bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Kaiser score reliably excludes malignancy in benign contrast-enhancing lesions classified as BI-RADS 4 on breast MRI high-risk screening exams
Authors: Milos Ruxandra Iulia , Pipan Francesca , Kalovidouri Anastasia , Clauser Paola , Kapetas Panagiotis , Bernathova Maria , Helbich Thomas H. , Baltzer Pascal A. T.
Published: June 2020

Objectives

MRI is an integral part of breast cancer screening in high-risk patients. We investigated whether the application of the Kaiser score, a clinical decision-support tool, may be used to exclude malignancy in contrast-enhancing lesions classified as BI-RADS 4 on breast MRI screening exams.

Methods

This retrospective study included 183 consecutive, histologically proven, suspicious (MR BI-RADS 4) lesions detected within our local high-risk screening program. All lesions were evaluated according to the Kaiser score for breast MRI by three readers blinded to the final histopathological diagnosis. The Kaiser score ranges from 1 (lowest, cancer very unlikely) to 11 (highest, cancer very likely) and reflects increasing probabilities of malignancy, with scores greater than 4 requiring biopsy. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to evaluate diagnostic accuracy.

Results

There were 142 benign and 41 malignant lesions, diagnosed in 159 patients (mean age, 43.6 years). Median Kaiser scores ranged between 2 and 5 in benign and 7 and 8 in malignant lesions. For all lesions, the Kaiser score’s accuracy, represented by the area under the curve (AUC), ranged between 86.5 and 90.2. The sensitivity of the Kaiser score was high, between 95.1 and 97.6% for all lesions, and was best in mass lesions. Application of the Kaiser score threshold for malignancy (≤ 4) could have potentially avoided 64 (45.1%) to 103 (72.5%) unnecessary biopsies in 142 benign lesions previously classified as BI-RADS 4.

Conclusions

The use of Kaiser score in high-risk MRI screening reliably excludes malignancy in more than 45% of contrast-enhancing lesions classified as BI-RADS 4.

Key Points

• The Kaiser score shows high diagnostic accuracy in identifying malignancy in contrast-enhancing lesions in patients undergoing high-risk screening for breast cancer.

• The application of the Kaiser score may avoid > 45% of unnecessary breast biopsies in high-risk patients.

• The Kaiser score aids decision-making in high-risk breast cancer MRI screening programs.
Interactive effects of personal resources and job characteristics on mental health: a population-based panel study
Authors: Limmer Anja , Schütz Astrid
Published: June 2020

Purpose

We examined 10 job characteristics in a large population-based sample and tested for positive and negative effects on mental health. In addition, we tested for possible effects on mental health from interactions with locus of control and self-esteem.

Methods

The sample comprised longitudinal data on 2353 male and 1960 female employees from the German socio-economic panel collected between 2010 and 2012. Mental health was assessed with the mental component summary score derived from the short-form 12 health survey. We computed hierarchical regression analyses while controlling for potential confounds and baseline mental health. Interaction effects were specified with post hoc simple slope analyses.

Results

Time pressure, interruptions, job insecurity, and conflicts were negative predictors of mental health in all models. The personal resource of self-esteem was a positive predictor. Moreover, there were interactions: opportunities for promotion were beneficial only for employees with medium or high levels of self-esteem, whereas the contrary was true for employees with very low self-esteem. Working on weekends was negatively related to mental health for people with moderate to low internal control but not for people with high internal control.

Conclusions

The findings suggest that there are job demands that are related to poor mental health regardless of personal resources. These aspects are important to consider in workplace risk assessment. By contrast, with other job characteristics (e.g., opportunities for promotion, weekend work), the effects vary between individuals.
An exploration of methods for obtaining 0 = dead anchors for latent scale EQ-5D-Y values
Authors: Shah Koonal K. , Ramos-Goñi Juan Manuel , Kreimeier Simone , Devlin Nancy J.
Published: June 2020

Objectives

Discrete choice experiments (DCEs) can be used to obtain latent scale values for the EQ-5D-Y, but these require anchoring at 0 = dead to meet the conventions of quality-adjusted life year (QALY) estimation. The primary aim of this study is to compare four preference elicitation methods for obtaining anchors for latent scale EQ-5D-Y values.

Methods

Four methods were tested: visual analogue scale (VAS), DCE (with a duration attribute), lag-time time trade-off (TTO) and the location-of-dead (LOD) approach. In computer-assisted personal interviews, UK general public respondents valued EQ-5D-3L health states from an adult perspective and EQ-5D-Y health states from a 10-year-old child perspective. Respondents completed valuation tasks using all four methods, under both perspectives.

Results

349 interviews were conducted. Overall, respondents gave lower values under the adult perspective compared to the child perspective, with some variation across methods. The mean TTO value for the worst health state (33333) was about equal to dead in the child perspective and worse than dead in the adult perspective. The mean VAS rescaled value for 33333 was also higher in the child perspective. The DCE produced positive child perspective values and negative adult perspective values, though the models were not consistent. The LOD median rescaled value for 33333 was negative under both perspectives and higher in the child perspective.

