bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Effect of Stimulus Timing on Unplanned Gait Termination
Authors: Ohm Kelly , Hahn Michael E.
Published: April 2016

Gait termination can be challenging for balance-impaired populations, including lower limb amputees. As powered prosthetic ankle devices come to market, it is important to better understand gait termination timing in an unplanned situation. Timing patterns were examined in unplanned gait termination to determine a threshold for being able to terminate gait in 1 step. Time to terminate gait (TTG) was also examined, using both final heel strike and center of mass (COM) acceleration metrics. Fourteen able-bodied subjects walked over ground and terminated gait in response to a randomly-timed auditory stimulus. A lumbarmounted accelerometer and footswitches were used to assess timing of gait termination. Subjects were able to terminate gait in 1 step if the stimulus occurred at or before 19.8% of gait cycle. Later stimulus resulted in a 2-step stop pattern. The TTG using COM acceleration was greater than when using heel strike data. Motion of the COM was not fully arrested until 162 ± 38% of gait cycle. The stabilization phase between heel strike and COM motion arrest was greater for 1-step stops (1.41 ± 0.42 s) than 2-step stops (0.96 ± 0.33 s). These findings indicate gait termination timing should be calculated using COM motion, including the stabilization phase post heel strike.
Determinants of Word-of-Mouth Influence in Sport Viewership
Authors: Asada Akira , Ko Yong Jae
Published: April 2016

The purpose of this study was to identify key characteristics of word-of-mouth (WOM) communication and examine their impact on sport consumers’ perceived influence in sport viewership. Through an extensive literature review, we identified the characteristics of the message sender (i.e., expertise and trustworthiness) and the message (i.e., richness of message content and strength of message delivery) as determinants of perceived influence of WOM. We also examined the moderating effects of homophily (interpersonal factors) and involvement (the message receiver characteristics). Data were collected from sport consumers who had received a recommendation to watch a sporting event in the preceding 3 months and actually watched the event. The results indicate the positive effects of trustworthiness, richness of message content, and strength of message delivery on WOM influence. Homophily and involvement were found to have moderating effects. Theoretical and managerial implications are discussed.
Associations Between Balance and Muscle Strength, Power Performance in Male Youth Athletes of Different Maturity Status
Authors: Hammami Raouf , Chaouachi Anis , Makhlouf Issam , Granacher Urs , Behm David G.
Published: April 2016

Balance, strength and power relationships may contain important information at various maturational stages to determine training priorities.

Purpose:

The objective was to examine maturity-specific relationships of static/dynamic balance with strength and power measures in young male athletes.

Methods:

Soccer players (N = 130) aged 10–16 were assessed with the Stork and Y balance (YBT) tests. Strength/power measures included back extensor muscle strength, standing long jump (SLJ), countermovement jump (CMJ), and 3-hop jump tests. Associations between balance with strength/power variables were calculated according to peak-height-velocity (PHV).

Results:

There were significant medium-large sized correlations between all balance measures with back extensor strength (r = .486–.791) and large associations with power (r = .511–.827). These correlation coefficients were significantly different between pre-PHV and circa PHV as well as pre-PHV and post-PHV with larger associations in the more mature groups. Irrespective of maturity-status, SLJ was the best strength/power predictor with the highest proportion of variance (12–47%) for balance (i.e., Stork eyes opened) and the YBT was the best balance predictor with the highest proportion of variance (43–78%) for all strength/power variables.

Conclusion:

The associations between balance and muscle strength/power measures in youth athletes that increase with maturity may imply transfer effects from balance to strength/power training and vice versa in youth athletes.
Trends in atmospheric patterns conducive to seasonal precipitation and temperature extremes in California
Authors: Swain Daniel L. , Horton Daniel E. , Singh Deepti , Diffenbaugh Noah S.
Published: April 2016

Northeastern Pacific atmospheric patterns conducive to California drought have occurred more frequently in recent decades.
Tracking changes and preventing loss in critical tiger habitat
Authors: Joshi Anup R. , Dinerstein Eric , Wikramanayake Eric , Anderson Michael L. , Olson David , Jones Benjamin S. , Seidensticker John , Lumpkin Susan , Hansen Matthew C. , Sizer Nigel C. , Davis Crystal L. , Palminteri Suzanne , Hahn Nathan R.
Published: April 2016

Real-time forest monitoring technologies could help track changes in tiger populations.
Electromagnetogenetics for remote mind control
Authors: VanHook Annalisa M.
Published: April 2016

A noninvasive technique enables the control of neuronal activity with radio waves or magnetic fields.
Keeping cGAS under control
Authors: Foley John F.
Published: April 2016

Glutamylation inhibits the cytosolic DNA sensor cGAS and suppresses antiviral immune responses.
Novel Cytomegalovirus UL54 DNA Polymerase Gene Mutations Selected
In Vitro
That Confer Brincidofovir Resistance
Authors: Chou Sunwen , Ercolani Ronald J. , Lanier E. Randall
Published: April 2016

