bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Neuroblastoma stage 4S: Tumor regression rate and risk factors of progressive disease
Authors: Tas Michelle L. , Nagtegaal Michelle , Kraal Kathelijne C.J.M. , Tytgat Godelieve A.M. , Abeling Nico G.G.M. , Koster Jan , Pluijm Saskia M.F. , Zwaan C. Michel , de Keizer Bart , Molenaar Jan J. , van Noesel Max M.
Published: November 2019

Background

The clinical course of neuroblastoma stage 4S or MS is characterized by a high rate of spontaneous tumor regression and favorable outcome. However, the clinical course and rate of the regression are poorly understood.

Methods

A retrospective cohort study was performed, including all patients with stage 4S neuroblastoma without MYCN amplification, from two Dutch centers between 1972 and 2012. We investigated the clinical characteristics, the biochemical activity reflected in urinary catecholamine excretion, and radiological imaging to describe the kinetics of tumor regression, therapy response and outcome.

Results

The cohort of 31 patients reached a 10‐year overall survival of 84% ± 7% (median follow‐up 16 years; range, 3.3‐39). During the regressive phase, liver size normalized in 91% of the patients and catecholamine excretion in 83%, both after a median of two months (liver size: range, 0‐131; catecholamines: range, 0‐158). The primary tumors completely regressed in 69% after 13 months (range, 6‐73), and the liver architecture normalized in 52% after 15 months (range, 5‐131). Antitumor treatment was given in 52% of the patients. Interestingly, regression rates were similar for treated and untreated patients. Four of seven patients < 4 weeks old died of rapid liver expansion and organ compression. Three patients progressed to stage 4, 3 to 13 months after diagnosis; all had persistently elevated catecholamines.

Conclusion

Patients < 4 weeks old with neuroblastoma stage 4S are at risk of fatal outcome caused by progression of liver metastases. In other patients, tumor regression is characterized by a rapid biochemical normalization that precedes radiological regression.
Effect of Pretreatment of Nanocomposite PES‐Fe3O4 Separator on Microbial Fuel Cells Performance
Authors: Bavasso Irene , Di Palma Luca , Puglia Debora , Luzi Francesca , Dominici Franco , Tirillò Jacopo , Sarasini Fabrizio , Torre Luigi
Published: November 2019

Nanocomposite membranes based on polyethersulfone (PES) and nanomagnetite have been investigated with regards to the effect of pretreatments on the electrochemical performance of microbial fuel cells (MFCs). Nanocomposite membranes containing various amounts of Fe3O4 (5, 10, and 20 wt%) were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, and tensile tests. The application in MFC systems requires also chemical characterizations such as ion exchange capacity, water uptake, and oxygen permeability. The best formulation (PES10) showed electrochemical properties similar to the PES20. With the aim of obtaining a high‐performance membrane with a low filler dosage, a pretreatment procedure (1 h of boiling step in deionized water and 1 h of immersion in 0.5 M of H2SO4) was adopted. The results of such pretreatment in terms of maximum power and current density were 10.59 ± 0.72 mW/m2 and 52.07 ± 0.86 mA/m2, respectively. The adoption of a pretreatment avoids the need of higher amount of nanofillers that can affect membrane surface roughness and its processing. Overall, the nanocomposite membranes represent a suitable technology in the MFC process. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 60: 371–379, 2019. © 2019 Society of Plastics Engineers
The genesis of the first specialist PV Bachelor of Engineering program—The educational legacy of Stuart Ross Wenham
Authors: Corkish Richard
Published: November 2019

Stuart Wenham was not only an outstanding researcher and inventor and mentor but also an outstanding educator. This paper documents some of the major aspects of his educational contributions and legacy, especially through the creation of the first specialised Bachelor of Engineering degree in photovoltaics at The University of New South Wales.
Generalizing Rosenbluth's Algorithm to Include Along‐the‐Chain Intramolecular Energies
Authors: Aldaais Ebtisam A. , Crittenden Scott
Published: November 2019

We incorporate the Boltzmann factors for inter‐monomer bending energy into the monomer growth direction choice in Rosenbluth's algorithm to model chains of arbitrary nearest‐neighbor rigidity. This allows for the consideration of compact (bent state lower in energy), free (straight and bent state equal in energy), or extended chains (bent state higher). We validate against, and compare to, various other results, showing very good agreement with known results for short chains and demonstrate the ability to model chains up to 500 segments long, far beyond the length at which the normal Rosenbluth method becomes unstable for reasonable nonzero bending energies. This approach is easily generalizable both to other energies determinable during chain growth, for example, polymers composed of more than one type of monomer with differing monomer interaction energies, as well as to other chain production algorithms. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2019, 57, 1684–1691
Identification of the metabolites of erianin in rat and human by liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry
Authors: Liu Na , Wang Xige , Liu Hongqiang , Zhang Changpo
Published: November 2019

Rationale

Erianin, a bioactive component isolated from Dctidrobium chrysotoxum Lindl, was demonstrated to have many biological properties relevant to cancer prevention and therapy. However, the metabolic profiles of erianin remain unknown. This study was carried out to investigate the metabolic profiles of erianin in rats and humans.

