bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
One-day, sequential carotid artery stenting followed by cardiac surgery in patients with severe carotid and cardiac disease
Authors: Dzierwa Karolina , Piatek Jacek , Paluszek Piotr , Przewlocki Tadeusz , Tekieli Lukasz , Konstanty-Kalandyk Janusz , Tomaszewski Tomasz , Drwila Rafal , Trystula Mariusz , Musialek Piotr , Pieniazek Piotr
Published: September 2019

Optimal management of patients with internal carotid artery (ICA) stenosis concurrent with severe cardiac disease remains undefined. The aim of this study is to evaluate the safety and feasibility of the one-day, sequential approach by carotid artery stenting (CAS) immediately followed by cardiac surgery. The study included 70 consecutive patients with symptomatic > 50% or ⩾ 80% asymptomatic ICA stenosis coexisting with severe coronary/valve disease, who underwent one-day, sequential CAS + cardiac surgery. The majority of patients (85.7%) had CSS class III or IV angina and 10% had non-ST elevation myocardial infarction. The EuroSCORE II risk was 2.4% (IQR 1.69–3.19%). All CAS procedures were performed according to the ‘tailored’ algorithm with a substantial use of proximal neuroprotection devices of 44.3%. Closed-cell (75.7%) and mesh-covered (18.6%) stents were implanted in most cases. The majority of patients underwent isolated coronary artery bypass grafting (88.6%) or isolated valve replacement (7.1%). No major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCE) occurred at the CAS stage. There were three (4.3%) perioperative MACCE: one myocardial infarction and two deaths. All MACCE were related to cardiac surgery and were due to the high surgical risk profile of the patients. Up to 30 days, no further MACCE were observed. No perioperative or 30-day neurological complications occurred. In this patient series, one-day, sequential CAS and cardiac surgery was relatively safe and did not result in neurological complications. Thus, a strategy of preoperative CAS could be considered for patients with severe or symptomatic ICA stenosis who require urgent cardiac surgery.
A refined disturbance rejection control for vibration suppression of smart structures under unknown disturbances
Authors: Zhang Shun-Qi , Zhang Xiao-Yu , Ji Hong-Li , Ying Shen-Shun , Schmidt Rüdiger
Published: September 2019

Vibrations are usually caused by continuous disturbances with large amplitudes. Different from other control methods, disturbance rejection control is a potential method, which considers the unknown disturbances in the control design. To remedy the shortcomings of the existing disturbance rejection control in the vibration reduction of structures especially under high-frequency periodic disturbances, this paper aims to improve the control ability of the current disturbance rejection control for the vibration suppression of smart structures under any unknown periodic disturbances with high-order frequency or random disturbances varying fast. Afterwards, the refined disturbance rejection control is compared with the previously designed disturbance rejection control with proportional–integral observer and disturbance rejection control with generalized proportional–integral observer on both theoretical and numerical levels.
Molar-incisor malformation: A case report and clinical considerations
Authors: Neo Hui-Lin Luisa , Watt Eileen N , Acharya Priti
Published: September 2019

Molar-incisor malformation (MIM) is a dental anomaly that has recently been presented in the literature. It features morphological root abnormalities affecting the permanent first molars, resulting in narrow, shortened or almost completely absent roots in patients who interestingly still present with clinically normal crowns. In some cases, this condition also involves the roots of the deciduous second molars in a similar manner and the maxillary central incisors may exhibit notching around the cervical region of the clinical crown. Root dysplasia of the permanent first molars compromises the long-term survival of these teeth and, in itself, presents a challenge when attempting to undertake any orthodontic treatment. This case report describes an incidental finding of a patient presenting with similar features to that of MIM, discusses the features and clinical implications of this newly discovered condition, and highlights the importance of undertaking a comprehensive radiological investigation before treatment.
Intersectionality and English Voting Behaviour: And Was There a 2017 Youthquake
Authors: Johnston Ron , Pattie Charles , Jones Kelvyn , Manley David
Published: September 2019

Intersectionality is an increasingly popular concept across several social sciences but has received little explicit attention within British political science. This note introduces the concept, identifies some problems in its application to the study of voting behaviour and illustrates its use by addressing the extent to which there was a ‘youthquake’ at the 2017 UK general election.
Toward universal laws of technology evolution: modeling multi-century advances in mobile direct-fire systems
Authors: Kott Alexander
Published: September 2019

This paper explores the question of whether a single regularity of technological growth might apply to a broad range of technologies, over a period of multiple centuries. To this end, the paper investigates a collection of diverse weapon systems called here the mobile direct-fire systems. These include widely different families of technologies that span the period of 1300–2015 CE: foot soldiers armed with weapons from bows to assault rifles; horse-mounted soldiers with a variety of weapons; foot artillery and horse artillery; towed antitank guns; self-propelled antitank and assault guns; and tanks.

The main contribution of this paper is that, indeed, a single, parsimonious regularity describes the historical growth of this extremely broad collection of systems. Multiple, widely different families of weapon systems—from a bowman to a tank—fall closely on the same curve, a simple function of time. This suggests a general model that unites allometric relations (such as Kleiber’s Law) and exponential growth relations (such as Moore’s Law).

