bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Is genomic diversity a useful proxy for census population size? Evidence from a species‐rich community of desert lizards
Authors: Grundler Maggie R. , Singhal Sonal , Cowan Mark A. , Rabosky Daniel L.
Published: February 2019

Species abundance data are critical for testing ecological theory, but obtaining accurate empirical estimates for many taxa is challenging. Proxies for species abundance can help researchers circumvent time and cost constraints that are prohibitive for long‐term sampling. Under simple demographic models, genetic diversity is expected to correlate with census size, such that genome‐wide heterozygosity may provide a surrogate measure of species abundance. We tested whether nucleotide diversity is correlated with long‐term estimates of abundance, occupancy and degree of ecological specialization in a diverse lizard community from arid Australia. Using targeted sequence capture, we obtained estimates of genomic diversity from 30 species of lizards, recovering an average of 5,066 loci covering 3.6 Mb of DNA sequence per individual. We compared measures of individual heterozygosity to a metric of habitat specialization to investigate whether ecological preference exerts a measurable effect on genetic diversity. We find that heterozygosity is significantly correlated with species abundance and occupancy, but not habitat specialization. Demonstrating the power of genomic sampling, the correlation between heterozygosity and abundance/occupancy emerged from considering just one or two individuals per species. However, genetic diversity does no better at predicting abundance than a single day of traditional sampling in this community. We conclude that genetic diversity is a useful proxy for regional‐scale species abundance and occupancy, but a large amount of unexplained variation in heterozygosity suggests additional constraints or a failure of ecological sampling to adequately capture variation in true population size.
Competition–defense tradeoff increases the diversity of microbial plankton communities and dampens trophic cascades
Authors: Cadier Mathilde , Andersen Ken H. , Visser Andre W. , Kiørboe Thomas
Published: February 2019

The competition–defense tradeoff is a significant source of functional diversity in ecological communities. Here, we present a theoretical framework to describe the competition–defense tradeoff and apply it to a size‐based model of a unicellular plankton community. Specifically, we investigate how the emergent community structure depends on the shape of the tradeoff, and on whether the cost of defense is paid for by a lowered resource affinity or by an elevated metabolic rate. The inclusion of defense affects the size distribution and trophic strategies of the emerging community dependent on environmental conditions (eutrophic versus oligotrophic) and leads to increased diversity in size and trophic strategy under eutrophic conditions. Eutrophic conditions allow for better‐defended organisms than oligotrophic conditions. In most scenarios, competition–defense tradeoffs dampen trophic cascades in the seasonal cycle simulations, and increase the abundance of mixotrophs. We further demonstrate that it matters how the cost of defense is manifest (decreased affinity versus increased metabolic rate), and that it has a significant effect on the resulting plankton community (overall biomass, size and feeding strategy diversity), particularly when the efficiency of the defense increases in direct proportion to the investment. Our results demonstrate that the structure of the ecosystem crucially depends on details of the defense tradeoff. This finding highlights the importance of a mechanistic understanding of defense tradeoffs, e.g. obtained through experimental measurements of specific defense mechanisms.
The bare necessities: Uncovering essential and condition‐critical genes with transposon sequencing
Authors: Shields Robert C. , Jensen Paul A.
Published: February 2019

Querying gene function in bacteria has been greatly accelerated by the advent of transposon sequencing (Tn‐seq) technologies (related Tn‐seq strategies are known as TraDIS, INSeq, RB‐TnSeq, and HITS). Pooled populations of transposon mutants are cultured in an environment and next‐generation sequencing tools are used to determine areas of the genome that are important for bacterial fitness. In this review we provide an overview of Tn‐seq methodologies and discuss how Tn‐seq has been applied, or could be applied, to the study of oral microbiology. These applications include studying the essential genome as a means to rationally design therapeutic agents. Tn‐seq has also contributed to our understanding of well‐studied biological processes in oral bacteria. Other important applications include in vivo pathogenesis studies and use of Tn‐seq to probe the molecular basis of microbial interactions. We also highlight recent advancements in techniques that act in synergy with Tn‐seq such as clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) interference and microfluidic chip platforms.
Activity‐based proteomics reveals nine target proteases for the recombinant protein‐stabilizing inhibitor SlCYS8 in Nicotiana benthamiana
Authors: Jutras Philippe V. , Grosse‐Holz Friederike , Kaschani Farnusch , Kaiser Markus , Michaud Dominique , van der Hoorn Renier A.L.
Published: February 2019

