bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Proteomic characterization of arsenic and cadmium exposure in bladder cells
Authors: Chen Yi‐Ting , Ou Yang Wei‐Ting , Juang Horng‐Heng , Chen Chien‐Lun , Chen Hsiao‐Wei , Tsui Ke‐Hung , Chang Ying‐Hsu , Tsai Cheng‐Han , Hsueh Chuen , Liao Wei‐Chao
Published: September 2019

Rationale

Accumulating evidence has linked prolonged exposure to heavy metals to cancer occurrence in the urinary system. However, the specific biological mechanisms responsible for the association of heavy metals with the unusually high incidence of upper tract urothelial carcinoma in Taiwan are complex and incompletely understood.

Methods

To elucidate the specific biological mechanism and identify molecular indicators of the unusually high association of upper tract urothelial carcinoma with heavy metal exposure, protein expression following the treatment of T24 human bladder carcinoma and RT4 human bladder papilloma cell line models with arsenic (As) and cadmium (Cd) was studied. Proteomic changes in these cell models were integrated with data from a human bladder cancer (BLCA) tissue proteome to identify possible protein indicators of heavy metal exposure.

Results

After mass spectrometry based proteomic analysis and verification by Western blotting procedures, we identified 66 proteins that were up‐regulated and 92 proteins that were down‐regulated in RT4 cell extracts after treatment with As or Cd. Some 52 proteins were up‐regulated and 136 proteins were down‐regulated in T24 cell extracts after treatment with Cd. We further confirmed that down‐expression of the PML (promyelocytic leukemia) protein was sustained for at least 75 days after exposure of bladder cells to As. Dysregulation of these cellular proteins by As was associated with three biological pathways. Immunohistochemical analyses of paraffin‐embedded BLCA tissue slides confirmed that PML protein expression was decreased in BLCA tumor cells compared with adjacent noncancerous epithelial cells.

Conclusions

These data suggest that PML may play an important role in the pathogenesis of BLCA and may be an indicator of heavy metal exposure in bladder cells.
Context and Implications Document for: A systematic review of the evidence base for professional learning in early years education (The PLEYE Review)
Authors: Rogers Sue , Brown Chris , Poblete Ximena
Published: September 2019

This guide accompanies the following article: Rogers, S., Brown, C., & Poblete, X. (2019)A systematic review of the evidence base for professional learning in early years education (The PLEYE Review), Review of Education, https://doi.org/10.1002/rev3.3178.
Context and Implications Document for: Re‐envisioning the purpose of early warning systems: Shifting the mindset from student identification to meaningful prediction and intervention
Authors: McMahon Brian M. , Sembiante Sabrina F.
Published: September 2019

This guide accompanies the following article: McMahon, B. M. & Sembiante, S. F. (2019) Context and Implications Document for: Re‐envisioning the purpose of early warning systems: Shifting the mindset from student identification to meaningful prediction and intervention, Review of Education, https://doi.org/10.1002/rev3.3183.
Remittances, Output, and Exchange Rate Regimes: Theory with an Application to Latin America
Authors: Jansen Dennis W. , Vacaflores Diego E.
Published: September 2019

Immigrant remittances have a broad effect on the receiving economies. We show this impact on the main macroeconomic aggregates is dependent on the policy arrangements in place that manage capital flows. We look at remittance inflows in a small open economy to examine their influence on output under alternative exchange rate regimes. Using a simple stochastic limited participation model, we are able to reproduce dynamics consistent with the empirical literature. We find that the dynamics of labor, inflation, and output are dependent on the parameterization of the utility function and on the monetary rule governing the evolution of the interest rate and in particular with respect to the response of interest rates to exchange rate movements. We find that the initial drop of output resulting from a remittances shock is similar under alternative exchange rate regimes, but the subsequent recovery of output is faster and stronger under more flexible exchange rate regimes. We provide suggestive empirical evidence from a panel Vector Autoregression specification for 17 Latin American countries that corroborates our results.
Taming the Combinatorial Explosion of the Formose Reaction via Recursion within Mineral Environments
Authors: Colón‐Santos Stephanie , Cooper Geoffrey J. T. , Cronin Leroy
Published: September 2019

The front cover artwork is provided by Naomi B. Johnson, University of Glasgow (UK). The image shows the complexity of the combinatorial explosion in the formose reaction and formamide condensation, becoming refined into distinct products through cycles and the influence of minerals. Read the full text of the Communication at 10.1002/syst.201900014.
Mobilizing a Culture Shift on Campus: Underrepresented Students as Educational Developers
Authors: Cook‐Sather Alison , Krishna Prasad Srikripa , Marquis Elizabeth , Ntem Anita
Published: September 2019

This chapter describes the transformative potential of positioning students from underrepresented groups as educational developers.
Degrees of Marginalization: “Adjuncts” and Educational Development
Authors: Magruder Emily Daniell
Published: September 2019

This essay explores the influence of adjunct identity on the work of an educational developer. Educational developers, who can share an experience of marginalization, have important roles to play involving the new majority faculty as stakeholders and knowledge‐bearers.
The Impact of Social Capital on Educational Developers
Authors: Ingram Ella L.
Published: September 2019

This chapter explores how knowledge, resources, and relationships, otherwise known as “social capital,” influence the work of educational developers.
The Politically Engaged Educational Developer as the “Organic Intellectual”
Authors: Murphy Michael K.
Published: September 2019

