bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Green Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles from the Opuntia ficus-indica Fruit and Its Activity against Treated Wastewater Microorganisms
Authors: Muñoz-Carrillo Mariana G. , Garcidueñas-Piña Cristina , Valerio-García Roberto C. , Carrazco-Rosales José L. , Morales-Domínguez José F.
Published: November 2020

Wastewater can be reused after a treatment process and compliance with high quality standards that guarantee its safe use. The wastewater treatment plant of the Autonomous University of Aguascalientes (AUA), like others, uses primary, secondary, and tertiary processes. The tertiary process followed is chlorination and is used to eliminate microorganisms from the secondary process. Although water of acceptable quality is obtained with chlorine, there is evidence that toxic substances are generated when reacting with organic matter, so alternatives to the use of chlorination have been analyzed. In the present study, silver nanoparticles were synthesized from the aqueous extract of the Opuntia ficus indica fruit peel (OfAgNPs), by reducing a 2 mM solution of AgNO3. OfAgNPs were characterized by UV-visible spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, atomic absorption spectroscopy, and dynamic light scattering, in addition to his electrophoretic mobility. The OfAgNPs are spherical, with an average particle size distribution of

64.28
±
11.82

 nm, relatively stable at room temperature, negatively charged (

−
25.1
±
0.03

 mV), and composed of 61.29% silver. The activity of OfAgNPs was evaluated in water from the effluent of the AUA treatment plant, before and after chlorination, and inhibition of bacteria Escherichia coli var 1, Enterobacter aerogenes var 1, Citrobacter freudi var 2, atypical E. coli, and aerobic mesophilic microorganism was tested.
Characterization of Portland Cement Incorporated with FNS
Authors: Cho Won Jung , Kim Min Jae , Lee David Su Vin
Published: November 2020

The potential use of ferronickel slag (FNS) as supplementary cementitious material has been widely researched in recent years. Although much research was carried out on utilizing FNS as a binder, its advantages and disadvantages are still not clear. To properly use FNS as a cement replacement, this paper summarizes the following. (1) Changes expected on the oxide composition of FNS powder are due to the forming ores, fluxing stone, and cooling method. (2) The decreasing of the hydration heat evolution rate was detected by hydration heat evolution test and this is due to the low content of CaO and Al2O3 component in FNS. (3) It was found that the incorporation of FNS forms a dense pore structure more than cement mix and this is due to the secondary hydration reactions. (4) Hydration characteristics of FNS were assessed by pozzolanic reactions unexpectedly detected and incorporation of FNS creates C‐S‐H gel and hydrotalcite. (5) The development of strength was tested by compressive strength, splitting tensile strength, and flexural strength. From the results, the reduction of compressive strength was detected at an early age but substantially increasing at the long‐term curing ages. However, splitting tensile strength and flexural strength of concrete have shown various trends. (6) There is an improvement in the resistance to chloride penetration and sulfate attack while susceptible to carbonation. This is induced by the lowered pH in pore solution due to the reduction of Ca(OH)2 by substituting FNS binder. Finally, (8) ternary blended mixtures with conventional cementitious materials are an option to properly use FNS as a binder.
Diagnostic Criteria of Postoperative Cognitive Dysfunction: A Focused Systematic Review
Authors: van Sinderen Kim , Schwarte Lothar A. , Schober Patrick
Published: November 2020

Postoperative Cognitive Dysfunction (POCD) is characterized by a deterioration in cognitive performance after surgery and is increasingly addressed in research studies. However, a uniform definition of POCD seems to be lacking, which is a major threat to clinical research in this area. We performed a focused systematic review to determine the current degree of heterogeneity in how POCD is defined across studies and to identify those diagnostic criteria that are used most commonly. The search identified 173 records, of which 30 were included. Neurocognitive testing was most commonly performed shortly before surgery and at 7 days postoperatively. A variety of neurocognitive tests were used to test a range of cognitive domains, including complex attention, language, executive functioning, perceptual-motor function, and learning and memory. The tests that were used most commonly were the Mini-Mental State Examination, the digit span test, the trail making test part A, and the digit symbol substitution test, but consensus on which test result would be considered “positive” for POCD was sparse. The results of this systematic review suggest the lack of a consistent approach towards defining POCD. However, commonalities were identified which may serve as a common denominator for deriving consensus-based diagnostic guidelines for POCD.
Signal Transmission Capability Improvement of a Telemetry Drill String Using the Reflected Signal at the Transmission Line Termination
Authors: Jia Jia , Su Yinao , Shen Yue , Hu Gaixing , Zhang Lingtan , Sheng Limin
Published: November 2020

A telemetry drill string system consists of a string of wired drill pipes, and high-frequency signals pass the adjacent drill pipes through inductive couplers. Such a system is used to upload downhole information at high data transmission rates for measurements while drilling (MWD). Since the signal energy attenuates greatly in the system, many repeaters must be provided to ensure signal transmission. A reduction in the signal transmission in a telemetry drill string can extend the relay distance and improve the reliability of the transmission system. In this study, the transmission characteristic of the rod of the wired drill pipe is studied using transmission line theory, and the transmission characteristic of the inductive coupler is studied using high-frequency circuit theory. Using impedance matching between the transmission line of the rod and the inductive coupler, external impedance compensation elements, including a capacitor and a resistor, are recommended, and the electromagnetic parameters of the wired drill pipe are determined. Based on the determined electromagnetic parameters, certain changes in the external impedance compensation capacitance and resistance can lead to impedance mismatch between the transmission line and the inductive coupler. This will generate a reflected signal at the transmission line, and the vector superposes with the transmitted signal. The terminal reflection coefficient of the transmission line is controlled by increasing the compensation resistance value to enhance the signal amplitude, which can compensate the transmission loss when passing through the inductive coupler to a certain extent. Thus, the signal transmission capability of the telemetry drill string can be improved, allowing for long-distance signal transmission or drastically extending the relay distance, while maintaining a certain channel bandwidth.
On Regularization of an Optimal Control Problem for Ill-Posed Nonlinear Elliptic Equations
Authors: Kogut Peter I. , Kupenko Olha P. , Manzo Rosanna
Published: November 2020

