bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Indikation zur prä-, post- und intraoperativen Strahlentherapie von Liposarkomen des Erwachsenenalters
Authors: Roeder Falk
Published: April 2020

Radiotherapie ist ein integraler Bestandteil der Behandlung von Weichteilsarkomen des Erwachsenen. Während die Indikationsstellung zur additiven Radiotherapie bisher im Wesentlichen auf den bekannten allgemeinen Prognosefaktoren wie Tumorgröße, Lokalisation, Grading und (antizipiertem) Resektionsrand basierte, rückt der histologische Subtyp jetzt zunehmend in den Vordergrund. Außerdem haben sich die radiotherapeutischen Techniken deutlich weiterentwickelt, sodass eine adäquate Therapie in einigen Lokalisationen überhaupt erst möglich geworden ist. Diese Übersichtsarbeit fasst daher zunächst die allgemeinen radioonkologischen Therapieprinzipien für alle Weichteilsarkome, getrennt für die Hauptlokalisationen Extremitäten/Körperstamm und Retroperitoneum, zusammen. Dabei werden sowohl die vorliegende Evidenz für eine additive Radiotherapie per se als auch das optimale Timing (prä- vs. postoperativ) sowie grundlegende technische Prinzipien einschl. alternativer Boostverfahren wie der intraoperativen Radiotherapie erörtert. Weiterhin liegt ein besonderer Schwerpunkt auf der Indikation und Durchführung einer additiven Radiotherapie bei Liposarkomen. Hierzu werden sowohl die grundlegenden Unterschiede zwischen Liposarkomen und anderen Weichteilsarkomen als auch zwischen den einzelnen Subgruppen der Liposarkome (gut differenziert, dedifferenziert, myxoid und pleomorph) dargestellt und ihre Implikationen auf Indikationsstellung und Durchführung einer additiven Radiotherapie mit dem Ziel einer übersichtlichen Orientierungshilfe erörtert.
Management of phosphorus nutrition of beef cattle grazing seasonally dry rangelands: a review
Authors: Dixon R. M. , Anderson S. T. , Kidd L. J. , Fletcher M. T.
Published: April 2020

This review examines the effects of phosphorus (P) deficiency as a major constraint to productivity of cattle grazing rangelands with low-P soils. Nutritional deficiency of P may severely reduce liveweight (LW) gain of growing cattle (e.g. by 20–60 kg/annum) and the productivity of breeder cow herds as weaning rate, mortality and calf growth. In seasonally dry tropical environments, the production responses to supplementary P occur primarily during the rainy season when the nutritional quality of pasture as metabolisable energy (ME) and protein is high and pasture P concentration is limiting, even though the P concentrations are higher than during dry season. When ME and nitrogen of rainy-season pasture are adequate, then P-deficient cattle typically continue to gain LW slowly, but with reduced bone mineralisation (i.e. osteomalacia). In beef breeder herds when diet P is insufficient, cows with high bone P reserves can mobilise bone P reserves during late pregnancy and early lactation. Mobilisation may contribute up to the equivalent of ~7 g diet P/day (one-third of the P requirements) in early lactation, and, thus, allow acutely P-deficient breeders to maintain calf growth for at least several months until depletion of cow body P reserves. However, severe P deficiency in cattle is usually associated with reduced voluntary intake (e.g. by 20–30% per kg LW), severe LW loss and poor reconception rates. When P intake is greater than immediate requirements, breeders can replenish bone P. Replenishment in mature cows occurs slowly when ME intake is sufficient only for slow LW gain, but rapidly at ME intakes sufficient for rapid LW gain. Bone P replenishment also occurs in late-pregnant heifers even when losing maternal LW. Intervals of mobilisation and replenishment of body P reserves will often be important for P nutrition of beef breeder cows through annual cycles. Diagnosis of P deficiency in grazing cattle is difficult and must encompass estimation of both diet P intake and availability of P from body reserves. Cattle behaviour (e.g. pica, osteophagea), low soil P concentrations and low herd productivity provide valuable indicators. Some constituents of blood (plasma inorganic P, calcium, plasma inorganic P:calcium ratios and endocrine markers) are valuable indicators, but the threshold values indicative of P deficiency at various ME intakes are not well established. It is evident that knowledge of both the nutritional physiology and requirements for P provide opportunities to better manage P nutrition to alleviate production losses in low-input systems with beef cattle grazing rangelands.
Perfect Triangles: Rational Points on the Curve C4 (The Unsolved Case)
Authors: Ismail Shahrina , Eshkuvatov Zainidin
Published: April 2020

Finding a perfect triangle was stated as an open problem by Guy in [6]. Numerous researches have been done in the past to find such a triangle, unfortunately, to date, no one has ever found one, nor has proved its non-existence. However, on the bright side, there are partial results which show that there exist triangles that satisfy five or even six of the seven parameters to be rational. In this paper, we perform an extensive search to investigate if we can extract any perfect triangles from the curve C4 based on the final unsolved case in [9], which will then complete the proof of existence or non-existence of perfect triangle on the curve. Multiple conjectures were tested to eliminate the possibilities of finding a perfect triangle from the last unsolved case of n ≡ 3024 (mod 6052) in [9]. Finally, a theorem was proved, which was subtle enough to eliminate this case, proving that there does not exist any perfect triangle arising from the curve C4.
Algorithms to determine fuzzy chromatic number of cartesian product and join of fuzzy graphs
Authors: Rosyida I , Widodo  , Indrati CR , Indriati D
Published: April 2020

