bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Apoptosis signal-regulating kinase (ASK-1) controls ovarian cell functions
Authors: Sirotkin Alexander V. , Benco Andrej , Kotwica Jan , Alwasel Saleh H. , Harrath Abdel H.
Published: June 2019

The involvement of the apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1 (ASK1)-related signalling pathway in the control of reproduction is unknown. This study aimed to investigate the role of ASK-1 in the control of basic ovarian functions (proliferation, apoptosis and hormone release) and its response to ovarian hormonal regulators (leptin and FSH). We compared the accumulation of ASK-1, proliferation marker proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), apoptosis marker Bax and apoptosis and proliferation regulating transcription factor p53 and the release of progesterone (P4), oxytocin (OT), insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) and prostaglandins F (PGF) and E (PGE) using cultured porcine ovarian granulosa cells transfected with ASK-1 cDNA and cultured with leptin or FSH. This study is the first to demonstrate that ASK-1 does not affect cell apoptosis and viability in ovarian cells, but promotes cell proliferation, suppresses p53, alters the release of ovarian hormones (P4, OT, IGF-I, PGF and PGE) and defines their response to the upstream hormonal regulators leptin and FSH. Therefore, ASK-1 can be considered a new and important regulator of multiple ovarian functions.
Decellularised whole ovine testis as a potential bio-scaffold for tissue engineering
Authors: Akbarzadeh Aram , Kianmanesh Maral , Fendereski Kiarad , Ebadi Maryam , Daryabari Seyedeh Sima , Masoomi Ahmad , Ghazisaeedi Fereshteh , Seyyed Hossein Beigi Reza , Sheikh Reyhaneh , Kajbafzadeh Abdol-Mohammad
Published: June 2019

The aim of this study was to determine an efficient whole-organ decellularisation protocol of a human-sized testis by perfusion through the testicular arteries. In the first step of this study, we determined the most efficient detergent agent, whereas the second phase delineated the optimal time required for the decellularisation process. Initially sheep testes were decellularised by one of three different detergent agents: sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS), Triton X-100 and trypsin-ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) solutions, each perfused for 6h. In the second phase, the selected detergent agent was applied for different time periods. A total number of 20 organs were processed during this investigation. The efficacy of the decellularisation process and the preservation of the extracellular matrix components and structure were evaluated by histopathological examinations, 4′,6′-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) staining, DNA quantification, hydroxyproline measurement, magnetic resonance imaging and scanning electron microscopy. Organ perfusion with 1% SDS solution for 6 to 8h demonstrated the most desirable outcomes regarding decellularisation and extracellular matrix preservation. The 3-[4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay was used to determine the toxicity of the scaffold and its potential for further application in tissue-engineering investigations. This investigation introduces an efficient method to produce a three-dimensional testicular bio-scaffold resembling the properties of the native organ that could be employed in tissue-engineering studies.
Effects of pre-stretching on microstructure and properties of WE43A-alloy after aging treatment
Authors: Sun Qing Ya , Wang Li Ping , Liu Dong Rong
Published: June 2019

Effects of pre-stretching on microstructure and mechanical properties of WE43A alloy were investigated by optical microscope, transmission electron microscope, scanning electron microscopy and electronic universal material testing machine. The experimental results showed that a large number of dislocations and twins were formed in the matrix with the increase of deformation strain. During subsequent aging, β1 phases precipitated in dislocation area and distributed in matrix in a combined manner, honeycomb network and random. The precipitation of β1 increased the ultimate tensile strength and yield strength of WE43A alloy to 272 and 241 MPa, in comparison with the samples without pre-stretching (226 and 180 MPa). The fracture morphology of sample with strain 9% was transgranular cleavage fracture.
Deformation behaviour of a low carbon high Mn TWIP/TRIP steel
Authors: Tewary N. K. , Ghosh S. K. , Chakrabarti D. , Chatterjee S.
Published: June 2019

TWIP and TRIP phenomena have been observed in Fe–20Mn–2.5Si–0.3Al–0.06C (wt-%) steel during cold deformation (CD). Mostly austenite, annealing twins and stacking faults are observed in hot rolled solution treated (HRACST) samples. Cold deformation results in γ→ϵ→α′ transformation due to its low stacking fault energy (18 mJ m−2). 50CD (50% CD) sample reveals strong Goss, Brass and weak Copper Twin texture components due to slipping and micro-twinning. Maximum ductility of 62% with lower tensile strength is perceived in HRACST sample, whereas, 30CD sample shows excellent tensile strength (1039 MPa) with a lower ductility (23%). Premature failure in 50CD samples is related to the formation of α′-martensite (≈35%) and deformation twins along with a higher strain hardening due to low Al content.
Tin-bronze cladding on thin steel sheet by cold metal transfer arc deposition
Authors: Chen Chen , Xu Qiman , Sun Kai , Zhao Jingyu , Zhou Jian , Xue Feng
Published: June 2019

