bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Identification of resistant sources and DNA markers linked to genomic region conferring dry root rot resistance in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.)
Authors: Talekar Sidramappa Channappa , Lohithaswa Hirenallur Chandappa , Viswanatha Kannalli Paramashivaiah 
Published: February 2017

AbstractA set of 520 chickpea germplasm lines was screened under laboratory conditions using blotter paper technique for reaction to dry root rot caused by Rhizoctonia bataticola (Taub.) Butler. The lines PG06102, BG2094 and IC552137 were identified as resistant for dry root rot. Phenotyping the mapping population consisting of 129 F2:3 progeny derived from the cross L550 × PG06102 during 2013 winter indicated monogenic inheritance of dry root rot resistance. Fifty‐two of 381 simple sequence repeat (SSR) primers polymorphic between the two parents were used to genotype F2 resistant and susceptible bulks prepared on the basis of reaction of F2:3 progeny. Four markers differentiated the resistant and susceptible bulks. All the four polymorphic markers were then assayed on the entire F2 population. Linkage analysis using 129 F2 plants revealed that two markers ICCM0299 and ICCM0120b were co‐segregating with resistance to dry root rot. These two markers appeared to have additive effects on resistance and could be potentially utilized in dry root resistance breeding programme.
Bacterial N‐formyl Peptides Reduce PMA‐ and Escherichia coli‐Induced Neutrophil Respiratory Burst in Term Neonates and Adults
Authors: Stålhammar M. E. , Douhan Håkansson L. , Sindelar R. 
Published: February 2017

AbstractNeutrophil migration and respiratory burst are the prerequisite for efficient first line defense against invading microorganisms. However, migration and respiratory burst can be compromised in adults and especially in newborn infants, where sustained neutrophil accumulation, uncontrolled burst and reduced scavenging of ROS might cause inadvertent tissue damage due to uncontrolled inflammation. The aim of this study was to investigate the modulatory effect of the chemoattractants formyl‐methionyl‐leucyl‐phenylalanine (fMLP) and IL‐8 on respiratory burst in neutrophils from term newborn infants and adults. Whole blood from the umbilical cord of 17 healthy term newborn infants delivered by caesarean section and from 17 healthy adults as reference was preincubated with fMLP or IL‐8 and stimulated with PMA or Escherichia coli bacteria. Respiratory burst was quantified by flow cytometry analysis of dihydrorhodamine 123 fluorescence. fMLP reduced the PMA‐induced respiratory burst of neutrophils from newborn infants and adults by 12% and 21%, respectively (P < 0.05). E. coli‐induced burst was also reduced by fMLP in neutrophils from newborn infants (10%; P < 0.01) and adults (6%; P < 0.05). No such changes were observed with IL‐8. Similar respiratory burst in response to single stimulus with PMA or E. coli was observed in both newborn infants and adults. fMLP reduced PMA‐ and E. coli‐induced respiratory burst of neutrophils in whole blood from term newborn infants as well as in adults. The reduced respiratory burst by fMLP might be a mechanism to reduce the detrimental effects of uncontrolled inflammation during neutrophil migration.
Fentanyl Suppresses the Survival of CD4+ T Cells Isolated from Human Umbilical Cord Blood through Inhibition of IKKs‐mediated NF‐κB Activation
Authors: Ma K. , Ma P. , Lu H. , Liu S. , Cao Q. 
Published: February 2017

