bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Preclinical and clinical evaluation of autonomic function in humans
Authors: Joyner Michael J.
Published: April 2016

This review focuses on how to assess autonomic function in humans including various ways to measure heart rate, catecholamines, and sympathetic neural activity. The need to assess autonomic function is paramount in many experimental paradigms because of the following. (1) Autonomic dysfunction is present in common diseases like hypertension, diabetes and heart failure, and the magnitude of this dysfunction is broadly related to morbidity and mortality in these disorders. (2) The relationship between autonomic dysfunction and morbidity and mortality can be causal. (3) Interventions that modulate or reverse autonomic dysfunction can improve outcomes in the affected patients. The techniques discussed are also frequently used to understand the autonomic response to sympathoexcitatory manoeuvres like exercise, the cold pressor test or mental stress. Because these manoeuvres can engage a variety of sensory and efferent pathways, under some circumstances the physiological responses measured by many of the techniques are directionally similar, in others they are divergent. Thus any investigator seeking to study the autonomic nervous system or its contribution to either normal physiology or pathophysiological conditions must carefully balance a number of considerations to ensure that the right technique is used to address the question of interest.

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Mechanochemically Responsive Viscoelastic Elastomers
Authors: Takaffoli Mahdi , Zhang Teng , Parks David , Zhao Xuanhe
Published: April 2016

Mechanochemically responsive (MCR) polymers have been designed to possess unconventional properties such as changing colors, self-healing, and releasing catalysts under deformation. These properties of MCR polymers stem from a class of molecules, referred to as mechanophores, whose chemical reactions can be controlled by mechanical forces. Although extensive studies have been devoted to the syntheses of MCR polymers by incorporating various mechanophores into polymer networks, the intricate interactions between mechanical forces and chemical reactions in MCR polymers across multiple length and time scales are still not well understood. In this paper, we focus on mechanochemical responses in viscoelastic elastomers and develop a theoretical model to characterize the coupling between viscoelasticity and chemical reactions of MCR elastomers. We show that the kinetics of viscoelasticity and mechanophore reactions introduce different time scales into the MCR elastomers. The model can consistently represent experimental data on both mechanical properties and chemical reactions of MCR viscoelastic elastomers. In particular, we explain recent experimental observations on the increasing chemical activation during stress relaxation of MCR elastomers, which cannot be explained with existing models. The proposed model provides a theoretical foundation for the design of future MCR polymers with desirable properties.
Mechanical Energy Harvesting From Road Pavements Under Vehicular Load Using Embedded Piezoelectric Elements
Authors: Chen Yisheng , Zhang He , Zhang Yangyang , Li Chunhua , Yang Qian , Zheng Hongyu , Lü Chaofeng
Published: April 2016

Highways consume enormous electric power and therefore contribute to heavy economic costs due to the operation of auxiliary road facilities including lighting, displays, and health-monitoring systems for tunnels and bridges, etc. We here propose a new strategy of electric power supply for highways by harvesting mechanical energy from the reciprocating deformation of road pavements. A series of wheel tracking tests are performed to demonstrate the possibility of using piezoelectric elements to transform the mechanical energy stored in pavements due to vehicular load into electricity. An analytical electromechanical model is developed to predict the correlations between electric outputs and loading conditions in the wheel tracking test. A simple scaling law is derived to show that the normalized output power depends on the normalized loading period, location, and size of the piezoelectric device. The scaling law is further extended to a practical highway application according to the analogy between the wheel tracking test and a highway in an idealized condition of periodic vehicular load. It suggests that the output power may be maximized by tuning the material and geometry of the piezoelectric device under various conditions of speed limit and vehicle spacing. The present results may provide a useful guideline for designing mechanical energy-harvesting systems in various road pavements.
Dose performance characterization of extreme ultraviolet exposure system using enhanced energy sensitivity by resist contrast method
Authors: Kim Insung , Heo JinSeok , Park Changmin , Hwang Myeongsu , Kim Seong-Sue , Hahn Jae W.
Published: April 2016

Characterization of the systematic and random dose errors of an extreme ultraviolet (EUV) exposure system is performed using an EUV resist as an energy sensor for fast and repeatable measurements. Dose error measurement is enabled by a critical phenomenon that occurs when the photoresist is exposed to a dose in the region between the onset dose of E1 and the clearing dose of E0 on the photoresist contrast curve, which results in enhanced sensitivity to the applied dose relative to the resist thickness. At doses near the enhanced sensitivity point, changes in the thickness of the photoresist can be detected based on the change in the reflected light intensity, and any intensity variations in a captured image of an exposed wafer can be reverse translated into the dose error of the exposure system. With a dose sensitivity that is capable of resolving approximately 0.25% of the nominal dose, it is possible to decompose the measured systematic in-band EUV dose error of the exposure system into the intrafield slit and scan uniformity, the field-to-field variation within a wafer, the scan-up to scan-down difference, and the chuck-to-chuck difference. Even a random dose error, such as the intermittent pulse energy drop-out error that occurs in laser-produced plasma EUV sources, can be detected.
Measurement of Coriolis Acceleration with a Smartphone
Authors: Shakur Asif , Kraft Jakob
Published: April 2016

