bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Structural behaviour of Reinforced Concrete (RC) columns under fire
Authors: Lakhani H , Ožbolt J
Published: October 2019

The paper presents a numerical study on the response of RC columns under fire. The numerical studies deal with both: during fire (fire rating) scenario and after fire (residual) scenario. The results highlight the importance of Load-Induced-Thermal-Strains (LITS) for predicting the Fire Rating (FR) of RC columns. The predicted temperature variation across the cross-section and axial deformation of column with time are in good agreement with the experimental measurements available in literature. The importance of considering cooling phase of fire for evaluating the behaviour of RC columns has been emphasized. Because of the peak temperatures occurring during the cooling phase and the additional damage due to cooling, the column may also fail during cooling period. The effect of exposure duration on the residual axial load carrying capacity of RC columns has also been discussed. The presented numerical studies using 3D fully-coupled thermo-mechanical model for simulating the behaviour of axially loaded RC columns during the complete fire hazard situation, shows its capabilities to realistically account for different strain components and damage components occurring during different phases of fire hazard (viz. heating-phase, cooling-phase & residual-state). The model uses temperature dependent microplane model for concrete and classical von-Mises plasticity models for reinforcing steel.
Tension and shear performance of anchor channels with channel bolts cast in Fibre Reinforced Concrete (FRC)
Authors: Mahrenholtz C , Ayoubi M , Müller S , Bachschmid S
Published: October 2019

The available design rules for anchor channels with channel bolts were developed on the basis of the design rules for fasteners installed in conventional concrete. Recently, also more advanced reinforced concrete types became popular, e.g. fibre reinforced concrete for the production of prefabricated tunnel elements. The existing design rules for fasteners including anchor channels with channel bolts do not cover fibre reinforced concrete. To study the load-displacement behaviour in tension and shear, exploratory tests have been carried out on anchor channel-channel bolt-systems cast in plain and fibre reinforced concrete. The test results demonstrate a superior performance of channel bolts installed in anchor channels which were cast in fibre reinforced concrete if compared with systems cast in plain reinforced concrete.
Crack intensity of the damaged RC beam repaired with epoxy injection using acoustic emission technique
Authors: Soffian Noor M N , Noorsuhada M N , Nizam K , M Ariffaizad M M , Noorhazlinda A R
Published: October 2019

This paper presents the intensity crack zones of a damaged reinforced concrete (RC) beam with the size of 200 mm x 300 mm x 1500 mm repaired with an epoxy injection under monotonic loading. The acoustic emission (AE) technique concurrent with three-point loading was used to monitor the behaviour of the beam. The intensity analysis based on AE signal strength was carried out on CH6 and CH7 at each crack mode. It was found that the intensity plots are well matched with the progression of the crack in the beam. It is inferred that the intensity zones can be utilised to characterise the damage in the beam.
Seismic hazard analysis for East Malaysia; based on a proposed ground motion prediction equation
Authors: Harith N S H , Tongkul F , Adnan A , Shoushtari A V
Published: October 2019

The seismic hazard analysis requires an estimation of ground motion intensity where the process needs to use a compatible ground motion prediction equation or GMPE, which provides ground acceleration estimates in a function of earthquake magnitude and distance. Hence, the effect of current equation often does not accurately represent the earthquake condition in East Malaysia region. In this study, the characteristics of low-to-moderate databases were used and derived by regression analysis in terms of horizontal peak ground acceleration (PGA). The appropriate GMPE design for East Malaysia is based on the ground motion records compiled from strike slip earthquakes that occurred within 10 to 1,350 km. This earthquake data is based on actual data recorded at a broad range of magnitude levels within a wide range of distances. The new equation is used to predict the PGA value throughout East Malaysia by probabilistic method. PSHA is a method to analyse seismic hazard assessment using probability concept by considering the uncertainties of the size, location and rate of occurrence of earthquake and the variation of ground motion characteristics. The four well-known existing attenuation functions are evaluated with current equation to highlight their limitations in magnitude and distance. With a more complete collection of earthquake databases, GMPE has become more reliable. The GMPE of peak ground acceleration for low-to-moderate earthquake at long distance was found to be logarithmically distributed. The equation provides ease in both implementation and interpretation of physical parameters with a comparable standard deviation.
Motorcyclists’ awareness and understanding of traffic signs for traffic safety in Yogyakarta
Authors: Purnamasari P
Published: October 2019

Yogyakarta is not only well-known as a student city in Indonesia, but it is also famous as a national and international tourist destination. These factors result in a significant increase in road use year-after-year. However, the road length could not keep up with this development. It should be noted that more than 75% of road users in this city consist of motorcyclists. To travel safely, one should have good awareness and follows the traffic signs. This study was conducted by distributing 190 questionnaires to common people; online-transportation drivers and students who drive motorcycles, the goal was to examine their understanding of the existing 32 traffic signs and to observe road users’ awareness of their obedience of existing prohibition signs. The study results indicated that the average percentages of drivers who have the correct understanding of 32 traffic signs is 77.11%. Based on gender, the total understanding in male respondents was 76.25% and in female respondents was 79.72%. Despite of good understanding of the prohibition signs, there was 304 violations from the motorbike riders in one-hour observation.
Styles of Sovereignty: Parataxis, Settler–Indigenous Difference, and the Transnationalisms of the Great Basin
Authors: Donahue Timothy
Published: October 2019

