bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Protein Expression Profile and Transcriptome Characterization of Penicillium expansum Induced by Meyerozyma guilliermondii
Authors: Yang Qiya , Solairaj Dhanasekaran , Apaliya Maurice Tibiru , Abdelhai Mandour , Zhu Marui , Yan Yuan , Zhang Hongyin
Published: February 2020

Antagonistic yeasts can inhibit fungal growth. In our previous research, Meyerozyma guilliermondii, one of the antagonistic yeasts, exhibited antagonistic activity against Penicillium expansum. However, the mechanisms, especially the molecular mechanisms of inhibiting activity of M. guilliermondii, are not clear. In this study, the protein expression profile and transcriptome characterization of P. expansum induced by M. guilliermondii were investigated. In P. expansum induced by M. guilliermondii, 66 proteins were identified as differentially expressed, among them six proteins were upregulated and 60 proteins were downregulated, which were associated with oxidative phosphorylation, ATP synthesis, basal metabolism, and response regulation. Simultaneously, a transcriptomic approach based on RNA-Seq was applied to annotate the genome of P. expansum and then studied the changes of gene expression in P. expansum treated with M. guilliermondii. The results showed that differentially expressed genes such as HEAT, Phosphoesterase, Polyketide synthase, ATPase, and Ras-association were significantly downregulated, in contrast to Cytochromes P450, Phosphatidate cytidylyltransferase, and Glutathione S-transferase, which were significantly upregulated. Interestingly, the downregulated differentially expressed proteins and genes have a corresponding relationship; these results revealed that these proteins and genes were important in the growth of P. expansum treated with M. guilliermondii.
Histoplasma capsulatum Infection in an Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant Patient Receiving Voriconazole Prophylaxis
Authors: Agrawal Vaibhav , Brinda Bryan J. , Farag Sherif S.
Published: February 2020

Histoplasma capsulatum infection is a rare complication in the allogeneic stem cell transplant patients. Minimal guidance exists on how to appropriately manage histoplasmosis in these patients. We report a patient who developed Histoplasma pneumonia while receiving voriconazole prophylaxis at a therapeutic trough level. The patient experienced significant clinical improvement after initiation of itraconazole pharmacotherapy. We recommend a lower threshold for evaluation for histoplasmosis in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients who live in endemic regions, regardless of their antifungal prophylactic regimen.
Sensors Applied for the Detection of Pesticides and Heavy Metals in Freshwaters
Authors: Xiang Hongyong , Cai Qinghua , Li Yuan , Zhang Zhenxing , Cao Lina , Li Kun , Yang Haijun
Published: February 2020

Water is essential for every life living on the planet. However, we are facing a more serious situation such as water pollution since the industrial revolution. Fortunately, many efforts have been done to alleviate/restore water quality in freshwaters. Numerous sensors have been developed to monitor the dynamic change of water quality for ecological, early warning, and protection reasons. In the present review, we briefly introduced the pollution status of two major pollutants, i.e., pesticides and heavy metals, in freshwaters worldwide. Then, we collected data on the sensors applied to detect the two categories of pollutants in freshwaters. Special focuses were given on the sensitivity of sensors indicated by the limit of detection (LOD), sensor types, and applied waterbodies. Our results showed that most of the sensors can be applied for stream and river water. The average LOD was72.53±12.69 ng/ml (n=180) for all pesticides, which is significantly higher than that for heavy metals (65.36±47.51 ng/ml,n=117). However, the LODs of a considerable part of pesticides and heavy metal sensors were higher than the criterion maximum concentration for aquatic life or the maximum contaminant limit concentration for drinking water. For pesticide sensors, the average LODs did not differ among insecticides (63.83±17.42 ng/ml,n=87), herbicides (98.06±23.39 ng/ml,n=71), and fungicides (24.60±14.41 ng/ml,n=22). The LODs that differed among sensor types with biosensors had the highest sensitivity, while electrochemical optical and biooptical sensors showed the lowest sensitivity. The sensitivity of heavy metal sensors varied among heavy metals and sensor types. Most of the sensors were targeted on lead, cadmium, mercury, and copper using electrochemical methods. These results imply that future development of pesticides and heavy metal sensors should (1) enhance the sensitivity to meet the requirements for the protection of aquatic ecosystems and human health and (2) cover more diverse pesticides and heavy metals especially those toxic pollutants that are widely used and frequently been detected in freshwaters (e.g., glyphosate, fungicides, zinc, chromium, and arsenic).
Design, Modeling, and Simulation of Two‐Piece Trapezoidal Piezoelectric Devices for Sensing and Energy Harvesting
Authors: Chen Nan , Bedekar Vishwas
Published: February 2020

The objective of the research is to design a high power energy harvester device through a two‐piece trapezoidal geometry approach. The performance of the composite two‐piece trapezoidal piezoelectric PZT‐PZN polycrystalline ceramic material is simulated using COMSOL Multiphysics. Results are analysed using the series configuration of a two‐piece trapezoidal composite bimorph cantilever which vibrates at the first fundamental frequency. The two‐piece trapezoidal composite beam designs resulted in a full‐width half‐maximum electric power bandwidth of 2.5 Hz while providing an electric power density of 16.81 mW/cm3 with a resistive load of 0.08 MΩ. The authors believe that these results could help design a piezoelectric energy harvester to provide local energy source which provides high electric power output.
Kdm6a Deficiency Activates Inflammatory Pathways, Promotes M2 Macrophage Polarization, and Causes Bladder Cancer in Cooperation with p53 Dysfunction
Authors: Kobatake Kohei , Ikeda Ken-ichiro , Nakata Yuichiro , Yamasaki Norimasa , Ueda Takeshi , Kanai Akinori , Sentani Kazuhiro , Sera Yasuyuki , Hayashi Tetsutaro , Koizumi Miho , Miyakawa Yoshihiko , Inaba Toshiya , Sotomaru Yusuke , Kaminuma Osamu , Ichinohe Tatsuo , Honda Zen-ichiro , Yasui Wataru , Horie Shigeo , Black Peter C. , Matsubara Akio , Honda Hiroaki
Published: February 2020