Throughout this paper, we use the concept of fuzzy chromatic number (FCN) of fuzzy graphs based on δ-fuzzy independent vertex sets with δ ∈ [0,1] published in 2015. In this paper, we construct two type algorithms to determine fuzzy chromatic number of cartesian product and join of fuzzy graphs. The first type algorithm is constructed to find FCN of specific fuzzy graphs based on formulas in the theorems. The second type algorithm is designed to establish FCN of cartesian product and join of any fuzzy graphs based on the concepts of the cartesian product and join of fuzzy graphs and fuzzy chromatic algorithm. Experimental results of the algorithms are also discussed.
Hybrid numerical solution for unsteady state of constant accelerated MHD in a third-grade fluid with a rotation
Authors: Mahadi S , Salah F , Arbin N , Yeak SH
Published: April 2020

The aim of this research is to investigate the problem related to the constant accelerated of unsteady MHD third grade fluid in a rotating frame. New numerical approach will be used in order to solve the problem. Hybrid numerical approach of finite difference method and asymptotic interpolation method is introduced. This method is suitable for solving unbounded domain where the domain of the problems tends to infinity. Validation has been made with other analytical method; Homotopy Analysis Method to show that this hybrid method is acceptable. The equation of unsteady state MHD third grade fluid in a rotation about z-axis is derived. The nonlinear equation will be discretized by using finite difference method and couple with asymptotic interpolation to fulfil the unbounded domain of boundary condition. The effect of various values of parameters such as MHD, rotation, time, second and third grade are being tested and discussed. This study concludes that the velocity of distribution decreased when the value of MHD and rotation increased. Meanwhile a contrary result occurs when the factor of time increased. The velocity profile for real part also will be increased and imaginary part will be decreased when the parameter of second and third grade increased.
Bi-orthogonal wavelets for investigating Gibbs effects via oblique extension principle
Authors: Mohammad Mutaz
Published: April 2020

Gibbs effect is generally known for Fourier and Wavelets expansions of a function in the neighborhood of its discontinuities points which deals with the nonuniform convergence of its truncated sums of these expansions. We study this phenomenon using bi-orthogonal wavelets (or simply, framelets) using pseudo-spline tight framelets generated using the oblique extension principle. We present some examples to illustrate the results.
Modelling Steady Convection-Dominated Phenomena by Node-Adaptive Radial Point Interpolation Meshfree Method (RPIM) with Various RBFs
Authors: Chanthawara K , Kaennakham S
Published: April 2020

For numerically solving PDEs, node or grid adaptation schemes have been invented, applied, and improved mainly to improve solution accuracy while reducing the burden caused by CPU-limitation and/or users’ interference. This becomes crucial particularly for problems involving strong changes in physical phenomena. This work proposes a means of node-adaptation used in conjunction with a numerical meshfree method called ‘radial point interpolation (RPIM)’, carried out using the concept of interpolation via. radial basis functions and hence no grid or mesh required. The proposed method is developed to tackle one of the most challenging problems with convective force being overwhelming in the system. This phenomena is known not to be easily numerically simulated. The proposed node-adaptive scheme is carried out where locally-estimated Péclet number (Pe) being used to indicate the areas of interest, places where nodes are expected to be added or removed. The whole adaptation algorithm is dynamic requiring on user’s interference. When compared to solutions obtained from fixed-node cases and other benchmark work, the results obtained in this work strongly suggest benefits in terms of both solution accuracy improvement and CPU-storage reduction.
The Fractionalization of Modified Logistic Equation to Predict the Growth of Microalgae Botryococcus sp.
Authors: Kaharuddin L N , Jamaian S S , Phang Chang
Published: April 2020

In this paper, a fractional – order modified logistic equation is proposed where the extended Monod model is considered for microalgae Botryococcus sp. growth. The fractional calculus approach was applied to the integer – order modified logistic equation. Hence, the well – known numerical approach, Adams-type predictor – corrector method was implemented to solve the fractional – order modified logistic equation. The numerical simulations were carried out to simulate the classical integer – order and the fractional – order equations in describing the real experimental data of microalgae Botryococcus sp. growth. The results show the fractional – order version of the equation is promising with the experimental data.
Construction on Morphology of Aquatic Animals via Moving Least Squares Method
Authors: Cheah Chee Kin , Tey Wah Yen
Published: April 2020

Unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) is an effective instrument to allow human to execute hazardous underwater mission without being exposed to life risk. Recently, UUV has gained increased popularity in the field of oceanography, underwater archaeology, underwater cable examination, military usage and hydrodynamic survey operation. Since aquatic animals have great capability to circumvent the drag underwater for efficient swimming compared with the torpedo-like man-made submarine, the morphology of aquatic animals shall be investigated in order to improve the efficiency of UUV. However, the complexity and non-linearity of their body shapes has hindered the formation of its morphological equations. Hence, this research aims to apply the mathematical model of moving least squares method to construct continuous equations which describe the bionic body shape of batoid and dolphin. The work will render geometrical support for computer-aided design and fluid dynamics analysis in the future.
Some experimental results of station cone algorithm in comparison with simplex algorithm for linear programming
Authors: Nguyen C N , Le H T
Published: April 2020

