bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Glucose, adrenaline and palmitate antagonistically regulate insulin and glucagon secretion in human pseudoislets
Authors: Lorza-Gil Estela , Gerst Felicia , Oquendo Morgana Barroso , Deschl Ulrich , Häring Hans-Ulrich , Beilmann Mario , Ullrich Susanne
Published: July 2019

Isolated human islets do not always meet the quality standards required for transplant survival and reliable functional in vitro studies. The formation of pseudoislets, i.e. the reaggregation of a defined number of islet cells after dissociation, improves insulin secretion. We present a simple method of pseudoislet formation from human islet cells and assess the transcriptome and function of isolated human islets and pseudoislets from the same organ donors. Following pseudoislet formation, insulin content/DNA and mRNA/RPS13 resembled that of islets. In pseudoislets, glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS) was significantly higher (8–13-fold) than in islets (2–4-fold). GSIS of pseudoislets was partly inhibited by the glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1R) antagonist exendin-9. The stimulatory effects of palmitate and forskolin at 12 mM glucose were also significantly higher in pseudoislets than in islets. Further analysis of pseudoislets revealed that regulation of secretion and insulin and glucagon content was maintained over a longer culture period (6–14 d). While adrenaline inhibited GSIS, adrenaline together with palmitate stimulated glucagon secretion 2-fold at low glucose, an effect suppressed by high glucose. Transcriptome analysis revealed that, unlike islets, pseudoislets were deprived of exocrine and endothelial cells. In conclusion, pseudoislet formation restores functional integrity of human islet cells and allows long-term in vitro testing.
New perspectives for simultaneous attraction of Chrysoperla and Chrysopa lacewing species for enhanced biological control (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae)
Authors: Koczor Sándor , Szentkirályi Ferenc , Tóth Miklós
Published: July 2019

Green lacewings (Chrysopidae) are important predators of many soft-bodied pest insects, for instance aphids. Previous studies reported attraction of Chrysoperla carnea species-complex to a ternary floral bait. The larvae of these lacewings are important generalist predators in agroecosystems, however adults are non-predatory, they feed on pollen, nectar or honeydew. Squalene, a plant originated compound was previously reported to be attractive to the nearctic Chrysopa nigricornis. In the current study squalene was tested alone and in combination with the ternary bait in field experiments in Hungary. In our experiments, traps baited with squalene attracted predatory males of Chrysopa formosa. Traps baited with squalene and the ternary floral bait attracted adults of both C. formosa and C. carnea complex lacewings. To our knowledge this is the first report of a bait combination attractive to both Chrysoperla and Chrysopa species. This finding is of special interest considering the remarkably different feeding habits of the adults of these lacewings. Potential perspectives in biological control are discussed.
Presence of Histatin-1 in Human Tears and Association with Aqueous Deficient Dry Eye Diagnosis: A Preliminary Study
Authors: Kalmodia Sushma , Son Kyung-No , Cao Dingcai , Lee Bao-Shiang , Surenkhuu Bayasgalan , Shah Dhara , Ali Marwan , Balasubramaniam Arun , Jain Sandeep , Aakalu Vinay Kumar
Published: July 2019

The aims of this study were to determine if histatin-1 (H1) is present in normal human tears and whether tear levels of H1 varied between normal patients and those with aqueous deficient dry eye disease (ADDE). Patient samples were obtained from 11 normal patients and 11 severe ADDE patients. Relevant patient characteristics, including age, sex, and dry eye disease (DED) diagnostic parameters were collected. Multiple qualitative and quantitative methods were used to compare the concentration of H1 between patient groups. Mixed linear modeling was used to compare H1 levels between groups, and diagnostic performance was assessed using the receiver-operator-characteristic (ROC). ADDE patients had significantly lower H1 concentrations (85.9 ± 63.7 ng/ml) than the normal group (891.6 ± 196.5 ng/ml) (p < 0.001), while controlling for age and sex. ROC analysis indicated that H1 concentration is potentially a biomarker for ADDE (area under curve = 0.96). Reclassification of patients by DED parameters including, Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) (≤13, >13) and Schirmer I (without anesthesia) (<10 mm, ≥10 mm) showed significant differences in H1 level (OSDI, p = 0.004) and Schirmer I ((p = 0.010). In conclusion, this is the first preliminary report of the presence of H1 in human tears. H1 concentrations are lower in ADDE patients and H1 may have diagnostic potential in evaluation ADDE patients.
Lithium and GADL1 regulate glycogen synthase kinase-3 activity to modulate KCTD12 expression
Authors: Wu Tai-Na , Chen Chih-Ken , Lee Chau-Shoun , Wu Bo-Jian , Sun Hsiao-Ju , Chang Chieh-Hsing , Chen Chun-Ying , Wu Lawrence Shih-Hsin , Cheng Andrew Tai-Ann
Published: July 2019

Potassium channel tetramerization domain containing 12 (KCTD12), the auxiliary GABAB receptor subunit, is identified as a susceptibility gene for bipolar I (BPI) disorder in the Han Chinese population. Moreover, the single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs17026688 in glutamate decarboxylase–like protein 1 (GADL1) is shown to be associated with lithium response in Han Chinese BPI patients. In this study, we demonstrated for the first time the relationship among lithium, GADL1, and KCTD12. In circulating CD11b+ macrophage cells, BPI patients showed a significantly higher percentage of KCTD12 expression than healthy controls. Among BPI patients, carriers of the ‘T’ allele (i.e., CT or TT) at site rs17026688 were found to secrete lower amounts of GADL1 but higher amounts of GABA b receptor 2 (GABBR2) in the plasma. In human SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells, lithium treatment increased the percentage of KCTD12 expression. Through inhibition of glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3), lithium induced cyclic AMP-response element binding protein (CREB)–mediated KCTD12 promoter activation. On the other hand, GADL1 overexpression enhanced GSK-3 activation and inhibited KCTD12 expression. We found that lithium induced, whereas GADL1 inhibited, KCTD12 expression. These findings suggested that KCTD12 may be an important gene with respect to neuron excitability and lithium response in BPI patients. Therefore, targeting GSK-3 activity and/or KCTD12 expression may constitute a possible therapeutic strategy for treating patients with BPI disorder.
Ge nanoparticles in SiO2 for near infrared photodetectors with high performance
Authors: Stavarache Ionel , Teodorescu Valentin Serban , Prepelita Petronela , Logofatu Constantin , Ciurea Magdalena Lidia
Published: July 2019