Eight
in vitro
selection experiments under brincidofovir pressure elicited the known cytomegalovirus DNA polymerase amino acid substitutions N408K and V812L and the novel exonuclease domain substitutions D413Y, E303D, and E303G, which conferred ganciclovir and cidofovir resistance with 6- to 11-fold resistance to brincidofovir or 17-fold when E303G was combined with V812L. The new exonuclease domain I resistance mutations selected under brincidofovir pressure add to the single instance previously reported and show the expected patterns of cross-resistance.
In Vitro
Activity of Eravacycline against Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacteriaceae and Acinetobacter baumannii
Authors: Livermore David M. , Mushtaq Shazad , Warner Marina , Woodford Neil
Published: April 2016

Eravacycline and comparators were tested against carbapenem- and tigecycline-resistant
Enterobacteriaceae
and
Acinetobacter
isolates received at the United Kingdom's national reference laboratory. Eravacycline MICs correlated closely with those of tigecycline but mostly were around 2-fold lower; both molecules retained full activity against isolates with high-level tetracycline and minocycline resistance. MIC
90
s of eravacycline and tigecycline were raised ca. 2-fold for carbapenem-resistant
Enterobacteriaceae
compared with carbapenem-susceptible controls, probably reflecting subsets of isolates with increased efflux.
Clarithromycin Leads to Long-Term Survival and Cost Benefit in Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia and Sepsis
Authors: Tsaganos Thomas , Raftogiannis Maria , Pratikaki Maria , Christodoulou Sofia , Kotanidou Anastasia , Papadomichelakis Evangelos , Armaganidis Apostolos , Routsi Christina , Giamarellos-Bourboulis Evangelos J.
Published: April 2016

Increasing numbers of admissions for sepsis impose a heavy burden on health care systems worldwide, while novel therapies have proven both expensive and ineffective. We explored the long-term mortality and hospitalization costs after adjunctive therapy with intravenous clarithromycin in ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP). Two hundred patients with sepsis and VAP were enrolled in a published randomized clinical trial; 100 were allocated to blind treatment with a placebo and another 100 to clarithromycin at 1 g daily for three consecutive days. Long-term mortality was recorded. The hospitalization cost was calculated by direct quantitation of imaging tests, medical interventions, laboratory tests, nonantibiotic drugs and antibiotics, intravenous fluids, and parenteral and enteral nutrition. Quantities were priced by the respective prices defined by the Greek government in 2002. The primary endpoint was 90-day mortality; cumulative hospitalization cost was the secondary endpoint. All-cause mortality rates on day 90 were 60% in the placebo arm and 43% in the clarithromycin arm (
P
= 0.023); 141 patients were alive on day 28, and mortality rates between days 29 and 90 were 44.4% and 17.4%, respectively (
P
= 0.001). The mean cumulative costs on day 25 in the placebo group and in the clarithromycin group were €14,701.10 and €13,100.50 per patient staying alive, respectively (
P
= 0.048). Respective values on day 45 were €26,249.50 and €19,303.10 per patient staying alive (
P
= 0.011); this was associated with the savings from drugs other than antimicrobials. It is concluded that intravenous clarithromycin for three consecutive days as an adjunctive treatment in VAP and sepsis offers long-term survival benefit along with a considerable reduction in the hospitalization cost. (This study has been registered at ClinicalTrials.gov under registration no. NCT00297674.)
Regulatory Activities of Four ArsR Proteins in Agrobacterium tumefaciens 5A
Authors: Kang Yoon-Suk , Brame Keenan , Jetter Jonathan , Bothner Brian B. , Wang Gejiao , Thiyagarajan Saravanamuthu , McDermott Timothy R.
Published: April 2016

ArsR is a well-studied transcriptional repressor that regulates microbe-arsenic interactions. Most microorganisms have an
arsR
gene, but in cases where multiple copies exist, the respective roles or potential functional overlap have not been explored. We examined the repressors encoded by
arsR1
and
arsR2
(
ars1
operon) and by
arsR3
and
arsR4
(
ars2
operon) in
Agrobacterium tumefaciens
5A. ArsR1 and ArsR4 are very similar in their primary sequences and diverge phylogenetically from ArsR2 and ArsR3, which are also quite similar to one another. Reporter constructs (
lacZ
) for
arsR1
,
arsR2
, and
arsR4
were all inducible by As(III), but expression of
arsR3
(monitored by reverse transcriptase PCR) was not influenced by As(III) and appeared to be linked transcriptionally to an upstream
lysR
-type gene. Experiments using a combination of deletion mutations and additional reporter assays illustrated that the encoded repressors (i) are not all autoregulatory as is typically known for ArsR proteins, (ii) exhibit variable control of each other's encoding genes, and (iii) exert variable control of other genes previously shown to be under the control of ArsR1. Furthermore, ArsR2, ArsR3, and ArsR4 appear to have an activator-like function for some genes otherwise repressed by ArsR1, which deviates from the well-studied repressor role of ArsR proteins. The differential regulatory activities suggest a complex regulatory network not previously observed in ArsR studies. The results indicate that fine-scale ArsR sequence deviations of the reiterated regulatory proteins apparently translate to different regulatory roles.

