bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cobalamin C deficiency presenting with diffuse alveolar hemorrhage and pulmonary microangiopathy
Authors: Liu Jinrong , Tang Xiaolei , Zhou Chunju , Xu Hui , Yang Haiming , He Ruxuan , Li Huimin , Zhao Shunying
Published: April 2020

Objective

Combined methylmalonic acidemia and homocysteinemia is a genetically heterogeneous disorder of cobalamin (cbl; vitamin B12) metabolism, which consists of five subtypes including cblC, cblD, cblF, cblJ, and cblX deficiencies. The purpose of this study is to summarize new clinical features mainly diffuse alveolar hemorrhage (DAH) in cblC deficiency.

Methods

We made a retrospective analysis of four pediatric patients diagnosed with DAH and pulmonary microangiopathy due to cblC deficiency between January 2017 and December 2018 in Beijing Children's Hospital.

Results

This study describes four patients with their ages ranging from 4 years 2 months to 7 years 6 months with cblC deficiency who developed late‐onset diffuse lung disease (DLD). Of these, the first three patients presented predominantly with DAH, and the last patient with pulmonary microangiopathy confirmed by thoracoscopic lung biopsy. All patients were accompanied by pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), two accompanied by respiratory failure, and two accompanied by moderate megaloblastic anemia. Diffuse ground‐glass opacification and poorly defined ground‐glass centrilobular nodules were seen on high‐resolution computed tomography in one patient and three patients, respectively. All patients were suspected of having idiopathic pulmonary hemosiderosis or interstitial lung disease at other hospitals. All of them received treatment with corticosteroid before admission, but the symptoms did not improve. Moreover, all patients carried compound heterozygous mutations (c.80A>G, c.609G>A) in MMACHC and improved significantly after being treated for cblC deficiency and PAH.

Conclusions

CblC deficiency should be considered in the differential diagnosis of DAH especially with PAH, and pulmonary microangiopathy be the main reason of DLD in these patients.
On handling inertia problem of memory charts using break approach
Authors: Zafar Raja Fawad , Riaz Muhammad
Published: April 2020

The memory‐type control charts are quite efficient in monitoring small and moderate shifts in process parameters. These charts, such as exponentially weighted moving average (EWMA), face the problem of inertia due to the time dependence of statistics. This issue could be solved to some extent using a break at regular/irregular intervals in plotting statistics. We have proposed this method by introducing a break feature at regular intervals, to handle the inertia problem, and found it quite useful for memory control charts. A comparative analysis of the proposal with some existing charts is also part of the study.
Endocrine‐disrupting chemicals and male reproductive health
Authors: Sharma Aditi , Mollier Josephine , Brocklesby Richard W. K. , Caves Charlotte , Jayasena Channa N. , Minhas Suks
Published: April 2020

Background

A number of different types of endocrine‐disrupting chemicals (EDCs) including bisphenol A, phthalates, pesticides, and other environmental chemicals have been shown to adversely impact upon male reproductive health. Understanding the potential effects of EDCs on male reproductive health may enable the development of novel treatments and early prevention of the effects of EDCs on male infertility and their potential long‐term sequelae. This review critically evaluates the research performed in this area and explores potential harmful effects of EDCs in animals and humans, including the possibility of trans‐generational transmission.

Methods

A literature review was conducted using electronic databases using the following terms: ‘endocrine disrupt*’ OR ‘endocrine disruptors’ OR ‘endocrine disruptor chemicals’ OR ‘EDC’ AND ‘sperm*’ OR ‘spermatozoa’ OR ‘spermatozoon’ OR ‘male reproductive health’ OR’ male fertility’.

Main findings

Several studies have shown that EDCs have a variety of pathophysiological effects. These include failure of spermatogenesis, embryonic development, the association with testicular cancer, and long‐term metabolic effects.

Conclusions

Several studies observe correlations between chemical doses and at least one sperm parameter; however, such correlations are sometimes inconsistent between different studies. Mechanisms through which EDCs exert their pathophysiological effects have not yet been fully elucidated in human studies.
Evaluating the effectiveness of the phosphorus sorption index for estimating maximum phosphorus sorption capacity
Authors: Bolster Carl H. , McGrath Josh M. , Rosso Emileigh , Blombäck Karin
Published: April 2020

The single‐point P sorption index (PSI), which is defined as the ratio of sorbed P (S) to the log P concentration in soil solution following a single P addition, is often used to estimate maximum soil P sorption capacity (Smax). Although studies have found good correlations between PSI and Smax as determined from fitting the Langmuir model to complete sorption isotherm data, a thorough analysis of the role of added P concentration on this relationship is needed. Our first objective was to investigate the effect of added P concentration on the correlation between PSI and Smax as determined by the Langmuir equation. Our second objective was to determine if S was better than PSI for predicting Smax. Using numerical simulations, we tested the correlation between Smax and PSI for added P concentrations of 75, 100, 150, and 200 mg P L−1. Results of the simulations show that the strength of the correlation between Smax and PSI increases with increasing P concentration. Our results also show that PSI was a better predictor of Smax than S for added concentrations of 75 and 100 mg P L−1, whereas at the higher rates S was a slightly better predictor of Smax and gave a direct estimate of Smax rather than the relative estimate obtained from PSI. Results from P sorption data measured on soils from Maryland and Sweden were consistent with our results from the numerical simulations. Our findings highlight important limitations of using PSI for estimating Smax.
NOTCH inhibition promotes bronchial stem cell renewal and epithelial barrier integrity after irradiation
Authors: Giuranno Lorena , Roig Eloy M. , Wansleeben Carolien , Berg Annette , Groot Arjan J. , Dubois Ludwig , Vooijs Marc
Published: April 2020

