bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Root inoculation of green bell pepper (Capsicum annum) with Bacillus amyloliquefaciens BBC047: effect on biochemical composition and antioxidant capacity
Authors: Cisternas‐Jamet Jonathan , Salvatierra‐Martínez Ricardo , Vega‐Gálvez Antonio , Uribe Elsa , Goñi María G , Stoll Alexandra
Published: April 2019

BACKGROUND

Consumption of bell peppers is recommended because of their bioactive compound content and their positive effects on health. Growth‐promoting rhizobacteria are popular because of their ability to promote plant growth by improving the fixation of nutrients or by inducing a systemic response. Green bell pepper (Capsicum annum) roots were inoculated with an autochthonous strain of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, at different stages of development: T1, inoculation in the seedbed before transplant; T2, inoculation at and after transplant; T3, inoculation in the seedbed, at and after transplant. Bell pepper plants without inoculation were considered as control. Physicochemical composition and antioxidant activity of the fruits were measured to select the best treatment.

RESULTS

T1 increased crude proteins, fat, Ca, Fe, vitamin C, total phenolic content, antioxidant capacity by DPPH and by ORAC. On the other hand, T1 decreased reducing sugars, K and Cu content. No significant differences for total carbohydrates, ash and photosynthetic pigments were found.

CONCLUSION

Inoculated green bell peppers have enhanced its functional value and could be considered as an important source of bioactive compounds with elevated antioxidant activity. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry
Minimally invasive versus open distal pancreatectomy for pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors: An analysis from the U.S. neuroendocrine tumor study group
Authors: Zhang Xu‐Feng , Lopez‐Aguiar Alexandra G. , Poultsides George , Makris Eleftherios , Rocha Flavio , Kanji Zaheer , Weber Sharon , Fields Ryan , Krasnick Bradley A. , Idrees Kamran , Smith Paula M. , Cho Cliff , Schmidt Carl R. , Maithel Shishir K. , Pawlik Timothy M. ,   The United States Neuroendocrine Tumor Study Group
Published: April 2019

Background

To determine short‐ and long‐term oncologic outcomes after minimally invasive distal pancreatectomy (MIDP) with open distal pancreatectomy (ODP) for the treatment of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor (pNET).

Methods

The data of the patients who underwent curative MIDP or ODP for pNET between 2000 and 2016 were collected from a multi‐institutional database. Propensity score matching (PSM) was used to generate 1:1 matched patients with MIDP and ODP.

Results

A total of 576 patients undergoing curative DP for pNET were included. Two hundred and fourteen (37.2%) patients underwent MIDP, whereas 362 (62.8%) underwent ODP. MIDP was increasingly performed over time (2000‐2004: 9.3% vs 2013‐2016: 54.8%; P < 0.01). In the matched cohort (n = 141 in each group), patients who underwent MIDP had less blood loss (median, 100 vs 200 mL, P < 0.001), lower incidence of Clavien‐Dindo ≥ III complications (12.1% vs 24.8%, P = 0.026), and a shorter hospital stay versus ODP (median, 4 versus 7 days, P = 0.026). Patients who underwent MIDP had a lower incidence of recurrence (5‐year cumulative recurrence, 10.1% vs 31.1%, P < 0.001), yet equivalent overall survival (OS) rate (5‐year OS, 92.1% vs 90.9%, P = 0.550) compared with patients who underwent OPD.

Conclusion

Patients undergoing MIDP over ODP in the treatment of pNET had comparable oncologic surgical metrics, as well as similar long‐term OS.
Protective effects of the suppressed NF‐κB/TLR4 signaling pathway on oxidative stress of lung tissue in rat with acute lung injury
Authors: Zhang Ze‐Ming , Wang Yan‐Cun , Chen Lu , Li Zheng
Published: April 2019

The pathogenesis of acute lung injury (ALI) is characterized by lung inflammation and lung oxidative stress. The study was conducted in order to investigate the effect toll‐like receptor 4 (TLR4) and nuclear factor‐kappa B (NF‐κB) exhibited on oxidative stress in ALI. After the rats had been assigned into different groups, arterial blood, white blood cell (WBC), lung permeability index (LPI), wet/dry (W/D) ratio, TLR4 and NF‐κB expression and superoxide dismutase (SOD), myeloperoxidase (MPO), malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH), and reactive oxygen species (ROS) were examined. Afterward, the correlation between the levels of TLR4 and NF‐κB was determined. Decreased levels of PaO2, SOD, MPO, and GSH accompanied by increased levels of PaCO2, WBC number, LPI and W/D ratio, MDA and ROS, as well as TLR4 and NF‐κB expressions in the ALI, ALI + NF‐κB inhibitor, and ALI + phosphate buffer saline groups were found. Inhibition of NF‐κB resulted in increased PaO2 and decreased PaCO2 levels, WBC number, and LPI and W/D ratio. Decreased expression of NF‐κB increased SOD, GSH, and MPO, but decreased MDA and ROS. We also found that NF‐κB inhibition resulted in the improvement of ALI in rats. TLR4 and NF‐κB expressions were negatively correlated with levels of SOD, MPO, and GSH, and positively correlated with MDA and ROS levels. In summary, our findings provided evidence that inhibition of the TLR4/NF‐κB signaling pathway decreases oxidative stress, thereby improving ALI. As a result, NF‐κB signaling pathway has shown potential as a therapeutic target in ALI therapy.
Microbial osteoporosis: The interplay between the gut microbiota and bones via host metabolism and immunity
Authors: Li Lishan , Rao Shitao , Cheng Yanzhen , Zhuo Xiaoyun , Deng Caihong , Xu Ningning , Zhang Hua , Yang Li
Published: April 2019

