bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Performance of Two Survey Gears Targeting Elasmobranchs in a Shallow, Subtropical Estuary
Authors: Roskar Grace , McCallister Michael P. , Ajemian Matthew J.
Published: February 2020

Fishery-independent surveys have become increasingly prevalent in recent decades for monitoring the population trends of highly mobile species like elasmobranchs (sharks and rays). Despite the utility of gear evaluations for streamlining costs and increasing the efficiency of fishery-independent surveys, these assessments are sparse for elasmobranch-specific surveys. Catch data were examined from a fishery-independent longline and gill-net survey that targeted elasmobranchs in Florida's southern Indian River Lagoon from July 2016 to September 2018. The goal of the study was to assess the effects of the type of longline bait that is used (Striped Mullet Mugil cephalus versus Atlantic Mackerel Scomber scombrus) and the size of gill-net mesh (15.2- versus 20.3-cm stretch mesh) on the species composition, catch per unit effort (CPUE), and size distribution of captured elasmobranchs. Elasmobranchs were caught more often in the gill net than on the longline. Striped Mullet yielded a significantly higher CPUE of elasmobranchs than Atlantic Mackerel did. Although Striped Mullet caught more sharks than Atlantic Mackerel did, the mean length of the sharks did not differ between groups that were captured with the two bait types. Species composition differed with respect to bait type; significantly more Bull Sharks Carcharhinus leucas and Atlantic Sharpnose Sharks Rhizoprionodon terraenovae were caught with Striped Mullet. Elasmobranch abundances were similar between the two sizes of gill-net mesh. However, species composition differed, with a greater abundance of both Atlantic Stingrays Hypanus sabinus and Bull Sharks caught in the 15.2-cm mesh. Elasmobranchs that were caught in the 20.3-cm mesh were significantly larger than those caught in the 15.2-cm mesh. The length distributions for the common species (Bull Sharks, Atlantic Stingrays, and Bluntnose Stingrays H. say) differed significantly with respect to the two mesh sizes. This study is the first assessment of a standardized elasmobranch-specific survey in this nationally significant estuary and increases our understanding of the performance of complementary gear types for targeting sharks and rays in a shallow lagoonal system.
Novel SMAD3 p.Arg386Thr genetic variant co‐segregating with thoracic aortic aneurysm and dissection
Authors: Engström Karolina , Vánky Farkas , Rehnberg Malin , Trinks Cecilia , Jonasson Jon , Green Anna , Gunnarsson Cecilia
Published: February 2020

Background

Pathogenic variants in the SMAD3 gene affecting the TGF‐β/SMAD3 signaling pathway with aortic vessel involvement cause Loeys‐Dietz syndrome 3, also known as aneurysms–osteoarthritis syndrome.

Methods

Description of clinical history of a family in Sweden using clinical data, DNA sequencing, bioinformatics, and pedigree analysis.

Results

We report a novel SMAD3 variant, initially classified as a genetic variant of uncertain clinical significance (VUS), and later found to be co‐segregating with aortic dissection in the family. The index patient presented with a dissecting aneurysm of the aorta including the ascending, descending, and abdominal parts. Genotype analysis revealed a heterozygous missense SMAD3 variant: NM_005902.3(SMAD3): c.11576G > C (p.Arg386Thr). The same variant was also identified in a 30 years old formalin‐fixed paraffin‐embedded block of tissue from a second cousin, who died at 26 years of age from a dissecting aneurysm of the aorta.

Conclusion

A “variant of uncertain significance” according to the ACMG guidelines has always a scope for reappraisal. Genetic counselling to relatives, and the offering of surveillance service is important to families with aortic aneurysm disease. The report also highlight the potential use of FFPE analysis from deceased relatives to help in the interpretation of variants.
QPSK detection using glow discharge detector and a photodiode for millimeter‐wave and terahertz communication
Authors: Ben‐Laish Moti , Rozban Daniel , Aharon Avihai , Abramovich Amir , Yitzhaky Yitzhak , Kopeika Natan
Published: February 2020

The terahertz gap (0.1‐10 THz) is an attractive frequency band for new applications. In wireless communication, it can serve as a high capacity link. The lack in use of that gap exists due to a lack of available commercial communications technology systems in that region. We have found that neon indicator lamps or glow discharge detectors (GDD) can be used as simple and very inexpensive detectors in that frequency gap. In modern modulation techniques, the signal phase should be recovered. This article is a proof of concept of detection of quadratic amplitude modulated millimeter‐wave signals by a GDD and photodiode using a heterodyne detection method.
Multifunctional linear‐polarized terahertz focusing metasurface
Authors: Kou Wei , Zhang Yaxin , Chen Ting , Yang Ziqiang , Liang Shixiong
Published: February 2020

In this article, we propose a multifunctional linear‐polarized terahertz focusing metasurface enabling terahertz focusing at different focal distances for efficient terahertz wave‐front manipulation. Due to the subtle resonance response of two orthogonal electric dipoles in each unit structure, the change in length will contribute to the phase shift depending on the polarization direction of the normal terahertz wave, correspondingly, phase distributions on the metasurface can be efficiently controlled in both vertical and horizontal directions. Numerical simulations demonstrate that two different focal distances can be achieved under a normal incidence wave with different polarization. The one focal distance is 12 mm under normally incident plane wave with x polarization, while another focal distance is 4.4 mm under y‐polarized component at 0.30 THz. This design method can significantly expand the capabilities of metasurfaces in controlling EM waves and open a pathway in designing multifunctional meta‐devices to satisfy diversified application demands.
Characterization of the extensor digitorum communis tendon using high‐frequency ultrasound shear wave elastography
Authors: Hsiao Yan‐Yi , Yang Tai‐Hua , Chen Pei‐Yu , Hsu Hsiu‐Yun , Kuo Li‐Chieh , Su Fong‐Chin , Huang Chih‐Chung
Published: February 2020

