bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Antibacterial Constituents of Hainan Morinda citrifolia (Noni) Leaves
Authors: Zhang Wei‐Min , Wang Wei , Zhang Jing‐Jing , Wang Zhi‐Rong , Wang Yu , Hao Wang‐Jun , Huang Wu‐Yang
Published: April 2016

Noni (Morinda citrifolia L.) is an edible and medicinal plant distributed in Hainan, China. The antibacterial activities of the extracts of water (WE), petroleum ether (PEE), ethyl acetate (EAE), chloroform (CE), and n‐butanol (BE) were assayed by the disk diffusion method. The results showed that the extracts from Noni leaves possessed antibacterial effects against Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Proteus vulgaris, and Staphylococcus aureus. Among 5 different extracts, the BE produced the best antibacterial activity. The samples were first extracted by ethanol, and the primary compounds in the BE fraction of ethanol extract was further isolated and identified. Six phenolic compounds, including 5, 15‐dimethylmorindol, ferulic acid, p‐hydroxycinamic acid, methyl 4‐hydroxybenzoate, methyl ferulate, and methyl 4‐hydroxycinnamate, were identifiedby NMR. The results indicated that the phenolic compounds might significantly contribute to antibacterial activities of Noni leaves.
Acoustic identification of Mexican bats based on taxonomic and ecological constraints on call design
Authors: Zamora‐Gutierrez Veronica , Lopez‐Gonzalez Celia , MacSwiney Gonzalez M. Cristina , Fenton Brock , Jones Gareth , Kalko Elisabeth K. V. , Puechmaille Sebastien J. , Stathopoulos Vassilios , Jones Kate E.
Published: April 2016

Monitoring global biodiversity is critical for understanding responses to anthropogenic change, but biodiversity monitoring is often biased away from tropical, megadiverse areas that are experiencing more rapid environmental change. Acoustic surveys are increasingly used to monitor biodiversity change, especially for bats as they are important indicator species and most use sound to detect, localise and classify objects. However, using bat acoustic surveys for monitoring poses several challenges, particularly in megadiverse regions. Many species lack reference recordings, some species have high call similarity or differ in call detectability, and quantitative classification tools, such as machine learning algorithms, have rarely been applied to data from these areas.

Here, we collate a reference call library for bat species that occur in a megadiverse country, Mexico. We use 4685 search‐phase calls from 1378 individual sequences of 59 bat species to create automatic species identification tools generated by machine learning algorithms (Random Forest). We evaluate the improvement in species‐level classification rates gained by using hierarchical classifications, reflecting either taxonomic or ecological constraints (guilds) on call design, and examine how classification rate accuracy changes at different hierarchical levels (family, genus and guild).

Species‐level classification of calls had a mean accuracy of 66%, and the use of hierarchies improved mean species‐level classification accuracy by up to 6% (species within families 72%, species within genera 71·2% and species within guilds 69·1%). Classification accuracy to family, genus and guild‐level was 91·7%, 77·8% and 82·5%, respectively.

The bioacoustic identification tools we have developed are accurate for rapid biodiversity assessments in a megadiverse region and can also be used effectively to classify species at broader taxonomic or ecological levels. This flexibility increases their usefulness when there are incomplete species reference recordings and also offers the opportunity to characterise and track changes in bat community structure. Our results show that bat bioacoustic surveys in megadiverse countries have more potential than previously thought to monitor biodiversity changes and can be used to direct further developments of bioacoustic monitoring programs in Mexico.
A novel transgenic rabbit model with reduced repolarization reserve: long QT syndrome caused by a dominant‐negative mutation of the KCNE1 gene
Authors: Major Péter , Baczkó István , Hiripi László , Odening Katja E. , Juhász Viktor , Kohajda Zsófia , Horváth András , Seprényi György , Kovács Mária , Virág László , Jost Norbert , Prorok János , Ördög Balázs , Doleschall Zoltán , Nattel Stanley , Varró András , Bősze Zsuzsanna
Published: April 2016

Background and purpose

The reliable assessment of proarrhythmic risk of compounds under development remains an elusive goal. Current safety guidelines focus on the effects of blocking the KCNH2/HERG ion channel‐in tissues and animals with intact repolarization. Novel models with better predictive value are needed that more closely reflect the conditions in patients with cardiac remodelling and reduced repolarization reserve.

Experimental Approach

We have developed a model for the long QT syndrome type‐5 in rabbits (LQT5 ) with cardiac‐specific overexpression of a mutant (G52R) KCNE1 β‐subunit of the channel that carries the slow delayed‐rectifier K+‐current (IKs). ECG parameters, including short‐term variability of the QT interval (STVQT), a biomarker for proarrhythmic risk, and arrhythmia development were recorded. In vivo, arrhythmia susceptibility was evaluated by i.v. administration of the IKr blocker dofetilide. K+ currents were measured with the patch‐clamp technique.

Key Results

Patch‐clamp studies in ventricular myocytes isolated from LQT5 rabbits revealed accelerated IKs and IKr deactivation kinetics. At baseline, LQT5 animals exhibited slightly but significantly prolonged heart‐rate corrected QT index (QTi) and increased STVQT. Dofetilide provoked Torsade‐de‐Pointes arrhythmia in a greater proportion of LQT5 rabbits, paralleled by a further increase in STVQT.

