bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A concept analysis of undergraduate nursing students speaking up for patient safety in the patient care environment
Authors: Fagan Anthea , Parker Vicki , Jackson Debra
Published: May 2016

Aim

An analysis of the concept of nursing students speaking up for patient safety in the workplace.

Background

‘Speaking up’ is assertive communication in clinical situations that requires action through questions or statements of opinion or information with appropriate persistence and is linked to patient safety. Previously, the concept of speaking up has focused on the registered or experienced practitioners, there is minimal discussion relating to student nurses. Analysis of the elements of students speaking up will identify the key elements that will give understanding to their position and experiences.

Design

A concept analysis.

Data

Literature included publications between 1970–2015 from,MEDLINE,CINHAL,PUBMEDandSCOPUS. Search terms included patient safetyANDspeaking up;ANDpre‐registration/undergraduate nursing students, patient advocate, error reporting, organizational silence, whistleblowing and clinical placement/practicum.

Methods

The Walker and Avant concept analysis model was modified and used to examine the literature.

Results

Nursing students speaking up behaviour is influenced by individual and contextual factors that differ from those influencing more experienced colleagues. Motivators and barriers to voicing concerns include moral and ethical beliefs, willingness and confidence to speak up in the workplace. Students’ subordinate and often vulnerable position creates additional tensions and challenges that impact their decisions and actions.

Conclusion

This concept analysis provides a clear definition of ‘speaking up’ in relation to nursing students. The analysis will facilitate understanding and operationalization of the concept applied to learning and teaching, practice and research.
Esophagus‐Related Complications During Second‐Generation Cryoballoon Ablation—Insight from Simultaneous Esophageal Temperature Monitoring from 2 Esophageal Probes
Authors: MIYAZAKI SHINSUKE , NAKAMURA HIROAKI , TANIGUCHI HIROSHI , TAKAGI TAKAMITSU , IWASAWA JIN , WATANABE TOMONORI , HACHIYA HITOSHI , HIRAO KENZO , IESAKA YOSHITO
Published: May 2016

Esophagus‐Related Complications After Cryoablation

Background

Monitoring luminal esophageal temperatures (LETs) helps predict esophageal thermal lesions (ETLs) after catheter ablation. This study aimed to evaluate esophagus‐related complications after second‐generation cryoballoon ablation under simultaneous LETs monitoring from 2 esophageal probes.

Methods

Forty consecutive paroxysmal atrial fibrillation patients undergoing second‐generation cryoballoon ablation under conscious sedation followed by esophagogastroscopy were prospectively included. Two temperature probes inserted bi‐nasally (both non‐deflectable in 13, non‐deflectable and deflectable in 27 patients) were used for LET monitoring. Pulmonary vein isolation was performed with one 28‐mm balloon using single 3‐minute freeze techniques.

Results

The lowest LETs significantly correlated between different probes; however, deflectable probe showed significantly lower nadir LETs than non‐deflectable probes (14.6 ± 9.2 vs. 20.0 ± 10.6 ℃, P<0.0001). Esophagogastroscopy post‐ablation demonstrated ETLs and gastroparesis in 8 (20%) and 7 (17.5%) patients (total 13 [32.5%]), respectively. The optimal cutoff for the lowest LET measured on any probe for predicting no ETLs was 12.8 ℃ (sensitivity 78.1%, specificity 100%). When using deflectable and non‐deflectable catheters, the optimal cutoff point for the lowest LET for predicting no ETLs was 11.4 ℃ (sensitivity 70.0%, specificity 100%) and 19.4 ℃ (sensitivity 63.6%, specificity 100%), respectively. No ETLs were detected in 12 (30%) patients with the esophagus located between the left atrium and spine. All esophagus‐related complications were asymptomatic and had healed on repeat esophagogastroscopy by a mean of 53 ± 25 days after the procedure.

Conclusions

The lowest LET highly depended on the temperature probe location. However, if a different cutoff value was applied, LET monitoring, regardless of the probe type, and anatomical information might help predict ETLs during second‐generation cryoballoon ablation.
Caffeine exposure alters adenosine system and neurochemical markers during retinal development
Authors: Brito Rafael , Pereira‐Figueiredo Danniel , Socodato Renato , Paes‐de‐Carvalho Roberto , Calaza Karin C.
Published: May 2016

Evidence points to beneficial properties of caffeine in the adult central nervous system, but teratogenic effects have also been reported. Caffeine exerts most of its effects by antagonizing adenosine receptors, especially A1 and A2A subtypes. In this study, we evaluated the role of caffeine on the expression of components of the adenosinergic system in the developing avian retina and the impact of caffeine exposure upon specific markers for classical neurotransmitter systems. Caffeine exposure (5–30 mg/kg by in ovo injection) to 14‐day‐old chick embryos increased the expression of A1 receptors and concomitantly decreased A2A adenosine receptors expression after 48 h. Accordingly, caffeine (30 mg/kg) increased [3H]‐8‐cyclopentyl‐1,3‐dipropylxanthine (A1 antagonist) binding and reduced [3H]‐ZM241385 (A2A antagonist) binding. The caffeine time‐response curve demonstrated a reduction in A1 receptors 6 h after injection, but an increase after 18 and 24 h. In contrast, caffeine exposure increased the expression of A2A receptors from 18 and 24 h. Kinetic assays of [3H]‐S‐(4‐nitrobenzyl)‐6‐thioinosine binding to the equilibrative adenosine transporter ENT1 revealed an increase in Bmax with no changes in Kd, an effect accompanied by an increase in adenosine uptake. Immunohistochemical analysis showed a decrease in retinal content of tyrosine hydroxylase, calbindin and choline acetyltransferase, but not Brn3a, after 48 h of caffeine injection. Furthermore, retinas exposed to caffeine had increased levels of phosphorylated extracellular signal‐regulated kinase and cAMP‐response element binding protein. Overall, we show an in vivo regulation of the adenosine system, extracellular signal‐regulated kinase and cAMP‐response element binding protein function and protein expression of specific neurotransmitter systems by caffeine in the developing retina.

