bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Biological properties of influenza A virus mutants with amino acid substitutions in the HA2 glycoprotein of the HA1/HA2 interaction region
Authors: Jakubcová L. , Vozárová M. , Hollý J. , Tomčíková K. , Fogelová M. , Polčicová K. , Kostolanský F. , Fodor E. , Varečková E.
Published: July 2019

Influenza A viruses (IAVs) enter into cells by receptor-dependent endocytosis. Subsequently, conformational changes of haemagglutinin are triggered by low environmental pH and the N terminus of HA2 glycoprotein (gp) is inserted into the endosomal membrane, resulting in fusion pore formation and genomic vRNA release into the cytoplasm. However, the pH optimum of membrane fusion is host- and virus-specific and can have an impact on virus pathogenicity. We prepared mutants of neurotropic IAV A/WSN/33 (H1N1) with aa substitutions in HA2 gp at the site of HA1/HA2 interaction, namely T642H (HA2 numbering position 64, H1 numbering position HA407; referred to as mutant '64'), V662H ('66') (HA409); and a double mutant ('D') with two aa substitutions (T642H, V662H). These substitutions were hypothesized to influence the pH optimum of fusion. The pH optimum of fusion activity was measured by a luciferase assay and biological properties of viruses were monitored. The in vitro and in vivo replication ability and pathogenicity of mutants were comparable (64) or lower (66, D) than those of the wild-type virus. However, the HA2 mutation V662H and double mutation T642H, V662H shifted the fusion pH maximum to lower values (ranging from 5.1 to 5.3) compared to pH from 5.4 to 5.6 for the wild-type and 64 mutant. The decreased replication ability and pathogenicity of 66 and D mutants was accompanied by higher titres in late intervals post-infection in lungs, and viral RNA in brains compared to wild-type virus-infected mice. These results have implications for understanding the pathogenicity of influenza viruses.
Connecting metapopulation heterogeneity to aggregated lifetime statistics
Authors: Colombo E. H.
Published: July 2019

Aggregated metapopulation lifetime statistics has been used to access stylized facts that might help identify the underlying patch-level dynamics. For instance, the emergence of scaling laws in the aggregated probability distribution of patch lifetimes can be associated to critical phenomena, in which the correlation length among system units tends to diverge. Nevertheless, an aggregated approach is biased by patch-level variability, a fact that can blur the interpretation of the data. Here, I propose a weakly-coupled metapopulation model to show how patch variability can solely trigger qualitatively different lifetime probability distribution at the aggregated level. In a generalized approach, I obtain a two-way connection between the variability of a certain patch property (e.g. carrying capacity, environment condition or connectivity) and the aggregated lifetime probability distribution. Furthermore, for a particular case, assuming that scaling laws are observed at the aggregated-level, I speculate the heterogeneity that could be behind it, relating the qualitative features the variability (mean, variance and concentration) to the scaling exponents. In this perspective, the application points to the possibility of equivalence between heterogeneous weakly-coupled metapopulations and homogeneous ones that exhibit critical behavior.
Evidence that APP gene copy number changes reflect recombinant vector contamination
Authors: Kim Junho , Zhao Boxun , Huang August Yue , Miller Michael B. , Lodato Michael A. , Walsh Christopher A. , Lee Eunjung Alice
Published: July 2019

Mutations that occur in cells of the body, called somatic mutations, cause human diseases including cancer and some neurological disorders1. In a recent study published in Nature, Lee et al.2 (hereafter “the Lee study”) reported somatic copy number gains of the APP gene, a known risk locus of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), in the neurons of AD-patients and controls (69% vs 25% of neurons with at least one APP copy gain on average). The authors argue that the mechanism of these copy number gains was somatic integration of APP mRNA into the genome, creating what they called genomic cDNA (gencDNA). We reanalyzed the data from the Lee study, revealing evidence that APP gencDNA originates mainly from contamination by exogenous APP recombinant vectors, rather from true somatic retrotransposition of endogenous APP. Our reanalysis of two recent whole exome sequencing (WES) datasets—one by the authors of the Lee study3 and the other by Park et al.4—revealed that reads claimed to support APP gencDNA in AD samples resulted from contamination by PCR products and mRNA, respectively. Lastly, we present our own single-cell whole genome sequencing (scWGS) data that show no evidence for somatic APP retrotransposition in AD neurons or in neurons from normal individuals of various ages.
Putative protective neural mechanisms in pre-readers with a family history of dyslexia who subsequently develop typical reading skills
Authors: Yu Xi , Zuk Jennifer , Perdue Meaghan V. , Ozernov-Palchik Ola , Raney Talia , Beach Sara D. , Norton Elizabeth S. , Ou Yangming , Gabrieli John D. E. , Gaab Nadine
Published: July 2019

