bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Collateral Constraints and the Interest Rate
Authors: Smith Donal
Published: July 2019

This paper develops a model in which an increase in financial frictions leads to a fall in the steady‐state rate of interest. A perpetual youth overlapping generations (OLG) model is extended to incorporate a collateral constraint, this results in a transmission mechanism in which an interest rate fall occurs endogenously from a disruption to the credit market. It is found that that non‐linearities exist in the relationship between changes in financial frictions and the interest rate. By specifying the mechanism by means of which this occurs, the model provides an explanation for why low interest rates have been observed with such persistence since the financial crisis.
On the Syntax of Number in Romance
Authors: Cyrino Sonia , Espinal M.Teresa
Published: July 2019

Inflectional languages, and Romance languages in particular, display morphological variation in plural marking within the nominal domain. While standard varieties show plural inflection on all the constituents within theDP, other varieties show this plural marking only on some of its constituents. We investigate a set of puzzling data and propose that Number in Romance is not a head, but an adjunct, an optional and bi‐valent morphosyntactic feature. We single out the hypothesis that, within the nominal domain, thepluralizeris in unmarked cases adjoined to D (i.e., a categorizeddroot), and in marked cases it is adjoined to a noun or an adjective (i.e., a categorizedn/aroot). We also discuss that instantiations of plural marking within the nominal domain should be conceived as the output of morphophonological concord, a post‐syntactic operation that is sensitive to c‐command.
Analytical quality assessment and method comparison of two immunoassays for the measurement of serum cardiac Troponin I in dogs and cats
Authors: Irvine Katherine L. , McLeish Susan A. , Sarvani Elpida , Papasouliotis Kostas
Published: July 2019

Background

Cardiac troponin I (cTnI) is a sensitive and specific biomarker for myocardial injury. Validation of point‐of‐care (POC) analyzers for cTnI measurement is valuable to the critical care setting, in which rapid results can facilitate prompt diagnoses. An immunoassay for detecting cTnI is available for the POC AIA‐360 analyzer (Tosoh Bioscience), but this has not been validated using canine and feline serum.

Objectives

The objectives were (a) to determine precision, accuracy, and linearity of cTnI measurement using the AIA‐360 immunoassay in pooled canine and feline samples, and (b) to compare results for individual canine and feline samples with those obtained using a reference chemiluminescence method (Immulite 1000, Siemens).

Methods

Intra‐ and inter‐assay repeatability was determined using pooled canine and feline samples, and the coefficient of variation (CV) was calculated for each. Pooled samples were also serially diluted to assess linearity. A modified spike and recovery analysis was performed by mixing pooled samples with different concentrations. Bland‐Altman and Deming regression analyses were used to determine bias for individual samples, and the total observed error (TEobs) was calculated.

Results

Coefficient of variation values were well within the required maximum of 20%. Linearity was demonstrated over the range of samples tested, and the recovery study showed minimal proportional inaccuracies. Although the correlation between the analyzers was excellent, there was a large mean bias due to relative proportional bias. Total observed error consequently exceeded the total allowable error (TEA).

Conclusion

Although, in most respects, the analyzer demonstrated adequate performance, pronounced bias contributed to the large TEobs, indicating a requirement for analyzer‐specific reference intervals.
Preparation, Characterization and Performances of Photocatalytic TiO2-Ag2O/PESf Membrane for Methylene Blue Removal
Authors: Rajis Z. , Azmi N. F. A. N. , Makhtar S. N. N. M. , Norddin M. N. A. M. , Mustafa A.
Published: July 2019

This study proposed an effective method of methylene blue (MB) removal using a membrane with photocatalytic properties. The photocatalytic membrane, made of polyethersulfone (PESf) was incorporated with titanium dioxide (TiO2) and silver oxide (Ag2O) as the photocatalyst during the phase inversion process. TiO2 was synthesized using sol-gel method before being modified by Ag2O via wet pre-deposition method. The PESf/TiO2/Ag2O (PTA) membrane was characterized using scanning electron microscope coupled with elementary dispersion X-ray (SEM-EDX), X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), attenuated Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR), and ultraviolet visible near infrared (UV-vis NIR). The PTA membrane with 0.2 wt.% loading of TiO2/Ag2O shows uniform distribution of the photocatalyst materials and exhibits the highest degradation of MB at 85%. The TiO2/Ag2O presence was confirmed by the crystallinity analysis using XRD. UV-Vis NIR revealed that the band gap of TiO2 reduced from 3.2 to 2.1 eV when modified with Ag2O. This proved that membrane separation assisted with photocatalytic degradation is able to perform high degradation of MB dyes and has potential to be applied in industrial application.
Reduced deformability contributes to impaired deoxygenation‐induced ATP release from red blood cells of older adult humans
Authors: Racine Matthew L. , Dinenno Frank A.
Published: July 2019

Key points

Red blood cells (RBCs) release ATP in response to deoxygenation, which can increase blood flow to help match oxygen supply with tissue metabolic demand.

This release of ATP is impaired in RBCs from older adults, but the underlying mechanisms are unknown.

In this study, improving RBC deformability in older adults restored deoxygenation‐induced ATP release, whereas decreasing RBC deformability in young adults reduced ATP release to the level of that of older adults.

