bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The nanophthalmos protein TMEM98 inhibits MYRF self-cleavage and is required for eye size specification
Authors: Cross Sally H. , Mckie Lisa , Hurd Toby W. , Riley Sam , Wills Jimi , Barnard Alun R. , Young Fiona , MacLaren Robert E. , Jackson Ian J.
Published: December 2019

The precise control of eye size is essential for normal vision.TMEM98is a highly conserved and widely expressed gene which appears to be involved in eye size regulation. Mutations in humanTMEM98are found in patients with nanophthalmos (very small eyes) and variants near the gene are associated in population studies with myopia and increased eye size. As complete loss of function mutations in mouseTmem98result in perinatal lethality, we produced mice deficient forTmem98in the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), whereTmem98is highly expressed. These mice have greatly enlarged eyes that are very fragile with very thin retinas. To gain insight into the mechanism of action we used a proximity labelling approach to discover interacting proteins and identified MYRF as an interacting partner. Mutations ofMYRFare also associated with nanophthalmos. The protein is an endoplasmic reticulum-tethered transcription factor which undergoes autoproteolytic cleavage to liberate the N-terminal part which then translocates to the nucleus where it acts as a transcription factor. We find that TMEM98 inhibits the self-cleavage of MYRF, in a novel regulatory mechanism. In RPE lacking TMEM98, MYRF is ectopically activated and abnormally localised to the nuclei.

Author summary

Having the correct eye size is important, too large and you will be short-sighted and too small and you will be far-sighted. Nanophthalmos, literally very small eye from the Greek, is a condition where the eye is very small but structurally normal. In addition to being farsighted such eyes are prone to glaucoma which can lead to loss of vision. Here we studied a protein called TMEM98 which is found in the membranes of the cells which form a layer at the back of eye called the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). Mutations inTMEM98have been found in nanophthalmos patients. Patients have one normal copy of the gene and one carrying a mutation. We removedTmem98from the RPE of mice in order to ascertain its function. We found, surprisingly, that rather than having small eyes this led to the development of very large eyes that were structurally fragile. We went to on to identify protein partners of TMEM98 and found that it interacts with a protein called MYRF, mutations in which also causes nanophthalmos. This work demonstrates the importance ofTMEM98in eye size specification.
A perinuclear microtubule-organizing center controls nuclear positioning and basement membrane secretion
Authors: Zheng Yiming , Buchwalter Rebecca A. , Zheng Chunfeng , Wight Elise M. , Chen Jieyan V. , Megraw Timothy L.
Published: December 2019

Non-centrosomal microtubule-organizing centers (ncMTOCs) have a variety of roles presumed to serve the diverse functions of the range of cell types in which they are found. ncMTOCs are diverse in their composition, subcellular localization, and function. Here we report a novel perinuclear MTOC inDrosophilafat body cells that is anchored by Msp300/Nesprin at the cytoplasmic surface of the nucleus. Msp300 recruits the MT minus-end protein Patronin/CAMSAP, which functions redundantly with Ninein to further recruit the MT polymerase Msps/XMAP215 to assemble non-centrosomal MTs and does so independently of the widespread MT nucleation factorγ-tubulin. Functionally, the fat body ncMTOC and the radial MT arrays it organizes is essential for nuclear positioning and for secretion of basement membrane components via retrograde dynein-dependent endosomal trafficking that restricts plasma membrane growth. Together, this study identifies a perinuclear ncMTOC with unique architecture and MT regulation properties that serves vital functions.

Highlights

A novel perinuclear MTOC in differentiated fat body cells

The predominant nucleator,γ-tubulin, is not required at the fat body ncMTOC

Msp300/Nesprin organizes the ncMTOC at the nuclear surface by recruiting Patronin/CAMSAP and the spectraplakin Shot

Patronin cooperates with Ninein to control MT assembly at the fat body ncMTOC by recruiting Msps

Msps, a MT polymerase, is essential for radial MT elongation from the fat body ncMTOC

Patronin and Msps associate

The ncMTOC and radial MTs, but not actin, control nuclear positioning in the fat body

The fat body MTOC controls retrograde endocytic trafficking to regulate plasma membrane growth and secretion of basement membrane proteins
The spatial structure of feedforward information in mouse primary visual cortex
Authors: Zhuang Jun , Larsen Rylan S. , Takasaki Kevin T. , Ouellette Naveen D. , Daigle Tanya L. , Tasic Bosiljka , Waters Jack , Zeng Hongkui , Reid R. Clay
Published: December 2019

Location-sensitive and motion-sensitive units are the two major functional types of feedforward projections from lateral genicular nucleus (LGN) to primary visual cortex (V1) in mouse. The distribution of these inputs in cortical depth remains under debate. By measuring the calcium activities of LGN axons in V1 of awake mice, we systematically mapped their functional and structural properties. Although both types distributed evenly across cortical depth, we found that they differ significantly across multiple modalities. Compared to the location-sensitive axons, which possessed confined spatial receptive fields, the motion-sensitive axons lacked spatial receptive fields, preferred lower temporal, higher spatial frequencies and had wider horizontal bouton spread. Furthermore, the motion-sensitive axons showed a strong depth-dependent motion direction bias while the location-sensitive axons showed a depth-independent OFF dominance. Overall, our results suggest a new model of receptive biases and laminar structure of thalamic inputs to V1.

