bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Primary screening and application of repellent plant volatiles to control tea leafhopper, Empoasca onukii Matsuda
Authors: Cai Xiaoming , Luo Zongxiu , Meng Zhaona , Liu Yan , Chu Bo , Bian Lei , Li Zhaoqun , Xin Zhaojun , Chen Zongmao
Published: October 2019

BACKGROUND

The tea leafhopper, Empoasca onukii Matsuda (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae), is a major pest of tea plants in China. Here, we evaluated the repellent properties of eight volatile chemicals alone and in various combinations as tools for the management of this pest in tea gardens. These chemicals were from the Alliaceae and other aromatic plants, and are known to repel various insect species.

RESULTS

Among the eight volatile compounds, dimethyl disulfide (DMDS), 1,8‐cineole and allyl methyl sulfide were significantly repellent towards E. onukii adults. DMDS and 1,8‐cineole were mixed to formulate a binary repellent. Under field conditions, spraying and slow‐release applications of the mixture significantly decreased the density of E. onukii adults. The repelling effect after spraying was very short, only ∼ 2 days, but the slow‐release mixture had a longer term repelling effect on E. onukii adults. High emission of the slow‐release mixture, which was achieved by increasing the number of slow‐release bottles, had a stronger repellent effect than low emission. Moreover, when the amount emitted was sufficient, the slow‐release mixture significantly decreased the number of leafhopper nymphs in a treated tea‐plant line, and significantly decreased the number of leafhopper adults and nymphs in a tea‐plant line adjacent to the treated area.

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrates the repellent action of a mixture of DMDS and 1,8‐cineole applied by a slow‐release method against E. onukii in a tea plantation. This mixture has potential applications in integrated pest management schemes. © 2019 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.
Optical Properties of Buckled Bismuthene
Authors: Karaei Shiraz Arash , Yazdanpanah Goharrizi Arash
Published: October 2019

The optical properties of single‐layer buckled bismuthene (b‐bismuthene) are investigated by performing density functional theory calculations. The energy gap of b‐bismuthene at Γ point is minimum at strain near 5%, the gap size increases for strains more and less than 5%. The imaginary and real part of dielectric functions, absorption, reflection, and electron energy loss function are investigated in strains less and more than 5%. According to the simulation results, the optical properties of b‐bismuthene do not change significantly in different strains. The absorption and reflection are high in the infrared (IR) range, which make b‐bismuthene an IR reducer.
Reliability reallocation for cost uncertainty of fuel cell vehicles via improved differential evolution algorithm
Authors: Yu Xueguang , Wang Xu , Liu Xintian , Wang Yansong
Published: October 2019

A fuel cell vehicle (FCV) is composed of many subsystems; it is necessary to reallocate subsystem reliability to improve FCV system reliability. A comprehensive evaluation method considering uncertainty is proposed to obtain the interval value of feasibility factor. The FCV cost uncertainty model is established on the basic of parameters such as feasibility factor, initial reliability, limit reliability, and subsystem cost. To solve the optimization problem for cost uncertainty, the cost interval model is transformed into a deterministic model by interval order relation. An improved differential evolution (DE) algorithm is proposed to reallocate subsystem reliability for minimum cost.
Assessing the relationship between markers of glycemic control through flexible copula regression models
Authors: Espasandín‐Domínguez J. , Cadarso‐Suárez C. , Kneib T. , Marra G. , Klein N. , Radice R. , Lado‐Baleato O. , González‐Quintela A. , Gude F.
Published: October 2019

Glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) is a sensitive marker of blood glucose in patients with diabetes. However, levels can vary considerably, even amongst individuals with similar mean blood glucose concentrations. Other glycated proteins, such as fructosamine, can also act as blood sugar markers, but estimating HbA1c and fructosamine via independent models may lead to errors of interpretation regarding disease severity. From a clinical standpoint, it would be of great interest to know the factors that affect the mean concentration of both HbA1c and fructosamine, which influence the variability in the concentrations of these glycated markers and cause HbA1c/fructosamine discordance. Flexible models are required to illustrate the behaviour of these variables as well as the association between them. This work reviews existing models that might serve in this regard. Flexible copula regression models using splines were used to provide a better understanding of the behaviour of both glycated proteins and the relationship between them under the possible influence of different covariates. This work shows the usefulness of this type of models in practise and provides a basis for their clinical interpretation by means of an understandable case study. Ultimately, to better understand the effects of each continuous covariate, they are represented at the true scale of the response variables.
The Role of Protein Engineering in Biomedical Applications of Mammalian Synthetic Biology
Authors: Bojar Daniel , Fussenegger Martin
Published: October 2019

Engineered proteins with enhanced or altered functionality, generated for example by mutation or domain fusion, are at the core of nearly all synthetic biology endeavors in the context of precision medicine, also known as personalized medicine. From designer receptors sensing elevated blood markers to effectors rerouting signaling pathways to synthetic transcription factors and the customized therapeutics they regulate, engineered proteins play a crucial role at every step of novel therapeutic approaches using synthetic biology. Here, recent developments in protein engineering aided by advances in directed evolution, de novo design, and machine learning are discussed. Building on clinical successes already achieved with chimeric antigen receptor (CAR‐) T cells and other cell‐based therapies, these developments are expected to further enhance the capabilities of mammalian synthetic biology in biomedical and other applications.
Electrostatically Assembling 2D Nanosheets of MXene and MOF‐Derivatives into 3D Hollow Frameworks for Enhanced Lithium Storage
Authors: Zhao Xi , Xu Hai , Hui Zengyu , Sun Yue , Yu Chenyang , Xue Jialu , Zhou Ruicong , Wang Lumin , Dai Henghan , Zhao Yue , Yang Jian , Zhou Jinyuan , Chen Qiang , Sun Gengzhi , Huang Wei
Published: October 2019