We discuss the existence issue to an optimal control problem for one class of nonlinear elliptic equations with an exponential type of nonlinearity. We deal with the control object when we cannot expect to have a solution of the corresponding boundary value problem in the standard functional space for all admissible controls. To overcome this difficulty, we make use of a variant of the classical Tikhonov regularization scheme. In particular, we eliminate the PDE constraints between control and state and allow such pairs run freely by introducing an additional variable which plays the role of “compensator” that appears in the original state equation. We show that this fictitious variable can be determined in a unique way. In order to provide an approximation of the original optimal control problem, we define a special family of regularized optimization problems. We show that each of these problems is consistent, well-posed, and their solutions allow to attain an optimal solution of the original problem as the parameter of regularization tends to zero. As a consequence, we prove the existence of optimal solutions to the original problem and propose a way for their approximation.
Evaluating the Dependence between Temperature and Precipitation to Better Estimate the Risks of Concurrent Extreme Weather Events
Authors: Wazneh Hussein , Arain M. Altaf , Coulibaly Paulin , Gachon Philippe
Published: November 2020

Precipitation and temperature are among major climatic variables that are used to characterize extreme weather events, which can have profound impacts on ecosystems and society. Accurate simulation of these variables at the local scale is essential to adapt urban systems and policies to future climatic changes. However, accurate simulation of these climatic variables is difficult due to possible interdependence and feedbacks among them. In this paper, the concept of copulas was used to model seasonal interdependence between precipitation and temperature. Five copula functions were fitted to grid (approximately 10 km × 10 km) climate data from 1960 to 2013 in southern Ontario, Canada. Theoretical and empirical copulas were then compared with each other to select the most appropriate copula family for this region. Results showed that, of the tested copulas, none of them consistently performed the best over the entire region during all seasons. However, Gumbel copula was the best performer during the winter season, and Clayton performed best in the summer. More variability in terms of best copula was found in spring and fall seasons. By examining the likelihoods of concurrent extreme temperature and precipitation periods including wet/cool in the winter and dry/hot in the summer, we found that ignoring the joint distribution and confounding impacts of precipitation and temperature lead to the underestimation of occurrence of probabilities for these two concurrent extreme modes. This underestimation can also lead to incorrect conclusions and flawed decisions in terms of the severity of these extreme events.
Application of Nucleic Acid Reference Material for Rapid Detection of Cronobacter sakazakii (Cronobacter spp.) in Flammulina velutipes
Authors: Yang Huandie , Guo Danyang , Chen Leilei , Suvorov Alexander , Zhou Qingxin , Wang Junhua , Gao Xiaofeng , Yang Jinyu , Chen Xiangyan
Published: November 2020

Cronobacter sakazakii (C. sakazakii) widely exists in the environment and is a common foodborne pathogenic microorganism. It can cause meningitis, bacteremia, and necrotizing enterocolitis in infants and elderly people with low immunity. Therefore, the development of the rapid detection method for foodborne pathogen C. sakazakii is very important for food safety control. This study has developed a kind of genomic nucleic acid reference material as a positive reference for the rapid detection of C. sakazakii in the edible fungus Flammulina velutipes. First, the genomic nucleic acids were extracted from the standard strain of C. sakazakii, and the nucleic acids were lyophilized. The uniformity test result of the lyophilized powder showed that there were no significant differences between samples. In short-term stability tests at 4°C and 37°C for 14 days, the properties of the nucleic acid reference material were good, and in long-term stability tests at 4°C and −20°C for 8 months, the samples are still stable. To verify the application of this nucleic acid reference material, it was used as a positive control template for PCR detection and applied to the rapid detection of C. sakazakii in F. velutipes. It was found that 13 of the 15 F. velutipes samples were positive for C. sakazakii. As far as we know, this is the first attempt to detect C. sakazakii in F. velutipes using the PCR method with nucleic acid reference material as the positive reference. This study is helpful in promoting the extensive and in-depth application of nucleic acid reference materials in foodborne pathogens detection.
Staring Imaging Real-Time Optimal Control Based on Neural Network
Authors: Li Peiyun , Dong Yunfeng , Li Hongjue
Published: November 2020

In this paper, a real-time optimal attitude controller is designed for staring imaging, and the output command is based on future prediction. First, the mathematical model of staring imaging is established. Then, the structure of the optimal attitude controller is designed. The controller consists of a preprocessing algorithm and a neural network. Constructing the neural network requires training samples generated by optimization. The objective function in the optimization method takes the future control effect into account. The neural network is trained after sample creation to achieve real-time optimal control. Compared with the PID (proportional-integral-derivative) controller with the best combination of parameters, the neural network controller achieves better attitude pointing accuracy and pointing stability.
Soil‐Water Characteristics of the Low Liquid Limit Silt considering Compaction and Freeze‐Thaw Action
Authors: Yao Yongsheng , Luo Shenping , Qian Junfeng , Li Jue , Xiao Hongbin
Published: November 2020

