bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Study on optimal site selection of a met mast in interconnected wind farm
Authors: Zhang Xiaomeng , Liu Yu , Bai Kai , Song Peng , Liu Jingbo , Cui Yang , Zhou Shaoxiang
Published: December 2017

The met mast is an important equipment in the interconnected wind farm. The met mast can be used to monitor wind power, evaluate wind energy production and forecast short‐term wind power. It is necessary to select the optimal site of a met mast because the site directly influences its representativeness. This study proposes a quantitative methodology to evaluate the site selection of the met mast in an interconnected wind farm with CFD (computational fluid dynamics) software. Alternative sites are obtained by the means of dividing meshes in the wind farm area so as to achieve the overall solution. The preliminary selection is implemented on the basis of some principles to establish met masts. After a preliminary selection, the evaluation indices of met mast's site selection are proposed to determine the optimal result. The indices X, Y and Z are used to, respectively, select the optimal site to establish the wind power monitoring met mast, the wind energy production evaluation met mast and the short‐term wind power forecast met mast. Combining the three indices, the index A is obtained to determine the site of the met mast satisfying the three requirements at the same time in the interconnected wind farm. The example in case study shows that the methodology is effective.
Research on AC transmission line fault ride‐through control strategy of MMC‐based unified power flow controller
Authors: Tang Jianqing , Ma Huan , Yang Xiaomei , Liu Xinhe , Wang Xianwei , Wu Jinlong , Li Daoyang , Liu Liang
Published: December 2017

In this study, an AC transmission line fault ride‐through control strategy is studied, which can quickly isolate the fault points and modular multilevel converter–unified power flow controller (UPFC) when an AC line fault occurs. After the fault is cleared, UPFC can also be re‐put into normal operation quickly. Above all, the strategy can improve the reliability and the utilisation of UPFC, and also can protect the security of UPFC.
Optimal detector design for molecular communication systems using an improved swarm intelligence algorithm
Authors: Ntouni Georgia D. , Paschos Alexandros E. , Kapinas Vasileios M. , Karagiannidis George K. , Hadjileontiadis Leontios J.
Published: December 2017

The authors optimise the detection process of diffusion‐based molecular communication systems utilising the weighted sum detector with appropriate weight values. Interestingly, no optimisation technique has ever been proposed for the calculation of the weights. To this end, they build on the standard particle swarm optimisation (PSO) technique and propose a robust iterative optimisation algorithm, called acceleration‐aided PSO (A‐APSO). While modified swarm‐based optimisation algorithms focus on slight variations of the standard mathematical formulas, in A‐APSO, the acceleration variable of the particles in the swarm is also involved in the search space of the optimisation problem. Particularly, they implement the A‐APSO algorithm to evaluate the detector's weights that minimise the closed‐form expression of the error probability. Their findings reveal that, when employing the A‐APSO weights, the error performance is superior to that achieved by utilising the weight values already existing in the literature or those evaluated with the standard PSO algorithm.
Fabrication of superhydrophobic aluminium alloy surface by twice nanosecond laser scanning
Authors: Wan Yanling , Xu Lining , Yu Huadong
Published: December 2017

The superhydrophobic surface of aluminium alloy was fabricated by nanosecond laser facility. The surface structures of the specimen were observed by scanning electron microscope and confocal laser scanning microscope. Surface hydrophobicity was evaluated by contact angle of deionised water. The phases present in the aluminium alloy surface were identified by X‐ray energy spectrum analysis module of scanning electron microscope. The study showed that, a simple method of the fabrication of superhydrophobic aluminium alloy surface by twice nanosecond laser scanning, can make bowl like micro‐nano structure on the surface of specimen. Compared with the contact angle of 140.21 degrees, which of sample surface with groove structure obtained by using once nanosecond laser scanning, the contact angle of the sample surface prepared by twice nanosecond laser scanning can up to 154.36 degrees. On the as‐obtained sample surface, there is the hydrophobic substance containing more oxygen element, because of the coupling effect of laser and material. The surface roughness is related to the depth of the microstructure, and has no clear relationship with the surface wettability. Therefore, it is speculated that the joint action micro‐nano structure and hydrophobic elements made the surface of aluminium alloy show super hydrophobicity.
Jekyll & Hyde: quiescence and extreme obscuration in a pair of massive galaxies 1.5 Gyr after the Big Bang
Authors: Schreiber C. , Labbé I. , Glazebrook K. , Bekiaris G. , Papovich C. , Costa T. , Elbaz D. , Kacprzak G. G. , Nanayakkara T. , Oesch P. , Pannella M. , Spitler L. , Straatman C. , Tran K.-V. , Wang T.
Published: December 2017

