bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Application of Spirulina in aquaculture: a review on wastewater treatment and fish growth
Authors: Zhang Feng , Man Yu Bon , Mo Wing Yin , Wong Ming Hung
Published: April 2019

There is an urgent need to find alternatives to fish meal and fish oil in compound feeds due to their rapidly rising prices and the demand for sustainable fisheries. Spirulina, a filamentous blue‐green microalga, is an excellent source of plant protein and could replace expensive animal‐derived proteins in fish feed. Studies have evaluated the use of spirulina as a fish meal for different fish species. This paper reviews research on the effects of spirulina on the growth performance of various fish species. It is apparent that spirulina can be a highly important component of the diet of fish; it has a number of benefits, such as promoting the growth of tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) and carp (Labeo rohita), improving the reproductive performance of yellow tail cichlid (Pseudotropheus acei) and enhancing the immune response of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). Recent studies have shown that spirulina can be used for treating wastewater, including effluent from fish culture activities, as it can efficiently metabolize the nutrients and remove the heavy metals contained in aquaculture effluent. Fish aquaculture could apply an integrated strategy of simultaneously treating aquaculture effluent while producing spirulina biomass to supplement fish diets.
Evaluation of large‐scale marking methods in farmed salmonids for tracing purposes: Impact on fish welfare
Authors: Uglem Ingebrigt , Kristiansen Tore S. , Mejdell Cecilie M. , Basic Dean , Mortensen Stein
Published: April 2019

Escaped farmed Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) is considered a threat to wild salmon. In order to take action to reduce the impact of escapees, methods to distinguish escapees from wild fish and to trace them back to their origin are in demand. This paper gives an overview of available methods and discusses the impact on fish welfare, both in the short‐ and long‐term. Adipose fin clipping, freeze branding, different external and internal tags, as well as natural and chemical marks are considered. All marking procedures that involve handling of fish have an impact on fish welfare. Spraying with pigments and most externally attached tags significantly reduce the welfare, both on short‐term and long‐term perspectives. Although the use of natural or chemical marks, like exposure to stable isotopes via egg immersion or vaccination, involves no or no extra handling, subsequent analysis may require killing the fish after catch. Large‐scale marking with implanted or external tags could represent higher risks of human errors and reduced fish welfare, as opposed to small‐scale marking. In general, the knowledge about effects of marking on fish welfare is limited for most of the available methods, in particular regarding other effects than mortality and growth reductions.
Sectarianism and Governance in Syria
Authors: Hinnebusch Raymond
Published: April 2019

How does the multi‐sectarian make‐up of multi‐sectarian states affect governance, most notably the variation between democracy and authoritarianism, and how does the latter impact on sectarianism? This paper examines the literature on identity, especially sectarianism, and how it affects the formation of different kinds of governance, as well as the literature from Historical Sociology on how institutions affect identities, specifically sectarian ones. From this, the paper devises a framework of analysis which is used to guide an understanding of the interaction between governance and sectarianism in the case of Syria. The paper traces their interaction over time, showing how the salience of sectarianism varied sharply under different forms of governance. It examines (1) whether Syria's sectarian structure was responsible for the pre‐Ba'thist failure of democracy; (2) how Ba'thist populist authoritarianism both generated and contained sectarianism while post‐populist authoritarianism stimulated it and consequently destabilized the state; and (3) how the instrumentalization of sectarianism shaped civil war, obstructing democratic transition and mass revolution and generating more sectarian exclusivist governance in both regime‐ and opposition‐controlled areas.
Phylogeny, classification and biogeography of bombyliine bee flies (Diptera, Bombyliidae)
Authors: Li Xuankun , Yeates David K.
Published: April 2019

The Bombyliinae comprises over 1100 described species in 73 known genera distributed worldwide. It is one of the largest subfamilies of bee flies (Diptera: Bombyliidae). We present the first phylogenetic hypothesis for this subfamily, based on 157 adult morphological characters scored for 123 species representing 60 genera, including all the tribes of Bombyliinae, and the related subfamilies Lordotinae and Toxophorinae. Four most parsimonious trees were generated from our analysis under equal weighting schemes. The monophyly of Bombyliinae is supported, and Lordotinae is sister to the Bombyliinae. Within Bombyliinae, Conophorini is sister to the remaining tribes. Five previously recognized tribes are revised and four new tribes are erected. We placed almost all genera in our tribal classification, based on our phylogenetic results and available character evidence. The genus Parabombylius is proposed as a synonym of Bombylius. The Gondwanan origin for the major lineages of Bombyliinae is strongly indicated by our biogeographic analysis which reconstructs ancestral areas.

This published work has been registered in ZooBank, http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:1EC5C827‐34D5‐4A95‐BA78‐4ACF457F6D40.
Barriers and Facilitators to Implementing Evidence in African Health Care: A Content Analysis With Implications for Action
Authors: Lizarondo Lucylynn , Lockwood Craig , McArthur Alexa
Published: April 2019

Background

Culture‐ and context‐specific issues in African countries such as those related to language, resources, technology, infrastructure and access to available research may confound evidence implementation efforts. Understanding the factors that support or inhibit the implementation of strategies aimed at improving care and health outcomes specific to their context is important.

Aims

The aim of this study was to determine barriers and facilitators to evidence implementation in African healthcare settings, based on implementation projects undertaken as part of the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) Clinical Fellowship program.

