bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Leptin Controls Glutamatergic Synaptogenesis and NMDA-Receptor Trafficking via Fyn Kinase Regulation of NR2B
Authors: Bland Tyler , Zhu Mingyan , Dillon Crystal , Sahin Gulcan Semra , Rodriguez-Llamas Jose Luis , Appleyard Suzanne M , Wayman Gary A
Published: December 2019

Activation of the leptin receptor, LepRb, by the adipocytokine/neurotrophic factor leptin in the central nervous system has procognitive and antidepressive effects. Leptin has been shown to increase glutamatergic synaptogenesis in multiple brain regions. In contrast, mice that have a mutation in the LepRb gene show abnormal synapse development in the hippocampus as well as deficits in cognition and increased depressive-like symptoms. Leptin increases glutamatergic synaptogenesis, in part, through enhancement of N-methyl-D-aspartic acid (NMDA) receptor function; yet the underlying signaling pathway is not known. In this study, we examine how leptin regulates surface expression of NR2B-containing NMDA receptors in hippocampal neurons. Leptin stimulation increases NR2BY1472 phosphorylation, which is inhibited by the Src family kinase inhibitor, PP1. Moreover, we show that Fyn, a member of the Src family kinases, is required for leptin-stimulated NR2BY1472 phosphorylation. Furthermore, inhibiting Y1472 phosphorylation with either a dominant negative Fyn mutant or an NR2B mutant that lacks the phosphorylation site (NR2BY1472F) blocks leptin-stimulated synaptogenesis. Additionally, we show that LepRb forms a complex with NR2B and Fyn. Taken together, these findings expand our knowledge of the LepRb interactome and the mechanisms by which leptin stimulates glutamatergic synaptogenesis in the developing hippocampus. Comprehending these mechanisms is key for understanding dendritic spine development and synaptogenesis, alterations of which are associated with many neurological disorders.
Lund University Cardiac Assist System Induced Liver Laceration and Anterior Cord Infarction After Cardiac Arrest: A Case Report
Authors: Drew Thomas , Blackstock Adam , Aron Jonathan
Published: December 2019

We describe a hepatic laceration and subsequent anterior spinal artery syndrome in a 21-year-old man, secondary to prolonged cardiopulmonary resuscitation with a Lund University Cardiac Assist System (LUCAS2) mechanical cardiac compression device. We briefly review the current literature pertaining to hepatic injury from trauma due to cardiopulmonary resuscitation. The etiology of the anterior spinal artery syndrome in this patient is discussed. This case highlights that intra-abdominal causes of hypotension should be considered in patients after a prolonged resuscitation attempt. Extending focused cardiac ultrasound to exclude intra-abdominal free fluid should be routinely considered in these patients.
Absence of p.R50X Pygm read-through in McArdle disease cellular models
Authors: Tarrasó Guillermo , Real-Martinez Alberto , Parés Marta , Romero-Cortadellas Lídia , Puigros Laura , Moya Laura , de Luna Noemí , Brull Astrid , Martín Miguel Angel , Arenas Joaquin , Lucia Alejandro , Andreu Antoni L. , Barquinero Jordi , Vissing John , Krag Thomas O. , Pinós Tomàs
Published: December 2019

McArdle disease is an autosomal recessive disorder caused by the absence of muscle glycogen phosphorylase, which leads to blocked muscle glycogen breakdown. We used three different cellular models to evaluate the efficiency of different read-through agents (including amlexanox, Ataluren, RTC13 and G418) in McArdle disease. The first model consisted of HeLa cells transfected with two different GFP-PYGM constructs presenting the Pygm p.R50X mutation (GFP-PYGM p.R50X and PYGM Ex1-GFP p.R50X). The second cellular model was based on the creation of HEK293T cell lines stably expressing the PYGM Ex1-GFP p.R50X construct. As these plasmids encode murine Pygm cDNA without any intron sequence, their transfection in cells would allow for analysis of the efficacy of read-through agents with no concomitant nonsense-mediated decay interference. The third model consisted of skeletal muscle cultures derived from the McArdle mouse model (knock-in for the p.R50X mutation in the Pygm gene). We found no evidence of read-through at detectable levels in any of the models evaluated. We performed a literature search and compared the premature termination codon context sequences with reported positive and negative read-through induction, identifying a potential role for nucleotide positions −9, −8, −3, −2, +13 and +14 (the first nucleotide of the stop codon is assigned as +1). The Pygm p.R50X mutation presents TGA as a stop codon, G nucleotides at positions −1 and −9, and a C nucleotide at −3, which potentially generate a good context for read-through induction, counteracted by the presence of C at −2 and its absence at +4.
Impact of Neoadjuvant Therapy in Resected Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma of the Pancreatic Body or Tail on Surgical and Oncological Outcome: A Propensity-Score Matched Multicenter Study
Authors:   for the European Consortium on Minimally Invasive Pancreatic Surgery (E-MIPS), Lof Sanne , Korrel Maarten , van Hilst Jony , Alseidi Adnan , Balzano Gianpaolo , Boggi Ugo , Butturini Giovanni , Casadei Riccardo , Dokmak Safi , Edwin Bjørn , Falconi Massimo , Keck Tobias , Malleo Giuseppe , de Pastena Matteo , Tomazic Ales , Wilmink Hanneke , Zerbi Alessandro , Besselink Marc G. , Abu Hilal Mohammed
Published: December 2019

Background

Several studies have suggested a survival benefit of neoadjuvant therapy (NAT) for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) in the pancreatic head. Data concerning NAT for PDAC located in pancreatic body or tail are lacking.

