bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Platelet inhibitory effects of the Phase 3 anticancer and normal tissue cytoprotective agent, RRx‐001
Authors: Oronsky Bryan , Oronsky Neil , Cabrales Pedro
Published: July 2018

The platelet inhibitory effects of the Phase 3 anticancer agent and nitric oxide (NO) donor, RRx‐001, (1‐bromoacetyl‐3,3‐dinitroazetidine) were examined ex vivo and compared with the diazeniumdiolate NO donor, diethylenetriamine NONOate (DETA‐NONOate), which spontaneously releases nitric oxide in aqueous solution. In the absence of red blood cells and in a dose‐dependent manner, DETA‐NONOate strongly inhibited platelet aggregation induced by several stimuli (ADP, epinephrine and collagen) whereas RRx‐001 only slightly inhibited platelet aggregation under the same conditions in a dose‐dependent manner; these antiaggregant effects were blocked when both DETA‐NONOate and RRx‐001 were co‐incubated with carboxy‐PTIO (CPTIO 0.01‐100 micromol), a widely accepted NO scavenger. However, in the presence of red blood cells from healthy human donors, RRx‐001, which binds covalently to haemoglobin (Hb) and catalyses the production of NO from endogenous nitrite, more strongly inhibited the aggregation of platelets than DETA‐NONOate in a dose‐dependent manner likely because haemoglobin avidly scavenges nitric oxide and reduces its half‐life; the RRx‐001‐mediated platelet inhibitory effect was increased in the presence of nitrite. The results of this study suggest that RRx‐001‐bound Hb (within RBCs) plays an important role in the bioconversion of to NO., which makes RRx‐001 a more physiologically relevant inhibitor of platelet aggregation than other nitric oxide donors, whose effects are attenuated in the presence of red blood cells. Therefore, RRx‐001‐mediated platelet inhibition is a potentially useful therapeutic property, especially in hypercoagulable cancer patients that are at an increased risk of thrombotic complications.
A cost‐benefit analysis of afforestation as a climate change adaptation measure to reduce flood risk
Authors: Dittrich Ruth , Ball Tom , Wreford Anita , Moran Dominic , Spray Chris J.
Published: July 2018

Increased river flood frequency is considered a major risk under climate change. Protecting vulnerable communities is, therefore, a key public policy objective. Natural flood management measures (NFM)—notably re‐afforestation on hillslope and floodplain—are increasingly discussed as cost‐effective means for providing flood regulation, particularly when considering ecosystem services other than flood regulation. However, studies that place flood benefits alongside other benefits are rare, potentially causing uncertainty in policy decision‐making. This paper provides a cost‐benefit analysis of the impacts of afforestation on peak river flows under UKCP09 climate change projections, and on additional ecosystem services in a rural catchment in Scotland. We find significant positive net present values (NPV) for all alternatives considered. However, benefits are dominated by ecosystem services other than flood regulation, with values related to climate regulation, aesthetic appeal, recreation and water quality contributing to a high positive NPV. The investment in riparian woodland (under low and central climate change scenarios) delivers a positive NPV alone when considering flood regulation benefits only. The case study suggests that afforestation as a sole NFM measure provides a positive NPV only in some cases but highlights the importance of identifying and quantifying additional ecosystem co‐benefits.
Australasian bronchiolitis guideline
Authors: O'Brien Sharon , Borland Meredith L , Cotterell Elizabeth , Armstrong David , Babl Franz , Bauert Paul , Brabyn Christine , Garside Lydia , Haskell Libby , Levitt David , McKay Nicola , Neutze Jocelyn , Schibler Andreas , Sinn Kam , Spencer Janine , Stevens Helen , Thomas David , Zhang Michael , Oakley Ed , Dalziel Stuart R ,   on behalf of the Paediatric Research in Emergency Departments International Collaborative (PREDICT) Network, Australasia
Published: July 2018

Aim

Bronchiolitis is the most common lower respiratory tract disorder in infants aged less than 12 months, and research has demonstrated that there is substantial variation in practice patterns despite treatment being well defined. In order to align and improve the consistency of the management of bronchiolitis, an evidence‐based guideline was developed for the Australasian population.

Methods

The guideline development committee included representation from emergency and paediatric specialty medical and nursing personnel in addition to geographical representation across Australia and New Zealand – rural, remote and metropolitan. Formulation of the guideline included identification of population, intervention, comparator, outcomes and time questions and was associated with an extensive literature search from 2000 to 2015. Evidence was summarised and graded using the National Health and Medical Research Council and Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation methodology, and consensus within the guideline group was sought using nominal group technique principles to formulate the clinical practice recommendations. The guideline was reviewed and endorsed by key paediatric health bodies.

Results

The guideline consists of a usable clinical interface for bedside functionality supported by evidence summary and tables. The Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation and National Health and Medical Research Council processes provided a systematic and transparent process to review and assess the literature, resulting in a guideline that is relevant to the management of bronchiolitis in the Australasian setting.

Conclusion

This is the first robust Australasian acute paediatric guideline and provides clear guidance for the management of the vast majority of patients seen in Australasian emergency departments and general paediatric wards with bronchiolitis.
Dental safety net capacity: An innovative use of existing data to measure dentists’ clinical engagement in state Medicaid programs
Authors: Maxey Hannah L. , Norwood Connor W. , Vaughn Sierra X. , Wang Yumin , Marsh Stacie , Williams John
Published: July 2018

Background

The demand for dentists available for state Medicaid populations has long outpaced the supply of such providers. To help understand the workforce dynamics, this study sought to develop a novel approach to measuring dentists’ relative contribution to the dental safety net and, using this new measurement, identify demographic and practice characteristics predictive of dentists’ willingness to participate in Indiana's Medicaid program.

