bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Shelf stability of meat pickle developed from Kadaknath
Authors: Ranade Ashlesha , Singh Pradeep Kumar , Shrivastav Neeraj
Published: March 2020

Purpose

This study aims to have a product with enhanced shelf stability from the Kadaknath bird. It is localized to its native tract in India and is unknown to a major part of the world. As in tropical countries, the meat products prepared have limited shelf-life and restricted market access, hence, the pickle was developed to enhance its access to areas other than a native tract of Kadaknath.

Design/methodology/approach

The product was developed to assess the effect of cooking and dehydration on sensory and microbial features while enhancing shelf stability. A comparison between cooking methods i.e. steam cooking (SC) and microwave cooking (MC) followed by dehydration to get steam cooked + dehydration (SCD) and microwave cooked + dehydration (MCD) were subjected for the study.

Findings

The study revealed that sensory evaluation, from 0 to 100 days, for all the sensory parameters indicated that SC and MC samples scored more values than SCD and MCD, however, with the storage the values increased initially on the 20th day followed by a gradual decrease. The total plate count (colony forming unit) on 0 day for SC and MC were 2.51 and 2.46, whereas for SCD and MCD the values were 1.94 and 1.98, respectively, indicating significantly (P = 0.01) lower values in dehydrated meat pickle preparations (SCD and MCD) in comparison to samples prepared without dehydration (SC and MC). Similarly, on the 60th day, the meat pickle treatments mentioned as SC and MC had the yeast and mold counts (colony forming unit) detected as 1.79 and 1.88, respectively, however, the organisms were not detectable in treatments SCD and MCD.

Practical implications

Developed product may be suitable for long distance marketing and making the local delicacy available to distant places.

Originality/value

The literature review indicated that though meat pickles have been prepared earlier most of the preparations involved chemical preservatives/antioxidants and trials with hurdles such as dehydration and cooking variations were scanty.
Analysis of balanced scorecard usage by private companies
Authors: Sharma Divesh , Sharma Umesh
Published: March 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the factors related to the use of the balanced scorecard (BSC) by private companies. Specifically, the authors examine how foreign ownership, focus on a global market beyond the local company’s geographic region and other sophisticated management accounting practices (MAPs) (activity-based costing, just-in-time and total quality management) are related to the use of the BSC.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper takes a contingency theoretic perspective. The data in this study is based on responses to a survey questionnaire that was mailed to 300 non-listed private companies in Singapore. A total of 135 responses were received, but 23 were incomplete, and thus, rendered unusable. Therefore, the final sample for the study is 112 private companies yielding a 37.3 per cent response rate that is considered high for survey research.

Findings

The authors find significant associations between the use of BSC and foreign ownership, focus on a global market and other sophisticated MAPs. The authors find that foreign ownership and a global market focus are significantly and consistently related to the extent to which the BSC is used across seven different management control purposes. The authors also find some evidence of associations between other sophisticated MAPs and the extent to which the BSC is used for management control purposes.

Practical implications

Private companies can use the BSC to better manage risks and use it for purposes such as communicating strategy and objectives, setting targets, evaluating performance, rewarding employees and managers, motivating employees and managers, controlling performance and coordinating across activities, departments and/or functional areas. The study has limitations such as the model is limited and excludes the effects of other significant contingency factors such as organisational culture. It may be appropriate to interview organisational participants to learn more about how their national and organisational culture affects the decision to use the BSC.

Originality/value

The findings fill a critical void in the literature by providing new evidence on the determinants of the use of the BSC by private companies.
Reproducibility in Accounting Research: Views of the Research Community
Authors: HAIL LUZI , LANG MARK , LEUZ CHRISTIAN
Published: March 2020

We have little knowledge about the prevalence of irreproducibility in the accounting literature. To narrow this gap, we conducted a survey among the participants of the 2019 JAR Conference on their perceptions of the frequency, causes, and consequences of irreproducible research published in accounting journals. A majority of respondents believe that irreproducibility is common in the literature, constitutes a major problem, and receives too little attention. Most have encountered irreproducibility in the work of others (although not in their own work) but chose not to pursue their failed reproduction attempts to publication. Respondents believe irreproducibility results chiefly from career or publication incentives as well as from selective reporting of results. They also believe that practices like sharing code and data combined with stronger incentives to replicate the work of others would enhance reproducibility. The views of accounting researchers are remarkably similar to those expressed in a survey by the scientific journal Nature. We conclude by discussing the implications of our findings and provide several potential paths forward for the accounting research community.
The Champagne Tap: Time to Pop the Cork?
Authors: Green Rebecca S. , Cruz Andrea T. , Freedman Stephen B. , Fleming Alesia H. , Balamuth Fran , Pruitt Christopher M. , Lyons Todd W. , Okada Pamela J. , Thompson Amy D. , Mistry Rakesh D. , Aronson Paul L. , Nigrovic Lise E. ,   for the Herpes Simplex Virus Study Group of the Pediatric Emergency Medicine Collaborative Research Committee (PEM CRC)
Published: March 2020

Background

A “champagne tap” is a lumbar puncture with no cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) red blood cells (RBCs). Clinicians disagree whether the absence of CSF white blood cells (WBCs) is also required.

Aims

As supervising providers frequently reward trainees after a champagne tap, we investigated how varying the definition impacted the frequency of trainee accolades.