Discussion

There was broad agreement across methods. Potential criteria for selecting a preferred anchoring method are presented. We conclude by discussing the decision-making circumstances under which utilities and QALY estimates for children and adults need to be commensurate to achieve allocative efficiency.
Reading for entertainment or information reception? Gender differences in reading preferences and their impact on text-type-specific reading competences in adult readers
Authors: Thums Kathrin , Artelt Cordula , Wolter Ilka
Published: June 2020

This study aims at exploring gender differences in text-type-specific reading competences via readers’ gender-specific reading preferences. Women were expected to read more often for the sake of entertainment (entertainment preference), whereas men were expected to read more often to gain information (information preference). We further assumed that individuals who read for entertainment would have higher reading competence in fictional literary texts compared with non-fictional informational texts, and vice versa for individuals who read to gain information. The analysis was based on a sample of 830 adults between 19 and 71 years (M = 31.04; SD = 12.53) from a pilot study of the German National Educational Panel Study (NEPS). A structural equation model confirmed that women and men show different reading preferences during leisure time. The preference to read for entertainment was predictive for reading competence in literary texts; however, the preference to read for information had positive effects on reading competence in both informational and literary texts.
RHOQ is induced by DLL4 and regulates angiogenesis by determining the intracellular route of the Notch intracellular domain
Authors: Bridges Esther , Sheldon Helen , Kleibeuker Esther , Ramberger Evelyn , Zois Christos , Barnard Alun , Harjes Ulrike , Li Ji-Liang , Masiero Massimo , MacLaren Robert , Harris Adrian
Published: June 2020

Angiogenesis, the formation of new blood vessels by endothelial cells, is a finely tuned process relying on the balance between promoting and repressing signalling pathways. Among these, Notch signalling is critical in ensuring appropriate response of endothelial cells to pro-angiogenic stimuli. However, the downstream targets and pathways effected by Delta-like 4 (DLL4)/Notch signalling and their subsequent contribution to angiogenesis are not fully understood. We found that the Rho GTPase, RHOQ, is induced by DLL4 signalling and that silencing RHOQ results in abnormal sprouting and blood vessel formation both in vitro and in vivo. Loss of RHOQ greatly decreased the level of Notch signalling, conversely overexpression of RHOQ promoted Notch signalling. We describe a new feed-forward mechanism regulating DLL4/Notch signalling, whereby RHOQ is induced by DLL4/Notch and is essential for the NICD nuclear translocation. In the absence of RHOQ, Notch1 becomes targeted for degradation in the autophagy pathway and NICD is sequestered from the nucleus and targeted for degradation in lysosomes.
The Caenorhabditis elegans homolog of human copper chaperone Atox1, CUC-1, aids in distal tip cell migration
Authors: Zhang Xiaolu , Blockhuys Stéphanie , Devkota Ranjan , Pilon Marc , Wittung-Stafshede Pernilla
Published: June 2020

Cell migration is a fundamental biological process involved in for example embryonic development, immune system and wound healing. Cell migration is also a key step in cancer metastasis and the human copper chaperone Atox1 was recently found to facilitate this process in breast cancer cells. To explore the role of the copper chaperone in other cell migration processes, we here investigated the putative involvement of an Atox1 homolog in Caenorhabditis elegans, CUC-1, in distal tip cell migration, which is a key process during the development of the C. elegans gonad. Using knock-out worms, in which the cuc-1 gene was removed by CRISPR-Cas9 technology, we probed life span, brood size, as well as distal tip cell migration in the absence or presence of supplemented copper. Upon scoring of gonads, we found that cuc-1 knock-out, but not wild-type, worms exhibited distal tip cell migration defects in approximately 10–15% of animals and, had a significantly reduced brood size. Importantly, the distal tip cell migration defect was rescued by a wild-type cuc-1 transgene provided to cuc-1 knock-out worms. The results obtained here for C. elegans CUC-1 imply that Atox1 homologs, in addition to their well-known cytoplasmic copper transport, may contribute to developmental cell migration processes.
Psychosocial and Clinical Profiles of the Cases Visiting the Emergency Department Due to Accidental Self-harm and Suicide Attempts in Doha, Qatar: A Retrospective Study
Authors: Al-Amin Hassen , Singh Rajvir , Abdulrazzak Mohamad , Ghuloum Suhaila
Published: June 2020

The aims of this study were to retrospectively assess the profiles of subjects with suicide attempts and self-harm in Doha, Qatar; and whether the available data were complete. We reviewed all the records of fatal and non-fatal suicides together with accidental self-ham cases seen in the major Emergency Department in Doha, over a one-year period. There was 37 completed suicide, mostly male expatriates in mid 30 s who died by hanging. In cases with suicide intent (N = 270), more males were admitted to Psychiatry than women. Overdose was the common method and the majority had mood disorders. In self-harm cases with no suicide intent (N = 150) the majority were not seen by Psychiatry. The profiles of suicide cases in Qatar are similar to those reported internationally. However, there is a major need to establish a comprehensive system to register and assess all self-harm patients in Qatar.
Indications for intraoperative anterior segment optical coherence tomography in corneal surgery
Authors: Lang Stefan J. , Heinzelmann Sonja , Böhringer Daniel , Reinhard Thomas , Maier Philip
Published: June 2020

Purpose

Recently, intraoperative optical coherence tomography (iOCT) has evolved in the field of ophthalmic surgery. So far, the use of iOCT was mainly focused to lamellar keratoplasty, especially deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty (DALK) and Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK). The aim of this study was to report our experiences with iOCT to introduce new possibilities of this application.

