bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An investigation of the low-ΔV near-Earth asteroids (341843) 2008 EV5 and (52381) 1993 HA
Authors: Perna D. , Popescu M. , Monteiro F. , Lantz C. , Lazzaro D. , Merlin F.
Published: October 2016

Context. The Asteroid Redirect Mission (ARM) under development by NASA is being planned to collect a multi-meter boulder from a near-Earth asteroid (NEA), and to bring it to the cis-lunar space in the mid-2020’s for future study and exploitation by a crewed mission. The MarcoPolo-M5 project is being proposed in 2016 for the M5 mission opportunity by ESA, to bring back to Earth a sample from a very primitive D-type NEA. As D-types are very rare within the NEA population, considerable effort is still in progress to characterize easily accessible targets with unknown surface composition, in order to discover further asteroids that belong to this taxonomic group.

Aims. We aim to further characterize the physical properties of two optimal targets for sample return space missions, the low-ΔV NEAs (341843) 2008 EV5 and (52381) 1993 HA. The asteroid 2008 EV5 is the baseline target of ARM, but only one spectrum of this object exists in the literature. The asteroid 1993 HA is a very favourable target for a space mission based on its dynamical properties: here we intend to assess if it is a suitable target for MarcoPolo-M5.

Methods. We obtained visible spectroscopy of 2008 EV5 with the FORS2 instrument at ESO-VLT (Paranal, Chile), at different rotational phases. We also obtained visible and near-infrared spectroscopy of 1993 HA, using the EFOSC2 and SOfI instruments at ESO-NTT (La Silla, Chile). Visible photometry of 1993 HA was carried out within the IMPACTON project at the Observatório Astronômico do Sertão de Itaparica (Itacuruba, Brazil).

Results. Our new observations are in agreement with the C-type classification of 2008 EV5, which is a requirement for the ARM mission. We obtained five visible spectra which do not show any variability within the limits of noise, suggesting a homogeneous surface. We obtained the first ever spectroscopic dataset (~0.4–1.6 μm) for 1993 HA, finding a featureless, red-sloped behaviour typical of D-types (a T or X classification is also possible, with decreasing confidence). We also found that the synodic rotation period of 1993 HA is 4.107 ± 0.002 h, a value that is optimal for the execution of a sample return mission. The derived lightcurve also suggests an elongated shape (axis ratio a/b ≥ 1.71). At this stage 1993 HA does indeed seem to be the most favourable target for MarcoPolo-M5, though future observations are necessary to study it further.
Kliniken und Gesundheits-Apps: So wird ein Schuh draus
Authors: vom Lehn Birgitta
Published: October 2016

Wenn Patienten mit eigenen Gesundheits-Apps kommen, ist Vorsicht geboten. Kliniken setzen vor allem auf eigene Systeme. Branchen-Gigant Helios testet eine Plattform, die funktioniert wie ein Girokonto.
Intermolecular associations in an equimolar formamide-water solution based on neutron scattering and DFT calculations
Authors: Abdelmoulahi Hafedh , Ghalla Houcine , Nasr Salah , Darpentigny Jacques , Bellissent-Funel Marie-Claire
Published: October 2016

In the present work, we have investigated the intermolecular associations of formamide with water in an equimolar formamide-water solution (FA-Water) by means of neutron scattering in combination with density functional theory calculations. The neutron scattering data were analyzed to deduce the structure factor SM(q) and the intermolecular pair correlation function gL(r). By considering different hydrogen bonded FA-Water associations, it has been shown that some of them describe well the local order in the solution. Natural bond orbital and atoms in molecules analyses have been performed to give more insight into the properties of hydrogen bonds involved in the more probable models.
Keeping Her Surname as a Middle Name at Marriage: What Predicts this Practice Among Married Women Who Take Their Husband’s Last Name?
Authors: Scheuble Laurie K. , Johnson David R.
Published: October 2016

Data from 60,223 clients of MissNowMrs.com were used to identify predictors of women retaining their premarital surname as a middle name when changing their last name to that of their husband after they were married. Among women who changed their last name to that of their husband, 18 % kept their former last name as a middle name. We identify four significant predictors of women keeping their surname as their middle name: education, marital age, race, and region of residence. As their education level increased, women were significantly more likely to keep their surname before marriage as a middle name. Marital age had a curvilinear relationship with this naming choice. African Americans were significantly less likely than whites to use their birth name as a middle name while other women of color were significantly more likely than whites to follow this practice. The birth surname as middle name pattern was most common in the South, suggesting a regional cultural influence.
A study on a dental device for the prevention of mucosal dose enhancement caused by backscatter radiation from dental alloy during external beam radiotherapy
Authors: Katsura Kouji , Utsunomiya Satoru , Abe Eisuke , Sakai Hironori , Kushima Naotaka , Tanabe Satoshi , Yamada Takumi , Hayakawa Takahide , Yamanoi Yoshihiko , Kimura Syuhei , Wada Shinichi , Aoyama Hidefumi , Hayashi Takafumi
Published: October 2016

