bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
EAU-verslag Andrologie
Authors: Dinkelman-Smit Marij
Published: September 2020

Samenvatting

De EAU guidelines ‘Male infertility, male sexual dysfunction en male hypogonadism’ zijn ondergebracht onder een nieuw panel dat dit jaar de eerste ‘Sexual and Reproductive Health’ richtlijn presenteerde: zeer de moeite waard om te bekijken. Hierna volgt een samenvatting ‘Andrologie en testiculaire kiemceltumor’ uit de EAU20 Virtual.
Prevalence, predictors and outcomes of thyroid dysfunction in patients with acute myocardial infarction: the ThyrAMI-1 study
Authors: Jabbar A. , Ingoe L. , Thomas H. , Carey P. , Junejo S. , Addison C. , Vernazza J. , Austin D. , Greenwood J. P. , Zaman A. , Razvi S.
Published: September 2020

Purpose

Thyroid dysfunction in patients with cardiac disease is associated with worse outcomes. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence and analyse predictors and outcomes of thyroid dysfunction in patients presenting with an acute myocardial infarction (AMI).

Methods

A prospective multicentre observational study of patients recruited from six acute hospitals within the North of England. Consecutive patients without previous thyroid disease presenting with both ST-elevation AMI (STEMI) and non-ST-elevation AMI (NSTEMI) were recruited to the Thyroxine in Acute Myocardial Infarction 1 (ThyrAMI-1) cohort study between December 2014 and 2016. Thyroid profile, standard biochemistry measurements and demographic information were obtained within 12 h of admission to hospital. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to assess the predictors of thyroid dysfunction and Cox proportional hazards analyses were utilised to compare all-cause mortality by categories of thyroid dysfunction up to June 2019.

Results

Of the 1802 participants analysed, 1440 (79.9%) were euthyroid, 312 (17.3%) had subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH), 22 (1.2%) had subclinical hyperthyroidism (SHyper) and 25 (1.3%) had low T3 syndrome (LT3S). Predictors for SCH were increasing age, female sex, higher thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPOAb) levels, higher serum creatinine levels and early morning sampling time (between 00:01–06:00 h). The predictors of SHyper were lower body mass index and afternoon sampling time (between 12:01 and 18:00 h). Predictors of LT3S were increasing age, higher creatinine levels and presence of previous ischaemic heart disease. Compared to the euthyroid group, patients with LT3S had higher all-cause mortality; adjusted hazard ratio (95% CI) of 2.02 (1.03–3.95), p = 0.04, whereas those with SCH and SHyper did not exhibit significantly increased mortality; adjusted hazard ratios (95% CI) of 1.05 (0.74–1.49), p = 0.79 and 0.27 (0.04–1.95), p = 0.19, respectively.

Conclusions

Thyroid dysfunction is common in AMI patients on admission to hospital and our data provide an understanding regarding which factors might influence thyroid dysfunction in these patients. Furthermore, the negative association between LT3S and increased mortality post-AMI has once again been highlighted by this study. More research is required to assess if treatment of thyroid dysfunction improves clinical outcomes.
Will the World Ever Be the Same After COVID-19? Two Lessons from the First Global Crisis of a Digital Age
Authors: Fenwick Mark , McCahery Joseph A. , Vermeulen Erik P. M.
Published: September 2020

Coronavirus is the first global crisis of a digital age and the divergence in policy responses reflects the challenge of navigating an unprecedented global situation under conditions of enormous uncertainty. We ask what lessons can be learned from this experience and identify two, both of which push against mainstream interpretations of recent events. First, and contrary to the view that the crisis exposed social media and Big Tech as a source of dangerous misinformation that needs to be regulated more strictly, the paper argues that the less mediated spaces of the Internet—social media and Twitter, in particular—played an essential role in triggering a more effective policy response based around social distancing, lockdown, and containment. Second, and contrary to the view that things will go back to normal once the worst of the crisis has passed, the paper argues that, as a direct result of lockdown, the status quo has been shifted across multiple sectors of the economy. Three examples of this shift are introduced, notably the forced experimentation with digital technologies in education and health, the increased use of remote work in many companies, and a reduction in environmentally harmful behavior and decrease in pollution levels. The long-term effects of this ‘reset’ are impossible to predict, but a quick return to the ‘old normal’ seems unlikely. The paper concludes with the suggestion that this reset has created a unique historical opportunity for the reappraisal of regulatory approaches across multiple domains and exposed the need for regulatory models better aligned to a less mediated, more decentralized world. COVID-19 is a global tragedy, but—given that it has happened—it should be used as a learning experience to re-imagine a better, more socially, and environmentally responsible future.
K-Ar and Rb-Sr Dating of Nanometer-Sized Smectite-Rich Mixed Layers From Bentonite Beds of the Campos Basin (Rio De Janeiro State, Brazil)
Authors: Clauer Norbert , Środoń Jan , Aubert Amélie , Uysal I. Tonguç , Toulkeridis Theofilos
Published: September 2020

