bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Analysis of selected aspects of collective water supply system operation in the selected municipality
Authors: Boryczko Krzysztof
Published: September 2018

The purpose of the work was to analyze the exploitation of the collective water supply system (CWSS), on the example of Czudec, Podkarpackie CWSS. The water balance was prepared. The system operation was simulated using the Epanet software. The obtained data was presented in graphical form of pressure distribution on the network during the minimum and maximum demand. Water age simulations were also prepared, that is, the period of water residence in water distribution subsystem.
Sensitivity of the Hawt noise level predicted based on Amiet’s theory on the value of a turbulence intensity coefficient determined numerically
Authors: Suder-Dębska Katarzyna , Romik Dawid , Czajka Ireneusz
Published: September 2018

In the paper the authors presented and compared two methods of the HAWT noise predicting. The priority, however, was to test the possibility of using Amiet's theory to determine the noise value in the far field. In this theory it is necessary to know the value of the turbulence intensity coefficient. The value of this coefficient was determined based on numerical modeling. The NACA 0012 profile was used for the airfoil shape. The ANSYS/Fluent program was used for numerical calculations, where the k-ω SST turbulence model was used to simulate the flow, and Ffocs- Williams and Hawkings model was used to determine the noise level. The turbulence intensity coefficient estimated in this way was then used to determine the noise value from the wind turbine airfoils using Amiet's theory.
Standard test methods applied for minimalisation of fire and explosion hazard during co-firing of biomass and coal
Authors: Woliński Marek
Published: September 2018

The use of existing coal feeding system for the input of the crushed biomass to the energy boiler requires the least expenditures to start and run a multi-fuel combustion installation. And if losing popularity technology of co-firing biomass with coal is intended to allow meeting Polish promises to achieve the 15% share of renewable energy sources in the energy mix by the year 2020, such approach could be expected rather than construction of new, dedicated multi-fuel installations to produce electricity and heat. However, this involves the significant increase of fire and explosion hazard in the coaling system - designed for work with coal, a material with much better parameters characterizing this hazard, than biomass. The article presents the standardized research techniques (applied test stands and methodology) used to determine the data necessary for the design and the application of appropriate measures to reduce fire and explosion hazard related to operation of a mix of coal and biomass.
The efficiency of the process of coal gasification in the presence of hydrogen
Authors: Woźniak Gracjana , Longwic Rafał , Szydło Kamil , Kryłowicz Adam , Kryłowicz Jarosław , Juszczak Robert
Published: September 2018

The results of the research on the process of gasification of coal mixture in a closed system was evaluated in this article. The method presented includes oxygen-free gasification of coal at high pressure and its thermal degradation. Hydrogen is a gasifying factor. Gas containing, among others, methane, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, hydrogen is obtained as a result of reaction. Fossil coal as a chemical and energetic raw material is very significant in the process of demand for energy. Due to more and more difficult access to petroleum and natural gas, as well as growing prices, fossil fuels are becoming economically attractive. However, the works on more effective and environmentally friendly methods of energetic use of coal - including its gassing - should be continued. The use of hydrogen during coal gasification allows to get emission-free fuel gas, having better energetic properties than primal raw material.The laboratory site was built and consisted of: 4,5dm3 reactor with a heating system, system of supply reactor with hydrogen and rinsing with argon and cooling system. The results of hydrogasification of coal with specific parameters, for selected time intervals were presented in this article. The efficiency of hydrogasification depending on the type of applied coal was assessed. Powdered charcoal, meeting the norm of German Committee for Standardization DIN EN1860 2 with a number 3H020, hard coal and lignite coal, as well as their mixtures were applied during the research.
Einige Gedanken zur Sentenz: „… aber wir wissen nicht, warum Homöopathie wirkt“
Authors: Würger Wolfgang
Published: September 2018

Das Ziel eines wissenschaftlichen Paradigmas in der Situation der Paradigmenkonkurrenz besteht nicht zuletzt darin, das Selbstvertrauen seiner Gegner systematisch zu schwächen. So verfährt auch die Schulmedizin gegenüber der Homöopathie, indem sie ihr unablässig Defizite an Wissenschaftlichkeit zuzuschreiben versucht. Fatal ist, dass diese Vorwürfe von manchen Homöopathen – entgegen aller wissenschaftstheoretischen Evidenz – noch immer geglaubt werden. Diesen Zustand gilt es wissenschaftstheoretisch zu kritisieren und durch praktisches Handeln aufzulösen.
Wissenschaftliche Homöopathie – eine persönliche Standortbestimmung
Authors: Ivanovas Georg
Published: September 2018

Wissenschaftliches Denken ist durch neues Wissen einem ständigen Wandlungsprozess unterworfen. Diese wissenschaftliche Weiterentwicklung hat in der Homöopathie seit Hahnemann nicht angemessen stattgefunden. Dies führte zu einer zunehmenden Inkongruenz von Modell und beobachteter Wirklichkeit. Die Konsequenzen für die therapeutische Praxis sind dabei erheblich. Dies wird anhand des Miasmabegriffs und der Behandlung des Asthmas beispielhaft dargestellt.
Samuel Hahnemann und die Honorarfrage
Authors: Jütte Robert
Published: September 2018

