bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Farmers' knowledge and perceptions of the stunting disease of Napier grass in Western Kenya
Authors: Khan Z. R. , Midega C. A. O. , Nyang'au I. M. , Murage A. , Pittchar J. , Agutu L. O. , Amudavi D. M. , Pickett J. A. 
Published: March 2014

Production of Napier grass, Pennisetum purpureum, the most important livestock fodder in Western Kenya, is severely constrained by Napier stunt (Ns) disease. Understanding farmers' knowledge, perceptions and practices is a prerequisite to establishing an effective disease management approach. Using a random sample of 150 farmers drawn from Bungoma, Busia and Teso districts of Western Kenya, this study sought to: (i) assess farmers' perceptions and knowledge of Ns disease, including its effects on the smallholder dairy industry; (ii) record farmers' current practices in managing Ns disease; and (iii) identify Ns disease management challenges and intervention opportunities in order to develop an efficient integrated disease management approach. The majority (86·7%) of the farmers were aware of Ns disease and observed that it was spreading rapidly in the region, which was perfectly predicted by farmers' access to agricultural information (marginal effect = 0·164), indicating a need for extension platforms for knowledge sharing among the industry stakeholders. The disease had affected Napier grass yields so most farmers could not feed their livestock on the amounts they produced, and they were buying Napier grass. Those who relied on income from selling Napier grass received less due to loss in productivity. Milk production had reduced by over 35%. The cause of the disease was unknown to the farmers, with no effective disease management strategy available to them. An integrated disease management approach needs to be developed to fit within the mixed farming systems, supported by simple decision aids.
OsMOGS is required for N‐glycan formation and auxin‐mediated root development in rice (Oryza sativa L.)
Authors: Wang SuiKang , Xu YanXia , Li ZhiLan , Zhang SaiNa , Lim Jae‐Min , Lee Kyun Oh , Li ChuanYou , Qian Qian , Jiang De An , Qi YanHua 
Published: March 2014

SummaryN‐glycosylation is a major modification of glycoproteins in eukaryotic cells. In Arabidopsis, great progress has been made in functional analysis of N‐glycan production, however there are few studies in monocotyledons. Here, we characterized a rice (Oryza sativa L.) osmogs mutant with shortened roots and isolated a gene that coded a putative mannosyl‐oligosaccharide glucosidase (OsMOGS), an ortholog of α‐glucosidase I in Arabidopsis, which trims the terminal glucosyl residue of the oligosaccharide chain of nascent peptides in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). OsMOGS is strongly expressed in rapidly cell‐dividing tissues and OsMOGS protein is localized in the ER. Mutation of OsMOGS entirely blocked N‐glycan maturation and inhibited high‐mannose N‐glycan formation. The osmogs mutant exhibited severe defects in root cell division and elongation, resulting in a short‐root phenotype. In addition, osmogs plants had impaired root hair formation and elongation, and reduced root epidemic cell wall thickness due to decreased cellulose synthesis. Further analysis showed that auxin content and polar transport in osmogs roots were reduced due to incomplete N‐glycosylation of the B subfamily of ATP‐binding cassette transporter proteins (ABCBs). Our results demonstrate that involvement of OsMOGS in N‐glycan formation is required for auxin‐mediated root development in rice.
Microwave spectrometry for the evaluation of the structural integrity of metallic stents
Authors: Arauz‐Garofalo Gianluca , López‐Domínguez Víctor , Hernàndez Joan Manel , Rodríguez‐Leor Oriol , Bayés‐Genís Antoni , O'Callaghan Juan M. , García‐Santiago Antoni , Tejada Javier 
Published: March 2014

