bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Laboratory adaptation reduces female mating resistance in the sweet potato weevil
Authors: Kuriwada Takashi , Kumano Norikuni , Shiromoto Keiko , Haraguchi Dai
Published: June 2014

Selection for genetic adaptation might occur whenever an animal colony is maintained in the laboratory. The laboratory adaptation of behavior such as foraging, dispersal ability, and mating competitiveness often causes difficulties in the maintenance of biological control agents and other beneficial organisms used in procedures such as the sterile insect technique (SIT). Sweet potato weevil, Cylas formicarius (Summers) (Coleoptera: Brentidae), is an important pest in sub‐tropical and tropical regions. An eradication program targeting C. formicarius using SIT was initiated in Japan with weevils being mass‐reared for 95 generations to obtain sufficient sterile males. The mass‐reared strain of C. formicarius exhibits weaker female resistance to male mating attempts compared with the wild strain. This could affect the success of SIT programs because mating persistence of mass‐reared males might be expected to decrease in response to weak female resistance. We show that high success of sperm transfer to mass‐reared females was due to weak female resistance to male mating attempts. However, the mating behavior of mass‐reared males did not change. In C. formicarius, the trait of male persistence to mate was not correlated with the female resistance traits. Our results suggest that mass‐rearing conditions do not have negative effects on the mating ability of the sterile males of this species, and thus that the current mass‐rearing procedures are suitable for production of sterile males for the weevil eradication program.
Clinical features, genetics, and outcome of pediatric patients with hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis in Korea: report of a nationwide survey from Korea Histiocytosis Working Party
Authors: Koh Kyung‐Nam , Im Ho Joon , Chung Nak‐Gyun , Cho Bin , Kang Hyoung Jin , Shin Hee Young , Lyu Chuhl Joo , Yoo Keon Hee , Koo Hong Hoe , Kim Hee‐Jin , Baek Hee Jo , Kook Hoon , Yoon Hoi Soo , Lim Young Tak , Kim Heung Sik , Ryu Kyung Ha , Seo Jong Jin ,   the Korea Histiocytosis Working Party
Published: June 2014

Background

We analyzed a nationwide registry of pediatric patients with hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) in Korea to assess the clinical and genetic features and treatment outcomes in pediatric HLH.

Methods

The Korea Histiocytosis Working Party retrospectively analyzed data on 251 pediatric patients diagnosed with HLH between 1996 and 2011.

Results

In the study cohort, 25 cases were categorized with familial HLH, 64 with presumed secondary HLH, and 162 with unspecified HLH. Of 217 evaluable patients, 91 (42%) had concomitant Epstein–Barr virus infection. Of 238 evaluable patients, central nervous system (CNS) involvement, which was more frequent in the familial group, was evident in 81 cases (34%). Genetic tests revealed a predominant UNC13D mutation with a high incidence of two recurrent splicing mutations (c.118‐308C>T and c.754‐1G>C). The 5‐yr overall survival rate was 68% (38% in the familial group and 81% in the presumed secondary group). The 5‐yr overall survival rate among 32 patients who underwent allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation was 64%. In multivariate analysis, a younger age at diagnosis, severe transaminasemia, and a coagulation abnormality were independent prognostic factors for survival. Responses during initial treatments were also significant indicators of outcome.

Conclusion

Our study showed the unique predominance of a UNC13D mutation and vulnerability to Epstein–Barr virus infection in Korean children with HLH and emphasizes the prognostic significance of age, liver dysfunction, and treatment responses in this disease. A multicenter prospective trial that builds on the present results is warranted to identify subgroups of patients with a poor prognosis and identify optimal treatments.
A study on relationships between large‐scale climate indices and estimates of North Pacific albacore tuna productivity
Authors: Zhang Zane , Holmes John , Teo Steven L. H.
Published: June 2014

A logistic production model was used to examine potential relationships between three climate indices, the North Pacific Gyre Oscillation (NPGO), the Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO), and the Multivariate El Niño‐Southern Oscillation Index (MEI), and productivity estimates of the North Pacific albacore tuna (Thunnus alalunga) population. Catch and standardized catch‐per‐unit‐effort data from three longline fisheries (Japan, US, and Taiwan) were used in the model. The climate indices were incorporated into the model by correlating time‐varying intrinsic population growth rate (ry) of the production model with the annual mean value for each index. The estimated probability that the NPGO is positively correlated with stock productivity, as measured by ry, was 0.99, and the calculated probability that MEI is negatively correlated with the productivity was 0.95. The time lag for these correlations is 4 yr, which is consistent with the timing of recruitment to the Japan longline fishery. The PDO did not seem to have any detectable relationship with stock productivity. However, it remains uncertain if there is a conclusive linkage between the albacore productivity and the NPGO or the MEI index, because model fit to the data is about the same as that of a base model which does not use any climate index and assumes a time‐invariant r.
Beyond a warming fingerprint: individualistic biogeographic responses to heterogeneous climate change in California
Authors: Rapacciuolo Giovanni , Maher Sean P. , Schneider Adam C. , Hammond Talisin T. , Jabis Meredith D. , Walsh Rachel E. , Iknayan Kelly J. , Walden Genevieve K. , Oldfather Meagan F. , Ackerly David D. , Beissinger Steven R.
Published: June 2014

