bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Modified mRNA/lipid nanoparticle-based vaccines expressing respiratory syncytial virus F protein variants are immunogenic and protective in rodent models of RSV infection
Authors: Espeseth Amy S. , Cejas Pedro J. , Citron Michael P. , Wang Dai , DiStefano Daniel J. , Callahan Cheryl , Donnell Gregory O’ , Galli Jennifer D. , Swoyer Ryan , Touch Sinoeun , Wen Zhiyun , Antonello Joseph , Zhang Lan , Flynn Jessica A. , Cox Kara S. , Freed Daniel C. , Vora Kalpit A. , Bahl Kapil , Latham Andrew H. , Smith Jeffrey S. , Gindy Marian E. , Ciaramella Giuseppe , Hazuda Daria , Shaw Christine A. , Bett Andrew J. 
Published: February 2020

AbstractThe RSV Fusion (F) protein is a target for neutralizing antibody responses and is a focus for vaccine discovery; however, the process of RSV entry requires F to adopt a metastable prefusion form and transition to a more stable postfusion form, which displays less potent neutralizing epitopes. mRNA vaccines encode antigens that are translated by host cells following vaccination, which may allow conformational transitions similar to those observed during natural infection to occur. Here we evaluate a panel of chemically modified mRNA vaccines expressing different forms of the RSV F protein, including secreted, membrane associated, prefusion-stabilized, and non-stabilized structures, for conformation, immunogenicity, protection, and safety in rodent models. Vaccination with mRNA encoding native RSV F elicited antibody responses to both prefusion- and postfusion-specific epitopes, suggesting that this antigen may adopt both conformations in vivo. Incorporating prefusion stabilizing mutations further shifts the immune response toward prefusion-specific epitopes, but does not impact neutralizing antibody titer. mRNA vaccine candidates expressing either prefusion stabilized or native forms of RSV F protein elicit robust neutralizing antibody responses in both mice and cotton rats, similar to levels observed with a comparable dose of adjuvanted prefusion stabilized RSV F protein. In contrast to the protein subunit vaccine, mRNA-based vaccines elicited robust CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell responses in mice, highlighting a potential advantage of the technology for vaccines requiring a cellular immune response for efficacy.
A single dose polyanhydride-based nanovaccine against paratuberculosis infection
Authors: Thukral Akanksha , Ross Kathleen , Hansen Chungyi , Phanse Yashdeep , Narasimhan Balaji , Steinberg Howard , Talaat Adel M. 
Published: February 2020

AbstractMycobacterium aviumsubsp. paratuberculosis(M. paratuberculosis) causes Johne’s disease in ruminants and is characterized by chronic gastroenteritis leading to heavy economic losses to the dairy industry worldwide. The currently available vaccine (inactivated bacterin in oil base) is not effective in preventing pathogen shedding and is rarely used to control Johne’s disease in dairy herds. To develop a better vaccine that can prevent the spread of Johne’s disease, we utilized polyanhydride nanoparticles (PAN) to encapsulate mycobacterial antigens composed of whole cell lysate (PAN-Lysate) and culture filtrate (PAN-Cf) ofM. paratuberculosis. These nanoparticle-based vaccines (i.e., nanovaccines) were well tolerated in mice causing no inflammatory lesions at the site of injection. Immunological assays demonstrated a substantial increase in the levels of antigen-specific T cell responses post-vaccination in the PAN-Cf vaccinated group as indicated by high percentages of triple cytokine (IFN-γ, IL-2, TNF-α) producing CD8+T cells. Following challenge, animals vaccinated with PAN-Cf continued to produce significant levels of double (IFN-γ, TNF-α) and single cytokine (IFN-γ) secreting CD8+T cells compared with animals vaccinated with an inactivated vaccine. A significant reduction in bacterial load was observed in multiple organs of animals vaccinated with PAN-Cf, which is a clear indication of protection. Overall, the use of polyanhydride nanovaccines resulted in development of protective and sustained immunity against Johne’s disease, an approach that could be applied to counter other intracellular pathogens.
Prospects of reinforcement learning for the simultaneous damping of many mechanical modes
Authors: Sommer Christian , Asjad Muhammad , Genes Claudiu 
Published: February 2020