The complex relationship between intestinal microbiota and host is a novel field in recent years. A large number of studies are being conducted on the relationship between intestinal microbiota and bone metabolism. Bone metabolism consisted of bone absorption and formation exists in the whole process of human growth and development. The nutrient components, inflammatory factors, and hormone environment play important roles in bone metabolism. Recently, intestinal microbiota has been found to influence bone metabolism via influencing the host metabolism, immune function, and hormone secretion. Here, we searched relevant literature on Pubmed and reviewed the effect of intestinal microbiota on bone metabolism through the three aspects, which may provide new ideas and targets for the clinical treatment of osteoporosis.
A risk assessment of automated treatment planning and recommendations for clinical deployment
Authors: Kisling Kelly , Johnson Jennifer L. , Simonds Hannah , Zhang Lifei , Jhingran Anuja , Beadle Beth M. , Burger Hester , du Toit Monique , Joubert Nanette , Makufa Remigio , Shaw William , Trauernicht Christoph , Balter Peter , Howell Rebecca M. , Schmeler Kathleen , Court Laurence
Published: April 2019

Purpose

To assess the risk of failure of a recently developed automated treatment planning tool, the radiation planning assistant (RPA), and to determine the reduction in these risks with implementation of a quality assurance (QA) program specifically designed for the RPA.

Methods

We used failure mode and effects analysis (FMEA) to assess the risk of the RPA. The steps involved in the workflow of planning a four‐field box treatment of cervical cancer with the RPA were identified. Then, the potential failure modes at each step and their causes were identified and scored according to their likelihood of occurrence, severity, and likelihood of going undetected. Additionally, the impact of the components of the QA program on the detectability of the failure modes was assessed. The QA program was designed to supplement a clinic's standard QA processes and consisted of three components: (a) automatic, independent verification of the results of automated planning; (b) automatic comparison of treatment parameters to expected values; and (c) guided manual checks of the treatment plan. A risk priority number (RPN) was calculated for each potential failure mode with and without use of the QA program.

Results

In the RPA automated treatment planning workflow, we identified 68 potential failure modes with 113 causes. The average RPN was 91 without the QA program and 68 with the QA program (maximum RPNs were 504 and 315, respectively). The reduction in RPN was due to an improvement in the likelihood of detecting failures, resulting in lower detectability scores. The top‐ranked failure modes included incorrect identification of the marked isocenter, inappropriate beam aperture definition, incorrect entry of the prescription into the RPA plan directive, and lack of a comprehensive plan review by the physician.

Conclusions

Using FMEA, we assessed the risks in the clinical deployment of an automated treatment planning workflow and showed that a specialized QA program for the RPA, which included automatic QA techniques, improved the detectability of failures, reducing this risk. However, some residual risks persisted, which were similar to those found in manual treatment planning, and human error remained a major cause of potential failures. Through the risk analysis process, we identified three key aspects of safe deployment of automated planning: (a) user training on potential failure modes; (b) comprehensive manual plan review by physicians and physicists; and (c) automated QA of the treatment plan.
Using Specialized Angling to Assess a Trophy Florida Bass Fishery at Calling Panther Lake, Mississippi
Authors: Hall Edward P. , Bonvechio Timothy F. , Shaw Stephanie L. , Allen Micheal S. , Brown Jerry , Pugh Larry
Published: April 2019

Angling for trophy Largemouth Bass Micropterus salmoides and Florida Bass M. salmoides floridanus supports popular fisheries, particularly in the southern United States, where conditions are favorable for growing large fish. Traditional standardized sampling gears, such as electrofishing and creel surveys, often prove ineffective at obtaining sample sizes that are adequate for assessing the quality and temporal trends in trophy fisheries. In this study, we assessed the trophy Florida Bass population in the newly impounded Calling Panther Lake (163 ha), Mississippi, by using a nontraditional, specialized angling technique, and we compared the results with data collected by the more traditional techniques of creel surveys and electrofishing. The specialized angling technique utilized a select few highly skilled and devoted anglers that targeted only the largest bass in the population. The specialized angling technique collected nearly 8 and 24 times more trophy Florida Bass (≥3.6 kg or ≥56 cm TL) than creel surveys and electrofishing, respectively. As a result, this was the only method that reliably collected enough trophy-sized fish to estimate the population size in Calling Panther Lake. Mark–recapture data were used to estimate an abundance of 150 trophy Florida Bass (95% confidence interval [CI] = 118–206) in 2011 (density = 0.92 fish/ha; 95% CI = 0.73–1.26). The use of data collected by specialized anglers provided vital information for the trophy segment of this bass population, which is often difficult for fisheries managers to obtain with traditional techniques.
A Comparison between Conventional Boat Electrofishing and the Electrified Dozer Trawl for Capturing Silver Carp in Tributaries of the Missouri River, Missouri
Authors: Hammen Jeremy J. , Pherigo Emily , Doyle Wyatt , Finley Jeff , Drews Kevin , Goeckler Jason M.
Published: April 2019

