bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Economic Valuation for Organic Farming of Dragon Fruit: Cost Benefit Analysis Approach
Authors: Ningsih Kustiawati , Sakdiyah Halimatus , Felani Herman , Dwiastuti Rini , Asmara Rosihan
Published: April 2020

This article is a descriptive analytic study that aims to analyze the organic farming economic valuation of dragon fruit. Data analysis method uses Contingent Valuation Method by calculating the Social Benefits and Social Costs of Organic Fruit Dragon Farming in order to obtain Net Present Value and B / C Ratio from organic farming of dragon fruit. The results showed that organic farming of dragon fruit provided social benefits of Rp. 3,736,890,099,95.00 / hectare per year. Net Present Value (NPV) Rp. 28,303,945,382.50 BCR = 56.77 and Total Economic Value (TEV) Rp. 3. 671.069.440,01 per hectare per year. Based on the results of the study it can be suggested that the utilization of organic dragon fruit farming is managed well so that the environmental function can be maintained and economic assessment can be used as a reference and management for sustainable agricultural development
System Control Pest Rice Plant based on Microcontroller Arduino Uno
Authors: Rosadi Aswin , Balafif Sabri , Novianti Triuli
Published: April 2020

Pests rice plant attack almost every season. Pests rice plant include planthoppers, rats and birds. The farmers used to control pests of rice plants in traditional ways. These traditional methods are felt to be effective brackets to repel rice pests. In the case of the updated automation system by farmers to overcome rice pest. Arduino Uno microcontroller as a controller of Ultrasonic sensor (sound) and LDR sendor (receiver of light). The Ultrasonic Sensor detects arrival and then drives the Servo Motor to drive it away, while the LDR sensor receives light to activate Buzzer (sound output).
The Use of Salt as Clay Soil Stabilization Agent in Central Kalimantan
Authors: Cahyadi Hendra , Puspasari Nirwana
Published: April 2020

A building structure is built on the ground. Therefore, it needs to know the properties of soil in order the plan of building structure can be performed well. The commonly soil properties is CBR. The higher the scores of CBR the better of soil properties. Clay soil generally has low scores of CBR. The attempts to improve the original of clay have been conducted, such with soil stabilization. One of the clay stabilization materials is salt. The purpose of the particular research was to know the scores of CBR clay soil in Central Kalimantan before and after stabilized using salt. Clay soil samples were taken from six regencies in Central Kalimantan. The clay soil tests performed was CBR test before and after the stabilization with salt. The planned salt mixtures were 5, 10, 15, 20, 25% and 30% toward the dried content of clay soil. The results of the study showed the original soil of CBR score ranges from 3.90% to 4.75%. Then, after stabilization 5% to 15%, the score of CBR tends to rise of 5% to 9%. Concluded, the CBR score has reached the maximum score with salt addition 10% to15% of the weight of the soil.
Multicultural Education as a Supported for the Formation on Environment of Islamic Communities in Pamekasan Regency
Authors: Sahibudin  , Supandi  , Mujiburrohman  , Rijal Syamsul , Atnawi
Published: April 2020

Islamic education is a process to help society be a human being perfectly to know Allah by using the Qur’an and al-Hadith, the source of their live. Creating an Environmet of Islamic community is an effort has been made with the “Greeting Gate” Jargon or the Islamic Community Development Movement which is then revealed in the form of applications and implementation in community, include the world of education. Islamic community environmental creation techniques have been carried out since 2002/2003 by the government and the community and religious leaders represented by other religious organizations. Thus, the creation on an environment of Islamic community is the purpose of the government; that the Islamic spirit and attitude be a culture for the entire community in Pamekasan district. On the other hand, the community is a pluralistic society consisting of various tribes, races and ethnicities, such as indigenous, Chinese and Arabic, to achieve the success of creating an Islamic society, the education process is needed to bridge it, and multicultural education is the most approprite way to apply in the Enviroment of Islamic Community. The research method used is naturalistic qualitative research, data collection techniques using several instruments, interview data, documentation data and observations. The results of the research conducted, can be explained that multi-cultural education can help and sustain the success of the Greeting Gate’s program or the creation of an Islamic community environment; however, some education’s components can not support and understand the multicultural education.
A Healthy Breastfeeding Environment: Application of Graph Colouring on Infant Milk 0-6 Months
Authors: Yulianto Tony , Zulaikha Layla Imroatu , Amalia Rica , Faisol  , Kuzairi  , Irwansyah Budi
Published: April 2020

Infants aged 0-6 months require exclusive breastfeeding, because the baby's digestion has not been able to obtain additional food. But not all mothers can breastfeed because of several factors, therefore formula milk is also very needed in infants who can not receive breast milk as a substitute. In the selection of baby milk there are many methods that can be done, but in this study using graph coloring to obtain the appropriate infant milk. Based on result of research from 22 data of baby born normal and baby birth weight according to standard use 8 kinds of milk, after done graph coloring process hence obtained result that for infant recommended 1 type of milk there are 4 baby, 2 type of milk there is 1 baby, 3 kind of milk there are 3 babies, 4 types of milk there are 2 babies, 5 types of milk there are 2 babies, 6 types of milk there are 4 babies, and 7 types of milk there are 6 babies.
Traditional methods for the design of radial-axial hydraulic turbines with verification in CFD simulation
Authors: Handal I , Tkachuk V , Petrovand A , Protopopov A
Published: April 2020

