bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Inflammasome dysregulation in human gingival fibroblasts in response to periodontal pathogens
Authors: Aral Kübra , Milward Michael R. , Cooper Paul R. 
Published: December 2020

AbstractObjectiveUncontrolled production of Interleukin‐1β (IL‐1β), a major proinflammatory cytokine, is associated with tissue destruction in periodontal disease. IL‐1β production is controlled by inflammasomes which are multiprotein regulatory complexes. The current study aimed to elucidate potential regulatory pathways by monitoring the effects of periodontal pathogens Fusobacterium nucleatum (Fn) and Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg) on inflammasomes and their regulators in human gingival fibroblasts (HGFs) in vitro.MethodsHGFs were exposed to Fn and Pg alone or in combination for 24 hr at a multiplicity of infection of 100, ±30 min exposure with 5 mM adenosine triphosphate (ATP) incubation. Gene expression of NLRP3 and AIM2, inflammasome regulatory proteins POP1, CARD16 and TRIM16, and inflammasome components ASC and CASPASE 1, and IL‐1β, were evaluated by RT‐PCR. Pro‐ and mature IL‐1β levels were monitored intracellularly by immunocytochemistry and extracellularly by ELISA.ResultsFn + ATP significantly upregulated NLRP3, AIM2, IL‐1β, ASC, and CASPASE 1; however, it downregulated POP1 and TRIM16. Pg + ATP downregulated NLRP3, ASC, POP1, but upregulated IL‐1β and CARD16. Pg + Fn+ATP significantly upregulated AIM2, IL‐1β and CARD16, and downregulated POP1, TRIM16, and CASPASE 1. Pg + ATP exposure significantly increased pro‐ and mature IL‐1β production.ConclusionBacterial exposure with ATP may deregulate IL‐1β by dysregulating inflammasomes and their regulators in HGFs.
Age and sex determine conversion from immediate‐release to extended‐release tacrolimus in a multi‐center cohort of Canadian pediatric renal transplant recipients
Authors: Lang Samantha , Sharma Atul , Foster Beth , Gibson Ian W. , Ho Julie , Nickerson Peter , Wishart David , Blydt‐Hansen Tom 
Published: December 2020

AbstractER‐Tac, taken once per day, is associated with improved adherence. This study examined the potential patient and clinical factors that influence clinicians to convert pediatric patients from immediate‐release to ER‐Tac. This prospective multi‐center observational study followed Canadian pediatric kidney transplant recipients up to 5 years post‐transplant. Cox Proportional Hazards Regression was used to examine the influence of factors on conversion to ER‐Tac. Sixty‐six participants were included in this analysis. For every additional year of age at the time of transplant, the likelihood of conversion was more than doubled (HR 2.54, CI 1.83, 3.54, P < 0.001). The impact of age reduced by three percent for every month after transplant (HR 0.97, CI 0.95, 0.98, P < 0.001). Girls were more likely to be converted than boys (HR 3.78, CI 1.35, 10.6, P 0.01). Adherence measures (MAM‐MM and tacrolimus trough variability), individual barriers to adherence, renal function, HLA mismatch, and rejection were not significant predictors of conversion in the final regression model. ER‐Tac was preferentially prescribed to older age and female patients. Female sex and adolescence are both associated with worse graft outcomes, but we found no link between individualized markers of adherence/graft risk and conversion. Clinicians appeared to be using demographic features to distinguish patients at perceived higher risk and converted accordingly, without a case‐by‐case evaluation of who is more susceptible to poor outcomes.
Lessons from 10 years of stakeholder adoption of a soil bioassay for assessing the risk of spinach Fusarium wilt
Authors: Gyawali Sanjaya , Derie Michael L. , Gatch Emily W. , Sharma‐Poudyal Dipak , du Toit Lindsey J. 
