bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Type VI secretion system of Pseudomonas aeruginosa is associated with biofilm formation but not environmental adaptation
Authors: Chen Lihua , Zou Yaru , Kronfl Asmaa Abbas , Wu Yong 
Published: January 2020

AbstractPseudomonas aeruginosa encodes three type VI secretion systems (T6SSs), namely H1‐, H2‐, and H3‐T6SS. P. aeruginosa hemolysin‐coregulated protein (Hcp) is the effector protein and the hallmark of T6SS. Although T6SS is ubiquitous and affects ecology and human health, its general mechanism and physiological role are still not fully understood. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the impact of the P. aeruginosa T6SS on biofilm formation and environmental adaptation. To this end, we collected P. aeruginosa clinical isolates, divided them into strong biofilm formation (SBF) and nonbiofilm formation (NBF) groups based on their biofilm‐forming ability, and compared their associated clinical characteristics. The duration of hospitalization was longer in patients infected with SBF than those infected with NBF strains. The expression levels of T6SS‐related genes (hcp1 and hcp3) and a quorum‐sensing gene (lasR) were higher in the SBF group as compared to those in the NBF group. In addition, the expression level of lasR was negatively associated with that of hcp1, but was positively associated with those of hcp2 and hcp3. Moreover, we evaluated the expression of T6SS‐ and biofilm‐associated genes in planktonic and biofilm cells of the P. aeruginosa strain PAO1, and constructed strain PAO1△clpV1 to study the adaptation characteristics of H1‐T6SS. The expression levels of hcp1, hcp2, hcp3, lasR, and other biofilm‐associated genes were significantly higher in PAO1 biofilm cells as compared to those of planktonic cells. However, except for swarming ability as a vital feature for biofilm formation, there were no significant differences in the biofilm‐forming ability and expression of biofilm‐associated genes, adherence ability, growth characteristics, resistance to acid and osmotic pressure, surface structure, and morphology between the PAO1△clpV1 and PAO1 wild‐type strains. Collectively, our results suggest that T6SS might play a role in biofilm formation and that H1‐T6SS does not contribute to environmental adaptation in P. aeruginosa.
Potential digenic inheritance of familial hypertrophic cardiomyopathy identified by whole‐exome sequencing
Authors: Ren Ming‐Bao , Chai Xiao‐Rui , Li Lin , Wang Xin , Yin Chenghong 
Published: January 2020

AbstractBackgroundThe aim of this study was to identify the genetic causes of patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) within a family. Most of the previous studies found point mutations as the genetic causes for HCM, whole‐gene deletion was rarely reported.MethodsAlthough, clinical genetic testing has been widely used for identifying variants in HCM patients, structural variations are understudied, partly owing to the inadequacy of the available methodology. In the present study, whole‐exome sequencing (WES) and Sanger sequencing validation was used to identify the genetic causes in patients with familial HCM.ResultsA genomic deletion in Chromosome 19 containing the whole of troponin I3 gene (TNNI3), and the p.Ile736Thr variant in the myosin heavy chain 7 gene (MYH7) were identified in two patients with familial HCM by WES. The p.Ile736Thr variant is further validated by Sanger sequencing and is predicted as a pathogenic variant by in silico analysis.ConclusionWe added the notion that not only p.Ile736Thr variant of MYH7, but also TNNI3 deletion might potentially contribute to HCM pathogenesis. Our study also suggested WES was a powerful tool to identify the genetic variants causing HCM.
The Putative Caloric Restriction Mimetic Resveratrol has Moderate Impact on Insulin Sensitivity, Body Composition, and the Metabolome in Mice
Authors: Günther Ilka , Rimbach Gerald , Mack Carina I. , Weinert Christoph H. , Danylec Nicolas , Lüersen Kai , Birringer Marc , Bracher Franz , Soukup Sebastian T. , Kulling Sabine E. , Pallauf Kathrin 
Published: January 2020