Understanding recent biogeographic responses to climate change is fundamental for improving our predictions of likely future responses and guiding conservation planning at both local and global scales. Studies of observed biogeographic responses to 20th century climate change have principally examined effects related to ubiquitous increases in temperature – collectively termed a warming fingerprint. Although the importance of changes in other aspects of climate – particularly precipitation and water availability – is widely acknowledged from a theoretical standpoint and supported by paleontological evidence, we lack a practical understanding of how these changes interact with temperature to drive biogeographic responses. Further complicating matters, differences in life history and ecological attributes may lead species to respond differently to the same changes in climate. Here, we examine whether recent biogeographic patterns across California are consistent with a warming fingerprint. We describe how various components of climate have changed regionally in California during the 20th century and review empirical evidence of biogeographic responses to these changes, particularly elevational range shifts. Many responses to climate change do not appear to be consistent with a warming fingerprint, with downslope shifts in elevation being as common as upslope shifts across a number of taxa and many demographic and community responses being inconsistent with upslope shifts. We identify a number of potential direct and indirect mechanisms for these responses, including the influence of aspects of climate change other than temperature (e.g., the shifting seasonal balance of energy and water availability), differences in each taxon's sensitivity to climate change, trophic interactions, and land‐use change. Finally, we highlight the need to move beyond a warming fingerprint in studies of biogeographic responses by considering a more multifaceted view of climate, emphasizing local‐scale effects, and includinga prioriknowledge of relevant natural history for the taxa and regions under study.
The First Step in the Production of Fiber‐Diopside Crystal
Authors: Uz Veli
Published: June 2014

In this study, the use of sepiolite, formed as fibers in nature, in the production of fiber‐diopside crystals and its effect on crystallization were researched. Sintering process was performed for both pellet and powdered samples. Grain–grain interactions in pellets were effective in diopside crystallization during sintering. It was determined that poor grain–grain interactions and grains with pores formed local glassy phase and crystallization. Dendritic structure was largely formed than eutectic structure within the pellets. The prevention of dendritic growth of crystals by determining the cooling interval could yield longer fiber crystals.
Identification of the Zn Substitution Sites in La–Zn Substituted SrAl12O19 from 27Al Solid‐State NMR Studies
Authors: Baby Bindhu , Dey Krishna K. , Ajithkumar Thalasseril G. , Joy Pattayil A.
Published: June 2014

The La–Zn substituted hexagonal strontium aluminate, Sr1−xLaxAl12−xZnxO19, with the magnetoplumbite structure and having five different coordination environments for Al with different symmetries, is investigated using 27Al solid‐state NMR to get detailed information on the sites of substitution of Zn and the associated changes in the local coordination environments of Al. The objective of the study was to get information on the local structural variations in the isostructural La–Co substituted strontium ferrite, Sr1−xLaxFe12−xCoxO19, showing enhanced magnetic performance on substitution. The NMR studies on the aluminate give direct evidence for the sites of substitution and the changes in the local coordination environments. It is found that Zn is substituted at the 2a and 4f2 AlO6 octahedral sites. However, an interesting observation from the NMR studies is the stabilization of the Al site occupancy at the penta‐coordinated 2b site over the distorted tetrahedral 4eAl site, without any substitution at these sites. Large changes in the quadrupolar coupling constant of the 2a and 4e sites are observed between x = 0.2 and 0.3, corresponding to the compositional region showing higher performance in the case of Sr1−xLaxFe12−xCoxO19, indicating the role of distortion of local coordination environments on suitable substitution in controlling the performance parameters.
Photoperiodic Co‐Regulation of Kisspeptin, Neurokinin B and Dynorphin in the Hypothalamus of a Seasonal Rodent
Authors: Bartzen‐Sprauer J. , Klosen P. , Ciofi P. , Mikkelsen J. D. , Simonneaux V.
Published: June 2014

In many species, sexual activity varies on a seasonal basis. Kisspeptin (Kp), a hypothalamic neuropeptide acting as a strong activator of gonadotrophin‐releasing hormone neurones, plays a critical role in this adaptive process. Recent studies report that two other neuropeptides, namely neurokinin B (NKB) and dynorphin (DYN), are co‐expressed with Kp (and therefore termed KNDy neurones) in the arcuate nucleus and that these peptides are also considered to influence GnRH secretion. The present study aimed to establish whether hypothalamic NKB and DYN expression is photoperiod‐dependent in a seasonal rodent, the Syrian hamster, which exhibits robust seasonal rhythms in reproductive activity. The majority of Kp neurones in the arcuate nucleus co‐express NKB and DYN and the expression of all three peptides is decreased under a short (compared to long) photoperiod, leading to a 60% decrease in the number of KNDy neurones under photo‐inhibitory conditions. In seasonal rodents, RFamide‐related peptide (RFRP) neurones of the dorsomedial hypothalamus are also critical for seasonal reproduction. Interestingly, NKB and DYN are also expressed in the dorsomedial hypothalamus but do not co‐localise with RFRP‐immunoreactive neurones, and the expression of both NKB and DYN is higher under a short photoperiod, which is opposite to the short‐day inhibition of RFRP expression. In conclusion, the present study shows that NKB and DYN display different photoperiodic variations in the Syrian hamster hypothalamus. In the arcuate nucleus, NKB and DYN, together with Kp, are down‐regulated under a short photoperiod, whereas, in the dorsomedial hypothalamus, NKB and DYN are up‐regulated under a short photoperiod.
Immunohistological expression of human ß‐defensin‐1 and human ß‐defensin‐2 in exacerbation of acute and secondary chronic osteomyelitis of the mandible
Authors: Beck‐Broichsitter Benedicta E. , Dau Heino , Moest Tobias , Jochens Arne , Stockmann Philipp , Wiltfang Jörg , Becker Stephan T.
Published: June 2014