Annotation

In the modern world, the use of hydrodynamic power plants is one of the fundamental ways of generating electricity. The main part of such power plants is the hydraulic turbine impeller, therefore, for the developer, the main task is to design it correctly. In this work are used the traditional methods for designing radial-axis hydraulic turbines and test their operability with CAD and CFD programs. For that was created a hydro turbine model that will be installed in El Salvador. Subsequently, in the future, this hydroturbine will be optimized.
The implementation of digital program control in hydraulic actuators of hydraulic structures
Authors: Zyubin I , Kushnir N , Akinfiev A , Sinitsyna A
Published: April 2020

The problems of controlling the gates of hydraulic structures from the point of view of modernizing current systems and expanding their capabilities are considered. A variant of the modernization of a discrete directional control valve is presented, which ensures the further implementation of a digital system for controlling the speed and position of the hydraulic control regulating element of hydraulic structure.
Predicted resource of the most loaded centrifugal pump bearing
Authors: Protopopov A , Makhlaeva A , Kaplenkova P
Published: April 2020

The paper gives a derivation of the formula for calculating the most loaded bearing of a centrifugal pump. The structure, applications, the main types of this centrifugal pump and the comparison of these bearings with hydrostatic are described. The resulting model is well applicable to pumps running on clean, chemically inactive liquids.
The Dynamic Characteristics of Hydraulic-Mechanical Constant Speed Drive
Authors: Vul Y , Kalyakin R , Shablovskiy A
Published: April 2020

Annotation

This paper discusses the development of a mathematical model for the constant speed drive, comprising the power supply of an aircraft power grid. The model is developed in the form of equations of dynamics of the drive main components, such as differential, volumetric hydraulic transmission, centrifugal regulator, auxiliary pumps, as well as using the AMESim calculation package. The model has been verified using experimental data of the AC frequency responses of the existing unit to various influences. The models obtained allow to conclude about the stability of the system, and to optimize the control system parameters.
Avanepneumatic motor modification to reduce torque ripples
Authors: Bozrov V , Ivlev V , Semenov S
Published: April 2020

Annotation

The problem of determining and possible ways to reduce the amplitude of torque ripples in a vane pneumatic motor without a significant reduction of its energy efficiency is considered. This problem is important for improving the ergonomic performance of manual mechanized pneumatic tools and improving the accuracy of pneumatic servosystems. The results are presented for the traditional layout scheme of a vane pneumatic motor, as well as for the proposed modified design. The decision was made using a detailed mathematical model of a pneumatic motor. The prospects of the modified pneumatic motor to reduce the torque ripples at higher energy efficiency indicators are shown, compared with the original model with an increased number of vanes.
Analysis of force factors affecting valve fitting process at the saddle
Authors: Semenov S
Published: April 2020

Annotation

The analysis results of the action of various force factors that slows the hydraulic valve when fitting on the saddle are presented. Manifestations of inertia forces in a thin layer of liquid located in the gap between the valve and the seat immediately before the closing of the gap are shown. The components of inertia forces are distinguished, which differ in the mechanism of occurrence. The degree of their influence on the fitting process in relation to the viscosity forces is shown.
Hydrodynamic modeling of cavitation in a multistage centrifugal pump during its operation in the constant feed mode with a change in the rotor speed of the pump
Authors: Kasatkin M , Petrov A
Published: April 2020

Hydrodynamic modeling of cavitation for a multi-section high-speed centrifugal pump operating at a constant supply is carried out. The cavitation characteristics of the pump for various pump operating modes are determined taking into account changes in the rotor speed. The operation parameters of the mobile pumping system for these modes are calculated. It has been established that improving the cavitation qualities of a pump by reducing the speed of the pump rotor with a constant flow rate is not a productive method.
Mathematical modeling of a centrifugal pump with a spiral tap of simplified geometry with an open and closed wheel
Authors: Averyanov A , Protopopov A
Published: April 2020

Annotation

Abstract: the characteristics of a pump with open and closed impellers are compared. The paper considers a model of a centrifugal pump for General industrial purposes. The simulation was carried out in the STAR-CCM + package. A graphical comparison of the influence of different pump design sizes on the parameters is made and the most suitable model is identified.
Study the densification behavior and cold compaction mechanisms of solid particles-based powder and spongy particles-based powder using a multi-particle finite element method
Authors: Korim Nada S , Hu Lianxi
Published: April 2020