In this work we prepared films of amorphous germanium nanoparticles embedded in SiO2 deposited by magnetron sputtering on Si and quartz heated substrates at 300, 400 and 500 °C. Structure, morphology, optical, electrical and photoconduction properties of all films were investigated. The Ge concentration in the depth of the films is strongly dependent on the deposition temperature. In the films deposited at 300 °C, the Ge content is constant in the depth, while films deposited at 500 °C show a significant decrease of Ge content from interface of the film with substrate towards the film free surface. From the absorption curves we obtained the Ge band gap of 1.39 eV for 300 °C deposited films and 1.44 eV for the films deposited at 500 °C. The photocurrents are higher with more than one order of magnitude than the dark ones. The photocurrent spectra present different cutoff wavelengths depending on the deposition temperature, i.e. 1325 nm for 300 °C and 1267 nm for 500 °C. These films present good responsivities of 2.42 AW−1 (52 μW incident power) at 300 °C and 0.69 AW−1 (57 mW) at 500 °C and high internal quantum efficiency of ∼445% for 300 °C and ∼118% for 500 °C.
Uncovering bacterial and functional diversity in macroinvertebrate mitochondrial-metagenomic datasets by differential centrifugation
Authors: Macher Jan-Niklas , Speksnijder Arjen , Choo Le Qin , van der Hoorn Berry , Renema Willem
Published: July 2019

PCR-free techniques such as meta-mitogenomics (MMG) can recover taxonomic composition of macroinvertebrate communities, but suffer from low efficiency, as >90% of sequencing data is mostly uninformative due to the great abundance of nuclear DNA that cannot be identified with current reference databases. Current MMG studies do not routinely check data for information on macroinvertebrate-associated bacteria and gene functions. However, this could greatly increase the efficiency of MMG studies by revealing yet overlooked diversity within ecosystems and making currently unused data available for ecological studies. By analysing six ‘mock’ communities, each containing three macroinvertebrate taxa, we tested whether this additional data on bacterial taxa and functional potential of communities can be extracted from MMG datasets. Further, we tested whether differential centrifugation, which is known to greatly increase efficiency of macroinvertebrate MMG studies by enriching for mitochondria, impacts on the inferred bacterial community composition. Our results show that macroinvertebrate MMG datasets contain a high number of mostly endosymbiont bacterial taxa and associated gene functions. Centrifugation reduced both the absolute and relative abundance of highly abundant Gammaproteobacteria, thereby facilitating detection of rare taxa and functions. When analysing both taxa and gene functions, the number of features obtained from the MMG dataset increased 31-fold (‘enriched’) respectively 234-fold (‘not enriched’). We conclude that analysing MMG datasets for bacteria and gene functions greatly increases the amount of information available and facilitates the use of shotgun metagenomic techniques for future studies on biodiversity.
Regulatory mechanisms leading to differential Acyl-CoA synthetase 4 expression in breast cancer cells
Authors: Dattilo Melina A. , Benzo Yanina , Herrera Lucía M. , Prada Jesica G. , Castillo Ana F. , Orlando Ulises D. , Podesta Ernesto J. , Maloberti Paula M.
Published: July 2019

Acyl-CoA synthetase 4 (ACSL4) overexpression plays a causal role in the aggressiveness of triple negative breast cancer. In turn, a negative correlation has been established between ACSL4 and estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) expression. However, the upstream regulatory mechanisms leading to differential ACSL4 expression between triple negative breast cancer and ERα-positive cells remained unknown. We performed the characterization of the human ACSL4 promoter and the identification of transcription factors involved. Deletional analysis demonstrated the proximal 43 base pairs of the promoter are involved in overexpression. By site directed mutagenesis we describe that retinoid-related orphan receptor alpha (RORα), Sp1 and E2F elements are involved in the promoter activity. We established for the first time that estrogen-related receptor alpha (ERRα) is a transcription factor involved in the higher activation of the human ACSL4 promoter in breast cancer cells. Furthermore, a combination of inhibitors of ACSL4 and ERRα produced a synergistic decrease in MDA-MB-231 cell proliferation. We also demonstrated that ERα restoration in triple negative breast cancer cells downregulates ACSL4 expression. The results presented in this manuscript demonstrated transcriptional mechanism is involved in the different expression of ACSL4 in human breast cancer cell lines of different aggressiveness.
Four- and five-coordinate aluminum complexes supported by N,O-bidentate β-pyrazylenolate ligands: synthesis, structure and application in ROP of ε-caprolactone and lactide
Authors: Qin Lu , Zhang Yue , Chao Jianbin , Cheng Jianhua , Chen Xia
Published: July 2019

Two series of alkyl aluminum complexes LAlMe2 and L2AlMe supported by N,O-bidentate β-pyrazylenolate ligands have been synthesized and applied to the ROP of ε-CL and rac-LA.
Controlled gelatinization of potato parenchyma cells under excess water condition: structural and in vitro digestion properties of starch
Authors: Ding Li , Huang Qiang , Li Haiteng , Wang Zhigang , Fu Xiong , Zhang Bin
Published: July 2019

