bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Enhanced sensitivity in a butterfly gyroscope with a hexagonal oblique beam
Authors: Xiao Dingbang , Cao Shijie , Hou Zhanqiang , Chen Zhihua , Wang Xinghua , Wu Xuezhong
Published: March 2015

A new approach to improve the performance of a butterfly gyroscope is developed. The methodology provides a simple way to improve the gyroscope’s sensitivity and stability, by reducing the resonant frequency mismatch between the drive and sense modes. This method was verified by simulations and theoretical analysis. The size of the hexagonal section oblique beam is the major factor that influences the resonant frequency mismatch. A prototype, which has the appropriately sized oblique beam, was fabricated using precise, time-controlled multilayer pre-buried masks. The performance of this prototype was compared with a non-tuned gyroscope. The scale factor of the prototype reaches 30.13 mV/ ˚/s, which is 15 times larger than that obtained from the non-tuned gyroscope. The bias stability of the prototype is 0.8 ˚/h, which is better than the 5.2 ˚/h of the non-tuned devices.
Connection between the conformation and emission properties of poly[2-methoxy-5-(2′-ethyl-hexyloxy)-1,4-phenylene vinylene] single molecules during thermal annealing
Authors: Ou Jiemei , Yang Yuzhao , Lin Wensheng , Yuan Zhongke , Gan Lin , Lin Xiaofeng , Chen Xudong , Chen Yujie
Published: March 2015

We investigated the transitions of conformations and their effects on emission properties of poly[2-methoxy-5-(2′-ethyl-hexyloxy)-1,4-phenylene vinylene] (MEH-PPV) single molecules in PMMA matrix during thermal annealing process. Total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy measurements reveal the transformation from collapsed conformations to extended, highly ordered rod-like structures of MEH-PPV single molecules during thermal annealing. The blue shifts in the ensemble single molecule PL spectra support our hypnosis. The transition occurs as the annealing temperature exceeds 100 °C, implying that an annealing temperature near the glass transition temperature Tg of matrix is ideal for the control and optimization of blend polymer films.
Thermal runaway in polyimide at high electric field probed by infrared thermography
Authors: Diaham Sombel , Belijar Guillaume , Locatelli Marie-Laure , Lebey Thierry
Published: March 2015

An original way for characterizing dielectrics under high electric field and high temperature based on the coupling between electric current measurements and real-time fast infrared (IR) thermography is demonstrated. Particularly, the Joule heating phenomenon at high field is quantified by 2D-temperature cartography in a polyimide (PI) film set at an initial temperature of 300 °C through IR observations of the polarized electrode. 2D-temperature cartography highlights the temperature increase with increasing the electric field. The thermal runway occurs prior to the dielectric breakdown from an electric field threshold of 140–150 V/μm. This corresponds to a dissipated volume power density between 2 and 5 mW/μm3. Such values report the limit of the electro-thermal equilibrium in PI film.
The challenge of modelling and mapping the future distribution and impact of invasive alien species.
Authors: Venette R. C.
Published: March 2015

Invasions from alien species can jeopardize the economic, environmental or social benefits derived from biological systems. Biosecurity measures seek to protect those systems from accidental or intentional introductions of species that might become injurious. Pest risk maps convey how the probability of invasion by an alien species or the potential consequences of that invasion vary spatially. These maps inform strategic and tactical decisions for invasive species management. Pest risk modellers must contend with the challenges of developing models that forecast the course or consequence of invasions and are more meaningful than could be obtained by chance, of demonstrating the validity of those models and of portraying results on maps in ways that will be useful for decision makers. Frequently, these forecasts depend on extrapolations from limited information to project how a species might be affected, for example, by changes in commerce, exposure to novel environments or associations with new dispersal vectors, or how these species might affect resident species or ecological processes. Consequently, pest risk maps often focus on one phase of the invasion process: arrival, establishment, spread or impact. Risk assessors use different analytical tools and information sources to address each phase. To be certain that pest risk models and maps are fully fit for purpose, models and maps must be critically evaluated at each stage of the development process. Invariably, errors will be revealed. The International Pest Risk Mapping Workgroup has offered a number of suggestions to improve the development of pest risk models and maps. In addition, short-term improvements are likely to be achieved through critical, objective assessments of model performance and greater transparency about model development.
The NCSU/APHIS plant pest forecasting system (NAPPFAST).
Authors: Magarey R. D. , Borchert D. M. , Fowler G. A. , Hong S. C.
Published: March 2015