Hyperactivity of the NOTCH pathway is associated with tumor growth and radiotherapy resistance in lung cancer, and NOTCH/γ-secretase inhibitors (GSIs) are a potential therapeutic target. The therapeutic outcome, however, is often restricted by the dose-limiting toxicity of combined treatments on the surrounding healthy tissue. The NOTCH signaling pathway is also crucial for homeostasis and repair of the normal airway epithelium. The effects of NOTCH/γ-secretase inhibition on the irradiation of normal lung epithelium are unknown and may counteract antitumor activity. Here we, therefore, investigated whether normal tissue toxicity to radiation is altered upon NOTCH pathway inhibition. We established air-liquid interface pseudostratified and polarized cultures from primary human bronchial epithelial cells and blocked NOTCH signaling alone or after irradiation with small-molecule NOTCH inhibitor/GSI. We found that the reduction in proliferation and viability of bronchial stem cells (TP63+) in response to irradiation is rescued with concomitant NOTCH inhibition. This correlated with reduced activation of the DNA damage response and accelerated repair by 24 hours and 3 days postirradiation. The increase in basal cell proliferation and viability in GSI-treated and irradiated cultures resulted in an improved epithelial barrier function. Comparable results were obtained after in vivo irradiation, where the combination of NOTCH inhibition and irradiation increased the percentage of stem cells and ciliated cells ex vivo. These encourage further use of normal patient tissue for toxicity screening of combination treatments and disclose novel interactions between NOTCH inhibition and radiotherapy and opportunities for tissue repair after radiotherapy.

Significance statement Radiation-induced lung injury is a dose-limiting toxicity that limits the effective dose that should be administered and forces the interruption of the treatment. The NOTCH signaling pathway is a potential therapeutic target for lung cancer because its inhibition reduces tumor growth and synergizes with radiotherapy and chemotherapy in preclinical models. However, the effect of inhibiting NOTCH in irradiated normal lung tissue is not known and could impact the therapeutic benefit of combination treatments. This study demonstrates that small-molecule inhibitors of the NOTCH pathway enhance the survival of irradiated primary human and murine bronchial epithelial lung stem cells. This finding may be beneficial in lung cancer treatment with radiotherapy and NOTCH inhibitors by protecting normal lung tissue while increasing tumor control.
Influence of dielectric barrier plasma treatment of ZnMgAl alloy‐coated steel on the adsorption of organophosphonic acid monolayers
Authors: Knust Steffen , Kuhlmann Andreas , Orive Alejandro G. , de los Arcos Teresa , Grundmeier Guido
Published: April 2020

The adsorption of octadecyl phosphonic acid (ODPA) on oxide‐covered surfaces of ZnMgAl alloy coatings is described as a function of a dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) pretreatment step. The ODPA monolayer formation enables the investigation of the influence of the DBD treatment on the resulting interfacial bond formation and surface coverage. Surface characterisation by means of surface spectroscopy (PM‐IRRAS, XPS) and surface electrochemistry (cyclic voltammetry) showed that the DBD pretreatment with Ar, Ar/O2 and Ar/H2O gas mixtures leads to improved barrier properties of the adsorbed ODPA monolayer. Moreover, during ODPA monolayer formation from ethanolic solution, a partial etching of the surface oxide layer occurs.
A novel approach for propensity score matching and stratification for multiple treatments: Application to an electronic health record–derivedstudy
Authors: Brown Derek W. , DeSantis Stacia M. , Greene Thomas J. , Maroufy Vahed , Yaseen Ashraf , Wu Hulin , Williams George , Swartz Michael D.
Published: April 2020

Currently, methods for conducting multiple treatment propensity scoring in the presence of high‐dimensional covariate spaces that result from “big data” are lacking—the most prominent method relies on inverse probability treatment weighting (IPTW). However, IPTW only utilizes one element of the generalized propensity score (GPS) vector, which can lead to a loss of information and inadequate covariate balance in the presence of multiple treatments. This limitation motivates the development of a novel propensity score method that uses the entire GPS vector to establish a scalar balancing score that, when adjusted for, achieves covariate balance in the presence of potentially high‐dimensional covariates. Specifically, the generalized propensity score cumulative distribution function (GPS‐CDF) method is introduced. A one‐parameter power function fits the CDF of the GPS vector and a resulting scalar balancing score is used for matching and/or stratification. Simulation results show superior performance of the new method compared to IPTW both in achieving covariate balance and estimating average treatment effects in the presence of multiple treatments. The proposed approach is applied to a study derived from electronic medical records to determine the causal relationship between three different vasopressors and mortality in patients with non‐traumatic aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage. Results suggest that the GPS‐CDF method performs well when applied to large observational studies with multiple treatments that have large covariate spaces.
Tunable and Ultraefficient Microwave Absorption Properties of Trace N‐Doped Two‐Dimensional Carbon‐Based Nanocomposites Loaded with Multi‐Rare Earth Oxides
Authors: Gao Shan , Wang Guang‐Sheng , Guo Lin , Yu Shu‐Hong
Published: April 2020

