bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Estimating the Economic Losses Value Caused by Flood Disaster in Sampang Regency Using Tangible Damage Assessment
Authors: Prihantini Campina Illa
Published: April 2020

Flood disaster is a natural disaster that can cause losses, both economic losses and social losses. Flood disaster in Sampang Regency is a routine natural disaster every year. The flood disaster in this district occurs in urban areas, where the center of economic and administrative activities is located. Sampang regency is a liaison district for the other two districts in Madura Island, namely Pamekasan and Sumenep. This study aims to estimate the economic losses of flood disaster experienced by people living in urban areas of Sampang Regency. The Tangible Damage Assessment consists of two commonly used tools for estimating economic losses due to natural disasters. Averting Behavior Method is used for tools to estimate the impact of total loss due to flood disaster. The results showed that the value of losses felt by the people affected by flooding is Rp 5,881,948,800. this loss consists of structural losses, loss of household property, vehicle damage, loss of salary or income, health loss for medical treatment, and educational loss. The results of this study will be expected to be used as a basis for policy recommendations in an effort to reduce the impact of flood disaster in Sampang Regency.
The Correlation Between Cone End Resistance (qc) And California Bearing Ratio (CBR) Of Land In Banjarbaru
Authors: Respati Rida , Cahyadi Hendra
Published: April 2020

All this time, the score of CBR is calculated according to qc score. Generally, planner usually refers to graph / nomogram which published on literature book, but the graph / nomogram on the book may not probably able to apply in all areas, including Banjarbaru. In this particular research, it aimed to make the graph or equation between CBR and Cone test in the cone area of 0.5 in2. The both tests used the same sample of water contents and density. The samples were taken in four areas in Banjarbaru; Balitra, Jalan Semeru (Semeru Street), Mandiangin Circuit, and Banjarbaru Asri Housing. There took soil samples in three points of every areas. By the test, obtained the correlation between CBR and Cone End Resistance (qc) on Banjarbaru area: CBR = 0.0545 qc + 2.618 and the qc score is between 50 kg/cm2 to 300 kg/cm2.
Education Synergism Environmental Based Learning: Nurul Islam Tamidung Batang Context
Authors: Mukhlishi Mukhlishi , Alam Suluh Mardika , Hidayatillah Yetti
Published: April 2020

Environment-based education builds student ability and behavior with the surrounding environment, the environment occupies an important position, the implication is the availaibility of a conducive environment both indoor and outdoor. This must be supported with environment health that is an essential part of the learners to learn and improve their cognitive, motoric and affective capabilities. This is a must to be created in an educational institution. Educational institutions always want to give different nuances that are accompanied by the quality of the institution itself. In essence, creating an educational synergism based on an environmentally-based learning perspective should be supported by environmental health for the sake of creating synergistic learning conditions.
Meaningful Learning Reconstruction for Millennial: Facing competition in the information technology era
Authors: Hanani Nurul
Published: April 2020

The rapidly expanding information age raises a variety of increasingly complex global problems and challenges. Tight competition and a boundless climate of competition will increasingly color the development of the world. To deal with this, the younger generation is required to be able to have a sufficient set of life skills. Meanwhile, education today is still considered too focused on the problem of knowledge. In order for the millennial generation to have sufficient understanding, education must be oriented towards giving meaning to students, as well as providing knowledge. This article will explore the reconstruction efforts of meaningful learning for millennial generations in the face of competition in the information age. Meaningful learning is directed at providing students with critical, innovative and creative thinking skills so that they are able to respond to various problems that will emerge in the future. Learning means constructivist style, where it emphasizes the ability of students to develop a comprehensive meaning from what they learn. Meaningful learning can be pursued by various methods or approaches, provided that they are student-oriented. Some methods that can be used include active learning, collaborative learning, cooperative learning, or problem-based learning. With some of these methods, of course traditional learning hegemony that has been emphasizing more on aspects of cognition will be replaced by constructivistic features that emphasize the skills of students in the learning process. That is, the greater the involvement of students in the learning process, the more skilled they will be in interpreting what they learn. Thus, they will be ready to compete competitively in this information era.
Environmental Cleaning Control Policy: Analyzing Cleanliness and Gardening Control in Pekanbaru, Indonesia
Authors: Dailiati Surya , Irawati Irawati , Marlinda Pebriana
Published: April 2020

The purpose of this study is to analyze the policy of environmental cleaning control in Pekanbaru City. The method used in this study is descriptive qualitative, which aims to analyze the policy of environmental cleaning control in Pekanbaru City. The collected data were analyzed with interactive model of Miles and Huberman. The study results indicated that the policy of Department of Cleanliness and Gardening of Pekanbaru City has been made and arranged as best as possible refer policy theory, but the cleanliness control policies cannot be implemented as maximum as possible because the existing policy is quite difficult to implement. Similarly, waste management through the Garbage Bank program in Pekanbaru City still has not been implemented effectively and optimally. This can be seen from the lack of public participation in the implementation of the Garbage Bank program.
Using POC Azolla Mycrophylla and Urea Fertilizer: Lettuce Plant (Lactuca Sativa L) Context
Authors: Lestari Sri Utami , Mutryarny Enny
Published: April 2020