Methods

Erianin was orally administered to rats at a single dose of 50 mg/kg. Urine and bile samples were collected. For in vitro metabolism, erianin was co‐incubated with rat or human hepatocytes at 37°C for 2 h. The samples from incubations and rat were analyzed by liquid chromatography combined with electrospray ionization high‐resolution mass spectrometry. The data were processed by MetWorks software. The structures of the metabolites were proposed by comparing the mass spectra with that of the parent compound.

Results

A total of twenty‐four metabolites were detected in vitro and in vivo, including seven phase I and eighteen phase II metabolites. The phase I metabolic pathways of erianin were hydroxylation, demethylation and dehydrogenation. Erianin undergoes metabolic activation to form reactive metabolites quinoid intermediates, which were further trapped by glutathione (GSH) or N‐acetylcysteine. The phase II metabolic pathways were glucuronidation, glutathione and N‐acetylcysteine conjugation.

Conclusions

The present study provides an overview pertaining to the in vitro and in vivo metabolic profiles of erianin, which is indispensable for us to understand the efficacy and safety of erianin, as well as the herbal medicine D. chrysotoxum.
Supramolecular Recognition‐Mediated Layer‐by‐Layer Self‐Assembled Gold Nanoparticles for Customized Sensitivity in Paper‐Based Strip Nanobiosensors
Authors: Huang Xiaolin , Zhou Yaofeng , Ding Lu , Yu Guocan , Leng Yuankui , Lai Weihua , Xiong Yonghua , Chen Xiaoyuan
Published: November 2019

Herein, a smart supramolecular self‐assembly‐mediated signal amplification strategy is developed on a paper‐based nanobiosensor to achieve the sensitive and customized detection of biomarkers. The host–guest recognition between β‐cyclodextrin‐coated gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and 1‐adamantane acetic acid or tetrakis(4‐carboxyphenyl)porphyrin is designed and applied to the layer‐by‐layer self‐assembly of AuNPs at the test area of the strip. Thus, the amplified platform exhibits a high sensitivity with a detection limit at subattogram levels (approximately dozens of molecules per strip) and a wide dynamic range of concentration over seven orders of magnitude. The applicability and universality of this sensitive platform are demonstrated in clinically significant ranges to measure carcinoembryonic antigen and HIV‐1 capsid p24 antigen in spiked serum and clinical samples. The customized biomarker detection ability for the on‐demand needs of clinicians is further verified through cycle incubation‐mediated controllable self‐assembly. Collectively, the supramolecular self‐assembly amplification method is suitable as a universal point‐of‐care diagnostic tool and can be readily adapted as a platform technology for the sensitive assay of many different target analytes.
A Review of Diverse Halide Perovskite Morphologies for Efficient Optoelectronic Applications
Authors: Zhang Chengxi , Kuang Dai‐Bin , Wu Wu‐Qiang
Published: November 2019

Recent years have witnessed an incredibly high fever in metal halide perovskite materials due to their promising applications in a wide range of optoelectronic applications. The morphologies and optoelectronic properties of the perovskite layers play critical roles in affecting the optoelectronic performances. This review summarizes the recent advances in the fabrication of a variety of perovskite morphologies and their promising progress achieved in different optoelectronic applications, including solar cells, light‐emitting diodes, photodetectors, lasers, photocatalysis, X‐ray detectors/imagers, and luminescent solar concentrators. Several blossoming representatives, including 0D perovskite quantum dots, 1D perovskite nanowires, 2D perovskite nanosheets/nanoplatelets, and 3D textured perovskite assemblies (i.e., cuboid‐like, inverse opal‐like, coral‐like, or maze‐like morphologies, etc.), are highlighted to demonstrate their fascinating properties and outstanding capabilities for efficient optoelectronic applications. Finally, a perspective on the remaining challenges and future directions of fabricating unique perovskite morphologies for next‐generation high‐performance optoelectronic devices is provided.
Interactive Effects of Hypoxia and Temperature on Consumption, Growth, and Condition of Juvenile Hybrid Striped Bass
Authors: Marcek Benjamin J. , Burbacher Emily A. , Dabrowski Konrad , Winslow Kim P. , Ludsin Stuart A.
Published: November 2019

Productive tributary reservoirs can become suboptimal environments for fish during summer because of hypolimnetic hypoxia (≤3 mg O2/L) and high epilimnetic temperatures that reduce access to quality habitat for growth. We conducted a laboratory experiment using a 3 × 3 × 2 (temperature × dissolved oxygen [DO] × fish size) complete factorial design to examine the effect of DO concentration and temperature on consumption, growth, and proximal body composition of juvenile hybrid Striped Bass (Striped Bass Morone saxatilis × White Bass M. chrysops), which are commonly stocked into North American reservoirs and for which tolerances to environmental conditions are not fully known. Our study demonstrates that consumption and growth of juvenile hybrid Striped Bass were affected by an interaction between temperature and DO. Specifically, low DO conditions negatively affected consumption, especially at high temperatures. By contrast, growth was largely unaffected by DO, except at high temperatures when low DO reduced fish growth. Temperature and DO did not interact to cause changes in energy density or moisture content, although temperature did independently affect the moisture content of hybrid Striped Bass tissues. The change in moisture content was lowest for fish exposed to high temperatures, suggesting a negative effect of temperature on fish condition. Collectively, our experimental findings provide useful information for modeling the energetics of hybrid Striped Bass and assessing reservoir habitat quality, which can help guide decision making regarding stocking.
A modern challenge of polymer physics: Novel ways to study, interpret, and reconstruct chromatin structure
Authors: Fiorillo Luca , Bianco Simona , Esposito Andrea , Conte Mattia , Sciarretta Renato , Musella Francesco , Chiariello Andrea M.
Published: November 2019

