bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Staphylococcal β-Toxin Modulates Human Aortic Endothelial Cell and Platelet Function through Sphingomyelinase and Biofilm Ligase Activities
Authors: Herrera Alfa , Kulhankova Katarina , Sonkar Vijay K. , Dayal Sanjana , Klingelhutz Aloysius J. , Salgado-Pabón Wilmara , Schlievert Patrick M.
Published: March 2017

Staphylococcus aureus
causes many infections, such as skin and soft tissue, pneumonia, osteomyelitis, and infective endocarditis (IE). IE is an endovascular infection of native and prosthetic valves and the lining of the heart; it is characterized by the formation of cauliflower-like “vegetations” composed of fibrin, platelets, other host factors, bacteria, and bacterial products. β-Toxin is an
S. aureus
virulence factor that contributes to the microorganism’s ability to cause IE. This cytolysin has two enzymatic activities: sphingomyelinase (SMase) and biofilm ligase. Although both activities have functions in a rabbit model of IE, the mechanism(s) by which β-toxin directly affects human cells and is involved in the infectious process has not been elucidated. Here, we compared the
in vitro
effects of purified recombinant wild-type β-toxin, SMase-deficient β-toxin (H289N), and biofilm ligase-deficient β-toxin (H162A and/or D163A) on human aortic endothelial cells (HAECs) and platelets. β-Toxin was cytotoxic to HAECs and inhibited the production of interleukin 8 (IL-8) from these cells by both SMase and biofilm ligase activities. β-Toxin altered HAEC surface expression of CD40 and vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1). HAECs treated with β-toxin displayed granular membrane morphology not seen in treatment with the SMase-deficient mutant. The altered morphology resulted in two possibly separable activities, cell rounding and redistribution of cell membranes into granules, which were not the result of endosome production from the Golgi apparatus or lysosomes. β-Toxin directly aggregated rabbit platelets via SMase activity.

IMPORTANCE
Each year there are up to 100,000 cases of infective endocarditis (IE) in the United States.
S. aureus
is the most common pathogen in patients with health care-associated IE and the leading cause of community-associated IE in the developed world. Multiple clonal group strains as defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, particularly USA200 and other clones encoding β-toxin, are highly associated with IE. Considering the strong association and established contribution of β-toxin in animal models of IE, determining how β-toxin directly affects human cell types, including endothelial cells and platelets, is important. In this study, we demonstrate that β-toxin functions to modulate endothelial cells and platelets by both toxin sphingomyelinase and biofilm ligase activities. Our data suggest that these activities modulate inflammation and increase infection severity.
Analysis of Anti-Influenza Virus Neuraminidase Antibodies in Children, Adults, and the Elderly by ELISA and Enzyme Inhibition: Evidence for Original Antigenic Sin
Authors: Rajendran Madhusudan , Nachbagauer Raffael , Ermler Megan E. , Bunduc Paul , Amanat Fatima , Izikson Ruvim , Cox Manon , Palese Peter , Eichelberger Maryna , Krammer Florian
Published: March 2017

Antibody responses to influenza virus hemagglutinin provide protection against infection and are well studied. Less is known about the human antibody responses to the second surface glycoprotein, neuraminidase. Here, we assessed human antibody reactivity to a panel of N1, N2, and influenza B virus neuraminidases in different age groups, including children, adults, and the elderly. Using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA), we determined the breadth, magnitude, and isotype distribution of neuraminidase antibody responses to historic, current, and avian strains, as well as to recent isolates to which these individuals have not been exposed. It appears that antibody levels against N1 neuraminidases were lower than those against N2 or B neuraminidases. The anti-neuraminidase antibody levels increased with age and were, in general, highest against strains that circulated during the childhood of the tested individuals, providing evidence for “original antigenic sin.” Titers measured by ELISA correlated well with titers measured by the neuraminidase inhibition assays. However, in the case of the 2009 pandemic H1N1 virus, we found evidence of interference from antibodies binding to the conserved stalk domain of the hemagglutinin. In conclusion, we found that antibodies against the neuraminidase differ in magnitude and breadth between subtypes and age groups in the human population. (This study has been registered at ClinicalTrials.gov under registration no. NCT00336453, NCT00539981, and NCT00395174.)

IMPORTANCEAnti-neuraminidase antibodies can afford broad protection from influenza virus infection in animal models and humans. However, little is known about the breadth and magnitude of the anti-neuraminidase response in the human population. Here we assessed antibody levels of children, adults, and the elderly against a panel of N1, N2, and type B influenza virus neuraminidases. We demonstrated that antibody levels measured by ELISA correlate well with functional neuraminidase inhibition titers. This is an important finding since ELISA is a simpler method than functional assays and can be implemented in high-throughput settings to analyze large numbers of samples. Furthermore, we showed that low titers of broadly cross-reactive antibodies against neuraminidase are prevalent in humans. By the use of an appropriate vaccination strategy, these titers could potentially be boosted to levels that might provide broad protection from influenza virus infection.
Genome Reduction and Microbe-Host Interactions Drive Adaptation of a Sulfur-Oxidizing Bacterium Associated with a Cold Seep Sponge
Authors: Tian Ren-Mao , Zhang Weipeng , Cai Lin , Wong Yue-Him , Ding Wei , Qian Pei-Yuan
Published: March 2017