The changes in dose distribution caused by backscatter radiation from a common commercial dental alloy (Au–Ag–Pd dental alloy; DA) were investigated to identify the optimal material and thicknesses of a dental device (DD) for effective prevention of mucositis. To this end, 1 cm3 of DA was irradiated with a 6-MV X-ray beam (100 MU) in a field size of 10 × 10 cm2 using a Novalis TX linear accelerator. Ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer, polyolefin elastomer, and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) were selected as DD materials. The depth dose along the central axis was determined with respect to the presence/absence of DA and DDs at thicknesses of 1–10 mm using a parallel-plate ionization chamber. The dose in the absence of DDs showed the lowest value at a distance of 5 mm from the DA surface and gradually increased with distance between the measurement point and the DA surface for distances of ≥5 mm. Except for PET, no significant difference between the DA dose curves for the presence and absence of DDs was observed. In the dose curve, PET showed a slightly higher dose for DA with DD than for DA without DD for thicknesses of ≥4 mm. The findings herein suggest that the optimal DD material for preventing local dose enhancement of the mucosa caused by DA backscatter radiation should have a relatively low atomic number and physical density and that optimal DD thickness should be chosen considering backscatter radiation and percentage depth dose.
Insurance Status and Hospital Payer Mix Are Linked With Variation in Metastatic Site Resection in Patients With Advanced Colorectal Cancers
Authors: Healy Mark A. , Pradarelli Jason C. , Krell Robert W. , Regenbogen Scott E. , Suwanabol Pasithorn A.
Published: October 2016

BACKGROUND:

Despite substantially improved survival with metastatic site resection in colorectal cancers, uptake of aggressive surgical approaches remains low among certain patients. It is unknown whether financial determinants of care, such as insurance status, play a role in this treatment gap.

OBJECTIVE:

We sought to evaluate the effect of insurance status on metastasectomy in patients with advanced colorectal cancers.

DESIGN:

This was a retrospective cohort study.

SETTINGS:

Using the National Cancer Data Base Participant User File, incident cases of colorectal cancer metastatic to the lung and/or liver with diagnosis from 2010 to 2013 were identified.

PATIENTS:

We identified 42,300 patients in our cohort with a mean age 64 years.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:

Controlling for patient, tumor, and hospital characteristics, hierarchical regression was used to examine associations between hospital payer mix and metastatic site resection. Metastatic site resection occurred in 12.3% of all patients.

RESULTS:

Adjusting for patient and hospital fixed effects, we found that patients who were uninsured or on Medicaid were 38% less likely to undergo metastasectomy (OR = 0.62 (95% CI, 0.56–0.66)). Patients in hospitals with staff treating a high percentage of uninsured patients or patients with Medicaid were less likely to undergo metastasectomy, even after controlling for individual patient insurance status.

LIMITATIONS:

The study was limited by its retrospective design and the granularity and accuracy of the National Cancer Data Base.

CONCLUSIONS:

Differences in insurance status and hospital payer mix are associated with differences in rates of metastatic site resection in patients with colorectal cancer that is metastatic to the lung and/or liver. There is a need for improved access to metastatic site resection for individual patients who are uninsured or who have Medicaid insurance, as well as for all patients who seek care at hospitals treating a large proportion of patients who are uninsured or on Medicaid. Remedies for individual patients could include improved access to private insurance through employment or individual plans or improved reimbursement from Medicaid for this procedure. Strategies for patients at low-performing hospitals include selective referral to centers that perform mestastectomy more frequently when appropriate.
A Novel Reticular Dermal Graft Leverages Architectural and Biological Properties to Support Wound Repair
Authors: Dasgupta Anouska , Orgill Dennis , Galiano Robert D. , Zelen Charles M. , Huang Yen-Chen , Chnari Evangelia , Li William W.
Published: October 2016

Background:

Acellular dermal matrices (ADMs) are frequently used in reconstructive surgery and as scaffolds to treat chronic wounds. The 3-dimensional architecture and extracellular matrix provide structural and signaling cues for repair and remodeling. However, most ADMs are not uniformly porous, which can lead to heterogeneous host engraftment. In this study, we hypothesized that a novel human reticular ADM (HR-ADM; AlloPatch Pliable, Musculoskeletal Transplant Foundation, Edison, N.J.) when aseptically processed would have a more open uniform structure with retention of biological components known to facilitate wound healing.

Methods:

The reticular and papillary layers were compared through histology and scanning electron microscopy. Biomechanical properties were assessed through tensile testing. The impact of aseptic processing was evaluated by comparing unprocessed with processed reticular grafts. In vitro cell culture on fibroblasts and endothelial cells were performed to showcase functional cell activities on HR-ADMs.

Results:

Aseptically processed HR-ADMs have an open, interconnected uniform scaffold with preserved collagens, elastin, glycosaminoglycans, and hyaluronic acid. HR-ADMs had significantly lower ultimate tensile strength and Young’s modulus versus the papillary layer, with a higher percentage elongation at break, providing graft flexibility. These preserved biological components facilitated fibroblast and endothelial cell attachment, cell infiltration, and new matrix synthesis (collagen IV, fibronectin, von Willebrand factor), which support granulation and angiogenic activities.

Conclusions:

The novel HR-ADMs provide an open, interconnected scaffold with native dermal mechanical and biological properties. Furthermore, aseptic processing retains key extracellular matrix elements in an organized framework and supports functional activities of fibroblasts and endothelial cells.
King's Variceal Prediction Score
Authors: Witters Peter , Hughes Dominic , Karthikeyan Palaniswamy , Ramakrishna Somashekara , Davenport Mark , Dhawan Anil , Grammatikopoulos Tassos
Published: October 2016

Background and Aims:

Variceal haemorrhage can be a life‐threatening complication of chronic liver disease in children. There is limited evidence about the optimal prophylactic management and selection criteria of children who will benefit from upper gastrointestinal endoscopy.

