bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Volatile organic compounds kill the white-nose syndrome fungus, Pseudogymnoascus destructans, in hibernaculum sediment
Authors: Micalizzi Emma W. , Smith Myron L.
Published: June 2020

Pseudogymnoascus destructans, the fungal pathogen that causes white-nose syndrome, has killed millions of bats across eastern North America and continues to threaten new bat populations. The spread and persistence of P. destructans has likely been worsened by the ability of this fungus to grow as a saprotroph in the hibernaculum environment. Reducing the environmental growth of P. destructans may improve bat survival. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are attractive candidates to target environmental P. destructans, as they can permeate through textured environments that may be difficult to thoroughly contact with other control mechanisms. We tested in hibernaculum sediment the performance of VOCs that were previously shown to inhibit P. destructans growth in agar cultures and examined the inhibition kinetics and specificity of these compounds. Three VOCs, 2-methyl-1-butanol, 2-methyl-1-propanol, and 1-pentanol, were fungicidal towards P. destructans in hibernaculum sediment, fast-acting, and had greater effects against P. destructans than other Pseudogymnoascus species. Our results suggest that use of these VOCs may be considered further as an effective management strategy to reduce the environmental exposure of bats to P. destructans in hibernacula.
On dynamic aspects of the Proca field screening by a black hole
Authors: Erofeev Andrei L.
Published: June 2020

Classical black holes are known for almost half a century to nullify exterior classical massive vector field associated with a charge crossing the event horizon. This implies that, from the point of view of an external observer, the Proca field of the charge is screened with the strength gradually increasing as the charge adiabatically approaches the event horizon. In this paper we reject the adiabaticity constraint and calculate analytically the field evolution with respect to a distant observer in the frame of the simplest model of a contracting charged spherical shell concentrically surrounding a Schwarzschild black hole. We show that a time scale of the screening is determined by a mass of the black hole and, moreover, loss of Proca hair during the collapse of charged matter has the same temporal character. Due to existence of the event horizon, there is discontinuous jump between massive and massless electrodynamics. This means that presence of an arbitrarily small mass of the photon induces observable effects, which include generation of electric asymmetry of the Universe and galactic magnetic fields.
Parametrized leptogenesis from linear seesaw
Authors: Gu Pei-Hong
Published: June 2020

We present a purely linear seesaw mechanism in a mirror left-right symmetric framework and then realize a novel leptogenesis scenario for parametrizing the cosmic baryon asymmetry by the charged lepton masses, the light Majorana neutrino mass matrix and the heavy mirror charged lepton masses. Through the same Yukawa couplings, the lepton-number-conserving decays of the mirror charged leptons can generate three individual lepton asymmetries stored in the ordinary lepton flavors, while the lepton-number-violating processes for the Majorana neutrino mass generation can wash out part of these lepton asymmetries. The remnant lepton asymmetries then can be partially converted to a baryon asymmetry by the sphaleron processes.
Quaternary tectonic and climate changes at the origin of travertine and calcrete in the eastern Betics (Almería region, SE Spain)
Authors: Larrey Marine , Mouthereau Frédéric , Masini Emmanuel , Huyghe Damien , Gaucher Eric C , Virgone Aurélien , Miegebielle Véronique
Published: June 2020

Continental carbonate bodies are widespread in the Tabernas basin, eastern Betic Cordillera. Their relationships with the topographic evolution, climate changes and extensional regional tectonic processes recognized in the region are, however, still unclear. Travertine deposits exhibit facies of cascade and pool environments often reported as related to water–air surface processes. Calcretes show a large panel of facies, indicating control by groundwater and pedogenic processes. New U/Th dates on both travertine and calcrete reveal that they precipitated from 354 ka ± 76 to 8 ka ± 0.2. The U/Th dates obtained on calcretes are in good agreement with global climate changes and support that precipitation of recent CaCO
3
is episodic and occurs mainly during warm and wet conditions. C and O stable isotope geochemistry reveals travertines are thermogenic and characterized by hydrothermal fluids enriched in CO
2
that interacted with aquifers. This thermogenic origin suggests a deep source of CO
2
(higher positive δ
13
C values) likely triggered by the presence of an anomalously hot mantle that reflects thinning of the regional lithosphere and volcanism. Further analyses of the distribution of calcrete show they are carbonate-rich fluvial terraces, whose formation is controlled by the response of the river network to regional uplift and climate.

Supplementary Materials
: reproducibility for δ
13
C and δ
18
O of the NSB-18 internal standard available in
Supplementary Table 1
(SP1) and reproducibility for U and Th of the HU-1 standard available in
Supplementary Table 2
(SP2) at
https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.c.4996514
Parton Distributions in Nucleons and Nuclei
Authors: Ethier Jacob J. , Nocera Emanuele R.
Published: June 2020

We review the current status of parton distribution function (PDF) determinations for unpolarized and longitudinally polarized protons and for unpolarized nuclei, which are probed by high-energy hadronic scattering in perturbative quantum chromodynamics (QCD). We present the established theoretical framework, the experimental information, and the methodological aspects inherent to any modern PDF extraction. Furthermore, we summarize the present knowledge of PDFs and discuss their limitations in both accuracy and precision relevant to advancing our understanding of QCD proton substructure and pursuing our quest for precision in the Standard Model and beyond. In this respect, we highlight various achievements, discuss contemporary issues in PDF analyses, and outline future directions of progress.
Avian gut experiments: an alternative approach for teaching the properties of intestinal smooth muscles
Authors: Pant Jayanti , Mohan Latika , S. Srikant
Published: June 2020