image

The beneficial or maleficent effects of caffeine have been demonstrated by the work of different studies. It is known that during animal development, caffeine can exert harmful effects, impairing the correct formation of CNS structures. In this study, we demonstrated cellular and tissue effects of caffeine's administration on developing chick embryo retinas. Those effects include modulation of adenosine receptors (A1, A2) content, increasing in cAMP response element‐binding protein (pCREB) and extracellular signal‐regulated kinase phosphorylation (pERK), augment of adenosine equilibrative transporter content/activity, and a reduction of some specific cell subpopulations. ENT1, Equilibrative nucleoside transporter 1.
Investigating affective dispositions as moderators of relationships between weekend activities and recovery experiences
Authors: Ragsdale Jennifer M. , Hoover Coty S. , Wood Kaylen
Published: May 2016

Recovery experiences achieved during a weekend are presumed to be outcomes of weekend activities. However, results examining relationships between them are mixed. In line with models of differential stress responses, we posited that these differences may be accounted for by affective dispositions. We examined three‐way interactions between weekend activities (low‐effort and work‐related) and both positive trait affect (PA) and negative trait affect (NA) on recovery experiences (psychological detachment, relaxation, mastery). Employees from various work sectors (N = 183) responded to online surveys about their weekend. The results demonstrated that recovery experiences, specifically psychological detachment and mastery, depended on interactions between weekend activities and affective dispositions. When PA was high, NA had a detrimental impact on the relationship between both weekend activities and mastery experiences. When PA was low, NA had a detrimental impact on the relationship between low‐effort activities and psychological detachment. Implications for theory and practice are discussed.

Practitioner points

Positive and negative affective dispositions need to be considered in combination to understand when certain recovery activities will be related to recovery experiences or not.

When PA was high, NA had a detrimental impact on the relationship between both weekend activities and mastery experiences.

When PA was low, NA had a detrimental impact on the relationship between low‐effort activities and psychological detachment.
Optimal Enterprise Risk Management and Decision Making With Shared and Dependent Risks
Authors: Ai Jing , Brockett Patrick L. , Wang Tianyang
Published: May 2016

Dynamic enterprise risk management (ERM) entails holistic decision making for critical corporate functions such as capital budgeting and risk management. The interplay across business divisions, however, is complicated due to their natural interactions through risk exposures that are shared and dependent across an intricate corporate structure. This article develops an integrated optimization framework via a copula‐based decision tree interface to facilitate ERM decision making to meet the specified enterprise goal in a multiperiod setting. We illustrate our model and provide managerial insights with a case study for a financial services company engaged in both banking and insurance businesses.
Occurrence and Characterization of the Bacterial Spot Pathogen Xanthomonas euvesicatoria on Pepper in Iran
Authors: Osdaghi Ebrahim , Taghavi S. Mohsen , Hamzehzarghani Habiballah , Lamichhane Jay Ram
Published: May 2016

We report in this study for the first time the occurrence of bacterial spot of pepper in Iran and both phenotypic and genetic characterization of its causal agent, Xanthomonas euvesicatoria. Pepper plants grown in 15 of 30 surveyed private gardens and commercial fields were infected by the pathogen in Marand County, East Azerbaijan Province, north‐western Iran. The obtained strains of X. euvesicatoria had different amylolytic and pectolytic activities compared with those reported for this species elsewhere. Pathogenicity tests showed that strains isolated from diseased pepper are able to infect tomato, in addition to pepper. Host range of the pathogen was assessed on eight annual plant species including crops and weeds by measuring the population dynamics. The host range assessment showed that in addition to pepper and tomato, known hosts of X. euvesicatoria, the Iranian strains were able to colonize a number of new hosts such as nightshade and common bean. In contrast, none of them were able to build up their population on cowpea, eggplant, bindweed and zucchini. All X. euvesicatoria strains obtained in this study were sensitive to copper sulphate and streptomycin at concentrations higher than 20 and 50 mg/l, respectively. Phylogenetic analyses of the strains using the sequences of gyrB and hrpB genes confirmed their species as X. euvesicatoria. Given a direct commercial trade of fresh solanaceous vegetables between Iran and Turkey, it is hypothesized that the pathogen entered north‐western Iran from eastern parts of Turkey through infected plant materials. Finally, the role of prevention – based on the use of healthy planting materials and resistant and/or tolerant plant varieties – to contain the potential disease epidemics is discussed.
Effect of sleeping position on arousals from sleep in preterm infants
Authors: Modesto Ingrid Felix , Avelar Ariane Ferreira Machado , Pedreira Mavilde da Luz Gonçalves , Pradella‐Hallinan Marcia , Avena Marta José , Pinheiro Eliana Moreira
Published: May 2016

Purpose

To evaluate the frequency of preterm infant positions during sleep, and to investigate the association among positions, arousals, sleep patterns, and time of day.

