bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Pre‐donation deferral of blood donors in a Brazilian blood bank: a 10‐year experience
Authors: Dias P. B. , Lissa N. M. , Skare T. , Fávero K. B. , Almeida P. T. R. , Nisihara R.
Published: October 2019

Objectives

To study the main causes of pre‐donation blood donors' deferral in a Brazilian blood bank.

Background

Blood donor selection is the most important process to maintain transfusion safeness. Pre‐donation deferral aims to avoid the transmission of infectious diseases in the serological window, as well as to preserve blood donors' health.

Methods

This was a retrospective study undertaken in a single blood centre in Curitiba, Brazil, taking into account the number of blood donations per year, the number of annual donations by gender and the total number of blood donors deferred annually prior to blood donation from 1 January 2007 to 31 December 2016.

Results

Pre‐donation blood donors' deferral ranged from 12·1 to 15·7% of donors. The main reason was related to donors' health (22·5–51·4%) followed by behavioural risk (17·6–29%). Issues related to blood donors' health diminished, and those related to behavioural risk increased with time. Blood donors deferred because of anaemia diminished with time and were more common in women than men (P < 0·001).

Conclusions

Pre‐donation blood donors' deferral ranges from 12·1 to 15·7% in our region. The most common cause was blood donors' health followed by behavioural risk. Anaemia was more common in women. Knowing this specific population better could avoid wasting blood bags and help to minimise costs and still maintain transfusion safety.
Globalisation: Recent traits and challenges
Authors: Cuadros Ana , Ordóñez Javier
Published: October 2019

This special issue gathers together twelve papers that revisit a range of core topics in the field of international economics. These papers were presented at the XIX Conference on International Economics (CIE) held in Vila‐Real (Spain) on 28th–29th June 2018. The Conference was co‐organized by researchers from the Spanish Association of International Economics and Finance (AEEFI) and the Institute of International Economics (IEI). The selected papers are stimulating pieces that shed new light on recent trends in globalization as well as some of the main challenges that need to be faced in the presence of the multiple yield curves that emerged after the credit crunch. The CIE also included two keynote lectures by Laura Alfaro (Harvard Business School) and Gabriel Quirós (IMF) as well as 64 selected contributions.
Dermatological topical products used in the US population and their toxicity to dogs and cats
Authors: Tater Kathy Chu , Gwaltney‐Brant Sharon , Wismer Tina
Published: October 2019

Background

Many dermatological topicals are available for human use and may be toxic to dogs and cats. No epidemiological studies have been performed in the US population on the use of dermatological topical prescription drugs, and their toxicosis to dogs and cats.

Objectives

Summarize the variety of dermatological topical prescriptions potentially used by pet owners in the United States (US), and describe the epidemiology of dog and cat exposures and toxicities.

Animals/Subjects

A dataset of 10,170 individuals from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) representative of 311,065,381 US residents. There were 61,169 dog and cat cases with exposure to dermatological topicals from the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) Animal Poison Control Center (APCC) database.

Methods and materials

Prescription medication data were analyzed from NHANES 2011–2014 survey respondents. The APCC database was searched for records of dermatological topical drug cases between January 2001 and January 2018.

Results

Prescription dermatological topical medications were used by 1.33 ± 0.21% of the US population. Dermatological topical products (177, veterinary and human) resulted in 61,169 exposure calls to the APCC. Clinical signs developed in 38% (22,910). A human‐labelled product was involved in 15% (3,463) with 74% (2,545) involving a prescription product.

Conclusions and clinical significance

Pets in households with humans receiving dermatological prescription topicals may be at risk for toxicosis. Multiple human‐labelled dermatological topicals can cause death or major illness to dogs and cats at low dosages. Increased public awareness, especially attention to home storage practices for human‐labelled dermatological topicals, may reduce the risk of exposure and toxicosis to dogs and cats.
Dynamic Multi-Sensor Platform for Efficient Three-Dimensional-Digitalization of Cities
Authors: García-Moreno Angel-Iván
Published: October 2019

Three-dimensional urban reconstruction requires the combination of data from different sensors, such as cameras, inertial systems, GPS, and laser sensors. In this technical report, a complete system for the generation of textured volumetric global maps (deep vision) is presented. Our acquisition platform is terrestrial and moves through different urban environments digitizing them. The report is focused on describing the three main problems identified in this type of works. (1) The acquisition of three-dimensional data with high precision, (2) the extraction of the texture and its correlation with the 3D data, and (3) the generation of the surfaces that describe the components of the urban environment. It also describes the methods implemented to extrinsically calibrate the acquisition platform, as well as the methods developed to eliminate the radial and tangential image distortion; and the subsequent generation of a panoramic image. Procedures are developed for the sampling of 3D data and its smoothing. Subsequently, the process to generate textured global maps with a negligible uncertainty is developed and the results are presented. Finally, the process of surface generation and the post-process of eliminating certain holes/occlusions in the meshes are reported. In each section, results obtained are shown. Using the methods presented here for geometric and photorealistic reconstruction of urban environments, high-quality 3D models are generated. The results achieved the following objectives: generate global textured models that preserve the geometry of the scanned scenes.
Scale and Pose-Invariant Feature Quality Inspection for Freeform Geometries in Additive Manufacturing
Authors: Jin Yu , Pierson Harry , Liao Haitao
Published: October 2019

