bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Beta amyloid aggregates induce sensitised TLR4 signalling causing long-term potentiation deficit and rat neuronal cell death
Authors: Hughes Craig , Choi Minee L. , Yi Jee-Hyun , Kim Seung-Chan , Drews Anna , George-Hyslop Peter St. , Bryant Clare , Gandhi Sonia , Cho Kwangwook , Klenerman David
Published: February 2020

The molecular events causing memory loss and neuronal cell death in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) over time are still unknown. Here we found that picomolar concentrations of soluble oligomers of synthetic beta amyloid (Aβ42) aggregates incubated with BV2 cells or rat astrocytes caused a sensitised response of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) with time, leading to increased production of TNF-α. Aβ aggregates caused long term potentiation (LTP) deficit in hippocampal slices and predominantly neuronal cell death in co-cultures of astrocytes and neurons, which was blocked by TLR4 antagonists. Soluble Aβ aggregates cause LTP deficit and neuronal death via an autocrine/paracrine mechanism due to TLR4 signalling. These findings suggest that the TLR4-mediated inflammatory response may be a key pathophysiological process in AD.
Luminescent nucleotide/Tb3+ coordination polymer for Fe(ii) detection in human serum
Authors: Liu Yan , Peng Lu-Lu , Huang Wei-Xiong , Zhou Hui-Zhuo , Xu Li
Published: February 2020

A luminescent nucleotide/Tb3+ coordination polymer (CP) was synthesized using adenosine triphosphate (ATP) molecules as a bridge ligand and Phen as a sensitizer, which showed high sensitivity and selectivity for Fe2+.
Recent advances in the electrooxidation of biomass-based organic molecules for energy, chemicals and hydrogen production
Authors: Holade Yaovi , Tuleushova Nazym , Tingry Sophie , Servat Karine , Napporn Teko W. , Guesmi Hazar , Cornu David , Kokoh K. Boniface
Published: February 2020

The recent developments in biomass-derivative fuelled electrochemical converters for electricity or hydrogen production together with chemical electrosynthesis have been reviewed.
Nitrate with benefits: optimizing radical production during UV water treatment
Authors: Vinge Sydney L. , Shaheen Samuel W. , Sharpless Charles M. , Linden Karl G.
Published: February 2020

Nitrate presence can enhance production of oxidative radicals during UV treatment of water.
Tumor extracellular pH-sensitive polymeric nanocarrier-grafted platinum(iv) prodrugs for improved intracellular delivery and cytosolic reductive-triggered release
Authors: Chen Sheng-Qi , Song Gang , He Chen , Hou Mei , He Wei-Dong , Li Hui-Juan , Haleem Abdul , Li Qing-Lin , Hu Rong-Feng
Published: February 2020

Extracellular pH-sensitive Pt(iv)-based nanodrugs enable preferential toxicity to tumor cells via a selectively endocytosed and triggered drug release strategy.
It takes two for chronic wounds to heal: dispersing bacterial biofilm and modulating inflammation with dual action plasma coatings
Authors: Michl Thomas Danny , Tran Dung Thuy Thi , Kuckling Hannah Frederike , Zhalgasbaikyzy Aigerim , Ivanovská Barbora , González García Laura Elena , Visalakshan Rahul Madathiparambil , Vasilev Krasimir
Published: February 2020

We plasma polymerized the stable nitroxide radical TEMPO into thin coatings and exploited the coatings' unique qualities in targeting both infection and inflammation simultaneously; demonstrating a novel alternative as to how chronic wounds could be treated in the future.
Characterization of biocompatible pig skin collagen and application of collagen-based films for enzyme immobilization
Authors: He Li , Lan Wenting , Zhao Yuqing , Chen Shujuan , Liu Shuliang , Cen Liyuan , Cao Shu , Dong Lei , Jin Ruoyun , Liu Yaowen
Published: February 2020

Based on the excellent biocompatibility of collagen, collagen was extracted from pig skin by acid-enzymatic method.
Continuous release of SO4˙− over g-C3N4/ZnO/Fe(iii) systems mediated by persulfates: the Fe(iii)/Fe(ii) cycling and degradation pathway
Authors: Liu Shaomin , Zhang Jianshu , Chen Meiling , Wang Xiaoxiao
Published: February 2020

A process to obtain Fe(ii) by photogenerating electrons for the activation of persulfates and durable release of sulfate free radicals was proposed.
Mechanical switching of current–voltage characteristics in spiropyran single-molecule junctions
Authors: Tamaki Takashi , Minode Keigo , Numai Yuichi , Ohto Tatsuhiko , Yamada Ryo , Masai Hiroshi , Tada Hirokazu , Terao Jun
Published: February 2020

Switching of the current–distance characteristics from rectified to symmetric was observed in break junction measurements through a mechanical stimulus.
A Co(ii)-catalyzed asymmetric ring opening reaction of spiro-epoxyoxindoles with allylboron
Authors: Wu Liang , Shao Qihang , Kong Li , Chen Jianzhong , Wei Quhao , Zhang Wanbin
Published: February 2020

A Co(ii)/BOX-catalyzed asymmetric allylation of spiroepoxyoxindoles was developed, which is the first stereoconvergent allylation of epoxides, yielding chiral oxindoles bearing quaternary stereocenters.
Transition metal M (M = Co, Ni, and Fe) and boron co-modulation in Rh-based aerogels for highly efficient and pH-universal hydrogen evolution electrocatalysis
Authors: Deng Kai , Ren Tianlun , Xu You , Liu Songliang , Dai Zechuan , Wang Ziqiang , Li Xiaonian , Wang Liang , Wang Hongjing
Published: February 2020