The constant development of sophisticated technologies is allowing to dissect three‐dimensional chromatin structure at high resolution level. The tremendous amount of quantitative experimental data available today requires a conceptual framework able to make sense of them. In this perspective, polymer physics offers a key tool to interpret chromatin architecture data and to unveil the basic mechanisms shaping its structure. In the very last years, several polymer models have been proposed and have allowed to capture complex features emerging from the data. The major peculiarity distinguishing the different models is represented by the more or less complicated physical mechanism used to explain chromatin folding. Here, we review very popular models which have been recently developed and which represent brilliant examples from this interdisciplinary research field. In order to highlight the wide range of practical applications they have, we discuss the cases of the murine Pitx1 and the human EPHA4 loci, showing that polymer physics allows to effectively study chromatin structure in different cell lines and to predict the impact of pathogenic structural variants on the genome three‐dimensional architecture.

This article is categorized under:

Structure and Mechanism > Computational Biochemistry and Biophysics

Molecular and Statistical Mechanics > Molecular Dynamics and Monte‐Carlo Methods

Theoretical and Physical Chemistry > Statistical Mechanics
Leadership Educator as Social Justice Educator
Authors: Chunoo Vivechkanand S. , Beatty Cameron C. , Gruver Melissa D.
Published: November 2019

Despite tendencies to treat leadership education and social justice education as mutually exclusive, the heart of leadership is social justice and effective activism and advocacy requires leading change. This chapter underscores the overlap between social justice and leadership education, details some of our stories as educators, and highlights aspirational examples to inspire socially just leadership educators.
Rule of Lawyers: Liberalism and Colonial Judges in Nineteenth-Century Java
Authors: Ravensbergen Sanne
Published: November 2019

This chapter focuses on colonial liberalism in practice in the colonial courtrooms of nineteenth-century Java, studying colonial jurists and officials as ‘intermediate thinkers’ of empire. What exactly changed in the practices of colonial criminal justice when legally trained judges were introduced as landraad presidents in 1869? The chapter discusses the liberal ideals of Dutch lawyers and focuses on the experiences and actions of the landraad judges within their new professional environment, looking at their interactions with the jaksas (Javanese prosecutors) and Javanese court members in the pluralistic courts. Although the Dutch jurists argued they were bringing the rule of law to Java, Ravensbergen shows that they not only continued but also enhanced the unequal practices of the colonial legal system, thereby establishing ‘a rule of lawyers.’
Digital Earth for Sustainable Development Goals
Authors: Metternicht Graciela , Mueller Norman , Lucas Richard
Published: November 2019

Sustainable development is nothing new, but it has proven notoriously difficult to implement in practice. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, with 17 goals, 169 targets and 232 associated indicators, was approved at the 2015 UN General Assembly and addresses the economic, social and environmental pillars of development, aspiring to attain by 2030 a sustainable future that balances equitable prosperity within planetary boundaries. While the goals are universal (i.e., applicable to both developing and developed countries), it is left to individual countries to establish national Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) targets according to their own priorities and level of ambition in terms of the scale and pace of transformation aspired to.
The Economic Value of Digital Earth
Authors: Craglia Max , Pogorzelska Katarzyna
Published: November 2019

In this chapter, we approach the economic value of Digital Earth with a broad definition of economic value, i.e., the measure of benefits from goods or services to an economic agent and the trade-offs the agent makes in view of scarce resources. The concept of Digital Earth has several components: data, models, technology and infrastructure. We focus on Earth Observation (EO) data because this component has been undergoing the most dramatic change since the beginning of this century. We review the available recent studies to assess the value of EO/geospatial/open data and related infrastructures and identify three main sets of approaches focusing on the value of information, the economic approach to the value of EO to the economy from both macro- and microeconomic perspectives, and a third set that aims to maximize value through infrastructure and policy. We conclude that the economic value of Digital Earth critically depends on the perspective: the value for whom, what purpose, and when. This multiplicity is not a bad thing: it acknowledges that Digital Earth is a global concept in which everyone can recognize their viewpoint and collaborate with others to increase the common good.
Digital Earth Education
Authors: Wang Cuizhen , Kantor Camelia M. , Mitchell Jerry T. , Bacastow Todd S.
Published: November 2019