The aim of the study was to obtain the best dose of POC Azolla microphylla in urea efficiency against the growth and production of lettuce. The study was conducted experimentally with non-factorial completely randomized design with 5 treatments and 4 replications each treatment consisting of 4 plants and 2 plants used as samples: A0 = Control (without treatment), A1 = POC treatment Azolla microphylla 30 ml l−1 + Urea 2 g plant−1, A2 = Treatment of POC Azolla microphylla 60 ml l−1+ Urea 1.5 g plant−1, A3 = Treatment of POC Azolla microphylla 90 ml l + Urea 1 g plant−1, A4 = POC treatment Azolla microphylla 120 ml l−1 + Urea 0.5 g plant−1. The results of the study were concluded; The combination of POC Azolla microphylla was able to streamline the administration of urea to stem diameter, number of leaves, fresh weight, consumption weight and dry weight of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L) and A4 treatment by giving POC Azolla microphylla 120 ml l−1 which was the best for urea efficiency.
Business and Risk Aspects in the era of Digital Information Technology University in Pekanbaru
Authors: Pahlawan Ryan , Widayat Prama
Published: April 2020

Education is a part of the business, if it will also be faced by the world of education, including the development of digital information technology. The ability of universities to manage the resources in adjusting to the progress of the digital world is crucial how they are able to influence students to select universities. All information must be digitally available through accreditation related websites, the existence of regular classes and evening classes for employees, inexpensive tuition fees, the location of the campus and courses offered.
Typical cases of destruction of the main hydraulic cylinders, causes of destruction and engineering solutions adopted for their prevention
Authors: Vorob’yev A , Gribkov A , Akinfiev A , Sinitsyna A
Published: April 2020

The problems of operation of hydraulic actuators in hydraulic press are considered. Design errors of hydraulic cylinders are identified. As the result of the simulation in the AnsysCFX, a new design with better strength properties is obtained, and the operational life of the hydraulic cylinder is increased. Also the pictures of the stressed-deformed state before and after structural changes are obtained.
Obtaining the maximum permissible gas content at the inlet to the ESP by computational fluid dynamics modeling
Authors: Petrov A , Sinitsyna A
Published: April 2020

Methods for increasing the operation stability of the electrical submersible pump (ESP) are listed. Examples of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) applications for designing and studying the flow part of the pump are given. The results of mesh convergence study, Pump performance curve, and dependences of head and hydraulic efficiency on gas content at the inlet, obtained by CFD methods, are presented. The results of CFD modeling are compared with experimental curves.
High-Pressure Positive-Displacement Hydraulic Pumps in Concrete Sample Testing Machines
Authors: Zyubin I , Cherkasskikh S , Akinfiev A , Babikova D
Published: April 2020

This article discusses a way to solve the problem of operational quality control of concrete in the construction of critical structures with the use of small-sized testing machines. To reduce the testing machines size, it is proposed to use a high-pressure hydraulic drive. As a promising way to control the machine, the practical experience is described of using a pump with a constant displacement, the drive of which uses an electronic frequency converter.
Improving the performance of a centrifugal vane pump by installing vortex generators on the suction surfaces of blades
Authors: Teplov O , Lomakin V
Published: April 2020

The influence of vortex generators mounting in the wet part of a centrifugal pump on its characteristics was investigated. Dependents of efficiency, cavitation characteristic, head and capacity are given. The vortex generators were mounted on the front edges of suction sides of the blades, where stall occurs, and a vortex is formed. The simulation results were compared with the characteristics obtained for the usual optimized flow part of the pump.
Obtaining of the optimal speed of the centrifugal pump
Authors: Shablovskiy A , Makhlaeva A , Shikova O
Published: April 2020

The work is devoted to the finding of the formula for calculating the optimal speed of the centrifugal pump. The structure, applications and main types of this vertical tank and its advantages in comparison to the horizontal tank are described. The figuring out of the formula is based on the conditions of maximum pump efficiency and it allows us to quickly assess the degree of non optimality of the pump when its operating frequency differs from the optimal frequency.
Variety of gas-dynamic turbulent configurations at internal flow in channels of structurally complex bodies
Authors: Kochetkov Yu , Borovik I , Podymova O , Protopopov A
Published: April 2020

Annotation

For the study of turbulent configurations in complex channels, it is proposed to use the experimental method of mass entrainment in combination with theoretical analysis and mathematical description of the results obtained. The paper presents the results of numerous experiments conducted on high-enthalpy gas flows in nozzles of complex shape. Images were obtained that visualize the picture of the torsion-wave dynamic movement of gas flows, the presence of stable structured turbulent flow configurations, and the abrupt transition from one form of flow stability to another.
Investigation of the influence of wear in impeller seals on the axial force in double suction pumps
Authors: Isaev N , Budaev G , Danilov D , Dobrokhodov K
Published: April 2020

This article is devoted to the investigation of axial force on the rotor of the double suction centrifugal pump at unequal wear of impeller seals. The annular seal of the double suction centrifugal pump is considered as an object of the study. The distribution of the fields of velocities and pressure in the seals of the pump are obtained by numerical modeling. The leakage rate resulting from the simulation is compared to the existing formulas.
Improving electrical conductivity of leather surface: a new technology versus industrial applications
Authors: Florio Claudia , Calvanese Gianluigi , Naviglio Biagio , Sarno Maria , Iuliano Mariagrazia , Ciambelli Paolo , De Pasquale Salvatore
Published: April 2020

