bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Functional characterization of a putative DNA methyltransferase, EadM, in Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. glycines by proteomic and phenotypic analyses
Authors: Park Hye-Jee , Jung Boknam , Lee Jungkwan , Han Sang-Wook 
Published: February 2019

AbstractXanthomonas axonopodis pv. glycines (Xag) is a phytopathogenic bacterium causing bacterial pustule disease in soybean. Functions of DNA methyltransferases have been characterized in animal pathogenic bacteria, but are poorly understood in plant pathogens. Here, we report that functions of a putative DNA methyltransferase, EadM, in Xag. An EadM-overexpressing strain, Xag(EadM), was less virulent than the wild-type carrying an empty vector, Xag(EV). Interestingly, the viable cell numbers of Xag(EadM) were much lower (10-fold) than those of Xag(EV) at the same optical density. Comparative proteomic analysis revealed that proteins involved in cell wall/membrane/envelope and iron-transport were more abundant. Based on proteomic analysis we carried out diverse phenotypic assays. Scanning electron microscopy revealed abnormal bacterial envelopes in Xag(EadM). Additionally, Xag(EadM) showed decreased stress tolerance against ciprofloxacin and sorbitol, but enhanced resistance to desiccation. Exopolysaccharide production in Xag(EadM) was also decreased. Production of siderophores, which are iron-chelators, was much higher in Xag(EadM). As in Xag, Escherichia coli expressing EadM showed significantly reduced (1000-fold) viable cell numbers at the same optical density. Thus, EadM is associated with virulence, envelope biogenesis, stress tolerance, exopolysaccharide production, and siderophore production. Our results provide valuable and fundamental information regarding DNA methyltransferase functions and their related cellular mechanisms in plant pathogenic bacteria.
A comparison of species specific sensitivities to changing light and carbonate chemistry in calcifying marine phytoplankton
Authors: Gafar Natasha A. , Eyre Bradley D. , Schulz Kai G. 
Published: February 2019

AbstractCoccolithophores are unicellular marine phytoplankton and important contributors to global carbon cycling. Most work on coccolithophore sensitivity to climate change has been on the small, abundant bloom-forming species Emiliania huxleyi and Gephyrocapsa oceanica. However, large coccolithophore species can be major contributors to coccolithophore community production even in low abundances. Here we fit an analytical equation, accounting for simultaneous changes in CO2 and light intensity, to rates of photosynthesis, calcification and growth in Scyphosphaera apsteinii. Comparison of responses to G. oceanica and E. huxleyi revealed S. apsteinii is a low-light adapted species and, in contrast, becomes more sensitive to changing environmental conditions when exposed to unfavourable CO2 or light. Additionally, all three species decreased their light requirement for optimal growth as CO2 levels increased. Our analysis suggests that this is driven by a drop in maximum rates and, in G. oceanica, increased substrate uptake efficiency. Increasing light intensity resulted in a higher proportion of muroliths (plate-shaped) to lopadoliths (vase shaped) and liths became richer in calcium carbonate as calcification rates increased. Light and CO2 driven changes in response sensitivity and maximum rates are likely to considerably alter coccolithophore community structure and productivity under future climate conditions.
Anti-inflammatory effect of afatinib (an EGFR-TKI) on OGD-induced neuroinflammation
Authors: Chen Yen-Ju , Hsu Chia-Chi , Shiao Young-Ji , Wang Hsiang-Tsui , Lo Yu-Li , Lin A. M. Y. 
Published: February 2019