A high efficiency and great tunability of bandwidth and absorption‐range electromagnetic wave absorber is proposed without precedent. A series of 2D carbon‐based nanocomposites with the loading of cerium oxide (CN‐Ce) and other types of rare earth oxides (CN‐REOs) can be successfully synthesized by a simple solvothermal‐sintering method. As‐synthesized 2D nanocomposites with local graphite‐like C3N4 structure and trace N‐doped are identified by transmission electron microscopy, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, X‐ray powder diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and Raman spectroscopy. The CN‐REOs and polyvinylidene fluoride composite absorbers with reflection loss values above −40 dB are obtained in C‐band, X‐band, and Ku‐band, respectively. The empirical rules on effective bandwidth and frequency range are discovered and summarized, which can be successfully realized by simply tuning the doping amount or type of REO. The mechanism is explained by enhanced attenuation and tunable impedance matching. In addition co‐filled samples by two types of CN‐REOs nanocomposites are prepared to support these findings and inspire the preparation of absorber with desirable frequency band in the range of 2–18 GHz.
Alluaudite Battery Cathodes
Authors: Dwibedi Debasmita , Barpanda Prabeer , Yamada Atsuo
Published: April 2020

Rechargeable batteries have emerged as ubiquitous and indispensable technologies of the 21st century, propelling myriads of consumer electronics and ushering a new era of electric vehicles and stationary grid storage. Since the commercialization of Li‐ion batteries by SONY (approximately in the year 1991), the secondary battery sector has seen unprecedented growth with diverse applications touching global populations across socioeconomic strata. There is a steady quest to develop a wide range of batteries to cater diverse global demands from milliwatt‐scale electronics to megawatt‐scale grid‐storage applications. In this journey, Li‐ion batteries are complemented by various post‐Li‐ion chemistry (e.g., Na+, K+, Mg2+, Ca2+, and Al3+‐ion batteries), conversion mechanism‐based systems (e.g., Li–S, Na–S, and Li–O2) as well as renewed development of pre‐Li‐ion era technologies like aqueous batteries. Cathodes sit at the core with command over the net cost and performance of batteries. Various polyanionic cathodes have been developed to date, often guided by structure of naturally occurring minerals. One such mineral system is alluaudite, named after French geologist François Alluaud. The current article portrays the discovery and development of the alluaudite class of polyanionic cathode materials for rechargeable batteries. The structure and electrochemical properties of various alluaudite insertion materials are gauged along with possible future perspectives.
A‐Site Rubidium Cation‐Incorporated CsPbI2Br All‐Inorganic Perovskite Solar Cells Exceeding 17% Efficiency
Authors: Patil Jyoti V. , Mali Sawanta S. , Hong Chang Kook
Published: April 2020

Due to its excellent thermal stability and high performance, inorganic cesium lead mixed halide (ABX3, where A = Cs, B = Pb, and X = I/Br) all‐inorganic perovskite solar cells (IPVSCs) have attracted much interest in optoelectronic applications. However, the film quality, enough absorption by desired film thickness, and nature of partial replacement of cations determine the stability of the CsPbI2Br perovskite films. Herein, a hot air method is used to control the thickness and morphology of the CsPbI2Br perovskite thin film, and the A‐site (herein, Cs+) cation is partially incorporated by rubidium (Rb+) cations for making the stable black phase under ambient conditions. The Rb cation‐incorporated Cs1−xRbxPbI2Br (x = 0–0.03) perovskite thin films exhibit high crystallinity, uniform grains, extremely dense, and pinhole‐free morphology. The fabricated device with its Cs0.99Rb0.01PbI2Br perovskite composition with poly(3‐hexylthiophene‐2,5‐diyl) as a hole‐transporting layer exhibits a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 17.16%, which is much higher than that of CsPbI2Br‐based IPVSCs. The fabricated Cs0.99Rb0.01PbI2Br‐based IPVSC devices retain >90% of the initial efficiency over 120 h at 65 °C thermal stress, which is much higher than that of CsPbI2Br samples.
Electric Current Field‐Assisted Inclusions Capture by Bubbles in Molten Steel
Authors: Yan Longge , Zhang Xinfang
Published: April 2020

