bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Tularemia‐induced erythema multiforme minor in an 11‐year‐old girl
Authors: Coates Sarah J. , Briggs Benjamin , Cordoro Kelly M.
Published: March 2018

Tularemia is a rare and potentially life‐threatening infection caused by the highly infectious gram‐negative coccobacillus Francisella tularensis. We present the case of an 11‐year old girl who presented with erythema multiforme minor in the setting of an indolent but progressive soft tissue infection and was found to have tularemia. We review the role of dermatologists in identifying the features of and complications associated with this rare zoonosis and discuss the potential effect of climate change on its incidence.
Safety and utility of surveillance biopsies in pediatric kidney transplant patients
Authors: Nazario Maritere , Nicoara Oana , Becton Lauren , Self Sally , Hill Jeanne , Mack Elizabeth , Evans Melissa , Twombley Katherine
Published: March 2018

There is currently no way to diagnose a rejection before a change in serum creatinine. This had led some to start doing SB, but little data exist on the utility and safety of SB in pediatric patients. There is also little known on practice patterns of pediatric nephrologists. A retrospective review of pediatric kidney transplant SB between January 2013 and January 2017 at a single center was performed. A survey went to the PedNeph email list. There were 47 SB; 15 at 6 months, 12 at 1 year, 13 at 2 years, and 7 at 3 years. There were 3 minor (1 gross hematuria and 2 hematomas) and no major complications. On 6‐month SB, 1 had SC 1A ACR (6.7%) with no BR ACR. On the 12‐month SB, there were 5 with SCBR ACR (41.7%) and 1 with SC AMR (8.3%). On the 2‐year SB, there were 4 that had SCBR ACR (30.8%), and 1 with SC AMR (7.7%). On the 3‐year SB, 1 had chronic transplant glomerulitis (14.3%). The survey showed that 34.3% of pediatric nephrologists perform SB. SB can be performed safely. By early identification of histological lesions, SB gives us an opportunity for individualized immunosuppressive regimens that may prevent chronic allograft dysfunction and improve long‐term graft outcome.
Characterization of transcriptional complexity during pre‐implantation development of the yak (Bos grunniens) using RNA‐Seq
Authors: Zi X‐D , Luo B , Xia W , Zheng Y‐C , Xiong X‐R , Li J , Zhong J‐C , Zhu J‐J , Zhang Z‐F
Published: March 2018

Contents

The objective of this study was to investigate the mechanism that regulates pre‐implantation development of the yak (Bos grunniens). We determined the transcriptomes of in vitro‐produced yak embryos at two‐cell, four‐cell, eight‐cell stages, and morula and blastocyst using the Illumina RNA‐seq for the first time. We obtained 47.36–50.86 million clean reads for each stage, of which, 85.65%–90.02% reads were covered in the reference genome. A total of 17,368 genes were expressed during the two‐cell stage to blastocyst of the yak, of which 7,236 genes were co‐expressed at all stages, whereas 10,132 genes were stage‐specific expression. Transcripts from 9,827 to 14,893 different genes were detected in various developmental stages. When |log2 ratio| ≥ 1 and q‐value <0.05 were set as thresholds for identifying differentially expressed genes (DEGs), we detected a total of 6,922–10,555 DEGs between any two consecutive stages. The GO distributions of these DEGs were classified into three categories: biological processes (23 terms), cellular components (22 terms) and molecular functions (22 terms). Pathway analysis revealed 310 pathways of the DEGs that were operative in early pre‐implantation yak development, of which 32 were the significantly enriched pathways. In conclusion, this is the first report to investigate the mechanism that regulates yak embryonic development using high‐throughput sequencing, which provides a comprehensive framework of transcriptome landscapes of yak pre‐implantation embryos.
Jealousy at work: The role of rivals’ characteristics
Authors: Zurriaga Rosario , González‐Navarro Pilar , Buunk Abraham Pieter , Dijkstra Pieternel
Published: March 2018

The present study examined rival characteristics that may evoke jealousy in the workplace, differences between men and women in this regard, and the relationship between jealousy responses and intrasexual competitiveness and social comparison orientation. Participants were 426 male and female employees. By means of a questionnaire, participants were presented with a jealousy‐evoking scenario after which jealousy responses to 24 rival characteristics were assessed. Findings showed that a rival's social communal attributes evoked highest levels of jealousy, and that, compared to men, women reported more jealousy in response to a rival's physical attractiveness. Overall, as individuals had higher scores on intrasexual competitiveness and social comparison orientation, they also experienced more jealousy in response to their rival, regardless of his or her characteristics. These findings suggest that those characteristics that are highly valued in employees may backfire when employees perceive co‐workers as rivals.
Efficient cell delivery mediated by lipid‐specific endosomal escape of supercharged branched peptides
Authors: Brock Dakota J. , Kustigian Lauren , Jiang Mengqiu , Graham Kristin , Wang Ting‐Yi , Erazo‐Oliveras Alfredo , Najjar Kristina , Zhang Junjie , Rye Hays , Pellois Jean‐Philippe
Published: March 2018