Co‐expression of protease inhibitors like the tomato cystatin SlCYS8 is useful to increase recombinant protein production in plants, but key proteases involved in protein proteolysis are still unknown. Here, we performed activity‐based protein profiling to identify proteases that are inhibited by SlCYS8 in agroinfiltrated Nicotiana benthamiana. We discovered that SlCYS8 selectively suppresses papain‐like cysteine protease (PLCP) activity in both apoplastic fluids and total leaf extracts, while not affecting vacuolar‐processing enzyme and serine hydrolase activity. A robust concentration‐dependent inhibition of PLCPs occurred in vitro when purified SlCYS8 was added to leaf extracts, indicating direct cystatin–PLCP interactions. Activity‐based proteomics revealed that nine different Cathepsin‐L/‐F‐like PLCPs are strongly inhibited by SlCYS8 in leaves. By contrast, the activity of five other Cathepsin‐B/‐H‐like PLCPs, as well as 87 Ser hydrolases, was unaffected by SlCYS8. SlCYS8 expression prevented protein degradation by inhibiting intermediate and mature isoforms of granulin‐containing proteases from the Resistant‐to‐Desiccation‐21 (RD21) PLCP subfamily. Our data underline the key role of endogenous PLCPs on recombinant protein degradation and reveal candidate proteases for depletion strategies.
Botulinum toxin A for pain reduction in pediatric patients with Parry‐Romberg syndrome
Authors: Mishra Kriti , Sood Arun , Smidt Aimee , Price Harper N.
Published: February 2019

Parry‐Romberg syndrome (PRS) is characterized by hemiatrophy of facial structures, including skin, subcutaneous fat, muscle, bone, and cartilage. Complications associated with PRS include headaches, seizures, and chronic facial pain. Protocol for the treatment of chronic facial pain is not clear; reports on the use of botulinum toxin A injections for pain reduction in adults but not in the pediatric/adolescent population are available. Here, we discuss two pediatric PRS cases in which treatment with botulinum toxin A injections reduced or eliminated facial pain.
Melatonin attenuates the detrimental effects of UVA irradiation in human dermal fibroblasts by suppressing oxidative damage and MAPK/AP‐1 signal pathway in vitro
Authors: Koçtürk Semra , Yüksel Egrilmez Mehtap , Aktan Şebnem , Oktay Gülgün , Resmi Halil , Şimşek Keskin Hatice , Sert Serdar Belgin , Erkmen Tugba , Güner Akdogan Gül , Özkan Şebnem
Published: February 2019

Background

People living in Mediterranean countries are mostly exposed to solar ultraviolet (UV) radiation that damages skin and results in photoaging which involves activation of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and downstream signal transduction through mitogen‐activated protein kinases (MAPKs) in fibroblasts. Generation of reactive oxygen/nitrogen species by UV radiation is also critical for EGFR and MAPKs activation. MAPKs are responsible for activation of AP‐1 subunits in the nucleus which induce matrix metalloproteinases. Melatonin, along with its metabolites, are known to be the most effective free radical scavenger and protective agent due to its ability to react with various radicals, lipophilic/hydrophilic structures.

Objectives

In this study, we investigated the effects of melatonin on UVA‐irradiated primary human dermal fibroblasts (HDFs) by following the alteration of molecules from cell membrane to the nucleus and oxidative/nitrosative damage status of the cells in a time‐dependent manner which have not been clearly elucidated yet.

Methods

To mimic UVA dosage in Mediterranean countries, HDFs were exposed to UVA with sub‐cytotoxic dosage (20 J/cm2) after pretreatment with melatonin (1 μmol/L) for 1 hour. Changes in the activation of the molecules and oxidative/nitrosative stress damage were analyzed at different time points.

Results

Our results clearly show that melatonin decreases UVA‐induced oxidative/nitrosative stress damage in HDFs. It also suppresses phosphorylation of EGFR, activation of MAPK/AP‐1 signal transduction pathway and production of matrix metalloproteinases in a time‐dependent manner.

Conclusion

Melatonin can be used as a protective agent for skin damage against intracellular detrimental effects of relatively high dosage of UVA irradiation.
Technological advances in home non‐invasive ventilation monitoring: Reliability of data and effect on patient outcomes
Authors: Borel Jean‐Christian , Palot Alain , Patout Maxime
Published: February 2019

Home non‐invasive mechanical ventilation (NIV) has become a well‐established treatment for patients with chronic hypercapnic respiratory failure. NIV monitoring has been developed to evaluate the effectiveness of mechanical ventilation on patient outcomes, with built‐in systems providing data on compliance, leaks and respiratory parameters. Although these data seem intuitively useful, two main concerns have been raised in the literature: (i) are they reliable and (ii) to what extent does their use improve patient outcomes. These two concerns are currently relevant since the very recent development of telemonitoring provides the possibility of adjusting ventilator settings remotely, based on the longitudinal assessment of NIV parameters and respiratory variables provided by the system. This may influence the future management strategies of health organizations for patients under home NIV. This narrative review describes technological advances in patient monitoring using home mechanical ventilation with a main focus on data provided by built‐in NIV monitoring systems. The use of these systems is discussed, including their advantages and limitations in different clinical situations, and perspectives for long‐term patient monitoring are discussed.
TF‐Test Quantified: a new technique for diagnosis of Schistosoma mansoni eggs
Authors: Santos Bianca Martins , Soares Felipe Augusto , Rosa Stefany Laryssa , Gomes Denise da Conceição Ferreira , Oliveira Bruno César Miranda , Peixinho Alan Zanoni , Suzuki Celso Tetsuo Nagase , Bresciani Katia Denise Saraiva , Falcão Alexandre Xavier , Gomes Jancarlo Ferreira
Published: February 2019

Objectives

Laboratory diagnosis of Schistosoma mansoni eggs is routinely performed by conventional quantitative techniques through the parasitological examination of human faeces. However, the diagnostic sensitivity of this type of exam varies from low to moderate. We aimed to develop a new parasitological technique called TF‐Test Quantified (TFT‐Quant), for the quantitative detection of S. mansoni eggs in human faeces.

