bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of a staged case‐based discussion curriculum in standardized residency training
Authors: Liu Yin , Huang Mei , Zhou Yujie , Cai Hourong
Published: November 2019

The standardized residency training in China is continuous medical education for postgraduates, which is designed to master basic knowledge, theory, and clinical skills. Case‐based discussion (CBD) is one of the main formative curricula used in standardized residency training. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of a novel CBD curriculum on residents' participation, satisfaction, and confidence in clinical skills. This was a prospective study that included 28 internal medicine residents. The traditional CBD contents were adjusted. The innovative approach let residents at different stages prepare and organize the CBD cases by themselves according to different levels of complexity. The surveys were designed to measure conference occurrence and residents' attendance, participation, and satisfaction, as well as their confidence in their clinical skills. Faculty could further engage the residents at any point to deepen the discussion and learning. The surveys indicated that the residents had a high satisfaction rate with the novel‐staged CBD teaching method. Our curriculum improved conference occurrence, attendance, and participation; increased residents' self‐report of participation in learning; and raised their confidence in their clinical skills, so the CBD was well received by residents and faculty preceptors. In addition, this study demonstrated that the staged CBD increased the knowledge and evidence usage of internal medicine residents. We expect wider application of this kind of CBD in clinical practice, medical education, residency training, and patient education in the future.
Gene mutation profiling in Chinese colorectal cancer patients and its association with clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis
Authors: Ye Zu‐Lu , Qiu Miao‐Zhen , Tang Tao , Wang Fang , Zhou Yi‐Xin , Lei Meng‐Jie , Guan Wen‐Long , He Cai‐Yun
Published: November 2019

Background

Gene mutations may play an important role in the development, response to treatment and prognosis of colorectal cancer (CRC). This retrospective study aimed to investigate the mutation profiling of Chinese patients with CRC, and its correlation with clinicopathological features and prognosis.

Methods

This study included 1190 Chinese CRC patients who were diagnosed between May 1998 and December 2018 and received clinical genetic testing. The OncoCarta Panel was used to test a total of 238 possible mutations in 19 common oncogenes.

Results

Five hundred and eighty‐two (48.9%) cases were detected with gene mutations. Of the 582 cases, there were 111 cases (19.7%) with two concurrent mutations, and six cases (1.0%) with three concurrent mutations. KRAS was the most common gene mutation that occurred in all cases (429, 36.1%), followed by PIK3CA (121, 10.2%), NRAS (47, 3.9%), BRAF (35, 2.9%), HRAS (11, 0.9%) and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) (11, 0.9%). AKT1, KIT, FGFR1, FGFR3, FLT3, CDK, ERBB2, ABL1, MET, RET and PDGFRA mutations were also detected in several cases. When it came to prognosis, we found that KRAS/NRAS/PIK3CA/BRAF mutation was not associated with prognosis. But BRAF mutation was associated with poor prognosis in patients who accepted anti‐EGFR therapy.

Conclusions

The molecular testing offered the clinical data and mutation profile of Chinese CRC patients. The information of these mutated genes may help to find out the correlation between mutated genes and the development or prognosis of CRC.
Energy optimization in a smart community grid system using genetic algorithm
Authors: ur Rehman Zia , Fatima Mulika , Khan Ahmad , Shah Sajid , Wasim Ahmad Raja , Din Ahmad , Rehman Attiqa
Published: November 2019

A smart community grid is an electrical network, which connects several producers, consumers, and prosumers to share energy in an intelligent and secure way. The main challenges of smart community grid are demand response, demand bidding, dynamic electricity tariffs, demand‐side management, and prosumers handling. The current state‐of‐the‐art smart grid decision making is focused on consumers and producers behavior while the aim of this research is to achieve prosumer's different goals in an optimized and intelligent way. A genetic algorithm (GA)‐based solution is proposed to share energy in an optimized way without affecting the prosumers' preferences. Six prosumers smart community grids data sets are used to validate the performance of the proposed system. The results show that the proposed method significantly improves the loss of energy sharing without compromising the user's preferences.
Autophagy induction in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease
Authors: Schmukler Eran , Pinkas‐Kramarski Ronit
Published: November 2019

A growing body of evidence indicates that autophagy, an intracellular degradation pathway, profoundly affects Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathogenesis. Autophagy mediates the degradation of neurotoxic material and damaged organelles, allowing their clearance by glial and neuronal cells, while impaired autophagy may account for the accumulation of protein aggregates. Accordingly, dysfunctional autophagy is one of AD hallmarks; it occurs early in the disease development, which makes it an attractive therapeutic intervention target. Therefore, in recent years, the potential of autophagy induction as a treatment for AD has been studied extensively using various autophagy inducers, most of which are already in clinical practice for other medical conditions. Albeit promising results, including in AD clinical trials, this therapeutic strategy still requires careful consideration in order to fully understand the role of autophagy in AD pathogenesis and to further improve the outcomes. This review summarizes the current findings in this field and raises open questions and new prospects.
Plant functional traits differ in adaptability and are predicted to be differentially affected by climate change
Authors: Ahrens Collin W. , Andrew Margaret E. , Mazanec Richard A. , Ruthrof Katinka X. , Challis Anthea , Hardy Giles , Byrne Margaret , Tissue David T. , Rymer Paul D.
Published: November 2019

Climate change is testing the resilience of forests worldwide pushing physiological tolerance to climatic extremes. Plant functional traits have been shown to be adapted to climate and have evolved patterns of trait correlations (similar patterns of distribution) and coordinations (mechanistic trade‐off). We predicted that traits would differentiate between populations associated with climatic gradients, suggestive of adaptive variation, and correlated traits would adapt to future climate scenarios in similar ways.