We obtained ALMA spectroscopy and deep imaging to investigate the origin of the unexpected sub-millimeter emission toward the most distant quiescent galaxy known to date, ZF-COSMOS-20115 at z = 3.717. We show here that this sub-millimeter emission is produced by another massive (M*~ 1011 M⊙), compact (r1∕2 = 0.67 ± 0.14 kpc) and extremely obscured galaxy (AV ~ 3.5), located only 0.43′′ (3.1 kpc) away from the quiescent galaxy. We dub the quiescent and dusty galaxies Jekyll and Hyde, respectively. No dust emission is detected at the location of the quiescent galaxy, implying SFR < 13 M⊙ yr−1 which is the most stringent upper limit ever obtained for a quiescent galaxy at these redshifts. The two sources are spectroscopically confirmed to lie at the same redshift thanks to the detection of [C II]158 in Hyde (z = 3.709), which provides one the few robust redshifts for a highly-obscured “H-dropout” galaxy (H − [4.5] = 5.1 ± 0.8). The [C II] line shows a clear rotating-disk velocity profile which is blueshifted compared to the Balmer lines of Jekyll by 549 ± 60 km s−1, demonstrating that it is produced by another galaxy. Careful de-blending of the Spitzer imaging confirms the existence of this new massive galaxy, and its non-detection in the Hubble images requires extremely red colors and strong attenuation by dust. Full modeling of the UV-to-far-IR emission of both galaxies shows that Jekyll has fully quenched at least 200Myr prior to observation and still presents a challenge for models, while Hyde only harbors moderate star-formation with SFR ≲ 120 M⊙ yr−1, and is located at least a factor 1.4 below the z ~ 4 main sequence. Hyde could also have stopped forming stars less than 200 Myr before being observed; this interpretation is also suggested by its compactness comparable to that of z ~ 4 quiescent galaxies and its low [C II]/FIR ratio, but significant on-going star-formation cannot be ruled out. Lastly, we find that despite its moderate SFR, Hyde hosts a dense reservoir of gas comparable to that of the most extreme starbursts. This suggests that whatever mechanism has stopped or reduced its star-formation must have done so without expelling the gas outside of the galaxy. Because of their surprisingly similar mass, compactness, environment and star-formation history, we argue that Jekyll and Hyde can be seen as two stages of the same quenching process, and provide a unique laboratory to study this poorly understood phenomenon.
Akzeptanz- und Commitmenttherapie bei chronischen körperlichen Erkrankungen
Authors: Kuba Katharina , Weißflog Gregor
Published: December 2017

Dieser Beitrag stellt das Hexaflex-Modell der Akzeptanz- und Commitmenttherapie (ACT), die dazugehörigen Kernprozesse sowie eine ACT-Gruppenintervention für chronisch erkrankte Patienten vor. Zur Verdeutlichung der Kernprozesse haben wir jeweils exemplarisch eine Metapher vorgestellt. Diese Metaphern sollen den Klienten potentielle Handlungs- und Denkalternativen in ihrer aktuellen (Erkrankungs-)Situation aufzeigen.
Vacuole-mediated selective regulation of TORC1-Sch9 signaling following oxidative stress
Authors: Takeda Eigo , Jin Natsuko , Itakura Eisuke , Kira Shintaro , Kamada Yoshiaki , Weisman Lois S. , Noda Takeshi , Matsuura Akira
Published: December 2017

Target of rapamycin complex 1 (TORC1) is a central cellular signaling coordinator that allows eukaryotic cells to adapt to the environment. In the budding yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, TORC1 senses nitrogen and various stressors and modulates proteosynthesis, nitrogen uptake and metabolism, stress responses, and autophagy. There is some indication that TORC1 may regulate these downstream pathways individually. However, the potential mechanisms for such differential regulation are unknown. Here we show that the serine/threonine protein kinase Sch9 branch of TORC1 signaling depends specifically on the integrity of the vacuolar membrane, and this dependency originates in changes in Sch9 localization reflected by phosphatidylinositol 3,5-bisphosphate. Moreover, oxidative stress induces the delocalization of Sch9 from vacuoles, contributing to the persistent inhibition of the Sch9 branch after stress. Thus, our results establish that regulation of the vacuolar localization of Sch9 serves as a selective switch for the Sch9 branch in divergent TORC1 signaling. We propose that the Sch9 branch integrates the intrinsic activity of TORC1 kinase and vacuolar status, which is monitored by the phospholipids of the vacuolar membrane, into the regulation of macromolecular synthesis.
Long-term Associations Between Physical Frailty and Performance in Specific Cognitive Domains
Authors: Bunce David , Batterham Philip J , Mackinnon Andrew J
Published: December 2017

Objectives

No longitudinal epidemiological research has reported associations between physical frailty and performance in specific cognitive domains. Our aim was to investigate whether such associations existed in the absence of accompanying neurodegenerative disorders such as mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia.

Method

We addressed this issue in a population-based sample of 896 adults aged 70 years and older over 4 waves of data covering a 12-year period. Physical frailty was assessed and a cognitive battery included measures of processing speed, verbal fluency, face and word recognition, episodic memory and simple and choice reaction time (RT).

Results

Latent growth models showed frailty was associated with poorer baseline performance in processing speed, verbal fluency, simple and choice RT, and choice intraindividual RT variability. However, no significant effects of frailty on slopes of cognition were observed, suggesting that frailty was not associated with cognitive decline. Importantly, when the models took possible dementia into account, significant effects were retained suggesting that differences were not associated with dementia-related neurodegenerative disorders.

Discussion

The findings suggest that frailty-related cognitive deficits may exist independently of mechanisms underpinning neurodegenerative disorders such as MCI and dementia. If confirmed, this finding suggests a new avenue for preventative and therapeutic interventions in clinical and public health contexts for older adults.
Vitamin C is not the Missing Link Between Cigarette Smoking and Spinal Pain
Authors: Dionne Clermont E. , Laurin Danielle , Desrosiers Thérèse , Abdous Belkacem , Le Sage Natalie , Frenette Jérôme , Mondor Myrto , Pelletier Sylvie
Published: December 2017

Study Design.