ScopeData on resveratrol‐(trans‐3,5,4′‐trihydroxystilbene)‐induced caloric‐restriction‐(CR)‐mimicking effects in mice receiving a high‐fat diet (HFD) are contradictory. It is hypothesized that this can possibly stem from different bioactivities of resveratrol (RSV) microbial metabolites.Methods and resultsC57BL/6Rj mice are fed an ad‐libitum HFD supplemented with RSV or its metabolites, dihydroresveratrol (DHR) and lunularin (LUN) (≈28 mg (dihydro)stilbene kg−1 mouse per day). A 40% CR group was included in the study. While CR mice show robust changes in bodyweight and composition, hormone levels and mRNA expression, slight changes are found (more muscle, less adipose tissue) in body composition, leptin, and insulin levels in RSV‐supplemented mice compared to ad libitum controls. LUN hardly and DHR does not change the hormone levels measured. Metabolome analysis of serum shows changes in CR mice but only slight, if any, changes in RSV‐, DHR‐, or LUN‐supplemented mice compared to the controls. Evaluating the capability of RSV and its metabolites to inhibit carbohydrate‐hydrolyzing enzymes in vitro, it is found that RSV reduced α‐glucosidase activity to a stronger extent than DHR and LUN.ConclusionDecelerated carbohydrate breakdown by RSV may have contributed to the moderate impact of dietary RSV on mouse insulin sensitivity (lowered fasting and post‐glucose‐bolus insulin levels).
An optically transparent and flexible microwave absorber for X and Ku bands application
Authors: Tayde Yakeen , Chaudhary Kajal , Singh Gaganpreet , Dhumal Ayushi , Saikia Mondeep , Srivastava Kumar V. , Ramkumar Janakrajan , Ramakrishna Subramaniam A. 
Published: January 2020

AbstractIn this article, an optically transparent and flexible microwave absorber for X and Ku bands application has been presented. The proposed absorber uses optically transparent ITO coated PET sheet for creating ohmic loss and polydimethylsiloxane has been used as a dielectric substrate for optical transparency and flexibility. The novelty of the structure lies in its optical transparency and flexible with increased absorption bandwidth and minimum thickness in comparison to previously reported state of the art absorbers. The proposed absorber exhibits absorptivity (above 90%) in the frequency range from 8.00 to 20.70 GHz under normal incidence. The thickness of the absorber is 0.196λg (where λg correspond to guided wavelength with respect to dielectric constant εr). An equivalent circuit model has been proposed which shows good match with the full wave model.
Simultaneous MRI water‐fat separation and quantitative susceptibility mapping of carotid artery plaque pre‐ and post‐ultrasmall superparamagnetic iron oxide‐uptake
Authors: Ruetten Pascal P. R. , Cluroe Alison D. , Usman Ammara , Priest Andrew N. , Gillard Jonathan H. , Graves Martin J. 
Published: January 2020

PurposeImaging carotid artery plaques to identify features of vulnerability typically requires a multicontrast MRI protocol. The identification of regions of inflammation with ultrasmall superparamagnetic iron oxide (USPIO) nanoparticles requires separate pre‐ and postcontrast scans. We propose a method of joint water‐fat separation and quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM) to aid classification of atherosclerotic plaques and offer a positive contrast mechanism in USPIO‐imaging.MethodsTen healthy volunteers (3 women and 7 men; aged, 30.7 ± 10.7 years) were imaged at 1.5T to develop an acquisition and postprocessing protocol. Five patients (1 woman and 4 men; mean age, 71 ± 7.5 years) with moderate to severe luminal stenosis were imaged pre‐ and postadministration of a USPIO contrast agent. We used a multiecho gradient echo acquisition to perform water/fat separation and subsequently QSM. The results were compared with a conventional multicontrast MRI protocol, CT images, and histopathology data.ResultsIn the volunteer scans, a multiecho gradient echo acquisition with bipolar readout gradients demonstrated to be a reliable acquisition methodology to produce high‐quality susceptibility maps in conjunction with the proposed postprocessing methodology. In the patient study, water/fat separation provided a tool to identify lipid‐rich necrotic cores and QSM provided a qualitative and quantitative evaluation of plaque features and positive contrast when evaluating USPIO uptake. Plaque calcification could be identified by strong diamagnetism (−1.27 ± 0.71 ppm), while USPIO uptake demonstrated a strong paramagnetism (1.32 ± 0.61 ppm).ConclusionQSM was able to identify multiple plaque features in a single acquisition, providing positive contrast for plaques demonstrating USPIO uptake and negative contrast for calcification.
Three‐dimensional accelerated acquisition for hyperpolarized 13C MR with blipped stack‐of‐spirals and conjugate‐gradient SENSE
Authors: Olin Rie B. , Sánchez‐Heredia Juan Diego , Schulte Rolf F. , Bøgh Nikolaj , Hansen Esben Søvsø Szocska , Laustsen Christoffer , Hanson Lars G. , Ardenkjær‐Larsen Jan H. 
Published: January 2020