We measured genetically determined trait variation and described patterns of correlation for seven traits: photochemical reflectance index (PRI), normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), leaf size (LS), specific leaf area (SLA), δ13C (integrated water‐use efficiency, WUE), nitrogen concentration (NCONC), and wood density (WD). All measures were conducted in an experimental plantation on 960 trees sourced from 12 populations of a key forest canopy species in southwestern Australia.

Significant differences were found between populations for all traits. Narrow‐sense heritability was significant for five traits (0.15–0.21), indicating that natural selection can drive differentiation; however, SLA (0.08) and PRI (0.11) were not significantly heritable. Generalized additive models predicted trait values across the landscape for current and future climatic conditions (>90% variance). The percent change differed markedly among traits between current and future predictions (differing as little as 1.5% (δ13C) or as much as 30% (PRI)). Some trait correlations were predicted to break down in the future (SLA:NCONC, δ13C:PRI, and NCONC:WD).

Synthesis: Our results suggest that traits have contrasting genotypic patterns and will be subjected to different climate selection pressures, which may lower the working optimum for functional traits. Further, traits are independently associated with different climate factors, indicating that some trait correlations may be disrupted in the future. Genetic constraints and trait correlations may limit the ability for functional traits to adapt to climate change.
ZNRD1‐AS and RP11‐819C21.1 long non‐coding RNA changes following painful laser stimulation correlate with laser‐evoked potential amplitude and habituation in healthy subjects: A pilot study
Authors: Santoro Massimo , Vollono Catello , Pazzaglia Costanza , Di Sipio Enrica , Giordano Rocco , Padua Luca , Arendt‐Nielsen Lars , Valeriani Massimiliano
Published: November 2019

Background

Non‐coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are a group of non‐coding RNAs that act as regulators of gene expression; they are implicated in various human diseases and have been reported to be involved in the modulation of pain. We aimed to study whether: (a) lncRNAs modifications could be found in an experimental model of pain; (b) there was a correlation between lncRNA changes and laser evoked potential (LEP) amplitude/laser‐pain rating.

Methods

Laser evoked potentials were recorded from 11 healthy subjects to both left hand and perioral region stimulation. Three consecutive averages were calculated for each stimulation site in order to investigate the LEP amplitude habituation. Blood samples were obtained immediately before LEP recording (pre‐pain) and 30‐min after the recording of the last LEP average (post‐pain). Eighty‐four lncRNAs, involved in autoimmunity and human inflammatory response, were screened. The criteria used for lncRNAs analysis were fold change >2 and p < .05. By Real‐Time PCR, we identified two lncRNAs up‐regulated at the post‐pain time, as compared to the pre‐pain time: RP11‐819C21.1 (fold change = 8.2; p = .038) and ZNRD1 antisense RNA 1 non‐protein coding (ZNRD1‐AS; fold change = 6.3; p = .037).

Results

The ZNRD1‐AS up‐regulation was directly correlated with the N1 amplitude, while the RP11‐819C21.1 increase after pain showed a correlation with the reduced N2/P2 amplitude and laser‐pain habituation.

Conclusion

IncRNA changes in a human experimental phasic pain model. The correlation between lncRNA changes and LEP amplitude and habituation suggests that RP11‐819C21.1 and ZNRD1‐AS could be involved in the pathophysiology of painful diseases characterized by abnormal excitability of the cerebral cortex.

Significance

Long non‐coding RNAs are upregulated after experimental pain. RP11‐819C21.1 and ZNRD1 could be involved in the pathophysiology of diseases characterized by reduced habituation to pain.
A decentralized scalable security framework for end‐to‐end authentication of future IoT communication
Authors: Sheron P.S. Febin , Sridhar K.P. , Baskar S. , Shakeel P. Mohamed
Published: November 2019

The development of Internet of Things (IoT) has granted multiple interoperable features for user to digital things communication. The future communication technology and service provisioning in IoT is large scaling an open environment. The large scale IoT environment is supported by sensor network and independent nodes. The intelligent computing, storage, and computation features of the nodes are inherited by the IoT paradigm for its application and service support. In such an open environment, security is a prominent issue that must be administered in a decentralized manner. In this manuscript, a decentralized and scalable security framework for future IoT is designed. This framework exploits the advantages of intelligent computing and tree‐based hash for device and request authentication to provide device‐to‐device security. The tree‐based hash is used for authenticating requests and the central authority–based security feature of the framework provides device level security, ensuring better privacy and integrity in communications. The experimental analysis of the proposed security framework is analyzed in terms of detection rate, communication loss, disconnection ratio, and delay.
Silkworm pupa oil attenuates acetaminophen‐induced acute liver injury by inhibiting oxidative stress‐mediated NF‐κB signaling
Authors: Long Xingyao , Song Jiajia , Zhao Xin , Zhang Yu , Wang Hongwei , Liu Xinqi , Suo Huayi
Published: November 2019

