bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of monoethanolamine concentration on CO2 capture by poly (chloromethyl styrene) grafted fibrous adsorbent
Authors: Mohamad N A , Zubair N A , Lotf E A , Nasef M M , Ahmad A , Ali R R , Abdullah T A T , Ting T M
Published: April 2020

The CO2 adsorption performance of poly (chloromethyl styrene) (PCMS) grafted on polyethylene coated polypropylene (PE/PP) fibrous polymer substrate and followed by amination with monoethanolamine (MEA) was investigated using gravimetric sorption system. The chemical, structural and morphological changes in the aminated adsorbents were evaluated using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD), respectively. The amination was carried out using three different compositions of MEA (50, 80 and 100%) diluted in water to optimize the yield of loaded amine. The highest percent of amination obtained was about 71% and the amine content increase with the rise in MEA concentration. The CO2 adsorption capacity increase with MEA concentration with the highest capacity recorded was1.63 mmol/g with pure CO2 gas at 30 bars and room temperature.
A rapid analysis platform for investigating the cellular locations of bacteria using two-photon fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy
Authors: Sapermsap Natakorn , Li David Day-Uei , Al-Hemedawi Ryath , Li Yahui , Yu Jun , Birch David JS , Chen Yu
Published: April 2020

Facultative intracellular pathogens are able to live inside and outside host cells. It is highly desirable to differentiate their cellular locations for the purposes of fundamental research and clinical applications. In this work, we developed a novel analysis platform that allows users to choose two analysis models: amplitude weighted lifetime (τ
A) and intensity weighted lifetime (τ
I) for fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM). We applied these two models to analyse FLIM images of mouse Raw macrophage cells that were infected with bacteria Shigella Sonnei, adherent and invasive E. coli (AIEC) and Lactobacillus. The results show that the fluorescence lifetimes of bacteria depend on their cellular locations. The τ
A model is superior in visually differentiating bacteria that are in extra- and intra-cellular and membrane-bounded locations, whereas the τ
I model show excellent precision. Both models show speedy performances that analysis can be performed within 0.3 s. We also compared the proposed models with a widely used commercial software tool (τ
C, SPC Image, Becker & Hickl GmbH), showing similar τ
I and τ
C results. The platform also allows users to perform phasor analysis with great flexibility to pinpoint the regions of interest from lifetime images as well as phasor plots. This platform holds the disruptive potential of replacing z-stack imaging for identifying intracellular bacteria.
Biomass derived carbon aerogel as an ultrastable skeleton of form-stable phase change materials for efficient thermal energy storage
Authors: Zou Zhiqiang , Wu Wei , Wang Yi , Drummer Dietmar
Published: April 2020

Direct conversion of biomass to carbon aerogel provides a promising approach to developing supporting material for phase change materials (PCMs). In present work, carrot and pumpkin derived carbon aerogels (CCA and PCA) were fabricated via a hydrothermal and post-sintering process. N2 adsorption-desorption isotherms were used to evaluate the specific surface area and pore distribution of the carbon aerogels. It showed that the carrot carbon aerogel sintered at 800 °C (CCA800) possessed a specific surface area of 33.80 m2·g−1, which is separately 168%, 165%, and 287% higher than that of carrot carbon aerogel sintered at 1000 °C (CCA1000, 12.59 m2·g−1), pumpkin carbon aerogel sintered at 800 °C (PCA800, 12.77 m2·g−1), and pumpkin carbon aerogel sintered at 1000 °C (PCA1000, 8.74 m2·g−1). Owing to its porosity, the carbon aerogels with a high loading content of palmitic acid (PA)/thiol-ene resin (TE) composite as a PCM without leakage. A thermal conductivity enhancement of 60.5% was achieved by 50PA/TE@PCA1000 compared with 50PA/TE, and DSC result showed its latent heat of 88.26 J/g. The excellent properties of PCMs composites lead to a promising application foreground.
Nuclear dynamics in BaZr0.7Ce0.2Y0.1O3−δ proton conductor as observed by neutron diffraction and Compton scattering
Authors: Wallis Jan , Kruth Angela , da Silva Ivan , Krzystyniak Matthew
Published: April 2020

Concurrent neutron Compton scattering (NCS) and neutron diffraction experiments at temperatures between 70 K and 300 K have been performed on proton-conducting hydrated BaZr0.7Ce0.2Y0.1O3−δ
(BZCY72) fabricated by spark plasma sintering. A combined neutron data analysis, augmented with density functional theory modelling of lattice dynamics, has enabled, for the first time, a mass-selective appraisal of the combined thermal and nuclear quantum effect on nuclear dynamics and thermodynamic stability of this technologically important proton conducting perovskite oxide. The analysis suggests that the nuclear dynamics in hydrated BZCY72 is a result of a subtle interplay of harmonic, anharmonic and thermal effects, with the increased anharmonic character of the lattice dynamics above the orthorhombic to rhombohedral phase transition at 85 K. The anharmonic effect seems to be most pronounced in the case of oxygen and cerium. The analysis of the proton momentum distribution reveals that the concentration of the hydrogen in the BZCY72 lattice is constant across the orthorhombic to rhombohedral phase transition and further down to the room temperature. Moreover, the average hydrogen concentration obtained from our analysis of the mass-resolved neutron Compton scattering data seems to be commensurate with the total vacancy concentration in the BZCY72 framework. The calculation of the vibrational enthalpy of both phases allows obtaining the value of the enthalpy of the orthorhombic to the rhombohedral phase transition of −3.1 ± 1 kJ mol−1. Finally, our analysis of the nuclear kinetic energy of the proton obtained from NCS and the oxygen-oxygen distance distributions obtained from ND allows to conclude that BZCY72 in both the orthorhombic and rhombohedral phase at 70 K and 100 K respectively falls into the category of the KDP-type crystals where proton is probably under the influence of a double-well potential and forms hydrogen bonds of moderate strength. The obtained results have important ramifications for this technological important material.
Synthesis of hexagonal boron nitride 2D layers using polymer derived ceramics route and derivatives
Authors: Matsoso Boitumelo , Hao Wenjun , Li Yangdi , Vuillet-a-Ciles Victor , Garnier Vincent , Steyer Philippe , Toury Bérangère , Marichy Catherine , Journet Catherine
Published: April 2020

Hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) is nowadays an increasingly attractive material, especially for two-dimensional material applications, due to its intrisic properties. However, its properties are highly dependent on the used synthesis approach. The polymer derived ceramics (PDCs) route allows elaboration of h-BN with tailored textural and structural properties. Here, we demonstrate the interest of the PDCs pathway for the synthesis of h-BN. Growth of h-BN single crystals with crystal sizes of a few microns at relatively low temperature and atmospheric pressure is successfully achieved from borazine precursor using PDCs. The crystallization is improved by additivation of 5 wt% of Li3N to the pre-ceramic polymer. Furthermore, by coupling PDCs with gas pressure sintering, starting from the same pre-ceramic polymer and 25 wt% of Li3N, the crystal size is enlarged up to hundreds of microns. The fabricated single crystals of pure h-BN can then be exfoliated into h-BN nanosheets. Finally, by combining PDCs with atomic layer deposition, functional BN nano-/hetero-structures are successfully synthesized from highly structured sensitive templates, making this ALD process a promising alternative for fabricating functional BN nanostructures.
Current state of opioid stewardship
Authors: Ardeljan L Diana , Waldfogel Julie M , Bicket Mark C , Hunsberger Joann B , Vecchione Tricia Marie , Arwood Nicole , Eid Ahmed , Hatfield Laura A , McNamara LeAnn , Duncan Rosemary , Nesbit Todd , Smith Jacob , Tran Jackie , Nesbit Suzanne A
Published: April 2020

Purpose

The opioid epidemic continues to result in significant morbidity and mortality even within hospitals where opioids are the second most common cause of adverse events. Opioid stewardship represents one model for hospitals to promote safe and rational prescribing of opioids to mitigate preventable adverse events in alliance with new Joint Commission standards. The purpose of this study was to identify the prevalence of current hospital practices to improve opioid use.

Methods

A cross-sectional survey of hospital best practices for opioid use was electronically distributed via electronic listservs in March 2018 to examine the presence of an opioid stewardship program and related practices, including formulary restrictions, specialist involvement for high-risk patients, types of risk factors screened, and educational activities.

Results

Among 133 included hospitals, 23% reported a stewardship program and 14% reported a prospective screening process to identify patients at high risk of opioid-related adverse events (ORAEs). Among those with a prospective screening process, there was variability in ORAE risk factor screening. Formulary restrictions were dependent on specific opioids and formulations. Patient-controlled analgesia was restricted at 45% of hospitals. Most hospitals reported having a pain management service (90%) and a palliative care service providing pain management (67%).

Conclusion

The absence of opioid stewardship and prospectively screening ORAEs represents a gap in current practice at surveyed hospitals. Hospitals have an opportunity to implement and refine best practices such as access to pain management specialists, use of formulary restrictions, and retrospective and prospective monitoring of adverse events to improve opioid use.
Pharmacokinetics of flucytosine in a critically ill patient on continuous venovenous hemodiafiltration
Authors: Greene Rebecca A , Adams Kathleen K , Rogers Ralph D , Berard-Collins Christine , Lorenzo Michael P
Published: April 2020

Purpose

To describe the pharmacokinetics of flucytosine in a critically ill patient undergoing continuous venovenous hemodiafiltration (CVVHDF) treated for cryptococcal meningitis.

A 20-year-old female weighing 93.4 kg with a body mass index of 34.3 kg/m2 with a past medical history of systemic lupus erythematous with diffuse proliferative lupus nephritis (class IV) was admitted to the hospital after several months of worsening dyspnea, fatigue, myalgia, vomiting, and diarrhea. The patient developed worsening renal function and volume overload requiring CVVHDF on hospital day 7. She was diagnosed with cryptococcal meningitis on hospital day 8, and flucytosine 2,500 mg enterally every 12 hours and liposomal amphotericin B 500 mg intravenously every 24 hours were initiated. Flucytosine serum concentrations were collected on day 4 of therapy, and pharmacokinetics were performed on 2 sequential levels. Pharmacokinetic calculations displayed an elimination rate constant of 0.0338 h-1, a volume of distribution between 0.42 and 0.43 L/kg, a half-life of 20.5 hours, and a total drug clearance between 1.32 and 1.36 L/h while on CVVHDF. The nonsequential levels displayed good correlation, and no further monitoring or dosage adjustment was required. The patient completed therapy, with clinical resolution of her infection, and no toxicities due to flucytosine were noted.

