bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Microbial community dynamics in mesophilic and thermophilic batch reactors under methanogenic, phenyl acid-forming conditions
Authors: Prem Eva Maria , Stres Blaz , Illmer Paul , Wagner Andreas Otto
Published: May 2020

Background

Proteinaceous wastes exhibit high theoretical methane yields and their residues are considered valuable fertilisers. The routine anaerobic degradation of proteins often raises problems like high aromatic compound concentrations caused by the entry of aromatic amino acids into the system. A profound investigation of the consequences of aromatic compound exposure on various microorganisms, which cascade-like and interdependently degrade complex molecules to biogas, is still pending.

Results

In mesophilic samples, methane was predominantly produced via acetoclastic methanogenesis. The highest positive correlation was observed between phenylacetate (PAA) and Psychrobacter spp. and between phenylpropionate (PPA) and Haloimpatiens spp. Moreover, Syntrophus spp. negatively correlated with PAA (Spearman’s rank correlations coefficient (rs) = − 0.46, p < 0.05) and PPA concentrations (rs = − 0.44, p < 0.05) and was also associated with anaerobic benzene ring cleavage. In thermophilic samples, acetate was predominantly oxidised by Tepidanaerobacter spp. or Syntrophaceticus spp. in syntrophic association with a hydrogenotrophic methanogen. The genera Sedimentibacter and Syntrophaceticus correlated positively with both PAA and PPA concentrations. Moreover, Sedimentibacter spp., Tepidanaerobacter spp., Acetomicrobium spp., and Sporanaerobacter spp. were significant LEfSe (linear discriminant analysis effect size) biomarkers for high meso- as well as thermophilic phenyl acid concentrations. Direct negative effects of phenyl acids on methanogenic properties could not be proven.

Conclusions

Anaerobic phenyl acid formation is not restricted to specific microbial taxa, but rather done by various meso- and thermophilic bacteria. The cleavage of the highly inert benzene ring is possible in methanogenic batch reactors—at least in mesophilic fermentation processes. The results indicated that phenyl acids rather affect microorganisms engaged in preceding degradation steps than the ones involved in methanogenesis.
Impact of deltamethrin selection on kdr mutations and insecticide detoxifying enzymes in Aedes aegypti from Mexico
Authors: Contreras-Perera Yamili , Ponce-Garcia Gustavo , Villanueva-Segura Karina , Lopez-Monroy Beatriz , Rodríguez-Sanchez Iram P. , Lenhart Audrey , Manrique-Saide Pablo , Flores Adriana E.
Published: May 2020

Background

Insecticide resistance is a serious problem for vector control programmes worldwide. Resistance is commonly attributed to mutations at the insecticide’s target site or increased activity of detoxification enzymes.

Methods

We determined the knockdown concentration (KC50) and lethal concentration (LC50) of deltamethrin in six natural populations of adult Aedes aegypti from southeastern Mexico. These populations were then selected over five generations using the LC50 from the preceding generation that underwent selection, and the heritability of deltamethrin resistance was quantified. For each generation, we also determined the frequency of the kdr alleles L410, I1016 and C1534, and the levels of activity of three enzyme families (α- and β-esterases, mixed-function oxidases and glutathione S-transferases (GST)) associated with insecticide detoxification.

Results

There was an increase in KC50 and LC50 values in the subsequent generations of selection with deltamethrin (FS5vs FS0). According to the resistance ratios (RRs), we detected increases in LC50 ranging from 1.5 to 5.6 times the values of the parental generation and in KC50 ranging from 1.3–3.8 times the values of the parental generation. Triple homozygous mutant individuals (tri-locus, LL/II/CC) were present in the parental generations and increased in frequency after selection. The frequency of L410 increased from 1.18-fold to 2.63-fold after selection with deltamethrin (FS5vs FS0) in the populations analyzed; for I1016 an increase between 1.19-fold to 2.79-fold was observed, and C1534 was fixed in all populations after deltamethrin selection. Enzymatic activity varied significantly over the generations of selection. However, only α- esterase activity remained elevated in multiple populations after five generations of deltamethrin selection. We observed an increase in the mean activity levels of GSTs in two of the six populations analyzed.

Conclusions

The high levels of resistance and their association with high frequencies of kdr mutations (V410L, V1016I and F1534C) obtained through artificial selection, suggest an important role of these mutations in conferring resistance to deltamethrin. We highlight the need to implement strategies that involve the monitoring of kdr frequencies in insecticide resistance monitoring and management programmes.
Chagas vectors Panstrongylus chinai (Del Ponte, 1929) and Panstrongylus howardi (Neiva, 1911): chromatic forms or true species?
Authors: Villacís Anita G. , Dujardin Jean-Pierre , Panzera Francisco , Yumiseva César A. , Pita Sebastián , Santillán-Guayasamín Soledad , Orozco Marco I. , Mosquera Katherine D. , Grijalva Mario J.
Published: May 2020

Background

Chagas disease is a parasitic infection transmitted by “kissing bugs” (Hemiptera: Reduviidae: Triatominae) that has a huge economic impact in Latin American countries. The vector species with the upmost epidemiological importance in Ecuador are Rhodnius ecuadoriensis (Lent & Leon, 1958) and Triatoma dimidiata (Latreille, 1811). However, other species such as Panstrongylus howardi (Neiva, 1911) and Panstrongylus chinai (Del Ponte, 1929) act as secondary vectors due to their growing adaptation to domestic structures and their ability to transmit the parasite to humans. The latter two taxa are distributed in two different regions, they are allopatric and differ mainly by their general color. Their relative morphological similarity led some authors to suspect that P. chinai is a melanic form of P. howardi.

