bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Variation of SikaBond use on connection with 450 angle on flexed beam on normal concrete
Authors: Aiyub
Published: June 2019

This concrete aims to know the effect of SikaBond additive material on concrete connection. Made three types of testing of the shear strength, tensile strength and flexural strength of the connection. For flexural tests measuring 15 x 15 x 75 cm with 45° grafting angle, shear strength and tensile strength with size of 5 x 10 x 20 cm which are both bonded. The planned concrete quality of F’c 22.5 Mpa, ACI method of modifying Fas value 0.5, Slump value 93.33 mm. Strong flexure without voltage connection 34.69 Kg / cm2, beam grafting with the addition of a voltage cycles of 32.92 Kg / cm2. Voltage beam with the addition of cement water 38,41 Kg / cm2. The comparison of the shear stress test voltage of the cementless joint of the cement is 15.57 Kg / cm2, the beam which is grafted with the addition of a 12.48 Kg / cm2 voltage cyclone, decreased by 19.81% from without cement. The beam stress with the addition of cement water of 9.60 Kg / cm2 decreased by 38.34%, the cementless block. The connection with the addition of a stronger cyclone retains a shear force than the junction of water. Comparison of tensile strength test of cement tensile strength without cement connection 3.67 Kg / cm2, beam grafting with addition of 3.15 Kg / cm2 voltage SikaBond decreased 14.18% from without cement. The beam stress with the addition of 2.88 Kg / cm2 of cement water has decreased by 21.46% of the beam without cement connection. The connection with the addition of a stronger cyclone retains tensile strength than the connection with cement water at 28 days.
Edge Detection Based on Quantum Canny Enhancement for Medical Imaging
Authors: Widiyanto S. , Sundani D. , Karyanti Y. , Wardani D.T.
Published: June 2019

The cancer or object detection on image Computed Tomography, X-Ray, and Mammography often use segmentation methods. The most common segmentation method used is based on edge detection. The edge detection method which is proposed in this study is Quantum based with Canny operator. The quality improvement of edge detection results is emphasized on the method to generate the gradient magnitude value which is done by observing the strength of neighbour pixel values. The strength of this pixel is obtained by calculating the pixel change value and the distance of neighbour pixels to the centre pixel. The results of the implementation show that the proposed method produces a better PSNR value than the original Canny, Sobel, Robert, and Prewitt Operator.
Modeling System Test of English as a Foreign Language as a Web-Based Learning Media
Authors: Nasir M , Hasyimi  , Mahdi  , Amru
Published: June 2019

This modeling test is equipped by web-based and multimedia system perform to save time and cost in learning TOEFL. The purpose of this research is to design and build the TOEFL system application as a web-based learning media in TOEFLlearning and test. The research specific target is the TOEFL system that can be used as an ICT learning medium online software website for the developing of TOEFL learning. The method used is quantitative method that starts from literature study, interview, observation, data analysis, model and system design, making of the application and system testing. The simulation of Web-based TOEFL modeling has been simulated using PHP and MySQL programming languages. The conclusion of this research is a web-based TOEFL simulation as a medium of online software learning in website for the development of learning TOEFL. The random question system will be worked better if the type of questions provided more on the TOEFL simulation. On the simulation, the same participants will not get the same combination of tests on different tests. This TOEFL system capable to runsign inby user-level identification process first, so that the system access is well controlled. This application can only be accessed by users who have made the sign up process.
Web-based Application of Agricultural Management Development
Authors: Salahuddin  , Husaini  , Anwar  , Zulfan
Published: June 2019

This paper discusses the web application of the agricultural sector, especially food crops and horticulture which is one sector that drives the wheels of regional economy and the income of the people of North Aceh, Aceh Province, Indonesia. Some agricultural products and food crops that are the leading products in North Aceh Regency are peanuts, long beans, mango, lime, nutmeg and candlenut. The North Aceh regional government does not yet have a web-based application to manage superior products in the agricultural sector. The mechanism used in designing and creating web-based applications starts from designing, application coding and application testing. After testing the web application that has been built with black box and white box testing to determine the behavior and robustness of the agricultural web application. The results showed that the accuracy of agricultural web-based application reaching of 93.4%. The application of web-based agricultural management development has been running as it should for mapping superior agricultural commodities and potential agricultural locations in the North Aceh region.
The Analysis of Data Distributions Presented in The Indonesian and English College Textbooks Based on Statistical Cognition and Meanings of Data
Authors: Habibah Ummi , Idris Khairiani , Yang Kai-Lin
Published: June 2019

A statistics textbook should provide an opportunity for students to acquire skills in statistical cognition which involve statistical basic knowledge, reasoning and thinking. The meaning of data, on the other hand, is crucial for presenting the cognition. This study analyzed topic of data distributions presented in the English and Indonesian college statistics textbooks. While the Indonesian version heavily emphasizes on the basic knowledge related to procedures, the English version, variously elaborates each content with basic knowledge or reasoning. Data as numerical numbers are presented for showing procedures in both versions of textbooks. More diverse meaning of data, however, was found in the English version, including data as numbers with meaningful contexts to represent problems, and as information to be evaluated or criticized using reasoning and thinking.
Deep learning for the monitoring and process control of femtosecond laser machining
Authors: Xie Yunhui , Heath Daniel J , Grant-Jacob James A , Mackay Benita S , McDonnell Michael D T , Praeger Matthew , Eason Robert W , Mills Ben
Published: June 2019