Purpose:To assess the feasibility of a method based on microwave spectrometry to detect structural distortions of metallic stents in open air conditions and envisage the prospects of this approach toward possible medical applicability for the evaluation of implanted stents.Methods:Microwave absorbance spectra between 2.0 and 18.0 GHz were acquired in open air for the characterization of a set of commercial stents using a specifically design setup. Rotating each sample over 360°, 2D absorbance diagrams were generated as a function of frequency and rotation angle. To check our approach for detecting changes in stent length (fracture) and diameter (recoil), two specific tests were performed in open air. Finally, with a few adjustments, this same system provides 2D absorbance diagrams of stents immersed in a water‐based phantom, this time over a bandwidth ranging from 0.2 to 1.8 GHz.Results:The authors show that metallic stents exhibit characteristic resonant frequencies in their microwave absorbance spectra in open air which depend on their length and, as a result, may reflect the occurrence of structural distortions. These resonances can be understood considering that such devices behave like dipole antennas in terms of microwave scattering. From fracture tests, the authors infer that microwave spectrometry provides signs of presence of Type I to Type IV stent fractures and allows in particular a quantitative evaluation of Type III and Type IV fractures. Recoil tests show that microwave spectrometry seems able to provide some quantitative assessment of diametrical shrinkage, but only if it involves longitudinal shortening. Finally, the authors observe that the resonant frequencies of stents placed inside the phantom shift down with respect to the corresponding open air frequencies, as it should be expected considering the increase of dielectric permittivity from air to water.Conclusions:The evaluation of stent resonant frequencies provided by microwave spectrometry allows detection and some quantitative assessment of stent fracture and recoil in open air conditions. Resonances of stents immersed in water can be also detected and their characteristic frequencies are in good agreement with theoretical estimates. Although these are promising results, further verification in a more relevant phantom is required in order to foresee the real potential of this approach.
Cytosolic-DNA-Mediated, STING-Dependent Proinflammatory Gene Induction Necessitates Canonical NF-κB Activation through TBK1
Authors: Abe Takayuki , Barber Glen N. 
Published: March 2014

ABSTRACT
STING (stimulator of interferon genes) is known to control the induction of innate immune genes in response to the recognition of cytosolic DNA species, including the genomes of viruses such as herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1). However, while STING is essential for protection of the host against numerous DNA pathogens, sustained STING activity can lead to lethal inflammatory disease. It is known that STING utilizes interferon regulatory factor 3 (IRF3) and nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) pathways to exert its effects, although the signal transduction mechanisms remain to be clarified fully. Here we demonstrate that in addition to the activation of these pathways, potent induction of the Jun N-terminal protein kinase/stress-activated protein kinase (JNK/SAPK) pathway was similarly observed in response to STING activation by double-stranded DNA (dsDNA). Furthermore, TANK-binding kinase 1 (TBK1) associated with STING was found to facilitate dsDNA-mediated canonical activation of NF-κB as well as IRF3 to promote proinflammatory gene transcription. The triggering of NF-κB function was noted to require TRAF6 activation. Our findings detail a novel dsDNA-mediated NF-κB activation pathway facilitated through a STING-TRAF6-TBK1 axis and suggest a target for therapeutic intervention to plausibly stimulate antiviral activity or, alternatively, avert dsDNA-mediated inflammatory disease.

IMPORTANCE
The IKK complex, which is composed of two catalytic subunits, IKKα and IKKβ, has been suggested to be essential for the activation of canonical NF-κB signaling in response to various stimuli, including cytokines (e.g., interleukin-1α [IL-1α] and tumor necrosis factor alpha [TNF-α]), Toll-like receptor (TLR) ligands (e.g., lipopolysaccharide [LPS]), and dsRNAs derived from viruses, or a synthetic analog. STING has been identified as a critical signaling molecule required for the detection of cytosolic dsDNAs derived from pathogens and viruses. However, little is known about how cytosolic dsDNA triggers NF-κB signaling. In the present study, we demonstrate that TBK1, identified as an IKK-related kinase, may predominantly control the activation of NF-κB in response to dsDNA signaling via STING through the IKKαβ activation loop. Thus, our results establish TBK1 as a downstream kinase controlling dsDNA-mediated IRF3 and NF-κB signaling dependent on STING.
Installation of the PRACLAY Seal and Heater
Authors: Van Marcke P. , Li X. L. , Chen G. J. , Verstricht J. , Bastiaens W. , Sillen X. 
Published: March 2014