Methods

The present study explored this question using different approaches: antennal phenotype; geometric morphometrics of heads, wings and eggs; cytogenetics; molecular genetics; experimental crosses; and ecological niche modeling.

Results

The antennal morphology, geometric morphometrics of head and wing shape and cytogenetic analysis were unable to show distinct differences between the two taxa. However, geometric morphometrics of the eggs, molecular genetics, ecological niche modeling and experimental crosses including chromosomal analyses of the F1 hybrids, in addition to their coloration and current distribution support the hypothesis that P. chinai and P. howardi are separate species.

Conclusions

Based on the evidence provided here, P. howardi and P. chinai should not be synonymized. They represent two valid, closely related species.
Safety and efficacy of a new spot-on formulation of selamectin plus sarolaner in the treatment and control of naturally occurring flea infestations in cats presented as veterinary patients in Australia
Authors: Packianathan Raj , Pittorino Melissa , Hodge Andrew , Bruellke Natalie , Graham Kelly
Published: May 2020

Background

The safety and efficacy of a new spot-on formulation of selamectin plus sarolaner were evaluated for the treatment and control of natural flea infestations on cats in two non-randomised, multi-centre clinical trials conducted in 8 different locations in Queensland, Australia.

Methods

One hundred and four cats from 65 different households were enrolled across the two studies. Demographic characteristics of cats in the two studies were similar. The new spot-on formulation of selamectin and sarolaner was administered topically once a month for 3 consecutive months at a minimum dosage of 6 mg/kg selamectin (dose range 6–12 mg/kg) plus 1 mg/kg sarolaner (dose range 1–2 mg/kg). Cats were dosed on Days 0 (pre-treatment), 30 and 60 and physical examinations and flea counts were conducted on Days 0, 30, 60 and 90. Efficacy assessments were based on the percentage reduction in live flea counts post-treatment compared to Day 0.

Results

In Study A, at enrolment, primary cats had flea counts ranging from 6 to 107 (arithmetic mean 21.0). The selamectin and sarolaner spot-on formulation resulted in arithmetic mean efficacy of 98.0%, 100% and 100% on Days 30, 60 and 90, respectively. In Study B, at enrolment, primary cats had flea counts ranging from 6 to 22 (arithmetic mean 10.0). The selamectin and sarolaner spot-on formulation resulted in arithmetic mean efficacy of 99.7%, 100% and 100% on Days 30, 60 and 90, respectively.

Conclusions

The new spot-on formulation of selamectin plus sarolaner topically administered at monthly intervals at the minimum dosage of 6.0 mg/kg selamectin and 1.0 mg/kg sarolaner was safe and highly effective against natural infestations of fleas under a range of geographical conditions, representative of both tropical and subtropical regions of Australia.
Identification of RAG-like transposons in protostomes suggests their ancient bilaterian origin
Authors: Martin Eliza C. , Vicari Célia , Tsakou-Ngouafo Louis , Pontarotti Pierre , Petrescu Andrei J. , Schatz David G.
Published: May 2020

Background

V(D) J recombination is essential for adaptive immunity in jawed vertebrates and is initiated by the RAG1-RAG2 endonuclease. The RAG1 and RAG2 genes are thought to have evolved from a RAGL (RAG-like) transposon containing convergently-oriented RAG1-like (RAG1L) and RAG2-like (RAG2L) genes. Elements resembling this presumptive evolutionary precursor have thus far only been detected convincingly in deuterostomes, leading to the model that the RAGL transposon first appeared in an early deuterostome.

Results

We have identified numerous RAGL transposons in the genomes of protostomes, including oysters and mussels (phylum Mollusca) and a ribbon worm (phylum Nemertea), and in the genomes of several cnidarians. Phylogenetic analyses are consistent with vertical evolution of RAGL transposons within the Bilateria clade and with its presence in the bilaterian ancestor. Many of the RAGL transposons identified in protostomes are intact elements containing convergently oriented RAG1L and RAG2L genes flanked by terminal inverted repeats (TIRs) and target site duplications with striking similarities with the corresponding elements in deuterostomes. In addition, protostome genomes contain numerous intact RAG1L-RAG2L adjacent gene pairs that lack detectable flanking TIRs. Domains and critical active site and structural amino acids needed for endonuclease and transposase activity are present and conserved in many of the predicted RAG1L and RAG2L proteins encoded in protostome genomes.

Conclusions

Active RAGL transposons were present in multiple protostome lineages and many were likely transmitted vertically during protostome evolution. It appears that RAGL transposons were broadly active during bilaterian evolution, undergoing multiple duplication and loss/fossilization events, with the RAGL genes that persist in present day protostomes perhaps constituting both active RAGL transposons and domesticated RAGL genes. Our findings raise the possibility that the RAGL transposon arose earlier in evolution than previously thought, either in an early bilaterian or prior to the divergence of bilaterians and non-bilaterians, and alter our understanding of the evolutionary history of this important group of transposons.
The cholinergic system in subtypes of Alzheimer’s disease: an in vivo longitudinal MRI study
Authors:   for the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative, Machado Alejandra , Ferreira Daniel , Grothe Michel J. , Eyjolfsdottir Helga , Almqvist Per M. , Cavallin Lena , Lind Göran , Linderoth Bengt , Seiger Åke , Teipel Stefan , Wahlberg Lars U. , Wahlund Lars-Olof , Westman Eric , Eriksdotter Maria
Published: May 2020

Background

The heterogeneity within Alzheimer’s disease (AD) seriously challenges the development of disease-modifying treatments. We investigated volume of the basal forebrain, hippocampus, and precuneus in atrophy subtypes of AD and explored the relevance of subtype stratification in a small clinical trial on encapsulated cell biodelivery (ECB) of nerve growth factor (NGF) to the basal forebrain.