Purpose

Hand tendon injuries caused by various accidents are common in emergency departments. The assessment of tendon properties is crucial for evaluating the effectiveness of therapy or rehabilitation during recovery after hand injuries. Many recent studies have indicated that the shear wave velocity (SWV) of tendons is related to their stiffness. However, measurement of SWV of hand tendon is still a challenge because the small size of tendon and the limitation of existing ultrasound systems for detecting fast SWV.

Methods

We propose a high‐frequency ultrasound (HFUS) elastography system using an external vibrator to measure the SWV of the extensor digitorum communis (EDC) tendon. First, animal studies were performed by measuring the SWV and stress of porcine tendons using the proposed HFUS elastography and materials testing systems respectively. In the human experiment, SWVs were measured during hand extension and flexion. The applied stress from a finger during the movements was recorded synchronously by using a load cell.

Results

The experimental results reveal that a favorable linear correction (R2 of 0.96) was obtained between tendon SWV and stress in animal studies. In the human (hand) EDC tendon experiments, the SWV increased with the extension and flexion of the hand. The SWV of the EDC tendon was in the range of 20 to 135 m/s as the applied force from the finger of a healthy human increased to 50% maximal voluntary contraction.

Conclusions

All the experimental results show that the proposed HFUS elastography system can be used to characterize the EDC tendon and has potential use for evaluating tendon stiffness during recovery after hand injures.
Diagnosing schizophrenia with network analysis and a machine learning method
Authors: Jo Young Tak , Joo Sung Woo , Shon Seung‐Hyun , Kim Harin , Kim Yangsik , Lee Jungsun
Published: February 2020

Objective

Schizophrenia is a chronic and debilitating neuropsychiatric disorder. It has been suggested that impaired brain connectivity underlies the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. Network analysis has thus recently emerged in the field of schizophrenia research.

Methods

We investigated 48 schizophrenia patients and 24 healthy controls using network analysis and a machine learning method. A number of global and nodal network properties were estimated from graphs that were reconstructed using probabilistic brain tractography. These network properties were then compared between groups and used for machine learning to classify schizophrenia patients and healthy controls.

Results

In classifying schizophrenia patients and healthy controls via network properties, the support vector machine, random forest, naïve Bayes, and gradient boosting machine learning models showed an encouraging level of performance. The overall connectivity was revealed as the most significant contributing feature to this classification among the global network properties. Among the nodal network properties, although the relative importance of each region of interest was not identical, there were still some patterns.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the possibility exists to classify schizophrenia patients and healthy controls using network properties, and we have found that there is a provisional pattern of involved brain regions among patients with schizophrenia.
Semi‐automated volumetry of MRI serves as a biomarker in neuromuscular patients
Authors: Müller Madlaine , Dohrn Maike F. , Romanzetti Sandro , Gadermayr Michael , Reetz Kathrin , Krämer Nils A. , Kuhl Christiane , Schulz Jörg B. , Gess Burkhard
Published: February 2020

Background

Muscle MRI is of increasing importance for neuromuscular patients to detect changes in muscle volume, fat‐infiltration, and edema. We developed a method for semi‐automated segmentation of muscle MRI datasets.

Methods

An active contour‐evolution algorithm implemented within the ITK‐SNAP software was used to segment T1‐weighted MRI, and to quantify muscle volumes of neuromuscular patients (n = 65).

Results

Semi‐automated compared with manual segmentation was shown to be accurate and time‐efficient. Muscle volumes and ratios of thigh/lower leg volume were lower in myopathy patients than in controls (P < .0001; P < .05). We found a decrease of lower leg muscle volume in neuropathy patients compared with controls (P < .01), which correlated with clinical parameters. In myopathy patients, muscle volume showed a positive correlation with muscle strength (rleft = 0.79, pleft < .0001). Muscle volumes were independent of body mass index and age.

Conclusions

Our method allows for exact and time‐efficient quantification of muscle volumes with possible use as a biomarker in neuromuscular patients.
What developments are needed to achieve less‐invasive urodynamics? ICI‐RS 2019
Authors: Gammie Andrew , Speich John E. , Damaser Margot S. , Gajewski Jerzy B. , Abrams Paul , Rosier Peter F. W. M. , Arlandis Salvador , Tarcan Tufan , Finazzi Agrò Enrico
Published: February 2020

Aims

To assess the state of technologies for urodynamics that are less invasive than standard cystometry and pressure‐flow studies and to suggest areas needing research to improve this.

Methods

A summary of a Think Tank debate held at the 2019 meeting of the International Consultation on Incontinence Research Society is provided, with subsequent analysis by the authors. Less‐invasive techniques were summarized, classified by method, and possible developments considered. Discussions and recommendations were summarized by the co‐chairs and edited into the form of this paper by all authors.

