bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of rapamycin treatment during post‐activation and/or in vitro culture on embryonic development after parthenogenesis and in vitro fertilization in pigs
Authors: Elahi F , Lee H , Lee J , Lee ST , Park CK , Hyun S‐H , Lee E
Published: April 2017

Contents

This study investigated the effects of early induction of autophagy on embryonic development in pigs. For this, oocytes or embryos were treated with an autophagy inducer, rapamycin (RP), during post‐activation (Pa), in vitro fertilization (IVF) and/or in vitro culture (IVC). When parthenogenesis (PA) embryos were untreated (control) or treated with various concentrations of RP for 4 hr during Pa, 100 nm RP showed a higher blastocyst formation (48.8 ± 2.7%) than the control (34.6 ± 3.0%). When PA embryos were treated during the first 24 hr of IVC, blastocyst formation was increased (p < .05) by 1 and 10 nm RP (61.9 ± 3.0 and 59.6 ± 3.0%, respectively) compared to the control (43.2 ± 1.8%) and 100 nm RP (47.8 ± 3.2%), with a higher embryo cleavage in response to 10 nm RP (87.3 ± 2.4%) than the control (74.1 ± 3.2%). RP treatment during IVC and Pa + IVC showed increased blastocyst formation (44.7 ± 2.5 and 44.1 ± 2.0%, respectively) compared to the control (33.2 ± 2.0%). In addition, RP treatment during Pa and/or IVC increased glutathione content and inversely reduced reactive oxygen species. In IVF, RP treatment for 6 hr during IVF significantly increased embryonic development (34.0 ± 2.6%) compared to the control (24.8 ± 1.6%), but treatment during IVC for 24 hr with RP did not (23.0 ± 3.8%). Autophagy was significantly increased in PA oocytes by the RP treatment during Pa but not altered by the treatment during the first 24 hr of IVC. Overall, RP treatment positively regulated the pre‐implantation development of pig embryos, probably by regulating cellular redox state and stimulating autophagy.
Killing Wolves to Save Them? Legal Responses to ‘Tolerance Hunting’ in the European Union and United States
Authors: Epstein Yaffa
Published: April 2017

Wolves are protected by law in both the United States (US) and European Union (EU). These laws restrict the harming or killing of individual members of protected species, but allow it in selective circumstances, such as when killing some individuals would benefit the species. In both unions, some states have argued that allowing the public hunting of wolves would in fact benefit the species by improving social tolerance for wolves, a claim that is currently the subject of controversy among scientists. In the absence of clear evidence that hunting is favourable for wolf populations, US courts have repeatedly struck down policies that allowed it. While hunting wolves to achieve their social acceptability is likely to also violate EU law, the EU court has not yet resolved the question and hunting for social acceptance continues in some Member States, such as Sweden and Finland. This article contrasts these legal responses to social ‘tolerance hunting’ and argues that the Habitats Directive should not be interpreted to allow tolerance hunting of strictly protected species. It then uses the contrasting legal situations to engage with the claim that the EU has become more ‘precautionary’ than the US on environmental matters.
Urban Heat Risk Mapping Using Multiple Point Patterns in Houston, Texas
Authors: Mortensen Jacob W. , Heaton Matthew J. , Wilhelmi Olga V.
Published: April 2017

Extreme heat, or persistently high temperatures in the form of heatwaves, adversely impacts human health. To study such effects, risk maps are a common epidemiological tool that is used to identify regions and populations that are more susceptible to these negative outcomes; however, the negative health effects of high temperatures are manifested differently between different segments of the population. We propose a novel, hierarchical marked point process model that merges multiple health outcomes into an overall heat risk map. Specifically, we consider health outcomes of heat-stress-related emergency service calls and mortalities across the city of Houston, Texas. We show that combining multiple health outcomes leads to a broader understanding of the spatial distribution of heat risk than a single health outcome.
Hybrid event bed character and distribution linked to turbidite system sub‐environments: The North Apennine Gottero Sandstone (north‐west Italy)
Authors: Fonnesu Marco , Felletti Fabrizio , Haughton Peter D. W. , Patacci Marco , McCaffrey William D.
Published: April 2017

This study documents the character and occurrence of hybrid event beds (HEBs) deposited across a range of deep‐water sub‐environments in the Cretaceous–Palaeocene Gottero system, north‐west Italy. Detailed fieldwork (>5200 m of sedimentary logs) has shown that hybrid event beds are most abundant in the distal confined basin‐plain domain (>31% of total thickness). In more proximal sectors, hybrid event beds occur within outer‐fan and mid‐fan lobes (up to 15% of total thickness), whereas they are not observed in the inner‐fan channelized area. Six hybrid event bed types (HEB‐1 to HEB‐6) were differentiated mainly on basis of the texture of their muddier and chaotic central division (H3). The confined basin‐plain sector is dominated by thick (maximum 9·57 m; average 2·15 m) and tabular hybrid event beds (HEB‐1 to HEB‐4). Their H3 division can include very large substrate slabs, evidence of extensive auto‐injection and clast break‐up, and abundant mudstone clasts set in a sandy matrix (dispersed clay ca 20%). These beds are thought to have been generated by highly energetic flows capable of delaminating the sea floor locally, and carrying large rip‐up clasts for relatively short distances before arresting. The unconfined lobes of the mid‐fan sector are dominated by thinner (average 0·38 m) hybrid event beds (HEB‐5 and HEB‐6). Their H3 divisions are characterized by floating mudstone clasts and clay‐enriched matrices (dispersed clay >25%) with hydraulically fractionated components (mica, organic matter and clay flocs). These hybrid event beds are thought to have been deposited by less energetic flows that underwent early turbulence damping following incorporation of mud at proximal locations and by segregation during transport. Although there is a tendency to look to external factors to account for hybrid event bed development, systems like the Gottero imply that intrabasinal factors can also be important; specifically, the type of substrate available (muddy or sandy) and where and how erosion is achieved across the system producing specific hybrid event bed expressions and facies tracts.
Late Miocene fluvial sediment transport from the southern Appalachian Mountains to southern Florida: An example of an old mountain belt sediment production surge
Authors: Missimer Thomas M. , Maliva Robert G.
Published: April 2017