Zweifellos machte zur Zeit Hahnemanns das Arzthonorar den größten Teil des ärztlichen Einkommens aus. Weil er von diesen Einkünften in seiner Privatpraxis abhängig war, musste sich ein Arzt darum sorgen, vom Patienten Geld zu bekommen, was damals sehr häufig nicht der Fall war. Nicht nur in England, auch auf dem Kontinent waren Patienten bekannt dafür, zu spät oder gar nicht die Arztrechnung zu begleichen. So wurden Ärzte oft zu Gläubigern. Manchmal löste man das Problem durch Ratenzahlungen. Über die Rechnung vor Gericht zu streiten, erwies sich meist als zu kostspielig. Vor diesem Hintergrund wird verständlich, dass Hahnemann als Erfinder eine neuen Heilkunde, die bereits damals sehr umstritten war, seinen Anhängern den Rat gab, dass Vorauszahlung oder Begleichung der Honorarforderung an Ort und Stelle die Voraussetzung für eine erfolgreiche homöopathische Praxis war. Da Hahnemann Angriffen vonseiten der Allopathen ausgesetzt war, wusste er auch die laxe Zahlungsmoral seiner Patienten richtig einzuschätzen und entsprechende Gegenmaßnahmen zu treffen.
Das Selbstverständnis des homöopathischen Arztes oder Wege der Reifung und Befreiung
Authors: Trebin Ernst
Published: September 2018

Die Behandlung chronischer Krankheiten erfordert einen beachtlichen Zeitraum und ist als dynamischer Prozess zu sehen, der ein zunehmend vertieftes Verstehen des Patienten erlaubt und einen kontinuierlichen Abbau seiner ererbten Krankheitsveranlagungen und seiner belastenden biografischen Prägungen zum Ziel hat. Die Funktion des homöopathischen Behandlers besteht in einer stetigen Begleitung auf dem Weg der Reifung und Befreiung.
Modifications and Further Development of the Original Nuss Procedure: Blessing or Curse?
Authors: Kelly Jr Robert
Published: September 2018

The procedure introduced by Donald Nuss in 1997 for the treatment of pectus excavatum at the American Pediatric Surgical Association meeting has now been adopted by pediatric, thoracic, and plastic surgeons around the world. Rather than resection of the costal cartilages and sternal fracture, which had been standard practice for decades, he advocated using a metal bar to push the sternum into position. Reasoning that the chest wall of children is very flexible, he felt that resection was unnecessary. Since that time, medical centers from around the world have reported their experience with the procedure. There is now robust evidence of its safety and efficacy. As the Nuss procedure has become a standard treatment, indications for operation have expanded, and numerous modifications have been introduced. Some of these were intended to improve upon the original procedure, and others to adapt it to new circumstances, such as use in adults whose chest is not as flexible. This report reviews those modifications.
Prävention psychischer Erkrankungen in schwierigen Lebenssituationen
Authors: Pfennig A. , Leopold K. , Pfeiffer S.
Published: September 2018

Präventive Ziele rücken aktuell immer stärker in den Fokus sowohl der wissenschaftlichen als auch klinischen psychiatrischen Arbeit. Dabei ist es wichtig, vulnerable Phasen und schwierige Situationen im Leben zu untersuchen, in denen das Risiko, an einer psychischen Störung zu erkranken, erhöht sein kann bzw. in denen eine Kumulation von Risikofaktoren und/oder das Fehlen bzw. eine Reduktion von Resilienzfaktoren besonders negative Auswirkungen haben. So können Zeiten und Personengruppen identifiziert werden, die von präventiven Maßnahmen besonders profitieren könnten. Beispiele für besonders sensible Lebensphasen sind die Zeit von der Pubertät bis zum jungem Erwachsenenalter, bei Frauen die Zeit um eine Entbindung herum sowie der späte Lebensabschnitt mit potenziell zunehmenden Beeinträchtigungen und Vereinsamung. Kritische Lebenssituationen sind zum Beispiel sozial schwierige Verhältnisse bzw. eine länger andauernde Arbeitslosigkeit, die Zugehörigkeit zur Gruppe von Menschen mit Migrationshintergrund sowie die Zeit nach erstmaliger Diagnosestellung einer schweren psychischen Erkrankung. Im Beitrag wird anhand eines Beispielfalles skizziert, welche präventiven Strategien in der schwierigen Lebenssituation umgesetzt werden können und worin ihr Potenzial besteht.
Neuroimaging and modeling
Authors: Eickhoff S. B. , Bzdok D.
Published: September 2018

The links between symptomatic phenomenology of psychiatric disorders and their neurobiological pathophysiology are still understood only in fragments. While functional and structural neuroimaging methods have leveraged our knowledge of regional dysfunction in psychiatric disorders, emerging novel approaches more focused on brain networks or neural patterns promise additional forward progress. Activation likelihood estimation (ALE) performs quantitative large-scale aggregation of neuroimaging findings. Resting-state (RS) correlation captures networks of functional relationships between regions in the idling, non-goal-focused brain. In contrast, meta-analytic connectivity modeling (MACM) captures functional coupling between brain regions in the context of experimental paradigms. These methods may furthermore be exploited to provide data-driven parcellations (CBP, connectivity-based parcellation) of larger brain regions into distinct functional modules. Dynamic causal modeling (DCM), in turn, allows for the automatic selection among a set of connectional network models to delineate effective connectivity dynamics during experimental paradigms. Finally, machine learning (ML) allows for the automatic detection and prediction of diagnosis/treatment-response patterns in massive datasets. Capitalizing on this toolbox of computational modeling methods might considerably further psychiatry and thus benefit patients with mental disorders.
Homoclinic-doubling and homoclinic-gluing bifurcations in the Takens-Bogdanov normal form with D4 symmetry
Authors: Qin B. W. , Chung K. W. , Rodríguez-Luis A. J. , Belhaq M.
Published: September 2018