Sponges and their symbionts are important players in the biogeochemical cycles of marine environments. As a unique habitat within marine ecosystems, cold seeps have received considerable interest in recent years. This study explores the lifestyle of a new symbiotic SOB in a cold seep sponge. The results demonstrate that both this sponge symbiont and endosymbionts in deep-sea clams employ similar strategies of genome reduction. However, this bacterium has retained unique functions for immunity and defense. Thus, the functional features are determined by both the symbiotic relationship and host type. Moreover, analyses of the genome of an AOA suggest that microbes play different roles in biochemical cycles in the sponge body. Our findings provide new insights into invertebrate-associated bacteria in cold seep environments.
Malignant hypercalcaemia related to parathyroid hormone-related peptide (PTHrP) secretion from a metastatic pancreatic neuroendocrine tumour (NET)
Authors: Symington Megan , Davies Louise , Kaltsas Gregory , Weickert Martin O
Published: March 2017

A 54-year-old woman presented to our centre with acute abdominal pain and vomiting. Routine blood tests showed severe hypercalcaemia (>4 mmol/L). Serum parathyroid hormone (PTH) was suppressed. CT scan detected a pancreatic mass and some liver lesions, initially suspicious for metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Liver biopsy however revealed the presence of a well-differentiated, grade 1, metastatic neuroendocrine tumour (NET) where prognosis is considerably better. Serum PTHrP was raised, indicating paraneoplastic hypercalcaemia, most likely secondary to the pancreatic NET. Following injection of a short-acting somatostatin analogue octreotide, serum PTHrP levels normalised within 24 hours, causing a rapid drop of serum calcium below the lower limit of normal and an immediate compensatory rise of serum PTH. Ongoing treatment with long-acting somatostatin analogues together with replacement with calcium carbonate, vitamin D3 and once weekly alendronic acid resulted in stable normal adjusted calcium levels over a 3-month follow-up period.
Financing for universal health coverage in small island states: evidence from the Fiji Islands
Authors: Asante Augustine D , Irava Wayne , Limwattananon Supon , Hayen Andrew , Martins Joao , Guinness Lorna , Ataguba John E , Price Jennifer , Jan Stephen , Mills Anne , Wiseman Virginia
Published: March 2017

Background

Universal health coverage (UHC) is critical to global poverty alleviation and equity of health systems. Many low-income and middle-income countries, including small island states in the Pacific, have committed to UHC and reforming their health financing systems to better align with UHC goals. This study provides the first comprehensive evidence on equity of the health financing system in Fiji, a small Pacific island state. The health systems of such states are poorly covered in the international literature.

Methods

The study employs benefit and financing incidence analyses to evaluate the distribution of health financing benefits and burden across the public and private sectors. Primary data from a cross-sectional survey of 2000 households were used to assess healthcare benefits and secondary data from the 2008–2009 Fiji Household Income and Expenditure Survey to assess health financing contributions. These were analysed by socioeconomic groups to determine the relative benefit and financing incidence across these groups.

Findings

The distribution of healthcare benefits in Fiji slightly favours the poor—around 61% of public spending for nursing stations and 26% of spending for government hospital inpatient care were directed to services provided to the poorest 20% of the population. The financing system is significantly progressive with wealthier groups bearing a higher share of the health financing burden.

Conclusions

The healthcare system in Fiji achieves a degree of vertical equity in financing, with the poor receiving a higher share of benefits from government health spending and bearing a lower share of the financing burden than wealthier groups.
Scoping review of potential quality indicators for hip fracture patient care
Authors: Pitzul Kristen B , Munce Sarah E P , Perrier Laure , Beaupre Lauren , Morin Suzanne N , McGlasson Rhona , Jaglal Susan B
Published: March 2017

Objective

The purpose of this study is to identify existing or potential quality of care indicators (ie, current indicators as well as process and outcome measures) in the acute or postacute period, or across the continuum of care for older adults with hip fracture.

Design

Scoping review.

Setting

All care settings.

Search strategy

English peer-reviewed studies published from January 2000 to January 2016 were included. Literature search strategies were developed, and the search was peer-reviewed. Two reviewers independently piloted all forms, and all articles were screened in duplicate.

Results

The search yielded 2729 unique articles, of which 302 articles were included (11.1%). When indicators (eg, in-hospital mortality, acute care length of stay) and potential indicators (eg, comorbidities developed in hospital, walking ability) were grouped by the outcome or process construct they were trying to measure, the most common constructs were measures of mortality (outcome), length of stay (process) and time-sensitive measures (process). There was heterogeneity in definitions within constructs between studies. There was also a paucity of indicators and potential indicators in the postacute period.

