bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A farnesyl pyrophosphate synthase gene expressed in pollen functions in S‐RNase‐independent unilateral incompatibility
Authors: Qin Xiaoqiong , Li Wentao , Liu Yang , Tan Meilian , Ganal Martin , Chetelat Roger T.
Published: December 2017

Multiple independent and overlapping pollen rejection pathways contribute to unilateral interspecific incompatibility (UI). In crosses between tomato species, pollen rejection usually occurs when the female parent is self‐incompatible (SI) and the male parent self‐compatible (SC) (the ‘SI × SC rule’). Additional, as yet unknown, UI mechanisms are independent of self‐incompatibility and contribute to UI between SC species or populations. We identified a major quantitative trait locus on chromosome 10 (ui10.1) which affects pollen‐side UI responses in crosses between cultivated tomato, Solanum lycopersicum, and Solanum pennelliiLA0716, both of which are SC and lack S‐RNase, the pistil determinant of S‐specificity in Solanaceae. Here we show that ui10.1 is a farnesyl pyrophosphate synthase gene (FPS2) expressed in pollen. Expression is about 18‐fold higher in pollen of S. pennellii than in S. lycopersicum. Pollen with the hypomorphic S. lycopersicum allele is selectively eliminated on pistils of the F1 hybrid, leading to transmission ratio distortion in the F2 progeny. CRISPR/Cas9‐generated knockout mutants (fps2) in S. pennelliiLA0716 are self‐sterile due to pollen rejection, but mutant pollen is fully functional on pistils of S. lycopersicum. F2 progeny of S. lycopersicum × S. pennellii (fps2) show reversed transmission ratio distortion due to selective elimination of pollen bearing the knockout allele. Overexpression of FPS2 in S. lycopersicum pollen rescues the pollen elimination phenotype. FPS2‐based pollen selectivity does not involve S‐RNase and has not been previously linked to UI. Our results point to an entirely new mechanism of interspecific pollen rejection in plants.
Canine nodal marginal zone lymphoma: Descriptive insight into the biological behaviour
Authors: Cozzi M. , Marconato L. , Martini V. , Aresu L. , Riondato F. , Rossi F. , Stefanello D. , Comazzi S.
Published: December 2017

Canine nodal marginal zone lymphoma (nMZL) is classified as an indolent lymphoma. Such lymphomas are typified by low mitotic rate and slow clinical progression. While the clinical behaviour of canine splenic MZL has been described, characterized by an indolent course and a good prognosis following splenectomy, there are no studies specifically describing nMZL. The aim of this study was to describe the clinical features of and outcome for canine nMZL. Dogs with histologically confirmed nMZL undergoing a complete staging work‐up (including blood analysis, flow cytometry [FC] on lymph node [LN], peripheral blood and bone marrow, imaging, histology and immunohistochemistry on a surgically removed peripheral LN) were retrospectively enrolled. Treatment consisted of chemotherapy or chemo‐immunotherapy. Endpoints were response rate (RR), time to progression (TTP) and lymphoma‐specific survival (LSS). A total of 35 cases were enrolled. At diagnosis, all dogs showed generalized lymphadenopathy. One‐third was systemically unwell. All dogs had stage V disease; one‐third also had extranodal involvement. The LN population was mainly composed of medium‐sized CD21+ cells with scant resident normal lymphocytes. Histology revealed diffuse LN involvement, referring to “late‐stage” MZL. Median TTP and LSS were 149 and 259 days, respectively. Increased LDH activity and substage b were significantly associated with a shorter LSS. Dogs with nMZL may show generalized lymphadenopathy and an advanced disease stage. Overall, the outcome is poor, despite the “indolent” designation. The best treatment option still needs to be defined.
Rabbits with naturally occurring cataracts referred for phacoemulsification and intraocular lens implantation: a preliminary study of 12 cases
Authors: Sanchez Rick F. , Everson Richard , Hedley Joanna , Dawson Charlotte , Lam Richard , Priestnall Simon L. , Garcia de Carellan Alejandra , de Miguel Cristina , Seymour Christopher
Published: December 2017

Objective

To describe the presentation of 15 rabbits with naturally occurring cataracts referred for phacoemulsification surgery, the procedure in 13 cases and the follow‐up in 12.

Animals included

Fifteen rabbits (30 eyes), nine of which stopped following visual cues in association with cataract progression.

Materials and Methods

Rabbits underwent preoperative ophthalmic and ocular ultrasound examination.

Results

Thirteen rabbits (22 eyes) had mature cataracts. Ten were bilateral and three unilateral. Two rabbits had an anterior chamber abscess. The cataract in one of these was incipient. One rabbit had bilateral immature cataracts. One rabbit had a subluxated lens, and one had a retinal detachment. Thirteen rabbits (22 eyes) underwent phacoemulsification. Eighteen, 13.5‐mm capsular tension rings (CTRs) and seventeen, 13‐mmIOLs (Acrivet®, Berlin, Germany) were fitted including one 41D 60V‐model, and three 49D and thirteen 58D 20S‐models. Intraoperative complications included one unilateral posterior‐capsular tear, one lens subluxation, and one expulsive choroidal hemorrhage. One rabbit died during anesthetic recovery. Nine cases werePCR‐tested forEncephalitozoon cuniculi,and only three were positive. The median follow‐up time was 12 months (4‐24 months). Rabbits that were not following visual cues preoperatively did so postoperatively, and surgery resulted in a clear visual axis for the follow‐up period in every case except in two, due to reasons other than the surgery.

