bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Help‐seeking behaviour for cancer symptoms: an evolutionary concept analysis
Authors: Momeni Maryam , Rafii Forough
Published: November 2019

Background

Cancer survival largely depends on its early diagnosis. Therefore, assessing help‐seeking behaviours among people with potential symptoms of cancer is essential.

Aim

This study aimed to analyse the concept of help‐seeking behaviour for cancer symptoms.

Methods

This concept analysis was conducted using Rodger’s evolutionary method. An online literature search was conducted in the PubMed, Scopus and Cochrane databases to find relevant articles published from 2000 to 2017 in English peer‐reviewed journals. In total, ninety articles were included in the study. Through thematic analysis, the data were analysed for the definitions, attributes, antecedents and consequences of the concept of help‐seeking behaviour for cancer symptoms.

Results

The concept of help‐seeking behaviour for cancer symptoms includes a chain of behaviours and is defined as the process of informed decision‐making for seeking medical help and using healthcare services after the detection of the first potential cancer symptoms. The attributes of the concept of help‐seeking behaviour for cancer symptoms include process, problem‐centeredness, intentional action and interpersonal interaction. Antecedents of the concept of help‐seeking behaviour for cancer symptoms were broadly categorised as its facilitators and barriers, among which old age, young age, marriage, low education level, positive family history of cancer, fear over cancer, low perceived threat, symptom disclosure to significant others are both facilitator and barrier. The consequences of the concept of help‐seeking behaviour for cancer symptoms were also broadly categorised in the two main categories of positive consequences and adverse consequences.

Conclusions

Help‐seeking behaviour is a multidimensional time‐dependent and context‐bound concept which is usually defined based on the concept of time in order to facilitate its measurement. It is generally used for assessing patients’ delay in seeking medical help. The findings of this study provide better understanding about the concept of help‐seeking behaviour for cancer symptoms and its implications for research and practice.
Stress and Suicidal Ideation: The Role of State or Trait Anhedonia in a Moderated Mediation Model
Authors: Yang Xinhua , Wang Dongfang , Liu Sixun , Liu Guangya , Harrison Phillippa
Published: November 2019

Background

Recent works suggested taking into account the severity and the type of anhedonia when examining suicidal ideation. The present study investigated a moderated mediation model addressing the psychosocial mechanisms that account for the association between state or trait anhedonia and suicidal ideation.

Methods

State anhedonia was assessed using the Snaith‐Hamilton Pleasure Scale, while trait anhedonia was assessed using the Temporal Experience of Pleasure Scale. A total number of 1,361 of undergraduates completed questionnaires at three different times, with one‐year intervals.

Results

The direct effect of stress on suicidal ideation was significantly greater for those students who had lower trait anticipatory and consummatory anhedonia, whereas the indirect effect from stress on suicidal ideation through depression was significantly greater for those who had higher state anhedonia. Moreover, trait consummatory anhedonia moderated the relationship between stress and suicidal ideation after one year, and trait anticipatory anhedonia moderated the relationship between stress and suicidal ideation after two years.

Conclusions

Low levels of trait anhedonia were associated with elevated suicidal ideation, while high levels of state anhedonia were associated with elevated suicidal ideation. Trait consummatory anhedonia was associated with short‐term suicidal ideation, while trait anticipatory anhedonia was associated with long‐term suicidal ideation.
Emerging therapeutic approaches for canine sarcomas: Pushing the boundaries beyond the conventional
Authors: Borgatti Antonella , Dickerson Erin B. , Lawrence Jessica
Published: November 2019

Sarcomas represent a group of genomically chaotic, highly heterogenous tumours of mesenchymal origin with variable mutational load. Conventional therapy with surgery and radiation therapy is effective for managing small, low‐grade sarcomas and remains the standard therapeutic approach. For advanced, high‐grade, recurrent, or metastatic sarcomas, systemic chemotherapy provides minimal benefit, therefore, there is a drive to develop novel approaches. The discovery of “Coley's toxins” in the 19th century, and their use to stimulate the immune system supported the application of unconventional therapies for the treatment of sarcomas. While promising, this initial work was abandoned and treatment paradigm and disease course of sarcomas was largely unchanged for several decades. Exciting new therapies are currently changing treatment algorithms for advanced carcinomas and melanomas, and similar approaches are being applied to advance the field of sarcoma research. Recent discoveries in subtype‐specific cancer biology and the identification of distinct molecular targets have led to the development of promising targeted strategies with remarkable potential to change the landscape of sarcoma therapy in dogs. The purpose of this review article is to describe the current standard of care and limitations as well as emerging approaches for sarcoma therapy that span many of the most active paradigms in oncologic research, including immunotherapies, checkpoint inhibitors, and drugs capable of cellular metabolic reprogramming.
Sinocutaneous fistula repair with a masseter muscle transposition flap combined with wound matrix and cancellous bone graft in a horse: A new technique
Authors: Yoshimura Seiji , Barber Spencer M. , Tucker Michelle L. , Bracamonte José L. , Mund Suzanne J. K. , Thomas Keri L.
Published: November 2019

Objective

To describe a new technique to repair a sinocutaneous fistula with a masseter muscle transposition flap.

Study design

Case report.

Animal

One 13‐year‐old thoroughbred stallion.

Methods

One 13‐year‐old stallion with a 3.5 × 6‐cm sinocutaneous fistula over the right caudal maxillary sinus was treated with a transpositional masseter muscle flap. This repair consisted of a commercial wound matrix dressing placed directly over the hole in the maxilla and secured with suture material; a cancellous bone graft collected from the right tuber coxa placed on the dressing; and a portion of the superficial layer of the masseter muscle, with its pedicle at the facial crest, transposed dorsally over the bone graft, followed by a rotational skin flap with skin rostral to the fistula to close the defect.