K-Ar isotopic dating has been applied to alkali-rich nanometer-sized illite separates of bentonites since the late 1990s. In the present study, K-Ar and Rb-Sr isotopic analyses were based on mineralogical determinations and morphological observations of similarly nm-sized separates (<0.02, 0.02–0.05, and 0.05–0.1 μm) depleted in alkalis and recovered from Santonian (85.8–83.5 Ma) bentonites of the Campos Basin located offshore the southeastern Atlantic coast (Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil). On the basis of XRD analyses and geochemical/mineralogical simulations, the size fractions consist essentially of the smectite-rich end-member of the smectite-to-illite trend with no more than 9% authigenic illite layers. High K-Ar values from 42.6 ± 3.2 to 70.2 ± 2.1 Ma confirm the occurrence of detrital illite in one sample at least, the age data being meaningless. A second group of K-Ar values ranges from 15.5 ± 10.7 to 41.3 ± 10.8 Ma, while the smallest (<0.02 and 0.02–0.05 μm) fractions with <0.42% K2O lack detectable radiogenic 40Ar and yield analytically 0 Ma ages. Two samples including that with the detrital illite were leached with dilute acid and the Rb-Sr method was applied to the untreated, leachate, and residual fractions of the different separates. The combined isotopic data suggest that illitization started at ~44 ± 4 Ma when the bentonites were subjected to a temperature of ~60°C. The leachable Sr yielded 87Sr/86Sr ratios of 0.7106–0.7108, which is greater than those of seawater either during deposition or recently, and of the initial ashes. They do not correspond to the chemical signature of pore fluids, but more likely to removals from fragile edges of the illite-smectite layers probably impacted by the rough initial chemical treatment applied to empty the smectite interlayers. Illitization was either a side effect of a major contemporaneous smectitization or an independent process that occurred later, in the progressively buried bentonite beds. Of variable duration, it was probably dependent on burial-induced temperature increase in the bentonites, which monitored the fixation of K in the smectite layering with or without a changing fluid chemistry. On the basis of the combined K-Ar and Rb-Sr isotopic data, illitization lasted either until ~15 Ma or even 0 Ma for some of the finest size fractions.
Brazilian Primary and Secondary Public Oral Health Attention: Are Dentists Ready to Face the COVID-19 Pandemic?
Authors: Vieira-Meyer Anya P.G.F. , Coutinho Maíra B. , Santos Helena P.G. , Saintrain Maria V. , Candeiro George T. de M.
Published: September 2020

Objective:

To investigate knowledge and practice of Brazilian public primary and secondary health care dentists during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.

Methods:

An online questionnaire with sociodemographic and COVID-19 knowledge questions was used.

Results:

A total of 4048 dentists working in the Brazilian public primary and secondary health care system were investigated; 4024 (99.41%) believe that COVID-19 can be transmitted through dental procedures. A fair level of COVID-19 symptoms knowledge by these dentists was observed (3.76±1.27 of 6.00), as well as the skepticism in personal protective equipment (3382; 83.55%) and biosafety procedures (3278; 80.98%) used as an efficient form of COVID-19 transmission prevention. Country region, performance of social distancing, dental specialty, the use of personal protective equipment, and biosafety preventive measures influenced the likelihood of dentists to perform dental treatment, either elective or urgent, during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Conclusion:

The need of extra preventive barriers for dental treatment may bring an extra financial stress in the Brazilian public primary and secondary health care system, as well as in the patient-dentist relationship, which may have to be reframed. Internationally accepted public guideline policies regarding dental treatment safety, as well as the technological development of preventive tools, are needed to deal with the challenges brought by COVID-19.
The Common European Asylum System: Balancing Mutual Trust Against Fundamental Rights Protection
Authors: Anagnostaras Georgios
Published: September 2020

The Common European Asylum System constitutes one of the principal areas in which the fundamental rights of individuals are essentially placed in competition with the core principle of mutual confidence and the need to preserve the effectiveness of EU law. That competitive relationship becomes particularly evident when applicants for international protection rely on alleged violations of their fundamental rights in order to contest their transfer to the Member State that is normally responsible for examining their asylum request according to the criteria of the Dublin III Regulation. The balancing process that needs to be carried out in this respect and the measure of the monitoring obligation that EU law imposes on the receiving Member State regarding the protection of the fundamental rights of asylum seekers are well exemplified by the preliminary ruling in Jawo. That case provides additional clarification regarding the circumstances in which the protection of fundamental rights may introduce exceptions to the principle of mutual trust. At the same time, it illustrates the inherent tensions that exist between the protection of fundamental rights and the application of the principle of mutual confidence.
UN Peacekeeping and the Rule of Law
Authors: BLAIR ROBERT A.
Published: September 2020

The UN is intimately involved in efforts to restore the rule of law in conflict and postconflict settings. Yet despite the importance of the rule of law for peace, good governance, and economic growth, evidence on the impact of these efforts is scant. I develop a theory to explain when UN rule-of-law reform is likely to succeed, then test the theory using original datasets capturing the number of civilian personnel deployed to each UN mission in Africa, the number of personnel assigned specifically to rule-of-law-related tasks, and the extent and nature of actual rule-of-law-related activities in the field. The correlation between UN presence and the rule of law is weak while conflict is ongoing, but robustly positive during periods of peace. The relationship is stronger for civilian than uniformed personnel, and is strongest when UN missions engage host states in the process of reform.
Life history parameters of the round sardinella Sardinella aurita in the Central East Atlantic off north-west Africa
Authors: Jurado-Ruzafa Alba , Hernández Eva , Duque-Nogal Verónica , Pascual-Alayón Pedro J. , Carrasco M. Nazaret , Sancho Alejandro , Santamaría M. Teresa G.
Published: September 2020