The soil‐water characteristic curve of silty soil in seasonal frozen area during freezing‐thawing process was studied in this study. By means of a laboratory test, specimens with different compaction degrees and different initial moisture content were prepared and put into the temperature change testing machine for freeze‐thaw action. The influence of different degrees of compaction and different times of freeze‐thaw action on SWCC of low liquid limit silt was analyzed, a V‐G model was used to fit the test data, and a set of fitting parameters with a reference value was obtained. At the same time, the change of microstructure between soil particles during the freezing‐thawing cycle is illustrated. The results showed that with the same water content and the same compactness, the matric suction of the test soil decreased with the increase of freeze‐thaw cycles. For the same number of freeze‐thaw cycles, the greater the compactness, the greater the matric suction of the soil. The V‐G model can well represent the SWCC of low liquid limit silt during the freeze‐thaw cycle.
Identification and Screening of Natural Neuraminidase Inhibitors from Reduning Injection via One-Step High-Performance Liquid Chromatography-Fraction Collector and UHPLC/Q-TOF-MS
Authors: An Lijun , Yu Xie-An , Liu Wei , Li Jin , Chang Yan-Xu
Published: November 2020

Neuraminidase plays an essential role in the spread of influenza viruses via cleaving sialic acids from the host cell receptors and virions. Neuraminidase has been regarded as an essential target for prevention and treatment of influenza infection. The one-step high-performance liquid chromatography-fraction collector (HPLC-FC) was selected to prepare fractions from Reduning (RDN) injection, while ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography/quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC/Q-TOF-MS) was used to identify fractions depending on their retention time and molecular ion. As a result, 75 fractions were prepared and 28 fractions out of them exhibited NA inhibitory effects with the dose-effect relationship. Exploring it further, six components including neochlorogenic acid, chlorogenic acid, cryptochlorogenic acid, isochlorogenic acid B, isochlorogenic acid A, and isochlorogenic acid C were the main components that accounted for almost 80% of inhibitory activity of RDN injection. Accordingly, these results demonstrated that this strategy could not only rapidly identify but also accurately screen active components from traditional Chinese medicine.
Lack of Association between rs4680 Polymorphism in Catechol-O-Methyltransferase Gene and Alcohol Use Disorder: A Meta-Analysis
Authors: Jin Xin-Rong , Zhao Zhi-Qiang
Published: November 2020

Background. The underlying mechanisms of alcohol use disorder (AUD) are regarded to be strongly associated with genetic factors. Although great efforts have been made to identify the association of rs4680 polymorphism in the catechol-o-methyltransferase gene and risk to AUD, the outcomes were still inconsistent. This study is aimed at exploring the association of rs4680 polymorphism and AUD by using a meta-analysis approach. Methods. Literature searching was undertaken across PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), and Wanfang databases. We set the search period before February 20, 2020. We used the Review Manager 5.3 (RevMan 5.3) software to estimate the effect sizes in five genetic models. Results. In total, eighteen case-control studies and two cohort studies were included in this study. The merged results of overall population indicated there was no significant association between rs4680 polymorphism and AUD: V vs. M,OR=1.02, 95% CI 0.93-1.12,P=0.70; VV vs. MM,OR=0.99, 95% CI 0.79-1.23,P=0.92; VM vs. MM,OR=0.91, 95% CI 0.81-1.03,P=0.15; VV+VM vs. MM,OR=0.95, 95% CI 0.80-1.13,P=0.65; VV vs. VM+MM,OR=1.04, 95% CI 0.91-1.18,P=0.57. Subgroup analysis by gender suggested rs4680 polymorphism was marginally associated with an elevated risk to AUD among males (VM vs. MM,OR=0.81, 95% CI 0.67-0.98,P=0.03). However, subgroup analysis by race and diagnosis did not support any significant association. Conclusions. The present study suggests that rs4680 polymorphism has no association with AUD in the overall population, but it has a weak association with AUD in males. Carriers of VM genotype in males appear to have an increased risk to AUD.
In Vitro Cytotoxic Activity against Breast, Cervical, and Ovarian Cancer Cells and Flavonoid Content of Plant Ingredients Used in a Selected Thai Traditional Cancer Remedy: Correlation and Hierarchical Cluster Analysis
Authors: Tuy-on Thammarat , Itharat Arunporn , Maki Ponlawat , Thongdeeying Pakakrong , Pipatrattanaseree Weerachai , Ooraikul Buncha
Published: November 2020