Results

Seroma formation and dehiscence of the skin flap occurred, but the transposed muscle flap survived, and the technique resulted in successful closure of the sinocutaneous fistula with excellent cosmetic and functional outcome.

Conclusion

A chronic maxillary sinocutaneous fistula was successfully treated by using a transposition flap of the masseter muscle and a rotational skin flap with minor complications.

Clinical impact

Transposition of the superficial layer of the masseter muscle should be considered for a repair of large maxillary sinocutaneous fistulas in horses.
Effect of Fuel Nozzle Geometry on Swirling Partially Premixed Methane Flames
Authors: Ahmed Mahmoud M. A. , Birouk Madjid
Published: November 2019

This paper presents an experimental study of the effect of fuel nozzle geometry on swirling partially premixed methane flames, where the focus is put on the ensuing flowfield and its role on coherent structures' suppression. The burner consists of a central interchangeable fuel nozzle surrounded by a swirling co-airflow where both discharge into a short mixing tube. The nozzle geometry is classified into two groups, namely, single- and multi-orifice nozzles. The swirling motion of the co-airflow is produced using a radial-type swirl generator with a swirl number of 1.15. The flowfield characteristics and coherent structures are documented using particle image velocimetry (PIV). Flame front dynamics are captured using Mie scattering technique. Quantitative laser sheet (QLS) is used to qualitatively shed light on the mixing characteristics downstream of the mixing tube exit, and laser Doppler velocimetry (LDV) is used to extract the coherent structures' peak frequency from the power spectra. The results revealed that the fuel nozzle geometry significantly affects the mean flowfield, mean, and root-mean-square (RMS) of the flame front location, flame front asymmetry, and coherent structures' amplitude. Higher spread rate and faster decay caused by single-orifice nozzles inside the mixing tube result in divergent flames with higher degree of flame front asymmetry downstream of the mixing tube exit. On the other hand, multi-orifice nozzles mitigate coherent structures, enhance mixing, and hence, promote the most appropriate conditions for coherent structures' suppression.
High-Momentum Jet Flames at Elevated Pressure, C: Statistical Distribution of Thermochemical States Obtained From Laser-Raman Measurements
Authors: Ax Holger , Lammel Oliver , Lückerath Rainer , Severin Michael
Published: November 2019

A detailed investigation on flame structures and stabilization mechanisms of confined high momentum jet flames by one-dimensional (1D)-laser Raman measurements is presented. The flames were operated with natural gas (NG) at gas turbine relevant conditions in an optically accessible high-pressure test rig. The generic burner represents a full scale single nozzle of a high temperature FLOX® gas turbine combustor including a pilot stage. 1D-laser Raman measurements were performed on both an unpiloted and a piloted flame and evaluated on a single shot basis revealing the thermochemical states from unburned inflow conditions to burned hot gas in terms of average and statistical values of the major species concentrations, the mixture fraction and the temperature. The results show a distinct difference in the flame stabilization mechanism between the unpiloted and the piloted case. The former is apparently driven by strong mixing of fresh unburned gas and recirculated hot burned gas that eventually causes autoignition. The piloted flame is stabilized by the pilot stage followed by turbulent flame propagation. The findings help to understand the underlying combustion mechanisms and to further develop gas turbine burners following the FLOX concept.
Toward Estimating the Uncertainty Associated With Three-Dimensional Geometry Reconstructed From Medical Image Data
Authors: Horner Marc , Luke Stephen M. , Genc Kerim O. , Pietila Todd M. , Cotton Ross T. , Ache Benjamin A. , Levine Zachary H. , Townsend Kevin C.
Published: November 2019

Patient-specific computational modeling is increasingly used to assist with visualization, planning, and execution of medical treatments. This trend is placing more reliance on medical imaging to provide accurate representations of anatomical structures. Digital image analysis is used to extract anatomical data for use in clinical assessment/planning. However, the presence of image artifacts, whether due to interactions between the physical object and the scanning modality or the scanning process, can degrade image accuracy. The process of extracting anatomical structures from medical images introduces additional sources of variability, e.g., when thresholding or when eroding along apparent edges of biological structures. An estimate of the uncertainty associated with extracting anatomical data from medical images would therefore assist with assessing the reliability of patient-specific treatment plans. To this end, two image datasets were developed and analyzed using standard image analysis procedures. The first dataset was developed by performing a “virtual voxelization” of a computer-aided design (CAD) model of a sphere, representing the idealized scenario of no error in the image acquisition and reconstruction algorithms (i.e., a perfect scan). The second dataset was acquired by scanning three spherical balls using a laboratory-grade computed tomography (CT) scanner. For the idealized sphere, the error in sphere diameter was less than or equal to 2% if five or more voxels were present across the diameter. The measurement error degraded to approximately 4% for a similar degree of voxelization of the physical phantom. The adaptation of established thresholding procedures to improve segmentation accuracy was also investigated.
Three-Dimensional Inflation Response of Porcine Optic Nerve Head Using High-Frequency Ultrasound Elastography
Authors: Ma Yanhui , Pavlatos Elias , Clayson Keyton , Kwok Sunny , Pan Xueliang , Liu Jun
Published: November 2019

