bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Repeated water avoidance stress induces visceral hypersensitivity: Role of interleukin‐1, interleukin‐6, and peripheral corticotropin‐releasing factor
Authors: Nozu Tsukasa , Miyagishi Saori , Nozu Rintaro , Takakusaki Kaoru , Okumura Toshikatsu
Published: March 2017

Background and Aim

Repeated water avoidance stress (WAS) induces visceral hypersensitivity. Additionally, it is also known to activate corticotropin‐releasing factor (CRF), mast cells, and pro‐inflammatory cytokines systems, but their precise roles on visceral sensation have not been determined definitely. The aim of the study was to explore this issue.

Methods

Abdominal muscle contractions induced by colonic balloon distention, that is, visceromotor response (VMR) was detected electrophysiologically in conscious rats. WAS or sham stress as control for 1 h daily was loaded, and the threshold of VMR was determined before and at 24 h after the stress.

Results

Repeated WAS for three consecutive days reduced the threshold of VMR, but sham stress did not induce any change. Astressin, a CRF receptor antagonist (50 μg/kg) intraperitoneally (ip) at 10 min before each WAS session, prevented the visceral allodynia, but the antagonist (200 μg/kg) ip at 30 min and 15 h before measurement of the threshold after completing 3‐day stress session did not modify the response. Ketotifen, a mast cell stabilizer (3 mg/kg), anakinra, an interleukin (IL)‐1 receptor antagonist (20 mg/kg) or IL‐6 antibody (16.6 μg/kg) ip for two times before the measurement abolished the response.

Conclusions

Repeated WAS for three consecutive days induced visceral allodynia, which was mediated through mast cells, IL‐1, and IL‐6 pathways. Inhibition of peripheral CRF signaling prevented but did not reverse this response, suggesting that peripheral CRF may be an essential trigger but may not contribute to the maintenance of repeated WAS‐induced visceral allodynia.
Dimercaprol is an acrolein scavenger that mitigates acrolein‐mediated PC‐12 cells toxicity and reduces acrolein in rat following spinal cord injury
Authors: Tian Ran , Shi Riyi
Published: March 2017

Acrolein is one of the most toxic byproducts of lipid peroxidation, and it has been shown to be associated with multiple pathological processes in trauma and diseases, including spinal cord injury, multiple sclerosis, and Alzheimer's disease. Therefore, suppressing acrolein using acrolein scavengers has been suggested as a novel strategy of neuroprotection. In an effort to identify effective acrolein scavengers, we have confirmed that dimercaprol, which possesses thiol functional groups, could bind and trap acrolein. We demonstrated the reaction between acrolein and dimercaprol in an abiotic condition by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Specifically, dimercaprol is able to bind to both the carbon double bond and aldehyde group of acrolein. Its acrolein scavenging capability was further demonstrated by in vitro results that showed that dimercaprol could significantly protect PC‐12 cells from acrolein‐mediated cell death in a dose‐dependent manner. Furthermore, dimercaprol, when applied systemically through intraperitoneal injection, could significantly reduce acrolein contents in spinal cord tissue following a spinal cord contusion injury in rats, a condition known to have elevated acrolein concentration. Taken together, dimercaprol may be an effective acrolein scavenger and a viable candidate for acrolein detoxification.

image
Induction of a transient acidosis in the rumen simulation technique
Authors: Eger M. , Riede S. , Breves G.
Published: March 2017

Feeding high concentrate diets to cattle results in an enhanced production of short‐chain fatty acids by the micro‐organisms in the rumen. Excessive fermentation might result in subclinical or clinical rumen acidosis, characterized by low pH, alterations in the microbial community and lactate production. Here, we provide an in vitro model of a severe rumen acidosis. A transient acidosis was induced in the rumen simulation technique by lowering bicarbonate, dihydrogen phosphate and hydrogen phosphate concentrations in the artificial saliva while providing a concentrate‐to‐forage ratio of 70:30. The experiment consisted of an equilibration period of 7 days, a first control period of 5 days, the acidosis period of 5 days and a second control period of 5 days. During acidosis induction, pH decreased stepwise until it ranged below 5.0 at the last day of acidosis (day 17). This was accompanied by an increase in lactate production reaching 11.3 mm at day 17. The daily production of acetate, propionate and butyrate was reduced at the end of the acidosis period. Gas production (methane and carbon dioxide) and NH3‐N concentration reached a minimum 2 days after terminating the acidosis challenge. While the initial pH was already restored 1 day after acidosis, alterations in the mentioned fermentation parameters lasted longer. However, by the end of the experiment, all parameters had recovered. An acidosis‐induced alteration in the microbial community of bacteria and archaea was revealed by single‐strand conformation polymorphism. For bacteria, the pre‐acidotic community could be re‐established within 5 days, however, not for archaea. This study provides an in vitro model for a transient rumen acidosis including biochemical and microbial changes, which might be used for testing feeding strategies or feed additives influencing rumen acidosis.
Guadalupan Devotion as a Moderator of Psychosocial Stress among Mexican Immigrants in the Rural Southern United States
Authors: Read‐Wahidi Mary Rebecca , DeCaro Jason A.
Published: March 2017