Conclusions

To improve quality of care for patients with hip fracture and create a more efficient healthcare system, mechanisms for the measurement of quality of care across the entire continuum, not just during the acute period, are required. Future research should focus on decreasing the heterogeneity in definitions of quality indicators and the development and implementation of quality indicators for the postacute period.
A multifaceted approach to improving the quality of ENT Emergency Clinic referrals
Authors: Swords Chloe , Leach Laura , Kasbekar Anand , Jani Piyush
Published: March 2017

It is imperative that primary care referrals are directed to the appropriate secondary care service. Patients presenting to a primary care physician with ENT conditions may require review in an Emergency Clinic. The latter clinics provide patients with rapid access to secondary care, for urgent, yet non-life-threatening conditions. In our department, we noticed that patients with conditions inappropriate to the capabilities of the Clinic were being booked in or reviewed too late; thus causing wasted journeys for the patient. We conducted a Quality Improvement Project to improve the efficiency of the referral process. A prospective evaluation of referrals was collected continuously over a two-month period. Overall, 5 domains were deemed crucial to enable timely and accurate booking of patients to clinic: booking date, urgency, legibility, patient identification and appropriateness. Our proposed standard set for this project was 100% compliance over the 5 domains. Three separate interventions were instigated following the first cycle. The main components of the intervention were the phased development of an electronic referral system and an educational initiative for junior doctors.

20 referral forms were analysed during the initial 3-week period. No referrals met the recommended overall compliance standard of 100% (mean number of domains achieved: 3.38; standard deviation (SD): 0.637). Legibility and patient information were included in 21% and 30% of referrals, respectively. There was a trend of improvement following initiation of interventions. The mean number of domains achieved was 4.27 (SD 0.647; n=13) in the second data collection period, 4.53 (SD 0.514; n=16) in the third, and 4.75 (SD 0.452; n=24) in the fourth. Using linear regression, this change demonstrates a statistically significant improvement (p<0.001).

An e-Proforma referral system represents a safe and efficient communication technology. When implementing policy change, it is crucial to acquire managerial and consultant support.
Electronic Printed Ward Round Proformas: Freeing Up Doctors' Time
Authors: Fernandes Darren , Eneje Philip
Published: March 2017

The role of a junior doctor involves preparing for the morning ward round. At a time when there are gaps on rotas and doctors' time is more stretched, this can be a source of significant delay and thus a loss of working time. We therefore looked at ways in which we could make the ward round a more efficient place by introducing specific electronic, printed ward round proformas. We used the average time taken to write proformas per patient and the average time taken per patient on the ward round. This would then enable us to make fair comparisons with future changes that were made using the plan, do, study, and act principles of quality improvement. Our baseline measurement found that the average time taken to write up the proforma for each patient was 1 minute 9 seconds and that the average time taken per patient on the ward round was 8 minutes 30 seconds. With the changes we made during our 3 PDSA cycles and the implementation of an electronic, printed ward round proforma, we found that we were able to reduce the average time spent per patient on the ward round to 6 minutes 32 seconds, an improvement of 1 min 58 seconds per patient. The project has thus enabled us to reduce the time taken per patient during the ward round. This improved efficiency will enable patients to be identified earlier for discharge. It will also aid in freeing up the time of junior doctors, allowing them to complete discharge letters sooner, order investigations earlier and enable them to complete their allocated tasks within contracted hours.
Patient-reported outcomes from a phase III study of baricitinib in patients with conventional synthetic DMARD-refractory rheumatoid arthritis
Authors: Emery Paul , Blanco Ricardo , Maldonado Cocco Jose , Chen Ying-Chou , Gaich Carol L , DeLozier Amy M , de Bono Stephanie , Liu Jiajun , Rooney Terence , Chang Cecile Hsiao-Chun , Dougados Maxime
Published: March 2017

Objectives

To evaluate the effect of baricitinib on patient-reported outcomes (PROs) in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and an inadequate response or intolerance to conventional synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs.

Methods

In this phase III study, patients were randomised 1:1:1 to placebo (N=228), baricitinib 2 mg once daily (QD, N=229) or baricitinib 4 mg QD (N=227). PROs included the Health Assessment Questionnaire-Disability Index (HAQ-DI), Patient's Global Assessment of Disease Activity (PtGA), patient's assessment of pain, measures from patient electronic daily diaries (duration and severity of morning joint stiffness (MJS), Worst Tiredness, Worst Joint Pain), Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Fatigue (FACIT-F), SF-36, EuroQol 5-D index scores and visual analogue scales (VAS) and the Work Productivity and Activity Impairment Questionnaire-RA. The primary time point for the study was week 12. Treatment comparisons were assessed with logistic regression for categorical measures and analysis of covariance for continuous variables.

Results

Statistically significant improvements were observed for both baricitinib groups versus placebo in HAQ-DI, PtGA, pain, daily diary measures, EuroQoL index scores and SF-36 physical component score at week 12 and for those measures when assessed at week 24. Baricitinib 2 mg and baricitinib 4 mg were statistically significantly improved versus placebo for the EuroQoL VAS and FACIT-F, respectively, at week 24.

Conclusions

Baricitinib 2 or 4 mg provided significant improvement versus placebo in PROs across different domains of RA, including physical function, MJS, fatigue, pain and quality of life.

