bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Salmonella
Proteomic Profiling during Infection Distinguishes the Intracellular Environment of Host Cells
Authors: Li Zezhou , Liu Yanhua , Fu Jiaqi , Zhang Buyu , Cheng Sen , Wu Mei , Wang Zhen , Jiang Jiezhang , Chang Cheng , Liu Xiaoyun
Published: April 2019

Salmonella
Typhimurium is one of the leading causes of foodborne bacterial infection. Nevertheless, how
Salmonella
adapts to distinct types of host cells during infection remains poorly understood. By contrasting intracellular
Salmonella
proteomes from both infected macrophages and epithelial cells, we found striking proteomic signatures specific to particular types of host cells. Notably,
Salmonella
proteomic remodeling exhibited quicker kinetics in macrophages than in epithelial cells with respect to bacterial virulence and flagellar and chemotaxis systems. Furthermore, we unveiled high levels of induction of bacterial histidine biosynthesis in macrophages but not in epithelial cells, which is attributable to differing intracellular levels of this amino acid. Intriguingly, we found that a defective
hisG
gene renders a
Salmonella
strain hypersensitive to histidine shortage in macrophages. Overall, our work reveals specific
Salmonella
adaptation mechanisms in distinct host cells, which should aid in the development of novel anti-infection strategies.
Acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction due to in-stent thrombosis after administering tranexamic acid in a high cardiac risk patient
Authors: Kaptein Yvonne E
Published: April 2019

Tranexamic acid (TXA) is an antifibrinolytic which minimises bleeding and transfusions, with thrombotic risk. Our patient had known coronary artery disease with post-TXA acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) due to in-stent thrombosis. He had five drug-eluting stents (DES): two overlapping DES in mid-LAD (3 years ago), and two overlapping DES in distal right coronary artery and one DES in obtuse-marginal (1.5 years ago). After TXA, both overlapping stent locations thrombosed. Of nine reports of post-TXA acute MI, only one had complex stent anatomy (bifurcation stent to left circumflex/first obtuse-marginal) with other single stents, and only the complex stent thrombosed. Post-TXA MI was more often STEMI caused by arterial thrombosis, rather than non-STEMI caused by blood loss, hypotension or demand ischaemia. Overlapping and bifurcation stents thrombosed; single stents remained patent. In conclusion, overlapping stents, bifurcation stents, excessive stent length and previous in-stent restenosis/thrombosis may increase thrombotic risk. TXA should be administered cautiously with complex stent anatomy.
Depression in primary care: part 1—screening and diagnosis
Authors: Ferenchick Erin K , Ramanuj Parashar , Pincus Harold Alan
Published: April 2019

Depression is a common and heterogeneous condition with a chronic and recurrent natural course that is frequently seen in the primary care setting. Primary care providers play a central role in managing depression and concurrent physical comorbidities, and they face challenges in diagnosing and treating the condition. In this two part series, we review the evidence available to help to guide primary care providers and practices to recognize and manage depression. In this first of two reviews, we outline an approach to screening and diagnosing depression in primary care that evaluates current evidence based guidelines and applies the recommendations to clinical practice. The second review presents an evidence based approach to the treatment of depression in primary care, detailing the recommended lifestyle, drug, and psychological interventions at the individual level. It also highlights strategies that are being adopted at an organizational level to manage depression more effectively in primary care.
Prognosis and NT-proBNP in heart failure patients with preserved versus reduced ejection fraction
Authors: Salah Khibar , Stienen Susan , Pinto Yigal M , Eurlings Luc W , Metra Marco , Bayes-Genis Antoni , Verdiani Valerio , Tijssen Jan G P , Kok Wouter E
Published: April 2019

Background

We assessed the prognostic significance of absolute and percentage change in N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) levels in patients hospitalised for acute decompensated heart failure with preservedejection fraction (HFpEF) versus heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF).

Methods

Patients with left ventricular ejection fraction ≥50% were categorised as HFpEF (n=283), while those with <40% as were categorised as HFrEF (n=776). Prognostic values of absolute and percentage change in NT-proBNP levels for 6 months all-cause mortality after discharge were assessed separately in patients with HFpEF and HFrEF by multivariable adjusted Cox regression analysis. Comorbidities were compared between heart failure groups.

Results

Discharge NT-proBNP levels predicted outcome similarly in HFpEF and HFrEF: for any 2.7-factor increase in NT-proBNP levels, the HR for mortality was 2.14 for HFpEF (95% CI 1.48 to 3.09) and 1.96 for HFrEF (95% CI 1.60 to 2.40). Mortality prediction was equally possible for NT-proBNP reduction of ≤30% (HR 4.60, 95% CI 1.47 to 14.40 and HR 3.36, 95% CI 1.93 to 5.85 for HFpEF and HFrEF, respectively) and for >30%–60% (HR 3.28, 95% CI 1.07 to 10.12 and HR 1.79, 95% CI 0.99 to 3.26, respectively), compared with mortality in the reference groups of >60% reductions in NT-proBNP levels. Prognostically relevant comorbidities were more often present in patients with HFpEF than patients with HFrEF in low (≤3000 pg/mL) but not in high (>3000 pg/mL) NT-proBNP discharge categories.

