bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Preoperative Planning and Simulation in Patients With Cleft Palate Using Intraoral Three-Dimensional Scanning and Printing
Authors: Choi Yean Su , Shin Ho Seong
Published: September 2019

Background:

In cleft palate, surgery is necessary for recovering important functions of the normal palate, such as speech and feeding. Herein, a three-dimensional (3D) scanning program with an intraoral scanner was used to evaluate the palate status of patients with cleft palate before palatoplasty. Further, a 3D cleft palate printed model of the patients’ palate using 3D printing technology was produced.

Methods:

Three patients with cleft palate were included (1 male and 2 female patients with a mean age of 13 months). Extended scanning from the maxillary arch to the soft palate was conducted, without any direct contact of the scanner with the tissues of the palatal area. The maxillary arch dimensions and cleft size of the scanned data were measured using a 3D analysis software. After all 3D analyses, the scanned data were printed to a 3D cleft model, which was used as a training and simulation model.

Results:

The overall contour and size of the cleft were observed on the scanned 3D images. There was a large inter-individual range in the cleft dimensions among the subjects. Double-opposing Z-plasty was then simulated on the printed 3D cleft palate model completely.

Conclusions:

The present study concentrated on the possibility of an intraoral scanner as a novel diagnostic tool for recording data of patients with cleft palate; 3D cleft palate models created using 3D printers can be used as training models for surgical trainees.
Self-Made Rapid Prototyping Technique for Orbital Floor Reconstruction: Showcases for Technical Description
Authors: Abbate Vincenzo , Iaconetta Giorgio , Califano Luigi , Pansini Antonio , Bonavolontà Paola , Romano Antonio , Salzano Giovanni , Somma Teresa , D’Andrea Luca , Dell’Aversana Orabona Giovanni
Published: September 2019

Background:

Restoring the orbital cavity integrity in orbital floor defects is a challenging issue due to the anatomical complexity of the floor's surface. This is a showcase for technical description of a novel “in house” rapid prototyping protocol aimed to customize implant for orbital floor reconstruction.

Methods:

The authors present 4 cases to show our Computer-aided-design and Computer-aided-manufacturing digital workflow. The system was based on a 3D-printed press that; through a virtually designed mold, was used to conform a patient specific titanium mesh for orbital floor reconstruction.

Results:

The merging procedure analysis by iPlan Cranial 3.0 (Brainlab, Munich, Germany) highlighted a 0.71 ± 0.23 mm (P <0.05) discrepancy in a point-to-point superimposition between the digital planned reconstruction and the real in vivo result.

Conclusions:

The authors expect that this technique will reduce operative time and cost however further study and larger series may better define the applicability in everyday surgical practice.
Competent Patient Refusal of Nursing Care
Authors: Keen Alyson , Thoele Kelli , Fite Lisa , Lancaster Shelley
Published: September 2019

Pressure injury development results in significant morbidity and costs. Despite well-defined guidelines, nurses are frequently faced with subtle and overt patient resistance when implementing prevention strategies. Case law and hospital policies guide decision making when confronted with refusal of medical care; however, there are limited recommendations that guide competent patient refusal of nursing care. This article presents findings of an integrative literature review and idea-generating forum about competent patient refusal of nursing care. Emerging topics from the literature review were mirrored in responses generated during the innovation forum; responses from the forum confirmed the clinical relevance of the issue and the lack of resources to guide care in this area for approach.
Incidence and Risk Factors of Pressure Injuries in Surgical Spinal Patients
Authors: Luo Min , Long Xin-Hua , Wu Jia-li , Huang Su-Zhen , Zeng Yu
Published: September 2019

PURPOSE:

The purpose of this study was to measure the incidence and identify risk factors of pressure injury development during the perioperative period in patients undergoing spinal surgery requiring intraoperative positioning in the prone position.

DESIGN:

Review of medical records.

SUBJECTS AND SETTING:

The sample comprised 3834 patients; 52.2% (n = 2006) were male and 65.5% (n = 2516) were older than 60 years. Most patients underwent surgery of the lumbosacral spinal segments (43.4%, n = 1667) followed by cervical (32.3%, n = 1241) and thoracic spinal segments (24.2%, n = 932). The study setting was the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Jiang XI Province in southeastern China.

METHODS:

We reviewed charts of patients who underwent spinal surgery requiring intraoperative positioning in the prone position from November 2013 to July 2016. Demographic data, Braden Scale for Pressure Sore Risk cumulative score (measured before preoperative transport), body mass index (BMI), duration of surgery, preoperative time (time between preoperative transport from the inpatient unit to when the operation began), postoperative time (time between when the operation was over and postoperative transport to the inpatient unit), and development of any pressure injury were collected using a standardized form. Factors associated with an increased or decreased likelihood of pressure injury were initially evaluated with χ2 and independent t tests. Logistic regression was then used to identify potential risk factors for perioperative pressure injury in patients undergoing open spinal surgery requiring placement in the supine position during surgery.

