bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Endoscopic ultrasound‐guided gallbladder drainage with a combined internal and external drainage tubes for acute cholecystitis
Authors: Matsubara Saburo , Isayama Hiroyuki , Nakai Yousuke , Kawakubo Kazumichi , Yamamoto Natsuyo , Saito Kei , Saito Tomotaka , Takahara Naminatsu , Mizuno Suguru , Kogure Hirofumi , Ishizawa Takeaki , Arita Junichi , Hasegawa Kiyoshi , Koike Kazuhiko
Published: April 2020

Background and Aim

Lumen‐apposing metal stent is widely used for endoscopic ultrasound‐guided gallbladder drainage (EUS‐GBD) nowadays but not approved in many countries and might be unsuitable for elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) because of its large enterocholecysto fistula. A combination of double pigtail plastic stent (DPPS) and naso‐cystic tube (NCT) could overcome these problems. The aim of this study was to estimate the efficacy and safety of this method in patients with acute cholecystitis unfit for urgent cholecystectomy both as bridge to surgery and palliation.

Methods

This was a prospective, single‐center feasibility study. EUS‐GBD was performed with a 7Fr DPPS followed by an NCT placement. NCT was removed after 1 week. LC was performed 2 or 3 months after EUS‐GBD in eligible patients. In patients who did not underwent cholecystectomy, DPPS was left in place.

Results

Twenty‐three patients were enrolled. Both technical and clinical success rates were 96% (22/23). Early adverse events rate was 13% (3/23), including one bile peritonitis, one intraperitoneal abscess, and one melena. LC was attempted in 12 patients, and conversion to open cholecystectomy was required in three (25%). Neither recurrence of cholecystitis nor late adverse event occurred during 6 months of follow up in 10 patients who did not undergo cholecystectomy.

Conclusion

EUS‐GBD with a combination of DPPS and NCT is considered an effective and safe technique both as bridge to surgery and palliation.
Biological clocks and incremental growth line formation in dentine
Authors: Papakyrikos Amanda M. , Arora Manish , Austin Christine , Boughner Julia C. , Capellini Terence D. , Dingwall Heather L. , Greba Quentin , Howland John G. , Kato Akiko , Wang Xiu‐Ping , Smith Tanya M.
Published: April 2020

Dentine‐ and enamel‐forming cells secrete matrix in consistent rhythmic phases, resulting in the formation of successive microscopic growth lines inside tooth crowns and roots. Experimental studies of various mammals have proven that these lines are laid down in subdaily, daily (circadian), and multidaily rhythms, but it is less clear how these rhythms are initiated and maintained. In 2001, researchers reported that lesioning the so‐called master biological clock, the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), halted daily line formation in rat dentine, whereas subdaily lines persisted. More recently, a key clock gene (Bmal1) expressed in the SCN in a circadian manner was also found to be active in dentine‐ and enamel‐ secretory cells. To probe these potential neurological and local mechanisms for the production of rhythmic lines in teeth, we reexamined the role of the SCN in growth line formation in Wistar rats and investigated the presence of daily lines in Bmal1 knockout mice (Bmal1−/−). In contrast to the results of the 2001 study, we found that both daily and subdaily growth lines persisted in rat dentine after complete or partial SCN lesion in the majority of individuals. In mice, after transfer into constant darkness, daily rhythms continued to manifest as incremental lines in the dentine of each Bmal1 genotype (wild‐type, Bmal+/–, and Bmal1−/−). These results affirm that the manifestation of biological rhythms in teeth is a robust phenomenon, imply a more autonomous role of local biological clocks in tooth growth than previously suggested, and underscore the need further to elucidate tissue‐specific circadian biology and its role in incremental line formation. Investigations of this nature will strengthen an invaluable system for determining growth rates and calendar ages from mammalian hard tissues, as well as documenting the early lives of fossil hominins and other primates.
Mean Reversion in Investment Decisions: The Case of Hollywood*
Authors: Lampe Ryan , Pancs Romans
Published: April 2020

One explanation for the comparatively lower quality of movie sequels is selection bias, known in personnel economics as the Peter principle. Only abnormally successful movies are selected for a sequel. Another explanation is a deterministic depreciation in quality due to the decline in the novelty of the sequel’s characters and storyline. Both explanations predict that, relative to the original, the sequel’s performance will revert towards the mean. We develop a structural model to decompose the two explanations, and estimate its parameters using detailed data on 306 franchise films and 2,823 non‐franchise films between 1995 and 2014. Parameter estimates provide evidence of selection bias for action & adventure and horror movies, and evidence of a deterministic decline in quality for comedies.
Assessment of postoperative adjuvant treatment using toceranib phosphate against adenocarcinoma in dogs
Authors: Yamazaki Hiroki , Tanaka Toshiyuki , Mie Keiichiro , Nishida Hidetaka , Miura Naoki , Akiyoshi Hideo
Published: April 2020

Background

Toceranib phosphate (TOC) could be made widely available for treating tumors in dogs if evidence shows that TOC inhibits recurrence after surgery.

Objectives

To investigate how postoperative adjuvant treatment with TOC modulates the tumor microenvironment (TME), by assessing effects on angiogenic activity, tumor‐infiltrating regulatory T cells (Tregs), and intratumoral hypoxia.