Conclusions

Our study highlights—after demonstrating that NT-proBNP levels confer the same relative risk information in HFpEF as in HFrEF—the possibility that comorbidities contribute relatively more to prognosis in patients with HFpEF with lower NT-proBNP levels than in patients with HFrEF.
Cardiovascular health and sleep disturbances in two population-based cohort studies
Authors: Hausler Nadine , Lisan Quentin , Van Sloten Thomas , Haba-Rubio Jose , Perier Marie-Cécile , Thomas Frédérique , Danchin Nicolas , Guibout Catherine , Boutouyrie Pierre , Heinzer Raphael , Jouven Xavier , Marques-Vidal Pedro , Empana Jean-Philippe
Published: April 2019

Objective

We aimed to investigate the association between cardiovascular health (CVH), as defined by the American Heart Association, and several sleep disturbances.

Methods

Two community-based cohorts, the Paris Prospective Study 3 (PPS3, France, n=6441) and the CoLaus study (Switzerland, n=2989) were analysed. CVH includes 7 metrics which all can be classified as poor, intermediate and ideal. Global CVH score was categorised into poor (0–2 ideal metrics), intermediate (3–4 ideal metrics) and ideal (≥5 ideal metrics). Associations between global CVH and self-reported sleep disturbances (proxy of sleep-disordered breathing [SDB], excessive daytime sleepiness, insomnia symptoms and short/long sleep duration) and SDB severity measured by polysomnography (PSG) were investigated. Adjusted OR/relative risk ratio (RRR) and 95% CIs were estimated. Subjects with previous cardiovascular disease were excluded.

Results

Compared with poor CVH, subjects with intermediate and ideal global CVH had lower odds of self-reported SDB in both cohorts (ORs 0.55; 95% CI 0.44 to 0.68 and 0.35; 95% CI 0.22 to 0.53, respectively) and had lower SDB severity measured by PSG (RRR 0.07; 95% CI 0.02 to 0.20) in CoLaus. Subjects with intermediate and ideal global CVH had lower odds of excessive daytime sleepiness in PPS3 (ORs 0.82; 0.72 to 0.95 and 0.80; 0.82 to 1.02, respectively). No consistent associations were found between CVH and sleep duration or insomnia symptoms.

Conclusions

Higher levels of CVH are associated with lower odds of SDB and excessive daytime sleepiness. However, causal interpretation cannot be made and associations might be bidirectional.
Impact of the NHS Stop Smoking Services on smoking prevalence in England: a simulation modelling evaluation
Authors: Song Fujian , Elwell-Sutton Tim , Naughton Felix
Published: April 2019

Background

The English National Health Service NHS Stop Smoking Services (SSS), established in 2001, were the first such services in the world. An appropriate evaluation of the SSS has national and international significance. This modelling study sought to evaluate the impact of the SSS on changes in smoking prevalence in England.

Methods

A discrete time state-transition model was developed to simulate changes in smoking status among the adult population in England during 2001–2016. Input parameters were based on data from national statistics, population representative surveys and published literature. The main outcome was the percentage point reduction in smoking prevalence attributable to the SSS.

Results

Smoking prevalence was reduced by 10.8 % in absolute terms during 2001–2016 in England, and 15.3 % of the reduction could be attributable to the SSS. The percentage point reduction in smoking prevalence each year was on average 0.72%, and 0.11 % could be attributable to the SSS. The proportion of SSS supported quit attempts increased from 5.5 % in 2001, to as high as 18.9 % in 2011, and then reduced to 8.2 % in 2016. Quit attempts with SSS support had a higher success rate than those without SSS support (15.1% vs 11.3%). Smoking prevalence in England continued to decline after the SSS was much reduced from 2013 onwards.

Conclusions

Approximately 15% of the percentage point reduction in smoking prevalence during 2001–2016 in England may be attributable to the NHS SSS, although uncertainty remains regarding the actual impact of the formal smoking cessation services.
Bacterial community diversity associated with the severity of bacterial wilt disease in tomato fields in southeast China
Authors: Zheng Xuefang , Liu Bo , Zhu Yujing , Wang Jieping , Zhang Haifeng , Wang Ziran
Published: April 2019

Tomato bacterial wilt caused by Ralstonia solanacearum is a devastating plant disease. The aims of this study were to investigate the relationship among soil nutrients, rhizobacterial community, and abundance of R. solanacearum, and to gather useful information for controlling the disease. Fifteen tomato rhizosphere soils were collected from three regions, encompassing five disease grades. Then, soil physicochemical properties and rhizobacterial communities were investigated. The content of soil organic carbon (SOC), total phosphorus (TP), total potassium (TK), and exchangeable calcium was significantly higher in the healthy plant rhizosphere soils than in diseased plant rhizosphere soils (P < 0.05). The healthy soils had a relatively higher abundance of Proteobacteria and a lower abundance of Acidobacteria than the diseased soils from the same region. Redundancy analysis demonstrated that R. solanacearum abundance was positively correlated with total nitrogen content and negatively correlated with soil pH, SOC, TP, TK, and exchangeable calcium. Ralstonia solanacearum abundance correlated positively with Chloroflexi, Acidobacteria, and Planctomycetes abundance but negatively with Nitrospirae, Bacteroidetes, and Proteobacteria abundance. These results suggested that improving soil pH, applying the amount of P and K fertilizers, and controlling the dosage of N fertilizer might be an effective approach in controlling bacterial wilt disease.
Generated coherent systems and a conjecture of D. C. Butler
Authors: Brambila-Paz L. , Mata-Gutiérrez O. , Newstead P. E. , Ortega Angela
Published: April 2019