In this paper we introduce a new variant of station cone algorithm to solve linear programmimg problems. It uses a series of interior points Ok to determine the entering variables. The number of these interior points is finite and they move toward the optimal point. At each step, the calcution of new vertex is a simplex pivot. The proposed algorithm will be a polynomial time algorithm if the number of points Ok is limited by a polynomial function. The second objective of this paper is to carry out experimental calculations and compare with simplex methods and dual simplex method. The results show that the number of pivots of the station cone algorithm is less than 30 to 50 times that of the dual algorithm. And with the number of variables n and the number of constraints m increasing, the number of pivots of the dual algorithm is growing much faster than the number of pivots of the station cone algorithm. This conclusion is drawn from the coputational experiments with n ≤ 500 and m ≤ 2000. In particular we also test for cases where n = 2, m = 100 000 and n = 3, m = 200 000. For case where n = 2 and m = 100 000, station cone algorithm is given no more than 16 pivots. In case of n = 3, m = 200 000, station cone algorithm has a pivot number less than 24.
A Numerical Study of a Compactly-Supported Radial Basis Function Applied with a Collocation Meshfree Scheme for Solving PDEs
Authors: Tavaen S , Chanthawara K , Kaennakham S
Published: April 2020

It is known that all Radial Basis Function-based meshfree methods suffer from a lack of reliable judgement on the choice of shape parameter, appearing in most of the RBFs. While the popularity of meshfree/meshless numerical methods is growing fast over the past decade, the great challenge is still to find an optimal RBF form with its optimal shape parameter. In this work, the main focus is on one type of RBF namely ‘Compactly-Supported (CS-RBF)’ that contains no parameter, and yet has not been explored numerically as much in the past, particularly under the context of data interpolation/approximation and solving partial differential equations (PDEs). To compare the potential advantages of CS-RBF, two most popular choices of RBF widely used; Multiquadric (MQ), and Gaussian (GA) were studied parallelly. The information gathered and presented in this work shall be useful for the future users in making decision on RBF.
Rouché’s theorem and the geometry of rational functions
Authors: Richards Trevor
Published: April 2020

In this paper, we use Rouché’s theorem and the pleasant properties of the arithmetic of the logarithmic derivative to establish several new results and bounds regarding the geometry of the zeros, poles, and critical points of a rational function. Included is an improvement on a result by Alexander and Walsh regarding the “exclusion region” around a given zero or pole of a rational function in which no critical point may lie.
Relationships between informal caregiving, health and work in the Health and Employment After Fifty study, England
Authors: Harris E Clare , D’Angelo Stefania , Syddall Holly E , Linaker Cathy , Cooper Cyrus , Walker-Bone Karen
Published: April 2020

Background

To investigate the prevalence of caregiving and its relationship with work, health and socio-economic circumstances in the Health and Employment After Fifty (HEAF) study.

Methods

The HEAF study comprises 8134 men and women aged 50–64 years recruited from 24 general practices. Socio-demographic, lifestyle and health characteristics and hours per week giving personal care were elicited by postal questionnaire. Objective clinical information about diagnoses/medications was retrieved from health records. Work-related and health risk factors for intense caring responsibilities (≥20 h/week vs. no hours) were explored using logistic regression with adjustment for age and social class.

Results

In all, 644 (17%) men and 1153 (26%) women reported caring responsibilities, of whom 93 and 199 were intense caregivers, who were more likely to be socio-economically disadvantaged; less likely to be working and, if combining caring with working (41 men and 90 women), more likely to be part-time/working shifts, than non-carers. Men caring ≥20 h/week were more likely to have COPD and to report musculoskeletal pain, poor/fair self-rated health, depression and sleep problems. Among working women, caring ≥20 h/week was associated with these same health outcomes and also with a doctor-diagnosed mental health problem or musculoskeletal pain in the previous year.

Conclusions

Caregiving is common and unequal in the HEAF cohort, with more high-intensity informal care provided by those with greater levels of socio-economic deprivation, which could affect their employment and health. Caregivers need support to lead long, healthy lives, rather than becoming care needers themselves. Employers and governments need to take caregiving into account and support it actively.
Opposite effect of vancomycin and D-Cycloserine combination in both vancomycin resistant Staphylococcus aureus and enterococci
Authors: Boudrioua Abdelhakim , Li Yanyan , Hartke Axel , Giraud Caroline
Published: April 2020