Animals

Ninety‐two client‐owned dogs were included: 28 with apocrine gland anal sac adenocarcinoma, 24 with small intestinal adenocarcinoma, 22 with lung adenocarcinoma, and 18 with renal cell carcinoma.

Methods

Retrospective, multicenter study comparing time to progression (TTP) between 42 dogs treated by surgery and TOC and 50 dogs treated by surgery alone. Differences were analyzed in the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor‐2 (VEGFR2) and the number of Foxp3+ Tregs and hypoxia‐inducible factor (HIF)‐1α+ cells in tumor tissues sampled at the first and second (recurrence) surgeries.

Results

Median TTP for dogs treated by surgery and TOC (360 days) was higher than that for dogs treated by surgery alone (298 days; hazard ratio, 0.82; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.65‐0.96; P = .02). In dogs treated by surgery and TOC, VEGFR2 expression and the number of Tregs and HIF‐1α+ cells were significantly lower in tissues sampled at the second surgery than in those sampled after the first surgery. In dogs treated by surgery alone, significant differences were found between samples from the 2 surgeries.

Conclusions and Clinical Importance

Toceranib phosphate could prove to be a useful postoperative adjuvant treatment because of its modulation of the TME.
Gene regulation underpinning increased thermal tolerance in a laboratory‐evolved coral photosymbiont
Authors: Chakravarti Leela J. , Buerger Patrick , Levin Rachel A. , van Oppen Madeleine J. H.
Published: April 2020

Small increases in ocean temperature can disrupt the obligate symbiosis between corals and dinoflagellate microalgae, resulting in coral bleaching. Little is known about the genes that drive the physiological and bleaching response of algal symbionts to elevated temperature. Moreover, many studies to‐date have compared highly divergent strains, making it challenging to accredit specific genes to contrasting traits. Here, we compare transcriptional responses at ambient (27°C) and bleaching‐relevant (31°C) temperatures in a monoclonal, wild‐type (WT) strain of Symbiodiniaceae to those of a selected‐strain (SS), derived from the same monoclonal culture and experimentally evolved to elevated temperature over 80 generations (2.5 years). Thousands of genes were differentially expressed at a log fold‐change of >8 between the WT and SS over a 35 days temperature treatment period. At 31°C, WT cells exhibited a temporally unstable transcriptomic response upregulating genes involved in the universal stress response such as molecular chaperoning, protein repair, protein degradation and DNA repair. Comparatively, SS cells exhibited a temporally stable transcriptomic response and downregulated many stress response genes that were upregulated by the WT. Among the most highly upregulated genes in the SS at 31°C were algal transcription factors and a gene probably of bacterial origin that encodes a type II secretion system protein, suggesting interactions with bacteria may contribute to the increased thermal tolerance of the SS. Genes and functional pathways conferring thermal tolerance in the SS could be targeted in future genetic engineering experiments designed to develop thermally resilient algal symbionts for use in coral restoration and conservation.
Patterns of density and structure of natural populations ofTaxus baccatain the Hyrcanian forests of Iran
Authors: Ahmadi Kourosh , Jalil Alavi Seyed , Zahedi Amiri Ghavamudin , Mohsen Hosseini Seyed , Serra‐Diaz Josep M. , Svenning Jens‐Christian
Published: April 2020

Iran's Hyrcanian forests cover a relatively narrow strip in the northeastern part of the country, and are among the most important and valuable ecosystems inscribed in United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage List. European yewTaxus baccataL. is a Tertiary relict in the region and a long‐lived dioecious tree with high ecological and economic importance in the Hyrcanian forests. To study the structure and analysing the survivorship of yew stands, we selected two forest reserves (Gazou and Afratakhteh) with European yew. In the two study areas, we established 165 0.1 ha circular sample plots (75 of the sample plots were in Gazou and 90 sample plots were in Afratakhteh) and measured three characteristics of each tree. The structure of the stands was quantified by means of 1) size distributions by diameter at breast height (DBH), 2) height classes, 3) and stand basal area. Comparison of the diameter distribution by DBH classes in two the forest reserves showed that there was no statistical difference between the two populations. The highest number of yew trees in the Afratakhteh and Gazou populations were in the 12–16 and 18–24 m height classes, respectively. In Gazou, abundance was greatest at 1000 m a.s.l. on mesic exposures and intermediate slopes (40–50%), whereas in Afratakhteh it was found at 1600–1620 m a.s.l. on east‐facing areas with 55–65% slopes. Static life tables indicated that the first two age classes have particularily high mortality. Based on these results, we conclude that forest managers should support the regeneration of stands and increase survival rates by applying treatments such as thinning and selective removal of shrubs and saplings of other tree species.
Carboniferous plant physiology breaks the mold
Authors: Wilson Jonathan P. , White Joseph D. , Montañez Isabel P. , DiMichele William A. , McElwain Jennifer C. , Poulsen Christopher J. , Hren Michael T.
Published: April 2020