As an essential member of 2D materials, MXene (e.g., Ti3C2Tx) is highly preferred for energy storage owing to a high surface‐to‐volume ratio, shortened ion diffusion pathway, superior electronic conductivity, and neglectable volume change, which are beneficial for electrochemical kinetics. However, the low theoretical capacitance and restacking issues of MXene severely limit its practical application in lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs). Herein, a facile and controllable method is developed to engineer 2D nanosheets of negatively charged MXene and positively charged layered double hydroxides derived from ZIF‐67 polyhedrons into 3D hollow frameworks via electrostatic self‐assembling. After thermal annealing, transition metal oxides (TMOs)@MXene (CoO/Co2Mo3O8@MXene) hollow frameworks are obtained and used as anode materials for LIBs. CoO/Co2Mo3O8 nanosheets prevent MXene from aggregation and contribute remarkable lithium storage capacity, while MXene nanosheets provide a 3D conductive network and mechanical robustness to facilitate rapid charge transfer at the interface, and accommodate the volume expansion of the internal CoO/Co2Mo3O8. Such hollow frameworks present a high reversible capacity of 947.4 mAh g−1 at 0.1 A g−1, an impressive rate behavior with 435.8 mAh g−1 retained at 5 A g−1, and good stability over 1200 cycles (545 mAh g−1 at 2 A g−1).
Polyelectrolyte‐Doped SnO2 as a Tunable Electron Transport Layer for High‐Efficiency and Stable Perovskite Solar Cells
Authors: Huang Xiangping , Du Jianhui , Guo Xing , Lin Zhenhua , Ma Jing , Su Jie , Feng Liping , Zhang Chunfu , Zhang Jincheng , Chang Jingjing , Hao Yue
Published: October 2019

The charge transport layer is crucial to the performance and stability of the perovskite solar cells (PSCs). Compared with other conventional metal oxide electron transport materials, SnO2 has a deeper conduction band and higher electron mobility, and can efficiently serve as an electron transport layer to facilitate charge extraction and transfer. Herein, an optimized low‐temperature solution‐processed SnO2 electron transport layer is achieved by doping polyethylenimine polyelectrolyte into SnO2 for the first time in the PSCs. It is found that the performance of all aspects of the doped SnO2 film is improved over that of the pristine SnO2 film. The better energy level alignment, larger built‐in field, enhanced electron transfer/extraction, and reduced charge recombination all contribute to the improved device performance. Finally, a PSC with a power conversion efficiency of 20.61% is successfully prepared under low temperature below 150 °C. Moreover, the stability of the doped SnO2‐based device is also greatly improved.
Understanding Myopia: Pathogenesis and Mechanisms
Authors: Chakraborty Ranjay , Read Scott A. , Vincent Stephen J.
Published: October 2019

Myopia is a common refractive error, characterized by an excessive increase in axial length relative to the refractive power of the eye. Despite much research, the mechanisms underlying the development of myopia are unknown. A large body of work on animal models (such as chicks, guinea pigs, and monkeys) has been instrumental to our understanding of visually guided ocular growth, and potential mechanisms leading to myopia. These studies have shown that experimentally degrading the quality of the image formed on the retina by introducing translucent diffusers (i.e., form-deprivation), or altering the focal point of the image with respect to the retinal plane by imposing plus or minus lenses to the eyes (i.e., lens induced defocus) results in abnormal eye growth and development of reflective errors. Ocular changes in response to form-deprivation and lens induced defocus are primarily associated with changes in axial length (mainly due to changes in vitreous chamber depth) and choroidal thickness. These experimentally induced ocular changes quickly revert to normal upon removal of the imposed optical treatment. Physiological changes in retinal cells and neurotransmitters (such as dopamine), presence of ocular aberrations, altered accommodative response to visual  stimuli, and even subtle variations in natural circadian rhythms of axial length may all influence ocular growth, and hence susceptibility to myopia. In fact, several optical interventions alter ocular aberrations, peripheral refraction, and the accommodative response of the eye in an attempt to arrest myopia development. Epidemiological studies have also linked excessive near work, better socioeconomic status, and urbanization to myopia, although the exact cause for these associations remain elusive. Based on decades of work on the effects of ambient lighting on refractive development in laboratory animals, recent clinical studies have revealed protective effects of greater outdoor exposures on development and progression of myopia in children. Experimental models continue to provide valuable information on the cellular and biochemical mechanisms of myopia.
Clinical Management and Control of Myopia in Children
Authors: Chia Audrey , Tay Su Ann
Published: October 2019

Our understanding of why myopia develops and how various interventions (such as life style modification, spectacles, contact lenses, and pharmacological agents) affect myopia progression has evolved over time. In this chapter, the theories behind the development of myopia (i.e., the effect of near versus outdoor activity, peripheral defocus, and genetic processes), and the various interventions available for the management of childhood myopia will be reviewed and discussed.
Verwirrung um die Wirkung von Omega-3-Fettsäuren
Authors: von Schacky C.
Published: October 2019

Hintergrund

Über die Wirkungen von Omega-3-Fettsäuren herrscht Verwirrung. Wissenschaftliche Untersuchungen brachten scheinbar keine Klarheit. Leitlinien und Regulierungsbehörden widersprechen einander.