This chapter uses the figure of the “organic intellectual” to provide a model for political speech and action by educational developers.
Protective effects of trehalose against Mn‐induced α‐synuclein oligomerization in mice: Involvement of oxidative stress and autophagy
Authors: Jing Meng‐Jiao , Liu Kuan , Liu Chang , Yan Dong‐Ying , Ma Zhuo , Wang Can , Deng Yu , Liu Wei , Xu Bin
Published: September 2019

Overexposure to manganese (Mn) is widely known to induce alpha‐synuclein (α‐Syn) oligomerization, which has been attributed to the oxidative damage of α‐Syn protein. Trehalose has been shown to induce autophagy and serve as a chemical chaperone, but little information has been reported about its effect on Mn‐induced α‐Syn oligomerization. In this study, we investigate whether trehalose can effectively interfere with Mn‐induced α‐Syn oligomerization, using different concentrations of trehalose (2% and 4% (g/vol [mL])) in a mouse model of manganism. After 6 weeks of exposure to Mn, both oxidative stress and autophagy were activated and resulted in α‐Syn oligomerization and neuronal cell damage in the mouse brain tissue. Our results also revealed that pretreatment with trehalose significantly reduced the oxidative damage to α‐Syn protein and increased autophagy activation. These findings clearly demonstrated that trehalose can relieve Mn‐induced α‐Syn oligomerization and neuronal cell damage through its anti‐oxidative and autophagy‐inducing effects.
Duality invariant self-interactions of abelian p-forms in arbitrary dimensions
Authors: Buratti Ginevra , Lechner Kurt , Melotti Luca
Published: September 2019

Abstract

We analyze non-linear interactions of 2N -form Maxwell fields in a space-time of dimension D = 4N.Based on the Pasti-Sorokin-Tonin (PST) method, we derive the general consistency condition for the dynamics to respect both manifest SO(2)-duality invariance and manifest Lorentz invariance. For a generic dimension D = 4N, we determine a canonical class of exact solutions of this condition, which represent a generalization of the known non-linear duality invariant Maxwell theories in D = 4. The resulting theories are shown to be equivalent to a corresponding class of canonical theories formulated à la Gaillard-Zumino-Gibbons-Rasheed (GZGR), where duality is a symmetry only of the equations of motion. In dimension D = 8, via a complete solution of the PST consistency condition, we derive new non-canonical manifestly duality invariant quartic interactions. Correspondingly, we construct new non-trivial quartic interactions also in the GZGR approach, and establish their equivalence with the former. In the presence of charged dyonic p-brane sources, we reveal a basic physical inequivalence of the two approaches. The power of our method resides in its universal character, reducing the construction of non-linear duality invariant Maxwell theories to a purely algebraic problem.
Embeddability of pairs of weighted quasi-arithmetic means into a semiflow
Authors: Głazowska Dorota , Jarczyk Justyna , Jarczyk Witold
Published: September 2019

We determine the form of all semiflows of pairs of weighted quasi-arithmetic means, those over positive dyadic numbers as well as the continuous ones. Then the iterability of such pairs is characterized: necessary and sufficient conditions for a given pair of weighted quasi-arithmetic means to be embeddable into a continuous semiflow are given. In particular, it turns out that surprisingly the existence of a square iterative root in the class of such pairs implies the embeddability.
Geophysical Evaluation of Effectiveness of Blasting for Roof Caving During Longwall Mining of Coal Seam
Authors: Wojtecki Łukasz , Konicek Petr , Mendecki Maciej J. , Gołda Iwona , Zuberek Wacław M.
Published: September 2019

Deep longwall mining of coal seams is made in the Upper Silesian Coal Basin (USCB) under complicated and mostly unfavourable geological and mining conditions. Usually, it is correlated with rockburst hazard mostly at a high level. One of the geological factors affecting the state of rockburst hazard is the presence of competent rocks in the roof of extracted coal seams, so rock falling behind the longwall face does not occur, and hanging-up of roof rocks remains. The long-lasting absence of caving may lead to an occurrence of high-energy tremor in the vicinity of the longwall face. Roof caving behind the longwall face may be forced by blasting. The column of explosives is then located in blastholes drilled in layers of roof rocks, e.g. sandstones behind the longwall face. In this article, a characterization of tremors initiated by blasts for roof caving during underground extraction of coal seam no. 507 in one of the collieries in the USCB has been made using three independent methods. By the basic seismic effect method, the effectiveness of blasting is evaluated according to the seismic energy of incited tremors and mass of explosives used. According to this method, selected blasts gave extremely good or excellent effect. An inversion of the seismic moment tensor enables determining the processes happening in the source of tremors. In the foci of provoked tremors the slip mechanism dominated or was clearly distinguished. The expected explosion had lesser significance or was not present. By the seismic source parameters analysis, among other things, an estimation of the stress drop in the focus or its size may be determined. The stress drop in the foci of provoked tremors was in the order of 105 Pa and the source radius, according to the Brune’s model, varied from 44.3 to 64.5 m. The results of the three mentioned methods were compared with each other and observations in situ. In all cases the roof falling was forced.
Synthesis, antimicrobial activity, and determination of the lipophilicity of ((cyclohex-3-enylmethylene)hydrazinyl)thiazole derivatives
Authors: Biernasiuk Anna , Kawczyńska Magdalena , Berecka-Rycerz Anna , Rosada Beata , Gumieniczek Anna , Malm Anna , Dzitko Katarzyna , Łączkowski Krzysztof Z.
Published: September 2019

