bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Spectroscopic elucidation of energy transfer in hybrid inorganic–biological organisms for solar-to-chemical production
Authors: Kornienko Nikolay , Sakimoto Kelsey K. , Herlihy David M. , Nguyen Son C. , Alivisatos A. Paul , Harris Charles. B. , Schwartzberg Adam , Yang Peidong
Published: October 2016

Significance

Solar-powered chemical production from CO
2
promises to alleviate petrochemical consumption. Hybrid systems of an inorganic semiconductor light harvester and a microbial catalyst offer a viable way forward. Whereas a number of such systems have been described, the semiconductor-to-bacterium electron transfer mechanism remains largely unknown, limiting rational approaches to improving their performance. In this work, we look at how a semiconductor nanoparticle-sensitized bacterium transforms CO
2
and sunlight into acetic acid, a known precursor for fuels, food, pharmaceuticals, and polymers. Using time-resolved spectroscopy and biochemical analysis, we conclude that multiple pathways facilitate electron and light energy transfer from semiconductor to bacterium. This foundational study enables future investigation, understanding, and improvement of complex biotic–abiotic hybrid systems.
Cancer cells enter dormancy after cannibalizing mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs)
Authors: Bartosh Thomas J. , Ullah Mujib , Zeitouni Suzanne , Beaver Joshua , Prockop Darwin J.
Published: October 2016

Significance

In many patients with cancer, some tumor cells tolerate conventional treatments and persist for years in an undetectable/dormant state, after which these same cells can mysteriously resume their growth and seed, almost invariably fatal, recurrent cancerous lesions. The therapeutic challenges of tumor dormancy and need to decode the underlying mechanisms involved are apparent. Here, we revealed that mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs), recognized determinants of breast cancer cell (BCC) behavior, were readily cannibalized by the BCCs they mingled with in 3D cocultures, a process that distinctly altered cancer cell phenotype, suppressed tumor formation, and supported tumor dormancy. Our discoveries provide original insight into the interactions between MSCs and cancer cells, with the potential to identify novel molecular targets for cancer therapy.
The speaker’s derivational intention
Authors: Fretheim Thorstein
Published: October 2016

Adopting the basic tenets of relevance theory, Powell (2010) introduces the concept of derivational intention as something separate from a speaker’s informative intention. The derivational intention of a speaker is an intention concerning the pragmatically inferred route that the hearer should take in order to recognize the speaker’s informative intention. This paper addresses what can happen when a speaker’s derivational intention is at odds with a particular piece of procedural information encoded by some linguistic expression, with the conceptual semantics of a lexical item, or with the procedural meaning of an intonation pattern employed by the speaker. The procedural meaning of one expression may override that of a co-occurring expression when there is a conflict between them.
Cracking the chestnut
Authors: Lee Junwen , Kim Chonghyuck
Published: October 2016

This chapter argues against previous analyses of the Colloquial Singapore English (CSE) particle lah. While homonymic approaches (e.g. Wong 2004) conflate pragmatic function and semantic meaning, unitary approaches (e.g. Gupta 2006) ignore the systematic differences in function that correlate with tonal differences. Using a relevance-theoretic framework, this chapter proposes that lah describes the preceding proposition as being of high epistemic strength, and the hearer interprets this description as being either of an actual situation (signalled by the falling tone of a declarative), or of a thought that is desirable to the hearer (signalled by the rising tone of a interrogative). One phenomenon that this analysis explains is how lah can strengthen declaratives but weaken imperatives.
Conceptual and procedural information for verb tense disambiguation
Authors: Grisot Cristina , Cartoni Bruno , Moeschler Jacques
Published: October 2016

This chapter discusses the necessary linguistic and pragmatic support for improving statistical machine translation systems with respect to verbal tenses. The English Simple Past can be translated into French through a series of tenses because of its conceptual, procedural and pragmatic meanings. By testing and validating its usages in offline experiments with a linguistic judgment task, a general predictive model for the cross-linguistic variation of a verbal tense is proposed. The implementation of the procedure encoded by the Simple Past for a statistical machine translation system improved its results in terms of coherence and lexical choices. Thus, this chapter shows that such approach to automatic translation of verbal tenses seems promising and worth pursuing.
Relevance theory and contextual sources-centred analysis of irony
Authors: Yus Francisco
Published: October 2016

In this paper, several claims compatible with the relevance-theoretic view of irony comprehension are proposed, beyond the essential requirement of the identification of the speaker’s dissociative attitude and the location of a source of the echo. Firstly, a view of context accessibility in terms of “contextual sources” is described. Secondly, it will be argued that the variability of processing speed and mental effort involved in irony comprehension depend on the kind of activation of these sources during irony comprehension. Finally, a proposal of how ironical intention is spotted is provided, this time by applying a type of metarepresentation to the overall interpretive procedure for ironies: the one detecting inconsistencies in utterances and in the speaker’s intentions.
Is there switch-reference marking in coordinated clauses?
Authors: Weisser Philipp
Published: October 2016