AbstractActivated epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) has been proposed in the pathophysiology of neurodegenerative diseases. In the present study, the anti-inflammatory effect of afatinib, an EGFR-tyrosine kinase inhibitor (EGFR-TKIs) was investigated using CTX-TNA2 cells and primary cultured astrocytes subjected to oxygen/glucose deprivation (OGD). We found that OGD induced EGFR phosphorylation and activated subsequent signaling pathways, including phosphorylation of AKT and extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK). Afatinib blocked OGD-induced phosphorylation of EGFR, AKT and ERK. At the same time, afatinib attenuated OGD-induced elevations in glial fibrillary acidic protein (a biomarker of activated astrocytes) and proliferating cell nuclear antigen expression (a cell proliferating biomarker) as well as hypoxia-induced migratory ability. Furthermore, afatinib decreased OGD-induced increases in cyclooxygenase-II and inducible nitric oxide synthase expression of the treated astrocytes as well as NO content in the culture medium. Moreover, afatinib attenuated OGD-induced caspase 1 activation (a biomarker of inflammasome activation) and interleukin-1β levels (a pro-inflammatory cytokine). Collectively, afatinib could block OGD-induced EGFR activation and its downstream signaling pathways in astrocytes. Moreover, afatinib attenuated OGD-induced astrocyte activation, proliferation and inflammasome activation. These data support the involvement of EGFR activation in neuroinflammation. Furthermore, EGFR-TKIs may be promising in inhibiting neuroinflammation in the CNS neurodegenerative diseases.
Similarities between action potentials and acoustic pulses in a van der Waals fluid
Authors: Mussel Matan , Schneider Matthias F. 
Published: February 2019

AbstractAn action potential is typically described as a purely electrical change that propagates along the membrane of excitable cells. However, recent experiments have demonstrated that non-linear acoustic pulses that propagate along lipid interfaces and traverse the melting transition, share many similar properties with action potentials. Despite the striking experimental similarities, a comprehensive theoretical study of acoustic pulses in lipid systems is still lacking. Here we demonstrate that an idealized description of an interface near phase transition captures many properties of acoustic pulses in lipid monolayers, as well as action potentials in living cells. The possibility that action potentials may better be described as acoustic pulses in soft interfaces near phase transition is illustrated by the following similar properties: correspondence of time and velocity scales, qualitative pulse shape, sigmoidal response to stimulation amplitude (an ‘all-or-none’ behavior), appearance in multiple observables (particularly, an adiabatic change of temperature), excitation by many types of stimulations, as well as annihilation upon collision. An implication of this work is that crucial functional information of the cell may be overlooked by focusing only on electrical measurements.
In-situ four-tip STM investigation of the transition from 2D to 3D charge transport in SrTiO3
Authors: Leis Arthur , Rodenbücher Christian , Szot Krzysztof , Cherepanov Vasily , Tautz F. Stefan , Voigtländer Bert 
Published: February 2019

AbstractThe electrical properties of SrTiO3(100) single crystals were investigated in-situ at different stages of thermal reduction by means of a 4-tip STM. Using the tips of the STM as electrical probes, distance-dependent four-point measurements were performed at the surface of the crystal at room temperature after reduction by thermal treatment. For annealing temperatures T ≤ 700 °C, charge transport is confined to a surface region <3 μm below the surface. For reduction at T ≥ 900 °C a transition from a conducting 2D sheet with insulating bulk to a system with dominant 3D bulk conductivity is found. At an intermediate reduction temperature of T = 800 °C, a regime with mixed 2D/3D contributions is observed in the distance-dependent resistance measurements. Describing the depth-dependent conductivity with an analytical N-layer model, this regime of mixed 2D/3D conductivity is evaluated quantitatively under the assumption of an exponentially decaying conductivity profile, correlated with the previously observed depth-dependent dislocation density in the sample. A non-monotonous temperature dependence of the 3D conductivity in the respective conducting layer is found and possible underlying mechanisms are discussed, particularly with regard to non-intrinsic material properties depending on details of the sample preparation.
Single Cell Profiling Reveals PTEN Overexpression in Influenza-Specific B cells in Aging HIV-infected individuals on Anti-retroviral Therapy
Authors: de Armas Lesley R. , Pallikkuth Suresh , Pan Li , Rinaldi Stefano , Cotugno Nicola , Andrews Sarah , Pahwa Rajendra , McDermott Adrian B. , Palma Paolo , Pahwa Savita 
Published: February 2019