This essay shows how literary parataxis serves as an engine of transnational thought in the nineteenth-century North American West. I focus, in particular, on how Mark Twain’s Roughing It (1872) and Sarah Winnemucca’s Life Among the Piutes (1883) employ paratactic forms to present the Great Basin as a space where no single nation rules as sovereign. Amidst US settler colonialism, I argue, such paratactic aesthetics prove politically double-edged. While parataxis’ tendency to destabilize hierarchies allows the form to undermine US claims to sovereignty, the same deconstructive proclivity can occlude Indigenous political distinction and historical priority. Twain and Winnemucca respond to this aesthetic scenario differently, and their writing, consequently, presents competing conceptions of transnationalism. Twain’s unchecked embrace of paratactic forms yields a transnational vision whose emphasis on social movement and mixture proves antithetical to Indigenous sovereignty. Winnemucca, by contrast, employs a modulated parataxis in order to locate the transnational in collisions of countervailing polities and thereby better represents the political standing and agency of the Paiute people. Winnemucca’s accounts of her work as a translator, I further argue, suggest that amidst such collisions, political sovereignty takes a distinctive shape, as a relational and comparative project.
Contrary to Myth, Older Adults Multitask With Media and Technologies, But Studying Their Multitasking Behaviors Can Be Challenging
Authors: Kononova Anastasia , Joshi Pradnya , Cotten Shelia
Published: October 2019

Background and Objectives

The study’s objective was to explore older adults’ (aged 65 or older) descriptions of behavior related to multitasking with traditional and newer media/information and communication technologies (ICTs) and perceived benefits of such behavior, along with older adults’ preference for research methods used to study their multitasking behaviors. Employing common media-use measures that heavily rely on self-reporting in populations of older adults is challenging, especially given that patterns of media/ICT use are becoming increasingly complex. Cumulatively, people spend more time using media than they are aware of because of the tendency to use some forms of media simultaneously. As cognitive ability deteriorates with age, self-reported recollection of complex patterns of media/ICT use, such as multitasking, among older adults increases the threat to data accuracy.

Research Design and Methods:  Twenty-eight community-dwelling older adults in a Midwestern U.S. state participated in in-depth interviews (average length was 40 minutes) to discuss their use of traditional and newer media/technologies in combination with other activities and outline methods researchers should use to study such behaviors.

Results

Participants reported they engaged in multitasking behaviors similar to those of younger generations, with the difference in the higher extent of using traditional media and ICTs. They talked about multitasking with radio and television for “background noise” as being a rewarding experience. They perceived the effects of multitasking to be detrimental to attention and performance and attributed this media-use habit to individual psychological and demographic differences. They preferred ethnographic observation and keeping a paper-and-pencil diary as research methods to study multitasking among their peers. Data-logging methods were less popular because they raised privacy concerns among interviewees.

Discussion and Implications

Different types of traditional and newer media and technologies could be used differently in situations that require older adults to focus, relax, or be efficient. The findings suggest that future researchers strive for a compromise between data access and data accuracy when they select a research method to study media use among older adults.
Application of three-dimensional acoustic telemetry to assess the effects of rapid recompression on reef fish discard mortality
Authors: Bohaboy Erin Collings , Guttridge Tristan L , Hammerschlag Neil , Van Zinnicq Bergmann Maurits P M , Patterson William F
Published: October 2019

Geopositioning underwater acoustic telemetry was used to test whether rapid recompression with weighted return-to-depth (descender) devices reduced discard mortality of red snapper (n = 141) and gray triggerfish (n = 26) captured and released at 30–60 m depths at two 15 km2 study sites in the northern Gulf of Mexico. Cox proportional hazards modelling indicated red snapper released with descender devices had significantly lower discard mortality within the first 2 d (95% CI = 18.8–41.8% for descender-released vs. 44.0–72.4% for surface-released, unvented fish), while there was no significant effect of descender devices on discard mortality of gray triggerfish. Predation by large pelagic predators was estimated to account 83% of red snapper and 100% of gray triggerfish discard mortality. Discard mortality due to predation has likely been overlooked in previous mark-recapture, laboratory, and enclosure studies, suggesting cryptic population losses due to predation on discards may be underestimated for red snapper and gray triggerfish. Large-area three-dimensional positioning acoustic telemetry arrays combined with collaboration and data sharing among acoustic telemetry researchers have the potential to advance our knowledge of the processes affecting discard mortality in reef fishes and other taxa.
Numerical approach for evaluating impacts of biological uncertainties on estimates of stock–recruitment relationships in elasmobranchs: example of the North Pacific shortfin mako
Authors: Kai Mikihiko
Published: October 2019

