bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The use of statistical modeling to predict temporal artery biopsy outcome from presenting symptoms and laboratory results
Authors: LEE M , DE SMIT E , WONG TEN YUEN A , SAROSSY M
Published: August 2014

Purpose Giant cell arteritis (GCA) is a vasculitis affecting the elderly that can cause blindness if untreated. The current diagnostic gold standard is a temporal artery biopsy (TAB) which requires theatre time and histopathology analysis, causing a delay in formal diagnosis. In this study we investigated whether various predictive statistical models could accurately predict the TAB result from presenting symptoms and baseline laboratory tests.

Methods Clinical characteristics of 182 patients who underwent TABs performed at the Royal Victorian Eye & Ear Hospital (RVEEH) were analysed. Clinical data was extracted from patient files including demographics (age, gender), presence of typical GCA symptoms (headache, scalp tenderness, jaw claudication, anorexia, fatigue, malaise, fever, weight loss, visual disturbance and previous diagnosis of polymyalgia rheumatica), and laboratory tests (CRP, ESR and platelet count). Various predictive statistical models were fitted in R – Random Forest (RF) , Adaboost, Regression Tree (rpart) and Support Vector Machine (SVM) to fit the dataset which was segregated into test and train parts for cross‐validation. We used a binary classification where equivocal results were considered positive.

Results Of the TABs, 65 were negative, 117 were “positive” (94 positive, 23 equivocal). SVM achieved the best classification accuracy at 100% (40/40 predicted correctly). Rpart, Adaboost and RF achieved 65, 65 and 67.5% respectively.

Conclusion Our statistical model using open source software has shown a high accuracy in predicting the TAB outcome based on presenting features. This could inform the clinician of the likelihood of TAB positive GCA and hence guide immediate management.
Ganglion cell complex analysis in Parkinson´s disease by optical coherence tomography
Authors: VIEIRA L , ANJOS R , SOUSA A , SILVA N , VICENTE A , BORGES B , COSTA L , FERREIRA J , CUNHA JP
Published: August 2014

Purpose To analyze the ganglion cell complex (GCC) by optical coherence tomography (OCT) in Parkinson´s disease and to correlate it with disease´s severity and duration.

Methods We conducted a prospective, case‐control study, in healthy subjects and in patients with Parkinson´s disease (PD). Full ophthalmologic examination, OCT (Spectralis ®) and neurological evaluation were performed. Macular thickness of GCC (retinal ganglion cell layer and inner plexiform layer) were measured after manual segmentation.

Results The study included 25 healthy subjects (25 eyes) and 25 patients (25 eyes) with PD. Age and sex did not differ between the two groups. A statistically significant decrease in the thickness of GCC was detected in the PD group compared to control (p<0,05). GCC thickness was inversely correlated with Parkinson´s disease severity and duration.

Conclusion The decreased GCC thickness detected in this study goes in favor to the characteristic neurodegeneration of this disease. GCC analysis may contribute to the diagnosis and management of this pathology.
Impaired autophagy: a link between neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric diseases
Authors: Polajnar Mira , Žerovnik Eva
Published: August 2014

Protein misfolding, and subsequent aggregation have been proven as the leading cause of most known dementias. Many of these, in addition to neurodegeneration, show profound changes in behaviour and thinking, thus, psychiatric symptoms. On the basis of the observation that progressive myoclonic epilepsies and neurodegenerative diseases share some common features of neurodegeneration, we proposed autophagy as a possible common impairment in these diseases. Here, we argue along similar lines for some neuropsychiatric conditions, among them depression and schizophrenia. We propose that existing and new therapies for these seemingly different diseases could be augmented with drugs used for neurodegenerative or neuropsychiatric diseases, respectively, among them some which modulate or augment autophagy.
Naturalistic decision making in after‐action review meetings: The implementation of and learning from post‐fall huddles
Authors: Reiter‐Palmon Roni , Kennel Victoria , Allen Joseph A. , Jones Katherine J. , Skinner Anne M.
Published: August 2014

The purpose of this study was to add to our understanding of naturalistic decision making (NDM) in health care and how after‐action reviews (AARs) can be utilized as a learning tool to reduce errors. The study focused on the implementation of a specific form of AAR, a post‐fall huddle, to learn from errors and reduce patient falls. Utilizing 17 hospitals that participated in this effort, information was collected on 226 falls over a period of 16 months. The findings suggested that the use of self‐guided post‐fall huddles increased over the time of the project, indicating adoption of the process. Additionally, the results indicate that the types of errors identified as contributing to the patient fall changed, with a reduction in task and coordination errors over time. Finally, the proportion of falls with less adverse effects (such as non‐injurious falls) increased during the project time period. The results of this study fill a void in the NDM and AAR literature, evaluating the role of NDM in health care specifically related to learning from errors. Over time, self‐guided AARs can be useful for some aspects of learning from errors.

Practitioner points

Team effectiveness can increase by as much as 20% with the effective use after‐action reviews.

A self‐guided after‐action review tool can be implemented and increase in use over time for some organizations.

