bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Reliability and safety, and the risk of construction damage in mining areas
Authors: Skrzypczak Izabela , Kogut Janusz P. , Kokoszka Wanda , Oleniacz Grzegorz
Published: April 2018

This article concerns the reliability and safety of building structures in mining areas, with a particular emphasis on the quantitative risk analysis of buildings. The issues of threat assessment and risk estimation, in the design of facilities in mining exploitation areas, are presented here, indicating the difficulties and ambiguities associated with their quantification and quantitative analysis. This article presents the concept of quantitative risk assessment of the impact of mining exploitation, in accordance with ISO 13824 [1]. The risk analysis is illustrated through an example of a construction located within an area affected by mining exploitation.
Possibilities of surface waters monitoring at mining areas using UAV
Authors: Lisiecka Ewa , Motyka Barbara , Motyka Zbigniew , Pierzchała Łukasz , Szade Adam
Published: April 2018

The selected, remote measurement methods are discussed, useful for determining surface water properties using mobile unmanned aerial platforms (UAV). The possibilities of using this type of solutions in the scope of measuring spatial, physicochemical and biological parameters of both natural and anthropogenic water reservoirs, including flood polders, water-filled pits, settling tanks and mining sinks were analyzed. Methods of remote identification of the process of overgrowing this type of ecosystems with water and coastal plant formations have also been proposed.
Estimation of the flight thrust increment changing the operation mode of the engine
Authors: Korsun O.N. , Prihodko S.Yu. , Sergeev S.A.
Published: April 2018

The paper presents a new method for flight test identification of the thrust increment when changing engine operation mode. It is known that the problem of separate estimation of the engine thrust and the aerodynamic drag force from the aircraft flight data belongs to a class of ill-posed. The idea of the presented method is to come out of the ill-posed class by changing the original problem formulation. To achieve this purpose we give up the absolute values of the thrust and proceed to estimating the thrust increment resulting from the change of the aircraft engine operation mode. The accuracy of the solution is improved by introducing the special flight test maneuver. The algorithm requires only a few on-board measured parameters, such as longitudinal and normal overload, airspeed and altitude, and angle of attack. The complimentary use of the engine gas-dynamic model may improve the estimates but is not obligatory. The proposed method also does not require a-priory estimates of the aerodynamic drag force.
Methods for selecting the supporting curve for the model of hysteresis loop
Authors: Korsun O.N. , Stulovskii A.V.
Published: April 2018

The article deals with a model describing the dependence of aerodynamic coefficients on the angle of attack for post-stall conditions. This paper also discusses the choice of parameters for the calculating the lift coefficient in such cases. In addition, it also considers some methods used to choose the shape of a supporting curve. The article also provides arguments concerning the physical interpretation of the coordinate of flow separation point in the implementation of the model. The examples of processing the flight test data are presented.
Using cloud computing technologies in IP-video surveillance systems with the function of 3d-object modelling
Authors: Zhigalov Kirill , Avetisyan Karen
Published: April 2018

This article is devoted to the integration of cloud technology functions into 3D IP video surveil-lance systems in order to conduct further video Analytics, incoming real-time data, as well as stored video materials on the server in the «cloud». The main attention is devoted to «cloud technologies» usage optimizing the process of recognition of the desired object by increasing the criteria of flexibility and scalability of the system. Transferring image load from the client to the cloud server, to the virtual part of the system. The development of the issues considered in the article in terms of data analysis, which will significantly improve the effectiveness of the implementation of special tasks facing special units.
Children's perception of parental attitudes: Russia-Kyrgyzstan cross-cultural study
Authors: Tikhomirova Tatiana , Malykh Sergey
Published: April 2018

The article presents the results of a cross-cultural analysis of the perception of parental attitude by children and adolescents. We focused on the indicators of maternal and paternal attitude such as Acceptance, Positive Involvement, Rejection and Hostile Detachment. The Russian sample includes 501 primary school students aged 6.8 to 11.7 years (49.9% boys) and 438 adolescents aged 10.8 to 16.8 years (47.1% boys). The Kyrgyz sample includes 510 primary school students aged from 6.6 to 11.8 years (48.5% boys) and 513 adolescents aged 10.3 to 16.8 years (46.3% boys). Regardless of the macro environment, schoolchildren perceive the attitude of both parents to a greater extent as emotionally accepting and to a lesser extent as rejecting. At the same time, it is shown that cross-cultural differences in the perception of maternal attitude are manifested only in younger schoolchildren: Kyrgyz children assess maternal attitude as more emotionally accepting with positive involvement and less rejecting. Cross-cultural differences in the perception of paternal attitudes are manifested both in younger schoolchildren and in adolescents: Kyrgyz children assess paternal attitude more positively than Russian peers. The results are interpreted in the context of specific socio-economic conditions.
Research on lightning stroke model and characteristics of intelligent transformer
Authors: Li Mu , Li Tao , Wang Jia Jie , Tao Ling Hong
Published: April 2018

In order to improve the reliability of power supply, it is necessary to study the intelligent transformer of the key equipment in the smart substation. Firstly, the transformer model based on the magnetic coupling mechanism is given according to the magnetic coupling characteristics of the transformer. Then, considering the static coupling characteristics of the transformer under high frequency conditions, an improved transformer model based on wide frequency mechanism is obtained. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed model is verified by comparing the simulation data with the actual measured data for an actual object.
An Energy Loss Calculating Method for Wind Power System Based on the Shape Factor
Authors: Ruan Bo , Qian Junjie , You Dahai , Hou Tingting , Chen Xi , Mei Zhen
Published: April 2018

