bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Differentiating Sitting, Standing, and Walking Through Regional Plantar Pressure Characteristics
Authors: Merry Kohle , MacPherson Megan , Macdonald Evan , Ryan Michael , Park Edward J. , Sparrey Carolyn J.
Published: October 2019

Prolonged static weight bearing (WBR) is thought to aggravate plantar heel pain and is common in the workplace, which may put employees at greater risk of developing plantar heel pain. However, objective measures of physical activity and sedentary behaviors in the workplace are lacking, making it difficult to establish or refute the connection between work exposure and plantar heel pain. Characterizing loading patterns during common workplace postures will enhance the understanding of foot function and inform the development of new measurement tools. Plantar pressure data during periods of sitting, standing, and walking were measured in ten healthy participants using the F-Scan in-shoe measurement system (Tekscan Inc, Boston, MA). Peak and average pressure, peak and average contact area, and average pressure differential were analyzed in ten different regions of the foot. A two-way repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) assessed the posture by foot region interaction for each measurement parameter; significant effects of posture by foot region were identified for all five measurement parameters. Ten foot region by measurement parameter combinations were found to significantly differentiate all three postures simultaneously; seven used pressure measures to differentiate while three used area measures. The heel, lateral midfoot (LM), and medial and central forefoot (CFF) encompassed nine of ten areas capable of differentiating all postures simultaneously. This work demonstrates that plantar pressure is a viable means to characterize and differentiate three common workplace postures. The results of this study can inform the development of measurement tools for quantifying posture duration at work.
Analyses of Thermal Performance of Solar Power Tower Station Based on a Supercritical CO2 Brayton Cycle
Authors: Fang Lijun , Li Yang , Yang Xue , Yang Zeliang
Published: October 2019

Concentrating solar power (CSP) technology, possessing an inherent capacity to couple with energy storage ideally, attracts a great deal of attention nowadays. However, these power plants with various types of CSP system still cannot compete with the traditional thermal power plants in terms of levelized cost of electricity (LCOE), and their potential for utilizing clear and renewable solar energy cannot be overestimated. To improve the total efficiency of the solar power tower (SPT) plant is the key factor for its development. In this present paper, a SPT plant based on an S-CO2 Brayton cycle (with S-CO2 serving as heat transfer and working fluid) is proposed. A numerical simulation is carried out to calculate the effects of key operating parameters, including power cycle and subsystem parameters, on the overall performance of the SPT plant. The results show that there is an optimum value for the compression ratio for the SPT plant. For the heat receiver, the trends of exergy and thermal efficiency varying with turbine inlet temperature are reversed, because of the significant energy loss caused by high temperature of the surface of the heat receiver. As for the overall performance, the SPT plant proposed in this paper is better than other SPT plants based on a steam Rankine system and an S-CO2 Brayton system with molten salt serving as heat transfer fluid (HTF) operating under the similar condition. Its overall thermal efficiency is 1.04% and 3.42% higher than that of two other SPT plants, respectively.
Simultaneous Interpretation of Relative Permeability and Capillary Pressure for a Naturally Fractured Carbonate Formation From Wireline Formation Testing
Authors: Liu Xiangnan , Yang Daoyong , Chen Andrew
Published: October 2019

In this paper, pragmatic and robust techniques have been developed to simultaneously interpret absolute permeability and relative permeability together with capillary pressure in a naturally fractured carbonate formation from wireline formation testing (WFT) measurements. By using two sets of pressure and flow rate field data collected by a dual-packer tool, two high-resolution cylindrical near-wellbore numerical models are developed for each dataset on the basis of single- and dual-porosity concepts. Then, simulations and history matchings are performed for both the measured pressure drawdown and buildup profiles, while absolute permeability is determined and relative permeability is interpreted with and without considering capillary pressure. Compared to the experimentally measured relative permeability curves for the same formation collected from the literature, relative permeability interpreted with consideration of capillary pressure has a better match than those without considering capillary pressure. Also, relative permeability obtained from dual-porosity models has similar characteristics to those from single-porosity models especially in the region away from the endpoints, though the computational expenses with dual-porosity models are much larger. Absolute permeabilities in the vertical and the horizontal directions of the upper layer are determined to be 201.0 mD and 86.4 mD, respectively, while those of the lower layer are found to be 342.9 mD and 1.8 mD, respectively. Such a large vertical permeability of the lower layer reflects the contribution of the extensively distributed natural fractures in the vertical direction.
Telomerase promotes formation of a telomere protective complex in cancer cells
Authors: Perera Omesha N. , Sobinoff Alexander P. , Teber Erdahl T. , Harman Ashley , Maritz Michelle F. , Yang Sile F. , Pickett Hilda A. , Cesare Anthony J. , Arthur Jonathan W. , MacKenzie Karen L. , Bryan Tracy M.
Published: October 2019

The telomerase protein hTERT has a noncanonical role in promoting telomere protection by heat shock protein 70.
A deep learning virtual instrument for monitoring extreme UV solar spectral irradiance
Authors: Szenicer Alexandre , Fouhey David F. , Munoz-Jaramillo Andres , Wright Paul J. , Thomas Rajat , Galvez Richard , Jin Meng , Cheung Mark C. M.
Published: October 2019

Using deep learning, we provide a way of virtually monitoring extreme UV solar spectral irradiance.
Daily measurement of slow slip from low-frequency earthquakes is consistent with ordinary earthquake scaling
Authors: Frank William B. , Brodsky Emily E.
Published: October 2019

