bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The potato amylase inhibitor gene SbAI regulates cold‐induced sweetening in potato tubers by modulating amylase activity
Authors: Zhang Huiling , Liu Jun , Hou Juan , Yao Ying , Lin Yuan , Ou Yongbin , Song Botao , Xie Conghua
Published: July 2014

Potato cold‐induced sweetening (CIS) is critical for the postharvest quality of potato tubers. Starch degradation is considered to be one of the key pathways in the CIS process. However, the functions of the genes that encode enzymes related to starch degradation in CIS and the activity regulation of these enzymes have received less attention. A potato amylase inhibitor gene known as SbAI was cloned from the wild potato species Solanum berthaultii. This genetic transformation confirmed that in contrast to the SbAI suppression in CIS‐resistant potatoes, overexpressing SbAI in CIS‐sensitive potatoes resulted in less amylase activity and a lower rate of starch degradation accompanied by a lower reducing sugar (RS) content in cold‐stored tubers. This finding suggested that the SbAI gene may play crucial roles in potato CIS by modulating the amylase activity. Further investigations indicated that pairwise protein–protein interactions occurred between SbAI and α‐amylase StAmy23, β‐amylases StBAM1 and StBAM9. SbAI could inhibit the activities of both α‐amylase and β‐amylase in potato tubers primarily by repressing StAmy23 and StBAM1, respectively. These findings provide the first evidence that SbAI is a key regulator of the amylases that confer starch degradation and RS accumulation in cold‐stored potato tubers.
Oxygen requirement and surfactant therapy in preterm infants after delivery
Authors: Toriyama Mihiro , Ishiguro Akio , Motojima Yukiko , Yamana Keiji , Sobajima Hisanori , Tamura Masanori
Published: July 2014

Background

Several reports have shown the beneficial effects of early or prophylactic surfactant therapy for preterm infants, who often develop respiratory distress syndrome. No report, however, has addressed which infants should receive surfactant therapy in the delivery room. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the validity of identifying infants who need surfactant therapy based on fraction of inspiratory oxygen (FiO2) requirement in the delivery room.

Methods

In this observational, retrospective study, FiO2 given in the delivery room, use of surfactant therapy, stable microbubble test (SMT) results, and changes in FiO2 both before and after surfactant therapy were reviewed in infants born at <33 weeks' gestation.

Results

Overall, 170 infants were included. Forty infants were given oxygen with FiO2 ≥0.6, and all received surfactant therapy. Of these 40 infants, FiO2 could be reduced in 36 (90%) by an average of 0.46 after surfactant therapy. SMT was done in 22 of 40 infants, and surfactant insufficiency was suspected in 20 (91%). In contrast, 81 of 102 infants (79%) with FiO2 <0.4 did not need surfactant therapy within 48 h after birth.

Conclusions

Preterm infants who need FiO2 ≥0.6 in the delivery room appear to be at high risk of surfactant insufficiency and would benefit from surfactant. Surfactant therapy would provide a more effective resuscitation method for preterm infants, and thus a larger prospective study is needed to confirm these results.
Is nectar reabsorption restricted by the stalk cells of floral and extrafloral nectary trichomes?
Authors: Cardoso‐Gustavson P. , Davis A. R.
Published: July 2014

Reabsorption is a phase of nectar dynamics that occurs concurrently with secretion; it has been described in floral nectaries that exude nectar through stomata or unicellular trichomes, but has not yet been recorded in extrafloral glands. Apparently, nectar reabsorption does not occur in multicellular secretory trichomes (MST) due to the presence of lipophilic impregnations – which resemble Casparian strips – in the anticlinal walls of the stalk cells. It has been assumed that these impregnations restrict solute movement within MST to occur unidirectionally and exclusively by the symplast, thereby preventing nectar reflux toward the underlying nectary tissues. We hypothesised that reabsorption is absent in nectaries possessing MST. The fluorochrome lucifer yellow (LYCH) was applied to standing nectar of two floral and extrafloral glands of distantly related species, and then emission spectra from nectary sections were systematically analysed using confocal microscopy. Passive uptake of LYCH via the stalk cells to the nectary tissues occurred in all MST examined. Moreover, we present evidence of nectar reabsorption in extrafloral nectaries, demonstrating that LYCH passed the stalk cells of MST, although it did not reach the deepest nectary tissues. Identical (control) experiments performed with neutral red (NR) demonstrated no uptake of this stain by actively secreting MST, whereas diffusion of NR did occur in plasmolysed MST of floral nectaries at the post‐secretory phase, indicating that nectar reabsorption by MST is governed by stalk cell physiology. Interestingly, non‐secretory trichomes failed to reabsorb nectar. The role of various nectary components is discussed in relation to the control of nectar reabsorption by secretory trichomes.
Plant stress biomarkers from biosimulations: the Transcriptome‐To‐Metabolome™ (TTM™) technology – effects of drought stress on rice
Authors: Phelix C. F. , Feltus F. A.
Published: July 2014