Background

The majority of patients diagnosed with osteomyelitis of the jaw have severe complaints. Unfortunately, the pathogenesis still remains unclear. Human ß‐defensins expressed in epithelial and bone tissues as a part of the innate immunity may be involved in disease development. In this study, we hypothesize that expression levels of human ß‐defensin‐1 and ‐2 in the acute and secondary chronic osteomyelitis may be altered in comparison with healthy bone and with bisphosphonate‐associated necrosis as well as irradiation from a previous study.

Methods

Bone samples were collected during surgical debridement in a total of eight patients suffering from acute or secondary chronic osteomyelitis of the jaw. Expression levels of hBD‐1 and ‐2 were quantified and related to non‐stained cells. Ratios were compared by one‐way ANOVA and multiple tests by Holm–Bonferroni.

Results

Multiple testing revealed no significant differences for expression levels of human ß‐defensin‐1 between all groups, whereas labeling index of human ß‐defensin‐2 was significantly different between specimens of bisphosphonate‐associated osteonecrosis of the jaws and all other groups. No significant difference occurred between samples of floride osteomyelitis and healthy bone for expression of hBD‐1 and ‐2.

Conclusions

Although the affected patients showed all clinical signs of acute inflammation, expression levels in acute and secondary chronic osteomyelitis in the jaws did not reveal statistically significant differences compared with healthy bone samples. The weak immunological host response in terms of a putative genetically predisposition should be further discussed as pathogenesis factor for osteomyelitis in the future.
Patients’ Perceptions of Benefits and Risks of Complete Denture Therapy
Authors: Miranda Bárbara Barbério , dos Santos Mateus Bertolini Fernandes , Marchini Leonardo
Published: June 2014

Purpose

The aim of this study was to assess patients’ perceptions of benefits and risks concerning complete denture therapy. A secondary objective was to assess the influence of clinical and sociodemographic variables on patients’ perceptions.

Materials and Methods

The sample was composed of 104 volunteers who presented themselves for complete denture treatment at a dental school. The average age of the volunteers was 69.2 years (±) 9.3. Patient opinions concerning the benefits of complete denture therapy were recorded using a previously reported questionnaire. The answers were evaluated in three domains: (1) benefits (positive perceptions); (2) risks (negative perceptions); and (3) consequences of no treatment.

Results

The average time of use of the previous dentures was 20 years (SD ±12.9). Risk factors (negative perceptions) received lower scores by the patients, while the consequences of no treatment received higher scores. No association was found among evaluations of the previous dentures and educational level, marital status, and gender; however, patients’ evaluation about their previous dentures was significantly different depending on age (p = 0.001) and previous dentures’ time of use (p = 0.038).

Conclusions

Patients presented a positive perception of complete denture therapy, and the risk factors (negative perceptions) received the lowest scores. Patient perception regarding complete denture therapy was not influenced by educational level, evaluation of the previous dentures, or marital status.
Customer and Competitor Insights, New Product Development Competence, and New Product Creativity: Differential, Integrative, and Substitution Effects
Authors: Chuang Fu‐Mei , Morgan Robert E. , Robson Matthew J.
Published: June 2014

Developing creative new products requires a synthesis among customer‐oriented and competitor‐oriented learning, and new product development competence. However, underlying this synthesis is a paradox: how to integrate both customer and competitor insights within a technology‐centric new product development process. In order to examine the nature of this organizational tension, this study develops a conceptual framework and tests a series of six hypotheses with data generated from our study of creative new products within 187 high‐technology ventures in China. Differential effects are found in the way in which customer‐oriented learning (neutral) and competitor‐oriented learning (positive) relate to new product creativity. Their integration, meanwhile, is positively related to this new product outcome. Results also reveal that new product development competence, both independently and when integrated with customer‐oriented learning, positively impacts new product creativity. However, the study also reveals a surprising finding of a substitution effect where the combination of competitor‐oriented learning with new product development competence is inversely related to new product creativity. These findings are discussed, and their implications are derived for further research and both market and technology management.
Mucosal leishmaniasis with primary oral involvement: a case series and a review of the literature
Authors: Mignogna MD , Celentano A , Leuci S , Cascone M , Adamo D , Ruoppo E , Favia G
Published: June 2014

Objective

To analyze retrospectively a case series of primary oral leishmaniasis and to review the literature on head–neck primary mucosal leishmaniasis (ML) in immunocompetent patients.

Subjects and methods

A PUBMED search was carried out from 1950 to 2013. Clinical records of patients with primary head–neck mucosal manifestations of leishmaniasis were analyzed. In addition, clinical records between 2001 and 2012 of patients with primary oral manifestations were collected in two independent hospitals.