The increasing spread of antibiotic resistant bacteria is a major human health concern. The challenging development of new effective antibiotics has led to focus on seeking synergistic antibiotic combinations. Vancomycin (VAN) is a glycopeptide antibiotic used to treat Staphylococcus aureus and enterococci infections. It is targeting D-Alanyl-D-Alanine dimers during peptidoglycan biosynthesis. D-cycloserine (DCS) is a D-Alanine analogue that targets peptidoglycan biosynthesis by inhibiting D-Alanine:D-Alanine ligase (Ddl). The VAN-DCS combination was found to be synergistic in VAN resistant S. aureus strains lacking van genes cluster. We hypothesize that this combination leads to opposite effects in S. aureus and enterococci strains harboring van genes cluster where VAN resistance is conferred by the synthesis of modified peptidoglycan precursors ending in D-Alanyl-D-Lactate. The calculated Fractional Inhibitory Concentration of VAN-DCS combination in a van- vancomycin-intermediate, VanA type, and VanB type strains were 0.5, 5 and 3, respectively. As a result, VAN-DCS combination leads to synergism in van-lacking strains, and to antagonism in strains harboring van genes cluster. The VAN-DCS antagonism is due to a mechanism that we named van-mediated Ddl inhibition bypass. Our results show that antibiotic combinations can lead to opposite effects depending on the genetic backgrounds.
A Novel Pharmacological Approach to Enhance the Integrity and Accelerate Restitution of the Intestinal Epithelial Barrier
Authors: Cao Xuelei , Sun Lei , Lechuga Susana , Naydenov Nayden G , Feygin Alex , Ivanov Andrei I
Published: April 2020

Background

Disruption of the gut barrier is an essential mechanism of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) contributing to the development of mucosal inflammation. A hallmark of barrier disruption is the disassembly of epithelial adherens junctions (AJs) driven by decreased expression of a major AJ protein, E-cadherin. A group of isoxazole compounds, such as E-cadherin-upregulator (ECU) and ML327, were previously shown to stimulate E-cadherin expression in poorly differentiated human cancer cells. This study was designed to examine whether these isoxazole compounds can enhance and protect model intestinal epithelial barriers in vitro.

Methods

The study was conducted using T84, SK-CO15, and HT-29 human colonic epithelial cell monolayers. Disruption of the epithelial barrier was induced by pro-inflammatory cytokines, tumor necrosis factor-α, and interferon-γ. Barrier integrity and epithelial junction assembly was examined using different permeability assays, immunofluorescence labeling, and confocal microscopy. Epithelial restitution was analyzed using a scratch wound healing assay.

Results

E-cadherin-upregulator and ML327 treatment of intestinal epithelial cell monolayers resulted in several barrier-protective effects, including reduced steady-state epithelial permeability, inhibition of cytokine-induced barrier disruption and junction disassembly, and acceleration of epithelial wound healing. Surprisingly, these effects were not due to upregulation of E-cadherin expression but were mediated by multiple mechanisms including inhibition of junction protein endocytosis, attenuation of cytokine-induced apoptosis, and activation of promigratory Src and AKT signaling.

Conclusions

Our data highlight ECU and ML327 as promising compounds for developing new therapeutic strategies to protect the integrity and accelerate the restitution of the intestinal epithelial barrier in IBD and other inflammatory disorders.
Moral Education and Rule Consequentialism
Authors: Miller Dale E
Published: April 2020

Rule consequentialism holds that an action's moral standing depends on its relation to the moral code whose general adoption would have the best consequences. Heretofore rule consequentialists have understood the notion of a code's being generally adopted in terms of its being generally obeyed or, more commonly, its being generally accepted. I argue that these ways of understanding general adoption lead to unacceptable formulations of the theory. For instance, Brad Hooker, Michael Ridge, and Holly Smith have recently offered different answers to the question of what ‘acceptance rate’ we should build into our formulation of rule consequentialism, and all are unsatisfactory. I argue instead for a novel approach to formulating rule consequentialism, ‘uniform-moral-education’ rule consequentialism, on which what it means for a moral code to be generally adopted is not for it to be generally followed or generally accepted, but instead for it to be generally taught.
The earliest record of Caribbean frogs: a fossil coquí from Puerto Rico
Authors: Blackburn David C. , Keeffe Rachel M. , Vallejo-Pareja María C. , Vélez-Juarbe Jorge
Published: April 2020

The nearly 200 species of direct-developing frogs in the genusEleutherodactylus(the Caribbean landfrogs, which include the coquís) comprise an important lineage for understanding the evolution and historical biogeography of the Caribbean. Time-calibrated molecular phylogenies provide indirect evidence for the processes that shaped the modern anuran fauna, but there is little direct evidence from the fossil record of Caribbean frogs about their distributions in the past. We report a distal humerus of a frog from the Oligocene (approx. 29 Ma) of Puerto Rico that represents the earliest known fossil frog from any Caribbean island. Based on its prominent rounded distal humeral head, distally projecting entepicondyle, and reduced ectepicondyle, we refer it to the genusEleutherodactylus. This fossil provides additional support for an early arrival of some groups of terrestrial vertebrates to the Greater Antilles and corroborates previous estimates based on molecular phylogenies suggesting that this diverse Caribbean lineage was present in the islands by the mid-Cenozoic.
Reproduction deep inside wood: a low O2and high CO2environment promotes egg production by termite queens
Authors: Tasaki Eisuke , Komagata Yasuyuki , Inagaki Tatsuya , Matsuura Kenji
Published: April 2020