Ziel der Übersicht

Der vorliegende Beitrag will Klarheit schaffen, indem statt der Zufuhr die Spiegel der Eicosapentaensäure (EPA) und Docosahexaensäure (DHA) in Erythrozyten als prozentualer Anteil aller gemessenen Fettsäuren (Omega-3-Index) betrachtet werden.

Datenlage

Die breiteste Datenbasis aller Methoden zur Fettsäureanalytik hat der standardisierte HS-Omega‑3 Index® (Omegametrix, Martinsried, Deutschland). Er erfasst den EPA+DHA-Status einer Person und liegt minimal bei 2 %, maximal bei 20 % und optimal zwischen 8 und 11 %. In vielen westlichen Ländern, aber nicht in Japan oder Südkorea sind die Mittelwerte suboptimal. Suboptimale Werte korrelieren mit einer erhöhten Gesamtmortalität, einem plötzlichen Herztod, tödlichen und nichttödlichen Myokardinfarkten, anderen kardiovaskulären Erkrankungen, kognitiven Einschränkungen, Major-Depression, Frühgeburten und weiteren Gesundheitsproblemen. Interventionsstudien zu Surrogat- und Intermediärparametern zeigten viele positive Effekte, die, wenn gemessen, mit dem Omega-3-Index korrelierten. Wegen methodischer Mängel, die erst aus der Perspektive des Omega-3-Index erkennbar wurden, waren zahlreiche, auch große, Interventionsstudien mit klinischen Endpunkten nicht positiv, was sich in den jeweiligen Metaanalysen spiegelt. In Interventionsstudien ohne methodische Mängel wurden die genannten klinischen Endpunkte vermindert.

Schlussfolgerung

Alle Menschen haben Spiegel von EPA+DHA. Bei methodisch korrekter Erfassung in Erythrozyten liegt der optimale Bereich zwischen 8 und 11 %. Mangelzustände bedingen teils schwerwiegende Gesundheitsprobleme, denen mit optimalen Spiegeln vorgebeugt werden kann.
Image registration in dynamic renal MRI—current status and prospects
Authors: Zöllner Frank G. , Šerifović-Trbalić Amira , Kabelitz Gordian , Kociński Marek , Materka Andrzej , Rogelj Peter
Published: October 2019

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) modalities have achieved an increasingly important role in the clinical work-up of chronic kidney diseases (CKD). This comprises among others assessment of hemodynamic parameters by arterial spin labeling (ASL) or dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE-) MRI. Especially in the latter, images or volumes of the kidney are acquired over time for up to several minutes. Therefore, they are hampered by motion, e.g., by pulsation, peristaltic, or breathing motion. This motion can hinder subsequent image analysis to estimate hemodynamic parameters like renal blood flow or glomerular filtration rate (GFR). To overcome motion artifacts in time-resolved renal MRI, a wide range of strategies have been proposed. Renal image registration approaches could be grouped into (1) image acquisition techniques, (2) post-processing methods, or (3) a combination of image acquisition and post-processing approaches. Despite decades of progress, the translation in clinical practice is still missing. The aim of the present article is to discuss the existing literature on renal image registration techniques and show today’s limitations of the proposed techniques that hinder clinical translation. This paper includes transformation, criterion function, and search types as traditional components and emerging registration technologies based on deep learning. The current trend points towards faster registrations and more accurate results. However, a standardized evaluation of image registration in renal MRI is still missing.
IL-6 deficiency attenuates p53 protein accumulation in aged male mouse hippocampus
Authors: Bialuk Izabela , Cieślińska Magdalena , Kowalczuk Oksana , Bonda Tomasz A. , Nikliński Jacek , Winnicka Maria M.
Published: October 2019

Our earlier studies demonstrated slower age-related memory decline in IL-6-deficient than in control mice. Therefore, in the present study we evaluated the effect of IL-6 deficiency and aging on expression of p53, connected with accumulation of age-related cellular damages, in hippocampus of 4- and 24-month-old IL-6-deficient C57BL/6J (IL-6KO) and wild type control (WT) mice. The accumulation of p53 protein in hippocampus of aged IL-6KO mice was significantly lower than in aged WT ones, while p53 mRNA level was significantly higher in IL-6-deficient mice, what indicates that the effect was independent on p53 transcription. Presence of few apoptotic cells in hippocampal dentate gyrus and lack of changes in levels of pro-apoptotic Bax, antiapoptotic Bcl-2, as well as in p21 protein in aged animals of both genotypes, points to low transcriptional activity of p53, especially in aged WT mice. Because the amount of p53 protein did not correlate with the level of Mdm2 protein, its main negative regulator, other than Mdm2-dependent mechanism was involved in p53 build-up. Significantly higher mRNA levels of autophagy-associated genes: Pten, Tsc2, and Dram1 in IL-6KO mice, in conjunction with significantly lower amount of Bcl-2 protein in 4-month-old IL-6KO mice, suggests that lack of IL-6/STAT3/Bcl-2 signaling could account for better autophagy performance in these mice, preventing excessive accumulation of proteins. Taken together, attenuated p53 protein build-up, absence of enhanced apoptosis, and transcriptional up-regulation of autophagy-associated genes imply that IL-6 deficiency may protect hippocampus from age-related accumulation of cellular damages.
Population responses of bird populations to climate change on two continents vary with species’ ecological traits but not with direction of change in climate suitability
Authors: Mason Lucy R. , Green Rhys E. , Howard Christine , Stephens Philip A. , Willis Stephen G. , Aunins Ainars , Brotons Lluís , Chodkiewicz Tomasz , Chylarecki Przemysław , Escandell Virginia , Foppen Ruud P. B. , Herrando Sergi , Husby Magne , Jiguet Frédéric , Kålås John Atle , Lindström Åke , Massimino Dario , Moshøj Charlotte , Nellis Renno , Paquet Jean-Yves , Reif Jiří , Sirkiä Päivi M. , Szép Tibor , Florenzano Guido Tellini , Teufelbauer Norbert , Trautmann Sven , van Strien Arco , van Turnhout Chris A. M. , Voříšek Petr , Gregory Richard D.
Published: October 2019