Methods

We used iOCT in 18 patients who underwent the following surgeries: DALK, DMEK, penetrating keratoplasty, autologous limbal transplantation, transscleral suture fixation of a posterior chamber lens, pannus removal on corneal surface and newborn investigation in Peters’ anomaly. We obtained qualitative video data for all procedures.

Results

With the iOCT, the cannula placement during DALK preparation of the recipient cornea and bubble formation could be visualized to improve the success rate of the big bubble injection. In DMEK, the iOCT enables the visualization of Descemet’s membrane removal in the recipient and graft orientation as well as better control of graft attachment. The iOCT enables intraoperative visualization of the graft–host interface during penetrating keratoplasty. During autologous limbal transplantation, transscleral suture fixation of a posterior chamber lens and removal of corneal surface pannus the iOCT is capable of showing the thickness of lamellar preparations to avoid penetrations and to save healthy recipient’s tissue.

Conclusion

The iOCT is a helpful device for intraoperative anterior segment imaging not only for DALK and DMEK. It is also beneficial in penetrating keratoplasty and every other form of lamellar preparation during corneoscleral surgery.
Punctures and p-Spin Curves from Matrix Models
Authors: Brézin E. , Hikami S.
Published: June 2020

This article investigates the intersection numbers of the moduli space of p-spin curves with the help of matrix models. The explicit integral representations that are derived for the generating functions of these intersection numbers exhibit p Stokes domains, labelled by a “spin”-component l taking values $$l = -1, 0, 1, 2,...,p-2$$

l
=
-
1
,
0
,
1
,
2
,
.
.
.
,
p
-
2

. Earlier studies concerned integer values of p, but the present formalism allows one to extend our study to half-integer or negative values of p, which turn out to describe new types of punctures or marked points on the Riemann surface. They fall into two classes: Ramond $$(l=-1)$$

(
l
=
-
1
)

, absent for positive integer p, and Neveu–Schwarz $$(l\ne -1)$$

(
l
≠
-
1
)

. The intersection numbers of both types are computed from the integral representation of the n-point correlation functions in a large N scaling limit. We also consider a supersymmetric extension of the random matrix formalism to show that it leads naturally to an additional logarithmic potential. Open boundaries on the surface, or admixtures of R and NS punctures, may be handled by this extension.
Cerebrospinal fluid circulating tumor cells as a quantifiable measurement of leptomeningeal metastases in patients with HER2 positive cancer
Authors: Malani Rachna , Fleisher Martin , Kumthekar Priya , Lin Xuling , Omuro Antonio , Groves Morris D. , Lin Nancy U. , Melisko Michelle , Lassman Andrew B. , Jeyapalan Suriya , Seidman Andrew , Skakodub Anna , Boire Adrienne , DeAngelis Lisa M. , Rosenblum Marc , Raizer Jeffrey , Pentsova Elena
Published: June 2020

Purpose

The CellSearch® system has been used to identify circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) to diagnose leptomeningeal metastasis (LM) in patients with epithelial cancers. Using this system, we prospectively explored sequential CSF CTC enumeration in patients with LM from HER2+ cancers receiving intrathecal (IT) trastuzumab to capture dynamic changes in CSF CTC enumeration.

Methods

CSF from patients enrolled in an IRB-approved phase I/II dose escalation trial of IT trastuzumab for LM in HER2+ cancer (NCT01325207) was obtained on day 1 of each cycle and was evaluated by the CellSearch® platform for CTC enumeration. The results were correlated with CSF cytology from the same sample, along with clinical and radiographic response.

Results

Fifteen out of 34 patients with HER2+ LM were enrolled in CSF CTC analysis; 14 were women. Radiographic LM was documented in 14 (93%) patients; CSF cytology was positive in 6 (40%) and CSF CTCs were identified in 13 (87%). Median CSF CTC was 22 CTCs (range 0–200 +) per 3 ml. HER2/neu expression analysis of CTCs was performed in 8 patients; 75% had confirmed expression of HER2/neu positivity in CSF and HER2/neu expression was absent in 25%. Four of 10 patients received 7 or more cycles of IT trastuzumab; in 3 of these patients, increase in CSF CTCs enumeration from baseline was detected 2–3 months prior to changes seen on MRI, and while CSF cytology remained negative.

Conclusion

Our study demonstrates that enumeration of CSF CTCs may provide dynamic, quantitative assessment of tumor burden in the central nervous system compartment during treatment for LM and prior to changes on MRI or CSF cytology.

Trial Registration: Clinicaltrials.gov: NCT01325207; registered March 29th, 2011.
When the Window Cracks: Transparency and the Fractured Self in Depersonalisation
Authors: Ciaunica Anna , Charlton Jane , Farmer Harry
Published: June 2020

There has recently been a resurgence of philosophical and scientific interest in the foundations of self-consciousness, with particular focus on its altered, anomalous forms. This paper looks at the altered forms of self-awareness in Depersonalization Disorder (DPD), a condition in which people feel detached from their self, their body and the world (Derealisation). Building upon the phenomenological distinction between reflective and pre-reflective self-consciousness, we argue that DPD may alter thetransparencyof basic embodied forms of pre-reflective self-consciousness, as well as the capacity to flexibly modulate and switch between the reflective and pre-reflective facets of self-awareness. Empirical evidence will be invoked in support of the idea that impaired processing of bodily signals is characteristic of the condition. We provide first-hand subjective reports describing the experience of self-detachment or fracture between an observing and an observed self. This split is compared with similar self-detachment phenomena reported in certain Buddhist-derived meditative practices. We suggest that these alterations and changes may reveal the underlying and tacit transparency that characterises the embodied and basic pre-reflective forms of self-consciousness, in the same way that a crack in a transparent glass may indicate the presence of an unnoticed window.
Plant cell (Brassica napus) response to europium(III) and uranium(VI) exposure
Authors: Moll Henry , Sachs Susanne , Geipel Gerhard
Published: June 2020