PurposeTo test a new parallel imaging strategy for acceleration of hyperpolarized 13C MR acquisitions based on a 3D blipped stack‐of‐spirals trajectory and conjugate‐gradient SENSE reconstruction with precalibrated sensitivities.MethodsThe blipped stack‐of‐spirals trajectory was developed for an acceleration factor of 4, based on an undersampled stack‐of‐spirals with gradient blips during spiral readout. The trajectory was developed with volumetric coverage of a large FOV and with high spatial resolution. High temporal resolution was attained through spectral‐spatial excitation and 4 excitations per volume. The blipped stack‐of‐spirals was evaluated in simulations and phantom experiments. Next, the method was evaluated for kidney and cardiac imaging in 2 separate healthy pigs.ResultsSimulation and phantom results showed successful acquisition and reconstruction, but also revealed reconstruction challenges for certain locations and for wide signal sources. For the kidney experiment, the accelerated acquisition showed high similarity to 2 separately acquired fully sampled data sets with matched spatial and temporal resolution, respectively. For the cardiac experiment, the accelerated acquisition proved able to map each metabolite in 3 dimensions within a single cardiac cycle.ConclusionThe proposed method demonstrated effective mapping of metabolism in both kidneys and the heart of healthy pigs. Limitations seen in phantom experiments, may be irrelevant for most clinical applications, but should be kept in mind as well as reconstruction challenges related to residual aliasing. All in all, we show that the blipped stack‐of‐spirals is a relevant parallel imaging method for hyperpolarized human imaging, facilitating better insights into metabolism compared with nonaccelerated acquisition.
Silent T1 mapping using the variable flip angle method with B1 correction
Authors: Ljungberg Emil , Wood Tobias , Solana Ana Beatriz , Kolind Shannon , Williams Steven C. R. , Wiesinger Florian , Barker Gareth J. 
Published: January 2020

PurposeTo compare the silent rotating ultrafast imaging sequence (RUFIS) to a traditional Cartesian spoiled gradient‐echo (SPGR) acquisition scheme for variable flip angle (VFA) mapping.MethodsA two‐point VFA measurement was performed using RUFIS and Cartesian SPGR in a quantitative phantom and healthy volunteers. To correct for errors, a novel silent magnetization prepared map acquisition (SIMBA) was developed, which combined with RUFIS VFA allows for a completely silent mapping protocol.ResultsThe silent protocol was found to have comparable repeatability but higher reproducibility in vivo compared to the standard SPGR protocol, and showed no increase in acoustic noise levels above background noise levels compared to a 33 dBA increase for the SPGR acquisition.ConclusionsVFA mapping using RUFIS is a feasible alternative to SPGR, achieving silent mapping with comparable acquisition time.
Method of limits: Female genital stretch perception thresholds
Authors: Mahoney Charlotte , Chok Sok‐Moi , Bryant Angela , Myers Jenny , Smith Anthony , Reid Fiona 
Published: January 2020

AbstractIntroductionWomen with pelvic organ prolapse describe vaginal laxity and poor sensation of vaginal tone that does not correlate with anatomical findings. This discrepancy could be explained by altered vaginal sensation and a test that could measure sensation of vaginal tone, transmitted via Aα and Aβ nerve fibers, would further our understanding of the pathophysiology of vaginal laxity.ObjectiveTo develop quantitative sensory testing (QST) for vaginal tone using genital stretch perception thresholds (PT), assess reproducibility, and the association with age and parity.Study DesignProspective observational cohort study of healthy women (Canadian task force classification II‐2) who underwent QST method of limits at the vagina and introitus for sensation of first awareness and stretch using a modified anorectal physiology protocol.ResultsForty women underwent repeatability testing. Intra‐ and inter‐rater repeatability using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) was good to excellent for both first awareness and stretch at the vagina and introitus (intra‐rater ICC = 0.93, 0.95, 0.81, and 0.88, respectively; inter‐rater ICC = 0.83, 0.93, 0.71, and 0.86 respectively).Normative data were collected from 100 women. Log‐linear regression found a significant association between age and PT for first awareness and stretch at the vagina and introitus (P = .020, .008, .002, and <.001, respectively). There was no association with parity and PT. Nomograms were calculated using the 95% confidence limits around the regression line.ConclusionsStretch QST is clinically feasible, valid, and reproducible. The test can be used as a tool to measure sensation in women presenting with symptoms of vaginal laxity.
Effect of xanthan gum‐thickened liquid aspiration on the lungs in a mouse model
Authors: Araie Takafumi , Ono Minagi Hitomi , Usami Yu , Ikai Kazuki , Sakai Manabu , Gojo Nao , Nohara Kanji , Sakai Takayoshi 
Published: January 2020

