bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Modeling solid-state dewetting of a single-crystal binary alloy thin films
Authors: Khenner Mikhail
Published: January 2018

Dewetting of a binary alloy thin film is studied using a continuum many-parameter model that accounts for the surface and bulk diffusion, the bulk phase separation, the surface segregation, and the particle formation. An analytical solution is found for the quasistatic equilibrium concentration of a surface-segregated atomic species. This solution is factored into the nonlinear and coupled evolution partial differential equations (PDEs) for the bulk composition and surface morphology. The stability of a planar film surface with respect to small perturbations of shape and composition is analyzed, revealing the dependence of the particle size on major physical parameters. The computations show various scenarios of the particle formation and the redistribution of the alloy components inside the particles and on their surface. In most situations, for the alloy film composed initially of 50% A and 50% B atoms, core-shell particles are formed, and they are located atop a wetting layer that is modestly rich in the B phase. Then the particle shell is the nanometric segregated layer of the A phase, and the core is the alloy that is modestly rich in the A phase.
Point defect induced degradation of electrical properties of Ga2O3 by 10 MeV proton damage
Authors: Polyakov A. Y. , Smirnov N. B. , Shchemerov I. V. , Yakimov E. B. , Yang Jiancheng , Ren F. , Yang Gwangseok , Kim Jihyun , Kuramata A. , Pearton S. J.
Published: January 2018

Deep electron and hole traps in 10 MeV proton irradiated high-quality β-Ga2O3 films grown by Hydride Vapor Phase Epitaxy (HVPE) on bulk β-Ga2O3 substrates were measured by deep level transient spectroscopy with electrical and optical injection, capacitance-voltage profiling in the dark and under monochromatic irradiation, and also electron beam induced current. Proton irradiation caused the diffusion length of charge carriers to decrease from 350–380 μm in unirradiated samples to 190 μm for a fluence of 1014 cm−2, and this was correlated with an increase in density of hole traps with optical ionization threshold energy near 2.3 eV. These defects most likely determine the recombination lifetime in HVPE β-Ga2O3 epilayers. Electron traps at Ec-0.75 eV and Ec-1.2 eV present in as-grown samples increase in the concentration after irradiation and suggest that these centers involve native point defects.
PAR1 agonists stimulate APC-like endothelial cytoprotection and confer resistance to thromboinflammatory injury
Authors: De Ceunynck Karen , Peters Christian G. , Jain Abhishek , Higgins Sarah J. , Aisiku Omozuanvbo , Fitch-Tewfik Jennifer L. , Chaudhry Sharjeel A. , Dockendorff Chris , Parikh Samir M. , Ingber Donald E. , Flaumenhaft Robert
Published: January 2018

Significance

Protease-activated receptors (PARs) are G-protein–coupled receptors (GPCRs) that are activated by proteolysis and couple to multiple distinct G-proteins. Cleavage of PAR1 in endothelium stimulates either proinflammatory or antiinflammatory signaling depending on the activating protease and is important in thrombosis and inflammation. Yet the biased signaling of PAR1 has made its pharmacological modulation challenging. We show that a family of compounds, parmodulins, acts at the cytosolic face of PAR1 to differentially control G-protein coupling and stimulate cytoprotective signaling while blocking deleterious signaling. Parmodulins are antiinflammatory and antithrombotic in vivo. These compounds demonstrate the utility of targeting the cytosolic face of GPCRs to selectively modulate downstream signaling and could provide an alternative for treatment of thromboinflammatory disorders.
DExSI: a new tool for the rapid quantitation of 13C-labelled metabolites detected by GC-MS
Authors: Dagley Michael J , McConville Malcolm J
Published: January 2018

Stable isotope directed metabolomics is increasingly being used to measure metabolic fluxes in microbial, plant and animal cells. Incorporation of 13C/15N isotopes into a wide range of metabolites is typically determined using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS) or other hyphenated mass spectrometry approaches. The DExSI (Data Extraction for Stable Isotope-labelled metabolites) pipeline is an interactive graphical software package which can be used to rapidly quantitate isotopologues for a wide variety of metabolites detected by GC/MS. DExSI performs automated metabolite annotation, mass and positional isotopomer abundance determination and natural isotope abundance correction. It provides a range of output options and is suitable for high throughput analyses.

Availability and implementation

DExSI is available for non-commercial use from: https://github.com/DExSI/DExSI/. For Microsoft Windows 7 or higher (64-bit).

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
CHRONIC CENTRAL SEROUS CHORIORETINOPATHY
Authors: Iacono Pierluigi , Tedeschi Massimiliano , Boccassini Barbara , Chiaravalloti Adele , Varano Monica , Parravano Mariacristina
Published: January 2018

Purpose:

To describe early and late morphological and functional changes in subjects receiving photodynamic therapy (PDT) for chronic central serous chorioretinopathy.

Methods:

Patients with chronic central serous chorioretinopathy were prospectively enrolled and received standard PDT. At the baseline examination, each subject underwent complete ophthalmological examination, including best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) assessment, fluorescein angiography and indocyanine green angiography, spectral domain optical coherence tomography, and microperimetry. Spectral domain optical coherence tomography, microperimetry, and BCVA assessment were repeated in multiple sections over 7 days after PDT and at 1-, 3-, and 12-month intervals. Main outcome measures were: identification of early changes (1-week examination) in BCVA, retinal sensitivity, and spectral domain optical coherence tomography parameters and their influence on outcomes at the 1-year follow-up.

