bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Genomic changes underlying host specialization in the bee gut symbiont Lactobacillus Firm5
Authors: Ellegaard Kirsten M. , Brochet Silvia , Bonilla‐Rosso German , Emery Olivier , Glover Natasha , Hadadi Noushin , Jaron Kamil S. , van der Meer Jan R. , Robinson‐Rechavi Marc , Sentchilo Vladimir , Tagini Florian ,   SAGE class 2016-17, Engel Philipp
Published: March 2019

Bacteria that engage in long‐standing associations with particular hosts are expected to evolve host‐specific adaptations that limit their capacity to thrive in other environments. Consistent with this, many gut symbionts seem to have a limited host range, based on community profiling and phylogenomics. However, few studies have experimentally investigated host specialization of gut symbionts and the underlying mechanisms have largely remained elusive. Here, we studied host specialization of a dominant gut symbiont of social bees, Lactobacillus Firm5. We show that Firm5 strains isolated from honey bees and bumble bees separate into deep‐branching host‐specific phylogenetic lineages. Despite their divergent evolution, colonization experiments show that bumble bee strains are capable of colonizing the honey bee gut. However, they were less successful than honey bee strains, and competition with honey bee strains completely abolished their colonization. In contrast, honey bee strains of divergent phylogenetic lineages were able to coexist within individual bees. This suggests that both host selection and interbacterial competition play important roles in host specialization. Using comparative genomics of 27 Firm5 isolates, we found that the genomes of honey bee strains harbour more carbohydrate‐related functions than bumble bee strains, possibly providing a competitive advantage in the honey bee gut. Remarkably, most of the genes encoding carbohydrate‐related functions were not conserved among the honey bee strains, which suggests that honey bees can support a metabolically more diverse community of Firm5 strains than bumble bees. These findings advance our understanding of the genomic changes underlying host specialization.
From things to thinking: Cognitive archaeology
Authors: Currie Adrian , Killin Anton
Published: March 2019

Cognitive archaeologists infer from material remains to the cognitive features of past societies. We characterize cognitive archaeology in terms of trace‐based reasoning, which in the case of cognitive archaeology involves inferences drawing upon background theory linking objects from the archaeological record to cognitive (including psychological, symbolic, and ideological) features. We analyse such practices, examining work on cognitive evolution, language, and musicality. We argue that the central epistemic challenge for cognitive archaeology is often not a paucity of material remains, but insufficient constraint from cognitive theories. However, we also argue that the success of cognitive archaeology does not necessarily require well‐developed cognitive theories: Success might instead lead to them.
Tornando Indietro: Dante's Tornata and Metapoetic Returns in the Trecento Madrigal
Authors: LOPATIN MIKHAIL
Published: March 2019

Dante's explanation of the final part of the canzone, which he calls ‘tornata’ (Convivio, II, xi, paras. 2–3), as a formal return that includes metrical and musical components casts fresh light on the poetic motive of return used in some of those tornatas and reveals a potential for metapoetic links between metrics and poetry. This article extrapolates this metapoetic reading of the word tornata to the ‘ritornello’ of the trecento madrigal and shows how poets and musicians emphasized the return in the madrigal (meta)poetically and musically. Poetically, the topos of return normally occupies centre stage in the ritornello's narrative, for it responds to the earlier impetus for wandering in the preceding strophic section and ends the amorous exile created by this wandering. The centrality of poetic return helps compensate, at least partly, for the lack of return in terms of verse structure and rhyme pattern. In three case studies, I show how text and music act symbiotically – either concordantly or in an ironically discordant manner – to close the song with an expressive structural and semantic gesture. This formal articulation that occurs on at least three different levels – metrical, poetic and musical – sheds new light on a complicated issue of musico‐textual (or, rather, musico‐metatextual) relationships in the trecento. Viewed through a metapoetic lens, the resulting relationships show that trecento musical settings do not passively sonify and ornament the body of the poem, as is sometimes implied, but generate further layers of meaning that both the practitioners of this musico‐poetic culture and their audience could well have appreciated throughout the trecento.
That is life: communicating RNA networks from viruses and cells in continuous interaction
Authors: Villarreal Luis P. , Witzany Guenther
Published: March 2019

All the conserved detailed results of evolution stored in DNA must be read, transcribed, and translated via an RNA‐mediated process. This is required for the development and growth of each individual cell. Thus, all known living organisms fundamentally depend on these RNA‐mediated processes. In most cases, they are interconnected with other RNAs and their associated protein complexes and function in a strictly coordinated hierarchy of temporal and spatial steps (i.e., an RNA network). Clearly, all cellular life as we know it could not function without these key agents of DNA replication, namely rRNA, tRNA, and mRNA. Thus, any definition of life that lacks RNA functions and their networks misses an essential requirement for RNA agents that inherently regulate and coordinate (communicate to) cells, tissues, organs, and organisms. The precellular evolution of RNAs occurred at the core of the emergence of cellular life and the question remained of how both precellular and cellular levels are interconnected historically and functionally. RNA networks and RNA communication can interconnect these levels. With the reemergence of virology in evolution, it became clear that communicating viruses and subviral infectious genetic parasites are bridging these two levels by invading, integrating, coadapting, exapting, and recombining constituent parts in host genomes for cellular requirements in gene regulation and coordination aims. Therefore, a 21st century understanding of life is of an inherently social process based on communicating RNA networks, in which viruses and cells continuously interact.
An update of knowledge on PD‐L1 in head and neck cancers: Physiologic, prognostic and therapeutic perspectives
Authors: Lenouvel Daniel , González‐Moles Miguel Ángel , Talbaoui Asmae , Ramos‐García Pablo , González‐Ruiz Lucía , Ruiz‐Ávila Isabel , Gil‐Montoya José Antonio
Published: March 2019