The question of whether there are languages which exhibit switch-reference marking in coordinated clauses has emerged to be a very important one for the whole topic of switch-reference and interclausal dependencies. In this paper, I examine those languages known to me which have been claimed to have switch-reference marking in coordinated clauses. I will show that in all languages in question switch-reference marking behaves totally identical with respect to three independent parameters. I argue that this is not a coincidence and can be nicely explained by assuming that what looks like switch-reference marking in these languages is in fact a completely different phenomenon, namely Tight vs. loose coordination. Hence, I argue that the question raised in the title of this paper is to be answered with “no”.
The sociolinguistic situation of English in Uganda
Authors: Nakayiza Judith
Published: October 2016

In Uganda, English has attracted very high prestige and status over the years.
It is the language of public, political and social discourse (Katamba 2006) and
the main language of instruction in schools. English has furthermore developed
into the most influential interethnic language in Uganda, as it has in other East
African countries (Mazrui and Mazrui 1998). This chapter examines the sociolinguistic
situation of English in Uganda, highlighting its status, use and the associated
attitudes and beliefs. It discusses the development of English as the de
facto national language and shows why, despite the presence of local languages,
English continues to dominate the public domain.
Diphthongs in Ugandan English
Authors: Meierkord Christiane
Published: October 2016

This chapter examines whether Luganda influence on Ugandan English can be
confirmed at the level of phonology or whether Ugandan English is the result of
Interactions across ethnic Englishes in the sense of Meierkord (2012). It presents
the results of spectrographic analyses of the lexical sets face, goat, price,
choice, and mouth, focusing on fifteen speakers who have Acholi-Lango,
Luganda and Runyankore-Rukiga as their first languages. These languages
differ as regards their vowel systems, particularly as regards their tolerance of
diphthongs. The results will be discussed with reference to Uganda’s present-day
sociolinguistic realities, to assess whether ethnic varieties of English exist and
whether Ugandan English is a homogeneous variety primarily influenced by
Luganda or the result of Interactions across Englishes.
Lexical borrowings and calques in Ugandan English
Authors: Isingoma Bebwa
Published: October 2016

The chapter highlights cases of lexical borrowings and calques observable in
Ugandan English. Both basic lexical items and nonbasic items have been borrowed
and calqued from indigenous Ugandan (especially Bantu) languages, in
order to not only provide basic lexical items, but also to provide extra communicative
effects. Given that Ugandan English draws most of its borrowings
and calques from indigenous Ugandan languages, as opposed to other East
African varieties of English (i.e. Kenyan English and Tanzanian English), which
are influenced mainly by Kiswahili (cf. Schmied 2004), this study augments the
discourse on the argument that Ugandan English is a variety of English distinct
from Kenyan or Tanzanian English.
AoAtg26, a putative sterol glucosyltransferase, is required for autophagic degradation of peroxisomes, mitochondria, and nuclei in the filamentous fungus Aspergillus oryzae
Authors: Kikuma Takashi , Tadokoro Takayuki , Maruyama Jun-ichi , Kitamoto Katsuhiko
Published: October 2016

Autophagy is a conserved process in eukaryotic cells for degradation of cellular proteins and organelles. In filamentous fungi, autophagic degradation of organelles such as peroxisomes, mitochondria, and nuclei occurs in basal cells after the prolonged culture, but its mechanism is not well understood. Here, we functionally analyzed the filamentous fungus Aspergillus oryzae AoAtg26, an ortholog of the sterol glucosyltransferase PpAtg26 involved in pexophagy in the yeast Pichia pastoris. Deletion of Aoatg26 caused a severe decrease in conidiation and aerial hyphae formation, which is typically observed in the autophagy-deficient A. oryzae strains. In addition, cup-shaped AoAtg8-positive membrane structures were accumulated in the Aoatg26 deletion strain, indicating that autophagic process is impaired. Indeed, the Aoatg26 deletion strain was defective in the degradation of peroxisomes, mitochondria, and nuclei. Taken together, AoAtg26 plays an important role for autophagic degradation of organelles in A. oryzae, which may physiologically contribute to the differentiation in filamentous fungi.
Context-Specific Adjustment of Cognitive Control: Transfer of Adaptive Control Sets
Authors: Surrey Caroline , Dreisbach Gesine , Fischer Rico
Published: October 2016

Cognitive control protects processing of relevant information from interference by irrelevant information. The level of this processing selectivity can be flexibly adjusted to different control demands (e.g., frequency of conflict) associated with a certain context, leading to the formation of specific context–control associations. In the present study we investigated the robustness and transferability of the acquired context–control demands to new situations. In three experiments, we used a version of the context-specific proportion congruence (CSPC) paradigm, in which each context (e.g., location) is associated with a specific conflict frequency, determining high and low control demands. In a learning phase, associations between context and control demands were established. In a subsequent transfer block, stimulus–response mappings, whole task sets, or context–control demands changed. Results showed an impressive robustness of context–control associations, as context-specific adjustments of control from the learning phase were virtually unaffected by new stimuli and tasks in the transfer block. Only a change of the context–control demand eliminated the context-specific adjustment of control. These findings suggest that context–control associations that have proven to be adaptive in the past are continuously applied despite major changes in the task structure as long as the context–control associations remain the same.
Physical formulation of mixed modes of stellar oscillations
Authors: Takata Masao
Published: October 2016