Results

Our multicenter case series revealed seven patients with oral leishmaniasis. The most commonly affected site was the tongue (four patients, 57%), and the most common clinical presentation was an exophytic lesion (six patients, 85%). The literature review showed 11 reports published between 2005 and 2013, describing 13 patients (100% male) affected by head–neck primary ML (54% laryngeal, 31% oral, 23% pharyngeal, and 15% endonasal). The most common clinical presentation was an exophytic lesion (69%).

Conclusions

The literature analysis revealed that in immunocompetent patients, the oral mucosa is the second most frequently affected site of the head and neck region. In the oral cavity, the tongue is the most affected site. Diagnosis of oral leishmaniasis represents a challenge but must be considered in any differential diagnosis of exophytic lesions of oral mucosa.
Maternal and Cord Blood 25(OH)‐Vitamin D Concentrations in Relation to Child Development and Behaviour
Authors: Keim Sarah A. , Bodnar Lisa M. , Klebanoff Mark A.
Published: June 2014

Background

Animal studies have linked in utero vitamin D exposure to various aspects of offspring brain development. Limited research has translated these findings to humans, and none have employed cord blood to measure exposure late in gestation.

Methods

Our objective was to examine the associations between maternal 25(OH)D measured at ≤26 weeks' gestation or cord blood 25(OH)D and offspring global development, IQ, achievement, and behaviour in the US Collaborative Perinatal Project (1959–73). This was a secondary analysis of data from a case‐cohort study, with 3896 women and children who participated in at least one outcome assessment. Psychologists assessed global development at 8 months, IQ and behaviour at 4 and 7 years, and achievement at 7 years. Multiple linear and logistic regression was used to examine the associations between 25(OH)D and child outcomes, controlling for maternal education, age, parity, race, maternal body mass index, marital status, smoking, gestational age and month of blood draw, and study site.

Results

Positive associations for many outcomes were greatly attenuated upon adjustment for confounders and were generally null. Only IQ at age 7 was associated with both maternal and cord blood 25(OH)D, but the effect estimates were very small (β for 5 nmol/L increment of maternal 25(OH)D = 0.10; [95% CI 0.00, 0.19]).

Conclusion

We observed very little indication that maternal or cord blood 25(OH)D are associated with cognitive development, achievement, and behaviour between 8 months and 7 years of age.
Endobronchial ultrasound‐guided transbronchial needle biopsy for the diagnosis of intrathoracic lymph node metastases from extrathoracic malignancies: A meta‐analysis and systematic review
Authors: Yang Bo , Li Fang , Shi Weiwei , Liu Hui , Sun Shengjie , Zhang Guoqing , Jiao Shunchang
Published: June 2014

Intrathoracic lymph node metastases in patients with extrathoracic malignancies are a common clinical manifestation. Several studies evaluating intrathoracic lymph node metastases in patients with extrathoracic malignancy by using the endobronchial ultrasound‐guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS‐TBNA) have been reported. The objective of this meta‐analysis is to investigate the diagnostic value of EBUS‐TBNA for diagnosing intrathoracic lymph node metastases in patients with extrathoracic malignancies. We systematically searched Cochrane Library, Medline and Embase for relevant studies published prior to May 2013. Studies specifically designed to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of EBUS‐TBNA for intrathoracic lymph node metastases in patients with an extrathoracic malignancy were selected. Diagnostic accuracy meta‐analysis was conducted by pooling estimates of sensitivity, specificity, negative likelihood ratio (NLR), positive likelihood ratio (PLR) and diagnostic odds ratios (DOR) derived from a summary receiver operating characteristic (SROC) analysis of the original studies. Six studies were included, which provided a dataset of 533 patients. EBUS‐TBNA pooled estimates had 0.85 sensitivity (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.80–0.89), 0.99 specificity (95% CI: 0.95–1.00), PLR 28.63 (95% CI: 11.51–71.22) and NLR 0.16 (95% CI: 0.12–0.21). The overall DOR was 179.77 (95% CI: 66.29–487.50). The area under the SROC curve and the diagnostic accuracy were 0.9247 and 0.8588, respectively. Evidence gathered from studies of moderate quality reveals a high degree of diagnostic accuracy of EBUS‐TBNA for diagnosing intrathoracic lymph node metastases in patients with extrathoracic malignancies.
Micromorphology of ice keel scour in pebbly sandy mud and fine‐grained sands: Scarborough Bluffs, Ontario, Canada
Authors: Linch Lorna D. , van der Meer Jaap J. M.
Published: June 2014

The keels of icebergs and ice‐pressure ridges plough through unconsolidated sea/lake sediments gouging out long grooves known as ice keel scour marks. Although the surface and (more recently) subsurface morphology of scours are well‐documented, little is known of the effect of grain size on the detectability, style and intensity of sub‐scour deformation. This investigation macroscopically and microscopically (two‐dimensional thin sections) examines suspected ice keel scour in: (i) glaciolacustrine pebbly sandy mud and (ii) fine‐grained sands at Scarborough Bluffs, Ontario, Canada. In this investigation, there is an almost identical suite of deformation structures (individual structures and overprinted structural patterns) to those identified in iceberg‐scoured clays from former Glacial Lake Agassiz (Manitoba, Canada); this confirms that deformation in the pebbly sandy mud and fine‐grained sands at Scarborough Bluffs is likely to be indicative of ice keel scour. Discrete differences in the detectability, style and intensity of deformation between the Scarborough Bluffs and Glacial Lake Agassiz sediments are probably a function of grain size in response to ice keel scour. This research provides additional information on the types of structures that are associated with sediment deformation by processes of ice keel scour in a variety of grain sizes. This information is particularly valuable to inform palaeoenvironmental reconstruction and offshore engineering in areas where ice keel scour occurs in a variety of grain sizes. It also demonstrates the potential value of micromorphology where, for example, the study of cores is necessary.
Topological Self‐Organization and Prediction Learning Support Both Action and Lexical Chains in the Brain
Authors: Chersi Fabian , Ferro Marcello , Pezzulo Giovanni , Pirrelli Vito
Published: June 2014

