bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Propentofylline, phosphodiesterase and adenosine reuptake inhibitor modulates lymphocyte subsets and lymphocyte activity after in-vivo administration in non-immunized and SRBC-immunized mice
Authors: Szczypka Marianna , Lis Magdalena , Suszko-Pawłowska Agnieszka , Pawlak Aleksandra , Sysak Angelika , Obmińska-Mrukowicz Bożena
Published: June 2017

Objectives

The aim of the study was to investigate immunomodulatory effect of in-vivo administered propentofylline on the subsets and activity of murine lymphocytes.

Methods

Propentofylline (3 mg/kg) was administered orally to 8-week-old Balb/c mice, once or six times at 12-h intervals. The lymphocyte subsets, regulatory T cells, IL-5 and TNF levels were determined 12 h and 24 h after a single dose or after the sixth dose of the drug in non-immunized mice. Humoral immune response in sheep red blood cells (SRBC)-immunized mice was determined 4, 7 and 14 days after immunization.

Key findings

Propentofylline inhibited thymocyte maturation (increase in CD4−CD8− thymocyte subset and decrease in the percentage of CD4+CD8+ thymocytes) and modulated the lymphocyte subsets in spleen and mesenteric lymph nodes. An increase in the absolute count and percentage of splenic regulatory T cells (CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ cells) was noticed 24 h after single administration of the drug. Propentofylline lowered serum level of IL-5 and did not affect TNF concentration. Only a weak inhibitory effect on anti-SRBC humoral immune response was observed.

Conclusions

Propentofylline administration induced inhibition of thymocyte maturation and an increase in Treg subset that might be beneficial for an inhibition of immune response.
All species are important, but some species are more important than others
Authors: Ellison Aaron M. , Degrassi Allyson L.
Published: June 2017

Foundation species control biodiversity and ecosystem processes, but are difficult to identify. In this issue of the Journal of Vegetation Science, Elumeeva et al. show that Festuca varia and Nardus stricta act as foundation species in the Caucasus’ alpine. This paper augments the piecemeal literature on foundation species while highlighting the need for more comprehensive approaches to their identification and conservation.
Unemployment Exits Before and During the Crisis
Authors: Nagore García Amparo , van Soest Arthur
Published: June 2017

Using administrative data from Spain, we compare the pattern and the determinants of individual unemployment durations and the stability of jobs found after unemployment before and during the recent crisis. We find particularly strong effects of the crisis on the hazards in the beginning of the unemployment spell. The groups hit hardest by the crisis are men, immigrants, older workers, and low‐educated individuals. The disadvantage of men is mainly due to the more pro‐cyclical nature of men's jobs. The increase in average unemployment duration and the fall in the duration of new jobs are not explained by composition effects.
Bactericidal peptidoglycan recognition protein induces oxidative stress in Escherichia coli through a block in respiratory chain and increase in central carbon catabolism
Authors: Kashyap Des R. , Kuzma Marcin , Kowalczyk Dominik A. , Gupta Dipika , Dziarski Roman
Published: June 2017

Mammalian Peptidoglycan Recognition Proteins (PGRPs) kill both Gram‐positive and Gram‐negative bacteria through simultaneous induction of oxidative, thiol and metal stress responses in bacteria. However, metabolic pathways through which PGRPs induce these bactericidal stress responses are unknown. We screened Keio collection of Escherichia coli deletion mutants and revealed that deleting genes for respiratory chain flavoproteins or for tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle resulted in increased resistance of E. coli to PGRP killing. PGRP‐induced killing depended on the production of hydrogen peroxide, which required increased supply of NADH for respiratory chain oxidoreductases from central carbon catabolism (glycolysis and TCA cycle), and was controlled by cAMP‐Crp. Bactericidal PGRP induced a rapid decrease in respiration, which suggested that the main source of increased production of hydrogen peroxide was a block in respiratory chain and diversion of electrons from NADH oxidoreductases to oxygen. CpxRA two‐component system was a negative regulator of PGRP‐induced oxidative stress. By contrast, PGRP‐induced thiol stress (depletion of thiols) and metal stress (increase in intracellular free Zn2+ through influx of extracellular Zn2+) were mostly independent of oxidative stress. Thus, manipulating pathways that induce oxidative, thiol and metal stress in bacteria could be a useful strategy to design new approaches to antibacterial therapy.
Effectiveness of a fixed combination formula of ombitasvir/paritaprevir/ritonavir for hepatitis C virus infection in patients on maintenance haemodialysis
Authors: Morisawa Norihiko , Koshima Yohei , Kuriyama Satoru , Matsuyama Momoko , Hayashi Naomi , Satoh Jun‐ichi , Amemiya Morimasa , Yokoo Takashi
Published: June 2017