In contrast, treating RBCs with a phosphodiesterase 3 inhibitor did not affect ATP release in either age group, possibly due to intact intracellular signalling downstream of deoxygenation as indicated by preserved cAMP and ATP release responses to pharmacological Gi protein activation in RBCs from older adults.

These findings are the first to demonstrate that the age‐related decrease in RBC deformability is a primary mechanism of impaired deoxygenation‐induced ATP release, which may have implications for treating impaired vascular control with advancing age.

In response to haemoglobin deoxygenation, red blood cells (RBCs) release ATP, which binds to endothelial purinergic receptors and stimulates vasodilatation. This ATP release is impaired in RBCs from older vs. young adults, but the underlying mechanisms are unknown. Using isolated RBCs from young (24 ± 1 years) and older (65 ± 2 years) adults, we tested the hypothesis that age‐related changes in RBC deformability (Study 1) and cAMP signalling (Study 2) contribute to the impairment. RBC ATP release during normoxia ( ∼112 mmHg) and hypoxia ( ∼20 mmHg) was quantified with the luciferin–luciferase technique following RBC incubation with Y‐27632 (Rho‐kinase inhibitor to increase deformability), diamide (cell‐stiffening agent), cilostazol (phosphodiesterase 3 inhibitor), or vehicle control. The mean change in RBC ATP release from normoxia to hypoxia in control conditions was significantly impaired in older vs. young (∼50% vs. ∼120%; P < 0.05). RBC deformability was also lower in older vs. young as indicated by a higher RBC transit time (RCTT) measured by blood filtrometry (RCTT: 8.541 ± 0.050 vs. 8.234 ± 0.098 a.u., respectively; P < 0.05). Y‐27632 improved RBC deformability (RCTT: 8.228 ± 0.083) and ATP release (111.7 ± 17.2%) in older and diamide decreased RBC deformability (RCTT: 8.955 ± 0.114) and ATP release (67.4 ± 11.8%) in young (P < 0.05), abolishing the age group differences (P > 0.05). Cilostazol did not change ATP release in either age group (P > 0.05), and RBC cAMP and ATP release to pharmacological Gi protein activation was similar in both groups (P > 0.05). We conclude that decreased RBC deformability is a primary contributor to age‐related impairments in RBC ATP release, which may have implications for impaired vascular control with advancing age.
New record of an unusual caligonellid (Acari: Caligonellidae) species in Turkey: Neognathus eupalopus Meyer & Ueckermann, with the description of a new species
Authors: Doğan Salih , Doğan Sibel
Published: July 2019

A new and a newly recorded caligonellid species, Neognathus pusillus sp. nov. and N. eupalopus Meyer & Ueckermann, are herein described and illustrated based on the adult females from Turkey. A key to the species known from Turkey is provided.
Underwater sound localization abilities of harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) for high-frequency noise band stimuli in the median plane
Authors: Byl Jenny Ann , Miersch Lars , Wieskotten Sven , Dehnhardt Guido
Published: July 2019

Pinnipeds use a variety of acoustic information underwater for social interactions, hunting, and predator avoidance. Thus, the ability to accurately localize a sound source in the environment can have a clear survival value. Nonetheless, the sound localization mechanisms for seals underwater still have to be clarified, especially for sounds received in the median plane. In this study, the sound localization abilities of five harbor seals for high-frequency noise band stimuli were measured underwater in the median plane. The seals' minimum audible angles (MAAs) were determined for two different high-frequency noise band stimuli using a two-alternative forced-choice procedure. Noise 1 had a frequency range between 8 and 16 kHz. Noise 2 contained frequencies between 14 and 16 kHz. Psychoacoustic results for the tested harbor seals show that the seals were able to localize these stimuli in the median plane underwater with MAAs between 5.1° and 17.5°. The results suggest that spectral cues improve the seals' ability to localize high-frequency sound signals in the median plane.
Role of the
msaABCR
Operon in Cell Wall Biosynthesis, Autolysis, Integrity, and Antibiotic Resistance in Staphylococcus aureus
Authors: G C Bibek , Sahukhal Gyan S. , Elasri Mohamed O.
Published: July 2019

Staphylococcus aureus
is an important human pathogen in both community and health care settings. One of the challenges with
S. aureus
as a pathogen is its acquisition of antibiotic resistance. Previously, we showed that deletion of the
msaABCR
operon reduces cell wall thickness, resulting in decreased resistance to vancomycin in vancomycin-intermediate
S. aureus
(VISA).
New Shuttle Vectors for Real-Time Gene Expression Analysis in Multidrug-Resistant Acinetobacter Species:
In Vitro
and
In Vivo
Responses to Environmental Stressors
Authors: Lucidi Massimiliano , Visaggio Daniela , Prencipe Elisa , Imperi Francesco , Rampioni Giordano , Cincotti Gabriella , Leoni Livia , Visca Paolo
Published: July 2019