To this author’s knowledge, no prior research describes a regularity in the temporal growth of technology that covers such widely different technologies and over such a long period of history.

This regularity is suitable for technology forecasting, as this paper illustrates with explorations of two systems that might appear 30 years in the future from this writing: a heavy infantryman and a tank. In both cases, the regularity helped lead to nonobvious conclusions, particularly regarding the power of the weapons of such future systems.

Furthermore, this result suggests a possibility—and related research questions—that even broader collections of technology families might evolve historically in accordance with what might be called universal laws of technological evolution.
Optimization of receiving window width of the correlation receiver for radiofrequency identification marker localization
Authors: Vestenický Peter , Vestenický Martin
Published: September 2019

The radiofrequency identification (RFID) technology is widely used in modern industry to identify and localize the final manufactured products and their parts. This article analyses and optimizes the localization process of special RFID transponders – markers used to mark the position and type of the underground facility networks (pipes, cables, etc.). The analysis of electric circuits representing the system consisting of the marker and the localization device is performed by numerical solution of the corresponding equations. The results of the numerical solution are then used for calculation of the analytical description of the waveform received as response from the excited marker. The constants obtained from the analytical form of the solution are then used as input parameters for optimization of time window width in the correlation receiver of the marker responses. The optimization is focused on the maximization of the signal-to-noise ratio in the receiving time window. The theoretical calculations are completed by the processing of real signals recorded by an oscilloscope from the localization device where the correlation receiver is planned to apply.
Investigation of tear strength of an airship envelope fabric by theoretical method and uniaxial tear test
Authors: Chen Yonglin , Li Shuai , Ding Kai , Wang Fengxin , Fu Gongyi
Published: September 2019

This article proposed a new convenient method to obtain tear strength of an airship envelope fabric, which is a laminated plain weave fabric with the ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene fibers. First, a modified formula based on Maekawa’s empirical formula was derived. Uniaxial tear tests were then conducted on three series of single-edge notched specimens with varying widths and their critical tear stresses were measured. The experimental result showed that critical tear stress decreases with the reduction of specimen width when initial crack length is fixed. Afterward, the tear stresses of the fabric were simulated by Maekawa’s empirical formula, the modified formula, and Thiele formula. By comparing the theoretical results with the experimental results, the modified formula was verified to be consistent well with the test data. Finally, an equation was derived, which shows tear strength of this fabric decreases as initial crack length increases. For instance, when the initial crack length is 31.75 mm, the tear strength is only 44.52% of the tensile strength.
Initiation of utterance planning in response to pre-recorded and “live” utterances
Authors: Sjerps Matthias J , Decuyper Caitlin , Meyer Antje S
Published: September 2019

In everyday conversation, interlocutors often plan their utterances while listening to their conversational partners, thereby achieving short gaps between their turns. Important issues for current psycholinguistics are how interlocutors distribute their attention between listening and speech planning and how speech planning is timed relative to listening. Laboratory studies addressing these issues have used a variety of paradigms, some of which have involved using recorded speech to which participants responded, whereas others have involved interactions with confederates. This study investigated how this variation in the speech input affected the participants’ timing of speech planning. In Experiment 1, participants responded to utterances produced by a confederate, who sat next to them and looked at the same screen. In Experiment 2, they responded to recorded utterances of the same confederate. Analyses of the participants’ speech, their eye movements, and their performance in a concurrent tapping task showed that, compared with recorded speech, the presence of the confederate increased the processing load for the participants, but did not alter their global sentence planning strategy. These results have implications for the design of psycholinguistic experiments and theories of listening and speaking in dyadic settings.
Special topic section: linkages among cerebrovascular, cardiovascular, and cognitive disorders: Preventing dementia by preventing stroke: The Berlin Manifesto
Authors: Hachinski Vladimir , Einhäupl Karl , Ganten Detlev , Alladi Suvarna , Brayne Carol , Stephan Blossom C. M. , Sweeney Melanie D. , Zlokovic Berislav , Iturria-Medina Yasser , Iadecola Costantino , Nishimura Nozomi , Schaffer Chris B. , Whitehead Shawn N. , Black Sandra E. , Østergaard Leif , Wardlaw Joanna , Greenberg Steven , Friberg Leif , Norrving Bo , Rowe Brian , Joanette Yves , Hacke Werner , Kuller Lewis , Dichgans Martin , Endres Matthias , Khachaturian Zaven S.
Published: September 2019

