bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Leukocyte Immunoglobulin-Like Receptor 1-Expressing Human Natural Killer Cell Subsets Differentially Recognize Isolates of Human Cytomegalovirus through the Viral Major Histocompatibility Complex Class I Homolog UL18
Authors: Chen Kevin C. , Stanton Richard J. , Banat Jareer J. , Wills Mark R.
Published: January 2016

Immune responses of natural killer (NK) cell are controlled by the balance between activating and inhibitory receptors, but the expression of these receptors varies between cells within an individual. Although NK cells are a component of the innate immune system, particular NK cell subsets expressing Ly49H are positively selected and increase in frequency in response to cytomegalovirus infection in mice. Recent evidence suggests that in humans certain NK subsets also have an increased frequency in the blood of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV)-infected individuals. However, whether these subsets differ in their capacity of direct control of HCMV-infected cells remains unclear. In this study, we developed a novel
in vitro
assay to assess whether human NK cell subsets have differential abilities to inhibit HCMV growth and dissemination. NK cells expressing or lacking NKG2C did not display any differences in controlling viral dissemination. However, when
in vitro
-expanded NK cells were used, cells expressing or lacking the inhibitory receptor leukocyte immunoglobulin-like receptor 1 (LIR1) were differentially able to control dissemination. Surprisingly, the ability of LIR1
+
NK cells to control virus spread differed between HCMV viral strains, and this phenomenon was dependent on amino acid sequences within the viral ligand UL18. Together, the results here outline an
in vitro
technique to compare the long-term immune responses of different human NK cell subsets and suggest, for the first time, that phenotypically defined human NK cell subsets may differentially recognize HCMV infections.

IMPORTANCE
HCMV infection is ubiquitous in most populations; it is not cleared by the host after primary infection but persists for life. The innate and adaptive immune systems control the spread of virus, for which natural killer (NK) cells play a pivotal role. NK cells can respond to HCMV infection by rapid, short-term, nonspecific innate responses, but evidence from murine studies suggested that NK cells may display long-term, memory-like responses to murine cytomegalovirus infection. In this study, we developed a new assay that examines human NK cell subsets that have been suggested to play a long-term memory-like response to HCMV infection. We show that changes in an HCMV viral protein that interacts with an NK cell receptor can change the ability of NK cell subsets to control HCMV while the acquisition of another receptor has no effect on virus control.
Activation of RNase L by Murine Coronavirus in Myeloid Cells Is Dependent on BasalOasGene Expression and Independent of Virus-Induced Interferon
Authors: Birdwell L. Dillon , Zalinger Zachary B. , Li Yize , Wright Patrick W. , Elliott Ruth , Rose Kristine M. , Silverman Robert H. , Weiss Susan R.
Published: January 2016

The oligoadenylate synthetase (OAS)-RNase L pathway is a potent interferon (IFN)-induced antiviral activity. Upon sensing double-stranded RNA, OAS produces 2′,5′-oligoadenylates (2-5A), which activate RNase L. Murine coronavirus (mouse hepatitis virus [MHV]) nonstructural protein 2 (ns2) is a 2′,5′-phosphodiesterase (PDE) that cleaves 2-5A, thereby antagonizing RNase L activation. PDE activity is required for robust replication in myeloid cells, as a mutant of MHV (ns2H126R) encoding an inactive PDE fails to antagonize RNase L activation and replicates poorly in bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMM), while ns2H126Rreplicates to high titer in several types of nonmyeloid cells, as well as in IFN receptor-deficient (Ifnar1−/−) BMM. We reported previously that myeloid cells express significantly higher basal levels of OAS transcripts than nonmyeloid cells. Here, we investigated the contributions ofOasgene expression, basal IFN signaling, and virus-induced IFN to RNase L activation. Infection with ns2H126Ractivated RNase L inIfih1−/−BMM to a similar extent as in wild-type (WT) BMM, despite the lack of IFN induction in the absence of MDA5 expression. However, ns2H126Rfailed to induce RNase L activation in BMM treated with IFNAR1-blocking antibody, as well as inIfnar1−/−BMM, both expressing low basal levels ofOasgenes. Thus, activation of RNase L does not require virus-induced IFN but rather correlates with adequate levels of basalOasgene expression, maintained by basal IFN signaling. Finally, overexpression of RNase L is not sufficient to compensate for inadequate basal OAS levels.

IMPORTANCEThe oligoadenylate synthetase (OAS)-RNase L pathway is a potent antiviral activity. Activation of RNase L during murine coronavirus (mouse hepatitis virus [MHV]) infection of myeloid cells correlates with high basalOasgene expression and is independent of virus-induced interferon secretion. Thus, our data suggest that cells with high basalOasgene expression levels can activate RNase L and thereby inhibit virus replication early in infection upon exposure to viral double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) before the induction of interferon and prior to transcription of interferon-stimulated antiviral genes. These findings challenge the notion that activation of the OAS-RNase L pathway requires virus to induce type I IFN, which in turn upregulates OAS gene expression, as well as to provide dsRNA to activate OAS. Our data further suggest that myeloid cells may serve as sentinels to restrict viral replication, thus protecting other cell types from infection.
Chaperone-Assisted Protein Folding Is Critical for Yellow Fever Virus NS3/4A Cleavage and Replication
Authors: Bozzacco Leonia , Yi Zhigang , Andreo Ursula , Conklin Claire R. , Li Melody M. H. , Rice Charles M. , MacDonald Margaret R.
Published: January 2016