After‐action reviews appear to improve the detection of certain types of errors, thus generally improving organizational operations and future decision making.
Pursuing Information: A Conversation Analytic Perspective on Communication Strategies
Authors: Burch Alfred R.
Published: August 2014

Research on second language (L2) communication strategies over the past three decades has concerned itself broadly with defining their usage in terms of planning and compensation, as well as with the use of taxonomies for coding different types of strategies. Taking a Conversation Analytic (CA) perspective, this article examines the fine‐grained detail of a conversation between a first‐language speaker and an L2 speaker of Japanese and proposes a respecification of the notions of planning and compensation as socially viewable participant concerns, rather than as individualistic psychological constructs. Furthermore, the complex multifunctional and multimodal nature of interaction draws attention to the difficulty of categorizing usage of communication strategies into valid and generalizable taxonomical coding schemes. This article argues that CA can provide a useful methodological toolkit for exploring communication strategies from an interactional perspective, which focuses on L2 users’ competence and communicative success rather than deficiency.
Far‐Field Atrial Sensing by the Left Ventricular Channel of a Biventricular Device
Authors: BAROLD S. SERGE , KUCHER ANDREAS
Published: August 2014

Background

The left ventricular (LV) channel of Biotronik biventricular devices used for cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) is designed with the capability of sensing via the LV lead. Therefore a displaced LV lead in a coronary vein could sense far‐field atrial signals and interfere with CRT.

Methods

The Biotronik troubleshooting archives containing data of approximately 700 transvenous CRT‐D cases (D = defibrillator) were examined for atrial far‐field sensing by the LV channel. We selected three cases from the archives to demonstrate the typical features of LV sensing of far‐field atrial activity.

Results

We found 3 typical cases of far‐field atrial sensing by the LV channel. The LV lead was displaced in 2 cases and possibly in the third patient. Two cases exhibited short intervals between LV sensed events (LVs–LVs = 207–218 ms), a finding typical of this form of far‐field atrial sensing by an LV lead. In the third case, short LVs–LVs intervals were not observed because spontaneous LV activation failed to generate an LVs marker (corresponding with the terminal LVs marker in a short LVs–LVs interval). LV activity was unsensed during the blanking period of the LV upper rate interval initiated by the first LVs that actually generated by far‐field oversensing. This response was also observed intermittently in a patient who presented with short LVs–LVs intervals.

Conclusions

Far‐field atrial oversensing by the LV channel of a CRT‐D device occurs mostly with LV lead displacement. The diagnosis is important because it interferes with the delivery of therapeutic CRT but it is not life‐threatening. Oversensing can be easily corrected by simple reprogramming of the device or LV lead repositioning if there is high LV pacing threshold.
Rice responses to rising temperatures – challenges, perspectives and future directions
Authors: JAGADISH S. V. K. , MURTY M. V. R. , QUICK W. P.
Published: August 2014

Phenotypic plasticity in overcoming heat stress‐induced damage across hot tropical rice‐growing regions is predominantly governed by relative humidity. Expression of transpiration cooling, an effective heat‐avoiding mechanism, will diminish with the transition from fully flooded paddies to water‐saving technologies, such as direct‐seeded and aerobic rice cultivation, thus further aggravating stress damage. This change can potentially introduce greater sensitivity to previously unaffected developmental stages such as floral meristem (panicle) initiation and spikelet differentiation, and further intensify vulnerability at the known sensitive gametogenesis and flowering stages. More than the mean temperature rise, increased variability and a more rapid increase in nighttime temperature compared with the daytime maximum present a greater challenge. This review addresses (1) the importance of vapour pressure deficit under fully flooded paddies and increased vulnerability of rice production to heat stress or intermittent occurrence of combined heat and drought stress under emerging water‐saving rice technologies; (2) the major disconnect with high night temperature response between field and controlled environments in terms of spikelet sterility; (3) highlights the most important mechanisms that affect key grain quality parameters, such as chalk formation under heat stress; and finally (4), we model and estimate heat stress‐induced spikelet sterility taking South Asia as a case study.
The ratios of urinary β2‐microglobulin and NAG to creatinine vary with age in children
Authors: Hibi Yoshiko , Uemura Osamu , Nagai Takuhito , Yamakawa Satoshi , Yamasaki Yasuhito , Yamamoto Masaki , Nakano Masaru , Kasahara Katsuaki
Published: August 2014

Background

Although urinary biochemical markers can be assessed by their ratio to urinary creatinine (U‐Cr) concentration, reference values in adults may not be applicable to children because the amount of Cr excreted varies by body size. We therefore measured the relationship between age and the ratios of urinary β‐2‐microglobulin (U‐β2MG), N‐acetyl‐β‐d‐glucosaminidase (U‐NAG), calcium (U‐Ca) and protein (U‐Pr) concentration to those of U‐Cr in children.

Methods

Fifty‐seven patients aged >1 year with benign familial hematuria (median age, 6.3 years) were divided into three age groups: 1–4, 5–9, and ≥10 years. Urinary biomarkers were assayed using actual values; ratios to actual U‐Cr values; and our standardized metric, namely 100‐fold the ratio of serum Cr to U‐Cr concentration; and the relationship of each of these to age was determined.

Results

The ratios of U‐β2MG, U‐NAG and U‐Ca to Cr varied significantly by age, being higher in younger than in older children, but the actual and standardized values of each did not vary by age, nor did any measurement of U‐Pr.