Undergraduate physics laboratories seldom have experiments that measure the Coriolis acceleration. This has traditionally been the case owing to the inherent complexities of making such measurements. Articles on the experimental determination of the Coriolis acceleration are few and far between in the physics literature. However, because modern smartphones come with a raft of built-in sensors, we have a unique opportunity to experimentally determine the Coriolis acceleration conveniently in a pedagogically enlightening environment at modest cost by using student-owned smartphones. Here we employ the gyroscope and accelerometer in a smartphone to verify the dependence of Coriolis acceleration on the angular velocity of a rotatingtrack and the speed of the sliding smartphone.
Top bachelor's-producing departments
Authors: White Susan C.
Published: April 2016

As we near the close of another academic year, we highlight departments in the United States that consistently award more physics bachelor's degrees than other similar departments. We categorize departments by the highest physics degree they award. Typically, departments that award a doctorate have more faculty members and more students; thus, one would expect these departments to have more undergraduate physics majors than departments that award a bachelor's degree only. During the 2013–14 academic year, we reached out to 743 departments that award a bachelor's degree in physics: 496 offer a bachelor's degree only, 56 offer up to a master's, and 191 offer up to a doctorate. Of the 496 that award a bachelor's degree only, about 18% averaged at least 10 bachelor's degrees per year between 2012 and 2014. Over 30% of the master's-granting departments averaged at least 10 bachelor's degrees per year over this same span. Finally, over 19% of the PhD-granting departments awarded an average of at least 30 bachelor's degrees per year for that time period. On our website, we have lists of the top bachelor's degree-producing departments by highest degree. (See https://www.aip.org/statistics/table4, https://www.aip.org/statistics/table5 and https://www.aip.org/statistics/table6 for the full list of departments by highest degree. Visit https://www.aip.org/statistics/undergraduate for all our data and reports on undergraduate education; updated lists of top bachelor's-producing departments will be available at this link early in the fall semester. Due to space limitations, we cannot list all 155 departments included in these tables, so this list includes the top 5% of departments in each group.
Exploring the atmosphere using smartphones
Authors: Monteiro Martín , Vogt Patrik , Stari Cecilia , Cabeza Cecilia , Marti Arturo C.
Published: April 2016

The characteristics of the inner layer of the atmosphere, the troposphere, are determinant for Earth's life. In this experience we explore the first hundreds of meters using a smartphone mounted on a quadcopter. Both the altitude and the pressure are obtained using the smartphone's sensors. We complement these measures with data collected from the flight information system of an aircraft. The experimental results are compared with the International Standard Atmosphere and other simple approximations: isothermal and constant density atmospheres.
When the payoff for academics drops, commercialization suffers
Authors: Mervis Jeffrey
Published: April 2016

A change in Norway's laws leads to sharp drop in the number of patents and startups by academics.
Cadaver study challenges brain stimulation methods
Authors: Underwood Emily
Published: April 2016

Unusual test of transcranial stimulation shows that little electrical current penetrates the skull.
Malaria wars
Authors: Roberts Leslie
Published: April 2016

Can malaria be eliminated from the Mekong region before multiple-drug resistance makes it untreatable?
Rubber workers on the front lines
Authors: Roberts Leslie
Published: April 2016

A new effort to reach migrant workers could make or break plans for malaria elimination.
Webinar | Metabolic regulation of immunity: Exploring programs that drive immune development and function
Authors: Rathmell Jeffrey , Jones Russell , Hess Christoph
Published: April 2016

According to conventional thinking, metabolic changes related to disease are thought to be triggered predominantly by signals from the immune cell-signaling network. However, recent evidence supports a role for metabolism as a “first responder” that can be decisive in actually forming immune responses and determining outcomes based on the metabolic potential and fitness of the responding cells. This new insight has led to the potential for reprogramming cellular metabolism to direct immune cell fate and function and thus to ultimately improve disease outcomes. In this webinar we will explain how metabolic pathways and substrates have been found to impact particular immune cell subsets and their functional roles. The application of this knowledge to better understand disease and to reveal novel therapeutic approaches will also be discussed.

View the Webinar
Hobit and Blimp1 instruct a universal transcriptional program of tissue residency in lymphocytes
Authors: Mackay Laura K. , Minnich Martina , Kragten Natasja A. M. , Liao Yang , Nota Benjamin , Seillet Cyril , Zaid Ali , Man Kevin , Preston Simon , Freestone David , Braun Asolina , Wynne-Jones Erica , Behr Felix M. , Stark Regina , Pellicci Daniel G. , Godfrey Dale I. , Belz Gabrielle T. , Pellegrini Marc , Gebhardt Thomas , Busslinger Meinrad , Shi Wei , Carbone Francis R. , van Lier René A. W. , Kallies Axel , van Gisbergen Klaas P. J. M.
Published: April 2016

Transcription factors define tissue T cells

The immune system fights microbial invaders by maintaining multiple lines of defense. For instance, specialized memory T cells [resident memory T cells (T
rms
)] colonize portals of pathogen entry, such as the skin, lung, and gut, to quickly halt reinfections. Mackay
et al.
now report that in mice, T
rms
as well as other tissue-dwelling lymphocyte populations such as natural killer cells share a common transcriptional program driven by the related transcription factors Hobit and Blimp1. Tissue residency and retention of lymphocytes require expression of Hobit and Blimp1, which, among other functions, suppress genes that promote tissue exit.