A fixed‐dose formula that combines Ombitasvir (OBV), Paritaprevir (PTV) and Ritonavir (RTV) has been launched into the field of anti‐HCV therapy in Japan for patients infected with HCV genotypes 1 and 2 in 2015. However, little is yet known as to the efficacy and safety of this novel therapy in patients on maintenance haemodialysis (HD). The present report describes a preliminary experience in 10 patients (five males and five females) who underwent maintenance HD. All of them had HCV genotype 1b, without having the resistance‐associated variants at Y93 or L31 in the nonstructural proteins 5A (NS5A) region. After the treatment, eight patients successfully achieved virus eradication and sustained a virological response at 12 weeks (SVR12). In addition, mac‐2 binding protein glycosylation isomer (M2BPGi), a biomarker for liver fibrosis, was reduced after the therapy. Two patients withdrew from the therapy due to the development of erythema multiforme and a strong drowsiness, respectively. These results suggest that triple therapy combining OBV, PTV and RTV is effective in achieving SVR12 in most of the HCV‐infected patients on HD. In addition, this combination therapy contributed to retard the progression of liver fibrosis. However, we suggest that further trial will be required to establish its clinical efficacy and safety.
Cerebral metabolic alterations and cognitive dysfunction in children with chronic kidney disease using magnetic resonance spectroscopy and Wechsler intelligence scale
Authors: Youssef Doaa Mohammed , Mohamed Ahmed Hosny , Attia Wafaa Mahmoud kamel , Mohammad Faten Fawzy , El Fatah Nelly Rafaat Abd , El‐Shal Amal Saeed
Published: June 2017

Aim

Many studies have described impaired intelligence, attention, memory and executive function in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) dialyzed and non‐dialyzed, but there is still a lack of sensitive and early methods of detection of these deficits. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between brain metabolic alteration [measured by magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS)] and cognitive dysfunction in CKD children (detected by psychometric analysis).

Methods

One hundred and forty patients with CKD were included (40 patients with stage 5 CKD on dialysis, 30 patients with stage 4 to 5 CKD without dialysis, and 70 patients with stage 1 to 3 CKD). All patients with previous neurological disorders were excluded. Conventional MRI, MRS and psychometric assessment using Wechsler intelligence scale for children third edition was done in all participants.

Results

We found a significant negative correlation between MRS abnormalities and Wechsler IQ Test scores. But there was a significantly positive correlation between the CKD stages and MRS abnormalities in patients with CKD and negative significant correlation between CKD stages and Wechsler IQ test scores in patients with CKD. There were correlations between “the electrolyte disturbance, blood haemoglobin and hypertension” and “the CKD staging, cognitive functions IQ scores and MRS parameter changes”.

Conclusion

It was concluded that both MRS and psychometric tests are sensitive methods for detection of impaired cognitive function in CKD children, particularly in the dialyzed group, and these findings appear before a clinical diagnosis.
Persistent negative temperature response of mesophyll conductance in red raspberry (Rubus idaeus L.) leaves under both high and low vapour pressure deficits: a role for abscisic acid?
Authors: Qiu Changpeng , Ethier Gilbert , Pepin Steeve , Dubé Pascal , Desjardins Yves , Gosselin André
Published: June 2017

The temperature dependence of mesophyll conductance (gm) was measured in well‐watered red raspberry (Rubus idaeus L.) plants acclimated to leaf‐to‐air vapour pressure deficit (VPDL) daytime differentials of contrasting amplitude, keeping a fixed diurnal leaf temperature (Tleaf) rise from 20 to 35 °C. Contrary to the great majority of gm temperature responses published to date, we found a pronounced reduction of gm with increasing Tleaf irrespective of leaf chamber O2 level and diurnal VPDL regime. Leaf hydraulic conductance was greatly enhanced during the warmer afternoon periods under both low (0.75 to 1.5 kPa) and high (0.75 to 3.5 kPa) diurnal VPDL regimes, unlike stomatal conductance (gs), which decreased in the afternoon. Consequently, the leaf water status remained largely isohydric throughout the day, and therefore cannot be evoked to explain the diurnal decrease of gm. However, the concerted diurnal reductions of gm and gs were well correlated with increases in leaf abscisic acid (ABA) content, thus suggesting that ABA can induce a significant depression of gm under favourable leaf water status. Our results challenge the view that the temperature dependence of gm can be explained solely from dynamic leaf anatomical adjustments and/or from the known thermodynamic properties of aqueous solutions and lipid membranes.​
PARVUS affects aluminium sensitivity by modulating the structure of glucuronoxylan in Arabidopsis thaliana
Authors: Zhu Xiao Fang , Wan Jiang Xue , Wu Qi , Zhao Xu Sheng , Zheng Shao Jian , Shen Ren Fang
Published: June 2017

Glucuronoxylan (GX), an important component of hemicellulose in the cell wall, appears to affect aluminium (Al) sensitivity in plants. To investigate the role of GX in cell‐wall‐localized xylan, we examined the Arabidopsis thaliana parvus mutant in detail. This mutant lacks α‐D‐glucuronic acid (GlcA) side chains in GX and has greater resistance to Al stress than wild‐type (WT) plants. The parvus mutant accumulated lower levels of Al in its roots and cell walls than WT despite having cell wall pectin content and pectin methylesterase (PME) activity similar to those of WT. Our results suggest that the altered properties of hemicellulose in the mutant contribute to its decreased Al accumulation. Although we observed almost no differences in hemicellulose content between parvus and WT under control conditions, less Al was retained in parvus hemicellulose than in WT. This observation is consistent with the finding that GlcA substitutions in WT GX, but not mutant GX, were increased under Al stress. Taken together, these results suggest that the modulation of GlcA levels in GX affects Al resistance by influencing the Al binding capacity of the root cell wall in Arabidopsis.
The effects of the chief technology officer and firm and industry R&D intensity on organizational performance
Authors: Medcof John W. , Lee Tien
Published: June 2017

