bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Purification Efficiency under the Combined Function of 4 Plants on Domestic Sewage
Authors: Tu Yue , Li Haixiang , Dong Kun , Li Qin , Jiang Lei
Published: June 2019

Constructed wetlands have been successfully applied to the removal of various pollutants in recent decades. The treatment effect of constructed wetlands on domestic sewage is affected by the type of wetland, plant species, temperature, pollutant concentration and environmental factors. The seasonal variation of the removal rate of domestic sewage and the removal rate of main pollutants (TN, TP, COD, NH4
+-N) were studied under the mixed conditions of four plants, and the degradation effect of pollutants along the course was explored. Clarifying the comprehensive purification ability of various wetland plants on domestic sewage and defining the effect of temperature on removal rate. The results showed that temperature had a great influence on the removal efficiency, which was significantly higher in summer than in winter. Temperature had the greatest effect on TP removal, ranging from 88.1% to 42.4%, and COD was the lowest, ranging from 57.11% to 44.47%. The degradation rate increased gradually along the path in summer and winter, and the closer to the intake, the more obvious the degradation effect was, and the degradation rate was much higher in summer than in winter. Compared with other pollutants, TP had a higher removal effect in the middle and tail positions of the wetland.
Effect of Calcining Time on the Room Temperature Ionic Conductivity of W, Y and Al Co-doped Li7La3Zr2O12 Solid Electrolyte
Authors: Liu Xiaozhou , Liu Xiaozhen , Shi Xingjue , Chen Jie
Published: June 2019

Li5.76La3Zr1.59W0.35Y0.06Al0.2O12 (W, Y, Al-LLZO) solid electrolyte was prepared using the solid-state reaction method. Effects of calcining time (t) on the crystalline structure, morphology, relative density and shrinkage, the total ionic conductivity of the prepared W, Y, Al-LLZO solid electrolyte were studied, respectively. Controlling suitable calcining time can stabilize cubic phase W, Y, Al-LLZO at room temperature and improve the relative density and the ionic conductivity of the solid electrolyte samples. The relative density and the room temperature ionic conductivity of the W, Y, Al-LLZO solid electrolyte calcined at 900 °C for 6 h are 90.78 % and 2.31 × 10−4 S⋅cm−1 respectively.
Improved time series electricity sales forecast based on economic prosperity method
Authors: Yang Zhilong , Liu Yaming , Wu Guanghua , Li Xuejun , Xu Qinghua
Published: June 2019

With the construction of smart grids, a large amount of equipment operating data and power consumption data have been accumulated in the national grid system. However, these data have not been fully utilized nor has their potential value been exerted. Based on the customer’s historical electricity consumption data, this paper analyzes the customer’s electricity usage behavior from different dimensions, and predicts the sales of electricity in different dimensions, which is used as a supplement to customer category information such as customer industry, electricity properties, scale and voltage level. This will help with refined management. In this paper, the gray model and time series method are used to predict the sales of electricity. Combined with the economic index analysis method and the adjustment of holiday factors, the forecast results of electricity sales are revised.
Assessment on control effect of occupational hazards in the expansion project of Nanyu coal
Authors: He Jun
Published: June 2019

Through the occupational hazard control effect of Nan yu mine in Taiyuan, the investigation, inspection and examination methods of occupational health scene were confirmed for qualitative and quantitative evaluation. The total layout of the mine, personal protective facilities, emergency rescue, health auxiliary room, occupational health management are in line with national standards, the existing occupational risk factors in the production process to determine are dust, free silica, noise, hand-vibration, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, ammonia, hydrogen sulfide, manganese and its compounds, microclimate, power frequency electric field, but parts of the dust and noise concentration (or intensity) have exceeded. The mine occupational hazards control measures are feasible and effective, but some post still need to strengthen governance.
Study on the horizontal ecological compensation scheme between southern Zhejiang counties --- Take Aojiang river basin as an example
Authors: Wan Zhehui , Lin Haizhuan , Ma Suting
Published: June 2019

The valley ecological protection compensation has been widely proposed in recent years as a policy to adjust the environmental and economic benefits of valley ecological protection. Horizontal ecological protection compensation embodies the basic concept of equal rights and responsibilities and encourages the upstream region to provide better ecological products and realize value compensation, so as to truly motivate the green development in the upstream region. Taking the Aojiang river basin in southern Zhejiang as the research object, this paper analyzes the framework system, compensation scope, subject and object, compensation basis, assessment method and accounting method of horizontal ecological compensation between counties. Two horizontal ecological compensation plans between southern Zhejiang counties are obtained. Plan A: The assessment sections are set up in Aojiang river Xilu village (A-1 #), Cangnan boundary section of Hushan inland river (A-2 #), Cangnan boundary section of Xiaojiangtang river (A-3 #), Cangnan boundary section of Hengyang branch river (C#) and Meixi Pingyang boundary section (D#). The fund allocation ratio is 59%, 6%, 6%, 18% and 11% respectively. Plan B: The assessment sections are set up in Aojiang river Liming village (B#), Cangnan boundary section of Hengyang branch river (C#) and Meixi Pingyang boundary section (D#). The fund allocation ratio is 67%, 21%, 12% respectively. It will provide reference and technical support for Wenzhou to establish a scientific and feasible horizontal ecological compensation mechanism in the upper and lower reaches of the city basin and the left and right banks by 2020.
Research on the analysis and optimization method of offshore oil-platforms energy system
Authors: Lou Qing Hui , Niu Hong Hai , Chen Jun , Gao Yuan , Geng Xin , Li Bing
Published: June 2019