Impacts of biological uncertainties on estimates of stock–recruitment relationships (SRRs) in elasmobranchs such as lamniform sharks were evaluated using a numerical approach based on an age-structured model considering reproductive ecology in elasmobranchs. The values of steepness were estimated using several combinations of life history parameters for North Pacific shortfin mako to elucidate whether the numerical approach could identify reasonable values for fundamental life history parameters as well as steepness. The results of the numerical approach indicated that the mean values of steepness and their 95% confidence intervals were highly sensitive to combinations of values for growth rate, maturity ogive, longevity, reproductive cycle, and natural mortality rate. Meanwhile, the most plausible combinations of the biological parameters and values of steepness were identified based on the numerical approach with biological knowledge. The mean values and their standard deviation (SD) for steepness with the Beverton-Holt-SRR model were 0.353 (SD=0.057) and 0.273 (SD=0.046) for 2- and 3-year reproductive cycles, respectively. The numerical approach therefore has high potential to become an important tool for estimating SRR in elasmobranchs such as lamniform sharks, and the application of this approach to other elasmobranchs could greatly contribute to improvements in stock assessment and management.
Performance evaluation of data-limited, length-based stock assessment methods
Authors: Chong Lisa , Mildenberger Tobias K , Rudd Merrill B , Taylor Marc H , Cope Jason M , Branch Trevor A , Wolff Matthias , Stäbler Moritz
Published: October 2019

Performance evaluation of data-limited, length-based methods is instrumental in determining and quantifying their accuracy under various scenarios and in providing guidance about model applicability and limitations. We conducted a simulation–estimation analysis to compare the performance of four length-based stock assessment methods: length-based Thompson and Bell (TB), length-based spawning potential ratio (LBSPR), length-based integrated mixed effects (LIME), and length-based risk analysis (LBRA), under varying life history, exploitation status, and recruitment error scenarios. Across all scenarios, TB and LBSPR were the most consistent and accurate assessment methods. LBRA is highly biased, but precautionary, and LIME is more suitable for assessments with time-series longer than a year. All methods have difficulties when assessing short-lived species. The methods are less accurate in estimating the degree of recruitment overfishing when the stocks are severely overexploited, and inconsistent in determining growth overfishing when the stocks are underexploited. Increased recruitment error reduces precision but can decrease bias in estimations. This study highlights the importance of quantifying the accuracy of stock assessment methods and testing methods under different scenarios to determine their strengths and weaknesses and provides guidance on which methods to employ in various situations.
Faecal carriage, risk factors, acquisition and persistence of ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae in dogs and cats and co-carriage with humans belonging to the same household
Authors: van den Bunt G , Fluit A C , Spaninks M P , Timmerman A J , Geurts Y , Kant A , Scharringa J , Mevius D , Wagenaar J A , Bonten M J M , van Pelt W , Hordijk J
Published: October 2019

Background

ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae (ESBL-E) are observed in many reservoirs. Pets might play an important role in the dissemination of ESBL-E to humans since they live closely together.

Objectives

To identify prevalence, risk factors, molecular characteristics, persistence and acquisition of ESBL-E in dogs and cats, and co-carriage in human–pet pairs belonging to the same household.

Methods

In a nationwide study, one person per household was randomly invited to complete a questionnaire and to submit a faecal sample. Dog and cat owners were invited to also submit a faecal sample from their pet. Repeated sampling after 1 and 6 months was performed in a subset. ESBL-E were obtained through selective culture and characterized by WGS. Logistic regression analyses and random forest models were performed to identify risk factors.

Results

The prevalence of ESBL-E carriage in these cohorts was 3.8% (95% CI: 2.7%–5.4%) for human participants (n=550), 10.7% (95% CI: 8.3%–13.7%) for dogs (n=555) and 1.4% (95% CI: 0.5%–3.8%) for cats (n=285). Among animals, blaCTX-M-1 was most abundant, followed by blaCTX-M-15. In dogs, persistence of carriage was 57.1% at 1 month and 42.9% at 6 months. Eating raw meat [OR: 8.8, 95% CI: 4.7–16.4; population attributable risk (PAR): 46.5%, 95% CI: 41.3%–49.3%] and dry food (OR: 0.2, 95% CI: 0.1–0.5; PAR: 56.5%, 95% CI: 33.2%–66.6%) were predictors for ESBL-E carriage in dogs. Human–dog co-carriage was demonstrated in five households. Human–cat co-carriage was not observed.

Conclusions

ESBL-E prevalence was higher in dogs than in humans and lowest in cats. The main risk factor for ESBL-E carriage was eating raw meat. Co-carriage in dogs and household members was uncommon.
Black hole–neutron star mergers from triples – II. The role of metallicity and spin–orbit misalignment
Authors: Fragione Giacomo , Loeb Abraham
Published: October 2019

Observations of black hole–neutron star (BH–NS) mergers via gravitational waves (GWs) are of great interest for their electromagnetic counterparts, such as short gamma-ray bursts, and could provide crucial information on the nature of BHs and the NS crust and magnetosphere. While no event has been confirmed, a recent possible detection of a BH–NS merger event by the LIGO–Virgo collaboration has attracted a lot of attention to these sources. In this second paper of the series, we follow-up our study of the dynamical evolution of triples composed of an inner BH–NS binary. In particular, we examine how the progenitor metallicity affects the characteristics of the BH–NS mergers in triples. We determine the distributions of masses, orbital parameters, and merger times, as a function of the progenitor metallicity and initial triple orbital distributions, and show that the typical eccentricity in the LIGO band is ∼10−2–10−1. We derive a merger rate range of ΓBH–NS = 1.9 × 10−4–22 Gpc−3 yr−1, consistent the LIGO–Virgo upper limit. Finally, we study the expected spin–orbit misalignments of merging BH–NS binaries from this channel, and find that typically the effective spin distribution is peaked at χeff ∼ 0 with significant tails.
FBXO47 regulates telomere-inner nuclear envelope integration by stabilizing TRF2 during meiosis
Authors: Hua Rong , Wei Huafang , Liu Chao , Zhang Yue , Liu Siyu , Guo Yueshuai , Cui Yiqiang , Zhang Xin , Guo Xuejiang , Li Wei , Liu Mingxi
Published: October 2019