Various densely charged polycationic species, whether of biological or synthetic origin, can penetrate human cells, albeit with variable efficiencies. The molecular underpinnings involved in such transport remain unclear. Herein, we assemble 1, 2 or 3 copies of the HIV peptide TAT on a synthetic scaffold to generate branched cell‐permeable prototypes with increasing charge density. We establish that increasing TAT copies dramatically increases the cell penetration efficiency of the peptides while simultaneously enabling the efficient cytosolic delivery of macromolecular cargos. Cellular entry involves the leaky fusion of late endosomal membranes enriched with the anionic lipid BMP. Derivatives with multiple TAT branches induce the leakage of BMP‐containing lipid bilayers, liposomal flocculation, fusion and an increase in lamellarity. In contrast, while the monomeric counterpart 1TAT binds to the same extent and causes liposomal flocculation, 1TAT does not cause leakage, induce fusion or a significant increase in lamellarity. Overall, these results indicate that an increase in charge density of these branched structures leads to the emergence of lipid specific membrane‐disrupting and cell‐penetrating activities.
D‐immunized blood donors who are female and who possess at least one HLA‐DRB1*15 allele show a propensity for high serum RhIG production
Authors: Tan Joanne C.G. , Yuan Fang Fang , Daley Jackie , Marks Katherine , Flower Robert L. , Dyer Wayne B.
Published: March 2018

BACKGROUND

D– individuals with previous D‐incompatible pregnancies and/or blood transfusions, as well as those who are actively immunized with small‐volume D+ red blood cells (RBCs), are stimulated to produce RhIG. Many factors could influence the stimulation of immunoglobulin production in response to foreign antigen (such as antigen immunogenicity and genetic factors), and it is unknown whether genetic markers could potentially identify responder anti‐D donors.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS

Anti‐D donors were assigned a responder profile based on their serum RhIG levels (n = 431). A subset of donors (n = 272) had DNA extracted for polymerase chain reaction genotyping assays for target genes in antigen presentation and pathogen recognition receptors (TLR2, TLR4, CD14, FcγRIIA, and the MHC Class II locus HLA‐DRB1). Statistical tests for associations between anti‐D donor responder profiles and genetic factors were performed.

RESULTS

A large proportion of our donors (38.7%) were classified as nonresponder donors, despite receiving multiple D+ RBC immunizations, whereas female sex was significantly associated with an all‐responder profile (p < 0.001). The presence of the DRB1*15 allele and absence of the DRB1*04 allele were more likely to be associated with a responder anti‐D donor, although not significantly after Bonferroni correction. A combination of the DRB1*15 allele and female sex was significantly associated with an anti‐D donor responder profile.

CONCLUSION

This study has identified female sex and the HLA‐DRB1*15 allele as potentially useful markers that could be used to screen donors before entry into D immunization programs.
A pilot serosurvey of Babesia microti in Chinese blood donors
Authors: Bloch E. M. , Yang Y. , He M. , Tonnetti L. , Liu Y. , Wang J. , Guo Y. , Li H. , Leiby D. A. , Shan H. ,   ISBT TTID Working Party Parasite Subgroup
Published: March 2018

Background and Objectives

Babesia spp. are tick‐borne, intraerythrocytic protozoan parasites, several of which are transfusion‐transmissible. Transfusion‐transmitted babesiosis poses serious risk to a diverse patient population, including neonates, patients aged >50 years, the asplenic and the immunocompromised that are over‐represented among transfusion recipients. Despite reports of B. microti and B. venatorum in People's Republic of China (PRC), no surveillance of blood donors for Babesia has previously been undertaken. We sought to determine the rates of B. microti seroreactivity in a sample of blood donors in the PRC.

Materials and Methods

A pilot serosurvey was conducted of community blood donors (n = 1000) who donated July–August 2016 at Mudanjiang Blood Center (Heilongjiang Province) using indirect fluorescent antibody testing for antibodies against B. microti. The slides were prepared using B. microti‐infected hamster blood. Samples that were initially positive to a titre of 64 were subjected to repeat IFA testing. Final seroreactivity was based on repeat reactivity to ≥64.

Results

A total of 1000 individual donor samples were evaluated, comprising 888 whole blood and 112 platelet donations. Thirteen of 1000 (1·3%) donors were seroreactive for B. microti [8 (0·8%) and five (0·05%) at titres of 64 and 128, respectively].

Conclusion

Our preliminary findings support the need for expanded Babesia surveillance in Chinese blood donors, replete with molecular evaluation, to evaluate the risk to the blood supply.
Nonevaporable getter coating chambers for extreme high vacuum
Authors: Stutzman Marcy L. , Adderley Philip A. , Mamun Md Abdullah A. , Poelker Matt
Published: March 2018

Techniques for nonevaporable getter (NEG) coating a large diameter chamber are presented along with vacuum measurements in the chamber using several pumping configurations, with base pressure as low as 1.56 × 10−12 Torr (N2 equivalent) with only a NEG coating and a small ion pump. The authors then describe modifications to the NEG coating process to coat complex geometry chambers for ultracold atom trap experiments. Surface analysis of NEG coated samples is used to measure the composition and morphology of the thin films. Finally, pressure measurements are compared for two NEG coated polarized electron source chambers: the 130 kV polarized electron source at Jefferson Lab and the upgraded 350 kV polarized electron source, both of which are approaching or within the extreme high vacuum range, defined as P < 7.5 × 10−13 Torr.
Improving interaural time difference sensitivity using short interpulse intervals with vowel-like stimuli in bilateral cochlear implants
Authors: Srinivasan Sridhar , Laback Bernhard , Majdak Piotr
Published: March 2018