Electric current is used to assist bubbles in removing inclusions from molten steel. Generally, large‐size bubbles do not effectively remove inclusions but instead convectively agitate the molten steel. The results show that the number of inclusions in the sample is reduced by 45% after the large‐size bubbles are coupled with the pulsed current, whereas the amount of inclusions in the sample treated only with large‐size bubbles does not change much. Numerical calculation reveals that electric current induces a force acting on the inclusion as the inclusion is close to a bubble. According to the nature of the force, there are three different effects, i.e., repulsion, attraction, and driven. The electric free energy change is calculated as well when an inclusion is captured by a bubble. Electric current causes a longer contact time and a shorter induction time between inclusions and bubbles, thus improving the collision and attachment probability and decreasing the detachment probability. As a result, inclusions are more easily captured by bubbles.
Effect of Drought stress on Resistant starch content and Glycemic index of rice (Oryza sativa L.)
Authors: Kumar Awadhesh , Dash Goutam Kumar , Barik Madhusmita , Panda Puja Archana , Lal Milan Kumar , Baig Mirza Jaynul , Swain Padmini
Published: April 2020

Drought stress is the most devastating abiotic stress which severely affects starch biosynthesis, thus altering the glycemic index (GI) of rice grains. It shortens the period of grain filling by rapidly translocating assimilates to grains, thereby decreasing amylose content (AC), resistant starch (RS), and increasing GI value. Among 30 genotypes tested, ZHU‐11‐26, IR 20, and Annada differ in exhibiting a much lower reduction in AC and RS which result in insignificant change in GI (<1) under drought stress. Two genotypes (ZHU‐11‐26 and Pathara) are selected for granule bound starch synthase I expression analysis on the basis of their contrasting GI and RS content. The gene is highly and significantly expressed at the dough stage of grain development and shows a positive association between its expression and RS content. Drought is very common in most parts of the world in the present climate‐change scenario, where even mild terminal stress may affect grain filling rate and cause the increment in GI value of grains. In this context, identification of less responsive genotypes with a lesser change in GI under drought stress may help in developing rice varieties for the diabetics even grown under stress‐prone environments.
Initial responses of the trap‐crop, Solanum sisymbriifolium, to Globodera pallida invasions
Authors: Wixom Alexander Q. , Casavant N. Carol , Sonnen Timothy J. , Kuhl Joseph C. , Xiao Fangming , Dandurand Louise‐Marie , Caplan Allan B.
Published: April 2020

Many researchers today are looking for mechanisms underlying plant defenses against nematodes by identifying differentially expressed genes in domesticated hosts. In order to provide a different perspective, we analyzed the root transcriptome of an undomesticated non‐host species, Solanum sisymbriifolium Lamark (SSI) before and after Globodera pallida infection. Utilizing RNAseq analyses, we identified changes in the expression of 277 transcripts. Many of these genes were not annotated; however, the annotated set included peroxidases, reactive oxygen species‐producing proteins, and regulators of cell death. Importantly, 60% of the nematode‐responsive genes did not respond to physical damage to root tissues, or to exogenous treatments with either salicylic acid or methyl jasmonate. Based on this, we speculate that the majority of changes in SSI gene expression were promoted by either nematode effectors, pathogen‐associated molecular patterns (PAMPs), or by exposure to untested endogenous signaling molecules such as ethylene, or by exposure to multiple stimuli. This study incorporates our findings into a model that accounts for part of this plant's unusual resistance to nematodes.
Optische Diagnostik an Vakuumlichtbögen
Authors: Gortschakow Sergey , Gonzalez Diego , Franke Steffen , Khakpour Alireza , Methling Ralf , Uhrlandt Dirk , Weltmann Klaus‐Dieter
Published: April 2020

Advanced optical diagnostics of vacuum arc plasma for switching applications

Vacuum technology provides environmentally compatible and emission‐free solutions for switching in power grids. A high number of operations under standard load conditions, safe and reproducible short‐circuit current interruption capability, and maintenance‐free operation are few examples of advantages of vacuum circuit breakers. Further development of such devices requires fundamental knowledge about the switching process and interaction of materials used with the working medium – the vacuum arc plasma. The optical diagnostics offers numerous methods for the characterization of the arc plasma and surrounding components, like e.g. electrodes and chamber walls. Studies of plasma and electrode phenomena by combination of optical and electrical diagnostics allow for material qualification, choice of design and arc extinguishing mechanisms.
Toward International Animal Rights
Authors: Peters Anne
Published: April 2020

The chapter starts from the observation that while animal welfare is increasingly protected in domestic jurisdictions, animal rights are still hardly recognised, although they would serve animals better. It argues that animal rights would need to be universalised in order to deploy effects in a globalised setting. The international legal order is flexible and receptive to non-human personhood which goes with rights. Also, the historical experience with international human rights encourages the animal rights project, because it shows how similar conceptual and normative difficulties have been overcome. Animal rights would complement human rights not the least because the entrenchment of the species hierarchy as manifest in the denial of animal rights in the extreme case condones disrespect for the rights of humans themselves.
Protection of Animals Through Human Rights: The Case-Law of the European Court of Human Rights
Authors: Sparks Tom
Published: April 2020