Results:

Three main patterns of early response to PDT were identified during the 1-week examination. The neurosensory retinal detachment most frequently decreased rapidly (12/19 pts), with complete resolution in 50% of cases. An increase in neurosensory retinal detachment height was registered in 16% (3/19) of cases, whereas in 21% (4/19), a large fluctuation in neurosensory retinal detachment was encountered. Best-corrected visual acuity declined significantly in 5/12 patients in the first group and was stable or improved in the remaining cases. Overall, retinal sensitivity diminished in 16/19 subjects, with a mean worsening of 2.56 dB (P = 0.0002). At the 12-month examination, final mean BCVA improved by 14.4 letters (P = 0.001) and a similar progressive recovery in the retinal sensitivity was observed (+2.69 dB, P = 0.0039). The neurosensory retinal detachment completely resolved in 18/19 (95%) cases, with a parallel significant reduction in central foveal choroidal thickness (P < 0.0001).

Conclusion:

Three patterns of early response to standard PDT can be identified. Although an early and abrupt reduction in BCVA and retinal sensitivity after treatment is possible, this does not compromise a final improvement in visual functions.
COMPARING FUNDUS FLUORESCEIN ANGIOGRAPHY AND SWEPT-SOURCE OPTICAL COHERENCE TOMOGRAPHY ANGIOGRAPHY IN THE EVALUATION OF DIABETIC MACULAR PERFUSION
Authors: La Mantia Alberto , Kurt Rengin A. , Mejor Samantha , Egan Catherine A. , Tufail Adnan , Keane Pearse A. , Sim Dawn A.
Published: January 2018

Purpose:

To compare fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA) and swept-source optical coherence tomography angiography (SS-OCTA) in the evaluation of macular perfusion in diabetic patients.

Methods:

Forty-one eyes (21 diabetic patients) seen at Moorfields Eye Hospital (London) over a 1-month interval underwent color fundus photography, FFA, and SS-OCTA imaging of the capillary superficial plexus using 2 different protocols: 3 × 3 mm and 4.5 × 4.5 mm. Quantitative assessment (foveal avascular zone diameters and area), qualitative analysis (macroscopic and microscopic levels) and Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study diabetic macular ischemia grading were performed. Artifacts were recorded. Intraclass correlation coefficients and weighted kappa values were calculated.

Results:

Mean (SD) foveal avascular zone area was 0.695 (0.52) mm2 on FFA, 0.627 (0.54) mm2 on SS-OCTA 3 × 3 and 0.701 (0.54) mm2 on SS-OCTA 4.5 × 4.5 protocol. Intraclass correlation coefficients showed good agreement between FFA and SS-OCTA for both vertical diameter and foveal avascular zone area measurements. The agreement between SS-OCTA 3 × 3 and 4.5 × 4.5 was good for all quantitative measurements. Weighted kappa for diabetic macular ischemia grading showed low to fair agreement between FFA and SS-OCTA, whereas the agreement was good between two different SS-OCTA protocols.

Conclusion:

Swept-source OCTA is a reproducible technique in the assessment of macular perfusion in diabetic patients with special regards to foveal avascular zone analysis. The agreement with FFA is limited especially for diabetic macular ischemia grading. Fundus fluorescein angiography is more sensitive in identifying microaneurysms.
The Impact of Implementing Tobacco Control Policies: The 2017 Tobacco Control Policy Scorecard
Authors: Levy David T. , Tam Jamie , Kuo Charlene , Fong Geoffrey T. , Chaloupka Frank
Published: January 2018

The Tobacco Control Scorecard, published in 2004, presented estimates of the effectiveness of different policies on smoking rates. Since its publication, new evidence has emerged. We update the Scorecard to include recent studies of demand-reducing tobacco policies for high-income countries. We include cigarette taxes, smoke-free air laws, media campaigns, comprehensive tobacco control programs, marketing bans, health warnings, and cessation treatment policies. To update the 2004 Scorecard, a narrative review was conducted on reviews and studies published after 2000, with additional focus on 3 policies in which previous evidence was limited: tobacco control programs, graphic health warnings, and marketing bans. We consider evaluation studies that measured the effects of policies on smoking behaviors. Based on these findings, we derive estimates of short-term and long-term policy effect sizes. Cigarette taxes, smoke-free air laws, marketing restrictions, and comprehensive tobacco control programs are each found to play important roles in reducing smoking prevalence. Cessation treatment policies and graphic health warnings also reduce smoking and, when combined with policies that increase quit attempts, can improve quit success. The effect sizes are broadly consistent with those previously reported for the 2004 Scorecard but now reflect the larger evidence base evaluating the impact of health warnings and advertising restrictions.
Waves and fluid–solid interaction in stented blood vessels
Authors: Frecentese S. , Argani L. P. , Movchan A. B. , Movchan N. V. , Carta G. , Wall M. L.
Published: January 2018

This paper focuses on the modelling of fluid–structure interaction and wave propagation problems in a stented artery. Reflection of waves in blood vessels is well documented in the literature, but it has always been linked to a strong variation in geometry, such as the branching of vessels. The aim of this work is to detect the possibility of wave reflection in a stented artery due to the repetitive pattern of the stents. The investigation of wave propagation and possible blockages under time-harmonic conditions is complemented with numerical simulations in the transient regime.
A nonlinear theory for fibre-reinforced magneto-elastic rods
Authors: Ciambella Jacopo , Favata Antonino , Tomassetti Giuseppe
Published: January 2018

