bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
FUBP1 promotes neuroblastoma proliferation via enhancing glycolysis-a new possible marker of malignancy for neuroblastoma
Authors: Jiang Ping , Huang Mao , Qi Weiwei , Wang Fenghua , Yang Tianyou , Gao Tianxiao , Luo Chuanghua , Deng Jing , Yang Zhonghan , Zhou Ti , Zou Yan , Gao Guoquan , Yang Xia
Published: September 2019

Background

Neuroblastoma (NB) is one of the deadliest paediatric solid tumours due to its rapid proliferative characteristics. Amplified copies of MYCN are considered the most important marker for the prediction of tumour relapse and progression in NB, but they were only detected in 20–30% of NB patients, indicating there might be other oncogenes in the development of NB. The far upstream element binding protein 1 (FUBP1) was first identified as a transcriptional regulator of the proto-oncogene MYC. However, the expression and role of FUBP1 in NB have not been documented.

Methods

FUBP1 expression was analysed from GEO database and verified by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and western blotting (WB) in NB tissues and cell lines. Cell proliferation and apoptosis were detected by Cell Counting Kit-8, Colony formation assay, EDU, TUNEL staining and flow cytometric analysis. Several glycolytic metabolites production was confirmed by ELISA and oxygen consuming rate (OCR). Luciferase assay, WB, chromatin immunoprecipitation (CHIP) were used to explore the mechanisms of the effect of FUBP1 on NB.

Results

FUBP1 mRNA levels were increased along with the increase in International Neuroblastoma Staging System (INSS) stages. High expression of FUBP1 with low N-Myc expression accounted for 44.6% of NB patient samples (n = 65). In addition, FUBP1 protein levels were remarkably increased with NB malignancy in the NB tissue microarray (NB: n = 65; ganglioneuroblastoma:n = 31; ganglioneuroma:n = 27). Furthermore, FUBP1 expression was negatively correlated with patient survival rate but positively correlated with ki67 content. In vitro experiments showed that FUBP1 promotes NB cell proliferation and inhibits cell apoptosis via enhancing glycolysis and ATP production. Mechanistically, FUBP1 inhibited the degradation of HIF1α via downregulation of Von Hippel-Lindau (VHL), the E3 ligase for HIF1α, resulting in upregulation of lactate dehydrogenase isoform B (LDHB) expression to enhance glycolysis. Overexpressed or silenced N-Myc could not regulate FUBP1 or LDHB levels.

Conclusions

Taken together, our findings demonstrate for the first time that elevated FUBP1 promotes NB glycolysis and growth by targeting HIF1α rather than N-Myc, suggesting that FUBP1 is a novel and powerful oncogene in the development of NB independent of N-Myc and may have potential in the diagnosis and treatment of NB.
Virtual training leads to real acute physical, cognitive, and neural benefits on healthy adults: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Burin Dalila , Yamaya Noriki , Ogitsu Rie , Kawashima Ryuta
Published: September 2019

Background

Keeping a certain level of physical activity has beneficial effects on the body itself but also, surprisingly, on cognition: specifically, physical high-intensity intermittent aerobic exercise (HIE) can show improvement on cognitive executive functions. Although, in some cases performing strength or aerobic training is problematic or not feasible. Immersive virtual reality (IVR) can induce the illusory feeling of ownership and agency over a moving virtual body, therefore showing comparable physiological reactions: for example, if an individual is sitting on a chair but his virtual body climbs a hill, the individual’s heart rate increases coherently, as if he is actually walking.

In this study, we investigate whether this same illusion can show beneficial consequences on the body as well as on executive functions (using the color-word matching Stroop task) and on its neural substrates (using functional near-infrared spectroscopy [fNIRS]).

Methods

In a cross-over randomized controlled trial, 30 healthy young adults will experience HIE training in IVR (i.e. the virtual body will perform eight sets of 30 s of running followed by 30 s of slow walking, while the participant is completely still) according to two random-ordered conditions: during the experimental condition, the virtual body is displayed in first-person perspective (1PP), while in the control condition, the virtual body is displayed in third-person perspective (3PP). To confirm that individuals have the illusion of ownership and agency over the virtual body in 1PP (and not in 3PP), we will record the heart rate, in addition to subjective questionnaires. Before and after every IVR sessions (one week apart), we will measure cortical hemodynamic changes in the participants’ prefrontal cortex using the fNIRS device during the Stroop task’s execution.

Discussion

From a theoretical perspective, we could prove that the sense of body ownership and agency can modulate physical and cognitive parameters, even in the absence of actual movements; from a clinical perspective, these results could be useful to train cognition and body simultaneously, in a completely safe environment.

Trial registration

University Hospital Medical Information Network Clinical Trial Registry,UMIN000034255. Registered on 1 October 2018.
Semi-field and indoor setups to study malaria mosquito swarming behavior
Authors: Niang Abdoulaye , Nignan Charles , Serge Poda B. , Sawadogo Simon P. , Roch Dabiré K. , Gnankiné Olivier , Tripet Frédéric , Roux Olivier , Diabaté Abdoulaye
Published: September 2019

Background

The recent resurgence of interest in sterile insect techniques to control vector mosquitoes has renewed interest in novel methods for observing mating behavior. Malarial vectors of the Anopheles gambiae complex are known to mate in swarms at specific locations at dawn and dusk. Most knowledge of mosquito swarming behavior is derived from field observations and a few experimental studies designed to assess critical parameters that affect mosquito swarming. However, such studies are difficult to implement in the field because of uncontrollable environmental factors and mosquito conditions. Here, we present two experimental setups specifically designed to analyze mosquito swarming behavior and provide evidence that swarming behavior of mosquitoes can be generated and accurately assessed under both semi-field and laboratory conditions.