This chapter describes the North-Carolina-State-University/Animal-and-Plant-Health-Inspection-Service Plant Pest Forecasting System (NAPPFAST). NAPPFAST, developed for pest risk modelling and mapping, was formerly used to support pest detection, emergency response and risk analysis for the US Department of Agriculture. NAPPFAST employs an internet-based graphical user interface to link weather databases with interactive biological model templates. The weather databases include historical daily weather databases for North America and the world. The templates include degree-days, generic empirical models, infection periods and the Generic Pest Forecast System (GPFS). The GPFS, currently in development, is a model that uses hourly inputs and includes modules for development rate, hot and cold mortality, population and potential damage. In this chapter, three examples illustrate the capabilities of NAPPFAST: (i) pathway analysis for Lymantria dispar asiatica (Asian gypsy moth); (ii) epidemiological modelling for Phytophthora ramorum (the cause of sudden oak death and other plant diseases); and (iii) simple population modelling for Bactrocera dorsalis (oriental fruit fly). One advanced feature of NAPPFAST is cyber-infrastructure that supports the sharing of products and data between modellers and end users. The infrastructure includes tools for managing user access, uploading and correcting geographic coordinates for pest observations, and an interactive geographic information system environment for viewing input data and model products. NAPPFAST was used by the US Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Plant Protection and Quarantine, although access has been granted to government and university cooperators working on risk analysis of invasive alien species.
Modelling the spread of invasive species to support pest risk assessment: principles and application of a suite of generic models.
Authors: Robinet C. , Kehlenbeck H. , Werf W. van der
Published: March 2015

The estimation of rates and patterns of spread is one of the key steps in a pest risk assessment. Pest risk analysts across the world wish to make quantitative, scientifically defensible assessments of likely spread by invasive alien species. However, data and time to develop detailed models for pest invasions are usually lacking and the resources to test those models in practice are not available. Therefore, generic and simple models are needed. A generic spread module composed of four models has been developed to assess the spread of plant pests. Four different models were developed to represent differences in objectives, available data and assumptions underlying the assessment of spread. The most complex of the models simulates spread in time and space and has four biological parameters, representing population growth and dispersal. The simplest of the models has only one parameter and considers only geographic range expansion. A third model assumes logistic growth of invaded area and a fourth model assumes logistic growth of population density in invaded cells. All models consider climatic suitability and presence of hosts. Consideration of economic value is optional. This chapter describes concepts and application of these models. They are illustrated by case studies for western corn rootworm, Diabrotica virgifera virgifera, in Europe.
Estimating spread rates of non-native species: the gypsy moth as a case study.
Authors: Tobin P. C. , Liebhold A. M. , Roberts E. A. , Blackburn L. M.
Published: March 2015

Estimating rates of spread and generating projections of future range expansion for invasive alien species is a key process in the development of management guidelines and policy. Critical needs to estimate spread rates include the availability of surveys to characterize the spatial distribution of an invading species and the application of analytical methods to interpret survey data. In this chapter, we demonstrate the use of three methods, (i) square-root area regression, (ii) distance regression and (iii) boundary displacement, to estimate the rate of spread in the gypsy moth, Lymantria dispar, in the USA. The gypsy moth is a non-native species currently invading North America. An extensive amount of spatial and temporal distributional data exists for this invader. Consequently, it provides an ideal case study to demonstrate the use of methods to estimate spread rates. We rely on two sources of data: (i) polygonal data obtained from county quarantine records describing the geographical extent of gypsy moth establishment; and (ii) point data consisting of counts of male gypsy moths captured in pheromone-baited traps used to detect and monitor newly established gypsy moth populations. Both data sources were compiled during the gypsy moth's invasion of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan, USA. We show that even with spatially crude county records of infestation, spread rates can still be estimated using relatively simple mathematical approaches. We also demon strate how the boundary displacement method can be used to characterize the spatial and temporal dynamics of spread.
Spatial modelling approaches for understanding and predicting the impacts of invasive alien species on native species and ecosystems.
Authors: Allen C. R. , Uden D. R. , Johnson A. R. , Angeler D. G.
Published: March 2015

Biological invasions threaten native species and ecosystems worldwide. Estimating the level of risk that an invasive alien species poses to native species across landscapes is important for prioritizing mitigation efforts. We describe a risk assessment approach that incorporates spatial heterogeneity in effects and illustrate this method by considering the risk that the red imported fire ant (Solenopsis invicta) presents to two native birds. The common ground-dove (Columbina passerina), an oviparous, ground-nesting species with altricial young that prefers open habitats, is more susceptible to impacts from fire ants than the swallow-tailed kite (Elanoides forficatus), which occupies closed-canopy forests, nests high in trees, is oviparous and has altricial young. Risk approaches that consider land scapes and that are spatially explicit are of particular relevance as remaining un-developed lands become increasingly un common, disjointed and more important for the management and recovery of native species and ecosystems.
Making invasion models useful for decision makers: incorporating uncertainty, knowledge gaps and decision-making preferences.
Authors: Yemshanov D. , Koch F. H. , Ducey M.
Published: March 2015

Uncertainty is inherent in model-based forecasts of ecological invasions. In this chapter, we explore how the perceptions of that uncertainty can be incorporated into the pest risk assessment process. Uncertainty changes a decision maker's perceptions of risk; therefore, the direct incorporation of uncertainty may provide a more appropriate depiction of risk. Our methodology borrows basic concepts from portfolio valuation theory that were originally developed for the allocation of financial investments under uncertainty. In our case, we treat the model-based estimates of a pest invasion at individual geographical locations as analogous to a set of individual investment asset types that constitute a 'portfolio'. We then estimate the highest levels of pest invasion risk by finding the subset of geographical locations with the 'worst' combinations of a high likelihood of invasion and/or high uncertainty in the likelihood estimate. We illustrate the technique using a case study that applies a spatial pest transmission model to assess the likelihood that Canadian municipalities will receive invasive forest insects with commercial freight transported via trucks. The approach provides a viable strategy for dealing with the typical lack of knowledge about the behaviour of new invasive species and generally high uncertainty in model-based forecasts of ecological invasions. The technique is especially useful for under taking comparative risk assessments such as identification of geographical hot spots of pest invasion risk in large landscapes, or assessments for multiple species and alternative pest management options.
Assessing the quality of pest risk models.
Authors: Venette S. J.
Published: March 2015