Trial registration number

NCT01721057; Results.
Indirect effects of prey fluctuation on survival of juvenile arctic fox (Vulpes lagopus): a matter of maternal experience and litter attendance
Authors: Erlandsson R. , Meijer T. , Wagenius S. , Angerbjörn A.
Published: March 2017

Reproductive experience affects juvenile survival in a wide range of species with possible links to differences in foraging capacity and predation. Using supplementary feeding, we aimed to limit direct effect of prey abundance to investigate indirect effects of small-rodent availability and maternal experience on juvenile summer survival rates in an endangered population of arctic fox (Vulpes lagopus (L., 1758)). We used data spanning 7 years, included a complete small-rodent cycle, comprising 49 litters and 394 cubs. The effect of small-rodent abundance on juvenile survival depended on maternal breeding experience. Cubs born by first-time-breeding females had lower survival rate when small-rodent abundance was low compared with juveniles born to experienced mothers who remained unaffected. It was unlikely due to starvation, as physical condition was unrelated to survival. Instead, we favour the explanation that intraguild predation was an important cause of mortality. There was a negative relationship between survival and amount of time cubs were left unattended, suggesting that parental behaviour affected predation. We propose that a prey switch related to small-rodent abundance caused fluctuations in intraguild predation pressure and that inexperienced females were less able to cope with predation when small rodents were scarce.
Topologically equisingular deformations of homogeneous hypersurfaces with line singularities are equimultiple
Authors: Eyral Christophe
Published: March 2017

We prove that if [Formula: see text] is a family of line singularities with constant Lê numbers and such that [Formula: see text] is a homogeneous polynomial, then [Formula: see text] is equimultiple. This extends to line singularities a well-known theorem of Gabrièlov and Kušnirenko concerning isolated singularities. As an application, we show that if [Formula: see text] is a topologically [Formula: see text]-equisingular family of line singularities, with [Formula: see text] homogeneous, then [Formula: see text] is equimultiple. This provides a new partial positive answer to the famous Zariski multiplicity conjecture for a special class of non-isolated hypersurface singularities.
Prediction on structural, mechanical and thermal properties of Al4SiC4, Al4C3 and 4H-SiC under high pressure by first-principles calculation
Authors: Sun Liang , Gao Yimin , Yoshida Katsumi , Yano Toyohiko , Wang Wen
Published: March 2017

A theoretical study is conducted by first-principles theory to study the structural, electronic, elastic and thermal properties of Al4SiC4, Al4C3 and 4H-SiC phases under pressure. The calculated results indicated that the volumetric shrinkage of Al4SiC4 declines to 16% compared with 4H-SiC for 12% and its length of lattice parameter along c-axis decreases faster than that of along other axes in cell structures. The mechanical properties of Al4SiC4 like elastic constants and elastic moduli increase continuously under pressure. The thermal expansion coefficient of three compounds under pressure are studied first. When temperature is lower than 500 K, the coefficient increases rapidly first then gradually tends to a linear accession at higher temperature and the propensity of increment becomes moderate. The [Formula: see text] data decreases slightly with pressure but increases dramatically with temperature for all compounds.
Vulnerability analysis of interdependent spatially embedded infrastructure networks under localized attack
Authors: Yan Ke-Sheng , Rong Li-Li , Li Qun
Published: March 2017

Infrastructure networks are usually spatially embedded, which makes them even more susceptible to spatially localized failures, i.e. a set of nodes located within a spatially localized area is subject to damage while other nodes do not directly fail. This paper mainly presents a methodological approach for analyzing vulnerability of interdependent infrastructure networks under localized attack. Two types of interdependencies are considered in the cascading failures propagation: functional and geographic interdependencies. The roles of different nodes and geographical proximity are employed to establish the functional interdependency. A novel attack failure model, i.e. localized failure model, is proposed to model geographic interdependency and quantify the failure probabilities of nodes under localized attack. Both topology-based and efficiency-based vulnerabilities of infrastructure networks are investigated. An artificial interdependent power and water networks are generated and their pertinent vulnerability is analyzed through using the presented methodological approach. Our method can help the stakeholders increase their knowledge of the vulnerability of the interdependent spatially embedded infrastructure networks under localized attack and protect them more efficiently.
Dynamics of Hamiltonian Systems and Memristor Circuits
Authors: Itoh Makoto , Chua Leon
Published: March 2017

In this paper, we show that any [Formula: see text]-dimensional autonomous systems can be regarded as subsystems of [Formula: see text]-dimensional Hamiltonian systems. One of the two subsystems is identical to the [Formula: see text]-dimensional autonomous system, which is called the driving system. Another subsystem, called the response system, can exhibit interesting behaviors in the neighborhood of infinity. That is, the trajectories approach infinity with complicated nonperiodic (chaotic-like) behaviors, or periodic-like behavior. In order to show the above results, we project the trajectories of the Hamiltonian systems onto [Formula: see text]-dimensional spheres, or [Formula: see text]-dimensional balls by using the well-known central projection transformation. Another interesting behavior is that the transient regime of the subsystems can exhibit Chua corsage knots. We next show that generic memristors can be used to realize the above Hamiltonian systems. Finally, we show that the internal state of two-element memristor circuits can have the same dynamics as [Formula: see text]-dimensional autonomous systems.
Generating Four-Wing Hyperchaotic Attractor and Two-Wing, Three-Wing, and Four-Wing Chaotic Attractors in 4D Memristive System
Authors: Zhou Ling , Wang Chunhua , Zhou Lili
Published: March 2017