Methods

The Mosquito Ecology Research Facility setup is a semi-field enclosure made of 12 compartments (10.0 × 6.0 × 4.5 m L × W × H each) exposed to ambient meteorological and lighting conditions. The laboratory setup consists of a windowless room (5.1 × 4.7 × 3.0 m) in which both environmental and mosquito conditions can be controlled. In the two setups, 300 3–6-days-old An. coluzzii virgin males were released and some swarm characteristics were recorded such as the time at which the swarm started, the number of mosquitoes in the swarm and the height. Climatic conditions in the semi-field setup were also recorded.

Results

In both setups, An. coluzzii males displayed stereotyped and consistent swarming behavior day after day; males gradually gather into a swarm over a ground marker at sunset, flying in loops in relation to specific visual features on the ground. Although semi-field climatic conditions were slightly different from outdoors conditions, they did not impede swarming behavior and swarm characteristics were similar to those observed in the field.

Conclusions

Swarm characteristics and their consistency across days provide evidences that these facilities can be used confidently to study swarming behavior. These facilities come to complement existing semi-field setups and pave the way for new experimental studies which will enhance our understanding of mating behavior but also mosquito ecology and evolution, a prerequisite for application of genetic approaches to malaria control.
Toxoplasma gondii in small exotic felids from zoos in Europe and the Middle East: serological prevalence and risk factors
Authors: Lücht Maike , Stagegaard Julia , Conraths Franz J. , Schares Gereon
Published: September 2019

Background

Toxoplasma gondii infections and cases of clinical toxoplasmosis have been recorded in zoo animals. Wild felids in human care can serve as definitive hosts that shed oocysts, but also as intermediate hosts for the parasite. Some felid species, such as the Pallas’s cat (Otocolobus manul) or sand cat (Felis margarita), may suffer from clinically apparent toxoplasmosis. In the present study, our main aim was to assess risk factors for T. gondii infections in small exotic felids.

Methods

A seroepidemiological study was conducted using the reduviid bug Dipetalogaster maxima for blood sample collection, a method previously evaluated on domestic cats. A total of 336 samples from 17 felid species were collected in 51 institutions, 48 of which were within Europe and the remaining three in the Middle East (United Arabic Emirates and Qatar). These samples were analyzed for T. gondii antibodies by immunoblotting and an immunofluorescent antibody test. Potential risk factors in zoos for seropositivity regarding T. gondii among members of the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA) were evaluated using a questionnaire and individual data from the Zoological Information Management System (ZIMS).

Results

The sampled felids showed an overall seroprevalence for T. gondii of 63%. The risk factor study including data of 311 small exotic cats of 10 species resulted in a final generalized linear mixed model comprised of five variables: the likelihood of seropositivity increased statistically significantly with “Age”, while feeding “Cattle: frozen” relative to “Cattle: fresh”, “Outdoor housing fenced in on all sides”, “Mesh size 2–5 cm” relative to “Mesh size > 5 cm” and “Wearing gloves: yes” had statistically significant protective effects.

Conclusions

Wild felids, including endangered species, kept in human care in European and Middle Eastern institutions, are widely exposed to T. gondii. Risk factor analysis revealed that feeding previously frozen tissues, keeping animals in enclosures that are fenced on all sides using fences with small mesh sizes, and wearing gloves when working inside enclosures seem to be the most relevant protective measures to prevent T. gondii infections in these animals.
Feasibility of flow cytometric analysis of restricted light chain in endoscopic biopsy specimens from patients with gastrointestinal tract B cell lymphoma: a pilot study
Authors: Matsueda Katsunori , Iwamuro Masaya , Takahashi Takahide , Omote Sizuma , Nishida Kenji , Tanaka Takehiro , Ennishi Daisuke , Otsuka Fumio , Yoshino Tadashi , Okada Hiroyuki
Published: September 2019

Objective

Gastrointestinal tract lymphomas are currently detected more frequently due to advances in endoscopic technology. The aim of this study was to assess the feasibility of flow cytometric analysis of restricted light chain in endoscopic biopsy specimens for the diagnosis of gastrointestinal tract B-cell lymphoma. We prepared viable cell suspensions from unfixed specimens obtained from 10 consecutive patients who had a previous histological diagnosis of gastrointestinal tract B-cell lymphoma. We performed immunophenotypic studies with multi-color flow cytometry and assessed clonality through examination of immunoglobulin light chain expression exclusively in a population identified by anti-CD45 or CD20 antibodies.

Results

We could perform light chain expression analysis with 2 endoscopic biopsy specimens from all 10 patients with gastrointestinal tract B-cell lymphoma. We conclude that flow cytometric analysis of endoscopic biopsy specimens is feasible and thus likely useful for the diagnosis of gastrointestinal tract B-cell lymphoma in clinical settings.