RESULTS:

One hundred eighty-four of 3840 patients (4.7%) developed pressure injuries. Multivariate analysis indicated that factors associated with intraoperative pressure injury development were older than 60 years (odds ratio [OR] = 1.05, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.02-2.17), BMI under 18 kg/m2 (OR = 2.45, 95% CI = 4.05-5.21), cumulative Braden Scale score 13 or less (OR = 6.59, CI = 2.23-3.98), prolonged preoperative time (OR = 5.99, 95% CI = 3.21-6.12), and prolonged postoperative time (OR = 14.23, 95% CI = 10.23-21.19).

CONCLUSIONS:

Based on these findings we recommend extending preventive interventions for pressure injury to incorporate the time from preoperative transport to the surgical suite to inpatient care unit following surgery.
Exploring Incontinence-Associated Dermatitis in a Single Center Intensive Care Unit
Authors: Campbell Jill , Cook Jane-Louise , Doubrovsky Anna , Vann Amanda , McNamara Greg , Coyer Fiona
Published: September 2019

PURPOSE:

The purpose of this study was to provide longitudinal prevalence rates of incontinence-associated dermatitis (IAD) in patients in an intensive care unit (ICU) and to identify patient characteristics associated with IAD development.

DESIGN:

Prospective observational.

SUBJECTS AND SETTING:

The sample comprised 351 patients aged 18 years and older in a major metropolitan public hospital ICU in Queensland, Australia.

METHODS:

All consenting, eligible participants at risk of developing IAD underwent weekly skin inspections to determine the presence of IAD. Data were collected weekly for 52 consecutive weeks. Descriptive statistics described the study sample and logistic regression analysis was used to identify patient characteristics associated with development of IAD.

RESULTS:

The weekly IAD prevalence ranged between 0% and 70%, with IAD developing in 17% (n = 59/351) of ICU patients. The odds of IAD developing increased statistically significantly with increasing age (odds ratio [OR]: 1.029, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.005-1.054, P = .016), time in the ICU (OR = 1.104; 95% CI: 1.063-1.147, P < .001), and Bristol Stool chart score (OR = 4.363, 95% CI: 2.091-9.106, P < .001). Patients with respiratory (OR = 3.657, 95% CI: 1.399-9.563, P = .008) and sepsis (OR = 3.230, 95% CI: 1.281-8.146, P = .013) diagnoses had increased odds of developing IAD.

CONCLUSIONS:

These data show the high variability of IAD prevalence over a 1-year period. Characteristics associated with the development of IAD in patients in the ICU included older age, longer lengths of ICU stay, incontinent of liquid feces, and having respiratory or sepsis diagnoses.
Nursing Practice Related to Intermittent Catheterization
Authors: Gray Mikel , Wasner Mary , Nichols Thom
Published: September 2019

PURPOSE:

The purpose of this study was to describe nursing practice and clinical decision-making related to intermittent catheterization (IC).

DESIGN:

Cross-sectional survey.

SUBJECTS AND SETTING:

Three hundred forty-three nurses responded to the survey, yielding a margin of error of 5.3%. The majority (70%; n = 240) indicated they were RNs, and 15.6% stated they practiced as advanced practice nurses (nurse practitioners or clinical nurse specialists). Most (75.9%; n = 260) held at least one certification in rehabilitation, WOC, or urologic nursing. Most nurses (70.5%; n = 242) indicated 11 or more years of experience in their specialty practice.

METHODS:

Data were collected via an electronic questionnaire that comprised 50 items and required 35 to 40 minutes to complete. Ten items queried demographic data and professional background, 13 queried facility policies and practice patterns related to use of IC, and 27 focused on various aspects of decision making regarding IC practice including 8 items related to catheter selection in 4 case scenarios. The questionnaire was completed online after viewing a written explanation of the purpose of the survey. Completion of the questionnaire acted as consent to study participation.

RESULTS:

All respondents indicated regularly teaching IC within their practice, and 61.2% (n = 210) stated they were confident that 70% or more of patients or caregivers understood the instructions. However, responses varied considerably when asked who they involved in IC education; less than half (48.1%; n = 165) responded that they included a lay caregiver or family member when teaching a patient to perform IC. Responses also varied when asked about who was included in this education; when asked about catheter selection in 4 clinical scenarios, 9.0% to 20.9% selected inappropriate catheters. Similarly, responses varied when they were asked about use of resources to guide IC practice; 25.4% (n = 87) indicated they relied on their own best practice.

CONCLUSIONS:

Findings from 343 nurses experienced in IC teaching showed considerable variability when asked about sources used to guide IC practice, who should be included in IC education, and catheter selection in 4 case scenarios. Additional research and evidence, and consensus-based resources such as clinical guidelines of a decision-making algorithm, are needed.
A global metabarcoding analysis expands molecular diversity of Platyhelminthes and reveals novel early-branching clades
Authors: Mitsi Konstantina , Arroyo Alicia S. , Ruiz-Trillo Iñaki
Published: September 2019