Design and Methods

This observational study was conducted in a neonatal unit with 10 preterm infants. Polysomnographic and video recordings during 24 hr identified sleep positions, arousals, sleep patterns, and time of day.

Results

Preterm infants were placed most frequently in the supine position (58.4%), followed by right side (24.9%), left side (15.5%), and prone (1.2%). The longest amount of time spent sleeping, and the most frequent number of arousals, occurred in the supine position, followed by prone, left‐side, and right‐side positions. After controlling for length of time spent in each position, the number of arousals per hour was the greatest in the supine position (13.562 ± 0.732) and least in the prone position (11.56 ± 4.754; p < .001). There were no significant differences in arousals according to position and sleep pattern (indeterminate, quiet, active sleep) or position and time of day (morning, afternoon, twilight, night).

Practice Implications

Nurses should evaluate the frequency of preterm infant arousals in each position, and use more often those positions that lead to a lower frequency of arousals and better sleep quality.
The dependence of Hyalomma aegyptium on its tortoise host Testudo graeca in Algeria
Authors: TIAR G. , TIAR‐SAADI M. , BENYACOUB S. , ROUAG R. , ŠIROKÝ P.
Published: May 2016

Hyalomma aegyptium (Linnaeus, 1758) (Ixodida: Ixodidae) has recently been confirmed as a carrier of numerous pathogenic, including zoonotic, agents. Four environmentally distinct regions of Algeria, located between the humid coastal zone and the arid Saharan Atlas range, were selected in order to compare differences in tick abundance among localities, and the correlations between tick abundance and host population characteristics and other environmental conditions. Sampling was carried out during May and early June in 2010–2012. A total of 1832 H. aegyptium were removed from 201 tortoises. Adult ticks accounted for 52% of the collection. In the pre‐adult stages, larvae were dominant. Data on prevalence, intensity (mean ± standard deviation, range) and abundance of tick infestation were calculated for each locality. Locally, prevalences reached 100%. The sex ratio was biased in favour of males (4.2). Intensities of infestation differed significantly among the localities studied for all developmental stages of the tick. The intensity of infestation by adult ticks was positively correlated to the size of the tortoise and with tortoise population density in the habitat. However, findings for immature tick stages were independent of both variables. No significant correlations between infestation intensities and the climatic parameters tested were found. Immature ticks were observed to prefer the front parts of their tortoise hosts, whereas the majority of adults were attached to the rear parts.
Nation‐building and Canada's national symbolic order, 1993–2015
Authors: Nieguth Tim , Raney Tracey
Published: May 2016

This article examines the symbolic construction of Canadian national identity by the 1993–2006 Liberal governments and the 2006–2015 Conservative governments. To do so, it employs the concept of a ‘national symbolic order’, which refers to the complex set of public symbols that invoke, transport, and define claims to a shared national identity. Within Canada's national symbolic order, we focus on the state's use of national symbols across two domains: Speeches from the Throne and banknotes. Our analysis shows that Canada's recent Conservative government has used both of these domains to reshape Canadian national identity in ways that accord with neo‐conservative values and ideology, and that it has done so in a coherent, consistent, and comprehensive fashion. This analysis highlights the symbolic strategies employed by state actors in linking particular ideologies to their nation‐building projects; these strategies span multiple political and policy spaces.
Proteomic profile of circulating immune complexes in chronic Chagas disease
Authors: Ohyama K. , Huy N. T. , Yoshimi H. , Kishikawa N. , Nishizawa J. E. , Roca Y. , Revollo Guzmán R. J. , Velarde F. U. G. , Kuroda N. , Hirayama K.
Published: May 2016

Immune complexes (ICs) are the direct and real‐time products of humoral immune responses. The identification of constituent foreign or autoantigens within ICs might bring new insights into the pathology of infectious diseases. We applied immune complexome analysis of plasma to the study of Chagas disease caused by Trypanosoma cruzi. Twenty seropositive plasma samples including cardiac and/or megacolon determinate patients (n = 11) and indeterminate (n = 9) were analysed along with 10 seronegative individuals to characterize the antigens bound to circulating ICs. We identified 39 T. cruzi antigens and 114 human autoantigens specific to patients with Chagas. Among those antigens, two T. cruzi antigens (surface protease GP63, glucose‐6‐isomerase) and six human autoantigens (CD180 antigen, ceruloplasmin, fibrinogen beta chain, fibrinogen beta chain isoform 2 preprotein, isoform gamma‐A of fibrinogen γ‐chain, serum paraoxonase) were detected in more than 50% of the patients tested. Human isoform short of complement factor H‐related protein 2 and trans‐sialidase of T. cruzi were more frequently found in the indeterminate (5/9 for both) compared with in the determinate Chagas (0/11, P = 0·046 for human, 1/11, P = 0·0498 for T. cruzi). The immune complexome could illustrate the difference of immune status between clinical forms of chronic Chagas disease.
Can short‐billed nectar thieving sunbirds replace long‐billed sunbird pollinators in transformed landscapes?
Authors: Geerts S.
Published: May 2016

Pollinator specialisation through exploitation barriers (such as long floral tubes) does not necessarily mean a lack of pollination when the favoured pollinator is rare or absent. Theory predicts that suboptimal visitors will contribute to plant reproduction in the absence of the most effective pollinator. Here I address these questions with Chasmanthe floribunda a long‐tubed plant species in the Cape Floristic Region, which is reliant on one species of pollinator, the long‐billed Malachite Sunbird. In contrast to short‐billed sunbirds, the Malachite Sunbird occurs in lower abundance or is absent in transformed landscapes. Short‐billed sunbirds rob and thieve nectar from long‐tubed flowers, but their potential contribution towards pollination is unknown.