Abstract Figure
Conservative management of acute perforated diverticulitis: A systematic review
Authors: Chua Terence C. , Jeyakumar Arunan , Ip Julian C.Y. , Yuide Peter J. , Burstow Matthew J.
Published: December 2019

Objective

Acute perforated diverticulitis is frequently observed and spans a spectrum in the severity of its presentation. Emergency surgery is required in patients with generalized peritonitis; however, a large proportion of patients are clinically stable with localized peritonitis. This article aimed to examine this specific group of patients by reviewing the outcomes of their conservative management.

Methods

A systematic literature search was performed on the MEDLINE and PubMed databases. The management outcomes of patients undergoing non‐operative treatment for acute perforated diverticulitis were synthesized and tabulated.

Results

Of 479 patients, 407 (85%) were successfully managed non‐operatively. In total 70 (14.6%) patients failed non‐operative treatment and underwent operative surgical management, and two (0.4%) died. Emergency surgery includes a Hartmann's operation (40%) and resection with anastomosis with or without stoma (24%), laparoscopic lavage (16%) and surgical drainage (20%). The success rate of conservative management was 94.0% and 71.4% for patients with pericolic and distant free air, respectively. Treatment failure was associated with a high volume of free air, distant free air and the presence of abscess.

Conclusions

Conservative management is safe and successful in patients with acute perforated diverticulitis without generalized peritonitis. The early recognition of patients who show clinical signs of persistent perforation is important to ensure the success of this strategy.
Which probiotic has the best effect on preventing Clostridium difficile‐associated diarrhea? A systematic review and network meta‐analysis
Authors: Ma Yan , Yang Jing Yu , Peng Xia , Xiao Ke Yi , Xu Qing , Wang Chen
Published: December 2019

Objective

Clostridium difficile‐associated diarrhea (CDAD) accounts for up to 25% of patients with antibiotic‐associated diarrhea (AAD). We aimed to determine which probiotic is most effective in preventing CDAD using a network meta‐analysis.

Methods

Studies were identified by searching PubMed, EMBASE and the Cochrane Library databases for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that evaluated the efficacy of probiotic interventions for CDAD. Primary outcomes were the incidence rates of AAD and CDAD, and secondary outcomes were the duration of diarrhea and the time until onset of diarrhea. The PROSPERO registered number of this study is CRD42018106115.

Results

Ten RCTs including 11 analyses and including 4 692 patients were identified. Compared with the control group, probiotic intervention reduced the incidence rates of CDAD (odds ratio [OR] 0.33, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.17‐0.61) and AAD (OR 0.39, 95% CI 0.23‐0.66). Similar results were observed regarding the duration of diarrhea and the time until onset of diarrhea. Meta‐regression analysis showed a correlation between the type of probiotic used and the incidence of CDAD and AAD. All nine kinds of probiotic interventions were statistically more effective than the placebo, with Lactobacillus casei ranking as the best intervention (OR 0.19, 95% credible interval [CrI] 0.06‐0.63) for decreasing the incidence rate of CDAD. L. casei also ranked the highest in reducing the incidence rate of AAD (OR 0.32, 95% CrI 0.14‐0.74).

Conclusion

Lactobacilli strains, especially L. casei, have a good effect on the prevention of CDAD and AAD.
Oligodendrocyte lineage and myelination are compromised in the gray matter of focal cortical dysplasia type IIa
Authors: Donkels Catharina , Peters Myriam , Fariña Núñez Mateo T. , Nakagawa Julia M. , Kirsch Matthias , Vlachos Andreas , Scheiwe Christian , Schulze‐Bonhage Andreas , Prinz Marco , Beck Jürgen , Haas Carola A.
Published: December 2019

Objectives

Focal cortical dysplasias (FCDs) are local malformations of the human neocortex and a leading cause of medically intractable epilepsy. FCDs are characterized by local architectural disturbances of the neocortex and often by a blurred gray‐white matter boundary indicating abnormal white matter myelination. We have recently shown that myelination is also compromised in the gray matter of dysplastic areas, since transcripts encoding factors for oligodendrocyte differentiation and myelination are downregulated and myelin fibers appear fractured and disorganized.

Methods

Here, we characterized the gray matter–associated myelination pathology in detail by in situ hybridization, immunohistochemistry, and electron microscopy with markers for myelin, mature oligodendrocytes, and oligodendrocyte precursor cells in tissue sections of FCD IIa and control cortices. In addition, we isolated oligodendrocyte precursor cells from resected dysplastic tissue and performed proliferation assays.

Results

We show that the proportion of myelinated gray matter is similar in the dysplastic cortex to that in controls and myelinated fibers extend up to layer III. On the ultrastructural level, however, we found that the myelin sheaths of layer V axons are thinner in dysplastic specimens than in controls. In addition, the density of oligodendrocyte precursor cells and of mature oligodendrocytes was reduced. Finally, we show for the first time that oligodendrocyte precursor cells isolated from resected dysplastic cortex have a reduced proliferation capacity in comparison to controls.