Whilst advances in lasers now allow the processing of practically any material, further optimisation in precision and efficiency is highly desirable, in particular via the development of real-time detection and feedback systems. Here, we demonstrate the application of neural networks for system monitoring via visual observation of the work-piece during laser processing. Specifically, we show quantification of unintended laser beam modifications, namely translation and rotation, along with real-time closed-loop feedback capable of halting laser processing immediately after machining through a ∼450 nm thick copper layer. We show that this approach can detect translations in beam position that are smaller than the pixels of the camera used for observation. We also show a method of data augmentation that can be used to significantly reduce the quantity of experimental data needed for training a neural network. Unintentional beam translations and rotations are detected concurrently, hence demonstrating the feasibility for simultaneous identification of many laser machining parameters. Neural networks are an ideal solution, as they require zero understanding of the physical properties of laser machining, and instead are trained directly from experimental data.
Association Between Circadian Hemodynamic Characteristics and Target Organ Damage in Patients With Essential Hypertension
Authors: Kusunoki Hiroshi , Iwashima Yoshio , Kawano Yuhei , Hayashi Shin-ichiro , Kishida Masatsugu , Horio Takeshi , Shinmura Ken , Yoshihara Fumiki
Published: June 2019

BACKGROUND

This study investigated the association between circadian hemodynamic characteristics and asymptomatic hypertensive organ damage.

METHODS

Circadian hemodynamics, including 24-hour brachial and aortic systolic blood pressure (SBP), pulse wave velocity (PWV), augmentation index (AIx@75), cardiac index, and total vascular resistance (TVR), were evaluated using an oscillometric device, Mobil-O-Graph, in 284 essential hypertensive patients (67.8 ± 16.0 years, 54% female). Hypertensive target organ damage (TOD), namely carotid wall thickening, left ventricular hypertrophy, and albuminuria, was assessed in all patients.

RESULTS

Office SBP and 24-hour brachial and aortic SBP all increased with increasing number of organs involved (all P < 0.01 for trend). After multivariate logistic regression analysis, 24-hour brachial SBP (odds ratio [OR] = 1.04 for 1 mm Hg increase, P < 0.001) as well as aortic SBP (OR = 1.03 for 1 mm Hg increase, P < 0.05) maintained significance. Percent decrease during nighttime in brachial SBP, PWV, and TVR, but not cardiac index, showed a significant graded relationship with the number of organs involved. In a multivariate stepwise regression model, the nighttime values of brachial SBP, PWV, and TVR emerged as independent predictors of the presence of TOD.

CONCLUSION

In essential hypertension, 24-hour aortic SBP could be a marker of subclinical TOD, and further, the blunted nocturnal BP reduction in TOD patients might be mediated by disturbed circadian hemodynamic variations in aortic SBP, vascular resistance, and arterial stiffness.
Larval morphology predicts geographical dispersal range of Eastern Pacific eels
Authors: Dale Katherine E , Tinker M Timothy , Mehta Rita S
Published: June 2019

The geographical range of many marine species is strongly influenced by the dispersal potential of propagules such as eggs and larvae. Here, we investigate morphological diversity and the effect of body shape on geographical range of leptocephali, the unique, laterally compressed larvae of eels (order Anguilliformes). We used phylogenetically informed analyses to examine the morphological variation of larvae for 17 Eastern Pacific eel species from three adult habitats. We also investigated whether morphological traits of leptocephali could predict larval latitudinal range, hypothesizing that body shape may influence passive dispersal via currents. We found that no two species shared the same multivariate growth trajectories, with the size and scaling of pectoral fin length and snout-to-anus length being particularly variable. Larvae with longer relative predorsal and snout-to-anus lengths at median sizes exhibited wider larval geographical ranges. Body aspect ratio and maximum body length at metamorphosis, two traits we hypothesized to be important for passive transport, were not significant predictors of maximal larval range. We discovered an increase in phylogenetic signal over larval development as eels approach metamorphosis, potentially due to similar selective pressures between related species (such as juvenile habitat or adult morphology). Lastly, we conclude that larval body shape is probably influenced by adult habitat and adult morphology.
The biochemistry surrounding bovine conceptus elongation†
Authors: Simintiras Constantine A , Sánchez José M , McDonald Michael , Lonergan Patrick
Published: June 2019

Conceptus elongation is a fundamental developmental event coinciding with a period of significant pregnancy loss in cattle. The process has yet to be recapitulated in vitro, whereas in vivo it is directly driven by uterine secretions and indirectly influenced by systemic progesterone. To better understand the environment facilitating this critical reproductive phenomenon, we interrogated the biochemical composition of uterine luminal fluid from heifers with high vs physiological circulating progesterone on days 12–14 of the estrous cycle—the window of conceptus elongation-initiation—by high-throughput untargeted ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectroscopy. A total of 233 biochemicals were identified, clustering within 8 superpathways [amino acids (33.9%), lipids (32.2%), carbohydrates (8.6%), nucleotides (8.2%), xenobiotics (6.4%), cofactors and vitamins (5.2%), energy substrates (4.7%), and peptides (0.9%)] and spanning 66 metabolic subpathways. Lipids dominated total progesterone (39.1%) and day (57.1%) effects; however, amino acids (48.5%) and nucleotides (14.8%) accounted for most day by progesterone interactions. Corresponding pathways over-represented in response to day and progesterone include (i) methionine, cysteine, s-adenosylmethionine, and taurine (9.3%); (ii) phospholipid (7.4%); and (iii) (hypo)xanthine and inosine purine metabolism (5.6%). Moreover, under physiological conditions, the uterine lumen undergoes a metabolic shift after day 12, and progesterone supplementation increases total uterine luminal biochemical abundance at a linear rate of 0.41-fold day−1–resulting in a difference (P ≤ 0.0001) by day 14. This global metabolic analysis of uterine fluid during the initiation of conceptus elongation offers new insights into the biochemistry of maternal–embryo communication, with implications for improving ruminant fertility.
Oomycete Gene Table: an online database for comparative genomic analyses of the oomycete microorganisms
Authors: Rujirawat Thidarat , Patumcharoenpol Preecha , Kittichotirat Weerayuth , Krajaejun Theerapong
Published: June 2019