RhCoB aerogels were successfully synthesized via a facile chemical co-reduction strategy and exhibited excellent catalytic performance toward the hydrogen evolution reaction.
Multi-stimuli responsive behaviors of two TPE-based tautomers in the solid state and in solution
Authors: Zheng Han-Wen , Li Sai , Wu Min , Kang Yang , Li Jia-Bin , Liang Qiong-Fang , Zheng Xiang-Jun , Fang De-Cai , Jin Lin-Pei
Published: February 2020

Two TPE-based tautomers can respond to grinding and vapor in the solid state, and to metal ions in solution.
Water robustness of organic thin-film transistors based on pyrazino[2,3-g]quinoxaline-dione conjugated polymer
Authors: Ko Jieun , Ng Chee Koon , Arramel  , Wee Andrew Thye Shen , Tam Teck Lip Dexter , Leong Wei Lin
Published: February 2020

A π-conjugated polymer based on pyrazino[2,3-g]quinoxaline-2,7-dione (PQD) modified with long alkyl side chains to both donor and acceptor units (PQD-HD-4T-DD) was synthesized and served as a novel semiconducting layer for highly air and water stable organic thin-film transistor (OTFT).
The effect of wuling capsule on depression in Type 2 diabetic patients
Authors: Wang Huanping , Chen Huizhen , Gao Yang , Wang Shengju , Wang Xian , Tang Xiaomei , Fang Wei , Shi Xiaoyan , Yao Jia , Chen Qiu
Published: February 2020

Objective: Depression is a common complication in Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM); however, it has long been underrecognized and undertreated. In the present study, we aimed to evaluate the clinical effects of Wuling capsule, a compound traditional Chinese herbal medicine, on T2DM complicated with depression.

Method: 66 patients were enrolled and randomly divided into Wuling capsule treatment group and placebo group, and finally 64 cases finished the present study. The levels of FPG, 2hPG, HbAlc, TNF-α, IL-6, SOD, MDA, Cor, ACTH, HOMA-β, HOMA-IR and ISI of patients were evaluated and compared. The HAMD scale for patients were recorded.

Result: After 12-week treatment, the HAMD scale decreased in both groups, and was lower in Wuling capsule group. The level of FPG in Wuling capsule group was significantly lower than in placebo group; however, no obvious changes of 2hPG and HbA1c were found. The levels of IL-6 and TNF-α were significantly decreased in both groups, and more obviously in Wuling capsule group. The level of SOD was increased while the level of MDA was decreased significantly in both groups, and the changes were more obviously in Wuling capsule group. The levels of Cor and ACTH were significantly decreased in both groups; however, there was no statistically significance between the two groups. Besides, the comparisons of HOMA-β, HOMA-IR and ISI between the two groups were not statistically significant.

Conclusion: Our results suggested that Wuling capsule ameliorated the depression in patients with T2DM, and also improved the state of inflammation and oxidative stress state. These results also strongly indicated the ability of clinical transformation of Wuling capsule in patients with T2DM in the future.
Time series expression pattern of key genes reveals the molecular process of esophageal cancer
Authors: Wang Jiafu , Xie Xiang , Sun Yurong
Published: February 2020

Background: Esophageal cancer is one of the most poorly diagnosed and fatal cancers in the world. Although a series of studies on esophageal cancer have been reported, the molecular pathogenesis of the disease is still elusive. Aim: To investigate the molecular process of esophageal cancer comprehensively and deeply. Methods: Differential expression analysis was performed to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in different stages of esophageal cancer. Then exacting gene interaction modules and hub genes were identified in module interaction network. Further, though survival analysis, methylation analysis, pivot analysis, and enrichment analysis, some important molecules and related function or pathway were identified to elucidate potential mechanism in esophageal cancer. Results: A total of 7457 DEGs and 14 gene interaction modules were identified. These module genes were significantly involved in the positive regulation of protein transport, gastric acid secretion, insulin-like growth factor receptor binding and other biological processes (BPs), as well as p53 signaling pathway, ERBB signaling pathway and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signaling pathway. Then, transcription factors (TFs) (including HIF1A) and ncRNAs (including CRNDE and hsa-mir-330-3p) significantly regulate dysfunction modules were identified. Further, survival analysis showed that GNGT2 was closely related to survival of esophageal cancer. And DEGs with strong methylation regulation ability were identified, including SST and SH3GL2. Conclusion: These works not only help us to reveal the potential regulatory factors in the development of disease, but also deepen our understanding of its deterioration mechanism.
Evaluation of models for predicting the probability of malignancy in patients with pulmonary nodules
Authors: Li You , Hu Hui , Wu Ziwei , Yan Ge , Wu Tangwei , Liu Shuiyi , Chen Weiqun , Lu Zhongxin
Published: February 2020

Objectives: The post-imaging, mathematical predictive model was established by combining demographic and imaging characteristics with a pulmonary nodule risk score. The prediction model provides directions for the treatment of pulmonary nodules. Many studies have established predictive models for pulmonary nodules in different populations. However, the predictive factors contained in each model were significantly different. We hypothesized that applying different models to local research groups will make a difference in predicting the benign and malignant lung nodules, distinguishing between early and late lung cancers, and between adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. In the present study, we compared four widely used and well-known mathematical prediction models.