Past geomorphological models assume that erosion of sediments from old mountain belts occurred at a relatively constant rate, based on comparatively uniform isostatic adjustment caused by unloading. Late Miocene strata of the south‐eastern United States provide an example of pulsed tectonism resulting in a surge in siliciclastic sediment production and transport. Regional tectonism (uplift of the southern Appalachian Mountains) and climatic conditions during the Late Miocene resulted in the long‐distance (up to 1000 km) fluvial transport of coarse siliciclastic sediments onto a stable carbonate platform in southern Florida. The sediments are unusual in that they are significantly coarser than marine‐transported sands in southern Florida, with discoidal quartz and quartzite clasts up to 40 mm in diameter locally present, and have relatively high potassium feldspar contents (up to 16% in some sample fractions), whereas feldspar is rare in modern Florida beach sands. It is suggested that previously documented rejuvenation of the southern Appalachian Mountains during the Middle to Late Miocene time, coupled with the Messenian sea‐level low, generated the increased rate of sediment production and necessary hydraulic gradient to allow rapid transport of coarse sediments. Tectonic influence on the river pathway in Florida, as well as in the southern Appalachian Mountains, may have maintained the river on the narrow carbonate platform. The Florida Platform during the Late Miocene must also have had a sufficiently wet climate to cause episodic transport of the coarse sediments. Siliciclastic sediment transport on the Florida Platform during the Late Miocene greatly differed from Pleistocene to modern conditions, which are dominated by the transport of fine‐grained sands by longshore marine processes.
Fault‐controlled dolomite bodies as palaeotectonic indicators and geofluid reservoirs: New insights from Gargano Promontory outcrops
Authors: Rustichelli Andrea , Iannace Alessandro , Tondi Emanuele , Di Celma Claudio , Cilona Antonino , Giorgioni Maurizio , Parente Mariano , Girundo Monica , Invernizzi Chiara
Published: April 2017

The Upper Jurassic to Lower Cretaceous platform‐slope to basinal carbonate strata cropping out in Gargano Promontory (southern Italy) are partly dolomitized. Fieldwork and laboratory analyses (petrographic, petrophysical and geochemical) allowed the characterization of the dolomite bodies with respect to their distribution within the carbonate succession, their dimensions, geometries, textural variability, chemical stability, age, porosity, genetic mechanisms and relation with tectonics. The dolomite bodies range from metres to kilometres in size, are fault‐related and fracture‐related, and probably formed during the Early Cretaceous at <500 m burial depths and temperatures <50°C. The proposed dolomitization model relies on mobilization of Early Cretaceous seawater that flowed, downward and then upward, along faults and fractures and was modified in its isotopic composition moving through Triassic and Jurassic strata that underlie the studied dolomitized succession. Despite the numerous cases reported in literature, this study demonstrates that hydrothermal and/or high‐temperature fluids are not necessarily required for fault‐controlled dolomitization. Distribution and geometries of dolomite bodies can be used for palaeotectonic reconstructions, as they partly record the characteristics (size, attitude and kinematics) of the palaeo‐faults, even if not preserved, that controlled dolomitization. In Gargano Promontory, dolomites record Early Cretaceous palaeo‐faults from metres to kilometres long, striking north‐west/south‐east to east/west and characterized by normal to strike‐slip kinematics. Dolomitization increases the matrix porosity by up to 7% and, therefore, can improve the geofluid storage capacity of tight, platform‐slope to basinal limestones. The results have a great significance for characterization of geofluid (for example, hydrocarbons) reservoirs hosted in similar dolomitized carbonate successions. Distribution, size and shapes of reservoir rocks (i.e. dolomite bodies) could be broadly predictable if the characteristics of the palaeo‐fault system present at the time of dolomitization are known.
Can Reasons Be Propositions? Against Dancy's Attack on Propositionalism
Authors: Morganti Matteo , Tanyi Attila
Published: April 2017

