bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Changes in Tropical-Cyclone Translation Speed over the Western North Pacific
Authors: Zhang Dongna , Zhang Han , Zheng Jiayu , Cheng Xuhua , Tian Di , Chen Dake
Published: January 2020

The trend of tropical-cyclone (TC) translation speed is a hot topic recently. Changes in TC translation speed during 1949–2017 over the western North Pacific are analyzed using two best-track datasets here. The TC translation speed decreased during 1949–2017, but there was no significant trend after 1981. The TC translation speed also changes with latitude and intensity. In the tropical ocean, TC translation speed decreased by 5.9% during 69-year recording period. North of 23.5° N, the changes in translation speed is highly consistent with the latitude of TC occurrence. The translation speed of tropical depressions showed no significant trend during the period 1949–2017, but the translation speed of typhoons decreased over the 69-year recording period. The period 1949–1981 contributed most of the slowdown trend. There also was an increase in the frequency of typhoons with translation speed slower than 6 m/s. The decrease of translation speed of typhoons before 1981 was likely caused by the weakening of the summertime tropical circulation.
An Investigation of Parameter Sensitivity of Minimum Complexity Earth Simulator
Authors: Chen Jiewei , Cui Huijuan , Xu Yangyang , Ge Quansheng
Published: January 2020

Climate change, induced by human greenhouse gas emission, has already influenced the environment and society. To quantify the impact of human activity on climate change, scientists have developed numerical climate models to simulate the evolution of the climate system, which often contains many parameters. The choice of parameters is of great importance to the reliability of the simulation. Therefore, parameter sensitivity analysis is needed to optimize the parameters for the model so that the physical process of nature can be reasonably simulated. In this study, we analyzed the parameter sensitivity of a simple carbon-cycle energy balance climate model, called the Minimum Complexity Earth Simulator (MiCES), in different periods using a multi-parameter sensitivity analysis method and output measurement method. The results show that the seven parameters related to heat and carbon transferred are most sensitive among all 37 parameters. Then uncertainties of the above key parameters are further analyzed by changing the input emission and temperature, providing reference bounds of parameters with 95% confidence intervals. Furthermore, we found that ocean heat capacity will be more sensitive if the simulation time becomes longer, indicating that ocean influence on climate is stronger in the future.
Ice Hydrometeor Shape Estimations Using Polarimetric Operational and Research Radar Measurements
Authors: Matrosov Sergey Y.
Published: January 2020

A polarimetric radar method to estimate mean shapes of ice hydrometeors was applied to several snowfall and ice cloud events observed by operational and research weather radars. The hydrometeor shape information is described in terms of their aspect ratios, r, which represent the ratio of particle minor and major dimensions. The method is based on the relations between depolarization ratio (DR) estimates and aspect ratios. DR values, which are a proxy for circular depolarization ratio, were reconstructed from radar variables of reflectivity factor, Ze, differential reflectivity, ZDR, and copolar correlation coefficient ρhv, which are available from radar systems operating in either simultaneous or alternate transmutation of horizontally and vertically polarized signals. DR-r relations were developed for retrieving aspect ratios and their sensitivity to different assumptions and model uncertainties were discussed. To account for changing particle bulk density, which is a major contributor to the retrieval uncertainty, an approach is suggested to tune the DR-r relations using reflectivity-based estimates of characteristic hydrometeor size. The analyzed events include moderate snowfall observed by an operational S-band weather radar and a precipitating ice cloud observed by a scanning Ka-band cloud radar at an Arctic location. Uncertainties of the retrievals are discussed.
Apolipoprotein E Interferes with IAPP Aggregation and Protects Pericytes from IAPP-Induced Toxicity
Authors: Gharibyan Anna L. , Islam Tohidul , Pettersson Nina , Golchin Solmaz A. , Lundgren Johanna , Johansson Gabriella , Genot Mélany , Schultz Nina , Wennström Malin , Olofsson Anders
Published: January 2020

Apolipoprotein E (ApoE) has become a primary focus of research after the discovery of its strong linkage to Alzheimer’s disease (AD), where the ApoE4 variant is the highest genetic risk factor for this disease. ApoE is commonly found in amyloid deposits of different origins, and its interaction with amyloid-β peptide (Aβ), the hallmark of AD, is well known. However, studies on the interaction of ApoEs with other amyloid-forming proteins are limited. Islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP) is an amyloid-forming peptide linked to the development of type-2 diabetes and has also been shown to be involved in AD pathology and vascular dementia. Here we studied the impact of ApoE on IAPP aggregation and IAPP-induced toxicity on blood vessel pericytes. Using both in vitro and cell-based assays, we show that ApoE efficiently inhibits the amyloid formation of IAPP at highly substoichiometric ratios and that it interferes with both nucleation and elongation. We also show that ApoE protects the pericytes against IAPP-induced toxicity, however, the ApoE4 variant displays the weakest protective potential. Taken together, our results suggest that ApoE has a generic amyloid-interfering property and can be protective against amyloid-induced cytotoxicity, but there is a loss of function for the ApoE4 variant.
Pharmacological Mechanisms Involved in Sensory Gating Disruption Induced by (±)-3,4-Methylene- Dioxymethamphetamine (MDMA): Relevance to Schizophrenia
Authors: Lee Jaime , Thwaites Shane , Gogos Andrea , van den Buuse Maarten
Published: January 2020