Understanding biological diversity is crucial for ecological and evolutionary studies. Even though a great part of animal diversity has already been documented, both morphological surveys and metabarcoding analyses have previously shown that some animal groups, such as Platyhelminthes, may harbour hidden diversity. To better understand the molecular diversity of Platyhelminthes, one of the most diverse and biomedically important animal phyla, we here combined data from six marine and two freshwater metabarcoding expeditions that cover a broad variety of aquatic habitats and analysed the data by phylogenetic placement. Our results show that a great part of the hidden diversity is located in early-branching clades such as Catenulida and Macrostomorpha, as well as in late-diverging clades such as Proseriata and Rhabdocoela. We also report the first freshwater record of Gnosonesimida, a group previously thought to be exclusively marine. Finally, we identified two putative novel freshwater Platyhelminthes clades that branch between well-defined orders of the phylum. Thus, our analyses of several environmental datasets confirm that a large part of the diversity of Platyhelminthes remains undiscovered, point to groups with more potential novel species and identify freshwater environments as potential reservoirs for novel species of flatworms.
Retention of fish-like odontode overgrowth in Permian tetrapod dentition supports outside-in theory of tooth origins
Authors: Haridy Yara , Gee Bryan M. , Witzmann Florian , Bevitt Joseph J. , Reisz Robert R.
Published: September 2019

Teeth are often thought of as structures that line the margins of the mouth; however, tooth-like structures called odontodes are commonly found on the dermal bones of many Palaeozoic vertebrates including early jawless fishes. ‘Odontode’ is a generalized term for all tooth-like dentine structures that have homologous tissues and development. This definition includes true teeth and the odontodes of early ‘fishes’, which have been recently examined to gain new insights into the still unresolved origin of teeth. Two leading hypotheses are frequently referenced in this debate: the ‘outside-in’ hypothesis, which posits that dermal odontodes evolutionarily migrate into the oral cavity, and the ‘inside-out’ hypothesis, which posits that teeth originated in the oropharyngeal cavity and then moved outwards into the oral cavity. Here, we show that, unlike the well-known one-to-one replacement patterns of marginal dentition, the palatal dentition of the early Permian tetrapods, including the dissorophoid amphibian
Cacops
and the early reptile
Captorhinus
, is overgrown by a new layer of bone to which the newest teeth are then attached. This same overgrowth pattern has been well documented in dermal and oral odontodes (i.e. teeth) of early fishes
.
We propose that this pattern represents the primitive condition for vertebrates and may even predate the origin of jaws. Therefore, this pattern crosses the fish–tetrapod transition, and the retention of this ancestral pattern in the palatal dentition of early terrestrial tetrapods provides strong support for the ‘outside-in’ hypothesis of tooth origins.
Warm bodies, cool wings: regional heterothermy in flying bats
Authors: Rummel Andrea D. , Swartz Sharon M. , Marsh Richard L.
Published: September 2019

Many endothermic animals experience variable limb temperatures, even as they tightly regulate core temperature. The limbs are often cooler than the core at rest, but because the large locomotor muscles of the limbs produce heat during exercise, they are thought to operate at or above core temperature during activity. Bats, small-bodied flying mammals with greatly elongated forelimbs, possess wings with large surfaces lacking any insulating fur. We hypothesized that during flight the relatively small muscles that move the elbow and wrist operate below core body temperature because of elevated heat loss. We measured muscle temperature continuously in the small fruit batCarollia perspicillatabefore and during wind tunnel flights, and discretely in diverse bats at rest in Belize. We found that bats maintained high rectal temperatures, but that there was a steep proximal-to-distal gradient in wing muscle temperature. Forearm muscles were 4–6°C cooler than rectal temperature at rest and approximately 12°C cooler during flights at an air temperature of 22°C. These findings invite further study into how bats and other endotherms maintain locomotor performance in variable environments, when some muscles may be operating at low temperatures that are expected to slow contractile properties.
Multi-objective control in human walking: insight gained through simultaneous degradation of energetic and motor regulation systems
Authors: McDonald Kirsty A. , Cusumano Joseph P. , Peeling Peter , Rubenson Jonas
Published: September 2019

Minimization of metabolic energy is considered a fundamental principle of human locomotion, as demonstrated by an alignment between the preferred walking speed (PWS) and the speed incurring the lowest metabolic cost of transport. We aimed to (i) simultaneously disrupt metabolic cost and an alternate acute task requirement, namely speed error regulation, and (ii) assess whether the PWS could be explained on the basis of either optimality criterion in this new performance and energetic landscape. Healthy adults (
N
= 21) walked on an instrumented treadmill under normal conditions and, while negotiating a continuous gait perturbation, imposed leg-length asymmetry. Oxygen consumption, motion capture data and ground reaction forces were continuously recorded for each condition at speeds ranging from 0.6 to 1.8 m s
−1
, including the PWS. Both metabolic and speed regulation measures were disrupted by the perturbation (
p
< 0.05). Perturbed PWS selection did not exhibit energetic prioritization (although we find some indication of energy minimization after motor adaptation). Similarly, PWS selection did not support prioritization of speed error regulation, which was found to be independent of speed in both conditions. It appears that, during acute exposure to a mechanical gait perturbation of imposed leg-length asymmetry, humans minimize neither energetic cost nor speed regulation errors. Despite the abundance of evidence pointing to energy minimization during normal, steady-state gait, this may not extend acutely to perturbed gait. Understanding how the nervous system acutely controls gait perturbations requires further research that embraces multi-objective control paradigms.
Behavioural and life-history responses of mosquitofish to biologically inspired and interactive robotic predators
Authors: Polverino Giovanni , Karakaya Mert , Spinello Chiara , Soman Vrishin R. , Porfiri Maurizio
Published: September 2019