Methods

Post hoc analysis of an international multicenter retrospective cohort of distal pancreatectomy for PDAC in 34 centers from 11 countries (2007–2015). Patients who underwent resection after NAT were matched (1:1 ratio), using propensity scores based on baseline characteristics, to patients who underwent upfront resection. Median overall survival was compared using the stratified log-rank test.

Results

Among 1236 patients, 136 (11.0%) received NAT, most frequently FOLFIRINOX (25.7%). In total, 94 patients receiving NAT were matched to 94 patients undergoing upfront resection. NAT was associated with less postoperative major morbidity (Clavien–Dindo ≥ 3a, 10.6% vs. 23.4%, P = 0.020) and pancreatic fistula grade B/C (9.6% vs. 21.3%, P = 0.026). NAT did not improve overall survival [27 (95% CI 14–39) versus 31 months (95% CI 19–42), P = 0.277], as compared with upfront resection. In a sensitivity analysis of 251 patients with radiographic tumor involvement of splenic vessels, NAT (n = 37, 14.7%) was associated with prolonged overall survival [36 (95% CI 18–53) versus 20 months (95% CI 15–24), P = 0.049], as compared with upfront resection.

Conclusion

In this international multicenter cohort study, NAT for resected PDAC in pancreatic body or tail was associated with less morbidity and pancreatic fistula but similar overall survival in comparison with upfront resection. Prospective studies should confirm a survival benefit of NAT in patients with PDAC and splenic vessel involvement.
TIMP-1 and MMP-9 expressions in COPD patients complicated with spontaneous pneumothorax and their correlations with treatment outcomes
Authors: Li Hang , Shi Kaihu , Zhao Yang , Du Jin , Hu Dinghui , Liu Zuntao
Published: December 2019

Objective: To study the expressions of TIMP-1 and MMP-9 in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) complicated with spontaneous pneumothorax, and their correlations with treatment outcomes.

Methods: A total of 80 COPD patients complicated with spontaneous pneumothorax treated in our hospital from December 2015 to December 2017. The serum expressions of TIMP-1 and MMP-9 in 80 COPD patients complicated with spontaneous pneumothorax (COPD group) and 52 healthy volunteers (control group) were detected by ELISA. The correlations of TIMP-1 and MMP-9 expressions with arterial blood gas parameters as well as scores of MRC breathlessness scale and St. George’s Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) were analyzed.

Results: The serum expressions of TIMP-1 and MMP-9 of COPD group were significantly higher than those of control group (P<0.05), but the two groups had similar MMP-9/TIMP-1 ratios (P>0.05). For COPD group, TIMP-1 expression, MMP-9 expression, MMP-9/TIMP-1, Sa(O2) and p(O2) were not correlated (P>0.05). TIMP-1 expression was significantly positively correlated with MRC scale and SGRQ scores (P<0.05). Sa(O2), p(O2) and MRC scale score of low MMP-9 expression, low TIMP-1 expression and low MMP-9/TIMP-1 group were significantly improved compared with those of high MMP-9 expression, high TIMP-1 expression and high MMP-9/TIMP-1 group (P<0.05). MMP-9 expression, TIMP-1 expression or MMP-9/TIMP-1 was not correlated with improvement of SGRQ score. Pulmonary function improvement (Sa(O2) improvement rate ≥5% and/or p(O2) improvement rate ≥10%) was correlated with serum MMP-9 expression, baseline Sa(O2) and p(O2).

Conclusion: Increase of serum TIMP-1 and MMP-9 expressions in COPD patients was correlated with symptoms and scores of quality of life, and the expressions were also correlated with short-term treatment reactivity.

doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.36.2.1244

How to cite this:Li H, Shi K, Zhao Y, Du J, Hu D, Liu Z. TIMP-1 and MMP-9 expressions in COPD patients complicated with spontaneous pneumothorax and their correlations with treatment outcomes. Pak J Med Sci. 2020;36(2):192-197. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.36.2.1244

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Utilization of awake craniotomy for supra-tentorial tumor resection during pregnancy: A technique useful for fetal-maternal wellbeing
Authors: Kumar Dileep , Siraj Sheema , Ahsan Khalid , Shafiq Faraz
Published: December 2019

Meningioma is the benign tumor that can also occurs during pregnancy. We are reporting a case of 29 years, 13th weeks pregnant lady, who underwent supratentorial craniotomy using awake through out approach. The case report highlights the challenges we faced during anaesthetic management, which includes psychological preparation, institution of scalp block and successful neurological monitoring. Technique proven to be useful considering pregnancy related physiological and tumor related pathological changes, the impact of which lies directly on maternal & fetal wellbeing.

doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.36.2.1853

How to cite this:Kumar D, Siraj S, Ahsan K, Shafiq F. Utilization of awake craniotomy for supra-tentorial tumor resection during pregnancy: A technique useful for fetal-maternal wellbeing. Pak J Med Sci. 2020;36(2):293-295. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.36.2.1853

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Congenital factor VII deficiency in Iraqi children (Single Centre Experience)
Authors: Khudhair Ali Ahmed , Salih Afrah Abdul-Mahdi , Kadhum Ausama Jamal
Published: December 2019

Background and Objective: Factor VII (FVII) deficiency is probably one of the most common of the rare autosomal recessive coagulation disorders, with an estimated prevalence of l: 500000. All age groups can be affected with FVII deficiency. This study aimed to describe the demographic parameters, symptomatology, hemostatic values and the outcome of FVII deficiency.

Methods: This is a retrospective descriptive study of patients with congenital FVII deficiency over a period of seven years from (August 2008 to August 2015). The data were collected by reviewing the files for each patient diagnosed with FVII deficiency. Surgical interventions, complications and follow up visits were recorded.