Trial registration UMIN Clinical Trials Registry, UMIN000027730. Registered 12 June 2017
Clonal diversity of Haemophilus influenzae carriage isolated from under the age of 6 years children
Authors: Shooraj Fahimeh , Mirzaei Bahman , Mousavi Seyed Fazlollah , Hosseini Farzaneh
Published: September 2019

Objectives

Pharyngeal carriers such asH.influenzaeseem to constitute the only reservoir and probably the only transmission vehicle of the invasive disease. The aims of this study were to estimate the prevalence ofH. influenzaecarriage, to characterize antibiotic susceptibility, and to explore genetic diversity ofH. influenzaeisolates. Sampling was carried out as nasopharynx swabs among children less than 6 years old volunteers. After traditional biochemical tests, isolates were confirmed by targetingomp6sequence. Following the susceptibility tests, genomic diversity of strains was analyzed by Pulsed-Field Gel Electrophoresis procedure.

Results

Out of 328 nasopharynx swabs, 73 strains were identified as H.influenzae. AmongH. influenzaeisolates, resistance to chloramphenicol (42%) and ampicillin (43%) was observed. Levofloxacin is the most effective antibiotic and the least effect belonged to tetracycline. By genomic analysis of selectedH.influenza, 28 PFGE patterns were achieved among which 11 patterns included at least 2 strains. All strains clustered into 25 different clones. The dendrogram analysis of the isolatedH.influenzaestrains showed that some of these strains had a clonal relationship and common genetic origin. According to our results, antibiotic resistance didn’t show any significant correlation with the clonality of strains.
Prevalence of diabetes among homeless and slum dwellers in Accra, Ghana: a survey study
Authors: Bawah Ahmed Tijani , Abaka-Yawson Albert , Seini Mohammed Mustapha , Yeboah Francis Agyemang , Ngala Robert Amadu
Published: September 2019

Objective

This study aimed at determining diabetes status of homeless people in Nima and Agbogbloshie, Accra, Ghana and to evaluate the association between socio-demographic characteristics and diabetes prevalence.

Results

A total of 130 homeless and slum dwellers took part in the study out of which 7 (5.4%) participants were diagnosed with diabetes while 13 (10%) were considered as having prediabetes. This is slightly lower than what had been reported two decades ago but similar to overall estimates of diabetes prevalence in Africa (5.7%). Diagnosis of normoglycemia, prediabetes and diabetes was based on individual’s hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) level: ≤ 5.9%, 6.4–6.0%, and ≥ 6.5%, respectively. There was no significant association between prevalence of diabetes or prediabetes and the socio-demographic characteristics of the participants. The slightly lower diabetes prevalence among the homeless and slum dwellers compared to the general population may be due to constant movement of these people in the streets, a practice that could serve as a form of exercise for them. Intensive social support aimed at preventing and managing diabetes is crucial if we are to further reduce the incidence of diabetes in homeless people.
Impact of a diet and activity health promotion intervention on regional patterns of DNA methylation
Authors: Hibler Elizabeth , Huang Lei , Andrade Jorge , Spring Bonnie
Published: September 2019

Background

Studies demonstrate the impact of diet and physical activity on epigenetic biomarkers, specifically DNA methylation. However, no intervention studies have examined the combined impact of dietary and activity changes on the blood epigenome. The objective of this study was to examine the impact of the Make Better Choices 2 (MBC2) healthy diet and activity intervention on patterns of epigenome-wide DNA methylation. The MBC2 study was a 9-month randomized controlled trial among adults aged 18–65 with non-optimal levels of health behaviors. The study compared three 12-week interventions to (1) simultaneously increase exercise and fruit/vegetable intake, while decreasing sedentary leisure screen time; (2) sequentially increase fruit/vegetable intake and decrease leisure screen time first, then increase exercise; (3) increase sleep and decrease stress (control). We collected blood samples at baseline, 3 and 9 months, and measured DNA methylation using the Illumina EPIC (850 k) BeadChip. We examined region-based differential methylation patterns using linear regression models with the false discovery rate of 0.05. We also conducted pathway analysis using gene ontology (GO), KEGG, and IPA canonical pathway databases.

Results

We found no differences between the MBC2 population (n= 340) and the subsample with DNA methylation measured (n= 68) on baseline characteristics or the impact of the intervention on behavior change. We identified no differentially methylated regions at baseline between the control versus intervention groups. At 3 versus 9 months, we identified 154 and 298 differentially methylated regions, respectively, between controls compared to pooled samples from sequential and simultaneous groups. In the GO database, we identified two gene ontology terms related to hemophilic cell adhesion and cell-cell adhesion. In IPA analysis, we found pathways related to carcinogenesis including PI3K/AKT, Wnt/β-catenin, sonic hedgehog, and p53 signaling. We observed an overlap between 3 and 9 months, including the GDP-l-fucose biosynthesis I, methylmalonyl metabolism, and estrogen-mediated cell cycle regulation pathways.