Significance

These results indicate that proliferation and differentiation of oligodendrocyte precursor cells and the formation of myelin sheaths are compromised in FCD and might contribute to the epileptogenicity of this cortical malformation.
Qualitative hesitant fuzzy group decision making: An additively consistent probability and consensus‐based perspective
Authors: Tang Jie , Meng Fanyong , Xu Zeshui , Yuan Ruiping
Published: December 2019

Hesitant fuzzy linguistic preference relations (HFLPRs) can efficiently denote the hesitant qualitative judgments of decision makers. Consistency and consensus are two critical topics in group decision making (GDM) with preference relations. This paper uses the additively consistent concept for linguistic fuzzy preference relations (LFPRs) to give an additive consistency definition for HFLPRs. To judge the additive consistency of HFLPRs, 0‐1 mixed programming models (0‐1‐MPMs) are constructed. Meanwhile, additive‐consistency‐based 0‐1‐MPMs to ascertain missing values in incomplete HFLPRs are established. Following the consistent probability of LFPRs, an algorithm to calculate the linguistic priority weighting vector is presented. In consideration of the consensus of GDM, a consistency‐probability‐distance‐measure‐based consensus index is defined, and an interactive improving consensus method is provided. Finally, a method for GDM with HFLPRs is offered that can address incomplete and inconsistent cases. Meanwhile, numerical examples are offered, and comparative analysis is made.
Fast food, beverage, and snack brands on social media in the United States: An examination of marketing techniques utilized in 2000 brand posts
Authors: Bragg Marie A. , Pageot Yrvane K. , Amico Angela , Miller Alysa N. , Gasbarre Angela , Rummo Pasquale E. , Elbel Brian
Published: December 2019

Background

Exposure to food advertisements is associated with poor diet among youth, and food and beverage companies are increasingly advertising on social media sites that are popular among youth.

Objective

To identify the prevalence of social media advertising among fast food, beverage, and snack companies and examine advertising techniques they use on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, and Vine.

Methods

We quantified the increase in the creation of social media accounts from 2007 to 2016 among 200 fast food, beverage, and snack brands from the United States. We conducted content analyses to examine the marketing themes and healthfulness of products featured in 2000 posts from a subset of 20 brands and used multilevel regression to assess associations between marketing themes (eg, adolescents socializing) and interactive tools (eg, hashtags).

Results

Two hundred brands collectively managed 568 accounts in 2016. Content analyses revealed that unique social media features (eg, geo‐tags) appeared in 74.5% (n = 1489) of posts, and 31.5% (n = 630) were interactive. Posts featuring adolescents were more likely to be interactive than posts featuring adults (P < 0.001). Two‐thirds (67.9%; n = 362) of foods shown were unhealthy, and 61.2% (n = 435) of beverages were sugar sweetened.

Conclusions

Social media food advertising is pervasive and uses interactive tools to engage with users.
Management of urinary tract infection by early‐career general practitioners in Australia
Authors: Davey Andrew , Tapley Amanda , Mulquiney Katie , van Driel Mieke , Fielding Alison , Holliday Elizabeth , Ball Jean , Spike Neil , FitzGerald Kristen , Magin Parker
Published: December 2019

Rationale, aims, and objectives

Urinary tract infection (UTI) is a common presentation to general practitioners (GPs). There is increasing antimicrobial resistance in urinary pathogens in many healthcare systems. Adherence to principles of antimicrobial stewardship is important to combat this problem. Our aim was to describe the prevalence of presentations of clinically diagnosed new UTI to early‐career GPs, to describe management choices made, and to identify associations of prescribing antibiotics at the index consultation for UTI.

Method

This is a cross‐sectional analysis of the Registrar Clinical Encounters in Training cohort study. Early‐career GPs from five Australian states (urban to very remote practices) collected data on 60 consecutive patient encounters during each of three 6‐month training terms. Proportions of problems being new UTIs, antibiotics prescribed, urine microscopy and culture ordered were calculated. Univariate and multivariable logistic regressions established associations of patient, registrar, and practice factors with prescribing antibiotics for a new UTI.

Results

One thousand three hundred thirty‐three early‐career GPs diagnosed 2850 new UTIs from 189 736 consultations (1.5%; 95% CI, 1.4‐1.6). Antibiotics were prescribed at 86% (95% CI, 84.7‐87.2) of these index consultations. Antibiotic choice followed Australian therapeutic guideline recommendations. Urine microscopy and culture were requested at the index consultation less than recommended by guidelines in men, 69.2% (95% CI, 62.6‐75.1), and children, 80.8% (95% CI, 76.4‐84.6). Adults were significantly more likely to be treated with antibiotics at the index consultation than children under 16.

Conclusions

A new UTI is a common presentation to Australian early‐career GPs. There is general adherence to guidelines for antibiotic choice in UTIs. Further research is needed, however, to understand some decisions made when managing UTI in children and men. This may reflect diagnostic uncertainty with consequent attention to antibiotic stewardship by deferring antibiotic prescription.
Characterization of Doppler spectrum of hepatic veins and correlation with structural and functional variables of the right ventricle in healthy dogs
Authors: Silva Vinícius Bentivóglio Costa , Rodrigues Froes Tilde , Gil Elaine Mayumi Ueno , Wolf Marcela , Lucina Stephany Buba , Sousa Marlos Gonçalves
Published: December 2019

Background

Spectral Doppler assessment of hepatic veins may provide information on heart function.

Hypothesis/Objectives

To assess the normal pattern of hepatic venous flow using spectral Doppler ultrasound examination; to correlate this information with structural and functional variables of the right ventricle (RV), and to analyze the impact of age, sex, body weight quartiles, heart rate, cardiac rhythm, and systolic arterial pressure on the results in healthy dogs.