Materials and methods: We performed a retrospective study of 496 patients from January 2017 to October 2019, they were diagnosed with nodules by pathological. We evaluate models’ performance by viewing 425 malignant and 71 benign patients’ computed tomography results. At the same time, we use the calibration curve and the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve whose abbreviation is AUC to assess one model’s predictive performance.

Results: We find that in distinguishing the Benign and the Malignancy, Peking University People’s Hospital model possessed excellent performance (AUC = 0.63), as well as differentiating between early and late lung cancers (AUC = 0.67) and identifying lung adenocarcinoma (AUC = 0.61). While in the identification of lung squamous cell carcinoma, the Veterans Affairs model performed the best (AUC = 0.69).

Conclusions: Geographic disparities are an extremely important influence factors, and which clinical features contained in the mathematical prediction model are the key to affect the precision and accuracy.
Endoplasmic reticulum stress occurs in association with the extrusion of toxic extracellular vesicles from human placentae treated with antiphospholipid antibodies
Authors: Tang Yunhui , Chen Yan , Nursalim Yohanes , Groom Katie , Hickey Anthony , Chamley Larry , Chen Qi
Published: February 2020

Antiphospholipid autoantibodies (aPLs), a major maternal risk factor for preeclampsia, are taken into the syncytiotrophoblast where they bind intracellular vesicles and mitochondria. Subsequently, large quantities of extracellular vesicles (EVs) extruded from syncytiotrophoblast into the maternal circulation are altered such that they cause maternal endothelial cell activation. However, the mechanism driving this change is unknown. First trimester placental explants were treated with aPL for 18 h. The EVs were then collected by different centrifugation. The levels of HSP 70, misfolded proteins, caspase 8 activity, and Mixed Lineage Kinase domain-Like (MLKL) were measured in placental explants and EVs. In addition, the levels of TNF-α and CD95 in conditioned medium were also measured. Treating placental explants with aPL caused an increase in levels of HSP 70, misfolded proteins and MLKL in placental explants and EVs. Increased activity of caspase 8 was also seen in placental explants. Higher levels of TNF-α were seen conditioned medium from aPL-treated placental explant cultures. aPLs appear to induce endoplasmic reticulum stress in the syncytiotrophoblast in a manner that involved caspase 8 and TNF-α. To avoid accumulation of the associated misfolded proteins and MLKL, the syncytiotrophoblast exports these potentially dangerous proteins in EVs. It is likely that the dangerous proteins that are loaded into placental EVs in preeclampsia contribute to dysfunction of the maternal cells.
Anti‐sideslip path tracking of wheeled mobile robots based on fuzzy model predictive control
Authors: Bai Guoxing , Meng Yu , Liu Li , Luo Weidong , Gu Qing , Li Kailun
Published: February 2020

When a wheeled mobile robot is travelling at high longitudinal velocities and turning, it may sideslip. Except for a few researchers, this issue has not received much attention. However, there is a high possibility that sideslip may cause danger, so the authors think this problem needs to be solved urgently. The mechanism of preventing sideslip is simple, which is to reduce the longitudinal velocity of the robot when turning. But, how to slow down is a question worth studying. To this end, they have proposed two schemes, but these two schemes have poor real‐time performance and poor robustness to positioning errors, respectively. In order to solve the above problems, considering that the real‐time and robustness of fuzzy control are very good, they propose a controller by combining robust control and model predictive control in this Letter. The fuzzy control is used to adjust the longitudinal velocity according to the state of the robot, and the model predictive control is used to achieve path tracking. According to the simulation results, the proposed fuzzy model predictive controller does have small errors, small sideslip, good real‐time performance, and good robustness to positioning errors.
Towards engineering and production of artificial spider silk using tools of synthetic biology
Authors: Poddar Hashwardhan , Breitling Rainer , Takano Eriko
Published: February 2020

Spider silk is one of the strongest biomaterials available in nature. Its mechanical properties make it a good candidate for applications in various fields ranging from protective armour to bandages for wound dressing to coatings for medical implants. Spider silk is formed by an intricate arrangement of spidroins, which are extremely large proteins containing long stretches of repeating segments rich in alanine and glycine. A large amount of research has been directed towards harnessing the spectacular potential of spider silks and using them for different applications. The interdisciplinary approach of synthetic biology is an ideal tool to study these spider silk proteins and work towards the engineering and production of synthetic spider silk. This review aims to highlight the recent progress that has been made in the study of spider silk proteins using different branches of synthetic biology. Here, the authors discuss the different computational approaches, directed evolution techniques and various expression platforms that have been tested for the successful production of spider silk. Future challenges facing the field and possible solutions offered by synthetic biology are also discussed.
Manifold spirals in barred galaxies with multiple pattern speeds
Authors: Efthymiopoulos C. , Harsoula M. , Contopoulos G.
Published: February 2020