Climate change is a major global threat to biodiversity with widespread impacts on ecological communities. Evidence for beneficial impacts on populations is perceived to be stronger and more plentiful than that for negative impacts, but few studies have investigated this apparent disparity, or how ecological factors affect population responses to climatic change. We examined the strength of the relationship between species-specific regional population changes and climate suitability trends (CST), using 30-year datasets of population change for 525 breeding bird species in Europe and the USA. These data indicate a consistent positive relationship between population trend and CST across the two continents. Importantly, we found no evidence that this positive relationship differs between species expected to be negatively and positively impacted across the entire taxonomic group, suggesting that climate change is causing equally strong, quantifiable population increases and declines. Species’ responses to changing climatic suitability varied with ecological traits, however, particularly breeding habitat preference and body mass. Species associated with inland wetlands responded most strongly and consistently to recent climatic change. In Europe, smaller species also appeared to respond more strongly, whilst the relationship with body mass was less clear-cut for North American birds. Overall, our results identify the role of certain traits in modulating responses to climate change and emphasise the importance of long-term data on abundance for detecting large-scale species’ responses to environmental changes.
Preschool Educators’ Emotional Directions Towards Mathematics
Authors: Sumpter Lovisa
Published: October 2019

This paper investigates Swedish preschool educators’ emotional directions towards mathematics. A questionnaire was answered by 157 preschool educators and their responses were analysed using both quantitative and qualitative methods. The majority of preschool educators stated that they are positive towards mathematics. Regarding the hypotheses that education or years of experience have a positive impact on how you feel about a subject, the statistical analysis did not confirm these hypotheses. However, the results from the qualitative analysis suggest that some preschool educators change their feelings towards mathematics with time, experience, more education and/or new setting such as a new curriculum. They expressed a dynamic view where they previously have been more negative towards mathematics but now are much more positive. Some implications are that compared with the reputation, preschool educators express more positive feelings, and that targeted education is a contributing factor.
Random coil chemical shifts for serine, threonine and tyrosine phosphorylation over a broad pH range
Authors: Hendus-Altenburger Ruth , Fernandes Catarina B. , Bugge Katrine , Kunze Micha B. A. , Boomsma Wouter , Kragelund Birthe B.
Published: October 2019

Phosphorylation is one of the main regulators of cellular signaling typically occurring in flexible parts of folded proteins and in intrinsically disordered regions. It can have distinct effects on the chemical environment as well as on the structural properties near the modification site. Secondary chemical shift analysis is the main NMR method for detection of transiently formed secondary structure in intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) and the reliability of the analysis depends on an appropriate choice of random coil model. Random coil chemical shifts and sequence correction factors were previously determined for an Ac-QQXQQ-NH2-peptide series with X being any of the 20 common amino acids. However, a matching dataset on the phosphorylated states has so far only been incompletely determined or determined only at a single pH value. Here we extend the database by the addition of the random coil chemical shifts of the phosphorylated states of serine, threonine and tyrosine measured over a range of pH values covering the pKas of the phosphates and at several temperatures (www.bio.ku.dk/sbinlab/randomcoil). The combined results allow for accurate random coil chemical shift determination of phosphorylated regions at any pH and temperature, minimizing systematic biases of the secondary chemical shifts. Comparison of chemical shifts using random coil sets with and without inclusion of the phosphoryl group, revealed under/over estimations of helicity of up to 33%. The expanded set of random coil values will improve the reliability in detection and quantification of transient secondary structure in phosphorylation-modified IDPs.
Assessing seed desiccation responses of native trees in the Caribbean
Authors: Mattana Efisio , Peguero Brígido , Di Sacco Alice , Agramonte Wilvin , Encarnación Castillo Wilkin Rafael , Jiménez Francisco , Clase Teodoro , Pritchard Hugh W. , Gómez-Barreiro Pablo , Castillo-Lorenzo Elena , Terrero Encarnación Marianny , Way Michael J. , García Ricardo , Ulian Tiziana
Published: October 2019