Animals

Sixty‐five healthy dogs.

Methods

Cross‐sectional observational study. The direction and maximum velocity of each of the 4 possible components of venous flow were determined from pulsed‐wave Doppler examination of the hepatic veins. In addition, structural and functional parameters (TAPSE, longitudinal strain, FAC%, S′, Et/At, and E′t/ A′t) of the RV were evaluated.

Results

The same phase patterns for different waves were seen in all animals: A and V were retrograde waves, and S and D were anterograde waves. The velocity of the spectral waves increased with body weight (P < .05) and could be correlated with functional indices of the RV. A significant difference was found when comparing morphometric indices with body weight quartiles (P < .05). In addition, intra‐and inter‐observer assessments showed low variability. The mean duration of the examinations was 5.2 minutes.

Conclusions and Clinical Importance

Hepatic spectral Doppler findings can be correlated with systolic and diastolic indices of the RV and vary with body weight.
Host perspective on academic supervision, health care provision and institutional partnership during short‐term electives in global health
Authors: Renaud‐Roy Etienne , Bernier Nicolas , Fournier Pierre
Published: December 2019

Context

Studies about the impact of global health electives on host institutions are scarce and often made from the perspective of institutions that send students. The present research examined the impact of short‐term electives in global health (STEGHs) from the under‐represented perspective of host institutions in Benin.

Methods

The authors conducted 30 semi‐structured interviews from a convenience sample of Beninese health care professionals who had hosted Canadian medical students. Interviewees had previously supervised STEGHs in one of the five different institutions. A subsequent qualitative thematic analysis methodology was used to compilate codes and generate themes.

Results

Hosting STEGH students motivated respondents to increase their medical knowledge through self‐driven learning. They perceived an improvement in the quality of their care and felt a negligible impact on patient safety. They negatively commented on the lack of clear pedagogic objectives that they could rely on. Interviewees think current STEGH partnerships do not advantage them because institutions that send students offer little support during the electives. Furthermore, sending institutions do not offer the same opportunity for local medical students or professionals to take part in such electives outside of Benin.

Conclusions

Although host health care professionals evaluated global health electives positively overall, specific improvements could mitigate their negative impacts and help create a more balanced partnership between sending and host institutions. Sending institutions could involve host institutions in curriculum planning. They could invest in building reciprocal elective programmes to receive students from elsewhere. Meanwhile they can maximise the transfer of relevant medical knowledge, and provide expertise, resources and support during the electives.
Rhizosphere modelling reveals spatiotemporal distribution of daidzein shaping soybean rhizosphere bacterial community
Authors: Okutani Fuki , Hamamoto Shoichiro , Aoki Yuichi , Nakayasu Masaru , Nihei Naoto , Nishimura Taku , Yazaki Kazufumi , Sugiyama Akifumi
Published: December 2019

Plant roots nurture a wide variety of microbes via exudation of metabolites, shaping the rhizosphere's microbial community. Despite the importance of plant specialized metabolites in the assemblage and function of microbial communities in the rhizosphere, little is known of how far the effects of these metabolites extend through the soil. We employed a fluid model to simulate the spatiotemporal distribution of daidzein, an isoflavone secreted from soybean roots, and validated using soybeans grown in a rhizobox. We then analysed how daidzein affects bacterial communities using soils artificially treated with daidzein. Simulation of daidzein distribution showed that it was only present within a few millimetres of root surfaces. After 14 days in a rhizobox, daidzein was only present within 2 mm of root surfaces. Soils with different concentrations of daidzein showed different community composition, with reduced α‐diversity in daidzein‐treated soils. Bacterial communities of daidzein‐treated soils were closer to those of the soybean rhizosphere than those of bulk soils. This study highlighted the limited distribution of daidzein within a few millimetres of root surfaces and demonstrated a novel role of daidzein in assembling bacterial communities in the rhizosphere by acting as more of a repellant than an attractant.
Effect of high-dose vitamin D supplementation in combination with weight loss diet on glucose homeostasis, insulin resistance, and matrix metalloproteinases in obese subjects with vitamin D deficiency: a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial
Authors: Aliashrafi Soodabeh , Ebrahimi-Mameghani Mehrangiz , Jafarabadi Mohammad Asghari , Lotfi-Dizaji Lida , Vaghef-Mehrabany Elnaz , Arefhosseini Seyed-Rafie
Published: December 2019

As there is limited and inconsistent evidence in potential role of vitamin D on insulin resistance and matrix metalloproteinases, this study aimed to examine the effect of vitamin D supplementation on glucose homeostasis, insulin resistance, and matrix metalloproteinases in obese subjects with vitamin D deficiency. A total of 44 participants with serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) level ≤ 50 nmol/L and body mass index (BMI) 30–40 kg/m2 were randomly allocated into receiving weight reduction diet with either 50 000 IU vitamin D3 pearl (n = 22) or placebo (n = 22) once weekly for 12 weeks. Primary outcomes were changes in fasting serum glucose (FSG), homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), quantitative insulin sensitivity check index (QUICKI), and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). Secondary outcomes were changes in weight, BMI, 25(OH)D, calcium, phosphorous and parathyroid hormone (PTH). Sun exposure and dietary intakes were also assessed. Serum levels of 25(OH)D3 increased significantly with a simultaneous decrease in serum concentration of PTH in the vitamin D group. Weight, BMI, FSG, and MMP-9 decreased significantly in both groups, and there were significant differences in changes in weight, serum 25(OH)D3, PTH, and MMP-9 levels between the groups. Within- and between-groups analysis revealed no significant differences in serum calcium, phosphorous, serum insulin, HOMA-IR, QUICKI, and MMP-2 after intervention. Our results indicated that improvement in vitamin D status resulted in greater reductions in weight and MMP-9 during weight loss. These preliminary results are sufficient to warrant a bigger study group.
A new aerobic fitness score based on lactate sensing during submaximal exercise
Authors: Hagar Amit , Melo Luma , Hills Grace , Kenshur Nathan , Dickinson Stephanie
Published: December 2019