IMPORTANCE
Given the significance of the ArsR repressor in regulating various aspects of microbe-arsenic interactions, it is important to assess potential regulatory overlap and/or interference when a microorganism carries multiple copies of
arsR
. This study explores this issue and shows that the four
arsR
genes in
A. tumefaciens
5A, associated with two separate
ars
operons, encode proteins exhibiting various degrees of functional overlap with respect to autoregulation and cross-regulation, as well as control of other functional genes. In some cases, differences in regulatory activity are associated with only limited differences in protein primary structure. The experiments summarized herein also present evidence that ArsR proteins appear to have activator functions, representing novel regulatory activities for ArsR, previously known only to be a repressor.
Insensitivity of Diverse and Temporally Variable Particle-Associated Microbial Communities to Bulk Seawater Environmental Parameters
Authors: Yung Cheuk-Man , Ward Christopher S. , Davis Katherine M. , Johnson Zackary I. , Hunt Dana E.
Published: April 2016

There is a growing recognition of the roles of marine microenvironments as reservoirs of biodiversity and as sites of enhanced biological activity and in facilitating biological interactions. Here, we examine the bacterial community inhabiting free-living and particle-associated seawater microenvironments at the Pivers Island Coastal Observatory (PICO). 16S rRNA gene libraries from monthly samples (July 2013 to August 2014) were used to identify microbes in seawater in four size fractions: >63 μm (zooplankton and large particles), 63 to 5 μm (particles), 5 to 1 μm (small particles/dividing cells), and <1 μm (free-living prokaryotes). Analyses of microbial community composition highlight the importance of the microhabitat (e.g., particle-associated versus free-living lifestyle) as communities cluster by size fraction, and the microhabitat explains more of the community variability than measured environmental parameters, including pH, particle concentration, projected daily insolation, nutrients, and temperature. While temperature is statistically associated with community changes in the <1-μm and 5- to 1-μm fractions, none of the measured bulk seawater environmental variables are statistically significant in the larger-particle-associated fractions. These results, combined with high particle-associated community variability, especially in the largest size fraction (i.e., >63 μm), suggest that particle composition, including eukaryotes and their associated microbiomes, may be an important factor in selecting for specific particle-associated bacteria.

IMPORTANCE
By comparing levels of particle-associated and free-living bacterial diversity at a coastal location over the course of 14 months, we show that bacteria associated with particles are generally more diverse and appear to be less responsive to commonly measured environmental variables than free-living bacteria. These diverse and highly variable particle-associated communities are likely driven by differences in particle substrates both within the water column at a single time point and due to seasonal changes over the course of the year.
Origin of Chemical Diversity in Prochloron-Tunicate Symbiosis
Authors: Lin Zhenjian , Torres Joshua P. , Tianero M. Diarey , Kwan Jason C. , Schmidt Eric W.
Published: April 2016

Diversity-generating metabolism leads to the evolution of many different chemicals in living organisms. Here, by examining a marine symbiosis, we provide a precise evolutionary model of how nature generates a family of novel chemicals, the cyanobactins. We show that tunicates and their symbiotic
Prochloron
cyanobacteria share congruent phylogenies, indicating that
Prochloron
phylogeny is related to host phylogeny and not to external habitat or geography. We observe that
Prochloron
exchanges discrete functional genetic modules for cyanobactin secondary metabolite biosynthesis in an otherwise conserved genetic background. The module exchange leads to gain or loss of discrete chemical functional groups. Because the underlying enzymes exhibit broad substrate tolerance, discrete exchange of substrates and enzymes between
Prochloron
strains leads to the rapid generation of chemical novelty. These results have implications in choosing biochemical pathways and enzymes for engineered or combinatorial biosynthesis.

IMPORTANCE
While most biosynthetic pathways lead to one or a few products, a subset of pathways are diversity generating and are capable of producing thousands to millions of derivatives. This property is highly useful in biotechnology since it enables biochemical or synthetic biological methods to create desired chemicals. A fundamental question has been how nature itself creates this chemical diversity. Here, by examining the symbiosis between coral reef animals and bacteria, we describe the genetic basis of chemical variation with unprecedented precision. New compounds from the cyanobactin family are created by either varying the substrate or importing needed enzymatic functions from other organisms or via both mechanisms. This natural process matches successful laboratory strategies to engineer the biosynthesis of new chemicals and teaches a new strategy to direct biosynthesis.
Sphenoid mucocele with unusual panhypopituitarism
Authors: Devi Saranya , Ganger Anita , Sharma Sanjay , Saxena Rohit
Published: April 2016

A 13-year-old boy presented with bilateral progressive proptosis, abduction deficit, optic atrophy and features suggestive of hypopituitarism secondary to a sphenoid sinus mucocele. Drainage of the mucocele along with hormone replacement therapy resulted in improvement in visual acuity and abduction.
Primary antiphospholipid syndrome, hypertrophic non-obstructive cardiomyopathy and hypotelorism
Authors: Kellermair Joerg , Kammler Juergen , Laubichler Peter , Steinwender Clemens
Published: April 2016

Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is an autoimmune disorder associated with arterial/venous thrombosis. Cardiac manifestations of APS include valve stenosis/insufficiency, coronary artery disease and myocardial dysfunction presenting as dilated cardiomyopathy. In the following report, we present the case of a man with primary APS, hypertrophic non-obstructive cardiomyopathy and hypotelorism—a combination that has not yet been reported in the literature.
Efficacy of immunosuppressive treatment in a systemic lupus erythematosus patient presenting with inclusion body myositis
Authors: Varela-Rosario Noemí , Pérez-Berenguer Juan L , Vilá Luis M
Published: April 2016

Inclusion body myositis (IBM) is an inflammatory myopathy that is generally unresponsive to immunosuppressive drugs. The coexistence of IBM with other autoimmune connective tissue diseases is rare. We present a case of a 76-year-old woman with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) who developed proximal muscle weakness of lower extremities and mild elevation of serum creatine kinase (CK) at 495 U/L. Muscle biopsy showed changes of endomysial inflammation and rimmed vacuoles consistent with IBM. She was treated with prednisone 40 mg daily and methotrexate 12.5 mg weekly. One month later, her physical examination showed minimal proximal weakness of lower extremities. CK levels decreased to 44 U/L. Prednisone dose was gradually decreased to 5.0 mg daily. She remained stable with normal CK levels during a follow-up period of 10 months. This case, together with other reports, suggests that IBM in the setting of SLE represents a different subtype that can benefit from immunosuppressive treatment.
Associations among sedentary and active behaviours, body fat and appetite dysregulation: investigating the myth of physical inactivity and obesity
Authors: Myers Anna , Gibbons Catherine , Finlayson Graham , Blundell John
Published: April 2016

Background

There is considerable disagreement about the association between free-living physical activity (PA) and sedentary behaviour and obesity. Moreover studies frequently do not include measures that could mediate between PA and adiposity. The present study used a validated instrument for continuous tracking of sedentary and active behaviours as part of habitual daily living, together with measures of energy expenditure, body composition and appetite dysregulation. This cross-sectional study tested the relationship between inactivity and obesity.

Methods

71 participants (81.7% women) aged 37.4 years (±14) with a body mass index of 29.9 kg/m2(±5.2) were continuously monitored for 6–7 days to track free-living PA (light 1.5–3 metabolic equivalents (METs), moderate 3–6 METs and vigorous >6 METs) and sedentary behaviour (<1.5 METs) with the SenseWear Armband. Additional measures included body composition, waist circumference, cardiovascular fitness, total and resting energy expenditure, and various health markers. Appetite control was assessed by validated eating behaviour questionnaires.

Results

Sedentary behaviour (11.06±1.72 h/day) was positively correlated with fat mass (r=0.50, p<0.001) and waist circumference (r=−0.65, p<0.001). Moderate-to-vigorous PA was negatively associated with fat mass (r=−0.72, p<0.001) and remained significantly correlated with adiposity after controlling for sedentary behaviour. Activity energy expenditure was positively associated with the level of PA and negatively associated with fat mass. Disinhibition and binge eating behaviours were positively associated with fat mass (r=0.58 and 0.47, respectively, p<0.001).

Conclusions

This study demonstrated clear associations among objective measures of PA (and sedentary behaviour), energy expenditure, adiposity and appetite control. The data indicate strong links between physical inactivity and obesity. This relationship is likely to be bidirectional.
Factors associated with polypharmacy and excessive polypharmacy in older people with intellectual disability differ from the general population: a cross-sectional observational nationwide study
Authors: O'Dwyer Máire , Peklar Jure , McCallion Philip , McCarron Mary , Henman Martin C
Published: April 2016

Objectives

(1) To evaluate the prevalence of polypharmacy (5–9 medicines) and excessive polypharmacy (10+ medicines) and (2) to determine associated demographic and clinical characteristics in an ageing population with intellectual disabilities (IDs).

Design

Observational cross-sectional study.

Setting

Wave One (2009/2010) of the Intellectual Disability Supplement to the Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (IDS-TILDA).

Participants

A nationally representative sample of 753 persons with ID, aged between 41 and 90 years. Participants/proxy reported medicines (prescription and over the counter) taken on a regular basis; medication data was available for 736 participants (98%).

Main outcome measures/interventions

Participants were divided into those with no polypharmacy (0–4 medicines), polypharmacy (5–9 medicines) and excessive polypharmacy (10+ medicines). Medication use patterns were analysed according to demographic variables and reported chronic conditions. A multinomial logistic regression model identified factors associated with polypharmacy (5–9 medicines) and excessive polypharmacy (≥10 medicines).

Results

Overall, 90% of participants reported use of medicines. Polypharmacy was observed in 31.5% of participants and excessive polypharmacy in 20.1%. Living in a residential institution, and reporting a mental health or neurological condition were strongly associated with polypharmacy and excessive polypharmacy after adjusting for confounders, but age or gender had no significant effect.