Oomycetes form a unique group of the fungal-like, aquatic, eukaryotic microorganisms. Lifestyle and pathogenicity of the oomycetes are diverse. Many pathogenic oomycetes affect a broad range of plants and cause enormous economic loss annually. Some pathogenic oomycetes cause destructive and deadly diseases in a variety of animals, including humans. No effective antimicrobial agent against the oomycetes is available. Genomic data of many oomycetes are currently available. Comparative analyses of the oomycete genomes must be performed to better understand the oomycete biology and virulence, as well as to identify conserved and biologically important proteins that are potential diagnostic and therapeutic targets of these organisms. However, a tool that facilitates comparative genomic studies of the oomycetes is lacking. Here, we described in detail the Oomycete Gene Table, which is an online user-friendly bioinformatic tool, designed to search, analyze, compare and visualize gene contents of 20 oomycetes in a customizable table. Genomic contents of other oomycete species, when available, can be added to the existing database. Some of the applications of the Oomycete Gene Table include investigations of phylogenomic relationships, as well as identifications of biologically important and pathogenesis-related genes of oomycetes. In summary, the Oomycete Gene Table is a simple and useful tool for comparative genomic analyses of oomycetes.
Nitrogen Fertilization of Host Plant Influenced the Nutritional Status and Life History of the Madeira Mealybug (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae)
Authors: Rhodes Stephanie A , Turnbull Matthew W , Chong Juang Horng
Published: June 2019

Insect herbivores, especially sap-feeders, are sensitive to host-plant nitrogen quantity. However, past studies present contradicting results on sap-feeder life history traits influenced by plant nitrogen supplementation. This study analyzed the bottom-up effects of below-recommended nitrogen fertilization rates (0, 0.021, 0.048, and 0.091 g N/liter) on life history and total protein and lipid contents of a significant pest species, Phenacoccus madeirensis Green (the Madeira mealybug) (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae). Developmental durations and survivorship from egg to adulthood of male and female mealybugs were similar across nitrogen fertilization levels. Females reared on plants fertilized at 0.021, 0.048, and 0.091 g N/liter produced, respectively, 152, 142, and 67% more eggs than females reared on unfertilized plants. Finite and intrinsic rates of increase and net reproductive rates of females were similar among the nitrogen fertilization levels, whereas the generation times of females from fertilized plants were significantly shorter than those from the unfertilized plants. Lipid contents of adult females and eggs, and average adult female protein content were similar across the nitrogen treatments. Average egg protein content increased with increasing host-plant fertilization rate. These results suggest that the response of the female Madeira mealybug to nitrogen fertilization is complex and may involve trade-offs and nutrient re-allocation.
Comparable clinical characteristics in Brugada syndrome patients harboring SCN5A or novel SCN10A variants
Authors: Monasky Michelle M , Micaglio Emanuele , Vicedomini Gabriele , Locati Emanuela T , Ciconte Giuseppe , Giannelli Luigi , Giordano Federica , Crisà Simonetta , Vecchi Mattia , Borrelli Valeria , Ghiroldi Andrea , D'Imperio Sara , Di Resta Chiara , Benedetti Sara , Ferrari Maurizio , Santinelli Vincenzo , Anastasia Luigi , Pappone Carlo
Published: June 2019

Aims

The Brugada syndrome (BrS) is an inherited disease associated with an increased risk of sudden cardiac death. Often, the genetic cause remains undetected. Perhaps due at least in part because the NaV1.8 protein is expressed more in both the central and peripheral nervous systems than in the heart, the SCN10A gene is not included in diagnostic arrhythmia/sudden death panels in the vast majority of cardiogenetics centres.

Methods and results

Clinical characteristics were assessed in patients harboring either SCN5A or novel SCN10A variants. Genetic testing was performed using Next Generation Sequencing on genomic DNA. Clinical characteristics, including the arrhythmogenic substrate, in BrS patients harboring novel SCN10A variants and SCN5A variants are comparable. Clinical characteristics, including gender, age, personal history of cardiac arrest/syncope, spontaneous BrS electrocardiogram pattern, family history of sudden death, and arrhythmic substrate are not significantly different between probands harboring SCN10A or SCN5A variants.