AbstractWe apply adaptive feedback for the partial refrigeration of a mechanical resonator, i.e. with the aim to simultaneously cool the classical thermal motion of more than one vibrational degree of freedom. The feedback is obtained from a neural network parametrized policy trained via a reinforcement learning strategy to choose the correct sequence of actions from a finite set in order to simultaneously reduce the energy of many modes of vibration. The actions are realized either as optical modulations of the spring constants in the so-called quadratic optomechanical coupling regime or as radiation pressure induced momentum kicks in the linear coupling regime. As a proof of principle we numerically illustrate efficient simultaneous cooling of four independent modes with an overall strong reduction of the total system temperature.
Positive intergroup contact modulates fusiform gyrus activity to black and white faces
Authors: Farmer H. , Hewstone M. , Spiegler O. , Morse H. , Saifullah A. , Pan X. , Fell B. , Charlesford J. , Terbeck S. 
Published: February 2020

AbstractIn this study, we investigated the effect of intergroup contact on processing of own- and other-race faces using functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI). Previous studies have shown a neural own-race effect with greater BOLD response to own race compared to other race faces. In our study, white participants completed a social-categorization task and an individuation task while viewing the faces of both black and white strangers after having answered questions about their previous experiences with black people. We found that positive contact modulated BOLD activity in the right fusiform gyrus (rFG) and left inferior occipital gyrus (lIOC), regions associated with face processing. Within these regions, higher positive contact was associated with higher activity when processing black, compared to white faces during the social categorisation task. We also found that in both regions a greater amount of individuating experience with black people was associated with greater activation for black vs. white faces in the individuation task. Quantity of contact, implicit racial bias and negatively valenced contact showed no effects. Our findings suggest that positive contact and individuating experience directly modulate processing of out-group faces in the visual cortex, and illustrate that contact quality rather than mere familiarity is an important factor in reducing the own race face effect.
Irrelevance of USF2 rs916145 polymorphism with the risk of biliary atresia susceptibility in Southern Chinese children
Authors: Chen Lei , Fu Ming , Tan Ledong , Zhao Jinglu , Xu Xiaogang , Lin Yuzhen , Zhong Qian , Zhong Ruisui , Zhang RuiZhong , Zeng Jixiao 
Published: February 2020

Abstract
Backgrounds: Biliary atresia (BA) is a very rare neonatal disease, however, it has been the most common cause of obstructive jaundice in infancy. The complex pathogenesis of BA is not entirely clear and a lot of possible pathogenic mechanisms have been proposed to explain the etiology of BA, including genetic, inflammatory, environmental and developmental abnormalities. As a transcription factor, USF2 gene rs916145 polymorphism has been shown to be related to the risk of BA.
Methods: We examined the USF2 rs916145 genotype in a large case–control study consisting of 506 BA patients and 1473 healthy controls, using the MassARRAY iPLEX Gold system (Sequenom). Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to evaluate the association between the USF2 gene rs916145 polymorphism and BA susceptibility.
Results: The frequency of different genotypes showed no statistical significance (GG/GC, OR: 1.09, P=0.470, 95% CI: 0.87–1.35; GG/CC, OR: 0.86, P=0.378, 95% CI: 0.62–1.20). No obvious association was revealed between the USF2 gene rs916145 polymorphism and BA susceptibility.
Conclusion: USF2 rs916145 polymorphism may not be the best predictor of BA.
Resonant converter with less voltage rating of power switches and wide voltage operation
Authors: Lin B.‐R. , Lin Y.‐K. 
Published: February 2020

A resonant converter with less voltage rating of power switches and wide voltage operation is investigated in this Letter for medium voltage applications. Four active switches and two split capacitors are adopted on the primary side to reduce the voltage rating on power semiconductors. The resonant converter is adopted in the converter to have a wide soft switching operation range. Two flying capacitors are used in the presented circuit to operate as the resonant capacitor and also to achieve voltage balance of two input split capacitors. The variable winding turns are used on the secondary side to overcome the problem of the limited voltage operation in the conventional resonant converter. If the input voltage is in the low‐input voltage range, the low turns‐ratio of the power transformer is used to increase the voltage gain of the resonant converter. If the input voltage is in a high‐voltage range, then the high turns‐ratio of the transformer is adopted to reduce the voltage gain. Thus, the proposed converter can achieve wide input voltage operation. Experimental results with a 0.8 kW prototype are provided to confirm the effectiveness of wide input voltage operation from 260 to 800 V.
Space, time and velocity association of successive coronal mass ejections
Authors: Lara Alejandro , Gopalswamy Nat , Niembro Tatiana , Pérez-Enríquez Román , Yashiro Seiji 
Published: February 2020