Extreme conditions are normal for animals living in harsh environments. These animals adapt to their habitats and can use difficult conditions by default. Organisms living in enclosed spaces, notably termites in decaying wood, experience low O2and high CO2gas conditions due to limited gas exchange and high insect density. Termite queens, in particular, reproduce in royal chambers deep inside the wood, wherein tens of thousands of individuals engage in social labour. Here, we demonstrate that royal chambers in termite nests have low O2and high CO2gas concentrations, which enhance egg production by queens. We identified a unique gas condition of royal chambers in the nest of the subterranean termiteReticulitermes speratus, which is characterized by low O2(15.75%) and high CO2(4.99%) concentrations. Queens showed significantly greater fecundity under the low O2and high CO2gas conditions in the royal chambers than under ambient gas conditions. Quantitative PCR analysis revealed that the royal chamber gas conditions significantly promoted the expression levels of the vitellogenin genesRsVg1,RsVg2andRsVg3in queens compared with ambient gas conditions. This study highlights the adaptation of animals that live in closed habitats, which are hypoxic and hypercapnic as the result of their own metabolism, so as to have a high fitness in such environmental conditions.
Aquirufa rosea sp. nov., isolated from a freshwater lake
Authors: Sheu Shih-Yi , Chen Tzu-Ying , Chen Wen-Ming
Published: April 2020

A bacterial strain designated CAR-16Twas isolated from a freshwater lake in Taiwan and characterized using the polyphasic taxonomic approach. Cells were Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, motile by gliding, rod-shaped and formed rose-colored colonies. Optimal growth occurred at 30 °C, pH 7 and with 0 % NaCl. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences and coding sequences of 92 protein clusters indicated that CAR-16Trepresented a member of the familyCytophagaceaeand formed a phylogenetic lineage in the genusAquirufa. CAR-16Twas most closely related toAquirufa nivalisilvae59G-WUEMPELTwith a 99.7 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity. CAR-16Tshowed 71.2–79.5 % average nucleotide identity and 17.8–21.7 % digital DNA–DNA hybridization identity with the strains of other species of the genusAquirufa. The major fatty acids of strain CAR-16Twere iso-C15 : 0, iso-C15 : 03-OH, C16 : 1ω5cand summed feature 3 (C16 : 1ω7c/C16 : 1ω6cand/or iso-C15 : 02-OH). The polar lipid profile consisted of a mixture of phosphatidylethanolamine and several uncharacterized aminophospholipids, phospholipids and lipids. The major isoprenoid quinone was MK-7. The genomic DNA G+C content of CAR-16Twas 38.8 mol%. On the basis of phenotypic and genotypic properties and phylogenetic inference, CAR-16Tshould be classified as representing a novel species of the genusAquirufa, for which the nameAquirufa roseasp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is CAR-16T(=BCRC 81153T=LMG 30923T=KCTC 62869T).
The Potential Use of Unprocessed Sample for RT-qPCR Detection of COVID-19 without an RNA Extraction Step
Authors: Arumugam Arunkumar , Wong Season
Published: April 2020

Quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) assay is the gold standard recommended to test for acute SARS-CoV-2 infection.1–4It has been used by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and several other companies in their Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) assays. With many PCR-based molecular assays, an extraction step is routinely used as part of the protocol. This step can take up a significant amount of time and labor, especially if the extraction is performed manually. Long assay time, partly caused by slow sample preparation steps, has created a large backlog when testing patient samples suspected of COVID-19. Using flu and RSV clinical specimens, we have collected evidence that the RT-qPCR assay can be performed directly on patient sample material from a nasal swab immersed in virus transport medium (VTM) without an RNA extraction step. We have also used this approach to test for the direct detection of SARS-CoV-2 reference materials spiked in VTM. Our data, while preliminary, suggest that using a few microliters of these untreated samples still can lead to sensitive test results. If RNA extraction steps can be omitted without significantly affecting clinical sensitivity, the turn-around time of COVID-19 tests and the backlog we currently experience can be reduced drastically. Next, we will confirm our findings using patient samples.
PremPRI: Predicting the Effects of Single Mutations on Protein-RNA Interactions
Authors: Zhang Ning , Lu Haoyu , Chen Yuting , Zhu Zefeng , Yang Qing , Wang Shuqin , Li Minghui
Published: April 2020

Protein-RNA interactions are crucial for many cellular processes, such as protein synthesis and regulation of gene expression. Missense mutations that alter protein-RNA interaction may contribute to the pathogenesis of many diseases. Here we introduce a new computational method PremPRI, which predicts the effects of single mutations occurring in RNA binding proteins on the protein-RNA interactions by calculating the binding affinity changes quantitatively. The multiple linear regression scoring function of PremPRI is composed of 11 sequence- and structure-based features, and is parameterized on 248 mutations from 50 protein-RNA complexes. Our model shows a good agreement between calculated and experimental values of binding affinity changes with Pearson correlation coefficient of 0.72 and the corresponding root-mean-square error of 0.76 kcal mol−1, outperforming three other available methods. PremPRI can be used for finding functionally important variants, understanding the molecular mechanisms, and designing new protein-RNA interaction inhibitors. PremPRI is freely available athttp://lilab.jysw.suda.edu.cn/research/PremPRI/.
Diminished adherence ofBiomphalaria glabrataembryonic cell line to sporocysts ofSchistosoma mansonifollowing programmed knockout of the allograft inflammatory factor
Authors: Coelho Fernanda Sales , Rodpai Rutchanee , Miller André , Karinshak Shannon E. , Mann Victoria H. , Santos Carvalho Omar dos , Caldeira Roberta Lima , de Moraes Mourão Marina , Brindley Paul J. , Ittiprasert Wannaporn
Published: April 2020

Background

Larval development in an intermediate host gastropod snail of the genusBiomphalariais an obligatory component of the life cycle ofSchistosoma mansoni. Understanding of the mechanism(s) of host defense may hasten the development of tools that block transmission of schistosomiasis. The allograft inflammatory factor 1, AIF, which is evolutionarily conserved and expressed in phagocytes, is a marker of macrophage activation in both mammals and invertebrates. AIF enhances cell proliferation and migration. The embryonic cell line, termed Bge, fromBiomphalaria glabratais a versatile resource for investigation of the snail-schistosome relationship since Bge exhibits a hemocyte-like phenotype. Hemocytes perform central roles in innate and cellular immunity in gastropods and in some cases can kill the parasite. However, the Bge cells do not kill the parasitein vitro.