This study aimed to investigate in vitro cytotoxic activity of selected plant ingredients from a traditional Thai remedy for the treatment of cancer patients against cancer cells occurring in women such as MCF‐7 (breast cancer), SKOV3 (ovarian cancer), and HeLa (cervical cancer) cell lines. The plants and the remedy were macerated with 95% ethanol and boiled in water. Cytotoxic activity of the extracts was analyzed by SRB assay. Total flavonoid contents of the extracts were determined and their correlation with cytotoxic activity was evaluated. The hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) was used to classify the extracts by their cytotoxic characteristics. A total of 66.7% of the plants was active against the tested cancer cell lines. Among the 44 plants in the remedy used for cancer treatment, nine plants that are also used in Thai cuisine exerted significant cytotoxicity against tested cancer cell lines. Eleven plants in the remedy were active against at least one of the tested cancer cell lines. All extracts were grouped into three groups and illustrated as heat map and hierarchical dendrogram. Total flavonoid content showed weak or no correlation with cytotoxic activity. A. dahurica, F. albopurpurea, and T. indica selectively exerted potent cytotoxic activity against MCF‐7 with SI value more than 6. A. galanga, P. amarus, L. striatum, H. indicum, and F. vulgare exerted moderate cytotoxicity to all tested cell with low toxicity to normal cells. The correlation and HCA performed in this study provided an alternative way to investigate biological activities of plant ingredients in polyherbal traditional remedies.
A Semianalytical Coupling Model between Reservoir and Horizontal Well with Different Well Completions
Authors: Ma Gaoqiang , Wu Xiaodong , Han Guoqing , Xiong Hao , Xiang Huizhu
Published: November 2020

Although currently, large-scale and multilateral horizontal wells are an important way to improve the oil recovery in the unconventional reservoirs, the flow behavior of fluid from the reservoir into the horizontal wellbore becomes more challenged compared to the single small-scale horizontal well. One of the main challenges is that pressure loss from the well completion section and wellbore cannot be ignored in the coupling process between the reservoir and the horizontal well. In this paper, a new method is presented to solve the coupling flow between the reservoir and the horizontal well with different well completions. The new coupling model is compared with Ouyang’s model (1998) and Penmatcha’s model (1997), and the predicted data are consistent with each other at both early and late times. Meanwhile, four different cases have been proposed to verify the application of the new coupling model with different well completions, and the results indicate that the uneven inflow profile can be effectively alleviated via reasonable completion parameters and different well completions. Based on two types of flow-node units, it can quickly model and solve the coupling problem between the reservoir and the horizontal well with complex completion cases. It can also depict the inflow profile of the horizontal well with different well completions, which is conducive to understand the coupling process. The new coupling model can provide theoretical support for further optimization of completion parameters and well completions and finally improve oil recovery.
Fruit Fly Optimization Algorithm Based on Single-Gene Mutation for High-Dimensional Unconstrained Optimization Problems
Authors: Guo Xiao-dong , Zhang Xue-liang , Wang Li-fang
Published: November 2020

The fruit fly optimization (FFO) algorithm is a new swarm intelligence optimization algorithm. In this study, an adaptive FFO algorithm based on single-gene mutation, named AFFOSM, is designed to aim at inefficiency under all-gene mutation mode when solving the high-dimensional optimization problems. The use of a few adaptive strategies is core to the AFFOSM algorithm, including any given population size, mutation modes chosen by a predefined probability, and variation extents changed with the optimization progress. At first, an offspring individual is reproduced from historical best fruit fly individual, namely, elite reproduction mechanism. And then either uniform mutation or Gauss mutation happens by a predefined probability in a randomly selected gene. Variation extent is dynamically changed with the optimization progress. The simulation results show that AFFOSM algorithm has a better accuracy of convergence and capability of global search than the ESSMER algorithm and several improved versions of the FFO algorithm.
Machine-Learning and Chemicogenomics Approach Defines and Predicts Cross-Talk of Hippo and MAPK Pathways
Authors: Pham Trang H. , Hagenbeek Thijs J. , Lee Ho-June , Li Jason , Rose Christopher M. , Lin Eva , Yu Mamie , Martin Scott E. , Piskol Robert , Lacap Jennifer A. , Sampath Deepak , Pham Victoria C. , Modrusan Zora , Lill Jennie R. , Klijn Christiaan , Malek Shiva , Chang Matthew T. , Dey Anwesha
Published: November 2020

Hippo pathway dysregulation occurs in multiple cancers through genetic and nongenetic alterations, resulting in translocation of YAP to the nucleus and activation of the TEAD family of transcription factors. Unlike other oncogenic pathways such as RAS, defining tumors that are Hippo pathway–dependent is far more complex due to the lack of hotspot genetic alterations. Here, we developed a machine-learning framework to identify a robust, cancer type–agnostic gene expression signature to quantitate Hippo pathway activity and cross-talk as well as predict YAP/TEAD dependency across cancers. Further, through chemical genetic interaction screens and multiomics analyses, we discover a direct interaction between MAPK signaling and TEAD stability such that knockdown of YAP combined with MEK inhibition results in robust inhibition of tumor cell growth in Hippo dysregulated tumors. This multifaceted approach underscores how computational models combined with experimental studies can inform precision medicine approaches including predictive diagnostics and combination strategies.

Significance:

An integrated chemicogenomics strategy was developed to identify a lineage-independent signature for the Hippo pathway in cancers. Evaluating transcriptional profiles using a machine-learning method led to identification of a relationship between YAP/TAZ dependency and MAPK pathway activity. The results help to nominate potential combination therapies with Hippo pathway inhibition.

