bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Phase Transitions by an Abundant Protein in the Anammox Extracellular Matrix Mediate Cell-to-Cell Aggregation and Biofilm Formation
Authors: Seviour Thomas , Wong Lan Li , Lu Yang , Mugunthan Sudarsan , Yang Qiaohui , Shankari Uma , Bessarab Irina , Liebl David , Williams Rohan B. H. , Law Yingyu , Kjelleberg Staffan
Published: September 2020

By employing biophysical and liquid-liquid phase separation concepts, this study revealed how a highly abundant extracellular protein enhances the key environmental and industrial bioprocess of anaerobic ammonium oxidation (anammox). Extracellular proteins of environmental biofilms are understudied and poorly annotated in public databases. Understanding the function of extracellular proteins is also increasingly important for improving bioprocesses and resource recovery. Here, protein functions were assessed based on theoretical predictions of intrinsically disordered domains, known to promote adhesion and liquid-liquid phase separation, and available surface layer protein properties. A model is thus proposed to explain how the protein promotes aggregation and biofilm formation by extracellular matrix remodeling and phase transitions. This work provides a strong foundation for functional investigations of extracellular proteins involved in biofilm development.
Molecular Dialogues between Early Divergent Fungi and Bacteria in an Antagonism versus a Mutualism
Authors: Lastovetsky Olga A. , Krasnovsky Lev D. , Qin Xiaotian , Gaspar Maria L. , Gryganskyi Andrii P. , Huntemann Marcel , Clum Alicia , Pillay Manoj , Palaniappan Krishnaveni , Varghese Neha , Mikhailova Natalia , Stamatis Dimitrios , Reddy T. B. K. , Daum Chris , Shapiro Nicole , Ivanova Natalia , Kyrpides Nikos , Woyke Tanja , Pawlowska Teresa E.
Published: September 2020

Animals and plants interact with microbes by engaging specific surveillance systems, regulatory networks, and response modules that allow for accommodation of mutualists and defense against antagonists. Antimicrobial defense responses are mediated in both animals and plants by innate immunity systems that owe their functional similarities to convergent evolution. Like animals and plants, fungi interact with bacteria. However, the principles governing these relations are only now being discovered. In a study system of host and nonhost fungi interacting with a bacterium isolated from the host, we found that bacteria used a common gene repertoire to engage both partners. In contrast, fungal responses to bacteria differed dramatically between the host and nonhost. These findings suggest that as in animals and plants, the genetic makeup of the fungus determines whether bacterial partners are perceived as mutualists or antagonists and what specific regulatory networks and response modules are initiated during each encounter.
Pivotal Roles for pH, Lactate, and Lactate-Utilizing Bacteria in the Stability of a Human Colonic Microbial Ecosystem
Authors: Wang Shui Ping , Rubio Luis A. , Duncan Sylvia H. , Donachie Gillian E. , Holtrop Grietje , Lo Galiana , Farquharson Freda M. , Wagner Josef , Parkhill Julian , Louis Petra , Walker Alan W. , Flint Harry J.
Published: September 2020

Lactate is formed by many species of colonic bacteria, and can accumulate to high levels in the colons of inflammatory bowel disease subjects. Conversely, in healthy colons lactate is metabolized by lactate-utilizing species to the short-chain fatty acids butyrate and propionate, which are beneficial for the host. Here, we investigated the impact of continuous lactate infusions (up to 20 mM) at two pH values (6.5 and 5.5) on human colonic microbiota responsiveness and metabolic outputs. At pH 5.5 in particular, lactate tended to accumulate in tandem with decreases in butyrate and propionate and with corresponding changes in microbial composition. Moreover, microbial communities with low numbers of lactate-utilizing bacteria were inherently less stable and therefore more prone to lactate-induced perturbations. These investigations provide clear evidence of the important role these lactate utilizers may play in health maintenance. These should therefore be considered as potential new therapeutic probiotics to combat microbiota perturbations.
Multiple Compounds Secreted by
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Increase the Tolerance of
Staphylococcus aureus
to the Antimicrobial Metals Copper and Silver
Authors: Monych Nadia K. , Turner Raymond J.
Published: September 2020

Alternative antimicrobials, such as metals, are one of the methods currently used to help mitigate antibiotic resistance. Metal-based antimicrobials such as copper and silver are used currently both to prevent and to treat infections. Although the efficacy of these antimicrobials has been determined in single-species culture, bacteria rarely exist in a single-species group in the environment. Both
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
and
Staphylococcus aureus
are often found associated with each other in severe chronic infections displaying increased virulence and antibiotic tolerance. In this study, we determined that multiple compounds secreted by
P. aeruginosa
are able to increase the tolerance of
S. aureus
to both copper and silver. This work demonstrates the expansive chemical communication occurring in polymicrobial infections between bacteria.
Grub in the mouth: an unusual case with review of literature
Authors: Astekar Madhusudan , Gujjar Sowmya Vishnurao , Upadhyay Himanshu , Upadhyay Himani
Published: September 2020

Oral myiasis is a rare disease, identified primarily in non-industrialised nations. It is caused fundamentally by the attack of larvae from Dipteran flies on the human tissues. Predisposing factors for oral myiasis are extraction wounds, destitute oral cleanliness, meagreness, mouth breathing amid rest, suppurative injuries, necrotic tissues, diabetes and perivascular infections primarily within the elderly, extreme halitosis, alcohol addiction, cerebral paralysis and components that favour prolonged mouth opening. Myiasis may have predilection to patients with mental challenges, cerebral palsy and hemiplegia due to unfortunate physical agility. The present case reports an oral myiasis in a 25-year-old woman who was mentally challenged. This condition was treated by topical application of turpentine oil with manual expulsion of hatchlings, taken after by surgical debridement and wide range antimicrobials.
Equivalent performance of single-use and reusable duodenoscopes in a randomised trial
Authors: Bang Ji Young , Hawes Robert , Varadarajulu Shyam
Published: September 2020

Objective

Single-use duodenoscopes have been recently developed to eliminate risk of infection transmission from contaminated reusable duodenoscopes. We compared performances of single-use and reusable duodenoscopes in patients undergoing endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP).

