bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Bovine veterinarians’ perspective on organic livestock production in the USA
Authors: Sorge Ulrike S , Yamashita Sarii , Pieper Laura
Published: January 2019

The objective was to determine possible challenge areas that bovine veterinarians may face when working on certified organic livestock operations. All members of the American Association of Bovine Practitioners’ electronic mailing list, who practised in the USA, were invited to participate in an anonymous online survey. Veterinarians (n=213) from 38 states participated in the survey. The focus of the survey was on the veterinarian's interest in and perception of organic farming, their knowledge of the use of alternative therapies under federal regulations and their needs for providing veterinary services to organic farms. Most participants worked in dairy practice and served ≥1 organic client. Their attitude towards organic production was balanced. Many veterinarians struggled to offer sick animal care with alternative therapies within the regulatory framework and expressed their need to have more evidence‐based alternative therapies. Two‐thirds of veterinarians were concerned that the lack of proven effective therapy options would impair livestock welfare on organic farms in the USA. Almost 90 per cent of respondents did not think that organic livestock was healthier than conventionally raised livestock and most participants (74 per cent) thought livestock health was dependent on management rather than organic or conventional farming practices. In summary, participants were generally not opposed to organic farming. However, most veterinarians expressed their need to have a better access to clear information about organic regulations and most importantly more evidence‐based alternative therapies to ensure animal health and welfare on organic livestock operations.
On the origin of puppies: breeding and selling procedures relevant for canine behavioural development
Authors: Dendoncker Pierre‐Alexandre , De Keuster Tiny , Diederich Claire , Dewulf Jeroen , Moons Christel P H
Published: January 2019

The success of the dog as a companion animal has undeniably led to a shift in dog breeding practices. While effects of inbreeding or large‐scale breeding have given rise to numerous studies about potentially related health issues, it remains unclear to what extent behavioural development of dogs is influenced. By investigating the environment of puppies while at the breeder, the authors aimed to make an inventory of current practices regarding management, socialisation and environmental learning and subsequently to identify potential differences between breeder types. The cross‐sectional study, conducted during 2016, revealed considerable variability in environment among dog breeders. Small‐scale breeders, and especially occasional breeders (less than 10 adult dogs on‐site) provided most enrichment, both social and non‐social, by, for instance, providing more outdoor access for pregnant dams and puppies or by providing access to visitors more freely. Environmental stimuli were less controlled in occasional breeders, raising the debate about quantity versus quality of stimuli at a young age. Large‐scale breeders declared to screen potential owners less intensely and time to advise them was limited. To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study that compares a large number of environmental factors between the different dog breeding categories.
Optimization of parameters affecting horizontal cracking in continuously reinforced concrete pavement (CRCP)
Authors: Kim Kukjoo , Han Sangyoung , Tia Mang , Greene James
Published: January 2019

Field evaluation of distresses in continuously reinforced concrete pavement (CRCP) indicated punch-out distress associated with horizontal cracking at the depth of the longitudinal steel is the most severe performance problem in CRCP. The developed 3-D model was used to perform a parametric analysis to determine the effects of critical loading location, concrete properties, and longitudinal steel design on horizontal cracking potential. The maximum vertical tensile stresses in the concrete were slightly affected by the coefficient of thermal expansion of the concrete. The critical tensile stresses in the concrete were observed to decrease as the base modulus, slab–base friction, slab thickness, and transverse crack spacing increase. The vertical tensile stresses significantly decreased when the longitudinal steel spacing decreased. The use of varying longitudinal steel spacing and reducing the depth of steel may be one of the ways to reduce the horizontal cracking potential without changing the steel ratio of the slab.
Examining the potential of otolith chemistry to determine natal origins of wild Lake Michigan Chinook salmon
Authors: Maguffee Alexander C. , Reilly Reneé , Clark Richard , Jones Michael L.
Published: January 2019

Previous research has demonstrated a large movement of hatchery-reared Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) from Lake Huron to Lake Michigan, suggesting the potential for wild fish to exhibit similar movement patterns. We assessed the feasibility of using otolith microchemistry to estimate the natal source composition of wild Chinook salmon in Lake Michigan and evaluate interbasin movement. Otolith pairs were extracted from juvenile and adult fish collected in 2015 and 2016 from Great Lakes tributaries. Otoliths were analyzed using laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry to determine trace element concentrations, and four multivariate classification algorithms were evaluated for classification accuracy. Juvenile data reclassified to their natal regions with up to 89% success on a basin level, with a random forest approach performing the best among all models. Assigning adults to their natal origins resulted in more success on a basin-wide scale (74% to 88%) compared with a regional scale (32% to 51%), but success was still below juvenile reclassification accuracy. Our findings suggest that otolith microchemistry can be used to estimate wild Chinook salmon interbasin movement and that classification accuracy can be improved by matching juvenile and adult year classes in our assessment samples. Ultimately, we intend to use these models to assess the effects of wild Chinook salmon interbasin movement on Lake Michigan predatory demand and evaluate the risks of various stocking alternatives.
Bacillus subtilis SL-13 biochar formulation promotes pepper plant growth and soil improvement
Authors: Tao Siyuan , Wu Zhansheng , Wei Mengmeng , Liu Xiaochen , He Yanhui , Ye Bang-Ce
Published: January 2019

