bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Problems and methods of improving the quality of jaw crushers
Authors: Nikitin A G , Bazhenov I A
Published: November 2019

Practically in all metallurgical treatment the raw product needs to be crushed by crushing machines. The main indicator of the crushers quality, which characterize their technical level and competitiveness, is their reliability and durability in the operating conditions, which can be quantitatively assessed by the number of failures in the process of obtaining the finished product on the machine. Among numerous technical reasons for the relatively short, but rather frequent downtimes in the operating conditions of jaw crushers, a significant place is occupied by the downtimes associated with the replacement of the plain bearing liners due to their wear. The rapid wear of liners is the result of not only contact friction between the axle trunnions and liners, but also the action of dynamic forces. The dynamic forces arising from the operation of jaw crushers are due to the presence of a gap in the kinematic pair of link junctions and velocities discrete values of the relative displacement of the links inside the gaps of the friction bearing. Consequently, the reliable operation of the machine largely depends on the creation of conditions that ensure the backlash-free contact of the mating links. It was experimentally proven that the use of mechanisms for taking up the wear of bearings with elastic elements that during the entire cycle of operation of the crank-beam mechanism taking up the wear in the kinematic pairs mating, prevents the appearance of additional dynamic loads and, thereby, increases the reliability of jaw crushers. Thus, the quality of the machine increases, as well as its productivity.
The study of the high temperatures effect on the specific electrical resistivity of rail steel in order to create safe conditions for the operation of access roads to open-pit mines
Authors: Kuznetsov V A , Kozyrev N A , Shevchenko R A , Usoltsev A A , Khrenova A V , Gutak O Ya
Published: November 2019

In the present paper the high temperatures effect on the specific electrical resistance of rail steel was investigated. The regression model of the temperature effect on the specific electrical resistivity of rail steel E76KhF was constructed. Application of this regression model will allow the technology of flash butt welding of rails to be optimized.
Heater parameters remote monitoring system
Authors: Nikitenko S M , Nikitenko M S , Remizov S V , Kizilov S A
Published: November 2019

The article is devoted to the issues of mining enterprises heating equipment operation automation, to the parameters remote monitoring system development. The mine complex heater installation system managing structure and the heater installation monitoring system electronic control unit operation block diagram have been proposed.
Monitoring of degasification boreholes status by echolocation
Authors: Tailakov O V , Zastrelov D N , Makeev M P , Saltymakov E A , Kolesnichenko S E , Kolmakova A A
Published: November 2019

An approach for estimating the extent of degasification boreholes drilled from mine workings, based on the recording of acoustic signals is described. The “Echolot” apparatus was used as a recording device and it registered the time of acoustic signal initiation and the repeated arrival of the wave reflected from the medium boundary. The results of depth measurements of degasification boreholes in mine conditions are presented.
Associations of 4AT with mobility, length of stay and mortality in hospital and discharge destination among patients admitted with hip fractures
Authors: Lisk Radcliffe , Yeong Keefai , Enwere Peter , Jenkinson Josie , Robin Jonathan , Irvin-Sellers Melanie , Fluck David , Osmani Ahmad , Sharmin Rifat , Sharma Pankaj , Fry Christopher H , Han Thang S
Published: November 2019

Background

the 4AT (Alertness, Abbreviated Mental Test-4, Attention and Acute change or fluctuating course), a tool to screen cognitive impairment and delirium, has recently been recommended by the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network. We examined its ability to predict health outcomes among patients admitted with hip fractures to a single hospital between January 2018 and June 2019.

Methods

the 4AT was performed within 1 day after hip surgery. A 4AT score of 0 means unlikely delirium or severe cognitive impairment (reference group); a score of 1–3 suggests possible chronic cognitive impairment, without excluding possibility of delirium; a score ≥ 4 suggests delirium with or without chronic cognitive impairment. Logistic regression, adjusted for: age; sex; nutritional status; co-morbidities; polypharmacy; and anticholinergic burden, used the 4AT to predict mobility, length of stay (LOS), mortality and discharge destination, compared with the reference group.

Results

from 537 (392 women, 145 men: mean = 83.7 ± standard deviation [SD] = 8.8 years) consecutive patients, 522 completed the 4AT; 132 (25%) had prolonged LOS (>2 weeks) and 36 (6.8%) died in hospital. Risk of failure to mobilise within 1 day of surgery was increased with a 4AT score ≥ 4 (OR = 2.4, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.3–4.3). Prolonged LOS was increased with 4AT scores of 1–3 (OR = 2.4, 95%CI = 1.4–4.1) or ≥4 (OR = 3.1, 95%CI = 1.9–6.7). In-patient mortality was increased with a 4AT score ≥ 4 (OR = 3.1, 95%CI = 1.2–8.2) but not with a 4AT score of 1–3. Change of residence on discharge was increased with a 4AT score ≥ 4 (OR = 3.1, 95%CI = 1.4–6.8). These associations persisted after excluding patients with dementia. 4AT score = 1–3 and ≥ 4 associated with increased LOS by 3 and 6 days, respectively.