Conclusions

Phacoemulsification withCTRandIOLimplantation offers good long‐term results and can improve the quality of life of pet rabbits. Retinal detachment, lens luxation, expulsive choroidal hemorrhage, and anesthetic death are potential complications.
Vessel sealer and divider instrument temperature during laparoscopic ovariectomy in horses
Authors: Easley Jeremiah T. , McGilvray Kirk C. , Hendrickson Dean A. , Bruemmer Jason , Hackett Eileen S.
Published: December 2017

Objective

To determine the temperature of a vessel sealer and divider device during unilateral paralumbar laparoscopic ovariectomy in standing, sedated mares.

Study Design

Prospective study.

Animals

Fifteen healthy research mares.

Methods

Healthy mares with normal ovarian palpation and ultrasonographic appearance were enrolled. Horses were restrained in standing stocks and sedated. A right or left paralumbar ovariectomy was performed with a laparoscopic portal and 2 instrument portals. Ovaries were excised with traumatic forceps and a blunt tip vessel sealer and divider. Temperatures of the vessel sealer and divider were recorded with a thermocouple device adhered to the tip of the instrument. Variables were reported as median and interquartile range (IQR).

Results

Surgical time was 30 minutes (IQR, 25‐32) including use of the vessel sealer and the divider for 4.1 minutes (IQR, 3.2‐5.8). The tip of the instrument reached temperatures of 77°C (IQR, 72‐85) during activation and 64°C (IQR, 61‐67) at end cycle. The median increase in end‐cycle instrument tip temperature per activation cycle was 2°C (IQR, −1‐6). All mares returned to their intended use.

Conclusion

Despite the instrument temperatures observed during unilateral laparoscopic ovariectomy, surgical complications were minimal. The clinical relevance of the increase in instrument tip temperature of the vessel sealer and divider is presently unclear, but surgeons should use the instrument with caution, especially in close proximity to viscera. The increase in temperature observed at the tip of the vessel sealer and divider during unilateral ovariectomy could be associated with morbidity. The clinical relevance of instrument tip heating during other procedures, such as adhesiolysis and intestinal resection, is unknown and should be evaluated.
Effectiveness of wetlands in retaining metals from mine water, South Africa
Authors: Abiye Tamiru , Mkansi Shichavo , Masindi Khuliso , Leshomo Joyce
Published: December 2017

Wetlands are effectively used to treat mine water effluent in South Africa, where they retain toxic metals that can potentially contaminate the environment. Wetlands that are located close to the abandoned tailings dams were chosen and solidified substrate samples were collected for thin section microscopy, X‐ray fluorescence (XRF) and X‐ray diffraction (XRD) analyses. In order to determine the concentration of selected metals in the tailings dams, fine grained samples were collected and leached with a diluted nitric acid and deionised water to simulate leaching by rainwater. The results from the substrate analysis revealed an overall oxide abundance of 71.76 weight percent (%) and an elevated metal concentration, which suggest a crucial role played by pH, redox, wetland sediments and wetland plants in maintaining oxygen circulation and triggering reactions. The study confirmed the efficiency of wetlands in the attenuation of toxic metals from the mine water.
Systematic Review: Impact of point sources on antibiotic‐resistant bacteria in the natural environment
Authors: Bueno I. , Williams‐Nguyen J. , Hwang H. , Sargeant J. M. , Nault A. J. , Singer R. S.
Published: December 2017

Point sources such as wastewater treatment plants and agricultural facilities may have a role in the dissemination of antibiotic‐resistant bacteria (ARB) and antibiotic resistance genes (ARG). To analyse the evidence for increases in ARB in the natural environment associated with these point sources of ARB and ARG, we conducted a systematic review. We evaluated 5,247 records retrieved through database searches, including both studies that ascertained ARG and ARB outcomes. All studies were subjected to a screening process to assess relevance to the question and methodology to address our review question. A risk of bias assessment was conducted upon the final pool of studies included in the review. This article summarizes the evidence only for those studies with ARB outcomes (n = 47). Thirty‐five studies were at high (n = 11) or at unclear (n = 24) risk of bias in the estimation of source effects due to lack of information and/or failure to control for confounders. Statistical analysis was used in ten studies, of which one assessed the effect of multiple sources using modelling approaches; none reported effect measures. Most studies reported higher ARB prevalence or concentration downstream/near the source. However, this evidence was primarily descriptive and it could not be concluded that there is a clear impact of point sources on increases in ARB in the environment. To quantify increases in ARB in the environment due to specific point sources, there is a need for studies that stress study design, control of biases and analytical tools to provide effect measure estimates.
DCCs among Sector Indexes and Dynamic Causality between Foreign Exchange and Equity Sector Volatility: Evidence from Egypt
Authors: Ahmed Amira A. , Naguib Rania I.
Published: December 2017