Silver Carp Hypophthalmichthys molitrix are elusive fish that can be difficult to capture with conventional management tools. New tools must be developed to help increase the capture of Silver Carp, thereby improving the understanding and management of the species. An electrified dozer trawl was developed in an attempt to increase the capture of Silver Carp while reducing the amount of sampling effort needed to successfully assess a population and inform management actions. We compared Silver Carp catch rates, sample run time, and Silver Carp length frequency distributions from the electrified dozer trawl with those from conventional boat electrofishing. Silver Carp capture was greater and sample time was shorter for the electrified dozer trawl compared to conventional boat electrofishing. Length frequency distributions were similar between gears. The electrified dozer trawl can shorten sample run times and potentially improve Silver Carp capture, thus facilitating management. Use of the electrified dozer trawl should be expanded beyond Missouri River tributaries to further understand the gear's potential for sampling Silver Carp in a diverse array of environments.
Evaluation of Tag Retention, Healing, Growth, and Behavior in Age-0 Muskellunge Following Acoustic Transmitter Implantation
Authors: Walton-Rabideau Sarah E. , Newell Mark , Jeanson Amanda L. , Lédée Elodie J. I. , Farrell John M. , Cooke Steven J.
Published: April 2019

The development of small acoustic transmitters has enabled researchers to monitor earlier life stages and smaller fish species than was previously possible. The underlying assumptions of any telemetry study are minimal tag loss and negligible effects on the behavior, survival, and growth of tagged individuals. To that end, tag retention, healing, survival, specific growth rates, and behavior were evaluated for 96 age-0 Muskellunge Esox masquinongy (TL [mean ± SD] = 205 ± 10 mm) from three treatment groups. Tagged fish were compared to untagged controls and sham fish (fish that had undergone anesthesia and laparotomy but not transmitter implantation). Thirty-two fish (tagged group) were implanted with one of the smallest commercially available acoustic transmitters (Juvenile Salmon Acoustic Telemetry tag; 12.0 × 5.3 × 3.7 mm, 0.217 g in air, >120-d tag life) and monitored in a 4-month, overwinter tank experiment. Tricaine methanesulfonate was used for anesthesia, incisions were closed with a synthetic absorbable monofilament, and all surgeries were conducted by a single trained researcher. All tags were retained throughout the experiment; surgical wounds healed within 30 d, 32% of sutures were retained at 120 d postsurgery, and survival did not differ between treatments. No biologically significant effects of tagging on mean relative growth rates (percent change in weight/d) were observed among the three groups (tagged, untagged, and sham fish) at 4 months postprocessing. The reaction of tagged fish to a moving object within 15 minutes after tagging was slower than the reaction at 7 d postsurgery, reiterating the importance of testing appropriate sedation methods prior to releasing fish in field studies. Results validate the utility of surgical implantation of small acoustic transmitters in juvenile Muskellunge for future studies, although immobilization methods for early life stages require further study.
Robust optimization of dynamic route planning in same‐day delivery networks with one‐time observation of new demand
Authors: Yao Bing , McLean Caitlin , Yang Hui
Published: April 2019

Local delivery networks expect drivers to make deliveries to and/or pickups from customers using the shortest routes in order to minimize costs, delivery time, and environmental impact. However, in real‐world applications, it is often the case that not all customers are known when planning the initial delivery route. Instead, additional customers become known while the driver is making deliveries or pickups. Before serving the new demand requests, the vehicle will return to the depot for restocking. In other words, there exists a precedence relation in the delivery route to visit the depot before delivering new orders. The uncertainty in new customer locations can lead to expensive rerouting of the tour, as drivers revisit previous neighborhoods to serve the new customers. We address this issue by constructing the delivery route with the knowledge that additional customers will appear, using historical demand patterns to guide our predictions for the uncertainty. We model this network delivery problem as a precedence‐constrained asymmetric traveling salesman problem using mixed‐integer optimization. Experimental results show that the proposed robust optimization approach provides an effective delivery route under the uncertainty of customer demands.
Chain extension of polyamide 6/organoclay nanocomposites
Authors: Tuna Basak , Benkreira Hadj
Published: April 2019

Thermal degradation of polyamide 6 (PA6)/organoclay nanocomposites is a serious impediment to wider applications of these nanocomposites. In this study, a solution is proposed based on the well‐established use of chain extenders. As in PA6, thermal degradation, in the absence of moisture, produces broken polymer chains with amide end groups, a chain extender with anhydride functionalities, known to be strongly reactive with amide groups, was used to reconnect the chains. Experiments conducted using a laboratory twin‐screw extruder were first checked, through transmission electron microscopy observations, to have produced good organoclay intercalation and exfoliation into PA6. Following from this, samples with the chain extender added were produced and characterized. The data obtained were conclusive in the effectiveness of the chain extender: for the chain extended nanocomposites, there is an enhancement in the value of the complex viscosity by 7 times and in the storage modulus by 88 times, while the tensile modulus increased by 57% compared with the neat PA6. The nonchain extended nanocomposite achieved in comparison an enhancement of 2 times the value of the complex viscosity and 19 times the storage modulus while the tensile modulus increased by 53% compared to the neat PA6. These data provide conclusive proof on the rationale that anhydride functionalities should be sought when developing chain extenders for PA6 nanocomposites. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 59:1233–1241 2019. © 2019 Society of Plastics Engineers
Toughness and roughness in hybrid nanocomposites of an epoxy matrix
Authors: Schuster Marcia B. , Coelho Luiz A.F.
Published: April 2019