DailyM> 4.5 slow transients on tectonic plate boundaries are similar to fast earthquakes.
MMOD-induced structural changes of hydroxylase in soluble methane monooxygenase
Authors: Kim Hanseong , An Sojin , Park Yeo Reum , Jang Hara , Yoo Heeseon , Park Sang Ho , Lee Seung Jae , Cho Uhn-Soo
Published: October 2019

The crystal structure of the MMOH-MMOD complex illustrates the molecular mechanism by which MMOD modulates MMOH upon binding.
The feedback between selection and demography shapes genomic diversity during coevolution
Authors: Retel Cas , Kowallik Vienna , Huang Weini , Werner Benjamin , Künzel Sven , Becks Lutz , Feulner Philine G. D.
Published: October 2019

Rapid genomic changes during a coevolutionary arms race highlight the reciprocal effects of ecology and evolution.
Current status of opioid addiction treatment and related preclinical research
Authors: Kreek M. J. , Reed B. , Butelman E. R.
Published: October 2019

Two effective treatments for opioid addiction, methadone and buprenorphine-naloxone maintenance, should be widely implemented.
LEDGF and HDGF2 relieve the nucleosome-induced barrier to transcription in differentiated cells
Authors: LeRoy Gary , Oksuz Ozgur , Descostes Nicolas , Aoi Yuki , Ganai Rais A. , Kara Havva Ortabozkoyun , Yu Jia-Ray , Lee Chul-Hwan , Stafford James , Shilatifard Ali , Reinberg Danny
Published: October 2019

Chromatin-bound LEDGF and HDGF2 proteins allow RNAPII to overcome the nucleosome-induced block to transcription.
Antibody-mediated targeting of TNFR2 activates CD8
+
T cells in mice and promotes antitumor immunity
Authors: Tam Eric M. , Fulton Ross B. , Sampson James F. , Muda Marco , Camblin Adam , Richards Jennifer , Koshkaryev Alexander , Tang Jian , Kurella Vinodh , Jiao Yang , Xu Lihui , Zhang Kathy , Kohli Neeraj , Luus Lia , Hutto Elizabeth , Kumar Sandeep , Lulo James , Paragas Violette , Wong Christina , Suchy James , Grabow Stephanie , Dugast Anne-Sophie , Zhang Hong , Depis Fabien , Feau Sonia , Jakubowski Aniela , Qiao Wenlian , Craig Galina , Razlog Maja , Qiu James , Zhou Yu , Marks James D. , Croft Michael , Drummond Daryl C. , Raue Andreas
Published: October 2019

Anti-TNFR2 antibodies induce costimulation of T cells, complete tumor regression, and immune memory in mice and can be combined with anti-PD1.
Controlled-release mitochondrial protonophore (CRMP) reverses dyslipidemia and hepatic steatosis in dysmetabolic nonhuman primates
Authors: Goedeke Leigh , Peng Liang , Montalvo-Romeral Valle , Butrico Gina M. , Dufour Sylvie , Zhang Xian-Man , Perry Rachel J. , Cline Gary W. , Kievit Paul , Chng Keefe , Petersen Kitt Falk , Shulman Gerald I.
Published: October 2019

Liver-targeted mitochondrial uncoupling improves dyslipidemia and reduces hepatic triglyceride content in obese nonhuman primates.
Local Adaptation of Bacterial Symbionts within a Geographic Mosaic of Antibiotic Coevolution
Authors: Caldera Eric J. , Chevrette Marc G. , McDonald Bradon R. , Currie Cameron R.
Published: October 2019

Recently, coevolutionary theory in macroorganisms has been advanced by the geographic mosaic theory of coevolution (GMC), which considers how geography and local adaptation shape coevolutionary dynamics. Here, we test GMC in an ancient symbiosis in which the ant
Apterostigma dentigerum
cultivates fungi in an agricultural system analogous to human farming. The cultivars are parasitized by the fungus
Escovopsis
. The ants maintain symbiotic actinobacteria with antibiotic properties that help combat
Escovopsis
infection. This antibiotic symbiosis has persisted for tens of millions of years, raising the question of how antibiotic potency is maintained over these time scales. Our study tests the GMC in a bacterial defensive symbiosis and in a multipartite symbiosis framework. Our results show that this multipartite symbiotic system conforms to the GMC and demonstrate that this theory is applicable in both microbes and indirect symbiont-symbiont interactions.
The
scfCDE
Operon Encodes a Predicted ABC Importer Required for Fitness and Virulence during Group A
Streptococcus
Invasive Infection
Authors: Braza Rezia Era , Le Breton Yoann , McIver Kevin S.
Published: October 2019

As a strict human pathogen,
Streptococcus pyogenes
(group A
Streptococcus
, or GAS) causes a wide range of infections, from superficial to life-threatening diseases, upon dissemination. Thus, it is necessary to gain a better understanding of how GAS successfully overcomes host-mediated challenges and infects various host niches.
Complete Genome Sequence of Multidrug-Resistant Salmonella enterica Serovar I 4,[5],12:i:− 2015 U.S. Pork Outbreak Isolate USDA15WA-1
Authors: Bearson Bradley L. , Trachsel Julian M. , Holman Devin B. , Brunelle Brian W. , Sivasankaran Sathesh K. , Simmons Mustafa , Wasilenko Jamie , Tillman Glenn , Johnston John J. , Bearson Shawn M. D.
Published: October 2019