The topic of this article is the ontology of practical reasons. We draw a critical comparison between two views. According to the first, practical reasons are states of affairs; according to the second, they are propositions. We first isolate and spell out in detail certain objections to the second view that can be found only in embryonic form in the literature – in particular, in the work of Jonathan Dancy. Next, we sketch possible ways in which one might respond to each one of these objections. A careful evaluation of these complaints and responses, we argue, shows that the first view is not as obviously compelling as it is thought by Dancy. Indeed, it turns out that the view that practical reasons are propositions is by no means unworkable and in fact, at least under certain assumptions, explicit considerations can be made in favour of a propositional construal of reasons.
Improvement of isolated caprine islet survival and functionality in vitro by enhancing of PDX1 gene expression
Authors: Hani Homayoun , Allaudin Zeenathul Nazariah , Mohd‐Lila Mohd‐Azmi , Sarsaifi Kazhal , Rasouli Mina , Tam Yew Joon , Tengku‐Ibrahim Tengku‐Azmi , Othman Abas Mazni
Published: April 2017

Background

Dead islets replaced with viable islets are a promising offer to restore normal insulin production to a person with diabetes. The main reason for establishing a new islet source for transplantation is the insufficiency of human donor pancreas while using xenogeneic islets perhaps assists this problem. The expression of PDX1 is essential for the pancreas expansion. In mature β‐cells, PDX1 has several critical roles such as glucose sensing, insulin synthesis, and insulin secretion. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the expression of pancreatic duodenal homeobox‐1 (PDX1) in treated caprine islets in culture and to assess the protective effects of antioxidant factors on the PDX1 gene in cultured caprine islets.

Materials and methods

Purified islets were treated with serum‐free, serum, IBMX, tocopherol, or IBMX and tocopherol media. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting were carried out to compare the expression levels of PDX1 in treated purified islets cultured with different media.

Results

Islets treated with IBMX/tocopherol exhibited the highest fold change in the relative expression of PDX1 on day 5 post‐treatment (relative expression: 6.80±2.08), whereas serum‐treated islets showed the lowest fold changes in PDX1 expression on day 5 post‐treatment (0.67±0.36), as compared with the expression on day 1 post‐treatment. Insulin production and viability tests of purified islets showed superiority of islet at supplemented serum‐free media with IBMX/tocopherol compared to other cultures (53.875%±1.59%).

Conclusions

Our results indicated that supplemented serum‐free medium with tocopherol and IBMX enhances viability and PDX1 gene expression compared to serum‐added and serum‐free media.
Nurses’ experiences of medication administration to people with swallowing difficulties in aged care facilities: a systematic review protocol
Authors: Forough Aida S. , Wong Simon Y.-M. , Lau Esther T.-L. , Santos Jose Manuel Serrano , Kyle Greg J. , Steadman Kathryn J. , Cichero Julie A.Y. , Nissen Lisa M.
Published: April 2017

Review question/objective:

The objective of this review is to identify the experiences of nurses in administering oral medications to residents of aged care facilities with swallowing difficulties.

More specifically, the review question is:

What problems do nurses experience when administering oral medicines to people with swallowing difficulties living in aged care facilities?
Future needs for nursing talent in Scandinavian countries: a systematic review protocol
Authors: Jakobsen Randi K. , Herholdt-Lomholdt Sine M.
Published: April 2017

Review question/objective:

The aim of this review is to systematically identify, appraise and synthesize available text and opinion papers from policy-makers and trade unions in Scandinavian countries (Denmark, Sweden and Norway) containing information about nursing talent needed in healthcare systems for the future. The overall objective is to identify and synthesize the opinions of various stakeholders of what they believe is required in terms of nursing talent in Scandinavia.

In this review, “nursing talent” refers to certain skills or competencies that are essential within nursing to meet the challenges and demands of future health care. The purpose of this review is to provide knowledge about the opinions of two key stakeholders (policy-makers and trade unions) on nursing talent needed in future Scandinavian healthcare systems.
Characteristics and effectiveness of vasodilatory and pressor compensation for reduced relaxation time during rhythmic forearm contractions
Authors: Bentley Robert F. , Poitras Veronica J. , Hong Terrence , Tschakovsky Michael E.
Published: April 2017

New Findings

What is the central question of this study?

Reduced relaxation time between contractions in exercise requires increased vasodilatation and/or pressor response to prevent hypoperfusion and potential compromise to exercise tolerance. However, it remains unknown whether and to what extent local vasodilatation and/or systemic pressor compensation occurs and whether the efficacy of compensation is exercise intensity dependent.

What is the main finding and its importance?

We demonstrate that in a forearm exercise model vasodilatory but not pressor compensation occurs and is adequate to prevent hypoperfusion below but not above ∼40% peak work rate. Inadequate compensation occurs with exercise still well inside the submaximal domain, despite a vasodilatory reserve, and compromises exercise performance.