Conclusion and Implications

We have created a novel transgenic LQT5 rabbit model with increased susceptibility to drug‐induced arrhythmias that may represent a useful model for testing proarrhythmic potential and for investigations of the mechanisms underlying arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death due to repolarization disturbances.
Comparison of von Willebrand factor (VWF) activity levels determined by HemosIL AcuStar assay and HemosIL LIA assay with ristocetin cofactor assay by aggregometry
Authors: Sagheer S. , Rodgers S. , Yacoub O. , Dauer R. , Mcrae S. , Duncan E.
Published: April 2016

Introduction

Diagnosis of von Willebrand disease (VWD) requires quantitative as well as qualitative determination of von Willebrand factor (VWF) levels. For functional assessment of VWF, ristocetin cofactor assay by aggregometry is considered to be the gold standard. However, need for technical expertise, labour intensiveness, difficult standardization and high intra‐ and inter‐ assay variabilities are some of the limitations of this methodology. Various assays for determination of VWF adhesive function using different methodologies have been developed in recent years.

Aim

To evaluate the HemosIL AcuStar chemiluminescence assay (VWF:RCo[Acu]) and the HemosIL latex immunoassay (VWF:act) as diagnostic tests for VWD and identification of type 2 VWD in comparison with the ristocetin cofactor assay performed by aggregometry (VWF:RCo[Agg]).

Methods

Results from 96 samples analysed by VWF:RCo[Acu] and 128 samples by VWF:act were compared with VWF:RCo[Agg]. Sixty of these samples (25 normal, 17 type 1 and 18 type 2) were analysed by all three assays.

Results

VWF:RCo[Acu] showed excellent agreement with VWF:RCo[Agg], and readily identified all type 2 VWD samples tested. VWF:act showed reasonable agreement with VWF:RCo[Agg] for most patients, but had a slightly lower sensitivity for detection of type 2 VWD.

Conclusion

VWF:RCo[Acu] assay has the potential to replace VWF:RCo[Agg] for the diagnosis of VWD.
Waste Generation Flows and Tourism Growth: A STIRPAT Model for Mallorca
Authors: Arbulu Italo , Lozano Javier , Rey‐Maquieira Javier
Published: April 2016

Several studies have examined the relationship between environmental degradation and population growth. However, most of them do not take into account the difference between local population and tourist arrivals, which is considerably important for mature tourist destinations. This article contributes to the literature by separating these two groups within the framework of IPAT‐based models to measure the impact of tourist arrivals in terms of municipal solid waste generation for Mallorca. The model leads to a stochastic differential equations system, which shows that this mature tourist destination has higher population elasticity than industrial economies. Moreover, the model allowed us to measure the elasticity of substitution between lower‐ and higher‐income tourists. Results showed that an increase of 1% on tourist arrivals growth rate would generate an increase in waste disposal generation of 1.25%. Furthermore, an increase of tourist expenditures by 1% on the destination would lead to an increase of municipal solid waste generation of 0.51%.
A new microscopic method to analyse desiccation‐induced volume changes in aeroterrestrial green algae
Authors: LAJOS K. , MAYR S. , BUCHNER O. , BLAAS K. , HOLZINGER A.
Published: April 2016

Aeroterrestrial green algae are exposed to desiccation in their natural habitat, but their actual volume changes have not been investigated. Here, we measure the relative volume reduction (RVRED) in Klebsormidium crenulatum and Zygnema sp. under different preset relative air humidities (RH). A new chamber allows monitoring RH during light microscopic observation of the desiccation process. The RHs were set in the range of ∼4 % to ∼95% in 10 steps. RVRED caused by the desiccation process was determined after full acclimation to the respective RHs. In K. crenulatum, RVRED (mean ± SE) was 46.4 ± 1.9%, in Zygnema sp. RVRED was only 34.3 ± 2.4% at the highest RH (∼95%) tested. This indicates a more pronounced water loss at higher RHs in K. crenulatum versus Zygnema sp. By contrast, at the lowest RH (∼4%) tested, RVRED ranged from 75.9 ± 2.7% in K. crenulatum to 83.9 ± 2.2% in Zygnema sp. The final volume reduction is therefore more drastic in Zygnema sp. These data contribute to our understanding of the desiccation process in streptophytic green algae, which are considered the closest ancestors of land plants.
Product R&D Investment Policies in an International Duopoly
Authors: Taba Yumiko , Ishii Yasunori
Published: April 2016

This study analyzes the optimal product R&D investment policies of a developed and a developing country in an international Cournot duopoly where firms from these two countries compete through endogenous quality–quantity decisions. We explore a new international trade model by using demand functions derived from utility functions. We find that the optimal product R&D investment policies for both countries are subsidies. This study counters a finding that used Hotelling‐type demand functions and it partially modifies another result that adopted the same demand functions but with an international Bertrand duopoly.
Technology Transfer, Welfare, and Wage Inequality
Authors: Wang Yuntong , Yin Xiaopeng
Published: April 2016

We use a linear two‐country, two‐factor, two‐product, two‐different technologies (2×2×2×2) model to study technology transfer and its effects on each country's welfare and factor prices. We demonstrate that technology transfer could benefit both the recipient and the transferring countries. For the recipient country, technology transfer increases the price of the factor that is more intensively used and decreases the price of the other factor. Our results provide an alternative explanation of a trend observed in the past half century: a rise in real wage inequality between relatively skilled workers and less‐skilled workers because of technological progress in numerous countries.
The Impact of 2007/08 Financial Crisis on the Stability and Enlargement of the EMU
Authors: Lin Ya‐Chi , Yeh Kuo‐Chun
Published: April 2016