During meiosis, telomere attachment to the inner nuclear envelope is required for proper pairing of homologous chromosomes and recombination. Here, we identified F-box protein 47 (FBXO47) as a regulator of the telomeric shelterin complex that is specifically expressed during meiotic prophase I. Knockout of Fbxo47 in mice leads to infertility in males. We found that the Fbxo47 deficient spermatocytes are unable to form a complete synaptonemal complex. FBXO47 interacts with TRF1/2, and the disruption of Fbxo47 destabilizes TRF2, leading to unstable telomere attachment and slow traversing through the bouquet stage. Our findings uncover a novel mechanism of FBXO47 in telomeric shelterin subunit stabilization during meiosis.
Developmental Exposure to PCB153 (2,2’,4,4’,5,5’-Hexachlorobiphenyl) Alters Circadian Rhythms and the Expression of Clock and Metabolic Genes
Authors: Aluru Neelakanteswar , Krick Keegan S , McDonald Adriane M , Karchner Sibel I
Published: October 2019

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are highly persistent and ubiquitously distributed environmental pollutants. Based on their chemical structure, PCBs are classified into non-ortho-substituted and ortho-substituted congeners. Non-ortho-substituted PCBs are structurally similar to dioxin and their toxic effects and mode of action are well-established. In contrast, very little is known about the effects of ortho-substituted PCBs, particularly, during early development. The objective of this study is to investigate the effects of exposure to an environmentally prominent ortho-substituted PCB (2,2’,4,4’,5,5’-hexachlorobiphenyl; PCB153) on zebrafish embryos. We exposed zebrafish embryos to 3 different concentrations of PCB153 starting from 4 to 120 hours post-fertilization (hpf). We quantified gross morphological changes, behavioral phenotypes, gene expression changes, and circadian behavior in the larvae. There were no developmental defects during the exposure period, but starting at 7 dpf, we observed spinal deformity in the 10 μM PCB153 treated group. A total of 633, 2227, and 3378 differentially expressed genes were observed in 0.1 μM (0.036 μg/ml), 1 μM (0.36 μg/ml), and 10 μM (3.6 μg/ml) PCB153-treated embryos, respectively. Of these, 301 genes were common to all treatment groups. KEGG pathway analysis revealed enrichment of genes related to circadian rhythm, FoxO signaling, and insulin resistance pathways. Behavioral analysis revealed that PCB153 exposure significantly alters circadian behavior. Disruption of circadian rhythms has been associated with the development of metabolic and neurological diseases. Thus, understanding the mechanisms of action of environmental chemicals in disrupting metabolism and other physiological processes is essential.
Important Roles of Endothelium-Dependent Hyperpolarization in Coronary Microcirculation and Cardiac Diastolic Function in Mice
Authors: Ikumi Yosuke , Shiroto Takashi , Godo Shigeo , Saito Hiroki , Tanaka Shuhei , Ito Akiyo , Kajitani Shoko , Monma Yuto , Miyata Satoshi , Tsutsui Masato , Shimokawa Hiroaki
Published: October 2019

Endothelium-dependent hyperpolarization (EDH) factor is one of endothelium-derived relaxing factors and plays important roles especially in microvessels. We have previously demonstrated that endothelium-derived hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is an EDH factor produced by all types of nitric oxide synthases (NOSs), including endothelial NOS (eNOS), neuronal NOS (nNOS), and inducible NOS. Recent studies have suggested the association between coronary microvascular dysfunction and cardiac diastolic dysfunction. However, the role of EDH in this issue remains to be fully elucidated. We thus examined whether EDH plays an important role in coronary microcirculation and if so, whether endothelial dysfunction, especially impaired EDH, is involved in the pathogenesis of cardiac diastolic dysfunction in mice. Using a Langendorff-perfused heart experiment, we examined the increase in coronary flow in response to bradykinin in the presence of indomethacin and N
ω-nitro-l-arginine (EDH condition) in wild-type, eNOS-knockout (KO), and nNOS/eNOS-double-KO mice. Compared with wild-type mice, EDH-mediated relaxations were increased in eNOS-KO mice but were significantly reduced in n/eNOS-KO mice. Catalase, a specific H2O2 scavenger, markedly inhibited EDH-mediated relaxations in all 3 genotypes, indicating compensatory roles of nNOS-derived H2O2 as an EDH factor in coronary microcirculation. Although both eNOS-KO and n/eNOS-KO mice exhibited similar extents of cardiac morphological changes, only n/eNOS-KO mice exhibited cardiac diastolic dysfunction. The expression of oxidized protein kinase G I-α (PKGIα) in the heart was significantly increased in eNOS-KO mice compared with n/eNOS-KO mice. These results indicate that EDH/H2O2 plays important roles in maintaining coronary microcirculation and cardiac diastolic function through oxidative PKGIα activation.
Berberine Attenuates Cholesterol Accumulation in Macrophage Foam Cells by Suppressing AP-1 Activity and Activation of the Nrf2/HO-1 Pathway
Authors: Yang Xue-Juan , Liu Fang , Feng Na , Ding Xue-Song , Chen Yong , Zhu Shuang-Xi , Yang Ling-Chao , Feng Xiang-Fei
Published: October 2019

Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammation condition resulting from the interaction between lipoproteins, monocyte-derived macrophages, T lymphocytes, and other cellular elements in the arterial wall. Macrophage-derived foam cells play a key role in both early and advanced stage of atherosclerosis. Previous studies have shown that berberine could inhibit foam cell formation and prevent experimental atherosclerosis. However, its underlying molecular mechanisms have not been fully clarified. In this study, we explored the cholesterol-lowering effects of berberine in macrophage-derived foam cells and investigated its possible mechanisms in prevention and treatment of atherosclerosis. Here, we demonstrated that berberine could inhibit atherosclerosis in apolipoprotein E-deficient mice and induce cholesterol reduction as well as decrease the content of macrophages. Berberine can regulate oxLDL uptake and cholesterol efflux, thus suppresses foam cell formation. Mechanisms study showed that berberine can suppress scavenger receptor expression via inhibiting the activity of AP-1 and upregulate ATP-binding cassette transporter via activating Nrf2/HO-1 signaling in human macrophage. In summary, berberine significantly inhibits atherosclerotic disease development by regulating lipid homeostasis and suppressing macrophage foam cell formation.
Functional connectivity of the amygdala is linked to individual differences in emotional pain facilitation
Authors: Gandhi Wiebke , Rosenek Norma R. , Harrison Richard , Salomons Tim V.
Published: October 2019

The amygdala is central to emotional processing of sensory stimuli, including pain. Because recent findings suggest that individual differences in emotional processes play a part in the development of chronic pain, a better understanding of the individual patterns of functional connectivity that makes individuals susceptible to emotionally modulated facilitation of pain is needed. We therefore investigated the neural correlates of individual differences in emotional pain facilitation using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) with an amygdala seed. Thirty-seven participants took part in 3 separate sessions, during which pain sensitivity was tested (session 1), participants underwent rs-fMRI (session 2), and emotional pain modulation was assessed (session 3). The amygdala served as seed for the rs-fMRI analysis, and whole-brain voxel-wise connectivity was tested. Pain modulatory scores were entered as regressor for the group analysis. Stronger connectivity of the amygdala to S1/M1, S2/operculum, and posterior parietal cortex at rest characterized individuals who showed greater pain facilitation by negative emotions. When comparing the amygdala networks associated with pain unpleasantness and with pain-intensity modulation, most of the identified areas were equally related to either pain rating type; only amygdala connectivity to S1/M1 was found to predict pain-intensity modulation specifically. We demonstrate that trait-like patterns of functional connectivity between amygdala and cortical regions involved in sensory and motor responses are associated with the individual amplitude of pain facilitation by negative emotional states. Our results are an early step toward improved understanding of the mechanisms that give rise to individual differences in emotional pain modulation.
Early Mortality in Children and Adolescents with Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia: Experience of the Boldrini Children’s Center
Authors: de Azevedo Amilcar C. , Matsuda Eduardo , Cervellini Julia Y. , Prandi Larissa R. , Omae Cristiane , Jotta Patricia Y. , Pereira Ricardo M. , Brandalise Silvia R.
Published: October 2019

Introduction:

Acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) is currently considered a highly curable disease. However, an early death (ED) remains one of the main causes of APL treatment failure.

Patients and Methods:

In this retrospective study, we aimed to analyze the clinical characteristics of 91 children and adolescents with APL, who were consecutively registered at the (name of institution removed) Children’s Center from January 1, 1998 to December 31, 2017. Data were assessed for age, sex, ethnicity, body mass index percentile, initial white blood cell count, peripheral blood blast count, and platelet count, hemoglobin value, partial thromboplastin time, prothrombin time, fibrinogen level, serum creatinine level, APL morphology subtype (classic vs. hypogranular variant M3v), and FLT3 gene mutations.

Results:

ED occurred in 12 of 91 (13.1%) patients and was mainly related to cerebral thromboembolism. Overall 66% of deaths occurred in the second week after diagnosis. ED was associated with white blood cell ≥10×109 cells/L (odds ratio of 8.44; 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.48-48.26; P=0.0016), initial promyelocytes ≥20×109/L (odds ratio of 9.29; 95% CI=2.45-35.8; P=0.001), morphologic subtype M3v (odds ratio of 3.63; 95% CI=1.04-12.64; P=0.043), and creatinine serum levels >0.7 mg/dL (odds ratio of 6.78; 95% CI=1.83-25.13; P=0.004). In multivariate analyses, ED was associated with initial peripheral promyelocytes ≥20×109 blasts/L and creatinine serum levels >0.7 mg/dL.