Materials & Methods

We performed a secondary analysis of a retrospective cross‐sectional study of infants ≤60 days of age who had a CSF culture performed in the emergency department (ED) at one of 20 centers participating in a Pediatric Emergency Medicine Collaborative Research Committee (PEM CRC) endorsed study. Our primary outcomes were a champagne tap defined by either a CSF RBC count of 0 cells/mm3 regardless of CSF WBC count or both CSF RBC and WBC counts of 0 cells/mm3.

Results

Of the 23,618 eligible encounters, 20,358 (86.2%) had both a CSF RBC and WBC count obtained. Overall, 3,147 (13.3%) had a CSF RBC count of 0 cells/mm3 and 377 (1.6%) had both CSF WBC and RBC counts of 0 cells/mm3 (relative rate 8.35, 95% confidence interval 7.51 to 9.27).

Conclusions

In infants, a lumbar puncture with a CSF RBC count of 0 cells/mm3 regardless of the CSF WBC count occurred eight‐times more frequently than one with both CSF WBC and RBC counts of 0 cells/mm3. A broader champagne tap definition would allow more frequent recognition of procedural success, with the potential to foster a supportive community during medical training, potentially protecting against burnout.
Enduring consequences of perinatal fentanyl exposure in mice
Authors: Alipio Jason B. , Brockett Adam T. , Fox Megan E. , Tennyson Stephen S. , deBettencourt Coreylyn A. , El‐Metwally Dina , Francis Nikolas A. , Kanold Patrick O. , Lobo Mary Kay , Roesch Matthew R. , Keller Asaf
Published: March 2020

Opioid use by pregnant women is an understudied consequence associated with the opioid epidemic, resulting in a rise in the incidence of neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome (NOWS) and lifelong neurobehavioral deficits that result from perinatal opioid exposure. There are few preclinical models that accurately recapitulate human perinatal drug exposure and few focus on fentanyl, a potent synthetic opioid that is a leading driver of the opioid epidemic. To investigate the consequences of perinatal opioid exposure, we administered fentanyl to mouse dams in their drinking water throughout gestation and until litters were weaned at postnatal day (PD) 21. Fentanyl‐exposed dams delivered smaller litters and had higher litter mortality rates compared with controls. Metrics of maternal care behavior were not affected by the treatment, nor were there differences in dams' weight or liquid consumption throughout gestation and 21 days postpartum. Twenty‐four hours after weaning and drug cessation, perinatal fentanyl‐exposed mice exhibited signs of spontaneous somatic withdrawal behavior and sex‐specific weight fluctuations that normalized in adulthood. At adolescence (PD 35), they displayed elevated anxiety‐like behaviors and decreased grooming, assayed in the elevated plus maze and sucrose splash tests. Finally, by adulthood (PD 55), they displayed impaired performance in a two‐tone auditory discrimination task. Collectively, our findings suggest that perinatal fentanyl‐exposed mice exhibit somatic withdrawal behavior and change into early adulthood reminiscent of humans born with NOWS.
Physicians’ and Attorneys’ Beliefs and Attitudes Related to the Brain Disease Model of Addiction
Authors: Avery Joseph J. , Avery Jonathan D. , Mouallem Joseph , Demner Adam R. , Cooper Joel
Published: March 2020

Background and Objectives

Addiction is increasingly considered a chronic, relapsing brain disease; however, many scholars still disagree with the brain disease model of addiction. We set out to provide evidence of attorneys’ and physicians’ beliefs regarding the model. First, we asked the following question: do attorneys and physicians affirm the full brain disease model, or its modified form, or do they believe that addiction is driven by deficits in self‐control or moral weakness? Second, we evaluated the extent to which such beliefs correspond to attitudes toward individuals with substance use disorders (SUDs).

Methods

A questionnaire was sent to resident physicians (N = 301) and criminal defense attorneys (N = 483) practicing in the United States. It was comprised of (i) an attitudes measure, (ii) a measure regarding conceptions of addiction, and (iii) demographic questions.

Results

Attorneys were more likely to believe that individuals with SUDs had “practically no choice” about whether to seek and use, whereas physicians were more likely to believe that such individuals had “genuine choice.” For both groups of participants, the rejection of the full brain disease model of addiction was associated with more negative attitudes toward individuals with SUDs.

Conclusion and Scientific Significance

These results represent an important advance, as past research has neglected attorneys’ attitudes and is inconclusive regarding the manner in which beliefs about the brain disease model of addiction are related to attitudes toward individuals with SUDs. Educating practitioners regarding this relationship would raise awareness regarding when and to what extent stigma is likely to be present, which may in turn provide a foundation from which to address stigma. (Am J Addict 2020;00:00–00)
Amniotic immune biomarkers as risk factors in women with different symptoms of threatened late miscarriage
Authors: Meng Lili , Wang Zhenhua , Reilly Marie , Zhang Shuning , Liu Xiuli , Lin Dijin , Liu Shengxin , Liu Yinglin , Zhang Jianping , Chen Hui
Published: March 2020

Problem

To investigate risk factors that can help identify the possibility of pregnancy loss in threatened late miscarriage (TLM) patients with and without spontaneous uterine contractions.