Experiments on isolated mammalian gut are essential components of the physiology curriculum worldwide. Over the years, these routine experiments have been largely replaced by simulation modules, to reduce the euthanization of animals for understanding established facts and mechanisms in gut physiology. However, a medical undergraduate needs hands-on training to handle a living tissue to have a better understanding of physiology. The present sourcebook update describes the use of avian gut, which is usually discarded in abattoirs, as an effective replacement of mammalian gut to understand basic gut smooth muscle physiology. The avian gut can be used to study the effect of various drugs and ions as used in mammalian gut experiments. The experiment protocol described in the update can be performed by students of basic sciences and medical students using minimal laboratory set up and at low cost, producing results comparable to mammalian gut experiments. Ethical permissions may not be necessary; however, the disposal of tissue waste has to follow proper guidelines.
Adipose tissue macrophage burden, systemic inflammation, and insulin resistance
Authors: Jia Qingyi , Morgan-Bathke Maria E. , Jensen Michael D.
Published: June 2020

Adipose tissue inflammation, as defined by macrophage accumulation, is proposed to cause insulin resistance and systemic inflammation. Because the strength of this relationship for humans is unclear, we tested whether adipose tissue macrophage (ATM) burden is correlated with these health indicators. Using immunohistochemistry, we measured abdominal subcutaneous CD68+ (total ATM), CD14+ (proinflammatory/M1), and CD206+ (anti-inflammatory/M2) ATM in 97 volunteers (BMI 20–38 kg/m2, in addition to body composition, adipocyte size, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance, ADIPO-IR, adipose tissue insulin resistance measured by palmitate, plasma lipids, TNF, and IL-6 concentrations. There were several significant univariate correlations between metabolic parameters to IL-6 and ATM per 100 adipocytes, but not ATM per gram tissue; adipocyte size was a confounding variable. We used matching strategies and multivariate regression analyses to investigate the relationships between ATM and inflammatory/metabolic parameters independent of adipocyte size. Matching approaches revealed that the groups discordant for CD206 but concordant for adipocyte size had significantly different fasting insulin and IL-6 concentrations. However, groups discordant for adipocyte size but concordent for ATM differeded in that visceral fat, plasma triglyceride, glucose, and TNF concentrations were greater in those with large adipocytes. Multivariate regression analysis indicated that indexes of insulin resistance and fasting triglycerides were predicted by body composition; the predictive value of ATM per 100 adipocytes or per gram tissue was variable between males and females. We conclude that the relationship between ATM burden and metabolic/inflammatory variables is confounded by adipocyte size/body composition and that ATM do not predict insulin resistance, systemic inflammation, or dyslipidemia. ATM may primarily play a role in tissue remodeling rather than in metabolic pathology.
Liver Abscess due to Streptococcus pneumoniae: A Clinical Rarity
Authors: Mohanty Srujana , Panigrahi Manas Kumar
Published: June 2020

We report a case of pyogenic liver abscess caused by a rare causative agent, Streptococcus pneumoniae. A 45-year-old man with underlying uncontrolled diabetes mellitus who had stopped taking his daily dose of insulin since the last 4 days, presented with pain in the abdominal area of one-day duration. Upon his admission to achieve diabetic control, a routine ultrasound examination of abdomen revealed incidentally, a large abscess in the left lobe of the liver with impending rupture. Culture of the ultrasound-guided liver aspirate pus yielded pure growth of a penicillin-susceptible S. pneumoniae isolate. After 4 weeks of parenteral ceftriaxone therapy along with intensive regimen for diabetic control, the liver abscess became resolved, and the patient improved and was discharged with no residual infection or recurrence at four months and at one-year follow-up. A review of relevant literature related to S. pneumoniae liver abscess revealed a mention of such entity only on 4 previous occasions. The present case highlights an important though rare manifestation of S. pneumoniae infection and emphasizes the need to establish an early diagnosis of S. pneumoniae infection for improved patient survival and favourable outcome.
A Log-Based Anomaly Detection Method with Efficient Neighbor Searching and Automatic K Neighbor Selection
Authors: Wang Bingming , Ying Shi , Yang Zhe
Published: June 2020

Using the k-nearest neighbor (kNN) algorithm in the supervised learning method to detect anomalies can get more accurate results. However, when using kNN algorithm to detect anomaly, it is inefficient at finding k neighbors from large-scale log data; at the same time, log data are imbalanced in quantity, so it is a challenge to select proper k neighbors for different data distributions. In this paper, we propose a log-based anomaly detection method with efficient selection of neighbors and automatic selection of k neighbors. First, we propose a neighbor search method based on minhash and MVP-tree. The minhash algorithm is used to group similar logs into the same bucket, and MVP-tree model is built for samples in each bucket. In this way, we can reduce the effort of distance calculation and the number of neighbor samples that need to be compared, so as to improve the efficiency of finding neighbors. In the process of selecting k neighbors, we propose an automatic method based on the Silhouette Coefficient, which can select proper k neighbors to improve the accuracy of anomaly detection. Our method is verified on six different types of log data to prove its universality and feasibility.
Simulated Annealing Method-Based Flight Schedule Optimization in Multiairport Systems
Authors: Geng Xi , Hu Minghua
Published: June 2020

