bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sweet spot identification through seismic inversion and multiattribute transform: A case study of the Niobrara and Codell unconventionals
Authors: Harryandi Sheila , Tura Ali
Published: August 2019

The Niobrara and Codell unconventional tight reservoir play at the Wattenberg field, Colorado, has potentially two billion barrels of oil equivalent, requiring hundreds of wells to access this resource. Due to the formations’ high heterogeneity and variable thicknesses, we model the facies at the well-bore scale and upscale it to the seismic scale to guide the development strategy and evaluate future exploration targets. A facies classification from well data supervises the prestack seismic inversion and multiattribute transformation workflows to build a 3D facies model. The 3D facies model captures the reservoir heterogeneity throughout the study area and suggests the location of sweet spots for future hydraulic fracturing and refracturing. The term “sweet spot” refers to the parts of the rock formation that potentially have the highest hydrocarbon production. The significance of sweet spot identification includes improved recovery from the Niobrara, Codell, and potential deeper intervals for future exploration of drilling targets. Furthermore, sweet spot information also assists in keeping the well in formation, which is difficult to do without the seismic data. Keeping the well in formation is key for the efficiency of hydraulic fracturing operations and improved production.
Evaluation of the total organic carbon of source rocks in lacustrine basins using the variable-coefficient ΔLgR technique — A case study of the Xujiaweizi Fault Depression in the Songliao Basin
Authors: Liu Chao , Sun Lidong , Li Jijun , Lu Shuangfang , Tian Lei , Liu Pei , Yu Jia
Published: August 2019

To lay the foundation for the exploration of shale gas, we calculated the total organic carbon (TOC) of Shahezi Formation source rocks in the Xujiaweizi Fault Depression in the Songliao Basin by using the measuring data and the logging curves. Because the source rocks in the study area were formed in a lacustrine basin, they are characterized by strong organic heterogeneity, making it difficult to objectively characterize any changes in the TOC of the underground source rocks based on discrete and limited sampling. In addition, because the source rock is relatively rich in shale and poor in organic matter, the logging response features of high natural gamma, medium-high interval transit time, and medium-low resistivity, making it easily identified. However, because the logging parameters to predict the TOC of source rocks are not universal, it is impossible to establish a prediction equation that is universally applicable. To solve the above problems, we used the variable-coefficient [Formula: see text] technique to predict the TOC of the source rocks in the study area. We defined the two key parameters that affect the TOC prediction in the classic [Formula: see text] technique as the undetermined coefficients, and the coefficients were determined according to the logging and geologic data of the individual wells. The application results indicate that the variable-coefficient [Formula: see text] technique has an average relative error of 17.5% in the prediction of the TOC, which is 16.1% lower than that of the classic [Formula: see text] technique. Thus, the prediction results can effectively reflect the vertical variation in the TOC of source rocks. Based on the logging evaluation results for the TOC of source rocks in 35 wells throughout the study area, the thickness of the high-quality source rocks in the fourth member of the Shahezi Formation was mapped. The thickness of the high-quality source rocks in the fourth member of the Shahezi Formation is generally [Formula: see text]. There are two centers of greater thickness in the plane, with the maximum thickness of more than 70 m.
The significance of karst unconformities on overlying resource shales: Lessons learned from the Devonian Woodford Formation applied to the Permian Wolfcamp Shale
Authors: Zhang Jing , Slatt Roger
Published: August 2019

We have summarized the threefold significance of karst unconformity boundary: (1) The development of a sequence stratigraphic model for the Devonian Woodford Shale Formation is transferable to the Upper Wolfcamp in the Permian Basin, (2) demonstration of the more general application of that model beyond the Woodford to other resource shales, and (3) illustration of a modification of common sequence stratigraphy models specifically to unconventional resource shales. During early transgression, marine encroachment into the paleolows created anoxic, hypersaline marine “pockets” conducive to the preservation of organic matter. The result is deposition of thick, laterally discontinuous, organic-rich strata stratigraphically at or near the unconformity surface. This pattern of deposition and distribution of the organic-rich shale has been well-documented in the Devonian Woodford Shale and is applicable to other resource shales, in this case to the Permian Upper Wolfcamp Formation in the Central Basin Platform of the Permian Basin. The stratigraphy of the distribution of the Upper Wolfcamp on top of the Upper/Middle Wolfcamp Unconformity is similar to that of the Woodford, suggesting a similar origin and distribution. The resulting stratigraphy in both cases resembles that of the classical Exxon sea slug model except that rather than a single organic-rich deposit defining the condensed section and maximum flooding surface, a second organic-rich deposit occurs stratigraphically lower, at or near the unconformity surface. This theoretical summary can support the discovery of potential drillable target zones in the Woodford Shale and the Wolfcamp Shale.
Concerns of Patients With Cancer on Accessing Cannabis Products in a State With Restrictive Medical Marijuana Laws: A Survey Study
Authors: Singh Vinita , Zarrabi Ali J. , Curseen Kimberly A. , Sniecinski Roman , Welsh Justine W. , McKenzie-Brown Anne M. , Baer Wendy , Gillespie Theresa W.
Published: August 2019

PURPOSE:

Several states, particularly in the Southeast, have restrictive medical marijuana laws that permit qualified patients to use specific cannabis products. The majority of these states, however, do not provide avenues for accessing cannabis products such as in-state dispensaries.

