bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
OnBlastocystissecreted cysteine proteases: a legumain-activated cathepsin B increases paracellular permeability of intestinal Caco-2 cell monolayers
Authors: NOURRISSON C. , WAWRZYNIAK I. , CIAN A. , LIVRELLI V. , VISCOGLIOSI E. , DELBAC F. , POIRIER P. 
Published: September 2016

SUMMARYBlastocystisspp. pathogenic potential remains unclear as these anaerobic parasitic protozoa are frequently isolated from stools of both symptomatic and asymptomatic subjects.In silicoanalysis of the whole genome sequence ofBlastocystissubtype 7 revealed the presence of numerous proteolytic enzymes including cysteine proteases predicted to be secreted. To assess the potential impact of proteases on intestinal cells and gut function, we focused our study on two cysteine proteases, a legumain and a cathepsin B, which were previously identified inBlastocystissubtype 7 culture supernatants. Both cysteine proteases were produced as active recombinant proteins. Activation of the recombinant legumain was shown to be autocatalytic and triggered by acidic pH, whereas proteolytic activity of the recombinant cathepsin B was only recorded after co-incubation with the legumain. We then measured the diffusion of 4-kDa FITC-labelled dextran across Caco-2 cell monolayers following exposition to eitherBlastocystisculture supernatants or each recombinant protease. BothBlastocystisculture supernatants and recombinant activated cathepsin B induced an increase of Caco-2 cell monolayer permeability, and this effect was significantly inhibited by E-64, a specific cysteine protease inhibitor. Our results suggest that cathepsin B might play a role in pathogenesis ofBlastocystisby increasing intestinal cell permeability.
Eco-social processes influencing infectious disease emergence and spread
Authors: JONES BRYONY A. , BETSON MARTHA , PFEIFFER DIRK U. 
Published: September 2016

SUMMARYThe complexity and connectedness of eco-social processes have major influence on the emergence and spread of infectious diseases amongst humans and animals. The disciplinary nature of most research activity has made it difficult to improve our understanding of interactions and feedback loops within the relevant systems. Influenced by the One Health approach, increasing efforts have recently been made to address this knowledge gap. Disease emergence and spread is strongly influenced by host density and contact structures, pathogen characteristics and pathogen population and molecular evolutionary dynamics in different host species, and host response to infection. All these mechanisms are strongly influenced by eco-social processes, such as globalization and urbanization, which lead to changes in global ecosystem dynamics, including patterns of mobility, human population density and contact structures, and food production and consumption. An improved understanding of epidemiological and eco-social processes, including their interdependence, will be essential to be able to manage diseases in these circumstances. The interfaces between wild animals, domestic animals and humans need to be examined to identify the main risk pathways and put in place appropriate mitigation. Some recent examples of emerging infectious disease are described to illustrate eco-social processes that are influencing disease emergence and spread.
Ordeals: an economic vindication of ancient Indian “nonsense”
Authors: Wiese Harald 
Published: September 2016

AbstractOrdeals (by fire, by water, etc.) are a judicial institution in which defendants try to prove their innocence by divine judgement. In a recent law and economics paper, Leeson (2012) suggests that (medieval) ordeals “work” because, and if, ordeal takers have sufficient belief in them and because the priests administering ordeals “manipulate” them in an appropriate manner. We find that Leeson's theory also helps us understand Indian ordeals. Interestingly, some dharma texts require that the accuser agrees to the ordeal too, a requirement absent in Leeson's theory. We extend Leesons's model accordingly.
Highly efficient X-band relativistic twistron
Authors: Totmeninov E.M. , Pegel I.V. , Tarakanov V.P. 
Published: September 2016

AbstractThe paper proposes a new scheme of high-power microwave oscillator of twistron type using a moderately relativistic high-current electron beam. In numerical experiment using axisymmetric version of the completely electromagnetic PiC code KARAT, a 56% conversion efficiency of electron beam power to electromagnetic radiation was demonstrated. With 340 kV accelerating voltage, 3.3 kA electron beam current, and 2.2 T guiding magnetic field strength, the simulated microwave power was 630 MW at 9.7 GHz. The “electronic efficiency” of the source reaches 66%.
Parameterized gait pattern generator based on linear inverted
pendulum model with natural ZMP references
Authors: Ho Ya-Fang , Li Tzuu-Hseng S. , Kuo Ping-Huan , Ye Yan-Ting 
Published: September 2016