Conclusions:

EDs were mainly caused by thrombohemorrhagic events and occurred within the second week after diagnosis. High peripheral promyelocytes and creatinine levels were predictors of ED in APL.
Comparison of tuning properties of gamma and high-gamma power in local field potential (LFP) versus electrocorticogram (ECoG) in visual cortex
Authors: Dubey Agrita , Ray Supratim
Published: October 2019

Electrocorticogram (ECoG), obtained from macroelectrodes placed on the cortex, is typically used in drug-resistant epilepsy patients, and is increasingly being used to study cognition in humans. These studies often use power in gamma (30-70 Hz) or high-gamma (>80 Hz) ranges to make inferences about neural processing. However, while the stimulus tuning properties of gamma/high-gamma power have been well characterized in local field potential (LFP; obtained from microelectrodes), analogous characterization has not been done for ECoG. Using a hybrid array containing both micro and ECoG electrodes implanted in the primary visual cortex of two female macaques, we compared the stimulus tuning preferences of gamma/high-gamma power in LFP versus ECoG and found them to be surprisingly similar. High-gamma power, thought to index the average firing rate around the electrode, was highest for the smallest stimulus (0.3° radius), and decreased with increasing size in both LFP and ECoG, suggesting local origins of both signals. Further, gamma oscillations were similarly tuned in LFP and ECoG to stimulus orientation, contrast and spatial frequency. This tuning was significantly weaker in electroencephalogram (EEG), suggesting that ECoG is more like LFP than EEG. Overall, our results validate the use of ECoG in clinical and basic cognitive research.
DeepCINAC: a deep-learning-based Python toolbox for inferring calcium imaging neuronal activity based on movie visualization
Authors: Denis Julien , Dard Robin F. , Quiroli Eleonora , Cossart Rosa , Picardo Michel A.
Published: October 2019

Two-photon calcium imaging is now widely used to infer neuronal dynamics from changes in fluorescence of an indicator. However, state of the art computational tools are not optimized for the reliable detection of fluorescence transients from highly synchronous neurons located in densely packed regions such as the CA1 pyramidal layer of the hippocampus during early postnatal stages of development. Indeed, the latest analytical tools often lack proper benchmark measurements. To meet this challenge, we first developed a graphical user interface allowing for a precise manual detection of all calcium transients from imaged neurons based on the visualization of the calcium imaging movie. Then, we analyzed the movies using a convolutional neural network with an attention process and a bidirectional long-short term memory network. This method is able to reach human performance and offers a better F1 score (harmonic mean of sensitivity and precision) than CaImAn to infer neural activity in the developing CA1 without any user intervention. It also enables automatically identifying activity originating from GABAergic neurons. Overall, DeepCINAC offers a simple, fast and flexible open-source toolbox for processing a wide variety of calcium imaging datasets while providing the tools to evaluate its performance.

Significance statement

Inferring neuronal activity from calcium imaging data remains a challenge due to the difficulty in obtaining a ground truth using patch clamp recordings and the problem of finding optimal tuning parameters of inference algorithms. DeepCINAC offers a flexible, fast and easy-to-use toolbox to infer neuronal activity from any kind of calcium imaging dataset through visual inspection.
Single-cell multiomics sequencing reveals the functional regulatory landscape of early embryos
Authors: Wang Yang , Yuan Peng , Yan Zhiqiang , Yang Ming , Huo Ying , Nie Yanli , Zhu Xiaohui , Yan Liying , Qiao Jie
Published: October 2019

Extensive epigenetic reprogramming occurs during preimplantation embryo development and is accompanied by zygotic genome activation (ZGA) and first cell fate specification. Recent studies using single-cell epigenome sequencing techniques have provided global views of the dynamics of different epigenetic layers during this period. However, it remains largely unclear how the drastic epigenetic reprogramming contributes to transcriptional regulatory network. Here, we developed a single-cell multiomics sequencing technology (scNOMeRe-seq) that enables profiling of genome-wide chromatin accessibility, DNA methylation and RNA expression in the same individual cell with improved performance compared to that of earlier techniques. We applied this method to analyze the global dynamics of different molecular layers and their associations in mouse preimplantation embryos. We found that global DNA methylation remodeling facilitates the reconstruction of genetic lineages in early embryos and revealed that the gradual increases in heterogeneity among blastomeres are driven by asymmetric cleavage. Allele-specific DNA methylation pattern is maintained throughout preimplantation development and is accompanied by allele-specific associations between DNA methylation and gene expression in the gene body that are inherited from oocytes and sperm. Through integrated analyses of the collective dynamics between gene expression and chromatin accessibility, we constructed a ZGA-associated regulatory network and revealed coordination among multiple epigenetic layers, transcription factors (TFs) and repeat elements that instruct the proper ZGA process. Moreover, we found that inner cell mass (ICM)/trophectoderm (TE) lineage-associated cis-regulatory elements are stepwise activated in blastomeres during post-ZGA embryo stages. TE lineage-specific TFs play dual roles in promoting the TE program while repressing the ICM program, thereby separating the TE lineage from the ICM lineage. Taken together, our findings not only depict the first single-cell triple-omics map of chromatin accessibility, DNA methylation and RNA expression during mouse preimplantation development but also enhance the fundamental understanding of epigenetic regulation in early embryos.
“Viscotaxis”- Directed Migration of Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Response to Loss Modulus Gradient
Authors: Shirke Pallavi Uday , Goswami Hiya , Kumar Vardhman , Shah Darshan , Das Siddhartha , Bellare Jayesh , Venkatesh K.V. , Seth Jyoti R. , Majumder Abhijit
Published: October 2019