Abstract

In 2011 the last phase in the installation of the PRACLAY In-Situ Experiment in the underground research facility HADES (Mol, Belgium) was completed. The main goal of the experiment is to perform a large-scale
in-situ
Heater Test. The Heater Test will examine the effect of the thermal load generated by heat-emitting waste on Boom Clay, currently considered as a potential host rock in the Belgian R&D programme for geological disposal. In 2007 the PRACLAY gallery was constructed to host the Heater Test. In 2010 a bentonite-based hydraulic seal was installed in this gallery, isolating the heated part from the non-heated part of the PRACLAY gallery. The primary objective of the seal is to provide undrained hydraulic boundary conditions for the Heater Test. As the performance of the seal is crucial to the Heater Test, it has been instrumented accordingly. The seal also provides an opportunity to gather additional information on the
in-situ
behaviour of bentonite-based repository structures. Finally the placement of a heating system and water-saturated sand in the heated section of the PRACLAY gallery completed the experiment installation. The water-saturated backfill sand has to assure undrained hydraulic boundary conditions at the interface between the clay and the gallery lining.
Phenomena exposure from the large scale gas injection test (Lasgit) dataset using a bespoke data analysis toolkit
Authors: Bennett D. P. , Cuss R. J. , Vardon P. J. , Harrington J. F. , Thomas H. R. 
Published: March 2014

Abstract
The Large Scale Gas Injection Test (Lasgit) is a field-scale experiment designed to study the impact of gas buildup and subsequent migration through an engineered barrier system. Lasgit has a substantial experimental dataset containing in excess of 21 million datum points. The dataset is anticipated to contain a wealth of information, ranging from long-term trends and system behaviours to small-scale or ‘second-order’ features. In order to interrogate the Lasgit dataset, a bespoke computational toolkit, designed to expose difficult to observe phenomena, has been developed and applied to the dataset. The preliminary application of the toolkit, presented here, has resulted in a large number of phenomena being indicated/quantified, including highlighting of second-order events (small gas flows, perturbations in stress/pore-water sensors, etc.) and quantification of temperature record frequency content. Localized system behaviour has been shown to occur along with systematic aberrant behaviours that remain unexplained.
Microbial processes relevant for the long-term performance of high-level radioactive waste repositories in clays
Authors: Meleshyn Artur 
Published: March 2014

Abstract
The primary purpose of the present work was to qualitatively evaluate the relevance of microbial activity for the long-term performance of a deep geological repository for high-level radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel utilizing clay and to identify which safety-relevant processes and properties can be potentially influenced by this activity. Deterioration of clay properties accompanying destabilization and destruction of clay mineral structure as a result of microbial actions can be considered as the primary microbial impact on clay. The present analysis identified eight clay properties essential for maintaining safety functions of containment and retardation of the disposal system – swelling pressure, specific surface area, cation exchange capacity, anion sorption capacity, porosity, permeability, fluid pressure and plasticity – which can potentially be influenced by microbial processes in clay-based materials and claystone within a repository. Radioactive waste canisters and over-packs made from cast metal or steel represent a further component of the engineered barrier system which can be strongly affected by microbial activity in the clay buffer or in the adjacent host rock. This work should provide a basis for a follow-up quantitative estimation of the maximum possible effects of microbial processes on the barrier system of a deep geological repository in clay.
Effects of Intelligent Advanced Warnings on Drivers Negotiating the Dilemma Zone
Authors: Gugerty Leo , McIntyre Scott E. , Link Drew , Zimmerman Karl , Tolani Devendra , Huang Peter , Pokorny Robert A. 
Published: March 2014