Conclusions

for older adults with hip fracture, the 4AT independently predicts immobility, prolonged LOS, death in hospital and change in residence on discharge.
What Drives Declining Support for Long-Term Ecological Research?
Authors: Vucetich John A , Nelson Michael Paul , Bruskotter Jeremy T
Published: November 2019

Several recent papers have reinvigorated a chronic concern about the need for ecological science to focus more on long-term research. For a few decades, significant voices among ecologists have been assembling elements of a case in favor of long-term ecological research. In this article and for the first time, we synthesize the elements of this case and present it in succinct form. We also argue that this case is unlikely to result in more long-term research. Finally, we present ideas that, if implemented, are more likely to result in appropriate levels of investment in long-term research in ecological science. The article comes at an important time, because the US National Science Foundation is currently undertaking a 40-year review of its Long-Term Ecological Research Network.
What Works? Creative Approaches to Transitional Justice in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Authors: Fairey Tiffany , Kerr Rachel
Published: November 2019

ABSTRACT∞

Scholars and practitioners of transitional justice have begun to seek alternative approaches in the arts and culture as a means to pursue core goals of peace and reconciliation. This Special Issue asks what creative approaches can do that conventional transitional justice mechanisms cannot, and invites us to reflect on the possibilities, and the potential challenges, risks and constraints. In response, this article discusses two arts-based initiatives in Bosnia and Herzegovina, one involving a national museum, the History Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and one with a Bosnian peacebuilding organization, the Post Conflict Research Centre, that provided opportunities for plural, dialogical and localized forms of transitional justice. Analyzing the question of what worked in these two distinct initiatives, we highlight four common qualities and offer them as non-prescriptive ‘good-practice principles’ in strategic arts-based peacebuilding practice: iterative working over time; carving space for plural, locally driven narratives; amplifying the capacities and networks of local actors; and context-driven project design.
The role of shaded cocoa plantations in the maintenance of epiphytic orchids and their interactions with phorophytes
Authors: Morales-Linares Jonas , García-Franco José G , Flores-Palacios Alejandro , Krömer Thorsten , Toledo-Aceves Tarin
Published: November 2019

Aims

Habitat loss and fragmentation are the main threats to biodiversity in tropical forests. Agroecosystems such as shaded cocoa plantations (SCP) provide refuge for tropical forest biota. However, it is poorly known whether the interspecific ecological interactions are also maintained in these transformed habitats. We evaluated the diversity, reproductive status and photosynthetic metabolism (CAM or C3) of the epiphytic orchid community, and their interactions with host trees (phorophytes) in SCP compared to tropical rainforest (TRF).

Methods

In southeastern Mexico, three sites each in TRF and SCP were studied, with four 400 m2 plots established at each site to record all orchids and their phorophytes. We determined the reproductive (adult) or non-reproductive (juvenile) status of each orchid individual in relation to the presence or absence, respectively, of flowers/fruits (or remnants), and assigned the photosynthetic pathway of each orchid species based in literature. We used true diversity and ecological networks approaches to analyze orchid diversity and orchid–phorophyte interactions, respectively.

Important Findings

In total, 607 individuals belonging to 47 orchid species were recorded. Orchid diversity was higher in TRF (19 effective species) than in SCP (11 effective species) and only seven species were shared between the two habitats. CAM orchid species were more frequent in SCP (53%) than in TRF (14%). At the community level the proportion of non-reproductive and reproductive orchid species and the nested structure and specialization level of the TRF orchid–phorophyte network were maintained in SCP. However, only a subset of TRF epiphytic orchids remains in SCP, highlighting the importance of protecting TRF. Despite this difference, shaded agroecosystems such as SCP can maintain some of the diversity and functions of natural forests, since the SCP epiphytic orchid community, mainly composed of CAM species, and its phorophytes constitute a nested interaction network, which would confer robustness to disturbances.
Surgical Resection of a Complex Spetzler-Martin Grade IV Medial Sylvian Arteriovenous Malformation: 3-Dimensional Operative Video
Authors: Chiluwal Amrit K , Klironomos Georgios , Dehdashti Amir R
Published: November 2019

Sylvian arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) are challenging lesions for surgical management. They are classified according to the Sugita classification based on the location of the nidus in the sylvian fissure: pure, lateral, medial, and deep. Resection of these lesions are fraught with risks, as it requires extensive arachnoid dissection in the sylvian fissure in close proximity to surrounding eloquent tissue, and the presence of en passage arteries can resemble feeding arteries. In this video illustration, the authors describe a complex, Spetzler-Martin Grade IV right sylvian AVM and its surgical resection. By Sugita classification, this was a medial sylvian AVM, with an associated flow related middle cerebral artery (MCA) bifurcation aneurysm. Informed consent was obtained from the patient prior to the procedures. The AVM was embolized preoperatively, and surgical resection was carried out via a pterional approach. The detail of the AVM resection is described in the video clip. Postoperative digital subtraction angiography showed complete excision of the lesion, and the patient was discharged to home on postoperative day 6 without any neurological deficit. In 1-yr follow-up angiogram, beside complete obliteration of the AVM, the flow-related MCA bifurcation aneurysm as well as the M1 and M2 vessels have decreased in size and are much less prominent in comparison to the pretreatment angiography.
A high-resolution gene expression atlas links dedicated meristem genes to key architectural traits
Authors: Knauer Steffen , Javelle Marie , Li Lin , Li Xianran , Ma Xiaoli , Wimalanathan Kokulapalan , Kumari Sunita , Johnston Robyn , Leiboff Samuel , Meeley Robert , Schnable Patrick S. , Ware Doreen , Lawrence-Dill Carolyn , Yu Jianming , Muehlbauer Gary J. , Scanlon Michael J. , Timmermans Marja C.P.
Published: November 2019

