bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A 4-cyano-3-methylisoquinoline inhibitor of Plasmodium falciparum growth targets the sodium efflux pump PfATP4
Authors: Gilson Paul R. , Kumarasingha Rasika , Thompson Jennifer , Zhang Xinxin , Penington Jocelyn Sietsma , Kalhor Robabeh , Bullen Hayley E. , Lehane Adele M. , Dans Madeline G. , de Koning-Ward Tania F. , Holien Jessica K. , Soares da Costa Tatiana P. , Hulett Mark D. , Buskes Melissa J. , Crabb Brendan S. , Kirk Kiaran , Papenfuss Anthony T. , Cowman Alan F. , Abbott Belinda M.
Published: July 2019

We developed a novel series of antimalarial compounds based on a 4-cyano-3-methylisoquinoline. Our lead compound MB14 achieved modest inhibition of the growth in vitro of the human malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum. To identify its biological target we selected for parasites resistant to MB14. Genome sequencing revealed that all resistant parasites bore a single point S374R mutation in the sodium (Na+) efflux transporter PfATP4. There are many compounds known to inhibit PfATP4 and some are under preclinical development. MB14 was shown to inhibit Na+ dependent ATPase activity in parasite membranes, consistent with the compound targeting PfATP4 directly. PfATP4 inhibitors cause swelling and lysis of infected erythrocytes, attributed to the accumulation of Na+ inside the intracellular parasites and the resultant parasite swelling. We show here that inhibitor-induced lysis of infected erythrocytes is dependent upon the parasite protein RhopH2, a component of the new permeability pathways that are induced by the parasite in the erythrocyte membrane. These pathways mediate the influx of Na+ into the infected erythrocyte and their suppression via RhopH2 knockdown limits the accumulation of Na+ within the parasite hence protecting the infected erythrocyte from lysis. This study reveals a role for the parasite-induced new permeability pathways in the mechanism of action of PfATP4 inhibitors.
In Silico Identification of Novel Biomarkers and Development of New Rapid Diagnostic Tests for the Filarial Parasites Mansonella perstans and Mansonella ozzardi
Authors: Poole C. B. , Sinha A. , Ettwiller L. , Apone L. , McKay K. , Panchapakesa V. , Lima N. F. , Ferreira M. U. , Wanji S. , Carlow C. K. S.
Published: July 2019

Mansonelliasis is a widespread yet neglected tropical infection of humans in Africa and South America caused by the filarial nematodes, Mansonella perstans, M. ozzardi, M. rodhaini and M. streptocerca. Clinical symptoms are non-distinct and diagnosis mainly relies on the detection of microfilariae in skin or blood. Species-specific DNA repeat sequences have been used as highly sensitive biomarkers for filarial nematodes. We have developed a bioinformatic pipeline to mine Illumina reads obtained from sequencing M. perstans and M. ozzardi genomic DNA for new repeat biomarker candidates which were used to develop loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) diagnostic tests. The M. perstans assay based on the Mp419 repeat has a limit of detection of 0.1 pg, equivalent of 1/1000th of a microfilaria, while the M. ozzardi assay based on the Mo2 repeat can detect as little as 0.01 pg. Both LAMP tests possess remarkable species-specificity as they did not amplify non-target DNAs from closely related filarial species, human or vectors. We show that both assays perform successfully on infected human samples. Additionally, we demonstrate the suitability of Mp419 to detect M. perstans infection in Culicoides midges. These new tools are field deployable and suitable for the surveillance of these understudied filarial infections.
Topologically correct central projections of tetrapod inner ear afferents require Fzd3
Authors: Duncan Jeremy S. , Fritzsch Bernd , Houston Douglas W. , Ketchum Elizabeth M. , Kersigo Jennifer , Deans Michael R. , Elliott Karen L.
Published: July 2019

Inner ear sensory afferent connections establish sensory maps between the inner ear hair cells and the vestibular and auditory nuclei to allow vestibular and sound information processing. While molecular guidance of sensory afferents to the periphery has been well studied, molecular guidance of central projections from the ear is only beginning to emerge. Disorganized central projections of spiral ganglion neurons in a Wnt/PCP pathway mutant,Prickle1, suggest the Wnt/PCP pathway plays a role in guiding cochlear afferents to the cochlear nuclei in the hindbrain, consistent with known expression of the Wnt receptor,Frizzled3(Fzd3) in inner ear neurons. We therefore investigated the role of Wnt signaling in central pathfinding inFzd3mutant mice andFzd3morpholino treated frogs and found aberrant central projections of vestibular afferents in both cases. Ear transplantations from knockdown to controlXenopusshowed that it is theFzd3expressed within the ear that mediates this guidance. Also, cochlear afferents ofFzd3mutant mice lack the orderly topological organization observed in controls. Quantification ofFzd3expression in spiral ganglion neurons show a gradient of expression withFzd3being higher in the apex than in the base. Together, these results suggest that a gradient ofFzd3in inner ear afferents directs projections to the correct dorsoventral column within the hindbrain.
Multimetal bioremediation and biomining by a combination of new aquatic strains of Mucor hiemalis
Authors: Hoque Enamul , Fritscher Johannes
Published: July 2019