How plants have shaped Earth surface feedbacks over geologic time is a key question in botanical and geological inquiry. Recent work has suggested that biomes during the Carboniferous Period contained plants with extraordinary physiological capacity to shape their environment, contradicting the previously dominant view that plants only began to actively moderate the Earth's surface with the rise of angiosperms during the Mesozoic Era. A recently published Viewpoint disputes this recent work, thus here, we document in detail, the mechanistic underpinnings of our modeling and illustrate the extraordinary ecophysiological nature of Carboniferous plants.
Salicylate sensitizes oral squamous cell carcinoma to chemotherapy through targeting mTOR pathway
Authors: Zhang Xu , Wang Fei , Zeng Yu , Zhu Xuyou , Peng Lin , Zhang Long , Gu Jun , Han Hongxiu , Yi Xianghua , Shi Juanhong
Published: April 2020

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is an extremely aggressive neoplasm, which is usually diagnosed in the advanced stage of the disease. Extensive studies have shown a link between chronic inflammation and various types of cancer, including OSCC. Salicylate is a biotransformation product of aspirin, with similar anti‐inflammatory ability to aspirin but lacks aspirin's inhibitory effect on the isolated cyclooxygenase activity. Our study indicates that salicylate sensitizes OSCC to anti‐cancer drugs, but the mechanisms of its action are unclear. Here, OSCC cells were used to evaluate the cytotoxicity of salicylate alone or in combination with cisplatin (CDDP). RPPA proteomic array and Western blotting were employed to determine the signaling pathways affected by salicylate. Salicylate decreased cell survival rate and induced cell apoptosis in OSCC cells but not human normal oral mucosal epithelial cells (hTERT‐OME). The use of sodium salicylate (SS) dramatically sensitized OSCC cells to CDDP. RPPA array showed that SS reduced many oncogenes such as PI3K/mTOR signaling and cancer stem cell (CSC)‐related genes versus control. Western and transcriptional analyses substantiated that salicylate down‐regulated these CSC‐associated genes and the mTOR pathway dose dependently. Salicylate preferentially repressed the ability of sorted ALDH1+ cells to form tumor spheres. Finally, salicylate suppressed tumor growth in vivo, and the combination of salicylate and CDDP further synergistically reduced the growth of tumors. Salicylate hinders OSCC cell growth and sensitizes OSCC cells to CDDP through targeting CSCs and the mTOR signaling pathway. We propose that salicylate is beneficial for OSCC patients, and salicylate may be combined with chemotherapies to effectively treat OSCC patients.
Efficacy of aromatherapy on dental anxiety: A systematic review of randomised and quasi‐randomised controlled trials
Authors: Cai He , Xi Pengjun , Zhong Linna , Chen Junyu , Liang Xing
Published: April 2020

Objectives

To evaluate the efficacy of aromatherapy on dental anxiety.

Methods

A detailed protocol was registered a priori (PROSPERO: CRD42019141093). PubMed, EMBASE, CDSR, CENTRAL, CNKI and grey literature databases were searched from inception to 10 January 2020. Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and quasi‐randomised controlled trials (CCTs) that examined the effects of aromatherapy on dental anxiety, compare to either negative control (i.e. no aromatherapy) or other positive control approaches (e.g. music), were included. The risk of bias of the selected studies was evaluated using the Cochrane Collaboration's tool and ROBINS‐I, while the certainty of evidence was assessed using GRADE. A narrative synthesis was performed, rather than meta‐analysis, due to the high level of heterogeneity across studies.

Results

Eleven RCTs and six CCTs were included. The risk of bias was identified as either high or unclear in RCTs, and moderate to serious in CCTs. Performance bias and detection bias were the most prevalent in RCTs, followed by selection bias and reporting bias. As to CCTs, greater risk of bias was found in the selection of participants into the study and in the measurement of outcomes. Based on the selected studies, the most commonly used aromatherapy for dental anxiety management was lavender fragrance, followed by orange. Compared to the negative control condition, aromatherapy might reduce the anxiety‐related physiological parameters and psychometric rating, pain, and mood, alertness, and calmness compared to the negative control condition; and there might be no intergroup difference in such outcomes between aromatherapy and music. However, GRADEs of the relevant evidence were judged as low to very low.

Conclusions

Compared to the negative control condition, aromatherapy is more effective to reduce dental anxiety and has comparable effects on dental anxiety compared to music intervention; however, the certainty of evidence is relatively limited. Further high‐quality randomised trials with robust study design and large sample size are warranted to confirm our findings and to confirm the role of aromatherapy in relieving dental anxiety.
Diagnosis and management of subcutaneous implantable cardioverter‐defibrillator infections based on process mapping
Authors: Baddour Larry M. , Weiss Raul , Mark George E. , El‐Chami Mikhael F. , Biffi Mauro , Probst Vincent , Lambiase Pier D. , Miller Marc A. , McClernon Timothy , Hansen Linda K. , Knight Bradley P.
Published: April 2020

Background

Infection is a well‐recognized complication of cardiovascular implantable electronic device (CIED) implantation, including the more recently available subcutaneous implantable cardioverter‐defibrillator (S‐ICD). Although the AHA/ACC/HRS guidelines include recommendations for S‐ICD use, currently there are no clinical trial data that address the diagnosis and management of S‐ICD infections. Therefore, an expert panel was convened to develop consensus on these topics.

Methods

A process mapping methodology was used to achieve a primary goal – the development of consensus on the diagnosis and management of S‐ICD infections. Two face‐to‐face meetings of panel experts were conducted to recommend useful information to clinicians in individual patient management of S‐ICD infections.