Methods

We examined Medicaid claims data for 1,023 Indiana dentists. We fit generalized ordered logistic regression models to measure dentists’ level of clinical engagement with Medicaid. Using a partial proportional odds specification model, we estimated proportional adjusted odds ratios for covariates and separate estimates for each contrast of nonproportional covariates.

Results

Though 75% of Medicaid‐enrolled dentists were active providers, only 27% of them had 800 or more claims during fiscal year 2015. As has been shown in previous studies, our findings from the proportional odds model reinforced certain demographic and practice characteristics to be predictive of dentists’ participation in state Medicaid programs.

Conclusions

In addition to confirming predictive factors for Medicaid enrollment, this study validated the clinical engagement measure as a reliable method to assess the level of Medicaid participation. Prior studies have been limited by self‐reported data and variations in Medicaid claims reporting.

Practical implications

Our findings have implications for state Medicaid policymakers by enabling access to data regarding dental providers’ level of participation in Medicaid in addition to identifying factors predictive of such participation. This information will inform Medicaid program plans and provider recruitment efforts.
Detection of meteoroid impacts by the Geostationary Lightning Mapper on the GOES‐16 satellite
Authors: Jenniskens Peter , Albers Jim , Tillier Clemens E. , Edgington Samantha F. , Longenbaugh Randolph S. , Goodman Steven J. , Rudlosky Scott D. , Hildebrand Alan R. , Hanton Lincoln , Ciceri Fabio , Nowell Richard , Lyytinen Esko , Hladiuk Donald , Free Dwayne , Moskovitz Nicholas , Bright Len , Johnston Christopher O. , Stern Eric
Published: July 2018

Bolides are detected by the Geostationary Lightning Mapper onboard the GOES‐16 weather satellite, which takes images of Earth at a rate of 500 Hz in a 1.1 nm wide pass band centered on 777.4 nm wavelength. Ten case studies are discussed. These initial results were obtained using the Level 0 data received during the nonoperational in‐orbit postlaunch test period. GLM positions and timings are sufficiently accurate to assist in trajectory and orbit reconstruction. GLM samples the light curve nearly completely, unaffected by onboard and downlink processes tailored to lightning data. Sufficient data on the instantaneous background scene are provided to reconstruct the baseline drift in the brightest pixels. The agreement to within a factor of 2–3 between measured total radiated energy from GLM and that derived from other space‐borne observations implies that during the bolide's peak brightness the GLM pass band is dominated by continuum emission, rather than O I line emission. The reported flux is corrected for angle‐from‐nadir shifts in the central wavelength of the pass band, which overestimates continuum flux by only up to 20% for most of the GLM field of view, but more so if the bolide is observed far from nadir. Assuming a 6000 K blackbody spectrum, GLM is able to detect bolides with peak visual magnitude (at a normalized 100 km distance) brighter than about −14 in nighttime, and slightly brighter in daytime.
A brassinosteroid responsive miRNA‐target module regulates gibberellin biosynthesis and plant development
Authors: Gao Jing , Chen Hong , Yang Huifang , He Yong , Tian Zhihong , Li Jianxiong
Published: July 2018

Plant growth and development are highly coordinated by hormones, including brassinosteroid (BR) and gibberellin (GA). Although much progress has been made in understanding the fundamental signaling transduction in BR and GA, their relationship remains elusive in rice.

Here, we show that BR suppresses the level of OsmiR159d, which cleaves the target OsGAMYBL2 gene. The OsmiR159d‐OsGAMYBL2 pair functions as an early BR‐responsive module regulating the expression of BU1, a BR‐regulated gene involved in BR signaling, and CPS1 and GA3ox2, two genes in GA biosynthesis, by binding to the promoters of these genes.

Furthermore, OsGSK2, a key negative player in BR signaling, interacts with OsGAMYBL2 and prevents it from being degraded under 24‐epibrassinolide treatment, whereas SLR1, a rice DELLA protein negatively regulating GA signaling, interacts with OsGAMYBL2 and prevents OsGAMYBL2 from binding to the target gene promoter. GA signaling induces degradation of OsGAMYBL2 and, consequently, enhances BR signaling.

These results demonstrate that a BR‐responsive module acts as a common component functioning in both BR and GA pathways, which connects BR signaling and GA biosynthesis, and thus coordinates the regulation of BR and GA in plant growth and development.
Life‐course neighbourhood opportunity and racial‐ethnic disparities in risk of preterm birth
Authors: Pearl Michelle , Ahern Jennifer , Hubbard Alan , Laraia Barbara , Shrimali Bina Patel , Poon Victor , Kharrazi Martin
Published: July 2018

Background

Neighbourhood opportunity, measured by poverty, income and deprivation, has been associated with preterm birth, however little is known about the contribution of early‐life and life‐course neighbourhood opportunity to preterm birth risk and racial‐ethnic disparities. We examined maternal early‐life and adult neighbourhood opportunity in relation to risk of preterm birth and racial‐ethnic disparities in a population‐based cohort of women under age 30.

Methods

We linked census tract poverty data to 2 generations of California births from 1982‐2011 for 403 315 white, black, or Latina mothers‐infant pairs. We estimated the risk of preterm birth, and risk difference (RD) comparing low opportunity (≥20% poverty) in early life or adulthood to high opportunity using targeted maximum likelihood estimation.