The shoot apical meristem (SAM) orchestrates the balance between stem cell proliferation and organ initiation essential for postembryonic shoot growth. Meristems show a striking diversity in shape and size. How this morphological diversity relates to variation in plant architecture and the molecular circuitries driving it are unclear. By generating a high-resolution gene expression atlas of the vegetative maize shoot apex, we show here that distinct sets of genes govern the regulation and identity of stem cells in maize versus Arabidopsis. Cell identities in the maize SAM reflect the combinatorial activity of transcription factors (TFs) that drive the preferential, differential expression of individual members within gene families functioning in a plethora of cellular processes. Subfunctionalization thus emerges as a fundamental feature underlying cell identity. Moreover, we show that adult plant characters are, to a significant degree, regulated by gene circuitries acting in the SAM, with natural variation modulating agronomically important architectural traits enriched specifically near dynamically expressed SAM genes and the TFs that regulate them. Besides unique mechanisms of maize stem cell regulation, our atlas thus identifies key new targets for crop improvement.
Tourism destination competitiveness and tourism performance
Authors: Hanafiah Mohd Hafiz , Zulkifly Muhammad Izzat
Published: November 2019

Purpose

This study aims to examine the relationships between tourism destination competitiveness (TDC) determinants and tourism performance. This study specifically assessed the soundness of the TDC attributes and evaluated their ability in explaining tourism performance.

Design/methodology/approach

The Dwyer and Kim’s (2003) destination competitiveness integrated model (IM) was used. Secondary data of 115 nations available from the Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Index (TTCI) and other international reports were also used. The hypothesised relationships were tested via partial least square-structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM).

Findings

This study confirms that the core resources, complementary condition, globalisation and tourism price significantly explain tourism performance. Results have shown differences in the competitiveness level and actual performance among nations, highlighting specific limitations of the current TDC model and TTCI report reliability.

Research limitations/implications

Future study could segment the sample base on destinations characteristic and then analyse it based on smaller sub-samples of similar destinations. Moreover, drivers of destination performance in developed and less develop destinations are quite diverse.

Practical implications

The incorrect competitiveness ranking evaluation will affect inward investment decisions. This study framework enables policymakers to arrive at more informed decisions than merely relying on the original competitiveness rankings.

Originality/value

The widespread acknowledgment of the importance of competitiveness for a tourism destination's success suggests that there is a crucial need for sound benchmarking of countries’ competitive capabilities. The proposed competitiveness determinants aid the policymakers in identifying the best competitiveness and tourism performance predictors, as well as how to identify crucial factors affecting the rankings.
Are intangibles really a source of future economic benefits? Evidence from the technology sector
Authors: Lopes Ilídio Tomás
Published: November 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to identify the impact of intangibles as drivers of economic future benefits, in the top technological companies in the world. It also aims to identify whether the distribution of those intellectual capital (IC) drivers depends on the region and on the accounting standards, used in the preparation of firms’ financial reporting.

Design/methodology/approach

Using information from the major technological firms for a range of time of five years, a set of IC proxies were identified and regressed. Three linear models were used, and hypotheses were performed toward the identification of significant impacts on firms’ turnover prediction.

Findings

A set of intangibles was identified as significant drivers of firms’ turnover. Results suggest that the distribution of those proxies differ among regions and depend on the accounting standards. Firms from North-American evidence higher levels of intangibles, their boards composition is differentiated, additionally tending to increasingly invest in research and development activities.

Research limitations/implications

In spite of the limitations, the authors underline the sample size. However, the current approach can be replicated over time, and based in other rankings, applicable to other activity sectors and using different metrics.

Practical implications

Based on the major technological firms worldwide, the research adds value to the already known scope of intangibles, by providing additional and complimentary outcomes. A new direction, based on the scope of intangibles accounting standards used in the preparation of financial statements, was flagged toward theory and practice alignment.

Originality/value

This research adds value to the current literature by exploring the effects of intangibles in the major technological companies in the world. Focused in a sector strongly marked by innovative strategies, it provides a new and complimentary overview.
Prevalence of upper respiratory tract infections and associated factors among children in Turkey
Authors: Cinaroglu Songul
Published: November 2019

Purpose

Upper respiratory tract infections (URIs) are the most common diseases observed in children aged 0–6 years in Turkey. This study was conducted to investigate URIs in 0–6 year–old children in Turkey.

Design and Methods

Data of children aged 0–6 years who were included in the 2014 Turkey Health Survey conducted by the Turkish Statistical Institute were collected from their parents.

