bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Contributions of the oligopeptide permeases in multistep of Vibrio alginolyticus pathogenesis
Authors: Liu Wenjia , Huang Lixing , Su Yongquan , Qin Yingxue , Zhao Lingmin , Yan Qingpi 
Published: July 2017

AbstractVibrio alginolyticus has been associated with several diseases of cultivated marine animals, and has led to considerable economic losses. The oligopeptide permease (Opp) has been proven to play a variety of important roles in nutrition and virulence in several bacteria. In our previous research, the opp gene cluster was identified in Vibrio alginolyticus with transcriptome sequence, which also indicated that the Opp system might play roles in the regulation of adhesion. In this study, the relationship between V. alginolyticus virulence and the opp gene cluster was determined using gene silencing followed by RT‐qPCR, in vitro adhesion assay, growth curves detection in the presence of glutathione (GSH) as a toxic substrate, hemolysis assay, biofilm assay, and artificial infection. Silencing these genes led to deficiencies in adhesion, peptide internalization, biofilm production, hemolytic activity, and virulence. The expression levels of hapr, hapa, tlh, and hlya, which are important genes closely related to the hemolytic activity of Vibrio, were significantly downregulated in all of the RNAi groups. Furthermore, the expression of oppA, oppB, oppC, oppD, and oppF was significantly influenced by temperature, starvation, and pH. These results indicate that (1) oppABCDF contributed in multistep of V. alginolyticus pathogenesis, including adhesion, biofilm production, and hemolytic activity; (2) oppABCDF was sensitive to different temperatures, changes in pH, and increased starvation time.
Average glandular dose coefficients for pendant‐geometry breast CT using realistic breast phantoms
Authors: Hernandez Andrew M. , Boone John M. 
Published: July 2017

PurposeTo design volume‐specific breast phantoms from breast CT (bCT) data sets and estimate the associated normalized mean glandular dose coefficients for breast CT using Monte Carlo methods.MethodsA large cohort of bCT data sets (N = 215) was used to evaluate breast volume into quintiles (plus the top 5%). The average radius profile was then determined for each of the six volume‐specific groups and used to both fabricate physical phantoms and generate mathematical phantoms (V1‐V6; “V” denotes classification by volume). The MCNP6 Monte Carlo code was used to model a prototype bCT system fabricated at our institution; and this model was validated against physical measurements in the fabricated phantoms. The mathematical phantoms were used to simulate normalized mean glandular dose coefficients for both monoenergetic source photons “DgNCT(E)” (8–70 keV in 1 keV intervals) and polyenergetic x‐ray beams “pDgNCT” (35–70 kV in 1 kV intervals). The Monte Carlo code was used to study the influence of breast size (V1 vs. V5) and glandular fraction (6.4% vs. 45.8%) on glandular dose. The pDgNCT coefficients estimated for the V1, V3, and V5 phantoms were also compared to those generated using simple, cylindrical phantoms with equivalent volume and two geometrical constraints including; (a) cylinder radius determined at the breast phantom chest wall “Rcw”; and (b) cylinder radius determined at the breast phantom center‐of‐mass “RCOM”.ResultsSatisfactory agreement was observed for dose estimations using MCNP6 compared with both physical measurements in the V1, V3, and V5 phantoms (R2 = 0.995) and reference bCT dose coefficients using simple phantoms (R2 = 0.999). For a 49 kV spectrum with 1.5 mm Al filtration, differences in glandular fraction [6.5% (5th percentile) vs. 45.8% (95th percentile)] had a 13.2% influence on pDgNCT for the V3 phantom, and differences in breast size (V1 vs. V5) had a 16.6% influence on pDgNCT for a breast composed of 17% (median) fibroglandular tissue. For cylindrical phantoms with a radius of RCOM, the differences were 1.5%, 0.1%, and 2.1% compared with the V1, V3, and V5 phantoms, respectively.ConclusionBreast phantoms were designed using a large cohort of bCT data sets across a range of six breast sizes. These phantoms were then fabricated and used for the estimation of glandular dose in breast CT. The mathematical phantoms and associated glandular dose coefficients for a range of breast sizes (V1–V6) and glandular fractions (5th to 95th percentiles) are available for interested users.
The relationship between health eating and overweight/obesity in Canada: cross‐sectional study using the CCHS
Authors: So H. , McLaren L. , Currie G.C. 
Published: July 2017