Characterization of the biomechanical behavior of the optic nerve head (ONH) in response to intraocular pressure (IOP) elevation is important for understanding glaucoma susceptibility. In this study, we aimed to develop and validate a three-dimensional (3D) ultrasound elastographic technique to obtain mapping and visualization of the 3D distributive displacements and strains of the ONH and surrounding peripapillary tissue (PPT) during whole globe inflation from 15 to 30 mmHg. 3D scans of the posterior eye around the ONH were acquired through full tissue thickness with a high-frequency ultrasound system (50 MHz). A 3D cross-correlation-based speckle-tracking algorithm was used to compute tissue displacements at ∼30,000 kernels distributed within the region of interest (ROI), and the components of the strain tensors were calculated at each kernel by using least square estimation of the displacement gradients. The accuracy of displacement calculation was evaluated using simulated rigid-body translation on ultrasound radiofrequency (RF) data obtained from a porcine posterior eye. The accuracy of strain calculation was evaluated using finite element (FE) models. Three porcine eyes were tested showing that ONH deformation was heterogeneous with localized high strains. Substantial radial (i.e., through-thickness) compression was observed in the anterior ONH and out-of-plane (i.e., perpendicular to the surface of the shell) shear was shown to concentrate in the vicinity of ONH/PPT border. These preliminary results demonstrated the feasibility of this technique to achieve comprehensive 3D evaluation of the mechanical responses of the posterior eye, which may provide mechanistic insights into the regional susceptibility in glaucoma.
Comprehensive Performance Analysis of the Turbofan With a Multi-Annular Rotating Detonation Duct Burner
Authors: Ji Zifei , Zhang Huiqiang , Wang Bing , He Wei
Published: November 2019

The performance analysis of mixed-exhaust turbofan engine with multi-annular rotating detonation duct burner (RDDB) is conducted for the first time, considering that the flow path of the bypass duct is ideal for a rotating detonation combustor (RDC). The configuration of the multi-annular rotating detonation combustor is constructed aiming at the advantages of a wider operation range and uniform outlet parameters over the single-annular one. Then, a parametric analysis model of the mixed-exhaust turbofan engine with a rotating detonation duct burner is developed. Thereafter, the effects of duct burner parameters on the engine performance and operating characteristics are investigated. The mixed-exhaust turbofan engine with a rotating detonation duct burner shows superior overall performance to that of one with an isobaric afterburner (ICAB) over a wide operation range. The separate-exhaust rotating detonation duct burner can hold characteristics that are higher than those of the mixed-exhaust one at lower values of fan pressure ratio, while the mixed-exhaust one corresponds to lower values of turbine inlet temperature. When the rotating detonation duct burner is “on,” the low-pressure rotor operating line moves toward the surge line on the low corrected shaft speed side but away from the surge line on the high corrected shaft speed side.
Tip-based electron beam induced deposition using active cantilevers
Authors: Holz Mathias , Allen Frances I. , Reuter Christoph , Ahmad Ahmad , Hofmann Martin , Reum Alexander , Ivanov Tzvetan , Rangelow Ivo W.
Published: November 2019

Tip-based electron beam induced deposition is performed using field emission of low-energy electrons from the tip of an active (i.e., self-sensing and self-actuating) atomic force microscope cantilever inside a scanning electron microscope. By using the active cantilever for feature placement and metrology combined with fast switching between field-emission and noncontact imaging mode, high placement accuracy and time-efficient, precise 3D measurement of the deposits are enabled. First results on the effect of electron energy and exposure dose on the growth rates and dimensions of the deposits are presented, and the potential to increase spatial resolution due to the enhanced localization of the dissociation reactions induced by the low-energy electrons is discussed.
Recovery Kinetics After Speed-Endurance Training in Male Soccer Players
Authors: Tzatzakis Theofanis , Papanikolaou Konstantinos , Draganidis Dimitrios , Tsimeas Panagiotis , Kritikos Savvas , Poulios Athanasios , Laschou Vasiliki C. , Deli Chariklia K. , Chatzinikolaou Athanasios , Batrakoulis Alexios , Basdekis Georgios , Mohr Magni , Krustrup Peter , Jamurtas Athanasios Z. , Fatouros Ioannis G.
Published: November 2019

Purpose: To determine the recovery kinetics of performance, muscle damage, and neuromuscular fatigue following 2 speed-endurance production training (SEPT) protocols in soccer. Methods: Ten well-trained, male soccer athletes randomly completed 3 trials: work-to-rest ratio (SEPT) 1:5, SEPT/1:8, and a control trial. Training load during SEPT was monitored using global positioning system and heart-rate monitors. Performance (isokinetic strength of knee extensors and flexors, speed, and countermovement jump) and muscle damage (delayed-onset muscle soreness [DOMS] and creatine kinase) were evaluated at baseline and at 0, 24, 48 and 72 h posttraining. Maximal voluntary contraction (fatigue index) of knee extensors and flexors was additionally assessed at 1, 2, and 3 h posttraining. Results: Fatigue increased (P < .05) in SEPT/1:5 (∼4–30%) for 3 h and in SEPT/1:8 (∼8–17%) for 2 h. Strength performance declined (P < .05) in both SEPT trials (∼5–20%) for 48 h. Speed decreased (∼4–18%; P < .05) for 72 h in SEPT/1:5 and for 48 h in SEPT/1:8. Countermovement-jump performance decreased (∼7–12%; P < .05) in both SEPT trials for 24 h. DOMS increased (P < .05) in SEPT/1:5 (∼2-fold) for 72 and in SEPT/1:8 (∼1- to 2-fold) for 48 h. Creatine kinase increased (∼1- to 2-fold, P < .05) in both SEPT trials for 72 h. Conclusions: SEPT induces short-term neuromuscular fatigue; provokes a prolonged deterioration of strength (48 h), speed (72 h), and jump performance (24 h); and is associated with a prolonged (72-h) rise of DOMS and creatine kinase. Time for recovery is reduced when longer work-to-rest ratios are applied. Fitness status may affect quality of SEPT and recovery kinetics.
Rational discovery of antimetastatic agents targeting the intrinsically disordered region of MBD2
Authors: Kim Min Young , Na Insung , Kim Ji Sook , Son Seung Han , Choi Sungwoo , Lee Seol Eui , Kim Ji-Hun , Jang Kiseok , Alterovitz Gil , Chen Yu , van der Vaart Arjan , Won Hyung-Sik , Uversky Vladimir N. , Kim Chul Geun
Published: November 2019