Tin bronze cladding layer with thin thickness and large width was fabricated on thin steel sheet by cold metal transfer arc deposited technique. The morphology, microstructure and mechanical properties of both cladding layer and thin steel sheet were investigated. It was found that the cladding layer had no gas holes, cracks, oxide particles and iron-rich phase. The thickness of diffusion layer at tin bronze/steel interface was only 3–4 µm and the dilution rate of the cladding layer was almost zero. The strength and hardness of the thin steel sheet after arc deposited process were enhanced.
Dynamic compressive behaviour and microstructural evolution of extrusion-shear Mg–6Zn–1Cu–1Y–0.6Zr alloy
Authors: Wang Zhi , Yao Sheng , Cao Gengsheng , Mao Pingli , Wang Feng , Zhou Le , Liu Zheng , Jiang Xiaoping
Published: June 2019

In this work, the alloy Mg–6Zn–1Cu–1Y–0.6Zr was prepared using an extrusion-shear method, which combines traditional extrusion with the equal channel angular pressing. Dynamic compressive behaviour and microstructural evolution were studied along the extrusion direction with strain rates in the range of 695–1995 s−1 using a Split-Hopkinson pressure bar. The dynamic compression properties have a distinct positive strain rate strengthening effect. A texture transition from ⟨10–10⟩ into ⟨0001⟩ is found in the Mg–6Zn–1Cu–1Y–0.6Zr alloy. Analysis of the microstructural evolution shows that {10–12} extension twinning and (0002) basal-type slip are major deformation mechanisms. The absorption energy density dramatically increases as the strain rate increases, results indicate that dynamic recrystallisation and high yield strength are mainly responsible for the high energy absorption capacity.
Production of recombinant extracellular cholesterol esterase using consistently active promoters in Burkholderia stabilis
Authors: Yoshida Keitaro , Konishi Kenji , Magana-Mora Arturo , Rougny Adrien , Yasutake Yoshiaki , Muramatsu Shuji , Murata Satomi , Kumagai Toshitaka , Aburatani Sachiyo , Sakasegawa Shin-ichi , Tamura Tomohiro
Published: June 2019

Burkholderia stabilis FERMP-21014 produces highly active cholesterol esterase in the presence of fatty acids. To develop an overexpression system for cholesterol esterase production, we carried out RNA sequencing analyses to screen strongly active promoters in FERMP-21014. Based on gene expression consistency analysis, we selected nine genes that were consistently expressed at high levels, following which we constructed expression vectors using their promoter sequences and achieved overproduction of extracellular cholesterol esterase under fatty acid-free conditions. Of the tested promoters, the promoter of BSFP_0720, which encodes the alkyl hydroperoxide reductase subunit AhpC, resulted in the highest cholesterol esterase activity (24.3 U mL−1). This activity level was 243-fold higher than that of the wild-type strain under fatty acid-free conditions. We confirmed that cholesterol esterase was secreted without excessive accumulation within the cells. The gene expression consistency analysis will be useful to screen promoters applicable to the overexpression of other industrially important enzymes.
Greg Alushin: The shape of things to come
Authors: O’Donnell Marie Anne
Published: June 2019

Alushin investigates the structural biology of biomechanical processes in the cytoskeleton.
Finite temperature phase transition in a cross-dimensional triangular lattice
Authors: Jin Shengjie , Guo Xinxin , Peng Peng , Chen Xuzong , Li Xiaopeng , Zhou Xiaoji
Published: June 2019

Atomic many-body phase transitions and quantum criticality have recently attracted much attention in non-standard optical lattices. Here we perform an experimental study of finite temperature superfluid transition of bosonic atoms confined in a three dimensional triangular lattice, whose structure can be continuously deformed to dimensional crossover regions including quasi-one and two dimensions. This non-standard lattice system provides a versatile platform to investigate many-body correlated phases. For the three dimensional case, we find that the finite temperature superfluid transition agrees quantitatively with the Gutzwiller mean field theory prediction, whereas tuning towards reduced dimensional cases, both quantum and thermal fluctuation effects are more dramatic, and the experimental measurement for the critical point becomes strongly deviated from the mean field theory. We characterize the fluctuation effects in the whole dimension crossover process. Our experimental results imply strong many-body correlations in the system beyond mean field description, paving a way to study quantum criticality near Mott-superfluid transition in finite temperature dimension-crossover lattices.
Genetically Engineering Wild Mice to Combat Lyme Disease: An Ecological Perspective
Authors: Snow Allison A
Published: June 2019

Genetic engineering of wild populations has been proposed for reducing human diseases by altering pathogens’ hosts. For example, CRISPR-based genome editing may be used to create white-footed mice (Peromyscus leucopus) that are resistant to the Lyme disease spirochete vectored by blacklegged ticks (Ixodes scapularis). Toward this goal, academic researchers are developing Lyme-resistant and tick-resistant white-footed mice, which are a primary pathogen reservoir for Lyme disease in the United States. If field trials on small, experimental islands are successful, the project would scale up to the larger islands of Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts, and possibly to the mainland, most likely with a local gene drive to speed the traits’ proliferation, pending approvals from relevant constituents. Despite considerable publicity, this project has yet to be evaluated by independent professional ecologists. In the present article, I discuss key ecological and evolutionary questions that should be considered before such genetically engineered mice are released into natural habitats.
Acquired temozolomide resistance in MGMT-deficient glioblastoma cells is associated with regulation of DNA repair by DHC2
Authors: Yi Guo-zhong , Huang Guanglong , Guo Manlan , Zhang Xi’an , Wang Hai , Deng Shengze , Li Yaomin , Xiang Wei , Chen Ziyang , Pan Jun , Li Zhiyong , Yu Lei , Lei Bingxi , Liu Yawei , Qi Songtao
Published: June 2019