Results

Panel consensus of a stepwise approach in the diagnosis and management was developed to provide guidance in individual patient management.

Conclusion

Achieving expert panel consensus by process mapping methodology in S‐ICD infection diagnosis and management was attainable, and the results should be helpful in individual patient management.
The extent of cranio‐caudal spread within the erector spinae fascial plane space using computed tomography scanning in a neonatal cadaver
Authors: Govender Sabashnee , Mohr Dwayne , Van Schoor Albert Neels , Bosenberg Adrian
Published: April 2020

Background

The erector spinae plane block (ESP) is a novel approach for blockade of the spinal nerves in infants, children, and adults. Until recently, the gold standard for truncal procedures includes the paravertebral and epidural blocks. However, the exact mechanism by which this blockade is achieved is subject to debate.

Methods

2.3 mL (1 mL/kg) of iodinated contrast dye was injected bilaterally into the erector spinae fascial plane of a fresh unembalmed preterm neonatal cadaver (weighing 2.3 kg), to replicate the erector spinae plane block and to track the cranio‐caudal spread of the contrast dye using computed tomography. The “block” was performed at vertebral level T8 on the right‐hand side and at vertebral level T10 on the left‐hand side.

Results

Contrast dye was spread over three dermatomal levels from T6 to T9 on the right‐hand side, while on the left‐hand side, the spread was seen over four dermatomal levels from T9 to T11/12. Contrast dye also spread over the costotransverse ligament, into the paravertebral space and further lateral from the lateral border of the erector spinae muscle into the intercostal space. However, no spread was seen in the epidural space.

Conclusion

The erector spinae plane block is a versatile technique that can be part of the multimodal postoperative analgesic strategy for truncal surgery. In this study, contrast material dye was tracked over four vertebral levels in the paravertebral space (suggesting an approximate volume of 0.5‐0.6 mL per dermatome).
Perioperative care for internationally adopted children: Medical, surgical, and psychosocial considerations for a population of concern
Authors: Knipper Emily , Davies Julian , Smith Caitlin , Earley Timothy
Published: April 2020

The overall number of international adoptions has dropped in the last 20 years, but a relative increase in the proportion of these children with special and surgical needs has occurred. Cleft lip/palate and anorectal malformations are two common surgical pathologies for internationally adopted children. Internationally adopted children with cleft lip/palate have high rates of speech impairment and frequent need for reoperation, and children with anorectal malformation commonly need multiple reoperations. For both groups, surgery prior to adoption may have actually contributed to morbidity. Both speech impairment and anorectal malformation negatively affect quality of life, independent of adoption. Additionally, internationally adopted children frequently have experienced trauma, single or complex, and institutionalization. Each of these can independently contribute to impaired psychosocial and behavioral development. These children face surgery, sometimes multiple surgeries, while adapting to a new culture, learning a new language, and bonding with a new family. The impact of prior medical experiences without the presence of a caregiver and/or while institutionalized is understudied. The surgical experience and perioperative outcomes within this population warrant research, and clinical coordination between teams may help improve care for this uniquely vulnerable population.
Gamification improves melanoma visual identification among high school students: Results from a randomized study
Authors: Jia Justin L. , Shen Andrew , Tabata Mika M. , Sarin Kavita Y.
Published: April 2020

Identification of melanoma or worrisome moles is often taught as an important part of routine skin checks. We sought to evaluate the efficacy of gamified education vs. traditional ABCDEs education on melanoma identification and self‐confidence in identifying worrisome moles. We report that in our cohort (n = 271), participants randomized to the gamified intervention were more likely to correctly identify melanoma and non‐melanoma skin lesions than those randomized to the ABCDE control cohort (74.2% vs 63.5% correct, P < .0001) and perceived confidence in self‐identifying worrisome lesions was slightly higher in the gamified group than the traditional group, though the trend was not significant. These novel findings have significant implications on improved ways to educate young patients on the visual identification of melanoma and worrisome moles.
Core Allocations for Cooperation Problems in Vaccination
Authors: Westerink‐Duijzer Lotty E. , Schlicher Loe P. J. , Musegaas Marieke
Published: April 2020

Vaccination is a very effective measure to fight an outbreak of an infectious disease, but it often suffers from delayed deliveries and limited stockpiles. To use these limited doses of vaccine effectively, health agencies can decide to cooperate and share their doses. In this study, we analyze this type of cooperation. Typically cooperation leads to an increased total return, but cooperation is only plausible when this total return can be distributed in a stable way. This makes cooperation a delicate matter. Using cooperative game theory, we derive theoretical sufficient conditions under which cooperation is plausible (i.e., the core is non‐empty) and we show that the doses of vaccine can be traded for a market price in those cases. We perform numerical analyses to generalize these findings and we derive analytical expressions for market prices that can be used in general for distributing the total return. Our results demonstrate that cooperation is most likely to be plausible in case of severe shortages and in case of sufficient supply, with possible mismatches between supply and demand. In those cases, trading doses of vaccine for a market price often results in a core allocation of the total return. We confirm these findings with a case study on the redistribution of influenza vaccines.
Development of elementary teachers' science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics planning practices
Authors: Cook Kristin , Bush Sarah , Cox Richard , Edelen Dan
Published: April 2020