Method of study

Amniotic immune biomarkers (IL2β receptor, IL6, IL8, IL10, IL1β, and TNFα) were assayed, and “sludge” was assessed. Patients without intrauterine infections were treated and followed up until delivery, and pregnancy outcomes were recorded. The two groups were compared for the differences in biomarker levels and “sludge,” and the independent associations of biomarkers, “sludge,” and other maternal factors with late miscarriage were investigated.

Results

The amniotic levels of IL2βR, IL8, and TNFα were higher in the group with contractions (P < .05). When considered alone, each of the six biomarkers was significantly associated with late miscarriage in the no‐contractions group and four of these (IL8, IL10, IL1β, and TNFα) in the contractions group (P < .05). Biomarker levels were correlated, and in multivariate Cox regression analysis, there was an independent effect only for IL8 in the no‐contractions group (HR = 18.16, 95% CI: 5.75‐57.43) and TNFα in the contractions group (HR = 4.11, 95% CI: 1.68‐10.08). For patients with contractions, IL10, IL8, and IL1β were different in those with and without “sludge,” but no such difference was seen in the no‐contractions group.

Conclusion

For TLM patients without intrauterine infections, amniotic immune biomarkers differ between patients with different symptoms, not only for their levels but also for the impact of these biomarkers on the risk of late miscarriage. These findings suggest that the symptoms of TLM should be considered in the study of miscarriage risk.
Differential expression of SALL4 in CTCs derived from hydatidiform moles and gestational trophoblastic neoplasms
Authors: Xu Danfei , Feng Fengzhi , Pei Yuqing , Zhang Yujuan , Wu Yue , Guo Yi , Cui Wei
Published: March 2020

Problem

To investigate EMT phenotype and SALL4 expression of circulating tumour cells (CTCs) in patients with gestational trophoblastic neoplasm (GTN).

Method of study

CanPatrol CTC detection system in combination with SALL4 RNA in situ hybridization was used to investigate the profile of CTCs in different types of gestational trophoblastic disease (GTD). Circulating CTCs were phenotyped and annotated with SALL4 expression in 41 GTD patients, including 12 HM and 29 GTN, as well as 22 pregnant volunteers.

Results

A positive correlation between the number of CTC and serum β‐hCG concentration was found among the GTN patients. The number of E/M‐CTC was positively correlated with serum β‐hCG, while M‐CTC was positively correlated with prognostic score. Comparison among malignant GTD, benign GTD and healthy pregnant women revealed a significant difference in the number of total CTC, E/M‐CTC, and M‐CTC but not in E‐CTC. ROC analysis was conducted to evaluate the performance of CTC phenotypes in distinguishing GTD patients from healthy pregnant women yielding an AUC as 0.826. Youden's index was maximal at the cutoff value of 8.5/4 mL with sensitivity and specificity at 53.66% and 100%, respectively. SALL4 expression was evaluated in GTD patients with CTC count greater than cutoff value. SALL4 high expressing CTCs (>2 signal dots) were detected in 66.67% (10/15) of malignant GTD patients but not in benign patients (0/5).

Conclusion

Differential expression of SALL4 was seen in CTCs derived from hydatidiform moles and GTN. CTC profiling may be developed as an adjunct marker to diagnose GTN.
Non‐immune hydrops fetalis was rare in Sweden during 1997‐2015, but cases were associated with complications and poor prognosis
Authors: Whybra Catharina , Källén Karin , Hansson Stefan R. , Gunnarsson Rolf
Published: March 2020

Aim

The study was designed to document the incidence of non‐immune hydrops fetalis (NIHF) at birth and characterise associated outcomes and obstetric complications.

Methods

Data on more than 1.9 million births were extracted from the Swedish Birth Register for 1997‐2015. Pregnancies not affected by NIHF served as controls. National registers on mortality and hospitalisations provided follow‐up information.

Results

There were 309 cases of NIHF at birth corresponding to an incidence of 1.6 per 10 000, lower than in previous studies. NIHF was more frequent in mothers aged ≥35 years and with a history of stillbirth. Preterm delivery occurred in 77.7% in the NIHF group, including 31.7% before 32 weeks of gestation. Multiple births and Caesarean sections were reported more frequent in the NIHF group. NIHF was associated with poor outcome with 14.6% stillbirths and in 26.5% early neonatal death. Overall, 58.7% of live‐born children with NIHF were alive at 12 months compared with 99.7% of controls. The most common causes of death were cardiovascular diseases and thoracic abnormalities.

Conclusion

NIHF at birth is associated with obstetric complications and poor prognosis for the neonate related to underlying disease. The low incidence of NIHF observed in this study may reflect well‐developed antenatal care.
Dimorphic protein expression for Sox9 and Foxl2 genes in the testicles and ovaries of the urodele amphibian: Ambystoma mexicanum
Authors: Mendoza‐Cruz Eva , Moreno‐Mendoza Norma , Zambrano‐González Luis , Porras‐Gómez Tania Janeth , Villagrán‐SantaCruz Maricela
Published: March 2020