Published: December 2020

AbstractAlthough the maritime Pacific Northwest (PNW) is the only region of the United States suitable climatically for spinach seed production, the acidic soils are highly conducive to spinach Fusarium wilt caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. spinaciae. A soil bioassay developed to quantify the risk of spinach Fusarium wilt in fields has been offered to seed growers annually since 2010. Soil sampled from growers' fields each winter was planted with highly susceptible, moderately susceptible, and partially resistant spinach inbred lines, and the plants rated weekly to calculate a Fusarium wilt severity index (FWSI) and the area under the disease progress curve (AUDPC). Results for 147 soils tested from 2010 to 2013 have been published. This study examined results for an additional 248 soils tested from 2014 to 2019 with the bioassay modified to include an option of agricultural limestone amendment to the soils tested. FWSI and AUDPC were affected significantly (p < .001) by the main effects of soil and spinach inbred line, and the interaction of these factors. Correlation analyses showed a range in degree of association of FWSI and AUDPC with spinach seed crop rotation duration and soil properties, depending on the spinach inbred line (r = −.255 to –.267, n = 172 soils with characteristics suitable for correlation analyses). Stepwise regression models for 172 soils with relevant parameters for regression analyses identified spinach seed crop rotation interval, rate of agricultural limestone amendment, soil pH, and soil Fe, Mn, and Zn concentrations as most strongly associated with FWSI and AUDPC. However, the models accounted for ≤33.4% (R2) of the variability in Fusarium wilt risk. The soil bioassay remains a primary tool for spinach seed growers to select fields with low risk of Fusarium wilt.
The gap prepulse inhibition of the acoustic startle (GPIAS) paradigm to assess auditory temporal processing: Monaural versus binaural presentation
Authors: Fournier Philippe , Hébert Sylvie 
Published: December 2020

AbstractThe Gap Prepulse Inhibition of the Acoustic Startle Reflex (GPIAS) is a paradigm used to assess auditory temporal processing in both animals and humans. It consists of the presentation of a silent gap embedded in noise and presented a few milliseconds before a startle sound. The silent gap produces the inhibition of the startle reflex, a phenomenon called gap‐prepulse inhibition (GPI). This paradigm is also used to detect tinnitus in animal models. The lack of inhibition by the silent gaps is suggested to be indicative of the presence of tinnitus “filling‐in” the gaps. The current research aims at improving the GPIAS technique by comparing the GPI produced by monaural versus binaural silent gaps in 29 normal‐hearing subjects. Two gap durations (5 or 50 ms), each embedded in two different frequency backgrounds (centered around 500 or 4 kHz). Both low‐ and high‐ frequency narrowband noises had a bandwidth of half an octave. Overall, the startle magnitude was greater for the binaural versus the monaural presentation, which might reflect binaural loudness summation. In addition, the GPI was similar between the monaural and the binaural presentations for the high‐frequency background noise. However, the GPI was greater for the low‐frequency background noise for the binaural, compared to the monaural, presentation. These findings suggest that monaural GPIAS might be more suited to detect tinnitus compared to the binaural presentation.
The self‐face captures attention without consciousness: Evidence from the N2pc ERP component analysis
Authors: Bola Michał , Paź Marta , Doradzińska Łucja , Nowicka Anna 
Published: December 2020

AbstractIt is well established that stimuli representing or associated with ourselves, like our own name or an image of our own face, benefit from preferential processing. However, two key questions concerning the self‐prioritization mechanism remain to be addressed. First, does it operate in an automatic manner during the early processing, or rather in a more controlled fashion at later processing stages? Second, is it specific to the self‐related stimuli, or can it be activated also by other stimuli that are familiar or salient? We conducted a dot‐probe experiment to investigate the mechanism behind the attentional prioritization of the self‐face image and to tackle both questions. The former, by employing a backwards masking procedure to isolate the early and preconscious processing stages. The latter, by investigating whether a face that becomes visually familiar due to repeated presentations is able to capture attention in a similar manner as the self‐face. Analysis of the N2pc ERP component revealed that the self‐face image automatically captures attention, both when processed consciously and unconsciously. In contrast, the visually familiar face did not attract attention, neither in the conscious, nor in the unconscious condition. We conclude that the self‐prioritization mechanism is early and automatic, and is not triggered by mere visual familiarity. More generally, our results provide further evidence for efficient unconscious processing of faces, and for dissociation between attention and consciousness.