Results: Twenty-four patients were included in this study, 17 females and seven males, below one year was the most common age at presentation. More than half of patients (58.3%) were diagnosed within six months of symptoms onset. The majority of patients had severe phenotype. The most common symptom was epitaxis (41.7%). Five out of 10 patients with FVII level < 1% have either mild to moderate phenotype of the disease without complications; while six out of 14 patients with FVII > 1% had at least one episode of severe bleeding. Three patients had hepatitis C; all were treated by blood products before the introduction of recombinant FVII in Iraq. The outcome of most patients (75%) was normal without complications at time of study.

Conclusion: Clinical manifestations of FVII deficiency are variable and they are not necessarily correlated to the FVII level.

doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.36.2.666

How to cite this:Khudhair AA, Salih AAM, Kadhum AJ. Congenital factor VII deficiency in Iraqi children (Single Centre Experience). Pak J Med Sci. 2020;36(2):177-181. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.36.2.666

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Quality of life of students of a private medical college
Authors: Aziz Yasir , Khan Ahmad Yar , Shahid Iqra , Khan Muhammad Athar Majeed , Aisha Aisha
Published: December 2019

Objective: To determine the quality of life of students of a private medical college in Karachi in Pakistan.

Methods: This cross sectional study was conducted among 217 medical students of Liaquat College of Medicine and Dentistry, Karachi from June 2017 to March 2018. Students were selected by a stratified sampling method and the World Health Organization Quality of Life BREF Instruments (WHO QOL-BREF) was used for the above-mentioned study. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Sciences) version 21 and Analysis of variance (ANOVA). Independent t-test was used as p <0.05 significant.

Results: A total of 250 questionnaires were distributed among 2nd year, 3rd year, 4th year and final year students and the response rate was 86.8%. Among them 48.5% (n=105) students were male and 51.5% (n=112) students were female, while 9.2% (n=20) students were currently ill and the other 90.8% (n=197) were healthy.

Conclusion: Medical education influences the quality of life (QOL) of students adversely. Social relationships and environmental domain were satisfactory in private medical institutes whereas physical and psychological progress was low due to academic load which requires improvement either by physical activities such as fitness classes or other extra-curricular activities.

doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.36.2.668

How to cite this:Aziz Y, Khan AY, Shahid I, Khan MA, Aisha. Quality of life of students of a private medical college. Pak J Med Sci. 2020;36(2):255-259. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.36.2.668

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Standardized approaches for clinical sampling and endpoint ascertainment in tuberculous meningitis studies
Authors: Rohlwink Ursula K , Chow Felicia C , Wasserman Sean , Dian Sofiati , Lai Rachel PJ , Chaidir Lidya , Hamers Raph L , Wilkinson Robert J , Boulware David R , Cresswell Fiona V , van Laarhoven Arjan ,   Tuberculous Meningitis International Research Consortium
Published: December 2019

Tuberculous meningitis (TBM), the most severe manifestation of tuberculosis, has poorly understood immunopathology and high mortality and morbidity despite antituberculous therapy. This calls for accelerated clinical and basic science research in this field. As TBM disproportionally affects poorer communities, studies are often performed in resource-limited environments, creating challenges for data collection and harmonisation. Comparison of TBM studies has been hampered by variation in sampling strategies, study design and choice of study endpoints. 

Based on literature review and expert consensus, this paper provides firstly, practical recommendations to enable thorough diagnostic, pathophysiological and pharmacokinetic studies using clinical samples, and facilitates better data aggregation and comparisons across populations and settings. Secondly, we discuss clinically relevant study endpoints, including neuroimaging, functional outcome, and cause of death, with suggestions of how these could be applied in different designs for future TBM studies.
Temporal patterns of words with and without suffixes in spontaneous Hungarian
Authors: Gósy Mária , Gocsál Ákos
Published: December 2019

Temporal properties of words are defined by physiological, psychical, and language-specific factors. Lexical representations are assumed to be stored either in a morphologically decomposed form or in a conceptually non-decomposed form. We assumed that the duration of words with and without suffixes would refer to the route of their lexical access. Measured durations of Hungarian nouns with various lengths produced by 10 speakers in spontaneous utterances revealed significant differences, depending on the words’ morphological structures. Durations of monomorphemic nouns were shorter than those of multimorphemic nouns, irrespective of the number of syllables they contained. Our interpretation is that multimorphemic words are accessed decompositionally in spontaneous speech, meaning that stem activation of the semantic representation is followed by activation of one or more suffixes. Durational differences of monomorphemic and multimorphemic words were not stable across word lengths. The number of suffixes did not influence the words’ temporal patterns.

Kokkuvõte. Mária Gósy ja Ákos Gocsál: Sufiksiga ja sufiksita sõnade ajaline struktuur spontaanses ungari keeles. Sõnade ajalised omadused sõltuvad füsioloogilistest, psühholoogilistest ja keelespetsiifilistest teguritest. Eelduste kohaselt on sõnad mentaalses leksikonis representeeritud kas morfeemideks analüüsituna või tervikmõistena. Uurimuses lähtuti eeldusest, et sufiksiga ja sufiksita sõnade kestus viitab sellele, kuidas juurdepääs neile toimub. Mõõdeti kümne kõneleja spontaansetes lausungites produtseeritud eri pikkusega ungari nimisõnade kestust. Ilmnes, et kestus sõltus oluliselt sõna morfoloogilisest ülesehitusest. Tüvisõnade kestus oli tuletiste omast lühem, sõltumata silpide arvust sõnas. Järelduseks saadi, et juurdepääs tuletistele toimub spontaanses kõnes osade kaupa: tüve semantilise representatsiooni aktiveerimisele järgneb sufiksi või sufiksite aktiveerimine. Tüvisõnade ja tuletiste kestuserinevused olid eri pikkusega sõnade puhul erinevad. Sufiksite arv sõna ajalist struktuuri ei mõjutanud.