Ambystoma mexicanum is an endemic salamander from Mexico. Due to its neotenic characteristics, it is considered an important model for regeneration and development studies. However, there is little research concerning the pattern of gene expression related to testicular and ovarian function. In this study, we analyse expression of the protein of the Sox9, Foxl2 and Vasa genes, and Δ5‐3βHSD enzyme activity in ovaries and testicles of A. mexicanum. Correlating morphology with the expression of Sox9 and Foxl2, we find that these genes manifest sexually dimorphic expression. Sox9 is expressed at higher levels in the testicle, whereas Foxl2 is specific to the ovary. Vasa was detected in spermatogonia in the anterior region of the testis, and in the ovary, it was located in previtellogenic oocytes. Δ5‐3βHSD was located in Leydig cells of the testicles and theca cells of the ovaries. In summary, the dimorphic expression of Sox9 and Foxl2, and that of Vasa in the germ line are similar to that described for other vertebrates, suggesting that the molecular mechanisms related to ovarian and testicular function in A. mexicanum follow a similar expression pattern that is not altered by neotenic characteristics.
A nonsense variant in NME5 causes human primary ciliary dyskinesia with radial spoke defects
Authors: Cho Eun Hye , Huh Hee Jae , Jeong Inyoung , Lee Nam Yong , Koh Won‐Jung , Park Hae‐Chul , Ki Chang‐Seok
Published: March 2020

Primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) is a genetically heterogeneous disorder characterized by defects in the function or structure of motitle cilia. In most cases, causative variants result in axonemal dynein arm anomalies, however, PCD due to radial spoke (RS) and central pair (CP) of microtubules has been rarely reported. To identify the molecular basis of PCD characterized by RS/CP defects, we performed whole exome sequencing in PCD patients with RS/CP defects. We identified a homozygous nonsense variant (c.572G>A; p.Trp191*) in NME5, which encodes a protein component of the RS neck, in one PCD patient with situs solitus. Morpholino knockdown of nme5 in zebrafish embryos resulted in motile cilia defects with phenotypes compatible with ciliopathy. This is the first study to show NME5 as a PCD‐causative gene in humans. Our findings indicate that NME5 screening should be considered for PCD patients with RS/CP defects.
Revealing pore connectivity across scales and resolutions with X‐ray CT
Authors: Lucas Maik , Vetterlein Doris , Vogel Hans‐Jörg , Schlüter Steffen
Published: March 2020

Connectivity is one of the most important parameters to quantify pore structure and link it to soil functions. One of the great challenges in quantifying connectivity with X‐ray microtomography (X‐ray μCT) is that high resolution, as required for small pores, can only be achieved in small samples in which the connectivity of larger pores can no longer be quantified in a meaningful way. The objective of this study was to investigate the changes in pore connectivity with changing sample size, covering a range of analysed pore diameters of more than three orders of magnitude. With this approach, we wanted to address whether pore types formed by different processes in an agricultural chronosequence leave characteristic traces in certain connectivity metrics. The Euler number, χ, and the connection probability of two random points within the pore system, that is, the Γ‐indicator, were determined as a function of minimum pore diameter. The results show that characteristic signatures of certain pore types overlap with scale artifacts in the connectivity functions. The Γ‐indicator, gives highly biased information in small samples. Therefore, we developed a new method for a joint‐Γ‐curve that merges information from three samples sizes. However, χ does not require such a scale fusion. It can be used to define characteristic size ranges for pore types and is very sensitive to the occurrence of bottle necks. Our findings suggest a joint evaluation of both connectivity metrics to disentangle different pore types with χ and to identify the contribution of different pore types to the overall pore connectivity with Γ. This evaluation on the chronosequence showed that biopores mainly connect pores of diameters between 0.5 and 0.1 mm. This was not coupled with an increase in pore volume. In contrast, tillage led to a shift of pores of diameter >0.05 mm towards pores of diameter >0.20 mm and thus increased connectivity of pores >0.20 mm. This work underlines the importance of accounting for the scale dependence of connectivity measures and provides a methodological approach for doing so.

Highlights

Scale dependence of connectivity metrics needs to be accounted for.

Connectivity metrics can be used to disentangle different pore types across scales.

Roots mainly connect the pore system between 0.1 and 0.5 mm.

A joint Γ‐connectivity function can be constructed that is free of scale artifacts.
BECOMINGS OF PAST EVENTS
Authors: Ledoux Sébastien
Published: March 2020

The history of the present time is a recent field of historiography but today finds itself in a key position in the public conversations of many countries. From this foundation, the historian Henry Rousso retraces in his book The Latest Catastrophe a genealogy of writing about this history from antiquity to today in order to better identify the unique characteristics of this field, which has its origins in the catastrophes of the twentieth century, first among them the Holocaust, deemed “the latest catastrophe.” These reflections on the writing of history and contemporaneity are an opportunity for us to question the presence of the Second World War in today's societies. Instead of a reading of this presence focused on the catastrophe's long effects, we propose the hypothesis of the “becoming of the event” reformulated by the social changes that have intervened since 1960 in Western societies. By postulating the past first as an “absent thing” (Ricoeur) that historical narratives refigure, we insist on the role of a discontinuous and heterogeneous present in the narrative mediations that reconstitute historical facts and the meanings they offer. Starting from this interactive approach between the past and present, a reading is possible about the future of the Second World War that is interwoven with the social changes of the last third of the twentieth century. This period is characterized by the intervention of new actors and new technical, institutional, and judicial structures, broadly cultural, in the memorialization of this past. Its reconstitution by the media into a new reality is another important fact. Moreover, a compassionate link to the past is now retold publicly, a change that is helped by the emergence of victimhood as a new social category that engenders action for the rights to reparations for endured prejudices that rewrote traditional national narratives. Finally, an evolution of memorial politics founded on a preventive understanding of the past, witness of a new historicity, is more significantly inscribed in the consciousness of internal threats to societies (nuclear, environmental) and consequently in the expansion of the politics of risk‐prevention.
A role for cell‐autocrine interleukin‐2 in regulatory T‐cell homeostasis
Authors: Chawla Amanpreet Singh , Khalsa Jasneet Kaur , Dhar Atika , Gupta Suman , Umar Danish , Arimbasseri Gopalakrishnan Aneeshkumar , Bal Vineeta , George Anna , Rath Satyajit
Published: March 2020