Programmed cell death‐ligand 1 (PD‐L1) is a transmembrane protein that acts as a co‐inhibitory factor in the immune response. Its receptor, programmed cell death protein 1 (PD‐1), is found on immune cells, where binding to PD‐L1 can reduce the proliferation of PD‐1‐positive cells, inhibit their cytokine secretion and induce apoptosis. PD‐L1 in immune‐privileged tissue plays a crucial role in peripheral tolerance. PD‐L1 can be overexpressed in various malignancies, including oral squamous cell carcinoma, where it can attenuate the host immune response to tumour cells and has been associated with a worse prognosis. Monoclonal antibody therapies targeting the PD‐1:PD‐L1 axis have shown initial promise, but further research is needed to identify which patients will benefit. We provide an update of knowledge on PD‐L1, including its structure, function and regulation. We also review studies on the overexpression of PD‐L1 in cancer, specifically oral squamous cell carcinoma, and explore its potential value as a therapeutic target.
A case of woolly hair nevus, multiple linear pigmentation, and epidermal nevi with somatic HRAS p.G12S mutation
Authors: Nishihara Katsuhiko , Tohyama Mikiko , Kubo Akiharu
Published: March 2019

Woolly hair nevus is a rare syndrome that presents as woolly hair in restricted areas of the scalp and may be associated with pigmented macules or epidermal nevus on the body. Here, we report a case of woolly hair nevus, linear pigmentation, and multiple epidermal nevi with a somatic HRAS c.34G>A(p.G12S) mutation.
Right atrial function in pediatric heart transplant patients by echocardiographic strain measurements
Authors: Watanabe Kae , Schäfer Michal , Cassidy Courtney , Miyamoto Shelley D. , Jone Pei‐Ni
Published: March 2019

Background

CAV is a major cause of mortality in PHTx patients. Research on echocardiographic indices to detect CAV focuses primarily on ventricular function and less is known about RAF. Thus, we primarily sought to evaluate RAF in PHTx patients with CAV. For secondary analysis, we compared RAF between PHTx patients and control patients and evaluated RAF with respect to rejection and surgical type.

Methods

We retrospectively evaluated echocardiography derived RA strain indices in recipients <18 years old and >1 year from time of transplant. The RA strain phases included, reservoir (εs), conduit (εe), pump (εa), and respective strain rate indices (SRs, SRe, SRa).

Results

There were 36 PHTx patients and 14 age‐, sex‐matched control patients. There was a significant reduction in εs, εe, SRs, and SRe (P < 0.001) in the PHTx patients when compared to controls. There was no difference between the CAV (+) and CAV (−) patients with respect to RAF indices. Furthermore, εs, εe, and SRe (P < 0.05) were lower in patients with acute rejection (n = 7) compared to those without (n = 26). Patients with a bi‐atrial anastomosis (n = 14) had decreased εs, εa, SRs, SRa (P < 0.05), compared to bi‐caval anastomosis (n = 24).

Conclusion

PHTx patients have decreased RAF compared to healthy children. RAF does not differentiate PHTx patients based on the presence of CAV. RAF is also decreased in PHTx patients with rejection and in those transplanted with a bi‐atrial anastomosis.
Transition from paediatric to adult care: a qualitative study of the experiences of young adults with type 1 diabetes
Authors: Iversen Elisabeth , Kolltveit Beate‐Christin H. , Hernar Ingvild , Mårtensson Jan , Haugstvedt Anne
Published: March 2019

Aim

The aim of the present study was to explore how young adults with type 1 diabetes (T1D) experienced the transition from paediatric to adult health care services.

Design

A qualitative, explorative design was used.

Methods

Eleven young adults with T1D receiving adult diabetes care at a hospital in western Norway participated in semi‐structured interviews. Data were analysed using Interpretive Description, an inductive approach inspired by grounded theory, ethnography and phenomenology, and specifically designed to explore phenomena in clinical practice aiming to generate new knowledge and skills.

Results

Four main themes regarding the adolescents’ experiences of the transfer from paediatric to adult care emerged: (i) limited information about the transition; (ii) transition from frequent, thorough and personal follow‐up to a less comprehensive and less personal follow‐up; (iii) the importance of being seen as a whole person; (iv) limited expectations of how the health care services were organised.

Conclusions

The study showed that the existing routines for transfer between paediatric and adult care are not optimal. The participants expressed that they were not prepared for the dissimilarities in follow‐up and were predominantly less pleased with the adult care follow‐up.