The purpose of this instrumental case study was to understand elementary teachers' planning of Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) curriculum during a two‐year professional development experience. This research was guided by the following question: What planning practices developed or changed during a professional development experience? Analysis of 25 teachers' planning documents indicated growth in the following areas: (a) tighter alignment to fewer standards, (b) more meaningful integration and broader definitions of arts and technology, and (c) increased use of formative assessment but persistent difficulties in summatively assessing the multiple disciplines of STEAM. The growth in teachers' STEAM instruction from the beginning to the end of this two‐year professional development was important in building our understanding of what constitutes sound design of STEAM inquiries.
An Analysis of the Current Situation of the Employed Youth in China on Wealth Concept and Its Influencing Factors —Based on a Nationwide Survey of 439 Young Employees
Authors: Xian Xiaohong , Feng Qingxiang
Published: April 2020

This research conducted a sample survey of 439 young employees in different industries and fields in 7 provinces and municipalities in North China, Central China, East China, South China, Northeast China, Northwest China, and Southwest China. Through data analysis, it found that the mainstream of the employed youth held a positive concept of wealth, while a few of them had issues such as money worship, hedonism, and hatred or envy towards the rich. There are significant differences in wealth cognition, wealth creation, wealth consumption, and wealth distribution among young employees of different genders, regions and units as well as with different numbers of children. And the main influencing factors of their wealth concept appear to be the complex social environment, the differences in personal cognition and thinking modes, the absence of wealth education, and the impact of internet culture.
Nutraceutical and pharmaceutical cocktails did not preserve diaphragm muscle function or reduce muscle damage in D2‐mdx mice
Authors: Spaulding H. R. , Quindry T. , Quindry J. C. , Selsby J. T.
Published: April 2020

New Findings

What is the central question of this study?

We previously demonstrated that quercetin transiently preserved respiratory function in dystrophin‐deficient mice. To gain lasting therapeutic benefits, we tested quercetin in combination with nicotinamide riboside, lisinopril and prednisolone in the D2‐mdx model.

What is the main finding and its importance?

We demonstrated that these quercetin‐based cocktails did not preserve respiratory or diaphragmatic function or reduce histological damage after 7 months of treatment starting at 4 months of age.

Duchenne muscular dystrophy is characterized by the absence of dystrophin protein and causes muscle weakness and muscle injury, culminating in respiratory failure and cardiomyopathy. Quercetin transiently improved respiratory function but failed to maintain long‐term therapeutic benefits in mdx mice. In this study, we combined quercetin with nicotinamide riboside (NR), lisinopril and prednisolone to assess the efficacy of quercetin‐based cocktails. We hypothesized that quercetin, NR and lisinopril independently would improve respiratory function and decrease diaphragmatic injury and when combined would have additive effects. To address this hypothesis, in vivo respiratory function, in vitro diaphragmatic function and histological injury were assessed in DBA (healthy), D2‐mdx (dystrophic) and D2‐mdx mice treated with combinations of quercetin, NR and lisinopril from 4 to 11 months of age. Respiratory function, assessed using whole‐body plethysmography, was largely similar between healthy and dystrophin‐deficient mice. Diaphragm specific tension was decreased by ∼50% in dystrophic mice compared with healthy mice (P < 0.05), but fatigue resistance was similar between groups. Contractile area was decreased by ∼10% (P < 0.05) and fibrotic area increased from 3.5% in healthy diaphragms to 27% (P < 0.05) in dystrophic diaphragms. Contrary to expectations, these functional and histological parameters of disease were not offset by any intervention. These data suggest that quercetin, NR and lisinopril, independently and in combination, did not prevent diaphragmatic injury or preserve respiratory function.
Induction of plasticity in the human motor system by motor imagery and transcranial magnetic stimulation
Authors: Foysal K. M. Riashad , Baker Stuart N.
Published: April 2020

Key points

Delivering transcranial magnetic brain stimulation over the motor cortex during motor imagination leads to enhanced motor output, which is selective for the muscles primarily involved in the imagined movement.

This novel protocol may be useful to enhance function after damage to the motor system, such as after stroke.

Several paired stimulation paradigms are known to induce plasticity in the motor cortex, reflected by changes in the motor evoked potential (MEP) following the paired stimulation. Motor imagery (MI) is capable of activating the motor system and affecting cortical excitability. We hypothesized that it might be possible to use MI in conjunction with transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) to induce plasticity in the human motor system. TMS was delivered to the motor cortex of healthy human subjects, and baseline MEPs recorded from forearm flexor, forearm extensor and intrinsic hand muscles. Subjects were then asked to imagine either wrist flexion or extension movements during TMS delivery (n = 90 trials). Immediately after this intervention, MEP measurement was repeated. Control protocols tested the impact of imagination or TMS alone. Flexion imagination with TMS increased MEPs in flexors and an intrinsic hand muscle. Extensor imagination with TMS increased MEPs in extensor muscles only. The control paradigms did not produce significant changes. We conclude that delivering TMS during MI is capable of inducing plastic changes in the motor system. This new protocol may find utility to enhance functional rehabilitation after brain injury.
Development of Advanced Hybrid Polymer Melt Delivery Systems for Efficient High Precision Injection Molding
Authors: Thakur Chandresh , Alqosaibi Khalid , Kundu Animesh , Coulter John P.
Published: April 2020

