bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
In Vitro
Activity of Ceftolozane-Tazobactam and Other Antimicrobial Agents against Burkholderia cepacia Complex and Burkholderia gladioli
Authors: Mazer Dale M. , Young Carol , Kalikin Linda M. , Spilker Theodore , LiPuma John J.
Published: July 2017

We tested the activities of ceftolozane-tazobactam and 13 other antimicrobial agents against 221 strains of
Burkholderia cepacia
complex and
Burkholderia gladioli
. Most strains (82%) were cultured from persons with cystic fibrosis, and most (85%) were recovered since 2011. The ceftolozane-tazobactam MIC was ≤8 μg/ml for 77% of the strains. However, the MIC range was broad (≤0.5 to >64 μg/ml; MIC
50/90
, 2/32 μg/ml). Significant differences in susceptibility to some antimicrobial agents were observed between species.
Plasmids of Diverse Inc Groups Disseminate the Fosfomycin Resistance Gene
fosA3
among Escherichia coli Isolates from Pigs, Chickens, and Dairy Cows in Northeast China
Authors: Wang Xiu-Mei , Dong Zhimin , Schwarz Stefan , Zhu Yao , Hua Xin , Zhang Yanhe , Liu Siguo , Zhang Wan-Jiang
Published: July 2017

Thirty-nine fosfomycin-resistant
Escherichia coli
isolates carrying
fosA3
were obtained from pigs, chickens, dairy cows, and staff in four northeastern provinces of China between June 2015 and April 2016. The
fosA3
gene was colocated with
bla
CTX-M
genes on conjugative plasmids of the incompatibility groups IncN (
n
= 12), IncN-F33:A
−
:B
−
(
n
= 2), IncF33:A
−
:B
−
(
n
= 14), IncF14:A
−
:B
−
(
n
= 2), and IncI1/sequence type 136 (ST136) (
n
= 9). Four different genetic contexts of
fosA3
were detected among the 39
E. coli
isolates. Three potential epidemic plasmids circulated among
E. coli
strains from this region.
Repurposing Thiram and Disulfiram as Antibacterial Agents for Multidrug-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Infections
Authors: Long Timothy E.
Published: July 2017

Thiram and disulfiram were evaluated as antibacterial agents against multidrug-resistant
Staphylococcus aureus
. Against a 30-member panel comprised of vancomycin-susceptible, vancomycin-intermediate, and vancomycin-resistant
S. aureus
strains, the MIC
90
values of the respective test agents were 4 and 16 μg/ml. Additional analyses revealed that thiram and disulfiram are rapid-acting bacteriostatic agents with narrow, Gram-positive-bacterium spectrum activity. Synergy studies further determined that disulfiram increases the vancomycin susceptibility of three clinical vancomycin-resistant
S. aureus
strains
in vitro
, thus establishing a potential use in combination therapy.
Multicenter Study of Clinical Features of Breakthrough Acinetobacter Bacteremia during Carbapenem Therapy
Authors: Lee Yi-Tzu , Wang Yung-Chih , Kuo Shu-Chen , Chen Chung-Ting , Liu Chang-Pan , Liu Yuag-Meng , Chen Te-Li , Yang Ya-Sung
Published: July 2017

Breakthrough
Acinetobacter
bacteremia during carbapenem therapy is not uncommon, and it creates therapeutic dilemmas for clinicians. This study was conducted to evaluate the clinical and microbiological characteristics of breakthrough
Acinetobacter
bacteremia during carbapenem therapy and to assess the efficacy of various antimicrobial therapies. We analyzed 100 adults who developed breakthrough
Acinetobacter
bacteremia during carbapenem therapy at 4 medical centers over a 6-year period. Their 30-day mortality rate was 57.0%, and the carbapenem resistance rate of their isolates was 87.0%. Among patients with carbapenem-resistant
Acinetobacter
bacteremia, breakthrough bacteremia during carbapenem therapy was associated with a significantly higher 14-day mortality (51.7% versus 37.4%, respectively;
P
= 0.025 by bivariate analysis) and a higher 30-day mortality (
P
= 0.037 by log rank test of survival analysis) than in the nonbreakthrough group. For the treatment of breakthrough
Acinetobacter
bacteremia during carbapenem therapy, tigecycline-based therapy was associated with a significantly higher 30-day mortality (80.0%) than those with continued carbapenem therapy (52.5%) and colistin-based therapy (57.9%) by survival analysis (
P
= 0.047 and 0.045 by log rank test, respectively). Cox regression controlling for confounders, including severity of illness indices, demonstrated that treatment with tigecycline-based therapy for breakthrough
Acinetobacter
bacteremia was an independent predictor of 30-day mortality (hazard ratio, 3.659; 95% confidence interval, 1.794 to 7.465;
P
< 0.001). Patients with breakthrough
Acinetobacter
bacteremia during carbapenem therapy posed a high mortality rate. Tigecycline should be used cautiously for the treatment of breakthrough
Acinetobacter
bacteremia that develops during carbapenem therapy.
Characterization of a Large Antibiotic Resistance Plasmid Found in Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli Strain B171 and Its Relatedness to Plasmids of Diverse E. coli and Shigella Strains
Authors: Hazen Tracy H. , Michalski Jane , Nagaraj Sushma , Okeke Iruka N. , Rasko David A.
Published: July 2017