During muscle contraction in rhythmic exercise, muscle blood flow is significantly impeded by microvascular compression. The purpose of this study was to establish the nature and magnitude of vasodilatory and/or pressor compensatory responses during forearm exercise in the face of an increased duration of mechanical microvascular compression, and whether the effectiveness of such compensation was exercise intensity dependent. Seven healthy males (21.0 ± 1.8 years old) completed progressive forearm exercise (24.5 N every 3 min; 2 s contraction–4 s relaxation duty cycle) in two conditions: control (CON), 2 s 100 mmHg forearm cuff inflation during contraction; and impedance (IMP), extension of cuff inflation 2 s beyond contraction. Forearm blood flow (in millilitres per minute); brachial artery Doppler and echo ultrasound), mean arterial blood pressure (in millimetres of mercury; finger photoplethysmography) and exercising forearm venous effluent (antecubital vein catheter) measurements revealed an exercise intensity‐dependent compensatory vasodilatation effectiveness whereby increased vasodilatation fully protected forearm blood flow up to the 30% exercise intensity in IMP. Above this exercise intensity, forearm blood flow was defended only in part, although submaximal oxygen uptake was not compromised for any completed work rate. As a result, peak exercise intensity (175 ± 22 versus 196 ± 28 N, P = 0.04) and oxygen delivery (76 ± 14 versus 112 ± 22 ml O2 min−1, P = 0.01) were significantly reduced in IMP compared with CON. In conclusion, reducing relaxation time compromised exercise capacity without compromise to oxygen uptake. Vasodilatory compensation was complete at lower but not higher exercise intensities, whereas pressor compensation was absent. The reasons for the exercise intensity dependence of the efficacy of vasodilatory compensation remain to be determined.
Flutter Control of a Two-Degrees-of-Freedom Airfoil Using a Nonlinear Tuned Vibration Absorber
Authors: Malher Arnaud , Touzé Cyril , Doaré Olivier , Habib Giuseppe , Kerschen Gaëtan
Published: April 2017

The influence of a nonlinear tuned vibration absorber (NLTVA) on the airfoil flutter is investigated. In particular, its effect on the instability threshold and the potential subcriticality of the bifurcation is analyzed. For that purpose, the airfoil is modeled using the classical pitch and plunge aeroelastic model together with a linear approach for the aerodynamic loads. Large amplitude motions of the airfoil are taken into account with nonlinear restoring forces for the pitch and plunge degrees-of-freedom. The two cases of a hardening and a softening spring behavior are investigated. The influence of each NLTVA parameter is studied, and an optimum tuning of these parameters is found. The study reveals the ability of the NLTVA to shift the instability, avoid its possible subcriticality, and reduce the limit cycle oscillations (LCOs) amplitude.
Mach Number Distribution and Profile Losses for Low-Pressure Turbine Profiles With High Diffusion Factors
Authors: Brachmanski Roland , Niehuis Reinhard
Published: April 2017

The results of this investigation come from two linear cascades at high diffusion factors (DFs). The measurements presented for each low-pressure turbine (LPT) profile were conducted at midspan under a range of Reynolds- and exit Mach numbers. The exit Mach number was varied in a range covering low subsonic up to values where a transonic flow regime on the suction side of the blade could be expected. This work focuses on two profiles with a diffusion factor in a range of 0.18≤DF≤0.22, where values in this range are considered as a comparable for the two cascades. Profile A is a front-loaded design and has shown no obvious flow separation on the suction side of the blade. Compared to the design A, design B is a more aft-loaded profile which exhibits flow separation on the suction side for all Reynolds numbers investigated. The integral total pressure losses were evaluated by wake traverses downstream of the airfoil. To determine the isentropic Mach numbers and the character of the boundary layer along the suction side of the profile, the static pressure measurements and traverses with a flattened Pitot probe were carried out. A correlation between the position of maximum Mach number on the suction side and the integral total pressure losses has been successfully established. The results show that the optimum location of peak Mach number to minimize integral total pressure losses is significantly dependent on the Reynolds number. However, the correlation presented in this paper, which is based on the data of the integral total pressure losses of an attached boundary layer, is not able to predict the integral total pressure loss or the location of the maximum Mach number on the suction side of the blade when an open separation bubble occurs.
Numerical Investigation of Air/Water and Hydrogen/Diesel Flow Across Tube Bundles With Baffles
Authors: Venturi Diego N. , Martignoni Waldir P. , Noriler Dirceu , Meier Henry F.
Published: April 2017

Two-phase flows across tube bundles are very commonly found in industrial heat exchange equipment such as shell and tube heat exchangers. However, recent studies published in the literature are generally performed on devices where the flow crosses the tube bundle in only a vertical or horizontal direction, lacking geometrical fidelity with industrial models, and the majority of them use air and water as the working fluids. Also, currently, experimental approaches and simulations are based on very simplified models. This paper reports the simulation of a laboratory full-scale tube bundle with a combination of vertical and horizontal flows and with two different baffle configurations. Also, it presents a similarity analysis to evaluate the influence of changing the fluids to hydrogen and diesel in the operational conditions of the hydrotreating. The volume of fluid (VOF) approach is used as the interface phenomena are very important. The air/water simulations show good agreement with classical correlations and are able to show the stratified behavior of the flow in the horizontal regions and the intermittent flow in the vertical regions. Also, the two baffle configurations are compared in terms of volume fraction and streamlines. When dealing with hydrogen/diesel flow using correlations and maps made for air/water, superficial velocity is recommended as similarity variable when a better prediction of the pressure drop is needed, and the modified superficial velocity is recommended for prediction of the volume-average void fraction and the outlet superficial void fraction.
Effect of Contact Area on the Wear and Friction of UHMWPE in Circular Translation Pin-on-Disk Tests
Authors: Saikko Vesa
Published: April 2017