The present study takes into account the consumer requirement of an even more massive use of touch screen devices, where the leather has to compete with the modern textile fibers in terms of technological performances, with particular reference to the newest technologies for the production of conductive gloves and other kinds of conductive goods, like shoes, garments, and others. Most of the known technologies able to provide materials with a unique ability to discharge static electricity and conductivity comparable with the human body concern the use of textile fibers. On the other hand, the goal of the present work is to delve into the application of technologies for leather matrix, with particular reference to the use of carbon-based nanomaterials, and attention to economical and/or practical aspects.
Early-Life Adversities and Recalcitrant Smoking in Midlife: An Examination of Gender and Life-Course Pathways
Authors: Lee Chioun , Harari Lexi , Park Soojin
Published: April 2020

Background

Little is known about life-course factors that explain why some individuals continue smoking despite having smoking-related diseases.

Purpose

We examined (a) the extent to which early-life adversities are associated with the risk of recalcitrant smoking, (b) psychosocial factors that mediate the association, and (c) gender differences in the associations.

Methods

Data were from 4,932 respondents (53% women) who participated in the first and follow-up waves of the Midlife Development in the U.S. National Survey. Early-life adversities include low socioeconomic status (SES), abuse, and family instability. Potential mediators include education, financial strain, purpose in life, mood disorder, family problems/support, and marital status. We used sequential logistic regression models to estimate the effect of early-life adversities on the risk of each of the three stages on the path to recalcitrant smoking (ever-smoking, smoking-related illness, and recalcitrant smoking).

Results

For women, low SES (odds ratio [OR] = 1.29; 1.06–1.55) and family instability (OR = 1.73; 1.14–2.62) are associated with an elevated risk of recalcitrant smoking. Education significantly reduces the effect of childhood SES, yet the effect of family instability remains significant even after accounting for life-course mediators. For men, the effect of low SES on recalcitrant smoking is robust (OR = 1.48; 1.10–2.00) even after controlling for potential mediators. There are noteworthy life-course factors that independently affect recalcitrant smoking: for both genders, not living with a partner; for women, education; and for men, family problems.

Conclusions

The findings can help shape intervention programs that address the underlying factors of recalcitrant smoking.
Spontaneous Early Withdrawal Behaviors after Chronic 24-hour Free-Choice Access to Ethanol
Authors: Hauser Sheketha R , Smith Rebecca J , Toalston Jamie E , Rodd Zachary A , McBride William J , Bell Richard L
Published: April 2020

Aims

Abstinence after chronic alcohol consumption leads to withdrawal symptoms, which are exacerbated after repeated cycles of relapse. This study examined withdrawal-like behaviors after chronic ethanol drinking, with or without repeated cycles of deprivation.

Methods

Male alcohol-preferring (P) rats had access to continuous ethanol (CE), chronic ethanol with repeated deprivation (RD), or remained ethanol naïve (EN). The RD group experienced seven cycles of 2 weeks of deprivation and 2 weeks of re-exposure to ethanol after an initial 6 weeks of ethanol access. Withdrawal was measured after an initial 24 h of ethanol re-exposure in the RD group, which coincided with the same day of ethanol access in the CE group. Withdrawal-like behavior was measured by (a) ethanol intake during the initial 24 h of re-exposure, (b) locomotor activity (LMA) in a novel field 9–13 h after removal of ethanol at the beginning of the fifth re-exposure cycle and (c) acoustic startle responding (ASR) 8–15 h after removal of ethanol at the beginning of the sixth re-exposure cycle.

Results

The RD rats displayed a 1-h alcohol deprivation effect (ADE) (temporary ethanol increase), relative to CE rats, during the first to fourth and seventh re-exposure cycles. RD and CE rats displayed significant increases in LMA than EN rats. Regarding ASR, RD rats displayed significantly greater ASR relative to EN rats.

Conclusion

This study confirms that P rats meet the animal model criterion for ethanol-associated dependence, without a reliance on either behavioral (limited fluid access) or pharmacological (seizure threshold manipulation) challenges.
An in silico model of LINE-1-mediated neoplastic evolution
Authors: LeBien Jack , McCollam Gerald , Atallah Joel
Published: April 2020

Motivation

Recent research has uncovered roles for transposable elements (TEs) in multiple evolutionary processes, ranging from somatic evolution in cancer to putatively adaptive germline evolution across species. Most models of TE population dynamics, however, have not incorporated actual genome sequence data. The effect of site integration preferences of specific TEs on evolutionary outcomes and the effects of different selection regimes on TE dynamics in a specific genome are unknown. We present a stochastic model of LINE-1 (L1) transposition in human cancer. This system was chosen because the transposition of L1 elements is well understood, the population dynamics of cancer tumors has been modeled extensively, and the role of L1 elements in cancer progression has garnered interest in recent years.

Results

Our model predicts that L1 retrotransposition (RT) can play either advantageous or deleterious roles in tumor progression, depending on the initial lesion size, L1 insertion rate and tumor driver genes. Small changes in the RT rate or set of driver tumor-suppressor genes (TSGs) were observed to alter the dynamics of tumorigenesis. We found high variation in the density of L1 target sites across human protein-coding genes. We also present an analysis, across three cancer types, of the frequency of homozygous TSG disruption in wild-type hosts compared to those with an inherited driver allele.

