bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Transradial access for flow diversion of intracranial aneurysms: Case series
Authors: Waqas Muhammad , Vakharia Kunal , Dossani Rimal H , Rajah Gary B , Tso Michael K , Gong Andrew D , Rho Kyungduk , Rai Hamid H , Snyder Kenneth V , Levy Elad I , Siddiqui Adnan H , Davies Jason M
Published: July 2020

Background

Transradial access for neurointerventions offers advantages of fewer access-site complications, reduced procedure time, and greater patient comfort over transfemoral access. Data about transradial access for flow diversion are limited. We share our early experience with transradial access for flow diversion in a relatively large case series.

Methods

Consecutive patients who underwent Pipeline embolization device (Medtronic) deployment via transradial access were included in the study, irrespective of location and laterality of the intracranial aneurysm. The cases were performed between July 2016 and October 2019. Demographics, aneurysm characteristics, and procedure-related details (including catheter systems used) were recorded and statistically evaluated.

Results

Thirty-five transradial flow diversion procedures were attempted in 32 patients, of which 33 procedures were successful. In two cases involving left common carotid artery and internal carotid artery access, guide catheter herniation into the aortic arch led to abandonment of transradial access in favor of transfemoral access. The most common aneurysm locations in the transradial access procedures were the posterior communicating artery ( n = 7), ophthalmic artery ( n = 7), and superior hypophyseal artery ( n = 7). Most transradial access procedures (66.7%) were performed using a biaxial catheter system. 6-French Benchmark (Penumbra) and Phenom 27 (Medtronic) were the most commonly utilized guide- and microcatheters, respectively. One patient had intraprocedural subarachnoid hemorrhage. No access-site complications occurred.

Conclusion

This study demonstrates safety and feasibility of transradial access for Pipeline embolization device deployment and shows the versatility of this approach for different catheter systems. Tortuosity and acute angulation of the left common carotid artery and internal carotid artery were associated with approach failure.
Physiological flow of biomedical compressible fluids inside a ciliated symmetric channel
Authors: Saleem Anber , Qaiser Aleesha , Nadeem Sohail
Published: July 2020

This article studies the flow induced by cilia for a compressible Jeffrey fluid. The investigation is carried out for electrically conducting magnetohydrodynamic fluid in a space of porous media. The fluid flows inside a two-dimensional symmetric channel. The flow is demonstrated considering small magnetic Reynolds number and velocity slip at the wall. Perturbation technique is used in finding the solution. For different values of parameters, the net axial velocity is computed up to second-order calculations. It is interesting to note that Jeffrey fluid fluctuations decline as it changes from hydrodynamics to hydromagnetic fluid and as a consequence the retardation time turns out to be weak.
Development of a vision-based target exploration system for snake-like robots in structured environments
Authors: Li Guoyuan , Waldum Håkon Bjerkgaard , Grindvik Marcus Olai , Jørundl Ruben Svedal , Zhang Houxiang
Published: July 2020

Applying snake-like robots to environmental exploration has been a hot topic for years. How to achieve free navigation for target search in a complex environment in a safe and efficient manner is one of the main tasks that researchers in the field of robotics currently face. This article presents a target exploration system that takes advantages of visual sensing to navigate the snake-like robot in structured environments. Two cameras are utilized in the system. The first one is mounted on the head of the snake-like robot for target recognition and the other is an overhead camera which is responsible for locating the robot and identifying surrounding obstacles. All dead ends in the environment can thus be recognized using a template-based method. A search strategy for traversal of the dead ends is employed for generating exploration paths. Several gaits are developed for the snake-like robot. By switching between these gaits, the snake-like robot is able to follow the paths to search for the target. Two experiments are conducted in a maze environment. The experimental results validate the effectiveness of the proposed system for snake-like robots exploring in structured environments.
Determinants of gonorrhea and syphilis infections among pregnant women attending antenatal clinic at Dilla University Referral Hospital, Ethiopia: Unmatched case-control study
Authors: Hailu Kumneger , Gebretsadik Achamyelesh
Published: July 2020

Objective:

This study was designed to determine the risk factors associated with gonorrhea and syphilis infections among pregnant women attending antenatal care clinic at Dilla University Referral Hospital.

Method:

A hospital-based unmatched case-control study (64 cases and 128 controls) with 1:2 ratios was conducted from 29 January 2018 to 20 June 2018, at the antenatal care clinic of the Dilla University Referral Hospital. Venous blood and vaginal swab were collected to screen for gonorrhea and syphilis. A pretested interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to gather data on sociodemographic and predisposing factors. Logistic regression analysis used to identify risk factors for sexually transmitted infections among pregnant women at 95% confidence interval and p-value < 0.05.

Result:

A total of 64 cases of syphilis or gonorrhea were identified with a mean age of 26 years (±4.1 years.). Of those cases, 40 were syphilis seropositive and the remaining were gonorrhea cases. Lower educational status (adjusted odds ratio = 2.4, 95% confidence interval: 1.1–4.9), age of first sex <18 years (adjusted odds ratio = 2.8, 95% confidence interval: 1.3–5.9), history of abortion (adjusted odds ratio = 3.1, 95% confidence interval: 1.4–6.6), and having two or more sexual partners in the past year (adjusted odds ratio = 2.5, 95% confidence interval: 1.1–5.7) were significantly associated with gonorrhea and syphilis infection.