Given the known clinical utility of cardiorespiratory fitness, measurement of physiological responses to submaximal exercise may be a feasible approach well suited for diagnostic and prognostic purposes in non-athletes and the chronically ill. Lactate levels and watt output during a short submaximal exercise and a subsequent relaxation period yield an aerobic score that is consistent with cardiorespiratory fitness grades in non-athletes and that may be used as a marker in such approaches. In this study, 28 females (23 ± 3 years) were submitted to a 15 min submaximal recumbent bike session, and their capillary and saliva lactate concentrations were recorded and plotted against time. An individual aerobic score was calculated from this curve, using watt output during equal relative percentiles of maximum heart-rate benchmarks. The scores were compared with respective results in a V̇O2max test and with a similar scoring system in 14 older (51 ± 9 years) females; they correlated with the 6 categories of the V̇O2max test results and classified into 3 categories of V̇O2max grades (very poor/poor; fair/good; excellent/superior) with a combined accuracy of 80.95%. More studies are required to validate the potential utility of this submaximal test as an additional risk factor for diagnostic purposes in non-athletes.

Novelty points: A novel method for estimating cardiorespiratory fitness during submaximal exercise consistent with V̇O2max performance. The method yields an aerobic score that may be used as a marker for diagnostic and prognostic purposes.
Effects of surface straw mulching and buried straw layer on soil water content and salinity dynamics in saline soils
Authors: Song Xiliang , Sun Ruojun , Chen Weifeng , Wang Manhua
Published: December 2019

Field experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of wheat straw return methods, which included the use of surface straw mulch and a buried straw layer, on soil water content, electrical conductivity (EC), and sodium adsorption ratio (SAR) of saline sodic soils in an effort to identify useful ways for reducing soil salt accumulation and enhancing soil water content. The results showed that the straw return treatments were effective for inhibiting salt accumulation and soil water loss, resulting in a reduction of EC and SAR but an enhancement of soil water content. After a year-long experiment, compared with the treatment with no straw return, the straw burial and straw mulching treatments decreased the EC by 10.5% and 3.5%, reduced the SAR by 7.4% and 21.5%, and increased the soil water by 0.9% and 4.4%, respectively. Furthermore, the combined application of straw layer burial and surface straw return had a more significant effect than the individual treatments; the positive effect of straw return occurred mainly focused in the topsoil (0–40 cm) and decreased with increasing soil depth. Our results allowed us to conclude that burial of the straw layer was necessary to enhance the effects of surface mulch, and the combination of surface mulch (3.0 t ha−1 of wheat straw) and straw layer burial (6.0 t ha−1 of wheat straw) proved to be a better straw return method than the others.
Right frontal eye field has perceptual and oculomotor functions during optokinetic stimulation and nystagmus
Authors: Mastropasqua Angela , Dowsett James , Dieterich Marianne , Taylor Paul C. J.
Published: December 2019

The right frontal eye field (rFEF) is associated with visual perception and eye movements. rFEF is activated during optokinetic nystagmus (OKN), a reflex that moves the eye in response to visual motion (optokinetic stimulation, OKS). It remains unclear whether rFEF plays causal perceptual and/or oculomotor roles during OKS and OKN. To test this, participants viewed a leftward-moving visual scene of vertical bars and judged whether a flashed dot was moving. Single pulses of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) were applied to rFEF on half of trials. In half of blocks, to explore oculomotor control, participants performed an OKN in response to the OKS. rFEF TMS, during OKN, made participants more accurate on trials when the dot was still, and it slowed eye movements. In separate blocks, participants fixated during OKS. This not only controlled for eye movements but also allowed the use of EEG to explore the FEF’s role in visual motion discrimination. In these blocks, by contrast, leftward dot motion discrimination was impaired, associated with a disruption of the frontal-posterior balance in alpha-band oscillations. None of these effects occurred in a control site (M1) experiment. These results demonstrate multiple related yet dissociable causal roles of the right FEF during optokinetic stimulation.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY This study demonstrates causal roles of the right frontal eye field (FEF) in motion discrimination and eye movement control during visual scene motion: previous work had only examined other stimuli and eye movements such as saccades. Using combined transcranial magnetic stimulation and EEG and a novel optokinetic stimulation motion-discrimination task, we find evidence for multiple related yet dissociable causal roles within the FEF: perceptual processing during optokinetic stimulation, generation of the optokinetic nystagmus, and the maintenance of alpha oscillations.
Serotonergic control of GABAergic inhibition in the lateral amygdala
Authors: Yamamoto Ryo , Furuyama Takafumi , Sugai Tokio , Ono Munenori , Pare Denis , Kato Nobuo
Published: December 2019