Conclusions

The ratios of urinary markers of tubular function, including U‐β2MG, U‐NAG and U‐Ca, to Cr vary by age, being higher in younger children. In contrast, the ratios of urinary markers of glomerular filtration (such as U‐Pr)to Cr do not vary by age, making them suitable for corrections relative to Cr.
Release of erythropoietin and neuron‐specific enolase after breath holding in competing free divers
Authors: Kjeld T. , Jattu T. , Nielsen H. B. , Goetze J. P. , Secher N. H. , Olsen N. V.
Published: August 2014

Free diving is associated with extreme hypoxia. This study evaluated the combined effect of maximal static breath holding and underwater swimming on plasma biomarkers of tissue hypoxemia: erythropoietin, neuron‐specific enolase and S100B, C‐reactive protein, pro‐atrial natriuretic peptide, and troponin T. Venous blood samples were obtained from 17 competing free divers before and 3 h after sessions of static apnea and underwater swimming. The heart was evaluated by echocardiography. Static apnea for 293 ± 78 s (mean ± SD) and subsequent 88 ± 21 m underwater swimming increased plasma erythropoietin from 10.6 ± 3.4 to 12.4 ± 4.1 mIU/L (P = 0.013) and neuron‐specific enolase from 14.5 ± 5.3 to 24.6 ± 6.4 ng/mL (P = 0.017); C‐reactive protein decreased from 0.84 ± 1.0 to 0.71 ± 0.67 mmol/L (P = 0.013). In contrast, plasma concentrations of S100B (P = 0.394), pro‐atrial natriuretic peptide (P = 0.549), and troponin T (P = 0.125) remained unchanged and, as assessed by echocardiography, the heart was not affected. In competitive free divers, bouts of static and dynamic apnea increase plasma erythropoietin and neuron‐specific enolase, suggesting that renal and neural tissue, rather than the heart, is affected by the hypoxia developed during apnea and underwater swimming.
-invisibility and a class of local similarity groups
Authors: Sauer Roman , Thumann Werner
Published: August 2014

In this note we show that the members of a certain class of local similarity groups are ${l}^{2}$-invisible, i.e. the (non-reduced) group homology of the regular unitary representation vanishes in all degrees. This class contains groups of type ${F}_{\infty }$, e.g. Thompson’s group $V$ and Nekrashevych–Röver groups. They yield counterexamples to a generalized zero-in-the-spectrum conjecture for groups of type ${F}_{\infty }$.
Global Stability of an Epidemic Model with Two Infected Stages and Mass-Action Incidence
Authors: Diouf Mamadou Lamine , Iggidr Abderrahman , Sy Mamadou
Published: August 2014

The goal of this paper is the establishment of the global asymptotic stability of the model SI with two classes of infected stages and with varying total population size. The incidence used is the mass-action incidence ... . Existence and uniqueness of the endemic equilibrium is established when the basic reproduction number is greater than one. A Lyapunov function is used to prove the stability of the disease free equilibrium, and the PoincarГ©-Bendixson theorem allows to prove the stability of the endemic equilibrium when it exists.
Control of Stochastic Boundary Coverage by Multirobot Systems
Authors: Pavlic Theodore P. , Wilson Sean , Kumar Ganesh P. , Berman Spring
Published: August 2014

This technical brief summarizes and extends our recently introduced control framework for stochastically allocating a swarm of robots among boundaries of circular regions. As in the previous work, a macroscopic model of the swarm population dynamics is used to synthesize robot control policies that establish and maintain stable predictable team sizes around region boundaries. However, this extension shows that the control strategy can be implemented with no robot-to-robot communication. Moreover, target team sizes can vary across different types of regions, where a region's type is a subjective characteristic that only needs to be detectable by each individual robot. Thus, regions of one type may have a higher equilibrium team size than regions of another type. In other work that predicts and controls stochastic swarm behaviors using macroscopic models, the equilibrium allocations of the swarm are sensitive to changes in the mean robot encounter rates with objects in the environment. Thus, in those works, as the swarm density or number of objects changes, the control policies on each robot must be retuned to achieve the desired allocations. However, our approach is insensitive to changes in encounter rate and therefore requires no retuning as the environment changes. In this extension, we validate these claims and show how the convergence rate to the target equilibrium allocations can be controlled in swarms with a sufficiently large free-robot population. Furthermore, we demonstrate how our framework can be used to experimentally measure the rates of robot encounters with occupied and unoccupied sections of region boundaries. Thus, our method can be viewed both as an encounter-rate-independent allocation strategy as well as a tool for accurately measuring encounter rates when using other swarm control strategies that depend on them.
Serious Fun: Using Toys to Demonstrate Fluid Mechanics Principles
Authors: Saviz Camilla M. , Shakerin Said
Published: August 2014

Many students have owned or seen fluids toys in which two immiscible fluids within a closed container can be tilted to generate waves. These types of inexpensive and readily available toys are fun to play with, but they are also useful for provoking student learning about fluid properties or complex fluid behavior, including drop formation and coalescence. Including these toys in a class or lab with a companion exercise allows students to use observation and inductive reasoning to infer principles—all while having fun.
On the Stability of a Can of Soda
Authors: Benesh G. A. , Olafsen J. S.
Published: August 2014

Stability is often an important consideration in both static and dynamic systems. While introductory students soon grasp the balance of forces required for constant velocity motion, it generally takes longer for them to reliably identify the various torques involved in producing rotational equilibrium. Accelerating systems have the additional complication in that they may be in rotational equilibrium even as the system's center of mass (CM) accelerates.
Measuring c with an LC Circuit
Authors: Doran Patrick , Hawk William , Siegel P. B.
Published: August 2014