Conclusion

Flucytosine dosed at 25 mg/kg of actual body weight every 12 hours during CVVHDF conferred therapeutic levels with no appreciable toxicities. Because of its narrow therapeutic index and risk of toxicity, additional pharmacokinetic studies are needed to determine optimal drug dosing of this medication in patients requiring renal replacement therapy.
MaveQuest: a web resource for planning experimental tests of human variant effects
Authors: Kuang Da , Weile Jochen , Li Roujia , Ouellette Tom W , Barber Jarry A , Roth Frederick P
Published: April 2020

Fully realizing the promise of personalized medicine will require rapid and accurate classification of pathogenic human variation. Multiplexed assays of variant effect (MAVEs) can experimentally test nearly all possible variants in selected gene targets. Planning a MAVE study involves identifying target genes with clinical impact, and identifying scalable functional assays for that target. Here, we describe MaveQuest, a web-based resource enabling systematic variant effect mapping studies by identifying potential functional assays, disease phenotypes and clinical relevance for nearly all human protein-coding genes.

Availability and implementation

MaveQuest service: https://mavequest.varianteffect.org/. MaveQuest source code: https://github.com/kvnkuang/mavequest-front-end/.

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
FASPR: an open-source tool for fast and accurate protein side-chain packing
Authors: Huang Xiaoqiang , Pearce Robin , Zhang Yang
Published: April 2020

Motivation

Protein structure and function are essentially determined by how the side-chain atoms interact with each other. Thus, accurate protein side-chain packing (PSCP) is a critical step toward protein structure prediction and protein design. Despite the importance of the problem, however, the accuracy and speed of current PSCP programs are still not satisfactory.

Results

We present FASPR for fast and accurate PSCP by using an optimized scoring function in combination with a deterministic searching algorithm. The performance of FASPR was compared with four state-of-the-art PSCP methods (CISRR, RASP, SCATD and SCWRL4) on both native and non-native protein backbones. For the assessment on native backbones, FASPR achieved a good performance by correctly predicting 69.1% of all the side-chain dihedral angles using a stringent tolerance criterion of 20°, compared favorably with SCWRL4, CISRR, RASP and SCATD which successfully predicted 68.8%, 68.6%, 67.8% and 61.7%, respectively. Additionally, FASPR achieved the highest speed for packing the 379 test protein structures in only 34.3 s, which was significantly faster than the control methods. For the assessment on non-native backbones, FASPR showed an equivalent or better performance on I-TASSER predicted backbones and the backbones perturbed from experimental structures. Detailed analyses showed that the major advantage of FASPR lies in the optimal combination of the dead-end elimination and tree decomposition with a well optimized scoring function, which makes FASPR of practical use for both protein structure modeling and protein design studies.

Availability and implementation

The web server, source code and datasets are freely available at https://zhanglab.ccmb.med.umich.edu/FASPR and https://github.com/tommyhuangthu/FASPR.

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Prevalence and associated predictors for patients developing chronic neuropathic pain following burns
Authors: Klifto Kevin M , Dellon A Lee , Hultman C Scott
Published: April 2020

Background

Chronic pain, unrelated to the burn itself, can manifest as a long-term complication in patients sustaining burn injuries. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of chronic neuropathic pain (CNP) and compare burn characteristics between patients who developed CNP and patients without CNP who were treated at a burn center.

Methods

A single-center, retrospective analysis of 1880 patients admitted to the adult burn center was performed from 1 January 2014 to 1 January 2019. Patients included were over the age of 15 years, sustained a burn injury and were admitted to the burn center. CNP was diagnosed clinically following burn injury. Patients were excluded from the definition of CNP if their pain was due to an underlying illness or medication. Comparisons between patients admitted to the burn center with no pain and patients admitted to the burn center who developed CNP were performed.

Results

One hundred and thirteen of the 1880 burn patients developed CNP as a direct result of burn injury over 5 years with a prevalence of 6.01%. Patients who developed CNP were a significantly older median age (54 years vs. 46 years, p = 0.002), abused alcohol (29% vs. 8%, p < 0.001),

abused substances (31% vs. 9%, p < 0.001), were current daily smokers (73% vs. 33%, p < 0.001), suffered more full-thickness burns (58% vs. 43%, p < 0.001), greater median percent of total body surface area (%TBSA) burns (6 vs. 3.5, p < 0.001), were more often intubated on mechanical ventilation (33% vs. 14%, p < 0.001), greater median number of surgeries (2 vs. 0, p < 0.001) and longer median hospital length of stay (LOS) (10 days vs. 3 days, p < 0.001), compared to those who did not develop CNP, respectively. Median patient follow-up was 27 months.