This study considers how shared devotion to the Virgin of Guadalupe among Mexican immigrants in rural Mississippi buffers the effects of immigration stress. Rural destinations lacking social services can quickly compound the already stressful experience of immigration. Guadalupe devotion provides a way of coping with the daily life stressors of immigration. We test the hypothesis that high consonance in the cultural model of Guadalupan devotion will moderate the adverse health effects of immigration stress. Results indicate that as exposure to immigration stressors increased, well‐being decreased among those with low consonance, while the effect was eliminated in those with high consonance. Findings demonstrate the advantage of expanding research on coping to incorporate complex models that consider religious and secular elements and also illustrate how a master symbol, characterized as a cultural model of coping with limited local distribution, yields health effects dissimilar to the mediation normally associated with consonance.
Parents' knowledge, attitudes, behaviors, and barriers to promoting condom use among their adolescent sons
Authors: Tipwareerom Worawan , Weglicki Linda
Published: March 2017

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is increasing in Thai youth. Consequently, a school‐based National Condom Strategy program was launched in 2015 to reduce the rate of HIV and sexually transmitted infections. We conducted in‐depth interviews of 31 parents/adoptive guardians of high‐school age Thai boys to explore parents' knowledge, attitudes, behaviors, and barriers to promoting condom use and its role in preventing HIV/sexually transmitted infections. A descriptive phenomenological approach and thematic analysis was used. Most participants had knowledge and positive attitudes about condom use. Half disagreed with the National Condom Strategy of placing condom vending machines in schools. More than half did not initiate teaching male youth about condom use until the youth had broached the question or only intended to do so when the youths were older. Barriers included parents' lack of condom experience and knowledge, embarrassment/discomfort when talking about condoms, and belief that youth were not sexually active. Parents are a key factor for supporting condom use in Thailand. This study supports the need for education programs for parents.
Influence of Different Boundary Conditions in Finite Element Analysis on Pelvic Biomechanical Load Transmission
Authors: Hu Pan , Wu Tao , Wang Hui‐zhi , Qi Xin‐zheng , Yao Jie , Cheng Xiao‐dong , Chen Wei , Zhang Ying‐ze
Published: March 2017

Objective

To observe the effects of boundary conditions and connect conditions on biomechanics predictions in finite element (FE) pelvic models.

Methods

Three FE pelvic models were constructed to analyze the effect of boundary conditions and connect conditions in the hip joint: an intact pelvic model assumed contact of the hip joint on both sides (Model I); and a pelvic model assumed the hip joint connecting surfaces fused together with (Model II) or without proximal femurs (Model III). The model was validated by bone surface strains obtained from strain gauges in an in vitro pelvic experiment. Vertical load was applied to the pelvic specimen, and the same load was simulated in the FE model.

Results

There was a strong correlation between the FE analysis results of Model I and the experimental results (R
2 = 0.979); meanwhile, the correlation coefficient and the linear regression function increased slightly with increasing load force. Comparing the three models, the stress values in the point near the pubic symphysis in Model III were 48.52 and 39.1% lower, respectively, in comparison with Models I and II. Furthermore, the stress values on the dome region of the acetabulum in Models II and III were 103.61 and 390.53% less than those of Model I. Besides, the posterior acetabular wall stress values of Model II were 197.15 and 305.17% higher than those of Models I and III, respectively.

Conclusions

These findings suggest that the effect of the connect condition in the hip joint should not be neglected, especially in studies related to clinical applications.
The role of microRNAs in Anopheles biology—an emerging research field
Authors: Lampe L. , Levashina E. A.
Published: March 2017

In the last years, microRNAs (miRNAs) have been established as important post‐transcriptional regulators of critical physiological processes in animals and plants. Here, we summarize what is known about miRNA biosynthesis, expression and function in the malaria vector mosquito Anopheles gambiae with a particular emphasis on the mosquito‐parasite interactions. We discuss the important gaps in the current knowledge, including the potential of miRNA manipulation for future vector control strategies.
Overcoming consumer resistance to innovations – an analysis of adoption triggers
Authors: Reinhardt Ronny , Hietschold Nadine , Gurtner Sebastian
Published: March 2017

Traditionally, innovation adoption research has focused on the determinants of the states ‘adoption’ and ‘nonadoption’. Aiming at a more detailed understanding of innovation adoption and resistance behavior, this study takes a different perspective and analyzes the transition stage between the nonadoption state and the adoption state to investigate triggers that overcome initial consumer resistance. The study seeks to answer three questions within this novel perspective: (1) What are triggers that lead nonadopters to become adopters? (2) Do adopters and nonadopters differ in their assessment of adoption triggers? and (3) How do adoption triggers relate to innovation adoption barriers? We apply a qualitative exploratory approach that relies on 160 face‐to‐face interviews with both adopters and nonadopters about nine different innovations to generate a framework of adoption triggers. The results reveal that adoption triggers fall into three broad categories: ‘increasing innovation attraction’, ‘reducing barriers’ or ‘tilting the system’. In addition, we find that adopters and nonadopters differ significantly in their assessment of (potential) adoption triggers. Nonadopters mention performance improvements more frequently as crucial adoption triggers than adopters do. In contrast, adopters indicate knowledge acquisition and a social system push significantly more often than nonadopters do. However, adoption triggers and corresponding adoption barriers do not appear to be linked in a systematic way. Instead, adoption triggers such as a social system push exert influence independent of the existing adoption barriers. We suggest strategies for pre‐ and postlaunch strategies to facilitate adoption triggers. We also discuss the implications of our findings for theory and present further research opportunities.
Secular and longitudinal physical activity changes in population‐based samples of children and adolescents
Authors: Dalene K. E. , Anderssen S. A. , Andersen L. B. , Steene‐Johannessen J. , Ekelund U. , Hansen B. H. , Kolle E.
Published: March 2017