The intrinsically disordered region of MBD2 is a promising target for treating cancer metastasis.
Carbon neutral expansion of oil palm plantations in the Neotropics
Authors: Quezada Juan Carlos , Etter Andres , Ghazoul Jaboury , Buttler Alexandre , Guillaume Thomas
Published: November 2019

Pasture conversion is a promising alternative to cut down the carbon footprint of deforestation for oil palm expansion.
Neuronal GPCR NPR-8 regulates
C. elegans
defense against pathogen infection
Authors: Sellegounder Durai , Liu Yiyong , Wibisono Phillip , Chen Chia-Hui , Leap David , Sun Jingru
Published: November 2019

The nervous system regulates
C. elegans
defense against pathogen infection by controlling the dynamics of cuticle structure.
Endoplasmic reticulum mediates mitochondrial transfer within the osteocyte dendritic network
Authors: Gao Junjie , Qin An , Liu Delin , Ruan Rui , Wang Qiyang , Yuan Jun , Cheng Tak Sum , Filipovska Aleksandra , Papadimitriou J. M. , Dai Kerong , Jiang Qing , Gao Xiang , Feng Jian Q. , Takayanagi Hiroshi , Zhang Changqing , Zheng Ming H.
Published: November 2019

Intercellular mitochondrial transfer mediated by the endoplasmic reticulum is essential for tissue homeostasis.
TRIM8 is required for virus-induced IFN response in human plasmacytoid dendritic cells
Authors: Maarifi Ghizlane , Smith Nikaïa , Maillet Sarah , Moncorgé Olivier , Chamontin Célia , Edouard Joanne , Sohm Frédéric , Blanchet Fabien P. , Herbeuval Jean-Philippe , Lutfalla Georges , Levraud Jean-Pierre , Arhel Nathalie J. , Nisole Sébastien
Published: November 2019

TRIM8 and Pin1 oppositely control IRF7-induced interferon production.
Mechanisms of nuclear content loading to exosomes
Authors: Yokoi Akira , Villar-Prados Alejandro , Oliphint Paul Allen , Zhang Jianhua , Song Xingzhi , De Hoff Peter , Morey Robert , Liu Jinsong , Roszik Jason , Clise-Dwyer Karen , Burks Jared K. , O’Halloran Theresa J. , Laurent Louise C. , Sood Anil K.
Published: November 2019

Nuclear-derived exosomes generated by micronuclear collapse provide an accurate snapshot of genomic features in ovarian cancer.
A third of the tropical African flora is potentially threatened with extinction
Authors: Stévart T. , Dauby G. , Lowry P. P. , Blach-Overgaard A. , Droissart V. , Harris D. J. , Mackinder B. A. , Schatz G. E. , Sonké B. , Sosef M. S. M. , Svenning J.-C. , Wieringa J. J. , Couvreur T. L. P.
Published: November 2019

The tropical African flora is highly biodiverse, but around one in every three species is potentially threatened with extinction.
Calculated avoidance: Math anxiety predicts math avoidance in effort-based decision-making
Authors: Choe Kyoung Whan , Jenifer Jalisha B. , Rozek Christopher S. , Berman Marc G. , Beilock Sian L.
Published: November 2019

Math anxiety predicts how much effort people are willing to put into doing math.
Strong T
H
1-biased CD4 T cell responses are associated with diminished SIV vaccine efficacy
Authors: Chamcha Venkateswarlu , Reddy Pradeep B. J. , Kannanganat Sunil , Wilkins Courtney , Gangadhara Sailaja , Velu Vijayakumar , Green Richard , Law G. Lynn , Chang Jean , Bowen James R. , Kozlowski Pamela A. , Lifton Michelle , Santra Sampa , Legere Traci , Chea Lynette S. , Chennareddi Lakshmi , Yu Tianwei , Suthar Mehul S. , Silvestri Guido , Derdeyn Cynthia A. , Gale Michael , Villinger Francois , Hunter Eric , Amara Rama Rao
Published: November 2019

Vaccine-induced IFNγ
+
CD4 T cells migrate to and persist in mucosal tissue and negatively associate with protection against SIV.
Therapeutic strategies for diffuse midline glioma from high-throughput combination drug screening
Authors: Lin Grant L. , Wilson Kelli M. , Ceribelli Michele , Stanton Benjamin Z. , Woo Pamelyn J. , Kreimer Sara , Qin Elizabeth Y. , Zhang Xiaohu , Lennon James , Nagaraja Surya , Morris Patrick J. , Quezada Michael , Gillespie Shawn M. , Duveau Damien Y. , Michalowski Aleksandra M. , Shinn Paul , Guha Rajarshi , Ferrer Marc , Klumpp-Thomas Carleen , Michael Sam , McKnight Crystal , Minhas Paras , Itkin Zina , Raabe Eric H. , Chen Lu , Ghanem Reem , Geraghty Anna C. , Ni Lijun , Andreasson Katrin I. , Vitanza Nicholas A. , Warren Katherine E. , Thomas Craig J. , Monje Michelle
Published: November 2019