Methods

Structural MRI data was collected for 90 amyloid-positive patients and 69 amyloid-negative healthy controls at baseline, 6-, 12-, and 24-month follow-up. The effect of the NGF treatment was investigated in 10 biopsy-verified AD patients with structural MRI data at baseline and at 6- or 12-month follow-up. Patients were classified as typical, limbic-predominant, hippocampal-sparing, or minimal atrophy AD, using a validated visual assessment method. Volumetric analyses were performed using a region-of-interest approach.

Results

All AD subtypes showed reduced basal forebrain volume as compared with the healthy controls. The limbic-predominant subtype showed the fastest basal forebrain atrophy rate, whereas the minimal atrophy subtype did not show any significant volume decline over time. Atrophy rates of the hippocampus and precuneus also differed across subtypes. Our preliminary data from the small NGF cohort suggest that the NGF treatment seemed to slow the rate of atrophy in the precuneus and hippocampus in some hippocampal-sparing AD patients and in one typical AD patient.

Conclusions

The cholinergic system is differentially affected in distinct atrophy subtypes of AD. Larger studies in the future should confirm that this differential involvement of the cholinergic system may contribute to subtype-specific response to cholinergic treatment. Our preliminary findings suggest that future clinical trials should target specific subtypes of AD, or at least report treatment effects stratified by subtype.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01163825. Registered 14 July 2010.
Tsc1 haploinsufficiency in Nkx2.1 cells upregulates hippocampal interneuron mTORC1 activity, impairs pyramidal cell synaptic inhibition, and alters contextual fear discrimination and spatial working memory in mice
Authors: Haji Nabila , Riebe Ilse , Aguilar-Valles Argel , Artinian Julien , Laplante Isabel , Lacaille Jean-Claude
Published: May 2020

Background

Mutations in TSC1 or TSC2 genes cause tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC), a disorder associated with epilepsy, autism, and intellectual disability. TSC1 and TSC2 are repressors of the mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1), a key regulator of protein synthesis. Dysregulation of mTORC1 in TSC mouse models leads to impairments in excitation-inhibition balance, synaptic plasticity, and hippocampus-dependent learning and memory deficits. However, synaptic inhibition arises from multiple types of inhibitory interneurons and how changes in specific interneurons contribute to TSC remains largely unknown. In the present work, we determined the effect of conditional Tsc1 haploinsufficiency in a specific subgroup of inhibitory cells on hippocampal function in mice.

Methods

We investigated the consequences of conditional heterozygous knockout of Tsc1 in MGE-derived inhibitory cells by crossing Nkx2.1Cre/wt;Tsc1f/f mice. We examined the changes in mTORC1 activity and synaptic transmission in hippocampal cells, as well as hippocampus-related cognitive tasks.

Results

We detected selective increases in phosphorylation of ribosomal protein S6 in interneurons, indicating cell-specific-upregulated mTORC1 signaling. At the behavioral level, Nkx2.1Cre/wt;Tsc1f/wt mice exhibited intact contextual fear memory, but impaired contextual fear discrimination. They displayed intact spatial learning and reference memory but impairment in spatial working memory. Whole-cell recordings in hippocampal slices of Nkx2.1Cre/wt;Tsc1f/wt mice showed intact basic membrane properties, as well as miniature excitatory and inhibitory synaptic transmission, in pyramidal and Nkx2.1-expressing inhibitory cells. Using optogenetic activation of Nkx2.1 interneurons in slices of Nkx2.1Cre/wt;Tsc1f/wt mice, we found a decrease in synaptic inhibition of pyramidal cells. Chronic, but not acute treatment, with the mTORC1 inhibitor rapamycin reversed the impairment in synaptic inhibition.

Conclusions

Our results indicate that Tsc1 haploinsufficiency in MGE-derived inhibitory cells upregulates mTORC1 activity in these interneurons, reduces their synaptic inhibition of pyramidal cells, and alters contextual fear discrimination and spatial working memory. Thus, selective dysregulation of mTORC1 function in Nkx2.1-expressing inhibitory cells appears sufficient to impair synaptic inhibition and contributes to cognitive deficits in the Tsc1 mouse model of TSC.
Real-world experience with doxorubicin and olaratumab in soft tissue sarcomas in England and Northern Ireland
Authors: Gennatas Spyridon , Chamberlain Florence , Carter Thomas , Slater Susanna , Cojocaru Elena , Lambourn Beth , Stansfeld Anna , Todd Radha , Verrill Mark , Ali Nasim , Jones Robin L. , Simmonds Peter , Keay Nicola , McCarty Heather , Strauss Sandra , Karavasilis Vassilios , Dileo Palma , Benson Charlotte
Published: May 2020

Background

A randomised phase II trial demonstrated that the addition of olaratumab to doxorubicin significantly increased overall survival (OS) in patients with advanced soft tissue sarcomas (STS) compared to doxorubicin alone. The recently presented phase III study of doxorubicin and olaratumab in advanced soft tissue sarcoma was discordant with this finding.

