bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Progressive Underwater Exploration with a Corridor-Based Navigation System
Authors: Alberto Jordan Mario
Published: June 2020

The present work focuses on the exploration of underwater environments by means of autonomous submarines like AUVs using vision-based navigation. An approach called Corridor SLAM (C-SLAM) was developed for this purpose. It implements a global exploration strategy that consists of first creating a trunk corridor on the seabed and then branching as far as possible in different directions to increase the explored region. The system guarantees the safe return of the vehicle to the starting point by taking into account a metric of the corridor lengths that are related to their energy autonomy. Experimental trials in a basin with underwater scenarios demonstrated the feasibility of the approach.
Diagnosis and Treatment of Midface Trauma in the Context of Polytrauma: Characteristics during COVID-19 Pandemic Conditions
Authors: Vrinceanu Daniela , Banica Bogdan , Dumitru Mihai
Published: June 2020

Midfacial trauma is never an immediate therapeutic emergency excepting cases with nasal bleeding and risk of aspiration or requiring a permeable airway that will allow intubation when appropriate. The patient with polytraumas and midfacial fractures who needs ear, nose, and throat (ENT) or oral and maxillofacial (OMF) surgery should be reassessed at 24 and 48 hours to determine the optimal operating time. The surgical indication should be established according to esthetic and functional deficits. We consider that the optimal operative moment for the lesions of the midface is at 4–5 days after the trauma, under the conditions of a stable hemodynamic, respiratory, and afebrile patient. We propose the schematic presentation of the principles of diagnosis and treatment for midface trauma. We will discuss also some aspects of midfacial trauma during coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic conditions. We must assume every patient with polytrauma as a COVID-19-positive patient. So, it is necessary to have a special circuit for a suspect COVID-19 polytrauma patient between emergency room (ER) department, operating room, and intensive care unit (ICU). All medical team must wear high-level personal protective equipment (PPE) during emergency treatment of a craniofacial trauma in the context of polytrauma until we get the result of RT-PCR testing.
Reproductive Toxicity of Insecticides
Authors: Kara Mehtap , Öztaş Ezgi
Published: June 2020

Pesticides include several classes such as insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, and have widespread usage in agriculture. Different type of pesticides and their combinations affect dairy animals through their lifetime and the livestock industry. Under chronic exposure conditions, hormonal and cellular systems of animals, which play a role in reproduction, are affected dramatically. Some of the insecticides act as endocrine disruptors and impair reproductive hormone metabolic pathways via the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis. Additionally, insecticides could have harmful effects on reproductive organs that may cause infertility. The aim of this chapter is review the toxic effects of insecticides on animal reproductive system focusing on molecular mechanisms.
Communication Practitioners’ Perceptions of Big Data and Automation: A Comparative Study between Europe and Latin America
Authors: Wiesenberg Markus , Moreno Angeles
Published: June 2020

The big data revolution has changed the way organisations operate. The implications have been phenomenal for public relations and communication management professionals who are trying to understand and manage the realm of big data and what it means for them. This study is an attempt to dive deeper into the discussion on how professionals are managing the world of big data. A large survey of European and Latin American countries reveals comparative findings on the knowledge and usage of big data and automation and demonstrates large gaps between the continents. Implications for theory and practice are finally drawn.
La comunicación como factor de éxito en la Empresa Familiar. Análisis de 40 testimonios del empresariado sobre aspectos clave de la gestión
Authors: Armendariz Enrique
Published: June 2020

The Family Business, as a phenomenon that explains the economic dynamism of the countries, has been studied from several points of view, standing out among them the Succession, the Corporate Governance or the factors that condition its Competitiveness. On the other hand, there are fewer specific studies about organization´s vision relating Communication Management and its impact on the achievement of success.
The study aims to determine whether the concept of communication is considered by family entrepreneurs as a key success factor within their general vision of management and strategy. And subject to it, it tries to unravel the vision that businessmen and businesswomen have in the field of Communication from the terms related to this matter that they use most in their testimonies. Likewise, the work proceeds to characterize the different roles that these business leaders confer on Communication from the instrumental point of view, as a tool that contributes to solving specific aspects of management.
The research is based on a review of the literature generated by scholars in the field of Intangible Resources and Business Reputation. It´s also focused on the analysis referred to the phenomenon known as the Family Business. From this theoretical framework, the object of study is based on the stories or testimonies of the forty businessmen collected over almost 800 pages in the two volumes that set up the work of KPMG entitled Those who leave their mark. The content and speech analysis techniques are used for their study.
The work confirms the importance of Communication in the transmission of the values that guide the activity of companies and make a difference with respect to their key competitors; hence, the intangibles that contribute to the configuration of business reputation. Likewise, based on the businessmen's own testimonies, the instrumental functions that businessmen confer on Communication for the achievement of their corporate and business objectives are identified.
As highlight in the study, the management of business intangibles is one of the latest and most important innovations in modern business management, and its leading role is the result of the evolution of strategic management towards new value niches within companies and its Communication´s development. Besides, in recent years, Communication has shifted its focus from the product to the brand, image and reputation of the companies.
Furthermore, within the resources included in the category of intangibles, reputation has become the real territory in which companies compete to win the favour of their clients and consolidate their position in the markets. This relevance acquired by reputation has led some authors to speak of the “reputation economy” to refer to the new economic and social paradigm in which we find ourselves.
Discussions on Public Relations and Marketing: Trends in Spanish University Degrees. Comparative Study on Portugal, the US and the UK
Authors: Fernandez-Souto Ana-Belen , Vázquez-Gestal Motse , Ruas-Araujo Jose
Published: June 2020