METHODS:

We conducted a survey of patients registered for medical marijuana (low tetrahydrocannabinol [THC] oil cards) in an ambulatory palliative care practice in Georgia (one of the states with restrictive medical marijuana laws).

RESULTS:

We had a total of 101 responses. Among our sample of patients who use cannabis as part of a state-approved low THC oil program, 56% were male and 64% were older than age 50 years. Advanced cancer was the most common reason (76%) for granting the patients access to a low THC oil card. Although patients reported cannabis products as being extremely helpful for reducing pain, they expressed considerable concerns about the legality issues (64%) and ability to obtain THC (68%). Several respondents were using unapproved formulations of cannabis products. For 48% of the patients, their physician was the source of information regarding marijuana-related products. Furthermore, they believed that their health care providers and family members were supportive of their use of cannabis (62% and 79%, respectively).

CONCLUSION:

Patients on Georgia’s medical marijuana program are most concerned about the legality of the product and their ability to obtain marijuana-related products. Therefore, we recommend that states with medical marijuana laws should provide safe and reliable access to cannabis products for qualifying patients.
A Plasmodium berghei putative serine-threonine kinase 2 (PBANKA_0311400) is required for late liver stage development and timely initiation of blood stage infection
Authors: Jillapalli Ravi , Narwal Sunil Kumar , Kolli Surendra Kumar , Mastan Babu S. , Segireddy Rameswara Reddy , Dey Sandeep , Srivastava Pratik Narain , Mishra Satish , Kumar Kota Arun
Published: August 2019

In Plasmodium, protein kinases govern key biological processes of the parasite life cycle involved in the establishment of infection, dissemination and sexual reproduction. The rodent malaria model Plasmodium berghei encodes for 66 putative eukaryotic protein kinases (ePKs) as identified through modelling domain signatures and are highly conserved in Plasmodium falciparum. We report here the functional characterisation of a putative serine-threonine kinase PBANKA_0311400 identified in this kinome analysis and designate it as Pbstk2. To elucidate its role, we knocked out Pbstk2 locus and performed a detailed phenotypic analysis at different life cycle stages. The Pbstk2 knockout (KO) was not compromised in asexual blood stage propagation, transmission and development in the mosquito vector. The Pbstk2 KO produced viable salivary gland sporozoites that successfully transformed into exo-erythrocytic forms (EEFs) and were morphologically indistinguishable from wild-type GFP (WT GFP) with regard to size and shape until 48 h. An intravenous dose of 1×103 Pbstk2 KO sporozoites in C57BL/6 mice failed to establish blood stage infection and a higher dose of 5X103 showed a 2–3 day delay in prepatency as compared to WT GFP parasites. Consistent with such an observation, analysis of in vitro EEF development at 62 h revealed that the hepatic merozoite numbers were reduced to nearly 40% as compared to WT GFP and showed meagre expression of MSP1. Our studies provide evidence for the role of PbSTK2 in late liver stage development and for the successful establishment of a timely blood stage infection.
GPR17 is an essential regulator for the temporal adaptation of Sonic hedgehog signalling in neural tube development
Authors: Yatsuzuka Atsuki , Hori Akiko , Kadoya Minori , Matsuo-Takasaki Mami , Kondo Toru , Sasai Noriaki
Published: August 2019

Dorsal-ventral pattern formation of the neural tube is regulated by temporal and spatial activities of extracellular signalling molecules. Sonic hedgehog (Shh) assigns ventral neural subtypes via activation of the Gli transcription factors. Shh activity in the neural progenitor cells changes dynamically during differentiation, but the mechanisms regulating this dynamicity are not fully understood.

Here we show that temporal change of the intracellular cAMP level confers the temporal Shh signal, and the purinergic-type G-protein coupled receptor GPR17 plays an essential role for this regulation. GPR17 is highly expressed in the ventral progenitor regions of the neural tube and acts as a negative regulator of the Shh signal in chick embryos. While the activation of the GPR17-related signal inhibits ventral identity, perturbation of GPR17 expression leads to aberrant expansion of ventral neural domains. Notably, perturbation of GPR17 expression partially inhibits the negative feedback of Gli activity. Moreover, GPR17 increases cAMP activity, suggesting that it exerts its function by inhibiting the processing of Gli3 protein. GPR17 also negatively regulates Shh signalling in neural cells differentiated from mouse embryonic stem cells, suggesting that GPR17 function is conserved among different organisms. Our results demonstrate that GPR17 is a novel negative regulator of Shh signalling in a wide range of cellular contexts.
Transcriptional autoregulation of zebrafish tbx6 is required for somite segmentation
Authors: Ban Hiroyuki , Yokota Daisuke , Otosaka Shiori , Kikuchi Morimichi , Kinoshita Hirofumi , Fujino Yuuri , Yabe Taijiro , Ovara Hiroki , Izuka Ayaka , Akama Kagari , Yamasu Kyo , Takada Shinji , Kawamura Akinori
Published: August 2019

