bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of variation within the barcode region of CytochromecOxidase I (COI) for the detection of commercialCallinectes sapidusRathbun, 1896 (blue crab) products of non-US origin
Authors: Windsor Amanda M. , Moore M. Katherine , Warner Kimberly A. , Stadig Sarah R. , Deeds Jonathan R.
Published: November 2019

Callinectes sapidusRathbun, 1896 is a western Atlantic species with a disjointed natural geographic range from Massachusetts, USA to Venezuela (distribution area 1) and from Alagoas, Brazil to northern Argentina (distribution area 2). It is the only species of portunid crab commercially harvested in the continental United States but is also imported into the US from several Latin American countries, Venezuela and Mexico in particular. In the United States, crab products labeled as “blue crab” and “Product of the USA” may not legally contain other species of crab orC. sapidusnot harvested in the United States. The present study documents nucleotide variation within the barcode region of cytochromecoxidase I (COI) in 417 reference specimens ofC. sapiduscollected from throughout its natural range. The goal of this study is to determine if this variation can be utilized to detect mislabeledC. sapidusproducts sold in interstate commerce by comparing genetic signatures in reference specimens to those observed in commercial crabmeat labeled as “Product of the USA” and “Product of Venezuela.” In reference specimens, we observed high levels of genetic variation in the barcode region. However, three lineages were consistently observed with significant pairwise Fstvalues between the lineages. Lineage 1 was observed throughout the natural geographic range but predominated in the continental US and was the only lineage observed in the major crabmeat-producing states (MD, LA, VA, NC). Lineage 2 primarily occurred in the Caribbean region of distribution area 1 but was also infrequently encountered in the South Atlantic Bight region of the US coast. Finally, Lineage 3 was only observed in Brazilian waters and had the lowest haplotype and nucleotide diversity values. Lineages 1 and 2 were separated by a mean pairwise distance (p-distance) of 3.15%, whereas Lineage 3 had a meanp-distance of 2.55% and 1.35% to Lineages 1 and 2, respectively. Within lineage meanp-distances were 0.45%, 0.19%, and 0.07% for Lineages 1, 2, and 3, respectively. Among all vouchered reference specimens collected from the continental United States, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and Venezuela, we identified 22 phylogenetically informative sites that drive observed lineage divergences. Haplotypes identified from barcode COI sequences from commercialC. sapidusproducts labeled as originating from the US all aligned with haplotypes from Lineage 1 reference specimens and haplotypes from commercial products labeled as originating from Venezuela all aligned with Lineage 2, suggesting that these lineages may be useful for indicating whether products originate from the continental US or are imported when package labeling is in question.
A APRENDIZAGEM DO CONCEITO SAÚDE ENSINADO COM BASE NA TEORIA DA APRENDIZAGEM SIGNIFICATIVA EM AULAS DE EDUCAÇÃO FÍSICA / LEARNING HEALTH CONCEPT THROUGH A TEACHING BASED ON MEANINGFUL LEARNING THEORY IN PHYSICAL EDUCATION CLASSES
Authors: Miranda Cristiano José Martins de , Belmont Rachel , Lemos Evelyse Dos Santos
Published: November 2019

O objetivo deste estudo foi identificar a evolução do conhecimento de estudantes de ensino médio sobre o conceito Saúde, ensinado em aulas de Educação Física. O estudo, do tipo intervenção pedagógica, teve a Teoria da Aprendizagem Significativa como principal referencial teórico e foi realizado com 41 alunos de uma escola pública fluminense. Considerando os conhecimentos prévios dos alunos, a intervenção priorizou os conceitos centrais do tema, integrou atividades práticas e teóricas, favoreceu a participação ativa e a negociação dos significados entre alunos, professor e conteúdo. Os registros foram obtidos por meio do pré-teste e pós-teste; um desenho e uma carta. Os dados foram categorizados usando a análise de conteúdo e o teste Wilcoxon foi realizado para comparar os resultados do pré-teste e do pós-teste. Os resultados indicam evidências iniciais de aprendizagem significativa expressas por um discurso mais diferenciado e abrangente do conceito Saúde e de fatores associados a ela.
APRENDIZAGEM SIGNIFICATIVA E CONSTRUÇÃO DE SABERES DOCENTES NA LICENCIATURA EM FÍSICA / MEANINGFUL LEARNING AND CONSTRUCTION OF TEACHING KNOWLEDGE IN DEGREE IN PHYSICS
Authors: Clebsch Angelisa Benetti , Alves Filho José De Pinho
Published: November 2019

Este artigo analisa dados decorrentes de um estudo que envolveu os cursos de Licenciatura em Física, ofertados por instituições públicas de Santa Catarina. Com base nos saberes docentes e em documentos legais foram definidas dimensões e categorias de análise para a pesquisa. Projetos pedagógicos e planos de ensino de disciplinas pedagógicas de Física e Estágios Supervisionados foram submetidos à análise documental. Foram aplicados questionários e entrevistas com docentes formadores e licenciandos de seis instituições. A Aprendizagem Significativa não foi objeto de análise da pesquisa, mas emergiu nos dados das entrevistas aplicadas com doze licenciandos, vinculada a componentes do Pedagogical Content Knowledge (PCK), utilizado como categoria de análise nas dimensões pedagógica e prática. Apresentam-se resultados derivados do estudo com os seguintes objetivos: a) classificar a presença da Aprendizagem Significativa em implícita e explícita e b) relacionar a Aprendizagem Significativa com o PCK.
Managing the Implementation and Evaluation of the School Reading Program
Authors: E. Lucero Nelson , B. Rebosquillo Marjun , P. Nieves Jeneve , M. Tubice Ferlyn , S. Ibao Serena , Escartin Flor
Published: November 2019

Aims: Non-reading phenomenon among students is a worldwide problem. This problem continues to balloon despite the various governments’ program. This study was conducted to determine the positive and negative experiences met by the school managers during the implementation and evaluation of the reading program in their respective area.