We derive a model for the finite motion of a fibre-reinforced magneto-elastic rod. The reinforcing particles are assumed weakly and uniformly magnetized, rigid and firmly embedded into the elastomeric matrix. We deduce closed-form expressions of the quasi-static motion of the rod in terms of the external magnetic field and of the body forces. The dependences of the motion on the shape of the inclusions, their orientation, their anisotropic magnetic properties and the Young modulus of the matrix are analysed and discussed. Two case studies are presented, in which the rod is used as an actuator suspended in a cantilever configuration. This work can foster new applications in the field of soft-actuators.
Balanced genetic diversity improves population fitness
Authors: Takahashi Yuma , Tanaka Ryoya , Yamamoto Daisuke , Noriyuki Suzuki , Kawata Masakado
Published: January 2018

Although genetic diversity within a population is suggested to improve population-level fitness and productivity, the existence of these effects is controversial because empirical evidence for an ecological effect of genetic diversity and the underlying mechanisms is scarce and incomplete. Here, we show that the natural single-gene behavioural polymorphism (
Rover
and
sitter
) in
Drosophila melanogaster
has a positive effect on population fitness. Our simple numerical model predicted that the fitness of a polymorphic population would be higher than that expected with two monomorphic populations, but only under balancing selection. Moreover, this positive diversity effect of genetic polymorphism was attributable to a complementarity effect, rather than to a selection effect. Our empirical tests using the behavioural polymorphism in
D. melanogaster
clearly supported the model predictions. These results provide direct evidence for an ecological effect of genetic diversity on population fitness and its condition dependence.
Behavioural tactic predicts preoptic-hypothalamic gene expression more strongly than developmental morph in fish with alternative reproductive tactics
Authors: Tripp Joel A. , Feng Ni Y. , Bass Andrew H.
Published: January 2018

Reproductive success relies on the coordination of social behaviours, such as territory defence, courtship and mating. Species with extreme variation in reproductive tactics are useful models for identifying the neural mechanisms underlying social behaviour plasticity. The plainfin midshipman (
Porichthys notatus
) is a teleost fish with two male reproductive morphs that follow widely divergent developmental trajectories and display alternative reproductive tactics (ARTs). Type I males defend territories, court females and provide paternal care, but will resort to cuckoldry if they cannot maintain a territory. Type II males reproduce only through cuckoldry. We sought to disentangle gene expression patterns underlying behavioural tactic, in this case ARTs, from those solely reflective of developmental morph. Using RNA-sequencing, we investigated differential transcript expression in the preoptic area-anterior hypothalamus (POA-AH) of courting type I males, cuckolding type I males and cuckolding type II males. Unexpectedly, POA-AH differential expression was more strongly coupled to behavioural tactic than morph. This included a suite of transcripts implicated in hormonal regulation of vertebrate social behaviour. Our results reveal that divergent expression patterns in a conserved neuroendocrine centre known to regulate social-reproductive behaviours across vertebrate lineages may be uncoupled from developmental history to enable plasticity in the performance of reproductive tactics.
An overview of confounding. Part 2: how to identify it and special situations
Authors: Howards Penelope P.
Published: January 2018

Confounding biases study results when the effect of the exposure on the outcome mixes with the effects of other risk and protective factors for the outcome that are present differentially by exposure status. However, not all differences between the exposed and unexposed group cause confounding. Thus, sources of confounding must be identified before they can be addressed. Confounding is absent in an ideal study where all of the population of interest is exposed in one universe and is unexposed in a parallel universe. In an actual study, an observed unexposed population represents the unobserved parallel universe. Thinking about differences between this substitute population and the unexposed parallel universe helps identify sources of confounding. These differences can then be represented in a diagram that shows how risk and protective factors for the outcome are related to the exposure. Sources of confounding identified in the diagram should be addressed analytically and through study design. However, treating all factors that differ by exposure status as confounders without considering the structure of their relation to the exposure can introduce bias. For example, conditions affected by the exposure are not confounders. There are also special types of confounding, such as time‐varying confounding and unfixable confounding. It is important to evaluate carefully whether factors of interest contribute to confounding because bias can be introduced both by ignoring potential confounders and by adjusting for factors that are not confounders. The resulting bias can result in misleading conclusions about the effect of the exposure of interest on the outcome.
Apoptosis induction in K562 human myelogenous leukaemia cells is connected to the modulation of Wnt/β‐catenin signalling by BHX, a novel pyrazoline derivative
Authors: Bao Hanmei , Zhang Qing , Du Yibo , Zhang Cai , Xu Hui , Zhu Zhongling , Yan Zhao
Published: January 2018

Objectives

The goal of this study was to explore the effects of BHX on human chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) cells and to elucidate the underlying molecular mechanism.

Materials and methods

CML cell line K562 cells were treated with BHX. The effects of BHX on cell proliferation, apoptosis and cell cycle were detected. Subsequently, the caspase, ATP activity, Ca2+, ROS and mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) levels treated with various concentrations of BHX were analysed. The variation of relevant proteins and genes was detected. Further, toxicity of BHX on peripheral blood cells, bone marrow‐nucleated cells (BMNC) and organ index were investigated on mice.