Conclusion:

Demographic, behavioral, and obstetric factors are associated with the occurrence of syphilis or gonorrhea among pregnant women. Strengthening the existing antenatal care services, providing health education on risk factors, and prioritizing women with the risk characteristics and initiation of gonorrhea and syphilis screening during antennal care are mandatory.
A new approach to compute atomic electrophilicity index in terms of Gordy’s electronegativity
Authors: Yadav Poonam , Tandon Hiteshi , Malik Babita , Chakraborty Tanmoy
Published: July 2020

Electrophilicity index is a well-known Conceptual Density Functional Theory–based reactivity descriptor to explain a wide range of physicochemical behaviours. In the present work, an attempt is made to evaluate a new electrophilicity index scale in terms of nucleophilicity index relying on Gordy’s electronegativity scale. The computation is performed for 103 elements of the periodic table invoking regression analysis. The new set of electrophilicity index satisfies the sine qua non of a standard scale. Electrophilicity Equalization Principle is also validated by our computed data. It is put forward that the new scale will be useful in understanding various physicochemical properties and related phenomenon.
Emergency clinic dermatology and primary care
Authors: Jmor Shilan , Rutkowski David , Cummins Donna , McMullen Emma
Published: July 2020

GPs conduct approximately 13 000 000 consultations relating to skin conditions on an annual basis. The majority of chronic skin disease can be supervised in the primary care setting, however, high rates of morbidity and mortality are associated with a proportion of presentations, for which early diagnosis and prompt referral to a specialist dermatology service is required. Despite this, dermatology remains a relatively low priority in undergraduate and postgraduate medical training, leaving many GP trainees with limited exposure. We will highlight key clinical signs and construct a basic algorithm to help trainees structure their approach when managing these patients.
Analytical approximations for heat release rate laws in the time- and frequency-domains
Authors: Gopinathan Sreenath M , Bigongiari Alessandra , Heckl Maria
Published: July 2020

This paper focusses on the relationship between the heat release rate and the acoustic field, which is a crucial element in modelling thermoacoustic instabilities. The aim of the paper is twofold. The first aim is to develop a transformation tool, which makes it easy to switch between the time-domain representation (typically a heat release law involving time-lags) and the frequency-domain representation (typically a flame transfer function) of this relationship. Both representations are characterised by the same set of parameters n1, n2, …, nk. Their number is quite small, and they have a clear physical meaning: they are time-lag dependent coupling coefficients. They are closely linked to the impulse response of the flame in the linear regime in that they are proportional to the discretised (with respect to time) impulse response. In the nonlinear regime, the parameters n1, n2, …, nk become amplitude-dependent. Their interpretation as time-lag dependent coupling coefficients prevails; however, the link with the impulse response is lost. Nonlinear flames are commonly described in the frequency-domain by an amplitude-dependent flame transfer function, the so-called flame describing function. The time-domain equivalent of the flame describing function is sometimes mistaken for a ‘nonlinear impulse response’, but this is not correct. The second aim of this paper is to highlight this misconception and to provide the correct interpretation of the time-domain equivalent of the flame describing function.
Efficacy and safety of PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors plus nab-paclitaxel for patients with non-small cell lung cancer who have progressed after platinum-based chemotherapy
Authors: Zhang Fan , Huang Di , Zhao Lei , Li Tao , Zhang Sujie , Zhang Guoqing , Yuan Fang , Zhang Jie , Zhang Yuzi , Zhao Zhengyi , Cui Longgang , Zhao Jing , Wang Guoqiang , Cai Shangli , Bai Yuezong , Wang Jinliang , Hu Yi
Published: July 2020

Background:

Immunotherapy combined with platinum-based chemotherapy is now the standard first-line treatment for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. However, limited evidence exists to show the efficacy of immunotherapy plus taxanes for patients who have progressed after platinum-based chemotherapy.

Methods:

The immunotherapy naïve patients with metastatic NSCLC who received anti-PD-1/PD-L1 monotherapy or combined with nab-paclitaxel after prior platinum-based chemotherapy from 2015 to 2018 in PLA General Hospital were identified. The progression-free survival, overall survival (OS), objective response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR) and safety were assessed.

Results:

Of 57 patients, 40 were treated with anti-PD-1/PD-L1 monotherapy and 17 were treated with anti-PD-1/PD-L1 plus nab-paclitaxel. With a median OS follow-up of 16.3 months, the nab-paclitaxel group showed significantly longer OS compared with the immune monotherapy group (median, 28.6 months versus 15.9 months, log-rank p = 0.020). When adjusted by covariates in COX proportional regression model, both the treatment group [ p = 0.009, hazard ratio (HR) 0.361; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.168–0.773] and performance status ( p = 0.003, HR 0.372; 95% CI 0.192–0.721) demonstrated independent association with the longer OS from combination therapy. In addition, ORR was 23.5% (4/17) in the immune checkpoints inhibitors (ICIs) plus nab-paclitaxel group versus 13.5% (5/37) in immune monotherapy group ( p = 0.439), with a DCR of 88.2% (15/17) and 59.5% (22/37) ( p = 0.034), respectively. The incidence of grade 3/4 adverse events was 23.5% (4/17) in the combination group and 2.5% (1/40) in the immune monotherapy group.

