bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Association between dental hygiene, gingivitis and overweight or the risk of overweight in primary teeth of 4‐ and 5‐year‐old preschoolers in México
Authors: Patiño‐Marín N , Zavala‐Alonso NV , Martínez‐Castañón GA , Alegría‐Torres JA , Medina‐Solís CE , Laredo‐Naranjo MA , Orellana‐Centeno JE , Lemus‐Rojero O
Published: April 2018

Objective

To determine the association between dental hygiene, gingivitis and overweight or the risk of overweight according to body mass index (BMI).

Methods

A cross‐sectional study was performed with 1527 preschoolers. The children were divided into 4 groups: (i) absence of visible plaque and normal weight; (ii) absence of visible plaque and risk of overweight or overweight; (iii) presence of visible plaque and normal weight; and (iv) presence of visible plaque and risk of overweight or overweight. The clinical parameters evaluated were as follows: body mass index, degree of urban marginalization, dental caries, the simplified oral hygiene index and gingival status. Bivariate analysis and multivariate binary logistic regression models were used to identify associations between variables.

Results

The highest mean of gingivitis (0.28) was observed in the groups with visible plaque with normal weight and with overweight and risk of overweight. The presence of visible plaque and risk of overweight or overweight were positively associated (P = .0001) with the mean of gingivitis (OR = 8.28, 95% CI = 3.30‐19.8). The absence of visible plaque and risk of overweight or overweight (P = .0001) were also positively associated with the presence of gingivitis (OR = 2.44, 95% CI = 0.68‐8.06). This is after both models were adjusted by gender and degree of marginalization.

Conclusions

The professionals should develop interdisciplinary approaches to (i) propose appropriate interventions to improve oral health in overweight preschoolers; and (ii) propose interventions to decrease the overweight with the possibility of also reducing its association with gingivitis.
Clinical complications in renal biopsy using two different needle gauges: The impact of large hematomas, a random clinical trial study
Authors: Antunes Paulo Ramos Botelho , Prado Fabiano Franco Monteiro , de Souza Fabrício Tinôco Alvim , de Siqueira Elisa Carvalho , de Campos Marcos Álvares , Álvares Maria Carolina Barbosa , Neto Rene Berindoague
Published: April 2018

Objective

To compare complications of ultrasound‐guided percutaneous renal biopsy using two needle gauges (16‐G and 18‐G).

Methods

A total of 238 individuals with renal biopsy indication were included and randomly separated into two groups: ultrasound‐guided percutaneous renal biopsy procedure carried out with a 16‐G or 18‐G needle. The adequacy of biopsy samples and post‐procedure complications were compared between the two groups.

Results

The procedures carried out with a 16‐G needle collected fragments with a mean of 22.1 ± 10.8 glomeruli, and those carried out with an 18‐G needle had a mean of 17.5 ± 9.4 glomeruli. Patients submitted to renal biopsies with a 16‐G needle had a higher likelihood of having a complication (OR5.1, 95% CI 1.7–15.4, P = 0.001). The overall mean volume of post‐biopsy hematoma in patients with complications was significantly larger than those without complications (44 ± 56.1 mL vs 5.9 ± 6.6 mL; P < 0.001).

Conclusions

Renal biopsies carried out by ultrasonography using an 18‐G needle provide adequate histological analysis, showing a lower amount of glomeruli but with similar clinical quality as a 16‐G needle. Furthermore, it is associated with a lower risk of procedure‐related complications.
Compensation modes of border effects in cross‐border regions
Authors: Capello Roberta , Caragliu Andrea , Fratesi Ugo
Published: April 2018

Both international and regional economics discuss borders as barriers to economic growth. They hamper trade flows between areas sharing an international border (a demand effect), as well as causing firms’ inefficiency because of the increase in production costs (supply side). In the theoretical and empirical discussions, no question has been raised on whether regional economies are able to set up compensation mechanisms, by replacing low endowments with high efficiency in the use of existing assets, or by compensating an inefficient use of internal assets with an efficient use of external ones. The reply to this question has normative implications. Empirical evidence on the universe of 1,398 European NUTS3 regions is presented and policy suggestions elaborated.
Increasing incidence of type 2 diabetes in New Zealand children <15 years of age in a regional‐based diabetes service, Auckland, New Zealand
Authors: Sjardin Natalia , Reed Peter , Albert Ben , Mouat Fran , Carter Phillipa J , Hofman Paul , Cutfield Wayne , Gunn Alistair , Jefferies Craig
Published: April 2018

Aim

It is important to understand whether type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is increasing in childhood for health‐care planning and clinical management. The aim of this study is to examine the incidence of T2DM in New Zealand children, aged <15 years from a paediatric diabetes centre, Auckland, New Zealand.

Methods

Retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data from a population‐based referral cohort from 1995 to 2015.

Results

Hundred and four children presented with T2DM over the 21‐year period. The female:male ratio was 1.8:1, at mean (standard deviation) age 12.9 (1.9) years, body mass index standard deviation score +2.3 (0.5), blood sugar 15.3 (8.5) mmol/L, HbA1c 76 (28) mmol/mol. At diagnosis, 90% had acanthosis nigricans and 48% were symptomatic. In all, 33% were Maori, 46% Pacific Island, 15% Asian/Middle Eastern and 6% European. There was a progressive secular increase of 5% year on year in incidence. The overall annual incidence of T2DM <15 years of age was 1.5/100 000 (1.2–1.9) (95% confidence interval), with higher rates in Pacific Island (5.9/100 000) and Maori (4.1/100 000).