The acquisition of temozolomide resistance is a major clinical challenge for glioblastoma treatment. Chemoresistance in glioblastoma is largely attributed to repair of temozolomide-induced DNA lesions by O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT). However, some MGMT-deficient glioblastomas are still resistant to temozolomide, and the underlying molecular mechanisms remain unclear. We found that DYNC2H1 (DHC2) was expressed more in MGMT-deficient recurrent glioblastoma specimens and its expression strongly correlated to poor progression-free survival in MGMT promotor methylated glioblastoma patients. Furthermore, silencing DHC2, both in vitro and in vivo, enhanced temozolomide-induced DNA damage and significantly improved the efficiency of temozolomide treatment in MGMT-deficient glioblastoma. Using a combination of subcellular proteomics and in vitro analyses, we showed that DHC2 was involved in nuclear localization of the DNA repair proteins, namely XPC and CBX5, and knockdown of either XPC or CBX5 resulted in increased temozolomide-induced DNA damage. In summary, we identified the nuclear transportation of DNA repair proteins by DHC2 as a critical regulator of acquired temozolomide resistance in MGMT-deficient glioblastoma. Our study offers novel insights for improving therapeutic management of MGMT-deficient glioblastoma.
The functional neuroanatomy of emotion processing in frontotemporal dementias
Authors: Marshall Charles R , Hardy Christopher J D , Russell Lucy L , Bond Rebecca L , Sivasathiaseelan Harri , Greaves Caroline , Moore Katrina M , Agustus Jennifer L , van Leeuwen Janneke E P , Wastling Stephen J , Rohrer Jonathan D , Kilner James M , Warren Jason D
Published: June 2019

Impaired processing of emotional signals is a core feature of frontotemporal dementia syndromes, but the underlying neural mechanisms have proved challenging to characterize and measure. Progress in this field may depend on detecting functional changes in the working brain, and disentangling components of emotion processing that include sensory decoding, emotion categorization and emotional contagion. We addressed this using functional MRI of naturalistic, dynamic facial emotion processing with concurrent indices of autonomic arousal, in a cohort of patients representing all major frontotemporal dementia syndromes relative to healthy age-matched individuals. Seventeen patients with behavioural variant frontotemporal dementia [four female; mean (standard deviation) age 64.8 (6.8) years], 12 with semantic variant primary progressive aphasia [four female; 66.9 (7.0) years], nine with non-fluent variant primary progressive aphasia [five female; 67.4 (8.1) years] and 22 healthy controls [12 female; 68.6 (6.8) years] passively viewed videos of universal facial expressions during functional MRI acquisition, with simultaneous heart rate and pupillometric recordings; emotion identification accuracy was assessed in a post-scan behavioural task. Relative to healthy controls, patient groups showed significant impairments (analysis of variance models, all P < 0.05) of facial emotion identification (all syndromes) and cardiac (all syndromes) and pupillary (non-fluent variant only) reactivity. Group-level functional neuroanatomical changes were assessed using statistical parametric mapping, thresholded at P < 0.05 after correction for multiple comparisons over the whole brain or within pre-specified regions of interest. In response to viewing facial expressions, all participant groups showed comparable activation of primary visual cortex while patient groups showed differential hypo-activation of fusiform and posterior temporo-occipital junctional cortices. Bi-hemispheric, syndrome-specific activations predicting facial emotion identification performance were identified (behavioural variant, anterior insula and caudate; semantic variant, anterior temporal cortex; non-fluent variant, frontal operculum). The semantic and non-fluent variant groups additionally showed complex profiles of central parasympathetic and sympathetic autonomic involvement that overlapped signatures of emotional visual and categorization processing and extended (in the non-fluent group) to brainstem effector pathways. These findings open a window on the functional cerebral mechanisms underpinning complex socio-emotional phenotypes of frontotemporal dementia, with implications for novel physiological biomarker development.
The Human Intraparietal Sulcus Modulates Task-Evoked Functional Connectivity
Authors: Hwang Kai , Shine James M , Cellier Dillan , D’Esposito Mark
Published: June 2019

Past studies have demonstrated that flexible interactions between brain regions support a wide range of goal-directed behaviors. However, the neural mechanisms that underlie adaptive communication between brain regions are not well understood. In this study, we combined theta-burst transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and functional magnetic resonance imaging to investigate the sources of top-down biasing signals that influence task-evoked functional connectivity. Subjects viewed sequences of images of faces and buildings and were required to detect repetitions (2-back vs. 1-back) of the attended stimuli category (faces or buildings). We found that functional connectivity between ventral temporal cortex and the primary visual cortex (VC) increased during processing of task-relevant stimuli, especially during higher memory loads. Furthermore, the strength of functional connectivity was greater for correct trials. Increases in task-evoked functional connectivity strength were correlated with increases in activity in multiple frontal, parietal, and subcortical (caudate and thalamus) regions. Finally, we found that TMS to superior intraparietal sulcus (IPS), but not to primary somatosensory cortex, decreased task-specific modulation in connectivity patterns between the primary VC and the parahippocampal place area. These findings demonstrate that the human IPS is a source of top-down biasing signals that modulate task-evoked functional connectivity among task-relevant cortical regions.
A Novel, Highly Sensitive Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction Assay for the Diagnosis of Subarachnoid and Ventricular Neurocysticercosis and for Assessing Responses to Treatment
Authors: O’Connell Elise M , Harrison Sarah , Dahlstrom Eric , Nash Theodore , Nutman Thomas B
Published: June 2019

Background

Treatment of subarachnoid neurocysticercosis (NCC) is complicated, and assays that can guide treatment are not widely available. The reproducibility and scalability of molecular-based biomarkers would be of great use.