Purpose:

Epigenetic deregulation is deeply implicated in the pathogenesis of bladder cancer. KDM6A (Lysine (K)-specific demethylase 6A) is a histone modifier frequently mutated in bladder cancer. However, the molecular mechanisms of how KDM6A deficiency contributes to bladder cancer development remains largely unknown. We hypothesized that clarification of the pathogenic mechanisms underlying KDM6A-mutated bladder cancer can help in designing new anticancer therapies.

Experimental Design:

We generated mice lacking Kdm6a in the urothelium and crossed them with mice heterozygous for p53, whose mutation/deletion significantly overlaps with the KDM6A mutation in muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC). In addition, BBN (N-butyl-N-(4-hydroxybutyl) nitrosamine), a cigarette smoke-like mutagen, was used as a tumor-promoting agent. Isolated urothelia were subjected to phenotypic, pathologic, molecular, and cellular analyses. The clinical relevance of our findings was further analyzed using genomic and clinical data of patients with MIBC.

Results:

We found that Kdm6a deficiency activated cytokine and chemokine pathways, promoted M2 macrophage polarization, increased cancer stem cells and caused bladder cancer in cooperation with p53 haploinsufficiency. We also found that BBN treatment significantly enhanced the expression of proinflammatory molecules and accelerated disease development. Human bladder cancer samples with decreased KDM6A expression also showed activated proinflammatory pathways. Notably, dual inhibition of IL6 and chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 2, upregulated in response to Kdm6a deficiency, efficiently suppressed Kdm6a-deficient bladder cancer cell growth.

Conclusions:

Our findings provide insights into multistep carcinogenic processes of bladder cancer and suggest molecular targeted therapeutic approaches for patients with bladder cancer with KDM6A dysfunction.
Art Therapy Sessions for Cancer Patients: A Single-Centre Experience
Authors: Gras Mathilde , Daguenet Elisabeth , Brosse Christelle , Beneton Aurélie , Morisson Stéphanie
Published: February 2020

Introduction: Cancer and anti-cancer therapies are often associated with pain, loss of self-worth, anxiety, and depression. Alternative therapies such as art therapy are available to improve patients’ quality of life, by reducing asthenia, depression, anxiety and pain. Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of art therapy, namely theatre and plastic art workshops, on well-being and quality of life of participants in the Lucien Neuwirth Cancer Institute. Methods: A prospective study was conducted at the Lucien Neuwirth Cancer Institute (France), between April 2018 and July 2018. Cancer patients followed at the Institute have been asked to participate in 10 2-h sessions, once a week, based on theatre and plastic art workshops. Self-report questionnaires were used to evaluate both psychological and quality of life domains, but also satisfaction and well-being, before (pre-test) and after the last session (early post-test), as well as 1-month post-experimentation (late post-test). Results: Among the 14 patients who were enroled, the QLQ-C30 questionnaire revealed a pre-test median score of 50.0, an early post-test score of 51.5, and the late post-test revealed a score of 48.0. The anxiety test revealed median scores of 8.0 (pre-test), 6.0 (early post-test) and 6.0 (late post-test), respectively. The depression test reported median scores of 4.0 (pre-test), 5.0 (early post-test) and 6.0 (late post-test), respectively. The median well-being score difference observed between the beginning and the end of sessions is +2.13. The minimum satisfaction score observed is 3.50 out of 10, and the maximum is 10 out of 10. The median is between 7.00 and 10.00. Conclusions: Art therapy sessions had an impact on patients’ welfare. We also reported a trend towards amelioration of quality of life that could probably be confirmed in a larger population, and potentially with a different methodology.
MiR-375 Mediates Chondrocyte Metabolism and Oxidative Stress in Osteoarthritis Mouse Models through the JAK2/STAT3 Signaling Pathway
Authors: Zou Li-xue , Yu Ling , Zhao Xun-ming , Liu Jun , Lu Hou-gen , Liu Gai-wei , Guo Wei-chun
Published: February 2020

Objective: The aim of this work was to determine the effect of miR-375 on chondrocyte metabolism and oxidative stress in osteoarthritis (OA) mouse models through the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway. Methods: Chondrocytes were divided into control, IL-1β, IL-1β + miR-375 mimic, IL-1β + miR-375 inhibitor, IL-1β + miR-NC (negative control), and IL-1β + miR-375 inhibitor + siJAK2 groups. The chondrocyte proliferation was determined by MTT assay, the superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels by corresponding kits, and the chondrocyte apoptosis by TUNEL staining. Furthermore, OA mouse models were divided into Sham, OA + miR-NC, and OA + miRNA-375 antagomir groups. The pathological changes were observed, and the expressions of miR-375 and the JAK2/STAT3 pathway were determined by qRT-PCR and Western blotting, respectively. Results: IL-1β-induced chondrocytes had significant increases in miR-375 and MDA, with decreased proliferation and SOD levels, as compared to the control group. Meanwhile, they also exhibited elevated apoptosis, with upregulations of ADAMTS-5 and MMP-13 and downregulations of COL2A1 and ACAN, as well as decreased p-JAK2/JAK2, p-STAT3/STAT3, and Bcl-2/Bax. However, these changes were significantly improved after transfection with miR-375 inhibitor, but transfection with miR-375 mimic resulted in severer exacerbation. Notably, the improvement of miR-375 inhibitor could be abolished by transfection with siJAK2. Furthermore, miR-375 antagomir significantly alleviated OA progression in OA mice in vivo. Conclusion: MiR-375 suppression enhanced the ability of chondrocyte to antagonize the oxidative stress and maintained the homeostasis of extracellular matrix metabolism to protect chondrocytes from OA via activation of the JAK2/STAT3 pathway, indicating that miR-375 is a potential molecular target for OA treatment.
Pregnancy-Related Acute Kidney Injury in the United States: Clinical Outcomes and Health Care Utilization
Authors: Shah Silvi , Meganathan Karthikeyan , Christianson Annette L. , Harrison Kathleen , Leonard Anthony C. , Thakar Charuhas V.
Published: February 2020