SummaryObjectiveThe relationship between Canada's Food Guide (CFG) adherence and overweight/obesity at the population level is unknown. Our objective was to explore the association between overweight/obesity and CFG adherence in Canada.MethodsUsing 24‐h dietary recall data from the Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS), we conducted a cross‐sectional analysis of Canadians' consumption of four predefined food types from CFG (grain products, vegetables and fruit, milk and alternatives, meat and alternatives). Respondents aged 18 to 65 years with measured BMI were included. The total number of servings in each food group was compared with the number of recommended servings in CFG to determine adherence. Linear regression was used to explore the association between overweight/obesity and CFG adherence.ResultsParticipants who met the minimum servings in vegetables and fruit had a lower measured BMI. Also, participants who met the minimum servings in meat and alternatives had a higher measured BMI. These associations were observed for the sample as a whole and for those with overweight/obesity, and, for meat and alternatives, among women.ConclusionThere is evidence that following the CFG recommendation is associated with measured BMI, for some food groups. This relationship needs to be validated using longitudinal data.
Weaning from long term continuous positive airway pressure or noninvasive ventilation in children
Authors: Mastouri Meriem , Amaddeo Alessandro , Griffon Lucie , Frapin Annick , Touil Samira , Ramirez Adriana , Khirani Sonia , Fauroux Brigitte 
Published: July 2017

AbstractObjectivesA significant number of children are able to discontinue long term continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) or noninvasive ventilation (NIV) but the underlying disorders, weaning criteria, and outcome of these children have not been studied.Study designRetrospective cohort follow up.Subject selectionConsecutive children who were weaned from long term CPAP/NIV between October 2013 and January 2016.MethodologyUnderlying disorders, weaning criteria, and clinical outcome were analyzed.ResultsFifty eight (27%) of the 213 patients on long term CPAP/NIV could be weaned from CPAP/NIV with 50 patients being weaned from CPAP and 8 from NIV. Most patients were young children with upper airway anomalies, Prader Willi syndrome or bronchopulmonary dysplasia. CPAP/NIV was discontinued following spontaneous improvement of sleep‐disordered breathing in 33 (57%) patients, upper airway surgery (n = 14, 24%), maxillofacial surgery (n = 6, 11%), neurosurgery (n = 1, 2%), upper airway and neurosurgery (n = 2, 3%), or switch to oxygen therapy (n = 2, 3%). CPAP/NIV was discontinued due to normal nocturnal gas exchange during spontaneous breathing in all patients, with an obstructive apnea‐hypopnea index ≤6 events/h on a combined poly(somno)graphy in 27 patients. A relapse of obstructive sleep apnea was observed after a median delay of 2 years in six patients who resumed CPAP and in one patient who underwent midface distraction.ConclusionsWeaning from CPAP/NIV is possible in children treated with long term CPAP/NIV but is highly dependent on the underlying disorder. Spontaneous improvement is possible but most children need specific surgery. Long term follow‐up is necessary in children with underlying disorders.
MRI‐compatible breast/rib phantom for evaluating ultrasonic thermal exposures
Authors: Menikou Georgios , Yiannakou Marinos , Yiallouras Christos , Ioannides Cleanthis , Damianou Christakis 
Published: July 2017

AbstractIntroductionThe target of this study was the development of a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) compatible breast phantom for focused ultrasound which includes plastic (ABS) ribs. The objective of the current study was the evaluation of a focused ultrasound procedure using the proposed phantom that eliminates rib heating.Material and MethodsThe proposed phantom was evaluated using two different focused ultrasound exposures. The surrounding breast tissue was mimicked using an agar–silica–evaporation milk gel (2% w/v – 2% w/v – 40% v/v).ResultsThe attenuation of the ABS was similar to that of ribs. MR thermometry of focused ultrasound exposures were acquired using the breast/rib phantom. In one exposure focused ultrasound was applied with far‐field targeting of the ribs. In the other exposure, the transducer was positioned laterally, thus avoiding exposure of the rib to focused ultrasound.ConclusionsDue to growing interest in using MRI guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) for patients with breast cancer, the proposed breast/rib phantom can be utilized as a very useful tool for evaluating ultrasonic protocols.
Incentive Redesign and Collaboration in Organizations: Evidence from a Natural Experiment
Authors: Lee Sunkee , Puranam Phanish 
Published: July 2017