Invasive alien species threaten biodiversity worldwide and contribute to biotic homogenization, especially in freshwaters, where the ability of native animals to disperse is limited. Robotics may offer a promising tool to address this compelling problem, but whether and how invasive species can be negatively affected by robotic stimuli is an open question. Here, we explore the possibility of modulating behavioural and life-history responses of mosquitofish by varying the degree of biomimicry of a robotic predator, whose appearance and locomotion are inspired by natural mosquitofish predators. Our results support the prediction that real-time interactions at varying swimming speeds evoke a more robust antipredator response in mosquitofish than simpler movement patterns by the robot, especially in individuals with better body conditions that are less prone to take risks. Through an information-theoretic analysis of animal–robot interactions, we offer evidence in favour of a causal link between the motion of the robotic predator and a fish antipredator response. Remarkably, we observe that even a brief exposure to the robotic predator of 15 min per week is sufficient to erode energy reserves and compromise the body condition of mosquitofish, opening the door for future endeavours to control mosquitofish in the wild.
Diffusion-driven enhancement of the antibiotic resistance selection window
Authors: Fuentes-Hernández Ayari , Hernández-Koutoucheva Anastasia , Muñoz Alán F. , Domínguez Palestino Raúl , Peña-Miller Rafael
Published: September 2019

The current crisis of antimicrobial resistance in clinically relevant pathogens has highlighted our limited understanding of the ecological and evolutionary forces that drive drug resistance adaptation. For instance, although human tissues are highly heterogeneous, most of our mechanistic understanding about antibiotic resistance evolution is based on constant and well-mixed environmental conditions. A consequence of considering spatial heterogeneity is that, even if antibiotics are prescribed at high dosages, the penetration of drug molecules through tissues inevitably produces antibiotic gradients, exposing bacterial populations to a range of selective pressures and generating a dynamic fitness landscape that changes in space and time. In this paper, we will use a combination of mathematical modelling and computer simulations to study the population dynamics of susceptible and resistant strains competing for resources in a network of micro-environments with varying degrees of connectivity. Our main result is that highly connected environments increase diffusion of drug molecules, enabling resistant phenotypes to colonize a larger number of spatial locations. We validated this theoretical result by culturing fluorescently labelled
Escherichia coli
in 3D-printed devices that allow us to control the rate of diffusion of antibiotics between neighbouring compartments and quantify the spatio-temporal distribution of resistant and susceptible bacterial cells.
Temporal development of the infant gut microbiome
Authors: Moore Rebecca E. , Townsend Steven D.
Published: September 2019

The majority of organisms that inhabit the human body reside in the gut. Since babies are born with an immature immune system, they depend on a highly synchronized microbial colonization process to ensure the correct microbes are present for optimal immune function and development. In a balanced microbiome, symbiotic and commensal species outcompete pathogens for resources. They also provide a protective barrier against chemical signals and toxic metabolites. In this targeted review we will describe factors that influence the temporal development of the infant microbiome, including the mode of delivery and gestational age at birth, maternal and infant perinatal antibiotic infusions, and feeding method—breastfeeding versus formula feeding. We will close by discussing wider environmental pressures and early intimate contact, particularly between mother and child, as they play a pivotal role in early microbial acquisition and community succession in the infant.
A consensus set of genetic vulnerabilities to ATR inhibition
Authors: Hustedt Nicole , Álvarez-Quilón Alejandro , McEwan Andrea , Yuan Jing Yi , Cho Tiffany , Koob Lisa , Hart Traver , Durocher Daniel
Published: September 2019

The response to DNA replication stress in eukaryotes is under the control of the ataxia–telangiectasia and Rad3-related (ATR) kinase. ATR responds to single-stranded (ss) DNA to stabilize distressed DNA replication forks, modulate DNA replication firing and prevent cells with damaged DNA or incomplete DNA replication from entering into mitosis. Furthermore, inhibitors of ATR are currently in clinical development either as monotherapies or in combination with agents that perturb DNA replication. To gain a genetic view of the cellular pathways requiring ATR kinase function, we mapped genes whose mutation causes hypersensitivity to ATR inhibitors with genome-scale CRISPR/Cas9 screens. We delineate a consensus set of 117 genes enriched in DNA replication, DNA repair and cell cycle regulators that promote survival when ATR kinase activity is suppressed. We validate 14 genes from this set and report genes not previously described to modulate response to ATR inhibitors. In particular we found that the loss of the POLE3/POLE4 proteins, which are DNA polymerase ε accessory subunits, results in marked hypersensitivity to ATR inhibition. We anticipate that this 117-gene set will be useful for the identification of genes involved in the regulation of genome integrity and the characterization of new biological processes involving ATR, and may reveal biomarkers of ATR inhibitor response in the clinic.
Interest in non-social novel stimuli as a function of age in rhesus monkeys
Authors: Bliss-Moreau Eliza , Baxter Mark G.
Published: September 2019