Design

Patients with native papilla requiring ERCP were randomised to single-use or reusable duodenoscope. Primary outcome was comparing number of attempts to achieve successful cannulation of desired duct. Secondary outcomes were technical performance that measured duodenoscope manoeuvrability, mechanical-imaging characteristics and ability to perform therapeutic interventions, need for advanced cannulation techniques or cross-over to alternate duodenoscope group to achieve ductal access and adverse events.

Results

98 patients were treated using single-use (n=48) or reusable (n=50) duodenoscopes with >80% graded as low-complexity procedures. While median number of attempts to achieve successful cannulation was significantly lower for single-use cohort (2 vs 5, p=0.013), ease of passage into stomach (p=0.047), image quality (p<0.001), image stability (p<0.001) and air–water button functionality (p<0.001) were significantly worse. There was no significant difference in rate of cannulation, adverse events including mortality (one patient in each group), need to cross-over or need for advanced cannulation techniques to achieve ductal access, between cohorts. On multivariate logistic regression analysis, only duodenoscope type (single-use) was associated with less than six attempts to achieve selective cannulation (p=0.012), when adjusted for patient demographics, procedural complexity and type of intervention.

Conclusion

Given the overall safety profile and similar technical performance, single-use duodenoscopes represent an alternative to reusable duodenoscopes for performing low-complexity ERCP procedures in experienced hands.

Trial registration number

Clinicaltrials.gov number:NCT04143698
WASh multicentre randomised controlled trial: water-assisted sigmoidoscopy in English NHS bowel scope screening
Authors: Rutter Matthew D , Evans Rachel , Hoare Zoe , Von Wagner Christian , Deane Jill , Esmaily Shiran , Larkin Tony , Edwards Rhiannon , Yeo Seow Tien , Spencer Llinos Haf , Holmes Emily , Saunders Brian P , Rees Colin J , Tsiamoulos Zacharias P , Beintaris Iosif
Published: September 2020

Objectives

The English Bowel Cancer Screening Programme invites 55 year olds for a sigmoidoscopy (Bowel Scope Screening (BSS)), aiming to resect premalignant polyps, thus reducing cancer incidence. A national patient survey indicated higher procedural pain than anticipated, potentially impacting on screening compliance and effectiveness. We aimed to assess whether water-assisted sigmoidoscopy (WAS), as opposed to standard CO2technique, improved procedural pain and detection of adenomatous polyps.

Design

The WASh (Water-Assisted Sigmoidoscopy) trial was a multicentre, single-blind, randomised control trial for people undergoing BSS. Participants were randomised to either receive WAS or CO2from five sites across England. The primary outcome measure was patient-reported moderate/severe pain, as assessed by patients on a standard Likert scale post procedure prior to discharge. The key secondary outcome was adenoma detection rate (ADR). The costs of each technique were also measured.

Results

1123 participants (50% women, mean age 55) were randomised (561 WAS, 562 CO2). We found no difference in patient-reported moderate/severe pain between WAS and CO2(14% in WAS, 15% in CO2; p=0.47). ADR was 15% in the CO2arm and 11% in the WAS arm (p=0.03); however, it remained above the minimum national performance standard in both arms. There was no statistical difference in mean number of adenomas nor overall polyp detection rate. There was negligible cost difference between the two techniques.

Conclusion

In the context of enema-prepared unsedated screening sigmoidoscopies performed by screening-accredited endoscopists, no difference in patient-reported pain was seen when using either a CO2or WAS intubation technique.

Trial registration number

ISRCTN81466870.
Differential Gene Expression in Patients with Primary Mitral Valve Disease: Identifying Potential Therapeutic Targets in the Era of Precision Medicine
Authors: Shih Emily , Squiers John J , Turner Jacob , DiMaio Michael , Brinkman William T , Smith Robert L
Published: September 2020

Primary (degenerative) mitral valve (MV) disease is a result of structural remodeling due to degenerative and adaptive changes of MV tissue. We hypothesized that in patients with primary MV disease undergoing surgery for severe mitral regurgitation (MR), a distinct genetic expression profile within the MV leaflet tissue could be identified as compared with patients without MV disease. Tissue samples from the MV leaflets of 65 patients undergoing MV surgery for MR due to primary MV disease and 4 control cadavers without MV disease were collected and analyzed. MicroRNA transcripts were hybridized to Illumina HumanHT-12 v4 Beadchips. Ingenuity pathway analyses (IPAs) were conducted to provide biological interpretation. Of the approximately 20 000 genes examined, 4092 (20%) were differentially expressed between patients with primary MV disease and normal controls (false discovery rate<0.05). The differentially expressed genes could be clustered into five regulator effect networks from the Ingenuity Knowledge IPA database with a consistency score of >6. These five networks have been previously implicated in pathophysiological cardiac abnormalities, including inhibited contractility of the heart and fatty acid oxidation as well as activation of apoptosis of smooth muscle cells, cardiac degeneration, and hypertrophy of cardiac cells. MV tissue in patients with primary MV disease demonstrated distinct genetic expression patterns as compared with normal controls. Further studies are necessary to determine whether the molecular pathways identified in this experiment may represent potential therapeutic targets to prevent degeneration of MV tissue leading to severe MR.
Impact of video games on ultrasound-guided regional anesthesia skills
Authors: Shafqat Atif , Mukarram Shumaila , Bedforth Nigel M , Hardman Jonathan G , McCahon Robert A
Published: September 2020