Circular translation pin-on-disk (CTPOD) tests were performed for ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) with a view to reproducing wear mechanisms that prevail in total hip prostheses. The contact surface diameter varied from 3.0 mm to 30 mm, while the slide track diameter was fixed, 10 mm. The counterface was polished CoCr, and the lubricant was diluted alpha calf serum. Either the nominal contact pressure (1.1 MPa) or the load (126 N) was kept constant. With a constant contact pressure, the wear factor decreased steeply when the contact diameter exceeded the slide track diameter, apparently because the wear debris was not readily conveyed away from the contact. With constant load, both the wear factor and the coefficient of friction increased linearly with increasing contact area. This trend was in agreement with clinical observations that the wear rate of UHMWPE acetabular cups increased with increasing femoral head size. With nominal contact pressures approaching 10 MPa however, the bearing surface topography markedly differed from clinical observations. This was probably due to overheating of the contact and plastic deformation that resulted in the formation of protuberances not seen clinically. The present study emphasized the importance of test parameters in the pin-on-disk wear screening of prosthetic joint materials. It appeared that the contact surface diameter of the flat-on-flat test should be below the slide track diameter, and that the nominal contact pressure should be of the order of 1 MPa.
A Dynamic Analysis of Cage Instability in Ball Bearings
Authors: Nogi Takashi , Maniwa Kazuaki , Matsuoka Noriko
Published: April 2017

Cage motions in ball bearings are investigated using a dynamic analysis program. Increases in the cage friction coefficient induce unstable motions of the cage. The instability is more likely to occur under high load and low‐speed conditions due to less ball-race sliding. A simple theory of cage instability is developed, and a critical cage friction coefficient formula is proposed, which is a function of the cage mass, ball-race traction, ball-cage contact stiffness, cage rotational speed, and number of balls. The prediction of this formula agrees with the results of the dynamic analysis. With a nonuniform separation between the balls, a high-speed whirl is superimposed on the normal whirl with the ball group speed. The direction of the high-speed whirl is the same as the cage rotational direction in inner race rotation (IR), but they are opposite in outer race rotation (OR). These results agree with some experimental results in the literature and validate the dynamic analysis.
Preface
Authors: -- --
Published: April 2017

G. Roth, Graz
Key to Abbreviations
Authors: -- --
Published: April 2017

G. Roth, Graz
THE WORK OF GERHARD ROTH
2.0 INTRODUCTION

2.1 ROTH'S EARLY LITERARY EXPERIMENTS IN GRAZ: 'EINE GESCHICHTSLOSE FORMALE LITERATUR'

2.1.1 The Sense of Displacement

2.1.2 Science and Aesthetics

2.1.3 From Aufzeichnungen eines überflüssigen Menschen to die autobiographie des albert einstein

2.1.4 die autobiographie des albert einstein

2.1.5 Künstel

2.1.6 Der Wille zur Krankheit

2.1.7 Der Ausbruch des Ersten Weltkriegs: ein Spionageroman and How to be a detective: Ein Kriminalroman

2.1.8 Lichtenberg

2.2 THE LONGER NARRATIVES: 'ICH WILL EIN ERZÄHLER SEIN'

2.2.1 Der große Horizont

2.2.2 Ein neuer Morgen

2.2.3 Winterreise

Authors: -- --
Published: April 2017

G. Roth, Graz
Employing refractive beam shaping in a Lloyd's interference lithography system for uniform periodic nanostructure formation
Authors: Hung Yung-Jr , Chang Han-Jung , Chang Ping-Chien , Lin Jia-Jin , Kao Tzu-Chieh
Published: April 2017

Uniform periodic structure formation over a large sample area has been challenging in laser interference lithography (LIL) mainly due to the Gaussian intensity distribution inherent to a laser beam. In this work, refractive beam shaping devices are applied in a Lloyd's interferometer to create a flat-top light field (2.8% intensity variation over an area of 20 × 20 cm2) for wafer-scale nanopatterning. Around 10−2 variation in fill factors are obtained for all the reported one dimensional and two dimensional periodic structures across a 2-in. wafer, which is 1 order of magnitude lower than the values obtained for the samples exposed to a Gaussian light field. The proposed LIL system also allows gradual light field transitions from the Gaussian, super-Gaussian, and flat-top to the inverse-Gaussian by simply adjusting the spot size of the laser incident to the beam shaper. The authors believe that the proposed LIL system can be applied for a variety of applications that benefit from the nature of periodic nanostructures.
Effects of hearing-aid dynamic range compression on spatial perception in a reverberant environment
Authors: Hassager Henrik Gert , Wiinberg Alan , Dau Torsten
Published: April 2017