Methods

Bge cells were transfected by electroporation with plasmid pCas-BgAIFx4, encoding the Cas9 nuclease and a guide RNA specific for exon 4 of theB. glabrataAIF (BgAIF) gene. Transcript levels for Cas9 and forBgAIF were monitored by quantitative reverse-transcription-PCR and, in parallel, adhesion of gene-edited Bge cells during co-culture with of schistosome sporocysts was assessed.

Results

Gene knockout manipulation induced gene-disrupting indels, frequently 1-2 bp insertions and/or 8-30 bp deletions, at the programmed target site; a range from 9 to 17% of the copies of theBgAIF gene in the Bge population of cells were mutated. Transcript levels forBgAIF were reduced by up to 73% (49.5±20.2% S.D,P≤ 0.05, n =12). Adherence byBgAIF gene-edited (ΔBgAIF) Bge to sporocysts diminished in comparison to wild type cells, although cell morphology did not change. Specifically, as scored by a semi-quantitative cell adherence index (CAI), fewer ΔBgAIF than control wild type cells adhered to sporocysts; control CAI, 2.66±0.10, ΔBgAIF, 2.30±0.22 (P≤ 0.01).

Conclusion

The findings supported the hypothesis thatBgAIF plays a role in the adherence ofB. glabratahemocytes to sporocysts during schistosome infectionin vitro. This demonstration of the activity of programmed gene editing will enable functional genomics approaches using CRISPR/Cas9 to investigate additional components of the snail-schistosome host-parasite relationship.
Impact of porcine cytomegalovirus on long-term orthotopic cardiac xenotransplant survival
Authors: Denner Joachim , Längin Matthias , Reichart Bruno , Krüger Luise , Fiebig Uwe , Mokelke Maren , Radan Julia , Mayr Tanja , Milusev Anastasia , Luther Fabian , Sorvillo Nicoletta , Rieben Robert , Brenner Paolo , Walz Christoph , Wolf Eckhard , Roshani Berit , Stahl-Hennig Christiane , Abicht Jan-Michael
Published: April 2020

Xenotransplantation using pig organs has achieved survival times of more than 195 days in pig orthotopic heart transplantation into baboons. Here we demonstrate that in addition to an improved immunosuppressive regimen, non-ischaemic preservation with continuous perfusion and control of post-transplantation growth of the transplant, prevention of transmission of the porcine cytomegalovirus (PCMV) plays an important role in achieving long survival times. For the first time we demonstrate that PCMV transmission in orthotopic pig heart xenotransplantation was associated with a reduced survival time of the transplant and increased levels of IL-6 and TNFα were found in the transplanted baboon. Furthermore, high levels of tPA-PAI-1 complexes were found, suggesting a complete loss of the pro-fibrinolytic properties of the endothelial cells. These data show that PCMV has an important impact on transplant survival and call for elimination of PCMV from donor pigs.
The Harsh Microenvironment in Early Breast Cancer Selects for a Warburg Phenotype
Authors: Damaghi Mehdi , West Jeffrey , Robertson-Tessi Mark , Xu Liping , Ferrall-Fairbanks Meghan C. , Stewart Paul A. , Persi Erez , Fridley Brooke L. , Altrock Philipp M. , Gatenby Robert A. , Sims Peter A. , Anderson Alexander R. A. , Gillies Robert J.
Published: April 2020

The harsh microenvironment of ductal carcinomain situ(DCIS) exerts strong evolutionary selection pressures on cancer cells. We hypothesize that the poor metabolic conditions near the ductal center foment the emergence of a Warburg Effect (WE) phenotype, wherein cells rapidly ferment glucose to lactic acid, even in normoxia. To test this hypothesis, we subjected pre-malignant breast cancer cells to different microenvironmental selection pressures using combinations of hypoxia, acidosis, low glucose, and starvation for many months, and isolated single clones for metabolic and transcriptomic profiling. The two harshest conditions selected for constitutively expressed WE phenotypes. RNA-seq analysis of WE clones identified the transcription factors NFкB and KLF4 as potential inducers of the WE phenotype. NFкB was highly phosphorylated in the glycolytic clones. In stained DCIS samples, KLF4 expression was enriched in the area with the harshest microenvironmental conditions. We simulatedin vivoDCIS phenotypic evolution using a mathematical model calibrated from thein vitroresults. The WE phenotype emerged in the poor metabolic conditions near the necrotic core. We propose that harsh microenvironments within DCIS select for a Warburg phenotype through constitutive transcriptional reprogramming, thus conferring a survival advantage and facilitating further growth and invasion.
A dCas9/CRISPR-based targeting system identifies a central role for Ctf19 in kinetochore-derived suppression of meiotic recombination
Authors: Kuhl Lisa-Marie , Makrantoni Vasso , Recknagel Sarah , Vaze Animish N. , Marston Adele L. , Vader Gerben
Published: April 2020