Conclusions

The results demonstrate that the MBC2 diet and physical activity intervention impacts patterns of DNA methylation in gene regions related to cell cycle regulation and carcinogenesis. Future studies will examine DNA methylation as a biomarker to identify populations that may particularly benefit from incorporating health behavior change into plans for precision prevention.
Visual hallucinations in Alzheimer's disease do not seem to be associated with chronic hypoperfusion of to visual processing areas V2 and V3 but may be associated with reduced cholinergic input to these areas
Authors: Sinclair Lindsey Isla , Kumar Amit , Darreh-Shori Taher , Love Seth
Published: September 2019

Background

Up to 20% of patients with AD experience hallucinations. The pathological substrate is not known. Visual hallucinations (VH) are more common in dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB). In autopsy studies, up to 60% of patients with AD have concomitant Lewy body pathology. Decreased perfusion of the occipital lobe has been implicated in DLB patients with VH, and post-mortem studies point to both decreased cholinergic activity and reduced oxygenation of the occipital cortex in DLB.

Methods

We used biochemical methods to assess microvessel density (level of von Willebrand factor, a marker of endothelial cell content), ante-mortem oxygenation (vascular endothelial growth factor, a marker of tissue hypoxia; myelin-associated glycoprotein to proteolipid protein-1 ratio, a measure of tissue oxygenation relative to metabolic demand), cholinergic innervation (acetylcholinesterase and choline acetyltransferase), butyrylcholinesterase and insoluble α-synuclein content in the BA18 and BA19 occipital cortex obtained post-mortem from 23 AD patients who had experienced visual hallucinations, 19 AD patients without hallucinations, 19 DLB patients, and 36 controls. The cohorts were matched for age, gender and post-mortem interval.

Results

There was no evidence of reduced microvessel density, hypoperfusion or reduction in ChAT activity in AD with visual hallucinations. Acetylcholinesterase activity was reduced in both BA18 and BA19, in all 3 dementia groups, and the concentration was also reduced in BA19 in the DLB and AD without visual hallucinations groups. Insoluble α-synuclein was raised in the DLB group in both areas but not in AD either with or without visual hallucinations.

Conclusions

Our results suggest that visual hallucinations in AD are associated with cholinergic denervation rather than chronic hypoperfusion or α-synuclein accumulation in visual processing areas of the occipital cortex.
Discordant amyloid-β PET and CSF biomarkers and its clinical consequences
Authors: de Wilde Arno , Reimand Juhan , Teunissen Charlotte E. , Zwan Marissa , Windhorst Albert D. , Boellaard Ronald , van der Flier Wiesje M. , Scheltens Philip , van Berckel Bart N. M. , Bouwman Femke , Ossenkoppele Rik
Published: September 2019

Background

In vivo, high cerebral amyloid-β load has been associated with (i) reduced concentrations of Aβ42 in cerebrospinal fluid and (ii) increased retention using amyloid-β positron emission tomography. Although these two amyloid-β biomarkers generally show good correspondence, ~ 10–20% of cases have discordant results. To assess the consequences of having discordant amyloid-β PET and CSF biomarkers on clinical features, biomarkers, and longitudinal cognitive trajectories.

Methods

We included 768 patients (194 with subjective cognitive decline (SCD), 127 mild cognitive impairment (MCI), 309 Alzheimer’s dementia (AD), and 138 non-AD) who were categorized as concordant-negative (n = 315, 41%), discordant (n = 97, 13%), or concordant-positive (n = 356, 46%) based on CSF and PET results. We compared discordant with both concordant-negative and concordant-positive groups on demographics, clinical syndrome, apolipoprotein E (APOE) ε4 status, CSF tau, and clinical and neuropsychological progression.

Results

We found an increase from concordant-negative to discordant to concordant-positive in rates of APOE ε4 (28%, 55%, 70%, Z = − 10.6, P < 0.001), CSF total tau (25%, 45%, 78%, Z = − 13.7, P < 0.001), and phosphorylated tau (28%, 43%, 80%, Z = − 13.7, P < 0.001) positivity. In patients without dementia, linear mixed models showed that Mini-Mental State Examination and memory composite scores did not differ between concordant-negative (β [SE] − 0.13[0.08], P = 0.09) and discordant (β 0.08[0.15], P = 0.15) patients (Pinteraction = 0.19), while these scores declined in concordant-positive (β − 0.75[0.08] patients (Pinteraction < 0.001). In patients with dementia, longitudinal cognitive scores were not affected by amyloid-β biomarker concordance or discordance. Clinical progression rates from SCD to MCI or dementia (P = 0.01) and from MCI to dementia (P = 0.003) increased from concordant-negative to discordant to concordant-positive.