Human cognitive and affective life changes with healthy ageing; cognitive capacity declines while emotional life becomes more positive and social relationships are prioritized. This may reflect an awareness of limited lifetime unique to humans, leading to a greater interest in maintaining social relationships at the expense of the non-social world in the face of limited cognitive and physical resources. Alternately, fundamental biological processes common to other primate species may direct preferential interest in social stimuli with increasing age. Inspired by a recent study that described a sustained interest in social stimuli but diminished interest in non-social stimuli in aged Barbary macaques, we carried out a conceptual replication to test whether old rhesus monkeys lost interest in non-social stimuli. Male and female macaques (
Macaca mulatta
;
N
= 243) 4–30 years old were tested with a food puzzle outfitted with an activity monitor to evaluate their propensity to manipulate the puzzle in order to free a food reward. We found no indication that aged monkeys were less interested in the puzzle than young monkeys, nor were they less able to solve it.
Synthesis of activated carbon from biowaste of fir bark for methylene blue removal
Authors: Luo Lu , Wu Xi , Li Zeliang , Zhou Yalan , Chen Tingting , Fan Mizi , Zhao Weigang
Published: September 2019

Activated carbon (AC) was successfully prepared from low-cost forestry fir bark (FB) waste using KOH activation method. Morphology and texture properties of ACFB were studied by scanning and high-resolution transmission electron microscopies (SEM and HRTEM), respectively. The resulting fir bark-based activated carbon (ACFB) demonstrated high surface area (1552 m
2
g
−1
) and pore volume (0.84 cm
3
g
−1
), both of which reflect excellent potential adsorption properties of ACFB towards methylene blue (MB). The effect of various factors, such as pH, initial concentration, adsorbent content as well as adsorption duration, was studied individually. Adsorption isotherms of MB were fitted using all three nonlinear models (Freundlich, Langmuir and Tempkin). The best fitting of MB adsorption results was obtained using Freundlich and Temkin. Experimental results showed that kinetics of MB adsorption by our ACFB adsorbent followed pseudo-second-order model. The maximum adsorption capacity obtained was 330 mg g
−1
, which indicated that FB is an excellent raw material for low-cost production of AC suitable for cationic dye removal.
Genetic diversity and structure of baobab (Adansonia digitataL.) in southeastern Kenya
Authors: Chládová Anna , Kalousová Marie , Mandák Bohumil , Kehlenbeck Katja , Prinz Kathleen , Šmíd Jan , Van Damme Patrick , Lojka Bohdan
Published: September 2019

Baobab (Adansonia digitataL.) is an iconic tree of African savannahs. Its multipurpose character and nutritional composition of fruits and leaves offer high economic and social potential for local communities. There is an urgent need to characterize the genetic diversity of the Kenyan baobab populations in order to facilitate further conservation and domestication programmes. This study aims at documenting the genetic diversity and structure of baobab populations in southeastern Kenya. Leaf or bark samples were collected from 189 baobab trees in seven populations distributed in two geographical groups, i.e. four inland and three coastal populations. Nine microsatellite loci were used to assess genetic diversity. Overall, genetic diversity of the species was high and similarly distributed over the populations. Bayesian clustering and principal coordinate analysis congruently divided the populations into two distinct clusters, suggesting significant differences between inland and coastal populations. The genetic differentiation between coastal and inland populations suggests a limited possibility of gene flow between these populations. Further conservation and domestications studies should take into consideration thegeographical origin of trees and more attention should be paid to morphological characterization of fruits and leaves of the coastal and inland populations to understand the causes and the impact of the differentiation.
Multiscale three-dimensional surface reconstruction and surface roughness of porcine left anterior descending coronary arteries
Authors: Burton Hanna E. , Cullinan Rachael , Jiang Kyle , Espino Daniel M.
Published: September 2019

The aim of this study was to investigate the multiscale surface roughness characteristics of coronary arteries, to aid in the development of novel biomaterials and bioinspired medical devices. Porcine left anterior descending coronary arteries were dissected
ex vivo
, and specimens were chemically fixed and dehydrated for testing. Surface roughness was calculated from three-dimensional reconstructed surface images obtained by optical, scanning electron and atomic force microscopy, ranging in magnification from 10× to 5500×. Circumferential surface roughness decreased with magnification, and microscopy type was found to influence surface roughness values. Longitudinal surface roughness was not affected by magnification or microscopy types within the parameters of this study. This study found that coronary arteries exhibit multiscale characteristics. It also highlights the importance of ensuring consistent microscopy parameters to provide comparable surface roughness values.
Investigation of the structural competing and atomic ordering in Heusler compounds Fe2NiSi and Ni2FeSi under strain condition
Authors: Yang Tie , Hao Liyu , Khenata Rabah , Wang Xiaotian
Published: September 2019