The starch digestion rate and extent of potato-based food were modulated through controlled gelatinization.
Controlling magnetic coupling in bi-magnetic nanocomposites
Authors: Sayed F. , Muscas G. , Jovanovic S. , Barucca G. , Locardi F. , Varvaro G. , Peddis D. , Mathieu R. , Sarkar T.
Published: July 2019

Correlation between synthesis technique, resulting in different levels of particle agglomeration at the microscopic scale, and magnetic coupling in nanocomposites.
An organocatalytic method for constructing pyrroles via the cycloisomerisation of Z-1-iodo-4-N-methylbenzenesulfonyl-1,6-enynes
Authors: Meng Long , Chi Xiaochen , Sun Xi , Cao Chengqiang , Ai Bing , Liu Qing , Zhao Pingping , Zhao Zengdian , Dong Yunhui , Liu Hui
Published: July 2019

A new cycloisomerisation of Z-1-iodo-4-N-methylbenzenesulfonyl-1,6-enynes to functionalized pyrroles was realized in the presence of an organomolecule (4,4′-bis(1,1-dimethylethyl)-2,2′-bipyridine) and KOtBu.
Influence of an ester directing-group on defect formation in the synthesis of conjugated polymers via direct arylation polymerization (DArP) using sustainable solvents
Authors: Pankow Robert M. , Ye Liwei , Thompson Barry C.
Published: July 2019

We report the application of green solvents in DArP and the structure-dependent β-defect formation due to an ester directing group.
Investigation of SCO property–structural relationships in a family of mononuclear Fe(ii) complexes
Authors: Chen Xiu-Qin , Cai You-De , Ye Yi-Shan , Tong Ming-Liang , Bao Xin
Published: July 2019

Six complexes with the formula [FeL(NCE)2] (E = S, Se, BH3) have been reported. A survey of the magneto-structural relationship has been conducted.
Retraction: Fabrication of hollow CoS1.097 prisms toward supercapactior performance
Authors: Zhang Ruili , Yang Yuntao , Yang Ping
Published: July 2019

Retraction of ‘Fabrication of hollow CoS1.097 prisms toward supercapactior performance’ by Ruili Zhang et al., RSC Adv., 2019, 9, 10814–10819.
Fluoro-electrochemical microscopy reveals group specific differential susceptibility of phytoplankton towards oxidative damage
Authors: Yang Minjun , Batchelor-McAuley Christopher , Chen Lifu , Guo Yanjun , Zhang Qiong , Rickaby Rosalind E. M. , Bouman Heather A. , Compton Richard G.
Published: July 2019

In the vicinity of an electrode creating a highly oxidising environment the fluorescence – arising from the presence of chlorophyll-a – of single cellular phytoplankton becomes inhibited.
Triazatruxene-based thermally activated delayed fluorescence small molecules with aggregation-induced emission properties for solution-processable nondoped OLEDs with low efficiency roll-off
Authors: Liu Yang , Wu Xiaofu , Chen Yonghong , Chen Liang , Li Hua , Wang Weijie , Wang Shumeng , Tian Hongkun , Tong Hui , Wang Lixiang
Published: July 2019

Triazatruxene-based TADF small molecules with AIE properties exhibited a short delayed fluorescence lifetime, resulting in a low efficiency roll-off of 1.0% even at 1000 cd m−2 in solution-processable nondoped OLEDs.
Voltage stability control of power systems using reduced network based optimisation
Authors: Ashraf Syed Mohammad , Dubey Anamika , Chakrabarti Saikat
Published: July 2019

This study presents optimisation based strategy to successfully control voltage stability of power systems using limited number of measurements. In a multi‐area power system, Ward reduction based network is used to enhance the loadability margin of the overall system, based on measurements from the internal area only. Information regarding the recent changes in the external areas is considered in the reduced network through hybrid state estimator, to enhance the estimation accuracy of the system states. Predictor‐corrector primal‐dual interior point technique is used to optimise the loadability margin above a given critical margin. The voltages obtained for this optimised margin are used as target values for determining the actual control parameters, by means of Gauss‐Newton optimisation. The proposed methods are successfully implemented on IEEE 30‐bus and 118‐bus test systems.
Silicate features in the circumstellar envelopes of the Class I binary driving source of HH 250
Authors: Comerón F. , Merín B. , Reipurth B. , Yen H.-W.
Published: July 2019

Context. The silicate feature near 10 μm is one of the main tools available to study the mineralogy of circumstellar disks and envelopes, providing information on the thermal processing, growth, location, and circulation of dust grains.

Aims. We investigate the silicate feature of the two Class I components of HH 250-IRS, a resolved binary system with a separation of 0″53 driving a Herbig-Haro flow. Each component has its own circumstellar envelope, and the system is surrounded by a circumbinary disk.

Methods. We carried out low resolution spectroscopy in the 8–13 μm range using VISIR, the thermal infrared imager and spectrograph at ESO’s Very Large Telescope.

Results. The silicate features of both sources are clearly different. The northwest (NW) component has a broad, smooth absorption profile lacking structure. We attribute most of it to foreground interstellar dust absorption, but estimate that additional absorption by amorphous silicates takes place in the circumstellar envelope of the young stellar object. The southeast (SE) component shows the silicate feature in emission, with structure longward of 9.5 μm indicating the presence of crystalline dust in the dominant form of forsterite. The apparent lack of an absorption feature caused by foreground dust is probably due to the filling of the band with emission by amorphous silicates in the envelope of the object.