The quality of pest risk models depends on their reliability and validity. Reliability refers to the model's trustworthiness and dependability, but the concept is extended to consistency and stability. Approaches to help establish and test consistency are described. Validity assures that models actually portray the expectations or assertions of the model design. Elements of validity can be characterized as face, criterion, content, concurrent and construct validity; and the merits of these elements are presented. In the social sciences, factor analysis has become the favoured method for evaluating reliability and validity. Factor analysis is especially useful when models group variables into indices. This chapter discusses the rationale and interpretation of components of factor analysis and suggests how this analysis might be incorporated into pest risk analysis in the future. Studies in communication reveal that non-technical end users can better understand and trust risk assessments when the assessments contain the best information presented in real language rather than mathematical expressions.
Famous face recognition, face matching, and extraversion
Authors: Lander Karen , Poyarekar Siddhi
Published: March 2015

It has been previously established that extraverts who are skilled at interpersonal interaction perform significantly better than introverts on a face-specific recognition memory task. In our experiment we further investigate the relationship between extraversion and face recognition, focusing on famous face recognition and face matching. Results indicate that more extraverted individuals perform significantly better on an upright famous face recognition task and show significantly larger face inversion effects. However, our results did not find an effect of extraversion on face matching or inverted famous face recognition.
European Arabs: identity, education and citizenship
Authors: Akmir Abdelouahed
Published: March 2015

The Arab diaspora, comprising Arab immigrants and their descendants, currently represents the highest percentage of Arabs living in Europe. They are Arabs and Europeans, but they are unlike the Arabs who were born in the Arab world and unlike the Europeans who inherited their European origins and culture from father to son. The difference between these European Arabs and other Europeans often makes them experience a state of cultural detachment, as well as crises of their education, identity and citizenship. This article is a modest attempt to examine this phenomenon whilst highlighting the obstacles facing European Arabs and to propose some solutions. Furthermore, it is a call to draw attention to the European Arabs who have played a successful role in their communities and to utilize them in raising awareness of Arab issues and rectifying the image of Arabs in Europe with the aim of supporting Euro-Arab dialogue and cooperation.
Small farmers and the revolution in Egypt: the forgotten actors
Authors: Nour Saker El
Published: March 2015

This paper analyses the relationship between small farmers and revolution in Egypt by describing their role in the current uprising and redefining the track and stages of the revolution’s development, as well as evaluating the historical relationship between small farmer uprisings and the urban elite. The paper provides a historical reading of the peasant uprisings and the way in which the urban elites have ignored their struggles. The study confirms that revolution is not a moment but a long process socially constructed and the peasant uprising in 1997 was the first spark of a protest wave that culminated in January 2011.
Indicators of imbalance in the distribution policies in some Arab countries
Authors: Al-Rubaie Hakim Mohsin
Published: March 2015

Politics and economics are described as being inseparably and inextricably related, such that economic discourse is also political discourse. Policies are only a reflection of the opinions and ideas of the ruling institutions, hence the economic system and its policies manifest in the field of investment, production and distribution. While the governments and ruling authorities in all economic systems speak of justice in distribution, however, the reality contradicts that as there is disparity in the income levels between individuals. The level of difference may be narrowing between some social classes, but it is widening among the poorer classes. This paper will focus on indicators of imbalance in the distribution policies in some Arab countries, selecting those where popular movements have taken place. Some claim that one of the main causes of these movements is the lack of just distribution. Although that is true to some extent, it does not mean that there were fairer distribution policies in the countries which did not see such popular movements. This is also the answer to the claim which attributes these movements to outside forces seeking to change the Arab political systems. This paper ends with conclusions and recommendations based on the research regarding the political and economic changes these Arab countries must make to ensure justice in their distribution policies.
Opinion
Authors: Nuruzzaman Mohammed
Published: March 2015

Qatar, a backwater state in regional and international politics until 1995, has in recent years pursued a high-profile foreign policy in the areas of dispute mediations, maintaining balanced relations with allies and adversaries alike, adept use of soft power tools, and even military interventions in fellow Arab states, Libya in particular, to aid the Arab pro-democracy forces. This high-profile foreign policy has aimed at strengthening Qatar’s national security in the Gulf neighbourhood and playing a more proactive role in the Arab world. This article examines Qatar’s activist foreign policy role in the Arab Spring and probes whether such a role is sustainable in future in view of the constraints Qatar faces at home, in the Gulf neighbourhood and beyond. It concludes that Qatar, as a tiny state, has little choice other than to strike a balance between its oversized foreign policy role and the imperatives of regional and international realities.
Chronology October–December 2014
Authors: Bilderling Sophie Shihab
Published: March 2015