Enteropathogenic
Escherichia coli
(EPEC) is a leading cause of severe infantile diarrhea in developing countries. Previous research has focused on the diversity of the EPEC virulence plasmid, whereas less is known regarding the genetic content and distribution of antibiotic resistance plasmids carried by EPEC. A previous study demonstrated that in addition to the virulence plasmid, reference EPEC strain B171 harbors a second, larger plasmid that confers antibiotic resistance. To further understand the genetic diversity and dissemination of antibiotic resistance plasmids among EPEC strains, we describe the complete sequence of an antibiotic resistance plasmid from EPEC strain B171. The resistance plasmid, pB171_90, has a completed sequence length of 90,229 bp, a GC content of 54.55%, and carries protein-encoding genes involved in conjugative transfer, resistance to tetracycline (
tetA
), sulfonamides (
sulI
), and mercury, as well as several virulence-associated genes, including the transcriptional regulator
hha
and the putative calcium sequestration inhibitor (
csi
).
In silico
detection of the pB171_90 genes among 4,798 publicly available
E. coli
genome assemblies indicates that the unique genes of pB171_90 (
csi
and
traI
) are primarily restricted to genomes identified as EPEC or enterotoxigenic
E. coli
. However, conserved regions of the pB171_90 plasmid containing genes involved in replication, stability, and antibiotic resistance were identified among diverse
E. coli
pathotypes. Interestingly, pB171_90 also exhibited significant similarity with a sequenced plasmid from
Shigella dysenteriae
type I. Our findings demonstrate the mosaic nature of EPEC antibiotic resistance plasmids and highlight the need for additional sequence-based characterization of antibiotic resistance plasmids harbored by pathogenic
E. coli
.
In Vivo
Emergence of Resistance to Novel Cephalosporin–β-Lactamase Inhibitor Combinations through the Duplication of Amino Acid D149 from OXA-2 β-Lactamase (OXA-539) in Sequence Type 235 Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Authors: Fraile-Ribot Pablo A. , Mulet Xavier , Cabot Gabriel , del Barrio-Tofiño Ester , Juan Carlos , Pérez José L. , Oliver Antonio
Published: July 2017

Resistance development to novel cephalosporin–β-lactamase inhibitor combinations during ceftazidime treatment of a surgical infection by
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
was investigated. Both initial (97C2) and final (98G1) isolates belonged to the high-risk clone sequence type (ST) 235 and were resistant to carbapenems (
oprD
), fluoroquinolones (GyrA-T83I, ParC-S87L), and aminoglycosides (
aacA7/aacA8/aadA6
). 98G1 also showed resistance to ceftazidime, ceftazidime-avibactam, and ceftolozane-tazobactam. Sequencing identified
bla
OXA-2
in 97C2, but 98G1 contained a 3-bp insertion leading to the duplication of the key residue D149 (designated OXA-539). Evaluation of PAO1 transformants producing cloned OXA-2 or OXA-539 confirmed that D149 duplication was the cause of resistance. Active surveillance of the emergence of resistance to these new valuable agents is warranted.
Genetic Adjuvantation of a Cell-Based Therapeutic Vaccine for Amelioration of Chagasic Cardiomyopathy
Authors: Konduri Vanaja , Halpert Matthew M. , Liang Dan , Levitt Jonathan M. , Cruz-Chan Julio Vladimir , Zhan Bin , Bottazzi Maria Elena , Hotez Peter J. , Jones Kathryn M. , Decker William K.
Published: July 2017

Chagas disease, caused by infection with the protozoan parasite
Trypanosoma cruzi
, is a leading cause of heart disease (“chagasic cardiomyopathy”) in Latin America, disproportionately affecting people in resource-poor areas. The efficacy of currently approved pharmaceutical treatments is limited mainly to acute infection, and there are no effective treatments for the chronic phase of the disease. Preclinical models of Chagas disease have demonstrated that antigen-specific CD8
+
gamma interferon (IFN-γ)-positive T-cell responses are essential for reducing parasite burdens, increasing survival, and decreasing cardiac pathology in both the acute and chronic phases of Chagas disease. In the present study, we developed a genetically adjuvanted, dendritic cell-based immunotherapeutic for acute Chagas disease in an attempt to delay or prevent the cardiac complications that eventually result from chronic
T. cruzi
infection. Dendritic cells transduced with the adjuvant, an adenoviral vector encoding a dominant negative isoform of Src homology region 2 domain-containing tyrosine phosphatase 1 (SHP-1) along with the
T. cruzi
Tc24 antigen and
trans
-sialidase antigen 1 (TSA1), induced significant numbers of antigen-specific CD8
+
IFN-γ-positive cells following injection into BALB/c mice. A vaccine platform transduced with the adenoviral vector and loaded in tandem with the recombinant protein reduced parasite burdens by 76% to >99% in comparison to a variety of different controls and significantly reduced cardiac pathology in a BALB/c mouse model of live Chagas disease. Although no statistical differences in overall survival rates among cohorts were observed, the data suggest that immunotherapeutic strategies for the treatment of acute Chagas disease are feasible and that this approach may warrant further study.
S-Nitrosoglutathione Reductase Deficiency Confers Improved Survival and Neurological Outcome in Experimental Cerebral Malaria
Authors: Elphinstone Robyn E. , Besla Rickvinder , Shikatani Eric A. , Lu Ziyue , Hausladen Alfred , Davies Matthew , Robbins Clinton S. , Husain Mansoor , Stamler Jonathan S. , Kain Kevin C.
Published: July 2017