Conclusions

The incidence of T2DM in children <15 years of age in New Zealand has increased progressively at 5%/year over the last 21 years. The risk was disproportionately associated with girls and children from high‐risk ethnic groups.
Pro‐osteogenic properties of hydrophilic and hydrophobic titanium surfaces: Crosstalk between signalling pathways in in vivo models
Authors: Calciolari E. , Hamlet S. , Ivanovski S. , Donos N.
Published: April 2018

Background

It is now generally accepted that the response to a particular signal, such as the surgical trauma following implant placement, is not the result of a single linear signalling pathway, but rather reflects pathway integration, which can occur at multiple levels. Although it is well documented that both SLA and SLActive surfaces are able to promote bone formation and osseointegration, it is still unclear which are the key signalling pathways involved and how surface hydrophilicity/hydrophobicity might affect pathway integration.

Objective

To combine gene and protein data from in vivo studies applying titanium hydrophobic (Sandblasting, Large‐grit, Acid‐etching, SLA) and hydrophilic (SLActive) surfaces to understand the molecular mechanisms responsible for the pro‐osteogenic properties of these surfaces.

Methods

The Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG®) pathway database and the Ingenuity® Pathway Analysis (IPA®) software were applied to the genomic and proteomic data of previous in vivo studies applying SLA and SLActive surfaces, with the specific aim to focus on bone formation‐related signalling pathways. While gene data were derived from a human study on osseointegration, protein data originated from a preclinical study in rabbits. Data were available for the 4, 7 and 14 days of healing periods.

Results

Both genomic and proteomic data showed that the osteogenesis process takes place mainly at 7 and 14 days of healing on both SLA and SLActive surfaces. Surface hydrophilicity enhances bone formation at multiple levels, by directly promoting an earlier expression of pathways involved in cell proliferation and osteoblast precursor differentiation (eg, mitogen‐activated protein kinase, phosphoinositide‐3 kinase‐AKT, Wnt, Notch, transforming growth factor‐β), but also by positively regulating angiogenesis, bone mineralization and bone remodelling.

Conclusion

This study combined, for the first time, different ‘omics’ outputs to get new insights on the molecular mechanisms behind the influence of surface hydrophilicity on osseointegration/bone formation. Specific signalling pathways, such as Wnt, vascular endothelial growth factor and mitogen‐activated protein kinase, were identified as differentially modulated by titanium surface hydrophilicity both at a genomic and proteomic level. These findings may be used in the future to monitor/predict the bone formation/osseointegration process, or as a screening tool towards the manufacture of new pro‐osteogenic implant surfaces. In order to take into account the full complexity and interplay of cell signalling during bone formation, powerful bioinformatics tools integrating different ‘omics’ data and predicting signalling pathways trends should be applied by future studies.
Peptidylarginine deiminase is involved in maintaining the cornified oral mucosa of rats
Authors: Arita S. , Hatta M. , Uchida K. , Kita T. , Okamura K. , Ryu T. , Murakami H. , Sakagami R. , Yamazaki J.
Published: April 2018

Background and Objective

Epithelial cells derived from different regions exhibit marked differences in their differentiation capacity, allowing them to provide a suitable protective barrier. We aimed to clarify the role of peptidylarginine deiminase (PAD) in modifying the key epidermal proteins filaggrin (FLG) and keratin 1 (K1) during stratification of the rat palate and buccal mucosa.

Material and Methods

We performed immunofluorescence, immunoblotting, PAD activity assays and 2‐dimensional electrophoresis, and developed an organotypic culture model.

Results

PAD1 expression was highest in the palate, whereas PAD2, PAD3 and PAD4 expression was highest in the skin, suggesting the tissue‐specific expression of PAD isozymes that leads to differences in calcium dependency. Immunoblotting showed that the FLG monomer, as well as its degradation products and precursor (proFLG), were most abundantly expressed in the skin but had low expression in the palate, whereas only faint proFLG expression was detected in the buccal mucosa. FLG and K1 were colocalized with PAD1 and were likely to be citrullinated in the cornified layers of the skin; this colocalization was not detected on the palatal surface, and dot‐like presence of proFLG that might be citrullinated and that of PAD1 were found in the granules of the palate. Organotypic models derived from the rat palate revealed that PAD inhibition reduced the breakdown of FLG, increased its association with K1 together with epithelial compaction, and decreased permeability in a dye permeability assay. Conversely, PAD stimulation had the opposite effects.