Conclusions

Polypharmacy was commonplace for older adults with ID and may be partly explained by the high prevalence of multimorbidity reported. Review of appropriateness of medication use is essential, as polypharmacy places ageing people with ID at risk of adverse effects.
Adherence to evidence-based drug therapies after myocardial infarction: is geographic variation related to hospital of discharge or primary care providers? A cross-classified multilevel design
Authors: Di Martino Mirko , Alagna Michela , Cappai Giovanna , Mataloni Francesca , Lallo Adele , Perucci Carlo Alberto , Davoli Marina , Fusco Danilo
Published: April 2016

Objectives

To measure the adherence to polytherapy after myocardial infarction (MI), to compare the proportions of variation attributable to hospitals of discharge and to primary care providers, and to identify determinants of adherence to medications.

Setting

This is a population-based study. Data were obtained from the Information Systems of the Lazio Region, Italy (5 million inhabitants).

Participants

Patients hospitalised with incident MI in 2007–2010.

Outcome measure

The outcome was chronic polytherapy after MI. Adherence was defined as a medication possession ratio ≥0.75 for at least three of the following drugs: antiplatelets, β-blockers, ACEI angiotensin receptor blockers, statins.

Design and analysis

A 2-year cohort study was performed. Cross-classified multilevel models were applied to analyse geographic variation and compare proportions of variability attributable to hospitals of discharge and primary care providers. The variance components were expressed as median ORs MORs. If the MOR is 1.00, there is no variation between clusters. If there is considerable between-cluster variation, the MOR will be large.

Results

A total of 9606 patients were enrolled. About 63% were adherent to chronic polytherapy. Adherence was higher for patients discharged from cardiology wards (OR=1.56 vs other wards, p<0.001) and for patients with general practitioners working in group practice (OR=1.14 vs single-handed, p=0.042). A relevant variation in adherence was detected between local health districts (MOR=1.24, p<0.001). When introducing the hospital of discharge as a cross-classified level, the variation between local health districts decreased (MOR=1.13, p=0.020) and the variability attributable to hospitals of discharge was significantly higher (MOR=1.37, p<0.001).

Conclusions

Secondary prevention pharmacotherapy after MI is not consistent with clinical guidelines. The relevant geographic variation raises equity issues in access to optimal care. Adherence was influenced more by the hospital that discharged the patient than by the primary care providers. Cross-classified models proved to be a useful tool for defining priority areas for more targeted interventions.
Effects of exercise intensity and nutrition advice on myocardial function in obese children and adolescents: a multicentre randomised controlled trial study protocol
Authors: Dias Katrin A , Coombes Jeff S , Green Daniel J , Gomersall Sjaan R , Keating Shelley E , Tjonna Arnt Erik , Hollekim-Strand Siri Marte , Hosseini Mansoureh Sadat , Ro Torstein Baade , Haram Margrete , Huuse Else Marie , Davies Peter S W , Cain Peter A , Leong Gary M , Ingul Charlotte B
Published: April 2016

Introduction

The prevalence of paediatric obesity is increasing, and with it, lifestyle-related diseases in children and adolescents. High-intensity interval training (HIIT) has recently been explored as an alternate to traditional moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) in adults with chronic disease and has been shown to induce a rapid reversal of subclinical disease markers in obese children and adolescents. The primary aim of this study is to compare the effects of HIIT with MICT on myocardial function in obese children and adolescents.

Methods and analysis

Multicentre randomised controlled trial of 100 obese children and adolescents in the cities of Trondheim (Norway) and Brisbane (Australia). The trial will examine the efficacy of HIIT to improve cardiometabolic outcomes in obese children and adolescents. Participants will be randomised to (1) HIIT and nutrition advice, (2) MICT and nutrition advice or (3) nutrition advice. Participants will partake in supervised exercise training and/or nutrition sessions for 3 months. Measurements for study end points will occur at baseline, 3 months (postintervention) and 12 months (follow-up). The primary end point is myocardial function (peak systolic tissue velocity). Secondary end points include vascular function (flow-mediated dilation assessment), quantity of visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissue, myocardial structure and function, body composition, cardiorespiratory fitness, autonomic function, blood biochemistry, physical activity and nutrition. Lean, healthy children and adolescents will complete measurements for all study end points at one time point for comparative cross-sectional analyses.

Ethics and dissemination

This randomised controlled trial will generate substantial information regarding the effects of exercise intensity on paediatric obesity, specifically the cardiometabolic health of this at-risk population. It is expected that communication of results will allow for the development of more effective evidence-based exercise prescription guidelines in this population while investigating the benefits of HIIT on subclinical markers of disease.

Trial registration number

NCT01991106.
The clinical management of hyponatraemia
Authors: Williams David M , Gallagher Maire , Handley Joel , Stephens Jeffrey W
Published: April 2016

Hyponatraemia is the most common electrolyte disorder seen in clinical practice and the consequences can range from minor symptoms to life-threatening complications including seizures and cardiorespiratory distress. These effects occur as a result of fluid shifts due to deranged serum tonicity and subsequent cerebral oedema. The appropriate assessment and management of patients with hyponatraemia is not always achieved in clinical practice, which is partly related to challenges in teaching with limited clinical guidance. Recently, the European Society of Endocrinology, European Society of Intensive Care Medicine and European Renal Association–European Dialysis and Transplant Association produced clinical practice guidelines to focus on appropriate investigation and management of these patients. Within this manuscript, we highlight the key points from these guidelines, which are most pertinent to doctors of all specialties to improve the care of patients with this common electrolyte disorder.
EEG-Based Detection of Starting and Stopping During Gait Cycle
Authors: Hortal Enrique , Úbeda Andrés , Iáñez Eduardo , Azorín José M. , Fernández Eduardo
Published: April 2016