Science
, this issue p.
459
RNA-binding proteins ZFP36L1 and ZFP36L2 promote cell quiescence
Authors: Galloway Alison , Saveliev Alexander , Łukasiak Sebastian , Hodson Daniel J. , Bolland Daniel , Balmanno Kathryn , Ahlfors Helena , Monzón-Casanova Elisa , Mannurita Sara Ciullini , Bell Lewis S. , Andrews Simon , Díaz-Muñoz Manuel D. , Cook Simon J. , Corcoran Anne , Turner Martin
Published: April 2016

Reducing the risk of rearrangement

As lymphocytes develop, they rearrange their antigen receptor genes and proliferate extensively, potentially putting their genomes at risk. Galloway
et al.
found that two RNA-binding proteins, ZFP36L1 and ZFP36L2, ensure careful entry and exit into the cell cycle. This helps developing B lymphocytes maintain their genomic integrity. Mice deficient in ZFP36L1 and ZFP36L2 exhibited a profound block in B cell development. ZFP36L1 and ZFP36L2 suppress mRNAs that help B cells progress through the cell cycle, ensuring that cells can enter quiescence and keep their genomes safe when they undergo the risky process of rearranging their antigen receptors.

Science
, this issue p.
453
Comment on “Slow adaptation in the face of rapid warming leads to collapse of the Gulf of Maine cod fishery”
Authors: Palmer Michael C. , Deroba Jonathan J. , Legault Christopher M. , Brooks Elizabeth N.
Published: April 2016

Pershing
et al
. (Reports, 13 November, p. 809) concluded that failure to account for temperature in the assessment and management of Gulf of Maine Atlantic cod caused overfishing. We argue that the “extra mortality” calculation driving this conclusion is an artifact. Environmental factors affect all stocks, but attribution of additional mortality to temperature alone by Pershing
et al
. is unsupported by the data.
Filling in biodiversity threat gaps
Authors: Joppa L. N. , O'Connor B. , Visconti P. , Smith C. , Geldmann J. , Hoffmann M. , Watson J. E. M. , Butchart S. H. M. , Virah-Sawmy M. , Halpern B. S. , Ahmed S. E. , Balmford A. , Sutherland W. J. , Harfoot M. , Hilton-Taylor C. , Foden W. , Minin E. Di , Pagad S. , Genovesi P. , Hutton J. , Burgess N. D.
Published: April 2016

Only 5% of global threat data sets meet a “gold standard”
Risk literacy in medical decision-making
Authors: Operskalski Joachim T. , Barbey Aron K.
Published: April 2016

How can we better represent the statistical structure of risk?
Comparison of Cepheid Xpert Flu/RSV XC and BioFire FilmArray for Detection of Influenza A, Influenza B, and Respiratory Syncytial Virus
Authors: Wahrenbrock Mark G. , Matushek Scott , Boonlayangoor Sue , Tesic Vera , Beavis Kathleen G. , Charnot-Katsikas Angella
Published: April 2016

The Xpert Flu/RSV XC was compared to the FilmArray respiratory panel for detection of influenza (Flu) A, Flu B, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), using 128 nasopharyngeal swabs. Positive agreements were 100% for Flu A and RSV and 92.3% for Flu B. The Xpert may be useful in clinical situations when extensive testing is not required and may serve an important role in laboratories already performing broader respiratory panel testing.
Towards Development of Improved Serodiagnostics for Tularemia by Use of Francisella tularensis Proteome Microarrays
Authors: Nakajima Rie , Escudero Raquel , Molina Douglas M. , Rodríguez-Vargas Manuela , Randall Arlo , Jasinskas Algis , Pablo Jozelyn , Felgner Philip L. , AuCoin David P. , Anda Pedro , Davies D. Huw
Published: April 2016

Tularemia in humans is caused mainly by two subspecies of the Gram-negative facultative anaerobeFrancisella tularensis:F. tularensissubsp.tularensis(type A) andF. tularensissubsp.holarctica(type B). The current serological test for tularemia is based on agglutination of whole organisms, and the reactive antigens are not well understood. Previously, we profiled the antibody responses in type A and B tularemia cases in the United States using a proteome microarray of 1,741 different proteins derived from the type A strain Schu S4. Fifteen dominant antigens able to detect antibodies to both types of infection were identified, although these were not validated in a different immunoassay format. Since type A and B subspecies are closely related, we hypothesized that Schu S4 antigens would also have utility for diagnosing type B tularemia caused by strains from other geographic locations. To test this, we probed the Schu S4 array with sera from 241 type B tularemia cases in Spain. Despite there being no type A strains in Spain, we confirmed the responses against some of the same potential serodiagnostic antigens reported previously, as well as determined the responses against additional potential serodiagnostic antigens. Five potential serodiagnostic antigens were evaluated on immunostrips, and two of these (FTT1696/GroEL and FTT0975/conserved hypothetical protein) discriminated between the Spanish tularemia cases and healthy controls. We conclude that antigens from the type A strain Schu S4 are suitable for detection of antibodies from patients with type BF. tularensisinfections and that these can be used for the diagnosis of tularemia in a deployable format, such as the immunostrip.
Interferon Alpha Subtype-Specific Suppression of HIV-1 InfectionIn Vivo
Authors: Lavender Kerry J. , Gibbert Kathrin , Peterson Karin E. , Van Dis Erik , Francois Sandra , Woods Tyson , Messer Ronald J. , Gawanbacht Ali , Müller Janis A. , Münch Jan , Phillips Katie , Race Brent , Harper Michael S. , Guo Kejun , Lee Eric J. , Trilling Mirko , Hengel Hartmut , Piehler Jacob , Verheyen Jens , Wilson Cara C. , Santiago Mario L. , Hasenkrug Kim J. , Dittmer Ulf
Published: April 2016