Conclusion:

PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor plus nab-paclitaxel resulted in significantly longer OS and higher response versus ICI single agent in metastatic NSCLC patients who have progressed after platinum-based chemotherapy. These findings need to be further explored by prospective studies.
Observational cohort study of clinical outcome in Epstein–Barr virus associated gastric cancer patients
Authors: Qiu Miao-Zhen , He Cai-Yun , Yang Da-Jun , Zhou Da-Lei , Zhao Bai-Wei , Wang Xiao-Jian , Yang Li-Qiong , Lu Shi-Xun , Wang Feng-Hua , Xu Rui-Hua
Published: July 2020

Background:

Epstein–Barr virus-associated gastric cancer (EBVaGC) has unique clinicopathologic features and our present understanding of its treatment outcome is limited. Here, we investigated the clinical outcomes of resectable and metastatic EBVaGC cases with regards to their respective treatment.

Methods:

We retrieved the data of EBVaGC patients treated at our center from October 2014 to June 2019. The primary endpoint was overall survival (OS). Secondary endpoints were disease-free survival (DFS) for stage I–III patients, progression-free survival (PFS) and objective response rate (ORR) for stage IV patients.

Results:

Patients classified as stage I–III accounted for 83.7% of the total 197 cases analyzed. Two patients had mismatched repair-deficiency. The 5-year OS rate of the entire cohort was 63.51% [95% (confidence interval (CI): 52.31–72.76%]. Tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) stage and gastric stump cancer were identified as independent prognostic factors for OS. The 3- and 5-year DFS rate for stage I–III patients were 83.72% (95% CI: 75.86–89.19%) and 73.83% (95% CI: 60.39–83.32%), respectively. TNM stage III, neural invasion, lymphovascular invasion, and baseline plasma EBV-DNA positive were correlated with shorter DFS. The ORR and disease control rate (DCR) for metastatic EBVaGC patients to first-line therapy were 29.0% and 90.3% (median PFS: 9.8 months), respectively, and to second-line therapy were 25.0% and 75.0%, respectively. Seven patients received anti-PD1 therapy and had an ORR of 28.5% and a median PFS of 2.8 months.

Conclusions:

EBVaGC patients have few metastases, long DFS, and high DCR. TNM stage and gastric stump cancer were independent prognostic factors for OS.
Insurgent Vigilantism and Drug War in Mexico
Authors: Wolff Michael J.
Published: July 2020

The proliferation of armed, anti-crime self-defence groups ( autodefensas) in Mexico since 2013 has sparked renewed scholarly interest in vigilantism and the politics of collective violence more generally. Whilst most of this recent scholarship attempts to explain where and why such groups emerge in the first place, very little attention has been paid to the micro-foundations of vigilante organisation and behaviour. Drawing on ethnographic research conducted in Mexico in 2018, and incorporating theoretical insights from the social movements, civil war, and organised crime literatures, this paper examines the political strategies and collection action regimes of contemporary vigilante mobilisation. I argue that vigilante groups in Mexico employ the tactics of popular insurgency both as a negotiating tool to influence government behaviour or policy, and as a primary mechanism to overcome collection action problems in high-risk environments.
Differentiating glioblastoma multiforme from cerebral lymphoma: application of advanced texture analysis of quantitative apparent diffusion coefficients
Authors: Mehrnahad Mehrsad , Rostami Sara , Kimia Farnaz , Kord Reza , Taheri Morteza Sanei , Rad Hamidreza Saligheh , Haghighatkhah Hamidreza , Moradi Afshin , Kord Ali
Published: July 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to differentiate glioblastoma multiforme from primary central nervous system lymphoma using the customised first and second-order histogram features derived from apparent diffusion coefficients. Methods and materials: A total of 82 patients (57 with glioblastoma multiforme and 25 with primary central nervous system lymphoma) were included in this study. The axial T1 post-contrast and fluid-attenuated inversion recovery magnetic resonance images were used to delineate regions of interest for the tumour and peritumoral oedema. The regions of interest were then co-registered with the apparent diffusion coefficient maps, and the first and second-order histogram features were extracted and compared between glioblastoma multiforme and primary central nervous system lymphoma groups. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was performed to calculate a cut-off value and its sensitivity and specificity to differentiate glioblastoma multiforme from primary central nervous system lymphoma.

Results

Based on the tumour regions of interest, apparent diffusion coefficient mean, maximum, median, uniformity and entropy were higher in the glioblastoma multiforme group than the primary central nervous system lymphoma group ( P ≤ 0.001). The most sensitive first and second-order histogram feature to differentiate glioblastoma multiforme from primary central nervous system lymphoma was the maximum of 2.026 or less (95% confidence interval (CI) 75.1–99.9%), and the most specific first and second-order histogram feature was smoothness of 1.28 or greater (84.0% CI 70.9–92.8%). Based on the oedema regions of interest, most of the first and second-order histogram features were higher in the glioblastoma multiforme group compared to the primary central nervous system lymphoma group ( P ≤ 0.015). The most sensitive first and second-order histogram feature to differentiate glioblastoma multiforme from primary central nervous system lymphoma was the 25th percentile of 0.675 or less (100% CI 83.2–100%) and the most specific first and second-order histogram feature was the median of 1.28 or less (85.9% CI 66.3–95.8%).