Objective: We investigated whether intelligent advanced warnings of the end of green traffic signals help drivers negotiate the dilemma zone (DZ) at signalized intersections and sought to identify behavioral mechanisms for any warning-related benefits. Background: Prior research suggested that warnings of end of green can increase slowing and stopping frequency given the DZ, but drivers may sometimes respond to warnings by speeding up. Method: In two simulator studies, we compared six types of roadway or in-vehicle warnings with a no-warning control condition. Using multilevel modeling, we tested mediation models of the behavioral mechanisms underlying the effects of warnings. Results: In both studies, warnings led to more stopping at DZ intersections and milder decelerations when stopping compared with no warning. Drivers’ predominant response to warnings was anticipatory slowing on approaching the intersection, not speeding up. The increased stopping with warning was mediated by increased slowing. In Study 1, anticipatory slowing given warnings generalized to green-light intersections where no warning was given. In Study 2, we found that lane-specific warnings (e.g., LED lights embedded in each lane) sometimes led to fewer unsafe emergency stops than did non-lane-specific roadside warnings. Conclusion: End-of-green warnings led to safer behavior in the DZ and on the early approach to intersections. The main mechanism for the benefits of warnings was drivers’ increased anticipatory slowing on approaching an intersection. Lane-specific warnings may have some benefits over roadside warnings. Application: Applications include performance models of how drivers use end-of-green warnings, control algorithms and warning displays for intelligent intersections, and statistical methodology in human factors research.
On-the-Fly Scheduling as a Manifestation of Partial-Order Planning and Dynamic Task Values
Authors: Hannah Samuel D. , Neal Andrew 
Published: March 2014

Objective: The aim of this study was to develop a computational account of the spontaneous task ordering that occurs within jobs as work unfolds (“on-the-fly task scheduling”). Background: Air traffic control is an example of work in which operators have to schedule their tasks as a partially predictable work flow emerges. To date, little attention has been paid to such on-the-fly scheduling situations. Method: We present a series of discrete-event models fit to conflict resolution decision data collected from experienced controllers operating in a high-fidelity simulation. Results: Our simulations reveal air traffic controllers’ scheduling decisions as examples of the partial-order planning approach of Hayes-Roth and Hayes-Roth. The most successful model uses opportunistic first-come-first-served scheduling to select tasks from a queue. Tasks with short deadlines are executed immediately. Tasks with long deadlines are evaluated to assess whether they need to be executed immediately or deferred. Conclusion: On-the-fly task scheduling is computationally tractable despite its surface complexity and understandable as an example of both the partial-order planning strategy and the dynamic-value approach to prioritization.
HIV infection and high-risk behaviours in a Paraguayan military population
Authors: Laguna-Torres V Alberto , Aguayo Nicolás , Aguilar Gloria , Ampuero Julia S , Galeano Adolfo , Barboza Alma , Villafane Margarita , Jiménez Liliana , Perez Juan , Kochel Tadeusz J , Halsey Eric S 
Published: March 2014

Summary Between July 2005 and January 2006 we evaluated 1248 Paraguayan active duty military volunteers. Participants provided a blood sample for HIV testing and answered an anonymous survey. HIV seroprevalence was 0.4% (5 of 1248) among participants. The median age at first sexual intercourse was 16 years. Only 14.8% of participants reported condom use with every sexual encounter. Military students used condoms the most. Participants older than 45 years, compared with younger participants, had a fourfold (adjusted odds ratio 4.3) increased risk of not using condoms. Men were less likely to use a condom, more likely to practice anal intercourse, and had more sexual partners than women. Officers and non-commissioned officers were identified to have a twofold (as measured by adjusted odds ratio = 2.00 and 2.22, respectively) increased risk of having more than two sexual partners in the last month compared with students. Both officers and non-commissioned officers were twice as likely as students to practice anal intercourse. Despite the high-risk behaviours reported by those surveyed, HIV seroprevalence in active duty personnel was low. Future efforts should emphasize on the correct condom use keeping focus on the high-risk behaviours of groups at risk, and on routinely testing the military personnel for HIV.
Evaluation and Comparison of Femoral Tunnel Placement During Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction Using 3-Dimensional Computed Tomography
Authors: Dugas Jeffrey R. , Pace Jesse L. , Bolt Becky , Wear Shane A. , Beason David P. , Cain E. Lyle 
Published: March 2014