AbstractThe aim of this study was to investigate the effects and the underlying mechanisms of fentanyl anaesthetic on T lymphocytes isolated from human umbilical cord blood in vitro. The percentages of CD4+, CD8+ and regulatory T (Treg) cells in human umbilical cord blood mononuclear cells (UBMC) treated with fentanyl in vitro were analysed by flow cytometry. The levels of cytokines IFN‐γ, IL‐2, IL‐4 and IL‐17 secreted by activated CD4+ T cells were measured by ELISA assays. Expressions of MAPK and NF‐κB signalling pathway proteins were determined by Western blotting. Effects of fentanyl on IKK and p65 expression promoter activities were analysed by luciferase assay. Fentanyl decreased the percentages and amounts of CD4+, CD8+ and Foxp3+Treg T lymphocyte subsets in UBMCs in a dose‐dependent manner. Fentanyl inhibited the proliferation and induced apoptosis of activated CD4+ T cells dose dependently. Fentanyl could not reverse the increase of cell proliferation in activated groups to be equivalent with those in inactivated group. Secretions of IFN‐γ, IL‐2 and IL‐4 cytokines were significantly decreased by moderate to high dose of fentanyl compared with controls. No significant differences were observed in protein expressions of MAPK pathway. In addition, fentanyl suppressed the IKKs‐mediated activation of NF‐κB. This study demonstrates that fentanyl exerts immunosuppressive effects on T lymphocytes obtained from UBMCs. Thus, the clinical application of fentanyl would not only relieve pain caused by surgery but regulate immune responses post‐operation possibly through inhibition of IKKs‐mediated NF‐κB activation.
Proteomic Profiling Analysis Reveals a Link between Experimental Autoimmune Uveitis and Complement Activation in Rats
Authors: Guo D. D. , Hu B. , Tang H. Y. , Sun Y. Y. , Liu B. , Tian Q. M. , Bi H. S. 
Published: February 2017

AbstractUveitis is an autoimmune disease that usually damages the vision function, leading to poor visual quality in patients. As an autoimmune ocular inflammatory disease, the pathogenesis of uveitis is associated with abnormal expression of some proteins and aberrant regulation of multiple signalling pathways. Nevertheless, the detailed mechanism remains unclear. In this study, we induced an experimental autoimmune uveitis (EAU) model in rats. We determined the levels of C3a and membrane attack complex C5b‐9 (soluble C5b‐9, sC5b‐9) in both plasma and aqueous humour, identified the differentially expressed proteins in plasma by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry and employed bioinformatics algorithms to analyse differentially expressed proteins in EAU rat plasma. The results demonstrate that there were 168 differentially expressed plasma proteins in EAU rats versus control subjects. The levels of sC5b‐9 and C3a were elevated in the plasmas and aqueous humours of EAU rats. Gene ontology enrichment analysis showed that the differentially expressed proteins in EAU rat plasma were mainly involved in metabolic and immune processes. Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) pathway annotation, database for annotation, visualization and integrated discovery (DAVID) and protein–protein interaction analyses revealed that the differentially expressed proteins in EAU rat plasmas were closely associated with complement and coagulation cascades, metabolic pathways, NF‐kappa B, PI3K‐Akt, Toll‐like receptors and autophagy. Overall, the differentially expressed proteins in EAU rat plasmas are mainly involved in the complement and coagulation cascades. The pathogenesis of uveitis closely correlates with complement activation.
Working Knowledge: Organizational Location and the Construction of Expert Authority in Court
Authors: O'Brien Timothy L. 
Published: February 2017

ObjectiveThis article investigates the role of organizations in the construction of expert authority by examining legal disputes about the credibility of expert witnesses who work for consulting firms, in academia, and in private practice offices and clinics.MethodsI analyzed 472 deliberations of expert witness credibility summarized in judicial opinions from civil rights, patent infringement, and medical malpractice cases in U.S. district courts. Binary logistic regressions tested whether lawyers’ challenges to experts’ credibility or judges’ decisions to admit or exclude experts’ testimony differed according to experts’ organizational location.ResultsChallenges to experts’ credibility and decisions about their admissibility reflected the organizational context of experts’ labor. Overall, consultants were most likely and private practitioners were least likely to overcome credibility challenges and be admitted into court.ConclusionsLegal negotiations of experts’ credibility depend on their organizational location. This suggests that organizations may also shape the attribution of expertise in other settings.
Disseminated cat‐scratch disease presenting as nausea, diarrhea, and weight loss without fever in a heart transplant recipient
Authors: Antar Annukka A. R. , Goyal Amit , Murphy Karly , Schimmel Matthew , Gilotra Nisha A. , Martin Isabella , Crane Genevieve Marie , Sciortino Christopher , Avery Robin K. , Houston Brian A. 
Published: February 2017