Conclusions

Texture analysis using first and second-order histogram features derived from apparent diffusion coefficient maps may be helpful in differentiating glioblastoma multiforme from primary central nervous system lymphoma.
Covid-19 and labour law in Germany
Authors: Sagan Adam , Schüller Christian
Published: July 2020

As in many countries, the coronavirus pandemic is a major challenge facing labour law in Germany. On the one hand, the risk of infection in the workplace must be reduced as effectively as possible to prevent the pandemic from spreading. On the other hand, work processes must be maintained as far as possible to prevent an economic crisis, which could have an adverse impact on the pandemic. In this situation, German labour law does not only rely on existing regulations. The German legislator reacted promptly to the pandemic and amended a number of labour laws over a short period. The following contribution provides an overview of health and safety regulations; working time, including short-time work; employees income protection; and new possibilities for video conferencing in Germany.
Covid-19 and labour law in Luxembourg
Authors: Ratti Luca
Published: July 2020

The small size and particular location make Luxembourg an interesting case study on the measures undertaken by the government to tackle the most pressing socio-economic issues deriving from the current pandemic crisis. Most such measures are comparable to those put in place across the EU; some are specific to its characteristics, and show its high dependency upon neighbouring countries and its limited capacity to internally ensure a constant provision of essential goods.
RNA interference in glial cells for nerve injury treatment
Authors: Lin Junquan , Jo Seung Bin , Kim Tae-Hyun , Kim Hae-Won , Chew Sing Yian
Published: July 2020

Drivers of RNA interference are potent for manipulating gene and protein levels, which enable the restoration of dysregulated mRNA expression that is commonly associated with injuries and diseases. This review summarizes the potential of targeting neuroglial cells, using RNA interference, to treat nerve injuries sustained in the central nervous system. In addition, the various methods of delivering these RNA interference effectors will be discussed.
The forensics of form
Authors: Engelmann Sasha
Published: July 2020

In this commentary, I suggest Ash’s contributions can be productively illuminated if we consider his illustration of the forms of bump stocks through the lens of critical forensics. Examining the logic, perspective and spatialization of Ash’s flat ontological analysis, and considering resonances in open forensic investigations, I outline further consequences and stakes of this project.
What can flat ontology teach the legislator?
Authors: Häkli Jouni
Published: July 2020

This commentary on James Ash’s ‘Flat Ontology and Geography’ makes three points. First, it notes the prominence of different versions of flat ontology in human geography and supports Ash’s attempt to make sense of how flat ontology thinking has impacted human geographical scholarship by working through a politically contested real-world case. Second, by framing Ash’s project as a ‘reality check’, the commentary engages in a critical assessment of what added value flat ontological approaches, Tristan Garcia’s thinking included, may have to offer to our understanding of the non-flat world of value, hierarchy and difference. Third, it locates a problematic gap between flat ontological imaginaries and the phenomenal world of importance and suggests that to avoid academic escapism, we need convincing ways to bridge this gap. To conclude, the commentary joins in Ash’s caution against the overemphasis of connectedness, emergence and contingency in much flat ontological thought.
Survival time and prognostic factors after whole-brain radiotherapy of brain metastases from of breast cancer
Authors: Okada Yukinori , Kobayashi Mariko , Shinozaki Mio , Abe Tatsuyuki , Kanemaki Yoshihide , Nakamura Naoki , Kojima Yasuyuki
Published: July 2020

Background

Breast cancer has a poor prognosis due to the high risk of distant metastasis.

Purpose

To identify the prognosticators of brain metastasis from breast cancer treated by whole-brain radiotherapy.

Material and Methods

We evaluated patients diagnosed with primary brain metastasis without carcinomatous meningitis from breast cancer and had undergone whole-brain radiotherapy as initial treatment between 1 January 2010 and 30 September 2019. We investigated associations between overall survival time from diagnosis using cranial contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)/computed tomography (CT) and the following parameters: (i) age; (ii) sex; (iii) time to appearance of brain metastasis; (iv) other metastasis at appearance of brain metastasis; (v) blood test; (vi) symptoms at time of brain metastasis; (vii) whole-brain radiotherapy dose; (viii) whether whole-brain radiotherapy was completed; (ix) course of chemo- or radiotherapy; (x) subtype; (xi) additional irradiation after whole-brain radiotherapy; (xii) pathology; and (xiii) imaging findings.

Results

We evaluated 29 consecutive female patients (mean age 55.2 ± 12.1 years). Median overall survival time after diagnosis on cranial contrast-enhanced MRI/CT was 135 days (range 16–2112 days). Multivariate stepwise analysis of the three parameters of lactate dehydrogenase, dose, and subtype identified the following significant differences: Hazard Ratio (HR) for dose (discontinued, 30 Gy/10 fractions, 31.5 Gy/11 fractions, 32.5 Gy/11 fractions, 37.5 Gy/15 fractions) was 0.08 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.02–0.30, P < 0.01), and HR for subtype (luminal, HER2, triple-negative) was 2.70 (95% CI 1.16–6.243, P < 0.01).