Methods

Four study stages were performed using 43 mice infected by S. mansoni cercariae. These experiments allowed the definition of an operational protocol for TFT‐Quant and a comparison of this new technique to the conventional Helm‐Teste technique.

Results

The results show a good diagnostic efficacy of TFT‐Quant, which reached 100% in sensitivity and specificity, indicating an ‘Almost Perfect’ Kappa (k) agreement.

Conclusions

This new technique provided a quantitative gain in the detection of S. mansoni eggs, largely free of faecal debris. The next stage of this study is the field validation of the TFT‐Quant technique with the use of human faecal samples from an endemic region for mansonic schistosomiasis in Brazil (Microregion Jequitinhonha, State of Minas Gerais). In parallel to this validation, computational algorithms will be developed to allow the automated quantitative diagnosis of S. mansoni eggs.
The histone variant H2A.Z and chromatin remodeler BRAHMA act coordinately and antagonistically to regulate transcription and nucleosome dynamics in Arabidopsis
Authors: Torres E. Shannon , Deal Roger B.
Published: February 2019

Plants adapt to environmental changes by regulating transcription and chromatin organization. The histone H2A variant H2A.Z and the SWI2/SNF2 ATPase BRAHMA (BRM) have overlapping roles in positively and negatively regulating environmentally responsive genes in Arabidopsis, but the extent of this overlap was uncharacterized. Both factors have been associated with various changes in nucleosome positioning and stability in different contexts, but their specific roles in transcriptional regulation and chromatin organization need further characterization. We show that H2A.Z and BRM co‐localize at thousands of sites, where they interact both cooperatively and antagonistically in transcriptional repression and activation of genes involved in development and responses to environmental stimuli. We identified eight classes of genes that show distinct relationships between H2A.Z and BRM with respect to their roles in transcription. These include activating and silencing transcription both redundantly and antagonistically. We found that H2A.Z contributes to a range of different nucleosome properties, while BRM stabilizes nucleosomes where it binds and destabilizes or repositions flanking nucleosomes. We also found that, at many genes regulated by both BRM and H2A.Z, both factors overlap with binding sites of the light‐regulated transcription factor FAR1‐Related Sequence 9 (FRS9) and that a subset of these FRS9 binding sites are dependent on H2A.Z and BRM for accessibility. Collectively, we comprehensively characterized the antagonistic and cooperative contributions of H2A.Z and BRM to transcriptional regulation, and illuminated several interrelated roles in chromatin organization. The variability observed in their individual functions implies that both BRM and H2A.Z have more context‐dependent roles than previously assumed.
Experimental demonstration of multifrequency impedance matching for tailored voltage waveform plasmas
Authors: Wang Junkang , Dine Sebastien , Booth Jean-Paul , Johnson Erik V.
Published: February 2019

Driving radiofrequency capacitively coupled plasmas by multiharmonic tailored voltage waveforms (TVWs) has been shown to allow considerable control over various plasma properties for surface processing applications. However, industrial adoption of this technology would benefit from more efficient solutions to the challenge of impedance matching the radiofrequency power source to the load simultaneously at multiple harmonic frequencies. The authors report on the design and demonstration of a simple, practical multifrequency matchbox (MFMB) based on a network of LC resonant circuits. The performance of the matchbox was quantified in terms of a range of matchable impedances (when matching a single frequency at a time), as well as for the independence of each match to changes at adjacent harmonics. The effectiveness of the MFMB was demonstrated experimentally on an Ar plasma excited by a three-frequency TVW with a fundamental frequency of 13.56 MHz. Under the plasma conditions studied, the power coupling efficiency (at the generator output) was increased from less than 40% (without impedance matching) to between 80% and 99% for the different exciting frequencies.
A Novel Sparse Compositional Technique Reveals Microbial Perturbations
Authors: Martino Cameron , Morton James T. , Marotz Clarisse A. , Thompson Luke R. , Tripathi Anupriya , Knight Rob , Zengler Karsten
Published: February 2019

By accounting for the sparse compositional nature of microbiome data sets, robust Aitchison PCA can yield high discriminatory power and salient feature ranking between microbial niches. The software to perform this analysis is available under an open-source license and can be obtained at
https://github.com/biocore/DEICODE
; additionally, a QIIME 2 plugin is provided to perform this analysis at
https://library.qiime2.org/plugins/q2-deicode
.
Evaluating Metagenomic Prediction of the Metaproteome in a 4.5-Year Study of a Patient with Crohn's Disease
Authors: Mills Robert H. , Vázquez-Baeza Yoshiki , Zhu Qiyun , Jiang Lingjing , Gaffney James , Humphrey Greg , Smarr Larry , Knight Rob , Gonzalez David J.
Published: February 2019