Conclusion

Future studies are warranted to further characterize the role of these specific SCN10A variants.
Use of Modified Reineke’s Stand Density Index in Predicting Growth and Survival of Chinese Fir Plantations
Authors: Zhang Xiongqing , Cao Quang V , Lu Lele , Wang Hanchen , Duan Aiguo , Zhang Jianguo
Published: June 2019

Stand density index (SDI) has played an important role in controlling stand stocking and modeling stand development in forest stands. Reineke’s SDI (SDI_R) is based on a constant slope of –1.605 for the self-thinning line. For Chinese fir plantations, however, it has been reported that the self-thinning slope varied with site and climate, rendering SDI_R questionable. Remeasured data from 48 plots distributed in Fujian, Jiangxi, Guangxi, and Sichuan provinces were used to develop models for prediction of stand survival and basal area, with SDI_R incorporated as a predictor variable. Also included in the evaluation were growth models based on self-thinning slopes estimated from two groups of sites (SDI_S) or from climate variables (SDI_C). Results indicated that models with climate-sensitive SDI (SDI_C) performed best, followed by SDI_S and SDI_R. The control models without SDI received the worst overall rank. Inclusion of climate-sensitive SDI in growth and survival models can therefore facilitate modeling of the relation between stand density and growth/survival under future climate-change conditions.
Subcellular Compartments Interplay for Carbon and Nitrogen Allocation in Chromera velia and Vitrella brassicaformis
Authors: Füssy Zoltán , Faitová Tereza , Oborník Miroslav
Published: June 2019

Endosymbioses necessitate functional cooperation of cellular compartments to avoid pathway redundancy and streamline the control of biological processes. To gain insight into the metabolic compartmentation in chromerids, phototrophic relatives to apicomplexan parasites, we prepared a reference set of proteins probably localized to mitochondria, cytosol, and the plastid, taking advantage of available genomic and transcriptomic data. Training of prediction algorithms with the reference set now allows a genome-wide analysis of protein localization in Chromera velia and Vitrella brassicaformis. We confirm that the chromerid plastids house enzymatic pathways needed for their maintenance and photosynthetic activity, but for carbon and nitrogen allocation, metabolite exchange is necessary with the cytosol and mitochondria. This indeed suggests that the regulatory mechanisms operate in the cytosol to control carbon metabolism based on the availability of both light and nutrients. We discuss that this arrangement is largely shared with apicomplexans and dinoflagellates, possibly stemming from a common ancestral metabolic architecture, and supports the mixotrophy of the chromerid algae.
Long-Term Intranasal Insulin Aspart: A Profile of Gene Expression, Memory, and Insulin Receptors in Aged F344 Rats
Authors: Frazier Hilaree N , Ghoweri Adam O , Sudkamp Emily , Johnson Eleanor S , Anderson Katie L , Fox Grant , Vatthanaphone Keomany , Xia Mengfan , Lin Ruei-Lung , Hargis-Staggs Kendra E , Porter Nada M , Pauly James R , Blalock Eric M , Thibault Olivier
Published: June 2019

Intranasal insulin is a safe and effective method for ameliorating memory deficits associated with pathological brain aging. However, the impact of different formulations and the duration of treatment on insulin’s efficacy and the cellular processes targeted by the treatment remain unclear. Here, we tested whether intranasal insulin aspart, a short-acting insulin formulation, could alleviate memory decline associated with aging and whether long-term treatment affected regulation of insulin receptors and other potential targets. Outcome variables included measures of spatial learning and memory, autoradiography and immunohistochemistry of the insulin receptor, and hippocampal microarray analyses. Aged Fischer 344 rats receiving long-term (3 months) intranasal insulin did not show significant memory enhancement on the Morris water maze task. Autoradiography results showed that long-term treatment reduced insulin binding in the thalamus but not the hippocampus. Results from hippocampal immunofluorescence revealed age-related decreases in insulin immunoreactivity that were partially offset by intranasal administration. Microarray analyses highlighted numerous insulin-sensitive genes, suggesting insulin aspart was able to enter the brain and alter hippocampal RNA expression patterns including those associated with tumor suppression. Our work provides insights into potential mechanisms of intranasal insulin and insulin resistance, and highlights the importance of treatment duration and the brain regions targeted.
Why does allometry evolve so slowly?
Authors: Houle David , Jones Luke T , Fortune Ryan , Sztepanacz Jacqueline L
Published: June 2019

Morphological allometry is striking due to its evolutionary conservatism, making it an example of a certain sort of evolutionary stasis. Organisms that vary in size, whether for developmental, environmental, or evolutionary reasons, adopt shapes that are predictable from that size alone. There are two major hypotheses to explain this. It may be that natural selection strongly favors each allometric pattern, or that organisms lack the development and genetic capacity to produce variant shapes for selection to act on. Using a high-throughput system for measuring the size and shape of Drosophila wings, we documented an allometric pattern that has been virtually unchanged for 40 million years. We performed an artificial selection experiment on the static allometric slope within one species. In just 26 generations, we were able to increase the slope from 1.1 to 1.4, and decrease it to 0.8. Once artificial selection was suspended, the slope rapidly evolved back to a value near the initial static slope. This result decisively rules out the hypothesis that allometry is preserved due to a lack of genetic variation, and provides evidence that natural selection acts to maintain allometric relationships. On the other hand, it seems implausible that selection on allometry in the wing alone could be sufficiently strong to maintain static allometries over millions of years. This suggests that a potential explanation for stasis is selection on a potentially large number of pleiotropic effects. This seems likely in the case of allometry, as the sizes of all parts of the body may be altered when the allometric slope of one body part is changed. Unfortunately, hypotheses about pleiotropy have been very difficult to test. We lay out an approach to begin the systematic study of pleiotropic effects using genetic manipulations and high-throughput phenotyping.
What a long, strange trip it’s been
Authors: Rice Jake
Published: June 2019