Directed cell migration in response to chemical and mechanical gradients plays a crucial role in physiological and pathological conditions. One such mechanical cues that is known to influences cell migration is the gradient of substrate elastic modulus (E). However, the elastic modulus alone cannot fully define the material properties of the cellular microenvironment, which often has both elastic and viscous characteristics. In this study, we investigated the influence of the gradient of viscous nature, as defined by loss modulus, G”, on cell migration. We cultured human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) on a collagen-coated polyacrylamide gel with constant elastic property, as defined by the storage modulus G’, but with the gradient of loss modulus G”. We found hMSCs to migrate from high to low loss modulus. We have termed this, thus far unreported, directional cellular migration as “Viscotaxis”. We have confirmed uniform collagen density and constant storage modulus of the gel by fluorescence microscopy and atomic force microscopy to eliminate the possibilities of haptotaxis and durotaxis. We hypothesize that material creep in the high loss modulus region hinders the building up of the cellular traction, leading to a force asymmetry that drives the observed viscotaxis. To verify our hypothesis, we estimated the cellular traction on gels with high and low loss moduli. We indeed found that cells apply higher traction force on more elastic materials i.e. materials with low loss modulus. On the disruption of actomyosin contractility with myosin inhibitor blebbistatin and ROCK inhibitor Y27632, directional migration was lost. Further, we showed that cells can maintain a stable morphology on a low loss modulus substrate but due to its inability to build up stable cellular traction on a substrate with high loss modulus, the cell spreading remains in a dynamic state. Our findings in this paper highlight the importance of considering the viscous modulus while preparing stiffness-based substrates for the field of tissue engineering.
Deteriogenic flora of the Phlegraean Fields Archaeological Park: ecological analysis and management guidelines
Authors: Motti Riccardo , Bonanomi Giuliano , Stinca Adriano
Published: October 2019

Biodeterioration, the alteration caused by living organisms, on historical buildings and stone monuments is a well-known problem affecting two-thirds of the world’s cultural heritage. The study of the flora growing on wall surface is of particular importance for the assessment of the risk of biodeterioration of stone artifacts by vascular plants, and for maintenance planning. In this study, we investigate how rock type, exposure and inclination of the wall affect the biodeteriogenic flora at 13 sites of the Archaeological Park of the Phlegraean Fields located in the province of Naples, in southern Italy. For each site, we analysed randomly selected square areas with 2 × 2 m size, representing the different vegetation types in terms of vascular plant species cover. The total number of plant species recorded was 129, belonging to 43 families.Erigeron sumatrensis, Sonchus tenerrimus, andParietaria judaicaare the most commonly reported species, whileCapparis orientalisis the species with the highest average coverage. Substrate type, exposure and surface inclination affect the floristic composition, with the average plant cover significantly higher on vertical surfaces and at western and southern exposure. All the main biodeteriogenic vascular plant species grow on more or less porous lythotype like yellow tufa, conglomerate and bricks. Finally, woody plants eradications methods are proposed by the tree cutting and local application of herbicides, to avoid stump and root sprouting and to minimize the dispersion of chemicals in the surrounding environment.
Municipal-owned community bank: capital raising dilemma
Authors: Swai Tobias Aloisi
Published: October 2019

Learning outcomes

The case introduces student to basic understanding of banking sector in Tanzania as well as the strategies and struggle to raise capital through shareholders’ funds. Application of Banking theory and Pecking order theory is evidenced from the case. The case outlines why the bank struggled to raise capital and what triggers the capital raising strategies. It also give students an opportunity to think about applicable theories of capital structure and bank capital, and strategies the bank could use to rescue its capital crunch in the future.

Case overview/synopsis

The case provides details of how the Capital Community Bank (CCB) raised its capital through strategic financial engineering which enabled it to raise the minimum regulatory capital required to be licensed as a financial institution unit, to a regional financial institution, to a fully fledged commercial bank. The bank started with a paid up capital of TZS 472.3m in 2002, involving four Local Government Authorities and individual investors. Capital raised to TZS 31.3bn in 2014 and down to TZS 20.6bn at the end of 2016. The minimum regulatory capital required is TZS 15bn, while paid up capital was 16.9bn. With the change of the management team in 2017, the bank is looking for avenues to raise further capital to meet the regulatory limits and continue to survive as a commercial bank, given dramatic changes in the banking sector in Tanzania.

Complexity academic level

The case is suitable for third year students in Bachelor of Commerce/Economics specializing in banking/financial services. It also suits postgraduate/master's students seeking a Postgraduate Diploma or Master of Business Administration in financial institutions/banking course.

Supplementary materials

Teaching Notes are available for educators only. Please contact your library to gain login details or email support@emeraldinsight.com to request teaching notes.

Subject code

CSS 1: Accounting and Finance.
Not such an ordinary life: a comparison of employment, marital status and housing profiles of adults with and without intellectual disabilities
Authors: McMahon Martin , Bowring Darren Lee , Hatton Chris
Published: October 2019

Purpose

Having paid work, relationships and a choice of where to live are common policy priorities for adults with intellectual disabilities. The purpose of this paper is to compare outcomes with respect to these three priorities between adults with intellectual disability and the general population in Jersey.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected from 217 adults with intellectual disability known to services, and 2,350 adults without intellectual disability using a stratified random sample. Data on employment, marital status and accommodation profiles were compared.