A novel melt manipulation “RheoDrop” concept for hot runner injection molding is presented. In this concept, a controlled rotational shear is applied to a polymer melt in the hot drop to reduce its viscosity without raising the temperature. This is achieved by providing a transient rotational motion to the valve pin in the hot drop. This strategy is developed to mitigate issues associated with cold slug formation during injection molding in hot runner systems. The cold slug formation is particularly relevant for injection molding of engineering plastics such as liquid crystal polymers (LCPs) for medical and electronic applications. Analytical and experimental investigations were performed to validate the concept. The efficacy of the concept is assessed analytically utilizing a combination of two software modules, autodesk, moldflow and ansys fluent. The results confirmed that the concept was able to produce enough shear to reduce the dynamic viscosity between injection molding cycles. A prototype RheoDrop system was designed and developed and retrofitted in a four drop hot runner system mold to experimentally validate the concept. Preliminary experiments were performed utilizing acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, and parts were successfully fabricated at temperatures that are too low for traditional molding in a hot runner system.
A Mechanically Intelligent Crawling Robot Driven by Shape Memory Alloy and Compliant Bistable Mechanism
Authors: Meng Lingda , Kang Rongjie , Gan Dongming , Chen Guimin , Chen Lisha , Branson David T. , Dai Jian S.
Published: April 2020

Mechanical components in a robotic system were used to provide body structure and mechanism to achieve physical motions following the commands from electronic controller. This kind of robotic system utilizes complex hardware and firmware for sensing and planning. To reduce computational cost and increase reliability for a robotic system, employing mechanical components to fully or partially take over control tasks is a promising way, which is also referred to as “mechanical intelligence” (MI). This paper proposes a shape memory alloy driven robot capable of using a reciprocating motion to crawl over a surface without any use of electronic controller. A mechanical logic switch is designed to determine the activation timing for a pair of antagonistic shape memory alloy (SMA) actuators. Meanwhile, a compliant pre-strain bistable mechanism is introduced to cooperate with the SMA actuators achieving reliable reciprocating motion between the two stable positions. The SMA actuator is modeled base on a static two-state theory while the bistable mechanism is described by combining a pseudo-rigid-body model (PRBM) with a Bi-beam constraint model (Bi-BCM). Following this, the design parameters of the bistable mechanism and SMA actuators are determined according to theoretical simulations. Finally, a robotic prototype is fabricated using anisotropic friction on its feet to convert the reciprocating motion of the actuator to uni-directional locomotion of the robot body over a surface. Experiments are carried out to validate the presented design concept and the modeling methods.
A Monolithic Compliant Continuum Manipulator: A Proof-of-Concept Study
Authors: Thomas Theodosia Lourdes , Venkiteswaran Venkatasubramanian Kalpathy , Ananthasuresh G. K. , Misra Sarthak
Published: April 2020

Continuum robots have the potential to form an effective interface between the patient and surgeon in minimally invasive procedures. Magnetic actuation has the potential for accurate catheter steering, reducing tissue trauma and decreasing radiation exposure. In this paper, a new design of a monolithic metallic compliant continuum manipulator is presented, with flexures for precise motion. Contactless actuation is achieved using time-varying magnetic fields generated by an array of electromagnetic coils. The motion of the manipulator under magnetic actuation for planar deflection is studied. The mean errors of the theoretical model compared to experiments over three designs are found to be 1.9 mm and 5.1 deg in estimating the in-plane position and orientation of the tip of the manipulator, respectively, and 1.2 mm for the whole shape of the manipulator. Maneuverability of the manipulator is demonstrated by steering it along a path of known curvature and also through a gelatin phantom, which is visualized in real time using ultrasound imaging, substantiating its application as a steerable surgical manipulator.
Overlooked Role of Technology in the Sustainability Movement: A Pedagogical Framework for Engineering Education and Research
Authors: Reddy Agami , Allenby Braden
Published: April 2020

The term “sustainability” has acquired an all-encompassing ambiguous aura, given that it touches on all facets of human endeavor. This paper, meant to provide a pedagogical framework for engineering education, starts by pointing out that since technology is an important and fundamental driver of current human development and inextricably interwoven into the societal fabric, the discourse on sustainability and sustainable development should evolve beyond its environmental and social origins. One should explicitly recognize the importance of technology in profundly shaping the discourse and not simply view it as an enabler of meeting preset equipment and system performance targets. In order to fragment the monolithic implied by the term “sustainability,” a categorization is then suggested ranging from individual products to wicked/complex adaptive systems as a fundamental level of separation. Subsequently, it is argued that the objective analysis of the multidimensional-spatial-temporal nature of sustainability, meant for the assessment of actionable design alternatives and for tracking the status of implemented measures, requires the definition of a small set of quantifiable umbrella capabilities and sub-attributes. The need to identify direct or surrogate parameters/variables and performance measures/metrics which characterize these sub-attributes is then discussed and mapped onto the application categories. Weighting and aggregating these sub-attributes to quantify the umbrella attributes necessarily introduce normative/aspirational preferences/biases of the various stakeholders, and this issue is also discussed. Finally, the two prevalent sustainability assessment frameworks, namely, the structure-based and the performance-based, are reviewed in terms of strengths and weaknesses and illustrative publications cited, and it is urged that more research be undertaken to synthesize these somewhat disparate approaches in dealing with natural, social, economic, political, and technological systems and organizations.
Resilience of Complex Adaptive Systems: A Pedagogical Framework for Engineering Education and Research
Authors: Reddy T. Agami
Published: April 2020