Before 2007/08, the European Monetary Union (EMU) was expected to be enlarged on schedule, but the European sovereign debt problem, triggered by the exogenous US sub‐prime crisis, not only has revealed the EMU's fiscal coordination failure, but also has weakened regional financial integration. The stagnation of financial integration will therefore increase the cost of sustaining a monetary union, which in turn slows EMU enlargement and ruins the reputation of the euro. This paper aims to measure the damage to financial integration and to provide a more precise answer on real interest rate parity (RIP) convergence. Our estimation indicates that RIP between the EMU and some accession candidates is still valid after the interruptions of the financial crises. However, convergence of real interest rates cannot be achieved until 2030. This implies the EMU authority must strengthen regional financial integration to solidify the EMU and then be able to re‐start enlargement.
Spatial Modelling of Emergency Service Response Times
Authors: Taylor Benjamin M.
Published: April 2016

The paper concerns the statistical modelling of emergency service response times. We apply advanced methods from spatial survival analysis to deliver inference for data collected by the London Fire Brigade on response times to reported dwelling fires. Existing approaches to the analysis of these data have been mainly descriptive; we describe and demonstrate the advantages of a more sophisticated approach. Our final parametric proportional hazards model includes harmonic regression terms to describe how the response time varies with the time of day and shared spatially correlated frailties on an auxiliary grid for computational efficiency. We investigate the short-term effect of fire station closures in 2014. Although the London Fire Brigade are working hard to keep response times down, our findings suggest that there is a limit to what can be achieved logistically: the paper identifies areas around the now closed Belsize, Bow, Downham, Kingsland, Knightsbridge, Silvertown, Southwark, Westminster and Woolwich fire stations in which there should perhaps be some concern about the provision of fire services.
A novel placement technique for nasogastric and nasoesophageal tubes
Authors: Herring Jennifer M.
Published: April 2016

Background

Early enteral nutrition in dogs and cats can have significant benefit in the therapeutic management of critical illness. Blind placement of nasogastric or nasoesophageal feeding tubes to accomplish this goal has become standard practice. However, complications from tube misdirection into the tracheobronchial tree can lead to significant patient morbidity and mortality. Safe and consistent alternatives are desirable to minimize these risks.

Key Concepts

A modified method for placement of nasoenteric tubes is described. The main variation from standard procedure involves a second tube measurement, with the distal tip of the tube positioned at the thoracic inlet and measured to the nostril. The tube is advanced to this level and tested for negative pressure using a 12 mL syringe attached to the end of the feeding tube. This improves confidence in esophageal positioning before complete advancement of the tube to its distal endpoint.

Significance

This procedural adaptation to feeding tube placement has the potential to reduce bronchopulmonary trauma from intratracheal misdirection by providing an early safety check to identify malpositioning. Prospective validation studies are needed to support its advantages over standard tube placement techniques.
Prediction of the anti‐RhD donor population size for managerial decision‐making
Authors: van Hoeven L. R. , Berkowska M. A. , Verhagen O. J. H. M. , Koffijberg H. , van der Schoot C. E. , Janssen M. P.
Published: April 2016

Background

Rhesus D (RhD)‐negative women pregnant with a RhD‐positive child receive prophylactic injections to prevent haemolytic disease of the newborn. Because of the success of the prophylaxis, the number of naturally immunized women has decreased, thereby also decreasing the number of potential donors who provide the plasma from which the prophylaxis is made. As the current donor pool is ageing, the availability of the prophylaxis is threatened.

Objectives

Objectives are to investigate whether the anti‐D population and the changes therein can be described by a relatively simple model, to determine the impact of ageing of the anti‐D donors on the decline of the population and how many new donors should be recruited to meet future supply demand.

Methods

Data on Dutch anti‐D donors in 1994–2013 were used to simulate the donor population size and age composition for various donor recruitment scenarios.

Results

With a continuous influx of 27 new donors per year and a donor stopping rate of 10% per year, the population size will stabilize at 195 donors, with 2·3% of donors stopping annually due to reaching the donor age limit. A formula is derived to estimate which donor recruitment and retention efforts are required to maintain a prespecified donor pool.

Conclusion

A relatively simple model can already describe and predict the size of the anti‐D donor population and the impact of ageing accurately.
Arctic nations eye fishing ban
Authors: Kintisch Eli
Published: April 2016

As ice recedes in central Arctic Ocean, officials meet to discuss catch moratorium until stocks can be studied.
A single-atom heat engine
Authors: Roßnagel Johannes , Dawkins Samuel T. , Tolazzi Karl N. , Abah Obinna , Lutz Eric , Schmidt-Kaler Ferdinand , Singer Kilian
Published: April 2016

Making a teeny tiny engine

Steam locomotives, cars, and the drinking bird toy all convert heat into useful work as it cycles between two reservoirs at different temperatures. Usually, the working substance where the heat-work conversion occurs is a liquid or a gas, consisting of many molecules. Roβnagel
et al.
have made a working substance of a single calcium ion in a tapered ion trap. A laser-cooling beam plays the part of a cold reservoir for the calcium ion, and in turn, electric field noise acts as a hot reservoir.