Conclusions

The prevalence of CNP over 5 years was 6.01% in the burn center. Older ages, alcohol abuse, substance abuse, current daily smoking, greater percent of total body surface area (%TBSA) burns, third degree burns, being intubated on mechanical ventilation, having more surgeries and longer hospital LOS were associated with developing CNP following burn injury, compared to patients who did not develop CNP following burn injury.
Investigation of adsorption/desorption performance by aminopropyltriethoxysilane grafted onto different mesoporous silica for post-combustion CO2 capture
Authors: Muchan Pailin , Saiwan Chintana , Nithitanakul Manit
Published: April 2020

Mesoporous silicas with hexagonal structure (MCM-41 and SBA-15) and cubical interconnected pore structure (KIT-6) were synthesized and modified with aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) for using as adsorbents in carbon-dioxide (CO2)-adsorption application. The CO2-adsorption experiment was carried out at room temperature and atmospheric pressure using 15% CO2 with a flow rate of 20 mL/min and the desorption experiment was carried out at 100°C under N2 balance with a flow rate of 20 mL/min. The adsorption capacity and adsorption rate of all modified mesoporous silicas were enhanced due to the presence of primary amine in the structure, which was able to form a fast chemical reaction with CO2. All adsorbents showed good adsorption performance stability after using over five adsorption/desorption cycles. Due to the effect of the adsorbents’ porous structure on the adsorption/desorption process, an adsorbent with sufficient pore-size diameter and pore volume together with interconnected pore, KIT-6, represents a promising adsorbent that gave the optimum adsorption/desorption performance among others. It showed reasonable adsorption capacity with a high rate of adsorption. In addition, it could also be regenerated with 99.72% efficiency using 12.07 kJ/mmolCO2 of heat duty for regeneration.
Pneumococcal vaccination in adults at very high risk or with established cardiovascular disease: systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Marques Antunes Miguel , Duarte Gonçalo S , Brito Dulce , Borges Margarida , Costa João , Ferreira Joaquim J , Pinto Fausto J , Caldeira Daniel
Published: April 2020

Aims

There are several guidelines that recommend pneumococcal vaccination (PPSV23 and/or PCV13) in adults with a history of cardiovascular disease (established heart failure, coronary disease, and cerebrovascular disease) or at a very high risk of cardiovascular disease. However, there is no randomized controlled trial (RCT) systematic review that evaluates the impact of vaccination on all-cause mortality compared to no vaccination in this particular population. Our objective is to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of the impact of pneumococcal vaccination in the referred population.

Methods and results

We searched CENTRAL and MEDLINE for relevant RCTs and observational studies. Data were screened, extracted, and appraised by two independent reviewers. We pooled results using a random effects model, and used hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) to assess measure of effect. The primary outcome was all-cause mortality and we assessed the confidence in the evidence using the GRADE framework. No RCTs were found. Seven observational studies were included for analyses. Pooled results from five studies enrolling a total of 163 756 participants showed a significant decrease in all-cause mortality (HR 0.78, 95% CI 0.73–0.83, very low confidence), without statistically significant heterogeneity (χ2 test P = 0.21; I2 = 32%).

Conclusions

Pneumococcal vaccination was associated with a 22% decrease of all-cause mortality in patients with cardiovascular disease or at a very high cardiovascular risk. However, limitations due to study design and the serious risk of bias in three of the included studies leads to a decreased level of result confidence.
The relation of severe malocclusion to patients’ mental and behavioral disorders, growth, and speech problems
Authors: Koskela Anu , Neittaanmäki Anneli , Rönnberg Kaj , Palotie Aarno , Ripatti Samuli , Palotie Tuula
Published: April 2020

Background

Severe malocclusions appear in up to 20 per cent of the population. Many neuropsychiatric diseases are likely to have a neurodevelopmental, partially genetic background with their origins as early as fetal life. However, the possible relationship between neurodevelopmental disorders and severe malocclusions is unclear. The aim of this study was in a population-based setting (270 000 inhabitants) to investigate whether patients with severe malocclusions have more mental and behavioural disorders and growth or speech problems than controls without severe malocclusion.

Material and Methods

The study group consisted of patients from the Espoo Health Care Center, Finland, born in year 2000, who were retrospectively screened for their medical and dental records, including their possible mental and behavioural disorders (i.e. attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, Asperger’s syndrome, autism, mood disorder, or broadly defined behavioural abnormalities, learning problems, mental disorders, sleep disturbances, anxiety symptoms, depressive symptoms, and eating-related symptoms) and their need of orthodontic treatment according to the Treatment Priority Index (TPI). The study group consisted of a severe malocclusion group (n =1008; TPI 8–10) and a control group (n = 1068) with no severe malocclusion (TPI 0–7).

Results

Patients with severe mandibular retrognatia (P < 0.000), lip incompetence (P = 0.006), or neurodevelopmental disorders (mental and behavioural; P = 0.002) were found to have significantly more speech problems than the controls. The patients with severe malocclusions were leaner, that is, body mass index (kg/m2) <17, underweight; 17–25, normal weight; >25, overweight) than controls (P = 0.003), and underweight patients had a significant association with retrognathic maxilla (P < 0.000) compared to normal or overweight patients. No significant relationship between neurodevelopmental disorders and severe malocclusions, that is, retrognatia of maxilla, hypodontia, and severe dental crowding was observed.