Digital Earth (DE) education provides students with geospatial knowledge and skills to locate, measure, and solve geographic problems on Earth’s surface. The rapid development of geospatial technology has promoted a new vision of DE to embrace data infrastructure, social networks, citizen science, and human processes on Earth. The high demand for a geospatial workforce also calls for an ever-changing, diverse form of learning experiences. Limited efforts, however, have been made regarding DE education to adapt to this changing landscape, with most interventions falling short of expectations. This chapter gives an overview of current teaching and learning structures with DE technologies. Successes and obstacles for K-12 education are explored first, followed by classroom technologies and experiential learning and outreach exercises such as academic certificates and internships in higher education. Taking the geospatial intelligence model from the U.S. Geospatial Intelligence Foundation (USGIF) as an example, recent advancements in DE education for professional careers are described via its geospatial competencies, hierarchical frameworks, and credentials. In alignment with the principles of DE development, future DE education calls for an integrated learning framework of open data, real-world context, and virtual reality for better preparedness of our students in the geospatial world.
Digital Earth Ethics
Authors: Georgiadou Yola , Kounadi Ourania , de By Rolf A.
Published: November 2019

Digital Earth scholars have recently argued for a code of ethics to protect individuals’ location privacy and human dignity. In this chapter, we contribute to the debate in two ways. First, we focus on (geo)privacy because information about an individual’s location is substantially different from other personal information. The compound word (geo)privacy suggests that location can be inferred from people’s interests, activities, and sociodemographics, not only from traditional geographic coordinates. (Geo)privacy is a claim of individuals to determine for themselves when, how, and to what extent location information about them is communicated to others. Second, we take an interdisciplinary perspective. We draw from (geo)computing to describe the transformation of volunteered, observed, and inferred information and suggest privacy-preserving measures. We also draw from organization studies to dissect privacy into ideal types of social relationships and privacy-preserving strategies. We take the point of view of Alice, an individual ‘data subject’ encountered in data protection legislation, and suggest ways to account for privacy as a sociocultural phenomenon in the future. Although most of the discussion refers to the EU and the US, we provide a brief overview of data protection legislation on the African continent and in China as well as various global and regional ethics guidelines that are of very recent vintage.
Geospatial Information Infrastructures
Authors: Schade Sven , Granell Carlos , Vancauwenberghe Glenn , Keßler Carsten , Vandenbroucke Danny , Masser Ian , Gould Michael
Published: November 2019

Geospatial information infrastructures (GIIs) provide the technological, semantic, organizational and legal structure that allow for the discovery, sharing, and use of geospatial information (GI). In this chapter, we introduce the overall concept and surrounding notions such as geographic information systems (GIS) and spatial data infrastructures (SDI). We outline the history of GIIs in terms of the organizational and technological developments as well as the current state-of-art, and reflect on some of the central challenges and possible future trajectories. We focus on the tension between increased needs for standardization and the ever-accelerating technological changes. We conclude that GIIs evolved as a strong underpinning contribution to implementation of the Digital Earth vision. In the future, these infrastructures are challenged to become flexible and robust enough to absorb and embrace technological transformations and the accompanying societal and organizational implications. With this contribution, we present the reader a comprehensive overview of the field and a solid basis for reflections about future developments.
Big Data and Cloud Computing
Authors: Li Yun , Yu Manzhu , Xu Mengchao , Yang Jingchao , Sha Dexuan , Liu Qian , Yang Chaowei
Published: November 2019

Big data emerged as a new paradigm to provide unprecedented content and value for Digital Earth. Big Earth data are increasing tremendously with growing heterogeneity, posing grand challenges for the data management lifecycle of storage, processing, analytics, visualization, sharing, and applications. During the same time frame, cloud computing emerged to provide crucial computing support to address these challenges. This chapter introduces Digital Earth data sources, analytical methods, and architecture for data analysis and describes how cloud computing supports big data processing in the context of Digital Earth.
On the role of counterterms in holographic complexity
Authors: Akhavan Amin , Omidi Farzad
Published: November 2019

Abstract

We consider the Complexity=Action (CA) proposal in Einstein gravity and investigate new counterterms which are able to remove all the UV divergences of holographic complexity. We first show that the two different methods for regularizing the gravitational on-shell action proposed in ref. [1] are completely equivalent, provided that one considers the Gibbons-Hawking-York term as well as new counterterms inspired from holographic renormalization on timelike boundaries of the WDW patch. Next, we introduce new counterterms on the null boundaries of the WDW patch for four and five dimensional asymptotically AdS spacetimes which are able to remove all the UV divergences of the on-shell action. Moreover, they are covariant and do not change the equations of motion. At the end, by applying the null counterterms, we calculate the holographic complexity of an AdS-Schwarzschild black hole as well as the complexity of formation. We show that the null counterterms do not change the complexity of formation.
Dualities of corner configurations and supersymmetric indices
Authors: Gaiotto Davide , Okazaki Tadashi
Published: November 2019

Abstract

We compute supersymmetric indices which count local operators at certain half-BPS interfaces and quarter-BPS junctions of interfaces in four-dimensional $$ \mathcal{N} $$
N
= 4 Super Yang-Mills theory. We use the indices as very stringent tests of a variety of string theory-inspired conjectures about the action of S-duality on such defects.
Microstates of rotating AdS5 strings
Authors: Hosseini Seyed Morteza , Hristov Kiril , Zaffaroni Alberto
Published: November 2019