In meiosis, crossover formation between homologous chromosomes is essential for faithful segregation. However, improperly controlled or placed meiotic recombination can have catastrophic consequences on genome stability. Specifically, within centromeres and surrounding regions (i.e.pericentromeres), crossovers are associated with chromosome missegregation and developmental aneuploidy. In organisms ranging from yeast to humans, crossovers are repressed within (peri)centromeric regions. We previously identified a key role for the multi-subunit, kinetochore-associated Ctf19 complex (Ctf19c; the budding yeast equivalent of the human CCAN) in regulating pericentromeric crossover formation. Here, we develop a dCas9/CRISPR-based system that allows ectopic targeting of Ctf19c-subunits to a non-centromeric locus during meiosis. Using this approach, we query sufficiency in meiotic crossover suppression, and identify Ctf19 (the budding yeast homologue of vertebrate CENP-P) as a central mediator of kinetochore-associated crossover control. We show that the effect of Ctf19 is encoded in its NH2-terminal tail, and depends on residues known to be important for the recruitment of the Scc2-Scc4 cohesin regulator to kinetochores. We thus reveal a crucial determinant that links kinetochores to meiotic recombinational control. This work provides insight into localized control of meiotic recombination. Furthermore, our approach establishes a dCas9/CRISPR-based experimental platform that can be utilized to investigate and locally manipulate meiotic crossover control. This platform can easily be adapted in order to investigate other aspects of localized chromosome biology.
How to avoid the tragedy of alternative food networks (AFNs)? The impact of social capital and transparency on AFN performance
Authors: De Bernardi Paola , Bertello Alberto , Venuti Francesco , Foscolo Enrico
Published: April 2020

Purpose

Alternative food networks (AFNs) have recently emerged in the food landscape as new ways of food production, distribution and consumption which are alternatives to the traditional food system. Drawing on the tragedy of the commons, this paper aims to test the role played by social capital and transparency in reducing customer's lethargy and thus enhancing AFN performance in terms of frequency and quantity of purchases made by customers.

Design/methodology/approach

An ordered probit model was used to analyse data from a strong database of 2,115 Italian AFN customers. Given the novelty of the topic, the quantitative survey was anticipated by a preliminary qualitative study based on in-depth interviews, focus groups and participant observation.

Findings

Customers play an active role in AFN communities, co-creating value together with the other actors of the network. The two independent variables tested in this model, social capital and transparency, positively and significantly affect customers' quantity and frequency of purchases within AFNs, reducing the occurrence of the tragedy of commons.

Originality/value

To the authors' knowledge, this study represents one of the first attempts to measure, through a quantitative method, the effect of performance drivers (i.e. social capital and transparency) on AFN performance. Theoretical, managerial and policy implications will be thoroughly presented and discussed along the paper.
Utilizing short version big five traits on crowdsouring
Authors: Igawa Kousaku , Higa Kunihiko , Takamiya Tsutomu
Published: April 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the efficacy of the Japanese ten-item personality inventory (TIPI-J), a short version of the big five (BF) questionnaire, on crowdsourcing. The BF traits are indicators of personality and are said to be an effective predictor of study performance in various occupations. BF can be used in crowdsourcing to predict crowd workers’ performance; however, it will be difficult to use in practice for two reasons like the time-and-effort issue and the bias issue. In this study, an empirical analysis is conducted on crowdsourcing to examine if TIPI-J can solve those issues.

Design/methodology/approach

To investigate the issues, two tasks are posted on a crowdsourcing provider. Both TIPI-J and full version BF are conducted before and after selecting crowd workers. Structural validity and convergence validity are tested with correlation analysis between before (TIPI-J) and after (full version BF) data to examine the bias issue. Additionally, those correlations are compared with previous study and significances are examined.

Findings

The correlations in “conscientiousness” is 0.45-0.50, respectively, compared with a previous study, those two correlations did not show significance. This indicates that no clear bias exists.

Originality/value

This is the first research to investigate the efficacy of TIPI-J on crowdsourcing and showed that TIPI-J can be a useful tool for predicting crowd workers’ performance and thus it can help to select appropriate crowd workers.
Coexisting attractors, chaos control and synchronization in a self-exciting homopolar dynamo system
Authors: Chen Xingrong , Xiao Li , Kingni Sifeu Takougang , Moroz Irene , Wei Zhouchao , Jahanshahi Hadi
Published: April 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate coexisting attractors, chaos control and synchronization in a self-exciting homopolar dynamo system in this paper.

Design/methodology/approach

Two single controllers are designed and added to the proposed 3D autonomous chaotic system, and its stability at zero equilibrium point is guaranteed by applying an appropriate control signal based on the Lyapunov stability theory.

Findings

Numerical simulations reveal that the proposed 3D dynamo system exhibits periodic oscillations, double-scroll chaotic attractors and coexisting attractors. Finally, a single controller is designed for the global asymptotic synchronization of a unidirectionally coupled identical 3D autonomous chaotic system.