The genome of a multidrug-resistant (MDR)
Salmonella enterica
subsp.
enterica
serovar I 4,[5],12:i:− isolate from the 2015 U.S. pork outbreak was sequenced. The complete nucleotide sequence of USDA15WA-1 is 5,031,277 bp, including
Salmonella
genomic island 4 encoding tolerance to multiple metals and an MDR module inserted in the
fljB
region.
Draft Genome Sequence of Microbacterium sp. Gd 4-13, Isolated from Gydanskiy Peninsula Permafrost Sediments of Marine Origin
Authors: Spirina Elena V. , Kuleshov Konstantin V. , Yunusova Alfiya K. , Vishnivetskaya Tatiana A. , Rivkina Elizaveta M.
Published: October 2019

Here, we report the draft genome sequence of
Microbacterium
sp. strain Gd 4-13, isolated from late Pleistocene permafrost of marine origin located on the Gydanskiy Peninsula. Genome sequence analysis was performed to understand strain survivability mechanisms under permafrost conditions and to expand biotechnology applications.
Whole-Genome Sequencing of a
Mycobacterium orygis
Strain Isolated from Cattle in Chennai, India
Authors: Refaya Ahmed Kabir , Kumar Narender , Raj Dhinakar , Veerasamy Maroudam , Balaji Subramanyam , Shanmugam Sivakumar , Rajendran Ananthi , Tripathy Srikanth Prasad , Swaminathan Soumya , Peacock Sharon J. , Palaniyandi Kannan
Published: October 2019

Here, we report the isolation of
Mycobacterium orygis
from dairy cattle in Chennai, India. Spoligotyping assigned the isolate to spoligotype 587 (ST587), which belongs to
M. orygis
. This species was confirmed as
M. orygis
using whole-genome sequencing.
Draft Genome Sequence of Kytococcus schroeteri Strain H01, Isolated from Human Skin
Authors: Boukerb Amine M. , Robert Magalie , Teteneva Nataliya A. , Danilova Natalia D. , Zhurina Marina V. , Mart’yanov Sergey V. , Plakunov Vladimir K. , Feuilloley Marc G. J. , Gannesen Andrei V.
Published: October 2019

Kytococcus schroeteri
strain H01 was isolated from the skin of a healthy volunteer who underwent erythromycin treatment for a skin disorder 1 year prior. The draft genome consists of 2.38 Mb, a G+C content of 73.06%, and 2,221 protein coding sequences. This is the first genome characterization of a
K. schroeteri
strain isolated from human skin.
Coupled stratigraphic and U-Pb zircon age constraints on the late Paleozoic icehouse-to-greenhouse turnover in south-central Gondwana
Authors: Griffis Neil Patrick , Montañez Isabel Patricia , Mundil Roland , Richey Jon , Isbell John , Fedorchuk Nick , Linol Bastien , Iannuzzi Roberto , Vesely Fernando , Mottin Thammy , da Rosa Eduardo , Keller Brenhin , Yin Qing-Zhu
Published: October 2019

The demise of the Late Paleozoic Ice Age has been hypothesized as diachronous, occurring first in western South America and progressing eastward across Africa and culminating in Australia over an ∼60 m.y. period, suggesting tectonic forcing mechanisms that operate on time scales of 106 yr or longer. We test this diachronous deglaciation hypothesis for southwestern and south-central Gondwana with new single crystal U-Pb zircon chemical abrasion thermal ionizing mass spectrometry (CA-TIMS) ages from volcaniclastic deposits in the Paraná (Brazil) and Karoo (South Africa) Basins that span the terminal deglaciation through the early postglacial period. Intrabasinal stratigraphic correlations permitted by the new high-resolution radioisotope ages indicate that deglaciation across the S to SE Paraná Basin was synchronous, with glaciation constrained to the Carboniferous. Cross-basin correlation reveals two additional glacial-deglacial cycles in the Karoo Basin after the terminal deglaciation in the Paraná Basin. South African glaciations were penecontemporaneous (within U-Pb age uncertainties) with third-order sequence boundaries (i.e., inferred base-level falls) in the Paraná Basin. Synchroneity between early Permian glacial-deglacial events in southwestern to south-central Gondwana and pCO2 fluctuations suggest a primary CO2 control on ice thresholds. The occurrence of renewed glaciation in the Karoo Basin, after terminal deglaciation in the Paraná Basin, reflects the secondary influences of regional paleogeography, topography, and moisture sources.
Relationship betweenStreptococcus mutansexpressing Cnm in the oral cavity and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis: a pilot study
Authors: Tonomura Shuichi , Naka Shuhei , Tabata Keiko , Hara Tasuku , Mori Kojiro , Tanaka Saiyu , Sumida Yoshio , Kanemasa Kazuyuki , Nomura Ryota , Matsumoto-Nakano Michiyo , Ihara Masafumi , Takahashi Nobuyuki , Nakano Kazuhiko
Published: October 2019

Background

Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a severe state of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), which is pathologically characterised by steatosis, hepatocyte ballooning, and lobular inflammation. Host–microbial interaction has gained attention as one of the risk factors for NASH. Recently,cnm-gene positiveStreptococcus mutansexpressing cell surface collagen-binding protein, Cnm (cnm-positiveS. mutans), was shown to aggravate NASH in model mice. Here, we assessed the detection rate ofcnm-positiveS. mutansin oral samples from patients with NASH among NAFLD.

Methods

This single hospital cohort study included 41 patients with NAFLD. NASH was diagnosed histologically or by clinical score. The prevalence ofcnm-positiveS. mutans, oral hygiene and blood tests, including liver enzymes, adipocytokines and inflammatory and fibrosis markers, were assessed in biopsy-proven or clinically suspected NASH among NAFLD.