The chapter discusses the potential of a human rights framework to contribute to the growth and development of global animal law. It takes as example the jurisprudence of the European Court of Human Rights, and examine the major trends in the Court’s judgments and admissibility decisions that directly or indirectly concern the rights or welfare of animals. It is concluded that the Court is not indifferent to the welfare of animals, but that animal welfare is instrumentalised: it is understood not as a good in itself, but is instead valued for its implications for human welfare and rights. The chapter then considers the obstacles that the anthropocentrism of the human rights idea and the instrumentalisation of animal concerns present to the use of human rights frameworks to further the development of global animal law, as well as the opportunities that exist in the meeting of these paradigms. It concludes that although the telos of human rights law is different from that of animal law, nevertheless there exist many overlapping concerns within which mutually beneficial interactions are possible.
On Women and Beasts: Human-Animal Relationships in Sixteenth-Century Thought
Authors: Becker Anna
Published: April 2020

The chapter traces how early modern writers of political theory, often in their comments on Aristotle, viewed the relationships between some animals and humans, notably in the household. Remarkably, not all authors drew a sharp contrast between the human male on the one side, and disenfranchised women, slaves, and animals, on the other. Some writers did not view humans as completely alienated from their animal nature. Thus, early modern writers’ contemplation of the human animal and the fluidity between nature and culture might inspire current reflection on animal welfare and rights.
Trading in Sacrifice
Authors: Stilt Kristen
Published: April 2020

The chapter examines the trade of live animals for slaughter, focusing on export from Australia to the Muslim-majority countries that are the main customers. Here, animals are shipped across boundaries of religion, culture, and norms of animal welfare. While the typical rules of international trade in goods apply, they do not really fit. In addition, the current legal regime governing live exports is insufficient to provide animals with an adequate standard of welfare, from the point of entering the ships in the country of origin to the moment of slaughter in the importing country. Stilt argues, however, that with the due involvement of religious authorities, the Islamic tradition of animal welfare could be harnessed to develop more widely accepted international transportation and slaughtering standards.
Topological vertex/anti-vertex and supergroup gauge theory
Authors: Kimura Taro , Sugimoto Yuji
Published: April 2020

Abstract

We propose a new vertex formalism, called anti-refined topological vertex (anti-vertex for short), to compute the generalized topological string amplitude, which gives rise to the supergroup gauge theory partition function. We show the one-to-many correspondence between the gauge theory and the Calabi-Yau geometry, which is peculiar to the supergroup theory, and the relation between the ordinary vertex formalism and the vertex/anti-vertex formalism through the analytic continuation.
Dark bubbles: decorating the wall
Authors: Banerjee Souvik , Danielsson Ulf , Giri Suvendu
Published: April 2020

Abstract

Motivated by the difficulty of constructing de Sitter vacua in string theory, a new approach was proposed in arXiv:1807.01570 and arXiv:1907.04268, where four dimensional de Sitter space was realized as the effective cosmology, with matter and radiation, on an expanding spherical bubble that mediates the decay of non supersymmetric AdS5 to a more stable AdS5 in string theory. In this third installment, we further expand on this scenario by considering the backreaction of matter in the bulk and on the brane in terms of how the brane bends. We compute the back reacted metric on the bent brane as well as in the five dimensional bulk. To further illuminate the effect of brane-bending, we compare our results with an explicit computation of the five dimensional graviton propagator using a holographic prescription. Finally we comment on a possible localization of four dimensional gravity in our model using two colliding branes.
Sub-monthly evolution of the Caribbean Low-Level Jet and its relationship with regional precipitation and atmospheric circulation
Authors: García-Martínez Ivonne Mariela , Bollasina Massimo Alberto
Published: April 2020

The summer spatial structure and sub-monthly temporal evolution of one of the key dynamical features of Central American climate, the Caribbean Low-Level Jet (CLLJ), is investigated by means of extended empirical orthogonal functions (EEOFs). The Caribbean 925-hPa zonal wind from the CFSR reanalysis for the period 1979 – 2010 is used for the analysis. This approach reveals new insights into the dynamical processes and spatio-temporal evolution of the CLLJ summer intensification, and through lead and lag linear regressions, significant climate links in the broader Caribbean region are identified. The results show that the CLLJ generates significant precipitation and temperature responses with a distinct temporal evolution over the Caribbean-Atlantic domain to that over the tropical Pacific, which hints at different underlying controlling mechanisms over these two large-scale regions. These anomalies are linked with the mid and upper tropospheric circulation, where a vertical cell over the Caribbean (ascending at the jet exit and subsiding at its entrance) varies in phase with large-scale divergence over the Pacific Ocean. Extratropical hemispheric-wide waves and the weakening of a thermal low in northeast Mexico-central US are identified as potential triggering factors for the CLLJ summer intensification. Two leading modes of tropical variability, El Niño Southern Oscillation and the Madden-Julian Oscillation, are found to modulate the CLLJ by intensifying it and prolonging its life cycle. Details of the underlying mechanisms are provided. These results help to advance the understanding of the processes that modulate local climate variations, which is an important issue in view of the rapid climate change the region is undergoing.
Combined body mass index and abdominal obesity, lifestyle and health in a Norwegian adult population: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Oellingrath Inger M. , Svendsen Martin V. , Fell Anne K. M.
Published: April 2020

Aim

This study aimed to determine the prevalence of combined body mass index and waist circumference (BMI-WC) disease risk categories in a Norwegian adult population aged 18–51 years and describe selected health indicators (lifestyle factors, medical conditions, self-perceived health and high sensitive serum C-reactive protein (hs-CRP)) within these categories.