Conclusion

Our results indicate that patients with severe mandibular retrognatia, lip incompetence, or neurodevelopmental disorders were found to have significantly more speech problems than controls. During orthodontic treatment of patients with severe malocclusion, special attention should be paid to patients with severe mandibular retrognatia, lip incompetence, and speech problems to detect signs of possible neurodevelopmental disorders and record if potential follow-up measures are in place.
Debates on the Restitution of Romanianized Property during the Antonescu Regime, 1940–1944
Authors: Ionescu Ştefan Cristian
Published: April 2020

Many Jewish and non-Jewish Romanians seriously considered and debated the reversal of Romanian seizures of Jewish property (Romanianization) during the Antonescu regime. While the former hoped for full restitution, the majority of the latter opposed the return of Romanianized property. In particular, beneficiaries of Romanianization feared losing their recent acquisitions. Nonetheless, some Jews managed to recover property during the Antonescu regime after petitioning the courts and administrative offices. As a radical antisemite, Antonescu was not motivated by a desire to help the Jews, but rather by concerns about budgetary losses, economic collapse, growing distrust in the security of property rights, and the prospect of postwar peace negotiations. Wartime debates by Jews, non-Jews, and government officials reveal that from 1940 to 1944, the restitution of “illegally” seized property became, in some circumstances, an accepted practice.
Inhibition of tumor suppressor p73 by nerve growth factor receptor via chaperone-mediated autophagy
Authors: Nguyen Daniel , Yang Kun , Chiao Lucia , Deng Yun , Zhou Xiang , Zhang Zhen , Zeng Shelya X , Lu Hua
Published: April 2020

The tumor suppressr p73 is a homolog of p53 and is capable of inducing cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. Here, we identify nerve growth factor receptor (NGFR, p75NTR, or CD271) as a novel negative p73 regulator. p73 activates NGFR transcription, which, in turn, promotes p73 degradation in a negative feedback loop. NGFR directly binds to p73 central DNA-binding domain and suppresses p73 transcriptional activity as well as p73-mediated apoptosis in cancer cells. Surprisingly, we uncover a previously unknown mechanism of NGFR-facilitated p73 degradation through the chaperone-mediated autophagy (CMA) pathway. Collectively, our studies demonstrate a new oncogenic function for NGFR in inactivating p73 activity by promoting its degradation through the CMA.
Statistical analysis of Galactic globular cluster type properties
Authors: Simioni M , Aparicio A , Piotto G
Published: April 2020

The analysis of pseudo-colour diagrams, the so-called chromosome maps, of Galactic globular clusters (GCs) permits to classify them into type I and type II clusters. Type II GCs are characterized by an above-the-average complexity of their chromosome maps and some of them are known to display star-to-star variations of slow neutron-capture reaction elements including iron. This is at the basis of the hypothesis that type II GCs may have an extragalactic origin and were subsequently accreted by the Milky Way. We performed a principal component analysis to explore possible correlations among various GCs parameters in the light of this new classification. The analysis revealed that cluster type correlates mainly with relative age. The cause of this relation was further investigated finding that more metal-rich type II clusters, also appear to be younger and more distant from the Galactic centre. A depletion of type II clusters for positive values of Galactic coordinate Z was also observed, with no type II clusters detected above Z ∼ 2 kpc. Type II cluster orbits also have larger eccentricities than type I ones.
A radiative transfer model for the spiral galaxy M33★
Authors: Thirlwall Jordan J , Popescu Cristina C , Tuffs Richard J , Natale Giovanni , Norris Mark , Rushton Mark , Grootes Meiert , Carroll Ben
Published: April 2020

We present the first radiative transfer (RT) model of a non-edge-on disc galaxy in which the large-scale geometry of stars and dust is self-consistently derived through the fitting of multiwavelength imaging observations from the ultraviolet to the submm. To this end, we used the axisymmetric RT model of Popescu et al. and a new methodology for deriving geometrical parameters, and applied this to decode the spectral energy distribution (SED) of M33. We successfully account for both the spatial and spectral energy distribution, with residuals typically within $7{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$ in the profiles of surface brightness and within $8{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$ in the spatially integrated SED. We predict well the energy balance between absorption and re-emission by dust, with no need to invoke modified grain properties, and we find no submm emission that is in excess of our model predictions. We calculate that $80\pm 8{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$ of the dust heating is powered by the young stellar populations. We identify several morphological components in M33, a nuclear, an inner, a main and an outer disc, showing a monotonic trend in decreasing star formation surface density (ΣSFR) from the nuclear to the outer disc. In relation to surface density of stellar mass, the ΣSFR of these components defines a steeper relation than the ‘main sequence’ of star-forming galaxies, which we call a ‘structurally resolved main sequence’. Either environmental or stellar feedback mechanisms could explain the slope of the newly defined sequence. We find the star formation rate to be ${\rm SFR}=0.28^{+0.02}_{-0.01}{\rm M}_{\odot }{\rm yr}^{-1}$.
Concat Convolutional Neural Network for pulsar candidate selection
Authors: Zeng Qingguo , Li Xiangru , Lin Haitao
Published: April 2020