Results

In total, 1,293 and 1,732 children with and without URIs, respectively, were identified. The weighted point prevalence of URIs was 42.23%. Compared with the uninsured and female children belonging to high‐income families, insured male children belonging to low‐income families were more likely to develop URIs (p < .001). Moreover, comorbidities such as communicable diseases, anemia and diarrhea, and factors like health services utilization were associated with URIs. Analysis of health services utilization highlights that URIs were reported more among the children who had not visited a hospital than among those who had visited a hospital, with an odds ratio of 1.23.

Conclusions

The results of this study provide a deeper understanding of sociodemographic, comorbid, and health services utilization factors associated with URIs. These results provide useful insights for pediatric nursing professionals to improve the quality and efficiency of pediatric respiratory nursing services.

Practice Implications

Collaborative networks with other health professionals, parents, and public health policy‐makers are essential to decrease the prevalence of URIs in Turkey. These study results provide several insights for health professionals to improve pediatric action plans for ultimately improving child health status.
The Impact of Weighting Methods and Behavioral Attitudes on the Weighting Process in Decision-Making
Authors: Tzioutziou Anastasia , Xenidis Yiannis
Published: November 2019

The determination of weights in decision-making problems can be deduced as a complex process of preference formation. Preferences are expressions of behavioral attitudes and are affected by external circumstances, such as risk and ambiguity. The objective of this research is to examine the impact of both the human factor and the weighting methods on the weighting process in decision-making problems. Based on relevant literature a new methodology is proposed and applied to identify with the use of a psychometric function the behavioral attitudes of decision-making analysts against risk and ambiguity. Furthermore, the examination of process-related features such as the weighting method, the weighting scale and the weighting problem's presentation provides additional knowledge on the understanding of the weighting process in decision-making problems. Thus, an original survey is designed, aiming at: (a) the identification of the respondents' attitudinal preferences based on multiple personality tests and (b) the elicitation of weight assignments through the use of different weighting tasks and subtasks. The findings reveal that the weightings and their consistency are significantly affected by the elicitation method, the nature of the weighting scale and the problem's framing. It is also interesting that the decision analysts' behavioral traits, in association with the problem's methodological aspects, affect the weight assignments, thus providing evidence for the potential to predict weightings in the decision-making process.
Subretinal pigment epithelium fibrotic tissue morphological changes after a single anti-vascular endothelial growth factor injection in age-related macular degeneration
Authors: Ohayon Avi , De Rosa Irene , Semoun Oudy , Jung Camille , Colantuono Donato , El Ameen Ala'a , Srour Mayer , Souied Eric H
Published: November 2019

Aims

To demonstrate and evaluate the morphological changes of multilayered fibrovascular pigment epithelial detachment (PED) to a single anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) injection in age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Methods

We retrospectively analysed the morphological changes of 30 eyes with exudative AMD showing fibrotic multilayered PED, between two consecutive visits. All patients had one anti-VEGF intravitreal injection at the first visit. We quantitatively analysed the different compartments within the PED and their morphological response.

Results

The mean follow-up time interval between the first and the second visit was 32.46±4.64 days. We defined three optical coherence tomography zones within the PED: a subretinal pigment epithelium inhomogeneous hyporeflective space (layer 1), a hyper-reflective band beneath layer 1 (layer 2), and a hyporeflective space between the Bruch’s membrane and layer 2 (layer 3). The mean height of layer 1 was 142±44.63 and 99.30±39.79 µm at visits 1 and 2, respectively. The mean thickness of layer 2 was 101.42±46.66 and 82.76±35.24 µm at visits 1 and 2, respectively. The mean height of layer 3 was 35.77±32.77 and 5.66±8.68 µm at visits 1 and 2, respectively (p=0.009). The mean height change for layer 1 was statistically significantly higher than for layer 2 (p=0.0002).

Conclusions

Fibrovascular PED was compartmented into three layers with different reflectivities that morphologically responded differently to a single anti-VEGF injection. Layer 2 had a statistically significantly lower response compared with layer 1, suggesting the hypothesis of a fibrotic component in layer 2.
Structural network changes in cerebral small vessel disease
Authors: Tuladhar Anil M , Tay Jonathan , van Leijsen Esther , Lawrence Andrew J , van Uden Ingeborg Wilhelmina Maria , Bergkamp Mayra , van der Holst Ellen , Kessels Roy P C , Norris David , Markus Hugh S , De Leeuw Frank-Erik
Published: November 2019

Objectives

To investigate whether longitudinal structural network efficiency is associated with cognitive decline and whether baseline network efficiency predicts mortality in cerebral small vessel disease (SVD).

Methods

A prospective, single-centre cohort consisting of 277 non-demented individuals with SVD was conducted. In 2011 and 2015, all participants were scanned with MRI and underwent neuropsychological assessment. We computed network properties using graph theory from probabilistic tractography and calculated changes in psychomotor speed and overall cognitive index. Multiple linear regressions were performed, while adjusting for potential confounders. We divided the group into mild-to-moderate white matter hyperintensities (WMH) and severe WMH group based on median split on WMH volume.