The use of microbial fertilizers can help to avoid the harmful effects of traditional agricultural fertilizers and pesticides; however, there are many constraints on the practical application of such fertilizers. In this study, microbial biochar formulations (MBFs) were obtained by loading biochar, created from agricultural waste, with Bacillus subtilis SL-13. The effects of the MBF on pepper plant growth and soil fertility were studied in pot experiments. The MBF improved the soil texture and environment and favored plant growth. Compared with B. subtilis SL-13-only and biochar-only treatments, the MBF treatments exhibited a significant increase in pepper plant growth and physiological indices and a significant improvement in the physical–chemical properties and activities of several enzymes in the soil. Therefore, the present study demonstrated that MBFs not only retain the beneficial effect of biochar in improving the soil properties but also improve the performance of B. subtilis SL-13 in promoting plant growth.
The exponential behavior and stabilizability of the stochastic 3D Navier–Stokes equations with damping
Authors: Liu Hui , Lin Lin , Sun Chengfeng , Xiao Qingkun
Published: January 2019

The stochastic 3D Navier–Stokes equation with damping driven by a multiplicative noise is considered in this paper. The stability of weak solutions to the stochastic 3D Navier–Stokes equations with damping is proved for any [Formula: see text] with any [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] as [Formula: see text]. The weak solutions converge exponentially in the mean square and almost surely exponentially to the stationary solutions are proved for any [Formula: see text] with any [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] as [Formula: see text]. The stabilization of these equations is obtained for any [Formula: see text] with any [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] as [Formula: see text].
Isovector axial form factors of the nucleon in two-flavor lattice QCD
Authors: Capitani S. , Della Morte M. , Djukanovic D. , von Hippel G. M. , Hua J. , Jäger B. , Junnarkar P. M. , Meyer H. B. , Rae T. D. , Wittig H.
Published: January 2019

We present a lattice calculation of the nucleon isovector axial and induced pseudoscalar form factors on the CLS ensembles using [Formula: see text] dynamical flavors of nonperturbatively [Formula: see text]-improved Wilson fermions and an [Formula: see text]-improved axial current together with the pseudoscalar density. Excited-state effects in the extraction of the form factors are treated using a variety of methods, with a detailed discussion of their respective merits. The chiral and continuum extrapolation of the results is performed both using formulae inspired by Heavy Baryon Chiral Perturbation Theory (HBChPT) and a global approach to the form factors based on a chiral effective field theory (EFT) including axial vector mesons. Our results indicate that careful treatment of excited-state effects is important in order to obtain reliable results for the axial form factors of the nucleon, and that the main remaining error stems from the systematic uncertainties of the chiral extrapolation. As final results, we quote [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], and [Formula: see text] for the axial charge, axial charge radius and induced pseudoscalar charge, respectively, where the first error is statistical and the second is systematic.
RDMKE: Applying Reuse Distance Analysis to Multiple GPU Kernel Executions
Authors: Kiani Mohsen , Rajabzadeh Amir
Published: January 2019

Modern GPUs can execute multiple kernels concurrently to keep the hardware resources busy and to boost the overall performance. This approach is called simultaneous multiple kernel execution (MKE). MKE is a promising approach for improving GPU hardware utilization. Although modern GPUs allow MKE, the effects of different MKE scenarios have not adequately studied by the researchers. Since cache memories have significant effects on the overall GPU performance, the effects of MKE on cache performance should be investigated properly. The present study proposes a framework, called RDMKE (short for Reuse Distance-based profiling in MKEs), to provide a method for analyzing GPU cache memory performance in MKE scenarios. The raw memory access information of a kernel is first extracted and then RDMKE enforces a proper ordering to the memory accesses so that it represents a given MKE scenario. Afterward, RDMKE employs reuse distance analysis (RDA) to generate cache-related performance metrics, including hit ratios, transaction counts, cache sets and Miss Status Holding Register reservation fails. In addition, RDMKE provides the user with the RD profiles as a useful locality metric. The simulation results of single kernel executions show a fair correlation between the generated results by RDMKE and GPU performance counters. Further, the simulation results of 28 two-kernel executions indicate that RDMKE can properly capture the nonlinear cache behaviors in MKE scenarios.
Physical generalizations of the Rényi entropy
Authors: Johnson Clifford V.
Published: January 2019

We present a new type of generalization of the Rényi entropy that follows naturally from its representation as a thermodynamic quantity. We apply it to the case of [Formula: see text]-dimensional conformal field theories (CFTs) reduced on a region bounded by a sphere. It is known how to compute their Rényi entropy as an integral of the thermal entropy of hyperbolic black holes in [Formula: see text]-dimensional anti-de Sitter spacetime. We show how this integral fits into the framework of extended gravitational thermodynamics, and then point out the natural generalization of the Rényi entropy that suggests itself in that light. In the field theory terms, the new generalization employs aspects of the physics of Renormalization Group (RG) flow to define a refined version of the reduced vacuum density matrix. For [Formula: see text], it can be derived directly in terms of twist operators in field theory. The framework presented here may have applications beyond this context, perhaps in studies of both quantum and classical information theoretic properties of a variety of systems.
Adaptive Fuzzy Logic Controllers Using Hybrid Genetic Algorithms
Authors: Shill Pintu Chandra , Paul Animesh Kumar , Murase Kazuyuki
Published: January 2019