In this paper, we investigate the dynamics of a fourth-order normal form near a double Takens-Bogdanov bifurcation. The reduced system of this normal form possesses eight pairs of homoclinic orbits for certain parameter values. The nonlinear time transformation method is applied to obtain an analytical approximation of the homoclinic orbit in the perturbed system and to construct the homoclinic bifurcation curve as well. Using numerical continuation, period-doubling and homoclinic-doubling cascades emanating from a codimension-2 bifurcation point are found. A codimension-2 homoclinic-gluing bifurcation point at which several homoclinic orbits concerning the origin glue together to form a new homoclinic orbit is also obtained. It is shown that in the vicinity of these bifurcation points, the system may exhibit chaos and chaotic attractors.
Hong–Ou–Mandel-like two-droplet correlations
Authors: Valani Rahil N. , Slim Anja C. , Simula Tapio
Published: September 2018

We present a numerical study of two-droplet pair correlations for in-phase droplets walking on a vibrating bath. Two such walkers are launched toward a common point of intersection. As they approach, their carrier waves may overlap and the droplets have a non-zero probability of forming a two-droplet bound state. The likelihood of such pairing is quantified by measuring the probability of finding the droplets in a bound state at late times. Three generic types of two-droplet correlations are observed: promenading, orbiting, and chasing pair of walkers. For certain parameters, the droplets may become correlated for certain initial path differences and remain uncorrelated for others, while in other cases, the droplets may never produce droplet pairs. These observations pave the way for further studies of strongly correlated many-droplet behaviors in the hydrodynamical quantum analogs of bouncing and walking droplets.
Automated assignment of rotational spectra using artificial neural networks
Authors: Zaleski Daniel P. , Prozument Kirill
Published: September 2018

A typical broadband rotational spectrum may contain several thousand observable transitions, spanning many species. While these spectra often encode troves of chemical information, identifying and assigning the individual spectra can be challenging. Traditional approaches typically involve visually identifying a pattern. A more modern approach is to apply an automated fitting routine. In this approach, combinations of 3 transitions are searched by trial and error, to fit the A, B, and C rotational constants in a Watson-type Hamiltonian. In this work, we develop an alternative approach—to utilize machine learning to train a computer to recognize the patterns inherent in rotational spectra. Broadband high-resolution rotational spectra are perhaps uniquely suited for pattern recognition, assignment, and species identification using machine learning. Repeating patterns of transition frequencies and intensities are now routinely recorded in broadband chirped-pulse Fourier transform microwave experiments in which both the number of resolution elements and the dynamic range surpass 104. At the same time, these high-resolution spectra are extremely sensitive to molecular geometry with each polar species having a unique rotational spectrum. Here we train the feed forward neural network on thousands of rotational spectra that we calculate, using the rules of quantum mechanics, from randomly generated sets of rotational constants and other Hamiltonian parameters. Reasonable physical constraints are applied to these parameter sets, yet they need not belong to existing species. A trained neural network presented with a spectrum identifies its type (e.g., linear molecule, symmetric top, or asymmetric top) and infers the corresponding Hamiltonian parameters (rotational constants, distortion, and hyperfine constants). The classification and prediction times, about 160 µs and 50 µs, respectively, seem independent of the spectral complexity or the number of molecular parameters. We describe how the network works, provide benchmarking results, and discuss future directions.
Temperature-dependent anhysteretic behavior of co-doped PZT
Authors: Segouin Valentin , Kaeswurm Barbara , Webber Kyle G. , Daniel Laurent
Published: September 2018

The anhysteretic behavior of a soft Pb(Zr,Ti)O3 was measured from 25 °C to 175 °C. The experimental determination of the anhysteretic polarization curve, combined with classical P-E and S-E loop measurements, allows for an experimental separation of the reversible and dissipative contributions to the ferroelectric behavior. This approach offers insight into the different mechanisms originating at the microscopic scale and the contribution to the macroscopic ferroelectric properties. It was found that the reversible anhysteretic susceptibility χa of the unpoled material increases by 30% from room temperature to 150 °C. On the other hand, the effect on the total susceptibility for a null polarization χc increases only by 17% over the same temperature range. Since the difference between χa and χc reflects the dissipative contribution to the macroscopic ferroelectric behavior, this reveals that dissipation reduces the improvement of susceptibility under increasing temperature. This work illustrates the benefits of separating experimentally the reversible and dissipative contributions to describe the ferroelectric behavior, which can serve as a basis for advanced modeling approaches.
Creation of isotropic super-resolved magnetization with steerable orientation
Authors: Yan Weichao , Nie Zhongquan , Liu Xiaofei , Zhang Xueru , Wang Yuxiao , Song Yinglin
Published: September 2018