Methods

We performed a retrospective analysis of adult patients with advanced-/metastatic STS treated with at least two cycles of doxorubicin and olaratumab at eight sarcoma units across England and Northern Ireland between May 2017 and March 2019.

Results

172 patients were evaluable and 40 patients (23.3%) had died at the time of analysis. Median ECOG performance status (PS) was 1. Median progression free survival (PFS) was 6.8 months (95% CI 5.9–7.7 months). Leiomyosarcoma was the most common histological subtype (75 patients, 43.6%), followed by liposarcomas (19, 11.0%). The mean number of cycles was 5 (doxorubicin range 2–6; olaratumab range 2–23). Two patients (1.2%) had a complete response and 34 (19.8%) had a partial response. 79 (45.9%) had stable and 58 (33.7%) progressive disease. 57 patients (33.1%) experienced grade ≥ 3 neutropenia and 7 patients (4.1%) grade ≥ 3 febrile neutropenia. Grade ≥ 3 anaemia was seen in 21 patients (12.2%). Grade ≥ 3 non-haematological toxicities were seen in 35 patients (20.3%). A clinically significant drop in left ventricular ejection fraction was seen in 6 patients (3.5%). 48 patients (27.9%) required a dose reduction. Overall survival (OS) is pending.

Conclusions

Our results are in keeping with the phase III study findings: response rate, PFS and OS were similar to those reported in the phase III ANNOUNCE trial.
New Hermite–Hadamard type inequalities for n-polynomial harmonically convex functions
Authors: Awan Muhammad Uzair , Akhtar Nousheen , Iftikhar Sabah , Noor Muhammad Aslam , Chu Yu-Ming
Published: May 2020

In the article, we introduce a class of n-polynomial harmonically convex functions, establish their several new Hermite–Hadamard type inequalities which are the generalizations and variants of the previously known results for harmonically convex functions.
Initial boundary value problem for generalized Zakharov equations with nonlinear function terms
Authors: Wang Xueqin , Shang Yadong , Lei Chunlin
Published: May 2020

In this paper, we consider the initial boundary value problem for generalized Zakharov equations. Firstly, we prove the existence and uniqueness of the global smooth solution to the problem by a priori integral estimates, the Galerkin method, and compactness theory. Furthermore, we discuss the approximation limit of the global solution when the coefficient of the strong nonlinear term tends to zero.
A novel time efficient structure-preserving splitting method for the solution of two-dimensional reaction-diffusion systems
Authors: Ahmed Nauman , Korkmaz Alper , Rafiq M. , Baleanu Dumitru , Alshomrani Ali Saleh , Rehman M. A. , Iqbal M. S.
Published: May 2020

In this article, the first part is concerned with the important questions related to the existence and uniqueness of solutions for nonlinear reaction-diffusion systems. Secondly, an efficient positivity-preserving operator splitting nonstandard finite difference scheme (NSFD) is designed for such a class of systems. The presented formulation is unconditionally stable as well as implicit in nature and even time efficient. The proposed NSFD operator splitting technique also preserves all the important properties possessed by continuous systems like positivity, convergence to the fixed points of the system, and boundedness. The proposed algorithm is implicit in nature but more efficient in time than the extensively used Euler method.
Is there prejudice from thin air? Replicating the effect of emotion on automatic intergroup attitudes
Authors: Dang Junhua , Ekim Zeynep E. , Ohlsson Sarah , Schiöth Helgi B.
Published: May 2020

Background

Previous studies showed that anger, rather than sadness, created automatic intergroup bias in a minimal group context.

Methods

The current research reports a single study (N = 99) aiming to replicate this finding and further to test whether the intergroup bias manifests as ingroup favoritism, outgroup derogation, or both.

Results

Our results failed to replicate the effect of anger on automatic bias. Intriguingly, participants across all emotion conditions exhibited high level of ingroup favoritism, but there was little evidence of outgroup derogation.

Conclusion

These results suggest that, when there is no competition or conflict between groups, individuals, even in a bad emotional state such as anger, generally show ingroup love rather than outgroup hate.
MRI visibility of the anterolateral ligament and the deep structures of the iliotibial tract
Authors: Liebensteiner Michael , Runer Armin , Kranewitter Christof , Nachtigal Philipp , Giesinger Johannes , Dammerer Dietmar , Henninger Benjamin
Published: May 2020

Purpose

The visualization of potentially injured anatomical structures is crucial. Lately the anterolateral ligament (ALL) and the deep structures of the iliotibial tract (ITT) have been of increased clinical interest because of their role as important lateral stabilizers of the knee. The aim of this study was to assess the visibility of the ALL and the deep structures of the ITT using MRI. Good intra- and inter-observer reproducibility was hypothesized.

Methods

Knee MRI data from patients without ligamentous lesions were retrospectively analyzed by two radiologists at two time points using axial and coronal sequences. The visibility of the different parts of the ALL (femoral, meniscal and tibial part) and of the deep ITT, namely the deep attachments of the ITT to the distal femur and capsulo-osseous layer of the ITT, were determined on a binary (yes/no) basis.