AbstractObjectives/HypothesisTo modify liquid viscosity is a common practice used in patients with dysphagia to avoid aspiration. Although accidentally aspirating small amount occurs frequently in patient‐care settings, the effect of aspirating a small amount thickened fluids on lungs is not clear. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of xanthan gum‐thickened liquid aspiration on the lungs.MethodsICR mice were randomly divided into three experimental groups: saline, low thickened saline, and high thickened saline. To induce aspiration, we administered each reagent through a single intratracheal instillation at a dose of 0.3 ml kg−1 body weight. The mice were euthanized at specific time points (at 1, 3, and 7 days), and the respiratory clearance of the aspirated materials and the effects of the aspiration on lung tissue, physiological function, inflammatory responses, and alveolar capillary barrier permeability were evaluated.ResultsThe results showed that when thickened saline was aspirated, the aspirated material did not spontaneously resolve for at least a week in the lungs, though saline did. In addition, thickened saline aspiration caused short‐term inflammatory responses and a prolonged increase in alveolar capillary barrier permeability. The alterations of the alveolar capillary barrier permeability remained significantly elevated at day 7 in high thickened saline compared with saline. There were no significant differences in the physiological and histological findings between the aspiration of saline and thickened saline.ConclusionsThese results suggest that xanthan gum‐thickened liquid aspiration can extend the duration of lung injury.
Synthesis of Heat‐resistant Polymers by Thiol–Ene Reaction of N‐Allylmaleimide Copolymers Using Glycoluril Crosslinkers with Rigid Molecular Structures
Authors: Kurasaki Yuto , Suzuki Yasuhito , Matsumoto Akikazu 
Published: January 2020

ABSTRACTWe carried out the thermal curing of the copolymers of N‐allylmaleimide (AMI) and 2‐ethylhexyl acrylate (2EHA) using 1,3,4,6‐tetra(2‐mercaproethyl)glycoluril (G1), 1,3,4,6‐tetra(3‐mercaptopropyl)glycoluril (G2), 1,3,4,6‐tetraallylglycoluril (G3), triallylisocyanurate (TAIC), and pentaerythritol tetrakis(3‐mercaptobutyrate) (PEMB) as the crosslinkers. Based on the results for the analysis of thiol–ene reactions monitored by IR spectroscopy, it was confirmed that the curing rate significantly depended on the combination of the used crosslinkers. The insoluble fraction after curing was more than 90% for the systems using the glycoluril crosslinkers, while the conversion of the allyl groups was suppressed due to the rigid structure of these crosslinkers. The heat resistance and the mechanical properties of the crosslinked polymers were investigated by thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, dynamic mechanical analysis, and mechanical tensile tests. For the products cured using the glycoluril crosslinkers, the glass transition temperature (Tg) and the maximum temperature of thermal decomposition (Tmax) were 54–59 °C and 395–409 °C, respectively, being higher than those for the cured product prepared with PEMB and TAIC as the conventional crosslinkers. The elasticity (75–139 MPa), the maximum strength (3.0–4.1 MPa), and the adhesion strength (6.7–10.7 MPa) for the polymers cured with the glycoluril crosslinkers, determined by the mechanical tensile and single lap‐shear adhesion tests, were higher than those for cured materials produced with PEMB. Thus, the thermal and mechanical properties of the maleimide copolymers were efficiently enhanced by crosslinking using the rigid glycoluril compounds. © 2020 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci. 2020, 58, 923–931
Venom α‐amylase of the endoparasitic wasp Pteromalus puparum influences host metabolism
Authors: Wang Beibei , Ren Chaodu , Yang Lei , Fang Qi , Song Qisheng , Ye Gongyin 
Published: January 2020