High-throughput screens in DMG identify promising treatments, such as the combination of panobinostat and marizomib acting through metabolic collapse.
Antigenic competition in CD4
+
T cell responses in a randomized, multicenter, double-blind clinical HIV vaccine trial
Authors: Kallas Esper G. , Grunenberg Nicole A. , Yu Chenchen , Manso Bryce , Pantaleo Giuseppe , Casapia Martin , Baden Lindsey R. , Valencia Javier , Sobieszczyk Magdalena , Van Tieu Hong , Allen Mary , Hural John , Graham Barney S. , Kublin James , Gilbert Peter B. , Corey Lawrence , Goepfert Paul A. , McElrath M. Juliana , Johnson R. Paul , Huang Yunda , Frahm Nicole
Published: November 2019

Antigenic competition in CD4
+
T cell responses occurs in HIV vaccine recipients.
Selective activation of TWIK-related acid-sensitive K
+
3 subunit–containing channels is analgesic in rodent models
Authors: Liao Ping , Qiu Yunguang , Mo Yiqing , Fu Jie , Song Zhenpeng , Huang Lu , Bai Suwen , Wang Yang , Zhu Jia-Jie , Tian Fuyun , Chen Zhuo , Pan Nanfang , Sun Er-Yi , Yang Linghui , Lan Xi , Chen Yinbin , Huang Dongping , Sun Peihua , Zhao Lifen , Yang Dehua , Lu Weiqiang , Yang Tingting , Xiao Junjie , Li Wei-Guang , Gao Zhaobing , Shen Bing , Zhang Qiansen , Liu Jin , Jiang Hualiang , Jiang Ruotian , Yang Huaiyu
Published: November 2019

Agonists selectively targeting peripheral TWIK-related acid-sensitive K
+
3 subunit–containing channels show potential as non-opioid analgesics.
Variable gene expression and parasite load predict treatment outcome in cutaneous leishmaniasis
Authors: Amorim Camila Farias , Novais Fernanda O. , Nguyen Ba T. , Misic Ana M. , Carvalho Lucas P. , Carvalho Edgar M. , Beiting Daniel P. , Scott Phillip
Published: November 2019

Variability in immune gene expression between patient lesions predicts treatment outcome in cutaneous leishmaniasis.
Reversing the effects of early life stress during puberty
Authors: Gee Dylan G.
Published: November 2019

Post-institutionalized youth show evidence of pubertal recalibration of stress reactivity.
Analysis of the Potential for
N
4
-Hydroxycytidine To Inhibit Mitochondrial Replication and Function
Authors: Sticher Zachary M. , Lu Gaofei , Mitchell Deborah G. , Marlow Joshua , Moellering Levi , Bluemling Gregory R. , Guthrie David B. , Natchus Michael G. , Painter George R. , Kolykhalov Alexander A.
Published: November 2019

N
4
-Hydroxycytidine (NHC) is an antiviral ribonucleoside analog that acts as a competitive alternative substrate for virally encoded RNA-dependent RNA polymerases. It exhibits measurable levels of cytotoxicity, with 50% cytotoxic concentration values ranging from 7.5 μM in CEM cells and up to >100 μM in other cell lines.
Impact of Classical Strain Improvement of
Penicillium rubens
on Amino Acid Metabolism during β-Lactam Production
Authors: Wu Min , Crismaru Ciprian G. , Salo Oleksandr , Bovenberg Roel A. L. , Driessen Arnold J. M.
Published: November 2019

Penicillium rubens
is an important industrial producer of β-lactam antibiotics. High levels of penicillin production were enforced through extensive mutagenesis during a classical strain improvement (CSI) program over 70 years. Several mutations targeted amino acid metabolism and resulted in enhanced
l
-cysteine biosynthesis. This work provides a molecular explanation for the interrelation between secondary metabolite production and amino acid metabolism and how classical strain improvement has resulted in improved production strains.
Suppression of enteroendocrine cell glucagon-like peptide (GLP)-1 release by fat-induced small intestinal ketogenesis: a mechanism targeted by Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery but not by preoperative very-low-calorie diet
Authors: Wallenius Ville , Elias Erik , Elebring Erik , Haisma Bauke , Casselbrant Anna , Larraufie Pierre , Spak Emma , Reimann Frank , le Roux Carel W , Docherty Neil G , Gribble Fiona M , Fändriks Lars
Published: November 2019

Objective

Food intake normally stimulates release of satiety and insulin-stimulating intestinal hormones, such as glucagon-like peptide (GLP)-1. This response is blunted in obese insulin resistant subjects, but is rapidly restored following Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) surgery. We hypothesised this to be a result of the metabolic changes taking place in the small intestinal mucosa following the anatomical rearrangement after RYGB surgery, and aimed at identifying such mechanisms.

Design

Jejunal mucosa biopsies from patients undergoing RYGB surgery were retrieved before and after very-low calorie diet, at time of surgery and 6 months postoperatively. Samples were analysed by global protein expression analysis and Western blotting. Biological functionality of these findings was explored in mice and enteroendocrine cells (EECs) primary mouse jejunal cell cultures.

Results

The most prominent change found after RYGB was decreased jejunal expression of the rate-limiting ketogenic enzyme mitochondrial 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA synthase (mHMGCS), corroborated by decreased ketone body levels. In mice, prolonged high-fat feeding induced the expression of mHMGCS and functional ketogenesis in jejunum. The effect of ketone bodies on gut peptide secretion in EECs showed a ∼40% inhibition of GLP-1 release compared with baseline.