The aims of this study were to investigate whether physical activity (PA) and sedentary time (ST) in 9‐ and 15‐year‐olds differed between 2005‐2006 and 2011‐2012 (secular change), and to investigate changes in PA and ST from age 9 to 15 (longitudinal change). In 2005‐2006, we invited nationally representative samples of Norwegian 9‐ (n=1470) and 15‐year‐olds (n=1348) to participate. In 2011‐2012, we invited a new nationally representative sample of 9‐year‐olds (n=1945), whereas 15‐year‐olds (n=1759) were invited to participate either based on previous participation in 2005‐2006 or from a random sample of schools. We assessed PA and ST objectively using accelerometers. In 2011‐2012, both 9‐ and 15‐year‐olds spent more time sedentary (≥35.7 min/d, P<.001) and less time in light PA (≥35.2 min/d, P<.001) compared to their peers in 2005‐2006. Nine‐year‐old girls also spent less time in moderate‐to‐vigorous PA (MVPA) (4.2 min/d, P=.041). In both age groups, the proportion accumulating an average of 60 min/d of MVPA did not differ between the two cohorts. From age 9 to 15, girls and boys decreased their time spent in LPA (≥106.7 min/d, P<.001) and in MVPA (≥20.8 min/d, P<.001). During the same period, ST increased by a mean of >2 h/d (P<.011). We observed an adverse secular change in PA from 2005‐2006 to 2011‐2012 among 9‐ and 15‐year‐olds, and a large decline in PA in the participants followed longitudinally from age 9 to 15 years.
Adverse events of cryopreserved hematopoietic stem cell infusions in adults: a single‐center observational study
Authors: Otrock Zaher K. , Sempek Diane S. , Carey Sherry , Grossman Brenda J.
Published: March 2017

BACKGROUND

Autologous hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) transplantation has been used for almost three decades for the management of malignant hematologic diseases and some solid tumors. Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) is used as a cryoprotective agent for hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPCs) collected by apheresis (HPC‐A). We evaluated the factors contributing to the occurrence of adverse events (AEs) of cryopreserved HPC‐A infusion.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS

Between January 2009 and June 2014, a total of 1269 (1191 patients) consecutive HPC‐A infusions were given to adult patients undergoing autologous HSC transplantation at Barnes‐Jewish Hospital. Only infusions on the first day of transplant were included in the analysis.

RESULTS

AEs were reported in 480 (37.8%) infusions. The most common AEs were facial flushing in 189 (39.4%) infusions, nausea and/or vomiting in 183 (38.1%) infusions, hypoxia requiring oxygen in 139 (29%) infusions, and chest tightness in 80 (16.7%) infusions. Multivariate analysis using logistic regression showed that female sex (odds ratio [OR], 1.78; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.40‐2.26; p < 0.0001), diagnosis other than multiple myeloma (OR, 1.44; 95% CI, 1.12‐1.84; p = 0.004), larger volume of infusion per body weight (OR, 1.66; 95% CI, 1.29‐2.15; p < 0.0001), and number of granulocytes infused per body weight (OR, 1.30; 95% CI, 1.01‐1.67; p = 0.042) were significant predictors of occurrence of AEs during infusion.

CONCLUSION

AEs due to HPC‐A infusion occurred in more than one‐third of patients. Interventions need to be instituted to reduce AEs and thus improve the safety of HPC‐A infusion. Many of these toxicities can be attributed to DMSO, and this is reflected in the volume of infusion. It might be warranted to consider implementing DMSO‐reducing protocols before infusion.
Some intraspecific morphological variations of Passalozetes (Passalozetes) africanus Grandjean, 1932, a newly recorded species from China, with a checklist and key to known species of the genus
Authors: Wei Yi , Chen Jun
Published: March 2017

Passalozetes (Passalozetes) africanus Grandjean, 1932 occurs widely in the Palaearctic Region. In the present paper, this species is described from specimens collected from Inner Mongolia, China, and Gafurov District, Tajikistan. Some morphological characters of these specimens are different from the original and subsequent descriptions as follows: rostral and lamellar setae finely barbed unilaterally; integument ridges of subcapitular mentum irregularly ranked and branched, not forming regularly bead-like structure anteriorly; distance g3–g4 larger than between other genital setae. A checklist and a key to all known species (except for P. karppineni Mikhaltzova, 1982) of the genus Passalozetes are also given.
Source levels and call parameters of harbor seal breeding vocalizations near a terrestrial haulout site in Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve
Authors: Matthews Leanna P. , Parks Susan E. , Fournet Michelle E. H. , Gabriele Christine M. , Womble Jamie N. , Klinck Holger
Published: March 2017