Methods

The Taenia solium genome was mined and primers and probes were designed to target repeats with the highest coverage; the most sensitive, specific, and efficient repeat (TsolR13) was selected for clinical testing. We tested 46 plasma samples and 36 cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) samples taken from patients with subarachnoid or ventricular disease using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR).

Results

The analytic sensitivity of TsolR13 was 97.3% at 240 attograms (ag) of T. solium genomic DNA and 100% analytic specificity. The clinical sensitivity in detecting active subarachnoid or ventricular disease in symptomatic patients was 100% in CSF and 81.3% in plasma. The predictive ability to distinguish active from cured disease was better for CSF (94.4% of those cured had negative qPCR results) than for plasma (86.7% of those cured tested negative). Some subjects also had plasma DNA detectable intermittently for years after being cured. Overall, the test performance was equivalent to T. solium antigen detection.

Conclusions

A qPCR test for the detection of the highly repetitive Tsol13 sequence has been developed and shown to be highly sensitive and specific for NCC, but also useful as a test of cure in CSF and for the definitive diagnosis of NCC in plasma.
Outcomes of Treatment for Hepatitis C in Primary Care, Compared to Hospital-based Care: A Randomized, Controlled Trial in People Who Inject Drugs
Authors: Wade Amanda J , Doyle Joseph S , Gane Edward , Stedman Catherine , Draper Bridget , Iser David , Roberts Stuart K , Kemp William , Petrie Dennis , Scott Nick , Higgs Peter , Agius Paul A , Roney Janine , Stothers Lisa , Thompson Alexander J , Hellard Margaret E
Published: June 2019

Background

To achieve the World Health Organization hepatitis C virus (HCV) elimination targets, it is essential to increase access to direct-acting antivirals (DAAs), especially among people who inject drugs (PWID). We aimed to determine the effectiveness of providing DAAs in primary care, compared with hospital-based specialist care.

Methods

We randomized PWID with HCV attending primary care sites in Australia or New Zealand to receive DAAs at their primary care site or local hospital (standard of care [SOC]). The primary outcome was to determine whether people treated in primary care had a noninferior rate of sustained virologic response at Week 12 (SVR12), compared to historical controls (consistent with DAA trials at the time of the study design); secondary outcomes included comparisons of treatment initiation, SVR12 rates, and the care cascade by study arm.

Results

We recruited 140 participants and randomized 136: 70 to the primary care arm and 66 to the SOC arm. The SVR12 rate (100%, 95% confidence interval [CI] 87.7–100) of people treated in primary care was noninferior when compared to historical controls (85% assumed). An intention-to-treat analysis revealed that the proportion of participants commencing treatment in the primary care arm (75%, 43/57) was significantly higher than in the SOC arm (34%, 18/53; P < .001; relative risk [RR] 2.48, 95% CI 1.54–3.95), and the proportion of participants with SVR12 was significantly higher in the primary care arm, compared to in the SOC arm (49% [28/57] and 30% [16/53], respectively; P = .043; RR 1.63, 95% CI 1.0–2.65).

Conclusions

Providing HCV treatment in primary care increases treatment uptake and cure rates. Approaches that increase treatment uptake among PWID will accelerate elimination strategies.

Clinical Trials Registration

NCT02555475.
The onset in spring and the end in autumn of the thermal and vegetative growing season affect calving time and reproductive success in reindeer
Authors: Paoli Amélie , Weladji Robert B , Holand Øystein , Kumpula Jouko
Published: June 2019

A developing trophic mismatch between the peak of energy demands by reproducing animals and the peak of forage availability has caused many species’ reproductive success to decrease. The match–mismatch hypothesis (MMH) is an appealing concept that can be used to assess such fitness consequences. However, concerns have been raised on applying the MMH on capital breeders such as reindeer because the reliance on maternal capita rather than dietary income may mitigate negative effects of changing phenologies. Using a long-term dataset of reindeer calving dates recorded since 1970 in a semidomesticated reindeer population in Finnish Lapland and proxies of plant phenology; we tested the main hypothesis that the time lag between calving date and the plant phenology in autumn when females store nutrient reserves to finance reproduction would lead to consequences on reproductive success, as the time lag with spring conditions would. As predicted, the reproductive success of females of the Kutuharju reindeer population was affected by both the onset of spring green-up and vegetative senescence in autumn as calves were born heavier and with a higher first-summer survival when the onset of the vegetation growth was earlier and the end of the thermal growing season the previous year was earlier as well. Our results demonstrated that longer plant growing seasons might be detrimental to reindeer’s reproductive success if a later end is accompanied by a reduced abundance of mushrooms.
Safety and efficacy of dronedarone from clinical trials to real-world evidence: implications for its use in atrial fibrillation
Authors: Boriani Giuseppe , Blomström-Lundqvist Carina , Hohnloser Stefan H , Bergfeldt Lennart , Botto Giovanni L , Capucci Alessandro , Lozano Ignacio Fernández , Goette Andreas , Israel Carsten W , Merino José L , Camm A John
Published: June 2019