Conclusion

Intestinal ketogenesis is induced by high-fat diet and inhibited by RYGB surgery. In cell culture, ketone bodies inhibited GLP-1 release from EECs. Thus, we suggest that this may be a mechanism by which RYGB can remove the inhibitory effect of ketone bodies on EECs, thereby restituting the responsiveness of EECs resulting in increased meal-stimulated levels of GLP-1 after surgery.
Ophiobolus hydeisp. nov. (Phaeosphaeriaceae, Ascomycota) fromCirsiumandPhlomoidesin Uzbekistan
Authors: Gafforov Yusufjon , Phookamsak Rungtiwa , Jiang Hong-Bo , Wanasinghe Dhanushka N. , Juliev Mukhiddin
Published: November 2019

We introduce a new fungal species, Ophiobolus hydei, from dead stems of Cirsium alatum (Compositae) and Phlomoides brachystegia (Lamiaceae), based on morphological and phylogenetic evidence. The species was collected from the Mountains of Western Tien Shan and southwestern Hissar in Uzbekistan. Ophiobolus hydei is characterized by globose to subglobose ascomata with short to long papilla, cylindrical to subcylindric-clavate asci, broad pseudoparaphyses, and scolecosporous, yellowish-brown to brown, filiform, multiseptate ascospores that can split into several part-spores at the septa. Multigene phylogenetic analyses using a combined gene analysis of ITS, LSU, SSU, and TEF1-α indicated that the new species has a close affinity to Ophiobolus ponticus, but differs from that species in the micromorphological characteristics of the ascomata, asci, and ascospores, as well as biogeographic distribution. A distribution map, morphological descriptions, and illustrations with colour photographs of the novel species are provided.
Lepton flavor violation and collider searches in a type I + II seesaw model
Authors: Ferreira Manoel M. , de Melo Tessio B. , Kovalenko Sergey , Pinheiro Paulo R. D. , Queiroz Farinaldo S.
Published: November 2019

Neutrinos are massless in the Standard Model. The most popular mechanism to generate neutrino masses are the type I and type II seesaw, where right-handed neutrinos and a scalar triplet are augmented to the Standard Model, respectively. In this work, we discuss a model where a type I + II seesaw mechanism naturally arises via spontaneous symmetry breaking of an enlarged gauge group. Lepton flavor violation is a common feature in such setup and for this reason, we compute the model contribution to the $$\mu \rightarrow e\gamma $$μ→eγ and $$\mu \rightarrow 3e$$μ→3e decays. Moreover, we explore the connection between the neutrino mass ordering and lepton flavor violation in perspective with the LHC, HL-LHC and HE-LHC sensitivities to the doubly charged scalar stemming from the Higgs triplet. Our results explicitly show the importance of searching for signs of lepton flavor violation in collider and muon decays. The conclusion about which probe yields stronger bounds depends strongly on the mass ordering adopted, the absolute neutrino masses and which much decay one considers. In the 1–5 TeV mass region of the doubly charged scalar, lepton flavor violation experiments and colliders offer orthogonal and complementary probes. Thus if a signal is observed in one of the two new physics searches, the other will be able to assess whether it stems from a seesaw framework.
Light Higgs bosons in the general NMSSM
Authors: Choi Kiwoon , Im Sang Hui , Jeong Kwang Sik , Park Chan Beom
Published: November 2019

Physics beyond the Standard Model (SM) may manifest itself as small deviations from the SM predictions for Higgs signal strengths at 125 GeV. Then, a plausible and interesting possibility is that the Higgs sector is extended and at the weak scale there appears an additional Higgs boson weakly coupled to the SM sector. Combined with the LEP excess in $$e^+e^-\rightarrow Z(h\rightarrow b\bar{b})$$e+e-→Z(h→bb¯), the diphoton excess around 96 GeV recently reported by CMS may suggest such a possibility. We examine if those LEP and CMS excesses can be explained simultaneously by a singlet-like Higgs boson in the general next-to-minimal supersymmetric Standard Model (NMSSM). Higgs mixing in the NMSSM relies on the singlet coupling to the MSSM Higgs doublets and the higgsino mass parameter, and thus is subject to the constraints on these supersymmetric parameters. We find that the NMSSM can account for both the LEP and CMS excesses at 96 GeV while accommodating the observed 125 GeV SM-like Higgs boson. Interestingly, the required mixing angles constrain the heavy doublet Higgs boson to be heavier than about 500 GeV. We also show that the viable region of mixing parameter space is considerably modified if the higgsino mass parameter is around the weak scale, mainly because of the Higgs coupling to photons induced by the charged higgsinos.
Spectrum of the $$uudc \bar{c}$$ hidden charm pentaquark with an SU(4) flavor-spin hyperfine interaction
Authors: Stancu Fl.
Published: November 2019

We study a few of the lowest states of the pentaquark $$uudc\overline{c}$$uudcc¯, of positive and negative parity, in a constituent quark model with an SU(4) flavor-spin hyperfine interaction. For positive parity we introduce space wave functions of appropriate permutation symmetry with one unit of orbital angular momentum in the internal motion of the four-quark subsystem or an orbital excitation between the antiquark and the four quark subsystem which remains in the ground state. We show that the lowest positive parity states $$1/2^+, 3/2^+$$1/2+,3/2+ are provided by the first alternative and are located below the $$1/2^-$$1/2- and the $$1/2^+$$1/2+ states with all quarks in the ground state. We compare our results with the LHCb three narrow pentaquark structures reported in 2019.
Accretion disk around the rotating Damour–Solodukhin wormhole
Authors: Karimov R. Kh. , Izmailov R. N. , Nandi K. K.
Published: November 2019