AbstractWe report the case of an afebrile 59‐year‐old heart transplant recipient presenting with nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, weight loss, and diffuse lymphadenopathy. Lymph node biopsies revealed non‐caseating granulomatous inflammation. Cat‐scratch disease was confirmed by serologic studies, Warthin‐Starry staining, and polymerase chain reaction testing of lymph node tissue. The patient's symptoms resolved with 3 months of doxycycline. We review clinical presentations ofBartonella henselaeinfection and review diagnostic approaches forB. henselaein this patient population.
Formulaic Sequences as a Regulatory Mechanism for Cognitive Perturbations During the Achievement of Social Goals
Authors: Wray Alison 
Published: February 2017

AbstractThis paper explores two questions central to understanding the nature of formulaic sequences: (1) What are they for? and (2) What determines how many there are? The “Communicative Impact” model draws into a single account how language is shaped by cognitive processing on the one hand and socio‐interactional function on the other: Formulaic sequences play a range of coordinated roles in neutralizing unanticipated perturbations in the cognitive management of language, so the speaker's socio‐interactional goals can still be achieved. One role involves compensatory actions to sustain fluency. However, these actions are themselves context‐sensitive, so the balance of types of formulaic sequence will vary according to situation. The model applies equally to temporary cognitive pressure and chronic problems such as dementia and limited linguistic competency in a foreign language.
Patient outcomes and amotosalen/UVA‐treated platelet utilization in massively transfused patients
Authors: Nussbaumer W. , Amato M. , Schennach H. , Astl M. , Chen C. Y. , Lin J.‐S. , Corash L. , Benjamin R. J. 
Published: February 2017

BackgroundAmotosalen/UVA‐treated platelet concentrates (PCs) have demonstrated efficacy for treating and preventing bleeding in clinical trials and in routine use; however, most studies were performed in haematology/oncology patients. We investigated efficacy during massive transfusion (MT) in general hospitalized patients.MethodsUniversal amotosalen/UVA treatment (INTERCEPT Blood System) of platelets was introduced at a large Austrian medical centre. We performed a retrospective cohort analysis comparing component use, in‐hospital mortality and length of stay after MT that included platelet transfusion, for two periods (21 months each) before and after implementation.ResultsA total of 306 patients had MT. Patients were mostly male (74%) and ≥18 years old (99%), including 93 liver transplant, 97 cardiac or vascular surgery and 51 trauma patients. There were no differences in demographics between the periods. Component use on the day and within 7 days of the MT event was unchanged post‐IBS implementation, except trauma patients received fewer RBCs on the day. The mean ratio of RBC:platelets:plasma on the day of the MT was close to 1:1:1 in both periods, except for liver transplants with MT who received more plasma components. Overall, in‐hospital mortality (preimplementation = 27·6% vs. postimplementation = 24·0%; P = 0·51) and median time to discharge (preimplementation = 27 vs. postimplementation = 23 days; P = 0·37) did not change, except for cardiac and vascular surgery patients who were discharged earlier.ConclusionThe introduction of amotosalen/UVA‐treated, pathogen‐reduced PC did not adversely affect clinical outcomes in massively transfused patients in terms of blood product usage, in‐hospital mortality and length of stay for a range of clinical indications for platelet transfusion support.
Deformation of the Zurich cementless acetabular cup caused by implantation in a canine cadaver model
Authors: Panjeton Geoffrey D. , Kim Stanley E. , Chang Kelvin , Palm Lindsey S. , Ifju Peter G. 
Published: February 2017