C‐type lectin‐like CD161 is not a co‐signalling receptor in gluten‐reactive CD4 + T cells
Authors: Wyrożemski Łukasz , Sollid Ludvig M. , Qiao Shuo‐Wang 
Published: December 2020

AbstractC‐type lectin‐like CD161, a class II transmembrane protein, is a surface receptor expressed by NK cells and T cells. In coeliac disease, CD161 was expressed more frequently on gluten‐reactive CD4 + T cells compared to other memory CD4 + T cells isolated from the same tissue compartment. CD161 is a putative co‐signalling molecule that was proposed to act as co‐stimulatory receptor in the context of signalling through TCR, but contradicting results were published. In order to understand the role of CD161 in gluten‐reactive CD4 + T cells, we combined T cell stimulation assays or T cell proliferation assays with ligation of CD161 and intracellular cytokine staining. We found that CD161 ligation provided neither co‐stimulatory nor co‐inhibitory signals to modulate proliferation and IFN‐γ or IL‐21 production by gluten‐reactive CD4 + T cell clones. Thus, we suggest that CD161 does not function as a co‐signalling receptor in the context of gluten‐reactive CD4 + T cells.
Differential diagnoses of severe COVID‐19 in tropical areas: the experience of Reunion Island
Authors: Krol Pauline , Coolen‐Allou Nathalie , Teysseyre Laura , Traversier Nicolas , Beasley Floryan , Nativel Mathilde , Allou Nicolas , Allyn Jerome 
Published: December 2020

AbstractObjectiveTo identify the differential diagnoses of severe COVID‐19 and the distinguishing characteristics of critically ill COVID‐19 patients in Reunion Island to help improve the triage and management of patients in this tropical setting.MethodsThis retrospective observational study was conducted from 11 March to 4 May 2020 in the only intensive care unit (ICU) authorised to manage COVID‐19 patients in Reunion Island, a French overseas department located in the Indian Ocean region. All patients with unknown COVID‐19 status were tested by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) on ICU admission; those who tested negative were transferred to the COVID‐19‐free area of the ICU.ResultsOver the study period, 99 patients were admitted to our ICU. A total of 33 patients were hospitalised in the COVID‐19 isolation ward, of whom 11 were positive for COVID‐19. The main differential diagnoses of severe COVID‐19 were as follows: community‐acquired pneumonia, dengue, leptospirosis causing intra‐alveolar haemorrhage and cardiogenic pulmonary oedema. The median age of COVID‐19‐positive patients was higher than that of COVID‐19‐negative patients (71 [58–74] vs. 54 [46–63.5] years, P = 0.045). No distinguishing clinical, biological or radiological characteristics were found between the two groups of patients. All COVID‐19‐positive patients had recently travelled or been in contact with a recent traveller.ConclusionsIn Reunion Island, dengue and leptospirosis are key differential diagnoses of severe COVID‐19, and travel is the only distinguishing characteristic of COVID‐19‐positive patients. Our findings apply only to the particular context of Reunion Island at this time of the epidemic.
Phytochrome B inhibits darkness‐induced hypocotyl adventitious root formation by stabilizing IAA14 and suppressing ARF7 and ARF19
Authors: Li Qian‐Qian , Zhang Zhan , Wang Ya‐Ling , Zhong Li‐Yuan , Chao Zhen‐Fei , Gao Yi‐Qun , Han Mei‐Ling , Xu Lin , Chao Dai‐Yin 
Published: December 2020

SummaryAdventitious roots (ARs) are an important root type for plants and display a high phenotypic plasticity in response to different environmental stimuli. Previous studies found that dark–light transition can trigger AR formation from the hypocotyl of etiolated Arabidopsis thaliana, which was used as a model for the identification of regulators of AR biogenesis. However, the central regulatory machinery for darkness‐induced hypocotyl AR (HAR) remains elusive. Here, we report that photoreceptors suppress HAR biogenesis through regulating the molecular module essential for lateral roots. We found that hypocotyls embedded in soil or in continuous darkness are able to develop HARs, wherein photoreceptors act as negative regulators. Distinct from wound‐induced ARs that require WOX11 and WOX12, darkness‐induced HARs are fully dependent on ARF7, ARF19, WOX5/7, and LBD16. Further studies established that PHYB interacts with IAA14, ARF7, and ARF9. The interactions stabilize IAA14 and inhibit the transcriptional activities of ARF7 and ARF19 and thus suppress biogenesis of darkness‐induced HARs. This finding not only revealed the central machinery controlling HAR biogenesis but also illustrated that AR formation could be initiated by multiple pathways.