Measuring biomarkers from plant tissue samples is challenging and expensive when the desire is to integrate transcriptomics, fluxomics, metabolomics, lipidomics, proteomics, physiomics and phenomics. We present a computational biology method where only the transcriptome needs to be measured and is used to derive a set of parameters for deterministic kinetic models of metabolic pathways. The technology is called Transcriptome‐To‐Metabolome™ (TTM™) biosimulations, currently under commercial development, but available for non‐commercial use by researchers. The simulated results on metabolites of 30 primary and secondary metabolic pathways in rice (Oryza sativa) were used as the biomarkers to predict whether the transcriptome was from a plant that had been under drought conditions. The rice transcriptomes were accessed from public archives and each individual plant was simulated. This unique quality of the TTM™ technology allows standard analyses on biomarker assessments, i.e. sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, accuracy, receiver operator characteristics (ROC) curve and area under the ROC curve (AUC). Two validation methods were also used, the holdout and 10‐fold cross validations. Initially 17 metabolites were identified as candidate biomarkers based on either statistical significance on binary phenotype when compared with control samples or recognition from the literature. The top three biomarkers based on AUC were gibberellic acid 12 (0.89), trehalose (0.80) and sn1‐palmitate‐sn2‐oleic‐phosphatidylglycerol (0.70). Neither heat map analyses of transcriptomes nor all 300 metabolites clustered the stressed and control groups effectively. The TTM™ technology allows the emergent properties of the integrated system to generate unique and useful ‘Omics’ information.
Startle modulation during emotional anticipation and perception
Authors: Sege Christopher T. , Bradley Margaret M. , Lang Peter J.
Published: July 2014

The startle reflex is potentiated when anticipating emotional, compared to neutral, pictures. This study investigated the time course of reflex modulation during anticipation and the impact of informative cuing on picture perception. Colors were used to signal the thematic content of emotional and neutral scenes; blink response modulation was measured by presenting acoustic startle probes 3, 2, or 1 s before picture onset or 2 s after picture onset. During anticipation of neutral scenes, blink magnitude showed increasing attenuation as picture onset approached, consistent with a modality‐directed vigilance account. Conversely, when anticipating emotional scenes, reflex magnitude did not change over time, and blinks elicited closest to picture onset were potentiated compared to neutral. During perception, the expected reflex potentiation for unpleasant pictures was not found, suggesting that cuing may dampen defensive activation.
Laughter as a social rejection cue: Gelotophobia and transient cardiac responses to other persons' laughter and insult
Authors: Papousek Ilona , Aydin Nilüfer , Lackner Helmut K. , Weiss Elisabeth M. , Bühner Markus , Schulter Günter , Charlesworth Canice , Freudenthaler H. Harald
Published: July 2014

Other persons' laughter, normally perceived as a signal that persons are friendly and inviting others to approach, can also be perceived as a cue of social rejection. In this study, prerecorded laughter was placed in a realistic and personally relevant context, and participants' responses were related to gelotophobia, a trait predisposing to perceiving laughter as a cue of social rejection. Individuals with gelotophobia showed marked heart rate deceleration in response to the laughter stimulus, possibly indicating a “freezing‐like” response. Moreover, cardiac responses to anger provocation by overtly insulting statements indicated heightened aggressive anger in response to cumulated social threat. The study adds to recent research showing specific cardiac responses to social rejection and to the literature on social rejection sensitivity by demonstrating the value of using well interpretable physiological measures in this research context.
Differential classical conditioning selectively heightens response gain of neural population activity in human visual cortex
Authors: Song Inkyung , Keil Andreas
Published: July 2014

Neutral cues, after being reliably paired with noxious events, prompt defensive engagement and amplified sensory responses. To examine the neurophysiology underlying these adaptive changes, we quantified the contrast‐response function of visual cortical population activity during differential aversive conditioning. Steady‐state visual evoked potentials (ssVEPs) were recorded while participants discriminated the orientation of rapidly flickering grating stimuli. During each trial, luminance contrast of the gratings was slowly increased and then decreased. Right‐tilted gratings (CS+) were paired with loud white noise but left‐tilted gratings (CS−) were not. The contrast‐following waveform envelope of ssVEPs showed selective amplification of the CS+ only during the high‐contrast stage of the viewing epoch. Findings support the notion that motivational relevance, learned in a time frame of minutes, affects vision through a response gain mechanism.
The hard oddball: Effects of difficult response selection on stimulus‐related P3 and on response‐related negative potentials
Authors: Verleger Rolf , Baur Nikolas , Metzner Marvin F. , Śmigasiewicz Kamila
Published: July 2014

The P3b component of ERPs has been proposed to reflect decisions or, alternatively, activation of stimulus‐response links or, alternatively, to depend on stimulus processing only. These three views make different predictions about how difficulty of response selection will affect the oddball effect. In three experiments, frequent and rare targets were accompanied by ancillary stimuli. Large oddball‐P3bs, evoked by rare targets, were greatly reduced when responses had to be selected by combining information from targets and ancillary stimuli. Difficult response selection with rare targets was also reflected by a large frontocentral negativity, which could be separated from P3b when intervals were varied between targets and ancillary stimuli, and, therefore, did not cause P3b reduction. It is concluded that the usual increase of P3b with rare task‐relevant targets depends on the existence of readily available stimulus‐response links.
Managerial practices driving knowledge creation, learning and transfer in translational research: an exploratory case study
Authors: Cremades Enrique , Balbastre‐Benavent Francisco , Sanandrés Domínguez Elena
Published: July 2014