Background: Acute kidney injury (AKI) during pregnancy is a public health problem and is associated with maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality. Clinical outcomes and health care utilization in pregnancy-related AKI, especially in women with diabetes, are not well studied. Methods: Using data from the 2006 to 2015 Nationwide Inpatient Sample, we identified 42,190,790 pregnancy-related hospitalizations in women aged 15–49 years. We determined factors associated with AKI, including race/ethnicity, and associations between AKI and inpatient mortality, and between AKI and cardiovascular (CV) events, during pregnancy-related hospitalizations. We calculated health care expenditures from pregnancy-related AKI hospitalizations. Results: Overall, the rate of AKI during pregnancy-related hospitalizations was 0.08%. In the adjusted regression analysis, a higher likelihood of AKI during pregnancy-related hospitalizations was seen in 2015 (OR 2.20; 95% CI 1.89–2.55) than in 2006; in older women aged 36–40 years (OR 1.49; 95% CI 1.36–1.64) and 41–49 years (OR 2.12; 95% CI 1.84–2.45) than in women aged 20–25 years; in blacks (OR 1.52; 95% CI 1.40–1.65) and Native Americans (OR 1.45; 95% CI 1.10–1.91) than in whites, and in diabetic women (OR 4.43; 95% CI 4.04–4.86) than in those without diabetes. Pregnancy-related hospitalizations with AKI were associated with a higher likelihood of inpatient mortality (OR 13.50; 95% CI 10.47–17.42) and CV events (OR 9.74; 95% CI 9.08–10.46) than were hospitalizations with no AKI. The median cost was higher for a delivery hospitalization with AKI than without AKI (USD 18,072 vs. 4,447). Conclusion: The rates of pregnancy-related AKI hospitalizations have increased during the last decade. Factors associated with a higher likelihood of AKI during pregnancy included older age, black and Native American race/ethnicity, and diabetes. Hospitalizations with pregnancy-related AKI have an increased risk of inpatient mortality and CV events, and a higher health care utilization than do those without AKI.
Physical Activity, Hormone Therapy Use, and Stroke Risk among Women in the California Teachers Study Cohort
Authors: Zhong Charlie , Voutsinas Jenna , Willey Joshua Z. , Lakshminarayan Kamakshi , Lacey, Jr. James V. , Chung Nadia T. , Woo Daniel , Elkind Mitchell S.V. , Wang Sophia S.
Published: February 2020

Background: Postmenopausal hormone therapy (HT) increases the risk of stroke. Here we evaluate whether leisure time physical activity (LTPA) can change stroke risk in women using HT, leveraging data from the California Teachers Study. Methods: Female California educators without a prior history of stroke (n = 118,294) were followed from 1995 through 2015 for stroke end points. Based on statewide hospitalization data, 4,437 women had ischemic (n = 3,162; International Classification of Diseases [ICD]-9 433, 434, 436) or hemorrhagic (n = 1,275; ICD-9 430–432, excluding 432.1) stroke. LTPA and HT use were evaluated at 2 time points (baseline [1995–1996] and 10-year follow-up [2005–2006]). LTPA was assessed using American Heart Association (AHA) recommendations (>150 min/week moderate or >75 min/week strenuous physical activity). Using multivariable Cox proportional hazards models, we estimated the hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% CIs for the associations between HT use and concurrent LTPA with incident stroke. Results: Compared to women who never used HT, stroke risk was highest among women who were current HT users and did not meet AHA recommendations for LTPA at the time of their HT use: HRbaseline 1.28 (95% CI 1.13–1.44); HR10-year follow-up 1.17 (95% CI 0.91–1.50). Based on the baseline questionnaire, current HT users who met AHA recommendations for LTPA in 1995–1996 still had elevated stroke risk in the 20-year follow-up (HR 1.22, 95% CI 1.08–1.37). However, among current HT users who met AHA recommendations for LTPA at the 2005–2006 follow-up questionnaire, stroke risk was not elevated (HR 1.01, 95% CI 0.80–1.29). Evaluation of the 2 time points in concert further demonstrated that meeting AHA recommendations for LTPA at the most recent follow-up time point was required to reduce HT-related stroke risk. Conclusion: Concurrent physical activity may attenuate the short-term increase in risk of stroke risk associated with HT use.
Endoscopic and Pathological Characteristics of Helicobacter pylori Infection-Negative Early Gastric Cancer
Authors: Mizutani Taku , Araki Hiroshi , Saigo Chiemi , Takada Jun , Kubota Masaya , Ibuka Takashi , Suzui Natsuko , Miyazaki Tatsuhiko , Shimizu Masahito
Published: February 2020