Results

There is a full spectrum of technologies available for less‐invasive assessment, ranging from simple uroflowmetry through imaging techniques to emerging complex technologies. Less‐invasive diagnostics will not necessarily need to replace diagnosis by, or even provide the same level of diagnostic accuracy as, invasive urodynamics. Rather than aiming for a technique that is merely less invasive, the priority is to develop methods that are either as accurate as current invasive methods, or spare patients from the necessity of invasive methods by improving early triaging.

Conclusions

Technologies offering less‐invasive urodynamic measurement of specific elements of function can be potentially beneficial. Less‐invasive techniques may sometimes be useful as an adjunct to invasive urodynamics. The potential for current less‐invasive tests to completely replace invasive urodynamic testing is considered, however, to be low. Less‐invasive techniques must, therefore, be tested as screening/triaging tools, with the aim to spare some patients from invasive urodynamics early in the treatment pathway.
Estimate of the proportion of uncertain diagnoses of pudendal neuralgia in women with chronic pelvic‐perineal pain: A systematic review with a descriptive data synthesis
Authors: Indraccolo Ugo , Nardulli Roberto , Indraccolo Salvatore R.
Published: February 2020

Background

There is a gap between pudendal neuralgia (PN) due to pudendal entrapment syndrome and PN without pudendal entrapment syndrome. The latter could have atypical symptoms.

Aim

Defining a rate of atypical PN from a clinical series of female patients with chronic pelvic‐perineal pain.

Methods

The atypical PN was defined as a pain not meeting clinical criteria for pudendal entrapment syndrome. The effect size was the rate of atypical PN. Such a rate was expected to be found among patients screened for enrollment in clinical series on pudendal neuropathic pain. A systematic search was performed looking for clinical series on PN. Studies must report information on female patients, pelvic‐perineal pain, at least a clinical criterion for diagnosing the pudendal neurogenic origin of pain, the proportion of patients with pain not meeting the clinical criterion/a for diagnosing the pudendal entrapment pain.

Results

From 2637 references, nine studies were included for qualitative analysis. Three of them were not suitable for data synthesis: one assessed the rate of PN after hip arthroscopy; second enrolled miscellaneous patients, a third investigated patients with gynecological diseases. Six studies involved patients with suspicion of pudendal entrapment symptoms (205 patients observed), allowing data synthesis. One of these series was judged as being of good quality. The overall rate of atypical PN is 0.013 (95% confidence interval, 0.008‐0.021), I2 0%. Further analysis suggests the risk of bias for all studies.

Conclusions

Atypical PN in females is low when clinical criteria for pudendal entrapment syndrome are applied.
Quantitative theory for the transverse relaxation time of blood water
Authors: Li Wenbo , van Zijl Peter C.M.
Published: February 2020

An integrative model is proposed to describe the dependence of the transverse relaxation rate of blood water protons (R2blood = 1/T2blood) on hematocrit fraction and oxygenation fraction (Y). This unified model takes into account (a) the diamagnetic effects of albumin, hemoglobin and the cell membrane; (b) the paramagnetic effect of hemoglobin; (c) the effect of compartmental exchange between plasma and erythrocytes under both fast and slow exchange conditions that vary depending on field strength and compartmental relaxation rates and (d) the effect of diffusion through field gradients near the erythrocyte membrane. To validate the model, whole‐blood and lysed‐blood R2 data acquired previously using Carr‐Purcell‐Meiboom‐Gill measurements as a function of inter‐echo spacing τcp at magnetic fields of 3.0, 7.0, 9.4 and 11.7 T were fitted to determine the lifetimes (field‐independent physiological constants) for water diffusion and exchange, as well as several physical constants, some of which are field‐independent (magnetic susceptibilities) and some are field‐dependent (relaxation rates for water protons in solutions of albumin and oxygenated and deoxygenated hemoglobin, ie, blood plasma and erythrocytes, respectively). This combined exchange‐diffusion model allowed excellent fitting of the curve of the τcp‐dependent relaxation rate dispersion at all four fields using a single average erythrocyte water lifetime, τery = 9.1 ± 1.4 ms, and an averaged diffusional correlation time, τD = 3.15 ± 0.43 ms. Using this model and the determined physiological time constants and relaxation parameters, blood T2 values published by multiple groups based on measurements at magnetic field strengths of 1.5 T and higher could be predicted correctly within error. Establishment of this theory is a fundamental step for quantitative modeling of the BOLD effect underlying functional MRI.
An extended/generalized phase‐field finite element method for crack growth with global‐local enrichment
Authors: Geelen Rudy , Plews Julia , Tupek Michael , Dolbow John
Published: February 2020

An extended/generalized finite element method (XFEM/GFEM) for simulating quasistatic crack growth based on a phase‐field method is presented. The method relies on approximations to solutions associated with two different scales: a global scale, that is, structural and discretized with a coarse mesh, and a local scale encapsulating the fractured region, that is, discretized with a fine mesh. A stable XFEM/GFEM is employed to embed the displacement and damage fields at the global scale. The proposed method accommodates approximation spaces that evolve between load steps, while preserving a fixed background mesh for the structural problem. In addition, a prediction‐correction algorithm is employed to facilitate the dynamic evolution of the confined crack regions within a load step. Several numerical examples of benchmark problems in two‐ and three‐dimensional quasistatic fracture are provided to demonstrate the approach.
Hyper‐reduced direct numerical simulation of voids in welded joints via image‐based modeling
Authors: Lacourt Laurent , Ryckelynck David , Forest Samuel , de Rancourt Victor , Flouriot Sylvain
Published: February 2020