The large-scale access of the new energy makes various changes to the power system characteristics. For example, the acute volatility of the new energy such as wind power and photovoltaic energy makes the power-loss-calculation for the system more complex. The traditional typical daily method is inaccurate when used in new energy system because of its overlook of the generator output volatility. This paper proposes a new power-loss-calculation method for wind power system which based on the shape factor and gain a more accurate result. On the basis of this new calculating method, finds that the shape factor of the wind power plant for an hour period usually falls in a certain range. Therefore, proposes to directly use the expectation of shape factor in whole year to compute the annual energy loss with at least two values and once power flow calculation. And the acceptable relative error proves its large engineering practicability.
A Survey of Cooperative Driving between Auxiliary Autonomous System and Human Driver
Authors: Zou Qijie , Li Haoyu , Zhang Rubo , Pei Tengda
Published: April 2018

The cooperative driving is a main direction of intelligent vehicle development since safety-critical tasks must be executed by human and autonomous system. An intelligent vehicle is equipped with a full range of sensors, which are larger and faster than the perception and computational ability of a human driver, while the latter has a comprehensive ability to adapt to unexpected events. According to their respective advantages, the cooperative driving between human and autonomous system can have new synergies. The emphasis of this paper is to survey the current state of the art of cooperative driving, with a specific focus on decision-making and motion planning levels and correlative algorithms. Such researches enable the autonomous system to compensate the human driver in dangerous or uncomfortable circumstance. This paper provides insights into the scope of decision-making and motion planning for cooperative driving, as well as the shortcomings and tendencies.
Challenges Across the HIV Care Continuum for Patients With HIV/TB Co-infection in Atlanta, GA
Authors: Schechter Marcos C , Bizune Destani , Kagei Michelle , Holland David P , del Rio Carlos , Yamin Aliya , Mohamed Omar , Oladele Alawode , Wang Yun F , Rebolledo Paulina A , Ray Susan M , Kempker Russell R
Published: April 2018

Background

Antiretroviral therapy (ART) for persons with HIV infection prevents tuberculosis (TB) disease. Additionally, sequential ART after initiation of TB treatment improves outcomes. We examined ART use, retention in care, and viral suppression (VS) before, during, and 3 years following TB treatment for an inner-city cohort in the United States.

Methods

Retrospective cohort study among persons treated for culture-confirmed TB between 2008 and 2015 at an inner-city hospital.

Results

Among 274 persons with culture-confirmed TB, 96 (35%) had HIV co-infection, including 23 (24%) new HIV diagnoses and 73 (76%) previous diagnoses. Among those with known HIV prior to TB, the median time of known HIV was 6 years, and only 10 (14%) were on ART at the time of TB diagnosis. The median CD4 at TB diagnosis was 87 cells/uL. Seventy-four (81%) patients received ART during treatment for TB, and 47 (52%) has VS at the end of TB treatment. Only 32% of patients had continuous VS 3 years after completing TB treatment. There were 3 TB recurrences and 3 deaths post–TB treatment; none of these patients had retention or VS after TB treatment.

Conclusions

Among persons with active TB co-infected with HIV, we found that the majority had known HIV and were not on ART prior to TB diagnosis, and retention in care and VS post–TB treatment were very low. Strengthening the HIV care continuum is needed to improve HIV outcomes and further reduce rates of active TB/HIV co-infection in our and similar settings.
Asymptomatic Prenatal Zika Virus Infection and Congenital Zika Syndrome
Authors: Paixao Enny S , Leong Wei-Yee , Rodrigues Laura C , Wilder-Smith Annelies
Published: April 2018

To investigate to what extent asymptomatic vs symptomatic prenatal Zika virus infections contribute to birth defects, we identified 3 prospective and 8 retrospective studies. The ratio varied greatly in the retrospective studies, most likely due to recruitment and recall bias. The prospective studies revealed a ratio of 1:1 for asymptomatic vs symptomatic maternal Zika infections resulting in adverse fetal outcomes.
Folate Receptor Near-Infrared Optical Imaging Provides Sensitive and Specific Intraoperative Visualization of Nonfunctional Pituitary Adenomas
Authors: Cho Steve S , Zeh Ryan , Pierce John T , Jeon Jun , Nasrallah MacLean , Adappa Nithin D , Palmer James N , Newman Jason G , White Caitlin , Kharlip Julia , Snyder Peter , Low Philip , Singhal Sunil , Grady M Sean , Lee John Y K
Published: April 2018

BACKGROUND

Surgical resection is the primary treatment for nonfunctional (NF) pituitary adenomas, but gross-total resection is difficult to achieve in all cases. NF adenomas overexpress folate receptor alpha (FRα).

OBJECTIVE

To test the hypothesis that we could target FRα for highly sensitive and specific intraoperative detection of NF adenomas using near-infrared (NIR) imaging.

METHODS

Fourteen patients with NF pituitary adenoma were infused with the folate analog NIR dye OTL38 preoperatively. NIR fluorescence signal-to-background ratio (SBR) was recorded for each tumor during resection of the adenomas. Extent of surgery was not modified based on the presence or absence of fluorescence. Immunohistochemistry was performed to assess FRα expression in all specimens. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed postoperatively to assess residual neoplasm.