Between 1993 and 2013 the number and power of CTOs increased; as indicated in the percentage of firms with CTOs, their increasing presence on boards, their compensation relative to their CEOs, and compensation relative to other highly compensated executives. Firms which pursue an aggressive technology strategy (powerful CTO, high R&D spending) in industries in which technology is a critical contingency have well above normal market adjusted returns while those which pursue that strategy in industries in which technology is not critical have well below normal returns. These results empirically confirm longstanding, untested assumptions in the field of technology management. Moreover, the effect of R&D expenditures on firm performance is contingent on the degree to which technology is a critical contingency in the industry and on the power of the firm's CTO. These findings may explain the mixed results of past studies of the effects of R&D expenditure on firm performance. A model which integrates its own insights with those of earlier work on CTOs, R&D expenditures, firm strategy, and firm power dynamics is presented and supported.
Young athletes with ventricular premature beats: Continuing or not intense training and competition?
Authors: Parisi A. , Tranchita E. , Minganti C. , Sperandii F. , Guerra E. , Calò L. , Borrione P. , Pigozzi F.
Published: June 2017

Isolated ventricular premature beats (VPBs) are commonly found during pre‐participation screening in athletes. Currently, the debate about the role of detraining in reducing the number of VPBs is still open. This study evaluated the arrhythmic risk in a population of young competitive athletes who showed VPBs during eligibility evaluation and that did not undergo detraining but continued practicing competitive sports. 3746 consecutive subjects underwent pre‐participation screening. Athletes who showed VPBs were selected and underwent second level evaluation (Echocardiogram, 24 hour Holter ECG and Exercise test). Athletes were re‐evaluated after a follow‐up period (6‐48 months) while they continued practicing competitive sports. 5.3% of the whole population showed ventricular arrhythmias. 73% of the subjects showed isolated VPBs. 88% of the subjects showed monomorphic VPBs, and 12% of athletes showed polymorphic VPBs. At echocardiogram, there was not any pathology which contraindicated competitive sport activity. At 24 hour Holter ECG recording, mean number of daily VPBs was 1592±3217 (range 0‐16678). At holter ECG follow‐up (16±12 months), the median number of VPBs decreased from 93 (IQR 20‐3065) to a new value of 72 (IQR 2‐1299). Continuing competitive sport in subjects with ventricular arrhythmias even though frequent but with a low grade of complexity and without structural cardiomyopathy does not increase sudden death risk.
Identification of 400 novel alleles at the HLA‐A, ‐B, ‐C, ‐DRB1, ‐DQB1 loci from China Marrow Donor Program
Authors: Chai X. , Zhang H. , Yang X. , Yang F. , Liu N.
Published: June 2017

Four hundred novel human leukocyte antigen (HLA) alleles were identified in Chinese individuals: 100 HLA‐A alleles, 100 HLA‐B alleles, 101 HLA‐C alleles, 28 HLA‐DRB1 alleles and 71 HLA‐DQB1 alleles. Comparing novel alleles with their most homologous allele, we found 72.73% non‐synonymous nucleotide substitutions, 21.13% silent mutations, 3.90% nonsense mutations and 3.25% frameshift mutation. 352 (88%) of the 400 novel alleles are single nucleotide substitution variants when compared with their most homologous alleles and other novel alleles differ from their most similar allele by more than 1 nucleotide substitutions, such as 2, 3, 5, 6, 8 and so on. Some of the novel alleles are characterized by long deletions or insertions, for example there is 23 bp deletion in the B*58:31N allele when compared to its most homologous allele B*58:01:01:01.
The Role of Multiword Building Blocks in Explaining L1–L2 Differences
Authors: Arnon Inbal , Christiansen Morten H.
Published: June 2017

Why are children better language learners than adults despite being worse at a range of other cognitive tasks? Here, we explore the role of multiword sequences in explaining L1–L2 differences in learning. In particular, we propose that children and adults differ in their reliance on such multiword units (MWUs) in learning, and that this difference affects learning strategies and outcomes, and leads to difficulty in learning certain grammatical relations. In the first part, we review recent findings that suggest that MWUs play a facilitative role in learning. We then discuss the implications of these findings for L1–L2 differences: We hypothesize that adults are both less likely to extract MWUs and less capable of benefiting from them in the process of learning. In the next section, we draw on psycholinguistic, developmental, and computational findings to support these predictions. We end with a discussion of the relation between this proposal and other accounts of L1–L2 difficulty.
Loss of CDKC;2 increases both cell division and drought tolerance in Arabidopsis thaliana
Authors: Zhao Lina , Li Yaqiong , Xie Qi , Wu Yaorong
Published: June 2017

Drought stress is one of the abiotic stresses that limit plant growth and agricultural productivity. To further understand the mechanism of drought tolerance and identify the genes involved in this process, a genetic screen for altered drought response was conducted in Arabidopsis. One mutant with enhanced drought tolerance was isolated and named Arabidopsis drought tolerance mutant 1 (atdtm1), which has larger lateral organs, prolonged growth duration, increased relative water content and a reduced leaf stomatal density compared with the wild type. The loss of AtDTM1 increases cell division during leaf development. The phenotype is caused by the loss of a T‐DNA tagged gene encoding CYCLIN‐DEPENDENT KINASE C;2 (CDKC;2), which functions in the regulation of transcription by influencing the phosphorylation status of RNA polymerase II (Pol II). Here, we show that CDKC;2 affects the transcription of downstream genes such as cell cycle genes and genes involved in stomatal development, resulting in altered plant organ size as well as drought tolerance of the plant. These results reveal the crucial role of CDKC;2 in modulating both cell division and the drought response in Arabidopsis.
Wounding of Arabidopsis leaves induces indole‐3‐carbinol‐dependent autophagy in roots of Arabidopsis thaliana
Authors: Katz Ella , Chamovitz Daniel A.
Published: June 2017