Defects such as gas pores can be formed and trapped in the fusion zone during laser welding. These defects can significantly affect the mechanical reliability of the welded joint. Current nondestructive inspection technologies are able to detect micro‐voids in a mass production context. Finite element analysis can therefore be used to assess the lifetime of an observed component via image‐based modeling. Unfortunately, running a simulation per component entails a huge and generally unaffordable computational cost. In addition, voids do not admit a parametric modeling. In this paper, a numerical method is proposed to study the impact of defects on the mechanical response of a welded joint. It is based on model order reduction techniques that decrease the computational cost of each simulation related to an image‐based modeling. To tackle the reduction of nonparametric defects, a multiscale construction of the reduced basis is proposed, although no scale separation is assumed when computing the mechanical response of the structure. Some empirical modes are representing the structure behavior and other empirical modes are related to the defect‐induced local fluctuations. They are then assembled to simulate a defective joint. Assets and limitations of the proposed method are explored through a simplified two‐dimensional (2D) problem. For the sake of reproducibility, this 2D problem is fully parametric. Finally, a realistic three‐dimensional (3D) industrial case is presented, where voids geometries have been measured via computed tomography. This 3D problem being nonparametric, fluctuation modes must be computed on the fly, once the computed tomography has been performed.
Plasma levels of matrix metalloproteinase‐9 (MMP‐9) are associated with cognitive performance in patients with schizophrenia
Authors: Kudo Noriko , Yamamori Hidenaga , Ishima Tamaki , Nemoto Kiyotaka , Yasuda Yuka , Fujimoto Michiko , Azechi Hirotsugu , Niitsu Tomihisa , Numata Shusuke , Ikeda Manabu , Iyo Masaomi , Ohmori Tetsuro , Fukunaga Masaki , Watanabe Yoshiyuki , Hashimoto Kenji , Hashimoto Ryota
Published: February 2020

Aim

Matrix metalloproteinase‐9 (MMP‐9) has been shown to modulate synaptic plasticity and may contribute to the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. This study investigated the peripheral levels of MMP‐9 and its association with cognitive functions in patients with schizophrenia to see the possible involvement of MMP‐9 in pathophysiology of schizophrenia, especially in cognitive decline.

Methods

We measured the plasma levels of MMP‐9 in 257 healthy controls and 249 patients with schizophrenia, including antipsychotic drug–free patients. We also explored the possible association between plasma MMP‐9 levels and cognitive performance in healthy controls and patients with schizophrenia using the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale, Third Edition (WAIS‐ III), the Wechsler Memory Scale‐Revised (WMS‐R), and the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (AVLT).

Results

We found that the plasma levels of MMP‐9 were significantly higher in patients with schizophrenia, including antipsychotic drug–free patients, than in healthy controls. We found a significant negative association between plasma MMP‐9 levels and cognitive performance in controls and patients with schizophrenia.

Conclusion

Together, these convergent data suggest a possible biological mechanism for schizophrenia, whereby increased MMP‐9 levels are associated with cognitive impairment.
Thirty‐Year Risk of Cardiovascular Disease Events in Adolescents with Severe Obesity
Authors: Ryder Justin R. , Xu Peixin , Inge Thomas H. , Xie Changchun , Jenkins Todd M. , Hur Chin , Lee Minyi , Choi Jin , Michalsky Marc P. , Kelly Aaron S. , Urbina Elaine M.
Published: February 2020

Objective

Quantifying risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) events among adolescents is difficult owing to the long latent period between risk factor development and disease outcomes. This study examined the 30‐year CVD event risk among adolescents with severe obesity treated with and without metabolic and bariatric surgery (MBS), compared with youths with moderate obesity, overweight, or normal weight.

Methods

Cross‐sectional and longitudinal comparisons of five frequency‐matched (age and diabetes status) groups were performed: normal weight (n = 247), overweight (n = 54), obesity (n = 131), severe obesity without MBS (n = 302), and severe obesity undergoing MBS (n = 215). A 30‐year CVD event score developed by the Framingham Heart Study was the primary outcome. Data are mean (SD) with differences between time points for MBS examined using linear mixed models.

Results

Preoperatively, the likelihood of CVD events was higher among adolescents undergoing MBS (7.9% [6.7%]) compared with adolescents with severe obesity not referred for MBS (5.5% [4.0%]), obesity (3.9% [3.0%]), overweight (3.1% [2.4%]), and normal weight (1.8% [0.8%]; all P < 0.001). At 1 year after MBS, event risk was significantly reduced (7.9% [6.7%] to 4.0% [3.4%], P < 0.0001) and was sustained for up to 5 years after MBS (P < 0.0001, all years vs. baseline).

Conclusions

Adolescents with severe obesity are at elevated risk for future CVD events. Following MBS, the predicted risk of CVD events was substantially and sustainably reduced.
Impact of a Policy to Deliver at 39 Weeks for the Indication of Class III Obesity
Authors: Pierce Stephanie L. , Maxted Marta E. , Peck Jennifer D. , Lutz Jessica S. , Lopez‐Davila Maria F. , Vieira Frederico , Atchley Courtney B. , Edwards Rodney K.
Published: February 2020

Objective

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of a policy to deliver at 39 weeks for class III obesity.