Study Design: Qualitative- phenomenology.

Place and Duration of Study: Digos City, Davao del Sur, Philippines, School Year 2018-2019.

Methodology: Purposive; Focus-Group Discussions; Validated Researcher-made questionnaire.

Results: Nine themes surfaced from the data analysis; implementation of the program; appointment of reading coordinator; amelioration of reading teachers; initiative of school administration; availability of reading materials; involvement in SIP/AIP creation; variations on identified challenges; heartening situations; satisfaction with co-workers and DepEd personnel; and recommendations for improvement.

Conclusion: Contextualization of the reading program allows learners to connect and interact with the texts. School heads need to be consistent with their policies. They need to involve the teachers concern not only those chosen few because it creates partition and conflict. Teachers’ dedication and initiative to the program is essential; however, school managers need to provide relevant materials for its smooth implementation.  Further, success of any program depends on the cooperation among the implementers. Unity and understanding among workers are essential in order to achieve the purpose of any endeavor.
Oxidative Stability of Soybean Oil Supplemented with Pod Coat Extracts of Cluster Bean
Authors: Nehra Sukriti , Singh Sushila
Published: November 2019

The aim of present work was to determine the potency of phenolic extracts from cluster bean pod coats in improving shelf life of soybean oil. Pod coats of cluster bean were extracted with three solvents (acetone, ethylacetate and chloroform). Crude soybean oil samples were stabilised by adding different extracts at 1000 and 2000 ppm concentration and effect of addition of these extracts on oxidative stability of crude soybean oil at 50°C was observed. Rate of oxidative degradation of crude soybean oil was lowest in the sample treated with acetone extract (2000 ppm). The value of various oxidative quality parameters of crude soybean oil supplemented with acetone extract (2000 ppm) after 28 days of incubation are peroxide value (26.77 meq/kg oil), free fatty acids content (2.637%), p-anisidine value (25.18), TOTOX value (78.72), conjugated dienes (28.47%), conjugated trienes (13.97%) and TBA value (31.59 meq malonaldehyde/g). Results of present study indicate that pod coat extracts of cluster bean possess remarkable antioxidant potential and considerably lowered the rate of oxidative deterioration of crude soybean oil.
Rheumatic Fever and Rheumatic Heart Disease: A Physicians Perspective
Authors: Ichendu Paul Nsirimobu , Chika Duru
Published: November 2019

Background: Acute rheumatic fever (ARF) and rheumatic heart disease (RHD) are non-suppurative cardiovascular sequlae of group A Streptococcus pharyngitis affecting children and young adults. Despite concerted efforts aimed at prevention, they still remain diseases of public health concern globally.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the knowledge and practice of acute rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease among physicians practicing in public and private hospitals in two states of the Niger delta region of Nigeria.

Materials and Methods: Using a structured self administered questionnaire with 9 questions, 123 physicians from all the medical and surgical specialties were interviewed. Data was analyzed using SPSS 20.

Results: Majority (95.93%) of the doctors were working in Government hospitals and nearly half (49.59%) of them were Paediatricians. Over half (50.41%) had more than 5 years’ experience in medical practice. Among the cadre of the doctors, house officers represented 44.72% while Consultants constituted 17.07% of the study participants. The study showed that 70 (56.91%) of the study participants selected at least seven correct answers out of the nine questions that assessed their knowledge and practice and so showed a good knowledge and practice of ARF and RHD.

Conclusion: Though a good level of knowledge and practice was gotten from our study, there are still some gaps in the knowledge and practice that can be improved by health education through training and retraining our healthcare professionals. We therefore recommend the inclusion of ARF and RHD in CME and other training programs.
Nicotine Replacement Therapy and Electronic Cigarettes: Awareness among Medical Students
Authors: Khalaf Ahmad Taha , Wan Jun , Al-Jashamy Karim , Abdul Kadir Samiah Yasmin , Zainol Jamaludin , Doustjalali Saeid Reza , Sabet Negar Shafiei , Kyi Aung May , Hani Arafeh Yassin , Lok Xia Shin Jessica , Sahrom Izzatul Akmal Binti , Muftah A. E.
Published: November 2019

Background: Whereas the use of electronic nicotine devices, such as e‐cigarettes and nicotine replacement therapy, is on the rise, the awareness of these treatment options among health workers especially medical students is not well investigated. 

Objective: This study was aimed to determine the knowledge and perception of the nicotine, nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) and e‐cigarettes among medical students.

Methodology: This study is a descriptive study in which the research is measuring the knowledge and perception regarding tobacco cigarettes, nicotine, NRT and e‐cigarettes, as well as observing the smoking rate in a given population simultaneously. A questionnaire was designed and applied to medical students in all 5 years. The sample size targeted was 200 with equal distribution among pre-clinical and clinical medical students. However, the number of responses obtained during the process of data collection was 184.