Walking is for humans an essential task in our daily life. However, there is a huge (and growing) number of people who have this ability diminished or are not able to walk due to motor disabilities. In this paper, a system to detect the start and the stop of the gait through electroencephalographic signals has been developed. The system has been designed in order to be applied in the future to control a lower limb exoskeleton to help stroke or spinal cord injured patients during the gait. The brain–machine interface (BMI) training has been optimized through a preliminary analysis using the brain information recorded during the experiments performed by three healthy subjects. Afterward, the system has been verified by other four healthy subjects and three patients in a real-time test. In both preliminary optimization analysis and real-time tests, the results obtained are very similar. The true positive rates are [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] respectively. Regarding the false positive per minute, the values are also very similar, decreasing from 2.66 in preliminary tests to 1.90 in real-time. Finally, the average latencies in the detection of the movement intentions are 794 and 798[Formula: see text]ms, preliminary and real-time tests respectively.
Understanding the effect of vacancy defects on spin transport in CrO2–graphene–CrO2 magnetic tunnel junction
Authors: Choudhary Sudhanshu , Kaushik Divya
Published: April 2016

In this paper, we investigate the effect of vacancy defects on spin transport in graphene-based magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ). An increase in conductance was seen in vacancy-defected MTJ structure which is in contrast to the results reported in past where a decrease in conductance with vacancy was observed for graphene sheets. This increase in conductance may be due to the use of CrO2 half-metallic ferromagnet (HMF) electrodes instead of metallic or ferromagnet (FM) electrodes. Furthermore, high tunnel magnetoresistance (TMR) [Formula: see text]99% and perfect spin filtration was obtained for both vacancy-defected and no-defect (pristine) MTJ structures. The TMR in vacancy-defected structure is seen to decrease by 6.2% and by 13% at bias voltages of 1.2[Formula: see text]V and 1.4[Formula: see text]V, when compared to TMR in no-defect MTJ structure.
DIFFUSION OF NH2NO2ON Al (111) SURFACE: MOLECULAR DYNAMICS STUDY
Authors: ZHOU SUQIN , LI DENGHAO , ZHOU WEI , JU XUEHAI , JIANG DINGYUN
Published: April 2016

The diffusion of NH2NO2molecules on the Al (111) surface has been investigated by the molecular dynamics (MD) method. The influence of temperature and pressure on their diffusion was studied. The binding energies decrease obviously with the temperature increasing because non-bonding interaction between Al atoms and NH2NO2molecules weakens. As the temperature increases, the value of the first peak for radial distribution function (RDF) of Al–N and Al–O bond decreases. Diffusion rates increase with temperature increasing whereas they first decrease, then increase with pressure increasing below 450[Formula: see text]K. The diffusion activation energy of NH2NO2molecules on the Al surface is among 13.8–18.1[Formula: see text]kJ[Formula: see text][Formula: see text][Formula: see text]mol[Formula: see text] at the pressure from 0[Formula: see text]GPa to 10.0[Formula: see text]GPa, which indicates that NH2NO2molecules diffuse easily on the Al surface and the influence of pressure on diffusion of NH2NO2molecules on the Al surface is small. At the low temperature (i.e. below 300[Formula: see text]K), the NH2NO2molecules are mainly adsorbed on the Al surface by intramolecular and intermolecular interactions, while NH2NO2molecules diffuse on the Al surface and surface Al atoms deviate a little from their original position above the moderate temperature (i.e. above 350[Formula: see text]K). These results indicate that the influence of temperature on the diffusion of NH2NO2molecules on the Al surface is large whereas the influence of pressure on the diffusion is relatively small.
When does a semiring become a residuated lattice?
Authors: Chajda Ivan , Länger Helmut
Published: April 2016

It is an easy observation that every residuated lattice is in fact a semiring because multiplication distributes over join and the other axioms of a semiring are satisfied trivially. This semiring is commutative, idempotent and simple. The natural question arises if the converse assertion is also true. We show that the conversion is possible provided the given semiring is, moreover, completely distributive. We characterize semirings associated to complete residuated lattices satisfying the double negation law where the assumption of complete distributivity can be omitted. A similar result is obtained for idempotent residuated lattices.
LCP Array Construction in External Memory
Authors: Kärkkäinen Juha , Kempa Dominik
Published: April 2016

One of the most important data structures for string processing—the suffix array—needs to be augmented with the longest-common-prefix (LCP) array in numerous applications. We describe the first external memory algorithm for constructing the LCP array given the suffix array as input. The only previous way to compute the LCP array for data that is bigger than the RAM is to use an external memory suffix array construction algorithm (SACA) with complex modifications to produce the LCP array as a by-product. Compared to the best prior method, our algorithm needs much less disk space (by more than a factor of three) and is significantly faster. Furthermore, our algorithm can be combined with any SACA, including a better one developed in the future.
Optimizing Indirect Branches in Dynamic Binary Translators
Authors: d'Antras Amanieu , Gorgovan Cosmin , Garside Jim , Luján Mikel
Published: April 2016

Dynamic binary translation is a technology for transparently translating and modifying a program at the machine code level as it is running. A significant factor in the performance of a dynamic binary translator is its handling of indirect branches. Unlike direct branches, which have a known target at translation time, an indirect branch requires translating a source program counter address to a translated program counter address every time the branch is executed. This translation can impose a serious runtime penalty if it is not handled efficiently.