Research summary: Separating the individual from the social effects of incentives has been challenging because of the possibility of synergies in team production. We observe a unique natural experiment in a South Korean e‐commerce company in which a switch from pay‐for‐performance to fixed (but different) salaries took place in a staggered and effectively random manner across employees. In this case, social and individual effects perspectives make opposing predictions, enabling a critical test. We find evidence consistent with social effects of incentives, particularly as predicted by goal framing theory. The results have implications for the design of incentives to foster collaboration, organizational learning, and organizational performance.Managerial summary: Managers often neglect the deeper hypothesis behind pay‐for‐performance schemes—that people primarily care about how much they are individually paid. An opposing school of thought contends that incentives have social effects too—that individuals care about not only what they receive but also what their peers receive. It is difficult to say whether individual or social effects would be more salient in a context, without a proper experiment with randomization. We exploit a rare opportunity provided by a company that changed its incentive system in a random order, thus unintentionally creating a natural experiment. The results strongly validate the existence of social effects of incentives, but also make the general case for the opportunity to learn from experimenting with organization design in a systematic manner. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis of Laparoscopic Versus Open Appendicectomy in Adults with Complicated Appendicitis: an Update of the Literature
Authors: Athanasiou Christos , Lockwood Sonia , Markides Georgios A. 
Published: July 2017

AbstractAimsTo review and compare the outcomes of laparoscopic (LA) versus open appendicectomy (OA) in complicated appendicitis in adult patients, eight years after the last literature review.MethodsThe PRISMA guidelines were adhered to. Pre‐defined inclusion and exclusion criteria were used to search the PubMed, Scopus and Cochrane databases and extract relevant data. Methodological and quality assessment was undertaken with outcome meta‐analysis and subgroup analyses of methodological quality, type of study and year of study. Assessment of clinical and statistical heterogeneity and publication bias was conducted.ResultsThree randomised control trials (RCTs) (154LA vs 155OA) and 23 case–control trials were included (2034LA vs 2096OA). Methodological quality was low to average but with low statistical heterogeneity. Risk of publication bias was low, and meta‐regression indicated shorter length of hospital stay (LOS) in more recent studies, Q = 7.1, P = 0.007. In the combined analysis LA had significantly less surgical site infections [OR = 0.30 (0.22,0.40); p < 0.00001] with reduced time to oral intake [WMD = ‐0.98 (‐1.09,‐0.86); P < 0.00001] and LOS [WMD = ‐3.49(‐3.70,‐3.29); p < 0.00001]. There was no significant difference in intra‐abdominal abscess rates [OR = 1.11(0.85,1.45); p = 0.43]. Operative time was longer during LA [WMD = 10.51 (5.14,15.87); p = 0.0001] but did not reach statistical significance (p = 0.13) in the RCT subgroup analysis.ConclusionsLA appears to have significant benefits with improved morbidity compared to OA in complicated appendicitis (level of evidence II).
Characterization of Austenitic Stainless Steels Deformed at Elevated Temperature
Authors: Calmunger Mattias , Chai Guocai , Eriksson Robert , Johansson Sten , Moverare Johan J. 
Published: July 2017

Abstract
Highly alloyed austenitic stainless steels are promising candidates to replace more expensive nickel-based alloys within the energy-producing industry. The present study investigates the deformation mechanisms by microstructural characterization, mechanical properties and stress–strain response of three commercial austenitic stainless steels and two commercial nickel-based alloys using uniaxial tensile tests at elevated temperatures from 673 K (400

$$^{\circ }$$

∘

C) up to 973 K (700

$$^{\circ }$$

∘

C). The materials showed different ductility at elevated temperatures which increased with increasing nickel content. The dominating deformation mechanism was planar dislocation-driven deformation at elevated temperature. Deformation twinning was also a noticeable active deformation mechanism in the heat-resistant austenitic alloys during tensile deformation at elevated temperatures up to 973 K (700

$$^{\circ }$$

∘

C).
Assessments of Structure-Dependent Integration Methods with Explicit Displacement and Velocity Difference Equations
Authors: Chang S. Y. , Wu T. H. 
Published: July 2017