Conclusions

Discordant cases were intermediate to concordant-negative and concordant-positive patients in terms of genetic (APOE ε4) and CSF (tau) markers of AD. While biomarker agreement did not impact cognition in patients with dementia, discordant biomarkers are not benign in patients without dementia given their higher risk of clinical progression.
Stress, pseudoallergens, autoimmunity, infection and inflammation in chronic spontaneous urticaria
Authors: Bansal Ciara Jade , Bansal Amolak Singh
Published: September 2019

Chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) is often associated with organ specific autoimmunity but is rarely caused by food allergy. Colourings and preservatives in pre-packaged foods, so called pseudoallergens, have also been implicated. Factors that promote inflammation or reduce anti-inflammatory mechanisms may however, predispose susceptible individuals to CSU. Chronic underlying infection and mental and emotional stress can sometimes precede the onset of CSU and once established can exacerbate the symptoms. There is early evidence of dysbiosis within the gastrointestinal tract in people with CSU and reduced levels of vitamin D are also evident. The latter may be related to the importance of vitamin D3 in increasing T regulatory function which can control a tendency to autoimmunity. It is quite possible that a state of on-going chronic inflammation with reduced anti-oxidant mechanisms may underlie the not infrequent association between CSU and metabolic syndrome. Effective treatment of CSU should involve the use of anti-histamines, intermittent steroids and anti-IgE therapy. For recalcitrant disease immune modulatory therapy has a place. However, talking therapies that reduce stress and anxiety, vitamin D3 supplementation, correction of intestinal dysbiosis and treatment of any chronic infection should also be considered.
Fibronectin precoating wound bed enhances the therapeutic effects of autologous epidermal basal cell suspension for full-thickness wounds by improving epidermal stem cells’ utilization
Authors: Wang Peng , Hu Zhicheng , Cao Xiaoling , Huang Shaobin , Dong Yunxian , Cheng Pu , Xu Hailin , Shu Bin , Xie Julin , Wu Jun , Tang Bing , Zhu Jiayuan
Published: September 2019

Background

Autologous epidermal basal cell suspension therapy has been proven to be one of the most effective treatments for full-thickness wounds. However, we found there remain obvious defects that significantly confined the utilization and function of the epidermal basal cells (EBCs), especially the epidermal stem cells (ESCs) in it. This study investigated whether precoating fibronectin (FN) on the wound bed before spraying EBCs could overcome these defects and further explored its possible mechanisms.

Methods

In the in vitro study, EBCs were isolated from the donor skin of patients who needed skin grafting. Different concentrations of FN were used to precoat culture dishes before cell culture; the adherent efficiency, proliferation and migration ability of ESCs were analyzed and compared with traditional collagen IV precoating.

In the in vivo study, Sprague–Dawley (SD) rats with full-thickness skin wounds were selected as full-thickness wounds’ model. For the experiment groups, 20 μg/ml FN was precoated on the wound bed 10 min before EBC spray. The quality of wound healing was estimated by the residual wound area rate, wound healing time, and hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining. Expression of ESC markers, neovascular markers, inflammation markers, and collagen formation and degradation markers was elucidated by immunohistochemistry (IHC), immunofluorescence (IF), western blot (WB), and RT-qPCR analysis.

Results

The in vitro study showed that the dishes precoated with 20 μg/ml FN had a similar adherent efficiency and colony formation rate with collagen IV, but it could improve the proliferation and migration of ESCs significantly. Similarly, in the in vivo study, precoating FN on wound bed before EBC spray also significantly promote wound healing by improving ESCs’ utilization efficiency, promoting angiogenesis, decreasing inflammations, and regulating collagen formation and degradation.

Conclusion

FN precoating wound bed before EBC spray could significantly promote full-thickness wound healing by improving the utilization and function of the ESCs and further by promoting angiogenesis, decreasing inflammations, and regulating collagen formation and degradation.

Graphical abstract
Machine learning models for hydrogen bond donor and acceptor strengths using large and diverse training data generated by first-principles interaction free energies
Authors: Bauer Christoph A. , Schneider Gisbert , Göller Andreas H.
Published: September 2019

We present machine learning (ML) models for hydrogen bond acceptor (HBA) and hydrogen bond donor (HBD) strengths. Quantum chemical (QC) free energies in solution for 1:1 hydrogen-bonded complex formation to the reference molecules 4-fluorophenol and acetone serve as our target values. Our acceptor and donor databases are the largest on record with 4426 and 1036 data points, respectively. After scanning over radial atomic descriptors and ML methods, our final trained HBA and HBD ML models achieve RMSEs of 3.8 kJ mol−1 (acceptors), and 2.3 kJ mol−1 (donors) on experimental test sets, respectively. This performance is comparable with previous models that are trained on experimental hydrogen bonding free energies, indicating that molecular QC data can serve as substitute for experiment. The potential ramifications thereof could lead to a full replacement of wetlab chemistry for HBA/HBD strength determination by QC. As a possible chemical application of our ML models, we highlight our predicted HBA and HBD strengths as possible descriptors in two case studies on trends in intramolecular hydrogen bonding.
Algicidal bacterium CZBC1 inhibits the growth of Oscillatoria chlorina, Oscillatoria tenuis, and Oscillatoria planctonica
Authors: Hu Xiao-Juan , Xu Yu , Su Hao-Chang , Xu Wu-Jie , Wang Li-Hua , Xu Yun-Na , Li Zhuo-Jia , Cao Yu-Cheng , Wen Guo-Liang
Published: September 2019