Results

Prevalence ofcnm-positiveS. mutanswas significantly higher in patients with NASH than patients without NASH (OR 3.8; 95% CI 1.02 to 15.5). Thecnm-positiveS. mutanswas related to decreased numbers of naturally remaining teeth and increased type IV collagen 7S level (median (IQR) 10.0 (5.0–17.5) vs 20.0 (5.0–25.0), p=0.06; 5.1 (4.0–7.9) vs 4.4 (3.7–5.3), p=0.13, respectively).

Conclusions

Prevalence ofcnm-positiveS. mutansin the oral cavity could be related to fibrosis of NASH among NAFLD.
Video intervention to improve incident reporting among medical trainees
Authors: Valery Jose , Helmi Haythem , Spaulding Aaron , Che Xinxuang , Prada Gabriel , Chamorro Pareja Natalia , Moreno-Franco Pablo , Stancampiano Fernando F
Published: October 2019

Introduction/objective

Improving graduate medical trainee involvement with patient safety and incident reporting is an important task in teaching hospitals that has been recognised across the country and led to numerous efforts to address barriers to incident reporting. A variety of studies have started to define the reasons why trainees are not optimally involved and interventions that may be helpful. The present study aims to add to this literature by primarily addressing barriers that can be considered ‘non-technical’ such as fears surrounding potential professional repercussions after submitting a report, perceptions that reporting incidents is not useful, and concerns about anonymity.

Methods

Barriers to incident reporting were previously analysed at our institution. A video was produced to directly target the barriers discovered. A 2-hour educational session was delivered which included the video intervention. The educational session was part of the standard patient safety curriculum at our institution. Paper surveys were used to capture changes in perceived barriers to incident reporting. Baseline and postintervention surveys were analysed for changes using t-tests and a p value of <0.05 to determine significance. Survey development included literature review, patient safety expert discussion and cognitive interviews.

Results

Perceived knowledge about the reporting process significantly improved after the intervention (t=−4.49; p<0.05). Attitudes about reporting also significantly improved with reduction in fear of negative consequences and anonymity. Perceptions of reporting being a futile activity were also diminished after the intervention.

Conclusions

This study demonstrates that targeting non-technical barriers to incident reporting with a video intervention is an effective way to improve perceived knowledge and attitude about incident reporting.
Reducing peripherally inserted central catheters and midline catheters by training nurses in ultrasound-guided peripheral intravenous catheter placement
Authors: Galen Benjamin , Baron Sarah , Young Sandra , Hall Alleyne , Berger-Spivack Linda , Southern William
Published: October 2019

Background

Training nurses in ultrasound-guided peripheral intravenous catheter placement might reduce the use of more invasive venous access devices (peripherally inserted central catheters (PICC) and midline catheters).

Methods

We implemented an abbreviated training in ultrasound-guided peripheral intravenous catheter placement for nurses on an inpatient medical unit and provided a portable ultrasound device for 10 months.

Results

Nurses on this unit placed 99 ultrasound-guided peripheral intravenous catheters with a high level of success. During the implementation period, PICC and midline catheter placement decreased from a mean 4.8 to 2.5 per month, meeting criteria for special cause variation. In the postimplementation period, the average catheter use reverted to 4.3 per month on the intervention unit. A comparison inpatient medical unit without training or access to a portable ultrasound device experienced no significant change in PICC and midline catheter use throughout the study period (mean of 6.0 per month).

Conclusions

These results suggest that an abbreviated training in ultrasound-guided peripheral intravenous catheter placement for nurses on an inpatient medical unit is sufficient to reduce PICC and midline catheters.
Effect of sample type on plasma concentrations of cell‐free DNA and nucleosomes in dogs
Authors: Goggs Robert
Published: October 2019

Cell‐free DNA (cfDNA) and nucleosomes are two biomarkers of cell death and neutrophil extracellular trap formation that are increased in dogs with sepsis, immune‐mediated haemolytic anaemia, cancer and following trauma and have diagnostic and prognostic values. cfDNA and nucleosomes are typically measured in plasma samples using DNA‐specific fluorophores and ELISA assays, respectively, but their concentrations may be affected by pre‐analytical variables such as sample type. The present study aimed to investigate the influence of sample type on the plasma cfDNA and nucleosome concentrations of a heterogeneous group of dogs presenting to an emergency room. Triplicate samples were collected into K2‐ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid, 3.2% citrate and a specialised DNA stabilisation tube (Streck BCT), processed rapidly and frozen for batch analysis. Biomarker concentrations were compared between sample types by calculation of Spearman's correlation coefficients, and with Deming regression, Bland‐Altman plots and the Friedman test. Overall, biomarker concentrations were highly correlated between the three sample types. The most concordant results were obtained using citrate samples and the DNA stabilisation tube. Matched cfDNA concentrations between the different sample types were significantly different but there was no significant difference between the nucleosome concentrations in any of the sample types. The present study suggests that cfDNA and nucleosomes can be successfully measured in various sample types, but distinct sample types do not produce interchangeable results. This argues for use of a consistent sample type within studies and suggests standardisation may be useful for the field.
Recommendations for the minimum number of laboratory tests for intact rock
Authors: Fillion Marie-Hélène , Hadjigeorgiou John
Published: October 2019