By adding only one smooth flux-controlled memristor into a three-dimensional (3D) pseudo four-wing chaotic system, a new real four-wing hyperchaotic system is constructed in this paper. It is interesting to see that this new memristive chaotic system can generate a four-wing hyperchaotic attractor with a line of equilibria. Moreover, it can generate two-, three- and four-wing chaotic attractors with the variation of a single parameter which denotes the strength of the memristor. At the same time, various coexisting multiple attractors (e.g. three-wing attractors, four-wing attractors and attractors with state transition under the same system parameters) are observed in this system, which means that extreme multistability arises. The complex dynamical behaviors of the proposed system are analyzed by Lyapunov exponents (LEs), phase portraits, Poincaré maps, and time series. An electronic circuit is finally designed to implement the hyperchaotic memristive system.
Nonresonant Double Hopf Bifurcation in Toxic Phytoplankton–Zooplankton Model with Delay
Authors: Yuan Rui , Jiang Weihua , Wang Yong
Published: March 2017

This paper investigates a toxic phytoplankton–zooplankton model with Michaelis–Menten type phytoplankton harvesting. The model has rich dynamical behaviors. It undergoes transcritical, saddle-node, fold, Hopf, fold-Hopf and double Hopf bifurcation, when the parameters change and go through some of the critical values, the dynamical properties of the system will change also, such as the stability, equilibrium points and the periodic orbit. We first study the stability of the equilibria, and analyze the critical conditions for the above bifurcations at each equilibrium. In addition, the stability and direction of local Hopf bifurcations, and the completion bifurcation set by calculating the universal unfoldings near the double Hopf bifurcation point are given by the normal form theory and center manifold theorem. We obtained that the stable coexistent equilibrium point and stable periodic orbit alternate regularly when the digestion time delay is within some finite value. That is, we derived the pattern for the occurrence, and disappearance of a stable periodic orbit. Furthermore, we calculated the approximation expression of the critical bifurcation curve using the digestion time delay and the harvesting rate as parameters, and determined a large range in terms of the harvesting rate for the phytoplankton and zooplankton to coexist in a long term.
The Electrical Activity of Neurons Subject to Electromagnetic Induction and Gaussian White Noise
Authors: Wang Ya , Ma Jun , Xu Ying , Wu Fuqiang , Zhou Ping
Published: March 2017

Neurons can give appropriate response to external electrical stimuli and the modes in electrical activities can be carefully selected. Most of the neuron models mainly emphasize on the ion channel currents embedded into the membrane and the properties in electrical activities can be produced in the theoretical models. Indeed, some physical effect should be considered during the model setting for neuronal activities. In fact, induced current and the electrical field will cause the membrane potential to change and an exchange of charged ions during the fluctuation of ion concentration in cell. As a result, the effect of electromagnetic induction should be seriously considered. In this paper, magnetic flux is proposed to describe the effect of electromagnetic field, and the memristor is used to realize coupling on membrane by inputting induced current based on consensus of physical unit. Noise is also considered to detect the dynamical response in electrical activities and stochastic resonance, it is found that multiple modes can be selected in the electrical activities and it could be associated with memory effect and self-adaption in neurons.
EFFECT OF NONCLASSICAL POLARIZATION OF Na+ AND K+ ON THE STABILITY OF SOIL COLLOIDAL PARTICLES IN SUSPENSION
Authors: WU-QUAN DING , JIA-HONG HE , LEI WANG , XIN-MIN LIU , HANG LI
Published: March 2017

The study of soil colloids is essential because the stability of soil colloidal particles are important processes of interest to researchers in environmental fields. The strong nonclassical polarization of the adsorbed cations (Na[Formula: see text] and K[Formula: see text] decreased the electric field and the electrostatic repulsion between adjacent colloidal particles. The decrease of the absolute values of surface potential was greater for K[Formula: see text] than for Na[Formula: see text]. The lower the concentration of Na[Formula: see text] and K[Formula: see text] in soil colloids, the greater the electrostatic repulsion between adjacent colloidal particles. The net pressure and the electrostatic repulsion was greater for Na[Formula: see text] than for K[Formula: see text] at the same ion concentration. For K[Formula: see text] and Na[Formula: see text] concentrations higher than 50[Formula: see text]mmol L[Formula: see text] or 100 mmol L[Formula: see text], there was a net negative (or attractive) pressure between two adjacent soil particles. The increasing total average aggregation (TAA) rate of soil colloids with increasing Na[Formula: see text] and K[Formula: see text] concentrations exhibited two stages: the growth rates of TAA increased rapidly at first and then increased slowly and eventually almost negligibly. The critical coagulation concentrations of soil colloids in Na[Formula: see text] and K[Formula: see text] were 91.6[Formula: see text]mmol L[Formula: see text] and 47.8[Formula: see text]mmol L[Formula: see text], respectively, and these were similar to the concentrations at the net negative pressure.
Extension of matrix pencil reduction to abelian categories
Authors: Verdier Olivier
Published: March 2017