Background

There is an association between video game practice and laparoscopic expertize in trainee surgeons. Ultrasound-guided regional anesthesia has many parallels with laparoscopic surgery. The aim of this study was to explore whether video game experience is associated with enhanced performance in a simulated ultrasound-guided task in novice operators.

Methods

In this prospective observational study, 60 medical student volunteers were recruited. Following characterization of video game experience, they underwent an assessment of visuospatial abilities. Following standardized teaching, the recruits’ technical performance of an ultrasound-guided needle task was assessed for overall quality by global rating scale (GRS).

Results

Out of a total possible GRS score of 35, gamers compared with non-gamers demonstrated 5.2 (95% CI 1.9 to 8.4) units of better performance. Gamers also performed better in mental rotation test scores (difference 4.1, 95% CI 1.2 to 7.0) .

Conclusion

Video game practice is associated with increased mental rotation ability and enhanced technical performance in a simulated ultrasound-guided task.
Long-term survival following initiation of home non-invasive ventilation: a European study
Authors: Patout Maxime , Lhuillier Elodie , Kaltsakas Georgios , Benattia Amira , Dupuis Johan , Arbane Gill , Declercq Pierre-Louis , Ramsay Michelle , Marino Philip , Molano Luis-Carlos , Artaud-Macari Elise , Viacroze Catherine , Steier Joerg , Douiri Abdel , Muir Jean-Francois , Cuvelier Antoine , Murphy Patrick Brian , Hart Nicholas
Published: September 2020

Introduction

Although home non-invasive ventilation (NIV) is increasingly used to manage patients with chronic ventilatory failure, there are limited data on the long-term outcome of these patients. Our aim was to report on home NIV populations and the long-term outcome from two European centres.

Methods

Cohort analysis including all patients established on home NIV from two European centres between 2008 and 2014.

Results

Home NIV was initiated in 1746 patients to treat chronic ventilatory failure caused by (1) obesity hypoventilation syndrome±obstructive sleep apnoea (OHS±OSA) (29.5%); (2) neuromuscular disease (NMD) (22.7%); and (3) obstructive airway diseases (OAD) (19.1%). Overall cohort median survival following NIV initiation was 6.6 years. Median survival varied by underlying aetiology of respiratory failure: rapidly progressive NMD 1.1 years, OAD 2.7 years, OHS±OSA >7 years and slowly progressive NMD >7 years. Multivariate analysis demonstrated higher mortality in patients with rapidly progressive NMD (HR 4.78, 95% CI 3.38 to 6.75), COPD (HR 2.25, 95% CI 1.64 to 3.10), age >60 years at initiation of home NIV (HR 2.41, 95% CI 1.92 to 3.02) and NIV initiation following an acute admission (HR 1.38, 95% CI 1.13 to 1.68). Factors associated with lower mortality were NIV adherence >4 hours per day (HR 0.64, 95% CI 0.51 to 0.79), OSA (HR 0.51, 95% CI 0.31 to 0.84) and female gender (HR 0.79, 95% CI 0.65 to 0.96).

Conclusion

The mortality rate following initiation of home NIV is high but varies significantly according to underlying aetiology of respiratory failure. In patients with chronic respiratory failure, initiation of home NIV following an acute admission and low levels of NIV adherence are poor prognostic features and may be amenable to intervention.
$$\mathbf {O}(D,D)$$ completion of the Friedmann equations
Authors: Angus Stephen , Cho Kyoungho , Franzmann Guilherme , Mukohyama Shinji , Park Jeong-Hyuck
Published: September 2020

In string theory the closed-string massless NS-NS sector forms a multiplet of $$\mathbf {O}(D,D)$$

O
(
D
,
D
)

symmetry. This suggests a specific modification to General Relativity in which the entire NS-NS sector is promoted to stringy graviton fields. Imposing off-shell $$\mathbf {O}(D,D)$$

O
(
D
,
D
)

symmetry fixes the correct couplings to other matter fields and the Einstein field equations are enriched to comprise $$D^{2}+1$$

D
2

+
1

components, dubbed recently as the Einstein Double Field Equations. Here we explore the cosmological implications of this framework. We derive the most general homogeneous and isotropic ansatzes for both stringy graviton fields and the $$\mathbf {O}(D,D)$$

O
(
D
,
D
)

-covariant energy-momentum tensor. Crucially, the former admits space-filling magnetic H-flux. Substituting them into the Einstein Double Field Equations, we obtain the $$\mathbf {O}(D,D)$$

O
(
D
,
D
)

completion of the Friedmann equations along with a generalized continuity equation. We discuss how solutions in this framework may be characterized by two equation-of-state parameters, w and $$\lambda $$
λ
, where the latter characterizes the relative intensities of scalar and tensor forces. When $$\lambda +3w=1$$