Results: The results of this study showed the knowledge and perception of the tobacco smoking hazards towards health and its substitutes had 46.0% and 53.6% on moderate knowledge levels and the majority 91.0% and 97.6% did not smoking among the preclinical and clinical respectively. The overall findings regarding opinion and knowledge on health risk among all participants are shown the majority participants 93 (76.9%) the tobacco cigarettes caused health risk. Regarding NRT, majority of preclinical 42(57.6%) and clinical 33 (69.8%) participants having low knowledge of NRT of health risk with a P value of 0.08 between the two groups. Also, majority of participants showed extremely agreed the smoking-related to the lung cancer, atherosclerosis in coronary and peripheral arteries. Majority of the participants in both preclinical and clinical agreed with the smoking addiction and agreed that facts on electronic cigarettes contain tobacco. Majority of preclinical and clinical students showed low knowledge of health risk and dependence potential.

Conclusion: medical students are not reasonable and overestimate the true hazards of tobacco smoking towards health. Additionally they are not knowledgeable about nicotine, NRT and e-cigarettes. Although, a large proportion of participants were exposed frequently to smokers, especially clinical phase students, they lack the knowledge and the correct perception regarding nicotine replacement therapy.
Community- based Active Tuberculosis Case Finding in Pastoralist Communities of North-Eastern Uganda
Authors: Isaac Guma , John Robert Emuron , Swabrah Namugambe , Gloria Nabirye , Okungura Philip Denis , Oboth Paul , Iramiot Jacob S. , Nekaka Rebecca
Published: November 2019

Background: Given the global urgency to improve tuberculosis (TB) case detection, a renewed interest in active case finding (ACF) has risen. Missed TB cases pose a serious threat as they continue to fuel TB transmission in the community. We aimed to assess the feasibility of community based ACF for TB among people living in a pastoralist community in Uganda and determine its impact on case detection and treatment uptake.

Methods: Between April and May 2019, four third year medical and nursing students placed at Moroto Regional Referral for community orientation worked together with community health workers to conduct a door-to-door survey for TB in pastoralist communities of Nadunget Sub County, Moroto district. The community health workers and the Medical/Nursing students performed symptom screening, collected sputum and facilitated specimen transport to the laboratory. Gene Xpert MTB/RIF assay was performed at the regional referral Hospital for all sputum samples. The community health workers were tasked to follow up on all those clients whose samples turned out to be positive so that they could start treatment as soon as possible. All presumptive cases with negative sputum results were referred to the TB clinic for further evaluation.

Results: In one month, we screened 385 individuals and identified 143 aged above 15 years with symptoms suggestive of TB. Among the presumptive cases, 132 (92%) reported a cough of more than two weeks and we were able to obtain sputum samples from 84(58.7%) participants. We diagnosed 11, including 8 bacteriologically confirmed TB cases using Gene Xpert and there was no multidrug resistant case identified. The median time from sputum collection to notification of the positive result was 3 days. All the positive cases were followed up and initiated on treatment.

Conclusion: The findings from our study suggest that in a pastoralist community, ACF for TB using a sensitive symptom screen followed by Gene Xpert contributed to improved case detection of TB, shortening the turnaround time hence timely initiation of patients on TB treatment.
Bioinspired Soft Robotic Caterpillar with Cardiomyocyte Drivers
Authors: Sun Lingyu , Chen Zhuoyue , Bian Feika , Zhao Yuanjin
Published: November 2019

Biological soft robots have attracted extensive attention and research because of their superiority in executing designed biomedical missions compared with conventional robots. Here, inspired by the crawling mechanism of snakes and caterpillars, a novel biological soft robot composed of asymmetric claws, a carbon nanotube (CNT)‐induced myocardial tissue layer, and a structural color indicator is presented. The asymmetric claws can assist the whole soft robot to accomplish directional movement during the cardiomyocytes' contraction process. The oriented conduct of the CNT layer can regulate the cardiomyocytes' arrangement and improve their beating capability and the contraction performance. However, the structural color indicator provides a visualized monitoring approach to dynamically and immediately reflect the motion status of the biological soft robots. With these three functional layers, the cardiomyocyte‐driven soft robot can greatly simulate the crawling behavior of a caterpillar. It is demonstrated that by integrating these soft robots in a microfluidic organ‐on‐a‐chip system with multitrack construction, they can run along the tracks and exhibit different running speed based on the stimulus concentrations in the tracks. These features indicate the potential values of the cardiomyocyte‐driven soft robots for providing an effective screening platform for clinical diseases.
Pastoralism and Emergent Complex Settlement in the Middle Bronze Age, Azerbaijan: isotopic analyses of mobility strategies in transformation
Authors: Nugent Selin E.
Published: November 2019

Objectives

This article explores the scale and seasonal patterns of mobility at the complex settlement site of Qızqala during the Middle Bronze Age (2400–1,500 BCE). By integrating human bone, teeth, and environmental samples this research tests the hypothesis of the persistent importance of community‐wide seasonal pastoral transhumance during the early formation of complex settlement systems of the South Caucasus.