DNAJC14, a heat shock protein 40 (Hsp40) cochaperone, assists with Hsp70-mediated protein folding. Overexpressed DNAJC14 is targeted to sites of yellow fever virus (YFV) replication complex (RC) formation, where it interacts with viral nonstructural (NS) proteins and inhibits viral RNA replication. How RCs are assembled and the roles of chaperones in this coordinated process are largely unknown. We hypothesized that chaperones are diverted from their normal cellular protein quality control function to play similar roles during viral infection. Here, we show that DNAJC14 overexpression affects YFV polyprotein processing and alters RC assembly. We monitored YFV NS2A-5 polyprotein processing by the viral NS2B-3 protease in DNAJC14-overexpressing cells. Notably, DNAJC14 mutants that did not inhibit YFV replication had minimal effects on polyprotein processing, while overexpressed wild-type DNAJC14 affected the NS3/4A and NS4A/2K cleavage sites, resulting in altered NS3-to-NS3-4A ratios. This suggests that DNAJC14's folding activity normally modulates NS3/4A/2K cleavage events to liberate appropriate levels of NS3 and NS4A and promote RC formation. We introduced amino acid substitutions at the NS3/4A site to alter the levels of the NS3 and NS4A products and examined their effects on YFV replication. Residues with reduced cleavage efficiency did not support viral RNA replication, and only revertant viruses with a restored wild-type arginine or lysine residue at the NS3/4A site were obtained. We conclude that DNAJC14 inhibition of RC formation upon DNAJC14 overexpression is likely due to chaperone dysregulation and that YFV probably utilizes DNAJC14's cochaperone function to modulate processing at the NS3/4A site as a mechanism ensuring virus replication.

IMPORTANCE
Flaviviruses are single-stranded RNA viruses that cause a wide range of illnesses. Upon host cell entry, the viral genome is translated on endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membranes to produce a single polyprotein, which is cleaved by host and viral proteases to generate viral proteins required for genome replication and virion production. Several studies suggest a role for molecular chaperones during these processes. While the details of chaperone roles have been elusive, in this report we show that overexpression of the ER-resident cochaperone DNAJC14 affects YFV polyprotein processing at the NS3/4A site. This work reveals that DNAJC14 modulation of NS3/4A site processing is an important mechanism to ensure virus replication. Our work highlights the importance of finely regulating flavivirus polyprotein processing. In addition, it suggests future studies to address similarities and/or differences among flaviviruses and to interrogate the precise mechanisms employed for polyprotein processing, a critical step that can ultimately be targeted for novel drug development.
The High Degree of Sequence Plasticity of the Arenavirus Noncoding Intergenic Region (IGR) Enables the Use of a Nonviral Universal Synthetic IGR To Attenuate Arenaviruses
Authors: Iwasaki Masaharu , Cubitt Beatrice , Sullivan Brian M. , de la Torre Juan C.
Published: January 2016

Hemorrhagic fever arenaviruses (HFAs) pose important public health problems in regions where they are endemic. Concerns about human-pathogenic arenaviruses are exacerbated because of the lack of FDA-licensed arenavirus vaccines and because current antiarenaviral therapy is limited to an off-label use of ribavirin that is only partially effective. We have recently shown that the noncoding intergenic region (IGR) present in each arenavirus genome segment, the S and L segments (S-IGR and L-IGR, respectively), plays important roles in the control of virus protein expression and that this knowledge could be harnessed for the development of live-attenuated vaccine strains to combat HFAs. In this study, we further investigated the sequence plasticity of the arenavirus IGR. We demonstrate that recombinants of the prototypic arenavirus lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (rLCMVs), whose S-IGRs were replaced by the S-IGR of Lassa virus (LASV) or an entirely nonviral S-IGR-like sequence (Ssyn), are viable, indicating that the function of S-IGR tolerates a high degree of sequence plasticity. In addition, rLCMVs whose L-IGRs were replaced by Ssyn or S-IGRs of the very distantly related reptarenavirus Golden Gate virus (GGV) were viable and severely attenuated
in vivo
but able to elicit protective immunity against a lethal challenge with wild-type LCMV. Our findings indicate that replacement of L-IGR by a nonviral Ssyn could serve as a universal molecular determinant of arenavirus attenuation.

IMPORTANCE
Hemorrhagic fever arenaviruses (HFAs) cause high rates of morbidity and mortality and pose important public health problems in regions where they are endemic. Implementation of live-attenuated vaccines (LAVs) will represent a major step to combat HFAs. Here we document that the arenavirus noncoding intergenic region (IGR) has a high degree of plasticity compatible with virus viability. This observation led us to generate recombinant LCMVs containing nonviral synthetic IGRs. These rLCMVs were severely attenuated
in vivo
but able to elicit protective immunity against a lethal challenge with wild-type LCMV. These nonviral synthetic IGRs can be used as universal molecular determinants of arenavirus attenuation for the rapid development of safe and effective, as well as stable, LAVs to combat HFA.
Deep Sequencing Reveals Potential Antigenic Variants at Low Frequencies in Influenza A Virus-Infected Humans
Authors: Dinis Jorge M. , Florek Kelsey R. , Fatola Omolayo O. , Moncla Louise H. , Mutschler James P. , Charlier Olivia K. , Meece Jennifer K. , Belongia Edward A. , Friedrich Thomas C.
Published: January 2016