The present paper investigates the relationship between roughness and toughening mechanisms in hybrid epoxy nanocomposites with carbon nanotubes (CNT) and graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs). The role of adding a block copolymer (BC) to the studied systems was also investigated. The nanocomposites were prepared by means of high‐energy sonication and in situ polymerization. All nanocomposites presented higher numerical values for KIc than untoughened systems. The system containing 0.5 wt% of CNTs presented an increase of 35% in KIc compared to neat epoxy, and the hybrid nanocomposite, at the proportion of 1:1 (CNT:GNP), with 0.5 wt% total of nanoparticles and also containing 0.5 wt% of BC, had an increase of 34% compared to the neat epoxy. Systems with higher amounts of graphene showed the highest roughness values, having crack deflection/exfoliation between the GNP layers as the main toughening mechanism. On the other hand, systems with more CNTs presented a lower fracture surface roughness, and the main toughening mechanism was bridging/break‐up of the nanotubes. Hybrid systems have more types of mechanisms than simple ones. With only one type of nanoparticle, however, some of those mechanisms are not effective in increasing the toughness, only increasing the fracture surface roughness. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 59:1258–1269 2019. © 2019 Society of Plastics Engineers
Charge Photogeneration and Transport in AgBiS2 Nanocrystal Films for Photovoltaics
Authors: Diedenhofen Silke L. , Bernechea Maria , Felter Kevin M. , Grozema Ferdinand C. , Siebbeles Laurens D. A.
Published: April 2019

Solution‐processed AgBiS2 nanocrystal films are a promising material for nontoxic, earth‐abundant solar cells. While solar cells with good device efficiency are demonstrated, so far, hardly anything is known about charge generation, transport, and recombination processes in these films. Here, a photoinduced time‐resolved microwave conductivity study on AgBiS2 nanocrystal films is presented. By modeling the experimental data with density‐dependent recombination processes, the product of the temperature‐dependent electron and hole quantum yield and mobility, and the electron and hole recombination kinetics are determined.
Newly Defined ATP-Binding Cassette Subfamily B Member 5 Positive Dermal Mesenchymal Stem Cells Promote Healing of Chronic Iron-Overload Wounds via Secretion of Interleukin-1 Receptor Antagonist
Authors: Vander Beken Seppe , Vries Juliane C. , Meier-Schiesser Barbara , Meyer Patrick , Jiang Dongsheng , Sindrilaru Anca , Ferreira Filipa F. , Hainzl Adelheid , Schatz Susanne , Muschhammer Jana , Scheurmann Natalie J. , Kampilafkos Panagiotis , Seitz Andreas M. , Dürselen Lutz , Ignatius Anita , Kluth Mark A. , Ganss Christoph , Wlaschek Meinhard , Singh Karmveer , Maity Pallab , Frank Natasha Y. , Frank Markus H. , Scharffetter-Kochanek Karin
Published: April 2019

In this study, we report the beneficial effects of a newly identified dermal cell subpopulation expressing the ATP-binding cassette subfamily B member 5 (ABCB5) for the therapy of nonhealing wounds. Local administration of dermal ABCB5+-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) attenuated macrophage-dominated inflammation and thereby accelerated healing of full-thickness excisional wounds in the iron-overload mouse model mimicking the nonhealing state of human venous leg ulcers. The observed beneficial effects were due to interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1RA) secreted by ABCB5+-derived MSCs, which dampened inflammation and shifted the prevalence of unrestrained proinflammatory M1 macrophages toward repair promoting anti-inflammatory M2 macrophages at the wound site. The beneficial anti-inflammatory effect of IL-1RA released from ABCB5+-derived MSCs on human wound macrophages was conserved in humanized NOD-scid IL2rγnull mice. In conclusion, human dermal ABCB5+ cells represent a novel, easily accessible, and marker-enriched source of MSCs, which holds substantial promise to successfully treat chronic nonhealing wounds in humans. Stem Cells  2019;37:1057–1074
Reframing the Achievement Gap: Lessons From Puzzling Students
Authors: Ballenger Cynthia
Published: April 2019

The achievement gap has been the focus of a good deal of research, attention, and hopeful new practices, yet it has hardly decreased. Using insights from sociolinguistic and sociocultural studies of classrooms in concert with practices developed by teacher researchers in the tradition of the Brookline Teacher Researcher Seminar, the author proposes a radical reframing of the position, and of the intellectual strength, of students not successfully engaged in school by exploring reading group interactions, focusing on two of her students and her own response to what they said. Considering details from the talk of these students, the author suggests ways in which teachers often miss or misjudge the full understandings and the intellectually rich intentions of many ostensibly less successful students.
Values and Intercultural Experiences Through Picture Books
Authors: Tomé‐Fernández María , Senís‐Fernández Juan , Ruiz‐Martín Diego
Published: April 2019

The authors searched for picture books that are useful for intercultural education and for discovering students’ perceptions about the values and intercultural experiences conveyed through the books. To do so, the authors selected two books by following established criteria and analyzed students’ responses through semistructured interviews. The data were obtained after reading the books aloud to 30 fifth‐grade students in a school located in the south of Spain and reflecting on the books’ contents. As a main conclusion, the authors found that students’ answers revealed the presence of some positive values, such as helpfulness, friendship, and empathy, through questions about the experiences of characters in the books. Thus, prejudices were dismantled and positive intercultural experiences in school were fostered.
Reading Specialists Use Verbal Protocols as a Formative Assessment Tool
Authors: Bergeson Kristi Tamte
Published: April 2019