Abstract

We provide a general formula for the refined topologically twisted index of $$ \mathcal{N} $$
N
= 1 gauge theories living on the world-volume of D3-branes at conical Calabi-Yau singularities in the Cardy limit. The index is defined as the partition function on T2×$$ {S}_{\omega}^2 $$

S
ω
2

, with a partial topological twist and a Ω-deformation along S , in the presence of background magnetic fluxes and fugacities for the global symmetries and can be used to study the properties of a class of BPS black strings. To this purpose, we find rotating domain- wall solutions of five-dimensional gauged supergravity interpolating between AdS5 and a near horizon region consisting of a warped fibration of BTZ over a sphere. We explicitly construct rotating domain-walls that can be embedded in AdS5× S5 by uplifting a class of four-dimensional rotating black holes. We then provide a microscopic explanation of the entropy of such black holes by using the refined topologically twisted index of $$ \mathcal{N} $$
N
= 4 super Yang-Mills.
Preparation of the inactivated Newcastle disease vaccine by plasma activated water and evaluation of its protection efficacy
Authors: Hongzhuan Zhou , Ying Tian , Xia Su , Jinsong Guo , Zhenhua Zhang , Beiyu Jiang , Yanyan Chang , Lulu Lin , Jue Zhang , Bing Yang , Jing Fang
Published: November 2019

Vaccination has been regarded as the most effective way to reduce death and morbidity caused by infectious diseases in the livestock industry. In this study, plasma activated water (PAW) was introduced to prepare the inactivated Newcastle disease vaccine. Humoral immune response was tested by hemagglutination inhibition (HI) assay and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). In addition, cell-mediated immune response was evaluated by lymphocyte proliferation assay and flow cytometry. The results demonstrated that the vaccine prepared by PAW at appropriate volume ratio could induce similar antibody titers in specific pathogen-free (SPF) chickens compared with the formaldehyde-inactivated vaccine. The challenge experiment further confirmed that the vaccine prepared by PAW conferred solid protection against virulent NDV. Moreover, it was found that the vaccine could promote the proliferation of lymphocytes and stimulate cell-mediated immunity of SPF chickens. Furthermore, analysis of electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy and physicochemical properties of PAW suggested reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS) played an essential role in the virus inactivation. Therefore, this study indicated that NDV treated by PAW in an appropriate ratio retained immunogenicity on the premise of virus inactivation. PAW as a promising strategy could be used to prepare inactivated vaccine for Newcastle disease.
A machine learning approach for flow shop scheduling problems with alternative resources, sequence-dependent setup times, and blocking
Authors: Benda Frank , Braune Roland , Doerner Karl F. , Hartl Richard F.
Published: November 2019

In proposing a machine learning approach for a flow shop scheduling problem with alternative resources, sequence-dependent setup times, and blocking, this paper seeks to generate a tree-based priority rule in terms of a well-performing decision tree (DT) for dispatching jobs. Furthermore, generating a generic DT and RF that yields competitive results for instance scenarios that structurally differ from the training instances was another goal of our research. The proposed DT relies on high quality solutions, obtained using a constraint programming (CP) formulation. Novel aspects include a unified representation of job sequencing and machine assignment decisions, as well as the generation of random forests (RF) to counteract overfitting behaviour. To show the performance of the proposed approaches, different instance scenarios for two objectives (makespan and total tardiness minimisation) were implemented, based on randomised problem data. The background of this approach is a real-world physical system of an industrial partner that represents a typical shop floor for many production processes, such as furniture and window construction. The results of a comparison of the DT and RF approach with two priority dispatching rules, the original CP solutions and tight lower bounds retrieved from a strengthened mixed-integer programming (MIP) formulation show that the proposed machine learning approach performs well in most instance sets for the makespan objective and in all sets for the total tardiness objective.
A comparison of risk factors for breech presentation in preterm and term labor: a nationwide, population-based case–control study
Authors: Toijonen Anna E. , Heinonen Seppo T. , Gissler Mika V. M. , Macharey Georg
Published: November 2019

Purpose

To determine if the common risks for breech presentation at term labor are also eligible in preterm labor.

Methods

A Finnish cross-sectional study included 737,788 singleton births (24–42 gestational weeks) during 2004–2014. A multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to calculate the risks of breech presentation.

Results

The incidence of breech presentation at delivery decreased from 23.5% in pregnancy weeks 24–27 to 2.5% in term pregnancies. In gestational weeks 24–27, preterm premature rupture of membranes was associated with breech presentation. In 28–31 gestational weeks, breech presentation was associated with maternal pre-eclampsia/hypertension, preterm premature rupture of membranes, and fetal birth weight below the tenth percentile. In gestational weeks 32–36, the risks were advanced maternal age, nulliparity, previous cesarean section, preterm premature rupture of membranes, oligohydramnios, birth weight below the tenth percentile, female sex, and congenital anomaly. In term pregnancies, breech presentation was associated with advanced maternal age, nulliparity, maternal hypothyroidism, pre-gestational diabetes, placenta praevia, premature rupture of membranes, oligohydramnios, congenital anomaly, female sex, and birth weight below the tenth percentile.