Offshore oil-gas platforms in the same area are generally connected through the power grid and subsea oil-gas pipeline networks. It has formed a typical integrated energy system which interacts with multiple energy sources, water, electricity, gas and oil. However, the traditional energy management research mainly focuses on the stability control of the platform’s power network, and does not model the energy system of the platform group as a whole, which cannot reflect the characteristics of energy interaction between the platform groups. Therefore, this paper combs the current situation of energy utilization and operation control of offshore oil-gas platform energy system in a sea area of China, establishes the energy network of offshore oil-gas platform group, and puts forward the modelling, analysis and optimization method of offshore oil platform group. Firstly, focusing on the main energy coupling equipment (gas power station, gas heat station, electric heater,) of the platform, the energy efficiency analysis model is established to realize the energy efficiency diagnosis of the equipment. Then, based on the theory of Energy Hub, an electro-gas interaction optimization scheduling method is proposed to realize the optimization analysis of energy interaction between platforms. Finally, a calculation example of the actual platform group is given, which consists of three power generation platforms in China. The relevant research results will guide the closed-loop management of the operation, optimization and evaluation of the energy system. The application in the integrated energy management system of offshore oil-gas platform is helpful to improve the energy integration control of offshore oil platform.
Effect of Lactic Acid Bacteria Fermentation on Antioxidation and Bioactivity of Hawthorn Pulp
Authors: Huang Yan , Wang Haoyu , Zhu Chuanhe
Published: June 2019

Mixed fermentation was carried out for 12 h at 37 °C using Lactobacillusplantarum, Lactobacillus acidophilus and Lactobacillus casei. The effects of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) fermentation on the antioxidant activity and phytochemical concentration of hawthorn pulp (HP) were investigated by comparing the IC50 value (μL/mL) of HP before and after lactic acid bacteria fermentation. Fermented hawthorn pulp (FHP) showed higher DPPH free radical scavenging ability, ABTS free radical scavenging ability and hydroxyl free radicals. Fermented hawthorn pulp (FHP) has higher Fe3+ reducing ability using the absorbance values; LAB fermentation significantly increased the content of free phenol and flavonoids in hawthorn pulp, and the content increased by 34.14% and 53.15 % respectively.
Effects of Lactic Acid Bacteria Fermentation on Organic Acids, Volatile Aroma Components, and Sensory Quality of Hawthorn Pulp
Authors: Wang Haoyu , Huang Yan , Zhu Chuanhe
Published: June 2019

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effects of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) fermentation on the volatile aroma components and sensory qualities of hawthorn pulp (HP). High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and electrons Nasal combined with HS-SPME-GC-MS were used to analyze the effects of lactic acid bacteria fermentation on the organic acid content and volatile compounds of hawthorn pulp (HP). The results showed that the content and type of organic acids and volatile compounds in HP were significantly improved after fermentation of lactic acid bacteria, and the sensory score was also significantly increased.
Experimental Study of Electrochemical Micro-milling of Silicon
Authors: Hui Chen
Published: June 2019

Electrochemical machining (ECM) is a common method of silicon micromachining, but it is difficult to be directly used for three-dimensional processing. Therefore a new electrochemical micro-milling (ECMM) method is proposed. The method combined electrochemical machining and milling processes technology. Micro-removal of materials can be achieved by electrochemical machining technique, while milling processes enable three-dimensional machining. ECMM utilizes the passivation of silicon in sodium hydroxide solution to reduce electrochemical stray corrosion and improve processing accuracy. Experiments showed that the ECMM technology can limit the electrochemical stray corrosion to less than 10 μm. This method can be used for the machining of tiny three-dimensional structures of silicon materials.
Suggestions on Promoting China’s Energy Sustainable Development in the New Era
Authors: Chongxi He , Jie Gu
Published: June 2019

China is a major energy producer and a big consumer in the world. However, with the constraints of traditional energy shortages and energy security factors and the enhancement of Chinese people ecological and environmental protection concepts, the sustainable development of energy and the use of sustainable energy are receiving more and more attention. This paper will systematically analyze the current status and existing problems of China’s current energy development in the new era of socialism, and propose a series of targeted recommendations for sustainable energy development.
Effects of Relative Humidity on Impregnated Filters Used in Measurement of Airborne Sulfur Dioxide
Authors: Chien Chih-Hsiang , Zhou Chufan , Sing Simon Yang , Lopez Benjamin , Theodore Alexandros , Wu Chang-Yu , Birky Brian K
Published: June 2019