Märksõnad: kestus, nimisõnad, tüvisõnad ja tuletised, leksikaalne juurdepääs, spontaansed lausungid
PARA PENSAR O APAGAMENTO RITUALIZADO DOS CORPOS NA CRECHE: ADULTOS, BEBÊS, ATIVIDADES
Authors: Bonfim Patrícia Vieira , Ostetto Luciana Esmeralda
Published: December 2019

Este texto focaliza narrativas corporais de professoras e bebês nos espaços e tempos de uma creche pública. No que se refere à metodologia, os dados foram gerados por meio de registros escritos e fotográficos visando capturar cenas de professoras e bebês em interação. Em um segundo momento foram realizados encontros com as docentes para conversas e análises sobre as cenas visíveis nos registros fotográficos suscitando narrativas outras. Os resultados revelaram que, em rotinas automatizadas focadas na realização de atividades fragmentadas, os corpos contidos das professoras e os corpos expandidos dos bebês desencontram-se, despotencializando as relações.
Linguagem corporal na promoção de resiliência: uma prática educacional com acadêmicos do curso de educação física
Authors: Bersch Ângela Adriane Schmidt , Piske Eliane Lima
Published: December 2019

O artigo apresenta a linguagem corporal como mecanismo de proteção e promoção de resiliência em intervenções para formação de acadêmicos de Educação Física de uma Universidade Federal do Sul do Brasil. A pesquisa foi qualitativa e a Grounded Theory e o software Atlas.Ti foram as bases de análise das informações. As intervenções foram realizadas por meio de estratégias pedagógicas com a temática central da linguagem corporal com foco nas emoções e sentimentos dos estudantes. Os resultados na vivência da corporeidade foram apontados como possibilidades de mudanças nas novas aprendizagens e experiências relacionais. Estes podem ser fatores potencializadores da resiliência pela via corpórea pelas evidências de que geraram possibilidades de superação das adversidades de cada um.
DE TOQUES SUTIS A VOADORAS: POR UMA ÉTICA EDUCACIONAL A PARTIR DOS CORPOS
Authors: Bocchetti André
Published: December 2019

O texto propõe um olhar sobre a ideia de uma ética educacional desde os corpos, aproximando filósofos da diferença e aulas de Biodanza, uma prática corporal, na universidade. A noção de ética em Foucault pressupõe um vínculo estreito entre as mensagens trazidas pelo indivíduo ao mundo e seus modos de ser. Com Gil tal vínculo pode ser lido em corpos paradoxais e com possibilidades de abertura. O que se pode, então, dizer de uma ética que tenha como base um corpo sempre permeável? Como fazer educação a partir dela? Pensamos uma ética educacional a partir da condição responsiva do corpo, que suspende sua suposta estabilidade; de sua condição aglutinadora, nos contatos que estabelece; e de sua condição de comum, que sustenta a força política da intempestividade do corpo.
CRIMES CONTRA O MEIO AMBIENTE E AÇÕES DO MINISTÉRIO PÚBLICO NO MUNICÍPIO DE MOSSORÓ - RN NO PERÍODO DE 2013 A 2017
Authors: Escobar Marco Lunardi , Queiroz Raimundo Alberto Costa
Published: December 2019

Os impactos ambientais no município de Mossoró/RN é um dos temas mais debatidos pela academia, orgãos governamentais e a sociedade. Nesse contexto, o principal objetivo deste trabalho é demonstrar que tipos de possíveis crimes ambientais foram praticados no município de Mossoró/RN, com recorte temporal de 2013 a 2017 e quais as ações desenvolvidas pelo Ministério Público na tentativa de combater estas ocorrências. A pesquisa é um estudo de caso, de cunho quanti-qualitativa, que adota o método indutivo. Utilizou-se revisão bibliográfica, pesquisa documental, levantamento de informações, através da observação de campo e junto à órgãos públicos municipais e estaduais envolvidos com a questão ambiental, além de entrevistas com alguns representantes de instituições de proteção ambiental. A pesquisa quantificou uma classificação das infrações em uma análise de 91 processos penais ambientais. Constatou-se que o Ministério Público se mostra atuante,  por desenvolver um importante trabalho no combate aos crimes ambientais que foram praticados no município, seja no âmbito repressivo ou preventivo, apesar da existência de fatores, que limitaram a sua atuação, como por exemplo o fato dos  órgãos de fiscalização ambiental apresentarem deficiências no tocante a  estrutura e ao número reduzido de efetivo.
POETAS DE ESCOLA: ESPAÇO DE EMPODERAMENTOS, TERRITÓRIOS E IDENTIDADES
Authors: Torres Leonardo , Espírito Santo de Oliveira Luiz Claudio , J. P. Restier Junior Renato , Farias Valquíria
Published: December 2019