Maxwell's discovery of the relation between electricity, magnetism, and light was one of the most important ones in physics. With his added displacement current term, Maxwell showed that the equations of electricity and magnetism produced a radiation solution, electromagnetic (EM) radiation, that traveled with a speed of c=1/ε0μ0. The constant ε0 is the permittivity of free space from electrostatics, and μ0 is the permeability of free space from the magnetic interaction. There are a number of classroom experiments that directly measure the speed of light1–3 and EM radiation4 by dividing distance traveled by time. It is also possible to measure c using standing waves in a microwave oven.5 These are excellent experiments, but do not demonstrate the relationship between c, ε0, and μ0. One can also measure the permittivity of substances in the classroom;6 however, the quantity that is relevant for the speed of EM radiation is the product of ε0 μ0. The product ε0 μ0 is interesting since its units are time2/length2, and its value is the same for any choice of charge units. We present an experiment for the student laboratory to measure this product.
Understanding Performance Coach Development: Perceptions About a Postgraduate Coach Education Program
Authors: Araya Jamie , Bennie Andrew , O’Connor Donna
Published: August 2014

The purpose of this study was to enrich our understanding of formal coach education settings. We investigated how coaches developed knowledge during a postgraduate tertiary coach education course. We also explored coaches’ perceptions of changes they made to their coaching attitudes, behaviours, skills, and practices as a result of their studies. Semistructured interviews1 were conducted with 17 performance coaches. Results revealed that coaches developed knowledge through rich learning situations that were relevant to their coaching context. Furthermore, the three types of knowledge (professional, interpersonal and intrapersonal; Côté & Gilbert, 2009) were fostered in an environment that was socially constructed through a Community of Practice. Coaches felt they were better equipped to develop athlete performance as a result of the knowledge gained through the course. The findings reinforce the importance of developing formal coach education that is learner-centred, provides diverse learning experiences, and embraces informal learning concepts when embedded in formal learning contexts.
IL-32 is a molecular marker of a host defense network in human tuberculosis
Authors: Montoya Dennis , Inkeles Megan S. , Liu Phillip T. , Realegeno Susan , B. Teles Rosane M. , Vaidya Poorva , Munoz Marcos A. , Schenk Mirjam , Swindell William R. , Chun Rene , Zavala Kathryn , Hewison Martin , Adams John S. , Horvath Steve , Pellegrini Matteo , Bloom Barry R. , Modlin Robert L.
Published: August 2014

IL-32 links the microbicidal peptide pathway with resistance to disease progression in clinical tuberculosis.
Proteasome inhibitors increase missense mutated dysferlin in patients with muscular dystrophy
Authors: Azakir Bilal A. , Erne Beat , Di Fulvio Sabrina , Stirnimann Guido , Sinnreich Michael
Published: August 2014

Proteasome inhibitors increase missense mutated dysferlin expression in skeletal muscle and monocytes in patients with muscular dystrophy.
Mycobacterium tuberculosis Alters the Metalloprotease Activity of the COP9 Signalosome
Authors: Danelishvili Lia , Babrak Lmar , Rose Sasha J. , Everman Jamie , Bermudez Luiz E.
Published: August 2014

Inhibition of apoptotic death of macrophages byMycobacterium tuberculosisrepresents an important mechanism of virulence that results in pathogen survival bothin vitroandin vivo. To identifyM. tuberculosisvirulence determinants involved in the modulation of apoptosis, we previously screened a transposon bank of mutants in human macrophages, and anM. tuberculosisclone with a nonfunctional Rv3354 gene was identified as incompetent to suppress apoptosis. Here, we show that the Rv3354 gene encodes a protein kinase that is secreted within mononuclear phagocytic cells and is required forM. tuberculosisvirulence. The Rv3354 effector targets the metalloprotease (JAMM) domain within subunit 5 of the COP9 signalosome (CSN5), resulting in suppression of apoptosis and in the destabilization of CSN function and regulatory cullin-RING ubiquitin E3 enzymatic activity. Our observation suggests that alteration of the metalloprotease activity of CSN by Rv3354 possibly prevents the ubiquitin-dependent proteolysis ofM. tuberculosis-secreted proteins.

IMPORTANCEMacrophage protein degradation is regulated by a protein complex called a signalosome. One of the signalosomes associated with activation of ubiquitin and protein labeling for degradation was found to interact with a secreted protein fromM. tuberculosis, which binds to the complex and inactivates it. The interference with the ability to inactivate bacterial proteins secreted in the phagocyte cytosol may have crucial importance for bacterial survival within the phagocyte.
Genome-Wide Mutant Fitness Profiling Identifies Nutritional Requirements for Optimal Growth of Yersinia pestis in Deep Tissue
Authors: Palace Samantha G. , Proulx Megan K. , Lu Shan , Baker Richard E. , Goguen Jon D.
Published: August 2014