Efficacy and safety of dronedarone was shown in the ATHENA trial for paroxysmal or persistent atrial fibrillation (AF) patients. Further trials revealed safety concerns in patients with heart failure and permanent AF. This review summarizes insights from recent real-world studies and meta-analyses, including reports on efficacy, with focus on liver safety, mortality risk in patients with paroxysmal/persistent AF, and interactions of dronedarone with direct oral anticoagulants. Reports of rapidly progressing liver failure in dronedarone-prescribed patients in 2011 led to regulatory cautions about potential liver toxicity. Recent real-world evidence suggests dronedarone liver safety profile is similar to other antiarrhythmics and liver toxicity could be equally common with many Class III antiarrhythmics. Dronedarone safety concerns (increased mortality in patients with permanent AF) were raised based on randomized controlled trials (RCT) (ANDROMEDA and PALLAS), but comedication with digoxin may have increased the mortality rates in PALLAS, considering the dronedarone–digoxin pharmacokinetic (PK) interaction. Real-world data on apixaban–dronedarone interactions and edoxaban RCT observations suggest no significant safety risks for these drug combinations. Median trough plasma concentrations of dabigatran 110 mg during concomitant use with dronedarone are at acceptable levels, while PK data on the rivaroxaban–dronedarone interaction are unavailable. In RCTs and real-world studies, dronedarone significantly reduces AF burden and cardiovascular hospitalizations, and demonstrates a low risk for proarrhythmia in patients with paroxysmal or persistent AF. The concerns on liver safety must be balanced against the significant reduction in hospitalizations in patients with non-permanent AF and low risk for proarrhythmias following dronedarone treatment.
Fictitious wave domain modelling and analysis of marine CSEM data
Authors: Lu Jie , Li Yuguo , Du Zhijun
Published: June 2019

Modelling marine controlled-source electromagnetic (CSEM) responses in the fictitious time domain is a novel approach, which facilitates the full exploration of EM diffusive properties in the fictitious wave domain (FWD). Concepts, such as reflections, refractions, diffractions and transmissions, which are used for the analysis of elastic wave propagation can thus be adopted in FWD for interpreting CSEM data. In this paper, we use a high-order finite difference time domain (FDTD) algorithm for modelling marine CSEM responses in both the fictitious time domain and the diffusive frequency domain. A complex frequency shifted perfectly matched layer (CFS–PML) boundary condition is adopted to the FDTD modelling. We demonstrate the performance of the CFS–PML boundary condition and validate the high-order FDTD code in the FWD with the half-space sea water model and in the frequency domain with the 1-D canonical reservoir model. We investigate and analyse the propagation characteristics of electromagnetic fields in the FWD, where we apply wave propagation concepts to interpret marine CSEM data. Similarities between wave and field propagations relevant for marine CSEM data are demonstrated through several 1-D to 3-D numerical examples.
Emancipation within Empire: an Algerian Alternative during the Era of Decolonization
Authors: Belmessous Saliha
Published: June 2019

This article aims at shedding new light on the salience of empire as a political idea even at the height of decolonization. It discusses why and how colonial subjects – here Muslim Algerians – would continue, when faced with a choice, to look to empires rather than nation-states. The article focuses on six women and men who, during Algeria’s war of independence, rejected the nation-state as their political horizon and imagined a decolonized empire in which they could pursue their emancipation and that of their people. These individuals pursued various political projects that would reconcile their claims for equality and cultural distinctiveness. Though a great number of pro-French supporters fought with arms alongside the French army, others fought with ideas, producing laws that would establish civil and economic equality. While historians have conventionally focused on materialist reasons to explain the loyalty of colonized peoples to imperial polities, this article considers instead the ideas and ideals that inspired the claims expressed by Muslim Algerians. Only a focus on ideas allows us to understand why people could continue to support the French imperial state despite its being disastrous for their material circumstances.
Catastrophic cerebral infarction during extracorporeal life support due to a rare anomaly in the circle of Willis
Authors: Sonobe Aiko , Kato Hideyuki , Mathis Bryan J , Hiramatsu Yuji
Published: June 2019

During extracorporeal life support (ECLS) in infants, cannulation of the right common carotid artery may result in a devastating ischaemic neurological injury. Herein, we present a case of an infant who encountered bilateral cerebral infarction during ECLS via the right carotid artery due to a rare and tragic anomaly of the circle of Willis. The magnetic resonance angiography complemented computed tomography in diagnosing the infarction and identifying this unique anatomy.
Analysis of energy efficiency improvement of high-tech fabrication plants
Authors: Hu Shih-Cheng , Lin Tee , Fu Ben-Ran , Chang Cheng-Kung , Cheng I-Yun
Published: June 2019