Although all 12 subtypes of human interferon alpha (IFN-α) bind the same receptor, recent results have demonstrated that they elicit unique host responses and display distinct efficacies in the control of different viral infections. The IFN-α2 subtype is currently in HIV-1 clinical trials, but it has not consistently reduced viral loads in HIV-1 patients and is not the most effective subtype against HIV-1in vitro. We now demonstrate in humanized mice that, when delivered at the same high clinical dose, the human IFN-α14 subtype has very potent anti-HIV-1 activity whereas IFN-α2 does not. In both postexposure prophylaxis and treatment of acute infections, IFN-α14, but not IFN-α2, significantly suppressed HIV-1 replication and proviral loads. Furthermore, HIV-1-induced immune hyperactivation, which is a prognosticator of disease progression, was reduced by IFN-α14 but not IFN-α2. Whereas ineffective IFN-α2 therapy was associated with CD8+T cell activation, successful IFN-α14 therapy was associated with increased intrinsic and innate immunity, including significantly higher induction of tetherin and MX2, increased APOBEC3G signature mutations in HIV-1 proviral DNA, and higher frequencies of TRAIL+NK cells. These results identify IFN-α14 as a potent new therapeutic that operates via mechanisms distinct from those of antiretroviral drugs. The ability of IFN-α14 to reduce both viremia and proviral loadsin vivosuggests that it has strong potential as a component of a cure strategy for HIV-1 infections. The broad implication of these results is that the antiviral efficacy of each individual IFN-α subtype should be evaluated against the specific virus being treated.

IMPORTANCEThe naturally occurring antiviral protein IFN-α2 is used to treat hepatitis viruses but has proven rather ineffective against HIV in comparison to triple therapy with the antiretroviral (ARV) drugs. Although ARVs suppress the replication of HIV, they fail to completely clear infections. Since IFN-α acts by different mechanism than ARVs and has been shown to reduce HIV proviral loads, clinical trials are under way to test whether IFN-α2 combined with ARVs might eradicate HIV-1 infections. IFN-α is actually a family of 12 distinct proteins, and each IFN-α subtype has different efficacies toward different viruses. Here, we use mice that contain a human immune system, so they can be infected with HIV. With this model, we demonstrate that while IFN-α2 is only weakly effective against HIV, IFN-α14 is extremely potent. This discovery identifies IFN-α14 as a more powerful IFN-α subtype for use in combination therapy trials aimed toward an HIV cure.
Sports injury and illness epidemiology during the 2014 Youth Olympic Games: United States Olympic Team Surveillance
Authors: Nabhan Dustin , Walden Taylor , Street Jenna , Linden Heather , Moreau Bill
Published: April 2016

Background

To describe injury and illness incidence from the US Youth Olympic Team during the 2014 Youth Olympic Games (YOG).

Methods

Electronic health records of Team USA athletes registered for the YOG were reviewed for patient encounters during the 2014 YOG. Medical encounters were defined as all medical services provided by a healthcare provider including evaluation, treatment and prophylactic services. All medical conditions were categorised by IOC Injury and Illness reporting criteria.

Results

Team USA was comprised of 48 male and 46 female athletes, aged of 14–18 years, representing 20 sports. There were 346 total medical encounters among 54 of the 94 registered athletes for a rate of 3.7 medical encounters per athlete. A total of 40 injuries were recorded (14 time loss injuries, 26 non-time loss) and 20 illnesses. This equates to 43% of athletes sustaining an injury, and 21% sustaining an illness, with a frequency of 426 injuries and 213 illnesses per 1000 registered athletes. The most commonly involved body regions for time loss injuries were the knee (21%) and ankle (12%). Time loss injuries most frequently occurred in competition (71%) and the most common type of injury was a ligament sprain (43%). The most common illnesses were respiratory (35%) and dermatological conditions (30%).

Conclusions

The rates of injury, illness and medical encounters per athlete were greater than in previous reports of medical service provisions at youth Olympic-level sporting events.
Additional follow-up telephone counselling and initial smoking relapse: a longitudinal, controlled study
Authors: Wu Lei , He Yao , Jiang Bin , Zuo Fang , Liu Qinghui , Zhang Li , Zhou Changxi
Published: April 2016

Objectives

Smoking cessation services can help smokers to quit; however, many smoking relapse cases occur over time. Initial relapse prevention should play an important role in achieving the goal of long-term smoking cessation. Several studies have focused on the effect of extended telephone support in relapse prevention, but the conclusions remain conflicting.

Design and setting

From October 2008 to August 2013, a longitudinal, controlled study was performed in a large general hospital of Beijing.

Participants

The smokers who sought treatment at our smoking cessation clinic were non-randomised and divided into 2 groups: face-to-face individual counselling group (FC group), and face-to-face individual counselling plus telephone follow-up counselling group (FCF group). No pharmacotherapy was offered.