Additive manufacturing (AM) has the unprecedented ability to create customized, complex, and nonparametric geometry, and it has made this ability accessible to individuals outside of traditional production environments. Geometric inspection technology, however, has yet to adapt to take full advantage of AM’s abilities. Coordinate measuring machines are accurate, but they are also slow, expensive to operate, and inaccessible to many AM users. On the other hand, 3D-scanners provide fast, high-density measurements, but there is a lack of feature-based analysis techniques for point cloud data. There exists a need for developing fast, feature-based geometric inspection techniques that can be implemented by users without specialized training in inspection according to geometric dimensioning and tolerancing conventions. This research proposes a new scale- and pose-invariant quality inspection method based on a novel location-orientation-shape (LOS) distribution derived from point cloud data. The key technique of the new method is to describe the shape and pose of key features via kernel density estimation and detect nonconformities based on statistical divergence. Numerical examples are provided and tests on physical AM builds are conducted to validate the method. The results show that the proposed inspection scheme is able to identify form, position, and orientation defects. The results also demonstrate how datum features can be incorporated into point cloud inspection, that datum features can be complex, nonparametric surfaces, and how the specification of datums can be more intuitive and meaningful, particularly for users without special training.
Resource Allocation for System Reliability Assessment Using Accelerated Life Testing
Authors: Moustafa Kassem , Hu Zhen , Mourelatos Zissimos P. , Baseski Igor , Majcher Monica
Published: October 2019

Accelerated life test (ALT) has been widely used to accelerate the product reliability assessment process by testing a product at higher than nominal stress conditions. For a system with multiple components, the tests can be performed at component-level or system-level. The data at these two levels require different amount of resources to collect and carry different values of information for system reliability assessment. Even though component-level tests are cheap to perform, they cannot account for the correlations between the failure time distributions of different components. While system-level tests can naturally account for the complicated dependence between component failure time distributions, the required testing efforts are much higher than that of component-level tests. This research proposes a novel resource allocation framework for ALT-based system reliability assessment. A physics-informed load model is first employed to bridge the gap between component-level tests and system-level tests. An optimization framework is then developed to effectively allocate testing resources to different types of tests. The information fusion of component-level and system-level tests allows us to accurately estimate the system reliability with a minimized requirement on the testing resources. Results of two numerical examples demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed framework.
Electronic structure and dielectric function of Mn-Bi-Te layered compounds
Authors: Jahangirli Zakir A. , Alizade Elvin H. , Aliev Ziya S. , Otrokov Mikhail M. , Ismayilova Narmin A. , Mammadov Samir N. , Amiraslanov Imamaddin R. , Mamedov Nazim T. , Orudjev Guseyn S. , Babanly Mahammad B. , Shikin Alexander M. , Chulkov Evgueni V.
Published: October 2019

A comparative study of the electronic and optical properties of Mn-Bi-Te layered compounds was carried out using spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE) over a photon energy range of 0.7–6.5 eV at room temperature and density functional theory (DFT)-based first-principle calculations within the general gradient approximation with Hubbard like correction (GGA+U) and allowance for a spin-orbital coupling. The total energies of the above compounds in ferromagnetic (FM) and antiferromagnetic (AFM) spin configurations are obtained by taking the long-range van der Waals interaction into account. The stability of the AFM state of MnBi2Te4 and MnBi4Te7 over the corresponding FM counterpart is disclosed. The SE-based and calculated dielectric functions are compared. It is shown that interband optical transitions in the accessed photon energy range mainly occur between Mn 3d + Te 5p states of the valence band and Bi 6p + Te 5p with a small admixture of Mn 3d states of the conduction band.
Association Between the Seated Single-Arm Shot-Put Test With Isokinetic Pushing Force
Authors: Riemann Bryan L. , Davies George J.
Published: October 2019

Context: Previous investigations have examined the reliability, normalization, and underlying projection mechanics of the seated single-arm shot-put (SSASP) test. Although the test is believed to reflect test limb strength, there have been no assessments determining whether test performance is directly associated with upper-extremity strength. Objective: To determine the relationship between isokinetic pushing force and SSASP performance and conduct a method comparison analysis of limb symmetry indices between the 2 tests. Design: Controlled laboratory study. Setting: Biomechanics laboratory. Patients (or Other Participants): Twenty-four healthy and physically active men (n = 12) and women (n = 12). Intervention(s): Participants completed the SSASP and isokinetic pushing tests using their dominant and nondominant arms. Main Outcome Measures: SSASP distance and isokinetic peak force. Results: Significant moderate to strong relationships were revealed between the SSASP distances and isokinetic peak forces for both limbs. The Bland–Altman analysis results demonstrated significantly (P < .002) greater limb symmetry indices for the SSASP (both medicine balls) than the isokinetic ratios, with biases ranging from −0.094 to −0.159. The limits of agreement results yielded intervals ranging from ±0.241 to ±0.340 and ±0.202 to ±0.221 from the biases. Conclusions: These results support the notion that the SSASP test reflects upper-extremity strength. The incongruency of the limb symmetry indices between the 2 tests is likely reflective of the differences in the movement patterns and coordination requirements of the 2 tests.
In Vitro
Activities of β-Lactam–β-Lactamase Inhibitor Antimicrobial Agents against Cystic Fibrosis Respiratory Pathogens
Authors: Caverly Lindsay J. , Spilker Theodore , Kalikin Linda M. , Stillwell Terri , Young Carol , Huang David B. , LiPuma John J.
Published: October 2019