In the manifold theory of spiral structure in barred galaxies, the usual assumption is that the spirals rotate with the same pattern speed as the bar. Here, we generalize the manifold theory under the assumption that the spirals rotate with a different pattern speed than the bar. More generally, we consider the case in which one or more modes, represented by the potentialsV2,V3, etc., coexist in the galactic disk in addition to the bar’s modeVbar, but the modes rotate with pattern speeds, Ω2, Ω3, etc., which are incommensurable between themselves and with Ωbar. Through a perturbative treatment (assuming thatV2,V3, etc. are small with respect toVbar), we then show that the unstable Lagrangian pointsL1andL2of the pure bar model (Vbar, Ωbar) are continued in the full model as periodic orbits, in the case of one extra pattern speed, or as epicyclic “Lissajous-like” unstable orbits, in the case of more than one extra pattern speeds. We useGL1andGL2to denote the continued orbits around the pointsL1andL2. Furthermore, we show that the orbitsGL1andGL2are simply unstable. As a result, these orbits admit invariant manifolds, which can be regarded as the generalization of the manifolds of theL1andL2points in the single pattern speed case. As an example, we computed the generalized orbitsGL1,GL2, and their manifolds in a Milky-Way-like model in which bar and spiral pattern speeds were assumed to be different. We find that the manifolds produce a time-varying morphology consisting of segments of spirals or “pseudorings”. These structures are repeated after a period equal to half the relative period of the imposed spirals with respect to the bar. Along one period, the manifold-induced time-varying structures are found to continuously support at least some part of the imposed spirals, except at short intervals around specific times at which the relative phase of the imposed spirals with respect to the bar is equal to ±π/2. The connection of these effects to the phenomenon of recurrent spirals is discussed.
Weak convergence of fully discrete finite element approximations of semilinear hyperbolic SPDE with additive noise
Authors: Kovács Mihály , Lang Annika , Petersson Andreas
Published: February 2020

The numerical approximation of the mild solution to a semilinear stochastic wave equation driven by additive noise is considered. A standard finite element method is employed for the spatial approximation and a a rational approximation of the exponential function for the temporal approximation. First, strong convergence of this approximation in both positive and negative order norms is proven. With the help of Malliavin calculus techniques this result is then used to deduce weak convergence rates for the class of twice continuously differentiable test functions with polynomially bounded derivatives. Under appropriate assumptions on the parameters of the equation, the weak rate is found to be essentially twice the strong rate. This extends earlier work by one of the authors to the semilinear setting. Numerical simulations illustrate the theoretical results.
Die neue DGEM-Leitlinie – alles, was der Kliniker wissen muss
Authors: Elke Gunnar , Hartl Wolfgang H.
Published: February 2020

Die Deutsche Gesellschaft für Ernährungsmedizin hat kürzlich in Kooperation mit 7 anderen nationalen Fachgesellschaften ihre Leitlinie zur klinischen Ernährung kritisch kranker Patienten aktualisiert. Dieser Beitrag gibt einen komprimierten Überblick für die klinische Praxis – mit dem Fokus auf der Ermittlung des Energieumsatzes, der Bestimmung der Kalorien- und Proteinzufuhr, der Auswahl des Applikationsweges und dem Umgang mit Mikronährstoffen.
Refresher: Körperliche Aktivität als Medikament
Authors: Löllgen Herbert
Published: February 2020

Regelmäßige körperliche Aktivität wurde in zahlreichen prospektiven Kohortenstudien in den letzten Jahrzehnten untersucht. Übereinstimmend ergaben Studien an insgesamt über einer Million Probanden, dass durch körperliche Aktivität die Gesamtmorbidität und -mortalität im Vergleich zu körperlich Inaktiven um 30–40 % gesenkt werden können. Dies gilt auch für eine größere Zahl von Krankheiten. Neben Prävention und Rehabilitation wird körperliche Aktivität zunehmend als Therapie bei Krankheiten mit guten Erfolgen eingesetzt. Dies gilt für kardiovaskuläre Erkrankungen, aber auch für andere wie Stoffwechsel-, neurologisch psychiatrische und viele andere Erkrankungen. Daraus entwickelte sich der Ansatz, körperliche Aktivität mit einem Rezept zu verordnen. Hierfür sind sportmedizinische Kenntnisse erforderlich. Der Einsatz dieses Rezepts wird auch in Deutschland nachdrücklich empfohlen sowohl unter klinischen als auch unter ambulanten Bedingungen.
Manfred Pflanz (1923–1980), Versorgungsforscher –
sein früher Beitrag zur Versorgungsepidemiologie der
Appendektomie
Authors: Robra Bernt-Peter
Published: February 2020

Der Beitrag erinnert an ein frühes Beispiel der Versorgungsforschung und
medizinischen Qualitätssicherung in Deutschland. Anlass ist der 50.
Jahrestag der Gründung des Instituts für Sozialmedizin und
Epidemiologie der Medizinischen Hochschule Hannover 1968. Der Institutsdirektor
Prof. Dr. med. Manfred Pflanz, Internist, ausgewiesen v. a. durch
psychosomatische und medizinsoziologische Themen, publizierte 1971 zusammen mit
der Doktorandin Sigrid Lichtner eine Arbeit zur Versorgungsepidemiologie der
Appendektomie [1]. Damals war die zertifizierte Mortalität an
Appendizitis in Deutschland 3-fach höher als im internationalen
Vergleich. Die regionale Analyse aller Appendektomien in Hannover trug weitere
„merkwürdige“ Befunde bei, darunter einen Wochengang,
der nicht zu einem akuten Notfallgeschehen passte, und deutliche soziale und
regionale Unterschiede der Eingriffshäufigkeit. Als wahrscheinlichsten
Grund für die hohe Appendizitissterblichkeit in Deutschland sahen
Lichtner und Pflanz die ebenfalls 3-fach höhere Operationsrate an. Damit
rüttelten sie an der Doktrin der frühen Operation bei
Appendizitisverdacht. Seither wandelt sich die Appendizitisversorgung,
Qualitätssicherung wurde entwickelt, Evidenzgrundlagen verbreitert, die
laparoskopische und die nicht-operative Behandlung in kontrollierten Studien
evaluiert. Die Appendizitis-Sterblichkeit hat mit einem beschleunigenden
Trendknick Anfang der 1970er Jahre kontinuierlich auf ein sehr geringes Niveau
abgenommen. Die Zahl der Appendektomien geht zurück. Das
Gesundheitswesen ist insoweit wirksamer und wirtschaftlicher geworden.
Penicillin-Allergie – tödliche „Fake News“ in der Krankenakte?
Authors: Schulz-Stübner Sebastian
Published: February 2020