Subjects and methods

A sample of 1318 adults (aged 18–51 years) answered a comprehensive questionnaire covering lifestyle factors, medical conditions, self-perceived health and background variables in the population-based cross-sectional Telemark study, Norway, 2014–2015. BMI, WC and hs-CRP were determined as part of a broader medical examination. Four combined BMI-WC risk categories were constructed, based on recommendations provided by the US National Institutes of Health (NIH), and associations with health indicators examined using multiple logistic regression analyses.

Results

More than half of the participants represented combined BMI-WC categories with elevated disease risk (27% with increased risk, 11% with high risk and 19% with very high risk). Unfavourable health indicators (low physical activity, cardiovascular disease (CVD) history, physician-diagnosed high blood pressure and diabetes, lowered self-perceived health and elevated hs-CRP) increased in line with BMI-WC disease risk. Associations were observed independent of gender, age, education level and residential area.

Conclusion

The findings highlight the importance of using both BMI categories and WC for personalised assessment of obesity-related risk and need for follow-up. The findings are considered relevant to public health intervention programmes targeting adults with overweight and obesity. Follow-up studies are warranted to study morbidity development in the BMI-WC risk categories.
Differentiating captive and wild African lion (Panthera leo) populations in South Africa, using stable carbon and nitrogen isotope analysis
Authors: Hutchinson Alison , Roberts David L.
Published: April 2020

The international trade in lion (Panthera leo) products, particularly bone, has increased substantially over the last decade. The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) has established a zero-export quota for wild-origin lion bones. Whilst the trade of lion bone is permittable from captive-bred South African populations, there is no established method to differentiate between captive and wild-sourced lion derivatives in trade. This study acts as a preliminary investigation, by examining the stable carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen (δ15N) isotope composition of hair from wild and captive lion populations as well as wild prey animals in South Africa, to judge the accuracy and applicability of this method for future bone analysis. Isotopic values for δ15N are found to be significantly enriched in some wild populations, however it is not possible to discriminate between captive and wild populations using δ13C analysis alone. Using the classification algorithm k-Nearest Neighbour, the origin of simulated data was identified with 70% accuracy. When using the model to test the origin of seized samples, 63% were classified as of wild origin. Our study indicates the potential for stable isotope analysis to discriminate between captive and wild populations. Additional study of captive husbandry, and analysis of bone samples from populations of a known origin and feeding regime is recommended to improve the utility of this method for maintaining transparency in trade.
Expression of epithelial-mesenchymal transition-related markers and phenotypes during breast cancer progression
Authors: Jørgensen Charlotte Levin Tykjær , Forsare Carina , Bendahl Pär-Ola , Falck Anna-Karin , Fernö Mårten , Lövgren Kristina , Aaltonen Kristina , Rydén Lisa
Published: April 2020

Purpose

The study aimed to investigate expression of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related proteins and phenotypes during breast cancer progression and to relate this to patient outcome.

Methods

Protein expression patterns of E-cadherin, N-cadherin, twist, and vimentin were examined by immunohistochemistry on formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded samples from primary tumors (PTs) (n = 419), synchronous lymph node metastases (LNMs) (n = 131) and recurrences (n = 34) from patients included in an observational prospective primary breast cancer study. Markers were evaluated individually and combined as defined EMT phenotypes (epithelial, mesenchymal, partial EMT, and negative). EMT profiles were compared between matched tumor progression stages, and related to clinicopathological data and distant recurrence-free interval (DRFi).

Results

N-cadherin-positivity, vimentin-positivity, mesenchymal and partial EMT phenotypes were associated with more aggressive tumor characteristics such as triple-negative subtype. Single EMT markers and phenotype discordance rates between paired tumor samples were observed in the range of 2–35%. Non-epithelial phenotypes were more frequently identified in recurrences compared to PTs, however, no skewness of expression or phenotype was detected between PTs and matched LNMs or between PTs and matched recurrences (Exact McNemar test). Interestingly, patients with a twist positive PT had shorter DRFi, compared to patients with a twist negative PT (hazard ratio (HR) 2.4, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.2–5.1, P = 0.02). Essentially, the same effect was seen in multivariable analysis (HR 2.5, 95% CI 0.97–6.6, P = 0.06).