This article is highlighted in the In This Issue feature, p. 521
Factors Associated with a Positive Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Testing in Suspected Cases Presenting with Pneumonia: A Retrospective Cohort Study in a Single Medical Center
Authors: Li Yupeng , Shang Yu , Yang Yi , Wang Menghan , Yu Dongping , Su Dongju , Liu Lei , Wang Qin , Zhang Xiaona , Ren Juan , Chen Hong
Published: November 2020

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has become a global emerging infectious disease. Objectives: To analyze the initial clinical characteristics of COVID-19 suspected and confirmed patients on admission in order to find out which kinds may be more likely to get positive nucleic acid testing results, and to explore the risk factors associated with all-cause death. Methods: Medical records from 309 highly suspected cases with pneumonia were collected from February 13, 2020, to March 14, 2020, in a COVID-19-designated hospital of Wuhan. The majority of the clinical data were collected on the first day of hospital admission. Results: Of 309 patients with median age 64 years (interquartile ranges [IQR], 53–72 years), 111 patients (35.9%) were confirmed by nucleic acid testing (median age 64 years, IQR: 56–71 years; 48 males). Of those 111 patients, 13 (11.7%) patients died. In multivariate analysis, factors associated with positive testing included fatigue (odds ratios [OR] = 3.14; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.88–5.24, p < 0.001), cough (OR = 0.55; 95% CI: 0.32–0.95, p = 0.032), no less than 1 comorbidity (OR = 1.77; 95% CI: 1.06–2.98, p = 0.030), and severe pneumonia (OR = 2.67; 95% CI: 1.20–5.97, p = 0.016). Furthermore, age, dyspnea, noneffective antibiotic treatment, white blood cell, lymphocyte, platelets, and organ dysfunction (e.g., higher lactate dehydrogenase) were significantly associated with all-cause in-hospital death in patients with COVID-19. Conclusion: Patients with severe forms of this disease were more likely to get positive results. Age and organ dysfunction were associated with a greater risk of death.
Local Anesthesia Thoracoscopy with versus without Midazolam: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Koulelidis Andreas , Anevlavis Stavros , Nikitidis Nikolaos , Pappas Periklis , Ntolios Paschalis , Karkabounas Athanassios , Boti Vasiliki , Steiropoulos Paschalis , Karpathiou Georgia , Eleftheriadis Savvas , Froudarakis Marios E.
Published: November 2020

Background: Medical thoracoscopy is the gold standard for the diagnosis of pleural diseases. To date, no consensus exists regarding the choice of sedative and analgesic agents in patients undergoing local anesthetic thoracoscopy (LAT), and questions are raised as to whether sedatives may add to respiratory side effects. Objective: The aim of the study was to test the hypothesis that administration of midazolam associated with lidocaine versus lidocaine alone in patients with LAT adds to respiratory side effects. Methods: We randomly assigned 80 patients to a 1:1 study to 2 groups: local anesthesia by lidocaine (n = 40) versus lidocaine and midazolam (n = 40), with the primary end point being the mean lowest oxygen saturation. The secondary end points were cardiovascular parameters, complications, days of drainage, hospital stay, and patients’ quality of life (QoL) as assessed by a visual analog scale (VAS). Results: The mean age of all patients was 66.6 ± 13.1 years. The study comprised 50 males (62.5%). No difference was observed in the demographics between the 2 groups. No significant difference was observed between the 2 groups in oxygen saturation (primary end point). A significant difference was observed in favor of the midazolam group regarding the QoL assessed by VAS. Conclusion: Midazolam does not add to respiratory side effects when it is used with lidocaine for LAT, while patients’ QoL is actually improved in this group. Therefore, in our department, we changed our startegy in favor of the association of lidocaine and midazolam.
The Route of Infection Influences the Contribution of Key Immunity Genes to Antibacterial Defense in Anopheles gambiae
Authors: Dekmak Amira San , Yang Xiaowei , Zu Dohna Heinrich , Buchon Nicolas , Osta Mike A.
Published: November 2020

Insect systemic immune responses to bacterial infections have been mainly studied using microinjections, whereby the microbe is directly injected into the hemocoel. While this methodology has been instrumental in defining immune signaling pathways and enzymatic cascades in the hemolymph, it remains unclear whether and to what extent the contribution of systemic immune defenses to host microbial resistance varies if bacteria invade the hemolymph after crossing the midgut epithelium subsequent to an oral infection. Here, we address this question using the pathogenic Serratia marcescens (Sm) DB11 strain to establish systemic infections of the malaria vector Anopheles gambiae, either by septic Sm injections or by midgut crossing after feeding on Sm. Using functional genetic studies by RNAi, we report that the two humoral immune factors, thioester-containing protein 1 and C-type lectin 4, which play key roles in defense against Gram-negative bacterial infections, are essential for defense against systemic Sm infections established through injection, but they become dispensable when Sm infects the hemolymph following oral infection. Similar results were observed for the mosquito Rel2 pathway. Surprisingly, blocking phagocytosis by cytochalasin D treatment did not affect mosquito susceptibility to Sm infections established through either route. Transcriptomic analysis of mosquito midguts and abdomens by RNA-seq revealed that the transcriptional response in these tissues is more pronounced in response to feeding on Sm. Functional classification of differentially expressed transcripts identified metabolic genes as the most represented class in response to both routes of infection, while immune genes were poorly regulated in both routes. We also report that Sm oral infections are associated with significant downregulation of several immune genes belonging to different families, specifically the clip-domain serine protease family. In sum, our findings reveal that the route of infection not only alters the contribution of key immunity genes to host antimicrobial defense but is also associated with different transcriptional responses in midguts and abdomens, possibly reflecting different adaptive strategies of the host.
Prediction of Functional Outcome in Patients with Acute Stroke by Measuring tRNA Derivatives
Authors: Ishida Tomohisa , Inoue Takashi , Niizuma Kuniyasu , Konno Natsumi , Suzuki Chitose , Inoue Tomoo , Ezura Masayuki , Uenohara Hiroshi , Abe Takaaki , Tominaga Teiji
Published: November 2020