Artesunate remains the mainstay of treatment for cerebral malaria, but it is less effective in later stages of disease when the host inflammatory response and blood-brain barrier integrity dictate clinical outcomes. Nitric oxide (NO) is an important regulator of inflammation and microvascular integrity, and impaired NO bioactivity is associated with fatal outcomes in malaria. Endogenous NO bioactivity in mammals is largely mediated byS-nitrosothiols (SNOs). Based on these observations, we hypothesized that animals deficient in the SNO-metabolizing enzyme,S-nitrosoglutathione reductase (GSNOR), which exhibit enhancedS-nitrosylation, would have improved outcomes in a preclinical model of cerebral malaria. GSNOR knockout (KO) mice infected withPlasmodium bergheiANKA had significantly delayed mortality compared to WT animals (P< 0.0001), despite higher parasite burdens (P< 0.01), and displayed markedly enhanced survival versus the wild type (WT) when treated with the antimalarial drug artesunate (77% versus 38%;P< 0.001). Improved survival was associated with higher levels of protein-bound NO, decreased levels of CD4+and CD8+T cells in the brain, improved blood-brain barrier integrity, and improved coma scores, as well as higher levels of gamma interferon. GSNOR KO animals receiving WT bone marrow had significantly reduced survival followingP. bergheiANKA infection compared to those receiving KO bone barrow (P< 0.001). Reciprocal transplants established that survival benefits of GSNOR deletion were attributable primarily to the T cell compartment. These data indicate a role for GSNOR in the host response to malaria infection and suggest that strategies to disrupt its activity will improve clinical outcomes by enhancing microvascular integrity and modulating T cell tissue tropism.
Counterbalancing Regulation in Response Memory of a Positively Autoregulated Two-Component System
Authors: Gao Rong , Godfrey Katherine A. , Sufian Mahir A. , Stock Ann M.
Published: July 2017

Fluctuations in nutrient availability often result in recurrent exposures to the same stimulus conditions. The ability to memorize the past event and use the “memory” to make adjustments to current behaviors can lead to a more efficient adaptation to the recurring stimulus. A short-term phenotypic memory can be conferred via carryover of the response proteins to facilitate the recurrent response, but the additional accumulation of response proteins can lead to a deviation from response homeostasis. We used the
Escherichia coli
PhoB/PhoR two-component system (TCS) as a model system to study how cells cope with the recurrence of environmental phosphate (Pi) starvation conditions. We discovered that “memory” of prior Pi starvation can exert distinct effects through two regulatory pathways, the TCS signaling pathway and the stress response pathway. Although carryover of TCS proteins can lead to higher initial levels of transcription factor PhoB and a faster initial response in prestarved cells than in cells not starved, the response enhancement can be overcome by an earlier and greater repression of promoter activity in prestarved cells due to the memory of the stress response. The repression counterbalances the carryover of the response proteins, leading to a homeostatic response whether or not cells are prestimulated. A computational model based on sigma factor competition was developed to understand the memory of stress response and to predict the homeostasis of other PhoB-regulated response proteins. Our insight into the history-dependent PhoBR response may provide a general understanding of how TCSs respond to recurring stimuli and adapt to fluctuating environmental conditions.

IMPORTANCE
Bacterial cells in their natural environments experience scenarios that are far more complex than are typically replicated in laboratory experiments. The architectures of signaling systems and the integration of multiple adaptive pathways have evolved to deal with such complexity. In this study, we examined the molecular “memory” that is generated by previous exposure to stimulus. Under our experimental conditions, activating effects of autoregulated two-component signaling and inhibitory effects of the stress response counterbalanced the transcriptional output to approach response homeostasis whether or not cells had been preexposed to stimulus. Modeling allows prediction of response behavior in different scenarios and demonstrates both the robustness of the system output and its sensitivity to historical parameters such as timing and levels of exposure to stimuli.
Methods, applications, interpretations and challenges of interrupted time series (ITS) data: protocol for a scoping review
Authors: Ewusie Joycelyne E , Blondal Erik , Soobiah Charlene , Beyene Joseph , Thabane Lehana , Straus Sharon E , Hamid Jemila S
Published: July 2017

Objectives

Interrupted time series (ITS) design involves collecting data across multiple time points before and after the implementation of an intervention to assess the effect of the intervention on an outcome. ITS designs have become increasingly common in recent times with frequent use in assessing impact of evidence implementation interventions. Several statistical methods are currently available for analysing data from ITS designs; however, there is a lack of guidance on which methods are optimal for different data types and on their implications in interpreting results. Our objective is to conduct a scoping review of existing methods for analysing ITS data, to summarise their characteristics and properties, as well as to examine how the results are reported. We also aim to identify gaps and methodological deficiencies.

Methods and analysis

We will search electronic databases from inception until August 2016 (eg, MEDLINE and JSTOR). Two reviewers will independently screen titles, abstracts and full-text articles and complete the data abstraction. The anticipated outcome will be a summarised description of all the methods that have been used in analysing ITS data in health research, how those methods were applied, their strengths and limitations and the transparency of interpretation/reporting of the results. We will provide summary tables of the characteristics of the included studies. We will also describe the similarities and differences of the various methods.