Conclusions. Despite their virtually certain coevality, the differences in the components of the HH 250-IRS binary are most likely due to markedly different circumstellar environments. The NW component displays an unevolved envelope, whereas dust growth and crystallization has taken place in the SE component. The weak or absent signatures of enstatite in the latter are fairly unusual among envelopes with crystalline dust, and we tentatively relate it to a possible wide gap or an inner truncation of the disk already hinted at in previous observations by a drop in the L′-band flux, which might indicate that the SE component could actually be a very close binary. We speculate that the clear differences between the silicate feature spectra of both components of HH 250-IRS may be due either to disk evolution sped up by multiplicity, or by accretion variability leading to episodes of crystal formation. Different inclinations with respect to the line of sight may play a role as well, although it is very unlikely that they are the sole element for the differences between both objects.
Significance of bar quenching in the global quenching of star formation
Authors: George K. , Subramanian S. , Paul K. T.
Published: July 2019

The suppression of star formation in the inner kiloparsec regions of barred disk galaxies due to the action of bars is known as bar quenching. We investigate here the significance of bar quenching in the global quenching of star formation in the barred galaxies and their transformation to passive galaxies in the local Universe. We do this by measuring the offset of quenched barred galaxies from star-forming main sequence galaxies in the star formation rate-stellar mass plane and comparing it with the length of the bar, which is considered as a proxy of bar quenching. We constructed the star formation rate-stellar mass plane of 2885 local Universe face-on strong barred disk galaxies (z <  0.06) identified by Galaxy Zoo. The barred disk galaxies studied here fall on the star formation main sequence relation with a significant scatter for galaxies above stellar mass 1010.2M⊙. We found that 34.97% galaxies are within the intrinsic scatter (0.3 dex) of the main sequence relation, with a starburst population of 10.78% (above the 0.3 dex) and a quenched population of 54.25% (below the −0.3 dex) of the total barred disk galaxies in our sample. Significant neutral hydrogen (MHI> 109M⊙with logMHI/M⋆∼ −1.0 to −0.5) is detected in the quenched barred galaxies with a similar gas content to that of the star-forming barred galaxies. We found that the offset of the quenched barred galaxies from the main sequence relation is not dependent on the length of the stellar bar. This implies that the bar quenching may not contribute significantly to the global quenching of star formation in barred galaxies. However, this observed result could also be due to other factors such as the dissolution of bars over time after star formation quenching, the effect of other quenching processes acting simultaneously, and/or the effects of environment.
Time-dependent data-driven coronal simulations of AR 12673 from emergence to eruption
Authors: Price D. J. , Pomoell J. , Lumme E. , Kilpua E. K. J.
Published: July 2019

Aims. We present a detailed study of the magnetic evolution of AR 12673 using a magnetofrictional modelling approach.

Methods. The fully data-driven and time-dependent model was driven with maps of the photospheric electric field, inverted from vector magnetogram observations obtained from the Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager (HMI) on board the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO). Our analysis was aided by studying the evolution of metrics such as the free magnetic energy and the current-carrying helicity budget of the domain, maps of the squashing factor and twist, and plots of the current density. These allowed us to better understand the dynamic nature of the magnetic topology.

Results. Our simulation captured the time-dependent nature of the active region and the erupting flux rope associated with the X-class flares on 6 September 2017, including the largest of solar cycle 24. Additionally, our results suggest a possible threshold for eruptions in the ratio of current-carrying helicity to relative helicity.

Conclusion. The flux rope was found to be a combination of two structures that partially combine during the eruption process. Our time-dependent data-driven magnetofrictional model is shown to be capable of generating magnetic fields consistent with extreme ultraviolet (EUV) observations.
GG Tauri A: dark shadows on the ringworld
Authors: Brauer R. , Pantin E. , Di Folco E. , Habart E. , Dutrey A. , Guilloteau S.
Published: July 2019

Context. With its high complexity, large size, and close distance, the ringworld around GG Tau A is an appealing case to study the formation and evolution of protoplanetary disks around multiple star systems. However, investigations with radiative transfer models usually neglect the influence of the circumstellar dust around the individual stars.

Aims. We investigate how circumstellar disks around the stars of GG Tau A influence the emission that is scattered at the circumbinary disk and if constraints on these circumstellar disks can be derived.

Methods. We performed radiative transfer simulations with the POLArized RadIation Simulator (POLARIS) to obtain spectral energy distributions and emission maps in the H-Band (near-infrared). Subsequently, we compared them with observations to achieve our aims.

Results. We studied the ratio of polarized intensity at different locations in the circumbinary disk. We conclude that the observed scattered-light near-infrared emission is best reproduced if the circumbinary disk lies in the shadow of at least two coplanar circumstellar disks surrounding the central stars. This implies that the inner wall of the circumbinary disk is strongly obscured around the midplane, while the observed emission is actually dominated by the upper-most disk layers. In addition, the inclined dark lane (“gap”) on the western side of the circumbinary disk, which has been a stable, nonrotating, feature for approximately 20 yr, can only be explained by the self-shadowing of a misaligned circumstellar disk surrounding one of the two components of the secondary close-binary star GG Tau Ab.
Bayesian sequential testing with expectation constraints
Authors: Ankirchner Stefan , Klein Maike
Published: July 2019

We study a stopping problem arising from a sequential testing of two simple hypotheses H0 and H1 on the drift rate of a Brownian motion. We impose an expectation constraint on the stopping rules allowed and show that an optimal stopping rule satisfying the constraint can be found among the rules of the following type: stop if the posterior probability for H1 attains a given lower or upper barrier; or stop if the posterior probability comes back to a fixed intermediate point after a sufficiently large excursion. Stopping at the intermediate point means that the testing is abandoned without accepting H0 or H1. In contrast to the unconstrained case, optimal stopping rules, in general, cannot be found among interval exit times. Thus, optimal stopping rules in the constrained case qualitatively differ from optimal rules in the unconstrained case.
Effect of heat transfer on shear flow around an obstacle
Authors: Salah Soumaya Hadj , Toumi Mohamed , Hassen Walid , Aissia Habib Ben , Jay Jacques
Published: July 2019