Outcomes

The timing of initial smoking relapse was compared between FC and FCF groups. Predictors of initial relapse were investigated during the first 180 days, using the Cox proportional hazards model.

Results

Of 547 eligible male smokers who volunteered to participate, 457 participants (117 in FC group and 340 in FCF group) achieved at least 24 h abstinence. The majority of the lapse episodes occurred during the first 2 weeks after the quit date. Smokers who did not receive the follow-up telephone counselling (FC group) tended to relapse to smoking earlier than those smokers who received the additional follow-up telephone counselling (FCF group), and the log-rank test was statistically significant (p=0.003). A Cox regression model showed that, in the FCF group, being married, and having a lower Fagerström test score, normal body mass index and doctor-diagnosed tobacco-related chronic diseases, were significantly independent protective predictors of smoking relapse.

Conclusions

Within the limitations of this study, it can be concluded that additional follow-up telephone counselling might be an effective strategy in preventing relapse. Further research is still needed to confirm our findings.
The patient who ‘must not be told’: demographic factors associated with collusion in a retrospective study in South India
Authors: Jeba Jenifer , Jacob Annie , Kandasamy Ramu , George Reena
Published: April 2016

Background

Patients with cancer need adequate information about diagnosis, treatment options, and possible outcomes and prognosis to make therapeutic decisions. In cultures where the family plays the dominant role in healthcare decisions, doctors are often requested to collude in withholding distressing information from the patient. This challenging situation has not been well studied and there is limited knowledge on the different factors that may contribute to collusion.

Objective

To study the prevalence of collusion among adult cancer patients attending a palliative care outpatient clinic and the contributing factors.

Methods

The healthcare records of 306 adult cancer patients who had visited the palliative care outpatient clinic at least three times with follow-up until death were retrospectively reviewed. Details on information shared and why it was not shared were retrieved from the documentation in the communication sheet in the patient chart. The prevalence, sociodemographic and clinical factors that could contribute to collusion in doctor–patient communication were studied.

Results

Collusion was present in 40% of cases at the time of referral to the palliative care outpatient clinic (collusion regarding diagnosis in 18%; collusion regarding prognosis in 40%). Collusion was later addressed in 35%. Collusion was significantly higher among female patients (p=0.005), manual workers (p=0.035), those not accompanied by a spouse (p=0.000) and with no oncological treatment (p=0.001).

Conclusions

Collusion regarding diagnosis or prognosis is common among cancer patients referred for palliative care. It was more prevalent among female patients, manual workers, patients who had not received oncological treatment, and patients not accompanied by a spouse.
Smoking status and subjective well-being
Authors: Weinhold Diana , Chaloupka Frank J
Published: April 2016

Background/aims

A debate is currently underway about the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA's) methods for evaluating antitobacco regulation. In particular, the US government requires a cost-benefit analysis for significant new regulations, which has led the FDA to consider potential lost subjective well-being (SWB) of ex-smokers as a cost of any proposed antitobacco policy. This practice, which significantly limits regulatory capacity, is premised on the assumption that there is in fact a loss in SWB among ex-smokers.

Methods

We analyse the relationship between SWB and smoking status using a longitudinal internet survey of over 5000 Dutch adults across 5 years. We control for socioeconomic, demographic and health characteristics, and in a contribution to the literature, we additionally control for two potential confounding personality characteristics, habitual use of external substances and sensitivity to stress. In another contribution, we estimate panel fixed effects models that additionally control for unobservable time-invariant characteristics.

Results

We find strong suggestive evidence that ex-smokers do not suffer a net loss in SWB. We also find no evidence that the change in SWB of those who quit smoking under stricter tobacco control policies is different from those who quit under a more relaxed regulatory environment. Furthermore, our cross-sectional estimates suggest that the increase in SWB from quitting smoking is statistically significant and also of a meaningful magnitude.

Conclusions

In sum, we find no empirical support for the proposition that ex-smokers suffer lower net SWB compared to when they were smoking.
Recent changes in the diet and survival of Atlantic puffin chicks in the face of climate change and commercial fishing in midcoast Maine, USA
Authors: Kress Stephen W. , Shannon Paula , O’Neal Christopher
Published: April 2016

We examined the diet of Atlantic puffin ( Fratercula arctica) chicks at three midcoast Maine, USA, colonies during the years 2005–2014 and found that the puffins at each island have a distinct diet that has changed in recent years. White hake ( Urophycis tenuis) is by far the most frequently delivered prey at each island. Atlantic herring ( Clupea harengus) is the second most frequently delivered food, but has declined in recent years on two islands. In contrast, butterfish ( Poronotus triacanthus), haddock ( Melanogrammus aeglefinus), and redfish ( Sebastes spp.) have increased in the puffin diet on all islands. Chick condition declined significantly from 1993 to 2009. We demonstrate that puffin chicks with greater body weight experience a higher chance of postfledging survival as compared to chicks with lower body weight. The years 2012–2013 were a period of extreme sea surface warming, in which puffin hatching success and productivity sharply declined. This study provides new insight into changes in marine communities, examining changes in chick diet. We discuss our findings in relation to warming sea surface temperatures, recent climate-related decline in puffin productivity in the Gulf of Maine, and the impact of commercial fisheries on forage fish.
The new scattering mode emerging at the LHC?
Authors: Troshin S. M. , Tyurin N. E.
Published: April 2016