Developmental dyslexia is a learning disability characterized by difficulties in word reading. While the prevalence in the general public is around 10-12%, an increased prevalence of 40-60% has been reported for children with a familial risk. Neural atypicalities in the reading network have been observed in children with (FHD+) compared to without (FHD-) a family history of dyslexia, even before reading onset. Despite the hereditary risk, about half of FHD+ children develop typical reading abilities (FHD+Typical) but the underlying neural characteristics and the developmental trajectories of these favorable reading outcomes remain unknown. Utilizing a retrospective, longitudinal approach, this is the first study to examine whether potential protective neural mechanisms are present before reading onset in FHD+Typical. Functional and structural brain characteristics were examined in 69 pre-readers who subsequently developed typical reading abilities (35 FHD+Typical/34 FHD-Typical) using MRI/fMRI. Searchlight-based multivariate pattern analyses identified distinct activation patterns during phonological processing between FHD+Typical and FHD-Typical in right inferior frontal (RIFG) and left temporo-parietal (LTPC) regions. Hypoactivation in LTPC was further demonstrated in FHD+Typical compared to FHD-Typical, suggesting that this previously reported neural characteristic of dyslexia is primarily associated with familial risk. Importantly, FHD+Typical pre-readers exhibited higher activation in RIFG than FHD-Typical, which was associated with increased interhemispheric functional and structural connectivity. These results suggest that putative protective neural mechanisms are already established in FHD+Typical pre-readers and may therefore support their successful reading development. Further studies are needed to investigate the functional significance and developmental trajectories of these neural mechanisms as well as their enabling factors, which has the potential to inform the design of early preventative/remediation strategies.
Movement and performance predict widespread cortical activity in a visual detection task
Authors: Salkoff David B. , Zagha Edward , McCarthy Erin , McCormick David A.
Published: July 2019

Recent studies in mice reveal widespread cortical signals during task performance, however the various task-related and task-independent processes underlying this activity are incompletely understood. Here we recorded wide-field neural activity, as revealed by GCaMP6s, from dorsal cortex while simultaneously monitoring orofacial movements, walking, and arousal (pupil diameter) of head-fixed mice performing a Go/NoGo visual detection task and examined the ability of task performance and spontaneous or task-related movements to predict cortical activity. A linear model was able to explain a significant fraction (33-55% of variance) of widefield dorsal cortical activity, with the largest factors being movements (facial, walk, eye), response choice (hit, miss, false alarm), and arousal, and indicate that a significant fraction of trial-to-trial variability arises from both spontaneous and task-related changes in state (e.g. movements, arousal). Importantly, secondary motor cortex was highly correlated with lick rate, critical for optimal task performance (high d’), and was the first region to significantly predict the lick response on target trials. These findings suggest that secondary motor cortex is critically involved in the decision and performance of learned movements and indicate that a significant fraction of trial-to-trial variation in cortical activity results from spontaneous and task-related movements and variations in behavioral/arousal state.
Restoring Function After Severe Spinal Cord Injury Through Bioluminescence-Driven Optogenetics
Authors: Petersen Eric D. , Sharkey Erik D. , Pal Akash , Shafau Lateef O. , Zenchak Jessica R. , Peña Alex J. , Aggarwal Anu , Prakash Mansi , Hochgeschwender Ute
Published: July 2019

The ability to manipulate specific neuronal populations of the spinal cord following spinal cord injury (SCI) could prove highly beneficial for rehabilitation in patients through maintaining and strengthening still existing neuronal connections and/or facilitating the formation of new connections. A non-invasive and highly specific approach to neuronal stimulation is bioluminescent-optogenetics (BL-OG), where genetically expressed light emitting luciferases are tethered to light sensitive channelrhodopsins (luminopsins, LMO); neurons are activated by the addition of the luciferase substrate coelenterazine (CTZ). This approach utilizes ion channels for current conduction while activating the channels through application of a small chemical compound, thus allowing non-invasive stimulation and recruitment of all targeted neurons. Rats were transduced in the lumbar spinal cord with AAV2/9 to express the excitatory LMO3 under control of a pan-neuronal or motor neuron-specific promoter. A day after contusion injury of the thoracic spine, rats received either CTZ or vehicle every other day for 2 weeks. Activation of either interneuron or motor neuron populations below the level of injury significantly improved locomotor recovery lasting beyond the time of stimulation. Utilizing histological and gene expression methods we identified neuronal plasticity as a likely mechanism underlying the functional recovery. These findings provide a foundation for a rational approach to spinal cord injury rehabilitation, thereby advancing approaches for functional recovery after SCI.
Intercostal Space Prediction Using Deep Learning In Fully Endoscopic Mitral Valve Surgery
Authors: Margaryan Rafik , Latta Daniele Della , Bianchi Giacomo , Martini Nicola , Santini Gianmarco , Chiappino Dante , Solinas Marco
Published: July 2019

Objective

About 10 million people in Europe suffer from mitral valve incompetence. Majority of these entity is mitral valve prolapse in developed countries. Endoscopic mitral valve surgery is a relatively new procedure and preparation in the right intercostal space are crucial for success completion of the procedure. We aimed to explore clinical variables and chest X-rays in order to build most performant model that can predict the right intercostal space for thoracotomy.