Methods:

Children presenting in our centre with suspected portal hypertension or gastrointestinal bleeding and undergoing their first oesophagogastroduodenoscopy between 2005 and 2012 were included. Clinical, biochemical, and radiological data were collected. A separate validation cohort from May 2013 to October 2014 was obtained.

Results:

Data on 124 treatment‐naïve patients were collected; 50% had biliary atresia. Thirty‐five (28%) children presented with gastrointestinal bleeding and overall 79 (64%) had clinically significant (grade II–III) varices. Clinical prediction rule, aspartate aminotransferase‐platelet ratio index, and varices prediction rule had at optimal cut‐off sensitivity and specificity of 76% and 59%, 60% and 55%, and 80% and 59%, respectively. Logistic regression yielded a new prediction rule of (3 × albumin ([g/dL]) − (2 − equivalent adult spleen size [cm]). This King's variceal prediction score had a favourable areas under the curve of 0.772 (0.677–0.867) compared to clinical prediction rule 0.732 (0.632–0.832). At the optimal cut‐off of 76 this yielded a sensitivity and specificity of 72% and 73% and a positive and negative predictive value of 82% and 60%, respectively. In the validation cohort areas under the curve was 0.818 (0.654–0.995) with sensitivity and specificity of 78% and 73%, respectively.

Conclusions:

Our new prediction score may be a useful tool in the selection of children with clinically significant varices eligible for a screening endoscopy.
Foot pressure distributions during walking in African elephants (Loxodonta africana)
Authors: Panagiotopoulou Olga , Pataky Todd C. , Day Madeleine , Hensman Michael C. , Hensman Sean , Hutchinson John R. , Clemente Christofer J.
Published: October 2016

Elephants, the largest living land mammals, have evolved a specialized foot morphology to help reduce locomotor pressures while supporting their large body mass. Peak pressures that could cause tissue damage are mitigated passively by the anatomy of elephants' feet, yet this mechanism does not seem to work well for some captive animals. This study tests how foot pressures vary among African and Asian elephants from habitats where natural substrates predominate but where foot care protocols differ. Variations in pressure patterns might be related to differences in husbandry, including but not limited to trimming and the substrates that elephants typically stand and move on. Both species' samples exhibited the highest concentration of peak pressures on the lateral digits of their feet (which tend to develop more disease in elephants) and lower pressures around the heel. The trajectories of the foot's centre of pressure were also similar, confirming that when walking at similar speeds, both species load their feet laterally at impact and then shift their weight medially throughout the step until toe-off. Overall, we found evidence of variations in foot pressure patterns that might be attributable to husbandry and other causes, deserving further examination using broader, more comparable samples.
Determining the role of inflammation in the selection of JAK2 mutant cells in myeloproliferative neoplasms
Authors: Zhang Jie , Fleischman Angela , Wodarz Dominik , Komarova Natalia L.
Published: October 2016

Myeloproliferative neoplasm (MPN) is a hematologic malignancy characterized by the clonal outgrowth of hematopoietic cells with a somatically acquired mutation most commonly in JAK2 (JAK2V617F). This mutation endows upon myeloid progenitors cytokine independent growth and consequently leads to excessive production of myeloid lineage cells. It has been previously suggested that inflammation may play a role in the clonal evolution of JAK2V617Fmutants. In particular, it is possible that one or more cellular kinetic parameters of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) are affected by inflammation, such as division or death rates of cells, and the probability of HSC differentiation. This suggests a mechanism that can steer the outcome of the cellular competition in favor of the mutants, initiating the disease. In this paper we create a number of mathematical evolutionary models, from very abstract to more concrete, that describe cellular competition in the context of inflammation. It is possible to build a model axiomatically, where only very general assumptions are imposed on the modeling components and no arbitrary (and generally unknown) functional forms are used, and still generate a set of testable predictions. In particular, we show that, if HSC death is negligible, the evolutionary advantage of mutant cells can only be conferred by an increase in differentiation probability of HSCs in the presence of inflammation, and if death plays a significant role in the dynamics, an additional mechanism may be an increase of HSC’s division-to-death ratio in the presence of inflammation. Further, we show that in the presence of inflammation, the wild type cell population is predicted to shrink under inflammation (even in the absence of mutants). Finally, it turns out that if only the differentiation probability is affected by the inflammation, then the resulting steady state population of wild type cells will contain a relatively smaller percentage of HSCs under inflammation. If the division-to-death rate is also affected, then the percentage of HSCs under inflammation can either decrease or increase, depending on other parameters.
Adaptive Somatic Mutations Calls with Deep Learning and Semi-Simulated Data
Authors: Torracinta Remi , Mesnard Laurent , Levine Susan , Shaknovich Rita , Hanson Maureen , Levine Susan
Published: October 2016

