bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Sensory enhancement amplifies interlimb cutaneous reflexes in wrist extensor muscles
Authors: Sun Yao , Zehr E. Paul 
Published: September 2019

Interlimb neural connections support motor tasks such as locomotion and cross-education strength training. Somatosensory pathways that can be assessed with cutaneous reflex paradigms assist in subserving these connections. Many studies show that stimulation of cutaneous nerves elicits reflexes in muscles widespread across the body and induces neural plasticity after training. Sensory enhancement, such as long-duration trains of transcutaneous stimulation, facilitates performance during rehabilitation training or fatiguing motor tasks. Performance improvements due to sensory stimulation may be caused by altered spinal and corticospinal excitability. However, how enhanced sensory input regulates the excitability of interlimb cutaneous reflex pathways has not been studied. Our purpose was to investigate the effects of sensory enhancement on interlimb cutaneous reflexes in wrist extensor muscles. Stimulation to provide sensory enhancement (2-s trains at 150 Hz to median or superficial radial nerves) or evoke cutaneous reflexes (15-ms trains at 300 Hz to superficial radial nerve) was applied in different arms while participants ( n = 13) performed graded isometric wrist extension. Wrist extensor electromyography and cutaneous reflexes were measured bilaterally. We found amplified inhibitory reflexes in the arm receiving superficial radial and median nerve sensory enhancement with net reflex amplitudes decreased by 709.5% and 695.3% repetitively. This suggests sensory input alters neuronal excitabilities in the interlimb cutaneous pathways. These findings have potential application in facilitating motor function recovery through alterations in spinal cord excitability enhancing sensory input during targeted rehabilitation and sports training. NEW & NOTEWORTHY We show that sensory enhancement increases excitability in interlimb cutaneous pathways and that these effects are not influenced by descending motor drive on the contralateral side. These findings confirm the role of sensory input and cutaneous pathways in regulating interlimb movements. In targeted motor function training or rehabilitation, sensory enhancement may be applied to facilitate outcomes.
Responses of neurons in macaque MT to unikinetic plaids
Authors: Wallisch Pascal , Movshon J. Anthony 
Published: September 2019

Response properties of MT neurons are often studied with “bikinetic” plaid stimuli, which consist of two superimposed sine wave gratings moving in different directions. Oculomotor studies using “unikinetic plaids” in which only one of the two superimposed gratings moves suggest that the eyes first move reflexively in the direction of the moving grating and only later converge on the perceived direction of the moving pattern. MT has been implicated as the source of visual signals that drives these responses. We wanted to know whether stationary gratings, which have little effect on MT cells when presented alone, would influence MT responses when paired with a moving grating. We recorded extracellularly from neurons in area MT and measured responses to stationary and moving gratings, and to their sums: bikinetic and unikinetic plaids. As expected, stationary gratings presented alone had a very modest influence on the activity of MT neurons. Responses to moving gratings and bikinetic plaids were similar to those previously reported and revealed cells selective for the motion of plaid patterns and of their components (pattern and component cells). When these neurons were probed with unikinetic plaids, pattern cells shifted their direction preferences in a way that revealed the influence of the static grating. Component cell preferences shifted little or not at all. These results support the notion that pattern-selective neurons in area MT integrate component motions that differ widely in speed, and that they do so in a way that is consistent with an intersection-of-constraints model. NEW & NOTEWORTHY Human perceptual and eye movement responses to moving gratings are influenced by adding a second, static grating to create a “unikinetic” plaid. Cells in MT do not respond to static gratings, but those gratings still influence the direction selectivity of some MT cells. The cells influenced by static gratings are those tuned for the motion of global patterns, but not those tuned only for the individual components of moving targets.
Silver Nanoparticles Synthesized with Rumex hymenosepalus: A Strategy to Combat Early Mortality Syndrome (EMS) in a Cultivated White Shrimp
Authors: Alvarez-Cirerol Francisco Javier , López-Torres Marco Antonio , Rodríguez-León Ericka , Rodríguez-Beas César , Martínez-Higuera Aaron , Lara Humberto H. , Vergara Sandra , Arellano-Jimenez M. Josefina , Larios-Rodríguez Eduardo , Martínez-Porchas Marcel , de-la-Re- Vega Enrique , Iñiguez-Palomares Ramón Alfonso 
Published: September 2019