Integrated development and operational collaboration of regional airport groups have the potential to improve capacity and safety and also reduce environmental impacts and operational costs. However, research in multiairport systems (MASs), especially in China, is still in its infancy, with the consequences of unbalanced development, inadequate coordination, unclear function partitioning, difficulty in air traffic management, and poor service quality of regional airports. Considering these characteristics influencing effective interaction and collaboration of regional airports, this paper formulates a model to optimize the flight schedules in the MAS with multiple objectives of minimizing the maximum displacement of all flights, the weighted sum of total flight adjustment of each airport, and flight delays. An improved simulated annealing algorithm (SAA) is designed to solve the proposed multiobjective optimization problem. The model is applied to a case of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Airport Group. The computational results demonstrate that the model generates significant reductions in maximum displacement, average displacement, and average delay, compared to the First-Come-First-Served (FCFS) principle. The model proposed in this paper can be used by civil aviation authorities, air navigation service providers, and airlines to facilitate the integrated management of flight schedules in the MAS.
Dynamic Characteristics and Chloride Resistance of Basalt and Polypropylene Fibers Reinforced Recycled Aggregate Concrete
Authors: Lu Dong , Cao Hui , Shen Qiangru , Gong Yue , Zhao Cheng , Yan Xiaohui
Published: June 2020

Fiber polymer has been extensively used to improve the mechanical properties and durability of concrete. However, the studies of the effect of fiber polymer on the dynamic performance of recycled aggregate concrete (RAC) is still very limited. In this study, we prepared two types of RAC formulations: RAC reinforced with basalt fibers (BFs) and RAC reinforced with polypropylene fibers (PPs), and compared the effects of fiber types and contents on the air void content, workability (slump), mechanical properties (compressive and flexural strength), dynamic characteristics (dynamic modulus of elasticity and damping ratio), and chloride resistance of RAC. The experimental results showed that the air void content and slump value decreased with the increase of replacement percentage of RCA and fiber contents. Adding PPs provided a more negative effect on the slump of RAC than BFs. The mixtures containing 0.2% PPs and BFs both obtained the highest flexural strength. The addition of PPs was more effective than BFs in improving the damping ratio of RAC, and the mixtures containing 0.3% PPs and BFs both obtained the highest damping ratio. Compared to the RAC without addition of fiber, the charge passed of specimen with addition of PPs approximately increased by 45%, while the specimen with addition of BFs approximately increased by 30%, when the fiber content was 0.3%. This study demonstrates the potential of using fiber to promote the dynamic properties of RAC.
Functional Glycopolypeptides: Synthesis and Biomedical Applications
Authors: Wang Zhao , Zhang Xiaojuan , Lin Qing , Sun Jingjing , Bhattachaya Santanu , Chen Guosong , Sheng Ruilong
Published: June 2020

Employing natural-based renewable sugar and saccharide resources to construct functional biopolymer mimics is a promising research frontier for green chemistry and sustainable biotechnology. As the mimics/analogues of natural glycoproteins, synthetic glycopolypeptides attracted great attention in the field of biomaterials and nanobiotechnology. This review describes the synthetic strategies and methods of glycopolypeptides and their analogues, the functional self-assemblies of the synthesized glycopolypeptides, and their biological applications such as biomolecular recognition, drug/gene delivery, and cell adhesion and targeting, as well as cell culture and tissue engineering. Future outlook of the synthetic glycopolypeptides was also discussed.
Regional Patch Detection of Road Traffic Network
Authors: Zhu Xia , Song Weidong , Gao Lin
Published: June 2020

Road traffic network (RTN) structure plays an important role in the field of complex network analysis. In this paper, we propose a regional patch detection method from RTN via community detection of complex network. Firstly, the refined Adapted PageRank algorithm, which combines with the influence factors of the location property weight, the geographic distance weight and the road level weight, is used to calculate the candidate ranking results of key nodes in the RTN. Secondly, the ranking result and the shortest path distance as two significant impact factors are used to select the key points of the RTN, and then the Adapted K-Means algorithm is applied to regional patch detection of the RTN. Finally, based on the experimental data of Zhangwu road traffic network, the analysis results are as follows: Zhangwu is divided into 9 functional structures with key node locations as the core. Regional patch structure is divided according to key points, and the RTN is actually divided into nine small functional communities. Nine functional regional patches constitute a new network structure, maintaining connectivity between the regional patches can improve the overall efficiency of the RTN.
Isolated Vastus Lateralis Rupture and Repair Using Suture Anchor Technique
Authors: Johnson Pierce , Digiovanni Ryan , Nguyen Tony
Published: June 2020

Introduction. This is a case report of an isolated vastus lateralis rupture identified by MRI and treated successfully with surgical repair. Case Presentation. A 50-year-old male recreational weightlifter who sustained an isolated vastus lateralis rupture while dead lifting and underwent surgical repair using a suture anchor fixation. Conclusion. An isolated vastus lateralis rupture is a rare injury that may be successfully treated with surgical repair allowing return to preinjury activities.
Guy’s Stone Score as a Predictor for Stone-Free Rate and Complications in Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy: A Single-Center Report from a Stone Belt Country
Authors: Omer Rashid Aso , Khalid Huthiem , Friad Goran , Hamed Reebeen Yosif , Buchholz Noor
Published: June 2020