Rapid growth in deep tissue is essential to the high virulence of
Yersinia pestis
, causative agent of plague. To better understand the mechanisms underlying this unusual ability, we used transposon mutagenesis and high-throughput sequencing (Tn-seq) to systematically probe the
Y. pestis
genome for elements contributing to fitness during infection. More than a million independent insertion mutants representing nearly 200,000 unique genotypes were generated in fully virulent
Y. pestis
. Each mutant in the library was assayed for its ability to proliferate
in vitro
on rich medium and in mice following intravenous injection. Virtually all genes previously established to contribute to virulence following intravenous infection showed significant fitness defects, with the exception of genes for yersiniabactin biosynthesis, which were masked by strong intercellular complementation effects. We also identified more than 30 genes with roles in nutrient acquisition and metabolism as experiencing strong selection during infection. Many of these genes had not previously been implicated in
Y. pestis
virulence. We further examined the fitness defects of strains carrying mutations in two such genes—encoding a branched-chain amino acid importer (
brnQ
) and a glucose importer (
ptsG
)—both
in vivo
and in a novel defined synthetic growth medium with nutrient concentrations matching those in serum. Our findings suggest that diverse nutrient limitations in deep tissue play a more important role in controlling bacterial infection than has heretofore been appreciated. Because much is known about
Y. pestis
pathogenesis, this study also serves as a test case that assesses the ability of Tn-seq to detect virulence genes.

IMPORTANCE
Our understanding of the functions required by bacteria to grow in deep tissues is limited, in part because most growth studies of pathogenic bacteria are conducted on laboratory media that do not reflect conditions prevailing in infected animal tissues. Improving our knowledge of this aspect of bacterial biology is important as a potential pathway to the development of novel therapeutics.
Yersinia pestis
, the plague bacterium, is highly virulent due to its rapid dissemination and growth in deep tissues, making it a good model for discovering bacterial adaptations that promote rapid growth during infection. Using Tn-seq, a genome-wide fitness profiling technique, we identified several functions required for fitness of
Y. pestis in vivo
that were not previously known to be important. Most of these functions are needed to acquire or synthesize nutrients. Interference with these critical nutrient acquisition pathways may be an effective strategy for designing novel antibiotics and vaccines.
Annexin A2 Mediates Mycoplasma pneumoniae Community-Acquired Respiratory Distress Syndrome Toxin Binding to Eukaryotic Cells
Authors: Somarajan Sudha R. , Al-Asadi Fadi , Ramasamy Kumaraguruparan , Pandranki Lavanya , Baseman Joel B. , Kannan T. R.
Published: August 2014

Mycoplasma pneumoniae
 synthesizes a novel human surfactant protein A (SP-A)-binding cytotoxin, designated community-acquired respiratory distress syndrome (CARDS) toxin, that exhibits ADP-ribosylating and vacuolating activities in mammalian cells and is directly linked to a range of acute and chronic airway diseases, including asthma. In our attempt to detect additional CARDS toxin-binding proteins, we subjected the membrane fraction of human A549 airway cells to affinity chromatography using recombinant CARDS toxin as bait. A 36-kDa A549 cell membrane protein bound to CARDS toxin and was identified by time of flight (TOF) mass spectroscopy as annexin A2 (AnxA2) and verified by immunoblotting with anti-AnxA2 monoclonal antibody. Dose-dependent binding of CARDS toxin to recombinant AnxA2 reinforced the specificity of the interaction, and further studies revealed that the carboxy terminus of CARDS toxin mediated binding to AnxA2. In addition, pretreatment of viable A549 cells with anti-AnxA2 monoclonal antibody or AnxA2 small interfering RNA (siRNA) reduced toxin binding and internalization. Immunofluorescence analysis of CARDS toxin-treated A549 cells demonstrated the colocalization of CARDS toxin with cell surface-associated AnxA2 upon initial binding and with intracellular AnxA2 following toxin internalization. HepG2 cells, which express low levels of AnxA2, were transfected with a plasmid expressing AnxA2 protein, resulting in enhanced binding of CARDS toxin and increased vacuolization. In addition, NCI-H441 cells, which express both AnxA2 and SP-A, upon AnxA2 siRNA transfection, showed decreased binding and subsequent vacuolization. These results indicate that CARDS toxin recognizes AnxA2 as a functional receptor, leading to CARDS toxin-induced changes in mammalian cells.

IMPORTANCE
Host cell susceptibility to bacterial toxins is usually determined by the presence and abundance of appropriate receptors, which provides a molecular basis for toxin target cell specificities. To perform its ADP-ribosylating and vacuolating activities, community-acquired respiratory distress syndrome (CARDS) toxin must bind to host cell surfaces via receptor-mediated events in order to be internalized and trafficked effectively. Earlier, we reported the binding of CARDS toxin to surfactant protein A (SP-A), and here we show how CARDS toxin uses an alternative receptor to execute its pathogenic properties. CARDS toxin binds selectively to annexin A2 (AnxA2), which exists both on the cell surface and intracellularly. Since AnxA2 regulates membrane dynamics at early stages of endocytosis and trafficking, it serves as a distinct receptor for CARDS toxin binding and internalization and enhances CARDS toxin-induced vacuolization in mammalian cells.
Efficacy and safety of linagliptin in Hispanic/Latino patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a pooled analysis from six randomized placebo-controlled phase 3 trials
Authors: Davidson Jaime A , Lajara Rosemarie , Aguilar Richard B , Mattheus Michaela , Woerle Hans-Juergen , von Eynatten Maximilian
Published: August 2014

Objective

The number of individuals diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus is expected to rise disproportionately in Hispanic/Latino populations. We therefore aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of the dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor linagliptin specifically in Hispanic/Latino patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Research design and methods

Data from 745 patients who self-identified their ethnicity as Hispanic or Latino were pooled from six randomized, placebo-controlled phase 3 trials. Participants received linagliptin (5 mg/day) or placebo as monotherapy, or in combination with other oral antidiabetes drugs for 18 or 24 weeks.