The presumptive somite boundary in the presomitic mesoderm (PSM) is defined by the anterior border of the expression domain of Tbx6 protein. During somite segmentation, the expression domain of Tbx6 is regressed by Ripply-meditated degradation of Tbx6 protein. Although the expression of zebrafish tbx6 remains restricted to the PSM, the transcriptional regulation of tbx6 remains poorly understood. Here, we show that the expression of zebrafish tbx6 is maintained by transcriptional autoregulation. We find that a proximal-located cis-regulatory module, TR1, which contains two putative T-box sites, is required for somite segmentation in the intermediate body and for proper expression of segmentation genes. Embryos with deletion of TR1 exhibit significant reduction of tbx6 expression at the 12-somite stage, although its expression is initially observed. Additionally, Tbx6 is associated with TR1 and activates its own expression in the anterior PSM. Furthermore, the anterior expansion of tbx6 expression in ripply mutants is suppressed in a TR1-dependent manner. The results suggest that the autoregulatory loop of zebrafish tbx6 facilitates immediate removal of Tbx6 protein through termination of its own transcription at the anterior PSM.
TEAD4/YAP1/WWTR1 prevent the premature onset of pluripotency prior to the 16-cell stage
Authors: Frum Tristan , Watts Jennifer L. , Ralston Amy
Published: August 2019

In mice, pluripotent cells are thought to derive from cells buried inside the embryo around the 16-cell stage. Sox2 is the only pluripotency gene known to be expressed specifically within inside cells at this stage. To understand how pluripotency is established, we therefore investigated the mechanisms regulating the initial activation of Sox2 expression. Surprisingly, Sox2 expression initiated normally in the absence of both Nanog and Oct4 (Pou5f1), highlighting differences between embryo and stem cell models of pluripotency. However, we observed precocious, ectopic expression of Sox2 prior to the 16-cell stage in the absence of Yap1, Wwtr1, and Tead4. Interestingly, the repression of premature Sox2 expression was sensitive to LATS1/2 activity, even though LATS1/2 normally do not limit TEAD4/YAP1/WWTR1 activity during these early stages. Finally, we present evidence for direct transcriptional repression of Sox2 by YAP1/WWTR1/TEAD4. Taken together, our observations reveal that, while embryos are initially competent to express Sox2 as early as the 4-cell stage, transcriptional repression prevents the premature expression of Sox2, thereby restricting the pluripotency program to the stage when inside cells are first created.
Live imaging the foreign body response in zebrafish reveals how dampening inflammation reduces fibrosis
Authors: Gurevich David B. , French Kathryn E. , Collin John D. , Cross Stephen J. , Martin Paul
Published: August 2019

Implanting biomaterials in tissues leads to inflammation and a foreign body response (FBR), which can result in rejection. Here, we live image the FBR triggered by surgical suture implantation in a translucent zebrafish model and compare with an acute wound response. We observe inflammation extending from the suture margins, correlating with subsequent avascular and fibrotic encapsulation zones: sutures that induce more inflammation result in increased zones of avascularity and fibrosis. Moreover, we capture macrophages as they fuse to become multinucleate foreign body giant cells (FBGCs) adjacent to the most pro-inflammatory sutures. Genetic and pharmacological dampening of the inflammatory response minimises the FBR (including FBGC generation) and normalises the status of the tissue surrounding these sutures. This model of FBR in adult zebrafish allows us to live image the process and to modulate it in ways that may lead us towards new strategies to ameliorate and circumvent FBR in humans.

This article has an associated First Person interview with the first author of the paper.
Developmental effects of heatwave conditions on the early life stages of a coral reef fish
Authors: Spinks Rachel K. , Munday Philip L. , Donelson Jennifer M.
Published: August 2019

Marine heatwaves, which are increasing in frequency, duration and intensity owing to climate change, are an imminent threat to marine ecosystems. On coral reefs, heatwave conditions often coincide with periods of peak recruitment of juvenile fishes and exposure to elevated temperature may affect their development. However, whether differences in the duration of high temperature exposure have effects on individual performance is unknown. We exposed juvenile spiny damselfish, Acanthochromis polyacanthus, to increasing lengths of time (3, 7, 30 and 108 days post-hatching) of elevated temperature (+2°C). After 108 days, we measured escape performance at present-day control and elevated temperatures, standard length, mass and critical thermal maximum. Using a Bayesian approach, we show that 30 days or more exposure to +2°C leads to improved escape performance, irrespective of performance temperature, possibly owing to developmental effects of high temperature on muscle development and/or anaerobic metabolism. Continued exposure to elevated temperature for 108 days caused a reduction in body size compared with the control, but not in fish exposed to high temperature for 30 days or less. By contrast, exposure to elevated temperatures for any length of time had no effect on critical thermal maximum, which, combined with previous work, suggests a short-term physiological constraint of ∼37°C in this species. Our study shows that extended exposure to increased temperature can affect the development of juvenile fishes, with potential immediate and future consequences for individual performance.
Accelerated Organic Photoreactions in Flow Microreactors under Gas-Liquid Slug Flow Conditions Using N2 Gas as an Unreactive Substance
Authors: Nakano Momoe , Morimoto Tsumoru , Noguchi Jiro , Tanimoto Hiroki , Mori Hajime , Tokumoto Shin-ichi , Koishi Hideyuki , Nishiyama Yasuhiro , Kakiuchi Kiyomi
Published: August 2019