Science
, this issue p.
325
Developing a pro-regenerative biomaterial scaffold microenvironment requires T helper 2 cells
Authors: Sadtler Kaitlyn , Estrellas Kenneth , Allen Brian W. , Wolf Matthew T. , Fan Hongni , Tam Ada J. , Patel Chirag H. , Luber Brandon S. , Wang Hao , Wagner Kathryn R. , Powell Jonathan D. , Housseau Franck , Pardoll Drew M. , Elisseeff Jennifer H.
Published: April 2016

Engineering a healing immune response

Infections, surgeries, and trauma can all cause major tissue damage. Biomaterial scaffolds, which help to guide regenerating tissue, are an exciting emerging therapeutic strategy to promote tissue repair. Sadtler
et al.
tested how biomaterial scaffolds interact with the immune system in damaged tissue to promote repair (see the Perspective by Badylak). Scaffolds derived from cardiac muscle and bone extracellular matrix components trigger a tissue-reparative T cell immune response in mice with injured muscles.

Science
, this issue p.
366
; see also p.
298
Fear and loathing in the hunt for gravitational waves
Black Hole Blues And Other Songs from Outer Space
Janna Levin
Knopf, 2016. 252 pp
Authors: Cho Adrian
Published: April 2016

One physicist hits the road to explore LIGO's history and the hard feelings that nearly derailed the entire project
Diminished Innate Antiviral Response to Adenovirus Vectors in cGAS/STING-Deficient Mice Minimally Impacts Adaptive Immunity
Authors: Anghelina Daniela , Lam Eric , Falck-Pedersen Erik
Published: April 2016

Infection by adenovirus, a nonenveloped DNA virus, induces antiviral innate and adaptive immune responses. Studies of transformed human and murine cell lines using short hairpin RNA (shRNA) knockdown strategies identified cyclic guanine adenine synthase (cGAS) as a pattern recognition receptor (PRR) that contributes to the antiadenovirus response. Here we demonstrate how the cGAS/STING cascade influences the antiviral innate and adaptive immune responses in a murine knockout model. Using knockout bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (BMDCs) and bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMMOs), we determined that cGAS and STING are essential to the induction of the antiadenovirus response in these antigen-presenting cells (APCs)in vitro. We next determined how the cGAS/STING cascade impacts the antiviral response following systemic administration of a recombinant adenovirus type 5 vector (rAd5V). Infection of cGAS−/−and STING−/−mice results in a compromised early antiviral innate response compared to that in wild-type (WT) controls: significantly lower levels of beta interferon (IFN-β) secretion, low levels of proinflammatory chemokine induction, and reduced levels of antiviral transcript induction in hepatic tissue. At 24 h postinfection, levels of viral DNA and reporter gene expression in the liver were similar in all strains. At 28 days postinfection, clearance of infected hepatocytes in cGAS or STING knockout mice was comparable to that in WT C57BL/6 mice. Levels of neutralizing anti-Ad5V antibody were modestly reduced in infected cGAS mice. These data support a dominant role for the cGAS/STING cascade in the early innate antiviral inflammatory response to adenovirus vectors. However, loss of the cGAS/STING pathway did not affect viral clearance, and cGAS deficiency had a modest influence on the magnitude of the antiviral humoral immune response to adenovirus infections.

IMPORTANCEThe detection of viral infection by host sentinel immune cells contributes to the activation of a complex and varied antiviral innate and adaptive immune response, which limits virus replication, spread, and susceptibility to infection. In this study, we have characterized how the cGAS/STING DNA-sensing cascade contributes to early detection of adenovirus infections. cGAS influences APC activation and early innate antiviral inflammatory immune responses, but adaptive immune pathways associated with virus clearance and anti-Ad antibody production were minimally influenced by the loss of the cGAS PRR signaling cascade.
Targeting Drug-Sensitive and -Resistant Strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis by Inhibition of Src Family Kinases Lowers Disease Burden and Pathology
Authors: Chandra Pallavi , Rajmani R. S. , Verma Garima , Bhavesh Neel Sarovar , Kumar Dhiraj
Published: April 2016

The existing treatment regimen for tuberculosis (TB) suffers from deficiencies like high doses of antibiotics, long treatment duration, and inability to kill persistent populations in an efficient manner. Together, these contribute to the emergence of drug-resistant tuberculosis. Recently, several host factors were identified which help intracellular survival of
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
within the macrophage. These factors serve as attractive targets for developing alternate therapeutic strategies against
M. tuberculosis
. This strategy promises to be effective against drug-resistant strains. The approach also has potential to considerably lower the risk of emergence of new drug-resistant strains. We explored tyrosine kinase Src as a host factor exploited by virulent
M. tuberculosis
for intracellular survival. We show that Src inhibition can effectively control tuberculosis in infected guinea pigs. Moreover, Src inhibition ameliorated TB-associated pathology in guinea pigs. Thus, Src inhibitors have strong potential to be developed as possible anti-TB drugs.
Training load--injury paradox: is greater preseason participation associated with lower in-season injury risk in elite rugby league players?
Authors: Windt Johann , Gabbett Tim J , Ferris Daniel , Khan Karim M
Published: April 2016

Aim

To determine whether players who completed a greater number of planned preseason training sessions were more or less likely to be injured during the competitive season.