Practitioners face many challenges when working with students who are experiencing difficulty with comprehension. The act of creating meaning with texts is complex, and comprehension is often measured in schools as a product of reading. Product assessments, such as answering questions or retelling a text, take place after reading, which makes it difficult to understand why and when a student may be experiencing difficulties. Using design‐based research, the author examined the implementation of verbal protocols in classrooms as a formative assessment tool for comprehension. During this two‐month study, three reading specialists drew on the landscape model of reading as a theoretical framework to better understand their students’ think‐aloud statements. Findings indicated that reading specialists implemented verbal protocols as a formative assessment tool with diagnostic interpretation about their students’ reading difficulties and were able to use this information to effectively coach students on their reading processes.
Donkey and smuggler optimization algorithm: A collaborative working approach to path finding
Authors: Shamsaldin Ahmed S. , Rashid Tarik A. , Al-Rashid Agha Rawan A. , Al-Salihi Nawzad K. , Mohammadi Mokhtar
Published: April 2019

Swarm Intelligence is a metaheuristic optimization approach that has become very predominant over the last few decades. These algorithms are inspired by animals' physical behaviors and their evolutionary perceptions. The simplicity of these algorithms allows researchers to simulate different natural phenomena to solve various real-world problems. This paper suggests a novel algorithm called Donkey and Smuggler Optimization Algorithm (DSO). The DSO is inspired by the searching behavior of donkeys. The algorithm imitates transportation behavior such as searching and selecting routes for movement by donkeys in the actual world. Two modes are established for implementing the search behavior and route-selection in this algorithm. These are the Smuggler and Donkeys. In the Smuggler mode, all the possible paths are discovered and the shortest path is then found. In the Donkeys mode, several donkey behaviors are utilized such as Run, Face & Suicide, and Face & Support. Real world data and applications are used to test the algorithm. The experimental results consisted of two parts, firstly, we used the standard benchmark test functions to evaluate the performance of the algorithm in respect to the most popular and the state of the art algorithms. Secondly, the DSO is adapted and implemented on three real-world applications namely; traveling salesman problem, packet routing, and ambulance routing. The experimental results of DSO on these real-world problems are very promising. The results exhibit that the suggested DSO is appropriate to tackle other unfamiliar search spaces and complex problems.

Highlights Donkey and Smuggler Optimization Algorithm (DSO) is a novel optimization algorithm. The DSO is inspired by Donkeys' behaviors. It has been evaluated against other algorithms. DSO solves different problems such as TSP, packet routing, and ambulance routing. The outcomes on the tests exhibit a greater manipulation of DSO. The outcomes prove that DSO has a greater searching ability.
Prevalence and Psychopathological Determinants of Sexual Dysfunction and Related Distress in Women With and Without Multiple Sclerosis
Authors: Gava Giulia , Visconti Matteo , Salvi Fabrizio , Bartolomei Ilaria , Seracchioli Renato , Meriggiola Maria Cristina
Published: April 2019

Introduction

Sexual dysfunction (SD) is common but still underdiagnosed in women with multiple sclerosis (MS); in fact, the lack of a consistent use of validated diagnostic tools makes the prevalence of SD and related distress difficult to define precisely.

Aim

To assess the prevalence of SD in Italian women with MS compared with age-matched healthy control subjects (HC) and the association with demographic, psychological, and MS-related characteristics.

Methods

The Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) and the Female Sexual Distress Scale were administered to 153 women with MS and 153 HC. Demographic, gynecologic, and neurologic data were obtained. Disability was assessed using the Expanded Disability Status Scale. Psychological symptoms were evaluated in MS patients with Profile of Mood State and the Beck Depression Inventory II.

Main Outcomes Measures

Prevalence of SD and sexual distress in women with MS compared with HC.

Results

Among women sexually active in the last month, we found an increased prevalence of SD in MS patients compared with HC subjects (42.0% vs 16.0%, P = .0001). The prevalence of dysfunctional FSFI global scores (<26.55) was higher in women with MS compared with HC (49.6% vs 33.6%, P = .014). In the MS group, the prevalence of SD was similar between pre- and post-menopausal women. Both premenopausal and postmenopausal MS women presented a greater prevalence of SD if compared with the premenopausal and postmenopausal HC groups (30/79 [37.9%] vs. 5/74 [6.8%], P = .0001 and 20/40 [50.0%] vs 16/57 [28.1%], P = .03, respectively). A negative correlation was observed between the FSFI global score and age and Expanded Disability Status Scale. Depressive symptoms were more common in women with MS and SD than in those without.

Clinical Implications

This study suggests that sexual function investigation should always be a standard part of the consultation with healthcare professionals for MS.

Strength & Limitations

The strength of this study was the comparison with an age-matched healthy control group and the use of validated questionnaires to assess both sexual function and sexual distress. Larger and multicenter studies may further support our findings.