AbstractThis paper presents a parameterized gait generator based on linear inverted
pendulum model (LIPM) theory, which allows users to generate a natural gait
pattern with desired step sizes. Five types of zero moment point (ZMP)
components are proposed for formulating a natural ZMP reference, where ZMP moves
continuously during single support phases instead of staying at a fixed point in
the sagittal and lateral plane. The corresponding center of mass (CoM)
trajectories for these components are derived by LIPM theory. To generate a
parameterized gait pattern with user-defined parameters, a gait planning
algorithm is proposed, which determines related coefficients and boundary
conditions of the CoM trajectory for each step. The proposed parameterized gait
generator also provides a concept for users to generate gait patterns with
self-defined ZMP references by using different components. Finally, the
feasibility of the proposed method is validated by the experimental results with
a teen-sized humanoid robot, David, which won first place in the sprint event at
the 20th Federation of International Robot-soccer Association (FIRA) RoboWorld
Cup.
Quaternionic Artin representations of ℚ
Authors: ROHRLICH DAVID E. 
Published: September 2016

AbstractIsomorphism classes of dihedral Artin representations of ℚ can be counted asymptotically using Siegel's asymptotic averages of class numbers of binary quadratic forms. Here we consider the analogous problem for quaternionic representations. While an asymptotic formula is out of our reach in this case, we show that the asymptotic behaviour in the two cases is quite different.
Influence of demographics on clinical outcome of dengue: a cross-sectional study of 6703 confirmed cases in Vitória, Espírito Santo State, Brazil
Authors: VICENTE C. R. , CERUTTI JUNIOR C. , FRÖSCHL G. , ROMANO C. M. , CABIDELLE A. S. A. , HERBINGER K.-H. 
Published: September 2016

SUMMARYDengue presents a wide clinical spectrum of signs and symptoms, with characteristics of the host potentially influencing the disease evolution. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence of gender and age on dengue clinical outcomes in a recent outbreak situation in Brazil, applying a cross-sectional design and including 6703 dengue cases with laboratory confirmation, occurring in Vitória, Espírito Santo State, Brazil, between 2007 and 2013. Data were obtained from the Information System for Notifiable Diseases. Overall, 11·3% of the sample presented with severe dengue, which affected 13·0% of males, 10·0% of females, 8·8% of children, 12·5% of adolescents, 10·5% of adults and 15·5% of the elderly. Age was higher in the severe dengue group (P = 0·03). Severe dengue was associated with males and the elderly (P < 0·01); however, considering only severe cases, children presented haemorrhage and plasma leakage more frequently than older age groups. The results emphasize the importance of a differentiated protocol for management of dengue cases, taking into consideration host factors like age. These findings also suggest the elderly and children as priority groups for immunization in a future implementation of a vaccine.
Effect of temperature, relative humidity and rainfall on dengue fever and leptospirosis infections in Manila, the Philippines
Authors: SUMI A. , TELAN E. F. O. , CHAGAN-YASUTAN H. , PIOLO M. B. , HATTORI T. , KOBAYASHI N. 
Published: September 2016

SUMMARYDengue fever (DF) and leptospirosis are serious public problems in tropical regions, especially in Manila, the Philippines. In attempting to understand the causes of DF and leptospirosis seasonality, meteorological factors have been suspected, but quantitative correlation between seasonality and meteorological factors has not been fully investigated. In this study, we investigated correlation of temporal patterns of reported numbers of laboratory-confirmed cases of both DF and leptospirosis with meteorological conditions (temperature, relative humidity, rainfall) in Manila. We used time-series analysis combined with spectral analysis and the least squares method. A 1-year cycle explained underlying variations of DF, leptospirosis and meteorological data. There was a peak of the 1-year cycle in temperature during May, followed by maxima in rainfall, relative humidity and number of laboratory-confirmed DF and leptospirosis cases. This result suggests that DF and leptospirosis epidemics are correlated not only with rainfall but also relative humidity and temperature in the Philippines. Quantifying the correlation of DF and leptospirosis infections with meteorological conditions may prove useful in predicting DF and leptospirosis epidemics, and health services should plan accordingly.
Lisbon, new Rome and emporium: comparing an early modern imperial capital, 1550–1750
Authors: BERMEJO SAÚL MARTÍNEZ 
Published: September 2016