Impregnated filters treated with alkali and humectant were first used as collection media to assess occupational exposure to sulfur dioxide (SO2), as outlined in the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Method 6004 in 1979. Since then, updated treatment protocols have been proposed with decreased amounts of alkali and glycerol, which claim the same filtering capacity. However, there has been no report on how the collection of SO2 on such impregnated media is influenced by relative humidity (RH). This study investigated the role of glycerol (G) amount on impregnated filters (G2 and G10, referring to 2 and 10% glycerol, respectively) in the collection of SO2 (100 l of 10 ppm at 1 l per minute) under low, medium, and high RHs. The testing results show that RH significantly impacted G2 filters with respect to breakthrough time, capacity, and recovery. At low RH, the 5% breakthrough time was less than 10 min and its recovery was merely 42%; at medium and high RHs, although the recovery was satisfactory, the 5% breakthrough time was still less than 100 min. By contrast, G10 filters illustrated nearly 100% recovery and evaluation by analysis of variance showed no significant effect of RH on recovery. In summary, the current treatment protocol of 2% glycerol leads to a significant underestimation of the exposure to SO2 in a low-RH environment; increasing the glycerol content can be an effective alternative to compensating for the effect of RH.
Parental care buffers against effects of ambient temperature on offspring performance in an insect
Authors: Grew Richard , Ratz Tom , Richardson Jon , Smiseth Per T
Published: June 2019

Understanding how animals respond to and cope with variation in ambient temperature is an important priority. The reason for this is that ambient temperature is a key component of the physical environment that influences offspring performance in a wide range of ectotherms and endotherms. Here, we investigate whether posthatching parental care provides a behavioral mechanism for buffering against the effects of ambient temperature on offspring in the burying beetle Nicrophorus vespilloides. We used a 3 × 2 factorial design where we manipulated ambient temperature (15, 20, or 25 °C) and parental care (presence or absence of a female parent after hatching). We found that the effect of ambient temperature on offspring performance was conditional upon the presence or absence of a caring female. Fewer larvae survived in the absence than in the presence of a caring female at 15 °C while there was no difference in larval survival at 20 and 25 °C. Our results show that parental care buffers against some of the detrimental effects of variation in ambient temperature on offspring. We suggest that posthatching parental care may buffer against such effects by creating a more benign environment or by boosting offspring resilience toward stressors. Our results have important implications for our understanding of the evolution of parental care because they suggest that the evolution of parental care could allow species to expand their geographical range to colonize areas with harsher climatic conditions than they otherwise would tolerate.
Self-deception in nonhuman animals: weak crayfish escalated aggression as if they were strong
Authors: Angilletta Michael J , Kubitz Gregory , Wilson Robbie S
Published: June 2019

Humans routinely deceive themselves when communicating to others, but no one knows whether other animals do the same. We ask whether dishonest signaling between crayfish meets a condition required for self-deception: dishonest individuals and honest individuals escalate aggression according to their signals of strength rather than actual strength. Using game theory, we predicted how an animal’s knowledge of its strength should affect its decision to escalate aggression. At the evolutionary equilibrium, an animal that knows its strength should escalate aggression according to its strength, relative to the expected strength of its opponent. By contrast, an animal that knows only its size should escalate aggression according to its size, relative to the size of its opponent. We tested these predictions by staging encounters between male crayfish (Cherax dispar) of known sizes and strengths. Consistent with a model of self-deception, crayfish escalated aggression based on the sizes of their claws relative to those of their opponents, despite the fact that size poorly predicts strength. Males who were weak for their size escalated disputes less often, but their aggression far exceeded the level predicted by a model of self-awareness, suggesting these crayfish were largely ignorant of their deception. Animals that fail to recognize their own dishonest signals may win disputes with stronger opponents without engaging in costly combat. Our game-theoretical approach can be used to identify potential cases of self-deception in nonhuman animals, enabling comparative studies of this behavior.
DeepLigand: accurate prediction of MHC class I ligands using peptide embedding
Authors: Zeng Haoyang , Gifford David K
Published: June 2019

Motivation

The computational modeling of peptide display by class I major histocompatibility complexes (MHCs) is essential for peptide-based therapeutics design. Existing computational methods for peptide-display focus on modeling the peptide-MHC-binding affinity. However, such models are not able to characterize the sequence features for the other cellular processes in the peptide display pathway that determines MHC ligand selection.

Results

We introduce a semi-supervised model, DeepLigand that outperforms the state-of-the-art models in MHC Class I ligand prediction. DeepLigand combines a peptide language model and peptide binding affinity prediction to score MHC class I peptide presentation. The peptide language model characterizes sequence features that correspond to secondary factors in MHC ligand selection other than binding affinity. The peptide embedding is learned by pre-training on natural ligands, and can discriminate between ligands and non-ligands in the absence of binding affinity prediction. Although conventional affinity-based models fail to classify peptides with moderate affinities, DeepLigand discriminates ligands from non-ligands with consistently high accuracy.

Availability and implementation

We make DeepLigand available at https://github.com/gifford-lab/DeepLigand.

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Preeclampsia may influence offspring neuroanatomy and cognitive function: a role for placental growth factor†
Authors: Kay Vanessa R , Rätsep Matthew T , Figueiró-Filho Ernesto A , Croy B Anne
Published: June 2019

Preeclampsia (PE) is a common pregnancy complication affecting 3–5% of women. Preeclampsia is diagnosed clinically as new-onset hypertension with associated end organ damage after 20 weeks of gestation. Despite being diagnosed as a maternal syndrome, fetal experience of PE is a developmental insult with lifelong cognitive consequences. These cognitive alterations are associated with distorted neuroanatomy and cerebrovasculature, including a higher risk of stroke. The pathophysiology of a PE pregnancy is complex, with many factors potentially able to affect fetal development. Deficient pro-angiogenic factor expression is one aspect that may impair fetal vascularization, alter brain structure, and affect future cognition. Of the pro-angiogenic growth factors, placental growth factor (PGF) is strongly linked to PE. Concentrations of PGF are inappropriately low in maternal blood both before and during a PE gestation. Fetal concentrations of PGF appear to mirror maternal circulating concentrations. Using Pgf−/− mice that may model effects of PE on offspring, we demonstrated altered central nervous system vascularization, neuroanatomy, and behavior. Overall, we propose that development of the fetal brain is impaired in PE, making the offspring of preeclamptic pregnancies a unique cohort with greater risk of altered cognition and cerebrovasculature. These individuals may benefit from early interventions, either pharmacological or environmental. The early neonatal period may be a promising window for intervention while the developing brain retains plasticity.
Purification of specific DNA species using the CRISPR system
Authors: Fujita Toshitsugu , Fujii Hodaka
Published: June 2019