The study of heat transfer on shear flows around an obstacle presents a great interest in determination of the influence of water on buildings and port infrastructures. The variation of the inlet temperatures and the influence of an obstacle placed at the bottom of a channel were analyzed. The obtained results supported by numerical simulations have shown that the doubling of the fluid inlet temperature significantly modifies all the dynamic characteristics of the shear flow. Pressure distribution, turbulent kinetic energy, dissipation rate, turbulent viscosity, and strain rate in the water channel were exposed. These results can help us to better exploit the flow of hot water discharged by power plants.
Epidemiology of Blastocystis sp. infection in China: a systematic review
Authors: Deng Lei , Chai Yijun , Zhou Ziyao , Liu Haifeng , Zhong Zhijun , Hu Yanchun , Fu Hualin , Yue Chanjuan , Peng Guangneng
Published: July 2019

Blastocystis sp., a unicellular intestinal parasite in humans and animals worldwide, is frequently found in immunocompromized patients and people in close contact with animals. Here, we reviewed recent studies on the prevalence, subtypes, and distribution of Blastocystis infection in humans and animals in China. To date, more than 12 provinces have reported Blastocystis infection in humans, with identification of six different subtypes (ST1, ST2, ST3, ST4, ST5, and ST6). The overall infection rate reported was 3.37% (3625/107,695), with the lowest prevalence (0.80%) in Fujian province and the highest prevalence (100%) in Guangdong province. ST3 (62%, 186/300) was the most dominant subtype, identified in all tested provinces in China. A total of eight provinces have reported Blastocystis infection in various animals, with the overall prevalence being 24.66% (1202/4874). Molecular analysis revealed 14 subtypes that infected animals, including 10 known (ST1, ST2, ST3, ST4, ST5, ST6, ST7, ST10, ST13, ST14), and 4 novel (Novel1, Novel2, Novel3, Novel4) subtypes. ST5 was the dominant subtype infecting artiodactyls (44.1%, 460/1044), while ST1 commonly infected carnivores (45.5%, 5/11). These findings provide insights into the epidemiological behavior of Blastocystis sp. in China, and could help in developing effective control strategies against the parasite.
Measurement of the polarisation in the auroral N2+ 427.8 nm band
Authors: Barthelemy Mathieu , Lamy Hervé , Vialatte Anne , Johnsen Magnar Gullikstad , Cessateur Gaël , Zaourar Naïma
Published: July 2019

In this paper, we provide for the first time polarisation measurements of the N+2 band at 427.8 nm performed with Premier Cru, a dedicated spectropolarimeter to investigate the polarisation of auroral emission lines between 400 and 700 nm. Details about the instrument, the observing conditions and the data analysis procedure are provided. Results obtained during three nights in March 2017 in Skibotn, Norway, indicate that the auroral blue line is polarised with a degree of linear polarisation of a few %. Due to weak Signal-to-Noise Ratios (SNR), these measurements still need to be taken with caution since none of the individual data set has a detection with a 3σ confidence level. However, results integrated over the entire observing period each night do show a 3σ detection but due to the long integration period, the origin of this polarisation cannot be linked to a specific type of aurora (diffuse vs structured arc) or specific ionospheric or geomagnetic conditions. These observations need to be confirmed with an improved design to increase the SNR and decrease the exposure time. When available, these improved measurements of the blue line polarisation will be important to better understand the physics of auroral processes at altitudes below 100 km where the N2+ emission occurs and possibly for space weather applications if the polarisation varies with ionospheric/geomagnetic conditions.
Predicting well-connected SEP events from observations of solar EUVs and energetic protons
Authors: Núñez Marlon , Nieves-Chinchilla Teresa , Pulkkinen Antti
Published: July 2019

This study shows a quantitative assessment of the use of Extreme Ultraviolet (EUV) observations in the prediction of Solar Energetic Proton (SEP) events. The UMASEP scheme (Space Weather, 9, S07003, 2011; 13, 2015, 807–819) forecasts the occurrence and the intensity of the first hours of SEP events. In order to predict well-connected events, this scheme correlates Solar Soft X-rays (SXR) with differential proton fluxes of the GOES satellites. In this study, we explore the use of the EUV time history from GOES-EUVS and SDO-AIA instruments in the UMASEP scheme. This study presents the results of the prediction of the occurrence of well-connected >10 MeV SEP events, for the period from May 2010 to December 2017, in terms of Probability of Detection (POD), False Alarm Ratio (FAR), Critical Success Index (CSI), and the average and median of the warning times. The UMASEP/EUV-based models were calibrated using GOES and SDO data from May 2010 to October 2014, and validated using out-of-sample SDO data from November 2014 to December 2017. The best results were obtained by those models that used EUV data in the range 50–340 Å. We conclude that the UMASEP/EUV-based models yield similar or better POD results, and similar or worse FAR results, than those of the current real-time UMASEP/SXR-based model. The reason for the higher POD of the UMASEP/EUV-based models in the range 50–340 Å, was due to the high percentage of successful predictions of well-connected SEP events associated with <C4 flares and behind-the-limb flares, which amounted to 25% of all the well-connected events during the period May 2010 to December 2017. By using all the available data (2010–2017), this study also concluded that the simultaneous use of SXRs and EUVs in 94 Å in the UMASEP-10 tool for predicting all >10 MeV SEP events, improves the overall performance, obtaining a POD of 92.9% (39/42) compared with 81% (34/42) of the current tool, and a slightly worse FAR of 31.6% (18/57) compared with 29.2% (14/58) of the current tool.
Plasma patches inside the polar cap and auroral oval: the impact on the spaceborne GPS receiver
Authors: Xiong Chao , Yin Fan , Luo Xiaomin , Jin Yaqi , Wan Xin
Published: July 2019