The following is a reflection on Spanish undergraduate studies that combine the concepts of marketing and public relations.
Sharing origins and often functions and specialists, both concepts have run parallel paths that have merged on multiple occasions. This evolution has been studied from different points of view. Initially, marketing experts included PR techniques as an additional tool to grant it a greater specific instrumental relevance over time. On the other hand, PR scholars have tried to dissociate themselves from marketing in order acquire an independent position within the field of communication.
In Spain, these conceptual differences are currently blurred due to the creation of new university degrees and double degrees combining both disciplines. This trend is evidenced within the Spanish university market which, throughout this article, will be compared to other markets, namely the American and the British ones, as a scientific reference for both concepts, and to the Portuguese one, given its geographical proximity.
We will reflect on the reasons that have led the Spanish university market to combine both concepts and to offer official studies that include them in their nomenclature, far from the historical tradition in this country, where studies in public relations have been related to the field of communication, while those in marketing have been related to the field of economics.
The identification of this trend in the job market of organisational communication professionals poses new challenges to training institutions, especially to universities.
Utility of Immunohistochemistry for MUC4 and GATA3 to Aid in the Distinction of Pleural Sarcomatoid Mesothelioma From Pulmonary Sarcomatoid Carcinoma
Authors: Terra Simone B.S.P. , Roden Anja C , Aubry Marie Christine , Yi Eunhee S. (Joanne) , Boland Jennifer M.
Published: June 2020

Context.—

Distinguishing pulmonary sarcomatoid carcinoma from pleural sarcomatoid mesothelioma is challenging because of overlapping histology, immunophenotype, and clinical features. Reliable immunohistochemical markers to aid in this distinction would be very valuable. Recent studies have proposed that MUC4 expression is common in sarcomatoid carcinoma but not in sarcomatoid mesothelioma, with the converse pattern reported for GATA3.

Objective.—

To further explore the utility of MUC4 and GATA3 in distinguishing pulmonary sarcomatoid carcinoma from sarcomatoid mesothelioma.

Design.—

Well-characterized cases of sarcomatoid carcinoma (n = 32) and sarcomatoid mesothelioma (n = 64) were included. Diagnoses were confirmed by thoracic pathologists with incorporation of immunophenotype, clinical, and radiographic features. Whole-tissue sections were stained for GATA3 and MUC4.

Results.—

Patients with sarcomatoid carcinoma and sarcomatoid mesothelioma had similar mean age and male predominance. GATA3 was positive in 63 of 64 sarcomatoid mesotheliomas (98%; 42 diffuse, 16 patchy, 5 focal), and 15 of 32 sarcomatoid carcinomas (47%; 3 diffuse, 8 patchy, 4 focal). MUC4 was positive in 2 of 64 sarcomatoid mesotheliomas (3%; 1 patchy, 1 focal), and in 12 of 32 sarcomatoid carcinomas (38%; 5 diffuse, 6 patchy, 1 focal).

Conclusions.—

Diffuse GATA3 expression favors sarcomatoid mesothelioma over sarcomatoid carcinoma, which rarely shows diffuse expression (sensitivity and specificity of diffuse staining 66% and 94%, respectively). Focal and patchy GATA3 expression is observed in both tumor types, and therefore is not helpful in this distinction. Sensitivity of MUC4 for sarcomatoid carcinoma was low in our cohort, positive in only 38% with frequent patchy staining, but it was quite specific.
Social distancing measures may have reduced the estimated deaths related to Covid-19 in Brazil
Authors: Valenti Vitor E. , Menezes Pedro de Lemos , Abreu Ana Carolina Gonçalves de , Vieira Gustavo Nakamura Alves , Garner David M.
Published: June 2020

Social distancing was planned as a preventive measure to control the extensive spread of COVID-19. COVID-19-related deaths in Brazil were analyzed during the period of social distancing measures. Mortality data for COVID-19 was obtained from the Worldometer website. Deaths were estimated up to the 31st day after the occurrence of the 5th COVID-19-related death in Brazil. Social distance was measured using Google's community mobility reports. The Brazilian epidemic curves were interconnected, and mathematical models were evaluated to fit the mortality estimation curves. The optimistic model was defined in the opening period of social distancing and, therefore, in the lower mobility (40-60%). The realistic model was calculated according to relaxed social distance measures (<40%) and the pessimistic model was calculated based on the transmission rate between 2-3. Thus, the equations of the mathematical models provided the outcomes for the date of June 9, 2020, as follows: realistic model with 40,623 deaths, pessimistic model with 64,310 deaths and the optimistic model with a projection of 31,384 deaths. As a result of these analyzes, on May 24, 2020, there were a total of 22,965 deaths related to COVID-19, and those deaths included within the proposed mathematical models were 17,452 for the optimistic model, 22,623 for the realistic model and 32,825 for the pessimistic model. Thus, it is concluded that social distancing measures promoted by the Brazilian public managers contributes to the reduction in approximately ten thousand deaths related to COVID-19 in the current pandemic scenario.
Experiences of violence among students of public schools
Authors: Giacomozzi Andréia Isabel , Cardoso Jane Laner , Figueiredo Camila Detoni Sá de , Meneghetti Natália Cristina de Oliveira , Wiggers Giorgia Andréa , Nunes Priscila Pereira , Cecconi Vanessa Philippi
Published: June 2020