Background: The characteristics of Helicobacter pylori (HP) infection-negative gastric cancer (HPINGC) have not been well documented because of the rareness. The aim of this study was to classify HPINGC endoscopically and clinicopathologically. Methods: This retrospective study included 1,741 early gastric cancer lesions and evaluated their HP infection status. Expression levels of MUC5AC, MUC6, MUC2, CD10, p53, MIB-1, pepsinogen-I, H+/K+ ATPase, chromogranin A, E-cadherin, and gastrin were evaluated in tumors by immunohistochemistry (IHC). Results: Among the analyzed lesions, 19 (1.1%) were diagnosed as HPINGC and classified into 6 types: undifferentiated (5 lesions), fundic gland (2 lesions), cardiac gland (1 lesion), pyloric gland (3 lesions), foveolar (5 lesions), and mixed (3 lesions) types. Undifferentiated lesions were of pale color, with unclear demarcation and decreased E-cadherin expression. Fundic-type lesions were tan to reddish in color, with submucosal tumor-like protrusions, and positive for pepsinogen-I and H+/K+ ATPase. The cardiac gland type was located in the gastroesophageal junction and was positive for MUC6 and pepsinogen-I. Pyloric gland-type lesions were of the same color as normal mucosa, with mild elevation and unclear demarcation, likely positive for CD10 and chromogranin A. Foveolar epithelial-type lesions were white and elevated, with defined demarcation, and contained MUC5AC-positive cells. Mixed-type lesions, showing various staining patterns in IHC, had both elevated and depressed shape and reddish color. Conclusion: Endoscopic observation and IHC were useful for classifying the characteristics of HPINGC, which may preserve the characteristics of its region of origin.
АКТУАЛЬНІСТЬ СИМУЛЯЦІЙНИХ МЕТОДІВ НАВЧАННЯ НА ЕТАПІ ПІСЛЯДИПЛОМНОЇ ОСВІТИ ВИПУСКНИКІВ ВИЩИХ МЕДИЧНИХ НАВЧАЛЬНИХ ЗАКЛАДІВ
Authors: Malyutina N. V. , Babak S. I. , Klymenko L. V. , Pogorila O. I.
Published: February 2020

Згідно із сучасними світовими тенденціями та запитом вітчизняної медицини, найдоцільнішим способом оволодіння практичними навичками як студентами, починаючи з першого курсу, так і лікарями-практиками, є тренінги у симуляційних центрах.

Мета – визначення рівня компетентності випускників вищих медичних навчальних закладів щодо володіння переліком практичних навичок та умінь.

Матеріал і методи. Проведено анкетування за шкалою оцінки знань Королівського коледжу лікарів загальної практики у двох групах лікарів-інтернів першого року навчання зі спеціальності «Загальна практика – сімейна медицина» до та після практичного заняття у симуляційному центрі. До 1 групи увійшли лікарі-інтерни, які під час отримання освіти не мали практичного медичного досвіду за межами вищого навчального закладу (n=86); до 2 групи (n=16) – лікарі-інтерни, які під час навчання працювали у закладах охорони здоров’я на посадах середніх медичних працівників.

Результати. У результаті аналізу отриманих даних було встановлено, що лікарі-інтерни 1 групи оцінили свій рівень володіння практичними навичками, як такий, що потребує підвищення. Лікарі-інтерни, які під час отримання освіти у медичних вищих навчальних закладах працювали у закладах охорони здоров’я, мали достовірно вищий рівень показників володіння практичними навичками, що належать до компетенції середнього медичного персоналу.

Висновки. Тренінги щодо рівня оволодіння практичними навичками та уміннями при застосуванні симуляційних методів навчання є високоефективними, що доводять результати наших досліджень.
An overview on the validation of the name Andrographis longipedunculata (Acanthaceae)

Authors: GNANASEKARAN GUNADAYALAN , ARISDASON WILSON , DENG YUNFEI
Published: February 2020

Neesiella Sreemadhavan (1967: 270) was established by Sreemadhavan (1967) as a new genus to accommodate 4-seeded species those were previously placed in the genus Andrographis Wall. ex Nees (1832: 116), namely N. echioides (L.) Sreemadhavan (1967: 271), originally published as Justicia echioides Linnaeus (1753: 16), and a new species N. longipedunculata Sreemadhavan (1967: 271). Later, Sreemadhavan (1968) found that Neesiella is a later homonym of a bryophyte genus Neesiella Schiffner (1893: 32) and therefore proposed a substitute name, Indoneesiella Sreemadhavan (1968: 466).
A new species of Holophloeus Jordan (Coleoptera: Anthribidae) from eastern Madagascar with ecological notes on it and H. tuberosus (Fairmaire, 1897)
Authors: TRÝZNA MILOŠ , BAŇAŘ PETR
Published: February 2020

A new species, Holophloeus loebli Trýzna & Baňař sp. nov. (Anthribidae: Anthribinae: Discotenini), from east Madagascar is described. Male genitalia are studied and illustrated, and color photographs are provided. A comparison is provided with the other known Madagascan species of the genus, H. tuberosus (Fairmaire, 1897). Ecological notes, including color photographs of habitats, on H. loebli and H. tuberosus are provided.
Interesting new Chinese species of Leptoceridae and Odontoceridae (Insecta: Trichoptera) from several recent collecting efforts
Authors: YANG LIAN-FANG , HU BEN-JIN , MORSE JOHN C.
Published: February 2020