In this study, we focus on plasma patches with very dense plasma in the southern hemisphere during the main phase of 2015 St. Patrick’s Day storm. With in situ electron densities exceeding 1.5 × 1012 m−3at 450–500 km altitude, the patches cause strong signal outages of the global positioning system (GPS) receivers on board Swarm satellites. By using the field-aligned currents derived from the Swarm magnetic measurements, we determined whether the satellites fly inside the auroral oval or not. Different influences on the spaceborne GPS receiver are seen when these patches are located at different latitude regions, e.g., inside the polar cap or auroral oval. The simultaneously measurements of 2 Hz electron density as well as 50 Hz magnetic signatures from Swarm show that when large-scale polar cap patches transported from dayside lower latitude entering the cusp region, irregularities with much finer scale-size are generated; associated with various instabilities inside the cusp region, the small-scale irregularities cause much more severe influence on the GPS signals. This is the first direct evidence to show that when plasma patches are located inside the cusp region, the spaceborne receiver experiences stronger outage of GPS signals.
Intestinales Mikrobiom und kardiovaskuläre Erkrankungen
Authors: Steffen Hans-Michael , Demir Münevver
Published: July 2019

Aging, physical activity, bodyweight and diet are well established risk factors for cardiovascular disease. For all of these factors a great impact on the intestinal microbiome has been described. The current review will discuss available data regarding the role of the gut microbiome in regulating blood pressure, vascular function and its possible contribution to atherosclerosis and heart failure.
Behavioral Modification Enhances the Benefits from Structured Aerobic and Resistance Training
Authors: Dolezal Brett A. , Boland David M. , Neufeld Eric V. , Martin Jennifer L. , Cooper Christopher B.
Published: July 2019

Behavioral modification (BM) is a strategy designed to sustain or restore well-being through effects such as enhanced relaxation, reduced stress, and improved sleep. Few studies have explored the role of BM delivered in the context of fitness programs for healthy adults. Thus, the purpose of this investigation was to examine whether BM combined with aerobic and resistance training programs would improve health and fitness measures more than the exercise training alone. Thirty-two healthy fitness club members (19 men) were randomized to receive a BM program (n=15) or an equal-attention (EA) control (n=17). BM consisted of twelve, 10-min education sessions between a trained fitness professional and the participant, coupled with weekly, individualized relaxation, stress reduction, and sleep improvement assignments. All participants engaged in 1 h of coached resistance training and remotely guided aerobic exercise thrice weekly for 12 weeks. Fitness measures (aerobic performance, body composition, muscle strength and endurance, lower-body power), sleep characteristics, and heart rate variability (HRV) were obtained at baseline and after the 12-week program. BM resulted in greater improvements in aerobic performance (increased maximum oxygen uptake, metabolic (lactate) threshold, and percent of maximum oxygen uptake at which metabolic threshold occurred), peak and average lower-body power, and body composition (decreased body fat percentage and fat mass) compared to EA. BM also positively influenced parasympathetic tone through increased High-frequency HRV. BM resulted in greater improvements in fitness measures, body composition, and heart rate variability compared with EA. These findings have intriguing implications regarding the role of BM in augmenting health and physical performance.
The effects of Virtual Reality Training with Upper Limb Sensory
Exercise Stimulation on the AROM of Upper Limb Joints, Function, and
Concentration in Chronic Stroke Patients
Authors: Kim Dong Hoon , Kim Kyung-Hun , Lee Suk-Min
Published: July 2019

Objective We investigated the effect of upper limb sensory stimulation
and virtual reality rehabilitation (SMVR) on upper extremity active joint angle,
function and cognitive ability in chronic stroke patients.

Methods A total of 30 patients were randomly divided into SMVR group and
CON group. SMVR group was performed 60 min three times a week for 8
weeks in upper limb sensory stimulation and robot virtual reality
rehabilitation. CON group performed conservative treatment and peripheral joint
movement for 60 min. The upper limb function was measured by the
Jebsen-Taylor hand function test (JTT) and the cognitive ability test was
performed by the Stroop test (ST) and Trail making test (TMT).

Results There was a significant difference (P<0.05) between
before and after training in both groups, and SMVR group showed significant
improvement in both groups.

Conclusions In this study, we confirmed that robot virtual reality
training in combination with limb motion stimulation for stroke patients
positively affects the angle, function, and concentration of upper extremity
active joints in chronic stroke patients.
Diagnosis, Therapy and Follow-up of Vaginal Cancer and Its Precursors. Guideline of the DGGG and the DKG (S2k-Level, AWMF Registry No. 032/042, October 2018)
Authors: Schnürch Hans-Georg , Ackermann Sven , Alt-Radtke Celine D. , Angleitner Lukas , Barinoff Jana , Beckmann Matthias W. , Böing Carsten , Dannecker Christian , Fehm Tanja , Gaase Rüdiger , Gass Paul , Gebhardt Marion , Gieseking Friederike , Günthert Andreas , Hack Carolin C. , Hantschmann Peer , Horn Lars Christian , Koch Martin C. , Letsch Anne , Mallmann Peter , Mangold Bernhard , Marnitz Simone , Mehlhorn Grit , Paradies Kerstin , Reinhardt Michael J. , Tholen Reina , Torsten Uwe , Weikel Wolfgang , Wölber Linn , Hampl Monika
Published: July 2019

Purpose This is an official guideline, published and coordinated by the Gynecological Oncology Working Group (AGO) of the German Cancer Society (DKG) and the German Society for Gynecology and Obstetrics (DGGG). Vaginal cancers are rare tumors, which is why there is very little evidence on these tumors. Knowledge about the optimal clinical management is limited. This first German S2k guideline on vaginal cancer has aimed to compile the most current expert knowledge and offer new recommendations on the appropriate treatment as well as providing pointers about individually adapted therapies with lower morbidity rates than were previously generally available. The purpose of this guideline is also to set up a register to record data on treatment data and the course of disease as a means of obtaining evidence in future.