Let [Formula: see text] be a general generated coherent system of type [Formula: see text] on a general non-singular irreducible complex projective curve. A conjecture of D. C. Butler relates the semistability of [Formula: see text] to the semistability of the kernel of the evaluation map [Formula: see text]. The aim of this paper is to obtain results on the existence of generated coherent systems and use them to prove Butler’s Conjecture in some cases. The strongest results are obtained for type [Formula: see text], which is the first previously unknown case.
Existence of nontrivial logarithmic co-Higgs structure on curves
Authors: Ballico Edoardo , Huh Sukmoon
Published: April 2019

We study various aspects on nontrivial logarithmic co-Higgs structure associated to unstable bundles on algebraic curves. We check several criteria for (non-)existence of nontrivial logarithmic co-Higgs structures and describe their parameter spaces. We also investigate the Segre invariants of these structures and see their non-simplicity. In the end, we also study the higher dimensional case, specially when the tangent bundle is not semistable.
Spectral properties of the respiratory signal during sleep apnea events: Obtrusive and unobtrusive measurements
Authors: Ramírez-Elías Jordi , Ramírez-Elías Miguel , Acosta-Elías Jesús , Dorantes-Méndez Guadalupe , Alba Alfonso , Mendez Martin O. , Guerrero-Mora Guillermina , Kortelainen Juha M. , Tenhunen Mirja
Published: April 2019

People with obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) are affected by disruption in normal breathing patterns during sleep. In the literature, it is common to find acquisition of Thoracic (THO) and abdominal (ABD) movements with piezo-electric bands included in a full polysomnography. These movements convey valuable information related to sleep apnea events, and for this reason, contactless methods, such as the Pressure Bed Sensor (PBS), have been developed to extract this information. The main goal of this study is to analyze apnea and hypopnea fluctuations based on the spectral analysis of nasal airflow measure (as a reference signal), thoraco–abdominal effort and PBS respiration signal. To this end, features from the respiratory spectrum such as entropy, Gaussian modeling and instantaneous frequency were computed. These spectral properties were evaluated in three windows for each sensor: control point (CP) which is a window randomly extracted for the sleep time without apnea event, before event (BE) a window before an apnea episode and during event (DE) a window during an apnea episode. Apnea and hypopnea events were analyzed separately. According to a database of seventeen subjects, DE windows showed significant differences with respect to the CP window in most of the computed indices for both apnea and hypopnea events for all sensors. Significant differences were also found when DE and BE windows were compared in the case of apnea for all the sensors. In conclusion, the analyzed spectral characteristics could be a good tool to detect apnea and hypopnea. Finally, PBS signal which is a unobtrusive sensor, maintains the spectral properties of the standard respiratory effort measurements, and the use of this sensor could be useful for the monitoring outside of a clinical environment, simplifying the acquisition process.
THE EFFECTS OF DEMOGRAPHIC CHANGES ON REGIONAL ECONOMIC GROWTH: EVIDENCE FROM JAPAN
Authors: DAI ERBIAO , HATTA TATSUO
Published: April 2019

Since the 1970s, due to the combination of the declining birthrate and rising longevity, the speed of population aging in Japan has been more dramatic than in any other developed country. Consequently, the growth of the working population, which had been faster than the growth of the total population, has gradually become slower in recent years than the latter in Japan. Moreover, similar rapid demographic changes are taking place at various speeds in all prefectures. By introducing demographic variables into empirical models of regional economic growth, which is based on prefecture-level panel data for the period 1980–2010, this paper shows that the recent demographic changes in Japan have had significant effects on its regional economic growth: the contribution of the growth rate difference between the working population and the total population to per capita Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP) growth rate, i.e., the demographic bonus, has disappeared. In addition, the growth rate of the aged population (65 years old and over) has had a very significant negative effect on per capita GRDP growth rate, while the growth rate of the young population aged 0–14 has had a significant positive effect. The findings of this study imply that Japan’s population aging and other ongoing demographic changes will continue to depress economic growth in all prefectures. Given the low probability of a significant rise in the birth rate and the rapid increase in the local labor supply, it is important for all prefectures in Japan to raise the quality of their labor-force and improve productivity. Meanwhile, effectively attracting young skilled workers to migrate from other regions/countries should be a key policy issue for both local and central governments in Japan.
Nonstandard Lagrangians and branching: The case of some nonlinear Liénard systems
Authors: Bagchi Bijan , Ghosh Dibyendu , Modak Subhrajit , Panigrahi Prasanta K.
Published: April 2019

We propose a new form of Lagrangian that shows branching for the associated Hamiltonian and has relevance to the quadratic type and mixed linear-quadratic Liénard-type nonlinear dynamical equations on adjusting the underlying parameters. Non-uniqueness of the Lagrangian is pointed out and a particular one when Fourier transform is demonstrated to depict a momentum-dependent quantum-like mass system when expanded binomially.
Stable exponential cosmological solutions with three factor spaces in (1 + 3 + 3 + k)-dimensional Einstein–Gauss–Bonnet model with a Λ-term
Authors: Ernazarov K. K.
Published: April 2019

We consider a (7 + k)-dimensional Einstein–Gauss–Bonnet (EGB) model with the cosmological [Formula: see text]-term. A cosmological model with three factor spaces of dimensions 3, 3 and k, k[Formula: see text]2 is considered. Exact stable solutions with three (non-coinciding) Hubble-like parameters in these models are obtained. Some examples of solutions (e.g. with zero variation of the effective gravitational constant G) are considered in selected dimensions (for k = 5, 6).
Reheating constraints on Kähler moduli inflation
Authors: Kabir Rakesh , Mukherjee Amitabha , Lohiya Daksh
Published: April 2019