Introduction: School violence it’s a problem that involves a lot of bad consequences for the life’s students. So preventing and research about it are very important.
Objective: The objective of this study was identify the experiences of violence of students from public schools participating in the PSE - School Health Program and SPE - Health and Prevention in the Schools of Florianópolis.
Methods: Participants were 871 students from the 9th grade of elementary school to the 3rd year of high school with a mean age of 15 years and 6 months.
Results: Regarding the experiences of violence, 81.6% stated that they had already witnessed scenes of violence, with 51.1% of these scenes occurring at school. Besides, 28% of the participants reported having already suffered prejudice at school. There was a statistically significant association between violent behavior and being a boy, having a habit of watching movies and playing video games with violent content, killing classes and having a regular to bad relationship with teachers.
Conclusions: Violence is part of student’s daily activities, involving a broad context and it is pretty much related to school.
Characterization of congenital syphilis cases with emphasis on the therapeutic scheme in a philanthropic maternity hospital in Espírito Santo
Authors: Ferro Renata Pereira , Macedo Laylla Ribeiro , Macedo Mariana Ribeiro , Cosson Ionar Cilene de Oliveira , Santos Jaçamar Aldenora dos , Carvalho Julia Santos , Macedo Cristina Ribeiro
Published: June 2020

Introduction: Syphilis is still a worldwide problem; with approximately 12 million people infected every year. Over the last decade, Brazil had an increment in the number of cases. The year 2016 reported 37,436 cases of syphilis in pregnant women and 20,474 cases of congenital syphilis, with 185 deaths. The Southeast region reached the highest numbers, especially in the state of Espírito Santo with high rates in pregnant women, being the third highest incidence rate in the country with 10.4 cases/1,000 live births, above the national average of 6.8 cases/1,000 live births.
Objective: Describe the therapeutic treatment of children affected with congenital syphilis as well as the clinical, radiological and laboratory changes associated to this disease.
Methods: Retrospective, descriptive, exploratory, quantitative study, based on 204 notification forms of congenital syphilis from January 2016 to December 2017.
Results: The findings showed that 88.7% of the puerperal women performed prenatal care. Regarding newborns, 85.3% were asymptomatic. When analyzing the therapeutic regimen instituted, 22.5% used procaine Penicillin G, 22.5% crystalline Penicillin G and 20.6% benzathine Penicillin G. 
Conclusion: The treatment instituted by this philanthropic maternity for newborns with congenital syphilis is in line with the guidelines proposed by the Ministry of Health. The clinical symptoms do not represent a frequent finding during the neonatal period, however, they can occur later.
Influence of type of birth on child development: a comparison by Bayley- III Scale
Authors: Cavaggioni Ana Paula Magosso , Martins Maria do Carmo Fernandes , Benincasa Miria
Published: June 2020

Introduction: Elective cesarean section is associated with several damages to the newborn's health, such as respiratory and gastrointestinal problems and diabetes that  last throughout life. However, few studies discuss aspects related to psychological development.
Objective: To investigate the development of Brazilian children according to the type of birth and gestational age in the cognitive, language, motor, socio-emotional and adaptive behavior domains.
Methods: This is an exploratory and descriptive cross-sectional study conducted in the city of São Bernardo de Campo, São Paulo, Brazil, between June 2016 and March 2017. The final sample consisted of 263 children up to 42 months of age. For data collection were applied a socio demographic questionnaire and the Bayley-III Scale. The statistical analysis was  based on  both a  North American reference sample  and a local  sample using   the SPSS version 21, through  Pearson's Chi-square statistical test and  significance criteria p <0.05.
Results: A significant difference (p<0.005) was observed, with a higher risk of problems in fine motor development and expressive language in children born at pre-term between 37- 39 weeks compared to those born at term between  39 - 41 weeks. Significant difference (p<0.005) was also observed in sensory processing and adaptive behavior, with greater impairment  in children born via elective cesarean section compared to those born vaginally.
Conclusion: Despite its limitations and discrepancies, this research indicates potential impairments in the psychological development of children born at early term via elective cesarean.
Stress within Families of Patients with Psychotic Disorders in Garut, Indonesia
Authors: Nurlainah Lida , Rafiyah Imas , Maulana Indra
Published: June 2020