Interaural time differences (ITDs) in the signal are important for sound localization in the lateral dimension. However, even under laboratory stimulus control, ITD sensitivity of cochlear-implant (CI) listeners is poor at pulse rates commonly used for encoding speech. Recently, improvements in ITD sensitivity were shown for unmodulated high-rate pulse trains with extra pulses at short interpulse intervals (SIPIs). In this study, we extended this approach to more realistic stimuli, i.e., high-rate (1000 pulses-per-second) pulse trains with vowel-like temporal envelopes. Using fixed SIPI parameters derived from the preceding study, we independently varied the timing of the extra pulses across the fundamental frequency (F0) period, the modulation depth (0.1, 0.3, 0.5, 0.7, and 0.9), and the F0 frequency (125 and 250 Hz). Our results show largest improvements in ITD sensitivity for SIPIs at the rising and peak portions of the F0 period and for larger modulation depths. These findings may be useful for enhancing sound localization cues with bilateral CI strategies.
ACOUSTICAL NEWS
Authors: Moran Elaine
Published: March 2018

Editor's Note: Readers of this journal are encouraged to submit news items on awards, appointments, and other activities about themselves or their colleagues. Deadline dates for news and notices are 2 months prior to publication.
Does Local News Side With Local Organizations? A Case Study of Boosterism and Dependence on Local and National Sources
Authors: Kim Eunyoung , Lowrey Wilson
Published: March 2018

This case study examines how local news tends to represent a crisis of a local organization differently from national news. Based on reviewing literature on local news boosterism, this study suggests a couple of reasons for differences between local and national news coverage: local source organizations’ boosting the city’s economy and symbolic values and variability in dependence on organizational sources by local news. When a local organization faces a crisis, local news media tend to cover issues more supportively than do national news media. Content analyses of local and national news about the crisis for the Baltimore Ravens professional football team related to player Ray Rice’s domestic violence case in 2014 show positive relationships between dependence on organizational sources and more supportive coverage on local news than that of national news. Local and national news both employed the frames of economic consequences and symbolic boosterism, but in different ways. Theoretical and practical implications are presented in the discussion.
The Cortisol Awakening Response: Association With Training Load in Endurance Runners
Authors: Anderson Travis , Lane Amy R. , Hackney Anthony C.
Published: March 2018

The cortisol awakening response (CAR) is commonly used as a marker of psychological stress; however, it is unknown whether CAR is affected by regular physical-exercise-induced stress. Purpose: To assess the relationship between training load and CAR. Methods: Recreational endurance athletes were recruited from local running clubs. Subjects (n = 15) completed training logs for 2 wk, with various training loads, including psychometric analysis (Recovery-Stress Questionnaire for Athletes). Subjects provided saliva samples each day immediately after waking and 30 min postwaking. Samples were analyzed for cortisol concentration via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and subsequently were analyzed for CAR and CAR%. Daily training load was calculated and analyzed as training impulse. Simple linear regression was used to assess the relationship between CAR and training impulse. Results: CAR (r2 = .352, P = .025) and CAR% (r2 = .373, P = .012) both showed a significant negative relationship with training load. Conclusions: These results suggest that CAR is affected by regular exercise training loads in recreational athletes. It is recommended that future CAR research control for fitness level and exercise training load in physically active populations.
Bioimpedance Vector Analysis of Elite, Subelite, and Low-Level Male Volleyball Players
Authors: Campa Francesco , Toselli Stefania
Published: March 2018

Purpose: To establish a specific player profile on body-composition parameters and to provide a data set of bioelectric impedances values for male volleyball players. Methods: The study included 201 athletes (age 26.1 [5.4] y, height 191.9 [9.7] cm, weight 86.8 [10.8] kg) registered in the Italian volleyball divisions. The athletes were divided into 3 groups: The elite group comprised 75 players participating in the 1st (Super Lega) division, the subelite group included 65 athletes performing in the 2nd (Serie A2) division, and the low-level group included 61 players participating in the 3rd (Serie B) division. Bioelectric impedance, body weight, and height of the athletes were measured in the second half of the competitive season. In addition, bioelectrical impedance vector analysis was performed. Results: The elite group showed a greater amount of fat-free mass (FFM) and total body water (TBW) and a lower fat mass (FM) than the subelite group (P < .05). In addition, the elite players were taller and heavier and had a higher FFM, FM, TBW, and body cellular mass than the low-level athletes (P < .05). Finally, the mean impedance vectors of the elite group significantly differed from those measured in the normal population and in the other 2 groups (P < .05). Conclusions: This study provides an original data set of body-composition and bioelectric impedance reference values of elite male volleyball players. The results might be useful for interpretation of individual bioimpedance vectors and for defining target regions for volleyball players.
Planned Load Reduction Versus Fixed Load: A Strategy to Reduce the Perception of Effort With Similar Improvements in Hypertrophy and Strength
Authors: Lima Bruce M. , Amancio Rafael S. , Gonçalves Diacre S. , Koch Alexander J. , Curty Victor M. , Machado Marco
Published: March 2018