AbstractMemory B cells (MBC) respond to secondary antigen challenge to protect against infection and to boost immunity following vaccinations. Despite effective treatment, chronic HIV infection disturbs MBCs by reducing numbers and altering functionality due to hyper-activation and increased apoptosis leading to suboptimal antibody responses against common infectious agents. We used single cell gene expression analysis to evaluate antigen-specific memory B cells in peripheral blood of virally-suppressed HIV-infected individuals and healthy controls stratified by serum H1N1 antibody response 3 weeks post-administration of the seasonal trivalent inactivated influenza vaccine. We used a fluorescent probe to isolate influenza H1N1-specific B cells and a multiplexed and targeted RT-PCR approach to measure expression levels of 96 genes involved in B cell activation and function. Gene profiling revealed a 4-gene predictive signature containing the phosphoinositide-3 kinase (PI3K) inhibitor,PTEN, for identifying antigen-specific MBC from HIV-infected individuals compared to healthy controls. Gene co-expression analysis showed that in addition to overexpression ofPTEN, there was increased co-expression of type I interferon-associated genes withPTENon single cell level in HIV compared to controls. This study highlights the persistent defects in MBC from HIV-infected individuals and points to the PI3K signaling pathway as a target for potential immune intervention.
Heat flow due to time-delayed feedback
Authors: Loos Sarah A. M. , Klapp Sabine H. L. 
Published: February 2019

AbstractMany stochastic systems in biology, physics and technology involve discrete time delays in the underlying equations of motion, stemming, e. g., from finite signal transmission times, or a time lag between signal detection and adaption of an apparatus. From a mathematical perspective, delayed systems represent a special class of non-Markovian processes with delta-peaked memory kernels. It is well established that delays can induce intriguing behaviour, such as spontaneous oscillations, or resonance phenomena resulting from the interplay between delay and noise. However, the thermodynamics of delayed stochastic systems is still widely unexplored. This is especially true for continuous systems governed by nonlinear forces, which are omnipresent in realistic situations. We here present an analytical approach for the net steady-state heat rate in classical overdamped systems subject to time-delayed feedback. We show that the feedback inevitably leads to a finite heat flow even for vanishingly small delay times, and detect the nontrivial interplay of noise and delay as the underlying reason. To illustrate this point, and to provide an understanding of the heat flow at small delay times below the velocity-relaxation timescale, we compare with the case of underdamped motion where the phenomenon of “entropy pumping” has already been established. Application to an exemplary (overdamped) bistable system reveals that the feedback induces heating as well as cooling regimes and leads to a maximum of the medium entropy production at coherence resonance conditions. These observations are, in principle, measurable in experiments involving colloidal suspensions.
Ex vivo real-time monitoring of volatile metabolites resulting from nasal odorant metabolism
Authors: Robert-Hazotte Aline , Schoumacker Rachel , Semon Etienne , Briand Loïc , Guichard Elisabeth , Le Quéré Jean-Luc , Faure Philippe , Heydel Jean-Marie 
Published: February 2019

AbstractOdorant-metabolizing enzymes are critically involved in the clearance of odorant molecules from the environment of the nasal neuro-olfactory tissue to maintain the sensitivity of olfactory detection. Odorant metabolism may also generate metabolitesin situ, the characterization and function of which in olfaction remain largely unknown. Here, we engineered and validated anex vivomethod to measure odorant metabolism in real-time. Glassware containing an explant of rat olfactory mucosa was continuously flushed with an odorant flow and was coupled to a proton transfer reaction-mass spectrometer for volatile compound analysis. Focusing on carboxylic esters and diketone odorants, we recorded the metabolic uptake of odorants by the mucosa, concomitantly with the release of volatile odorant metabolites in the headspace. These results significantly change the picture of real-timein situodorant metabolism and represent a new step forward in the investigation of the function of odorant metabolites in the peripheral olfactory process. Our method allows the systematic identification of odorant metabolites using a validated animal model and permits the screening of olfactory endogenously produced chemosensory molecules.
Digital biomarkers for Alzheimer’s disease: the mobile/wearable devices opportunity
Authors: Kourtis Lampros C. , Regele Oliver B. , Wright Justin M. , Jones Graham B. 
Published: February 2019