The short-term adaptive response to environmental cues greatly contributes to the ecological success of bacteria, and profound alterations in bacterial gene expression occur in response to physical, chemical, and nutritional stresses. Bacteria belonging to the
Acinetobacter
genus are ubiquitous inhabitants of soil and water though some species, such as
Acinetobacter baumannii
, are pathogenic and cause serious concern due to antibiotic resistance. Understanding
A. baumannii
pathobiology requires adequate genetic tools for gene expression analysis, and to this end we developed user-friendly shuttle vectors to probe the transcriptional responses to different environmental stresses. Vectors were constructed to overcome the problem of antibiotic selection in multidrug-resistant strains and were equipped with suitable reporter systems to facilitate signal detection. By means of these vectors, the transcriptional response of
A. baumannii
to DNA damage, ethanol exposure, and iron starvation was investigated both
in vitro
and
in vivo
, providing insights into
A. baumannii
adaptation during stress and infection.
Enterobacter
spp.: Update on Taxonomy, Clinical Aspects, and Emerging Antimicrobial Resistance
Authors: Davin-Regli Anne , Lavigne Jean-Philippe , Pagès Jean-Marie
Published: July 2019

The genus
Enterobacter
is a member of the ESKAPE group, which contains the major resistant bacterial pathogens. First described in 1960, this group member has proven to be more complex as a result of the exponential evolution of phenotypic and genotypic methods. Today, 22 species belong to the
Enterobacter
genus. These species are described in the environment and have been reported as opportunistic pathogens in plants, animals, and humans.
Antiangiogenic Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor-Blocking Peptides Displayed on the Capsid of an Infectious Oncolytic Parvovirus: Assembly and Immune Interactions
Authors: Grueso Esther , Sánchez-Martínez Cristina , Calvo-López Tania , de Miguel Fernando J. , Blanco-Menéndez Noelia , Fernandez-Estevez Marian , Elizalde Maria , Sanchez Jorge , Kourani Omar , Martin Diana , Tato Aroa , Guerra Milagros , Andrés Germán , Almendral José M.
Published: July 2019

Targeting the VEGF signaling required for neovascularization by vaccination with chimeric capsids of oncolytic viruses may boost therapy for solid tumors. VEGF-blocking peptides (VEbp) engineered in the capsid 3-fold axis endowed the infectious parvovirus MVM with the ability to induce α-VEGF antibodies without adjuvant and to evade neutralization by MVM-specific antibodies. However, these properties may be compromised by structural restraints that the capsid imposes on the peptide configuration and by misassembly caused by the heterologous peptides. Significantly, chimeric MVM-VEbp resolved the structural restrictions by selecting mutations within the engineered peptides that restored efficient capsid assembly. These data show the promise of antineovascularization vaccines using chimeric VEbp-icosahedral capsids of oncolytic viruses but also raise safety concerns regarding the genetic stability of manipulated infectious parvoviruses in cancer and gene therapies.
AIDS Vaccine Research Subcommittee (AVRS) Consultation: Early-Life Immunization Strategies against HIV Acquisition
Authors: Singh Anjali , Permar Sallie , Kollmann Tobias R. , Levy Ofer , Marovich Mary , De Paris Kristina
Published: July 2019

Young adults represent one of the highest-risk groups for new HIV infections and the only group in which morbidity continues to increase. Therefore, an HIV vaccine to prevent HIV acquisition in adolescence is a top priority. The introduction of any vaccine during adolescence is challenging. This meeting discussed the opportunities and challenges of testing HIV vaccine candidates in the context of the infant immune system given recent advances in our knowledge of immune ontogeny and adjuvant design and studies demonstrating that HIV-infected infants generate broadly neutralizing antibodies, a main target of HIV vaccines, more rapidly than adults. Considering the global success of pediatric vaccines, the concept of an HIV vaccine introduced in early life holds merit and warrants testing.
Observations of Shear Stress Effects on Staphylococcus aureus Biofilm Formation
Authors: Sherman Erica , Bayles Kenneth , Moormeier Derek , Endres Jennifer , Wei Timothy
Published: July 2019

It is well known that flow plays an important role in the formation, transportation, and dispersion of
Staphylococcus aureus
biofilms. What was heretofore not known was that the formation of tower structures in these biofilms is strongly shear stress dependent; there is, in fact, a narrow range of shear stresses in which the phenomenon occurs. This work quantifies the observed shear dependence in terms of cell growth, distribution, and fluid mechanics. It represents an important first step in opening up a line of questioning as to the interaction of fluid forces and their influence on the dynamics of tower formation, break-off, and transportation in biofilms by identifying the parameter space in which this phenomenon occurs. We have also introduced state-of-the-art flow measurement techniques to address this problem.
mSphere of Influence: Stromal Regulation of Epithelium Containing Viral Oncogenes
Authors: Bodily Jason
Published: July 2019

Jason Bodily works in the field of tumor virology. In this mSphere of Influence article, he reflects on how “Inactivation of Rb in stromal fibroblasts promotes epithelial cell invasion” by Adam Pickard et al. (EMBO J 31:3092–3103, 2012,
https://doi.org/10.1038/emboj.2012.153
) has impacted his work by making him think about the role of stromal cells in human papillomavirus infections.
Effects of city-wide 20 mph (30km/hour) speed limits on road injuries in Bristol, UK
Authors: Bornioli Anna , Bray Isabelle , Pilkington Paul , Parkin John
Published: July 2019