A majority of current microbiome research relies heavily on DNA analysis. However, as the field moves toward understanding the microbial functions related to healthy and disease states, it is critical to evaluate how changes in DNA relate to changes in proteins, which are functional units of the genome. This study tracked the abundance of genes and proteins as they fluctuated during various inflammatory states in a 4.5-year study of a patient with colonic Crohn’s disease. Our results indicate that despite a low level of correlation, taxonomic associations were consistent in the two data types. While there was overlap of the data types, several associations were uniquely discovered by analyzing the metaproteome component. This case study provides unique and important insights into the fundamental relationship between the genes and proteins of a single individual’s fecal microbiome associated with clinical consequences.
Application of the factor method to the service life prediction of architectural concrete
Authors: Jardim A. , Silva A. , Brito J. de
Published: February 2019

Architectural concrete surfaces are a durable solution, but their deterioration process is unavoidable and begins as soon as the element is built. This study establishes a methodology for predicting the service life of architectural concrete surfaces, through the application of the factor method. For this purpose, 239 architectural concrete surfaces in in-service conditions are analysed. Different durability factors are studied and their impact in the service life of architectural concrete surfaces is evaluated. Different scenarios are analysed for the quantification of the durability factors. Scenario 4 presents the best results, leading to a higher similarity between the estimated service lives predicted by the factor method and obtained by the graphical method. The application of the factor method, as described in this study, allows one to predict the service life of architectural concrete surfaces. An estimated service life ranging between 43 and 48 years was obtained, which agrees with the literature and empirical knowledge.
Analysis of Movement Quality in Full-Body Physical Activities
Authors: Niewiadomski Radoslaw , Kolykhalova Ksenia , Piana Stefano , Alborno Paolo , Volpe Gualtiero , Camurri Antonio
Published: February 2019

Full-body human movement is characterized by fine-grain expressive qualities that humans are easily capable of exhibiting and recognizing in others’ movement. In sports (e.g., martial arts) and performing arts (e.g., dance), the same sequence of movements can be performed in a wide range of ways characterized by different qualities, often in terms of subtle (spatial and temporal) perturbations of the movement. Even a non-expert observer can distinguish between a top-level and average performance by a dancer or martial artist. The difference is not in the performed movements--the same in both cases--but in the “quality” of their performance.

In this article, we present a computational framework aimed at an automated approximate measure of movement quality in full-body physical activities. Starting from motion capture data, the framework computes low-level (e.g., a limb velocity) and high-level (e.g., synchronization between different limbs) movement features. Then, this vector of features is integrated to compute a value aimed at providing a quantitative assessment of movement quality approximating the evaluation that an external expert observer would give of the same sequence of movements.

Next, a system representing a concrete implementation of the framework is proposed. Karate is adopted as a testbed. We selected two different katas (i.e., detailed choreographies of movements in karate) characterized by different overall attitudes and expressions (aggressiveness, meditation), and we asked seven athletes, having various levels of experience and age, to perform them. Motion capture data were collected from the performances and were analyzed with the system. The results of the automated analysis were compared with the scores given by 14 karate experts who rated the same performances. Results show that the movement-quality scores computed by the system and the ratings given by the human observers are highly correlated (Pearson’s correlations
r
= 0.84,
p
= 0.001 and
r
= 0.75,
p
= 0.005).
Toward Effective Robot--Child Tutoring
Authors: Ramachandran Aditi , Huang Chien-Ming , Scassellati Brian
Published: February 2019

Personalized learning environments have the potential to improve learning outcomes for children in a variety of educational domains, as they can tailor instruction based on the unique learning needs of individuals. Robot tutoring systems can further engage users by leveraging their potential for embodied social interaction and take into account crucial aspects of a learner, such as a student’s motivation in learning. In this article, we demonstrate that motivation in young learners corresponds to observable behaviors when interacting with a robot tutoring system, which, in turn, impact learning outcomes. We first detail a user study involving children interacting one on one with a robot tutoring system over multiple sessions. Based on empirical data, we show that academic motivation stemming from one’s own values or goals as assessed by the Academic Self-Regulation Questionnaire (SRQ-A) correlates to observed suboptimal help-seeking behavior during the initial tutoring session. We then show how an interactive robot that responds intelligently to these observed behaviors in subsequent tutoring sessions can positively impact both student behavior and learning outcomes over time. These results provide empirical evidence for the link between internal motivation, observable behavior, and learning outcomes in the context of robot--child tutoring. We also identified an additional suboptimal behavioral feature within our tutoring environment and demonstrated its relationship to internal factors of motivation, suggesting further opportunities to design robot intervention to enhance learning. We provide insights on the design of robot tutoring systems aimed to deliver effective behavioral intervention during learning interactions for children and present a discussion on the broader challenges currently faced by robot--child tutoring systems.
The Current Status of Accessibility in Mobile Apps
Authors: Yan Shunguo , Ramachandran P. G.
Published: February 2019

This study evaluated the status of accessibility in mobile apps by investigating the graphical user interface (GUI) structures and conformance to accessibility guidelines of 479 Android apps in 23 business categories from Google Play. An automated tool, IBM Mobile Accessibility Checker (MAC), was used to identify the accessibility issues, which were categorized as a violation (V), potential violation (PV), or warning (W). The results showed 94.8%, 97.5%, and 66.4% of apps studied contained issues related to V, PV, or W, respectively. Five widget categories (TextView, ImageView, View, Button, and ImageButton) were used to create 92% of the total number of the GUI elements and caused 89%, 78%, and 86% of V, PV, and W, respectively. These accessibility issues were mainly caused by lack of element focus, missing element description, low text color contrast, lack of sufficient spacing between elements, and less than minimum sizes of text fonts and elements. Together, these accessibility issues accounted for 97.0%, 77.8%, and 94.5% of V, PV, and W, respectively.