Sensory gating deficits have been demonstrated in schizophrenia, but the mechanisms involved remain unclear. In the present study, we used disruption of paired-pulse gating of evoked potentials in rats by the administration of (±)-3,4-methylene-dioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) to study serotonergic and dopaminergic mechanisms involved in auditory sensory gating deficits. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were instrumented with cortical surface electrodes to record evoked potential changes in response to pairs of 85dB tones (S1 and S2), 500msec apart. Administration of MDMA eliminated the normal reduction in the amplitude of S2 compared to S1, representing disruption of auditory sensory gating. Pretreatment of the animals with the dopamine D1 receptor antagonist, SCH23390, the dopamine D2 receptor antagonist, haloperidol, the serotonin (5-HT)1A receptor antagonist, WAY100635, or the 5-HT2A receptor antagonist, ketanserin, all blocked the effect of MDMA, although the drugs differentially affected the individual S1 and S2 amplitudes. These data show involvement of both dopaminergic and serotonergic mechanisms in disruption of auditory sensory gating by MDMA. These and previous results suggest that MDMA targets serotonergic pathways, involving both 5-HT1A and 5-HT2A receptors, leading to dopaminergic activation, involving both D1 and D2 receptors, and ultimately sensory gating deficits. It is speculated that similar interactive mechanisms are affected in schizophrenia.
The Contribution of Individual Psychological Features to the Determination of the Phenomenon of Work Alienation
Authors: Vinokurov Leonid V. , Kozhina Anastasiia A.
Published: January 2020

Using the questionnaire method on a sample of 92 Russian-speaking employees of the “person-person” professions type, the relationship of work alienation with personal characteristics was investigated. It was found that work alienation has associations with some personality traits. Also, the satisfaction of basic psychological needs at work is a significant predictor of work alienation. The study proved that work alienation is a relatively flexible construct for changes in the workplace that relate to autonomy, competence, and social relations. The results of the research can be used as an empirical justification of the model of the phenomenon as well as in the development of a differentiated approach to the prevention and intervention of work alienation, depending on the personality characteristics of employees.
Stem Cell-Induced Inflammation in Cholesteatoma Is Inhibited by the TLR4 Antagonist LPS-RS
Authors: Schürmann Matthias , Greiner Johannes F. W. , Volland-Thurn Verena , Oppel Felix , Kaltschmidt Christian , Sudhoff Holger , Kaltschmidt Barbara
Published: January 2020

Cholesteatoma is a severe non-cancerous lesion of the middle ear characterized by massive inflammation, tissue destruction, and an abnormal growth of keratinized squamous epithelium. We recently demonstrated the presence of pathogenic stem cells within cholesteatoma tissue, unfortunately their potential roles in regulating disease-specific chronic inflammation remain poorly understood. In the presented study, we utilized our established human in vitro cholesteatoma stem cell model for treatments with lipopolysaccharides (LPS), tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα), and the TLR4-antagonist LPS from R. sphaeroides (LPS-RS) followed by qPCR, western blot, and immunocytochemistry. Middle ear cholesteatoma stem cells (ME-CSCs) showed a significantly increased expression of TLR4 accompanied by a significantly enhanced LPS-dependent pro-inflammatory gene expression pattern of TNFα, IL-1α, IL-1ß, IL-6, and IL-8 compared to non-pathogenic control cells. LPS-dependent pro-inflammatory gene expression in ME-CSCs was driven by an enhanced activity of NF-κB p65 leading to a TNFα-mediated feed-forward-loop of pro-inflammatory NF-κB target gene expression. Functional inactivation of TLR4 via the TLR4-antagonist LPS-RS blocked chronic inflammation in ME-CSCs, resulting in a nearly complete loss of IL-1ß, IL-6, and TNFα expression. In summary, we determined that ME-CSCs mediate the inflammatory environment of cholesteatoma via TLR4-mediated NF-κB-signaling, suggesting a distinct role of ME-CSCs as drivers of cholesteatoma progression and TLR4 on ME-CSCs as a therapeutic target.
Comprehensive Analysis of the Characteristics and Differences in Adult and Newborn Brown Adipose Tissue (BAT): Newborn BAT Is a More Active/Dynamic BAT
Authors: Liu Junyu , Zhang Chuanhai , Zhang Boyang , Sheng Yao , Xu Wentao , Luo Yunbo , He Xiaoyun , Huang Kunlun
Published: January 2020

