of the trade diversion (TD) effect of preferential trade agreements (PTAs) tend to be much smaller than that of the trade creation (TC) effect. This paper examines two sources of estimation bias of the TD effect. The first bias arises from the failure to recognise that the concept of TD is inapplicable for a substantial proportion of PTAs, and thus, previous studies wrongly count cases where trade cannot be diverted as cases where trade is not diverted. The second bias arises from the difficulty in controlling for multilateral resistance and other unobserved time‐varying country heterogeneity when estimating both TC and TD effects simultaneously due to perfect multicollinearity. This paper corrects these two biases using a new measure of TD which provides a better mapping between the concept and data characteristics. Removing the two sources of bias leads to a multifold increase in the estimate of the TD effect. It is found that the total TD effect is comparable to the TC effect in dollar terms.
How Has Globalisation Affected Inflation in China?
Authors: Zhang Chengsi
Published: July 2015

This paper investigates how globalisation has affected inflation in China. We estimated standard Phillips curve inflation equations and examined whether globalisation has affected the structure of inflation dynamics as captured by the Phillips curve. Empirical results suggest that the globalisation of the Chinese economy has changed the behaviour of inflation dynamics. In particular, the impact of domestic and global output gaps on domestic inflation in China has changed significantly since 1994. Before 1994, the domestic output gap was a major factor in driving domestic inflation. After 1994, however, the global output gap plays a significant and more important role in affecting domestic inflation. The finding implies that Chinese monetary authorities should specifically take into account the developments in global output in their monetary policymaking process.
A single-station method for the detection, classification and location of fin whale calls using ocean-bottom seismic stations
Authors: Matias Luis , Harris Danielle
Published: July 2015

Passive seismic monitoring in the oceans uses long-term deployments of Ocean Bottom Seismometers (OBSs). An OBS usually records the three components of ground motion and pressure, typically at 100 Hz. This makes the OBS an ideal tool to investigate fin and blue whales that vocalize at frequencies below 45 Hz. Previous applications of OBS data to locate whale calls have relied on single channel analyses that disregard the information that is conveyed by the horizontal seismic channels. Recently, Harris, Matias, Thomas, Harwood, and Geissler [J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 134, 3522–3535 (2013)] presented a method that used all four channels recorded by one OBS to derive the range and azimuth of fin whale calls. In this work, the detection, classification, and ranging of calls using this four-channel method were further investigated, focusing on methods to increase the accuracy of range estimates to direct path arrivals. Corrections to account for the influences of the sound speed in the water layer and the velocity structure in the top strata of the seabed were considered. The single station method discussed here is best implemented when OBSs have been deployed in deep water on top of seabed strata with low P-wave velocity. These conditions maximize the ability to detect and estimate ranges to fin whale calls.
Seagrass (Zostera marina) Colonization Promotes the Accumulation of Diazotrophic Bacteria and Alters the Relative Abundances of Specific Bacterial Lineages Involved in Benthic Carbon and Sulfur Cycling
Authors: Sun Feifei , Zhang Xiaoli , Zhang Qianqian , Liu Fanghua , Zhang Jianping , Gong Jun
Published: July 2015

Seagrass colonization changes the chemistry and biogeochemical cycles mediated by microbes in coastal sediments. In this study, we molecularly characterized the diazotrophic assemblages and entire bacterial community in surface sediments of a
Zostera marina
-colonized coastal lagoon in northern China. Higher nitrogenase gene (
nifH
) copy numbers were detected in the sediments from the vegetated region than in the sediments from the unvegetated region nearby. The
nifH
phylotypes detected were mostly affiliated with the
Geobacteraceae
,
Desulfobulbus
,
Desulfocapsa
, and
Pseudomonas
. Redundancy analysis based on terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis showed that the distribution of
nifH
genotypes was mostly shaped by the ratio of total organic carbon to total organic nitrogen, the concentration of cadmium in the sediments, and the pH of the overlying water. High-throughput sequencing and phylogenetic analyses of bacterial 16S rRNA genes also indicated the presence of
Geobacteraceae
and
Desulfobulbaceae
phylotypes in these samples. A comparison of these results with those of previous studies suggests the prevalence and predominance of iron(III)-reducing
Geobacteraceae
and sulfate-reducing
Desulfobulbaceae
diazotrophs in coastal sedimentary environments. Although the entire bacterial community structure was not significantly different between these two niches,
Desulfococcus
(
Deltaproteobacteria
) and
Anaerolineae
(
Chloroflexi
) presented with much higher proportions in the vegetated sediments, and
Flavobacteriaceae
(
Bacteroidetes
) occurred more frequently in the bare sediments. These data suggest that the high bioavailability of organic matter (indicated by relatively lower carbon-to-nitrogen ratios) and the less-reducing anaerobic condition in vegetated sediments may favor
Desulfococcus
and
Anaerolineae
lineages, which are potentially important populations in benthic carbon and sulfur cycling in the highly productive seagrass ecosystem.
Genome-Wide Screening Identifies Six Genes That Are Associated with Susceptibility to Escherichia coli Microcin PDI
Authors: Zhao Zhe , Eberhart Lauren J. , Orfe Lisa H. , Lu Shao-Yeh , Besser Thomas E. , Call Douglas R.
Published: July 2015