In this work, the [2+2] photocycloaddition of carbonyl compounds with olefins, the Paternò-Büchi-type photoreaction, was performed in a flow microreactor under slug flow (two-phase flow) conditions which are constructed by alternatively introducing nitrogen gas as an unreactive substance into the organic reaction phase. The use of N2 gas-liquid slug flow conditions permitted the organic photoreactions to proceed more efficiently compared to one-phase flow conditions. A detailed investigation of the influence of the flow mode, the viscosity of the solvents, and the segment length (length of each phase) on the efficiency of the photoreaction was conducted. Based on the results, we concluded that these three factors contribute to the improvement in photoreaction efficiency under slug flow conditions using N2 gas as an unreactive substance. Furthermore, the use of N2 gas as an unreactive substance was found to be applicable to other Paternò-Büchi-type photoreactions.
Evaluation of fracture resistance of Cerasmart and lithium disilicate ceramic veneers with different incisal preparation designs: an in vitro study
Authors: Mohammed Bushra , EL-Guindy Jylan
Published: August 2019

Background: Cerasmart hybrid material offers specific advantages such as less fragility and more flexibility than glass ceramics. This material also has the option of readily modifying or repairing the surface and favorable stress-absorbing characteristics. In our study, Cerasmart hybrid and lithium disilicate ceramic laminate veneers with two different preparation designs were compared with regards to their fracture resistance.

Methods: A total of 52 of comparable human central maxillary incisors were used. Group A (n=26) was made up of Cerasmart hybrid ceramic laminate veneers were fabricated from Cerasmart blocks, while Group B (n=26) was made up of lithium disilicate ceramic laminate veneers were made of IPS e.max pressable ingots. Each group was subdivided in two equal subgroups according to preparation designs. Subgroup I comprised Featheredge preparation design and subgroup II: Wraparound preparation design. All samples were subjected to thermocycling between 5°C and 55°C in a water bath for a total of 1750 cycle with 10 seconds dwell time at each bath. The fracture load strength test was performed using a universal testing machine.

Results: There was no statistically significant difference between all groups. E.max wraparound group recorded the highest fracture resistance mean value (422.1 N) followed by Cerasmart wraparound group (317.23 N), then e.max featheredge group (289.6 N), and finally Cerasmart featheredge group (259.3 N) had the lowest value as analyzed by one-way ANOVA.

Conclusions: The Cerasmart hybrid material could be considered as a valid alternative to the widely used IPS e.max material. The fracture resistance of laminate veneers is not influenced by different type of preparation designs.
A Sequence Distance Graph framework for genome assembly and analysis
Authors: Yanes Luis , Garcia Accinelli Gonzalo , Wright Jonathan , Ward Ben J. , Clavijo Bernardo J.
Published: August 2019

The Sequence Distance Graph (SDG) framework works with genome assembly graphs and raw data from paired, linked and long reads. It includes a simple deBruijn graph module, and can import graphs using the graphical fragment assembly (GFA) format. It also maps raw reads onto graphs, and provides a Python application programming interface (API) to navigate the graph, access the mapped and raw data and perform interactive or scripted analyses. Its complete workspace can be dumped to and loaded from disk, decoupling mapping from analysis and supporting multi-stage pipelines. We present the design and

implementation of the framework, and example analyses scaffolding a short read graph with long reads, and navigating paths in a heterozygous graph for a simulated parent-offspring trio dataset.

SDG  is  freely  available  under  the  MIT  license  at https://github.com/bioinfologics/sdg
The status of Ghanaian community health workers’ supervision and service delivery: descriptive analyses from the 2017 Performance Monitoring and Accountability 2020 survey
Authors: Schwarz Dan , Kim June-Ho , Ratcliffe Hannah , Bell Griffith , Awoonor-Williams John Koku , Nimako Belinda , Otupiri Easmon , Lipsitz Stuart , Hirschhorn Lisa , Bitton Asaf
Published: August 2019

Introduction: Community-based services are a critical component of high-quality primary healthcare. Ghana formally launched the National Community Health Worker (CHW) program in 2014, to augment the pre-existing Community-based Health Planning and Services (CHPS). To date, however, there is scant data about the program’s implementation. We describe the current supervision and service delivery status of CHWs throughout the country.

Methods: Data were collected regarding CHW supervision and service delivery during the 2017 round of the Performance Monitoring and Accountability 2020 survey. Descriptive analyses were performed by facility type, supervisor type, service delivery type, and regional distribution.

Results: Over 80% of CHWs had at least monthly supervision interactions, but there was variability in the frequency of interactions. Frequency of supervision interactions did not vary by facility or supervisor type. The types of services delivered by CHWs varied greatly by facility type and region. Community mobilization, health education, and outreach for loss-to-follow-up were delivered by over three quarters of CHWs, while mental health counseling and postnatal care are provided by fewer than one third of CHWs. The Western region and Greater Accra had especially low rates of CHW service provision. Non-communicable disease treatment, which is not included in the national guidelines, was reportedly provided by some CHWs in nine out of ten regions.