Brown adipose tissue (BAT) plays an essential role in maintaining body temperature and in treating obesity and diabetes. The adult BAT (aBAT) and neonatal BAT (neBAT) vary greatly in capacity, but the characteristics and differences between them on the molecular level, as well as the related features of BAT as it develops post-delivery, have not yet been fully determined. In this study, we examined the morphological features of aBAT and neBAT of mice by using hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) staining, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). We found that neBAT contains a smaller number and size of lipid droplets, as well as more abundant mitochondria, compared with aBAT. The dynamic morphological changes revealed that the number and size of lipid droplets increase, but the number of mitochondria gradually decrease during the post-delivery development, which consisted of some differences in RNA or protein expression levels, such as gradually decreased uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) expression levels and mitochondrial genes, such as mitochondrial transcription factor A (Tfam). The adipocyte differentiation-related genes, such as transcription factor CCAAT enhancer-binding protein β (CEBPβ), were also continuously upregulated. Additionally, the different features of aBAT and neBAT were analyzed from the global transcription (RNA-Seq) level, which included messenger RNA (mRNA), microRNA, long non-coding RNA (lncRNA), circRNA, and DNA methylation, as well as proteins (proteomics). Differentially methylated region (DMR) analysis identified 383 hyper- and 503 hypo-methylated genes, as well as 1221 new circRNA in ne-BAT and 1991 new circRNA in a-BAT, with significantly higher expression of circRNA in aBAT compared with neBAT. Gene ontology (GO) enrichment analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis indicated that mitochondrial activity, protein synthesis, and cell life activity levels were higher in neBAT, and pathways related to ribosomes, spliceosomes, and metabolism were significantly activated in neBAT compared to aBAT. Collectively, this study describes the dynamic changes occurring throughout post-delivery development from the morphological, molecular and omics perspectives. Our study provides information that may be utilized in improving BAT functional activity through gene regulation and/or epigenetic regulation.
Androgen Receptor and Its Splicing Variant 7 Expression in Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells and in Circulating Tumor Cells in Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer
Authors: Marín-Aguilera Mercedes , Jiménez Natalia , Reig Òscar , Montalbo Ruth , Verma Ajit K. , Castellano Giancarlo , Mengual Lourdes , Victoria Iván , Pereira María V. , Milà-Guasch Maria , García-Recio Susana , Benítez-Ribas Daniel , Cabezón Raquel , González Azucena , Juan Manel , Prat Aleix , Mellado Begoña
Published: January 2020

Androgen receptor (AR) signaling remains crucial in castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). Since it is also essential in immune cells, we studied whether the expression of AR full-length (ARFL) and its splicing variant ARV7 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) predicts systemic treatment response in mCRPC in comparison with circulating-tumor cells (CTC). We measured ARFL and ARV7 mRNA in PBMC and CTC from patients prior to receiving abiraterone (AA), enzalutamide (E), or taxanes by a pre-amplification plus quantitative reverse-transcription PCR. They were also tested in LNCaP-ARV7-transfected and in 22RV1 docetaxel-resistant (22RV1DR) cells. We studied 171 PBMC from 136 patients and from 24 non-cancer controls, and 47 CTC from 22 patients. High PBMC ARV7 levels correlated with worse AA/E and better taxane response. In taxane-treated patients high PBMC ARFL also correlated with longer progression-free survival (PFS). High ARV7 and ARFL expression were independently associated with better biochemical-PFS. Conversely, high CTC ARV7 and ARFL correlated with shorter radiological-PFS and overall survival, respectively. High ARV7 in 22RV1DR and LNCaP-ARV7 cells correlated with taxane resistance. In conclusion, ARFL and ARV7 at PBMC or CTC have a different predictive role in the taxane response, suggesting a potential influence of the AR pathway from PBMC in such response modulation.
Implications of Winter NAO Flavors on Present and Future European Climate
Authors: Rousi Efi , Rust Henning W. , Ulbrich Uwe , Anagnostopoulou Christina
Published: January 2020

The North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO), a basic variability mode in the Northern Hemisphere, undergoes changes in its temporal and spatial characteristics, with significant implications on European climate. In this paper, different NAO flavors are distinguished for winter in simulations of a Coupled Atmosphere-Ocean GCM, using Self-Organizing Maps, a topology preserving clustering algorithm. These flavors refer to various sub-forms of the NAO pattern, reflecting the range of positions occupied by its action centers, the Icelandic Low and the Azores High. After having defined the NAO flavors, composites of winter temperature and precipitation over Europe are created for each one of them. The results reveal significant differences between NAO flavors in terms of their effects on the European climate. Generally, the eastwardly shifted NAO patterns induce a stronger than average influence on European temperatures. In contrast, the effects of NAO flavors on European precipitation anomalies are less coherent, with various areas responding differently. These results confirm that not only the temporal, but also the spatial variability of NAO is important in regulating European climate.
A Highly Efficient Visible Absorber Coating on a Curved Substrate
Authors: Gao Ruoqian , Bayan Heshig , Yang Fei , Wang Yanchao , Liu Zhen , Liu Hai , Shen Zhenfeng , Li Qiang , Li Zizheng , Wang Xiaoyi , Yang Haigui
Published: January 2020