AbstractAlzheimer’s Disease (AD) represents a major and rapidly growing burden to the healthcare ecosystem. A growing body of evidence indicates that cognitive, behavioral, sensory, and motor changes may precede clinical manifestations of AD by several years. Existing tests designed to diagnose neurodegenerative diseases, while well-validated, are often less effective in detecting deviations from normal cognitive decline trajectory in the earliest stages of the disease. In the quest for gold standards for AD assessment, there is a growing interest in the identification of readily accessible digital biomarkers, which harness advances in consumer grade mobile and wearable technologies. Topics examined include a review of existing early clinical manifestations of AD and a path to the respective sensor and mobile/wearable device usage to acquire domain-centric data towards objective, high frequency and passive digital phenotyping.
Diagnostic Accuracy of the Sampling Utterances and Grammatical Analysis Revised (SUGAR) Measures for Identifying Children With Language Impairment
Authors: Pavelko Stacey L. , Owens Robert E. 
Published: February 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this study was twofold: (a) to determine the diagnostic accuracy of the four Sampling Utterances and Grammatical Analysis Revised (SUGAR) metrics, including total number of words, mean length of utterance
SUGAR
, words per sentence, and clauses per sentence in differentiating children with language impairment (LI) from those with typical language development, and (b) to compare the average time to collect, transcribe, and analyze 50-utterance language samples for children with LI to those with typical language development.

Method
Participants were 306 children (LI, 36; typical language development, 270) who ranged in age from 3;0 (years;months) to 7;11. Fifty-utterance conversational language samples were obtained using a conversational protocol. The four SUGAR metrics were calculated from the samples.

Results

Cut scores of −1
SD
for mean length of utterance
SUGAR
and −1.25 cut score for clauses per sentence resulted in sensitivity of 97.22%, specificity of 82.96%, a positive likelihood ratio of 5.71, and a negative likelihood ratio of 0.03. On average, it took a total time of 20:20 min (
SD
= 4:37, range: 13:11–30:25) to collect, transcribe, and analyze language samples for children with LI. Children with LI took significantly less time to produce 50 utterances, when compared to their typically developing peers. There were no significant differences in the time to transcribe and analyze language samples of children with LI compared to their typically developing peers.

Conclusions
The SUGAR metrics, in combination with other data sources (e.g., standardized testing, dynamic assessment, observation), can be used to identify preschool- and early elementary–aged children with LI. Furthermore, for children with LI, language sampling and analysis using the SUGAR method can be completed in approximately 20 min. The results of this study indicated the SUGAR measures can effectively and efficiently help in identifying LI.

Supplemental Material

https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.7728638
Interprofessional Education: Application of Interprofessional Education Collaborative Core Competencies to School Settings
Authors: Ludwig Denise A. , Kerins Marie R. 
Published: February 2019

PurposeChanges in both health care and education systems have placed a greater emphasis on collaboration among professionals engaged with both systems who serve populations of school-age children presenting with neurological conditions, developmental disability, or health needs. Interprofessional education (IPE) has been recognized as an essential component of preprofessional education of health care professionals. The Interprofessional Education Collaborative core competencies often used by preprofessional health care programs can be adapted for preprofessional preparation of individuals working in the education system.ConclusionThis IPE framework is described revealing similarities and differences between health care settings and education settings and then applied to the special education process for school-based professionals. Implications for incorporating IPE outcomes into preprofessional preparation programs for school personnel are discussed.
Range‐based localisation of a wireless sensor network using Jaya algorithm
Authors: Manickam Meenalochani , Selvaraj Sudha 
Published: February 2019

Node localisation plays a significant role in wireless sensor networks, as most of the applications require exact location of sensor nodes. To obtain the exact location of sensor nodes, a range‐based localisation method based on Jaya optimisation using received signal strength indicator (RSSI) is proposed. The distance between the target node and the reference nodes is obtained from the measured RSSIs using regression‐based log normal shadowing model. Further, improvement in the localisation accuracy is accomplished by formulating the location of target node as an optimisation problem. Jaya optimisation algorithm is adopted, as it is parameter‐free and efficient. The Jaya algorithm is used for estimating the distance as well as the coordinates of the target node. The proposal is compared with particle swarm optimisation and validated through simulation and hardware experiments. The maximum localisation error using Jaya and particle swarm optimisation through simulation is observed to be 0.08 and 0.37 m, respectively. Real‐time experiments using Jaya algorithm exhibited the maximum localisation error of about 0.14 m for indoor environment and 0.3 m for outdoor environment. The results of the proposed methodology show significant improvement in terms of accuracy.
Modelling and experimental validation of EM wave propagation due to PDs in XLPE cables
Authors: Joseph Jineeth , Eledath Rajeevan Anagha , Sindhu Thiruthi Krishnan 
Published: February 2019