This study investigated the effects of fast-acting hearing-aid compression on normal-hearing and hearing-impaired listeners' spatial perception in a reverberant environment. Three compression schemes—independent compression at each ear, linked compression between the two ears, and “spatially ideal” compression operating solely on the dry source signal—were considered using virtualized speech and noise bursts. Listeners indicated the location and extent of their perceived sound images on the horizontal plane. Linear processing was considered as the reference condition. The results showed that both independent and linked compression resulted in more diffuse and broader sound images as well as internalization and image splits, whereby more image splits were reported for the noise bursts than for speech. Only the spatially ideal compression provided the listeners with a spatial percept similar to that obtained with linear processing. The same general pattern was observed for both listener groups. An analysis of the interaural coherence and direct-to-reverberant ratio suggested that the spatial distortions associated with independent and linked compression resulted from enhanced reverberant energy. Thus, modifications of the relation between the direct and the reverberant sound should be avoided in amplification strategies that attempt to preserve the natural sound scene while restoring loudness cues.
Effects of stimulus order on auditory distance discrimination of virtual nearby sound sources
Authors: Spagnol Simone , Hoffmann Rebekka , Kristjánsson Árni , Avanzini Federico
Published: April 2017

Stimulus order has been reported to affect perceived loudness. This letter investigates how temporal order affects distance discrimination of receding and approaching pairs of sound sources rendered binaurally in the anechoic near-field. Individual discrimination thresholds for different virtual locations were measured through an adaptive procedure. The threshold values show a bias toward approaching stimuli for closer reference distances (≤50 cm) and toward receding stimuli for farther reference distances (100 cm), but only when absolute intensity cues are available. The results show how an illusion of loudness can translate into an illusion of perceived relative distance.
Predicting the perceived reverberation in different room acoustic environments using a binaural auditory model
Authors: Osses Vecchi Alejandro , Kohlrausch Armin , Lachenmayr Winfried , Mommertz Eckard
Published: April 2017

In this paper a binaural auditory model was used to compute reverberance estimates in four simulated halls. For three of the halls different absorption conditions were evaluated. The model estimates (pRev) were obtained using music excerpts of an orchestra consisting of 23 instrument sections and then compared with the room acoustic parameters of reverberation time (T30) and early decay time (EDT) at mid frequencies. Although the results showed that pRev has a higher correlation with EDT rather than with T30, this relationship depends on the properties of the instruments. The simulations show that pRev depends on the presentation level and that for instruments with similar critical-band spectrum, pRev follows a similar trend across acoustic conditions. A computational framework and sound stimuli are provided to encourage the search of experimental evidence of the aspects addressed in this study.
Gratitude, Burnout, and Sport Satisfaction Among College Student-Athletes: The Mediating Role of Perceived Social Support
Authors: Gabana Nicole T. , Steinfeldt Jesse A. , Wong Y. Joel , Chung Y. Barry
Published: April 2017

The present study explored the relationships among gratitude, sport satisfaction, athlete burnout, and perceived social support among college student-athletes in the United States. Participants (N = 293) from 16 different types of sports at 8 NCAA Division I and III institutions were surveyed. Results indicated gratitude was negatively correlated with burnout and positively correlated with sport satisfaction, suggesting that athletes who reported more general gratitude also experienced lower levels of burnout and greater levels of satisfaction with their college sport experience. Perceived social support was found to be a mediator in both relationships. Limitations and implications for research and practice are discussed.
Genomics and evolution of protein phosphatases
Authors: Chen Mark J. , Dixon Jack E. , Manning Gerard
Published: April 2017

Genomic analysis provides a global catalog of phosphatases, a key component of cell signaling.
Papers of note in
Nature
544
(7648)
Authors: VanHook Annalisa M.
Published: April 2017

This week’s highlighted article shows that adiponectin receptors may transduce signaling by acting as ceramidases.
Hippo-sized antiviral defenses
Authors: Wong Wei
Published: April 2017

The Hippo signaling pathway modulates the strength of antiviral responses according to nutritional status or cell density.
Antibiotic Resistance Markers in Burkholderia pseudomallei Strain Bp1651 Identified by Genome Sequence Analysis
Authors: Bugrysheva Julia V. , Sue David , Gee Jay E. , Elrod Mindy G. , Hoffmaster Alex R. , Randall Linnell B. , Chirakul Sunisa , Tuanyok Apichai , Schweizer Herbert P. , Weigel Linda M.
Published: April 2017

Burkholderia pseudomallei
Bp1651 is resistant to several classes of antibiotics that are usually effective for treatment of melioidosis, including tetracyclines, sulfonamides, and β-lactams such as penicillins (amoxicillin-clavulanic acid), cephalosporins (ceftazidime), and carbapenems (imipenem and meropenem). We sequenced, assembled, and annotated the Bp1651 genome and analyzed the sequence using comparative genomic analyses with susceptible strains, keyword searches of the annotation, publicly available antimicrobial resistance prediction tools, and published reports. More than 100 genes in the Bp1651 sequence were identified as potentially contributing to antimicrobial resistance. Most notably, we identified three previously uncharacterized point mutations in
penA
, which codes for a class A β-lactamase and was previously implicated in resistance to β-lactam antibiotics. The mutations result in amino acid changes T147A, D240G, and V261I. When individually introduced into select agent-excluded
B. pseudomallei
strain Bp82, D240G was found to contribute to ceftazidime resistance and T147A contributed to amoxicillin-clavulanic acid and imipenem resistance. This study provides the first evidence that mutations in
penA
may alter susceptibility to carbapenems in
B. pseudomallei
. Another mutation of interest was a point mutation affecting the dihydrofolate reductase gene
folA
, which likely explains the trimethoprim resistance of this strain. Bp1651 was susceptible to aminoglycosides likely because of a frameshift in the
amrB
gene, the transporter subunit of the AmrAB-OprA efflux pump. These findings expand the role of
penA
to include resistance to carbapenems and may assist in the development of molecular diagnostics that predict antimicrobial resistance and provide guidance for treatment of melioidosis.
Rifabutin Is Active against Mycobacterium abscessus Complex
Authors: Aziz Dinah Binte , Low Jian Liang , Wu Mu-Lu , Gengenbacher Martin , Teo Jeanette W. P. , Dartois Véronique , Dick Thomas
Published: April 2017