AbstractA family of structure-dependent integration methods has been proposed by Guiet al. for time integration. Although it has desirable numerical properties, such as unconditional stability, explicit formulation and second-order accuracy, it has some adverse properties, such as a poor capability to capture structural nonlinearity, an overshoot in a high frequency steady- state response and a weak instability in the high frequency response of nonzero initial conditions. The causes of these adverse properties are explored. A poor capability to capture structural nonlinearity may originate from the convergence rate of 1 in velocity error. This family method has an overshoot in a high frequency steady-state response and this overshoot can be eliminated by adding a load-dependent term into the displacement difference equation. It is also analytically verified that the family method generally has no weak instability. However, the special member withλ= 4, i.e., CR explicit method, is shown to have a weak instability. Thus, it must be prohibited from practical applications although many applications of this method were found in the literature.
Tunable Acoustic Wave Propagation Through Planar Auxetic Metamaterial
Authors: He J. H. , Huang H. H. 
Published: July 2017

AbstractThis paper presents a tunable planar auxetic metamaterial (PAM) for controlling and filtering acoustic waves and provides guidelines for bandgap design of the proposed PAMs. Numerical results for deformed and undeformed PAMs were obtained from several finite element analyses based on Bloch–Floquet theory. The acoustic band structures of the PAMs were calculated with periodic boundaries. Tunable bandgaps in certain frequency ranges were generated by various deformations applied to the PAMs. Wave attenuation in experimental transmission loss at specific frequencies was demonstrated, showing favorable agreement with the bandgaps obtained from numerical calculations. Both the numerical and experimental results indicate that the proposed structure demonstrates great tunability and offers significant advantages over the regular materials for controlling sound wave propagation and filtering sound waves within specific frequency ranges.
Parallel Direct Method of DNS for Two-Dimensional Turbulent Rayleigh-Bénard Convection
Authors: Bao Y. , Luo J. , Ye M. 
Published: July 2017

AbstractA highly efficient parallelization scheme of direct numerical simulation (DNS) for two-dimensional Rayleigh-Bénard convection is presented. By introducing the parallel diagonal dominant (PDD) algorithm to solve the pressure Poisson equation and adjusting the domain decomposition accordingly, all-to-all communication as the usual obstacle to parallel computing can be eliminated. Excellent strong scaling and weak scaling for the parallel efficiency are achieved. Numerical results show that very complex structures in flow exist at very high Ra numbers. The required high resolution both in space and in time can be obtained by the present method at low parallel overhead.
Altered interoceptive activation before, during, and after aversive breathing load in women remitted from anorexia nervosa
Authors: Berner L. A. , Simmons A. N. , Wierenga C. E. , Bischoff-Grethe A. , Paulus M. P. , Bailer U. F. , Ely A. V. , Kaye W. H. 
Published: July 2017

BackgroundThe neural mechanisms of anorexia nervosa (AN), a severe and chronic psychiatric illness, are still poorly understood. Altered body state processing, or interoception, has been documented in AN, and disturbances in aversive interoception may contribute to distorted body perception, extreme dietary restriction, and anxiety. As prior data implicate a potential mismatch between interoceptive expectation and experience in AN, we examined whether AN is associated with altered brain activation before, during, and after an unpleasant interoceptive state change.MethodsAdult women remitted from AN (RAN; n = 17) and healthy control women (CW; n = 25) underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging during an inspiratory breathing load paradigm.ResultsDuring stimulus anticipation, the RAN group, relative to CW, showed reduced activation in right mid-insula. In contrast, during the aversive breathing load, the RAN group showed increased activation compared with CW in striatum and cingulate and prefrontal cortices (PFC). The RAN group also showed increased activation in PFC, bilateral insula, striatum, and amygdala after stimulus offset. Time course analyses indicated that RAN responses in interoceptive processing regions during breathing load increased more steeply than those of CW. Exploratory analyses revealed that hyperactivation after breathing load was associated with markers of past AN severity.ConclusionsAnticipatory deactivation with a subsequent exaggerated brain response during and after an aversive body state may contribute to difficulty predicting and adapting to internal state fluctuation. Because eating changes our interoceptive state, restriction may be one method of avoiding aversive, unpredictable internal change in AN.
Psychoneurometric assessment of dispositional liabilities for suicidal behavior: phenotypic and etiological associations
Authors: Venables N. C. , Yancey J. R. , Kramer M. D. , Hicks B. M. , Krueger R. F. , Iacono W. G. , Joiner T. E. , Patrick C. J. 
Published: July 2017