The incidence of stroke and dementia are diverging across the world, rising for those in low-and middle-income countries and falling in those in high-income countries. This suggests that whatever factors cause these trends are potentially modifiable. At the population level, neurological disorders as a group account for the largest proportion of disability-adjusted life years globally (10%). Among neurological disorders, stroke (42%) and dementia (10%) dominate. Stroke and dementia confer risks for each other and share some of the same, largely modifiable, risk and protective factors. In principle, 90% of strokes and 35% of dementias have been estimated to be preventable. Because a stroke doubles the chance of developing dementia and stroke is more common than dementia, more than a third of dementias could be prevented by preventing stroke. Developments at the pathological, pathophysiological, and clinical level also point to new directions. Growing understanding of brain pathophysiology has unveiled the reciprocal interaction of cerebrovascular disease and neurodegeneration identifying new therapeutic targets to include protection of the endothelium, the blood-brain barrier, and other components of the neurovascular unit. In addition, targeting amyloid angiopathy aspects of inflammation and genetic manipulation hold new testable promise. In the meantime, accumulating evidence suggests that whole populations experiencing improved education, and lower vascular risk factor profiles (e.g., reduced prevalence of smoking) and vascular disease, including stroke, have better cognitive function and lower dementia rates. At the individual levels, trials have demonstrated that anticoagulation of atrial fibrillation can reduce the risk of dementia by 48% and that systolic blood pressure lower than 140 mmHg may be better for the brain. Based on these considerations, the World Stroke Organization has issued a proclamation, endorsed by all the major international organizations focused on global brain and cardiovascular health, calling for the joint prevention of stroke and dementia. This article summarizes the evidence for translation into action.

© 2019 the Alzheimer’s Association and the World Stroke Organisation. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Nitrogen-doped carbon dots as a probe for the detection of Cu2+ and its cellular imaging
Authors: Wang Ning , Li Xuebing , Yang Xuefang , Tian Zenglian , Bian Wei , Jia Weihua
Published: September 2019

Nitrogen-doped carbon dots were synthesized using citric acid monohydrate and glutathione as raw materials. The synthesized nitrogen-doped carbon dots were characterized by multiple analytical techniques, including transmission electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, ultraviolet–visible absorption spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, X-ray diffractometry, and fluorescence spectra. The fluorescence intensity of the nitrogen-doped carbon dots gradually quenched with different concentrations of Cu2+ ions. The effect of the pH value, the nitrogen-doped carbon dot concentration, and the reaction time on the fluorescence intensity of the N-CDs-Cu2+ system was investigated, and the experimental conditions were optimized. A rapid and sensitive method for the determination of Cu2+ ions was established that exhibited a good linearity in the concentration range 0.20–200.0 μM with a detection limit of 0.27 nM. Meanwhile, the fluorescence quenching mechanism of the interaction between nitrogen-doped carbon dots and Cu2+ was preliminarily discussed. The method was used to detect trace Cu2+ in tap water and lake water, with recoveries ranging from 98.1% to 102.0%. Furthermore, due to low cytotoxicity and good biocompatibility, nitrogen-doped carbon dots as a probe were also successfully used in bioimaging.
(Mis) leading Britain’s conversation:The cultivation of consent on the Nigel Farage radio phone-in show
Authors: Chichon Jagon P
Published: September 2019

In this article, I adopt the socio-cognitive approach to critical discourse analysis (CDA) to interpret the discourse found on the popular UK radio phone-in programme the Nigel Farage Show. Evidence emerged of positive self-presentation and negative other representation through denials of prejudice, discursive de-racialisation and the use of war metaphors and lexis referencing legality, criminality and the collective. However, the control over this forum was its defining feature which appeared to propagate an anti-immigration stance and normalise the aforementioned lexis. This control was evident through the selection and placement of contributors, the influence of cognitively central participants, the foregrounding of Trump’s rhetoric, topic selection, protection offered to in-group members and topicalisation which supported the in-group and served to vilify the views and identity of the out-group. All of which led to the creation of a closed community devoid of alternatives.
Professional Quality of Life in intensive care medicine: The 2018 Faculty of Intensive Care Medicine Workforce survey
Authors: Highfield Julie , Parry-Jones Jack
Published: September 2019

Background

Critical care is widely perceived, both within and outside of the speciality, as unremitting and emotionally burdensome. There is a perception of a higher risk to medical staff of burnout than other specialities. Critical care also has considerable emotional and professional rewards. We sought to examine this balance between emotional reward and stress in UK critical care consultants registered with the Faculty of Intensive Care Medicine.

Method

We conducted a Wellbeing survey of the Faculty of Intensive Care Medicine consultant membership utilising the Professional Quality of Life (Pro-QOL) survey tool. The survey was conducted as part of the Annual Workforce Census.

Results

In sum, 799 members completed the Pro-QOL survey, making this one of the largest surveys of physician wellbeing in critical care medicine. Data were analysed in accordance with the Pro-QOL manual.

Conclusions

The results demonstrate moderate risk for burnout and secondary traumatic stress, but this is balanced by moderate compassion satisfaction. No association was demonstrated between age, sex, or size of critical care unit worked in. Further follow-up of this consultant group is warranted to better understand risk factors for burnout and for future mitigation of these risk factors whilst also enhancing the positive aspects of working as a consultant in critical care medicine.
Cabozantinib for patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma: a cost-effectiveness analysis
Authors: Shlomai Amir , Leshno Moshe , Goldstein Daniel A.
Published: September 2019

Background and aims:

The multi-kinase inhibitor sorafenib is a first-line drug for patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Treatment options for patients whose disease has progressed on sorafenib are limited. In a recent randomized controlled trial (CELESTIAL trial), patients with advanced HCC who had failed prior systemic therapy had moderate progression-free survival and overall survival advantages when treated with the multi-kinase inhibitor cabozantinib. However, since this treatment is costly and is accompanied by significant adverse events in a large proportion of patients, its cost-effectiveness in these patients should be determined.