The objective of the current paper is to explore the co-movements between domestic equity sectors in the Egyptian Exchange (EGX), using the dynamic conditional correlation (DCC) model, and to examine the time-varying causal links between the exchange rate volatility (EXVOL) and sector volatility (SVOL) using the bootstrap Granger non-causality tests in a bivariate VAR, where conditional volatility series are extracted from GARCH(1,1) model. We employ weekly data. Results show that all estimated DCCs are positive with a clear heterogeneity between the sector pairs. They do not exhibit stable correlation pattern for a prolong time, implying that DCC estimates change in response to price increment shocks to each sector in the pair. Hence, the assumption of static inter-sectoral correlations between domestic sector indexes is invalid when forming and periodically re-balancing portfolios. The global financial crash and the political instability in early 2011 have significantly increased the level of DCCs for four and ten out of fifteen pairs, respectively. Thus, the recent political turmoil in Egypt has widely affect diversification opportunities in the EGX whereas the global financial crash has not. The volatility transmission between SVOL and EXVOL is subject to structural breaks. The bootstrap rolling window estimations show that the casual relationship between SVOL and EXVOL varies across time. These findings would be of great importance to market participants in their hedging and investment decisions since investors and firms are more concerned with industrial sector exposure estimates.
Modeling the Effects of Using Gas Diffusion Layers With Patterned Wettability for Advanced Water Management in Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells
Authors: Dujc Jaka , Forner-Cuenca Antoni , Marmet Philip , Cochet Magali , Vetter Roman , Schumacher Jürgen O. , Boillat Pierre
Published: December 2017

We present a macrohomogeneous two-phase model of a proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC). The model takes into account the mechanical compression of the gas diffusion layer (GDL), the two-phase flow of water, the transport of the gas species, and the electrochemical reaction of the reactant gases. The model was used to simulate the behavior of a PEMFC with a patterned GDL. The results of the reduced model, which considers only the mechanical compression and the two-phase flow, are compared to the experimental ex-situ imbibition data obtained by neutron radiography imaging. The results are in good agreement. Additionally, by using all model features, a simulation of an operating fuel cell has been performed to study the intricate couplings in an operating fuel cell and to examine the patterned GDL effects. The model confirms that the patterned GDL design liberates the predefined domains from liquid water and thus locally increases the oxygen diffusivity.
Self-Humidification of a Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell System With Cathodic Exhaust Gas Recirculation
Authors: Xu Liangfei , Fang Chuan , Hu Junming , Cheng Siliang , Li Jianqiu , Ouyang Minggao , Lehnert Werner
Published: December 2017

Water management is critical for the operation of a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC). For the purposes of high power and long working-lifetime of PEMFCs, external humidifiers are always utilized as a necessary part of balance of plants to keep the imported air and fuel wet. However, they have several disadvantages, and it is beneficial to remove them so as to reduce system volume and to enhance the cold-starting capability. In this paper, a self-humidified PEMFC of an active area 250 cm2 and cell number 320 is proposed and investigated. The imported dry air on the cathode side is mixed with moisty exhaust gas by using a recirculation valve, and the dry hydrogen on the anode side is humidified by back-diffusion water through the membrane. A nonlinear model is set up based on mass transport and energy conservation equations to capture dynamics of gases in the supply and exhaust manifolds, the gas diffusion layers (GDLs), and the membrane. An analysis is conducted to investigate the influences of parameters on dynamic and stable performances. Simulation results show that system performances can be greatly affected by parameters such as air stoichiometry, current density, exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) ratio, and membrane thickness. By accurately controlling the EGR ratio and carefully selecting design and operation parameters, it is probably for a PEMFC without an external humidifier to have similar system efficiency compared to a traditional system.
A Multi-Objective DIRECT Algorithm Toward Structural Damage Identification With Limited Dynamic Response Information
Authors: Cao Pei , Shuai Qi , Tang Jiong
Published: December 2017

A major challenge in structural health monitoring (SHM) is to accurately identify both the location and severity of damage using the dynamic response information acquired. While in theory the vibration-based and impedance-based methods may facilitate damage identification with the assistance of a credible baseline finite element model, the response information is generally limited, and the measurements may be heterogeneous, making an inverse analysis using sensitivity matrix difficult. Aiming at fundamental advancement, in this research we cast the damage identification problem into an optimization problem where possible changes of finite element properties due to damage occurrence are treated as unknowns. We employ the multiple damage location assurance criterion (MDLAC), which characterizes the relation between measurements and predictions (under sampled elemental property changes), as the vector-form objective function. We then develop an enhanced, multi-objective version of the dividing rectangles (DIRECT) approach to solve the optimization problem. The underlying idea of the multi-objective DIRECT approach is to branch and bound the unknown parametric space to converge to a set of optimal solutions. A new sampling scheme is established, which significantly increases the efficiency in minimizing the error between measurements and predictions. The enhanced DIRECT algorithm is particularly suited to solving for unknowns that are sparse, as in practical situations structural damage affects only a small region. A number of test cases using vibration response information are executed to demonstrate the effectiveness of the new approach.
Coupled Numerical Approach for Automotive Battery Pack Lifetime Estimates With Thermal Management
Authors: Darcovich K. , MacNeil D. D. , Recoskie S. , Cadic Q. , Ilinca F. , Kenney B.
Published: December 2017