Synthesis and investigation of antimicrobial activity of fifteen novel thiazoles containing cyclohexene moiety are presented. Among the derivatives, compounds 3a–3d, 3f, 3n, and 3o showed very strong activity against the reference Candida spp. strains with MIC = 0.015–3.91 µg/ml. The activity of these compounds is similar and even higher than the activity of nystatin used as positive control. Compounds 3d, 3f, 3n, 3o showed the highest activity with very strong effect towards most of yeasts isolated from clinical materials with MIC = 0.015–7.81 µg/ml. The cytotoxicity studies for the most active compounds showed that Candida spp. growth was inhibited at noncytotoxic concentrations for the mammalian L929 fibroblast. In addition, a good correlation was obtained between lipophilicity of compounds determined using reversed phase thin-layer chromatography and their antifungal activity.
Associations of short stature and components of height with incidence of type 2 diabetes: mediating effects of cardiometabolic risk factors
Authors: Wittenbecher Clemens , Kuxhaus Olga , Boeing Heiner , Stefan Norbert , Schulze Matthias B.
Published: September 2019

Aims/hypothesis

This study aimed to evaluate associations of height as well as components of height (sitting height and leg length) with risk of type 2 diabetes and to explore to what extent associations are explainable by liver fat and cardiometabolic risk markers.

Methods

A case-cohort study within the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC)-Potsdam study comprising 26,437 participants who provided blood samples was designed. We randomly selected a subcohort of 2500 individuals (2029 diabetes-free at baseline and with anamnestic, anthropometrical and metabolic data for analysis). Of the 820 incident diabetes cases identified in the full cohort during 7 years of follow-up, 698 remained for analyses after similar exclusions.

Results

After adjustment for age, potential lifestyle confounders, education and waist circumference, greater height was related to lower diabetes risk (HR per 10 cm, men 0.59 [95% CI 0.47, 0.75] and women 0.67 [0.51, 0.88], respectively). Leg length was related to lower risk among men and women, but only among men if adjusted for total height. Adjustment for liver fat and triacylglycerols, adiponectin and C-reactive protein substantially attenuated associations between height and diabetes risk, particularly among women.

Conclusions/interpretation

We observed inverse associations between height and risk of type 2 diabetes, which was largely related to leg length among men. The inverse associations may be partly driven by lower liver fat content and a more favourable cardiometabolic profile.
On recursive utilities with non-affine aggregator and conditional certainty equivalent
Authors: Balbus Łukasz
Published: September 2019

In this paper, we consider the problem of the existence and the uniqueness of a recursive utility function defined on intertemporal lotteries. The purpose of this paper is to provide the results of the existence and the uniqueness of a recursive utility function. The utility function is obtained as the limit of iterations on a nonlinear operator and is independent on initial starting points, with iterations converging at an exponential rate. We also find the maximum utility and an optimal strategy by means of iterations of the Bellman operator.
The Griffiths bundle is generated by groups
Authors: Goldring Wushi
Published: September 2019

First the Griffiths line bundle of a$$\mathbf {Q}$$Q-VHS$${\mathscr {V}}$$Vis generalized to a Griffiths character$${{\,\mathrm{grif}\,}}(\mathbf {G}, \mu ,r)$$grif(G,μ,r)associated to any triple$$(\mathbf {G}, \mu , r)$$(G,μ,r), where$$\mathbf {G}$$Gis a connected reductive group over an arbitrary fieldF,$$\mu \in X_*(\mathbf {G})$$μ∈X∗(G)is a cocharacter (over$$\overline{F}$$F¯) and$$r:\mathbf {G}\rightarrow GL(V)$$r:G→GL(V)is anF-representation; the classical bundle studied by Griffiths is recovered by taking$$F=\mathbf {Q}$$F=Q,$$\mathbf {G}$$Gthe Mumford–Tate group of$${\mathscr {V}}$$V,$$r:\mathbf {G}\rightarrow GL(V)$$r:G→GL(V)the tautological representation afforded by a very general fiber and pulling back along the period map the line bundle associated to$${{\,\mathrm{grif}\,}}(\mathbf {G}, \mu , r)$$grif(G,μ,r). The more general setting also gives rise to the Griffiths bundle in the analogous situation in characteristicpgiven by a scheme mapping to a stack of$$\mathbf {G}$$G-Zips. When$$\mathbf {G}$$GisF-simple, we show that, up to positive multiples, the Griffiths character$${{\,\mathrm{grif}\,}}(\mathbf {G},\mu ,r)$$grif(G,μ,r)(and thus also the Griffiths line bundle) is essentially independent ofrwith central kernel, and up to some identifications is given explicitly by$$-\mu $$-μ. As an application, we show that the Griffiths line bundle of a projective$${{\mathbf {G}{\text{- }}{} \mathtt{Zip}}}^{\mu }$$G-Zipμ-scheme is nef.
Undecidability of the word problem for one-relator inverse monoids via right-angled Artin subgroups of one-relator groups
Authors: Gray Robert D.
Published: September 2019