BackgroundCan core genetic liabilities for suicidal behavior be indexed using psychological and neural indicators combined? The current work addressed this question by examining phenotypic and genetic associations of two biobehavioral traits, threat sensitivity (THT) and disinhibition (DIS) – operationalized as psychoneurometric variables (i.e., composites of psychological-scale and neurophysiological measures) – with suicidal behaviors in a sample of adult twins.MethodsParticipants were 444 identical and fraternal twins recruited from an urban community. THT was assessed using a psychological-scale measure of fear/fearlessness combined with physiological indicators of reactivity to aversive pictures, and DIS was assessed using scale measures of disinhibitory tendencies combined with indicators of brain response from lab performance tasks. Suicidality was assessed using items from structured interview and questionnaire protocols.ResultsTHT and DIS each contributed uniquely to prediction of suicidality when assessed psychoneurometrically (i.e., as composites of scale and neurophysiological indicators). In addition, these traits predicted suicidality interactively, with participants high on both reporting the greatest degree of suicidal behaviors. Biometric (twin-modeling) analyses revealed that a high percentage of the predictive association for each psychoneurometric trait (83% for THT, 68% for DIS) was attributable to genetic variance in common with suicidality.ConclusionsFindings indicate that psychoneurometric assessments of biobehavioral traits index genetic liability for suicidal behavior, and as such, can serve as innovative targets for research on core biological processes contributing to severe psychopathology, including suicidal proclivities and actions.
Patterns of metal procurement, manufacture and exchange in Early Bronze Age northwestern Anatolia: Demircihüyük and beyond
Authors: Massa Michele , McIlfatrick Orlene , Fidan Erkan 
Published: July 2017

AbstractThis paper adds a new interpretive layer to the already extremely well-investigated site of Demircihüyük, a small Early Bronze Age settlement at the northwestern fringes of the central Anatolian plateau. It presents a reassessment of the evidence for prehistoric mining in the region, as well as a new programme of chemical composition analysis integrated with an object functional and technological typology of the site's metal assemblages. The results reveal complex manufacturing techniques (such as bivalve mould casting, plating and lost wax) and the co-occurrence of several alloying types, including the earliest tin bronzes in the region. Object typology further indicates that the Demircihüyük community was at the intersection of two distinct metallurgical networks: one centred on the western Anatolian highlands, the other spanning the northern part of the central plateau. Additionally, several strands of evidence suggest that the beginning of interregional exchanges, linking central Anatolia to northern Levantine and Mesopotamian societies, may have started at an earlier date than the commonly assumed ca 3000–2800 BC.
Dynamic analysis of Hexarot: axis-symmetric parallel manipulator
Authors: Pedrammehr Siamak , Danaei Behzad , Abdi Hamid , Masouleh Mehdi Tale , Nahavandi Saeid 
Published: July 2017

SUMMARYIn this study, the kinematics and dynamics of a six-degree-of-freedom parallel manipulator, known as Hexarot, are evaluated. Hexarot is classified under axis-symmetric robotic mechanisms. The manipulator comprises a cylindrical base column and six actuated upper arms, which are connected to a platform through passive joints and six lower arms. The actuators of the mechanism are located inside a cylindrical-shaped base, which allows the mechanism to rotate infinitely about the axes of the latter column. In the context of kinematics, the inverse-kinematic problem is solved using positions, velocities, and accelerations of the actuated joints with respect to the position, orientation, and motion of the platform. Accordingly, the main objective of this study is to dynamically model the manipulator using the Newton–Euler approach. For validation, the obtained dynamic model of the Hexarot manipulator is simulated in MATLAB based on the formulations presented in this paper. The kinematic and dynamic models of the manipulator are simulated for a given motion scenario using MATLAB and ADAMS. The results of the mathematical model obtained using MATLAB are in good agreement with that using the ADAMS model, confirming the effectiveness of the proposed mathematical model.