Experimental and Numerical Characterization of a Novel Natural Gas Low NOx Burner in Gas Turbine Realistic Environment
Authors: Cerutti Matteo , Nassini Pier Carlo , Pampaloni Daniele , Andreini Antonio 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
A fundamental milestone in the development of a low NOx burner technology is the demonstration of its capabilities in realistic environment. This is especially true for the novel burner subject of this paper, which has been extensively characterized throughout single burner scale experiments. An exhaustive description of the early development phases of the novel burner has been provided by authors in recently published works. The most promising geometry was selected for the assessment in real combustor arrangement, consisting of a full-scale annular combustor test rig. This paper reports the main results of such an assessment. Pollutant emissions and pressure pulsations have been measured at gas turbine relevant operating conditions. Moreover, dedicated blow-out tests have been performed to obtain the extinction equivalence ratio at both ambient and pressurized conditions, as done during the past single burner rig campaign. Basically, an adequate set of data has been gathered, allowing a direct comparison between full-annular and reduced-scale tests. A general alignment of behavior has been observed, as both low NOx capability and blow-out characteristics of full-annular arrangement turned out to be substantially unchanged with respect to the single burner. Nevertheless, some discrepancies in magnitude have been highlighted and discussed. Details have been given involving deeper numerical analysis by means of a dedicated model developed by the authors in previous works. Indeed, improvement to the model has been introduced in the context of this paper to overcome some limitations arisen in predicting emissions. Finally, a preliminary stability analysis has been carried out, with the aim to describe the onset of thermoacoustic instability tendency as observed in the full-annular tests.
Emissions Performance of Staged Premixed and Diffusion Combustor Concepts for an NH3/Air Flame With and Without Reactant Humidification
Authors: Pugh D. , Valera-Medina A. , Bowen P. , Giles A. , Goktepe B. , Runyon J. , Morris S. , Hewlett S. , Marsh R. 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
Renewably generated ammonia offers a form of carbon-free chemical energy storage to meet the differences between uncertain supply and fluctuating demand and has the potential to support future energy requirements. The storage/transportation characteristics of NH3 are favorable compared with H2; however, there are combustion research challenges to enhance fuel reactivity while reducing harmful emissions production. The purpose of this work was to evaluate different fuel delivery concepts for a representative gas turbine combustor. An experimental and numerical comparison was made between swirl-stabilized premixed and diffusion NH3–air flames at elevated inlet temperature (473 K). The exhaust NOx and NH3 emissions generated from each concept were quantified to optimize combustor performance. High-speed OH* and NH2* chemiluminescence was employed to characterize the change in flame topology with variation in fuel–air equivalence ratio, and the resultant influence on measured emission concentrations. Chemiluminescence intensities were shown to elucidate changes in sampled exhaust emissions, enabling detailed analysis of intermediate chemistry. A comparison was made between experimental data and kinetic simulations, demonstrating the sensitivity of NOx emissions to premixed fuel–air equivalence ratio. A comparison was also made between exclusive primary airflow, and the staged introduction of secondary air, to quantify the change in NOx production between each configuration and improve fuel burnout. Secondary air loadings were incrementally increased through the combustor. Finally, reactant humidification was employed as a secondary process for NOx reduction, having shown favorable performance with NH3–H2 mixtures, with the efficacy compared for both premixed and diffusion configurations.
Experimental Investigation of a Radial Wave Engine Utilizing a Rotary Valved Pressure Gain Combustor
Authors: Akbari Pejman , Brady Grant M. , Sell Brian C. , Polanka Marc D. 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
In this paper, a deflagrative pressure gain combustor employing rotary valves is introduced that can reduce combustor length by allowing the combustion process to take place in the radial direction rather than in the axial direction with sufficient resident time. The engine is described in some detail with respect to geometry, components, and potential benefits. A demonstrator rig was designed, built, and tested for concept verification. A series of initial tests sweeping equivalence ratio from 0.4 to 0.8 using ethylene as fuel and mass flows from 75 g/s to 150 g/s is presented. The turbine rotor was driven to above 200 RPM with just four of the combustor passages operating. The initial results indicate the feasibility of the rotary valve radial engine concept and identified key challenges associated with the concept. Further studies are needed to address existing challenges and to promote the engine development.