Background and Purpose: Transfer RNA (tRNA) is a noncoding RNA that delivers amino acids to ribosomes for protein synthesis. tRNA is also involved in cell stress response programs. Oxidative stress induces direct conformational change in tRNA structure that promotes subsequent tRNA fragmentation. Using an antibody against tRNA-specific modified nucleoside 1-methyladenosine (m1A), we can detect tRNA derivatives such as conformationally changed tRNA, tRNA-derived fragments, and mononucleotide-free m1A. Based on these findings, tRNA derivatives may have potential as an early tissue damage marker. The purpose of this study was to investigate the plasma tRNA derivatives in stroke patients to clarify whether tRNA derivatives in the acute phase can detect early brain damage and then predict the functional outcome. Methods: Patients (75 patients with ischemic and 66 with hemorrhagic stroke) and 22 healthy volunteers were prospectively enrolled for this study between November 2016 and February 2019. Plasma samples were collected within 24 h and at 1 day, 7 days, and 30 days from the onset. Plasma tRNA derivative concentrations were measured by ELISA kit using the anti-m1A antibody. Results: The plasma tRNA derivative level on admission was significantly increased in both ischemic (mean ± standard error, 232.2 ± 33.1 ng/mL) and hemorrhagic stroke patients (212 ± 23.4 ng/mL) compared to the healthy volunteers (86.0 ± 7.9 ng/mL) (p = 0.00042 and p = 0.00018, respectively). The infarction size (r = 0.445, p = 0.00018) and hematoma volumes (r = 0.33, p = 0.0072) were also significantly correlated with tRNA derivatives. The concentrations of tRNA derivatives were associated with poor functional outcome (Modified Rankin Scale score 3–6 at 30 days from the onset) in patients with ischemic stroke at 7 days after onset (p = 0.020). Conclusions: Stress-induced tRNA derivatives can detect brain tissue damage, predicting functional outcome in patients with ischemic stroke.
Perenidade contemporânea, precariedade humana
Authors: Garcia Wilton
Published: November 2020

Editorial sobre comunicação e tempos remotos.
Contando História através de Estória: Processo estoricizante e o storytelling como forma alternativa de transmissão de fatos históricos
Authors: Venancio Rafael Duarte Oliveira
Published: November 2020

O presente artigo deseja refletir acerca da condição da ficção histórica como forma alternativa de contar a História através de ficção, ou seja, de estórias. A partir de um debate acerca da tradição do storytelling e de suas possíveis tensões com a historiografia, há aqui a construção de um conceito teórico de nossa autoria: o processo estoricizante. Assim, o artigo se propõe tanto a definir o conceito, demonstrar sua existência em uma tradição brasileira e internacional de transmissão de fatos históricos, seja no jornalismo seja na literatura, bem como destacar algumas produções, inclusive do próprio autor que desenvolve pós-doutorado sobre o tema.
O automóvel como não lugar: construindo um significado para o fetiche da mercadoria, do jornalismo esportivo ao jornalismo automotivo
Authors: Quintanilha Sergio Robinson
Published: November 2020

O significado do automóvel foi reconfigurado pelas corridas de carro e depois pelo fordismo, acentuando o valor simbólico que carrega como mercadoria. Utilizando conceitos de fetiche em Marx e de supermodernidade em Augé, o autor passeia pelas relações do automóvel com o espaço para mostrar a divisão que houve no jornalismo especializado em carros. Na sociedade do excesso, enquanto o jornalismo esportivo cobre o automobilismo, que ele mesmo inventou, ao jornalismo automotivo cabe decifrar a ressignificação do automóvel.
Os trilhos abrem caminho para o futebol brasileiro
Authors: Cardoso Marcelo
Published: November 2020

Nacional: nos trilhos do futebol brasileiro, aborda a origem do esporte e a história do Nacional Atlético Clube, de São Paulo. O clube deriva do SP Railway Athletic Club, time ligado à empresa ferroviária inglesa onde trabalhava Charles Miller, “pai” do nosso ludopédio. Conta o autor, Leandro Massoni Ilhéu, que Miller organizou em São Paulo os primeiros jogos de futebol com regras. Ilhéu mostra características da sociedade nas primeiras décadas do século 20 por meio de subtemas como cultura, racismo, elitismo, urbanismo e imprensa, costurando-os a aspectos do futebol. A obra toca em histórias de conhecidos personagens do futebol que atuaram pelo Nacional como Jair Picerni, José Luiz Carbone e Rubens Minelli. Narrativas do livro revelam esperança, dificuldades e resiliência de funcionários, treinadores e jovens aspirantes a jogadores cujas vidas possuíram conexões com o clube em seus cem anos de história.
Luiz Maranhão Filho: um ícone do rádio brasileiro
Authors: Vaz Filho Pedro Serico
Published: November 2020