Despite its growing popularity in the biomedical literature, the particular phenomenon of translational research management has not been addressed from an organizational and strategic perspective yet. Our study aims to fill this gap by identifying a set of managerial practices that could influence how knowledge is created, amplified and transferred from biomedical research both to clinical practice and the productive sector. As a result of the theoretical review, we have proposed a preliminary model to guide our empirical work. We have developed an exploratory case study to gather organisational information from an outstanding translational research center. The results obtained from the analysis have allowed us to build an induced model of managerial practices that both affect the creation, integration and transfer of knowledge in the translational research organization studied, as well as derives a set of research propositions. Finally, we present the main academic and managerial implications of the work, together with its limitations and related future research lines.
Risk Assessment of Escherichia coli O157 Illness from Consumption of Hamburgers in the United States Made from Australian Manufacturing Beef
Authors: Kiermeier Andreas , Jenson Ian , Sumner John
Published: July 2014

We analyze the risk of contracting illness due to the consumption in the United States of hamburgers contaminated with enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) of serogroup O157 produced from manufacturing beef imported from Australia. We have used a novel approach for estimating risk by using the prevalence and concentration estimates of E. coli O157 in lots of beef that were withdrawn from the export chain following detection of the pathogen. For the purpose of the present assessment an assumption was that no product is removed from the supply chain following testing. This, together with a number of additional conservative assumptions, leads to an overestimation of E. coli O157‐associated illness attributable to the consumption of ground beef patties manufactured only from Australian beef. We predict 49.6 illnesses (95%: 0.0–148.6) from the 2.46 billion hamburgers made from 155,000 t of Australian manufacturing beef exported to the United States in 2012. All these illness were due to undercooking in the home and less than one illness is predicted from consumption of hamburgers cooked to a temperature of 68 °C in quick‐service restaurants.
Price‐Setting Behaviour in Lesotho: Stylised Facts from Consumer Retail Prices
Authors: Nchake Mamello Amelia , Edwards Lawrence , Rankin Neil
Published: July 2014

This paper documents some of the main features of price‐setting behaviour by retail outlets in Lesotho over the period March 2002 to December 2009. These features include the frequency, size, duration and synchronisation of price changes. In addition, the paper compares price‐setting behaviour in Lesotho and South Africa using a comparable set of products. The findings reveal considerable heterogeneity in price‐setting behaviour across products, outlets, locations and time. Variations in inflation are strongly correlated with the average size of price changes, but rising inflation raises the frequency of price increases and reduces the frequency of price decreases. Price decreases constitute an important determinant of inflation movements. Surprisingly, the frequency and size of price changes in Lesotho differ substantially from those in South Africa, despite the presence of common retail chains and their joint membership in a customs union and common monetary area. These findings open up opportunities for further research into the sources of heterogeneity across products and Lesotho and South Africa in the setting of prices.
Leadership for Evidence‐Based Practice: Strategic and Functional Behaviors for Institutionalizing EBP
Authors: Stetler Cheryl B. , Ritchie Judith A. , Rycroft‐Malone Jo , Charns Martin P.
Published: July 2014

Background

Making evidence‐based practice (EBP) a reality throughout an organization is a challenging goal in healthcare services. Leadership has been recognized as a critical element in that process. However, little is known about the exact role and function of various levels of leadership in the successful institutionalization of EBP within an organization.

Aims

To uncover what leaders at different levels and in different roles actually do, and what actions they take to develop, enhance, and sustain EBP as the norm.

Methods

Qualitative data from a case study regarding institutionalization of EBP in two contrasting cases (Role Model and Beginner hospitals) were systematically analyzed. Data were obtained from multiple interviews of leaders, both formal and informal, and from staff nurse focus groups. A deductive coding schema, based on concepts of functional leadership, was developed for this in‐depth analysis.

Results

Participants’ descriptions reflected a hierarchical array of strategic, functional, and cross‐cutting behaviors. Within these macrolevel “themes,” 10 behavioral midlevel themes were identified; for example, Intervening and Role modeling. Each theme is distinctive, yet various themes and their subthemes were interrelated and synergistic. These behaviors and their interrelationships were conceptualized in the framework “Leadership Behaviors Supportive of EBP Institutionalization” (L‐EBP). Leaders at multiple levels in the Role Model case, both formal and informal, engaged in most of these behaviors.

Linking Evidence to Action

Supportive leadership behaviors required for organizational institutionalization of EBP reflect a complex set of interactive, multifaceted EBP‐focused actions carried out by leaders from the chief nursing officer to staff nurses. A related framework such as L‐EBP may provide concrete guidance needed to underpin the often‐noted but abstract finding that leaders should “support” EBP.
A historical perspective on peripheral reflex cardiovascular control from animals to man
Authors: Sleight Peter
Published: July 2014

New Findings

What is the topic of this review?

This review concerns the history of baroreflex control of blood pressure in animals and man. It deals mainly with mechanisms at a subcortical level and so complements the earlier review by Coote (2007).

What advances does it highlight?

New studies now confirm that the arterial baroreflex does control long‐term level of blood pressure through mechanisms which involve electrolyte and water excretion via nervous control of the kidney. The review also describes recent data on human blood pressure control using implanted devices to unilaterally stimulate the carotid baroreceptors, effective over several years with minimal complications. Music therapy is also discussed.