Experiments conducted over a period of 6 weeks using Brassica napus callus cells grown in vitro under Eu(III) or U(VI) stress showed that B. napus cells were able to bioassociate both potentially toxic metals (PTM), 628 nmol Eu/gfresh cells and 995 nmol U/gfresh cells. Most of the Eu(III) and U(VI) was found to be enriched in the cell wall fraction. Under high metal stress (200 μM), cells responded with reduced cell viability and growth. Subsequent speciation analyses using both metals as luminescence probes confirmed that B. napus callus cells provided multiple-binding environments for Eu(III) and U(VI). Moreover, two different inner-sphere Eu3+ species could be distinguished. For U(VI), a dominant binding by organic and/or inorganic phosphate groups of the plant biomass can be concluded.
At the Junction: Two Models of Business Responsibility for Modern Slavery
Authors: Mende Janne , Drubel Julia
Published: June 2020

This article develops a conceptual pattern of the reasons and scope of business responsibility for modern slavery. It introduces modern slavery as either relation or structure and designs an understanding of a broad and a narrow model of business responsibility, consisting of business power, internal and external realms of business conduct and public and private roles of companies. Crossing the two models of modern slavery with the two models of business responsibility, the article carves out the strengths and limits of their junctions. The continuous pendulum between the junctions allows to discuss how and why companies can be responsible for modern slavery. It thus contributes analytically, practically and normatively to tackling modern slavery.
Four Synthetic Cathinones: 3-Chloromethcathinone, 4-Chloromethcathinone, 4-Fluoro-α-Pyrrolidinopentiophenone, and 4-Methoxy-α-Pyrrolidinopentiophenone Produce Changes in the Spontaneous Locomotor Activity and Motor Performance in Mice with Varied Profiles
Authors: Wojcieszak Jakub , Kuczyńska Katarzyna , Zawilska Jolanta B.
Published: June 2020

Two chloromethcathinones, 3-chloromethcathinone (3-CMC) and 4-chloromethcathinone (4-CMC), and two para-substituted α-pyrrolidinophenones, 4-methoxy-α-pyrrolidinopentiophenone (4-MeO-PVP) and 4-fluoro-α-pyrrolidinopentiophenone (4-F-PVP), represent synthetic cathinones, the second most frequently abused group of new psychoactive substances (NPSs), which has aroused a worldwide health concern in the last decade. Synthetic cathinones act as psychostimulants by elevating extracellular levels of monoaminergic neurotransmitters. This study investigates effects of 3-CMC, 4-CMC, 4-MeO-PVP, and 4-F-PVP on the spontaneous locomotor activity and motor performance of mice. Additionally, neurotoxicity of substituted methcathinones against SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells was evaluated. All test cathinones stimulate in a dose-dependent manner horizontal locomotor activity of mice. Consistently to our prior findings, pyrrovalerones, but not methcathinone derivatives, produce dose-dependent elevation of vertical locomotor activity (rearing behavior). None of the tested compounds decreases the time spent on the accelerating rotarod, pointing to the lack of considerable motor disability in mice after acute exposition. Only 4-MeO-PVP at the high tested dose (20 mg/kg) increases motor performance of mice. Considering that α-pyrrolidinophenones are highly potent and selective DA uptake inhibitors, while chloromethcathinones enhance non-selective DA/5-HT release, we suggest that the increase of vertical locomotor activity and performance on rotarod in mice may serve as a behavioral indicator of the monoaminergic profile of synthetic cathinones. Finally, this study gives first insights into cytotoxicity of both 3-CMC and 4-CMC displayed against SH-SY5Y cells, which emerges and intensifies after prolonged incubation, suggesting the indirect mechanism of action, unrelated to interactions with monoamine transporters.
Valsartan metal complexes as capture and reversible storage media for methane
Authors: Najim Liqaa H. , El-Hiti Gamal A. , Ahmed Dina S. , Mohammed Alaa , Alotaibi Mohammad Hayal , Yousif Emad
Published: June 2020

Three valsartan metal (tin, nickel, and magnesium) complexes were examined as capture and storage media for methane under high temperature (323 K) and pressure (50 bar) conditions. The surface morphology of the complexes were examined using Field emission scanning electron microscopy and displayed porous structures comprising particles of different shapes and sizes. The narrow pore-size distribution of metal complexes makes them suitable materials for methane capture. The methane adsorption–desorption isotherms of the metal complexes were reversible. The tin(IV) and nickel(II) complexes exhibited type-III physisorption isotherms, while the magnesium(II) complex displayed a type-IV physisorption isotherm. Both types of isotherms are typical for mesoporous materials. The magnesium(II) complex was more efficient compared with the tin(IV) and nickel(II) complexes. It exhibited a remarkable methane uptake capacity of 71.68 cm3/g under optimized conditions.
Implication of nanostructuring of bulk nanocomposite Ti9Ni7Sn8 on the optimization of high thermoelectric performance
Authors: Kumar Ashish , Chaturvedi K. M. , Bhardwaj A. , Govind Bal , Bano Sahiba , Misra D. K.
Published: June 2020

