bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Influence of sumac (Rhus Coriaria L.) and ginger (Zingiber officinale) on egg yolk fatty acid, cholesterol and blood parameters in laying hens
Authors: Gurbuz Y. , Salih Y. G.
Published: February 2017

The aim of the study was to evaluate the potential effect of different levels of sumac (Rhus coriaria L.) seed powder and ginger (Zingiber officinale) root powder on egg yolk fatty acid composition, blood/yolk cholesterol in laying hen. A total of 63 (ATAK‐S: Domestic Turkish Laying Hens) laying hens (average weight: 1470 g each hen, 25‐weeks of age) were assigned to seven treatment diets including sumac seed (S) and ginger root powder (G) at 0 g/kg (control), 10 g/kg (S1), 20 g/kg (S2), and 30 g/kg (S3); 10 g/kg (G1), 20 g/kg (G2), or 30 g/kg in rations respectively, for 8 weeks. After a two‐week adaptation period to cages, the hens were allocated to 7 groups with 9 replicates of 1 hen in per cage each. The replications were allotted equally into the upper and lower cages to minimize the effects of cage level. In this study, egg yolk cholesterol had a decrease (p <0.05) in supplemented diet( sumac seed and ginger root powder). Fatty acid content in yolk; saturated fatty acid, monounsaturated fatty acids, polyunsaturated fatty acids and rate of n6/n3 were not significant (p <0.05). However, dietary supplementation with sumac and ginger powder reduced and yolk/blood cholesterol concentrations in laying hens. Supplementation of sumac and ginger affected on HDL, there was found a significant effect (p < 0.05) in treatment groups. Moreover, LDL positively decreased in all treatment groups compared with the control group. The findings of this study suggested that feeding sumac and ginger tend to be decreasing cholesterol levels in both yolk and blood on laying hens. It can be concluded that ginger root and sumac seed powder can be used as an effective feed additive to improve fatty acid composition and yolk and blood cholesterol in ATAK‐S laying hens.
Invasive histiocytic sarcoma of the lumbar spine in a ferret (Mustela putorius furo)
Authors: Warschau M. , Hoffmann M. , Dziallas P. , Hansmann F. , Baumgärtner W. , Mischke R. , Cichowski S. , Fehr M.
Published: February 2017

This report describes the history, clinical examination and histopathology of a histiocytic sarcoma in a domestic ferret. Clinical signs were acute paraplegia and dysuria. Physical examination revealed a firm, smooth, touch‐sensitive mass in and around the lumbar vertebral column. Neurologic examination was consistent with a lesion between spinal cord segmentsT3andL3. Magnetic resonance images revealed bone lesions ofL2andL3combined with compression of the spinal cord due to a homogenous, isointense mass that was diagnosed as a malignant round cell tumour and the ferret was euthanased. Histopathology confirmed the diagnosis of an infiltrative histiocytic sarcoma.
Editorial to Martinello et al.'s HCV reinfection incidence among individuals treated for recent infection
Authors: Ingiliz Patrick
Published: February 2017

Reinfections with the hepatitis C virus have been described in subgroups with ongoing risk‐behaviour, in particular in people who infect drugs (PWID) or men who have sex with men (MSM). In this article by Martinello and colleagues describe a reinfection incidence of 7.4 per 100 person years (95% CI 4.0‐13.8), mainly in HIV‐infected MSM who are also injecting drug users. A specific risk behavious counselling is mandatory in this setting.
Jurors' Subjective Experiences of Deliberations in Criminal Cases
Authors: Winter Alix S. , Clair Matthew
Published: February 2017

Research on jury deliberations has largely focused on the implications of deliberations for criminal defendants' outcomes. In contrast, this article considers jurors' outcomes by integrating subjective experience into the study of deliberations. We examine whether jurors' feelings that they had enough time to express themselves vary by jurors' gender, race, or education. Drawing on status characteristics theory and a survey of more than 3,000 real-world jurors, we find that the majority of jurors feel that they had enough time to express themselves. However, blacks and Hispanics, and especially blacks and Hispanics with less education, are less likely to feel so. Jurors' verdict preferences do not account for these findings. Our findings have implications for status characteristics theory and for legal cynicism among members of lower-status social groups.
Clinical Effects of Formulated Food of Peucedanum japonicum Extract and Saw Palmetto Extract in Male Patients with Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms
Authors: KAGEYAMA Shinji , BEPPU Masanori , OHNOGI Hiromu , MIYAZAKI Sayaka , HARUNO Akihiro , ITO Yoshihiko , YAMADA Shizuo
Published: February 2017

Objectives

To evaluate changes over time in subjective symptom scores and urination parameters before and after oral administration of formulated food containing a combination of Peucedanum japonicum (P. japonicum) extract and saw palmetto extract (SPE) in male patients with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS).

Methods

This study was conducted in an open label manner on male patients with untreated LUTS. The urination state of patients was evaluated before and after administration of food formulated with P. japonicum extract and SPE for 4 weeks, based on urodynamic parameters and subjective symptom scores (International Prostate Symptom Score [IPSS and IPSS‐QOL], Overactive Bladder Symptom Score [OABSS], Overactive Bladder Questionnaire [OAB‐q], and International Index of Erectile Function [IIEF]).