Here we describe a unique microbial biotechnology for simultaneous bioremediation and biomining of twelve ionic metals overcoming the obstacles of multimetal toxicity to microbes. After a thorough search of key microorganisms in microbiomes of many sulfidic springs in Bavaria (Germany) over an area of 200 km2, we found three new strains EH8, EH10 and EH11 of Mucor hiemalis physiologically compatible and capable of multimetal-remediation and enrichment. We combined the multimetal-resistance, hyper-accumulation and elicitation power of EH8, EH10 and EH11 to develop a novel biotechnology for simultaneous removal, fractionation and enrichment of metal ions. As a first step we showed the intracellular fixing and deposition of mercury as nanospheres in EH8’s sporangiospores. Scanning Electron Microscopy-Energy-Dispersive X-Ray analysis revealed binding and precipitation of other applied metal ions as spherical nano-particles (~50–100 nm) at the outer electro-negative cellwall-surface of EH8, EH10 and EH11 sporangiospores. Microbiomes, germinated spores and dead insoluble cellwalls of these strains removed >81–99% of applied Al, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb, U, and Zn simultaneously and furthermore enriched precious Ag, Au and Ti from water all within 48 h, demonstrating the potential of new biotechnologies for safe-guarding our environment from metal pollution and concentrating precious diluted, ionic metals.
Pretreatment with probiotic Enterococcus faecium NCIMB 11181 ameliorates necrotic enteritis-induced intestinal barrier injury in broiler chickens
Authors: Wu Yuanyuan , Zhen Wenrui , Geng Yanqiang , Wang Zhong , Guo Yuming
Published: July 2019

The dysfunction of tight-junction integrity caused by necrotic enteritis (NE) is associated with decreased nutrient absorption and gut injury in broiler chickens. Although probiotic Enterococcus faecium (E. faecium) has been reported to possess immune-regulatory characteristics and can prevent diarrhea in pigs, very little information exists in relation to the specific regulatory impact of E. faecium NCIMB 11181 on NE-induced intestinal barrier injury of broiler chickens. This study was conducted to investigate the protective effects of probiotic E. faecium NCIMB 11181 on NE-induced intestinal barrier injury in broiler chickens. The study also aimed to elucidate the mechanisms that underpin these protective effects. One hundred and eighty Arbor Acres (AA) broiler chicks (one day old) were randomly assigned using a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement into two groups fed different levels of dietary E. faecium NCIMB 11181 (0 or 2 × 108 CFU/kg of diet) and two disease-challenge groups (control or NE challenged). The results showed that NE induced body weight loss, intestinal lesions, and histopathological inflammation, as well as intestinal-cell apoptosis. These symptoms were alleviated following the administration of probiotic E. faecium NCIMB 11181. Pretreatment with probiotic E. faecium NCIMB 11181 significantly upregulated the expression of the Claudin-1 gene encoding a tight-junction protein. Claudin-1 and HSP70 protein expression were also increased in the jejunum regardless of NE infection. Furthermore, NE-infected birds fed with E. faecium displayed notable increases in MyD88, NF-κB, iNOS, PI3K, GLP-2, IL-1β, IL-4, and HSP70 mRNA expression. E. faecium NCIMB 11181 administration also significantly improved the animals’ intestinal microbial composition regardless of NE treatment. These findings indicated that addition of E. faecium NCIMB 11181 to poultry feed is effective in mitigating NE-induced gut injury, possibly by strengthening intestinal mucosal barrier function, as well as modulating gut microflora and intestinal mucosal immune responses.
Some environmental and biological determinants of coral richness, resilience and reef building in Galápagos (Ecuador)
Authors: Riegl Bernhard , Johnston Matthew , Glynn Peter W. , Keith Inti , Rivera Fernando , Vera-Zambrano Mariana , Banks Stuart , Feingold Joshua , Glynn Peter J.
Published: July 2019

Throughout the Galápagos, differences in coral reef development and coral population dynamics were evaluated by monitoring populations from 2000–2019, and environmental parameters (sea temperatures, pH, NO3−, PO43−) from 2015–19. The chief goal was to explain apparent coral community differences between the northern (Darwin and Wolf) and southern (Sta. Cruz, Fernandina, San Cristóbal, Española, Isabela) islands. Site coral species richness was highest at Darwin and Wolf. In the three most common coral taxa, a declining North (N)-South (S) trend in colony sizes existed for Porites lobata and Pocillopora spp., but not for Pavona  spp. Frequent coral recruitment was observed in all areas. Algal competition was highest at Darwin, but competition by bioeroding sea urchins and burrowing fauna (polychaete worms, bivalve mollusks) increased from N to S with declining coral skeletal density. A biophysical model suggested strong connectivity among southern islands with weaker connectivity to Wolf and even less to Darwin. Also, strong connectivity was observed between Darwin and Wolf, but from there only intermittently to the south. From prevailing ocean current trajectories, coral larvae from Darwin and Wolf drift primarily towards Malpelo and Cocos Islands, some reaching Costa Rica and Colombia. Mean temperature, pH, and PO43− declined from N to S. Strong thermocline shoaling, especially in the warm season, was observed at most sites. A single environmental factor could not explain the variability in observed coral community characteristics, with minimum temperature, pH and nutrient levels the strongest determinants. Thus, complex environmental determinants combined with larval connectivity patterns may explain why the northern Galápagos Islands (Darwin, Wolf) have higher coral richness and cover and also recover more rapidly than central/southern islands after region-wide disturbances. These northern islands are therefore potentially of critical conservation importance as important reservoirs of regional coral biodiversity and source of larvae.
Spring constant and sensitivity calibration of FluidFM micropipette cantilevers for force spectroscopy measurements
Authors: Nagy Ágoston G. , Kámán Judit , Horváth Róbert , Bonyár Attila
Published: July 2019