MAMBO-X64, a dynamic binary translator that translates 32-bit ARM (AArch32) code to 64-bit ARM (AArch64) code, uses three novel techniques to improve the performance of indirect branch translation. Together, these techniques allow MAMBO-X64 to achieve a very low performance overhead of only 10% on average compared to native execution of 32-bit programs.
Hardware-assisted function returns
use a software return address stack to predict the targets of function returns, making use of several novel optimizations while also exploiting hardware return address prediction. This technique has a significant impact on most benchmarks, reducing binary translation overhead compared to native execution by 40% on average and by 90% on some benchmarks.
Branch table inference
, an algorithm for detecting and translating branch tables, can reduce the overhead of translated code by up to 40% on some SPEC CPU2006 benchmarks. The remaining indirect branches are handled using a
fast atomic hash table
, which is optimized to work with multiple threads. This last technique translates indirect branches using a single shared hash table while avoiding expensive synchronization in performance-critical lookup code. This allows the performance to be on par with thread-private hash tables while having superior memory scalability.
MAMBO
Authors: Gorgovan Cosmin , d'Antras Amanieu , Luján Mikel
Published: April 2016

As the ARM architecture expands beyond its traditional embedded domain, there is a growing interest in dynamic binary modification (DBM) tools for general-purpose multicore processors that are part of the ARM family. Existing DBM tools for ARM suffer from introducing large overheads in the execution of applications. The specific questions that this article addresses are (i) how to develop such DBM tools for the ARM architecture and (ii) whether new optimisations are plausible and needed.

We describe the general design of MAMBO, a new DBM tool for ARM, which we release together with this publication, and introduce novel optimisations to handle indirect branches. In addition, we explore scenarios in which it may be possible to relax the transparency offered by DBM tools to allow extra optimisations to be applied. These scenarios arise from analysing the most typical usages: for example, application binaries without handcrafted assembly.

The performance evaluation shows that MAMBO introduces small overheads for SPEC CPU2006 and PARSEC 3.0 when comparing with the execution times of the unmodified programs: a geometric mean overhead of 28% on a Cortex-A9 and of 34% on a Cortex-A15 for CPU2006, and between 27% and 32%, depending on the number of threads, for PARSEC on a Cortex-A15.
Autophagy plays an essential role in cigarette smoke-induced expression of MUC5AC in airway epithelium
Authors: Zhou Jie-Sen , Zhao Yun , Zhou Hong-Bin , Wang Yong , Wu Yin-Fang , Li Zhou-Yang , Xuan Nan-Xia , Zhang Chao , Hua Wen , Ying Song-Min , Li Wen , Shen Hua-Hao , Chen Zhi-Hua
Published: April 2016

Mucus hypersecretion is a common pathological feature of chronic airway inflammatory diseases including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, the molecular basis for this condition remains incompletely understood. We have previously demonstrated a critical role of autophagy in COPD pathogenesis through mediating apoptosis of lung epithelial cells. In this study, we aimed to investigate the function of autophagy as well as its upstream and downstream signals in cigarette smoke-induced mucus production in human bronchial epithelial (HBE) cells and in mouse airways. Cigarette smoke extract (CSE), as well as the classical autophagy inducers starvation or Torin-1, significantly triggered MUC5AC expression, and inhibition of autophagy markedly attenuated CSE-induced mucus production. The CSE-induced autophagy was mediated by mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (mitoROS), which regulated mucin expression through the JNK and activator protein-1 pathway. Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) was also required for CSE-induced MUC5AC in HBE cells, but it exerted inconsiderable effects on the autophagy-JNK signaling cascade. Airways of mice with dysfunctional autophagy-related genes displayed a markedly reduced number of goblet cells and attenuated levels of Muc5ac in response to cigarette smoke exposure. These results altogether suggest that mitoROS-dependent autophagy is essential for cigarette smoke-induced mucus hyperproduction in airway epithelial cells, and reemphasize autophagy inhibition as a novel therapeutic strategy for chronic airway diseases.
Hepatocyte growth factor as a downstream mediator of vascular endothelial growth factor-dependent preservation of growth in the developing lung
Authors: Seedorf Gregory , Metoxen Alexander J. , Rock Robert , Markham Neil , Ryan Sharon , Vu Thiennu , Abman Steven H.
Published: April 2016