Results

At each time point, low opportunity was related to increased preterm birth risk compared to higher opportunity neighbourhoods for white, black and Latina mothers (RDs 0.3‐0.7%). Compared to high opportunity at both time points, risk differences were generally highest for sustained low opportunity (RD 1.5, 1.3, and 0.7% for white, black and Latina mothers, respectively); risk was elevated with downward mobility (RD 0.7, 1.3, and 0.4% for white, black and Latina mothers, respectively), and with upward mobility only among black mothers (RD 1.2%). The black‐white preterm birth disparity was reduced by 22% under high life‐course opportunity.

Conclusions

Early‐life and sustained exposure to residential poverty is related to increased PTB risk, particularly among black women, and may partially explain persistent black‐white disparities.
Effects of menstrual cycle phase on electrocortical response to reward and depressive symptoms in women
Authors: Mulligan Elizabeth M. , Nelson Brady D. , Infantolino Zachary P. , Luking Katherine R. , Sharma Radhika , Hajcak Greg
Published: July 2018

The menstrual cycle impacts mood and neural response to reward—phenomena that may be related to natural fluctuations in ovarian hormones. Using a within‐subject design, the present study examined ovarian hormones (i.e., estradiol and progesterone) and ERPs in response to feedback indicating gains and losses in both the follicular and luteal phases of the menstrual cycle. We examined whether hormone levels and variation in neural response to reward and loss across menstrual cycle phases were associated with depressive symptoms. Participants high in depressive symptoms showed a reduced reward positivity (RewP) to monetary gains during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle as compared to the follicular phase, while those low in depressive symptoms showed no change in the RewP to monetary gains between phases. Thus, increased fluctuation in the neural response to gains (but not losses) across menstrual cycle phases was associated with greater depression symptoms. Overall, findings indicate that hormonal fluctuations associated with the menstrual cycle may relate to depressive symptoms by altering reward sensitivity. Furthermore, fluctuation in the neural response to rewards over the menstrual cycle may play an important role in the expression of depressive symptoms.
The HLA‐B*46:67 allele identified in a volunteer donor for hematopoietic stem cell transplant
Authors: Baek I.‐C. , Choi E.‐J. , Shin D.‐H. , Kim H.‐J. , Kim T.‐G.
Published: July 2018

HLA‐B*46:67 differs from HLA‐B*46:01:01 in codons 94, 95, and 103 in exon 3.
Mitochondrial phylogenomics reveals insights into taxonomy and evolution of Penaeoidea (Crustacea: Decapoda)
Authors: Cheng Jiao , Chan Tin‐Yam , Zhang Nan , Sun Song , Sha Zhong‐li
Published: July 2018

The taxonomy and phylogeny of Penaeoidea have long been fraught with controversy. Here, we carried out the first mitochondrial phylogenomic analysis on all the penaeoid families and tribes, including nine newly sequenced and 14 published mitogenomes, towards elucidating the phylogeny and evolutionary history of Penaeoidea. All these nine mitogenomes exhibit the pancrustacean ground pattern, except that Benthonectes filipes contains two additional clusters of tRNAAla, tRNAArg and tRNAAsn and an uncommon noncoding region. The resulted phylogenetic tree is generally well resolved with Benthesicymidae sister to Aristeidae, forming a clade with Solenoceridae. Contrary to traditional classification, this clade has a sister relationship with the tribe Penaeini of the family Penaeidae. The family Sicyoniidae is deeply nested within the penaeid tribe Trachypenaeini which forms a sister clade with the remaining penaeid tribe, Parapenaeini. As the family Penaeidae is recovered to be polyphyletic, the three tribes in Penaeidae are all elevated to familial status. On the other hand, the family Sicyoniidae is retained to accommodate Trachypenaeini because they are now synonyms and the former name is more senior. This work is the first molecular analysis concurring with the latest findings in fossil assessments showing that Parapeaneini is the most primitive in Penaeoidae. Our results also illustrate a shallow‐water origin and an onshore–offshore evolutionary shift in penaeoid shrimps.
Simulation-Based Optimal Portfolio Selection Strategy—Evidence from Asian Markets
Authors: Li Longqing
Published: July 2018

Recently portfolio optimization has become widely popular in risk management, and the common practice is to use mean-variance or Value-at-Risk (VaR), despite the VaR being incoherent risk measure because of the lack of subadditivity. This has led to the emergence of the conditional value-at-risk (CVaR) approach, consequently, a gradual development of mean-CVaR portfolio optimization. To seek an optimal portfolio selection strategy and increase the robustness of the result, the paper studies the performance of portfolio optimization in Asian markets using a Monte-Carlo simulation tool, creates a variety of randomly selected portfolios that consists of Asian ADRs listed in NYSE from 2011 to 2016, and applies both optimization frameworks with different skewed fat-tailed distributions, including the Generalized Hyperbolic (GH) and skewed-T distribution. The main result shows that the Generalized Hyperbolic distribution produces the lowest risk under a given rate of return, while the skewed-T distribution creates a diversification allocation outcome similar to that of historical simulation.
O oboé lírico de Osvaldo Lacerda: um olhar sobre seu conjunto de obras para oboé
Authors: Lúcius Mota Batista
Published: July 2018