Methods:

We developed a Markov model incorporating health outcomes, measured by life-years and quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of cabozantinib compared with placebo in patients who have failed prior systemic therapy.

Results:

Treatment with cabozantinib results in a mean gain of 11.6 weeks of life (0.22 life-years) as compared with placebo. When quality of life was incorporated, treatment with cabozantinib produced a gain of 0.16 QALYs. The total mean incremental cost of cabozantinib was US$76,406 per patient. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio for cabozantinib compared with best supportive care was US$469,374/QALY using the recommended dose of 60 mg cabozantinib daily.

Conclusion:

Our results suggest that the use of cabozantinib in patients with advanced HCC who have progressed on prior treatment, results in a modest incremental benefit with high incremental costs, suggesting that it is not cost-effective at conventional willingness to pay thresholds.
Evaluation of the Endo-Uro trainer for semi-rigid ureteroscopy training
Authors: Palaneer Sharanya , Aydin Abdullatif , Janabi Hasaneen Al , Al-Jabir Ahmed , Macchione Nicola , Khan Muhammad Shamim , Dasgupta Prokar , Ahmed Kamran
Published: September 2019

Background:

The aim of this study was to evaluate the validity of evidence of the Endo-Uro Trainer (SAMED, Dresden, Germany) for semi-rigid ureteroscopy.

Methods:

Novice ( n = 29), intermediate-level ( n = 25), and expert ( n = 24) urological surgeons were recruited to participate in the study. Novices were allocated randomly to Groups A and B, where A performed two set procedures using the already validated Uro-Scopic Trainer (Limbs and Things, Bristol, UK), and Group B used the Endo-Uro trainer. Subsequently they were crossed over to perform the same two procedures using the other model. Intermediate and expert groups performed the same procedure on the Endo-Uro trainer only. Objective Structured Assessment of Technical Skills (OSATS) and the procedural times were collected and analyzed. All participants were invited to complete a final evaluation survey.

Results:

The evaluation survey revealed a realism rating in all aspects, with a mean Likert rating of 4.04/5. Significant differences were observed in performance time between novices and experts ( p = 0.0014), and between intermediates and experts ( p = 0.0113). OSATS scores differed significantly between all groups ( p < 0.0001). Group B novices showed statistically significant improvement in performance time ( p = 0.0012) and OSATS scores ( p = 0.0439) after the crossover. Significant differences in performance time ( p = 0.0025) between groups A and B were also observed post-crossover.

Conclusions:

This study demonstrated content validity for the Endo-Uro Trainer model. In addition, the model was shown to be capable of differentiating levels of experience, which contributes to the acceptance of the validity hypothesis. Improvement in performance using the model demonstrates its effectiveness for training.
Antitumor pharmacotherapy of colorectal cancer in kidney transplant recipients
Authors: Fu Yuanyuan , Liao Chengheng , Cui Kai , Liu Xiao , Fang Wentong
Published: September 2019

Renal transplantation has become the sole most preferred therapy modality for end-stage renal disease patients. The growing tendency for renal transplants, and prolonged survival of renal recipients, have resulted in a certain number of post-transplant colorectal cancer patients. Antitumor pharmacotherapy in these patients is a dilemma. Substantial impediments such as carcinogenesis of immunosuppressive drugs (ISDs), drug interaction between ISDs and anticancer drugs, and toxicity of anticancer drugs exist. However, experience of antitumor pharmacotherapy in these patients is limited, and the potential risks and benefits have not been reviewed systematically. This review evaluates the potential impediments, summarizes current experience, and provides potential antitumor strategies, including adjuvant, palliative, and subsequent regimens. Moreover, special pharmaceutical care, such as ISDs therapeutic drug monitoring, metabolic enzymes genotype, and drug interaction, are also highlighted.
Autologous costal chondral transplantation and costa-derived chondrocyte implantation: emerging surgical techniques
Authors: Gao Youshui , Gao Junjie , Li Hengyuan , Du Dajiang , Jin Dongxu , Zheng Minghao , Zhang Changqing
Published: September 2019

It is a great challenge to cure symptomatic lesions and considerable defects of hyaline cartilage due to its complex structure and poor self-repair capacity. If left untreated, unmatured degeneration will cause significant complications. Surgical intervention to repair cartilage may prevent progressive joint degeneration. A series of surgical techniques, including biological augmentation, microfracture and bone marrow stimulation, autologous chondrocyte implantation (ACI), and allogenic and autogenic chondral/osteochondral transplantation, have been used for various indications. However, the limited repairing capacity and the potential pitfalls of these techniques cannot be ignored. Increasing evidence has shown promising outcomes from ACI and cartilage transplantation. Nevertheless, the morbidity of autologous donor sites and limited resource of allogeneic bone have considerably restricted the wide application of these surgical techniques. Costal cartilage, which preserves permanent chondrocytes and the natural osteochondral junction, is an ideal candidate for the restoration of cartilage defects. Several in vitro and in vivo studies have shown good performance of costal cartilage transplantation. Although costal cartilage is a classic donor in plastic and cosmetic surgery, it is rarely used in skeletal cartilage restoration. In this review, we introduce the fundamental properties of costal cartilage and summarize costa-derived chondrocyte implantation and costal chondral/osteochondral transplantation. We will also discuss the pitfalls and pearls of costal cartilage transplantation. Costal chondral/osteochondral transplantation and costa-based chondrocytotherapy might be up-and-coming surgical techniques for recalcitrant cartilage lesions.
Adverse events associated with home use of mouthrinses: a systematic review
Authors: Tartaglia Gianluca M. , Tadakamadla Santosh Kumar , Connelly Stephen Thaddeus , Sforza Chiarella , Martín Conchita
Published: September 2019