In this work, we present a feasible pathway for initially constructing light-induced isotropic super-resolved magnetization along with steerable orientations and trivial side-lobe levels. Toward this end, the counter-propagating azimuthally polarized vortex Hermite–Gauss beams are tailored with angular rotators at the exit pupil planes and then focused by using high numerical aperture objective lenses in a 4π optical microscopic configuration. By wilfully regulating the rotatable azimuth angle and judiciously optimizing the scaling parameter, the spherical super-resolved (λ3/24), orientation-tunable (any direction), and sidelobe-negligible (<20%) magnetization spot can thus be produced. Such well-defined magnetization behavior is attributed to not merely the axially symmetrical destruction of the incoming vectorial fields but also the constructive interference in all directions caused by all the magnetization components. The demonstrated outcomes hold great potential in developing novel magneto-optical and spin-photonic devices.
Direct insights into RbInSe2 formation at Cu(In,Ga)Se2 thin film surface with RbF postdeposition treatment
Authors: Taguchi Noboru , Tanaka Shingo , Ishizuka Shogo
Published: September 2018

Scanning transmission electron microscopy-energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy measurements performed on Cu(In,Ga)Se2 (CIGS) thin-film devices grown with RbF postdeposition treatment (RbF-PDT) revealed the formation of a RbInSe2 compound at the p-CIGS/n-CdS heterointerface. However, this type of Rb-compound formation was not observed with elemental In-free ternary CuGaSe2 (CGS) devices. The film surface of CIGS grown with RbF-PDT was found to be Ga-depleted; thus, the practical interface structure turned out to be CIGS/(CuInSe2, RbInSe2)/CdS. In contrast to the significant improvements observed in In-containing CIGS photovoltaic device performance with RbF-PDT, no significant improvements have been observed in In-free CGS devices thus far. These results suggest that the presence of elemental In plays a key role in obtaining beneficial alkali Rb effects for enhancing device performance as well as surface modification with RbF-PDT.
Comparison of sonar-, camera- and net-based methods in detecting riverine fish-movement patterns
Authors: Egg Leonhard , Pander Joachim , Mueller Melanie , Geist Juergen
Published: September 2018

Monitoring of fish movement is important in understanding and optimising the functionality of fishways and in restoring riverine connectivity. This study compared fish monitoring data (ARIS sonar-based and GoPro camera-based), with catches in a multi-mesh stow net following downstream passage in a small river in Bavaria, Germany. In terms of the number of individuals, the sonar-based system (detection rate=62.6% of net-based catches) outnumbered the counts of the camera-based system (45.4%). Smaller specimens of <100 and <150mm were under-represented with the sonar and the camera-based systems respectively. Species identification based on the camera system was similar to that for net-based catch, whereas no proper species identification could be performed with sonar data. In conclusion, the sonar-based system can be recommended for the counting of fish >100mm during night and turbid conditions, unless species identification is necessary. During daylight and with clear water, cameras can be a cheaper and promising option to monitor species compositions of fish >150mm.
Constructing ‘the people’
Authors: Ajanovic Edma , Mayer Stefanie , Sauer Birgit
Published: September 2018

This article analyses right-wing populist constructions of ‘the people’ emerging at the intersections of ethnicized ‘othering’ and gendered differences within groups. We argue that these constructions are in stark contrast to the liberal notion of citizenship, which we understand to be the basis for thedemos. Right-wing populism constructs its politics of belonging beyond rights, i.e. ‘the people’ is defined as a community through identity with the political leader, rather than as a political entity marked by different interests and endowed with rights, which could be represented politically. We argue that it is important to not only analyse practices of ‘othering’ and exclusion, but also the appeal to the ‘we’-group in order to understand right-wing populist success. Empirically our Critical Frame Analysis focuses on the Austrian context and on the FPÖ, which has been a forerunner in the ‘modernization’ of right-wing extremism and the development of right-wing populism in Europe.
Weak bounded negativity conjecture
Authors: Hao Feng
Published: September 2018

In this paper, we prove the following “weak bounded negativity conjecture”, which says that given a complex smooth projective surface

X
X

, for any reduced curve

C
C

in

X
X

and integer

g
g

, assume that the geometric genus of each component of

C
C

is bounded from above by

g
g

; then the self-intersection number

C
2

C^2

is bounded from below.
Blowup algebras of rational normal scrolls
Authors: Sammartano Alessio
Published: September 2018

We determine the equations of the blowup of

P

n

\mathbb {P}^{n}

along a

d
d

-fold rational normal scroll

S

\mathcal {S}

, and we prove that the Rees ring and special fiber ring of

S

⊆

P

n

\mathcal {S}\subseteq \mathbb {P}^{n}

are Koszul algebras.
Sensorimotor Oscillatory Phase–Power Interaction Gates Resting Human Corticospinal Output
Authors: Hussain Sara J , Claudino Leonardo , Bönstrup Marlene , Norato Gina , Cruciani Gabriel , Thompson Ryan , Zrenner Christoph , Ziemann Ulf , Buch Ethan , Cohen Leonardo G
Published: September 2018