Ethics and dissemination

Ethical approval is not required for this study since we are just considering the methods used in the analysis and there will not be identifiable patient data. Results will be disseminated through open access peer-reviewed publications.
Environmental triggers of COPD symptoms: a case cross-over study
Authors: Sama Susan R , Kriebel David , Gore Rebecca J , DeVries Rebecca , Rosiello Richard
Published: July 2017

Introduction

This study investigated the hypothesis that common environmental chemical exposures with known irritant or sensitising properties trigger exacerbations for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Methods

We conducted a case cross-over study in 168 patients with COPD who were members of a disease management group in central Massachusetts. Participants completed a baseline health survey and several short exposure surveys. Exposure surveys were administered by a nurse when a participant telephoned to report an exacerbation (case periods) and at a maximum of three randomly identified control periods when they were not experiencing an exacerbation. We compared exposures in the week preceding an exacerbation with exposures in normal (non-exacerbation) weeks. The questionnaire assessed short-term (1 week) home, community and workplace activities and exposures that may be associated with COPD exacerbation.

Results

Self-reported exercise was negatively associated with exacerbation (OR=0.59, 95% CI: 0.35 to 1.00). Among the environmental chemical exposures, car and truck exhaust (OR=4.36, 95% CI: 1.76 to 10.80) and use of scented laundry products (OR=2.69, 95% CI: 1.31 to 5.52) showed strong positive effects. Self-reported respiratory infections were strongly associated with exacerbation (OR=7.90, 95% CI 4.29 to 14.50). Variations in outdoor temperature were associated with COPD exacerbation risk (moderate versus cold temperature OR=1.95, 95% CI 1.09 to 3.49 and warm versus cold OR=0.43, 95% CI: 0.26 to 0.70).

Conclusions

These results suggest that some environmental chemical exposures may play a role in triggering COPD exacerbations. If confirmed, they may provide useful guidance for patients with COPD to better manage their disease.
Non-visualisation of strings after postplacental insertion of Copper-T 380A intrauterine device
Authors: Dewan Rupali , Dewan Abhinav , Singal Sunita , Bharti Rekha , Kaim Mansi
Published: July 2017

Aim

To assess the incidence of visible strings of intrauterine contraceptive devices (IUDs) after postplacental insertion following vaginal or caesarean delivery and to establish a management protocol of follow-up visits when strings are not visualised.

Methods

This was a prospective study of a cohort of 348 women who underwent postplacental insertion of Copper-T 380A IUDs following vaginal or caesarean delivery, conducted at a hospital in New Delhi, India. Women were followed up at 6 weeks, 3, 6 and 12 months after IUD insertion and were questioned about IUD expulsion or removal at each visit. The cervix was inspected to visualise the IUD strings. All women whose IUD strings could not be visualised at the cervical os at any given follow-up were identified. We analysed the cumulative incidence of visible strings and of procedures performed to locate the IUD when strings were not visible.

Results

At 1 year follow-up, the IUD wasin situin 313/348 (89.9%) women. There were eight (2.3%) expulsions and 15 (4.3%) IUD removals. Among women with IUDsin situ, the strings were not visible in 73 (21%) cases. Pelvic ultrasound confirmed intrauterine position of the IUDs in these cases. At 1 year, string visibility was significantly lower after intra-caesarean insertions as compared to vaginal insertions (72.4% vs 98.1%;p<0.05).

Conclusions

Visualisation of strings after postplacental vaginal insertion is more common than after intra-caesarean insertion. Pelvic ultrasonography can be used to verify the presence of the device in cases of missing strings.
High ozone chemisorption by using metal–cluster complexes: a DFT study on the nickel-decorated B12P12 nanoclusters
Authors: Shokuhi Rad Ali
Published: July 2017

In the present study, by using first-principle study within the density functional theory (DFT), we investigated the ozone (O3) chemisorption on the surface of pristine and nickel-decorated B12P12 nanoclusters. The important emphasis of this study is to follow changes in the electronic structures of the aforementioned nanoclusters upon adsorption of the O3 molecule. Although we found strong chemisorption of O3 on a pristine nanocluster (–282.7 kJ/mol), significant increases in adsorption were found by modifying the nanocluster’s surface. Firstly, we found there are three possible sites on the surface of the nanocluster for nickel (Ni) decoration. For each Ni-decorated nanocluster, we searched its potential for adsorption of O3 by using quantum chemical calculations. Depending on the location of decorated Ni, we found considerable increased values of O3 adsorption energy (–340.8, –376.8, and –382.4 kJ/mol). We carried out calculations by taking into account the values of adsorption energy, bond distance, dipole moment study, charge analysis, frontier orbital analysis, and density of states of all relaxed systems.
A global approach to perform large-scale configuration–interaction calculations
Authors: Gilleron Franck , Pain Jean-Christophe
Published: July 2017

We present a global approach that allows one to tackle cumbersome configuration–interaction calculations. The method is based on the use of approximate configuration-averaged Hamiltonian matrix elements that can be expressed in compact form as a combination of Slater integrals. With some assumptions, we show that the Hamiltonian matrix to be diagonalized may be reduced to a size equivalent to the number of configurations in the basis set. The approach can be used to estimate shifts of configuration average energies and changes in the total strength of transition arrays. The method is also well suited to work out roughly difficult configuration–interaction calculations, to determine the minimal set of interacting configurations to be used in actual fine-structure calculations.
Atomic data for Ne-like ions useful in plasma diagnostic
Authors: Singh Narendra , Aggarwal Sunny , Mohan Man
Published: July 2017