The end of inflation is connected to the standard cosmological scenario through reheating. During reheating, the inflaton oscillates around the minimum of the potential and thus decays into the daughter particles that populate the Universe at later times. Using cosmological evolution for observable CMB scales from the time of Hubble crossing to the present time, we translate the constraint on the spectral index [Formula: see text] from Planck data to the constraint on the reheating scenario in the context of Kähler moduli inflation. We find that the equation of state parameter plays a crucial role in the reheating analysis, however the details of the one parameter potential are irrelevant if the analysis is done strictly within the slow-roll formalism. In addition, we extend the de facto analysis generally done only for the pivot scale to all the observable scales which crossed the Hubble radius during inflation, where we study how the maximum number of e-folds varies for different scales, and the effect of the equation of state and potential parameters.
Electronic and optical properties of Ge-doped silica optical fiber
Authors: Guan Xiaoning , Zhang Ru , Jia Baonan , Chen Xi , Yan Binbin , Peng Gang-Ding , Li Shanjun , Lu Pengfei
Published: April 2019

Electronic and optical properties of Germanium-doped (Ge-doped) silica optical fiber are investigated by employing first-principle methods. The substitution of a Ge atom with a Silicon (Si) atom or an Oxygen (O) atom in different “Si–O–Si” membered rings is analyzed. Compared with the experimental data observed at around 5 eV, our calculated results reveal that the characteristic absorption peak at 5.12 eV may be caused by Si–Ge–Si defect in 5-membered ring (5MR). Our study of Ge-doped approach in different ring structures will be useful in the application of Ge-doped optical fiber sensing.
Exploring Sustainability Orientation of MSME-Owners in Tanzania
Authors: Eijdenberg Emiel L.
Published: April 2019

This explorative study examines the performance, socio-demographics and sustainability orientation of owners of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises’ (MSMEs) in Tanzania, a Least Developed Country (LDC). Based on a literature review, a pre-study conducted with experts, and a main study of 168 MSMEs-owners in Morogoro, the analyses show that sustainability orientation is made up of four factors of which clearly one social factor and one environmental factor. Furthermore, in light of the literature, performance and socio-demographic factors are regressed on sustainability orientation and appear not to have a significant influence. However, at a granular level, there are certain effects observed from performance and socio-demographics on sustainability orientation. In contrast to previous research, this study presents fine-grained insights into how performance and sustainability orientation are developed and how the former determines the latter. In doing so, this study sheds light on entrepreneurship in the informal economy of an LDC, refines the understanding of the sustainability orientation of MSME-owners, and endorses the position that “one size does not fit all” regarding the applicability of Western constructs to LDC settings.
Identifying and Modelling Trustworthiness Competencies of Cluster Development Agents (CDAs)
Authors: Notash Hadi , Rezaei-Zadeh Morteza , Elyasi Ghanbar Mohammadi , Talebi Kambiz
Published: April 2019

While trustworthiness is seen as an important factor in success of cluster development agents (CDAs), its antecedent competencies were not identified. Against this gap, the current study seeks to explore the scope and sequence of CDAs’ trustworthiness competencies, highlighting the importance of paying attention to cultivating those competencies. Conducting a number of semi-structured interviews as well as one Interactive Management (IM) session which was empowered by using Interpretive Structural Modelling (ISM) software, 6 trustworthiness competencies seem to be important for CDAs were identified, including: Proficiency, Altruism, Acceptability, Ability to alert stakeholders, Expectation identification ability, and Ability to make cooperation. More importantly, the interdependencies amongst those 6 competencies were identified and modelled, shedding light on the priority and weight of each of those competencies as antecedents of CDAs’ trustworthiness. As the theoretical implementation, this study expressed the importance of trustworthiness for CDAs and modelled the antecedent competencies which need to be obtained by CDAs if they are to be trusted by their clients. If a cluster clients do now trust their agent, they should not be blamed. The trustee need to cultivate those pre-requirement competencies if s/he wants to be trustworthy. As the practical implementation, the findings of this study provide a coherent curriculum for enhancing CDAs’ trustworthiness competencies. This curriculum should be implemented by the economic and development organisations who are dealing with training and preparing agents to take role in activating and extending industrial clusters in different countries.
Identifying an Unknown Source in the Poisson Equation with a Super Order Regularization Method
Authors: Li Zhi , Zhao Zhenyu , Meng Zehong , Chen Baoqin , Mei Duan
Published: April 2019

This paper develops a new method to deal with the problem of identifying the unknown source in the Poisson equation. We obtain the regularization solution by the Tikhonov regularization method with a super-order penalty term. The order optimal error bounds can be obtained for various smooth conditions when we choose the regularization parameter by a discrepancy principle and the solution process of the new method is uniform. Numerical examples show that the proposed method is effective and stable.
Modeling of Cementitious Representative Volume Element with Various Water–Cement Ratios
Authors: Shahzamanian M. M. , Basirun W. J.
Published: April 2019