Oscillatory activity within sensorimotor networks is characterized by time-varying changes in phase and power. The influence of interactions between sensorimotor oscillatory phase and power on human motor function, like corticospinal output, is unknown. We addressed this gap in knowledge by delivering transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) to the human motor cortex during electroencephalography recordings in 20 healthy participants. Motor evoked potentials, a measure of corticospinal excitability, were categorized offline based on the mu (8–12 Hz) and beta (13–30 Hz) oscillatory phase and power at the time of TMS. Phase-dependency of corticospinal excitability was evaluated across a continuous range of power levels using trial-by-trial linear mixed-effects models. For mu, there was no effect of PHASE or POWER (P > 0.51), but a significant PHASE × POWER interaction (P = 0.002). The direction of phase-dependency reversed with changing mu power levels: corticospinal output was higher during mu troughs versus peaks when mu power was high while the opposite was true when mu power was low. A similar PHASE × POWER interaction was not present for beta oscillations (P > 0.11). We conclude that the interaction between sensorimotor oscillatory phase and power gates human corticospinal output to an extent unexplained by sensorimotor oscillatory phase or power alone.
Association Between Duration of Aminoglycoside Treatment and Outcome of Cavitary Mycobacterium avium Complex Lung Disease
Authors: Kim Ock-Hwa , Kwon Byoung Soo , Han Minkyu , Koh Younsuck , Kim Woo-Sung , Song Jin-Woo , Oh Yeon-Mok , Lee Sang-Do , Lee Sei Won , Lee Jae-Seung , Lim Chae-Man , Choi Chang-Min , Huh Jin-Won , Hong Sang-Bum , Shim Tae Sun , Jo Kyung-Wook
Published: September 2018

Background

Although aminoglycosides are recommended for cavitary Mycobacterium avium complex lung disease (MAC-LD), the optimal duration of treatment is unclear. We investigated the association between duration of aminoglycoside treatment and outcomes in cavitary MAC-LD.

Methods

Among patients diagnosed with macrolide-susceptible cavitary MAC-LD between 2000 and 2013, 101 who received treatment up to August 2017 with a regimen containing aminoglycosides were enrolled at a tertiary referral center in South Korea. Their medical records were retrospectively reviewed. The duration of aminoglycoside treatment was at the discretion of the attending physician.

Results

A total of 75 patients (74.3%) were administered aminoglycosides for ≥3 months (median 164 days), whereas the remaining 26 patients (25.7%) received treatment for <3 months (median 59 days). The overall treatment success rate was 63.4% (64/101). Patients treated with aminoglycosides for ≥3 months had a significantly higher success rate than those treated for <3 months (69.3% vs 46.2%; P = .035). Multivariate analysis revealed that aminoglycoside treatment for ≥3 months was a significant factor for treatment success (adjusted odds ratio, 3.602; 95% confidence interval, 1.249–10.390; P = .018). Recurrence occurred in 8 (22.9%) of 35 patients who were followed up for at least 3 years after the end of treatment; all 8 patients received aminoglycosides for ≥3 months.

Conclusions

Patients with cavitary MAC-LD treated with aminoglycosides for ≥3 months showed higher treatment success rate than those treated for <3 months. However, treatment for ≥3 months was not associated with the development of recurrence.
Hedonic Contrast Effects Are Larger When Comparisons Are Social
Authors: Morewedge Carey K , Zhu Meng , Buechel Eva C
Published: September 2018

A hedonic contrast effect occurs when comparing a stimulus to its alternatives makes it better or worse. We find that counterfactual comparisons induce larger hedonic contrast effects when they are also social comparisons. Hedonic contrast effects influence happiness with a food or wage more when another person receives its counterfactual alternative than when no person receives its counterfactual alternative. Social attention, the propensity to attend to the experiences of other people, underlies the larger hedonic contrast effects induced by social comparisons. People pay more attention to counterfactual alternatives when they are also social comparison standards, and this difference in the allocation of attention mediates the larger hedonic contrast effects that social counterfactual comparisons induce. Reducing attentional resources with cognitive load or time pressure reduces the impact of social counterfactual comparisons, and drawing attention to nonsocial counterfactual comparisons increases their impact. Social attention makes comparisons stronger when they are social.
Convection-Enhanced Delivery of Muscimol in Patients with Drug-Resistant Epilepsy
Authors: Heiss John D , Argersinger Davis P , Theodore William H , Butman John A , Sato Susumu , Khan Omar I
Published: September 2018

BACKGROUND

Minimally invasive therapies for drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE) have been advocated. A study of convection-enhanced delivery (CED) of muscimol, a GABAA receptor agonist, was previously completed in non-human primates.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the safety and anti-epileptic effects of intracerebral muscimol infusion into the epileptic focus of patients with DRE.

METHODS

In this phase 1 clinical trial, 3 adult patients with DRE underwent CED into the seizure focus of artificial CSF vehicle followed by muscimol for 12 to 24 h each using a crossover design. Basic pathophysiology of the epileptic focus was examined by assessing the infusions’ effects on seizure frequency, electroencephalogram (EEG) spike-wave activity, and power-spectral EEG frequency.

RESULTS

Inter-ictal neurological function remained normal in all patients. Pathological examination of resected specimens showed no infusion-related brain injuries. Seizure frequency decreased in 1 of 3 patients during muscimol infusion but was unchanged in all patients during vehicle infusion. Mean beta frequencies did not differ significantly before, during, or after infusion periods. Infused fluid provided insufficient MRI-signal to track infusate distribution. In the 2 yr after standard epilepsy surgery, 1 patient had temporary reduction in seizure frequency and 2 patients were seizure-free.