Originality/value

The derived results of this paper are new and complement some earlier works. The innovation concludes two points in this paper; coexisting attractors are foundthe and an appropriate control signal based on the Lyapunov stability theory is established. The ideas of this paper can be applied to investigate some other homopolar dynamo systems.
The mechanism behind informational fairness and project performance relationship: evidence from Pakistani construction organizations
Authors: Khattak Sumreen Masood , Iqbal Muhammad Zahid , Ikramullah Malik , Raziq Muhammad Mustafa
Published: April 2020

Purpose

This study examines the relationship between employees' perceptions of informational fairness and project performance. Furthermore, it examines if this relationship is sequentially mediated by (1) knowledge sharing and role clarity and (2) communication openness and role clarity.

Design/methodology/approach

Data are collected from 302 full-time employees of seven project-based construction organizations in Pakistan. Data are analyzed through variance-based structural equation modeling technique and the Preacher and Hayes' bootstrapping procedure.

Findings

Results indicate that project employees' perceptions of informational fairness positively predict project performance. Moreover, this relationship is sequentially mediated by (1) communication openness and role clarity and (2) knowledge sharing and role clarity.

Originality/value

This study provides further insights on the informational fairness and project performance relationship by examining their underlying mechanisms. It draws on the much ignored context of Pakistan, and offers some implications for managers and researchers with regard to how behavioral factors may further enhance project performance.
Why do borrowers default on online loans? An inquiry of their psychology mechanism
Authors: Wang Xiaolun , Xu Yunjie Calvin , Lu Tian , Zhang Chenghong
Published: April 2020

Purpose

In the online microloan market, the ability to evaluate the credit risk of borrowers is key to business success. Based on the general strain theory, this study proposes a contextualized two-stage model with stress factors, negative affects and constraint factors to explain the psychological mechanism of borrowers' default behaviors.

Design/methodology/approach

An online survey is conducted to test the hypotheses. We collect and analyze 713 valid responses through a structural equation model.

Findings

(1) Economic and social strains experienced by borrowers can cause four types of negative affects: life dissatisfaction, perceived unfairness, inferiority feeling and loneliness; (2) Both strains and negative affects have a considerable effect on borrowers' default intention; (3) Moral norm plays a negative moderating role in the relationship between strains, negative affects and default behavior, whereas perceived deterrence shows a strong main effect.

Originality/value

(1) This study introduces the GST from sociology and criminology, and contextualizes it in the microloan context to explain default behavior; (2) This study provides a comprehensive and staged psychological mechanism to explain deviant behavior; (3) This study bears critical implications for the current practice in credit assessment and default prevention.
Natural convection of Casson fluid in a square enclosure
Authors: Aghighi Mohammad Saeid , Metivier Christel , Masoumi Hamed
Published: April 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the natural convection of a yield stress fluid in a square enclosure with differentially heated side walls. In particular, the Casson model is considered which is a commonly used model.

Design/methodology/approach

The coupled conservation equations of mass, momentum and energy related to the two-dimensional steady-state natural convection within square enclosures are solved numerically by using the Galerkin's weighted residual finite element method with quadrilateral, eight nodes elements.

Findings

Results highlight a small degree of the shear-thinning in the Casson fluids. It is shown that the yield stress has a stabilizing effect since the convection can stop for yield stress fluids while this is not the case for Newtonian fluids. The heat transfer rate, velocity and Yc obtained with the Casson model have the smallest values compared to other viscoplastic models. Results highlight a weak dependence of Yc with the Rayleigh number: Yc∼Ra0.07. A supercritical bifurcation at the transition between the convective and the conductive regimes is found.

Originality/value

The originality of the present study concerns the comprehensive and detailed solutions of the natural convection of Casson fluids in square enclosures with differentially heated side walls. It is shown that there exists a major difference between the cases of Casson and Bingham models, and hence using the Bingham model for analyzing the viscoplastic behavior of the fluids which follow the Casson model (such as blood) may not be accurate. Finally, a correlation is proposed for the mean Nusselt number Nu¯.
A meta‐analysis of tract‐based spatial statistics studies examining white matter integrity in cocaine use disorder
Authors: Suchting Robert , Beard Charlotte L. , Schmitz Joy M. , Soder Heather E. , Yoon Jin H. , Hasan Khader M. , Narayana Ponnada A. , Lane Scott D.
Published: April 2020

Tract‐based spatial statistics (TBSS) of diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) studies have consistently shown diminished white matter (WM) integrity for individuals with cocaine use disorder (CUD). The present study used seed‐based d mapping (SDM) to determine the extent to which a systematic difference in the WM integrity of cocaine users may exist (as compared with that of healthy controls). Articles from 2006 (when TBSS was first developed) to present were reviewed, with eight selected for inclusion. Meta‐analysis found lower fractional anisotropy (FA) in the genu of the corpus callosum for cocaine users, with a small‐to‐moderate peak effect size (Hedge's g = −0.331). Sensitivity analyses mostly supported the robustness of the obtained difference. Differences detected at exploratory thresholds for significance suggested insult to WM integrity extending beyond the corpus callosum. The present results compliment a previous region‐of‐interest (ROI)‐based meta‐analysis of DTI studies in individuals with CUD. These findings have significant implications for the potential role of neuroprotective agents in the treatment of CUD and merit additional iteration as more studies accrue in the literature.