Activated T‐cells make both interleukin‐2 (IL2) and its high‐affinity receptor component CD25. Regulatory CD4 T‐cells (Treg cells) do not make IL2, and the IL2‐CD25 circuit is considered a paracrine circuit crucial in their generation and maintenance. Yet, all T‐cells are capable of making IL2 at some stage during differentiation, making a cell‐intrinsic autocrine circuit additionally possible. When we re‐visited experiments with mixed bone marrow chimeras using a wide range of ratios of wild‐type (WT) and IL2−/− genotype progenitors, we found that, as expected, thymic Treg cells were almost equivalent between WT and IL2−/− genotypes at ratios with WT prominence. However, at WT‐limiting ratios, the IL2−/− genotype showed lower thymic Treg frequencies, indicating a role for cell‐intrinsic autocrine IL2 in thymic Treg generation under IL2‐limiting conditions. Further, peripheral IL2−/− naive CD4 T‐cells showed poor conversion to inducible Tregs (pTregs) both in vivo and in vitro, again indicating a significant role for cell‐intrinsic autocrine IL2 in their generation. Peripherally, the IL2−/− genotype was less prominent at all WT:IL2−/− ratios among both thymic Tregs (tTregs) and pTregs, adoptively transferred IL2−/− Tregs showed poorer survival than WT Tregs did, and RNA‐seq analysis of WT and IL2−/− Tregs showed interesting differences in the T‐cell receptor and transforming growth factor‐beta‐bone morphogenetic protein‐JNK pathways between them, suggesting a non‐titrating role for cell‐intrinsic autocrine IL2 in Treg programming. These data indicate that cell‐intrinsic autocrine IL2 plays significant roles in Treg generation and maintenance.
Within‐person fluctuations in stressful life events, sleep, and anxiety and depression symptoms during adolescence: a multiwave prospective study
Authors: Vidal Bustamante Constanza M. , Rodman Alexandra M. , Dennison Meg J. , Flournoy John C. , Mair Patrick , McLaughlin Katie A.
Published: March 2020

Background

Adolescence is characterized by substantial changes in sleep behavior, heightened exposure to stressful life events (SLEs), and elevated risk for internalizing problems like anxiety and depression. Although SLEs are consistently associated with the onset of internalizing psychopathology, the mechanisms underlying this relationship remain poorly understood, especially at the within‐person level. Here, we leverage a high‐frequency longitudinal design to examine sleep as a potential mechanism linking SLEs to increases in anxiety and depression symptoms over a one‐year period.

Methods

Thirty female adolescents aged 15–17 years completed 12 monthly in‐laboratory assessments of exposure to SLEs and symptoms of anxiety and depression (n = 355 monthly assessments), and wore an actigraphy wristband for continuous monitoring of sleep for the duration of the study (n = 6,824 sleep days). Multilevel models examined concurrent and lagged within‐person associations between SLEs, sleep duration and timing regularity, and anxiety and depression symptoms.

Results

Within‐person fluctuations in SLEs were associated with variability in sleep duration both concurrently and prospectively, such that when adolescents experienced greater SLEs than was typical for them, they exhibited more variable sleep duration that same month as well as the following month. In turn, within‐person increases in sleep duration variability predicted greater anxiety symptoms in the same month and mediated the association between SLEs and anxiety.

Conclusions

These findings highlight sleep disruptions as a mechanism underlying the longitudinal associations between SLEs and anxiety symptoms, and suggest that interventions promoting sleep schedule consistency may help mitigate risk for stress‐related psychopathology in adolescence.
Identification of high temperature short time milk pasteurization unit
Authors: Indumathy Marimuthu , Sobana Subramani , Panda Rames C.
Published: March 2020

This research pertains to the development of a dynamic‐model and identification of parameters for high‐temperature‐short‐time (HTST) pasteurization process using plate‐heat‐exchangers for precise controller scheme for this process. Real‐time HTST process consists of three integrated sections, (a) plate‐heat‐exchanger engaged in regeneration, heating and cooling (b) holding tank, and (c) holding tube. The models for these sections are identified using Matlab. The dynamics of the HTST process using the first‐principle method consisting of two inputs one‐output model is derived. The parameters of the dynamic model are identified using the autoregressive‐exogenous linear identification technique, ARMAX, and subspace system identification to predict the outlet temperature of HTST process. Finally, a dynamic‐model, relating exit temperature to input enthalpy is obtained from the closed‐loop process input–output data, using a nonlinear least‐square‐estimation technique. The quality of prediction of linear‐model structures is checked using plant's data. The results obtained from the linear‐models are in good agreement with plant‐data.