Neste artigo, foram estudadas pela primeira vez todas as obras contidas no catálogo de Osvaldo Lacerda escritas para oboé. Ao considerar em conjunto as obras de um compositor, vislumbra- se com maior profundidade como o mesmo concebe a escrita idiomática de um instrumento em particular (Mota e Louro 2014; Tokeshi 2002; Zorzetti 2008). O objetivo do artigo é argumentar que para Lacerda a característica mais importante do oboé é o lirismo e que ele buscou explorar essa particularidade do oboé acima das demais. Os procedimentos metodológicos incluíram análise e comentários de onze obras para oboé de Osvaldo Lacerda interpretadas sob a ótica do conceito de identidade cultural do oboé (Burgess e Haynes 2004). Entre os resultados discutidos estão questões sobre o idiomatismo, demandas técnicas e possibilidades de uso didáticos do conjunto. A análise das obras sugere que, para Lacerda, o oboé era um vocal na sua essência, razão pela qual, em sua abordagem do instrumento, optou por se manter próximo a certos princípios ligados à técnica e identidade do oboé desde o século XVIII. O artigo avança para além de discussões sobre a forma e a adesão de Lacerda ao nacionalismo musical brasileiro, buscando dar uma interpretação ao conjunto desde uma ótica do oboísta. As obras de Lacerda para oboé quase sempre são peças características cujos títulos remetem a gêneros típicos do nacionalismo musical brasileiro. Por outro lado, os títulos das obras fazem referências a arquétipos do nacionalismo brasileiro através das referências musicais e geográficas, remetendo-se ao Sertão, Interior e a espaços urbanos.
Preliminary Design of a High-Frequency Phased-Array Acoustic Microscope Probe for Nondestructive Evaluation of Pressure Vessel and Piping Materials
Authors: Kim Jeong Nyeon , Tutwiler Richard L. , Todd Judith A.
Published: July 2018

In pressure vessel and pipe inspection, ultrasonic nondestructive evaluation plays a pivotal role in both in-situ and laboratory examinations. Scanning acoustic microscopy (SAM) has been a well-recognized laboratory tool for both visualization and quantitative evaluation of pressure vessel and piping materials at the microscale since its invention in 1974. While there have been multiple advances in SAM over the past four decades, some issues still remain to be addressed. First, the measurement speed is limited by the mechanical movement of the acoustic lens and the sample stage. Second, a single-element transducer with an acoustic lens forms a predetermined beam pattern for a fixed focal length and incident angle, thereby limiting control of the inspection beam. Here, we propose to develop a phased-array probe as an alternative to overcome these issues. Preliminary studies to design a practical high-frequency phased-array acoustic microscope probe were explored. A linear phased-array, comprising 32 elements and operating at 5 MHz, was modeled using PZFlex, a finite element method software. This phased-array system was characterized in terms of electrical input impedance response, pulse-echo and impulse response, surface displacement profiles, mode shapes, and beam profiles. Details of the construction of the model and the results are presented in this paper. Development of a phased-array acoustic microscope probe will significantly enhance scanning acoustic microscopy techniques for detecting surface and subsurface defects and microstructural changes in laboratory samples of pressure vessel and piping materials.
Large Eddy Simulation of Fluid-Elastic Instability in Square Normal Cylinder Array
Authors: Shinde Vilas , Longatte Elisabeth , Baj Franck
Published: July 2018

Large eddy simulations (LES) are performed at low Reynolds number (2000–6000) to investigate the dynamic fluid-elastic instability in square normal cylinder array for a single-phase fluid cross flow. The fluid-elastic instability is dominant in the flow normal direction, at least for all water-flow experiments (Price, S., and Paidoussis, M., 1989, “The Flow-Induced Response of a Single Flexible Cylinder in an in-Line Array of Rigid Cylinders,” J. Fluids Struct., 3(1), pp. 61–82). The instability appears even in the case of single moving cylinder in an otherwise fixed-cylinder arrangement resulting in the same critical velocity (Khalifa, A., Weaver, D., and Ziada, S., 2012, “A Single Flexible Tube in a Rigid Array as a Model for Fluidelastic Instability in Tube Bundles,” J. Fluids Struct., 34, pp. 14–32); Khalifa et al. (2013, “Modeling of the Phase Lag Causing Fluidelastic Instability in a Parallel Triangular Tube Array,” J. Fluids Struct., 43, pp. 371–384). Therefore, in the present work, only a central cylinder out of 20 cylinders is allowed to vibrate in the flow normal direction. The square normal (90 deg) array has 5 rows and 3 columns of cylinders with 2 additional side columns of half wall-mounted cylinders. The numerical configuration is a replica of an experimental setup except for the length of cylinders, which is of 4 diameters in numerical setup against about 8 diameters in the experiment facility. The single-phase fluid is water. The standard Smagorinsky turbulence model is used for the subgrid scale eddy viscosity modeling. The numerical results are analyzed and compared to the experimental results for a range of flow velocities in the vicinity of the instability. Moreover, instantaneous pressure and fluid-force profiles on the cylinder surface are extracted from the LES calculations in order to better understand the dynamic fluid-elastic instability.
Elastic Interaction in Bolted Flange Joints: An Analytical Model to Predict and Optimize Bolt Load
Authors: Zhu Linbo , Bouzid Abdel-Hakim , Hong Jun , Zhang Zaoxiao
Published: July 2018