We tested the
in vitro
activities of ceftazidime-avibactam, ceftolozane-tazobactam, meropenem-vaborbactam, piperacillin-tazobactam, and 11 other antimicrobial agents against 420
Burkholderia
,
Achromobacter
,
Stenotrophomonas
, and
Pandoraea
strains, 89% of which were cultured from respiratory specimens from persons with cystic fibrosis.
Ribosome Reconstruction during Recovery from High-Hydrostatic-Pressure-Induced Injury in Bacillus subtilis
Authors: Nguyen Huyen Thi Minh , Akanuma Genki , Hoa Tu Thi Minh , Nakai Yuji , Kimura Keitarou , Yamamoto Kazutaka , Inaoka Takashi
Published: October 2019

HHP treatment is used as a nonthermal processing technology in the food industry to inactivate bacteria while retaining high quality of foods under suppressed chemical reactions. However, some populations of bacterial cells may survive the inactivation. Although the survivors are in a transient nongrowing state due to HHP-induced injury, they can recover from the injury and then start growing, depending on the postprocessing conditions. The recovery process in terms of cellular components after the injury remains unclear. Transcriptome analysis using vegetative cells of
Bacillus subtilis
revealed that the translational machinery can preferentially be reconstructed after HHP treatment. We found that both Mn
2+
and Zn
2+
prolonged the growth-arrested stage of HHP-injured cells by delaying ribosome reconstruction. It is likely that ribosome reconstruction is crucial for the recovery of growth ability in HHP-injured cells. This study provides further understanding of the recovery process in HHP-injured
B. subtilis
cells.
Lanthanide-Dependent Methylotrophs of the Family
Beijerinckiaceae
: Physiological and Genomic Insights
Authors: Wegner Carl-Eric , Gorniak Linda , Riedel Stefan , Westermann Martin , Küsel Kirsten
Published: October 2019

We supplemented knowledge of the broad metabolic diversity of the
Beijerinckiaceae
by characterizing new members of this family that rely on lanthanides for methanol oxidation and that possess additional lanthanide-dependent enzymes. Considering that lanthanides are critical resources for many modern applications and that recovering them is expensive and puts a heavy burden on the environment, lanthanide-dependent metabolism in microorganisms is an exploding field of research. Further research into how isolated
Beijerinckiaceae
and other microbes utilize lanthanides is needed to increase our understanding of lanthanide-dependent metabolism. The diversity and widespread occurrence of lanthanide-dependent enzymes make it likely that lanthanide utilization varies in different taxonomic groups and is dependent on the habitat of the microbes.
Distinct Requirements for Tail-Anchored Membrane Protein Biogenesis in Escherichia coli
Authors: Peschke Markus , Le Goff Mélanie , Koningstein Gregory M. , Vischer Norbert O. , Abdel-Rehim Abbi , High Stephen , van Ulsen Peter , Luirink Joen
Published: October 2019

A subset of membrane proteins is targeted to and inserted into the membrane via a hydrophobic transmembrane domain (TMD) that is positioned at the very C terminus of the protein. The biogenesis of these so-called tail-anchored proteins (TAMPs) has been studied in detail in eukaryotic cells. Various partly redundant pathways were identified, the choice for which depends in part on the hydrophobicity of the TMD. Much less is known about bacterial TAMPs. The significance of our research is in identifying the role of TMD hydrophobicity in the routing of
E. coli
TAMPs. Our data suggest that both the nature of the TMD and its role in routing can be very different for TAMPs versus “regular” membrane proteins. Elucidating these position-specific effects of TMDs will increase our understanding of how prokaryotic cells face the challenge of producing a wide variety of membrane proteins.
Initiation and evolution of forearc basins in the Central Myanmar Depression
Authors: Cai Fulong , Ding Lin , Zhang Qinghai , Orme Devon A. , Wei Honghong , Li Jinxiang , Zhang Ji’en , Zaw Than , Sein Kyaing
Published: October 2019

The forearc basin in Myanmar is significant in understanding the development of continental forearc basins. We present stratigraphic, sandstone petrographic, and U-Pb detrital data from Upper Cretaceous–Eocene strata of Chindwin and Minbu sub-basins in the Central Myanmar Depression. The Upper Cretaceous lower Kabaw Formation consists of turbiditic conglomerate, sandstone, and mudstone in the Minbu sub-basin. The composition of conglomerates are mainly schist and subordinate quartz. Prominent detrital zircon age probability peaks are between 260 and 223 Ma, similar with that of Upper Triassic Pane Chaung turbidites and Kanpetlet schist on the West Burma plate. In the upper Kabaw Formation, turbiditic volcanic-rich sandstones have major age populations ranging from 103 to 70 Ma in both Minbu and Chindwin sub-basins. The Paleocene slope environment Paunggyi Formation, which overlies the Kabaw Formation, mainly consists of conglomerate, sandstone, mudstone, and tuff beds in the Minbu sub-basin. In contrast, the Paunggyi Formation in the Chindwin sub-basin is composed of sandstone and mudstone; major detrital zircon age populations from the Paunggyi Formation are between 100 and 60 Ma. Eocene strata in both basins are composed mainly of shallow marine to delta sandstone and mudstone. Major detrital zircon age populations are 100–36 Ma and 600–500 Ma. The Late Cretaceous–Eocene ages from Upper Cretaceous–Eocene strata overlap with igneous crystallization ages from the Western Myanmar Arc. We propose that the Chindwin and Minbu sub-basins developed as parts of a forearc basin along the west flank of Western Myanmar Arc (present coordinate). The forearc basin initiated in Albian time atop the continental West Burma plate due to the formation of a structural high along the western margin of West Burma plate.
Quantifying exposure to running for meaningful insights into running-related injuries
Authors: Davis IV John J , Gruber Allison H
Published: October 2019