Acetaminophen (APAP) overdose causes severe hepatotoxicity and acute liver failure. The current study aims to investigate the protection effects of silkworm pupa oil (SPO) against acute hepatic injury in APAP‐exposed Kunming mice. Our results showed that the liver index and the levels of serum alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspartate transaminase (AST) in mice subjected to APAP treatment were decreased by SPO. Supplement of SPO also restored hepatic histopathological alterations induced by APAP. The APAP‐induced increase in proinflammatory cytokines, including TNF‐α, IL‐6, and IL‐12, was reversed by SPO, which was mediated by the reduction of nuclear factor (NF)‐κB p65 expression and the increase in the expression of IκB‐α in liver tissue. Moreover, SPO inhibited APAP‐triggered oxidative stress by decreasing MDA level and increasing the activities of SOD and GSH‐Px. Collectively, SPO attenuated hepatic injury induced by APAP, which attributed to the suppression of oxidative stress‐mediated NF‐κB signaling. Our findings suggest that SPO supplementation may be potential strategy against acute hepatic injury.
Energy–exergy analysis of 70‐MW gas turbine unit under the variable operation condition
Authors: Ahmed Ahmed Hasan , Ahmed Anmmar Mahmoud , Al Doori Wadhah H.
Published: November 2019

Exergy and energy analyses were carried out in each component to study the effect of compression ratio, ambient temperature, and load on energy losses and exergy destruction. The highest exergy destruction occurred in the combustion chamber and the lowest exergy destruction occurred in the compressor. Also, the maximum thermal efficiency of the gas turbine unit and second law efficiency are 33.77% and 32.25%, respectively. The peak load of the selected power station is 65 MW. This study reveals possible areas of focus to improve performance of the power plant in the future.
Robotic Tongue‐Base Resection Combined With Tongue‐Base Suspension for Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Authors: Turhan Murat , Bostanci Asli
Published: November 2019

Objectives/Hypothesis

Our primary objective was to evaluate the feasibility, morbidity, and efficacy of transoral robotic surgery (TORS) tongue‐base resection (TBR) combined with tongue‐base suspension (TBS) for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) with tongue‐base collapse. Our secondary objective included evaluation of factors influencing treatment success.

Study Design

Single‐arm, prospective, observational cohort study.

Methods

Patients were eligible if they had moderate‐to‐severe OSA (apnea hypopnea index [AHI] > 15) or positional OSA, had a tongue‐base collapse and glossoptosis identified by drug‐induced sleep endoscopy (DISE), and failed continuous positive airway pressure. All patients underwent TORS‐TBR combined with TBS. Additionally, concomitant epiglottoplasty, uvulopalatopharyngoplasty, or expansion pharyngoplasty were performed based on DISE findings.

Results

In total, 64 patients were enrolled in the trial. The mean age was 45.9 years, mean body mass index was 30.5 kg/m2, and mean AHI was 41.7 events/hour. The mean robotic surgical time, total volume of tongue‐base tissue removed, and the length of hospital stay were 21.4 minutes, 15.16 mL, and 6.5 days, respectively. Postoperatively, almost all polysomnographic metrics improved significantly (AHI = 41.72 vs. 18.82 events/hour, lowest oxygen saturation = 80.43% vs. 85.14%, Epworth Sleepiness Scale = 10.49 vs. 4.09). The procedure provided an overall success rate of 75%, with minor morbidity. All patients experienced varying degrees of temporary lingual edema postoperatively. Tracheotomy was not required for any patient. Although no independent predictor of treatment success was determined, patients with more severe disease tend to exhibit lower response to the treatment.

Conclusions

TORS‐TBR combined with TBS is a feasible, safe, and efficient procedure for OSA with tongue‐base collapse.

Level of Evidence

4 Laryngoscope, 130:2285–2291, 2020
Impact of CYP2C19 Genotype and Drug Interactions on Voriconazole Plasma Concentrations: A Spain Pharmacogenetic‐Pharmacokinetic Prospective Multicenter Study
Authors: Blanco‐Dorado Sara , Maroñas Olalla , Latorre‐Pellicer Ana , Rodríguez Jato María Teresa , López‐Vizcaíno Ana , Gómez Márquez Aurea , Bardán García Belén , Belles Medall Dolores , Barbeito Castiñeiras Gema , Pérez del Molino Bernal María Luisa , Campos‐Toimil Manuel , Otero Espinar Francisco , Blanco Hortas Andrés , Durán Piñeiro Goretti , Zarra Ferro Irene , Carracedo Ángel , Lamas María Jesús , Fernández‐Ferreiro Anxo
Published: November 2019

Background

Voriconazole, a first‐line agent for the treatment of invasive fungal infections, is mainly metabolized by cytochrome P450 (CYP) 2C19. A significant portion of patients fail to achieve therapeutic voriconazole trough concentrations, with a consequently increased risk of therapeutic failure.

Objective

To show the association between subtherapeutic voriconazole concentrations and factors affecting voriconazole pharmacokinetics: CYP2C19 genotype and drug–drug interactions.