Relevance to clinical practice

The findings support a need for structured transition programmes, that is programmes that contribute to young adults with T1D receiving a safe and positive transition at an otherwise demanding life phase. Young peoples’ individual needs for the transition to and follow‐up in adult care may be promoted by an approach based on person‐centred care.
Contradictory experiences of safety and shame in inpatient mental health practice – a qualitative study
Authors: Eldal Kari , Veseth Marius , Natvik Eli , Davidson Larry , Skjølberg Åse , Gytri Dorte , Moltu Christian
Published: March 2019

This study explores the lived experience of hospitalisation from the perspective of people with a mental health disorder. This hermeneutic‐phenomenological study, which forms part of a larger qualitative serial inquiry, uses a participatory research design, with analysis inspired by interpretative phenomenological analysis. Fourteen participants were interviewed twice: first during hospitalisation and then again 3 months following hospital discharge. Findings are reported from the entire interview data set. Our findings suggest that mental health hospitalisation is a contradictory experience for patients. On one hand, our study participants experienced the hospital as a place where it is alright to be vulnerable, while on the other hand participants experienced hospitalisation as a burden of everyday stigma and signs of depersonalisation. We conclude that it is important to recognise that patients in need of inpatient treatment for mental illnesses are, in fact, people first and foremost. More reflective practice can be developed by shifting the focus to recovery‐oriented practices to and open dialogue‐based approaches.
Health satisfaction and family impact of parents of children with cancer: a descriptive cross‐sectional study
Authors: Al‐Gamal Ekhlas , Long Tony , Shehadeh Jumana
Published: March 2019

Background

The impact on parents of coping with a child who has cancer can be both severe and multifarious. Considerable distress persists throughout the treatment phase, persisting even after completion of treatment with heightened anxiety and stress associated with thoughts of recurrence or relapse.

Aim

The purpose was to investigate the links between parents’ satisfaction with the health care offered to their child with cancer and the impact on families of caring for such a child (including their health‐related quality of life) in a Middle Eastern country.

Study design

A descriptive, correlational, cross‐sectional design was adopted. Arabic versions of parent‐completed, validated instruments were completed by 113 parents whose child had cancer.

Results

Family relationship was found to be the best functioning domain, and daily activities were seen to be the poorest. In general, parents expressed satisfaction with their child's health care, but inadequate attention had been paid to their emotional needs. Cases in which children were reported to exhibit more emotional and behavioural problems correlated with greater negative impact on the family and disrupted family functioning.

Discussion

Parental quality of life was more severely affected than family quality of life. This results from mothers taking up most of the caregiver burden, and the impact on mothers was significantly greater than that on fathers. Children were protected from stress and anxiety by their mother. This burden on mothers resulted in deficits in emotional, social and physical functioning.

Practice and policy implications

Nurses and other health professionals should redress the balance between family‐centred care strategies and child‐centred approaches. Effort is needed to provide psychological support to parents by ensuring adequate preparation of staff, especially nurses, to recognise need and provide support in a therapeutic environment. Support may be needed for years after the diagnosis. This is a health professional role that may currently be neglected, and for which training is essential.
Fatal acute hemolytic transfusion reaction due to anti‐B from a platelet apheresis unit stored in platelet additive solution
Authors: Balbuena‐Merle Raisa , West F. Bernadette , Tormey Christopher A. , Hendrickson Jeanne E.
Published: March 2019

BACKGROUND

Hemolytic transfusion reactions from out‐of‐group plasma in platelet (PLT) transfusions are uncommon, with most involving passive transfer of anti‐A. Only rare reactions have ever been reported due to anti‐B.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS

An apheresis PLT product was donated by a blood group O male, processed using PLT additive solution, and pathogen reduced. Postreaction recipient testing included an antibody screen using gel technology, a direct antiglobulin test (DAT) using immunoglobulin G and C3, and an eluate against group O and B cells. Postreaction donor testing included measuring anti‐B titers in saline, with and without anti‐human globulin.

RESULTS

A 60‐year‐old blood group B patient with relapsed acute myeloid leukemia developed confusion, fever, and hypotension within hours after a blood group O PLT transfusion. The posttransfusion reaction evaluation was remarkable for a positive DAT 3+ for C3; the eluate showed anti‐B. Rapid extravascular hemolysis occurred, with a 50% decline in hemoglobin, a high lactate dehydrogenase, and a high bilirubin. She was resuscitated with fluids, blood products, pressors, and oxygen and died of asystole 60 hours later. The donor's anti‐B titers were 128 by tube testing at immediate spin and 512 at the anti‐human globulin phase. Notably, a group B patient at a different hospital received a split of the same apheresis unit, with no reaction.

CONCLUSION

To our knowledge, this is the first fatality reported from passively transfused anti‐B. The fact that one transfusion recipient died whereas another did not have any reported reaction highlights the potential importance of recipient variables in isohemagglutinin‐mediated hemolysis.
Population genomics reveals that refugial isolation and habitat change lead to incipient speciation in the Ground tit
Authors: Jiang Zhiyong , Gao Bin , Lei Fumin , Qu Yanhua
Published: March 2019