This study combined a simple two-dimensional (2D) finite volume model (Kim model), which employs Ohm's law along with charge conservation over the electrodes and Butler–Volmer charge transfer kinetics for prismatic battery cells coupled with the single particle model (SPM) in order to model the thermal state of automotive battery packs. The objective here was to determine the effects of liquid cooling applied to the packs under standard driving cycles. A model developed by Kim provided a means for determining a nonuniform current distribution over the surface of the current collectors. The Kim model is based on the application of Ohm's law over a conducting medium, with empirical source terms representing current flowing into or out of an adjacent electrode layer. Here, a modeling advance is presented where empirical source terms in the Kim model were replaced with ones based on the chemistry and physics occurring inside the battery. As such, fundamental battery function was imparted to the model by integrating the SPM into the 2D finite volume Kim model. The 2D procedure described above was carried out on electrode sheets at different positions inside the cell, and determined thermal generation values that were mapped volumetrically into a heat transfer simulation, which, in turn, updated the electrochemical simulation. Capacity fade kinetics were determined by fitting experimental data to simulated results. With time-temperature profiles produced as described above for different pack cooling levels and varying degrees of cell degradation, a basic SPM simulation was then used with thermal overlays to estimate automotive cell life under various driving scenarios and various cooling levels. With these simulations, scenarios representing different thermal management regimes along with driving behavior were able to show the combined impact on automotive battery pack lifetimes.
Multiple Model Adaptive Estimation of a Hybrid Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Gas Turbine Power Plant Simulator
Authors: Tsai Alex , Tucker David , Emami Tooran
Published: December 2017

Operating points of a 300 kW solid oxide fuel cell gas turbine (SOFC-GT) power plant simulator are estimated with the use of a multiple model adaptive estimation (MMAE) algorithm. This algorithm aims to improve the flexibility of controlling the system to changing operating conditions. Through a set of empirical transfer functions (TFs) derived at two distinct operating points of a wide operating envelope, the method demonstrates the efficacy of estimating online the probability that the system behaves according to a predetermined dynamic model. By identifying which model the plant is operating under, appropriate control strategies can be switched and implemented. These strategies come into effect upon changes in critical parameters of the SOFC-GT system—most notably, the load bank (LB) disturbance and fuel cell (FC) cathode airflow parameters. The SOFC-GT simulator allows the testing of various FC models under a cyber-physical configuration that incorporates a 120 kW auxiliary power unit and balance-of-plant (Bop) components. These components exist in hardware, whereas the FC model in software. The adaptation technique is beneficial to plants having a wide range of operation, as is the case for SOFC-GT systems. The practical implementation of the adaptive methodology is presented through simulation in the matlab/simulink environment.
Inservice Examination and Testing Issues for Dynamic Restraints (Snubbers) in Nuclear Power Plants
Authors: Bedi Gurjendra S.
Published: December 2017

This paper discusses recent issues related to the inservice examination and testing of dynamic restraints (snubbers) at U.S. nuclear power plants. The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff identified these issues during its review of examination and testing snubber programs and relief requests, as well as operating experience. This discussion includes information that could apply generically to the implementation of effective snubber programs at U.S. nuclear power plants.

Paper published with permission.
Expectations for Inservice Testing Programs at New Nuclear Power Plants
Authors: Scarbrough Thomas G.
Published: December 2017

In a series of Commission papers, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) described its policy for inservice testing (IST) programs to be developed and implemented at nuclear power plants licensed under 10 CFR Part 52. This paper discusses the expectations for IST programs based on those Commission policy papers as applied in the NRC staff review of combined license (COL) applications for new reactors. For example, the design and qualification of pumps, valves, and dynamic restraints through implementation of American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Standard QME-1-2007, “Qualification of Active Mechanical Equipment Used in Nuclear Power Plants,” as accepted in NRC Regulatory Guide (RG) 1.100 (Revision 3), “Seismic Qualification of Electrical and Active Mechanical Equipment and Functional Qualification of Active Mechanical Equipment for Nuclear Power Plants,” will enable IST activities to assess the operational readiness of those components to perform their intended functions. ASME has updated the Operation and Maintenance of Nuclear Power Plants (OM Code) to improve the IST provisions for pumps, valves, and dynamic restraints that are incorporated by reference in the NRC regulations with applicable conditions. In addition, lessons learned from performance experience and testing of motor-operated valves (MOVs) will be implemented as part of the IST programs together with application of those lessons learned to other power-operated valves (POVs). Licensee programs for the Regulatory Treatment of Non-Safety Systems (RTNSS) will be implemented for components in active nonsafety-related systems that are the first line of defense in new reactors that rely on passive systems to provide reactor core and containment cooling in the event of a plant transient. This paper also discusses the overlapping testing provisions specified in ASME Standard QME-1-2007; plant-specific inspections, tests, analyses, and acceptance criteria; the applicable ASME OM Code as incorporated by reference in the NRC regulations; specific license conditions; and Initial Test Programs as described in the final safety analysis report and applicable RGs.