Nine new species of caddisflies are described from southeastern and central China, including 7 species of Leptoceridae: Ceraclea (Ceraclea) megalophyllon Yang & Morse sp. n., C. (Athripsodina) aerumnula Yang & Morse sp. n., C. (Ath.) lamellata Yang & Hu sp. n., Oecetis (Oecetis) discedens Yang & Morse sp. n., Oe. (Pleurograpta) spinellosa Yang & Hu sp. n., Setodes charax Yang & Morse sp. n., and S. scutatus Yang & Morse sp. n. Two species of Odontoceridae also are included: Phraepsyche acuminata Yang & Morse sp. n. and Psilotreta longicornis Yang & Morse sp. n. The male genitalia of all species and female genitalia of C. megalophylla, C. lamellata, Oecetis discedens, and Oe. spinellosa are figured.
Uncovering a hidden diversity: a new species of freshwater shrimp Macrobrachium (Decapoda: Caridea: Palaemonidae) from Neotropical region (Brazil) revealed by morphological review and mitochondrial genes analyses
Authors: ROSSI NATALIA , MAGALHÃES CÉLIO , MESQUITA ELIS R. , MANTELATTO FERNANDO L.
Published: February 2020

A freshwater palaemonid shrimp from the São Francisco river basin in Brazil has been found to be a new species and is herein nominated as Macrobrachium veredensis sp. nov. It is morphologically similar to M. brasiliense (Heller, 1862), which is found in many rivers of South America. However, M. veredensis sp. nov. has a smooth carapace and few spinules on the second pereopods, while M. brasiliense has the anterolateral surface of the carapace with small spinules and the palm of the second pereopods with spines, spinules and setae. Despite their similar morphology with these subtle differences, the remarkable genetic different evidenced in DNA analysis. Molecular analyses were based on 43 sequences with 528 base pairs (bp) for 16S rDNA, and 16 new sequences with 581bp, without pseudogenes, for COI mtDNA. The nucleotide divergence between M. veredensis sp. nov. and M. brasiliense (7.0–8.5% for 16S and 11.8–12.5% for COI.), the phylogenetic topology and the haplotype network configuration and it is endemism to a region of the São Francisco river basin support the recognition of a new taxon.
Simulation and Projection of Circulations Associated with Atmospheric Rivers along the North American Northeast Coast
Authors: Hsu Huang-Hsiung , Chen Ying-Ting
Published: February 2020

Torrential rainfall occurring along the North American northeast coast (NANC) in summer and autumn is accompanied by strong atmospheric rivers (ARs), which efficiently transport abundant moisture along a narrow-stretched path associated with a low pressure system. In this study, an autodetection method was used to identify ARs that reached the NANC, based on the 6-hourly data of the ERA-Interim reanalysis conducted by the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts, in summer and autumn from 1979 to 2016. Stronger ARs tended to occur in the eastern flank of a cyclonic anomaly that covered the entire North American east coast from Florida to Newfoundland, with a positive precipitation anomaly over the NANC. The cyclonic anomalies and precipitation in autumn were stronger but less frequent than those in summer. Cyclonic anomalies were parts of westward-tilting wavelike circulation perturbations moving into North America from the extratropical North Pacific and moving continuously eastward, reaching the east coast in approximately five days. The Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory (GFDL) High-Resolution Atmospheric Model (HiRAM), which realistically simulates the occurrence frequency and key characteristics of ARs in current climatic conditions, was used to project the AR activity and corresponding circulations in the future warmer climate under the representative concentration pathway 8.5 scenario. The HiRAM that was driven by sea surface temperature changes projected an overall increase in the occurrence of stronger ARs in both summer and autumn and the precipitation strength in autumn along the NANC by the end of the twenty-first century. This projected enhancement was contributed to by two processes—a smaller contribution was from the weakened basin-scale North Atlantic anticyclone but with higher moisture content, and a larger contribution was from the enhancement in anomalous circulation during AR events with integrated vapor transport exceeding the 75th percentile. These results suggest that the influence of strong ARs on the NANC may increase in the warmer future due to the combination of increased water vapor in the large-scale environment (thermodynamic effect) and enhanced anomalous circulations (dynamic effect). The AR-associated circulations in autumn were also projected to have a stronger tropical connection in the warmer future.
How Does the Winter Jet Stream Affect Surface Temperature, Heat Flux, and Sea Ice in the North Atlantic?
Authors: Ma Liping , Woollings Tim , Williams Richard G. , Smith Doug , Dunstone Nick
Published: February 2020

The role of the atmospheric jet stream in driving patterns of surface heat flux, changes in sea surface temperature, and sea ice fraction is explored for the winter North Atlantic. Seasonal time-scale ensemble hindcasts from the Met Office Hadley Centre are analyzed for each winter from 1980 to 2014, which for each year includes 40 ensemble members initialized at the start of November. The spread between ensemble members that develops during a season is interpreted to represent the ocean response to stochastic atmospheric variability. The seasonal coupling between the winter atmosphere and the ocean over much of the North Atlantic reveals anomalies in surface heat loss driving anomalies in the tendency of sea surface temperature. The atmospheric jet, defined either by its speed or latitude, strongly controls the winter pattern of air–sea latent and sensible heat flux anomalies, and subsequent sea surface temperature anomalies. On time scales of several months, the effect of jet speed is more pronounced than that of jet latitude on the surface ocean response, although the effect of jet latitude is important in altering the extent of the ocean subtropical and subpolar gyres. A strong jet or high jet latitude increases sea ice fraction over the Labrador Sea due to the enhanced transport of cold air from west Greenland, while sea ice fraction decreases along the east side of Greenland due either to warm air advection or a strong northerly wind along the east Greenland coast blowing surface ice away from the Fram Strait.
Uncertainty Propagation Using Polynomial Chaos Expansions for Extreme Sea Level Hazard Assessment: The Case of the Eastern Adriatic Meteotsunamis
Authors: Denamiel Cléa , Huan Xun , Šepić Jadranka , Vilibić Ivica
Published: February 2020