RESULTS

Nine adenomas overexpressed FRα and fluoresced with a NIR SBR of 3.2 ± 0.52, whereas the 5 non-FRα-overexpressing adenomas fluoresced with an SBR of 1.5 ± 0.21. Linear regression demonstrated a significant correlation between intraoperative SBR and the FRα expression (P-value < .001). Analysis of 14 margin samples revealed that the surgeon's impression of the tissue had 83% sensitivity, 100% specificity, 100% positive predictive value, and 89% negative predictive value, while NIR fluorescence had 100% for all values. NIR fluorescence accurately predicted postoperative MRI results in 78% of FRα-overexpressing patients.

CONCLUSION

Preoperative injection of folate-tagged NIR dye provides strong signal and visualization of NF pituitary adenomas. It is 100% sensitive and specific for detecting margin neoplasm and can predict postoperative MRI findings. Our results suggest that NIR fluorescence may be superior to white-light visualization alone and may improve resection rates in NF pituitary adenomas.
Blue-wing enhancement of the chromospheric Mg ii h and k lines in a solar flare
Authors: Tei Akiko , Sakaue Takahito , Okamoto Takenori J , Kawate Tomoko , Heinzel Petr , UeNo Satoru , Asai Ayumi , Ichimoto Kiyoshi , Shibata Kazunari
Published: April 2018

We performed coordinated observations of AR 12205, which showed a C-class flare on 2014 November 11, with the Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph (IRIS) and the Domeless Solar Telescope (DST) at Hida Observatory. Using spectral data in the Si iv 1403 Å, C ii 1335 Å, and Mg ii h and k lines from IRIS and the Ca ii K, Ca ii 8542 Å, and Hα lines from DST, we investigated a moving flare kernel during the flare. In the Mg ii h line, the leading edge of the flare kernel showed an intensity enhancement in the blue wing and a smaller intensity of the blue-side peak (h2v) than that of the red-side one (h2r). The blueshift lasted for 9–48 s with a typical speed of 10.1 ±  2.6 km s−1, which was followed by a high intensity and a large redshift with a speed of up to 51 km s−1 detected in the Mg ii h line. The large redshift was a common property for all six lines, but the blueshift prior to it was found only in the Mg ii lines. Cloud modeling of the Mg ii h line suggests that the blue-wing enhancement with such a peak difference could have been caused by a chromospheric-temperature (cool) upflow. We discuss a scenario in which an upflow of cool plasma is lifted up by expanding hot plasma owing to the deep penetration of non-thermal electrons into the chromosphere. Furthermore, we found that the blueshift persisted without any subsequent redshift in the leading edge of the flare kernel during its decaying phase. The cause of such a long-lasting blueshift is also discussed.
Distinct RanBP1 nuclear export and cargo dissociation mechanisms between fungi and animals
Authors: Li Yuling , Zhou Jinhan , Zhang Yuqing , Zhou Qiao , Shen Xiaofei , Jia Da , Han Junhong , Sun Qingxiang
Published: April 2018

Ran binding protein 1 (RanBP1), the primary effector of nuclear GTPase Ran, is a cytoplasmic-enriched and nuclear-cytoplasmic shuttling protein, playing important roles in nuclear transport through preventing RanGTP from being trapped with karyopherin proteins and dissociating cargoes from nuclear export factor CRM1. Much of what we know about RanBP1 is learned from fungi. Here we show that animal RanBP1 has distinct cargo dissociation and nuclear export mechanisms. In contrast to CRM1-RanGTP sequestration mechanism of cargo dissociation in fungi, animal RanBP1 solely sequesters RanGTP from nuclear export complexes. In fungi, RanBP1, CRM1 and RanGTP form a 1:1:1 nuclear export complex; in contrast, animal RanBP1, CRM1 and RanGTP form a 1:1:2 nuclear export complex. The key feature for the two mechanistic changes from fungi to animals is the loss of affinity between RanBP1-RanGTP and CRM1, since residues mediating their interaction in fungi are not conserved in animals. The biological significances of these different mechanisms in fungi and animals are also studied and discussed. Our study illustrates how orthologous proteins may play conserved functions through distinct routes, and may provide directions for design of antifungal medicines.
Analyzing Vaccine Trials in Epidemics with Mild and Asymptomatic Infection
Authors: Kahn Rebecca , Hitchings Matt , Wang Rui , Bellan Steven , Lipsitch Marc
Published: April 2018

Vaccine efficacy against susceptibility to infection (VES), regardless of symptoms, is an important endpoint of vaccine trials for pathogens with a high proportion of asymptomatic infection, as such infections may contribute to onward transmission and outcomes such as Congenital Zika Syndrome. However, estimating VESis resource-intensive. We aim to identify methods to accurately estimate VEswhen limited information is available and resources are constrained. We model an individually randomized vaccine trial by generating a network of individuals and simulating an epidemic. The disease natural history follows a Susceptible, Exposed, Infectious and Symptomatic or Infectious and Asymptomatic, Recovered model. We then use seven approaches to estimate VES, and we also estimate vaccine efficacy against progression to symptoms (VEP). A corrected relative risk and an interval censored Cox model accurately estimate VESand only require serologic testing of participants once, while a Cox model using only symptomatic infections returns biased estimates. Only acquiring serological endpoints in a 10% sample and imputing the remaining infection statuses yields unbiased VESestimates across values of R0and accurate estimates of VEPfor higher values. Identifying resource-preserving methods for accurately estimating VESis important in designing trials for diseases with a high proportion of asymptomatic infection.
Economic evaluation of a healthy lifestyle intervention for chronic low back pain: a randomised controlled trial
Authors: Williams A , van Dongen JM , Kamper SJ , O’Brien KM , Wolfenden L , Yoong SL , Hodder RK , Lee H , Robson EK , Haskins R , Rissel C , Wiggers J , Williams CM
Published: April 2018