Methods

Overall 234 patients underwent fully endoscopic mitral valve surgery. All patients had preoperative two projection radiography. Intercostal space for right thoracotomy was decided by expert cardiac surgeons taking in consideration the height, weight, chest radiography, anatomical position of skin incision, nipple position and the sex. In order to predict the right intercostal space we have used clinical data and we have collected all radiographies and feed it to deep neural network algorithm. We have spitted the whole data-set into two subsets: training and testing data-sets. We have used clinical data and build an algorithm (Random Forest) in order to have reference model.

Results

The best-performing classifier was GoogLeNet neural network (now on we will reffera as Deep Learning) and had an AUC of 0.956. Algorithm based on clinical data (Random Forest) had AUC of 0.529 using only chest x-rays. The deep leaning algorithm predicted correctly in all cases the correct intercostal space on the training datasest except two ladies (96.08% ; with sensitivity of 97.06% and specificity 94.12 %, where the Random Forest was capable to predict right intercostal space in 60.78% cases with sensitivity of 93.33% and specificity 14.29 % (only clinical data).

Conclusion

Artificial intelligence can be helpful to program the minimally invasive cardiac operation, for right intercostal space selection for thoracotomy, especially in non optimal thoraxes (example, obese short ladies). It learned from the standard imaging (thorax x-ray) which is easy, do routinely to every patient.
Prevalence and Risk Factors Associated to Non-Communicable Diseases in Khartoum State
Authors: Aabdin Sayed Samah Mohamed , Aabdin Ayman Mohamed , Alshykh Abo-Shanab Mohammed Altyb , Noma Mounkaila
Published: July 2019

Introduction

Non-communicable diseases are multifactorial including genetic, physiological, environmental behavioral factors. Our research aimed to determine the prevalence and risk factors associated with Non-communicable diseases in two administrative units of Khartoum State.

Methods

A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in two administrative units of Khartoum State on a sample of 132 participants selected through multi-stage sampling technique. Firstly, a stratified random sampling technique was used to select Alshohada/Soba out of the six administrative units of Khartoum locality (mode of living was urban). In Jabaal Awliya locality of four administrative units, Al Jabal (with urban and rural mode of living) was selected. At second level, 50 households were selected in each of the two administrative units through the geographical information system to obtain a representative spatial distribution of households in each of the administrative areas. At third level, in each of the household selected participants experiencing at least one NCD were included in the study after obtaining his/her verbal well informed consent. The data collected were computerized through Epi Info 7 and analyzed through SPSS 23. The data were firstly summarized numerically and graphically. Association among variables were determined through chi-square tests and ANOVA. A multi-logistic regression was conducted to estimate the risk factors associated to NCDs. All statistical tests were considered significant when p < 0.05.

Results

Our findings revealed that NCDs prevailed with an overall prevalence of 24/100,000 population. Of the fifteen risk factors associated to NCDs in the two administrative units, seven were statistically associated (p < 0.05) to NCDs.

Discussion

In our research the risk factors statistically associated with NCDs were age and gender of the participants, their profession, educational level, physical activities, follow-up visits and having meals outside home. In conclusion NCDs were public health priorities with particular attention to diabetes and hypertension to avoid premature deaths.
New attempt to combine scanning electron microscopy and small-angle scattering in reciprocal space
Authors: Koizumi Satoshi , Ueda Satoru , Nishikawa Yukihiro , Terao Takeshi , Kubo Norio
Published: July 2019

An attempt has been made to combine small-angle scattering of X-rays or neutrons with scanning electron microscopy in reciprocal space, in order to establish a structural analysis method covering a wide range of sizes from micro- to macro-scales. A system with a binary contrast, in which scattering objects with a homogeneous density are dispersed in vacuum (or air), is considered. A topological surface image, detected by secondary electron emission, is converted by means of a Fourier transform into a two-dimensional scattering amplitude in reciprocal space. The method was first tested by studying a dilute system of monodisperse SiO2particles, with respect to calibrations for brightness inversion, noise reduction and two-dimensional Fourier transform, to obtain a scattering amplitude that agrees well with the analytical amplitude for a spherical particle. Secondly, the microstructure of a carbon-supported Pt catalyst for polymer electrolyte fuel cell applications was examined with the combined method, covering length scales from 10 µm down to nanometres. After two-dimensional Fourier transformation, the secondary electron emission images with low magnification are able to overcome the limitation of the minimum wavenumber (qmin) detectable by ultra-small-angle scattering.
Simulation of revised nanofluid model in the stagnation region of cross fluid by expanding-contracting cylinder
Authors: Waqas Muhammad
Published: July 2019

Purpose

This paper aims to address stagnation point flow of cross nanofluid in frames of hydromagnetics. Flow analysis subjected to expanding-contracting cylinder is studied.

Design/methodology/approach

Nonlinear problems are computed by using bvp4c procedure.

Findings

Radius of curvature and temperature-dependent heat sink-source significantly affects heat-mass transport mechanisms for cylindrical surface.