A new rotating generalization of the Damour–Solodukhin wormhole (RDSWH), called Kerr-like wormhole, has recently been proposed and investigated by Bueno et al. for echoes in the gravitational wave signal. We show a novel feature of the RDSWH, viz., that the kinematic properties such as the ISCO or marginally stable radius $$r_{\mathrm{ms}}$$rms, efficiency $$\epsilon $$ϵ and the disk potential $$V_{\mathrm{eff}}$$Veff are independent of $$\lambda $$λ (which means they are identical to their KBH counterparts for any given spin). Differences however appear in the emissivity properties for higher values $$0.1<\lambda \le 1$$0.1<λ≤1 (say) and for the extreme spin $$a_{\star }=0.998$$a⋆=0.998. The kinematic and emissivity are generic properties as variations of the wormhole mass and the rate of accretion within the model preserve these properties. Specifically, the behavior of the luminosity peak is quite opposite to each other for the two objects, which could be useful from the viewpoint of observations. Apart from this, an estimate of the difference $$\varDelta _{\lambda }$$Δλ in the maxima of flux of radiation F(r) shows non-zero values but is too tiny to be observable at present for $$\lambda < 10^{-3}$$λ<10-3 permitted by the strong lensing bound. The broad conclusion is that RDSWH are experimentally indistinguishable from KBH by accretion characteristics.
Public entrepreneurship and policy engineering
Authors: Noveck Beth Simone
Published: November 2019

Training the next generation of leader and problem solver.
GraVF-M
Authors: Engelhardt Nina , So Hayden K.-H.
Published: November 2019

Due to the irregular nature of connections in most graph datasets, partitioning graph analysis algorithms across multiple computational nodes that do not share a common memory inevitably leads to large amounts of interconnect traffic. Previous research has shown that FPGAs can outcompete software-based graph processing in shared memory contexts, but it remains an open question if this advantage can be maintained in distributed systems.

In this work, we present GraVF-M, a framework designed to ease the implementation of FPGA-based graph processing accelerators for multi-FPGA platforms with distributed memory. Based on a lightweight description of the algorithm kernel, the framework automatically generates optimized RTL code for the whole multi-FPGA design. We exploit an aspect of the programming model to present a familiar message-passing paradigm to the user, while under the hood implementing a more efficient architecture that can reduce the necessary inter-FPGA network traffic by a factor equal to the average degree of the input graph. A performance model based on a theoretical analysis of the factors influencing performance serves to evaluate the efficiency of our implementation. With a throughput of up to 5.8GTEPS (billions of traversed edges per second) on a 4-FPGA system, the designs generated by GraVF-M compare favorably to state-of-the-art frameworks from the literature and reach 94% of the projected performance limit of the system.
A Deep Neural Network Framework for English Hindi Question Answering
Authors: Gupta Deepak , Ekbal Asif , Bhattacharyya Pushpak
Published: November 2019

In this article, we propose a unified deep neural network framework for multilingual question answering (QA). The proposed network deals with the multilingual questions and answers snippets. The input to the network is a pair of factoid question and snippet in the multilingual environment (English and Hindi), and output is the relevant answer from the snippet. We begin by generating the snippet using a graph-based language-independent algorithm, which exploits the lexico-semantic similarity between the sentences. The soft alignment of the question words from the English and Hindi languages has been used to learn the shared representation of the question. The learned shared representation of question and attention-based snippet representation are passed as an input to the answer extraction layer of the network, which extracts the answer span from the snippet. Evaluation on a standard multilingual QA dataset shows the state-of-the-art performance with 39.44 Exact Match (EM) and 44.97 F1 values. Similarly, we achieve the performance of 50.11 Exact Match (EM) and 53.77 F1 values on Translated SQuAD dataset.
Malevolent machine learning
Authors: Edwards Chris
Published: November 2019

AI attacks throw light on the nature of deep learning.
Getting high school, college students interested in CS
Authors: Guzdial Mark , Hill Robin K.
Published: November 2019

The
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Mark Guzdial considers how few U.S. high school students take computer science, while Robin K. Hill shares what she's learned in teaching first-year college computing students.
Regulating information technology
Authors: Kirkpatrick Keith
Published: November 2019

Why isn't IT regulated, when it can have such substantial impacts on people's lives?
Koding academies
Authors: Neville-Neil George V.
Published: November 2019

A low-risk path to becoming a front-end plumber.
The rise of serverless computing
Authors: Castro Paul , Ishakian Vatche , Muthusamy Vinod , Slominski Aleksander
Published: November 2019

The server is dead, long live the server.
API practices if you hate your customers
Authors: Limoncelli Thomas A.
Published: November 2019

Application programming interfaces speak louder than words.
UCP1-independent glucose-lowering effect of leptin in type 1 diabetes: only in conditions of hypoleptinemia
Authors: Zouhar Petr , Rakipovski Günaj , Bokhari Muhammad Hamza , Busby Oliver , Paulsson Johan F. , Conde-Frieboes Kilian W. , Fels Johannes J. , Raun Kirsten , Andersen Birgitte , Cannon Barbara , Nedergaard Jan
Published: November 2019

The possibility to use leptin therapeutically for lowering glucose levels in patients with type 1 diabetes has attracted interest. However, earlier animal models of type 1 diabetes are severely catabolic with very low endogenous leptin levels, unlike most patients with diabetes. Here, we aim to test glucose-lowering effects of leptin in novel, more human-like murine models. We examined the glucose-lowering potential of leptin in diabetic models of two types: streptozotocin-treated mice and mice treated with the insulin receptor antagonist S961. To prevent hypoleptinemia, we used combinations of thermoneutral temperature and high-fat feeding. Leptin fully normalized hyperglycemia in standard chow-fed streptozotocin-treated diabetic mice. However, more humanized physiological conditions (high-fat diets or thermoneutral temperatures) that increased adiposity — and thus also leptin levels — in the diabetic mice abrogated the effects of leptin, i.e., the mice developed leptin resistance also in this respect. The glucose-lowering effect of leptin was not dependent on the presence of the uncoupling protein-1 and was not associated with alterations in plasma insulin, insulin-like growth factor 1, food intake or corticosterone but fully correlated with decreased plasma glucagon levels and gluconeogenesis. An important implication of these observations is that the therapeutic potential of leptin as an additional treatment in patients with type 1 diabetes is probably limited. This is because such patients are treated with insulin and do not display low leptin levels. Thus, the potential for a glucose-lowering effect of leptin would already have been attained with standard insulin therapy, and further effects on blood glucose level through additional leptin cannot be anticipated.
Right-to-left shunts in lowlanders with COPD traveling to altitude: a randomized controlled trial with dexamethasone
Authors: Lichtblau Mona , Furian Michael , Aeschbacher Sayaka S. , Bisang Maya , Sheraliev Ulan , Mademilov Maamed , Marazhapov Nuriddin H. , Ulrich Stefanie , Sooronbaev Talant , Bloch Konrad E. , Ulrich Silvia
Published: November 2019