Influenza vaccines must be frequently reformulated to account for antigenic changes in the viral envelope protein, hemagglutinin (HA). The rapid evolution of influenza virus under immune pressure is likely enhanced by the virus's genetic diversity within a host, although antigenic change has rarely been investigated on the level of individual infected humans. We used deep sequencing to characterize the between- and within-host genetic diversity of influenza viruses in a cohort of patients that included individuals who were vaccinated and then infected in the same season. We characterized influenza HA segments from the predominant circulating influenza A subtypes during the 2012-2013 (H3N2) and 2013-2014 (pandemic H1N1; H1N1pdm) flu seasons. We found that HA consensus sequences were similar in nonvaccinated and vaccinated subjects. In both groups, purifying selection was the dominant force shaping HA genetic diversity. Interestingly, viruses from multiple individuals harbored low-frequency mutations encoding amino acid substitutions in HA antigenic sites at or near the receptor-binding domain. These mutations included two substitutions in H1N1pdm viruses, G158K and N159K, which were recently found to confer escape from virus-specific antibodies. These findings raise the possibility that influenza antigenic diversity can be generated within individual human hosts but may not become fixed in the viral population even when they would be expected to have a strong fitness advantage. Understanding constraints on influenza antigenic evolution within individual hosts may elucidate potential future pathways of antigenic evolution at the population level.

IMPORTANCE
Influenza vaccines must be frequently reformulated due to the virus's rapid evolution rate. We know that influenza viruses exist within each infected host as a “swarm” of genetically distinct viruses, but the role of this within-host diversity in the antigenic evolution of influenza has been unclear. We characterized here the genetic and potential antigenic diversity of influenza viruses infecting humans, some of whom became infected despite recent vaccination. Influenza virus between- and within-host genetic diversity was not significantly different in nonvaccinated and vaccinated humans, suggesting that vaccine-induced immunity does not exert strong selective pressure on viruses replicating in individual people. We found low-frequency mutations, below the detection threshold of traditional surveillance methods, in nonvaccinated and vaccinated humans that were recently associated with antibody escape. Interestingly, these potential antigenic variants did not reach fixation in infected people, suggesting that other evolutionary factors may be hindering their emergence in individual humans.
Charcot's osteoarthropathy mimicking an osteosarcoma of humerus
Authors: Su Jingdong , Al-Delfi Firas , Mills Glenn , Peddi Prakash
Published: January 2016

Charcot's arthropathy or neuropathic osteoarthropathy is a form of destructive arthropathy associated with decreased sensory innervation. We present an unusual case of a patient referred to oncology clinic for further evaluation of a spindle cell neoplasm of the humerus concerning for malignancy. The mass presented as a lytic lesion associated with a right humerus fracture. This was later diagnosed as Charcot's shoulder secondary to cervical syringomyelia. A detailed case report and discussion are presented here.
Poor housing conditions in association with child health in a disadvantaged immigrant population: a cross-sectional study in Rosengård, Malmö, Sweden
Authors: Oudin Anna , Richter Jens C , Taj Tahir , Al-nahar Lina , Jakobsson Kristina
Published: January 2016

Objectives

To describe the home environment in terms of housing conditions and their association with child health in a disadvantaged immigrant population.

Design

A cross-sectional observational study.

Setting

Enrolment took place during 2010–2011 in Rosengård, Malmö, Sweden.

Participants

Children aged 0–13 years in 2 study neighbourhoods were recruited from local health records and from schools. 359 children participated, with a participation rate of 40%. Data on health, lifestyle and apartment characteristics from questionnaire-led interviews with the mothers of the children were obtained together with data from home inspections carried out by trained health communicators.

Outcome measures

Logistic regression analysis was used to estimate ORs for various health outcomes, adjusted for demographic information and lifestyle factors.

Results

The housing conditions were very poor, especially in one of the study neighbourhoods where 67% of the apartments had been sanitised of cockroaches, 27% were infested with cockroaches and 40% had a visible mould. The association between housing conditions and health was mostly inconclusive, but there were statistically significant associations between current asthma and dampness (OR=4.1, 95% CI 1.7 to 9.9), between asthma medication and dampness (OR=2.8, 95% CI 1.2 to 6.4), and between mould and headache (OR=4.2, 95% CI 1.2 to 14.8). The presence of cockroaches was associated with emergency care visits, with colds, with headache and with difficulty falling asleep, and worse general health was associated with mould and presence of cockroaches.

Conclusions

The associations between dampness and asthma, and the association between mould and headache, are in line with current knowledge. The presence of cockroaches seemed to be associated with various outcomes, including those related to mental well-being, which is less described in the literature. The results of the present study are hypothesis generating and provide strong incentives for future studies in this study population.
High prevalence ofChlamydia trachomatisandNeisseria gonorrhoeaeinfections in anal and pharyngeal sites among a community-based sample of men who have sex with men and transgender women in Lima, Peru
Authors: Leon Segundo R , Segura Eddy R , Konda Kelika A , Flores Juan A , Silva-Santisteban Alfonso , Galea Jerome T , Coates Thomas J , Klausner Jeffrey D , Caceres Carlos F
Published: January 2016

Objectives

This study aimed to characterise the epidemiology ofChlamydia trachomatis(CT) andNeisseria gonorrhoeae(NG) infections among men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender women (TW) in Lima, Peru.