Availability and implementation

Source code is available at https://github.com/atallah-lab/neoplastic-evolution.

Contact

jlebien@uno.edu

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
scDoc: correcting drop-out events in single-cell RNA-seq data
Authors: Ran Di , Zhang Shanshan , Lytal Nicholas , An Lingling
Published: April 2020

Motivation

Single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) has become an important tool to unravel cellular heterogeneity, discover new cell (sub)types, and understand cell development at single-cell resolution. However, one major challenge to scRNA-seq research is the presence of ‘drop-out’ events, which usually is due to extremely low mRNA input or the stochastic nature of gene expression. In this article, we present a novel single-cell RNA-seq drop-out correction (scDoc) method, imputing drop-out events by borrowing information for the same gene from highly similar cells.

Results

scDoc is the first method that directly involves drop-out information to accounting for cell-to-cell similarity estimation, which is crucial in scRNA-seq drop-out imputation but has not been appropriately examined. We evaluated the performance of scDoc using both simulated data and real scRNA-seq studies. Results show that scDoc outperforms the existing imputation methods in reference to data visualization, cell subpopulation identification and differential expression detection in scRNA-seq data.

Availability and implementation

R code is available at https://github.com/anlingUA/scDoc.

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Human-induced pluripotent stem cells for modelling metabolic perturbations and impaired bioenergetics underlying cardiomyopathies
Authors: Ramachandra Chrishan J A , Chua Jasper , Cong Shuo , Kp Myu Mai Ja , Shim Winston , Wu Joseph C , Hausenloy Derek J
Published: April 2020

Normal cardiac contractile and relaxation functions are critically dependent on a continuous energy supply. Accordingly, metabolic perturbations and impaired mitochondrial bioenergetics with subsequent disruption of ATP production underpin a wide variety of cardiac diseases, including diabetic cardiomyopathy, dilated cardiomyopathy, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, anthracycline cardiomyopathy, peripartum cardiomyopathy, and mitochondrial cardiomyopathies. Crucially, there are no specific treatments for preventing the onset or progression of these cardiomyopathies to heart failure, one of the leading causes of death and disability worldwide. Therefore, new treatments are needed to target the metabolic disturbances and impaired mitochondrial bioenergetics underlying these cardiomyopathies in order to improve health outcomes in these patients. However, investigation of the underlying mechanisms and the identification of novel therapeutic targets have been hampered by the lack of appropriate animal disease models. Furthermore, interspecies variation precludes the use of animal models for studying certain disorders, whereas patient-derived primary cell lines have limited lifespan and availability. Fortunately, the discovery of human-induced pluripotent stem cells has provided a promising tool for modelling cardiomyopathies via human heart tissue in a dish. In this review article, we highlight the use of patient-derived iPSCs for studying the pathogenesis underlying cardiomyopathies associated with metabolic perturbations and impaired mitochondrial bioenergetics, as the ability of iPSCs for self-renewal and differentiation makes them an ideal platform for investigating disease pathogenesis in a controlled in vitro environment. Continuing progress will help elucidate novel mechanistic pathways, and discover novel therapies for preventing the onset and progression of heart failure, thereby advancing a new era of personalized therapeutics for improving health outcomes in patients with cardiomyopathy.
The Simons Genome Diversity Project: A Global Analysis of Mobile Element Diversity
Authors: Watkins W Scott , Feusier Julie E , Thomas Jainy , Goubert Clement , Mallick Swapon , Jorde Lynn B
Published: April 2020

Ongoing retrotransposition of Alu, LINE-1, and SINE–VNTR–Alu elements generates diversity and variation among human populations. Previous analyses investigating the population genetics of mobile element insertions (MEIs) have been limited by population ascertainment bias or by relatively small numbers of populations and low sequencing coverage. Here, we use 296 individuals representing 142 global populations from the Simons Genome Diversity Project (SGDP) to discover and characterize MEI diversity from deeply sequenced whole-genome data. We report 5,742 MEIs not originally reported by the 1000 Genomes Project and show that high sampling diversity leads to a 4- to 7-fold increase in MEI discovery rates over the original 1000 Genomes Project data. As a result of negative selection, nonreference polymorphic MEIs are underrepresented within genes, and MEIs within genes are often found in the transcriptional orientation opposite that of the gene. Globally, 80% of Alu subfamilies predate the expansion of modern humans from Africa. Polymorphic MEIs show heterozygosity gradients that decrease from Africa to Eurasia to the Americas, and the number of MEIs found uniquely in a single individual are also distributed in this general pattern. The maximum fraction of MEI diversity partitioned among the seven major SGDP population groups (FST) is 7.4%, similar to, but slightly lower than, previous estimates and likely attributable to the diverse sampling strategy of the SGDP. Finally, we utilize these MEIs to extrapolate the primary Native American shared ancestry component to back to Asia and provide new evidence from genome-wide identical-by-descent genetic markers that add additional support for a southeastern Siberian origin for most Native Americans.
New insights into the structural elements of the upper mantle beneath the contiguous United States fromS-to-Pconverted seismic waves
Authors: Kind Rainer , Mooney Walter D , Yuan Xiaohui
Published: April 2020