This chronology of events in the North and South Caucasus has been compiled based mainly on Reuters (www.reuters.com/news/world), Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (www.rferl.org), Caucasian Knot (www.eng.kavkaz-uzel.ru) and the Jamestown Foundation (www. jamestown.org).
A Meta‐analysis of Food Demand Elasticities for China
Authors: Chen Danhong , Abler David , Zhou De , Yu Xiaohua , Thompson Wyatt
Published: March 2015

We conducted a meta‐analysis of food and agricultural demand elasticities for China, and used the results to derive estimates of income, own‐price, and cross‐price elasticities of demand that can be used in models of food and agricultural markets. Consistent with expectations, we find that income elasticities of demand for many food products decline as per capita income increases. The declines are relatively large for alcohol and tobacco, and smaller for livestock products. Contrary to expectations, own‐price elasticities for some products become more price‐elastic as per capita income increases. One explanation may be that economic development brings with it improvements in food supply chains that provide people more choices with respect to food products than those traditionally consumed in rural villages, leading to greater substitution possibilities and more price‐elastic demands. Estimates for 2011 of income and own‐price demand elasticities are generally reasonable, whereas deriving reliable estimates of cross‐price elasticities is difficult. The estimates suggest that China's meat and dairy demands, and in turn livestock feed demands, will continue growing strongly. Policy‐makers should continue to monitor the evolution of demand for these products with an eye toward ensuring food security, particularly given the sheer size of the population and relatively tight domestic food supply situation in China.
The Economic Costs of Environmental Regulation in U.S. Dairy Farming: A Directional Distance Function Approach
Authors: Njuki Eric , Bravo-Ureta Boris E.
Published: March 2015

Analyses of the costs of regulating greenhouse gas emissions from dairy production, which could be used to assess the effectiveness of alternative policy measures, is a missing link in the literature. This article addresses this gap by establishing the economic impact associated with a hypothetical greenhouse gas environmental regulatory regime across major dairy producing counties in the United States. In doing so, the article makes three important contributions to the literature. First, it develops a comprehensive pollution index based on Environmental Protection Agency methodologies, which contrasts with previous studies that rely on partial measures based only on surplus nitrogen stemming from the over‐application of fertilizer. Second, the article uses a directional output distance function, an approach that has not been employed previously to evaluate polluting technologies in the U.S. dairy sector. Third, the article incorporates a four‐way error approach that accounts for unobserved county heterogeneity, time‐invariant persistent technical efficiency, time‐varying transient technical efficiency, and a random error. The results indicate that regulating greenhouse gas emissions from dairy farming would induce a 5‐percentage point increase in average technical efficiency. In addition, the economic costs of implementing this hypothetical regulatory framework exhibit significant spatial variation across counties in the United States.
KeBABS: an R package for kernel-based analysis of biological sequences
Authors: Palme Johannes , Hochreiter Sepp , Bodenhofer Ulrich
Published: March 2015

Summary: KeBABS provides a powerful, flexible and easy to use framework for kernel-based analysis of biological sequences in R. It includes efficient implementations of the most important sequence kernels, also including variants that allow for taking sequence annotations and positional information into account. KeBABS seamlessly integrates three common support vector machine (SVM) implementations with a unified interface. It allows for hyperparameter selection by cross validation, nested cross validation and also features grouped cross validation. The biological interpretation of SVM models is supported by (1) the computation of weights of sequence patterns and (2) prediction profiles that highlight the contributions of individual sequence positions or sections.

Availability and implementation: The R package kebabs is available via the Bioconductor project: http://bioconductor.org/packages/release/bioc/html/kebabs.html. Further information and the R code of the example in this paper are available at http://www.bioinf.jku.at/software/kebabs/.

Contact:  kebabs@bioinf.jku.at or bodenhofer@bioinf.jku.at
Dissecting the formation, structure and barrier function of the stratum corneum
Authors: Matsui Takeshi , Amagai Masayuki
Published: March 2015

The skin is the largest organ of the mammalian body. The outermost layer of mammalian skin, the stratum corneum (SC) of the epidermis, consists of piles of dead corneocytes that are the end-products of terminal differentiation of epidermal keratinocytes. The SC performs a crucial barrier function of epidermis. Langerhans cells, when activated, extend their dendrites through tight junctions just beneath the SC to capture external antigens. Recently, knowledge of the biology of corneocytes (‘corneobiology’) has progressed rapidly and many key factors that modulate its barrier function have been identified and characterized. In this review article on the SC, we summarize its evolution, formation, structure and function. Cornification is an important step of SC formation at the conversion of living epithelial cells to dead corneocytes, and consists of three major steps: formation of the intracellular keratin network, cornified envelopes and intercellular lipids. After cornification, the SC undergoes chemical reactions to form the mature SC with different functional layers. Finally, the SC is shed off at the surface (‘desquamation’), mediated by a cascade of several proteases. This review will be helpful to understand our expanding knowledge of the biology of the SC, where immunity meets external antigens.
Two-dimensional chiral molecular assembly on solid surfaces: formation and regulation
Authors: Chen Ting , Wang Dong , Wan Li-Jun
Published: March 2015