Nanostructuring approach on TiNiSn-based half-Heusler (HH) thermoelectric materials (TE) has been well established as the most prominent paradigm for achieving high figure of merit (ZT). Herein, we have extended this approach on our previously reported bulk nanocomposite (BNC), containing HH and Full Heusler (FH) with little traces of Ti6Sn5 phase in a stoichiometric composition Ti9Ni7Sn8 for the optimization of high thermoelectric performance. A synergistic effect of nanostructuring of Ti9Ni7Sn8 bulk nanocomposite (BNC) on its thermoelectric properties was noticed, revealing an enhanced value of ZT ~ 0.83 at 773 K. This enhancement in ZT value is mainly ascribed to significant reduction in thermal conductivity (κ ~ 1.0 W/mK at 773 K), through modification in grain as well as phase boundary scattering. The marginal enhancement in Seebeck coefficient observed is attributed to charge carrier filtering effect at the interface of HH/FH phases.
Take-up and non-take-up of vocational rehabilitation in the financial responsibility of the German Federal Employment Agency
Authors: Reims Nancy
Published: June 2020

To regain or remain in employment, people with occupational limitations due to health issues can apply for programmes in the context of vocational rehabilitation. In Germany, 20% of applicants do not take up vocational rehabilitation. Using administrative data on all applicants for whom the German Federal Employment Agency is responsible, logistic and fixed effects regression is applied to identify groups not taking up vocational rehabilitation. Analyses reveal that employed people less often take-up vocational rehabilitation. However, the probability of take-up rises significantly following the loss of employment between two applications. Thus, compared to other applicants employed applicants are at higher risk of not taking-up vocational rehabilitation or of taking it up (too) late. Using social problems theory, it can be argued that occupational limitations are harder to assess in the case of employed applicants. Furthermore, employed applicants have specific fears of losing their status. The reasons for non-take-up or delayed take-up should be investigated furthermore.
Clinical audit on World Health Organization surgical safety checklist completion at Debre Berhan comprehensive specialized hospital: A prospective cohort study
Authors: Allene Mengesha Dessie
Published: June 2020

ABSTRACT

Background:

Surgical care is an integral part of health care throughout the world. Surgical complications are occurred in 3–16% of surgical procedures. The WHO surgical safety checklist outlines essential standards of surgical care and has been shown to reduce complications and death associated with surgery. Thus, the aim of this study is to assess the proper completion of the World Health Organization (WHO) surgical safety checklist.

Method:

A prospective observational study was conducted among 255 patients undergoing elective and emergency surgery from October 03, 2020 to March 28, 2020. Completeness rate of Sign-in, Time-out, and Sign-out domains was computed with SPSS 22.0 package.

Result:

During a period of six months, in our study, we only included the completion of 255 patients' checklist that undergo major operations were included in our study. Confirming patients’ identity, procedure and consent was completed in all patients (100%); the safety of anaesthesia machine and medications were check for all patients. Essential images were not displayed in all patients (100% missed).

Conclusion:

Overall completeness of the checklist in the sign in, time out and sign out period was good. The present study did not assess outcomes, but it is assumed that poor completeness puts patients at risk of perioperative complications.

Highlights:
Gold-linked strings of donor–acceptor dyads: on-surface formation and mutual orientation
Authors: Karan Sujoy , Geng Yan , Decurtins Silvio , Liu Shi-Xia , Repp Jascha
Published: June 2020

Strings of fused donor–acceptors with their dipoles following a complicated correlation driven partially by next-nearest-neighbor effects on Au(111).
A novel amperometric determination of flufenamic acid using CuMOF ribbons incorporated with activated carbon
Authors: Umesh Narasimha Murthy , Kohila Rani Karuppasamy , Wang Sea-Fue , Sireesha Pedaballi , Jesu Amalraj Antolin Jesila
Published: June 2020

Electrochemical detection of FFA using AC–CuMOF modified electrode.
Strain-invariant conductance in an elastomeric nanocomposite mesh conductor for stretchable electronics
Authors: Wang Jiachen , Zhang Kuikui , Wang Jing , Zhang Menghu , Zhou Yunlei , Cheng Jing , Kong Desheng
Published: June 2020

A conductive serpentine mesh of elastomeric nanocomposite is created by selective laser ablation for stretchable electronics, which exhibits strain-invariant conductance, mechanical compliance, and excellent breathability.
Use of the Polo-like kinase 4 (PLK4) inhibitor centrinone to investigate intracellular signalling networks using SILAC-based phosphoproteomics
Authors: Byrne Dominic P. , Clarke Christopher J. , Brownridge Philip J. , Kalyuzhnyy Anton , Perkins Simon , Campbell Amy , Mason David , Jones Andrew R. , Eyers Patrick A. , Eyers Claire E.
Published: June 2020