Right-to-left shunts (RLS) are prevalent in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and might exaggerate oxygen desaturation, especially at altitude. The aim of this study was to describe the prevalence of RLS in patients with COPD traveling to altitude and the effect of preventive dexamethasone. Lowlanders with COPD [Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) grades 1–2, oxygen saturation assessed by pulse oximetry ([Formula: see text]) >92%] were randomized to dexamethasone (4 mg bid) or placebo starting 24 h before ascent from 760 m and while staying at 3,100 m for 48 h. Saline-contrast echocardiography was performed at 760 m and after the first night at altitude. Of 87 patients (81 men, 6 women; mean ± SD age 57 ± 9 yr, forced expiratory volume in 1 s 89 ± 22% pred, [Formula: see text] 95 ± 2%), 39 were assigned to placebo and 48 to dexamethasone. In the placebo group, 19 patients (49%) had RLS, of which 13 were intracardiac. In the dexamethasone group 23 patients (48%) had RLS, of which 11 were intracardiac ( P = 1.0 vs. dexamethasone). Eleven patients receiving placebo and 13 receiving dexamethasone developed new RLS at altitude ( P = 0.011 for both changes, P = 0.411 between groups). RLS prevalence at 3,100 m was 30 (77%) in the placebo and 36 (75%) in the dexamethasone group ( P = not significant). Development of RLS at altitude could be predicted at lowland by a higher resting pulmonary artery pressure, a lower arterial partial pressure of oxygen, and a greater oxygen desaturation during exercise but not by treatment allocation. Almost half of lowlanders with COPD revealed RLS near sea level, and this proportion significantly increased to about three-fourths when traveling to 3,100 m irrespective of dexamethasone prophylaxis.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY The prevalence of intracardiac and intrapulmonary right-to-left shunts (RLS) at altitude in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has not been studied so far. In a large cohort of patients with moderate COPD, our randomized trial showed that the prevalence of RLS increased from 48% at 760 m to 75% at 3,100 m in patients taking placebo. Preventive treatment with dexamethasone did not significantly reduce the altitude-induced recruitment of RLS. Development of RLS at 3,100 m could be predicted at 760 m by a higher resting pulmonary artery pressure and arterial partial pressure of oxygen and a more pronounced oxygen desaturation during exercise. Dexamethasone did not modify the RLS prevalence at 3,100 m.
Peripheral microvascular serotoninergic signaling is dysregulated in young adults with major depressive disorder
Authors: Greaney Jody L. , Dillon Gabrielle A. , Saunders Erika F. H. , Alexander Lacy M.
Published: November 2019

Dysfunction of the brain serotonergic system is implicated in the pathogenesis of major depressive disorder (MDD). Serotonin is also a vasoactive signaling molecule, the effects of which are modulated by both nitric oxide (NO) and the serotonin transporter [the primary target of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)]. Despite its role in the neurobiology of depression, serotoninergic signaling mechanisms in the microvasculature of adults with MDD are unknown. We hypothesized that 1) cutaneous microvascular responsiveness to serotonin would be attenuated in MDD and mediated by reductions in both 2) NO-dependent and 3) serotonin reuptake-dependent mechanisms. In 12 adults with MDD (nonmedicated) and 12 nondepressed adults, red cell flux (laser-Doppler flowmetry) was measured during graded intradermal microdialysis perfusion of 1) serotonin (10−10to 10−1mol/L) alone and in combination with a nonselective NO synthase inhibitor NG-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (l-NAME; 15 mmol/L) and the SSRI paroxetine (10 μmol/L); and 2) paroxetine ( n = 6; 10−9to 10−2M) alone and in combination with l-NAME. Serotonin-induced vasodilation was preserved in MDD. The NO-dependent component of serotonin-induced vasodilation was not different between groups. Paroxetine augmented vasodilatory responsiveness to serotonin via NO-dependent mechanisms in both groups; however, the magnitude was blunted in MDD. The NO contribution to direct paroxetine-induced vasodilation was also reduced in adults with MDD. Collectively, these preliminary data suggest that cutaneous microvascular serotoninergic signaling is dysregulated in adults with MDD and mediated by NO-dependent and serotonin reuptake-dependent mechanisms, providing initial mechanistic insight to the purported vasculoprotective effect of chronic SSRI treatment.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY Cutaneous microvascular vasodilatory responsiveness to serotonin was preserved in adults with major depressive disorder (MDD). However, the contribution of serotonin reuptake-dependent mechanisms to serotonin-induced dilation was reduced in MDD. Direct perfusion of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) paroxetine elicited vasodilation that is partially mediated by nitric oxide (NO)-dependent mechanisms, but these responses were blunted in MDD, reflective of a diminished contribution of NO to the direct effects of a SSRI on the cutaneous microvasculature.