The fluidic force microscope (FluidFM) can be considered as the nanofluidic extension of the atomic force microscope (AFM). This novel instrument facilitates the experimental procedure and data acquisition of force spectroscopy (FS) and is also used for the determination of single-cell adhesion forces (SCFS) and elasticity. FluidFM uses special probes with an integrated nanochannel inside the cantilevers supported by parallel rows of pillars. However, little is known about how the properties of these hollow cantilevers affect the most important parameters which directly scale the obtained spectroscopic data: the inverse optical lever sensitivity (InvOLS) and the spring constant (k). The precise determination of these parameters during calibration is essential in order to gain reliable, comparable and consistent results with SCFS. Demonstrated by our literature survey, the standard error of previously published SCFS results obtained with FluidFM ranges from 11.8% to 50%. The question arises whether this can be accounted for biological diversity or may be the consequence of improper calibration. Thus the aim of our work was to investigate the calibration accuracy of these parameters and their dependence on: (1) the aperture size (2, 4 and 8 µm) of the hollow micropipette type cantilever; (2) the position of the laser spot on the back of the cantilever; (3) the substrate used for calibration (silicon or polystyrene). It was found that both the obtained InvOLS and spring constant values depend significantly on the position of the laser spot. Apart from the theoretically expectable monotonous increase in InvOLS (from the tip to the base of the cantilever, as functions of the laser spot’s position), we discerned a well-defined and reproducible fluctuation, which can be as high as ±30%, regardless of the used aperture size or substrate. The calibration of spring constant also showed an error in the range of −13/+20%, measured at the first 40 µm of the cantilever. Based on our results a calibration strategy is proposed and the optimal laser position which yields the most reliable spring constant values was determined and found to be on the first pair of pillars. Our proposed method helps in reducing the error introduced via improper calibration and thus increases the reliability of subsequent cell adhesion force or elasticity measurements with FluidFM.
Identification and Characterization of Genetic Determinants of Isoniazid and Rifampicin Resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis in Southern India
Authors: Munir Asma , Kumar Narender , Ramalingam Suresh Babu , Tamilzhalagan Sembulingam , Shanmugam Siva Kumar , Palaniappan Alangudi Natarajan , Nair Dina , Priyadarshini Padma , Natarajan Mohan , Tripathy Srikanth , Ranganathan Uma Devi , Peacock Sharon J. , Parkhill Julian , Blundell Tom L. , Malhotra Sony
Published: July 2019

Drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB), one of the leading causes of death worldwide, arises mainly from spontaneous mutations in the genome of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. There is an urgent need to understand the mechanisms by which the mutations confer resistance in order to identify new drug targets and to design new drugs. Previous studies have reported numerous mutations that confer resistance to anti-TB drugs, but there has been little systematic analysis to understand their genetic background and the potential impacts on the drug target stability and/or interactions. Here, we report the analysis of whole-genome sequence data for 98 clinical M. tuberculosis isolates from a city in southern India. The collection was screened for phenotypic resistance and sequenced to mine the genetic mutations conferring resistance to isoniazid and rifampicin. The most frequent mutation among isoniazid and rifampicin isolates was S315T in katG and S450L in rpoB respectively. The impacts of mutations on protein stability, protein-protein interactions and protein-ligand interactions were analysed using both statistical and machine-learning approaches. Drug-resistant mutations were predicted not only to target active sites in an orthosteric manner, but also to act through allosteric mechanisms arising from distant sites, sometimes at the protein-protein interface.
Alcohol Consumption During Pregnancy and Risk of Placental Abnormality: The Japan Environment and Children’s Study
Authors: Ohira Satoshi , Motoki Noriko , Shibazaki Takumi , Misawa Yuka , Inaba Yuji , Kanai Makoto , Kurita Hiroshi , Shiozawa Tanri , Nakazawa Yozo , Tsukahara Teruomi , Nomiyama Tetsuo ,   The Japan Environment & Children’s Study (JECS) Group, Kawamoto Toshihiro , Saito Hirohisa , Kishi Reiko , Yaegashi Nobuo , Hashimoto Koichi , Mori Chisato , Ito Shuichi , Yamagata Zentaro , Inadera Hidekuni , Kamijima Michihiro , Nakayama Takeo , Iso Hiroyasu , Shima Masayuki , Hirooka Yasuaki , Suganuma Narufumi , Kusuhara Koichi , Katoh Takahiko
Published: July 2019

There have been no large nationwide birth cohort studies examining for the effects of maternal alcohol use during pregnancy on placental abnormality. This study searched for associations between alcohol consumption and the placental abnormalities of placenta previa, placental abruption, and placenta accreta using the fixed dataset of a large national birth cohort study commencing in 2011 that included 80,020 mothers with a singleton pregnancy. The presence of placental abnormalities and potential confounding factors were recorded, and multiple logistic regression analysis was employed to search for correlations between maternal alcohol consumption during pregnancy and placental abnormalities. The overall rate of prenatal drinking until the second/third trimester was 2.7% (2,112). The prevalence of placenta previa, placental abruption, and placenta accreta was 0.58% (467), 0.43% (342), and 0.20% (160), respectively. After controlling for potential confounding factors, maternal alcohol use during pregnancy was significantly associated with the development of placenta accreta (OR 3.10, 95%CI 1.69-5.44). In conclusion, this large nationwide survey revealed an association between maternal drinking during pregnancy and placenta accreta, which may lead to excessive bleeding during delivery.
Ultra-fast genome comparison for large-scale genomic experiments
Authors: Pérez-Wohlfeil Esteban , Diaz-del-Pino Sergio , Trelles Oswaldo
Published: July 2019