Conclusion

The epithelial phenotype was indicated to be lost between PTs and recurrences as a reflection of tumor progression. Twist status of the PT was related to long-term prognosis warranting further investigation in larger cohorts.
Morphological differentiation in African weakly electric fish (genus Campylomormyrus) relates to substrate preferences
Authors: Amen Rahma , Nagel Rebecca , Hedt Maximilian , Kirschbaum Frank , Tiedemann Ralph
Published: April 2020

Under an ecological speciation scenario, the radiation of African weakly electric fish (genusCampylomormyrus) is caused by an adaptation to different food sources, associated with diversification of the electric organ discharge (EOD). This study experimentally investigates a phenotype–environment correlation to further support this scenario. Our behavioural experiments showed that three sympatricCampylomormyrusspecies with significantly divergent snout morphology differentially react to variation in substrate structure. While the short snout species (C. tamandua) exhibits preference to sandy substrate, the long snout species (C. rhynchophorus) significantly prefers a stone substrate for feeding. A third species with intermediate snout size (C. compressirostris) does not exhibit any substrate preference. This preference is matched with the observation that long-snouted specimens probe deeper into the stone substrate, presumably enabling them to reach prey more distant to the substrate surface. These findings suggest that the diverse feeding apparatus in the genusCampylomormyrusmay have evolved in adaptation to specific microhabitats, i.e., substrate structures where these fish forage. Whether the parallel divergence in EOD is functionally related to this adaptation or solely serves as a prezygotic isolation mechanism remains to be elucidated.
Exposure to carbamate fungicide iodocarb does not affect reproductive behavior or milt volumes in precocious male brown trout (Salmo trutta L.) parr
Authors: Olsén K. Håkan , Olsén Hanna L.
Published: April 2020

Previous studies with olfactory-disturbing pesticides resulted after exposure in disturbed behavior and physiology in fish. In the present experiment, reproductive behavior and milt volumes of precocious brown trout (Salmo truttaL.) male parr were studied in a large stream aquarium after exposure to the olfactory-disturbing fungicide 15 μg l−1IPBC (iodocarb; 3-iodo-2-propynyl butyl carbamate) for 96 h. The statistical analyses did not reveal any significant differences for time attending females between controls and IPBC-exposed males. Furthermore, there were no significant differences in milt volumes. However, when taking all fish into consideration, there were significant differences in milt volumes between parr that had been attending females and those had not been attending females. Controls that had attended females had significantly higher milt volumes than controls or IPBC-exposed males that had not attended females. Taking all control and IPBC parr into consideration, there was a statistically significant positive correlation between time attended females and volume of milt and gonadosomatic index (GSI), respectively. In summary, 15 μg l−1IPBC did not have any significant effects on mature male parr reproductive behavior and milt volumes.
Effect of water on the breakdown and dielectric response of polypropylene/nano-aluminium nitride composites
Authors: Wang Xinyu , Qiang Dayuan , Hosier Ian , Zhu Yanqiu , Chen George , Andritsch Thomas
Published: April 2020

The influence of water immersion and silane treatment on the AC breakdown and the complex dielectric response of polypropylene/nano-aluminium nitride (PP/nano-AlN) composites has been investigated. The as-received filler was examined to have a nanoscale particle distribution with a hexagonal shape and slight hydrolysation. Grafting the aluminium nitride with an octyl silane reduces the weight increase in samples filled with 10 wt% of aluminium nitride during water immersion by 3, from 0.29 to 0.09%. The results suggest that the AC breakdown strength and complex permittivity of “wet” composite samples are related to the silane treatment of the nanofiller. The AC breakdown strength of octyl silane-treated samples after 9 days of water immersion shows comparable results to the dry samples, while a reduction can be seen on non-treated samples. Although silane-treated samples still show an increased dielectric loss at low frequency after water immersion, a significant reduction in low-frequency dispersion of real and imaginary permittivity can be seen when compared to the non-treated composites. This indicates that significant gains can be obtained for PP/nano-AlN composites by suitable silane treatments.
Molecular dynamics simulations in photosynthesis
Authors: Liguori Nicoletta , Croce Roberta , Marrink Siewert J. , Thallmair Sebastian
Published: April 2020

Photosynthesis is regulated by a dynamic interplay between proteins, enzymes, pigments, lipids, and cofactors that takes place on a large spatio-temporal scale. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations provide a powerful toolkit to investigate dynamical processes in (bio)molecular ensembles from the (sub)picosecond to the (sub)millisecond regime and from the Å to hundreds of nm length scale. Therefore, MD is well suited to address a variety of questions arising in the field of photosynthesis research. In this review, we provide an introduction to the basic concepts of MD simulations, at atomistic and coarse-grained level of resolution. Furthermore, we discuss applications of MD simulations to model photosynthetic systems of different sizes and complexity and their connection to experimental observables. Finally, we provide a brief glance on which methods provide opportunities to capture phenomena beyond the applicability of classical MD.
The Dynamics of Euphemisation in Legal Language: An Analysis of Legal Terms Referring to People with Disabilities Used in Poland and Spain
Authors: Nowak-Michalska Joanna
Published: April 2020