Native trees from the Caribbean were tested for seed desiccation responses, by adapting the “100-seed test” protocol. Ninety-seven seed lots of 91 species were collected in the Dominican Republic and tested for germination immediately after collecting, and after drying and moist storage. Seed desiccation sensitivity was assessed as a continuous variable (Viability Loss Index; VLI), based on seed germination values before and after drying. The results were compared with predictions of seed desiccation responses based on seed lot traits (initial moisture content and thousand-seed weight) and with those of published predictive models based on plant and seed traits. VLI could be calculated for seed lots of 40 species. 80% of these seed lots showed consistent results among experiments and predictive models. Issues on the set up of the experiments were discussed, as well as the species for which experimental results and predictions led to contrasting results. Overall, the “100-seed test” confirmed to be an effective tool for assessing seed desiccation responses of a diverse under-investigated woody flora, guiding the seed conservation of trees and their use in reforestation programmes. In addition, by providing new data, it might improve the performance of available predictive models.
Sample Collection and Return from Mars: Optimising Sample Collection Based on the Microbial Ecology of Terrestrial Volcanic Environments
Authors: Cockell Charles S. , McMahon Sean , Lim Darlene S. S. , Rummel John , Stevens Adam , Hughes Scott S. , Kobs Nawotniak Shannon E. , Brady Allyson L. , Marteinsson Viggo , Martin-Torres Javier , Zorzano Maria-Paz , Harrison Jesse
Published: October 2019

With no large-scale granitic continental crust, all environments on Mars are fundamentally derived from basaltic sources or, in the case of environments such as ices, evaporitic, and sedimentary deposits, influenced by the composition of the volcanic crust. Therefore, the selection of samples on Mars by robots and humans for investigating habitability or testing for the presence of life should be guided by our understanding of the microbial ecology of volcanic terrains on the Earth. In this paper, we discuss the microbial ecology of volcanic rocks and hydrothermal systems on the Earth. We draw on microbiological investigations of volcanic environments accomplished both by microbiology-focused studies and Mars analog studies such as the NASA BASALT project. A synthesis of these data emphasises a number of common patterns that include: (1) the heterogeneous distribution of biomass and diversity in all studied materials, (2) physical, chemical, and biological factors that can cause heterogeneous microbial biomass and diversity from sub-millimetre scales to kilometre scales, (3) the difficulty ofa prioriprediction of which organisms will colonise given materials, and (4) the potential for samples that are habitable, but contain no evidence of a biota. From these observations, we suggest an idealised strategy for sample collection. It includes: (1) collection of multiple samples in any given material type (∼9 or more samples), (2) collection of a coherent sample of sufficient size (${\sim}10~\mbox{cm}^{3}$∼10cm3) that takes into account observed heterogeneities in microbial distribution in these materials on Earth, and (3) collection of multiple sample suites in the same material across large spatial scales. We suggest that a microbial ecology-driven strategy for investigating the habitability and presence of life on Mars is likely to yield the most promising sample set of the greatest use to the largest number of astrobiologists and planetary scientists.
Comparison of progesterone concentrations in blubber and plasma among female Antarctic minke whales of known reproductive status
Authors: Inoue Satoko , Yasunaga Genta , Pastene Luis A.
Published: October 2019

The utility of progesterone concentration in blubber as a means of determining reproductive status in the Antarctic minke whaleBalaenoptera bonaerensiswas assessed through a comparative analysis of progesterone concentration in blubber and plasma among 230 female whales of known reproductive status (immature, resting, ovulating or pregnant). Whales were sampled during the austral summer in the Antarctic Ocean. The general pattern of progesterone concentration by reproductive category was well correlated between blubber and plasma samples, validating in principle the use of progesterone concentrations in blubber to determine the reproductive status of females. However, some differences were found for resting and ovulating females, which require further consideration. For blubber, overlap of progesterone concentrations was observed between reproductive categories with the exception of immature/ovulating and immature/pregnant. This result suggests that the method of using progesterone concentration in blubber cannot distinguish between pregnant and non-pregnant mature females. However, it can be used to distinguish between immature and mature females. Although a low overlap ratio in concentration was found between immature and resting females, the method is still useful for determining sexual maturity, because resting females of the Antarctic minke whale are seldom found in the Antarctic Ocean.
Prevention of hypermelanosis by rearing Japanese flounder Paralichthys olivaceus in net-lined tanks
Authors: Mizutani Koei , Yamada Toshiyuki , Suzuki Keita W. , Masuda Reiji , Nakata Kuniaki , Tagawa Masatomo
Published: October 2019

In artificially reared flatfish, especially the Japanese flounder Paralichthys olivaceus, pigmented skin (hypermelanosis) frequently appears on the fish’s blind side after normal metamorphosis. As no practical prevention method has yet been proposed, we examined the effectiveness of a loose net placed inside the rearing tank that covers the bottom and walls like a pouch. When juveniles (standard length [SL] 6 cm) were transferred to the net-lined tank (mesh size 4 mm) before the first appearance of hypermelanosis, the pigmented area after 2 months covered about 0.5% of the blind side; this is about 1/40th of the area covered by pigment in fish reared in an ordinary tank (20%). Although the initial appearance of pigmentation in the axilla area (the area covered by the pectoral fin) was not suppressed, utilization of a larger mesh size (12 mm) decreased the expansion of pigmentation in this area. Juveniles reared in the net-lined tank were about 5–15% smaller (SL) than those reared in the ordinary tank, but their body depth:SL ratio was closer to that of wild-caught juveniles. From the results of this study, we propose that net-lined rearing tanks with larger-sized mesh are a practical method of preventing hypermelanosis in Japanese flounder aquaculture systems.
The Causal Effect of Maternal Education on Child Mortality: Evidence From a Quasi-Experiment in Malawi and Uganda
Authors: Andriano Liliana , Monden Christiaan W. S.
Published: October 2019