The structural competing and atomic ordering of the full Heusler compounds Fe2NiSi and Ni2FeSi under uniform and tetragonal strains have been systematically studied by the first-principles calculation. Both Fe2NiSi and Ni2FeSi have the XA structure in cubic phase and they show metallic band structures and large magnetic moments (greater than 3μB) at equilibrium condition. Tetragonal distortion can further decrease the total energy, leading to the possible phase transformation. Furthermore, different atom reordering behaviours have been observed: for Fe2NiSi, atoms reorder from cubic XA-type to tetragonal L10-type; for Ni2FeSi, there is only structural transformation without atom reordering. The total magnetic moments of Fe2NiSi and Ni2FeSi are mainly contributed by Fe atoms, and Si atom can strongly suppress the moments of Fe atoms when it is present in the nearest neighbours of Fe atoms. With the applied strain, the distance between Fe and Si atoms play an important role for the magnetic moment variation of Fe atom. Moreover, the metallic band nature is maintained for Fe2NiSi and Ni2FeSi under both uniform and tetragonal strains. This study provides a detailed theoretical analysis about the full Heusler compounds Fe2NiSi and Ni2FeSi under strain conditions.
The Stability Principle and global weak solutions of the free surface semi-geostrophic equations in geostrophic coordinates
Authors: Cullen M. J. P. , Kuna T. , Pelloni B. , Wilkinson M.
Published: September 2019

The semi-geostrophic equations are used widely in the modelling of large-scale atmospheric flows. In this note, we prove the global existence of weak solutions of the incompressible semi-geostrophic equations, in geostrophic coordinates, in a three-dimensional domain with a free upper boundary. The proof, based on an energy minimization argument originally inspired by the Stability Principle as studied by Cullen, Purser and others, uses optimal transport techniques as well as the analysis of Hamiltonian ODEs in spaces of probability measures as studied by Ambrosio and Gangbo. We also give a general formulation of the Stability Principle in a rigorous mathematical framework.
A Laurasian origin for a pantropical bird radiation is supported by genomic and fossil data (Aves: Coraciiformes)
Authors: McCullough Jenna M. , Moyle Robert G. , Smith Brian T. , Andersen Michael J.
Published: September 2019

The evolution of pantropically distributed clades has puzzled palaeo- and neontologists for decades regarding the different hypotheses about where they originated. In this study, we explored how a pantropical distribution arose in a diverse clade with a rich fossil history: the avian order Coraciiformes. This group has played a central role in the debate of the biogeographical history of Neoaves. However, the order lacked a coherent species tree to inform study of its evolutionary dynamics. Here, we present the first complete species tree of Coraciiformes, produced with 4858 ultraconserved elements, which supports two clades: (1) Old World-restricted bee-eaters, rollers and ground-rollers; and (2) New World todies and motmots, and cosmopolitan kingfishers. Our results indicated two pulses of diversification: (1) major lineages of Coraciiformes arose in Laurasia approximately 57 Ma, followed by independent dispersals into equatorial regions, possibly due to tracking tropical habitat into the lower latitudes—the Coracii (Coraciidae + Brachypteraciidae) into the Afrotropics, bee-eaters throughout the Old World tropics, and kingfishers into the Australasian tropics; and (2) diversification of genera in the tropics during the Miocene and Pliocene. Our study supports the important role of Laurasia as the geographical origin of a major pantropical lineage and provides a new framework for comparative analyses in this charismatic bird radiation.
Manipulation of natal host modifies adult reproductive behaviour in the butterflyHeliconius charithonia
Authors: Kemp Darrell J.
Published: September 2019

Advances in understanding non-genetic inheritance have prompted broader interest in environmental effects. One way in which such effects may influence adaptation is via the transmission of acquired habitat biases. Here I explore how natal experience influences adult host orientation in the oligophagous passion vine butterflyHeliconius charithonia. As an exemplar of the ‘pupal mating' system, this species poses novelty among diurnal Lepidoptera for the extent to which male as well as female reproductive behaviours are guided by olfactory host cues. I sampled wild adult females breeding exclusively uponPassiflora incarnata, assigned their offspring to develop either upon this species or its local alternativePassiflora suberosa, and then assessed the behaviour of F1adults in a large rainforest enclosure. Despite the fact that juvenile performance was superior uponP. incarnata, females oviposited preferentially upon their assigned natal species. Mate-seeking males also indicated a bias for the proximity of their natal host, and there was evidence for assortative mating based upon host treatment, although these data are less robust. This study is, to my knowledge, the first to support Hopkins' hostplant principle in butterflies, and points to inducible host preferences capable of reinforcing ecological segregation and ultimately accelerating evolutionary divergence in sympatry.
Unsupervised machine learning reveals mimicry complexes in bumblebees occur along a perceptual continuum
Authors: Ezray Briana D. , Wham Drew C. , Hill Carrie E. , Hines Heather M.
Published: September 2019

Müllerian mimicry theory states that frequency-dependent selection should favour geographical convergence of harmful species onto a shared colour pattern. As such, mimetic patterns are commonly circumscribed into discrete mimicry complexes, each containing a predominant phenotype. Outside a few examples in butterflies, the location of transition zones between mimicry complexes and the factors driving mimicry zones has rarely been examined. To infer the patterns and processes of Müllerian mimicry, we integrate large-scale data on the geographical distribution of colour patterns of social bumblebees across the contiguous United States and use these to quantify colour pattern mimicry using an innovative, unsupervised machine-learning approach based on computer vision. Our data suggest that bumblebees exhibit geographically clustered, but sometimes imperfect colour patterns, and that mimicry patterns gradually transition spatially rather than exhibit discrete boundaries. Additionally, examination of colour pattern transition zones of three comimicking, polymorphic species, where active selection is driving phenotype frequencies, revealed that their transition zones differ in location within a broad region of poor mimicry. Potential factors influencing mimicry transition zone dynamics are discussed.
Social buffering of stress in a group-living fish
Authors: Culbert Brett M. , Gilmour Kathleen M. , Balshine Sigal
Published: September 2019