Setting

Cross-sectional study in Lima, Peru.

Participants

We recruited a group of 510 MSM and 208 TW for a subsequent community-based randomised controlled trial. The presence of CT and NG were evaluated using Aptima Combo2 in pharyngeal and anal swabs. We also explored correlates of these infections. Primary and secondary outcome measures: Study end points included overall prevalence ofC. trachomatisandN. gonorrhoeaein anal and pharyngeal sites.

Results

Overall prevalence of CT was 19% (95% CI 16.1% to 22.1%) and 4.8% (95% CI 3.3% to 6.6%) in anal and pharyngeal sites, respectively, while prevalence of NG was 9.6% (95% CI 7.5% to 12.0%) and 6.5% (95% CI 4.8% to 8.5%) in anal and pharyngeal sites, respectively.

Conclusions

The prevalence of each infection declined significantly among participants older than 34 years (p<0.05). Efforts towards prevention and treatment of extraurogenital chlamydial and gonococcal infections in high-risk populations like MSM and TW in Lima, Peru, are warranted.

Trial registration number

NCT00670163; Results.
‘Please don't call me Mister’: patient preferences of how they are addressed and their knowledge of their treating medical team in an Australian hospital
Authors: Parsons Shaun R , Hughes Andrew J , Friedman N Deborah
Published: January 2016

Objectives

To investigate how patients prefer to be addressed by healthcare providers and to assess their knowledge of their attending medical team's identity in an Australian Hospital.

Setting

Single-centre, large tertiary hospital in Australia.

Participants

300 inpatients were included in the survey. Patients were selected in a sequential, systematic and whole-ward manner. Participants were excluded with significant cognitive impairment, non-English speaking, under the age of 18 years or were too acutely unwell to participate. The sample demographic was predominately an older population of Anglo-Saxon background.

Primary and secondary outcome measures

Patients preferred mode of address from healthcare providers including first name, title and second name, abbreviated first name or another name. Whether patients disliked formal address of title and second name. Secondarily, patient knowledge of their attending medical team members name and role and if correct, what position within the medical hierarchy they held.

Results

Over 99% of patients prefer informal address with greater than one-third having a preference to being called a name other than their legal first name. 57% of patients were unable to correctly name a single member of their attending medical team.

Conclusions

These findings support patient preference of informal address; however, healthcare providers cannot assume that a documented legal first name is preferred by the patient. Patient knowledge of their attending medical team is poor and suggests current introduction practices are insufficient.
Preoperative therapy with pazopanib in high-risk soft tissue sarcoma: a phase II window-of-opportunity study by the German Interdisciplinary Sarcoma Group (GISG-04/NOPASS)
Authors: Ronellenfitsch Ulrich , Dimitrakopoulou-Strauss Antonia , Jakob Jens , Kasper Bernd , Nowak Kai , Pilz Lothar R , Attenberger Ulrike , Gaiser Timo , Egerer Gerlinde , Fröhling Stefan , Derigs Hans-Günter , Schwarzbach Matthias , Hohenberger Peter
Published: January 2016

Introduction

For resectable soft tissue sarcoma (STS), radical surgery, usually combined with radiotherapy, is the mainstay of treatment and the only potentially curative modality. Since surgery is often complicated by large tumour size and extensive tumour vasculature, preoperative treatment strategies with the aim of devitalising the tumour are being explored. One option is treatment with antiangiogenic drugs. The multikinase inhibitor pazopanib, which possesses pronounced antiangiogenic effects, has shown activity in metastatic and unresectable STS, but has so far not been tested in the preoperative setting.

Methods and analysis

This open-label, multicentre phase II window-of-opportunity trial assesses pazopanib as preoperative treatment of resectable STS. Participants receive a 21-day course of pazopanib 800 mg daily during wait time for surgery. Major eligibility criteria are resectable, high-risk adult STS of any location, or metachronous solitary STS metastasis for which resection is planned, and adequate organ function and performance status. The trial uses an exact single-stage design. The primary end point is metabolic response rate (MRR), that is, the proportion of patients with >50% reduction of the mean standardised uptake value (SUVmean) in post-treatment compared to pre-treatment fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography CT. The MRR below which the treatment is considered ineffective is 0.2. The MRR above which the treatment warrants further exploration is 0.4. With a type I error of 5% and a power of 80%, the sample size is 35 evaluable patients, with 12 or more responders as threshold. Main secondary end points are histopathological and MRI response, resectability, toxicity, recurrence-free and overall survival. In a translational substudy, endothelial progenitor cells and vascular epithelial growth factor receptor are analysed as potential prognostic and predictive markers.

Ethics and dissemination

Approval by the ethics committee II, University of Heidelberg, Germany (2012-019F-MA), German Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (61-3910-4038155) and German Federal Institute for Radiation Protection (Z5-22463/2-2012-007).

Trial registration number

NCT01543802, EudraCT: 2011-003745-18; Pre-results.
The impact of self-harm by young people on parents and families: a qualitative study
Authors: Ferrey Anne E , Hughes Nicholas D , Simkin Sue , Locock Louise , Stewart Anne , Kapur Navneet , Gunnell David , Hawton Keith
Published: January 2016

Objectives

Little research has explored the full extent of the impact of self-harm on the family. This study aimed to explore the emotional, physical and practical effects of a young person's self-harm on parents and family.