The S-receiver function (SRF) technique is an effective tool to study seismic discontinuities in the upper mantle such as the mid-lithospheric discontinuity (MLD) and the lithosphere–asthenosphere boundary (LAB). This technique uses deconvolution and aligns traces along the maximum of the deconvolved SV signal. Both of these steps lead to acausal signals, which may cause interference with real signals from below the Moho. Here we go back to the origin of the SRF method and process S-to-P converted waves using S-onset times as the reference time and waveform summation without any filter like deconvolution or bandpass. We apply this ‘causal’ SRF (C-SRF) method to data of the USArray and obtain partially different results in comparison with previous studies using the traditional acausal SRF method. The new method does not confirm the existence of an MLD beneath large regions of the cratonic US. The shallow LAB in the western US is, however, confirmed with the new method. The elimination of the MLD signal below much of the cratonic US reveals lower amplitude but highly significant phases that previously had been overwhelmed by the apparent MLD signals. Along the northern part of the area with data coverage we see relics of Archean or younger northwest directed low-angle subduction below the entire Superior Craton. In the cratonic part of the US we see indications of the cratonic LAB near 200 km depth. In the Gulf Coast of the southern US, we image relics of southeast directed shallow subduction, likely of mid-Palaeozoic age.
Targeting Lymphocyte Activation Gene 3 to Reverse T-Lymphocyte Dysfunction and Improve Survival in Murine Polymicrobial Sepsis
Authors: Lou Jing-sheng , Wang Jia-feng , Fei Miao-miao , Zhang Yan , Wang Jun , Guo Yu , Bian Jin-jun , Deng Xiao-ming
Published: April 2020

Background

Lymphocyte activation gene 3 (LAG-3) is one of the immune checkpoint molecules, negatively regulating the T-cell reactions. The present study investigated the role of LAG-3 in sepsis-induced T-lymphocyte disability.

Methods

Mice sepsis was induced by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP). LAG-3 expression on some immune cells were detected 24 hours after CLP. LAG-3 knockout and anti–LAG-3 antibody were applied to investigate the effects on the survival, bacterial clearance. Cytokine levels, T-cell counts, and the presence of apoptosis (in blood, spleen, and thymus) were also determined. In vitro T-cell apoptosis, interferon γ secretion, and proliferation were measured. The expression of interleukin 2 receptor on T cells was also determined after CLP.

Results

LAG-3 was up-regulated on CD4+/CD8+ T, CD19+ B, natural killer, CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells and dendritic cells. Both LAG-3 knockout and anti–LAG-3 antibody had a positive effect on survival and on blood or peritoneal bacterial clearance in mice undergoing CLP. Cytokine levels and T-cell apoptosis decreased in anti–LAG-3 antibody–treated mice. Induced T-cell apoptosis decreased, whereas interferon γ secretion and proliferation were improved by anti–LAG-3 antibody in vitro. Interleukin 2 receptor was up-regulated on T cells in both wild-type and LAG-3–knockout mice undergoing CLP.

Conclusions

LAG-3 knockout or anti–LAG-3 antibody blockade protected mice undergoing CLP from sepsis-associated immunodysfunction and may be a new target for the treatment.
Charged with Discharge: A Case-based Review of Nipple Discharge Using the American College of Radiology’s Appropriateness Guidelines
Authors: Karimova E Jane , Slanetz Priscilla J
Published: April 2020

Nipple discharge, a relatively common presenting symptom for women of all ages, may be due to both benign and malignant conditions. Men can also present with nipple discharge, and when they do, they have a higher likelihood of malignancy than women. Radiologists vary in their evaluation of patients with nipple discharge, although the American College of Radiology practice guidelines for nipple discharge provides data-driven appropriate algorithms. In patients with physiologic discharge, imaging is not typically indicated. For those with pathologic nipple discharge, imaging typically starts with diagnostic mammography and retroareolar ultrasound for women over 40 years of age, diagnostic mammogram or ultrasound for women aged 30–39 years, and ultrasound for women younger than 30 years. Finally, contrast-enhanced breast MRI or galactography are usually reserved for identifying the cause of discharge when initial imaging with mammography and ultrasound is unrevealing.
Managing Frozen Assets at the International Criminal Court
Authors: Birkett Daley J
Published: April 2020

On 8 June 2018, more than 10 years after his arrest, the Appeals Chamber of the International Criminal Court (ICC) reversed Jean-Pierre Bemba Gombo’s conviction by the Trial Chamber for crimes against humanity and war crimes, acquitting him of all charges. Soon after the start of his time in detention in The Hague, assets belonging to Bemba were frozen by states across a number of jurisdictions at the request of the ICC. Many of these assets remain frozen, more than 18 months after his acquittal. This article examines the consequences of prolonged asset freezes by the ICC through the lens of the Bemba case, demonstrating the existence of gaps in the legal framework applicable to the management of frozen assets under the ICC Statute system and suggesting possible responses thereto at the domestic and international levels.
Attractiveness of Cattle Dung to Coprophilous Beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeoidea and Sphaeridiinae) and Their Segregation During the Initial Stages of the Heterotrophic Succession on a Pasture in Southeast Michigan
Authors: Wassmer Thomas
Published: April 2020