The microcin PDI inhibits a diverse group of pathogenic
Escherichia coli
strains. Coculture of a single-gene knockout library (BW25113;
n
= 3,985 mutants) against a microcin PDI-producing strain (
E. coli
25) identified six mutants that were not susceptible (Δ
atpA
, Δ
atpF
, Δ
dsbA
, Δ
dsbB
, Δ
ompF
, and Δ
ompR
). Complementation of these genes restored susceptibility in all cases, and the loss of susceptibility was confirmed through independent gene knockouts in
E. coli
O157:H7 Sakai. Heterologous expression of
E. coli
ompF
conferred susceptibility to
Salmonella enterica
and
Yersinia enterocolitica
strains that are normally unaffected by microcin PDI. The expression of chimeric OmpF and site-directed mutagenesis revealed that the K
47
G
48
N
49
region within the first extracellular loop of
E. coli
OmpF is a putative binding site for microcin PDI. OmpR is a transcriptional regulator for
ompF
, and consequently loss of susceptibility by the Δ
ompR
strain most likely is related to this function. Deletion of AtpA and AtpF, as well as AtpE and AtpH (missed in the original library screen), resulted in the loss of susceptibility to microcin PDI and the loss of ATP synthase function. Coculture of a susceptible strain in the presence of an ATP synthase inhibitor resulted in a loss of susceptibility, confirming that a functional ATP synthase complex is required for microcin PDI activity. In
trans
expression of
ompF
in the Δ
dsbA
and Δ
dsbB
strains did not restore a susceptible phenotype, indicating that these proteins are probably involved with the formation of disulfide bonds for OmpF or microcin PDI.
Roles of Thermophiles and Fungi in Bitumen Degradation in Mostly Cold Oil Sands Outcrops
Authors: Wong Man-Ling , An Dongshan , Caffrey Sean M. , Soh Jung , Dong Xiaoli , Sensen Christoph W. , Oldenburg Thomas B. P. , Larter Steve R. , Voordouw Gerrit
Published: July 2015

Oil sands are surface exposed in river valley outcrops in northeastern Alberta, where flat slabs (tablets) of weathered, bitumen-saturated sandstone can be retrieved from outcrop cliffs or from riverbeds. Although the average yearly surface temperature of this region is low (0.7°C), we found that the temperatures of the exposed surfaces of outcrop cliffs reached 55 to 60°C on sunny summer days, with daily maxima being 27 to 31°C. Analysis of the cooccurrence of taxa derived from pyrosequencing of 16S/18S rRNA genes indicated that an aerobic microbial network of fungi and hydrocarbon-, methane-, or acetate-oxidizing heterotrophic bacteria was present in all cliff tablets. Metagenomic analyses indicated an elevated presence of fungal cytochrome P450 monooxygenases in these samples. This network was distinct from the heterotrophic community found in riverbeds, which included fewer fungi. A subset of cliff tablets had a network of anaerobic and/or thermophilic taxa, including methanogens,
Firmicutes
, and
Thermotogae
, in the center. Long-term aerobic incubation of outcrop samples at 55°C gave a thermophilic microbial community. Analysis of residual bitumen with a Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometer indicated that aerobic degradation proceeded at 55°C but not at 4°C. Little anaerobic degradation was observed. These results indicate that bitumen degradation on outcrop surfaces is a largely aerobic process with a minor anaerobic contribution and is catalyzed by a consortium of bacteria and fungi. Bitumen degradation is stimulated by periodic high temperatures on outcrop cliffs, which cause significant decreases in bitumen viscosity.
Characterization of a Cynomolgus Macaque Model of Pneumonic Plague for Evaluation of Vaccine Efficacy
Authors: Fellows Patricia , Price Jessica , Martin Shannon , Metcalfe Karen , Krile Robert , Barnewall Roy , Hart Mary Kate , Lockman Hank
Published: July 2015

The efficacy of a recombinant plague vaccine (rF1V) was evaluated in cynomolgus macaques (CMs) to establish the relationship among vaccine doses, antibody titers, and survival following an aerosol challenge with a lethal dose of
Yersinia pestis
strain Colorado 92. CMs were vaccinated with a range of rF1V doses on a three-dose schedule (days 0, 56, and 121) to provide a range of survival outcomes. The humoral immune response following vaccination was evaluated with anti-rF1, anti-rV, and anti-rF1V bridge enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs). Animals were challenged via aerosol exposure on day 149. Vaccine doses and antibody responses were each significantly associated with the probability of CM survival (
P
< 0.0001). Vaccination also decreased signs of pneumonic plague in a dose-dependent manner. There were statistically significant correlations between the vaccine dose and the time to onset of fever (
P
< 0.0001), the time from onset of fever to death (
P
< 0.0001), the time to onset of elevated respiratory rate (
P
= 0.0003), and the time to onset of decreased activity (
P
= 0.0251) postinfection in animals exhibiting these clinical signs. Delays in the onset of these clinical signs of disease were associated with larger doses of rF1V. Immunization with ≥12 μg of rF1V resulted in 100% CM survival. Since both the vaccine dose and anti-rF1V antibody titers correlate with survival, rF1V bridge ELISA titers can be used as a correlate of protection.
Identification and Functional Analysis of Novel Nonstructural Proteins of Human Bocavirus 1
Authors: Shen Weiran , Deng Xuefeng , Zou Wei , Cheng Fang , Engelhardt John F. , Yan Ziying , Qiu Jianming
Published: July 2015