Conclusion

Breech presentation in preterm labor is associated with obstetric risk factors compared to cephalic presentation. These risks decrease linearly with the gestational age. In moderate to late preterm delivery, breech presentation is a high-risk state and some obstetric risk factors are yet visible in early preterm delivery. Breech presentation in extremely preterm deliveries has, with the exception of preterm premature rupture of membranes, similar clinical risk profiles as in cephalic presentation.
Characterisation of a New Human Alveolar Macrophage-Like Cell Line (Daisy)
Authors: Sadofsky Laura R. , Hayman Yvette A. , Vance Jesse , Cervantes Jorge L. , Fraser Simon D. , Wilkinson Holly N. , Williamson James D. , Hart Simon P. , Morice Alyn H.
Published: November 2019

Purpose

There is currently no true macrophage cell line and in vitro experiments requiring these cells currently require mitogenic stimulation of a macrophage precursor cell line (THP-1) or ex vivo maturation of circulating primary monocytes. In this study, we characterise a human macrophage cell line, derived from THP-1 cells, and compare its phenotype to the THP-1 cells.

Methods

THP-1 cells with and without mitogenic stimulation were compared to the newly derived macrophage-like cell line (Daisy) using microscopy, flow cytometry, phagocytosis assays, antigen binding assays and gene microarrays.

Results

We show that the cell line grows predominantly in an adherent monolayer. A panel of antibodies were chosen to investigate the cell surface phenotype of these cells using flow cytometry. Daisy cells expressed more CD11c, CD80, CD163, CD169 and CD206, but less CD14 and CD11b compared with mitogen-stimulated THP-1 cells. Unlike stimulated THP-1 cells which were barely able to bind immune complexes, Daisy cells showed large amounts of immune complex binding. Finally, although not statistically significant, the phagocytic ability of Daisy cells was greater than mitogen-stimulated THP-1 cells, suggesting that the cell line is more similar to mature macrophages.

Conclusions

The observed phenotype suggests that Daisy cells are a good model of human macrophages with a phenotype similar to human alveolar macrophages.
Tissue factor activity on microvesicles from cancer patients
Authors: Ender Fanny , Freund Annika , Quecke Tabea , Steidel Corinna , Zamzow Piet , von Bubnoff Nikolas , Gieseler Frank
Published: November 2019

Purpose

The expression of active tissue factor (TF) on the surface of microvesicles (MVs) is essential for the activation of the coagulation system and transduction of the signaling pathways in cancer cells. In its use as a biomarker for cancer-associated venous thromboembolism (VTE), TF has shown high expression variability. As a contribution to this discussion, we present a study investigating plasma samples from patients with various progressive tumors at high risk for VTE.

Methods

Based on our previous study uncovering microvesicles (MVs), the larger ectosome-like extracellular vesicles (EV), as the major source of TF activity in EV preparations, we now determined TF activity on enriched MVs isolated from plasma of cancer patients and compared it with that on MVs from healthy individuals.

Results

We found considerably higher amounts of MVs as well as higher levels of MV-bound TF activities in the plasma of cancer patients. We also show that preparations from plasma of cancer patients have the potency to induce ERK phosphorylation in a human tumor cell line through proteinase-activated receptor two (PAR2) activation.

Conclusion

We suggest that MVs instead of whole EV preparations, and TF activity rather than its antigenic quantification should be used in clinical studies for identifying patients with progressive tumors at high risk for VTE.

Graphic abstract
Laparoscopic right hemicolectomy: the SICE (Società Italiana di Chirurgia Endoscopica e Nuove Tecnologie) network prospective trial on 1225 cases comparing intra corporeal versus extra corporeal ileo-colic side-to-side anastomosis
Authors: Anania Gabriele , Agresta Ferdinando , Artioli Elena , Rubino Serena , Resta Giuseppe , Vettoretto Nereo , Petz Wanda Luisa , Bergamini Carlo , Arezzo Alberto , Valpiani Giorgia , Morotti Chiara , Silecchia Gianfranco ,   SICE CoDIG (Colon Dx Italian Group)
Published: November 2019

Background

While laparoscopic approach for right hemicolectomy (LRH) is considered appropriate for the surgical treatment of both malignant and benign diseases of right colon, there is still debate about how to perform the ileo-colic anastomosis. The ColonDxItalianGroup (CoDIG) was designed as a cohort, observational, prospective, multi-center national study with the aims of evaluating the surgeons’ attitude regarding the intracorporeal (ICA) or extra-corporeal (ECA) anastomotic technique and the related surgical outcomes.

Methods

One hundred and twenty-five Surgical Units experienced in colorectal and advanced laparoscopic surgery were invited and 85 of them joined the study. Each center was asked not to change its surgical habits. Data about demographic characteristics, surgical technique and postoperative outcomes were collected through the official SICE website database. One thousand two hundred and twenty-five patients were enrolled between March 2018 and September 2018.

Results

ICA was performed in 70.4% of cases, ECA in 29.6%. Isoperistaltic anastomosis was completed in 85.6%, stapled in 87.9%. Hand-sewn enterotomy closure was adopted in 86%. Postoperative complications were reported in 35.4% for ICA and 50.7% for ECA; no significant difference was found according to patients’ characteristics and technologies used. Median hospital stay was significantly shorter for ICA (7.3 vs. 9 POD). Postoperative pain in patients not prescribed opioids was significantly lower in ICA group.