In this paper, an integration of fuzzy logic controllers (FLCs) with hybrid genetic algorithms (HGAs) is developed with a view to make the design process fully automatic, without requiring any human expert and numerical data. Our approach consists of two phases: first phase involves selection and definition of fuzzy control rules as well as adjustment of membership functions parameters, while the second phase performs an optimal selection of membership function types corresponding to fuzzy control rules. Learning both parts concurrently represents a way to improve the accuracy of the FLCs to minimize the errors. It has been argued that the performance of FLCs greatly depends on the parameters as well as types of membership functions. Thus, the aforementioned HGAs are a viable solution for designing an efficient adaptive FLCs system. To demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method for optimal design of the FLCs, the proposed approach is applied to a well-known benchmark controller design tasks, car and truck-and-trailer like robot system. Simulation results illustrates that proposed optimization approach can find optimal fuzzy rules and their corresponding membership functions types with a high rate of accuracy. The new HGAs optimized adaptive FLCs outperforms not only a passive control strategy but also human-designed FLCs, a neural coded controller with clustering and a neural-fuzzy control algorithm.
Spontaneous Fluctuations in Mesoscopic Simulations of Nematic Liquid Crystals
Authors: Híjar Humberto , Halver Rene , Sutmann Godehard
Published: January 2019

We analyzed hydrodynamic fluctuations in nematic liquid crystals simulated by Multi-particle Collision Dynamics. Velocity effects on orientation were incorporated by allowing mesoscopic velocity gradients to exert torques on nematic particles. Backflow was included through an explicit application of angular momentum conservation during the collision events. We measured the spectra of hydrodynamic fluctuations and compared them with those derived from a linearized hydrodynamic scheme. Numerical results were found to reproduce the expected coupling between hydrodynamic modes, thus showing that the implementation simulates proper nematodynamic effects at the mesoscopic level.
Photoacoustic nanoprobe for β-galactosidase activity detection and imaging in vivo
Authors: Zeng Qin , Wu Yunxia , Zhang Tao
Published: January 2019

Detection and visualization of [Formula: see text]-galactosidase ([Formula: see text]-gal) is essential to reflect its physiological and pathological effects on human health and disease, but it is still challenging to precisely track [Formula: see text]-gal in vivo owing to the limitation of current analytical methods. In our work, we reported a photoacoustic (PA) nanoprobe for selective imaging of the endogenous [Formula: see text]-gal in vivo. Our nanoprobe Cy7-[Formula: see text]-gal-LP was constructed by encapsulation of a near-infra red (NIR) dye Cy7-[Formula: see text]-gal within a liposome (LP, DSPE-PEG2000-COOH). The dye Cy7-[Formula: see text]-gal was synthesized based on a dye Cy-OH where the hydroxyl group was replaced by a [Formula: see text]-D-galactopyranoside residue, which can be recognized by [Formula: see text]-gal as an enzyme hydrolytic site. With the addition of [Formula: see text]-gal, the absorbance of Cy7-[Formula: see text]-gal exhibited a significant red shift with the absorption peak moved from 600[Formula: see text]nm to 680[Formula: see text]nm, which should generate a switch-on PA signal at 680[Formula: see text]nm in the presence of [Formula: see text]-gal. In addition, as the fluorescence of the dye was totally quenched due to aggregation within the liposome, Cy7-[Formula: see text]-gal-LP exhibited high PA conversion efficiency. With the nanoprobe, we achieved the selective PA detection and imaging of [Formula: see text]-gal in the tumor-bearing mice.
Enhanced charge storage capability of (Bi2O3)0.4(ZrO2)0.6 charge trapping layer in nanocrystal memory devices
Authors: Zhou H. C. , Zhou Y. X. , Qiu Yu , Zhu Jun
Published: January 2019

A structure of p-Si/Al2O3/(Bi2O3)[Formula: see text](ZrO2)[Formula: see text](BZO)/Al2O3/Pt has been fabricated as Nanocrystal Charge Trapping Memory (NCTM), where the double nanocrystals (NCs) of Bi2O3 and ZrO2 generated in BZO charge trapping layer (CTL) through rapid temperature annealing (RTA). A large memory window (MW) of [Formula: see text]8.6[Formula: see text]V and high defect traps of [Formula: see text][Formula: see text]cm[Formula: see text] were obtained at a low sweeping voltages of [Formula: see text]8[Formula: see text]V after 800∘C for 90[Formula: see text]s in O2 ambient. The devices of different RTA conditions were investigated to analyze the process of NCs traps formation by the X-ray diffraction and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Excellent retention characteristics of the room temperature were observed after 104[Formula: see text]s because of the deep defect traps and high quantum wells between CTL and tunneling oxide layer (TOL).
Evaluation of Fe, Zn, Pb, Cd and As mobility from tailings by sequential extraction and experiments under imposed physico-chemical conditions
Authors: Zúñiga-Vázquez D. , Armienta M. Aurora , Deng Youjun , Cruz O. , Aguayo A. , Ceniceros N.
Published: January 2019