Motived by the recent measurement of transition lines for Ne-like Hf and W, we have reported atomic data in the form of multiconfiguration Dirac–Fock transition energies and wavefunction compositions of 209 levels belonging to the configurations 2s22p6, 2s22p5ns (n = 3, 4, 5, 6, 7), 2s22p5np (n = 3, 4, 5, 6, 7), 2s22p5nd (n = 3, 4, 5, 6, 7), 2s22p5nf (n = 4, 5), 2s22p55g, 2s2p6ns (n = 3, 4, 5), 2s2p6np (n = 3, 4, 5), 2s2p6nd (n = 3, 4, 5), 2s2p6nf (n = 4, 5), and 2s2p65g of Hf LXIII, Ta LXIV, W LXV, and Re LXVI. Radiative rates, oscillator strengths, transition wavelengths, and line strengths have been calculated for ground state electric dipole (E1) transition among these levels. These values were obtained using GRASP (general-purpose relativistic atomic structure package) code, which includes Breit and QED effects along with Dirac–Fock potential and second-order Coulomb interaction. We have compared our results with the data compiled using FAC (flexible atomic code) and also with the recent results available in the literature. The accuracy of the data is assessed. We predict new energy levels, oscillator strength, and transition probability data, where no other theoretical or experimental results are available, which will form the basis for future experimental work.
Targeting resilience and profitability in African smallholder agriculture: Insights from ICRISAT-led research programs
Authors: Mausch Kai , Orr Alastair , Miller B. Paige
Published: July 2017

We reviewed the strategy for Agricultural Research for Development (AR4D) adopted by the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT). The objective was to examine ICRISAT’s research strategy related to the twin challenges of resilience and profitability in developing technologies aimed at improving the livelihoods of smallholder farmers in the drylands of Africa. To do this, we examined the expected impact on resilience and profitability of its present program and the realized impact of ICRISAT’s previous research. We argue that the current CGIAR Research Programs led by ICRISAT envisage separate product lines for resilience and profitability, targeted at two groups, i.e., subsistence- and market-oriented smallholders. This approach, expected to make technology more appropriate for farmers’ needs, risks overlooking the interconnectedness of the two targets if they are too rigorously separated. Although our review of ICRISAT’s previous research program suggests that success stories have taken numerous forms—some increasing resilience, others profitability—our review also suggests that it is possible to develop win–win technologies that improve both targets. Finding ways to replicate win–win technologies will require that ICRISAT tests the resulting technologies and their implementation in specific contexts to improve and replace them as the research programs evolve.
Localization of the 68 000-Da human neurofilament gene (NF68) using a murine cDNA probe
Authors: Somerville Martin J. , McLachlan Donald R. , Percy Maire E.
Published: July 2017

A recent investigation, using a human genomic probe, has indicated that the 68 000 dalton neurofilament gene (NF68) is on the short arm of chromosome 8. We have used a murine cDNA probe on 65 metaphase spreads in situ to localize the human NF68 gene to 8p21 (20/370 grains; p < 0.0001). In addition, we have found secondary hybridization sites at the centromeric region of chromosome 2 and the long arm of chromosome 7, which are putative loci for other intermediate filaments.Key words: neurofilament, human, gene localization, murine cDNA.
Megasporogenesis in normal and a synaptic-mutant (sy-2) of Solanum commersonii Dun.
Authors: Parrott W. A. , Hanneman Jr. R. E.
Published: July 2017

Nomarski differential interference contrast microscopy was used to study megasporogenesis in intact ovules of Solanum commersonii Dun., following staining with Mayer's hemalum and clearing with methyl salicylate or cedarwood oil. Previous studies in Solanum have observed the Polygonum type of megasporogenesis, in which a linear tetrad of megaspores is formed. The three micropylar megaspores then degenerate, leaving the chalazal megaspore to divide mitotically to form the egg sac. Contrary to expectation, only 30% of the observed sporads within the same ovary were tetrads. Triads, including some with one deteriorating cell at the micropylar end, were the predominant form. Many dyads, which are an intermediate stage in megasporogenesis, were found with one cell prematurely deteriorating. These observations can be explained if the micropylar daughter cell of the dyad stage, which formed after telophase I, began deteriorating before the second meiotic division, such that it never underwent the second division. The chalazal daughter cell would still undergo the second meiotic division, followed by death of the new micropylar megaspore.Key words: Solanum, potato, megasporogenesis, S. commersonii, ovule, clearing.
Comparative study of G- and C-banded chromosomes of five species of Microtidae: a chromosomal evolution analysis
Authors: Burgos M. , Jiménez R. , Guardia R. Díaz de la
Published: July 2017

G-banded karyotypes were compared in the following species of Microtidae: Microtus nivalis, M. cabrerae, M. arvalis, and Arvicola sapidus. Previous observations on A. sapidus and A. terrestris were also incorporated in this study. The results show that Robertsonian translocations and pericentric inversions are common mechanisms involved in the karyotypic evolution of this group. Interspecific differences on the G-banding patterns were also analysed, and an attempt was made to establish a presumptive phylogenetic tree.Key words: chromosomal evolution, Microtidae, G-bands, C-bands.
Biochemical data bearing on the relationship between the genome of Triticum urartu and the A and B genomes of the polyploid wheats
Authors: Kerby K. , Kuspira J. , Jones B. L.
Published: July 2017