Conclusion

Citrullination is likely a protein modification that plays an important role in maintaining the structure and function of oral cornified mucosa in a way that is distinctly different from that of the skin.
Differential metabolism of pectic galactan in tomato and strawberry fruit: detection of the LM26 branched galactan epitope in ripe strawberry fruit
Authors: Posé Sara , Marcus Susan E. , Knox J. Paul
Published: April 2018

Antibody‐based approaches have been used to study cell wall architecture and modifications during the ripening process of two important fleshy fruit crops: tomato and strawberry. Cell wall polymers in both unripe and ripe fruits have been sequentially solubilized and fractions analyzed with sets of monoclonal antibodies focusing on the pectic polysaccharides. We demonstrate the specific detection of the LM26 branched galactan epitope, associated with rhamnogalacturonan‐I, in cell walls of ripe strawberry fruit. Analytical approaches confirm that the LM26 epitope is linked to sets of rhamnogalacturonan‐I and homogalacturonan molecules. The cellulase‐degradation of cellulose‐rich residues that releases cell wall polymers intimately linked with cellulose microfibrils has been used to explore aspects of branched galactan occurrence and galactan metabolism. In situ analyses of ripe strawberry fruits indicate that the LM26 epitope is present in all primary cell walls and also particularly abundant in vascular tissues. The significance of the occurrence of branched galactan structures in the side chains of rhamnogalacturonan‐I pectins in the context of ripening strawberry fruit is discussed.
“Mobile (nomadic) cultures” and the politics of mobility: Insights from Indigenous Australia
Authors: Prout Quicke Sarah , Green Charmaine
Published: April 2018

The recent “mobility turn” in the social sciences has emphasised the increasing scale and speed of movement in our modern world. It also invites critical analyses of the politics of mobility: how movement is conceptualised and regulated and what these processes reveal about power and marginalisation within societies. However, within this literature to date, there have been relatively few empirical, geographical analyses of mobile (or nomadic) cultures: those peoples whose identities and lived experience are often contested through the interplay of population (im)mobilities and state regulation. Though these mobile cultures – including pastoral nomads, Indigenous hunter‐gatherer peoples and Gypsy/Traveller peoples – are vastly different in many ways, they share a set of common experiences which suggests that an analysis of the politics of mobility for one is likely to have relevance to others. As a call to future comparative efforts, this paper begins by setting out four commonalities across diverse mobile cultures, related to: experiences of oppression; disciplining discourses; forced confinement/sedentarism; and contemporary socio‐economic marginalisation. We then present a set of empirical findings that elaborate the related experiences of one mobile culture in situ. Here, we examine the politics of mobility regulation in the context of Indigenous Australians and state housing policy. The findings reveal how state practices that ignore or attempt to regulate the spatial/population mobilities of mobile cultures have questionable efficacy, and can further entrench the marginal status of mobile cultures. They also show how mobile cultures challenge sedentarist policy parameters that insist on fixity in household tenure and composition. These observed struggles with respect to cultural identity and movement regulation constitute important empirical challenges to the nomadic metaphysics within the mobility turn.
Antimicrobial peptides: an effective approach to prevent bacterial biofilm formation in platelet concentrates
Authors: Alabdullatif Meshari , Atreya Chintamani D. , Ramirez‐Arcos Sandra
Published: April 2018

BACKGROUND

The safety of platelet concentrates (PCs) is a major concern in transfusion medicine due to contamination mainly with skin Gram‐positive bacteria. The predominant contaminant, Staphylococcus epidermidis, forms bacterial cell aggregates (biofilms) in PCs posing a safety risk for transfusion patients. Combinations of synthetic antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have demonstrated bactericidal activity in PCs. Herein, we have evaluated the ability of a mix of AMPs to inhibit biofilm formation and/or eradicate S. epidermidis biofilms.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS

Three synthetic AMPs, the platelet‐derived peptide (PD4) and two arginine‐tryptophan repeats (RW3 and RW4), were used for bactericidal and antibiofilm experiments in glucose‐supplemented trypticase soy broth (TSBg) and PCs spiked with three biofilm‐forming strains of S. epidermidis. Time‐killing assays were performed to evaluate the bactericidal capability of the peptides. Inhibition of biofilm formation was assayed by seeding S. epidermidis into TSBg or PC cultures supplemented with the AMPs. Biofilm eradication assays were performed after AMP treatment of preformed biofilms with and without mechanical dislodging. Biofilms were measured using a crystal violet assay.

RESULTS

Time‐killing assays demonstrated that all S. epidermidis strains were eliminated after 24 hours of AMP treatment. While inhibition of biofilm formation was observed for all S. epidermidis strains in TSBg and PCs, the AMP treatment was only effective to reduce the bacterial load of mechanically dislodged biofilms.

CONCLUSION

The combination of three synthetic AMPs (PD4‐RW3‐RW4) can be used to inhibit biofilm formation by S. epidermidis to enhance PC safety. However, further investigation is needed to improve their activity against mature S. epidermidis biofilms.
Photoremediation of heavy metals from aqueous environments onto ZnO coated fibrous polyethylene terephthalate nonwovens
Authors: Ingram Wade F. , Halbur Jonathan C. , Madan Ankesh , Jur Jesse S.
Published: April 2018

This work explores the photoremediation of hexavalent chromium from aqueous solutions on to nonwoven polyethylene terephthalate substrates modified by nanoscale atomic layer deposition coatings of ZnO. Removal of Cr6+ is observed to increase with ZnO thin film thickness up to 500 atomic layer deposition cycles (∼90 nm) with a maximum Cr6+ removal of 67% after an exposure of 540 J/cm2. Instead of reducing Cr6+ to Cr3+, this work shows that the mechanism for removal of the Cr ion from solution is by sorption and photoreduction of the metal onto the ZnO surface. Additionally, mixed solutions with Cr6+ and As3+ ions were tested for simultaneous photoreduction and photooxidation, showing that mixed ion solutions may better utilize photogenerated electrons and holes, simultaneously. The reported demonstration and analysis represents a facile route for reclamation of toxic components in an aqueous media.
Correlations between otoacoustic emissions and performance in common psychoacoustical tasks
Authors: McFadden Dennis , Pasanen Edward G. , Maloney Mindy M. , Leshikar Erin M. , Pho Michelle H.
Published: April 2018