Methods

Adults receiving voriconazole for antifungal treatment or prophylaxis were included in a multicenter prospective study conducted in Spain. The prevalence of subtherapeutic voriconazole troughs was analyzed in the rapid metabolizer and ultra‐rapid metabolizer patients (RMs and UMs, respectively), and compared with the rest of the patients. The relationship between voriconazole concentration, CYP2C19 phenotype, adverse events (AEs), and drug–drug interactions was also assessed.

Results

In this study 78 patients were included with a wide variability in voriconazole plasma levels with only 44.8% of patients attaining trough concentrations within the therapeutic range of 1 and 5.5 µg/ml. The allele frequency of *17 variant was found to be 29.5%. Compared with patients with other phenotypes, RMs and UMs had a lower voriconazole plasma concentration (RM/UM: 1.85 ± 0.24 µg/ml vs other phenotypes: 2.36 ± 0.26 µg/ml). Adverse events were more common in patients with higher voriconazole concentrations (p<0.05). No association between voriconazole trough concentration and other factors (age, weight, route of administration, and concomitant administration of enzyme inducer, enzyme inhibitor, glucocorticoids, or proton pump inhibitors) was found.

Conclusion

These results suggest the potential clinical utility of using CYP2C19 genotype‐guided voriconazole dosing to achieve concentrations in the therapeutic range in the early course of therapy. Larger studies are needed to confirm the impact of pharmacogenetics on voriconazole pharmacokinetics.
Obsessive‐compulsive disorder: current management options
Authors: Harris Paul , Drummond Lynne , Fineberg Naomi
Published: November 2019

Obsessive‐compulsive disorder is a disabling condition that can severely affect daily activities in both adults and children. This article discusses the psychological and drug treatments available, and highlights instances where referral for specialised treatment is appropriate.
Capsaicin suppressed activity of prostate cancer stem cells by inhibition of Wnt/β‐catenin pathway
Authors: Zhu Mingming , Yu Xi , Zheng Zongmei , Huang Jiaming , Yang Xuepan , Shi Hongfei
Published: November 2019

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are considered as the origin and driving cells of cancer, and play a key role in the progress of cancer. Studies have shown that capsaicin exerted inhibitory effect on prostate cancer cells, however, the effects of capsaicin on prostate CSCs remain undefined. In the present study, we showed that capsaicin could downregulate prostate CSCs markers and inhibit the growth of PC‐3 and DU145 prostate cancer stem cells. Further, we found capsaicin suppressed the expression of Wnt‐2, p‐GSK3β and β‐catenin, along with downregulation of Wnt/β‐catenin pathway target genes c‐myc and cyclinD1. Using LiCl, a activator of Wnt/β‐catenin pathway, we found activation of Wnt/β‐catenin pathway could ameliorate the downregulation of prostate CSCs markers and the growth inhibition induced by capsaicin in prostate cancer stem cells. Those data suggested that the inhibition effect of capsaicin on prostate cancer stem cells and the anti‐cancer effect of capsaicin on prostate cancer stem cell may be mediated by Wnt/β‐catenin pathway. Findings from this study reveals for the first time the potential role and mechanisms of capsaicin on prostate cancer stem cells.
Cell Mechanical and Physiological Behavior in the Regime of Rapid Mechanical Compressions that Lead to Cell Volume Change
Authors: Liu Anna , Yu Tong , Young Katherine , Stone Nicholas , Hanasoge Srinivas , Kirby Tyler J. , Varadarajan Vikram , Colonna Nicholas , Liu Janet , Raj Abhishek , Lammerding Jan , Alexeev Alexander , Sulchek Todd
Published: November 2019

Cells respond to mechanical forces by deforming in accordance with viscoelastic solid behavior. Studies of microscale cell deformation observed by high speed video microscopy have elucidated a new cell behavior in which sufficiently rapid mechanical compression of cells can lead to transient cell volume loss and then recovery. This work has discovered that the resulting volume exchange between the cell interior and the surrounding fluid can be utilized for efficient, convective delivery of large macromolecules (2000 kDa) to the cell interior. However, many fundamental questions remain about this cell behavior, including the range of deformation time scales that result in cell volume loss and the physiological effects experienced by the cell. In this study, a relationship is established between cell viscoelastic properties and the inertial forces imposed on the cell that serves as a predictor of cell volume loss across human cell types. It is determined that cells maintain nuclear envelope integrity and demonstrate low protein loss after the volume exchange process. These results define a highly controlled cell volume exchange mechanism for intracellular delivery of large macromolecules that maintains cell viability and function for invaluable downstream research and clinical applications.
Neodymium‐Sensitized Nanoconstructs for Near‐Infrared Enabled Photomedicine
Authors: Yu Zhongzheng , Chan Wen Kiat , Tan Timothy Thatt Yang
Published: November 2019

Neodymium (Nd3+)‐sensitized nanoconstructs have gained increasing attention in recent decades due to their unique properties, especially optical properties. The design of various Nd3+‐sensitized nanosystems is expected to contribute to medical and health applications, due to their advantageous properties such as high penetration depth, excellent photostability, non‐photobleaching, low cytotoxicity, etc. However, the low conversion efficiency and potential long‐term toxicity of Nd3+‐sensitized nanoconstructs are huge obstacles to their clinical translations. This review article summarizes three energy transfer pathways of all kinds of Nd3+‐sensitized nanoconstructs focusing on the properties of Nd3+ ions and discusses their recent potential applications as near‐infrared (NIR) enabled photomedicine. This review article will contribute to the design and fabrication of novel Nd3+‐sensitized nanoconstructs for NIR‐enabled photomedicine, aiming for potentially safer and more efficient designs to get closer to clinical usage.
Non-Abelian rotating black holes in 4- and 5-dimensional gauged supergravity
Authors: Ortín Tomás , Ruipérez Alejandro
Published: November 2019