Since the 1980s, the demographic literature has suggested that maternal schooling plays a key role in determining children’s chances of survival in low- and middle-income countries; however, few studies have successfully identified a causal relationship between maternal education and under-5 mortality. To identify such a causal effect, we exploited exogenous variation in maternal education induced by schooling reforms introducing universal primary education in the second half of the 1990s in Malawi and Uganda. Using a two-stage residual inclusion approach and combining individual-level data from Demographic and Health Surveys with district-level data on the intensity of the reform, we tested whether increased maternal schooling reduced children’s probability of dying before age 5. In Malawi, for each additional year of maternal education, children have a 10 % lower probability of dying; in Uganda, the odds of dying for children of women with one additional year of education are 16.6 % lower. We also explored which pathways might explain this effect of maternal education. The estimates suggest that financial barriers to medical care, attitudes toward modern health services, and rejection of domestic violence may play a role. Moreover, being more educated seems to confer enhanced proximity to a health facility and knowledge about the transmission of AIDS in Malawi, and wealth and improved personal illness control in Uganda.
Emerging Big Data Sources for Public Transport Planning: A Systematic Review on Current State of Art and Future Research Directions
Authors: Zannat Khatun E , Choudhury Charisma F.
Published: October 2019

The rapid advancement of information and communication technology has brought a revolution in the domain of public transport (PT) planning alongside other areas of transport planning and operations. Of particular significance are the passively generated big data sources (e.g., smart cards, detailed vehicle location data, mobile phone traces, social media) which have started replacing the traditional surveys conducted onboard, at the stops/stations and/or at the household level for gathering insights about the behavior of the PT users. This paper presents a systematic review of the contemporary research papers related to the use of novel data sources in PT planning with particular focus on (1) assessing the usability and potential strengths and weaknesses of different emerging big data sources, (2) identifying the challenges and highlighting research gaps. Reviewed articles were categorized based on qualitative pattern matching (similarities/dissimilarities) and multiple sources of evidence analysis under three categories—use of big data in (1) travel pattern analysis, (2) PT modelling, and (3) PT performance assessment. The review revealed research gaps ranging from methodological and applied research on fusing different forms of big data as well as big data and traditional survey data; further work to validate the models and assumptions; lack of progress on developing more dynamic planning models. Findings of this study could inform transport planners and researchers about the opportunities/challenges big data bring for PT planning. Harnessing the full potential of the big data sources for PT planning can be extremely useful for cities in the developing world, where the PT landscape is changing more rapidly, but traditional forms of data are expensive to collect.
Local ancestry at APOE modifies Alzheimer's disease risk in Caribbean Hispanics
Authors: Blue Elizabeth E. , Horimoto Andréa R.V.R. , Mukherjee Shubhabrata , Wijsman Ellen M. , Thornton Timothy A.
Published: October 2019

Introduction

Although the relationship between APOE and Alzheimer's disease (AD) is well established in populations of European descent, the effects of APOE and ancestry on AD risk in diverse populations is not well understood.

Methods

Logistic mixed model regression and survival analyses were performed in a sample of 3067 Caribbean Hispanics and 3028 individuals of European descent to assess the effects of APOE genotype, local ancestry, and genome‐wide ancestry on AD risk and age at onset.

Results

Among the Caribbean Hispanics, individuals with African‐derived ancestry at APOE had 39% lower odds of AD than individuals with European‐derived APOE, after adjusting for APOE genotype, age, and genome‐wide ancestry. While APOE E2 and E4 effects on AD risk and age at onset were significant in the Caribbean Hispanics, they were substantially attenuated compared with those in European ancestry individuals.

Discussion

These results suggest that additional genetic variation in the APOE region influences AD risk beyond APOE E2/E3/E4.
Ganglion cell layer thinning in prodromal Alzheimer's disease defined by amyloid PET
Authors: López‐de‐Eguileta Alicia , Lage Carmen , López‐García Sara , Pozueta Ana , García‐Martínez María , Kazimierczak Martha , Bravo María , de Arcocha‐Torres María , Banzo Ignacio , Jimenez‐Bonilla Julio , Cerveró Andrea , Rodríguez‐Rodríguez Eloy , Sánchez‐Juan Pascual , Casado Alfonso
Published: October 2019

Introduction

The objective of this study was to investigate and compare optic nerve and retinal layers in eyes of patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer's disease (AD) with paired control eyes using optical coherence tomography.

Methods

Sixty‐three eyes of 34 subjects, 12 eyes with AD and 51 eyes with MCI, positive to 11C‐labeled Pittsburgh Compound‐B with positron emission tomography (11C‐PiB PET/CT), and the same number of sex‐ and age‐paired control eyes underwent optical coherence tomography scanning analyzing retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL), ganglion cell layer (GCL), Bruch's membrane opening–minimum rim width (BMO‐MRW), inner plexiform layer (IPL), outer nuclear layer, and lamina cribrosa (LC).