Luiz Beltrão Cavalcanti de Albuquerque Maranhão Filho, é pernambucano, nascido na capital Recife, em 01 de janeiro de 1933. Do pai herdou o nome e a vocação profissional. Ambos com atuação na centenária Rádio Clube de Pernambuco. A emissora tem como data de fundação o dia 06 de abril de 1919. Foi na citada estação de rádio, que o pai, diretor de dramaturgia, contava com o filho para interpretar vozes infantis nos radiodramas que produzia. Os primeiros passos do então garoto, rumo à profissão, foram iniciados no ano de 1940, de onde a caminhada não mais parou. Tornou-se dramaturgo, jornalista, advogado, professor universitário, doutor em comunicação e autor de trinta livros. Sendo que a atividade de escritor prossegue, assim como o trabalho no cargo de presidente do Instituto Histórico de Olinda.
Abstract 17185: Burden and Prognostic Significance of Thrombocytopenia in the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit: Insights From the Critical Care Cardiology Trials Network (CCCTN) Registry
Authors: Leiva Orly , Silva Danuzia S , Berg David , Guo Jianping , Baird-Zars Vivian , Levangie Michael W , Bohula Erin A , Morrow David A
Published: November 2020

Introduction:
Thrombocytopenia is associated with poor outcomes in general medical intensive care unit (ICU) populations; however, the burden and prognostic significance of thrombocytopenia in cardiac ICU (CICU) populations have not been rigorously studied.

Methods:
The Critical Care Cardiology Trials Network (CCCTN) is an investigator-initiated multicenter network of CICUs (n=25) in North America. Consecutive admissions to the CICU during annual snapshots (mostly 2 months) were submitted to the coordinating center (TIMI Study Group, Boston, MA) between September 2017 and September 2019. Patients were stratified by platelet counts on admission to the CICU and nadir platelet counts. Thrombocytopenia was classified as mild (100-149 K/uL), moderate (50-99 K/uL), or severe (<50 K/uL).

Results:
Of 8206 CICU admissions with complete laboratory data, 21.7% had thrombocytopenia (platelets <150 K/uL) on admission and 38.4% had thrombocytopenia at any point during their CICU course (
Fig-left
). Among those with normal platelet counts on admission (n=6423), 21.3% developed thrombocytopenia during their CICU course. Patients with thrombocytopenia on admission were more likely to have active cancer, underlying liver disease, and CKD as compared to those who did not (each p<0.001). Among patients with cardiogenic shock (n=1478), 56.8% had thrombocytopenia (mild: 28.6%; moderate: 19.4%; severe: 8.9%). Among patients managed with mechanical circulatory support (MCS) (n=926), 65.0% had thrombocytopenia (mild: 27.0%; moderate: 24.3%; severe: 13.7%). There were stepwise gradients of increasing CICU and in-hospital mortality associated with lower nadir platelet counts (p-trend <0.001) (
Fig-right
).

Conclusions:
Thrombocytopenia is common in CICU patients, including more than half of patients with cardiogenic shock and those managed with MCS. Thrombocytopenia is an adverse prognostic marker in CICU patients.
VEGF-B Promotes Endocardium-Derived Coronary Vessel Development and Cardiac Regeneration
Authors: Räsänen Markus , Sultan Ibrahim , Paech Jennifer , Hemanthakumar Karthik Amudhala , Yu Wei , He Liqun , Tang Juan , Sun Ying , Hlushchuk Ruslan , Huan Xiuzheng , Armstrong Emma , Khoma Oleksiy-Zakhar , Mervaala Eero , Djonov Valentin , Betsholtz Christer , Zhou Bin , Kivelä Riikka , Alitalo Kari
Published: November 2020

Background:

Recent discoveries have indicated that, in the developing heart, sinus venosus and endocardium provide major sources of endothelium for coronary vessel growth that supports the expanding myocardium. Here we set out to study the origin of the coronary vessels that develop in response to vascular endothelial growth factor B (VEGF-B) in the heart and the effect of VEGF-B on recovery from myocardial infarction.

Methods:

We used mice and rats expressing a VEGF-B transgene, VEGF-B-gene–deleted mice and rats, apelin-CreERT, and natriuretic peptide receptor 3–CreERT recombinase-mediated genetic cell lineage tracing and viral vector–mediated VEGF-B gene transfer in adult mice. Left anterior descending coronary vessel ligation was performed, and 5-ethynyl-2’-deoxyuridine–mediated proliferating cell cycle labeling; flow cytometry; histological, immunohistochemical, and biochemical methods; single-cell RNA sequencing and subsequent bioinformatic analysis; microcomputed tomography; and fluorescent- and tracer-mediated vascular perfusion imaging analyses were used to study the development and function of the VEGF-B–induced vessels in the heart.

Results:

We show that cardiomyocyte overexpression of VEGF-B in mice and rats during development promotes the growth of novel vessels that originate directly from the cardiac ventricles and maintain connection with the coronary vessels in subendocardial myocardium. In adult mice, endothelial proliferation induced by VEGF-B gene transfer was located predominantly in the subendocardial coronary vessels. Furthermore, VEGF-B gene transduction before or concomitantly with ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery promoted endocardium-derived vessel development into the myocardium and improved cardiac tissue remodeling and cardiac function.