The very term ‘running-related overuse injury’ implies the importance of ‘use’, or exposure, to running. Risk factors for running-related injury can be better understood when exposure to running is quantified using either external or internal training loads. The advent of objective methods for quantifying exposure to running, such as global positioning system watches, smartphones, commercial activity monitors and research-grade wearable sensors, make it possible for researchers, coaches and clinicians to track exposure to running with unprecedented detail. This viewpoint discusses practical issues surrounding the use and analysis of data from such devices, including how wearable devices can be used to assess both internal and external training loads. We advocate for an integrative approach where data from multiple sources are used in combination to directly measure exposure to running in diverse settings.
Low total cholesterol is associated with increased major adverse cardiovascular events in men aged ≥70 years not taking statins
Authors: Gnanenthiran Sonali Rukshana , Ng Austin C C , Cumming Robert , Brieger David B , Le Couteur David , Waite Louise , Handelsman David , Naganathan Vasi , Kritharides Leonard , Blyth Fiona
Published: October 2019

Objective

Low levels of total cholesterol (TC) are associated with adverse outcomes in older populations. Whether this phenomenon is independent of statin use is unknown. We investigated the association between low TC levels and long-term major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in a prospective study of men aged ≥70 years without ischaemic heart disease (IHD) and whether this was influenced by statin use.

Methods

The CHAMP (Concord Health and Ageing in Men Project) cohort is a prospective cohort study of community-dwelling men aged ≥70 years. The relationship between TC and long-term MACE was analysed using Cox-regression modelling adjusted for comorbidities and stratified by statin use.

Results

The study cohort comprised 1289 men (mean (±SD) age, 77.0±5.5 years; mean follow-up, 6.4±2.7 years). Decreasing TC level was associated with increased comorbidity burden, frailty and MACE (linear trend p<0.001). In men not on statin therapy (n=731), each 1 mmol/L decrease in TC was associated with increased MACE (HR 1.27, 95% CI 1.10 to 1.45, p=0.001) and mortality (HR 1.22, 95% CI 1.03 to 1.44, p=0.02) adjusted for comorbidities. In contrast, low TC in men on statins (n=558) was not associated with MACE (HR 0.91, 95% CI 0.74 to 1.11) or mortality (HR 0.86, 95% CI 0.68 to 1.09).

Conclusion

Low TC is associated with increased risk of MACE in older men without IHD who are not taking statin therapy but not in those on statins.
Clinical, diagnostic imaging, surgical findings and long‐term outcome in a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel with thoracolumbar vertebral articular process hyperplasia
Authors: Stabile Fabio , Brash Robert , De Risio Luisa
Published: October 2019

A 2‐year‐old female spayed Cavalier King Charles Spaniel presented with 10‐day history of progressive painful T3–L3 myelopathy. MRI of the spine revealed an extradural dorsal spinal cord compression at the level of T12–T13 vertebrae caused by hyperplasia of the caudal vertebral articular process (CVAP) of T12 vertebra. Similar changes were noticed at the level of the T13–L1 vertebrae, not causing spinal cord compression. In order to plan surgical decompression, CT of the spine was performed. This revealed thickened T12 dorsal lamina, hyperplastic T12 CVAP, and narrowed and elongated T13 VAP. The patient underwent T12–T13 dorsal laminectomy and spinal cord decompression by removal of the hyperplastic CVAP of T12. Postoperative 6‐year follow‐up revealed a normal neurological examination. A combination of MRI and CT allowed optimal treatment selection and surgical planning for CVAP hyperplasia. Surgical treatment by dorsal laminectomy provided successful long‐term outcome.
Postanaesthetic effects of ketamine–midazolam and ketamine–medetomidine on gastrointestinal transit time in rabbits anaesthetised with isoflurane
Authors: Botman Julie , Hontoir Fanny , Gustin Pascal , Cambier Carole , Gabriel Fabien , Dugdale Alex , Vandeweerd Jean‐Michel
Published: October 2019

Background

Gastrointestinal stasis is a common perianaesthetic complication in rabbits. The objective of this study was to assess the impact on gastrointestinal transit time of ketamine–midazolam (KMZ) versus ketamine–medetomidine (later antagonised by atipamezole) (KMT‐A) in rabbits anaesthetised with isoflurane.