Methods

This was a retrospective cohort study of women with class III obesity delivering at ≥ 37 weeks before (May 2012 to April 2014) and after the policy (September 2014 to August 2016). The primary outcome was the cesarean rate. Secondary outcomes included maternal morbidities and a neonatal morbidity composite. Modified Poisson regression was used to adjust for demographic differences between groups.

Results

The study included a total of 1,210 patients, 580 before the policy and 630 after the policy. Before and after the policy, cesarean rates were similar (41.6% vs. 47.1%; risk ratio [RR]: 1.13 [95% CI: 1.00‐1.29]; adjusted RR [aRR]: 1.03 [95% CI: 0.92‐1.14]). In adjusted comparisons of women undergoing labor induction, parous women had lower cesarean rates (aRR: 0.62; 95% CI: 0.41‐0.94) but nulliparous women had higher cesarean rates (aRR: 1.32; 95% CI: 1.04‐1.68) after the policy (P for interaction = 0.01). Rates of chorioamnionitis, endometritis, and cesarean wound infection were not different between groups. Composite neonatal morbidity was not different between pre‐ and postpolicy groups.

Conclusions

A policy of delivery at 39 weeks for class III obesity did not affect overall cesarean rate or rates of maternal or neonatal morbidity. Further investigation should evaluate subsets of women who may have a higher cesarean rate with this policy.
When It Comes to Sulfur Chemicals, Context Is Everything
Authors: Burlingame Gary A.
Published: February 2020

Sulfur is a natural chemical that's an essential element of everyday life—it's present in the atmosphere, marine life, geological formations, the foods we eat, and our bodies. But sulfur‐containing chemicals are a nuisance for water treatment professionals and have no place in drinking water.
Veterans Move From Helmets to Hardhats
Authors: Hooper Rebecca , Resiak Zbigniew
Published: February 2020

AWWA predicts in the next 10 years the water utility industry will be faced with 45 percent of its workforce eligible for retirement. Do you have positions that are going unfilled or taking months to fill? Consider that approximately 200,000 men and women leave US military service and return to life as civilians each year, according to the US Department of Veterans Affairs.
Use Best Practices for A Successful AMI System Rollout
Authors: Cain Sam
Published: February 2020

To help drive efficiency, the Florida Governmental Utility Authority recently installed a comprehensive advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) system. The lessons learned during the process can benefit any water utility considering or installing such a system
Industrial Internet of Things Puts New Pressure on Traditional Control Systems
Authors: Duhaime Scott
Published: February 2020

Drawing from the Industrial Internet of Things, a water utility can tie data from sensors and other equipment into its existing control network to economically combine information into one system
Project Planning, Teamwork Are Key to Membrane Replacement Success
Authors: Kochmar Teodor , Hedges Brock , Wuorinen Elliot
Published: February 2020

Investing significant resources to develop a sensible project management plan paid big dividends when it came time to replace 7,308 ultrafiltration modules in one of North America's largest membrane treatment facilities
Climb Into Confined‐Space Safety
Authors:   AWWA STAFF
Published: February 2020

A confined space is any area with limited entry and exit that contains known or potential hazards and isn't intended for continuous human occupancy.
Does the policy cycle reflect the policymaking approach in Ghana?
Authors: Mohammed Abdulai Kuyini
Published: February 2020

Based on two cases involving 60 interviews and secondary evidence, this paper investigated whether Ghana's policymaking approach accorded with the policy cycle. The evidence showed that the Ghana industrial policy was largely compliant with the model. But the free senior high school policy bore little resemblance to it. Factors that determined whether or not policymaking followed the policy cycle included the salience of the issue, the sponsor of the issue, the political environment at the time, and the timing of the introduction of the issue. Four conclusions can be drawn from the Ghanaian evidence. First, the rough edges of the policy cycle can be trimmed and applied as a best fit model rather than a best practice model in any jurisdiction. Second, the policy cycle like other policy process theories should not be written off as inappropriate or inefficacious simply because practice failed to adhere to one or two out of the several elements of the theory. Third, an integrated policy process model is likely to be more efficacious than a single one, but there is inattention to such an idea. Finally, drawing lessons from policy process theories is a neglected area, which needs to be emphasized.
Clinical, cytogenetic, and molecular analyses of 17 neonates with transient abnormal myelopoiesis and nonconstitutional trisomy 21
Authors: Yuzawa Kentaro , Terui Kiminori , Toki Tsutomu , Kanezaki Rika , Kobayashi Akie , Sato Tomohiko , Kamio Takuya , Kudo Ko , Sasaki Shinya , Endo Mikiya , Ozono Shuichi , Nomura Keiko , Ito Etsuro
Published: February 2020

Background

Transient abnormal myelopoiesis (TAM) is a unique myeloproliferative disorder that occurs in neonates with constitutional trisomy 21/Down syndrome (DS). Although TAM also develops in neonates without constitutional trisomy 21, the clinical, cytogenetic, and molecular characteristics of those patients are not fully understood.

Procedure

We retrospectively evaluated the clinical and cytogenetic findings and GATA1 mutation status of 17 neonates with TAM and nonconstitutional trisomy 21 tested for GATA1 mutations at our institute, and compared the findings with those of 64 neonates with TAM and constitutional trisomy 21/DS.