The discourse on resilience, currently at the forefront of research and implementation in a wide variety of fields, is confusing because of its multi-disciplinary/spatial/temporal nature. Resilience analysis is a discipline that allows the assessment and enhancement of the coping and recovery behaviors of systems when subjected to short-lived high-impact external shocks leading to partial or complete failure. This paper, meant for pedagogical teaching and research formulation, starts by providing an overview of different aspects of resilience in general and then focuses on communities and regions that are complex adaptive systems (CAS) involving multiple engineered infrastructures providing essential services to local inhabitants and adapted to available natural resources and social requirements. Next, for objective analysis and assessment, it is proposed that resilience be characterized by four different quantifiable sub-attributes. This paper then describes the standard technocentric manner in which different temporal phases during and in the aftermath of disasters are generally visualized and analyzed, and discusses how these relate to reliability and risk analyses. Subsequently, two prevalent types of frameworks are described and representative literature reviewed: (i) those that aim at improving general resilience via soft methods such as subjective means (interviews, narratives) and census data, and (ii) those that are meant to enhance specific resilience under certain threat scenarios using hard/objective methods such as data-driven analysis and performance-predictive modeling methods, akin to resource allocation problems in operations research. Finally, the need for research into an integrated framework is urged; one that could potentially combine the strengths of both approaches.
Effect of Surface Inclination on Filmwise Condensation Heat Transfer During Flow of Steam–Air Mixtures
Authors: Bhanawat Abhinav , Yadav Mahesh Kumar , Punetha Maneesh , Khandekar Sameer , Sharma Pavan K.
Published: April 2020

Empirical/semi-empirical correlations are available in the literature to quantify the effect of several major parameters, like bulk pressure, non-condensable gas mass fraction, and wall subcooling, on condensation heat transfer coefficient (HTC). However, despite numerous applications of condensation on inclined flat plates, there is a lack of understanding of the effect of surface inclination on condensation heat transfer. Accordingly, a dedicated experimental program was undertaken to investigate the effect of surface inclination angle on filmwise steam condensation. Experiments were performed at different bulk pressures (1.7–4.2 bar absolute) and steam-air mass fractions (ranging from pure steam, i.e., 0% to 40% w/w air), with the steam-air mixture flowing over a flat test plate (Re range, 4200–4800). In each run, the inclination angle of the test surface was varied from −90 deg (condensation underneath the horizontal surface, facing downward) to +90 deg (condensation over the horizontal surface, facing upward) in increments of 15–20 deg (inclination angle θ measured from vertical). The results reveal an intriguing trend: for pure steam condensation, the HTCs decrease as the plate is inclined in either direction from the vertical, and the variation is nearly symmetric for both upward- and downward-facing configurations. On the other hand, for steam condensation in the presence of air, the HTCs decrease monotonically for upward-facing configurations, while they increase slightly (10–20%), and decrease subsequently (for θ < −70 deg) for downward-facing cases. Finally, the HTCs for inclined orientations are compared with the HTC in the standard vertical configuration to quantify the effect of inclination angle.
A tripartite ssDNA mycovirus from a plant pathogenic fungus is infectious as cloned DNA and purified virions
Authors: Li Pengfei , Wang Shuangchao , Zhang Lihang , Qiu Dewen , Zhou Xueping , Guo Lihua
Published: April 2020

A multipartite DNA virus was isolated from a plant pathogenic fungus, which is infectious as cloned DNA and purified virions.
Development of a neural interface for high-definition, long-term recording in rodents and nonhuman primates
Authors: Chiang Chia-Han , Won Sang Min , Orsborn Amy L. , Yu Ki Jun , Trumpis Michael , Bent Brinnae , Wang Charles , Xue Yeguang , Min Seunghwan , Woods Virginia , Yu Chunxiu , Kim Bong Hoon , Kim Sung Bong , Huq Rizwan , Li Jinghua , Seo Kyung Jin , Vitale Flavia , Richardson Andrew , Fang Hui , Huang Yonggang , Shepard Kenneth , Pesaran Bijan , Rogers John A. , Viventi Jonathan
Published: April 2020

A scalable neural interface technology projected to last at least 6 years in the body samples over a thousand brain sites using flexible electronics.
The mitochondrial peptidase, neurolysin, regulates respiratory chain supercomplex formation and is necessary for AML viability
Authors: Mirali Sara , Botham Aaron , Voisin Veronique , Xu Changjiang , St-Germain Jonathan , Sharon David , Hoff Fieke W. , Qiu Yihua , Hurren Rose , Gronda Marcela , Jitkova Yulia , Nachmias Boaz , MacLean Neil , Wang Xiaoming , Arruda Andrea , Minden Mark D. , Horton Terzah M. , Kornblau Steven M. , Chan Steven M. , Bader Gary D. , Raught Brian , Schimmer Aaron D.
Published: April 2020