Matrix pencils, or pairs of matrices, are used in a variety of applications. By the Kronecker decomposition theorem, they admit a normal form. This normal form consists of four parts, one part based on the Jordan canonical form, one part made of nilpotent matrices, and two other dual parts, which we call the observation and control part. The goal of this paper is to show that large portions of that decomposition are still valid for pairs of morphisms of modules or abelian groups, and more generally in any abelian category. In the vector space case, we recover the full Kronecker decomposition theorem. The main technique is that of reduction, which extends readily to the abelian category case. Reductions naturally arise in two flavors, which are dual to each other. There are a number of properties of those reductions which extend remarkably from the vector space case to abelian categories. First, both types of reduction commute. Second, at each step of the reduction, one can compute three sequences of invariant spaces (objects in the category), which generalize the Kronecker decomposition into nilpotent, observation and control blocks. These sequences indicate whether the system is reduced in one direction or the other. In the category of modules, there is also a relation between these sequences and the resolvent set of the pair of morphisms, which generalizes the regular pencil theorem. We also indicate how this allows to define invariant subspaces in the vector space case, and study the notion of strangeness as an example.
The relation between Bessel wavelet convolution product and Hankel convolution product involving Hankel transform
Authors: Upadhyay S. K. , Singh Reshma , Tripathi Alok
Published: March 2017

In this paper, the relation between Bessel wavelet convolution product and Hankel convolution product is obtained by using the Bessel wavelet transform and the Hankel transform. Approximation results of the Bessel wavelet convolution product are investigated by exploiting the Hankel transformation tool. Motivated from the results of Pinsky, heuristic treatment of the Bessel wavelet transform is introduced and other properties of the Bessel wavelet transform are studied.
Determination of Hg2+ Based on the Selective Enhancement of Peroxidase Mimetic Activity of Hollow Porous Gold Nanoparticles
Authors: Guo Mingzhen , He Jiang , Ma Shuang , Sun Xiaohan , Zheng Mingda
Published: March 2017

In this paper, a novel colorimetric biosensor for Hg[Formula: see text] is presented based on Hg[Formula: see text] stimulated peroxidase-like activity of hollow porous gold nanoparticles (HPGNPs). Under mild conditions, HPGNPs show high catalytic activity toward the oxidation of 3, 3[Formula: see text], 5, 5[Formula: see text]-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) using H2O2 as an oxidant. The peroxidase-like activity of HPGNPs is “switched-on” selectively in the presence of Hg[Formula: see text], which permitted a novel and facile colorimetric sensor for Hg[Formula: see text]. This method exhibits many merits like high selectivity and sensitivity. As low as 18.5[Formula: see text]nM Hg[Formula: see text] could be determined at a linear range from [Formula: see text][Formula: see text]M to [Formula: see text][Formula: see text]M. This method is successfully applied for the determination of total mercury content in tap water and Yellow River which indicates that the method has a great potential for the routine determination of Hg[Formula: see text] in environmental samples.
Composition dependence of dielectric properties in Pb(Zn1∕3Nb2∕3)O3–PbTiO3–BaTiO3(PZN–PT–BT) relaxor ferroelectric ceramics
Authors: Gao Qiang , Jin Li , Cui Yu , Zhao Ye , Yu Kun , Shi Xiang , Wei Xiaoyong
Published: March 2017

Perovskite solid solution ceramics of PZN–PT–BT with several compositions were synthesized by solid-state reaction method. X-ray diffraction results indicate pure perovskite structures for all samples. Dielectric measurements show that the implicit Ba(Zn[Formula: see text]Nb[Formula: see text])O3(BZN) composition could broaden the diffusion phase transition (DPT) peaks and lower the [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] values. The observed dielectric properties may be caused by the increased cation disorder due to the substitution of barium onto the A-site and titanium onto the B-site.
The pricing of average options with jump diffusion processes in the uncertain volatility model
Authors: Fan Yulian , Zhang Huadong
Published: March 2017

The pricing equations of the average options with jump diffusion processes can be formulated as two-dimensional partial integro-differential equations (PIDEs). In the uncertain volatility model, for options with non-convex and non-concave payoffs, such as the butterfly spread, the PIDEs are nonlinear. We use the semi-Lagrangian method to reduce the two-dimensional nonlinear PIDE to a one-dimensional nonlinear PIDE along the trajectory of the average price, and use a Newton-type iteration to guarantee the convergence of the discrete solution to the viscosity solution. Monotonicity and stability as well as the convergence results are derived. Numerical tests of convergence for a variety of cases, including average butterfly spread and ordinary butterfly spread, are presented.
Zircon U–Pb age and Hf isotope evidence for an Eoarchaean crustal remnant and episodic crustal reworking in response to supercontinent cycles in NW India
Authors: Wang Wei , Cawood Peter A. , Pandit Manoj K. , Zhou Mei-Fu , Chen Wei-Terry
Published: March 2017

Scattered T
DM2
(3.8–3.2 Ga) for 3.28–2.99 Ga zircons from the Proterozoic Delhi Supergroup in northwestern India provide evidence for generation of juvenile crust and reworking of older crust. Depleted mantle-like
ε

Hf(
t
)

values (+7.2 to +5.6) for 2.86–2.71 Ga zircons indicate that generation of juvenile crust occurred during this period and ceased at 2.71 Ga. Extensive magmatism at 2.66–2.34, 2.11–2.01 and 1.60–1.37 Ga was dominated by reworking of pre-existing crust with variable ages, and the last two periods were accompanied by formation of juvenile crust. An Eoarchaean age of 3671 ± 15 Ma represents the oldest age found in NW India. Zircons formed during supercontinent assembly have positive to negative
ε

Hf(
t
)

values, suggesting involvement of juvenile and ancient crust, whereas largely positive
ε

Hf(
t
)

values for zircons crystallized subsequent to supercontinent amalgamation suggest involvement of predominantly juvenile crust. Correlation of detrital age patterns and tectonomagmatic events indicates a conjugate position for northern Indian and the Cathaysia Block of South China during the assembly of Nuna. The South China Block remained juxtaposed to India until its separation from Pangaea in the late Palaeozoic.