A nationwide cross-sectional study.

Objectives.

To measure the associations between cigarette smoking (defined as serum cotinine concentration >15 ng/mL) and the 3-month prevalence of spinal pain (neck pain, low back pain, low back pain with pain below knee, and self-reported diagnosis of arthritis/rheumatism) and related limitations, and to verify whether these associations are mediated by serum concentrations of vitamin C.

Summary of Background Data.

Cigarette smoking has been consistently associated with back pain, but this association has never been explained. Because vitamin C has recently been reported to be associated with spinal pain and related functional limitations, and the metabolism of vitamin C differs between smokers and nonsmokers, we hypothesized that the prevalence of spinal pain and related limitations might be greater among smokers because they are more susceptible to be in a state of hypovitaminosis C.

Methods.

We conducted secondary analyses of National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2003 to 2004 data on 4438 individuals aged ≥20 years.

Results.

Serum concentrations of vitamin C and cotinine were strongly and inversely correlated (r = -0.35, P < 0.0001). Smoking was statistically associated with the prevalence of neck pain [adjusted odds ratio: aOR: 1.25; 95% confidence interval (95% CI): 1.06–1.47], low back pain (aOR: 1.20; 95% CI: 1.04–1.39), and low back pain with pain below knee (aOR: 1.58; 95% CI: 1.13–2.22) and related limitations, with a dose-response relationship (P < 0.05). However, the associations between smoking and spinal pain were not mediated by concentrations of vitamin C.

Conclusion.

These results confirm the relationship between smoking and spinal pain, but they do not support a mediating effect of vitamin C on this relationship.

Level of Evidence: 2
Trabeculectomy With Mitomycin-C: Outcomes and Risk Factors for Failure in Primary Angle-closure Glaucoma
Authors: Romero Pablo , Hirunpatravong Pradtana , Alizadeh Reza , Kim Eun-Ah , Nouri-Mahdavi Kouros , Morales Esteban , Law Simon K. , Caprioli Joseph
Published: December 2017

Purpose:

There are no reported large series of trabeculectomy with mitomycin-C (MMC) in Western patients with primary angle-closure glaucoma (PACG). Our study evaluates long-term tonometric outcomes of trabeculectomy in PACG.

Materials and Methods:

This is a retrospective cohort study. The primary outcomes were the Kaplan-Meier success rates on survival analyses using 3 criteria, with or without adjunctive medication: (A) intraocular pressure (IOP) ≤18 mm Hg and IOP reduction of 20%; (B) IOP≤15 mm Hg and IOP reduction 25%; and (C) IOP≤12 mm Hg and IOP reduction 30%. In total, 136 eyes (102 patients) with PACG who underwent trabeculectomy MMC were included. The Cox proportional hazard regression analysis was used to identify risk factors for failure with multivariate analysis (P<0.05).

Results:

The qualified success rates (±SD) after 1, 3, and 5 years of follow-up for criterion A were 92% (±2.2%), 78% (±3.8%), and 72% (±4.3%); for criterion B, 86% (±3.0%), 65% (±4.4%), and 59% (±4.7%); and for criterion C, 62% (±4.2%), 40% (±4.5%), and 32% (±4.4%). Baseline factors associated with failure were: family history, absence of laser peripheral iridotomy, higher IOP, and presence of a crystalline lens.

Conclusions:

Trabeculectomy with MMC effectively reduces IOP in PACG. Long-term IOP reduction is achieved for target IOP levels in the mid-teens. Presence of a crystalline lens, lack of iridotomy and higher preoperative IOP were associated with higher risks of failure.
Central inhibition of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor is analgesic in experimental neuropathic pain
Authors: Nicol Louise S.C. , Thornton Peter , Hatcher Jon P. , Glover Colin P. , Webster Carl I. , Burrell Matthew , Hammett Kessia , Jones Clare A. , Sleeman Matthew A. , Billinton Andrew , Chessell Iain
Published: December 2017

With less than 50% of patients responding to the current standard of care and poor efficacy and selectivity of current treatments, neuropathic pain continues to be an area of considerable unmet medical need. Biological therapeutics such as monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) provide better intrinsic selectivity; however, delivery to the central nervous system (CNS) remains a challenge. Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) is well described in inflammation-induced pain, and early-phase clinical trials evaluating its antagonism have exemplified its importance as a peripheral pain target. Here, we investigate the role of this cytokine in a murine model of traumatic nerve injury and show that deletion of the GM-CSF receptor or treatment with an antagonizing mAb alleviates pain. We also demonstrate enhanced analgesic efficacy using an engineered construct that has greater capacity to penetrate the CNS. Despite observing GM-CSF receptor expression in microglia and astrocytes, the gliosis response in the dorsal horn was not altered in nerve injured knockout mice compared with wild-type littermate controls as evaluated by ionized calcium binding adapter molecule 1 (Iba1) and glial fibrillary acidic protein, respectively. Functional analysis of glial cells revealed that pretreatment with GM-CSF potentiated lipopolysaccharide-induced release of proinflammatory cytokines. In summary, our data indicate that GM-CSF is a proinflammatory cytokine that contributes to nociceptive signalling through driving spinal glial cell secretion of proinflammatory mediators. In addition, we report a successful approach to accessing CNS pain targets, providing promise for central compartment delivery of analgesics.
Differences in Seizure Expression Between Magnetic Seizure Therapy and Electroconvulsive Shock
Authors: Cycowicz Yael M. , Rowny Stefan B. , Luber Bruce , Lisanby Sarah H.
Published: December 2017