Practical application

Milk should be free from toxins and pathogens and also it must retain all nutrients and vitamins with extended period of storage life. To achieve the above said criteria, milk is heated to a particular temperature for a brief time then cooling it down once more quickly. Moreover, to avoid superheating, the temperature needs to be controlled. As model‐based‐control perform satisfactorily, tuning of controllers can be done using model parameters of this milk‐heating process. These model parameters are obtained from on‐line identification of the predicted model using real time plant input–output data. This paper deals with identification of model parameters for the milk pasteurization process. The formulated model equations are also validated, which will help in optimizing the operating parameters and scale‐up design.
Flood risk assessment for Davao Oriental in the Philippines using geographic information system‐based multi‐criteria analysis and the maximum entropy model
Authors: Cabrera Jonathan Salar , Lee Han Soo
Published: March 2020

The assessments of flood‐prone areas and flood risk due to pluvial flooding for Davao Oriental on Mindanao Island in the Philippines were carried out by the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and maximum entropy (Maxent) models using multiple criteria such as slope, elevation, soil type, rainfall, drainage density, distance to the main channel, and population density. Flood records from 70 survey points were obtained and used to verify the model results. The criteria weights of the top three important factors in the AHP are rainfall (42%), slope (23%), and elevation (15%), whereas those in the Maxent model are elevation (36%), rainfall (23%), and soil (19%). The verification results show that the accuracies of the AHP and Maxent model are 81 and 95.6%, respectively, indicating that both approaches are reliable in flood hazard and risk assessments. Approximately 22% of the total area and approximately 30% of the total population of Davao Oriental are classified as high risk of pluvial flooding in the current situation by the AHP method. This study shows a broad‐scale high‐level data‐driven screening method that can be used to help identify potential hot spots for pluvial flooding for which more detailed numerical modelling studies should be undertaken.
Prevalence, clinical course, and predictive factors of immune checkpoint inhibitor monotherapy‐associated hepatitis in Japan
Authors: Kitagataya Takashi , Suda Goki , Nagashima Kazunori , Katsurada Takehiko , Yamamoto Koji , Kimura Megumi , Maehara Osamu , Yamada Ren , Shigesawa Taku , Suzuki Kazuharu , Nakamura Akihisa , Ohara Masatsugu , Umemura Machiko , Kawagishi Naoki , Nakai Masato , Sho Takuya , Natsuizaka Mitsuteru , Morikawa Kenichi , Ogawa Koji , Ohnishi Shunsuke , Komatsu Yoshito , Hata Hiroo , Takeuchi Satoshi , Abe Takashige , Sakakibara‐Konishi Jun , Teshima Takanori , Homma Akihiro , Sakamoto Naoya
Published: March 2020

Background and Aim

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) have revolutionized anti‐malignancy therapy and thus have been increasingly used. Although ICI may cause immune‐related adverse events (irAE) in various organs, including the liver, the prevalence and predictive factors of irAE have not been clarified.

Methods

In this retrospective study, consecutive patients who had malignancies and were treated with ICI without other chemotherapeutic agents at Hokkaido University Hospital between 2014 and 2019 were screened. Patients were excluded if they were < 20 years old and had insufficient clinical data.

Results

Of the 233 patients screened, 202 patients met the inclusion criteria and were included in the analysis. The patients were aged 25–92 years, and 60.9% were male. The patients received nivolumab (n = 137), pembrolizumab (n = 45), ipilimumab (n = 17), atezolizumab (n = 2), and avelumab (n = 1). The prevalence of any grade and grade ≥ 3 irAE hepatitis was 8.4% (17/202) and 4.0% (8/202), respectively. irAE hepatitis occurred at a median duration of 42 days in any grade and 36 days in grade ≥ 3 after ICI initiation. The clinical course of grade ≥ 3 irAE hepatitis was generally favorable; however, 50% required corticosteroid treatment and two patients required additional mycophenolate mofetil. Female sex and history of ICI treatment were significantly associated with the incidence of grade ≥ 3 irAE hepatitis.

Conclusions

Grade ≥ 3 irAE hepatitis was observed in 4.0% of the patients who were treated with ICI. Female sex and history of ICI treatment were significantly associated with the incidence of grade ≥ 3 irAE hepatitis.
Cervical ribs in human early life: morphological variability and first identification as a morbidity criterion in a past population
Authors: Partiot Caroline , Guillon Mark , Peressinotto David , Castex Dominique , Maureille Bruno
Published: March 2020