Complex geological environments and Pleistocene glaciations contribute to speciation. For example, the unique geomorphological configuration and distinct geological evolution of the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau has led to the evolution of many endemic species adapted to a life at the plateau. Most of these endemic birds show no genetic divergence between different populations across the vast plateau region, with one particularly interesting exception. The ground tit (Pseudopodoces humilis) exhibits considerable genetic differences between the populations distributed on the central (platform) and those in the eastern margin (edge) of the plateau. Glacial refugial isolation and geographic barrier are hypotheses that have been proposed to explain this unique pattern of divergence. Here we use genome‐wide resequencing data to test these two hypotheses as explanation to the genetic divergence of the ground tit. The neighbor‐joining tree, principal component and STRUCTURE analyses suggest the presence of two incompletely diverged genetic lineages, which are geographically congruent with the populations in the platform and edge areas of the plateau. Our demographic model and population demography analyses estimated that the two populations diverged between 57 and 167 kya, and both populations experienced similar bottlenecks and expansions. Congruently, we also observed retracted suitable habitats for the two populations during the glacial time, suggesting that isolation in different glacial refugia. Interestingly, the genetic divergence between the two populations is further maintained and accumulated by habitat differentiation and morphological divergence. In accordance with this, we observed that highly divergent genomic regions harbour genes enriched in biological functions involved in muscle related processes and metabolic activities. Overall, the separation into different glacial refugia, the habitat difference and the morphological divergence contribute together to the adaptive population diversification in situ and we suggest that the platform and edge populations of the ground tit constitutes an interesting example of incipient speciation.
Challenges and Opportunities for Technical and Vocational Education and Training in the local communities: Education and Labour Market for Young People
Authors: Lin Mei-ling
Published: March 2019

A country’s competitiveness in the global economy depends on its ability to develop a knowledge-based economy. EU has emphasized the importance of education and training systems for the knowledge society. The paper aims to contribute to the debate on vocational education, and specifically to the literatures on varieties of workforce development, human capital, labour market and social cohesion. Findings reveal that education is considered vital for the formation of a skilled and knowledge-able pool of workers. Investments in vocational and technical skills can be an important factor in contributing to economic development. Nevertheless, social cohesion depends on the way in which education and the labour market are linked. The contribution of this paper is to assess the policy strategies dealing with local youngsters’ education, labour market demands and social cohesion with respect to their potential of enabling young people to participate in working life and society. It also offers a contribution to the growing field of political economy of the link between labour market and social cohesion, the variation and dynamics of education systems, and globalisation.
Corrosion Experiments on Ceramic Samples Within Molten Salts
Authors: Hadrava Jan , Galek Vojtěch , Stoklasa Jaroslav , Hrbek Jan , Kunešová Kateřina , Bezdička Petr , Sedlářová Ivona
Published: March 2019

The molten salts can provide many possibilities for their use, e.g., an electrolyte in fuel cells or as a heat transfer medium and an oxygen transporter for flameless oxidation in molten salt oxidation (MSO) technology. The environment of molten salts is very corrosive; therefore, it is crucial to find such ceramic materials, which could be used as reactor filling for MSO technology. The aim of this work was to research physical properties of ceramic samples after the exposure within the eutectic mixture of Na2CO3, K2CO3, Li2CO3 and temperature of 700 °C.
Reliability Analysis of an Axial Compressor Based on One-Dimensional Flow Modeling and Survival Signature
Authors: Miro S. , Willeke T. , Broggi M. , Seume J. R. , Beer M.
Published: March 2019

This paper presents a procedure for the reliability analysis of a multistage axial compressor regarding blade-specific roughness effects, based on the survival signature approach. As a result, a time-dependent evolution of the system reliability is obtained along with a prioritization technique for monitoring and regeneration of the rough blade rows by capturing the most critical system components. For this purpose, a one-dimensional flow model is developed and utilized to evaluate the aerodynamic influences of the blade-specific roughness on the system performance parameters, namely the overall pressure ratio and the isentropic efficiency. In order to achieve transparency and high numerical efficiency for time-dependent analyses in practice, the physics-based compressor model is translated into an illustrative, function-based system model. This system model is established by conducting a Monte Carlo simulation along with a variance-based global sensitivity analysis, with the input variables being the row-specific blade roughness. Based on the system model, the roughness impact in different blade-rows is ranked by the relative importance (RI) index, and the corresponding time-dependent reliability of the compressor system in terms of pressure ratio and efficiency is estimated through its survival function. Furthermore, uncertainties in the roughness-induced failure rates of the components are modeled using imprecise probabilities. Consequently, bounds on the reliability function and the importance indices for the blade-surface roughness in each blade row are captured, which enhances the decision-making process for maintenance activities under uncertainty.
Phase Field Modeling of Coupled Phase Separation and Diffusion-Induced Stress in Lithium Iron Phosphate Particles Reconstructed From Synchrotron Nano X-ray Tomography
Authors: Wu Linmin , De Andrade Vincent , Xiao Xianghui , Zhang Jing
Published: March 2019