Performance was measured on seven common psychoacoustical tasks for about 75 highly trained subjects. Because some psychoacoustical outcomes varied by race, the subjects were partitioned into White and Non-White categories for analysis. Sex, race, and menstrual-cycle differences in performance are described in a companion paper [McFadden, Pasanen, Maloney, Leshikar, and Pho (2018). J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 143, 2338–2354]. Also measured for all subjects were three types of otoacoustic emissions (OAEs): spontaneous otoacoustic emissions (SOAEs), click-evoked otoacoustic emissions (CEOAEs), and distortion-product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs). The experimental question was whether and how OAEs were correlated with psychoacoustical performance. In accord with past findings, the SOAEs and CEOAEs exhibited substantial sex and race differences, but the DPOAEs did not. Somewhat surprisingly, the correlations between OAEs and psychoacoustical performance were generally weak. No form of OAE was highly correlated with any psychoacoustical task for both sexes within a race category. Thus, there was no compelling evidence that the mechanisms underlying OAEs also contribute systematically to performance in any of the simultaneous or temporal masking tasks studied here. Especially surprising were the weak correlations between OAEs and detection of a tone in the quiet. Apparently individual differences in psychoacoustical performance reside more in post-cochlear (neural) mechanisms than in individual differences in the cochlear (“mechanical”) mechanisms underlying the OAEs measured here.
Objective detection and time-frequency localization of components within transient signals
Authors: Reinhold Isabella , Sandsten Maria , Starkhammar Josefin
Published: April 2018

An automatic component detection method for overlapping transient pulses in multi-component signals is presented and evaluated. The recently proposed scaled reassignment technique is shown to have the best achievable resolution for closely located Gaussian shaped transient pulses, even in heavy disruptive noise. As a result, the method automatically detects and counts the number of transients, giving the center times and center frequencies of all components with considerable accuracy. The presented method shows great potential for applications in several acoustic research fields, where coinciding Gaussian shaped transients are analyzed. The performance is tested on measured data from a laboratory pulse-echo setup and from a dolphin echolocation signal measured simultaneously at two different locations in the echolocation beam. Since the method requires little user input, it should be easily employed in a variety of research projects.
A Complex Mechanism Involving LysR and TetR/AcrR That Regulates Iron Scavenger Biosynthesis in Pseudomonas donghuensis HYS
Authors: Chen Min , Wang Panning , Xie Zhixiong
Published: April 2018

7-Hydroxytropolone (7-HT) is a symmetrical seven-membered heteroatomic ring with a carboxyl group and two hydroxyl groups and was recently reported to be an iron scavenger of
Pseudomonas donghuensis
HYS. Cluster 1 includes 12 genes related to the synthesis of 7-HT; among these genes, those for two regulators, Orf1 and Orf12, were predicted to regulate 7-HT biosynthesis and to be LysR-type transcriptional regulators (LTTRs) and TetR/AcrR family transcriptional regulators, respectively. Data from real-time quantitative PCR and β-galactosidase and classical siderophore assays indicated that the transcription levels of
orf1
and
orf12
, as well as those of crucial genes
orf6
to
orf9
, were repressed under high-iron conditions. The deletion of
orf1
and
orf12
led to an absence of 7-HT and a decrease in
orf6-orf9
expression. Orf1 and Orf12 were essential for the production of 7-HT through
orf6-orf9
. These two regulators are regulated by the Gac/Rsm system; Orf1 facilitates the expression of Orf12, and Orf12 concomitantly stimulates the expression of
orf6-orf9
to synthesize 7-HT. The overexpression of Orf12 decreased 7-HT yields, possibly through decreased
orf6-orf9
expression. This work thus outlines a complex mechanism regulating the biosynthesis of the iron scavenger 7-HT in
P. donghuensis
HYS. The synergy between Orf1 and Orf12 ensures that 7-HT acts as an iron chelator despite being toxic to bacteria and provides new ideas for the novel regulation of dual-functional secondary metabolism and research on 7-HT and its derivates in other bacteria.

IMPORTANCE
A complex regulation mechanism including two regulators, LysR and TetR/AcrR, in the biosynthesis of the novel iron scavenger 7-hydroxytropolone (7-HT) was verified in
Pseudomonas donghuensis
HYS. The coaction of LysR Orf1 and TetR/AcrR Orf12 may balance the toxicity and iron chelation of 7-HT in
P. donghuensis
HYS to overcome iron deficiency, as well as improve the bacterial competitiveness under iron-scarce conditions because of the toxicity of 7-HT toward other bacteria, making the accurate regulation of 7-HT biosynthesis indispensable. This regulation mechanism may be ubiquitous in the
Pseudomonas putida
group but may better explain the group's strong adaptability.
Domains within RbpA Serve Specific Functional Roles That Regulate the Expression of Distinct Mycobacterial Gene Subsets
Authors: Prusa Jerome , Jensen Drake , Santiago-Collazo Gustavo , Pope Steven S. , Garner Ashley L. , Miller Justin J. , Ruiz Manzano Ana , Galburt Eric A. , Stallings Christina L.
Published: April 2018