Pulsar searching is essential for the scientific research in the field of physics and astrophysics. With the development of the radio telescope, the exploding volume and growth speed of candidates have brought about several challenges. Therefore, there is an urgent demand for developing an automatic, accurate, and efficient pulsar candidate selection method. To meet this need, this work designed a Concat Convolutional Neural Network (CCNN) to identify the candidates collected from the Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Telescope (FAST) data. The CCNN extracts some ‘pulsar-like’ patterns from the diagnostic subplots using Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) and combines these CNN features by a concatenate layer. Therefore, the CCNN is an end-to-end learning model without any need for any intermediate labels, which makes CCNN suitable for the online learning pipeline of pulsar candidate selection. Experimental results on FAST data show that the CCNN outperforms the available state-of-the-art models in a similar scenario. In total, it misses only 4 real pulsars out of 326.
The GBT 350-MHz Drift Scan Pulsar Survey – III. Detection of a magnetic field in the eclipsing material of PSR J2256–1024
Authors: Crowter Kathryn , Stairs Ingrid H , McPhee Christie A , Archibald Anne M , Boyles Jason , Hessels Jason , Karako-Argaman Chen , Lorimer Duncan R , Lynch Ryan S , McLaughlin Maura A , Ransom Scott M , Roberts Mallory S E , Stovall Kevin , van Leeuwen Joeri
Published: April 2020

We present the first measurement of a non-zero magnetic field in the eclipsing material of a black widow pulsar. Black widows are millisecond pulsars which are ablating their companions; therefore they are often proposed as one potential source of isolated millisecond pulsars. PSR J2256–1024 is an eclipsing black widow discovered at radio wavelengths and later also observed in the X-ray and gamma parts of the spectrum. Here we present the radio timing solution for PSR J2256–1024; polarization profiles at 350, 820, and 1500 MHz; and an investigation of changes in the polarization profile due to eclipsing material in the system. In the latter we find evidence of Faraday rotation in the linear polarization shortly after eclipse, measuring a rotation measure of 0.44(6) rad m−2 and a corresponding line-of-sight magnetic field of ∼1.11(16) mG.
Circulating angiogenic cells in glioblastoma: toward defining crucial functional differences in CAC-induced neoplastic versus reactive neovascularization
Authors: Huizer Karin , Sacchetti Andrea , Swagemakers Sigrid , van der Spek Peter J , Dik Wim , Mustafa Dana A , Kros Johan M
Published: April 2020

Background

In order to identify suitable therapeutic targets for glioma anti-angiogenic therapy, the process of neovascularization mediated by circulating angiogenic cells (CACs) needs to be scrutinized.

Methods

In the present study, we compared the expression of neovascularization-related genes by 3 circulating CAC subsets (hematopoietic progenitor cells [HPCs], CD34+, and KDR+ cells; internal controls: peripheral blood mononuclear cells and circulating endothelial cells) of treatment-naïve patients with glioblastoma (GBM) to those of patients undergoing reactive neovascularization (myocardial infarction (MI). CACs from umbilical cord (representing developmental neovascularization) and healthy subjects served as controls. Fluorescent-activated cell sorting was used to isolate CACs, RT-PCR to determine the expression levels of a panel of 48 neovascularization-related genes, and Luminex assays to measure plasma levels of 21 CAC-related circulating molecules.

Results

We found essential differences in gene expression between GBM and MI CACs. GBM CACs had a higher expression of proangiogenic factors (especially, KITL, CXCL12, and JAG1), growth factor and chemotactic receptors (IGF1R, TGFBR2, CXCR4, and CCR2), adhesion receptor monomers (ITGA5 and ITGA6), and matricellular factor POSTN. In addition, we found major differences in the levels of neovascularization-related plasma factors. A strong positive correlation between plasma MMP9 levels and expression of CXCR4 in the CAC subset of HPCs was found in GBM patients.

Conclusions

Our findings indicate that CAC-mediated neovascularization in GBM is characterized by more efficient CAC homing to target tissue and a more potent proangiogenic response than in physiologic tissue repair in MI. Our findings can aid in selecting targets for therapeutic strategies acting against GBM-specific CACs.
Reflections on Frege’s Theory of Real Numbers†
Authors: Roeper Peter
Published: April 2020

Although Frege’s theory of real numbers in Grundgesetze der Arithmetik, Vol. II, is incomplete, it is possible to provide a logicist justification for the approach he is taking and to construct a plausible completion of his account by an extrapolation which parallels his theory of cardinal numbers.
An Evaluation of Alternative Multiple Testing Methods for Finance Applications
Authors: Harvey Campbell R , Liu Yan , Saretto Alessio
Published: April 2020

In almost every area of empirical finance, researchers confront multiple tests. One high-profile example is the identification of outperforming investment managers, many of whom beat their benchmarks purely by luck. Multiple testing methods are designed to control for luck. Factor selection is another glaring case in which multiple tests are performed, but numerous other applications do not receive as much attention. One important example is a simple regression model testing five variables. In this case, because five variables are tried, a t-statistic of 2.0 is not enough to establish significance. Our paper provides a guide to various multiple testing methods and details a number of applications. We provide simulation evidence on the relative performance of different methods across a variety of testing environments. The goal of our paper is to provide a menu that researchers can choose from to improve inference in financial economics. (JEL G0, G1, G3, G5, M4, C1)
Early Modern Protestant Listicles: God’s ‘Done’ and George Herbert’s ‘To Do’ Lists
Authors: Sullivan Ceri
Published: April 2020