Although drug treatment of human hypertension has greatly improved, there is renewed interest in non‐drug methods of blood pressure reduction. Animal experiments have now shown that arterial baroreflexes do control long‐term blood pressure levels, particularly by nervously mediated renal excretion of sodium and water. This Paton Lecture provides a review of the historical development of knowledge of peripheral circulatory control in order to supplement prior Paton Lectures concerned with cerebral cortical and other areas of influence. I also discuss how improved understanding of nervous control of the circulation has led to current methods of non‐drug blood pressure control in man by implanted carotid baroreceptor pacemakers or by renal denervation. Finally, the role of other therapy, particularly listening to music, is reviewed.
An Efficient Legendre Spectral Tau Matrix Formulation for Solving Fractional Subdiffusion and Reaction Subdiffusion Equations
Authors: Doha E. H. , Bhrawy A. H. , Ezz-Eldien S. S.
Published: July 2014

In this work, we discuss an operational matrix approach for introducing an approximate solution of the fractional subdiffusion equation (FSDE) with both Dirichlet boundary conditions (DBCs) and Neumann boundary conditions (NBCs). We propose a spectral method in both temporal and spatial discretizations for this equation. Our approach is based on the space-time shifted Legendre tau-spectral method combined with the operational matrix of fractional integrals, described in the Riemann–Liouville sense. The main characteristic behind this approach is to reduce such problems to those of solving systems of algebraic equations in the unknown expansion coefficients of the sought-for spectral approximations. In addition, this approach is also investigated for solving the FSDE with the variable coefficients and the fractional reaction subdiffusion equation (FRSDE). For conforming the validity and accuracy of the numerical scheme proposed, four numerical examples with their approximate solutions are presented. Also, comparisons between our numerical results and those obtained by compact finite difference method (CFDM), Box-type scheme (B-TS), and FDM with Fourier analysis (FA) are introduced.
Spectrotemporal modulation sensitivity for hearing-impaired listeners: Dependence on carrier center frequency and the relationship to speech intelligibility
Authors: Mehraei Golbarg , Gallun Frederick J. , Leek Marjorie R. , Bernstein Joshua G. W.
Published: July 2014

Poor speech understanding in noise by hearing-impaired (HI) listeners is only partly explained by elevated audiometric thresholds. Suprathreshold-processing impairments such as reduced temporal or spectral resolution or temporal fine-structure (TFS) processing ability might also contribute. Although speech contains dynamic combinations of temporal and spectral modulation and TFS content, these capabilities are often treated separately. Modulation-depth detection thresholds for spectrotemporal modulation (STM) applied to octave-band noise were measured for normal-hearing and HI listeners as a function of temporal modulation rate (4–32 Hz), spectral ripple density [0.5–4 cycles/octave (c/o)] and carrier center frequency (500–4000 Hz). STM sensitivity was worse than normal for HI listeners only for a low-frequency carrier (1000 Hz) at low temporal modulation rates (4–12 Hz) and a spectral ripple density of 2 c/o, and for a high-frequency carrier (4000 Hz) at a high spectral ripple density (4 c/o). STM sensitivity for the 4-Hz, 4-c/o condition for a 4000-Hz carrier and for the 4-Hz, 2-c/o condition for a 1000-Hz carrier were correlated with speech-recognition performance in noise after partialling out the audiogram-based speech-intelligibility index. Poor speech-reception and STM-detection performance for HI listeners may be related to a combination of reduced frequency selectivity and a TFS-processing deficit limiting the ability to track spectral-peak movements.
Reflection and transmission of guided ultrasonic plate waves by vertical stiffeners
Authors: Reusser Ricky S. , Holland Stephen D. , Chimenti D. E. , Roberts Ron A.
Published: July 2014

Ultrasonic guided waves are very useful for structural health monitoring. They have the potential to interrogate and detect damage in a structure over a large area with few transducers. Guided plate modes (Lamb waves) are used and proposed for damage detection at a distance in semi-monococque structures such as airplane fuselages and spacecraft structures. The interaction of guided plate waves with stiffening members such as ribs, stringers, or the integral stiffeners used in spacecraft structures limits the distance over which structural health monitoring non-destructive evaluation systems can detect damage. This paper develops a simple explanatory model for the scattering of low-order ultrasonic Lamb waves crossing a stiffening device. The model illuminates the underlying mechanics of waves crossing a stiffener. The model shows that stop-bands for transmission of S0 (longitudinal pressure) waves across a stiffener line up with flexural resonances of the stiffener. It also demonstrates why transmission of A0 (flexural) waves is more complicated and harder to predict. The model is shown to agree well with both boundary element method calculations and experimental measurements.
Faulty drug trials tarnish Japan's clinical research
Authors: Normile Dennis
Published: July 2014

Spate of scandals from postmarketing drug studies may compel reforms of clinical research practices.
A Unified Nomenclature and Amino Acid Numbering for Human PTEN
Authors: Pulido Rafael , Baker Suzanne J. , Barata Joao T. , Carracedo Arkaitz , Cid Victor J. , Chin-Sang Ian D. , Davé Vrushank , den Hertog Jeroen , Devreotes Peter , Eickholt Britta J. , Eng Charis , Furnari Frank B. , Georgescu Maria-Magdalena , Gericke Arne , Hopkins Benjamin , Jiang Xeujun , Lee Seung-Rock , Lösche Mathias , Malaney Prerna , Matias-Guiu Xavier , Molina María , Pandolfi Pier Paolo , Parsons Ramon , Pinton Paolo , Rivas Carmen , Rocha Rafael M. , Rodríguez Manuel S. , Ross Alonzo H. , Serrano Manuel , Stambolic Vuk , Stiles Bangyan , Suzuki Akira , Tan Seong-Seng , Tonks Nicholas K. , Trotman Lloyd C. , Wolff Nicolas , Woscholski Rudiger , Wu Hong , Leslie Nicholas R.
Published: July 2014