CONCLUSION

CED of muscimol into the epileptic focus of patients with DRE did not damage adjacent brain parenchyma or adversely affect seizure surgery outcome. This study did not confirm that intracerebral muscimol infusion effectively suppressed seizures. A surrogate tracer is recommended to track infusion distribution to the epileptic focus and surrounding structures in future studies using CED to suppress the seizure focus.
Item Development and Performance of Tobacco Product and Regulation Perception Items for the Health Information National Trends Survey
Authors: Peterson Emily B , Portnoy David B , Blake Kelly D , Willis Gordon , Trundle Katy , Caporaso Andrew R , Maitland Aaron , Kaufman Annette R
Published: September 2018

Introduction

Emerging tobacco products have become increasingly popular, and the US Food and Drug Administration extended its authority to all products meeting the definition of a tobacco product in 2016. These changes may lead to shifts in public perceptions about tobacco products and regulation, and national surveys are attempting to assess these perceptions at the population level. This article describes the item development and cognitive interviewing of the tobacco product and regulation perception items included in two tobacco-focused cycles of the Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS-FDA), referred to as HINTS-FDA.

Methods

Cognitive interviewing was used to investigate how respondents comprehended and responded to tobacco product and regulation perception items. Adult participants (n = 20) were selected purposively to oversample current tobacco users and were interviewed in two iterative rounds. Weighted descriptive statistics from the fielded HINTS-FDA surveys (N = 5474) were also calculated.

Results

Items were generally interpreted as intended, and participants meaningfully discriminated between tobacco products when assessing addiction perceptions. Response selection issues involved inconsistent reporting among participants with little knowledge or ambivalent opinions about either government regulation or tobacco products and ingredients, which resolved when a “don’t know” response option was included in the survey. The fielded survey found that a non-negligible proportion of the population do not have clear perceptions of emerging tobacco products or government regulation.

Conclusions

A “don’t know” response option is helpful for items assessing many emerging tobacco products but presents several analytic challenges that should be carefully considered. Multiple items assessing specific tobacco product and regulation perception items are warranted in future surveys.

Implications

The findings from this study can serve as a foundation for future surveys that assess constructs related to emerging tobacco products, harm perceptions across multiple tobacco products, and tobacco-related government regulatory activities. The data provide unique insight into item-specific motivation for selecting a “don’t know” response option for tobacco survey items.
Isolation, Identification, and Pathogenicity of Phytophthora Blight of Pigeonpea
Authors: Sharma Mamta , Ghosh Raju
Published: September 2018

Phytophthora blight is an emerging threat in pigeonpea. This article briefly discusses diagnosis of Phytophthora blight on pigeonpea including the symptoms and signs, taxonomy, and geographic distribution. Methods of isolation, identification, and storage of Phytophthora cajani (causal organism of Phytophthora blight) are also discussed. This information will be useful to all researchers involved in the diagnosis and management of Phytophthora blight of pigeonpea.
Effect of Virulence of Root Rot Pathogens and Cultivar Resistance on Disease Occurrence in Dry Beans
Authors: Adesemoye Anthony O. , Orrell Travis , Kodati Srikanth
Published: September 2018

Dry bean samples with root rot symptoms were collected in a Z pattern from field locations representing the 11 production counties in west and central Nebraska from 2015 to 2017. Recovered isolates were identified using primers for the β-tubulin gene and internal transcribed spacer region. Among the 132 isolates obtained including, Fusarium (44%), Rhizoctonia (30.3%), and other fungal genera (25.7%), the top 17 pathogenic strains were selected through rolled towel assay and used in a greenhouse study to challenge seven dry bean cultivars in six market classes commonly produced in Nebraska, namely, great northern, pinto, navy, kidney, small red, and black bean. Destructive sampling and disease rating of dry bean plants was conducted to evaluate cultivar resistance, compare virulence among strains, and assess the effect on disease severity. Strains of R. solani AG-5, R. solani AG-2-2 IIIB, R. solani AG-4, F. cuneirostrum, and F. sporotrichioides were the most virulent. None of the tested dry bean cultivars had durable resistance; however, there were significant differences in cultivar susceptibility. The Medalist dry bean cultivar was the least susceptible, and Merlot was the most susceptible. The virulence of the pathogens was more important than the cultivar resistance and should be considered in dry bean production decisions.
Conserved Herpesvirus Protein Kinases Target SAMHD1 to Facilitate Virus Replication
Authors: Zhang Kun , Lv Dong-Wen , Li Renfeng
Published: September 2018

To ensure a successful infection, herpesviruses have developed elegant strategies to counterbalance the host anti-viral responses. Sterile alpha motif and HD domain 1 (SAMHD1) was recently identified as an intrinsic restriction factor for a variety of viruses. Aside from human immunodeficiency virus 2 (HIV-2) and the related simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) Vpx proteins, the direct viral countermeasures against SAMHD1 restriction remain unknown. Using Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) as a primary model, we discovered that SAMHD1-mediated anti-viral restriction is antagonized by EBV BGLF4, a member of the conserved viral protein kinases encoded by all herpesviruses. Mechanistically, we found that BGLF4 phosphorylates SAMHD1 and thereby inhibits its dNTPase activity. We further demonstrated that the targeting of SAMHD1 for phosphorylation is a common feature shared by beta- and gamma-herpesviruses. Together, our findings uncover a unique immune evasion mechanism whereby herpesviruses exploit the phosphorylation of SAMHD1 to thwart host defenses.