Source levels of harbor seal breeding vocalizations were estimated using a three-element planar hydrophone array near the Beardslee Islands in Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve, Alaska. The average source level for these calls was 144 dBRMS re 1 μPa at 1 m in the 40–500 Hz frequency band. Source level estimates ranged from 129 to 149 dBRMS re 1 μPa. Four call parameters, including minimum frequency, peak frequency, total duration, and pulse duration, were also measured. These measurements indicated that breeding vocalizations of harbor seals near the Beardslee Islands of Glacier Bay National Park are similar in duration (average total duration: 4.8 s, average pulse duration: 3.0 s) to previously reported values from other populations, but are 170–220 Hz lower in average minimum frequency (78 Hz).
Kin selection promotes female productivity and cooperation between the sexes
Authors: Łukasiewicz Aleksandra , Szubert-Kruszyńska Agnieszka , Radwan Jacek
Published: March 2017

Experimental evolution reveals the power of kin selection to shape female productivity and modulate sexual conflict.
Arctic sea ice, Eurasia snow, and extreme winter haze in China
Authors: Zou Yufei , Wang Yuhang , Zhang Yuzhong , Koo Ja-Ho
Published: March 2017

Cryospheric forcing, that is, decreasing Arctic sea ice and increasing Eurasia snow, exacerbated extreme winter haze in China.
Webinar | Deciphering cancer: The intersection of epigenetics, metabolism, and tumorigenesis
Authors: Wellen Kathryn , Locasale Jason
Published: March 2017

Epigenetic modifications to DNA and histone proteins are known to regulate metabolic gene expression, which in turn impacts metabolite levels. Conversely, the machinery responsible for modifying DNA and histones at the epigenetic level is highly sensitive to metabolites arising from cellular metabolism. Thus, the metabolic changes associated with oncogenesis may affect the epigenetic machinery, creating a feedback loop that synergistically promotes the progression of cancer. This webinar will examine how, by targeting proteins responsible for the crosstalk between epigenetics and metabolism, we may be able to develop new and effective therapeutic options for cancer treatment.

View the Webinar
U.K. scientists gird for future break with EU
Authors: Stokstad Erik
Published: March 2017

Government largesse may ease Brexit—at least for applied science.
iPS cell therapy reported safe
Authors: Normile Dennis
Published: March 2017

Researchers no longer envision replacement tissues tailor-made from each patient's cells.
Aggregation of the Whi3 protein, not loss of heterochromatin, causes sterility in old yeast cells
Authors: Schlissel Gavin , Krzyzanowski Marek K. , Caudron Fabrice , Barral Yves , Rine Jasper
Published: March 2017

Protein aggregation–mediated aging in yeast

Old age in yeast cells results in insensitivity to mating pheromone. Reduced activity of the histone deactylase Sir2 and consequent alteration of chromatin at mating loci have been implicated in the decreased sensitivity of old cells. However, Schlissel
et al.
found a different mechanism in the yeast strains that they studied (see the Perspective by Gitler and Jarosz). Proper response to mating pheromone requires arrest of the cell cycle mediated by an RNA-binding protein, Whi3. If aggregation of Whi3 in old cells was inhibited by deletion of a glutamine-rich region that promotes aggregation, loss of sensitivity to mating pheromone was partially prevented, and replicative life span was slightly increased.

Science
, this issue p.
1184
; see also p.
1126
The next New York
New York: 2140 A Novel
Kim Stanley Robinson
Orbit, 2017. 620 pp.
Authors: Abbott Carl
Published: March 2017

A science fiction writer examines the peril and politics of urban climate change
Our synthetic moment
Synthetic: How Life Got Made
Sophia Roosth
University of Chicago Press, 2017. 257 pp.
Authors: Campos Luis
Published: March 2017

An unusual ethnography explores a young field's ethos
Old moms say, no Sir
Authors: Gitler Aaron D. , Jarosz Daniel F.
Published: March 2017

Asymmetric distribution of an aggregated protein controls yeast cell aging
Instrument flight to the inner ear
Authors: Weber Stefan , Gavaghan Kate , Wimmer Wilhelm , Williamson Tom , Gerber Nicolas , Anso Juan , Bell Brett , Feldmann Arne , Rathgeb Christoph , Matulic Marco , Stebinger Manuel , Schneider Daniel , Mantokoudis Georgios , Scheidegger Olivier , Wagner Franca , Kompis Martin , Caversaccio Marco
Published: March 2017

Image-guided robotic surgery, designed for operating on small structures, is demonstrated for robotic cochlear implantation.
Socially assistive robotics: Human augmentation versus automation
Authors: Matarić Maja J.
Published: March 2017

Intelligent interactive robots assist by socially motivating, coaching, and encouraging human work rather than automating it.
Plasmablast Response to Primary Rhesus Cytomegalovirus (CMV) Infection in a Monkey Model of Congenital CMV Transmission
Authors: Fan Qihua , Nelson Cody S. , Bialas Kristy M. , Chiuppesi Flavia , Amos Joshua , Gurley Thaddeus C. , Marshall Dawn Jones , Eudailey Joshua , Heimsath Holly , Himes Jonathon , Deshpande Ashlesha , Walter Mark R. , Wussow Felix , Diamond Don J. , Barry Peter A. , Moody M. Anthony , Kaur Amitinder , Permar Sallie R.
Published: March 2017