In this study, the phase separation phenomenon and diffusion-induced stresses in lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) particles under a potentiostatic discharging process have been simulated using the phase field method. The realistic particles reconstructed from synchrotron nano X-ray tomography along with idealized spherical and ellipsoid shaped particles were studied. The results show that stress and diffusion process in particles are strongly influenced by particle shapes, especially at the initial lithiation stage. Stresses in the realistic particles are higher than that in the idealized spherical ones by at least 30%. The diffusion-induced hydrostatic stress has a strong relationship with lithium ion concentration. The hydrostatic stresses and first principal stresses tend to shift from lower values to higher values as the particle takes in more lithium ions. Additionally, the diffusion-induced stresses are related to the maximum concentration difference in the particle. High concentration difference will cause high stresses. In ellipsoid particles, the stress levels increase with the aspect ratios. The model provides a design tool to optimize the performance of cathode materials with phase separation phenomena.
Investigation of Nanofluid Heat Transfer in a Microchannel Under Magnetic Field Via Lattice Boltzmann Method: Effects of Surface Hydrophobicity, Viscous Dissipation, and Joule Heating
Authors: Alipour Lalami Ali , Hassanzadeh Afrouzi Hamid , Moshfegh Abouzar , Omidi Mohammad , Javadzadegan Ashkan
Published: March 2019

In this paper, effect of Joule heating (JH), viscous dissipations (VD), and super hydrophobic surfaces on heat transfer of water–Al2O3 and water–CuO nanofluids in a microchannel has been investigated using lattice Boltzmann method (LBM). The microchannel is under a uniform and transverse magnetic field. The lower wall of the microchannel is insulated and a uniform heat flux has been applied to the upper wall. Results are generated at constant Reynolds number of 150, volume fraction of 2%, and a diameter of 25 nm with variable Hartmann numbers ranging from 0 to 20 and nondimensional slip coefficients from 0 to 0.05. The results of the developed code are in good agreement with other analytical, numerical, and experimental reports. Moreover, the results show that in such case, ignoring the JH and VD leads to a significant error in the prediction of Nusselt number up to 62% and 56%, respectively, for water–Al2O3 and water–CuO nanofluids. It has also been shown that using a super hydrophobic surface with a slip coefficient of 0.05 leads to a significant reduction in VD; however, it increases the effect of JH. On the other hand, it is found that, despite JH and viscous dissipation effects, using super hydrophobic surfaces (up to a slip coefficient of 0.05) leads to an increase in Nusselt number and decrease in shear stress for all the studied Hartmann numbers. Finally, it has been concluded that super hydrophobic surfaces can be used as a passive tool to enhance the heat transfer rate and simultaneously decrease the pumping power demand.
Optimal Ecological Performance Investigation of a Quantum Harmonic Oscillator Brayton Refrigerator
Authors: Liu Xiaowei , Chen Lingen , Wei Shuhuan , Meng Fankai
Published: March 2019

A model for the quantum Brayton refrigerator that takes the harmonic oscillator system as the working substance is established. Expressions of cooling load, coefficient of performance (COP), and ecological function are derived. With numerical illustrations, the optimal ecological performance is investigated. At the same time, effects of heat leakage and quantum friction are also studied. For the case with the classical approximation, the optimal ecological performance, and effects of heat leakage and quantum friction are also investigated. For both general cases and the case with classical approximation, the results indicate that the ecological function has a maximum. The irreversible losses decrease the ecological performance, while having different effects on the optimal ecological performance. For the case with classical approximation, numerical calculation with friction coefficient μ = 0.02 and heat leakage coefficient Ce = 0.01 shows that the cooling load (RE) at the maximum ecological function is 6.23% smaller than the maximum cooling load (Rmax). The COP is also increased by 12.1%, and the exergy loss rate is decreased by 27.6%. Compared with the maximum COP state, the COP (ɛE) at the maximum ecological function is 0.55% smaller than the maximum COP (ɛmax) and that makes 7.63% increase in exergy loss rate, but also makes 6.17% increase in cooling load and 6.20% increase in exergy output rate.
Rapid and inefficient kinetics of sickle hemoglobin fiber growth
Authors: Castle Brian T. , Odde David J. , Wood David K.
Published: March 2019

Nanoscale analysis reveals the rapid and inefficient sickle hemoglobin self-assembly process.
Conformational landscape alternations promote oncogenic activities of Ras-related C3 botulinum toxin substrate 1 as revealed by NMR
Authors: Toyama Yuki , Kontani Kenji , Katada Toshiaki , Shimada Ichio
Published: March 2019

We demonstrate that the alternation of conformational equilibrium is a primary mechanism underlying oncogenic activities of Rac1.
Perching and resting—A paradigm for UAV maneuvering with modularized landing gears
Authors: Hang Kaiyu , Lyu Ximin , Song Haoran , Stork Johannes A. , Dollar Aaron M. , Kragic Danica , Zhang Fu
Published: March 2019

A modularized and actuated landing gear framework allows a UAV to stably perch and rest on a wide range of different structures.
A review of collective robotic construction
Authors: Petersen Kirstin H. , Napp Nils , Stuart-Smith Robert , Rus Daniela , Kovac Mirko
Published: March 2019

Collective robotic construction concerns multirobot systems that modify their environment according to high-level user-specified goals.
An antibody-drug conjugate directed to the ALK receptor demonstrates efficacy in preclinical models of neuroblastoma
Authors: Sano Renata , Krytska Kateryna , Larmour Colleen E. , Raman Pichai , Martinez Daniel , Ligon Gwenda F. , Lillquist Jay S. , Cucchi Ulisse , Orsini Paolo , Rizzi Simona , Pawel Bruce R. , Alvarado Diego , Mossé Yael P.
Published: March 2019