The expression of chirality in 2D molecular assemblies on solid surfaces has unique features compared to the analogous process in 1D and 3D supramolecular assemblies. Understanding the formation of chiral molecular assemblies on surfaces not only provides insight into the origin and transfer of chirality in many enantioselective processes, but also aids rational design and construction of chiral architectures and materials. This present contribution reviews recent studies on how chirality is induced and expressed on the surface at different levels, both from intrinsically chiral and achiral molecules. Furthermore, we discuss the regulation effect of some pivotal factors, for example, the chemical structure, the chiral auxiliary molecules, and the assembled environments, on the expression of chirality in molecular assembly.
Influence of Insecticides and Reflective Mulch on Watermelon Vine Decline Caused by Squash vein yellowing virus (SqVYV)
Authors: Kousik Chandrasekar S. , Adkins Scott , Webster Craig G. , Turechek William W. , Stansly Philip , Roberts Pamela D.
Published: March 2015

Watermelon vine decline (WVD) caused by the whitefly-transmitted Squash vein yellowing virus (SqVYV) has been a serious limiting factor in watermelon production in southwest and west-central Florida over the past few years. Symptoms of WVD typically appear as sudden decline of vines a few weeks before harvest or just after the first harvest. Fruit symptoms include rind necrosis and flesh discoloration that affects fruit quality and marketability. The combination of insecticide treatments consisting of an imidacloprid drench (Admire Pro, 560 ml/ha) at transplanting followed by two foliar applications of spiromesifen (Oberon, 2SC, 490 ml/ha) and reflective plastic mulch was evaluated for management of WVD during fall growing seasons of 2006, 2007, and 2009. Virus inoculum source was introduced by planting SqVYV-infected squash plants at the ends of each plot. In all three experiments, the insecticide-treated plots had significantly lower levels of WVD on foliage and fruit compared to non-treated plots. In 2007, the reflective plastic mulch was effective in reducing foliar WVD compared to non-reflective mulch, but not in 2006 and 2009. No significant interaction between plastic mulch and chemical treatments was observed on WVD development on foliage or fruit. Our results suggest that application of insecticides for managing whiteflies can help manage SqVYV-caused WVD.

Accepted for publication 13 January 2015. Published 25 March 2015.
TRPV4 Is Required for Hypoxic Pulmonary Vasoconstriction
Authors: Goldenberg Neil M. , Wang Liming , Ranke Hannes , Liedtke Wolfgang , Tabuchi Arata , Kuebler Wolfgang M.
Published: March 2015

AbstractAbstract

A role for the calcium-permeant transient receptor potential channel TRPV4 in hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction was demonstrated in mouse models in vivo and in vitro both pharmacologically and in Trpv4−/− mice. TRPV4 is critical for hypoxia-induced pulmonary vasoconstriction, in contrast to its vasodilatory roles in renal and mesentery arteries.

Background:

Hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction (HPV) is critically important in regionally heterogeneous lung diseases by directing blood toward better-oxygenated lung units, yet the molecular mechanism of HPV remains unknown. Transient receptor potential (TRP) channels are a large cation channel family that has been implicated in HPV, specifically in the pulmonary artery smooth muscle cell (PASMC) Ca2+ and contractile response to hypoxia. In this study, the authors probed the role of the TRP family member, TRPV4, in HPV.

Methods:

HPV was assessed by using isolated perfused mouse lungs or by intravital microscopy to directly visualize pulmonary arterioles in mice. In vitro experiments were performed in primary human PASMC.

Results:

The hypoxia-induced pulmonary artery pressure increase seen in wild-type mice (5.6 ± 0.6 mmHg; mean ± SEM) was attenuated both by inhibition of TRPV4 (2.8 ± 0.5 mmHg), or in lungs from TRPV4-deficient mice (Trpv4

−/−
) (3.4 ± 0.5 mmHg; n = 7 each). Functionally, Trpv4

−/−
mice displayed an exaggerated hypoxemia after regional airway occlusion (pa
o
2 71% of baseline ± 2 vs. 85 ± 2%; n = 5). Direct visualization of pulmonary arterioles by intravital microscopy revealed a 66% reduction in HPV in Trpv4

−/−
mice. In human PASMC, inhibition of TRPV4 blocked the hypoxia-induced Ca2+ influx and myosin light chain phosphorylation. TRPV4 may form a heteromeric channel with TRPC6 as the two channels coimmunoprecipitate from PASMC and as there is no additive effect of TRPC and TRPV4 inhibition on Ca2+ influx in response to the agonist, 11,12-epoxyeicosatrienoic acid.

Conclusion:

TRPV4 plays a critical role in HPV, potentially via cooperation with TRPC6.
Activation of Adenosine Triphosphate–regulated Potassium Channels during Reperfusion Restores Isoflurane Postconditioning-induced Cardiac Protection in Acutely Hyperglycemic Rabbits
Authors: Raphael Jacob , Gozal Yaacov , Navot Nachum , Zuo Zhiyi
Published: March 2015

AbstractAbstract

Adenosine triphosphate–regulated potassium channel activation restored anesthetic postconditioning-induced myocardial protection under acute hyperglycemia. This effect occurred without increasing protein kinase B (Akt) or endothelial nitric oxide synthase phosphorylation, suggesting that adenosine triphosphate–regulated potassium channels are located downstream to Akt and endothelial nitric oxide synthase in the pathway of isoflurane-induced myocardial postconditioning.