Die Prävalenz von Penicillin-Allergien in der Krankenakte wird in der Literatur mit 8 – 12% angegeben und stellt die häufigste berichtete „Allergie“ dar. Allerdings wurden nicht verifizierte „Penicillin-Allergien“ in den vergangenen Jahren als ein zunehmendes Public-Health-Problem mit in der Folge ansteigender Dauer der Hospitalisierung, höheren Wiederaufnahmeraten, häufigerem Behandlungsversagen und vermehrten Aufnahmen auf der Intensivstation erkannt.
Synthesis of 2,4-Disubstituted Imidazoles via Nucleophilic Catalysis
Authors: Camp Jason E. , Shabalin Dmitrii A. , Dunsford Jay J. , Ngwerume Simbarashe , Saunders Alexandra R. , Gill Duncan M.
Published: February 2020

A convergent, microwave-assisted protocol for the synthesis of disubstituted NH-imidazoles via nucleophilic catalysis is described. The substituted imidazoles are accessed via the intramolecular addition of a variety of amidoxime substrates to activated alkynes followed by a thermally induced rearrangement of the in situ generated O-vinylamid­oxime species. The unprotected imidazoles contain an aryl group at the 2-position as well as an ester moiety at the 4-position.
Molecular Heterogeneity in Cystic Fibrosis
Authors: Civan Hasret A. , Seyhan Serhat
Published: February 2020

We aimed to evaluate type, frequency, and variety of pathogenic variants according to clinical and demographic features of children diagnosed with cystic fibrosis (CF). Twenty-five CF patients were evaluated retrospectively. Patients' demographics, physical examination, imaging, laboratory, and molecular pathogenic variant analysis findings were evaluated. Phe508del was the most frequently (33.3%) detected pathogenic variant, followed by point pathogenic variants E92K, 1898 + lGA/7T/7T, and 2789 + 5GA, respectively. Statistically higher rates of pathogenic variants were detected in male patients. The most frequently detected pathogenic variant was Phe508del. The identification of nine additional pathogenic variants of Phe508del revealed the heterogeneous nature of the CF.
Forecasting index changes in the German DAX family
Authors: Franz Friedrich-Carl
Published: February 2020

Combining market data with a publicly available monthly snapshot of Deutsche Börse’s index ranking list, I create a model that predicts index changes in the DAX, MDAX, SDAX, and TecDAX from 2010 to 2019 before they are officially announced. Even though I empirically show that index changes are predictable, they still earn sizeable post-announcement 1-day abnormal returns up to 1.42% and − 1.54% for promotions and demotions, respectively. While abnormal returns are larger in smaller stocks, I find no evidence that they are related to funding constraints or additional risk for trading on wrong predictions. A trading strategy that trades according to my model yields an annualized Sharpe ratio of 0.83 while being invested for just 4 days a year.
Fostering a healthy public for men and HIV: a case study of the Movement for Change and Social Justice (MCSJ)
Authors: Colvin Christopher J. , van Pinxteren Myrna , Majola Mandla , Leon Natalie , Swartz Alison , Mbokazi Nonzuzo , Lurie Mark
Published: February 2020

This paper examines the recently formed Movement for Change and Social Justice (MCSJ) in the township of Gugulethu, in Cape Town, South Africa. MCSJ is a health and social justice movement that has an unusual trajectory—guided by the political principles and strategies of South Africa AIDS activism, inspired but also frustrated by the contemporary progressive public health activism, and catalysed by a university research partnership at the University of Cape Town (UCT) that focused on innovative ways of using health information to spur community and health system action to respond to issues of men, masculinity and HIV.

This paper synthesises findings from participant observation, qualitative process evaluations of MCSJ’s work, and reflections from the UCT-based research team to develop a number of lessons about the challenges and opportunities in efforts to foster a healthy public for men and HIV. MCSJ’s approach builds on current modes and models of public health thinking while also pushing for more responsive, more inclusive, more sustained, and more locally rooted forms of practice. The paper identifies a range of enabling conditions for MCSJ’s work, describes the often delicate balancing act MCSJ has to manage in its work, and outlines some of the key strategies of this community–university partnerships that guided efforts to develop a healthy public for men and HIV. Lessons learned from this case study will be helpful for other efforts to promote and sustain engaged and impactful university–community collaborations to support the emergence of healthy publics.
Mechanical design of interaction chamber for the ELIADE array at ELI-NP
Authors: Munteanu Mihaela Violeta , Mihălcică Mircea , Itu Călin , Vlase Sorin , Scutaru Maria Luminita
Published: February 2020