Purpose: To compare muscle thickness and 10-repetition maximum (10RM) between no load reduction and load reductions during 16 wk of resistance training. Methods: A total of 21 moderately trained men (age 23.2 [4.2] y, body mass 75.1 [7.6] kg, height 175 [4] cm) were randomized into 1 of 3 exercise groups: control (CON, n = 7), all sets with 10RM load; 5% load reduction (RED 5, n = 7); and 10% load reduction (RED 10, n = 7) for set 2 and set 3. The resistance training program consisted of completing 3 sets each of biceps and Scott curls, performed to volitional fatigue 3 d·wk−1. Results: Volume load lifted over the 16 wk was similar among groups (CON, 38,495 [4397] kg; RED 5, 37,388 [3684] kg; RED 10, 42,634 [6733] kg; P = .094). Muscle thickness increased in all groups (P < .001), with no differences noted among groups (P = .976). Biceps-curl and Scott-curl 10RM increased in all groups (P < .001), with no differences noted among groups (Scott curl P = .238; biceps curl P = .401). Rating of perceived exertion (RPE) was significantly lower for RED 10 (6.8 [0.1]) than for CON (7.0 [0.1]; P < .001) or RED 5 (7.1 [0.1]; P = .001) for the Scott curl. RPE was significantly lower (P = .001) for the biceps curl in RED 10 (6.8 [0.3]) than in CON (7.3 [0.9]), with neither group different from RED 5 (7.0 [0.1]). Conclusions: Load reduction did not yield a difference in hypertrophy or 10RM as compared with CON. However, RED 10 induced a significantly lower RPE. Thus, load reduction may be a beneficial strategy to reduce the perception of effort during training while achieving similar improvements in hypertrophy and strength.
Accelerometer and GPS Analysis of Trail Use and Associations With Physical Activity
Authors: Tamura Kosuke , Wilson Jeffrey S. , Puett Robin C. , Klenosky David B. , Harper William A. , Troped Philip J.
Published: March 2018

Background: Concurrent use of accelerometers and global positioning system (GPS) data can be used to quantify physical activity (PA) occurring on trails. This study examined associations of trail use with PA and sedentary behavior (SB) and quantified on trail PA using a combination of accelerometer and GPS data. Methods: Adults (N = 142) wore accelerometer and GPS units for 1–4 days. Trail use was defined as a minimum of 2 consecutive minutes occurring on a trail, based on GPS data. We examined associations between trail use and PA and SB. On trail minutes of light-intensity, moderate-intensity, and vigorous-intensity PA, and SB were quantified in 2 ways, using accelerometer counts only and with a combination of GPS speed and accelerometer data. Results: Trail use was positively associated with total PA, moderate-intensity PA, and light-intensity PA (P < .05). On trail vigorous-intensity PA minutes were 346% higher when classified with the combination versus accelerometer only. Light-intensity PA, moderate-intensity PA, and SB minutes were 15%, 91%, and 85% lower with the combination, respectively. Conclusions: Adult trail users accumulated more PA on trail use days than on nontrail use days, indicating the importance of these facilities for supporting regular PA. The combination of GPS and accelerometer data for quantifying on trail activity may be more accurate than accelerometer data alone and is useful for classifying intensity of activities such as bicycling.
Teacher-Level Factors, Classroom Physical Activity Opportunities, and Children’s Physical Activity Levels
Authors: Abi Nader Patrick , Hilberg Evan , Schuna John M. , John Deborah H. , Gunter Katherine B.
Published: March 2018

Background: Classroom-based physical activity (CBPA) breaks are a cost-effective strategy to promote physical activity (PA) at school. Despite teachers’ critical roles in sustained implementation of CBPA breaks, few studies examined the association of teacher-level factors with student PA levels, and none focused on rural schools. Methods: We monitored children’s PA levels over 4 consecutive school days at 6 rural Oregon elementary schools with Walk4Life pedometers. During the same week, teachers recorded all student PA opportunities (recess, PE, and CBPA breaks) and answered a 26-item questionnaire about factors influencing their use of CBPA breaks. Mixed-effects models were used to associate teacher-level factors and PA opportunities with children’s moderate to vigorous PA (MVPA; in minutes per day), controlling for child-level covariates. Results: When teachers valued PA, students accumulated more MVPA (1.07 min/d; P < .01) than students of teachers reporting low PA value. Students did more MVPA (1 min/d; P < .001) when teachers agreed the school operating conditions posed barriers to providing PA than when teachers disagreed that barriers existed. PE classes contributed significantly to student’s PA levels. Conclusion: Provision of PE, increasing teacher value for PA, and further investigation of how teacher-level factors relate to students’ MVPA levels during CBPA breaks at rural elementary schools are warranted.
Serine-Rich Repeat Adhesins Mediate Shear-Enhanced Streptococcal Binding to Platelets
Authors: Yakovenko Olga , Nunez Jamie , Bensing Barbara , Yu Hai , Mount Jonathan , Zeng Jie , Hawkins Jasmine , Chen Xi , Sullam Paul M. , Thomas Wendy
Published: March 2018