Results

The placebo-adjusted mean change (95% CI) in glycated hemoglobin from baseline (mean 8.2%) was –0.63% (–0.77 to –0.48; p<0.0001) at week 18, and –0.58% (–0.74 to –0.42; p<0.0001) at week 24. The placebo-adjusted mean change (95% CI) in fasting plasma glucose from baseline was −11.7 mg/dL (−19.3 to –4.0; p=0.0028) at week 18 and –14.1 mg/dL (–22.0 to –6.3; p=0.0004) at week 24. Hypoglycemia incidence was 17.4% with linagliptin and 21% with placebo. In patients not receiving concomitant sulfonylurea, the hypoglycemia incidence was 10.1% with linagliptin and 19.4% with placebo. The overall incidence of adverse events (AEs), drug-related AEs, and serious AEs with linagliptin was similar to placebo (AEs 67.6% vs 68.9%; drug-related AEs 15.1% vs 18.7%; serious AEs 3.6% vs 3.0%). The mean body weight remained unchanged in both groups.

Conclusions

In Hispanic/Latino patients with inadequately controlled type 2 diabetes mellitus, linagliptin provided clinically meaningful improvements in glycemic control without weight gain or increased risk of hypoglycemia.
Closing the loop overnight at home setting: psychosocial impact for adolescents with type 1 diabetes and their parents
Authors: Barnard Katharine D , Wysocki Tim , Allen Janet M , Elleri Daniela , Thabit Hood , Leelarathna Lalantha , Gulati Arti , Nodale Marianna , Dunger David B , Tinati Tannaze , Hovorka Roman
Published: August 2014

Objective

To explore the experiences of adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) and their parents taking part in an overnight closed loop study at home, using qualitative and quantitative research methods.

Research design and methods

Adolescents aged 12–18 years on insulin pump therapy were recruited to a pilot closed loop study in the home setting. Following training on the use of a study insulin pump and continuous glucose monitoring (CGM), participants were randomized to receive either real-time CGM combined with overnight closed loop or real-time CGM alone followed by the alternative treatment for an additional 21 days with a 2–3-week washout period in between study arms. Semistructured interviews were performed to explore participants’ perceptions of the impact of the closed loop technology. At study entry and again at the end of each 21-day crossover arm of the trial, participants completed the Diabetes Technology Questionnaire (DTQ) and Hypoglycemia Fear Survey (HFS; also completed by parents).

Results

15 adolescents and 13 parents were interviewed. Key positive themes included reassurance/peace of mind, confidence, ‘time off’ from diabetes demands, safety, and improved diabetes control. Key negative themes included difficulties with calibration, alarms, and size of the devices. DTQ results reflected these findings. HFS scores were mixed.

Conclusions

Closed loop insulin delivery represents cutting-edge technology in the treatment of T1DM. Results indicate that the psychological and physical benefits of the closed loop system outweighed the practical challenges reported. Further research from longitudinal studies is required to determine the long-term psychosocial benefit of the closed loop technology.
A community-based survey for different abnormal glucose metabolism among pregnant women in a random household study (SAUDI-DM)
Authors: Al-Rubeaan Khalid , Al-Manaa Hamad A , Khoja Tawfik A , Youssef Amira M , Al-Sharqawi Ahmad H , Siddiqui Khalid , Ahmad Najlaa A
Published: August 2014

Objective

To assess the prevalence and risk factors of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) in a population known to have a high prevalence of abnormal glucose metabolism.

Methods

A household random population-based cross-sectional study of 13 627 women in the childbearing age, who were subjected to fasting plasma glucose if they were not known to have been diagnosed before with any type of diabetes. GDM cases were diagnosed using the International Association of Diabetes and Pregnancy Study Group (IAPSG) criteria.

Results

The overall GDM prevalence was 36.6%, categorised into 32.4% new cases and 4.2% known cases. Another 3.6% had preconception type 1 or 2 diabetes. GDM cases were older and had a significantly higher body mass index, in addition to a higher rate of macrocosmic baby and history of GDM. Monthly income, educational level, living in urban areas and smoking were not found to be significantly different between normal and GDM cases. The most important and significant risk factors for GDM were history of GDM, macrosomic baby, obesity and age >30 years. However, hypertension, low high-density lipoprotein, family history of diabetes and increased triglycerides did not show any significant effect on GDM prevalence in this cohort.