Paper published with permission.
Outgassing behavior of different high-temperature resistant polymers
Authors: Battes Katharina , Day Christian , Hauer Volker
Published: December 2017

In vacuum applications, polymers often need to be used in spite of their relatively high outgassing rates, e.g., as sealing or spacer material. For some polymers—like Viton®, which is used for O-rings—data on outgassing rates can be found in literature, while for others, in particular, the most relevant ones that can be used at higher temperatures, only few results are available. Therefore, different high-temperature resistant polymers were measured at the Outgassing Measurement Apparatus, which uses the difference method. These polymers were polyimides like Kapton®, Vespel®, and Meldin®, as well as a polyetheretherketone and a polybenzimidazole. In order to investigate the temperature behavior of the outgassing of the polymers, the measurements were performed at room temperature, 100 °C, and 200 °C. The outgassing species were determined by a mass spectrometer. In addition, the dependence of the outgassing on the material thickness was analyzed. The paper shows that the outgassing rates of the examined polymers are higher than 10−4 (Pa m3)/(s m2) after 10 h at room temperature, except for the thin Kapton samples. Thus, further treatment of the materials will be necessary depending on the application. It is shown that a vacuum bake-out at not less than 200 °C is favorable. The main outgassing species is water, as expected, but also different hydrocarbons with higher mass can be seen for the polyimides. Concerning different thicknesses, the outgassing rate of a thin sample generally decreases more steeply than the outgassing rate of the thicker sample. Nevertheless, the steepest decrease was found for the thickest Kapton sample, with a difference of nearly factor 500 between 10 and 100 h at room temperature.
Enhanced antibacterial activity of silver-ruthenium coated hollow microparticles
Authors: Heiss Alexander , Freisinger Birger , Held-Föhn Evi
Published: December 2017

The oxidation based antimicrobial activity of silver is long known. Microparticles with a particular silver-ruthenium coating and specific physical properties were developed. The coating showed a considerably increased silver ion release rate in comparison to a plain silver coating. Accordingly, an exposure of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus to these silver-ruthenium coated microparticles resulted in a time and concentration dependent cell killing. Even though contact killing may contribute to this efficacy, rather a release associated diffusion gradient dependent killing was observed. Moreover, cell killing did not involve lysis. The coated microparticles manifested no reduction in antibacterial activity for months. Due to their specific size and density, they sedimented slowly in aqueous solution, showed a low aggregation tendency, and could be recycled easily. Hence, these silver-ruthenium coated microparticles lend themselves to a wide range of antibacterial applications as they combine long-term stability and high efficacy with ease of use.
Characterization of photoresist films exposed to high-dose implantation conditions
Authors: Croisy Marion , Pargon Erwine , Jenny Cécile , Richard Claire , Guiheux Denis , Mariolle Denis , Poulain Christophe , Campo Alain , Possémé Nicolas
Published: December 2017

Alternative approaches are now required to fulfill the strict requirements of photoresist (PR) dry strip process after high-dose implantation. A better understanding of the PR degradations induced by the ion bombardment during the implantation is thus required. In this study, in-depth characterizations of PR films after arsenic and phosphorus-high-dose implantation have been made. The influence of the dopant species (As or P) as well as the implantation energy has been investigated. The experimental results have then been confronted to simulations performed with stopping and range of ions in matter (SRIM). The experimental results show the formation of a “crust layer” enriched in carbon and depleted in oxygen and hydrogen whose density, hardness, and elastic modulus are higher than the nonimplanted PR (pristine). SRIM simulations confirm that the PR degradation is mainly due to crosslinking phenomenon. Chemical analyses have revealed that the dopants are present in their elemental and oxidized forms in the PR and that they are also linked to the PR carbon atoms. The knowledge of the dopants' chemical environment is key information to understand the presence of residues after dry strip processes and develop alternative processes to avoid their formation.
HemITAM: A single tyrosine motif that packs a punch
Authors: Bauer Björn , Steinle Alexander
Published: December 2017

Certain genetically linked C-type lectin-like receptors that activate innate immune cells variably signal through their cytoplasmic hemITAM motifs.
The receptor tyrosine kinase EphA2 promotes glutamine metabolism in tumors by activating the transcriptional coactivators YAP and TAZ
Authors: Edwards Deanna N. , Ngwa Verra M. , Wang Shan , Shiuan Eileen , Brantley-Sieders Dana M. , Kim Laura C. , Reynolds Albert B. , Chen Jin
Published: December 2017

By activating the transcription cofactors YAP and TAZ, the receptor EphA2 mediates a metabolic switch to glutamine dependency in HER2
+
breast cancers.
Epidemiology of UK neonatal infections: the neonIN infection surveillance network
Authors: Cailes Benjamin , Kortsalioudaki Christina , Buttery Jim , Pattnayak Santosh , Greenough Anne , Matthes Jean , Bedford Russell Alison , Kennea Nigel , Heath Paul T
Published: December 2017

Objective

To describe the epidemiology of neonatal infection over the past decade in UK neonatal units.

Design

Retrospective analysis of prospectively collected infection surveillance network data from 2005 to 2014.

Setting

30 neonatal units in the UK.

Patients

Newborns on participating neonatal units who had a positive blood, cerebrospinal fluid or urine culture and were treated with at least 5 days of appropriate antibiotics.

Results

2171 episodes of neonatal infection in 1922 infants were recorded. The incidence of infection was 6.1/1000 live births and 48.8/1000 neonatal admissions (2.9 and 23.5 respectively if coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) cultures excluded). The incidence of infection showed a statistically significant reduction over time with reductions in the rates of both early-onset sepsis (EOS) and late-onset sepsis (LOS).