Results

Results showed that BHX suppressed K562 cell proliferation in a dose‐dependent manner and induced apoptosis and G0/G1 phase arrest. BHX induced mitochondria‐mediated apoptosis, which was associated with downregulation of MMP, activation of caspase‐3 and caspase‐9, generation of intracellular ROS and elevation of Ca2+ in K562 cells. In treated cells, ATP levels were decreased, expression of total β‐catenin, phosphorylated β‐catenin and β‐catenin in the nucleus was decreased, and expression of cell cycle‐related proteins was decreased. Further analysis revealed that BHX lowered the transcriptional level of β‐catenin. Lastly, BHX treatment significantly reduced the number of white blood cells, but had no effect on BMNC and organ index.

Conclusions

These findings provide further insight into the potential use of BHX as an anti‐cancer agent against human leukaemia.
Nest box design for a changing climate: The value of improved insulation
Authors: Larson Eliza R. , Eastwood Justin R. , Buchanan Katherine L. , Bennett Andrew T. D. , Berg Mathew L.
Published: January 2018

Mean air temperatures and the frequency, intensity and duration of extreme weather events such as heatwaves are increasing due to climate change. Nest boxes experience more variable and extreme temperatures than natural cavities, which may reduce survival and reproductive success of the species which utilize them, but little is known about the factors which drive nest box temperature profiles. We quantified the potential for retrofitted insulation on nest boxes to modify internal temperatures and to mimic the thermal characteristics of natural cavities more closely. We tested three types of materials with insulative or reflective properties which were easy to retrofit to nest boxes: 3‐cm‐thick polystyrene, pleated foil batts and reflective paint. We found that polystyrene and foil batts reduced mean nest box temperatures during the day by 0.31 ± 0.01°C and 0.17 ± 0.01°C, respectively (but up to 5.84°C and 4.02°C). The effects of all insulation types were dependent on the time of day, and only polystyrene had a significant effect at night, with a greater capacity to retain heat (mean 0.21 ± 0.01°C warmer). Contrary to expectations, reflective paint caused a small increase in temperature during the late afternoon. In our study, the temperature modulation provided by insulation was able to match or exceed that due to variation in nest location and surrounding vegetation canopy cover. Our findings show that polystyrene and foil batts may offer effective and tractable means to mitigate the effects of extreme temperatures in nest boxes and thereby help achieve temperature profiles more similar to natural cavities.
Honest error, precaution or alertness advertisement? Reactions to vertebrate pseudopredators in red‐nosed cuxiús (Chiropotes albinasus),a high‐canopy neotropical primate
Authors: Barnett Adrian A. , de Oliveira Tadeu , Soares da Silva Rafaela Fatima , de Albuquerque Teixeira Samara , Tomanek Pavel , Todd Lucy M. , Boyle Sarah A.
Published: January 2018

Predation on primates is considered to have far‐reaching effects on the foraging and social ecology of a species. Primate species display a variety of responses to predator proximity and attack, ranging from active physical defense and mobbing, to flight and concealment. Warning calls are often given, and potentially threatening animals may be tracked, either actively or with head movements. Such behaviors take time that could be used for other activities. Accordingly, there should be strong selection to respond only to those species that represent a genuine threat. However, primates give defense‐based behaviors to non‐predator species. We tested the hypotheses that responses to pseudopredators are (i) precautionary calls made by individuals following the Dinner/Life Principle, or (ii) represent the ontogeny of species recognition. Of the species that ellicted a response from the cuxiús, 80% resembled a primate predator; 95% of the encounters that elicited a response from the cuxiús occurred when the distance between the pseudopredator and cuxiús was ≤20 m. In regard to the frequency of responses to pseudopredators, we found no difference between adults and juveniles (47.6% and 52.4%, respectively) and no differences between adult males and adult females (60% and 40% of the responses, respectively). However, reactions to pseudopredators were of shorter duration ( ± standard error (SE): 42.2 ± 15.9 s) than were reactions to actual predator species ( ± SE: 1,024.3 ± 329.1 s). There were only three instances where alarm calls were made to species that did not resemble predators, and 66.7% (N = 2) were made by adult cuxiús and only 33.3% (N = 1) were made by a juvenile cuxiú. Therefore, we found partial support for the Dinner/Life Principle hypothesis, but no support for the ontogeny hypothesis. Examination of such responses to pseudopredators in other primate and non‐primate species may help understand the evolution of such behaviors.
The development and validation of the Evidence‐Based Practice Questionnaire: Japanese version
Authors: Tomotaki Ai , Fukahori Hiroki , Sakai Ikuko , Kurokohchi Kana
Published: January 2018

Aim

To develop and test the validity and reliability of a Japanese version of the Evidence‐Based Practice Questionnaire.

Methods

The Evidence‐Based Practice Questionnaire was translated into Japanese, and a back‐translation was performed. In March 2016, the survey was conducted among 843 nurses in 2 university hospitals in Japan. After 2 weeks, the same questionnaire for test‐retest reliability was distributed to 197 nurses. We evaluated construct validity by factor analysis: convergent, discriminant, criterion‐based and known‐group validity, and reliability (internal consistency via Cronbach' alpha and test‐retest reliability).

Results

A total of 533 (66%) of nurses who agreed to our study returned the completed questionnaire, and 108 nurses (55%) agreed to the test‐retest. Factor analysis confirmed that the original model of the Evidence‐Based Practices Questionnaire was not statistically appropriate for Japanese nurses. Therefore, the final version of the Japanese version adopted 18 items and 4 subscales including practice, attitudes, and knowledge/skills related to research and practice. In the final version, the validity and reliability were moderate (Cronbach alpha = .90).