To determine whether the Triticum urartu genome is more closely related to the A or B genome of the polyploid wheats, the amino acid sequence of its purothionin was compared to the amino acid sequences of the purothionins in Triticum monococcum, Triticum turgidum, and Triticum aestivum. The residue sequence of the purothionin from T. urartu differs by five and six amino acid substitutions respectively from the α1 and α2 forms coded for by genes in the B and D genomes, and is identical to the β form specified by a gene in the A genome. Therefore, the T. urartu purothionin is either coded by a gene in the A genome or a chromosome set highly homologous to it. The results demonstrate that at least a portion of the T. urartu and T. monococcum genomes is homologous and probably identical. A variety of other studies have also shown that T. urartu is very closely related to T. monococcum and, in all likelihood, also possesses the A genome. Therefore, it could be argued that either T. urartu and T. monococcum are the same species or that T. urartu rather than T. monococcum is the source of the A genome in T. turgidum and T. aestivum. Except for Johnson's results, our data and that of others suggest a revised origin of polyploid wheats. Specifically, the list of six putative B genome donor species is reduced to five, all members of the Sitopsis section of the genus Aegilops.Key words: Triticum monococcum, Triticum urartu, polyploid wheats, genomes A and B, purothionins.
A study of nuclear structure for 244Cm, 241Am, 238Pu, 210Po, 147Pm, 137Cs, 90Sr and 63Ni nuclei used in nuclear battery
Authors: Artun Ozan
Published: July 2017

In this paper, we intend to extend the nuclear data of [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] nuclei used in nuclear battery technology, because, these nuclei are quite important for space investigations in radioisotope thermoelectric generator (RTG) and for microelectronic technologies in betavoltaic batteries. Therefore, the nuclear structure properties of nuclei such as separation energies, neutron skin thicknesses, proton, charge and neutron density distributions as a function of radius, the root mean square (rms) proton, charge and neutron radii, binding energies per particle, have been investigated by Hartree–Fock with eight different Skyrme forces. The obtained results have been compared with the experimental data in literature and relativistic mean field theory (RMFT) results.
Glider Collisions in Hybrid Cellular Automaton with Memory Rule (43,74)
Authors: Chen Bo , Chen Fangyue , Martínez Genaro J.
Published: July 2017

In the case of one-dimensional cellular automaton (CA), a hybrid CA (HCA) is the member whose evolution of the cells is dependent on nonunique global functions. The HCAs exhibit a wide range of traveling and stationary localizations in their evolution. We focus on HCA with memory (HCAM) because they produce a host of gliders and complicated glider collisions by introducing the hybrid mechanism. In particular, we undertake an exhaustive search of gliders and describe their collisions using quantitative approach in HCAM[Formula: see text]. By introducing the symbol vector space and exploiting the mathematical definition of HCAM, we present an analytical method of complex asymptotic dynamics of the gliders.
A Weaker Sufficient Condition for the Chaoticity of Extended Perturbation-Based Updating System for Global Optimization
Authors: Tatsumi Keiji
Published: July 2017

Recently, the gradient method with perturbation (GP) was proposed for metaheuristic methods of solving continuous global optimization problems. Its updating system based on the steepest descent method is chaotic because of its perturbations along the standard basis vectors, which can strengthen the diversification of search. The sufficient condition for its chaoticity was theoretically shown, which implies that two kinds of influence degrees of the perturbations in the updating system should be greater than some constants. In this paper, we extend the updating system of the GP into a more general one for metaheuristic methods, which does not necessarily require the descent direction of the objective function, and which can have perturbations along appropriate orthogonal basis vectors for each problem. Furthermore, since the condition for the chaoticity shown in the previous work is too restricted for practical use, we theoretically show a weaker sufficient condition for the extended system, which is derived by varying the constant lower bounds for the two kinds of influence degrees.
Multifractal Properties of Process Control Variables
Authors: Domański Paweł D.
Published: July 2017

Control system is an inevitable element of any industrial installation. Its quality affects overall process performance significantly. The assessment, whether control system needs any improvement or not, requires relevant and constructive measures. There are various methods, like time domain based, Minimum Variance, Gaussian and non-Gaussian statistical factors, fractal and entropy indexes. Majority of approaches use time series of control variables. They are able to cover many phenomena. But process complexities and human interventions cause effects that are hardly visible for standard measures. It is shown that the signals originating from industrial installations have multifractal properties and such an analysis may extend standard approach to further observations. The work is based on industrial and simulation data. The analysis delivers additional insight into the properties of control system and the process. It helps to discover internal dependencies and human factors, which are hardly detectable.
Gravitational waves propagation in nondynamical Chern–Simons gravity
Authors: Martín-Ruiz A. , Urrutia L. F.
Published: July 2017