Abstract

We present new supersymmetric black-hole solutions of the 4- and 5-dimensional gauged supergravity theories that one obtains by dimensional reduction onT5andT6of Heterotic supergravity with a triplet of Yang-Mills fields. The new ingredient of our solutions is the presence of dyonic non-Abelian fields which allows us to obtain a generalization of the BMPV black hole with two independent angular momenta and the first example of a supersymmetric, rotating, asymptotically-flat black hole with a regular horizon in 4 dimensions.
A chromatogram-simplified Streptomyces albus host for heterologous production of natural products
Authors: Fazal Asif , Thankachan Divya , Harris Ellie , Seipke Ryan F.
Published: November 2019

Cloning natural product biosynthetic gene clusters from cultured or uncultured sources and their subsequent expression by genetically tractable heterologous hosts is an essential strategy for the elucidation and characterisation of novel microbial natural products. The availability of suitable expression hosts is a critical aspect of this workflow. In this work, we mutagenised five endogenous biosynthetic gene clusters from Streptomyces albus S4, which reduced the complexity of chemical extracts generated from the strain and eliminated antifungal and antibacterial bioactivity. We showed that the resulting quintuple mutant can express foreign biosynthetic gene clusters by heterologously producing actinorhodin, cinnamycin and prunustatin. We envisage that our strain will be a useful addition to the growing suite of heterologous expression hosts available for exploring microbial secondary metabolism.
Attitude and orbit coupling of planar helio-stable solar sails
Authors: Miguel Narcís , Colombo Camilla
Published: November 2019

The coupled attitude and orbit dynamics of solar sails is studied. The shape of the sail is a simplified quasi-rhombic pyramid that provides the structure helio-stability properties. After adimensionalization, the system is put in the form of a fast–slow dynamical system where the different timescales are explicitly related to the physical parameters of the system. The orientation of the body frame with respect to the inertial orbit frame is a fast phase that can be averaged out. This gives rise to a simplified formulation that only consists of the orbit dynamics perturbed by a flat sail with fixed attitude perpendicular to the direction of the sunlight. The results are exemplified using numerical simulations.
Mӧssbauer spectroscopy as a useful method for distinguishing between real and false meteorites
Authors: Bogusz Patrycja , Gałązka-Friedman Jolanta , Brzózka Katarzyna , Jakubowska Martyna , Woźniak Marek , Karwowski Łukasz , Duda Przemysław
Published: November 2019

In our paper four Mӧssbauer spectra of ordinary chondrites (previously classified by a classical method based on determining the ratio of ferrosilite (Fs) to fayalite (Fa) with an electron microprobe) are presented and discussed. These are the Mӧssbauer spectra of two ordinary chondrites type H (Pultusk and Grzempach), one ordinary chondrite type L (Hyattville) and one type LL (NWA 6287). These meteorites were compared, using their Mӧssbauer spectra with the following four other samples: a fragment of a rock that fell near Leoncin in Poland (sample No. 1), a fragment of a rock found in the vicinity of Pultusk in Poland (sample No. 2), a meteorite specimen bought on the meteorite exchange (sample No. 3) and a stone object whose decline was observed in Europe (sample No. 4). The spectrum of sample No. 1 is very similar to the spectrum of ordinary chondrite of type LL. This observation was confirmed using 4M method (previously created by us). The spectrum of sample No. 2 differs significantly from the spectrum of sample of the Pultusk meteorite. In the spectrum of sample No. 3, a clear signal from iron-nickel alloy and troilite can be observed. This fact allows us to state that sample No. 3 is a fragment of rock that was created in cosmic conditions. Sample No. 4 has a Mӧssbauer spectrum similar to the spectrum of terrestrial magmatic rocks. This observation does not clearly determine where the examined object comes from. This work demonstrates the usefulness of Mӧssbauer spectroscopy in recognizing samples that are fragments of meteorites.
On the unique unexpected quartic in $${\mathbb {P}}^2$$
Authors: Farnik Łucja , Galuppi Francesco , Sodomaco Luca , Trok William
Published: November 2019

The computation of the dimension of linear systems of plane curves through a bunch of given multiple points is one of the most classic issues in algebraic geometry. In general, it is still an open problem to understand when the points fail to impose independent conditions. Despite many partial results, a complete solution is not known, even if the fixed points are in general position. The answer in the case of general points in the projective plane is predicted by the famous Segre–Harbourne–Gimigliano–Hirschowitz conjecture. When we consider fixed points in special position, even more interesting situations may occur. Recently, Di Gennaro, Ilardi and Vallès discovered a special configurationZof nine points with a remarkable property: A general triple point always fails to impose independent conditions on the ideal ofZin degree four. The peculiar structure and properties of this kind ofunexpected curveswere studied by Cook II, Harbourne, Migliore and Nagel. By using both explicit geometric constructions and more abstract algebraic arguments, we classify low-degree unexpected curves. In particular, we prove that the aforementioned configurationZis the unique one giving rise to an unexpected quartic.
Aesthetic sense and social cognition: a story from the Early Stone Age
Authors: Currie Greg , Zhu Xuanqi
Published: November 2019