Aims.Our aim is to investigate the possible physical association between consecutive coronal mass ejections (CMEs).Methods.Through a statistical study of the main characteristics of 27 761 CMEs observed by SOHO/LASCO during the past 20 years.Results.We found the waiting time (WT) or time elapsed between two consecutive CMEs is < 5 h for 59% and < 25 h for 97% of the events, and the CME WTs follow a Pareto Type IV statistical distribution. The difference of the position-angle of a considerable population of consecutive CME pairs is less than 30°, indicating the possibility that their source locations are in the same region. The difference between the speed of trailing and leading consecutive CMEs follows a generalized Studentt-distribution. The fact that the WT and the speed difference have heavy-tailed distributions along with a detrended fluctuation analysis shows that the CME process has a long-range dependence. As a consequence of the long-range dependence, we found a small but significative difference between the speed of consecutive CMEs, with the speed of the trailing CME being higher than the speed of the leading CME. The difference is largest for WTs < 2 h and tends to be zero for WTs > 10 h, and it is more evident during the ascending and descending phases of the solar cycle. We suggest that this difference may be caused by a drag force acting over CMEs closely related in space and time.Conclusions.Our results show that the initiation and early propagation of a significant population of CMEs cannot be considered as a “pure” stochastic process; instead they have temporal, spatial, and velocity relationship.
The origin of globular cluster FSR 1758
Authors: Yeh Fu-Chi , Carraro Giovanni , Korchagin Vladimir I. , Pianta Camilla , Ortolani Sergio 
Published: February 2020

Context. Globular clusters in the Milky Way are thought to have either an in situ origin, or to have been deposited in the Galaxy by past accretion events, like the spectacular Sagittarius dwarf galaxy merger.
Aims. We probe the origin of the recently discovered globular cluster FSR 1758, often associated with some past merger event and which happens to be projected toward the Galactic bulge. We performed a detailed study of its Galactic orbit, and assign it to the most suitable Galactic component.
Methods. We employed three different analytical time-independent potential models to calculate the orbit of the cluster by using the Gauss Radau spacings integration method. In addition, a time-dependent bar potential model is added to account for the influence of the Galactic bar. We ran a large suite of simulations via a Montecarlo method to account for the uncertainties in the initial conditions.
Results. We confirm previous indications that the globular cluster FSR 1758 possesses a retrograde orbit with high eccentricity. The comparative analysis of the orbital parameters of star clusters in the Milky Way, in tandem with recent metallicity estimates, allows us to conclude that FSR 1758 is indeed a Galactic bulge intruder. The cluster can therefore be considered an old metal-poor halo globular cluster formed in situ that is passing right now in the bulge region. Its properties, however, can be roughly accounted for by also assuming that the cluster is part of some stream of extra-Galactic origin.
Conclusions. We conclude that assessing the origin, either Galactic or extra-galactic, of globular clusters is surely a tantalising task. In any case, by using an Occam’s razor argument, we tend to prefer an in situ origin for FSR 1758.
Magnetic twist profile inside magnetic clouds derived with a superposed epoch analysis
Authors: Lanabere V. , Dasso S. , Démoulin P. , Janvier M. , Rodriguez L. , Masías-Meza J. J. 
Published: February 2020

Context. Magnetic clouds (MCs) are large-scale interplanetary transient structures in the heliosphere that travel from the Sun into the interplanetary medium. The internal magnetic field lines inside the MCs are twisted, forming a flux rope (FR). This magnetic field structuring is determined by its initial solar configuration, by the processes involved during its eruption from the Sun, and by the dynamical evolution during its interaction with the ambient solar wind.
Aims. One of the most important properties of the magnetic structure inside MCs is the twist of the field lines forming the FR (the number of turns per unit length). The detailed internal distribution of twist is under debate mainly because the magnetic field (B) in MCs is observed only along the spacecraft trajectory, and thus it is necessary to complete observations with theoretical assumptions. Estimating the twist from the study of a single event is difficult because the field fluctuations significantly increase the noise of the observed B time series and thus the bias of the deduced twist.
Methods. The superposed epoch applied to MCs has proven to be a powerful technique, permitting the extraction of their common features, and removing the peculiarity of individual cases. We apply a superposed epoch technique to analyse the magnetic components in the local FR frame of a significant sample of moderately asymmetric MCs observed at 1 au.
Results. From the superposed profile of B components in the FR frame, we determine the typical twist distribution in MCs. The twist is nearly uniform in the FR core (central half part), and it increases moderately, up to a factor two, towards the MC boundaries. This profile is close to the Lundquist field model limited to the FR core where the axial field component is above about one-third of its central value.
Characterization of the residual sludge from the wastewater treatment plant of JERADA
Authors: Khnaijer B. , Cherkaoui E. , Khamar M. , Nounah A. 
Published: February 2020