Conclusions

In our survey, a side-to-side isoperistaltic stapled ICA with hand-sewn enterotomy closure is the most frequently adopted technique to perform ileo-colic anastomosis after any indications for elective LRH. According to literature, our study confirmed better short-term outcomes for ICA, with reduction of hospital stay and postoperative pain.

Trial registration

Clinical trial (Identifier: NCT03934151).
Decreasing trend in the incidence of serious pneumonias in Finnish children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis
Authors: Salonen Päivi H. , Salonen Juha H. , Säilä Hanna , Helminen Mika , Linna Miika , Kauppi Markku J.
Published: November 2019

Objectives

Children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) may be predisposed to serious pneumonia due to modern disease-modifying anti-rheumatic treatment. In this nationwide retrospective study with clinical data, we describe the pneumonia episodes among children with JIA.

Methods

Patients under 18 years of age with JIA and pneumonia during 1998–2014 were identified in the National Hospital Discharge Register in Finland. Each individual patient record was reviewed, and detailed data on patients with JIA and pneumonia were retrieved, recorded, and analyzed. If the patient was hospitalized or received intravenous antibiotics, the pneumonia was considered serious.

Results

There were 157 episodes of pneumonia among 140 children with JIA; 111 episodes (71%) were serious (80% in 1998–2006 and 66% in 2007–2014). The mean age of the patients was 9 years. Forty-eight percent had active JIA and 46% had comorbidities. Disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARD) were used at the time of 135 episodes (86%): methotrexate (MTX) by 62% and biologic DMARDs (bDMARD) by 30%. There was no significant difference in the use of bDMARDs, MTX and glucocorticoids between the patient groups with serious and non-serious pneumonia episodes. During six of the episodes, intensive care was needed. Two patients (1.3%) died, the remaining ones recovered fully.

Conclusions

Although the incidence of pneumonia and the use of immunosuppressive treatment among children with JIA increased from 1998 to 2014, the proportion of serious pneumonias in these patients decreased. There was no significant difference in the use of anti-rheumatic medication between patients with serious and non-serious pneumonia.Key Points• The incidence of serious pneumonias decreased from 1998 to 2014 among children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA).• There was no significant difference in the use of the disease-modifying anti-rheumatic medication between JIA patients with serious and non-serious pneumonias.• Active JIA, comorbidities, and combination medication were associated with nearly half of the pneumonias.
The effect for hyperuricemia inpatient of uric acid overproduction type or in combination with topiroxostat on the pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and safety of dotinurad, a selective urate reabsorption inhibitor
Authors: Okui Daisuke , Sasaki Tomomitsu , Fushimi Masahiko , Ohashi Tetsuo
Published: November 2019

Background

Dotinurad, a novel selective urate reabsorption inhibitor (SURI), increases urinary uric acid excretion. The aim of this study is to examine the pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and safety of dotinurad according to the type of hyperuricemia, with or without concomitant use of xanthine oxidase inhibitor, in uric acid “overproduction type” patients.

Methods

This open-label clinical pharmacology study was conducted in a hospital. Dotinurad 1 mg was administered for 7 days to hyperuricemic patients with uric acid “overproduction type” (overproduction group, n = 6; and combination group, n = 6) and uric acid “underexcretion type” (underexcretion group, n = 6). In the combination group, topiroxostat 80 mg was used concomitantly.

Results

No significant differences were observed in pharmacokinetics and safety between overproduction group and underexcretion group, and the percent change in serum uric acid level and the amount of urinary uric acid excretion after administration were comparable. In “overproduction type” patients of combination group, the percent change in serum uric acid level significantly increased and the amount of urinary uric acid excretion significantly decreased compared to those of overproduction group. No clinically meaningful differences were observed in safety between the overproduction group and the combination group.

Conclusion

In inpatients, differences in hyperuricemic type did not significantly influence the pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and safety of dotinurad. Moreover, in “overproduction type”, the coadministration of dotinurad and topiroxostat had an add-on serum uric acid lowering effect and suppressed urinary uric acid excretion.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02837198.
Precise drag prediction of airfoil flows by a new algebraic model
Authors: Xiao Meng-Juan , She Zhen-Su
Published: November 2019

We report the results of accurate prediction of lift ($$C_L$$CL) and drag ($$C_D$$CD) coefficients of two typical airfoil flows (NACA0012 and RAE2822) by a new algebraic turbulence model, in which the eddy viscosity is specified by a stress length (SL) function predicted by structural ensemble dynamics (SED) theory. Unprecedented accuracy of the prediction of $$C_D$$CD with error of a few counts (one count is $$10^{-4}$$10-4) and of $$C_L$$CL with error under 1%-2% are uniformly obtained for varying angles of attack (AoA), indicating an order of magnitude improvement of drag prediction accuracy compared to currently used models (typically around 20 to 30 counts). More interestingly, the SED-SL model is distinguished with fewer parameters of clear physical meaning, which quantify underlying turbulent boundary layer (TBL) with a universal multi-layer structure, and is thus promising to be more easily generalizable to complex TBL. The use of the new model for the calibration of flow condition in experiment and the extraction of flow physics from numerical simulation data of aeronautic flows are discussed.
Novel mutations in the QRDR region gyrA gene in multidrug-resistance Corynebacterium spp. isolates from intravenous sites
Authors: Ramos Juliana Nunes , Valadão Talita Bernardo , Baio Paulo Victor Pereira , Mattos-Guaraldi Ana Luiza , Vieira Verônica Viana
Published: November 2019