With the discovery of an isoform based on an alternative translation start site, PTEN nomenclature needs an update.
TREM2 mutations implicated in neurodegeneration impair cell surface transport and phagocytosis
Authors: Kleinberger Gernot , Yamanishi Yoshinori , Suárez-Calvet Marc , Czirr Eva , Lohmann Ebba , Cuyvers Elise , Struyfs Hanne , Pettkus Nadine , Wenninger-Weinzierl Andrea , Mazaheri Fargol , Tahirovic Sabina , Lleó Alberto , Alcolea Daniel , Fortea Juan , Willem Michael , Lammich Sven , Molinuevo José L. , Sánchez-Valle Raquel , Antonell Anna , Ramirez Alfredo , Heneka Michael T. , Sleegers Kristel , van der Zee Julie , Martin Jean-Jacques , Engelborghs Sebastiaan , Demirtas-Tatlidede Asli , Zetterberg Henrik , Van Broeckhoven Christine , Gurvit Hakan , Wyss-Coray Tony , Hardy John , Colonna Marco , Haass Christian
Published: July 2014

Loss of TREM2 function impairs phagocytosis and correlates with decreased soluble TREM2 in biological fluids of patients with neurodegenerative disorders.
Safety of Attenuated Smallpox Vaccine LC16m8 in Immunodeficient Mice
Authors: Yokote Hiroyuki , Shinmura Yasuhiko , Kanehara Tomomi , Maruno Shinichi , Kuranaga Masahiko , Matsui Hajime , Hashizume So
Published: July 2014

Freeze-dried live attenuated smallpox vaccine LC16m8 prepared in cell culture has been the sole smallpox vaccine licensed in Japan since 1975 and was recently recommended as a WHO stockpile vaccine. We evaluated the safety of recently remanufactured lots of LC16m8 using a series of immunodeficient mouse models. These models included suckling mice, severe combined immunodeficiency disease (SCID) mice, and wild-type mice treated with cyclosporine. LC16m8 showed extremely low virulence in each of the three mouse models compared with that of its parental strains, Lister and LC16mO. These results provide further evidence that LC16m8 is one of the safest replication-competent smallpox vaccines in the world and may be considered for use in immunodeficient patients.
Evaluation of Protective Efficacy of Live Attenuated Salmonella enterica Serovar Gallinarum Vaccine Strains against Fowl Typhoid in Chickens
Authors: Łaniewski Paweł , Mitra Arindam , Karaca Kemal , Khan Ayub , Prasad Rajeev , Curtiss Roy , Roland Kenneth L.
Published: July 2014

Salmonella entericaserovar Gallinarum is the etiological agent of fowl typhoid, which constitutes a considerable economic problem for poultry growers in developing countries. The vaccination of chickens seems to be the most effective strategy to control the disease in those areas. We constructedS. Gallinarum strains with a deletion of the global regulatory genefurand evaluated their virulence and protective efficacy in Rhode Island Red chicks and Brown Leghorn layers. Thefurdeletion mutant was avirulent and, when delivered orally to chicks, elicited excellent protection against lethalS. Gallinarum challenge. It was not as effective when given orally to older birds, although it was highly immunogenic when delivered by intramuscular injection. We also examined the effect of apmimutant and a combination offurdeletions with mutations in thepmiandrfaHgenes, which affect O-antigen synthesis, andansB, whose product inhibits host T-cell responses. TheS. Gallinarum Δpmimutant was only partially attenuated, and the ΔansBmutant was fully virulent. The ΔfurΔpmiand ΔfurΔansBdouble mutants were attenuated but not protective when delivered orally to the chicks. However, a ΔpmiΔfurstrain was highly immunogenic when administered intramuscularly. All together, our results show that thefurgene is essential for the virulence ofS. Gallinarum, and thefurmutant is effective as a live recombinant vaccine against fowl typhoid.
HIV Integrase Inhibitors Block Replication of Alpha-, Beta-, and Gammaherpesviruses
Authors: Yan Zhipeng , Bryant Kevin F. , Gregory Sean M. , Angelova Magdalena , Dreyfus David H. , Zhao Xue Zhi , Coen Donald M. , Burke Terrence R. , Knipe David M.
Published: July 2014

The catalytic site of the HIV integrase is contained within an RNase H-like fold, and numerous drugs have been developed that bind to this site and inhibit its activity. Herpes simplex virus (HSV) encodes two proteins with potential RNase H-like folds, the infected cell protein 8 (ICP8) DNA-binding protein, which is necessary for viral DNA replication and exhibits recombinase activity
in vitro
, and the viral terminase, which is essential for viral DNA cleavage and packaging. Therefore, we hypothesized that HIV integrase inhibitors might also inhibit HSV replication by targeting ICP8 and/or the terminase. To test this, we evaluated the effect of 118-D-24, a potent HIV integrase inhibitor, on HSV replication. We found that 118-D-24 inhibited HSV-1 replication in cell culture at submillimolar concentrations. To identify more potent inhibitors of HSV replication, we screened a panel of integrase inhibitors, and one compound with greater anti-HSV-1 activity, XZ45, was chosen for further analysis. XZ45 significantly inhibited HSV-1 and HSV-2 replication in different cell types, with 50% inhibitory concentrations that were approximately 1 µM, but exhibited low cytotoxicity, with a 50% cytotoxic concentration greater than 500 µM. XZ45 blocked HSV viral DNA replication and late gene expression. XZ45 also inhibited viral recombination in infected cells and ICP8 recombinase activity
in vitro
. Furthermore, XZ45 inhibited human cytomegalovirus replication and induction of Kaposi’s sarcoma herpesvirus from latent infection. Our results argue that inhibitors of enzymes with RNase H-like folds may represent a general antiviral strategy, which is useful not only against HIV but also against herpesviruses.