Originality/value

No such analysis has yet been reported.
Torque control based direct teaching for industrial robot considering temperature-load effects on joint friction
Authors: Gao Liming , Yuan Jianjun , Qian Yingjie
Published: July 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to design a practical direct teaching method for the industrial robot with large friction resistance and gravity torque but without expensive force/torque sensor, where the gravity torque is just a function of joints position, whereas the friction is closely associated with joint velocity, temperature and load.

Design/methodology/approach

In the teaching method, the output torque of joint motor is controlled through current to compensate gravity torque completely and friction resistance incompletely. Three variables closely associated with friction are investigated separately by experiment and theoretical analysis, and then a comprehensive friction model which is used to calculate the required compensated friction torque is proposed. Finally, a SIASUN 7 degrees of freedom robot was used to verify the model and the method.

Findings

Experimental results demonstrated that the teaching method enables an operator to teach the robot in joint space by applying small force and torque on either end-effector or its body. The friction investigation suggests that the velocity and temperature have a strong nonlinear influence on viscous friction, whereas load torque significantly influences the Coulomb friction linearly and causes a slight Stribeck effect.

Originality/value

The main contribution includes the following: a practical joint space direct teaching method for a common industrial robot is developed, and a friction model capturing velocity, temperature and load for robot joints equipped with commercialized motors and harmonic drives is proposed.
Multimarket competition and innovation in industrial markets: Spain and Colombia in comparative perspective
Authors: Cabanelas Pablo , Manfredi Luciana C. , González-Sánchez Juan M. , Lampón Jesús F.
Published: July 2019

Purpose

Multimarket competition is an area of competitive dynamics focused on studying situations where firms compete against each other simultaneously in more than one market. The intensity of competition depends on the aggressiveness and the market contingencies, influencing the competitive strategies. Particularly, the purpose of this paper is to explore the influence of multimarket competition and market contingencies on innovation.

Design/methodology/approach

An exploratory qualitative approach using the Grounded Theory is applied with conceptual purposes. The data were collected through in-depth semi-structured interviews and additional observations with senior strategies and decision-makers. The paper follows an extensive narrative to understand decision-taking processes on competitive strategy with the support of analytical software. The paper was performed in the automotive components industry making seats in two different countries to acknowledge the influence of market contingencies.

Findings

The results suggest that multimarket competition does not reduce the level of aggressiveness, but it offers a background that favors opportunities for companies and new business in circumstances of crisis associated to innovation. Depending on the market contingencies, strategies can foster a higher technological innovation, in those cases of high development in the industry, or diversification, when the development is lower.

Originality/value

This paper contributes to enrich multimarket competition theory with the study of innovation strategies in different market conditions, a topic not much explored in multimarket literature. Additionally, it suggests implications for managers attending to different market contingencies.
The macroeconomic drivers of stock market development: evidence from Hong Kong
Authors: Ho Sin-Yu , Odhiambo Nicholas M.
Published: July 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the macroeconomic drivers of stock market development in Hong Kong during the period 1992Q4-2016Q3. Specifically, it investigates the impact of banking sector development, economic growth, inflation rate, exchange rate, trade openness and stock market liquidity on stock market development.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper uses quarterly time-series data covering the period 1992Q4-2016Q3, which have been obtained from various reliable sources. The study uses the autoregressive distributed lag bounds testing procedure to identify both the long- and short-run macroeconomic drivers of stock market development in Hong Kong.

Findings

We find that banking sector development and economic growth have positive impacts on stock market development, whereas the inflation rate and the exchange rate have negative impacts on stock market development both in the long and short run. In addition, the results show that trade openness has a positive long-run impact but a negative short-run impact on stock market development.

Originality/value

Despite the phenomenal growth of stock market in Hong Kong, there are, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, no relevant studies on the macroeconomic drivers of stock market development in Hong Kong. Therefore, this paper endeavours to enrich the literature by examining the macroeconomic drivers of stock market development in Hong Kong during the period 1992Q4-2016Q3.
State of art review on sustainable additive manufacturing
Authors: Agrawal Rohit , S. Vinodh
Published: July 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to report the state of art review on sustainable additive manufacturing (AM).

Design/methodology/approach

AM processes are becoming environmentally conscious and sustainable. In total, 63 papers are being collected from peer-reviewed journal sources. The review is presented on triple bottom line sustainable aspects, namely, environment, economy and society.

Findings

In the environmental dimension, papers on energy consumption, design optimization and life cycle assessment aspects are being collected and presented. The key inferences and insights are being derived from the mentioned perspectives and a framework for sustainable AM is proposed.

Research limitations/implications

The review is limited to journal articles from the study on sustainable AM. Book chapters are being excluded.

Practical implications

The study also discussed various perspectives of sustainable AM and provided insights on sustainable AM to practitioners.

Originality/value

Systematic review on sustainable additive manufacturing is the original contribution of the authors.
Urban areas affect flight altitudes of nocturnally migrating birds
Authors: Cabrera‐Cruz Sergio A. , Smolinsky Jaclyn A. , McCarthy Kyle P. , Buler Jeffrey J.
Published: July 2019

Urban areas affect terrestrial ecological processes and local weather, but we know little about their effect on aerial ecological processes.