λ
+
3
w
=
1

, the dilaton remains constant throughout the cosmological evolution, and one recovers the standard Friedmann equations for generic matter content (i.e. for any w). We further point out that, in contrast to General Relativity, neither an $$\mathbf {O}(D,D)$$

O
(
D
,
D
)

-symmetric cosmological constant nor a scalar field with positive energy density gives rise to a de Sitter solution.
Preconditioning the EFIE on screens
Authors: Hiptmair Ralf , Urzúa-Torres Carolina
Published: September 2020

We consider the electric field integral equation (EFIE) modeling the scattering of time-harmonic electromagnetic waves at a perfectly conducting screen. When discretizing the EFIE by means of low-order Galerkin boundary methods (BEM), one obtains linear systems that are ill-conditioned on fine meshes and for low wave numbers [Formula: see text]. This makes iterative solvers perform poorly and entails the use of preconditioning.

In order to construct optimal preconditioners for the EFIE on screens, the authors recently derived compact equivalent inverses of the EFIE operator on simple Lipschitz screens in [R. Hiptmair and C. Urzúa-Torres, Compact equivalent inverse of the electric field integral operator on screens, Integral Equations Operator Theory 92 (2020) 9]. This paper elaborates how to use this result to build an optimal operator preconditioner for the EFIE on screens that can be discretized in a stable fashion. Furthermore, the stability of the preconditioner relies only on the stability of the discrete [Formula: see text] duality pairing for scalar functions, instead of the vectorial one. Therefore, this novel approach not only offers [Formula: see text]-independent and [Formula: see text]-robust condition numbers, but it is also easier to implement and accommodates non-uniform meshes without additional computational effort.
Study of the dependence of alpha decay half-life on the surface symmetry energy
Authors: Nejati S. , Ghodsi O. N.
Published: September 2020

In this study, the effect of the surface symmetry energy on the neutron skin thickness and division of it into the bulk and surface parts are investigated by determination of the symmetry energy coefficient [Formula: see text] of finite nuclei. We demonstrate the importance of the isospin asymmetry distribution in the symmetry energy coefficient of finite nuclei at the surface region. We attempt to find out how different surface symmetry energies may affect alpha decay half-life. The Skyrme interactions are used to describe the neutron and proton density distributions and to calculate the symmetry energy coefficient [Formula: see text] of four nuclei and the surface symmetry energy. The chosen Skyrme interactions can produce the binding energy and root-mean-square charge radii of both mother and daughter nuclei. We single out the spherical isotones of [Formula: see text] named [Formula: see text]Pb, [Formula: see text]Po, [Formula: see text]Rn and [Formula: see text]Ra for daughter nuclei and explore the dependence of the bulk and surface contributions on the surface symmetry energy. The half-life of mother nuclei, i.e., [Formula: see text]Po, [Formula: see text]Rn, [Formula: see text]Ra and [Formula: see text]Th, is employed to investigate the extent to which it is affected by different surface symmetry energies. The calculated half-lives show a downward tendency for different surface symmetry energies which can be caused by various neutron skin thicknesses.
SYSTEMIC RISK: THE EFFECT OF MARKET CONFIDENCE
Authors: BICHUCH MAXIM , CHEN KE
Published: September 2020

In a crisis, when faced with insolvency, banks can sell stock in a dilutive offering in the stock market and borrow money in order to raise funds. We propose a simple model to find the maximum amount of new funds the banks can raise in these ways. To do this, we incorporate market confidence of the bank together with market confidence of all the other banks in the system into the overnight borrowing rate. Additionally, for a given cash shortfall, we find the optimal mix of borrowing and stock selling strategy. We show the existence and uniqueness of Nash equilibrium point for all these problems. Finally, using this model we investigate if banks have become safer since the crisis. We calibrate this model with market data and conduct an empirical study to assess safety of the financial system before, during after the last financial crisis.
Large deviation for two-time-scale stochastic burgers equation
Authors: Sun Xiaobin , Wang Ran , Xu Lihu , Yang Xue
Published: September 2020

A Freidlin–Wentzell type large deviation principle is established for stochastic partial differential equations with slow and fast time-scales, where the slow component is a one-dimensional stochastic Burgers equation with small noise and the fast component is a stochastic reaction-diffusion equation. Our approach is via the weak convergence criterion developed in [A. Budhiraja and P. Dupuis, A variational representation for positive functionals of infinite dimensional Brownian motion, Probab. Math. Statist. 20 (2000) 39–61].
Hochschild cohomology related to graded down-up algebras with weights (1,n)
Authors: Itaba Ayako , Ueyama Kenta
Published: September 2020

Let [Formula: see text] be a graded down-up algebra with [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text], and let [Formula: see text] be the Beilinson algebra of [Formula: see text]. If [Formula: see text], then a description of the Hochschild cohomology group of [Formula: see text] is known. In this paper, we calculate the Hochschild cohomology group of [Formula: see text] for the case [Formula: see text]. As an application, we see that the structure of the bounded derived category of the noncommutative projective scheme of [Formula: see text] is different depending on whether (10) [Formula: see text] [Formula: see text] is zero or not. Moreover, it turns out that there is a difference between the cases [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] in the context of Grothendieck groups.
The Improved Element-Free Galerkin Method for Diffusional Drug Release Problems
Authors: Zheng Guodong , Cheng Yumin
Published: September 2020