Frequent harmful cyanobacteria blooms limit the sustainable development of aquaculture. Algicidal bacteria can efficiently control harmful algae without secondary pollution. The algicidal bacteria CZBC1 can lyse Oscillatoria spp. and other harmful cyanobacteria, but its effector mechanism and algicidal threshold are unknown. In this study, we examined the algicidal effect of CZBC1 on O. chlorina, O. tenuis, and O. planctonica by microscopic enumeration and scanning electron microscopy observation. Then, we examined the alginolytic effects of CZBC1 (concentrations 103–106 colony forming units (cfu)/mL) on these three species (concentrations 103–106 cells/mL) to determine the effective concentrations of CZBC1 for Oscillatoria spp. alginolysis. Results showed that CZBC1 can directly lyse O. chlorina and O. tenuis but indirectly lyse O. planctonica. When the initial concentration of CZBC1 was 106 cfu/mL, alginolytic effects were high for all three species at all concentrations, and the alginolytic rate could reach 100% in 3–9 days. When the initial concentration of CZBC1 was lower (103 cfu/mL), its inhibitory effects were delayed by 2–5 days, but the cell counts were significantly decreased compared with the control, evidencing significant alginolysis. In addition, the higher the concentration of the algicidal bacteria suspension, the more significant the alginolytic effects. Our results indicate that CZBC1 has different alginolytic mechanisms for O. chlorina, O. tenuis, and O. planctonica, and that different initial concentrations of CZBC1 have different alginolytic effects on these algal species.
Non-parallel dictionary learning for voice conversion using non-negative Tucker decomposition
Authors: Takashima Yuki , Nakashika Toru , Takiguchi Tetsuya , Ariki Yasuo
Published: September 2019

Voice conversion (VC) is a technique of exclusively converting speaker-specific information in the source speech while preserving the associated phonemic information. Non-negative matrix factorization (NMF)-based VC has been widely researched because of the natural-sounding voice it achieves when compared with conventional Gaussian mixture model-based VC. In conventional NMF-VC, models are trained using parallel data which results in the speech data requiring elaborate pre-processing to generate parallel data. NMF-VC also tends to be an extensive model as this method has several parallel exemplars for the dictionary matrix, leading to a high computational cost. In this study, an innovative parallel dictionary-learning method using non-negative Tucker decomposition (NTD) is proposed. The proposed method uses tensor decomposition and decomposes an input observation into a set of mode matrices and one core tensor. The proposed NTD-based dictionary-learning method estimates the dictionary matrix for NMF-VC without using parallel data. The experimental results show that the proposed method outperforms other methods in both parallel and non-parallel settings.
SWIPT in mMIMO system with non-linear energy-harvesting terminals: protocol design and performance optimization
Authors: Xu Kui , Zhang Ming , Liu Jie , Sha Nan , Xie Wei , Chen Lihua
Published: September 2019

In this paper, we design the simultaneous wireless information and power transfer (SWIPT) protocol for massive multi-input multi-output (mMIMO) system with non-linear energy-harvesting (EH) terminals. In this system, the base station (BS) serves a set of uplink fixed half-duplex (HD) terminals with non-linear energy harvester. Considering the non-linearity of practical energy-harvesting circuits, we adopt the realistic non-linear EH model rather than the idealistic linear EH model. The proposed SWIPT protocol can be divided into two phases. The first phase is designed for terminals EH and downlink training. A beam domain energy beamforming method is employed for the wireless power transmission. In the second phase, the BS forms the two-layer receive beamformers for the reception of signals transmitted by terminals. In order to improve the spectral efficiency (SE) of the system, the BS transmit power- and time-switching ratios are optimized. Simulation results show the superiority of the proposed beam-domain SWIPT protocol on SE performance compared with the conventional mMIMO SWIPT protocols.
The epidemiology of intransient TB-induced hyperglycaemia in previously undiagnosed diabetes mellitus 2 individuals: a protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Menon Sonia , Francis Joel , Zdraveska Natasha , Dusabimana Alfred , Bhattacharyya Samit
Published: September 2019

Background

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is burgeoning as a global chronic health condition. Some studies suggest that tuberculosis (TB) can even cause diabetes in those not previously known to be diabetic, which as a corollary can add to the already heavy global DM burden. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends screening for DM at the start of TB treatment; however, it remains to be elucidated which patients with TB-induced hyperglycaemia are at risk for developing DM and who would benefit from a more regular follow-up. This systematic review will aim to firstly synthesise literature on the irreversibility of TB-induced hyperglycaemia in individuals with previously undiagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus and secondly to synthesise literature on risk factors for progression from TB-induced hyperglycaemia to overt DM in previously undiagnosed.

Methods

We will search for relevant studies in electronic databases such as PubMed, EMBASE, PROQUEST, and SCOPUS. Furthermore, references will be hand searched to identify other studies. A flow diagram will be drawn to identify the studies retrieved from each database. We will review all publications that include studies containing data on impaired glucose metabolism upon TB diagnosis, and the quality of all eligible studies will be assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. We will further conduct a meta-analysis to pool estimates on the risk of progression of persistent hyperglycaemia to overt DM within this population group, as well as the risk factors for this progression. We will use a random effect model to assess heterogeneity, will carry out sensitivity analysis to explore the influence of a single study on the overall estimate, and will report our findings from our systematic review and meta-analysis according to PRISMA guidelines. Egger’s test will be performed to explore the presence of selective reporting bias. If data allow, we will perform a subgroup/meta-regression analysis. Summary effects will be reported using odds ratio, hazard ratio, and relative risk ratios. Furthermore, any clinical, epidemiological, and public health research gaps we identify will be described in a research proposal.
Some fractional proportional integral inequalities
Authors: Rahman Gauhar , Abdeljawad Thabet , Khan Aftab , Nisar Kottakkaran Sooppy
Published: September 2019