Results

Seventy-one cases (42 men, 29 women) were studied. Inter-observer agreement was high. Cohen’s kappa was 0.97 for the tibial part of the ALL and 0.76 for the femoral part. For the deep attachments of the ITT to the distal femur Cohen’s kappa was 0.94. For each of the investigated parameters absolute agreement between the observers was at least 88%. Regarding intra-observer agreement Cohen’s kappa was 0.62 for the femoral part of the ALL and 0.85 for the tibial part of the ALL. For the deep attachments of the ITT to the distal femur Cohen’s kappa was 0.94. For each investigated parameter absolute agreement between the two time points was at least 83%.

Conclusions

The presence of the anterolateral structures of the knee can be determined with substantial inter- and intra-observer agreement using MRI examination. This is applicable for both the ALL and the deep ITT.

Level of evidence

Diagnostic study – Level III.
In vitro regeneration and molecular characterization of Jatropha curcas plant
Authors: El-Sayed Mohamed , Aly Usama I. , Mohamed Mervat S. , Rady Mohamed R.
Published: May 2020

Background and objective

A simple, rapid, efficient, and reproducible protocol for callus induction and regeneration of plantlets from callus of Jatropha curcas plant was established.

Materials and methods

Randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and inter simple sequence repeat (ISSR) analyses were used to determine the genetic variation between the regenerated, micropropagated, and mother plants.

Results

The highest callus induction percentage from leaf explant was recorded with MS medium containing 2.5 mg/l BA (6-benzylaminopurine) + 1.0 mg/l NAA (1-naphthaleneacetic acid). Leaf-derived callus was grown on medium containing 2.0 mg/l BA + 0.2 mg/l IBA (indole-3-butyric acid) for adventitious shoot regeneration. In addition, using five random RAPD primers with the tested samples produced 117 amplified products out of which 25 were polymorphic bands resulting in 21.37% polymorphism, whereas the five ISSR primers used yielded 116 scorable bands out of which 22 were polymorphic bands producing a polymorphism pecentage of 18.96.

Conclusion

An optimized protocol for large-scale production of J. curcas plants using plant biotechnology tools was achieved. RAPD and ISSR techniques would introduce an alternative system for large-scale production and establishment of genetically stable plants.
Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) in breast fibroadenoma
Authors: El-Essawy Manar , AL Haidary Amal , Khan Abdul Latif
Published: May 2020

Background

Fibroadenoma is the most common benign tumor; although malignant, changes are rare. Any changes or increase in size should be evaluated thoroughly to exclude any malignant formation.

Case presentation

A 25-year-old female presenting to our department complaining of enlargement of the previously stable mass underwent imaging assessment and biopsy which revealed ductal carcinoma in situ changes developed in a fibroadenoma.

Conclusion

Although malignant changes in a fibroadenoma are rare, biopsy of increasing size fibroadenoma is advised to avoid missing any malignant changes; the incidence is more in the complex fibroadenoma.
Anesthesia Management for Pediatric Patient With Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Type 2B: A Case Report
Authors: Allahyar Arrash E. , Liang Xiaomin , Vollers James M. , de Armendi Alberto J.
Published: May 2020

Administering anesthesia to patients with pheochromocytoma may cause an exacerbation of catecholamine secretion from the pheochromocytoma secondary to drug administration, stress, or manipulation of the tumor. We present a pediatric patient with undiagnosed multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2B (pheochromocytoma, thyroid carcinoma, and mucosal neuromas), initially diagnosed and treated for postviral myocarditis and cardiomyopathy, who presented for abdominal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) under general anesthesia. Untreated cardiomyopathy poses an extra anesthesia mortality risk for patients with pheochromocytoma usually due to myocardial failure, myocardial infarction, or hypertensive hemorrhage into the myocardium or brain.
LIN28A binds to meiotic gene transcripts and modulates their translation in male germ cells
Authors: Wang Mei , Yu Luping , Wang Shu , Yang Fan , Wang Min , Li Lufan , Wu Xin
Published: May 2020

The RNA-binding protein LIN28A is required for maintaining tissue homeostasis, including in the reproductive system, but the underlying mechanisms on how LIN28A regulates germline progenitors remain unclear. Here, we dissected LIN28A-binding targets using high-throughput sequencing of RNAs isolated by crosslinking immunoprecipitation (HITS-CLIP) in the mouse testes. LIN28A preferentially binds to mRNA coding sequence (CDS) or 3′UTR regions at sites enriched with GGAG(A) sequences. Further investigation of Lin28a-null mouse testes indicated that meiosis-associated mRNAs bound by LIN28A were differentially expressed. Next, ribosome profiling revealed that the mRNA levels of these targets were significantly reduced in the polysome fractions, and their protein expression levels decreased, in Lin28a-null mouse testes, even when meiotic arrest in the null mouse testes was not apparent. Collectively, these findings provide a set of LIN28A-regulated target mRNAs, and show that LIN28A binding might be a mechanism through which LIN28A acts to regulate undifferentiated spermatogonia fates and male fertility in mammals.
Body temperature maintenance acclimates in a winter-tenacious songbird
Authors: Stager Maria , Senner Nathan R. , Tobalske Bret W. , Cheviron Zachary A.
Published: May 2020