The resistance to fluoroquinolones in corynebacteria is due to mutations occurring in the quinolone-resistance-determining region (QRDR) of the gyrA gene encoding the enzyme gyrase A subunit. In recent years we can observe an increasing number of infections caused by multidrug-resistant Corynebacterium striatum, Corynebacterium jeikeium and Corynebacterium urealyticum, including wide range of disorders, such as invasive infections. In this study 14 Corynebacterium spp. isolated from intravenous sites were sequenced and new combinations of mutations in the QRDR of the gyrA gene were found in C. jeikeium and C. urealyticum. Nowadays, no study comparing mutations in this region and the susceptibility to fluoroquinolones in C. jeikeium and C. urealyticum has been described. All the isolates that showed double mutation (position 87 and 91) in the QRDR gyrA gene had high MIC to the fluoroquinolones tested.
No escape: most insect colonisers of an introduced fig tree in Cyprus come from the plant’s native range
Authors: Compton S. G. , Stavrinides M. , Kaponas C. , Thomas P. J.
Published: November 2019

Plants that become invasive outside their native range often benefit from the absence of their native-range herbivores. Ficus microcarpa is a widely-planted Asian–Australasian species of fig tree that has become invasive in parts of its introduced range. As in most places where it is planted, the pollinator of F. microcarpa has been introduced to Cyprus, together with at least six other Asian fig wasp species. We recorded the other insects feeding on the leaves, buds and stems of this fig tree in southern Cyprus. Eight sap-sucking insects were recorded, and one leaf-galling species, with some present at high frequencies and densities. The insects were a mix of introduced polyphagous species and introduced F. microcarpa specialists. They included the first European record of the fig leaf galling psyllid Trioza brevigenae, which was described from India. Ficus microcarpa has not escaped from its native-range phytophages, but they appear to be free of their own specialist parasitoids and predators. The result is a herbivore load than may be comparable with what the plant experiences in its countries of origin. This is likely to reduce the invasiveness of F. microcarpa, but at the same time makes the plant a less attractive option for future planting.
Moral Development in Business Ethics: An Examination and Critique
Authors: DeTienne Kristen Bell , Ellertson Carol Frogley , Ingerson Marc-Charles , Dudley William R.
Published: November 2019

The field of behavioral ethics has seen considerable growth over the last few decades. One of the most significant concerns facing this interdisciplinary field of research is the moral judgment-action gap. The moral judgment-action gap is the inconsistency people display when they know what is right but do what they know is wrong. Much of the research in the field of behavioral ethics is based on (or in response to) early work in moral psychology and American psychologist Lawrence Kohlberg’s foundational cognitive model of moral development. However, Kohlberg’s model of moral development lacks a compelling explanation for the judgment-action gap. Yet, it continues to influence theory, research, teaching, and practice in business ethics today. As such, this paper presents a critical review and analysis of the pertinent literature. This paper also reviews modern theories of ethical decision making in business ethics. Gaps in our current understanding and directions for future research in behavioral business ethics are presented. By providing this important theoretical background information, targeted critical analysis, and directions for future research, this paper assists management scholars as they begin to seek a more unified approach, develop newer models of ethical decision making, and conduct business ethics research that examines the moral judgment-action gap.
Genetic composition and conservation status of coastal cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarki clarki) in the San Juan Islands, Washington
Authors: Glasgow Jamie , De Groot Jennifer D. , Small Maureen P.
Published: November 2019

Understanding the conservation status of native fish populations is increasingly important because they are put at risk by mounting anthropogenic pressures, including climate change. Conventional approaches to assess fish populations can be logistically challenging and cost-prohibitive. As a result, resource managers often make assumptions about the status of fish populations based on limited information. The watersheds of Washington’s San Juan Islands were considered too small to support wild salmonid populations. Many streams flow only seasonally, and all have been subjected to varying degrees of anthropogenic impacts affecting their ecological integrity. Nonetheless, we found that at least five watersheds in the archipelago support populations of coastal cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarki clarki). To better understand the conservation status of coastal cutthroat trout populations there, we genotyped approximately fifty trout in each of three watersheds: Cascade and Doe Bay creeks on Orcas Island and Garrison Creek on San Juan Island. Results suggest that two watersheds support native populations and one supports naturalized hatchery fish. The likely native coastal cutthroat trout diversity documented in the two watersheds contributes to the overall diversity of the species, demonstrates that species’ resiliency, and provides justification for conservation measures. Effective management and conservation planning in data-limited situations requires the use of a precautionary approach. Population genetics provide a useful tool for identifying vulnerable fish populations and understanding their relationships with other conspecific populations. This information can inform restoration goals and help identify and prioritize restoration and protection measures.