ALK is a tractable antibody-drug conjugate target in neuroblastoma.
Transposition of IS
4
Family Insertion Sequences IS
Teha3
, IS
Teha4
, and IS
Teha5
into the
arc
Operon Disrupts Arginine Deiminase System in
Tetragenococcus halophilus
Authors: Wakinaka Takura , Watanabe Jun
Published: March 2019

Insertion sequences play important roles in bacterial evolution and are frequently utilized in mutagenesis systems. However, the intrinsic insertion sequences of tetragenococci are not well characterized. Here, we identified three active insertion sequences of
T. halophilus
by transposition into the region around the
arc
operon. This report provides an example of insertion sequence-mediated generation and evolution of
T. halophilus
and primary information about their characteristics.
To Lump or To Split: Does Strain Lineage for Clostridioides difficile Matter?
Authors: Curry Scott R.
Published: March 2019

Since 2001, numerous descriptive ecological studies of
Clostridioides difficile
infections (CDI) have identified a single lineage (BI/NAP1/027) associated with the epidemics of CDI, increased severity of CDI, and increased likelihood of incident CDI to become recurrent. Establishing causality between the clinical severity and outcomes for CDI and the lineages of the infecting strains, however, has proved elusive, with many conflicting results in previous observational studies.
Draft Genome Sequence of Arthrobacter globiformis mrc11, an Antimicrobial Agent Isolated from a Khangkhui Cave Deposit
Authors: Sahoo Dinabandhu , Devi N. Jusna , Ngashangva N. , Momota P. , Rojeena Y. , Indira Devi S.
Published: March 2019

Arthrobacter globiformis
mrc11 was isolated from a Khangkhui cave deposit. Here, we report the draft genome sequence of this phylogenetically novel organism, which has a genome size of 4.89 Mb, a 65.9% GC content, and 4,657 predicted open reading frames that can be translated.
Complete Genome Sequence of a Sequence Type 4846 Streptococcus pneumoniae Serotype 12F Strain Isolated from a Meningitis Case in Japan
Authors: Chang Bin , Morita Masatomo , Lee Ken-ichi , Ohnishi Makoto
Published: March 2019

Streptococcus pneumoniae
serotype 12F rarely colonizes the nasopharynx but commonly causes invasive pneumococcal disease. Here, we report the complete genome sequence of a sequence type 4846 (ST4846)
S. pneumoniae
serotype 12F strain isolated from a cluster of invasive pneumococcal disease patients in Japan.
Prevalence of human papilloma virus in oropharyngeal, tongue and lip squamous cell carcinoma: An experience from the Egyptian National Cancer Institute
Authors: Tealab Safy Hosny , Sedhom Nevine F H , Hassouna Ashraf , Gouda Iman , Ismail Hoda
Published: March 2019

Human papilloma virus (HPV) is now a well-known risk factor for head and neck cancer besides smoking and alcohol. Most studies mentioned that patients affected with high-risk HPV cancers have a better outcome, and many clinical trials are trying to prove that such group of patients can receive a different and less aggressive treatment than the HPV-negative group. Although such field has received great interest within different countries and continents, African and Egyptian populations are not yet well studied within the literature. Our aim was to detect the prevalence of HPV in oropharyngeal (OP), lip and tongue squamous cell carcinoma (SSC) and correlate the viral prevalence with different clinicopathologic parameters as well as patients’ outcome. HPV detection was done on 99 cases from the lip (29), tongue (38) and oropharynx (32) diagnosed at the Pathology Department of the National Cancer Institute, Cairo University. p16 immunohistochemistry was performed on all cases, followed by HPV DNA in situ hybridization (ISH) for p16-positive cases. The prevalence of HPV in OPSSC was 28% and in lip and tongue cancers lumped together was 37%. There was more than 90% concordance between p16 and HPV DNA ISH results. HPV positivity showed a statistically significant correlation with better disease-free survival (DFS), which was also maintained for OP cases. HPV is highly prevalent in OP and common oral cavity cancers in the Egyptian population. HPV positivity correlated significantly with better DFS, especially in OP cancers.
Comparison of Clonidine and Epinephrine in Lidocaine for Cervical Plexus Block
Authors: Molnar Rowan R. , Davies Michael J. , Scott David A. , Silbert Brendan S. , Mooney Patricia H.
Published: March 2019

Background and Objectives

Carotid endarterectomy under cervical plexus block offers the advantage of awake neurologic assessment. The hypothesis was tested that the addition of clonidine 5 μg/mL to lidocaine 1.5% for the block is as effective clinically as the addition of epinephrine 5 μg/mL but without the associated tachycardia.

Methods

In a double-blind, randomized, prospective trial of 40 patients, local anesthetic solutions of lidocaine 1.5% containing either clonidine 5 μg/mL or epinephrine 5 μg/mL were compared for cervical plexus block in patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy. Each solution was administered to 20 patients with a total lidocaine dose of 7 mg/kg. The electrocardiogram, heart rate, and arterial pressure (radial artery catheter) were continuously monitored. Blood samples were drawn for determination of serum lidocaine levels during the first hour.