Polo-like kinase 4 (PLK4) is the master regulator of centriole duplication in metazoan organisms. Catalytic activity and protein turnover of PLK4 are tightly coupled in human cells, since changes in PLK4 concentration and catalysis have profound effects on centriole duplication and supernumerary centrosomes, which are associated with aneuploidy and cancer. Recently, PLK4 has been targeted with a variety of small molecule kinase inhibitors exemplified by centrinone, which rapidly induces inhibitory effects on PLK4 and leads to on-target centrosome depletion. Despite this, relatively few PLK4 substrates have been identified unequivocally in human cells, and PLK4 signalling outside centriolar networks remains poorly characterised. We report an unbiased mass spectrometry (MS)-based quantitative analysis of cellular protein phosphorylation in stable PLK4-expressing U2OS human cells exposed to centrinone. PLK4 phosphorylation was itself sensitive to brief exposure to the compound, resulting in PLK4 stabilisation. Analysing asynchronous cell populations, we report hundreds of centrinone-regulated cellular phosphoproteins, including centrosomal and cell cycle proteins and a variety of likely ‘non-canonical’ substrates. Surprisingly, sequence interrogation of ∼300 significantly down-regulated phosphoproteins reveals an extensive network of centrinone-sensitive [Ser/Thr]Pro phosphorylation sequence motifs, which based on our analysis might be either direct or indirect targets of PLK4. In addition, we confirm that NMYC and PTPN12 are PLK4 substrates, both in vitro and in human cells. Our findings suggest that PLK4 catalytic output directly controls the phosphorylation of a diverse set of cellular proteins, including Pro-directed targets that are likely to be important in PLK4-mediated cell signalling.
The ER stress-autophagy axis: implications for cognitive dysfunction in diabetes mellitus
Authors: Zhu Qingzhang
Published: June 2020

Unfolded protein response (UPR) often coordinates with autophagy to maintain cellular proteostasis. Disturbance of proteostasis correlates with diseases including diabetes and neurological complications. In a recent article in Clinical Science, Kong et al. highlighted the critical role of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-autophagy axis in maintaining cognitive functions and provided pharmacological evidence with respect to cognitive improvements in a diabetic mouse model. These novel findings present new insights into the pathological mechanisms and therapeutic implications with the ER stress modulators in diabetes-related cognitive dysfunction.
Spindle scaling mechanisms
Authors: Krüger Lara K. , Tran Phong T.
Published: June 2020

The mitotic spindle robustly scales with cell size in a plethora of different organisms. During development and throughout evolution, the spindle adjusts to cell size in metazoans and yeast in order to ensure faithful chromosome separation. Spindle adjustment to cell size occurs by the scaling of spindle length, spindle shape and the velocity of spindle assembly and elongation. Different mechanisms, depending on spindle structure and organism, account for these scaling relationships. The limited availability of critical spindle components, protein gradients, sequestration of spindle components, or post-translational modification and differential expression levels have been implicated in the regulation of spindle length and the spindle assembly/elongation velocity in a cell size-dependent manner. In this review, we will discuss the phenomenon and mechanisms of spindle length, spindle shape and spindle elongation velocity scaling with cell size.
Comments on ‘Precoding for secrecy rate maximisation in cognitive MIMO wiretap channels’
Authors: Khojastehnia M. , Loyka S.
Published: June 2020

Several gaps and errors in Fang et al. (2015) are identified. Their corrections as well as new results are reported. After these corrections, the successive convex approximation algorithm in Fang et al. (2015) is shown to generate an increasing, converging sequence of secrecy rates, which, for a degraded channel, converges to its secrecy capacity. The failure of the popular convex solver CVX to maximise secrecy rate is illustrated. Alternative algorithms are pointed out.
Mutual information guided 3D ResNet for self‐supervised video representation learning
Authors: Xue Fei , Ji Hongbing , Zhang Wenbo
Published: June 2020

In this work, the authors propose a novel self‐supervised learning method based on mutual information to learn representations from the videos without manual annotation. Different video clips sampled from the same video usually have coherence in the temporal domain. To guide the network to learn such temporal coherence, they maximise the mutual information between global features extracted from different clips sampled from the same video (Global‐MI). However, maximising the Global‐MI leads the network to seek shared content from different video clips and may make the network degenerate to focus on the background of the video. Considering the structure of the video, they further maximise the average mutual information between the global feature and local patches of multiple regions of the video clip (multi‐region Local‐MI). Their approach, which is called Max‐GL, learns the temporal coherence by jointly maximising the Global‐MI and multi‐region Local‐MI. Experiments are conducted to validate the effectiveness of the proposed Max‐GL. Experimental results show that the Max‐GL can serve as an effective pre‐training method for the task of action recognition in videos. Additional experiments for the task of action similarity labelling and dynamic scene recognition also validate the generalisation of the learned representations of the Max‐GL.
Reduced voltage stress hybrid multilevel inverter using optimised predictive control
Authors: Khandelwal Yash , Routray Abhinandan , Singh Rajeev Kumar , Mahanty Ranjit
Published: June 2020

This study presents a hybrid multilevel inverter (HMLI), capable of generating 19 voltage levels using a single DC voltage source. The peak inverse voltage of all the switches is restrained within the input DC source voltage in the proposed HMLI, which requires only three capacitors and 15 switches to achieve 19 voltage levels. In the proposed HMLI, one of the capacitors is self‐balanced, while the other two capacitors are balanced using a modified finite control set model predictive control (MFCS‐MPC). The proposed MFCS‐MPC reduces the computation time considerably without affecting the performance of the system. The proposed HMLI is compared with some other HMLI topologies to show its merits in terms of active and passive components. Finally, the steady‐state and dynamic performance of the proposed topology and its control algorithm is validated through simulation and experimentation for a 1 kW prototype.
Wechselwirkungen zwischen bioaktiven Sekundärmetaboliten und
Irinotecan
Authors: Kronabel Dieter
Published: June 2020