In the last few years, various researchers studied the so-called conformable integrals and derivatives. Based on that notion some authors used modified conformable derivatives (proportional derivatives) to generate nonlocal fractional integrals and derivatives, called fractional proportional integrals and derivatives, which contain exponential functions in their kernels. Our aim in this paper is to establish some new integral inequalities by utilizing the fractional proportional-integral operators. In fact, certain new classes of integral inequalities for a class ofn($n\in \mathbb{N}$n∈N) positive continuous and decreasing functions on$[a,b]$[a,b]are presented. The inequalities presented in this paper are more general than the existing classical inequalities.
Attributes of children and adolescents with avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder
Authors: Keery Helene , LeMay-Russell Sarah , Barnes Timothy L. , Eckhardt Sarah , Peterson Carol B. , Lesser Julie , Gorrell Sasha , Le Grange Daniel
Published: September 2019

Background

Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) is a comparatively new DSM-5 diagnosis. In an effort to better understand this heterogeneous patient group, this study aimed to describe the physical and psychological attributes of children and adolescents with ARFID, and to compare them to patients with full-threshold or atypical anorexia nervosa (AN).

Methods

Children and adolescents aged 7-to-19 years (N = 193) were examined upon presenting at a pediatric eating disorder center between July 2015 and December 2017. Data included diagnosis assessed via the semi-structured Eating Disorder Examination interview along with measures of anthropometrics, depression, anxiety, self-esteem, perfectionism and clinical impairment.

Results

Compared to AN and atypical AN (n = 87), patients with ARFID (n = 106) were significantly younger (12.4 vs. 15.1 years,p < .0001), male (41% vs. 15%,p < .0002), and were more likely to be diagnosed with at least one co-morbid DSM-5 diagnosis (75% vs. 61%,p = .04). Patients with ARFID were less likely to be bradycardic (4.7% vs. 24.1%,p < .0001), amenorrheic (11.1 and 34.7%,p = .001), admitted to the hospital (14.2% vs. 27.6%,p = .02), and have a diagnosis of depression (18.9% vs. 48.3%,p < .0001). Patients with ARFID were significantly less likely to experience acute weight loss vs. chronic weight loss as compared with those with AN or atypical AN (p = .0001). On self-report measures, patients with ARFID reported significantly fewer symptoms of depression, anxiety, perfectionism, clinical impairment, concerns about weight and shape, and higher self-esteem than patients with AN or atypical AN (allps < .0001). No differences were observed by race, anxiety disorder, orthostatic instability, suicidal ideation, and history of eating disorder treatment.

Conclusions

Study results highlight the clinical significance of ARFID as a distinct DSM-5 diagnosis and the physical and psychological differences between ARFID and AN/atypical AN. The novel finding that ARFID patients are more likely than those diagnosed with AN to experience chronic, rather than acute, weight loss suggests important related treatment considerations.
The effects of martial arts participation on mental and psychosocial health outcomes: a randomised controlled trial of a secondary school-based mental health promotion program
Authors: Moore Brian , Dudley Dean , Woodcock Stuart
Published: September 2019

Background

Mental health problems are a significant social issue that have multiple consequences, including broad social and economic impacts. However, many individuals do not seek assistance for mental health problems. Limited research suggests martial arts training may be an efficacious sports-based mental health intervention that potentially provides an inexpensive alternative to psychological therapy. Unfortunately, the small number of relevant studies and other methodological problems lead to uncertainty regarding the validity and reliability of existing research. This study aims to examine the efficacy of a martial arts based therapeutic intervention to improve mental health outcomes.

Methods/design

The study is a 10-week secondary school-based intervention and will be evaluated using a randomised controlled trial. Data will be collected at baseline, post-intervention, and 12-week follow-up. Power calculations indicate a maximum sample size of n = 293 is required. The target age range of participants is 11–14 years, who will be recruited from government and catholic secondary schools in New South Wales, Australia. The intervention will be delivered in a face-to-face group format onsite at participating schools and consists of 10 × 50–60 min sessions, once per week for 10 weeks. Quantitative outcomes will be measured using standardised psychometric instruments.

Discussion

The current study utilises a robust design and rigorous evaluation process to explore the intervention’s potential efficacy. As previous research examining the training effects of martial arts participation on mental health outcomes has not exhibited comparable scale or rigour, the findings of the study will provide valuable evidence regarding the efficacy of martial arts training to improve mental health outcomes.

Trial registration

Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Register ACTRN12618001405202. Registered 21st August 2018.
German version of the Death Attitudes Profile- Revised (DAP-GR) – translation and validation of a multidimensional measurement of attitudes towards death
Authors: Jansen Jonas , Schulz-Quach Christian , Eisenbeck Nikolett , Carreno David F. , Schmitz Andrea , Fountain Rita , Franz Matthias , Schäfer Ralf , Wong Paul T. P. , Fetz Katharina
Published: September 2019

Background

In Germany, only limited data are available on attitudes towards death. Existing measurements are complex and time consuming, and data on psychometric properties are limited. The Death Attitude Profile- Revised (DAP-R) captures attitudes towards dying and death. The measure consists of 32 items, which are assigned to 5 dimensions (Fear of Death, Death Avoidance, Neutral Acceptance, Approach Acceptance, Escape Acceptance). It has been translated and tested in several countries, but no German version exists to date. This study reports the translation of the Death Attitudes Profile-Revised (DAP-R) into German (DAP-GR) using a cross-cultural adaption process methodology and its psychometric assessment.