Experiments assessing seed set after single flower visits were performed to determine whether thieving short‐billed sunbirds can act as substitute pollinators. To determine whether short‐billed sunbirds reduce pollen limitation in transformed areas, pollen supplementation was done by hand and compared to natural fruit set.

Short billed sunbirds are unable to act as substitute pollinators, and seed set is significantly lower in the flowers that they visited, compared to flowers visited by long‐billed sunbirds. This is substantiated on a landscape scale, where fruit production in Chasmanthe floribunda could artificially be increased by 35% in transformed landscapes, but not so in natural areas.

These findings have important consequences for the management and conservation of long‐tubed bird‐pollinated plant species that exist in recently transformed landscapes. The potential vulnerability of specialised plant species in transformed landscapes is highlighted.
Brazil and China: Two Routes of Economic Development?
Authors: Policardo Laura , Punzo Lionello F. , Sánchez Carrera Edgar J.
Published: May 2016

We look at two emerging economies, Brazil and China, and propose an evaluation of their recent development in terms of growth performance and the evolution of income inequality. Our analysis, therefore, is related to the literature on their recent vast growth and also to the much debated Kuznets curve and theory. However, we claim that neither the growth nor the Kuznets approach capture recent relevant phenomena characterizing such countries' dynamics: namely, the presence of at least two distinct growth models. Cointegration analysis and empirical evidence seem to corroborate our interpretation. They also offer some further insights. We surmise that while contributing to press for a further re‐examination of convergence in the light of the issue of income distribution, such findings have interpretative relevance and policy implications for other less developed countries.
Jaja in spoken German: Managing Knowledge Expectations
Authors: Taleghani‐Nikazm Carmen , Golato Andrea
Published: May 2016

In line with the other contributions to this issue on teaching pragmatics, this paper provides teachers of German with a two‐day lesson plan for integrating authentic spoken language and its associated cultural background into their teaching. Specifically, the paper discusses how jaja and its phonetic variants are systematically used at the beginning of utterances to indicate that a prior speaker's talk was not designed with the knowledge of the audience in mind or with what has been said before. The paper will begin with a literature review on how speakers orient to the knowledge states of their fellow conversationalists, and on the resources that conversationalists use to indicate whether a prior speaker was successful in judging the knowledge state of their audience. The paper then discusses the prior research on the phonetic variants of jaja. In its final section, the paper presents a lesson designed for intermediate level learners of German.
Validation of a novel saliva‐based ELISA test for diagnosing tapeworm burden in horses
Authors: Lightbody Kirsty L. , Davis Paul J. , Austin Corrine J.
Published: May 2016

Background

Tapeworm infections pose a significant threat to equine health as they are associated with clinical cases of colic. Diagnosis of tapeworm burden using fecal egg counts (FECs) is unreliable, and, although a commercial serologic ELISA for anti‐tapeworm antibodies is available, it requires a veterinarian to collect the blood sample. A reliable diagnostic test using an owner‐accessible sample such as saliva could provide a cost‐effective alternative for tapeworm testing in horses, and allow targeted deworming strategies.

Objectives

The purpose of the study was to statistically validate a saliva tapeworm ELISA test and compare to a tapeworm‐specific IgG(T) serologic ELISA.

Methods

Serum samples (139) and matched saliva samples (104) were collected from horses at a UK abattoir. The ileocecal junction and cecum were visually examined for tapeworms and any present were counted. Samples were analyzed using a serologic ELISA and the saliva tapeworm test. The test results were compared to tapeworm numbers and the various data sets were statistically analyzed.

Results

Saliva scores had strong positive correlations with both infection intensity (0.74) and serologic results (Spearman's rank coefficients; 0.74 and 0.86, respectively). The saliva tapeworm test was capable of identifying the presence of one or more tapeworms with 83% sensitivity and 85% specificity. Importantly, no high‐burden (more than 20 tapeworms) horses were misdiagnosed.

Conclusions

The saliva tapeworm test has statistical accuracy for detecting tapeworm burdens in horses with 83% sensitivity and 85% specificity, similar to those of the serologic ELISA (85% and 78%, respectively).
Modeling Hypervelocity-Impact-Induced Shock Waves for Characterizing Orbital Debris-Produced Damage
Authors: Liu Menglong , Su Zhongqing , Zhang Qingming , Long Renrong
Published: May 2016