Human bocavirus 1 (HBoV1) is a single-stranded DNA parvovirus that causes lower respiratory tract infections in young children worldwide. In this study, we identified novel splice acceptor and donor sites, namely, A1′ and D1′, in the large nonstructural protein (NS1)-encoding region of the HBoV1 precursor mRNA. The novel small NS proteins (NS2, NS3, and NS4) were confirmed to be expressed following transfection of an HBoV1 infectious proviral plasmid and viral infection of polarized human airway epithelium cultured at an air-liquid interface (HAE-ALI). We constructed mutant pIHBoV1 infectious plasmids which harbor silent mutations (sm) smA1′ and smD1′ at the A1′ and D1′ splice sites, respectively. The mutant infectious plasmids maintained production of HBoV1 progeny virions at levels less than five times lower than that of the wild-type plasmid. Importantly, the smA1′ mutant virus that does not express NS3 and NS4 replicated in HAE-ALI as effectively as the wild-type virus; however, the smD1′ mutant virus that does not express NS2 and NS4 underwent an abortive infection in HAE-ALI. Thus, our study identified three novel NS proteins, NS2, NS3, and NS4, and suggests an important function of the NS2 protein in HBoV1 replication in HAE-ALI.

IMPORTANCE
Human bocavirus 1 infection causes respiratory diseases, including acute wheezing in infants, of which life-threatening cases have been reported.
In vitro
, human bocavirus 1 infects polarized human bronchial airway epithelium cultured at an air-liquid interface that mimics the environment of human lower respiratory airways. Viral nonstructural proteins are often important for virus replication and pathogenesis in infected tissues or cells. In this report, we identified three new nonstructural proteins of human bocavirus 1 that are expressed during infection of polarized human bronchial airway epithelium. Among them, we proved that one nonstructural protein is critical to the replication of the virus in polarized human bronchial airway epithelium. The creation of nonreplicating infectious HBoV1 mutants may have particular utility in vaccine development for this virus.
Pathogenesis and Transmission of Novel Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza H5N2 and H5N8 Viruses in Ferrets and Mice
Authors: Pulit-Penaloza Joanna A. , Sun Xiangjie , Creager Hannah M. , Zeng Hui , Belser Jessica A. , Maines Taronna R. , Tumpey Terrence M.
Published: July 2015

A novel highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N8 virus, first detected in January 2014 in poultry and wild birds in South Korea, has spread throughout Asia and Europe and caused outbreaks in Canada and the United States by the end of the year. The spread of H5N8 and the novel reassortant viruses, H5N2 and H5N1 (H5Nx), in domestic poultry across multiple states in the United States pose a potential public health risk. To evaluate the potential of cross-species infection, we determined the pathogenicity and transmissibility of two Asian-origin H5Nx viruses in mammalian animal models. The newly isolated H5N2 and H5N8 viruses were able to cause severe disease in mice only at high doses. Both viruses replicated efficiently in the upper and lower respiratory tracts of ferrets; however, the clinical symptoms were generally mild, and there was no evidence of systemic dissemination of virus to multiple organs. Moreover, these influenza H5Nx viruses lacked the ability to transmit between ferrets in a direct contact setting. We further assessed viral replication kinetics of the novel H5Nx viruses in a human bronchial epithelium cell line, Calu-3. Both H5Nx viruses replicated to a level comparable to a human seasonal H1N1 virus, but significantly lower than a virulent Asian-lineage H5N1 HPAI virus. Although the recently isolated H5N2 and H5N8 viruses displayed moderate pathogenicity in mammalian models, their ability to rapidly spread among avian species, reassort, and generate novel strains underscores the need for continued risk assessment in mammals.

IMPORTANCE
In 2015, highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5 viruses have caused outbreaks in domestic poultry in multiple U.S. states. The economic losses incurred with H5N8 and H5N2 subtype virus infection have raised serious concerns for the poultry industry and the general public due to the potential risk of human infection. This recent outbreak underscores the need to better understand the pathogenesis and transmission of these viruses in mammals, which is an essential component of pandemic risk assessment. This study demonstrates that the newly isolated H5N2 and H5N8 viruses lacked the ability to transmit between ferrets and exhibited low to moderate virulence in mammals. In human bronchial epithelial (Calu-3) cells, both H5N8 and H5N2 viruses replicated to a level comparable to a human seasonal virus, but significantly lower than a virulent Asian-lineage H5N1 (A/Thailand/16/2004) virus. The results of this study are important for the evaluation of public health risk.