In this study, we propose and fabricate a perfect absorber on a planar substrate using alternate silicon dioxide and ultrathin metallic lossy chromium (Cr) films. Furthermore, we transfer the absorber to a curved substrate via an optimization design of symmetric structures. The absorber exhibits a highly efficient absorption and large incident-angular tolerance characteristics in the whole visible region. We investigate each layer contribution to the absorption theoretically, and find that ultrathin (~5 nm) lossy Cr films play a dominant absorptive role. Using the effective interface method, we calculate the phase difference on the lossy Cr front surface. It is close to the destructive interference condition, from which we clarify why the proposed structures can produce a highly efficient absorption.
Corrosion and Wear Resistance of Fe-Based Amorphous Coatings
Authors: Li Guang , Gan Youyi , Liu Chenheng , Shi Yu , Zhao Yanchun , Kou Shengzhong
Published: January 2020

Fe-based amorphous coatings were prepared on the surface of 45 steel substrates via supersonic plasma spraying and laser cladding. The corrosion and wear behavior of the two different coatings were investigated. Compared with supersonic plasma spraying, laser cladding resulted in coatings with a relatively denser structure, lower porosity, less cracks, and a good metallurgical bond with the substrate. Thanks to these properties, coatings produced by laser cladding exhibit a higher ability to resist uniform corrosion and better friction and wear performance than plasma-sprayed coatings.
Incorporation of Cd-Doping in SnO2
Authors: Schell J. , Dang T. T. , Carbonari A. W.
Published: January 2020

Tuning the electrical properties of materials by controlling their doping content has been utilized for decades in semiconducting oxides. Here, an atomistic view is successfully employed to obtain local information on the charge distribution and point defects in Cd-doped SnO2. We present a study that uses the time-differential perturbed gamma–gamma angular correlations (TDPAC) method in samples prepared by using a sol–gel approach. The hyperfine field parameters are presented as functions of the annealing temperature in pellet samples to show the evolution of incorporating Cd dopants into the crystal lattice. Additionally, the system was characterized with X-ray fluorescence, electron dispersive spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy after the probe nuclei 111In(111Cd) decayed. The TDPAC results reveal that the probe ions were incorporated into two different local environments of the SnO2 lattice at temperatures up to 973 K for cation substitutional sites.
Development of a Flow-Free Automated Colorimetric Detection Assay Integrated with Smartphone for Zika NS1
Authors: Kabir Md Alamgir , Zilouchian Hussein , Sher Mazhar , Asghar Waseem
Published: January 2020

The Zika virus (ZIKV) is an emerging flavivirus transmitted to humans by Aedes mosquitoes that can potentially cause microcephaly, Guillain–Barré Syndrome, and other birth defects. Effective vaccines for Zika have not yet been developed. There is a necessity to establish an easily deployable, high-throughput, low-cost, and disposable point-of-care (POC) diagnostic platform for ZIKV infections. We report here an automated magnetic actuation platform suitable for a POC microfluidic sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using antibody-coated superparamagnetic beads. The smartphone integrated immunoassay is developed for colorimetric detection of ZIKV nonstructural protein 1 (NS1) antigen using disposable chips to accommodate the reactions inside the chip in microliter volumes. An in-house-built magnetic actuator platform automatically moves the magnetic beads through different aqueous phases. The assay requires a total of 9 min to automatically control the post-capture washing, horseradish peroxidase (HRP) conjugated secondary antibody probing, washing again, and, finally, color development. By measuring the saturation intensity of the developed color from the smartphone captured video, the presented assay provides high sensitivity with a detection limit of 62.5 ng/mL in whole plasma. These results advocate a great promise that the platform would be useful for the POC diagnosis of Zika virus infection in patients and can be used in resource-limited settings.
Cross-Dataset Evaluation of Deep Learning Networks for Uterine Cervix Segmentation
Authors: Guo Peng , Xue Zhiyun , Long L. Rodney , Antani Sameer
Published: January 2020

Evidence from recent research shows that automatic visual evaluation (AVE) of photographic images of the uterine cervix using deep learning-based algorithms presents a viable solution for improving cervical cancer screening by visual inspection with acetic acid (VIA). However, a significant performance determinant in AVE is the photographic image quality. While this includes image sharpness and focus, an important criterion is the localization of the cervix region. Deep learning networks have been successfully applied for object localization and segmentation in images, providing impetus for studying their use for fine contour segmentation of the cervix. In this paper, we present an evaluation of two state-of-the-art deep learning-based object localization and segmentation methods, viz., Mask R-convolutional neural network (CNN) and MaskX R-CNN, for automatic cervix segmentation using three datasets. We carried out extensive experimental tests and algorithm comparisons on each individual dataset and across datasets, and achieved performance either notably higher than, or comparable to, that reported in the literature. The highest Dice and intersection-over-union (IoU) scores that we obtained using Mask R-CNN were 0.947 and 0.901, respectively.
A Blockchain-Driven Supply Chain Finance Application for Auto Retail Industry
Authors: Chen Jingjing , Cai Tiefeng , He Wenxiu , Chen Lei , Zhao Gang , Zou Weiwen , Guo Lingling
Published: January 2020