We prove the following results: (1) There is a one-relator inverse monoid$$\mathrm {Inv}\langle A\,|\,w=1 \rangle $$Inv⟨A|w=1⟩with undecidable word problem; and (2) There are one-relator groups with undecidable submonoid membership problem. The second of these results is proved by showing that for any finite forest the associated right-angled Artin group embeds into a one-relator group. Combining this with a result of Lohrey and Steinberg (J Algebra 320(2):728–755, 2008), we use this to prove that there is a one-relator group containing a fixed finitely generated submonoid in which the membership problem is undecidable. To prove (1) a new construction is introduced which uses the one-relator group and submonoid in which membership is undecidable from (2) to construct a one-relator inverse monoid$$\mathrm {Inv}\langle A\,|\,w=1 \rangle $$Inv⟨A|w=1⟩with undecidable word problem. Furthermore, this method allows the construction of anE-unitary one-relator inverse monoid of this form with undecidable word problem. The results in this paper answer a problem originally posed by Margolis et al. (in: Semigroups and their applications, Reidel, Dordrecht, pp. 99–110, 1987).
Ultra-low-dose CT for extremities in an acute setting: initial experience with 203 subjects
Authors: Alagic Zlatan , Bujila Robert , Enocson Anders , Srivastava Subhash , Koskinen Seppo K.
Published: September 2019

Objective

The purpose of this study was to assess if ultra-low-dose CT is a useful clinical alternative to digital radiographs in the evaluation of acute wrist and ankle fractures.

Materials and methods

An ultra-low-dose protocol was designed on a 256-slice multi-detector CT. Patients from the emergency department were evaluated prospectively. After initial digital radiographs, an ultra-low-dose CT was performed. Two readers independently analyzed the images. Also, the radiation dose, examination time, and time to preliminary report was compared between digital radiographs and CT.

Results

In 207 extremities, digital radiography and ultra-low-dose CT detected 73 and 109 fractures, respectively (p < 0.001). The odds ratio for fracture detection with ultra-low-dose CT vs. digital radiography was 2.0 (95% CI, 1.4–3.0). CT detected additional fracture-related findings in 33 cases (15.9%) and confirmed or ruled out suspected fractures in 19 cases (9.2%). The mean effective dose was comparable between ultra-low-dose CT and digital radiography (0.59 ± 0.33 μSv, 95% CI 0.47–0.59 vs. 0.53 ± 0.43 μSv, 95% CI 0.54–0.64). The mean combined examination time plus time to preliminary report was shorter for ultra-low-dose CT compared to digital radiography (7.6 ± 2.5 min, 95% CI 7.1–8.1 vs. 9.8 ± 4.7 min, 95% CI 8.8–10.7) (p = 0.002). The recommended treatment changed in 34 (16.4%) extremities.

Conclusions

Ultra-low-dose CT is a useful alternative to digital radiography for imaging the peripheral skeleton in the acute setting as it detects significantly more fractures and provides additional clinically important information, at a comparable radiation dose. It also provides faster combined examination and reporting times.
CRISPR/Cas9 gene correction of HbH-CS thalassemia-induced pluripotent stem cells
Authors: Yingjun Xie , Yuhuan Xie , Yuchang Chen , Dongzhi Li , Ding Wang , Bing Song , Yi Yang , Dian Lu , Yanting Xue , Zeyu Xiong , Nengqing Liu , Diyu Chen , Xiaofang Sun
Published: September 2019

Haemoglobin (Hb) H-constant spring (CS) alpha thalassaemia (- -/-αCS) is the most common type of nondeletional Hb H disease in southern China. The CRISPR/Cas9-based gene correction of patient-specific induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and cell transplantation now represent a therapeutic solution for this genetic disease. We designed primers for the target sites using CRISPR/Cas9 to specifically edit the HBA2 gene with an Hb-CS mutation. After applying a correction-specific PCR assay to purify the corrected clones followed by sequencing to confirm the mutation correction, we verified that the purified clones retained full pluripotency and exhibited a normal karyotype. This strategy may be promising in the future, although it is far from representing a solution for the treatment of HbH-CS thalassemia now.
Particle image velocimetry in refractive index fields of combustion flows
Authors: Vanselow Christoph , Stöbener Dirk , Kiefer Johannes , Fischer Andreas
Published: September 2019

Optical measurements inside reacting flows are often disturbed by refractive index fields, e.g., due to the strong density gradients in flames. Although occurring measurement errors due to light refraction are a known problem for certain particle image velocimetry (PIV) applications, only a qualitative analysis of the resulting measurement uncertainty inside flame flows has been carried out to date. As an important step forward, a measurement approach is proposed, which enables a quantification of the resulting measurement uncertainties due to light refraction. As an example, the measurement approach is applied to a premixed propane flame. The uncertainty analysis is based on the determination of occurring particle position errors due to light refraction inside the flame. For three different measurement planes, the velocity field is measured with PIV and the particle position errors are experimentally measured and verified by ray-tracing simulation based on the measured refractive index field, which is determined by the background-oriented Schlieren method. In the examined flow, maximal position errors amount up to 14 μm and yield significant systematic velocity errors of up to 4% and random velocity errors of up to 6%. In contrast to the systematic velocity error, the random velocity error varies significantly for the analyzed measurement planes inside the flame flow.