Tailings constitute an important source of potentially toxic metals and metalloids (PTMM) to the environment. Determining PTMM mobilization potential is relevant for estimating their hazard. The release of Pb, Zn, Fe, Cd and As from oxidized and less oxidized tailings situated at the mining town of Zimapán, México, was evaluated by applying various extraction schemes: ‘geoavailable’, the scheme of the Community Bureau of Reference (BCR), and experiments at distinct pH and redox conditions. Total concentrations varied as: Fe (10.6–19.4%), As (8397–107 649 mg/kg), Zn (1325–30 635 mg/kg), Pb (3810–10 000 mg/kg), and Cd (16–1425 mg/kg). Geoavailability (proportion of elements released with a solution simulating rainwater) in oxidized tailings reached 79.1% for Zn, 69% for Cd, 7.3% for Fe, 5.1% for As, 1% for Pb. Cadmium was the most geoavailable element (1%) in less oxidized tailings. BCR fractionation showed different mobilities among elements and samples from each deposit. Less oxidized tailings could become more hazardous with time, mobilizing mainly Zn, Cd and As. Geoavailable As, Fe and Cd surpass irrigation water standards. In spite of its low mobile proportion, the high total As concentrations may produce hazardous levels in soils. The geoavailable procedure constitutes an easy to apply and economic method that may be used to perform a first evaluation of the tailings’ pollution potential to the nearby soils.
Two previously unrecorded xiphosurid trace fossils,
Selenichnites rossendalensis
and
Crescentichnus tesiltus
, from the Middle Jurassic of Yorkshire, UK
Authors: Romano Mike , Taylor Robert
Published: January 2019

The invertebrate trace fossils
Selenichnites rossendalensis
and
Crescentichnus tesiltus
are recorded and described from the Middle Jurassic Gristhorpe Member of the Cloughton Formation of the Cleveland Basin. This is the first record of these ichnospecies from the basin and now completes the occurrence of these and other traces assumed to have been made by limulids from all three non-marine formations of the Ravenscar Group.
Equitable Learning Environments in K-12 Computing
Authors: Gretter Sarah , Yadav Aman , Sands Phil , Hambrusch Susanne
Published: January 2019

The current efforts to expand computer science (CS) education in K-12 schools, such as the “CS for All” initiative, highlight the need for all students to get an opportunity to study computing. However, as recent research has shown, diversity in computing at the K-12 level remains problematic, and additional research is needed to look at how computer science learning environments can impact minority student interest and retention in CS. In this article, we report results from an in-depth qualitative study of high school computer science teachers’ perspective on barriers to increasing diversity in their classes. Based on teachers’ experiences, we provide practical recommendations on how to encourage equitable learning environments in K-12 computer science courses.
Differential biomechanical properties of mouse distal colon and rectum innervated by the splanchnic and pelvic afferents
Authors: Siri Saeed , Maier Franz , Chen Longtu , Santos Stephany , Pierce David M. , Feng Bin
Published: January 2019

Visceral pain is one of the principal complaints of patients with irritable bowel syndrome, and this pain is reliably evoked by mechanical distension and stretch of distal colon and rectum (colorectum). This study focuses on the biomechanics of the colorectum that could play critical roles in mechanical neural encoding. We harvested the distal 30 mm of the colorectum from mice, divided evenly into three 10-mm-long segments (colonic, intermediate and rectal), and conducted biaxial mechanical stretch tests and opening-angle measurements for each tissue segment. In addition, we determined the collagen fiber orientations and contents across the thickness of the colorectal wall by nonlinear imaging via second harmonic generation (SHG). Our results reveal a progressive increase in tissue compliance and prestress from colonic to rectal segments, which supports prior electrophysiological findings of distinct mechanical neural encodings by afferents in the lumbar splanchnic nerves (LSN) and pelvic nerves (PN) that dominate colonic and rectal innervations, respectively. The colorectum is significantly more viscoelastic in the circumferential direction than in the axial direction. In addition, our SHG results reveal a rich collagen network in the submucosa and orients approximately ±30° to the axial direction, consistent with the biaxial test results presenting almost twice the stiffness in axial direction versus the circumferential direction. Results from current biomechanical study strongly indicate the prominent roles of local tissue biomechanics in determining the differential mechanical neural encoding functions in different regions of the colorectum.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY Mechanical distension and stretch—not heat, cutting, or pinching—reliably evoke pain from distal colon and rectum. We report different local mechanics along the longitudinal length of the colorectum, which is consistent with the existing literature on distinct mechanotransduction of afferents innervating proximal and distal regions of the colorectum. This study draws attention to local mechanics as a potential determinant factor for mechanical neural encoding of the colorectum, which is crucial in visceral nociception.
Genetic inactivation of the phospholipase A2activity of peroxiredoxin 6 in mice protects against LPS-induced acute lung injury
Authors: Vázquez-Medina José Pablo , Tao Jian-Quin , Patel Priyal , Bannitz-Fernandes Renata , Dodia Chandra , Sorokina Elena M. , Feinstein Sheldon I. , Chatterjee Shampa , Fisher Aron B.
Published: January 2019