Objective

Evidence suggests that magnetic seizure therapy (MST) results in fewer side effects than electroconvulsive treatment, both in humans treated with electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) as well as in the animal preclinical model that uses electroconvulsive shock (ECS). Evidence suggests that MST results in fewer cognitive side effects than ECT. Although MST offers enhanced control over seizure induction and spread, little is known about how MST and ECT seizures differ. Seizure characteristics are associated with treatment effect. This study presents quantitative analyses of electroencephalogram (EEG) power after electrical and magnetic seizure induction and anesthesia-alone sham in an animal model. The aim was to test whether differential neurophysiological characteristics of the seizures could be identified that support earlier observations that the powers of theta, alpha, and beta but not delta frequency bands were lower after MST when compared with those after ECS.

Methods

In a randomized, sham-controlled trial, 24 macaca mulatte received 6 weeks of daily sessions while scalp EEG was recorded. Electroencephalogram power was quantified within delta, theta, alpha, and beta frequency bands.

Results

Magnetic seizure therapy induced lower ictal expression in the theta, alpha and beta frequencies than ECS, but MST and ECS were indistinguishable in the delta band. Magnetic seizure therapy showed less postictal suppression than ECS. Increasing electrical dosage increased ictal power, whereas increasing MST dosage had no effect on EEG expression.

Conclusions

Magnetic seizure therapy seizures have less robust electrophysiological expression than ECS, and these differences are largest in the alpha and beta bands. The relevance of these differences in higher frequency bands to clinical outcomes deserves further exploration.

Significance

Contrasting EEG in ECS and MST may lead to insights on the physiological underpinnings of seizure-induced amnesia and to finding ways to reduce cognitive side effects.
The perceived role of Islamic medical care practice in hospital: the medical doctor’s perspective
Authors: Rahman Muhammad Khalilur , Zailani Suhaiza , Musa Ghazali
Published: December 2017

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the perceived role of the Islamic medical care practice of Muslim doctors in Malaysian Muslim-friendly private hospitals.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collection through self-administered questionnaires voluntarily submitted by the respondents. The survey covered selected major Muslim-friendly private hospitals in the country in the states of Kedah, Johor, Penang, Selangor, Kelantan and Kuala Lumpur. The non-probability purposive sampling was used, as the respondents and locations of the survey areas were predetermined.

Findings

Five dimensions of the Muslim-friendly medical care practice were identified, namely, medical etiquettes, physical examination, proper cleansing process of blood and body fluids, proper handling and treatment of infectious diseases and doctors’ advice to Muslim patients. The findings also indicate that the scale development analysis produced excellent results which can be used for reproducible or repetitive medical care purposes and for integration facts and figures for inclusion into wider medical care policy and practices.

Practical implications

The results from the study can further develop Islamic medical care practices and enable medical service providers to upgrade their performances to an enviable strategic status.

Originality/value

Islamic medical care is a new mode of healthcare service market, as there are very few studies on this topic from the perspective of Muslim patients or no obvious facts are known. This study has first explored Muslim doctors’ perceived role in Islamic medical care practice in Malaysian Muslim-friendly private hospitals. This empirical study can immensely contribute to the further development of Islamic medical care practice for Muslim doctors in particular and for the Muslim-friendly hospital service marketing strategy in general.
The role of Panama Canal in global shipping
Authors: Wang Mariner
Published: December 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to find out the future development of the Panama Canal after opening of the new waterway (third set of locks project), in terms of the change of cargo throughput, further deployment of fleets by the shipping companies and competition for the canal.

Design/methodology/approach

The research of this paper is based on an empiric study by collecting the relevant data from annual report of the Panama Canal Authority, publications related to the same field. Graphs pertaining to toll revenue also are made based on statistical data provided by the Panama Canal Authority.

Findings

The findings show that the opening of the new waterway of the Panama Canal generates more toll revenue for Panama government by allowing mega-vessels to transit, expediting further economic development of the country largely from behind. At the same time, shipping operators also can enjoy earning more revenue by deploying New Panamax vessels transiting the Canal.

Originality/value

Ingenuity in tabling the users of the Panama Canal by incorporating the logo marks of the shipping companies/implication is drawn through empirical analysis to provide the shipping companies and ports authorities concerned with more understanding toward the very significance of the new waterway expansion of the Panama Canal.
Prenatal cocaine exposure disrupts the dopaminergic system and its postnatal responses to cocaine
Authors: Riley E. , Maymi V. , Pawlyszyn S. , Yu L. , Zhdanova I. V.
Published: December 2017