Graphic abstract
A characterization of the single-peaked single-crossing domain
Authors: Elkind Edith , Faliszewski Piotr , Skowron Piotr
Published: September 2019

We characterize elections that are simultaneously single-peaked and single-crossing (SPSC), by establishing a connection between this domain and that of minimally rich elections, i.e., elections where each candidate is ranked first by at least one voter. Specifically, we show that an election is both single-peaked and single-crossing if and only if it can be obtained from a minimally rich single-crossing election by deleting voters.
On the Relation of Separability, Bandwidth and Embedding
Authors: Csaba Béla , Vásárhelyi Bálint
Published: September 2019

In this paper we construct a class of bounded degree bipartite graphs with a small separator and large bandwidth, thereby showing that separability and bandwidth are not linearly equivalent. Furthermore, we also prove that graphs from this class are spanning subgraphs of graphs with minimum degree just slightly aboven / 2,  even though their bandwidth is large.
In silico and expression analyses of fasciclin-like arabinogalactan proteins reveal functional conservation during embryo and seed development
Authors: Costa Mário , Pereira Ana Marta , Pinto Sara Cristina , Silva Jessy , Pereira Luís Gustavo , Coimbra Sílvia
Published: September 2019

Key message

The fasciclin-like arabinogalactan proteins organization into four groups is conserved and may be related to specific roles in developmental processes across angiosperms.

Fasciclin-like arabinogalactan proteins (FLAs) are a subclass of arabinogalactan proteins (AGPs), which contain fasciclin-like domains in addition to typical AGP domains. FLAs are present across all embryophytes, and despite their low overall sequence similarity, conserved regions that define the fasciclin functional domain (FAS) have been identified, suggesting that the cell adhesion property is also conserved. FLAs in Arabidopsis have been organized into four subgroups according to the number and distribution of functional domains. Recent studies associated FLAs with cell wall-related processes where domain organization seemed to be related to functional roles. In Arabidopsis, FLAs containing a single FAS domain were found to be important for the integrity and elasticity of the plant cell wall matrix, and FLAs with two FAS domains and two AGP domains were found to be involved in maintaining proper cell expansion under salt stress conditions. The main purpose of the present work was to elucidate the expression pattern of selected FLA genes during embryo and seed development using RT-qPCR. AtFLA8 and AtFLA10, two Arabidopsis genes that stood out in previous microarray studies of embryo development, were further examined using promoter-driven gene reporter analyses. We also studied the expression of cork oak FLA genes and found that their expression partially parallels the expression patterns of the putative AtFLA orthologs. We propose that the functional organization of FLAs is conserved and may be related to fundamental aspects of embryogenesis and seed development across angiosperms. Phylogenetic studies were performed, and we show that the same basic four-subgroup organization described for Arabidopsis FLA gene classification is valid for most Arabidopsis FLA orthologs of several plant species, namely poplar, corn and cork oak.
Analysis and quantification of bone healing after open wedge high tibial osteotomy
Authors: Nemecek Elena , Chiari Catharina , Valentinitsch Alexander , Kainberger Franz , Hobusch Gerhard , Kolb Alexander , Hirtler Lena , Trost Carmen , Vukicevic Slobodan , Windhager Reinhard
Published: September 2019

Background

The aim of this study was to analyze radiographic imaging techniques and to quantify bone ossification in the osteotomy gap after high tibial osteotomy.

Material and methods

Study phase 1: high tibial osteotomy was performed on six lower extremities of human body donors and experimental X‑rays and computed tomography (CT) scans were applied. Different techniques were evaluated by three specialists for best representation of the osteotomy gap.

Study phase 2: optimized radiological techniques were used for follow-up on 12 patients. The radiographs were examined by 3 specialists measuring 10 different parameters. The CT scans were analyzed with semiautomatic computer software for quantification of bone ossification.

Results

The osteotomy gap was best represented in 30° of flexion in the knee and 20° internal rotation of the leg. There were significant changes of the medial width over time (p < 0.019) as well as of the length of fused osteotomy, the Schröter score, sclerosis, trabecular structure and zone area measurements. Sclerosis, medial width of the osteotomy and area measurements were detected as reproducible parameters. Bone mineral density was calculated using CT scans, showing a significantly higher value 12 weeks postoperatively (112.5 mg/cm3) than at baseline (54.6 mg/cm3). The ossification of the gap was visualized by color coding.

Conclusion

Sclerosis and medial width of the osteotomy gap as well as area measurements were determined as reproducible parameters for evaluation of bone healing. Quantification of bone ossification can be calculated with CT scans using a semiautomatic computer program and should be used for research in bone healing.
Smart home technology—comparing householder expectations at the point of installation with experiences 1 year later
Authors: Oliveira Luis , Mitchell Val , May Andrew
Published: September 2019

This study, with 19 households, set out to analyse the expected benefits and anticipated challenges to the introduction of smart home technology (SHT), and to compare these to post-use experiences after living with the technology for 1 year. Contextual interviews were undertaken with householders during the installation of a range of SHT, and again approximately 1 year later, when householders had the option to keep the technology or have some or all of it removed. This identified whether initial expectations were met, whether initial concerns persisted and whether new issues, concerns, and benefits (that had not been initially anticipated) arose after an extended period of use. Initial expectations from all households were high—related to comfort, convenience, improved control, energy demand reduction, and integration of technologies. There were also many initial concerns, including reliability, usability, and how these systems would be ‘domesticated’ to fit existing routines. After living with the systems for 1 year, many expectations were met, but the added value (and hence the match between expectations and reality) was higher for households with varied routines and large, partially occupied houses. Some of the anticipated challenges—such as concerns over aesthetics—largely disappeared, issues to do with the awkward location of network components persisted and new issues arose relating to the usability of some components and the time and effort required to configure them. Recommendations are given to maximise the added value that SHT can provide to householders.
Diagnostic performance of two molecular assays for the detection of vaginitis in symptomatic women
Authors: Thompson Alexandra , Timm Karen , Borders Noelle , Montoya Liz , Culbreath Karissa
Published: September 2019