AbstractBackgroundPteromalus puparum (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) is an endoparasitoid wasp that parasitizes many butterfly species, including a Brassicaceae pest, Pieris rapae (Lepidoptera: Pieridae), the small white cabbage butterfly. P. puparum females inject venom along with their eggs into hosts to ensure successful parasitism. The venom regulates host development and behavior, suppresses host immunity, and influences host metabolism. It has been shown that the venom contains α‐amylases, a group of hydrolytic enzymes that act in insect sugar metabolism. So far, three α‐amylases have been identified in P. puparum (Pteromalus puparum α‐amylases, PpAmys) and the function of PpAmy1 has been reported. However, the functions of PpAmy2 and PpAmy3 remain unknown.ResultsWe studied the functions of an α‐amylase highly expressed in muscle‐rich tissues (PpAmy2) and an α‐amylase highly expressed in venom apparatus (PpAmy3) using RNAi and GC‐TOF‐MS techniques. Knockdown of PpAmy3 by RNAi reduced the body length and weight of 1‐day old larval offspring while there was no significant effect when PpAmy2 was knocked down. Compared to the control injected with siGFP, many metabolites in P. puparum changed when PpAmy2 was knocked down, while the injection of PpAmy3 recombinant protein into host induced metabolite changes in the P. rapae hemolymph.ConclusionOur study demonstrated that PpAmy2 acts in metabolism in the muscles of the parasitoid while PpAmy3 could influence the host metabolism and may support the development of parasitic wasp offspring. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry
Playing the victim? Human trafficking, African youth, and geographies of structural inequality
Authors: Esson James 
Published: January 2020

AbstractThis article explores the role of agency in determining who is and is not considered to be a legitimate victim of human trafficking. It draws on critical human trafficking scholarship and research on the life chances of West African youth. This is complemented by qualitative data from youth embroiled in football‐related human trafficking. The insights from these analyses are brought into conversation with theoretical work on the geographies of commodities. This results in the concept of “the football trafficking fetish,” which is used to theorise how and why the agency of mobile youthful African male bodies undermines their claims of being trafficked human beings. The findings that emerge are significant in two ways. First, they generate theoretical insights on the coexistence of agency and exploitation in young lives and how young people's aspirations and agency can be (mis)read and work against them. Second, they provide a unique illustration of how human trafficking is a product of capitalism yet can be presented as a form of behaviour that lies outside of capitalist social relations. To centre these social relations and foster new forms of critical dialogue within and beyond population geography, the article concludes by recommending we consider the implications of conceptualising people as susceptible to rather than vulnerable to human trafficking.
Dual multivariate CUSUM charts with auxiliary information for process mean
Authors: Haq Abdul , Munir Tahir , Shah Burhan Ali 
Published: January 2020

AbstractIt is customary to increase the sensitivity of a control chart using an efficient estimator of the underlying process parameter which is being monitored. In this paper, using an auxiliary information‐based (AIB) mean estimator, we propose dual multivariate CUSUM (DMCUSUM) and mixed DMCUSUM (MDMCUSUM) charts, called the AIB‐DMCUSUM and AIB‐MDMCUSUM charts, with and without fast initial response features for monitoring the mean vector of a multivariate normally distributed process. The DMCUSUM chart combines two similar‐type multivariate CUSUM (MCUSUM) charts while the MDMCUSUM chart combines two different‐type MCUSUM charts, into a single chart. The objective of two multivariate subcharts in the DMCUSUM/MDMCUSUM chart is to simultaneously detect small‐to‐moderate and moderate‐to‐large shifts in the process mean vector. Monte Carlo simulations are used to compute the run length characteristics, including the average run length (ARL), extra quadratic loss, and integral of the relative ARL. Based on detailed run length comparisons, it turns out that the AIB‐DMCUSUM and AIB‐MDMCUSUM charts uniformly and substantially outperform the DMCUSUM and MDMCUSUM charts when detecting different sizes of shift in the process mean vector. A real dataset is used to explain the implementation of proposed AIB multivariate charts.