Socio-political developments can result in a change of perception of people with disabilities and increase sensitivity towards language, especially legal language, used in relation to them. Some terms perceived as offensive or stigmatising are rejected in favour of more neutral and inclusive ones. Such terms can often be categorised as euphemisms or orthophemisms (Allan and Burridge inForbidden Words, Taboo, and the Censoring of Language, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, New York, 2006). With the passage of time, such new words frequently cease to serve their purpose and new ones need to be proposed to refer to a given concept (euphemism treadmill). In order to examine this issue, a number of legal terms denoting persons with disabilities used, currently and historically, in legal regulations in Poland and Spain are discussed. They are analysed in the context of changing the model of perception of people with disabilities (medical model vs. social model). Next, the differentiation between the so-called Identity-First Language (the term denoting disability comes first linearly) and Person-First Language (the term denoting disability comes second linearly, often in the form of a prepositional phrase), advocated by some members of the disability rights movement, is discussed. In this context, important syntactic and morphological differences (word-order, number of the term denoting disability) between English, serving as a model, and Spanish and Polish are focused on.
The Effect of Working Parameters upon Elastohydrodynamic Film Thickness Under Periodic Load Variation
Authors: Zhang Xingnan , Glovnea Romeo , Morales-Espejel Guillermo E. , Félix-Quiñonez Armando
Published: April 2020

There are a number of widely used machine components, such as rolling element bearings, gears and cams, which operate in the lubrication regime known as Elastohydrodynamics (EHD), where lubricant film thickness is governed by hydrodynamic action of convergent geometry, elastic deformation between non-conformal contacting surfaces, and the increase of lubricant viscosity with pressure. Variable loading conditions occur not only in all the machine components mentioned above, but also in natural joints such as hip or knee joints of humans or many vertebrates. Experimental studies of the behaviour of EHD films under variable loading are scarce and to authors’ knowledge systematic studies of the evolution of lubricant film thickness in EHD contacts subjected to forced harmonic variation of load are even less common. The aim of the present study is to explore the effect of load amplitude on the EHD film behaviour. This is done in alternating cycles with the load varying about a fixed, preset value at various amplitudes. Experimental results are compared with a simple theoretical analysis based on the speed of change of contact’s dimensions, a semi-analytical solution which includes both speed variation and squeeze effect, and finally with a full numerical solution.
Metabolic characterization of colorectal cancer cells harbouring different KRAS mutations in codon 12, 13, 61 and 146 using human SW48 isogenic cell lines
Authors: Varshavi Dorna , Varshavi Dorsa , McCarthy Nicola , Veselkov Kirill , Keun Hector C. , Everett Jeremy R.
Published: April 2020

Introduction

Kirsten Rat Sarcoma Viral Oncogene Homolog (KRAS) mutations occur in approximately one-third of colorectal (CRC) tumours and have been associated with poor prognosis and resistance to some therapeutics. In addition to the well-documented pro-tumorigenic role of mutant Ras alleles, there is some evidence suggesting that not allKRASmutations are equal and the position and type of amino acid substitutions regulate biochemical activity and transforming capacity ofKRASmutations.

Objectives

To investigate the metabolic signatures associated with differentKRASmutations in codons 12, 13, 61 and 146 and to determine what metabolic pathways are affected by differentKRASmutations.

Methods

We applied an NMR-based metabonomics approach to compare the metabolic profiles of the intracellular extracts and the extracellular media from isogenic human SW48 CRC cell lines with differentKRASmutations in codons 12 (G12D, G12A, G12C, G12S, G12R, G12V), 13 (G13D), 61 (Q61H) and 146 (A146T) with their wild-type counterpart. We used false discovery rate (FDR)-corrected analysis of variance (ANOVA) to determine metabolites that were statistically significantly different in concentration between the different mutants.

Results

CRC cells carrying distinctKRASmutations exhibited differential metabolic remodelling, including differences in glycolysis, glutamine utilization and in amino acid, nucleotide and hexosamine metabolism.

Conclusions

Metabolic differences among differentKRASmutations might play a role in their different responses to anticancer treatments and hence could be exploited as novel metabolic vulnerabilities to develop more effective therapies against oncogenicKRAS.
A novel electrocoagulation electrode configuration for the removal of total organic carbon from primary treated municipal wastewater
Authors: Hawari Alaa H. , Alkhatib Afnan M. , Hafiz MhdAmmar , Das Probir
Published: April 2020

In this paper, the removal of total organic carbon (TOC) from a primary treated municipal wastewater using a new electrode configuration in electrocoagulation was evaluated. The used electrode configuration induces a dielectrophoretic (DEP) force by using an asymmetrical aluminum electrode with an alternating current power supply. The impact of applied current, electrolysis time, and interelectrode distance on the removal efficiency of TOC were evaluated. The experimental results showed that the maximum removal efficiency of TOC was obtained at 30 min electrolysis time, 600 mA applied current, and 0.5 cm interelectrode distance. Under these operating conditions, the TOC removal was 87.7% compared to 80.5% using symmetrical aluminum electrodes with no DEP effect. The energy consumption at the selected operating conditions was 3.92 kWh/m3. The experimental results were comparable with the simulation results done by COMSOL Multiphysics software.