Lattice Boltzmann Modeling for Natural Convection in Power-Law Fluids Within a Partially Heated Square Enclosure
Authors: Mendu Siva Subrahmanyam , Das Prasanta Kumar 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
This paper reports the numerical investigations for steady-state natural convection in power-law fluids inside a square enclosure embedded with bottom discrete heaters. The lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) is employed to model the flow and heat transfer phenomenon at different combinations of power-law index, Rayleigh number, and heat source length for a constant Prandtl number. The buoyancy force is incorporated in the collision term of the LBM through Boussinesq approximation. Simulation outcomes are furnished using streamlines, temperature contours, velocity profiles, and variation of heat transfer on the nonadiabatic walls to probe natural convection phenomena. The results indicate that the temperature and the flow fields in the enclosure are symmetric about the vertical centerline. The detailed physical interpretations have been provided for the reported results. Further, the increase in the power-law index means a rise in viscosity and a decrease in thermal energy transport for other constant parameters. The outcomes also specify that the intensity of circulation and heat transfer enhances with the increase of Rayleigh number and size of the localized heater. Finally, though, a rise in the size of the confined heat source enhances the rate of total thermal transport, it does not change the trend of fluid flow and local heat transfer rate.
An Analytical Inverse Kinematics Solution Method for Robotic Manipulators
Authors: Balkan Tuna , Özgören M. Kemal , Arikan M. A. Sahir , Baykurt H. Murat 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
In this study, an inverse kinematic solution approach applicable to six degree-of-freedom industrial robotic manipulators is introduced. The approach is based on a previously introduced kinematic classification of industrial robotic manipulators by Balkan et al. (1999), and depending on the kinematic structure, either an analytical or a semi-analytical inverse kinematic solution is obtained. The semi-analytical method is named as the parametrized joint variable (PJV) method. Compact forward kinematic equations obtained by utilizing the properties of exponential rotation matrices. In the inverse kinematic solutions of the industrial robots surveyed in the previous study, most of the simplified compact equations can be solved analytically and the remaining few of them can be solved semi-analytically through a numerical solution of a single univariate equation. In these solutions, the singularities and the multiple configurations of the manipulators can be determined easily. By the method employed in this study, the kinematic and inverse kinematic analysis of any manipulator or designed-to-be manipulator can be performed and using the solutions obtained, the inverse kinematics can also be computerized by means of short and fast algorithms. As an example for the demonstration of the applicability of the presented method to manipulators with closed-chains, ABB IRB2000 industrial robot is selected which has a four-bar mechanism for the actuation of the third link, and its compact forward kinematic equations are given as well as the inverse kinematic solution.
Mathematical Model for Large Deflection Dynamics of a Compliant Beam Mechanism
Authors: Panza Michael J. 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
A mathematical model for the large deflection dynamics of a compliant beam mechanism is presented. The mechanism simulates the motion of a slider-crank device. The system contains a highly flexible beam that provides the compliant motion from a sliding mass at one end to a rotating hinge point at the other end. Basic models for friction and beam dissipation effects are included. Principles of mechanics are used to derive a nonlinear integro-partial differential equation for the complete beam/mass system in the curved space of the deformed beam. The resulting equation is cast into a generalized nondimensional form suitable for studying system behavior for a broad range of system sizes. The dynamic equation is solved in curved space by applying a spatial solution that closely represents the large deflection measured static deflection of the beam. The nonlinear system dynamics are simulated for an initial large deflection of the mechanism and compared to experimental results for an actual physical system.
The Novel Design of a Pure-Rolling Transmission to Convert Rotational Into Translational Motion
Authors: González-Palacios Max A. , Angeles Jorge 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
The design of a novel transmission to convert rotational into translational motion, or vice versa, is reported in this paper. The transmission is based on a cam mechanism with multiple rollers mounted on a translating common follower. This feature thus provides pure-rolling contact, thereby eliminating the friction of rack-and-pinions. Moreover, a provision is made to allow for the elimination of backlash. The design relies on a unified methodology for indexing cam mechanisms, whereby the same procedure is used to design planar, spherical, and spatial mechanisms.