IMPORTANCE
The herpesviruses cause considerable morbidity and mortality. Nucleoside analogs have served as effective antiviral agents against the herpesviruses, but resistance can arise through viral mutation. Second-line anti-herpes drugs have limitations in terms of pharmacokinetic properties and/or toxicity, so there is a great need for additional drugs for treatment of herpesviral infections. This study showed that the HIV integrase inhibitors also block herpesviral infection, raising the important potential of a new class of anti-herpes drugs and the prospect of drugs that combat both HIV and the herpesviruses.
IQGAP1 Is Important for Activation of Caspase-1 in Macrophages and Is Targeted by Yersinia pestis Type III Effector YopM
Authors: Chung Lawton K. , Philip Naomi H. , Schmidt Valentina A. , Koller Antonius , Strowig Till , Flavell Richard A. , Brodsky Igor E. , Bliska James B.
Published: July 2014

YopM is a leucine-rich repeat (LRR)-containing effector in several
Yersinia
species, including
Yersinia pestis
and
Y. pseudotuberculosis
. Different
Yersinia
strains encode distinct YopM isoforms with variable numbers of LRRs but conserved C-terminal tails. A 15-LRR isoform in
Y. pseudotuberculosis
YPIII was recently shown to bind and inhibit caspase-1 via a YLTD motif in LRR 10, and attenuation of YopM
−
YPIII was reversed in mice lacking caspase-1, indicating that caspase-1 inhibition is a major virulence function of YopM
YPIII
. To determine if other YopM proteins inhibit caspase-1, we utilized
Y. pseudotuberculosis
strains natively expressing a 21-LRR isoform lacking the YLTD motif (YopM
32777
) or ectopically expressing a
Y. pestis
15-LRR version with a functional (YopM
KIM
) or inactivated (YopM
KIM
D
271
A) YLTD motif. Results of mouse and macrophage infections with these strains showed that YopM
32777
, YopM
KIM
, and YopM
KIM
D
271
A inhibit caspase-1 activation, indicating that the YLTD motif is dispensable for this activity. Analysis of YopM
KIM
deletion variants revealed that LRRs 6 to 15 and the C-terminal tail are required to inhibit caspase-1 activation. YopM
32777
, YopM
KIM
, and YopM
KIM
deletion variants were purified, and binding partners in macrophage lysates were identified. Caspase-1 bound to YopM
KIM
but not YopM
32777
. Additionally, YopM
KIM
bound IQGAP1 and the use of
Iqgap1

−/−

macrophages revealed that this scaffolding protein is important for caspase-1 activation upon infection with YopM
−
Y. pseudotuberculosis
. Thus, while multiple YopM isoforms inhibit caspase-1 activation, their variable LRR domains bind different host proteins to perform this function and the LRRs of YopM
KIM
target IQGAP1, a novel regulator of caspase-1, in macrophages.

IMPORTANCE
Activation of caspase-1, mediated by macromolecular complexes termed inflammasomes, is important for innate immune defense against pathogens. Pathogens can, in turn, subvert caspase-1-dependent responses through the action of effector proteins. For example, the
Yersinia
effector YopM inhibits caspase-1 activation by arresting inflammasome formation. This caspase-1 inhibitory activity has been studied in a specific YopM isoform, and in this case, the protein was shown to act as a pseudosubstrate to bind and inhibit caspase-1. Different
Yersinia
strains encode distinct YopM isoforms, many of which lack the pseudosubstrate motif. We studied additional isoforms and found that these YopM proteins inhibit caspase-1 activation independently of a pseudosubstrate motif. We also identified IQGAP1 as a novel binding partner of the
Yersinia pestis
YopM
KIM
isoform and demonstrated that IQGAP1 is important for caspase-1 activation in macrophages infected with
Yersinia
. Thus, this study reveals new insights into inflammasome regulation during
Yersinia
infection.
Efficacy of vaccination against lumpy skin disease in Jordanian cattle
Authors: Abutarbush S. M.
Published: July 2014

The objective of this study was to assess the value and efficacy of vaccination against a natural outbreak of lumpy skin disease (LSD). Epidemiological data were collected from 101 vaccinated and unvaccinated farms in Jordan. In the unvaccinated holdings, the overall morbidity rate was 42.6 per cent, mortality rate 10.2 per cent and case fatality rate 23.9 per cent. Decreased feed intake, decreased milk production and fever were seen in 100 per cent, 76.9 per cent and 92.3 per cent of the cattle farms, respectively. The percentage reduction in milk production ranged from 0 to 100 per cent (mean=38.5 per cent, SE±9.6 per cent). The total loss/animal in the farm ranged from £27 to £2210 (mean=486, SE±162). In the vaccinated holdings, the overall morbidity rate was 4.7 per cent, mortality rate 1 per cent and case fatality rate 22.9 per cent. Decreased feed intake, decreased milk production and fever were seen in 23.8 per cent, 21.4 per cent and 23.8 per cent of the cattle farms, respectively. Percentage of decrease in milk production ranged from 0 to 100 per cent (mean=6 per cent, SE±1.8 per cent). The total loss/animal in the farm ranged from 0 to £2210 (mean=78, SE±29). Vaccination against LSD remains a viable method of control. Although it does not provide complete protection against the disease, it appears to reduce morbidity and mortality rates, production loss and treatment cost.
Stomatal conductance patterns of Equisetum giganteum stems in response to environmental factors in South America
Authors: Husby Chad E. , Delatorre-Herrera José , Oberbauer Steven F. , Grau Alfredo , Novara Lázaro
Published: July 2014