Living in groups affords individuals many benefits, including the opportunity to reduce stress. In mammals, such ‘social buffering’ of stress is mediated by affiliative relationships and production of the neuropeptide oxytocin, but whether these mechanisms facilitate social buffering across vertebrates remains an open question. Therefore, we evaluated whether the social environment influenced the behavioural and physiological recovery from an acute stressor in a group-living cichlid,
Neolamprologus pulcher
. Individual fish that recovered with their social group displayed lower cortisol levels than individuals that recovered alone. This social buffering of the stress response was associated with a tendency towards lower transcript abundance of arginine vasotocin and isotocin in the preoptic area of the brain, suggesting reduced neural activation of the stress axis. Individuals that recovered with their social group quickly resumed normal behaviour but received fewer affiliative acts following the stressor. Further experiments revealed similar cortisol levels between individuals that recovered in visual contact with their own social group and those in visual contact with a novel but non-aggressive social group. Collectively, our results suggest that affiliation and familiarity
per se
do not mediate social buffering in this group-living cichlid, and the behavioural and physiological mechanisms responsible for social buffering may vary across vertebrates.
Quality changes during ripening of Gouda cheese coated with loess
Authors: Na Ji-Hoon , Lee Choul-Gyo , Park Sang-Jun , Jeong Je-Hee , Kim Cheol-Min , Han Hong-Bi , Kim Bok-Seon , Huh Chang-Ki
Published: September 2019

The aim of this study was to develop a loess-coated ripening system for Gouda cheese. The quality characteristics of the coated Gouda cheese one and two months after the ripening were compared. The moisture content of loess was the lowest in white clay (WL). The antifungal effect of WL was slightly higher than that of the other samples. It was confirmed that the heavy metal content in the loess was within the soil pollution concern standard and countermeasure standard. The content of NH3-N was the lowest at 143.51 mg% in WL followed by 204.88 mg% in red loess (RL). Gouda cheese is a hard cheese. In the present study, the moisture content after 60 days of ripening was within the range for WG (WL-coated Gouda cheese after ripening) only. During ripening, the pH and titratable acidity of the cheese increased in all samples. The mineral contents of the cheese increased in the order of Na, Ca, Mg, and K. The NH3-N content of the LG (laterite-coated Gouda cheese after ripening) was lowest after 60 days of ripening. The WG showed the greatest reduction in NH3-N content from 30 to 60 days of ripening. The heavy metal content in the Gouda cheeses coated with loess and ripening was within the food standard range.
Effects of fats and oils on the quality characteristics of rice scone
Authors: Choi Ok Ja , Jung Hee Nam
Published: September 2019

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of fats and oils on the quality characteristics of rice scones. Butter, fresh cream, olive oil, and coconut oil were used to prepare rice scones, and their color values, spread factors, and hardnesses were measured. Sensory evaluation was also performed. The highest L value was obtained for the rice scones made with butter and the a and b values ​​were significantly high in the rice scones prepared with olive oil. The rice scones using butter and fresh cream exhibited significantly higher spread factors than other cases. High hardness values were obtained for rice scones made with olive and coconut oils. The flavors of the rice scones prepared using butter and coconut oil were strong based on the results of attribute difference tests, and the stiffness was significantly high in rice scones using fresh cream. In the acceptance test, the overall acceptability values were higher in the rice scones prepared with butter, olive oil, and coconut oil compared to those made with fresh cream. The results suggested that olive and coconut oils could be good butter substitutes for rice scones.
Extraction solvent-dependent antioxidant activities and cancer cell growth inhibitory effects of Scutellaria baicalensis extracts
Authors: Lim Mi Jeong , Gu Yul Ri , Hong Joo-Heon
Published: September 2019

This study was conducted to examine the antioxidant activities and cancer cell growth inhibitory effects of Scutellaria baicalensis extracts based on extraction solvent. The yield by hot water extraction (42.56%) was higher than those by extraction with 80% ethanol (19.47%) and 80% methanol (19.57%). The total phenolic and total flavonoid contents in the methanol extract were 26.44 g/100 g and 4.23 g/100 g, respectively. The oxygen radical absorbance capacity of the methanol extract (100 μg/mL) was 274.23 μM, which was significantly higher than those of the other extracts. The DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activities of the methanol extract (1,000 μg/mL) were 88.71% and 85.05% respectively, while the ferric reducing antioxidant power and reducing power were 110.14 μM and 1.01 respectively. The protective effects against oxidative stress in L132 cells imparted by the methanol extract was better than those imparted by the other extracts. The production of nitric oxide in the methanol extract decreased in a dose-dependent manner. The antitumor activities of the methanol extract (500 μg/mL) in SNU719, A549 and HT29 was cell lines were 75.99%, 61.43% and 67.01% respectively. This study suggests that Scutellaria baicalensis extracts may be useful functional components.
Revisiting Feature Selection with Data Complexity
Authors: Dong Ngan Thi , Khosla Megha
Published: September 2019