This paper presents the analysis of the vibration of the interaction chamber (IC), a medium vacuum chamber, that uses linear actuators controlled on the basis of complex signals acquired from the IC and its surrounding space. This research mainly focuses on the kinematic precision assured by the mechanical system represented by the IC with component parts. The performance obtained by the quadrature acting system for the sample holder will be compared with the error introduced. The software implements two loops: the image acquisition from the digital camera and the detection of the target for the X–Y linear stage. Considering the vibration of the structure, the geometry of the whole system, the kinematics, and the dynamic model are detailed; the hardware’s influence, in conjunction with the corresponding firmware of the tracking installation, is analyzed with regard to positioning precision and dynamics. For the IC, the transmissibility from the ground to the target (which is an important measure for the correct functioning of the system) was determined. As a result, it is necessary to re-design the target’s lever in order to reduce the vibrations during the experiments.
Optimal architecture for diamond-based wide-field thermal imaging
Authors: Tanos R. , Akhtar W. , Monneret S. , Favaro de Oliveira F. , Seniutinas G. , Munsch M. , Maletinsky P. , le Gratiet L. , Sagnes I. , Dréau A. , Gergely C. , Jacques V. , Baffou G. , Robert-Philip I.
Published: February 2020

Nitrogen-vacancy centers in diamonds possess an electronic spin resonance that strongly depends on temperature, which makes them efficient temperature sensors with sensitivity down to a few mK/Hz. However, the high thermal conductivity of the host diamond may strongly damp any temperature variations, leading to invasive measurements when probing local temperature distributions. In the view of determining possible and optimal configurations for diamond-based wide-field thermal imaging, here, we investigate both experimentally and numerically the effect of the presence of diamonds on microscale temperature distributions. Three geometrical configurations are studied: a bulk diamond substrate, a thin diamond layer bonded on quartz, and diamond nanoparticles dispersed on quartz. We show that the use of bulk diamond substrates for thermal imaging is highly invasive in the sense that it prevents any substantial temperature increase. Conversely, thin diamond layers partly solve this issue and could provide a possible alternative for microscale thermal imaging. Dispersions of diamond nanoparticles throughout the sample appear as the most relevant approach as they do not affect the temperature distribution, although NV centers in nanodiamonds yield lower temperature sensitivities than bulk diamonds.
Appropriateness of the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre-adapted Refugee Health Assessment Tool
Authors: Napwanga Eluby Sarah Patrick , McShane Sheenagh , Naccarella Lucio
Published: February 2020

People seeking asylum (PSA) are recommended to undertake a comprehensive risk-based health assessment within 1 month of arrival in Australia. The Asylum Seeker Resource Centre (ASRC) offers health services to PSA in Victoria, through the ASRC nurse-led clinic. A healthcare assessment is conducted by nurses using a Refugee Health Assessment (RHA) tool. A process evaluation was conducted to assess if the adapted 2016 version of the RHA tool was able to appropriately identify, describe and prioritise the needs of PSA. Twelve ASRC nurses who conducted assessments were interviewed. All interviews were audio recorded, transcribed and analysed. The adapted RHA tool was considered as appropriate for identifying, describing and prioritising the needs of PSA. Three key interconnected themes emerged influencing the appropriateness of the tool: the tool; users’ experiences; and the individual characteristics of the PSA undergoing the assessment. Key tool limitations included: the structure not being user-friendly; variability in users’ sensitivity to using the tool; and the limited feedback from PSA on the adapted RHA tool. Given the high number of people seeking asylum in Australia and the complexity of their healthcare needs, this research provides preliminary guidance on ways to improve the appropriateness of the ASRC-adapted RHA tool.
Electronically driven collapse of the bulk modulus in
δ
-plutonium
Authors: Harrison Neil
Published: February 2020

Significance

A long-standing mystery in the material science of actinides concerns the question of why the bulk modulus of plutonium metal undergoes an anomalously large softening with increasing temperature compared to other metals. We show that a crucial step to understanding this phenomenon is taking into consideration the compressibility of thermally excited electronic configurations. We find this to lead to a previously unknown electronic softening contribution to the bulk modulus and a collapse of the bulk modulus when there exists a large partial pressure between different configurations.
No-go zones in Sweden
Authors: Milani Tommaso M.
Published: February 2020

The focus of this article is on the mundane nastiness of
language. Drawing on Arendt’s
(1963)

banality of evil and Briggs’s (2005) notion of infectious
communicability, the article highlights the moral dimensions of political and
media discourses that spread a communicable image of Sweden as a country in
disarray. I demonstrate that this image is made of two discursive ingredients:
the spatial trope of the no-go zone, and the
truthiness of its discursive elements, which, through a web
of communicable intertextual links, create the illusion of an accurate and
coherent account of society. Each of the discursive devices and links are like
mycelia in a growing fungus of evil that encourages us not “think from the
standpoint of somebody else” (Arendt,
1963: 49), that concomitantly normalise a problematic subjectivity of
the threatening migrant, a barbarian at the gates that needs to be excluded from
the Swedish future.
Dietary daidzein decreases food intake accompanied with delayed gastric emptying in ovariectomized rats
Authors: Adhikari Sudhashree , Bhattarai Keshab , Abe Yasuhiro , Kira Mayu , Fujitani Mina , Miyada Tomihiro , Kishida Taro
Published: February 2020

We previously found that equol, a metabolite of intestinal bacterial conversion from soy isoflavone daidzein, has female-specific anorectic effects. In the present study, we used seven-week-old female ovariectomized (OVX) Sprague Dawley rats to test the hypothesis that the anorectic effect of dietary daidzein may be attributed to delayed gastric emptying. Results suggest that dietary daidzein delays gastric emptying and that it has an anorectic effect with residual gastric contents, but not without gastric contents. Dietary equol significantly decreased daily food intake in the OVX rats without sleeve gastrectomy, but not in those with sleeve gastrectomy, suggesting that the accumulation of food in the stomach is required for the anorectic effect of equol to occur. These results support the hypothesis that the anorectic effect of dietary daidzein is attributed to delayed gastric emptying.
The structure of copper ferrite prepared by five methods and its catalytic activity on lignin oxidative degradation
Authors: Ye Zhihui , Deng Zaixing , Zhang Lin , Chen Jienan , Wang Guiwu , Wu Zhiping
Published: February 2020