Results

The block onset time (8.4 ± 0.6 minutes for epinephrine, 8.8 ± 0.8 minutes for clonidine) and duration (139 ± 6.7 minutes for epinephrine, 148 ± 5.8 minutes for clonidine) were not different between the two groups. During the period from completion of the block until incision there was a significant heart rate increase in the epinephrine group (23% mean rise) as compared with the clonidine group (4% mean rise) (P < .003). There was no difference in blood pressure between the two groups. The maximum plasma concentrations of lidocaine were 2.5-7.6 μg/mL (mean, 4.5 ± 0.3 μg/mL) for the epinephrine group and 4.7-18.4 μg/mL (mean, 7.5 ± 0.7 μg/mL) for the clonidine group (P < .0002). The maximum concentrations were reached 0-30 minutes (mean, 8 ± 1.4 minutes) after injection for the epinephrine group and 0-10 minutes (mean, 4.5 ± 7.1 minutes) for the clonidine group (P < .03).

Conclusions

Clonidine 5 μg/mL is a useful additive to lidocaine 1.5% for cervical plexus block to reduce the incidence of tachycardia; however, omission of epinephrine results in higher serum lidocaine levels.
Long-Tapered Double Needle Used to Reduce Needle Stick Nerve Injury
Authors: Maruyama Masaaki
Published: March 2019

Background and Objectives

Needle trauma may cause peripheral nerve injuries during performance of peripheral nerve block.

Methods

Four types of 21-gauge needles for regional anesthesia were compared: a beveled nerve block needle (Quincke type); a short-tapered needle with a side orifice (Whitacre type); a long-tapered needle with a side orifice (Sprotte type); and a long-tapered double needle combining an inner pencil-point fine needle with an outer truncated conical needle (a new type). This new needle was developed to reduce the potential for nerve injury while retaining a suitable flow rate of anesthetic solution and the ability to inject the solution precisely at the point of paresthesia elicited by the tip. Each type of needle was used to produce puncture injuries to rabbit sciatic nerves. Eighteen specimens were studied within each needle group. The beveled needle was used to produce two different types of nerve injuries by inserting it either transverse or longitudinal to the nerve fibers. Each histologic specimen of the nerve with the needle puncture was surfacestained with hematoxylin-eosin and Bodian's method. Subsequently, the number of damaged axons was histomorphologically counted and statistically evaluated.

Results

Both long-tapered needles produced significantly fewer transected axons than the beveled needle inserted with the bevel longitudinal to the nerve fibers.

Conclusion

The long-tapered needles produced the least number of transected nerve fibers after sciatic nerve puncture.
Cervical Epidural Analgesia for Management of Pain Associated With Digital Vasculitis Secondary to Rheumatoid Arthritis
Authors: Green Carmen Reneé , de Rosayro Michael A.
Published: March 2019

Background and Objectives

Cutaneous vasculitis is a devastating extra-articular manifestation of rheumatoid arthritis. The potential consequences of digital vasculitis are necrosis, ischemia, infarction, and eventually gangrene.

Methods

A 54-year-old woman with a long history of rheumatoid arthritis developed an acute onset of severe diffuse occlusive cutaneous vasculitis beyond the head of the metacarpals (documented by angiogram). Despite treatment with high-dose prednisone and Cytoxan, her symptoms were poorly controlled. Cervical sympatholysis via continuous epidural infusion of bupivacaine was then initiated to manage her pain as well as to treat the vasoconstrictive sequelae of the cutaneous vasculitis.

Results

The cervical epidural infusion relieved the pain and produced significant resolution of the symptoms.

Conclusions

This case highlights the rational use of continuous cervical epidural block for the management of pain and improvement in blood flow to vasoconstricted upper extremities and digits resulting from vasculitis due to rheumatoid vasculitis.
Combined Spinal and Epidural Analgesia in a Parturient With Severe Myasthenia Gravis
Authors: D'Angelo Robert , Gerancher J. C.
Published: March 2019

Background and Objectives

A 27-year-old woman with a history of myasthenia gravis presented for vaginal delivery.

Methods

A combined spinal epidural was initiated with 7.5 μg intrathecal sufentanil at the time of first request for analgesia followed by 140 mg epidural lidocaine prior to spontaneous vaginal delivery.

Results

The patient had a pain-free spontaneous vaginal delivery uncomplicated by muscle weakness.

Conclusion

Combined spinal and epidural anesthesia using intrathecal opioids initially provides labor analgesia with minimal muscle weakness in the parturient with myasthenia gravis.
Selectivity in carbon–carbon coupling reactions at palladium(IV) and platinum(IV)
Authors: Puddephatt Richard J.
Published: March 2019

The isomerization and reductive elimination reactions from octahedral organometallic complexes of palladium(IV) and platinum(IV) usually occur through five-coordinate intermediates that cannot be directly detected. This paper reports a computational study of five-coordinate complexes of formulae [PtMe3(bipy)]+, [PtMe2Ph(bipy)]+, and [PtMe(CH2CMe2C6H4)(bipy)]+ (M = Pd or Pt, bipy = 2,2′-bipyridine), particularly with respect to reactivity and selectivity in reductive elimination. All of the complexes are predicted to have square pyramidal structures with the bipy and two R groups in the equatorial positions and one R group in the axial position, and axial–equatorial exchange occurs by a pairwise mechanism, with the transition state having a pinched trigonal bipyramidal (PTBP) stereochemistry, with one nitrogen and two R groups in the trigonal plane. The activation energy for isomerization is lower than that for reductive elimination in all cases. For the complexes [MMe2Ph(bipy)]+, the activation energies for reductive elimination with Me–Me or Me–Ph coupling are similar. For the complexes [MMe(CH2CMe2C6H4)(bipy)]+, the reductive elimination with Me–C6H4 bond formation from the isomer with the methyl group in the axial position is predicted and is attributed to it having the best conformation of the Me and C6H4 groups for C–C bond formation. In all cases, the selectivity for reductive elimination is similar for M = Pd or Pt, but reactivity is higher for M = Pd. The relevance of this work to selectivity in catalysis is discussed.
Phenology and cultivation of Suillus bovinus, an edible mycorrhizal fungus, in a Pinus massoniana plantation
Authors: Sun Xueguang , Feng Wanyan , Li Min , Shi Jing , Ding Guijie
Published: March 2019