By using the improved moving least-square (IMLS) approximation to present the shape function, the improved element-free Galerkin (IEFG) method is investigated to solve diffusional drug release problems in this paper. In order to get the discretized equation system, Galerkin weak form of a diffusional drug release problem is used with applying essential boundary conditions using the penalty method. The difference method is applied for discretization of time domain. Then the formulae of IEFG method for solving diffusional drug release problems are presented. Three numerical example problems are given to study the convergence of solutions of IEFG method in this paper. The influences of scale parameters of influence domain, penalty factor and node distribution on the accuracy of the solutions of IEFG method are discussed. Compared with finite element method, the correctness of IEFG method in this paper is shown.
Performance Evaluation of Malaria Pf/Pv Combo Test Kit at Highly Malaria-Endemic Area, Southern Ethiopia: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Eticha Temesgen , Tamire Tewodros , Bati Temesgen
Published: September 2020

Background. Malaria rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) are alternative diagnostic methods that have enabled reliable biological diagnostic testing in all situations where previously only clinical diagnosis was available. Varying diagnostic accuracy of malaria RDTs makes policymakers confused while choosing malaria test kits for their country. Objective. The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic performance of currently being used malaria RDT in Southern Ethiopia. Methods. A cross-sectional study design was conducted from October 1 to December 15, 2016. A total of 160 patients were included in the study. Finger-prick blood sample was obtained from study subjects for the RDT test and microscopic examination. Collected data were entered and analyzed using SPSS version 20.0. Result. The test kit evaluated had an overall sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV of 97.44%, 93.67%, 93.83%, and 97.37%, respectively, to detect the presence or absence of malaria. Sensitivity and specificity of the kit for P. falciparum detection were 63.27% and 94.3% and for P. vivax detection were 86.96% and 95.62%, respectively. The agreement between microscopy and RDT for specific identification of malaria species was moderate with a kappa value of 0.568. Conclusion. The overall performance of the kit was below the WHO standard. Further study on a large sample size is recommended to be carried out in the study area to use the test kit instead of microscopy for malaria diagnosis. Providing training on quality malaria laboratory diagnosis and availing necessary supplies for malaria diagnosis shall also be considered.
Single-Domain Antibody-Based TCR-Like CAR-T: A Potential Cancer Therapy
Authors: Zhu Lichen , Yang Xiaomei , Zhong Dani , Xie Shenxia , Shi Wei , Li Yangzi , Hou Xiaoqiong , HuaYao  , Zhou Huihui , Zhao Minlong , Ding Ziqiang , Zhao Xinyue , Mo Fengzhen , Yin Shihua , Liu Aiqun , Lu Xiaoling
Published: September 2020

Retargeting the antigen-binding specificity of T cells to intracellular antigens that are degraded and presented on the tumor surface by engineering chimeric antigen receptor (CAR), also named TCR-like antibody CAR-T, remains limited. With the exception of the commercialized CD19 CAR-T for hematological malignancies and other CAR-T therapies aiming mostly at extracellular antigens achieving great success, the rareness and scarcity of TCR-like CAR-T therapies might be due to their current status and limitations. This review provides the probable optimized initiatives for improving TCR-like CAR-T reprogramming and discusses single-domain antibodies administered as an alternative to conventional scFvs and secreted by CAR-T cells, which might be of great value to the development of CAR-T immunotherapies for intracellular antigens.
Different Approaches to Estimation of the Gompertz Distribution under the Progressive Type-II Censoring Scheme
Authors: Lee Kyeongjun , Seo Jung-In
Published: September 2020

This paper provides an estimation method for an unknown parameter by extending weighted least-squared and pivot-based methods to the Gompertz distribution with the shape and scale parameters under the progressive Type-II censoring scheme, which induces a consistent estimator and an unbiased estimator of the scale parameter. In addition, a way to deal with a nuisance parameter is provided in the pivot-based approach. For evaluation and comparison, the Monte Carlo simulations are conducted, and real data are analyzed.
Joint Pricing and Inventory Management of Interbasin Water Transfer Supply Chain
Authors: Chen Xue , Chen Zhisong
Published: September 2020

Four game-theoretical decision models without/with backlogging for the interbasin water transfer (IBWT) supply chain considering water delivery loss under joint pricing and inventory management (JPIM) are first developed, analyzed, and compared; then, the corresponding numerical and sensitivity analyses are conducted and compared; finally, the managerial insights and practical implementations are summarized in this paper. The research results indicate that (1) a revenue and cost sharing contract could effectively coordinate the IBWT supply chain and improve the operational performance of the IBWT supply chain under JPIM; (2) the partial backlogging strategy of water demand could effectively improve the operational performance of the IBWT supply chain under JPIM; (3) coordination strategy with partial backlogging is the best strategy for improving the operational performance of the IBWT supply chain under JPIM; (4) reducing water delivery loss rate and operational costs and increasing backlogging ratio are beneficial to improving the operational performance of the IBWT supply chain under JPIM.
BRCA Mutations in Prostate Cancer: Prognostic and Predictive Implications
Authors: Messina Carlo , Cattrini Carlo , Soldato Davide , Vallome Giacomo , Caffo Orazio , Castro Elena , Olmos David , Boccardo Francesco , Zanardi Elisa
Published: September 2020