A number of approaches have been developed to call somatic variation in high-throughput sequencing data. Here, we present an adaptive approach to calling somatic variations. Our approach trains a deep feed-forward neural network with semi-simulated data. Semi-simulated datasets are constructed by planting somatic mutations in real datasets where no mutations are expected. Using semi-simulated data makes it possible to train the models with millions of training examples, a usual requirement for successfully training deep learning models. We initially focus on calling variations in RNA-Seq data. We derive semi-simulated datasets from real RNA-Seq data, which offer a good representation of the data the models will be applied to. We test the models on independent semi-simulated data as well as pure simulations. On independent semi-simulated data, models achieve an AUC of 0.973. When tested on semi-simulated exome DNA datasets, we find that the models trained on RNA-Seq data remain predictive (sens 0.4 & spec 0.9 at cutoff of P > = 0.9), albeit with lower overall performance (AUC=0.737). Interestingly, while the models generalize across assay, training on RNA-Seq data lowers the confidence for a group of mutations. Haloplex exome specific training was also performed, demonstrating that the approach can produce probabilistic models tuned for specific assays and protocols. We found that the method adapts to the characteristics of experimental protocol. We further illustrate these points by training a model for a trio somatic experimental design when germline DNA of both parents is available in addition to data about the individual. These models are distributed with Goby (http://goby.campagnelab.org).
Growth-Altering Microbial Interactions Are Highly Sensitive to Environmental Context
Authors: Liu Angela , Archer Anne , Biggs Matthew B. , Papin Jason A.
Published: October 2016

Microbial interactions are ubiquitous in nature, and equally as relevant to human wellbeing as the identities of the interacting microbes. However, microbial interactions are difficult to measure and characterize. Furthermore, there is growing evidence that they are not fixed, but dependent on environmental context. We present a novel workflow for inferring microbial interactions that integrates semi-automated image analysis with a colony stamping mechanism, with the overall effect of improving throughput and reproducibility of colony interaction assays. We apply our approach to infer interactions among bacterial species associated with the normal lung microbiome, and how those interactions are altered by the presence of benzo[a]pyrene, a carcinogenic compound found in cigarettes. We found that the presence of this single compound changed the interaction network, demonstrating that microbial interactions are indeed highly dynamic and responsive to environmental context.
Unsupervised feature selection for interpretable classification in behavioral assessment of children
Authors: Jiménez Fernando , Jódar Rosalia , Martín Maria del Pilar , Sánchez Gracia , Sciavicco Guido
Published: October 2016

In this paper, we consider a data set taken from the administration of the Behavior Assessment System for Children test to 157 subjects, and we approach the problem of clustering and classify the subjects in an interpretable fashion. Because the Behavior Assessment System for Children test is originally composed of 149 questions (152 in the particular version used for this experiment), we first propose a feature selection wrapper model composed by a multi‐objective evolutionary algorithm, the iterative clustering method expectation–maximization, and the classifier C4.5 for the unsupervised feature selection towards the classification of the data with two objectives: maximizing the likelihood of the clustering model and maximizing the accuracy of the obtained classifier. We propose a methodology to integrate feature selection for unsupervised classification, model evaluation, decision‐making (to choose the most satisfactory model according to ana posterioriprocess in a multi‐objective context), and testing. The selected data set that is the result of this process, where each instance is labeled with its class, is then used for supervised learning via both C4.5 and a novel evolutionary computation‐based fuzzy classifier to obtain interpretable rules. We discuss and compare the behavior of two different evolutionary algorithms (ENORA (Evolutionary NOn‐dominated Radial slots based Algorithm) and NSGA‐II (Non‐dominated Sorted Genetic Algorithm)) at different levels: as search strategies for feature selection, as search strategies for fuzzy classification, and in terms of quality of the results. It turns out that ENORA behaves better in terms of quality of the result in the feature selection phase (obtaining a selection that shows higher accuracy under C4.5 after cross‐validation), and again in the fuzzy classification phase, from both points of view: hypervolume evolution and interpretability of results. During the entire process, the solutions are validated by the psychologists who collected the data.
Injection of 2D electron gas into a quantum-dot organic light-emitting diode structure on silicon substrate
Authors: Emon Daud Hasan , Kim Myungji , Sharbati Mohammad Taghi , Kim Hong Koo
Published: October 2016

The authors report a quantum-dot (QD) organic light-emitting diode (OLED) structure formed on Si substrate. Here, the junction area is defined by a lithographically patterned oxide layer on Si substrate and is designed to allow a wide range of scalability of lateral dimension down to a nanometer range. The device structure comprises: (from the top) indium-tin-oxide (70-nm thickness) as a hole-injecting transparent anode, Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)-poly(styrenesulfonate) (30 nm) as a hole-transport layer, Poly(N-vinylcarbazole) (20 nm) as a hole-transport/electron-blocking layer, CdSe/ZnS core–shell quantum-dots as an emissive layer, and n-Si substrate as an electron-injecting cathode. The authors observed a carrier injection mechanism originating from the two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) system available at the SiO2/Si interface. By varying the junction dimensions and geometry, the electron injection process is found to occur predominantly at the junction's periphery, not area, resulting in a low turn-on voltage (∼1–2 V). This 2DEG injection produces one-dimensional emission of light along junction edges. This edge injection/emission QD-OLED structure, when scaled down to a sub-10 nm range, offers an interesting approach to developing single quantum-dot light sources for quantum information processing.
In Vivo Kinematics of Healthy and Osteoarthritic Knees During Stepping Using Density-Based Image-Matching Techniques
Authors: Hamai Satoshi , Okazaki Ken , Ikebe Satoru , Murakami Koji , Higaki Hidehiko , Nakahara Hiroyuki , Shimoto Takeshi , Mizu-uchi Hideki , Akasaki Yukio , Iwamoto Yukihide
Published: October 2016