In 2013, we developed a new method of engineered DNA-binding molecule-mediated chromatin immunoprecipitation that incorporates the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) system to purify specific DNA species. This CRISPR-mediated purification can be performed in-cell or in vitro; CRISPR complexes can be expressed to tag target DNA sequences in the cells to be analyzed, or a CRISPR ribonucleoprotein complex consisting of recombinant nuclease-dead Cas9 (dCas9) and synthetic guide RNA can be used to tag target DNA sequences in vitro. Both methods enable purification of specific DNA sequences in chromatin structures for subsequent identification of molecules (proteins, RNAs, and other genomic regions) associated with the target sequences. The in vitro method also enables enrichment of purified DNA sequences from a pool of heterogeneous sequences for next-generation sequencing or other applications. In this review, we outline the principle of CRISPR-mediated purification of specific DNA species and discuss recent advances in the technology.
Natural hybridization patterns between widespread Calanthe discolor (Orchidaceae) and insular Calanthe izu-insularis on the oceanic Izu Islands
Authors: Nakahama Naoyuki , Suetsugu Kenji , Ito Azusa , Hino Masayuki , Yukawa Tomohisa , Isagi Yuji
Published: June 2019

Natural hybridization often occurs between insular and widespread species, and investigating these hybridization patterns is important in improving our understanding of the evolution of insular plant species. To this end, we studied the floral morphology and genetic structure of the widespread species Calanthe discolor, the insular closely related species C. izu-insularis and their putative natural hybrids on Honshu Island (mainland) and the Izu Islands (oceanic islands), Japan, using microsatellite markers. Natural hybridization probably occurred on all the investigated Izu Islands in Japan, although C. izu-insularis was morphologically and genetically different from C. discolor. Bumblebees and other relatively large bees are not distributed in the Izu Islands and therefore natural hybridization would have occurred via pollination by relatively small solitary bees that are pollinators of both Calanthe spp. We also showed that in the islands more remote from the mainland, the proportions of insular C. izu-insularis increased and the floral morphologies of both species changed. The results suggested that insular C. izu-insularis evolved on the Izu Islands and the widespread C. discolor adapted to the poor pollinator fauna on oceanic islands.
Is 3D Dobutamine stress echocardiography ready for prime time? Diagnostic and prognostic implications
Authors: Shivalkar Bharati , De Keersmaeker Alexander , Van Hoeck Nathan , Belkova Petra , Van de Heyning Caroline M , De Maeyer Catherine , Vrints Christiaan
Published: June 2019

Aims

Compare the diagnostic accuracy and prognostic value of echo contrast enhanced 2D and 3D Dobutamine stress echocardiography (DSE).

Methods and results

We included 718 patients indicated for DSE. All had standard 2D, and contrast enhanced left ventricular opacification (LVO) for 2D and 3D acquisitions at rest and peak stress. Chi-square test was done to assess relationship between DSE result and early revascularization. Kaplan–Meier plots with Logistic regression analysis predicted late major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) at a maximum follow-up of 84 months. The mean age was 63 ± 13 years (61% males) and follow-up was obtained in 692/718 (96.4%) patients. Only 32% had excellent baseline image quality. The DSE was abnormal in 19.4% patients on 2D, in 17.1% on 2D-LVO and in 19.1% on 3D-LVO. Early revascularization was performed in, respectively, 32.8%, 45.8%, and in 48.5% of stress-positive 2D, 2D-LVO, and 3D-LVO studies. After excluding the 66 patients receiving early revascularization 68/626 (10.9%) had MACE at a maximum follow-up of 84 months. Kaplan–Meier plots showed that stress-positive 2D-LVO and 3D-LVO studies not receiving early revascularization when assessed separately and combined had significantly worse outcomes for MACE compared with stress-negative patients (OR 3.69; 95% CI: 1.54–8.87; P = 0.011, OR 4.54; 95% CI: 1.72–12.93; P = 0.008, and OR 7.07, 95% CI: 1.62–25.16; P = 0.001, respectively).