The binding of bacteria to platelets is thought to be a central event in the pathogenesis of infective endocarditis. The serine-rich repeat (SRR) glycoproteins of viridans group streptococci have been shown to mediate platelet binding
in vitro
and to contribute to virulence in animal models. However, it is not known whether SRR adhesins can mediate streptococcal binding under the high fluidic shear stress conditions present on the endocardial surface. We found that three streptococcal SRR adhesins (GspB, Hsa, and SrpA) with differing structures and sialoglycan binding specificities nevertheless exhibited similar biomechanical properties. All three adhesins mediated shear-enhanced streptococcal binding to immobilized platelets through the platelet receptor GPIbα. Shear-enhanced adhesion was manifested in three ways. First, the number of circulating streptococci binding via SRR adhesins to immobilized platelet receptors peaked at 1 dyn/cm
2
. Second, bound streptococci switched from weak rolling to strong stationary adhesion as shear stress increased to 10 dyn/cm
2
. Third, while a few streptococci detached each time the flow was increased, the majority of streptococci bound to platelets remained firmly attached through 20 to 80 dyn/cm
2
(shear levels typical of arteries and the endocardium). Thus, all three adhesins mediated shear-enhanced streptococcal binding to platelets under the flow conditions found in heart valves. The ability of the SRR adhesins to mediate shear-enhanced binding strongly suggests that they form catch bonds that are activated by tensile force and provides a mechanism for the selective targeting of bacteria to platelet receptors immobilized on the endocardial surface.
Interleukin-15-Stimulated Natural Killer Cells Clear HIV-1-Infected Cells following Latency Reversal
Ex Vivo
Authors: Garrido Carolina , Abad-Fernandez Maria , Tuyishime Marina , Pollara Justin J. , Ferrari Guido , Soriano-Sarabia Natalia , Margolis David M.
Published: March 2018

Current efforts toward human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) eradication include approaches to augment immune recognition and elimination of persistently infected cells following latency reversal. Natural killer (NK) cells, the main effectors of the innate immune system, recognize and clear targets using different mechanisms than CD8
+
T cells, offering an alternative or complementary approach for HIV clearance strategies. We assessed the impact of interleukin 15 (IL-15) treatment on NK cell function and the potential for stimulated NK cells to clear the HIV reservoir. We measured NK cell receptor expression, antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC), cytotoxicity, interferon gamma (IFN-γ) production, and antiviral activity in autologous HIV replication systems. All NK cell functions were uniformly improved by IL-15, and, more importantly, IL-15-treated NK cells were able to clear latently HIV-infected cells after exposure to vorinostat, a clinically relevant latency-reversing agent. We also demonstrate that NK cells from HIV-infected individuals aviremic on antiretroviral therapy can be efficiently stimulated with IL-15. Our work opens a promising line of investigation leading to future immunotherapies to clear persistent HIV infection using NK cells.

IMPORTANCE
In the search for an HIV cure, strategies to enhance immune function to allow recognition and clearance of HIV-infected cells following latency reversal are being evaluated. Natural killer (NK) cells possess characteristics that can be exploited for immunotherapy against persistent HIV infection. We demonstrate that NK cells from HIV-positive donors can be strongly stimulated with IL-15, improving their antiviral and cytotoxic potential and, more importantly, clearing HIV-infected cells after latency reversal with a clinically relevant drug. Our results encourage further investigation to design NK cell-based immunotherapies to achieve HIV eradication.
Varicella-Zoster Virus ORF63 Protects Human Neuronal and Keratinocyte Cell Lines from Apoptosis and Changes Its Localization upon Apoptosis Induction
Authors: Gerada Chelsea , Steain Megan , McSharry Brian P. , Slobedman Barry , Abendroth Allison
Published: March 2018

There are many facets of varicella-zoster virus (VZV) pathogenesis that are not fully understood, such as the mechanisms involved in the establishment of lifelong latency, reactivation, and development of serious conditions like postherpetic neuralgia (PHN). Virus-encoded modulation of apoptosis has been suggested to play an important role in these processes. VZV open reading frame 63 (ORF63) has been shown to modulate apoptosis in a cell-type-specific manner, but the impact of ORF63 on cell death pathways has not been examined in isolation in the context of human cells. We sought to elucidate the effect of VZV ORF63 on apoptosis induction in human neuron and keratinocyte cell lines. VZV ORF63 was shown to protect differentiated SH-SY5Y neuronal cells against staurosporine-induced apoptosis. In addition, VZV infection did not induce high levels of apoptosis in the HaCaT human keratinocyte line, highlighting a delay in apoptosis induction. VZV ORF63 was shown to protect HaCaT cells against both staurosporine- and Fas ligand-induced apoptosis. Confocal microscopy was utilized to examine VZV ORF63 localization during apoptosis induction. In VZV infection and ORF63 expression alone, VZV ORF63 became more cytoplasmic, with aggregate formation during apoptosis induction. Taken together, this suggests that VZV ORF63 protects both differentiated SH-SY5Y cells and HaCaT cells from apoptosis induction and may mediate this effect through its localization change during apoptosis. VZV ORF63 is a prominent VZV gene product in both productive and latent infection and thus may play a critical role in VZV pathogenesis by aiding neuron and keratinocyte survival.