The purpose of this study was to investigate in vivo kinematics in healthy and osteoarthritic (OA) knees during stepping using image-matching techniques. Six healthy volunteers and 14 patients with a medial OA knee before undergoing total knee arthroplasty performed stepping under periodic anteroposterior radiograph images. We analyzed the three-dimensional kinematic parameters of knee joints using radiograph images and CT-derived digitally reconstructed radiographs. The average extension/flexion angle ranged 6°/53° and 16°/44° in healthy and OA knees, with significant difference in extension (P = .02). The average varus angle was –2° and 6° in healthy and OA knees, with a significant difference (P = .03). OA knees showed 1.7° of significantly larger varus thrust (P = .04) and 4.2 mm of significantly smaller posterior femoral rollback (P = .04) compared with healthy knees. Coronal limb alignment in OA knees significantly correlated with varus thrust (R2 = .36, P = .02) and medial shift of the femur (R2 = .34, P = .03). Both normal and OA knees showed no transverse plane instability, including anteroposterior, mediolateral directions, or axial rotation. In conclusion, OA knees demonstrated different kinematics during stepping from normal knees: less knee extension, larger varus thrust, less posterior translation, and larger medial shift.
Walking Up to One Hour Per Week Maintains Mobility as Older Women Age: Findings from an Australian Longitudinal Study
Authors: Field Bonnie , Cochrane Tom , Davey Rachel , Kinfu Yohannes
Published: October 2016

The aim of this study was to identify determinants of walking and whether walking maintained mobility among women as they transition from their mid-70s to their late 80s. We used 12 years of follow-up data (baseline 1999) from the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health (n = 10,322). Fifteen determinants of walking were included in the analysis and three indicators of mobility. Longitudinal data analyses techniques were employed. Thirteen of the 15 determinants were significant predictors of walking. Women in their mid-70s who walked up to 1 hr per week were less likely to experience loss of mobility in very old age, including reduced likelihood of using a mobility aid. Hence, older women who do no walking should be encouraged to walk to maintain their mobility and their independence as they age, particularly women in their 70s and 80s who smoke, are overweight, have arthritis, or who have had a recent fall.
A basic strategy for detecting CD8 T cell specificity
Authors: Shalek Alex K.
Published: October 2016

Bentzen and colleagues develop DNA-barcoded peptide-MHC multimers to enable massively parallel profiling of the peptides recognized by CD8 T cells.
Cap0037, a Novel Global Regulator of Clostridium acetobutylicum Metabolism
Authors: Nguyen Ngoc-Phuong-Thao , Linder Sonja , Flitsch Stefanie K. , Schiel-Bengelsdorf Bettina , Dürre Peter , Soucaille Philippe
Published: October 2016

An operon comprising two genes,
CA_P0037
and
CA_P0036
, that encode proteins of unknown function that were previously shown to be highly expressed in acidogenic cells and repressed in solventogenic and alcohologenic cells is located on the pSOL1 megaplasmid of
Clostridium acetobutylicum
upstream of
adhE2
. A
CA_P0037
::
int
(
189/190s
) mutant in which an intron was inserted at position 189/190 in the sense strand of
CA_P0037
was successfully generated by the Targetron technique. The resultant mutant showed significantly different metabolic flux patterns in acidogenic (producing mainly lactate, butyrate, and butanol) and alcohologenic (producing mainly butyrate, acetate, and lactate) chemostat cultures but not in solventogenic or batch cultures. Transcriptomic investigation of the
CA_P0037
::
int
(
189/190s
) mutant showed that inactivation of
CA_P0037
significantly affected the expression of more than 258 genes under acidogenic conditions. Surprisingly, genes belonging to the Fur regulon, involved in iron transport (
CA_C1029-CA_C1032
), or coding for the main flavodoxin (
CA_C0587
) were the most significantly expressed genes under all conditions, whereas
fur
(coding for the ferric uptake regulator) gene expression remained unchanged. Furthermore, most of the genes of the Rex regulon, such as the
adhE2
and
ldhA
genes, and of the PerR regulon, such as
rbr3A-rbr3B
and
dfx
, were overexpressed in the mutant. In addition, the whole
CA_P0037-CA_P0036
operon was highly expressed under all conditions in the
CA_P0037
::
int
(
189/190s
) mutant, suggesting a self-regulated expression mechanism. Cap0037 was shown to bind to the
CA_P0037-CA_P0036
operon,
sol
operon, and
adc
promoters, and the binding sites were determined by DNA footprinting. Finally, a putative Cap0037 regulon was generated using a bioinformatic approach
.