In the last decade, a technological shift in the bioinformatics field has occurred: larger genomes can now be sequenced quickly and cost effectively, resulting in the computational need to efficiently compare large and abundant sequences. Furthermore, detecting conserved similarities across large collections of genomes remains a problem. The size of chromosomes, along with the substantial amount of noise and number of repeats found in DNA sequences (particularly in mammals and plants), leads to a scenario where executing and waiting for complete outputs is both time and resource consuming. Filtering steps, manual examination and annotation, very long execution times and a high demand for computational resources represent a few of the many difficulties faced in large genome comparisons. In this work, we provide a method designed for comparisons of considerable amounts of very long sequences that employs a heuristic algorithm capable of separating noise and repeats from conserved fragments in pairwise genomic comparisons. We provide software implementation that computes in linear time using one core as a minimum and a small, constant memory footprint. The method produces both a previsualization of the comparison and a collection of indices to drastically reduce computational complexity when performing exhaustive comparisons. Last, the method scores the comparison to automate classification of sequences and produces a list of detected synteny blocks to enable new evolutionary studies.
Processing-Structure-Property Correlation Understanding of Microfibrillated Cellulose Based Dimensional Structures for Ferric Ions Removal
Authors: Karim Zoheb , Svedberg Anna , Lee Koon-Yang , Khan Mohd Jahir
Published: July 2019

In this research article, wood based microfibrillated cellulose (MFC) was studied to gain a better understanding of the process of dependent network formation. Networking potential and obtained properties of the produced dimensional structures could be controlled using opted processing routes. The fabricated dimensional structure, using freeze-drying (FD) is a highly open and porous network (98% porosity) compared to slightly tight, dense and less porous network produced after pressing at 200kN (96% porosity), followed by vacuum-filtered (VF) networks (33% porosity). The porosity (17%) was further decreased when the casting (CS) method was used, further producing a highly dense and compressed network. High water flux (180.8 ± 11 L/m2h) of pressed freeze-dried (PFD) followed by vacuum-filtered (VF) (11.4 ± 1.9 L/m2h) and casting CS (0.7 ± 0.01 L/m2h) were calculated using device. Furthermore, increased water flux (1.4 fold) of Experimental Paper Machine (XPM) based structures was reported in comparison with CS structures. Pore-sized distribution and surface area were measured using Hg porosimetry; they showed an average pore size of 16.5 μm for FD, followed by PFD (8.2 μm) structures. A 27-fold decrease in average pore-size was observed for CS structure in comparison with the FD structures. Highest tensile strength (87 ± 21 MPa) was recorded for CS structures, indicating a more highly compacted network formation compared to VF (82 ± 19 MPa) and PFD (1.6 ± 0.06 MPa). Furthermore, an attempt was made to upscale the VF structures using traditional paper making approach on XMP. Improved tensile strength (73 ± 11 MPa) in machine produced structures is due to alignment of fibers towards machine direction compared to cross directional (43 ± 9 MPa) fractured structures as shown in our Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) analysis. Surface functionalization of MFC using enzyme (hexokinase) was performed to increase the adsorption efficiency towards ferric ions removal. All fabricated structures were further evaluated for Fe(iii) removal and it was summarized that charge densities of functional groups, produced ζ-potential and networking potential were dominating influential factors for adsorption fluctuation of ferric ions.
Advanced method for fabrication of molecularly imprinted mesoporous organosilica with highly sensitive and selective recognition of glyphosate
Authors: Kim Youngdo , Lee Jaeho , Shin Ik-Soo
Published: July 2019

In this study, we synthesized molecularly imprinted mesoporous organosilica (MIMO) in the presence of a new precursor having a zwitterionic functional group and an imprint molecule, namely, glyphosate (MIMO-z). The precursor-glyphosate complex engaged in a typical base-catalyzed sol-gel reaction and the introduced zwitterion group remained intact in the framework after the extraction process had been completed. To test the rebinding performance of the target molecule, graphene quantum dots were encapsulated (MIMO-zQ) into pores and the fluorescence intensity change was monitored according to the concentration of glyphosate. When the MIMO-zQ suspension was diluted into the glyphosate solutions, notable fluorescence quenching occurred, right down to sub-nanomolar levels of concentration; 9.2 ± 0.18% quenching at 0.1 nM (0.017 ppb, 17 pg/mL). This result is one of the best reported to date for sensing using MIMO. The synthesized probe also exhibited a distinct signal compared to a series of competing compounds, aminomethylphosphonic acid and glycine; 4.3 ± 0.019% and 3.7 ± 0.041% quenching at 100 nM.
1300 nm absorption two-acceptor semiconducting polymer nanoparticles for NIR-II photoacoustic imaging system guided NIR-II photothermal therapy
Authors: Zhang Wansu , Sun Xiaoli , Huang Ting , Pan Xiaoxia , Sun Pengfei , Li Jiewei , Zhang Hua , Lu Xiaomei , Fan Quli , Huang Wei
Published: July 2019

1300 nm absorption SPNs were designed to realize in vivo NIR-II PTT treatment guided by commercial NIR-II PAI systems.
Design and synthesis of capped-paddlewheel-based porous coordination cages
Authors: Lorzing Gregory R. , Gosselin Aeri J. , Lindner Brian S. , Bhattacharjee Rameswar , Yap Glenn P. A. , Caratzoulas Stavros , Bloch Eric D.
Published: July 2019

A novel cluster capping strategy is employed to leverage the structural diversity of metal–organic cages toward the isolation of porous cages.
Chain length variation to probe the mechanism of accelerator additives in copper electrodeposition
Authors: Schmitt Kevin G. , Schmidt Ralf , Gaida Josef , Gewirth Andrew A.
Published: July 2019

We evaluate the effect of chain length for a series of alkyl sulfonic acid additives on Cu electrodeposition by using a combination of electrochemical and Raman spectroscopic methods.
Synthesis and photophysical, thermal and antimycobacterial properties of novel 6-amino-2-alkyl(aryl/heteroaryl)-4-(trifluoromethyl) quinolines
Authors: Kappenberg Yuri G. , Ketzer Alex , Stefanello Felipe S. , Salbego Paulo R. S. , Acunha Thiago V. , Abbadi Bruno L. , Bizarro Cristiano V. , Basso Luiz A. , Machado Pablo , Martins Marcos A. P. , Zanatta Nilo , Iglesias Bernardo A. , Bonacorso Helio G.
Published: July 2019