Highlights

SAMHD1 depletion facilitates EBV lytic replication.

EBV protein kinase BGLF4 directly phosphorylates SAMHD1.

BGLF4 phosphorylation of SAMHD1 inhibits its dCTPase and dTTPase activity.

SAMHD1 is targeted by the conserved herpesvirus protein kinases.

In Brief

Herpesviruses have evolved elegant strategies to dampen the host anti-viral responses. Zhanget al.discover a unique mechanism by which herpesviruses evade SAMHD1-mediated host defenses through phosphorylation, expanding the functional repertoire of viral protein kinases in herpesvirus biology
RNA-seq analyses of molecular abundance (RoMA) for detecting differential gene expression
Authors: Cai Guoshuai , Franks Jennifer M. , Whitfield Michael L.
Published: September 2018

Motivation

Various methods have been proposed, each with its own limitations. Some naive normal-based tests have low testing power with invalid normal distribution assumptions for RNA-seq read counts, whereas count-based methods lack a biologically meaningful interpretation and have limited capability for integration with other analysis packages for mRNA abundance. In this study, we propose an improved method, RoMA, to accurately detect differential expression and unlock the integration with upstream and downstream analyses on mRNA abundance in RNA-seq studies.

Results

RoMA incorporates information from both mRNA abundance and raw counts. Studies on simulated data and two real datasets showed that RoMA provides an accurate quantification of mRNA abundance and a data adjustment-tolerant DE analysis with high AUC, low FDR, and an efficient control of type I error rate. This study provides a valid strategy for mRNA abundance modeling and data analysis integration for RNA-seq studies, which will greatly facilitate the identification and interpretation of DE genes.

Availability and implementation

RoMA is available at https://github.com/GuoshuaiCai/RoMA.

Contact

GCAI@mailbox.sc.edu or Michael.L.Whitfield@Dartmouth.edu
Estimating the burden of α-thalassaemia in Thailand using a comprehensive prevalence database for Southeast Asia
Authors: Hockham Carinna , Ekwattanakit Supachai , Bhatt Samir , Penman Bridget S , Gupta Sunetra , Viprakasit Vip , Piel Frédéric B
Published: September 2018

Severe forms of α-thalassaemia, haemoglobin H disease and haemoglobin Bart’s hydrops fetalis, are an important public health concern in Southeast Asia. Yet information on the prevalence, genetic diversity and health burden of α-thalassaemia in the region remains limited. We compiled a geodatabase of α-thalassaemia prevalence and genetic diversity surveys and, using geostatistical modelling methods, generated the first continuous maps of α-thalassaemia mutations in Thailand and sub-national estimates of the number of newborns with severe forms in 2020. We also summarised the current evidence-base for α-thalassaemia prevalence and diversity for the region. We estimate that 3,595 (95% credible interval 1,717 – 6,199) newborns will be born with severe α-thalassaemia in Thailand in 2020, which is considerably higher than previous estimates. Accurate, fine-scale epidemiological data are necessary to guide sustainable national and regional health policies for α-thalassaemia control. Our maps and newborn estimates are an important first step towards this aim.

Funding

This work was supported by European Union’s Seventh Framework Programme (FP7//2007-2013)/European Research Council [268904 – DIVERSITY]
A decision-support framework to optimize border control for global outbreak mitigation
Authors: Zlojutro Aleksa , Rey David , Gardner Lauren
Published: September 2018

The introduction and spread of emerging infectious diseases is increasing in both prevalence and scale. Whether naturally, accidentally or maliciously introduced, the substantial uncertainty surrounding the emergence of novel viruses, specifically where they may come from and how they will spread, demands robust and quantifiably validated outbreak control policies that can be implemented in real time. This work presents a novel mathematical modeling framework that integrates both outbreak dynamics and outbreak control into a decision support tool for mitigating infectious disease pandemics that spread through passenger air travel. An ensemble of border control strategies that exploit properties of the air traffic network structure and expected outbreak behavior are proposed. A stochastic metapopulation epidemic model is developed to evaluate and rank the control strategies based on their effectiveness in reducing the spread of outbreaks. Sensitivity analyses are conducted to illustrate the robustness of the proposed control strategies across a range of outbreak scenarios, and a case study is presented for the 2009 H1N1 influenza pandemic. This study highlights the importance of strategically allocating outbreak control resources, and the results can be used to identify the most robust border control policy that can be implemented in the early stages of an outbreak.
Pediatric Brainstem Encephalitis Outbreak Investigation with Metagenomic Next-Generation Sequencing
Authors: Leon Kristoffer E. , Casas-Alba Didac , Ramesh Akshaya , Khan Lillian M. , Launes Cristian , Sample Hannah A. , Zorn Kelsey C. , Valero-Rello Ana , Langelier Charles , Muñoz-Almagro Carmen , DeRisi Joseph L. , Wilson Michael R.
Published: September 2018