The three main causes of vaginitis are bacterial vaginosis (BV), vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC), and trichomoniasis (TV). Two multiplex assays are commercially available for detection of DNA from organisms associated with vaginitis: BD Affirm™ VPIII Microbial Identification Test (Affirm) and BD MAX™ Vaginal Panel (MAX VP). Here, the performance of MAX VP was compared to that of Affirm, which was considered the standard of care. Four vaginal swabs were collected from each subject with the following: BD Affirm™ VPIII Ambient Temperature Transport System (ATTS), BD MAX™ UVE Specimen Collection Kit, Hologic Aptima® Vaginal Swab Specimen Collection Kit, and BD ESwab™ collection and transport system (ESwab). Candida culture, Gram stain followed by Nugent scoring, and the Hologic Aptima® Trichomonas vaginalis assay were used for discordant analysis. Results were considered true positive if there were at least two tests positive for any vaginitis target. A total of 200 symptomatic women were evaluated in the study. The sensitivity and specificity of MAX VP for BV was 96.2% and 96.1%, respectively, compared to 96.2% and 81.6% for Affirm. The sensitivity and specificity of MAX VP for Candida spp. was 98.4% and 95.4%, respectively, compared to 69.4% and 100% for Affirm. MAX VP and Affirm showed 100% concordance for detection of TV. These results demonstrate improved accuracy of MAX VP compared to Affirm for the detection of BV and Candida spp. and no difference for detection of TV between the two tests.
Computational modeling of therapy on pancreatic cancer in its early stages
Authors: Chen Jiao , Weihs Daphne , Vermolen Fred J.
Published: September 2019

More than eighty percent of pancreatic cancer involves ductal adenocarcinoma with an abundant desmoplastic extracellular matrix surrounding the solid tumor entity. This aberrant tumor microenvironment facilitates a strong resistance of pancreatic cancer to medication. Although various therapeutic strategies have been reported to be effective in mice with pancreatic cancer, they still need to be tested quantitatively in wider animal-based experiments before being applied as therapies. To aid the design of experiments, we develop a cell-based mathematical model to describe cancer progression under therapy with a specific application to pancreatic cancer. The displacement of cells is simulated by solving a large system of stochastic differential equations with the Euler–Maruyama method. We consider treatment with the PEGylated drug PEGPH20 that breaks down hyaluronan in desmoplastic stroma followed by administration of the chemotherapy drug gemcitabine to inhibit the proliferation of cancer cells. Modeling the effects of PEGPH20 + gemcitabine concentrations is based on Green’s fundamental solutions of the reaction–diffusion equation. Moreover, Monte Carlo simulations are performed to quantitatively investigate uncertainties in the input parameters as well as predictions for the likelihood of success of cancer therapy. Our simplified model is able to simulate cancer progression and evaluate treatments to inhibit the progression of cancer.
Sexual dichromatism of the Blue-throated Starfrontlet, Coeligena helianthea, hummingbird plumage
Authors: Sosa Juliana , Parra Juan L. , Stavenga Doekele G. , Giraldo Marco A.
Published: September 2019

Among the many richly coloured birds, hummingbirds with their brilliant colouration are outstanding. We studied the plumage of male and female Blue-throated Starfrontlet,Coeligena helianthea, which exhibits a marked sexual dichromatism. The wide diversity of coloured feathers (blue, purple, golden, green, red) makes it an attractive species to investigate the structural basis of the colouration and to study the connection between the displayed colours and the perception by conspecifics. We analysed the optical properties of the feather barbules, applying spectrophotometry, scatterometry, and electron microscopy. Using the anatomical results, the spectral data can be interpreted by optical modelling. The reflectance spectra of the feathers of maleC. heliantheastrikingly overlap with the spectral sensitivities of bird photoreceptors, which suggests that the feather and photoreceptor spectra are tuned.
Variability of cone parameters and scale morphology in the black alder (Alnus glutinosa L.) in the context of seed extraction
Authors: Aniszewska Monika , Tulska Ewa , Żurawska Katarzyna
Published: September 2019

In this paper, the results of research on the variability of black alder cones (Alnus glutinosa L.) ware presented. The research was carried out for two, significantly different, batches of cones. Basic size parameters and mass were measured. The shape of the cone was determined, and it was described with the fourth-degree polynomial. The surface area and volume of the cone were calculated using the forming curve and formulas for solids: barrel and cylinder. The parameters of cones—shape surface area and volume—were analyzed. It was found that for alder cones (from the researched origins), the average volumes calculated from the barrel formula are 1701 mm3 and 1162 mm3, and the areas calculated from the cylinder formula are 807 mm2 and 597 mm2. The structure of the inner and outer sides of scales was examined using a scanning electron microscope. Using the MultiScanBase v. 18.03 program, the elements of husk structure that could affect the efficiency of seeds extraction were measured. The results of the research can be used to program the process of seeds extraction from alder cones in commercial installations.
The Investigation on Flow Behavior of Powder Metallurgy Ti-10V-2Fe-3Al Alloy Using the Prasad Stability Criterion
Authors: Zyguła Krystian , Wojtaszek Marek , Lypchanskyi Oleksandr , Śleboda Tomasz , Korpała Grzegorz , Prahl Ulrich
Published: September 2019