Conclusion

Combined use of 2D- and 3D-LVO DSE is ready for prime time considering the feasibility, improved diagnostic accuracy and prognostic value.
Updates to the Symbol Nomenclature for Glycans guidelines
Authors: Neelamegham Sriram , Aoki-Kinoshita Kiyoko , Bolton Evan , Frank Martin , Lisacek Frederique , Lütteke Thomas , O’Boyle Noel , Packer Nicolle
H , Stanley Pamela , Toukach Philip , Varki Ajit , Woods Robert J ,   The SNFG Discussion Group, Darvill Alan , Dell Anne , Henrissat Bernard , Bertozzi Carolyn , Hart Gerald , Narimatsu Hisashi , Freeze Hudson , Yamada Issaku , Paulson James , Prestegard James , Marth Jamey , Vliegenthart J F G , Etzler Marilynn , Aebi Markus , Kanehisa Minoru , Taniguchi Naoyuki , Edwards Nathan , Rudd Pauline , Seeberger Peter , Mazumder Raja , Ranzinger Rene , Cummings Richard , Schnaar Ronald , Perez Serge , Kornfeld Stuart , Kinoshita Taroh , York William , Knirel Yuriy
Published: June 2019

The Symbol Nomenclature for Glycans (SNFG) is a community-curated standard for the depiction of monosaccharides and complex glycans using various colored-coded, geometric shapes, along with defined text additions. It is hosted by the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) at the NCBI-Glycans Page (www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/glycans/snfg.html). Several changes have been made to the SNFG page in the past year to update the rules for depicting glycans using the SNFG, to include more examples of use, particularly for non-mammalian organisms, and to provide guidelines for the depiction of ambiguous glycan structures. This Glycoforum article summarizes these recent changes.
Obesity and risk of infections: results from men and women in the Swedish National March Cohort
Authors: Ghilotti Francesca , Bellocco Rino , Ye Weimin , Adami Hans-Olov , Trolle Lagerros Ylva
Published: June 2019

Background

Previous studies have shown an association between body mass index (BMI) and infections, but the literature on type-specific community acquired infections is still limited.

Methods

We included 39 163 Swedish adults who completed a questionnaire in September 1997 and were followed through record-linkages until December 2016. Information on BMI was self-reported and infections were identified from the Swedish National Patient Register using International Classification of Diseases (ICD), Tenth Revision (ICD-10) codes. We fitted multivariable Cox proportional hazards models for time-to-first-event analysis, and we used extensions of the standard Cox model when repeated events were included.

Results

During a 19-year follow-up 32% of the subjects had at least one infection requiring health care contact, leading to a total of 27 675 events. We found an increased incidence of any infection in obese women [hazard ratio (HR) = 1.22; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.12; 1.33] and obese men (HR = 1.25; 95% CI = 1.09; 1.43) compared with normal weight subjects. For specific infections, higher incidences were observed for skin infections in both genders (HR = 1.76; 95% CI = 1.47; 2.12 for obese females and HR = 1.74; 95% CI = 1.33; 2.28 for obese males) and gastrointestinal tract infections (HR = 1.44; 95% CI = 1.19; 1.75), urinary tract infections (HR = 1.30; 95% CI = 1.08; 1.55) and sepsis (HR = 2.09; 95% CI = 1.46; 2.99) in obese females. When accounting for repeated events, estimates similar to the aforementioned ones were found.

Conclusions

Obesity was associated with an increased risk of infections in both genders. Results from multiple-failure survival analysis were consistent with those from classic Cox models.
Folic acid supplementation and risk for congenital limb reduction defects in China
Authors: Liu Jufen , Li Zhiwen , Ye Rongwei , Ren Aiguo , Liu Jianmeng
Published: June 2019

Background

Folic acid (FA) supplementation prevents neural tube defects, but there are mixed results for its ability to prevent limb reduction defects. We examined whether a preventive effect of FA supplementation exists for congenital limb reduction defects in a large population in China.

Methods

Data from a large population-based cohort study in China were used to evaluate the effects of FA supplementation on birth defects. All births at 20 complete gestational weeks, including live births, stillbirths and pregnancy terminations, and all structural congenital anomalies, regardless of gestational week, were recorded. A total of 247 831 singleton live births delivered at gestational ages of 20–42 weeks to women from northern and southern China with full information on FA intake were included. Limb reduction defects were classified by subtype and maternal FA supplementation.

Results

The prevalence of limb reduction defects was 2.7 per 10 000 births among women who took FA compared with 9.7 per 10 000 births among those who did not take FA in northern China; the prevalence was 4.5 and 3.8 per 10 000 births, respectively, in southern China. In both unadjusted and adjusted analyses, the estimated relative risk for upper limb reduction defects [odds ratio (OR) = 0.17, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.04, 0.63] and total limb reduction defects (OR = 0.24, 95% CI: 0.08, 0.70) in northern China, but not for lower limb reduction defects ,was significantly decreased in association with FA supplementation in northern China. There was no association between FA supplementation and either an increased or decreased risk for limb reduction defects in southern China.

Conclusions

FA supplementation successfully reduces the prevalence of limb reduction defects in northern China, whose population has low folate concentrations.
Development of a Global Rating Scale for Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Authors: Bitton Alain , Devitt Katharine S , Bressler Brian , Heatherington Joan , Jairath Vipul , Jones Jennifer , Moayyedi Paul , Weizman Adam V , Dubé Catherine , MacIntosh Donald , Nguyen Geoffrey C
Published: June 2019

Background

The Global Rating Scale (GRS) is a web-based self-assessment quality improvement tool used to identify gaps in health care, change the focus to patient-centred care and standardize care. There are four levels of achievement ranging from basic-(D) to excellent-(A) service delivery. The goal was to develop a GRS for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) to improve the quality of care for patients on a system level.

Methods

The IBD GRS was developed through an iterative process and modeled upon the successful endoscopy GRS programs in the United Kingdom and Canada. Dimensions, items and statements were drafted based on expert opinions, patient-informed quality indicators and best available evidence, then reviewed and modified by a core committee. A working group of IBD and GRS experts voted in-person to establish consensus on the inclusion and quality of statements.