Sardinella aurita has become an important source of fish protein-intake in NW African countries, where one stock is considered from Morocco to south Senegal, performing seasonal reproductive migrations along the coast. Although data are limited for the fisheries involved and for life-history knowledge of the species in the area, a precautionary approach is recommended to avoid overexploitation. Commercial landings of round sardinella produced by the European freezer-pelagic trawlers operating in Mauritanian waters were analysed between May 2004 and February 2012. The length-weight relationships (LWRs) (N = 40,725) did not show significant differences between sexes. Ripening round sardinellas were present throughout the year, but spawning effort rose between June and December. The length at first maturity for males and females was estimated at 27.7 cm TL (2.1 years) and 28.1 cm TL (2.2 years), respectively. Ages were interpreted from otoliths, varying from 0 to 8 years. Von Bertalanffy growth parameters resulted in non-statistically significant differences between sexes (P = 0.28). Natural mortality was estimated at ~0.63 year–1. The results provide important biological information for fisheries assessment of a species that plays an important key role in the current climate change scenario and for the economies of the riparian countries.
One Way to Fill All the Concave Region in Grid-Based Map
Authors: Zhang ZiYing , Yang Xu , Xu Dong , Geng Ke , Meng YuLong , Feng GuangSheng
Published: September 2020

The search space of the path planning problem can greatly affect the running time and memory consumption, for example, the concave obstacle in grid-based map usually leads to the invalid search space. In this paper, the filling container algorithm is proposed to alleviate the concave area problem in 2D map space, which is inspired from the scenario of pouring water into a cup. With this method, concave areas can be largely excluded by scanning the map repeatedly. And the effectiveness has been proved in our experiments.
Appraisement and Analysis of Dynamical Stability of Under-Constrained Cable-Driven Lower-Limb Rehabilitation Training Robot
Authors: Wang Yan-Lin , Wang Ke-Yi , Wang Wan-Li , Han Zhuang , Zhang Zi-Xing
Published: September 2020

The dynamical stability of the cable-driven lower-limb rehabilitation training robot (CLLRTR) is a crucial question. Based on the established dynamics model of CLLRTR, the solution to the wrench closure of the under-constrained system is presented. Secondly, the stability index of CLLRTR is proposed by the Krasovski method. Finally, in order to analyze the stability distribution of CLLRTR in the workspace, the stability evaluation index in the workspace is calculated using the eigenvalue decomposition method. The stability distribution laws of CLLRTR are further verified by the experimental study. The results provide references for studying trajectory planning and anti-pendulum control of CLLRTR.
Evidence for suffix cohesion in French
Authors: Storme Benjamin
Published: September 2020

In a language, suffix cohesion refers to the fact that suffixed words behave phonologically as simple or complex units depending on the suffix they are built with. This article uncovers a previously undescribed pattern of suffix cohesion in French, where words suffixed with vowel- and glide-initial suffixes behave phonologically like simple units (e.g.fêtiez[fet-je] ‘you partied’) and words built with other consonant-initial suffixes behave phonologically like complex units (e.g.fêterez[fɛt-ʁe] ‘you will party’). The evidence comes from a reassessment of well-known data on [ə]–[ɛ] stem alternations and from an acoustic study of [e]–[ɛ] and [o]–[ɔ] alternations in suffixed words as pronounced by 10 speakers living in the Paris area. The suffix’s phonological shape is found to provide the best account of the data among a set of factors that have been argued to be relevant to suffix cohesion in other languages (in particular resyllabification). The French pattern has important theoretical implications for theories of suffix cohesion as it is not prosodically conditioned. An alternative analysis in terms of paradigm uniformity is proposed, where suffixed words are treated as complex units phonologically if the suffix’s phonological shape facilitates the perceptual recognition of the base corresponding to the suffixed word’s stem.
Performance and development of a thin stock market: the Stockholm Stock Exchange 1912–2017
Authors: Rydqvist Kristian , Guo Rong
Published: September 2020

We estimate historical stock returns for Swedish listed companies in a newly constructed data set of daily stock prices that spans more than 100 years. Stock returns exhibit all the familiar characteristics. The growth of the public sector depressed the stock market, and the process of globalization revitalized it. Banks played an important role in the early development of the stock market. There was little trading in the past, and we examine the effects on return measurement from missing data. Stock selection and the replacement of missing transaction prices through search back procedures or limit orders make little difference to a value-weighted stock price index, while ignoring the price effects of capital operations makes a big difference.
Analysing Fuel Subsidy and Taxation Reform with Input–Output Data
Authors: Beutel Joerg
Published: September 2020

For a long time, the use of intermediate products in production has been growing more rapidly in most countries than domestic production. This is a strong indication of more interdependency in production. The main purpose of input-output analysis is to study the interdependency of industries in an economy. Often the term interindustry analysis is also used. Therefore, the exchange of intermediate products is a key issue of input-output analysis. We will use input–output data for this study that the author prepared for the new ‘Handbook on Supply, Use and Input–Output Tables with Extensions and Applications’ of the United Nations. The supply use and input–output tables contain separate valuation matrices for trade margins, transport margins, value added tax, other taxes on products and subsidies on products. For the study, two input–output models were developed to evaluate the impact of fuel subsidy and taxation reform on output, gross domestic product, inflation and trade. Six scenarios are discussed covering different aspects of the reform.
Humor einfach ernst nehmen
Authors: Fischer Anne
Published: September 2020