In 2016, Catalonia experienced a pediatric brainstem encephalitis outbreak caused by enterovirus A71 (EV-A71). Conventional testing identified EV in peripheral body sites, but EV was rarely identified in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). RNA was extracted from CSF (n=20), plasma (n=9), stool (n=15) and nasopharyngeal samples (n=16) from 10 children with brainstem encephalitis or encephalomyelitis and 10 contemporaneous pediatric controls with presumed viral meningitis or encephalitis. Unbiased complementary DNA libraries were sequenced, and microbial pathogens were identified using a custom bioinformatics pipeline. Full-length virus genomes were assembled for phylogenetic analyses. Metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) was concordant with qRT-PCR for all samples positive by PCR (n=25). In virus-negative samples (n=35), mNGS detected virus in 28.6% (n=10), including 5 CSF samples. mNGS co-detected EV-A71 and another EV in 5 patients. Overall, mNGS increased the proportion of EV-positive samples from 42% (25/60) to 57% (34/60) (McNemar’s test; p-value = 0.0077). For CSF, mNGS doubled the number of pathogen-positive samples (McNemar’s test; p-value = 0.074). Using phylogenetic analysis, the outbreak EV-A71 clustered with a neuroinvasive German EV-A71 isolate. Brainstem encephalitis specific, non-synonymous EV-A71 single nucleotide variants were not identified. mNGS demonstrated 100% concordance with clinical qRT-PCR of EV-related brainstem encephalitis and significantly increased the detection of enteroviruses. Our findings increase the probability that neurologic complications observed were virus-induced rather than para-infectious. A comprehensive genomic analysis confirmed that the EV-A71 outbreak strain was closely related to a neuroinvasive German EV-A71 isolate. There were no clear-cut viral genomic differences that discriminated between patients with differing neurologic phenotypes.
CLAMP directly interacts with MSL2 to facilitateDrosophiladosage compensation
Authors: Tikhonova Evgeniya , Fedotova Anna , Bonchuk Artem , Mogila Vladic , Larschan Erica N. , Georgiev Pavel , Maksimenko Oksana
Published: September 2018

The binding ofDrosophilamale-specific lethal (MSL) dosage compensation complex exclusively to male X chromosome provides an excellent model system to understand mechanisms of selective recruitment of protein complexes to chromatin. Previous studies showed that the male-specific organizer of the complex, MSL2, and ubiquitous DNA-binding protein CLAMP are key players in the specificity of X chromosome binding. The CXC domain of MSL2 binds to genomic sites of MSL complex recruitment. Here we demonstrated that MSL2 directly interacts with the N-terminal zinc-finger domain of CLAMP. CLAMP-MSL2 and CXC-DNA interactions are cooperatively involved in recruitment of MSL complex to the X chromosome.
Gene Regulatory Cross Networks: Inferring Gene Level Cell-to-Cell Communications of Immune Cells
Authors: Altay Gokmen , Peters Bjoern
Published: September 2018

Background

Gene level cell-to-cell communications are crucial part of biology as they may be potential targets of drugs and vaccines against a disease condition of interest. Yet, there are only few studies that propose algorithms on this particularly important research field.

Results

In this study, we first overview the current literature and define two general terms for the types of approaches in general for gene level cell-to-cell communications: Gene Regulatory Cross Networks (GRCN) and Gene Co-Expression Cross Networks (GCCN). We then propose two algorithms for each type, named as GRCNone and GCCNone. We applied them to reveal communications among 8 different immune cell types and evaluate their performances mainly via membrane protein database. Also, we show the biological relevance of the predicted cross-networks with pathway enrichment analysis. We then provide an approach that prioritize the targets by ranking them before experimental validations.

Conclusions

We establish two main approaches and propose algorithms for genome-wide scale gene level cell-to-cell communications between any two different cell-types. This study aims accelerating this relatively new avenue of research in cross-networks and points out the gap of it with the well-established single cell type gene networks. The proposed algorithms have the potential to reveal gene level interactions between normal and disease cell types. For instance, they might reveal the interaction of genes between tumor and normal cells, which are the potential drug-targets and thus can help finding new cures that might prevent the prevailing of tumor cells.
Tension suppresses Aurora B kinase-triggered release of reconstituted kinetochore-microtubule attachments
Authors: de Regt Anna K. , Clark Cordell J. , Asbury Charles L. , Biggins Sue
Published: September 2018

Chromosome segregation requires kinetochores to attach to microtubules from opposite spindle poles. Proper attachments come under tension and are stabilized, but defective attachments lacking tension are released, giving another chance for correct attachments to form. This error correction process requires the Aurora B kinase, which phosphorylates kinetochores to destabilize microtubule attachments. However, the mechanism by which Aurora B can distinguish kinetochore tension remains unclear because it is difficult to detect kinase-triggered detachment and manipulate kinetochore tension in vivo. To address these challenges, we developed an optical trapping-based flow assay with soluble Aurora B and reconstituted kinetochore-microtubule attachments. Strikingly, we found that tension on these attachments suppressed their Aurora B-triggered release, suggesting that tension-dependent changes in the conformation of kinetochores can regulate Aurora B activity or its outcome. Our work uncovers the basis for a key mechano-regulatory event that ensures accurate segregation and may inform studies of other mechanically regulated enzymes.