Powders could be based on solid particles or spongy particles depending on the powder manufacturing procedures. In this article, the numerical study of the cold compaction process for copper solid particles-based powder (i.e. Cu solid powder) and spongy particles-based powder (i.e. Cu sponge powder) has been carried out by using a two-dimensional multi-particle finite element method (2D-MPFEM) based on single action die compaction. The effects of internal pores content, external pressure, initial packing structure on the packing densification were systematically presented. Relative density, stress distribution, internal pore deformations, and force chain movements, particle rearrangement, and interfacial behavior within spongy particles were characterized and analyzed. The results reveal that the densification behavior of the sponge powder depends basically on the internal pore’s content. Moreover, at low and medium relative density (ρ < 0.95), the densification behavior of the sponge powder is faster than solid particles-based powder. However, at higher relative density near unity, the force required to cause further compaction is significantly larger in the sponge powder. In addition, from the microscopic analysis, the deformation behavior of the particles and the internal pores and the force chain development rely mostly on the structure configuration, internal pore content and its position.
Wetting behavior of textured silicon surfaces- an experimental study
Authors: K Mohan Kumar , Velmurugan V
Published: April 2020

The behavior of a liquid on a solid surface has shown great interest in a variety of applications related to surfaces and its interfaces. In this paper, the wetting behavior of DI water on micropatterned silicon surfaces fabricated through photolithography and deep reactive ion etching (DRIE) is investigated. Micro pillars of both solid and hollow geometries at a varying pitch and its arrangement in an array has been examined with static contact angle measurement. However, the results concluded that the arrangement of pillars in an array plays an important role as hollow geometries in the case of chain type arrangement provide both hydrophilic and hydrophobic surface properties, while the same hollow geometries in case of zig-zag orientation experiences only hydrophobicity at a varying pitch. Decreased WCA with increased pitch has been observed in the case of a zig-zag arrangement, due to the effect of capillary and gravitation forces. Also the existence of air pockets at sharp corner in the case of hollow square assists in providing maximum contact angle (WCA = 144°) as compared to hollow circle and solid geometries; thus a non-sticky behavior would be possible between the droplet and the patterned surface, due to less adhesion force.
Green route synthesis of ZnO nanoparticles mediated by Melia azedarach for microbiological applications
Authors: Ahmad Adeela , Syed Waqar A A , Ghufran Muhammad A , Iqbal Zafar , Shah Wiqar H
Published: April 2020

Green synthesis technique of nanoparticles has advantages over physical and chemical methods due to its simplicity in preparation, environment friendly nature and less time consuming. We report a green approach for the synthesis of zincoxide nanoparticles using leave extract from melia azedarach. Melia azedarach plant has been traditionally famous for its antibacterial properties. The plant extract acts as reducing and capping agent, while zinc nitrate hexahydrate [Zn(NO3)2.6H2O] was used as a precursor. The formation of ZnO nanoparticles was observed by the color changes during the reaction. Structural, optical and morphological properties of ZnO nanoparticles were determined using x-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope, Fourier transform spectroscopy and UV–vis spectroscopy. XRD analysis confirms the formation of wurtzite hexagonal structure NPs with significantly small average crystallite size of 7.0 nm. The energy band gap determined by UV–vis spectroscopy was measured between 2.9 eV to 5.4 eV. The antibacterial activity of ZnO nanoparticles was tested against E. coli bacteria and significant results were obtained. The anti-bacterial study proved that green-rout prepared ZnO nanoparticles are the best choice for future research concerning antibacterial activity.
Evaluation of gene–drug common module identification methods using pharmacogenomics data
Authors: Huang Jie , Chen Jiazhou , Zhang Bin , Zhu Lei , Cai Hongmin
Published: April 2020

Accurately identifying the interactions between genomic factors and the response of cancer drugs plays important roles in drug discovery, drug repositioning and cancer treatment. A number of studies revealed that interactions between genes and drugs were ‘many-genes-to-many drugs’ interactions, i.e. common modules, opposed to ‘one-gene-to-one-drug’ interactions. Such modules fully explain the interactions between complex biological regulatory mechanisms and cancer drugs. However, strategies for effectively and robustly identifying the underlying common modules among pharmacogenomics data remain to be improved. In this paper, we aim to provide a detailed evaluation of three categories of state-of-the-art common module identification techniques from a machine learning perspective, including non-negative matrix factorization (NMF), partial least squares (PLS) and network analyses. We first evaluate the performance of six methods, namely SNMNMF, NetNMF, SNPLS, O2PLS, NSBM and HOGMMNC, using two series of simulated data sets with different noise levels and outlier ratios. Then, we conduct experiments using a real world data set of 2091 genes and 101 drugs in 392 cancer cell lines and compare the real experimental results from the aspect of biological process term enrichment, gene–drug and drug–drug interactions. Finally, we present interesting findings from our evaluation study and discuss the advantages and drawbacks of each method. Supplementary information: Supplementary file is available at Briefings in Bioinformatics online.
Optimization of Chelex 100 resin-based extraction of genomic DNA from dried blood spots
Authors: Simon Neta , Shallat Jaclyn , Williams Wietzikoski Corey , Harrington Whitney E
Published: April 2020

Dried blood spots (DBS) are widely utilized as part of universal newborn screening and as a means of transporting samples from field sites. We use DBS from African field sites to assess for rare maternal-fetal cell exchange during pregnancy known as microchimerism. We aimed to develop a protocol to maximize the quantity of high-quality genomic DNA (gDNA) extracted from DBS. The total gDNA yield obtained from control DBS utilizing a Qiagen-based protocol and a Chelex® 100 resin-based protocol was first compared. Variations of the Chelex® protocol were subsequently tested to develop an optimized protocol. The gDNA was quantified by qPCR targeting the human beta-globin gene. DNA yield for a given experimental condition was normalized to a Chelex® control performed on the same day, and the total yields were compared using a Student’s t-test. The control Chelex® protocol yielded 590% more DNA than the QIAamp® DNA Blood Mini Kit . The absolute efficiency of the control Chelex® protocol was 54%, compared to an absolute efficiency of 9% for the QIAamp® DNA Blood Mini Kit. Modification of the Chelex® protocol to include a second heat precipitation from the same DBS increased the gDNA yield by 29% (P < 0.001). Our optimized protocol including this modification increased the absolute efficiency of extraction to 68%. The gDNA extracted using the Chelex® protocol was stable through repeated freeze–thaw cycles. In a mock microchimerism experiment, rare donor alleles at a frequency of 10 in 100 000 could be identified in gDNA from DBS extracted using the optimized Chelex® protocol. Our findings may be of significance for a diverse range of applications that utilize DBS and require high-quality DNA, including newborn screening programs, pathogen and drug resistance screening from remote field sites, forensics, and rare allele detection.
Macroeconomic policies in Brazil before and after the 2008 global financial crisis: Brazilian policy-makers still trapped in the New Macroeconomic Consensus guidelines
Authors: Nassif André , Feijó Carmem , Araújo Eliane
Published: April 2020

Even though the New Macroeconomic Consensus (NMC) guidelines have been under review by mainstream economists from developed countries since the 2008 global financial crisis, Brazilian policy-makers are still following these old recommendations. The NMC was adapted in Brazil in 1999 as a policy arrangement known as the macroeconomic tripod: a combination of inflation targeting, floating exchange rates and targets for the primary fiscal surplus. The theoretical basis of this policy arrangement is thus closely aligned to that of the NMC: a reduced (if any) role for fiscal policy and an exclusive focus on price stability for monetary policy. Particularly with respect to the experience of inflation targeting in Brazil, by implementing a vector autoregression model for the period 2000–17, we show that (i) inflation dynamics are mostly cost-push rather than demand-pull; (ii) inflation rates show low sensitivity to changes in interest rates; and (iii) the main variables negatively affected by an increase in the Brazilian policy rate are the nominal exchange rate (i.e. the Brazilian real tends to appreciate) and output growth. It follows that the macroeconomic tripod is unsuitable to the Brazilian economy, especially considering that, as it is also shown in this article, such arrangement has contributed to perpetuating trends of high real interest rates, domestic currency overvaluation and low economic growth in Brazil in the last two decades. The article ends calling for a new macroeconomic arrangement to reverse these adverse long-term trends.
Identification of circumferential pulmonary vein isolation responders among patients with persistent atrial fibrillation: clinical value of the sequential low-dose ibutilide test
Authors: He Shu-Nan , Tian Ying , Shi Liang , Wang Yan-Jiang , Xie Bo-Qia , Li Xue-Xun , Zeng Li-Jun , Yang Xin-Chun , Liu Xing-Peng
Published: April 2020

Aims

Circumferential pulmonary vein isolation can be effective as sole treatment for persistent atrial fibrillation. However, identifying those patients who will respond to this therapy remains a challenge. We investigated the clinical value of the sequential low-dose ibutilide test for identifying patients with persistent atrial fibrillation in whom pulmonary vein isolation is effective as sole therapy.

Methods and results

In a prospective cohort of 180 consecutive patients with persistent atrial fibrillation, intravenous low-dose (0.004 mg/kg) ibutilide was administered 3 days before ablation and after the completion of circumferential pulmonary vein isolation. In patients in whom ibutilide did not terminate atrial fibrillation pre-procedurally, but successfully terminated it intraprocedurally, no further atrial substrate modification was performed. Pre-procedural low-dose ibutilide failed to terminate the arrhythmia in all patients with persistent atrial fibrillation, while pulmonary vein isolation ± low-dose ibutilide terminated persistent atrial fibrillation in 55 (30.6%) of them (PsAF group 1). The remaining 125 (69.4%) patients underwent electrogram-based ablation (PsAF Group 2). The control group comprised 379 consecutive patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation who underwent pulmonary vein isolation over the same period. At 24 months follow-up, 39 (70.9%) patients in PsAF Group 1 and 276 (72.8%) patients in the control group were free from atrial tachyarrhythmias (P = NS); the arrhythmia-free rates in both groups were higher than that in PsAF group 2 (58.4%, P = 0.005).

Conclusion

The sequential low-dose ibutilide test is a simple method for identifying patients with persistent atrial fibrillation in whom pulmonary vein isolation alone is an appropriate treatment strategy.
Assessing progress under Health 2020 in the European Region of the World Health Organization
Authors: Zuidberg Mark R J , Shriwise Amanda , de Boer Lisanne M , Johansen Anne S
Published: April 2020

Background

Health 2020 is the regional health policy framework of the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for Europe. The goals of Health 2020 are to improve health and well-being, reduce health inequalities and strengthen public health. To gain insight into the Health 2020 targets needing extra attention in coming years, we assessed progress under Health 2020 in the WHO European Region.

Methods

Quantitative methods were used to assess progress in 50 out of 53 Member States of the WHO European Region in 2005, 2010 and 2015. The 16 quantitative Health 2020 indicators were rescaled from 1 to 100, with 1 indicating poor performance and 100 indicating good performance. The geometric mean of all 16 rescaled indicators was taken by Health 2020 target to compose a Health 2020 index.

Results

The Health 2020 index (2015) ranged from 82.8 in Sweden to 30.0 in Turkmenistan. A clear east-west gradient was observed in the WHO European Region, with countries in western parts performing relatively better than countries in eastern parts. Indicators with the largest increase between 2005 and 2015 were premature mortality, mortality external causes, life expectancy and infant mortality. However, all quintiles showed a decline on overweight.

Conclusions

The Health 2020 index gives a relative overview regarding the past and present performance on the Health 2020 policy framework of countries in the WHO European Region. Although improvements have been observed between 2005 and 2015, challenges remain to improve health for all in the context of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Characterizing the uppermost 100 m structure of the San Jacinto fault zone southeast of Anza, California, through joint analysis of geological, topographic, seismic and resistivity data
Authors: Share Pieter-Ewald , Tábořík Petr , Štěpančíková Petra , Stemberk Jakub , Rockwell Thomas K , Wade Adam , Arrowsmith J Ramon , Donnellan Andrea , Vernon Frank L , Ben-Zion Yehuda
Published: April 2020

We present results from complementary geological, topographic, seismic and electrical resistivity surveys at the Sagebrush Flat (SGB) site along the Clark fault (CF) strand of the San Jacinto fault zone trifurcation area southeast of Anza, California. Joint interpretation of these data sets, each with unique spatiotemporal sensitivities, allow us to better characterize the shallow (<100 m) fault zone at this structurally complex site. Geological mapping at the surface shows the CF has three main subparallel strands within a <100 m zone with varying degrees of rock damage. These strands intersect units of banded gneiss and tonalite, and various sedimentary units. Near the surface, the weathered but more intact tonalite and gneiss to the southwest have relatively high VP. The low-lying flat sedimentary basins around the two southwestern-most CF strands and elevated damaged gneiss to the northeast have lowest VP <500 m s–1. The high relief of the northeast gneiss unit may in part be explained by its extensive damage and inferred increased relative rock uplift. Resistivity imaging shows the unconsolidated dry basin sediments (maximum >1300 Ohm.m) contrasted against the compacted fine-grained (potentially wet) materials within the CF core and the Bautista Formation (minimum <40 Ohm.m), which is slightly elevated above the flat basins. The inverse relationship between VP (increases) and resistivity (decreases) in the uppermost ∼15 m can be characterized as log–log linear with slopes of –2.6 to –4. At depths >30 m, the velocity heterogeneity near the surface merges into larger-scale structures that are generally slower on the northeast side of the CF core compared to the southwest side (as much as ∼40 per cent reduction in average VP). A previous study revealed a 20–37 per cent variability in peak ground velocities across the SGB site from local earthquakes. The upper end of that range is associated with the near-surface unconsolidated sedimentary basins and northeast damaged gneiss unit. Preliminary analysis of time-dependent topography mostly shows effects of changing vegetation and anthropogenic activity.
Closing the gap between causality, prediction, emergence, and applied marine management
Authors: Griffith Gary P
Published: April 2020

The themed article set (TS) “Science in support of a nonlinear non-equilibrium world” reflects the challenge presented by the increasing potential for complex non-linear behaviour in marine ecosystems, many of which are undergoing dramatic changes due to anthropogenic perturbations. Marine ecosystems are complex adaptive systems, yet management strategies are often guided by a linear, stable perspective that excludes non-linearities and the possibility for evolution and adaptation. Rapidly increasing amounts of observational data, the interdisciplinary development of powerful mathematical approaches from complexity theory, and the evolving complex adaptive systems approach that includes human behaviour promise to substantially advance the development of management strategies. For these reasons, the ICES Journal of Marine Science solicited contributions to a TS that would take up these issues. In this introduction, I focus on three important areas—causality, prediction, and emergence—where a “non-linear” perspective can advance our understanding and better support sustainable management of ecosystems. I briefly present the nine contributions that are included in the themed set and suggest some ways forward. We hope that these articles serve to convince managers and marine scientists of the benefits of incorporating approaches and results from research on non-linear dynamics.
Pneumocystis carinii Major Surface Glycoprotein Dampens Macrophage Inflammatory Responses to Fungal β-Glucan
Authors: Kottom Theodore J , Hebrink Deanne M , Carmona Eva M , Limper Andrew H
Published: April 2020

Background

Pneumocystis major surface glycoprotein (Msg) is a 120-kD surface protein complex on the organism with importance in adhesion and immune recognition. In this study, we show that Msg significantly impairs tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α secretion by macrophages induced by Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Pneumocystis carinii (Pc) β-glucans.

Methods

Major surface glycoprotein was shown to greatly reduce β-glucan-induced Dectin-1 immunoreceptor tyrosine-based activating motif (ITAM) phosphorylation. Major surface glycoprotein also down regulated Dectin-1 receptor messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) expression in the macrophages. It is interesting that Msg incubation with macrophages resulted in significant mRNA upregulation of both C-type lectin receptors (CLR) Mincle and MCL in Msg protein presence alone but to even greater amounts in the presence of Pc β-glucan.

Results

The silencing of MCL and Mincle resulted in TNF-α secretions similar to that of macrophages treated with Pneumocystis β-glucan alone, which is suggestive of an inhibitory role for these 2 CLRs in Msg-suppressive effects on host cell immune response.

Conclusions

Taken together, these data indicate that the Pneumocystis Msg surface protein complex can act to suppress host macrophage inflammatory responses to the proinflammatory β -glucan components of the organisms.
Impaired mucociliary motility enhances antigen-specific nasal IgA immune responses to a cholera toxin-based nasal vaccine
Authors: Lan Huangwenxian , Suzuki Hidehiko , Nagatake Takahiro , Hosomi Koji , Ikegami Koji , Setou Mitsutoshi , Kunisawa Jun
Published: April 2020

Nasal mucosal tissues are equipped with physical barriers, mucus and cilia, on their surface. The mucus layer captures inhaled materials, and the cilia remove the inhaled materials from the epithelial layer by asymmetrical beating. The effect of nasal physical barriers on the vaccine efficacy remains to be investigated. Tubulin tyrosine ligase-like family, member 1 (Ttll1) is an essential enzyme for appropriate movement of the cilia on respiratory epithelium, and its deficiency (Ttll1-KO) leads to mucus accumulation in the nasal cavity. Here, when mice were intra-nasally immunized with pneumococcal surface protein A (PspA, as vaccine antigen) together with cholera toxin (CT, as mucosal adjuvant), Ttll1-KO mice showed higher levels of PspA-specific IgA in the nasal wash and increased numbers of PspA-specific IgA-producing plasma cells in the nasal passages when compared with Ttll1 hetero (He) mice. Mucus removal by N-acetylcysteine did not affect the enhanced immune responses in Ttll1-KO mice versus Ttll1-He mice. Immunohistological and flow cytometry analyses revealed that retention time of PspA in the nasal cavity in Ttll1-KO mice was longer than that in Ttll1-He mice. Consistently, uptake of PspA by dendritic cells was higher in the nasopharynx-associated lymphoid tissue (NALT) of Ttll1-KO mice than that of Ttll1-He mice. These results indicate that the ciliary function of removing vaccine antigen from the NALT epithelial layer is a critical determinant of the efficacy of nasal vaccine.
Bread Before Guns or Butter: Introducing Surplus Domestic Product (SDP)
Authors: Anders Therese , Fariss Christopher J , Markowitz Jonathan N
Published: April 2020

Scholars systematically mismeasure power resources and military burdens by using gross domestic product (GDP) as a proxy for the income states can devote to arming. The core problem is that GDP confounds two conceptually distinct forms of income into one additive indicator. Subsistence income represents resources needed to provide the “bread” necessary to cover the basic subsistence needs of the population. Surplus income represents the remaining resources that could be allocated to “guns” or “butter.” Our new measure of surplus domestic product (SDP) corrects for this measurement error by decomposing subsistence income and surplus income from total GDP. Validation exercises demonstrate that SDP outperforms GDP at measuring the distribution of power resources. Though theoretically we expect states’ decisions to arm are influenced by the distribution of power; empirical models using GDP find mixed support for this expectation. Strikingly, using SDP reveals strong support for this proposition.
Mental Health Diagnostic Patterns in Behavioral Weight Loss Program Attendees
Authors: Hayes Jacqueline F , Hoggatt Katherine J , Breland Jessica Y
Published: April 2020

Introduction

Individuals with obesity have higher rates of mental health disorders, both singly and in combination, than individuals of normal weight. Mental health disorders may negatively impact weight loss treatment outcomes; however, little is known about the mental health burden of individuals using weight loss programs. The current study identifies common mental health diagnostic profiles among participants of MOVE!—the Veterans Health Administration’s behavioral weight loss program.

Material and Methods

We used national VHA administrative data from fiscal year 2014 to identify veteran primary care patients who participated in at least one MOVE! session the previous year (n = 110,830). Using latent class analysis, we identified patient types (classes) characterized by the presence or absence of mental health diagnoses, both overall and stratified by age and gender.

Results

There were several patient types (classes), including psychologically healthy, predominantly depressed, depressed with co-occurring mental disorders, and co-occurring mental disorders with no predominant psychological condition. Additional patient types were found in men of different ages. The majority of patients had at least one psychiatric disorder, particularly younger patients.

Conclusions

Efforts to improve patients’ engagement in the MOVE! program may need to address barriers to care associated with mental health disorders or incorporate care for both obesity and mental health diagnoses in MOVE! A holistic approach may be particularly important for younger patients who have a higher comorbidity burden and longer care horizons. Future work may address if patient types found in the current study extend to non-VHA obesity treatment seekers.
Constraining the astrophysics and cosmology from 21 cm tomography using deep learning with the SKA
Authors: Hassan Sultan , Andrianomena Sambatra , Doughty Caitlin
Published: April 2020

Future Square Kilometre Array (SKA) surveys are expected to generate huge data sets of 21 cm maps on cosmological scales from the Epoch of Reionization. We assess the viability of exploiting machine learning techniques, namely, convolutional neural networks (CNNs), to simultaneously estimate the astrophysical and cosmological parameters from 21 cm maps from seminumerical simulations. We further convert the simulated 21 cm maps into SKA-like mock maps using the detailed SKA antennae distribution, thermal noise, and a recipe for foreground cleaning. We successfully design two CNN architectures (VGGNet-like and ResNet-like) that are both efficiently able to extract simultaneously three astrophysical parameters, namely the photon escape fraction (fesc), the ionizing emissivity power dependence on halo mass (Cion), and the ionizing emissivity redshift evolution index (Dion), and three cosmological parameters, namely the matter density parameter (Ωm), the dimensionless Hubble constant (h), and the matter fluctuation amplitude (σ8), from 21 cm maps at several redshifts. With the presence of noise from SKA, our designed CNNs are still able to recover these astrophysical and cosmological parameters with great accuracy ($R^{2} \gt 92{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$), improving to $R^{2} \gt 99{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$ towards low-redshift and low neutral fraction values. Our results show that future 21 cm observations can play a key role to break degeneracy between models and tightly constrain the astrophysical and cosmological parameters, using only few frequency channels.
Drug-Coated Balloon Dilation Compared With Conventional Stenting Angioplasty for Intracranial Atherosclerotic Disease
Authors: Zhang Jun , Zhang Xiao , Zhang Jinping , Song Yun , Zheng Meimei , Sun Lili , Meng Yao , Zhao Wei , Yin Hao , Wang Wei , Han Ju
Published: April 2020

BACKGROUND

Conventional stent-based angioplasty was challenged for the high incidence of perioperative complications and follow-up in-stent restenosis (ISR) in treating intracranial atherosclerotic disease (ICAD). Currently, the drug-coated balloon (DCB) has shown promise in preventing and treating ISR.

OBJECTIVE

To compare the efficacy and safety of DCB dilation (with or without stenting) with conventionally only stenting angioplasty for symptomatic ICAD in routine clinical practice.

METHODS

From January 2016 to January 2019, consecutive patients treated with endovascular therapy for symptomatic ICAD were identified and dichotomized by whether DCB was used. The efficacy and safety endpoints, including periprocedural complications, clinical, and imaging follow-up outcomes between the 2 groups, were compared by propensity score matching.

RESULTS

A total of 42 patients in the DCB group and 73 patients in the non-DCB group were enrolled. Propensity score matching analysis selected 76 matched patients. Angiographic follow-up was completed at 185 ± 33 d. The median stenosis degree (0 [0%-20.0%] vs 15.0 [0%-62.5%], P = .005) and total restenosis incidence (5.3% [2/38] vs 34.2% [13/38], P = .003) in the DCB group were significantly lower than those in the non-DCB group. The periprocedural complications (2.6% vs 10.5%, P = .375), recurrent ischemic events (2.6% vs 13.2%, P = .219), and symptomatic restenosis (2.6% vs 10.5%, P = .375) were not statistically different between the 2 groups.

CONCLUSION

Compared with conventionally only stenting angioplasty, DCB dilation can effectively lower restenosis degree and total restenosis risk, with no superiority in symptomatic restenosis at 6-mo follow-up.
Solitons in the Peyrard–Bishop model of DNA and the Renormalization Group method
Authors: Blaschke Filip , Karpíšek Ondřej Nicolas , Beneš Petr
Published: April 2020

We investigate solitons in the Peyrard–Bishop model of a DNA molecule using Renormalization Group methods which provide a systematic way for perturbation analysis. Small amplitude expansion is carried out in both the continuous and discrete limits. We review exact solutions for the continuous model. Further, we discuss the reliability of the solitonic solutions and argue that the envelope should propagate with a group velocity, contrary to previous proposals.
Sleep disturbances after pediatric traumatic brain injury: a systematic review of prevalence, risk factors, and association with recovery
Authors: Luther Madison , Poppert Cordts Katrina M , Williams Cydni N
Published: April 2020

Study Objectives

Sleep is vital for brain development and healing after injury, placing children with sleep-wake disturbances (SWD) after traumatic brain injury (TBI) at risk for worse outcomes. We conducted a systematic review to quantify SWD after pediatric TBI including prevalence, phenotypes, and risk factors. We also evaluated interventions for SWD and the association between SWD and other posttraumatic outcomes.

Methods

Systematic searches were conducted in MEDLINE, PsychINFO, and reference lists for English language articles published from 1999 to 2019 evaluating sleep or fatigue in children hospitalized for mild complicated, moderate, or severe TBI. Two independent reviewers assessed eligibility, extracted data, and assessed risk of bias using the Newcastle–Ottowa Score for observational studies.