Only a few mostly older studies analyzed the heterotrophic succession of dung beetles in the Midwestern United States. Such studies are needed to track the impacts of the climate crisis on heterotrophic succession and the associated decomposition processes that are central to soil fertility and carbon sequestration. The current study closes this knowledge gap and provides an easy and efficient method to estimate the relative attractiveness of individual dung pads during heterotrophic succession. The dung beetle community of Carpenter Farm in Adrian, Southeast Michigan was sampled for an entire year, including the winter months, using 15 pitfall traps baited with fresh cow manure. Samples were collected after 48 h and again after 72 h exposure time from the bucket content while leaving the bait unhampered. Eighty-four percent of all beetles were caught in the early sample, but only 6 species were missing in the later sample. A cluster analysis based on Pianka’s niche overlap identified a statistically higher mean overlap than expected by chance in a null model (model RA3) and divided the species community clearly into three clusters separating most relocators from most dwellers. Despite using a different method, my results confirmed the successional position of most previously described species and added data for several species with poor or unknown successional state. The successional segregation between dwellers and relocators discovered by the cluster analysis was paralleled by a significantly larger body size of relocators across taxonomic groups as compared to dwellers.
Selection following Gene Duplication Shapes Recent Genome Evolution in the Pea Aphid Acyrthosiphon pisum
Authors: Fernández Rosa , Marcet-Houben Marina , Legeai Fabrice , Richard Gautier , Robin Stéphanie , Wucher Valentin , Pegueroles Cinta , Gabaldón Toni , Tagu Denis
Published: April 2020

Ecology of insects is as wide as their diversity, which reflects their high capacity of adaptation in most of the environments of our planet. Aphids, with over 4,000 species, have developed a series of adaptations including a high phenotypic plasticity and the ability to feed on the phloem sap of plants, which is enriched in sugars derived from photosynthesis. Recent analyses of aphid genomes have indicated a high level of shared ancestral gene duplications that might represent a basis for genetic innovation and broad adaptations. In addition, there are a large number of recent, species-specific gene duplications whose role in adaptation remains poorly understood. Here, we tested whether duplicates specific to the pea aphid Acyrthosiphon pisum are related to genomic innovation by combining comparative genomics, transcriptomics, and chromatin accessibility analyses. Consistent with large levels of neofunctionalization, we found that most of the recent pairs of gene duplicates evolved asymmetrically, showing divergent patterns of positive selection and gene expression. Genes under selection involved a plethora of biological functions, suggesting that neofunctionalization and tissue specificity, among other evolutionary mechanisms, have orchestrated the evolution of recent paralogs in the pea aphid and may have facilitated host–symbiont cooperation. Our comprehensive phylogenomics analysis allowed us to tackle the history of duplicated genes to pave the road toward understanding the role of gene duplication in ecological adaptation.
Epidural Oscillating Cardiac-Gated Intracranial Implant Modulates Cerebral Blood Flow
Authors: Luciano Mark G , Dombrowski Stephen M , El-Khoury Serge , Yang Jun , Thyagaraj Suraj , Qvarlander Sara , Khalid Syed , Suk Ian , Manbachi Amir , Loth Francis
Published: April 2020

Background

We have previously reported a method and device capable of manipulating ICP pulsatility while minimally effecting mean ICP.

Objective

To test the hypothesis that different modulations of the intracranial pressure (ICP) pulse waveform will have a differential effect on cerebral blood flow (CBF).

Methods

Using an epidural balloon catheter attached to a cardiac-gated oscillating pump, 13 canine subjects underwent ICP waveform manipulation comparing different sequences of oscillation in successive animals. The epidural balloon was implanted unilaterally superior to the Sylvian sulcus. Subjects underwent ICP pulse augmentation, reduction and inversion protocols, directly comparing time segments of system activation and deactivation. ICP and CBF were measured bilaterally along with systemic pressure and heart rate. CBF was measured using both thermal diffusion, and laser doppler probes.

Results

The activation of the cardiac-gate balloon implant resulted in an ipsilateral/contralateral ICP pulse amplitude increase with augmentation (217%/202% respectively, P < .0005) and inversion (139%/120%, P < .0005). The observed changes associated with the ICP mean values were smaller, increasing with augmentation (23%/31%, P < .0001) while decreasing with inversion (7%/11%, P = .006/.0003) and reduction (4%/5%, P < .0005). CBF increase was observed for both inversion and reduction protocols (28%/7.4%, P < .0001/P = .006 and 2.4%/1.3%, P < .0001/P = .003), but not the augmentation protocol. The change in CBF was correlated with ICP pulse amplitude and systolic peak changes and not with change in mean ICP or systemic variables (heart rate, arterial blood pressure).

Conclusion

Cardiac-gated manipulation of ICP pulsatility allows the study of intracranial pulsatile dynamics and provides a potential means of altering CBF.
Epidemiology of synchronous brain metastases
Authors: Singh Raj , Stoltzfus Kelsey C , Chen Hanbo , Louie Alexander V , Lehrer Eric J , Horn Samantha R , Palmer Joshua D , Trifiletti Daniel M , Brown Paul D , Zaorsky Nicholas G
Published: April 2020

Background

The objectives of this study were to characterize (1) epidemiology of brain metastases at the time of primary cancer diagnosis, (2) incidence and trends of synchronous brain metastases from 2010 to 2015, and (3) overall survival (OS) of patients with synchronous brain metastases.