Effects of copper ferrites with different prepared methods on the catalytic degradation of lignin with hydrogen peroxide as oxidant is studied. The microstructure, spectral properties and magnetic properties of copper ferrites prepared with five methods were characterized. The results showed that the microcosmic appearance of the catalysts prepared by the five methods was nanoparticles or irregular blocks. All the samples have strong magnetic properties. However the magnetic saturation intensity, residual magnetic intensity and coercivity of copper ferrite prepared by different methods are distinct. The degradation rate and the content of benzene-ring substances were the highest when lignin decomposed under the catalyst of copper ferrite prepared by ethylene glycol assisted sol-gel process, while the content of open-ring substances was the highest when lignin decomposed under the catalyst of copper ferrite made by co-precipitation. Compared with Fenton catalyst, The copper ferrite catalyst easily be separated and good repetitive catalytic performance when used in the lignin degradation. In addition, the crystal structure of copper ferrite play an important role on the catalytic degradation properties of lignin.
Megahertz operation of vertical organic transistors for ultra-high resolution active-matrix display
Authors: Kleemann Hans , Schwartz Gregor , Zott Stefan , Baumann Monique , Furno Mauro
Published: February 2020

Organic field-effect transistors (OFETs) are the technology of choice for flexible electronic devices such as active-matrix (AM) displays. However, despite the continuous improvement of charge carrier mobility in organic semiconductors, the performance of conventional OFETs is too poor for demanding electronic applications. Furthermore, hero-devices reported in literature often make use of processes (shadow mask fabrication, large channel width devices) which cannot be adapted in production lines, e.g. for AM displays. Here we present an OFET with a novel vertical device structure. It has static and dynamic transistor performance superior over conventional lateral organic transistors with regard to application in AM displays. We show that these vertical transistors can be integrated using processes well-established in the micro-electronic industry and thus offer seamless transfer into production lines. We discuss that these transistors obey scaling laws for footprint and capacitance which make them superior over other planar transistor devices. In combination with excellent device stability and uniformity, vertical OFET might enable ultra-high resolution flexible displays of the future.
Adoption of Exposure Assessment Tools to Assist in Providing Respiratory Protection Recommendations
Authors: Lee Eun Gyung , Ceballos Diana M
Published: February 2020

Selecting a proper respirator requires determining the ratio of an employee’s maximum use concentration (MUC) divided by the occupational exposure limit of a chemical. Current industrial hygiene practice often is to obtain a percentile estimate (e.g. 95th) of the measured exposure distribution to apply as the MUC. However, practitioners who are not yet familiar with statistical or mathematical approaches may choose the highest exposure data point as the MUC, a method that is still considered appropriate by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Nonetheless, choosing a respirator using the highest exposure data point when only limited data are available may result in not always providing the most adequate respirator. Because some practitioners are not familiar with exposure assessment tools, our primary goal in this study was to demonstrate the best process when selecting respiratory protection by using a combination of exposure data and assessment tools. Three user-friendly tools, IHDataAnalyst, Advanced REACH Tool, and IHSTAT, were selected to demonstrate how to use different types of tool outputs when choosing a respirator. A decision logic was developed to help users navigate the combining of different data inputs. Personal full-shift exposure data collected in four different workplaces were used to describe four different outcomes generated when the maximum exposure data point and the tool’s output are compared with the exposure limit of the chemical. Outcomes varied, from determinations of ‘high confidence’ (or final decision) to ‘low confidence’ (or indicating more data are needed) in the selection of a respirator recommendation. In conclusion, systematically adopting the combination of exposure data and assessment tools could increase practitioners’ confidence in decision-making when choosing respirators from a limited exposure data set. These suggested guidelines will lead practitioners toward good industrial hygiene practices.
Vaxign-ML: supervised machine learning reverse vaccinology model for improved prediction of bacterial protective antigens
Authors: Ong Edison , Wang Haihe , Wong Mei U , Seetharaman Meenakshi , Valdez Ninotchka , He Yongqun
Published: February 2020

Motivation

Reverse vaccinology (RV) is a milestone in rational vaccine design, and machine learning (ML) has been applied to enhance the accuracy of RV prediction. However, ML-based RV still faces challenges in prediction accuracy and program accessibility.

Results

This study presents Vaxign-ML, a supervised ML classification to predict bacterial protective antigens (BPAgs). To identify the best ML method with optimized conditions, five ML methods were tested with biological and physiochemical features extracted from well-defined training data. Nested 5-fold cross-validation and leave-one-pathogen-out validation were used to ensure unbiased performance assessment and the capability to predict vaccine candidates against a new emerging pathogen. The best performing model (eXtreme Gradient Boosting) was compared to three publicly available programs (Vaxign, VaxiJen, and Antigenic), one SVM-based method, and one epitope-based method using a high-quality benchmark dataset. Vaxign-ML showed superior performance in predicting BPAgs. Vaxign-ML is hosted in a publicly accessible web server and a standalone version is also available.

Availability and implementation

Vaxign-ML website at http://www.violinet.org/vaxign/vaxign-ml, Docker standalone Vaxign-ML available at https://hub.docker.com/r/e4ong1031/vaxign-ml and source code is available at https://github.com/VIOLINet/Vaxign-ML-docker.