In cruciferous plants insect attack or physical damage induce the synthesis of the glucosinolate breakdown product indole‐3‐carbinol, which plays a key role in the defense against attackers. Indole‐3‐carbinol also affects plant growth and development, acting as an auxin antagonist by binding to the TIR1 auxin receptor. Other potential functions of indole‐3‐carbinol and the underlying mechanisms in plant biology are unknown. Here we show that an indole‐3‐carbinol‐dependent signal induces specific autophagy in root cells. Leaf treatment with exogenous indole‐3‐carbinol or leaf‐wounding induced autophagy and inhibited auxin response in the root. This induction is lost in glucosinolate‐defective mutants, indicating that the effect of indole‐3‐carbinol is transported in the plants. Thus, indole‐3‐carbinol is not only a defensive metabolite that repels insects, but is also involved in long‐distance communication regulating growth and development in plants.
Determination of Parabolic Trough Solar Collector Efficiency Using Nanofluid: A Comprehensive Numerical Study
Authors: Khakrah Hamidreza , Shamloo Amir , Kazemzadeh Hannani Siamak
Published: June 2017

Due to significant reduction in fossil fuel sources, several researches have been conducted recently to explore modern sources of renewable energy. One of the major fields in the category of renewable energy harnessing devices is parabolic trough solar collector (PTC). Several parameters have effect on the overall efficiency of the PTCs. As the effect of these parameters is coupled to each other, a comprehensive investigation is necessary. In the present study, a numerical analysis is performed to examine the efficiency of PTCs via variation of several governing parameters (e.g., wind velocity magnitude, nanoparticles volume fraction, inlet temperature, and reflector's orientation). A detailed set of absorber, reflector, and protection glass in addition to the surrounding environment is modeled to capture sufficiently accurate data. The working fluid is assumed to be nanofluid to inspect the advantage of metallic nanoparticle addition to the base fluid. The Monte Carlo radiation tracing method is utilized to calculate the solar gain on the absorber tube. According to the obtained results, the efficiencies are reduced by 1–3% by rotating the reflector by 30 deg relative to wind direction. Moreover, 14.3% and 12.4% efficiency enhancement is obtained by addition of 5% volume fraction of Al2O3 to the base synthetic oil for horizontal and rotated reflectors, respectively.
Vibroacoustic response of panels under diffuse acoustic field excitation from sensitivity functions and reciprocity principles
Authors: Marchetto Christophe , Maxit Laurent , Robin Olivier , Berry Alain
Published: June 2017

This paper aims at developing an experimental method to characterize the vibroacoustic response of a panel to a diffuse acoustic field (DAF) excitation with a different laboratory setup than those used in standards (i.e., coupled rooms). The proposed methodology is based on a theoretical model of the DAF and on the measurement of the panel's sensitivity functions, which characterize its vibroacoustic response to wall plane waves. These functions can be estimated experimentally using variations of the reciprocity principle, which are described in the present paper. These principles can either be applied for characterizing the structural response by exciting the panel with a normal force at the point of interest or for characterizing the acoustic response (radiated pressure, acoustic intensity) by exciting the panel with a monopole and a dipole source. For both applications, the validity of the proposed approach is numerically and experimentally verified on a test case composed of a baffled simply supported plate. An implementation for estimating the sound transmission loss of the plate is finally proposed. The results are discussed and compared with measurements performed in a coupled anechoic-reverberant room facility following standards.
Draft Genome Sequence of Aeromonas hydrophila Strain BSK-10 (Serotype O97), Isolated from
Carassius carassius
with Motile Aeromonad Septicemia in China
Authors: Pan Xiaoyi , Lin Lingyun , Xu Yang , Yuan Xuemei , Yao Jiayun , Yin Wenlin , Hao Guijie , Shen Jinyu
Published: June 2017

We report here a draft genome sequence of
Aeromonas hydrophila
strain BSK-10, belonging to serotype O97, isolated from crucian carp (
Carassius carassius
) with motile aeromonad septicemia in Zhejiang, China. The assembly resulted in 34 scaffolds totaling approximately 4.97 Mb, with an average G+C content of 60.97% and 4,594 predicted coding genes.
Draft Genome Sequence of Campylobacter jejuni CAM970 and C. coli CAM962, Associated with a Large Outbreak of Foodborne Illness in Fukuoka, Japan, in 2016
Authors: Asakura Hiroshi , Takahashi Naoto , Yamamoto Shiori , Maruyama Hiroyuki
Published: June 2017

Here, we report the draft genome sequences of
Campylobacter jejuni
CAM970 and
C. coli
CAM962, which were associated with a large outbreak of foodborne illness originating from undercooked chicken sushi in Fukuoka, Japan, in May 2016. Their genome sizes were 1,690,901 and 1,704,736 bp, with 22 and 23 rRNAs, 9 and 9 tRNAs, and 411× and 419× coverage for
C. jejuni
CAM970 and
C. coli
CAM962, respectively.
The Genome Sequence of Weissella cibaria DmW_103, Isolated from Wild
Drosophila
Authors: Ricks Nathan J. , Carroll Courtney , Walters Amber , Newell Peter D. , Chaston John M.
Published: June 2017