ABSTRACT:Early modern European capitals competed to demonstrate their imperial status, and contemporary urban praise often drew comparisons between them, situating these cities within a shifting hierarchy. Authors frequently combined actual perceptions of cities with metaphors of a New Rome and other classical motifs. This article explores how various writers asserted Lisbon's greatness and civic identity within this shared comparative European discourse. More particularly, it shows how they defended its changing political status as a capital while also developing a strong commercial discourse that centred on the city as an emporium. Views and descriptions of Lisbon and its port paralleled contemporary descriptions of London in particular, as both cities were increasingly defined as paradigms of imperial commerce.
Prevalence and sociodemographic correlates of metabolic syndrome in school-aged children and their parents in nine Mesoamerican countries
Authors: Villamor Eduardo , Finan Caitlin C , Ramirez-Zea Manuel , Roman Ana Victoria ,   for the Nine Mesoamerican Countries Metabolic Syndrome Study (NiMeCoMeS) Group
Published: September 2016

AbstractObjectiveTo ascertain the prevalence and sociodemographic correlates of cardiometabolic risk factors in adults and school-aged children from Mesoamerica.DesignCross-sectional study with convenience sampling. In adults, metabolic syndrome was defined according to the National Cholesterol Education Program’s Adult Treatment Panel III (ATP III) criteria. In children, we calculated a continuous sex- and age-standardized metabolic risk score using variables corresponding to adult ATP III criteria. Metabolic syndrome prevalence in adults and risk score distribution in children were compared across levels of sociodemographic characteristics with use of Poisson and linear regression, respectively.SettingCapital cities of Guatemala, El Salvador, the Dominican Republic, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Costa Rica, the Mexican State of Chiapas (Tuxtla Gutiérrez city) and Belize.SubjectsFamilies (n 267), comprising one child aged 7–12 years and their biological parents.ResultsThe prevalence of metabolic syndrome was 37·9 % among women and 35·3 % among men. The most common component was low HDL cholesterol, 83·3 % in women and 78·9 % in men. Prevalence was positively associated with age. In women, metabolic syndrome was inversely related to education level whereas in men it was positively associated with household food security and height, after adjustment. The metabolic risk score in children was inversely related to parental height, and positively associated with height-for-age and with having parents with the metabolic syndrome.ConclusionsMetabolic syndrome is highly prevalent in Mesoamerica. The burden of metabolic risk factors disproportionately affects women and children of lower socio-economic status and men of higher socio-economic status.
Does body mass index or subcutaneous adipose tissue thickness affect interfraction prostate motion in patients receiving radical prostate radiotherapy?
Authors: Rogers Jonathan , Welgemoed Camarie , Gujral Dorothy 
Published: September 2016

AbstractAimIt is unclear whether body mass index (BMI) is a useful measurement for examining prostate motion. Patient’s subcutaneous adipose tissue thickness (SAT) and weight has been shown to correlate with prostate shifts in the left/right direction. We sought to analyse the relationship between BMI and interfraction prostate movement in order to determine planning target volume (PTV) margins based on patient BMI.Materials and methodsIn all, 38 prostate cancer patients with three implanted gold fiducial markers in their prostate were recruited. Height, mass and SAT were measured, and the extent of interfraction prostate movement in the left/right, superior/inferior and anterior/posterior directions was recorded during each daily fiducial marker-based image-guided radiotherapy treatment. Mean corrective shift in each direction for each patient, along with BMI values, were calculated.ResultsThe median BMI value was 28·4 kg/m2 (range 21·4–44·7). Pearson’s product-moment correlation analysis showed no significant relationship between BMI, mass or SAT and the extent of prostate movement in any direction. Linear regression analysis also showed no relationship between any of the patient variables and the extent of prostate movement in any direction (BMI: R2=0·006 (ρ=0·65), 0·002 (ρ=0·80) and 0·001 (ρ=0·86); mass: R2=0·001 (ρ=0·87), 0·010 (ρ=0·54) and 0·000 (ρ=0·99); SAT: R2=0·012 (ρ=0·51), 0·013 (ρ=0·50) and 0·047 (ρ=0·19) for shifts in the X, Y and Z axis, respectively). Patients were grouped according to BMI, as BMI<30 (n=25, 65·8%) and BMI≥30 (n=13, 34·2%). A two-tailed t-test showed no significant difference between the mean prostate shifts for the two groups in any direction (ρ=0·320, 0·839 and 0·325 for shifts in the X, Y and Z axis, respectively).FindingsBMI is not a useful parameter for determining individualised PTV margins. Gold fiducial marker insertion should be used as standard to improve treatment accuracy.
Differentiation of some populations of Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) in three areas of Lagos State, Nigeria, using wing morphometry
Authors: Ayorinde Adenola F. , Oboh Bola O. , Otubanjo Olubunmi A. 
Published: September 2016