The design of mining excavations in rock requires access to a representative geotechnical model that includes the mechanical properties of the rock mass. The available geotechnical data provide the necessary input to analytical, numerical, and empirical design tools. Consequently, any geotechnical analysis is influenced by the quality of the input data. Therefore, to understand and mitigate the design risk caused by data uncertainty, it is critical to evaluate the level of confidence in the collected geotechnical data. A practical limitation of current mine design practice is the absence of quantitative guidelines to select the number of laboratory tests required. This investigation employs small-sampling theory to determine the minimum number of tests necessary to obtain predefined confidence intervals in intact rock estimates at South African mines. A key element of this work is the introduction of geotechnical domain complexity as a significant factor in establishing quantitative recommendations for the required minimum number of laboratory tests. A tangible contribution of this work is the development of an original methodology for planning laboratory testing campaigns for a new mining project or for updating the geotechnical database of operating mines. The proposed quantitative methods can eventually replace subjective assessments in addressing data collection requirements.
Chronic metformin intake improves anaerobic but not aerobic capacity in healthy rats
Authors: de Araujo Gustavo Gomes , Learsi Sara , Bastos-Silva Victor José , Ataide Terezinha , Lima-Silva Adriano Eduardo
Published: October 2019

The effect of chronic metformin intake on aerobic and anaerobic capacity was examined in healthy rats. Twenty rats completed 10 days of metformin (MET) ingestion (250 mg). After this period, the animals performed four high-intensity bouts until exhaustion at 9%, 11%, 13%, and 15% of body mass (BM) in swimming, separated by 24 h, with prior metformin (250 mg) or placebo (PL). The critical load (CL) and anaerobic work capacity (AWC – W′) were calculated and considered aerobic and anaerobic capacity, respectively. There was no difference in CL between the MET and PL groups (p > 0.05). The AWC – W′ was higher in the MET group than in the PL group (p = 0.004). Time until exhaustion (seconds) at all bouts were higher (p < 0.004) in the MET group (9% of BM = 434.5 ± 267.3, 11% of BM = 269.6 ± 214.2, 13% of BM = 174.0 ± 40.9, 15% of BM = 146.6 ± 15.9) compared to the PL group (9% of BM = 96.4 ± 22.3, 11% of BM = 65.5 ± 13.4, 13% of BM = 51.1 ± 5.5, 15% of BM = 40.8 ± 7.5). Glucose concentration was higher at 90 and 120 min than at 0 and 30 min for the MET group (intragroup) during the oral glucose test tolerance; there was no difference between the MET and PL groups for area under curve. MET ingestion enhances AWC – W′ and times to exhaustion but not aerobic capacity.
Anisotropic cosmological dynamics in f(T) gravity in the presence of a perfect fluid
Authors: Skugoreva Maria A. , Toporensky Alexey V.
Published: October 2019

We consider the cosmological evolution of a flat anisotropic Universe in f(T) gravity in the presence of a perfect fluid. It is shown that the matter content of the Universe has a significant impact of the nature of a cosmological singularity in the model studied. Depending on the parameters of the f(T) function and the equation of state of the perfect fluid in question the well-known Kasner regime of general relativity can be replaced by a new anisotropic solution, or by an isotropic regime, or the cosmological singularity changes its nature to a non-standard one with a finite values of Hubble parameters. Six possible scenarios of the cosmological evolution for the model studied have been found numerically.
Top quark mixed hybrid meson and the quark–gluon plasma
Authors: Kisslinger Leonard S. , Das Debasish
Published: October 2019

Using the method of QCD sum rules, we estimate the energy of lowest energy top quark meson state with a hybrid admixture. This new estimate uses the previous estimates of hybrid charmonium and upsilon states, but with the mass of the top quark mass being much greater than the charm and bottom quark masses. We discuss production of mixed hybrid top quark mesons and possible detection of the creation of the quark–gluon plasma via relativistic heavy ion collisions.
On the application of Lie point symmetries in cosmological theories with minisuperspace description
Authors: Paliathanasis Andronikos
Published: October 2019

We discuss the application of point transformations in cosmological studies and the application of Lie symmetries as a selection rule for the constraint of the free parameters of the theories. We show that recent published results in Brans–Dicke theory are not correct while the main motivation of that applied is not mathematically inadequate.
Comparative study of electron transfer on various graphene-metallic contacts
Authors: Lu Di , Yang Yu-E , Zhang Weichun , Wang Caixia , Fang Jining , Ma Chunlan
Published: October 2019

We have investigated Raman spectra of the G and 2D lines of a single-layer graphene (SLG) with metallic contacts. The shift of the G and 2D lines is correlated to two different factors. Before performing annealing treatment or annealing under low temperature, the electron transfer on graphene surface is dominated by nonuniform strain effect. As the annealing treatment is enhanced, however, a suitable annealing treatment can eliminate the nonuniform strain effect where the relative work function (WF) between graphene and metal becomes a main factor to determine electronic transfer. Moreover, it is confirmed that the optimized annealing treatment can also decrease effectively the structural defect and induced disorder in graphene due to metallic contacts.
Study on band gap properties of two-dimensional phononic crystals based on generalized viscoelastic modeling
Authors: Guo Fengxiang , Guo Hui , Sun Pei , Yuan Tao , Wang Yansong
Published: October 2019

Viscoelastic materials can dissipate energy and hinder propagation for plane waves, which can adjust the band structures of phononic crystals (PCs). In this study, the wave propagation in a two-dimensional PC with a viscoelastic matrix is investigated. The Maxwell model is utilized to analyze the effect of material parameters on the frequency dependence of viscoelasticity. Material parameters include the relaxation time, the initial value and the final value of the shear modulus. Band structures of viscoelastic phononic crystals (VPCs) are solved by combining the plane wave expansion method and iterative algorithm based on Bloch theory. The effects of the viscoelasticity on the band structures are studied using the single-mode and multi-mode Maxwell models. Results reveal that the viscoelasticity of the materials not only extends the band gaps but also shifts the band gaps to lower frequencies. Furthermore, the viscoelasticity simulated by the multi-mode model can precisely adjust anyone of the band gaps of VPCs separately. Results provide insights into the design and applications of VPCs.
The isometric embedding problem for length metric spaces
Authors: Minemyer Barry
Published: October 2019