Much evidence implicates the serotonergic regulation of the amygdala in anxiety. Thus the present study was undertaken to characterize the influence of serotonin (5-HT) on principal neurons (PNs) of the rat lateral amygdala (LA), using whole cell recordings in vitro. Because inhibition is a major determinant of PN activity, we focused on the control of GABAergic transmission by 5-HT. IPSCs were elicited by local electrical stimulation of LA in the presence of glutamate receptor antagonists. We found that 5-HT reduces GABAAinhibitory postsynaptic currents (IPSCs) via presynaptic 5-HT1Breceptors. While the presynaptic inhibition of GABA release also attenuated GABABcurrents, this effect was less pronounced than for GABAAcurrents because 5-HT also induced a competing postsynaptic enhancement of GABABcurrents. That is, GABABcurrents elicited by pressure application of GABA or baclofen were enhanced by 5-HT. In addition, we obtained evidence suggesting that 5-HT differentially regulates distinct subsets of GABAergic synapses. Indeed, GABAAIPSCs were comprised of two components: a relatively 5-HT-insensitive IPSC that had a fast time course and a 5-HT-sensitive component that had a slower time course. Because the relative contribution of these two components varied depending on whether neurons were recorded at proximity versus at a distance from the stimulating electrodes, we speculate that distinct subtypes of local-circuit cells contribute the two contingents of GABAergic synapses. Overall, our results indicate that 5-HT is a potent regulator of synaptic inhibition in LA.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY We report that 5-HT, acting via presynaptic 5-HT1Breceptors, attenuates GABAAIPSCs by reducing GABA release in the lateral amygdala (LA). In parallel, 5-HT enhances GABABcurrents postsynaptically, such that GABABinhibitory postsynaptic currents (IPSCs) are relatively preserved from the presynaptic inhibition of GABA release. We also found that the time course of 5-HT-sensitive and -insensitive GABAAIPSCs differ. Together, these results indicate that 5-HT is a potent regulator of synaptic inhibition in LA.
Intense noise exposure alters peripheral vestibular structures and physiology
Authors: Stewart C. E. , Bauer D. S. , Kanicki A. C. , Altschuler R. A. , King W. M.
Published: December 2019

The otolith organs play a critical role in detecting linear acceleration and gravity to control posture and balance. Some afferents that innervate these structures can be activated by sound and are at risk for noise overstimulation. A previous report demonstrated that noise exposure can abolish vestibular short-latency evoked potential (VsEP) responses and damage calyceal terminals. However, the stimuli that were used to elicit responses were weaker than those established in previous studies and may have been insufficient to elicit VsEP responses in noise-exposed animals. The goal of this study was to determine the effect of an established noise exposure paradigm on VsEP responses using large head-jerk stimuli to determine if noise induces a stimulus threshold shift and/or if large head-jerks are capable of evoking VsEP responses in noise-exposed rats. An additional goal is to relate these measurements to the number of calyceal terminals and hair cells present in noise-exposed vs. non-noise-exposed tissue. Exposure to intense continuous noise significantly reduced VsEP responses to large stimuli and abolished VsEP responses to small stimuli. This finding confirms that while measurable VsEP responses can be elicited from noise-lesioned rat sacculi, larger head-jerk stimuli are required, suggesting a shift in the minimum stimulus necessary to evoke the VsEP. Additionally, a reduction in labeled calyx-only afferent terminals was observed without a concomitant reduction in the overall number of calyces or hair cells. This finding supports a critical role of calretinin-expressing calyceal-only afferents in the generation of a VsEP response.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY This study identifies a change in the minimum stimulus necessary to evoke vestibular short-latency evoked potential (VsEP) responses after noise-induced damage to the vestibular periphery and reduced numbers of calretinin-labeled calyx-only afferent terminals in the striolar region of the sacculus. These data suggest that a single intense noise exposure may impact synaptic function in calyx-only terminals in the striolar region of the sacculus. Reduced calretinin immunolabeling may provide insight into the mechanism underlying noise-induced changes in VsEP responses.
Modelling Eco-Driving Support System for Microscopic Traffic Simulation
Authors: Olstam Johan , Bernhardsson Viktor , Choudhury Charisma , Klunder Gerdien , Wilmink Isabel , van Noort Martijn
Published: December 2019

Microscopic traffic simulation is an ideal tool for investigating the network level impacts of eco-driving in different networks and traffic conditions, under varying penetration rates and driver compliance rates. The reliability of the traffic simulation results however rely on the accurate representation of the simulation of the driver support system and the response of the driver to the eco-driving advice, as well as on a realistic modelling and calibration of the driver’s behaviour. The state-of-the-art microscopic traffic simulation models however exclude detailed modelling of the driver response to eco-driver support systems. This paper fills in this research gap by presenting a framework for extending state-of-the-art traffic simulation models with sub models for drivers’ compliance to advice from an advisory eco-driving support systems. The developed simulation framework includes among others a model of driver’s compliance with the advice given by the system, a gear shifting model and a simplified model for estimating vehicles maximum possible acceleration. Data from field operational tests with a full advisory eco-driving system developed within the ecoDriver project was used to calibrate the developed compliance models. A set of verification simulations used to illustrate the effect of the combination of the ecoDriver system and drivers’ compliance to the advices are also presented.
The Effects of Once-Weekly Dulaglutide and Insulin Glargine on Glucose Fluctuation in Poorly Oral-Antidiabetic Controlled Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
Authors: Wang Jie , Li Hui-qin , Xu Xiao-hua , Kong Xiao-cen , Sun Rui , Jing Ting , Ye Lei , Su Xiao-fei , Ma Jian-hua
Published: December 2019