AbstractObjectiveTo evaluate the change in geometry of the Zurich total hip arthroplasty (THA) acetabular component after implantation.AnimalsHemipelves from adult mix‐breed dogs weighing between 20 and 25 kg.MethodsDigital image correlation imaging was performed prior to, immediately after, and 24 hours after impaction of Zurich THA acetabular component, and after removal of the cup from the specimen. Patterns of deformation were qualitatively described, and maximal deformations were compared between time points.ResultsAll cups deformed after implantation into the hemipelves by “pinching” in a cranial‐caudal direction and dorsoventral expansion, resulting in an ellipsoid configuration to the peripheral rim. The mean ± SD maximum deformation at the rim immediately post‐impaction was 0.202 ± 0.052 mm, or approximately 0.4 mm of diametrical deformation. Deformation did not change after the 24‐hour saline bath. Impaction and subsequent extraction had a marginal effect on the original cup geometry, as maximum deformation at the rim after cup extraction was 0.074 ± 0.032 mm, relative to prior to impaction.ConclusionsThe original Zurich cup geometry is distorted as a consequence of the press‐fit mechanism. Further studies are required to determine whether deformation induced by impaction has any association with polyethylene wear rates or other prosthesis‐related complications.
Pelvic limb kinematics in the dog with and without a stifle orthosis
Authors: Torres Bryan T. , Fu Yang‐Chieh , Sandberg Gabriella S. , Budsberg Steven C. 
Published: February 2017

AbstractObjectiveTo report a method of evaluating 3‐dimensional joint motion in dogs with a stifle orthosis.Study designExperimental.AnimalsSix healthy dogs.MethodsThree‐dimensional pelvic limb joint motion was recorded with and without a stifle orthosis. Kinematic data were collected from dogs at a walk and trot for the hip, stifle, and tarsus prior to, and after application of, a stifle orthosis. Data were also obtained for the orthosis alone. Comparisons were made between the braced and unbraced limb, and between the braced limb and the orthosis alone. Complete waveforms, kinematic, and temporospatial variables were compared.ResultsGait waveforms differed between braced and unbraced limbs for all joints and planes of motion (P < .05), as well as between the braced stifles and the orthosis alone at both a walk and trot. However, joint ROM was inconsistently altered. The effect of bracing on stifle ROM was limited to a reduced extension at the end of stance. Adjacent joint ROM was affected by the stifle orthosis. Temporospatial variables were predominantly affected while walking.ConclusionsThe restrictive motion of the stifle orthosis is not fully translated to the underlying joint, based on the limited differences between the motion of braced and unbraced stifles. This effect varies with plane of motion and phase of the gait cycle, with most changes in stifle motion being detected during the stance phase. The stifle orthosis had an equal or greater effect on the motion of adjacent joints, especially the tarsus.
Stable vectors in Moy–Prasad filtrations
Authors: Fintzen Jessica , Romano Beth 
Published: February 2017

Let $k$ be a finite extension of $\mathbb{Q}_{p}$, let ${\mathcal{G}}$ be an absolutely simple split reductive group over $k$, and let $K$ be a maximal unramified extension of $k$. To each point in the Bruhat–Tits building of ${\mathcal{G}}_{K}$, Moy and Prasad have attached a filtration of ${\mathcal{G}}(K)$ by bounded subgroups. In this paper we give necessary and sufficient conditions for the dual of the first Moy–Prasad filtration quotient to contain stable vectors for the action of the reductive quotient. Our work extends earlier results by Reeder and Yu, who gave a classification in the case when $p$ is sufficiently large. By passing to a finite unramified extension of $k$ if necessary, we obtain new supercuspidal representations of ${\mathcal{G}}(k)$.
Investigation of Factors Affecting Steering Feel of Column Assist Electric Power Steering
Authors: Li Yijun , Shim Taehyun , Wang Dexin , Offerle Timothy 
Published: February 2017

An application of electric power assist steering (EPAS) system has rapidly grown and overtaken hydraulic power assist steering (HPAS) system in recent automotive industry. The EPAS system has better fuel efficiency and potential application on vehicle dynamic control compared to HPAS. However, it is widely believed that the steering feel of EPAS system is inferior to HPAS system due to its mechanical construction.
This paper first presents a comprehensive model of column electric power assist steering (CEPAS) system consisting of steering wheel, worm gear, assist motor, intermediate shaft, and rack and pinion. In this model, the friction in steering system is modeled by LuGre friction model and basic control strategies are also implemented. Using the proposed CEPAS model, the steering feel responses have been investigated with varying system parameters through simulation, and important factors affecting the steering feel response have been identified. This result gives insights on how the steering feel is affected by various factors and can be useful to improve the steering feel control algorithm design.
Development of Haptic Communication Device for Disabled Persons
Authors: Szabó Zoltán , Enikov Eniko T. 
Published: February 2017