Twenty miles per hour (32 km/hour) or 30 km/hour speed limits represent a potential strategy to reduce urban road injuries and are becoming increasingly widespread. However, no study has conducted a robust evaluation of the effects of city-wide 20 mph speed limits on road injuries. This study reports the effects of such an intervention, based on a natural experiment that took place in Bristol, UK. Based on a stepped-wedge design using count data, negative binomial regressions showed that between 2008 and 2016, the 20 mph speed limit intervention was associated with a city-level reduction of fatal injuries of around 63% (95% CI 2% to 86%), controlling for trends over time and areas. There was also a general trend of reduction of the total number of injuries at city level and in 20 mph roads. These findings highlight the potential benefits of city-wide 20 mph speed limits. We hypothesise that this city-wide approach may encourage a general behaviour change in drivers that, in turn, may contribute to reducing injuries across the city.
Junior doctors and moral exploitation
Authors: Parker Joshua
Published: July 2019

In this paper I argue that junior doctors are morally exploited. Moral exploitation occurs where an individual’s vulnerability is used to compel them to take on additional moral burdens. These might include additional moral responsibility, making weighty moral decisions and shouldering the consequent emotions. Key to the concept of exploitation is vulnerability and here I build on Rosalind McDougall’s work on the key roles of junior doctors to show how these leave them open to moral exploitation by restricting their reasonable options. I argue that there are a number of ways junior doctors are morally exploited. First, their seniors can leverage their position to force a junior to take on some discreet decision. More common is the second type of moral exploitation where rota gaps and staffing issues means junior doctors take on more than their fair share of the moral burdens of practice. Third, I discuss structural moral exploitation where the system offloads moral burdens onto healthcare professionals. Not every instance of exploitation is wrongful and so I conclude by exploring the ways that moral exploitation wrongs junior doctors.
Conscientious objection should not be equated with moral objection: a response to Ben-Moshe
Authors: Emmerich Nathan
Published: July 2019

In his recent article, Ben-Moshe offers an account of conscientious objection (CO) in terms of the truth of the underlying moral objections, as judged by the standards of an impartial spectator. He seems to advocate for the view that having a valid moral objection to X is the sole criteria for the instantiation of a right to conscientiously object to X, and seems indifferent to the moral status of the prevailing moral attitudes. I argue that the moral status of the prevailing moral attitudes is relevant, and that a good faith disagreement between those who condone the relevant act and those who object to it is a criterion for CO. In this light, I suggest that CO is a sociopolitical device for managing differing ethical perspectives, particularly in the context of collective moral change. Thus, it is misguided to equate having a valid moral objection with the recognition of a CO.
Urolithiasis in a female miniature potbellied pig
Authors: Needleman Abigail , Videla Ricardo
Published: July 2019

A five‐year‐old female spayed Vietnamese potbellied pig was evaluated due to a chronic history of dysuria and pollakiuria as well as lack of faecal output for one week. Physical examination revealed vitals within normal parameters and to facilitate further workup evaluation, the patient was anaesthetized. Complete blood count and chemistry panel values were unremarkable. Ultrasonography of the bladder indicated the presence of uroliths, and this was confirmed with abdominal radiographs. A cystotomy was performed to remove the uroliths, and an enaema was administered to relieve the constipation. The patient recovered from anaesthesia uneventfully and was discharged after four days of hospitalisation. Analysis revealed that the stones were composed of calcium phosphate carbonate; husbandry and medical management changes were implemented to prevent reoccurrence. Urolithiasis is an uncommon finding in female pigs; this case report describes a comprehensive clinical workup and treatment of a female adult pig with urolithiasis.
Shear stress and flow-mediated dilation in the normoxic and hypoxic human
Authors: Tremblay Joshua C.
Published: July 2019

The endothelium is a single cell layer that plays a critical role in determining the health and function of blood vessels. Endothelial function is shaped by shear stress, the frictional force exerted by the speed of blood flow, and the thickness (viscosity) of the blood. Exposure to shear stress that reverses direction back-and-forth impairs endothelial function in young men. Whether women are equally susceptible to this perturbation and the isolated impact of a low level of shear stress with and without reversal of shear had not been investigated. Hypoxia, the low levels of oxygen that are experienced at high altitude, has been shown to influence flow reversal and impair endothelial function. However, no previous study had accounted for the changes in blood thickness, and hence shear stress that occur at high altitude. This may be especially important in the context of excessive erythrocytosis, a high-altitude disease characterized by exceptionally thick blood and increased cardiovascular risk. This thesis examined (i) whether there are sex differences in the impact of exposure to low and reversing shear stress on endothelial function; (ii) whether isolated low shear stress impairs endothelial function; (iii) the impact of reversing shear stress on endothelial function in short-term exposure to low levels of oxygen and after trekking to 5050 m in the Himalayas; and (iv) the role of high levels of blood viscosity on endothelial function in high-altitude natives in Cerro de Pasco, Peru (4330 m), with excessive erythrocytosis. We identified that (i) premenopausal women have some protection against reductions in endothelial function after being exposed to reversing shear stress; (ii) isolated low shear stress impaired endothelial function; (iii) short-term exposure to low levels of oxygen and sustained high-altitude exposure reduced endothelial function, while superimposing reversing shear stress had no effect; and (iv) high levels of hemoglobin and blood viscosity contributed to lower endothelial function in Andean high-altitude natives with excessive erythrocytosis. Altogether, this dissertation advances our understanding of how the components of shear stress (the pattern, magnitude, and blood viscosity) impact endothelial function in humans under normoxic (normal levels of oxygen) and hypoxic (low levels of oxygen, such as high-altitude) conditions.
Anatomical and ultrastructural studies on gelatinous fibers in the organs of non-woody xerophytic and hydrophytic species
Authors: Piva Tayeme Cristina , Machado Silvia Rodrigues , Scremin-Dias Edna
Published: July 2019