Conclusion

In our cohort, the prevalence of SD and sexual distress was higher in women with MS compared to the HC group. Age, disability, and depressive symptoms were associated with increased SD.
Classical Marxism and Maoism: A comparative study
Authors: Gregor A. James
Published: April 2019

The issue of the Marxist character of “Mao Zedong Thought” has never really been resolved. The present work is a comparative analysis of the classical Marxism of Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels and the ideology of Mao Zedong. The argument is made that whatever Marxism there was in Maoism was the “creatively developed Marxism” of V. I. Lenin–which allowed for socialist revolution in retrograde economic circumstances–something that had been specifically rejected by Marx and Engels. That led to the theoretical idiosyncrasies that characterized Maoism throughout its history, and ultimately resulted in the form rejected by Deng Xiaoping and post-Maoist China.
An interview with Camstent’s Dave Hampton
Authors: Hampton Dave , McGuire Callum
Published: April 2019

Reinforced Plastics sat down with Dr Dave Hampton of Camstent to talk about the company’s recent innovations in the composite market.
A glimpse into the psychological status of E.N.T inpatients in China: A cross‐sectional survey of three hospitals in different regions
Authors: Tian Jun , Li Li , Tao Chun‐Lei , Hao Rong‐Ying , Huang Fu‐Hui , Ge Xiao‐Hui , Zhang San‐Mei
Published: April 2019

Objective

To determine whether E.N.T inpatients have a higher prevalence of mental illness than the general population and whether certain diseases are more likely to be associated with mental illness than other diseases.

Methods

This cross‐sectional survey was conducted in the E.N.T departments of three hospitals in different cities in China. The psychological status of all consecutive adult inpatients was assessed within 1–2 days following hospital admission using the Symptom Checklist‐90 (SCL‐90), Zung Self‐Rating Depression Scale (SDS) and Zung Self‐Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS). Inpatients from the general surgery and pneumology departments at the same hospital were enrolled and surveyed as control groups.

Results

The 439 patients enrolled in the final analysis accounted for 88.0% of all E.N.T inpatients during the study period. Of these patients, 16.4% were in an anxious state and 79.5% were in a depressive state. The overall anxiety (41.7 ± 9.7) and depression (55.9 ± 29.2) scores were much higher than Chinese norm (29.8 ± 10.0 and 33.5 ± 8.6, respectively), and significant differences were observed (t = 20.89, P < 0.01 and t = 13.12, P < 0.01, respectively). Although 18.7% of the E.N.T patients were psychiatric distress, these patients scored lower on the SCL‐90 than the Chinese norm. Furthermore, the patients in the E.N.T department had a higher prevalence of anxiety and depression than those in the general surgery department but a similar prevalence to those in the respiratory department.

Conclusion

Psychological distress, particularly anxiety and depression, are widespread in patients with otolaryngological diseases. Therefore, the identification and treatment of co‐occurring psychiatric disorders in this high risk and clinically challenging group of patients are urgent in China.
Skatteverket v. Hedqvist (C.J.E.U.)
Authors: Wolf Redmar
Published: April 2019

On October 22, 2015, the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) rendered its judgment in the case of Skatteverket v. Hedqvist. In this important decision the CJEU sheds light on the value added tax (VAT) aspects of the use of bitcoins. Supplying bitcoins (or better, paying with bitcoins) does not constitute a VAT taxable service, so paying with bitcoins is not a barter transaction. The mere exchange of bitcoins into traditional currency (or vice versa) also remains outside the scope of VAT. The exchange service is VAT exempt.
Fingerprinting of Proteins that Mediate Quagga Mussel Adhesion using a De Novo Assembled Foot Transcriptome
Authors: Rees David J. , Hanifi Arash , Obille Angelico , Alexander Robert , Sone Eli D.
Published: April 2019

The European freshwater mollusk Dreissena bugensis (quagga mussel), an invasive species to North America, adheres to surfaces underwater via the byssus: a non-living protein ‘anchor’. In spite of its importance as a biofouling species, the sequence of the majority of byssal proteins responsible for adhesion are not known, and little genomic data is available. To determine protein sequence information, we utilized next-generation RNA sequencing and de novo assembly to construct a cDNA library of the quagga mussel foot transcriptome, which contains over 200,000 transcripts. Quagga mussel byssal proteins were extracted from freshly induced secretions and analyzed using LC-MS/MS; peptide spectra were matched to the transcriptome to fingerprint the entire protein primary sequences. We present the full sequences of fourteen novel quagga mussel byssal proteins, named Dreissena bugensis foot proteins 4 to 17 (Dbfp4–Dbfp17), and new sequence data for two previously observed byssal proteins Dbfp1 and Dbfp2. Theoretical masses of the newly discovered proteins range from 4.3 kDa to 21.6 kDa. These protein sequences are unique but contain features similar to glue proteins from other species, including a high degree of polymorphism, proteins with repeated peptide motifs, disordered protein structure, and block structures.
Less fit Lamium amplexicaule plants produce more dispersible seeds
Authors: Zinger Eyal , Gueijman Ariel , Obolski Uri , Ram Yoav , Ruby Eliya , Binder Mor , Yechieli Nivi , Ohad Nir , Hadany Lilach
Published: April 2019