A presente pesquisa se dedica a abordar os diferentes processos cognitivos relacionados ao projeto “Poetas de Escola” desenvolvido há alguns anos com estudantes dos anos finais do Ensino Fundamental da Escola Municipal Ministro Edgard Romero, no Rio de Janeiro. Seu foco é na análise dos estímulos cognitivos e perceptivos oferecidos aos estudantes a partir de um múltiplo esforço de análise, contemplando a potência da linguagem como ferramenta para a construção da cidadania, revisitando memórias, descobrindo identidades e concebendo pertencimentos.
Experiments and Analysis of a Conveying Device for Soil Separation and Clod-Crushing for a Potato Harvester
Authors: Wei ZhongCai , Li HongWen , Sun ChuanZhu , Su Guoliang , Liu WenZheng , Li Xueqiang
Published: December 2019

Abstract. Bruising and damage losses are the most important key factors restricting the potato harvesting mechanization. The experimental work was conducted on an in-house conveying device for soil separation and clod-crushing testbed, which could be used to set a constant potato-soil proportion. In this work, a preliminary study was carried out to clarify the soil cushioning the potatoes travelling on separation sieve at different separation stages. Impact characteristics and movement processes were also studied. An impact recording device and high-speed camera technology were employed to obtain the instantaneous dynamics of the potato-soil mixture. The peak acceleration does not exceed 28.20 g when the potato-soil proportion increases from 18.07% to 38.55%; the peak acceleration reached 105.33 g when the potato-soil proportion was 100%. The number of impacts and peak impact acceleration are positively correlated with the vibration intensity of shaking rubber wheel under the condition of the same potato-soil proportion. It is noteworthy that the influence of the potato-soil proportion on the number of impacts and the peak impact acceleration was more obvious than that of the running speed of the separation sieve. This work provides a technical reference for the further investigation of bruising minimization and potato-soil separation technology. Keywords: Impact recording, Motion characteristics, Potato, Potato-soil proportion, Potato-soil separation.
Industrial-scale Pelletization of Southern Pine Energy Pellets with Various Additives
Authors: Blake Cody , Street Jason , Wooten James , Mitchell Brian , Owens Frank C
Published: December 2019

Abstract. The energy pellet industry desires to improve processing techniques and the characteristics of fuel pellets by including additives with the feedstock. In this study, the industrial-scale pelletization of southern yellow pine (SYP) planer shavings was performed along with experiments involving the effect of production rate and moisture on the energy required for production (measured in kWh Mg-1). Multiple additives were investigated to determine their effects on southern yellow pine pelletization performance and pellet characteristics. These additives included southern-yellow-pine-derived biochar (BC), southern-yellow-pine-derived bio-oil (BO), corn starch (CS), vegetable oil (VO), sweet potatoes (SwP), microcrystalline cellulose (MCC), micronized rubber powder (MRP), and mixed hardwood planer shavings (HW). A control was compared to 20 different treatments at various additive concentrations, and the effect on pellet durability, bulk density, and higher heating value was determined. The production rate of the pellets with additives varied but were able to be compared with the baseline regression line (production rate vs. energy required for production per Mg) control trials so that the appropriate amount of energy required to produce one Mg of biomass could be compared to the control. The data for the additives, which outperformed the control using the economic study, are listed below. The control, HW10%, HW 25%, HW 50%, BC 0.5%, BC 1%, BC 2%, BC 4%, MRP 1%, and BO 0.5% had a mean pellet durability index (PDI) of 97.9%, 98.1%, 98.1%, 97.7%, 98.2%, 98.6%, 98.4%, 98.7%, 98.0%, and 98.0%, respectively. The control, HW10%, HW 25%, HW 50%, BC 0.5%, BC 1%, BC 2%, BC 4%, MRP 1%, and BO 0.5% had mean bulk density values of 703.0, 700.8, 704.8, 692.2, 693.9, 695.6, 695.6, 683.2, 658.8, and 684.6 kg m-3, respectively. The mean higher heating values (HHV) for the control, HW10%, HW 25%, HW 50%, BC 0.5%, BC 1%, BC 2%, BC 4%, MRP 1%, and BO 0.5% were 19.0, 18.9, 18.6, 18.2, 19.4, 19.5, 19.6, 19.6, 19.6, and 19.2, MJ kg-1, respectively. The normalized energy requirements for production for the control, HW10%, HW 25%, HW 50%, BC 0.5%, BC 1%, BC 2%, BC 4%, MRP 1%, and BO 0.5% were 112.0, 110.5, 112.1, 115.3, 110.7, 111.7, 112.1, 118.1, 108.5, and 111.1 kWh Mg-1, respectively. An economic feasibility analysis showed that the discounted net present value (NPV) at a rate of 12% could be improved when using certain pellet additives in the feedstock. The following additives could increase the profit of the mill over just using the control: hardwood planer shavings at 10%, 25%, and 50%, biochar at 0.5%, 1%, 2%, and 4%, MRP at 1% and bio-oil (with volatiles removed) at 0.5% (all on a dry basis). Keywords: Biochar, Biomass pellets, Bio-oil, Corn starch, Hardwood, Micronized rubber powder, Microcrystalline cellulose, Sweet potato, Vegetable oil.
Self-adversarial Training and Attention for Multi-task Wheat Phenotyping
Authors: Hu Gensheng , Qian Lidong , Liang Dong , Wan Mingzhu
Published: December 2019

Abstract. Phenotypic monitoring provides important data support for precision agriculture management. This study proposes a deep learning-based method to gain an accurate count of wheat ears and spikelets. The deep learning networks incorporate self-adversarial training and attention mechanism with stacked hourglass networks. Four stacked hourglass networks follow a holistic attention map to construct a generator of self-adversarial networks. The holistic attention maps enable the networks to focus on the overall consistency of the whole wheat. The discriminator of self-adversarial networks displays the same structure as the generator, which causes adversarial loss to the generator. This process improves the generator’s learning ability and prediction accuracy for occluded wheat ears. This method yields higher wheat ear count in the Annotated Crop Image Database (ACID) data set than the previous state-of-the-art algorithm. Keywords: Attention mechanism, Plant phenotype, Self-adversarial networks, Stacked hourglass.
Comparison of Stationary and Moving Infrared Thermometer Measurements Aboard a Center Pivot
Authors: Colaizzi Paul D. , O’Shaughnessy Susan A. , Evett Steven R. , Andrade Manuel A.
Published: December 2019

Highlights

Stationary and moving infrared thermometers aboard a center pivot were compared.