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is the most common congenital infection worldwide and the leading infectious cause of neurologic deficits and hearing loss in newborns. Development of a maternal HCMV vaccine to prevent vertical virus transmission is a high priority, yet protective maternal immune responses following acute infection are poorly understood. To characterize the maternal humoral immune response to primary CMV infection, we investigated the plasmablast and early antibody repertoire using a nonhuman primate model with two acutely rhesus CMV (RhCMV)-infected animals—a CD4
+
T cell-depleted dam that experienced fetal loss shortly after vertical RhCMV transmission and an immunocompetent dam that did not transmit RhCMV to her infant. Compared to the CD4
+
T cell-depleted dam that experienced fetal loss, the immunocompetent, nontransmitting dam had a more rapid and robust plasmablast response that produced a high proportion of RhCMV-reactive antibodies, including the first identified monoclonal antibody specific for soluble and membrane-associated RhCMV envelope glycoprotein B (gB). Additionally, we noted that plasmablast RhCMV-specific antibodies had variable gene usage and maturation similar to those observed in a monkey chronically coinfected with simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) and RhCMV. This study reveals characteristics of the early maternal RhCMV-specific humoral immune responses to primary RhCMV infection in rhesus monkeys and may contribute to a future understanding of what antibody responses should be targeted by a vaccine to eliminate congenital HCMV transmission. Furthermore, the identification of an RhCMV gB-specific monoclonal antibody underscores the possibility of modeling future HCMV vaccine strategies in this nonhuman primate model.
Cost-Effectiveness Study of Criteria for Screening Cerebrospinal Fluid To Determine the Need for Herpes Simplex Virus PCR Testing
Authors: Hauser Ronald G. , Campbell Sheldon M. , Brandt Cynthia A. , Wang Shiyi
Published: March 2017

The absence of markers of inflammation in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) commonly predicts the absence of herpes simplex virus (HSV) central nervous system (CNS) infection. Consequently, multiple authors have proposed and validated criteria for deferring HSV PCR testing of CSF in immunocompetent hosts with normal CSF white blood cell and protein levels (≤5 cells/mm3and ≤50 mg/dl, respectively). Hosts are considered immunocompetent if they are ≥2 years old and have not had HIV or an organ transplant. Adoption of the criteria may erroneously exclude HSV-infected persons from a necessary diagnostic test or, alternatively, reduce the costs associated with HSV tests with minimal to no effect on patient care. Little is known about the cost-effectiveness of this approach. A decision analysis model was developed to evaluate the adoption of criteria for screening HSV tests of CSF. Estimates of input parameter values combined available literature with a multiyear multisite review at two of the largest health care systems in the United States. Adoption of criteria to screen for HSV test need proved cost-effective when less than 1 in 200 patients deferred from testing truly had an HSV CNS infection. Similar to prior studies, none of the deferred cases had HSV encephalitis (n= 3120). Adoption of these criteria in the United States would save an estimated $127 million ($95 million to $158 million [±25%]) annually. The model calculations remained robust to variation in test cost, prevalence of HSV infection, and random variation to study assumptions. The adoption of criteria to screen HSV PCR tests in CSF represents a cost-effective approach.
Real-Time Sequencing of Mycobacterium tuberculosis: Are We There Yet?
Authors: Lee Robyn S. , Pai Madhukar
Published: March 2017

Whole-genome sequencing has taken a leading role in epidemiologic studies of tuberculosis, but thus far, its real-time clinical utility has been low, in part because of the requirement for culture. In their report in this issue, Votintseva et al. (A. A. Votintseva, P. Bradley, L. Pankhurst, C. del Ojo Elias, M. Loose, K. Nilgiriwala, A. Chatterjee, E. G. Smith, N. Sanderson, T. M. Walker, M. R. Morgan, D. H. Wyllie, A. S. Walker, T. E. A. Peto, D. W. Crook, and Z. Iqbal, J Clin Microbiol 55:1285–1298, 2017,
https://doi.org/10.1128/JCM.02483-16
) present a new method for extracting
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
DNA directly from smear-positive respiratory samples, making it feasible to generate drug resistance predictions and phylogenetic trees in 44 h with the Illumina MiSeq. They also illustrate the potential for a <24-h turnaround time from DNA extraction to clinically relevant results with Illumina MiniSeq and Oxford Nanopore Technologies MinION. We comment on the promise and limitations of these approaches.
Evaluation of QuantiFERON-TB Gold-Plus in Health Care Workers in a Low-Incidence Setting
Authors: Moon Hee-Won , Gaur Rajiv L. , Tien Sara Shu-Hwa , Spangler Mary , Pai Madhukar , Banaei Niaz
Published: March 2017