Conclusion

HER2-type and 37.5 Gy/15 fractions are good prognostic factor after whole-brain radiotherapy in breast cancer with brain metastases.
Perceived Organizational Politics and Age, Interactive Effects on Job Outcomes
Authors: Iqbal Khan Tariq , Kaewsaeng-on Rudsada , Hassan Zia Mubashar , Ahmed Sheraz , Khan Abdul Zahid
Published: July 2020

Studies conducted previously on the role-played by age in association with perceived organizational politics (POP) with different outcomes of job calls for more attention toward this domain. The current piece of research observes the effect of POP on job outcomes that include turnover intentions (intent to leave), job stress, and job satisfaction. It also sheds light on the age moderation in the POP association with job outcomes. The data used in this research were diverse and collected through self-administered and cross-sectional questionnaires. Multiple regression analysis was used as data analysis technique. Precisely, this research discovered that POP has a positive connection with job stress and intent to leave, while having no connection with job satisfaction. Moreover, POP impacts on job satisfaction and job stress was found to be positive in younger employees whereas in older employees, it affected both these variables negatively.
The Effectiveness of the Project-Based Learning (PBL) Approach as a Way to Engage Students in Learning
Authors: Almulla Mohammed Abdullatif
Published: July 2020

The prevalence of project-based learning (PBL) has increased significantly, contributing to serious discussions about its advent. PBL’s critics doubt whether accentuating the practice supports teachers in using a technocratic method in education, instead of promoting instruction that is responsive to students’ ideas. Thus, this study aims to develop on using the effectiveness of the PBL approach, as a way to engage students in learning as well as to incorporate literature on the PBL method for educational purposes. The research hypotheses therefore measure the influence of the PBL method on collaborative learning, disciplinary subject learning, iterative learning, and authentic learning, which, in turn, engage students in learning. To achieve the research purpose, a questionnaire was employed as the main method of collecting data and dispensed to 124 teachers who were using the PBL approach. Structural equation modeling (SEM), a quantitative research method, was employed to obtain the findings. A significant relation was found between the PBL method and collaborative learning, disciplinary subject learning, iterative learning, and authentic learning, which, in turn, produced student engagement. The results show that the PBL technique improves student engagement by enabling knowledge and information sharing and discussion. Thus, the PBL approach is highly recommended for educational use by students and should be encouraged in universities.
Three-dimensional measurement of the course of the radial nerve at the posterior humeral shaft: An in vivo anatomical study
Authors: Park Ji-Kang , Choi Seung-Myung , Kang Sang-Woo , Kim Kook-Jong , Min Kyoung-Tae
Published: July 2020

Purpose:

Iatrogenic radial nerve injury caused by surgical exposure of the humerus is a serious complication. We aimed to describe the course of the radial nerve at the posterior humeral shaft using a three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction technique by utilizing computed tomography (CT) images of living subjects. We hypothesized that the course of the radial nerve in the posterior aspect of the humeral shaft would be reliably established using this technique and the measurements would have satisfactory intraobserver/interobserver reliabilities.

Methods:

This in vivo anatomical study utilized 652 upper extremity CT angiography images from 326 patients. A 3D modeling of the humerus and radial nerve was performed. We evaluated the segment of the radial nerve that lays directly on the posterior aspect of the humeral shaft and measured its proximal point, mid, and distal points. The shortest distances from the olecranon fossa to these points were defined as R1, R2, and R3, respectively. The relationships between these parameters and humeral length (HL) and transcondylar length (TL) were evaluated, and the intraobserver/interobserver reliabilities of these parameters were measured.

Results:

The HL was 293.6 mm, and TL was 58.64 mm on average. The R1 measured 159.2 (range 127.1–198.2) mm, R2 was 136.6 (105.7–182.5), and R3 was 112.8 (76.8–150.0) mm on average ( p < .001). The intraobserver/interobserver reliabilities ranged from 0.90 to 0.98.

Conclusion:

The course of the radial nerve at the posterior aspect of the humeral shaft can be reliably established using the 3D reconstruction technique, and all measurements had excellent intraobserver/interobserver reliability.
The body as infrastructure
Authors: Andueza Luis , Davies Archie , Loftus Alex , Schling Hannah
Published: July 2020

In this paper, we conceptualise the human body as infrastructure, asking what kind of infrastructure it currently is and what kind of infrastructure it could be. We therefore tease out the historically and geographically specific ways in which human bodies have been (re)produced as infrastructure, emphasising the violence of abstraction in capitalist modernity that transforms the productive body into a technology of calorific inputs and outputs. Nevertheless, through demystifying abstract labour we point to the relations of (re)production (needed for the body’s ongoing repair) and the metabolic processes (responsible for both decay and repair) that are subsumed within a broader capitalist system of accumulation. In so doing, we turn to the immanent contradictions and struggles that resist the body’s production as a one-sided technology of circulation and through which it is, and can become, an infrastructure for life and sociality.
“q-NAVI”: A case of market-based implementation of structural health monitoring in Japan
Authors: Kanda Katsuhisa , Nakashima Masayoshi , Suzuki Yoshitaka , Ogasawara Saori
Published: July 2020