This study quantifies the hazard associated with extreme sea levels due to eastern Adriatic meteotsunamis—long waves generated by traveling atmospheric disturbances—and assesses the sensitivity of the ocean response to the disturbances responsible for those events. In this spirit, a surrogate model of meteotsunami maximum elevation based on generalized polynomial chaos expansion (gPCE) methods, is implemented. The approach relies on the definition of a synthetic pressure disturbance—depending on six different stochastic parameters known to be important for meteotsunami generation, which is used as forcing to produce series of meteotsunami simulations defined with sparse grid methods (up to 10 689 used in this study). The surrogate model and the sensitivity study are then obtained with a pseudo-spectral approximation (PSA) method based on the chosen meteotsunami simulations. This study mainly presents the developed methodology and discusses the feasibility of implementing such gPCE-based surrogate models to assess the hazard and to study the sensitivity of meteorologically driven extreme sea levels.
Analyses of High-Risk Factors for Cervical Lymph Node Metastasis in Laryngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma and Establishment of Nomogram Prediction Model
Authors: Chen Lu-ying , Weng Wei-bin , Wang Wen , Chen Jian-fu
Published: February 2020

Laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) is one of the most common laryngeal tumors, and its incidence is increasing yearly; however, whether lymph node dissection should be performed during surgery remains unclear. We retrospectively analyzed the clinical and pathological data of 246 cases of LSCC and developed a nomogram for the prediction of lymph node metastasis (LNM) of LSCC. The predictive performance and consistency of the model were evaluated using the consistency coefficient (C-index) and calibration curve, respectively. Among 246 cases of LSCC, 52 cases had metastasis with a positivity rate of 21.14%. Multivariate analyses showed that dysphagia, clinical T stage, and pathological differentiation were independent risk factors for LNM in LSCC. The accuracy of the contour map used to predict the risk for LNM was 0.809. Overall, this nomogram model can be used to evaluate LNM in patients with LSCC before surgery to decide whether to conduct neck dissection and improve patient prognosis.
Post-socialist self-censorship: Russia, Hungary and Latvia
Authors: Schimpfössl Elisabeth , Yablokov Ilya
Published: February 2020

This article argues that today in Central and Eastern Europe self-censorship, journalistic freedom and autonomy are just as severely affected by economic constraints, oligarchic influences and new authoritarianism as they are by their Communist pasts. Either way, journalists know exactly what to report, what to omit and how to advance their careers. This is reminiscent of adekvatnost’; a distinct strategy employed by Russian journalists, who regard this skill as an expression of professionalism. It implies having a ‘feel for the game’ and the ‘right instinct’, which allows them to enjoy a certain level of freedom in their work and express their creativity. The authors’ interviews with Latvian and Hungarian journalists, editors and producers examined the extent to which adekvatnost’ might be a feature of journalism beyond Russia, in particular when a media system faces rising populism and authoritarianism, paired with oligarch-dominated ownership. As such, knowledge gained about journalistic practices in the countries under investigation might also be useful in understanding media development beyond the post-Communist space, including Western Europe.
Computational characterization of flow and blood damage potential of the new maglev CH-VAD pump versus the HVAD and HeartMate II pumps
Authors: Zhang Jiafeng , Chen Zengsheng , Griffith Bartley P , Wu Zhongjun J
Published: February 2020

Left ventricular assist devices are routinely used to treat patients with advanced heart failure as a bridge to transplant or a destination therapy. However, non-physiological shear stress generated by left ventricular assist devices damages blood cells. The continued development of novel left ventricular assist devices is essential to improve the left ventricular assist device therapy for heart failure patients. The CH-VAD is a new maglev centrifugal left ventricular assist device. In this study, the CH-VAD pump was numerically analyzed and compared with the HVAD and HeartMate II pumps under two clinically relevant conditions (flow: 4.5 L/min, pressure head: normal ~80 and hypertension ~120 mmHg). The velocity and shear stress fields, washout, and hemolysis index of the three pumps were assessed with computational fluid dynamics analysis. Under the same condition, the CH-VAD hemolysis index was two times lower than the HVAD and HeartMate II pumps; the CH-VAD had the least percentage volume with shear stress larger than 100 Pa (i.e. normal condition: 0.4% vs HVAD 1.0%, and HeartMate II 2.9%). Under the normal condition, more than 98% was washed out of the three pumps within 0.4 s. The washout times were slightly shorter under the hypertension condition for the three pumps. No regions inside the CH-VAD or HVAD had extremely long residential time, while areas near the straightener of the HeartMate II pump had long residential time (>4 s) indicating elevated risks of thrombosis. The computational fluid dynamics results suggested that the CH-VAD pump has a better hemolytic biocompatibility than the HVAD and HeartMate II pumps under the normal and hypertension conditions.
The effect of moulding process parameters on interlaminar properties of CF/PEEK composite laminates
Authors: Dai Guangming , Zhan Lihua , Guan Chenglong , Huang Minghui
Published: February 2020