Objectives: To evaluate Guy’s Stone Score (GSS) as a grading system for the complexity of renal calculi before percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) and as a predictor for stone-free rate (SFR) and potential complications in the setting of a developing country with many cases of advanced complex stone disease. Patients and Methods: We performed a prospective study on 115 patients with renal stones who had PCNL between August 2017 and October 2018. Stone complexity was classified according to GSS using preoperative imaging. The rates of perioperative complications were assessed using the Clavien grading system, and the SFR was assessed in the 3rd postoperative week by abdominal X-ray and renal ultrasound. The χ2 and one-way ANOVA tests were used for statistical analysis. A p value ≤0.05 was considered significant. Results: The study included 115 patients (77 males) with a mean age of 50.2 (±13.3) years. Cases were classified according to GSS into 4 grades; there were 24 (20.9%) grade I, 48 (41.7%) grade II, 25 (21.7%) grade III, and 18 (15.7%) grade IV cases. There was a significant inverse correlation between GSS grade and SFR (p < 0.001). The rate of complications using the Clavien grading system were significantly higher in GSS grades III and IV (p = 0.002). So were the rates of blood transfusion, the need for >1 access tract, and the duration of hospitalization. Conclusion: GSS is a simple and easily reproducible system to classify the complexity of renal stones. In our setting, it also proved an excellent tool to predict SFR, perioperative complications, and associated ancillary procedures. Ultimately, it can help surgeons and, above all, patients to make a more informed decision about their surgery.
A Comparative Study of the Diagnostic Potential of Plasma and Erythrocytic α-Synuclein in Parkinson’s Disease
Authors: Wang Luxuan , Wang Guowei , Duan Yangyang , Wang Feng , Lin Shaoqing , Zhang Fengting , Li Hui , Li Andy , Li Haining
Published: June 2020

Background: Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by intracellular α-synuclein (α-Syn) deposition. Alternation of the α-Syn expression level in plasma or erythrocytes may be used as a potential PD biomarker. However, no studies have compared their prognostic value directly with the same cohort. Methods: The levels of α-Syn in plasma and erythrocytes, obtained from 45 PD patients and 45 control subjects, were measured with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Then, correlation and receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) analysis were performed to characterize the predictive power of erythrocytic and plasma α-Syn. Results: Our results showed that α-Syn expression levels in both plasma and erythrocytes were significantly higher in PD patients than in control subjects (823.14 ± 257.79 vs. 297.10 ± 192.82 pg/mL, p < 0.0001 in plasma; 3,104.14 ± 143.03 vs. 2,944.82 ± 200.41 pg/mL, p < 0.001 in erythrocytes, respectively). The results of the ROC analysis suggested that plasma α-Syn exhibited better predictive power than erythrocytic α-Syn with a sensitivity of 80.0%, specificity of 97.7%, and a positive predictive value of 77.8%. The expression level of plasma α-Syn correlated well with the age of patients, H-Y stage, MoCA scale, and UPDRS motor scale. On the contrary, there was no correlation between erythrocytic α-Syn level and clinical parameters in this study. Conclusion: Our results suggest that plasma α-Syn could be a specific and sensitive potential diagnostic biomarker for PD.
Tadalafil Improves Nocturia and Nocturia-Related Quality of Life in Patients with Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (KYU-PRO Study)
Authors: Takahashi Ryosuke , Sumino Yasuhiro , Miyazato Minoru , Nishii Hisae , Oshiro Takuma , Mimata Hiromitsu , Saito Seiichi , Yoshida Masaki , Eto Masatoshi
Published: June 2020

Introduction: Tadalafil improves lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) including nocturia. However, the effect of tadalafil on the nocturia-related quality of life (QoL) is still unknown. Objective: The effects of tadalafil on nocturia and nocturia-related QoL were evaluated prospectively in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) as a multicenter study. Methods: Eligible men were ≥40 years with nocturia ≥2 and a prostate volume ≥20 mL. Patients were asked to complete a self-report questionnaire on the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), the Nocturia Quality of Life questionnaire (N-QoL) and the International Index of Erectile Function 5 (IIEF5). Urinary frequency volume charts (FVCs) were also evaluated. These measures were evaluated at baseline, and after 4, 8, and 12 weeks of tadalafil administration (5 mg once daily). Results: Thirty-one patients with a mean age of 74 years, a mean prostate volume of 31 mL, and a mean prostate-specific antigen level of 2.8 ng/mL were included. Treatment with tadalafil significantly improved their nocturia after 4 weeks, and these improvements were maintained for the 12-week treatment period. Total N-QoL score in new patients and several N-QoL items (inadequate sleep at night and overall bother) in all patients improved significantly after tadalafil treatment. FVCs revealed a significant improvement in the number of hours of undisturbed sleep (HUS) after treatment with tadalafil. No serious adverse events were observed. Conclusions: This study indicates that tadalafil 5 mg once daily improves nocturia, nocturia-related QoL, and HUS in BPH patients with nocturia. These results suggest that tadalafil can offer a clinically meaningful treatment option for BPH patients with nocturia.
A Novel Cadherin 23 Variant for Hereditary Hearing Loss Reveals Additional Support for a DFNB12 Nonsyndromic Phenotype of CDH23
Authors: Koohiyan Mahbobeh , Hashemzadeh-Chaleshtori Morteza , Salehi Mansoor , Abtahi Hamidreza , Noori-Daloii Mohammad Reza , Tabatabaiefar Mohammad Amin
Published: June 2020