Psychotic disorders are the most severe form of mental illness. The family is the primary supporter of patients with psychosis; as such, the family is likely to experience stress when caring for psychotic patients and assisting in their recovery. Data analysis regarding stress within families could inform the types of support that family members receive. This study aimed to determine stress within families of psychotic patients in Garut, Indonesia. A descriptive study was carried out using a quantitative approach. The samples collected were of the families who visited an outpatient clinic in Garut. A purposive sample of 70 respondents using the Slovin formula (10%) was recruited. Data were collected using the 42 Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS) questionnaire, and univariate analysis was conducted. Results showed that 5.7% of the respondents experienced medium stress, 54.4% experienced mild stress, 41.4% did not experience stress, and only one person (1.4%) experienced severe stress. The findings suggest that families with psychotic patients experience stress. Further research is recommended to examine the factors and levels of stress within families of long-term acute psychotic patients. Abstrak Stress Keluarga dengan Pasien Psikotik di Garut, Indonesia. Gangguan psikotik adalah bentuk penyakit mental yang paling parah. Keluarga adalah pendukung utama pasien yang menderita psikosis,keluarga cenderung mengalami stres ketika merawat pasien psikotik dan membantu dalam pemulihan mereka. Analisis data mengenai stres keluarga dapat menginformasikan jenis dukungan yang diterima anggota keluarga. Tujuan dari penelitian ini adalah untuk mengetahui stres keluarga dengan pasien psikotik di Garut, Indonesia. Studi deskriptif dilakukan dengan menggunakan pendekatan kuantitatif. Sampel yang dikumpulkan adalah dari keluarga yang mengunjungi klinik rawat jalan di daerah Garut. Sampel purposive dari 70 responden menggunakan rumus Slovin (10%) yang direkrut. Data dikumpulkan menggunakan kuesioner 42 Depression Anxietystress Scale (DASS) dengan melakukan analisis univariat. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa 5,7% responden mengalami stres sedang, 54,4% mengalami stres ringan, 41,4% tidak mengalami stres, dan hanya satu orang (1,4%) mengalami stres berat. Dapat disimpulkan dari temuan bahwa keluarga dengan pasien psikotik mengalami beberapa bentuk stres. Penelitian lebih lanjut direkomendasikan untuk memeriksa faktor-faktor dan tingkat stres keluarga dengan pasien psikotik akut lama. Kata Kunci: keluarga, psikotik, stres
Estimating and interpreting nonlinear receptive field of sensory neural responses with deep neural network models
Authors: Keshishian Menoua , Akbari Hassan , Khalighinejad Bahar , Herrero Jose L , Mehta Ashesh D , Mesgarani Nima
Published: June 2020

Our understanding of nonlinear stimulus transformations by neural circuits is hindered by the lack of comprehensive yet interpretable computational modeling frameworks. Here, we propose a data-driven approach based on deep neural networks to directly model arbitrarily nonlinear stimulus-response mappings. Reformulating the exact function of a trained neural network as a collection of stimulus-dependent linear functions enables a locally linear receptive field interpretation of the neural network. Predicting the neural responses recorded invasively from the auditory cortex of neurosurgical patients as they listened to speech, this approach significantly improves the prediction accuracy of auditory cortical responses, particularly in nonprimary areas. Moreover, interpreting the functions learned by neural networks uncovered three distinct types of nonlinear transformations of speech that varied considerably from primary to nonprimary auditory regions. The ability of this framework to capture arbitrary stimulus-response mappings while maintaining model interpretability leads to a better understanding of cortical processing of sensory signals.
Different methods of fear reduction are supported by distinct cortical substrates
Authors: Lay Belinda PP , Pitaru Audrey A , Boulianne Nathan , Esber Guillem R , Iordanova Mihaela D
Published: June 2020

Understanding how learned fear can be reduced is at the heart of treatments for anxiety disorders. Tremendous progress has been made in this regard through extinction training in which the aversive outcome is omitted. However, current progress almost entirely rests on this single paradigm, resulting in a very specialized knowledgebase at the behavioural and neural level of analysis. Here, we used a dual-paradigm approach to show that different methods that lead to reduction in learned fear in rats are dissociated in the cortex. We report that the infralimbic cortex has a very specific role in fear reduction that depends on the omission of aversive events but not on overexpectation. The orbitofrontal cortex, a structure generally overlooked in fear, is critical for downregulating fear when novel predictions about upcoming aversive events are generated, such as when fear is inflated or overexpected, but less so when an expected aversive event is omitted.
Doa10 is a membrane protein retrotranslocase in ER-associated protein degradation
Authors: Schmidt Claudia C , Vasic Vedran , Stein Alexander
Published: June 2020

In endoplasmic reticulum-associated protein degradation (ERAD), membrane proteins are ubiquitinated, extracted from the membrane, and degraded by the proteasome. The cytosolic ATPase Cdc48 drives extraction by pulling on polyubiquitinated substrates. How hydrophobic transmembrane (TM) segments are moved from the phospholipid bilayer into cytosol, often together with hydrophilic and folded ER luminal protein parts, is not known. Using a reconstituted system with purified proteins from Saccharomyces cerevisiae, we show that the ubiquitin ligase Doa10 (Teb-4/MARCH6 in animals) is a retrotranslocase that facilitates membrane protein extraction. A substrate’s TM segment interacts with the membrane-embedded domain of Doa10 and then passively moves into the aqueous phase. Luminal substrate segments cross the membrane in an unfolded state. Their unfolding occurs on the luminal side of the membrane by cytoplasmic Cdc48 action. Our results reveal how a membrane-bound retrotranslocase cooperates with the Cdc48 ATPase in membrane protein extraction.
Practice Locations of Michigan Ophthalmologists as a Model to Compare Practice Patterns of DO and MD Surgical Subspecialists
Authors: Ahmed Harris , Price Marla J. , Robbins Wayne , Braich Puneet S.
Published: June 2020