In this paper, a Blockchain-driven platform for supply chain finance, BCautoSCF (Zhi-lian-che-rong in Chinese), is introduced. It is successfully established as a reliable and efficient financing platform for the auto retail industry. Due to the Blockchain built-in trust mechanism, participants in the supply chain (SC) networks work extensively and transparently to run a reliable, convenient, and traceable business. Likewise, the traditional supply chain finance (SCF), partial automation of SCF workflows with fewer human errors and disruptions was achieved through smart contract in BCautoSCF. Such open and secure features suggest the feasibility of BCautoSCF in SCF. As the first Blockchain-driven SCF application for the auto retail industry in China, our contribution lies in studying these pain points existing in traditional SCF and proposing a novel Blockchain-driven design to reshape the business logic of SCF to develop an efficient and reliable financing platform for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the auto retail industry to decrease the cost of financing and speed up the cash flows. Currently, there are over 600 active enterprise users that adopt BCautoSCF to run their financing business. Up to October 2019, the BCautoSCF provides services to 449 online/offline auto retailors, three B2B asset exchange platforms, nine fund providers, and 78 logistic services across 21 provinces in China. There are 3296 financing transactions successfully completed in BCautoSCF, and the amount of financing is ¥566,784,802.18. In the future, we will work towards supporting a full automation of SCF workflow by smart contracts, so that the efficiency of transaction will be further improved.
Calibration and Characterization of a Reduced Form-Factor High Accuracy Three-Axis Teslameter
Authors: Cassar Johann , Sammut Andrew , Sammut Nicholas , Calvi Marco , Mitrovic Zarko , Popovic Radivoje S.
Published: January 2020

A new reduced form-factor three axes digital teslameter, based on the spinning current technique, has been developed. This instrument will be used to characterize the SwissFEL insertion devices at the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI) for the ATHOS soft X-ray beamline. A detailed and standardized calibration procedure is critical to optimize the performance of this precision instrument. This paper presents the measurement techniques used for the corrective improvements implemented through non-linearity, temperature offset, temperature sensitivity compensation of the Hall probe and electronics temperature compensation. A detailed quantitative analysis of the reduction in errors on the application of each step of the calibration is presented. The percentage peak error reduction attained through calibration of the instrument for reference fields in the range of ±2 T is registered to drop from 1.94% down to 0.02%.
A Low-Complex Frame Rate Up-Conversion with Edge-Preserved Filtering
Authors: Li Ran , Ma Wendan , Li Yanling , You Lei
Published: January 2020

The improvement of resolution of digital video requires a continuous increase of computation invested into Frame Rate Up-Conversion (FRUC). In this paper, we combine the advantages of Edge-Preserved Filtering (EPF) and Bidirectional Motion Estimation (BME) in an attempt to reduce the computational complexity. The inaccuracy of BME results from the existing similar structures in the texture regions, which can be avoided by using EPF to remove the texture details of video frames. EPF filters out by the high-frequency components, so each video frame can be subsampled before BME, at the same time, with the least accuracy degradation. EPF also preserves the edges, which prevents the deformation of object in the process of subsampling. Besides, we use predictive search to reduce the redundant search points according to the local smoothness of Motion Vector Field (MVF) to speed up BME. The experimental results show that the proposed FRUC algorithm brings good objective and subjective qualities of the interpolated frames with a low computational complexity.
Binding Contracts, Non-Binding Promises and Social Feedback in the Intertemporal Common-Pool Resource Game
Authors: Przepiorka Wojtek , Diekmann Andreas
Published: January 2020

In the intertemporal common-pool resource game, non-cooperative behavior produces externalities reducing subjects’ payoffs in both the present and the future. In this paper, we investigate through two experiments whether binding contracts, non-binding promises and social feedback help to promote sustainable behavior. We find that cooperation is higher in groups where a contract can be signed or where subjects made a promise to cooperate throughout the experiment. However, not all groups sign the contract unanimously and subjects who made a promise adjust their cooperation downwards over time. We find no difference between the control condition without any regulation and the treatment condition in which subjects receive feedback on their past behavior in private. However, if received feedback can be learned by all group members, cooperation is significantly higher. Our findings show that non-binding promises and social feedback increase cooperation, but the former only in the short-run and the latter only if made public.
Centric Fusions behind the Karyotype Evolution of Neotropical Nannostomus Pencilfishes (Characiforme, Lebiasinidae): First Insights from a Molecular Cytogenetic Perspective
Authors: Sember Alexandr , de Oliveira Ezequiel Aguiar , Ráb Petr , Bertollo Luiz Antonio Carlos , de Freitas Natália Lourenço , Viana Patrik Ferreira , Yano Cassia Fernanda , Hatanaka Terumi , Marinho Manoela Maria Ferreira , de Moraes Renata Luiza Rosa , Feldberg Eliana , Cioffi Marcelo de Bello
Published: January 2020