Despite the medical literature on supernumerary cervical ribs in extant adult samples, little is known about their development and occurrence in early infancy. The documentation of cervical ribs in modern samples of fetuses and neonates is indeed affected by ethical as well as technical limitations. The aim of the present study was to investigate their frequencies and morphological variability in the first known archaeological collection of very young children with this anatomical variant. The study sample comes from the 8B‐51 necropolis on the Saï island (Sudan) and dates to the Classic Kerma Period (XVIIIe–XVIe centuries BC). It consists of 64 individuals deceased between 24 weeks of amenorrhoea and 2 years of age. Bilateral or unilateral cervical ribs were found in 27 individuals. A total of 43 cervical ribs were identified, 38 of which are fully preserved. According to these observations, at least 42% of the individuals have unilateral or bilateral cervical ribs, with an average maximum length of < 1 cm. This frequency is very high compared to those observed in contemporary adult samples (up to 3%). First, the comparison of our results with biological and genetic research demonstrating the link between the occurrence of cervical ribs and a reduced chance of survival during infancy allows the first identification of this trait as an indicator of morbidity in an archaeological collection, a morbidity to which a genetic homogeneity or even endogamy could contribute. Second, the number of ribs studied makes it possible to propose a morphological classification based on the general shape and the shape of the articular facets, classification that can be used tos refine the analyses of the trait in future samples.
Modulation of experimental facial pain via somatosensory stimuli targeting sensations of different valence
Authors: Taneja Pankaj , Olausson Håkan , Trulsson Mats , Vase Lene , Svensson Peter , Baad‐Hansen Lene
Published: March 2020

Background

Knowledge of pain modulation from oro‐facial somatosensory stimuli with different valence (pleasant‐unpleasant) is limited.

Objectives

To investigate (a) the modulatory effects of painful, pleasant and unpleasant somatosensory stimuli on two models of experimental facial pain, (b) whether modulation could be changed by blocking peripheral nerves via application of a local anaesthetic, EMLA, or blocking endogenous opioid receptors via naltrexone and (c) whether pain ratings were significantly correlated with participant psychological profiles.

Methods

Thirty‐eight healthy women received experimental facial skin burning pain or jaw myalgia for four randomised sessions on different days. The painful region was stimulated with mechanical or thermal painful, pleasant, unpleasant and control stimuli, with ratings recorded before and during stimulation. Sessions differed in pre‐treatment: EMLA/naltrexone/placebo tablet/cream.

Results

Significant effects of thermal or mechanical stimuli (P < .017), but not session (P > .102), were found on pain ratings for both models. In myalgia, painful cold resulted in a greater reduction in pain ratings than unpleasant cold, pleasant cold, control and pleasant warmth (P < .004). Decreases in pain ratings from painful, unpleasant and pleasant mechanical stimuli were greater than control (P < .002). In burning pain, painful cold resulted in a greater reduction in pain ratings than all but one of the other thermal stimuli (P < .033). The pleasant mechanical stimulus reduced pain ratings more than all other mechanical stimuli (P ≤ .003). There were no significant correlations between pain and psychometrics.

Conclusion

Valence‐targeted thermal and mechanical stimuli modulated experimental myalgia and skin burning pain (P < .017). Partially blocking peripheral afferents or opioid receptors did not affect modulation.
Alanine aminotransferase influencing performances of routine available tests detecting hepatitis B‐related cirrhosis
Authors: Chen Yong‐Peng , Huang Li‐Wen , Lin Xiao‐Yu , Hu Xiao‐Min , Liang Xie‐Er , Jiang Rong‐Long
Published: March 2020

The performances of routine tests such as FIB‐4 and APRI in detecting cirrhosis and significant fibrosis in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) have been shown to be discrepant between studies. Novel tests such as red cell distribution width‐platelet ratio (RPR), γ‐glutamyl transpeptidase to platelet ratio (GPR) and easy liver fibrosis test (eLIFT) are introduced recently. To evaluate the aminotransferase influence on the performance of these routine tests, a total of 1005 CHB patients who underwent liver biopsies and routine tests were retrospectively analysed. The diagnostic cut‐offs referring to likelihood ratio were determined for excluding or including cirrhosis diagnosis and also for ruling in significant fibrosis diagnosis. The performances of RPR, FIB‐4, eLIFT and APRI in detecting cirrhosis seemed improved at higher ALT levels, while GPR was conversely impaired. The likelihood ratio was ∝ for APRI cut‐off 2 diagnosing cirrhosis in ALT < 2 upper limit of normal (ULN), 14.6 for APRI cut‐off 1.5 determining significant fibrosis in ALT ≤ 5ULN and 20.6 for FIB‐4 cut‐off 3.2 diagnosing ≥ F3 in the total cohort, respectively. The optimal cut‐offs for cirrhosis diagnosis were increased with higher ALTs by tests which included aminotransferase, but not for RPR. The proportions of patients classified as having cirrhosis or no cirrhosis stratified by ALT level cut‐offs were superior. Stepwise applying RPR, GPR and eLIFT would determine 60% of patients as having cirrhosis or no cirrhosis with an accuracy of 93.0%. In conclusion, the performance of aminotransferase comprising tests in detecting cirrhosis in CHB were influenced by ALT levels. Thus, ALT stratified cut‐offs may be a preferred alternative. In resource‐limited settings, stepwise applying routine tests could be recommended as a preferred measurement for cirrhosis detection.
Life Satisfaction and Noncognitive Skills: Effects on the Likelihood of Unemployment
Authors: O'Connor Kelsey J.
Published: March 2020