The frequency condition for eigenmodes of nonradial stellar oscillations with a mixed character, which have been extensively detected in red giants and subgiants, is generally examined by a simple physical model based on a progressive-wave picture. The coupling coefficient between the gravity-wave oscillation in the core and the acoustic-wave oscillation in the envelope is expressed in terms of the reflection coefficient at the intermediate evanescent region. This relation is fully consistent with the recent asymptotic analysis for dipolar modes, but disagrees with the conventional asymptotic analysis, which assumes that the coupling is weak. The expression for the amplitude ratio between the core and envelope oscillations is also derived. The upper and lower bounds of the ratio are found to be determined by the reflection coefficient at the intermediate region. It is also argued that the eigenmode condition should appropriately be modified if the wave generated near the surface and transmitted to the core is (partially) lost either by damping or scattering in the core. The developed formulation opens a possibility to characterize the core damping (or scattering) of the red giant stars in terms of the formal reflection coefficient at the inner boundary of the inner cavity, which would provide a valuable insight into those physical processes.
What is the Expected Return on the Market?*
Authors: Martin Ian
Published: October 2016

I derive a lower bound on the equity premium in terms of a volatility index, SVIX, that can be calculated from index option prices. The bound implies that the equity premium is extremely volatile and that it rose above 20% at the height of the crisis in 2008. The time-series average of the lower bound is about 5%, suggesting that the bound may be approximately tight. I run predictive regressions and find that this hypothesis is not rejected by the data, so I use the SVIX index as a proxy for the equity premium and argue that the high equity premia available at times of stress largely reflect high expected returns over the very short run. I also provide a measure of the probability of a market crash, and introduce simple variance swaps, tradable contracts based on SVIX that are robust alternatives to variance swaps.
Public Protests and Policy Making*
Authors: Battaglini Marco
Published: October 2016

Technological advances and the development of social media have made petitions, public protests, and other form of spontaneous activism increasingly common tools for individuals to influence decision makers. To study these phenomena, in this article I present a theory of petitions and public protests that explores their limits as mechanisms to aggregate information. The key assumption is that valuable information is dispersed among citizens. Through petitions and protests, citizens can signal their private information to the policy maker, who can then choose to use it or not. I first show that if citizens’ individual signals are not sufficiently precise, information aggregation is impossible, no matter how large is the population of informed citizens, even if the conflict with the policy maker is small. I then characterize the conditions on conflict and the signal structure that guarantee information aggregation. When these conditions are satisfied, I show that full information aggregation is possible as the population grows to infinity. When they are not satisfied, I show that information aggregation may still be possible if social media are available.
Chronic pain patients' perceptions of their future: a verbal fluency task
Authors: Rusu Adina C. , Pincus Tamar
Published: October 2016

Depression is a common feature of chronic pain, but the content of depressed cognitions in groups with chronic pain may be qualitatively different from other depressed groups. Future thinking has been extensively studied in depressed population; however, to our knowledge, this is the first study to investigate future thinking, using a verbal fluency task, in chronic pain. This study investigated the content of cognitions about the future, which are postulated to be a key mechanism in the development of clinical depression, but have not been studied in groups with chronic pain. This study used the future thinking task to investigate general future thinking and health-related future thinking in 4 groups of participants: those with pain and concurrent depression, those with pain without depression, those with depression without pain, and healthy control participants. One hundred seventy-two participants generated positive and negative future events, and rated the valence and likelihood of these events. Responses were coded for health-related content by 2 independent raters. Participants with depression (with and without pain) produced more negative and less positive future events than control participants. Participants with pain (depressed and nondepressed) produced more positive health-related future events than control participants. Participants with depression and pain produced more negative health-related future events than the nondepressed pain group. The findings suggest that participants with pain and depression exhibit a cognitive bias specific to negative aspects of health-related future thinking. This focus facilitates understanding of the relationship between depression and pain processing. The implications for therapeutic interventions are discussed.
A Comparison of Nonpharmacologic Interventions on the Emotional State of Children in the Emergency Department
Authors: Antonelli Elena , Vagnoli Laura , Ciucci Enrica , Vernucci Chiara , Lachi Federica , Messeri Andrea
Published: October 2016

Objectives

The majority of children and adolescents presenting to the emergency department are in pain and require painful procedures. This randomized study was to investigate the efficacy of 3 different nonpharmacologic interventions (clowns, dogs, and musicians) to reduce pain and analyze the perception of positive and negative affects after the presence of these activities in a short-stay observation unit (SSOU).

Methods

Participants were composed of 105 children (54 boys and 51 girls; aged 3–16 years) assigned randomly to an experimental group (N = 57) that was composed of patients who were present in the SSOU. They received one of the following nonpharmacologic interventions: clowns (n = 18), dogs (n = 24), or musicians (n = 15) or they were assigned to a control group (CG) (N = 48) that consists of the patients who were present in the SSOU without the presence of nonpharmacologic interventions.

Results

Differences among the groups did not emerge; in fact, the 3 interventions have a similar influence in a different way on a child's well-being. No significant main effect about pain emerged for both groups across age and sex.