Zusammenfassung. Mit dem Ende der Kindergartenzeit wird Kindern auf den Weg gegeben, dass nun „der Ernst des Lebens“ beginne. Schule und Berufsausbildung werden nicht mit Freude und Humor in Verbindung gebracht. Wenig überraschend also, dass Fortbildungen zum Thema Humor im Unterricht eine Randerscheinung darstellen. Die Frage ist also: hat Humor in der Pflegeausbildung mit durchaus ernsten Themen nichts verloren?
Seaports Expected to Grow by up to Fourfold by 2050
Authors: Lester Liza
Published: September 2020

New research finds adaptation of ports to sea level rise cheap compared to new construction needed to keep up with growing maritime trade.
A small molecular compound CC1007 induces cross-lineage differentiation by inhibiting HDAC7 expression and HDAC7/MEF2C interaction in BCR-ABL1− pre-B-ALL
Authors: Wang Zhihua , Zhang Yang , Zhu Shicong , Peng Hongling , Chen Yongheng , Cheng Zhao , Liu Sufang , Luo Yunya , Li Ruijuan , Deng Mingyang , Xu Yunxiao , Hu Guoyu , Chen Lin , Zhang Guangsen
Published: September 2020

Histone deacetylase 7 (HDAC7), a member of class IIa HDACs, has been described to be an important regulator for B cell development and has a potential role in B cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL). CC1007, a BML-210 analog, is designed to indirectly inhibit class IIa HDACs by binding to myocyte enhancer factor-2 (MEF2) and blocking the recruitment of class IIa HDACs to MEF2-targeted genes to enhance the expression of these targets. In this study, we investigated the anticancer effects of CC1007 in breakpoint cluster region-Abelson 1 fusion gene-negative (BCR-ABL1−) pre-B-ALL cell lines and primary patient-derived BCR-ABL1− pre-B-ALL cells. CC1007 had obvious antileukemic activity toward pre-B-ALL cells in vitro and in vivo; it also significantly prolonged median survival time of pre-B-ALL-bearing mice. Interestingly, low dose of CC1007 could inhibit proliferation of BCR-ABL1− pre-B-ALL cells in a time-dependent manner not accompanied by significant cell apoptosis, but along with cross-lineage differentiation toward monocytic lineage. From a mechanistic angle, we showed that HDAC7 was overexpressed in BCR-ABL1− pre-B-ALL cells compared to normal bone marrow samples, and CC1007 could reduce the binding of HDAC7 at the promoters of monocyte–macrophage-specific genes via inhibition of HDAC7 expression and HDAC7:MEF2C interaction. These data indicated that CC1007 may be a promising agent for the treatment of BCR-ABL1− pre-B-ALL.
Large scale in silico characterization of repeat expansion variation in human genomes
Authors: Fazal Sarah , Danzi Matt C. , Cintra Vivian P. , Bis-Brewer Dana M. , Dolzhenko Egor , Eberle Michael A. , Zuchner Stephan
Published: September 2020

Significant progress has been made in elucidating single nucleotide polymorphism diversity in the human population. However, the majority of the variation space in the genome is structural and remains partially elusive. One form of structural variation is tandem repeats (TRs). Expansion of TRs are responsible for over 40 diseases, but we hypothesize these represent only a fraction of the pathogenic repeat expansions that exist. Here we characterize long or expanded TR variation in 1,115 human genomes as well as a replication cohort of 2,504 genomes, identified using ExpansionHunter Denovo. We found that individual genomes typically harbor several rare, large TRs, generally in non-coding regions of the genome. We noticed that these large TRs are enriched in their proximity to Alu elements. The vast majority of these large TRs seem to be expansions of smaller TRs that are already present in the reference genome. We are providing this TR profile as a resource for comparison to undiagnosed rare disease genomes in order to detect novel disease-causing repeat expansions.
Robust formation of amorphous Sb2S3 on functionalized graphene for high-performance optoelectronic devices in the cyan-gap
Authors: Chen Ju-Hung , Chiu Sheng-Kuei , Luo Jin-De , Huang Shu-Yu , Ting Hsiang-An , Hofmann Mario , Hsieh Ya-Ping , Ting Chu-Chi
Published: September 2020

Despite significant progress in the fabrication and application of semiconductor materials for optical emitters and sensors, few materials can cover the cyan-gap between 450 and 500 nm. We here introduce a robust and facile method to deposit amorphous Sb2S3 films with a bandgap of 2.8 eV. By exploiting the tunable functionality of graphene, a two-dimensional material, efficient deposition from a chemical was achieved. Ozone-generated defects in the graphene were shown to be required to enhance the morphology and quality of the material and comprehensive characterization of the seed layer and the Sb2S3 film were applied to design an optimal deposition process. The resulting material exhibits efficient carrier transport and high photodetector performance as evidenced by unprecedented responsivity and detectivity in semiconductor/graphene/glass vertical heterostructures. (112 A/W, 2.01 × 1012 Jones, respectively).
Mechanically facilitated micro-fluid mixing in the organ of Corti
Authors: Shokrian Mohammad , Knox Catherine , Kelley Douglas H. , Nam Jong-Hoon
Published: September 2020