The majority of episodes (76%) represented LOS (diagnosed > 48 hours after birth), and infection was more common in premature (<37 weeks gestation) and low birth weight (<2500 g) neonates (84% and 81%, respectively). Commonly identified pathogens included group B streptococci (43%) and Escherichia coli (18%) for EOS, while E. coli (15%), Staphylococcus aureus (14%) and CoNS were prominent causes of LOS.

Conclusions

This paper describes the epidemiology of neonatal infection in the UK over the past decade. These data enable benchmarking of practice and inform areas of future research and guideline development. The results support the hypothesis that the introduction of infection prevention care bundles and antibiotic stewardship programmes in the UK has reduced the burden of LOS.
Why attempt en bloc resection of non-pedunculated colorectal adenomas? A systematic review of the prevalence of superficial submucosal invasive cancer after endoscopic submucosal dissection
Authors: Fuccio Lorenzo , Repici Alessandro , Hassan Cesare , Ponchon Thierry , Bhandari Pradeep , Jover Rodrigo , Triantafyllou Konstantinos , Mandolesi Daniele , Frazzoni Leonardo , Bellisario Cristina , Bazzoli Franco , Sharma Prateek , Rösch Thomas , Rex Douglas K
Published: December 2017

Objective

Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) aims to achieve en bloc resection of non-pedunculated colorectal adenomas which might be indicated in cases with superficial submucosal invasive cancers (SMIC), but the procedure is time consuming and complex. The prevalence of such cancers is not known but may determine the clinical necessity for ESD as opposed to the commonly used piecemeal mucosal resection (endoscopic mucosal resection) of colorectal adenomas. The main aim was to assess the prevalence of SMIC SM1 (ie, invasion ≤1000 µm or less than one-third of the submucosa) on colorectal lesions removed by ESD.

Design

A literature review was conducted using electronic databases (up to March 2017) for colorectal ESD series reporting the histology of the dissected lesions.

Results

51 studies with data on 11 260 colorectal dissected lesions were included. Most resected lesions (82.2%; 95% CI 78.8% to 85.3%) were adenomas (low- and high-grade dysplasia, 26.8% and 55.4%, respectively). Overall, 15.7% were submucosal cancers, but only slightly more than half (8.0%; 95% CI 6.1% to 10.3%) had an infiltration depth of ≤1000 µm, providing a number needed to treat (NNT) to avoid one surgery of 12.5. Estimating an oncologically curative (R0; G1/2; L0/V0) resection rate of 75.3% (95% CI 52.2% to 89.4%) for malignant lesions, the prevalence of curative resection lowered to 6% (95% CI 4.2% to 7.2%) with an NNT of 16.7.

Conclusion

The low prevalence of SMIC SM1 in lesions selected for ESD as well as the even lower rate of curative resection limits the clinical applicability of endoscopic en bloc resection. This calls for caution over an indiscriminate use of this technique in the resection of colorectal neoplasia.
Right ventricular exercise contractile reserve and outcomes after early surgery for primary mitral regurgitation
Authors: Vitel Emilie , Galli Elena , Leclercq Christophe , Fournet Maxime , Bosseau Christian , Corbineau Hervé , Bouzille Guillame , Donal Erwan
Published: December 2017

Objective

To assess if the lack of development of right ventricular (RV) contractile reserve during exercise echocardiography (ex-echo) might be a predictor of postoperative major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) in patients with primary mitral regurgitation (pMR) undergoing early surgery.

Methods

Comprehensive resting and ex-echo were performed in 142 asymptomatic patients (58±21 years, 68% men, New York Heart Association functional class ≤2) with isolated severe pMR and preserved left ventricular (LV) function (LV ejection >60%, LV end-systolic diameter <45 mm) undergoing mitral valve replacement (n=20) or repair. Postoperative MACEs were defined as occurrence of atrial fibrillation, stroke, cardiac-related hospitalisation or death. RV function was evaluated at rest in every patient during ex-echo by measuring their tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) value.

Results

After median follow-up of 30 months (IQR 16–60 months), MACEs occurred in 48 (34%) patients. Using Bayesian model averaging, among all the characteristics including the type of surgery, exercise TAPSE (ex-TAPSE) emerged as the most likely predictor of prognosis (HR 0.91, 95% CI 0.86 to 0.96). Other probable predictors were exercise fractional area change (HR 0.02, 95% CI 0.00 to 0.80), male gender (HR 0.40, 95% CI 0.21 to 0.75) and RV basal diameter (HR 1.06, 95% CI 0.98 to 1.14). In the receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, an ex-TAPSE value of <26 mm (sensitivity 73% (95% CI 61 to 84) and specificity of 86% (95% CI 77% to 93%)) defined RV dysfunction. Event-free survival at 5 years was significantly lower in the patient group that exhibited no development of RV contractile reserve during exercise: 43.9% (95% CI 31.3 to 61.4) vs 75.8% (95% CI 64.8 to 88.7).