Peroxiredoxin 6 (Prdx6) is a multifunctional enzyme that serves important antioxidant roles by scavenging hydroperoxides and reducing peroxidized cell membranes. Prdx6 also plays a key role in cell signaling by activating the NADPH oxidase, type 2 (Nox2) through its acidic Ca2+-independent phospholipase A2 (aiPLA2) activity. Nox2 generation of O2·−, in addition to signaling, can contribute to oxidative stress and inflammation such as during sepsis-induced acute lung injury (ALI). To evaluate a possible role of Prdx6-aiPLA2activity in the pathophysiology of ALI associated with a systemic insult, wild-type (WT) and Prdx6-D140A mice, which lack aiPLA2but retain peroxidase activity were administered intraperitoneal LPS. LPS-treated mutant mice had increased survival compared with WT mice while cytokines in lung lavage fluid and lung VCAM-1 expression, nitrotyrosine levels, PMN infiltration, and permeability increased in WT but not in mutant mice. Exposure of mouse pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells in primary culture to LPS promoted phosphorylation of Prdx6 and its translocation to the plasma membrane and increased aiPLA2activity as well as increased H2O2generation, nitrotyrosine levels, lipid peroxidation, NF-κB nuclear localization, and nucleotide-binding domain, leucine-rich-containing family, pyrin domain-containing-3 (NLRP3) inflammasome assembly; these effects were not seen in Nox2 null cells, Prdx6-D140A cells, or WT cells pretreated with MJ33, an inhibitor of aiPLA2activity. Thus aiPLA2activity is needed for Nox2-derived oxidant stress associated with LPS exposure. Since inactivation of aiPLA2reduced mortality and prevented lung inflammation and oxidative stress in this animal model, the aiPLA2activity of Prdx6 could be a novel target for prevention or treatment of sepsis-induced ALI.
Pharmacological activation of liver X receptor during cigarette smoke exposure adversely affects alveolar macrophages and pulmonary surfactant homeostasis
Authors: Jubinville Éric , Routhier Joanie , Maranda-Robitaille Michaël , Pineault Marie , Milad Nadia , Talbot Maude , Beaulieu Marie-Josée , Aubin Sophie , Paré Marie-Ève , Laplante Mathieu , Morissette Mathieu C.
Published: January 2019

Smoking alters pulmonary reverse lipid transport and leads to intracellular lipid accumulation in alveolar macrophages. We investigated whether stimulating reverse lipid transport with an agonist of the liver X receptor (LXR) would help alveolar macrophages limit lipid accumulation and dampen lung inflammation in response to cigarette smoke. Mice were exposed to cigarette smoke and treated intraperitoneally with the LXR agonist T0901317. Expression of lipid capture and lipid export genes was assessed in lung tissue and alveolar macrophages. Pulmonary inflammation was assessed in the bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL). Finally, cholesterol efflux capacity and pulmonary surfactant levels were determined. In room air-exposed mice, T0901317 increased the expression of lipid export genes in macrophages and the whole lung and increased cholesterol efflux capacity without inducing inflammation or affecting the pulmonary surfactant. However, cigarette smoke-exposed mice treated with T0901317 showed a marked increase in BAL neutrophils, IL-1α, C-C motif chemokine ligand 2, and granulocyte-colony-stimulating factor levels. T0901317 treatment in cigarette smoke-exposed mice failed to increase the ability of alveolar macrophages to export cholesterol and markedly exacerbated IL-1α release. Finally, T0901317 led to pulmonary surfactant depletion only in cigarette smoke-exposed mice. This study shows that hyperactivation of LXR and the associated lipid capture/export mechanisms only have minor pulmonary effects on the normal lung. However, in the context of cigarette smoke exposure, where the pulmonary surfactant is constantly oxidized, hyperactivation of LXR has dramatic adverse effects, once again showing the central role of lipid homeostasis in the pulmonary response to cigarette smoke exposure.
Small-hairpin RNA and pharmacological targeting of neutral sphingomyelinase prevent diaphragm weakness in rats with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction
Authors: Coblentz Philip D. , Ahn Bumsoo , Hayward Linda F. , Yoo Jeung-Ki , Christou Demetra D. , Ferreira Leonardo F.
Published: January 2019

Heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFREF) increases neutral sphingomyelinase (NSMase) activity and mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) emission and causes diaphragm weakness. We tested whether a systemic pharmacological NSMase inhibitor or short-hairpin RNA (shRNA) targeting NSMase isoform 3 (NSMase3) would prevent diaphragm abnormalities induced by HFREF caused by myocardial infarction. In the pharmacological intervention, we used intraperitoneal injection of GW4869 or vehicle. In the genetic intervention, we injected adeno-associated virus serotype 9 (AAV9) containing shRNA targeting NSMase3 or a scrambled sequence directly into the diaphragm. We also studied acid sphingomyelinase-knockout mice. GW4869 prevented the increase in diaphragm ceramide content, weakness, and tachypnea caused by HFREF. For example, maximal specific forces (in N/cm2) were vehicle [sham 31 ± 2 and HFREF 26 ± 2 ( P < 0.05)] and GW4869 (sham 31 ± 2 and HFREF 31 ± 1). Respiratory rates were (in breaths/min) vehicle [sham 61 ± 3 and HFREF 84 ± 11 ( P < 0.05)] and GW4869 (sham 66 ± 2 and HFREF 72 ± 2). AAV9-NSMase3 shRNA prevented heightening of diaphragm mitochondrial ROS and weakness [in N/cm2, AAV9-scrambled shRNA: sham 31 ± 2 and HFREF 27 ± 2 ( P < 0.05); AAV9-NSMase3 shRNA: sham 30 ± 1 and HFREF 30 ± 1] but displayed tachypnea. Both wild-type and ASMase-knockout mice with HFREF displayed diaphragm weakness. Our study suggests that activation of NSMase3 causes diaphragm weakness in HFREF, presumably through accumulation of ceramide and elevation in mitochondrial ROS. Our data also reveal a novel inhibitory effect of GW4869 on tachypnea in HFREF likely mediated by changes in neural control of breathing.
Quantitative Analysis of HER2 Amplification by Droplet Digital PCR in the Follow-Up of Gastric Cancer Patients Being Treated with Trastuzumab after Surgery
Authors: Liu Yanzhuo , Yang Maozhu , Jiang Tao , Lan Chunbin , Yuan Hao , Li Guiquan , Jia Guiqing , Wang Kang , Zhao Gaoping
Published: January 2019

Background. Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) derived from tumors is a promising biomarker for monitoring tumor status and evaluating therapeutic effects and prognosis. We studied the plasma human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) amplification in gastric cancer (GC) patients by droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) during therapy with trastuzumab. Methods. A total of 12 patients were recruited after surgery. All patients received FOLFOX chemotherapy combined with trastuzumab as a treatment regimen. During the 12 months of the follow-up period, using elongation factor Tu GTP binding domain containing 2 (EFTUD2) as a reference gene, plasma HER2 to EFTUD2 ratios (the HER2 ratio) were determined for each patient every 2 months by ddPCR. Results. The concordance rate of HER2 amplification examined in plasma and formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) samples with ddPCR was 81.4%, with a sensitivity of 76.5% and a specificity of 83.8%. Plasma HER2 ratios were correlated with the primary tumor size (p<0.01). A significant decrease in the plasma HER2 ratio was found after two months of treatment (p<0.0001). Nine patients experienced partial response, and three patients had stable disease. Seven patients had progressive disease (PD) during follow-up, and four of them had died. The median progression-free survival (PFS) was 9.8 months. For each patient who developed PD, the plasma HER2 ratio was approximately 2.3-4.1 times higher than the cut-off value at the time of PD, which was the highest during the whole follow-up period. Conclusion. Longitudinal monitoring for the plasma HER2 ratio by ddPCR in the clinical courses of GC patients holds great promise for use as an indicator of tumor progression and treatment efficacy.
Pulmonary Embolism following Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy: An Uncommon and Life-Threatening Complication
Authors: Paparidis Spyridon , Katsimantas Antonios , Oikonomidis Dimitrios , Ferakis Nikolaos
Published: January 2019

High risk pulmonary embolism is a rare and life-threatening complication following percutaneous nephrolithotomy. We report the case of a previously healthy, 44-year-old male, who developed acute pulmonary embolism following right percutaneous nephrolithotomy. On the 1st postoperative day, the patient presented with hemodynamic instability, acute respiratory distress, hypoxia, and loss of consciousness. He was urgently intubated and placed on mechanical ventilation. Clinical findings set the suspicion of pulmonary embolism with shock. Chest computed tomography scan confirmed the diagnosis. The patient underwent urgent thrombolysis in the cardiac care unit. On the 2nd postoperative day, the patient was admitted to the intensive care unit due to hemodynamic instability and fever. The postoperative course was complicated by right renal bleeding on the 3rd postoperative day, which was managed through angiography and angioembolization of the lower segmental right renal artery, followed by recurrent respiratory and urinary tract infections. The patient was transferred back to the urology department on the 66th postoperative day and was discharged seven days later.
On the Increase in Signal Depth due to High‐Order Effects in Micro‐ and Nanosized Deformable Conductors
Authors: Zampoli Vittorio
Published: January 2019

With regard to the transmission of a thermomechanical signal on extremely short temporal and spatial scales, which represents an issue particularly important dealing with micro‐ and nanosized electromechanical systems, it is well known that the so‐called non‐Fourier effects become not negligible. In addition, it has to be considered that the interaction among multiple energy carriers has, as a direct consequence, the involvement of high‐order terms in the time‐differential formulation of the dual‐phase lag heat conduction constitutive equation linking the heat flux vector with the temperature variation gradient. Accepting that the deformations caused by the temperature variations are small enough to be modeled under the assumptions typical of the linear thermoelasticity, in the present article we take into account the highest Taylor expansion orders able to guarantee (under appropriate assumptions) stability conditions, thermodynamic consistency, and at the same time the existence of an influence domain of the external data linked to the energy transmission as thermal waves. To this aim, a cylindrical domain filled by an anisotropic and inhomogeneous thermoelastic material is investigated, although the results obtained will be independent from the considered geometry: for such a reason, we will be able to consider as illustrative examples some simulations referred to single‐layer graphene and to show how the expansion orders selected strongly influence the domain of influence depth.
Automatic Tissue Image Segmentation Based on Image Processing and Deep Learning
Authors: Kong Zhenglun , Li Ting , Luo Junyi , Xu Shengpu
Published: January 2019