Early Mortality Syndrome (EMS) or Acute Hepatopancreatic Necrosis Syndrome (AHPNS) is a disease produced by gram-negative bacteria Vibrio parahaemolyticus (V. parahaemolyticus), which has caused declines in worldwide production of a white shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei (L. vannamei). In this work, we propose the implementation of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) synthesized with Rumex hymenosepalus (Rh) extract as an alternative on V. parahaemolyticus control. AgNPs were characterized by UV-Vis spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and selected area electron diffraction (SAED). AgNP mean sizes by DLS were 80.82±1.16 nm and sizes between 2 and 10 nm by TEM, with a zeta potential of −47.72±1.05 mV. This study evaluated AgNPs and Rh antimicrobial capacity on V. parahaemolyticus at different concentrations; the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) found was 25 μg/mL for AgNPs and 220 μg/mL for Rh. Additionally, were carried out time-kill curves and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation for 1 and 4 MIC. Both concentrations (MIC) were tested for toxicity on Artemia nauplii from Artemia franciscana (A. franciscana), because nauplii were used as biocarriers for AgNPs and Rh extract on L. vannamei. Once the shrimp were treated, they were challenged with Vibrio infection and it was found that those who were treated with both agents showed greater survival than the control. V. parahaemolyticus and postlarval samples were taken from the bioassay and fixed and prepared for TEM and SEM in order to search NPs in internal structure of bacteria and the hepatopancreatic area of shrimps; AgNPs were detected in both cases. AgNPs and Rh extract show antibacterial properties on the infected shrimp with V. parahaemolyticus. The action mechanisms are interaction with the bacterial membrane and ROS generation; these effects are produced by both agents.
Prostate-Specific Membrane Antigen Ligand Positron Emission Tomography in Men with Nonmetastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer
Authors: Fendler Wolfgang P. , Weber Manuel , Iravani Amir , Hofman Michael S. , Calais Jérémie , Czernin Johannes , Ilhan Harun , Saad Fred , Small Eric J. , Smith Matthew R. , Perez Paola M. , Hope Thomas A. , Rauscher Isabel , Londhe Anil , Lopez-Gitlitz Angela , Cheng Shinta , Maurer Tobias , Herrmann Ken , Eiber Matthias , Hadaschik Boris 
Published: September 2019

Abstract

Purpose:
Systemic androgen-signaling inhibition added to ongoing androgen-deprivation therapy (ADT) improved clinical outcomes in patients with nonmetastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer without detectable metastases by conventional imaging (nmCRPC). Prostate-specific membrane antigen ligand positron emission tomography (PSMA-PET) detects prostate cancer with superior sensitivity to conventional imaging, but its performance in nmCRPC remains largely unknown. We characterized cancer burden in high-risk patients with nmCRPC using PSMA-PET.

Experimental Design:
We retrospectively included 200 patients with nmCRPC, prostate-specific antigen (PSA) &gt;2 ng/mL, and high risk for metastatic disease [PSA doubling time (PSADT) of ≤10 months and/or Gleason score of ≥8] from six high-volume PET centers. We centrally reviewed PSMA-PET detection rate for pelvic disease and distant metastases (M1). We further evaluated SPARTAN patients stratified by risk factors for PSMA-PET-detected M1 disease.

Results:
PSMA-PET was positive in 196 of 200 patients. Overall, 44% had pelvic diseases, including 24% with local prostate bed recurrence, and 55% had M1 disease despite negative conventional imaging. Interobserver agreement was very high (κ: 0.81–0.91). PSA ≥ 5.5 ng/mL, locoregional nodal involvement determined by pathology (pN1), prior primary radiation, and prior salvage radiotherapy independently predicted M1 disease (all P &lt; 0.05).

Conclusions:
PSMA-PET detected any disease in nearly all patients and M1 disease in 55% of patients previously diagnosed with nmCRPC, including subgroups with PSADT of ≤10 months and Gleason score of ≥8. The value of PSMA-PET imaging for treatment guidance should be tested in future studies.
Dapsone in a Large Tertiary Center: Outdated Therapeutic Option or Timeless Agent?
Authors: Anzengruber Florian , Schenk Janina , Graf Vanessa , Nordmann Thierry M. , Guenova Emmanuella , Dummer Reinhard 
Published: September 2019