A growing body of evidence in cognitive psychology and neuroscience suggests a deep interconnection between sensory‐motor and language systems in the brain. Based on recent neurophysiological findings on the anatomo‐functional organization of the fronto‐parietal network, we present a computational model showing that language processing may have reused or co‐developed organizing principles, functionality, and learning mechanisms typical of premotor circuit. The proposed model combines principles of Hebbian topological self‐organization and prediction learning. Trained on sequences of either motor or linguistic units, the network develops independent neuronal chains, formed by dedicated nodes encoding only context‐specific stimuli. Moreover, neurons responding to the same stimulus or class of stimuli tend to cluster together to form topologically connected areas similar to those observed in the brain cortex. Simulations support a unitary explanatory framework reconciling neurophysiological motor data with established behavioral evidence on lexical acquisition, access, and recall.
An impulsive source with variable output and stable bandwidth for underwater acoustic experiments
Authors: McNeese Andrew R. , Wilson Preston S. , Sagers Jason D. , Knobles David P.
Published: June 2014

The Combustive Sound Source (CSS) is being developed as an environmentally friendly source to be used in ocean acoustics research and surveys. It has the ability to maintain the same wide bandwidth signal over a 20 dB drop in source level. The CSS consists of a submersible combustion chamber filled with a fuel/oxidizer mixture. The mixture is ignited and the ensuing combustion and bubble activity radiates an impulsive, thus broadband, acoustic pulse. The ability to control pulse amplitude while maintaining bandwidth is demonstrated.
Comparison of Cefazolin versus Oxacillin for Treatment of Complicated Bacteremia Caused by Methicillin-Susceptible Staphylococcus aureus
Authors: Li Julius , Echevarria Kelly L. , Hughes Darrel W. , Cadena Jose A. , Bowling Jason E. , Lewis James S.
Published: June 2014

Contrary to prior case reports that described occasional clinical failures with cefazolin for methicillin-susceptible
Staphylococcus aureus
(MSSA) infections, recent studies have demonstrated no difference in outcomes between cefazolin and antistaphylococcal penicillins for the treatment of MSSA bacteremia. While promising, these studies described low frequencies of high-inoculum infections, such as endocarditis. This retrospective study compares clinical outcomes of cefazolin versus oxacillin for complicated MSSA bacteremia at two tertiary care hospitals between January 2008 and June 2012. Fifty-nine patients treated with cefazolin and 34 patients treated with oxacillin were included. Osteoarticular (41%) and endovascular (20%) sources were the predominant sites of infection. The rates of clinical cure at the end of therapy were similar between cefazolin and oxacillin (95% versus 88%;
P
= 0.25), but overall failure at 90 days was higher in the oxacillin arm (47% versus 24%;
P
= 0.04). Failures were more likely to have received surgical interventions (63% versus 40%;
P
= 0.05) and to have an osteoarticular source (57% versus 33%;
P
= 0.04). Failures also had a longer duration of bacteremia (7 versus 3 days;
P
= 0.0002), which was the only predictor of failure. Antibiotic selection was not predictive of failure. Rates of adverse drug events were higher in the oxacillin arm (30% versus 3%;
P
= 0.0006), and oxacillin was more frequently discontinued due to adverse drug events (21% versus 3%;
P
= 0.01). Cefazolin appears similar to oxacillin for the treatment of complicated MSSA bacteremia but with significantly improved safety. The higher rates of failure with oxacillin may have been confounded by other patient factors and warrant further investigation.
Identification of Mechanisms for Attenuation of the FSC043 Mutant of Francisella tularensis SCHU S4
Authors: Lindgren Marie , Tancred Linda , Golovliov Igor , Conlan Wayne , Twine Susan M. , Sjöstedt Anders
Published: June 2014

Previously, we identified a spontaneous, essentially avirulent mutant, FSC043, of the highly virulent strain SCHU S4 ofFrancisella tularensissubsp.tularensis. We have now characterized the phenotype of the mutant and the mechanisms of its attenuation in more detail. Genetic and proteomic analyses revealed that thepdpEgene and most of thepdpCgene were very markedly downregulated and, as previously demonstrated, that the strain expressed partially deleted and fusedfupAandfupBgenes. FSC043 showed minimal intracellular replication and induced no cell cytotoxicity. The mutant showed delayed phagosomal escape; at 18 h, colocalization with LAMP-1 was 80%, indicating phagosomal localization, whereas the corresponding percentages for SCHU S4 and the ΔfupAmutant were <10%. However, a small subset of the FSC043-infected cells contained up to 100 bacteria with LAMP-1 colocalization of around 30%. The unusual intracellular phenotype was similar to that of the ΔpdpCand ΔpdpCΔpdpEmutants. Complementation of FSC043 with the intactfupAandfupBgenes did not affect the phenotype, whereas complementation with thepdpCandpdpEgenes restored intracellular replication and led to marked virulence. Even higher virulence was observed after complementation with both double-gene constructs. After immunization with the FSC043 strain, moderate protection against respiratory challenge with the SCHU S4 strain was observed. In summary, FSC043 showed a highly unusual intracellular phenotype, and based on our findings, we hypothesize that the mutation in thepdpCgene makes an essential contribution to the phenotype.
Unique Helicase Determinants in the Essential Conjugative TraI Factor from Salmonella enterica Serovar Typhimurium Plasmid pCU1
Authors: McLaughlin Krystle J. , Nash Rebekah P. , Redinbo Mathew R.
Published: June 2014