The hot deformation behavior of Ti-10V-2Fe-3Al alloy obtained by the powder metallurgy (PM) method was investigated. Material for the research was produced by blending of elemental powders followed by uniaxial hot pressing. Thermomechanical tests of Ti-10V-2Fe-3Al compacts were carried out to determinate the stress-strain relationships at the temperature range of 800 °C to 1000 °C and strain rate between 0.01 and 10 s−1. Based on the dynamic material model (DMM) theory, processing maps at constant strain value were developed using data obtained from hot compression tests. The processing maps were elaborated for the final strain value, which was 0.9, and with flow instability criterion domains applied to it. Two critical regions associated with the flow behavior of the investigated material were revealed. Microstructural changes during hot deformation at various temperatures and strain rates were discussed. The correlation between calculated efficiency of power dissipation, flow instability criterion, and microstructure evolution was determined. The presence of defects was confirmed in regions predicted by the instability maps. The microstructure of the investigated alloy, corresponding to the high efficiency of power dissipation characterized by the occurrence of dynamic recrystallization (DRX) phenomena, was also shown. Additionally, average hardness values in relation to variable process parameters were designated. Based on the conducted studies and analysis, processing windows for Ti-10V-2Fe-3Al alloy compacts were proposed.
Quantification of Quartz Reefs and Mafic Dykes of Bundelkhand, Craton, Central India: A Study Based on Spatial and Fractal Analysis
Authors: Das Dip , Mondal Tridib Kumar , Hossain Md. Sakawat
Published: September 2019

The geological structures and their 2D geometrical relationships are often quantified using spatial and fractal techniques. In this study, quartz reefs and dykes from Bundelkhand craton of central India are investigated using spatial and fractal analysis to quantify the spatial relationship and establish the deformational events. The Bundelkhand craton comprises of massive granite batholiths, associated with extensive hydrothermal activities that led to the formation of numerous quartz reefs mostly in NE-SW and NW-SE directions. The area is also replete with NW-SE and NE-SW oriented mafic dykes, which are assumed to have formed during late stage crustal rejuvenation.

The spatial analysis suggests that each set of reefs and dykes are not the result of random processes (high Z score and low P-values). The fractal analyses also suggest, that there are at least two deformational events that led to the formation of quartz reefs and dykes independently in the Bundelkhand craton. The anisotropy of fractal dimension study validates the results obtained from the spatial statistical analysis. This study has provided important informations related to the number of deformational events and deformation localization in the study area.
Non-abelian Toda theory on AdS2 and $$ {\mathrm{AdS}}_2/{\mathrm{CFT}}_2^{\raisebox{1ex}{$1$}\!\left/ \!\raisebox{-1ex}{$2$}\right.} $$ duality
Authors: Beccaria Matteo , Jiang Hongliang , Tseytlin Arkady A.
Published: September 2019

Abstract

It was recently observed that boundary correlators of the elementary scalar field of the Liouville theory on AdS2 background are the same (up to a non-trivial proportionality coefficient) as the correlators of the chiral stress tensor of the Liouville CFT on the complex plane restricted to the real line. The same relation generalizes to the conformal abelian Toda theory: boundary correlators of Toda scalars on AdS2 are directly related to the correlation functions of the chiral

$$ \mathcal{W} $$

W

-symmetry generators in the Toda CFT and thus are essentially controlled by the underlying infinite-dimensional symmetry. These may be viewed as examples of AdS2/CFT1 duality where the CFT1 is the chiral half of a 2d CFT; we shall to this as

$$ {\mathrm{AdS}}_2/{\mathrm{CFT}}_2^{\raisebox{1ex}{$1$}\!\left/ \!\raisebox{-1ex}{$2$}\right.} $$

AdS
2

/

CFT
2

1
2

. In this paper we demonstrate that this duality applies also to the non-abelian Toda theory containing a Liouville scalar coupled to a 2d σ-model originating from the SL(2, ℝ)/U(1) gauged WZW model. Here the Liouville scalar is again dual to the chiral stress tensor T while the other two scalars are dual to the parafermionic operators V
± of the non-abelian Toda CFT. We explicitly check the duality at the next-to-leading order in the large central charge expansion by matching the chiral CFT correlators of (T, V
+, V
−) (computed using a free field representation) with the boundary correlators of the three Toda scalars given by the tree-level and one-loop Witten diagrams in AdS2.
Determinants of Influenza Mortality Trends: Age-Period-Cohort Analysis of Influenza Mortality in the United States, 1959–2016
Authors: Acosta Enrique , Hallman Stacey A. , Dillon Lisa Y. , Ouellette Nadine , Bourbeau Robert , Herring D. Ann , Inwood Kris , Earn David J. D. , Madrenas Joaquin , Miller Matthew S. , Gagnon Alain
Published: September 2019