In Japan, structural health monitoring (SHM) of building structures began in the 1950s, but, until recently, its widespread use was not realized. A new trend arrived a few years ago, and currently over 850 buildings have SHM systems installed. The most recent SHM systems have been installed voluntarily by owners in the private sector; that is, the major development of recent Japanese SHM has been based on market forces. This article reports on why SHM was not accepted widely in the past, what were the keys for change of the atmosphere, how the building owners evaluate SHM after it is deployed, and what tangible benefits the building owners realize by experience on SHM implementation. To investigate those, an SHM system named q-NAVI is introduced as an example. The system has been deployed for 450 buildings, and they experienced a few significant shakings from recent earthquakes. SHM is also found effective for acquiring information on the quantification of fragility curves for various nonstructural components, using the data samples collected in recent earthquakes.
Acute sleep deprivation enhances susceptibility to the migraine substrate cortical spreading depolarization
Authors: Negro Andrea , Seidel Jessica L. , Houben Thijs , Yu Esther S. , Rosen Ike , Arreguin Andrea J. , Yalcin Nilufer , Shorser-Gentile Lea , Pearlman Lea , Sadhegian Homa , Vetrivelan Ramalingam , Chamberlin Nancy L. , Ayata Cenk , Martelletti Paolo , Moskowitz Michael A. , Eikermann-Haerter Katharina
Published: July 2020

Background

Migraine is a common headache disorder, with cortical spreading depolarization (CSD) considered as the underlying electrophysiological event. CSD is a slowly propagating wave of neuronal and glial depolarization. Sleep disorders are well known risk factors for migraine chronification, and changes in wake-sleep pattern such as sleep deprivation are common migraine triggers. The underlying mechanisms are unknown. As a step towards developing an animal model to study this, we test whether sleep deprivation, a modifiable migraine trigger, enhances CSD susceptibility in rodent models.

Methods

Acute sleep deprivation was achieved using the “gentle handling method”, chosen to minimize stress and avoid confounding bias. Sleep deprivation was started with onset of light (diurnal lighting conditions), and assessment of CSD was performed at the end of a 6 h or 12 h sleep deprivation period. The effect of chronic sleep deprivation on CSD was assessed 6 weeks or 12 weeks after lesioning of the hypothalamic ventrolateral preoptic nucleus. All experiments were done in a blinded fashion with respect to sleep status. During 60 min of continuous topical KCl application, we assessed the total number of CSDs, the direct current shift amplitude and duration of the first CSD, the average and cumulative duration of all CSDs, propagation speed, and electrical CSD threshold.

Results

Acute sleep deprivation of 6 h (n = 17) or 12 h (n = 11) duration significantly increased CSD frequency compared to controls (17 ± 4 and 18 ± 2, respectively, vs. 14 ± 2 CSDs/hour in controls; p = 0.003 for both), whereas other electrophysiological properties of CSD were unchanged. Acute total sleep deprivation over 12 h but not over 6 h reduced the electrical threshold of CSD compared to controls (p = 0.037 and p = 0.095, respectively). Chronic partial sleep deprivation in contrast did not affect CSD susceptibility in rats.

Conclusions

Acute but not chronic sleep deprivation enhances CSD susceptibility in rodents, possibly underlying its negative impact as a migraine trigger and exacerbating factor. Our findings underscore the importance of CSD as a therapeutic target in migraine and suggest that headache management should identify and treat associated sleep disorders.
Comparison of smartphone-based retinal imaging systems for diabetic retinopathy detection using deep learning
Authors: Karakaya Mahmut , Hacisoftaoglu Recep E.
Published: July 2020

Background

Diabetic retinopathy (DR), the most common cause of vision loss, is caused by damage to the small blood vessels in the retina. If untreated, it may result in varying degrees of vision loss and even blindness. Since DR is a silent disease that may cause no symptoms or only mild vision problems, annual eye exams are crucial for early detection to improve chances of effective treatment where fundus cameras are used to capture retinal image. However, fundus cameras are too big and heavy to be transported easily and too costly to be purchased by every health clinic, so fundus cameras are an inconvenient tool for widespread screening. Recent technological developments have enabled to use of smartphones in designing small-sized, low-power, and affordable retinal imaging systems to perform DR screening and automated DR detection using image processing methods. In this paper, we investigate the smartphone-based portable retinal imaging systems available on the market and compare their image quality and the automatic DR detection accuracy using a deep learning framework.

Results

Based on the results, iNview retinal imaging system has the largest field of view and better image quality compared with iExaminer, D-Eye, and Peek Retina systems. The overall classification accuracy of smartphone-based systems are sorted as 61%, 62%, 69%, and 75% for iExaminer, D-Eye, Peek Retina, and iNview images, respectively. We observed that the network DR detection performance decreases as the field of view of the smartphone-based retinal systems get smaller where iNview is the largest and iExaminer is the smallest.