We point out several experimental manifestations of the new reflective scattering mode in elastic scattering and multiparticle production at the LHC energy range.
First principle study of a new half-metallic ferrimagnetic full-Heusler alloy Ti2VPb
Authors: Hamri Bouabdallah , Hamri Abdelkrim , Hamri Aida , Hallouche Abbes , Abbar Boucif
Published: April 2016

In this paper, we performed an ab initio calculation of the different properties of the full-Heusler alloy Ti2VPb which is reported for the first time using the WIEN2k implementation of the full potential linearized augmented plane wave (FPLAPW) scheme. In order to study this compound for magneto-electronic applications we used the generalized gradient approximation (GGA) approximation for its mechanical properties but the MBJ-GGA to better investigate the electronic properties. Our results show that the Ti2VPb compound exhibits half-metallicity at its equilibrium lattice 6.548 Å but a metallic character would occur with an expansion of its lattice parameters to 6.85 Å.
Research on the large band gaps in multilayer radial phononic crystal structure
Authors: Gao Nansha , Wu Jiu Hui , Guan Dong
Published: April 2016

In this paper, we study the band gaps (BGs) of new proposed radial phononic crystal (RPC) structure composed of multilayer sections. The band structure, transmission spectra and eigenmode displacement fields of the multilayer RPC are calculated by using finite element method (FEM). Due to the vibration coupling effects between thin circular plate and intermediate mass, the RPC structure can exhibit large BGs, which can be effectively shifted by changing the different geometry values. This study shows that multilayer RPC can unfold larger and lower BGs than traditional phononic crystals (PCs) and RPC can be composed of single material.
Optimal Body Bias to Control Stability, Leakage and Speed in SRAM Cell
Authors: Lorenzo Rohit , Chaudhury Saurabh
Published: April 2016

The stability, leakage power and speed of Static random access memory (SRAM) have become an important issue with CMOS technology scaling. In this paper, a controller circuit is introduced which is separately controlling the load, driver and access transistors of SRAM cell. Based on word line signal value, optimal body bias voltage is generated through control circuitry to control stability, leakage and speed in SRAM cell. The proposed cell gives faster read and writes with an improvement of 68.5% and 89.2% over conventional 6T SRAM cell. In standby mode, about 62.2% leakage power reduction is observed in [Formula: see text] array architecture of SRAM. The proposed cell is implemented with 65[Formula: see text]nm CMOS technology and exhibits higher hold and write margins with an improvement of 26.29% in hold margin and 16.6% improvement in write margin as compared to conventional 6T SRAM cell. Robustness of the proposed SRAM cell with respect to stability, leakage and speed are confirmed under process, voltage and temperature variations.
THE EFFECT OF ASPHERICITY OF ACETABULAR BEARING SURFACE ON CONTACT MECHANICS OF UHMWPE TOTAL HIP IMPLANTS BY FINITE ELEMENT ANALYSIS
Authors: ZHANG XUAN , WANG LING , PENG XIFENG , LI DICHEN , HE JIANKANG , LIU YAXIONG , LIAN QIN , JIN ZHONGMIN , LIU CHAOZONG
Published: April 2016

Asphericity and out-of-roundness are generally used to evaluate the manufacturing quality of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) cup inner surfaces, which can potentially affect initial clinical wear and contribute to osteolysis of total hip arthroplasty. This study measured the location and magnitude of asphericity and the out-of-roundness value for four UHMWPE cups in a single set, and then investigated the effects of the asphericity on the contact mechanics of UHMWPE cups. A co-ordinate measuring machine (CMM) was used for the surface measurement and finite element analysis (FEA) was adopted for contact mechanics study. The results demonstrated that the asphericity varied between cups with the maximum value as 0.088[Formula: see text][Formula: see text][Formula: see text]0.004[Formula: see text]mm. Although such a value met the ISO specification, large difference of volume appeared for the asphericity above 0.060[Formula: see text]mm. Actual surface profile accounting for the asphericity was found to affect the value of contact pressure and contact area by around 12%. The inferior asphericity resulted in a nonsmoothly distributed contact pressure, which had a negative effect on the contact mechanics of UHMWPE cups and the edge loading was predicted to occur for the sample with a large asphericity. In conclusion, the asphericity of UHMWPE cup could affect the contact mechanics of the articular bearings and may subsequently contribute to initial wear during bedding-in phase.
When phosphorylated at Thr148, the β2-subunit of AMP-activated kinase does not associate with glycogen in skeletal muscle
Authors: Xu Hongyang , Frankenberg Noni T. , Lamb Graham D. , Gooley Paul R. , Stapleton David I. , Murphy Robyn M.
Published: April 2016