Lung infections caused by
Mycobacterium abscessus
are emerging as a global threat to individuals with cystic fibrosis and to other patient groups. Recent evidence for human-to-human transmission worsens the situation.
M. abscessus
is an intrinsically multidrug-resistant pathogen showing resistance to even standard antituberculosis drugs, such as rifampin. Here, our objective was to identify existing drugs that may be employed for the treatment of
M. abscessus
lung disease. A collection of more than 2,700 approved drugs was screened at a single-point concentration against an
M. abscessus
clinical isolate. Hits were confirmed with fresh solids in dose-response experiments. For the most attractive hit, growth inhibition and bactericidal activities against reference strains of the three
M. abscessus
subspecies and a collection of clinical isolates were determined. Surprisingly, the rifampin derivative rifabutin had MICs of 3 ± 2 μM (3 μg/ml) against the screening strain, the reference strains
M. abscessus
subsp.
abscessus
ATCC 19977,
M. abscessus
subsp.
bolletii
CCUG 50184-T, and
M. abscessus
subsp.
massiliense
CCUG 48898-T, as well as against a collection of clinical isolates. Furthermore, rifabutin was active against clarithromycin-resistant strains. In conclusion, rifabutin, in contrast to rifampin, is active against the
Mycobacterium abscessus
complex bacteria
in vitro
and may be considered for treatment of
M. abscessus
lung disease.
In Vivo
Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics of ZTI-01 (Fosfomycin for Injection) in the Neutropenic Murine Thigh Infection Model against Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Authors: Lepak Alexander J. , Zhao Miao , VanScoy Brian , Taylor Daniel S. , Ellis-Grosse Evelyn , Ambrose Paul G. , Andes David R.
Published: April 2017

Fosfomycin is a broad-spectrum agent with activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, including drug-resistant strains, such as extended-spectrum-beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing and carbapenem-resistant (CR) Gram-negative rods. In the present study, the pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) activity of ZTI-01 (fosfomycin for injection) was evaluated in the neutropenic murine thigh infection model against 5
Escherichia coli
, 3
Klebsiella pneumoniae
, and 2
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
strains, including a subset with ESBL and CR phenotypes. The pharmacokinetics of ZTI-01 were examined in mice after subcutaneous administration of 3.125, 12.5, 50, 200, 400, and 800 mg/kg of body weight. The half-life ranged from 0.51 to 1.1 h, area under the concentration-time curve (AUC
0–∞
) ranged from 1.4 to 87 mg · h/liter, and maximum concentrations ranged from 0.6 to 42.4 mg/liter. Dose fractionation demonstrated the AUC/MIC ratio to be the PK/PD index most closely linked to efficacy (
R
2
= 0.70). Net stasis and bactericidal activity were observed against all strains. Net stasis was observed at 24-h AUC/MIC ratio values of 24, 21, and 15 for
E. coli
,
K.
,
pneumoniae
and
P. aeruginosa
, respectively. For the
Enterobacteriaceae
group, stasis was noted at mean 24-h AUC/MIC ratio targets of 23 and 1-log kill at 83. Survival in mice infected with
E. coli
145 was maximal at 24-h AUC/MIC ratio exposures of 9 to 43, which is comparable to the stasis exposures identified in the PK/PD studies. These results should prove useful for the design of clinical dosing regimens for ZTI-01 in the treatment of serious infections due to
Enterobacteriaceae
and
Pseudomonas
.
A Topical Hydrogel with Deferiprone and Gallium-Protoporphyrin Targets Bacterial Iron Metabolism and Has Antibiofilm Activity
Authors: Richter Katharina , Thomas Nicky , Claeys Jolien , McGuane Jonathan , Prestidge Clive A. , Coenye Tom , Wormald Peter-John , Vreugde Sarah
Published: April 2017