Methods

A total of 42 047 patients with synchronous brain metastases from 2010 to 2015 were identified from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database. Descriptive analysis was utilized to analyze demographics and incidence. The Kaplan–Meier method and a Cox proportional hazards model were utilized to evaluate potential prognostic factors for OS.

Results

The majority of patients were diagnosed from age older than 50 (91.9%). Common primary sites included lung (80%), melanoma (3.8%), breast (3.7%), and kidney/renal pelvis (3.0%). Among pediatric patients, common primaries included kidney/renal pelvis and melanomas. The incidence was roughly 7.3 persons/100 000. Synchronous brain metastases were associated with significantly poorer OS compared to extracranial metastases alone (hazard ratio [HR] =1.56; 95% CI: 1.54–1.58; P < .001). Among patients with brain metastases, male gender (HR = 1.60 vs 1.52), age older than 65 years (HR = 1.60 vs 1.46), synchronous liver, bone, or lung metastases (HR = 1.61 vs 1.49), and earlier year of diagnosis (HR = 0.98 for each year following 2010) were associated with significantly poorer OS.

Conclusions

The vast majority of brain metastases are from lung primaries. Synchronous brain metastases are associated with poorer OS compared to extracranial metastases alone.
Adherence to Treatment Guideline Improves Patient Outcomes in a Prospective Cohort of Adults Hospitalized for Community-Acquired Pneumonia
Authors: Lui Grace , To Heather K W , Lee Nelson , Chan Renee W Y , Li Timothy , Wong Rity Y K , Hui David S C , Ip Margaret
Published: April 2020

Background

Understanding local epidemiology and etiologies of community-acquired pneumonia in hospitalized patients is crucial for determining the appropriateness of treatment guidelines. We aim to determine the etiologies, severity, and outcomes in adults hospitalized for community-acquired pneumonia and to study the impact of empirical antibiotic therapy on patient outcomes.

Methods

We performed a prospective observational cohort study involving adults hospitalized for community-acquired pneumonia in Hong Kong. Sputum, nasopharyngeal aspirate, blood, and urine were collected for bacterial culture, molecular tests for detection of viruses and atypical pathogens, and antigen tests. Multivariable logistic regression model and Cox proportional hazard models were performed to determine independent factors associated with prolonged hospitalization and mortality.

Results

From February 2017 to July 2018, 258 patients were enrolled. The median age was 73 (interquartile range, 61–80) years, 66% were male, 57% had underlying chronic illnesses, 13% had CURB-65 score ≥3, and 10% had higher 1-year mortality. Pathogens were identified in 45% of patients; 20% had viral, 15% had bacterial, and 9% had polymicrobial pneumonia. Streptococcus pneumoniae (12%), influenza virus (12%), and Mycoplasma pneumoniae (1.2%) were the most common bacterial, viral, and atypical pathogens, respectively. Nonadherence to local empirical antibiotic treatment guidelines (primarily recommending beta-lactam and doxycycline) was observed in 25% and was independently associated with prolonged hospitalization (≥7 days) and higher mortality, after adjustment for age, underlying chronic illness, and disease severity.

Conclusions

Adherence to treatment guidelines was associated with shorter hospitalization and improved survival. We provided evidence for the use of doxycycline for coverage of atypical pathogens in nonsevere pneumonia.
Frailty Is Associated With Increased Hemagglutination-Inhibition Titers in a 4-Year Randomized Trial Comparing Standard- and High-Dose Influenza Vaccination
Authors: Loeb Nathalie , Andrew Melissa K , Loeb Mark , Kuchel George A , Haynes Laura , McElhaney Janet E , Verschoor Chris P
Published: April 2020

Background

Although high-dose (HD) vaccines have been reported to stimulate higher antibody responses compared with standard-dose (SD) influenza vaccines, there have been limited studies on the impact of frailty on such responses.

Methods

We conducted a randomized, double-blind trial (2014/2015 to 2017/2018) of SD versus HD trivalent split-virus vaccine (Fluzone) in 612 study participants aged 65+ over 4 influenza seasons. Hemagglutination inhibition antibody titers for influenza H1N1, H3N2, and B vaccine subtypes were measured at baseline and at 4, 10, and 20 weeks postvaccination and frailty was measured using a validated frailty index.

Results

Geometric mean antibody titers were significantly higher in HD compared with SD vaccine recipients for all influenza subtypes at all time points postvaccination. However, frailty was positively correlated with 4-week titers and was associated with increased odds of being a vaccine responder. For influenza A subtypes, this was mostly limited to HD recipients.