Context

While existing data demonstrate that osteopathic physicians (ie, DOs) in primary care are more likely than allopathic physicians (ie, MDs) to practice in rural areas, no data exist on practice patterns of DO surgical subspecialists, such as ophthalmologists. Michigan has a relatively high number of DOs and, formerly, the most osteopathic ophthalmology residency programs in the United States. Analyzing the distribution of ophthalmologists in Michigan may reveal patterns and predict trends about the geographic distribution of DO surgical subspecialists across the country.

Objective

To compare geographic distributions of DO and MD ophthalmologists in Michigan and identify differences in community size and type (eg, urbanized area, urban cluster, or rural area) of practice.

Methods

A list of Michigan's ophthalmologists practicing in 2018 was developed using the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the American Osteopathic College of Ophthalmology, and the American Medical Association data sets. DOs and MDs were then analyzed by determining where each ophthalmologist practiced, identifying the size and type of community in which they practiced, and finally by comparing the percentage of DOs and MDs who practiced in various community sizes and each community type as defined by the US Census Bureau. An χ2 analysis was used to determine whether a difference existed in practice locations.

Results

A total of 643 ophthalmologists practiced in Michigan in 2018, including 85 DOs and 558 MDs. A greater proportion of DOs worked in rural areas and urban clusters (57 [67%]), whereas a greater proportion of MDs worked in urbanized areas (368 [66%]). Of DOs, 28 (33%) practiced in cities with a population of at least 50,000 vs 371 MDs (66%). Fourteen DOs (16%) practiced in communities with a population of at least 100,000 vs 207 MDs (37%). χ2 analysis showed a significant difference in the geographic distribution of ophthalmologist DOs and MDs (P<.01).

Conclusion

Higher proportions of DOs practice ophthalmology in smaller, more rural Michigan communities compared with MDs, implying that a subgroup exists that tends to serve underserved areas.
Whole genome sequencing analysis identifies recurrent structural alterations in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Dutta Munmee , Nakagawa Hidewaki , Kato Hiroaki , Maejima Kazuhiro , Sasagawa Shota , Nakano Kaoru , Sasaki-Oku Aya , Fujimoto Akihiro , Mateos Raúl Nicolás , Patil Ashwini , Tanaka Hiroko , Miyano Satoru , Yasuda Takushi , Nakai Kenta , Fujita Masashi
Published: June 2020

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is the predominant type of esophageal cancer in the Asian region, including Japan. A previous study reported mutational landscape of Japanese ESCCs by using exome sequencing. However, somatic structural alterations were yet to be explored. To provide a comprehensive mutational landscape, we performed whole genome sequencing (WGS) analysis of biopsy specimens from 20 ESCC patients in a Japanese population. WGS analysis identified non-silent coding mutations of TP53, ZNF750 and FAT1 in ESCC. We detected six mutational signatures in ESCC, one of which showed significant association with smoking status. Recurrent structural variations, many of which were chromosomal deletions, affected genes such as LRP1B, TTC28, CSMD1, PDE4D, SDK1 and WWOX in 25%–30% of tumors. Somatic copy number amplifications at 11q13.3 (CCND1), 3q26.33 (TP63/SOX2), and 8p11.23 (FGFR1) and deletions at 9p21.3 (CDKN2A) were identified. Overall, these multi-dimensional view of genomic alterations improve the understanding of the ESCC development at molecular level and provides future prognosis and therapeutic implications for ESCC in Japan.
An eye for a tooth:Thylacosmiluswas not a marsupial “saber-tooth predator”
Authors: M. Janis Christine , Figueirido Borja , DeSantis Larisa , Lautenschlager Stephan
Published: June 2020

Background

Saber-toothed mammals, now all extinct, were cats or “cat-like” forms with enlarged, blade-like upper canines, proposed as specialists in taking large prey. During the last 66 Ma, the saber-tooth ecomorph has evolved convergently at least in five different mammalian lineages across both marsupials and placentals. Indeed,Thylacosmilus atrox, the so-called “marsupial saber-tooth,” is often considered as a classic example of convergence with placental saber-tooth cats such asSmilodon fatalis. However, despite its superficial similarity to saber-toothed placentals,T. atroxlacks many of the critical anatomical features related to their inferred predatory behavior—that of employing their enlarged canines in a killing head strike.

Methods

Here we follow a multi-proxy approach using canonical correspondence analysis of discrete traits, biomechanical models of skull function using Finite Element Analysis, and 3D dental microwear texture analysis of upper and lower postcanine teeth, to investigate the degree of evolutionary convergence betweenT. atroxand placental saber-tooths, includingS. fatalis.