Human aesthetic practices show a sensitivity to the ways that the appearance of an artefact manifests skills and other qualities of the maker. We investigate a possible origin for this kind of sensibility, locating it in the need for co-ordination of skill-transmission in the Acheulean stone tool culture. We argue that our narrative supports the idea that Acheulean agents were aesthetic agents. In line with this we offer what may seem an absurd comparison: between the Acheulean and theQuattrocento. In making it we display some hidden complexity in human aesthetic responses to an artefact. We conclude with a brief review of rival explanations—biological and/or cultural—of how this skills-based sensibility became a regular feature of human aesthetic practices.
Experimental study on jet pulse assembly design and numerical simulation
Authors: Xue Liang , Han Hu , Wang Dian , Liu Xian-Bo , Liu He , Yu Zhi-Qiang
Published: November 2019

Jet pulse assembly is one of the main components of jet hydraulic oscillator. The pressure wave characteristics produced by jet pulse assembly have an important influence on the performance of the tool. In this paper, the structure and working principle of jet pulse assembly are studied, the mechanical analysis model of piston rod is established, the dynamic resistance ratio formula of jet pulse assembly is deduced, and the numerical simulation test of 89-mm jet pulse assembly structure parameters is carried out. The results show that the piston rod downward stroke is driven by both the jet element driving force and the throttle plate load driving force, and can stably descend. The driving force of the piston rod upward stroke jet element is opposite to the load acting force of the throttle disc, and the jet driving force needs to be greater than the load resistance of the throttle disc to stably ascend. The dynamic resistance ratio formula is deduced. When the area of the end of the piston rod is reduced, the resistance of the throttle disc is reduced and the jet power is increased, thus solving the problem of insufficient power of the piston rod in the upstroke and ensuring the normal operation of the tool. Ten groups of numerical simulation tests were carried out, and it was found that the pressure amplitude and pressure drop of the tool decreased significantly with the increase of the tool size, and the error between the numerical simulation value and the theoretical calculation value was less than 9%, which verified the correctness of the theory. It is suggested to select tools on site according to the drilling construction situation to ensure the drilling effect.
Assessing macroinvertebrate communities in relation to environmental variables: the case of Sambandou wetlands, Vhembe Biosphere Reserve
Authors: Dalu Tatenda , Chauke Rivoningo
Published: November 2019

The Vhembe Biosphere Reserve, South Africa, contains many wetlands that serve as wildlife habitats and provide vital ecosystem services. Some of the wetlands are continuously being degraded or destroyed by anthropogenic activities causing them to disappear at an alarming rate. Benthic macroinvertebrates are known as good water quality bioindicators and are used to assess aquatic ecosystem health. The current study investigated habitat quality using macroinvertebrate community structure and other biotic variables (i.e. phytoplankton, macrophytes) in relation to environmental variables in the Sambandou wetlands using canonical correspondence analysis (CCA). A total of fifteen macroinvertebrate families were identified over two seasons. The CCA highlighted seven variables, i.e. pH, phosphate concentration, temperature, ammonium, macrophyte cover, conductivity and water depth, which were significant in structuring macroinvertebrate community. Picophytoplankton and microphytoplankton concentrations decreased from winter to summer, whereas nanophytoplankton concentration increased from winter to summer. Thus, the dominance of small-sized phytoplankton indicated nutrient limitation and decreased productivity, whereas winter sites 2 and 3 were dominated by large-celled phytoplankton, highlighting increased productivity. Winter sites were mostly negatively associated with CCA axis 1 and were characterised by high temperature, phosphate and ammonium concentrations, macrophyte cover, pH and conductivity. Summer sites were positively associated with axis 1, being characterised by high water depth and pH levels. The results obtained highlighted that agricultural activities such as cattle grazing and crop farming and sand mining/poaching had a negative effect on macroinvertebrate community structure.
Business and morals: Corporate strategies for sustainable development in China
Authors: Banik Dan , Lin Ka
Published: November 2019

There has been considerable attention in recent years on the close linkages between business, ethics, and economic development and how businesses not only have responsibilities to their shareholders but also to wider society. The growing power and influence of emerging economies has resulted in increased scholarly interest in China on studying the domestic political commitments to corporate social responsibility strategies (CSR), and their potential contribution to promoting the country's ambitious Belt and Road Initiative and thereby achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This article explores the factors that influence CSR strategies and performance and examines whether we are witnessing the emergence of a new form of social responsibility among Chinese businesses that prioritizes sustainable development. In order to better understand how CSR strategies in China are being potentially reshaped and realigned with the SDGs, we examined the CSR reports and practices of selected Chinese companies both before and after the adoption of the SDGs at the United Nations in 2015. By focusing on the CSR-SDG linkages in China, our study contributes to a better understanding of state advocacy aimed at influencing corporate behavior on sustainable development.
Understanding Meta-Emotions: Prospects for a Perceptualist Account
Authors: Mitchell Jonathan
Published: November 2019