The RNA polymerase (RNAP) binding protein A (RbpA) contributes to the formation of stable RNAP-promoter open complexes (RP
o
) and is essential for viability in mycobacteria. Four domains have been identified in the RbpA protein, i.e., an N-terminal tail (NTT) that interacts with RNAP β′ and σ subunits, a core domain (CD) that contacts the RNAP β′ subunit, a basic linker (BL) that binds DNA, and a σ-interaction domain (SID) that binds group I and group II σ factors. Limited
in vivo
studies have been performed in mycobacteria, however, and how individual structural domains of RbpA contribute to RbpA function and mycobacterial gene expression remains mostly unknown. We investigated the roles of the RbpA structural domains in mycobacteria using a panel of
rbpA
mutants that target individual RbpA domains. The function of each RbpA domain was required for
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
viability and optimal growth in
Mycobacterium smegmatis
. We determined that the RbpA SID is both necessary and sufficient for RbpA interaction with the RNAP, indicating that the primary functions of the NTT and CD are not solely association with the RNAP. We show that the RbpA BL and SID are required for RP
o
stabilization
in vitro
, while the NTT and CD antagonize this activity. Finally, RNA-sequencing analyses suggest that the NTT and CD broadly activate gene expression, whereas the BL and SID activate or repress gene expression in a gene-dependent manner for a subset of mycobacterial genes. Our findings highlight specific outcomes for the activities of the individual functional domains in RbpA.

IMPORTANCE
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
is the causative agent of tuberculosis and continues to be the most lethal infectious disease worldwide. Improved molecular understanding of the essential proteins involved in
M. tuberculosis
transcription, such as RbpA, could provide targets for much needed future therapeutic agents aimed at combatting this pathogen. In this study, we expand our understanding of RbpA by identifying the RbpA structural domains responsible for the interaction of RbpA with the RNAP and the effects of RbpA on transcription initiation and gene expression. These experiments expand our knowledge of RbpA while also broadening our understanding of bacterial transcription in general.
Evaluation of Targeted Next-Generation Sequencing for Detection of Bovine Pathogens in Clinical Samples
Authors: Anis Eman , Hawkins Ian K. , Ilha Marcia R. S. , Woldemeskel Moges W. , Saliki Jeremiah T. , Wilkes Rebecca P.
Published: April 2018

The laboratory diagnosis of infectious diseases, especially those caused by mixed infections, is challenging. Routinely, it requires submission of multiple samples to separate laboratories. Advances in next-generation sequencing (NGS) have provided the opportunity for development of a comprehensive method to identify infectious agents. This study describes the use of target-specific primers for PCR-mediated amplification with the NGS technology in which pathogen genomic regions of interest are enriched and selectively sequenced from clinical samples. In the study, 198 primers were designed to target 43 common bovine and small-ruminant bacterial, fungal, viral, and parasitic pathogens, and a bioinformatics tool was specifically constructed for the detection of targeted pathogens. The primers were confirmed to detect the intended pathogens by testing reference strains and isolates. The method was then validated using 60 clinical samples (including tissues, feces, and milk) that were also tested with other routine diagnostic techniques. The detection limits of the targeted NGS method were evaluated using 10 representative pathogens that were also tested by quantitative PCR (qPCR), and the NGS method was able to detect the organisms from samples with qPCR threshold cycle (

C
T

) values in the 30s. The method was successful for the detection of multiple pathogens in the clinical samples, including some additional pathogens missed by the routine techniques because the specific tests needed for the particular organisms were not performed. The results demonstrate the feasibility of the approach and indicate that it is possible to incorporate NGS as a diagnostic tool in a cost-effective manner into a veterinary diagnostic laboratory.
Approach to Diagnosis of Cardiovascular Implantable-Electronic-Device Infection
Authors: DeSimone Daniel C. , Sohail M. Rizwan
Published: April 2018

Device infection remains a significant challenge as clinical indications for cardiovascular implantable electronic device (CIED) therapy continue to expand beyond the prevention and treatment of cardiac arrhythmias. Patients receiving CIED therapy are now older and have significant comorbidities, placing them at higher risk of complications, including infection. CIED infection warrants complete device removal, as retention is associated with an unacceptably high risk of relapse and increased mortality. However, accurate diagnosis of CIED infections remains a significant challenge that is based on a combination of findings on physical examination, microbiological and laboratory testing, and advanced imaging, such as transesophageal echocardiography or positron emission tomography. Isolating a causative pathogen and performing susceptibility testing are crucial for appropriate choice, route, and duration of antimicrobial therapy. In this review, we present an evidence-based approach to diagnosis of CIED infection.
Tracking Polymicrobial Metabolism in Cystic Fibrosis Airways: Pseudomonas aeruginosa Metabolism and Physiology Are Influenced by Rothia mucilaginosa-Derived Metabolites
Authors: Gao Bei , Gallagher Tara , Zhang Ying , Elbadawi-Sidhu Mona , Lai Zijuan , Fiehn Oliver , Whiteson Katrine L.
Published: April 2018

Pseudomonas aeruginosa
is a dominant and persistent cystic fibrosis pathogen. Although
P. aeruginosa
is accompanied by other microbes in the airways of cystic fibrosis patients, few cystic fibrosis studies show how
P. aeruginosa
is affected by the metabolism of other bacteria. Here, we demonstrate that
P. aeruginosa
generates primary metabolites using substrates produced by another microbe that is prevalent in the airways of cystic fibrosis patients,
Rothia mucilaginosa
. These results indicate that
P. aeruginosa
may get a metabolic boost from its microbial neighbor, which might contribute to its pathogenesis in the airways of cystic fibrosis patients.
Cutaneous vasomotor responses in boys and men
Authors: Hodges Gary J. , Mueller Matthew C. , Cheung Stephen S. , Falk Bareket
Published: April 2018