This study uses the finite element method (FEM) to measure the mechanical properties of microstructure-based cementitious representative volume elements (RVEs) with various water–cement ratios (W/Cs) generated by CEMHYD3D. The finite element boundary condition effects that significantly and computationally change the elastic properties are studied and discussed. Various boundary conditions in ABAQUS are applied and compared with the results obtained using the variational asymptotic method for unit cell homogenization (VAMUCH). This comparison is conducted using ANSYS. This study aims to analyze and determine the effect of different boundary conditions in detail on the prediction of the elastic properties of cementitious RVE with various W/Cs and identify the best approach in this regard. Results show that Young’s, shear, and bulk moduli decrease with the increase in W/C and the boundary conditions in ABAQUS influence the outcomes, particularly on bulk modulus and Poisson’s ratio.
Fuzzy Indices with Applications to Human Trafficking
Authors: Mordeson John N. , Schwab-McCoy Aimee , Mathew Sunil , Binu M.
Published: April 2019

We develop indices that can be used to measure the susceptibility of a route to human trafficking. The susceptibility is based on data providing a measure of a country’s vulnerability for and its government response to human trafficking. The data was normalized and the Pearson correlation coefficient was used to determine the correlation between five types of government response and five types of vulnerability. It was determined that comparing government response values with vulnerability values yielded a negative correlation. Four routes through the Americas to the United States were examined. The indices of two of the measures agree on all four routes.
Expansion of Generalized Hukuhara Differentiable Interval Valued Function
Authors: Roy Priyanka , Panda Geetanjali
Published: April 2019

In this paper, the concept of [Formula: see text]-monotonic property of interval valued function in higher dimension is introduced. Expansion of interval valued function in higher dimension is developed using this property. Generalized Hukuhara differentiability is used to derive the theoretical results. Several examples are provided to justify the theoretical developments.
A note on the Laplacian resolvent energy of graphs
Authors: Matejić M. , Zogić E. , Milovanović E. , Milovanović I.
Published: April 2019

Let [Formula: see text] be a simple connected graph with [Formula: see text] vertices, [Formula: see text] edges and let [Formula: see text] be its Laplacian eigenvalues. The Laplacian resolvent energy of graph [Formula: see text] is defined by [Formula: see text]. In this paper, we give some new lower bounds for the invariant [Formula: see text].
EFFECTS OF CHANGES IN CLIMATIC CONDITIONS ON NEW MEXICO PECAN PRODUCTION, PRICE, AND CASH RECEIPTS
Authors: HWANG JEE W. , BIN OKMYUNG
Published: April 2019

This study estimates the effects of changes in climatic conditions on local pecan production, price, and cash receipts in New Mexico, USA, for the period from 1964 to 2014. Our primary measures for estimating the effects are drought indices: the Palmer Drought Severity Index, and the Standardized Precipitation Index. Our results indicate that precipitation is important to pecan yields. Consistent with previous studies, we find the effects of moisture deficits to be more pronounced compared to conditions of high moisture levels. The gains from moderate to extreme wet conditions on cash receipts are estimated to be as high as [Formula: see text]% while the losses from moderate to severe droughts are as high as [Formula: see text]%. Applying these estimates to cash receipts during the years when an actual wet spell and a drought that took place in New Mexico, the values of these effects are [Formula: see text]$12.6 million and [Formula: see text]$59.7 million, respectively.
THE EFFECT OF GOVERNANCE ON FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT IN LATIN AMERICA — ISSUES OF MODEL SELECTION
Authors: BIRO FLORA PANNA , ERDEY LASZLO , GALL JOZSEF , MARKUS ADAM
Published: April 2019

This paper examines the impact of good governance on foreign direct investment (FDI) in the Latin American countries. Even though the FDI inflows in the region are relatively high, which can be explained by the level of development of the target countries, their connections with developed countries and the available natural resources, only a few papers have examined what kind of other factors make these countries more attractive for foreign investments. This study has two main goals. First, the gravity model is used to show whether the quality of governance measured by any of the World Governance Indicators (WGI) affects the inward FDI in Latin America. Second, following the recent trend in the gravity literature, the performance of different ordinary least squares (OLS) specifications are tested and compared to the Poisson pseudo-maximum likelihood (PPML) estimator which is a natural alternative approach. Results according to the most efficient estimation show that good governance is mostly a factor of attractiveness but its significance depends on which indicator is used to proxy it. Our analysis also demonstrates that using a truncation on the sample or manipulating the data by adding a small number to the dependent variable makes the OLS parameter estimates extremely sensitive and yields biased, inconsistent, and inefficient results together with bad estimation of total FDI. Furthermore, the PPML method provides far better value for several indicators of goodness of fit. Thus, we argue that the PPML method should be preferred not just in trade but also in FDI gravity models.
Local Smoothness of Graph Signals
Authors: Daković Miloš , Stanković Ljubiša , Sejdić Ervin
Published: April 2019

Analysis of vertex‐varying spectral content of signals on graphs challenges the assumption of vertex invariance and requires the introduction of vertex‐frequency representations as a new tool for graph signal analysis. Local smoothness, an important parameter of vertex‐varying graph signals, is introduced and defined in this paper. Basic properties of this parameter are given. By using the local smoothness, an ideal vertex‐frequency distribution is introduced. The local smoothness estimation is performed based on several forms of the vertex‐frequency distributions, including the graph spectrogram, the graph Rihaczek distribution, and a vertex‐frequency distribution with reduced interferences. The presented theory is illustrated through numerical examples.
Discrete-Time Zhang Neural Networks for Time-Varying Nonlinear Optimization
Authors: Sun Min , Tian Maoying , Wang Yiju
Published: April 2019