<b><i>Background:</i></b> The ancient drug dapsone has antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory features. In dermatology, dapsone is primarily used for neutrophil-dominant skin diseases. However, real-life data assessing the long-term efficacy of dapsone across multiple dermatological diseases is missing. ­<b><i>Objectives:</i></b> To determine the efficacy and safety of dapsone in patients with inflammatory skin diseases treated at the Department of Dermatology of the University Hospital Zurich. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> The hospital database was searched for patients treated with dapsone in the last 20 years (from January 1, 1998, to December 31, 2017). Overall, 175 patients were included in our study. <b><i>Results:</i></b> Thirty-four patients received dapsone for eosinophilic dermatoses, 82 for neutrophilic dermatoses and 59 for other dermatoses. After 3 months, 8% of all patients reached complete remission, 40.6% showed improvement, 30.3% had stable disease, and only 9.1% had disease progression. Final treatment evaluation revealed complete response in 13.2%, disease improvement in 47.4%, stable disease in 25.7% and disease progression in only 12.0%. Patients who showed remission or improvement after 3 months were significantly older than patients with stable or progressive disease. In addition, remission after 3 months was associated with a significantly lower dose of dapsone compared to improvement only. Hemolysis was the most common adverse event (21.7%). <b><i>Conclusions:</i></b> Our data show that dapsone is a valid treatment option in various dermatological diseases, leading to a favorable response in the vast majority of patients. In addition, it is well tolerated, safe and inexpensive. Randomized, controlled trials are needed to further elucidate the role of this high-potential drug.
OCT Angiography: Measurement of Retinal Macular Microvasculature with Spectralis II OCT Angiography – Reliability and Reproducibility
Authors: Hosari Sami , Hohberger Bettina , Theelke Luisa , Sari Hasan , Lucio Marianna , Mardin Christian Y. 
Published: September 2019

<b><i>Aim:</i></b> The aim of the present study was to investigate the reliability of macular microvasculature measurements in normal subjects by Heidelberg Spectralis II optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A) in combination with a newly made software. <b><i>Subjects and Methods:</i></b> This prospective study included 23 eyes of 23 persons from the Erlangen Glaucoma Registry (ISSN 2191–5008, CS-2011; NTC00494923). The subjects underwent a complete clinical, standardized ophthalmologic examination to rule out any eye disease. En face OCT-A imaging was done using Heidelberg Spectralis II OCT (Heidelberg, Germany). Images were recorded with a 15 × 15° angle and a lateral resolution of 5.7 µm/pixel, resulting in a retinal section of 2.9 × 2.9 mm. The Erlangen-Angio-Tool (EA-Tool) OCT-A application performed multiple segmentations, allowing analysis of the vessel density in 12 segments. The software was coded in MATLAB. Macular data on the superficial vascular plexus (SVP), intermediate capillary plexus (ICP), and deep capillary plexus (DCP) were exported into the application and analyzed separately. The EA-Tool calculated the percentage of “white area” in the “total area” of the region of interest, called vessel density. Foveolar avascular zones (FAZs) of the SVP, ICP, and DCP were calculated manually. To investigate the reproducibility of the new software, individual scans (SVP, ICP, and DCP) were analyzed twice with the EA-Tool and intraclass coefficients (ICCs) of the vessel density values were calculated. Statistical analysis was performed with SPSS version 21.0. <b><i>Results:</i></b> The mean vessel density of the SVP ranged between 30.4 and 33.5, that of the ICP between 20.9 and 24.7, and that of the DCP between 23.5 and 27.6. Bland-Altman plots showed a good reliability of two consecutive scans of each sector (S1–S12) in the SVP, ICP, and DCP. Testing reproducibility, no statistically significantly different sectorial coefficients of variation of the SVP, ICP, and DCP were observed (<i>p</i> &#x3e; 0.05). The mean FAZ area of the SVP was 0.43 ± 0.16 mm<sup>2</sup>, that of the ICP 0.28 ± 0.1 mm<sup>2</sup>, and that of the DCP 0.44 ± 0.12 mm<sup>2</sup>. <b><i>Conclusions:</i></b> Spectralis OCT II, in combination with the semiautomated vessel density software EA-Tool, showed good or even excellent ICCs in 75% of all segments of the SVP, ICP, and DCP. The ICCs for the FAZ area in the SVP, ICP, and DCP were excellent.
Políticas de reabilitação do patrimônio cultural urbano: avaliação da experiência dos órgãos de proteção histórica paulistanos
Authors: Nobre Eduardo Alberto Cusce 
Published: September 2019