Methods

Reports of implementation projects conducted in Africa were obtained from the JBI database and printed monographs associated with the fellowship program. A purpose‐built data extraction form was used to collect data from individual reports. Data were analysed using content analysis.

Results

Eleven published and nine unpublished implementation reports were reviewed. The most frequently reported barriers to evidence implementation operate at the health organization or health practitioner level. Health organization‐level barriers relate to human resources, material resources and policy issues. Health practitioner‐level barriers relate to practitioners’ knowledge and skills around evidence‐based practice, and attitudes to change. Barriers at the government and consumer levels were uncommon. Only a few facilitators were identified and were related to health practitioners’ attitudes or support from the organization's management.

Linking Evidence to Action

The study identified a core set of barriers and facilitators in African healthcare settings, which are common to other low‐ and middle‐income countries. These can be used to develop a method by which implementation programs can systematically undertake barrier or facilitator analysis. Future research should aim to develop a process by which these barriers and facilitators can be prioritised so that a structured decision support procedure can be established.
A new species of larval Caeculisoma (Acari: Erythraeidae) parasitic on cicadas from China with detailed comparison of all larval members in the genus
Authors: Xu Siyuan , Yi Tian-Ci , Guo Jian-Jun , Jin Dao-Chao
Published: April 2019

Caeculisoma semispinus Xu & Jin sp. nov. is described and illustrated based on larvae ectoparasitic on Typhlocybinae (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) from Chongqing Municipality, Hubei Province and Hunan Province, China. A key to the larval species of the genus Caeculisoma of the world is presented.
Engineering phonon polaritons in van der Waals heterostructures to enhance in-plane optical anisotropy
Authors: Chaudhary Kundan , Tamagnone Michele , Rezaee Mehdi , Bediako D. Kwabena , Ambrosio Antonio , Kim Philip , Capasso Federico
Published: April 2019

Anisotropic phonon polaritons in boron nitride on black phosphorus heterostructures are studied with near-field microscopy.
Liquid crystal elastomer shell actuators with negative order parameter
Authors: Jampani V. S. R. , Volpe R. H. , Reguengo de Sousa K. , Ferreira Machado J. , Yakacki C. M. , Lagerwall J. P. F.
Published: April 2019

A theoretically predicted case of anti-ordered liquid crystal rubber is realized in the form of spherical artificial muscles.
AIRE expression controls the peripheral selection of autoreactive B cells
Authors: Sng Joel , Ayoglu Burcu , Chen Jeff W. , Schickel Jean-Nicolas , Ferre Elise M. N. , Glauzy Salomé , Romberg Neil , Hoenig Manfred , Cunningham-Rundles Charlotte , Utz Paul J. , Lionakis Michail S. , Meffre Eric
Published: April 2019

T cells and their proper AIRE-dependent selection prevent the accumulation of autoreactive naïve B cells in the periphery.
Biofilm Formation and Synthesis of Antimicrobial Compounds by the Biocontrol Agent Bacillus velezensis QST713 in an
Agaricus bisporus
Compost Micromodel
Authors: Pandin Caroline , Darsonval Maud , Mayeur Camille , Le Coq Dominique , Aymerich Stéphane , Briandet Romain
Published: April 2019

Biocontrol agents are increasingly used to replace chemical pesticides to prevent crop diseases. In the button mushroom field in France, the use of
Bacillus velezensis
QST713 as a biocontrol agent against the green mold
Trichoderma aggressivum
has been shown to be efficient. However, the biocontrol mechanisms effective in the
Agaricus bisporus
/
Trichoderma aggressivum
/
Bacillus velezensis
QST713 pathosystem are still unknown. Our paper focuses on the exploration of the bioprotection mechanisms of the biocontrol agent
Bacillus velezensis
QST713 during culture of the button mushroom (
Agaricus bisporus
) in a micromodel culture system to study the specific response of strain QST713 in the presence of
T. aggressivum
and/or
A. bisporus
.
Role of Sialic Acid in Brachyspira hyodysenteriae Adhesion to Pig Colonic Mucins
Authors: Quintana-Hayashi Macarena P. , Venkatakrishnan Vignesh , Haesebrouck Freddy , Lindén Sara
Published: April 2019

Infection with
Brachyspira hyodysenteriae
results in mucoid hemorrhagic diarrhea. This pathogen is associated with the colonic mucus layer, mainly composed of mucins.
Aedes aegypti
NeSt1 Protein Enhances Zika Virus Pathogenesis by Activating Neutrophils
Authors: Hastings Andrew K. , Uraki Ryuta , Gaitsch Hallie , Dhaliwal Khushwant , Stanley Sydney , Sproch Hannah , Williamson Eric , MacNeil Tyler , Marin-Lopez Alejandro , Hwang Jesse , Wang Yuchen , Grover Jonathan R. , Fikrig Erol
Published: April 2019