Methods The present S2k guideline was developed by members of the Vulvar und Vaginal Tumors Commission of the AGO in an independently moderated, structured, formal consensus process and the contents were agreed with the mandate holders of the participating scientific societies and organizations.

Recommendations To optimize the daily care of patients with vaginal cancer: 1. Monitor the spread pattern; 2. Follow the step-by-step diagnostic workup based on initial stage at detection; 3. As part of individualized clinical therapeutic management of vaginal cancer, follow the sentinel lymph node protocol described here, where possible; 4. Participate in the register study on vaginal cancer.
Lehrerbasierte Gesundheitsförderung bei Grundschulkindern in Baden-Württemberg: Effekte auf Ausdauerleistungsfähigkeit und Inzidenz abdominaler Adipositas
Authors: Kobel Susanne , Kesztyüs Dorothea , Steinacker Jürgen Michael
Published: July 2019

Hintergrund Gesundheitsförderung sollte früh beginnen. Vielen Präventionsprogrammen fehlt der Nachweis der Effektivität. Ein Programm, das einen aktiven und gesunden Lebensstil von Grundschulkindern fördert, ist „Komm mit in das gesunde Boot“.

Ziel der Studie Untersuchung der Wirkung der einjährigen schulbasierten Intervention auf Ausdauerleistungsfähigkeit und Inzidenz abdominaler Adipositas der Kinder in einer clusterrandomisierten Studie.

Methodik Daten von 1739 Kindern (7,1±0,6 Jahre) lagen zu beiden Messzeitpunkten vor. Hintergrundvariablen wurden in Elternfragebögen erfasst. Die Ausdauerleistungsfähigkeit (6-Minuten-Lauf) und anthropometrischen Daten wurden vor Ort erfasst. Kinder mit einem Bauchumfang-Körpergrößenverhältnis (WHtR) ≥0,5 wurden als abdominal adipös eingestuft. Die Differenz der Ausdauerleistungsfähigkeit und die Inzidenz abdominaler Adipositas zwischen den Messzeitpunkten wurden berechnet und in einfachen sowie hierarchischen Regressionsmodellen unter Berücksichtigung des Schuleffekts analysiert.

Ergebnisse Adjustiert auf Geschlecht und Klassenstufe war die Differenz in gelaufenen Metern in der Interventionsgruppe nach einem Jahr signifikant größer (70,5±128,6 m vs. 59,2±106,6 m, n=1708). Nach Berücksichtigung der Datenclusterung in Schulen ging die Signifikanz jedoch verloren. Die Chancen (engl. Odds) für die Entwicklung abdominaler Adipositas in der Interventionsgruppe waren nach Adjustierung auf Geschlecht, Klassenstufe, Baseline WHtR und Nicht-Frühstücken um mehr als die Hälfte verringert (Odds Ratio=0,48, 95% KI [0,25; 0,94], n=1535).

Schlussfolgerung Kinder sollten von klein auf lernen, gesunde Entscheidungen zu treffen. Mit der Prävention abdominaler Adipositas als Indikator zeichnet sich diese Intervention als effektive Gesundheitsförderung aus.
Diagnostik und Therapie des hepatozellulären Karzinoms
Authors: Hartmann Daniel , Kaufmann Benedikt , Bauer Ulrike , Ehmer Ursula , Geisler Fabian , Geith Tobias , Braren Rickmer , Paprottka Philipp , Hüser Norbert
Published: July 2019

Trotz großer Fortschritte in der Diagnostik sowie der systemischen und chirurgischen Therapie belegt das hepatozelluläre Karzinom (HCC) den vierten Platz unter den tumorassoziierten Todesfällen. Der diagnostische Stellenwert der Ultraschalluntersuchung der Leber besteht in erster Linie in der HCC-Früherkennung bei Risikopatienten. Die histologische Sicherung eines HCCs ist in der nicht-zirrhotischen Leber bzw. im Falle unklarer Bildgebungsbefunde erforderlich. Die Computertomografie (CT) ermöglicht im Vergleich zur Magnetresonanztomografie (MRT) eine schnelle Untersuchung. Es sind Anzahl, Lokalisation und Größe der Tumorknoten sowie deren Bezug zu Pfortader und Lebervenen zu beschreiben. Die prätherapeutische Planung erfordert eine exakte Segmentzuordnung. Die Therapie des hepatozellulären Karzinoms ist abhängig vom Stadium der Tumorerkrankung. In Europa und den USA sind die BCLC (Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer)-Kriterien für die Stadieneinteilung etabliert. Der operative Eingriff wird vor dem Hintergrund patientenspezifischer, klinischer Gesichtspunkte sowohl durch den Grad einer vorliegenden Leberzirrhose als auch durch das Stadium der Tumorerkrankung bestimmt. Grundsätzlich besteht für das HCC neben der Resektion auch die Möglichkeit einer Lebertransplantation. Im fortgeschrittenen HCC (BCLC C) mit Gefäßeinbruch des Tumors oder Metastasierung besteht die Indikation zur systemischen Tumortherapie. Bis heute sind Tyrosinkinaseinhibitoren beim fortgeschrittenen HCC (BCLC C) sowie im intermediären Stadium nach Progress unter lokoregionärer Therapie die einzig zugelassenen Erst- und Zweitlinientherapeutika in Europa. Der VEGFR2-Antikörper Ramucirumab ist das erste Präparat für eine individualisierte, Biomarker-abhängige Tumortherapie beim HCC. Große Hoffnung für die Therapie des HCCs liegt in der Immuntherapie mittels Checkpoint-Inhibitoren.
Wunder gibt es immer wieder …
Authors: Hardinghaus Christian
Published: July 2019