As a special kind of recurrent neural networks, Zhang neural network (ZNN) has been successfully applied to various time-variant problems solving. In this paper, we present three Zhang et al. discretization (ZeaD) formulas, including a special two-step ZeaD formula, a general two-step ZeaD formula, and a general five-step ZeaD formula, and prove that the special and general two-step ZeaD formulas are convergent while the general five-step ZeaD formula is not zero-stable and thus is divergent. Then, to solve the time-varying nonlinear optimization (TVNO) in real time, based on the Taylor series expansion and the above two convergent two-step ZeaD formulas, we discrete the continuous-time ZNN (CTZNN) model of TVNO and thus get a special two-step discrete-time ZNN (DTZNN) model and a general two-step DTZNN model. Theoretical analyses indicate that the sequence generated by the first DTZNN model is divergent, while the sequence generated by the second DTZNN model is convergent. Furthermore, for the step-size of the second DTZNN model, its tight upper bound and the optimal step-size are also discussed. Finally, some numerical results and comparisons are provided and analyzed to substantiate the efficacy of the proposed DTZNN models.
De Novo Mutation of m.3243A>G together with m.16093T>C Associated with Atypical Clinical Features in a Pedigree with MIDD Syndrome
Authors: Jiang Zhixin , Zhang Yinan , Yan Jingbin , Li Fengwen , Geng Xinqian , Lu Huijuan , Wei Xiaoer , Feng Yanmei , Wang Congrong , Jia Weiping
Published: April 2019

Background. The syndrome of maternally inherited diabetes and deafness (MIDD) is typically caused by the m.3243A>G mutation and widely considered maternally inherited. In our study, we aimed to investigate the heredity way of the m.3243A>G among pedigrees with MIDD and discover novel mitochondrial DNA mutations related to atypical clinical phenotypes.Methods. Heteroplasmy levels of the m.3243A>G mutation in peripheral blood, saliva, and urine sediment of 31 individuals from 10 unrelated pedigrees were measured by pyrosequencing. Clinical evaluations including endocrinological, audiological, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examinations, mitochondrial function evaluation in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), and whole mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequencing were performed among the spontaneous mutant pedigrees.Results. Among the 10 unrelated MIDD pedigrees, we found that the de novo m.3243A>G mutation occurred in the family 1957 (F1957). The proband (F1957-II-1) and her son (F1957-III-1) both manifested diabetes with mild bilateral sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) and abnormal brain MRI, and F1957-III-1 also complained of severe nausea and vomiting. Mitochondrial function evaluation in PBMCs revealed an increased level of ROS generation and decreased levels of ATP and mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) in the two m.3243A>G carriers. Whole mtDNA sequencing also revealed a de novo heteroplasmic substitution at m.16093T>C in both the proband and her son.Conclusions. Our study showed that de novo m.3243A>G mutation accompanied by other point mutations may occur in the very early embryonic or germ cell stage without maternal inheritance, bringing about both typical and atypical clinical features.
Suppressing MicroRNA-30b by Estrogen Promotes Osteogenesis in Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells
Authors: Liu Guanqi , Lu Yeming , Mai Zhihui , Liu Runheng , Peng Zhuli , Chen Lin , Chen Zheng , Wang Ruizhi , Ai Hong
Published: April 2019

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have been widely demonstrated to interact with multiple cellular signaling pathways and to participate in a wide range of physiological processes. Estradiol-17β(E2) is the most potent and prevalent endogenous estrogen that plays a vital role in promoting bone formation and reducing bone resorption. Currently, little is known about the regulation of miRNAs in E2-induced osteogenic differentiation. In the present study, the primary bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells from rats (rBMSCs) were isolated and incubated with E2, followed by miRNA profiling. The microarray showed that 29 miRNAs were differentially expressed in response to E2 stimulation. Further verification by real-time reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction revealed that E2 enhanced the expression of let-7b and miR-25 but suppressed the miR-30b expression. Moreover, a gain-of-function experiment confirmed that miR-30b negatively regulated the E2-induced osteogenic differentiation. These data suggest an important role of miRNAs in osteogenic differentiation.
Preconditioning of Human Dental Pulp Stem Cells with Leukocyte- and Platelet-Rich Fibrin-Derived Factors Does Not Enhance Their Neuroregenerative Effect
Authors: Gervois Pascal , Ratajczak Jessica , Wolfs Esther , Vangansewinkel Tim , Dillen Yörg , Merckx Greet , Bronckaers Annelies , Lambrichts Ivo
Published: April 2019

Pathologies of the central nervous system are characterized by loss of brain tissue and neuronal function which cannot be adequately restored by endogenous repair processes. This stresses the need for novel treatment options such as cell-based therapies that are able to restore damaged tissue or stimulate repair. This study investigated the neuroregenerative potential of the conditioned medium of human dental pulp stem cells (CM-hDPSCs) on neural stem cell (NSC) proliferation and migration as well as on neurite outgrowth of primary cortical neurons (pCNs). Additionally, the effect of leukocyte- and platelet-rich fibrin (L-PRF) priming on the neuroregenerative potential of the hDPSC secretome on NSCs and pCNs was evaluated. L-PRF contains factors that enhance stem cell-induced regeneration, but its effect on hDPSC-mediated neuroregeneration is unknown. This study demonstrated that CM-hDPSCs enhanced neuritogenesis. Moreover, CM-hDPSCs had a chemoattractant effect on NSCs. Although priming hDPSCs with L-PRF increased brain-derived neurotrophic factor secretion, no additional effects on the paracrine-mediated repair mechanisms were observed. These data support the neuroregenerative potential of hDPSCs, and although priming had no additional effect, the potential of L-PRF-primed hDPSCs on distinct regenerative mechanisms remains to be clarified.
Inhibition of Ubiquitin-Specific Protease 14 Suppresses Cell Proliferation and Synergizes with Chemotherapeutic Agents in Neuroblastoma
Authors: Yu Yang , Zhao Yanling , Fan Yihui , Chen Zhenghu , Li Hui , Lu Jiaxiong , Guo Kevin , Woodfield Sarah E. , Vasudevan Sanjeev A. , Yang Jianhua , Nuchtern Jed G.
Published: April 2019