This study proposed coverage measures to estimate the percentage of accessibility issues identified by an automated tool. The result showed that MAC, on average, identified about 67% of accessibility issues in mobile apps.

Two new accessibility conformance measures were proposed in this study: inaccessible element rate (IAER) and accessibility issue rate (AIR). IAER estimates the percentage of GUI elements that are inaccessible. AIR calculates the percentage of the actual number of accessibility issues relative to the maximum number of accessibility issues. Average IAER and AIR scores were 27.3%, 19.9%, 6.3% and 20.7%, 15.0%, 5.4% for V, PV, and W, respectively, for the studied apps. The IAER score showed approximately 30% of the GUI elements had accessibility issues, and the AIR score indicated that 15% of the accessibility issues remained and need to be fixed to make the apps accessible.
Metabolic Pathways Fueling the Endothelial Cell Drive
Authors: Li Xuri , Kumar Anil , Carmeliet Peter
Published: February 2019

Endothelial cell (EC) metabolism is important for health and disease. Metabolic pathways, such as glycolysis, fatty acid oxidation, and amino acid metabolism, determine vasculature formation. These metabolic pathways have different roles in securing the production of energy and biomass and the maintenance of redox homeostasis in vascular migratory tip cells, proliferating stalk cells, and quiescent phalanx cells, respectively. Emerging evidence demonstrates that perturbation of EC metabolism results in EC dysfunction and vascular pathologies. Here, we summarize recent insights into EC metabolic pathways and their deregulation in vascular diseases. We further discuss the therapeutic implications of targeting EC metabolism in various pathologies.
Regulation of BK Channels by Beta and Gamma Subunits
Authors: Gonzalez-Perez Vivian , Lingle Christopher J.
Published: February 2019

Ca2+- and voltage-gated K+ channels of large conductance (BK channels) are expressed in a diverse variety of both excitable and inexcitable cells, with functional properties presumably uniquely calibrated for the cells in which they are found. Although some diversity in BK channel function, localization, and regulation apparently arises from cell-specific alternative splice variants of the single pore–forming α subunit ( KCa1.1, Kcnma1, Slo1) gene, two families of regulatory subunits, β and γ, define BK channels that span a diverse range of functional properties. We are just beginning to unravel the cell-specific, physiological roles served by BK channels of different subunit composition.
Cognitive and Emotional Empathy in Individuals with Spinal Cord Injury
Authors: Guadagni Veronica , Sarà Marco , Conson Massimiliano , Carolei Antonio , Sacco Simona , Vadini Silvia , Pistarini Caterina , Barbonetti Arcangelo , Iaria Giuseppe , Pistoia Francesca
Published: February 2019

Background. Empathy has been conceptualized as comprising a cognitive and an emotional component, the latter being further divided into direct and indirect aspects, which refer, respectively, to the explicit evaluation of the observer’s feelings while attending someone in an emotional situation and to the physiological response of the observer. Empathy has been previously investigated in several neurological disorders. Objective. This study is aimed at investigating empathy in patients with spinal cord injury (SCI). We hypothesize that, due to deafferentation following their injury, SCI patients will display difficulty in the processing of emotional stimuli and blunted empathic responses as compared to healthy controls. Materials and Methods. 20 patients with spinal cord injury (SCI) (12 males and 8 females, mean age=50.9, standard deviation SD=16.1 years; mean education=10.9, SD=4.1 years) were included in the study and compared to 20 matched healthy subjects. Participants were investigated using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (Form Y) (STAI-Y), the Beck Depression Scale, and the Toronto Alexithymia Scale. Moreover, participants were further evaluated by means of the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI), which explores both cognitive and emotional aspects of empathy, and through an experimental protocol based on the use of a modified version of the computerized Multifaceted Empathy Test (MET) to evaluate emotional (direct and indirect) empathy and the ability to judge the valence of complex emotional scenes. Results. As compared to healthy controls, SCI patients reported higher scores on the Perspective-Taking subscale of the IRI, while, on the modified MET, they were less accurate in identifying the valence of neutral scenes, notwithstanding their spared direct and indirect emotional empathy ability. Furthermore, we found a significant negative correlation between the time interval since injury and the direct emotional empathy scores on the positive images, as well as a negative correlation with the indirect emotional empathy scores on both positive and neutral images, indicating a blunting of the empathic responses as time elapses. Conclusion. Results suggest that SCI patients, when analyzing the meaning of emotional stimuli, tend to rely on a cognitive empathy strategy rather than on emotion simulation.
Study of the Potential Endocrine-Disrupting Effects of Phenylurea Compounds on Neurohypophysis Cells In Vitro
Authors: Sepp Krisztián , Molnár Zsolt , László Anna M. , Alapi Tünde , Tóth László , Serester Andrea , Valkusz Zsuzsanna , Gálfi Márta , Radács Marianna
Published: February 2019