Methods

This research applies stable oxygen and radiogenic strontium isotope analyses on incremental samples of human tooth enamel, bulk tooth enamel, and bone to resolve mobility patterns. Sequential and bulk sampling techniques elucidate seasonal and residential mobility behaviors. Extensive environmental isotope samples of plant and water were collected through regional survey and establish local and regional isotopic baselines, which are compared to human isotope analysis results.

Results

Qızqala individuals exhibit low isotopic variability compared to regional contemporaries. 87Sr/86Sr ratios from human remains indicate seasonal and residential isotopic variability within the baseline ranges of local landscapes. δ18O values display erratic patterns, but correspond to seasonal variability with fluctuations between highland and lowland altitudinal zone baseline values.

Conclusions

Results suggest that isotopic analysis of multiple elements and sequential enamel samples offers finer resolution on the complexities of human mobility strategies and elucidate the daily lives of often overlooked mobile populations. Higher resolution of individual mobility reveals shared routine behaviors that underscore the importance of diverse social collaborations in forming complex polities in the South Caucasus.
Controllable Si−C Bond Activation Enables Stereocontrol in the Palladium‐Catalyzed [4+2] Annulation of Cyclopropenes with Benzosilacyclobutanes
Authors: Wang Xing‐Ben , Zheng Zhan‐Jiang , Xie Jia‐Le , Gu Xing‐Wei , Mu Qiu‐Chao , Yin Guan‐Wu , Ye Fei , Xu Zheng , Xu Li‐Wen
Published: November 2019

A novel and unusual palladium‐catalyzed [4+2] annulation of cyclopropenes with benzosilacyclobutanes is reported. This reaction occurred through chemoselective Si−C(sp2) bond activation in synergy with ring expansion/insertion of cyclopropenes to form new C(sp2)−C(sp3) and Si−C(sp3) bonds. An array of previously elusive bicyclic skeleton with high strain, silabicyclo[4.1.0]heptanes, were formed in good yields with excellent diastereoselectivity under mild conditions. An asymmetric version of the reaction with a chiral phosphoramidite ligand furnished a variety of chiral bicyclic silaheterocycle derivatives with good enantioselectivity (up to 95.5:4.5 er). Owing to the mild reaction conditions, the good stereoselectivity profile, and the ready availability of the functionalized precursors, this process constitutes a useful and straightforward strategy for the synthesis of densely functionalized silacycles.
High Tg and tough poly(butylene 2,5‐thiophenedicarboxylate‐co‐1,4‐cyclohexanedimethylene 2,5‐thiophenedicarboxylate)s: Synthesis and characterization
Authors: Wang Guoqiang , Liang Yin , Jiang Min , Zhang Qiang , Wang Rui , Wang Honghua , Zhou Guangyuan
Published: November 2019

The purpose of this study was to enhance the glass‐transition temperature of poly(butylene 2,5‐thiophenedicarboxylate) (PBTF). A series of poly(butylene‐co‐1,4‐cyclohexanedimethylene 2,5‐thiophenedicarboxylate)s (PBCTFs) were synthesized from 2,5‐thiophenedicarboxylic acid, 1,4‐cyclohexanedimethanol (CHDM), and 1,4‐butanediol. CHDM can increase the chain rigidity and lead the β relaxation temperature shift to lower temperature. Consequently, PBCTFs showed not only the high glass‐transition temperature, but also high elongations at break. PBTF was a crystalline polyester. However, differential scanning calorimetry and wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction results suggested PBCTFs were amorphous polyesters. Thermogravimetric analysis results indicated the thermal stability of copolyesters was gradually enhanced with increasing the CHDM content. When the CHDM content was 95 mol %, PBCTF95 exhibited high glass‐transition temperature (69.2 °C), tensile strength (44.4 MPa), and elongation at break (205%). © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2020, 137, 48634.
Identification of Protein Functional Regions
Authors: Nerattini Francesca , Figliuzzi Matteo , Cardelli Chiara , Tubiana Luca , Bianco Valentino , Dellago Christoph , Coluzza Ivan
Published: November 2019

Protein sequence stores the information relative to both functionality and stability, thus making it difficult to disentangle the two contributions. However, the identification of critical residues for function and stability has important implications for the mapping of the proteome interactions, as well as for many pharmaceutical applications, e. g. the identification of ligand binding regions for targeted pharmaceutical protein design. In this work, we propose a computational method to identify critical residues for protein functionality and stability and to further categorise them in strictly functional, structural and intermediate. We evaluate single site conservation and use Direct Coupling Analysis (DCA) to identify co‐evolved residues both in natural and artificial evolution processes. We reproduce artificial evolution using protein design and base our approach on the hypothesis that artificial evolution in the absence of any functional constraint would exclusively lead to site conservation and co‐evolution events of the structural type. Conversely, natural evolution intrinsically embeds both functional and structural information. By comparing the lists of conserved and co‐evolved residues, outcomes of the analysis on natural and artificial evolution, we identify the functional residues without the need of any a priori knowledge of the biological role of the analysed protein.
Morphological and functional characteristics of aging kidneys based on two‐photon microscopy in vivo
Authors: Wu Shulian , Guo Hengchang , Horng Hannah , Liu Yi , Li Hui , Daneshpajouhnejad Parnaz , Rosenberg Avi , Albanese Christopher , Ranjit Suman , Andrews Peter M. , Levi Moshe , Tang Qinggong , Chen Yu
Published: November 2019