The wastewater treatment plant of the city of JERADA is an aerated lagoon type, it is located in the west of the city of JERADA, It was put into service in 2016 and it is part of the national Moroccan liquid sanitation program, which requires an increasing of the rate of wastewater treatment. Indeed, said STEP generates on the one hand a clean sanitized water with an average flow of 2500 m3/d, which is discharged into the receiving environment without any environmental damage, and on the other handa huge quantities of residual sludge 1740.24 kg/d.The most suitable technique for the management of sewage sludge of the JERADA STATION is their valorization in agriculture after their composting. Such a process requires beforehand a physico-chemical and biological characterization of the station residual sludge.
Érosion et accrétion de matériaux granulaires humides
Authors: Sauret Alban , Saingier Guillaume , Jop Pierre 
Published: February 2020

Le comportement des matériaux granulaires humides hétérogènes, éléments incontournables de nombreux processus industriels et géophysiques, résiste encore à une modélisation complète. L’interaction des grains avec une phase liquide doit être éclaircie afin d’optimiser les procédés de mélange, notamment la dispersion des grains d’un agrégat cohésif. Modéliser ces interactions permettrait aussi de mieux décrire des éboulements granulaires dont les propriétés mécaniques évoluent avec des variations de teneur en liquide et de répartition spatiale.
Des recherches actuelles se tournent vers la compréhension des échanges dans ces matériaux, pour isoler les mécanismes par lesquels des grains se mélangent à un liquide ou à une phase granulaire humide.
Spondylodiscitis: experience of surgical management of complicated cases after failed antibiotic treatment
Authors: Kamal Abdullah Mohammed , El-Sharkawi Mohammad M. , El-Sabrout Moataz , Hassan Mohammad Gamal 
Published: February 2020

Introduction: The term Spondylodiscitis (SD) involves infection of the vertebra (Spondylitis), infection of the intervertebral disc (Discitis), or both (Spondylodiscitis). SD represents a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge to any spine surgeon. Any delay in its diagnosis or management may cause serious long-term morbidity or even lead to mortality. In this study, we report the experience of our Institution in the management of severe and complicated cases of SD.Methods: Over a period of 1 year, 39 patients with the diagnosis of SD were surgically treated in Assiut University Hospital, Assiut, Egypt. The management processes were tailored according to the clinical condition, radiological and lab studies of each case; and patients were then prospectively followed-up until they were cured (for a minimum of 6 months). The outcomes were analyzed, to be able to give recommendations while aiming to improve the overall outcome of such dangerous health issue.Results: In this series, patients were managed surgically by drainage and debridement of the infection site with/without instrumented fusion. Results included: satisfactory fusion was achieved in 97.3% of patients (confidence interval [CI] = 0.6856–1.3421). Neurological Improvement Rate (NIR) was 71.5% (Statistically significant improvementP-value = 0.014) and reoperation rate was 5% (CI = 0.00621–0.18525). Mortality rate was 7.7% (CI = 0.016–0.209). Several aspects were analyzed in each case.Conclusion: Surgical management of severe and complicated cases of SD allows for effective debridement and rapid cure of inflammation, earlier patient mobilization and significantly shorter duration of antibiotic usage.
Schockraummanagement – von der Alarmierung bis zum interdisziplinären Weiterbehandlungskonzept
Authors: Spering Chistopher , Sehmisch Stephan , Lehmann Wolfgang 
Published: February 2020