Methods

This was a cross‐over, randomised, single‐blinded, controlled, experimental trial. Seven healthy adult New Zealand White rabbits were used. Gastrointestinal transit time was assessed by contrast radiography in awake rabbits. Presence of contrast medium in the small intestine (gastric transit time), in the caecum (small intestinal transit time) and in faeces in the colon was assessed. One week later, 55 minutes isoflurane anaesthesia was induced with ketamine (15 mg/kg) and either midazolam (3 mg/kg) or medetomidine (0.25 mg/kg) by intramuscular injection. Thirty minutes after discontinuation of isoflurane, atipamezole (0.5 mg/kg) was administered only to rabbits in KMT‐A treatment. Gastrointestinal transit time was then assessed in both treatment groups, beginning 30 minutes after cessation of isoflurane administration. Two weeks later, the treatment groups were interchanged.

Results

Gastric and small intestinal transit times were significantly longer with KMT‐A (92±109 minutes and 214±119 minutes, respectively) than with KMZ (1±0 minutes and 103±6 minutes, respectively) and in the awake state (7±7 minutes and 94±32 minutes, respectively).

Conclusion

Clinicians should therefore be aware of the potential gastrointestinal side effects of KMT‐A, particularly in rabbits at risk for gastrointestinal stasis.
Multiplier Hopf algebras: Globalization for partial actions
Authors: Fonseca Graziela , Fontes Eneilson , Martini Grasiela
Published: October 2019

In partial action theory, a pertinent question is whenever given a partial action of a Hopf algebra [Formula: see text] on an algebra [Formula: see text], it is possible to construct an enveloping action. The authors Alves and Batista, in [M. Alves and E. Batista, Globalization theorems for partial Hopf (co)actions and some of their applications, groups, algebra and applications, Contemp. Math. 537 (2011) 13–30], have shown that this is always possible if [Formula: see text] is unital. We are interested in investigating the situation, where both algebras [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] are not necessarily unitary. A nonunitary natural extension for the concept of Hopf algebras was proposed by Van Daele, in [A. Van Daele, Multiplier Hopf algebras, Trans. Am. Math. Soc. 342 (1994) 917–932], which is called multiplier Hopf algebra. Therefore, we will consider partial actions of multipliers Hopf algebras on algebras with a nondegenerate product and we will present a globalization theorem for this structure. Moreover, Dockuchaev et al. in [Globalizations of partial actions on nonunital rings, Proc. Am. Math. Soc. 135 (2007) 343–352], have shown when group partial actions on nonunitary algebras are globalizable. Based on this paper, we will establish a bijection between globalizable group partial actions and partial actions of a multiplier Hopf algebra.
Toxicity prediction of small drug molecules of androgen receptor using multilevel ensemble model
Authors: Gupta Vishan Kumar , Rana Prashant Singh
Published: October 2019

In this study, efforts are created to develop a quantitative structure–activity relationship (QSAR)-based model, which are used for the prediction of toxicities to reduce testing in animals, time, and money in the early stages of drug development. An efficient machine learning model is developed to predict the toxicity of those drug molecules which binds to the androgen receptor (AR). Toxicity prediction is performed in terms of their activity, activity score, potency, and efficacy by using various physicochemical properties. A multilevel ensemble model is proposed, where its first level is performed ensemble-based classification of activity, and the second level is performed ensemble-based regression of activity score, potency, and efficacy of only those drug molecules which have been found active during the classification level. The AR dataset has 10,273 drug molecules where 461 are active, and 9812 are inactive, and each drug molecule has 1444 features. Therefore, our dataset is highly imbalanced having a very large number of features. Initially, we performed feature selection then the class imbalance problem is resolved. The [Formula: see text]-fold cross-validation is accomplished to measure the consistency of the model. Finally, our proposed multilevel ensemble model has been validated and compared with some existing models.
Five Inputs Code Lock Circuit Design Based on DNA Strand Displacement Mechanism
Authors: Li Jixiang , Li Yurong , Sun Junwei , Wang Yanfeng
Published: October 2019

In recent years, the development of biological computers is becoming faster and faster, in order to make the logical operation algorithms of biological computers more mature and stable, a new idea for the code lock logic circuit is proposed based on DNA strand displacement by using the dual-rail method. The code lock is designed by four input signals and one conversion input signal. Only when the four input codes are correct and the conversion signal code is turned on, the password lock will be in open state, otherwise the password lock will produce an alarm signal, stopping outside invasion timely. The information of key is processed to obtain the correct password; finally, the experimental simulation results are obtained by Visual DSD software. The results analysis show that the designed code lock circuit is effective, which may provide a good technical support and a good theoretical basis in biological computers development.
Closed-Form Evaluation of Potential Integrals in the Boundary Element Method
Authors: Carley Michael
Published: October 2019

A method is presented for the closed-form evaluation of the singular and near-singular integrals arising in the Boundary Element Method solution of the Helmholtz equation. An error analysis is presented for the numerical evaluation of such integrals on a plane element, and used to develop a criterion for the selection of quadrature rules. The analytical approach is based on an optimized expansion of the Green’s function for the problem, selected to limit the error to some required tolerance. Results are presented showing accuracy to tolerances comparable to machine precision.
The competition for salt and kinematic interactions between minibasins during density-driven subsidence: observations from numerical models
Authors: Fernandez Naiara , Hudec Michael R. , Jackson Christopher A.-L. , Dooley Tim P. , Duffy Oliver B.
Published: October 2019