As the most basal monilophytes, eusporangiate ferns can provide key insights into the origins of plant physiological adaptations. The genus Equisetum, the most morphologically and physiologically unusual genus of eusporangiate ferns, has a stomatal apparatus that is unique among all plants. Patterns of stomatal diffusive conductance (gw) were measured in the giant horsetail, Equisetum giganteum L. in southern South America. Maximum gw values (<200 mmol·m−2·s−1) were low in comparison with typical angiosperm leaves, but were in the range measured in other pteridophytes. The range of measured gw was similar in contrasting environments of the Atacama Desert and northwestern Argentina. Stems in shade had a significantly lower gw than those in light. Developing stems had a higher average gw than mature stems. Stomatal conductance was higher for upper stem internodes than for middle internodes. Late-morning gw was primarily related to stem diameter, stem surface temperature, and interactions among these factors and vapor pressure deficit (VPD), light, elevation, and groundwater salinity. Equisetum giganteum likely has a passive system of stomatal regulation depending on overall stem turgor and red light. The stomatal conductance of patterns of this species exhibited a diurnal pattern typical of other pteridophytes, despite its unusual structure.
A theoretical study of 3,5-diazido-1,2,4-triazole: the role of the hydrogen bonding interaction in stabilizing the molecular system
Authors: Yang Junqing , Gong Xuedong , Wang Guixiang
Published: July 2014

3,5-Diazido-1, 2, 4-triazole (DATZ) is a compound that has a good thermal stability and can be used to produce high energetic ionic salts. The conformations of DATZ were searched by the molecular dynamics simulations and optimized by the molecular mechanics and dispersion-corrected density functional theory methods. The dimer and trimer of DATZ were constructed from the most stable monomer. The hydrogen bonding interactions, which were found to be critically important in increasing the stability of the dimer and trimer, were investigated with the help of the natural bond orbital and the quantum theory of atoms in molecules analyses. The changes in thermodynamic functions, stabilization interaction energies, and hydrogen-bonding energies show that the trimer is most likely the existing form of DATZ. The intramolecular, intermolecular, and water catalytic proton transfer processes were simulated to investigate the proton transfer mechanism. The intermolecular transfer process requires the lowest activation energy (42.56 kJ mol−1) and is the most likely process of proton transfer. DATZ is not only a proton acceptor but also a proton donor. Its weak acidity was quantified as pKa = 10.16. The solvation energy estimated using the conductor-like polarizable continuum model in water is the largest (−99.96 kJ mol−1), revealing that DATZ is more stable in water than in another seven solvents.
Bing doubling and the colored Jones polynomial
Authors: Suzuki S.
Published: July 2014

Bing doubling is a satellite operation on links which replaces a knot component with a 2-component link in a certain way. In this paper we give a formula for the reduced colored Jones polynomial of a Bing double in terms of that of the companion. Using this formula we derive a divisibility property of the unified Witten–Reshetikhin–Turaev invariant of integral homology spheres obtained by ±1-surgery along Bing doubles of knots. This result is applied to the Witten–Reshetikhin–Turaev invariant and the Ohtsuki series of these integral homology spheres.
Frame-like Lagrangians and presymplectic AKSZ-type sigma models
Authors: Alkalaev Konstantin , Grigoriev Maxim
Published: July 2014

We study supergeometric structures underlying frame-like Lagrangians. We show that for the theory in n space–time dimensions both the frame-like Lagrangian and its gauge symmetries are encoded in the target supermanifold equipped with the odd vector field, the closed two-form of ghost degree n-1, and the scalar potential of ghost degree n. These structures satisfy a set of compatibility conditions ensuring the gauge invariance of the theory. The Lagrangian and the gauge symmetries have the same structures as those of AKSZ sigma model so that frame-like formulation can be seen as its presymplectic generalization. In contrast to the conventional AKSZ model, the generalization allows to describe systems with local degrees of freedom in terms of finite-dimensional target space. We argue that the proposed frame-like approach is directly related de Donder–Weyl polymomentum Hamiltonian formalism. Along with the standard field-theoretical examples like Einstein–Yang–Mills theory, we consider free higher spin fields, multi-frame gravity and parametrized systems. In particular, we propose the frame-like action for free totally symmetric massless fields that involves all higher spin connections on an equal footing.
On palindromic width of certain extensions and quotients of free nilpotent groups
Authors: Bardakov Valeriy G. , Gongopadhyay Krishnendu
Published: July 2014