AbstractDiversity amongst the different populations is one of the problems in the control of medically important mosquitoes. Wing morphometry was used to identify within-species variation amongst some populations ofAedes aegyptiin three areas of Lagos State, Nigeria. Ten landmarks on the right wing of adult femaleAe. aegyptimosquitoes were digitized using TPSdig software. Relative distances of the veins and interpoints were calculated as well as the Euclidean distances based on these relative distances. In three (50%) of the interpoints, the relative distances were significant (P&lt;0.05) to both the Brown–Forsythe F ratio and Welch ANOVA. The highest Euclidean distance of 7.738 was between Ebute Metta 2 and Badagry; the lowest of 4.426 was between Ikorodu and Ebute Metta 2. The distance between Ebute Metta 1 and Ebute Metta 2 was 5.867, which is more than the distance between Ebute Metta 2 and Ikorodu. Three groups ofAe. aegyptiwere identified, and the differences in lengths and interpoints observed on the wing veins suggest a possible morphological divergence amongst populations.
The design of solar synoptic chart for space weather forecast
Authors: Song Qiao , Wang Jing-Song , Feng Xue-Shang , Zhang Xiao-Xin 
Published: September 2016

AbstractThe Sun drives most events of space weather in the vicinity of the Earth. Because the activities of the Sun are complicated, a visualized chart with key objects of solar activities is needed for space weather forecast. This work investigates the key objects in research during the past forty years and surveys a variety of solar observational data. We design the solar synoptic chart (SSC) that covers the key objects of solar activities, i.e., active regions, coronal holes, filaments/prominences, flares and coronal mass ejections, and synthesizes images from different heights and temperatures of solar atmosphere. The SSC is used to analyze the condition of the Sun in March 2012 and October 2014 as examples. The result shows that the SSC is timely, comprehensive, concise and easy to understand. It has the potentiality for space weather forecast and can help in improving the public education.
Super-active regions in solar cycle 24
Authors: Chen Anqin , Wang Jingxiu 
Published: September 2016

AbstractComparing with solar cycles 21-23, the level of solar activity in the current cycle is very low. So far, there have been only five SARs and 45 X class flares. The monthly smoothed total solar irradiance decreased sharply by 0.09% from the maximum of cycle 23 to the minima between cycles 23 and 24. In this contribution, we present new studies on SARs in Cycle 24. The SARs in the current cycle have relatively smaller flare index (Iflare) and composite vector field index (Icom) comparing with the SARs in cycles 22 and 23. There is a clearly linear relationship between Iflare and Icom. The emphasis of this contribution is put on the similarity and different behaviors of vector magnetic fields of the SARs in the current solar cycle and the previous ones. We try to get a satisfactory account for the general characteristics and relatively lower level of solar flare activity in Cycle 24.
Observed effects of star-planet interaction
Authors: Wolk Scott J. , Pillitteri Ignazio , Poppenhaeger Katja 
Published: September 2016