Results

DS clinical features were observed in five of the 17 (29%) patients. In all patients, both trisomy 21 and GATA1 mutations were detected in diagnostic samples. Over a median follow‐up of 33 (range, 0‐139) months, early death (< 6 months of age) occurred in four patients (24%). Overall and event‐free survivals were not significantly different between the patients with TAM and nonconstitutional trisomy 21 and those with TAM and constitutional trisomy 21/DS (five‐year overall survival: 76% ± 10% vs 53% ± 13%, P = 0.40; five‐year event‐free survival: 55% ± 13% vs 48% ± 12%, P = 0.90). The five‐year cumulative incidence of progression to myeloid leukemia of DS was also similar between the groups (21% vs 24%, P = 0.80).

Conclusions

Patients with TAM and nonconstitutional trisomy 21 exhibited similar biology and outcomes to those with TAM and constitutional trisomy 21/DS. The possibility of TAM should be considered even in phenotypically normal neonates with TAM symptoms, for appropriate management.
Analysis of astragalosides I, II and IV in some Egyptian Astragalus species and Astragalus dietary supplements using high‐performance liquid chromatography/evaporative light scattering detector and non‐parametric regression
Authors: Korany Mohamed A. , Moneeb Marwa S. , Asaad Aya M. , El‐Sebakhy Nadia A. , El‐Banna Alaa A.
Published: February 2020

Introduction

GenuTs Astragalus L. is characterised by the presence of cycloartane saponins which have wide biological activities such as antioxidant, immunomodulating‚ hepatoprotective and anti‐inflammatory activities. From these cycloartane saponins are astragalosides I, II and IV which have been regarded as the most important active constituents in Astragalus species.

Objectives

This work describes the quantitative analysis of astragalosides I, II and IV in some Egyptian Astragalus species and Astragalus dietary supplements in a single run by high‐performance liquid chromatography/evaporative light scattering detector (HPLC/ELSD) using gradient elution.

Methodology

The method of quantitation adopted in this study is the standard addition method. First and second derivative treatment of the data was performed, and the study presents comparison between two statistical regression methods for handling data; parametric and non‐parametric regression methods.

Results

Derivative treatment of the chromatographic response data gives improved quantitation of the chromatographic signals. Non‐parametric regression of the data using Theil's method is advantageous over the usual least squares method as it assumes that errors could occur in both x‐ and y‐directions and they might not be normally distributed. In addition, it could effectively circumvent any outlier data points.

Conclusion

Due to the simplicity and the good accuracy and reproducibility of the suggested methods, they could be used for analysis and quality control of Astragalus species and Astragalus dietary supplements.
Cold atmospheric pressure plasmas in dermatology: Sources, reactive agents, and therapeutic effects
Authors: Liu Dawei , Zhang Yanzhe , Xu Maoyuan , Chen Hongxiang , Lu Xinpei , Ostrikov Kostya (Ken)
Published: February 2020

Recently, cold atmospheric pressure plasmas (CAPs) have provided many new opportunities in dermatology by providing a multimodal action of reactive agents (RA). This review critically examines the generation, transport, and physical effects induced by CAPs in dermatologic treatments. We introduce the most suitable plasma sources, which provide a multitude of physical effects on the skin without any electric or thermal shocks. The mechanisms of generation and transport of the key reactive species are introduced and examined from the viewpoint of their applications in dermatology. Special attention is paid to study the “plasmaporation” effect, which enables RA penetration through healthy and damaged skin. Plausible physical mechanisms involved in the CAP treatment of some of the most common skin diseases are analyzed.
Influence of operating parameters on high‐pressure microhollow cathode discharge with a cylindrical hole
Authors: Li Xuechen , Ren Chenhua , He Xingran , Wu Kaiyue , Jia Pengying , Li Shouzhe
Published: February 2020

As a promising candidate for generating large‐scale plasma at high pressure, microhollow cathode discharge (MHCD) with a cylindrical hole has been numerically simulated at an argon pressure higher than 50 Torr by a two‐dimensional particle‐in‐cell Monte Carlo collision method. Results indicate that MHCD is operated in a confined phase at the beginning, which transits to an expanded phase and reaches a steady‐state at about 160 ns. In a steady‐state MHCD, the majority of electrons have a low energy of several eV, and some electrons have a high energy up to 480 eV. High‐energy electrons mainly appear adjacent to the cathode surface. With increasing applied voltage, there is a transition from the confined phase to the expanded phase for a steady‐state MHCD. Moreover, maximal density of charged particles increases for the expanded phase with increasing applied voltage and argon pressure or decreasing hole diameter. Besides, discharge morphology has been investigated in detail with varying operating parameters. All these results have been compared with those simulated by the fluid model.
Two novel alkaloids fromCorydalis curvifloraMaxim. and their insecticidal activity
Authors: Xia JianKai , Liu Yao , Zhou Yu , Zhang JiaYao , Li ChunHuan , Yin Xia , Tian XiangRong , Zhang XiuYun
Published: February 2020

BACKGROUND

Botanical pesticide plays an essential role in the control of agricultural pests.Corydalis curvifloraMaxim. is used as a cholagogue and larvicide in the rural areas of Northwest China. In this study, our objective was to identify the insect active ingredients ofC. curvifloraextract.

RESULTS

Bioassay‐guided isolation of the high active fraction led to the identification of two novel N‐demethyl hexahydrobenzophenanthridine‐type alkaloids, Curviflorain A (1) and Curviflorain B (2), together with nine known alkaloids, ambiguanine A (3), ambiguanine B (4), ambiguanine C (5), 6‐acetylambinine (6), 1,1‐dimethyl‐6‐methoxy‐7‐hydroxyl‐1,2,3,4‐tetrahydroisoquinoline (7), hendersine B (8), coryximine (9), isochotensine (10) and corysolidine (11). Compounds 1, 2, and 6 showed promising activity to the larvae ofCulex pipiens pallensCoq. andAedes albopictusSkuse.These compounds were also tested against the insect pests,Mythimna separatawalker. andSchizaphis graminumRondani.