This article recounts my career path, from academic ornithologist to applied quantitative ecologist, to research and science advisor within the Canadian federal Ministry of Fisheries and Oceans. It highlights factors that prompted abrupt changes in career direction and, at each stage in progression of my career, how the diversity of experiences prior to each step were integrated in the approach to the tasks of my new position. Particular attention placed on the latter part of my career, which focused in the quality assurance, and then application, of aggregated knowledge to policy questions, particularly at the interface of the sustainable use of marine resources and conservation of biodiversity, at national and international levels. The importance of bright, supportive colleagues, and the willingness to protect science integrity from the partisan pressures of either policy makers or ardent advocates, was crucial to success in that role.
Low-frequency mosaicism in cryopyrin-associated periodic fever syndrome: mosaicism in systemic autoinflammatory diseases
Authors: Nishikomori Ryuta , Izawa Kazushi , Kambe Naotomo , Ohara Osamu , Yasumi Takahiro
Published: June 2019

Autoinflammatory disease is an ‘inborn error of immunity’, resulting in systemic inflammation. Cryopyrin-associated periodic syndrome (CAPS) is a prototypical autoinflammatory disease caused by gain-of-function mutations in the NLRP3 (NLR family pyrin domain containing 3) gene; these mutations activate the NLRP3 inflammasome, resulting in overproduction of IL-1β. The first case of CAPS caused by somatic NLRP3 mosaicism was reported in 2005 after identification of variant small peaks by Sanger sequencing. An international collaborative study revealed that the majority of mutation-negative CAPS cases are due to low-level NLRP3 mosaicism, suggesting that central nervous system involvement in somatic mosaicism patients is milder than in genotype-matched heterozygous patients. Recent advances in next-generation sequencing have expanded the number of NLRP3 somatic mosaicism cases and identified a new entity called ‘late-onset CAPS with myeloid-specific NLRP3 mosaicism’; however, no mosaic-specific clinical features have been identified/confirmed yet. With respect to NLRP3 mosaicism in CAPS, a prospective longitudinal study on the variant genotype, its allele frequency and its tissue distribution (along with a comprehensive clinical phenotype) would provide better understanding of NLRP3 mosaicism, resulting in more appropriate patient care and genetic counseling.
Late gestation supplementation of corn dried distiller’s grains plus solubles to beef cows fed a low-quality forage: III. effects on mammary gland blood flow, colostrum and milk production, and calf body weights
Authors: Kennedy Victoria C , Gaspers James J , Mordhorst Bethany R , Stokka Gerald L , Swanson Kendall C , Bauer Marc L , Vonnahme Kimberly A
Published: June 2019

Objectives were to investigate the effects of supplementation with corn dried distiller’s grains plus solubles (DDGS) to late gestating beef cows on arterial blood flow to the mammary glands during late gestation and early lactation; colostrum and milk production; dystocia and immunity; and calf BW. Cows were fed a control (CON; n = 15; 5.1% CP; 36.2% ADF) diet consisting of 90% corn stover and 10% corn silage on a dry basis offered ad libitum or CON diet with supplementation of DDGS (0.30% of BW; SUP n = 12). Mammary gland blood flow was assessed on day 245 of gestation. At parturition, maternal and calving parameters were assessed; colostrum and jugular blood was sampled; and dams were weighed. Mammary gland blood flow and milk production was measured on day 44 of lactation. Calves were weighed fortnightly for 8 wk and at weaning. Colostrum production tended to be greater in SUP dams than in CON dams (837 vs. 614 ± 95 g, P = 0.10). Calves of SUP dams were heavier at birth and 24 h (0 h, 43.2 vs. 39.8 ± 1.0 kg, P = 0.02; 24 h, 44.0 vs. 40.4 ± 1.1 kg, P = 0.02). At birth and 24 h, blood pCO2 was greater in calves born to SUP dams (6.82 vs. 6.00 ± 0.41 kPa, P = 0.04). Serum IgG did not differ (P = 0.21) at 24 h. Ipsilateral mammary gland blood flow of SUP cows was greater than CON cows (2.76 vs. 1.76 ± 0.30 L/min; P = 0.03); however, when summed with contralateral, total blood flow was similar (P = 0.33). Hemodynamic measures on day 44 of lactation were similar (P ≥ 0.32). Milk production tended to be increased (13.5 vs. 10.2 ± 1.2 kg/d, P = 0.07) in SUP vs. CON cows. Despite similar BW through 56 d, calves from SUP cows were heavier (P = 0.04) at weaning (309.7 vs. 292.0 ± 6.0 kg). In conclusion, we accept our hypothesis that DDGS supplementation during gestation influenced mammary blood flow, milk production and calf weights. These findings implicate maternal nutrition’s leverage on both nutrient and passive immunity delivery to the calf early in life as well as potential advantages on long-term performance.
Scar Quality of Skin Graft Borders: A Prospective, Randomized, Double-Blinded Evaluation
Authors: Zuo Kevin J , Umraw Nisha , Cartotto Robert
Published: June 2019