Homeostatic disruptor agents, and endocrine disruptor compounds (EDC) specifically, can originate from agricultural and industrial chemicals. If they modify the adaptation of living organisms as direct (e.g., by altering hormone regulation, membrane functions) and/or indirect (e.g., cell transformation mechanisms) factors, they are classified as EDC. We aimed to examine the potential endocrine-disrupting effects of phenylurea herbicides (phenuron, monuron, and diuron) on the oxytocin (OT) and arginine-vasopressin (AVP) release of neurohypophysis cell cultures (NH). In our experiments, monoamine-activated receptor functions of neurohypophyseal cells were used as a model. In vitro NH were prepared by enzymatic (trypsin, collagenase) and mechanical dissociation. In the experimental protocol, the basal levels of OT and AVP were determined as controls. Later, monoamine (epinephrine, norepinephrine, serotonin, histamine, and dopamine) activation (10−6 M, 30 min) and the effects of phenylurea (10−6 M, 60 min) alone and in combination (monoamines 10−6 M, 30 min + phenylureas 10−6 M, 60 min) with monoamine were studied. OT and AVP hormone contents in the supernatant media were measured by radioimmunoassay. The monoamine-activated receptor functions of neurohypophyseal cells were modified by the applied doses of phenuron, monuron, and diuron. It is concluded that the applied phenylurea herbicides are endocrine disruptor agents, at least in vitro for neurohypophysis function.
Harmonic Analysis of the Spatiotemporal Pattern of Thunderstorms in Iran (1961–2010)
Authors: Sabziparvar Ali Akbar , Mir Mousavi Seyed Hossein , Karampour Mostafa , Doostkamian Mehdi , Haghighi Esmaeil , Rousta Iman , Olafsson Haraldur , Sarif Md Omar , Gupta Rajan Dev , Moniruzzaman Md , Hasan Khairul , Ghasemi Ali
Published: February 2019

The current study aimed at investigating cycles and the spatial autocorrelation pattern of anomalies of thunderstorms in Iran during different periods from 1961 to 2010. In this analysis, 50-year periods (1961–2010) of thunderstorm codes have been collected from 283 synoptic stations of Meteorological Organization of Iran. The study period has been divided into five different decades (1961–1970, 1971–1980, 1981–1990, 1991–2000, and 2001–2010). Spectral analysis and Moran’s I were used to analyze cycles and the spatial autocorrelation pattern, respectively. Furthermore, in order to conduct the calculations, programming facilities of MATLAB have been explored. Finally, Surfer and GIS were employed to come up with the graphical depiction of the maps. The results showed that the maximum of positive anomalies mainly occurred in the northwestern and western parts of Iran due to their special topography, during all the five studied periods. On the other hand, the minimum of negative anomalies took place in central regions of the country because of lack of appropriate conditions (e.g., enough humidity). Moran’s I spatial analysis further confirmed these findings as Moran’s I depicts the positive and negative spatial autocorrelation patterns in line with negative and positive anomalies, respectively. However, in recent decades, this pattern has experienced a declining trend, especially in southern areas of Iran. The results of harmonic analysis indicated that mainly short-term and midterm cycles dominated Iran’s thunderstorms.
Adalimumab Accounts for Long-Term Control of Noninfectious Uveitis Also in the Absence of Concomitant DMARD Treatment: A Multicenter Retrospective Study
Authors: Bitossi Alice , Bettiol Alessandra , Silvestri Elena , Di Scala Gerardo , Bacherini Daniela , Lopalco Giuseppe , Venerito Vincenzo , Iannone Florenzo , Vitale Antonio , Tosi Gian Marco , Prisco Domenico , Rizzo Stanislao , Fabiani Claudia , Cantarini Luca , Virgili Gianni , Vannozzi Lorenzo , Emmi Giacomo
Published: February 2019

Objective. This study was aimed at assessing the long-term ocular control of adalimumab (ADA) in a large real-world population with noninfectious primary or secondary uveitis, focusing on the steroid-sparing effect and on disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD) cotreatment. Methods. In this retrospective, multicenter study, the efficacy of ADA was evaluated in terms of ocular control, changes in best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), corticosteroid-sparing effect, and drug retention rate, overall and stratified according to DMARD cotreatment. Results. 106 patients were included. 88.7% had an associated systemic disease. After 6 and 12 months, proportions of patients with effective ocular control were 83.7% and 83.3%, respectively. At last the follow-up, 94.6% of patients had satisfactory ocular control. No difference in terms of ocular control at all time points emerged among patients starting ADA for ocular vs. systemic involvements. Patients with poor baseline BCVA remained stable or improved, while those with good BCVA hardly worsened. At 6 and 12 months, the median dose of prednisone significantly reduced to 5 mg/day (0-5) and 2.5 mg/day (0-5) (p<0.001). Over a median follow-up of 36 months, 38 subjects discontinued ADA treatment. Mild to moderate side effects were reported in 7 patients (6.6%). ADA ocular control, corticosteroid-sparing effect, and drug retention rate were not influenced by the concomitant use of DMARDs. Conclusion. The long-term ocular control of ADA in noninfectious primary or secondary uveitis is confirmed, also for BCVA preservation. Concomitant use of DMARDs does not provide additional benefits to ADA alone in terms of ocular control, steroid spare, and drug retention rate.
Study on the Formation Law of the Freezing Temperature Field of Freezing Shaft Sinking under the Action of Large-Flow-Rate Groundwater
Authors: Wang Bin , Rong Chuan-xin , Lin Jian , Cheng Hua , Cai Hai-bing
Published: February 2019