Results

The decline in global efficiency was significantly associated with a decline in psychomotor speed in the group with severe WMH (β=0.18, p=0.03) and a trend with change in cognitive index (β=0.14, p=0.068), which diminished after adjusting for imaging markers for SVD. Baseline global efficiency was associated with all-cause mortality (HR per decrease of 1 SD 0.43, 95% CI 0.23 to 0.80, p=0.008, C-statistic 0.76).

Conclusion

Disruption of the network efficiency, a metric assessing the efficiency of network information transfer, plays an important role in explaining cognitive decline in SVD, which was however not independent of imaging markers of SVD. Furthermore, baseline network efficiency predicts risk of mortality in SVD that may reflect the global health status of the brain in SVD. This emphasises the importance of structural network analysis in the context of SVD research and the use of network measures as surrogate markers in research setting.
Recurrent subcutaneous and muscular angiomatosis with spontaneous regression in a foal
Authors: Cerri Simona , Jolly Sandra , De La Rebière de Poyade Geoffroy , Busoni Valeria , Cesarini Carla
Published: November 2019

A three‐month‐old colt was referred to the University of Liège’s teaching hospital for investigation of several painful masses that had developed progressively in different body areas since its first month of life. Clinical examination revealed tachycardia, tachypnoea and bilateral front limb stiffness. Warm and painful swellings, covered with undamaged skin, were noted over both elbows, left shoulder, withers and left gluteal region. Haematology showed leucocytosis and neutrophilia. Radiographical and ultrasonographical imaging of different regions revealed no skeletal abnormalities but a severe subcutaneous thickening in the region of the withers. A surgical biopsy of the gluteal swelling allowed the diagnosis of subcutaneous and muscular angiomatosis. Before a diagnosis was obtained, the foal was treated with anti‐inflammatory drugs, broad‐spectrum antimicrobials and gastric protectants. The foal was discharged after a two‐week hospitalisation period. Nine months later it was reported to be healthy and growing normally. Previous masses had spontaneously regressed but new ones had appeared.
Multivariate association of wood basic density with site and plantation variables inEucalyptusspp.
Authors: Ribeiro Maria Dolores dos Santos Barzotto , Rodrigues Sergio Augusto , Ballarin Adriano Wagner
Published: November 2019

Wood density, an important parameter for evaluating forest biomass productivity and wood product quality control, is influenced by a complex combination of variables of forest plantations, including environmental conditions and the management practices adopted. In this paper, we demonstrate that three site variables (annual rainfall, temperature, and soil texture) and 10 plantation variables (e.g., age and genetic material) are associated with basic wood density (evaluated in two situations: with and without bark) in 936 trees of different species of Eucalyptus L’Hér across five distinct edaphoclimatic regions in Brazil. A canonical correlation analysis was used to identify the most contributory variables affecting wood density. The variables globally associated with high basic wood densities were, in order of importance, the genetic material and area per tree (both under direct control of plantation managers), as well as mean annual temperature and soil texture of the site. These results confirmed the advantage of using clonal material (instead of seedling origin material) planted in larger spacings in sites with higher mean annual temperatures and clayey soils to obtain higher basic wood densities. Conversely, low basic wood densities were associated with high-productivity sites, higher rainfall, and plantations with a higher basal area per stem in second rotation.
Effect of transverse flow in porous medium on heat exchanger simulation optimization
Authors: Liu Yang , Yu Chao , Qin Sicheng , Wang Xiangjie , Lou Jiarun
Published: November 2019

To improve the accuracy of heat exchanger computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations, the transverse resistance coefficient of the cold side and the hot side of the water-cooled charge air cooler (WCCAC) is calculated using the fin element method, and the influence of several common factors on the resistance coefficient of the fin element is analyzed. The transverse resistance coefficient obtained from the simulation of the fin element is substituted into the WCCAC model and compared with experimental data. It was found that the fin element method can simulate the flow field of the WCCAC accurately, and the simulation results were closer to the experimental curve compared with the empirical method. This study provides guidance for the optimal design of the heat exchanger and is helpful to shorten the development time and to save costs.
Subjecting Dark Matter Candidates to the Cluster Test
Authors: Nieuwenhuizen Theodorus Maria
Published: November 2019

Galaxy clusters, employed by Zwicky to demonstrate the existence of dark matter (DM), pose new stringent tests. First, the possibility is considered that merging clusters demonstrate that DM is self-interacting with cross-section [Formula: see text] 2[Formula: see text]cm2/gr. In that case, MACHOs, primordial black holes (PBHs) and light axions that build MACHOs are ruled out as cluster DM, while GeV and TeV WIMPs and keV sterile neutrinos are challenged. Next, recent strong lensing and X-ray gas data of the quite relaxed and quite spherical cluster A1835 are analyzed. These lensing data involve a covariance matrix of which the small eigenvalues have to be regularized. This is achieved with a new, general, parameter-free method: binning with respect to a model fit, and accounting for intra-bin fluctuations. This method allows to test the cases of DM with Maxwell–Boltzmann, Bose–Einstein and Fermi–Dirac (FD) distribution, next to Navarro–Frenck–White profiles. Fits to all these profiles are formally rejected at over [Formula: see text], except in the fermionic situation. The interpretation in terms of pseudo-Dirac neutrinos with mass of [Formula: see text][Formula: see text]eV/[Formula: see text] is consistent with results on the cluster A1689, with the DM fractions from WMAP, Planck and DES, and with the non-detection of neutrinoless double [Formula: see text]-decay. The predicted mass will be tested in the KATRIN and PTOLEMY experiments.
Cancer Cell Growth in the Near Infrared Region by Using Silica Coated Gold Nanorods
Authors: Wang Tuntun , Yeom Kwi Seok , Nanda Sitansu Sekhar , An Seong Soo A. , Yi Dong Kee
Published: November 2019