Background:

Poor oral hygiene is strongly associated with oral and systemic diseases. Alongside mechanical tooth cleaning, the adjunctive use of mouthrinses has been widely advocated. Although research on the efficacy of various mouthrinse formulations is very active, there are a lack of conclusive data regarding their adverse effects.

Methods:

We undertook a systematic review in accordance wih PRISMA guidelines of electronic databases of clinical trials of any duration with daily home use of mouthwashes, presenting clinical and subjective side effects (PROSPERO registration: CRD42016054037).

Results:

After evaluating 614 titles and abstracts, 154 studies were selected for full-text analysis; 85 final papers were included. Based on the active ingredient in the test product, nine categories were created: cetyl pyridinium chloride, essential oils, chlorhexidine, triclosan, natural products, diclofenac, fluorides, delmopinol, and miscellaneous active substances. Most of the studies were of short duration (less than 6 months) with a defective ‘methods’ description; the reporting of adverse events often being overlooked. Both local morphological (oral mucosa and dental-crown staining, mucosal lesions) and functional (taste modifications, abnormal oral sensation) alterations were reported. Tooth staining was the most commonly listed adverse event, but it was quantitatively assessed only in a very small number of papers; most studies relied on patient reports. Staining was time associated; the longer the study, the higher its reported incidence and severity.

Conclusions:

The reduced report of side effects may partly be due to a lack of an objective measure and lack of general guidelines that demand studies report their adverse events. The most frequently reported adverse effect was teeth staining. As in most studies, the effect was associated with trial duration; clinical trials should be of sufficient duration. New investigations meeting the suggested criteria of a minimal duration of 6 months should be planned.
Reciprocal Associations Among Symptom Levels of Disturbed Grief, Posttraumatic Stress, and Depression Following Traumatic Loss: A Four-Wave Cross-Lagged Study
Authors: Lenferink Lonneke I. M. , Nickerson Angela , de Keijser Jos , Smid Geert E. , Boelen Paul A.
Published: September 2019

Disturbed grief, operationalized as persistent complex bereavement disorder (PCBD), correlates with yet differs from posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression symptoms. However, knowledge about temporal associations among these symptoms is limited. We aimed to enhance our understanding of the etiology of loss-related distress by examining temporal associations among PCBD, PTSD, and depression symptom levels. Dutch people ( N = 172) who lost significant other(s) in a plane disaster completed questionnaires for PCBD, PTSD, and depression 11, 22, 31, and 42 months after the disaster. Cross-lagged analyses revealed that changes in PCBD symptom levels have a greater impact on changes in symptom levels of PTSD and depression than vice versa. Our findings contradict the notion that PTSD and depression symptoms should be addressed before grief in treatment. Pending replication of our findings in clinical samples, we tentatively conclude that screening and treatment of grief symptoms has potential value in preventing long-lasting distress.
Evaluation of Children’s Screen Viewing Time and Parental Role in Household Context
Authors: Nwankwo Florence , Shin Hyunjae Daniel , Al-Habaibeh Amin , Massoud Hiba
Published: September 2019

Limited screen time has been recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics for all children and no screen time for children under 2 years of age. With the advancement in technology, the prevalence and detrimental effects of excess screen time on children has become a global problem that can lead to health issues such as obesity and other cardiovascular diseases among both adults and children. This article examines the drivers of screen-related sedentary behavior within the home context and reports on parents’ attitude in supporting children’s associated behavior. The study implemented a mixed method approach of online questionnaire and face-to-face interviews. A total of 140 questionnaires, 10 semistructured interviews, and responses from parents were used to evaluate children’s behavior toward screen use and parents’ perception. The analysis of the article has shown that parents are concerned about their children’s screen time during weekends and holidays with a significant correlation between the number of hours their children spend on on-screen activities and their level of concern ( P < .01). Also, for the same P value ( P < .01), it has been found that there is a statistically significant positive relationship between children’s screen time and their food and beverages consumption. Children’s use of screen technology is becoming a challenge for parents as they present barriers to healthy physical activities. From the parents’ viewpoint, there is a need to change the screen use habit and this requires an appropriate intervention that promotes gratifying measures to induce more active behaviors to displace screen viewing.
Optimization of ultrasonic-assisted copper ion removal from polluted water by a natural clinoptilolite nanostructure through a central composite design
Authors: Sheydaei Mohsen , Gasemsoltanlu Ali Balanejad , Beiraghi Asadollah
Published: September 2019