Background:

Hyperglycemia is known to inhibit myocardial anesthetic postconditioning. The authors tested whether activation of adenosine triphosphate–regulated potassium (KATP) channels would restore anesthetic postconditioning during acute hyperglycemia.

Methods:

Rabbits subjected to 40-min myocardial ischemia and 3-h reperfusion (ischemia–reperfusion [I/R]) were assigned to groups (n = 10 in each group) with or without isoflurane postconditioning (2.1% for 5 min) in the presence or absence of hyperglycemia and/or the KATP channel agonist diazoxide. Creatine kinase MB fraction and infarct size were measured. Phosphorylated protein kinase B (Akt) and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) were assessed. Oxidative stress was evaluated by measuring malondialdehyde, and apoptosis was assessed by dUTP nick-end labeling and activated caspase-3.

Results:

Postconditioning significantly reduced myocardial infarct size (26 ± 4% in the isoflurane [ISO] group vs. 53 ± 2% in the I/R group; P = 0.007); whereas, hyperglycemia inhibited this effect (infarct size: 47 ± 2%, P = 0.02 vs. the ISO group). Phosphorylated and eNOS levels increased, whereas malondialdehyde and myocardial apoptosis were significantly lower after isoflurane postconditioning compared with I/R. These effects were inhibited by acute hyperglycemia. Diazoxide restored the protective effect of isoflurane in the hyperglycemic animals (infarct size: 29 ± 2%; P = 0.01 vs. the I/R group), reduced malondialdehyde levels and myocardial apoptosis, but did not affect the expression of phosphorylated Akt or eNOS.

Conclusions:

KATP channel activation restored anesthetic postconditioning-induced myocardial protection under acute hyperglycemia. This effect occurred without increasing Akt or eNOS phosphorylation, suggesting that KATP channels are located downstream to Akt and eNOS in the pathway of isoflurane-induced myocardial postconditioning.
Comparison of Surgical Pleth Index–guided Analgesia with Conventional Analgesia Practices in Children
Authors: Park Ji Hye , Lim Byung Gun , Kim Heezoo , Lee Il Ok , Kong Myoung Hoon , Kim Nan Suk
Published: March 2015

AbstractAbstract

Children assigned to surgical pleth index guidance received less intraoperative fentanyl. However, they suffered more emergence agitation, had more postoperative pain, and required more rescue fentanyl.

Background:

To compare surgical pleth index (SPI)-guided analgesia with conventional analgesia by evaluating intraoperative analgesic requirements, postoperative pain, and emergence agitation in children.

Methods:

This study was designed as a parallel, two-arm, double-blind, randomized controlled trial. Forty-five children undergoing elective adenotonsillectomy were randomly allocated to SPI-guided group (SPI-guided analgesia group, n = 21) or control group (conventional analgesia group, n = 24). Anesthesia was maintained with sevoflurane 2 to 3 vol% in 50% nitrous oxide and oxygen to achieve state entropy between 40 and 60. Intraoperative fentanyl 0.5 μg/kg was administered for the first event persisting 3 min and subsequent events persisting 5 min. An event was defined as an SPI over 50 (SPI-guided group) or a blood pressure or heart rate 20% above the baseline (control group). The primary outcome was intraoperative fentanyl requirement. Secondary outcomes included intraoperative sevoflurane consumption, postoperative emergence agitation and pain score, and postoperative rescue analgesic requirements.

Results:

Intraoperative fentanyl requirement was lower in SPI-guided group than in control group (0.43 ± 0.53 vs. 1.73 ± 0.59 μg/kg; P < 0.001). Intraoperative sevoflurane consumption was similar. The proportion of patients with high emergence agitation scores (4 to 5) was greater in SPI-guided group (61.9 vs. 25.0%; P = 0.01). The postoperative pain score and rescue fentanyl consumption were higher in SPI-guided group (7 [4.5; 9] vs. 3 [2; 6.75]; P = 0.002; 0.50 ± 0.34 vs. 0.29 ± 0.30 μg/kg; P = 0.04).

Conclusions:

As currently constructed, SPI does not appear to be valid in children. This may be due to both differences in blood vessel distensibility and baseline increased heart rates in children versus adults.
Cost-Benefit Analysis of Robotic versus Nonrobotic Minimally Invasive Mitral Valve Surgery
Authors: Hassan Mohammed , Miao Yongjie , Lincoln Joy , Ricci Marco
Published: March 2015

Objective

To date, a direct comparison of minimally invasive mitral valve repair or replacement (mini-MVR) versus robotic MVR is lacking; therefore, the purpose of this study was to address this deficit and compare mini-MVR with robotic MVR from a cost-benefit perspective.

Methods

From a total of 759 literature citations, 21 studies were included for statistical comparisons of benefit outcomes, whereas 3 studies and our institutional experience were used to compare costs.