The 5′-AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), a heterotrimeric complex that functions as an intracellular fuel sensor that affects metabolism, is activated in skeletal muscle in response to exercise and utilization of stored energy. The diffusibility properties of α- and β-AMPK were examined in isolated skeletal muscle fiber segments dissected from rat fast-twitch extensor digitorum longus and oxidative soleus muscles from which the surface membranes were removed by mechanical dissection. After the muscle segments were washed for 1 and 10 min, ∼60% and 75%, respectively, of the total AMPK pools were found in the diffusible fraction. After in vitro stimulation of the muscle, which resulted in an ∼80% decline in maximal force, 20% of the diffusible pool became bound in the fiber. This bound pool was not associated with glycogen, as determined by addition of a wash step containing amylase. Stimulation of extensor digitorum longus muscles resulted in 28% glycogen utilization and a 40% increase in phosphorylation of the downstream AMPK target acetyl carboxylase-CoA. This, however, had no effect on the proportion of total β2-AMPK that was phosphorylated in whole muscle homogenates measured by immunoprecipitation. These findings suggest that, in rat skeletal muscle, β2-AMPK is not associated with glycogen and that activation of AMPK by muscle contraction does not dephosphorylate β2-AMPK. These findings question the physiological relevance of the carbohydrate-binding function of β2-AMPK in skeletal muscle.
Calpain-2 activates Akt via TGF-β1-mTORC2 pathway in pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells
Authors: Abeyrathna Prasanna , Kovacs Laszlo , Han Weihong , Su Yunchao
Published: April 2016

Calpain is a family of calcium-dependent nonlysosomal neutral cysteine endopeptidases. Akt is a serine/threonine kinase that belongs to AGC kinases and plays important roles in cell survival, growth, proliferation, angiogenesis, and cell metabolism. Both calpain and Akt are the downstream signaling molecules of platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) and mediate PDGF-induced collagen synthesis and proliferation of pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMCs) in pulmonary vascular remodeling. We found that inhibitions of calpain-2 by using calpain inhibitor MDL28170 and calpain-2 small interfering RNA attenuated Akt phosphorylations at serine-473 (S473) and threonine-308 (T308), as well as collagen synthesis and cell proliferation of PASMCs induced by PDGF. Overexpression of calpain-2 in PASMCs induced dramatic increases in Akt phosphorylations at S473 and T308. Moreover, knockout of calpain attenuated Akt phosphorylations at S473 and T308 in smooth muscle of pulmonary arterioles of mice with chronic hypoxic pulmonary hypertension. The cell-permeable-specific transforming growth factor (TGF)-β receptor inhibitor SB431542 attenuated Akt phosphorylations at both S473 and T308 induced by PDGF and by overexpressed calpain-2 in PASMCs. Furthermore, SB-431452 and knocking down activin receptor-like kinase-5 significantly reduced PDGF-induced collagen synthesis and cell proliferation of PASMCs. Nevertheless, neutralizing extracellular TGF-β1 using a cell-impermeable TGF-β1 neutralizing antibody did not affect PDGF-induced Akt phosphorylations at S473 and T308. Furthermore, inhibition of mammalian target of rapamycin complex 2 (mTORC2) by knocking down its component protein Rictor prevented Akt phosphorylations at S473 and T308 induced by PDGF and by overexpressed calpain-2. These data provide first evidence supporting that calpain-2 upregulates PDGF-induced Akt phosphorylation in pulmonary vascular remodeling via an intracrine TGF-β1/mTORC2 mechanism.
Insights into the pathogenesis of ulcerative colitis from a murine model of stasis-induced dysbiosis, colonic metaplasia, and genetic susceptibility
Authors: Ward Marc A. , Pierre Joseph F. , Leal Raquel F. , Huang Yong , Shogan Benjamin , Dalal Sushila R. , Weber Christopher R. , Leone Vanessa A. , Musch Mark W. , An Gary C. , Rao Mrinalini C. , Rubin David T. , Raffals Laura E. , Antonopoulos Dionysios A. , Sogin Mitch L. , Hyman Neil H. , Alverdy John C. , Chang Eugene B.
Published: April 2016

Gut dysbiosis, host genetics, and environmental triggers are implicated as causative factors in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), yet mechanistic insights are lacking. Longitudinal analysis of ulcerative colitis (UC) patients following total colectomy with ileal anal anastomosis (IPAA) where >50% develop pouchitis offers a unique setting to examine cause vs. effect. To recapitulate human IPAA, we employed a mouse model of surgically created blind self-filling (SFL) and self-emptying (SEL) ileal loops using wild-type (WT), IL-10 knockout (KO) (IL-10), TLR4 KO (T4), and IL-10/T4 double KO mice. After 5 wk, loop histology, host gene/protein expression, and bacterial 16s rRNA profiles were examined. SFL exhibit fecal stasis due to directional motility oriented toward the loop end, whereas SEL remain empty. In WT mice, SFL, but not SEL, develop pouchlike microbial communities without accompanying active inflammation. However, in genetically susceptible IL-10-deficient mice, SFL, but not SEL, exhibit severe inflammation and mucosal transcriptomes resembling human pouchitis. The inflammation associated with IL-10 required TLR4, as animals lacking both pathways displayed little disease. Furthermore, germ-free IL-10 mice conventionalized with SFL, but not SEL, microbiota populations develop severe colitis. These data support essential roles of stasis-induced, colon-like microbiota, TLR4-mediated colonic metaplasia, and genetic susceptibility in the development of pouchitis and possibly UC. However, these factors by themselves are not sufficient. Similarities between this model and human UC/pouchitis provide opportunities for gaining insights into the mechanistic basis of IBD and for identification of targets for novel preventative and therapeutic interventions.
Open-loop (feed-forward) and feedback control of coronary blood flow during exercise, cardiac pacing, and pressure changes
Authors: Pradhan Ranjan K. , Feigl Eric O. , Gorman Mark W. , Brengelmann George L. , Beard Daniel A.
Published: April 2016