A natural clinoptilolite nanostructure (CNS) along with ultrasonic irradiation was used to remove Cu2+ ions from polluted water. In the first part of this work, natural clinoptilolite was converted to CNS by ball milling. The natural clinoptilolite and prepared CNS samples were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, N2 adsorption/desorption and pH at the point of zero charge analyses. The SEM images showed the development of CNS from natural clinoptilolite by ball milling. The N2 adsorption/desorption and FTIR spectroscopy confirmed the greater specific surface area, pore volume and number of surface groups of the CNS compared to the natural clinoptilolite. In addition, the crystalline phase of the CNS was the same as the natural clinoptilolite. In the second part of this work, the ultrasonic-assisted sorption of Cu2+ ions from polluted water by CNS was investigated. These experiments were optimized with response surface methodology based on central composite designs. The effects of initial pH of solution, CNS dosage, sonication time and temperature on Cu2+ ion-removal efficiency were investigated. By using a CNS dosage of 500 mg L−1, an initial pH of 6, a sonication time of 12 min and a sonication temperature of 45°C as optimal conditions, 97% of Cu2+ ions were removed from contaminated water. The initial pH was the most effective variable. Ultrasonic-assisted sorption of Cu2+ was more effective than sorption alone, onto the CNS.
Machine learning for discovering missing or wrong protein function annotations
Authors: Nakano Felipe Kenji , Lietaert Mathias , Vens Celine
Published: September 2019

Background

A massive amount of proteomic data is generated on a daily basis, nonetheless annotating all sequences is costly and often unfeasible. As a countermeasure, machine learning methods have been used to automatically annotate new protein functions. More specifically, many studies have investigated hierarchical multi-label classification (HMC) methods to predict annotations, using the Functional Catalogue (FunCat) or Gene Ontology (GO) label hierarchies. Most of these studies employed benchmark datasets created more than a decade ago, and thus train their models on outdated information. In this work, we provide an updated version of these datasets. By querying recent versions of FunCat and GO yeast annotations, we provide 24 new datasets in total. We compare four HMC methods, providing baseline results for the new datasets. Furthermore, we also evaluate whether the predictive models are able to discover new or wrong annotations, by training them on the old data and evaluating their results against the most recent information.

Results

The results demonstrated that the method based on predictive clustering trees, Clus-Ensemble, proposed in 2008, achieved superior results compared to more recent methods on the standard evaluation task. For the discovery of new knowledge, Clus-Ensemble performed better when discovering new annotations in the FunCat taxonomy, whereas hierarchical multi-label classification with genetic algorithm (HMC-GA), a method based on genetic algorithms, was overall superior when detecting annotations that were removed. In the GO datasets, Clus-Ensemble once again had the upper hand when discovering new annotations, HMC-GA performed better for detecting removed annotations. However, in this evaluation, there were less significant differences among the methods.

Conclusions

The experiments have showed that protein function prediction is a very challenging task which should be further investigated. We believe that the baseline results associated with the updated datasets provided in this work should be considered as guidelines for future studies, nonetheless the old versions of the datasets should not be disregarded since other tasks in machine learning could benefit from them.
Anti-inflammatory activity of Jefea gnaphalioides (a. gray), Astereaceae
Authors: Villagómez-Rodríguez Axel , Pérez-Ramos Julia , Esquivel-Campos Ana Laura , Pérez-González Cuauhtémoc , Soto-Peredo Claudia Angélica , Pérez-Gutiérrez Salud
Published: September 2019

Background

Inflammation is a symptom associated with many diseases. This symptom is treated with steroidal and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, which can cause severe side effects when used as long-term treatments. Natural products are an alternative source of new compounds with anti-inflammatory activity.Jefea gnaphalioides(Astereaceae) (A. Gray) is a plant species used to treat inflammatory problems, in Mexico. This study determined the anti-inflammatory activity and the composition of the methanol extract ofJefea gnaphalioides(MEJG).

Methods

The extract was obtained by heating the plant in methanol at boiling point for 4 h, and then the solvent was evaporated under vacuum (MEJG). The derivatization of the extract was performed using Bis-(trimethylsilyl) trifluoroacetamide, and the composition was determined by GC-MS.

Total Phenols and flavonoids were determined by Folin-Ciocalteu AlCl3reaction respectively.

The antioxidant activity of MEJG was determined by DPPH method.

The acute and chronic anti-inflammatory effects were evaluated on a mouse ear edema induced with 12-O-Tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA).

Acute oral toxicity was tested in mice at doses of MEJG of 5000, 2500 and 1250 mg/kg.

The levels of NO, TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 were determinate in J774A.1 macrophages stimulated by Lipopolysaccharide. The production of inflammatory interleukins was measured using commercial kits, and nitric oxide was measured by the Griess reaction.

Results

The anti-inflammatory activity of MEJG in acute TPA-induced ear edema was 80.7 ± 2.8%. This result was similar to the value obtained with indomethacin (IND) at the same dose (74.3 ± 2.8%). In chronic TPA-induced edema at doses of 200 mg/kg, the inhibition was 45.7%, which was similar to that obtained with IND (47.4%). MEJG have not toxic effects even at a dose of 5000 mg/kg. MEJG at 25, 50, 100 and 200 μg/mL decreased NO, TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 production in macrophages stimulated with LPS.