The cochlea is filled with two lymphatic fluids. Homeostasis of the cochlear fluids is essential for healthy hearing. The sensory epithelium called the organ of Corti separates the two fluids. Corti fluid space, extracellular fluid space within the organ of Corti, looks like a slender micro-tube. Substantial potassium ions are constantly released into the Corti fluid by sensory receptor cells. Excess potassium ions in the Corti fluid are resorbed by supporting cells to maintain fluid homeostasis. Through computational simulations, we investigated fluid mixing within the Corti fluid space. Two assumptions were made: first, there exists a longitudinal gradient of potassium ion concentration; second, outer hair cell motility causes organ of Corti deformations that alter the cross-sectional area of the Corti fluid space. We hypothesized that mechanical agitations can accelerate longitudinal mixing of Corti fluid. Corti fluid motion was determined by solving the Navier–Stokes equations incorporating nonlinear advection term. Advection–diffusion equation determined the mixing dynamics. Simulating traveling boundary waves, we found that advection and diffusion caused comparable mixing when the wave amplitude and speed were 25 nm and 7 m/s, respectively. Higher-amplitude and faster waves caused stronger advection. When physiological traveling waves corresponding to 70 dB sound pressure level at 9 kHz were simulated, advection speed was as large as 1 mm/s in the region basal to the peak responding location. Such physiological agitation accelerated longitudinal mixing by more than an order of magnitude, compared to pure diffusion. Our results suggest that fluid motion due to outer hair cell motility can help maintain longitudinal homeostasis of the Corti fluid.
Spatial separation of degenerate components of magnon Bose–Einstein condensate by using a local acceleration potential
Authors: Borisenko I. V. , Demidov V. E. , Pokrovsky V. L. , Demokritov S. O.
Published: September 2020

Bose–Einstein condensation (BEC) of magnons is one of the few macroscopic quantum phenomena observable at room temperature. Due to the competition of the exchange and the magnetic dipole interactions, the minimum-energy magnon state is doubly degenerate and corresponds to two antiparallel non-zero wavevectors. Correspondingly, the room-temperature magnon BEC differs essentially from other condensates, since it takes place simultaneously at ± kmin. The degeneracy of BEC and interaction between its two components have significant impact on condensate properties. Phase locking of the two condensates causes formation of a standing wave of the condensate density and quantized vortices. Additionally, interaction between the two components is believed to be important for stabilization of the condensate with respect to a real-space collapse. Thus, the possibility to create a non-degenerate, single-component condensate is decisive for understanding of underlying physics of magnon BEC. Here, we experimentally demonstrate an approach, which allows one to accomplish this challenging task. We show that this can be achieved by using a separation of the two components of the degenerate condensate in the real space by applying a local pulsed magnetic field, which causes their motion in the opposite directions. Thus, after a certain delay, the two clouds corresponding to different components become well separated in the real space. We find that motion of the clouds can be described well based on the peculiarities of magnon dispersion characteristics. Additionally, we show that, during the motion, the condensate cloud harvests non-condensed magnons, which results in a partial compensation of condensate depletion.
Silence as a way of niche adaptation: mecC-MRSA with variations in the accessory gene regulator (agr) functionality express kaleidoscopic phenotypes
Authors: Huber Charlotte , Stamm Ivonne , Ziebuhr Wilma , Marincola Gabriella , Bischoff Markus , Strommenger Birgit , Jaschkowitz Greta , Marciniak Tessa , Cuny Christiane , Witte Wolfgang , Doellinger Joerg , Schaudinn Christoph , Thürmer Andrea , Epping Lennard , Semmler Torsten , Lübke-Becker Antina , Wieler Lothar H. , Walther Birgit
Published: September 2020

Functionality of the accessory gene regulator (agr) quorum sensing system is an important factor promoting either acute or chronic infections by the notorious opportunistic human and veterinary pathogen Staphylococcus aureus. Spontaneous alterations of the agr system are known to frequently occur in human healthcare-associated S. aureus lineages. However, data on agr integrity and function are sparse regarding other major clonal lineages. Here we report on the agr system functionality and activity level in mecC-carrying methicillin resistant S. aureus (MRSA) of various animal origins (n = 33) obtained in Europe as well as in closely related human isolates (n = 12). Whole genome analysis assigned all isolates to four clonal complexes (CC) with distinct agr types (CC599 agr I, CC49 agr II, CC130 agr III and CC1943 agr IV). Agr functionality was assessed by a combination of phenotypic assays and proteome analysis. In each CC, isolates with varying agr activity levels were detected, including the presence of completely non-functional variants. Genomic comparison of the agr I–IV encoding regions associated these phenotypic differences with variations in the agrA and agrC genes. The genomic changes were detected independently in divergent lineages, suggesting that agr variation might foster viability and adaptation of emerging MRSA lineages to distinct ecological niches.
Self-defect-passivation by Br-enrichment in FA-doped Cs1−xFAxPbBr3 quantum dots: towards high-performance quantum dot light-emitting diodes
Authors: Park Young Ran , Eom Sangwon , Kim Hong Hee , Choi Won Kook , Kang Youngjong
Published: September 2020