Monitoring of electromagnetic (EM) waves due to partial discharge (PD) is a promising tool for condition monitoring of cables. This study presents the development of a modelling scheme for simulation of EM wave propagation due to PDs occurring at cavities in the cross‐linked polyethylene (XLPE) insulation. Simulation models for generation and propagation of PD pulses through the cable geometry are developed. A finite element method (FEM)‐based model is developed to simulate the PD current along cylindrical voids in the cable insulation. The initial fields due to the PD currents in the voids are simulated by an FEM model. The propagated EM fields inside and outside the cable surface due to PD's occurring inside the voids are analysed by a finite‐difference time‐domain model. The analysis of propagated EM fields due to a Gaussian‐shaped PD pulse identifies the dominant components of propagated electric and magnetic fields along the cable geometry. Furthermore, the propagated EM fields at the cable sheath due to different void dimensions are simulated and experimental validation of the propagated magnetic field is conducted with measurement by an high‐frequency current transformer sensor installed around an earth wire from the sheath of an 11 kV XLPE cable.
Emotionale Entwicklung, Aggressionsregulation und herausforderndes Verhalten bei Menschen mit Intelligenzminderung
Authors: Böhm Julia , Dziobek Isabel , Sappok Tanja 
Published: February 2019

Zusammenfassung
Anliegen Ursachenanalyse von Verhaltensstörungen bei Menschen mit Intelligenzminderung (IM).
Methode Der Zusammenhang und der Einfluss des kognitiven und emotionalen Entwicklungsstands auf Verhaltensstörungen wurde mit Korrelations- und Regressionsanalysen bei 262 Erwachsenen mit IM und psychischer Erkrankung bzw. schweren Verhaltensstörungen untersucht.
Ergebnis Trotz der hohen Korrelation von kognitivem und emotionalen Entwicklungsstand fanden sich bei jedem 2. Patienten kognitiv-emotionale Entwicklungsdiskrepanzen. Die Schwere der Verhaltensstörungen war assoziiert mit einem niedrigeren emotionalen Entwicklungstand, insbesondere im Bereich der „Aggressionsregulation“.
Schlussfolgerung In der Ursachenabklärung von Verhaltensstörungen sollte auch der emotionale Entwicklungsstand erhoben werden.
Wir wollen uns selbst verwalten
Authors: Zergiebel Dominik 
Published: February 2019

ZusammenfassungDie Welt verändert sich, neue Produkte und Techniken sind heute
selbstverständlich, neue Berufsbilder entstehen oder verändern sich. Die Pflege
verändert sich auch. Um den Herausforderungen einer älter werdenden Gesellschaft
und einer technisierten medizinischen Versorgung gerecht zu werden, entwickelt
sich der Pflegeberuf weiter. Ein wichtiger Bestandteil dieser Entwicklung ist
die Selbstverwaltung.
Normal Values of Hemoglobin Mass and Blood Volume in Young, Active Women and Men
Authors: Falz Roberto , Fikenzer Sven , Hoppe Stephan , Busse Martin 
Published: February 2019

AbstractHemoglobin mass (Hbmass) and total blood volume (BV) determine the oxygen content in the blood. Varying anthropometric values are used to standardize blood volume and Hbmass. The aim of this study was to create normal values and to evaluate an anthropometric reference for Hbmass and BV. One hundred healthy young subjects participated in this study (50 women: 20.9±2.0 yr; 50 men: 23.2±2.9 yr). The Hbmass was measured twice by using a CO rebreathing method. The BV was calculated from the Hbmass, Hb concentration and hematocrit values. The lean body mass (LBM) was measured by a bio-impedance analysis. Women had a significant lower Hbmass per kg LBM compared with that of men (13.6±1.3 g vs. 16.1±1.7 g; p<0.0001). The BV per kg LBM tended to be lower in women than in men (105.3±8.4 ml vs. 108.7±9.0 ml; p=0.0548). LBM had the best correlation with Hbmass (r=0.9274) and BV (0.9233) when considering the entire study group. Normal values of Hbmass and BV could be potentially useful for fluid management and contribute to the diagnosis of blood disorders. For normalization and assessment of measured BV and Hbmass, lean body mass should be prioritized in future studies instead of body weight or body surface area.