Gelatinous fibers (G-layer) occur widely in various organs and plant tissues of both primary and secondary origin, but they are best known in tension wood. Here, we describe the occurrence, distribution patterns, and structural features of G-fibers in non-woody species of xerophytes and hydrophytes in Brazilian Cerrado (dry soil) and Chaco (wet or periodically waterlogged soils). G-fibers were present in all of the studied species, but were more abundant and more developed in xerophytes. They were associated with the phloem of leaves and primary stems and with the xylem of three xerophytic species that exhibited incipient secondary growth. The G-layer was non-lignified and characterized by greater thickness, lower density, and loose appearance in relation to the secondary layers. Under a transmission electron microscope, G-fibers displayed two secondary parietal layers (S1 and S2) in Prosopis rubriflora Hassle. (xerophyte), three secondary layers (S1, S2, and S3) in Eriosema campestre Benth. var. campestre (xerophyte), and a single secondary layer (S1) in Ludwigia leptocarpa Nutt. (hydrophyte). In P. rubriflora, mature G-fibers exhibited a loose-appearing electron-lucent region (transition zone) between G- and S-layers (secondary layers). In addition to mechanical support, this study suggests the involvement of G-fibers in water storage.
Location-based analysis of car-following behavior during braking using naturalistic driving data
Authors: Tawfeek Mostafa H. , El-Basyouny Karim
Published: July 2019

This study investigates the car-following behavior during braking at intersections and segments. Car-following events were extracted from a naturalistic driving dataset, mapped using ArcGIS, and analyzed to differentiate between the intersection- and segment-related events. The intersection-related events were identified according to an intersection influence area, which was estimated based on the stopping sight distance and the speed limit. Five behavioral measures were quantified based on exploring the probability density functions (PDF) for intersection- and segment-related events. The results showed that there were significant differences between the PDFs of the measures for both cases. Moreover, it was indicated that drivers tend to be more aggressive at intersections compared with segments. Thus, it is crucial to consider the driver’s location when investigating driver behavior. The quantified behavioral measures are a rich data source that can be used for car-following microscopic modeling, surrogate safety analysis, and driver assistance systems development.
Control of pathogens in fresh pork sausage by inclusion of Lactobacillus sakei BAS0117
Authors: Gelinski Jane Mary Lafayette Neves , Baratto César Milton , Casagrande Micheli , de Oliveira Tainara Padilha , Megiolaro Fernanda , de Martini Soares Fabiana Andreia S. , de Souza Endler Marcel Borges , Vicente Vânia Aparecida , Fonseca Gustavo Graciano
Published: July 2019

A pork sausage was produced with low sodium content (1.64%) to which Lactobacillus sakei was added with the aim of developing a meat pork sausage for cooking and having technological, organoleptic, and hygienic advantages. The lactic acid bacteria (LAB) L. sakei, Lactococcus sp., and Pediococcus pentosaceus were submitted to extreme pH, temperature, and NaCl conditions. Lactobacillus sakei was used in pork sausage because of its resistance to different culture conditions and its antimicrobial potential. The food-borne pathogens Listeria monocytogenes Scott A, Enterococcus faecalis, and Staphylococcus aureus were used as indicator microorganisms to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of selected LAB strains. Salmonella enterica serotype Choleraesuis is a common pathogen of pigs. To the raw sausage product containing L. sakei and nonpathogenic endogenous microbiota, we added about >104 and <105 CFU/g of S. enterica serotype Choleraesuis to evaluate the inhibitory potential of L. sakei towards this pathogen. Salmonella Choleraesuis was inhibited in the presence of L. sakei over 7 days of storage of the meat product (about 3.0 log cycles reduction). Lactobacillus sakei significantly increased inhibition when compared with the nonfermented sausage. Thus, L. sakei BAS0117 played an important role as an additional hurdle in the fermented meat pork sausage during storage.
A facile surface enhanced Raman scattering substrate based on silver deposited sandpaper
Authors: Yuan Dongdong , Chen Shu , Wu Yanan , Wang Junqiao
Published: July 2019

Flexible surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrate was prepared by modification of sandpaper with silver nanoparticles. Under 633 nm excitation wavelength, the SERS enhancement effect of sandpapers which were treated with silver nanoparticles were evaluated by collecting Raman signals of probed molecules. The results demonstrate that the SERS enhancement effect of white (12,000 meshes) is better than that of pink (8000 meshes) sandpaper under the same condition; when the concentration of probe molecules is [Formula: see text] mol/L, white sandpaper has the best SERS enhancement; the Raman scattering spectrum has better signal when the silver sol is 15 [Formula: see text].
Diagnosability of Bubble-Sort Star Graphs with Missing Edges
Authors: WANG SHIYING , WANG YINGYING
Published: July 2019

The diagnosability of a multiprocessor system plays an important role. The bubble-sort star graph BSn has many good properties. In this paper, we study the diagnosis on BSn under the comparison model. Following the concept of the local diagnosability, the strong local diagnosability property is discussed. This property describes the equivalence of the local diagnosability of a node and its degree. We prove that BSn (n ≥ 5) has this property, and it keeps this strong property even if there exist (2n − 5) missing edges in it, and the result is optimal with respect to the number of missing edges.
A Note on a New General Family of Deterministic Hierarchical Networks
Authors: DALFÓ C. , FIOL M. A.
Published: July 2019