Halide vacancy defect is one of the major origins of non-radiative recombination in the lead halide perovskite light emitting devices (LEDs). Hence the defect passivation is highly demanded for the high-performance perovskite LEDs. Here, we demonstrated that FA doping led to the enrichment of Br in Cs1−xFAxPbBr3 QDs. Due to the defect passivation by the enriched Br, the trap density in Cs1−xFAxPbBr3 significantly decreased after FA doping, and which improved the optical properties of Cs1−xFAxPbBr3 QDs and their QD-LEDs. PLQY of Cs1–xFAxPbBr3 QDs increased from 76.8% (x = 0) to 85.1% (x = 0.04), and Lmax and CEmax of Cs1–xFAxPbBr3 QD-LEDs were improved from Lmax = 2880 cd m−2 and CEmax = 1.98 cd A−1 (x = 0) to Lmax = 5200 cd m−2 and CEmax = 3.87 cd A−1 (x = 0.04). Cs1–xFAxPbBr3 QD-LED device structure was optimized by using PVK as a HTL and ZnO modified with b-PEI as an ETL. The energy band diagram of Cs1–xFAxPbBr3 QD-LEDs deduced by UPS analyses.
Chronic neural activity recorded within breast tumors
Authors: McCallum Grant A. , Shiralkar Jay , Suciu Diana , Covarrubias Gil , Yu Jennifer S. , Karathanasis Efstathios , Durand Dominique M.
Published: September 2020

Nerve fibers are known to reside within malignant tumors and the greater the neuronal density the worse prognosis for the patient. Recent discoveries using tumor bearing animal models have eluded to the autonomic nervous system having a direct effect on tumor growth and metastasis. We report the first direct and chronic in vivo measurements of neural activity within tumors. Using a triple-negative mammary cancer mouse model and chronic neural interface techniques, we have recorded neural activity directly within the tumor mass while the tumor grows and metastasizes. The results indicate that there is a strong connection between the autonomic nervous system and the tumor and could help uncover the mechanisms of tumor growth and metastasis.
Micro-sized thin-film solar cells via area-selective electrochemical deposition for concentrator photovoltaics application
Authors: Siopa Daniel , El Hajraoui Khalil , Tombolato Sara , Babbe Finn , Lomuscio Alberto , Wolter Max H. , Anacleto Pedro , Abderrafi Kamal , Deepak Francis L. , Sadewasser Sascha , Dale Phillip J.
Published: September 2020

Micro-concentrator solar cells enable higher power conversion efficiencies and material savings when compared to large-area non-concentrated solar cells. In this study, we use materials-efficient area-selective electrodeposition of the metallic elements, coupled with selenium reactive annealing, to form Cu(In,Ga)Se2 semiconductor absorber layers in patterned microelectrode arrays. This process achieves significant material savings of the low-abundance elements. The resulting copper-poor micro-absorber layers’ composition and homogeneity depend on the deposition charge, where higher charge leads to greater inhomogeneity in the Cu/In ratio and to a patchy presence of a CuIn5Se8 OVC phase. Photovoltaic devices show open-circuit voltages of up to 525 mV under a concentration factor of 18 ×, which is larger than other reported Cu(In,Ga)Se2 micro-solar cells fabricated by materials-efficient methods. Furthermore, a single micro-solar cell device, measured under light concentration, displayed a power conversion efficiency of 5% under a concentration factor of 33 ×. These results show the potential of the presented method to assemble micro-concentrator photovoltaic devices, which operate at higher efficiencies while using light concentration.
Demonstration and application of diffusive and ballistic wave propagation for drone-to-ground and drone-to-drone wireless communications
Authors: Burke Peter J.
Published: September 2020

In order to determine how an electromagnetic wave propagates from a base station to a cell phone or a wirelessly connected device, we use a novel Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) mapping technology to map the cellular network coverage at various altitudes in various terrains (flat, hilly, mountainous). For the flat terrains, the waves are shown to propagate ballistically: They have an altitude independent path loss consistent with minimal scatter in the propagation from transmitter to (aerial) receiver. In mountainous terrain, the waves are shown to propagate in the diffuse regime, and demonstrate a 10 dB increase in received signal intensity per 100′ of altitude gain, up to 400′. In the intermediate case, evidence of coherent wave interference is clearly observed in altitude independent interference patterns. These general observations can be used to build a physical or empirical model for drone-to-ground and drone-to-drone propagation, for which existing models are shown to fail. While important for building physical models of wave propagation in wireless networks, this method can be used more generally to determine the magnitude and phase of an electromagnetic wave at every point in space, as well as usher in the era of drone-to-ground and drone-to-drone communications.
High MHC-II expression in Epstein–Barr virus-associated gastric cancers suggests that tumor cells serve an important role in antigen presentation
Authors: Ghasemi Farhad , Tessier Tanner M. , Gameiro Steven F. , Maciver Allison H. , Cecchini Matthew J. , Mymryk Joe S.
Published: September 2020

EBV-associated gastric adenocarcinomas (EBVaGCs) often exhibit better clinical outcomes than EBV negative gastric cancers (GCs), which could be related to their consistent expression of foreign viral antigens. Antigen-presenting cells (APCs) present peptide antigens in the context of the class-II major histocompatibility complex (MHC-II). During inflammatory conditions, epithelial cells express MHC-II and function as accessory APCs. Utilizing RNA-seq data from nearly 400 GC patients, we determined the impact of EBV-status on expression of MHC-II components, genes involved in their regulation, and T-cell co-stimulation. Virtually all MHC-II genes were significantly upregulated in EBVaGCs compared to normal tissues, or other GC subtypes. Genes involved in antigen presentation were also significantly upregulated in EBVaGCs, as were the key MHC-II transcriptional regulators CIITA and RFX5. This was unexpected as the EBV encoded BZLF1 protein can repress CIITA transcription and is expressed in many EBVaGCs. Furthermore, MHC-II upregulation was strongly correlated with elevated intratumoral levels of interferon-gamma. In addition, expression of co-stimulatory molecules involved in T-cell activation and survival was also significantly increased in EBVaGCs. Thus, gastric adenocarcinoma cells may functionally contribute to the highly immunogenic tumor microenvironment observed in EBVaGCs via a previously unappreciated role in interferon-induced antigen presentation.
Destabilizing single chain major histocompatibility complex class I protein for repurposed enterokinase proteolysis
Authors: Lim Jackwee
Published: September 2020