Bolted flange joints are widely used in the nuclear power plants and other industrial complexes. During their assembly, it is extremely difficult to achieve the target bolt preload and tightening uniformity due to elastic interaction and criss-cross talks. In addition to the severe service loadings, the initial bolt load scatter increases the risk of leakage failure. The objective of this paper is to present an analytical model to predict the bolt tension change due to elastic interaction during the sequence of initial tightening. The proposed analytical model is based on the theory of circular beams on linear elastic foundation. The elastic compliances of the flanges, the bolts, and the gasket due to bending, twisting, and axial compression are involved in the elastic interaction and bolt load changes during tightening. The developed model can be used to optimize the initial bolt tightening to obtain a uniform final preload under minimum tightening passes. The approach is validated using finite element analysis (FEA) and experimental tests conducted on a NPS 4 class 900 weld neck bolted flange joint.
Tenuipalpus pariae sp. nov., a new species of the genus Tenuipalpus Donnadieu (Acari: Tenuipalpidae) from Iran
Authors: Hassanvand Iman , Jafari Shahriar , KHANJANI MASOUMEH , KHANJANI MOHAMMAD
Published: July 2018

A new species of the genus Tenuipalpus, T. pariae sp. nov., is described and illustrated based on female, male and immature stages, collected from leaves of caper bushes, Capparis sp. (Capparaceae) from Gamasiab, Nahavand, Hamedan Province, Iran. A key to all known Iranian species is provided.
Atomic layer deposition of CeO2 using a heteroleptic cyclopentadienyl-amidinate precursor
Authors: Golalikhani Maryam , James Trevor , Van Buskirk Peter , Noh Wontae , Lee Jooho , Wang Ziyun , Roeder Jeffrey F.
Published: July 2018

Cerium oxide thin films were deposited on fused silica using atomic layer deposition (ALD). The novel Ce precursor, Ce(iPrCp)2(N-iPr-amd) [bis-isopropylcyclopentadienyl-di-isopropylacetamidinate-cerium] is a room-temperature liquid with good thermal stability and evaporates cleanly. Water vapor was used as the oxygen source. The growth characteristics and film properties of ALD CeO2 were investigated. A relatively broad ALD window of 165–285 °C resulted in a constant growth rate of 1.9 Å/cycle and good thickness uniformity. The films deposited at 240 °C were found to be polycrystalline with cubic structure without a preferential direction in as-deposited condition. However, films grown at 335 °C slightly favored a (200) preferred orientation. XPS analysis showed that films are free from contamination, and the Ce:O stoichiometry analysis revealed the existence of oxygen vacancies in the films with composition CeO1.74.
Effects of Tai Chi Chuan and Brisk Walking Exercise on Balance Ability in Elderly Women: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Sun Wei , Ma Xiujie , Wang Lin , Zhang Cui , Song Qipeng , Gu Houxin , Mao Dewei
Published: July 2018

This study aims to investigate the effects of Tai Chi Chuan (TCC) and brisk walking (BW) on balance and training duration for the two exercises to significantly improve balance. A total of 48 elderly women were randomly divided into three groups. The TCC and BW groups completed a 60-min intervention training program with five sessions weekly for 16 weeks. Single-leg standing balance was tested every 4 weeks. Results showed that all the variables with eyes open improved on the eighth week (p < .05) in the TCC group and on the 12th week (p < .01) in the BW group. All variables with eyes closed improved on the 12th week (p < .01) in the TCC group and on the 16th week (p < .05) in the BW group. The results showed that 12 and 16 weeks of TCC and BW, respectively were essential to improve balance with eyes closed among the women aged 60–70 years.
In Silico
Typing and Comparative Genomic Analysis of IncFII
K
Plasmids and Insights into the Evolution of Replicons, Plasmid Backbones, and Resistance Determinant Profiles
Authors: Bi Dexi , Zheng Jiayi , Li Jun-Jie , Sheng Zi-Ke , Zhu Xingchen , Ou Hong-Yu , Li Qianyu , Wei Qing
Published: July 2018

IncFII
K
plasmids are associated with the acquisition and dissemination of multiple-antimicrobial resistance in
Klebsiella pneumoniae
and often encountered in clinical isolates of this species. Since the phylogeny and evolution of IncFII
K
plasmids remain unclear, here we performed large-scale
in silico
typing and comparative analysis of these plasmids in publicly available bacterial/plasmid genomes.
A Cobalamin Activity-Based Probe Enables Microbial Cell Growth and Finds New Cobalamin-Protein Interactions across Domains
Authors: Rosnow Joshua J. , Hwang Sungmin , Killinger Bryan J. , Kim Young-Mo , Moore Ronald J. , Lindemann Stephen R. , Maupin-Furlow Julie A. , Wright Aaron T.
Published: July 2018

We demonstrate that a cobalamin chemical probe can be used to investigate
in vivo
roles of vitamin B
12
in microbial growth and regulation by supporting the growth of B
12
auxotrophic bacteria and archaea, enabling biological activity with three different cell macromolecules (RNA, DNA, and proteins), and facilitating functional proteomics to characterize B
12
-protein interactions. The B
12
-ABP is both transcriptionally and translationally able to regulate gene expression analogous to natural vitamin B
12
. The application of the B
12
-ABP at biologically relevant concentrations facilitates a unique way to measure B
12
microbial dynamics and identify new B
12
protein targets in bacteria and archaea. We demonstrate that the B
12
-ABP can be used to identify
in vivo
protein interactions across diverse microbes, from
E. coli
to microbes isolated from naturally occurring phototrophic biofilms to the salt-tolerant archaea
Haloferax volcanii
.
Genetic, Biochemical, and Molecular Characterization of Methanosarcina barkeri Mutants Lacking Three Distinct Classes of Hydrogenase
Authors: Mand Thomas D. , Kulkarni Gargi , Metcalf William W.
Published: July 2018