Age‐related kidney disease, which is chronic and naturally occurring, is a general term for a set of heterogeneous disorders affecting kidney structures and characterized by a decline in renal function. Age‐related renal insufficiency has important implications with regard to body homeostasis, drug toxicity and renal transplantation. In our study, two‐photon microscopy was used to image kidney morphological and functional characteristics in an age‐related rat model in vivo. The changes in morphology are analyzed based on autofluorescence and Hoechst 33342 labeling in rats with different ages. Structural parameters including renal tubular diameter, cell nuclei density, size and shape are studied and compared with Hematoxylin and Eosin histological analysis. Functional characteristics, such as blood flow, and glomerular filtration rate are studied with high‐molecular weight (MW) 500‐kDa dextran‐fluorescein and low‐MW 10‐kDa dextran‐rhodamine. Results indicate that morphology changes significantly and functional characteristics deteriorate with age. These parameters are potential indicators for evaluating age‐related renal morphology and function changes. Combined analyses of these parameters could provide a quantitative, novel method for monitoring kidney diseases and/or therapeutic effects of kidney drugs.
Pinene‐Functionalized Polysiloxane as an Excellent Self‐Healing Superhydrophobic Polymer
Authors: Zhao Zi‐Han , Wang Da‐Peng , Li Cheng‐Hui , Zuo Jing‐Lin
Published: November 2019

Superhydrophobic surfaces have drawn worldwide attention because they can be used in diverse fields. However, many of them may not be able to be used in real life applications because of their poor durability and short life span. Self‐healing is a good strategy to increase the resilience and life span of a superhydrophobic surface. In this work, a facile and low‐cost method to fabricate the durable, environmental‐friendly, and self‐healing superhydrophobic material is proposed. Attributing to the low surface energy and superficial hierarchical nanostructure, this fluorine‐free polymer synthesized from commercial silicone oil and renewable beta‐pinene exhibits excellent water‐repellency (with contact angle of 170 ± 3° and sliding angle near 0°), which has potential application in oil–water separation. Furthermore, the as‐prepared superhydrophobic material also possesses great stretchability and simultaneously hydrophobic/mechanical self‐healing capability after withstanding repeatable scratches and abrasions. The new self‐healing superhydrophobic polymer is robust, environmentally benign, sustainable, and easy to fabricate, showing promising applications in various industries.
In vivosurface dosimetry with a scintillating fiber dosimeter in preclinical image‐guided radiotherapy
Authors: Le Deroff Coralie , Pérès Elodie A. , Ledoux Xavier , Toutain Jérôme , Frelin‐Labalme Anne‐Marie
Published: November 2019

Purpose

New preclinical image‐guided irradiators and treatment planning systems represent a huge progress in radiobiology. Nevertheless, quality control of preclinical treatments is not as advanced as in clinical radiotherapy andin vivodosimetry is less developed. In this study, we evaluate the use of a scintillating fiber dosimeter called DosiRat to verify the agreement between the doses planned with SmART‐Plan and the measured doses during small animal irradiations.

Methods

In vivodosimetry was first evaluated with DosiRat through dose measurements performed at the surface of a 3 × 9 × 3 cm3phantom. Measured and planned doses were compared for different irradiation conditions (prescription point, anterior, and posterior beams, 5 mm and 10 mm irradiation fields). In a second phase, measured and planned doses were compared for rat brain irradiations performed with anterior beams, with DosiRat positioned at the beam entrance. Comparisons were performed for different tube currents (1.3 and 13 mA), collimations (5, 10 and 25 mm diameter), and planned doses (0.1, 0.5, 2, and 10 Gy).

Results

In the case of the phantom irradiations, planned and measured doses showed discrepancies smaller than the 5% accuracy of the TPS, except in cases in which the dosimeter was not centered in the irradiation field. The differences were larger for animal irradiations (from −3.3% to 8.8%) because of variations of the beam energy spectrum and the nonequivalence between materials at medium and low energy.

Conclusions

This study highlighted the complexity to implement one‐dimensionin vivodosimetry in orthovoltage millimetric beams. Nevertheless, DosiRat is well adapted toin vivodosimetry because of its small volume and its direct reading and allowedin vivocontrol of planned doses for anterior beams down to 5 mm diameter.
Resting‐State Brain Connectivity Predicts Weight Loss and Cognitive Control of Eating Behavior After Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy
Authors: Cerit Hilâl , Davidson Paul , Hye Taryn , Moondra Priyanka , Haimovici Florina , Sogg Stephanie , Shikora Scott , Goldstein Jill M. , Evins A. Eden , Whitfield‐Gabrieli Susan , Stoeckel Luke E. , Holsen Laura M.
Published: November 2019

Objective

The effects of sleeve gastrectomy (SG) on functional connectivity (FC) and associations with weight loss and eating‐related cognitive control were investigated.

Methods

In a longitudinal study, 14 SG patients (13 female; 42.1 presurgery BMI) completed study visits 1 month pre surgery and 12 months post surgery. Patients completed the Dutch Eating Behavior Questionnaire and resting‐state functional magnetic resonance imaging scanning to measure FC. Data were analyzed using a seed‐to‐voxel approach in the CONN Toolbox to investigate pre‐/postsurgery changes (n = 12) and to conduct predictive analysis (n = 14).