This article clarifies the nature of meta-emotions, and it surveys the prospects of applying a version of the perceptualist model of emotions to them. It first considers central aspects of their intentionality and phenomenal character. It then applies the perceptualist model to meta-emotions, addressing issues of evaluative content and the normative dimension of meta-emotional experience. Finally, in considering challenges and objections, it assesses the perceptualist model, concluding that its application to meta-emotions is an attractive extension of the theory, insofar as it captures some distinctive features of meta-emotions—specifically their normative dimension—while locating them within the domain of occurrent affective experiences.
Experts’ Views on the Gaps in Public Health Emergency Preparedness in Israel: A Qualitative Case Study
Authors: Gesser-Edelsburg Anat , Cohen Ricky , Diamant Alon
Published: November 2019

Background:

Despite the significant improvement in all components of preparedness in the past decade, there are still gaps between the guidelines and the reality on the ground. The purpose of this study is to explore how Israeli public health and emergency medicine experts perceive the demands for health organization emergency preparedness and the actual practice.

Methods:

Qualitative phenomenological research. We interviewed 22 Israeli public health and emergency medicine experts face-to-face and conducted a content analysis.

Results:

The findings revealed barriers in the following areas: preparation and readiness of hospitals, preparedness and readiness in the community, connection between the community and the hospital, inter-agency coordination and interface, interdisciplinary integration, preparedness resources, postcrisis evaluation, assimilating smart technologies, information accessibility, and communication.

Conclusions:

To reduce the gap between theory and practice, retrospective research and evaluation must be included to learn in depth what strategies and resources should be used during a health crisis. Likewise, profiles should be constructed and the community should be segmented in order to design resilience programs and accommodate information to subpopulations.
Biodiversity, systematics, and new taxa of cladid crinoids from the Ordovician Brechin Lagerstätte
Authors: Wright David F. , Cole Selina R. , Ausich William I.
Published: November 2019

Upper Ordovician (Katian) strata of the Lake Simcoe region of Ontario record a spectacularly diverse and abundant echinoderm fauna known as the Brechin Lagerstätte. Despite recognition as the most taxonomically diverse Katian crinoid paleocommunity, the Brechin Lagerstätte has received relatively little taxonomic study since Frank Springer published his classic monograph on the “Kirkfield fauna” in 1911.

Using a new collection of exceptionally preserved material, we evaluate all dicyclic inadunate crinoids occurring in the Brechin Lagerstätte, which is predominantly comprised of cladids (Eucladida and Flexibilia). We document 15 species across 11 genera, including descriptions of two new genera and four new species. New taxa include Konieckicrinus brechinensis n. gen. n. sp., K. josephi n. gen. n. sp., Simcoecrinus mahalaki n. gen. n. sp., and Dendrocrinus simcoensis n. sp.

Although cladids are not commonly considered major components of the Early Paleozoic Crinoid Macroevolutionary Fauna, which is traditionally conceived as dominated by disparids and diplobathrid camerates, they are the most diverse major lineage of crinoids occurring in the Brechin Lagerstätte. This unexpected result highlights the important roles of specimen-based taxonomy and systematic revisions in the study of large-scale diversity patterns.

UUID: http://zoobank.org/09dda7c2-f2c5-4411-93be-3587ab1652ab
Association of supplemental calcium and dairy milk intake with all-cause and cause-specific mortality in the UK Biobank: a prospective cohort study
Authors: Stasinopoulos L. C. , Zhou A. , Hyppönen E.
Published: November 2019

Excessive Ca intakes have been proposed to associate with vascular calcification and a higher risk of prostate cancer. We investigated the associations of supplemental and dietary Ca intake with mortality using data from 497 828 UK Biobank participants. The average follow-up was 4·2 years and 14 255 participants died, 8297 from cancer, 2959 from CVD and 572 from respiratory disease. The use of Ca supplements and milk consumption were associated with differences in mortality in younger (≤65 years) but not in older participants (>65 years, Pinteraction ≤ 0·04 for all comparisons). Among participants <65 years, there was an inverse association between Ca supplementation (OR 0·91, 95 % CI 0·83, 0·99) and milk consumption (OR 0·93, 95 % CI 0·86, 1·00) with respect to all-cause mortality. In the same age group, milk drinkers had lower odds of cancer mortality (OR 0·89, 95 % CI 0·80, 0·98) but Ca supplement use was associated with increased odds of respiratory mortality (OR 1·69, 95 % CI 1·16, 2·74). All associations in participants aged ≥65 years were null after full adjustment. In sensitivity analyses stratified by hormone replacement therapy, Ca supplement use was associated with decreased odds of cancer mortality in users but increased risk in other women (OR 0·81, 95 % CI 0·69, 0·94 v. OR 1·17, 95 % CI 1·01, 1·35, respectively). To conclude, we saw little evidence for harm with dietary or supplemental Ca. Further studies are required to confirm the proposed interaction with hormone replacement therapy and to exclude reverse causation as a determinant in the association between Ca supplements and increased risk of respiratory diseases.
Post-moderate-intensity exercise energy replacement does not reduce subsequent appetite and energy intake in adolescents with obesity
Authors: Thivel D. , Roche J. , Miguet M. , Fillon A. , Khammassi M. , Beaulieu K. , Finlayson G. , Pereira B. , Miyashita M. , Thackray A. E. , Masurier J. , Duclos M. , Boirie Y.
Published: November 2019