Novel 2-aryl(heteroaryl)-6-amino-4-(trifluoromethyl)quinoline scaffolds with promising photophysical, thermal and antimycobacterial properties are reported.
Exploring the effects of axial halogen substitutions of boron subphthalocyanines on the performance of BsubPC/C60 organic solar cells: a DFT/TDDFT-based computational study
Authors: Li Guo , Zheng Shaohui
Published: July 2019

A systematic study on the effects of axial halogen substitutions of Cl atom on the optical and physical properties of subphthalocyanine/C60 solar cells by combining a DFT/TDDFT study and available experimental data.
Shape-dependent structural and magnetic properties of Fe nanoparticles studied through simulation methods
Authors: Essajai Rida , Benhouria Younes , Rachadi Abdeljalil , Qjani Mbarek , Mzerd Ahmed , Hassanain Najem
Published: July 2019

The shape effect of iron nanoparticles (FeNPs) on structural and magnetic properties was investigated on the basis of a combination of Molecular Statics (MS) and Monte Carlo (MC) simulations.
Effect of nitrogen co-doping with ruthenium on the catalytic performance of Ba/Ru–N-MC catalysts for ammonia synthesis
Authors: Ma Yongcheng , Lan Guojun , Wang Xiaolong , Zhang Geshan , Han Wenfeng , Tang Haodong , Liu Huazhang , Li Ying
Published: July 2019

A highly active and stable mesoporous Ba/Ru–N-MC catalyst for ammonia synthesis was prepared by an in situ thermal carbonization method with nitrogen co-doping with ruthenium NPs.
The evaluation of a methane autothermal chemical looping reforming experiment based on exergy analysis
Authors: Zhang Fan , Zhu Lin , Rao Dong
Published: July 2019

Compared with a double circulation fluidized bed, an internally circulating reactor (ICR) has a wider pressure range, thereby increasing the conversion efficiency of methane and reducing the cost.
Increased power conversion efficiency of dye-sensitized solar cells with counter electrodes based on carbon materials
Authors: Zhang Shihan , Jin Jingsha , Li Dan , Fu Zhiqiang , Gao Shufang , Cheng Shubo , Yu Xiangxiang , Xiong Yan
Published: July 2019

The good catalytic activity, resistance to iodine corrosion, and stability of carbon materials make them ideally suited for the fabrication of counter electrodes used in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs).
Outage performance of backscatter NOMA relaying systems equipping with multiple antennas
Authors: Le Chi‐Bao , Do Dinh‐Thuan
Published: July 2019

Non‐orthogonal multiple access (NOMA) and ambient backscatter communication are two promising techniques recommended for the fifth generation wireless network. This work combines these approaches to propose a backscatter NOMA system, which incorporates a backscatter device together with a downlink NOMA. Such NOMA employs the base station equipped with multiple antennas. To evaluate the performance of backscatter NOMA, the expressions of the outage probabilities are derived. Finally, the numerical results are provided to verify the theoretical analysis.
New BSS‐based ABF for heterogeneous ionospheric clutter mitigation in HFSWR
Authors: Guo Yueyu , Wei Yinsheng , Xu Rongqing , Yu Lei
Published: July 2019

Ionospheric clutter is detrimental to target detection in high‐frequency surface‐wave radar (HFSWR). Adaptive beamforming (ABF) has been adopted to suppress the ionospheric clutter in recent years. Unfortunately, the performance of ABF degrades due to the heterogeneity of the ionospheric clutter. In this study, a new approach is proposed to suppress the ionospheric clutter. A novel heterogeneous ionospheric clutter model based on the mixture of mutually independent ionospheric clutter sources is established. The blind source separation (BSS) approach is used to separate the clutter sources first. Then the separated components are exploited to estimate the spatial covariance matrix (SCM) of the cell under test. The SCM estimation based on BSS is more accurate than the classical sample matrix inversion method under the heterogeneous ionospheric clutter. Therefore, the ABF performance improves due to the better SCM estimation. The simulation and real data results demonstrated the effectiveness of the new BSS‐based ABF method in HFSWR. The signal‐to‐clutter‐plus‐noise ratio of the new method improved compared with the traditional ABF based on the SMI method. The new method can help to detect targets under the heterogeneous ionospheric clutter. It may also be a promising methodology in other ABF applications.
Very high-energy constraints on the infrared extragalactic background light
Authors: Franceschini A. , Foffano L. , Prandini E. , Tavecchio F.
Published: July 2019

Context. Measurements of the extragalactic background light (EBL) are a fundamental source of information on the collective emission of cosmic sources.

Aims. At infrared wavelengths, however, these measurements are precluded by the overwhelming dominance from interplanetary dust emission and the Galactic infrared foreground. Only at λ >  300 μm, where the foregrounds are minimal, has the infrared EBL (IR EBL) been inferred from analysis of the COBE maps. The present paper aims to assess the possibility of evaluating the IR EBL from a few micrometers up to the peak of the emission at > 100 μm using an indirect method that avoids the foreground problem.

Methods. To this purpose we exploit the effect of pair-production from gamma-gamma interaction by considering the highest-energy photons emitted by extragalactic sources and their interaction with the IR EBL photons. We simulate observations of a variety of low-redshift emitters with the forthcoming Imaging Atmospheric Cherenkov Telescope (IACT) arrays (CTA in particular) and water Cherenkov observatories (LHAASO, HAWC, SWGO) to assess their suitability to constrain the EBL at such long wavelengths.