The widespread development of multidrug-resistant bacteria is a major health emergency. Conjugative DNA plasmids, which harbor a wide range of antibiotic resistance genes, also encode the protein factors necessary to orchestrate the propagation of plasmid DNA between bacterial cells through conjugative transfer. Successful conjugative DNA transfer depends on key catalytic components to nick one strand of the duplex DNA plasmid and separate the DNA strands while cell-to-cell transfer occurs. The TraI protein from the conjugative
Salmonella
plasmid pCU1 fulfills these key catalytic roles, as it contains both single-stranded DNA-nicking relaxase and ATP-dependent helicase domains within a single, 1,078-residue polypeptide. In this work, we unraveled the helicase determinants of
Salmonella
pCU1 TraI through DNA binding, ATPase, and DNA strand separation assays. TraI binds DNA substrates with high affinity in a manner influenced by nucleic acid length and the presence of a DNA hairpin structure adjacent to the nick site. TraI selectively hydrolyzes ATP, and mutations in conserved helicase motifs eliminate ATPase activity. Surprisingly, the absence of a relatively short (144-residue) domain at the extreme C terminus of the protein severely diminishes ATP-dependent strand separation. Collectively, these data define the helicase motifs of the conjugative factor TraI from
Salmonella
pCU1 and reveal a previously uncharacterized C-terminal functional domain that uncouples ATP hydrolysis from strand separation activity.
Hypoxia-Activated Cytochrome
bd
Expression in Mycobacterium smegmatis Is Cyclic AMP Receptor Protein Dependent
Authors: Aung Htin Lin , Berney Michael , Cook Gregory M.
Published: June 2014

Mycobacteria are obligate aerobes and respire using two terminal respiratory oxidases, an
aa
3
-type cytochrome
c
oxidase and a cytochrome
bd
-type menaquinol oxidase. Cytochrome
bd
is encoded by
cydAB
from the
cydABDC
gene cluster that is conserved throughout the mycobacterial genus. Here we report that
cydAB
and
cydDC
in
Mycobacterium smegmatis
constitute two separate operons under hypoxic growth conditions. The transcriptional start sites of both operons were mapped, and a series of
cydA-lacZ
and
cydD-lacZ
transcriptional reporter fusions were made to identify regulatory promoter elements. A 51-bp region was identified in the
cydAB
promoter that was required for maximal
cydA-lacZ
expression in response to hypoxia. A cyclic AMP receptor protein (CRP)-binding site (
viz
. GTGAN
6
CCACC) was identified in this region, and mutation of this site to CCCAN
6
CTTTC abolished
cydA-lacZ
expression in response to hypoxia. Binding of purified CRP (MSMEG_0539) to the
cydAB
promoter DNA was analyzed using electrophoretic mobility shift assays. CRP binding was dependent on GTGAN
6
CCACC and showed cyclic AMP (cAMP) dependency. No CRP site was present in the
cydDC
promoter, and a 10-bp inverted repeat (CGGTGGTACCGGTACCACCG) was required for maximal
cydD-lacZ
expression. Taken together, the data indicate that CRP is a direct regulator of
cydAB
expression in response to hypoxia and that the regulation of
cydDC
expression is CRP independent and under the control of an unknown regulator.
Equine urticaria: a clinical guide to management
Authors: Diesel Alison
Published: June 2014

Urticaria (hives) is a fairly common clinical reaction pattern in horses. Although often attributed to allergic causes, several other aetiologies can lead to the manifestation of the condition. A thorough and complete history, specifically as it relates to dermatological disease, is the practitioner's most powerful tool in successful diagnosis and management. Advanced diagnostics such as allergen‐specific immunoglobulin E serum or intradermal allergen tests are only helpful when an allergic aetiology has been confirmed based on appropriate history. This article discusses the various causes and appearances of urticaria in the horse, and aims to help guide the practitioner in determining when additional diagnostics and therapeutics are indicated.
Fading syndrome in kittens
Authors: Meade Clare
Published: June 2014

Fading kitten syndrome is the death or failure to thrive in an initially apparently healthy kitten. It occurs during the first four weeks of life. This article outlines the causes of fading kitten syndrome, discusses some of the unique features of young kittens and introduces some of the interventions available to help support these neonatal patients when they are ill.
Modeling freshwater mussel distribution in relation to biotic and abiotic habitat variables at multiple spatial scales
Authors: Hegeman Ericka E. , Miller Scott W. , Mock Karen E.
Published: June 2014