Prominent scars may remain around the border of a mature skin graft (SG) at the interface of the SG with normal skin. The border of a SG may be constructed by either exactly approximating (A) or slightly overlapping (O) the edge of the SG on the wound margin. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether A or O affects the quality of the border scar of SGs applied to burn patients. This prospective study was a within-border design in which adult burn patients requiring SGs served as their own control. Half of each study border was fashioned using O and the immediately adjacent other half was made using A. We randomly assigned O or A to the proximal or distal halves of vertical borders and the medial and lateral halves of horizontal borders. Both halves of the study border were identically fixated with staples or sutures and were managed in the same fashion postoperatively. Blinded evaluations at 3, 6, and 12 months of O and A borders were performed using the Vancouver Scar Scale (VSS), the observer component of the Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale (POSAS), and a global binary assessment of which half of the study border “looked better.” Blinded patients also rated each half of the study border with a 10-point Likert scale. Values are reported as the mean ± SD or median (interquartile range), as appropriate. There were 34 borders studied in 15 subjects (46.7% female, age 29 [22,57], % TBSA burn 9.7 ± 5.3, and no inhalation injuries). Study borders were constructed at 7 (5,11) days postburn, had a total length of 12 (9.3,14.5) cm, and all involved split thickness SGs of thickness 13 (12,14)/1000th of an inch. Sheet grafts were applied in 27% and meshed grafts in 73%. SGs were applied immediately after excision in 75% or after allografting in 25%. Border scars matured between 3 and 12 months with reductions in total VSS from 8 (7,8) to 4 (3,6) for O borders (P < .001) and from 8 (7,9) to 4 (1,6) for A borders (P < .001). However, there were no significant differences between O and A borders in total VSS at 3 months (P = .165), 6 months (P = .602), and 12 months (P = .358) or in total OSAS at 3 months (P = .681), 6 months (P = .890), or 12 months (P = .601). At 12 months, 60% of O borders and 40% of A borders were globally rated as “better” (P = .258). There were no significant differences in the patients’ subjective ratings of the O and A borders at 3 months (P = .920), 6 months (P = .960), and 12 months (P = .66). The scar quality at the border of a skin graft does not appear to be affected by the surgical technique used to construct the border at the time of grafting.
Learning More with Every Year: School Year Productivity and International Learning Divergence
Authors: Singh Abhijeet
Published: June 2019

I use unique child-level panel data from Ethiopia, India, Peru, and Vietnam, four developing countries with widely differing levels of student achievement, to study the extent to which differences in the productivity of primary schooling can explain international differences in human capital. I document, using identical tests of quantitative skills across countries, that although some cross-sectional gaps in test scores between these countries are evident at preschool ages, these grow substantially in the first 2–3 years of schooling. By the age of 8 years, differences are particularly stark between Vietnam and the other three countries. Using value-added models, and a regression-discontinuity design based on enrolment guidelines, I show that the causal effect of an extra grade of schooling on test scores is substantially higher in Vietnam by 0.25–0.4 standard deviations compared to the other countries. This differential productivity of a school year accounts for most of the cross-country achievement gap at 8 years of age. Equalizing the exposure to and the productivity of schooling closes the gap with Vietnam almost entirely for Peru and India and by ∼60% for Ethiopian students enrolled.
Evaluation of atraumatic hip instability measured by triaxial accelerometry during walking
Authors: Neira Alejandro , Amenabar Tomas , Cristi-Sánchez Iver , Rafols Claudio , Monckeberg Juan E , Belemmi Marcos , Neira Mariano , Soldan Macarena , Silvestre Rony
Published: June 2019

Hip joint instability has been targeted as an important issue that affects normal hip function. The diagnosis of hip instability could be very challenging and currently, there is no definitive diagnostic test. Hip instability results in an excessive amount of translation of femoroacetabular articulation, leading to changes on the dynamic loading of the hip. These changes in femoroacetabular translation could be evaluated by human movement analysis methods. The purpose of this study was to describe the triaxial and overall magnitude of acceleration in patients diagnosed with hip instability during gait cycle and compare those results with a control group. Our hypothesis was that acceleration values obtained from the instability group would be higher than asymptomatic controls. Ten patients with previously diagnosed hip instability were included and 10 healthy and asymptomatic subjects were enrolled as control group. Triaxial accelerometers attached bilaterally to the skin over the greater trochanter were used to record acceleration during walking on a treadmill. The overall magnitude of acceleration and the axial, anteroposterior and mediolateral accelerations (x/y/z) were obtained during gait. Mean overall magnitude of acceleration was higher in the hip instability group compared with the control group, 1.51 g (SD: 0.23) versus 1.07 g (SD: 0.16) (P = 0.022). The axial, anteroposterior and mediolateral accelerations significantly differed between the two groups. The axial and mediolateral accelerations showed to be higher for the hip instability group while the anteroposterior axis acceleration was lower.
Application of three-dimensional printing for pre-operative planning in hip preservation surgery
Authors: Bockhorn Lauren , Gardner Stephanie S , Dong David , Karmonik Christof , Elias Saba , Gwathmey F Winston , Harris Joshua D
Published: June 2019