Impaired attention is the hallmark consequence of prenatal cocaine exposure (PCE), affecting brain development, learning, memory and social adaptation starting at an early age. To date, little is known about the brain structures and neurochemical processes involved in this effect. Through focusing on the visual system and employing zebrafish as a model, we show that PCE reduces expression of dopamine receptor Drd1, with levels reduced in the optic tectum and other brain regions, but not the telencephalon. Organism‐wide, PCE results in a 1.7‐fold reduction in the expression of the dopamine transporter (dat), at baseline. Acute cocaine administration leads to a 2‐fold reduction in dat in drug‐naive larvae but not PCE fish. PCE sensitizes animals to an anxiogenic‐like behavioral effect of acute cocaine, bottom‐dwelling, while loss of DAT due to genetic knockout (DATKO) leads to bottom‐dwelling behavior at baseline. Neuronal calcium responses to visual stimuli in both PCE and DATKO fish show tolerance to acute cocaine in the principal regions of visual attention, the telencephalon and optic tectum. The zebrafish model can provide a sensitive assay by which to elucidate the molecular mechanisms and brain region‐specific consequences of PCE, and facilitate the search for effective therapeutic solutions.
Tinkering with Technology and Religion in the Digital Age: The Effects of Internet Use on Religious Belief, Behavior, and Belonging
Authors: McClure Paul K.
Published: December 2017

Internet technology presents a new conceptual reality, one that could potentially challenge religion in subtle but distinct ways. Few sociologists of religion, however, have attempted to evaluate whether using the Internet impacts the way people think about and practice religion. This article elaborates on the concept of “tinkering” discussed by Berger, Berger, and Kellner (1974), Turkle (1997), and Wuthnow (2010) to argue that Internet use affects how people think about and affiliate with religious traditions. Using data from Wave III of the Baylor Religion Survey (2010), I find that Internet use is associated with increases in being religiously unaffiliated and decreases in religious exclusivism. At the same time, I find that television viewing is linked to decreases in religious attendance and other time‐related religious activities, but these outcomes are not impacted by Internet use. To explain these disparate findings, I argue that the Internet is fundamentally different from previous technologies like television and thus impacts religious beliefs and belonging but not time‐related religious activities.
Molecular phylogenetics and microsatellite analysis reveal a new pathogenic Ceratocystis species in the Asian‐Australian clade
Authors: Liu F. F. , Barnes I. , Roux J. , Wingfield M. J. , Chen S. F.
Published: December 2017

The ascomycete genus Ceratocystis has a broad geographic distribution and includes pathogens of a wide range of mostly woody hosts. Black rot of Colocasia esculenta (taro), a popular cultivated root crop in China, is caused by a species of Ceratocystis broadly treated as C. fimbriata sensu lato. Recently, isolates of Ceratocystis were obtained from black rot lesions on C. esculenta corms in two Chinese provinces. Sequence comparison of the ITS, partial β‐tubulin, TEF‐1α, MS204 and RPBII gene regions were used to identify these isolates and compare them to other Ceratocystis species. Furthermore, the diversity of Ceratocystis species in the Asian‐Australian clade (AAC) was investigated using 23 microsatellite markers. Results showed that the isolates from C. esculenta represent a novel species, which is morphologically and phylogenetically different to closely related species in the AAC, and is described here as Ceratocystis changhui sp. nov. In microsatellite analyses, this new species also emerged as distinct from others in the AAC. Inoculation tests showed that C. changhui sp. nov. is a virulent pathogen of C. esculenta corms, but produces only small lesions on Eucalyptus grandis and Eriobotrya japonica.
Validation of the Strain Assessment of a Phantom of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm: Comparison of Results Obtained From Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Stereovision Measurements
Authors: Wang Yufei , Joannic David , Juillion Patrick , Monnet Aurélien , Delassus Patrick , Lalande Alain , Fontaine Jean-François
Published: December 2017

Predicting aortic aneurysm ruptures is a complex problem that has been investigated by many research teams over several decades. Work on this issue is notably complex and involves both the mechanical behavior of the artery and the blood flow. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can provide measurements concerning the shape of an organ and the blood that flows through it. Measuring local distortion of the artery wall is the first essential factor to evaluate in a ruptured artery. This paper aims to demonstrate the feasibility of this measure using MRI on a phantom of an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) with realistic shape. The aortic geometry is obtained from a series of cine-MR images and reconstructed using Mimics software. From 4D flow and MRI measurements, the field of velocity is determined and introduced into a computational fluid dynamic (CFD) model to determine the mechanical boundaries applied on the wall artery (pressure and ultimately wall shear stress (WSS)). These factors are then converted into a solid model that enables wall deformations to be calculated. This approach was applied to a silicone phantom model of an AAA reconstructed from a patient's computed tomography-scan examination. The calculated deformations were then compared to those obtained in identical conditions by stereovision. The results of both methods were found to be close. Deformations of the studied AAA phantom with complex shape were obtained within a gap of 12% by modeling from MR data.
Community-Acquired Pneumonia in Children: the Challenges of Microbiological Diagnosis
Authors: Rodrigues C. M. C. , Groves H.
Published: December 2017

Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is the leading cause of mortality in children under 5 years of age globally. To improve the management of CAP, we must distinguish CAP from other common pediatric conditions and develop better diagnostic methods to detect the causative organism, so as to best direct appropriate resources in both industrialized and developing countries. Here, we review the diagnostic modalities available for identifying viruses and bacteria in the upper and lower respiratory tract of children, with a discussion of their utility and limitations in diagnosing CAP in children.
Axl Can Serve as Entry Factor for Lassa Virus Depending on the Functional Glycosylation of Dystroglycan
Authors: Fedeli Chiara , Torriani Giulia , Galan-Navarro Clara , Moraz Marie-Laurence , Moreno Hector , Gerold Gisa , Kunz Stefan
Published: December 2017