IMPORTANCE
Clostridium acetobutylicum
is well-known for its ability to produce solvents, especially
n
-butanol. Understanding the regulatory network of
C. acetobutylicum
will be crucial for further engineering to obtain a strain capable of producing
n
-butanol at high yield and selectivity. This study has discovered that the Cap0037 protein is a novel regulator of
C. acetobutylicum
that drastically affects metabolism under both acidogenic and alcohologenic fermentation conditions. This is pioneering work for further determining the regulatory mechanism of Cap0037 in
C. acetobutylicum
and studying the role of proteins homologous to Cap0037 in other members of the phylum
Firmicutes
.
LasR Variant Cystic Fibrosis Isolates Reveal an Adaptable Quorum-Sensing Hierarchy in Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Authors: Feltner John B. , Wolter Daniel J. , Pope Christopher E. , Groleau Marie-Christine , Smalley Nicole E. , Greenberg E. Peter , Mayer-Hamblett Nicole , Burns Jane , Déziel Eric , Hoffman Lucas R. , Dandekar Ajai A.
Published: October 2016

Chronic
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
infections cause significant morbidity in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). Over years to decades,
P. aeruginosa
adapts genetically as it establishes chronic lung infections. Nonsynonymous mutations in
lasR
, the quorum-sensing (QS) master regulator, are common in CF. In laboratory strains of
P. aeruginosa
, LasR activates transcription of dozens of genes, including that for another QS regulator, RhlR. Despite the frequency with which
lasR
coding variants have been reported to occur in
P. aeruginosa
CF isolates, little is known about their consequences for QS. We sequenced
lasR
from 2,583
P. aeruginosa
CF isolates. The
lasR
sequences of 580 isolates (22%) coded for polypeptides that differed from the conserved LasR polypeptides of well-studied laboratory strains. This collection included 173 unique
lasR
coding variants, 116 of which were either missense or nonsense mutations. We studied 31 of these variants. About one-sixth of the variant LasR proteins were functional, including 3 with nonsense mutations, and in some LasR-null isolates, genes that are LasR dependent in laboratory strains were nonetheless expressed. Furthermore, about half of the LasR-null isolates retained RhlR activity. Therefore, in some CF isolates the QS hierarchy is altered such that RhlR quorum sensing is independent of LasR regulation. Our analysis challenges the view that QS-silent
P. aeruginosa
is selected during the course of a chronic CF lung infection. Rather, some
lasR
sequence variants retain functionality, and many employ an alternate QS strategy involving RhlR.

IMPORTANCE
Chronic
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
infections, such as those in patients with the genetic disease cystic fibrosis, are notable in that mutants with defects in the quorum-sensing transcription factor LasR frequently arise. In laboratory strains of
P. aeruginosa
, quorum sensing activates transcription of dozens of genes, many of which encode virulence factors, such as secreted proteases and hydrogen cyanide synthases. In well-studied laboratory strains, LasR-null mutants have a quorum-sensing-deficient phenotype. Therefore, the presence of LasR variants in chronic infections has been interpreted to indicate that quorum-sensing-regulated products are not important for those infections. We report that some
P. aeruginosa
LasR variant clinical isolates are not LasR-null mutants, and others have uncoupled a second quorum-sensing system, the RhlR system, from LasR regulation. In these uncoupled isolates, RhlR independently activates at least some quorum-sensing-dependent genes. Our findings suggest that quorum sensing plays a role in chronic
P. aeruginosa
infections, despite the emergence of LasR coding variants.
Collapse of Insect Gut Symbiosis under Simulated Climate Change
Authors: Kikuchi Yoshitomo , Tada Akiyo , Musolin Dmitry L. , Hari Nobuhiro , Hosokawa Takahiro , Fujisaki Kenji , Fukatsu Takema
Published: October 2016

Global warming impacts diverse organisms not only directly but also indirectly via other organisms with which they interact. Recently, the possibility that elevated temperatures resulting from global warming may substantially affect biodiversity through disrupting mutualistic/parasitic associations has been highlighted. Here we report an experimental demonstration that global warming can affect a pest insect via suppression of its obligate bacterial symbiont. The southern green stinkbug
Nezara viridula
depends on a specific gut bacterium for its normal growth and survival. When the insects were reared inside or outside a simulated warming incubator wherein temperature was controlled at 2.5°C higher than outside, the insects reared in the incubator exhibited severe fitness defects (i.e., retarded growth, reduced size, yellowish body color, etc.) and significant reduction of symbiont population, particularly in the midsummer season, whereas the insects reared outside did not. Rearing at 30°C or 32.5°C resulted in similar defective phenotypes of the insects, whereas no adult insects emerged at 35°C. Notably, experimental symbiont suppression by an antibiotic treatment also induced similar defective phenotypes of the insects, indicating that the host’s defective phenotypes are attributable not to the heat stress itself but to the suppression of the symbiont population induced by elevated temperature. These results strongly suggest that high temperature in the midsummer season negatively affects the insects not directly but indirectly via the heat-vulnerable obligate bacterial symbiont, which highlights the practical relevance of mutualism collapse in this warming world.

IMPORTANCE
Climate change is among the biggest environmental issues in the contemporary world, and its impact on the biodiversity and ecosystem is not only of scientific interest but also of practical concern for the general public. On the basis of our laboratory data obtained under strictly controlled environmental conditions and our simulated warming data obtained in seminatural settings (elevated 2.5°C above the normal temperature), we demonstrate here that
Nezara viridula
, the notorious stinkbug pest, suffers serious fitness defects in the summer season under the simulated warming conditions, wherein high temperature acts on the insect not directly but indirectly via suppression of its obligate gut bacterium. Our finding highlights that heat-susceptible symbionts can be the “Achilles’ heel” of symbiont-dependent organisms under climate change conditions.
GREEN GROWTH IN TAIWAN — AN APPLICATION OF THE OECD GREEN GROWTH MONITORING INDICATORS
Authors: LEE CHIEN-MING , CHOU HSUAN-HSUAN
Published: October 2016