The lack of a high throughput assay for screening stabilizing peptides prior to building a library of peptide-major histocompatibility complex class I (pMHC-I) molecules has motivated the continual use of in silico tools without biophysical characterization. Here, based on de novo protein fragmentation, the EASY MHC-I (EZ MHC-I) assay favors peptide antigen screening to an unheralded hands-on time of seconds per peptide due to the empty single chain MHC-I protein instability. Unlike tedious traditional labeling- and antibody-based MHC-I assays, repurposed enterokinase directly fragments the unstable single MHC-I chain protein unless rescued by a stabilizing peptide under luminal condition. Herein, the principle behind EZ MHC-I assay not only characterizes the overlooked stability as a known better indicator of immunogenicity than classical affinity but also the novel use of enterokinase from the duodenum to target destabilized MHC-I protein not bearing the standard Asp-Asp-Asp-Asp-Lys motif, which may protend to other protein instability-based assays.
APRIL-producing eosinophils are involved in gastric MALT lymphomagenesis induced by Helicobacter sp infection
Authors: Blosse Alice , Peru Sara , Levy Michael , Marteyn Benoit , Floch Pauline , Sifré Elodie , Giese Alban , Prochazkova-Carlotti Martine , Azzi Martin Lamia , Dubus Pierre , Mégraud Francis , Ruskone Fournestraux Agnès , Fabiani Bettina , Copie Bergman Christiane , Robe Cyrielle , Hahne Michael , Huard Bertrand , Lehours Philippe
Published: September 2020

The roles of the inflammatory response and production of a proliferation-inducing ligand (APRIL) cytokine in gastric mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphomagenesis induced by Helicobacter species infection are not clearly understood. We characterized the gastric mucosal inflammatory response associated with gastric MALT lymphoma (GML) and identified APRIL-producing cells in two model systems: an APRIL transgenic mouse model of GML induced by Helicobacter infection (Tg-hAPRIL) and human gastric biopsy samples from Helicobacter pylori-infected GML patients. In the mouse model, polarization of T helper 1 (tbet), T helper 2 (gata3), and regulatory T cell (foxp3) responses was evaluated by quantitative PCR. In humans, a significant increase in april gene expression was observed in GML compared to gastritis. APRIL-producing cells were eosinophilic polynuclear cells located within lymphoid infiltrates, and tumoral B lymphocytes were targeted by APRIL. Together, the results of this study demonstrate that the Treg-balanced inflammatory environment is important for gastric lymphomagenesis induced by Helicobacter species, and suggest the pro-tumorigenic potential of APRIL-producing eosinophils.
Development of machine learning-based clinical decision support system for hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Choi Gwang Hyeon , Yun Jihye , Choi Jonggi , Lee Danbi , Shim Ju Hyun , Lee Han Chu , Chung Young-Hwa , Lee Yung Sang , Park Beomhee , Kim Namkug , Kim Kang Mo
Published: September 2020

There is a significant discrepancy between the actual choice for initial treatment option for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and recommendations from the currently used BCLC staging system. We develop a machine learning-based clinical decision support system (CDSS) for recommending initial treatment option in HCC and predicting overall survival (OS). From hospital records of 1,021 consecutive patients with HCC treated at a single centre in Korea between January 2010 and October 2010, we collected information on 61 pretreatment variables, initial treatment, and survival status. Twenty pretreatment key variables were finally selected. We developed the CDSS from the derivation set (N = 813) using random forest method and validated it in the validation set (N = 208). Among the 1,021 patients (mean age: 56.9 years), 81.8% were male and 77.0% had positive hepatitis B BCLC stages 0, A, B, C, and D were observed in 13.4%, 26.0%, 18.0%, 36.6%, and 6.3% of patients, respectively. The six multi-step classifier model was developed for treatment decision in a hierarchical manner, and showed good performance with 81.0% of accuracy for radiofrequency ablation (RFA) or resection versus not, 88.4% for RFA versus resection, and 76.8% for TACE or not. We also developed seven survival prediction models for each treatment option. Our newly developed HCC-CDSS model showed good performance in terms of treatment recommendation and OS prediction and may be used as a guidance in deciding the initial treatment option for HCC.
Optical tracking and laser-induced mortality of insects during flight
Authors: Keller Matthew D. , Norton Bryan J. , Farrar David J. , Rutschman Phil , Marvit Maclen , Makagon Arty
Published: September 2020