Conclusions

This society is facing a real burden of abnormal glucose metabolism during pregnancy, where almost half of the pregnant women are subjected to maternal and neonatal complications. Early screening of pregnant women, especially those at a high risk for GDM, is mandatory to identify and manage those cases.
The apelin receptor: physiology, pathology, cell signalling, and ligand modulation of a peptide-activated class A GPCR
Authors: Chapman Nigel A. , Dupré Denis J. , Rainey Jan K.
Published: August 2014

The apelin receptor (AR or APJ) is a class A (rhodopsin-like) G-protein-coupled receptor with wide distribution throughout the human body. Activation of the AR by its cognate peptide ligand, apelin, induces diverse physiological effects including vasoconstriction and dilation, strengthening of heart muscle contractility, angiogenesis, and regulation of energy metabolism and fluid homeostasis. Recently, another endogenous peptidic activator of the AR, Toddler/ELABELA, was identified as having a crucial role in zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryonic development. The AR is also implicated in pathologies including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, obesity, and cancer, making it a promising therapeutic target. Despite its established importance, the precise roles of AR signalling remain poorly understood. Moreover, little is known about the mechanisms of peptide–AR activation. Additional complexity arises from modulation of the AR by 2 endogenous peptide ligands, both with multiple bioactive isoforms of variable length and distribution. The various apelin and Toddler/ELABELA isoforms may also produce distinct cellular effects. Further complexity arises through formation of functionally distinct heterodimers between the AR and other G-protein-coupled receptors. This minireview outlines key (patho)physiological actions of the AR, addresses what is known about signal transduction downstream of AR activation, and concludes by discussing unique properties of the endogenous peptidic ligands of the AR.
In situ decomposition of northern hardwood tree boles: decay rates and nutrient dynamics in wood and bark
Authors: Johnson Chris E. , Siccama Thomas G. , Denny Ellen G. , Koppers Mary Margaret , Vogt Daniel J.
Published: August 2014

The decomposition of coarse woody debris contributes to forest nutrient sustainability and carbon (C) balances, yet few field studies have been undertaken to investigate these relationships in northern hardwood forests. We used a paired-sample approach to study the decomposition of sugar maple (Acer saccharum Marsh.), American beech (Fagus grandifolia Erhr.), and yellow birch (Betula alleghaniensis Britt.) boles at the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest in New Hampshire. Mass loss over 16 years followed a first-order exponential decay pattern with half-lives ranging from 4.9 to 9.4 years in bark and from 7.3 to 10.9 years in wood. Nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) concentrations increased significantly during decomposition, resulting in sharp decreases in C:N and C:P ratios. We did not, however, observe significant net increases in the amount of N or P stored in decomposing boles, as reported in some other studies. Calcium (Ca) concentration decreased by up to 50% in bark but more than doubled in wood of all species. The retention of Ca in decomposing wood helps maintain Ca pools in this base-poor ecosystem. Together, the exponential model for mass loss and a combined power-exponential model for changes in nutrient concentrations were able to simulate nutrient dynamics in decomposing boles after clear-cutting in an adjacent watershed.
Electromagnetic effects on the inhomogeneity of planar symmetry
Authors: Sharif M. , Bhatti M. Zaeem Ul Haq
Published: August 2014

In this work, we aim to identify the effects of electromagnetic field on the energy density inhomogeneity in self-gravitating plane symmetric spacetime filled with imperfect matter in terms of dissipation and anisotropic pressure. We formulate the Einstein–Maxwell field equation, conservation laws, evolution equations for the Weyl tensor and the transport equation for diffusion approximation. Inhomogeneity factors are identified for some particular cases of non-dissipative and dissipative fluids. For non-dissipative case, we analyze the inhomogeneity factor for dust, isotropic and anisotropic matter distributions while dissipative matter distribution includes the inhomogeneity factor only for geodesic dust fluid. We conclude that electric charge increases the inhomogeneity in the energy density which is due to shear, anisotropy and dissipation.
EAR BIOMETRICS AND SPARSE REPRESENTATION BASED ON SMOOTHED l0 NORM
Authors: KHORSANDI RAHMAN , ABDEL-MOTTALEB MOHAMED
Published: August 2014

Ear biometrics attracted the attention of researchers in computer vision and machine learning for its use in many applications. In this paper, we present a fully automated system for recognition from ear images based upon sparse representation. In sparse representation, extracted features from the training data is used to develop a dictionary. Classification is achieved by representing the extracted features of the test data as a linear combination of entries in the dictionary. In fact, there are many solutions for this problem and the goal is to find the sparsest solution. We use a relatively new algorithm named smoothed l0 norm to find the sparsest solution and Gabor wavelet features are used for building the dictionary. Furthermore, we expand the proposed approach for gender classification from ear images. Several researches have addressed this issue based on facial images. We introduce a novel approach based on majority voting for gender classification. Experimental results conducted on the University of Notre Dame (UND) collection J data set, containing large appearance, pose, and lighting variations, resulted in a gender classification rate of 89.49%. Furthermore, the proposed method is evaluated on the WVU data set and classification rates for different view angles are presented. Results show improvement and great robustness in gender classification over existing methods.
EFFECTS OF DIRECT FLUORINATION ON SURFACE CONDUCTIVITY OF EPOXY RESIN INSULATORS
Authors: LIU YAQIANG , LI LIQIANG
Published: August 2014