Theory predicts that less fit individuals would disperse more often than fitter ones (Fitness Associated Dispersal, FAD hypothesis). To test this prediction under laboratory conditions, an entire life cycle of Lamium amplexicaule plants and the preferences of its dispersal agent, Messor ebeninus ants, were tracked. Characterization of individual L. amplexicaule plant revealed high variability in spot cover on the surface of the seeds, where less fit plants produce “unspotted seeds” (see Fig. 1 in Introduction). Unspotted L. amplexicaule seeds showed higher variation in germination time and lower germination rate. Moreover, M. ebeninus ants preferably collected these unspotted seeds. Our results show that low fitness L. amplexicaule plants produce seeds with higher potential for dispersal, supporting the FAD hypothesis in a plant-animal system.
Retinal microvasculature and cerebral small vessel disease in the Lothian Birth Cohort 1936 and Mild Stroke Study
Authors: McGrory Sarah , Ballerini Lucia , Doubal Fergus N. , Staals Julie , Allerhand Mike , Valdes-Hernandez Maria del C. , Wang Xin , MacGillivray Tom , Doney Alex S. F. , Dhillon Baljean , Starr John M. , Bastin Mark E. , Trucco Emanuele , Deary Ian J. , Wardlaw Joanna M.
Published: April 2019

Research has suggested that the retinal vasculature may act as a surrogate marker for diseased cerebral vessels. Retinal vascular parameters were measured using Vessel Assessment and Measurement Platform for Images of the Retina (VAMPIRE) software in two cohorts: (i) community-dwelling older subjects of the Lothian Birth Cohort 1936 (n = 603); and (ii) patients with recent minor ischaemic stroke of the Mild Stroke Study (n = 155). Imaging markers of small vessel disease (SVD) (white matter hyperintensities [WMH] on structural MRI, visual scores and volume; perivascular spaces; lacunes and microbleeds), and vascular risk measures were assessed in both cohorts. We assessed associations between retinal and brain measurements using structural equation modelling and regression analysis. In the Lothian Birth Cohort 1936 arteriolar fractal dimension accounted for 4% of the variance in WMH load. In the Mild Stroke Study lower arteriolar fractal dimension was associated with deep WMH scores (odds ratio [OR] 0.53; 95% CI, 0.32–0.87). No other retinal measure was associated with SVD. Reduced fractal dimension, a measure of vascular complexity, is related to SVD imaging features in older people. The results provide some support for the use of the retinal vasculature in the study of brain microvascular disease.
Epigenome-wide Analysis Identifies Genes and Pathways Linked to Neurobehavioral Variation in Preterm Infants
Authors: Everson Todd M. , Marsit Carmen J. , Michael O’Shea T. , Burt Amber , Hermetz Karen , Carter Brian S. , Helderman Jennifer , Hofheimer Julie A. , McGowan Elisabeth C. , Neal Charles R. , Pastyrnak Steven L. , Smith Lynne M. , Soliman Antoine , DellaGrotta Sheri A. , Dansereau Lynne M. , Padbury James F. , Lester Barry M.
Published: April 2019

Neonatal molecular biomarkers of neurobehavioral responses (measures of brain-behavior relationships), when combined with neurobehavioral performance measures, could lead to better predictions of long-term developmental outcomes. To this end, we examined whether variability in buccal cell DNA methylation (DNAm) associated with neurobehavioral profiles in a cohort of infants born less than 30 weeks postmenstrual age (PMA) and participating in the Neonatal Neurobehavior and Outcomes in Very Preterm Infants (NOVI) Study (N = 536). We tested whether epigenetic age, age acceleration, or DNAm levels at individual loci differed between infants based on their NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale (NNNS) profile classifications. We adjusted for recruitment site, infant sex, PMA, and tissue heterogeneity. Infants with an optimally well-regulated NNNS profile had older epigenetic age compared to other NOVI infants (β1 = 0.201, p-value = 0.026), but no significant difference in age acceleration. In contrast, infants with an atypical NNNS profile had differential methylation at 29 CpG sites (FDR < 10%). Some of the genes annotated to these CpGs included PLA2G4E, TRIM9, GRIK3, and MACROD2, which have previously been associated with neurological structure and function, or with neurobehavioral disorders. These findings contribute to the existing evidence that neonatal epigenetic variations may be informative for infant neurobehavior.
Gene expression differences between matched pairs of ovarian cancer patient tumors and patient-derived xenografts
Authors: Liu Yuanhang , Chanana Pritha , Davila Jaime I. , Hou Xiaonan , Zanfagnin Valentina , McGehee Cordelia D. , Goode Ellen L. , Polley Eric C. , Haluska Paul , Weroha S. John , Wang Chen
Published: April 2019

As patient derived xenograft (PDX) models are increasingly used for preclinical drug development, strategies to account for the nonhuman component of PDX RNA expression data are critical to its interpretation. A bioinformatics pipeline to separate donor tumor and mouse stroma transcriptome profiles was devised and tested. To examine the molecular fidelity of PDX versus donor tumors, we compared mRNA differences between paired PDX-donor tumors from nine ovarian cancer patients. 1,935 differentially expressed genes were identified between PDX and donor tumors. Over 90% (n = 1767) of these genes were down-regulated in PDX models and enriched in stroma-specific functions. Several protein kinases were also differentially expressed in PDX tumors, e.g. PDGFRA, PDGFRB and CSF1R. Upon in silico removal of these PDX-donor tumor differentially expressed genes, a stronger transcriptional resemblance between PDX-donor tumor pairs was seen (average correlation coefficient increases from 0.91 to 0.95). We devised and validated an effective bioinformatics strategy to separate mouse stroma expression from human tumor expression for PDX RNAseq. In addition, we showed most of the PDX-donor differentially expressed genes were implicated in stromal components. The molecular similarities and differences between PDX and donor tumors have implications in future therapeutic trial designs and treatment response evaluations using PDX models.
c-Myb regulates tumorigenic potential of embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma cells
Authors: Kaspar Petr , Prochazka Jan , Efenberkova Michaela , Juhasz Attila , Novosadova Vendula , Sedlacek Radislav
Published: April 2019