Conclusions

Frailty was associated with higher titers and increased antibody responses at 4 weeks after influenza vaccination, which was partially dependent on vaccine dosage. Chronic inflammation or dysregulated immunity, both of which are commonly observed with frailty, may be responsible, but it requires further investigation.
Studying in vivo dynamics of xylem-transported 11CO2 using positron emission tomography
Authors: Mincke Jens , Courtyn Jan , Vanhove Christian , Vandenberghe Stefaan , Steppe Kathy
Published: April 2020

Respired CO2 in woody tissues can build up in the xylem and dissolve in the sap solution to be transported through the plant. From the sap, a fraction of the CO2 can either be radially diffuse to the atmosphere or be assimilated in chloroplasts present in woody tissues. These processes occur simultaneously in stems and branches, making it difficult to study their specific dynamics. Therefore, an 11C-enriched aqueous solution was administered to young branches of Populus tremula L., which were subsequently imaged by positron emission tomography (PET). This approach allows in vivo visualization of the internal movement of CO2 inside branches at high spatial and temporal resolution, and enables direct measurement of the transport speed of xylem-transported CO2 (vCO2). Through compartmental modeling of the dynamic data obtained from the PET images, we (i) quantified vCO2 and (ii) proposed a new method to assess the fate of xylem-transported 11CO2 within the branches. It was found that a fraction of 0.49 min−1 of CO2 present in the xylem was transported upwards. A fraction of 0.38 min−1 diffused radially from the sap to the surrounding parenchyma and apoplastic spaces (CO2,PA) to be assimilated by woody tissue photosynthesis. Another 0.12 min−1 of the xylem-transported CO2 diffused to the atmosphere via efflux. The remaining CO2 (i.e., 0.01 min−1) was stored as CO2,PA, representing the build-up within parenchyma and apoplastic spaces to be assimilated or directed to the atmosphere. Here, we demonstrate the outstanding potential of 11CO2-based plant-PET in combination with compartmental modeling to advance our understanding of internal CO2 movement and the respiratory physiology within woody tissues.
Timeline of autumn phenology in temperate deciduous trees
Authors: Dox Inge , Gričar Jožica , Marchand Lorène J , Leys Sebastien , Zuccarini Paolo , Geron Charly , Prislan Peter , Mariën Bertold , Fonti Patrick , Lange Holger , Peñuelas Josep , Van den Bulcke Jan , Campioli Matteo
Published: April 2020

Cessation of xylem formation or wood growth (CWG) and onset of foliar senescence (OFS) are key autumn phenological events in temperate deciduous trees. Their timing is fundamental for the development and survival of trees, ecosystem nutrient cycling and the seasonal exchange of matter and energy between the biosphere and atmosphere, and affects the impact and feedback of forests to global change. A large-scale experimental effort and improved observational methods have allowed us to compare the timing of CWG and OFS for different deciduous tree species in Western Europe, particularly in silver birch, a pioneer species, and European beech, a late-succession species, at stands of different latitudes, of different levels of site fertility, for 2 years with contrasting meteorological and drought conditions, i.e., the low moderately dry 2017 and the extremely dry 2018. Specifically, we tested whether foliar senescence started before, after or concurrently with CWG. Onset of foliar senescence and CWG occurred generally between late September and early November, with larger differences across species and sites for OFS. Foliar senescence started concurrently with CWG in most cases, except for the drier 2018 and, for beech, at the coldest site, where OFS occurred significantly later than CWG. The behavior of beech in Spain, the southern edge of its European distribution, was unclear, with no CWG, but very low wood growth at the time of OFS. Our study suggests that OFS is generally triggered by the same drivers of CWG or when wood growth decreases in late summer, indicating an overarching mechanism of sink limitation as a possible regulator of the timing of foliar senescence.
Early epidemiological and clinical manifestations of COVID-19 in Japan
Authors: Qasim Muhammad , Yasir Muhammad , Ahmad Waqas , Yoshida Minami , Azhar Muhammad , Ali Mohammad Azam , Wang Chris , Gould Maree
Published: April 2020

Background

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronaviruses -2 (SARS-COV2) named as COVID-19 had spread worldwide and leading to 1,210,956 confirmed cases and 67,594 deaths

Methods

A data of 1192 confirmed cases and 43 deaths due to COVID-19 in Japan collected from the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare of Japan and analysed for different epidemiological parameters and their clinical manifestations. We used Clauset-Newman-Moore (CNM) clustering algorithm to develop web-network of confirmed cases to identified clusters of community transmission.

Results

Out of 1192 confirmed cases, 90.60% were symptomatic and 9.39% were asymptomatic. The prevalence of COVID19 in males was 56.29% and 43.20 % in females. The mean interval (±SD) from symptom onset to diagnosis was 6±22.6 days while mean interval (±SD) from contact to onset of symptoms was 5±19.5 days. People of age range 40-79 were more infected and deaths median age was 80. The main symptoms were fever, dry cough, fatigue and pneumonia. The main infected cities were Tokyo (195/1192, 16.35%), Hokkaido (160/1192 13.42%), Aichi (150/1192, 12.58%) and Osaka (145/1192, 12.16%). Only 2.34% cases had travel history from Wuhan China and Osaka music concert was identify as main cluster for community transmission. While 556 (46.64%) cases were clinically diagnosed and 557 (46.72%) were confirmed by using RT-PCR.

Conclusions

Other than, declare emergency Japan need to change their approach of diagnosing COVID-19, as asymptomatic cases prevalence is high and maybe it is reason for current sudden increase of cases. Screening centre should be establish away from hospitals, which are treating positive cases.