Conclusions:

The myocardial VEGF-B transgene promotes the formation of endocardium-derived coronary vessels during development, endothelial proliferation in subendocardial myocardium in adult mice, and structural and functional rescue of cardiac tissue after myocardial infarction. VEGF-B could provide a new therapeutic strategy for cardiac neovascularization after coronary occlusion to rescue the most vulnerable myocardial tissue.
Integrative taxonomy of Meloidogyne graminicola populations with different esterase phenotypes parasitising rice in Brazil
Authors: Soares Mayra R.C. , Mattos Vanessa S. , Leite Raycenne R. , Gomes Ana Cristina M.M. , Gomes Cesar Bauer , Castagnone-Sereno Philippe , Dias-Arieira Claudia R. , Carneiro Regina M.D.G.
Published: November 2020

The rice root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne graminicola, has been reported in Southeast Asia, China, India, South Africa, USA, Brazil, and other countries. Recent surveys in Southern Brazil showed that M. graminicola was widespread in irrigated rice in Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina and Paraná states, and the presence of a species complex with a predominance of M. graminicola (Est VS1 = G1) and other variants showing similar esterase phenotypes (Est G2 = R2, G3 = R3). Meloidogyne oryzae (Est O1) and M. ottersoni (Est Ot0) were also part of this complex and were recently re-described and detected on rice. The present study provides an integrative taxonomy approach of the typical and atypical populations of M. graminicola on the basis of morphological, morphometric and molecular data. Considering morphological and morphometric features, the two atypical populations (Est G2 and G3) are in close agreement with the description of M. graminicola. Based on the molecular characterisation, populations G1, G2 and G3 were successfully amplified by M. graminicola SCAR markers, although the specificity of these markers was questioned. Phylogenetic relationships complemented and confirmed the other studies. In maximum likelihood analysis of ITS, D2-D3 rRNA and COXII-16S rRNA sequences, all populations of M. graminicola from different esterase phenotypes clustered together with other M. graminicola populations, thus confirming that these enzyme phenotypes (G1, G2 and G3) are related to the same species. A high level of intraspecific variability was detected among all populations, but no correlation between genetic variability and geographic origins occurred.
Bio-protective effect of a root-nodulating Rhizobium etli strain in common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) against Meloidogyne incognita and Radopholus similis in an in vitro autotrophic tripartite culture system
Authors: Van der Veken Lieselot , Win Pa Pa , Seeboruth Preeti , Cabasan Ma. Teodora N. , Swennen Rony , Elsen Annemie , De Waele Dirk
Published: November 2020

The bio-protective effect of a root-nodulating strain (CNPAF 512) of the nitrogen-fixing rhizobium, Rhizobium etli, against both a sedentary (Meloidogyne incognita) and a migratory (Radopholus similis) endoparasitic nematode in common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) was examined using an in vitro autotrophic tripartite culture system. Two in vitro assays were carried out with each of the nematode species. Each assay consisted of two treatments: the plants were either inoculated with the rhizobial strain or remained non-inoculated (control plants). To examine the effect of either pre- or simultaneous inoculation of the rhizobial strain on the reproduction of M. incognita and R. similis, one assay was carried out in which the nematodes were inoculated 3 weeks after rhizobial inoculation while another assay was carried out in which the nematodes were inoculated simultaneously with the rihizobial strain. Both pre-inoculation and simultaneous inoculation with R. etli CNPAF 512 significantly suppressed the reproduction of both M. incognita and R. similis.
Morphological and molecular characterisation of Punctodera mulveyi n. sp. (Nematoda: Punctoderidae) from a golf course green in Oregon, USA, with a key to species of Punctodera
Authors: Kantor Mihail R. , Handoo Zafar A. , Skantar Andrea M. , Hult Maria N. , Ingham Russell E. , Wade Nadine M. , Ye Weimin , Bauchan Gary R. , Mowery Joseph D.
Published: November 2020

Punctodera mulveyi n. sp. is described and illustrated from turf grass (Poa annua) in golf course greens with other fescues in Bandon, Coos County, Oregon, USA. Females and cysts are characterised by a saccate, globose to ovoid or pear-shaped body with a protruding neck. The cuticle has a lace-like pattern of ridges and heavy punctations on the subsurface. Cysts have distinctive vulval and anal circumfenestral patterns with heavy bullae scattered around the fenestral area, these being absent in young cysts. Second-stage juveniles (J2) vermiform, tapering to a long and cylindrical tail with a bluntly rounded to occasionally clavate tail terminus. Morphologically the new species resembles all known species of Punctodera using both light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy observations, but differs from the other species either by the J2 body and stylet length, shape of head, tail and tail terminus, female and male stylet or spicule length, and in having distinctive vulval and anal circumfenestral patterns in the cysts. Molecular analysis with sequence alignments and phylogenetic trees of ITS rDNA, nuclear heat shock protein 90 and mitochondrial COI sequences separated P. mulveyi n. sp. from P. matadorensis, P. punctata, P. stonei and P. chalcoensis, but 18S and 28S were relatively conserved with a few bp differences and there were insufficient Punctodera species sequences to give strong support to a new species designation. A morphologically most closely related species, P. stonei from Canada, further supported the status of P. mulveyi n. sp. An identification key to all five nominal species of Punctodera is given.
Addressing Armed Opposition Groups through Security Council Resolutions: A New Paradigm?
Authors: Heffes Ezequiel , Kotlik Marcos D. , Frenkel Brian E.
Published: November 2020

In the last few decades, the un Security Council has increasingly implemented enforcement measures in the context of many non-international armed conflicts. Both in those cases and in international conflicts, certain resolutions explicitly impose rights and obligations upon all the parties, without making a legal distinction between States and non-State actors, including armed opposition groups.

This paper aims to explain some consequences of the approach adopted by the Security Council. Mainly, two issues are dealt with: (a) how does the Security Council address armed opposition groups and to what extent its resolutions impose rights and obligations upon them; (b) if these non-State actors are in fact bound by those resolutions and why. In order to achieve an explanation that grasps the complexity of these issues, the article adopts a systemic approach, which includes the application of the principle of equality of belligerents to Security Council resolutions.