Few studies have investigated skin blood flow in children and age-related differences in the underlying mechanisms. We examined mechanisms of skin blood flow responses to local heating, postocclusive reactive hyperaemia (PORH), and isometric handgrip exercise in adult and prepubescent males, hypothesizing that skin blood flow responses would be greater in children compared with adults. We measured skin blood flow in 12 boys (age, 9 ± 1 years) and 12 men (age, 21 ± 1 years) using laser-Doppler flowmetry at rest, in response to 3-min PORH, 2-min isometric handgrip exercise, and local skin heating to 39 °C (submaximal) and 44 °C (maximal). Using wavelet analysis we assessed endothelial, neural, and myogenic activities. At rest and in response to local heating to 39 °C, children had higher skin blood flow and endothelial activity compared with men (d ≥ 1.1, p < 0.001) and similar neurogenic and myogenic activities (d < 0.2, p > 0.05). Maximal responses to 44 °C local skin heating, PORH, and isometric handgrip exercise did not differ between boys and men (all d ≤ 0.2, p > 0.05). During PORH children demonstrated greater endothelial activity compared with men (d ≥ 0.6, p < 0.05); in contrast, men had higher neurogenic activity (d = 1.0, p < 0.01). During isometric handgrip exercise there were no differences in endothelial, neurogenic, and myogenic activities (d < 0.2, p > 0.3), with boys and men demonstrating similar increases in endothelial activity and decreases in myogenic activity (d ≥ 0.8, p < 0.05). These data suggest that boys experience greater levels of skin blood flow at rest and in response to submaximal local heating compared with men, while maximal responses appear to be similar. Additionally, endothelial mediators seem to contribute more to vasodilatation in boys than in men.
Sortilin: a new player in dementia and Alzheimer-type neuropathology
Authors: Xu Shu-Yin , Jiang Juan , Pan Aihua , Yan Cai , Yan Xiao-Xin
Published: April 2018

Age-related dementias are now a major mortality factor among most human populations in the world, with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) being the leading dementia-causing neurodegenerative disease. The pathogenic mechanism underlying dementia disorders, and AD in particular, remained largely unknown. Efforts to develop drugs targeting the disease’s hallmark lesions, such as amyloid plaque and tangle pathologies, have been unsuccessful so far. The vacuolar protein sorting 10p (Vps10p) family plays a critical role in membrane signal transduction and protein sorting and trafficking between intracellular compartments. Data emerging during the past few years point to an involvement of this family in the development of AD. Specifically, the Vps10p member sortilin has been shown to participate in amyloid plaque formation, tau phosphorylation, abnormal protein sorting and apoptosis. In this minireview, we update some latest findings from animal experiments and human brain studies suggesting that abnormal sortilin expression is associated with AD-type neuropathology, warranting further research that might lead to novel targets for the development of AD therapies.
Numerical investigation of soil–pipeline system behavior nearby unsupported excavation in saturated and unsaturated glacial till
Authors: Al-Khazaali Mohammed , Vanapalli Sai K. , Oh Won Taek
Published: April 2018

Buried pipeline systems form vital infrastructure, all over the world, to transport resources such as water, oil, and gas from the production stage to the locations of consumption. Failure or rupture in pipelines in general and oil or gas pipelines in particular lead to not only economic losses that are expensive, but also cause extensive damage to the environment in several scenarios. One of the key reasons for buried pipeline systems failure is associated with excavation or soil trenching within the proximity of pipelines. Soil deformation associated with excavation causes relative displacement between the pipeline and the surrounding soil, which contributes to external as well as internal stresses and strains on the pipelines. In this study, numerical analyses are carried out to investigate the behaviors of buried rigid and flexible pipelines by extending the effective stress analysis and the modified effective stress analysis approaches for saturated and unsaturated soils, respectively. The pipe displacement, strains, and internal force results from the study suggest that soil trenching in unsaturated soils contribute to limited deformations within the proximity of the embedded pipelines and result in lower internal forces. The proposed methodology can be used to determine the safe depths of unsupported excavations in unsaturated soils without causing excessive strains or internal forces in the ring of rigid and flexible pipes.
Morphological response of Yarrowia lipolytica under stress of heavy metals
Authors: Bankar Ashok , Zinjarde Smita , Telmore Aishwarya , Walke Aishwarya , Ravikumar Ameeta
Published: April 2018

The marine dimorphic yeast Yarrowia lipolytica has been proposed as a suitable model for the dimorphism study. In this study, the morphological behaviour of two marine strains of Y. lipolytica (NCIM 3589 and NCIM 3590) was studied under stress of different heavy metals. Scanning electron microscopy was used to investigate the morphological features of yeast cells. This study revealed that the normal ellipsoidal shape of yeast cells was changed into oval, rounded, or elongated in response to different heavy-metal stress. Light microscopy was also used to investigate individual properties of yeast cells. The average cell length and radius of both marine strains was increased with increasing concentrations of heavy-metal ions. In addition, the elongation factor was calculated and was increased in the presence of heavy metals like Pb(II), Co(II), Cr(III), Cr(VI), and Zn(II) under the static conditions.
Extensive genetic and DNA methylation variation contribute to heterosis in triploid loquat hybrids
Authors: Liu Chao , Wang Mingbo , Wang Lingli , Guo Qigao , Liang Guolu
Published: April 2018