In this study, we developed simulation software for the energy consumption of high-tech fabrication plants. The developed fab energy simulation (FES) featured more detailed characteristics of the subsystems than existing simulation tools. The calculated results of the FES were validated using the annual operating data of a Taiwanese semiconductor manufacturing fab. The measured data indicated three major energy consumers in the studied fab—the process tool, water chiller and clean dry air systems. The annual consumption of electricity calculated with the FES showed a deviation of only −0.73% compared with the measured data. The calculated results exhibited an energy consumption trend that was very similar to the measured data, indicating the reliability of the FES. The FES results also demonstrated excellent agreement with the calculated results of the commercial tool ‘CleanCalc II’. Additionally, the FES was employed to study the energy consumption under different conditions. The results revealed that the energy consumption of the chiller system reduced significantly by 43.7% when the chiller system with a coefficient of performance of 8 was used. This reduction in the energy consumption corresponded to 10% of the total energy consumption in the fab, indicating significant energy-saving potential.
Two-sample statistics based on anisotropic kernels
Authors: Cheng Xiuyuan , Cloninger Alexander , Coifman Ronald R
Published: June 2019

The paper introduces a new kernel-based Maximum Mean Discrepancy (MMD) statistic for measuring the distance between two distributions given finitely many multivariate samples. When the distributions are locally low-dimensional, the proposed test can be made more powerful to distinguish certain alternatives by incorporating local covariance matrices and constructing an anisotropic kernel. The kernel matrix is asymmetric; it computes the affinity between $n$ data points and a set of $n_R$ reference points, where $n_R$ can be drastically smaller than $n$. While the proposed statistic can be viewed as a special class of Reproducing Kernel Hilbert Space MMD, the consistency of the test is proved, under mild assumptions of the kernel, as long as $\|p-q\| \sqrt{n} \to \infty $, and a finite-sample lower bound of the testing power is obtained. Applications to flow cytometry and diffusion MRI datasets are demonstrated, which motivate the proposed approach to compare distributions.
Development of pyridyl thiosemicarbazones as highly potent agents for the treatment of malaria after oral administration
Authors: Parkinson Christopher J , Birrell Geoffrey W , Chavchich Marina , Mackenzie Donna , Haynes Richard K , de Kock Carmen , Richardson Des R , Edstein Michael D
Published: June 2019

Objectives

Drug resistance exists to all current and investigational antimalarial drug classes. Consequently, we have set out to develop chemically and mechanistically discrete antimalarials. Here we report on the development of thiosemicarbazone (TSC) antimalarials, with TSC3 as the most advanced lead.

Methods

Thiosemicarbazones were generated through simple condensation reactions of thiosemicarbazides and ketones. TSC3 was selected and tested for in vitro antimalarial activities against MDR Plasmodium falciparum lines using the [3H]hypoxanthine growth assay, in vitro cytotoxicity against mammalian cell lines using the alamarBlue fluorescence cell viability assay, in vivo potency in the mouse–Plasmodium berghei model and blood exposure in mice measured by LC-MS for pharmacokinetic analysis.

Results

TSC3 showed potent in vitro activity against atovaquone-, dihydroartemisinin-, chloroquine- and mefloquine-resistant P. falciparum lines (EC50 <15 nM). The selectivity index (EC50 cells/EC50Pf W2 line) of TSC3 was >500 in two of three mammalian cell lines. In P. berghei-infected mice, TSC3 showed potent activity in the Peters 4 day suppression test (ED50 1.2 mg/kg/day) and was as potent as artesunate and chloroquine in the curative modified Thompson test. A single oral dose of TSC3 at 16 mg/kg in healthy mice achieved a mean maximum blood concentration of 1883 ng/mL at 1 h after dosing and an elimination half-life of 48.7 h in groups of five mice.

Conclusions

TSC3 shows promise as a persistent, potent and orally effective antimalarial. This, coupled with the extremely low cost of synthesis, suggests that the further development of antimalarial thiosemicarbazones is clearly warranted.
I Am, Therefore I Buy: Low Self-Esteem and the Pursuit of Self-Verifying Consumption
Authors: Stuppy Anika , Mead Nicole L , Van Osselaer Stijn M J
Published: June 2019

The idea that consumers use products to feel good about themselves is a basic tenet of marketing. Yet, in addition to the motive to self-enhance, consumers also strive to confirm their self-views (i.e., self-verification). Although self-verification provides self-related benefits, its role in consumer behavior is poorly understood. To redress that gap, we examine a dispositional variable—trait self-esteem—that predicts whether consumers self-verify in the marketplace. We propose that low (vs. high) self-esteem consumers gravitate toward inferior products because those products confirm their pessimistic self-views. Five studies supported our theorizing: low (vs. high) self-esteem participants gravitated toward inferior products (study 1) because of the motivation to self-verify (study 2). Low self-esteem consumers preferred inferior products only when those products signaled pessimistic (vs. positive) self-views and could therefore be self-verifying (study 3). Even more telling, low self-esteem consumers’ propensity to choose inferior products disappeared after they were induced to view themselves as consumers of superior products (study 4), but remained in the wake of negative feedback (study 5). Our investigation thus highlights self-esteem as a boundary condition for compensatory consumption. By pinpointing factors that predict when self-verification guides consumer behavior, this work enriches the field’s understanding of how products serve self-motives.
Anatomical variants of the rectus femoris motor innervation
Authors: Plante Dominic , Janelle Nicolas , Angers-Goulet Mathieu , Corbeil Philippe , Takech Mohamad Ali , Belzile Etienne L
Published: June 2019