A control system model was developed to analyze data on in vivo coronary blood flow regulation and to probe how different mechanisms work together to control coronary flow from rest to exercise, and under a variety of experimental conditions, including cardiac pacing and with changes in coronary arterial pressure (autoregulation). In the model coronary flow is determined by the combined action of a feedback pathway signal that is determined by the level of plasma ATP in coronary venous blood, an adrenergic open-loop (feed-forward) signal that increases with exercise, and a contribution of pressure-mediated myogenic control. The model was identified based on data from exercise experiments where myocardial oxygen extraction, coronary flow, cardiac interstitial norepinephrine concentration, and arterial and coronary venous plasma ATP concentrations were measured during control and during adrenergic and purinergic receptor blockade conditions. The identified model was used to quantify the relative contributions of open-loop and feedback pathways and to illustrate the degree of redundancy in the control of coronary flow. The results indicate that the adrenergic open-loop control component is responsible for most of the increase in coronary blood flow that occurs during high levels of exercise. However, the adenine nucleotide-mediated metabolic feedback control component is essential. The model was evaluated by predicting coronary flow in cardiac pacing and autoregulation experiments with reasonable fits to the data. The analysis shows that a model in which coronary venous plasma adenine nucleotides are a signal in local metabolic feedback control of coronary flow is consistent with the available data.
A splice variant of the myosin phosphatase regulatory subunit tunes arterial reactivity and suppresses response to salt loading
Authors: Reho John J. , Kenchegowda Doreswamy , Asico Laureano D. , Fisher Steven A.
Published: April 2016

The cGMP activated kinase cGK1α is targeted to its substrates via leucine zipper (LZ)-mediated heterodimerization and thereby mediates vascular smooth muscle (VSM) relaxation. One target is myosin phosphatase (MP), which when activated by cGK1α results in VSM relaxation even in the presence of activating calcium. Variants of MP regulatory subunit Mypt1 are generated by alternative splicing of the 31 nt exon 24 (E24), which, by changing the reading frame, codes for isoforms that contain or lack the COOH-terminal LZ motif (E24+/LZ−; E24−/LZ+). Expression of these isoforms is vessel specific and developmentally regulated, modulates in disease, and is proposed to confer sensitivity to nitric oxide (NO)/cGMP-mediated vasorelaxation. To test this, mice underwent Tamoxifen-inducible and smooth muscle-specific knockout of E24 (E24 cKO) after weaning. Deletion of a single allele of E24 (shift to Mypt1 LZ+) enhanced vasorelaxation of first-order mesenteric arteries (MA1) to diethylamine-NONOate (DEA/NO) and to cGMP in permeabilized and calcium-clamped arteries and lowered blood pressure. There was no further effect of deletion of both E24 alleles, indicating high sensitivity to shift of Mypt1 isoforms. However, a unique property of MA1s from homozygous E24 cKOs was significantly reduced force generation to α-adrenergic activation. Furthermore 2 wk of high-salt (4% NaCl) diet increased MA1 force generation to phenylephrine in control mice, a response that was markedly suppressed in the E24 cKO homozygotes. Thus Mypt1 E24 splice variants tune arterial reactivity and could be worthy targets for lowering vascular resistance in disease states.
Locus coeruleus noradrenergic innervation of the amygdala facilitates alerting-induced constriction of the rat tail artery
Authors: Mohammed Mazher , Kulasekara Keerthi , Ootsuka Youichirou , Blessing William W.
Published: April 2016

The amygdala, innervated by the noradrenergic locus coeruleus, processes salient environmental events. α2-adrenoceptor-stimulating drugs (clonidine-like agents) suppress the behavioral and physiological components of the response to salient events. Activation of sympathetic outflow to the cutaneous vascular bed is part of the physiological response to salience-mediated activation of the amygdala. We have determined whether acute systemic and intra-amygdala administration of clonidine, and chronic immunotoxin-mediated destruction of the noradrenergic innervation of the amygdala, impairs salience-related vasoconstrictor episodes in the tail artery of conscious freely moving Sprague-Dawley rats. After acute intraperitoneal injection of clonidine (10, 50, and 100 μg/kg), there was a dose-related decrease in the reduction in tail blood flow elicited by alerting stimuli, an effect prevented by prior administration of the α2-adrenergic blocking drug idazoxan (1 mg/kg ip or 75 nmol bilateral intra-amygdala). A dose-related decrease in alerting-induced tail artery vasoconstriction was also observed after bilateral intra-amygdala injection of clonidine (5, 10, and 20 nmol in 200 nl), an effect substantially prevented by prior bilateral intra-amygdala injection of idazoxan. Intra-amygdala injection of idazoxan by itself did not alter tail artery vasoconstriction elicited by alerting stimuli. Intra-amygdala injection of saporin coupled to antibodies to dopamine-β-hydroxylase (immunotoxin) destroyed the noradrenergic innervation of the amygdala and the parent noradrenergic neurons in the locus coeruleus. The reduction in tail blood flow elicited by standardized alerting stimuli was substantially reduced in immunotoxin-treated rats. Thus, inhibiting the release of noradrenaline within the amygdala reduces activation of the sympathetic outflow to the vascular beds elicited by salient events.