Design and participants

We used qualitative methods to explore the emotional, physical and practical effects of a young person's self-harm on their parents and family. We conducted a thematic analysis of thirty-seven semistructured narrative interviews with parents of young people who had self-harmed.

Results

After the discovery of self-harm, parents described initial feelings of shock, anger and disbelief. Later reactions included stress, anxiety, feelings of guilt and in some cases the onset or worsening of clinical depression. Social isolation was reported, as parents withdrew from social contact due to the perceived stigma associated with self-harm. Parents also described significant impacts on siblings, ranging from upset and stress to feelings of responsibility and worries about stigma at school. Siblings had mixed responses, but were often supportive. Practically speaking, parents found the necessity of being available to their child often conflicted with the demands of full-time work. This, along with costs of, for example, travel and private care, affected family finances. However, parents generally viewed the future as positive and hoped that with help, their child would develop better coping mechanisms.

Conclusions

Self-harm by young people has major impacts on parents and other family members. Clinicians and staff who work with young people who self-harm should be sensitive to these issues and offer appropriate support and guidance for families.
Efficacy and safety of second-generation antipsychotic long-acting injections (SGA LAIs) in maintenance treatment of bipolar disorder: protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Prajapati Asta R , Wilson Jonathan , Maidment Ian
Published: January 2016

Introduction

Bipolar disorder requires long-term treatment but non-adherence is a common problem. Antipsychotic long-acting injections (LAIs) have been suggested to improve adherence but none are licensed in the UK for bipolar. However, the use of second-generation antipsychotics (SGA) LAIs in bipolar is not uncommon albeit there is a lack of systematic review in this area. This study aims to systematically review safety and efficacy of SGA LAIs in the maintenance treatment of bipolar disorder.

Methods and analysis

The protocol is based on Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) and will include only randomised controlled trials comparing SGA LAIs in bipolar. PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL, Cochrane Library (CENTRAL), PsychINFO, LiLACS,http://www.clinicaltrials.govwill be searched, with no language restriction, from 2000 to January 2016 as first SGA LAIs came to the market after 2000. Manufacturers of SGA LAIs will also be contacted. Primary efficacy outcome is relapse rate or delayed time to relapse or reduction in hospitalisation and primary safety outcomes are drop-out rates, all-cause discontinuation and discontinuation due to adverse events. Qualitative reporting of evidence will be based on 21 items listed on standards for reporting qualitative research (SRQR) focusing on study quality (assessed using the Jadad score, allocation concealment and data analysis), risk of bias and effect size. Publication bias will be assessed using funnel plots. If sufficient data are available meta-analysis will be performed with primary effect size as relative risk presented with 95% CI. Sensitivity analysis, conditional on number of studies and sample size, will be carried out on manic versus depressive symptoms and monotherapy versus adjunctive therapy.

Ethics and dissemination

Ethical approval is not required as primary data will not be collected. The results will be disseminated through a peer-reviewed publication, conference presentation and the press.

Study registration number

PROSPERO CRD42015023948.
The utility of heart failure registries: a descriptive and comparative study of two heart failure registries
Authors: Trullàs Joan Carles , Miró Òscar , Formiga Francesc , Martín-Sánchez Francisco Javier , Montero-Pérez-Barquero Manuel , Jacob Javier , Quirós-López Raúl , Herrero Puente Pablo , Manzano Luís , Llorens Pere ,   members of the RICA and EAHFE registries, Anarte L , Aramburu O , Arévalo-Lorido J C , Bas F , Carrera M , Cerqueiro J M , Conde A , Dávila M F , Díez J , Epelde F , Formiga F , González A , Guisado M E , Herrero A , Manzano L , Martínez A , Montero M , Murado I , Oropesa R , Pérez J I , Quesada M A , Quirós R , Ruiz R , Salamanca P , Sánchez M , Satué J A , Serrado A , Suárez I , Trullàs J C , Fuentes M , Vallés J , Gil V , Escoda R , Pavón J , Álvarez A B , Noval A , Torres J M , López-Grima M L , Valero A , Aguirre A , Sancho H , Ruiz P , Giménez A , Franco J M , Pardo S , Mecina A B , Tost J , Fabregat J , Epelde F , Sánchez S , Piñera P , Garate R Torres , Alquezar A , Rizzi M A , Richard F , Lucas J , Cabello I
Published: January 2016

Background and aim

Registries are useful to address questions that are difficult to answer in clinical trials. The objective of this study was to describe and compare two heart failure (HF) cohorts from two Spanish HF registries.

Methods

We compared the RICA and EAHFE registries, both of which are prospective multicentre cohort studies including patients with decompensated HF consecutively admitted to internal medicine wards (RICA) or attending the emergency department (EAHFE). From the latter registry we only included patients who were admitted to internal medicine wards.

Results

A total of 5137 patients admitted to internal medicine wards were analysed (RICA: 3287 patients; EAHFE: 1850 patients). Both registries included elderly patients (RICA: mean (SD) age 79 (9) years; EAHFE: mean (SD) age 81 (9) years), with a slight predominance of female gender (52% and 58%, respectively, in the RICA and EAHFE registries) and with a high proportion of patients with preserved ejection fraction (58% and 62%, respectively). Some differences in comorbidities were noted, with diabetes mellitus, dyslipidaemia, chronic renal failure and atrial fibrillation being more frequent in the RICA registry while cognitive and functional impairment predominated in the EAHFE registry. The 30-day mortality after discharge was 3.4% in the RICA registry and 4.8% in the EAHFE registry (p<0.05) and the 30-day readmission rate was 7.5% in the RICA registry (readmission to hospital) and 24.0% in the EAHFE registry (readmission to emergency department) (p<0.001).