Conclusions

The presence of different nonpharmacologic interventions (clowns, dogs, and musicians) seemed to empower positive affect in children but did not influence the self-reported pain.
Immediate and Late Response to Intimate Partner Violence Intervention in the Pediatric Emergency Department
Authors: Randell Kimberly A. , Harris Danica , Stallbaumer-Rouyer Jennifer
Published: October 2016

Childhood exposure to intimate partner violence (IPV) results in numerous, lifelong, negative health outcomes, underscoring the American Academy of Pediatrics' recommendation for IPV screening and intervention in the pediatric health care setting. We report a case in which a mother denied IPV during routine IPV screening in a pediatric emergency department (ED). However, subsequent discussion with health care providers during the ED visit revealed IPV. The mother declined to meet with an IPV advocate because the abuser was texting repeatedly to ask about the duration of the ED visit. However, the onsite social worker met with the mother to provide supportive counseling and complete safety assessment and planning. The mother returned to the abusive home after ED discharge because 3 of her 4 children were with the abuser at that time. Four months later, the mother returned to the ED with her children to see the IPV advocate. After speaking with the advocate, the mother and children went to safe shelter directly from the ED. This case underscores the importance of providing caregivers with multiple opportunities to disclose IPV, the need for health care providers to remain alert to indications that IPV may be occurring, and the role of the entire health care team in addressing IPV. This case also demonstrates that although IPV interventions may not immediately result in leaving an abusive relationship, the unseen benefits of such education and support can ultimately improve safety.
Shiga (vero) toxin producing Escherichia coli in various types of food stuffs; virulence factors, O‐serogroups and antimicrobial resistance properties
Authors: Ranjbar Reza , Sheikhshahrokh Amirhossein , Jonaidi Jafari Nematollah
Published: October 2016

The aim of the present study was to determine the incidence of Shiga toxin producing Escherichia coli, its virulence factors, O‐serogroups and antimicrobial resistance properties in various types of food stuffs in Iran. All samples were cultured and those that were E. coli positive were subjected to PCR. Of 801 samples studied, 123 (15.35%) were positive for STEC strains. Samples collected in summer season had the higher prevalence of bacteria (49.59%). Beef meat was the most commonly contaminated sample (24.28%). The stx1 was the most commonly detected, while ehly was the least. The most commonly detected serogroups in the STEC strains recovered from the food samples were O157 (27.64%) and O26 (21.95%). The serogroup of 17.07% of STEC strains cannot be detected by means of the O‐serogroup primers. The most commonly detected antibiotic resistance genes were blaSHV (47.15%) and aadA1 (44.71%). STEC strains of our investigation harbored the highest levels of resistance against ampicillin (100%), gentamycin (70.73%) and tetracycline (62.60%). Observation of proper monitoring, principles of food hygiene and accurate antibiotic prescription reduce the risk of diseases caused by STEC strains in human.

Practical applications

We found E. coli bacteria with defined pathotypes which originates mainly from human and animal sources in various types of food samples of Iranian markets. We also identified a large numbers of virulent and resistant strains of E. coli with higher prevalence of stx1 and eaeA gene, O157 and O26 serogroups, CITM and aac(3)‐IV antibiotic resistance genes and resistance to ampicillin, penicillin and gentamycin antibiotics. Beef meat had the highest prevalence. Simultaneous presence of stx1 and eaeA and stx2 and eaeA virulence factors in some strains of E. coli bacterium in food stuffs indicated the important public health problem. Using from microbiological tests can contribute to reducing the microbial load in food stuffs. Controlling sources of human and animal fecal pollution, such as managing the quality of primary ingredients, staffs and devices are other approaches to reduce the prevalence of STEC in food stuffs. Using from the disk diffusion method and avoiding from the irregular and excessive prescription of antibiotics are two important approaches to reduce the levels of antibiotic resistance.
On a Li-type criterion for zero-free regions of certain Dirichlet series with real coefficients
Authors: Bucur Alina , Ernvall-Hytönen Anne-Maria , Odžak Almasa , Smajlović Lejla
Published: October 2016

The Li coefficients $\unicode[STIX]{x1D706}_{F}(n)$ of a zeta or $L$-function $F$ provide an equivalent criterion for the (generalized) Riemann hypothesis. In this paper we define these coefficients, and their generalizations, the $\unicode[STIX]{x1D70F}$-Li coefficients, for a subclass of the extended Selberg class which is known to contain functions violating the Riemann hypothesis such as the Davenport–Heilbronn zeta function. The behavior of the $\unicode[STIX]{x1D70F}$-Li coefficients varies depending on whether the function in question has any zeros in the half-plane $\text{Re}(z)>\unicode[STIX]{x1D70F}/2.$ We investigate analytically and numerically the behavior of these coefficients for such functions in both the $n$ and $\unicode[STIX]{x1D70F}$ aspects.
Determination of Metal/Die Interfacial Heat Transfer Coefficients in Squeeze Casting of Wrought Aluminum Alloy 7075 With Variations in Section Thicknesses and Applied Pressures
Authors: Zhang Xuezhi , Fang Li , Hu Henry , Nie Xueyuan
Published: October 2016