Atualmente, um dos temas que mais se destaca na atuação prática e nas discussões teóricas entre arquitetos e urbanistas é o das políticas urbanas de reabilitação do patrimônio cultural. Este artigo procura analisar o resultado da implementação dessas políticas na cidade de São Paulo, a partir da análise da experiência prática dos seus órgãos de proteção, principalmente no que tange ao patrimônio arquitetônico-urbano. Para tanto, em primeiro lugar, busca definir o conceito de patrimônio cultural a partir da revisão teórica sobre o tema. Num segundo momento, analisa a evolução dessas políticas de sua reabilitação em alguns países do mundo e seus principais resultados, para depois aprofundar-se no estudo de caso. A partir da análise da atuação dos principais órgãos de proteção ao patrimônio cultural do município, o Departamento do Patrimônio Histórico e o Conselho Municipal de Preservação do Patrimônio Histórico, Cultural e Ambiental Urbano de São Paulo, busca compreender os limites e as potencialidades da implementação dessa política no contexto paulistano.
Diversity and incidence of plant-parasitic nematodes associated with saffron (Crocus sativus L.) in Morocco and their relationship with soil physicochemical properties
Authors: Mokrini Fouad , Laasli Salah-Eddine , Karra Youssef , El Aissami Aicha , Dababat Abdelfattah A. 
Published: September 2019

Summary
Saffron (Crocus sativus) fields in Morocco’s Taliouine and Taznakht regions were surveyed between January and April 2018 to study the diversity and incidence of plant-parasitic nematodes and assess the effects of soil physicochemical properties on the nematodes. Fourteen nematode genera were identified in soil and root samples collected from 66 saffron fields. The most common plant-parasitic nematodes in the Taliouine region were Pratylenchus spp. and Helicotylenchus spp. In the Taznakht region, the most common nematodes were Pratylenchus spp., Tylenchorhynchus spp. and Ditylenchus dipsaci. Nematodes, particularly Pratylenchus spp. and Ditylenchus spp., were abundant and frequent throughout the region. Several nematode genera were significantly associated with soil texture and mineral content, indicating that soil properties play an important role in plant-parasitic nematode communities. This description of plant-parasitic nematode assemblages associated with saffron fields in Morocco and their relationship with soil physicochemical properties provides a starting point from which appropriate nematode management strategies can be implemented.
New Evidence on Erasmus’ Youth
Authors: Goudriaan Koen 
Published: September 2019

Abstract
A series of accounts in the archive of St Saviour’s Collegiate Church in Utrecht, kept in the Utrecht Record Office, contains information on Gerardus Helye, Erasmus’ father, showing that he functioned as vice-pastor in the small town of Woerden from 1471 onwards and then from 1476 onwards fulfilled this same function for a couple of years in Gouda. This article presents and analyses these new data and considers their implications for the reconstruction of Erasmus’ early life until his departure from Steyn monastery.
Monsoon Mission: A Targeted Activity to Improve Monsoon Prediction across Scales
Authors: Rao Suryachandra A. , Goswami B. N. , Sahai A. K. , Rajagopal E. N. , Mukhopadhyay P. , Rajeevan M. , Nayak S. , Rathore L. S. , Shenoi S. S. C. , Ramesh K. J. , Nanjundiah R. S. , Ravichandran M. , Mitra A. K. , Pai D. S. , Bhowmik S. K. R. , Hazra A. , Mahapatra S. , Saha S. K. , Chaudhari H. S. , Joseph S. , Sreenivas P. , Pokhrel S. , Pillai P. A. , Chattopadhyay R. , Deshpande M. , Krishna R. P. M. , Das Renu S. , Prasad V. S. , Abhilash S. , Panickal S. , Krishnan R. , Kumar S. , Ramu D. A. , Reddy S. S. , Arora A. , Goswami T. , Rai A. , Srivastava A. , Pradhan M. , Tirkey S. , Ganai M. , Mandal R. , Dey A. , Sarkar S. , Malviya S. , Dhakate A. , Salunke K. , Maini Parvinder 
Published: September 2019