Flexibility in heat generation and dissipation mechanisms provides endotherms the ability to match their thermoregulatory strategy with external demands. However, the degree to which these two mechanisms account for seasonal changes in body temperature regulation is little explored. Here we present novel data on the regulation of avian body temperature to investigate how birds alter mechanisms of heat production and heat conservation to deal with variation in ambient conditions. We subjected Dark-eyed Juncos (Junco hyemalis) to chronic cold acclimations of varying duration and subsequently quantified their metabolic rates, thermal conductance, and ability to maintain normothermia. Cold-acclimated birds adjusted traits related to both heat generation (increased summit metabolic rate) and heat conservation (decreased conductance) to improve their body temperature regulation. Increases in summit metabolic rate occurred rapidly, but plateaued after one week of cold exposure. In contrast, changes to conductance occurred only after nine weeks of cold exposure. Thus, the ability to maintain body temperature continued to improve throughout the experiment, but the mechanisms underlying this improvement changed through time. Our results demonstrate the ability of birds to adjust thermoregulatory strategies in response to thermal cues and reveal that birds may combine multiple responses to meet the specific demands of their environments.
Rational and practical use of imaging in COVID-19 pneumonia
Authors: Sohail Saba
Published: May 2020

The severe form of the COVID-19 pandemic caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, has largely manifested as a predominant respiratory illness causing severe pneumonia characterized by bilateral, subpleural ground glass haze, progressing to consolidation, and fibrosis on imaging. There is some discrepancy between the governmental guidelines, professional Societies and Radiology and Respiratory Medicine specialists with divided opinions between the use of the chest X-rays and CT scan, and whether the use be screening or diagnostic. So far, the most balanced recommendations have been proposed by the Fleischner Society, which are endorsed by the Radiological Society of Pakistan as well. This writeup describes the approach for a rational use of imaging to the best advantage in the current situation according to local resources, and restricting the spread of infection. The most practical compromise for Pakistan appears to be the use of portable digital radiography equipment, and point-of- care ultrasound; with CT scan reserved for clinical situations not explained by the above two modalities, or demanding disease stratification.

doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.36.COVID19-S4.2760

How to cite this:Sohail S. Rational and practical use of imaging in COVID-19 pneumonia. Pak J Med Sci. 2020;36(COVID19-S4):COVID19-S130-S133. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.36.COVID19-S4.2760

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
The Essence and Content of the Concept «Career Cruidance Environment» Formation Conditions
Authors: Nechaev Mikhail , Frolova Svetlana , Kunitsyna S.
Published: May 2020

Global changes taking place in all spheres of life have had an impact on the sphere of education. The school should prepare a graduate who is able to successfully socialize and be in demand and competitive. That is why the problem of professional self-determination and choice of the future profession for students is especially acute. According to the authors, the training of professional personnel of the XXI century should be carried out in educational organizations with preprofessional training, which is the basis for obtaining high-quality professional education in the very near future. The authors of the article describe the environment of professional self-determination on the basis of early vocational guidance and pre-professional training of schoolchildren, which includes the following blocks: resources, activities, results. The material of the authors can be useful for creating an environment for professional self-determination, early career guidance and pre-professional training of students in educational organizations that will ensure the emergence of a graduate of a “new type” — a young man with the ability to consciously choose a professional path in unity with professional mobility.
Technical Note—Cyclic Variables and Markov Decision Processes
Authors: Haviv Avery
Published: May 2020

Markov decision processes are commonly used to model forward-looking behavior. However, cyclic terms, including seasonality, are often omitted from these models because of the increase in computational burden. This paper develops a cyclic value function iteration (CVFI), an adjustment to the standard value function iteration. By updating states in a specific order, CVFI allows cyclic variables to be included in the state space with no increase in the computational cost. This result is proved theoretically and shown to hold closely in Monte Carlo simulations.
Dynamic Incentive Mechanism for Delivery Slot Management in E-Commerce Attended Home Delivery
Authors: Vinsensius Albert , Wang Yuan , Chew Ek Peng , Lee Loo Hay
Published: May 2020

In attended home delivery, challenges arise in practice because of the short strict time windows, stochastic customer requests, and varying customers’ preferences for delivery slots. In this study, we focus on integrating dynamic time slot incentives and order delivery with the intention of reducing overall delivery cost and improving profitability. The proposed incentive mechanism is able to exploit the variability in the marginal fulfillment cost of an order and the customers’ preferences to influence the customers’ selection of delivery slots. We present an approximate dynamic programming approach to estimate the marginal fulfillment cost using the operational vehicle routing cost while accounting for future orders. We demonstrate that the proposed incentive mechanism can achieve a high level of savings (of up to 70%) with respect to the benchmark customer-free-choice scenario. It is also noted that the proposed mechanism effectively exploits higher order density and vehicle availability to achieve a higher level of savings.
Tumour-to-tumour metastasis: breast carcinoma to an olfactory neuroblastoma
Authors: Bashyam A , Grammatopoulou V , Crook T , Di Palma S , Sunkaraneni VS
Published: May 2020

Tumour-to-tumour metastasis is a rare phenomenon. It occurs when a primary tumour is a recipient of a separate tumour within the same individual. We present a case of a 66-year-old woman with known breast cancer who presented with one-sided nasal symptoms. Examination and imaging revealed a unilateral polyp arising from the skull base. She underwent endoscopic polypectomy with the histology demonstrating tumour-to-tumour metastasis from a breast carcinoma to an olfactory neuroblastoma, a rare sinonasal tumour. Clinicians should be cautious of distant metastases in any patient presenting with head and neck symptoms and a known primary tumour. This is the first documented case of this type.
Does declared surgeon specialist interest influence the outcome of emergency laparotomy?
Authors: Hallam S , Bickley M , Phelan L , Dilworth M , Bowley DM
Published: May 2020

Introduction

In the UK, general surgeons must demonstrate competency in emergency general surgery before obtaining a certificate of completion of training. Subsequently, many consultants develop focused elective specialist interests which may not mirror the breadth of procedures encountered during emergency practice. Recent National Emergency Laparotomy Audit analysis found that declared surgeon special interest impacted emergency laparotomy outcomes, which has implications for emergency general surgery service configuration. We sought to establish whether local declared surgeon special interest impacts emergency laparotomy outcomes.