Results

The total cost per case exceeding that of conventional MVR is approximately $2063.90 for robotic MVR and $271 for mini-MVR. Mean 30-day mortality rates for mini-MVR and robotic MVR groups were 1.24% and 0.55%, respectively [106/8548 vs 6/1089; odds ratio (OR), 2.27; P = 0.052]. The conversion rate to conventional MVR was 0.77% in mini-MVR and 1.83% in robotic MVR (35/5092 vs 22/1046; OR, 0.32; P < 0.001). The rate of neurologic events was 1.32% in mini-MVR and 2.37% in robotic MVR (109/8257 vs 20/845; OR, 0.55; P = 0.02). Postoperative atrial fibrillation was seen in 11.42% of mini-MVR patients and in 19.67% of robotic MVR patients (371/3249 vs 203/1032; OR, 0.53, P < 0.001). Mean cardiopulmonary bypass time was longer in mini-MVR (137.4 vs 130.4 minutes), whereas cross-clamp time was shorter (82.2 vs 96.7 minutes).

Conclusions

Our comparative analysis provides insights into the clinical benefits versus variable costs relationship related to mini-MVR and robotic MVR.
Evisceration With Implant Placement Posterior to Posterior Sclera
Authors: Jordan David R. , Stoica Bazil
Published: March 2015

Purpose:

To describe the results and potential benefit of placement of a porous orbital implant (aluminum oxide) posterior to posterior sclera and compare the exposure rate with a former evisceration technique involving a posterior sclerotomy with placement of a porous implant partly within the scleral shell and partly within the intraconal space.

Methods:

Single-center, retrospective, interventional case series. A chart review of 93 patients undergoing evisceration with placement of an aluminum oxide orbital implant in conjunction with 2 different posterior sclerotomy techniques between 1999 and 2013 was carried out. Seventy-one patients met the inclusion criteria having 1 of 2 posterior sclerotomy techniques with an aluminum oxide orbital implant, a normal or near normal size eye and at least 6 months follow-up. Retrospective data analysis included demographic profile and treatment outcomes of the different posterior sclerotomy techniques. This study was performed with Institutional Review Board Approval and in compliance with the Declaration of Helsinki.

Results:

Thirty patients underwent the posterior radial sclerotomy technique, while 41 patients underwent implant placement posterior to posterior sclera technique. The average size implant used in the posterior radial sclerotomy technique was 18 mm versus 20 mm in the implant placement posterior to posterior sclera technique (p < 0.001) with the implant placed posterior to posterior sclera. The exposure rate with the posterior radial sclerotomy technique was 5 of the 30 patients (16.7%) and 0 of 41 (0%) for the implant placement posterior to posterior sclera technique (p = 0.006).

Conclusion:

Placement of an aluminum oxide orbital implant posterior to posterior sclera allowed the placement of larger implants which allowed enhancement of socket volume. In addition, it appeared to have a decreased risk of implant exposure during the study period. Porous implant placement posterior to posterior sclera is an alternate posterior sclerotomy technique that allows coverage of the implant surface with 3 layers of autogenous sclera.
Bacillus rigiliprofundi sp. nov., an endospore-forming, Mn-oxidizing, moderately halophilic bacterium isolated from deep subseafloor basaltic crust
Authors: Sylvan Jason B. , Hoffman Colleen L. , Momper Lily M. , Toner Brandy M. , Amend Jan P. , Edwards Katrina J.
Published: March 2015

A facultatively anaerobic bacterium, designated strain 1MBB1T, was isolated from basaltic breccia collected from 341 m below the seafloor by seafloor drilling of Rigil Guyot during Integrated Ocean Drilling Program Expedition 330. The cells were straight rods, 0.5 μm wide and 1–3 μm long, that occurred singly and in chains. Strain 1MBB1Tstained Gram-positive. Catalase and oxidase were produced. The isolate grew optimally at 30 °C and pH 7.5, and could grow with up to 12 % (w/v) NaCl. The DNA G+C content was 40.5 mol%. The major cellular fatty acids were C16:1ω11c(26.5 %), anteiso-C15:0(19.5 %), C16:0(18.7 %) and iso-C15:0(10.4 %), and the cell-wall diamino acid wasmeso-diaminopimelic acid. Endospores of strain 1MBB1Toxidized Mn(II) to Mn(IV), and siderophore production by vegetative cells was positive. Phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene indicated that strain 1MBB1Twas a member of the familyBacillaceae, withBacillus foraminisCV53TandBacillus novalisLMG 21837Tbeing the closest phylogenetic neighbours (96.5 and 96.2 % similarity, respectively). This is the first novel species described from deep subseafloor basaltic crust. On the basis of our polyphasic analysis, we conclude that strain 1MBB1Trepresents a novel species of the genusBacillus, for which we propose the name Bacillusrigiliprofundisp. nov. The type strain is 1MBB1T( = NCMA B78T = LMG 28275T).
Aneurinibacillus tyrosinisolvens sp. nov., a tyrosine-dissolving bacterium isolated from organics- and methane-rich seafloor sediment
Authors: Tsubouchi Taishi , Mori Kozue , Miyamoto Norio , Fujiwara Yoshihiro , Kawato Masaru , Shimane Yasuhiro , Usui Keiko , Tokuda Maki , Uemura Moeka , Tame Akihiro , Uematsu Katsuyuki , Maruyama Tadashi , Hatada Yuji
Published: March 2015