Many infectious diseases are associated with multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria residing in biofilms that require high antibiotic concentrations. While oral drug delivery is frequently ineffective, topical treatments have the potential to deliver higher drug concentrations to the infection site while reducing systemic side effects. This study determined the antibiofilm activity of a surgical wound gel loaded with the iron chelator deferiprone (Def) and the heme analogue gallium-protoporphyrin (GaPP), alone and in combination with ciprofloxacin. Activity against MDR
Staphylococcus aureus
,
Staphylococcus epidermidis
,
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
, and
Acinetobacter johnsonii
biofilms was assessed in the colony biofilm and artificial wound model by enumeration of CFU and correlative light/electron microscopy. While
Staphylococcus
biofilms were equally susceptible to GaPP and Def-GaPP gels (log
10
reduction of 3.8 and 3.7, respectively), the Def-GaPP combination was crucial for significant activity against
P. aeruginosa
biofilms (log
10
reduction of 1.3 for GaPP and 3.3 for Def-GaPP). When Def-GaPP gel was combined with ciprofloxacin, the efficacy exceeded the activity of the individual compounds. Def-GaPP delivered in a surgical wound gel showed significant antibiofilm activity against different MDR strains and could enhance the gel's wound-healing properties. Moreover, Def-GaPP indicated a potentiation of ciprofloxacin. This antibiofilm strategy has potential for clinical utilization as a therapy for topical biofilm-related infections.
Attenuated Phenotype of a Recent House Finch-Associated Mycoplasma gallisepticum Isolate in Domestic Poultry
Authors: Pflaum K. , Tulman E. R. , Beaudet J. , Liao X. , Dhondt K. V. , Dhondt A. A. , Hawley D. M. , Ley D. H. , Kerr K. M. , Geary S. J.
Published: April 2017

Mycoplasma gallisepticum
, known primarily as a respiratory pathogen of domestic poultry, has emerged since 1994 as a significant pathogen of the house finch (
Haemorhous
mexicanus
) causing severe conjunctivitis and mortality. House finch-associated
M. gallisepticum
(HFMG) spread rapidly and increased in virulence for the finch host in the eastern United States. In the current study, we assessed virulence in domestic poultry with two temporally distant, and yet geographically consistent, HFMG isolates which differ in virulence for house finches—Virginia 1994 (VA1994), the index isolate of the epidemic, and Virginia 2013 (VA2013), a recent isolate of increased house finch virulence. Here we report a significant difference between VA1994 and VA2013 in their levels of virulence for chickens; notably, this difference correlated inversely to the difference in their levels of virulence for house finches. VA1994, while moderately virulent in house finches, displayed significant virulence in the chicken respiratory tract. VA2013, while highly virulent in the house finch, was significantly attenuated in chickens relative to VA1994, displaying less-severe pathological lesions in, and reduced bacterial recovery from, the respiratory tract. Overall, these data indicate that a recent isolate of HFMG is greatly attenuated in the chicken host relative to the index isolate, notably demonstrating a virulence phenotype in chickens inversely related to that in the finch host.
Albumin, in the Presence of Calcium, Elicits a Massive Increase in Extracellular Bordetella Adenylate Cyclase Toxin
Authors: Gonyar Laura A. , Gray Mary C. , Christianson Gregory J. , Mehrad Borna , Hewlett Erik L.
Published: April 2017

Pertussis (whooping cough), caused byBordetella pertussis, is resurging in the United States and worldwide. Adenylate cyclase toxin (ACT) is a critical factor in establishing infection withB. pertussisand acts by specifically inhibiting the response of myeloid leukocytes to the pathogen. We report here that serum components, as discovered during growth in fetal bovine serum (FBS), elicit a robust increase in the amount of ACT, and ≥90% of this ACT is localized to the supernatant, unlike growth without FBS, in which ≥90% is associated with the bacterium. We have found that albumin, in the presence of physiological concentrations of calcium, acts specifically to enhance the amount of ACT and its localization to the supernatant. Respiratory secretions, which contain albumin, promote an increase in amount and localization of active ACT that is comparable to that elicited by serum and albumin. The response to albumin is not mediated through regulation of ACT at the transcriptional level or activation of the Bvg two-component system. As further illustration of the specificity of this phenomenon, serum collected from mice that lack albumin does not stimulate an increase in ACT. These data, demonstrating that albumin and calcium act synergistically in the host environment to increase production and release of ACT, strongly suggest that this phenomenon reflects a novel host-pathogen interaction that is central to infection withB. pertussisand otherBordetellaspecies.
Host Resistance to Plasmodium-Induced Acute Immune Pathology Is Regulated by Interleukin-10 Receptor Signaling
Authors: Claser Carla , De Souza J. Brian , Thorburn Samuel G. , Grau Georges Emile , Riley Eleanor M. , Rénia Laurent , Hafalla Julius C. R.
Published: April 2017

The resolution of malaria infection is dependent on a balance between proinflammatory and regulatory immune responses. While early effector T cell responses are required for limiting parasitemia, these responses need to be switched off by regulatory mechanisms in a timely manner to avoid immune-mediated tissue damage. Interleukin-10 receptor (IL-10R) signaling is considered to be a vital component of regulatory responses, although its role in host resistance to severe immune pathology during acute malaria infections is not fully understood. In this study, we have determined the contribution of IL-10R signaling to the regulation of immune responses duringPlasmodium bergheiANKA-induced experimental cerebral malaria (ECM). We show that antibody-mediated blockade of the IL-10R duringP. bergheiANKA infection in ECM-resistant BALB/c mice leads to amplified T cell activation, higher serum gamma interferon (IFN-γ) concentrations, enhanced intravascular accumulation of both parasitized red blood cells and CD8+T cells to the brain, and an increased incidence of ECM. Importantly, the pathogenic effects of IL-10R blockade duringP. bergheiANKA infection were reversible by depletion of T cells and neutralization of IFN-γ. Our findings underscore the importance of IL-10R signaling in preventing T-cell- and cytokine-mediated pathology during potentially lethal malaria infections.