Although launched in 2015, little is known about the accuracy of QuantiFERON-TB Gold-Plus (QFT-Plus) for diagnosis of latentM. tuberculosisinfection (LTBI). Unlike its predecessor, QFT-Plus utilizes two antigen tubes to elicit an immune response from CD4+and CD8+T lymphocytes. We conducted a cross-sectional study in low-risk health care workers (HCWs) at a single U.S. center to compare QFT-Plus to QuantiFERON-TB Gold in-tube (QFT). A total of 989 HCWs were tested with both QFT and QFT-Plus. Risk factors for LTBI were obtained from a questionnaire. QFT-Plus was considered positive if either antigen tube 1 (TB1) or TB2 tested positive, per the manufacturer's recommendations, or if both TB1 and TB2 tested positive, using a conservative definition. Results were compared using Cohen's kappa and linear regression, respectively. Agreement of QFT with QFT-Plus was high, at 95.6% (95% confidence interval [CI], 94.3 to 96.9; kappa, 0.57). The majority of discordant results between QFT and QFT-Plus TB1 (84.8%) and QFT and QFT-Plus TB2 (88.6%) fell within the range of 0.2 to 0.7 IU/ml. The positivity rate in 626 HCWs with no identifiable risk factors and no self-reported history of positive LTBI tests was 2.1% (CI, 1.0 to 3.2) and 3.0% (CI, 1.7 to 4.3) with QFT and QFT-Plus, respectively. A conservative definition of a QFT-Plus-positive result yielded a positivity rate of 1.0% (CI, 0.2 to 1.7;Pvalue of 0.0002 versus QFT-Plus and 0.07 versus QFT). On follow-up testing, of 11 HCWs with discordant QFT-Plus results, 90.9% (10/11) had a negative QFT result. The QFT-Plus assay showed a high degree of agreement with QFT in U.S. HCWs. A conservative interpretation of QFT-Plus eliminated nearly all nonreproducible positive results in low-risk HCWs. Larger studies are needed to validate the latter finding and to more clearly define conditions under which a conservative interpretation can be used to minimize nonreproducible positive results in low-risk populations.
Simultaneous Single-Cell
In Situ
Analysis of Human Adenovirus Type 5 DNA and mRNA Expression Patterns in Lytic and Persistent Infection
Authors: Krzywkowski Tomasz , Ciftci Sibel , Assadian Farzaneh , Nilsson Mats , Punga Tanel
Published: March 2017

An efficient adenovirus infection results in high-level accumulation of viral DNA and mRNAs in the infected cell population. However, the average viral DNA and mRNA content in a heterogeneous cell population does not necessarily reflect the same abundance in individual cells. Here, we describe a novel padlock probe-based rolling-circle amplification technique that enables simultaneous detection and analysis of human adenovirus type 5 (HAdV-5) genomic DNA and virus-encoded mRNAs in individual infected cells. We demonstrate that the method is applicable for detection and quantification of HAdV-5 DNA and mRNAs in short-term infections in human epithelial cells and in long-term infections in human B lymphocytes. Single-cell evaluation of these infections revealed high heterogeneity and unique cell subpopulations defined by differential viral DNA content and mRNA expression. Further, our single-cell analysis shows that the specific expression pattern of viral
E1A 13S
and
12S
mRNA splice variants is linked to HAdV-5 DNA content in the individual cells. Furthermore, we show that expression of a mature form of the HAdV-5 histone-like protein VII affects virus genome detection in HAdV-5-infected cells. Collectively, padlock probes combined with rolling-circle amplification should be a welcome addition to the method repertoire for the characterization of the molecular details of the HAdV life cycle in individual infected cells.

IMPORTANCE
Human adenoviruses (HAdVs) have been extensively used as model systems to study various aspects of eukaryotic gene expression and genome organization. The vast majority of the HAdV studies are based on standard experimental procedures carried out using heterogeneous cell populations, where data averaging often masks biological differences. As every cell is unique, characteristics and efficiency of an HAdV infection can vary from cell to cell. Therefore, the analysis of HAdV gene expression and genome organization would benefit from a method that permits analysis of individual infected cells in the heterogeneous cell population. Here, we show that the padlock probe-based rolling-circle amplification method can be used to study concurrent viral DNA accumulation and mRNA expression patterns in individual HAdV-5-infected cells. Hence, this versatile method can be applied to detect the extent of infection and virus gene expression changes in different HAdV-5 infections.
SAT2 Foot-and-Mouth Disease Virus Structurally Modified for Increased Thermostability
Authors: Scott Katherine A. , Kotecha Abhay , Seago Julian , Ren Jingshan , Fry Elizabeth E. , Stuart David I. , Charleston Bryan , Maree Francois F.
Published: March 2017

Foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV), particularly strains of the O and SAT serotypes, is notoriously unstable. Consequently, vaccines derived from heat-labile SAT viruses have been linked to the induction of immunity with a poor duration and hence require more frequent vaccinations to ensure protection.
In silico
calculations predicted residue substitutions that would increase interactions at the interpentamer interface, supporting increased stability. We assessed the stability of the 18 recombinant mutant viruses in regard to their growth kinetics, antigenicity, plaque morphology, genetic stability, and temperature, ionic, and pH stability by using Thermofluor and inactivation assays in order to evaluate potential SAT2 vaccine candidates with improved stability. The most stable mutant for temperature and pH stability was the S2093Y single mutant, while other promising mutants were the E3198A, L2094V, and S2093H single mutants and the F2062Y-H2087M-H3143V triple mutant. Although the S2093Y mutant had the greatest stability, it exhibited smaller plaques, a reduced growth rate, a change in monoclonal antibody footprint, and poor genetic stability properties compared to those of the wild-type virus. However, these factors affecting production can be overcome. The addition of 1 M NaCl was found to further increase the stability of the SAT2 panel of viruses. The S2093Y and S2093H mutants were selected for future use in stabilizing SAT2 vaccines.