Protestant devotional writing from the turn of the seventeenth century uses the list to appeal to the reason, the emotions, and the will. Though as common a device as the dialogue, meditation, catechism, or homily, the list mostly goes unnoticed because of its humble pragmatism. This article looks first at the affordances of the list per se, then at how the period’s devotional writing characteristically entices readers with lists to argue, meditate, and act. Finally, the article argues that George Herbert’s The Temple (1633) uses the list to bring out the opportunities and comedy in the solifidian paradox.
Indignation for moral violations suppresses the tongue motor cortex: preliminary TMS evidence
Authors: Vicario Carmelo M , Rafal Robert D , di Pellegrino Giuseppe , Lucifora Chiara , Salehinejad Mohammad A , Nitsche Michael A , Avenanti Alessio
Published: April 2020

We commonly label moral violations in terms of ‘disgust’, yet it remains unclear whether metaphorical expressions linking disgust and morality are genuinely shared at the cognitive/neural level. Using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), we provide new insights into this debate by measuring motor-evoked potentials (MEPs) from the tongue generated by TMS over the tongue primary motor area (tM1) in a small group of healthy participants presented with vignettes of moral transgressions and non-moral vignettes. We tested whether moral indignation, felt while evaluating moral vignettes, affected tM1 excitability. Vignettes exerted a variable influence on MEPs with no net effect of the moral category. However, in accordance with our recent study documenting reduced tM1 excitability during exposure to pictures of disgusting foods or facial expressions of distaste, we found that the vignettes of highly disapproved moral violations reduced tM1 excitability. Moreover, tM1 excitability and moral indignation were linearly correlated: the higher the moral indignation, the lower the tM1 excitability. Respective changes in MEPs were not observed in a non-oral control muscle, suggesting a selective decrease of tM1 excitability. These preliminary findings provide neurophysiological evidence supporting the hypothesis that morality might have originated from the more primitive experience of oral distaste.
Achieving Justice for Girls in the Juvenile Justice System
Authors: Parrish Danielle E
Published: April 2020

Female involvement in the juvenile justice system has steadily increased in the United States over the past three decades. During this time, as male arrests have declined, female arrests have increased. Although many social workers have responded to these trends with a national call to identify and address the unique needs of these girls, we lack much high-quality research, including empirically supported interventions or programming to serve the needs of female youths involved in the justice system. This article provides a summary of the extant research that helps document the unique needs of these female youths and national policy efforts and practice considerations for social work practitioners. These needs and policy initiatives offer important opportunities for social workers to conduct research to improve the understanding of this population and also ways in which to provide services that address these youths’ complex needs. The article concludes that these female youths—most of whom are not a danger to society—need services instead of involvement in the justice system.
An integrative taxonomic framework for the study of the genus Ciona (Ascidiacea) and description of a new species, Ciona intermedia
Authors: Mastrototaro Francesco , Montesanto Federica , Salonna Marika , Viard Frédérique , Chimienti Giovanni , Trainito Egidio , Gissi Carmela
Published: April 2020

The genus Ciona is an interesting ‘taxonomic case’ because its evolutionary history and taxonomy have not yet been resolved completely. In this study, we present new findings, describing specimens of an unidentified Ciona species collected along the north-eastern coasts of Sardinia (Tyrrhenian Sea, Mediterranean Sea). Applying an integrative taxonomic approach, based on the joint examination of morphological and molecular traits, we identify these specimens as a new species, Ciona intermedia sp. nov. Morphological comparisons and peculiarities of the habitat first revealed that these Ciona specimens have intermediate characters compared with other Ciona species. Molecular characterization (based on three mitochondrial regions: two already used for discriminating Ciona cryptic species and a newly developed one) confirmed that our specimens could not be assigned to any previously molecularly-characterized species. Both molecular phylogenetic reconstructions and morphological data clearly indicate C. intermedia as sister clade of Ciona edwardsi. Our findings add further complexity to the taxonomy of Ciona, underlying the importance of an integrative taxonomic approach for the study of the evolutionary history of this enigmatic genus.
Nosocomial Severe Bacterial Infection After Cardiac Surgery for Complex Congenital Heart Disease in Heterotaxy Syndrome
Authors: Shao Pei-Lan , Chen Meng-Yu , Wu Mei-Hwan , Wang Jou-Kou , Huang Li-Min , Chiu Shuenn-Nan
Published: April 2020

Background:

Patients with heterotaxy syndrome (HS), commonly associated with hyposplenism and complex congenital heart disease (CCHD), require multiple-stage single ventricle type operation for long-term survival. Although a higher risk of community-acquired sepsis and mortality rate was reported in CCHD with HS compared with those without HS, whether the risk of postoperative severe bacterial infection (SBI) is higher in patients with HS remains unknown.

Method:

All patients with CCHD (with and without HS) born between 2001 and 2013 who received cardiac surgery between 2001 and 2018 were enrolled. We analyzed the epidemiology and risk of postoperative SBI in this CCHD cohort.

Result:

In total, 101 patients of CCHD with HS and 164 patients without HS were enrolled. The mean postoperative nosocomial SBI rate was 0.73/100 patient-days in patients with HS and 0.56/100 patient-days in patients without HS (P = 0.13). Multivariate Cox regression analysis demonstrated that the most critical risk factor for postoperative SBI was postoperative intubation >14 days. Preoperative risk factors, including a nonstandard surgical procedure and multiple surgeries, but not HS, were associated with an increased risk of postoperative nosocomial SBI. The pathogens of infection were also similar between these 2 groups.