The habitat requirements of many native freshwater mussels remain unclear despite their imperiled status and ecological importance. To explore scale-specific habitat associations in the three genera of mussels found in the western United States (Anodonta, Gonidea, and Margaritifera) we used a multiscale random forest modeling approach to assess functional habitat parameters throughout a 55 km segment of the upper Middle Fork John Day River in northeastern Oregon. We characterized mussel occurrence and density with respect to the hierarchical, hydrogeomorphic structure by sampling reaches of varying valley confinement and channel units nested within individual reaches. Each genus exhibited unique longitudinal trends and channel unit-use patterns. In particular, the large-scale longitudinal trends in Margaritifera occurrence were associated with hydrogeomorphic characteristics at the reach and channel unit scale, with Margaritifera densities peaking in narrow valley segments and in riffles and runs. At the scale of the channel unit, all mussel genera responded to variation in physical habitat characteristics, particularly those that indicated more stable parts of the channel. Our results suggest that spatial patterns in freshwater mussels are associated with the hierarchical structuring of the lotic ecosystem and may provide guidance to restoration efforts.
Effects of indium-filling and synthesis pressure on the thermoelectric properties of CoSb3
Authors: Deng Le , Wang Li Bin , Qin Jie Ming , Zheng Tao , Jia Xiao Peng , Ma Hong An
Published: June 2014

In x Co 4 Sb 12 skutterudite compounds have been prepared successfully at different synthesis pressures by high pressure and high temperature (HPHT) method, the processing time has been reduced from a few days to half an hour. In addition, the effect of synthesis pressure on the thermoelectric properties of In 0.4 Co 4 Sb 12 compounds has been investigated in this paper. The structure of In 0.4 Co 4 Sb 12 samples was evaluated by means of X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The Seebeck coefficient, electrical resistivity and thermal conductivity were all measured in the temperature range of room temperature to 673 K. The sample synthesized at 2.0 GPa showed the highest power factor of 29.3 μWcm-1K-2 at 373 K. A dimensionless thermoelectric figure of merit (ZT) of 0.51 at 673 K was achieved for n-type In 0.4 Co 4 Sb 12 prepared at 1.3 GPa, which was significantly enhanced in comparison with pure CoSb 3.
MAESTRO— Holistic Actor-Oriented Modeling of Nonfunctional Properties and Firmware Behavior for MPSoCs
Authors: Rosales Rafael , Glass Michael , Teich Jürgen , Wang Bo , Xu Yang , Hasholzner Ralph
Published: June 2014

Modeling and evaluating nonfunctional properties such as performance, power, and reliability of embedded systems are tasks of utmost importance. In this article, we introduce M
AESTRO
, a methodology for the modeling and evaluation of nonfunctional properties and embedded firmware of MPSoC architecture components at the Electronic System Level (ESL). In contrast to existing design flows that provide predefined performance models, M
AESTRO
defines a flexible approach that allows to define virtual prototypes that can be easily customized and extended to evaluate multiple nonfunctional properties of interest at different levels of abstraction. In M
AESTRO
, a design is composed purely from actor-oriented models. This enables typical ESL features such as automatic design space exploration and synthesizability of HW and SW components, typically missing in very general design flows. Unique to M
AESTRO
is the separation and coordination of the interaction between application functionality, firmware, and performance models for the evaluation of nonfunctional properties, and their complex interactions within a single Model-of-Computation (MoC). The main advantages of M
AESTRO
are: (I) Extensible modeling of interdependent nonfunctional properties of heterogeneous MPSoC components; (II) high flexibility to investigate the appropriate trade-off between modeling effort and accuracy of nonfunctional property evaluators; (III) a holistic approach for modeling application functionality as well as firmware affecting the evaluation of nonfunctional properties. Regarding (II), we present a mobile baseband processor platform use-case, executing a GSM paging application. To demonstrate (I) and (III), we present the modeling of a complex ESL processor virtual prototype, running a soft real-time application and equipped with both a power and reliability manager.
Efficient Cluster Mobility Support for TDMA-Based MAC Protocols in Wireless Sensor Networks
Authors: Nabi Majid , Geilen Marc , Basten Twan , Blagojevic Milos
Published: June 2014

Node mobility is a key feature of using Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) in many sensory applications, such as healthcare. The Medium Access Control (MAC) protocol should properly support the mobility in the network. In particular, mobility is complicated for contention-free protocols like Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA). An efficient access to the shared medium is scheduled based on the node's local neighborhood. This neighborhood may vary over time due to node movement or other dynamics. In scenarios including body-area networking, for instance, some clusters of nodes move together, creating further challenges but also opportunities. This article presents a MAC protocol, MCMAC, that provides efficient support for cluster mobility in TDMA-based MAC protocols in WSNs. The proposed protocol exploits a hybrid contention-free and contention-based communication approach to support cluster mobility. This relieves the protocol from rescheduling demand due to frequent node movements. Moreover, we propose a listening scheduling mechanism to avoid idle listening to mobile nodes that leads to a considerable energy saving for sensor nodes. The protocol is validated by performing several experiments in a real-world large-scale deployment including several mobile clusters. The protocol is also evaluated by extensive simulation of networks with various scales and configurations.
Diagnosability of Component-Composition Graphs in the MM* Model
Authors: Lee Chia-Wei , Hsieh Sun-Yuan
Published: June 2014