Results

Compared with healthy controls, eyes of patients with positive 11C‐PiB PET/CT showed a significant thinning of RNFL (P < .028) and GCL (P < .014). IPL and outer nuclear layer also showed significant thinning in two (P < .025) and one location (P < .010), respectively. No significant differences were found when optic nerve measurements BMO‐MRW and LC were compared (P > .131 and P > .721, respectively). Temporal sector GCL, average RNFL, and temporal sector RNFL also exhibited significant thinning when MCI and control eyes were compared (P = .015, P = .005 and P = .050, respectively), and also the greatest area under the curve values (0.689, 0.647, and 0.659, respectively). GCL, IPL, and RNFL tend to be thinner in the AD group compared with healthy controls.

Discussion

Our study suggests that RNFL and GCL are useful for potential screening in the early diagnosis of AD. LC and BMO‐MRW appear not to be affected by AD.
A single systemic inflammatory insult causes acute motor deficits and accelerates disease progression in a mouse model of human tauopathy
Authors: Torvell Megan , Hampton David W. , Connick Peter , MacLullich Alasdair M.J. , Cunningham Colm , Chandran Siddharthan
Published: October 2019

Introduction

Neuroinflammation, which contributes to neurodegeneration, is a consistent hallmark of dementia. Emerging evidence suggests that systemic inflammation also contributes to disease progression.

Methods

The ability of systemically administered lipopolysaccharide (LPS ‐ 500 μg/kg) to effect acute and chronic behavioural changes in C57BL/6 and P301S tauopathy mice was assessed. Markers of pathology were assessed in the brain and spinal cord.

Results

P301S mice display regional microgliosis. Systemic LPS treatment induced exaggerated acute sickness behaviour and motor dysfunction in P301S mice compared with wild‐type controls and advanced the onset and accelerated chronic decline. LPS treatment was associated with increased tau pathology 24 hours after LPS injection and spinal cord microgliosis at the end stage.

Discussion

This is the first demonstration that a single systemic inflammatory episode causes exaggerated acute functional impairments and accelerates the long‐term trajectory of functional decline associated with neurodegeneration in a mouse model of human tauopathy. The findings have relevance to management of human dementias.
Austrian Perspectives on Entrepreneurship, Strategy, and Organization
Authors: Foss Nicolai J. , Klein Peter G. , McCaffrey Matthew
Published: October 2019

The 'Austrian' tradition is well-known for its definitive contributions to economics in the twentieth century. However, Austrian economics also offers an exciting research agenda outside the traditional boundaries of economics, especially in the management disciplines. This Element examines how Austrian ideas play a key role in expanding the understanding of fields like entrepreneurship, strategy, and organization. It focuses especially on the vital role that entrepreneurs play in guiding economic progress by shaping firms and their strategic behavior. In doing so, it explains a wide range of contributions that Austrian economics makes to the understanding of key problems in management, while also highlighting many directions for future work in this inspiring tradition.
Hot-streak effect on internally air-cooled nozzle guide vanes and shrouds
Authors: Jiang L. Y. , Han Y. , Zhang Z. , Wu X. , Clement M. , Patnaik P.
Published: October 2019

The effect of hot streaks from a gas turbine combustor on the thermodynamic load of internally air-cooled nozzle guide vanes (NGVs) and shrouds has been numerically investigated under flight conditions. The study follows two steps: one for the high-fidelity 60° combustor sector with simplified ten NGVs and three thermocouples attached; and the other for the NGV sectors where each sector consists of one high-fidelity NGV (probe NGV) and nine dummy NGVs. The first step identifies which NGV has the highest thermal load and provides the inlet flow boundary conditions for the second step. In the second step, the flow fields and thermal loads of the probe NGVs are resolved in detail.

With the systematically validated physical models, the two-phase flowfield of the combustor-NGVs sector has been successfully simulated. The predicted mean and maximum temperature at the combustor sector exit are in excellent agreement with the experimental data, which provides a solid basis for the hot-streak effect investigation. The results indicate that the second NGV, looking upstream from left, has the highest thermal load. Its maximum surface temperature is 8.4% higher than that for the same NGV but with the mean inlet boundary conditions, and 14.1% higher than the ninth NGV. The finding is consistent with the field-observed NGV damage pattern. To extend the service life of these vulnerable NGVs, some protection methods should be considered.
A Cost-Utility Analysis of Endovascular Thrombectomy in a Real-World Setting
Authors: Koto Prosper S. , Hu Sherry X. , Virani Karim , Simpkin Wendy L. , Christian Christine A. , Cao Huiling , Shankar Jai J. S. , Phillips Stephen J.
Published: October 2019

Objective:

Endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) is efficacious for ischemic stroke caused by proximal intracranial large-vessel occlusion involving the anterior cerebral circulation. However, evidence of its cost-effectiveness, especially in a real-world setting, is limited. We assessed whether EVT ± tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) was cost-effective when compared with standard care ± tPA at our center.

Method:

We identified patients treated with EVT ± tPA after the Endovascular treatment for Small Core and Anterior circulation Proximal occlusion with Emphasis on minimizing computed tomography to recanalization times trial from our prospective stroke registry from February 1, 2013 to January 31, 2017. Patients admitted before February 2013 and treated with standard care ± tPA constitute the controls. The sample size was 88. Cost-effectiveness was assessed using the net monetary benefit (NMB). Differences in average costs and quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) were estimated using the augmented inverse probability weighted estimator. We accounted for sampling and methodological uncertainty in sensitivity analyses.