Image segmentation plays an important role in multimodality imaging, especially in fusion structural images offered by CT, MRI with functional images collected by optical technologies, or other novel imaging technologies. In addition, image segmentation also provides detailed structural description for quantitative visualization of treating light distribution in the human body when incorporated with 3D light transport simulation methods. Here, we first use some preprocessing methods such as wavelet denoising to extract the accurate contours of different tissues such as skull, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), grey matter (GM), and white matter (WM) on 5 MRI head image datasets. We then realize automatic image segmentation with deep learning by using convolutional neural network. We also introduce parallel computing. Such approaches greatly reduced the processing time compared to manual and semiautomatic segmentation and are of great importance in improving the speed and accuracy as more and more samples are being learned. The segmented data of grey and white matter are counted by computer in volume, which indicates the potential of this segmentation technology in diagnosing cerebral atrophy quantitatively. We demonstrate the great potential of such image processing and deep learning-combined automatic tissue image segmentation in neurology medicine.
Curing Dynamics of Soy Flour-Based Adhesives Enhanced by Waterborne Polyurethane
Authors: Wang Yong , Li Xianjun , Lou Wanli , Deng Layun , Fan Youhua
Published: January 2019

In this paper, thermogravimetric (TG) analysis was carried out to make clear the curing properties of soy flour-based adhesives (SFAs) enhanced by waterborne polyurethane (WPU) with different addition levels. The kinetic parameters were evaluated by a thermal dynamics method, including activation energy and preexponential factor. In addition, the structure characteristics of both soy flour and modified soy flour-based adhesives were tested by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The results revealed that the FTIR spectra of pristine soy flour-based adhesives were different from those of soy flour after alkali treatment and waterborne polyurethane modification. Furthermore, there were four main degradation phases in the derivative thermogravimetric (DTG) curves of modified soy-based adhesives while there were two phases of a defatted soy flour sample. The kinetics analysis demonstrated that the curing process could be described as a consecutive first-order curing process. Moreover, with the addition level of WPU growing, the apparent activation energy of each phase of the curing process was increasing compared with that in pristine soy-based adhesives.
Understanding the Experience and Perspectives of Parkinson’s Disease Patients’ Caregivers
Authors: Walga Tamene Keneni
Published: January 2019

This research sets out to explore, uncover, and understand the experiences and perspectives of people who care for patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD). To this end, 20 participants who accompanied patients with PD to a training organized by Parkinson Patients Support Organization-Ethiopia (PPSO-E) provided the data required. Analysis of the data produced several themes such as delay in PD diagnosis and intervention, differing reactions to PD diagnosis, toughness of caring for PD patients, community’s limited understanding and distortion of PD, lack of specific name and clear expression for PD in local languages, lack of sufficient support to the caregivers, caregivers’ compassion and patient’s courageousness, and shortage and expensiveness of PD prescriptions. The themes produced have been discussed in light of existing literature. Based on the findings of this research, recommendations were forwarded and direction for future research was indicated.
McKittrick-Wheelock Syndrome Presenting with Acute Kidney Injury and Metabolic Alkalosis: Case Report and Narrative Review
Authors: Caron Mireille , Dubrûle Charles-Etienne , Letarte François , Lemelin Valéry , Lafleur Alexandre
Published: January 2019

A rare combination of severe volume depletion and electrolyte imbalance caused by a rectal villous adenoma is often referred to as the McKittrick-Wheelock syndrome. Patients usually seek medical care because of chronic hypersecretory diarrhea and display renal failure, metabolic acidosis, hyponatremia, and hypokalemia. We report the case of a 68-year-old woman who presented with this condition but showed unusual features such as severe hypokalemia and metabolic alkalosis, without diarrhea. She subsequently underwent transanal endoscopic microsurgery (TEMS), an innovative procedure in the management of large rectal adenomas. We also provide a narrative review of the literature on this rare entity.
Mass Spectrometry Amyloid Typing Is Reproducible across Multiple Organ Sites
Authors: Holub Dusan , Flodrova Pavla , Pika Tomas , Flodr Patrik , Hajduch Marian , Dzubak Petr
Published: January 2019

We have determined patient’s amyloid subtype through immunohistochemical and proteomic analyses of formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue samples from two affected organs per patient. Amyloid typing, via immunohistochemistry (IHC) and laser microdissection followed by the combination of liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry (LMD-LC-MS), was performed using tissue samples of the human heart, liver, kidney, tongue, and small intestine from 11 patients, and the results were compared with clinical data. LMD-LC-MS correctly typed AL amyloidosis in all 22 FFPE tissue samples despite tissue origin. In contrast, IHC was successful only in the analysis of eight FFPE tissue samples with differences between the examined organs. In the majority of LMD-LC-MS typed samples, the level of IHC staining intensity for transthyretin and serum amyloid A was the same as that for Ig κ and Ig λ antibodies, suggesting low Ig κ or Ig λ antibodies reactivity and the additional antibody clones were essential for correct typing. Both methods used in the study were found to be suitable for amyloid typing, although LMD-LC-MS yielded more promising results than IHC.
PHEMA Hydrogels Obtained by Infrared Radiation for Cartilage Tissue Engineering
Authors: Passos Marcele F. , Carvalho Nayara M. S. , Rodrigues Ana Amélia , Bavaresco Vanessa P. , Jardini André L. , Maciel Maria Regina W. , Maciel Filho Rubens
Published: January 2019