Psychological measures are gaining recognition as important determinants of labor performance. This paper demonstrates that people reporting greater subjective well‐being (SWB) are causally less likely to be unemployed in the future. The relation exhibits a meaningful magnitude relative to the mean unemployment rate and other determinants. The analysis is based on a longitudinal survey of German households over the period 1996‐2013 (German Socio‐Economic Panel). Analyses include separate dynamic and fixed‐effects regressions, and two instrumental variable approaches. Together, this sample and set of analyses, makes it possible to assess the relation for previously unstudied groups and to assess different mechanisms. Indeed the relation exhibits considerable heterogeneity. It is quadratic and substantially greater for students and people that are presently unemployed (compared to their counterparts). Fixed effects regressions indicate that SWB affects future unemployment in part through within‐person changes in the Big‐Five personality traits (e.g., conscientiousness or emotional stability) but not cognitive ability. The results imply SWB may be used as a proxy for alternative psychological predictors of performance, which is important because SWB is more broadly available than many alternatives (e.g., the Big Five). What is more, policy makers have additional reasons to promote SWB.
Building peptidoglycan inside eukaryotic cells: A view from symbiotic and pathogenic bacteria
Authors: García‐del Portillo Francisco
Published: March 2020

The peptidoglycan (PG), as the exoskeleton of most prokaryotes, maintains a defined shape and ensures cell integrity against the high internal turgor pressure. These important roles have attracted researchers to target PG metabolism in order to control bacterial infections. Most studies, however, have been performed in bacteria grown under laboratory conditions, leading to only a partial view on how the PG is synthetized in natural environments. As a case in point, PG metabolism and its regulation remain poorly understood in symbiotic and pathogenic bacteria living inside eukaryotic cells. This review focuses on the PG metabolism of intracellular bacteria, emphasizing the necessity of more in vivo studies involving the analysis of enzymes produced in the intracellular niche and the isolation of PG from bacteria residing within eukaryotic cells. The review also points to persistent infections caused by some intracellular bacterial pathogens and the extent at which the PG could contribute to establish such physiological state. Based on recent evidences, I speculate on the idea that certain structural features of the PG may facilitate attenuation of intracellular growth. Lastly, I discuss recent findings in endosymbionts supporting a cooperation between host and bacterial enzymes to assemble a mature PG.
An RNA biology perspective on species‐specific programmable RNA antibiotics
Authors: Vogel Jörg
Published: March 2020

Our body is colonized by a vast array of bacteria the sum of which forms our microbiota. The gut alone harbors >1,000 bacterial species. An understanding of their individual or synergistic contributions to human health and disease demands means to interfere with their functions on the species level. Most of the currently available antibiotics are broad‐spectrum, thus too unspecific for a selective depletion of a single species of interest from the microbiota. Programmable RNA antibiotics in the form of short antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) promise to achieve precision manipulation of bacterial communities. These ASOs are coupled to small peptides that carry them inside the bacteria to silence mRNAs of essential genes, for example, to target antibiotic‐resistant pathogens as an alternative to standard antibiotics. There is already proof‐of‐principle with diverse bacteria, but many open questions remain with respect to true species specificity, potential off‐targeting, choice of peptides for delivery, bacterial resistance mechanisms and the host response. While there is unlikely a one‐fits‐all solution for all microbiome species, I will discuss how recent progress in bacterial RNA biology may help to accelerate the development of programmable RNA antibiotics for microbiome editing and other applications.
Methylation‐dependent transcriptional regulation of crescentin gene (creS) by GcrA in Caulobacter crescentus
Authors: Mohapatra Saswat S. , Fioravanti Antonella , Vandame Pauline , Spriet Corentin , Pini Francesco , Bompard Coralie , Blossey Ralf , Valette Odile , Biondi Emanuele G.
Published: March 2020

In Caulobacter crescentus the combined action of chromosome replication and the expression of DNA methyl‐transferase CcrM at the end of S‐phase maintains a cyclic alternation between a full‐ to hemi‐methylated chromosome. This transition of the chromosomal methylation pattern affects the DNA‐binding properties of the transcription factor GcrA that controls the several key cell cycle functions. However, the molecular mechanism by which GcrA and methylation are linked to transcription is not fully elucidated yet. Using a combination of cell biology, genetics, and in vitro analysis, we deciphered how GcrA integrates the methylation pattern of several S‐phase expressed genes to their transcriptional output. We demonstrated in vitro that transcription of ctrA from the P1 promoter in its hemi‐methylated state is activated by GcrA, while in its fully methylated state GcrA had no effect. Further, GcrA and methylation together influence a peculiar distribution of creS transcripts, encoding for crescentin, the protein responsible for the characteristic shape of Caulobacter cells. This gene is duplicated at the onset of chromosome replication and the two hemi‐methylated copies are spatially segregated. Our results indicated that GcrA transcribed only the copy where coding strand is methylated. In vitro transcription assay further substantiated this finding. As several of the cell cycle‐regulated genes are also under the influence of methylation and GcrA‐dependent transcriptional regulation, this could be a mechanism responsible for maintaining the gene transcription dosage during the S‐phase.
A novel homozygous variant of RYR1 p.Ala3072Asp in a neonate with dusty core disease: A new entity with clinicopathological implications
Authors: Gaspar Balan L.
Published: March 2020

Dusty core disease (DuCD) is a recently described form of congenital myopathy with clinicopathological implications. The presence of “dusty core fibers” is the defining myopathological feature of DuCD. Most cases have a recessive inheritance and harbor RYR1 mutations. I hereby describe a novel homozygous variant of RYR1 p.Ala3072Asp clinicopathologically compatible with DuCD. To the best of my knowledge, this is the first documented case of DuCD from India.