We aim to overcome the unclear origin of the loquat and elucidate the heterosis mechanism of the triploid loquat. Here we investigated the genetic and epigenetic variations between the triploid plant and its parental lines using amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) and methylation-sensitive amplified fragment length polymorphism (MSAP) analyses. We show that in addition to genetic variations, extensive DNA methylation variation occurred during the formation process of triploid loquat, with the triploid hybrid having increased DNA methylation compared to the parents. Furthermore, a correlation existed between genetic variation and DNA methylation remodeling, suggesting that genome instability may lead to DNA methylation variation or vice versa. Sequence analysis of the MSAP bands revealed that over 53% of them overlap with protein-coding genes, which may indicate a functional role of the differential DNA methylation in gene regulation and hence heterosis phenotypes. Consistent with this, the genetic and epigenetic alterations were associated closely to the heterosis phenotypes of triploid loquat, and this association varied for different traits. Our results suggested that the formation of triploid is accompanied by extensive genetic and DNA methylation variation, and these changes contribute to the heterosis phenotypes of the triploid loquats from the two cross lines.
Two-Source Validation of Progressive FastICA Peel-Off for Automatic Surface EMG Decomposition in Human First Dorsal Interosseous Muscle
Authors: Chen Maoqi , Zhang Xu , Lu Zhiyuan , Li Xiaoyan , Zhou Ping
Published: April 2018

This study aims to assess the accuracy of a novel high density surface electromyogram (SEMG) decomposition method, namely automatic progressive FastICA peel-off (APFP), for automatic decomposition of experimental electrode array SEMG signals. A two-source method was performed by simultaneous concentric needle EMG and electrode array SEMG recordings from the human first dorsal interosseous (FDI) muscle, using a protocol commonly applied in clinical EMG examination. The electrode array SEMG was automatically decomposed by the APFP while the motor unit action potential (MUAP) trains were also independently identified from the concentric needle EMG. The degree of agreement of the common motor unit (MU) discharge timings decomposed from the two different categories of EMG signals was assessed. A total of 861 and 217 MUs were identified from the 114 trials of simultaneous high density SEMG and concentric needle EMG recordings, respectively. Among them 168 common (MUs) were found with a high average matching rate of [Formula: see text] for the discharge timings. The outcomes of this study show that the APFP can reliably decompose at least a subset of MUs in the high density SEMG signals recorded from the human FDI muscle during low contraction levels using a protocol analog to clinical EMG examination.
The Influence of Online Subsidies Service on Online-to-Offline Supply Chain
Authors: Xu Qi , Wang Wen-Jie , Liu Zheng , Tong Pan
Published: April 2018

Online-to-offline (O2O) business model is the new online shopping model in which consumers purchase products or services online and get the products or services in offline physical store. Online subsidies service which provides subsidies for online order is the common way adopted by O2O business to expand the market demand. The demand changes brought by online subsidies service will temporarily disrupt the supply chain balance. In this paper, the O2O supply chain with online subsidies service is modeled to analyze the influence of demand disruption on O2O supply chain performance at the beginning. Then, the optimization of O2O supply chain with online subsidies service to face demand disruption is discussed.
Scalar quantum electrodynamics via Duffin–Kemmer–Petiau gauge theory in the Heisenberg picture: Vacuum polarization
Authors: Beltran J. , Maia N. T. , Pimentel B. M.
Published: April 2018

Scalar Quantum Electrodynamics is investigated in the Heisenberg picture via the Duffin-Kemmer-Petiau gauge theory. On this framework, a perturbative method is used to compute the vacuum polarization tensor and its corresponding induced current for the case of a charged scalar field in the presence of an external electromagnetic field. Charge renormalization is brought into discussion for the interpretation of the results for the vacuum polarization.
A bulk localized state and new holographic renormalization group flow in 3D spin-3 gravity
Authors: Nakayama Ryuichi , Suzuki Tomotaka
Published: April 2018

We construct a localized state of a scalar field in 3D spin-3 gravity. 3D spin-3 gravity is thought to be holographically dual to [Formula: see text]-extended CFT on a boundary at infinity. It is known that while [Formula: see text] algebra is a nonlinear algebra, in the limit of large central charge [Formula: see text] a linear finite-dimensional subalgebra generated by [Formula: see text] [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] [Formula: see text] is singled out. The localized state is constructed in terms of these generators. To write down an equation of motion for a scalar field which is satisfied by this localized state, it is necessary to introduce new variables for an internal space [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], in addition to ordinary coordinates [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text]. The higher-dimensional space, which combines the bulk space–time with the “internal space,” which is an analog of superspace in supersymmetric theory, is introduced. The “physical bulk space–time” is a 3D hypersurface with constant [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] embedded in this space. We will work in Poincaré coordinates of AdS space and consider [Formula: see text]-quasi-primary operators [Formula: see text] with a conformal weight [Formula: see text] in the boundary and study two and three point functions of [Formula: see text]-quasi-primary operators transformed as [Formula: see text]. Here, [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] are [Formula: see text] generators in the hyperbolic basis for Poincaré coordinates. It is shown that in the [Formula: see text] limit, the conformal weight changes to a new value [Formula: see text]. This may be regarded as a Renormalization Group (RG) flow. It is argued that this RG flow will be triggered by terms [Formula: see text] added to the action.
Quantum gravity effects on scalar particle tunneling from rotating BTZ black hole
Authors: Meitei I. Ablu , Singh T. Ibungochouba , Devi S. Gayatri , Devi N. Premeshwari , Singh K. Yugindro
Published: April 2018