Green growth is a global priority strategy for responding to climate change. This paper applies the OECD (2011a) green growth monitoring indicators framework to analyze 20 indicators of progress toward green growth specific to Taiwan. Principal Component Analysis and Analytic Hierarchy Process are used as weighting methods to calculate an aggregating composite index and perform sensitivity testing. The results show that for the past decade (2002–2011), Taiwan has been moving toward green growth but has been negatively impacted by its natural capital stock. This indicates that improving natural capital stock is a key for sustaining green growth in Taiwan.
The structural stabilities, mechanical properties and hardness of chromium tetraboride: Compared with low-B borides
Authors: Zhong Ming-Min , Huang Cheng , Tian Chun-Ling
Published: October 2016

Using the first-principles calculations, we provide a systemic understanding of the structural features and phase stability, mechanical and electronic properties, as well as the roles of boron (B) atom arrangement in the hardness for chromium borides. The structural and relative energy searches together with formation enthalpy confirm the most stable Cr2B with an orthorhombic Fddd symmetry, CrB with an orthorhombic Cmcm symmetry, CrB2with a hexagonal P63/mmc symmetry and chromium tetraboride (CrB4) with an orthorhombic Pnnm symmetry. The shear modulus, Young’s modulus and [Formula: see text] increase with the boron content, while the Poisson’s ratio and [Formula: see text] ratio have an opposite tendency. Moreover, due to higher B content, strong three-dimensional (3D) covalent B networks and lower metallic contribution, CrB4with Pnnm symmetry has the largest hardness value (46.8 GPa), exceeding the superhard limit, indicating its superhard nature.
Seven Kinds of Computable and Constructive Infelicities in Economics
Authors: Vela Velupillai K.
Published: October 2016

At least seven kinds of misconceptions about constructive and computable mathematics prevail in economics. In this paper, the infelicitous claims of computable or constructive frameworks for the excess demand functions of microeconomics, constructive general equilibrium theory and computable general equilibrium modeling, agent-based economics, search theory, game theory, index number theory and Neo Ricardian economics and the fundamental theorems of welfare economics are considered. The claims are shown to be misleading from the point of view of formal computability theory or constructive mathematics (especially but not only when based on Brouwerian Intuitionistic Logic).
Cardiovascular Physiology of Dinosaurs
Authors: Seymour Roger S.
Published: October 2016

Cardiovascular function in dinosaurs can be inferred from fossil evidence with knowledge of how metabolic rate, blood flow rate, blood pressure, and heart size are related to body size in living animals. Skeletal stature and nutrient foramen size in fossil femora provide direct evidence of a high arterial blood pressure, a large four-chambered heart, a high aerobic metabolic rate, and intense locomotion. But was the heart of a huge, long-necked sauropod dinosaur able to pump blood up 9 m to its head?
Surgical Site Infections in Breast Surgery: The Use of Preoperative Antibiotics for Elective, Nonreconstructive Procedures
Authors: Crawford Christopher B. , Clay James A. , Seydel Anna S. , Wernberg Jessica A.
Published: October 2016

Background. Antibiotic prophylaxis for surgical site infections (SSIs) for breast surgery is widespread, but the benefit in clean surgical cases is not well defined.Methods. A retrospective analysis of 855 patients undergoing elective, nonreconstructive breast operations was performed, with 401 patients receiving no antibiotics and 454 patients receiving a single dose of preoperative antibiotic.Results. Administration of a preoperative antibiotic did not decrease the SSI rate. In this community-based study, antibiotic use practices varied considerably by surgeon. In univariate analyses, SSI rates appeared to increase with prophylactic antibiotic use (12% SSI with antibiotics versus 4% without,p<0.0001), likely because the use of underdosed antibiotics was associated with higher rates of SSI (13.2% SSI with cefazolin 1 gram,p<0.0001, and 15.4% SSI with clindamycin 300 mg or less,p=0.0269). Methicillin-resistantStaphylococcus aureuswas the most common isolate from SSI cultures, 31.8% (7 of 22). In multivariable analyses, increased risk of SSI was associated with BMI > 25 kg/m2(OR: 1.08, 95% CI: 1.04–1.11,p<0.0001).Conclusion. The administration of a single dose of preoperative antibiotic did not decrease the rate of SSI in this large series of patients undergoing clean breast operations. BMI >25 kg/m2and the use of an inadequate dose of antibiotics for prophylaxis may increase risk of SSI.
Classification and Characteristics of Pain Associated with Parkinson’s Disease
Authors: Young Blood Marcelo Rezende , Ferro Marcelo Machado , Munhoz Renato Puppi , Teive Hélio Afonso Ghizoni , Camargo Carlos Henrique Ferreira
Published: October 2016

Neuropsychiatric symptoms and pain are among the most common nonmotor symptoms of Parkinson’s disease (PD). The correlation between pain and PD has been recognized since its classic descriptions. Pain occurs in about 60% of PD patients, two to three times more frequent in this population than in age matched healthy individuals. It is an early and potentially disabling symptom that can precede motor symptoms by several years. The lower back and lower extremities are the most commonly affected areas. The most used classification for pain in PD defines musculoskeletal, dystonic, central, or neuropathic/radicular forms. Its different clinical characteristics, variable relationship with motor symptoms, and inconsistent response to dopaminergic drugs suggest that the mechanism underlying pain in PD is complex and multifaceted, involving the peripheral nervous system, generation and amplification of pain by motor symptoms, and neurodegeneration of areas related to pain modulation. Although pain in DP is common and a significant source of disability, its clinical characteristics, pathophysiology, classification, and management remain to be defined.
Arsenic Transfer from As-Rich Sediments to River Water in the Presence of Biofilms
Authors: Prieto Diego Martiñá , Martín-Liñares Verónica , Piñeiro Verónica , Barral María Teresa
Published: October 2016