Conclusions

We found differences in the clinical characteristics of patients admitted to Spanish internal medicine wards for decompensated HF depending on inclusion in either the RICA or EAHFE registry.
Secondary migration of hydrocarbons in the Zhujiang Formation in the Huixi half-graben, Pearl River Mouth Basin, South China Sea
Authors: Peng Junwen , Pang Xiongqi , Xiao Shuang , Peng Huijie , Li Qianwen , Song Shuang , Wu Luya , Chen Di , Hu Tao
Published: January 2016

The process and mechanisms of secondary hydrocarbon migration in the Huixi half-graben, Pearl River Mouth Basin, were investigated on the basis of geological analysis of the strata and study of the porosity and permeability of the reservoir rocks, fluid potential, oil properties, and geochemistry of oil–source correlation. The results suggest that the hydrocarbons of the Zhujiang Formation in the Huixi half-graben were derived from source rocks of the Eocene Wenchang Formation and the Eocene–Oligocene Enping Formation in the Huizhou Sag. The hydrocarbons migrated laterally from northeast to southwest. The sandstone in the upper member of the Zhujiang Formation exhibited superior physical properties (porosity and permeability) and connectivity than the lower member. Thin sandstone beds with good physical properties and stable distribution in the upper member of the Zhujiang Formation were the main carrier beds for lateral hydrocarbon migration.
Predicting the occurrence of large-diameter trees using airborne laser scanning
Authors: Korhonen Lauri , Salas Christian , Østgård Torgrim , Lien Vegard , Gobakken Terje , Næsset Erik
Published: January 2016

Large-diameter trees are important for both ecological and economic reasons, but they have become increasingly rare. Thus, there is an interest in easily locating such trees, and for this purpose, the use of airborne laser scanning (ALS) seems suitable. Our objective was to assess the accuracy of area-based ALS estimation in predicting the number of large-diameter Scots pines (Pinus sylvestris L.). A sample of 856 trees with a diameter >35 cm were measured from 1109 sample plots located in eastern Norway. We fitted negative binomial and zero-inflated negative binomial models for predicting large-diameter tree counts. ALS-derived and external variables were used as predictors when fitting the models. The accuracy was assessed based on the weighted kappa coefficient and cross validation. Our best model was based on three ALS height distribution variables, one horizontal ALS variable, and plot elevation. Its overall accuracy was 65.8% and the weighted kappa was 0.55. Although there was a clear relationship between the response and the proposed predictor variables, fairly large errors in the predicted large-diameter tree counts were common.
Morphological and physicochemical traits of leaves of different life-forms of various broadleaf woody plants in interior Alaska
Authors: Kenzo Tanaka , Tanaka-Oda Ayumi , Mastuura Yojiro , Hinzman Larry D.
Published: January 2016

The morphological and physicochemical traits of leaves are important in terms of plant adaptation to various growth environments, because such traits play central roles in various functions including photosynthesis. We measured the toughness, mass per unit area (LMA), nitrogen content, and δ15N levels of the leaves of different life-forms of 39 broadleaf woody plants in interior Alaska. The plants were divided into three life-forms based on the maximum height of adult plants: understory (<1 m), small (≥1 m to <5 m), and canopy (≥5 m). Evergreen species accounted for a large proportion of understory woody plants (44%), whereas most small (87%) and canopy (100%) trees were deciduous. Higher LMA, increased toughness, and higher C-to-N ratios prolonged leaf life-span in evergreen species. We also evaluated the presence or absence of bundle-sheath extensions (BSEs), which contribute to the mechanical support of leaves and enhance photosynthetic ability by improving hydraulic properties. In total, 11 species (28%) had homobaric leaves (BSEs were absent) and 28 species (72%) had heterobaric leaves; these proportions are similar to those of woody plants of other temperate deciduous forests. The δ15N values reflected the presence of root symbionts such as ericoid mycorrhiza or Frankia sp. Our results suggest that leaf traits may affect both the life-form of the host plants and leaf longevity in both evergreen and deciduous species.
Equilibrium and kinetic studies on biosorption of Pb(II) by common edible macrofungi: a comparative study
Authors: Jiang Yuan , Hao Ruixia , Yang Shiqin
Published: January 2016

In this work, we studied the natural bioaccumulation and biosorption of Pb(II) in several common edible macrofungi. The macrofungi include the following species: Lentinus edodes, Pleurotus eryngii, Flammulina velutipes, Hypsizygus marmoreus, and Agrocybe cylindracea. The present analysis of Pb(II) revealed distinct capabilities of metal accumulation among individual species. Moreover, the natural concentrations of lead did not reach a health risk level when cultivated in uncontaminated soil. In the biosorption experiment by edible macrofungi, we found that the equilibrium data of living sporocarp (P. eryngii and H. marmoreus) and the homogenate of L. edodes and F. velutipes fit the Freundlich model well. Other data samples exhibited a better fit to the Langmuir model. The edible macrofungi showed a higher lead removal capacity than did other biosorbents. Furthermore, the pseudo-second-order kinetics model exhibited the best fit to the biosorption processes. The effectiveness of edible macrofungi as biosorbents for Pb(II) was confirmed.
Exact solution of the planar motion of three arbitrary point vortices
Authors: Conte Robert , de Seze Laurent
Published: January 2016

We give an exact quantitative solution for the motion of three vortices of any strength, which Poincaré showed to be integrable. The absolute motion of one vortex is generally biperiodic: in uniformly rotating axes, the motion is periodic. There are two kinds of relative equilibrium configuration: two equilateral triangles and one or three colinear configurations, their stability conditions split the strengths space into three domains in which the sets of trajectories are topologically distinct.