… heute oder morgen, können sie geschehen – Was Katja Ebstein beim Eurovision Song Contest 1970 besang, existiert seit jeher. Möglicherweise ist der Mensch schon selbst das größte Wunder auf diesem Planeten. Bis ins späte Mittelalter wurden unerklärliche Phänomene mit göttlichem oder überirdischem Wirken begründet. Vieles, was damals als Wunder galt, ist heute wissenschaftlich erklärbar, doch jede forschende Disziplin gerät an ihre Grenzen und wird auch nie in der Lage sein, alles uns Umspannende zu erklären. So bleibt die Faszination für unerklärliche Phänomene bestehen. Was wäre schon eine Welt ohne Wunder, die Bestandteil von unzähligen Romanen oder Filmen sind? In den Medien vergeht kein Tag, an dem nicht irgendwo von einem tatsächlichen oder vermeintlichen Wunder berichtet wird. In den beliebten Wissensrubriken großer Magazine sind es besonders die medizinischen Kuriositäten, die uns ein erstauntes Kopfschütteln abringen und uns rätseln lassen. Ein Großteil der Ärzte wird im Laufe seines beruflichen Wirkens selbst einmal Zeuge von schwer erklärbaren Heilungsverläufen oder menschlichen Höchstleistungen, die mit den Naturgesetzen nicht mehr vereinbar scheinen. Einige solcher Wunder möchte ich Ihnen vorstellen. Sie dürfen sich wundern.
A Ruthenium-Catalyzed C–H Activation Strategy as an Efficient Shortcut in the Total Synthesis of 6,8-Dimethoxy-1,3-dimethyl­isoquinoline
Authors: Fonzo Santiago , Vargas Didier F. , Kaufman Teodoro S.
Published: July 2019

A short and convenient total synthesis of 6,8-dimethoxy-1,3-dimethylisoquinoline, employing a C–H activation/alkenylation strategy, is reported. The approach involves the CeCl3·7H2O-promoted methoximation of 2,4-dimethoxyacetophenone and a methoxime-directed ruthenium-catalyzed allylation. This was followed by a one-pot, ruthenium-catalyzed allyl to propenyl isomerization and a microwave-assisted 6π-azaelectrocylization to complete the sequence. This approach, which entails a shortcut in the synthetic management of the three-carbon side chain, is an improved and more efficient route toward the natural product, which facilitated its access in just three steps and 27.3% overall yield.
Bu4NI-Catalyzed C–C Bond Cleavage and Oxidative Esteriﬁcation of Allyl Alcohols with Toluene Derivatives
Authors: Chen Yaoyao , Li Chengliang , Cui Yongmei , Sun Mingming , Jia Xueshun , Li Jian
Published: July 2019

A novel oxidative esterification of 1-arylprop-2-en-1-ols with toluene derivatives catalyzed by tetrabutylammonium iodide (TBAI) is reported. The optimization of the reaction conditions illustrates that each of experiment parameters including the catalyst, solvent, and oxidant is significant for present oxidative functionalization. This metal-free protocol has a broad substrate scope including the halogen groups for further functionalization and enriches the reactivity profile of allyl alcohol and toluene derivatives. In addition, this protocol represents a new transformation of allyl alcohol involving C–C bond cleavage and C–O bond forming.
Ankle-Brachial Index as a Predictor for Cardiovascular Disease in Postmenopausal Women
Authors: Manchikanti Lakshmi Lasya , Taranikanti Madhuri , Dronamraju Akhila , Bala Sudha , Guntuka Rohith Kumar
Published: July 2019

Background and Aim Menopausal women are at an increasing risk of cardiovascular diseases due to ovarian failure with estrogen deficiency. Redistribution of fat leading to abdominal obesity is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Dyslipidemia is one of the risk factors for peripheral artery disease (PAD) and coronary artery disease (CAD). Prevalence of PAD in women is similar or even higher than men, especially after menopause. ankle-brachial index (ABI) is a gold standard technique to diagnose PAD and acts as an independent prognostic marker to identify patients with high cardiovascular risk. This study aims to compare the ABI between pre- and postmenopausal women and to show that routine use of ABI as a screening tool can be valuable in predicting mortality and morbidity from heart diseases in peri- and postmenopausal women.

Material and Methods A cross-sectional study was done on a total of 107 women with no prior medical diseases such as hypertension, diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular diseases, and history of smoking. Fifty pre- and 57 postmenopausal women were included in this study. Anthropometric parameters such as height, weight, and body mass index (BMI) were measured. ABI was calculated by measuring the systolic pressures at posterior tibial artery and brachial artery, as per the protocols using digital data acquisition system.

Results BMI in postmenopausal women was significantly higher with p = 0.0023. Systolic and diastolic blood pressures were significantly higher in postmenopausal women (p = 0.000001), and ABI was found to be significantly lower in postmenopausal women particularly on the left side.

Conclusion ABI serves as an efficient indicator of PAD. It becomes necessary to understand the progression of PAD as its presence can increase the risk of mortality and morbidity from CAD. Early diagnosis of cardiovascular disease through simple techniques such as ABI measurement would provide scope for early interventional strategies.