AbstractSince soon after the discovery of hot Jupiters, it had been suspected that interaction of these massive bodies with their host stars could give rise to observable signals. We discuss the observational evidence for star-planet interactions (SPI) of tidal and magnetic origin observed in X-rays and FUV. Hot Jupiters can significantly impact the activity of their host stars through tidal and magnetic interaction, leading to either increased or decreased stellar activity – depending on the internal structure of the host star and the properties of the hosted planet. In HD 189733, X-ray and FUV flares are preferentially in a very restricted range of planetary phases. Matsakos et al. (2015) show, using MHD simulations, planetary gas can be liberated, forming a stream of material that gets compressed and accretes onto the star with a phase lag of 70-90 degrees. This scenario explains many features observed both in X-rays and the FUV (Pillitteri et al. 2015). On the other hand, WASP-18 – an F6 star with a massive hot Jupiter, shows no signs of activity in X-rays or UV. Several age indicators (isochrone fitting, Li abundance) point to a young age (~0.5 –1.0 Gyr) and thus significant activity was expected. In this system, tidal SPI between the star and the very close-in and massive planet appears to destroy the formation of magnetic dynamo and thus nullify the stellar activity.
Evidence of thermal conduction suppression in hot coronal loops: supplementary results
Authors: Wang Tongjiang , Ofman Leon , Sun Xudong , Provornikova Elena , Davila Joseph M. 
Published: September 2016

AbstractSlow magnetoacoustic waves were first detected in hot (>6 MK) flare loops by the SOHO/SUMER spectrometer as Doppler shift oscillations in Fe xix and Fe xxi lines. Recently, such longitudinal waves have been found by SDO/AIA in the 94 and 131 Å channels. Wang et al. (2015) reported the first AIA event revealing signatures in agreement with a fundamental standing slow-mode wave, and found quantitative evidence for thermal conduction suppression from the temperature and density perturbations in the hot loop plasma of ≳ 9 MK. The present study extends the work of Wang et al. (2015) by using an alternative approach. We determine the polytropic index directly based on the polytropic assumption instead of invoking the linear approximation. The same results are obtained as in the linear approximation, indicating that the nonlinearity effect is negligible. We find that the flare loop cools slower (by a factor of 2–4) than expected from the classical Spitzer conductive cooling, approximately consistent with the result of conduction suppression obtained from the wave analysis. The modified Spitzer cooling timescales based on the nonlocal conduction approximation are consistent with the observed, suggesting that nonlocal conduction may account for the observed conduction suppression in this event. In addition, the conduction suppression mechanism predicts that larger flares may tend to be hotter than expected by the EM-T relation derived by Shibata & Yokoyama (2002).
Spectroscopic UV observations of M1.0 class solar flare from IRIS satellite
Authors: Sadykov Viacheslav M , Kosovichev Alexander G , Sharykin Ivan N , Dominguez Santiago Vargas 
Published: September 2016

AbstractThis work presents an analysis of UV spectroscopic observations from the IRIS satellite of an M1.0 class flare occurred on 12 June 2014 in active region NOAA 12087. Our analysis of the IRIS spectra and Slit-Jaw images revealed presence of a strongly redshifted chromospheric jet before the flare. We also found strong emission of the chromospheric lines, and studied the C II 1334.5 Å line emission distribution in details. A blueshift of the Fe XXI line across the flaring region corresponds to evaporation flows of the hot chromospheric plasma with a speed of 50 km/s. Although the enhancement of the C II line integrated redshift correlates with the flare X-ray emission, we classify the evaporation as of a “gentle” type because of its long time scale and subsonic velocities. Analysis of X-ray data from the RHESSI satellite showed that both, an injection of accelerated particles and a heat flux from the energy release site can explain the energetics of the observed event.
Thermal characteristics of a B8.3 flare observed on July 04, 2009
Authors: Awasthi Arun Kumar , Sylwester Barbara , Sylwester Janusz , Jain Rajmal 
Published: September 2016

AbstractWe explore the temporal evolution of flare plasma parameters including temperature (T) - differential emission measure (DEM) relationship by analyzing high spectral and temporal cadence of X-ray emission in 1.6-8.0 keV energy band, recorded by SphinX (Polish) and Solar X-ray Spectrometer (SOXS; Indian) instruments, during a B8.3 flare which occurred on July 04, 2009. SphinX records X-ray emission in 1.2-15.0 keV energy band with the temporal and spectral cadence as good as 6 μs and 0.4 keV, respectively. On the other hand, SOXS provides X-ray observations in 4-25 keV energy band with the temporal and spectral resolution of 3 s and 0.7 keV, respectively. We derive the thermal plasma parameters during impulsive phase of the flare employing well-established Withbroe-Sylwester DEM inversion algorithm.