Conclusions: Overall, this study demonstrates variability in supervision frequency and CHW activities. A high proportion of CHWs already meet the expected frequency of supervision. Meanwhile, there are substantial differences by region of CHW service provision, which requires further research, particularly on novel CHW services such as non-communicable disease treatment. While there are important limitations to these data, these findings can be instructive for Ghanaian policymakers and implementers to target improvement initiatives for community-based services.
Case Article—Agile Auto Sub Assemblies: Challenges in Managing Growth, Resource Productivity, and Demand Variability
Authors: Rajan Balaraman , Ravichandran N.
Published: August 2019

The key objective of the case study is to help students understand the nuances of assembly line design without having to manage a huge problem context. The case study provides a platform for an engaging discussion on assembly line balancing and related concepts. The case is developed in a setting of an auto subassembly manufacturer that currently operates two lines. The management is confronted with a situation in which the production requirements are increased. The management needs to decide between hiring additional workers, reconfiguring the assembly lines, or both to meet the new demand. The production manager suggests a simple linear allocation of resources based on demand. Its validity and various other options are investigated to manage the projected volume. The following considerations are used to evaluate each option: capacity utilization, labor utilization and flexibility of operations, cost of overtime, cost of new recruitment, and inventory. As an extension, we also discuss the trade-offs involved in level-production strategy and a market-driven strategy when the demand profile is variable.
Designing Response Supply Chain Against Bioattacks
Authors: Simchi-Levi David , Trichakis Nikolaos , Zhang Peter Yun
Published: August 2019

To protect civilians in the event of a bioattack, that is, the intentional release of pathogens against them to cause harm, public authorities maintain stockpiles of antibiotics. Unfortunately, a minute quantity of pathogens is sufficient to infect a large number of people. Furthermore, the treatment time window can be very short, for example, on the order of hours. Therefore, a significant amount of resources goes into maintaining a responsive antibiotics supply chain. In “Designing Response Supply Chain Against Bioattacks,” Simchi-Levi, Trichakis, and Zhang devise a decision-support framework for end-to-end supply chain design that captures logistical costs, transportation and dispensing times, and health effects of treatment delays. The authors model the problem as two-stage robust optimization on a network, which has been shown in the literature to be NP-hard. Using the so-called affinely adjustable robust counterpart, the authors are able to solve this problem on cases with hundreds of thousands of nodes. Furthermore, they prove that affine policies are optimal under certain conditions. Extensive numerical studies demonstrate the efficacy of affine policies for the general problem. An illustrative and high-fidelity case study is performed to examine the biodefense supply chain design for the Strategic National Stockpile maintained by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the United States.
The influence of parathyroid hormone 1-34 on the osteogenic characteristics of adipose- and bone-marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells from juvenile and ovarectomized rats
Authors: Osagie-Clouard Liza , Sanghani-Kerai Anita , Coathup Melanie , Meeson Richard , Briggs Timothy , Blunn Gordon
Published: August 2019

Objectives

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are of growing interest in terms of bone regeneration. Most preclinical trials utilize bone-marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (bMSCs), although this is not without isolation and expansion difficulties. The aim of this study was: to compare the characteristics of bMSCs and adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (AdMSCs) from juvenile, adult, and ovarectomized (OVX) rats; and to assess the effect of human parathyroid hormone (hPTH) 1-34 on their osteogenic potential and migration to stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1).

Methods

Cells were isolated from the adipose and bone marrow of juvenile, adult, and previously OVX Wistar rats, and were characterized with flow cytometry, proliferation assays, osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation, and migration to SDF-1. Experiments were repeated with and without intermittent hPTH 1-34.

Results

Juvenile and adult MSCs demonstrated significantly increased osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation and superior migration towards SDF-1 compared with OVX groups; this was the case for AdMSCs and bMSCs equally. Parathyroid hormone (PTH) increased parameters of osteogenic differentiation and migration to SDF-1. This was significant for all cell types, although it had the most significant effect on cells derived from OVX animals. bMSCs from all groups showed increased mineralization and migration to SDF-1 compared with AdMSCs.

Conclusion

Juvenile MSCs showed significantly greater migration to SDF-1 and significantly greater osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation compared with cells from osteopenic rats; this was true for bMSCs and AdMSCs. The addition of PTH increased these characteristics, with the most significant effect on cells derived from OVX animals, further illustrating possible clinical application of both PTH and MSCs in bone regenerative therapies. Cite this article:L. Osagie-Clouard, A. Sanghani-Kerai, M. Coathup, R. Meeson, T. Briggs, G. Blunn. The influence of parathyroid hormone 1-34 on the osteogenic characteristics of adipose- and bone-marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells from juvenile and ovarectomized rats. Bone Joint Res 2019;8:397–404. DOI: 10.1302/2046-3758.88.BJR-2019-0018.R1.
Field safety and efficacy of a unique live virus vaccine for controlling avian encephalomyelitis and fowlpox in poultry
Authors: Sarma Girish , Kersting Barry A. , Spina Gary
Published: August 2019

Background and Aim: Infection of commercial poultry with avian encephalomyelitis (AE) and fowlpox (FP) virus causes heavy economic loss in endemic areas. Although vaccines are routinely used to control these two diseases, the problem still persists almost all over the world. This study aimed to evaluate safety and efficacy of a unique AE + FP + pigeon pox (PP) live virus vaccine in layer-type chickens under both laboratory and field conditions.