Epoxy resin samples were surface fluorinated using a F2/ N2mixture at different temperatures of 25°C, 55°C, 75°C, and 95°C for the same time. Attenuated total reflection infrared (ATR-IR) analyses indicate substantial changes in surface chemical composition and structure by the fluorinations. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) observations show an increase in thickness of the fluorinated layer and a change in its surface morphology with fluorination temperature. Conductivity measurements reveal a large increase in surface conductivity and surface potential measurements consistently show a low initial surface potential and rapid potential decay after corona charging, strongly depending on fluorination temperature and environmental humidity. The initial surface potential was found to decrease dramatically above a critical surface conductivity and almost to zero when surface conductivity increased to 10-12S. Surface polarity of the epoxy sample was found to dramatically increase with fluorination temperature. An increase in the degree of chain scission with fluorination temperature is considered to be the main cause for the increases of surface conductivity and surface polarity.
SYNTHESIS OF ZnO NANOPARTICLES-REDUCED GRAPHENE OXIDE COMPOSITES AND THEIR INTRINSIC GAS SENSING PROPERTIES
Authors: UDDIN ABU SADAT MOHAMMAD IFTEKHAR , PHAN DUY-THACH , CHUNG GWIY-SANG
Published: August 2014

A ZnO nanoparticles (NPs)/reduced graphene oxide (rGO) composite was fabricated via a simple one-step solvothermal method with graphene oxide (GO) and Zn ( NO 3)2 ⋅ 6 H 2 O as the precursors. The morphology, crystal structure and optical properties of the synthesized materials were characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy. The synthesized composite exhibited rGO layers assorted with tiny ZnO NPs. rGO supposedly acted as a template in the solvothermal process, that may promote the preferential attachment of ZnO NPs and prevented the agglomeration of ZnO NPs in the synthesized composite. It was also found that the electrical properties of the composite improved markedly with bare ZnO NPs, without significantly changing the morphology and crystal structure of the ZnO NPs. The main aim of this research is to develop an efficient sensor and to understand the effect of graphene in sensing characteristics. The synthesized composite was exposed to H 2, CO and C 2 H 2 gases to confirm its feasibility for gas sensing, and the results showed preferential detection of reducing gases at low temperature.
Xtep: Winning Young Chinese Consumers in Less Developed Cities
Authors: Luk Sherriff T. K. , Chen Ivy S. N. , Leung Chi Hong
Published: August 2014

Most foreign brands target first tier cities in China, thinking that demand in lower tier cities is unable to support their stores. The case describes how Xtep, a Chinese sportswear brand, succeeded in building a strong position in second and third tier cities by tapping into youth's need for expression through competitive pricing and aggressive sports and entertainment marketing. By targeting customers in less developed cities, it also avoided direct competition with wellknown brands.

This case also describes the sportswear industry, the development of second and third tier cities in China and the consumer behaviour of residents. The case requires analysis of some of the changes that are taking place in second and third tier cities in China and their implications for firms.
Eko: The Mobile Phone as a Financial Identity
Authors: Ranganathan Kavitha , Kapoor Amit
Published: August 2014

Eko Financial Service Private Limited is a young Indian start-up that uses mobile technology for bringing banking to the bottom of the pyramid market. Eko leverages the Banking Correspondent model propagated by the Reserve Bank of India, to provide bank accounts and remittance services for those who have been excluded from the formal banking institutions. With an innovative low-cost technology solution which uses open-source software and cloud computing, the case illustrates how Eko hopes to leverage the mobile revolution sweeping the country to provide financial services to the masses.
More ring-theoretic characterizations of P-frames
Authors: Dube Themba , Ighedo Oghenetega
Published: August 2014

Call a ring z-good if it has the property that an ideal in it is a z-ideal if and only if its radical is a z-ideal. By first showing that a z-good ring is von Neumann regular if and only if every prime ideal in it is a z-ideal, we are able to characterize P-frames as precisely those L for which every prime ideal in the ring [Formula: see text] is a z-ideal. Furthermore, we show that this characterization still holds if prime ideals are replaced by essential ideals, radical ideals, convex ideals, or absolutely convex ideals.
On weakly ℨ-permutable subgroups of finite groups
Authors: Heliel A. A. , Al-Shomrani M. M. , Al-Gafri T. M.
Published: August 2014

Let ℨ be a complete set of Sylow subgroups of a finite group G, that is, for each prime p dividing the order of G, ℨ contains exactly one and only one Sylow p-subgroup of G. A subgroup H of G is said to be ℨ-permutable of G if H permutes with every member of ℨ. A subgroup H of G is said to be a weakly ℨ-permutable subgroup of G if there exists a subnormal subgroup K of G such that G = HK and H ∩ K ≤ Hℨ, where Hℨ is the subgroup of H generated by all those subgroups of H which are ℨ-permutable subgroups of G. In this paper, we prove that if p is the smallest prime dividing the order of G and the maximal subgroups of Gp ∈ ℨ are weakly ℨ-permutable subgroups of G, then G is p-nilpotent. Moreover, we prove that if 𝔉 is a saturated formation containing the class of all supersolvable groups, then G ∈ 𝔉 iff there is a solvable normal subgroup H in G such that G/H ∈ 𝔉 and the maximal subgroups of the Sylow subgroups of the Fitting subgroup F(H) are weakly ℨ-permutable subgroups of G. These two results generalize and unify several results in the literature.
On Finite Groups with $\mathscr{H}C$-Subgroups
Authors: Guo Xiuyun , Wu Na
Published: August 2014

A subgroup H of a finite group G is called an [Formula: see text]-subgroup in G if there exists a normal subgroup T of G such that G = HT and Hg ∩ NT(H) ≤ H for all g ∈ G. In this paper, we continue to investigate the structure of a finite group G with [Formula: see text]-subgroups. Some new results are given and many known results are generalized.