Lactic acid bacteria are commonly associated with
Drosophila
spp. Here, we report on the isolation of a strain of
Weissella cibaria
and the sequencing, assembly, and annotation of its genome. A total of 35 contigs were generated, with 2,349 coding sequences found.
Complete Genome Sequences of the
p1
Gene Type 2b and 2c Strains Mycoplasma pneumoniae KCH-402 and KCH-405
Authors: Kenri Tsuyoshi , Suzuki Masato , Horino Atsuko , Sekizuka Tsuyoshi , Kuroda Makoto , Fujii Hiroyuki , Hashimoto Toru , Nakajima Hiroshi , Ohya Hitomi , Shibayama Keigo
Published: June 2017

Here, we present the complete genome sequences of
Mycoplasma pneumoniae
KCH-402 and KCH-405, which are
p1
gene type 2b and 2c strains, respectively. These strains harbor variations in the
orf6
gene, which encodes the cytadherence-related proteins P40 and P90.
Draft Genome Sequences of Extended-Spectrum-Beta-Lactamase-Producing Morganella morganii Strains AA1 and AV1, Isolated from a Freshwater Lake and
Eicchornia
crassipes
Roots
Authors: Lata Pushpa , Govindarajan Subramaniam S. , Qi Feng , Li Jian-Liang , Maurya Santosh K. , Sahoo Malaya K.
Published: June 2017

Two strains of
Morganella morganii
, AA1 and AV1, were isolated from freshwater and
Eicchornia crassipes
roots, respectively. Here, we report their draft genome sequences, which are ~3.6 Mb and have 51% G+C content. The predicted coding sequences (3,259 for strain AA1 and 3,345 for strain AV1) encode beta-lactamases, transpeptidases, and penicillin-binding proteins.
Complete Genome Sequence of the Photoautotrophic and Bacteriochlorophyll
e
-Synthesizing Green Sulfur Bacterium Chlorobaculum limnaeum DSM 1677
T
Authors: Tank Marcus , Liu Zhenfeng , Frigaard Niels-Ulrik , Tomsho Lynn P. , Schuster Stephan C. , Bryant Donald A.
Published: June 2017

Chlorobaculum limnaeum
DSM 1677
T
is a mesophilic, brown-colored, chlorophototrophic green sulfur bacterium that produces bacteriochlorophyll
e
and the carotenoid isorenieratene as major pigments. This bacterium serves as a model organism in molecular research on photosynthesis, sulfur metabolism, and bacteriochlorophyll biosynthesis. We report here the complete genome sequence.
Permanent Draft Genome Sequence for
Frankia
sp. Strain Cc1.17, a Nitrogen-Fixing Actinobacterium Isolated from Root Nodules of
Colletia cruciata
Authors: Swanson Erik , Oshone Rediet , Nouioui Imen , Abebe-Akele Feseha , Simpson Stephen , Morris Krystalynne , Thomas W. Kelley , Sen Arnab , Ghodhbane-Gtari Faten , Gtari Maher , Tisa Louis S.
Published: June 2017

Frankia
sp. strain Cc1.17 is a member of the
Frankia
lineage 3, the organisms of which are able to reinfect plants of the Eleagnaceae, Rhamnaceae, and Myricaceae families and the genera
Gynmnostoma
and
Alnus
. Here, we report the 8.4-Mbp draft genome sequence, with a G+C content of 72.14% and 6,721 candidate protein-coding genes.
Draft Genome Sequence of
Pseudoruegeria
sp. SK021, a Representative of the Marine
Roseobacter
Group, Isolated from North Sea Sediment
Authors: Pohlner Marion , Marshall Ian , Schreiber Lars , Cypionka Heribert , Engelen Bert
Published: June 2017

Pseudoruegeria
sp. SK021 is a member of the
Roseobacter
group, isolated under aerobic conditions from North Sea sediment. The draft genome comprises 3.95 Mb and contains 3,747 protein-coding sequences. Although the strain is nonmotile under laboratory conditions, the entire set of genes for the formation of a flagellar apparatus was found.
It's a cod! Finding Nemo (impacted fishbone) in the emergency department
Authors: McCabe Aileen , Patton Andrew , Salter Nigel
Published: June 2017

A 23-year-old woman presented to the emergency department (ED) with a sensation of a ‘fish bone’ stuck in her throat after eating cod. On physical examination, while she reported an uncomfortable sensation in her throat, no airway compromise was evident. Clinical examination, including ear, nose and throat (ENT) and oropharyngeal assessment, was unremarkable. A linear opacity consistent with a fishbone was visualised on a soft tissue lateral neck X-ray anterior to the vertebral body of C4–6. One attempt to visualise the fishbone on direct laryngoscopy failed in the ED. The fishbone was later removed the next day via direct visualisation with a flexible endoscope in the operating theatre by the ENT surgical team. The patient’s recovery was uneventful.
Renal capillary haemangioma associated with renal cell carcinoma and polycythaemia in acquired cystic disease
Authors: Beamer Matthew , Love Matthew , Ghasemian Seyed
Published: June 2017