Methods

A cohort of 30 elite rugby league players was prospectively studied during their 17-week preseason and 26-round competitive season. Injuries were recorded using a match time loss definition. Preseason participation was quantified as the number of ‘full’ training sessions that players completed, excluding modified, rehabilitation or missed sessions. In-season training load variables, collected using global positioning system (GPS) data, included distance covered (m), high-speed distance covered (m) and the percentage of distance covered at high speeds (%). Multilevel logistic regression models were used to determine injury likelihood in the current and subsequent week, with random intercepts for each player. Odds ratios (OR) were used as effect size measures to determine the changes in injury likelihood with (1) a 10-session increase in preseason training participation or (2) standardised changes in training load variables.

Results

Controlling for training load in a given week, completing 10 additional preseason sessions was associated with a 17% reduction in the odds of injury in the subsequent week (OR=0.83, 95% CI=0.70 to 0.99). Increased preseason participation was associated with a lower percentage of games missed due to injury (r=−0.40, p<0.05), with 10 preseason sessions predicting a 5% reduction in the percentage of games missed.

Conclusions

Maximising participation in preseason training may protect elite rugby league players against in-season injury.
Stanford's Outcomes Research in Kids (STORK): a prospective study of healthy pregnant women and their babies in Northern California
Authors: Ley Catherine , Sanchez Maria de la Luz , Mathur Ankur , Yang Shufang , Sundaram Vandana , Parsonnet Julie
Published: April 2016

Purpose

Stanford's Outcomes Research in Kids (STORK) is an ongoing prospective cohort of healthy pregnant women and their babies established to determine the effect of infectious diseases on weight, linear growth and immune system development during childhood. Additionally, a nested randomised intervention of household and personal cleaning products tests the effects of the microbicides triclosan and triclocarban on these outcomes and incidence of infection.

Participants

Healthy pregnant women were identified and enrolled primarily at public clinics; their babies, enrolled shortly after birth, are followed to age 36 months. Automated weekly surveys assess daily health status, infectious disease symptoms, healthcare provider visits and antibiotic use, in the mother during pregnancy and the baby once born. At 4-monthly household visits, information and samples are collected from the mother (urine, stool, saliva, skin swab), the baby (blood by heel/toe stick, urine, stool, saliva, skin swab) and the household (environmental swabs). Annual blood samples are obtained by venipuncture (mother and baby). Medical charts are abstracted for allergy and infectious illness in the mother during pregnancy and the baby.

Findings to date

From 7/2011 to 2/2015, 158 mothers were enrolled at approximately 20 weeks gestation; 127 babies were enrolled. Two-thirds of mothers are Hispanic, one-third are non-US born and one-third speak primarily Spanish; mean years of education is 13 (SD 6.2) years. Households have on average 4.5 residents. Most households (97%) were randomised to participate in the intervention. Completion of weekly surveys (86%) and follow-up (75% after 14 months) is excellent in this young, mobile population; collection of samples is ongoing with thousands of specimens stored.

Future plans

Enrolled babies will be followed until age 36 months (last anticipated visit: 07/2018) with medical chart review completed soon thereafter. All epidemiological information and samples will be available for collaborative hypothesis testing.

Trial registration number

NCT01442701; Pre-results.
Flow diversion with Pipeline Embolic Device as treatment of subarachnoid hemorrhage secondary to blister aneurysms: dual-center experience and review of the literature
Authors: Linfante Italo , Mayich Michael , Sonig Ashish , Fujimoto Jena , Siddiqui Adnan , Dabus Guilherme
Published: April 2016

Background

Aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) secondary to blister-type aneurysms (BAs) is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Microsurgical clipping or wrapping and/or use of traditional endovascular techniques to repair the lesion result in frequent regrowth and rebleeds and ultimately high fatality rates. Because of the purely endoluminal nature of arterial reconstruction, flow diversion may represent an ideal option to repair ruptured BAs.

Methods

We performed a retrospective analysis of our database including all consecutive patients with aSAH secondary to BAs treated with the Pipeline Embolic Device (PED) between November 2013 and November 2015 in two institutions. We collected basic patient demographics, aneurysm size, location, number and sizes of PEDs used, use of coiling, 30-day modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score, and follow-up imaging data.

Results

Ten cases of aSAH were found as a result of a ruptured BA. Patients had a mean age of 47.2 years (range 27–68). Mean Hunt and Hess score was 1.6 (range 1–4). Lesions were predominantly left-sided, mostly along the dorsal aspect of the internal carotid artery, either paraclinoid or paraophthalmic (8/10). In two patients the BA was located in the left middle cerebral artery. All lesions were very small (mean 1.4×1.5 mm; range 0.75–2.1 mm). Placement of a single PED resulted in immediate occlusion or near-occlusion of the BA in 9 out of 10 patients. Nine patients did very well; eight had a 90-day mRS score of 0 and one had a 90-day mRS score of 1. Follow-up digital subtraction angiography was performed in all patients (mean 15 months; range 7–24). In the surviving nine patients there was complete occlusion of the BA on long-term follow-up angiography.