Lebiasinidae is a Neotropical freshwater family widely distributed throughout South and Central America. Due to their often very small body size, Lebiasinidae species are cytogenetically challenging and hence largely underexplored. However, the available but limited karyotype data already suggested a high interspecific variability in the diploid chromosome number (2n), which is pronounced in the speciose genus Nannostomus, a popular taxon in ornamental fish trade due to its remarkable body coloration. Aiming to more deeply examine the karyotype diversification in Nannostomus, we combined conventional cytogenetics (Giemsa-staining and C-banding) with the chromosomal mapping of tandemly repeated 5S and 18S rDNA clusters and with interspecific comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) to investigate genomes of four representative Nannostomus species: N. beckfordi, N. eques, N. marginatus, and N. unifasciatus. Our data showed a remarkable variability in 2n, ranging from 2n = 22 in N. unifasciatus (karyotype composed exclusively of metacentrics/submetacentrics) to 2n = 44 in N. beckfordi (karyotype composed entirely of acrocentrics). On the other hand, patterns of 18S and 5S rDNA distribution in the analyzed karyotypes remained rather conservative, with only two 18S and two to four 5S rDNA sites. In view of the mostly unchanged number of chromosome arms (FN = 44) in all but one species (N. eques; FN = 36), and with respect to the current phylogenetic hypothesis, we propose Robertsonian translocations to be a significant contributor to the karyotype differentiation in (at least herein studied) Nannostomus species. Interspecific comparative genome hybridization (CGH) using whole genomic DNAs mapped against the chromosome background of N. beckfordi found a moderate divergence in the repetitive DNA content among the species’ genomes. Collectively, our data suggest that the karyotype differentiation in Nannostomus has been largely driven by major structural rearrangements, accompanied by only low to moderate dynamics of repetitive DNA at the sub-chromosomal level. Possible mechanisms and factors behind the elevated tolerance to such a rate of karyotype change in Nannostomus are discussed.
Comparative Genomics Analysis of Lactobacillus mucosae from Different Niches
Authors: Jia Yan , Yang Bo , Ross Paul , Stanton Catherine , Zhang Hao , Zhao Jianxin , Chen Wei
Published: January 2020

The potential probiotic benefits of Lactobacillus mucosae have received increasing attention. To investigate the genetic diversity of L. mucosae, comparative genomic analyses of 93 strains isolated from different niches (human and animal gut, human vagina, etc.) and eight strains of published genomes were conducted. The results showed that the core genome of L. mucosae mainly encoded translation and transcription, amino acid biosynthesis, sugar metabolism, and defense function while the pan-genomic curve tended to be close. The genetic diversity of L. mucosae mainly reflected in carbohydrate metabolism and immune/competitive-related factors, such as exopolysaccharide (EPS), enterolysin A, and clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-Cas. It was worth noting that this research firstly predicted the complete EPS operon shared among L. mucosae. Additionally, the type IIIA CRISPR-Cas system was discovered in L. mucosae for the first time. This work provided new ideas for the study of this species.
Effect of Partial Excision of Early Taproots on Growth and Components of Hydroponic Carrots
Authors: Sakamoto Masaru , Wada Masanori , Suzuki Takahiro
Published: January 2020

Hydroponics provides a stable root environment that can be easily controlled. In this paper, we investigated the effect of partial excision of early taproots of hydroponic carrots on their growth and components. Carrot taproots were excised after 30 days from sowing at 5 cm, 10 cm, and 15 cm from the stem base (C5, C10, and C15) and compared with nonexcised control plants. Time-course measurements revealed the taproot lengths of C10 and C15 plants gradually decreased. After 28 days of treatment, C5 taproot tips showed the most rounded shape among root-excised plants. Control plants possessed long taproots that were not enlarged at the site more than 15 cm from the stem base. Taproot fresh weight was lower in C5 plants and higher in C15 plants compared with controls. Although taproot sugar concentrations did not differ between treatments, total phenol concentration was higher in C5 taproots. These data suggest that partial removal of early taproots can regulate the shape and ingredients of hydroponic carrots.
Factors Shaping the Lived Experience of Resettlement for Former Refugees in Regional Australia
Authors: Smith Laura , Hoang Ha , Reynish Tamara , McLeod Kim , Hannah Chona , Auckland Stuart , Slewa-Younan Shameran , Mond Jonathan
Published: January 2020

Refugees experience traumatic life events with impacts amplified in regional and rural areas due to barriers accessing services. This study examined the factors influencing the lived experience of resettlement for former refugees in regional Launceston, Australia, including environmental, social, and health-related factors. Qualitative interviews and focus groups were conducted with adult and youth community members from Burma, Bhutan, Sierra Leone, Afghanistan, Iran, and Sudan, and essential service providers (n = 31). Thematic analysis revealed four factors as primarily influencing resettlement: English language proficiency; employment, education and housing environments and opportunities; health status and service access; and broader social factors and experiences. Participants suggested strategies to overcome barriers associated with these factors and improve overall quality of life throughout resettlement. These included flexible English language program delivery and employment support, including industry-specific language courses; the provision of interpreters; community events fostering cultural sharing, inclusivity and promoting well-being; and routine inclusion of nondiscriminatory, culturally sensitive, trauma-informed practices throughout a former refugee’s environment, including within education, employment, housing and service settings.
Photochemical Generation of Methyl Chloride from Humic Aicd: Impacts of Precursor Concentration, Solution pH, Solution Salinity and Ferric Ion
Authors: Liu Hui , Pu Yingying , Tong Tong , Zhu Xiaomei , Sun Bing , Zhang Xiaoxing
Published: January 2020