Neuroblastoma is the most common extracranial malignant solid tumor in children, and drug resistance is a major reason for poor outcomes. Elevated proteasome activity plays an important role in neuroblastoma tumor development and resistance to conventional chemotherapy. Ubiquitin-specific protease 14 (USP14), one of three deubiquitinases associated with the regulatory subunit of the proteasome, is emerging as a potential therapeutic target in multiple tumor types. However, the role of USP14 in neuroblastoma is yet to be elucidated. We found that USP14 inhibition in neuroblastoma via knockdown or a specific inhibitor such as b-AP15 suppressed cell proliferation by inducing cell apoptosis. Furthermore, b-AP15 significantly inhibited neuroblastoma tumor growth in NGP and SH-SY5Y xenograft mouse models. For combination treatment, b-AP15 plus conventional chemotherapeutic agents such as doxorubicin or VP-16 resulted in synergistic antitumor effects on neuroblastoma. Our study demonstrates that USP14 is required for cell viability and is a novel therapeutic target in neuroblastoma. Moreover, USP14 inhibition may add value in combination therapy due to its powerful synergistic effects in treating neuroblastoma.
Manipulation of Cell-Type Selective Antibody Internalization by a Guide-Effector Bispecific Design
Authors: Lee Nam-Kyung , Su Yang , Bidlingmaier Scott , Liu Bin
Published: April 2019

Cell-type–specific intracellular payload delivery is desired for antibody-based–targeted therapy development. However, tumor-specific internalizing antigens are rare to find, and even rarer for those that are expressed at uniformly high levels. We constructed a bispecific antibody that is composed of a rapidly internalizing antibody binding to a tumor-associated antigen, ephrin receptor A2 (EphA2), and a noninternalizing antibody binding to a highly expressed tumor-associated antigen, activated leukocyte cell adhesion molecule (ALCAM). We found that the overall internalization property of the bispecific is profoundly impacted by the relative surface expression level (antigen density ratio) of EphA2 versus ALCAM. When the EphA2-to-ALCAM ratio is greater than a threshold level (1:5), the amount of the bispecific taken into the tumor cell exceeds what is achieved by either the monoclonal internalizing antibody or a mixture of the two antibodies, showing a bispecific-dependent amplification effect where a small amount of the internalizing antigen EphA2 induces internalization of a larger amount of the noninternalizing antigen ALCAM. When the ratio is below the threshold, EphA2 can be rendered noninternalizing by the presence of excess ALCAM on the same cell surface. We constructed a bispecific antibody–drug conjugate (ADC) based on the above bispecific design and found that the bispecific ADC is more potent than monospecific ADCs in tumor cell killing both in vitro and in vivo. Thus, the internalizing property of a cell surface antigen can be manipulated in either direction by a neighboring antigen, and this phenomenon can be exploited for therapeutic targeting.
Nail Involvement in Psoriatic Patients and Association with Onychomycosis: Results from a Cross-Sectional Study Performed in a Military Hospital in Tunisia
Authors: Jendoubi Fatma , Ben Lagha Imene , Rabhi Faten , Doss Nejib , Mrabet Ali , Jaber Kahena , Dhaoui Mohamed Raouf
Published: April 2019

Nail psoriasis has variable prevalence and heterogeneous aspects. Many of them could mimic onychomycosis (OM). It has been suggested that patients with nail psoriasis are at high risk of OM. The aim of our study was to determine the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of nail psoriasis and to estimate the frequency and the factors associated with OM in psoriatic patients. The studied group included 163 patients with psoriasis aged 18 years or older. Epidemiological and clinical data, as well as the severity of skin and nails disease by evaluating the Psoriasis Area Severity Index (PASI) and Nail Area Psoriasis Severity Index (NAPSI) scores were specified. Mycological testing was performed for patients with nail alterations. Nail involvement was found in 71.2% of patients. The most common nail alterations were subungual hyperkeratosis and onycholysis. The mean NAPSI score was 11.6. Mycological testing was performed in 104 patients with onychodystrophy. OM was diagnosed in 53% of the cases. Dermatophytes were the most isolated pathogens. OM was associated with male gender, but not with age, NAPSI, or PASI score. Psoriasis is one of the dermatoses that most commonly affect the nail. Available data about the association between nail psoriasis and OM are controversial. However, mycological testing should be routinely performed on psoriatic nails.
Elastin‐Specific Autoimmunity in Smokers With Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm and Dissection is Independent of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Authors: Gu Bon‐Hee , Choi Justin C. , Shen Ying H. , Song Li‐Zhen , Scheurer Michael E. , Luong Amber , Rodriguez Antony , Woodruff Prescott , Koth Laura , Corry David B. , Kheradmand Farrah , LeMaire Scott A.
Published: April 2019