Gold nanorods (AuNRs) have been considered as suitable materials for diverse biomedical applications in controlling cell behaviors. The nanoisland system with well-dispersed silica coated Au nanorods (Si-AuNRs) was used to demonstrate the enhanced cell growth of normal and cancer cells (MDA-MB-231 mammalian breast cancer cells) from the induced expressions of the heat shock proteins (HSPs). The over-expressions of HSP could help in protein folding in cell proliferations and growths of both the normal and cancer cells. In the current study, interesting mechanisms of cancer cell growth with Si-AuNRs than the conventional systems, such as incubator, would be presented. We believe that the growth of cancer cells in near infrared (NIR) region using Si-AuNRs induced the activities of HSPs, which could help the protein folding in cell growth and survival in comparison to the cells grown in the incubator only. The cell growth enhancing technology could be expanded in diverse applications in cell culture systems.
A Versatile ES Cell–Based Melanoma Mouse Modeling Platform
Authors: Bok Ilah , Vera Olga , Xu Xiaonan , Jasani Neel , Nakamura Koji , Reff Jordan , Nenci Arianna , Gonzalez Jose G. , Karreth Florian A.
Published: November 2019

The cumbersome and time-consuming process of generating new mouse strains and multiallelic experimental animals often hinders the use of genetically engineered mouse models (GEMM) in cancer research. Here, we describe the development and validation of an embryonic stem cell (ESC)-GEMM platform for rapid modeling of melanoma in mice. The platform incorporates 12 clinically relevant genotypes composed of combinations of four driver alleles (LSL-BrafV600E, LSL-NrasQ61R, PtenFlox, and Cdkn2aFlox) and regulatory alleles to spatiotemporally control the perturbation of genes of interest. The ESCs produce high-contribution chimeras, which recapitulate the melanoma phenotypes of conventionally bred mice. Using the ESC-GEMM platform to modulate Pten expression in melanocytes in vivo, we highlighted the utility and advantages of gene depletion by CRISPR-Cas9, RNAi, or conditional knockout for melanoma modeling. Moreover, complementary genetic methods demonstrated the impact of Pten restoration on the prevention and maintenance of Pten-deficient melanomas. Finally, we showed that chimera-derived melanoma cell lines retain regulatory allele competency and are a powerful resource to complement ESC-GEMM chimera experiments in vitro and in syngeneic grafts in vivo. Thus, when combined with sophisticated genetic tools, the ESC-GEMM platform enables rapid, high-throughput, and versatile studies aimed at addressing outstanding questions in melanoma biology.

Significance: This study presents a high-throughput and versatile ES cell-based mouse modeling platform that can be combined with state-of-the-art genetic tools to address unanswered questions in melanoma in vivo.

See related commentary by Thorkelsson et al., p. 655
Toward Understanding the Occurrence of Both Wet and Dry Sahel Seasons during El Niño: The Modulating Role of the Global Ocean
Authors: Pomposi Catherine , Kushnir Yochanan , Giannini Alessandra , Biasutti Michela
Published: November 2019

Prior research has shown that dry conditions tend to persist in the Sahel when El Niño develops. Yet, during the historic 2015 El Niño, Sahel summer precipitation was anomalously high, particularly in the second half of the season. This seeming inconsistency motivates a reexamination of the variability of precipitation during recent El Niño years. We identify and composite around two different outcomes for Sahel summer season: an anomalously wet season or an anomalously dry season as El Niño develops to its peak conditions over the observational record spanning 1950–2015. We find consistently cool temperatures across the global tropics outside the Niño-3.4 region when the Sahel is anomalously wet during El Niño years and a lack of cooling throughout the tropics when the Sahel is anomalously dry. The striking differences in oceanic surface temperatures between wet years and dry years are consistent with a rearrangement of the entire global circulation in favor of increased rainfall in West Africa despite the presence of El Niño.
The long-term survival of patients with III-IVb stage nasopharyngeal carcinoma treated with IMRT with or without Nimotuzumab: a propensity score-matched analysis
Authors: Zhi-Qiang Wang , Qi Mei , Ji-Bin Li , Rui You , You-Ping Liu , Rui Sun , Guang-Yuan Hu , Ming-Yuan Chen , Yi-Jun Hua
Published: November 2019

Background

To assess the efficacy of Nimotuzumab in combination with first-line chemoradiotherapy treatment in Chinese patients with primary III-IVb stage nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Methods

Patients with primary locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma who were treated with intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) and concurrent cisplatin-based chemotherapy between January 2008 and December 2013 at a single institution were retrospectively reviewed. Group A received at least 6 doses of Nimotuzumab, while Group B did not receive Nimotuzumab. A propensity score matching method was used to match patients from each group in a 1:3 ratio.