Capillary haemangiomas are relatively common tumours, typically occurring in the subcutaneous tissue during childhood. However, visceral occurrence is very rare. These tumours make up a subset of vascular lesions that have previously, although rarely, been described in case reports in association with the kidney. Here we review the literature and describe a capillary haemangioma occurring in the renal hilum found to be coexistent with end-stage renal disease, renal cell carcinoma and polycythaemia. To our knowledge, this is the first case report to describe the occurrence of this tumour in the renal hilum in association with this constitution of renal pathologies.
Diagnostic performance of an automatic blood pressure measurement device, Microlife WatchBP Home A, for atrial fibrillation screening in a real-world primary care setting
Authors: Chan Pak-Hei , Wong Chun-Ka , Pun Louise , Wong Yu-Fai , Wong Michelle Man-Ying , Chu Daniel Wai-Sing , Siu Chung-Wah
Published: June 2017

Objective

To evaluate the diagnostic performance of a UK National Institute for Health and Care Excellence-recommended automatic oscillometric blood pressure (BP) measurement device incorporated with an atrial fibrillation (AF) detection algorithm (Microlife WatchBP Home A) for real-world AF screening in a primary healthcare setting.

Setting

Primary healthcare setting in Hong Kong.

Interventions

This was a prospective AF screening study carried out between 1 September 2014 and 14 January 2015. The Microlife device was evaluated for AF detection and compared with a reference standard of lead-I ECG.

Primary outcome measures

Diagnostic performance of Microlife for AF detection.

Results

5969 patients (mean age: 67.2±11.0 years; 53.9% female) were recruited. The mean CHA2DS2-VASc (C: congestive heart failure [1 point];H: hypertension [1 point];A2: age 65-74 years [1 point] and age ≥75 years [2 points];D: diabetes mellitus [1 point];S: prior stroke or transient ischemic attack [2 points];VA: vascular disease [1 point]; andSc: sex category [female] [1 point])score was 2.8±1.3. AF was diagnosed in 72 patients (1.21%) and confirmed by a 12-lead ECG. The Microlife device correctly identified AF in 58 patients and produced 79 false-positives. The corresponding sensitivity and specificity for AF detection were 80.6% (95% CI 69.5 to 88.9) and 98.7% (95% CI 98.3 to 98.9), respectively. Among patients with a false-positive by the Microlife device, 30.4% had sinus rhythm, 35.4% had sinus arrhythmia and 29.1% exhibited premature atrial complexes. With the low prevalence of AF in this population, the positive and negative predictive values of Microlife device for AF detection were 42.4% (95% CI 34.0 to 51.2) and 99.8% (95% CI 99.6 to 99.9), respectively. The overall diagnostic performance of Microlife device to detect AF as determined by area under the curves was 0.90 (95% CI 0.89 to 0.90).

Conclusions

In the primary care setting, Microlife WatchBP Home was an effective means to screen for AF, with a reasonable sensitivity of 80.6% and a high negative predictive value of 99.8%, in addition to its routine function of BP measurement. In a younger patient population aged <65 years with a lower prevalence of AF, Microlife WatchBP Home A demonstrated a similar diagnostic accuracy.
Rabbits: unilateral perineal‐urinary bladder hernia in a high‐grade cachectic intact female domestic rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus)
Authors: Berk Benjamin Andreas , Böttcher Anja , Nagel Sandra , Günter Katerina Pia
Published: June 2017

A six‐year‐old intactfemale domestic dwarf rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) was presented with an onset of persistent lethargy, inappetence, decreased urination and subcutaneous, fluctuating swelling at the left side of the anal orifice. Physical examination confirmed high‐grade cachexia, general muscular atrophy and perineal repositionable swelling. Reposition was associated with spontaneous urination. Rectal examination revealed dilated pelvic muscles. Radiographs demonstrated an approximately 4×5×3 cm structure of soft tissue opacity with radiopaque content. Needle aspiration exposed cream‐coloured fluid identified as urine by cytology and refractometer. In summary, all clinical findings supported the diagnosis of a bladder herniation through the pelvic muscle into the perineal region. The proposed pathogenesis might be persistent inappetence that resulted in high‐grade cachexia and generalised muscle atrophy, followed by prolapse of the bladder. This is the second published report describing unilateral perineal herniation and incarceration of the bladder in an intactfemale rabbit.
Permeability and porosity models of bi-fractal porous media
Authors: Tan Xiao-Hua , Kui Ming-Qing , Li Xiao-Ping , Mao Zheng-Lin , Xiao Heng
Published: June 2017

In previous studies, it is found that the frame and pore in porous media both possess the fractal geometric character. So the permeability and porosity models of bi-fractal porous media are derived based on the assumption that a porous media consists of fractal solid clusters and capillary bundles. The expressions of presented models are constituted by the fractal parameters of solid cluster and those of capillary bundle. Good agreement between model predictions and experimental data is obtained. This verifies the validity of the permeability and porosity models for bi-fractal porous media. The sensitive parameters that influence the permeability and porosity are specified, and their effects on the relationship between permeability and porosity are discussed.
A Note on Optimization Problems of a Parallel System with a Random Number of Units
Authors: Eryilmaz Serkan
Published: June 2017

This paper is concerned with a parallel system that have a random number of units. The distribution of the number of units is assumed to follow a power series class of distributions which contains well-known distributions such as modified or truncated Poisson, geometric, and logarithmic distributions. Optimal number of units and replacement time for the system which minimizes the mean cost rate are computed. The results extend the results in the literature from Poisson distribution to a wider class of distributions.
Research on Compilation Method of Multi-Axial Loading Spectrum for Cylindrical Shock Absorber
Authors: Gao Qi , Feng Jinzhi , Zheng Songlin , Qiu Xuyun
Published: June 2017