Aim. To compare the effects of once-weekly Dulaglutide with once-daily glargine in poorly oral-antidiabetic controlled patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Method. A total of 25 patients with T2DM admitted into Department of Endocrinology from December 2012 to August 2013 were randomly assigned into two groups: Dulaglutide group (n=16) and glargine group (n=9). All patients received either Dulaglutide or glargine treatments for 52 weeks. Continuous glucose monitoring systems (CGMS) were applied to them for two 72 h periods at before and after the treatment each. Patient general clinical data were collected and analyzed. Result. Fast blood glucose (FBG) of the glargine group declined more significantly than the Dulaglutide group after treatment (p<0.05). The mean blood glucose (MBG), standard deviation of blood glucose (SDBG), mean amplitude of glycemic excursion (MAGE) within a day, the largest amplitude of glycemic excursion (LAGE), M-value, absolute means of daily difference (MODD) of glycemic excursion, the percentage of time (≤2.8 mmol/L, ≤3.9 mmol/L, ≥10.0 mmol/L, ≥13.9 mmol/L, 3.9–7.8 mmol/L, and 9–10.0 mmol/L), maximum glycemic value, and minimum glycemic value were similar between the two groups (p>0.05). The incidence of hypoglycemia was also similar between the two groups (p>0.05). Though serum levels of TNF-α, IL-6, and 8-PGF2α all decreased, significant reduction was found in TNF-α and 8-PGF2α. TNF-α was only significantly reduced in the Dulaglutide group, while 8-PGF2α was seen in both groups. Conclusion. For T2DM patients with poorly controlled oral antidiabetic drugs, once-weekly Dulaglutide not only has the same effect on glucose fluctuation as once-daily glargine but also significantly reduced TNF-α and 8-PGF2α after a 52 week treatment protocol. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01648582.
Influence of Multiple Freeway Design Features on Freight Traffic Safety
Authors: Park Juneyoung , Abdel-Aty Mohamed , Wang Ling , Lee Gunwoo , Hong Jungyeol
Published: December 2019

Since various freeway design features are simultaneously installed on roadways, it is important to assess their combined safety effects correctly. This study investigated associations between multiple roadway cross-section design features on freeways and traffic safety. In order to consider the interaction impact of multiple design features and nonlinearity of predictors concurrently, multivariate adaptive regression splines (MARS) models were developed for all types and freight vehicle crashes. In MARS models, a series of basis functions is applied to represent the space of predictors and the combined safety effectiveness of multiple design features can be interpreted by the interaction terms. The generalized linear regression models (GLMs) with negative binomial (NB) distribution were also evaluated for comparison purposes. The results determine that the MARS models show better model fitness than the NB models due to its strength to reflect the nonlinearity of crash predictors and interaction impacts among variables under different ranges. Various interaction impacts among parameters under different ranges based on knot values were found from the MARS models, whereas two interaction terms were found in the NB models. The results also showed that the combined safety effects of multiple treatments from the NB models over-estimated the real combined safety effects when using the simple multiplication approach suggested by the HSM (Highway Safety Manual). Therefore, it can be recommended that the MARS is applied to evaluate the safety impacts of multiple treatments to consider both the interaction impacts among treatments and nonlinearity issues simultaneously.
The Daily Container Volumes Prediction of Storage Yard in Port with Long Short-Term Memory Recurrent Neural Network
Authors: Gao Yinping , Chang Daofang , Fang Ting , Fan Yiqun
Published: December 2019

The effective forecast of container volumes can provide decision support for port scheduling and operating. In this work, by deep learning the historical dataset, the long short-term memory (LSTM) recurrent neural network (RNN) is used to predict daily volumes of containers which will enter the storage yard. The raw dataset of daily container volumes in a certain port is chosen as the training set and preprocessed with box plot. Then the LSTM model is established with Python and Tensorflow framework. The comparison between LSTM and other prediction methods like ARIMA model and BP neural network is also provided in this study, and the prediction gap of LSTM is lower than other methods. It is promising that the proposed LSTM is helpful to predict the daily volumes of containers.
Spectral Three-Term Constrained Conjugate Gradient Algorithm for Function Minimizations
Authors: Ahmed Huda I. , Al-Kawaz Rana Z. , Al-Bayati Abbas Y.
Published: December 2019

In this work, we tend to deal within the field of the constrained optimization methods of three-term Conjugate Gradient (CG) technique which is primarily based on Dai–Liao (DL) formula. The new proposed technique satisfies the conjugacy property and the descent conditions of Karush–Kuhn–Tucker (K.K.T.). Our planned constrained technique uses the robust Wolfe line search condition with some assumptions. We tend to prove the global convergence property of the new planned technique. Numeral comparisons for (30-thirty) constrained optimization issues make sure the effectiveness of the new planned formula.
Effects of the Cornell-Type Potential on a Position-Dependent Mass System in Kaluza-Klein Theory
Authors: Leite E.V. B. , Belich H. , Vitória R. L. L.
Published: December 2019