We investigate the propagation of gravitational waves in linearized Chern–Simons (CS) modified gravity by considering two nondynamical models for the coupling field [Formula: see text]: (i) a domain wall and (ii) a surface layer of [Formula: see text], motivated by their relevance in condensed matter physics. We demonstrate that the metric and its first derivative become discontinuous for a domain wall of [Formula: see text], and we determine the boundary conditions by realizing that the additional contribution to the wave equation corresponds to one of the self-adjoint extensions of the D'Alembert operator. Nevertheless, such discontinuous metric satisfies the area matching conditions introduced by Barrett. On the other hand, the propagation through a surface layer of [Formula: see text] behaves similarly to the propagation of electromagnetic waves in CS extended electrodynamics. In both cases, we calculate the corresponding reflection and transmission amplitudes. As a consequence of the distributional character of the additional terms in the equations that describe wave propagation, the results obtained for the domain wall are not reproduced when the thickness of the surface layer goes to zero, as one could naively expect.
Evaluation of Project Architecture in Software Development Mixing Waterfall and Agile by Using Process Simulation
Authors: Mitsuyuki Taiga , Hiekata Kazuo , Goto Takuya , Moser Bryan
Published: July 2017

For software development, especially massive software systems, a waterfall process is used traditionally. A waterfall process can be highly effective on the condition that a master plan is fixed and the possibility of changes and uncertain rework is low. However, in software development projects, many kinds of reworks occur corresponding to uncertain requirement changes and program bugs. In addition, with the advent of cloud-based software platforms and continuous development operations, it is possible to develop a software system while operating the system. To respond to this situation, software development projects often adopt an agile process. Agility may allow conditional response to uncertain rework, yet at the same time it may be difficult to control the achievement of known project targets. Recently, many cases of adopting mixed processes including waterfall and agile have been reported in the massive software development projects. In this paper, we argue that the mixed process architecture should be designed, considering the scale of the targeted software project, the culture of organization, the probability of uncertain requirement changes, and so on. This paper proposes a methodology of evaluating the impact of waterfall, agile, and mixed project architectures by using process simulation. A project architectural approach is evaluated with a simulator which includes a software reliability growth model and uncertain rework driven by requirement change and error propagation.

The proposed methodology was applied to a development project for a simple shopping website. The results showed that the proposed methodology allows exploration of partial agile adoption depending on the nature of the system development project, including its scale and chances of change. For example, in this paper, if the scale of the project is small, the positive effect of increasing agility by adopting agile processes is low. On the other hand, if the scale of the project is large, the effect of increasing agility by adopting agile process can increase. Furthermore, it became clear that it is important to not apply an agile process blindly, but instead to design a mixed project architecture considering the number of errors and development schedule targets across the project scope.
Unlocking 4D seismic technology to maximize recovery from the pre-salt Rotliegend gas fields of the Southern North Sea
Authors: Brain Jonathan , Lassaigne Thomas , Darnet Mathieu , Van Loevezijn Peter
Published: July 2017

The Southern North Sea is a mature gas basin, producing mainly from faulted Permian Rotliegend sandstones. Identifying infill well opportunities in un-depleted or partially depleted blocks in these fields is challenging, particularly if the sealing capacity of faults within a field is uncertain. Time-lapse (4D) seismic monitoring provides an opportunity to identify depleted reservoir blocks by measuring differences in travel time across the producing interval between seismic surveys acquired before and after gas production. 4D seismic field tests were initially performed by Nederlandse Aardolie Maatschappij (NAM) and Shell in 2001. However, the observed travel-time differences proved to be smaller than predicted and any possible signals were too noisy to confidently detect depletion. Since then, advances in seismic acquisition and processing technology have improved the accuracy of 4D measurements and enabled the effective mapping of 4D related gas depletion signals. 4D seismic has now been deployed over a number of fields in the Southern North Sea, and a portfolio of infill opportunities has been identified. In 2015, the first 4D targeted infill well was successfully drilled into a block with limited depletion. This technology represents a breakthrough for operators seeking to maximize hydrocarbon recovery and extend field life in the Rotliegend play of the Southern North Sea.
Prevalence and Genetic Characterization of Cryptosporidium Infection in Java Sparrows (Lonchura oryzivora) in Northern China
Authors: Yao Qiu-Xia , Zhang Xiao-Xuan , Chen Kai , Ma Jian-Gang , Zheng Wen-Bin , Xu Xiao-Qin , Zhu Xing-Quan
Published: July 2017

Cryptosporidiosis is a cosmopolitan parasitosis that affects a wide range of hosts including birds. As information concerning Cryptosporidium in birds is limited, the present study examined the prevalence and genotypes of Cryptosporidium in Java sparrows in Beijing and Shangqiu, northern China. Three hundred and fifty fecal samples were collected from Java sparrows (Lonchura oryzivora, 225 white Java sparrows and 125 gray Java sparrows) in Beijing and Shangqiu in October 2015, and the samples were examined by PCR amplification of the small subunit ribosomal RNA (SSU rRNA) gene. The overall Cryptosporidium prevalence is 13.42% (47/350), with 16.44% (37/225) in white Java sparrows and 8.00% (10/125) in gray Java sparrows. Cryptosporidium prevalence was 9.82% (16/163) in Java sparrows from Beijing and 16.58% (31/187) in Java sparrows from Shangqiu. The prevalence of Cryptosporidium in females and males was 40.63% (26/64) and 7.34% (21/286), respectively. The Cryptosporidium prevalence in Java sparrows of different ages varied from 10.47% to 16.33%. Sequence analysis of the SSU rRNA gene revealed that all the samples represented C. baileyi. This is the first report of Cryptosporidium in gray Java sparrows in China, which extend the host range for C. baileyi. These results provide baseline information for further studies of molecular epidemiology and control of Cryptosporidium infection in poultry in China.
Isometries of Spaces of Radon Measures
Authors: Wójtowicz Marek
Published: July 2017