Hypervelocity impact (HVI) is a scenario involving an impacting velocity in excess of 1 km/s. Ubiquitous in outer space, paradigms of HVI are typified by the collision between orbital debris and spacecraft. HVI features transient, localized, and extreme material deformation under which the induced acoustic emission (AE) signals present unique yet complex features. A dedicated modeling and numerical simulation approach, based on the three-dimensional smooth-particle hydrodynamics (SPH), was developed to gain an insight into characteristics of HVI-induced AE propagation. With the approach, both normal and oblique HVI scenarios were interrogated, and material failure in both cases was predicted. The coincidence in results between simulation and HVI experiment, as observed at a qualitative degree, has demonstrated the effectiveness of the modeling. Signal analysis shows that the shock wave converts to Lamb wave quickly as propagation from HVI spot, with the zeroth-order symmetric wave mode (S0) (i.e., the first-arrival wave) dominating wave signal energy. S0 is observed dispersive in a wide frequency range with majority of it below 1 MHz. In comparison, the antisymmetric wave mode distributes in a range below 200 kHz with a peak value at 30 kHz. S0 was employed to pinpoint the location of HVI, using an enhanced delay-and-sum-based diagnostic imaging algorithm, which was validated by locating orbital debris-induced orifice in space structures, showing precise identification results.
Improving Surface Hydrophobicity by Microrolling-Based Texturing
Authors: Ng Man-Kwan , Saxena Ishan , Ehmann Kornel F. , Cao Jian
Published: May 2016

A two-pass microrolling-based texturing (μRT) process was utilized to improve the hydrophobicity of aluminum surfaces. Square micropillars were fabricated on aluminum sheets by two mutually orthogonal forming passes by a roller pretextured with microgrooves. Subsequently, the droplet contact angle was measured to evaluate the hydrophobicity of the surface. Results show that surfaces with μRT-imprinted textures have higher contact angles than nontextured surfaces indicating improved hydrophobicity. Furthermore, the process has led to the creation of hierarchical valleylike features on top of each of the micropillars caused by the pile-up effect during the forming process. It was hypothesized that such hierarchical features positively contribute to the improved hydrophobicity of the surface. This hypothesis was validated by testing surfaces with a similar hierarchical textured pattern produced by laser-induced plasma micromachining (LIPMM). The effects of various aspects of texture geometry including surface area-to-volume ratio and groove aspect ratio on the surface contact angle and the anisotropy of the contact angles were investigated.
Ray Effect Mitigation Through Reference Frame Rotation
Authors: Tencer John
Published: May 2016

The discrete ordinates method is a popular and versatile technique for solving the radiative transport equation, a major drawback of which is the presence of ray effects. Mitigation of ray effects can yield significantly more accurate results and enhanced numerical stability for combined mode codes. When ray effects are present, the solution is seen to be highly dependent upon the relative orientation of the geometry and the global reference frame. This is an undesirable property. A novel ray effect mitigation technique of averaging the computed solution for various reference frame orientations is proposed.
Solution for Equation of Two-Dimensional Transient Heat Conduction in Functionally Graded Material Hollow Sphere With Piezoelectric Internal and External Layers
Authors: Jabbari M. , Mousavi S. M. , Kiani M. A.
Published: May 2016

In this paper, an exact solution for the equation of two-dimensional transient heat conduction in a hollow sphere made of functionally graded material (FGM) and piezoelectric layers is developed. Transient temperature distribution, as a function of radial and circumferential directions and time with general thermal boundary conditions on the inside and outside surfaces, is analytically obtained for different layers, using the method of separation of variables and Legendre series. The results are the sum of transient and steady-state solutions that depend upon the initial condition for temperature and heat source, respectively. The FGM properties are assumed to depend on the variable r and they are expressed as power functions of r.
Design of pathway preferential estrogens that provide beneficial metabolic and vascular effects without stimulating reproductive tissues
Authors: Madak-Erdogan Zeynep , Kim Sung Hoon , Gong Ping , Zhao Yiru C. , Zhang Hui , Chambliss Ken L. , Carlson Kathryn E. , Mayne Christopher G. , Shaul Philip W. , Korach Kenneth S. , Katzenellenbogen John A. , Katzenellenbogen Benita S.
Published: May 2016

Structurally redesigned estrogens improve metabolism and vascular repair without activating cell proliferation.
Insights into CO
2
Fixation Pathway of
Clostridium autoethanogenum
by Targeted Mutagenesis
Authors: Liew Fungmin , Henstra Anne M. , Winzer Klaus , Köpke Michael , Simpson Sean D. , Minton Nigel P.
Published: May 2016

The future sustainable production of chemicals and fuels from nonpetrochemical resources and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions are two of the greatest societal challenges. Gas fermentation, which utilizes the ability of acetogenic bacteria such as
Clostridium autoethanogenum
to grow and convert CO
2
and CO into low-carbon fuels and chemicals, could potentially provide solutions to both. Acetogens fix these single-carbon gases via the Wood-Ljungdahl pathway. Two enzyme activities are predicted to be essential to the pathway: carbon monoxide dehydrogenase (CODH), which catalyzes the reversible oxidation of CO to CO
2
, and acetyl coenzyme A (acetyl-CoA) synthase (ACS), which combines with CODH to form a CODH/ACS complex for acetyl-CoA fixation. Despite their pivotal role in carbon fixation, their functions have not been confirmed
in vivo
. By genetically manipulating all three CODH isogenes (
acsA
,
cooS1
, and
cooS2
) of
C. autoethanogenum
, we highlighted the functional redundancies of CODH by demonstrating that
cooS1
and
cooS2
are dispensable for autotrophy. Unexpectedly, the
cooS1
inactivation strain showed a significantly reduced lag phase and a higher growth rate than the wild type on H
2
and CO
2
. During heterotrophic growth on fructose, the
acsA
inactivation strain exhibited 61% reduced biomass and the abolishment of acetate production (a hallmark of acetogens), in favor of ethanol, lactate, and 2,3-butanediol production. A translational readthrough event was discovered in the uniquely truncated (compared to those of other acetogens)
C. autoethanogenum acsA
gene. Insights gained from studying the function of CODH enhance the overall understanding of autotrophy and can be used for optimization of biotechnological production of ethanol and other commodities via gas fermentation.