Results. We find that even under the most extremely favorable conditions of huge emission flares, extremely high-energy emitting blazars are not very useful for our purpose because they are much too distant (> 100 Mpc the nearest ones, MKN 501 and MKN 421). Observations of more local AGNs displaying very high-energy emission, like low-redshift radio galaxies (M 87, IC 310, Centaurus A), are better suited and will potentially allow us to constrain the EBL up to λ ≃ 100 μm.
Metric sub-regularity in optimal control of affine problems with free end state
Authors: Osmolovskii N.P. , Veliov V.M.
Published: July 2019

The paper investigates the property of Strong Metric sub-Regularity (SMsR) of the mapping representing the first order optimality system for a Lagrange-type optimal control problem which is affine with respect to the control. The terminal time is fixed, the terminal state is free, and the control values are restricted in a convex compact set U. The SMsR property is associated with a reference solution of the optimality system and ensures that small additive perturbations in the system result in solutions which are at distance to the reference one, at most proportional to the size of the perturbations. A general sufficient condition for SMsR is obtained for appropriate space settings and then specialized in the case of a polyhedral set U and purely bang-bang reference control. Sufficient second-order optimality conditions are obtained as a by-product of the analysis. Finally, the obtained results are utilized for error analysis of the Euler discretization scheme applied to affine problems.
Twitter®, un outil de formation médicale continue ?
Authors: Chouchana Laurent , Auffret Marine , Geniaux Hélène
Published: July 2019

Contexte et problématique : La formation médicale continue sur le médicament constitue, à l’heure actuelle, un vrai challenge, notamment dans le contexte de l’avènement des réseaux sociaux, et plus particulièrement de Twitter®, qui ont révolutionné l’accès à l’information. Exégèse : Le compte Twitter® @Reseau_CRPV a été créé par le Réseau français des centres régionaux de pharmacovigilance (RFCRPV) regroupant l’ensemble des 31 centres régionaux de pharmacovigilance (CRPV) en France et dont une des missions est l’information sur le médicament. Outre la diffusion d’information des agences officielles et une veille bibliographique, ce compte propose tous les vendredis un questionnaire à réponse unique (le #PharmacoQuiz), en lien avec les médicaments, et comportant quatre propositions. Les thématiques abordées sont vastes, des effets indésirables au bon usage des médicaments en passant par l’addictovigilance. La difficulté des quiz est établie grâce à un système de gradation par étoiles. La réponse détaillée est publiée le lundi suivant, associée à la diffusion d’informations provenant de la littérature scientifique en référence au quiz. Comme tout tweet, c’est également l’occasion pour la communauté scientifique d’échanger et de débattre sur une problématique spécifique liée au médicament. Par rapport aux méthodes traditionnelles de diffusion d’information ou d’enseignement, les médias sociaux offrent une flexibilité importante et facilitent les interactions entre celui qui diffuse l’information et les pairs ou étudiants. Conclusion : Le #PharmacoQuiz constitue le premier exemple français d’évaluation des connaissances dans le domaine de la pharmacologie via un réseau social. C’est un outil novateur et ludique de formation médicale continue qui contribue pleinement aux missions de formation et d’information des CRPV.
Bauchlagerung bei Beatmung – Schritt für Schritt
Authors: Vogt Tobias Bertram , Sensen Barbara , Kluge Stefan
Published: July 2019

The Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome is still a very severe condition in intensive care patients. Prone positioning is known to improve outcome in patients with moderate to severe ARDS. Therefore proning in these patients is nowadays to be regarded as a standard of care. The risks of proning are reasonably low – if proning is done correctly. Therefore a method of proning in a step-by-step-approach is shown in this article.
Chronische Rückenschmerzen, zervikothorakale Myeolopathie und Gewichtsverlust – ein Fallbericht über eine IgG4-assoziierte Erkrankung
Authors: Kiefer David , Kiltz Uta , Braun Jürgen
Published: July 2019

Anamnese Eine 68-jährige Patientin wurde mit seit 6 Monaten bestehender Verschlechterung des Allgemeinzustandes, Rückenschmerzen, 20 kg Gewichtsverlust sowie akuten Paresen der Hände aufgenommen.

Untersuchungen und Diagnose Es zeigten sich beidseitige Paresen der Hand- und Fingermuskulatur mit Nachweis entsprechender motorischer Defizite im EMG. Die MRT zeigte eine intraspinale Raumforderung mit Myelonkompression in HWS und BWS. Das Biopsat einer Hemilaminektomie bei HWK 7 zeigte IgG4-positive Plasmazellen, und eine IgG4-assoziierte Erkrankung (IgG4-RD) mit spinalem Pseudotumor wurde diagnostiziert.

Therapie und Verlauf Nach Einleitung einer Therapie mit hochdosierten Glukokortikoiden (GC) und einer Cyclophosphamidpulstherapie verbesserte sich der Allgemeinzustand und die motorischen Defizite der Patientin erheblich.