Background and Objectives: Identification of the pathogenic mutations underlying hereditary hearing loss (HL) is difficult, since causative mutations in 60 different genes have so far been reported. Methods: A comprehensive clinical and pedigree examination was performed on a multiplex family suffering from HL. Direct sequencing of GJB2 and genetic linkage analysis of 5 other most common recessive nonsyndromic HL (ARNSHL) genes were accomplished. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) was utilized to reveal the possible genetic etiology of the disease. Results: NGS results showed a novel rare variant c.2977G>A (p.Asp993Asn) in the CDH23 gene. The variant, which is a missense in exon 26 of the CDH23 gene, fulfills the criteria of being categorized as pathogenic according to the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG) guideline. Electroretinography rejects the Usher syndrome in the family. Conclusions:The present study shows that an accurate molecular diagnosis based on NGS technologies largely improves molecular-diagnostic outcome and thus genetic counseling, and helps to clarify the recurrence risk in deaf families.
Hydrogen Sulfide Promotes Cell Proliferation and Melanin Synthesis in Primary Human Epidermal Melanocytes
Authors: Ying Jiayi , Wang Qianqian , Jiang Min , Wang Xiuxiu , Liu Wenjie , Wang Xuan , Zhang Chengfeng , Xiang Leihong
Published: June 2020

Background/Aim: Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) has been found to act as a physiological intercellular messenger to regulate cell survival. In this study, we evaluated whether H2S could promote cell proliferation and melanin synthesis in human epidermal melanocytes (HEMs). Methods: Primary HEMs were cocultured with sodium hydrosulfide (NaHS, the most widely used H2S donor) or endogenously overexpressed with cystathionine-γ-lyase (CSE) gene, which is the most predominant H2S-producing enzyme. Then, cell viability, intracellular melanin content, tyrosinase (TYR) activity, and expression of microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF), TYR, together with TYR-related protein 1 (TRP-1) in both transcript and protein levels, were detected. Results: We first confirmed that NaHS (10–100 μm) increased cell viability, intracellular melanin content, and TYR activity in a dose-dependent manner. Then, we found that endogenous H2S production also promoted cell proliferation, intracellular melanin content, and TYR activity. In addition, we observed the mRNA and protein expression of MITF, TYR, and TRP-1 was significantly up-regulated after NaHS treatment and CSE gene transfection. Conclusions: This study demonstrates that H2S promotes cell proliferation and melanin synthesis in HEMs, which indicates pharmacologic regulation of H2S may be potential treatment for skin disorders caused by loss of melanocytes or dysfunction of melanogenesis.
Postintubation Tracheal Stenosis Evaluated by Endobronchial Optical Coherence Tomography: A Canine Model Study
Authors: Zhou Zi-Qing , Su Zhu-Quan , Sun Wan , Zhong Ming-Lu , Chen Yu , Zhong Chang-Hao , Chen Huan-Jie , Li Shi-Yue
Published: June 2020

Background: The predictors and airway morphological changes during the development of postintubation tracheal stenosis (PITS) have not been well elucidated. Objectives: To elucidate the validation of endobronchial optical coherence tomography (EB-OCT) in assessing the airway morphological changes in PITS. Methods: We performed oral endotracheal intubation in 12 beagles to establish the PITS model. EB-OCT was performed respectively before modeling and on the 1st, 7th, and 12th day after extubation in 9 canines, and was conducted consecutively in 3 canines during the development of PITS. Histological findings and the thickness and gray-scale value of the tracheal wall assessed by EB-OCT measurements were analyzed and compared. Results: The tracheal wall edema, granulation tissue proliferation, cartilage destruction in PITS, and airway wall thickening detected by EB-OCT were in concordance with the histopathological measurements. The consecutive EB-OCT observation of the airway structure demonstrated the tracheal wall thickness significantly increased from 344.41 ± 44.19 μm before modeling to 796.67 ± 49.75 μm on the 9th day after modeling (p < 0.05). The airway wall gray-scale values assessed by EB-OCT decreased from 111.19 ± 14.71 before modeling to 74.96 ± 4.08 on the 9th day after modeling (p < 0.05). The gray-scale value was negatively correlated with the airway wall thickness (r = –0.945, p = 0.001). Conclusion: The EB-OCT imaging, in concordance with the histopathological finding, was validated for assessing the airway morphological changes during the development of PITS. The EB-OCT evaluation of cartilage damage and gray-scale value measurement might help predict the development and prognosis of PITS.
Using Experimental Models to Identify Pathogenic Pathways and Putative Disease Management Targets in Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia
Authors: Morty Rory E.
Published: June 2020

Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is a common and serious complication of preterm birth. Limited pharmacological and other medical interventions are currently available for the management of severely affected, very preterm infants. BPD can be modelled in preclinical studies using experimental animals, and experimental animal models have been extremely valuable in the development of hallmark clinical management strategies for BPD, including pulmonary surfactant replacement and single-course antenatal corticosteroids. A gradual move away from large animal models of BPD in favor of term-born rodents has facilitated the identification of a multitude of new mechanisms of normal and stunted lung development, but this has also potentially limited the utility of experimental animal models for the identification of pathogenic pathways and putative disease management targets in BPD. Indeed, more recent pharmacological interventions for the management of BPD that have been validated in randomized controlled trials have relied very little on preclinical data generated in experimental animal models. While rodent-based models of BPD have tremendous advantages in terms of the availability of genetic tools, they also have considerable drawbacks, including limited utility for studying breathing mechanics, gas exchange, and pulmonary hemodynamics; and they have a less relevant clinical context where lung prematurity and a background of infection are now rarely present in the pathophysiology under study. There is a pressing need to refine existing models to better recapitulate pathological processes at play in affected infants, in order to better evaluate new candidate pharmacological and other interventions for the management of BPD.
The Thromboelastographic Profile at Birth in Very Preterm Newborns with Patent Ductus Arteriosus
Authors: Ghirardello Stefano , Raffaeli Genny , Crippa Beatrice Letizia , Gulden Silvia , Amodeo Ilaria , Consonni Dario , Cavallaro Giacomo , Schena Federico , Mosca Fabio
Published: June 2020

Background: The role of hemostasis in the closure of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) in preterm infants is controversial. Objective: To assess thromboelastography (TEG) at birth in very-low-birth-weight (VLBW) infants affected by PDA. Methods: This was an ancillary study of a prospective observational study aimed at defining the TEG profile in healthy VLBW infants in the first month of life. In this analysis, we included neonates of <33 weeks’ gestational age (GA) with PDA and compared TEG traces based on (1) spontaneous closure versus the need for pharmacological treatment and (2) treatment response. We collected blood samples in the 1st day of life to perform recalcified native-blood TEG (reaction time, maximum amplitude, and lysis at 30 min [Ly30)]), standard coagulation tests, and a full blood count. Results: We enrolled 151 infants with a PDA at the first echocardiogram; 111 experienced spontaneous PDA closure while 40 required treatment. Mean GA was 29.7 ± 1.7 and 27.6 ± 2.1 weeks, and birth weight was 1,158 ± 256 and 933 ± 263 g in the 2 groups, respectively (p < 0.001). The hemostatic profile was similar between groups. Median hematocrit (44.6 and 48.7%; p = 0.01) and platelet count (187 and 216 × 103/μL; p = 0.04) were lower in the treated group, although differences lost significance after controlling for GA and illness severity in the multivariate analysis. Responders to PDA treatment (n = 20) had a significantly lower median Ly30 than nonresponders (0 and 0.7%; p = 0.02). Conclusion: TEG at birth does not predict spontaneous PDA closure in preterm newborns. Fibrinolysis is enhanced in nonresponders to PDA treatment; this observation warrants further investigation.
Functional Decoupling of Language and Self-Reference Networks in Patients with Persistent Auditory Verbal Hallucinations
Authors: Kubera Katharina M. , Wolf Nadine D. , Rashidi Mahmoud , Hirjak Dusan , Northoff Georg , Schmitgen Mike M. , Romanov Dmitry V. , Sambataro Fabio , Frasch Karel , Wolf Robert Christian
Published: June 2020

Background: Accumulating neuroimaging evidence suggests that abnormal intrinsic neural activity could underlie auditory verbal hallucinations (AVH) in patients with schizophrenia. However, little is known about the functional interplay between distinct intrinsic neural networks and their association with AVH. Methods: We investigated functional network connectivity (FNC) of distinct resting-state networks as well as the relationship between FNC strength and AVH symptom severity. Resting-state functional MRI data at 3 T were obtained for 14 healthy controls and 10 patients with schizophrenia presenting with persistent AVH. The data were analyzed using a spatial group independent component analysis, followed by constrained maximal lag correlations to determine FNC within and between groups. Results: Four components of interest, comprising language, attention, executive control networks, as well as the default-mode network (DMN), were selected for subsequent FNC analyses. Patients with persistent AVH showed lower FNC between the language network and the DMN (p < 0.05, corrected for false discovery rate). FNC strength, however, was not significantly related to symptom severity, as measured by the Psychotic Symptom Rating Scale. Conclusion: These findings suggest that disrupted FNC between a speech-related system and a network subserving self-referential processing is associated with AVH. The data are consistent with a model of disrupted self-attribution of speech generation and perception.
Neoadjuvant and Definitive Radiochemotherapeutic Approaches in Esophageal Cancer: A Retrospective Evaluation of 122 Cases in Daily Clinical Routine
Authors: Mayr Patrick , Martin Benedikt , Fries Verena , Claus Rainer , Anthuber Matthias , Messmann Helmut , Schenkirsch Gerhard , Blodow Vera , Kahl Klaus Henning , Stüben Georg
Published: June 2020