The identification of biomarkers or predictive features that are indicative of a specific biological or disease state is a major research topic in biomedical applications. Several feature selection(FS) methods ranging from simple univariate methods to recent deep-learning methods have been proposed to select a minimal set of the most predictive features. However, there still lacks the answer to the question of “which method to use when”. In this paper, we study the performance of feature selection methods with respect to the underlying datasets’ statistics and their data complexity measures. We perform a comparative study of 11 feature selection methods over 27 publicly available datasets evaluated over a range of number of selected features using classification as the downstream task. We take the first step towards understanding the FS method’s performance from the viewpoint of data complexity. Specifically, we (empirically) show that as regard to classification, the performance of all studied feature selection methods is highly correlated with the error rate of a nearest neighbor based classifier. We also argue about the non-suitability of studied complexity measures to determine the optimal number of relevant features. While looking closely at several other aspects, we also provide recommendations for choosing a particular FS method for a given dataset.
Fully Automated Brain Tumor Segmentation and Survival Prediction of Gliomas using Deep Learning and MRI
Authors: Yogananda Chandan Ganesh Bangalore , Nalawade Sahil S. , Murugesan Gowtham K. , Wagner Ben , Pinho Marco C. , Fei Baowei , Madhuranthakam Ananth J. , Maldjian Joseph A.
Published: September 2019

Tumor segmentation of magnetic resonance (MR) images is a critical step in providing objective measures of predicting aggressiveness and response to therapy in gliomas. It has valuable applications in diagnosis, monitoring, and treatment planning of brain tumors. The purpose of this work was to develop a fully automated deep learning method for brain tumor segmentation and survival prediction. Well curated brain tumor cases with multi-parametric MR Images from the BraTS2019 dataset were used. A three-group framework was implemented, with each group consisting of three 3D-Dense-UNets to segment whole tumor (WT), tumor core (TC) and enhancing tumor (ET). This method was implemented to decompose the complex multi-class segmentation problem into individual binary segmentation problems for each sub-component. Each group was trained using different approaches and loss functions. The output segmentations of a particular label from their respective networks from the 3 groups were ensembled and post-processed. For survival analysis, a linear regression model based on imaging texture features and wavelet texture features extracted from each of the segmented components was implemented. The networks were tested on the BraTS2019 validation dataset including 125 cases for the brain tumor segmentation task and 29 cases for the survival prediction task. The segmentation networks achieved average dice scores of 0.901, 0.844 and 0.801 for WT, TC and ET respectively. The survival prediction network achieved an accuracy score of 0.55 and mean squared error (MSE) of 119244. This method could be implemented as a robust tool to assist clinicians in primary brain tumor management and follow-up.
Robust perisomatic GABAergic self-innervation inhibits basket cells in the human and mouse supragranular neocortex
Authors: Szegedi Viktor , Paizs Melinda , Baka Judith , Barzo Pal , Molnar Gabor , Tamas Gabor , Lamsa Karri
Published: September 2019

Inhibitory autapses are self-innervating synaptic connections in GABAergic interneurons in the brain. Autapses in neocortical layers have not been systematically investigated, and their function in different mammalian species and specific interneuron types is poorly known. We investigated GABAergic parvalbumin-expressing basket cells (pvBCs) in layer 2/3 (L2/3) in mice as well as in human neocortical tissue resected in deep-brain surgery. Most pvBCs showed robust GABAAR-mediated self-innervation in both species, but autapses were rare in nonfast spiking GABAergic interneurons. Light- and electron microscopy analyses revealed pvBC axons innervating their own soma and proximal dendrites. GABAergic self-inhibition conductance was similar in human and mouse pvBCs and comparable to that of synapses from pvBCs to other L2/3 neurons. Autaptic conductance prolonged somatic inhibition in pvBCs after a spike and inhibited repetitive firing. Perisomatic autaptic inhibition has evolved in pvBCs of various cortical layers and different mammalian species to control discharge of these interneurons.
Regulation of mRNA translation by a photoriboswitch
Authors: Rotstan Kelly A. , Abdelsayed Michael M. , Passalacqua Luiz F. M. , Chizzolini Fabio , Sudarshan Kasireddy , Chamberlin A. Richard , Míšek Jiří , Lupták Andrej
Published: September 2019

Optogenetic tools have revolutionized the study of receptor-mediated biological processes, but such tools are lacking for the study of RNA-controlled systems. To fill this gap, we usedin vitroselection to isolate a novel RNA that selectively binds thetransisoform of a stiff-stilbene (amino-tSS), a rapidly and reversibly photoisomerizing small molecule. Structural probing revealed that the RNA binds amino-tSS about 100-times stronger than amino-cSS, giving the system robust selectivity for thetransisomer.In vitroandin vivofunctional analysis showed that the riboswitch, termed Werewolf-1 (Were-1), inhibits translation of a downstream open reading frame when bound to amino-tSS and photoisomerization of the ligand with a sub-millisecond pulse of light induced the protein expression. Similarly, bacterial culture containing thecisisoform (amino-cSS) supported protein expression, which was inhibited upon photoisomerization to amino-tSS. Reversible regulation of gene expression using a genetically encoded light-responsive RNA will broaden the analysis of complex RNA processes in living cells.