It is known that many networks modeling real-life complex systems are small-word (large local clustering and small diameter) and scale-free (power law of the degree distribution), and very often they are also hierarchical. Although most of the models are based on stochastic methods, some deterministic constructions have been recently proposed, because this allows a better computation of their properties. Here a new deterministic family of hierarchical networks is presented, which generalizes most of the previous proposals, such as the so-called binomial tree. The obtained graphs can be seen as graphs on alphabets (where vertices are labeled with words of a given alphabet, and the edges are defined by a specific rule relating different words). This allows us the characterization of their main distance-related parameters, such as the radius and diameter. Moreover, as a by-product, an efficient shortest-path local algorithm is proposed.
Brains and Blocks
Authors: Crawford Chris S. , Gilbert Juan E.
Published: July 2019

Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) hardware is becoming more affordable and accessible. However, there is limited work investigating ways to design software that broadens participation with BCI technology. In this article, we present a block-based programming environment designed to assist novice programmers with creating BCI applications. We also discuss learning barriers encountered by novice programmers developing neurofeedback applications. Our findings suggest that visual programming assists novice programmers with building basic BCI applications; however, students may experience understanding and learning barriers initially.
A Periprosthetic Femoral Fracture with Characteristics of Atypical Femoral Fracture
Authors: Tanaka Shuya , Fukui Tomoaki , Oe Keisuke , Matsumoto Tomoyuki , Matsushita Takehiko , Hayashi Shinya , Kawamoto Teruya , Kuroda Ryosuke , Niikura Takahiro
Published: July 2019

Although the definition of atypical femoral fracture (AFF) excludes periprosthetic femoral fracture (PFF), the number of reports about PFF with characteristics of AFF is increasing. We present the case of such a fracture in this report. An 87-year-old woman who underwent bipolar hip arthroplasty for a femoral neck fracture 38 months prior reported left thigh pain with no history of trauma. Radiographs showed a simple transverse fracture at the level of the stem distal end with features of AFF: periosteal thickening of the lateral cortex, a medial spike, and a noncomminuted fracture. She presented other features resembling AFF: history of bisphosphonate use, prodromal symptoms, no associated trauma, and lateral bowing of the contralateral femur. The fracture showed nonunion after the initial osteosynthesis, and a revision surgery of the arthroplasty and osteosynthesis was performed. Nine months after the surgery, bony union was achieved and she regained the ability to walk. It is supposed that the fracture was influenced by a stress force related to implants and lateral bowing concentrating on the fracture site as a mechanical factor in addition to bisphosphonates as a biological factor. It would be important to recognize that AFF could occur at the peri-implant location, and early detection and treatment are essential.
LSTM with Wavelet Transform Based Data Preprocessing for Stock Price Prediction
Authors: Liang Xiaodan , Ge Zhaodi , Sun Liling , He Maowei , Chen Hanning
Published: July 2019

For profit maximization, the model‐based stock price prediction can give valuable guidance to the investors. However, due to the existence of the high noise in financial data, it is inevitable that the deep neural networks trained by the original data fail to accurately predict the stock price. To address the problem, the wavelet threshold‐denoising method, which has been widely applied in signal denoising, is adopted to preprocess the training data. The data preprocessing with the soft/hard threshold method can obviously restrain noise, and a new multioptimal combination wavelet transform (MOCWT) method is proposed. In this method, a novel threshold‐denoising function is presented to reduce the degree of distortion in signal reconstruction. The experimental results clearly showed that the proposed MOCWT outperforms the traditional methods in the term of prediction accuracy.
Atorvastatin and Conditioned Media from Atorvastatin-Treated Human Hematopoietic Stem/Progenitor-Derived Cells Show Proangiogenic Activity In Vitro but Not In Vivo
Authors: Nowak Witold N. , Taha Hevidar , Markiewicz Joanna , Kachamakova-Trojanowska Neli , Stępniewski Jacek , Klóska Damian , Florczyk-Soluch Urszula , Niżankowski Rafał , Frołow Marzena , Walter Zbigniew , Dulak Józef , Józkowicz Alicja
Published: July 2019