The main failure mode of cylindrical shock absorbers (CSAs) used by taxis in China’s Zhejiang Province is oil leakage because of a large horizontal force loaded on the cylinder wall by a questionnaire survey. The previous CSA durability bench test methods, which do not involve the interaction between horizontal load and vertical load and do not consider the user road spectrum, cannot simulate the real fatigue phenomena of it. In order to preferably reproduce the failure mode and accurately to predict the failure time of the CSA used in the area, a compilation method of multi-axial loading spectrum is proposed based on the road spectrum. The vertical loading spectrum is compiled by using the way of sine on sine, in which high frequency (HF) signal superimposed on low frequency (LF) signal. The LF is determined by the half-power bandwidth theory, which can reflect the power spectral density distribution of the random road spectrum. The HF is determined by the maximum line velocity principle to effectively reduce test time. The loading cycles and amplitudes of them are determined by using the rain-flow counting method. In addition, the horizontal loading force is taken into consideration in the multi-axial loading spectrum. To prove the validation and efficiency of the method described in this paper, the compiled multi-axial loading spectrum was used to conduct the durability bench test. The results show that the mean failure mileage of specimens is close to the mean mileage time of field samples. The failure modes of the specimens are the same as those of field samples. Thus the proposed method can be used as a reference for durability bench test of CSA. The test data can also be used to accurately study the reliability of CSA.
Neural Network-WPCA Based Method for Multi-Objective Optimal Redundancy Allocation
Authors: Fang Yuanchen , Xu Huyang , Fard Nasser
Published: June 2017

For systems with multiple redundancies, reliability evaluation in the redundancy allocation problem (RAP) constitutes a computational complexity. It has been demonstrated that neural network training provides an efficient approach to estimate the complex system reliability function. When executing the neural network algorithm, there are many parameters that need to be determined for improving the training performance. Therefore, robust experimental design method can be used to determine the neural network parameters. The traditional robust design methods are intended for a single response variable. However, the application of neural network method includes more than one measurement, such as estimation accuracy and time efficiency. In this paper, utility function is first estimated by neural network training, in which the algorithm parameters are determined by weighted principal component (WPCA)-based multi-response optimization which simultaneously optimizes more than one training performance measurements. Moreover, it is always desirable to simultaneously optimize several objectives in designing a system, such as reliability, cost, etc. Therefore, continuous WPCA-based multi-response design is then applied to obtain the best design of redundancies in RAP, which simultaneously optimize multiple objectives by taking into account the correlations between them.
Cubic arc-transitive Cayley graphs on Frobenius groups
Authors: Liu Hailin , Wang Lei
Published: June 2017

A Cayley graph [Formula: see text] is called arc-transitive if its automorphism group [Formula: see text] is transitive on the set of arcs in [Formula: see text]. In this paper, we give a characterization of cubic arc-transitive Cayley graphs on a class of Frobenius groups.
THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN TRAINING AND INNOVATION IN COMPANIES
Authors: NARANJO-VALENCIA JULIA CLEMENCIA , NARANJO-HERRERA CRISTIAN GUILLERMO , SERNA-GÓMEZ HÉCTOR MAURICIO , CALDERÓN-HERNÁNDEZ GREGORIO
Published: June 2017

The purpose of this paper is to research the effect of training on innovation in a sample of Colombian industrial companies. To this effect, an analysis of the relationship between training and each one of its dimensions (planning, alignment, assessment and resources) and the types of innovation (technological and non-technological) was carried out. These relationships were studied in 78 companies, using multivariable analysis techniques, such as cluster analysis, analysis of variance (ANOVA) and regression analysis. The results show that the training is closely related to non-technological innovation (organisational and marketing innovation), whereas its relationship with technological innovation (innovation in products and processes) is not as strong.
Soil-Structure Interaction for Integrated Design of Weakened and Damped Structures
Authors: Cimellaro Gian Paolo , Lopez-Garcia Diego , Reinhorn Andrei M.
Published: June 2017

Previous research has shown the effectiveness of the integrated design of weakening and damping techniques (WeD) for the seismic retrofitting of structures. Indeed, WeD techniques are able to reduce inter-story drifts and total accelerations, the two major performance measures to evaluate the seismic behavior of structures. Past research has been applied to fixed-based structures considering relatively stiff soil conditions. It has been suspected, though, that using such techniques in soft soil sites while considering soil structure interaction, may diminish some of the advantages observed in past research. This paper examines the effect of site conditions and soil-structure interaction on the seismic performance of Weakening and Damping techniques. An established rheological soil-shallow foundation-structure model with equivalent linear soil behavior and nonlinear behavior of the superstructure has been used. A large number of models incorporating wide range of soil, foundation and structural parameters were generated using robust Monte-Carlo simulation. The various structural models, along with the various site conditions, have been used for the comparative study. The design methodologies previously developed by the authors have been applied to each model considering different site conditions leading to the optimal weakening and damping. The results of the comparative study are used to quantify the effects of site conditions and foundation flexibility on the performance of the retrofitted structures.
Injectivity in the category of GHS-acts
Authors: Shabir Muhammad , Shaheen Salma , Shum Kar Ping
Published: June 2017