IMPORTANCE
Gas fermentation is an emerging technology that converts the greenhouse gases CO
2
and CO in industrial waste gases and gasified biomass into fuels and chemical commodities. Acetogenic bacteria such as
Clostridium autoethanogenum
are central to this bioprocess, but the molecular and genetic characterization of this microorganism is currently lacking. By targeting all three of the isogenes encoding carbon monoxide dehydrogenase (CODH) in
C. autoethanogenum
, we identified the most important CODH isogene for carbon fixation and demonstrated that genetic inactivation of CODH could improve autotrophic growth. This study shows that disabling of the Wood-Ljungdahl pathway via the inactivation of
acsA
(encodes CODH) significantly impairs heterotrophic growth and alters the product profile by abolishing acetate production. Moreover, we discovered a previously undescribed mechanism for controlling the production of this enzyme. This study provides valuable insights into the acetogenic pathway and can be used for the development of more efficient and productive strains for gas fermentation.
Long-Term Evolution of Burkholderia multivorans during a Chronic Cystic Fibrosis Infection Reveals Shifting Forces of Selection
Authors: Silva Inês N. , Santos Pedro M. , Santos Mário R. , Zlosnik James E. A. , Speert David P. , Buskirk Sean W. , Bruger Eric L. , Waters Christopher M. , Cooper Vaughn S. , Moreira Leonilde M.
Published: May 2016

Bacteria may become genetically and phenotypically diverse during long-term colonization of cystic fibrosis (CF) patient lungs, yet our understanding of within-host evolutionary processes during these infections is lacking. Here we combined current genome sequencing technologies and detailed phenotypic profiling of the opportunistic pathogen
Burkholderia multivorans
using sequential isolates sampled from a CF patient over 20 years. The evolutionary history of these isolates highlighted bacterial genes and pathways that were likely subject to strong selection within the host and were associated with altered phenotypes, such as biofilm production, motility, and antimicrobial resistance. Importantly, multiple lineages coexisted for years or even decades within the infection, and the period of diversification within the dominant lineage was associated with deterioration of the patient’s lung function. Identifying traits under strong selection during chronic infection not only sheds new light onto
Burkholderia
evolution but also sets the stage for tailored therapeutics targeting the prevailing lineages associated with disease progression.
Neurotransmitter receptors on microglia
Authors: Liu Huan , Leak Rehana K , Hu Xiaoming
Published: May 2016

As the resident immune cells in the central nervous system, microglia have long been hypothesised to promote neuroinflammation and exacerbate neurotoxicity. However, this traditional view has undergone recent revision as evidence has accumulated that microglia exert beneficial and detrimental effects depending on activation status, polarisation phenotype and cellular context. A variety of neurotransmitter receptors are expressed on microglia and help mediate the bidirectional communication between neurons and microglia. Here we review data supporting the importance of neurotransmitter receptors on microglia, with a special emphasis on glutamate, γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), norepinephrine, cannabinoid and acetylcholine receptors. We summarise evidence favouring a significant role for neurotransmitter receptors in modulating microglial activation, phagocytic clearance and phenotypic polarisation. Elucidating the effects of neurotransmitter receptors on microglia and dissecting the underlying mechanisms may help accelerate the discovery of novel drugs that tap the therapeutic potential of microglia.
Timosaponin B-II Ameliorates Palmitate-Induced Insulin Resistance and Inflammation via IRS-1/PI3K/Akt and IKK/NF-κB Pathways
Authors: Yuan Yong-Liang , Lin Bao-Qin , Zhang Chun-Feng , Cui Ling-Ling , Ruan Shi-Xia , Yang Zhong-Lin , Li Fei , Ji De
Published: May 2016

This study aimed to investigate the effect of timosaponin B-II (TB-II) on palmitate (PA)-induced insulin resistance and inflammation in HepG2 cells, and probe the potential mechanisms. TB-II, a main ingredient of the traditional Chinese medicine Anemarrhena asphodeloides Bunge, notably ameliorated PA-induced insulin resistance and inflammation, and significantly improved cell viability, decreased PA-induced production of tumor necrosis factor-[Formula: see text] (TNF-[Formula: see text]) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels. Further, TB-II treatment notably decreased malondialdehyde (MDA) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels, and improved superoxide dismutase (SOD) and nitric oxide (NO). TB-II also reduced HepG2 cells apoptosis. Insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS1)/phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt and inhibitor of nuclear factor [Formula: see text]-B kinase (IKK)/NF-[Formula: see text]B pathways-related proteins, and IKK[Formula: see text], p65 phosphorylation, serine phosphorylation of insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1) at S307, tyrosine phosphorylation of IRS-1, and Akt activation were determined by Western blot. Compared to model group, TB-II significantly downregulated the expression of p-NF-[Formula: see text]Bp65, p-IKK[Formula: see text], p-IRS-1, p-PI3K and p-Akt. TB-II is a promising potential agent for the management of palmitate-induced insulin resistance and inflammation, which might be via IR/IRS-1/PI3K/Akt and IKK/NF-[Formula: see text]B pathways.
A (2+1)-dimensional Korteweg–de Vries type equation in water waves: Lie symmetry analysis; multiple exp-function method; conservation laws
Authors: Adem Abdullahi Rashid
Published: May 2016