When a Zika virus-infected mosquito bites a person, mosquito saliva is injected into the skin along with the virus. Molecules in this saliva can make virus infection more severe by changing the immune system to make the skin a better place for the virus to replicate. We identified a molecule that activates immune cells, called neutrophils, to recruit other immune cells, called macrophages, that the virus can infect. We named this molecule neutrophil-stimulating factor 1 (NeSt1). When we used antibodies to block NeSt1 in mice and then allowed Zika virus-infected mosquitoes to feed on these mice, they survived much better than mice that do not have antibodies against NeSt1. These findings give us more information about how mosquito saliva enhances virus infection, and it is possible that a vaccine against NeSt1 might protect people against severe Zika virus infection.
Detailed clinical characterisation, unique features and natural history of autosomal recessive RDH12-associated retinal degeneration
Authors: Fahim Abigail T , Bouzia Zaina , Branham Kari H , Kumaran Neruban , Vargas Mauricio E , Feathers Kecia L , Perera N Dayanthi , Young Kelly , Khan Naheed W , Heckenlively John R , Webster Andrew R , Pennesi Mark E , Ali Robin R , Thompson Debra A , Michaelides Michel
Published: April 2019

Background

Defects in retinol dehydrogenase 12 (RDH12) account for 3.4%–10.5 % of Leber congenital amaurosis and early-onset severe retinal dystrophy (EOSRD) and are a potential target for gene therapy. Clinical trials in inherited retinal diseases have unique challenges, and natural history studies are critical to successful trial design. The purpose of this study was to characterise the natural history of RDH12-associated retinal degeneration.

Methods

A retrospective chart review was performed in individuals with retinal degeneration and two likely disease-causing variants in RDH12.

Results

57 subjects were enrolled from nine countries. 33 subjects had clinical records available from childhood. The data revealed an EOSRD, with average age of onset of 4.1 years. Macular atrophy was a universal clinical finding in all subjects, as young as 2 years of age. Scotopic and photopic electroretinography (ERG) responses were markedly reduced in all subjects, and a non-recordable ERG was documented as young as 1 year of age. Assessment of visual acuity, visual field and optical coherence tomography revealed severe loss of function and structure in the majority of subjects after the age of 10 years. Widefield imaging in 23 subjects revealed a unique, variegated watercolour-like pattern of atrophy in 13 subjects and sparing of the peripapillary area in 18 subjects.

Conclusions

This study includes the largest collection of phenotypic data from children with RDH12-associated EOSRD and provides a comprehensive description of the timeline of vision loss in this severe, early-onset condition. These findings will help identify patients with RDH12-associated retinal degeneration and will inform future design of therapeutic trials.
Endoscopic surveillance strategies for dysplasia in ulcerative colitis
Authors: Verdon Christine , Aruljothy Achuthan , Lakatos Peter L , Bessissow Talat
Published: April 2019

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory bowel disorder with an increased risk of colorectal cancer (CRC). This has led to the implementation of surveillance programmes to minimise this risk. Overall, these proactive programmes in association with better medical therapies have reduced the incidence of CRC in this population. Specific populations remain at increased risk, such as younger age at diagnosis, primary sclerosing cholangitis, colonic strictures and pseudopolyps. The majority of gastrointestinal international societies favour chromoendoscopy with targeted biopsies or random biopsies. The aim of this review is to present the current literature on dysplasia surveillance, the methodology and endoscopic technology available to assess dysplasia in UC.
Designing clinical trials in paediatric inflammatory bowel diseases: a PIBDnet commentary
Authors: Turner Dan , Griffiths Anne M , Wilson David , Mould Diane R , Baldassano Robert N , Russell Richard K , Dubinsky Marla , Heyman Melvin B , de Ridder Lissy , Hyams Jeffrey , Martin de Carpi Javier , Conklin Laurie , Faubion William A , Koletzko Sibylle , Bousvaros Athos , Ruemmele Frank M
Published: April 2019

Introduction

The optimal trial design for assessing novel therapies in paediatric IBD (PIBD) is a subject of intense ongoing global discussions and debate among the different stakeholders. However, there is a consensus that the current situation in which most medications used in children with IBD are prescribed as off-label without sufficient paediatric data is unacceptable. Shortening the time lag between adult and paediatric approval of drugs is of the upmost importance. In this position paper we aimed to provide guidance from the global clinical research network (Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease Network, PIBDnet) for designing clinical trials in PIBD in order to facilitate drug approval for children.

Methods

A writing group has been established by PIBDnet and topics were assigned to different members. After an iterative process of revisions among the writing group and one face-to-face meeting, all statements have reached consensus of >80% as defined a priori. Next, all core members of PIBDnet voted on the statements, reaching consensus of >80% on all statements. Comments from the members were incorporated in the text.

Results

The commentary includes 18 statements for guiding data extrapolation from adults, eligibility criteria to PIBD trials, use of placebo, dosing, endpoints and recommendations for feasible trials. Controversial issues have been highlighted in the text.

Conclusion

The viewpoints expressed in this paper could assist planning clinical trials in PIBD which are both of high quality and ethical, while remaining pragmatic.
Polyploidy spectrum: a new marker in HCC classification
Authors: Bou-Nader Myriam , Caruso Stefano , Donne Romain , Celton-Morizur Séverine , Calderaro Julien , Gentric Géraldine , Cadoux Mathilde , L’Hermitte Antoine , Klein Christophe , Guilbert Thomas , Albuquerque Miguel , Couchy Gabrielle , Paradis Valérie , Couty Jean-Pierre , Zucman-Rossi Jessica , Desdouets Chantal
Published: April 2019

Objectives

Polyploidy is a fascinating characteristic of liver parenchyma. Hepatocyte polyploidy depends on the DNA content of each nucleus (nuclear ploidy) and the number of nuclei per cell (cellular ploidy). Which role can be assigned to polyploidy during human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) development is still an open question. Here, we investigated whether a specific ploidy spectrum is associated with clinical and molecular features of HCC.