Conclusions

The smartphone-based retina imaging systems can be used as an alternative to the direct ophthalmoscope. However, the field of view of the smartphone-based retina imaging systems plays an important role in determining the automatic DR detection accuracy.
PDXGEM: patient-derived tumor xenograft-based gene expression model for predicting clinical response to anticancer therapy in cancer patients
Authors: Kim Youngchul , Kim Daewon , Cao Biwei , Carvajal Rodrigo , Kim Minjung
Published: July 2020

Background

Cancer is a highly heterogeneous disease with varying responses to anti-cancer drugs. Although several attempts have been made to predict the anti-cancer therapeutic responses, there remains a great need to develop highly accurate prediction models of response to the anti-cancer drugs for clinical applications toward a personalized medicine. Patient derived xenografts (PDXs) are preclinical cancer models in which the tissue or cells from a patient’s tumor are implanted into an immunodeficient or humanized mouse. In the present study, we develop a bioinformatics analysis pipeline to build a predictive gene expression model (GEM) for cancer patients’ drug responses based on gene expression and drug activity data from PDX models.

Results

Drug sensitivity biomarkers were identified by performing an association analysis between gene expression levels and post-treatment tumor volume changes in PDX models. We built a drug response prediction model (called PDXGEM) in a random-forest algorithm by using a subset of the drug sensitvity biomarkers with concordant co-expression patterns between the PDXs and pretreatment cancer patient tumors. We applied the PDXGEM to several cytotoxic chemotherapies as well as targeted therapy agents that are used to treat breast cancer, pancreatic cancer, colorectal cancer, or non-small cell lung cancer. Significantly accurate predictions of PDXGEM for pathological response or survival outcomes were observed in extensive independent validations on multiple cancer patient datasets obtained from retrospective observational studies and prospective clinical trials.

Conclusion

Our results demonstrated the strong potential of using molecular profiles and drug activity data of PDX tumors in developing a clinically translatable predictive cancer biomarkers for cancer patients. The PDXGEM web application is publicly available at http://pdxgem.moffitt.org.
HPG-DHunter: an ultrafast, friendly tool for DMR detection and visualization
Authors: Fernández Lisardo , Pérez Mariano , Olanda Ricardo , Orduña Juan M. , Marquez-Molins Joan
Published: July 2020

Background

Software tools for analyzing DNA methylation do not provide graphical results which can be easily identified, but huge text files containing the alignment of the samples and their methylation status at a resolution of base pairs. There have been proposed different tools and methods for finding Differentially Methylated Regions (DMRs) among different samples, but the execution time required by these tools is large, and the visualization of their results is far from being interactive. Additionally, these methods show more accurate results when identifying simulated DM regions that are long and have small within-group variation, but they have low concordance when used with real datasets, probably due to the different approaches they use for DMR identification. Thus, a tool which automatically detects DMRs among different samples and interactively visualizes DMRs at different scales (from a bunch to ten of millions of DNA locations) can be the key for shortening the DNA methylation analysis process in many studies.

Results

In this paper, we propose a software tool based on the wavelet transform. This mathematical tool allows the fast automatic DMR detection by simple comparison of different signals at different resolution levels. Also, it allows an interactive visualization of the DMRs found at different resolution levels. The tool is publicly available at https://grev-uv.github.io/, and it is part of a complete suite of tools which allow to carry out the complete process of DNA alignment and methylation analysis, creation of methylation maps of the whole genome, and the detection and visualization of DMRs between different samples.

Conclusions

The validation of the developed software tool shows similar concordance with other well-known and extended tools when used with real and synthetic data. The batch mode of the tool is capable of automatically detecting the existing DMRs for half (twelve) of the human chromosomes between two sets of six samples (whose.csv files after the alignment and mapping procedures have an aggregated size of 108 Gigabytes) in around three hours and a half. When compared to other well-known tools, HPG-DHunter only requires around 15% of the execution time required by other tools for detecting the DMRs.
MASS: predict the global qualities of individual protein models using random forests and novel statistical potentials
Authors: Liu Tong , Wang Zheng
Published: July 2020

Background

Protein model quality assessment (QA) is an essential procedure in protein structure prediction. QA methods can predict the qualities of protein models and identify good models from decoys. Clustering-based methods need a certain number of models as input. However, if a pool of models are not available, methods that only need a single model as input are indispensable.

Results

We developed MASS, a QA method to predict the global qualities of individual protein models using random forests and various novel energy functions. We designed six novel energy functions or statistical potentials that can capture the structural characteristics of a protein model, which can also be used in other protein-related bioinformatics research. MASS potentials demonstrated higher importance than the energy functions of RWplus, GOAP, DFIRE and Rosetta when the scores they generated are used as machine learning features. MASS outperforms almost all of the four CASP11 top-performing single-model methods for global quality assessment in terms of all of the four evaluation criteria officially used by CASP, which measure the abilities to assign relative and absolute scores, identify the best model from decoys, and distinguish between good and bad models. MASS has also achieved comparable performances with the leading QA methods in CASP12 and CASP13.