Taking into account moisture migration and heat change during the soil freezing process, as well as the influence of absolute porosity reduction on seepage during the freezing process, we construct a numerical model of hydrothermal coupling using laws of conservation of energy and mass. The model is verified by the results of large-scale laboratory tests. By applying the numerical calculation model to the formation of artificial shaft freezing temperature fields under the action of large-flow groundwater, we conclude that groundwater with flow rates of less than 5 m/d will not have a significant impact on the artificial freezing temperature field. The maximum flow rates that can be handled by single-row freezing pipes and double-row freezing pipes are 10 m/d and 20 m/d, respectively, during the process of freezing shaft sinking. By analyzing the variation of groundwater flow rate during freezing process, we find that the groundwater flow velocity can reach 5–7 times the initial flow velocity near the closure moment of the frozen wall. Finally, in light of the action characteristics of groundwater on the freezing temperature field, we make suggestions for optimal pipe and row spacing in freezing pipe arrangement.
Enhancement by Hydrogen Peroxide of Calcium Signals in Endothelial Cells Induced by 5-HT1B and 5-HT2B Receptor Agonists
Authors: Avdonin Pavel V. , Nadeev Alexander D. , Mironova Galina Yu. , Zharkikh Irina L. , Avdonin Piotr P. , Goncharov Nikolay V.
Published: February 2019

Hydrogen peroxide, formed in the endothelium, acts as a factor contributing to the relaxation of blood vessels. The reason for this vasodilatory effect could be modulation by H2O2of calcium metabolism, since mobilization of calcium ions in endothelial cells is a trigger of endothelium-dependent relaxation. The aim of this work was to investigate the influence of H2O2on the effects of Ca2+-mobilizing agonists in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). We have found that H2O2in concentration range 10-100 μM increases the rise of [Ca2+]iinduced by 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and carbachol and does not affect the calcium signals of ATP, agonist of type 1 protease-activated receptor SFLLRN, histamine and bradykinin. Using specific agonists of 5-HT1B and 5-HT2B receptors CGS12066B and BW723C86, we have demonstrated that H2O2potentiates the effects mediated by these types of 5-HT receptors. Potentiation of the effect of BW723C86 can be produced by the induction of endogenous oxidative stress in HUVEC. We have shown that the activation of 5-HT2B receptor by BW723C86 causes production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Inhibitor of NADPH oxidases VAS2870 suppressed formation of ROS and partially inhibited [Ca2+]irise induced by BW723C86. Thus, it can be assumed that vasorelaxation induced by endogenous H2O2in endothelial cells partially occurs due to the potentiation of the agonist-induced calcium signaling.
Optimization of Factors Affecting Vibration Characteristics of Unbalance Response for Machine Motorized Spindle Using Response Surface Method
Authors: Ahmed Elhaj A. I. , Shusen Li
Published: February 2019

In this study, the response surface (RS) method and forced rotordynamic analyses together with Finite‐Element‐Analysis (FEA) have been established to optimize the factors affecting the vibration characteristics. The spindle specification, bearings locations, cutting force, and motor‐rotor unbalance mass are proposed to represent the design factors and then they are utilized to develop Machine Motorized Spindle (MMS). The FEA‐based Design of Experiment (DOE) is adopted to simulate the output responses with the input factors, wherein these DOE design points are used to carry out the RS models to visualize more obvious factors affecting the dynamic characteristics of MMS. The sensitivities of these factors and their contributions to the vibration of imbalance response have been evaluated by using the RS models. The simulation results show that the motor‐rotor shaft inner diameter, the distance of the back bearing location, and the rotating unbalance‐mass are highly sensitive to the vibration characteristics compared to the other factors. It is found that more than two‐fifths of total vibration response amplitude has been conducted by induced rotating imbalance mass. The results also showed that the proposed factors optimization method is practicable and effective in improving the vibration response characteristics.
Middle Colic Artery Originating from the Gastroduodenal Artery Discovered during a Whipple
Authors: Kwong Mei Li M. , Pelton Jeffrey
Published: February 2019

Hepatic artery variations occur in about one-fourth of the population, are frequent questions on standardized surgery exams, and are often discussed on teaching rounds with an attending surgeon. Intraoperatively, it is important to be aware of possible vascular anomalies in order to prevent ligation or injury of an essential vessel. This case report describes an extremely rare vascular anomaly encountered during a pancreaticoduodenectomy (Whipple operation). Our patient was a middle-aged woman who was incidentally diagnosed with a cystic pancreatic lesion. During the operation, an aberrant middle colic artery was found to be originating from the gastroduodenal artery instead of its usual origin at the superior mesenteric artery. This anomalous middle colic artery has not been previously reported in a live patient. It underscores the importance of being aware of possible vascular variations that may be encountered intraoperatively in order to prevent morbidity and mortality.
Effects of Crystal Orientation and Grain Boundary Inclination on Stress Distribution in Bicrystal Interface of Austenite Stainless Steel 316L
Authors: Yang Fu-qiang , Xue He , Zhao Ling-yan , Fang Xiu-Rong , Zhang Hai-bing
Published: February 2019