Adult periacetabular osteotomy (PAO) was originally performed through the classic Smith-Petersen approach for optimal operative visibility and acetabular fragment correction. Evolution towards an abductor-sparing technique significantly lowered the post-operative morbidity. The rectus-sparing approach represents a step further, but the innervation of the rectus femoris is theoretically more at risk. Although the topographic anatomy of the femoral nerve has been well described, it was never studied with specificity to surgical landmarks. The femoral nerve’s spatial relation with the anterior-inferior iliac spine (AIIS) and the amount of possible dissection in the rectus femoris and iliopsoas interval is uncertain. Seven formalin-preserved human cadaveric specimens without history of inguinal injury or surgery were dissected using the distal limb of an iliofemoral approach. The level of entry of motor innervation was measured and number of branches to the rectus femoris was noted. The average longitudinal distance from the AIIS to the first motor nerve to the rectus femoris was 8.6 ± 1.4 cm. The number of branches varied between 1 and 4 with the most common innervation pattern being composed of two segments. Dissection medial to the rectus femoris should not be carried out further than 7 cm distal to the AIIS and stretching of that interval during surgical exposure should be done cautiously. The clinical efficiency of the rectus-sparing approach should be studied further in order to confirm its advantage over the classic direct anterior approach. The study provides a better understanding of the localization and the anatomical variations of the structures encountered at the level of and below the AIIS. It also assesses the relative risk of denervation of the rectus femoris during PAO through the rectus-sparing approach. The authors recommend that the dissection medial to the rectus femoris should be carried out no further than 7 cm distal to the AIIS and stretching of that interval during surgical exposure should be done cautiously.
First Determination of Pyrethroid Knockdown Resistance Alleles in Human Head Lice (Phthiraptera: Pediculidae) From Chile
Authors: Roca-Acevedo Gonzalo , del Solar Kupfer Carmen Paz , Dressel Roa Paulina , Toloza Ariel Ceferino
Published: June 2019

The infestation with the human ectoparasite, Pediculus humanus capitis (De Geer), is a common public health problem affecting schoolchildren worldwide. In Chile, the main active ingredients present in the over-the-counter pediculicides contain pyrethroids. Despite the extended use of these products, there is no evidence of the insecticide resistance status of the head lice geographically located in Chile. The most extended resistant mechanism of pyrethroids consists of the target site insensitivity (Kdr) determined by the presence of mutations linked to insecticide-binding sites in the voltage-sensitive sodium channel. T917I is recognized as the main mutation in head lice, and detection is considered to be a biomarker of resistance. The goal of the present study was to detect the presence and distribution of T917I mutation in five geographic locations of Chile. All five geographically selected louse populations had a frequency of pyrethroid resistance genes that ranged from 36 to 77%, and 94.9% of the collected head lice had one or two T917I mutant alleles. Moreover, the frequency of the aggregate resistant alleles was 50.5%. This is the first evidence that head lice in Chile had the mutations commonly associated with the resistance to pyrethroids. Moreover, the overrepresentation of heterozygotes in the studied populations suggests that head lice in Chile are currently under active selective pressure.
The role of biochars in sustainable crop production and soil resiliency
Authors: Jiang Zhixiang , Lian Fei , Wang Zhenyu , Xing Baoshan
Published: June 2019

Biochar is a promising soil additive for use in support of sustainable crop production. However, the high level of heterogeneity in biochar properties and the variations in soil composition present significant challenges to the successful uptake of biochar technologies in diverse agricultural soils. An improved understanding of the mechanisms that contribute to biochar–soil interactions is required to address issues related to climate change and cultivation practices. This review summarizes biochar modification approaches (physical, chemical, and biochar-based organic composites) and discusses the potential role of biochar in sustainable crop production and soil resiliency, including the degradation of soil organic matter, the improvement of soil quality, and reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. Biochar design is crucial to successful soil remediation, particularly with regard to issues arising from soil structure and composition related to crop production. Given the wide variety of feedstocks for biochar production and the resultant high surface heterogeneity, greater efforts are required to optimize biochar surface functionality and porosity through appropriate modifications. The design and establishment of these approaches and methods are essential for the future utilization of biochar as an effective soil additive to promote sustainable crop production.
The origin of stellar populations in the Galactic bulge from chemical abundances
Authors: Matteucci F , Grisoni V , Spitoni E , Zulianello A , Rojas-Arriagada A , Schultheis M , Ryde N
Published: June 2019

In this work, we study the formation and chemical evolution of the Galactic bulge with particular focus on the abundance pattern ([Mg/Fe] versus [Fe/H]), metallicity, and age distribution functions. We consider detailed chemical evolution models for the Galactic bulge and inner disc, with the aim of shedding light on the connection between these components and the origin of bulge stars. In particular, we first present a model assuming a fast and intense star formation, with the majority of bulge stars forming on a time-scale less than 1 Gyr. Then we analyse the possibility of two distinct stellar populations in the bulge, as suggested by Gaia-ESO and APOGEE data. These two populations, one metal poor and the other metal rich, can have had two different origins: (i) the metal rich formed after a stop of ∼250 Myr in the star formation rate of the bulge or (ii) the metal-rich population is made of stars formed in the inner disc and brought into the bulge by the early secular evolution of the bar. We also examine the case of multiple starbursts in the bulge with consequent formation of multiple populations, as suggested by studies of microlensed stars. After comparing model results and observations, we suggest that the most likely scenario is that there are two main stellar populations, both made mainly by old stars (>10 Gyr), with the metal-rich and younger one formed from inner thin disc stars, in agreement with kinematical arguments. However, on the basis of dynamical simulations, we cannot completely exclude that the second population formed after a stop in the star formation during the bulge evolution, so that all the stars formed in situ.
Non-thermal emission and spectral evolution properties of G54.1+0.3
Authors: Ren Ji-Yang , Gao Quan-Gui , Li Huai-Zhen , Ma Ju , Zhao Shan-Shan , Liu Ya-li , Lu Fang-Wu
Published: June 2019