Design

Ploidy spectra were determined on surgically resected tissues from patients with HCC as well as healthy control tissues. To define ploidy profiles, a quantitative and qualitative in situ imaging approach was used on paraffin tissue liver sections.

Results

We first demonstrated that polyploid hepatocytes are the major components of human liver parenchyma, polyploidy being mainly cellular (binuclear hepatocytes). Across liver lobules, polyploid hepatocytes do not exhibit a specific zonation pattern. During liver tumorigenesis, cellular ploidy is drastically reduced; binuclear polyploid hepatocytes are barely present in HCC tumours. Remarkably, nuclear ploidy is specifically amplified in HCC tumours. In fact, nuclear ploidy is amplified in HCCs harbouring a low degree of differentiation andTP53mutations. Finally, our results demonstrated that highly polyploid tumours are associated with a poor prognosis.

Conclusions

Our results underline the importance of quantification of cellular and nuclear ploidy spectra during HCC tumorigenesis.
Admission neutrophil–lymphocyte ratio predicts delayed cerebral ischemia following aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage
Authors: Al-Mufti Fawaz , Amuluru Krishna , Damodara Nitesh , Dodson Vincent , Roh David , Agarwal Sachin , Meyers Philip M , Connolly E Sander , Schmidt Michael J , Claassen Jan , Park Soojin
Published: April 2019

Background

Delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI) following aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) has a multifactorial pathophysiology, with immune dysregulation being an important component. The neutrophil–lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is an established prognostic marker in patients with cancer, cardiac disease, and sepsis.

Objective

To determine whether there is a relationship between NLR and DCI in patients with aSAH.

Methods

We evaluated 1067 patients with aSAH between 2006 and 2015 enrolled in a single-center, prospective, observational cohort study. Admission white blood cell differentials (NLR) were analyzed using a cut-off point of ≥5.9. DCI from cerebral vasospasm was defined as the occurrence of focal neurological impairment, or a decrease in at least two points on the Glasgow Coma Scale, which was not apparent immediately after aneurysm occlusion, and could not be attributed to other causes. Cerebral infarct was defined as a new infarct on CT that was not visible on the admission or immediate postoperative scan, when the cause was thought to be vasospasm by the research team. Logistic regression models were generated.

Results

We found that 768 (72%) patients had an admission NLR ≥5.9. In a multivariable model, elevated NLR was associated with poor admission Hunt-Hess grade (OR=1.6, 95% CI 1.2 to 2.6, p=0.005), Caucasian ethnicity (OR=2.6, 95% CI 1.9 to 3.7, p<0.001), anterior aneurysm location (OR=1.7, 95% CI 1.2 to 2.4, p=0.004), loss of consciousness at ictus (OR=1.4, 95% CI 1.0 to 2.0, p=0.055), and thick SAH (modified Fisher grade ≥3) (OR=1.8, 95% CI 1.3 to 2.4, p<0.001). Admission NLR predicted development of delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI) (OR=1.7; 95% CI 1.1 to 2.5, p=0.008) after controlling for known predictors such as age, poor admission clinical grade, thick SAH blood, and elevated admission mean arterial pressure.

Conclusions

This study provides further evidence of the association between inflammation and DCI. Admission NLR is a readily available and convenient biomarker that may be a clinically useful tool for prognostication when evaluating aSAH.
Difficult case: rituximab in anti-SRP antibody myositis in pregnancy
Authors: Mehta Puja , Dorsey-Campbell Rachel , Dassan Pooja , Nelson-Piercy Catherine , Viegas Stuart
Published: April 2019

A 30-year-old nulliparous woman presented at 15-week gestation with severe skeletal and respiratory muscle weakness, having been diagnosed with anti-signal recognition particle antibody myositis 3 years before. Remission had previously been induced with rituximab (after failure of standard therapies). She had continued oral prednisolone and rituximab every 6 months but had stopped this when planning pregnancy. At 16-weeks gestation, she restarted corticosteroids and rituximab, with clinical and biochemical recovery and no complications. Rituximab should ideally be given in the first trimester; treatment later in pregnancy increases the risk of neonatal B-cell depletion and cytopenias. The fetal risk from drug therapy must be weighed against the risk to mother and fetus from untreated disease. This report highlights the importance of preconception counselling for disease control and patient education regarding medication safety and early referral to obstetric medicine clinics, to facilitate complex clinical decision-making.
Improving consolidation of dredged slurry by vacuum preloading using prefabricated vertical drains (PVDs) with varying filter pore sizes
Authors: Wang Jun , Yang Yongli , Fu Hongtao , Cai Yuanqiang , Hu Xiuqing , Lou Xiaoming , Jin Yawei
Published: April 2019

Prefabricated vertical drains (PVDs) have been used extensively to accelerate the consolidation rate of dredged slurry. While some fine particles from dredged slurry can easily squeeze through the filter into the drainage channel, many cannot. As such, these soil particles deposit on the filter surface causing partial clogging of the drainage path. Although the pore size of filter is recognized as an important factor that influences PVD clogging, the standards for determining the pore size of the filter are lacking. To this end, the traditional gradient ratio tests with four different filter pore sizes were conducted, and the results show that the permeability of the filter at a given head increases with the increase in the pore size of the filter. To remove the effect of the difference between static hydraulic gradient and vacuum pressure, the vacuum preloading tests with varying pore sizes of filters were further conducted. Through these vacuum preloading tests, the degree of vacuum, settlement, pore-water pressure, water content, vane shear strength, and other parameters of PVDs with various filter pore sizes were obtained, and the optimal pore size of filter was determined.
Causality of 3D extended gravity theories
Authors: Komada Meguru
Published: April 2019