Results

After the administration of food formulated with these extracts, the following results were obtained: (i) Subjective findings: The IPSS‐QOL score improved significantly; both parameters related to nocturia, i.e., frequency of nighttime urination and OABSS‐2, improved significantly; other ratings for subjective symptoms slightly improved. (ii) Objective findings: Residual urine volume decreased significantly, and blood prostate specific antigen (PSA) and urinary 8‐OHdG levels decreased slightly after the treatment. (iii) Other findings: Blood pressure decreased slightly. No adverse drug reactions were reported. (iv) Patient impressions: 75% of patients gave a rating of “Good” or higher, with 15 out of 20 patients wanting to continue treatment after the end of 4‐week administration period.

Conclusions

Food formulated with P. japonicum extract and SPE may be useful to decrease frequency of nighttime urination and residual urine volume in male patients with LUTS.
Modelling Money Shocks in a Small Open Economy: The Case of Taiwan
Authors: Binner Jane M. , Kelly logan J.
Published: February 2017

This paper explores the relevance of the Divisia monetary aggregate in Taiwan over the period January, 1985 through to June, 2016. We apply a block recursive structural Vector Autoregressive (VAR) approach that is adapted to a small open economy by adding the New Taiwan Dollar/US Dollar exchange rate to the block of economic activity indicators. We test the hypothesis that measures of money constructed using the Divisia index number formulation are superior indicators of monetary conditions when compared to the central bank's main policy rate, the Taiwanese discount rate. We find that using properly measured monetary data solves short‐run price, output and exchange rate puzzles and leads to sensible long‐run impulse responses to monetary shocks. Future work on the optimization of the construction of the Divisia index number formulation is recommended.
Unusual evolutionary mechanisms to escape effector‐triggered immunity in the fungal phytopathogen Leptosphaeria maculans
Authors: Plissonneau C. , Blaise F. , Ollivier B. , Leflon M. , Carpezat J. , Rouxel T. , Balesdent M.‐H.
Published: February 2017

Leptosphaeria maculans is the fungus responsible for the stem canker disease of oilseed rape (Brassica napus). AvrLm3 and AvrLm4‐7, two avirulence effector genes of L. maculans, are involved in an unusual relationship: AvrLm4‐7 suppresses the Rlm3‐mediated resistance. Here, we assessed AvrLm3 polymorphism in a collection of 235 L. maculans isolates. No field isolates exhibited deletion or inactivating mutations in AvrLm3, as observed for other L. maculans avirulence genes. Eleven isoforms of the AvrLm3 protein were found. In isolates virulent towards both Rlm3 and Rlm7 (a3a7), the loss of the Rlm3‐mediated resistance response was due to two distinct mechanisms. First, when AvrLm4‐7 was inactivated (deletion or inactivating mutations), amino acid substitutions in AvrLm3 generated virulent isoforms of the protein. Second, when only point mutations were observed in AvrLm4‐7, a3a7 isolates still contained an avirulent allele of AvrLm3. Directed mutagenesis confirmed that some point mutations in AvrLm4‐7 were sufficient for the fungus to escape Rlm7‐mediated resistance while maintaining the suppression of the AvrLm3 phenotype. Signatures of positive selection were also identified in AvrLm3. The complex evolutionary mechanisms enabling L. maculans to escape Rlm3‐mediated resistance while preserving AvrLm3 integrity, along with observed reduced aggressiveness of isolates silenced for AvrLm3, serves to emphasize the importance of this effector in pathogenicity towards B. napus. While the common response to resistance gene pressure is local selection of isolates depleted in the cognate avirulence gene, this example contributes to complexify the gene‐for‐gene concept of plant‐pathogen evolution with a ‘camouflaged’ model allowing retention of nondispensable avirulence effectors.
Genetic architecture and balancing selection: the life and death of differentiated variants
Authors: Llaurens Violaine , Whibley Annabel , Joron Mathieu
Published: February 2017

Balancing selection describes any form of natural selection, which results in the persistence of multiple variants of a trait at intermediate frequencies within populations. By offering up a snapshot of multiple co‐occurring functional variants and their interactions, systems under balancing selection can reveal the evolutionary mechanisms favouring the emergence and persistence of adaptive variation in natural populations. We here focus on the mechanisms by which several functional variants for a given trait can arise, a process typically requiring multiple epistatic mutations. We highlight how balancing selection can favour specific features in the genetic architecture and review the evolutionary and molecular mechanisms shaping this architecture. First, balancing selection affects the number of loci underlying differentiated traits and their respective effects. Control by one or few loci favours the persistence of differentiated functional variants by limiting intergenic recombination, or its impact, and may sometimes lead to the evolution of supergenes. Chromosomal rearrangements, particularly inversions, preventing adaptive combinations from being dissociated are increasingly being noted as features of such systems. Similarly, due to the frequency of heterozygotes maintained by balancing selection, dominance may be a key property of adaptive variants. High heterozygosity and limited recombination also influence associated genetic load, as linked recessive deleterious mutations may be sheltered. The capture of deleterious elements in a locus under balancing selection may reinforce polymorphism by further promoting heterozygotes. Finally, according to recent genomewide scans, balanced polymorphism might be more pervasive than generally thought. We stress the need for both functional and ecological studies to characterize the evolutionary mechanisms operating in these systems.
Subjective Misidentification and Thought Insertion
Authors: Parrott Matthew
Published: February 2017