Stratal geometries of salt-floored minibasins provide a record of the interplay between minibasin subsidence and sedimentation. Minibasin subsidence and resulting stratal geometries are frequently interpreted by considering the minibasins in isolation and implicitly assuming that internal geometries are the result of purely vertical halokinetic processes. However, minibasins rarely form in isolation and may record complex subsidence histories even in the absence of tectonic forces. In this study we use numerical models to investigate how minibasins subside in response to density-driven downbuilding. We show that minibasins subsiding in isolation result in simple symmetrical minibasins with relatively simple internal stratigraphic patterns. In contrast, where minibasins form in closely spaced arrays and subside at different rates, minibasins can kinematically interact due to complex patterns of flow in the encasing salt, even during simple density-driven subsidence. More specifically, we show that minibasins can: (1) prevent nearby minibasins from subsiding; (2) induce lateral translation of nearby minibasins; and (3) induce tilting and asymmetrical subsidence of nearby minibasins. We conclude that even in areas where no regional or dominant salt flow regime exists, minibasins can still be genetically related and the minibasin subsidence histories cannot be fully understood if considered in isolation.

Thematic collection:
This article is part of the Mechanics of salt systems: state of the field in numerical methods collection available at:
https://www.lyellcollection.org/cc/mechanics-of-salt-systems
Non-Bee Insects as Visitors and Pollinators of Crops: Biology, Ecology, and Management
Authors: Rader R. , Cunningham S.A. , Howlett B.G. , Inouye D.W.
Published: October 2019

Insects other than bees (i.e., non-bees) have been acknowledged as important crop pollinators, but our understanding of which crop plants they visit and how effective they are as crop pollinators is limited. To compare visitation and efficiency of crop-pollinating bees and non-bees at a global scale, we review the literature published from 1950 to 2018 concerning the visitors and pollinators of 105 global food crops that are known to benefit from animal pollinators. Of the 105 animal-pollinated crops, a significant proportion are visited by both bee and non-bee taxa ( n = 82; 77%), with a total gross domestic product (GDP) value of US$780.8 billion. For crops with a narrower range of visitors, those that favor non-bees ( n = 8) have a value of US$1.2 billion, compared to those that favor bees ( n = 15), with a value of US$19.0 billion. Limited pollinator efficiency data were available for one or more taxa in only half of the crops ( n = 61; 58%). Among the non-bees, some families were recorded visiting a wide range of crops (>12), including six families of flies (Syrphidae, Calliphoridae, Muscidae, Sarcophagidae, Tachinidae, and Bombyliidae), two beetle families (Coccinelidae and Nitidulidae), ants (Formicidae), wasps (Vespidae), and four families of moths and butterflies (Hesperiidae, Lycaenidae, Nymphalidae, and Pieridae). Among the non-bees, taxa within the dipteran families Syrphidae and Calliphoridae were the most common visitors to the most crops, but this may be an artifact of the limited data available. The diversity of species and life histories in these groups of lesser-known pollinators indicates that diet, larval requirements, and other reproductive needs will require alternative habitat management practices to bees.
Matrine Exerts Hepatotoxic Effects via the ROS-Dependent Mitochondrial Apoptosis Pathway and Inhibition of Nrf2-Mediated Antioxidant Response
Authors: You Longtai , Yang Chunjing , Du Yuanyuan , Liu Yi , Chen Gongsen , Sai Na , Dong Xiaoxv , Yin Xingbin , Ni Jian
Published: October 2019

Matrine, an alkaloid isolated fromSophora flavescens, possesses a wide range of pharmacological properties. However, the use of matrine in clinical practice is limited due to its toxic effects. The present study investigated the roles of mitochondria and reactive oxygen species (ROS) in matrine-induced liver injury. Our results showed that treatment of HL-7702 cells with matrine led to significant and concentration- and time-dependent reductions in their viability, as well as significant and concentration-dependent increases in the number of apoptotic cells and supernatant lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity. The treatment led to significant increases in the population of cells in S phase and significant reduction of cell proportion in G0/G1 and G2/M phases. It also significantly and concentration-dependently increased the levels of ROS and malondialdehyde (MDA) but significantly and concentration-dependently reduced superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, level of reduced glutathione (GSH), and mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP). Matrine treatment significantly and concentration-dependently upregulated the expressions of Bax, p53, p-p53, p21, cyclin E, Fas, cleaved caspase-3, caspase-8, and caspase-9 proteins and downregulated the expressions of Bcl-2, cyclin-dependent kinase 2 (CDK2), and cyclin A. It also significantly promoted the cleavage of poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase (PARP), upregulated Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap1) expression, and downregulated the expressions of cellular total and nuclear Nrf2. Matrine significantly inhibited the expressions of downstream oxidoreductases (Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) and NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductases 1 (NQO-1)) and enhanced the formation of Keap1/Nrf2 protein complex. These results show that the hepatotoxic effect of matrine is exerted via inhibition of Nrf2 pathway, activation of ROS-mediated mitochondrial apoptosis pathway, and cell cycle arrest at S phase. Pretreatment with N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) partially reversed matrine-induced hepatotoxicity.
Safety Distance of Shotcrete Subjected to Blasting Vibration in Large‐Span High‐Speed Railway Tunnels
Authors: Li Ao , Zhang Dingli , Fang Qian , Luo Jiwei , Cao Liqiang , Sun Zhenyu
Published: October 2019