Comparisons were in terms of directional brightness temperature discrepancies.

Discrepancies were within 1.8°C, and many were within 1.0°C.

Larger discrepancies tended to occur for sparser vegetation cover.

Abstract. Infrared thermometers (IRTs) can measure canopy temperature, which is useful for irrigation and crop management. Center pivot and lateral move irrigation systems are suitable platforms to transport IRTs across cropped fields at regular intervals. IRTs aboard center pivots, when used in conjunction with irrigation scheduling algorithms, have resulted in crop yield and crop water productivity that is equivalent to or greater than what can be achieved using soil water measurements of the root zone profile with a field-calibrated neutron probe. Irrigation scheduling algorithms perform best when stationary IRT measurements are supplemented with moving IRT arrays, where the former provides time series data and the latter provides spatially distributed data. However, the normal deflection of moving irrigation systems and other confounding factors have caused concern that moving IRT measurements may be degraded relative to stationary IRT measurements. Directional brightness temperatures (TB) measured by stationary and moving IRTs were compared over two corn and one potato season at the USDA Agricultural Research Service, Bushland, Texas. Moving and stationary TB were compared in terms of root mean square error, mean absolute error, and mean bias error, and were all < 1.8°C, and many were < 1.0°C, and r2 = 0.95. Error terms tended to be larger for potato, which had less vegetation cover compared with corn. However, error terms were similar to previous studies of calibration and spatial variability for IRTs and thermal imagers. Therefore, TB measurements of moving IRTs did not appear to be degraded relative to TB measurements of stationary IRTs for this study. However, interpretation of stationary and moving IRT measurements may be aided by addition of low cost imagers to distinguish vegetation from soil background. Keywords: Canopy temperature, Crop management, Evapotranspiration, Irrigation, Remote sensing, Sensors.
Relativistic photography with a wide aperture
Authors: Gray Norman , O’Donnell Ruaridh , MacSporran Ross , Oxburgh Stephen , Courtial Johannes
Published: December 2019

We discuss new effects related to relativistic aberration, which is the apparent distortion of objects moving at relativistic speeds relative to an idealized camera. Our analysis assumes that the camera lens is capable of stigmatic imaging of objects at rest with respect to the camera, and that each point on the shutter surface is transparent for one instant, but different points are not necessarily transparent synchronously. We pay special attention to the placement of the shutter. First, we find that a wide aperture requires the shutter to be placed in the detector plane to enable stigmatic images. Second, a Lorentz-transformation window [Proc. SPIE 9193, 91931K (2014)PSISDG0277-786X10.1117/12.2061415] can correct for relativistic distortion. We illustrate our results, which are significant for future spaceships, with raytracing simulations.
High-spatial-resolution fiber-optic distributed acoustic sensor based on Φ-OFDR with enhanced crosstalk suppression
Authors: Li He , Liu Qingwen , Chen Dian , Deng Yuanpeng , He Zuyuan
Published: December 2019

A high-sensitivity and high-spatial-resolution distributed acoustic sensor based on phase-sensitive optical frequency domain reflectometry (

Φ

-OFDR) is proposed. The vibration information is retrieved from the phase change of the complex Rayleigh backscattering. Inner-pulse division and rotating-vector-sum methods are employed to overcome the fading problem and to suppress the crosstalk along the fiber. For the first time, to the best of our knowledge, the waveforms of two simultaneous kilohertz-level vibrations along a 950 m fiber are recovered thanks to the enhanced crosstalk suppression ratio. The spatial resolution of 12 cm and strain resolution of

1

n

ε

/

H
z

are experimentally achieved.
Extended imaging depth of en-face optical coherence tomography based on fast measurement of a reflection matrix by wide-field heterodyne detection
Authors: Yang Qiang , Cao Jing , Miao Yusi , Zhu Jiang , Chen Zhongping
Published: December 2019

Multiple light scattering in biomedical tissue limits the penetration depth of optical imaging systems such as optical coherence tomography. To increase the imaging depth in scattering media, a computational method based on coherent reflection matrix measurement has been developed using low coherence interferometry. The complex reflection matrix is obtained via point-by-point scanning followed by a phase-shifting method; then singular value decomposition is used to retrieve the singly back-scattered light. However, the in vivo application of the current reported method is limited due to the slow acquisition speed of the matrix. In this Letter, a wide-field heterodyne-detection method is adopted to speed up the complex matrix measurement at a deep tissue layer. Compared to the phase-shifting method, the heterodyne-detection scheme retrieves depth-resolved complex amplitudes faster and is more stable without mechanical movement of the reference mirror. As a result, the matrix measurement speed is increased by more than one order of magnitude.
Anti-interference single-photon LiDAR using stochastic pulse position modulation
Authors: Tsai Chia-Ming , Liu Yung-Chien
Published: December 2019