Supplementary material:
Supplementary data, including detailed metadata related to laboratory and sample preparation methods, U-Pb and Lu-Hf isotopic compositions of the analyzed samples and standards are available at
https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.c.3711847
Basin inversion and supercontinent assembly as drivers of sediment-hosted Pb–Zn mineralization in the Mount Isa region, northern Australia
Authors: Gibson George M. , Hutton Laurie J. , Holzschuh Josef
Published: March 2017

Deep seismic reflection imaging combined with geochronological, palaeomagnetic and stratigraphic data indicate that the world class sediment-hosted Pb–Zn deposits of northern Australia are preferentially concentrated in the post-extensional syn-inversion fraction of the Calvert and Isa superbasins. These fractions were deposited at 1650–1640 Ma and 1615–1575 Ma respectively, and overlap the age of known orogenic events in both Australia and western Laurentia, pointing to a common origin linked to crustal shortening and supercontinent assembly. Crustal shortening resulted in thrust faulting and reactivation of earlier-formed extensional faults leading to upward expulsion of mineralizing fluids at or close to the seafloor while basin inversion and sedimentation were still in progress. This is contrary to most existing models for Pb–Zn ore genesis in northern Australia where fluid flow and mineralization have been attributed to syn-extensional processes accompanying continental breakup or thermal sag. Instead, mineralization post-dates passive margin formation and more probably occurred in a contractional or foreland basin setting involving orogenic loading of the continental crust from the east during assembly or reassembly of the Nuna supercontinent. A strikingly similar history of basin inversion and Pb–Zn mineralisation is shared by the late Neoproterozoic-early Paleozoic Selwyn and older epicratonic basins of western North America.
Stratigraphic overview of Palaeogene tuffs in the Faroe–Shetland Basin, NE Atlantic Margin
Authors: Watson Douglas , Schofield Nick , Jolley David , Archer Stuart , Finlay Alexander J. , Mark Niall , Hardman Jonathon , Watton Timothy
Published: March 2017

Tuffs form key stratigraphic markers that assist with determining the timing of volcanic margin development. A number of laterally extensive tuffs are preserved along the North Atlantic Margin in the offshore Faroe–Shetland Basin (FSB), a product of early Palaeogene volcanism associated with the break-up and seafloor spreading between Greenland and NW Europe. These tuffs, which are dominantly basaltic in composition, are widely preserved in the contiguous North Sea Basin. However, less attention has been paid to them in the FSB. This study integrates multiple regional datasets, including 3D seismic data and released commercial well logs, to detail the character and distribution of early Palaeogene tuffs in the FSB. The earliest tuffs are more locally identified by their presence in core, whereas later tuffs are more regionally recognizable, highlighting more widespread volcanism with time. The distribution of tuffs also reveals the timing of formation of the previously enigmatic volcanic centres. Importantly, owing to constraints of vertical resolution in well data, we argue that the number of tuffs in the North Atlantic Margin is probably underestimated, and biased towards basaltic tuffs, which are easier to identify on well logs.
Hypoxia-inducible factor-1α activation improves renal oxygenation and mitochondrial function in early chronic kidney disease
Authors: Thomas Joanna L. , Pham Hai , Li Ying , Hall Elanore , Perkins Guy A. , Ali Sameh S. , Patel Hemal H. , Singh Prabhleen
Published: March 2017

The pathophysiology of chronic kidney disease (CKD) is driven by alterations in surviving nephrons to sustain renal function with ongoing nephron loss. Oxygen supply-demand mismatch, due to hemodynamic adaptations, with resultant hypoxia, plays an important role in the pathophysiology in early CKD. We sought to investigate the underlying mechanisms of this mismatch. We utilized the subtotal nephrectomy (STN) model of CKD to investigate the alterations in renal oxygenation linked to sodium (Na) transport and mitochondrial function in the surviving nephrons. Oxygen delivery was significantly reduced in STN kidneys because of lower renal blood flow. Fractional oxygen extraction was significantly higher in STN. Tubular Na reabsorption was significantly lower per mole of oxygen consumed in STN. We hypothesized that decreased mitochondrial bioenergetic capacity may account for this and uncovered significant mitochondrial dysfunction in the early STN kidney: higher oxidative metabolism without an attendant increase in ATP levels, elevated superoxide levels, and alterations in mitochondrial morphology. We further investigated the effect of activation of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α), a master regulator of cellular hypoxia response. We observed significant improvement in renal blood flow, glomerular filtration rate, and tubular Na reabsorption per mole of oxygen consumed with HIF-1α activation. Importantly, HIF-1α activation significantly lowered mitochondrial oxygen consumption and superoxide production and increased mitochondrial volume density. In conclusion, we report significant impairment of renal oxygenation and mitochondrial function at the early stages of CKD and demonstrate the beneficial role of HIF-1α activation on renal function and metabolism.
Maternal separation diminishes α-adrenergic receptor density and function in renal vasculature from male Wistar-Kyoto rats
Authors: Loria Analia S. , Osborn Jeffrey L.
Published: March 2017