Conclusion

Lack of development of exercise-induced RV contractile reserve is a prognostic predictor in patients with severe pMR undergoing early mitral valve surgery.
A high-fat diet is deleterious to mice under glycolysis restriction
Authors: Hao Yilin , Tsuruda Toshihiro , Sekita-Hatakeyama Yoko , Sakamoto Sumiharu , Kitamura Kazuo
Published: December 2017

It is debated whether carbohydrate restriction has metabolic advantage for its variable weight loss. Five-week-old male mice fed a high-fat diet and receiving a glycolytic inhibitor, 2-deoxyglucose, died within 9 days. They exhibited greater decreases in rectal temperature, appetite, and decline in body weight accompanied by increasing total cholesterol level than the other groups. This study suggests that carbohydrate is necessary for adequate physical and metabolic performance when lipid-rich diet is loaded.
A theoretical investigation on excited-state single or double proton transfer process for aloesaponarin I
Authors: Wei Qiang , Wang Jiyu , Zhao Meiyu , Zhang Meixia , Song Yuzhi , Song Peng
Published: December 2017

The excited-state proton transfer (ESPT) dynamical behavior of aloesaponarin I (ASI) was studied using density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent DFT (TDDFT) methods. Our calculated vertical excitation energies based on TDDFT reproduced the experimental absorption and fluorescence spectra well [Nagaoka et al. J. Phys. Chem. B, 117, 4347 (2013)]. Two intramolecular hydrogen bonds were confirmed to be strengthened in the S1 state, which makes ESPT possible. Herein, the ESPT process is more likely to happen, along with one hydrogen bond (O1–H2⋯O3). Qualitative analyses about charge distribution further demonstrate that the ESPT process could occur because of the intramolecular charge transfer. Our constructed potential energy surfaces of both S0 and S1 states show that a single proton transfer reactive is more reasonable along with the intramolecular hydrogen bond (O1–H2⋯O3) rather than O4–H5⋯O6 in the S1 stated potential energy surface. Then, ASI-SPT* decays to the ground state with a 640 nm fluorescence; subsequently, the ASI-SPT form shows that reverse ground state single-proton transfer back to the ASI structure occurs. Particularly, dependent on relatively accurate potential energy barriers among these excited-state stable structures, we confirmed the excited-state single proton transfer process rather than using the controversial nodal plane model.
Improved resilience and metabolic response of transplanted blackberry plugs using chitosan oligosaccharide elicitor treatment
Authors: Cheplick Susan , Sarkar Dipayan , Bhowmik Prasanta C. , Shetty Kalidas
Published: December 2017

Transplanting of micropropagated blackberry plugs in the field during late summer and early fall is a common nursery practice for commercial blackberry production. During this field transition, blackberry plants generally experience different stresses in addition to transplanting shock coupled with sudden exposure to low night temperatures in the fall. Improving the stress resilience of field-transplanted blackberry plants by recruiting plant endogenous protective metabolic responses has significant merit. Therefore, the aim of this study was to improve stress resilience of newly transplanted ‘Chester Thornless’ blackberry in the field during fall transition through stimulation of phenolic antioxidant and proline-linked metabolic responses by using bioprocessed chitosan oligosaccharide (COS) as an elicitor treatment. Fourteen-week-old blackberry plugs were transplanted in the field in late July and COS was sprayed weekly in the run-off for a 6-wk period after transplanting. Total soluble phenolic content, total antioxidant activity, total proline content, proline dehydrogenase, and succinate dehydrogenase enzyme activity of blackberry shoots were evaluated weekly during and 1 wk after COS application. Improvement in total soluble phenolic content and antioxidant activity based on 2,2′-azinobis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) free radical scavenging assay was observed in field-transplanted blackberry at 6 and 7 wk with COS elicitation treatment.
Approximation of plurisubharmonic functions on complex varieties
Authors: Dieu Nguyen Quang , Long Tang Van , Ounheuan Sanphet
Published: December 2017

Let [Formula: see text] be a complex variety in a bounded domain [Formula: see text] in [Formula: see text]. We are interested in finding sufficient conditions on [Formula: see text] so that plurisubharmonic functions which are bounded from above on [Formula: see text] can be approximated from above by continuous functions on [Formula: see text] and plurisubharmonic on [Formula: see text] Next, we discuss the possibility to extend a given real valued continuous function on [Formula: see text] to a maximal plurisubharmonic on [Formula: see text] which is continuous up to the boundary.
Stability limits of the single relaxation-time advection–diffusion lattice Boltzmann scheme
Authors: Hosseini Seyed Ali , Darabiha Nasser , Thévenin Dominique , Eshghinejadfard Amir
Published: December 2017