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Tally-2.0: upgraded validator of tandem repeat detection in protein sequences
Authors: Perovic Vladimir , Leclercq Jeremy Y , Sumonja Neven , Richard Francois D , Veljkovic Nevena , Kajava Andrey V
Published: February 2020

Motivation

Proteins containing tandem repeats (TRs) are abundant, frequently fold in elongated non-globular structures and perform vital functions. A number of computational tools have been developed to detect TRs in protein sequences. A blurred boundary between imperfect TR motifs and non-repetitive sequences gave rise to necessity to validate the detected TRs.

Results

Tally-2.0 is a scoring tool based on a machine learning (ML) approach, which allows to validate the results of TR detection. It was upgraded by using improved training datasets and additional ML features. Tally-2.0 performs at a level of 93% sensitivity, 83% specificity and an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 95%.

Availability and implementation

Tally-2.0 is available, as a web tool and as a standalone application published under Apache License 2.0, on the URL https://bioinfo.crbm.cnrs.fr/index.php? route=tools&tool=27. It is supported on Linux. Source code is available upon request.

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Dissociable Neural Information Dynamics of Perceptual Integration and Differentiation during Bistable Perception
Authors: Canales-Johnson Andrés , Billig Alexander J , Olivares Francisco , Gonzalez Andrés , Garcia María del Carmen , Silva Walter , Vaucheret Esteban , Ciraolo Carlos , Mikulan Ezequiel , Ibanez Agustín , Huepe David , Noreika Valdas , Chennu Srivas , Bekinschtein Tristan A
Published: February 2020

At any given moment, we experience a perceptual scene as a single whole and yet we may distinguish a variety of objects within it. This phenomenon instantiates two properties of conscious perception: integration and differentiation. Integration is the property of experiencing a collection of objects as a unitary percept and differentiation is the property of experiencing these objects as distinct from each other. Here, we evaluated the neural information dynamics underlying integration and differentiation of perceptual contents during bistable perception. Participants listened to a sequence of tones (auditory bistable stimuli) experienced either as a single stream (perceptual integration) or as two parallel streams (perceptual differentiation) of sounds. We computed neurophysiological indices of information integration and information differentiation with electroencephalographic and intracranial recordings. When perceptual alternations were endogenously driven, the integrated percept was associated with an increase in neural information integration and a decrease in neural differentiation across frontoparietal regions, whereas the opposite pattern was observed for the differentiated percept. However, when perception was exogenously driven by a change in the sound stream (no bistability), neural oscillatory power distinguished between percepts but information measures did not. We demonstrate that perceptual integration and differentiation can be mapped to theoretically motivated neural information signatures, suggesting a direct relationship between phenomenology and neurophysiology.
Determination of Diacetyl in Beer: Collaborative Studies
Authors: West Dwight B
Published: February 2020

The American Society of Brewing Chemists has released 3 analytical methods for the determination of diacetyl (2,3-butanedione) in malt beverages. These 3 methods give essentially equal results and were tested by ASBC technical committees over a 3-year period. Method A is a detailed reference method; Method B is a micro method for simultaneously analyzing several samples; and Method C is an ultraviolet procedure. The colorimetric reference Method A was adopted as official first action.
Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopic Analysis of Gossypol and Its Analogs in Cotton Flower Buds (Gossypium)
Authors: Waiss Anthony C , Chan Bock G , Benson Mabry , Lukefahr Maurice J
Published: February 2020

A specific nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) method has been developed for determining gossypol and its analogs in the cotton flower bud. Gossypol and its related analogs, some of whose chemical structures have not yet been determined, can be identified by the distinctive NMR absorption of the aldehydic protons between 10.0 and 11.3 ppm. These compounds are quantitatively estimated by comparing the areas of the aldehydic proton absorptions with the aromatic proton peak (6.82 ppm) from p-dimethoxybenzene internal standard.
High Pressure Liquid Chromatographic Determination of Methomyl and Oxamyl on Vegetable Crops
Authors: Thean James E , Fong W George , Lorenz David R , Stephens Thomas L
Published: February 2020

A reverse phase high pressure liquid chromatographic method is presented for the separation and determination of residues of the carbamates oxamyl and methomyl on vegetables. A liquid-liquid extraction and cleanup procedure is applied to the vegetable extract. Samples are eluted from μBondapak C18 column and quantitated by ultraviolet absorbance at 240 nm. Recovery data for vegetable samples spiked at 2 ppm are presented.
Gas-Liquid Chromatographic Determination of Sorbitol in Cooked Sausage Products
Authors: Moseley Fred A , Salinsky Joel S , Woods Robert W
Published: February 2020

A rapid and simple method of analysis has been developed for sorbitol in cooked sausage products. Sorbitol is extracted from cooked sausage products with water, an aliquot of the extract is freeze-dried, and the trimethylsilyl (TMS) derivative of sorbitol is formed. An aliquot of the TMS-sorbitol is injected into a gas chromatograph and measured by a flame ionization detector. Analysis of fortified samples shows that the recovery compares well with known amounts of sorbitol added.
Control of Mercury from Kjeldahl Wastes
Authors: Earl Hautala , Mcdonald Gary M
Published: February 2020

A simple 5-step process is described which reduces the total mercury concentration of Kjeldahl waste solutions to less than 0.05 ppm. The method specifies Na2S to precipitate ionic mercury, followed by a CaCO3-aided filtration.