Results

Correspondence analysis shows that the craniodental features ofT. atroxare divergent from those of placental saber-tooths. Biomechanical analyses indicate a superior ability ofT. atroxto placental saber-tooths in pulling back with the canines, with the unique lateral ridge of the canines adding strength to this function. The dental microwear ofT. atroxindicates a soft diet, resembling that of the meat-specializing cheetah, but its blunted gross dental wear is not indicative of shearing meat.

Conclusions

Our results indicate that despite its impressive canines, the “marsupial saber-tooth” was not the ecological analogue of placental saber-tooths, and likely did not use its canines to dispatch its prey. This oft-cited example of convergence requires reconsideration, andT. atroxmay have had a unique type of ecology among mammals.
Conformational heterogeneity of Savinase from NMR, HDX-MS and X-ray diffraction analysis
Authors: Wu Shanshan , Nguyen Tam T.T.N. , Moroz Olga V. , Turkenburg Johan P. , Nielsen Jens E. , Wilson Keith S. , Rand Kasper D. , Teilum Kaare
Published: June 2020

Background

Several examples have emerged of enzymes where slow conformational changes are of key importance for function and where low populated conformations in the resting enzyme resemble the conformations of intermediate states in the catalytic process. Previous work on the subtilisin protease, Savinase, from Bacillus lentus by NMR spectroscopy suggested that this enzyme undergoes slow conformational dynamics around the substrate binding site. However, the functional importance of such dynamics is unknown.

Methods

Here we have probed the conformational heterogeneity in Savinase by following the temperature dependent chemical shift changes. In addition, we have measured changes in the local stability of the enzyme when the inhibitor phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride is bound using hydrogen-deuterium exchange mass spectrometry (HDX-MS). Finally, we have used X-ray crystallography to compare electron densities collected at cryogenic and ambient temperatures and searched for possible low populated alternative conformations in the crystals.

Results

The NMR temperature titration shows that Savinase is most flexible around the active site, but no distinct alternative states could be identified. The HDX shows that modification of Savinase with inhibitor has very little impact on the stability of hydrogen bonds and solvent accessibility of the backbone. The most pronounced structural heterogeneities detected in the diffraction data are limited to alternative side-chain rotamers and a short peptide segment that has an alternative main-chain conformation in the crystal at cryo conditions. Collectively, our data show that there is very little structural heterogeneity in the resting state of Savinase and hence that Savinase does not rely on conformational selection to drive the catalytic process.
ЭКЗОТАРИУМЫ ДРУГИХ СОЛНЦ: КРУПНЫЕ ДОСТИЖЕНИЯ В ИЗУЧЕНИИ ВНЕСОЛНЕЧНЫХ ПЛАНЕТ, "Земля и Вселенная"
Authors: ГАДЕЛЬШИН Дамир Раелович , ВАЛЯВИН Геннадий Геннадьевич
Published: June 2020

Исследования экзопланет - новое направление в астрономической науке. Прошло всего 25 лет с момента первых достоверно подтвержденных обнаружений планет, обращающихся в системах других звезд. Открытие экзопланет стало возможным благодаря постройке инструментов нового поколения, чьи стабильность и чувствительность позволили серьезно рассчитывать на расширение знаний об окружающем нас мире.
Neonatal hypocalcemic Seizures: About a 41-Day-Old Infant
Authors: Radi A. , Bakkali O. , Kmari M. , Ourrai A. , Hassani A. , Abilkassem R. , Agadr A.
Published: June 2020

Neonatal crises have several etiologies. Hypovitaminosis D and hypocalcemia are the most common cause of childhood seizures, but their frequency has been reduced due to vitamin D supplementation and infant formula. Most hypocalcemic crises have an underlying endocrinological origin rather than a deficit in intake. We describe the case of a 41-day-old infant admitted for neonatal seizures for hypocalcemia. Although symptoms and concentrations of calcium and parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels favored isolated congenital hyperparathyroidism after eliminating other differential diagnoses. The course of the disease was favorable with intravenous (IV) calcium gluconate 10%, then orally alfacalcidol and vitd2. The case is presented with a brief review of the pathophysiology, differential diagnosis and treatment of neonatal hypocalcemia.
Analyses of Homing Endonucleases and Mechanism of Action of CRISPR-Cas9 HNH Endonucleases
Authors: Palanivelu Peramachi
Published: June 2020

Aim: To analyze different HNH endonucleases from various sources including the HNH endonuclease regions of CRISPR-Cas9 proteins for their conserved motifs, metal-binding sites and catalytic amino acids and propose a plausible mechanism of action for HNH endonucleases, using CRISPR-Cas9 as the model enzyme.

Study Design: Multiple sequence analysis (MSA) of homing endonucleases including the CRISPR-Cas9 using Clustal Omega was studied. Other biochemical, Site-directed mutagenesis (SDM) and X-ray crystallographic data were also analyzed.

Place and Duration of Study: School of Biotechnology, Madurai Kamaraj University, Madurai, India, between 2007 and 2013.