Folgerung Das ZNS ist eine seltene Manifestation der IgG4-RD. Typischerweise entsteht dabei eine verdrängend wachsende Raumforderung, die in der MRT oder im PET-CT gut dargestellt werden kann und die klinisch meist mit Schmerzen und neurologischen Defiziten imponiert und eine charakteristische Histologie zeigen kann. Initial hochdosierte GC und eine darüber hinausgehende immunsuppressive Therapie führen in der Regel zu gutem klinischen Erfolg.
Unverträglichkeitsreaktionen auf Pflanzen
Authors: Esser P. R. , Müller S. , Martin S. F.
Published: July 2019

In diesem Artikel beschreiben wir den Fallbericht eines Gärtners mit allergischer Reaktion auf Pflanzeninhaltsstoffe, gehen kurz auf die unterschiedlichen Formen der Kontaktdermatitis (photo-/irritative/allergische) ein und bieten zudem eine Literaturübersicht über kürzlich erschienene Publikationen zum Thema pflanzenvermittelte Kontaktdermatitis.
Review of Dancing Parasites in Lymphatic Filariasis
Authors: Dietrich Christoph F. , Chaubal Nitin , Hoerauf Achim , Kling Kerstin , Piontek Markus Schindler , Steffgen Ludwig , Mand Sabine , Dong Yi
Published: July 2019

Lymphatic filariasis is an infection transmitted by blood-sucking mosquitoes with filarial nematodes of the species Wuchereria bancrofti, Brugia malayi und B. timori. It is prevalent in tropical countries throughout the world, with more than 60 million people infected and more than 1 billion living in areas with the risk of transmission. Worm larvae with a length of less than 1 mm are transmitted by mosquitoes, develop in human lymphatic tissue to adult worms with a length of 7–10 cm, live in the human body for up to 10 years and produce millions of microfilariae, which can be transmitted further by mosquitoes. The adult worms can be easily observed by ultrasonography because of their size and fast movements (the so-called “filarial dance sign”), which can be differentiated from other movements (e. g., blood in venous vessels) by their characteristic movement profile in pulsed-wave Doppler mode. Therapeutic options include (combinations of) ivermectin, albendazole, diethylcarbamazine and doxycycline. The latter depletes endosymbiotic Wolbachia bacteria from the worms and thus sterilizes and later kills the adult worms (macrofilaricidal or adulticidal effect).
Die Duplexsonografie in der Diagnostik der Riesenzellarteriitis
Authors: Löffler Christian , Hellmich Bernhard
Published: July 2019

Aufgrund ihrer hohen Inzidenz und des hohen Risikos für Erblindung und Apoplexie muss die Diagnose einer Riesenzellarteriitis rasch gestellt werden. Bei entsprechender klinischer Konstellation mit temporalen Kopfschmerzen, Kauclaudicatio, plötzlichem Visusverlust, Polymyalgia-rheumatica-Symptomatik und konstitutionellen Symptomen ist es mithilfe der Duplexsonografie in der Regel möglich, die Erkrankung zu diagnostizieren. Typische sonografische Befunde als Ausdruck der Gefäßwandinflammation sind echoarme Intima-Media-Verdickungen, Haloformationen, ein positives Kompressionszeichen sowie Stenosen und Vasookklusionen. Dabei kann die Duplexsonografie in geübten Händen hinsichtlich Sensitivität und Spezifität problemlos mit der Temporalisbiopsie, PET/CT und MRT konkurrieren. Mit der vorliegenden Arbeit möchten wir die aktuelle Datenlage zur Duplexsonografie darlegen und praktische Hinweise für die Anwendung im Alltag liefern.
Challenges of Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation during Pregnancy
Authors: Durga Padmaja , Padhy Shibani , Bardaa Anupama
Published: July 2019

Cardiac arrest, though rare, is the most feared complication in the pregnant woman as it involves two lives. Most arrests occur because of conditions that result from the pregnancy itself or from preexisting medical conditions exacerbated by the pregnancy. Prompt resuscitative efforts are crucial for favorable outcomes for the mother and fetus. The basic principles of resuscitation during pregnancy such as airway, breathing, and circulation are similar to the resuscitation in a cardiopulmonary arrest in any patient; however, certain modifications are necessary to account for the physiologic changes that occur during the pregnancy. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) of the parturient should include uterine tilt or displacement to relieve the compression of the inferior vena cava and aorta by the gravid uterus, intubation using rapid sequence intubation with cricoid pressure, and timely perimortem cesarean section (PMCS). Ideally, the PMCS must be performed within 5 minutes of cardiac arrest if the pregnant woman does not have a return of spontaneous circulation, and resuscitation is deemed unsuccessful. The PMCS is performed if the gestational age is at least 20 weeks or the gravid uterus is evident. A high-quality CPR and multispecialty team approach, consisting of obstetricians, cardiologists, anesthesiologists, neonatologists, and nursing staff, is essential for survival.
Stress Diastolic Function for Assessment of Coronary Artery Disease
Authors: Murki Naveen Kumar , Kala Jeethender Kumar Jain , Mamidi Mythri
Published: July 2019

Introduction Prevalence of coronary artery disease (CAD) has increased to alarming levels globally. There is a significant improvement in the noninvasive modalities for the early CAD detection by costly investigations such as computed tomographic (CT) coronary angiogram. The authors want to see the efficacy of adding pulse and tissue Doppler parameters, which is a cheaper modality, to the TMT (treadmill test) stress testing, for the detection of CAD.

Materials and Methods The authors have recruited 51 patients, who were referred for TMT for detection of inducible ischemia. Mean age of the patients was 51.9 years. Patients with renal failure, rhythm disturbances, and hypertension more than stage 1 were excluded. Along with the TMT, basal and exercise pulse wave and tissue Doppler parameters were recorded. These echocardiogram parameters were compared with presence and absence of CAD, along with the severity of CAD (SVD [single-vessel disease], DVD [double-vessel disease], and TVD [triple-vessel disease]) on a conventional coronary angiogram (CAG).