Introduction: Esophageal cancer (EC) is a common malignant tumor entity with increasing occurrence. The incidence of esophageal adenocarcinoma (AC), particularly, is constantly rising in the Western world. The mainstays of therapy with curative intent for EC in advanced stages are neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy (neoRCT) with surgery and definitive radiochemotherapy (defRCT). Methods: We examined our internal files to identify patients suffering from EC. Palliative cases were excluded. Statistical testing was performed by χ2 test, Student’s t test, Kaplan-Meier analyses, and the Mann-Whitney U test. Results: One hundred and twenty-two cases were included. Histology revealed squamous cell carcinoma in 92 cases and AC in 23 cases. Ninety-five patients underwent defRCT, 27 underwent neoRCT, and 114 (in both therapy regimes) received simultaneous chemotherapy. There was no difference in the overall survival (OS) (p = 0.654; HR 1.145; 95% CI 0.629–2.086) or and progression-free survival (PFS) (p = 0.912) of patients who underwent neoRCT or defRCT. Median OS was 13.5 (2–197) months for defRCT patients and 19.5 (2–134) months for neoRCT patients (p = 0.751). Karnofsky index (KI) with a cut-off of 70% was strongest, but not a significant parameter for OS (p = 0.608) or PFS (p = 0.137). Conclusion: defRCT is a valid and an equal alternative to neoRCT for patients suffering from EC. Selection of patients for therapy is of crucial relevance. Further studies and improvements in follow-up are needed when neoRCT has been completed before surgery, in order to spare the patient undergoing operative treatment if there is complete remission. The identification of valid markers urgently needed to limit treatment side effects.
Thymol-Induced Chemical Leukoderma Successfully Treated with 308-Nanometer Excimer Laser
Authors: Weigelt Maximillian A. , Herbst Alexander T. , Tosti Antonella , Lev-Tov Hadar
Published: June 2020

Introduction: Chemical leukoderma (CL) is an acquired depigmenting disorder caused by repeated exposure to chemical compounds. Thymol is a phenol derivative used as a preservative or antiseptic in many commercially available products. Here, we present the second reported case of CL caused by a thymol-containing compound. Case Presentation: A 48-year-old woman presented with a 4-month history of depigmentation of the nail folds of all ten fingers. This occurred after 1 month of twice-daily application of a thymol-containing compound intended for the removal of gel nails. No improvement was noted after the product was discontinued. There was no family history of vitiligo or other autoimmune disorders. On physical exam, depigmentation of all ten proximal and lateral nail folds was seen, with accentuation on Wood’s lamp exam. Partial re-pigmentation was achieved after 32 treatments with 308-nm excimer laser. Discussion: A thorough history and physical exam are instrumental in differentiating CL from other causes of depigmentation. Avoidance of the offending agent is an essential part of management. It is important to note that many cosmetic products are not tightly regulated by the FDA. Excimer laser is an effective treatment for CL with a favorable side-effect profile.
Do Follicles of Obese Patients Yield Competent Oocytes/Embryos?
Authors: Orvieto Raoul , Mohr-Sasson Aya , Aizer Adva , Nahum Ravit , Blumenfeld Shlomit , Kirshenbaum Michal , Haas Jigal
Published: June 2020

Aim: This study evaluated the competency of oocytes/embryos derived from follicles >15 mm in diameter from obese patients, compared with nonobese patients. Patients and Methods: A cohort study was conducted in a single tertiary medical center between July 2018 and May 2019. Before ultrasound-guided follicular aspiration, follicles were measured and those with maximal dimensional size >15 mm were tracked. Microscopic examination of the follicular aspirates was performed by an embryologist. Each follicle aspirated was evaluated for oocyte maturation, oocyte fertilization, and embryo quality. Results: 457 follicles were measured: 380 (83.2%) in nonobese and 77 (16.8%) in obese patients. No in-between group differences were observed in the causes of infertility, patients’ demographics, or ovarian stimulation characteristics. Oocytes were achieved during aspiration from 277 (72.8%) and 54 (70.0%) of the nonobese and obese groups, respectively (p = 0.67). No in-between group differences were observed in fertilization (2PN/oocyte), top quality embryo (TQE) per zygote (2PN), and TQE per follicle. Conclusion: Oocyte recovery rate from follicles >15 mm is unrelated to patients’ BMI. Moreover, the oocytes recovered from obese patients are competent yielding comparable zygote and TQE per follicle/oocyte, compared with nonobese patients. Further investigation is required to strengthen this finding.
Venookklusive Erkrankung: Eine gezielte vasoaktive Therapie als Brücke zur Lungentransplantation
Authors: Herkenrath Simon-Dominik
Published: June 2020

Background: Pulmonary veno-occlusive disease (PVOD) is a rare condition with poor prognosis, and lung transplantation is recommended as the only curative therapy. The role of pulmonary arterial hypertension targeted therapy in PVOD remains controversial, and long-term effects of targeted therapy have been rarely reported. This study aims to retrospectively evaluate the role of targeted therapy in PVOD patients and the long-term outcome. Methods: PVOD patients with good responses to targeted therapies were analyzed, and data pre- and post-targeted therapies were compared. An overview of the effects of targeted therapies on PVOD patients was also conducted. Results: Five genetically or histologically confirmed PVOD patients received targeted therapies and showed good responses. Their mean pulmonary arterial pressure by right heart catheterization was 62.0 ± 11.7 mmHg. Two receiving monotherapy got stabilized, and three receiving sequential combination therapy got improved, cardiac function and exercise capacity significantly improved after treatments. No pulmonary edema occurred. The mean time from the first targeted therapy to the last follow up was 39.3 months, and the longest was 9 years. A systematic review regarding the effects of targeted therapies on PVOD patients indicated majorities of patients got hemodynamics or 6-min walk distance improved, and 26.7% patients developed pulmonary edema. The interval from targeted drugs use to death ranged from 71 min to over 4 years. Conclusions: Cautious use of targeted therapy could safely and effectively improve or stabilize hemodynamics and exercise capacity of some patients without any complications. PVOD patients could live longer than expected.
Acute Diverticulitis in Elderly Patients: Does Age Really Matter?
Authors: Covino Marcello , Rosa Fausto , Ojetti Veronica , Quero Giuseppe , Fiorillo Claudio , Sganga Gabriele , Gasbarrini Antonio , Franceschi Francesco , Alfieri Sergio
Published: June 2020