Causality is one of the most important properties to understand gravity theories. It gives us not only a method to confirm that the gravity theories are really consistent, but also gives implications about the properties which unknown fundamental physics should obey. We investigate the causality of three-dimensional (3D) gravity theories, which are considered to be important, by using the Shapiro time delay effect in the Shock wave geometry. One of such gravity theories is the Zwei-Dreibein Gravity (ZDG) theory, which is a consistent 3D gravity theory. In ZDG theory, the serious problems can be removed that have appeared in another important gravity theory called New Massive Gravity (NMG). We study whether the ZDG theory could preserve the causality without losing the above good properties and how the causality structure is related to the structure of the NMG theory.
Coulomb-quantum oscillator correspondence in two dimension, pure gauge field and half-quantized vortex
Authors: Tiwari S. C.
Published: April 2019

Isotropic oscillator and Coulomb problems are known to have interesting correspondence. We focus on two-dimensional (2D) quantum problems and present complete treatment on the correspondence including the Schrödinger equation, eigenfunctions and eigenvalues, and the integrals of motion. We find only partial equivalence. The wave function correspondence is examined introducing local gauge transformation and the emergence of half-quantized vortex with the associated spin-half is established. Vortex structure of the electron proposed by us and the origin of charge are discussed in this paper. Outlook on the implications for QCD and hadron spectrum is outlined.
Electron capture beta decay of partially polarized nuclei
Authors: Basak R. , Tsifrinovich V. I.
Published: April 2019

In this paper, we compute the spin excess for the neutrinos radiated in the process of electron capture beta decay of partially polarized nuclei. The results of computation are presented for the [Formula: see text] nuclei polarized by the strong hyperfine field in a ferromagnetic substance. This system was suggested as a possible source of monoenergetic neutrino radiation with a preferable direction of neutrino propagation. We directly compute the spin excess of radiated neutrinos and show that it is slightly greater than that estimated previously under simplifying assumptions.
Structural, mechanical and thermal properties of Cu2ZnSiS4 with four structures from the first-principle calculations
Authors: Gao Yanli , Dong Yujing
Published: April 2019

In this paper, the structural, mechanical and thermal properties of the four structures of Cu2ZnSiS4 were studied on the basis of density functional theory (DFT). The generalized gradient approximation (GGA) of Perdew–Burke–Ernzerhof (PBE) was used to treat the exchange related energy and potential of total energy calculation. The independent elastic constants of the four structures are calculated, which prove that they are mechanically stable. The bulk modulus, Poisson’s ratios and universal anisotropy indices of Cu2ZnSiS4 can be calculated from the obtained elastic constants. In addition, the variation of the bulk modulus with the pressure (0–25 GPa) and temperature (0–700 K) have been reported. In order to further study the compound, the thermal properties of the compound were analyzed by using the quasi-harmonic Debye model, including specific heat, thermal expansion coefficient and Debye temperature.
Dynamical rewiring in adaptive weighted heterogeneous networks
Authors: Song Bo , Song Yu-Rong , Jiang Guo-Ping , Xia Ling-Ling
Published: April 2019

When virus spreads in a network, individuals may adaptively change their contact relationships to reduce risk of infection. In order to describe the interaction between a time varying network topology and the dynamics of the nodes, here we propose a susceptible–infected–susceptible (SIS) model on a weighted adaptive heterogeneous network where the dynamics of and on the networks are described. Rewiring strategies are designed to inhibit the epidemic spreading. Our results show that network topology and individual behaviors have significant influence on virus spreading in a weighted adaptive heterogeneous network. The adaptive rewiring process during the dynamics can effectively inhibit virus spreading. Large dispersion of weights can significantly decrease the final epidemic size. Moreover, our proposed rewiring strategies based on the individual spontaneous behaviors are effective for the inhibition of epidemics.
Coupler for butt-coupling between edge-emitting lasers and inverted Si taper waveguide
Authors: Sun Baoguang , Cai Congzhong , Ni Haojie , Tan Renbing
Published: April 2019

A novel design and analysis of a butt-coupler are presented to be coupled with an edge-emitting laser and a silicon waveguide. The coupler is fairly effective when used with an edge-emitting laser of a certain integrated size and a high refractive index core material. Butt-coupling is not sensitive to polarization as both TE and TM modes achieve similar efficiency. The laser alignment tolerance and silicon waveguide gap in both lateral and vertical positions were studied. Although the air gap between the laser and the silicon cladding reduces coupling efficiency greatly, gap filling can help solve this problem. This design is proved to be quite effective in dealing with high index contrast and huge size mismatch between the laser and semiconductor waveguide.
Extraction of cellulose nanofiber from parenchyma cells of agricultural residues
Authors: Nakagaito Antonio Norio , Katsumoto Yusuke , Takagi Hitoshi
Published: April 2019