This Letter introduces an anti-interference single-photon light detection and ranging (LiDAR) system with photon-driven stochastic pulse position modulation. A photon arrival sequence with a programmable minimum interval time and trigger rate was proposed to trigger laser pulses, thus providing true nature-based randomness in modulation which is beneficial for achieving better anti-interference capability. In the proposed LiDAR system, two complementary metal–oxide–semiconductor single-photon avalanche diodes (SPADs) are used as an optical receiver and to generate a random trigger pattern of a pulsed laser. To prevent the range ambiguity problem, an interval-time filter capable of controlling the minimum interval time is integrated into the LiDAR system. A trigger rate controller capable of adaptively controlling the driving voltage of a light-emitting diode coupled with the SPAD responsible for the generation of the random trigger sequence is also integrated for achieving a precise control of trigger rate. Finally, a proof-of-concept demonstration was provided through experiments, and the obtained results were consistent with theoretical predictions. At an effective trigger rate of 800 kHz, an excellent suppression ratio of 56.2 dB has been achieved in the presence of a 1 MHz periodic interference.
Amorphous Ga–Sb–Se thin films fabricated by co-sputtering
Authors: Halenkovič Tomáš , Gutwirth Jan , Bouška Marek , Calvez Laurent , Němec Petr , Nazabal Virginie
Published: December 2019

Ternary chalcogenides of a Ga–Sb–Se system are prospective materials for potential applications in the field of infrared optics. This Letter deals with the optical properties and photosensitivity of Ga–Sb–Se thin films deposited by co-sputtering, enabling us to fabricate amorphous thin films outside the glass-forming region. The optical bandgap range of 1.92–1.35 eV with corresponding refractive indices at 1.55 µm ranging from 2.47 to 3.33 can be reliably covered using

G
a

2

S
e

3

and

S
b

2

S
e

3

targets. Furthermore, the prolonged irradiation by the near-bandgap light under the pure argon atmosphere leads to the irreversible photo-bleaching effect in fabricated films. The magnitude of this effect decreases monotonically with an increasing antimony content.
Luminescence lifetime imaging using a cellphone camera with an electronic rolling shutter
Authors: Xiong Bo , Fang Qiyin
Published: December 2019

Luminescence lifetime imaging systems are typically complex and expensive instruments targeting bench-top applications. We present a low-cost approach for video frame rate luminescence lifetime imaging on the microsecond scale based on a cellphone camera. The luminescence lifetime is mapped by measuring the phase shift of optical fringes captured by a camera with an electronic rolling shutter at 30 frames per second. Luminescence lifetime imaging is validated by observing a platinum(II)-5,10,15,20-tetrakis-(2,3,4,5,6-pentafluorphenyl)-porphyrin (PtTFPP)/polystyrene film with a non-uniform lifetime distribution. The experimental results indicate a lifetime resolution of 580 ns when a lifetime of 22 µs is measured. This device is portable, low in cost, and shows potential in point-of-care diagnostic and environment applications that measure long-lifetime luminescence.
Femtosecond laser-induced periodic surface structures formation on bismuth thin films upon irradiation in ambient air
Authors: Santillan Ricardo , Wong Abraham , Segovia Paulina , Camacho-Lopez Marco , Camacho-Lopez Santiago
Published: December 2019

The formation of laser-induced periodic surface structures (LIPSS) on a
bismuth thin film with a femtosecond laser is reported for the first
time. The surface structures were generated at normal incidence in air
environment with fluence below the ablation threshold. The effect of
the number of pulses on the LIPSS morphology and on their chemical
composition was investigated. The results show the generation of low
spatial frequency LIPSS (LSFL), accompanied by regularly distributed
nanoparticles. The LIPSS are oriented perpendicular to the laser
polarization with a period ΛLSFL that doesn't show a
significant variation with the number of pulses (∼1µm).
In contrast to previous studies for LIPSS formation on bismuth films
under ns laser irradiation [Opt. Mater. Express 7, 1777 (2017)], in the present case no oxidation was observed.
Tissue and Cell-Free DNA-Based Epigenomic Approaches for Cancer Detection
Authors: Leal Alessandro , Sidransky David , Brait Mariana
Published: December 2019

BACKGROUND

Over 9 million people die of cancer each year worldwide, reflecting the unmet need for effective biomarkers for both cancer diagnosis and prognosis. Cancer diagnosis is complex because the majority of malignant tumors present with long periods of latency and lack of clinical presentation at early stages. During carcinogenesis, premalignant cells experience changes in their epigenetic landscapes, such as differential DNA methylation, histone modifications, nucleosome positioning, and higher orders of chromatin changes that confer growth advantage and contribute to determining the biologic phenotype of human cancers.

CONTENT

Recent progress in microarray platforms and next-generation sequencing approaches has allowed the characterization of abnormal epigenetic patterns genome wide in a large number of cancer cases. The sizable amount of processed data also comes with challenges regarding data management and assessment for effective biomarker exploration to be further applied in prospective clinical trials. Epigenetics-based single or panel tests of genes are being explored for clinical management to fulfill unmet needs in oncology. The advance of these tests to the clinical routine will depend on rigorous, extensive, and independent validation in well-annotated cohort of patients and commercial development of clinical routine–friendly and adequate procedures.