Background

Thoracic aortic aneurysm (
TAA
) and dissection (
TAD
) are characterized by progressive disorganization of the aortic wall matrix, including elastin, a highly immunogenic molecule. Whether acquired autoimmune responses can be detected in
TAA
/
TAD
patients who are smokers is unknown. The objectives of this study were to determine whether
TAA
/
TAD
smokers have increased T‐cell responses to human elastin fragments, and to determine whether autoimmune responses in
TAA
/
TAD
smokers are dependent on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Methods and Results

In a cross‐sectional study (N=86), we examined peripheral blood
CD
4
+
T cell responses to elastin fragments in never‐, former‐, or current‐smokers with or without
TAA
/
TAD
.
CD
4
+
T cells were co‐cultured with irradiated autologous peripheral blood
CD
1a
+
/
CD
14
+
antigen presenting cells pulsed with or without elastin fragments to measure cytokine production. Baseline plasma concentration of anti‐elastin antibodies and elastin‐degrading enzymes (eg, matrix metalloproteinase‐9, and ‐12, and neutrophil elastase) were measured in the same cohort. elastin fragment‐specific
CD
4
+
T cell expression of interferon‐γ, and anti‐elastin antibodies were dependent on history of smoking in
TAA
/
TAD
patients but were independent of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Matrix metalloproteinase‐9, and ‐12, and neutrophil elastase plasma concentrations were also significantly elevated in ever‐smokers with
TAA
/
TAD
.

Conclusions

Cigarette smoke is associated with loss of self‐tolerance and induction of elastin‐specific autoreactive T‐ and B‐cell responses in patients with
TAA
/
TAD
. Development of peripheral blood biomarkers to track immunity to self‐antigens could be used to identify and potentially prognosticate susceptibility to
TAA
/
TAD
in smokers.
Safety and Outcomes of Tenecteplase in Moderate and Severe Ischemic Stroke
Authors: Kvistad Christopher Elnan , Novotny Vojtech , Kurz Martin Wilhelm , Rønning Ole Morten , Thommessen Bente , Carlsson Maria , Waje-Andreassen Ulrike , Næss Halvor , Thomassen Lars , Logallo Nicola
Published: April 2019

Background and Purpose—

Tenecteplase represents a promising alternative to alteplase as thrombolytic treatment in acute ischemic stroke. There are limited data on tenecteplase 0.4 mg/kg in patients with increased stroke severity. We aimed to assess safety and efficacy of tenecteplase 0.4 mg/kg in patients with moderate and severe ischemic stroke.

Methods—

NOR-TEST (Norwegian Tenecteplase Stroke Trial) was a phase III trial designed to investigate the safety and efficacy of tenecteplase 0.4 mg/kg versus alteplase 0.9 mg/kg in ischemic stroke. In this post hoc analysis, moderate stroke was defined as admission National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale; 6 to 14 and severe stroke as National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale; ≥15. Rates of favorable outcome at 90 days, symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage (sICH), and mortality after 7 and 90 days were assessed.

Results—

In patients with moderate stroke (n=261), there were no differences in rates of favorable outcome, sICH, or mortality between tenecteplase and alteplase. In patients with severe stroke (n=87), there were no differences in outcome, frequency of sICH, or mortality at 7 days, but all-cause mortality at 90 days was increased in patients treated with tenecteplase (10 [26.3%] versus 4 [9.1%];
P
=0.045). One patient died of sICH in the tenecteplase group, and 2 patients died of sICH in the alteplase group.

Conclusions—

Rates of favorable outcome and sICH were similar between treatment groups in patients with moderate and severe stroke. Mortality after 90 days was increased in patients with severe stroke receiving tenecteplase. Future studies assessing tenecteplase 0.4 mg/kg should monitor safety parameters closely in patients with severe stroke.

Clinical Trial Registration—

URL:
https://www.clinicaltrials.gov
. Unique identifier: NCT01949948.
Reframing the Politics of Aesthetic Appropriation in the late-Nahḍah Novel: The Case of “Plagiarism” in Ibrāhīm al-Māzinī’s Ibrāhīm al-kātib
Authors: Paniconi Maria Elena
Published: April 2019

In his novel Ibrāhīm al-kātib (Ibrāhīm the Writer, 1931) the Egyptian poet, narrator, and humorist Ibrāhīm al-Māzinī borrowed several passages from his own translation—via English—of the Russian novel Sanin, by Mikhail Petrovich Artsybashev, which he had published in 1922 under the title Sanīn aw Ibn al-ṭabī‘ah (Sanīn, or The Son of Nature). In this article, I analyze several personal authorial accounts, including the introduction to the first edition of the novel Ibrāhīm al-kātib (1931), in which the author develops the idea of creative writing and translation as a mechanical process of filling in the gaps of a “lost original.” Alongside literary allegations raised by critics against al-Māzinī soon after the publication of Ibrāhīm al-kātib, I recontextualize this issue of self-borrowing in the light of two parallel processes: the changing politics of intertextual practices that took place in Egypt during the first quarter of the twentieth century; and the rise of concepts as “Egyptianness” and “aṣālah” (cultural authenticity), key ideas to a national canon. Both Sanīn aw Ibn al-ṭabī‘ah and the (partially) re-written Ibrāhīm al-kātib, are the outcome of a process of adaptation, in which translation, intertextuality, literary borrowing and manipulation of the text constitute a common working practice and are not isolated incidents in the author/translator’s career.