Results

Two dimensions (Clinical Quality and Quality of Patient Experience), 10 items and 89 statements made up the IBD GRS. There was a 100% response rate for each of the 40 votes for statements in the IBD GRS. All statements within each level received a mean rating score between four (agree) and five (strongly agree). Revisions agreed upon during the voting process were incorporated into the IBD GRS. Group consensus was achieved on the inclusion of statements, and 10 items were selected as standards within the two dimensions.

Conclusions

We have developed the first IBD GRS with the aim of improving quality of care through ongoing evaluations and improvements by health care teams, focusing on patient-centred care.
Active and Passive Rhythmic Music Therapy Interventions Differentially Modulate Sympathetic Autonomic Nervous System Activity
Authors: McPherson Trevor , Berger Dorita , Alagapan Sankaraleengam , Fröhlich Flavio
Published: June 2019

Dysregulation of the autonomic nervous system (ANS) and the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis has been implicated in psychiatric disorders. Music therapy (MT) has been shown to modulate heart-rate variability (HRV) and salivary stress markers, physiological markers of the ANS and HPA axes, respectively. Given the prominent role of arousal and stress physiology in many psychiatric disorders, MT has the potential to provide therapeutic benefits in psychiatry. Active MT requires patients to engage rhythmically with music; in contrast, passive MT requires patients to listen to music, eliminating the rhythmic movement seen in active MT. Yet, it remains unknown whether active or passive MT differentially modulates arousal and stress physiology. We contrasted the effects of active and passive MT experiences to examine the differential impact of rhythmic movement on the ANS and HPA axes in healthy participants. Individuals (N = 16) participated in a crossover study of 40 min of an active MT and a passive MT intervention. HRV recordings and saliva samples were collected both before and after each intervention. The high-frequency component (HF) and the ratio of low-frequency to high-frequency components (LF/HF) were calculated as cardiac markers of parasympathetic and sympathetic ANS activation, respectively. Saliva samples were analyzed for alpha-amylase and cortisol, markers of the sympathetic ANS and HPA axes, respectively. Active MT and passive MT interventions differentially modulated LF/HF, where active MT decreased LF/HF and passive MT increased LF/HF. These results indicate that MT affects the ANS and suggests that differences in engagement between active MT and passive MT lead to a differential modulation of the sympathetic ANS.
Sporotrichoid dissemination of cutaneous leishmaniasis possibly triggered by a diagnostic puncture
Authors: Laynez-Roldán Pedro , Fuertes Irene , Almuedo Alex , Losada Irene , Giavedoni Priscila , Camprubí Daniel , Muñoz José , Gállego Montserrat , Fernández-Arévalo Anna , Rodríguez-Valero Natalia
Published: June 2019

We present the images of a cutaneous leishmaniasis with sporotrichoid dissemination in a Spanish woman who was living in Bolivia for six months. A diagnostic puncture of the ulcer could have been the trigger for the lymphatic dissemination.
Constraining the non-gravitational scattering of baryons and dark matter with early cosmic structure formation
Authors: Liu Boyuan , Schauer Anna T P , Bromm Volker
Published: June 2019

We derive new constraints on the non-gravitational baryon-dark matter scattering (BDMS) by evaluating the mass thresholds of dark matter (DM) haloes in which primordial gas can cool efficiently to form Population III (Pop III) stars, based on the timing of the observed 21 cm absorption signal. We focus on the BDMS model with interaction cross-section $\sigma =\sigma _{1}[v/(1\ \mathrm{km\, s^{-1}})]^{-4}$, where v is the relative velocity of the encounter. Our results rule out the region in parameter space with $\sigma _{1}\gtrsim 10^{-19}\, \mathrm{cm^{2}}$ and DM particle mass mχc2 ≲ 3 × 10−2 GeV, where the cosmic number density of Pop III hosts at redshift z ∼ 20 is at least three orders of magnitude smaller than in the standard Lambda cold DM (ΛCDM) case. In these BDMS models, the formation of Pop III stars is significantly suppressed for z ≳ 20, inconsistent with the timing of the observed global 21 cm absorption signal. For the fiducial BDMS model with mχc2 = 0.3 GeV and $\sigma _{1}=8\times 10^{-20}\, \mathrm{cm^{2}}$, capable of accommodating the measured absorption depth, the number density of Pop III hosts is reduced by a factor of 3−10 at z ∼ 15−20, when the 21 cm signal is imprinted, compared with the ΛCDM model. The confluence of future detailed cosmological simulations with improved 21 cm observations promises to probe the particle-physics nature of DM at the small-scale frontier of early structure formation.
Planetary giant impacts: convergence of high-resolution simulations using efficient spherical initial conditions and swift
Authors: Kegerreis J A , Eke V R , Gonnet P , Korycansky D G , Massey R J , Schaller M , Teodoro L F A
Published: June 2019