Methanogenic archaea are key players in the global carbon cycle due to their ability to facilitate the remineralization of organic substrates in many anaerobic environments. The consequences of biological methanogenesis are far-reaching, with impacts on atmospheric methane and CO
2
concentrations, agriculture, energy production, waste treatment, and human health. The data presented here clarify the
in vivo
function of hydrogenases during methanogenesis, which in turn deepens our understanding of this unique form of metabolism. This knowledge is critical for a variety of important issues ranging from atmospheric composition to human health.
Antisense-Derived HIV-1 Cryptic Epitopes Are Not Major Drivers of Viral Evolution during the Acute Phase of Infection
Authors: Peng Binghao J. , Carlson Jonathan M. , Liu Michael K. P. , Gao Feng , Goonetilleke Nilu , McMichael Andrew J. , Borrow Persephone , Gilmour Jill , Heath Sonya L. , Hunter Eric , Bansal Anju , Goepfert Paul A.
Published: July 2018

Although prior studies demonstrated that cryptic epitopes of HIV-1 induce CD8 T cell responses, evidence that targeting these epitopes drives HIV escape mutations has been substantially limited, and no studies have addressed this question following acute infection. In this comprehensive study, we utilized longitudinal viral sequencing data obtained from three separate acute infection cohorts to predict potential cryptic epitopes based on HLA-I-associated viral escape. Our data show that cryptic epitopes are immunogenic during acute infection and that many of the responses they elicit are toward translation products of HIV-1 antisense reading frames. However, despite cryptic epitope targeting, our study did not find any evidence of early CD8-mediated immune escape. Nevertheless, improving cryptic epitope-specific CD8 T cell responses may still be beneficial in both preventative and therapeutic HIV-1 vaccines.
Widespread Antisense Transcription in Prokaryotes
Authors: Georg Jens , Hess Wolfgang R.
Published: July 2018

Although bacterial genomes are usually densely protein-coding, genome-wide mapping approaches of transcriptional start sites revealed that a significant fraction of the identified promoters drive the transcription of noncoding RNAs. These can be
trans
-acting RNAs, mainly originating from intergenic regions and, in many studied examples, possessing regulatory functions. However, a significant fraction of these noncoding RNAs consist of natural antisense transcripts (asRNAs), which overlap other transcriptional units. Naturally occurring asRNAs were first observed to play a role in bacterial plasmid replication and in bacteriophage λ more than 30 years ago. Today’s view is that asRNAs abound in all three domains of life. There are several examples of asRNAs in bacteria with clearly defined functions. Nevertheless, many asRNAs appear to result from pervasive initiation of transcription, and some data point toward global functions of such widespread transcriptional activity, explaining why the search for a specific regulatory role is sometimes futile. In this review, we give an overview about the occurrence of antisense transcription in bacteria, highlight particular examples of functionally characterized asRNAs, and discuss recent evidence pointing at global relevance in RNA processing and transcription-coupled DNA repair.
PROGRESS: the PROMISE governance framework to decrease coercion in mental healthcare
Authors: Lombardo Chiara , Van Bortel Tine , Wagner Adam P , Kaminskiy Emma , Wilson Ceri , Krishnamoorthy Theeba , Rae Sarah , Rouse Lorna , Jones Peter Brian , Kar Ray Manaan
Published: July 2018

Reducing physical intervention in mental health inpatient care is a global priority. It is extremely distressing both to patients and staff. PROactive Management of Integrated Services and Environments (PROMISE) was developed within Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust (CPFT) to bring about culture change to decrease coercion in care. This study evaluates the changes in physical intervention numbers and patient experience metrics and proposes an easy-to-adopt and adapt governance framework for complex interventions.

PROMISE was based on three core values of: providing a caring response to all distress; courage to challenge the status quo; and coproduction of novel solutions. It sought to transform daily front-line interactions related to risk-based restrictive practice that often leads to physical interventions. PROactive Governance of Recovery Settings and Services, a five-step governance framework (Report, Reflect, Review, Rethink and Refresh), was developed in an iterative and organic fashion to oversee the improvement journey and effectively translate information into knowledge, learning and actions.

Overall physical interventions reduced from 328 to 241and210 across consecutive years (2014, 2015–2016 and 2016–2017, respectively). Indeed, the 2016–2017 total would have been further reduced to 126 were it not for the perceived substantial care needs of one patient. Prone restraints reduced from 82 to 32 (2015–2016 and 2016–2017, respectively). During 2016–2017, each ward had a continuous 3-month period of no restraints and 4 months without prone restrains. Patient experience surveys (n=4591) for 2014–2017 rated overall satisfaction with care at 87%.

CPFT reported fewer physical interventions and maintained high patient experience scores when using a five-pronged governance approach. It has a summative function to define where a team or an organisation is relative to goals and is formative in setting up the next steps relating to action, learning and future planning.
Variation in lifting kinematics related to individual intrinsic lumbar curvature: an investigation in healthy adults
Authors: Pavlova Anastasia V , Meakin Judith R , Cooper Kay , Barr Rebecca J , Aspden Richard M
Published: July 2018

Objective

Lifting postures are frequently implicated in back pain. We previously related responses to a static load with intrinsic spine shape, and here we investigate the role of lumbar spine shape in lifting kinematics.