Although the exposure of polymeric materials to radiation is a well-established process, little is known about the relationship between structure and property and the biological behavior of biomaterials obtained by thermal phenomena at 1070 nm wavelength. This study includes results concerning the use of a novel infrared radiation source (ytterbium laser fiber) for the synthesis of poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (PHEMA) hydrogel in order to produce medical devices. The materials were obtained by means of free radical polymerization mechanism and evaluated regarding its cross-linking degree, polymer chain mobility, thermal, and mechanical properties. Their potential use as a biomaterial toward cartilage tissue was investigated through incubation with chondrocytes cells culture by dimethylmethylene blue (DMMB) dye and DNA quantification. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) results showed that glass transition temperature (Tg) was in the range 103°C–119°C, the maximum degree of swelling was 70.8%, and indentation fluency test presented a strain of 56%–85%. A significant increase of glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) concentration and DNA content in cells cultured with 40 wt% 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate was observed. Our results showed the suitability of infrared laser fiber in the free radicals formation and in the rapid polymer chain growth, and further cross-linking. The porous material obtained showed improvements concerning cartilage tissue regeneration.
Borax-Cross-Linked Guar Gum-Manganese Dioxide Composites for Oxidative Decolorization of Methylene Blue
Authors: Dassanayake Rohan S. , Rajakaruna Erandathi , Abidi Noureddine
Published: January 2019

Borax-cross-linked guar gum-manganese dioxide (GGB-MnO2) composite was synthesized using an environmentally friendly synthesis route and investigated for its efficiency of decolorizing methylene blue (MB) dye solution by an ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectrophotometric study. The GGB-MnO2 composite was characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy, Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The composite (1.2 g/L) exhibited excellent oxidative decolorization of MB (30 mg/L, 50 mL) solution to over 99% in 6, 13, and 40 min at pH 4, 7, and 10, respectively. The complete decolorization of MB occurred via a catalytic adsorption-oxidation-desorption mechanism. The GGB-MnO2 composite showed very good reusability and was stable after ten successive cycles with negligible losses of the decolorization efficiency.
Frequency of Hepatobiliary Manifestations and Concomitant Liver Disease in Inflammatory Bowel Disease Patients
Authors: Silva Juliana , Brito Beatriz S. , Silva Isaac Neri de N. , Nóbrega Viviane G. , Silva Maria Carolina S. M. da , Gomes Hemerson Dyego de N. , Fortes Flora Maria , Pimentel Andrea M. , Mota Jaciane , Almeida Neogélia , Surlo Valdiana C. , Lyra André , Rocha Raquel , Santana Genoile O.
Published: January 2019

Background. In inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients there are reports of the occurrence of hepatobiliary manifestations, so the aim of this study was to evaluate the hepatobiliary manifestations in patients with Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) from an IBD reference center. Methods. Cross-sectional study in an IBD reference center, with interviews and review of medical charts, between July 2015 and August 2016. A questionnaire addressing epidemiological and clinical characteristics was used. Results. We interviewed 306 patients, and the majority had UC (53.9%) and were female (61.8%). Hepatobiliary manifestations were observed in 60 (19.6%) patients with IBD. In the greater part of the patients (56.7%) hepatobiliary disorders were detected after the diagnosis of IBD. In UC (18.2%) patients, the hepatobiliary disorders identified were 11 (6.7%) non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, 9 (5.5%) cholelithiasis, 6 (3.6%) primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), 3 (1.8%) hepatotoxicity associated with azathioprine, 1 (0.6%) hepatitis B, and 1 (0.6%) hepatic fibrosis. In CD (21.3%) patients, 11 (7.8%) had cholelithiasis, 11 (7.8%) non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, 4 (2.8%) PSC, 3 (2.1%) hepatotoxicity, 1 (0.7%) hepatitis B, (0.7%) hepatitis C, 1 (0.7%) alcoholic liver disease, and 1 (0.7%) autoimmune hepatitis (AIH). There was one case of PSC/AIH overlap syndrome. Conclusion. The frequency of hepatobiliary disorders was similar in both forms of IBD in patients evaluated. The most common nonspecific hepatobiliary manifestations in IBD patients were non-alcoholic liver disease and cholelithiasis. The most common specific hepatobiliary disorder was PSC in patients with extensive UC or ileocolonic CD involvement; this was seen more frequently in male patients.
Dipolariton Formation in Quantum Dot Molecules Strongly Coupled to Optical Resonators
Authors: Domínguez Marlon S. , Macias-Pinilla David F. , Ramírez Hanz Y.
Published: January 2019

In this theoretical work, we study a double quantum dot interacting strongly with a microcavity, while undergoing resonant tunneling. Effects of interdot tunneling on the light-matter hybridized states are determined, and tunability of their brightness degrees, associated dipole moments, and lifetimes is demonstrated. These results predict dipolariton generation in artificial molecules coupled to optical resonators and provide a promising scenario for the control of emission efficiency and coherence times of exciton polaritons.