In [Bardakov and Gongopadhyay, Palindromic width of free nilpotent groups, J. Algebra 402 (2014) 379–391] the authors provided a bound for the palindromic widths of free abelian-by-nilpotent group ANn of rank n and free nilpotent group N n,r of rank n and step r. In the present paper, we study palindromic widths of groups [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text]. We denote by [Formula: see text] the quotient of the group Gn = 〈x1, …, xn〉, which is free in some variety by the normal subgroup generated by [Formula: see text]. We prove that the palindromic width of the quotient [Formula: see text] is finite and bounded by 3n. We also prove that the palindromic width of the quotient [Formula: see text] is precisely 2(n - 1). As a corollary to this result, we improve the lower bound of the palindromic width of N n,r. We also improve the bound of the palindromic width of a free metabelian group. We prove that the palindromic width of a free metabelian group of rank n is at most 4n - 1.
BOOTSTRAP CONFIDENCE INTERVAL OF OPTIMAL AGE REPLACEMENT POLICY
Authors: TOKUMOTO SHUNSUKE , DOHI TADASHI , YUN WON YOUNG
Published: July 2014

In this paper, we consider an interval estimation of the age replacement problem, where the underlying failure time probability is given by the two-parameter Weibull distribution. The parametric bootstrap is used to obtain the probability distribution of an estimator for the optimal age replacement time minimizing the expected cost per unit time in the steady state. We focus on both cases with complete and incomplete samples of failure time data, and calculate not only the higher moments of an estimator for the optimal age replacement time but also the confidence interval.
SOFTWARE RELIABILITY ASSESSMENT USING EXPONENTIAL-TYPE CHANGE-POINT HAZARD RATE MODELS
Authors: HAYASHIDA SHIHO , INOUE SHINJI , YAMADA SHIGERU
Published: July 2014

We discuss software hazard rate modeling with a change of testing-environment and a software reliability assessment method based on the proposed software hazard rate models. A software hazard rate model is known as one of the important and useful mathematical models for describing the software failure-occurrence phenomenon and conducting quantitative software reliability assessment. Taking into consideration of the effect of the change in software reliability growth modeling is expected to conduct more accurate software reliability assessment because it is said that such approach enables us to conduct more plausible software reliability assessment reflecting the actual testing-environment. Especially in this paper, we develop exponential-type software hazard rate models with effect of change-point and a software reliability assessment method based on our models. Finally, we show numerical examples for our models and results of model comparisons with existing software hazard rate models by using actual data.
EFFECTS OF PRECURSOR SOLUTION MODIFICATION ON THE CRYSTALLINITY AND ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES OF Na0.5Bi0.5TiO3-BiFeO3 BASED THIN FILM
Authors: SUI HUITING , YANG CHANGHONG , WANG GAOYUN , FENG CHAO
Published: July 2014

For chemical solution decomposition process, the precursor solution is a basic factor affecting the quality of the deposited-film. In this paper, we choose (l00)-oriented 0.7[( Bi 0.95 Ce 0.05)0.5 Na 0.5( Ti 0.99 Fe 0.01) O 3]-0.3 BiFe 0.97 Mn 0.03 O 3(0.7 NBTCeFe -0.3 BFOMn ) thin films prepared by various precursor solutions for investigation. The roles of precursor solution modification on crystallinity, ferroelectric and dielectric properties are characterized. With the addition of polyethylene glycol into the solution, phase-pure perovskite structure can be obtained. Furthermore, when the volume ratio for the solvents (ethylene glycol to acetic acid) is modified as 2:1, enhanced ferroelectricity can be achieved with a remanent polarization (Pr) of 27.5 μC/cm2, which coincides well with the capacitance–voltage curve with relatively sharp feature. Also, the 0.7 NBTCeFe -0.3 BFOMn film exhibits a dielectric constant (εr) of 576 and dielectric loss (tan δ) of 0.123 at 100 kHz.
Groups of real genus p + 1, where p is prime
Authors: May Coy L.
Published: July 2014

Let G be a finite group. The real genusρ(G) is the minimum algebraic genus of any compact bordered Klein surface on which G acts. We classify the large groups of real genus p + 1, that is, the groups such that |G| ≥ 3(g - 1), where the genus action of G is on a bordered surface of genus g = p + 1. The group G must belong to one of four infinite families. In addition, we determine the order of the largest automorphism group of a surface of genus g for all g such that g = p + 1, where p is a prime.
On the relative Cohen–Macaulay modules
Authors: Zargar Majid Rahro
Published: July 2014

Let R be a commutative Noetherian local ring and let 𝔞 be a proper ideal of R. In this paper, as a main result, it is shown that if M is a Gorenstein R-module with c = ht M𝔞, then [Formula: see text] for all i ≠ c is completely encoded in homological properties of [Formula: see text], in particular in its Bass numbers. Notice that, this result provides a generalization of a result of Hellus and Schenzel which has been proved before, as a main result, in the case where M = R.
INVERSE DYNAMIC INPUT ESTIMATION OF A SEISMIC SOIL–STRUCTURE INTERACTION SYSTEM
Authors: LEE MING-HUI
Published: July 2014

The innovative fuzzy weighting input estimation method is used to estimate the ground motion acceleration of a soil–structure interaction system in this study. The input estimation method is comprised of the Kalman filter without the input term and the fuzzy weighting recursive least square estimator. The recursive least squares estimator (RLSE) is weighted using the fuzzy weighting factor. The superior capabilities of this inverse method are demonstrated by solving the soil–structure interaction estimation problem. The precision of the proposed method is verified using the actual earthquake acceleration. The results show that this method has the advantages of stability and accuracy.