Methods

Thirty healthy adults (18–65 years) performedfreestyle,stoopandsquatlifts with a weighted box (6–15 kg, self-selected) while being recorded by Vicon motion capture. Internal spine shape was characterised using statistical shape modelling (SSM) from standing mid-sagittal MRIs. Associations were investigated between spine shapes quantified by SSM and peak flexion angles.

Results

Two SSM modes described variations in overall lumbar curvature (mode 1 (M1), 55% variance) and the evenness of curvature distribution (mode 2 (M2), 12% variance). M1 was associated with greater peak pelvis (r=0.38, p=0.04) and smaller knee flexion (r=–0.40, p=0.03) angles; individuals with greater curviness preferred to lift with a stooped lifting posture. This was confirmed by analysis of those individuals with very curvy or very straight spines (|M1|>1 SD). There were no associations between peak flexion angles and mode scores instooporsquattrials (p>0.05). Peak flexion angles were positively correlated betweenfreestyleandsquattrials but not betweenfreestyleandstooporsquatandstoop, indicating that individuals adjusted knee flexion while maintaining their preferred range of lumbar flexion and that ‘squatters’ adapted better to different techniques than ‘stoopers’.

Conclusion

Spinal curvature affects preferred lifting styles, and individuals with curvier spines adapt more easily to different lifting techniques. Lifting tasks may need to be tailored to an individual’s lumbar spine shape.
Morphofunctional cardiac changes in pregnant women: associations with biomarkers
Authors: Umazume Takeshi , Yamada Takahiro , Yamada Satoshi , Ishikawa Satoshi , Furuta Itsuko , Iwano Hiroyuki , Murai Daisuke , Hayashi Taichi , Okada Kazunori , Morikawa Mamoru , Yamada Takashi , Ono Kota , Tsutsui Hiroyuki , Minakami Hisanori
Published: July 2018

Objective

This longitudinal study was performed to determine changes in echocardiography parameters in association with various biomarker levels in pregnancy/postpartum.

Methods

Fifty-one healthy pregnant women underwent echocardiography with simultaneous determination of blood levels of five biomarkers at each of the first, second and third trimesters of pregnancy, immediately postpartum within 1 week after childbirth and approximately 1 month postpartum. Data on 255 echocardiography scans (five times per woman) and biomarkers were analysed.

Results

Left ventricular end-diastolic dimension, left atrial (LA) volume index and left ventricular (LV) mass index increased with advancing gestation and reached the maximum immediately postpartum concomitant with the highest brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), high-sensitivity troponin I (hs-TnI) and creatine kinase MB levels. The inferior vena cava diameter was significantly reduced in the third trimester compared with that in the first trimester and the peak occurred immediately after childbirth. In 255 paired measurements, hs-TnI level was significantly positively correlated with LA volume index and LV mass index; BNP and NT-proBNP were significantly positively correlated with LA volume index and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was significantly positively correlated with the average of early diastolic septal and lateral mitral annular velocity (e′).

Conclusions

Maximal cardiac changes in morphology occurred postpartum within 1 week after childbirth, not during pregnancy. BNP/NT-proBNP, hs-TnI and eGFR reflected cardiac changes in pregnancy.
Two novel colorimetric probes (5-HMBA-FH and 3-HMBA-FH) based on fluorescein for copper(II) ion detection
Authors: Liu Guanhong , Ren Peipei , Yang Fan , Dou Xuekai , Wang Jun , Song Youtao
Published: July 2018

Two novel isomeric colorimetric probes are established for simultaneous determination of copper ions using 2-hydroxy-5-methoxybenzaldehyde fluorescein hydrazone (5-HMBA-FH) and 2-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzaldehyde fluorescein hydrazone (3-HMBA-FH). They are synthesized by reacting fluorescein hydrazide with 2-hydroxy-5-methoxybenzaldehyde and 2-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzaldehyde, respectively, and then characterized by 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, and infrared spectrum. The addition of copper ions to the solutions of two novel colorimetric probes can generate the obviously peaks at 498 nm in UV–vis absorption spectra along with a rapid colour change from colourless to dark yellow. The detection limits of the method for Cu2+ ion were 3.442 × 10−6 mol/L and 3.682 × 10−6 mol/L separately for 5-HMBA-FH and 3-HMBA-FH, respectively. The additions of other metal ions hardly affect the determination of copper ions. The proposed method was successfully applied to the analysis of Cu2+ ions in various samples. This method possesses high sensitivity, high simplicity, and minimized interference and will provide a great advantage in detecting copper ions in the environment, food, and medical applications.
Effects of land use on summer thermal regimes in critical salmonid habitats of the Pacific Northwest
Authors: Kovach Ryan P. , Muhlfeld Clint C. , Al-Chokhachy Robert , Ojala Jeffrey V. , Archer Eric K.
Published: July 2018

The effect of climate change on stream temperature regimes is of significant concern to natural resource managers focused on protecting cold-water-dependent species. Nevertheless, understanding of how human land-use activities may act to exacerbate the effects of climate change on stream temperature regimes is limited. Using extensive stream temperature data with high-resolution climate and habitat data, we quantified how land management activities are related to summer stream temperatures across the Pacific Northwest, USA. We then described the distribution of land management practices influencing summer thermal regimes relative to the distribution of salmonid fish species of conservation concern. After accounting for climatic and geophysical variation, we detected a strong relationship between livestock grazing and summer thermal regimes. Maximum, average, and diel variation in water temperature was greater where livestock grazing was present. Livestock grazing was widespread, occurring in 43%–100% of sites supporting salmonid species of conservation concern. Thus, current land management practices may be intensifying the effects of ongoing climate change in freshwater habitats, acting to further threaten cold-water fishes of conservation concern.
OAC Ramsay soybean
Authors: Torabi S. , Stirling B.T. , Kobler J. , Eskandari M.
Published: July 2018