We performed an economic evaluation of a healthy lifestyle intervention targeting weight loss, physical activity and diet for patients with chronic low back pain, who are overweight or obese. Eligible patients with chronic low back pain (n=160) were randomised to an intervention or usual care control group. The intervention included brief advice, a clinical consultation and referral to a 6-month telephone-based healthy lifestyle coaching service. The primary outcome was quality-adjusted life years (QALYs). Secondary outcomes were pain intensity, disability, weight, and body mass index. Costs included intervention costs, healthcare utilisation costs and work absenteeism costs. An economic analysis was performed from the societal perspective. Mean total costs were lower in the intervention group than the control group (-$614; 95%CI: -3133 to 255). The intervention group had significantly lower healthcare costs (-$292; 95%CI: -872 to -33), medication costs (-$30; 95%CI: -65 to -4) and absenteeism costs (-$1000; 95%CI: -3573 to -210). For all outcomes, the intervention was on average less expensive and more effective than usual care, and the probability of the intervention being cost-effective compared to usual care was relatively high (i.e. 0.81) at a willingness-to-pay of $0/unit of effect. However, the probability of cost-effectiveness was not as favourable among sensitivity analyses. The healthy lifestyle intervention seems to be cost-effective from the societal perspective. However, variability in the sensitivity analyses indicates caution is needed when interpreting these findings.
Active gelation breaks time-reversal-symmetry of mitotic chromosome mechanics
Authors: Mittasch Matthäus , Fritsch Anatol W. , Nestler Michael , Iglesias-Artola Juan M. , Subramanian Kaushikaram , Petzold Heike , Kar Mrityunjoy , Voigt Axel , Kreysing Moritz
Published: April 2018

In cell division, mitosis is the phase in which duplicated sets of chromosomes are mechanically aligned to form the metaphase plate before being segregated in two daughter cells. Irreversibility is a hallmark of this process, despite the fundamental laws of Newtonian mechanics being time symmetric.

Here we show experimentally that mitotic chromosomes receive the arrow of time by time-reversal-symmetry breaking of the underlying mechanics in prometaphase. By optically inducing hydrodynamic flows within prophase nuclei, we find that duplicated chromatid pairs initially form a fluid suspension in the nucleoplasm: although showing little motion on their own, condensed chromosomes are free to move through the nucleus in a time-reversible manner. Actively probing chromosome mobility further in time, we find that this viscous suspension of chromatin transitions into a gel after nuclear breakdown. This gel state, in which chromosomes cannot be moved by flows, persists even when chromosomes start moving to form the metaphase plate. Complemented by minimal reconstitution experiments, our active intra-nuclear micro-rheology reveals time-reversal-symmetry breaking of chromosome mechanics to be caused by the transition from a purely fluid suspension into an active gel.

Graphical abstract

One sentence summary

Flows induced in living cell nuclei reveal the rheological changes that bring chromosomes under mechanical control during mitosis.
Differences in Pneumococcal Serotype Replacement in Individuals with and without Underlying Medical Conditions
Authors: Weinberger Daniel M. , Warren Joshua L , Dalby Tine , Shapiro Eugene D. , Branth Valentiner , Slotved Hans-Christian , Harboe Zitta Barrella
Published: April 2018

Background

Pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs) have had a well-documented impact on the incidence of invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) worldwide. However, declines in IPD due to vaccine-targeted serotypes have been partially offset by increases in IPD due to non-vaccine serotypes. The goal of this study was to quantify serotype-specific changes in the incidence of IPD that occurred in different age groups, with or without certain co-morbidities, following the introduction of PCV7 and PCV13 in the childhood vaccination program in Denmark.

Methods

We used nationwide surveillance data for IPD in Denmark and a hierarchical Bayesian regression framework to estimate changes in the incidence of IPD associated with the introduction of PCV7 (2007) and PCV13 (2010) while controlling for serotype-specific epidemic cycles and unrelated secular trends.

Results and Conclusions

Following the introduction of PCV7 and 13 in children, the net impact of serotype replacement varied considerably by age group and the presence of comorbid conditions. Serotype replacement offset a greater fraction of the decline in vaccine-targeted serotypes following the introduction of PCV7 compared with the period following the introduction of PCV13. Differences in the magnitude of serotype replacement were due to variations in the incidence of non-vaccine serotypes in the different risk groups before the introduction of PCV7 and PCV13. The relative increases in the incidence of IPD caused by non-vaccine serotypes did not differ appreciably in the post-vaccination period. Serotype replacement offset a greater proportion of the benefit of PCVs in strata in which the non-vaccine serotypes comprised a larger proportion of cases prior to the introduction of the vaccines. These findings could help to predict the impact of next-generation conjugate vaccines in specific risk groups.
Autism sensory dysfunction in an evolutionarily conserved system
Authors: Vilidaite Greta , Norcia Anthony M. , West Ryan J. H. , Elliott Christopher J. H. , Pei Francesca , Wade Alex R. , Baker Daniel H.
Published: April 2018

There is increasing evidence for a strong genetic basis for autism, with many genetic models being developed in an attempt to replicate autistic symptoms in animals. However, current animal behaviour paradigms rarely match the social and cognitive behaviours exhibited by autistic individuals. Here we instead assay another functional domain – sensory processing – known to be affected in autism to test a novel genetic autism model in Drosophila melanogaster. We show similar visual response alterations and a similar development trajectory in Nhe3 mutant flies (total N=72) and in autistic human participants (total N=154). We report a dissociation between first- and second-order electrophysiological visual responses to steady-state stimulation in adult mutant fruit flies that is strikingly similar to the response pattern in human adults with ASD as well as that of a large sample of neurotypical individuals with high numbers of autistic traits. We explain this as a genetically driven, selective signalling alteration in transient visual dynamics. In contrast to adults, autistic children show a decrease in the first-order response that is matched by the fruit fly model, suggesting that a compensatory change in processing occurs during development. Our results provide the first animal model of autism comprising a differential developmental phenotype in visual processing.
Pharmacological modulation of AMPA receptor surface diffusion restores hippocampal synaptic plasticity and memory in Huntington’s disease
Authors: Zhang Hongyu , Zhang Chunlei , Vincent Jean , Zala Diana , Benstaali Caroline , Sainlos Matthieu , Grillo-Bosch Dolors , Cho Yoon , David Denis J. , Saudou Frederic , Humeau Yann , Choquet Daniel
Published: April 2018

Impaired hippocampal synaptic plasticity is increasingly considered to play an important role in cognitive impairment in Huntington’s disease (HD). However, the molecular basis of synaptic plasticity defects is not fully understood. Combining live-cell nanoparticle tracking and super-resolution imaging, we show that dysregulation of AMPA receptors (AMPARs) surface diffusion represents a molecular basis underlying the aberrant hippocampal synaptic plasticity during HD. AMPARs surface diffusion is increased in various HD neuronal models, which results in the failure of AMPARs surface stabilization after long-term potentiation (LTP) stimuli. This appears to result from a defective brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) - tyrosine receptor kinase B (TrkB) - Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) signaling pathway that impacts the interaction between the AMPAR auxiliary subunit stargazin and postsynaptic density protein 95 (PSD-95). Notably, the disturbed AMPAR surface diffusion is rescued, via BDNF signaling pathway and by the antidepressant tianeptine. Tianeptine also restores the impaired LTP and hippocampus-dependent memory as well as anxiety/depression-like behavior in different HD mouse models. We thus unveil a mechanistic framework underlying hippocampal synaptic and memory dysfunction and propose a new perspective in HD treatment by targeting AMPAR surface diffusion.
Deterministic splicing ofDscam2is regulated by Muscleblind
Authors: Shun Li Joshua Shing , Millard S.Sean
Published: April 2018

Alternative splicing of genes increases the number of distinct proteins in a cell. In the brain it is highly prevalent, presumably because proteome diversity is crucial for establishing the complex circuitry between trillions of neurons. To provide individual cells with different repertoires of protein isoforms, however, this process must be regulated. Previously, we found that the mutually exclusive alternative splicing of a cell surface protein,Dscam2produces two isoforms (exon 10A and 10B) with unique binding properties. This splicing event is tightly regulated and crucial for maintaining axon terminal size, dendritic morphology and synaptic numbers. Here, we show thatDrosophilaMuscleblind (Mbl), a conserved splicing factor implicated in myotonic dystrophy, controlsDscam2alternative splicing. Removingmblfrom cells that normally express isoform B induces the expression of isoform A and eliminates the expression of B, demonstrating that Mbl represses one alternative exon and selects the other.Mblmutants exhibit phenotypes that are also observed in flies engineered to express a single isoform. Consistent with these observations,mblexpression is cell-type-specific and correlates with the expression of isoform B. Our study demonstrates how the regulated expression of a splicing factor is sufficient to provide neurons with unique protein isoforms crucial for development.
powerTCR: a model-based approach to comparative analysis of the clone size distribution of the T cell receptor repertoire
Authors: Koch Hillary , Starenki Dmytro , Cooper Sara J. , Myers Richard M. , Li Qunhua
Published: April 2018

Sequencing of the T cell receptor repertoire is a powerful tool for deeper study of immune response, but the unique structure of this type of data makes its meaningful quantification challenging. We introduce a new method, the Gamma-GPD spliced threshold model, to address this difficulty. This biologically interpretable model captures the distribution of the TCR repertoire, demonstrates stability across varying sequencing depths, and permits comparative analysis across any number of sampled individuals. We apply our method to several datasets and obtain insights regarding the differentiating features in the T cell receptor repertoire among sampled individuals across conditions. We have implemented our method in the open-source R package powerTCR.

Author summary

A more detailed understanding of the immune response can unlock critical information concerning diagnosis and treatment of disease. Here, in particular, we study T cells through T cell receptor sequencing, as T cells play a vital role in immune response. One important feature of T cell receptor sequencing data is the frequencies of each receptor in a given sample. These frequencies harbor global information about the landscape of the immune response. We introduce a flexible method that extracts this information by modeling the distribution of these frequencies, and show that it can be used to quantify differences in samples from individuals of different biological conditions.
Encoding of odor fear memories in the mouse olfactory cortex
Authors: Meissner-Bernard Claire , Dembitskaya Yulia , Venance Laurent , Fleischmann Alexander
Published: April 2018

Odor memories are exceptionally robust and essential for animal survival. The olfactory (piriform) cortex has long been hypothesized to encode odor memories, yet the cellular substrates for olfactory learning and memory remain unknown. Here, using intersectional, cFos-based genetic manipulations (“Fos-tagging”), we show that olfactory fear conditioning activates sparse and distributed ensembles of neurons in mouse piriform cortex. We demonstrate that chemogenetic silencing of these Fos-tagged piriform ensembles selectively interferes with odor fear memory retrieval, but does not compromise basic odor detection and discrimination. Furthermore, chemogenetic reactivation of piriform neurons that were Fos-tagged during olfactory fear conditioning causes a decrease in exploratory behavior, mimicking odor-evoked fear memory recall. Together, our experiments identify odor-specific ensembles of piriform neurons as necessary and sufficient for odor fear memory recall.
Patterns of thaumarchaeal gene expression in culture and diverse marine environments
Authors: Carini Paul , Dupont Christopher L. , Santoro Alyson E.
Published: April 2018

Thaumarchaea are ubiquitous in marine habitats where they participate in carbon and nitrogen cycling. Although metatranscriptomes suggest thaumarchaea are active microbes in marine waters, we understand little about how thaumarchaeal gene expression patterns relate to substrate utilization and activity. Here, we report the global transcriptional response of the marine ammonia‐oxidizing thaumarchaeon ‘Candidatus Nitrosopelagicus brevis’ str. CN25 to ammonia limitation using RNA‐Seq. We further describe the genome and transcriptome of Ca. N. brevis str. U25, a new strain capable of urea utilization. Ammonia limitation in CN25 resulted in reduced expression of transcripts coding for ammonia oxidation proteins, and increased expression of a gene coding an Hsp20‐like chaperone. Despite significantly different transcript abundances across treatments, two ammonia monooxygenase subunits (amoAB), a nitrite reductase (nirK) and both ammonium transporter genes were always among the most abundant transcripts, regardless of growth state. Ca. N. brevis str. U25 cells expressed a urea transporter 139‐fold more than the urease catalytic subunit ureC. Gene coexpression networks derived from culture transcriptomes and 10 thaumarchaea‐enriched metatranscriptomes revealed a high degree of correlated gene expression across disparate environmental conditions and identified a module of coexpressed genes, including amoABC and nirK, that we hypothesize to represent the core ammonia oxidation machinery.
The arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Rhizophagus irregularis uses a reductive iron assimilation pathway for high‐affinity iron uptake
Authors: Tamayo Elisabeth , Knight Simon A. B. , Valderas Ascensión , Dancis Andrew , Ferrol Nuria
Published: April 2018

Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi can improve iron (Fe) acquisition of their host plants. Here, we report a characterization of two components of the high‐affinity reductive Fe uptake system of Rhizophagus irregularis, the ferric reductase (RiFRE1) and the high affinity Fe permeases (RiFTR1‐2). In the extraradical mycelia (ERM), Fe deficiency induced activation of a plasma membrane‐localized ferric reductase, an enzyme that reduces Fe(III) sources to the more soluble Fe(II). Yeast mutant complementation assays showed that RiFRE1 encodes a functional ferric reductase and RiFTR1 an iron permease. In the heterologous system, RiFTR1 was expressed in the plasma membrane while RiFTR2 was expressed in the endomembranes. In the ERM, the highest expression levels of RiFTR1 were found in mycelia grown in media with 0.045 mM Fe, while RiFTR2 was upregulated under Fe‐deficient conditions. RiFTR2 expression also increased in the intraradical mycelia (IRM) of maize plants grown without Fe. These data indicate that the Fe permease RiFTR1 plays a key role in Fe acquisition and that RiFTR2 is involved in Fe homeostasis under Fe‐limiting conditions. RiFTR1 was highly expressed in the (IRM), which suggests that the maintenance of Fe homeostasis in the IRM might be essential for a successful symbiosis.
Phosphodiesterase PdeD, dynacortin, and a Kelch repeat‐containing protein are direct GSK3 substrates in Dictyostelium that contribute to chemotaxis towards cAMP
Authors: Baumgardner Kimberly , Lin Connie , Firtel Richard A. , Lacal Jesus
Published: April 2018

The migration of cells according to a diffusible chemical signal in their environment is called chemotaxis, and the slime mold Dictyostelium discoideum is widely used for the study of eukaryotic chemotaxis. Dictyostelium must sense chemicals, such as cAMP, secreted during starvation to move towards the sources of the signal. Previous work demonstrated that the gskA gene encodes the Dictyostelium homologue of glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK3), a highly conserved serine/threonine kinase, which plays a major role in the regulation of Dictyostelium chemotaxis. Cells lacking the GskA substrates Daydreamer and GflB exhibited chemotaxis defects less severe than those exhibited by gskA‐ (GskA null) cells, suggesting that additional GskA substrates might be involved in chemotaxis. Using phosphoproteomics we identify the GskA substrates PdeD, dynacortin and SogA and characterize the phenotypes of their respective null cells in response to the chemoattractant cAMP. All three chemotaxis phenotypes are defective, and in addition, we determine that carboxylesterase D2 is a common downstream effector of GskA, its direct substrates PdeD, GflB and the kinases GlkA and YakA, and that it also contributes to cell migration. Our findings identify new GskA substrates in cAMP signalling and break down the essential role of GskA in myosin II regulation.
Fit to father? Online accounts of lifestyle changes and help‐seeking on a male infertility board
Authors: Hanna Esmée , Gough Brendan , Hudson Nicky
Published: April 2018

The reproductive realm is routinely viewed as a feminised space requiring women's commitment and labour. By contrast, men's procreative contributions and ‘reproductive masculinity’ is represented as unproblematic, with men assumed to be fertile across the lifespan. Recent scientific research has, however, cast doubt over these longstanding assumptions, suggesting that a link does exist between ‘lifestyle’ factors and male fertility. The notion that fertility can be improved with effort (for both women and men) can be located within wider cultural and political shifts which construct individuals as increasingly responsible for acting on health messages and engaging in self‐disciplining body projects. Through an exploration of ‘lifestyle changes’ within a men's online infertility discussion forum board, this paper examines how discourses of individualisation healthism and masculinity are reproduced and interlinked. Our thematic analysis indicates that ‘lifestyle work’ is construed as crucial for achieving conception ‐ and as a means to demonstrate men's commitment to the dyadic goal of parenthood, which in turn may challenge and extend previous notions of ‘reproductive masculinity’.
Antibody‐mediated rejection induced cardiogenic shock: Too late for conventional therapy
Authors: Coutance Guillaume , Van Aelst Lucas , Hékimian Guillaume , Vidal Charles , Rouvier Philippe , Saheb Samir , Gautreau Chantal , Leprince Pascal , Varnous Shaida
Published: April 2018

Background

Data are scarce on the prognosis of heart allograft antibody‐mediated rejection (AMR) with cardiogenic shock (CS).

Methods

We performed a retrospective, single center, observational study. We included patients with biopsy‐proven AMR and CS. We aimed to analyze the characteristics, treatment, and prognosis of patients treated for CS due to AMR. Patients alive after AMR were followed to analyze recurrences of AMR, graft function, and cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV).

Results

Seventeen patients met the inclusion criteria. Patients were mostly males (70%). Median age at diagnosis was 56 years, and median time between heart transplantation and AMR was 21 months. AMR was mostly due to high‐level de novo class II DSA. Only 2 patients had past history of biopsy‐proven AMR. Despite aggressive immunosuppressive therapies, in‐hospital and 1‐year mortality were as high as 76% and 82%, respectively. Four patients were discharged from hospital. Two of them were diagnosed with recurrent subclinical AMR: one died suddenly and the other presented rapidly progressive CAV.

Conclusion

CS due to AMR occurred mostly in patients without history of AMR who developed de novo class II DSA. Despite aggressive conventional immunosuppressive therapies, prognosis after CS due to AMR was poor.
Cleaved caspase‐3 expression is a potential prognostic factor for endometrial cancer with positive peritoneal cytology
Authors: Ogane N. , Yasuda M. , Kato H. , Kato T. , Yano M. , Kameda Y. , Kamoshida S.
Published: April 2018

Introduction

Positive peritoneal cytology (PPC) in endometrial cancer remains a controversial topic. Cleaved caspase‐3 (CC3) and Ki‐67 are excellent markers of apoptotic and proliferating cells, respectively. The objective of this study was to determine the significance of CC3 and Ki‐67 expression in peritoneal cytology samples as prognostic factors for endometrial cancer with PPC.

Methods

Sixty endometrial cancer specimens with PPC alone were divided into 51 endometrioid tumours (43 endometrioid carcinomas and eight carcinomas with squamous differentiation) and nine non‐endometrioid tumours (two serous carcinomas, three clear cell carcinomas and four carcinosarcomas). CC3 and Ki‐67 expression in peritoneal cytology samples were immunocytochemically assessed and correlated with disease‐free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS).

Results

Expression levels of CC3 and Ki‐67 were not associated with any clinicopathological parameter. Patients with non‐endometrioid tumours had significantly shorter DFS (P = .001) and OS (P = .001). Low CC3 expression (CC3Low) was significantly associated with shorter OS (P = .02), but not DFS (P = .13). Multivariate analysis showed that non‐endometrioid histology and CC3Low were independent prognostic factors. However, Ki‐67 expression was not associated with survival. When endometrioid and non‐endometrioid tumours were assessed separately, CC3Low was significantly associated with shorter DFS (P = .002) and OS (P = .002) in patients with non‐endometrioid tumours.

Conclusions

Our results suggest that CC3Low in peritoneal cytology samples is a poor prognostic factor in patients with endometrial cancers, especially non‐endometrioid tumours. Immunocytochemical analysis of CC3 expression could potentially facilitate identification of patients with high‐risk endometrial cancer with PPC.
The evolution of eccrine sweat gland research towards developing a model for human sweat gland function
Authors: Bovell Douglas L.
Published: April 2018

For several decades now, researchers, professional bodies, governments, and journals such as the journal of Experimental Dermatology have worked to reduce the number of animals used in experimentation. This review centres on investigations into how human sweat glands produce sweat and how that research has evolved over the years. It is hoped that this review will show that as methodologies advanced, sweat gland research has come to rely less and less on a variety of animal models as investigative tools and information is being primarily obtained through human and mouse material, with a view to further reductions in using animal models.
Effectiveness of weekend physical rehabilitation for functional recovery in geriatric patients with hip fracture
Authors: Hasebe Kiyotaka , Momosaki Ryo , Sawabe Masashi , Chono Masayuki , Sawaguchi Akira , Kasuga Seiji , Asanuma Daichi , Suzuki Shoya , Miyauchi Narimi , Abo Masahiro
Published: April 2018

Aim

To test the hypothesis that the functional outcome of hip fracture patients who receive weekend rehabilitation is better than that of similar patients who undergo non‐weekend rehabilitation.

Methods

The present retrospective observational study used data from the Japan Rehabilitation Database spanning 2005–2015. We identified in‐hospital hip fracture patients admitted to acute hospitals. After applying exclusion criteria, 469 patients were eligible. The primary outcome was motor Functional Independence Measure (FIM) efficiency.

Results

Of the patients with hip fracture, 68.0% received weekend rehabilitation. The patients who received weekend rehabilitation had significantly higher scores in motor FIM efficiency (mean 1.08 vs 0.73, P < 0.001), FIM efficiency (mean 1.12 vs 0.79, P = 0.001) and shorter length of stay (mean 32 vs 54, P < 0.001) than the patients without weekend rehabilitation. Multivariate linear regression analysis identified the weekend rehabilitation as a significant factor in motor FIM efficiency (coefficient 0.237, 95% confidence interval 0.074–0.400, P = 0.004), FIM efficiency (coefficient 0.235, 95% confidence interval 0.079–0.391, P = 0.003) and length of stay (coefficient −9.649, 95% confidence interval −18.194 to −1.104, P = 0.027).

Conclusions

The present cohort analysis showed that weekend rehabilitation for hip fracture patients can lead to functional recovery and reduce the length of stay. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2018; 18: 1143–1146.
Goal Attainment Scaling for haemophilia (GAS‐Hēm): testing the feasibility of a new patient‐centric outcome measure in people with haemophilia
Authors: Roberts J. C. , Lattimore S. , Recht M. , Jackson S. , Gue D. , Squire S. , Robinson K. S. , Price V. , Denne M. , Richardson S. , Rockwood K.
Published: April 2018

Introduction

To address the need for a patient‐reported outcome that can measure clinically and personally meaningful change in people with haemophilia (PwH) on prophylaxis, an approach based on Goal Attainment Scaling (GAS) was developed: the GAS‐Hēm.

Aim

To establish real‐world feasibility of GAS‐Hēm in PwH.

Methods

Patients aged 5‐65 years were enroled from four North American centres for a 12‐week study. The primary outcome was the proportion of participants who completed GAS‐Hēm interviews at baseline, 6 and 12 weeks. GAS‐Hēm scores were obtained by subject‐ and clinician‐rated goal attainment at Weeks 6 and 12, and compared with quality of life (QoL) measures and annualized bleed rate (ABR) for construct validity. Goals were evaluated qualitatively for content validity. Responsiveness was calculated using standardized response means (SRM).

Results

Forty‐two participants set 63 goals. Participants preferred to define (37/63) their own goals or further individualize (23/63) from the GAS‐Hēm menu. Thirty of the 37 self‐defined goals were matched to goals on the GAS‐Hēm menu. The most common goal areas were: weight, exercise and nutrition (n = 17); leisure activities (n = 8); and joint problems (n = 7). Both participant‐ and clinician‐rated GAS‐Hēm scores at 6 weeks (n = 40) and 12 weeks (n = 41) demonstrated satisfactory goal attainment (SRM [subject‐rated] at 12 weeks for adult and paediatric groups was 1.25 and 1.16, respectively). Correlations of GAS‐Hēm scores with QoL measures and ABR were uniformly small.

Conclusion

GAS‐Hēm was feasible and tapped constructs not captured by ABR or QoL measures.
Bleeding‐related hospitalization in patients with von Willebrand disease and the impact of prophylaxis: Results from national registers in Sweden compared with normal controls and participants in the von Willebrand Disease Prophylaxis Network
Authors: Holm E. , Carlsson K. Steen , Lövdahl S. , Lail A. E. , Abshire T. C. , Berntorp E.
Published: April 2018

Introduction

Patients suffering from von Willebrand disease (VWD) have a variety of bleeding symptoms and require both outpatient care for treatment and, in more severe cases, hospitalization.

Aim

To investigate the impact of having VWD on frequency of hospitalization compared to a control group and to evaluate whether regular replacement therapy (prophylaxis) is associated with reduction in the number of hospitalizations.

Methods

Linkage of national population‐based registries was used in the Congenital Bleeding Disorders study in Sweden (CBDS). Data were from the von Willebrand Disease Prophylaxis Network (VWD PN).

Results

The national registries contained 2790 subjects with a diagnosis of VWD between 1987 and 2009. A total of 13 920 age‐ and gender‐matched controls were identified. There were 2.0 times (range 1.5‐2.5) as many inpatient hospitalizations among subjects with VWD compared to controls. The most common causes of hospitalization were gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding (n = 232 as primary diagnosis), menorrhagia (n = 198) and epistaxis (n = 192). Outpatient visits per year were also twice as common among those with VWD. From the VWD PN, 105 subjects were included (VWD type 3, 52.4%; type2A, 22.9%; type 1, 12.4% and other types, 3.9%). A total of 122 hospitalizations due to bleeding episodes, dominated by GI bleeds, were analysed. Significantly fewer hospitalizations occurred after initiation of prophylaxis (75 prior to and 45 after, P = .006).

Conclusion

Our study indicates that subjects with VWD have a considerably higher consumption of healthcare resources compared to controls and that initiation of prophylaxis may reduce the number of hospitalizations due to bleeding.