Irinotecan wird seit mehr als zwei Jahrzehnten in unterschiedlichen
Arzneiformen, auch in Kombination mit anderen Arzneistoffen, zur Behandlung
einiger Tumorerkrankungen eingesetzt. Irinotecan, ein Prodrug, wird
über die Butyrylcholinesterase und über die
Carboxylesterasen CES1 und CES2 in die aktive Form SN-38
(7-Ethyl-10-hydroxycamptothecin) verstoffwechselt. SN-38 ist ein starker
Topoisomerase-I-Inhibitor. Aufgrund des komplexen Metabolisierungsweges von
Irinotecan und wegen der engen therapeutischen Breite des Arzneistoffes ist
die klinische Relevanz einer Interaktion zwischen bioaktiven
Sekundärmetaboliten und Irinotecan von vielen unterschiedlichen
Einflussfaktoren abhängig und kann daher nur im Rahmen einer
individualmedizinischen Betreuung Bedeutung haben. Sowohl die
Butyrylcholinesterase und die Carboxylesterasen CES1, CES2 als auch CYP3A4,
CYP3A5, UGT1A-Isoforme und Transportproteine sind an der Verstoffwechselung
und Eliminierung von Irinotecan beteiligt und limitieren die
Verfügbarkeit des aktiven Metaboliten SN-38. Inhibition oder
Induktion dieser Enzyme durch bioaktive Sekundärmetabolite
könnten die therapeutische Wirksamkeit des Irinotecan-Metaboliten
SN-38 beeinflussen und für die Ausbildung von Nebenwirkungen
ursächlich sein. Der folgende Artikel versucht, einige
mögliche Interaktionen abzuschätzen und aufzuzeigen.
Age and growth of juvenile lemon sharks (Negaprion brevirostris) at an insular nursery in the southern Caribbean
Authors: Tavares Rafael , Wetherbee Bradley M. , Rodriguez Jon Paul
Published: June 2020

During the first few years of life, lemon sharks (Negaprion brevirostris) occupy discrete nursery areas in small numbers (<100). Biotic and abiotic features vary among nursery areas, resulting in young sharks experiencing a range of physical and biological conditions that, in turn, influence life-history characteristics such as growth and mortality and are, therefore, directly related to population structure and ability to withstand fishing pressure. In the present study, we used tag and recapture data to estimate growth rates and construct size at age models for lemon sharks at Los Roques, Venezuela. Annual growth rates of lemon sharks were comparable to those in other nursery areas, but considerably higher than those reported for the well studied nursery at Bimini, Bahamas. Growth rate increased with age during the first 4 years of life for lemon sharks at Los Roques, while they occupied the nursery area. Comparison of growth rates of lemon sharks among geographically separate nursery areas showed no obvious relationships between growth rate and latitude or temperature. For species with broad geographical distributions, consideration of variability of life-history characteristics such as growth is important for accurate stock assessment and effective large-scale management of populations.
At the intersection of quantitative and qualitative
Authors: Caristia Stefania
Published: June 2020

This chapter discusses methodological issues related to the quantitative analysis of translations
in periodical publications and the possibilities to conjugate quantitative and qualitative approaches. I will propose
a model for a weighted analysis of translations in periodicals as well as the first results of its application on a
heterogeneous corpus of nine-teen Italian literary and political-literary periodicals of the post
Second World War period (1944–1970). Building on a systematical analysis of the networks of Italian periodicals, this
method takes into account some fundamental characteristics in the life of periodicals, and in particular their
diffusion and their symbolic capital in the literary field. It thus quantitatively measures qualitative phenomena.
Eternal problems
Authors: De Clerck Ernest
Published: June 2020

This chapter contends that literatures cannot solely be considered within national frameworks.
This is illustrated by a case study of the transnational dimensions of Stendhal’s work in British Late-Romantic
literary magazines. The Late-Romantic period is often seen as an insular, self-reflexive period within British
Romanticism. Evidence shows, however, that it was a truly international period with literature continually crossing
the channel in different forms. Three of the major literary magazines of the period played an important role in this
transnational literary exchange: The New Monthly Magazine, the London Magazine, and
Blackwood’s Edinburgh Magazine. This article focuses on the polemical, competitive, and
ideological struggles between the three magazines, exemplified in the way they treated the French author Stendhal,
through translation and reception.
Photoacoustic Research Development in Industrial Era 4.0
Authors: Mitrayana  , Satriawan M
Published: June 2020

Photoacoustic (PA) is the phenomenon of changing optical power into acoustics (sound). Photoacoustic research continues to grow and have broader field of application, especially after the development of laser technology and the development of laser diodes. In the industrial era 4.0, PA research is increasingly developing, especially in the PA tomography topics or PA imaging which is widely applied in medicine, as well as in single molecular imaging research and the 3D imaging of body tissue system.
Development of Magnetic Materials Based on Micro-Nano Particles Natural Ferrite as Microwaves Absorber Materials
Authors: Mashuri  , Heni D B
Published: June 2020