Despite chemotherapy and novel androgen-receptor signalling inhibitors (ARSi) have been approved during the last decades, metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) remains a lethal disease with poor clinical outcomes. Several studies found that germline or acquired DNA damage repair (DDR) defects affect a high percentage of mCRPC patients. Among DDR defects, BRCA mutations show relevant clinical implications. BRCA mutations are associated with adverse clinical features in primary tumors and with poor outcomes in patients with mCRPC. In addition, BRCA mutations predict good response to poly-ADP ribose polymerase (PARP) inhibitors, such as olaparib, rucaparib, and niraparib. However, concerns still remain on the role of extensive mutational testing in prostate cancer patients, given the implications for patients and for their progeny. The present comprehensive review attempts to provide an overview of BRCA mutations in prostate cancer, focusing on their prognostic and predictive roles.
Opportunistic Cryptococcal Antigenemia in the HAART Era at HIV Epidemic Settings of Northwest Ethiopia
Authors: Negash Markos , Wondmagegn Tadelo , Tajebe Fitsumbrhan
Published: September 2020

Background. Cryptococcus neoformans is a frequent opportunistic infection in patients with the acquired immunodeﬁciency syndrome. While the advent of ART reduces the occurrence of cryptococcal meningitis in HIV patients, cryptococcal disease remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the developing world especially in sub-Saharan Africa which is the epicenter of HIV. This study aimed to assess the cryptococcal antigenemia, CD4+ Th cell counts, HIV RNA viral load, and clinical presentations among HIV-positive patients in Northwest Ethiopia. Method. A total of two hundred (200) HIV-positive patients were recruited for this study. Cryptococcus antigenemia prevalence in plasma samples of HIV‐positive patients was determined by using Antigen lateral ﬂow assay (CrAg‐LFA) also, and CD4+ Th cell counts and HIV‐RNA levels were quantified from blood specimen. Patients’ demographic data, clinical manifestation, and concurrent opportunistic infection were recorded. Result. The sex distributions of study participants were 105(52.5%) male and 94(47.5%) female with an age range of 15–65 (mean 39.42 ± 9) years. All patients had a CD4+ T-cell count <100 cells/µl with the median 54 cells/μl and median HIV-RNA viral load 2.16 × 105 RNA copies/ml (50–3.66 × 105 RNA copies/ml); the prevalence of cryptococcal antigenemia was found to be 4% in HIV-positive patients. More than half and two third of CrAg‐positive patients had a CD4 count <25 cells/μl and HIV viral load >10,000 copies/ml, respectively, as well; Tuberculosis, Candidiasis, and herpes zoster are the most often observed concurrent infections while cryptococcal antigenemia is significantly associated with oral candidiasis (p<0.001). Conclusion. Although the advent of ART, early diagnosis of cryptococcosis, and application of antifungal interventions, HIV-induced cryptococcal antigenemia positivity in HIV infected individuals is still the countries’ big challenge. Thus, stringent follow-up and case management should be considered.
Inhibition of Macrophage Migration Inhibitory Factor Protects against Inflammation through a Toll‐like Receptor‐Related Pathway after Diffuse Axonal Injury in Rats
Authors: Zhao Yonglin , Wei Xing , Li Weimiao , Shan Changyou , Song Jinning , Zhang Ming
Published: September 2020

Objective. We have previously demonstrated that inflammation induced by toll‐like receptors (TLRs) 2/4 exert cerebral deleterious effects after diffuse axonal injury (DAI); however, the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) is a multifunctional cytokine involved in inflammatory responses. The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of MIF in inflammation induced by TLRs in the cortices of DAI rats. Methods. The rat DAI model was established by head rotational acceleration and confirmed by β‐APP, HE, and silver staining. MIF protein expression at 3 h, 6 h, 12 h, 1 d, and 3 d after DAI was measured by western blot. The localization of MIF was measured by immunofluorescence. MIF antagonist ISO‐1 was intracerebroventricularly injected to inhibit MIF. Neuronal and axonal injury and glial responses were assessed by TUNEL, immunohistochemistry, and TEM. Expression of TLR2, TLR4, ERK, phospho‐ERK, NF‐κB, and phospho‐NF‐κB was examined by western blot. The level of IL‐1β, IL‐6, and TNF‐α was measured by ELISA. Results. MIF expression was significantly increased, peaking at 1 day after DAI, and MIF was mainly localized in microglial cells and neurons. ISO‐1 suppressed neuronal apoptosis, axonal injury, and glial responses and decreased the expression of downstream signaling molecules related to TLR2/4, including ERK, phospho‐ERK, NF‐κB, phospho‐NF‐κB, IL‐1β, IL‐6, and TNF‐α. Conclusion. MIF was involved in the neuronal and axonal damage through a TLR‐related pathway following DAI.
Maximum Obtainable Energy Harvesting Power from Galloping-Based Piezoelectrics
Authors: Abdollahzadeh Jamalabadi Mohammad Yaghoub , Shadloo Mostafa Safdari , Karimipour Arash
Published: September 2020