The drill and blast method is widely used in constructing tunnels in rock. Unfortunately, blasting vibration can damage newly performed shotcrete layers which are major support structures to stabilize surrounding structures. Therefore, investigation of the influence of blasting on shotcrete and determining reasonable distance between blasting work face and shotcrete position is of great importance. In this paper, a large‐span tunnel excavated by drill and blast method acting as a high‐speed railway station has been investigated. Blast vibration in the tunnel was recorded using microseismic monitoring technique. Empirical prediction equations for peak particle velocity (PPV) were obtained through regression analysis based on the obtained monitoring data. The attenuation law of tensile stress imposed on shotcrete layer due to blasting and bond strength of shotcrete‐rock interface was also investigated. Minimum safety distance between shotcrete and blasting positions was calculated based on bond failure criterion. Evolution law considering different factors including blasting charge, rock mass class, and setting time of shotcrete was also obtained, which could be applied to determine blast charge shotcrete arrangements for tunnel constructions in future. The obtained results showed that the safety of shotcrete could be ensured and shotcrete falling off the rock could be prevented under current blast constructions.
Infective Aortic Valve Endocarditis Causing Embolic Consecutive ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarctions
Authors: Peddi Kanksha , Hsu Alexander L. , Ayala Tomas H.
Published: October 2019

ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is a rare and potentially fatal complication of infective endocarditis. We report the ninth case of embolic native aortic valve infective endocarditis causing STEMI and the first case to describe consecutive embolisms leading to infarctions of separate coronary territories. Through examination of this case in the context of the previous eight similar documented cases in the past, we find that infective endocarditis of the aortic valve can and frequently affect more than a single myocardial territory and can occur consecutively. Further, current treatment modalities for embolic infective endocarditis causing acute myocardial infarction are limited and unproven. This index case illustrates the potential severity of complications and the challenges in developing standardized management for such patients.
LncRNA LEGLTBC Functions as a ceRNA to Antagonize the Effects of miR-34a on the Downregulation of SIRT1 in Glucolipotoxicity-Induced INS-1 Beta Cell Oxidative Stress and Apoptosis
Authors: Kong Xiang , Liu Chong-xiao , Wang Guo-dong , Yang Hui , Yao Xin-ming , Hua Qiang , Li Xiao-yong , Zhang Hong-mei , Ma Ming-zhe , Su Qing , Lv Kun
Published: October 2019

Type 2 diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by elevated blood glucose and/or high serum free fatty acids. Chronic hyperlipidemia causes the dysfunction of pancreatic beta cells, which is aggravated in the presence of hyperglycemia (glucolipotoxicity). Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been suggested to play key roles in type 1 diabetes mellitus development. However, their roles in glucolipotoxicity-induced beta cell dysfunction are not fully understood. In the present study, we identified the differentially expressed lncRNAs in INS-1 cells exposed to high glucose and palmitate (HG/PA). Among the dysregulated lncRNAs, NONRATT003679.2 (low expression in glucolipotoxicity-treated beta cells (LEGLTBC)) was involved in glucolipotoxicity-evoked rat islet beta cell damage. LEGLTBC functioned as a molecular sponge of miR-34a in INS-1 cells. Additionally, SIRT1 was identified as a target of miR-34a and LEGLTBC promoted SIRT1 expression by sponging miR-34a. The upregulation of LEGLTBC attenuated HG/PA-induced INS-1 cell injury through the promotion of SIRT1-mediated suppression of ROS accumulation and apoptosis. This is the first study to comprehensively identify the lncRNA expression profiling of HG/PA-treated INS-1 beta cells and to demonstrate that LEGLTBC functions as a competing endogenous RNA and regulates miR-34a/SIRT1-mediated oxidative stress and apoptosis in INS-1 cells undergoing glucolipotoxicity.
Nrf2 Overexpression for the Protective Effect of Skin-Derived Precursors against UV-Induced Damage: Evidence from a Three-Dimensional Skin Model
Authors: Xian Dehai , Xiong Xia , Xu Jixiang , Xian Li , Lei Qirong , Song Jing , Zhong Jianqiao
Published: October 2019