Tunneling of scalar particles across the event horizon of rotating BTZ black hole is investigated using the Generalized Uncertainty Principle to study the corrected Hawking temperature and entropy in the presence of quantum gravity effects. We have determined explicitly the various correction terms in the entropy of rotating BTZ black hole including the logarithmic term of the Bekenstein–Hawking entropy [Formula: see text], the inverse term of [Formula: see text] and terms with inverse powers of [Formula: see text], in terms of properties of the black hole and the emitted particles — mass, energy and angular momentum. In the presence of quantum gravity effects, for the emission of scalar particles, the Hawking radiation and thermodynamics of rotating BTZ black hole are observed to be related to the metric element, hence to the curvature of space–time.
Converse magnetoelectric effect in Ni(Terfenol-D)/Pb(Zr,Ti)O3 bilayer-laminated composite
Authors: Ge X. H. , Ji H. , Li Y. , Chen J. K. , Wang Y. G. , Pan F. M.
Published: April 2018

In this study, we propose a new bilayer-laminated magnetoelectric (ME) composite consisting of magnetostrictive Ni and Tb[Formula: see text]Dy[Formula: see text]Fe2 (Terfenol-D) plates and piezoelectric Pb(Zr,Ti)O3 (PZT) plate. The Ni–Terfenol–D-Ni/PZT composite is constructed and compared with the traditional Terfenol-D/PZT composite. The bias magnetic field and the electric field frequency dependences of the converse ME (CME) coefficient were investigated. It is shown that the Ni–Terfenol-D–Ni/PZT exhibits a large CME coefficient of 6.2 × 10[Formula: see text] s/m at the electric field frequency of 42 kHz under a low bias magnetic field of 230 Oe, which results from the highly concentrated flux induced by Ni and the stress-interaction between Ni and magnetostrictive Terfenol-D.
Low-dose CT image reconstruction using gain intervention-based dictionary learning
Authors: Pathak Yadunath , Arya K. V. , Tiwari Shailendra
Published: April 2018

Computed tomography (CT) approach is extensively utilized in clinical diagnoses. However, X-ray residue in human body may introduce somatic damage such as cancer. Owing to radiation risk, research has focused on the radiation exposure distributed to patients through CT investigations. Therefore, low-dose CT has become a significant research area. Many researchers have proposed different low-dose CT reconstruction techniques. But, these techniques suffer from various issues such as over smoothing, artifacts, noise, etc. Therefore, in this paper, we have proposed a novel integrated low-dose CT reconstruction technique. The proposed technique utilizes global dictionary-based statistical iterative reconstruction (GDSIR) and adaptive dictionary-based statistical iterative reconstruction (ADSIR)-based reconstruction techniques. In case the dictionary (D) is predetermined, then GDSIR can be used and if D is adaptively defined then ADSIR is appropriate choice. The gain intervention-based filter is also used as a post-processing technique for removing the artifacts from low-dose CT reconstructed images. Experiments have been done by considering the proposed and other low-dose CT reconstruction techniques on well-known benchmark CT images. Extensive experiments have shown that the proposed technique outperforms the available approaches.
Topological classification of periodic orbits in the Kuramoto–Sivashinsky equation
Authors: Dong Chengwei
Published: April 2018

In this paper, we systematically research periodic orbits of the Kuramoto–Sivashinsky equation (KSe). In order to overcome the difficulties in the establishment of one-dimensional symbolic dynamics in the nonlinear system, two basic periodic orbits can be used as basic building blocks to initialize cycle searching, and we use the variational method to numerically determine all the periodic orbits under parameter [Formula: see text] = 0.02991. The symbolic dynamics based on trajectory topology are very successful for classifying all short periodic orbits in the KSe. The current research can be conveniently adapted to the identification and classification of periodic orbits in other chaotic systems.
Property of mono-vacancy in MAX phase M3AC2 (M=Ti, A=Al, Si, or Ge): First-principles calculations
Authors: Chen L. , Duan G. , Gao X. F. , Wang C. L.
Published: April 2018

The formation and migration energies of the mono-vacancy in M3AC2 have been investigated using first-principles calculations. The results have shown that M element vacancy formation is the most energetically difficult in M3AC2. The A atomic layer is the most active one. It was also found that the energies of mono-vacancy formation and migration in Ti3AlC2 are higher than that in Ti3SiC2 and Ti3GeC2. Moreover, our calculation of the density of state confirms the conclusion that Ti3AlC2 is the most stable in the selected M3AC2 materials under high-temperature or irradiation environment conditions. These results could provide theoretical insights for the experimental results that Ti3AlC2 has a better radiation resistance than Ti3SiC2 and Ti3GeC2.
Finite groups with given non-nilpotent maximal subgroups of prime index
Authors: Yi Xiaolan , Jiang Shiyang , Kamornikov S. F.
Published: April 2018

The subgroup structure of a finite group, under the assumption that its every non-nilpotent maximal subgroup has prime index, is studied in the paper.