IMPORTANCE
Foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) causes a highly contagious acute vesicular disease in cloven-hoofed livestock and wildlife. The control of the disease by vaccination is essential, especially at livestock-wildlife interfaces. The instability of some serotypes, such as SAT2, affects the quality of vaccines and therefore the duration of immunity. We have shown that we can improve the stability of SAT2 viruses by mutating residues at the capsid interface through predictive modeling. This is an important finding for the potential use of such mutants in improving the stability of SAT2 vaccines in countries where FMD is endemic, which rely heavily on the maintenance of the cold chain, with potential improvement to the duration of immune responses.
Toxoplasma gondii AP2IX-4 Regulates Gene Expression during Bradyzoite Development
Authors: Huang Sherri , Holmes Michael J. , Radke Joshua B. , Hong Dong-Pyo , Liu Ting-Kai , White Michael W. , Sullivan William J.
Published: March 2017

Toxoplasma gondii
is a single-celled parasite that persists in its host as a transmissible tissue cyst. How the parasite converts from its replicative form to the bradyzoites housed in tissue cysts is not well understood, but the process clearly involves changes in gene expression. Here we report that parasites lacking a cell cycle-regulated transcription factor called AP2IX-4 display reduced frequencies of tissue cyst formation in culture and in a mouse model of infection. Parasites missing AP2IX-4 lose the ability to regulate bradyzoite genes during tissue cyst development. Expressed in developing bradyzoites still undergoing division, AP2IX-4 may serve as a useful marker in the study of transitional forms of the parasite.
Collagenase injections for Dupuytren's disease: prospective cohort study assessing 2-year treatment effect durability
Authors: Lauritzson Anna , Atroshi Isam
Published: March 2017

Objectives

To assess 2-year durability of joint contracture correction following collagenase injections for Dupuytren's disease.

Design

Prospective cohort study.

Setting

Orthopaedic Department in Sweden.

Participants

Patients with palpable Dupuytren's cord and active extension deficit (AED) ≥30° in the metacarpophalangeal (MCP) and/or proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joint. A surgeon injected 0.80 mg collagenase into multiple cord parts and performed finger manipulation under local anaesthesia after 24–48 hours. A hand therapist measured joint contracture before and 5 weeks after injection in all treated patients. Of 57 consecutive patients (59 hands), 48 patients (50 hands) were examined by a hand therapist 24–35 months (mean 26) after injection. Five of the patients had received a second injection in the same finger within 6 months of the first injection.

Outcome measures

Primary outcome was proportion of treated joints with ≥20° worsening in AED from 5 weeks to 2 years.

Results

Between the 5-week and the 2-year measurements, AED had worsened by ≥20° in seven MCP and seven PIP joints (28% of the treated hands; all had received a single injection). Mean AED for the MCP joints was 54° before injection, 6° at 5 weeks and 9° at 2 years and for the PIP joints 30°, 13° and 16°, respectively. For joints with ≥10° contracture at baseline, mean (95 % CI) baseline to 2 years AED improvement was for MCP 49° (41–54) and for PIP 25° (17–32). No treatment-related adverse events were observed at the 2-year follow-up evaluation.

Conclusions

Two years after collagenase injections for Dupuytren's disease, improvement was maintained in 72% of the treated hands. Complete contracture correction was seen in more than 80% of the MCP but in less than half of the PIP joints.
Insomnia as a predictor of job exit among middle-aged and older adults: results from the Health and Retirement Study
Authors: Dong Liming , Agnew Jacqueline , Mojtabai Ramin , Surkan Pamela J , Spira Adam P
Published: March 2017

Objectives

Poor health is a recognised predictor of workforce exit, but little is known about the role of insomnia in workforce exit. We examined the association between insomnia symptoms and subsequent job exit among middle-aged and older adults from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS).

Methods

The study sample consisted of 5746 respondents aged between 50 and 70 who were working for pay when interviewed in the HRS 2004 and were followed up in the HRS 2006. Multinomial logistic regression was used to determine the association between number of insomnia symptoms (0, 1–2, 3–4) and job exit (no exit, health-related exit or exit due to other reasons).

Results

In models adjusting for demographic characteristics, baseline health status and baseline job characteristics, compared with respondents with no insomnia symptoms, those with 3–4 insomnia symptoms had approximately twice the odds of leaving the workforce due to poor health (adjusted relative risk ratio=1.93, 95% CI 1.04 to 3.58, p=0.036). There was no association between insomnia and job exit due to non-health reasons.

Conclusions

An elevated number of insomnia symptoms is independently associated with leaving paid employment. Workplace screening for and treatment of insomnia symptoms may prolong labour force participation of middle-aged and older adults.
Gas breakthrough in saturated compacted GaoMiaoZi (GMZ) bentonite under rigid boundary conditions
Authors: Xu L. , Ye W.M. , Ye B.
Published: March 2017

In a geological repository for disposal of high-level radioactive waste, gas breakthrough is an important phenomenon during a gas migration process in the saturated engineered barrier. In this paper, gas injection, swelling pressure, water permeability, and water retention tests were conducted on saturated compacted GaoMiaoZi (GMZ) bentonite to investigate the gas breakthrough mechanism. Results show that, for saturated GMZ bentonite tested under rigid boundary conditions, the gas breakthrough pressure is significantly larger than the swelling pressure and slightly lower than the gas entry pressure obtained from the water retention characteristic and the van Genuchten model. Gas breakthrough pressure deviates from the swelling pressure and approaches the calculated gas entry pressure as the dry density increases. Mechanical and capillary effects are both important to the gas migration process for specimens with lower dry densities, and the capillary effect becomes more important with the increase of dry density. The desaturation and shrinkage of the specimen will result in unexpectedly high and disordered interfacial gas flux. For specimens with higher dry densities, gas will only flow through interconnected larger pores, then result in minor desaturation–shrinkage of the specimen. Finally, a new model with consideration of both mechanical and capillary effects is proposed, which can accurately predict gas breakthrough pressure for a GMZ bentonite specimen.
Beta Hebbian Learning as a New Method for Exploratory Projection Pursuit
Authors: Quintián Héctor , Corchado Emilio
Published: March 2017