Edible mycorrhizal fungi (EMF) are a valuable forest resource, both in terms of their ecological functions as a symbiont of host trees and because of their edible sporocarps. In this study, we characterized the morphological features of Suillus bovinus, a dominant EMF associated with Pinus massoniana Lamb., and conducted a 3-year field survey to clarify the phenology of S. bovinus sporocarps. The morphological features of S. bovinus were generally in accordance with those reported by previous studies, and S. bovinus sporocarp production was largely influenced by meteorological conditions and the intra-annual growth rhythm of P. massoniana. The monthly fruiting pattern of sporocarps correlated with monthly variations in temperature (P < 0.01) and precipitation (P < 0.05). Sporocarp productivity increased as the temperature or precipitation increased and it decreased as the temperature or precipitation decreased. The correlation between P. massoniana growth stages and the production of mature sporocarps was also significant (P < 0.01); sporocarps were mainly formed during the shoot elongation stage, shoot growth ceased stage, and vegetative growth period. The sporocarp productivity data plus the economic evaluation indicate that a considerable amount of S. bovinus sporocarps could be produced in P. massoniana plantations, which merits further commercial use. To facilitate commercial use, both the morphological features of the association formed by S. bovinus and P. massoniana and the influences that determine S. bovinus fruiting should be taken into consideration.
The Finger-Based Interactive Projection using a Monocular Camera
Authors: Shu Guangqiang , Lin Tao
Published: March 2019

Ordinary projection screen is not sensitive to interaction, it cannot meet the demands of teaching, virtual reality, and other applications. Due to the fact that people always use hands to complete a variety of human–computer interaction, the finger-based interactive projection technology is worth being researched. In this paper, an ordinary monocular camera is used to acquire video frame on projection screen, and the touch signal of finger in frame is used as the input of interactive projection system. Because the differences between spatial frequency of common digital camera and the projection screen is small, the frame obtained from camera will contain moire fringe, which needs to be filtered in image frequency domain. Then the difference between current frame edge and previous frame edge is calculated to obtain moving object edge clues. According to these clues, the most possible contour curve is searched in current frame edge, and the curve is fitted by polynomial approximation method. Its curvature integration is used to match with the curvature integration of finger template curve. After that the fingers in the curve are recognized. Because color information is not needed, this method can be used to recognize gloved fingers. Finally, finger shadow is used to judge whether the finger touches projection screen to complete interactive process. The experiments of writing and collaboratively rotating picture on projector screen show that this method can effectively complete interactive operation with the projection screen and can realize the multi-user operation.
A Combined Approach for the Binarization of Historical Tibetan Document Images
Authors: Han Yuehui , Wang Weilan , Liu Huaming , Wang Yiqun
Published: March 2019

It is common that historical Tibetan documents belonging to historical collections are poorly preserved and are prone to degradation processes. This causes many challenges that can be addressed by image binarization, the most common of which is stains. A lack of uniform standard datasets makes it difficult to evaluate binarization effects. Motivated by the poor effects and difficulty of evaluating the binarization of historical Tibetan document images, a combined approach is proposed that aims to improve overall performance. The method includes the following parts: first, image generation through standard binarization and the background extraction of color images, which are both used for image synthesis in preparing for an evaluation. Then, preliminary binarization processing is implemented through channel combination in the lab color space and through local binarization. The synthetic images are used to select the coefficient when the channels are combined. Furthermore, Local Binary Pattern (hereafter LBP) and image smoothing is carried out after the combination of the channels to obtain the outline of the text area. Finally, the final binarization image is obtained by combining the preliminary binarization image and the text area contour image. Our method achieved top performance compared to other methods after a large number of synthetic image tests with a variety of background types.
GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS AND ENERGY TRANSITION IN PAKISTAN
Authors: RAZA ARSHAD , GHOLAMI RAOOF , RABIEI MINOU , RASOULI VAMEGH , REZAEE REZA
Published: March 2019

Pakistan is ranked in the 7th position among the affected countries by climate changes. Although many studies have been done on the impacts of climate change in Pakistan, little attention has been given to the need for an energy transition and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in this country. This study highlights the needs of the national energy transition in Pakistan to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions. Considering the fact that natural gas has lower greenhouse gas emission than coal or oil, Pakistan needs to shift its energy system towards natural gas in the near future. Meanwhile, Pakistan government should take key measures and revise energy policies to support such energy transition by making large gas discoveries, increasing energy conversion systems, and implementing renewable and sustainable energies.