Findings

In sum, 87 per cent of adults with intellectual disability were currently single vs 16 per cent of adults without intellectual disability; 23 per cent of working-age adults with intellectual disability were in paid employment vs 92 per cent of working-age adults without intellectual disability; and 57 per cent of adults with intellectual disability lived-in sheltered housing vs 2 per cent of adults without intellectual disability.

Social implications

Very few adults with intellectual disability are in paid employment or intimate relationships, and the majority live in sheltered, supported housing, with very few owning their own home. There is a significant disconnect between policy and reality. Considerable work is required to make an ordinary life the reality for adults with intellectual disability.

Originality/value

This study adds to the body of evidence that suggests people with intellectual disabilities are less likely to experience an ordinary life. Furthermore, it illustrates that despite Jersey being an affluent society, the same difficulties and barriers exist there for persons with an intellectual disability as in other jurisdictions.
Could excision repair cross‐complementing group‐1 mRNA expression from peripheral blood lymphocytes predict locoregional failure with cisplatin chemoradiation for locally advanced laryngeal cancer?
Authors: Raturi Vijay Parshuram , Wu Chen‐Ta , Mohammad Suhel , Hojo Hidehiro , Bei Yanping , Nakamura Masaki , Okumura Masayuki , Rachi Toshiya , Singh Rahul , Gupta Rajeev , Parmar Devendra , Hasan Feza , Gaur Jalaj , Kishan Dewesh , Kumar Saurabh , Badajena Avinash , Katepogu Pranay , Shigematsu Naoyuki
Published: October 2019

Aim

The association of excision repair cross‐complementing 1 mRNA (ERCC‐1 mRNA) expression with the outcome has been reported with immunohistochemistry (IHC) using tumor tissue in head and neck cancer. We evaluated ERCC‐1 mRNA expression by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) from peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) as bio‐predictor of locoregional failure (LRF) to chemoradiation (CRT) for locally advanced laryngeal squamous cell cancer (LALSCC).

Methods

A total of 107 male patients with LALSCC were enrolled in this prospective study. ERCC‐1 mRNA expression by PBLs was determined by RT‐PCR. Definitive CRT was delivered with 35 mg/m2 weekly cisplatin. Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumor 1.1 (RECIST 1.1) were used in evaluating treatment response. The primary objective was to assess LRF. The influence of patient characteristics, treatment response, weekly cisplatin cycles, ERCC mRNA expression was determined for LRF, progression‐free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS).

Results

A total of 98 patients completed definitive CRT. The median value of 2‐ΔΔCT ERCC‐1 mRNA expression was 3.9; based on which it was categorized as low and high. Correlation of ERCC‐1 expression with treatment response was insignificant (P‐ .38). With a median follow‐up of 33 months; 2‐year LRF, PFS, and OS was 63.3%, 34.7% and 79.4%. The 2‐year LRF, PFS and OS for low versus high expression were 53.1% versus 73.5% (P‐value = 0.036), 44.9% versus 24.4% (P‐value = 0.047) and 81.6% versus 77.2% (P‐value = 0.33), respectively. In multivariate analysis, ERCC‐1 expression, T‐stage, N‐stage and tumor subsite are predictive factors for LRF; T‐stage and nodal recurrence for OS; stage and treatment response for PFS.

Conclusion

LALSCC patient with ERCC‐1 mRNA low expression was associated with lower LRF rate, and improved PFS.
The Political Importance of Financial Performance
Authors: Pond Amy , Zafeiridou Christina
Published: October 2019

Asset mobility is thought to constrain taxation, as firms with mobile assets can avoid taxation by locating their assets in low‐tax jurisdictions. Firms with immobile assets then face higher taxes. By considering the political incentives that accompany widespread financialization, we identify a new limit to the targeting of immobile firms: Publicly traded firms with immobile underlying assets lose more value in financial markets when taxes are increased, as shareholders anticipate that these underlying assets cannot be withheld from taxation. When governments care about this loss in value, their incentive to tax immobile, publicly traded firms declines. Political concern for financial performance therefore limits the extent to which immobile assets can be targeted for taxation. We argue that broad‐based participation in the stock market and democratic political institutions increase political concern for financial performance. We discuss the implications of the theory and findings for policy autonomy, firm ownership, and economic voting.
Apical aortic blood pump preclinical assessment for long‐term use: Durability test and stator topology to reduce wear in the bearing system
Authors: da Silva Bruno Utiyama , da Fonseca Jeison Willian Gomes , Leal Edir Branzoni , Cardoso José Roberto , Biscegli José Francisco , de Andrade Aron José Pazin
Published: October 2019

This study presents an assessment for long‐term use of the apical aortic blood pump (AABP), focusing on wear reduction in the bearing system. AABP is a centrifugal left ventricle assist device initially developed for bridge to transplant application. To analyze AABP performance in long‐term applications, a durability test was performed. This test indicated that wear in the lower bearing pivot causes device failure in long‐term. A wear test in the bearing system was conducted to demonstrate the correlation of the load in the bearing system with wear. Results from the wear test showed a direct correlation between load and wear at the lower bearing pivot. In order to reduce load, thus reducing wear, a new stator topology has been proposed. In this topology, a radial stator would replace the axial stator previously used. Another durability test with the new stator has accounted twice the time without failure when compared with the original model.