We perform simulations of giant impacts on to the young Uranus using smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH) with over 100 million particles. This 100–1000 × improvement in particle number reveals that simulations with below 107 particles fail to converge on even bulk properties such as the post-impact rotation period, or on the detailed erosion of the atmosphere. Higher resolutions appear to determine these large-scale results reliably, but even 108 particles may not be sufficient to study the detailed composition of the debris – finding that almost an order of magnitude more rock is ejected beyond the Roche radius than with 105 particles. We present two software developments that enable this increase in the feasible number of particles. First, we present an algorithm to place any number of particles in a spherical shell such that they all have an SPH density within 1 per cent of the desired value. Particles in model planets built from these nested shells have a root-mean-squared velocity below 1 per cent of the escape speed, which avoids the need for long precursor simulations to produce relaxed initial conditions. Secondly, we develop the hydrodynamics code sph with interdependent fine-grained tasking(swift) for planetary simulations. swift uses task-based parallelism and other modern algorithmic approaches to take full advantage of contemporary supercomputer architectures. Both the particle placement code and swift are publicly released.
Continuous behavioural ‘switching’ in human spermatozoa and its regulation by Ca2+-mobilising stimuli
Authors: Achikanu Cosmas , Correia Joao , Guidobaldi Héctor A , Giojalas Laura C , Barratt Christopher L R , Da Silva Sarah Martins , Publicover Stephen
Published: June 2019

Human sperm show a variety of different behaviours (types of motility) that have different functional roles. Previous reports suggest that sperm may reversibly switch between these behaviours. We have recorded and analysed the behaviour of individual human sperm (180 cells in total), each cell monitored continuously for 3–3.5 min either under control conditions or in the presence of Ca2+-mobilising stimuli. Switching between different behaviours was assessed visually (1 s bins using four behaviour categories), and was verified by fractal dimension analysis of sperm head tracks. In the absence of stimuli, ~90% of cells showed at least one behavioural transition (mean rate under control conditions = 6.4 ± 0.8 transitions.min−1). Type 1 behaviour (progressive, activated-like motility) was most common, but the majority of cells (>70%) displayed at least three behaviour types. Treatment of sperm with Ca2+-mobilising agonists had negligible effects on the rate of switching but increased the time spent in type 2 and type 3 (hyperactivation-like) behaviours (P < 2*10−8; chi-square). Treatment with 4-aminopyridine under alkaline conditions (pHo = 8.5), a highly-potent Ca2+-mobilising stimulus, was the most effective in increasing the proportion of type 3 behaviour, biasing switching away from type 1 (P < 0.005) and dramatically extending the duration of type 3 events (P < 10−16). Other stimuli, including 300 nM progesterone and 1% human follicular fluid, had qualitatively similar effects but were less potent. We conclude that human sperm observed in vitro constitutively display a range of behaviours and regulation of motility by [Ca2+]i, at the level of the single cell, is achieved not by causing cells to adopt a ‘new’ behaviour but by changing the relative contributions of those behaviours.
Extensively Drug-Resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa ST309 Harboring Tandem Guiana Extended Spectrum β-Lactamase Enzymes: A Newly Emerging Threat in the United States
Authors: Khan Ayesha , Tran Truc T , Rios Rafael , Hanson Blake , Shropshire William C , Sun Zhizeng , Diaz Lorena , Dinh An Q , Wanger Audrey , Ostrosky-Zeichner Luis , Palzkill Timothy , Arias Cesar A , Miller William R
Published: June 2019

Background

Treatment of serious infections due to multidrug-resistant (MDR) Pseudomonas aeruginosa remains a challenge, despite the introduction of novel therapeutics. In this study, we report 2 extensively drug-resistant clinical isolates of sequence type (ST) 309 P aeruginosa resistant to all β-lactams, including the novel combinations ceftolozane/tazobactam, ceftazidime/avibactam, and meropenem/vaborbactam.

Methods

Isolates were sequenced using both short-read (Illumina) and long-read technology to identify resistance determinants, polymorphisms (compared with P aeruginosa PAO1), and reconstruct a phylogenetic tree. A pair of β-lactamases, Guiana extended spectrum β-lactamase (GES)-19 and GES-26, were cloned and expressed in a laboratory strain of Escherichia coli to examine their relative impact on resistance. Using cell lysates from E coli expressing the GES genes individually and in tandem, we determined relative rates of hydrolysis for nitrocefin and ceftazidime.

Results

Two ST309 P aeruginosa clinical isolates were found to harbor the extended spectrum β-lactamases GES-19 and GES-26 clustered in tandem on a chromosomal class 1 integron. The presence of both enzymes in E coli was associated with significantly elevated minimum inhibitory concentrations to aztreonam, cefepime, meropenem, ceftazidime/avibactam, and ceftolozane/tazobactam, compared with those expressed individually. The combination of ceftazidime/avibactam plus aztreonam was active in vitro and used to achieve cure in one patient. Phylogenetic analysis revealed ST309 P aeruginosa are closely related to MDR strains from Mexico also carrying tandem GES.