Fatal infection with the highly pathogenic Lassa virus (LASV) is characterized by extensive viral dissemination, indicating broad tissue tropism. The major cellular receptor for LASV is the highly conserved extracellular matrix receptor dystroglycan (DG). Binding of LASV depends on DG's tissue-specific posttranslational modification with the unusual O-linked polysaccharide matriglycan. Interestingly, functional glycosylation of DG does not always correlate with viral tropism observed
in vivo
. The broadly expressed phosphatidylserine (PS) receptors Axl and Tyro3 were recently identified as alternative LASV receptor candidates. However, their role in LASV entry is not entirely understood. Here, we examine LASV receptor candidates in primary human cells and found coexpression of Axl with differentially glycosylated DG. To study LASV receptor use in the context of productive arenavirus infection, we employed recombinant lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus expressing LASV glycoprotein (rLCMV-LASV GP) as a validated biosafety level 2 (BSL2) model. We confirm and extend previous work showing that Axl can contribute to LASV entry in the absence of functional DG using “apoptotic mimicry” in a way similar to that of other enveloped viruses. We further show that Axl-dependent LASV entry requires receptor activation and involves a pathway resembling macropinocytosis. Axl-mediated LASV entry is facilitated by heparan sulfate and critically depends on the late endosomal protein LAMP-1 as an intracellular entry factor. In endothelial cells expressing low levels of functional DG, both receptors are engaged by the virus and can contribute to productive entry. In sum, we characterize the role of Axl in LASV entry and provide a rationale for targeting Axl in antiviral therapy.

IMPORTANCE
The highly pathogenic arenavirus Lassa virus (LASV) represents a serious public health problem in Africa. Although the principal LASV receptor, dystroglycan (DG), is ubiquitously expressed, virus binding critically depends on DG's posttranslational modification, which does not always correlate with tissue tropism. The broadly expressed phosphatidylserine receptor Axl was recently identified as an alternative LASV receptor candidate, but its role in LASV entry is unclear. Here, we investigate the exact role of Axl in LASV entry as a function of DG's posttranslational modification. We found that in the absence of functional DG, Axl can mediate LASV entry via apoptotic mimicry. Productive entry requires virus-induced receptor activation, involves macropinocytosis, and critically depends on LAMP-1. In endothelial cells that express low levels of glycosylated DG, both receptors can promote LASV entry. In sum, our study defines the roles of Axl in LASV entry and provides a rationale for targeting Axl in antiviral therapy.
Herpes Simplex Virus 1 DNA Polymerase RNase H Activity Acts in a 3′-to-5′ Direction and Is Dependent on the 3′-to-5′ Exonuclease Active Site
Authors: Lawler Jessica L. , Mukherjee Purba , Coen Donald M.
Published: December 2017

The catalytic subunit (Pol) of herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) DNA polymerase has been extensively studied both as a model for other family B DNA polymerases and for its differences from these enzymes as an antiviral target. Among the activities of HSV-1 Pol is an intrinsic RNase H activity that cleaves RNA from RNA-DNA hybrids. There has long been a controversy regarding whether this activity is due to the 3′-to-5′ exonuclease of Pol or whether it is a separate activity, possibly acting on 5′ RNA termini. To investigate this issue, we compared wild-type HSV-1 Pol and a 3′-to-5′ exonuclease-deficient mutant, D368A Pol, for DNA polymerase activity, 3′-to-5′ exonuclease activity, and RNase H activity
in vitro
. Additionally, we assessed the RNase H activity using differentially end-labeled templates with 5′ or 3′ RNA termini. The mutant enzyme was at most modestly impaired for DNA polymerase activity but was drastically impaired for 3′-to-5′ exonuclease activity, with no activity detected even at high enzyme-to-DNA substrate ratios. Importantly, the mutant showed no detectable ability to excise RNA with either a 3′ or 5′ terminus, while the wild-type HSV-1 Pol was able to cleave RNA from the annealed RNA-DNA hairpin template, but only detectably with a 3′ RNA terminus in a 3′-to-5′ direction and at a rate lower than that of the exonuclease activity. These results suggest that HSV-1 Pol does not have an RNase H separable from its 3′-to-5′ exonuclease activity and that this activity prefers DNA degradation over degradation of RNA from RNA-DNA hybrids.