Conclusion

The Japanese version of the Evidence‐Based Practices Questionnaire is a reliable and valid tool and can be used to assess evidence‐based practice, attitudes, and research knowledge/skills in Japan.
Current knowledge of nocardiosis in teleost fish
Authors: Maekawa S , Yoshida T , Wang P‐C , Chen S‐C
Published: January 2018

Nocardia sp. is the causative agent of nocardiosis, a lethal granulomatous disease of the skin, muscle, and various inner tissues affecting various teleost and shellfish. Four species of Nocardia have been isolated from diseased fish and shellfish, namely Nocardia asteroides, Nocardia seriolae, Nocardia salmonicida and Nocardia crassostreae. Therefore, in fish aquaculture, nocardiosis has caused severe economic losses, especially in the Asian region. Considerable research has been performed, since the first report of identified Nocardia sp. in fish, to characterize Nocardia sp. and identify rapid detection techniques, immune response against infection and prophylactic approaches. In this review, the current state of knowledge about nocardiosis in fish has been presented, including the pathogenesis, diagnosis, host immune response and vaccine development.
A mutation in the heptad repeat 2 domain of MFN2 in a large CMT2A family
Authors: Dankwa Lois , Richardson Jessica , Motley William W. , Züchner Stephan , Scherer Steven S.
Published: January 2018

Dominant mutations in MFN2 cause a range of phenotypes, including severe, early‐onset axonal neuropathy, “classical CMT2,” and late‐onset axonal neuropathies. We report a large family with an axonal polyneuropathy, with clinical onset in the 20s, followed by slow progression.
Chronic sleep reduction in adolescents—clinical cut‐off scores for the Chronic Sleep Reduction Questionnaire (CSRQ)
Authors: Dewald‐Kaufmann Julia F. , Bruin Eduard J. , Smits Marcel , Zijlstra Bonne J.H. , Oort Frans J. , Meijer Anne Marie
Published: January 2018

The Chronic Sleep Reduction Questionnaire is a validated questionnaire that measures symptoms of prolonged insufficient and/or poor sleep and therefore accounts for individuals’ sleep need and sleep debt. This study extends its psychometric properties by providing cut‐off scores, using a matched sample of 298 healthy adolescents (15.38 ± 1.63 years, 37.9% male, mean Chronic Sleep Reduction Questionnaire score: 32.98 ± 6.51) and 298 adolescents with insomnia/delayed sleep–wake phase disorder (15.48 ± 1.62 years; 37.9% male, mean Chronic Sleep Reduction Questionnaire score: 42.59 ± 7.06). We found an area under the curve of 0.84 (95% confidence interval: 0.81–0.87). Cut‐off scores for optimal sensitivity, optimal specificity and based on Youden's criterion are provided. These cut‐off scores are highly relevant for use of the Chronic Sleep Reduction Questionnaire in future studies and clinical practice.
Food‐dependent exercise‐induced anaphylaxis in Japanese elementary school children
Authors: Manabe Tetsuharu , Oku Norihiro , Aihara Yukoh
Published: January 2018

Background

In 2012, we clarified that the prevalence of food‐dependent exercise‐induced anaphylaxis (FDEIA) was 0.018% in junior‐high students in Yokohama, Japan. Furthermore, although different from FDEIA, one student who had completed oral immunotherapy developed anaphylaxis during exercise after eating causative food. There have been few large‐scale epidemiological studies of FDEIA, however, in elementary school children, therefore we conducted an epidemiological study in elementary school children in Yokohama to clarify the frequency and characteristic of FDEIA.

Methods

We sent a questionnaire regarding the occurrence of FDEIA to all 348 public elementary school nurses in Yokohama. We also compared the results with those for junior‐high school that we previously reported. We excluded those children with a past history of immediate food allergy who had achieved desensitization status after oral immunotherapy, from FDEIA, and instead defined them as having desensitization status and exercise‐induced anaphylaxis (DEIA).

Results

Of 348 school nurses, 317 responded (91.1%). Overall, eight of 170 146 children were diagnosed with FDEIA, which was significantly lower than the prevalence in junior‐high school students (0.0047% vs 0.018%, P = 0.0009). The causative foods were wheat (n = 4), and soy, fruit, crustaceans, and squid (n = 1 each). Four children had DEIA and the causative foods were wheat and milk (n = 2 each). Multiple episodes occurred in five children with FDEIA and in three children with DEIA.

Conclusions

FDEIA was far less common in elementary school than in junior‐high school, and wheat was the major causative food. The new appearance of DEIA was notable. Decreasing episode recurrence remains an issue that needs to be resolved.
Detecting myrtle rust (Austropuccinia psidii) on lemon myrtle trees using spectral signatures and machine learning
Authors: Heim R. H. J. , Wright I. J. , Chang H.‐C. , Carnegie A. J. , Pegg G. S. , Lancaster E. K. , Falster D. S. , Oldeland J.
Published: January 2018