Results

Seed‐to‐voxel analysis revealed changes in magnitude (decreases) and directionality (positively correlated to anticorrelated) of FC pre to post surgery within and between default mode network, salience network, and frontoparietal network nodes [Family‐Wise Error (FWE) corrected at P < 0.05]. Baseline FC of the nucleus accumbens (with insula) and hypothalamus (with precentral gyrus) predicted 12‐month post‐SG % total weight loss (FWE‐P < 0.05). Baseline FC of the hippocampus, frontoparietal network, and default mode network nodes predicted improvement in cognitive control of eating behavior 12 months after SG (FWE‐P < 0.05).

Conclusions

Our findings demonstrate changes in FC magnitude and directionality post versus pre surgery within and between resting‐state networks and frontal, paralimbic, and visual areas in SG patients. Baseline FC predicted weight loss and changes in cognitive control of food intake behavior at 12 months. These could serve as predictive biomarkers for bariatric surgery.
Children and Adolescents’ Anthropometrics Body Composition from 3‐D Optical Surface Scans
Authors: Wong Michael C. , Ng Bennett K. , Kennedy Samantha F. , Hwaung Phoenix , Liu En Y. , Kelly Nisa N. , Pagano Ian S. , Garber Andrea K. , Chow Dominic C. , Heymsfield Steven B. , Shepherd John A.
Published: November 2019

Objective

This study aimed to explore the accuracy and precision of three‐dimensional optical (3DO) whole‐body scanning for automated anthropometry and estimating total and regional body composition.

Methods

Healthy children and adolescents (n = 181, ages 5‐17 years) were recruited for the Shape Up! Kids study. Each participant underwent whole‐body dual‐energy x‐ray absorptiometry and 3DO scans; multisite conventional tape measurements served as the anthropometric criterion measure. 3DO body shape was described using automated body circumference, length, and volume measures. 3DO estimates were compared with criterion measures using simple linear regression by the stepwise selection method.

Results

Of the 181 participants, 112 were used for the training set, 49 were used for the test set, and 20 were excluded for technical reasons. 3DO body composition estimates were strongly associated with dual‐energy x‐ray absorptiometry measures for percent body fat, fat mass, and fat‐free mass (R2: 0.83, 0.96, and 0.98, respectively). 3DO provided reliable measurements of fat mass (coefficient of variation, 3.30; root mean square error [RMSE], 0.53), fat‐free mass (coefficient of variation, 1.34; RMSE, 0.53 kg), and percent body fat (RMSE = 1.2%).

Conclusions

3DO surface scanning provides accurate and precise anthropometric and body composition estimates in children and adolescents with high precision. 3DO is a safe, accessible, and practical method for evaluating body shape and composition in research and clinical settings.
Synchrotron Based Measurement of the Temperature Dependent Thermal Expansion Coefficient of Ammonium Perchlorate
Authors: Kellogg Robert , Lapidus Saul , Hedman Trevor , Kalman Joseph
Published: November 2019

Ammonium perchlorate is commonly used as an oxidizer in solid rocket propellant. Having a knowledge of its thermal expansion properties is essential for its application in different environments. Knowledge of thermal expansion properties is also useful for the prediction of propellant mechanical properties and response of propellant slow cook off applications. X‐ray diffraction analysis was performed on ammonium perchlorate at temperatures ranging from 260 K to 500 K. From there, Bragg peaks were indexed by fitting theoretical values of 2θ to the 2θ values of peaks obtained from the experiment. The Miller indices along with the 2θ values were then used to solve for the lattice parameters at each temperature. The lattice parameters, in nanometers, range from 0.9201 to 0.9373, 0.5805 to 0.5865, and 0.7439 to 0.7535 for a, b, and c, respectively. The measurement of the lattice parameter expansion leads to the determination of the temperature dependent thermal expansion coefficients within the temperature range. The lattice parameter values also lead to the determination of strain and stress on the ammonium perchlorate crystal. Direct measurement of the strain within the crystal lattice provides a more accurate measurement method over traditional optical‐based techniques.
N‐Arylation of Fluoroalkylamine and Trifluoroacetamide through Cu–Catalysis
Authors: Xin Jiaqi , Leng Faqiang
Published: November 2019

Copper mediated coupling of fluoro‐alkylamines/trifluoroacetamide and aryl‐boronic acids have been developed. N‐arylation of di/trifluoroethylamine was achieved by a Cu(OAc)2/Py system with AgNO3 as an additive, while the N‐arylation of trifluoroacetamide was described with Cu(OAc)2/TEA system. These protocols could tolerate a variety of functional groups of hetero/aryl‐boronic acids, furnishing the corresponding products with moderate to good yields under mild and simple conditions.
Regionalanästhesie im klinischen Alltag: eine ökonomische Analyse anhand eines Versorgungsbeispiels
Authors: Marhofer P. , Kraus M. , Marhofer D.
Published: November 2019

Hintergrund

Ein wichtiger Aspekt jedes medizinischen Verfahrens ist dessen ökonomische Wirkungsweise. Mithilfe von Fallvignetten werden die ökonomischen Implikationen verschiedener anästhesiologischer Verfahren analysiert.

Methoden

Basierend auf 3 Fallvignetten (anästhesiologische Versorgung einer Unterarmfraktur in suffizienter Regionalanästhesie, Allgemeinnarkose und insuffizienter Regionalanästhesie) werden die anästhesiologisch relevanten Kostenfaktoren (Personalkosten, Kosten für Ge- und Verbrauchsgüter, Kosten für Anlagegüter, anästhesierelevante Gemeinkosten) errechnet.