Rhabdomyosarcomas (RMS) are a heterogeneous group of mesodermal tumors, the most common sub-types are embryonal (eRMS) and alveolar (aRMS) rhabdomyosarcoma. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed c-Myb expression in both eRMS and aRMS. c-Myb has been reported to be often associated with malignant human cancers. We therefore investigated the c-Myb role in RMS using cellular models of RMS. Specific suppression of c-Myb by a lentiviral vector expressing doxycycline (Dox)-inducible c-Myb shRNA inhibited proliferation, colony formation, and migration of the eRMS cell line (RD), but not of the aRMS cell line (RH30). Upon c-Myb knockdown in eRMS cells, cells accumulated in G0/G1 phase, the invasive behaviour of cells was repressed, and elevated levels of myosin heavy chain, marker of muscle differentiation, was detected. Next, we used an RD-based xenograft model to investigate the role of c-Myb in eRMS tumorigenesis in vivo. We found that Dox administration did not result in efficient suppression of c-Myb in growing tumors. However, when c-Myb-deficient RD cells were implanted into SCID mice, we observed inefficient tumor grafting and attenuation of tumor growth during the initial stages of tumor expansion. The presented study suggests that c-Myb could be a therapeutic target in embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma assuming that its expression is ablated.
Increased nurse workload is associated with bloodstream infections in very low birth weight infants
Authors: Küng Erik , Waldhör Thomas , Rittenschober-Böhm Judith , Berger Angelika , Wisgrill Lukas
Published: April 2019

Neonatal sepsis is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in very low birth weight infants (VLBWI). Nurse workload considerably affects infection rates in intensive care units. However, data concerning the impact of staff workload on bloodstream infections (BSI) in VLBWI are scarce. The aim of the study was to examine the association between nurse workload and BSI in VLBWI. VLBWI admitted to our neonatal intensive care unit during 2016–2017 were retrospectively analysed. Association between nurse workload, determined by a standardized nursing score, and the BSI occurrence was investigated. A higher nurse workload was significantly associated with higher occurrence of BSI (p = 0.0139) in VLBWI. An assumed workload of 120% or higher, representing the need for additional nurses in our NICU setting, is associated with an elevated risk for BSI in this vulnerable population OR 2.32 (95% CI: 1.42–3.8, p = 0.0005). In conclusion, nurse understaffing is associated with a higher risk for BSI in VLBWI.
Pulsed Near Infrared Transcranial and Intranasal Photobiomodulation Significantly Modulates Neural Oscillations: a pilot exploratory study
Authors: Zomorrodi Reza , Loheswaran Genane , Pushparaj Abhiram , Lim Lew
Published: April 2019

Transcranial photobiomodulation (tPBM) is the application of low levels of red or near-infrared (NIR) light to stimulate neural tissues. Here, we administer tPBM in the form of NIR light (810 nm wavelength) pulsed at 40 Hz to the default mode network (DMN), and examine its effects on human neural oscillations, in a randomized, sham-controlled, double-blinded trial. Using electroencephalography (EEG), we found that a single session of tPBM significantly increases the power of the higher oscillatory frequencies of alpha, beta and gamma and reduces the power of the slower frequencies of delta and theta in subjects in resting state. Furthermore, the analysis of network properties using inter-regional synchrony via weighted phase lag index (wPLI) and graph theory measures, indicate the effect of tPBM on the integration and segregation of brain networks. These changes were significantly different when compared to sham stimulation. Our preliminary findings demonstrate for the first time that tPBM can be used to non-invasively modulate neural oscillations, and encourage further confirmatory clinical investigations.
The effect of numerical aperture on quantitative use-wear studies and its implication on reproducibility
Authors: Calandra Ivan , Schunk Lisa , Bob Konstantin , Gneisinger Walter , Pedergnana Antonella , Paixao Eduardo , Hildebrandt Andreas , Marreiros Joao
Published: April 2019

Many archeologists are skeptical about the capabilities of use-wear analysis to infer on the function of archeological tools, mainly because the method is seen as subjective, not standardized and not reproducible. Quantitative methods in particular have been developed and applied to address these issues. However, the importance of equipment, acquisition and analysis settings remains underestimated. One of those settings, the numerical aperture of the objective, has the potential to be one of the major factors leading to reproducibility issues. Here, experimental flint and quartzite tools were imaged using laser-scanning confocal microscopy with two objectives having the same magnification but different numerical apertures. The results demonstrate that 3D surface texture ISO 25178 parameters differ significantly when the same surface is measured with objectives having different numerical apertures. It is, however, unknown whether this property would blur or mask information related to use of the tools. Other acquisition and analyses settings are also discussed. We argue that to move use-wear analysis toward standardization, repeatability and reproducibility, the first step is to report all acquisition and analysis settings. This will allow the reproduction of use-wear studies, as well as tracing the differences between studies to given settings.