In this paper, we have investigated a scalar particle with position-dependent mass subject to a uniform magnetic field and a quantum flux, both coming from the background which is governed by the Kaluza-Klein theory. By modifying the mass term of the scalar particle, we insert the Cornell-type potential. In the search for solutions of bound states, we determine the relativistic energy profile of the system in this background of extra dimension. Particular cases of this system are analyzed and a quantum effect can be observed: the dependence of the magnetic field on the quantum numbers of the solutions.
Evolution of the China Railway Express Consolidation Network and Optimization of Consolidation Routes
Authors: Zhao Laijun , Cheng Zhaolin , Li Huiyong , Hu Qingmi
Published: December 2019

China Rail Express (CRE) is the international container train line that runs between China and Europe. Since the implementation of China’s Belt and Road initiative, CRE has developed rapidly. As most CRE trains travel directly from source to destination without load consolidation, CRE faces issues such as an insufficient cargo supply, a low load factor, and a low profit margin. To address these problems, we analyzed the selection of potential consolidation centers and the optimization of consolidation routes to these centers from the perspective of complex network evolution. First, we constructed rules for generation and evolution of the complex network. Next, we generated logistics connection topology networks for CRE from 2013 to 2017 using those rules. We then optimized the consolidation routes based on the network structures formed from those rules. Chongqing, Xi’an, Chengdu, Zhengzhou, Shenyang, Lanzhou, Urumqi, and Tianjin were selected as potential consolidation centers. We conclude with a sensitivity analyses and a discussion of management implications for CRE.
Prevalence of HPV Genotypes in Adult Male Patients with Cutaneous Warts: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Al-Awadhi Rana , Al-Mutairi Nawaf , Chehadeh Wassim
Published: December 2019

Aim: This study was aimed at determining the distribution of type-specific human papillomavirus (HPV) in men with cutaneous warts and correlating this with the clinical and morphological presentation of warts. Methods: Cutaneous wart samples were obtained from 167 adult men presenting to a dermatology clinic. The tissues were fixed and screened for HPV DNA using real-time PCR. The HPV genotype was determined by PCR-based sequencing. Results: Nine different HPV genotypes were detected, comprising 6 from the α genus (HPV2, 6, 27b, 57b, 57c, and 94), 2 from the γ genus (HPV4 and 65), and HPV1a from the mu genus. Single HPV infection was encountered in 93.4% of the patients, whereas multiple infections were encountered in only 6.6%. The prevalence of HPV27b was highest among four body sites, followed by HPV57c, 1a, and 2. HPV1a was the most common genotype encountered in multiple infections, followed by HPV27b. Patient age, the number of warts, the duration of the presence of warts, and contact with people who have warts were not predictors of wart location. However, a high number of patients with palmar or common body warts had wart sizes of <1 cm. Conclusions: This study shows that genus α HPV types are detected in about 82% of patients with cutaneous warts.
La estrategia mariposa: poesía y misticismo en Severo Sarduy
Authors: León Denise
Published: December 2019

Los sonetos y las décimas de Un testigo fugaz y disfrazado (1985) de Severo Sarduy, en cuyo análisis se concentra este artículo, funcionan como una lectura oblicua y paródica, como una curiosa retombée de la mística española. A partir de dicho análisis este artículo intenta aquilatar las implicaciones de esa original máquina de lectura construida por el escritor caribeño a partir de la fórmula del “mariposeo”.
Antonio Benítez Rojo, Cuba e o Caribe: do livro La isla que se repite à revista Encuentro de la Cultura Cubana
Authors: Kawakami Vítor
Published: December 2019

Este artigo pretende colaborar ao estudo do ensaísmo produzido pelo escritor cubano Antonio Benítez Rojo sobre características da identidade cultural de Cuba e do Caribe, trazendo à discussão sua perspectiva pós-moderna trabalhada em La isla que se repite (1989), já tratada por Quiñones (2007) e Bonfiglio (2014), assim buscando identificar um possível posterior distanciamento do ensaísta dessa filiação interpretativa. Para isso, baseia-se numa série de ensaios publicados pela revista Encuentro de la Cultura Cubana (1996-2009) dedicados principalmente ao tema “açúcar/escravidão”, e que acabam por compor um painel discursivo sobre a resistência de intelectuais cubanos a aspectos do poder implantado desde a colônia pela economia de Plantação e atravessando, segundo o autor, os momentos republicano e socialista.
PR 3 Aguirre: Entrevista a Marta Aponte Alsina
Authors: Ramos Julio
Published: December 2019

Entrevista com Marta Aponte Alsina sobre o livro documental PR 3 Aguirre
Ensayo y postficción: realidad y goce de la escritura en Con hambre y sin dinero (2018), de Ena Lucía Portela
Authors: Timmer Nanne
Published: December 2019

Los textos ficcionales de Ena Lucía Portela juegan con la ironía de una voz narradora que se ríe a carcajadas de su entorno. Ese entorno puede nutrirse tanto de un referente real inmediato como de un universo ficcional que es propiedad de su autor. La afirmación de control o autoría es una de las formas en las que que aparecen los juegos metaficcionales en sus textos. Aquello produce una indeterminación en el lugar de enunciación que difumina la separación entre el mundo real y el mundo ficcional. ¿Qué ocurre con los textos ensayísticos que se reúnen en Con hambre y sin dinero (2018) que se presentan como ´no-ficcionales´ y cómo se da la relación con la poética Portela en este género supuestamente diferente?a relación con la poética Portela en este género supuestamente diferente?