IMPORTANCE
Herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) is a member of the
Herpesviridae
family of DNA viruses, several of which cause morbidity and mortality in humans. Although the HSV-1 DNA polymerase has been studied for decades and is a crucial target for antivirals against HSV-1 infection, several of its functions remain to be elucidated. A hypothesis suggesting the existence of a 5′-to-3′ RNase H activity intrinsic to this enzyme that could remove RNA primers from Okazaki fragments has been particularly controversial. In this study, we were unable to identify RNase H activity of HSV-1 DNA polymerase on RNA-DNA hybrids with 5′ RNA termini. We detected RNase H activity on hybrids with 3′ termini, but this was due to the 3′-to-5′ exonuclease. Thus, HSV-1 is unlikely to use this method to remove RNA primers during DNA replication but may use pathways similar to those used in eukaryotic Okazaki fragment maturation.
Diversification of Type VI Secretion System Toxins Reveals Ancient Antagonism among Bee Gut Microbes
Authors: Steele Margaret I. , Kwong Waldan K. , Whiteley Marvin , Moran Nancy A.
Published: December 2017

Microbial communities are shaped by interactions among their constituent members. Some Gram-negative bacteria employ type VI secretion systems (T6SSs) to inject protein toxins into neighboring cells. These interactions have been theorized to affect the composition of host-associated microbiomes, but the role of T6SSs in the evolution of gut communities is not well understood. We report the discovery of two T6SSs and numerous T6SS-associated Rhs toxins within the gut bacteria of honey bees and bumble bees. We sequenced the genomes of 28 strains ofSnodgrassella alvi, a characteristic bee gut microbe, and found tremendous variability in their Rhs toxin complements: altogether, these strains appear to encode hundreds of unique toxins. Some toxins are shared withGilliamella apicola, a coresident gut symbiont, implicating horizontal gene transfer as a source of toxin diversity in the bee gut. We use data from a transposon mutagenesis screen to identify toxins with antibacterial function in the bee gut and validate the function and specificity of a subset of these toxin and immunity genes inEscherichia coli. Using transcriptome sequencing, we demonstrate thatS. alviT6SSs and associated toxins are upregulated in the gut environment. We find thatS. alviRhs loci have a conserved architecture, consistent with the C-terminal displacement model of toxin diversification, with Rhs toxins, toxin fragments, and cognate immunity genes that are expressed and confer strong fitness effectsin vivo. Our findings of T6SS activity and Rhs toxin diversity suggest that T6SS-mediated competition may be an important driver of coevolution within the bee gut microbiota.

IMPORTANCEThe structure and composition of host-associated bacterial communities are of broad interest, because these communities affect host health. Bees have a simple, conserved gut microbiota, which provides an opportunity to explore interactions between species that have coevolved within their host over millions of years. This study examined the role of type VI secretion systems (T6SSs)—protein complexes used to deliver toxic proteins into bacterial competitors—within the bee gut microbiota. We identified two T6SSs and diverse T6SS-associated toxins in bacterial strains from bees. Expression of these genes is increased in bacteria in the bee gut, and toxin and immunity genes demonstrate antibacterial and protective functions, respectively, when expressed inEscherichia coli. Our results suggest that coevolution among bacterial species in the bee gut has favored toxin diversification and maintenance of T6SS machinery, and demonstrate the importance of antagonistic interactions within host-associated microbial communities.
Retargeting Lentiviruses via SpyCatcher-SpyTag Chemistry for Gene Delivery into Specific Cell Types
Authors: Kasaraneni Nagarjun , Chamoun-Emanuelli Ana M. , Wright Gus , Chen Zhilei
Published: December 2017

We report a simple strategy for the creation of lentiviral vectors specific to any desired target cells. SpyTag is inserted into an engineered Sindbis virus envelope protein and displayed on the lentivirus surface to create Sindbis virus-SpyTag pseudoparticles (Sind-SpyTag-pp). The SpyTag serves as the covalent anchoring site for a target-cell-specific cell-binding protein (CBP) that is fused to a truncated SpyCatcher (SpyCatcherΔ). Target-cell-specific lentiviruses are created by mixing the Sind-SpyTag-pp and CBP-SpyCatcherΔ
in vitro
. We first used a HER2-binding designed ankyrin repeat protein (DARPin.9.26) as the model CBP. The DARPin-conjugated lentivirus transduced HER2
+
SKOV3 cells with an infectious titer of 5.2 × 10
6
 IU/ml, >500-fold higher than the unfunctionalized “naked” virions (<10
4
 IU/ml). The ability of the DARPin-conjugated lentivirus to transduce HER2
+
cells correlated with the surface expression level of HER2. Furthermore, these lentiviruses preferentially transduced HER2
+
cells in cocultures containing HER2
+
and HER2
−
cells. To enable the use of commercially available monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) as the CBP, we developed a convenient click chemistry-based approach to conjugate MAb-derived Fab fragments to a variant SpyCatcherΔ protein containing a nonnatural amino acid, 4-azido-
l
-phenylalanine (AzF). Using the HER2-binding trastuzumab as a model cell-specific MAb, we created Fab-conjugated lentiviral vectors that transduced HER2
+
SKOV3 cells with an infectious titer of 2.8 × 10
6
 IU/ml, on par with the result achieved using the DARPin-SpyCatcherΔ fusion protein. The ability to create cell-specific lentiviral vectors through chemical conjugation of a CBP should make this approach generalizable to any antibody, giving it broad utility for a wide range of research and clinical applications.