Targeting mitochondrial supercomplex assembly impairs metabolism and selectively targets leukemic cells.
Nanoreactors get tumor cells hot (but not bothered)
Authors: Baca Justin T.
Published: April 2020

A near-infrared light-responsive nanoreactor enables heat ablation of tumors while preventing the inflammatory response to this approach.
A Novel Deletion Mutation in
pmrB
Contributes to Concurrent Colistin Resistance in Carbapenem-Resistant Escherichia coli Sequence Type 405 of Clinical Origin
Authors: Wang Ching-Hsun , Siu L. Kristopher , Chang Feng-Yee , Tsai Yu-Kuo , Lin Yi-Tsung , Chiu Sheng-Kang , Huang Li-Yueh , Lin Jung-Chung
Published: April 2020

We report the first clinical
Escherichia coli
strain EC3000 with concomitant chromosomal colistin and carbapenem resistance. A novel in-frame deletion, Δ6-11 (RPISLR), in
pmrB
that contributes to colistin resistance was verified using recombinant DNA techniques. Although being less fit than the wild-type (WT) strain or EC3000 revertant (chromosomal replacement of WT
pmrB
in EC3000), a portion of serially passaged EC3000 strains preserving colistin resistance without selective pressure raises the concern for further spread.
Vibrio cholerae OmpR Contributes to Virulence Repression and Fitness at Alkaline pH
Authors: Kunkle D. E. , Bina X. R. , Bina J. E.
Published: April 2020

Vibrio cholerae
is a Gram-negative human pathogen and the causative agent of the life-threatening disease cholera.
V. cholerae
is a natural inhabitant of marine environments and enters humans through the consumption of contaminated food or water. The ability to transition between aquatic ecosystems and the human host is paramount to the pathogenic success of
V. cholerae
. The transition between these two disparate environments requires the expression of adaptive responses, and such responses are most often regulated by two-component regulatory systems such as the EnvZ/OmpR system, which responds to osmolarity and acidic pH in many Gram-negative bacteria.
Group B Streptococcal Surface Proteins as Targets for Protective Antibodies: Identification of Two Novel Proteins in Strains of Serotype V
Authors: Areschoug Thomas , Stålhammar-Carlemalm Margaretha , Larsson Charlotte , Lindahl Gunnar
Published: April 2020

Strains of group B streptococcus (GBS) express surface proteins that confer protective immunity. In particular, most strains of the four classical capsular serotypes (Ia, Ib, II, and III) express either of the Rib and α proteins, two members of the same protein family. Here, we report a study of surface proteins expressed by strains of serotype V, which has recently emerged as an important serotype among GBS strains causing serious disease. Two novel GBS proteins were identified, purified, and characterized. One of these proteins, designated Fbs, was immunologically unrelated to other GBS surface proteins. This ∼110-kDa protein was found in 15 of 49 (31%) type V isolates but in few strains of other serotypes. The Fbs proteins expressed by different strains showed limited variation in size. The most common surface protein among type V strains, found in 29 of 49 (59%) isolates, was designated Rib-like, since it cross-reacted with Rib but was not immunologically identical to Rib. Characterization of this Rib-like protein showed that the N-terminal sequence (12 residues) was identical to that of α, although these two proteins lacked cross-reactivity. The biochemical and immunological properties of the Rib-like GBS protein indicate that it is closely related to the R28 protein ofStreptococcus pyogenes. Importantly, passive and active immunization experiments with mice showed that the Fbs and Rib-like proteins are targets for protective antibodies. These two proteins are therefore of interest for analysis of pathogenic mechanisms and for vaccine development.
Streptococcal Histone Induces Murine Macrophages To Produce Interleukin-1 and Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha
Authors: Zhang Liping , Ignatowski Tracey A. , Spengler Robert N. , Noble Bernice , Stinson Murray W.
Published: April 2020

The histone-like protein (HlpA) is highly conserved among streptococci. After lysis of streptococci in infected tissues, HlpA can enter the bloodstream and bind to proteoglycans in the glomerular capillaries of kidneys, where it can react with antibodies or stimulate host cell receptors. Deposits of streptococcal antigens in tissues have been associated with localized acute inflammation. In this study, we measured the ability of purified HlpA (5 to 100 μg/ml), fromStreptococcus mitis, to induce the production of proinflammatory cytokines by cultured, murine peritoneal macrophages. The release of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-1 (IL-1) was time and concentration dependent and was not diminished by the presence of polymyxin B. Exposure of macrophages to a mixture of HlpA and lipoteichoic acid resulted in a synergistic response in the production of both TNF-α and IL-1. Stimulation with a mixture of HlpA and heparin resulted in reduced cytokine production (50% less IL-1 and 76% less TNF-α) compared to that by cells incubated with HlpA alone. The inclusion of antibodies specific to HlpA in macrophage cultures during stimulation with HlpA did not affect the quantity of TNF-α or IL-1 produced. These observations suggest that streptococcal histone may contribute to tissue injury at infection sites by promoting monocytes/macrophages to synthesize and release cytokines that initiate and exacerbate inflammation.Streptococcus pyogenes, which can infect tissues in enormous numbers, may release sufficient amounts of HlpA to reach the kidneys and cause acute poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis.