bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Performance of Single Chamber Microbial Fuel Cell (SCMFC) for biological treatment of tofu wastewater
Authors: Permana D , Djaenudin
Published: June 2019

The wastewater of tofu industries consists of organic compounds and in turn, may affect the environment; therefore, a proper wastewater treatment system is needed. Based on its characteristics, biological treatment is a good method to treat tofu wastewater. One of the biological treatment methods that can be used is Microbial Fuel Cell (MFC), which can reduce the pollutant and at the same time generating low-power electricity. This system utilizes microorganisms as a biocatalyst to degrade organic compounds in the wastewater. This study aimed to examine the performance of Single Chamber MFC (SCMFC) to decrease biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5) and chemical oxygen demand (COD) of the tofu wastewater, as well as to generate electricity. Tofu wastewater was sterilized then filled into the reactor. Microbes that either have been acclimatized or not acclimatized were then added. Bacteria that were used were one of the three consortiums of native microbes of tofu wastewater, namely Escherichia coli, Saccharomycopsis fibuligera, and mixed culture of E. coli and S. fibuligera. Carbon (C) was used as both anode and cathode. We found that the acclimatized mixed culture of E. coli and S. fibuligera showed high BOD5, COD removal after 48 hours at 76.57 and 77.22 %, respectively. It also generated 5.49 mA of current, 757 mV of voltage, and the electrical energy produced was 9.216 x10− 5 kWh. The results suggest that using mixed microorganisms is one of the strategies to improve the electricity generation of MFC. The scale-up of the volume, selection of microorganism cultures, and immobilization could be other strategies for further studies.
The performance analysis of a pico-hydro pump as turbine power plant
Authors: Zariatin D L , Shulhanuddin  , Danuriyanto F , Suwandi A
Published: June 2019

Hydropower plant is a type of green technologies to generate electricity. One type of hydropower plants is Pump as Turbine (PAT), an economical alternative to building a power plant with small flow water (pico-hydro). The working principle of the PAT is by reversing the pump working. At PAT, the water flow enters the pump in the discharge section and exit through the suction section of the pump. Centrifugal pump is one type of pumps suitable for use as PAT. The motor from the centrifugal pump can be converted into a generator by replacing the magnetic shaft of the stator. The implementation of PAT was performed on Cibalok Waterfall, with a height of 2.5 m and a water flow of 31.915 L/sec at 70 cm water level. Grundfos NF 30-18 centrifugal pump was used at the implementation. Two models of impellers and two water inlet conditions were tested for comparison. The first model of the impeller was the original impeller from Grundfos NF 30-18 with steel metal material. The second model of the impeller was a modified impeller with a brass metal material. Meanwhile, the two water inlet conditions were a single inlet with a 4-inches diameter and an inlet with two 4-inches pipes. The experiments show that compared to the second model of the impeller, the first model of the impeller with two inlets of 4-inches pipes generated maximum water flow-rate, rotation speed and electrical power at 2.42 L/s, 1134.9 rpm, and 12.05 W, respectively.
Experimental Research on the Influence of Vibration Intensity on Performance of Cement Stabilized Macadam
Authors: Dong Wu , Feng Zhongxu , Zhao Lijun
Published: June 2019

In order to study the influence of different vibration intensity on the performance of cement stabilized gravel. Vibration mixing tests of cement stabilized gravel with 5% cement factor were carried out under different vibration intensity, Through the preparation and maintenance of cylindrical specimen and the mid-beam specimen, The unconfined compressive strength test and the drying shrinkage test were carried out, Vibratory mixing can significantly improve the strength of cement stabilized gravel and reduce the level of intensity variation, As the vibration intensity increases, the increase range of specimen strength increases first and then decreases, Considering the mechanical reliability factors, It is reasonable to increase the strength of the material when the vibration intensity is D = 2 ∼ 3. Vibration mixing can improve drying shrinkage property of cement stabilized gravel, the vibration mixing reduces the water loss rate of the specimen at the later stage of shrinkage, with the increase of vibration intensity, the variation of dry shrinkage coefficient becomes smaller during shrink age period, and the coefficient of dry shrinkage decreases with it, Therefore, the greater the vibration intensity, the better drying shrinkage property of cement stabilized gravel. Vibration mixing can improve the mechanical behavior and cracking resistance of cement stabilized gravel simultaneously, it has a wide application prospect.
Experimental Study on Acoustic Emission Characteristics of Intermittent Jointed Rock Mass Under Uniaxial Compression
Authors: Zhu Le , Zhang Yan , Dong Lu , Wu Jiawen , Duan Liqun , Zhang Li
Published: June 2019

Using large size of intact and intermittent jointed rocks made with equivalent materials, the stress-stain curves, ringing counts and energy accumulation of acoustic emission (AE) were obtained by AE monitoring in real time under uniaxial compression. The strength, deformation, progressive failure evolution and AE properties of two kinds of rock samples were compared. Through the analysis of AE parameters, the results indicate that the sudden increase of AE ringing counts and AE energy may be utilized as precursor information for the failure of rocks. AE location may directly reflect the dynamic evolvement process of rock cracks. Unlike the failure of intact rock sample, the AE ringing counts and energy curves of jointed rock sample show obvious multi-peaks, and the final peak appears behind the stress peak. The failure mode of intact rock is mainly vertical tensile breakage, whereas the tensile wing crack propagates through the joint surface, resulting in the failure of jointed rock sample.
Analysis of Seismic Isolation Effect of Rubber Bearings with Different Periods of Isolated Structures
Authors: Qin Shuiqiang , Song Xiaosheng , Wang Shuo , Du Dandan
Published: June 2019

In order to investigate the isolation performance and economic advantages of different period isolation structures, the isolation design and analysis of different period isolation structures are carried out with an office building as the background, and the related structure, structural design and engineering economy are discussed. Time history analysis shows that under the action of 8 degree earthquake, the isolation performance of short-period isolation structure is better than that of long-period isolation structure; engineering economic analysis shows that when the tensile stress exceeds the limit of the isolation bearing, special measures are needed for adjustment. Will result in a substantial increase in project cost.
Empirical Shear Strength Criterion for Artificial Joint
Authors: Tan Ran , Chai Junrui , Cao Cheng
Published: June 2019

An accurate understanding of shear strength in joints is critical to effective geotechnical engineering. The complete rock shear test continues to shear after shear strength reaches it speak value, resulting in the appearance of a softening stage and a residual stage. Existing research is mainly aimed at the development of dilatancy and shear models of peak strength; few consider post peak processes. This paper attempted to develop a better understanding of changes to shear strength during shear. Direct shear tests of artificial rock joints with the same shape were conducted under the action of 5 normal stresses. By determining a shear dilatancy angle model for the shear process, shear strength can be determined using the Mohr-Coulomb law. The values calculated using our new method agree well with experimental results, indicating that the criterion can be used to accurately estimate the shear strength of rock joints. The parameters required by the proposed criterion can be easily determined in test.
Study on Bias Characteristics of Multi Arch Tunnel Under Different Side Overburden Thickness
Authors: Zhang Jinrui , Zhang Chengliang , Wang Chenhui , Shi Jiangxu
Published: June 2019

The entrance and exit of the Qifengshan tunnel are shallow and the pressure has a certain offset, the overlying soil layer is thin, and the stability is poor. After the excavation disturbance, the upper soil layer tends to slide. The excavation of black holes often causes large deformation, collapse and instability of surrounding rock. In this paper, combined with the geological conditions of the multi arch tunnel and the mechanical characteristics of surrounding rock, the theoretical analysis and numerical simulation are used to study the deformation law of the buried depth, side cover soil thickness and the stress and displacement of the surrounding rock after excavation. The results show that the bias stress of the tunnel under the vertical direction increases with the depth of the buried tunnel. The bias stress of the tunnel in the vertical direction decreases with the increase of the buried depth. The shallower the buried depth is, the more obvious the bias effect is. When the depth of burial exceeds 20m, the increased amount of bias stress is gradually reduced after the bias is applied. The vertical deformation characteristics of the rock mass caused by tunnel excavation with different thickness of the tunnel are analyzed. The vertical displacement is gradually reduced with the increase of the thickness of the side covering layer. When the thickness of the overlying soil is more than 21m, the vertical displacement is less affected by the thickness of the side cladding soil, basically only by the surrounding rock itself.
Energy quantization for a nonlinear sigma model with critical gravitinos
Authors: Jost Jürgen , Wu Ruijun , Zhu Miaomiao
Published: June 2019

We study some analytical and geometric properties of a two-dimensional nonlinear sigma model with gravitino which comes from supersymmetric string theory. When the action is critical w.r.t. variations of the various fields including the gravitino, there is a symmetric, traceless, and divergence-free energy-momentum tensor, which gives rise to a holomorphic quadratic differential. Using it we obtain a Pohozaev type identity and finally we can establish the energy identities along a weakly convergent sequence of fields with uniformly bounded energies.
Knowledge Translation in Oncology
Authors: Morgan Sarah , Hanna Jessica , Yousef George M
Published: June 2019

Objectives

Knowledge translation (KT) is the dynamic process of mobilizing best-practice evidence to guide health care decisions.

Methods

Using a PubMed search, challenges were identified and milestones defined.

Results

Substantial challenges exist in integrating discoveries into patient care, including technical limitations related to genomic testing like turnaround time, standardization, reproducibility, and results interpretation. Other challenges include lack of proper training in genetic counseling for health care providers, clarity of scientific evidence, and ethical, legal and social considerations. In addition, most health care systems lack accessibility to genetic testing services. Moving forward, KT should be addressed at three main frontiers. The first is patients centered for proper understanding and decision making; the second is directed toward health care professionals, including clinical decision support and clarity of roles; and the third addresses resources of health care systems.

Conclusions

Implementing KT requires developing strategies to enhance awareness and promote behavioral changes congruent with research evidence, designing a systematic approach by health care providers and stakeholders to achieve patient-centered care.
Differences in the use of surface water resources by desert birds are revealed using isotopic tracers
Authors: Smit Ben , Woodborne Stephan , Wolf Blair O , McKechnie Andrew E
Published: June 2019

The scarcity of free-standing water sources is a key determinant of animal and plant community structure in arid environments, and an understanding of the extent to which particular species use surface water is vital for modeling the effects of climate change on desert avifauna. We investigated interspecific variation in the use of artificial water sources among birds in the Kalahari Desert, South Africa, by (i) observations at waterholes and (ii) tracing spatial water-use patterns during summer by isotopically labeled water sources and blood sampling. More than 50% of the avian community (primarily insectivores and omnivores) were not observed to drink. The majority (53%) of species drinking at waterholes were granivorous, and their use of surface water was best predicted by their relative abundance in the community. Species representing the remaining dietary guilds drank significantly more on hot days. Blood samples revealed that only 11 of 42 species (mostly granivores and a few omnivores) showed evidence of drinking at a waterhole with enriched deuterium values; on average, in the latter birds, water from the enriched waterhole accounted for ~38% of their body water pool. These findings illustrate that 2 methods employed in this study provide different, but complementary data on the relative importance of a water source for an avian community. Although our results suggest that most avian species are independent of surface water, drinking patterns on the hottest days during our study period suggest that free-standing water might become more important for some of the non-drinking species under hotter climatic conditions.
An experimental test of the effect of male attractiveness on maternal investment in Dark-eyed Juncos
Authors: Ferree Elise D
Published: June 2019

While social mate choice is an obvious point where sexual selection acts on males, cryptic selection can occur based on how much females invest in a male’s offspring. I tested 4 hypotheses about the relationship between female investment and social mate attractiveness by manipulating a sexually selected trait, white tail feathers (“tail white”), in male Dark-eyed Juncos (Junco hyemalis thurberi): (1) the differential allocation hypothesis predicts that females optimize lifetime reproductive success by maximizing parental investment in the offspring of ornamented mates and minimizing investment when mated to less attractive males; (2) instead of positive differential allocation, females could show negative differential allocation by investing more in less attractive males to compensate for their lower quality; (3) female care could also be influenced directly by paternal investment, in particular what appears to be positive differential allocation could be compensation for reduced care by attractive males; or (4) females could reduce care when paired with socially attractive males that are “good parents”. To evaluate these hypotheses, I examined the impact of tail white manipulation on clutch size, female incubation and brooding, and female and male provisioning. Females did not differentially allocate in relation to social mate attractiveness, nor were females responsive to patterns of male investment, even although artificially attractive males provisioned offspring significantly more than did controls. Naturally bright males, who were also the largest males, did not provision at higher rates, highlighting the need to experimentally separate the role of specific traits from other correlated factors. Tail white-manipulated males were involved in rare cases of polygyny and at times were actively guarded by their mates. Together, these results suggest that tail white influences reproductive behaviors in this junco population, but because of the potential for extrapair paternity, additional data are needed to accurately investigate the trait’s role in female investment.
Male social plasticity influences transient dynamics in the emergence of alternative mating systems in water striders
Authors: Perez Adrian , Montiglio Pierre-Olivio , Wey Tina W , Sih Andrew
Published: June 2019

Animal mating systems are often studied with the goal of understanding why species, populations, or groups vary from one another in the system they display. Although these differences are often treated as basically stable, it is also known that mating systems may shift over time (e.g., from one breeding season to the next). There has been some study of how ecological factors correlate with these changes; however, few, if any, studies have investigated how the phenotypic composition of a group governs the timing and probability of these mating system transitions. Groups of stream water striders (Aquarius remigis) can experience rapid changes in mating system dynamics, with small groups often transitioning into a system in which a single, large male monopolizes mating opportunities. We asked if variation in individual- and group-level traits associated with morphology and behavior (e.g., size of the largest individual, average activity behavioral type in the group) could partially explain the variability in how rapidly groups make this transition, if they make it at all. We show that groups with males that exhibit higher social plasticity tended to take longer to transition to a mating system dominated by a single male. Our results, therefore, suggest that groups in identical ecological conditions can diverge in their mating systems based on how much individuals in the group change their behavior in response to the behavior of other members of the group.
Behavioral, energetic, and color trait integration in male guppies: testing the melanocortin hypothesis
Authors: Santostefano Francesca , Fanson Kerry V , Endler John A , Biro Peter A
Published: June 2019

Individuals of the same population differ consistently from each other in the average expression of behavioral and physiological traits. Often, such traits are integrated and thus correlated with each other. However, the underlying proximate mechanisms generating and maintaining this among-individual covariation are still poorly understood. The melanocortin hypothesis suggests that the melanocortin pathways can have pleiotropic effects linking the expression of melanin-based coloration with physiological and behavioral traits. In the present study, we test this hypothesis in adult male guppies (Poecilia reticulata), by estimating among individual correlations between behaviors (activity, feeding, boldness, display, and chase during courtship), stress response (peak metabolic rate), and coloration (black spot, fuzzy black, and orange). The lack of correlation of any behavior or metabolism with black coloration indicates that the melanocortin hypothesis is not supported in this species. However, we observed covariation among coloration traits, as well as among behavioral traits. Our findings suggest that, although there appear to be constraints within sets of related traits, coloration, physiology, and behaviors can potentially evolve as independent modules in response to selection in this species.
Artificial selection on walking distance suggests a mobility-sperm competitiveness trade-off
Authors: Matsumura Kentarou , Archer C Ruth , Hosken David J , Miyatake Takahisa
Published: June 2019

Securing matings is a key determinant of fitness, and in many species, males are the sex that engages in mate searching. Searching for mates is often associated with increased mobility. This elevated investment in movement is predicted to trade-off with sperm competitiveness, but few studies have directly tested whether this trade-off occurs. Here, we assessed whether artificial selection on mobility affected sperm competitiveness and mating behavior, and if increased mobility was due to increased leg length in red flour beetles (Tribolium castaneum). We found that, in general, males selected for decreased mobility copulated for longer, stimulated females more during mating, and tended to be better sperm competitors. Surprisingly, they also had longer legs. However, how well males performed in sperm competition depended on females. Males with reduced mobility always copulated for longer than males with high mobility, but this only translated into greater fertilization success in females from control populations and not the selection populations (i.e. treatment females). These results are consistent with a mate-searching/mating-duration trade-off and broadly support a trade-off between mobility and sperm competitiveness.
Biological market effects predict cleaner fish strategic sophistication
Authors: Triki Zegni , Wismer Sharon , Rey Olivia , Ann Binning Sandra , Levorato Elena , Bshary Redouan
Published: June 2019

Market-like situations emerge in nature when trading partners exchange goods and services. However, how partner choice option contributes to the expression of social strategic sophistication (i.e., the ability to adjust behavior flexibly given the specifics of a situation) is still poorly understood. A suitable study system to explore this question is the “cleaner” fish Labroides dimidiatus. Cleaners trade parasite removal in exchange for food with a variety of “client” species. Previous research documented strong interindividual variation in two features of their strategic sophistication, namely, the ability to adjust service quality to the presence of an audience and to give priority to clients with access to alternative cleaners (“visitor clients”) over clients lacking such choice options (“resident clients”). Here, we sampled various demes (i.e., group of individuals) of the same population of cleaner fish in order to investigate the extent to which factors describing fish densities and cleaning interaction patterns predict the strategic sophistication in two laboratory experiments. These experiments tested whether cleaners could increase their food intake through reputation management and/or learning to provide service priority to a visitor-like ephemeral food plate. We found that high “outbidding competition,” characterized by high densities of cleaners and visitor clients, along with visitor’s behavior promoting such competition, consistently predicted high strategic sophistication in cleaners. A better understanding of the role of learning versus potential genetic factors, interacting with local market conditions to affect strategic sophistication, is needed to clarify how natural selection has promoted the evolution and maintenance of cooperation in this cleaning mutualism.
GeneNoteBook, a collaborative notebook for comparative genomics
Authors: Holmer Rens , van Velzen Robin , Geurts Rene , Bisseling Ton , de Ridder Dick , Smit Sandra
Published: June 2019

Analysis and comparison of genomic and transcriptomic datasets have become standard procedures in biological research. However, for non-model organisms no efficient tools exist to visually work with multiple genomes and their metadata, and to annotate such data in a collaborative way. Here we present GeneNoteBook: a web based collaborative notebook for comparative genomics. GeneNoteBook allows experimental and computational researchers to query, browse, visualize and curate bioinformatic analysis results for multiple genomes. GeneNoteBook is particularly suitable for the analysis of non-model organisms, as it allows for comparing newly sequenced genomes to those of model organisms.

Availability and implementation

GeneNoteBook is implemented as a node.js web application and depends on MongoDB and NCBI BLAST. Source code is available at https://github.com/genenotebook/genenotebook. Additionally, GeneNoteBook can be installed through Bioconda and as a Docker image. Full installation instructions and online documentation are available at https://genenotebook.github.io.

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
iScore: a novel graph kernel-based function for scoring protein–protein docking models
Authors: Geng Cunliang , Jung Yong , Renaud Nicolas , Honavar Vasant , Bonvin Alexandre M J J , Xue Li C
Published: June 2019

Motivation

Protein complexes play critical roles in many aspects of biological functions. Three-dimensional (3D) structures of protein complexes are critical for gaining insights into structural bases of interactions and their roles in the biomolecular pathways that orchestrate key cellular processes. Because of the expense and effort associated with experimental determinations of 3D protein complex structures, computational docking has evolved as a valuable tool to predict 3D structures of biomolecular complexes. Despite recent progress, reliably distinguishing near-native docking conformations from a large number of candidate conformations, the so-called scoring problem, remains a major challenge.

Results

Here we present iScore, a novel approach to scoring docked conformations that combines HADDOCK energy terms with a score obtained using a graph representation of the protein–protein interfaces and a measure of evolutionary conservation. It achieves a scoring performance competitive with, or superior to, that of state-of-the-art scoring functions on two independent datasets: (i) Docking software-specific models and (ii) the CAPRI score set generated by a wide variety of docking approaches (i.e. docking software-non-specific). iScore ranks among the top scoring approaches on the CAPRI score set (13 targets) when compared with the 37 scoring groups in CAPRI. The results demonstrate the utility of combining evolutionary, topological and energetic information for scoring docked conformations. This work represents the first successful demonstration of graph kernels to protein interfaces for effective discrimination of near-native and non-native conformations of protein complexes.

Availability and implementation

The iScore code is freely available from Github: https://github.com/DeepRank/iScore (DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.2630567). And the docking models used are available from SBGrid: https://data.sbgrid.org/dataset/684).

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Dissociable and Paradoxical Roles of Rat Medial and Lateral Orbitofrontal Cortex in Visual Serial Reversal Learning
Authors: Hervig M E , Fiddian L , Piilgaard L , Božič T , Blanco-Pozo M , Knudsen C , Olesen S F , Alsiö J , Robbins T W
Published: June 2019

Much evidence suggests that reversal learning is mediated by cortico-striatal circuitries with the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) playing a prominent role. The OFC is a functionally heterogeneous region, but potential differential roles of lateral (lOFC) and medial (mOFC) portions in visual reversal learning have yet to be determined. We investigated the effects of pharmacological inactivation of mOFC and lOFC on a deterministic serial visual reversal learning task for rats. For reference, we also targeted other areas previously implicated in reversal learning: prelimbic (PrL) and infralimbic (IL) prefrontal cortex, and basolateral amygdala (BLA). Inactivating mOFC and lOFC produced opposite effects; lOFC impairing, and mOFC improving, performance in the early, perseverative phase specifically. Additionally, mOFC inactivation enhanced negative feedback sensitivity, while lOFC inactivation diminished feedback sensitivity in general. mOFC and lOFC inactivation also affected novel visual discrimination learning differently; lOFC inactivation paradoxically improved learning, and mOFC inactivation had no effect. We also observed dissociable roles of the OFC and the IL/PrL. Whereas the OFC inactivation affected only perseveration, IL/PrL inactivation improved learning overall. BLA inactivation did not affect perseveration, but improved the late phase of reversal learning. These results support opponent roles of the rodent mOFC and lOFC in deterministic visual reversal learning.
Reduced Mortality of Staphylococcus aureus Bacteremia in a Retrospective Cohort Study of 2139 Patients: 2007–2015
Authors: Austin Eloise D , Sullivan Sean S , Macesic Nenad , Mehta Monica , Miko Benjamin A , Nematollahi Saman , Shi Qiuhu , Lowy Franklin D , Uhlemann Anne-Catrin
Published: June 2019

Background

Understanding the changing epidemiology of Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia, as well as the variables associated with poor outcomes, can yield insight into potential interventions.

Methods

This study was a retrospective, observational cohort study of adult patients at an academic medical center in New York City who had S. aureus bloodstream infections between 1 January 2007 and 31 December 2015. Participants were divided into 3 periods: group 1 (2007–2009), group 2 (2010–2012), and group 3 (2013–2015) for trend analysis. All clinical strains were genotyped (spa.). The main outcome was 30-day all-cause mortality.

Results

There were 1264 episodes of methicillin-susceptible S. aureus (MSSA) and 875 episodes of methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) bacteremia, with a rising proportion due to MSSA (55% group 1; 59% group 2; 63% group 3; P = .03.) There were no significant changes in average age, gender, Charlson score, and distribution of strain genotypes. Mortality in MRSA infection was unchanged (25% group 1; 25% group 2; 26% group 3), while mortality in MSSA infection significantly declined (18% group 1; 18% group 2; 13% group 3). The average time to antistaphylococcal therapy (AST) in MSSA infection declined during the study (3.7 days group 1; 3.5 group 2; 2.2 group 3). In multivariate analysis, AST within 7 days of initial positive MSSA culture was associated with survival.

Conclusions

Mortality in MSSA bloodstream infection is declining, associated with a decrease in time to targeted therapy. These results emphasize the potential for rapid diagnostics and early optimization of treatment to impact outcomes in MSSA bacteremia.
Dengue Infection Complicated by Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis: Experiences From 180 Patients With Severe Dengue
Authors: Kan Foong Kee , Tan Cheng Cheng , Von Bahr Greenwood Tatiana , Khalid Khairil E , Supramaniam Premaa , Hed Myrberg Ida , Tan Lian Huat , Henter Jan-Inge
Published: June 2019

Background

Globally, ~500 000 people with severe dengue (SD) require hospitalization yearly; ~12 500 (2.5%) die. Secondary hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (sHLH) is a potentially fatal hyperinflammatory condition for which HLH-directed therapy (as etoposide and dexamethasone) can be life-saving. Prompted by the high mortality in SD and the increasing awareness that patients with SD may develop sHLH, our objectives were to (1) determine the frequency of dengue-HLH in SD, (2) describe clinical features of dengue-HLH, (3) assess mortality rate in SD and dengue-HLH, and (4) identify mortality-associated risk factors in SD.

Methods

A 5-year retrospective single-center study in all adult patients with SD admitted to a tertiary intensive care unit in Malaysia.

Results

Thirty-nine of 180 (22%) patients with SD died. Twenty-one of 180 (12%) had HLH defined as an HLH probability ≥70% according to histo score (HScore); 9 (43%) died. Similarly, 12 of 31 (39%) fulfilling ≥4 and 7 of 9 (78%) fulfilling ≥5 HLH-2004 diagnostic criteria died. Peak values of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase, lactate dehydrogenase, and creatinine correlated to fatality (odds ratios [ORs], 2.9, 3.4, 5.8, and 31.9; all P < .0001), as did peak ferritin (OR, 2.5; P = .0028), nadir platelets (OR, 1.9; P = .00068), hepatomegaly (OR, 2.9; P = .012), and increasing age (OR, 1.2; P = .0043). Multivariable logistic regression revealed peak AST (OR, 2.8; P = .0019), peak creatinine (OR, 7.3; P = .0065), and SOFA (Sequential Organ Failure Assessment) score (OR, 1.4; P = .0051) as independent risk factors of death.

Conclusions

Be observant of dengue-HLH due to its high mortality. A prospective study is suggested on prompt HLH-directed therapy in SD patients with hyperinflammation and evolving multiorgan failure at risk of developing dengue-HLH.
Tuberculosis Preventive Therapy for Individuals Exposed to Drug-resistant Tuberculosis: Feasibility and Safety of a Community-based Delivery of Fluoroquinolone-containing Preventive Regimen
Authors: Malik Amyn A , Fuad Junaid , Siddiqui Sara , Amanullah Farhana , Jaswal Maria , Barry Zainab , Jabeen Farhat , Fatima Razia , Yuen Courtney M , Salahuddin Naseem , Khan Aamir J , Keshavjee Salmaan , Becerra Mercedes C , Hussain Hamidah
Published: June 2019

Background

Observational studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of a fluoroquinolone-based regimen to treat individuals presumed to be infected with drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB). We sought to assess the feasibility of this approach in an urban setting in South Asia.

Methods

From February 2016 until March 2017, all household contacts of DR-TB patients enrolled at the Indus Hospital were screened for TB symptoms at home. Children aged 0–17 years, symptomatic adults, and those with an immunocompromising condition (human immunodeficiency virus, diabetes, or malnutrition) were evaluated for TB disease. Contacts diagnosed with TB disease were started on treatment. Contacts without TB disease aged <5 years, contacts aged between 5 and 17 years with either a positive tuberculin skin test or an immunocompromising condition, or contacts aged ≥18 years with an immunocompromising condition were offered 6 months of treatment with a fluoroquinolone.

Results

One hundred households with 800 contacts were enrolled: 353 (44.1%) individuals aged ≤17 years with a median age of 19 years (interquartile range, 10–32); 423 (52.9%) were males. In total, 737 (92.1%) individuals were screened, of which 8 were already on treatment for TB (1.1%); another 3 (0.4%) contacts were diagnosed with TB disease and started on treatment. Of 215 eligible for infection treatment, 172 (80.0%) contacts initiated and 121 (70.3%) completed treatment. No TB disease or significant adverse events were observed during 12 months of follow-up.

Conclusions

Fluoroquinolone-based treatment for contacts with presumed DR-TB infection is feasible and well tolerated in a high TB burden setting.
Proximity to unconventional shale gas infrastructure alters breeding bird abundance and distribution
Authors: Farwell Laura S , Wood Petra B , Brown Donald J , Sheehan James
Published: June 2019

Unconventional shale gas development is a rapidly expanding driver of forest loss and fragmentation in the central Appalachian region. We evaluated the relationship between breeding passerine abundances and distance from shale gas development at a long-term (2008–2017) study site in northern West Virginia, USA. We examined responses of 27 species within 3 habitat guilds: forest interior, early successional, and synanthropic. More than half of the species evaluated showed sensitivity to distance from unconventional shale gas infrastructure (e.g., well pads, access roads, pipelines). Five forest interior species occurred in greater abundances farther from shale gas development, whereas 3 forest interior gap specialists increased in abundance closer to shale gas. Early successional and synanthropic species, including the nest-parasitic Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater), generally occurred in greater abundances closer to shale gas infrastructure. We used interpolated distributions of 4 focal species to assess their spatial response to unconventional shale gas development over time. Our results indicate that breeding passerine distributions and community composition are changing with forest disturbance driven by unconventional shale gas energy development.
Thyroid hormone concentrations associated with age, sex, reproductive status and apparent reproductive failure in the Amazon river dolphin (Inia geoffrensis)
Authors: Robeck T R , Amaral R S , da Silva V M F , Martin A R , Montano G A , Brown J L
Published: June 2019

This study was conducted to characterize immunoreactive thyroid hormone concentrations in wild Amazon river dolphins, also called boto (Inia geoffrensis) by age group, sex, pregnancy and lactation status, and to determine if thyroid hormone concentration differences could be detected between pregnant females with and without successful parturition outcomes. Radioimmunoassays were used to analyse total T3 and total T4 in 182 serum samples collected from 172 botos living in the Mamirauá Sustainable Development Reserve, in the Brazilian Amazon from 2003 through 2015. Age significantly affected tT3 and tT4 concentrations in males, with values in immature males and females being significantly lower than those in adult males, whereas no age effects were noted between immature females and adult non-pregnant, non-lactating females. Significant sex differences were noted in tT3 concentrations between immature males and females and in tT4 concentrations between adult males and females. These resulted in significant differences in the tT3:tT4 ratio between males and females within the immature and adult groups. Lactating and non-pregnant adult females had significantly higher tT3 concentrations than pregnant females, and this difference was primarily driven by a 12% drop in tT3 concentrations during the last two-thirds of pregnancy. No differences in thyroid hormone concentrations were detected between females diagnosed as pregnant and later found to have or not have a live calf. These results are the first to define thyroid hormone reference intervals and normal physiological variations in a wild population of river dolphins.
Characterization and analysis of the transcriptome in Gymnocypris selincuoensis on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau using single-molecule long-read sequencing and RNA-seq
Authors: Feng Xiu , Jia Yintao , Zhu Ren , Chen Kang , Chen Yifeng
Published: June 2019

The lakes on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP) are the largest and highest lake group in the world. Gymnocypris selincuoensis is the only cyprinid fish living in lake Selincuo, the largest lake on QTP. However, its genetic resource is still blank, limiting studies on molecular and genetic analysis. In this study, the transcriptome of G. selincuoensis was first generated by using PacBio Iso-Seq and Illumina RNA-seq. A full-length (FL) transcriptome with 75,435 transcripts was obtained by Iso-Seq with N50 length of 3,870 bp. Among all transcripts, 75,016 were annotated to public databases, 64,710 contain complete open reading frames and 2,811 were long non-coding RNAs. Based on all- vs.-all BLAST, 2,069 alternative splicing events were detected, and 80% of them were validated by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Tissue gene expression atlas showed that the number of detected expressed transcripts ranged from 37,397 in brain to 19,914 in muscle, with 10,488 transcripts detected in all seven tissues. Comparative genomic analysis with other cyprinid fishes identified 77 orthologous genes with potential positive selection (Ka/Ks > 0.3). A total of 56,696 perfect simple sequence repeats were identified from FL transcripts. Our results provide valuable genetic resources for further studies on adaptive evolution, gene expression and population genetics in G. selincuoensis and other congeneric fishes.
Efficacy and safety of alirocumab and evolocumab: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Authors: Guedeney Paul , Giustino Gennaro , Sorrentino Sabato , Claessen Bimmer E , Camaj Anton , Kalkman Deborah N , Vogel Birgit , Sartori Samantha , De Rosa Salvatore , Baber Usman , Indolfi Ciro , Montalescot Gilles , Dangas George D , Rosenson Robert S , Pocock Stuart J , Mehran Roxana
Published: June 2019

Aims

The effect of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol-lowering therapy with alirocumab or evolocumab on individual clinical efficacy and safety endpoints remains unclear. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of alirocumab and evolocumab in patients with dyslipidaemia or atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.

Methods and results

We performed a review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing treatment with alirocumab or evolocumab vs. placebo or other lipid-lowering therapies up to March 2018. Primary efficacy endpoints were all-cause death, cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction (MI), and stroke. We estimated risk ratios (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) using random effect models. We included 39 RCTs comprising 66 478 patients of whom 35 896 were treated with proprotein convertase subtilisin–kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitors (14 639 with alirocumab and 21 257 with evolocumab) and 30 582 with controls. Mean weighted follow-up time across trials was 2.3 years with an exposure time of 150 617 patient-years. Overall, the effects of PCSK9 inhibition on all-cause death and cardiovascular death were not statistically significant (P = 0.15 and P = 0.34, respectively). Proprotein convertase subtilisin–kexin type 9 inhibitors were associated with lower risk of MI (1.49 vs. 1.93 per 100 patient-year; RR 0.80, 95% CI 0.74–0.86; I  2 = 0%; P < 0.0001), ischaemic stroke (0.44 vs. 0.58 per 100 patient-year; RR 0.78, 95% CI 0.67–0.89; I  2 = 0%; P = 0.0005), and coronary revascularization (2.16 vs. 2.64 per 100 patient-year; RR 0.83, 95% CI 0.78–0.89; I  2 = 0%; P < 0.0001), compared with the control group. Use of these PCSK9 inhibitors was not associated with increased risk of neurocognitive adverse events (P = 0.91), liver enzymes elevations (P = 0.34), rhabdomyolysis (P = 0.58), or new-onset diabetes mellitus (P = 0.97).

Conclusion

Proprotein convertase subtilisin–kexin type 9 inhibition with alirocumab or evolocumab was associated with lower risk of MI, stroke, and coronary revascularization, with favourable safety profile.
Effects of synbiotics on the gut microbiota, blood and rearing parameters of chickens
Authors: Śliżewska Katarzyna , Markowiak Paulina , Żbikowski Artur , Szeleszczuk Piotr
Published: June 2019

The aim of the study was to assess the safety of three newly developed synbiotic preparations in feeding chickens. The study was carried out on 84 Specific Pathogen Free chickens, between 1st and 21st day of their life. Animals were divided into four groups fed ad libitum: three with an addition of synbiotics A, B or C and a control group (feed with no additives). Synbiotics contained Lactobacillus, Saccharomyces cerevisiae and inulin (prebiotic). Rearing parameters were determined taking into account undesirable clinical and sectional symptoms, daily mortality and body weight of birds. In addition, chicken blood parameters were determined based on haematological, biochemical and serological tests. Samples of the intestinal content and of the excreta constituted a material for research aimed at determination of the dominant chicken gut microbiota. On the basis of the conducted investigation, it was found that synbiotics met the basic requirements for this type of formulas regarding the safety of use and had a positive effect on the health of chickens. Therefore, further research is being carried out on the application of these formulas in large-scale production. The next step of the research will be the comparison of effects of synbiotics with commercial probiotics.
Within-Patch Structures Influence Small Mammal Abundance in Managed Forests of Northern California, USA
Authors: Gray Steven M , Roloff Gary J , Dennhardt Andrew J , Dotters Brian P , Engstrom Thomas T
Published: June 2019

We evaluated how forest type, vegetation structure in trapping webs, and proximate forest types influenced localized (~6.35 hectares) abundances for commonly captured small mammals in northern California, USA. We trapped from May to August of 2011–13 in 69 forest patches that represented: (1) clearcuts (3–5 years postharvest), (2) 10–20 year-old conifer plantations, (3) rotation-aged conifer stands, and (4) Watercourse and Lake Protection Zones. We captured 11 species; four in sufficient numbers for regression modeling. Our average abundance estimates for the study were 4.57 (standard error [SE] = 0.43), 0.32 (SE = 0.11), 0.90 (SE = 0.30), and 0.25 (SE = 0.09) individuals per web location (~0.75 hectares) for Peromyscus spp., Neotoma spp., California ground squirrels, and Allen’s chipmunks. We found that web-level ground cover (shrubs and grass), downed wood, and types of forests containing our trapping webs best described small mammal abundances, whereas proximate forest types were not important. Our results indicated that retaining localized structures in the form of understory shrub cover and downed wood positively influences small mammal abundance in intensively managed forests of northern California.
The Role of Gene Conversion between Transposable Elements in Rewiring Regulatory Networks
Authors: Fawcett Jeffrey A , Innan Hideki
Published: June 2019

Nature has found many ways to utilize transposable elements (TEs) throughout evolution. Many molecular and cellular processes depend on DNA-binding proteins recognizing hundreds or thousands of similar DNA motifs dispersed throughout the genome that are often provided by TEs. It has been suggested that TEs play an important role in the evolution of such systems, in particular, the rewiring of gene regulatory networks. One mechanism that can further enhance the rewiring of regulatory networks is nonallelic gene conversion between copies of TEs. Here, we will first review evidence for nonallelic gene conversion in TEs. Then, we will illustrate the benefits nonallelic gene conversion provides in rewiring regulatory networks. For instance, nonallelic gene conversion between TE copies offers an alternative mechanism to spread beneficial mutations that improve the network, it allows multiple mutations to be combined and transferred together, and it allows natural selection to work efficiently in spreading beneficial mutations and removing disadvantageous mutations. Future studies examining the role of nonallelic gene conversion in the evolution of TEs should help us to better understand how TEs have contributed to evolution.
Audiometric Age-Related Hearing Loss and Cognition in the Hispanic Community Health Study
Authors: Golub Justin S , Brickman Adam M , Ciarleglio Adam J , Schupf Nicole , Luchsinger José A
Published: June 2019

Background

Age-related hearing loss (HL), a common and treatable condition, has been associated with other age-related conditions. Late life cognitive impairment is a major public health concern that is rarely treatable. Studies examining the relationship between HL and cognition have been limited by non-Hispanic cohorts, small samples, or limited confounding control. We overcome these limitations in a large Hispanic cohort.

Methods

This was a multisite cross-sectional study of 5,277 subjects at least 50 years old (Hispanic Community Health Study, HCHS). The main exposure was audiometric HL. The main outcome measure was neurocognitive performance ascertained by the Digit Symbol Substitution Test (DSST), Word Frequency Test, Spanish-English Verbal Learning Test (SEVLT), and Six-Item Screener.

Results

The mean age was 58.4 years (SD = 6.2). A 20-dB (equivalent to a one-category worsening) increase in HL was associated with a −1.53 (95% CI, −2.11, −0.94) raw score point difference in the DSST, adjusting for demographics, hearing aid use, and cardiovascular disease. Similarly, a 20-dB increase in HL was associated with a −0.86 (−1.23, −0.49) point difference on the Word Frequency Test, −0.76 (−1.04, −0.47) on the SEVLT 3 trials, −0.45 (−0.60, −0.29) on the SELVT recall, and −0.07 (−0.12, −0.02) on the Six-Item Screener.

Conclusions

In the largest study of formal, audiometric HL and cognition to date, HL was independently associated with worse performance in a range of neurocognitive measures. Because HL is common and potentially treatable, it should be investigated as a modifiable risk factor for neurocognitive decline and dementia.