In this research, a novel family of learning rules called Beta Hebbian Learning (BHL) is thoroughly investigated to extract information from high-dimensional datasets by projecting the data onto low-dimensional (typically two dimensional) subspaces, improving the existing exploratory methods by providing a clear representation of data’s internal structure. BHL applies a family of learning rules derived from the Probability Density Function (PDF) of the residual based on the beta distribution. This family of rules may be called Hebbian in that all use a simple multiplication of the output of the neural network with some function of the residuals after feedback. The derived learning rules can be linked to an adaptive form of Exploratory Projection Pursuit and with artificial distributions, the networks perform as the theory suggests they should: the use of different learning rules derived from different PDFs allows the identification of “interesting” dimensions (as far from the Gaussian distribution as possible) in high-dimensional datasets. This novel algorithm, BHL, has been tested over seven artificial datasets to study the behavior of BHL parameters, and was later applied successfully over four real datasets, comparing its results, in terms of performance, with other well-known Exploratory and projection models such as Maximum Likelihood Hebbian Learning (MLHL), Locally-Linear Embedding (LLE), Curvilinear Component Analysis (CCA), Isomap and Neural Principal Component Analysis (Neural PCA).
Elliptic boundary value problem on non-compactG-manifolds
Authors: Wang Xiangsheng
Published: March 2017

In this paper, an equality between the Hochs–Mathai type index and the Atiyah–Patodi–Singer type index is established when the manifold and the group action are both non-compact, which generalizes a result of Ma and Zhang for compact group actions. As a technical preparation, a problem concerning the Fredholm property of the global elliptic boundary value problems of the Atiyah–Patodi–Singer type on a non-compact manifold is studied.
Axions and dark matter
Authors: Yang Qiaoli
Published: March 2017

Dark matter constitutes about 23% of the total energy density of the universe, but its properties are still little known besides that it should be composed by cold and weakly interacting particles. Many beyond Standard Model theories can provide proper candidates to serve as dark matter and the axion introduced to solve the strong CP problem turns out to be an attractive one. In this paper, we briefly review several important features of the axion and the axion dark matter.
Dimension quotients of metabelian Lie rings
Authors: Passi Inder Bir S. , Sicking Thomas
Published: March 2017

For a Lie ring [Formula: see text] over the ring of integers, we compare its lower central series [Formula: see text] and its dimension series [Formula: see text] defined by setting [Formula: see text], where [Formula: see text] is the augmentation ideal of the universal enveloping algebra of [Formula: see text]. While [Formula: see text] for all [Formula: see text], the two series can differ. In this paper, it is proved that if [Formula: see text] is a metabelian Lie ring, then [Formula: see text], and [Formula: see text], for all [Formula: see text].
Identification of the theory of orthogonal polynomials in d-indeterminates with the theory of 3-diagonal symmetric interacting Fock spaces on ℂd
Authors: Accardi Luigi , Barhoumi Abdessatar , Dhahri Ameur
Published: March 2017

The identification mentioned in the title allows a formulation of the multidimensional Favard lemma different from the ones currently used in the literature and which parallels the original 1-dimensional formulation in the sense that the positive Jacobi sequence is replaced by a sequence of positive Hermitean (square) matrices and the real Jacobi sequence by a sequence of positive definite kernels. The above result opens the way to the program of a purely algebraic classification of probability measures on [Formula: see text] with moments of any order and more generally of states on the polynomial algebra on [Formula: see text].

The quantum decomposition of classical real-valued random variables with all moments is one of the main ingredients in the proof.
Noise Modeling in MOX Gas Sensors
Authors: Gomri S. , Contaret T. , Seguin J. , Aguir K. , Masmoudi M.
Published: March 2017

In this paper, we propose a new model of adsorption–desorption (AD) noise in chemoresistive gas sensors by taking into account the polycrystalline structure of the sensing layer and the effect of the adsorbed molecule’s density fluctuation on the grain boundary barrier height. Using Wolkenstein’s isotherm, in the case of dissociative and non-dissociative chemisorption, combined with the electroneutrality, we derive an exact expression for power density spectrum (PDS) of the AD noise generated around one grain. We show that the AD noise generated in the overall sensing layer is a combination of multi-Lorentzian components. The parameters of each Lorentzian depend on the nature of the detected gas, the grain size, and the gas concentration. Moreover, we show that, according to the sensing layer microstructure (distribution of grain sizes in the sensing layer), this combination can lead to a [Formula: see text] spectrum, and in this case the noise level of the [Formula: see text] spectrum depends on the nature of the detected gas. The noise modeling presented in this paper confirms that noise spectroscopy is a useful tool for improving the gas sensor selectivity.
Noise dependent synchronization of a degenerate SDE
Authors: Vorkastner Isabell
Published: March 2017

We provide an example of an SDE with degenerate additive noise where synchronization depends on the strength of noise and the number of directions in which the noise acts. Here, synchronization means that the weak random attractor consists of a single random point. Indicated by a change of sign of the top Lyapunov exponent, we prove synchronization and no (weak) synchronization respectively.