IMPORTANCE
VZV, a human-specific alphaherpesvirus, causes chicken pox during primary infection and establishes lifelong latency in the dorsal root ganglia (DRG). Reactivation of VZV causes shingles, which is often followed by a prolonged pain syndrome called postherpetic neuralgia. It has been suggested that the ability of the virus to modulate cell death pathways is linked to its ability to establish latency and reactivate. The significance of our research lies in investigating the ability of ORF63, a VZV gene product, to inhibit apoptosis in novel cell types crucial for VZV pathogenesis. This will allow an increased understanding of critical enigmatic components of VZV pathogenesis.
Zika Virus Infection Preferentially Counterbalances Human Peripheral Monocyte and/or NK Cell Activity
Authors: Lum Fok-Moon , Lee David , Chua Tze-Kwang , Tan Jeslin J. L. , Lee Cheryl Y. P. , Liu Xuan , Fang Yongxiang , Lee Bernett , Yee Wearn-Xin , Rickett Natasha Y. , Chia Po-Ying , Lim Vanessa , Leo Yee-Sin , Matthews David A. , Hiscox Julian A. , Ng Lisa F. P.
Published: March 2018

ZIKV reemerged in recent years, causing outbreaks in many parts of the world. Alarmingly, ZIKV infection has been associated with neurological complications such as Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) in adults and congenital fetal growth-associated anomalies in newborns. Host peripheral immune cells are one of the first to interact with the virus upon successful transmission from an infected femaleAedesmosquito. However, little is known about the role of these immune cells during infection. In this work, the immune responses of monocytes, known target cells of ZIKV infection, were investigated by high-density transcriptomics. The analysis saw a robust immune response being elicited. Importantly, it also divulged that monocytes prime NK cell activities during virus infection. Removal of monocytes during the infection changed the immune milieu, which in turn reduced NK cell stimulation. This study provides valuable insights into the pathobiology of the virus and allows for the possibility of designing novel targeted therapeutics.
Early-onset neonatal infections in Australia and New Zealand, 2002–2012
Authors: Singh Tarun , Barnes Elizabeth H , Isaacs David
Published: March 2018

Background

The epidemiology of early-onset neonatal sepsis (EONS) varies over time, and requires regular surveillance.

Objective

To analyse data on EONS in Australia and New Zealand.

Methods

Retrospective analysis of data collected longitudinally from multiple neonatal units from 2002 to 2012.

Results

Of 386 423 live births, 454 infants had EONS. The incidence rate of EONS was 1.20 per 1000 live births in 2002 and 0.83 in 2012, decreasing by 4% per year (95% CI 1% to 7%, p=0.007). Group B streptococcus (GBS) (37%) and Escherichia coli (25%) were the most prevalent organisms. The early-onset GBS (EOGBS) incidence rate was 0.43/1000 live births, with no evidence of change over time (p=0.3). Of EOGBS-infected babies, 62% were born at term compared with 8% with early-onset E. coli sepsis, p<0.0001. The mortality of E. coli early-onset sepsis (EOS) (25%) was higher than GBS (11%), but this difference in mortality was no longer significant after adjusting for gestation and birth weight. Mortality from EOS fell significantly over the study period (17% per year, 95% CI 10 to 24, p<0.0001).

Conclusions

GBS was the most common cause of early sepsis, but the incidence was lower than prior to the introduction of intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis, and remained steady over time. The mortality of early-onset E. coli sepsis was significantly higher than GBS sepsis, but this may have been because almost all babies with E. coli were born preterm, rather than a difference in virulence.
Neighbourhood alcohol environment and injury risk: a spatial analysis of pedestrian injury in Baltimore City
Authors: Nesoff Elizabeth D , Milam Adam J , Pollack Keshia M , Curriero Frank C , Bowie Janice V , Knowlton Amy R , Gielen Andrea C , Furr-Holden Debra M
Published: March 2018

Objectives

The purpose of this study was to investigate the contribution of neighbourhood disorder around alcohol outlets to pedestrian injury risk.

Methods

A spatial analysis was conducted on census block groups in Baltimore City. Data included pedestrian injury EMS records from 1 January 2014 to 15 April 2015 (n=858), off-premise alcohol outlet locations for 2014 (n=693) and neighbourhood disorder indicators and demographics. Negative binomial regression models were used to determine the relationship between alcohol outlet count and pedestrian injuries at the block group level, controlling for other neighbourhood factors. Attributable risk was calculated by comparing the total population count per census block group to the injured pedestrian count.

Results

Each one-unit increase in the number of alcohol outlets was associated with a 14.2% (95% CI 1.099 to 1.192, P<0.001) increase in the RR of neighbourhood pedestrian injury, adjusting for traffic volume, pedestrian volume, population density, per cent of vacant lots and median household income. The attributable risk was 10.4% (95% CI 7.7 to 12.7) or 88 extra injuries. Vacant lots was the only significant neighbourhood disorder indicator in the final adjusted model (RR=1.016, 95% CI 1.007 to 1.026, P=0.003). Vacant lots have not been previously investigated as possible risk factors for pedestrian injury.

Conclusions

This study identifies modifiable risk factors for pedestrian injury previously unexplored in the literature and may provide evidence for alcohol control strategies (eg, liquor store licencing, zoning and enforcement).
Case-control investigation of occupational exposure to chlorinated solvents and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
Authors: Callahan Catherine L , Stewart Patricia A , Friesen Melissa C , Locke Sarah , De Roos Anneclaire J , Cerhan James R , Severson Richard K , Rothman Nathaniel , Purdue Mark P
Published: March 2018

Objectives

Although many studies have investigated the association between trichloroethylene (TCE) exposure and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL), less is known about other chlorinated solvents. We extended our previous analysis of occupational TCE exposure in a multicentre population-based case-control study of NHL to investigate associations with five additional chlorinated solvents: 1,1,1,-trichloroethane, carbon tetrachloride, chloroform, methylene chloride and perchloroethylene.