Ferrite-based magnetic materials (ferrites) can be simple iron oxide compounds such as Fe2O3 or Fe3O4, and similar compounds containing other cations besides iron, such as BiFeO3, CaFe 4O7, and BaFe12O19. The solid phase of these compounds generally has varying magnetic properties, depending on the cation (A+m) which is the substitution of the iron cation (Fe+3) in its crystal structure. In addition to the magnetic properties of interest, the compound in question also has strong absorption properties in electromagnetic waves in the frequency interval of 1 - 20 GHz (microwave), which is commonly used in the world of communication and radar technology. With these properties it is possible to develop these materials for electromagnetic shielding and stealth technology applications. As a magnetic element, ferrite material requires a conductive reflector element, to form a “core - shell” or “matrix - filler” system which results in absorption properties. The research that has been developed is in the form of Fe3O4 based micro-nano magnetic powder made from natural ferrite (iron sand). The sythesized of magnetic micro-nano particles using chemical extraction-milling and coprecipitation methods. Morphology of micro-nano particles ferrites has been confirmed by using SEM and TEM. The results of measurements of absorption of microwaves using a Vector Network Analyzer showed that the ferrite nano particle powder has greater absorption power (Reflection Loss < - 20 dB) than micro particle powders with ≥ 99 % absorption in the “X-band” region. The extraction-milling method is simpler and more economical than the chemical coprecipitation method so that it is suitable to be an alternative method for producing large-scale ferrite powder.
Effectiveness of Project Based Laboratory Learning to Increase Student’s Science Process Skills and Creativity
Authors: Dwikoranto  , Munasir  , Setiani R , Suyitno  , Surasmi W A , Tresnaningsih S , Pramonoadi
Published: June 2020

The Project Based Laboratory Learning (PJBLL) model is an innovative physics teaching model designed to enhance student’s sciences process skills and creativity. Therefore, this research aims to analyze the effectiveness of PJBLL model to improve sciences process skills and creativity physics students who were programmers in Unesa’s laboratory. The study design used one-group pretest-posttest design. Data collection methods were conducted by using tests sciences process skills and creativity. Data is analyzed using Paired t-test and N-gain. The results of the study show that there was a significant increase in student’s sciences process skills and creativity at α = 5% with N-gain average of moderate category. Thus, the PjBLL model is effective for enhancing student’s sciences process skills and creativity.
Magnetic Properties of FePt Material Influenced by Heat-Assisted Using Micromagnetic Simulation
Authors: Rohman L , Purwandari E , Romadhony I , Djuhana D
Published: June 2020

Platinum (FePt) is a ferromagnetic material that has a Face Centered Cubic (FCC) crystal structure. FePt material is classified as a hard magnetic material that can be applied as a magnetic storage medium. The composition of the material used in this study was Fe0.85Pt0.15. This study examined the magnetic properties of nano-sphere shaped FePt materials against the coercivity fields under the effect of heat-assisted variations in laser power values. The difference in magnetic properties due to the influence of laser power was seen based on the hysteresis curve. Micro-magnetic simulations were carried out to obtain Curie-temperature values, hysteresis curves, and configuration of the direction of spin of FePt material. This simulation found the Curie-temperature of the material as 650 K. The direction of the magnetization reversed by the power laser-assisted so quickly. With a small coercivity field; magnetic recording media can carry out the writing and recording process in high capacity. Based on the simulation results, laser power that has the potential to be applied to Fe0.85Pt0.15 material. When the computer works at temperatures 0 K, the laser power 0 W to 0.0026 W can be applied. We use the suitable laser power 0 W to 0.016 W at temperatures of 298 K and 318. While the temperature of 339 K cannot be applied with laser power because it gets an overheat temperature.
Metacognitive Learning Strategy with Reflective-Lesson Log Toward Students’ Physics Achievement
Authors: Silitonga H T M , Sutiana W , Panjaitan M , Supriyati Y
Published: June 2020

The study examined the effect of metacognitive learning strategies with a reflective-lesson log toward students’ physics achievement on Senior High School. The research employed the experimental method used groups within treatment designs and conducted at SMAN 4 and SMAN 7 Pontianak involving 117 students taken randomly through cluster random sampling technique. Data analysis was performed by comparing the post-test of students who studied by metacognitive strategies and students who studied by traditional teaching. Data were analyzed using the t-test. The result showed that the students’ physics achievement who studied by metacognitive strategy with a reflective-lesson log was higher than students’ by traditional strategy. Thus, it was recommended that physics senior high schools’ teachers could implement the metacognitive strategy with a reflective-lesson log as one of innovation physics teaching.
The Use of Virtual Measuring Toolkit toward Students’ Cognitive and Procedural Knowledge Achievements
Authors: Adam A S , Lutfiyah A , Mubarok H , Suprapto N
Published: June 2020

Virtual laboratory known as VMT (Virtual Measuring Toolkit) has been developed to succeed in the learning objection in a Junior High School level. This VMT was used in measurement on a natural science subject to involve the active participation in measuring process in an unavailable real laboratory facility. This media contains various measurement tool (caliper, three-arm balance, stopwatch, measuring glass for volume and grid for the area) to use for measuring process with the real using approach. Besides, VMT applies in a complete instruction process, integrate to worksheet and assessment sheet. Furthermore, this particular study aimed to measure the students’ cognitive and procedural knowledge achievement with the support of VMT and describe its attainment level on that knowledge based on certain criteria. The variables measured in an examination setting on 49 students. Besides, the students’ responds to relating media uses are discussed. As a result, the students’ achievement on cognitive and procedural knowledge after the Virtual Measuring Toolkit (VMT) using in learning setting on classroom state in a good with percentage of 69 %. While the students’ positive responds percentage on 85 %.