OAC Ramsay is an indeterminate large-seeded food-grade soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] cultivar with high yield potential, high seed protein and oil concentrations, and resistance to soybean cyst nematode. OAC Ramsay is developed and recommended for soybean growing areas in southwestern Ontario with 3050 or greater crop heat units and has a relative maturity of 2.2 (MG 2.2).
Light regime affects the seasonal cycle of Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba): impacts on growth, feeding, lipid metabolism, and maturity
Authors: Höring Flavia , Teschke Mathias , Suberg Lavinia , Kawaguchi So , Meyer Bettina
Published: July 2018

Light regime is an important zeitgeber for Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba Dana, 1850), which seems to entrain an endogenous timing system that synchronizes its life cycle to the extreme light conditions in the Southern Ocean. To understand the flexibility of Antarctic krill’s seasonal cycle, we investigated its physiological and behavioural responses to different light regimes and if an endogenous timing system was involved in the regulation of these seasonal processes. We analysed growth, feeding, lipid content, and maturity in a 2-year laboratory experiment simulating the latitudinal light regimes at 52°S and 66°S and constant darkness under constant food level. Our results showed that light regime affected seasonal cycles of growth, feeding, lipid metabolism, and maturity in Antarctic krill. Seasonal patterns of growth, feeding, and maturity persisted under constant darkness, indicating the presence of an endogenous timing system. The maturity cycle showed differences in critical photoperiods according to the simulated latitudinal light regime. This suggests a flexible endogenous timing mechanism in Antarctic krill, which may determine its response to future environmental changes.
The degree of commutativity and lamplighter groups
Authors: Cox Charles Garnet
Published: July 2018

The degree of commutativity of a group [Formula: see text] measures the probability of choosing two elements in [Formula: see text] which commute. There are many results studying this for finite groups. In [Y. Antolín, A. Martino and E. Ventura, Degree of commutativity of infinite groups, Proc. Amer. Math. Soc. 145 (2017) 479–485, MR 3577854], this was generalized to infinite groups. In this note, we compute the degree of commutativity for wreath products of the form [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text], where [Formula: see text] is any finite group.
Investigation of isospin excited and mixed-symmetry states in even–even N = Z nuclei
Authors: Al-Khudair Falih H.
Published: July 2018

Mixed-symmetry and isospin excited states are typical of the interacting boson model with isospin (IBM-3). With a view to look for such states, levels scheme of the IBM-3 dynamical symmetry is discussed. A systematic investigation in the proton and neutron degrees of freedom of the energy levels has been carried out. A sequence of isospin excitation bands has been identified. We have analyzed the wave functions and given the symmetrical labeling of the states. The transition probabilities between the isospin excitation states of model limits are analyzed in terms of isoscalar and isovector decompositions. The present calculations suggest that a combination of isospin excitation and mixed-symmetry states can provide substantial information on the structure of nuclear states. Calculations for [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] nuclei are presented and compared with the results of the shell model and available experimental data.
Langlands lambda function for quadratic tamely ramified extensions
Authors: Biswas Sazzad Ali
Published: July 2018

Let [Formula: see text] be a quadratic tamely ramified extension of a non-Archimedean local field [Formula: see text] of characteristic zero. In this paper, we give an explicit formula for Langlands’ lambda function [Formula: see text].
Process Parameter Optimization of Hydrostatic Extrusion Using Metaheuristic
Authors: Panda S. , Mishra D.
Published: July 2018

Friction at die work piece interface can be reduced by the presence of lubricant in the entry zone. As the metal–metal contact in the deformation zone is avoided, the deformation force is reduced and at the same time the product quality and die life are improved. So the prediction of minimum film thickness and its control through process variables is gaining interest in the industry. Two multi-objective nonlinear optimization problems are formulated in this study, one using the minimum thermal thickness and billet temperature at the work zone. And the other optimization problem is formulated by including the minimum isothermal thickness at entry zone and the billet temperature at the work zone. These two multi-objective optimization problems have been solved using particle swarm optimization algorithm (PSO). The key process variables are identified by coefficient of variance (COV) analysis. A sensitivity analysis on the process variables is performed to prioritize the process variables. A design procedure is explored to demonstrate the industrial application of this analysis.
THE ORGANIZATION OF R&D ACTIVITIES IN LARGE KNOWLEDGE INTENSIVE BUSINESS SERVICES: THE CASE OF A “BIG FOUR” CONSULTANCY
Authors: BASILIOA OIHANA , LAREDOB PHILIPPE , SÁNCHEZC PALOMA
Published: July 2018

The belief that services are a laggard in innovation is over. But what do we know about how large service companies organize their R&D and innovation capabilities? This paper draws from the organizational aspects hidden behind the literature on service innovation to help fill this research gap. The paper tests these organizational insights in a “big four” consultancy company, archetypal of KIBS, to compare its infrastructure with the main organizational debates coming from R&D literature in technology-intensive manufacturing. Interestingly, the highly dynamic R&D organization found in the case study company and its recent developments and dynamic character reveal the relevance of a topic that has been so far overlooked in the literature.