This study examines the roles of age, period, and cohort in influenza mortality trends over the years 1959–2016 in the United States. First, we use Lexis surfaces based on Serfling models to highlight influenza mortality patterns as well as to identify lingering effects of early-life exposure to specific influenza virus subtypes (e.g., H1N1, H3N2). Second, we use age-period-cohort (APC) methods to explore APC linear trends and identify changes in the slope of these trends (contrasts). Our analyses reveal a series of breakpoints where the magnitude and direction of birth cohort trends significantly change, mostly corresponding to years in which important antigenic drifts or shifts took place (i.e., 1947, 1957, 1968, and 1978). Whereas child, youth, and adult influenza mortality appear to be influenced by a combination of cohort- and period-specific factors, reflecting the interaction between the antigenic experience of the population and the evolution of the influenza virus itself, mortality patterns of the elderly appear to be molded by broader cohort factors. The latter would reflect the processes of physiological capital improvement in successive birth cohorts through secular changes in early-life conditions. Antigenic imprinting, cohort morbidity phenotype, and other mechanisms that can generate the observed cohort effects, including the baby boom, are discussed.
Het klinisch beloop bij gemetastaseerd prostaatcarcinoom
Authors: ter Haar Ronald W. , Boevé Liselotte M. S. , Hillenius Jasper J. , van Andel George
Published: September 2019

Samenvatting

Van de patiënten met een prostaatcarcinoom heeft 16% bij het stellen van de diagnose al botmetastasen. Nog eens 30% van de patiënten ontwikkelt later botmetastasen. Dit artikel biedt een overzicht van de literatuur over het klinisch beloop van het gemetastaseerde prostaatcarcinoom. Ook worden de resultaten gepresenteerd van twee Nederlandse studies naar het klinisch beloop bij prostaatcarcinoom. De meest frequent voorkomende relevante klinische problemen zijn: fractuur (10–15%), (in)complete dwarslaesie (10–15%), blaasontledigingsstoornissen waarvoor CIC, CAD, SP of een TURP (25%), symptomatische hydronefrose door obstructie van de distale ureter waarvoor een nefrodrain of JJ noodzakelijk is (5%), anemie waarvoor bloedtransfusie(s) nodig is (zijn) (35%), ziekenhuisopname vanwege aan het prostaatcarcinoom gerelateerde problemen (75%) en palliatieve bestraling(en) in verband met pijnlijke botmetastasen (55%). Tot slot wordt op hoofdlijnen een overzicht gegeven van de meest gangbare behandelingen van voornoemde problemen.
Combat as an Interpersonal Synergy: An Ecological Dynamics Approach to Combat Sports
Authors: Krabben Kai , Orth Dominic , van der Kamp John
Published: September 2019

In combat sports, athletes continuously co-adapt their behavior to that of the opponent. We consider this interactive aspect of combat to be at the heart of skilled performance, yet combat sports research often neglects or limits interaction between combatants. To promote a more interactive approach, the aim of this paper is to understand combat sports from the combined perspective of ecological psychology and dynamic systems. Accordingly, combat athletes are driven by perception of affordances to attack and defend. Two combatants in a fight self-organize into one interpersonal synergy, where the perceptions and actions of both athletes are coupled. To be successful in combat, performers need to manipulate and take advantage of the (in)stability of the system. Skilled performance in combat sports therefore requires brinkmanship: combatants need to be aware of their action boundaries and purposefully act in meta-stable regions on the limits of their capabilities. We review the experimental literature to provide initial support for a synergetic approach to combat sports. Expert combatants seem able to accurately perceive action boundaries for themselves and their opponent. Local-level behavior of individual combatants has been found to lead to spatiotemporal synchronization at the global level of a fight. Yet, a formal understanding of combat as a dynamic system starting with the identification of order and control parameters is still lacking. We conclude that the ecological dynamics perspective offers a promising approach to further our understanding of skilled performance in combat sports, as well as to assist coaches and athletes to promote optimal training and learning.
Fluorescent Silicon Nanorods-Based Nanotheranostic Agents for Multimodal Imaging-Guided Photothermal Therapy
Authors: Cui Mingyue , Liu Sangmo , Song Bin , Guo Daoxia , Wang Jinhua , Hu Guyue , Su Yuanyuan , He Yao
Published: September 2019

The utilization of diagnosis to guide/aid therapy procedures has shown great prospects in the era of personalized medicine along with the recognition of tumor heterogeneity and complexity. Herein, a kind of multifunctional silicon-based nanostructure, i.e., gold nanoparticles-decorated fluorescent silicon nanorods (Au@SiNRs), is fabricated and exploited for tumor-targeted multimodal imaging-guided photothermal therapy. In particular, the prepared Au@SiNRs feature high photothermal conversion efficiency (~ 43.9%) and strong photothermal stability (photothermal performance stays constant after five-cycle NIR laser irradiation), making them high-performance agents for simultaneously photoacoustic and infrared thermal imaging. The Au@SiNRs are readily modified with targeting peptide ligands, enabling an enhanced tumor accumulation with a high value of ~ 8.74% ID g−1. Taking advantages of these unique merits, the Au@SiNRs are superbly suitable for specifically ablating tumors in vivo without appreciable toxicity under the guidance of multimodal imaging. Typically, all the mice treated with the Au@SiNRs remain alive, and no distinct tumor recurrence is observed during 60-day investigation.