This essay presents a new account of thought insertion. Prevailing views in both philosophy and cognitive science tend to characterize the experience of thought insertion as missing or lacking some element, such as a ‘sense of agency’, found in ordinary first‐person awareness of one's own thoughts. By contrast, I propose that, rather than lacking something, experiences of thought insertion have an additional feature not present in ordinary conscious experiences of one's own thoughts. More specifically, I claim that the structure of an experience of thought insertion consists of two distinct elements: a state of ordinary first‐person awareness and a sense that this state of awareness is highly unusual. In addition to modeling the experience of thought insertion, I also explain how a delusional pattern of thinking could lead someone who has this kind of experience to adopt a belief that some other entity is inserting thoughts into her mind. Finally, I briefly sketch a neurocomputational framework that could be developed to explain the sense that one's state of first‐person awareness is highly irregular.
Sensus Fidelium and Canon Law: Sense and Sensitivity?
Authors: Costigane Helen
Published: February 2017

Canon law has had a negative press for many years and is often seen as insensitive, unnecessary or static. This article looks at the origins and sources of the 1983 Code of Canon Law, what it covers, and who is expected to hear it. It considers to what extent canon law finds a resonance in the minds and hearts of the People of God, ways in which the echo is heard or not, and the response of the supreme legislator to this. The idea of ‘law in theory’ and ‘law in action’ is explored in relation to a particularly neuralgic issue today, that of governance, and then three issues are considered where there continue to be particular problems of reception.
Schillebeeckx and the Sensus Fidelium
Authors: Poulsom Martin G.
Published: February 2017

The article begins by making a connection between the theme of the sensus fidelium and theological hermeneutics, proposing the theology of Edward Schillebeeckx as a resource for weaving together the distinctive – and complementary – contributions to the development of doctrine made by the magisterium and by theologians. This helps to articulate an account of ‘the faithful’ that is inclusive, and can overcome the separation between the teaching Church and the learning Church that was so firmly in place between Vatican I and Vatican II. The ecclesiological image of the people of God is then explored, using two newly translated sources from Schillebeeckx's later works. This links the theological voice back to the magisterium and, drawing on the teaching of Pope Francis, the idea of ‘integral ecclesiology’ is proposed as part of the inclusive approach being recommended. Such an ecclesiology needs to draw the image of the people of God into a fruitful interaction with that of communio, and the article takes a pneumatological turn in order to do this. Using a metaphor from Pope Francis of the Holy Spirit as the source of harmony in the symphony of the church, a proposal is voiced that is retrospective and prospective at the same time, drawing the two hermeneutical strategies for the interpretation of Vatican II into a relational dialectic with each other. It also offers the possibility of a theological diversity that leads the church into greater union, and into ever deeper communion with the living God.
Intracranial neuromuscular choristoma: Report of a case with literature review
Authors: Coli Antonella , Novello Mariangela , Tamburrini Gianpiero , Antonelli Manila , Giangaspero Felice , Lauriola Libero
Published: February 2017

Neuromuscular choristoma (NMC), also called neuromuscular hamartoma or nerve rhabdomyoma, is a rare lesion of the spinal and cranial nerves composed of skeletal muscle intimately associated with nerve fibers. Its origin has not been precisely clarified and a malformative event, resulting from aberrant differentiation or a true neoplastic growth, have been proposed by authors. We hereby present a cerebellopontine angle NMC enlarging the eighth cranial nerve in a 3‐year‐old child, that histologically appeared composed of a large amount of striated muscle mixed with nerve fibers. We also provide a review of the intracranial NMC cases reported in the literature and an analysis of proposed hypotheses to explain the presence of muscle cells in nerve trunks.
Failed Percutaneous Vertebroplasty Due to Insufficient Correction of Intravertebral Instability in Kummell's Disease: A Case Report
Authors: Kim Jung Eun , Choi Sang Sik , Lee Mi Kyoung , Lee Dong Kyu , Cho Seung Inn
Published: February 2017

Kummell's disease, caused by osteonecrosis of the vertebral body, is a cause of vertebral collapse. In Kummell's disease, intravertebral instability from nonunion between the cement and bone after percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) can cause persistent severe pain and dysfunction. A 75‐year‐old woman presented with severe pain in the lower back, both buttocks, groin, and both posterior thighs for a period of 30 days. Lumbar radiographs and magnetic resonance images showed an acute compression fracture of the first lumbar vertebra with an intravertebral cleft filled with fluid. The patient underwent PVP for the L1 compression fracture; however, this failed to provide sufficient pain relief. The patient was re‐evaluated with dynamic radiography, and intravertebral instability and bone cement displacement of the L1 vertebra were detected. Repeat PVP was performed. After the procedure, intravertebral instability was restored and her pain completely subsided. PVP is a good treatment choice for symptomatic Kummell's disease. However, there is no consensus on the best technique of injecting bone cement to achieve optimal results. It is important to inject more bone cement than the volume of the intravertebral cleft to prevent instability caused by nonunion in PVP for Kummell's disease. We report a case of failed PVP because of insufficient correction of intravertebral instability in Kummell's, along with a review of the literature.
Hypoxia‐induced HIF1α targets in melanocytes reveal a molecular profile associated with poor melanoma prognosis
Authors: Loftus Stacie K. , Baxter Laura L. , Cronin Julia C. , Fufa Temesgen D. ,   NISC Comparative Sequencing Program, Pavan William J.
Published: February 2017

Hypoxia and HIF1α signaling direct tissue‐specific gene responses regulating tumor progression, invasion, and metastasis. By integrating HIF1α knockdown and hypoxia‐induced gene expression changes, this study identifies a melanocyte‐specific, HIF1α‐dependent/hypoxia‐responsive gene expression signature. Integration of these gene expression changes with HIF1α ChIP‐Seq analysis identifies 81 HIF1α direct target genes in melanocytes. The expression levels for 10 of the HIF1α direct targets – GAPDH, PKM, PPAT, DARS, DTWD1, SEH1L, ZNF292, RLF, AGTRAP, and GPC6 – are significantly correlated with reduced time of disease‐free status in melanoma by logistic regression (P‐value = 0.0013) and ROC curve analysis (AUC = 0.826, P‐value < 0.0001). This HIF1α‐regulated profile defines a melanocyte‐specific response under hypoxia, and demonstrates the role of HIF1α as an invasive cell state gatekeeper in regulating cellular metabolism, chromatin and transcriptional regulation, vascularization, and invasion.
Policing immigrants or policing immigration? Understanding local law enforcement participation in immigration control
Authors: Armenta Amada , Alvarez Isabela
Published: February 2017

As the United States has expanded its immigration control strategies, police participation in immigration enforcement has increased in scope and intensity. Local law enforcement agencies contribute to immigration enforcement in three key ways: through the direct enforcement of immigration law, through cooperation with federal immigration authorities, and through the everyday policing of immigrant communities. These enforcement approaches have consequences for unauthorized immigrants, and for the agencies and officers tasked with providing them police services. This article reviews local law enforcement practices and argues that future research should move away from an exclusive examination of police policies towards immigrants, to consider how the policing of immigrants actually occurs on the ground. Moreover, we argue that as long as discretionary arrests funnel removable immigrants into the deportation system, some immigrant communities will perceive policing as fundamentally unfair and discriminatory.
Children's awareness concerning emotion regulation strategies: Effects of attachment status
Authors: Ştefan Catrinel A. , Avram Julia , Miclea Mircea
Published: February 2017

The current study evaluated the effects of preschoolers' attachment status on their awareness concerning emotion regulation strategies. A total of 212 children between 3 and 5 years participated in this study and completed two self‐report tasks. The first was the Attachment Story Completion Task (ASCT), which assessed children's internal working models concerning parent–child attachment; the second evaluated children's ability to generate emotion regulation strategies in relation to three negative emotions (anger, sadness, and fear). Statistical analyses involved a mixed models multilinear regression approach controlling for age and gender. The results consistently revealed that the insecure avoidant group was significantly less likely than securely attached children to generate both comforting and self‐regulatory strategies. Surprisingly, the insecure ambivalent group showed no deficits across measured outcomes. When the analyses were conducted separately for each negative emotion, findings for co‐regulatory strategies for fear, and self‐regulatory strategies for anger also suggested that avoidantly attached children exhibited the lowest levels of awareness compared with children from the secure attachment group. These findings stress the importance of children's attachment status, and implicitly, the quality of the parent–child interactions for children's awareness of emotion regulation strategies related to negative emotions.
Academic competence perceptions moderate the effects of peer support following academic success disclosures
Authors: Altermatt Ellen Rydell
Published: February 2017

Academic successes are a common part of children's daily lives. Prior research indicates that children frequently attempt to capitalize on these events by sharing the good news with peers. This short‐term longitudinal study of third‐ through seventh‐grade students (N = 359) provides evidence that, for children with low academic competence perceptions, peer academic support in the form of enthusiastic responses to academic success disclosures can be a double‐edged sword. Regardless of their self‐views, perceptions of enthusiastic responses to academic success disclosures were associated with a greater willingness to disclose academic successes to friends and higher perceptions of peer academic support over time. For children with low academic competence perceptions, however, perceptions of enthusiastic responses to academic success disclosures also predicted heightened academic worry which, in turn, predicted greater endorsement of performance–avoidance goals over time. Future research will be critical in developing interventions that can assist children with low academic competence perceptions in more fully enjoying the benefits that can accrue from capitalization attempts.
Liquid Holdup Discretized Solution's Existence and Uniqueness Using a Simplified Averaged One-Dimensional Upward Two-Phase Flow Transient Model
Authors: Omrani Ala E. , Franchek Matthew A. , Grigoriadis Karolos , Tafreshi Reza
Published: February 2017

This article presents a one-dimensional numerical model for vertical upward multiphase flow dynamics in a pipeline. A quasi-steady-state condition is used for the gas phase as well as liquid and gas momentum equations. A second-order polynomial for homogeneous flows and a sixth-order polynomial for separated flows are derived to determine the two-phase flow dynamics, assuming that the gas flow mass is conserved. The polynomials are formulated based on the homogenous and separate flows' momentum equation and the homogeneous flows' rise velocity equation and their zeros are the flow actual liquid holdup. The modeling polynomial approach enables the study of the polynomial liquid holdup zeros existence and uniqueness and as a result the design of a stable numerical model in terms of its outputs. The one-dimensional solution of the flow for the case of slug and bubble flow is proven to exist and to be unique when the ratio of the pipe node length to the time step is inferior to a specific limit. For the annular flow case, constraints on the inlet gas superficial velocity and liquid to gas density ratio show that the existence is ensured while the uniqueness may be violated. Simulations of inlet pressure under transient condition are provided to illustrate the numerical model predictions. The model steady-state results are validated against experimental measurements and previously developed and validated multiphase flow mechanistic model.
Determination of Newtonian Fluid Flow Behavior Including Temperature Effects in Fully Eccentric Annulus
Authors: Ulker Erman , Sorgun Mehmet , Solmus Ismail , Karadeniz Ziya Haktan
Published: February 2017