Nuclear structural material austenitic stainless steel 316L is a polycrystalline composed of single crystals with a face-centered cubic (FCC) structure, and the intergranular stress corrosion cracking (IGSCC) is closely related to the crystal orientation. A constitutive model is presented to assess the elastic response of anisotropic behavior of single crystals in 316L in this study. With a bicrystal model built by the finite element method, the effects of crystal orientation and grain boundary (GB) inclination on the stress state nearby a symmetric tilt GB were discussed under the constant-displacement condition. The results indicate that when tensile axes are perpendicular to the GB, the stress and strain are equal at the GB and inside the grain, and the crystal misorientation has little effects on the stress and strain distribution. If the GB is not perpendicular to the load direction, the GB inclination angle will change the equivalent elastic modulus along the load direction and result in a larger stress in the grain with larger equivalent elastic modulus, but the stress tends to be equal inside the two grains. The grain size effects verification shows that the conclusions are independent of grain size.
Economic Recession and Attendances in the Pediatric Emergency Department
Authors: Gkentzi Despoina , Katsoula Vasiliki , Fouzas Sotirios , Mentis Manolis , Karatza Ageliki , Dimitriou Gabriel
Published: February 2019

The economic recession has been shown to have a negative impact on health services worldwide. The purpose of this study was to examine whether the recent financial crisis in Greece that started in 2009 has affected the attendances in the pediatric emergency department of a University Hospital covering for a large geographical area in Greece. The study was based on a retrospective analysis of the cases presented to the paediatric emergency department and compared the attendances in 2008 (i.e., before the beginning of the economic crisis) with those in 2013 and 2017. Data on demographics and characteristics of emergency department visits, such as timing, reason, and outcome were recorded for each child. There were a total of 35.572 children seeking examination in those three years and data were collected for 5662 (17.36%) of them. Overall, the attendance rate has increased up to 20% without an increase to the hospital admission rates which remained stable throughout the study periods. Between 2008 and 2017, the percentage of febrile children attending the ED increased by 33.8% and of those with respiratory disorders by 63.1%. Our results indicate that the need for pediatric hospital services has changed following the economic crisis which could reflect gaps in the primary care setting and could well also result from financial constraints.
Concrete Compression Test Data Estimation Based on a Wavelet Neural Network Model
Authors: Wang Haiying , Wang Xinping , Wang Chao , Xu Jian
Published: February 2019

Firstly, a genetic algorithm (GA) and simulated annealing (SA) optimized fuzzy c‐means clustering algorithm (FCM) was proposed in this paper, which was developed to allow for a clustering analysis of the massive concrete cube specimen compression test data. Then, using an optimized error correction time series estimation method based on the wavelet neural network (WNN), a concrete cube specimen compressive strength test data estimation model was constructed. Taking the results of cluster analysis as data samples, the short‐term accurate estimation of concrete quality was carried out. It was found that the mean absolute percentage error, e1, and the root mean square error, e2, for the samples were 6.03385% and 3.3682KN, indicating that the proposed method had higher estimation accuracy and was suitable for concrete compressive test data short‐term quality estimations.
Relation of Moderate Physical Activity to Blood Markers of Oxidative Stress and Antioxidant Defense in the Elderly
Authors: Kozakiewicz Mariusz , Rowiński Rafał , Kornatowski Maciej , Dąbrowski Andrzej , Kędziora-Kornatowska Kornelia , Strachecka Aneta
Published: February 2019

The aim of the present study was to establish whether markers of oxidative stress and the enzymatic defense system of the blood are related to moderate physical activity in younger old and the oldest old men. They were divided into four groups according to the age and level of physical activity (groups YN and YA—inactive and active younger old men aged 65-74 years, groups ON and OA—inactive and active oldest old men aged 90-99 years). Venous blood was collected from the subjects in the morning before breakfast. MDA concentration and antioxidant enzyme activities (SOD, CAT, GPx, and GR) in erythrocyte hemolysates were assayed. The concentration of isoprostanes (8-iso-PGF2α) and carbonyl groups in protein (CP) was measured in plasma and serum. All assayed antioxidant enzyme activities and the SOD/GPx ratios were significantly higher in the active younger old males than in all the inactive ones. In the group of oldest old active participants, only the GPx activity was significantly higher compared to the inactive oldest old males. The activity of CAT and GPx in the younger old inactive men was significantly lower than that in the oldest old inactive subjects. However, SOD, CAT, and GR activities and SOD/GPx ratio were significantly higher in the younger old active men compared to the oldest old active participants. The concentrations of isoprostanes, protein carbonyls, and MDA were significantly lower in both active and inactive younger old males than in the respective groups of the oldest old men and in both groups of active men, independently of age, compared to the respective inactive subjects. The present study confirmed that oxidative stress is related to age. Physical activity caused a decrease of oxidative stress markers independently of age and resulted in an increase of GPx activity in both younger old and the oldest old active groups.