Methodology: Bioinformatics, Biochemical, SDM and X-ray crystallographic data of the HNH endonucleases from different organisms including CRISPR-Cas9 enzymes were analyzed. The advanced version of Clustal Omega was used for protein sequence analysis of different HNH endonucleases from various sources. The conserved motifs identified by the bioinformatics analysis were analyzed further with the data already available from biochemical and SDM and X-ray crystallographic analyses of this group of enzymes and to confirm the possible amino acids involved in the active sites and catalysis.

Results: Different types of homing endonucleases from various sources including the HNH endonuclease regions of CRISPR-Cas9 enzymes exhibit different catalytic regions and metal-binding sites. However, the catalytic amino acid, i.e., the proton acceptor histidine (His), is completely conserved in all homing endonucleases analyzed. From these data, a plausible mechanism of action for HNH endonucleases, using CRISPR-Cas9 from Streptococcus pyogenes, as the model enzyme is proposed. Furthermore, multiple sequence alignment (MSA) of various homing endonucleases from different organisms showed many highly conserved motifs also among them. However, some of the HNH endonucleases showed consensus only around the active site regions. Possible catalytic amino acids identified among them belong to either -DH---N or -HH--N types. There are at least two types of metal-binding sites and bind Mg2+ or Zn2+ or both. The CRISPR-Cas9 enzyme from S. pyogenes belongs to the -DH- based HNH endonucleases and possesses –DxD- type metal-binding site where it possibly binds to a Mg2+ ion. The other HNH enzymes possess one or two invariant Zn binding CxxC/ CxxxC motifs.

Conclusions: The CRISPR-Cas9 enzymes are found to be -DH- type where the first D is likely to involve in metal-binding and the second invariant H acts as the proton acceptor and the N in –HNH- Cas9 confers specificity by interacting with the nucleotide near the catalytic region. In this communication, a metal-bound water molecule is shown as the nucleophile initiating catalysis. Homing endonucleases may be used as novel DNA binding and cleaving reagents for a variety of genome editing applications and Zinc finger nucleases have already found applications in genome editing.
Hyperspectral Spectroscopic Study of Soil Properties- A Review
Authors: Goswami Chandan , Singh Naorem Janaki , Handique Bijoy Krishna
Published: June 2020

Soil analysis is required for efficient use of inputs viz. seeds, fertilizers, irrigation water and other agricultural planning. However, there are several disadvantages of soil analysis such as they are time consuming, expensive and labour intensive. Many approaches are developed to overcome these difficulties. Hyperspectral spectroscopy is emerging as a promising tool for studying soil, water and vegetation. Therefore, an attempt has been made to review the scope of using hyperspectral reflectance spectroscopy for estimation of soil properties as an alternative to traditional laboratory soil analysis methods.

Spectral signature of soil can be used for fast and non destructive estimation of soil properties. Diffuse reflectance in 350-2500 nm range of electromagnetic spectra forms the basis of hyperspectral spectroscopy. An object is characterized by the characteristic absorptions and peaks in the electromagnetic spectra. A number of calibration techniques are applied for establishing relationship between reflectance spectra and soil properties. Multiple Linear Regression (MLR), Principal Component Regression (PCR) and Partial Least Square Regression (PLSR) are most commonly used techniques.

MLR, PCR and PLSR are also used for prediction of several soil properties such as pH, soil organic carbon content, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, sodium, iron, manganese, zinc, copper, boron, molybdenum, sand silt, clay and soil moisture. Some commonly used spectral indices are also applied for prediction of soil properties. Some of the soil physical properties viz. sand, silt and clay as well as chemical properties viz. pH and organic carbon could be estimated with good to very good prediction using pure spectra of soil. However, contrasting results of prediction of soil properties using multivariate analysis techniques have also been reported. The content of this review article will be helpful for researchers who are working on alternate methods of estimation of soil properties.
Evaluation of Drip Fertigation System for Aerobic Rice in Western Zone of Tamil Nadu
Authors: Natarajan S. K. , Duraisamy V. K. , Thiyagarajan G. , Manikandan M.
Published: June 2020

The productivity of rice is in decreasing trend due to non-availability of irrigation water. Hence, rice cultivation with minimum water which paves way for the research on aerobic rice (i.e., growing in the non-flooded and non-puddled situation). Field experiments were conducted at Agricultural Research Station, Bhavanisagar during 2013-14 and 2014-15 to evaluate the drip fertigation system and to work out the economics in aerobic rice at different irrigation and nitrogen levels. The treatments included four irrigation levels (irrigation at 100%, 125%, 150% PE daily and conventional irrigation at IW/CPE = 1.25) with a combination of three fertigation levels (100,150 and 200 kg N ha-1) of nitrogen. The experiment was laid in split plot design replicated thrice. The test variety is PMK 3, with a duration of 130-135 days. Entire quantity of phosphorus and 50 per cent of potassium was applied basally. Different doses of nitrogen and remaining 50 per cent of potassium was applied as fertigation in weekly intervals from 21 days after sowing. Irrigation was given daily basis with daily Pan Evaporation rate. Concerning different irrigation levels, 150 per cent PE on daily basis recorded significantly higher grain yield (5069 kg ha-1), WUE (7.37 kg/ha mm) and net income of Rs. 33607 ha-1 and B:C ratio of 1.88. For nitrogen levels, 150 kg N per ha recorded significantly higher grain yield (4146 kg ha-1), WUE (6.69 kg/ha mm) and net income of Rs. 20464 ha-1 and B:C ratio of 1.53. For aerobic rice, the irrigation at 150 per cent PE on daily basis combined with 150 kg N per ha recorded significantly higher grain (5483 kg ha-1), WUE (8.18 kg/ha mm) and higher net income of Rs. 39448 ha-1 and B:C ratio of 2.03.
Different Fertilizer Packages has Positive Effect on the Yield Performance of Cauliflower and Tomato in the Upland and Hill Valley
Authors: Zonayet Md. , Paul Alok Kumar , Ahmed Mostak
Published: June 2020