Adult rats exposed to maternal separation (MatSep) are normotensive but display lower glomerular filtration rate and increased renal neuroadrenergic drive. The aim of this study was to determine the renal α-adrenergic receptor density and the renal vascular responsiveness to adrenergic stimulation in male rats exposed to MatSep. In addition, baroreflex sensitivity was assessed to determine a component of neural control of the vasculature. Using tissue collected from 4-mo-old MatSep and control rats, α1-adrenergic receptors (α1-ARs) were measured in renal cortex and isolated renal vasculature using receptor binding assay, and the α-AR subtype gene expression was determined by RT-PCR. Renal cortical α1-AR density was similar between MatSep and control tissues (Bmax = 44 ± 1 vs. 42 ± 2 fmol/mg protein, respectively); however, MatSep reduced α1-AR density in renal vasculature (Bmax = 47 ± 4 vs. 62 ± 4 fmol/mg protein, P < 0.05, respectively). In a separate group of rats, the pressor, bradycardic, and renal vascular constrictor responses to acute norepinephrine injection (NE, 0.03–0.25 μg/μl) were determined under anesthesia. Attenuated NE-induced renal vasoconstriction was observed in rats exposed to MatSep compared with control ( P < 0.05). A third group of rats was infused at steady state with the α1 agonist phenylephrine (10 μg/min iv) and vasodilator sodium nitroprusside (5 μg/min iv). The difference between the change in heart rate/mean arterial pressure slopes was indicative of reduced baroreflex sensitivity in MatSep vs. control rats (−0.45 ± 0.04 vs. −0.95 ± 0.07 beats·min−1·mmHg−1, P < 0.05). These data support the notion that reduced α-adrenergic receptor expression and function in the renal vasculature could develop secondary to MatSep-induced overactivation of the renal neuroadrenergic tone.
Embodied Energy and Cost Optimization of RC Beam under Blast Load
Authors: Yu Runqing , Zhang Diandian , Yan Haichun
Published: March 2017

Reinforced concrete (RC) structures not only consume a lot of resources but also cause continuing pollution. However, sustainable design could make RC structures more environmental‐friendly. One important index for environmental impact assessment is embodied energy. The aim of the present study is to optimize the embodied energy and the cost of RC beam subjected to the blast loads. First, a general optimization procedure was described. Then, the optimization procedure was used to optimize the embodied energy and the cost of RC beams. Optimization results of the cost and the embodied energy were compared. It was found that the optimization results were influenced by the cost ratio nC (ratio of price of steel to price of concrete per unit volume) and the embodied energy ratio nE (ratio of embodied energy of steel to embodied energy of concrete per unit volume). An optimal design that minimized both embodied energy and cost simultaneously was obtained if values of nC and nE were very close.
Prospective Multicentre Study on the Epidemiology and Current Therapeutic Management of Severe Bronchiolitis in Spain
Authors: Flores-González Jose C. , Mayordomo-Colunga Juan , Jordan Iolanda , Miras-Veiga Alicia , Montero-Valladares Cristina , Olmedilla-Jodar Marta , Alcaraz-Romero Andrés J. , Eizmendi-Bereciartua Miren , Fernández-Carrión Francisco , Santiago-Gutierrez Carmen , Aleo-Luján Esther , Pérez-Quesada Sonia , Yun-Castilla Cristina , Martín Carmen , Navarro-Mingorance Álvaro , Goñi-Orayen Concha
Published: March 2017

Objective. To determine the epidemiology and therapeutic management of patients with severe acute bronchiolitis (AB) admitted to paediatric intensive care units (PICUs) in Spain.Design. Descriptive, prospective, multicentre study.Setting. Sixteen Spanish PICUs.Patients. Patients with severe AB who required admission to any of the participating PICUs over 1 year.Interventions. Both epidemiological variables and medical treatment received were recorded.Results. A total of 262 patients were recruited; 143 were male (54.6%), with median age of 1 month (0–23). Median stay in the PICU was 7 days (1–46). Sixty patients (23%) received no nebuliser treatment, while the rest received a combination of inhalation therapies. One-quarter of patients (24.8%) received corticosteroids and 56.5% antibiotic therapy. High-flow oxygen therapy was used in 14.3% and noninvasive ventilation (NIV) was used in 75.6%. Endotracheal intubation was required in 24.4% of patients. Younger age, antibiotic therapy, and invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) were risk factors that significantly increased the stay in the PICU.Conclusions. Spanish PICUs continue to routinely use nebulised bronchodilator treatment and corticosteroid therapy. Despite NIV being widely used in this condition, intubation was required in one-quarter of cases. Younger age, antibiotic therapy, and IMV were associated with a longer stay in the PICU.