Hundreds of species in one of Australia's dominant plant families, the Myrtaceae, are at risk from the invasive pathogenic fungusAustropuccinia psidii. Since its arrival in Australia in 2010, native plant communities have been severely affected, with highly susceptible species likely to become extinct from recurring infections. While severe impact on Australian native and plantation forestry has been predicted, the lemon myrtle industry is already under threat. Commercial cultivars of lemon myrtle (Backhousia citriodora) are highly susceptible toA. psidii. Detecting and monitoring disease outbreaks is currently only possible by eye, which is costly and subject to human bias. This study aims at developing a proof‐of‐concept for automated, non‐biased classification of healthy (naïve), fungicide‐treated and diseased lemon myrtle trees by means of their spectral reflectance signatures. From a lemon myrtle plantation, spectral signatures of fungicide‐treated and untreated leaves were collected using a portable field spectrometer. A third class of spectra, from naïve lemon myrtle leaves that had not been exposed toA. psidii, was collected from a botanical garden. Reflectance spectra in their primary form and their first‐order derivatives were used to train a random forest classifier resulting in an overall accuracy of 78% (kappa = 0.68) for primary spectra and 95% (kappa = 0.92) for first‐order derivative‐transformed spectra. Thus, an optical sensor‐based discrimination, using spectral reflectance signatures of this as yet uninvestigated pathosystem, seems technically feasible. This study provides a foundation for the development of automated, sensor‐based detection and monitoring systems for myrtle rust.
Enhanced preclinical antitumor activity of M7824, a bifunctional fusion protein simultaneously targeting PD-L1 and TGF-β
Authors: Lan Yan , Zhang Dong , Xu Chunxiao , Hance Kenneth W. , Marelli Bo , Qi Jin , Yu Huakui , Qin Guozhong , Sircar Aroop , Hernández Vivian M. , Jenkins Molly H. , Fontana Rachel E. , Deshpande Amit , Locke George , Sabzevari Helen , Radvanyi Laszlo , Lo Kin-Ming
Published: January 2018

Blockade of PD-L1 and TGF-β pathways with M7824 activates effective innate and adaptive antitumor immune responses.
Elastic geothermobarometry: Corrections for the geometry of the host-inclusion system
Authors: Mazzucchelli M.L. , Burnley P. , Angel R.J. , Morganti S. , Domeneghetti M.C. , Nestola F. , Alvaro M.
Published: January 2018

Elastic geothermobarometry on inclusions is a method to determine pressure-temperature conditions of mineral growth independent of chemical equilibrium. Because of the difference in their elastic properties, an inclusion completely entrapped inside a host mineral will develop a residual stress upon exhumation, from which one can back-calculate the entrapment pressure. Current elastic geobarometric models assume that both host and inclusion are elastically isotropic and have an ideal geometry (the inclusion is spherical and isolated at the center of an infinite host). These conditions do not commonly occur in natural rocks, and the consequences for inclusion pressures can only be quantified with numerical approaches. In this paper, we report the results of numerical simulations of inclusions with the finite element method on elastically isotropic systems. We define and determine a geometrical factor (Γ) that allows measured residual pressures to be corrected for the effects of non-ideal geometry. We provide simple guidelines as to which geometries can safely be used for elastic geobarometry without correcting for the geometry. We also show that the discrepancies between elastic and conventional geobarometry reported in literature are not due to geometrical effects, and therefore result from other factors not yet included in current models.
Comparison of immunoblotting (IgA and IgG) and the Goldmann-Witmer coefficient for diagnosis of ocular toxoplasmosis in immunocompetent patients
Authors: Mathis Thibaud , Beccat Sylvain , Sève Pascal , Peyron François , Wallon Martine , Kodjikian Laurent
Published: January 2018

Background

Ocular toxoplasmosis (OT) is a common cause of posterior uveitis worldwide. The diagnosis of OT is based on clinical findings, but in most cases, laboratory tests are required to confirm the aetiology, especially when other diseases are suspected. The aim of this study was to evaluate which methods, between the Goldmann-Witmer coefficient (GWC) and immunoblotting (IB) with both IgG and IgA, in aqueous humour (AH) samples, can be the most sensitive to diagnose OT, in current practice, especially in the first three weeks.

Methods

Retrospectively reviewed records of 87 consecutive patients who had underwent AH and serum sample, 42 patients with suspected OT and 45 patients with suspected other ocular inflammatory diseases. All samples were analysed by both GWC and IB.

Results

The GWC was significant in 47.6% of patients presenting with suspected OT. The intraocular production of specific antibodyanti-Toxoplasma gondiiIgG and IgA was revealed by IB in 71.4% of samples. The combination of these two methods increased the sensitivity to 76.2%. Based on the interval between symptom onset and paracentesis, IB had a greater sensitivity than GWC when sample of AH was taken in the first three weeks (64.7% vs 23.5%, P=0.039), while the difference between the sensitivity of IB and GWC was less important in cases with an interval >3 weeks (76% vs 64% P=0.625).

Conclusion

IB seems to be more useful than the GWC if only one of these methods can be performed, especially during the first three weeks after symptom onset.
Casimir energy calculation for massive scalar field on spherical surfaces: an alternative approach
Authors: Valuyan M.A.
Published: January 2018

In this study, the Casimir energy for massive scalar field with periodic boundary condition was calculated on spherical surfaces with S1, S2, and S3 topologies. To obtain the Casimir energy on a spherical surface, the contribution of the vacuum energy of Minkowski space is usually subtracted from that of the original system. In the large mass limit for surface S2, however, some divergences would eventually remain in the obtained result. To remove these remaining divergences, a secondary renormalization program was manually performed. In the present work, a direct approach for calculation of the Casimir energy has been introduced. In this approach, two similar configurations were considered and then the vacuum energies of these configurations were subtracted from each other. This method provides more physical meaning than the other common methods. Additionally, in the large mass limit for surface S2, it provides a situation in which the second renormalization program is automatically conducted in the calculation procedure, and there was no longer a need to do so manually. Finally, by plotting the obtained values for the Casimir energy of the topologies and investigating their appropriate limits, the logic agreement between the results of our scheme and those of previous studies was discussed.
A Moodle-based blended learning solution for physiology education in Montenegro: a case study
Authors: Popovic Natasa , Popovic Tomo , Rovcanin Dragovic Isidora , Cmiljanic Oleg
Published: January 2018