We prove that every proper [Formula: see text]-dimensional length metric space admits an “approximate isometric embedding” into Lorentzian space [Formula: see text]. By an “approximate isometric embedding” we mean an embedding which preserves the energy functional on a prescribed set of geodesics connecting a dense set of points.
Primary cilia respond to intermittent low-magnitude, high-frequency vibration and mediate vibration-induced effects in osteoblasts
Authors: Li Yan-Hui , Zhu Dong , Cao Zongbing , Liu Yanwei , Sun Jian , Tan Lei
Published: October 2019

Our objective was to investigate the role of primary cilia in low-magnitude, high-frequency vibration (LMHFV) treatment of MC3T3-E1 osteoblasts (OBs). We used chloral hydrate (CH), which has a well-characterized function in chemically removing primary cilia, to elucidate the role of primary cilia in LMHFV-induced OB osteogenic responses through cell viability assay, Western blot analysis, real-time quantitative RT-PCR, and histochemical staining methods. We observed a significant, 30% decrease in the number of MC3T3-E1 OBs with primary cilia (reduced from 64.3 ± 5%) and an approximately 50% reduction in length of primary cilia (reduced from 3 ± 0.8 μm) after LMHFV stimulation. LMHFV stimulation upregulated protein expression of the bone matrix markers collagen 1 (COL-1), osteopontin (OPN), and osteoclacin(OCN) in MC3T3-E1 OBs, indicating that LMHFV induces osteogenesis. High-concentration or long-duration CH exposure resulted in inhibition of MC3T3-E1 OB survival. In addition, Western blot analysis and RT-PCR revealed that CH treatment prevented LMHFV-induced osteogenesis. Furthermore, decreased alkaline phosphate activity, reduced OB differentiation, mineralization, and maturation were observed in CH-pretreated and LMHFV-treated OBs. We showed that LMHFV induces morphological changes in primary cilia that may fine-tune their mechanosensitivity. In addition, we demonstrated the significant inhibition by CH of LMHFV-induced OB mineralization, maturation, and differentiation, which might reveal the critical role of primary cilia in the process.
Cardiomyocyte functional screening: interrogating comparative electrophysiology of high-throughput model cell systems
Authors: Wells Simon P. , Waddell Helen M. , Sim Choon Boon , Lim Shiang Y. , Bernasochi Gabriel B. , Pavlovic Davor , Kirchhof Paulus , Porrello Enzo R. , Delbridge Lea M. D. , Bell James R.
Published: October 2019

Cardiac arrhythmias of both atrial and ventricular origin are an important feature of cardiovascular disease. Novel antiarrhythmic therapies are required to overcome current drug limitations related to effectiveness and pro-arrhythmia risk in some contexts. Cardiomyocyte culture models provide a high-throughput platform for screening antiarrhythmic compounds, but comparative information about electrophysiological properties of commonly used types of cardiomyocyte preparations is lacking. Standardization of cultured cardiomyocyte microelectrode array (MEA) experimentation is required for its application as a high-throughput platform for antiarrhythmic drug development. The aim of this study was to directly compare the electrophysiological properties and responses to isoproterenol of three commonly used cardiac cultures. Neonatal rat ventricular myocytes (NRVMs), immortalized atrial HL-1 cells, and custom-generated human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CMs) were cultured on microelectrode arrays for 48–120 h. Extracellular field potentials were recorded, and conduction velocity was mapped in the presence/absence of the β-adrenoceptor agonist isoproterenol (1 µM). Field potential amplitude and conduction velocity were greatest in NRVMs and did not differ in cardiomyocytes isolated from male/female hearts. Both NRVMs and hiPSC-CMs exhibited longer field potential durations with rate dependence and were responsive to isoproterenol. In contrast, HL-1 cells exhibited slower conduction and shorter field potential durations and did not respond to 1 µM isoproterenol. This is the first study to compare the intrinsic electrophysiologic properties of cultured cardiomyocyte preparations commonly used for in vitro electrophysiology assessment. These findings offer important comparative data to inform methodological approaches in the use of MEA and other techniques relating to cardiomyocyte functional screening investigations of particular relevance to arrhythmogenesis.
A dynamic, imperturbable link between midbrain activity and saccade velocity
Authors: Seideman Joshua A.
Published: October 2019

We make a saccadic eye movement once every few hundred milliseconds; however, the neural control of saccade execution is not fully understood. Dynamic, moment-by-moment variations in saccade velocity are typically thought to be controlled by neurons in the lower, but not the upper regions of the brainstem. In a recent report, Smalianchuk et al. (Smalianchuk I, Jagadisan UK, Gandhi NJ. J Neurosci 38: 10156–10167, 2018) provided strong evidence for a role of the superior colliculus, a midbrain structure, in the instantaneous control of saccade velocity, suggesting the revision of long-standing models of oculomotor control.
Multiannual, Intensive Strength-Endurance Training Modulates the Activity of the Cardiovascular and Autonomic Nervous System among Rowers of the International Level
Authors: Kowalik Tomasz , Klawe Jacek J. , Tafil-Klawe Małgorzata , Słomko Witold , Słomko Joanna , Srokowska Anna , Lewandowski Andrzej , Zalewski Paweł
Published: October 2019