Conclusions

The presence of tandem GES-19 and GES-26 is associated with resistance to all β-lactams, including ceftolozane/tazobactam. Phylogenetic analysis suggests that ST309 P aeruginosa may be an emerging threat in the United States.
OsC2DP, a Novel C2 Domain-Containing Protein Is Required for Salt Tolerance in Rice
Authors: Fu Shan , Fu Liangbo , Zhang Xiang , Huang Jingjing , Yang Guangzhe , Wang Zhigang , Liu Yao-Guang , Zhang Guoping , Wu Dezhi , Xia Jixing
Published: June 2019

Salt stress is one of the major factors limiting crop production globally, including rice (Oryza sativa). Although a number of genes involved in salt tolerance have been functionally identified, the mechanism underlying salt tolerance in rice is still poorly understood. Here, we reported a novel C2 domain-containing protein, OsC2DP required for salt tolerance in rice. OsC2DP was predominately expressed in the roots and its expression was repressed by salt stress. Transient expression of OsC2DP in rice protoplast cells showed that it was localized in the cytosol. Immunostaining further showed that OsC2DP was able to translocate from the cytosol to plasma membrane under salt conditions. Knockout of OsC2DP did not affect Na+ concentration in the roots, but increased shoot Na+ concentration, resulting in a significant sensitivity of rice to salt stress. Furthermore, the quantitative Real-time PCR and transcriptomic analysis showed that the expression level of some genes related to salt tolerance were indirectly regulated by OsC2DP, especially OsSOS1 and OsNHX4. These results indicate that OsC2DP has an important role in salt tolerance and these findings provide new insights into the regulation of OsC2DP gene for rice breeding with high salt tolerance.
FAX2 Mediates Fatty Acid Export from Plastids in Developing Arabidopsis Seeds
Authors: Tian Yinshuai , Lv Xueyan , Xie Guilan , Wang Linghui , Dai Tingwei , Qin Xiaobo , Chen Fang , Xu Ying
Published: June 2019

Vegetable oils are mainly stored in the form of triacylglycerol (TAG) in oilseeds. Fatty acids (FAs), one of the building blocks for TAG assembly, are synthesized in plastids and then exported to the endoplasmic reticulum for storage oil synthesis. A recent study demonstrated that the export of FAs from plastids was mediated by a FAX (FA export) family protein. However, the significance of FAs export from plastid during seed oil accumulation has not been investigated. In this study, we found that FAX2 was highly expressed in developing Arabidopsis seeds and the expression level was consistent with FAs synthesis activity. FAX2 mutant seeds showed an approximately 18% reduction of lipid levels compared with wild-type seeds. By contrast, overexpression of FAX2 enhanced seed lipid accumulation by up to 30%. The FAs export activity of FAX2 was confirmed by yeast mutant cell complementation analysis. Our results showed that FAX2 could interact with other proteins to facilitate FAs transport. Taken together, these results indicate that FAX2-mediated FA export from plastids is important for seed oil accumulation, and that FAX2 can be used as a target gene for increasing lipid production in oilseeds.
Developing Heritable Mutations in Arabidopsis thaliana Using a Modified CRISPR/Cas9 Toolkit Comprising PAM-Altered Cas9 Variants and gRNAs
Authors: Yamamoto Akihiro , Ishida Takashi , Yoshimura Mika , Kimura Yuri , Sawa Shinichiro
Published: June 2019

Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated protein 9 (Cas9), comprising an RNA-guided DNA endonuclease and a programmable guide RNA (gRNA), is currently recognized to be a powerful genome-editing tool and is widely used in biological science. Despite the usefulness of the system, a protospacer-adjacent motif (PAM) immediately downstream of the target sequence needs to be taken into account in the design of the gRNA, a requirement which limits the flexibility of the CRISPR-based genome-editing system. To overcome this limitation, a Cas9 isolated from Streptococcus pyogenes, namely SpCas9, engineered to develop several variants of Cas9 nuclease, has been generated. SpCas9 recognizes the NGG sequence as the PAM, whereas its variants are capable of interacting with different PAMs. Despite the potential advantage of the Cas9 variants, their functionalities have not previously been tested in the widely used model plant, Arabidopsis thaliana. Here, we developed a plant-specific vector series harboring SpCas9-VQR (NGAN or NGNG) or SpCas9-EQR (NGAG) and evaluated their functionalities. These modified Cas9 nucleases efficiently introduced mutations into the CLV3 and AS1 target genes using gRNAs that were compatible with atypical PAMs. Furthermore, the generated mutations were passed on to their offspring. This study illustrated the usefulness of the SpCas9 variants because the ability to generate heritable mutations will be of great benefit in molecular genetic analyses. A greater number of potential SpCas9-variant-recognition sites in these genes are predicted, compared with those of conventional SpCas9. These results demonstrated the usefulness of the SpCas9 variants for genome editing in the field of plant science research.
Health inequalities in the Great Depression: a case study of Stockton on Tees, North-East England in the 1930s
Authors: Langthorne Michael , Bambra Clare
Published: June 2019

Background

Parallels have been drawn between the ‘Great Depression’ of the 1930s and the more recent ‘Great Recession’ that followed the 2007/8 financial crisis. Austerity was the common policy response by UK governments in both time periods. This article examines health inequalities at a local level in the 1930s, through a historical case study.

Methods

Local and national historical archives, Medical Officer for Health reports, and secondary sources were examined from 1930 to 1939 to obtain data on inequalities in health (infant mortality rates, stillbirths and neonatal mortality rates, 1935 and crude overall mortality rates, 1936) and ward-level deprivation (over-crowding rates, 1935) in Stockton-on-Tees, North-East England.

Results

There were high geographical inequalities in overcrowding and health in Stockton-on-Tees in the 1930s. Rates of overall mortality, in particular, were higher in those wards with higher levels of overcrowding.

Conclusions

There were geographical inequalities in health in the 1930s and the most deprived areas had the worst overall mortality rates. The areas with the worst housing conditions and health outcomes in the 1930s remain so today - health inequality is extant over time across different periods of austerity.