Here, we identify urban from non‐urban areas based on the intensity of artificial light at night (ALAN) in the landscape, and, along with weather covariates, evaluate the effect of urbanization on flight altitudes of nocturnally migrating birds.

Birds are attracted to ALAN; hence, we predicted that altitudes would be lower over urban than over non‐urban areas. However, other factors associated with urbanization may also affect flight altitudes. For example, surface temperature and terrain roughness are higher in urban areas, increasing air turbulence and height of the boundary layer, and affecting local winds.

We used data from nine weather surveillance radars in the eastern United States to estimate altitudes at five quantiles of the vertical distribution of birds migrating at night over urban and non‐urban areas during five consecutive spring and autumn migration seasons. We fit Generalized Linear Mixed Models by season for each of the five quantiles of bird flight altitude and their differences between urban and non‐urban areas.

After controlling for other environmental variables and contrary to our prediction, we found that birds generally fly higher over urban areas compared to rural areas in spring, and marginally higher at the mid‐layers of the vertical distribution in autumn. We also identified a small interaction effect between urbanization and crosswind speed, and between urbanization and surface air temperature, on flight altitudes. We also found that the difference in flight altitudes of nocturnally migrating birds between urban and non‐urban areas varied among radars and seasons, but was consistently higher over urban areas throughout the years sampled.

Our results suggest that the effects of urbanization on wildlife extend into the aerosphere and are complex, stressing the need of understanding the influence of anthropogenic factors on airspace habitat.
The impact of individual inaccuracy of reciprocal herkogamy on legitimate pollen deposition and seed set in a distylous self‐incompatible herb
Authors: Brys Rein , Jacquemyn Hans
Published: July 2019

Heterostyly is a floral polymorphism that has been observed in at least 28 different plant families across the globe. Heterostyly is characterized by reciprocal arrangement of the anthers and stigmas and the presence of a heteromorphic self‐incompatibility system, which together have been hypothesized to promote cross pollination and to avoid interference of self‐pollen and the deleterious effects of inbreeding.

Recent analyses have shown that the reciprocal positioning of the sexual organs in heterostylous plant species is not always perfect. Inaccuracies in the positioning of styles and anthers within populations are expected to affect both male and female fitness of plants by disturbing pollen uptake and stigmatic deposition by insects. However, at present, little is known about how inaccuracies in the reciprocal positioning of the sexual organs affect stigmatic pollen deposition and subsequent seed set in heterostylous plant species.

In this study, we quantified the level of reciprocity in a grassland and forest population of the distylous herb Primula veris and tested the hypothesis that inaccuracies in the positioning of the sexual organs were related to stigmatic deposition of pollen by insects and ultimately seed set in the field.

Total inaccuracy in reciprocal positioning of the sexual organs was about four times larger in the forest population than in the grassland population (20.67 and 5.47 respectively). Individual inaccuracies in stigma positioning varied between 0.02 and 67.93 (L‐morph) and 0.03 and 45.34 (S‐morph) in the forest population, and between 0.00 and 13.19 (L‐morph) and 0.00 and 26.15 (S‐morph) in the grassland population.

Legitimate pollen deposition decreased significantly with increasing inaccuracy, both in the grassland and forest population, but effects were most pronounced in the forest population. In both populations, short‐styled individuals suffered larger reductions in legitimate pollen deposition with increasing inaccuracies than long‐styled individuals. Seed set was significantly and positively affected by the number of legitimate pollen and decreased significantly with increasing inaccuracy, especially in the forest population where inaccuracies were most pronounced.

Synthesis. Overall, these results indicate that deviations from perfect reciprocity significantly affect the reproductive success of heterostylous plants by diminishing legitimate stigmatic pollen deposition and concurrently reducing seed set. As a result of their lower fitness, maladaptive genotypes should be selected against in natural populations, leading to the maintenance of floral polymorphisms in general and the heterostylous syndrome in particular.
The anticholinergic drug oxybutynin inhibits voltage‐dependent K+ channels in coronary arterial smooth muscle cells
Authors: Li Hongliang , Seo Mi Seon , An Jin Ryeol , Jung Hee Seok , Ha Kwon‐Soo , Han Eun‐Taek , Hong Seok‐Ho , Bae Young Min , Ryu Dong Ryeol , Park Won Sun
Published: July 2019

This study demonstrates the inhibitory effect of anticholinergic drug oxybutynin on voltage‐dependent K+ (Kv) channels in rabbit coronary arterial smooth muscle cells. Oxybutynin inhibited vascular Kv channels in a concentration‐dependent manner, with an IC50 value of 11.51 ± 0.38 μmol/L and a Hill coefficient (n) of 2.25 ± 0.12. Application of oxybutynin shifted the activation curve to the right and the inactivation curve to the left. Pretreatment with the Kv1.5 subtype inhibitor DPO‐1 and the Kv2.1 subtype inhibitor guangxitoxin suppressed the oxybutynin‐induced inhibition of the Kv current. However, application of the Kv7 subtype inhibitor linopirdine did not affect the inhibition by oxybutynin of the Kv current. The anticholinergic drug atropine did not inhibit the Kv current nor influence oxybutynin‐induced inhibition of the Kv current. From these results, we concluded that oxybutynin inhibited the vascular Kv current in a concentration‐dependent manner by influencing the steady‐state activation and inactivation curves independent of its anticholinergic effect.
When Boards Matter: The Case of Corporate Social Irresponsibility
Authors: Jain Tanusree , Zaman Rashid
Published: July 2019