In this paper, the maximum obtainable energy from a galloping cantilever beam is found. The system consists of a bluff body in front of wind which was mounted on a cantilever beam and supported by piezoelectric sheets. Wind energy caused the transverse vibration of the beam and the mechanical energy of vibration is transferred to electrical charge by use of piezoelectric transducer. The nonlinear motion of the Euler–Bernoulli beam and conservation of electrical energy is modeled by lumped ordinary differential equations. The wind forces on the bluff body are modeled by quasisteady aeroelasticity approximation where the fluid and solid corresponding dynamics are disconnected in time scales. The linearized motion of beam is limited by its yield stress which causes to find a limit on energy harvesting of the system. The theory founded is used to check the validity of previous results of researchers for the effect of wind speed, tip cross-section geometry, and electrical load resistance on onset speed to galloping, tip displacement, and harvested power. Finally, maximum obtainable average power in a standard RC circuit as a function of deflection limit and synchronized charge extraction is obtained.
Comparison of Profile Attractiveness between Class III Orthodontic Camouflage and Predictive Tracing of Orthognathic Surgery
Authors: Bou Wadi Mohamad Nagi , Freitas Karina Maria Salvatore , Freitas Daniel Salvatore , Cançado Rodrigo Hermont , Oliveira Renata Cristina Gobbi de , Oliveira Ricardo Cesar Gobbi de , Janson Guilherme , Valarelli Fabricio Pinelli
Published: September 2020

Objective. The aim of this study was to compare the profile attractiveness between orthodontic camouflage of the Class III malocclusion and the predictive tracing simulating orthognathic surgery evaluated by dentists and laypeople.Settings and sample population. The sample consisted of 21 patients (9 male; 12 female) with Class III malocclusion treated with orthodontic camouflage and Class III intermaxillary elastics.Material and Methods. The mean initial age of the patients was 24.38 years (SD 3.32), and the mean ANB angle was −1.91° (SD 0.83°). Patients presented skeletal Class III and normal growth patterns. Initial and final lateral cephalograms of each patient were used. The initial cephalogram was used to perform the treatment simulation of orthognathic surgery, and its silhouette was compared to the silhouette obtained from the final cephalogram after Class III orthodontic camouflage. A subjective analysis of profile attractiveness was performed by 47 laypeople and 60 dentists, with scores from 1 (less attractive) to 10 (most attractive). Mann–Whitney tests were used to compare profile attractiveness between the orthodontic treatment and the predictive tracing groups and between dentists and laypeople.Results. The predictive tracing of orthognathic surgery showed to be statistically significantly more attractive (mean score 4.57, SD 2.47) than that of the Class III camouflage orthodontic treatment (mean score 4.22, SD 2.40), with a mean numerical but significant difference of 0.35 (SD 2.01) (P<0.001). Laypeople were more critical than dentists in evaluating profile attractiveness, but numerical difference between the groups was also small.Conclusion. The profile silhouette of predictive tracing simulating orthognathic surgery showed to be more attractive than that of Class III camouflage orthodontic treatment; however, differences were small but statistically significant. Laypeople showed to be more critical than dentists.
An Intelligent Evaluation Method to Analyze the Competitiveness of Airlines
Authors: Zhao Jun , Chen Xumei
Published: September 2020

An intelligent evaluation method is presented to analyze the competitiveness of airlines. From the perspective of safety, service, and normality, we establish the competitiveness indexes of traffic rights and the standard sample base. The self-organizing mapping (SOM) neural network is utilized to self-organize and self-learn the samples in the state of no supervision and prior knowledge. The training steps of high convergence speed and high clustering accuracy are determined based on the multistep setting. The typical airlines index data are utilized to verify the effect of the self-organizing mapping neural network on the airline competitiveness analysis. The simulation results show that the self-organizing mapping neural network can accurately and effectively classify and evaluate the competitiveness of airlines, and the results have important reference value for the allocation of traffic rights resources.
Modelling the Crack Initiation and Propagation of Notched Rock Beam under the Three‐Point Bending Load
Authors: Xi Xun , Wu Xu , Guo Qifeng , Cai Meifeng
Published: September 2020

Prediction of rock fracture is essential to understand the rock failure mechanism. The three‐point bending test has been one of the most popular experiments for the determination of rock fracture parameters. However, the crack initiation and propagation of rock beam with the center notch and offset notch have not been fully understood. This paper develops a numerical method for modelling the notched beam cracking based on nonlocal extended finite element method (i.e., XFEM) and mixed mode rock fracture model. An example is worked out to demonstrate the application of the numerical method and verified with experimental results. The crack length development, crack pattern, crack opening and slipping displacements, and the load‐crack mouth of displacement (P‐CMOD) curve are obtained. The effects of offset notch location and mechanical properties on the crack length development, P‐CMOD curve, and crack pattern are investigated and discussed. It has been found that the peak load of the notched beam nearly linearly increases with the increase of the notch offset ratio. The cracking of rock beam with offset notch is dominated by mode I fracture, but mode II fracture contributes more when crack deflection occurs. The fracture energy significantly affects the peak load, while it has little effect on the prepeak and postpeak slopes in the P‐CMOD curve.
Electroacupuncture on Trigeminal Nerve-Innervated Acupoints Ameliorates Poststroke Cognitive Impairment in Rats with Middle Cerebral Artery Occlusion: Involvement of Neuroprotection and Synaptic Plasticity
Authors: Zheng Yu , Qin Zongshi , Tsoi Bun , Shen Jiangang , Zhang Zhang-Jin
Published: September 2020