This study evaluates the impact of web-based blended learning in the physiology course at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Montenegro. The two main goals of the study were: to determine the impact of e-learning on student success in mastering the course, and to assess user satisfaction after the introduction of e-learning. The study compared a group of students who attended the physiology course before, with a group of students who attended the physiology course after the Moodle platform was fully implemented as an educational tool. Formative and summative assessment scores were compared between these two groups. The impact of high vs. low Moodle use on the assessment scores was analyzed. The satisfaction among Moodle users was assessed by the survey. The study found that attendance of face-to-face lectures had a positive impact on academic performance. The introduction of Moodle in the presented model of teaching increased interest of students, attendance of face-to-face lectures, as well as formative and summative scores. High frequency of Moodle use was not always associated with better academic performance, suggesting that the introduction of a new method of teaching was most likely equally accepted by low- and high-achieving students. Most of the students agreed that Moodle was easy to use and it complemented traditional teaching very well, but it could not completely replace traditional face-to-face lectures. The study supports continuing the use of web-based learning in a form of blended learning for physiology, as well as for other courses in medical education.
Deterministic and Probabilistic Serviceability Assessment of Footbridge Vibrations due to a Single Walker Crossing
Authors: Demartino Cristoforo , Avossa Alberto Maria , Ricciardelli Francesco
Published: January 2018

This paper presents a numerical study on the deterministic and probabilistic serviceability assessment of footbridge vibrations due to a single walker crossing. The dynamic response of the footbridge is analyzed by means of modal analysis, considering only the first lateral and vertical modes. Single span footbridges with uniform mass distribution are considered, with different values of the span length, natural frequencies, mass, and structural damping and with different support conditions. The load induced by a single walker crossing the footbridge is modeled as a moving sinusoidal force either in the lateral or in the vertical direction. The variability of the characteristics of the load induced by walkers is modeled using probability distributions taken from the literature defining a Standard Population of walkers. Deterministic and probabilistic approaches were adopted to assess the peak response. Based on the results of the simulations, deterministic and probabilistic vibration serviceability assessment methods are proposed, not requiring numerical analyses. Finally, an example of the application of the proposed method to a truss steel footbridge is presented. The results highlight the advantages of the probabilistic procedure in terms of reliability quantification.
Tamoxifen Use in a Patient with Idiopathic Macular Telangiectasia Type 2
Authors: Behrens Alice , Sallam Ahmed , Pemberton John , Uwaydat Sami
Published: January 2018

Crystalline deposits and neurosensory retinal cavitary changes can develop in both tamoxifen retinopathy and nonproliferative idiopathic macular telangiectasia type 2 (MacTel2). MacTel2 is typically differentiated from tamoxifen retinopathy based on the presence of late leakage and mid-phase telangiectatic vessels on fluorescein angiography (FA) and the presence of hyperautofluorescence. Unlike MacTel2, tamoxifen retinopathy is known to be a progressive disease and the cessation of tamoxifen results in resolution of retinopathy. We report a unique case of nonproliferative MacTel2 in a 36-year-old Hispanic woman with tamoxifen use and the vision outcome 30 months after cessation of tamoxifen. The FA and optical coherence tomography angiography findings of this patient support the diagnosis of MacTel2, but her cessation of tamoxifen led to partial reversal of the topographic findings and improvement in visual acuity. This patient is also unique in the unusually young age of presentation for MacTel2. Our case supports that there are common pathways in the pathogenesis of tamoxifen retinopathy and MacTel2, and tamoxifen use could potentially accelerate foveal atrophy in patients with MacTel2.
Lack of Remuscularization Following Transplantation of Human Embryonic Stem Cell-Derived Cardiovascular Progenitor Cells in Infarcted Nonhuman Primates
Authors: Zhu Keyang , Wu Qiang , Ni Cheng , Zhang Peng , Zhong Zhiwei , Wu Yan , Wang Yingchao , Xu Yinchuan , Kong Minjian , Cheng Haifeng , Tao Zhihua , Yang Qian , Liang He , Jiang Yun , Li Qingju , Zhao Jing , Huang Jijun , Zhang Fengjiang , Chen Qi , Li Yi , Chen Jinghai , Zhu Wei , Yu Hong , Zhang Jianyi , Yang Huang-Tian , Hu Xinyang , Wang Jian’an
Published: January 2018

Rationale:

Human pluripotent stem cell–derived cardiovascular progenitor cells (hPSC-CVPCs) should be thoroughly investigated in large animal studies before testing in clinical trials.

Objective:

The main of this study is to clarify whether hPSC-CVPCs can engraft for long time in the heart of primates after myocardial infarction (MI) and compare the effectiveness and safety of immunosuppression with cyclosporine alone or multiple-drug regimen (MDR) containing cyclosporine, methylprednisolone, and basiliximab in cynomolgus monkeys that had received intramyocardial injections of 1×10
7
EGFP (enhanced green fluorescent protein)-expressing hPSC-CVPCs after MI. A third group of animals received the immunosuppression MDR but without cell therapy after MI (MI+MDR group).