The influence of epipsammic biofilms on As release from river sediments was evaluated in a microcosm experiment where biofilms were grown on sediments containing 106 mg kg−1As, collected in the Anllóns River, and compared with control systems without biofilms. The As transfer to the water column was low (<0.11% of total As in the sediment) and was further reduced by 64% in the presence of biofilms.AsVwas the predominant species in the overlying water in both systems.AsIIIconcentration was higher (up to 12% of total dissolved As) in the control systems than in the systems with biofilms, where this species was almost absent. This fact is of toxicological relevance due to the usually higher mobility and toxicity of the reducedAsIIIspecies. Control systems exhibited higher As mobility in water, in sulphate solution, and in weak acid medium and higher bioavailability in diffusive gradient in thin films (DGT) devices. Arsenic retained by the biofilm was equally distributed between extracellular and intracellular compartments. Inside the cells, significant concentrations ofAsIII, monomethylarsonic acid (MMAV), and dimethylarsinic acid (DMAV) were detected, suggesting that active methylation (detoxification) processes are occurring in the intracellular compartment.
Characterization of a Thermostable 8-Oxoguanine DNA Glycosylase Specific for GO/N Mismatches from the Thermoacidophilic ArchaeonThermoplasma volcanium
Authors: Fujii Miki , Hata Chieri , Ukita Munetada , Fukushima Chie , Matsuura Chihiro , Kawashima-Ohya Yoshie , Tomobe Koji , Kawashima Tsuyoshi
Published: October 2016

The oxidation of guanine (G) to 7,8-dihydro-8-oxoguanine (GO) forms one of the major DNA lesions generated by reactive oxygen species (ROS). The GO can be corrected by GO DNA glycosylases (Ogg), enzymes involved in base excision repair (BER). Unrepaired GO induces mismatched base pairing with adenine (A); as a result, the mismatch causes a point mutation, from G paired with cytosine (C) to thymine (T) paired with adenine (A), during DNA replication. Here, we report the characterization of a putative Ogg from the thermoacidophilic archaeonThermoplasma volcanium. The 204-amino acid sequence of the putative Ogg (TVG_RS00315) shares significant sequence homology with the DNA glycosylases ofMethanocaldococcus jannaschii(MjaOgg) andSulfolobus solfataricus(SsoOgg). The six histidine-tagged recombinant TVG_RS00315 protein gene was expressed inEscherichia coliand purified. The Ogg protein is thermostable, with optimal activity near a pH of 7.5 and a temperature of 60°C. The enzyme displays DNA glycosylase, and apurinic/apyrimidinic (AP) lyase activities on GO/N (where N is A, T, G, or C) mismatch; yet it cannot eliminate U from U/G or T from T/G, as mismatch glycosylase (MIG) can. These results indicate that TvoOgg-encodingTVG_RS00315is a member of the Ogg2 family ofT. volcanium.
A Novel Method for Constructing Grid Multi-Wing Butterfly Chaotic Attractors via Nonlinear Coupling Control
Authors: Huang Yun
Published: October 2016

A new method is presented to construct grid multi-wing butterfly chaotic attractors. Based on the three-dimensional Lorenz system, two first-order differential equations are added along with one linear coupling controller, respectively. And a piecewise linear function, which is taken into the linear coupling controller, is designed to form a nonlinear coupling controller; thus a five-dimensional chaotic system is produced, which is able to generate gird multi-wing butterfly chaotic attractors. Through the analysis of the equilibrium points, Lyapunov exponent spectrums, bifurcation diagrams, and Poincaré mapping in this system, the chaotic characteristic of the system is verified. Apart from the research above, an electronic circuit is designed to implement the system. The circuit experimental results are in accordance with the results of numerical simulation, which verify the availability and feasibility of this method.
Implementation of an Evidence-Based Exercise Program for Older Adults in South Florida
Authors: Palmer Richard C. , Batra Anamica , Anderson Chelsie , Page Timothy , Vieira Edgar , Seff Laura
Published: October 2016

Introduction. This study aimed to examine how well an evidence-based physical activity program could be translated for wide scale dissemination and adoption to increase physical activity among community-dwelling older adults.Methods. Between October 2009 and December 2012, reach, fidelity, dosage, ease of implementation, and barriers to translation of EnhanceFitness (EF) were assessed. To assess effectiveness, a pretest-posttest design was used to measure increases in functional fitness (chair stands, arm curls, and the up-and-go test).Results. Fourteen community-based agencies offered 126 EF classes in 83 different locations and reached 4,490 older adults. Most participants were female (72%). Thirty-eight percent of participants did not complete the initial 16-week EF program. The 25% who received the recommended dose experienced an increase in upper and lower body strength and mobility. Further, participants reported high satisfaction with the program.Conclusion. EF was successfully implemented in a variety of settings throughout South Florida and reached a large number of older adults. However, challenges were encountered in ensuring that those who participated received a program dose that would lead to beneficial gains in functional fitness.