Methods

Adult patients having emergency laparotomy were identified from our prospective National Emergency Laparotomy Audit database from May 2016 to May 2019 and categorised as colorectal or oesophagogastric according to operative procedure. Outcomes included 30-day mortality, return to theatre and length of stay. Binomial logistic regression was used to identify any association between declared consultant specialist interest and outcomes.

Results

Of 600 laparotomies, 358 (58.6%) were classifiable as specialist procedures: 287 (80%) colorectal and 71 (20%) oesophagogastric. Discordance between declared specialty and operation undertaken occurred in 25% of procedures. For colorectal emergency laparotomy, there was an increased risk of 30-day mortality when performed by a non-colorectal consultant (unadjusted odds ratio 2.34; 95% confidence interval 1.10–5.00; p = 0.003); however, when adjusted for confounders within multivariate analysis declared surgeon specialty had no impact on mortality, return to theatre or length of stay.

Conclusion

Surgeon-declared specialty does not impact emergency laparotomy outcomes in this cohort of undifferentiated emergency laparotomies. This may reflect the on-call structure at Birmingham Heartlands Hospital, where a colorectal and oesophagogastric consultant are paired on call and provide cross-cover when needed.
Imaging through a homogeneous circular cylinder: the role of virtual caustics, rainbow glare points, and image fragmentation
Authors: Lock James A.
Published: May 2020

Small air bubbles on the rear inside surface of a water-filled cylinder, near its edges, appear horizontally elongated, joined in pairs, and take on color. Similarly, if an extended object is sufficiently close to the water-filled cylinder, three images of the object are seen when looking through the cylinder. The center image joins onto the left or right image as the observer moves his or her head back and forth in front of the cylinder. The first observation is explained in terms of glare points of light, and the real and virtual parts of the external caustic of the light transmitted through the water-filled cylinder. The second observation is explained as an example of Berry’s caustic touching theorem which describes the topological method of fragmentation of an object’s image into multiple images. For the situation studied here, an imaginary cylindrical aberration caustic of the water-filled cylinder decomposes object space into a three-ray region sandwiched between two one-ray regions. As an extended object crosses the caustic boundary from one of the one-ray regions into the three-ray region, an image-pair creation event occurs, which is followed by an image-pair disconnection event producing the three images. Similarly, when the extended object crosses the caustic boundary from the three-ray region into one of the one-ray regions, an image-pair merging event occurs, which is followed by an image-pair annihilation event producing the one remaining image.
High-sensitivity DC magnetic field detection with ensemble NV centers by pulsed quantum filtering technology
Authors: Zhang Yang , Li Zhonghao , Feng Yuanyao , Guo Hao , Wen Huanfei , Tang Jun , Liu Jun
Published: May 2020

Continuous wave optically detected magnetic resonance (CW-ODMR) is a practical way to study the sensitivity of the DC magnetic field. However, in large ensemble nitrogen-vacancy (NV) defects, the simultaneous excitation of microwave and laser will deteriorate the parameters of the ODMR spectrum and some unwanted sideband excitations caused by P1 electron spins will also bring challenges to further improve the sensitivity and signal quality. Here, we first achieve the CW-ODMR and acquire DC photon-shot-noise-limited magnetic sensitivity of 12

nT

/

Hz

. Different from the conventional method, we take advantage of pulsed quantum filtering (PQF) technology to eliminate such impacts above and demonstrate a sensitivity of about 1

nT

/

Hz

, which an order of magnitude enhancement over CW-ODMR. We find this method provides simple but effective support for relevant high-sensitivity DC magnetometry and obtains pure resonance signal when using large ensemble NV- defects.
Coherent phonon dynamics in a c-plane sapphire crystal before and after intense femtosecond laser irradiation
Authors: Zhao Xin , Nie Zhaogang , Ma Lin , Zhang Fangteng , Hao Mingming , Wang Bo , Zhao Weiren , Luo Li , Zhang Jiahua , Huang Chung-Che
Published: May 2020

Femtosecond pump-probe experiments with a ∼6.4 fs time-resolution were performed to investigate the coherent phonon dynamics in a c-plane sapphire crystal before and after intense 800 nm femtosecond laser irradiation. The intense femtosecond laser induced defect/distortion and even re-crystallization of crystalline structures, which result in the appearance of new peaks and relative intensity change in coherent phonon and Raman spectra. The combination of these two spectra was found to be beneficial to evidence the variation of crystalline structure and further to differentiate the origins of new Raman peaks after irradiation. Further analysis of time-dependent differential absorbance with damped cosine function fitting and Fourier transfer calculation yields the vibrational parameters, including periods, damping times and initial phases, before and after irradiation. With these parameters, the defect-effects on damping time and the mechanism of coherent phonon generation were addressed.
Beam steering of a single nanoantenna
Authors: Kim Hwi-Min , Kim Myung-Ki
Published: May 2020