Poststroke cognitive impairment (PSCI) is a severe sequela of stroke. There are no effective therapeutic options for it. In this study, we evaluated whether electroacupuncture (EA) on the trigeminal nerve-innervated acupoints could alleviate PSCI and identified the mechanisms in an animal model. The male Sprague-Dawley rat middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) model was used in our study. EA was conducted on the two scalp acupoints,EX-HN3(Yintang) andGV20(Baihui), innervated by the trigeminal nerve, for 14 sessions, daily. Morris water maze and novel object recognition were used to evaluate the animal’s cognitive performance. Neuroprotection and synaptic plasticity biomarkers were analyzed in brain tissues. Ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury significantly impaired spatial and cognition memory, while EA obviously reversed cognitive deterioration to the control level in the two cognitive paradigms. Moreover, EA reversed the I/R injury-induced decrease of brain-derived neurotrophic factor, tyrosine kinase B, N-methyl-D-aspartic acid receptor 1,α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole propionic acid receptor,γ-aminobutyric acid type A receptors, Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II, neuronal nuclei, and postsynaptic density protein 95 expression in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus. These results suggest that EA on the trigeminal nerve-innervated acupoints is an effective therapy for PSCI, in association with mediating neuroprotection and synaptic plasticity in related brain regions in the MCAO rat model.
Formulation of Anisotropic Strength Criterion for Geotechnical Materials
Authors: Chen Liping , Wang Sui , Chen Bin , Niu Xiaokai , Ying Guogang , Wu Bo
Published: September 2020

A new nonlinear unified strength (NUS) criterion is obtained based on the spatially mobilized plane (SMP) criterion and Mises criterion. New criterion is a series of smooth curves between SMP curved triangle and Mises circle in the π plane and thereby unifies the strength criteria. The new criterion can reflect the effect of the intermediate principal stress and consider the strength nonlinearity of a material. Based on the fabric tensor, the anisotropic parameter A is defined, and the anisotropic equation is proposed and introduced into the NUS criterion to form a nonlinear unified anisotropic strength criterion. The new criterion can be used to predict the strength variation of granular materials and cohesive materials under three‐dimensional stress and can present the strength anisotropy of the geomaterials. The validity of the new criterion was checked using rock and soil materials. It is shown that the prediction results for the criterion agree well with the test data.
Study on the Instability Mechanism and Grouting Reinforcement Repair of Large‐Scale Underground Stopes
Authors: Xie Chengyu , Jia Nan , He Liwen
Published: September 2020

The environmental conditions due to unreasonable mining in underground stopes, the slurry diffusion mechanism in the grouting reinforcement of a stope within its influence, the causes of large‐scale instability collapse, and the catastrophic stope process are analyzed, and limit upper line analysis theory and numerical analysis methods are comprehensively adopted, revealing the continuous catastrophic collapse mode of large‐scale underground stopes. The method of determining the stope instability collapse boundary and the slip surface within the range based on the theory of the maximum shear strain increment is proposed, and the diffusion radius and range of the grouting slurry during the reinforcement process, which considers the multifield coupling factors, are obtained. The results show that the U‐shaped hidden danger area formed after the collapse of the large‐scale underground stope. The influence range reaches six adjacent stopes, which are symmetrically distributed around the collapse; the mining instability is manifested as a catastrophic chain process of stress change, energy accumulation, state change, and instability collapse. The damage mode of instability collapse is a combination method of wedge collapse, circular arc rotation, triangular translation, and strip slip. According to the multiphysics coupling numerical calculation, the diffusion radius of the grouting slurry is 12 m, exhibiting an elliptical distribution. The research results can be used to comprehensively control the underground mining environment, thus effectively solving the safety problems faced by tunnel or roadway excavations above the goaf.
Prevalence of Schistosoma mansoni and S. haematobium in Snail Intermediate Hosts in Africa: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
Authors: Hailegebriel Tamirat , Nibret Endalkachew , Munshea Abaineh
Published: September 2020

Background. Schistosomiasis is caused by Schistosoma mansoni and S. haematobium in Africa. These schistosome parasites use freshwater snail intermediate hosts to complete their lifecycle. Varied prevalence rates of these parasites in the snail intermediate hosts were reported from several African countries, but there were no summarized data for policymakers. Therefore, this study was aimed to systematically summarize the prevalence and geographical distribution of S. mansoni and S. haematobium among freshwater snails in Africa. Methods. Literature search was carried out from PubMed, Science Direct, and Scopus which reported the prevalence of S. mansoni and S. haematobium among freshwater snails in Africa. The pooled prevalence was determined using a random-effect model, while heterogeneities between studies were evaluated by I2 test. The meta-analyses were conducted using Stata software, metan command. Results. A total of 273,643 snails were examined for the presence of S. mansoni and S. haematobium cercaria in the eligible studies. The pooled prevalence of schistosome cercaria among freshwater snails was 5.5% (95% CI: 4.9–6.1%). The pooled prevalence of S. mansoni and S. haematobium cercaria was 5.6% (95% CI: 4.9–6.3%) and 5.2% (95% CI: 4.6–5.7%), respectively. The highest pooled prevalence was observed from Nigeria (19.0%; 95% CI: 12.7–25.3%), while the lowest prevalence was reported from Chad (0.05%; 95% CI: 0.03–0.13). Higher prevalence of schistosome cercaria was observed from Bulinus globosus (12.3%; 95% CI: 6.2–18.3%) followed by Biomphalaria sudanica (6.7%; 95% CI: 4.5–9.0%) and Biomphalaria pfeifferi (5.1%; 95% CI: 4.1–6.2%). The pooled prevalence of schistosome cercaria obtained using PCR was 26.7% in contrast to 4.5% obtained by shedding cercariae. Conclusion. This study revealed that nearly 6% of freshwater snails in Africa were infected by either S. haematobium or S. mansoni. The high prevalence of schistosomes among freshwater snails highlights the importance of appropriate snail control strategies in Africa.