Methods

The DAP-R was translated following guidelines for cultural adaption. A total of 216 medical students of the Heinrich Heine University Duesseldorf participated in this study. Interrater reliability was investigated by means of Kendall’s W concordance coefficient. The internal consistency of the DAP-GR Scales was assessed with Cronbach’s alpha coefficients. Split-half reliability was estimated using Spearman-Brown coefficients. Convergent validity was measured by Spearman’s correlation coefficient. Content validity was assessed by means of confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). All statistical analyses were performed using SPSS 24 and AMOS 22.

Results

The items showed fair to good interrater reliability, with W-values ranging from .30 to .79. Internal consistency of the five subscales ranged from .61 (Neutral Acceptance) to .94 (Approach Acceptance). Split-half reliability was good, with a Spearman-Brown-coefficient of .83. The results of CFA slightly diverged from the original scale.

Conclusion

Our results suggest overall good reliability of the German version of the DAP-R. The DAP-GR promises to be a robust instrument to establish normative data on death attitudes for use in German-speaking countries.
Gilteritinib: a novel FLT3 inhibitor for acute myeloid leukemia
Authors: Zhao Juanjuan , Song Yongping , Liu Delong
Published: September 2019

FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3- internal tandem duplication (FLT3-ITD) remains as one of the most frequently mutated genes in acute myeloid leukemia (AML), especially in those with normal cytogenetics. The FLT3-ITD and FLT3-TKD (tyrosine kinase domain) mutations are biomarkers for high risk AML and are associated with drug resistance and high risk of relapse. Multiple FLT3 inhibitors are in clinical development, including lestaurtinib, tandutinib, quizartinib, midostaurin, gilteritinib, and crenolanib. Midostaurin and gilteritinib have been approved by FDA for Flt3 mutated AML. Gilteritinib (ASP2215, Xospata) is a small molecule dual inhibitor of FLT3/AXL. The ADMIRAL study showed that longer overall survival and higher response rate are associated with gilteritinib in comparison with salvage chemotherapy for relapse /refractory (R/R) AML. These data from the ADMIRAL study may lead to the therapy paradigm shift and establish gilteritinib as the new standard therapy for R/R FLT3-mutated AML. Currently, multiple clinical trials are ongoing to evaluate the combination of gilteritinib with other agents and regimens. This study summarized clinical trials of gilteritinib for AML.
Refugee immigration and the growth of low-wage work in the EU15
Authors: Andersson Lars Fredrik , Eriksson Rikard , Scocco Sandro
Published: September 2019

Our paper focuses on current trends in refugee migration and job polarization. In so doing, we assess the role of refugee migration in relation to institutional, technologicalty 1 and globalization factors in an effort to trace the factors underlying the growth of low-paying occupations in EU 15 between 1995 and 2017. Our empirical findings suggest that refugee migration has a small but positive and statistically significant impact on the growth of low-wage occupations in the EU 15 as a whole. However, the effect is attributed to Southern Europe and the UK and Irish economies. Despite hosting relatively large numbers of refugee migrants, the effects in the Nordic countries and Continental Europe are negligible, if present, and non-existent in the long run (5 years). When including all migrant workers, we find a limited impact on the growth of low-wage work in general, while the impact of immigrant workers from low-income third party countries becomes positive for the UK and Irish economy, but less for other European macro-regions. This suggests that institutional settings can play an important role in how the economy adjusts to migration. It also suggests that traditional fiscal cost calculations in relation to migration are often overestimated, as they implicitly build on the assumption that refugees and general immigration have great impacts on the growth of low-wage occupations.
Comments on: involving service users in the qualitative analysis of patient narratives to support healthcare quality improvement
Authors: Williams Marney , Etkind Mike , Husson Fran , Ogunleye Della , Norton John
Published: September 2019

Plain English summary

Some previous researchers (Locock et al) have written about what may be the best way for public contributors to be involved in data analysis in research projects. Their experience has been that giving public contributors large amounts of text to read is not the best use of their time and experience. They have recommended that a better approach would be for a researcher to meet with a group of users at the start of analysis, to discuss what to look out for. However, as another patient group that has been involved in analysis, we think differently. The approach we used was to be more fully involved in the project over a longer time period. Analysis tasks were broken down into stages to make it easier for those taking part. We found that this allowed us to take part fully without placing too much burden on us. We found that our approach was workable and successful and see no reason why it could not be applied in other circumstances.

In this journal, Locock et al. have suggested that service users should not be overburdened with large amounts of data, and that eliciting users’ reflections on their experience at the start of analysis and using this as a guide to direct researcher attention during the remainder of the process may work better. As public contributors that have been involved in analysis we suggest an alternative approach in this brief letter, based on our own experiences.