The purpose of this study was to evaluate effect of different fertilizer packages on the yield performance of cauliflower and tomato in the upland and hill valley. Influences of different fertilizer packages on yields and fruit quality of cauliflower and tomato were compared during 2015 to 2017 growing periods under field conditions. The experiments were conducted in two hill district of Bangladesh (CHTs) i.e Bandarban and Khagrachari under the AEZ 29 (Northern and Eastern Hills Tract). In this experiments Cauliflower and Tomato in the upland hill valley soil were used as the test crop. The experiment was designed on Randomized Completely Block Design (RCBD) with three replication. The treatments consider as Cauliflower: *T1= Farmers Practice, T2= N100P50K90 S18 Zn2.3 B0.5 kg/ha, Cowdung 5 ton/ha, T3= 125% of T2 and T4= 150% of T2. Tomato: *T1= Control, T2= N100P50K90 S18 Zn2.3 B0.5 kg/ha, Cowdung 5 ton/ha & lime 1.5 t/ha, T3= 125% of T2 and T4= 150% of T2. In khagrachari, the highest yield of cauliflower (44.98, 59.07 and 45.67 t/ha) and in Bandarban site (57.98, 53.47 and 55.66 t/ha) was recorded with T4 treatment that received 150% of T2 while the lowest yield was observed with T1 treatment receiving no fertilizer. In case of tomato, the highest yield (59.72, 55.73 and 36.07 t/ha) in Khagrachari site and in Bandarban site (56.43, 58.33 and 59.64 t/ha) was recorded with T4 treatment that received 150% of T2while the lowest yield was observed with T1 treatment receiving no fertilizer.
Analysis of the Effects of Feeding Ecology of Double-spurred Francolin (Pternitis bicalcaratus linn.) On Crop Production in Ekiti State, Nigeria
Authors: Owolabi Oluwafunke C. , Akinpelu Akinsola I. , Owolabi Kehinde E.
Published: June 2020

Pternitis bicalcaratusis a bird with both positive and negative economic values. Due to the feeding habit they exhibit, they are regarded as agricultural pest. Despite their known to feed on both plants and insects materials, there has been no previous study on the effects of their feeding ecology on crop productions in Ekiti State. The study was therefore designed to determine link between bird’s habitat and their preferred food and the impact of the bird’s feeding ecology on crop production. The study was carried out in four Local Government Areas randomly selected from the northern and southern parts of Ekiti State, Nigeria. Eight farm areas were visited for field study and a well-structured questionnaire was used to collect relevant information from 120 randomly selected respondents (hunters and farmers) from the study area. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Seventy seven point five percent (77.5%) indicated food as the major reason the bird were encountered in large numbers on the farm, majority (97%) of the respondents maintained that farm plantations were attacked by the bird and 84.6% of the respondents indicated that Pternitis bicalcalratus destroy farm produce to a large extent. Hence, the questionnaire and the field study established that the birds were specially linked to their feeding habitats (farm areas) and also revealed that the food and feeding habits of Double-spurred francolins had detrimental effect on farms crops in Ekiti State.
Evaluation of Medicinal Plants Extract against Biofilm Formation in Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Authors: Nwanekwu Kenneth Emeka
Published: June 2020

The antibacterial and biofilm inhibitory activity of leaf extracts of Ocimum gratissimum, Moringa oleifera, Hibiscus sabdariffa, Azadirachta indica and seed extract of Garcinia kola against clinical isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa were evaluated using the agar diffusion and crystal violet assay methods. The ethanol extracts of O. gratissimum and H. sabdariffa exhibited significant antibacterial activity against the P. aeruginosa with diameter zones of inhibition of 25 mm and 30mm with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of 0.16 mg/ml and 0.18 mg/ml respectively. While the ethanol extracts of A. indica, M. oleifera and G. kola showed no antibacterial effect against the test organism. However, all five plants extract inhibited the formation of biofilm with optical density (OD) values reduction from 0.168 to 0.160 for O. gratissimum, 0.170 to 0.151 for H. sabdariffa, 0.140 to 0.138 for A. indica, 0.145 to 0.137 for M. oleifera and 0.135 to 0.130 for G. kola. Out of five plants extract tested, H. sabdariffa exhibited the best growth and biofilm inhibition activity of P. aeruginosa. The results of this study indicate that various concentrations of the plants extract particularly H. sabdariffa, may provide an alternative to control biofilm-related infections caused by P. aeruginosa.