In this work, the effect of temperature on the pressure loss for Newtonian fluid in fully eccentric annulus with pipe rotation is investigated. Extensive experiments with water are conducted at Izmir Katip Celebi University (IKCU), Civil Engineering Department for various flow velocities ranging between 0.7 m/s and 2.9 m/s, pipe rotation range between 0 rpm and 120 rpm. The effect of temperature on frictional pressure losses is also examined, and the temperature is varied from 20 °C to 65 °C. It was observed that, an increase in the fluid temperature in fully eccentric annulus results in a decrease in the pressure gradient. On the other hand, the influence of temperature on pressure gradient becomes more significant, as the Reynolds number is raised. Variation of Taylor number causes negligible changes on frictional pressure losses for all temperature conditions considered. By using regression analysis of the dataset obtained from the experimental work, a simple empirical frictional pressure losses correlation taking into account of temperature effect is proposed. Results showed that a good agreement between the measured and predicted values is achieved with almost 94% coefficient of determination.
Lattice Boltzmann Simulation of Wormhole Propagation in Carbonate Acidizing
Authors: Ma Xinfang , Mou Jianye , Lin Hun , Jiang Feng , Liu Kaiyu , Zhao Xinzhe
Published: February 2017

In acidizing operations, the acid flows selectively through large pores to create wormholes. Wormhole propagation has been studied by many experts at macroscopic scale. In this paper, the lattice Boltzmann model (LBM), which is a mesoscopic scale method, is adopted to simulate the flow, acid–rock reaction, and rock dissolution in porous media at mesoscopic scale. In this model, a new method based on nonequilibrium extrapolation is proposed to deal with the reactive boundary. On the basis of the model, extensive simulations are conducted on the propagation behavior of wormholes, and the factors influencing wormhole propagation are investigated systematically. The results show that the LBM is a reliable numerical technique to study chemical dissolution in porous media at mesoscopic scale, and that the new method of dealing with the reaction boundary performs well. The breakthrough time decreases with the increase of acid concentration, but acid concentration does not affect the ultimate dissolution pattern. As the reaction rate constant increases, shorter wormholes are created. A higher hydrogen ion diffusion coefficient will result in shorter but wider wormholes. These findings agree well with the previous experimental and theoretical analyses. This study demonstrates the mechanism of wormholing that the unstable growth of pores by the acid rock reaction makes the acid selectively flow through a few large pores which finally form wormholes.
The Twisted-Blade Model for Radial-Turbine Mistuning
Authors: Futoryanova Valentina
Published: February 2017

One of the common failure modes of the diesel-engine turbochargers is the high-cycle fatigue (HCF) of the turbine-wheel blades. Mistuning of the blades due to the casting process is believed to contribute to this failure mode. Currently available commercial finite-element software requires high computational capacity to model statistical mistuning. The objective is to develop a simple model tailored for the evaluation of statistical mistuning in diesel-engine turbocharger turbine wheels that can be used in the product design stage. This research focuses on the radial turbine-wheel design that is typically used in 6–12 L diesel-engine applications. A continuous twisted-blade model is developed in matlab using finite element techniques. The model is tested and validated against different symmetrical cases as well as abaqus results.
Breaking Down the Myth and Curse of Women Athletes: Enough is Enough, Period
Authors: Weaving Charlene
Published: February 2017

From a theoretical perspective, I analyze the claim that women’s athletic performances are negatively affected by their menstrual cycles. To demonstrate the perpetuation of the belief that menstruation is a mythical debilitating bodily function for women and sport participation, an overview of Elizabeth Spelman, Simone De Beauvoir, and Iris Marion Young’s philosophical framing of somatophobia and menstruation is outlined. Analysis of specific examples of elite female athletes who have addressed menstruation in connection to their sporting performance are also discussed to emphasize how menstruation is linked to the frailty myth. I offer an analysis of the scientific literature on hormonal swings of the menstrual cycle and, the effects on sport performance to show that research is equivocal. Finally, a brief examination of feminine hygiene marking campaigns takes place to further emphasize the argument how the frailty myth is closely linked to women athletes and menstruation and how change can be created.
IL-22: Scavenging beyond the barrier
Authors: Datta Sandip K.
Published: February 2017

IL-22–induced hemopexin promotes nutritional immunity by scavenging iron from
Citrobacter rodentium
during systemic infection. See the related Research Article by

Sakamoto
et al
.
A cytoplasmic role of Wnt/β-catenin transcriptional cofactors Bcl9, Bcl9l, and Pygopus in tooth enamel formation
Authors: Cantù Claudio , Pagella Pierfrancesco , Shajiei Tania D. , Zimmerli Dario , Valenta Tomas , Hausmann George , Basler Konrad , Mitsiadis Thimios A.
Published: February 2017