The multiband photon emission and spectral evolution of G54.1+0.3 are investigated in the framework of leptonic and leptonic–hadronic models. We model the spectral energy distribution (SED) of the pulsar wind nebula (PWN) and find that both the leptonic and leptonic–hadronic models can well reproduce the multiband observations of the nebula with appropriate model parameters. Combining with dynamical evolution of the PWN, we investigate the time evolution of photon SED and radiative luminosity in the X-ray and TeV γ-ray bands of G54.1+0.3. The results indicate that the synchrotron spectrum and radiative luminosity in the X-ray band of the PWN calculated with these two models have obvious differences as the age increases to about 4 kyr, and the largest difference is present at about 40 kyr. The γ-ray luminosity calculated by the leptonic–hadronic model shows that the contribution of TeV photons arising from the decay of neutral pions produced in proton–proton interaction also changes with time and is always important for modifying the TeV γ-ray spectrum of G54.1+0.3 during the evolution of the PWN.
Cosmic distance determination from photometric redshift samples using BAO peaks only
Authors: Sridhar Srivatsan , Song Yong-Seon
Published: June 2019

The galaxy distributions along the line of sight are significantly contaminated by the uncertainty on redshift measurements obtained through multiband photometry, which makes it difficult to get cosmic distance information measured from baryon acoustic oscillations, or growth functions probed by redshift distortions. We investigate the propagation of the uncertainties into large-scale clustering by exploiting all known estimators, and propose the wedge approach as a promising analysis tool to extract cosmic distance information still remaining in the photometric galaxy samples. We test our method using simulated galaxy maps with photometric uncertainties of σ0 = (0.01, 0.02, 0.03). The measured anisotropy correlation function ξ is binned into the radial direction of s and the angular direction of μ, and the variations of $\xi (s,\mu)\,$with perpendicular and radial cosmic distance measures of DA and H−1 are theoretically estimated by an improved RSD model. Although the radial cosmic distance H−1 is unable to be probed from any of the three photometric galaxy samples, the perpendicular component of DA is verified to be accurately measured even after the full marginalization of H−1. We measure DA with approximately 6 per cent precision which is nearly equivalent to what we can expect from spectroscopic DR12 CMASS galaxy samples.
Survivability of radio-loud planetary cores orbiting white dwarfs
Authors: Veras Dimitri , Wolszczan Alexander
Published: June 2019

The discovery of the intact metallic planetary core fragment orbiting the white dwarf SDSS J1228+1040 within one Solar radius highlights the possibility of detecting larger, unfragmented conducting cores around magnetic white dwarfs through radio emission. Previous models of this decades-old idea focused on determining survivability of the cores based on their inward Lorentz drift towards the star. However, gravitational tides may represent an equal or dominant force. Here, we couple both effects by assuming a Maxwell rheological model and performing simulations over the entire range of observable white dwarf magnetic field strengths (103–109 G) and their potential atmospheric electrical conductivities (10−1–104 S m−1) in order to more accurately constrain survivability lifetimes. This force coupling allows us to better pinpoint the physical and orbital parameters which allow planetary cores to survive for over a Gyr, maximizing the possibility that they can be detected. The most robust survivors showcase high dynamic viscosities (≳1024 Pa s) and orbit within kG-level magnetic fields.
Massive binary star mergers in galactic nuclei: implications for blue stragglers, binary S-stars, and gravitational waves
Authors: Fragione Giacomo , Antonini Fabio
Published: June 2019

Galactic nuclei are often found to contain young stellar populations and, in most cases, a central supermassive black hole (SMBH). Most known massive stars are found in binaries or higher multiplicity systems, and in a galactic nucleus the gravitational interaction with the SMBH can affect their long-term evolution. In this paper, we study the orbital evolution of stellar binaries near SMBHs using high precision N-body simulations, and including tidal forces and post-Newtonian corrections to the motion. We focus on the Lidov–Kozai (LK) effect induced by the SMBH on massive star binaries. We investigate how the properties of the merging binaries change with varying the SMBH mass, the slope of the initial mass function, the distributions of the binary orbital parameters, and the efficiency in energy dissipation in dissipative tides. We find that the fraction of merging massive binary stars is in the range ∼4–$15{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$ regardless of the details of the initial distributions of masses and orbital elements. For a Milky Way-like nucleus, we find a typical rate of binary mergers $\Gamma \approx 1.4\times 10^{-7} {\, \rm yr}^{-1}$. The merger products of massive binaries can be rejuvenated blue-straggler stars, more massive than each of their original progenitors, and G2-like objects. Binary systems that survive the LK cycles can be source of X-rays and gravitational waves, observable with present and upcoming instruments.