Three-dimensional printing is a valuable modality with broad clinical applications. Hip preservation surgery outcomes are dependent on correction of morphological abnormalities that may be optimally visualized with three-dimensional models. To assess the efficacy of three-dimensional models for patient and trainee education and to determine its benefits during pre-operative planning in hip preservation surgery. Sixteen patients with hip pathology were selected. Computed tomography was utilized to generate three-dimensional models. Customized Likert-style questionnaires were given to 10 hip preservation surgeons, 11 orthopedic surgery residents and 10 patients. All residents strongly agreed or agreed that the three-dimensional hip models helped them to understand patients’ pathology. All but one patient agreed that the models assisted in their understanding of the treatment plan. Surgeons concurred that although they do not routinely order three-dimensional models, their use would improve trainee and patient education, especially when treating atypical osseous pathomorphologies. Three-dimensional models are tools that can help surgeon, trainee and patient understanding and participation in treatment of complex hip disorders. Patients and trainees agree that the prototypes enhanced their educational experience, as the surgeon can directly demonstrate complex morphological abnormalities. Trainees can therefore gain a better understanding of hip pathologies and treatment. As patients better understand their hip disorder, they can more fully participate in shared treatment decision-making.

Level of Evidence

Level IV, Retrospective Case Series
An umbrella study of biomarker-driven targeted therapy in patients with platinum-resistant recurrent ovarian cancer: a Korean Gynecologic Oncology Group study (KGOG 3045), AMBITION
Authors: Lee Jung-Yun , Yi Ju Yeon , Kim Hyun-Soo , Lim June , Kim Sunghoon , Nam Byoung Ho , Kim Hee Seung , Kim Jae Weon , Choi Chel Hun , Kim Byoung-Gie ,   on behalf of KGOG investigators
Published: June 2019

A pilot study of biomarker-driven targeted therapy in patients with platinum-resistant recurrent ovarian cancer has been started in Korea. Archival tumor samples were tested for HRD and PD-L1 status. Treatment arms will be allocated according to the test results. For HRD+ patients, we tested the synergistic effects of olaparib and other agents; treatment arms will randomly be allocated. (Arm 1: olaparib and cediranib; Arm 2: olaparib and durvalumab). For HRD- patients, we tested the role of biomarker-driven immunotherapy according to PD-L1 expression (Arm 3: durvalumab and chemotherapy in patients with high PD-L1 expression; Arm 4: durvalumab, tremelimumab, and chemotherapy in patients with low PD-L1 expression). Sixty-eight patients will be included from three Korean institutions within 1 year. The primary endpoint is the response rate according to RECIST 1.1 (6 months after treatment initiation). This trial has been registered with clinicaltrials.gov, and the registration number is NCT03699449.
Small mammal community composition varies among Ozark glades
Authors: Beasley Emily M , Maher Sean P
Published: June 2019

Island biogeography theory (IBT) explains and estimates large-scale ecological patterns among islands and isolated habitat patches. Specifically, IBT predicts that the number of species per habitat patch differs as a function of area and isolation as a result of local colonization and extinction. Accurate estimates of species richness are essential for testing predictions of IBT, but differences in detectability of species can lead to bias in empirical data. Hierarchical community models correct for imperfect detection by leveraging information from across the community to estimate species-specific occupancy and detection probabilities. Using the fragmented Ozark glades as our model system, we constructed a hierarchical community model to 1) estimate site-level and regional species richness of small mammals while correcting for detection error, and 2) determine environmental covariates driving occupancy. We sampled 16 glades in southwestern Missouri in summer 2016–2017 and quantified mammal community structure within the glade network. The detected species pool included eight species, and the model yielded a regional species estimate of 8.6 species, with a mean of 3.47 species per glade. Species richness increased with patch area but not isolation, and effects of patch shape varied between species in the community.
Intermediate-mass black hole growth and feedback in dwarf galaxies at high redshifts
Authors: Barai Paramita , de Gouveia Dal Pino Elisabete M
Published: June 2019

Intermediate-mass black holes (IMBHs; masses between $100\rm{\, and \,}10^{6} \, \mathrm{M}_{\odot }$) historically comprise of an elusive population compared to stellar-mass and supermassive black holes (BHs). Recently, IMBHs have started to be observed at the centres of low-mass galaxies. We perform cosmological hydrodynamical simulations of $(2 \, h^{-1} ~ {\rm Mpc})^3$ comoving boxes and investigate the growth and feedback of central IMBHs in dwarf galaxies (DGs). The earliest BHs appear at z ∼ 18–25 and grow thereafter by accreting gas and by merger with other BHs. We find that, starting from $10^{2} \, \mathrm{M}_{\odot }$, it is possible to build up IMBHs of a few$\times 10^{5}\!-\!10^{6} \, \mathrm{M}_{\odot }$ by z = 5, when the BHs are seeded in haloes less massive than $4 \times 10^{7} \, \mathrm{M}_{\odot }$. The BH accretion rates increase with time and reach $\dot{M}_{\rm BH} = (0.2\!-\!0.8) \dot{M}_{\rm Edd}$ for the massive IMBHs by z = 4. The star formation rate density (SFRD) evolution of the DGs (stellar mass $10^{5}\!-\!10^{8} \, \mathrm{M}_{\odot }$) has a peak plateau between z = 4 and 6. Star formation is quenched between z = 9 and 4. The SFRD is reduced by factors up to 3 when the BHs have grown to a few times $10^5 \, \mathrm{M}_{\odot }$. Even in the presence of stronger supernova (SN)-driven mass ejection, the BHs continue to grow up to z ∼ 6, sustained by gas inflows driven by galaxy mergers and interactions in a cosmological environment. Our conclusions, based on numerical simulation results, support the scenario that early feedback from IMBHs in gas-rich DGs at z = 5–8 can potentially solve several anomalies in the DG mass range within the concordance Λ cold dark matter (ΛCDM) cosmological scenario (Silk 2017). Our results suggest that IMBHs at DG centres grow faster than their host galaxies in the early Universe, and the resulting BH feedback turns the DGs and the BHs dormant.
Connecting galaxy structure and star formation: the role of environment in formation of S0 galaxies
Authors: Mishra Preetish K , Wadadekar Yogesh , Barway Sudhanshu
Published: June 2019