Conclusions

Repair of ruptured BA with PED may be a safe and durable option.
Interactions of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, critical loads of nitrogen deposition, and shifts from native to invasive species in a southern California shrubland
Authors: Allen Edith B. , Egerton-Warburton Louise M. , Hilbig Bridget E. , Valliere Justin M.
Published: April 2016

Anthropogenic nitrogen (N) deposition and invasive species are causing declines in global biodiversity, and both factors impact the diversity and functioning of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi. Shifts in arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal (AMF) communities can generate feedback to native plants and affect their success, as was observed in California’s coastal sage scrub, which is a Mediterranean-type shrubland threatened by invasive grasses. As vegetation-type conversion from native shrubland to exotic annual grassland increased along a gradient of increasing N deposition, the richness of native plant species and of spore morphotypes decreased. Rapid declines in all plant and fungal values occurred at the critical load (CL) of 10–11 kg N·ha−1·year−1, indicating that AM fungi respond to the same environmental signals as the plants, and can be used to assess CL. Shrub root colonization also decreased along the N gradient, but colonization of the invasive grass was dominated by a fine AMF endophyte that was unresponsive to elevated N. A greenhouse experiment to assess AMF functioning showed that the native shrub Artemisia californica Less. had a negative growth response to an inoculum from high-N but not low-N soils, whereas the invasive grass Bromus rubens L. had a positive response to both inocula. Differential functioning of AM fungi under N deposition may in part explain vegetation-type conversion and the decline of this native shrubland.
Paleoclimate and precipitation seasonality of the Early Eocene McAbee megaflora, Kamloops Group, British Columbia
Authors: Gushulak Cale A.C. , West Christopher K. , Greenwood David R.
Published: April 2016

Early Eocene fossil floras from British Columbia are a rich resource for reconstructing western North American early Cenozoic climate. The best known of these floras reflect cooler (MAT ≤ 15 °C) upland forest communities in contrast to coeval (MAT ≥ 18 °C) forests in lowland western North American sites. Of particular interest is whether Early Eocene climates were monsoonal (highly seasonal precipitation). The McAbee site is a 52.9 ± 0.83 Ma 0.5 km outcrop of bedded lacustrine shale interbedded with volcanic ash. In this report two historical megaflora collections that were collected independently from different stratigraphic levels and (or) laterally separated by ∼100–200 m in the 1980s (University of Saskatchewan) and 2000s (Brandon University) are investigated to (i) assess whether they represent the same leaf population, (ii) assess whether a combined collection yields more precise climate estimates, and (iii) reconstruct paleoclimate to assess the character of regional Early Eocene precipitation seasonality. Combined, the two samples yielded 43 dicot leaf morphotypes. Analysis of leaf size distribution using ANOVA showed no difference between the two samples, and thus they were combined for climate analysis. Climate analysis using leaf physiognomy agrees with previous estimates for McAbee and other regional megafloras, indicating a warm (MAT ∼8–13 °C), mild (CMMT ∼5 °C), moist (MAP > 100 cm/year) ever-wet, non-monsoonal climate. Additionally, we recommend that climate analyses derived from leaf fossils should be based on samples collected within a stratigraphically constrained quarry area to capture a snapshot of climate in time rather than time-averaged estimates derived from multiple quarry sites representing different stratigraphic levels within a fossil site.
Which Brain Regions are Important for Seizure Dynamics in Epileptic Networks? Influence of Link Identification and EEG Recording Montage on Node Centralities
Authors: Geier Christian , Lehnertz Klaus
Published: April 2016

Nodes in large-scale epileptic networks that are crucial for seizure facilitation and termination can be regarded as potential targets for individualized focal therapies. Graph-theoretical approaches based on centrality concepts can help to identify such important nodes, however, they may be influenced by the way networks are derived from empirical data. Here we investigate evolving functional epileptic brain networks during 82 focal seizures with different anatomical onset locations that we derive from multichannel intracranial electroencephalographic recordings from 51 patients. We demonstrate how the various methodological steps (from the recording montage via node and link inference to the assessment of node centralities) affect importance estimation and discuss their impact on the interpretability of findings in the context of pathophysiological aspects of seizure dynamics.
Ward–Takahashi identities for Abelian chiral gauge theories
Authors: de Lima Ana Paula Cardoso Rodrigues , Dias Sebastião Alves
Published: April 2016

By considering a general Abelian chiral gauge theory, we investigate the behavior of anomalous Ward–Takahashi (WT) identities concerning their prediction for the usual relationship between the vertex and two-point fermion functions. Using gauge anomaly vanishing results, we show that the usual (in the nonanomalous case) WT identity connecting the vertex and two-point fermion 1PI functions is modified for Abelian chiral gauge theories. The modification, however, implies a relation between fermion and charge renormalization constants that can be important in a future study of renormalization of such theories.
Automated and Optimized Software Test Suite Generation Technique for Structural Testing
Authors: Geetha Devasena M. S. , Gopu G. , Valarmathi M. L.
Published: April 2016

Software testing consumes 50% of total software development cost. Test case design gains central importance in testing activity with respect to quality. The manual test suite generation is a time consuming and tedious task which needs automation. Unit testing is normally done in stringent time schedules by the developers or rarely by testers. In structural testing, it is not possible to check exhaustively all possible test data and the quality of test is dependent heavily on the performance of single developer or tester. Thus automation and optimization is required in generating test data to assist developer or tester with the selection of appropriate test data. A novel hybrid technique is developed to automate the test suite generation process for branch coverage criteria using evolutionary testing. The hybrid technique applies both Genetic Algorithm (GA) and Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) to automatically generate test data. This technique improves efficiency and effectiveness of test case generation process when compared to applying Genetic Algorithm or Particle Swarm Optimization alone. The performance of proposed technique is evaluated and is observed that hybrid technique reduces the number of iterations by 47% when compared to GA and PSO applied separately and it reduces the execution time by 52% than GA and 48% than PSO.
Traceability Guideline for Software Requirements and UML Design
Authors: Min Hyun-Seok
Published: April 2016