Myeloid angiogenic cells (MAC) derive from hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HSPCs) that are mobilized from the bone marrow. They home to sites of neovascularization and contribute to angiogenesis by production of paracrine factors. The number and function of proangiogenic cells are impaired in patients with diabetes or cardiovascular diseases. Both conditions can be accompanied by decreased levels of heme oxygenase-1 (HMOX1), cytoprotective, heme-degrading enzyme. Our study is aimed at investigating whether precursors of myeloid angiogenic cells (PACs) treated with known pharmaceuticals would produce media with better proangiogenic activity in vitro and if such media can be used to stimulate blood vessel growth in vivo. We used G-CSF-mobilized CD34+ HSPCs, FACS-sorted from healthy donor peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Sorted cells were predominantly CD133+. CD34+ cells after six days in culture were stimulated with atorvastatin (AT), acetylsalicylic acid (ASA), sulforaphane (SR), resveratrol (RV), or metformin (Met) for 48 h. Conditioned media from such cells were then used to stimulate human aortic endothelial cells (HAoECs) to enhance tube-like structure formation in a Matrigel assay. The only stimulant that enhanced PAC paracrine angiogenic activity was atorvastatin, which also had ability to stabilize endothelial tubes in vitro. On the other hand, the only one that induced heme oxygenase-1 expression was sulforaphane, a known activator of a HMOX1 inducer—NRF2. None of the stimulants changed significantly the levels of 30 cytokines and growth factors tested with the multiplex test. Then, we used atorvastatin-stimulated cells or conditioned media from them in the Matrigel plug in vivo angiogenic assay. Neither AT alone in control media nor conditioned media nor AT-stimulated cells affected numbers of endothelial cells in the plug or plug’s vascularization. Concluding, high concentrations of atorvastatin stabilize tubes and enhance the paracrine angiogenic activity of human PAC cells in vitro. However, the effect was not observed in vivo. Therefore, the use of conditioned media from atorvastatin-treated PAC is not a promising therapeutic strategy to enhance angiogenesis.
Evaluation of Bilateral Asymmetry in the Humerus of Human Skeletal Specimen
Authors: Dare Samuel S. , Masilili Godfery , Mugagga Kintu , Ekanem Peter E.
Published: July 2019

Several studies have established a relationship between morphological and behavioral asymmetry making investigations of bilateral bone asymmetry an attractive and important research area. The purpose of this study was to investigate bilateral asymmetry patterns of skeletal specimen from five geographical locations (Rwanda, Burundi, Congo, Kenya, and Uganda) at Galloway Osteological Collection, Department of Anatomy, School of Biomedical Sciences, Makerere University College of Health Sciences. The angle of torsion and retroversion, mid-shaft circumference, length, and weight of 232 pairs of humeri were determined. A Torsiometer was used to measure the angle of torsion in degrees according to Krahl and Evans 1945, a tape was used to measure the mid-shaft circumference at the level of the apex of the deltoid V, and the length in cm was determined. An osteometric board was used to measure the length of the humerus in centimeters. A weighing balance was used to measure the weight of the humerus in grams. The analysis of humeral asymmetry with respect to parameters of the human skeletal specimen at the Galloway Osteological Collection Mulago revealed bilateral asymmetrical status observed in the angle of torsion, length, weight, and mid-shaft circumference. Our result mostly showed lateralization to the right in all the parameters investigated except the torsion angle which is to the left. Our investigation revealed that humeral torsion is inversely proportional to weight, length, and mid-shaft circumference of the humerus. This study established the existence of bilateral asymmetries in the humeri of all the geographical regions investigated with more asymmetry observed in the male compared with the female.
Increasing Evidence for the Association of Breast Implant-Associated Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma and Li Fraumeni Syndrome
Authors: Adlard Julian , Burton Cathy , Turton Philip
Published: July 2019

We report a case of breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma (BIA-ALCL) occurring in a 53-year-old female with Li Fraumeni syndrome (LFS) with a prior history of breast cancer. We present the clinical features, investigation, and management of this patient and potential mechanisms that could explain the increasing association of BIA-ALCL and LFS.
CD133 Is Associated with Increased Melanoma Cell Survival after Multikinase Inhibition
Authors: Simbulan-Rosenthal Cynthia M. , Gaur Anirudh , Zhou Hengbo , AbdusSamad Maryam , Qin Qing , Dougherty Ryan , Aljehane Leala , Kuo Li-Wei , Vakili Sahar , Karna Kumari , Clark Havens , McCarron Edward , Rosenthal Dean S.
Published: July 2019

FDA-approved kinase inhibitors are now used for melanoma, including combinations of the MEK inhibitor trametinib, and BRAF inhibitor dabrafenib for BRAFV600 mutations. NRAS-mutated cell lines are also sensitive to MEK inhibitionin vitro, and NRAS-mutated tumors have also shown partial response to MEK inhibitors. However, melanoma still has high recurrence rates due to subpopulations, sometimes described as “melanoma initiating cells,” resistant to treatment. Since CD133 is a putative cancer stem cell marker for different cancers, associated with decreased survival, we examined resistance of patient-derived CD133(+) and CD133(-) melanoma cells to MAPK inhibitors. Human melanoma cells were exposed to increasing concentrations of trametinib and/or dabrafenib, either before or after separation into CD133(+) and CD133(-) subpopulations. In parental CD133-mixed lines, the percentages of CD133(+) cells increased significantly (p<0.05) after high-dose drug treatment. Presorted CD133(+) cells also exhibited significantly greater (p<0.05) IC50s for single and combination MAPKI treatment. siRNA knockdown revealed a causal relationship between CD133 and drug resistance. Microarray and qRT-PCR analyses revealed that ten of 18 ABC transporter genes were significantly (P<0.05) upregulated in the CD133(+) subpopulation, while inhibition of ABC activity increased sensitivity, suggesting a mechanism for increased drug resistance of CD133(+) cells.
Magnitude of Intention to Leave and Associated Factors among Health Workers Working at Primary Hospitals of North Gondar Zone, Northwest Ethiopia: Mixed Methods
Authors: Worku Nigusu , Feleke Amsalu , Debie Ayal , Nigusie Adane
Published: July 2019