Introduction. Professional athlete training is significantly different from recreational physical activity, and sustained, repetitive exposure to over-strenuous and intensive training may result in critical changes of most systems and organs in a sportsman’s body. Aim. The assessment of the influence of multiannual strength-endurance training on the autonomic nervous system (ANS) and cardiovascular system (CVS) among the rowers of Polish national team. Materials and Methods. 20 rowers, aged 20–30, seniors of Polish national team were qualified into the study. The functional examination of ANS was conducted by means of Task Force® Monitor system. The assessed parameters included hemodynamic parameters, heart rate, and blood pressure variability and reflexes sensitivity of baroreceptors. In order to examine and compare the reaction of autonomic nervous system the subjects underwent a tilt test. Results. In the study group, significantly higher levels of sBP (129.3  ±  12.2 vs 118.3 ± 8.4, p=0.0030), SI (59.9 ± 8.8 vs 41.2 ± 6.8, p>0.001), CI (3.2 ± 0.5 vs 2.4 ± 0.4, p>0.001), and significantly lower levels of HR (54.2 ± 5.3 vs 60.1 ± 5.7, p=0.0034) and TPRI (2333.3 ± 389.9 vs 2950.2 ± 604.2, p=0.0012) compared to the control group, were found. After the tilt test the levels of HR (p=0.0005) and TPRI (p=0.0128) were significantly higher but SI (p>0.001) and CI (p=0.0006) were significantly lower in the study group compared to the control. Conclusions. Multiannual strength-endurance training connected with rowing activities substantially modulates the activity of cardiovascular and autonomic nervous system, influences the volumetric workload of the heart and structural changes, and increases the sensitivity of reflexes of arterial baroreceptors.
A Multichannel Convolutional Neural Network Architecture for the Detection of the State of Mind Using Physiological Signals from Wearable Devices
Authors: Chakraborty Sabyasachi , Aich Satyabrata , Joo Moon-il , Sain Mangal , Kim Hee-Cheol
Published: October 2019

Detection of the state of mind has increasingly grown into a much favored study in recent years. After the advent of smart wearables in the market, each individual now expects to be delivered with state-of-the-art reports about his body. The most dominant wearables in the market often focus on general metrics such as the number of steps, distance walked, heart rate, oximetry, sleep quality, and sleep stage. But, for accurately identifying the well-being of an individual, another important metric needs to be analyzed, which is the state of mind. The state of mind is a metric of an individual that boils down to the activity of all other related metrics. But, the detection of the state of mind has formed a huge challenge for the researchers as a single biosignal cannot propose a particular decision threshold for detection. Therefore, in this work, multiple biosignals from different parts of the body are used to determine the state of mind of an individual. The biosignals, blood volume pulse (BVP), and accelerometer are intercepted from a wrist-worn wearable, and electrocardiography (ECG), electromyography (EMG), and respiration are intercepted from a chest-worn pod. For the classification of the biosignals to the multiple state-of-mind categories, a multichannel convolutional neural network architecture was developed. The overall model performed pretty well and pursued some encouraging results by demonstrating an average recall and precision of 97.238% and 97.652% across all the classes, respectively.
Subthalamic Nucleus Stimulation Does Not Have Any Acute Effects on Verbal Fluency or on Speed of Word Generation in Parkinson’s Disease
Authors: Atkinson-Clement Cyril , Leimbach Friederike , Jahanshahi Marjan
Published: October 2019

Background. Deep brain stimulation of the subthalamic nucleus (STN-DBS) has been shown to be generally safe from a cognitive perspective, with consistent evidence that the major impact of STN-DBS in Parkinson’s disease (PD) is on verbal fluency. Objective. The aim of this study was first to identify the influence of acute manipulation of STN-DBS in PD on the number and time pattern of word generation on different verbal fluency (VF) tasks, phonemic, switching, and cued switching, and second to determine whether cueing improved VF and if cueing effects interacted with STN-DBS effects. Methods. Parallel versions of these three verbal fluency tasks were completed by 31 patients with Parkinson’s disease who had had bilateral DBS of the STN, twice, with DBS On and Off, with the order counterbalanced across patients. Results. There was no effect of acute STN-DBS on the total number of words generated during verbal fluency. As expected, the number of words generated significantly declined over the six 10-second intervals of the verbal fluency tasks, but this time pattern of word generation was not altered by STN-DBS. External cueing significantly increased the number of words generated relative to an uncued switching verbal fluency task, but the cueing effect on VF was not altered by STN-DBS. Conclusion. In conclusion, (i) acute STN-DBS manipulation did not alter either verbal fluency performance or the time pattern of word generation and (ii) external cueing significantly improved verbal fluency performance both with STN-DBS On and Off.
The Effects of Fiber Length and Volume on Material Properties and Crack Resistance of Basalt Fiber Reinforced Concrete (BFRC)
Authors: Wang Xinzhong , He Jun , Mosallam Ayman S. , Li Chuanxi , Xin Haohui
Published: October 2019

Basalt fiber reinforced concrete (BFRC) has been widely utilized in various constructions such as buildings, large industrial floors, and highways, due to its excellent physical and mechanical properties, as well as low production cost. In order to address the influence of basic parameters such as fiber volume fraction (0.05∼0.40%), fiber length (12∼36 mm) of BF, and compressive strength (30, 40, and 50 MPa) of concrete on both physical and mechanical properties of BFRC including compressive strength, tensile and flexural strength, workability, and anti-dry-shrinkage cracking properties, a series of standard material tests were conducted. Experimental results indicated that clumping of fibers may occur at relatively higher fiber volume fraction resulting in mixing and casting problems. Based on experimental values of mechanical properties and anti-dry-shrinkage cracking resistance of BFRC, the reasonable basalt fiber length and fiber volume fractions are identified. The addition of a small amount of short basalt fibers can result in a considerable increase in both compressive strength and modulus of rupture (MoR) of BFRC and that the proposed fiber length and content are 12.0 mm and 0.10%∼0.15%, respectively. As the length of basalt fibers increases, the development of early shrinkage cracks decreases initially and then increases slowly and the optimal fiber length is 18.0 mm. Results of the study also indicated that early shrinkage cracks decrease with the increase of fiber volume fraction, and when the volume fraction of 0.20% is used, no cracks were observed. All the findings of the present study may provide reference for the material proportion design of BFRC.
Deposition of Colloidal Particles during the Evaporation of Sessile Drops: Dilute Colloidal Dispersions
Authors: Sung Pei-Fang , Wang Lihui , Harris Michael T.
Published: October 2019