Diagnosability is an important metric for measuring the reliability of multiprocessor systems. This article adopts the MM* model and outlines the common properties of a wide class of interconnection networks, called component-composition graphs (CCGs), to determine their diagnosability by using their obtained properties. By applying the results to multiprocessor systems, the diagnosability of hypercube-like networks (including hypercubes, crossed cubes, Möbius cubes, twisted cubes, locally twisted cubes, generalized twisted cubes, and recursive circulants), star graphs, pancake graphs, bubble-sort graphs, and burnt pancake graphs, all of which belong to the class of CCGs, can also be computed.
Quantifying the Creativity Support of Digital Tools through the Creativity Support Index
Authors: Cherry Erin , Latulipe Celine
Published: June 2014

Creativity support tools help people engage creatively with the world, but measuring how well a tool supports creativity is challenging since creativity is ill-defined. To this end, we developed the Creativity Support Index (CSI), which is a psychometric survey designed for evaluating the ability of a creativity support tool to assist a user engaged in creative work. The CSI measures six dimensions of creativity support: Exploration, Expressiveness, Immersion, Enjoyment, Results Worth Effort, and Collaboration. The CSI allows researchers to understand not just how well a tool supports creative work overall, but what aspects of creativity support may need attention. In this article, we present the CSI, along with scenarios for how it can be deployed in a variety of HCI research settings and how the CSI scores can help target design improvements. We also present the iterative, rigorous development and validation process used to create the CSI.
A General Fixed Point Theorem for Multivalued Mappings That Are Not Necessarily Contractions and Applications
Authors: Latif Abdul , Luc Dinh The
Published: June 2014

We prove a general theorem on fixed points of multivalued mappings that are not necessarily contractions and derive a number of recent contributions on this topic for contraction mappings.
Nondestructive Analysis of Silver Coins Minted in Taras (South Italy) between the V and the III Centuries BC
Authors: Buccolieri Alessandro , Buccolieri Giovanni , Filippo Emanuela , Manno Daniela , Sarcinelli Giuseppe , Siciliano Aldo , Vitale Rosa , Serra Antonio
Published: June 2014

This work enters in an interdisciplinary research project involving the archaeometrical analysis of ancient silver coins minted in the Greek colony of Taras (the modern south Italian town of Taranto) between the V century BC and the III century BC. In this work, by comparing the results obtained from X-ray microanalysis data acquired from the least corroded surface areas and the cross-section of coins from SEM-EDX and from XRF analysis, we have demonstrated that analysed coins exhibited a corrosion layer no more than 25 μm and that surface silver enrichment was less than 1 wt%. Thus, the data obtained by using X-ray microanalysis from surface may not significantly differ from the original bulk composition. Our results demonstrate that the silver content in the coins decreases considerably ranging from about 97% for the older down to 80% for the ones of 3rd Evans period (300–270 BC), corresponding to the significant social change in the period.
Diagnosis System for Hepatocellular Carcinoma Based on Fractal Dimension of Morphometric Elements Integrated in an Artificial Neural Network
Authors: Gheonea Dan Ionuț , Streba Costin Teodor , Vere Cristin Constantin , Șerbănescu Mircea , Pirici Daniel , Comănescu Maria , Streba Letiția Adela Maria , Ciurea Marius Eugen , Mogoantă Stelian , Rogoveanu Ion
Published: June 2014

Background and Aims. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains a leading cause of death by cancer worldwide. Computerized diagnosis systems relying on novel imaging markers gained significant importance in recent years. Our aim was to integrate a novel morphometric measurement—the fractal dimension (FD)—into an artificial neural network (ANN) designed to diagnose HCC.Material and Methods.The study included 21 HCC and 28 liver metastases (LM) patients scheduled for surgery. We performed hematoxylin staining for cell nuclei and CD31/34 immunostaining for vascular elements. We captured digital images and used an in-house application to segment elements of interest; FDs were calculated and fed to an ANN which classified them as malignant or benign, further identifying HCC and LM cases.Results.User intervention corrected segmentation errors and fractal dimensions were calculated. ANNs correctly classified 947/1050 HCC images (90.2%), 1021/1050 normal tissue images (97.23%), 1215/1400 LM (86.78%), and 1372/1400 normal tissues (98%). We obtained excellent interobserver agreement between human operators and the system.Conclusion. We successfully implemented FD as a morphometric marker in a decision system, an ensemble of ANNs designed to differentiate histological images of normal parenchyma from malignancy and classify HCCs and LMs.
Experimental Validation on a New Valve Core of the Throttle Valve in Managed Pressure Drilling
Authors: Wang G. R. , Tao S. Y. , Liu Q. Y. , Fu Y. K. , Zhu H. , Chu F.
Published: June 2014

This paper is concerned with experimental investigation of the linear opening-pressure drop ( L−Δ P) relationship of new valve core in managed pressure drilling (MPD). Based on the linear L−Δ P relationship in theoretical results, the actual L−Δ P relationships are obtained by testing the flow rate, displacement of the valve core, and pressures at the import and export. Under all three working conditions, the theoretical L−Δ P relationship almost agrees with the experimental result, and the accuracy of the theoretical design is validated. In addition, the flow coefficient ( C v) is also tested in the experimental process to judge the throttling characteristics of the new valve core and the proper working conditions.