Methyl chloride (CH3Cl) is presently understood to arise from biotic and abiotic processes in marine systems. However, the production of CH3Cl via photochemical processes has not been well studied. Here, we reported the production of CH3Cl from humic acid (HA) in sunlit saline water and the effects of the concentration of HA, chloride ions, ferric ions and pH were investigated. HA in aqueous chloride solutions or natural seawater were irradiated under an artificial light, and the amounts of CH3Cl were determined using a purge-and-trap and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. CH3Cl was generated upon irradiation and its amount increased with increasing irradiation time and the light intensity. The formation of CH3Cl increased with an increase of HA concentration ranging from 2 mg L−1 to 20 mg L−1 and chloride ion concentration ranging from 0.02 mol L−1 to 0.5 mol L−1. The photochemical production of CH3Cl was pH-dependent, with the highest amount of CH3Cl generating near neutral conditions. Additionally, the generation of CH3Cl was inhibited by ferric ions. Finally, natural coastal seawater was irradiated under artificial light and the concentration of CH3Cl rose significantly. Our results suggest that the photochemical process of HA may be a source of CH3Cl in the marine environment.
Effects of Teaching Games on Decision Making and Skill Execution: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Abad Robles Manuel Tomás , Collado-Mateo Daniel , Fernández-Espínola Carlos , Castillo Viera Estefanía , Giménez Fuentes-Guerra Francisco Javier
Published: January 2020

The question of how games should be taught is still a controversial subject. There has been a growing number of studies on teaching games and coaching sports since the first publication of Bunker and Thorpe on Teaching Games for Understanding (TGfU). In this sense, the present systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to systematically review the scientific literature about the effects of technical and tactical approach interventions on skill execution and decision making, and to examine the influence of the teacher/coach management style. A systematic literature search was carried out in accordance with PRISMA guidelines in Web of Science (WOS), PubMed (Medline), Scopus, and SportDiscus electronic databases. A total of seven and six studies were deemed to meet the inclusion criteria for decision making and skill execution, respectively. Meta-analysis results showed that tactical interventions achieved significant improvements in decision making (effect size = 0.89 with 95% confidence interval (CI) from 0.12 to 1.65), but they did not show significant improvements in skill execution (effect size = 0.89 with 95% CI from −0.45 to 2.23) compared to technical approaches. However, the heterogeneity of interventions was large and the quality of evidence was low according to GRADE. In conclusion, tactical approaches are recommended to teach games and sports in order to develop technique, understanding, tactical knowledge, and decision making, which are demanded in game play. These findings could be useful for teachers and coaches to improve these aspects of their players and students.
How Does Positive Work-Related Stress Affect the Degree of Innovation Development?
Authors: Albort-Morant Gema , Ariza-Montes Antonio , Leal-Rodríguez Antonio , Giorgi Gabriele
Published: January 2020

Many studies sustain that work-related stress exerts pervasive consequences on the employees’ levels of performance, productivity, and wellbeing. However, it remains unclear whether certain levels of stress might lead to positive outcomes regarding employees’ innovativeness. Hence, this paper examines how the five dimensions of work-related stress impact on the employees’ levels of innovation performance. To this aim, this study focused on a sample of 1487 employees from six Italian companies. To test the research hypotheses under assessment, we relied on the use of the partial least squares (PLS) technique. Our results reveal that, in summary, the stressors job autonomy, job demands, and role ambiguity exert a positive and significant impact on the employees’ levels of innovativeness. However, this study failed to find evidence that the supervisors’ support–innovation and colleagues’ support–innovation links are not statistically significant.
Usability of Clinical Information in Discharge Summary Data in the Diagnosis Procedure Combination Survey for Cancer Patients
Authors: Okuyama Ayako , Higashi Takahiro
Published: January 2020

Valid data are required to monitor and measure the quality of cancer treatment. This study aims to assess the usability of diagnosis procedure combination (DPC) survey discharge summary data. DPC survey data were analyzed by linking them to the hospital-based cancer registries (HBCR) from 231 hospitals. We focused on patients who were aged 20 years or older and diagnosed in 2013 with stomach, colorectal, liver, lung, or breast cancer. We assessed the percentage of unknown/missing values in supplementary data for patients with five common cancers and compared DPC cancer stage information to that of HBCR. In total, 279,451 discharge data sets for 180,399 patients were analyzed. The percentages of unknown data for smoking index and height/weight were 10.5% and 2.3%, respectively, and varied from 0.0% to 93.0% between hospitals. In the activity of daily living component, the rates of missing data for climbing stairs (3.6%) and bathing (2.9%) at admission were slightly higher than for other elements. Unexpectedly low concordance rate of tumor, node, and metastasis classification between DPC survey and HBCR data was observed as 80.6%, which means 20.4% of the data showed discrepancies. The usability of DPC survey discharge summary data is generally acceptable, but some variables had substantial amounts of missing values.
Numerical Analysis of Stress and Temperature Fields in a Composite Stratum Based on a New Method of Shield Construction for Safety and Environmental Protection
Authors: Dai Wei , Xia Yimin , Ning Bo , Yang Mei
Published: January 2020