Methods and Results:

Measurements of EGFP gene levels and EGFP immunofluorescence staining indicated that the hPSC-CVPC engraftment rate was greater in the MI+MDR+CVPC group than that in the MI+cyclosporine+CVPC group. However, even in the MI+MDR+CVPC group, no transplanted cells could be detected at 140 days after transplantation. Concomitantly, immunofluorescent analysis of CD3, CD4, and CD8 expression indicated that T-lymphocyte infiltration in the CVPC-transplanted hearts was less in the MDR-treated animals than in the cyclosporine-alone–treated animals. The recovery of left ventricular function on day 28 post-MI in the MI+MDR+CVPC group was better than that in the MI+MDR group. Apoptotic cardiac cells were also less common in the MI+MDR+CVPC group than in the MI+MDR group, although both immunosuppression regimens were associated with transient hepatic dysfunction.

Conclusions:

This is the largest study of hPSCs in nonhuman primates in cardiovascular field to date (n=32). Compared with cyclosporine alone, MDR attenuates immune rejection and improves survival of hPSC-CVPCs in primates; this is associated with less apoptosis of native cardiac cells and better recovery of left ventricular function at 28 days. However, even with MDR, transplanted hPSC-CVPCs do not engraft and do not survive at 140 days after transplantation, thereby excluding remuscularization as a mechanism for the functional effect.
Assessment of Parental Acceptability and Preference for Behavioral Interventions for Feeding Problems
Authors: Vazquez Melissa , Fryling Mitch J. , Hernández Anthony
Published: January 2018

The present study evaluates the treatment acceptability and preference for behavioral interventions for feeding problems with parents of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and other developmental disabilities. The impact of behavioral severity on acceptability and preference was also evaluated by comparing results of parents who responded with respect to a vignette of a child with food refusal with those who responded to a vignette of a child with food selectivity. Overall, parents rated differential reinforcement of alternative behavior as the most preferred and most acceptable strategy across both food selectivity and food refusal groups. Escape extinction was the least acceptable and least preferred across both groups, and the severity of the behavior had no impact on acceptability or preference scores. Implications for future research on the social validity of feeding interventions are provided.
Coronary and arch hybrid surgery in a patient with infrarenal aortic occlusion
Authors: Koh Teng Kiat , Ting Jocelyn Zi Lin , Wee Bernard , Khamitov Rustem , Teoh Kristine , Wong Julian , Sorokin Vitaly A
Published: January 2018

A 65-year-old gentleman with claudication underwent contrast-enhanced computed tomography. The scan showed occlusion of the infrarenal abdominal aorta and a 6.0 × 3.7 cm saccular zone-3 arch aneurysm. The left ventricular ejection fraction was 35% and a coronary angiogram revealed triple-vessel disease. In view of the patient’s high risk with EuroSCORE II 20.34%, coronary artery surgery was combined with hybrid type I arch aneurysm repair. An endovascular stent was delivered in an antegrade manner. Open heart surgery and a hybrid type I arch intervention can be performed simultaneously through a midline sternotomy approach.
Assessment of Canine Mast Cell Tumor Mortality Risk Based on Clinical, Histologic, Immunohistochemical, and Molecular Features
Authors: Horta Rodrigo S. , Lavalle Gleidice E. , Monteiro Lidianne N. , Souza Mayara C. C. , Cassali Geovanni D. , Araújo Roberto B.
Published: January 2018

Mast cell tumor (MCT) is a frequent cutaneous neoplasm in dogs that is heterogeneous in clinical presentation and biological behavior, with a variable potential for recurrence and metastasis. Accurate prediction of clinical outcomes has been challenging. The study objective was to develop a system for classification of canine MCT according to the mortality risk based on individual assessment of clinical, histologic, immunohistochemical, and molecular features. The study included 149 dogs with a histologic diagnosis of cutaneous or subcutaneous MCT. By univariate analysis, MCT metastasis and related death was significantly associated with clinical stage ( P < .0001, rP = –0.610), history of tumor recurrence ( P < .0001, rP = –0.550), Patnaik ( P < .0001, rP = –0.380) and Kiupel grades ( P < .0001, rP = –0.500), predominant organization of neoplastic cells ( P < .0001, rP = –0.452), mitotic count ( P < .0001, rP = –0.325), Ki-67 labeling index ( P < .0001, rP = –0.414), KITr pattern ( P = .02, rP = 0.207), and c-KIT mutational status ( P < .0001, rP = –0.356). By multivariate analysis with Cox proportional hazard model, only 2 features were independent predictors of overall survival: an amendment of the World Health Organization clinical staging system (hazard ratio [95% CI]: 1.824 [1.210-4.481]; P = .01) and a history of tumor recurrence (hazard ratio [95% CI]: 9.250 [2.158-23.268]; P < .001]. From these results, we propose an amendment of the WHO staging system, a method of risk analysis, and a suggested approach to clinical and laboratory evaluation of dogs with cutaneous MCT.
Memphis 1984
Authors: Jeffreys D. G. , Malek J. , Smith H. S.
Published: January 2018

The first season of excavation at Memphis identified an artisans’ quarter of the Eighteenth to Nineteenth Dynasties at Kôm Rabî'. Finds included stone and metal tools and domestic utensils, pottery votive objects in the form of ‘concubine’ figures and cobras, bones (mainly cattle and pig), and a few inscribed objects. Further resistivity survey was carried out. The Epigraphic Survey recorded monuments from the Palace of Merneptah, now in the so-called ‘Petrie’ Magazine at Mît Rahîna.