Results

In total, 730 eligible patients were propensity matched, with 184 patients in Group A and 546 patients in Group B. Significant differences were not observed in the patient and tumor characteristics between Group A and Group B. At a median follow-up of 74.78 months (range 3.53–117.83 months), locoregional recurrence, distant failure and death were observed in 10.68, 11.10 and 16.03% of all patients, respectively. The estimated 5-year locoregional relapse–free survival, distant metastasis–free survival, progression-free survival and overall survival in the Group A versus Group B were 85.34% versus 89.79% (P = 0.156), 93.09% versus 85.61% (P = 0.012), 79.96% versus 77.99% (P = 0.117) and 88.91% versus 78.30% (P = 0.006), respectively.

Conclusions

This nimotuzumab-containing regimen resulted in improved long-term survival of III-IVb stage NPC patients and warrants further prospective evaluation.
The oncogene Gankyrin is expressed in testicular cancer and contributes to cisplatin sensitivity in embryonal carcinoma cells
Authors: Camacho-Moll Maria E. , Macdonald Joni , Looijenga L. H. J. , Rimmer Michael P. , Donat Roland , Marwick John A. , Shukla C. J. , Carragher Neil , Jørgensen Anne , Mitchell Rod T.
Published: November 2019

Background

Testicular germ cell cancer (TGCC) develops from pre-malignant germ neoplasia in situ (GCNIS) cells. GCNIS originates from fetal gonocytes (POU5F1+/MAGE-A4−), which fail to differentiate to pre-spermatogonia (POU5F1−/MAGE-A4+) and undergo malignant transformation. Gankyrin is an oncogene which has been shown to prevent POU5F1 degradation and specifically interact with MAGE-A4 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells. We aimed to investigate the role of Gankyrin in progression from gonocyte to pre-invasive GCNIS and subsequent invasive TGCC.

Methods

We determined Gankyrin expression in human fetal testicular tissue (gestational weeks 9–20; n = 38), human adult testicular tissue with active spermatogenesis (n = 9), human testicular tissue with germ cell maturation delay (n = 4), testicular tissue from patients with pre-invasive GCNIS (n = 6), and invasive TGCC including seminoma (n = 6) and teratoma (n = 7). Functional analysis was performed in-vitro by siRNA knock-down of Gankyrin in the NTera2 cells (derived from embryonal carcinoma).

Results

Germ cell expression of Gankyrin was restricted to a sub-population of prespermatogonia in human fetal testes. Nuclear Gankyrin was also expressed in GCNIS cells of childhood and adult pre-invasive TGCC patients, and in GCNIS from seminoma and non-seminoma patients. Cytoplasmic expression was observed in seminoma tumour cells and NTera2 cells. Gankyrin knock-down in NTera2 cells resulted in an increase in apoptosis mediated via the TP53 pathway, whilst POU5F1 expression was unaffected. Furthermore, Gankyrin knock-down in NTera2 cells increased cisplatin sensitivity with an increase in cell death (13%, p < 0.05) following Gankyrin knock-down, when compared to cisplatin treatment alone, likely via BAX and FAS. Our results demonstrate that Gankyrin expression changes in germ cells during normal transition from gonocyte to prespermatogonia. In addition, changes in Gankyrin localisation are associated with progression of pre-invasive GCNIS to invasive TGCC. Furthermore, we found that Gankyrin is involved in the regulation of NTera2 cell survival and that a reduction in Gankyrin expression can modulate cisplatin sensitivity.

Conclusions

These results suggest that manipulation of Gankyrin expression may reduce the cisplatin dose required for the treatment of TGCC, with benefits in reducing dose-dependent side effects of chemotherapy. Further studies are required in order to assess the effects of modulating Gankyrin on GCNIS/TGCC using in vivo models.
Protective effect of Shenmai injection on doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity via regulation of inflammatory mediators
Authors: Zhang Sheng , You Zhen-Qiang , Yang Lin , Li Li-Li , Wu You-Ping , Gu Li-Qiang , Xin Yan-Fei
Published: November 2019

Background

Doxorubicin (DOX) is a chemotherapy drug for malignant tumors. The clinical application of DOX is limited due to its dosage relative cardiotoxicity. Oxidative damage and cardiac inflammation appear to be involved in DOX-related cardiotoxicity. Shenmai injection (SMI), which mainly consists of Panax ginsengC.A.Mey.and Ophiopogon japonicus (Thunb.) Ker Gawl, is widely used for the treatment of atherosclerotic coronary heart disease and viral myocarditis in China. In this study, we investigated the protective effect of Shenmai injection on doxorubicin-induced acute cardiac injury via the regulation of inflammatory mediators.