AbstractIn spite of the summer monsoon’s importance in determining the life and economy of an agriculture-dependent country like India, committed efforts toward improving its prediction and simulation have been limited. Hence, a focused mission mode program Monsoon Mission (MM) was founded in 2012 to spur progress in this direction. This article explains the efforts made by the Earth System Science Organization (ESSO), Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), Government of India, in implementing MM to develop a dynamical prediction framework to improve monsoon prediction. Climate Forecast System, version 2 (CFSv2), and the Met Office Unified Model (UM) were chosen as the base models. The efforts in this program have resulted in 1) unparalleled skill of 0.63 for seasonal prediction of the Indian monsoon (for the period 1981–2010) in a high-resolution (∼38 km) seasonal prediction system, relative to present-generation seasonal prediction models; 2) extended-range predictions by a CFS-based grand multimodel ensemble (MME) prediction system; and 3) a gain of 2-day lead time from very high-resolution (12.5 km) Global Forecast System (GFS)-based short-range predictions up to 10 days. These prediction skills are on par with other global leading weather and climate centers, and are better in some areas. Several developmental activities like coupled data assimilation, changes in convective parameterization, cloud microphysics schemes, and parameterization of land surface processes (including snow and sea ice) led to the improvements such as reducing the strong model biases in the Indian summer monsoon simulation and elsewhere in the tropics.
Entrainment in Resolved, Dry Thermals
Authors: Lecoanet Daniel , Jeevanjee Nadir 
Published: September 2019

AbstractEntrainment in cumulus convection remains ill understood and difficult to quantify. For instance, entrainment is widely believed to be a fundamentally turbulent process, even though Turner pointed out in 1957 that dry thermals entrain primarily because of buoyancy (via a dynamical constraint requiring an increase in radius r). Furthermore, entrainment has been postulated to obey a 1/r scaling, but this scaling has not been firmly established. Here, we study the classic case of dry thermals in a neutrally stratified environment using fully resolved direct numerical simulation. We combine this with a thermal tracking algorithm that defines a control volume for the thermal at each time, allowing us to directly measure entrainment. We vary the Reynolds number (Re) of our thermals between laminar (Re ≈ 600) and turbulent (Re ≈ 6000) regimes, finding only a 20% variation in entrainment rate ε, supporting the claim that turbulence is not necessary for entrainment. We also directly verify the postulated ε ~ 1/r scaling law.
Coastally Generated Near-Inertial Waves
Authors: Kelly Samuel M. 
Published: September 2019

AbstractWind directly forces inertial oscillations in the mixed layer. Where these currents hit the coast, the no-normal-flow boundary condition leads to vertical velocities that pump both the base of the mixed layer and the free surface, producing offshore-propagating near-inertial internal and surface waves, respectively. The internal waves directly transport wind work downward into the ocean’s stratified interior, where it may provide mechanical mixing. The surface waves propagate offshore where they can scatter over rough topography in a process analogous to internal-tide generation. Here, we estimate mixed layer currents from observed winds using a damped slab model. Then, we estimate the pressure, velocity, and energy flux associated with coastally generated near-inertial waves at a vertical coastline. These results are extended to coasts with arbitrary across-shore topography and examined using numerical simulations. At the New Jersey shelfbreak, comparisons between the slab model, numerical simulations, and moored observations are ambiguous. Extrapolation of the theoretical results suggests that (10%) of global wind work (i.e., 0.03 of 0.31 TW) is transferred to coastally generated barotropic near-inertial waves.
Dynamics of Downwelling in an Eddying Marginal Sea: Contrasting the Eulerian and the Isopycnal Perspective
Authors: Brüggemann Nils , Katsman Caroline A. 
Published: September 2019

AbstractIn this study, we explore the downward branch of the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation (AMOC) from a perspective in depth space (Eulerian downwelling) as well as from a perspective in density space (diapycnal downwelling). Using an idealized model, we focus on the role of eddying marginal seas, where dense water is formed by deep convection due to an intense surface heat loss. We assess where diapycnal mass fluxes take place, investigate the pathways of dense water masses, and elucidate the role of eddies. We find that there are fundamental differences between the Eulerian and diapycnal downwelling: the strong Eulerian near-boundary downwelling is not associated with substantial diapycnal downwelling; the latter takes place in the interior and elsewhere in the boundary current. We show that the diapycnal downwelling appears to be more appropriate to describe the pathways of water masses. In our model, dense water masses are exported along two routes: those formed in the upper part of the boundary current are exported directly; those formed in the interior move toward the boundary along isopycnals due to eddy stirring and are then exported. This study thus reveals a complex three-dimensional view of the overturning in a marginal sea, with possible implications for our understanding of the AMOC.