IMPORTANCE
Lentiviral vectors hold great potential in gene therapy. However, it remains a major hurdle to robustly engineer cell-specific lentiviral vectors. This article reports a simple and effective strategy to functionalize lentiviral vectors with cell-binding proteins, thus retargeting these viruses to cells expressing the binding partner of the CBP. The CBP is genetically or chemically linked to the SpyCatcher. The SpyTag is displayed on the virion surface as a fusion to an engineered Sindbis virus envelope protein and is used as the anchorage site for SpyCatcher-linked CBP. Using this strategy, we created lentiviral vectors highly infectious toward HER2
+
cancer cells. The ability to rapidly create cell-specific lentiviral vectors targeting a wide range of cell types should accelerate the development of custom lentiviral vectors for many research and clinical applications.
Immune-Mediated Damage Completes the Parabola:
Cryptococcus neoformans
Pathogenesis Can Reflect the Outcome of a Weak or Strong Immune Response
Authors: Pirofski Liise-anne , Casadevall Arturo
Published: December 2017

Cryptococcosis occurs most frequently in immunocompromised individuals. This has led to the prevailing view that this disease is the result of weak immune responses that cannot control the fungus. However, increasingly, clinical and experimental studies have revealed that the host immune response can contribute to cryptococcal pathogenesis, including the recent study of L. M. Neal et al. (mBio 8:e01415-17, 2017,
https://doi.org/10.1128/mBio.01415-17
) that reports that CD4
+
T cells mediate tissue damage in experimental murine cryptococcosis. This finding has fundamental implications for our understanding of the pathogenesis of cryptococcal disease; it helps explain why immunotherapy has been largely unsuccessful in treatment and provides insight into the paradoxical observation that HIV-associated cryptococcosis may have a better prognosis than cryptococcosis in those with no known immune impairment. The demonstration that host-mediated damage can drive cryptococcal disease provides proof of concept that the parabola put forth in the damage-response framework has the flexibility to depict complex and changing outcomes of host-microbe interaction.
The ozonolysis of cyclic monoterpenes: a computational review
Authors: Almatarneh Mansour H. , Elayan Ismael A. , Poirier Raymond A. , Altarawneh Mohammednoor
Published: December 2017

Monoterpenes are prevalent organic compounds emitted to the atmosphere, via biogenic activities in various types of plants. Monoterpenes undergo atmospheric decomposition reactions derived by the potent atmospheric oxidizing agents, OH, O3, and NOx. This review critically surveys literature pertinent to the atmospheric removal of monoterpenes by ozone. In general, the ozonolysis reactions of monoterpenes occur through the so-called Criegee mechanism. These classes of reactions generate a wide array of chemical organic and inorganic low vapor pressure (LVP) species. Carbonyl oxides, commonly known as Criegee intermediates (CIs), are the main intermediates from the gas-phase ozonolysis reaction. Herein, we present mechanistic pathways, reactions rate constants, product profiles, thermodynamic, and kinetic results dictating the ozonolysis reactions of selected monoterpenes (namely carene, camphene, limonene, α-pinene, β-pinene, and sabinene). Furthermore, the unimolecular (vinyl hydroperoxide and ester channels) and bimolecular reactions (cycloaddition, insertion, and radical recombination) of the resulting CIs are fully discussed. The orientations and conformations of the resulting primary ozonides (POZs) and CIs of monoterpenes are classified to reveal their plausible effects on reported thermokinetic parameters.
High-density SNP mapping reveals closely linked QTL for resistance to Stagonospora nodorum blotch (SNB) in flag leaf and glume of hexaploid wheat
Authors: Francki Michael G. , Walker Esther , Li Dora A. , Forrest Kerrie
Published: December 2017

The genetic control of adult plant resistance to Stagonospora nodorum blotch (SNB) is complex, consisting of genes with minor effects interacting in an additive manner. Earlier studies detected quantitative trait loci (QTL) for flag leaf resistance in successive years on chromosomes 1B, 2A, 2D, and 5B using SSR- and DArT-based genetic maps of progeny from the crosses EGA Blanco/Millewa, 6HRWSN125/WAWHT2074, and P92201D5/P91193D1. Similarly, QTL for glume resistance detected in successive years and multiple environments were identified on chromosomes 2D and 4B from genetic maps of P92201D5/P91193D1 and 6HRWSN125/WAWHT2074, respectively. The SSR- and DArT-based genetic maps had an average distance of 6.5, 7.8, and 9.7 cM between marker loci for populations EGA/Millewa, P92201D5/P91193D1, and 6HRWSN125/WAWHT2074, respectively. This study used single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers from the iSelect Infinium 90K genotyping array to fine-map genomic regions harbouring QTL for flag leaf and glume SNB resistance, reducing the average distance between markers to 2.9, 3.3, and 3.4 cM for populations P92201D5/P91193D1, EGA/Millewa, and 6HRWSN125/WAWHT2074, respectively. Increasing the marker density of the genetic maps with SNPs did not identify any new QTL for SNB resistance but discriminated previously identified co-located QTL into separate but closely linked QTL.
Anyon Condensation and Its Applications
Authors: Burnell F.J.
Published: December 2017

Bose condensation is central to our understanding of quantum phases of matter. Here, we review Bose condensation in topologically ordered phases (also called topological symmetry breaking), where the condensing bosons have nontrivial mutual statistics with other quasiparticles in the system. We give a nontechnical overview of the relationship between the phases before and after condensation, drawing parallels with more familiar symmetry-breaking transitions. We then review two important applications of this phenomenon. First, we describe the equivalence between such condensation transitions and pairs of phases with gappable boundaries, as well as examples where multiple types of gapped boundary between the same two phases exist. Second, we discuss how such transitions can lead to global symmetries that exchange or permute anyon types. Finally, we discuss the nature of the critical point, which can be mapped to a conventional phase transition in some—but not all—cases.