Addressing the need for novel insect observation and control tools, the Photonic Fence detects and tracks mosquitoes and other flying insects and can apply lethal doses of laser light to them. Previously, we determined lethal exposure levels for a variety of lasers and pulse conditions on anesthetized Anopheles stephensi mosquitoes. In this work, similar studies were performed while the subjects were freely flying within transparent cages two meters from the optical system; a proof-of-principle demonstration of a 30 m system was also performed. From the dose–response curves of mortality data created as a function of various beam diameter, pulse width, and power conditions at visible and near-infrared wavelengths, the visible wavelengths required significantly lower laser exposure than near infrared wavelengths to disable subjects, though near infrared sources remain attractive given their cost and retina safety. The flight behavior of the subjects and the performance of the tracking system were found to have no impact on the mortality outcomes for pulse durations up to 25 ms, which appears to be the ideal duration to minimize required laser power. The results of this study affirm the practicality of using optical approaches to protect people and crops from pestilent flying insects.
Bidirectional alterations in antibiotics susceptibility in Staphylococcus aureus—Pseudomonas aeruginosa dual-species biofilm
Authors: Trizna Elena Y. , Yarullina Maria N. , Baidamshina Diana R. , Mironova Anna V. , Akhatova Farida S. , Rozhina Elvira V. , Fakhrullin Rawil F. , Khabibrakhmanova Alsu M. , Kurbangalieva Almira R. , Bogachev Mikhail I. , Kayumov Airat R.
Published: September 2020

In mixed infections, the bacterial susceptibility differs significantly compared to monocultures of bacteria, and generally the concentrations of antibiotics required for the treatment increases drastically. For S. aureus and P. aeruginosa dual species biofilms, it has been numerously reported that P. aeruginosa decreases S. aureus susceptibility to a broad range of antibiotics, including beta-lactams, glycopeptides, aminoglycosides, macrolides, while sensitizes to quinolones via secretion of various metabolites. Here we show that S. aureus also modulates the susceptibility of P. aeruginosa to antibiotics in mixed cultures. Thus, S. aureus—P. aeruginosa consortium was characterized by tenfold increase in susceptibility to ciprofloxacin and aminoglycosides compared to monocultures. The same effect could be also achieved by the addition of cell-free culture of S. aureus to P. aeruginosa biofilm. Moreover, similar increase in antibiotics efficacy could be observed following addition of S. aureus suspension to the P. aeruginosa mature biofilm, compared to P. aeruginosa monoculture, and vice versa. These findings open promising perspectives to increase the antimicrobial treatment efficacy of the wounds infected with nosocomial pathogens by the transplantation of the skin residential microflora.
Pluripotent stem cell model of Shwachman–Diamond syndrome reveals apoptotic predisposition of hemoangiogenic progenitors
Authors: Hamabata Takayuki , Umeda Katsutsugu , Kouzuki Kagehiro , Tanaka Takayuki , Daifu Tomoo , Nodomi Seishiro , Saida Satoshi , Kato Itaru , Baba Shiro , Hiramatsu Hidefumi , Osawa Mitsujiro , Niwa Akira , Saito Megumu K. , Kamikubo Yasuhiko , Adachi Souichi , Hashii Yoshiko , Shimada Akira , Watanabe Hiroyoshi , Osafune Kenji , Okita Keisuke , Nakahata Tatsutoshi , Watanabe Kenichiro , Takita Junko , Heike Toshio
Published: September 2020

Shwachman–Diamond syndrome (SDS), an autosomal recessive disorder characterized by bone marrow failure, exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, and skeletal abnormalities, is caused by mutations in the Shwachman–Bodian–Diamond syndrome (SBDS) gene, which plays a role in ribosome biogenesis. Although the causative genes of congenital disorders frequently involve regulation of embryogenesis, the role of the SBDS gene in early hematopoiesis remains unclear, primarily due to the lack of a suitable experimental model for this syndrome. In this study, we established induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from patients with SDS (SDS-iPSCs) and analyzed their in vitro hematopoietic and endothelial differentiation potentials. SDS-iPSCs generated hematopoietic and endothelial cells less efficiently than iPSCs derived from healthy donors, principally due to the apoptotic predisposition of KDR+CD34+ common hemoangiogenic progenitors. By contrast, forced expression of SBDS gene in SDS-iPSCs or treatment with a caspase inhibitor reversed the deficiency in hematopoietic and endothelial development, and decreased apoptosis of their progenitors, mainly via p53-independent mechanisms. Patient-derived iPSCs exhibited the hematological abnormalities associated with SDS even at the earliest hematopoietic stages. These findings will enable us to dissect the pathogenesis of multiple disorders associated with ribosomal dysfunction.
Probability distribution of copy number alterations along the genome: an algorithm to distinguish different tumour profiles
Authors: Esteves Luísa , Caramelo Francisco , Ribeiro Ilda Patrícia , Carreira Isabel M. , de Melo Joana Barbosa
Published: September 2020

Copy number alterations (CNAs) comprise deletions or amplifications of fragments of genomic material that are particularly common in cancer and play a major contribution in its development and progression. High resolution microarray-based genome-wide technologies have been widely used to detect CNAs, generating complex datasets that require further steps to allow for the determination of meaningful results. In this work, we propose a methodology to determine common regions of CNAs from these datasets, that in turn are used to infer the probability distribution of disease profiles in the population. This methodology was validated using simulated data and assessed using real data from Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma and Lung Adenocarcinoma, from the TCGA platform. Probability distribution profiles were produced allowing for the distinction between different phenotypic groups established within that cohort. This method may be used to distinguish between groups in the diseased population, within well-established degrees of confidence. The application of such methods may be of greater value in the clinical context both as a diagnostic or prognostic tool and, even as a useful way for helping to establish the most adequate treatment and care plans.