With the emergence of augmented and virtual-reality based information delivery technologies the gap between availability of communication devices for visually impaired people and sighted people is emerging. The current study describes a communication tool which provides a reading platform for visually impaired people by means of a haptic display. In this paper the development and human subject study based evaluation of an electromagnetic microactuator-array based virtual tactile display is presented. The actuator array is comprised of a 4 by 5 array of micro voice-coil actuators (tactors) providing vibrotactile stimulation on the user’s fingertip.
The size and performance of the actuators is evaluated against the thresholds of human tactile perception. It is demonstrated that a 2.65 mm (diameter) × 4 mm (height) generic tactor is suitable for practical applications in dynamic tactile displays. The maximum force of the actuator was 30 mN generated at current levels of 200 mA. At a stroke of 4.5 mm, the force is reduced to 10 mN. The peak force was generated at a displacement of 1.5 mm.
A total of 10 alpha-numeric symbols were displayed to the users via dynamically changing the location of the vibrating point in a predefined sequence, thus creating a tactile perception of continuous curve. Users were asked to sketch out the perceived symbols. Each subject carried out three experiments. The first experiment exposed all subjects to ten different characters. Data obtained from human subject tests suggest that users perceive most shapes accurately, however the existence of jump discontinuities in the flow of presentation of the curves lowers recognition efficiency most likely due to loss of sensation of solid reference point. Characters containing two or more discontinuous lines such as ‘X’ were more difficult to recognize in comparison to those described with a single line such as ‘P’, or ‘Z’. Analysis of the average character recognition rate from 10 volunteers concluded that any presented character was identified correctly in 7 out 10 tests. The second test included characters that were reused from the first experiment. Users had improved their character recognition performance as a consequence of repeated exposure and learning. A final set of experiments concluded that recognition of groups of characters, forming words, is the least efficient and requires further perfecting. Recommendations for improvements of the recognition rate are also included.
Dynamic Focusing of Electrospinning Process With Quadrupole Traps
Authors: Kyselica Rudolf , Enikov Eniko T. 
Published: February 2017

Electrospinning is the most widely used production method for polymer fibers formed from an electrified fluid jet. This method is very versatile, relatively inexpensive and simple. When the sufficiently high electric potential (about 20kV) is applied to the polymer solution, the electrostatic forces overcome the surface tension of the polymer and a thin liquid jet is ejected from the nozzle. However, after short straight distance of the motion of the fiber it rapidly grows into an electric charge driven bending instability and results in a 3D spiraling trajectory leading to a very random deposition on the grounded collector. This significantly reduces the positive qualities of the fiber and its use in biomechanical engineering like a production of tissue scaffolds mimicking the structure of the extracellular matrix or a delivery of expandable chemo- and radio-therapeutic stents. In this work we present the initial results from investigating the feasibility of using dynamic focusing of the electrified jet in a linear quadrupole trap. This is a new alternative to the more generally used mechanical approach with rotating mandrel, could in principle lead to the ability to control the deposition location without the use of any moving components. The proposed approach was originally developed for trapping and transporting individual charged ions. In contrast to ions, an electrified continuous fiber represents an infinite degree of freedom system, with potentially much richer dynamics and unknown stability regions in the parameter space.
In order to understand the dynamics of the fiber, we present a discretized 2D reduced-order mathematical model which is investigated numerically. The resulting ODEs represent multi-dimensional form of a non-linear Mathieu’s and Meissner’s differential equations for harmonic, and step excitation functions, respectively. The model parameters were obtained from static experiments with electrodes compressing the fibers in a single plane. Finite-element model of the electrodes resulted in detailed potential maps, which were used to develop estimates of the required strength of the electrostatic field needed to steer the fibers.
The estimated parameters were used to obtain stable solutions of the reduced-order approximate of a spring-mass-charged dumbbell model of the fiber.