Results

Among 966 articles identified in the search, 126 full-text articles were reviewed, and 24 studies were included (11 prospective, 9 cross-sectional, and 4 case studies). Marked heterogeneity was found in study populations, measures defining SWD, and time from injury to evaluation. Studies showed at least 20% of children with TBI had trouble falling or staying asleep, fatigue, daytime sleepiness, and nightmares. SWD are negatively correlated with posttraumatic cognitive, behavioral, and quality of life outcomes. No comparative intervention studies were identified. The risk of bias was moderate–high for all studies often related to lack of validated or objective SWD measures and small sample size. Heterogeneity precluded meta-analyses.

Conclusions

SWD are important morbidities after pediatric TBI, though current data are limited. SWD have implications for TBI recovery and may represent a modifiable target for improving outcomes after pediatric TBI.
Detection of Cucurbit Yellow Stunting Disorder Virus Infecting Watermelon in South Carolina
Authors: Kousik Chandrasekar S. , Adkins Scott
Published: April 2020

Watermelon is an important cucurbit crop grown in 44 states in the United States of America (USA). South Carolina (SC) had the seventh largest watermelon production area in USA with 4,500 acres in 2018 valued at approximately $17 million. In June 2019, four watermelon plants displaying symptoms of virus infection including stunting, leaf crumpling, interveinal chlorosis, and necrosis of leaf margins were observed in a research trial in Charleston, SC. Whiteflies were observed on the abaxial surface of the leaves. One plant was tested for the presence of whitefly-transmitted cucurbit leaf crumple virus (CuLCrV), cucurbit yellow stunting disorder virus (CYSDV), and squash vein yellowing virus and aphid-transmitted papaya ringspot virus by RT-PCR. Amplicons of the expected size were only observed for CuLCrV (∼1 kb) and CYSDV (∼0.7 kb). Because CYSDV was not previously reported from SC, we continued to monitor the field for virus symptoms during the summer season. By mid-August 2019, 15 additional plants (1.9% incidence) were observed with similar symptoms of virus infection. Two virus identification methods (CP and Hsp70h) confirmed that CYSDV was indeed present in watermelon samples in SC. The geographic range of CYSDV and other whitefly-transmitted viruses continues to expand into and within major cucurbit-producing regions with each production season, especially in the southeastern USA. This is the first report of CYSDV infecting watermelon or any other plant in SC. These three whitefly-transmitted viruses now need to be considered in management plans by SC growers. Knowledge of the presence of CYSDV, an additional virus, infecting cucurbits, in SC is also important from a regulatory perspective.
Yield Loss of Cotton Cultivars Due to Rotylenchulus reniformis and the Added Benefit of a Nematicide
Authors: Dyer David R. , Groover William , Lawrence Kathy S.
Published: April 2020

The objective was to determine cotton yield loss due to Rotylenchulus reniformis and document any yield benefit from the addition of a nematicide. Field trials were established in two adjacent fields: one infested with R. reniformis and one where R. reniformis was not detected. In both fields, seven cotton cultivars were planted with and without Velum Total (1.02 liters/ha). In 2017, R. reniformis reduced cultivar yields by an average of 59% between the noninfested and the R. reniformis-infested field. The nematicide application increased seed cotton yields in the R. reniformis field by 55%, and no yield increase was observed in the noninfested field. In 2018, R. reniformis reduced seed cotton yields by an average of 42% between the noninfested field and the R. reniformis-infested field. Across the cultivars, addition of the nematicide increased seed cotton yields by an average of 6% in the R. reniformis-infested field and an average of 8% in the noninfested field. The nematicide reduced R. reniformis eggs per gram of root by an average of 92% in 2017 and 78% in 2018 across all cotton cultivars. Overall, R. reniformis reduced seed cotton yields by 50%, which was equivalent to 2,225 kg/ha.
Rapid Detection of Fungicide Resistance Phenotypes Among Populations of Nothopassalora personata in South Carolina Peanut Fields
Authors: Munir Misbakhul , Wang Hehe , Agudelo Paula , Anco Daniel J.
Published: April 2020

We evaluated the occurrence of fungicide resistance phenotypes in populations of Nothopassalora personata, the causal agent of late leaf spot (LLS), sampled from South Carolina peanut fields in 2018 using a modified detached leaf assay (DLA). Spore suspensions obtained from each of 72 groups of LLS-symptomatic leaves collected from nine counties were used in the DLA to examine phenotypic resistance to four site-specific fungicides (azoxystrobin, benzovindiflupyr, prothioconazole, and thiophanate-methyl) and one multisite contact fungicide (chlorothalonil). Lesion development was measured as a binary event in which presence of a lesion indicated control failure (phenotypic resistance) and absence of a lesion indicated successful control (sensitivity). Phenotypic resistance probabilities of N. personata samples to each site-specific fungicide were compared against the control fungicide (chlorothalonil). Variation in phenotypic resistance probabilities to the four single-site fungicides was observed from most counties (6 of 9), with frequencies of phenotypic resistance having differed among counties. The DLA facilitated rapid evaluation of N. personata phenotypic resistance to azoxystrobin, benzovindiflupyr, prothioconazole, and thiophanate-methyl. This assay has potential to be used as an alternative method for routine monitoring of phenotypic resistance, identification of populations to test for the presence of resistance genes, and improving reliability of current fungicide recommendations.