Cellulose nanofiber is an environmentally friendly reinforcing phase extractable from plants, with potential application in composites. Due to the cell wall structure differences, plant parenchyma cells might be easier to nanofibrillate than sclerenchyma cells of wood pulp fibers, resulting in lower extraction costs. This study assessed the extraction of nanofibers from residues like corn husk, banana peel, cabbage leaf, and taro leaf using a kitchen blender. Fibrillation was evaluated based on the strength of paper-like sheets produced from the nanofibers. Corn husk was nanofibrillated by the shortest blending time among the sources considered, and delivered the highest sheet strength. The blending time needed was significantly shorter than that needed to fibrillate hardwood pulp fibers.
Graphene beaded carbon nanofibers/ZnO/polyaniline nanocomposites for high performance supercapacitor
Authors: Atram Rounak R. , Manekar Bhawana A. , Kondawar Subhash B. , Atram Ramdas G. , Koinkar Pankaj
Published: April 2019

Novel unique fabrication of ZnO nanoparticles decorated graphene beaded carbon nanofibers (G-CNF) encapsulated by polyaniline (PANI) nanocomposites through three steps by electrospinning, hydrothermal and in-situ polymerization is reported. As-synthesized G-CNF/ZnO/PANI and CNF/ZnO/PANI nanocomposites were comparatively studied by scanning electron microscopy and electrochemical characterizations for supercapacitor application. Electrochemical measurements of G-CNF/ZnO/PANI electrode revealed the maximum specific capacitance, discharge time, energy density and power density as compared to that of CNF/ZnO/PANI indicating the increase in surface area due to graphene incorporation in electrospinning of carbon nanofibers. The combination of electric double layer charge (EDLC) capacitance from high surface area of G-CNF and pseudo-capacitance from PANI and ZnO nanoparticles facilitates the synergistic effect of ternary components to enhance the electrochemical performance of G-CNF/ZnO/PANI nanocomposite.
Electrophoresis deposited halloysite nanotubes as modifying additive for carbon fiber and CFRP
Authors: Yu Tianyu , Chen Zixuan , Park Soo-Jeong , Kim Yun-Hae
Published: April 2019

Carbon-fiber reinforced polymers (CFRPs) are widely applied to high-grade, precision and advanced industry fields due to its high strength-to-weight and stiffness-to-weight ratios. However, its poor through-thickness properties is becoming an issue. The objective of this study is to examine electrophoresis deposition (EPD) process of depositing halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) onto the carbon fabric surface for enhancing the through-thickness strength. The neutral HNTs were negatively charged and dispersed by adding sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) in aqueous solution and the CFRPs were fabricated using Vacuum-assisted Resin Transfer Molding (VaRTM). The bending strength and modulus, interlaminar shear strength, Mode I and Mode II fracture toughness were obtained according to ASTM standards. Electronic scanning microscope (SEM) were adopted to do the micromorphology observation.
Location-Specific Influence Quantification in Location-Based Social Networks
Authors: Likhyani Ankita , Bedathur Srikanta , P. Deepak
Published: April 2019

Location-based social networks (LBSNs) such as Foursquare offer a platform for users to share and be aware of each other’s physical movements. As a result of such a sharing of
check-in
information with each other, users can be influenced to visit (or check-in) at the locations visited by their friends. Quantifying such influences in these LBSNs is useful in various settings such as location promotion, personalized recommendations, mobility pattern prediction, and so forth. In this article, we develop a model to quantify the influence specific to a location between a pair of users. Specifically, we develop a framework called
LoCaTe
, that combines (a) a user mobility model based on kernel density estimates; (b) a model of the semantics of the location using topic models; and (c) a user correlation model that uses an exponential distribution. We further develop
LoCaTe+
, an advanced model within the same framework where user correlation is quantified using a Mutually Exciting Hawkes Process. We show the applicability of
LoCaTe
and
LoCaTe+
for location promotion and location recommendation tasks using LBSNs. Our models are validated using a long-term crawl of Foursquare data collected between January 2015 and February 2016, as well as other publicly available LBSN datasets. Our experiments demonstrate the efficacy of the LoCaTe framework in capturing location-specific influence between users. We also show that our models improve over state-of-the-art models for the task of location promotion as well as location recommendation.
Flow Cytometric Analysis of Nanoscale Biological Particles and Organelles
Authors: Lian Hong , He Shengbin , Chen Chaoxiang , Yan Xiaomei
Published: April 2019

Analysis of nanoscale biological particles and organelles (BPOs) at the single-particle level is fundamental to the in-depth study of biosciences. Flow cytometry is a versatile technique that has been well-established for the analysis of eukaryotic cells, yet conventional flow cytometry can hardly meet the sensitivity requirement for nanoscale BPOs. Recent advances in high-sensitivity flow cytometry have made it possible to conduct precise, sensitive, and specific analyses of nanoscale BPOs, with exceptional benefits for bacteria, mitochondria, viruses, and extracellular vesicles (EVs). In this article, we discuss the significance, challenges, and efforts toward sensitivity enhancement, followed by the introduction of flow cytometric analysis of nanoscale BPOs. With the development of the nano-flow cytometer that can detect single viruses and EVs as small as 27 nm and 40 nm, respectively, more exciting applications in nanoscale BPO analysis can be envisioned.
Whole-Organism Analysis by Vibrational Spectroscopy
Authors: Christensen Dale , Rüther Anja , Kochan Kamila , Pérez-Guaita David , Wood Bayden
Published: April 2019