Materials and Methods: The study was conducted using 289 specific-pathogen-free (SPF) chickens under the laboratory conditions and 185,648 commercial layer-type chickens under field conditions. In two consecutive laboratory trials, 8-week-old SPF chickens were vaccinated with the AE + FP + PP live virus vaccine through wing web route and challenged against virulent strains of FP and AE viruses at 3-week post-vaccination (WPV). Challenged chickens were observed for disease protection for 10-21 days. For field safety trials, commercial layer-type chickens in three different geographical areas in the USA were vaccinated with the AE + FP + PP vaccine and observed daily up to 21 days for vaccine "take". adverse reactions, and mortality.

Results: The vaccine was found safe and efficacious under both laboratory and field conditions. Vaccine "take" and protection against FP challenge were 100%. Average protection against AE challenge was 97%. Mean AE enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) antibody titer in the field vaccinated chickens was >1200 at 10 WPV. Average daily post-vaccination mortality in the field vaccinated chickens was 0.04%. So far, more than 400 million chickens in the USA have been vaccinated with this vaccine. No vaccine-associated adverse reactions, other safety issues, or immunity breakdown cases in the vaccinated flocks due to field virus infection have been reported.

Conclusion: This unique vaccine containing AE, FP, and PP viruses in a single preparation was found to be safe and efficacious in controlling the diseases caused by the virulent field strains of AE and FP. Besides being safe and efficacious, this vaccine also offered distinct advantages over the traditional vaccination practices in controlling these two diseases in poultry.

Keywords: avian encephalomyelitis, efficacy, field safety, fowlpox, live virus vaccine, pigeon pox, protection.
China’s Only Children and Their Spillover Effects on Academic Performance in the Classroom
Authors: Wang Haining , Zhu Rong
Published: August 2019

This paper examines the causal effect of students who are the only child in their family on the academic performance of their classmates, exploiting the random assignment of students to classes within schools in China. We find that a higher proportion of classmates as the only child in their family improves the academic outcomes of students in the same classroom. We also find evidence of positive but heterogeneous peer effects by student and class characteristics. Our findings suggest that the academic performance of Chinese students has benefited indirectly from the one-child policy because of this positive peer influence within the classroom.
Rhetorical Procedures in Chinese Literature
Authors: Gándara Lelia Mabel
Published: August 2019

“Scar Literature,” a literary movement in twentieth-century Chinese literature, encompasses a series of works written after the Cultural Revolution. The scar metaphor was taken from the title of a short story, “The Scar,” and characterized a series of works with common features. The outlines of “Scar Literature” are blurred, mixed and intertwined with other literary trends and movements. But while Chinese and foreign literary criticism claim that it was short-lived, its influences are visible in several works by contemporary authors. Based on the idea that literary works are prone to being analyzed as a form of persuasive discourse, this paper identifies typical rhetorical procedures of this literary trend and its influences in certain emblematic works: the recurrence of topoi (figures such as “rehabilitation,” peculiar to the Cultural Revolution); inductive reasoning (the construction of a historiographic reasoning via the exemplum); recourse to pathos; and the metaphorical figure of the scar bearing the value of the plotline. This analysis applies concepts of New Rhetoric and discourse linguistics, in particular, concepts developed by Olbrecht-Tyteca and Perelman, Amossy’s approach about pathos and the role of emotions and “figurality” in argumentation, and Plantin’s linguistic theory of the emotions.
Crystal structure of poly[(μ2-4-amino-1,5-naphthalenedisulfonato-κ4
O,N:O′, N′)bis(μ2-hexamethylenetetramino-κ2
N;N′)silver(I)], {C22H30Ag2N9O6S2}n
Authors: Jiang Jin-Ke , Li Gang-Mei , Sun Jian-Nan , Ju Ge-Shuang , Du Jing-Jie , Jin Xin
Published: August 2019

C22H30Ag2N9O6S2, monoclinic, P21
/c (no. 14), a = 10.4629(10) Å, b = 10.9785(8) Å, c = 12.3483(15) Å, β = 109.766(12)°, V = 1334.8(2) Å3, Z = 2, Rgt
(F) = 0.0662, wR
ref(F
2) = 0.1356, T = 293(2) K.
Crystal structure of (E)-2-(2-chloro-6-hydroxybenzylidene)hydrazine-1-carbothioamide, C8H8ClN3O4S
Authors: Li Xia , Liu Shangjun , Yan Weihong , Shen Mingle , Xue Chaohui
Published: August 2019

C8H8ClN3O4S, monoclinic, P21/c (no. 14), a = 12.662(2) Å, b = 5.2782(8) Å, c = 14.841(2) Å, β = 94.103(3)°, V = 989.3(3) Å3, Z = 4, R
gt(F) = 0.0317, wR
ref(F
2) = 0.1232, T = 293(2) K.
Nominal coreference resolution for Polish
Authors: Ogrodniczuk Maciej
Published: August 2019