Objective: Contrasting results are reported on the clinical course of acute diverticulitis (AD) in the geriatric population. The aim of this study is to compare the AD clinical outcomes between patients aged up to 80 years and those ≥80 years. Methods: A total of 1,139 patients were enrolled: 276 patients aged ≥80 years were compared with a group of 863 patients aged <80 years. The primary outcome was to compare the overall mortality. Secondary outcomes included major complications, in-hospital length of stay (LOS), and need for surgical procedures. Results: Patients ≥80 years with AD had different clinical presentation compared with younger patients: they had less fever (21.4 vs. 35.2%; p < 0.001) and abdominal pain (47.8 vs. 65.6%; p < 0.001) rates, but a higher digestive tract bleeding (31.5 vs. 12.3%; p < 0.001) and fatigue (12.7 vs. 7.1%; p = 0.004) rates. Median LOS, cumulative major complications, and mortality rates were higher for patients ≥80 years.Multivariate analysis identified age, absence of abdominal pain, and dyspnea at presentation as independent predictors of intrahospital death or major complications. Conclusions: Patients with AD and age ≥80 years have a higher mortality rate and cumulative major complications as compared with younger patients. Invasive treatments were associated to a poor prognosis in this group.
Self-sustaining and externally-powered fixed, single, and dual-axis solar trackers
Authors: Mohaimin A. H. , Uddin M. R. , Khalil A.
Published: June 2020

Power output from a small solar panel can be affected by its power consumption when it consumes power from the solar panel. There has been a lack of proper research and experiment in the use of small solar panel with tracking systems. Its significance was detailed in this paper where the voltage output are compared with those which were externally powered. The solar trackers and a microcontroller have been designed and fabricated for this research. Due to the use of the tracking system (single axis and dual axis), the power consumption varies from one to another and its effect on the voltage output. Several experiments have been conducted and it was concluded that small solar panels are not efficient enough to utilize with tracking capabilities due to an increase in power consumption. The externally powered system was found to generate 18% more output compared to a selfsustaining system and that the increase in average power consumptions compared to a fixed panel were 31.7% and 82.5% for single-axis and dualaxis tracker respectively. A concrete evidence was made that utilizing solar tracking capabilities for low power rated solar panel is unfeasible.
Novel nonlinear control structure for vector control of SPIM drive using BS PCH
Authors: Pham Ngoc Thuy
Published: June 2020

This paper presents a novel structure combining the port-controlled Hamiltonian (PCH) and Backstepping (BS) nonlinear control for the vector control of the six-phase induction motor (SPIM). In this new scheme, to improve the outer loop’s robustness, the BS technique using the integral tracking errors action is proposed in the speed and flux controllers design. The advantage of this proposed control law is not to increase the complexity of differential equation resolution due to being not increased system states numbers. To enhance more the performance of SPIM drives (SPIMD), port-controlled Hamiltonian (PCH) scheme is used in the inner current loop controllers. In this proposed PCH current controller, the stabilization of controller is achieved via system passivity. In that, the interconnection and damping matrix functions of PCH system are shaped so that the physical (Hamiltonian) system structure is preserved at the closed loop level and the closed loop energy function is equal to the difference between the physical energy of the system and the energy supplied by the controller. The proposed control design is based on combination PCH and BS techniques improve significantly performance and robustness. The proposed speed control scheme is validated by Matlab-Simulink software.
Simulation of adaptive power management circuit for hybrid energy harvester and real-time sensing application
Authors: Tamrin M. S. , Ahmad M. R.
Published: June 2020

Many wireless sensor network (WSN) applications, nowadays, require real-time communication, which demands cautious design consideration to resolve inherent conflicts between energy efficiency and the need to meet Quality of Services (QoS), such as end-to-end delay communications. Numerous innovative solutions are proposed such as Real-time Power-Aware Routing (RPAR) protocol, which dynamically adapts transmission power to meet specified communication delays at low energy cost. Hence, to enable real-time communication with RPAR protocol, an adaptive Power Management Circuit (PMC) using hybrid energy harvester to support WSN real-time communication is proposed. In this paper, a high-level architecture of the proposed PMC is discussed, which consists of Thermal Energy Generator (TEG), and Piezoelectric Energy Harvester (PEG) as energy providers, with low-power Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) feature enabled. Preliminary simulations which analyze and characterize TEG and PEG system are conducted separately to determine the optimal design parameters to support the conventional WSN QoS requirement. Next, both systems will be integrated into a single PMC implementation prior to fabrication and lab characterization.