It is known that hypermonoid is closely related to GHS-acts. In this paper, we initiate the study of injective object in the category [Formula: see text]ct-S and explore its properties. Besides other results, we prove that the category [Formula: see text]ct-S has enough injective objects and every GHS-act has a minimal injective extension.
Localization of tetravalent modal algebras
Authors: Figallo Aldo V. , Pelaitay Gustavo
Published: June 2017

The main aim of this paper is to define the localization of a tetravalent modal algebra [Formula: see text] with respect to a topology [Formula: see text] on [Formula: see text]. In Sec. 5, we prove that the tetravalent modal algebra of fractions relative to a ∧-closed system (defined in Definition 3.1) is a tetravalent modal algebra of localization.
Plane Formation by Synchronous Mobile Robots in the Three-Dimensional Euclidean Space
Authors: Yamauchi Yukiko , Uehara Taichi , Kijima Shuji , Yamashita Masafumi
Published: June 2017

Creating a swarm of mobile computing entities, frequently called robots, agents, or sensor nodes, with self-organization ability is a contemporary challenge in distributed computing. Motivated by this, we investigate the
plane formation problem
that requires a swarm of robots moving in the three-dimensional Euclidean space to land on a common plane. The robots are fully synchronous and endowed with visual perception. But they do not have identifiers, nor access to the global coordinate system, nor any means of explicit communication with each other. Though there are plenty of results on the agreement problem for robots in the two-dimensional plane, for example, the point formation problem, the pattern formation problem, and so on, this is the first result for robots in the
three-dimensional space
. This article presents a necessary and sufficient condition for fully synchronous robots to solve the plane formation problem that does not depend on obliviousness, i.e., the availability of local memory at robots. An implication of the result is somewhat counter-intuitive: The robots
cannot
form a plane from most of the semi-regular polyhedra, while they
can
form a plane from every regular polyhedron (except a regular icosahedron), whose symmetry is usually considered to be higher than any semi-regular polyhedron.
Heme-oxygenase-1 Production by Intestinal CX3CR1+ Macrophages Helps to Resolve Inflammation and Prevents Carcinogenesis
Authors: Marelli Giulia , Erreni Marco , Anselmo Achille , Taverniti Valentina , Guglielmetti Simone , Mantovani Alberto , Allavena Paola
Published: June 2017

CX3CR1+ macrophages in the intestinal lamina propria contribute to gut homeostasis through the immunomodulatory interleukin IL10, but there is little knowledge on how these cells or the CX3CR1 receptor may affect colorectal carcinogenesis. In this study, we show that CX3CR1-deficient mice fail to resolve gut inflammation despite high production of IL10 and have increased colitis and adenomatous polyps in chemical and genetic models of colon carcinogenesis. Mechanistically, CX3CL1-mediated engagement of the CX3CR1 receptor induced upregulation of heme-oxygenase-1 (HMOX-1), an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory enzyme. CX3CR1-deficient mice exhibited significantly lower expression of HMOX-1 in their adenomatous colon tissues. Combining LPS and CX3CL1 displayed a strong synergistic effect in vitro, but HMOX-1 levels were significantly lower in KO macrophages. Cohousing of wild-type and CX3CR1−/− mice during the AOM/DSS treatment attenuated disease severity in CX3CR1−/− mice, indicating the importance of the microbiome, but did not fully reinstate HMOX-1 levels and did not abolish polyp formation. In contrast, pharmacologic induction of HMOX-1 in vivo by cobalt protoporphyrin-IX treatment eradicated intestinal inflammation and fully protected KO mice from carcinogenesis. Taken together, our results establish an essential role for the receptor CX3CR1 in gut macrophages in resolving inflammation in the intestine, where it helps protects against colitis-associated cancer by regulating HMOX-1 expression. Cancer Res; 77(16); 4472–85. ©2017 AACR.
Cotargeting of MEK and PDGFR/STAT3 Pathways to Treat Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma
Authors: Sahu Nisebita , Chan Emily , Chu Felix , Pham Thinh , Koeppen Hartmut , Forrest William , Merchant Mark , Settleman Jeff
Published: June 2017

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is among the most lethal human diseases and remains largely refractory to available drug treatments. Insufficient targeting of the known oncogenic drivers and activation of compensatory feedback loops and inability to prevent metastatic spread contribute to poor prognosis for this disease. The KRAS-driven MEK pathway is mutationally activated in most pancreatic cancers and is an important target for therapeutics. Using a two-dimensional monolayer culture system as well as three-dimensional spheroid culture system, we conducted a screen of a large panel of anticancer agents and found that MAP2K (MEK) inhibitors were most effective in targeting PDAC spheroids in comparison with monolayer cultures. Combination treatment with an MEK inhibitor and the multikinase inhibitor ponatinib was effective in targeting pancreatic cancer cells both in monolayer and spheroids by effectively blocking signaling via the PDGFRα and MEK kinases, while also preventing the activation of STAT3- and S6-mediated compensatory feedback loops in cancer cells. Furthermore, using xenograft models, we demonstrate that cotreatment with a MEK inhibitor and ponatinib causes significant tumor regression. PDAC patient samples also provided evidence of increased STAT3 activation in PDAC tumors and MAPK1 (ERK) activation in liver metastases, implicating STAT3 and ERK as key drivers in primary tumors and metastases, respectively. These results reveal a combination drug treatment strategy that may be effective in pancreatic cancer. Mol Cancer Ther; 16(9); 1729–38. ©2017 AACR.