Traceability between software requirements and UML design helps requirement engineers and software developers understand the project goal and software architecture. However, the traceability mapping between the two elements is not well-defined and as a result there is no consistent way to make the traceability between two. A practical guideline is proposed for the traceability between software requirement and UML design. The guideline includes meta-model and process step. The process step defines detailed processes and most importantly, the Requirement-type and its mapping to UML diagrams. Requirements can be categorized based on their aspects and this categorization can be made as Requirement-type. This pre-defined Requirement-type is added to each requirement and this Requirement-type enforces to use certain types of UML diagrams as solutions. This mapping between each Requirement-type and UML diagram is the key of proposed guideline. With the help of the Requirement-type and mapping, traceability link can be made easily and checked automatically. The guideline was applied to the Missile Project and Helicopter Project of ADD (Agency of Defense Development) in South Korea.
On ∗-semiderivations and ∗-generalized semiderivations
Authors: Mamouni Abdellah , Oukhtite Lahcen , Nejjar Badr
Published: April 2016

The aim of this paper is to give a complete description of ∗-mappings. Indeed, we define and study a more general class of semiderivations (respectively generalized semiderivations), that we call ∗-semiderivations (respectively ∗-generalized semiderivations). In particular, we prove that for the prime rings with involution, these new definitions coincide with the classical definitions of semiderivations and generalized semiderivations, respectively.
Isotypies for the quasisimple groups with exceptional Schur multiplier
Authors: Sambale Benjamin
Published: April 2016

Let [Formula: see text] be a block with abelian defect group [Formula: see text] of a quasisimple group [Formula: see text], such that [Formula: see text] has exceptional Schur multiplier. We show that, [Formula: see text] is isotypic to its Brauer correspondent in [Formula: see text] in the sense of Broué. The proof uses methods from a previous paper [B. Sambale, Broué’s isotypy conjecture for the sporadic groups and their covers and automorphism groups, Internat. J. Algebra Comput. 25 (2015) 951–976], and relies ultimately on computer calculations. Moreover, we verify the Alperin–McKay conjecture for all blocks of [Formula: see text].
On heat equation in the framework of classic irreversible thermodynamics with internal variables
Authors: Ciancio Vincenzo , Restuccia Liliana
Published: April 2016

In this paper, we show that, using a procedure of classical irreversible thermodynamics (CIT) with internal variables, it is possible to describe the relaxation of thermal phenomena, obtaining some well known results of extended irreversible thermodynamics (EIT). In particular, we introduce as internal variables a vector and a second rank tensor, that influence the thermal transport phenomena, and we derive in the anisotropic and isotropic case, the phenomenological equations for these variables. In the case, in which the medium is isotropic, it is obtained that the total heat flux can be split in two parts: a first contribution [Formula: see text], governed by Fourier law, and a second contribution [Formula: see text], obeying Maxwell–Cattaneo–Vernotte (MCV) equation, in which a relaxation time is present. The obtained results may have applications in describing the thermal behavior in nanosystems (semiconductors, nanotubes[Formula: see text]), where the phenomena are fast and there are high-frequency thermal waves.
Microwave NIMs: Using a Uniform AC Electric Field for Manipulating Ag Nanorods Embedded in Co0.05Ti0.95O2 Matrix
Authors: Khorshidi Zahra , Bahari Ali
Published: April 2016

In the present work, we synthesized a composite medium consisting of Ag nanorods embedded in Co[Formula: see text]Ti[Formula: see text]O2 matrix (Ag/CTO) using the sol-gel method. We applied a uniform AC electric field at the beginning of gelation and during drying for manipulating Ag nanorods in the matrix.

The structure and morphology characterizations of Ag/CTO nanocomposites were studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) techniques. The permittivity and permeability behaviors of samples were investigated. Results showed that for the sample dried in the existence of the electric field, simultaneous negative permittivity and permeability were realized. These results imply the realization of double negative properties in this sample. Therefore, this work suggests that Ag/Co[Formula: see text]Ti[Formula: see text]O2 nanocomposites can be introduced as a negative index metamaterials (NIMs).
Effect of the Molar Ratio of Li/Ti and Thermal Treatment on the Electrochemical Performance of Li4Ti5O12–Rutile TiO2 Nanocomposite as Anode Materials
Authors: Yang Zhen , Li Xi-Ping , Mao Jian
Published: April 2016