Methods

Cases (n=1189) and controls (n=982) provided detailed information on their occupational histories and workplace exposure to chlorinated solvents for selected occupations using job-specific interview modules. An industrial hygienist used this information and a review of the literature to assess occupational exposure to chlorinated solvents. We computed ORs and 95% CIs for different exposure metrics, with the unexposed group as the referent. We also computed ORs by NHL subtype.

Results

High cumulative hours exposed to carbon tetrachloride was associated with NHL (>520 hours: OR 1.9; 95% CI 1.0 to 3.6; Ptrend=0.04). This association remained after restricting to jobs with high-intensity exposure (OR 2.0; 95% CI 1.1 to 3.8; P=0.03) and ≥90% exposure probability (OR 2.1; 95% CI 1.0 to 4.3; P=0.03), adjusting for TCE (OR 2.1; 95% CI 1.0– to 4.1; P=0.04) and incorporating a 15-year lag (OR 1.9; 95% CI 1.0 to 3.6; P=0.06). The other evaluated chlorinated solvents were not associated with NHL.

Conclusions

This is the first study using high-quality quantitative exposure assessment methods to identify a statistically significant elevated association between occupational exposure to carbon tetrachloride and NHL. Our findings, although limited by a small number of exposed cases, offer evidence that carbon tetrachloride may be a lymphomagen.
Identifying Multiple Entity Columns in Web Tables
Authors: Wang Ning , Ren Xiangran
Published: March 2018

Unlike tables in relational database, web tables have no designated key attributes or entity columns, so it is difficult for computers to understand a table and associate with it a concept in the knowledge taxonomy. Existing techniques for entity column detection can only process tables with single entity column, discarding tables which describe multiple concepts. In this paper, we propose a framework for identifying multiple entity columns in a web table. At first, we annotate column labels for a web table with missing or noninformative labels based on external knowledge base Probase. By detecting concept-attribute relationships between table columns and calculating the credibility of attribute dependency, we construct a column dependency view for the table. Then, the column semantic intensity is calculated for each column in a web table, which depends on its connectivity in column dependency view and the dependency credibility of attribute dependency relationships related to it. We can identify all entity columns from the web table by iteratively selecting primary entity column with the highest column semantic intensity and accordingly separate columns describing the primary concept from present column dependency view. The results of a comprehensive set of experiments indicate that our entity detection method is more effective than existing methods for either single or multiple concept tables.
Seizing the “Trump Opportunity” and Engaging the World: Chinese Foreign Policies in 2017
Authors: GORE Lance L P
Published: March 2018

In 2017 China took advantage of the Trump administration’s “America-first” foreign policy to reinforce the three general trends of Chinese foreign policy under Xi Jinping. US-China relations had a slow, hesitant start but turned out unexpectedly well. However, China botched on the Korean Peninsula and had yet to put its relationship with India on a constructive path. The 19th Party Congress’s blueprint for Chinese development requires a bigger role for China on the world stage.
Strong Domestic Consumption Key to Hong Kong’s Robust Economic Growth in 2017
Authors: ZHANG Yang , TONG Sarah Y
Published: March 2018

Hong Kong’s resilient economic outcome in 2017 was sustained mainly by strong domestic demand, especially private consumption, supported by buoyant property and stock markets. Economic tie with the Mainland further strengthened and financial markets of the two more integrated. To ensure future development, Hong Kong has to further reinvigorate its economy and to capitalise on the opportunities brought about by policy initiatives including the Greater Bay Area development and the Belt and Road Initiatives.
Detection of Human, Legitimate Bot, and Malicious Bot in Online Social Networks Based on Wavelets
Authors: Jr Sylvio Barbon , Campos Gabriel F. C. , Tavares Gabriel M. , Igawa Rodrigo A. , Jr Mario L. Proença , Guido Rodrigo Capobianco
Published: March 2018

Social interactions take place in environments that influence people’s behaviours and perceptions. Nowadays, the users of Online Social Network (OSN) generate a massive amount of content based on social interactions. However, OSNs wide popularity and ease of access created a perfect scenario to practice malicious activities, compromising their reliability. To detect automatic information broadcast in OSN, we developed a wavelet-based model that classifies users as being human, legitimate robot, or malicious robot, as a result of spectral patterns obtained from users’ textual content. We create the feature vector from the Discrete Wavelet Transform along with a weighting scheme called Lexicon-based Coefficient Attenuation. In particular, we induce a classification model using the Random Forest algorithm over two real Twitter datasets. The corresponding results show the developed model achieved an average accuracy of 94.47% considering two different scenarios: single theme and miscellaneous one.
Fostering inclusion, keeping the net neutral
Authors: Tims Jodi , Reed Daniel A.
Published: March 2018

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ACM-W chair Jodi Tims offers ways everyone can promote inclusiveness, while Daniel A. Reed assesses the debate over Net neutrality.
Always out of balance
Authors: Savage Neil
Published: March 2018