Methods

Male ICR mice were randomly divided into seven groups: control, DOX (10 mg/kg), SMI (5 g/kg), DOX with pretreatment with SMI (0.5 g/kg, 1.5 g/kg or 5 g/kg) and DOX with post-treatment with SMI (5 g/kg). Forty-eight hours after the last DOX administration, all mice were anesthetized for ultrasound echocardiography. Then, serum was collected for biochemical and inflammatory cytokine detection, and heart tissue was collected for histological and Western blot detection.

Results

A cumulative dose of DOX (10 mg/kg) induced acute cardiotoxicity in mice manifested by altered echocardiographic outcome, and increased tumor necrosis factor, interleukin 6 (IL-6), monocyte chemotactic protein 1, interferon-γ, and serum AST and LDH levels, as well as cardiac cytoplasmic vacuolation and myofibrillar disarrangement. DOX also caused the increase in the expression of IKK-α and iNOS and produced a large amount of NO, resulting in the accumulation of nitrotyrosine in the heart tissue. Pretreatment with SMI elicited a dose-dependent cardioprotective effect in DOX-dosed mice as evidenced by the normalization of serum inflammatory mediators, as well as improve dcardiac function and myofibril disarrangement.

Conclusions

SMI could recover inflammatory cytokine levels and suppress the expression of IKK-α and iNOS in vivo, which was increased by DOX. Overall, there was evidence that SMI could ameliorate DOX-induced cardiotoxicity by inhibiting inflammation and recovering heart dysfunction.
Mathematical modelling for health systems research: a systematic review of system dynamics and agent-based models
Authors: Cassidy Rachel , Singh Neha S. , Schiratti Pierre-Raphaël , Semwanga Agnes , Binyaruka Peter , Sachingongu Nkenda , Chama-Chiliba Chitalu Miriam , Chalabi Zaid , Borghi Josephine , Blanchet Karl
Published: November 2019

Background

Mathematical modelling has been a vital research tool for exploring complex systems, most recently to aid understanding of health system functioning and optimisation. System dynamics models (SDM) and agent-based models (ABM) are two popular complementary methods, used to simulate macro- and micro-level health system behaviour. This systematic review aims to collate, compare and summarise the application of both methods in this field and to identify common healthcare settings and problems that have been modelled using SDM and ABM.

Methods

We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, MathSciNet, ACM Digital Library, HMIC, Econlit and Global Health databases to identify literature for this review. We described papers meeting the inclusion criteria using descriptive statistics and narrative synthesis, and made comparisons between the identified SDM and ABM literature.

Results

We identified 28 papers using SDM methods and 11 papers using ABM methods, one of which used hybrid SDM-ABM to simulate health system behaviour. The majority of SDM, ABM and hybrid modelling papers simulated health systems based in high income countries. Emergency and acute care, and elderly care and long-term care services were the most frequently simulated health system settings, modelling the impact of health policies and interventions such as those targeting stretched and under resourced healthcare services, patient length of stay in healthcare facilities and undesirable patient outcomes.

Conclusions

Future work should now turn to modelling health systems in low- and middle-income countries to aid our understanding of health system functioning in these settings and allow stakeholders and researchers to assess the impact of policies or interventions before implementation. Hybrid modelling of health systems is still relatively novel but with increasing software developments and a growing demand to account for both complex system feedback and heterogeneous behaviour exhibited by those who access or deliver healthcare, we expect a boost in their use to model health systems.
Improving the efficiency of soybean breeding with high-throughput canopy phenotyping
Authors: Moreira Fabiana Freitas , Hearst Anthony Ahau , Cherkauer Keith Aric , Rainey Katy Martin
Published: November 2019

Background

In the early stages of plant breeding programs high-quality phenotypes are still a constraint to improve genetic gain. New field-based high-throughput phenotyping (HTP) platforms have the capacity to rapidly assess thousands of plots in a field with high spatial and temporal resolution, with the potential to measure secondary traits correlated to yield throughout the growing season. These secondary traits may be key to select more time and most efficiently soybean lines with high yield potential. Soybean average canopy coverage (ACC), measured by unmanned aerial systems (UAS), is highly heritable, with a high genetic correlation with yield. The objective of this study was to compare the direct selection for yield with indirect selection using ACC and using ACC as a covariate in the yield prediction model (Yield|ACC) in early stages of soybean breeding. In 2015 and 2016 we grew progeny rows (PR) and collected yield and days to maturity (R8) in a typical way and canopy coverage using a UAS carrying an RGB camera. The best soybean lines were then selected with three parameters, Yield, ACC and Yield|ACC, and advanced to preliminary yield trials (PYT).

Results

We found that for the PYT in 2016, after adjusting yield for R8, there was no significant difference among the mean performances of the lines selected based on ACC and Yield. In the PYT in 2017 we found that the highest yield mean was from the lines directly selected for yield, but it may be due to environmental constraints in the canopy growth. Our results indicated that PR selection using Yield|ACC selected the most top-ranking lines in advanced yield trials.

Conclusions

Our findings emphasize the value of aerial HTP platforms for early stages of plant breeding. Though ACC selection did not result in the best performance lines in the second year of selections, our results indicate that ACC has a role in the effective selection of high-yielding soybean lines.