A novel Gram-positive-staining, strictly aerobic and heterotrophic bacterium, designated strain LL-002T, was isolated from organics- and methane-rich seafloor sediment at a depth of 100 m in Kagoshima Bay, Kagoshima, Japan. Colonies were lustreless and translucent white in colour. The temperature, pH and salt concentration ranges for growth were 10–30 °C, pH 6.0–6.5 and 0–1 % (w/v) NaCl. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences confirmed that strain LL-002T belongs to the genus Aneurinibacillus of the family Paenibacillaceae. 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities between strain LL-002T and the type strains of species of the genus Aneurinibacillus were 92.8–95.7 %; the highest sequence identity was with the type strain of Aneurinibacillus migulanus. The DNA G+C content of strain LL-002T was 46.2 mol%. MK-7 was the predominant menaquinone. The predominant cellular fatty acids were iso-C15 : 0 and anteiso-C15 : 0, and the cell-wall peptidoglycan contained meso-diaminopimelic acid and glutamic acid, glycine and alanine in addition to muramic acid and glucosamine. The peptidoglycan type was A1γ. In DNA–DNA hybridization assays between strain LL-002T and the type strains of the other species of the genus Aneurinibacillus, the level of hybridization was 6.3–30.1 %. On the basis of its biological features and the 16S rRNA gene sequence comparison presented here, strain LL-002T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Aneurinibacillus, for which the name Aneurinibacillus tyrosinisolvens sp. nov. is proposed; the type strain is LL-002T ( = NBRC 110097T = CECT 8536T).
SplAdder: Identification, quantification and testing of alternative splicing events from RNA-Seq data
Authors: Kahles André , Ong Cheng Soon , Zhong Yi , Rätsch Gunnar
Published: March 2015

Motivation: Understanding the occurrence and regulation of alternative splicing (AS) is a key task towards explaining the regulatory processes that shape the complex transcriptomes of higher eukaryotes. With the advent of high-throughput sequencing of RNA (RNA-Seq), the diversity of AS transcripts could be measured at an unprecedented depth. Although the catalog of known AS events has grown ever since, novel transcripts are commonly observed when working with less well annotated organisms, in the context of disease, or within large populations. Whereas an identification of complete transcripts is technically challenging and computationally expensive, focusing on single splicing events as a proxy for transcriptome characteristics is fruitful and sufficient for a wide range of analyses.

Results: We presentSplAdder, an alternative splicing toolbox, that takes RNA-Seq alignments and an annotation file as input toi) augment the annotation based on RNA-Seq evidence,ii) identify alternative splicing events present in the augmented annotation graph,iii) quantify and confirm these events based on the RNA-Seq data, andiv) test for significant quantitative differences between samples. Thereby, our main focus lies on performance, accuracy and usability.

Availability: Source code and documentation are available for download athttp://github.com/ratschlab/spladder. Example data, introductory information and a small tutorial are accessible viahttp://bioweb.me/spladder.

Contact:andre.kahles@ratschlab.org,gunnar.ratsch@ratschlab.org
How complexity originates: The evolution of animal eyes
Authors: Oakley Todd H. , Speiser Daniel I.
Published: March 2015

Learning how complex traits like eyes originate is fundamental for understanding evolution. Here, we first sketch historical perspectives on trait origins and argue that new technologies offer key new insights. Next, we articulate four open questions about trait origins. To address them, we define a research program to break complex traits into components and study the individual evolutionary histories of those parts. By doing so, we can learn when the parts came together and perhaps understand why they stayed together. We apply the approach to five structural innovations critical for complex eyes, reviewing the history of the parts of each of those innovations. Photoreceptors evolved within animals by bricolage, recombining genes that originated far earlier. Multiple genes used in eyes today had ancestral roles in stress responses. We hypothesize that photo-stress could have increased the chance those genes were expressed together in places on animals where light was abundant.
Accurate Isothermal Amplification Reaction Rate Determination Using High-Frequency Sampling
Authors: Beals Thomas
Published: March 2015

Background

Nucleic acids quantification by amplification is currently done primarily by real-time amplification for relative quantification, or by statistical inference from replicated endpoint assays for absolute quantification. The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) has been the dominant amplification technology, although alternative isothermal technologies have been described. Theoretical analysis of amplification kinetics and of amplification data interpretation have almost exclusively considered the PCR.

Results

Real-time measurements of isothermal amplification reactions can be made continuously, in contrast to the discrete per-cycle measurements of real-time PCR. Isothermal ramified rolling circle amplification (RAM) reactions were measured at frequent intervals, and amplification data subsets were fitted to an exponential amplification model. Signal-change-over-time slopes and time-zero signal intercepts were derived from the chosen subset data. Slope measurements were sufficient to determine a reaction rate (the isothermal equivalent of PCR efficiency) for each reaction. Analysis of slope and intercept together suggest that amplification reactions that were initiated from a single target molecule can be distinguished from reactions that that were initiated from greater than one target molecule.

Conclusions

The constant reaction environment of isothermal nucleic acid amplification allows continuous monitoring of reaction rate. Functional regions of interest in real-time data can be determined directly from the data. Accurate per-reaction efficiency can be readily measured. Improved estimation of low target copy number should improve quantification efficiency.