Vibrational spectroscopy has contributed to the understanding of biological materials for many years. As the technology has advanced, the technique has been brought to bear on the analysis of whole organisms. Here, we discuss advanced and recently developed infrared and Raman spectroscopic instrumentation to whole-organism analysis. We highlight many of the recent contributions made in this relatively new area of spectroscopy, particularly addressing organisms associated with disease with emphasis on diagnosis and treatment. The application of vibrational spectroscopic techniques to entire organisms is still in its infancy, but new developments in imaging and chemometric processing will likely expand in the field in the near future.
Mitochondrial angiotensin receptors and cardioprotective pathways
Authors: Escobales Nelson , Nuñez Rebeca E. , Javadov Sabzali
Published: April 2019

A growing body of data provides strong evidence that intracellular angiotensin II (ANG II) plays an important role in mammalian cell function and is involved in the pathogenesis of human diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, inflammation, fibrosis, arrhythmias, and kidney disease, among others. Recent studies also suggest that intracellular ANG II exerts protective effects in cells during high extracellular levels of the hormone or during chronic stimulation of the local tissue renin-angiotensin system (RAS). Notably, the intracellular RAS (iRAS) described in neurons, fibroblasts, renal cells, and cardiomyocytes provided new insights into regulatory mechanisms mediated by intracellular ANG II type 1 (AT1Rs) and 2 (AT2Rs) receptors, particularly, in mitochondria and nucleus. For instance, ANG II through nuclear AT1Rs promotes protective mechanisms by stimulating the AT2R signaling cascade, which involves mitochondrial AT2Rs and Mas receptors. The stimulation of nuclear ANG II receptors enhances mitochondrial biogenesis through peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ coactivator-1α and increases sirtuins activity, thus protecting the cell against oxidative stress. Recent studies in ANG II-induced preconditioning suggest that plasma membrane AT2R stimulation exerts protective effects against cardiac ischemia-reperfusion by modulating mitochondrial AT1R and AT2R signaling. These studies indicate that iRAS promotes the protection of cells through nuclear AT1R signaling, which, in turn, promotes AT2R-dependent processes in mitochondria. Thus, despite abundant data on the deleterious effects of intracellular ANG II, a growing body of studies also supports a protective role for iRAS that could be of relevance to developing new therapeutic strategies. This review summarizes and discusses previous studies on the role of iRAS, particularly emphasizing the protective and counterbalancing actions of iRAS, mitochondrial ANG II receptors, and their implications for organ protection.
Cardiac endothelial cell transcriptome in neonatal, adult, and remodeling hearts
Authors: Vermeulen Zarha , Mateiu Ligia , Dugaucquier Lindsey , De Keulenaer Gilles W. , Segers Vincent F. M.
Published: April 2019

Cardiac microvascular endothelial cells (CMVECs) are the most numerous cells in the myocardium and orchestrate cardiogenesis during development, regulate adult cardiac function, and modulate pathophysiology of heart failure. It has been shown that the transcriptome of CMVECs differs from other endothelial cell types, but transcriptomic changes in cardiac endothelial cells during cardiac maturation and cardiac remodeling have not been studied. CMVECs were isolated from rat hearts based on CD31 expression and were immediately processed for RNA sequencing. We compared gene expression levels from primary CMVECs of neonatal hearts, normal adult hearts, and infarcted hearts. Between neonatal and adult CMVECs, 6,838 genes were differentially expressed, indicating that CMVECs undergo a substantial transformation during postnatal cardiac growth. A large fraction of genes upregulated in neonatal CMVECs are part of mitosis pathways, whereas a large fraction of genes upregulated in adult CMVECs are part of cellular response, secretory, signaling, and cell adhesion pathways. Between CMVECs of normal adult hearts and infarcted hearts, 159 genes were differentially expressed. We found a limited degree of overlap (55 genes) between the differentially expressed genes in neonatal and infarcted-hearts. Of 46 significantly upregulated genes in the infarcted heart, 46% were also upregulated in neonatal hearts relative to sham. Of 113 significantly downregulated genes in the infarcted-hearts, 30% were also downregulated in neonatal hearts relative to sham. These data demonstrate that CMVECs undergo dramatic changes from neonatal to adult and more subtle changes between normal state and cardiac remodeling.
Mutational Diversity and Therapy Response in Breast Cancer: A Sequencing Analysis in the Neoadjuvant GeparSepto Trial
Authors: Loibl Sibylle , Treue Denise , Budczies Jan , Weber Karsten , Stenzinger Albrecht , Schmitt Wolfgang D. , Weichert Wilko , Jank Paul , Furlanetto Jenny , Klauschen Frederick , Karn Thomas , Pfarr Nicole , von Minckwitz Gunter , Möbs Markus , Jackisch Christian , Sers Christine , Schneeweiss Andreas , Fasching Peter A. , Schem Christian , Hummel Michael , van Mackelenbergh Marion , Nekljudova Valentina , Untch Michael , Denkert Carsten
Published: April 2019

Purpose:

Next-generation sequencing (NGS) can be used for comprehensive investigation of molecular events in breast cancer. We evaluated the relevance of genomic alterations for response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) in the GeparSepto trial.

Experimental Design:

Eight hundred fifty-one pretherapeutic formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) core biopsies from GeparSepto study were sequenced. The panel included 16 genes for mutational (AKT1, BRAF, CDH1, EGFR, ERBB2, ESR1, FBXW7, FGFR2, HRAS, KRAS, NRAS, SF3B1, TP53, HNF1A, PIK3CA, and PTEN) and 8 genes for copy-number alteration analysis (CCND1, ERBB2, FGFR1, PAK1, PIK3CA, TOP2A, TP53, and ZNF703).