While academic research has made remarkable progress in understanding corporate social responsibility (CSR), we have scant understanding of corporate social irresponsibility (CSiR). This paper adopts a stakeholder‐agency perspective towards CSiR to ask two related questions: (1) What board‐level structures can monitor management to reduce CSiR? and (2) What are the conditions that render board monitoring more effective? Employing a unique objective measure of CSiR and a sophisticated system generalized method of moments with dynamic panel model on a sample of publicly listed firms in the USA between 2002 and 2015, this paper demonstrates how firms with a specific board‐level governance bundle (i.e. a large, more independent board, with a board CSR committee, a higher proportion of women within boards with frequent director activity) are better equipped to reduce irresponsible behaviours, both in terms of number of irresponsible incidents as well as in terms of their economic costs to the firm. Moreover, the effectiveness of this governance bundle sustains under conditions of high institutional ownership and high board remuneration. This paper has implications for CSR and corporate governance literatures, as well as for managers and policymakers.
Efficacy of a visuomotor‐based intervention for children with reading and spelling disabilities: a pilot study
Authors: Layes Smail , Chouchani Mohamed Salah , Mecheri Soulef , Lalonde Robert , Rebaï Mohamed
Published: July 2019

We predicted that Arabic‐speaking children with specific learning disabilities in reading (dyslexia) and spelling (in writing) benefit from a visuomotor‐based intervention programme for the development of letter knowledge and the improvement of word and pseudo‐word decoding as well as spelling (dictation). It was predicted that the mediation of visuomotor training should be effective since the characteristics of Arabic script require such high‐level functioning for the development of literacy skills. Participants (n = 20) were randomly divided in two groups, an experimental group (n = 10; mean age =125.50 months ± 3.24) and a control group (n = 10; mean age = 124.10 months ± 3.31). Results revealed that the post‐intervention measures were better achieved in the experimental group than pre‐intervention ones, which confirms the efficacy of this visuomotor intervention programme.
‘Fear and loathing across party lines’ (also) in Europe: Affective polarisation in European party systems
Authors: REILJAN ANDRES
Published: July 2019

Several scholars in the United States have recently addressed an increased partisan animosity between Democrats and Republicans, and have termed this phenomenon ‘affective polarisation’. This surge in partisan affective polarisation is perceived to be highly problematic, as it has been found to have a negative impact on the functioning of the party system and even society at large. The aim of this article is to study the concept of affective polarisation in European party systems. It introduces the Affective Polarisation Index (API) that allows for measuring and comparing levels of affective polarisation also in multiparty systems. This novel measure is applied to 22 European democracies and the United States between 2005 and 2016. The results indicate that affective polarisation is acutely present in European party systems, as partisans are often extremely hostile towards competing parties. The most affectively polarised countries are in Central Eastern and Southern Europe where the degree of affective polarisation is notably higher than it is in the United States, while Northwestern European countries are more moderate in terms of partisan feelings. Further analysis reveals that affective polarisation is significantly correlated with ideological polarisation, but the relationship between the two appears to be conditional: in some Western European political systems ideological polarisation does not lead itself to strong interparty hostility, while in Central Eastern Europe a high degree of affective polarisation can be present even in ideologically centrist party structures. These findings validate the claim that ideological and affective polarisation are two distinct aspects of polarisation, and that the latter also merits additional attention.
Potential of Milk Fat to Structure Semisolid Lipidic Systems: A Review
Authors: Viriato Rodolfo Lázaro Soares , Queirós Mayara de Souza , Ribeiro Ana Paula Badan , Gigante Mirna Lúcia
Published: July 2019

Food production and consumption patterns have changed dramatically in recent decades. The universe of oils and fats, in particular, has been changed due to the negative impacts oftransfatty acids produced industrially through the partial hydrogenation of vegetable oils. Regulations prohibiting its use have led the industry to produce semisolid lipid systems using chemical methods for modification of oils and fats, with limitations from a technological point of view and a lack of knowledge about the metabolization of the modified fats in the body. Milk fat is obtained from the complex biosynthesis in the mammary gland and can be a technological alternative for the modulation of the crystallization processes of semi‐solids lipid systems, once it is naturally plastic at the usual processing, storage, and consumption temperatures. The natural plasticity of milk fat is due to its heterogeneous chemical composition, which contains more than 400 different fatty acids that structure approximately 64 million triacylglycerols, with a preferred polymorphic habit in β', besides other physical properties. Therefore, milk fat differs from any lipid raw material found in nature. This review will address the relationship between the chemical behavior and physical properties of semisolid lipids, demonstrating the potential of milk fat as an alternative to the commonly used modification processes.
The Effect of High‐Pressure Microfluidization Treatment on the Foaming Properties of Pea Albumin Aggregates
Authors: Djemaoune Yanis , Cases Eliane , Saurel Rémi
Published: July 2019