The major compounds in MEJG were α-D-Glucopyranose (6.71%), Palmitic acid (5.59%), D-(+)-Trehalose (11.91%), Quininic acid (4.29%) and Aucubin (1.17%). Total phenolic content was 57.01 mg GAE/g and total flavonoid content was 35.26 mg QE/g MEJG had antioxidant activity.

Conclusions

MEJG has anti-inflammatory activity.
TUFT1 promotes metastasis and chemoresistance in triple negative breast cancer through the TUFT1/Rab5/Rac1 pathway
Authors: Liu Weiguang , Han Jianjun , Shi Sufang , Dai Yuna , He Jianchao
Published: September 2019

Background

Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a breast cancer (BC) subtype that is characterized by its strong invasion and a high risk of metastasis. However, the specific mechanisms underlying these phenotypes are unclear. TUFT1 plays an important role in BC and impacts the proliferation and survival of BC cells. Recent studies have shown that TUFT1 mediates intracellular lysosome localization and vesicle transport by regulating Rab GTPase, but the relevance of this activity in TNBC is unknown. Therefore, our aim was to systematically study the role of TUFT1 in the metastasis and chemoresistance of TNBC.

Methods

We measured TUFT1, Rab5-GTP, and Rac1-GTP expression levels in samples of human TNBC by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and conducted univariate and multivariate analyses. shRNA-mediated knockdown and overexpression, combined with transwell assays, co-immunoprecipitation, a nude mouse xenograft tumor model, and GTP activity assays were used for further mechanistic studies.

Results

TUFT1 expression was positively correlated with Rab5-GTP and Rac1-GTP in the TNBC samples, and co-expression of TUFT1 and Rab5-GTP predicted poor prognosis in TNBC patients who were treated with chemotherapy. Mechanism studies showed that TUFT1 could activate Rab5 by binding to p85α, leading to activation of Rac1 through recruitment of Tiam1, and concurrent down-regulation of the NF-κB pathway and proapoptotic factors, ultimately promoting metastasis and chemoresistance in TNBC cells.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that the TUFT1/Rab5/Rac1 pathway may be a potential target for the effective treatment of TNBC.
Getting ready for integrated vector management for improved disease prevention in Zimbabwe: a focus on key policy issues to consider
Authors: Sande Shadreck , Zimba Moses , Nyasvisvo David , Mukuzunga Munyaradzi , Kooma Emmanuel H. , Mberikunashe Joseph , Dube Busisani
Published: September 2019

Background

This paper outlines Zimbabwe’s potential readiness in harnessing integrated vector management (IVM) strategy for enhanced control of vector-borne diseases. The objective is to provide guidance for the country in the implementation of the national IVM strategy in order to make improvements required in thematic areas of need. The paper also assesses the existing opportunities and gaps to promote and adopt the approach as a national policy.

Main text

Despite recent gains in combating vector-borne diseases, especially malaria, management of vector control programmes still remains insecticide-based and vertical in nature. Therefore, concerns have been raised on whether the current long-standing conventional vector control strategy still remains with sufficient action to continue to break the transmission cycle to the levels of elimination. This is so, given the continuous dwindling resources for vector control, changes in vector behaviour, the emergence of resistance to medicines and insecticides, climate change, environmental degradation, as well as diversity in ecology, breeding habitats, and community habits. Cognizant of all that, elements of a surveillance-driven IVM approach are rapidly needed to move vector control interventions a step further. These include advocacy, policy formulation, capacity building, public and private partnerships, community engagement, and increasingly basing decisions on local evidence. Understanding the existing opportunities and gaps, and the recognition that some elements of IVM are already imbedded in the current health programmes is important to encourage stakeholders to promptly support its implementation. Leveraging on the existing opportunities, combined with sufficient advocacy, IVM could easily be accepted by the Zimbabwe government as part of a wider integrated disease management strategy. The strategy could represent an excellent breakthrough to establish much needed intra and inter-sectoral dialogue, and coordination for improved vector-borne disease prevention.

Conclusions

After synthesis of the opportunities and challenges clearly presented, it was concluded that it is imperative for Zimbabwe to adopt and implement IVM strategy that is informed by work already done, while addressing the bottlenecks. The significance of refocusing for improved disease prevention that has the potential to accomplish elimination of not only malaria but all vector borne diseases much earlier than anticipated under the existing vector control system is underscored.
Vitamin D deficiency associated with Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis: a meta-analysis of 55 observational studies
Authors: Li Xi-Xi , Liu Yang , Luo Jie , Huang Zhen-Dong , Zhang Chao , Fu Yan
Published: September 2019

Purpose

To investigate the association of serum levels of 25(OH)D and 1,25(OH)2D3in healthy and non-healthy controls with Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC).

Methods

Three electronic databases: PubMed, EMbase and EBSCOhostCINAHL, were searched for observational studies to measure the relationship between serum levels of vitamin D (VitD) and CD (or UC).