Computational theorists prove there is no easy algorithm to find Nash equilibria, so game theory will have to look in new directions.
Popping kernels
Authors: Neville-Neil George V.
Published: March 2018

Choosing between programming in the kernel or in user space.
Mobile Device Type Substitution
Authors: Finley Benjamin , Soikkeli Tapio
Published: March 2018

Mobile users today interact with a variety of mobile device types including smartphones, tablets, smartwatches, and others. However research on mobile device type substitution has been limited in several respects including a lack of detailed and robust analyses. Therefore, in this work we study mobile device type substitution through analysis of multidevice usage data from a large US-based user panel. Specifically, we use regression analysis over paired user groups to test five device type substitution hypotheses. We find that both tablets and PCs are partial substitutes for smartphones with tablet and PC ownership decreasing smartphone usage by about 12.5 and 13 hours/month respectively. Additionally, we find that tablets and PCs also prompt about 20 and 57 hours/month respectively of additional (non-substituted) usage. We also illustrate significant inter-user diversity in substituted and additional usage. Overall, our results can help in understanding the relative positioning of different mobile device types and in parameterizing higher level mobile ecosystem models.
Joint Modeling of Heterogeneous Sensing Data for Depression Assessment via Multi-task Learning
Authors: Lu Jin , Shang Chao , Yue Chaoqun , Morillo Reynaldo , Ware Shweta , Kamath Jayesh , Bamis Athanasios , Russell Alexander , Wang Bing , Bi Jinbo
Published: March 2018

Depression is a common mood disorder that causes severe medical problems and interferes negatively with daily life. Identifying human behavior patterns that are predictive or indicative of depressive disorder is important. Clinical diagnosis of depression relies on costly clinician assessment using survey instruments which may not objectively reflect the fluctuation of daily behavior. Self-administered surveys, such as the Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology (QIDS) commonly used to monitor depression, may show disparities from clinical decision. Smartphones provide easy access to many behavioral parameters, and Fitbit wrist bands are becoming another important tool to assess variables such as heart rates and sleep efficiency that are complementary to smartphone sensors. However, data used to identify depression indicators have been limited to a single platform either iPhone, or Android, or Fitbit alone due to the variation in their methods of data collection. The present work represents a large-scale effort to collect and integrate data from mobile phones, wearable devices, and self reports in depression analysis by designing a new machine learning approach. This approach constructs sparse mappings from sensing variables collected by various tools to two separate targets: self-reported QIDS scores and clinical assessment of depression severity. We propose a so-called heterogeneous multi-task feature learning method that jointly builds inference models for related tasks but of different types including classification and regression tasks. The proposed method was evaluated using data collected from 103 college students and could predict the QIDS score with an R2 reaching 0.44 and depression severity with an F1-score as high as 0.77. By imposing appropriate regularizers, our approach identified strong depression indicators such as time staying at home and total time asleep.
SignFi
Authors: Ma Yongsen , Zhou Gang , Wang Shuangquan , Zhao Hongyang , Jung Woosub
Published: March 2018

We propose SignFi to recognize sign language gestures using WiFi. SignFi uses Channel State Information (CSI) measured by WiFi packets as the input and a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) as the classification algorithm. Existing WiFi-based sign gesture recognition technologies are tested on no more than 25 gestures that only involve hand and/or finger gestures. SignFi is able to recognize 276 sign gestures, which involve the head, arm, hand, and finger gestures, with high accuracy. SignFi collects CSI measurements to capture wireless signal characteristics of sign gestures. Raw CSI measurements are pre-processed to remove noises and recover CSI changes over sub-carriers and sampling time. Pre-processed CSI measurements are fed to a 9-layer CNN for sign gesture classification. We collect CSI traces and evaluate SignFi in the lab and home environments. There are 8,280 gesture instances, 5,520 from the lab and 2,760 from the home, for 276 sign gestures in total. For 5-fold cross validation using CSI traces of one user, the average recognition accuracy of SignFi is 98.01%, 98.91%, and 94.81% for the lab, home, and lab+home environment, respectively. We also run tests using CSI traces from 5 different users in the lab environment. The average recognition accuracy of SignFi is 86.66% for 7,500 instances of 150 sign gestures performed by 5 different users.
Visualizing Location Uncertainty on Mobile Devices
Authors: Ranasinghe Champika , Krukar Jakub , Kray Christian
Published: March 2018

Location uncertainty is often ignored but a key context parameter for location-based services. The standard way of visualizing location uncertainty on mobile devices is using a concentric circle. However, the impact of different visual variables (shape, size, boundary, middle dot, color) of this standard visualization on users is not well understood. There is a potential for misinterpretation, particularly across cultures. We ran a study that was previously conducted in Germany (N=32) in Sri Lanka (N=20) to investigate how users perceive different visualizations of location uncertainty on mobile devices. In particular, we investigated the impact of the four graphic dimensions, shape, boundary, middle dot and size. We identified consistencies and inconsistencies concerning perceptions of users regarding visualizations of location uncertainty across cultures. We also quantified the impact of different visualizations on the perception of users. Based on the consistencies between different visualizations and between the two cultures, we derived guidelines for visualizing location uncertainty that help developers in aligning location uncertainty with the perceptions of users. We also highlight the need for further research on cultural differences (and similarities) regarding how visualizations of location uncertainty impact the perceptions of users.