The effect of dynamic high‐pressure treatment, also named microfluidization, on the surface properties of thermal pea albumin aggregates (AA) and their foaming ability was investigated at pH 3, 5, and 7. The solubility of albumin particles was not affected by the increase in microfluidization pressure from 70 to 130 MPa. Particle charge depended only on the pH, whereas protein surface hydrophobicity was stable at pH 5, decreased at pH 3, but increased at pH 7 after microfluidization treatment and with the applied pressure. Surface tension of AA measured at air/water interface was favorably affected by the microfluidization treatment at each pH preferentially due to size reduction and increased flexibility of protein particles. The foaming capacity and stability of AA depended on the pH conditions and the microfluidization treatment. The high‐pressure treatment had little influence in foaming properties at acidic pHs, probably related to a more compact form of AA at these pHs. At neutral pH, the foaming properties of pea AA were strongly influenced by their surface properties and size associated with significant modifications in AA structure with microfluidization. Changes in albumin aggregate characteristics with pH and microfluidization pressure are also expected to modulate other techno‐functional properties, such as emulsifying property.

Practical Application

Albumins are known for their interesting nutritional values because they are rich in essential amino acids. This fraction is not currently marketed as a protein isolate for human consumption, but can be considered as a potential new vegetable protein ingredient. This document demonstrated that heat treatment or dynamic high‐pressure technology can control the foaming properties of this protein for possible use in expanded foods.
Selection and assembly of indigenous bacteria and methanogens from spent metalworking fluids and their potential as a starting culture in a fluidized bed reactor
Authors: Vyrides Ioannis , Rivett Damian W. , Bruce Kenneth D. , Lilley Andrew K.
Published: July 2019

Waste metalworking fluids (MWFs) are highly biocidal resulting in real difficulties in the, otherwise favoured, bioremediation of these high chemical oxygen deman (COD) wastes anaerobically in bioreactors. We have shown, as a proof of concept, that it is possible to establish an anaerobic starter culture using strains isolated from spent MWFs which are capable of reducing COD or, most significantly, methanogenesis in this biocidal waste stream. Bacterial strains (n = 99) and archaeal methanogens (n = 28) were isolated from spent MWFs. The most common bacterial strains were Clostridium species (n = 45). All methanogens were identified as Methanosarcina mazei. Using a random partitions design (RPD) mesocosm experiment, we found that bacterial diversity and species–species interactions had significant effects on COD reduction but that bacterial composition did not. The RPD study showed similar effects on methanogenesis, except that composition was also significant. We identified bacterial species with positive and negative effects on methane production. A consortium of 16 bacterial species and three methanogens was used to initiate a fluidized bed bioreactor (FBR), in batch mode. COD reduction and methane production were variable, and the reactor was oscillated between continuous and batch feeds. In both microcosm and FBR experiments, periodic inconsistencies in bacterial reduction in fermentative products to formic and acetic acids were identified as a key issue.
Formation Mechanism and Sedimentary Pattern of Abandoned Channels
Authors: LIU Zongbao , SHANG Yunzhi , ZHAO Rongsheng , LIU Fang , XUE Xinyu , LIU Yunyan
Published: July 2019

Accurately identifying and quantitatively describing abandoned channels in meandering rivers are of great significance for improving hydrocarbon recovery. By using modern deposition analogy, field outcrop analysis, a dense well spacing, core observations and a review of the literature, this paper studied the formation process and space–time amalgamation of abandoned channels in meandering river. The results reveal that formation mechanisms of abandoned channels include chute cutoff patterns (shoal‐cutting, ditch‐scouring and embayment‐eroding patterns) and neck cutoff patterns. The chute cutoff pattern forms a gradually abandoned channel, while the neck cutoff pattern forms a suddenly abandoned channel. From upstream to downstream, the sedimentary pattern of the abandoned channel transforms from a chute cutoff pattern to a neck cutoff pattern, where the main controlling factors transition from the grain size and gradient to the flow and vegetation. An abandoned channel formed by a chute cutoff pattern consists mainly of siltstone, fine sandstone and thin gravel layers, which form a lithological‐physical barrier. The abandoned channel formed by a neck cutoff pattern consists mainly of mudstone and argillaceous siltstone, forming a lithological barrier. Based on the amalgamation and structure of the reservoir architectural elements, the abandoned channel can be divided into three planar sedimentary patterns (crescent, semilune and horseshoe) for a single channel and five vertical sedimentary patterns for composite channels.
Typical Soft–Sediment Deformation Structures Induced by Freeze/Thaw Cycles: A Case Study of Quaternary Alluvial Deposits in the Northern Qiangtang Basin, Tibetan Plateau
Authors: ZHONG Ning , LI Haibing , JIANG Hanchao , LU Haijian , ZHENG Yong , HAN Shuai , YE Jiachan
Published: July 2019