There was no statistical difference between basal and after TMT in pulse wave diastolic parameters (basal E-wave velocities: 0.76 ± 0.18 vs. 0.88 ± 0.22, p = 0.29: after TMT: 1.03 ± 0.22 vs. 1.12 ± 0.21, p = 0.29) for detection of CAD on CAG. However, most tissue Doppler velocities were significantly different both in basal and after TMT in CAD group when compared with no-CAD group (S′ septal, basal, and after TMT, p = 0.002, E′ septal, basal, and after TMT, p = 0.0015, A′ septal, basal, and after TMT, p = 0.0195, S′ lateral, basal, and after TMT, p = 0.0018, E′ lateral, basal, and after TMT, p = 0.0016, S′ Inferior, basal, and after TMT, p = 0.0036, A′ inferior, basal, and after TMT, p = 0.023). Average E/E′ after TMT for DVD was 12.29 ± 2.09 (vs. no-CAD 10.70 ± 2.00) and for TVD it was 12.2 ± 2.19 (vs. no-CAD 10.69 ± 2.1), which were statistically significantly higher than no-CAD (p = 0.02, p = 0.02).

Conclusion Tissue Doppler velocities of different left ventricular (LV) walls (S′, E′, A′ of septal; S′, E′, of lateral; S′, A′ of inferior) in CAD at basal and after TMT were different from the no-CAD group, which were statistically different. Ratios such as E/E′, E/A′ of septal, lateral, and inferior, after TMT were useful for the detection of not only the presence of CAD but also for the severity of the CAD (for DVD: 12.29 ± 2.09 vs. 10.70 ± 2.00, p = 0.023; TVD: 12.2 ± 2.19 vs. 10.69 ± 2.1, p = 0.023). In conclusion, diastolic stress evaluation is useful to predict the occurrence of CAD and its severity.
Post-Traumatic Septic Bone Sequestration in Three Dogs
Authors: Hayes Graham , Harris Karen , Langley-Hobbs Sorrel
Published: July 2019

Formation of discreet bony sequestra is reported in three dogs presenting with post-traumatic osteomyelitis with no previous history of orthopaedic surgery. Two cases had a presumed or confirmed history of dog bites, while the third case had a fracture treated conservatively. All three were treated with surgical debridement and sequestrectomy with good outcome.
Blood Lead Level of Children and its Trend in Mitrovica, Kosova
Authors: Shabani Driton , Murtezani Ardiana , Tahirbegolli Bernard , Bozalija Adnan , Alili-Idrizi Edita , Ibraimi Zana
Published: July 2019

Environmental exposure to lead is considered to be one of the most important hazards to the health of children. Most commonly exposed are those who are poor and live in developing countries. The environmental lead pollution problem in the Roma Mahala neighborhood of Mitrovica was discovered through the appearance of high blood lead levels (BLLs) in children living there. The aim of our study was to investigate the BLLs in children according to gender, age, and area of residence. This study describes the results from a 7-year retrospective study (January 2010–April 2017) based on BLLs conducted on children aged 0 to 13 years living in all three districts of Mitrovica. The survey included 331 children. Blood lead analysis was performed in the laboratory using capillary and venipuncture samples tested by anodic stripping voltammetry using LeadCare II machines. Mean BLLs were the highest in the Roma Mahala with 23.6 mg/dL (standard deviation ± 15.9 µg/dL). We obtained a statistical significance (p < 0.0001) between BLLs according to the settlements. The mean BLLs was higher in the 3 to 4 years aged children group in comparison with other age groups (p = 0.009). In none of the age groups with the Mann–Whitney test we obtained a significant gender difference on BLL (p > 0.05). Lead poisoning levels continue to be a serious problem among children living in Mitrovica over the past several years due to heavy lead pollution. All children from this region should receive environmental evaluations and medical examinations.
Brillouin optomechanics in nanophotonic structures
Authors: Wiederhecker Gustavo S. , Dainese Paulo , Mayer Alegre Thiago P.
Published: July 2019

The interaction between light and mesoscopic mechanical degrees of freedom has been investigated under various perspectives, from spectroscopy in condensed matter, optical tweezer particle trapping, and long-haul optical fiber communication system penalties to gravitational-wave detector noise. In the context of integrated photonics, two topics with dissimilar origins—cavity optomechanics and guided wave Brillouin scattering—are rooted in the manipulation and control of the energy exchange between trapped light and mechanical modes. In this tutorial, we explore the impact of optical and mechanical subwavelength confinement on the interaction among these waves, coined as Brillouin optomechanics. At this spatial scale, optical and mechanical fields are fully vectorial and the common intuition that more intense fields lead to stronger interaction may fail. Here, we provide a thorough discussion on how the two major physical effects responsible for the Brillouin interaction—photoelastic and moving-boundary effects—interplay to foster exciting possibilities in this field. In order to stimulate beginners into this growing research field, this tutorial is accompanied by all the discussed simulation material based on a widespread commercial finite-element solver.
Measurement of asymmetric electron cloud in cluster nano-plasma
Authors: Sarkar Soubhik , Gopal R. , Kundu M. , Gope Krishnendu , Anand M. , Krishnamurthy M.
Published: July 2019

A nanocluster ionized by a femtosecond pulse of wavelength larger than the cluster size is known to set up an electron cloud that oscillates with respect to the ion cloud. Most theoretical frameworks on understanding cluster ionization are built on this dipole oscillation model. Here, we probe this dipole by pump-probe absorption spectroscopy. A linearly polarized pump pulse sets up the dipole and the polarization of the probe pulse that comes after a prescribed time is varied, and the differential changes in the absorption are measured. The polarization dependence of the probe pulse absorption gives a direct measure of the asymmetry and ellipticity in the dielectric permittivity. Our results show that orthogonally polarized pump-probe pulses absorb about 18% less compared to the parallel case at the peak of the linear plasma resonance. A dipole excitation model compared to the experimental observations is used to decipher the asymmetry in the transient electron cloud.