According to the values of the strengths and the initial positions, all the possible motions are classified. Two sets of strengths lead to generic motions other than biperiodic. First, when the angular momentum vanishes, besides the biperiodic regime there exists an expansion spiral motion and even a triple collision in a finite time, but the latter motion is nongeneric. Second, when two strengths are opposite, the system also exhibits the elastic diffusion of a vortex doublet by the third vortex.

For given values of the invariants, the volume of the phase space of this Hamiltonian system is proportional to the period of the reduced motion, a well known result of the theory of adiabatic invariants. We then formally examine the behaviour of the quantities that Onsager defined only for a large number of interacting vortices.
Rapid synthesis of white-light emissive ZnO nanorods using microwave assisted method
Authors: Karimipour M. , Mohammad-Sadeghipour A. , Molaei M. , Khanzadeh M.
Published: January 2016

In this paper, firstly we have synthesized ZnO nanowires using zinc acetate, ethanol and ammonium hydroxide by a thermo-chemical method and then ZnO nanorods (NRs) have been prepared by microwave irradiation (MI) of an initial solution containing ZnO nanowires. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis showed the rare zinc-blende phase which grows on the surface of NRs and its crystallite size increases with the increase of microwave power. The average length and width of rods were observed several hundreds of nanometer and 80[Formula: see text]nm, respectively, from scanning electron microscope (SEM) analysis. Ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) absorption spectroscopy indicates that a band tail forms due to MI, which has roughly 2[Formula: see text]eV energy gap. Photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy indicated a blue emission and a white emission for ZnO nanowires and NRs, respectively. MI quenches the UV emission from ZnO NRs and enhances the surface defects’ emission. The resultant visible PL of the samples increases with the increase of microwave power that shows the growth of zinc-blende phase which has crucial effect on the defect density of NRs.
Semiconductor spintronics: The full matrix approach
Authors: Rossani A.
Published: January 2016

A new model, based on an asymptotic procedure for solving the spinor kinetic equations of electrons and phonons is proposed, which gives naturally the displaced Fermi–Dirac distribution function at the leading order. The balance equations for the electron number, energy density and momentum, plus the Poisson’s equation, constitute now a system of six equations. Moreover, two equations for the evolution of the spin densities are added, which account for a general dispersion relation.
A SMALL-WORLD AND SCALE-FREE NETWORK GENERATED BY SIERPINSKI TETRAHEDRON
Authors: CHEN JIN , GAO FEI , LE ANBO , XI LIFENG , YIN SHUHUA
Published: January 2016

The Sierpinski tetrahedron is used to construct evolving networks, whose vertexes are all solid regular tetrahedra in the construction of the Sierpinski tetrahedron up to the stage [Formula: see text] and any two vertexes are neighbors if and only if the corresponding tetrahedra are in contact with each other on boundary. We show that such networks have the small-world and scale-free effects, but are not fractal scaling.
THE EVOLUTION OF STUDIES ON BUSINESS LOCATION FACTORS
Authors: VLACHOU CHARISIA , IAKOVIDOU OLGA
Published: January 2016

Entrepreneurship has been widely considered as the power that drives development and well-being in the regions it affects. As a result, local, regional and national institutions, as well as researches in different disciplines, have focused on finding and researching the factors leading to the installation of business on a certain location. Therefore, it seems well-timed to present a quantitative survey of the literature review of this field. The scope of this article is to present past and present research studies related to the business location factors (BLF) identifying the most important sub-topics, contributors and their geographical distribution, major outlets, main empirical methodologies employed, as well as the most frequently studied countries. The presentation and documentation of the existing literature review could be a valuable tool for policy makers in the regional and national level, as well as for active entrepreneurs and researchers engaged in relevant academic disciples. Policy makers could take advantage of the BLF to attract investments in regions seeking development while active entrepreneurs could realize the important role played by the factors affecting the location of their business in a specific place and researchers could trace and fill in potential research voids on this subject.
Determination of aquifer properties and vulnerability mapping by using geoelectrical investigation of parts of Sub-Himalayas, Bhimber, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan
Authors: Niaz A. , Khan M. R. , Mustafa S. , Hameed F.
Published: January 2016