Squeeze casting of wrought aluminum 7075 was carried out on a 75-ton hydraulic press. Metal/die interface heat transfer phenomena in squeeze casting of the alloy were investigated. To facilitate experimental measurements, a five-step casting mold was designed for the experiments. The five-step casting consisted of five different section thicknesses of 2, 4, 8, 12, and 20 mm. Squeeze casing experiments were performed under the applied hydraulic pressures of 30, 60, and 90 MPa. Temperatures were measured at the casting surface and at various specific locations inside the die. At each step, thermocouples were placed at 2, 4, and 6 mm away from the inside die face. Based on the measured temperature results, the interfacial heat transfer coefficients (IHTCs) and heat fluxes were determined by solving the one-dimensional transient heat conduction equation with the inverse method. With increasing the casting section thicknesses from 2 to 20 mm, the peak IHTC values varied from 1683.46 W/m2 K to 9473.23 W/m2 K, 2174.78 W/m2 K to 13,494.05 W/m2 K, and 3873.45 W/m2 K to 15,483.01 W/m2 K for the applied hydraulic pressures of 30, 60, and 90 MPa, respectively.
Characterization and Prediction of Gas Breakthrough With Cyclic Steam and Gas Stimulation Technique in an Offshore Heavy Oil Reservoir
Authors: Wu Haijun , Du Qingjun , Hou Jian , Li Jingsong , Gong Ruxiang , Liu Yongge , Li Zhitao
Published: October 2016

In this paper, a reservoir simulation study was conducted for the characterization and prediction of gas breakthrough during the development of cyclic steam and gas stimulation (CSGS) for a horizontal well. A new concept named the gas breakthrough coefficient (GBC) was proposed to characterize the gas breakthrough degree quantitatively, and a regression model and two calibration curves were established to predict the gas breakthrough degree. The method of foam plugging to inhibit gas breakthrough was also discussed. It was found that the gas breakthrough degree could be well characterized by the GBC and distinguished as four types: weak, moderate, strong, and severe. The regression model and calibration curves could also be used to predict the gas breakthrough degree under different reservoir and development conditions. Foam plugging was found to be effective to inhibit gas breakthrough when the gas breakthrough degree was moderate or strong.
Design of a Multifunctional Flow Control Valve for Self-Circulating Hydraulic Cylinders
Authors: Moosavian Amin , Rizoiu Michael , (Jeff) Xi Fengfeng
Published: October 2016

A new hydraulic circuit is introduced, packaged as a singular component and referred to as a multifunctional flow control (MFC) valve, for usage in conjunction with self-circulating hydraulic cylinders. Unlike conventional check valves, whose directional flow restrictions are permanent, the restriction on the flow direction in the MFC valve can be changed. In addition to being able to act as a check valve in either direction, this valve can allow free flow or no flow of the fluid when required, that is, a total of four positions. The proposed circuit for the MFC valve can effectively be represented as a two-way four-position valve. Furthermore, the design for the valve is validated through experimentation. Additionally, an aerospace application for this valve is presented and discussed herein.
Computational Fluid Dynamics Modeling on Steady-State Friction Stir Welding of Aluminum Alloy 6061 to TRIP Steel
Authors: Liu Xun , Chen Gaoqiang , Ni Jun , Feng Zhili
Published: October 2016

A coupled thermal–mechanical model based on the Eulerian formulation is developed for the steady-state dissimilar friction stir welding (FSW) process. Multiple phase flow theories are adopted in deriving analytical formulations, which are further implemented into the fluent software for computational fluid dynamics analysis. A shear stress boundary at the tool/workpiece interface yields a much more reasonable material distribution compared with a velocity boundary condition when the involved two materials have quite different physical and mechanical properties. The model can capture the feature of embedded steel strip in aluminum side, as observed in weld cross sections from experiments. For further evaluation, the calculated flow and thermal response are compared with experimental results in three welding conditions, which generally show good agreements.
Oxidation and sublimation suppression of PbTe thermoelectric legs by plasma coated ceramic layers
Authors: Park Sang Hyun , Kim Yeongseon , Yoo Chung-Yul , Yoon Giwan
Published: October 2016

Plasma sprayed ceramic coating layers were investigated for use in suppressing the oxidation and sublimation of intermediate temperature PbTe thermoelectric legs (usually operated in the temperature range of 300–700 °C). The authors used two different oxides for the comparison of their antioxidation characteristics. One is yttria (Y2O3) and the other is 8 mol. % yttria-stabilized zirconia [(Y2O3)0.08(ZrO2)0.92, YSZ]. Both oxides were coated by plasma spray method on the surfaces of the PbTe thermoelectric legs, respectively. As a result, the Y2O3 coating layers could not prevent the progression of oxidation in the thermoelectric PbTe surfaces at 500 °C, but the YSZ coating layers showed a relatively high resistance enough to prevent the progression of oxidation, which is promising for intermediate-temperature thermoelectric modules. The x-ray diffraction and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy investigations revealed that the YSZ-coating of PbTe thermoelectric legs led to the formation of the secondary oxide phase layers that help to prevent the oxidation during the heat treatment. Overall, the reliability and electrical properties of the YSZ-coated PbTe thermoelectric legs were investigated. Finally, the authors expect that this work will be useful for the future intermediate-temperature thermoelectric modules in the future.
Interleukin-17 Is Required for Control of Chronic Lung Infection Caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Authors: Bayes Hannah K. , Ritchie Neil D. , Evans Thomas J.
Published: October 2016