In this review we discuss the analytic validation of tissue and cell-free DNA-based epigenomic approaches for early cancer detection, diagnosis, and treatment monitoring and the clinical utility of candidate epigenetic alterations applied to colorectal, glioblastoma, breast, prostate, bladder, and lung cancer management.
Sobre el concepto de violencia de género y su relevancia para el derecho
Authors: Poggi Francesca
Published: December 2019

Este ensayo analiza el concepto de violencia de género, distinguiendo cuatro distintos sentidos y examinando su utilidad para el derecho y, en particular, sus posibles usos por parte de la legislación —es decir, la posibilidad de promulgar normas jurídicas específicas que hagan uso de ese concepto o tengan por objeto sancionar o prevenir las conductas que designa— y su potencial para la teoría del derecho —es decir, la posibilidad de utilizar este concepto de manera provechosa en el análisis del derecho vigente—.
Hepatoprotective effect of crude polysaccharides extracted from Ganoderma lucidum against carbon tetrachloride-induced liver injury in mice
Authors: Susilo Raden Joko Kuncoroningrat , Winarni Dwi , Husen Saikhu Akhmad , Hayaza Suhailah , Punnapayak Hunsa , Wahyuningsih Sri Puji Astuti , Sajidah Elma Sakinatus , Darmanto Win
Published: December 2019

Background and Aim: Natural products are currently widely used as alternative treatments for liver disease. The study aimed to determine the hepatoprotective effect of crude polysaccharides extracted from Ganoderma lucidum against liver injury induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4).

Materials and Methods: Twenty-four male BALB/C mice were randomly divided into six groups. Serum and liver samples were taken on day 10 after G. lucidum administration. The levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT) were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, and the histology of the liver was evaluated using light microscopy.

Results: G. lucidum extract significantly decreased the levels of ALT, AST, and MDA and significantly increased the levels of SOD and CAT. In the histological evaluation, the liver tissue of CCl4-treated mice exhibited hydropic degeneration, necrosis, and sinusoidal dilatation. G. lucidum extract administration improved this liver tissue histopathology.

Conclusion: Crude polysaccharides extracted from G. lucidum showed a hepatoprotective effect, regenerating damaged liver tissue.
Idade como um conceito materialista histórico na teoria histórico-cultural do desenvolvimento humano
Authors: Chaiklin Seth
Published: December 2019

O conceito de idade tem um papel central na estrutura teórica da abordagem de L. S. Vygotsky para analisar o desenvolvimento infantil. Este conceito é apresentado na primeira parte deste artigo. A apresentação é organizada em torno de três desafios conceituais: o papel ou função do conceito de idade em uma teoria do desenvolvimento humano, o "conteúdo" psicológico de uma idade e como avaliar o desenvolvimento em relação a uma idade. Os pontos principais incluem: (a) a idade, como um conceito psicológico, é formada através da prática material histórica, (b) o conceito tem importância prática, mas (c) de modo geral, o conceito ainda é apenas um esboço teórico. A segunda parte do artigo aborda problemas metodológicos envolvidos no trabalho e no desenvolvimento desse conceito teórico. O uso do conceito em relação às intervenções pedagógicas pode ser especialmente produtivo.
OPENDSS aplicado al modelamiento y simulación dinámica de microrredes
Authors: Vera Silva Carlos Daniel , Marulanda Guerra Agustín Rafael
Published: December 2019

El uso de la generación distribuida con fuentes de energías renovables no convencionales y de sistemas de almacenamiento de energía ha propiciado el cambio de los sistemas tradicionales de distribución de energía hacia las microrredes eléctricas. La idea principal de esta investigación, es analizar el comportamiento de una microrred por medio de su modelado y simulación usando el programa computacional OpenDSS. Para ello, se modeló el sistema de prueba IEEE de 13 nodos modificado por medio de la ubicación de sistemas de almacenamiento de energía y plantas de generación -solar, eólica y diésel- distribuidas en diferentes puntos de la red de distribución. Lo anterior permite analizar las potencialidades de este software, así como las técnicas de modelado necesarias para su óptimo funcionamiento. Se verifica que el sistema, trabajando como microrred, mejora la eficiencia de la red de distribución en 51.5%.
Klimaverträgliche Energiezukünfte (nicht) wissen
Authors: Scheer Dirk , Nabitz Lisa
Published: December 2019

Die Energiewende in Deutschland illustriert wie kaum ein anderes Vorhaben Möglichkeiten und Grenzen wissenschaftlichen Zukunftswissens. Vor allem in Wissenschaft und Politik werden Energiezukünfte seit geraumer Zeit entwickelt und diskutiert. Einerseits sollen so mit wissenschaftlicher Fundierung mögliche, rationale, wahrscheinliche, optimierte und/oder sozialverträgliche Wege für ein klimaverträgliches Energiesystem aufgezeigt werden. Andererseits soll das Wissen um unterschiedliche Entwicklungspfade bei Entscheidungsträger*innen als Handreichung und Orientierung für die Konkretisierung und Ausgestaltung der Energiewende dienen. Dieser Beitrag reflektiert über Potenziale und Grenzen der unterschiedlichen wissenschaftlichen Ansätze von Energiezukünften im Lichte soziotechnischer Energiesysteme.
Similarities and Differences between Verbal and Visual Metaphor Processing: an EEG Study
Authors: Ojha Amitash , Ervas Francesca , Gola Elisabetta , Indurkhya Bipin
Published: December 2019

This EEG study explores similarities and differences between verbal and visual metaphor comprehension processes. The results of the study show that interpreting either a verbal stimulus or a visual stimulus metaphorically activates similar brain areas, but there are significant differences between the two in terms of neural connectivity and resource allocation patterns. A greater intra-hemispheric connectivity was observed during verbal metaphor comprehension as compared to greater inter-hemispheric connectivity during visual metaphor comprehension. Results of our novel method, called µ index, suggested a distinct information processing mechanism for metaphor in verbal and visual modalities. We found that metaphorical interpretations, especially highly creative interpretations, of visual stimuli required allocation of greater resources when compared to highly creative interpretations of verbal stimuli. Overall, these results provide a deeper insight into the multimodal nature of metaphor processing.