Li4Ti5O12–rutile TiO2 (LTO–RTO) dual-phase nanocomposite anode materials show excellent electrochemical performance. However, the effects of molar ratio of Li/Ti and thermal treatment on electrochemical properties of the LTO–RTO composite have been rarely reported. In this work, LTO–RTO nanocomposites were prepared by sol-hydrothermal method with different Li/Ti molar ratios in raw materials and following calcinations at 600[Formula: see text]C, 650[Formula: see text]C and 700[Formula: see text]C for the different holding time. The results indicate that with the decrease of Li/Ti molar ratio, the discharge capacity of the LTO–RTO nanocomposite increases at first and then decreases, and the optimal Li/Ti molar ratio is 4:4.77, which was obtained with calcination at 600[Formula: see text]C for 10[Formula: see text]h. The effects of calcination temperature and holding time were further investigated. The result demonstrates that the thermal treatment has an obvious influence on the electrochemical performance due to the morphology change in the nanocomposite. The LTO–RTO nanocomposite calcinated at 650[Formula: see text]C for 2[Formula: see text]h with a Li/Ti molar ratio of 4:4.77 in raw materials delivers excellent rate capability: the initial discharge capacity is 175.9, 176.3, 170.4, 167.5, 163.3 and 155.6[Formula: see text]mA h g[Formula: see text] at the rate of 0.5, 1, 3, 5, 10 and 20[Formula: see text]C (1 C[Formula: see text][Formula: see text][Formula: see text]175 mA h g[Formula: see text]), respectively.
On the Pathogenesis Trail: What Marker B Cell Clones Tell Us about Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Authors: Braun Jonathan , Valles-Ayoub Yadrira , Berberian Linda , Eggena Mark , Gordon Lynn K , Stephan Targan
Published: April 2016

Clonal patterns of B cell activity have been recognized in inflammatory bowel disease, most notably in the immunogenetic relationship of perinuclear‐antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies to ulcerative colitis. Conceptually, this most likely reflects the B cell response to antigens predominating at these sites of mucosal inflammation. Identification of these B cell clones and their antigenic targets may be of pathogenetic and practical importance to diagnosis and treatment. The authors describe strategies to identify such clones, based on recent advances in the characterization and detection of antibody gene products. As an example of this strategy, a clonal detection system was used to identify new marker antibodies potentially useful in the laboratory diagnosis of Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. One surprising outcome of such studies is the unexpected and specific association of the B cell clonal response in Campylobacter jejuni enterocolitis and inflammatory bowel disease. By analogy to the pathogenetic role of Helicobacter pylori‐induced mucositis in peptic ulcer disease, this evidence renews attention to the role of C jejuni in the initiation of ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease.
Growth Factors in Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Authors: Wright Nicholas
Published: April 2016

Growth factors have many influences on the gastrointestinal tract, not just modulating cell proliferation, but also acting on other aspects of physiology. Several of these functions are incriminated in the pathogenetic and healing phenomena that accompany inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). A review of growth regulation in the intestine is presented. Topics include growth phenomena in IBD, sources of growth factors, growth factors in gut growth responses, trefoil peptides, other growth factors and role of growth factors in IBD.
Mantle Cell Lymphoma of the Gastrointestinal Tract (Lymphomatous Polyposis)
Authors: Freeman Hugh James
Published: April 2016

A74-year-old male with a history of a tonsillar lymphoma developed diarrhea. Investigations led to detection of extensive intestinal lymphomatous polyposis (mantle cell lymphoma). After an aggressive clinical course with associated nodal and peripheral blood involvement, death followed within three months. Postmortem studies revealed widespread dissemination within the entire gastrointestinal tract, including the esophagus, stomach, and small and large intestines. Although this type of lymphoma is rare and accounts for only about 1% to 8% of all forms of primary B cell gastrointestinal lymphomas in North America, separation from other subtypes has become more important because of reported responses of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue-lymphomas to antibiotics aimed atHelicobacter pylorieradication.
Diet and the Role of Altered Carbohydrate Absorption in the Treatment of Noninsulin‐Dependent Diabetes Mellitus
Authors: Wolever Thomas MS
Published: April 2016

The gastrointestinal tract has no clear role in the pathophysiology of noninsulin‐dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM), but it may be an appropriate site for therapeutic intervention, specifically changes in diet, meal frequency and medications. Studies suggest that for patients with NIDDM, a calorie‐restricted, high carbohydrate diet low in fat and rich in fibre may improve glycemic control, mitigate the risk of atherosclerosis and retard such diabetic complications as nephropathy and retinopathy. Increased meal frequency slows the rate of carbohydrate absorption, flattens blood insulin responses and reduces serum cholesterol. New therapeutic interventions, such as soluble fibre, low glycemic index foods or alpha glucosidase inhibitors, can further slow carbohydrate absorption and thus reduce secondary risks from hyperglycemia and hyperinsulinemia.
Effects of Sodium Fluoride on Water and Acid Secretion, Soluble Mucus and Adherent Mucus of the Rat Stomach
Authors: Gharzouli Kamel , Amira Smain , Khennouf Seddik , Gharzouli Akila
Published: April 2016

Chronic and acute ingestion of fluoride may lead to both structural and functional alterations of the gastric mucosa. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of sodium fluoride on gastric secretion and mucosal barrier. Filling the rat stomach for 1 h with sodium fluoride (5 and 20 mmol/L) induced an increase in fluid, fucose and galactose output. This effect was accompanied by a marked pH-dependent reduction of titratable acidity of the lumen. The amount of Alcian blue bound to adherent mucus was reduced in a pH-independent manner by sodium fluoride. The absence of a correlation between soluble glycoproteins and adherent mucus suggests that sodium fluoride does not stimulate mucus secretion, but rather acts as a barrier-breaking agent by its accumulation, together with acid, into the mucosa.