Interlaminar properties are one of the most important indicators of thermoplastic composite quality. A series of laminates with different moulding process parameters were prepared by unidirectional carbon fibre-reinforced polyether ether ketone (CF/PEEK) prepreg to explore the influence of moulding process parameters on the interlaminar properties of CF/PEEK composite laminates. The influence of the three process parameters, moulding pressure, moulding temperature, and holding time on the interlaminar shear strength (ILSS) of [0/90]8 laminates was studied. The interlaminar shear failure modes of specimens under different moulding process parameters were compared, and the correlation between the ILSS and interlaminar shear failure modes was analysed. The results showed that the appropriate moulding pressure was 2 MPa, the proper moulding temperature range was 400–420°C and the holding time should not be less than 20 min. The main failure modes were tensile or compression when the laminates were moulded using proper process parameters; interlaminar shear failure might also appear in those moulded by non-optimised process parameters.
The novel potential biomarkers for multidrug-resistance tuberculosis using UPLC-Q-TOF-MS
Authors: Huang Huai , Han Yu-Shuai , Chen Jing , Shi Li-Ying , Wei Li-Liang , Jiang Ting-Ting , Yi Wen-Jing , Yu Yi , Li Zhi-Bin , Li Ji-Cheng
Published: February 2020

The lack of rapid and efficient diagnostics impedes largely the epidemic control of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis, and might misguide the therapeutic strategies as well. This study aimed to identify novel multidrug-resistant tuberculosis biomarkers to improve the early intervention, symptomatic treatment and control of the prevalence of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis. The serum small molecule metabolites in healthy controls, patients with drug-susceptible tuberculosis, and patients with multidrug-resistant tuberculosis were screened using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography combined with quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF-MS). The differentially abundant metabolites were filtered out through multidimensional statistical analysis and bioinformatics analysis. Compared with drug-susceptible tuberculosis patients and healthy controls, the levels of 13 metabolites in multidrug-resistant tuberculosis patients altered. Among them, the most significant changes were found in N1-Methyl-2-pyridone-5-carboxamide (N1M2P5C), 1-Myristoyl-sn-glycerol-3-phosphocholine (MG3P), Caprylic acid (CA), and D-Xylulose (DX). And a multidrug-resistant tuberculosis/drug-susceptible tuberculosis differential diagnostic model was built based on these four metabolites, achieved the accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity of 0.928, 86.7%, and 86.7%, respectively. The enrichment analysis of metabolic pathways showed that the phospholipid remodeling of cell membranes was active in multidrug-resistant tuberculosis patients. In addition, in patients with tuberculosis, the metabolites of dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine (DPPC), a major component of pulmonary surfactant, were down-regulated. N1M2P5C, MG3P, CA, and DX may have the potential to serve as novel multidrug-resistant tuberculosis biomarkers. This research provides a preliminary experimental basis to further investigate potential multidrug-resistant tuberculosis biomarkers.

Impact statement

The MDR-TB incidence remains high, making the effective control of TB epidemic yet challenging. Rapid and accurate diagnosis is vitally important for improving the therapeutic efficacy and controlling the prevalence of drug resistance TB. Metabolomics has dramatic potential to distinguish MDR-TB and DS-TB. N1M2P5C, MG3P, CA, and DX that we identified in this study might have potential as novel MDR-TB biomarkers. The phospholipid remodeling of cell membranes was highly active in MDR-TB. The DPPC metabolites in TB were significantly down-regulated. This work aimed to investigate potential MDR-TB biomarkers to enhance the clinical diagnostic efficacy. The metabolic pathway distinctly altered in MDR-TB might provide novel targets to develop new anti-TB drugs.
Vascular Neurologists’ Involvement in the Care of Medicare Patients With Ischemic Stroke
Authors: Sacchetti Daniel C. , Gupta Ajay , Chung Caroline D. , Chatterjee Abhinaba , Zhang Yi , Navi Babak B. , Segal Alan Z. , Kamel Hooman
Published: February 2020

Background and Purpose:

We sought to determine the proportion of patients with ischemic stroke evaluated by vascular neurologists in the United States.

Methods:

Using 2009 to 2015 claims from a 5% nationally representative sample of Medicare beneficiaries, we identified patients ≥65 years of age who were hospitalized for ischemic stroke. We ascertained the proportion of patients evaluated during the hospitalization or within 90 days of discharge by nonvascular and vascular neurologists. We assessed the relationship between county-level socioeconomic status and the likelihood of neurologist evaluation and between neurologist evaluation and diagnostic testing.

Results:

Among 66 989 patients with ischemic stroke, 37 820 (56.5%) were evaluated by a nonvascular neurologist and 11 700 (17.5%) by a board-certified vascular neurologist. Across increasing quartiles of county socioeconomic advantage, the proportion of patients evaluated by a vascular neurologist was 12.2%, 16.5%, 19.8%, and 23.0%. Relative to evaluation by a nonvascular neurologist, evaluation by a vascular neurologist was associated with a higher likelihood of postdischarge heart rhythm monitoring (odds ratio [OR], 1.8; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.6-1.9), echocardiography (OR, 1.4; 95% CI, 1.3-1.4), cervical vessel imaging (OR, 1.3; 95% CI, 1.2-1.3), and intracranial vessel imaging (OR, 2.1; 95% CI, 2.0-2.2).