Background. Skin photodamage is associated with ultraviolet- (UV-) induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) overproduction and nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) inactivation. In our previous study, skin-derived precursors (SKPs) were shown to ameliorate a UV-induced damage in mice, probably through Nrf2 activation and ROS scavenging. Objective. To clarify the mechanism underlying the photoprotective effect of SKPs against UV-induced damage in a three-dimensional (3D) skin model. Methods. The Nrf2 gene in SKPs was modified using lentiviral infection, and 3D skin models were reconstructed with keratinocytes and fibroblasts on the basis of type I collagen. Subsequently, these models were divided into the following six groups: normal, model, overexpressed, control, silenced, and negative control groups. Prior to irradiation, respective SKPs were injected into the last four groups. Next, all groups except the normal group were exposed to UVA+UVB. Lastly, the pathological and molecular-biological techniques were employed to determine the parameters. Additionally, LY294002, a PI3K inhibitor, was used to investigate the roles of PI3K/Akt and Nrf2/hemeoxygenase-1 (HO-1) in SKP photoprotection. Results. Normal 3D skin models appeared as milky-white analogs with a clear, well-arranged histological structure. After the skin was exposed to irradiation, it exhibited cell swelling and a disorganized structure and developed nuclear condensation with numerous apoptotic cells. The expressions of cellular protective genes and Nrf2/HO-1/PI3K/Akt proteins remarkably decreased, which were accompanied by increased oxidative stress and decreased antioxidants (P<0.05). However, these phenomena were reversed by nrf2-overexpressing SKPs. The 3D skin in the overexpressed group showed mild swelling, neatly arranged cells, and few apoptotic cells. Cellular protective genes and Nrf2/HO-1/PI3K/Akt proteins were highly expressed, and the oxidative biomarkers were remarkably ameliorated (P<0.05). Nevertheless, the expression of these proteins decreased after LY294002 pretreatment regardless of SKP treatment or not. Meanwhile, there were increases in both UV-induced apoptotic cells and ROS level accompanied with SOD and GPX decrease in the presence of LY294002. Conclusions. Evidence from the 3D skin model demonstrates that the protection of SKPs against UV-mediated damage is primarily via the PI3K/Akt-mediated activation of the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway, indicating that SKPs may be a promising candidate for the treatment of photodermatoses.
Relationship between Oxidative Stress and Physical Activity in Women with Squamous Intraepithelial Lesions in a Cervical Cancer Control Program in the Brazilian Amazon
Authors: Carneiro Saul Rassy , da Silva Lima Abner Ariel , de Fátima Silva Santos Gleyce , de Oliveira Cláudia Simone Baltazar , Almeida Maria Cláudia Valente , da Conceição Nascimento Pinheiro Maria
Published: October 2019

Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is recognized as the most common sexually transmitted disease in the world, and there is a consensus on its role in the etiology of preneoplastic epithelial changes in the cervix. Through the process of lipid peroxidation, oxidative stress is found in the course of premalignant and malignant changes. Moreover, the level of physical activity can exert an influence on markers of oxidative stress, lowering the serum levels of these markers. Objective. To determine the relationship between levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and the level of physical activity in women with squamous intraepithelial lesion (SIL) of the cervix. Methods. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 46 women participating in a cervical cancer control program. The women had been submitted to the cytopathological exam and were divided into two groups: 18 with SIL and 28 controls. MDA concentrations were determined, and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) was administered on the same day as the gynecological appointment (prior to the Papanicolaou test). Results. The SIL group had higher MDA levels than the control group (mean: 47.63±9.57 vs. 9.32±4.79, respectively) and a lower IPAQ score (median: 713.5 vs. 1875, respectively). A weak correlation was found between the MDA level and IPAQ score (r2=−0.34, p=0.018). Conclusion. The women with SIL had higher levels of oxidative stress and were less physically active than the women in the control group. These findings suggest that physical exercise exerts an influence on markers of oxidative stress in the development of intraepithelial squamous lesions.
Pharmacokinetics of Total and Unbound Cefazolin during Veno-Arterial Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation: A Case Report
Authors: Dhanani Jayesh A. , Lipman Jeffrey , Pincus Jason , Townsend Shane , Livermore Amelia , Wallis Steven C. , Abdul-Aziz Mohd H. , Roberts Jason A.
Published: October 2019

Extra-corporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) therapy could affect effective drug concentrations via adsorption onto the oxygenator or associated circuit. We describe a case of a 25-year-old female who required a veno-arterial ECMO therapy for refractory cardiac arrest due to massive pulmonary embolism. She had mild renal dysfunction as a result of the cardiac arrest. A total of 2 g of intravenous cefazolin 8-hourly was administered. Pre- and post-oxygenator blood samples were collected at 0, 1, 4, and 8 h post antibiotic administration. Samples were analyzed for total and unbound cefazolin concentrations. Protein binding was ∼60%. Clearance was reduced due to impaired renal function. The pharmacokinetics of cefazolin appear to not be affected by ECMO therapy and dosing adjustment may not be required.
CRISPR/Cas9-Based RGEN-ISL Allows the Simultaneous and Specific Visualization of Proteins, DNA Repeats, and Sites of DNA Replication
Authors: Němečková Alžběta , Wäsch Christina , Schubert Veit , Ishii Takayoshi , Hřibová Eva , Houben Andreas
Published: October 2019

Visualizing the spatiotemporal organization of the genome will improve our understanding of how chromatin structure and function are intertwined. Here, we describe a further development of the CRISPR/Cas9-based RNA-guided endonuclease-in situ labeling (RGEN-ISL) method. RGEN-ISL allowed the differentiation between vertebrate-type (TTAGGG)n and Arabidopsis-type (TTTAGGG)n telomere repeats. Using maize as an example, we established a combination of RGEN-ISL, immunostaining, and EdU labeling to visualize in situ specific repeats, histone marks, and DNA replication sites, respectively. The effects of the non-denaturing RGEN-ISL and standard denaturing FISH on the chromatin structure were compared using super-resolution microscopy. 3D structured illumination microscopy revealed that denaturation and acetic acid fixation impaired and flattened the chromatin. The broad range of adaptability of RGEN-ISL to different combinations of methods has the potential to advance the field of chromosome biology.