We consider a (2+1)-dimensional Korteweg–de Vries type equation which models the shallow-water waves, surface and internal waves. In the analysis, we use the Lie symmetry method and the multiple exp-function method. Furthermore, conservation laws are computed using the multiplier method.
What are the Correct Results for the Special Values of the Operands of the Power Operation?
Authors: Sayed Wafaa S. , Fahmy Hossam A. H.
Published: May 2016

Language standards such as C99 and C11, as well as the IEEE Standard for Floating-Point Arithmetic 754 (IEEE Std 754-2008) specify the expected behavior of binary and decimal floating-point arithmetic in computer-programming environments and the handling of special values and exception conditions. Many researchers focus on verifying the compliance of implementations for binary and decimal floating-point operations with these standards. In this article, we are concerned with the special values of the operands of the power function
Z
=

X
Y

. We study how the standards define the correct results for this operation, propose a mathematically justified definition for the correct results of the power function on the occurrence of these special values as its operands, test how different software implementations for the power function deal with these special values, and classify the behavior of different programming languages from the viewpoint of how much they conform to the standards and our proposed mathematical definition. We present inconsistencies between the implementations and the standards, and discuss incompatibilities between different versions of the same software.
LIMITS and Applications of Group Algebras for Parameterized Problems
Authors: Koutis Ioannis , Williams Ryan
Published: May 2016

The fastest known randomized algorithms for several parameterized problems use reductions to the
k
-M
l
D problem: detection of multilinear monomials of degree
k
in polynomials presented as circuits. The fastest known algorithm for
k
-M
l
D is based on 2

k

evaluations of the circuit over a suitable algebra. We use communication complexity to show that it is essentially optimal within this evaluation framework. On the positive side, we give additional applications of the method: finding a copy of a given tree on
k
nodes, a minimum set of nodes that dominate at least
t
nodes, and an
m
-dimensional
k
-matching. In each case, we achieve a faster algorithm than what was known before. We also apply the algebraic method to problems in exact counting. Among other results, we show that a variation of it can break the trivial upper bounds for the disjoint summation problem.
Less is More
Authors: Rayana Shebuti , Akoglu Leman
Published: May 2016

Ensemble learning for anomaly detection has been barely studied, due to difficulty in acquiring ground truth and the lack of inherent objective functions. In contrast, ensemble approaches for classification and clustering have been studied and effectively used for long. Our work taps into this gap and builds a new ensemble approach for anomaly detection, with application to event detection in temporal graphs as well as outlier detection in no-graph settings. It handles and combines multiple heterogeneous detectors to yield improved and robust performance. Importantly, trusting results from
all
the constituent detectors may deteriorate the overall performance of the ensemble, as some detectors could provide inaccurate results depending on the type of data in hand and the underlying assumptions of a detector. This suggests that combining the detectors
selectively
is key to building effective anomaly ensembles—hence “less is more”.

In this paper we propose a novel ensemble approach called SELECT for anomaly detection, which automatically and systematically selects the results from constituent detectors to combine in a fully unsupervised fashion. We apply our method to event detection in temporal graphs and outlier detection in multi-dimensional point data (no-graph), where SELECT successfully utilizes five base detectors and seven consensus methods under a unified ensemble framework. We provide extensive quantitative evaluation of our approach for event detection on five real-world datasets (four with ground truth events), including Enron email communications, RealityMining SMS and phone call records, New York Times news corpus, and World Cup 2014 Twitter news feed. We also provide results for outlier detection on seven real-world multi-dimensional point datasets from UCI Machine Learning Repository. Thanks to its selection mechanism, SELECT yields superior performance compared to the individual detectors alone, the full ensemble (naively combining all results), an existing diversity-based ensemble, and an existing weighted ensemble approach.
Adaptive Streaming in P2P Live Video Systems
Authors: Merani Maria Luisa , Natali Laura
Published: May 2016

Dynamic Adaptive Streaming over HTTP (DASH) is a recently proposed standard that offers different versions of the same media content to adapt the delivery process over the Internet to dynamic bandwidth fluctuations and different user device capabilities. The peer-to-peer (P2P) paradigm for video streaming allows us to leverage the cooperation among peers, guaranteeing the service of video requests with increased scalability and reduced cost. We propose to combine these two approaches in a P2P-DASH architecture, exploiting the potentiality of both. The new platform is made of several swarms and a different DASH representation is streamed within each of them; unlike client-server DASH architectures, where each client autonomously selects which version to download according to current network conditions and to its device resources, we put forth a new rate control strategy implemented at peer site to maintain a good viewing quality to the local user and to simultaneously guarantee the successful operation of the P2P swarms. The effectiveness of the solution is demonstrated through simulation and it indicates that the P2P-DASH platform is able to provide its users with very good performance, much more satisfying than in a conventional P2P environment where DASH is not employed. Through a comparison with a reference DASH system modeled via the Integer Linear Programming (ILP) approach, the new system is shown to outperform such reference architecture. To further validate the proposal, in terms of both robustness and scalability, system behavior is investigated in the critical condition of a flash crowd, showing that the strong upsurge of new users can be successfully revealed and gradually accommodated.
On Problems as Hard as CNF-SAT
Authors: Cygan Marek , Dell Holger , Lokshtanov Daniel , Marx Dániel , Nederlof Jesper , Okamoto Yoshio , Paturi Ramamohan , Saurabh Saket , Wahlström Magnus
Published: May 2016