With the objective of establishing a distinction between deformation structures caused by freeze/thaw cycles and those resulting from seismic activity, we studied three well–exposed alluvial deposits in a section at Dogai Coring, northern Qiangtang Basin, Tibetan Plateau. Deformation is present in the form of plastic structures (diapirs, folds and clastic dykes), brittle structures (micro–faults) and cryogenic wedges. These soft–sediment deformation features (except the micro–faults) are mainly characterized by meter–scale, non–interlayered, low–speed and low–pressure displacements within soft sediments, most commonly in the form of plastic deformation. Taking into account the geographic setting, lithology and deformation features, we interpret these soft–sediment deformation features as the products of freeze/thaw cycles, rather than of earthquake–induced shock waves, thus reflecting regional temperature changes and fluctuations of hydrothermal conditions in the uppermost sediments. The micro–faults (close to linear hot springs) are ascribed to regional fault activity; however, we were unable to identify the nature of the micro–faults, perhaps due to disturbance by subsequent freeze/thaw cycles. This study may serve as a guide to recognizing the differences between deformation structures attributed to freeze/thaw cycles and seismic processes.
Determinants of diagnosis and disease course in primary Sjögren's syndrome: Results from datamining of electronic health records
Authors: Sandhya Pulukool , Janardana Ramya , Sudarsanam Thambu , Mahasampath Gowri , Prakash John Antony Jude , Danda Debashish
Published: July 2019

Background

Determinants of diagnosis in primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) in tertiary care settings is not well understood.

Methods

Patients were screened by tracing reports of anti‐SSA (anti‐Ro) antibody assays between January 2008 and October 2015. Electronic health records (EHR) were reviewed. Patients fulfilling the 2016 American College of Rheumatology/European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) classification criteria were included. Variables including the specialties of first consultation, initial clinical presentations, investigations ordered at first consultation, number of hospital visits prior to reaching the final diagnosis of pSS and the baseline EULAR SS Disease Activity Index (ESSDAI) were noted.

Results

A total of 275 patients with pSS consulted 24 different specialties at first visit. Rheumatology accounted for 128 (46.55%) patients. At first consultation, initial suspicion for pSS was 48.4% for all specialties together and 64.84% for the rheumatologist. Median number of visits prior to arriving at the final diagnosis was 1 (1‐6), when the initial impression was pSS and 3 (1‐14), if the initial clinical impression was a non‐SS differential (P < 0.001). A first impression of pSS, enquiry about sicca symptoms and ordering anti‐SSA (anti‐Ro) antibody test at first consultation were strong predictors of early diagnosis with odds (95% CI) of 5.01 (1.72‐14.55) P < 0.001, 4.79 (1.16‐19.84) P = 0.03 and 9.60 (3.0‐30.67) P < 0.0001, respectively. None of the clinical variables proved to be useful predictors of early diagnosis.

Conclusions

Diagnosis of pSS is challenging even in tertiary care centers as patients present with myriad features to several specialties. Initial suspicion was limited to 48.4% for all specialties together and 64.84% for the rheumatologist. High suspicion of pSS along with ordering anti‐SSA (anti‐Ro) antibody could hasten diagnosis.
The incidence of extra‐articular manifestations in southern Chinese patients with inflammatory joint diseases
Authors: Yan Siyu , Cui Yang , Zhang Xiao , Zhang Guangfeng , Dong Guangfu , Feng Yuan , Song Yingyu
Published: July 2019

Aim

Inflammatory joint diseases (IJDs) are chronic arthritis, but frequently present with co‐morbidities of other organs and systems, which is known as extra‐articular manifestations (EAMs). It is still unclear which clinical characteristics or bio‐markers can predict the development of EAMs. The aim of this study was to estimate the proportion of EAMs in southern Chinese patients with IJDs and to explore the risk factors.

Methods

This was a retrospective cohort study of a total 1135 IJDs patients, including 788 rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients, 307 ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patients and 40 psoriatic arthritis (PsA) patients. Demographic data, disease characteristics, laboratory blood tests, medical imaging, and the presence of EAMs were recorded.

Results

We found 459 (40.44%) patients presented with EAMs: 30.84% had cardiovascular involvement, 7.67% had pulmonary involvement, 5.29% had osteoporosis/low bone mineral density, 2.29% had ocular, 0.79% had gastrointestinal and 0.26% had renal involvements. Multivariate logistic regression showed older age (odds ratio [OR] 1.06, P < .001) and higher anti‐cyclic citrullinated peptide antibody (anti‐CCP) levels (OR 1.003, P = .019) were independent risks of EAMs in RA patients. In the AS group, older age (OR 1.07, P < .001) and higher disease activity (OR 3.24‐7.42, both P < .05), were independent risks of EAMs. In the PsA group, longer disease duration (OR 1.01, P = .036) and higher disease activity (OR 1.15, P = .004) were univariate associated factors.

Conclusion

These results suggested the high prevalence of EAMs, and it is important to regularly screen for EAMs, as they influence treatment decisions and impact on patients’ quality of life.