Nanoantennas play an important role as mediators to efficiently convert free-space light into localized optical energy and vice versa. However, effective control of the beam direction of a single nanoantenna remains a great challenge. In this paper, we propose an approach to steer the beam direction of a single nanoantenna by adjusting two antenna modes with opposite phase symmetry. Our theoretical study confirmed that the combination of even- and odd-symmetric modes with a phase difference of π/2 enables effective beam steering of a single nanoantenna whose steering angle is controlled by adjusting the amplitude ratio of the two antenna modes. To implement our theory in real devices, we introduced asymmetric trapezoidal nano-slot antennas with different side air-gaps of 10 and 50 nm. The trapezoidal nanoantennas can simultaneously excite the dipole and quadrupole modes in a single nanoantenna and enables effective beam steering with an angle of greater than 35° near the resonance of the quadrupole mode. In addition, the steering angle can also be controlled by adjusting the degree of asymmetry of the trapezoidal slot structure. We believe that our beam steering method for a single nanoantenna will find many potential applications in fields such as imaging, sensing, optical communication, and quantum optics.
Fast compressive lens-free tomography for 3D biological cell culture imaging
Authors: Luo Zhenxiang , Yurt Abdulkadir , Stahl Richard , Carlon Marianne S , Ramalho Anabela S , Vermeulen François , Lambrechts Andy , Braeken Dries , Lagae Liesbet
Published: May 2020

We present a compressive lens-free technique that performs tomographic imaging across a cubic millimeter-scale volume from highly sparse data. Compared with existing lens-free 3D microscopy systems, our method requires an order of magnitude fewer multi-angle illuminations for tomographic reconstruction, leading to a compact, cost-effective and scanning-free setup with a reduced data acquisition time to enable high-throughput 3D imaging of dynamic biological processes. We apply a fast proximal gradient algorithm with composite regularization to address the ill-posed tomographic inverse problem. Using simulated data, we show that the proposed method can achieve a reconstruction speed ∼10× faster than the state-of-the-art inverse problem approach in 3D lens-free microscopy. We experimentally validate the effectiveness of our method by imaging a resolution test chart and polystyrene beads, demonstrating its capability to resolve micron-size features in both lateral and axial directions. Furthermore, tomographic reconstruction results of neuronspheres and intestinal organoids reveal the potential of this 3D imaging technique for high-resolution and high-throughput biological applications.
Learning punk through its products: Combining fashion merchandising practices and pedagogy to develop a subculture of resistance
Authors: Sklar Monica , Helfgott Caroline , Kitchens Farah
Published: May 2020

Punk is a lifestyle, ethos and perspective that deals with social unrest and personal discontent. Learning models are applied as framework in this research to contemplate how punk is learned and enacted as a lifestyle by going through daily fashion merchandising and social practices, such as how punks engage with artefacts and the rules of their scene. The punk subculture uses a pedagogy to their fashion production and consumption, employing the garments of their sartorial style with community interactions to create and symbolize their ethos. The community interacts in unision as newcomers to the scene learn from established participants, take in the knowledge available to them, and shift to self-produced ideas to develop their individualized punk ethos. This study used qualitative online surveys, in-person interviews and social media discussions from self-identified punks in the United States and Canada, as well as archival visits to punk-themed collections in order to analyse the experience of individuals who produce, consume and communicate their punk ethos through their garments.
The Social Life of Kimono: Japanese Fashion Past and Present, Sheila Cliffe (2017)
Authors: Boulton Emilia J.
Published: May 2020

Review of: The Social Life of Kimono: Japanese Fashion Past and Present, Sheila Cliffe (2017)

London and New York: Bloomsbury Publishing, 249 pp.,

ISBN 978-1-47258-553-0, h/bk, £79.20
The other side of immigration in Prometeo Deportado (‘Prometheus deported’) and Vengo Volviendo (‘Here and there’)
Authors: Medina Manuel
Published: May 2020

This article focuses on two films – Prometeo Deportado (‘Prometheus deported’) directed by Fernando Mieles and Vengo Volviendo (‘Here and there’) directed by Isabel Rodas León and Gabriel Paez Hernandez – that relate to Ecuadorian emigration and immigration. Both cultural products call attention to the realities behind the traditional presumption that the economic benefit of living outside the Ecuadorian borders outweighs the human price most people must pay in return. Using a border studies theoretical framework, this article analyses concepts such as dehumanization and deterritorialization within the conversation about emigration, immigration, cultural adaptation and assimilation of Ecuadorians who venture abroad or dream of relocating outside of their country.
¡Toma la Plaza!: Reading Spain’s 15-M movement through the Ecuadorian experience1
Authors: Masterson-Algar Araceli
Published: May 2020

The economic downturn of 2008, inseparable from the accelerated privatization of Spain’s public services, led in May of 2011 to the Social Movement popularly known as ‘15-M’. Sol, Madrid’s Central Plaza, became the movements’ main scenario. Participants of the movement, self-identified as indignados (‘outraged’), encouraged answers from a diversity of social perspectives regarding ways of living, moving and thinking the city through discourses of ecology and sustainability. This article reflects on the 15-M movement from the migrant experience in general, but with particular attention to the Ecuadorian context. Through various forms of cultural expression, the 15-M movement should be read from a transnational perspective and from the lived realities of many Spanish residents with ties to the Andean context and to Ecuador’s national space.