CONCLUSION

These findings provide a better understanding of the insecticidal activity ofC. curvifloraextract and the active compounds. This has the potential to lead to a more effective botanical insecticide.
Studies on the novel pyridine sulfide containing SDH based heterocyclic amide fungicide
Authors: Hua Xuewen , Liu Wenrui , Su Yanyan , Liu Xinghai , Liu Jingbo , Liu Nannan , Wang Guiqing , Jiao Xueqin , Fan Xiaoyi , Xue Chenmeng , Liu Yi , Liu Ming
Published: February 2020

BACKGROUND

Succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) has been identified as one of the most significant targets for fungicide discovery. To date, 23 commercial SDH inhibitor (SDHI) fungicides have been approved for plant protection since the first launch of carboxin in 1966, and extensively applied to combat destructive plant fungi.

RESULTS

In this project, 20 novel pyridine sulfide derivatives containing SDH‐based heterocyclic amide fungicide were designed, synthesized, and characterized by proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H‐NMR), carbon‐13 (13C)‐NMR and high‐resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS). In vitro fungicidal activity experiment, the target compound I‐1 displayed excellent inhibitory rates against the common agricultural pathogens with half maximal effective concentration (EC50) values of 5.2 to 39.8 μg mL−1. The in vivo fungicidal activities demonstrated that the compound I‐1 could effectively prevent Botrytis cinerea from infecting tomato and cucumber leaves with the preventative rates of 67% and 50%. The mitochondrial membrane potential detection, SDH enzyme assay and the molecular docking simulation revealed that the mechanism of action of the compound I‐1 and the relevant interactions with the target enzyme may be similar to those of the control fluopyram.

CONCLUSION

The biological activity screening and validation of mechanism of action indicated that the compound I‐1 could be identified as a potential SDH inhibitor for further study. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry
On the Interpretation of Hysteresis Loop for Electronic and Ionic Currents in Organic Memristive Devices
Authors: Battistoni Silvia , Verna Alessio , Marasso Simone Luigi , Cocuzza Matteo , Erokhin Victor
Published: February 2020

Being promising elements for neuromorphic computation, memristive devices have been often described as crucial elements for mimicking important synapse properties, such as memory and learning. Among them, organic memristive devices (OMDs) can claim low‐cost fabrication processes and the easy tunability of their electrical properties. Up to now, the major bottleneck for their larger uses in neuromorphic computation is low rate of the resistance switching and stability. Herein, a new approach is reported, based on the use of a liquid electrolyte, leading to the manufacturing of OMD with higher stability and faster resistive switching.
T* of Relaxor Ferroelectric (1 − x) Pb(Zn1/3Nb2/3)O3‐xPbTiO3 Single Crystals Revisited Using Brillouin Spectroscopy
Authors: Naqvi Furqan Ul Hassan , Lee Jeong Woo , Ko Jae-Hyeon , Chen Wenzhi , Bokov Alexei A. , Ye Zuo‐Guang , Tsukada Shinya , Kojima Seiji
Published: February 2020

The relaxor characteristics of Pb[(Zn1/3Nb2/3)1–xTix]O3 (PZN‐xPT) single crystals (with x = 0 and x = 0.08) are investigated using temperature‐dependent Brillouin scattering spectroscopy. The longitudinal acoustic (LA) mode shows typical relaxor behaviors for PZN, whereas its mode frequency exhibits a discontinuous change at the phase transition temperature (TC) for PZN‐8%PT. The transverse acoustic (TA) mode, which is forbidden in an ideal cubic phase at the backscattering geometry, appears in both samples at a certain temperature above either the dielectric maximum temperature (Tm) or TC. This breakdown of the Brillouin selection rule in the cubic phase indicates that the noncubic polar regions become appreciable at this temperature where the interaction between the acoustic waves and the polar nanoregions (PNRs) is strong enough to enable the appearance of the TA mode. The intermediate characteristic temperature T* is determined in terms of the minimum of the temperature derivative of the half width of the LA mode, and the values are nearly the same as those determined via the acoustic emission signal measurements. These comparisons reveal the universal feature of the local phase transformation from dynamic to quasistatic PNRs at T*, giving rise to the appearance of the TA mode.
Simulating Spin Chains Using a Superconducting Circuit: Gauge Invariance, Superadiabatic Transport, and Broken Time‐Reversal Symmetry
Authors: Vepsäläinen Antti , Paraoanu Gheorghe Sorin
Published: February 2020

Simulation of materials by using quantum processors is envisioned to be a major direction of development in quantum information science. Here, the mathematical analogies between a triangular spin lattice with Dzyaloshinskii–Moriya coupling on one edge and a three‐level system driven by three fields in a loop configuration are exploited to emulate spin‐transport effects. It is shown that the spin transport efficiency, seen in the three‐level system as population transfer, is enhanced when the conditions for superadiabaticity are satisfied. It is demonstrated experimentally that phenomena characteristic to spin lattices due to gauge invariance, non‐reciprocity, and broken time‐reversal symmetry can be reproduced in the three‐level system.
Antibiotic‐induced reduction of abnormal lung shadow in pulmonary nodular lymphoid hyperplasia
Authors: Tanino Akari , Tsubata Yukari , Hamaguchi Shunichi , Sutani Akihisa , Nagase Mamiko , Isobe Takeshi
Published: February 2020