Background. Human resource is the most crucial resources for the survival of an organization. Intention to leave is an employee’s plan to leave their current job in the near future and is used as a proxy indicator for measuring turnover in cross-sectional surveys. In developing countries human resource shortages are not only due to production of health professionals but also because of employee turnover and instability at health facilities. Objective. This study aimed to assess the magnitude of intention to leave and associated factors among health workers working at primary hospitals of North Gondar Zone, Northwest Ethiopia. Methods. Institution based cross-sectional mixed methods’ (both quantitative and qualitative) study design was conducted among health workers working at primary hospitals of North Gondar zone. Self-administered standardized structured questionnaires for quantitative and interview guide for qualitative were used for data collection. Variables having p-value less than 0.2 during bivariable analysis were entered into multivariable logistic regression model. Thematic analysis was done for qualitative data analysis. Results. A total of 382 health workers were participated in the study with a response rate of 93.6%. Overall, 67.8% of them were intended to leave their current organization. Age of participants, 20-29 years (AOR=3.96; 95%CI: 1.04, 15.07), living out of family (AOR= 1.73; 95% CI: 1.23, 3.02), opportunity of other job (AOR= 2.04; 95% CI: 1.21, 3.45), performance appraisal system (AOR= 2.97; 95%CI: 1.64, 5.36), and affective commitment (AOR= 3.12; 95% CI: 1.64, 5.92) were the factors affecting health workers intention to leave current organization. Conclusion. overall, magnitude of health workers intention to leave their current organization was high. Therefore, healthcare managers, supervisors, and policymakers need to develop and implement retention strategies that aim to improve the retaining of healthcare workers at their working organization such as unifying healthcare providers who are living separately with their families, use evidence-based performance evaluation mechanism, and make efforts to develop a sense of ownership in the health workers, which will reduce health professional’s intention to leave their organization.
Healthcare Professionals’ Knowledge of Neonatal Resuscitation in Ethiopia: Analysis from 2016 National Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care Survey
Authors: Abrha Mulugeta Woldu , Asresu Tsrity Tadese , Araya Alemnesh Abraha , Weldearegay Haftom Gebrehiwot
Published: July 2019

Background. Birth asphyxia, which accounts for 31.6% of all neonatal deaths, is one of the principal causes of neonatal mortality in Ethiopia. Adequate knowledge of newborn resuscitative procedures plays an important role in early diagnoses and suitable management. However, there are limited data on healthcare professionals’ knowledge about neonatal resuscitation. Thus, this study aimed to determine the knowledge of healthcare professionals about neonatal resuscitation and factors affecting it. Methods. Data from the Ethiopian 2016 national Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care survey of 3,804 health facilities that provided maternal and newborn health services were analyzed. We have included 3804 healthcare providers, who attended the largest number of deliveries in the last month prior to the survey, and assessed their knowledge of neonatal resuscitation. It was also determined whether certain factors were associated with healthcare providers’ knowledge through linear regression method. Result. The overall knowledge score of the healthcare providers about neonatal resuscitation ranged from 12 to 24 out of 37 items (with mean score of 18.4 (±5.47) and mean score percentage of 49%). The findings showed that providers trained on neonatal resuscitation (β=2.65, 95% CI: 0.65, 4.62; p <0.00), facilities that had guideline of neonatal resuscitation (β=2.50, 95% CI: 0.60, 3.52; p =0.01), and availability of essential equipment (β=0.95, 95% CI: 0.44, 1.45; p =0.02) were significantly associated with sufficient knowledge of neonatal resuscitation in Ethiopia. Conclusion. Overall knowledge of neonatal resuscitation was insufficient. Trained healthcare providers, having guideline on neonatal resuscitation, and availability of essential equipment were significantly associated with knowledge of neonatal resuscitation. Competency and simulation-based in-service training and refresher training complemented by supportive supervision and mentorship are helpful ways to put up providers capability to perform neonatal resuscitation.
HIV-1 Drug Resistance Mutations among Antiretroviral Drug-Experienced Patients in the South of Iran
Authors: Memarnejadian Arash , Nikpoor Amin Reza , Davoodian Nahid , Kargar Ali , Mirzadeh Yahya , Gouklani Hamed
Published: July 2019

Background: The therapeutic effect of antiretroviral therapy (ART) is adversely influenced by antiretroviral drug resistance, mainly due to mutations (DRMs) in the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) genome. These mutations are commonly associated with HIV protease and reverse-transcriptase genes. We sought to determine the frequency of DRMs in a population of ART-experienced patients in the South of Iran. Method: A total of 44 HIV-1-positive participants under ART were selected from April 2016 to March 2017. Their DRMs, antiretroviral resistance status, and viral subtypes were determined. Results: At least one DRM was detected in 61.4% of the participants. The highest frequency was related to nucleotide reverse-transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI) mutations (45.45%). In contrast, major protease inhibitor (PI) mutations had the lowest frequency (6.81%). M184V (40.9%) and K103N (25%), respectively related to NRTI and nonnucleoside reverse-transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI), were the mutations with the highest frequencies. Susceptibility to PI drugs was higher compared to NRTIs and NNRTIs, which was consistent with the results of genotypic DRMs. Conclusion: The highest frequency of antiretroviral DRMs was related to NRTIs and NNRTIs. In contrast, PI resistance mutations had the lowest frequency. Laboratory-guided ART to avoid the expansion of mutants as well as investigating DRMs in other viral regions, such as integrase, are recommended.