Transcriptional cofactors that participate in Wnt/β-catenin signaling act in the cytoplasm to promote proper development of tooth enamel.
Prostaglandin E
2
–EP2–NF-κB signaling in macrophages as a potential therapeutic target for intracranial aneurysms
Authors: Aoki Tomohiro , Frȍsen Juhana , Fukuda Miyuki , Bando Kana , Shioi Go , Tsuji Keiichi , Ollikainen Eliisa , Nozaki Kazuhiko , Laakkonen Johanna , Narumiya Shuh
Published: February 2017

Inhibition of prostaglandin E
2
signaling in macrophages may be a pharmacological option for treating intracranial aneurysms.
Multiclonal Expansion of Klebsiella pneumoniae Isolates Producing NDM-1 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Authors: Aires Caio Augusto Martins , Pereira Polyana Silva , de Araujo Carlos Felipe Machado , Chagas Thiago Pavoni Gomes , Oliveira Jane Cleide Ribeiro , Buonora Sibelle Nogueira , Albano Rodolpho Mattos , Carvalho-Assef Ana Paula D'Alincourt , Asensi Marise Dutra
Published: February 2017

We characterized NDM-1-producing
Klebsiella
isolates from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. PCR was applied for resistance and virulence determinants. The genetic context of
bla
NDM
was determined by S1 nuclease pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and hybridization. Genotyping was performed by PFGE and multilocus sequence typing (MLST). Most isolates carried multiple resistance genes and remained susceptible to amikacin, fosfomycin-trometamol, polymyxin B, and tigecycline. The spread of NDM-1-producing
Klebsiella pneumoniae
was not associated with clonal expansion and appears to be associated with Tn
3000
.
Aphid Heritable Symbiont Exploits Defensive Mutualism
Authors: Doremus Matthew R. , Oliver Kerry M.
Published: February 2017

Insects and other animals commonly form symbioses with heritable bacteria, which can exert large influences on host biology and ecology. The pea aphid,
Acyrthosiphon pisum
, is a model for studying effects of infection with heritable facultative symbionts (HFS), and each of its seven common HFS species has been reported to provide resistance to biotic or abiotic stresses. However, one common HFS, called X-type, rarely occurs as a single infection in field populations and instead typically superinfects individual aphids with
Hamiltonella defensa
, another HFS that protects aphids against attack by parasitic wasps. Using experimental aphid lines comprised of all possible infection combinations in a uniform aphid genotype, we investigated whether the most common strain of X-type provides any of the established benefits associated with aphid HFS as a single infection or superinfection with
H. defensa
. We found that X-type does not confer protection to any tested threats, including parasitoid wasps, fungal pathogens, or thermal stress. Instead, component fitness assays identified large costs associated with X-type infection, costs which were ameliorated in superinfected aphids. Together these findings suggest that X-type exploits the aphid/
H. defensa
mutualism and is maintained primarily as a superinfection by “hitchhiking” via the mutualistic benefits provided by another HFS. Exploitative symbionts potentially restrict the functions and distributions of mutualistic symbioses with effects that extend to other community members.

IMPORTANCE
Maternally transmitted bacterial symbionts are widespread and can have major impacts on the biology of arthropods, including insects of medical and agricultural importance. Given that host fitness and symbiont fitness are tightly linked, inherited symbionts can spread within host populations by providing beneficial services. Many insects, however, are frequently infected with multiple heritable symbiont species, providing potential alternative routes of symbiont maintenance. Here we show that a common pea aphid symbiont called X-type likely employs an exploitative strategy of hitchhiking off the benefits of a protective symbiont,
Hamiltonella
. Infection with X-type provides none of the benefits conferred by other aphid symbionts and instead results in large fitness costs, costs lessened by superinfection with
Hamiltonella
. These findings are corroborated by natural infections in field populations, where X-type is mostly found superinfecting aphids with
Hamiltonella
. Exploitative symbionts may be common in hosts with communities of heritable symbionts and serve to hasten the breakdown of mutualisms.
Zinc isotope evidence for intensive magmatism immediately before the end-Permian mass extinction
Authors: Liu Sheng-Ao , Wu Huaichun , Shen Shu-zhong , Jiang Ganqing , Zhang Shihong , Lv Yiwen , Zhang Hua , Li Shuguang
Published: February 2017

The end-Permian extinction is typically ascribed to massive volcanic eruptions, but direct geochemical evidence linking the two independent events is generally lacking. Zinc is an important micronutrient of marine phytoplanktons, and Zn isotope (δ66Zn) ratios of seawater are markedly higher than those of volcanic rocks and riverine waters. We conducted high-resolution Zn concentration and Zn isotope analyses on carbonate rocks across the Permian-Triassic boundary (PTB) in the Meishan section of south China. An abrupt increase of Zn concentration and a concomitant 0.5‰ decrease in δ66Zn occur ∼35 k.y. before the mass extinction and carbon isotope (δ13C) minima. Mass balance calculation demonstrates that a 0.5‰ negative shift in δ66Zn within thousands of years requires rapid and massive input of isotopically light Zn from volcanic ashes, hydrothermal inputs, and/or extremely fast weathering of large igneous provinces. A positive δ66Zn shift of as much as 1.0‰ following the mass extinction demonstrates that primary productivity recovered and reached a maximum in fewer than 360 k.y. Our finding provides insights into the marine Zn cycling across the PTB and clarifies the temporal relationship and duration of events, including intensive volcanism, carbon isotope excursion, mass extinction, and widespread ocean anoxia.
Sediment cycling on continental and oceanic crust
Authors: Peters Shanan E. , Husson Jon M.
Published: February 2017