Conclusion:

Although commonly associated with hyposplenism, patients with HS have similar postoperative SBI risk and pathogens as those with CCHD alone.
Whole-genome sequencing resolves a polyclonal outbreak by extended-spectrum beta-lactam and carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae in a Portuguese tertiary-care hospital
Authors: Perdigão João , Modesto Ana , Pereira A. L. , Neto O. , Matos V. , Godinho A. , Phelan Jody , Charleston James , Spadar Anton , de Sessions Paola Florez , Hibberd Martin , Campino Susana , Costa A. , Fernandes F. , Ferreira F. , Correia A. B. , Gonçalves Luisa , Clark Taane G. , Duarte Aida
Published: April 2020

Klebsiella pneumoniae

has emerged as an important nosocomial pathogen, with whole-genome sequencing (WGS) significantly improving our ability to characterize associated outbreaks. Our study sought to perform a genome-wide analysis of multiclonal

K. pneumoniae

isolates (n=39; 23 patients) producing extended spectrum beta-lactamases and/or carbapenemases sourced between 2011 and 2016 in a Portuguese tertiary-care hospital. All isolates showed resistance to third-generation cephalosporins and six isolates (five patients) were also carbapenem resistant. Genome-wide-based phylogenetic analysis revealed a topology representing ongoing dissemination of three main sequence-type (ST) clades (ST15, ST147 and ST307) and transmission across different wards, compatible with missing links that can take the form of undetected colonized patients. Two carbapenemase-coding genes were detected: blaKPC-3
, located on a Tn4401d transposon, and blaGES-5
on a novel class 3 integron. Additionally, four genes coding for ESBLs (blaBEL-1
, blaCTX-M-8
, blaCTX-M-15
and blaCTX-M-32
) were also detected. ESBL horizontal dissemination across five clades is highlighted by the similar genetic environments of blaCTX-M-15
gene upstream of ISEcp1 on a Tn3-like transposon. Overall, this study provides a high-resolution genome-wide perspective on the epidemiology of ESBL and carbapenemase-producing

K. pneumoniae

in a healthcare setting while contributing for the adoption of appropriate intervention and prevention strategies.
Bayesian reconstruction of Mycobacterium tuberculosis transmission networks in a high incidence area over two decades in Malawi reveals associated risk factors and genomic variants
Authors: Sobkowiak Benjamin , Banda Louis , Mzembe Themba , Crampin Amelia C. , Glynn Judith R. , Clark Taane G.
Published: April 2020

Understanding host and pathogen factors that influence tuberculosis (TB) transmission can inform strategies to eliminate the spread of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb). Determining transmission links between cases of TB is complicated by a long and variable latency period and undiagnosed cases, although methods are improving through the application of probabilistic modelling and whole-genome sequence analysis. Using a large dataset of 1857 whole-genome sequences and comprehensive metadata from Karonga District, Malawi, over 19 years, we reconstructed Mtb transmission networks using a two-step Bayesian approach that identified likely infector and recipient cases, whilst robustly allowing for incomplete case sampling. We investigated demographic and pathogen genomic variation associated with transmission and clustering in our networks. We found that whilst there was a significant decrease in the proportion of infectors over time, we found higher transmissibility and large transmission clusters for lineage 2 (Beijing) strains. By performing evolutionary convergence testing (phyC) and genome-wide association analysis (GWAS) on transmitting versus non-transmitting cases, we identified six loci, PPE54, accD2, PE_PGRS62, rplI, Rv3751 and Rv2077c, that were associated with transmission. This study provides a framework for reconstructing large-scale Mtb transmission networks. We have highlighted potential host and pathogen characteristics that were linked to increased transmission in a high-burden setting and identified genomic variants that, with validation, could inform further studies into transmissibility and TB eradication.
HTCC as a highly effective polymeric inhibitor of SARS-CoV-2 and MERS-CoV
Authors: Milewska Aleksandra , Chi Ying , Szczepanski Artur , Barreto-Duran Emilia , Liu Kevin , Liu Dan , Guo Xiling , Ge Yiyue , Li Jingxin , Cui Lunbiao , Ochman Marek , Urlik Maciej , Rodziewicz-Motowidlo Sylwia , Zhu Fengcai , Szczubialka Krzysztof , Nowakowska Maria , Pyrc Krzysztof
Published: April 2020

The beginning of 2020 brought us information about the novel coronavirus emerging in China. Rapid research resulted in the characterization of the pathogen, which appeared to be a member of the SARS-like cluster, commonly seen in bats. Despite the global and local efforts, the virus escaped the healthcare measures and rapidly spread in China and later globally, officially causing a pandemic and global crisis in March 2020. At present, different scenarios are being written to contain the virus, but the development of novel anticoronavirals for all highly pathogenic coronaviruses remains the major challenge. Here, we describe the antiviral activity of previously developed by us HTCC compound (N-(2-hydroxypropyl)-3-trimethylammonium chitosan chloride), which may be used as potential inhibitor of currently circulating highly pathogenic coronaviruses – SARS-CoV-2 and MERS-CoV.