Conclusions

MASS and the source code for all MASS potentials are publicly available athttp://dna.cs.miami.edu/MASS/.
MMiRNA-Viewer2, a bioinformatics tool for visualizing functional annotation for MiRNA and MRNA pairs in a network
Authors: Bai Yongsheng , Baker Steve , Exoo Kevin , Dai Xingqin , Ding Lizhong , Khattak Naureen Aslam , Li Hongtao , Liu Hannah , Liu Xiaoming
Published: July 2020

Background

Although there are many studies on the characteristics of miRNA-mRNA interactions using miRNA and mRNA sequencing data, the complexity of the change of the correlation coefficients and expression values of the miRNA-mRNA pairs between tumor and normal samples is still not resolved, and this hinders the potential clinical applications. There is an urgent need to develop innovative methodologies and tools that can characterize and visualize functional consequences of cancer risk gene and miRNA pairs while analyzing the tumor and normal samples simultaneously.

Results

We developed an innovative bioinformatics tool for visualizing functional annotation of miRNA-mRNA pairs in a network, known as MMiRNA-Viewer2. The tool takes mRNA and miRNA interaction pairs and visualizes mRNA and miRNA regulation network. Moreover, our MMiRNA-Viewer2 web server integrates and displays the mRNA and miRNA gene annotation information, signaling cascade pathways and direct cancer association between miRNAs and mRNAs. Functional annotation and gene regulatory information can be directly retrieved from our web server, which can help users quickly identify significant interaction sub-network and report possible disease or cancer association. The tool can identify pivotal miRNAs or mRNAs that contribute to the complexity of cancer, while engaging modern next-generation sequencing technology to analyze the tumor and normal samples concurrently. We compared our tools with other visualization tools.

Conclusion

Our MMiRNA-Viewer2 serves as a multitasking platform in which users can identify significant interaction clusters and retrieve functional and cancer-associated information for miRNA-mRNA pairs between tumor and normal samples. Our tool is applicable across a range of diseases and cancers and has advantages over existing tools.
Transcriptome analysis of activated charcoal-induced growth promotion of wheat seedlings in tissue culture
Authors: Dong Fu-shuang , lv Meng-yu , Wang Jin-ping , Shi Xue-ping , Liang Xin-xia , Liu Yong-wei , Yang Fan , Zhao He , Chai Jian-Fang , Zhou Shuo
Published: July 2020

Background

Activated charcoal (AC) is highly adsorbent and is often used to promote seedling growth in plant tissue culture; however, the underlying molecular mechanism remains unclear. In this study, root and leaf tissues of 10-day-old seedlings grown via immature embryo culture in the presence or absence of AC in the culture medium were subjected to global transcriptome analysis by RNA sequencing to provide insights into the effects of AC on seedling growth.

Results

In total, we identified 18,555 differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Of these, 11,182 were detected in the roots and 7373 in the leaves. In seedlings grown in the presence of AC, 9460 DEGs were upregulated and 7483 DEGs were downregulated in the presence of AC as compared to the control. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis revealed 254 DEG-enriched pathways, 226 of which were common between roots and leaves. Further analysis of the major metabolic pathways revealed that AC stimulated the expression of nine genes in the phenylpropanoid biosynthesis pathway, including PLA, CYP73A, COMT, CYP84A, and 4CL, the protein products of which promote cell differentiation and seedling growth. Further, AC upregulated genes involved in plant hormone signaling related to stress resistance and disease resistance, including EIN3, BZR1, JAR1, JAZ, and PR1, and downregulated genes related to plant growth inhibition, including BKI1, ARR-B, DELLA, and ABF.

Conclusions

Growth medium containing AC promotes seedling growth by increasing the expression of certain genes in the phenylpropanoid biosynthesis pathway, which are related to cell differentiation and seedling growth, as well as genes involved in plant hormone signaling, which is related to resistance.
Phylogenetic analysis of the ATP-binding cassette proteins suggests a new ABC protein subfamily J in Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae)
Authors: Figueira-Mansur Janaina , Schrago Carlos G. , Salles Tiago S. , Alvarenga Evelyn S. L. , Vasconcellos Brenda M. , Melo Ana Claudia A. , Moreira Monica F.
Published: July 2020

Background

We performed an in-depth analysis of the ABC gene family inAedes aegypti(Diptera: Culicidae), which is an important vector species of arthropod-borne viral infections such as chikungunya, dengue, and Zika. Despite its importance, previous studies of the Arthropod ABC family have not focused on this species. Reports of insecticide resistance among pests and vectors indicate that some of these ATP-dependent efflux pumps are involved in compound traffic and multidrug resistance phenotypes.

Results

We identified 53 classic complete ABC proteins annotated in theA. aegyptigenome. A phylogenetic analysis ofAedes aegyptiABC proteins was carried out to assign the novel proteins to the ABC subfamilies. We also determined 9 full-length sequences of DNA repair (MutS, RAD50) and structural maintenance of chromosome (SMC) proteins that contain the ABC signature.

Conclusions

After inclusion of the putative ABC proteins into the evolutionary tree of the gene family, we classifiedA. aegyptiABC proteins into the established subfamilies (A to H), but the phylogenetic positioning of MutS, RAD50 and SMC proteins among ABC subfamilies—as well as the highly supported grouping of RAD50 and SMC—prompted us to name a new J subfamily ofA. aegyptiABC proteins.