ZusammenfassungSchockraummanagement bedeutet interdisziplinäre Teamarbeit und gemeinsame Reflexion. Dabei steht die optimale Versorgung des Schwerverletzten im Vordergrund. Daher sollte das Schockraumteam nach gezielten Kriterien alarmiert und ggf. abgestuft mobilisiert werden. Die Indikation hierfür kann zum Zeitpunkt der Alarmierung nur der Notarzt stellen, da er zu diesem Zeitpunkt als Einziger den Zustand des Patienten kennt. Das vollständige Team soll den Patienten im Schockraum erwarten. Die dann folgende Schockraumversorgung folgt den standortspezifischen an das ATLS®- bzw. ETC®-Kurskonzept angepassten Algorithmen. Standard Operating Procedures können helfen, auch unübersichtliche Schockraumversorgungen positiv umzusetzen oder ein unerfahrenes Team zu lenken. Der Schockraum fungiert als Bindeglied zwischen der Präklinik und der klinischen Definitivversorgung.
Ependymoma in a dwarf goat
Authors: Kühl Bianca , Peters Martin , Gies Nicole , Wohlsein Peter 
Published: February 2020

AbstractEpendymomas are relatively rare neuroglial tumours that derive from ependymal cells, lining the ventricles of the brain and the central canal of the spinal cord.
They occur particularly in dogs, while reports in goats are extremely scarce. A 15-year-old female dwarf goat was found in lateral recumbency, developed
opisthotonus and was killed humanely. Necropsy revealed a well-demarcated, non-encapsulated mass in the diencephalon at the level of the interthalamic adhesion.
Histologically, the neoplasm showed highly cellular sheets of tumour cells with occasional perivascular pseudorosettes and true rosettes. Immunohistochemistry
revealed an extensive and perivascularly accentuated expression of S100 protein and glial fibrillary acidic protein, while vimentin expression was observed to a
minor extent. Tumour cells were negative for cytokeratin and CNPase. Ultrastructurally, intercellular junctions were present, but cilia and blepharoblasts were
lacking. The presented findings are consistent with a cellular subtype of an ependymoma. Ependymomas should be regarded as a rare cause of central nervous signs
in goats.
Nervenschmerz ≠ Nervenschmerz
Authors: Tampin Brigitte 
Published: February 2020

ZusammenfassungNervenschmerz ist nicht gleich Nervenschmerz. Um Patienten mit ausstrahlenden Schmerzen, bei denen die Nerven eine Rolle spielen könnten, adäquat zu therapieren,
sind eine gründliche Untersuchung und ein fundiertes Clinical Reasoning unerlässlich. Nur dadurch entpuppen sich die beiden Patientinnen mit fast identischen
Symptomen als sehr unterschiedlich.
Potential Cytotoxicity, Pharmacokinetics, and Excretion Properties of Sapindoside B from the Seeds of Nigella sativa var. hispidula
Authors: Hu Xingjiang , Lin Meihua , Zhu Wei , Zheng Yunliang , Zhang Qiao , Wu Guolan , Qiu Yunqing 
Published: February 2020

AbstractThe seeds of Nigella sativa var. hispidula are widely used in food preparation by the Uighur people in western China. Recently, series of oleanane triterpenoid saponins were extracted from the seeds of Nigella sativa var. hispidula, especially α-hederin as representative that exhibited strong antitumor activity. Compared to α-hederin, sapindoside B has just 1 more terminal xylopyranose in the 3-O position and displays similar effects against various human cancer cell lines with cisplatin. Considering this potential cytotoxic activity, a reliable LC-MS/MS method was developed to quantify sapindoside B in rat plasma, urine, and feces. Chromatographic separation was conducted on an Agilent Zorbax SB-Aq (3.0 × 150 mm, 3.5 µm) column via an isocratic elution procedure with acetonitrile and water containing 0.1% formic acid. Mass spectrometric detection was coupled with an electrospray ionization source in the MRM mode. The linear range of calibration curves was 15 ~ 3000 ng/mL in plasma/urine and 30 ~ 3000 ng/g in feces. The intra-day and inter-day precision was less than 11.1%, and accuracy ranged from 92.2% to 108.7%. The proposed method was validated and shown to be reliable, precise, and accurate and was successfully applied to its pharmacokinetics and excretion studies. Sapindoside B exhibited dosage-dependent pharmacokinetics in the range of 2.5 mg/kg to 12.5 mg/kg, and only about 2% of intravenous dose of sapindoside B was excreted by the feces and urine in its unchanged form over 48 h. These results provide further data support for evaluating the druggability of sapindoside B.