The article presents current research on coreference resolution for Polish, from development of a sufficiently general model of reference relations to implementation of tools using this model to automatically detect coreference in written texts. The task is accomplished using corpus approach, with manual annotation of reference structures, verification of the proposed theory on the corpus data, implementation of automatic tools in different technical architectures and finally assessing their quality using standard evaluation methods.
Three-step coreference-based summarizer for Polish news texts
Authors: Kopeć Mateusz
Published: August 2019

This article addresses the problem of automatic summarization of press articles in Polish. The main novelty of this research lays in the proposal of a three-step summarization algorithm which benefits from using coreference information.

In related work section, all coreference-based approaches to summarization are presented. Then we describe in detail all publicly available summarization tools developed for Polish language. We state the problem of single-document press article summarization for Polish, describing the training and evaluation dataset: the POLISH SUMMARIES CORPUS.

Next, a new coreference-based extractive summarization system NICOLAS is introduced. Its algorithm utilises advanced third-party preprocessing tools to extract the coreference information from the text to be summarized. This information is transformed into a complex set of features related to coreference concepts (mentions and coreference clusters) that are used for training the summarization system (on the basis of a manually prepared gold summaries corpus).

The proposed solution is compared to the best publicly available summarization systems for Polish language and two state-of-the-art tools, developed for English language, but adapted to Polish for this article. NICOLAS summarization system obtains best scores, for selected metrics outperforming other systems in a statistically significant way. The evaluation also contains calculation of interesting upper-bounds: human performance and theoretical upper-bound.
Optimization of 14C LSC measurement using CO2 absorption technique
Authors: Arun B. , Vijayalakshmi I. , Ramani Yuvaraj , Viswanathan S. , Jose M. T. , Baskaran R. , Venkatraman B.
Published: August 2019

Liquid Scintillation Counting (LSC) is the most commonly used technique for quantification of 14C in the environmental samples. An optimization study was carried out for the analysis of 14C with the direct carbon dioxide absorption method using LSC. The absorption capacity of CO2 in varying amounts of CO2 absorber Carbo-Sorb E to Permafluor scintillation cocktail volumes is found to be 5.33 ± 0.053 mmol/mL of Carbo-Sorb E. The optimum volume ratio of Carbo-Sorb E to Permafluor scintillation cocktail is found to be 1:1 based on the minimum detection activity (MDA) values. The effect of CO2 loading in the optimized absorption mixture shows that with an increasing CO2 amount (up to saturation) there is an increase in tSIE values which is due to an increase of Compton scattering effect in the CO2 loaded samples. The region of interest (ROI) for 14C measurement is found to be 10–96 keV based on the figure of merit values and the efficiency for detecting 14C is 83.45 % in the optimized ROI window.
Compressed air energy storage in aquifers: basic principles, considerable factors, and improvement approaches
Authors: Li Yi , Li Yi , Liu Yaning , Cao Xiaoyuan
Published: August 2019

Compressed air energy storage in aquifers (CAESA) can be considered a novel and potential large-scale energy storage technology in the future. However, currently, the research on CAESA is relatively scarce and no actual engineering practices have yet been performed due to a lack of detailed theoretical and technical support. This article provides a summary and analysis of the current research about the key problems in CAESA. The theoretical foundation and evaluation methods are first addressed, and then the aquifer selection criteria are proposed by analyzing the impact of the main geological factors on the performance. Subsequently, the optimal design of wellbore and the operation parameters are discussed, and different possible enhanced methods are proposed for extending the application of CAESA. Finally, conclusions are made and application outlook is addressed.
A case report of wireless peripheral nerve stimulation for complex regional pain syndrome type-I of the upper extremity: 1 year follow up
Authors: Herschkowitz Daniel , Kubias Jana
Published: August 2019

Background

Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is a chronic disabling painful disorder with limited options to achieve therapeutic relief. CRPS type I which follows trauma, may not show obvious damage to the nervous structures and remains dubious in its pathophysiology and also its response to conservative treatment or interventional pain management is elusive. Spinal cord and dorsal root ganglion stimulation (SCS, DRGS) provide good relief, mainly for causalgia or CRPS I of lower extremities but not very encouraging for upper extremity CRPS I. we reported earlier, a case of CRPS I of right arm treated successfully by wireless peripheral nerve stimulation (WPNS) with short term follow up. Here we present 1-year follow-up of this patient.

Objective

To present the first case of WPNS for CRPS I with a year follow up. The patient had minimally invasive peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS), without implantable pulse generator (IPG) or its accessories.

Case report

This was a case of refractory CRPS I after blunt trauma to the right forearm of a young female. She underwent placement of two Stimwave electrodes (Leads: FR4A-RCV-A0 with tines, Generation 1 and FR4A-RCV-B0 with tines, Generation 1) in her forearm under intraoperative electrophysiological and ultrasound guidance along radial and median nerves. This WPNS required no IPG. At high frequency (HF) stimulation (HF 10 kHz/32 μs, 2.0 mA), patient had shown remarkable relief in pain, allodynia and temperature impairment. At 5 months she started driving without opioid consumption, while allodynia disappeared. At 1 year follow up she was relieved of pain [visual analogue scale (VAS) score of 4 from 7] and Kapanji Index (Score) improved to 7–8. Both hands look similar in color and temperature. She never made unscheduled visits to the clinic or visited emergency room for any complications related to the WPNS.