Conclusions:

In a nationally representative cohort of Medicare beneficiaries, we found that about three quarters of patients with ischemic stroke were evaluated by a neurologist, and about one-sixth were evaluated by a vascular neurologist. Patients who were evaluated by a vascular neurologist were significantly more likely to undergo diagnostic testing.
The Vitruvian legacy: Mortars and binders before and after the Roman world
Authors: ARTIOLI Gilberto , SECCO Michele , ADDIS Anna
Published: February 2020

A brief history of the nature, use and technology of binders in ancient constructions and buildings is outlined, including the apparent chronological discontinuities related to technological developments. The skilled and clever use of mineral resources is at the base of the technical achievements related to architectural activities, from simple adobe to high-performance modern concrete. It is argued that among pre-industrial binders the Roman pozzolanic mortars were highly optimized materials, skillfully prepared and very durable. Their innovative use in architecture is one of the keys of the successful expansion of the Roman Empire. The role of mineralogy and mineral reactions is emphasized in terms of: (1) the preparation and manufacturing of the binding materials; (2) the hardening process and the development of the physical properties of the binder; and (3) the archaeometric reconstruction of the ancient materials.
ushr: Understanding suppression of HIV in R
Authors: Morris Sinead E , Dziobek-Garrett Luise , Yates Andrew J , collaboration with the EPIICAL Cons in
Published: February 2020

Background

HIV/AIDS is responsible for the deaths of one million people every year. Although mathematical modeling has provided many insights into the dynamics of HIV infection, there is still a lack of accessible tools for researchers unfamiliar with modeling techniques to apply them to their own clinical data.

Results

Here we present , a free and open-source R package that models the decline of HIV during antiretroviral treatment (ART) using a popular mathematical framework. can be applied to longitudinal data of viral load measurements, and provides processing tools to prepare it for computational analysis. By mathematically fitting the data, important biological parameters can then be estimated, including the lifespans of short and long-lived infected cells, and the time to reach viral suppression below a defined detection threshold. The package also provides visualization and summary tools for fast assessment of model results.

Conclusions

enables researchers without a strong mathematical or computational background to model the dynamics of HIV using longitudinal clinical data. Increasing accessibility to such methods may facilitate quantitative analysis across a broader range of independent studies, so that greater insights on HIV infection and treatment dynamics may be gained.
Association between cumulative social risk, particulate matter environmental pollutant exposure, and cardiovascular disease risk
Authors: Canterbury Ann , Echouffo-Tcheugui Justin B. , Shpilsky Daniel , Aiyer Aryan , Reis Steven E. , Erqou Sebhat
Published: February 2020

Background

Long-term exposure to pollution has been shown to increase risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and mortality, and may contribute to the increased risk of CVD among individuals with higher social risk.

Methods

Data from the community-based Heart Strategies Concentrating on Risk Evaluation (HeartSCORE) study were used to quantify Cumulative Social Risk (CSR) by assigning a score of 1 for the presence of each of 4 social risk factors: racial minority, single living, low income, and low educational status. 1-year average air pollution exposure to PM2.5 was estimated using land-use regression models. Associations with clinical outcomes were assessed using Cox models, adjusting for traditional CVD risk factors. The primary clinical outcome was combined all-cause mortality and nonfatal CVD events.

Results

Data were available on 1933 participants (mean age 59 years, 66% female, 44% Black). In a median follow up time of 8.3 years, 137 primary clinical outcome events occurred. PM2.5 exposure increased with higher CSR score. PM2.5 was independently associated with clinical outcome (adjusted hazard ratio [HR]: 1.19 [95% CI: 1.00, 1.41]). Participants with ≥2 CSR factors had an adjusted HR of 2.34 (1.48–3.68) compared to those with CSR = 0. The association was attenuated after accounting for PM2.5 (HR: 2.16; [1.34, 3.49]). Mediation analyses indicate that PM2.5 explained 13% of the risk of clinical outcome in individuals with CSR score ≥ 2.

Conclusion

In a community-based cohort study, we found that the association of increasing CSR with higher CVD and mortality risks is partially accounted for by exposure to PM2.5 environmental pollutants.
Longitudinal study of the relationship between patients’ medication adherence and quality of life outcomes and illness perceptions and beliefs about cardiac rehabilitation
Authors: Thomson Patricia , Rushworth Gordon F. , Andreis Federico , Angus Neil J. , Mohan Andrea R. , Leslie Stephen J.
Published: February 2020

Background

Adherence to medication regimens is essential for preventing and reducing adverse outcomes among patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). Greater understanding of the relation between negative illness perceptions, beliefs about cardiac rehabilitation (CR) and medication adherence may help inform future approaches to improving medication adherence and quality of life (QoL) outcomes. The aims of the study are: 1) to compare changes in illness perceptions, beliefs about CR, medication adherence and QoL on entry to a CR programme and 6 months later; 2) to examine associations between patients’ illness perceptions and beliefs about CR at baseline and medication adherence and QoL at 6 months.

Methods

A longitudinal study of 40 patients with CAD recruited from one CR service in Scotland. Patients completed the Medication Adherence Report Scale, Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire, Beliefs about CR questionnaire and the Short-Form 12 Health Survey. Data were analysed using the Wilcoxon Signed Ranks test, Pearson Product Moment correlation and Bayesian multiple logistic regression.

Results

Most patients were men (70%), aged 62.3 mean (SD 7.84) years. Small improvements in ‘perceived suitability’ of CR at baseline increased the odds of being fully adherent to medication by approximately 60% at 6 months. Being fully adherent at baseline increased the odds of staying so at 6 months by 13.5 times. ‘Perceived necessity, concerns for exercise and practical barriers’ were negatively associated with reductions in the probability of full medication adherence of 50, 10, and 50%. Small increases in concerns about exercise decreased the odds of better physical health at 6 months by about 50%; and increases in practical barriers decreased the odds of better physical health by about 60%. Patients perceived fewer consequences of their cardiac disease at 6 months.

Conclusions

Patients’ beliefs on entry to a CR programme are especially important to medication adherence at 6 months. Negative beliefs about CR should be identified early in CR to counteract any negative effects on QoL. Interventions to improve medication adherence and QoL outcomes should focus on improving patients’ negative beliefs about CR and increasing understanding of the role of medication adherence in preventing a future cardiac event.