Background: Advocates of medial portal drilling claim that the transtibial technique results in a more vertical positioning of the graft, which could lead to subsequent failure and/or a residual pivot shift on postoperative examination. However, advocates of transtibial drilling state that with appropriate placement and adequate notchplasty, their technique places the graft in a more anatomically correct position on the wall, negating the resultant potential for pivot shift and early postoperative failure. Hypothesis: Transtibial femoral drilling can adequately reproduce the femoral origin of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and place the graft in an anatomical position equivalent to medial portal drilling. Study Design: Controlled laboratory study. Methods: Ten matched-pair cadaveric knees (N = 20) were scanned using computed tomography (CT), and 3-dimensional images of the native ACL origin were reconstructed. The matched pairs were then randomized into transtibial and medial portal groups. The femoral tunnel was drilled in each knee according to group. A bamboo skewer was placed in the femoral tunnel, and the knees underwent a second CT scan. Arthroscopic notchplasty was performed, and the femoral tunnels were redrilled. Radiographs confirmed placement, and the post-notchplasty tunnel was reamed with a 4-mm reamer. The knees underwent a third CT scan. CT scans compared femoral tunnel placement with the native ACL footprint before and after notchplasty. Results: The post-notchplasty transtibial group revealed an average of 68.3% coverage of the native ACL femoral origin. The medial portal group revealed an average of 60.8% coverage, with 1 instance of perforation of the posterior cortex. There were no instances of perforation in the transtibial group. Conclusion: Both drilling techniques place the graft in an anatomically correct position. Clinical Relevance: Transtibial drilling of the femur can adequately place the entry tunnel at the origin of the ACL’s native footprint.
Reciprocal leukemia-stroma VCAM-1/VLA-4-dependent activation of NF-κB mediates chemoresistance
Authors: Jacamo Rodrigo , Chen Ye , Wang Zhiqiang , Ma Wencai , Zhang Min , Spaeth Erika L. , Wang Ying , Battula Venkata L. , Mak Po Yee , Schallmoser Katharina , Ruvolo Peter , Schober Wendy D. , Shpall Elizabeth J. , Nguyen Martin H. , Strunk Dirk , Bueso-Ramos Carlos E. , Konoplev Sergej , Davis R. Eric , Konopleva Marina , Andreeff Michael 
Published: March 2014

Key PointsVCAM-1/VLA-4 triggers reciprocal NF-κB activation in leukemia and stromal cells and mediates cross-talk between leukemia and stromal cells. VCAM-1/VLA-4 and NF-κB signaling plays a pivotal role in the development of leukemia chemoresistance.
How I treat: the clinical differentiation and initial treatment of adult patients with atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome
Authors: Cataland Spero R. , Wu Haifeng M. 
Published: March 2014

AbstractPublished data demonstrating the efficacy of complement inhibition therapy in patients with atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS) are remarkable in contrast to the historically poor long-term prognosis for aHUS patients treated with plasma-based therapy. Although both aHUS and acquired thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) remain clinical diagnoses, an increased understanding of both conditions has improved our ability to differentiate aHUS from acquired TTP. These same data have also demonstrated the importance of a more rapid identification and diagnosis of aHUS as the recovery of end-organ injury present appears to be related to the time to initiate therapy with eculizumab. The diagnosis of acquired TTP can be confirmed by the finding of severely deficient ADAMTS13 activity (<10%) with evidence of an ADAMTS13 antibody inhibitor whereas merely deficient ADAMTS13 activity in the absence of an ADAMTS13 autoantibody is more consistent with congenital TTP. In the absence of an objective diagnostic test, clinicians must rely collectively on platelet count, serum creatinine, and ADAMTS13 activity in the context of the response to plasma exchange therapy to identify patients whose diagnosis is most consistent with aHUS, and thus be more likely to benefit from therapy with eculizumab.