Conclusions

CRPS I involving upper extremity remain difficult to manage with conventional SCS or DRGS because of equipment related adverse events. Minimally invasive WPNS in this case had shown consistent relief without any complications or side effects related to the wireless technology or the technique at the end of 1 year.

Implications

This is the first case illustration of WPNS for CRPS I, successfully treated and followed up for 1 year.
Investigation of Tensile, Viscoelastic, and Viscoplastic Behavior of Polylactic Acid Manufactured by Fused Deposition Modeling
Authors: Istif Ilyas , Feratoglu Kamil , Colak Ozgen Umit , Acar Alperen
Published: August 2019

Uniaxial tensile and uniaxial loading-unloading experiments are performed to characterize the mechanical properties of polylactic acid (PLA) manufactured by fused deposition modeling (FDM). To investigate viscoelastic and viscoplastic properties of PLA manufactured with FDM, uniaxial loading-unloading tensile tests are conducted at different strain rates. In addition, the influences of layer orientation on the mechanical properties of PLA specimens manufactured by FDM are investigated. The specimens are manufactured with a vertical and horizontal orientation. The influence of strain rate on ductility is also investigated. Decreasing the strain rate leads to an increase in strain at break. This increase in ductility is interpreted as a result of the effect on secondary bonds. Viscoplastic deformation followed by fracture is seen at lower strain rate tests. As stress and stiffness increases, ductility decreases. More ductility is seen at the horizontally oriented specimens than the vertically oriented specimens. On the other hand, the influences of layer orientation on the mechanical properties of PLA specimens are also investigated. It could be said that the tensile behavior is strain rate and manufacturing orientation dependent. As expected, the higher strain rate values yield to more brittle behavior. More brittle behavior is also reported at vertically oriented specimens. To compare with FDM specimens, injection-molded specimens are produced, and more brittle behavior is observed. Uniaxial loading and unloading tensile tests are also performed for the same specimens. It is observed that elastic recovery increases with increasing strain rate. Results showed that printing orientation does not have a major effect on elastic recovery.
Robotic Fiber Laser Cladding of Steel Substrate with Iron-Based Metallic Powder
Authors: Lisiecki Aleksander , Ślizak Dawid , Kukofka Adrian
Published: August 2019

The investigations of robotized laser cladding of mild steel by iron-based powder and the study of process parameters on quality and properties of the test surface layers are described. The test surface layers were produced as single stringer beads by means of a laser head coupled with powder-delivering nozzles and mounted on a welding robot arm. The fiber laser emitting at 1.06÷1.07 µm with maximum output power 3.0 kW was used in the study. As the substrate for cladding, the mild steel was chosen, while the experimental powder was composed of 7.0 wt. % of molybdenum, 4.0 wt. % of chromium, 2.0 wt. % of tungsten and vanadium, and also 0.8÷1.0 wt. % of carbon. The surface layers were produced at different laser powers and different scanning speeds. The area of the melt pool and the surrounding regions were protected by argon flow. The detailed influence of the heat input of cladding on the geometry of single stringer beads of surface layers was determined. Results of the investigations showed that the microstructure of surface layers is homogeneous and fine-grained with dispersive precipitation of very fine carbides. Hardness of the mild steel substrate is in the range of 120 to 150 HV1, while the hardness in surface layer is significantly increased up to 800 HV1. The produced surface layers are characterized by high quality. No significant imperfections or discontinuity such pores or cracks were found.
Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) Induces Adrenergic Receptor-Dependent Microglial Morphological Changes in Mice
Authors: Mishima Tsuneko , Nagai Terumi , Yahagi Kazuko , Akther Sonam , Oe Yuki , Monai Hiromu , Kohsaka Shinichi , Hirase Hajime
Published: August 2019

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) has been reported for its beneficial effects on memory formation and various brain disorders. While the electrophysiological readout of tDCS effects is subtle, astrocytes have been demonstrated to elicit Ca2+elevations during tDCS in a rodent model. This study aimed to elucidate the effects of tDCS on another major glial cell type, microglia, by histology andin vivoimaging. tDCS performed in awake conditions induced a significant change in the pixel intensity distribution of Iba-1 immunohistochemistry, and microglial somata were enlarged when examined 3 h after tDCS. These effects were blocked by adrenergic receptor antagonists or in IP3R2 (inositol trisphosphate receptor type 2)-deficient mice, which lack large cytosolic Ca2+elevations in astrocytes. No obvious changes were observed in isoflurane-anesthetized mice. Furthermore,in vivotwo-photon imaging of microglia showed a reduction of motility that was blocked by a β2-adrenergic receptor antagonist. Our observations add support for the influence of noradrenaline in tDCS and suggest possible interactions between microglia and astrocytes to express functional changes associated with tDCS.