Chronic pulmonary infection with
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
is a feature of cystic fibrosis (CF) and other chronic lung diseases. Cytokines of the interleukin-17 (IL-17) family have been proposed as important in the host response to
P. aeruginosa
infection through their role in augmenting antibacterial immune responses, although their proinflammatory effect may contribute to lung damage that occurs as a result of chronic infection. We set out to explore the role of IL-17 in the host response to chronic
P. aeruginosa
infection. We used a murine model of chronic pulmonary infection with CF-related strains of
P. aeruginosa
. We demonstrate that IL-17 cytokine signaling is essential for mouse survival and prevention of chronic infection at 2 weeks postinoculation using two different
P. aeruginosa
strains. Following infection, there was a marked expansion of cells within mediastinal lymph nodes, comprised mainly of innate lymphoid cells (ILCs); ∼90% of IL-17-producing (IL-17
+
) cells had markers consistent with group 3 ILCs. A smaller percentage of IL-17
+
cells had markers consistent with a B1 phenotype. In lung homogenates harvested 14 days following infection, there was a significant expansion of IL-17
+
cells; about 50% of these were CD3
+
, split equally between CD4
+
Th17 cells and γδ T cells, while the CD3
−
IL-17
+
cells were almost exclusively group 3 ILCs. Further experiments with B cell-deficient mice showed that B cell production of IL-17 or natural antibodies did not provide any defense against chronic
P. aeruginosa
infection. Thus, IL-17 rather than antibody is a key element in host defense against chronic pulmonary infection with
P. aeruginosa
.
Genetic Determinants of Salmonella enterica Serovar Typhimurium Proliferation in the Cytosol of Epithelial Cells
Authors: Wrande Marie , Andrews-Polymenis Helene , Twedt Donna J. , Steele-Mortimer Olivia , Porwollik Steffen , McClelland Michael , Knodler Leigh A.
Published: October 2016

Intestinal epithelial cells provide an important colonization niche for
Salmonella enterica
serovar Typhimurium during gastrointestinal infections. In infected epithelial cells, a subpopulation of
S
. Typhimurium bacteria damage their internalization vacuole, leading to escape from the
Salmonella
-containing vacuole (SCV) and extensive proliferation in the cytosol. Little is known about the bacterial determinants of nascent SCV lysis and subsequent survival and replication of
Salmonella
in the cytosol. To pinpoint
S
. Typhimurium virulence factors responsible for these steps in the intracellular infectious cycle, we screened a
S
. Typhimurium multigene deletion library in Caco-2 C2Bbe1 and HeLa epithelial cells for mutants that had an altered proportion of cytosolic bacteria compared to the wild type. We used a gentamicin protection assay in combination with a chloroquine resistance assay to quantify total and cytosolic bacteria, respectively, for each strain. Mutants of three
S
. Typhimurium genes,
STM1461
(
ydgT
),
STM2829
(
recA
), and
STM3952
(
corA
), had reduced cytosolic proliferation compared to wild-type bacteria, and one gene,
STM2120
(
asmA
), displayed increased cytosolic replication. None of the mutants were affected for lysis of the nascent SCV or vacuolar replication in epithelial cells, indicating that these genes are specifically required for survival and proliferation of
S
. Typhimurium in the epithelial cell cytosol. These are the first genes identified to contribute to this step of the
S
. Typhimurium infectious cycle.
Autonomous Replication of the Conjugative Transposon Tn916
Authors: Wright Laurel D. , Grossman Alan D.
Published: October 2016

Integrative and conjugative elements (ICEs), also known as conjugative transposons, are self-transferable elements that are widely distributed among bacterial phyla and are important drivers of horizontal gene transfer. Many ICEs carry genes that confer antibiotic resistances to their host cells and are involved in the dissemination of these resistance genes. ICEs reside in host chromosomes but under certain conditions can excise to form a plasmid that is typically the substrate for transfer. A few ICEs are known to undergo autonomous replication following activation. However, it is not clear if autonomous replication is a general property of many ICEs. We found that Tn916, the first conjugative transposon identified, replicates autonomously via a rolling-circle mechanism. Replication of Tn916was dependent on the relaxase encoded byorf20of Tn916. The origin of transfer of Tn916,oriT(916), also functioned as an origin of replication. Using immunoprecipitation and mass spectrometry, we found that the relaxase (Orf20) and the two putative helicase processivity factors (Orf22 and Orf23) encoded by Tn916likely interact in a complex and that the Tn916relaxase contains a previously unidentified conserved helix-turn-helix domain in its N-terminal region that is required for relaxase function and replication. Lastly, we identified a functional single-strand origin of replication (sso) in Tn916that we predict primes second-strand synthesis during rolling-circle replication. Together these results add to the emerging data that show that several ICEs replicate via a conserved, rolling-circle mechanism.