In this work, we investigate the reason behind the increased occurrence of S0 galaxies in high-density environments. Our sample comprises of ∼2500 spiral and ∼2000 S0 galaxies spanning a wide range of environments. Dividing the galaxies into categories of classical and pseudo-bulge hosting spiral and S0 galaxies, we have studied their properties as a function of the environment. We find that the fraction of pseudo-bulge hosting disc galaxies decreases with increase in density. The classical bulge hosting spirals and S0 galaxies follow a similar trend in less dense environments but towards higher densities, we observe an increase in the fraction of classical bulge host S0 galaxies at the expense of spirals. Comparing the structural and the star formation properties of galaxies on the size–mass and NUV − r colour–mass planes, respectively, we infer that classical bulge hosting spirals are likely to get transformed into S0 morphology. We notice a trend of galaxy structure with environment such that the fraction of classical bulge hosting spiral galaxies is found to increase with environment density. We also find that among classical bulge hosting spirals, the fraction of quenched galaxies increases in denser environments. We surmise that the existence of more classical bulge hosting spirals galaxies and more efficient quenching leads to the observed increased occurrence of S0 galaxies in high-density environments. The relation between galaxy structure and environment also exists for the disc galaxies irrespective of their visual morphology, which is driven mainly by halo mass.
Recombination-Aware Phylogenomics Reveals the Structured Genomic Landscape of Hybridizing Cat Species
Authors: Li Gang , Figueiró Henrique V , Eizirik Eduardo , Murphy William J
Published: June 2019

Current phylogenomic approaches implicitly assume that the predominant phylogenetic signal within a genome reflects the true evolutionary history of organisms, without assessing the confounding effects of postspeciation gene flow that can produce a mosaic of phylogenetic signals that interact with recombinational variation. Here, we tested the validity of this assumption with a phylogenomic analysis of 27 species of the cat family, assessing local effects of recombination rate on species tree inference and divergence time estimation across their genomes. We found that the prevailing phylogenetic signal within the autosomes is not always representative of the most probable speciation history, due to ancient hybridization throughout felid evolution. Instead, phylogenetic signal was concentrated within regions of low recombination, and notably enriched within large X chromosome recombination cold spots that exhibited recurrent patterns of strong genetic differentiation and selective sweeps across mammalian orders. By contrast, regions of high recombination were enriched for signatures of ancient gene flow, and these sequences inflated crown-lineage divergence times by ∼40%. We conclude that existing phylogenomic approaches to infer the Tree of Life may be highly misleading without considering the genomic architecture of phylogenetic signal relative to recombination rate and its interplay with historical hybridization.
GITRL-armed Delta-24-RGD oncolytic adenovirus prolongs survival and induces anti-glioma immune memory
Authors: Rivera-Molina Yisel , Jiang Hong , Fueyo Juan , Nguyen Teresa , Shin Dong Ho , Youssef Gilbert , Fan Xuejun , Gumin Joy , Alonso Marta M , Phadnis Sheetal , Lang Frederick F , Gomez-Manzano Candelaria
Published: June 2019

Background

Viroimmunotherapy is evolving as a strong alternative for the standard treatment of malignant gliomas. Promising results from a recent clinical trial testing the anticancer effect of Delta-24-RGD in patients with glioblastoma suggested the induction of antitumoral immunity after viral administration. To further enhance the anti-glioma immune effect, we have armed Delta-24-RGD with the costimulatory ligand GITRL (Delta-24-GREAT [Glucocorticoid Receptor Enhanced Activity of T cells]).

Methods

We tested the infectivity and replication of Delta-24-GREAT, and the expression of ectopic GITRL in human and murine glioma cell lines. In vivo experiments involved the intracranial implantation of glioma cells into an immunocompetent model to study the anticancer effect, and rechallenging experiments to study long-term protection. Phenotypic and functional characterization of lymphocyte populations were performed by FACS and ELISA for Th1 cytokines expression, respectively.

Results

Our results showed that Delta-24-GREAT infects and induces the expression of GITRL. Delta-24-GREAT prolonged the survival of glioma-bearing immunocompetent mice and resulted in both anti-viral and anti-glioma immune responses, including increased frequency of central memory CD8+ T cells. Rechallenging the surviving mice with a second implantation of glioma cells did not lead to tumor growth; however, the surviving mice developed lethal tumors when B16/F10 melanoma cells were implanted intracranially, strongly indicating that the immune response was specific for glioma antigens.

Conclusions

GITRL-armed Delta-24-RGD treatment results in an antigen-restricted antitumor memory, an enhanced anti-glioma effect, and the generation of central immune memory. Our results strongly indicate that this strategy represents a vertical advance in virotherapy designed to treat patients with malignant brain tumors.