Safety and environmental protection are key issues in shield construction. Due to wear, the cutter of a shield machine must be changed after a period of excavation. In order to realize the tool change operation of a shield machine at atmospheric pressure, a method of cutter head freezing of the shield machine is described in this paper. The finite element simulation method is used to analyze the construction of a shield machine with a frozen cutter head in a composite stratum. For a composite stratum with uneven hard and soft layers in a ratio of 1:1, the stress and temperature fields are analyzed, and the stress change around the hob is recorded. Through numerical simulation, the change of the temperature field around the shield machine is determined in real time. As time goes on, the temperature around the shield machine decreases, and the frozen range expands. When the temperature field in a specific point reaches a critical value, the temperature at that point will remain constant, and the stress field around the cutter head will also tend to become stable. The isothermal region of the soil presents an annular distribution, and the final temperature tends to be stable and gradually increase as the distance from the frozen cutter head increases. The final temperature of the monitoring area reaches a stable value corresponding to −26.5 °C, the axial depth of the frozen wall is more than 2.5 m, the minimum frozen radius is 3.2 m, the stress distribution around the cutter head is unbalanced, the maximum stress is measured in the hard rock layer, and the stress around the cutter head at the hob level indicates that tool change is necessary. Compared with the traditional method, the construction method of a frozen cutter head is more effective and more environmentally friendly. Further research will allow a broad application of this method in shield excavation in a composite stratum.
Clinical Presentation of Community-Acquired Legionella Pneumonia Identified by Universal Testing in an Endemic Area
Authors: Puri Shruti , Boudreaux-Kelly Monique , Walker Jon D. , Clancy Cornelius J. , Decker Brooke K.
Published: January 2020

The rapid identification of Legionella pneumonia is essential to optimize patient treatment and outcomes, and to identify potential public health risks. Previous studies have identified clinical factors which are more common in Legionella than non-Legionella pneumonia, and scores have been developed to assist in diagnosing cases. Since a Legionella pneumonia outbreak at VA Pittsburgh in 2012, nearly all patients with pneumonia have been tested for Legionella. The purpose of this study was to evaluate distinguishing characteristics between Legionella and non-Legionella pneumonia with the application of universal testing for Legionella in all cases of community-acquired pneumonia. We performed a retrospective case-control study matching Legionella and non-Legionella pneumonia cases occurring in the same month. Between January 2013 and February 2016, 17 Legionella and 54 non-Legionella cases were identified and reviewed. No tested characteristics were significantly associated with Legionella cases after Bonferroni correction. Outcomes of Legionella and non-Legionella pneumonia were comparable. Therefore, in veterans who underwent routine Legionella testing in an endemic area, factors typically associated with Legionella pneumonia were non-discriminatory.
The Community Pharmacist: Perceived Barriers and Patient-Centered Care Communication
Authors: Ilardo Maria Laura , Speciale Antonio
Published: January 2020

Nowadays, the classic perception of the pharmaceutical profession in community pharmacies is facing worldwide extinction due to many factors. Among the numerous factors, online pharmacies are increasingly gaining ground thanks to their ability to facilitate customer demand. Nevertheless, they are endangering “face-to-face” contact, affecting the building of customer loyalty based on direct “human” interaction, and consequently reducing pharmacists to mere commercial figures. Patient-centered care communication is emphasized as the essential element to build a solid and appropriate interpersonal relationship with the patient, to make the consultancy process effective, and to strengthen the pharmacist’s professionalism in community pharmacy. This paper presents a narrative review of existing literature with the first aim of pinpointing the factors affecting pharmacy professional practice, and secondly, of how to improve patient-centered communication skills. A more widespread introduction of in-depth study and practice of behavioral, communication, educational, and sociological methodologies and techniques would allow for the development of more effective skills used for providing an efficient consultancy service, improving the capacity of future professionals to approach public relations.
Tools Used to Measure the Physical State of Women with Celiac Disease: A Review with a Systematic Approach
Authors: Martínez-Rodríguez Alejandro , Loaiza-Martínez Daniela Alejandra , Sánchez-Sánchez Javier , Marcos-Pardo Pablo J. , Prats Soledad , Alacid Fernando , Rubio-Arias Jacobo A.
Published: January 2020

Celiac disease (CD) is an immunological disorder that mainly affects the small intestine, generating an inflammatory process in response to the presence of gluten (a protein). Autoimmune diseases are part of a group of diseases that are difficult to diagnose without a specific protocol or consensus to detect them due to the number of symptoms and diseases with which it has a relationship. Therefore, the aim of this review was to analyze the diagnostic tools of CD used in middle-aged women, to compare the use and effectiveness of the different tools, and to propose a strategy for the use of the tools based on the results found in the literature. The present research followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guideline. The search was conducted in the following databases: Scielo, PubMed, Web of Science, and Worldwide Science org. In the initial literature search, 2004 titles and relevant abstracts were found. Among them, 687 were duplicates, leaving 1130 articles. Based on the inclusion criteria, only 41 articles passed the selection process; 4 main types of analyses appear in the studies: blood tests, questionnaires, clinical history, and biopsy. It can be said that none of the analyses have a 100% reliability since most of them can present false negatives; therefore, the best way to diagnose celiac disease up to now is through a combination of different tests (Immunoglobulin A and small intestinal biopsy).