Sedimentary rocks are often described as declining in quantity with increasing age due to the cumulative effects of crustal deformation and erosion. One important implication of such a model is that the geological record becomes progressively less voluminous and less complete with increasing age. Here we show that the predictions of a model in which the destruction of sedimentary rock is the predominant process signal are borne out only among sediments deposited on oceanic crust and among sediments deposited above sea level in non-marine environments. Most of the surviving volume of sedimentary rock (∼75%) was deposited in and adjacent to shallow seas on continental crust and does not exhibit any steady decrease in quantity with increasing age. Instead, shallow marine sediments exhibit large fluctuations in quantity that were driven by shifting global tectonic boundary conditions, such as those that occur during the breakup and coalescence of supercontinents. The accumulation of sediments on the continents has not been uniform in rate, but it does record a primary signal of net growth that has many implications for the long-term evolution of Earth’s surface environment.
Protocol for a prospective observational study of cortical lower urinary tract control changes following intradetrusor injection of botulinum toxin-A in patients with multiple sclerosis
Authors: Elizondo Rodolfo A , Karmonik Christof , Boone Timothy B , Khavari Rose
Published: February 2017

Introduction

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a severe debilitating disease that affects patients' quality of life. Up to 90% of patients with MS will develop lower urinary tract dysfunction within the first 18 years of the disease. If oral pharmacotherapy with anticholinergics, behavioural modifications and pelvic floor physical therapy are unsuccessful, intradetrusor injection of botulinum toxin-A (OnaBotA; Botox Allergan, Dublin, Ireland) is a highly effective option for these patients. The local effects of OnaBotA are well understood, but not much is known of its afferent/sensory effects while treating the end organ. Our study will use functional MRI (fMRI) and task-related blood oxygen level-dependent signals to evaluate patients with MS and neurogenic detrusor overactivity (NDO) prior to, and after, intradetrusor injection of OnaBotA with simultaneous urodynamic evaluation. Urinary concentration of brain-derived neurotrophic factor and nerve growth factor will also be collected since it has been shown that patients with an overactive bladder have higher concentrations of these neuropeptides.

Methods and analysis

Female patients with MS and lower urinary tract symptoms who previously have undergone urodynamic screening and are refractory to conservative and oral pharmacotherapy management for NDO and are interested in OnaBotA intradetrusor injection will be invited to participate in the study. An fMRI will be performed preintradetrusor injection and postintradetrusor injection of OnaBotA with simultaneous MRI compatible with material urodynamics. Images will be collected and analysed accordingly.

Ethics and dissemination

All of the patients are properly consented before enrolling in this study that has been previously approved by the Institutional Review Board. Results of neural connectivity activation will be presented at national and international meetings and published in scholarly journals.
miR-135a-5p-mediated downregulation of protein tyrosine phosphatase receptor delta is a candidate driver of HCV-associated hepatocarcinogenesis
Authors: Van Renne Nicolaas , Roca Suarez Armando Andres , Duong Francois H T , Gondeau Claire , Calabrese Diego , Fontaine Nelly , Ababsa Amina , Bandiera Simonetta , Croonenborghs Tom , Pochet Nathalie , De Blasi Vito , Pessaux Patrick , Piardi Tullio , Sommacale Daniele , Ono Atsushi , Chayama Kazuaki , Fujita Masashi , Nakagawa Hidewaki , Hoshida Yujin , Zeisel Mirjam B , Heim Markus H , Baumert Thomas F , Lupberger Joachim
Published: February 2017

Background and aims

HCV infection is a leading risk factor of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, even after viral clearance, HCC risk remains elevated. HCV perturbs host cell signalling to maintain infection, and derailed signalling circuitry is a key driver of carcinogenesis. Since protein phosphatases are regulators of signalling events, we aimed to identify phosphatases that respond to HCV infection with relevance for hepatocarcinogenesis.

Methods

We assessed mRNA and microRNA (miRNA) expression profiles in primary human hepatocytes, liver biopsies and resections of patients with HCC, and analysed microarray and RNA-seq data from paired liver biopsies of patients with HCC. We revealed changes in transcriptional networks through gene set enrichment analysis and correlated phosphatase expression levels to patient survival and tumour recurrence.

Results

We demonstrate that tumour suppressor protein tyrosine phosphatase receptor delta (PTPRD) is impaired by HCV infection in vivo and in HCC lesions of paired liver biopsies independent from tissue inflammation or fibrosis. In liver tissue adjacent to tumour, high PTPRD levels are associated with a dampened transcriptional activity of STAT3, an increase of patient survival from HCC and reduced tumour recurrence after surgical resection. We identified miR-135a-5p as a mechanistic regulator of hepatic PTPRD expression in patients with HCV.