Results:

Patients treated with EVT ± tPA had a net gain of 2.89 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.93–4.99] QALYs at an additional cost of $22,200 (95% CI: −28,902–78,244) per patient compared with the standard care ± tPA group. The NMB was $122,300 (95% CI: −4777–253,133) with a 0.85 probability of being cost-effective. The expected savings to the healthcare system would amount to $321,334 per year.

Conclusion:

EVT ± tPA had higher costs and higher QALYs compared with the control, and is likely to be cost-effective at a willingness-to-pay threshold of $50,000 per QALY.
Psychological First-Aid Experiences of Disaster Health Care Workers: A Qualitative Analysis
Authors: Choi Yun-Jung
Published: October 2019

Objective:

Disaster health care workers experience much greater stress providing psychological first-aid and suffer from the indirect experience of traumatic events. This study examines how disaster health care workers experience disaster mental health.

Methods:

Twenty-one disaster health care workers recruited from fire stations, community mental health service centers, and disaster trauma centers in Korea participated in this study. Data were collected via in-depth interviews and qualitatively analyzed according to Colaizzi’s phenomenological approach.

Results:

Disaster health care workers’ experiences of disaster mental health can be analyzed according to 4 theme categories: (1) commitment to one’s duty as a disaster health care worker; (2) powerlessness and lack of confidence; (3) incident shock and burnout; and (4) incomplete and inadequate healing.

Conclusions:

In order to prevent mental health problems and support the disaster health care workers, it is necessary to develop and provide effective, nationwide psychological first-aid training, as well as disaster trauma recovery programs that are tailored to Korean sociocultural context and use immersive digital health care/education technology.
Measles outbreak from Hong Kong International Airport to the hospital due to secondary vaccine failure in healthcare workers
Authors: Cheng Vincent C.C. , Wong Shuk-Ching , Wong Sally C.Y. , Sridhar Siddharth , Chen Jonathan H.K. , Yip Cyril C.Y. , Hung Derek L.L. , Li Xin , Chuang Vivien W.M. , Tsang Owen T.Y. , Woo Gibson K.S. , Chuang Shuk-Kwan , Yuen Kwok-Yung
Published: October 2019

Objective:

To report an outbreak of measles with epidemiological link between Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) and a hospital.

Methods:

Epidemiological investigations, patients’ measles serology, and phylogenetic analysis of the hemagglutinin (H) and nucleoprotein (N) genes of measles virus isolates were conducted.

Results:

In total, 29 HKIA staff of diverse ranks and working locations were infected with measles within 1 month. Significantly fewer affected staff had history of travel than non–HKIA-related measles patients [10 of 29 (34.5%) vs 28 of 35 (80%);P< .01]. Of 9 airport staff who could recall detailed exposure history, 6 (66.7%) had visited self-service food premises at HKIA during the incubation period, where food trays, as observed during the epidemiological field investigation, were not washed after use. Furthermore, 1 airport baggage handler who was admitted to hospital A before rash onset infected 2 healthcare workers (HCWs) known to have 2 doses of MMR vaccination with positive measles IgG and lower viral loads in respiratory specimens. Infections in these 2 HCWs warranted contact tracing of another 168 persons (97 patients and 71 HCWs). Phylogenetic comparison of H and N gene sequences confirmed the clonality of outbreak strains.

Conclusion:

Despite good herd immunity with overall seroprevalence of >95% against measles, major outbreaks of measles occurred among HKIA staff having daily contact with many international pssengers. Lessons from severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and measles outbreaks suggested that an airport can be a strategic epidemic center. Pre-exanthem transmission of measles from airport staff to HCWs with secondary vaccine failure poses a grave challenge to hospital infection control.
Institutional Transplant and Cultural Proximity: Evidence from Nineteenth-Century Prussia
Authors: Lecce Giampaolo , Ogliari Laura
Published: October 2019

This article presents evidence that cultural proximity between the exporting and the receiving countries positively affects the adoption of new institutions and the resulting long-term economic outcomes. We obtain this result by combining new information on pre-Napoleonic principalities with county-level census data from nineteenth-century Prussia. We exploit a quasi-natural experiment generated by radical Napoleonic institutional reforms and the deeply rooted cultural heterogeneity across Prussian counties. We show that institutional reforms in counties that are culturally more similar to France, in terms of religious affiliation, generate better long-term economic performance.
Measuring antibiotic levels and their relationship with the microbiome in chronic rhinosinusitis
Authors: Siu J , Tingle M D , Douglas R G
Published: October 2019

Background

The evidence supporting the efficacy of antibiotic therapy in the treatment of chronic rhinosinusitis is not compelling. A limited number of studies show that the changes in the nasal microbiome in patients following drug therapy are unpredictable and variable. The evidence for the impact of oral antibiotics on the gut microbiota is stronger, possibly as a result of differences in drug distribution to various sites around the body. There are few studies on sinus mucosal and mucus levels of oral antibiotics used in the treatment of chronic rhinosinusitis. The distribution dependent effects of antibiotics on the sinonasal microbiome is unclear.

Conclusion

This review highlights that relative drug concentrations and their efficacy on microbiota at different sites is an important subject for future studies investigating chronic rhinosinusitis.