Pulmonary nodular lymphoid hyperplasia (PNLH) involves proliferative lymphatic tissues and is reportedly associated with inflammatory disease or autoimmune disorders. Herein, we describe a case of PNLH with difficult diagnosis because of antibiotics therapy‐induced reduction in the abnormal tumour shadow. An 86‐year‐old man was admitted for persistent cough and bloody sputum. Computed tomography (CT) revealed a mass in the right middle lobe, which got smaller on treatment with tosufloxacin for pneumonia. Unexpectedly, the tumour shadow remained one month later. Positron emission tomography depicted fluorodeoxyglucose uptake at the site. Although lung cancer was suspected, the mass was non‐diagnostic on transbronchial and CT‐guided biopsies. He was eventually diagnosed with PNLH on post‐surgical histological analysis of the lung mass. Neutrophil accumulation and bacterial lumps were present, indicating Actinomyces infection in the pulmonary alveolus, suggesting that PNLH was associated with pneumonia. Histopathological examination helped identify the aetiology of this rare case of PNLH.
Moving data window gradient‐based iterative algorithm of combined parameter and state estimation for bilinear systems
Authors: Liu Siyu , Ding Feng , Hayat Tasawar
Published: February 2020

The combined iterative parameter and state estimation problem is considered for bilinear state‐space systems with moving average noise in this paper. There are the product terms of state variables and control variables in bilinear systems, which makes it difficult for the parameter and state estimation. By designing a bilinear state estimator based on the Kalman filtering, the states are estimated using the input‐output data. Furthermore, a moving data window (MDW) is introduced, which can update the dynamical data by removing the oldest data and adding the newest measurement data. A state estimator‐based MDW gradient‐based iterative (MDW‐GI) algorithm is proposed to estimate the unknown states and parameters jointly. Moreover, given the extended gradient‐based iterative (EGI) algorithm as a comparison, the MDW‐GI algorithm can reduce the impact of noise to parameter estimation and improve the parameter estimation accuracy. The numerical simulation examples validate the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm.
Emergent Bilingual Students and Digital Multimodal Composition: A Systematic Review of Research in Secondary Classrooms
Authors: Smith Blaine E. , Pacheco Mark B. , Khorosheva Mariia
Published: February 2020

With increasing cultural and linguistic diversity in today’s classrooms, a growing body of research continues to explore the varied ways in which digital tools and multiple modalities can tap into emergent bilingual students’ academic and linguistic strengths. To understand the empirical landscape of this growing research, the authors systematically reviewed the literature on emergent bilinguals and digital multimodal composition in secondary classrooms. Through an inductive approach, the authors analyzed 70 studies to understand key findings and characteristics of the extant research. Five main themes of findings emerged across the research. First, a majority of studies illustrated how digital multimodal composing supports emergent bilingual students’ identity expression. With expanded opportunities to share ideas through multiple modes, students used their projects to bridge transnational identities, (re)present themselves, and communicate in empowering ways. Second, nearly half of the studies emphasized how the integration of digital multimodal projects can reshape classrooms by challenging language ideologies, transforming the classroom as a locus for social justice, and expanding temporal and spatial boundaries as students compose for multiple audiences. Third, many studies demonstrated how emergent bilinguals develop as designers and leverage the unique semiotic resources of multiple modes when composing. Fourth, approximately a third of the studies showed how multimodal composition offers emergent bilinguals opportunities to expand their existing linguistic repertoires. Finally, a quarter of the studies illustrated the potential of multiple modes to mediate learning during composing processes. The authors discuss the implications of these themes and critical new directions for future research on digital multimodal composing with emergent bilingual students.
Convolutional Neural Networks accurately predict cover fractions of plant species and communities in Unmanned Aerial Vehicle imagery
Authors: Kattenborn Teja , Eichel Jana , Wiser Susan , Burrows Larry , Fassnacht Fabian E. , Schmidtlein Sebastian
Published: February 2020

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) greatly extended our possibilities to acquire high resolution remote sensing data for assessing the spatial distribution of species composition and vegetation characteristics. Yet, current pixel‐ or texture‐based mapping approaches do not fully exploit the information content provided by the high spatial resolution. Here, to fully harness this spatial detail, we apply deep learning techniques, that is, Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs), on regular tiles of UAV‐orthoimagery (here 2–5 m) to identify the cover of target plant species and plant communities. The approach was tested with UAV‐based orthomosaics and photogrammetric 3D information in three case studies, that is, (1) mapping tree species cover in primary forests, (2) mapping plant invasions by woody species into forests and open land and (3) mapping vegetation succession in a glacier foreland. All three case studies resulted in high predictive accuracies. The accuracy increased with increasing tile size (2–5 m) reflecting the increased spatial context captured by a tile. The inclusion of 3D information derived from the photogrammetric workflow did not significantly improve the models. We conclude that CNN are powerful in harnessing high resolution data acquired from UAV to map vegetation patterns. The study was based on low cost red, green, blue (RGB) sensors making the method accessible to a wide range of users. Combining UAV and CNN will provide tremendous opportunities for ecological applications.