In many cases, multi-species and/or thermal flows involve large discrepancies between the different diffusion coefficients involved — momentum, heat and species diffusion. In the context of classical passive scalar lattice Boltzmann (LB) simulations, the scheme is quite sensitive to such discrepancies, as relaxation coefficients of the flow and passive scalar fields are tied together through their common lattice spacing and time-step size. This in turn leads to at least one relaxation coefficient, [Formula: see text] being either very close to 0.5 or much larger than unity which, in the case of the former (small relaxation coefficient), has been shown to cause instability. The present work first establishes the stability boundaries of the passive scalar LB method in the sense of von Neumann and as a result shows that the scheme is unconditionally stable, even for [Formula: see text], provided that the nondimensional velocity does not exceed a certain threshold. Effects of different parameters such as the distribution function and lattice speed of sound on the stability area are also investigated. It is found that the simulations diverge for small relaxation coefficients regardless of the nondimensional velocity. Numerical applications and a study of the dispersion–dissipation relations show that this behavior is due to numerical noise appearing at high wave numbers and caused by the inconsistent behavior of the dispersion relation along with low dissipation. This numerical noise, known as Gibbs oscillations, can be controlled using spatial filters. Considering that noise is limited to high wave numbers, local filters can be used to control it. In order to stabilize the scheme with minimal impact on the solution even for cases involving high wave number components, a local Total Variation Diminishing (TVD) filter is implemented as an additional step in the classical LB algorithm. Finally, numerical applications show that this filter eliminates the unwanted oscillations while closely reproducing the reference solution.
Packet Capture and Analysis on MEDINA, A Massively Distributed Network Data Caching Platform
Authors: Sapio Amedeo , Baldi Mario , Risso Fulvio , Anand Narendra , Nucci Antonio
Published: December 2017

Traffic capture and analysis is key to many domains including network management, security and network forensics. Traditionally, it is performed by a dedicated device accessing traffic at a specific point within the network through a link tap or a port of a node mirroring packets. This approach is problematic because the dedicated device must be equipped with a large amount of computation and storage resources to store and analyze packets. Alternatively, in order to achieve scalability, analysis can be performed by a cluster of hosts. However, this is normally located at a remote location with respect to the observation point, hence requiring to move across the network a large volume of captured traffic. To address this problem, this paper presents an algorithm to distribute the task of capturing, processing and storing packets traversing a network across multiple packet forwarding nodes (e.g., IP routers). Essentially, our solution allows individual nodes on the path of a flow to operate on subsets of packets of that flow in a completely distributed and decentralized manner. The algorithm ensures that each packet is processed by n nodes, where n can be set to 1 to minimize overhead or to a higher value to achieve redundancy. Nodes create a distributed index that enables efficient retrieval of packets they store (e.g., for forensics applications).

Finally, the basic principles of the presented solution can also be applied, with minimal changes, to the distributed execution of generic tasks on data flowing through a network of nodes with processing and storage capabilities. This has applications in various fields ranging from Fog Computing, to microservice architectures and the Internet of Things.
Rainbow Rindler metric and Unruh effect
Authors: Yadav Gaurav , Komal Baby , Majhi Bibhas Ranjan
Published: December 2017

The energy of a particle moving on a space–time, in principle, can affect the background metric. The modifications to it depend on the ratio of energy of the particle and the Planck energy, known as rainbow gravity. Here, we find the explicit expressions for the coordinate transformations from rainbow Minkowski space–time to accelerated frame. The corresponding metric is also obtained which we call as rainbow Rindler metric. So far we are aware of that no body has done it in a concrete manner. Here, this is found from the first principle and hence all the parameters are properly identified. The advantage of this is that the calculated Unruh temperature is compatible with the Hawking temperature of the rainbow black hole horizon, obtained earlier. Since the accelerated frame has several importance in revealing various properties of gravity, we believe that the present result will not only fill that gap, but also help to explore different aspects of rainbow gravity paradigm.
Knotted solutions, from electromagnetism to fluid dynamics
Authors: Alves Daniel W. F. , Hoyos Carlos , Nastase Horatiu , Sonnenschein Jacob
Published: December 2017

Knotted solutions to electromagnetism and fluid dynamics are investigated, based on relations we find between the two subjects. We can write fluid dynamics in electromagnetism language, but only on an initial surface, or for linear perturbations, and we use this map to find knotted fluid solutions, as well as new electromagnetic solutions. We find that knotted solutions of Maxwell electromagnetism are also solutions of more general nonlinear theories, like Born–Infeld, and including ones which contain quantum corrections from couplings with other modes, like Euler–Heisenberg and string theory DBI. Null configurations in electromagnetism can be described as a null pressureless fluid, and from this map we can find null fluid knotted solutions. A type of nonrelativistic reduction of the relativistic fluid equations is described, which allows us to find also solutions of the (nonrelativistic) Euler’s equations.
LP-LPA: A link influence-based label propagation algorithm for discovering community structures in networks
Authors: Berahmand Kamal , Bouyer Asgarali
Published: December 2017

Community detection is an essential approach for analyzing the structural and functional properties of complex networks. Although many community detection algorithms have been recently presented, most of them are weak and limited in different ways. Label Propagation Algorithm (LPA) is a well-known and efficient community detection technique which is characterized by the merits of nearly-linear running time and easy implementation. However, LPA has some significant problems such as instability, randomness, and monster community detection. In this paper, an algorithm, namely node’s label influence policy for label propagation algorithm (LP-LPA) was proposed for detecting efficient community structures. LP-LPA measures link strength value for edges and nodes’ label influence value for nodes in a new label propagation strategy with preference on link strength and for initial nodes selection, avoid of random behavior in tiebreak states, and efficient updating order and rule update. These procedures can sort out the randomness issue in an original LPA and stabilize the discovered communities in all runs of the same network. Experiments on synthetic networks and a wide range of real-world social networks indicated that the proposed method achieves significant accuracy and high stability. Indeed, it can obviously solve monster community problem with regard to detecting communities in networks.