The deposition of colloidal silica particles during the evaporation of sessile drops on a smooth substrate has been modeled by the simultaneous solution of the Navier–Stokes equations, the convective-diffusive equation for particles, and the diffusion equation for evaporated vapor in the gas phase. Isothermal conditions were assumed. A mapping was created to show the conditions for various deposition patterns for very dilute suspensions. Based on values of the Peclet (Pe) number and Damkholer numbers (Da and Da−1), the effects of adsorption and desorption were discussed according to the map. Simulations were also done for suspensions with a high particle concentration to form a solid phase during the evaporation by using a packing criterion. The simulations predicted the height and width of the ring deposit near the contact line, and the results compared favorably to experimental particle deposition patterns.
Low Frequency of MKRN3 and DLK1 Variants in Chinese Children with Central Precocious Puberty
Authors: Chen Ting , Chen Linqi , Wu Haiying , Xie Rongrong , Wang Fengyun , Chen Xiuli , Sun Hui , Xiao Fei
Published: October 2019

Background. Central precocious puberty (CPP) is defined by gonadotropin-dependent development of secondary sexual characteristics before the age of 8 years in girls and 9 years in boys. MKRN3 and DLK1 are two genes, disease-causing variants of which have recently been discovered to cause idiopathic CPP. Methods. We screened 173 Chinese patients (9 males and 164 females; 9 familial and 164 sporadic) with ICPP and 43 patients (9 males and 34 females; 3 familial and 40 sporadic) with early puberty for variants in MKRN3. We also screened 19 patients with ICPP and early puberty for variants of DLK1 (17 males and 2 females; 5 familial and 14 sporadic). Results. We identified four novel missense variants of MKRN3, c.1138G > A (p.Glu380Lys), c.1420T > A (p.Leu474Met), c.673C > G (p.Leu225Val), and c.1071C > G (p.Ile357Met) in two sporadic cases and three familial cases. According to ACMG standards, two MKRN3 variant (p.Glu380Lys and p.Ile357Met) are likely pathogenic, and two others are of uncertain significance. We also performed bioinformatic analysis to evaluate the impact of variants on MKRN3 protein structures, which showed that Ile357Met locates at the zinc-binding region (C3HC4 RING finger motif), while Glu380Lys is spatially extremely close to the C3HC4 RING finger, MKRN-specific Cys-His domain, and the third C3H1 zinc-finger motif region. Per Glu380Lys, Glu with negative charges has been changed into Lys with positive charges, which may affect the hydrogen bond formation between amino acids and the stability of the local structure, thus affecting the binding of zinc iron to MKRN3 protein. Besides, we did not identify any variants of DLK1 gene in our patients. Conclusions. In this study, we report four novel MKRN3 variants in patients with ICPP. Moreover, we did not find any variants of DLK1 gene. Variants of MKRN3 are relatively uncommon in Chinese ICPP patients.
Acute Angiographic and Intermediate-Term Clinical Results of Patients with Non-Left Main Coronary Bifurcation Lesions Treated with BVS by Jailed Semi-Inflated Balloon Technique and Provisional Side-Branch Stenting Strategy
Authors: Su Chieh-Shou , Chang Keng-Hao , Lai Chih-Hung , Chen Yu-Wei , Lin Tzu-Hsiang , Pan Hung-Chih , Liu Tsun-Jui , Lee Wen-Lieng
Published: October 2019

Background. To evaluate the acute angiographic and intermediate-term clinical results of patients with non-left main (LM) coronary artery bifurcation disease (CABD) treated with BVS, as compared with those treated with DES, using the jailed semi-inflated balloon technique (JSIBT) for side branch (SB) protection and provisional stenting. Methods and Results. Sixty-eight patients with non-LM CABD who had undergone provisional one-stent implantation with SB protection by JSIBT between January 2015 and December 2017 were retrospectively enrolled. Among them, 20 patients received Absorb BVS implantation and 48 patients received DES implantation. Patients in the BVS group were younger and had higher BMI, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and hemoglobin but had lower serum creatinine and lower prevalence of prior PCI and MI. No SB balloon rupture/entrapment occurred in either group. The incidence of SB dissection/occlusion and SB in need of rewiring or stenting was rare in both groups and showed no significant difference between them. Postinterventional TIMI flow significantly increased in both groups. The intermediate-term clinical outcomes were good in terms of incidence of target lesion failure, target lesion revascularization, target vessel revascularization, myocardial infarction, and all-cause death in both groups. Conclusion. The use of JSIBT for treating CABD with modern BVS can provide SB protection as similar as those with DES, even with higher incidence of acute SB dissection/occlusion. The immediate angiographic results and acute and intermediate-term clinical outcomes were also similar in both groups. Our study results demonstrate that JSIBT might be a safe and alternative SB protection tool for BVS in patients with complex CABD.