Results

Fifty-five studies were included in the meta-analysis. We found that mean serum 25(OH)D levels in patients with CD were significantly lower than those in healthy controls (MD: − 3.17 ng/mL; 95% CI − 4.42 to − 1.93). Results from the meta-analysis examining 1,25(OH)2D3levels in Crohn’s patients revealed higher levels in the CD group than in healthy (MD: 3.47 pg/mL; 95% CI − 7.72 to 14.66) and UC group (MD: 5.05 pg/mL; 95% CI − 2.42 to 12.52). Serum 25(OH)D levels were lower in the UC group than in the healthy control group (MD: − 2.52 ng/mL; 95% CI − 4.02 to − 1.02). In studies investigating the level of 1,25(OH)2D3in UC and healthy control groups, the level of 1,25(OH)2D3in the UC groups were found to be higher than that in the control groups (MD: 3.76 pg/mL; 95% CI − 8.36 to 15.57). However, the 1,25(OH)2D3level in patients with UC was lower than that in CD groups (MD: − 6.71 pg/mL; 95% CI − 15.30 to 1.88). No significant difference was noted between CD patients and UC patients in terms of average serum 25(OH)D levels.

Conclusions

This study found that VitD levels were inversely related to CD and UC. Serum levels of 25(OH)D were lower in patients with CD and UC than in healthy people, and more than half of the patients had insufficient vitamin D levels. The serum level of 1,25(OH)2D3in both the CD and UC groups was higher than that in healthy people.
HOXD9 promotes the growth, invasion and metastasis of gastric cancer cells by transcriptional activation of RUFY3
Authors: Zhu Huiqiong , Dai Weiyu , Li Jiaying , Xiang Li , Wu Xiaosheng , Tang Weimei , Chen Yaying , Yang Qiong , Liu Mengwei , Xiao Yizhi , Zhang Wenjing , Lin Jianjiao , Wang Jing , Liu Guangnan , Sun Yong , Jiang Ping , Li Guoxin , Li Aimin , Liu Side , Chen Ye , Wang Jide
Published: September 2019

Background

The transcription factor HOXD9 is one of the members of the HOX family, which plays an important role in neoplastic processes. However, the role of HOXD9 in the growth and metastasis of gastric cancer (GC) remains to be elucidated.

Methods

In vitro functional role of HOXD9 and RURY3 in GC cells was determined using the TMA-based immunohistochemistry, western blot, EdU incorporation, gelatin zymography, luciferase, chromatin Immunoprecipitation (ChIP) and cell invasion assays. In vivo tumor growth and metastasis were conducted in nude mice.

Results

HOXD9 is overexpressed in GC cells and tissues.The high expression of HOXD9 was correlated with poor survival in GC patients. Functionally, HOXD9 expression significantly promoted the proliferation, invasion and migration of GC cells. Mechanically, HOXD9 directly associated with the RUFY3 promoter to increase the transcriptional activity of RUFY3. Inhibition of RUFY3 attenuated the proliferation, migration and invasiveness of HOXD9-overexpressing GC cells in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, both HOXD9 and RUFY3 were highly expressed in cancer cells but not in normal gastric tissues, with their expressions being positively correlated.

Conclusions

The evidence presented here suggests that the HOXD9-RUFY3 axis promotes the development and progression of human GC.
Enhanced co-generation of cellulosic ethanol and methane with the starch/sugar-rich waste mixtures and Tween 80 in fed-batch mode
Authors: Fan Meishan , Li Jun , Bi Guican , Ye Guangying , Zhang Hongdan , Xie Jun
Published: September 2019

Background

The mixed-feedstock fermentation is a promising approach to enhancing the co-generation of cellulosic ethanol and methane from sugarcane bagasse (SCB) and molasses. However, the unmatched supply of the SCB and molasses remains a main obstacle built upon binary feedstock. Here, we propose a cellulose–starch–sugar ternary waste combinatory approach to overcome this bottleneck by integrating the starch-rich waste of Dioscorea composita Hemls. extracted residue (DER) in mixed fermentation.

Results

The substrates of the pretreated SCB, DER and molasses with varying ratios were conducted at a relatively low solids loading of 12%, and the optimal mixture ratio of 1:0.5:0.5 for the pretreated SCB/DER/molasses was determined by evaluating the ethanol concentration and yield. Nevertheless, it was found that the ethanol yield decreased from 79.19 ± 0.20 to 62.31 ± 0.61% when the solids loading increased from 12 to 44% in batch modes, regardless of the fact that the co-fermentation of three-component feedstock was performed under the optimal condition defined above. Hence, different fermentation processes such as fed-batch and fed-batch + Tween 80 were implemented to further improve the ethanol concentration and yield at higher solids loading ranging between 36 and 44%. The highest ethanol concentration of 91.82 ± 0.86 g/L (69.33 ± 0.46% of theoretical yield) was obtained with fed-batch + Tween 80 mode during the simultaneous saccharification and fermentation at a high solids loading of 44%. Moreover, after the ethanol recovery, the remaining stillage was digested for biomethane production and finally yielded 320.72 ± 6.98 mL/g of volatile solids.

Conclusions

Integrated DER into the combination of SCB and molasses would be beneficial for ethanol production. The co-generation of bioethanol and biomethane by mixed cellulose–starch–sugar waste turns out to be a sustainable solution to improve the overall efficacy in biorefinery.