Impaired vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) signaling contributes to the pathogenesis of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). We hypothesized that the effects of VEGF on lung structure during development may be mediated through its downstream effects on both endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) and hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) activity, and that, in the absence of eNOS, trophic effects of VEGF would be mediated through HGF signaling. To test this hypothesis, we performed an integrative series of in vitro (fetal rat lung explants and isolated fetal alveolar and endothelial cells) and in vivo studies with normal rat pups and eNOS−/−mice. Compared with controls, fetal lung explants from eNOS−/−mice had decreased terminal lung bud formation, which was restored with recombinant human VEGF (rhVEGF) treatment. Neonatal eNOS−/−mice were more susceptible to hyperoxia-induced inhibition of lung growth than controls, which was prevented with rhVEGF treatment. Fetal alveolar type II (AT2) cell proliferation was increased with rhVEGF treatment only with mesenchymal cell (MC) coculture, and these effects were attenuated with anti-HGF antibody treatment. Unlike VEGF, HGF directly stimulated isolated AT2 cells even without MC coculture. HGF directly stimulates fetal pulmonary artery endothelial cell growth and tube formation, which is attenuated by treatment with JNJ-38877605, a c-Met inhibitor. rHGF treatment preserves alveolar and vascular growth after postnatal exposure to SU-5416, a VEGF receptor inhibitor. We conclude that the effects of VEGF on AT2 and endothelial cells during lung development are partly mediated through HGF-c-Met signaling and speculate that reciprocal VEGF-HGF signaling between epithelia and endothelia is disrupted in infants who develop BPD.
Fc-receptor mediates clearance of immune complex-like material in Crohn's disease patients with elevated liver enzymes
Authors: Minuk G.Y. , Bohme C. , Hershfield N.B. , Lee W.Y. , MacCannell K.L. , Price L.M. , Shaffer E.A. , Sutherland L.R.
Published: April 2016

The reticuloendothelial system of patients with ulcerative colitis and associated liver disease is impaired in its ability to clear immune complex-like material from the systemic circulation. The purpose of the present study was to determine whether patients with Crohn's disease and associated liver enzyme abnormalities manifest the same reticuloendothelial system clearance defect. Autologous red cells were radiolabelled with51Cr and sensitized with anti-Rh(D) immunoglobulin G in vitro. After intravenous infusion of the labelled antibody-coated red cells, the radioactivity content of timed blood specimens was measured. The time required by the reticuloendmhclial system to clear one-half the labelled cells from the circulation (T1/2) was then determined. The T1/2 clearance times in nine Crohn's disease patients with elevated scrum liver enzyme levels (59.7+6.4 mins, mean + SEM) was similar to that of nine Crohn's disease patients with normal liver enzyme levels (50.7+4.6 mins), 12 chronic liver disease control patients (63.4+6.3 mins) and 12 healthy volunteers (49.1+3.1 mins) (P>0.05). The results of this study indicate that the reticuloendothelial system clearance defect described in patients with ulcerative colitis and associated liver disease is not present in patients with Crohn's disease and associated mild liver enzyme abnormalities.
Angiodysplasia Occurring in Jejunal Diverticulosis
Authors: Jones Edward A , Chaun Hugh , Switzer Phillip , Clow David J , Hancock Ronald J
Published: April 2016

The first case of angiodysplasia occurring in acquired jejunal diverticulosis is reported. The patient presented with occult gastrointestinal bleeding and chronic anemia, and was created successfully by resection of a 25 cm long segment of jejunum. Possible pathogenetic mechanisms for both angiodysplasia and jejunal diverticulosis are discussed.
Pouch Surgery — The Importance of the Transitional Zone
Authors: Lavery IC , Tuckson WB , Fazio VW , Oakley JR , Church JM , Milsom JW
Published: April 2016

Patients with preservation of the transitional zone of the anal canal have less leakage and less need to wear pads than patients who have had mucosectomy. There is a significant difference in mean maximum resting pressure between patients that have had anal transitional zone preservation and mucosectomy. With preservation of the anal transitional zone, a mean maximum resting pressure of 57.6±3.8 mmHg was obtained compared with 47.3±4 mmHg in the mucosectomy group. Preservation of the resting pressure is dependent on preservation of internal anal sphincter integrity. The integrity of the sphincter is injured during mucosectomy due to anal dilation. Other factors affecting continence and stool frequency, such as diet, antidiarrheal medications, stool consistency and compliance, when examined were found to be unrelated factors.
The Malignant Polyp - When to Operate: The St. Mark’s Experience
Authors: Williams Christopher B , Geraghty John M
Published: April 2016

The world literature on malignant polyps suggests that those removed endoscopically with recognized favorable histological features for conservative management have excellent prognoses without surgery. Many sessile or 'uncertainly removed' malignant polyps after endoscopic polypectomy also show no evidence of residual cancer, suggesting that referral for surgical resection is not invariably in the best interests of elderly or poor surgical risk patients. St Mark's experience of five year follow-up of 62 patients with malignant polyps judged 'completely excised' showed three cancer-related deaths (of uncertain primary) in 78- to 81-year-old patients. Of 18 patients with malignant polyps 'incompletely excised,' seven had no cancer found at surgery, 10 were well without surgery and one died from carcinomatosis following delayed surgery. These generally encouraging results are further evidence that 'knee jerk surgery' for malignant polyps is inappropriate.