The field of exact exponential time algorithms for non-deterministic polynomial-time hard problems has thrived since the mid-2000s. While exhaustive search remains asymptotically the fastest known algorithm for some basic problems, non-trivial exponential time algorithms have been found for a myriad of problems, including G
raph
C
oloring
, H
amiltonian
P
ath
, D
ominating
S
et
, and 3-CNF-S
at
. In some instances, improving these algorithms further seems to be out of reach. The CNF-S
at
problem is the canonical example of a problem for which the trivial exhaustive search algorithm runs in time
O
(2

n

), where
n
is the number of variables in the input formula. While there exist non-trivial algorithms for CNF-S
at
that run in time
o
(2

n

), no algorithm was able to improve the
growth rate
2 to a smaller constant, and hence it is natural to conjecture that 2 is the optimal growth rate. The
strong exponential time hypothesis
(SETH) by Impagliazzo and Paturi [JCSS 2001] goes a little bit further and asserts that, for every ϵ < 1, there is a (large) integer
k
such that
k
-CNF-S
at
cannot be computed in time 2

ϵ
n

.

In this article, we show that, for every ϵ < 1, the problems H
itting
S
et
, S
et
S
plitting
, and NAE-S
at
cannot be computed in time
O
(2

ϵ
n

) unless SETH fails. Here
n
is the number of elements or variables in the input. For these problems, we actually get an equivalence to SETH in a certain sense. We conjecture that SETH implies a similar statement for S
et
C
over
and prove that, under this assumption, the fastest known algorithms for S
teiner
T
ree
, C
onnected
V
ertex
C
over
, S
et
P
artitioning
, and the pseudo-polynomial time algorithm for S
ubset
S
um
cannot be significantly improved. Finally, we justify our assumption about the hardness of S
et
C
over
by showing that the parity of the number of solutions to S
et
C
over
cannot be computed in time
O
(2

ϵ
n

) for any ϵ < 1 unless SETH fails.
Cerebral blood flow regulation in women across menstrual phase: differential contribution of cyclooxygenase to basal, hypoxic, and hypercapnic vascular tone
Authors: Peltonen Garrett L. , Harrell John W. , Aleckson Benjamin P. , LaPlante Kaylie M. , Crain Meghan K. , Schrage William G.
Published: May 2016

In healthy young women, basal cerebral blood flow (CBF) and cerebrovascular reactivity may change across the menstrual cycle, but mechanisms remain untested. When compared with the early follicular phase of the menstrual cycle, we hypothesized women in late follicular phase would exhibit: 1) greater basal CBF, 2) greater hypercapnic increases in CBF, 3) greater hypoxic increases in CBF, and 4) increased cyclooxygenase (COX) signaling. We measured middle cerebral artery velocity (MCAv, transcranial Doppler ultrasound) in 11 healthy women (23 ± 1 yr) during rest, hypoxia, and hypercapnia. Subjects completed four visits: two during the early follicular (∼ day 3) and two during the late follicular (∼ day 14) phases of the menstrual cycle, with and without COX inhibition (oral indomethacin). Isocapnic hypoxia elicited an SPO2 = 90% and SPO2 = 80% for 5 min each. Separately, hypercapnia increased end-tidal CO2 10 mmHg above baseline. Cerebral vascular conductance index (CVCi = MCAv/MABP·100, where MABP is mean arterial blood pressure) was calculated and a positive change reflected vasodilation (ΔCVCi). Basal CVCi was greater in the late follicular phase ( P < 0.001). Indomethacin decreased basal CVCi (∼37%) and abolished the phase difference ( P < 0.001). Hypoxic ΔCVCi was similar between phases and unaffected by indomethacin. Hypercapnic ΔCVCi was similar between phases, and indomethacin decreased hypercapnic ΔCVCi (∼68%; P < 0.001) similarly between phases. In summary, while neither hypercapnic nor hypoxic vasodilation is altered by menstrual phase, increased basal CBF in the late follicular phase is fully explained by a greater contribution of COX. These data provide new mechanistic insight into anterior CBF regulation across menstrual phases and contribute to our understanding of CBF regulation in women.
Eradication of Ebola Based on Dynamic Programming
Authors: Zhu Jia-Ming , Wang Lu , Liu Jia-Bao
Published: May 2016

This paper mainly studies the eradication of the Ebola virus, proposing a scientific system, including three modules for the eradication of Ebola virus. Firstly, we build a basic model combined with nonlinear incidence rate and maximum treatment capacity. Secondly, we use the dynamic programming method and the Dijkstra Algorithm to set up M-S (storage) and several delivery locations in West Africa. Finally, we apply the previous results to calculate the total cost, production cost, storage cost, and shortage cost.