Let Ω and I denote a compact metrizable space with card(Ω)≥2 and the unit interval, respectively. We prove Milutin and Cantor-Bernstein type theorems for the spaces M(Ω) of Radon measures on compact Hausdorff spaces Ω. In particular, we obtain the following results: (1) for every infinite closed subset K of βN the spaces M(K), M(βN), and M(Ω2ℵ0) are order-isometric; (2) for every discrete space Γ with m≔card(Γ)>ℵ0 the spaces M(βΓ) and M(I2m) are order-isometric, whereas there is no linear homeomorphic injection from C(βT) into C(I2m).
Removal of Fluoride from Water by Adsorption onto Fired Clay Pots: Kinetics and Equilibrium Studies
Authors: Kofa G. P. , Gomdje V. H. , Telegang C. , Koungou S. Ndi
Published: July 2017

Excessive fluoride in potable water is a serious health problem in rural areas of many developing countries. Hence, there is a need to find a simple and cost-effective method for water defluoridation in such areas. In the northern part of Cameroon, clay pots are used for cooking food and water storage. The firing of these pots consists of intensive burning using fire wood. They were tested as a potential adsorbent for removing excess fluoride from water. Experiments were carried out in a jar test at room temperature (25 ± 2°C). Effects of contact time (0–90 min), pH (4, 5, 7, 8, and 9), stirring speed (60, 90, 120, and 200 rpm), and ionic strength (0–1000 mg/L) were investigated. Results showed that equilibrium was attained in 10 min whatever the pH. Pseudo-second-order and pore diffusion models described well the adsorption process. The highest amount of fluoride adsorbed (1.6 mg/g) was obtained at pH 4-5 and the optimum stirring speed is 120 rpm. Ionic strength has a significant effect on fluoride adsorption.
The Effect of the Dry Line and Convective Initiation on Drought Evolution over Oklahoma during the 2011 Drought
Authors: Flanagan Paul X. , Basara Jeffrey B. , Illston Bradley G. , Otkin Jason A.
Published: July 2017

Observations from the Oklahoma Mesonet and high resolution Weather Research and Forecasting model simulations were used to evaluate the effect that the dry line and large-scale atmospheric patterns had on drought evolution during 2011. Mesonet observations showed that a “dry” and “wet” pattern developed across Oklahoma due to anomalous atmospheric patterns. The location of the dry line varied due to this “dry” and “wet” pattern, with the average dry line location around 1.5° longitude further to the east than climatology. Model simulations were used to further quantify the impact of variable surface conditions on dry line evolution and convective initiation (CI) during April and May 2011. Specifically, soil moisture conditions were altered to depict “wet” and “dry” conditions across the domain by replacing the soil moisture values by each soil category’s porosity or wilting point value. Overall, the strength of the dry line boundary, its position, and subsequent CI were dependent on the modification of soil moisture. The simulations demonstrated that modifying soil moisture impacted the nature of the dry line and showed that soil moisture conditions during the first half of the warm season modified the dry line pattern and influenced the evolution and perpetuation of drought over Oklahoma.
Differences in Rental and Nonrental Car Crashes
Authors: Tay Richard , Choi Jaisung
Published: July 2017

Although rental cars experience a higher collision rate per registered vehicle compared to nonrental cars, little research has been conducted to understand the differences in the factors contributing to crashes involving rental cars and nonrental cars, especially driver-related factors. This study develops a conceptual framework to compare the driver-related factors contributing to crashes involving rental cars and nonrental cars and tests the hypotheses developed using data from South Korea and applying the binary logistics, rare event logistics, Firth logistic models, and random parameters logit models. We found a significantly higher contribution of several risky driving behaviors but no differences in roadway, vehicle, and environmental factors. We also found that rental car crashes involve more males and drivers under 25 years of age.
Modelling of the First‐Order Time‐Varying Filters with Periodically Variable Coefficients
Authors: Piwowar Anna , Grabowski Dariusz
Published: July 2017

The article is devoted to modelling and analysis of linear time‐varying (LTV) filters with periodically variable coefficients. A transmission model of such filters has been described. Equations expressing the filter response for a given class of periodic parametric functions have been obtained and presented in a closed form. The results have been illustrated by an example.
Morphological, Immunocytochemical, and Biochemical Studies of Rat Costal Chondrocytes Exposed to IL-1βand TGF-β1
Authors: Li Xiaoli , Ren Xiaoyong , Li Sisi , Liang Jianmin , Zhao Xiaoyan , Wang Ting , Wang Zhenghui
Published: July 2017

This study was undertaken to determine the effects of IL-1βand TGF-β1 on the expression of differentiation-associated genes in chondrocytes in vitro. Rat costal chondrocytes were exposed to different concentrations of IL-1βand TGF-β1 for 48 h and tested for gene expression. IL-1βincreased the expression of aggrecanase-1 and aggrecanase-2 and decreased the content of aggrecan and collagen II. Low concentration of TGF-β1 decreased the expression of aggrecan and collagen II and increased the expression of aggrecanase-2. However, the level of aggrecanase-1 was significantly elevated in the presence of high concentration of TGF-β1. IL-1βand TGF-β1 show the ability to modulate the production of aggrecan and collagen II in chondrocytes in vitro.