Ergebnisse

Die ausschließliche Regionalanästhesie für den genannten chirurgischen Eingriff ist mit 324,26 € am kostengünstigsten, gefolgt von der Allgemeinnarkose mit 399,18 € (+23 % im Vergleich zur Regionalanästhesie). Am kostenungünstigsten ist die insuffiziente Regionalanästhesie, die eine zusätzliche Allgemeinnarkose erforderlich macht (482,55 €, + 49 %), im Vergleich zur suffizienten Regionalanästhesie.

Schlussfolgerungen

Auch unter Berücksichtigung der Tatsache, dass die Kostenanalyse an nur einer Institution durchgeführt wurde (Allgemeines Krankenhaus der Stadt Wien, Universitätskliniken), erscheint die suffiziente Regionalanästhesie im Vergleich zu anderen anästhesiologischen Verfahren als kostengünstig. Hauptkostentreiber in Bezug auf das anästhesiologische Management einer Unterarmfraktur sind Personalkosten.
Impaired empathy and increased anger following social exclusion in non-intoxicated opioid users
Authors: Carlyle Molly , Rowley Megan , Stevens Tobias , Karl Anke , Morgan Celia J. A.
Published: November 2019

Rationale

Social functioning is modulated by the endogenous opioid system. In opioid use disorder, social functioning appears disrupted, but little research has delineated the nature of these deficits and their relationship to acute opioid use.

Objectives

The current study aimed to assess both emotional and cognitive empathy, along with subjective and physiological responses to social exclusion in opioid users who were either acutely intoxicated or non-intoxicated from using opioids.

Methods

Individuals on an opioid substitution medication (OSM) were divided into ‘intoxicated users’ (had taken their OSM the same day as testing, n = 20) and ‘non-intoxicated users’ (had taken their OSM > 12 h ago, n = 20) and compared with opioid-naïve controls (n = 24). Empathy was assessed using the multifaceted empathy test and self-report questionnaire. Participants also underwent a period of social exclusion (Cyberball Game) and completed measures of mood and physiological responses (salivary cortisol and heart rate).

Results

Non-intoxicated users had significantly lower emotional empathy (the ability to experience others’ emotions), as well as greater anger after social exclusion when compared with the intoxicated users and controls. Anger did not change with social exclusion in the intoxicated user group and cortisol levels were lower overall.

Conclusions

Reduced ability to spontaneously share the emotions of others was reported in non-intoxicated users, particularly regarding positive emotions. There was some support for the idea of hyperalgesia to social pain, but this was restricted to an enhanced anger response in non-intoxicated users. Equivalent rates of empathy between the intoxicated users and controls could indicate some remediating effects of acute opioids.
Novel approach to passivation of InAs/GaSb type II superlattice photodetectors
Authors: Papis-Polakowska E. , Kaniewski J. , Jasik A. , Czuba K. , Sankowska I. , Karbownik P. , Runka T. , Martyński T. , Makowiecki J. , Łapiński A.
Published: November 2019

The innovative two-step passivation by octadecanethiol (ODT) self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) and the following silicon dioxide (SiO2) deposition was used for the type-II InAs/GaSb superlattice photodetector. To understand the mechanism of passivation, the (100) GaSb surface covered with the ODT and, for comparison, with the biphenyl thiol (BPT), was characterized by the atomic force microscopy, Raman spectroscopy and contact angle analysis. The results of the study indicated the presence of the homogeneous both the ODT and the BPT monolayers; however, the ODT SAMs were more stable. Therefore, the ODT-based wet treatment was used in the two-step passivation resulting in a reduction of the dark current by one order of magnitude for passivated detector compared with an unpassivated device.
How fly neurons compute the direction of visual motion
Authors: Borst Alexander , Haag Jürgen , Mauss Alex S.
Published: November 2019

Detecting the direction of image motion is a fundamental component of visual computation, essential for survival of the animal. However, at the level of individual photoreceptors, the direction in which the image is shifting is not explicitly represented. Rather, directional motion information needs to be extracted from the photoreceptor array by comparing the signals of neighboring units over time. The exact nature of this process as implemented in the visual system of the fruit flyDrosophila melanogasterhas been studied in great detail, and much progress has recently been made in determining the neural circuits giving rise to directional motion information. The results reveal the following: (1) motion information is computed in parallel ON and OFF pathways. (2) Within each pathway, T4 (ON) and T5 (OFF) cells are the first neurons to represent the direction of motion. Four subtypes of T4 and T5 cells exist, each sensitive to one of the four cardinal directions. (3) The core process of direction selectivity as implemented on the dendrites of T4 and T5 cells comprises both an enhancement of signals for motion along their preferred direction as well as a suppression of signals for motion along the opposite direction. This combined strategy ensures a high degree of direction selectivity right at the first stage where the direction of motion is computed. (4) At the subsequent processing stage, tangential cells spatially integrate direct excitation from ON and OFF-selective T4 and T5 cells and indirect inhibition from bi-stratified LPi cells activated by neighboring T4/T5 terminals, thus generating flow-field-selective responses.
Celiac disease and complement activation in response to Streptococcus pneumoniae
Authors: Tjernberg Anna Röckert , Woksepp Hanna , Sandholm Kerstin , Johansson Marcus , Dahle Charlotte , Ludvigsson Jonas F , Bonnedahl Jonas , Nilsson Per , Ekdahl Kristina Nilsson
Published: November 2019