Results:

The most common genomic alterations were mutations of TP53 (38.4%) and PIK3CA (21.5%), and 8 different amplifications (TOP2A 34.9%; ERBB2 30.6%; ZNF703 30.1%; TP53 21.9%; PIK3CA 24.1%; CCND1 17.7%; PAK1 14.9%; FGFR 12.6%). All other alterations had a prevalence of less than 5%. The genetic heterogeneity in different breast cancer subtypes [lum/HER2neg vs. HER2pos vs. triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC)] was significantly linked to differences in NACT response. A significantly reduced pathologic complete response rate was observed in PIK3CA-mutated breast cancer [PIK3CAmut: 23.0% vs. wild-type (wt) 38.8%, P < 0.0001] in particular in the HER2pos subcohort [multivariate OR = 0.43 (95% CI, 0.24–0.79), P = 0.006]. An increased response to nab-paclitaxel was observed only in PIK3CAwt breast cancer, with univariate significance for the complete cohort (P = 0.009) and the TNBC (P = 0.013) and multivariate significance in the HER2pos subcohort (test for interaction P = 0.0074).

Conclusions:

High genetic heterogeneity was observed in different breast cancer subtypes. Our study shows that FFPE-based NGS can be used to identify markers of therapy resistance in clinical study cohorts. PIK3CA mutations could be a major mediator of therapy resistance in breast cancer.
Application of Artificial Intelligence for Preoperative Diagnostic and Prognostic Prediction in Epithelial Ovarian Cancer Based on Blood Biomarkers
Authors: Kawakami Eiryo , Tabata Junya , Yanaihara Nozomu , Ishikawa Tetsuo , Koseki Keita , Iida Yasushi , Saito Misato , Komazaki Hiromi , Shapiro Jason S. , Goto Chihiro , Akiyama Yuka , Saito Ryosuke , Saito Motoaki , Takano Hirokuni , Yamada Kyosuke , Okamoto Aikou
Published: April 2019

Purpose:

We aimed to develop an ovarian cancer–specific predictive framework for clinical stage, histotype, residual tumor burden, and prognosis using machine learning methods based on multiple biomarkers.

Experimental Design:

Overall, 334 patients with epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) and 101 patients with benign ovarian tumors were randomly assigned to “training” and “test” cohorts. Seven supervised machine learning classifiers, including Gradient Boosting Machine (GBM), Support Vector Machine, Random Forest (RF), Conditional RF (CRF), Naïve Bayes, Neural Network, and Elastic Net, were used to derive diagnostic and prognostic information from 32 parameters commonly available from pretreatment peripheral blood tests and age.

Results:

Machine learning techniques were superior to conventional regression-based analyses in predicting multiple clinical parameters pertaining to EOC. Ensemble methods combining weak decision trees, such as GBM, RF, and CRF, showed the best performance in EOC prediction. The values for the highest accuracy and area under the ROC curve (AUC) for segregating EOC from benign ovarian tumors with RF were 92.4% and 0.968, respectively. The highest accuracy and AUC for predicting clinical stages with RF were 69.0% and 0.760, respectively. High-grade serous and mucinous histotypes of EOC could be preoperatively predicted with RF. An ordinal RF classifier could distinguish complete resection from others. Unsupervised clustering analysis identified subgroups among early-stage EOC patients with significantly worse survival.

Conclusions:

Machine learning systems can provide critical diagnostic and prognostic prediction for patients with EOC before initial intervention, and the use of predictive algorithms may facilitate personalized treatment options through pretreatment stratification of patients.
Accuracy of Intraoperative Examination in Central Nervous System Lesions: A Study of 133 Cases
Authors: Balsimelli Ludmila Barbosa de Souza , Oliveira Jamille Costa de , Adorno Flora Ávila , Brites Clarissa Almeida , Bublitz Giuliano Stefanello , Tavares Lara Cristina de Carvalho , Coelho Karina Munhoz de Paula Alves , Stall Jaqueline , França Paulo Henrique Condeixa de
Published: April 2019

Objective: Intraoperative examination is a highly valuable tool for the evaluation of central nervous system (CNS) lesions, helping the neurosurgeon to determine the best surgical management. This study aimed to evaluate the accuracy and to analyze the diagnostic disagreements and pitfalls of the intraoperative examinations through correlation with the final histopathological diagnosis in CNS lesions. Study Design: Retrospective analysis of intraoperative examination of CNS lesions and their final diagnosis obtained during 16 consecutive years. All diagnoses were reviewed and classified according to World Health Organization (WHO) grading for CNS tumors. Squash was performed in 119 cases, while frozen section and both methods were done in 7 cases each. Results: Among the 133 intraoperative examinations considered, 114 (85.7%) presented concordance and 19 (14.3%) diagnostic disagreement when compared with subsequent histopathological examinations. The sensitivity and specificity for the detection of neoplasia in intraoperative examination was 98 and 94%, respectively. The positive and negative predictive values were 99 and 88%, respectively. The accuracy for neoplastic and nonneoplastic disease was 85.7%. Disagreements were more frequent among low-grade (WHO grades I and II) neoplasms and nonmalignant cases. Conclusions: Our results showed good accuracy of the intraoperative assessments for diagnosis of CNS lesions, particularly in high-grade (grades III and IV) lesions and metastatic neoplasms.