IMPORTANCEIntegrative and conjugative elements (ICEs) drive horizontal gene transfer and the spread of antibiotic resistances in bacteria. ICEs reside integrated in a host genome but can excise to create a plasmid that is the substrate for transfer to other cells. Here we show that Tn916, an ICE with broad host range, undergoes autonomous rolling-circle replication when in the plasmid form. We found that the origin of transfer functions as a double-stranded origin of replication and identified a single-stranded origin of replication. It was long thought that ICEs do not undergo autonomous replication. Our work adds to the evidence that ICEs replicate autonomously as part of their normal life cycle and indicates that diverse ICEs use the same replicative mechanism.
The Catabolite Repressor Protein-Cyclic AMP Complex Regulates
csgD
and Biofilm Formation in Uropathogenic Escherichia coli
Authors: Hufnagel David A. , Evans Margery L. , Greene Sarah E. , Pinkner Jerome S. , Hultgren Scott J. , Chapman Matthew R.
Published: October 2016

The extracellular matrix protects
Escherichia coli
from immune cells, oxidative stress, predation, and other environmental stresses. Production of the
E. coli
extracellular matrix is regulated by transcription factors that are tuned to environmental conditions. The biofilm master regulator protein CsgD upregulates curli and cellulose, the two major polymers in the extracellular matrix of uropathogenic
E. coli
(UPEC) biofilms. We found that cyclic AMP (cAMP) regulates curli, cellulose, and UPEC biofilms through
csgD
. The alarmone cAMP is produced by adenylate cyclase (CyaA), and deletion of
cyaA
resulted in reduced extracellular matrix production and biofilm formation. The
c
atabolite
r
epressor
p
rotein (CRP) positively regulated
csgD
transcription, leading to curli and cellulose production in the UPEC isolate, UTI89. Glucose, a known inhibitor of CyaA activity, blocked extracellular matrix formation when added to the growth medium. The mutant strains Δ
cyaA
and Δ
crp
did not produce rugose biofilms, pellicles, curli, cellulose, or CsgD. Three putative CRP binding sites were identified within the
csgD-csgB
intergenic region, and purified CRP could gel shift the
csgD-csgB
intergenic region. Additionally, we found that CRP binded upstream of
kpsMT
, which encodes machinery for K1 capsule production. Together our work shows that cAMP and CRP influence
E. coli
biofilms through transcriptional regulation of
csgD
.

IMPORTANCE
The
c
atabolite
r
epressor
p
rotein (CRP)-cyclic AMP (cAMP) complex influences the transcription of ∼7% of genes on the
Escherichia coli
chromosome (D. Zheng, C. Constantinidou, J. L. Hobman, and S. D. Minchin, Nucleic Acids Res 32:5874–5893, 2004,
https://dx.doi.org/10.1093/nar/gkh908
). Glucose inhibits
E. coli
biofilm formation, and Δ
cyaA
and Δ
crp
mutants show impaired biofilm formation (D. W. Jackson, J.W. Simecka, and T. Romeo, J Bacteriol 184:3406–3410, 2002,
https://dx.doi.org/10.1128/JB.184.12.3406-3410.2002
). We determined that the cAMP-CRP complex regulates curli and cellulose production and the formation of rugose and pellicle biofilms through
csgD
. Additionally, we propose that cAMP may work as a signaling compound for uropathogenic
E. coli
(UPEC) to transition from the bladder lumen to inside epithelial cells for intracellular bacterial community formation through K1 capsule regulation.
Spinal tophaceous gout encasing the thoracic spinal cord
Authors: Subrati Nagina , Werndle Melissa C , Tolias Christos M
Published: October 2016

Gout rarely compresses the thoracic spinal cord. A 43-year-old man presented with lower limb paraparesis. MRI showed a soft tissue swelling at the level of T10/T11. He was managed with a laminectomy and evacuation of a presumed abscess and started on intravenous antibiotics. However, histology confirmed tophaceous gout.
Study protocol for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease-Sitting and ExacerbAtions Trial (COPD-SEAT): a randomised controlled feasibility trial of a home-based self-monitoring sedentary behaviour intervention
Authors: Orme Mark , Weedon Amie , Esliger Dale , Saukko Paula , Morgan Mike , Steiner Michael , Downey John , Singh Sally , Sherar Lauren
Published: October 2016

Introduction

An acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) marks a critical life event, which can lower patient quality of life and ability to perform daily activities. Patients with COPD tend to lead inactive and highly sedentary lifestyles, which may contribute to reductions in functional capacity. Targeting sedentary behaviour (SB) may be more attainable than exercise (at a moderate-to-vigorous intensity) for behaviour change in patients following an exacerbation. This study aims to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of a 2-week at-home intervention providing education and self-monitoring to reduce prolonged periods of SB in patients with COPD discharged following an acute exacerbation.