A resistivity survey has been carried out for the determination of aquifer properties and vulnerability mapping of part of the Sub-Himalayas in the Bhimber District of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan. In the study area 19 vertical electrical sounding points were established using a Schlumberger configuration. The acquired data were processed using IPI2WIN software and interpreted in terms of true resistivity and thickness of layers. The underlying lithology is loose soil, sandy clay, clay and sand. Productive groundwater zones have been identified in the central, southeastern and northwestern parts of the study area. The aquifer thickness varies considerably (6.4–224 m). On the aquifer vulnerability map, values >0.2 mhos indicate zones of moderate to good protective capacity, whereas values <0.19 mhos indicate vulnerable zones with risk of contamination. However, the aquifer is permeable and the central part has a low protective capacity and is vulnerable to infiltration of polluted fluid. The 2D resistivity inverse model and conductivity mapping delineate the contaminated plumes in the areas of poor to weak protective capacity. Chemical analysis shows that the central part of the study area is highly contaminated with magnesium, nitrate and sulphate.
Simultaneous Multi-Layer Access
Authors: Lee Donghyuk , Ghose Saugata , Pekhimenko Gennady , Khan Samira , Mutlu Onur
Published: January 2016

3D-stacked DRAM alleviates the limited memory bandwidth bottleneck that exists in modern systems by leveraging
through silicon vias
(TSVs) to deliver higher external memory channel bandwidth. Today’s systems, however, cannot fully utilize the higher bandwidth offered by TSVs, due to the limited
internal
bandwidth within each layer of the 3D-stacked DRAM. We identify that the bottleneck to enabling higher bandwidth in 3D-stacked DRAM is now the
global bitline interface
, the connection between the DRAM row buffer and the peripheral IO circuits. The global bitline interface consists of a limited and expensive set of wires and structures, called
global bitlines
and
global sense amplifiers
, whose high cost makes it difficult to simply scale up the bandwidth of the interface
within
a single DRAM layer in the 3D stack. We alleviate this bandwidth bottleneck by exploiting the observation that several global bitline interfaces already exist
across
the multiple DRAM layers in current 3D-stacked designs, but only a fraction of them are enabled at the same time.

We propose a new 3D-stacked DRAM architecture, called
Simultaneous Multi-Layer Access
(SMLA), which increases the internal DRAM bandwidth by accessing multiple DRAM layers concurrently, thus making much greater use of the bandwidth that the TSVs offer. To avoid channel contention, the DRAM layers must coordinate with each other when simultaneously transferring data. We propose two approaches to coordination, both of which deliver four times the bandwidth for a four-layer DRAM, over a baseline that accesses only one layer at a time. Our first approach, Dedicated-IO,
statically partitions
the TSVs by assigning each layer to a dedicated set of TSVs that operate at a higher frequency. Unfortunately, Dedicated-IO requires a nonuniform design for each layer (increasing manufacturing costs), and its DRAM energy consumption scales linearly with the number of layers. Our second approach, Cascaded-IO, solves both issues by instead
time multiplexing
all of the TSVs across layers. Cascaded-IO reduces DRAM energy consumption by lowering the operating frequency of higher layers. Our evaluations show that SMLA provides significant performance improvement and energy reduction across a variety of workloads (55%/18% on average for multiprogrammed workloads, respectively) over a baseline 3D-stacked DRAM, with low overhead.
Resistive GP-SIMD Processing-In-Memory
Authors: Morad Amir , Yavits Leonid , Kvatinsky Shahar , Ginosar Ran
Published: January 2016

GP-SIMD, a novel hybrid general-purpose SIMD architecture, addresses the challenge of data synchronization by in-memory computing, through combining data storage and massive parallel processing. In this article, we explore a resistive implementation of the GP-SIMD architecture. In resistive GP-SIMD, a novel resistive row and column addressable 4F
2
crossbar is utilized, replacing the modified CMOS 190F
2
SRAM storage previously proposed for GP-SIMD architecture. The use of the resistive crossbar allows scaling the GP-SIMD from few millions to few hundred millions of processing units on a single silicon die. The performance, power consumption and power efficiency of a resistive GP-SIMD are compared with the CMOS version. We find that PiM architectures and, specifically, GP-SIMD benefit more than other many-core architectures from using resistive memory. A framework for in-place arithmetic operation on a single multivalued resistive cell is explored, demonstrating a potential to become a building block for next-generation PiM architectures.
Key dialectics in cloud services
Authors: Dainow Brandt
Published: January 2016

This paper will identify three central dialectics within cloud services. These constitute defining positions regarding the nature of cloud services in terms of privacy, ethical responsibility, technical architecture and economics. These constitute the main frameworks within which ethical discussions of cloud services occur.

The first dialectic concerns the question of whether it is it essential that personal privacy be reduced in order to deliver personalised cloud services. I shall evaluate the main arguments in favour of the view that it is. To contrast this, I shall review Langheinrich's
Principles of Privacy-Aware Ubiquitous Systems
[24]. This offers a design strategy which maintains functionality while embedding privacy protection into the architecture and operation of cloud services.

The second dialectic is concerned with the degree to which people who design or operate cloud services are ethically responsible for the consequences of the actions of those systems, sometimes known as the "responsibility gap." I shall briefly review two papers which argue that no one is ethically responsible for such software, then contrast them with two papers which make strong arguments for responsibility. I shall show how claims for no responsibility rest on very narrow definitions of responsibility combined with questionable conceptions of technology itself.

The current shape of cloud services is dominated by a tension between open and closed systems. I shall show how this is reflected in architecture, standards and organisational models. I will then examine alternatives to the current state of affairs, including recent developments in support of alternative business models at government level, such as the House of Lords call for the Internet to be treated as a public utility (The Select Committee on Digital Skills, 2015).