Exercise modifies energy intake (EI) in adolescents with obesity, but whether this is mediated by the exercise-induced energy deficit remains unknown. The present study examined the effect of exercise with and without dietary replacement of the exercise energy expenditure on appetite, EI and food reward in adolescents with obesity. Fourteen 12–15-year-old adolescents with obesity (eight girls; Tanner 3–4; BMI 34·8 (sd 5·7) kg/m2; BMI z score 2·3 (sd 0·4)) randomly completed three experimental conditions: (i) rest control (CON); (ii) 30-min cycling (EX) and (iii) 30-min cycling with dietary energy replacement (EX + R). Ad libitum EI was assessed at lunch and dinner, and food reward (Leeds Food Preference Questionnaire) before and after lunch. Appetite was assessed at regular intervals. Lunch, evening and total EI (excluding the post-exercise snack in EX − R) were similar across conditions. Lunch and total EI including the post-exercise snack in EX + R were higher in EX − R than CON and EX; EX and CON were similar. Total relative EI was lower in EX (6284 (sd 2042) kJ) compared with CON (7167 (sd 2218) kJ; P < 0·05) and higher in EX + R (7736 (sd 2033) kJ) compared with CON (P < 0·001). Appetite and satiety quotients did not differ across conditions (P ≥ 0·10). Pre-meal explicit liking for fat was lower in EX compared with CON and EX + R (P = 0·05). There was time by condition interaction between EX and CON for explicit wanting and liking for fat (P = 0·01). Despite similar appetite and EI, adolescents with obesity do not adapt their post-exercise food intake to account for immediate dietary replacement of the exercise-induced energy deficit, favouring a short-term positive energy balance.
Significant genetic effects of JAK2 and DGAT1 mutations on milk fat content and mastitis resistance in Holsteins
Authors: Khan Muhammad Zahoor , Wang Di , Liu Lei , Usman Tahir , Wen Hui , Zhang Ruiqiang , Liu Shuli , Shi Liangyu , Mi Siyuan , Xiao Wei , Yu Ying
Published: November 2019

Improving the production traits and resistance against mastitis in dairy cattle is a challenge for animal scientists across the globe. The present study was designed to investigate the genetic effects of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in Janus kinase 2 (JAK2) and diacylglycerol acyltransferase (DGAT1) genes with production and mastitis-related traits. Four SNPs in JAK2 and one in DGAT1 were analyzed through Chinese Cow's SNPs Chip-I (CCSC-I) and genotyped in a population of 312 Chinese Holsteins. Our findings demonstrated that milk fat percentage, somatic cell count (SCC), somatic cell score (SCS), serum cytokines interleukin 6 (IL-6) and interferon gamma (IFN-γ) showed significant associations (P < 0.05) with at least one or more identified SNPs. Consequently, the analysis based on haplotypes amongst the SNPs in JAK2 revealed noteworthy (P < 0.05) association with SCC and IL-6. Collectively, our results verified the pleiotropic ability of detected SNPs in bovine JAK2 and DGAT1 for milk fat percentage as well as mastitis-related traits. The significant SNPs in both the genes could serve as powerful genetic markers to minimize mastitis risk. In addition, besides SCC and SCS, the IFN-γ and IL-6 could also be used as indicators of improved genetic resistance against mastitis.
The antidepressant standoff: why it continues and how to resolve it
Authors: Ormel Johan , Spinhoven Philip , de Vries Ymkje Anna , Cramer Angélique O. J. , Siegle Greg J. , Bockting Claudi L. H. , Hollon Steven D.
Published: November 2019

Background

Antidepressant medications (ADMs) are widely used and long-term use is increasing. Given this extensive use and recommendation of ADMs in guidelines, one would expect ADMs to be universally considered effective. Surprisingly, that is not the case; fierce debate on their benefits and harms continues. This editorial seeks to understand why the controversy continues and how consensus can be achieved.

Methods

‘Position’ paper. Critical analysis and synthesis of relevant literature.

Results

Advocates point at ADMs impressive effect size (number needed to treat, NNT = 6–8) in acute phase treatment and continuation/maintenance ADM treatment prevention relapse/recurrence in acute phase ADM responders (NNT = 3–4). Critics point at the limited clinically significant surplus value of ADMs relative to placebo and argue that effectiveness is overstated. We identified multiple factors that fuel the controversy: certainty of evidence is low to moderate; modest efficacy on top of strong placebo effects allows critics to focus on small net efficacy and advocates on large gross efficacy; ADM withdrawal symptoms masquerade as relapse/recurrence; lack of association between ADM treatment and long-term outcome in observational databases. Similar problems affect psychological treatments as well, but less so. We recommend four approaches to resolve the controversy: (1) placebo-controlled trials with relevant long-term outcome assessments, (2) inventive analyses of observational databases, (3) patient cohort studies including effect moderators to improve personalized treatment, and (4) psychological treatments as universal first-line treatment step.

Conclusions

Given the public health significance of depression and increased long-term ADM usage, new approaches are needed to resolve the controversy.