Individuals with celiac disease (CD) are at increased risk of invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD). The aim of this study was to explore whether the complement response to Streptococcus pneumoniae differed according to CD status, and could serve as an explanation for the excess risk of IPD in CD. Twenty-two children with CD and 18 controls, born 1999–2008, were included at Kalmar County Hospital, Sweden. The degree of complement activation was evaluated by comparing levels of activation products C3a and sC5b-9 in plasma incubated for 30 min with Streptococcus pneumoniae and in non-incubated plasma. Complement analyses were performed with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Pneumococcal stimulation caused a statistically significant increase in C3a as well as sC5b-9 in both children with CD and controls but there was no difference in response between the groups. After incubation, C3a increased on average 4.6 times and sC5b-9 22 times in both the CD and the control group (p = 0.497 and p = 0.724 respectively).

Conclusion: Complement response to Streptococcus pneumoniae seems to be similar in children with and without CD and is thus unlikely to contribute to the increased susceptibility to invasive pneumococcal disease in CD.What is Known:• An excess risk of pneumococcal infections has been demonstrated in individuals with celiac disease.• Infectious complications can depend on hyposplenism but alternative mechanisms are sparsely examined.What is New:• Complement activation in response to Streptococcus pneumoniae was examined in children with and without celiac disease but no differences could be demonstrated.
Value of information in multiple criteria decision making: an application to forest conservation
Authors: Eyvindson Kyle , Hakanen Jussi , Mönkkönen Mikko , Juutinen Artti , Karvanen Juha
Published: November 2019

Developing environmental conservation plans involves assessing trade-offs between the benefits and costs of conservation. The benefits of conservation can be established with ecological inventories or estimated based on previously collected information. Conducting ecological inventories can be costly, and the additional information may not justify these costs. To clarify the value of these inventories, we investigate the multiple criteria value of information associated with the acquisition of improved ecological data. This information can be useful when informing the decision maker to acquire better information. We extend the concept of the value of information to a multiple criteria perspective. We consider value of information for both monetary and biodiversity criteria and do not assume any fixed budget limits. Two illustrative cases are used describe this method of evaluating the multiple criteria value of information. In the first case, we numerically evaluate the multiple criteria value of information for a single forest stand. In the second case, we present a forest planning case with four stands that describes the complex interactions between the decision maker’s preference information and the potential inventory options available. These example cases highlight the importance of examining the trade-offs when making conservation decisions. We provide a definition for the multiple criteria value of information and demonstrate the potential application when conservation issues conflict with monetary issues.
Upgraded bidirectional approach video-assisted neck surgery (BAVANS) using a rigid endoscope with variable viewing direction for advanced endoscopic lymph node dissection in thyroid cancer patients
Authors: Nakajo Akihiro , Minami Koji , Shinden Yoshiaki , Toda Hiroko , Hirashima Tadahiro , Nagata Ayako , Nomoto Yuki , Maemura Kosei , Natsugoe Shoji
Published: November 2019

In 2011, we developed bidirectional approach video-assisted neck surgery (BAVANS) for endoscopic thyroid cancer surgery. BAVANS combines two different approach pathways at 180 degrees to the cervical lesion for endoscopic thyroidectomy and complete cervical lymphadenectomy. We reported previously that the cranio-caudal approach is extremely useful for endoscopic complete lymph node dissection around the trachea. In 2014, we upgraded the initial BAVANS for better maneuverability and quality of lymph node dissection. A new high-tech rigid endoscope with a variable viewing direction (EndoCAMeleon™), has enabled us to reduce the camera port in the anterior neck while keeping the easy maneuverability and the same quality of central lymph node dissection (LND) as with the initial BAVANS. Endoscopic thyroid cancer surgery is now evolving concurrently with new visual technology.
Active control of multiscale features in wall-bounded turbulence
Authors: Cui Xiaotong , Jiang Nan , Zheng Xiaobo , Tang Zhanqi
Published: November 2019

This study experimentally investigates the impact of a single piezoelectric (PZT) actuator on a turbulent boundary layer from a statistical viewpoint. The working conditions of the actuator include a range of frequencies and amplitudes. The streamwise velocity signals in the turbulent boundary layer flow are measured downstream of the actuator using a hot-wire anemometer. The mean velocity profiles and other basic parameters are reported. Spectra results obtained by discrete wavelet decomposition indicate that the PZT vibration primarily influences the near-wall region. The turbulent intensities at different scales suggest that the actuator redistributes the near-wall turbulent energy. The skewness and flatness distributions show that the actuator effectively alters the sweep events and reduces intermittency at smaller scales. Moreover, under the impact of the PZT actuator, the symmetry of vibration scales’ velocity signals is promoted and the structural composition appears in an orderly manner. Probability distribution function results indicate that perturbation causes the fluctuations in vibration scales and smaller scales with high intensity and low intermittency. Based on the flatness factor, the bursting process is also detected. The vibrations reduce the relative intensities of the burst events, indicating that the streamwise vortices in the buffer layer experience direct interference due to the PZT control.