Conclusions

We previously demonstrated that STAT3 is required for HCV infection. We conclude that HCV promotes a STAT3 transcriptional programme in the liver of patients by suppressing its regulator PTPRD via upregulation of miR-135a-5p. Our results show the existence of a perturbed PTPRD–STAT3 axis potentially driving malignant progression of HCV-associated liver disease.
Ticagrelor reversal:in vitroassessment of four haemostatic agents
Authors: Calmette Leyla , Martin Anne-Céline , Le Bonniec Bernard , Zlotnik Diane , Gouin-Thibault Isabelle , Bachelot-Loza Christilla , Gaussem Pascale , Godier Anne
Published: February 2017

Aim

Management of ticagrelor-induced bleeding is challenging as platelet transfusion is ineffective. An effective strategy is needed. This study aimed to investigatein vitrothe efficacy of four haemostatic drugs (HDs), namely recombinant activated factor VII (rFVIIa), fibrinogen concentrate (Fib), tranexamic acid (TXA) and factor XIII concentrate (FXIII) to improve the haemostatic capacity in the presence of ticagrelor.

Methods

Blood was spiked with ticagrelor then supplemented by either HD or control. Several assays were performed: ADP-induced platelet aggregation measured by impedance aggregometry, light transmission and two global assays, thrombolastography with the platelet mapping device (TEG-PM) and a platelet-dependent thrombin generation assay (TGA).

Results

Ticagrelor inhibited ADP-induced platelet aggregation and decreased the clot strength maximum amplitude (MA) in TEG-PMADP. None of the HDs corrected these parameters. However, rFVIIa shortened the coagulation time R using TEG-PMthrombinand the time to peak prolonged by ticagrelor in TGA. Fib increased MAthrombinand FXIII decreased LY30. TXA had no effects.

Conclusions

Whereas none of the HDs corrected ticagrelor-induced platelet inhibition, rFVIIa shortened coagulation times, Fib increased clot firmness and FXIII decreased fibrinolysis. Consequently, they may bypass ticagrelor effects by acting on fibrin formation or fibrinolysis. Further studies are needed to confirm these datain vivo.
Ab initio study of the mechanical and electronic properties of scheelite-type XWO4(X = Ca, Sr, Ba) compounds
Authors: Benmakhlouf A. , Errandonea D. , Bouhemadou A. , Bentabet A. , Maabed S. , Bouchenafa M. , Bin-Omran S.
Published: February 2017

The structural, mechanical, and electronic properties of scheelite-type CaWO4, SrWO4, and BaWO4 have been investigated using density-functional theory (DFT) within the generalized-gradient approximation (GGA). In particular, we have studied the effect of pressure in the crystal structure, elastic constants [Formula: see text], elastic moduli ([Formula: see text], [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text]), and elastic anisotropy. We have also investigated the band structure of the three studied compounds and the effect of pressure in their electronic bandgap. The obtained results compare well with experimental results regarding the high-pressure (HP) behavior of the crystal structure. The reported calculations allow us to get a better understanding of effects caused by compression on scheelite-type oxides and to predict the HP response of physical properties of importance for different technological applications.
Structure design and driving voltage optimization of a novel giant magnetostrictive actuator
Authors: Xue Guangming , Zhang Peilin , He Zhongbo , Li Dongwei , Cai Canwei
Published: February 2017

Typical giant magnetostrictive actuator (GMA) cannot meet the requirement of driving a high-speed on–off valve for limitation in bias magnetic field exerted on giant magnetostrictive material. To solve this problem, a novel GMA is designed with zero bias magnetic field. Furthermore, to satisfy the requirement of the displacement direction, a “T” type transfer rod is joined to convert material’s elongating into actuator’s shortening. Simultaneously, long responding time of the actuator, especially the rising time of coil current, is also considered in this paper. The transient-state current is modeled based on the equivalent circuit considering parallel resistance of the coil, and from computed result, high opening voltage can be taken to promote responding speed of the actuator, and then an optimized driving voltage wave is presented. At last, with the help of an experimental system, the current model is verified and the driving effect of optimized voltage wave is tested and analyzed.
A FIRST CRYPTOSYSTEM FOR SECURITY OF TWO-DIMENSIONAL DATA
Authors: MISHRA D. C. , SHARMA HIMANI , SHARMA R. K. , KUMAR NAVEEN
Published: February 2017

In this paper, we present a novel technique for security of two-dimensional data with the help of cryptography and steganography. The presented approach provides multilayered security of two-dimensional data. First layer security was developed by cryptography and second layer by steganography. The advantage of steganography is that the intended secret message does not attract attention to itself as an object of scrutiny. This paper proposes a novel approach for encryption and decryption of information in the form of Word Data (.doc file), PDF document (.pdf file), Text document, Gray-scale images, and RGB images, etc. by using Vigenere Cipher (VC) associated with Discrete Fourier Transform (DFT) and then hiding the data behind the RGB image (i.e. steganography). Earlier developed techniques provide security of either PDF data, doc data, text data or image data, but not for all types of two-dimensional data and existing techniques used either cryptography or steganography for security. But proposed approach is suitable for all types of data and designed for security of information by cryptography and steganography. The experimental results for Word Data, PDF document, Text document, Gray-scale images and RGB images support the robustness and appropriateness for secure transmission of these data. The security analysis shows that the presented technique is immune from cryptanalytic. This technique further provides security while decryption as a check on behind which RGB color the information is hidden.