Methods and analysis

Patients will be randomised into 1 of 3 conditions: usual care (control), education or education+feedback. The education group will receive information and suggestions about reducing long periods of sitting. The education+feedback group will receive real-time feedback on their sitting time, stand-ups and step count at home through an inclinometer linked to a smart device app. The inclinometer will also provide vibration prompts to encourage movement when the wearer has been sedentary for too long. Data will be collected during hospital admission and 2 weeks after discharge. Qualitative interviews will be conducted with patients in the intervention groups to explore patient experiences. Interviews with healthcare staff will also be conducted. All data will be collected January to August 2016. The primary outcomes are feasibility and acceptability, which will be assessed by qualitative interviews, uptake and drop-out rates, reasons for refusing the intervention, compliance, app usage and response to vibration prompts.

Ethics and dissemination

The research ethics committee East Midlands Leicester-Central has provided ethical approval for the conduct of this study. The results of the study will be disseminated through appropriate conference proceedings and peer-reviewed journals.

Trial registration number

ISRCTN13790881; Pre-results.
Living with others inside the self: decolonising transplantation, selfhood and the body politic in Nalo Hopkinson'sBrown Girl in the Ring
Authors: McCormack Donna
Published: October 2016

This article examines anxieties concerning organ transplantation in Nalo Hopkinson's prize-winning novelBrown Girl in the Ring(1998). The main focus is how this novel re-imagines subjectivity and selfhood as an embodied metaphor for the reconfiguring of broader sociopolitical relations. In other words, this article analyses the relationship between the transplanted body and the body politic, arguing that a post-transplant identity, where there is little separation between donor and recipient, is the foundation for a politics based on responsibility for others. Such a responsibility poses a challenge to the race and class segregation that is integral to the post-apocalyptic world of Hopkinson's novel. Transplantation is not a utopian vision of an egalitarian society coming together in one body; rather, this biotechnological intervention offers a potentially different mode of thinking what it means to work across race, class and embodied division, while always recalling the violence that might facilitate so-called medical progress.
Path integral treatment of the deformed Schiöberg-type potential for some diatomic molecules
Authors: Amrouche Assia , Diaf Ahmed , Hachama Mohammed
Published: October 2016

The bound state solution of the Feynman propagator with the deformed generalized Schiöberg potential is determined using an approximation of the centrifugal term. The energy eigenvalue expression is computed using Duru–Kleinert space–time transformation for both positive and negative deformation parameters of diatomic molecules. Besides, the rotation–vibration energy eigenvalues are numerically calculated for some diatomic molecules and compared with those given in the literature. The obtained results are in agreement with those given by state-of-the-art approximate and numerical methods.
Do different tendons exhibit the same response following chronic exposure to statins?
Authors: Oliveira L.P. , Vieira C.P. , Marques P.P. , Pimentel E.R.
Published: October 2016

Over the past few years, a number of cases of tendon injuries associated with statin therapy have been reported. In this study, we assessed whether statins can affect the extracellular matrix (ECM) of the deep digital flexor tendon (DDFT) and patellar tendon (PT). Wistar rats were assigned to groups treated with atorvastatin (A20, A80), treated with simvastatin (S20, S80), and control. Zymography, Western blotting for collagen I, non-collagenous proteins (NCP), glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), and hydroxyproline quantifications were performed. DDFT findings: NCP were increased in A20 and A80; higher concentration of hydroxyproline was found in S80; levels of GAGs was increased in all statin-treated groups; collagen I was increased in S80 and pro-MMP-2 activity was reduced in A80, S20, and S80. PT findings: NCP were reduced in A20, A80, and S80; GAGs was reduced in A80 and S20; collagen I was increased in A20 and pro-MMP-2 activity was reduced in the S20. Both the statins provoked marked changes in both tendons. All these changes may make the tendons more prone to microdamage and ruptures. Therefore, a better understanding of the behavior of the tendon ECM components under statin therapy may provide important insights into the mechanisms behind statin-induced tendon injuries.
Reducibility vs. definability for pseudovarieties of semigroups
Authors: Almeida J. , Klíma O.
Published: October 2016

It is easy to show that a pseudovariety which is reducible with respect to an implicit signature [Formula: see text] for the equation [Formula: see text] can also be defined by [Formula: see text]-identities. We present several negative examples for the converse using signatures in which the pseudovarieties are usually defined. An ordered example issue from the extended Straubing–Thérien hierarchy of regular languages is also shown to provide a positive example for the inequality [Formula: see text].
Consideration of Uncertainties and Risks in the Building Process of Multifunctional Harbor Transshipment Complex
Authors: Yury Klochkov , Lera Gabitova , Elena Klochkova , Irina Vasilieva , Sergey Dementiev
Published: October 2016

The present paper discusses types of management uncertainty exemplified by the case study of a project of building a multifunctional harbor transshipping center. The analysis is based on the ideas and works of I. Fischer. The paper shows that the role of project management actors substantially influences risks and that change of the actor’s role leads to minimization of risks and elimination of uncertainty about project realization time. To analyze project risks the authors develop a complex model of risk assessment based on analysis of probability and impact level of undesired events. Probability of undesired events is presented as a matrix of risk ranks and a tool for analyzing project risks based on the matrix of risk ranks and FMEA analysis is developed.