Evidence for Gamma-Ray Pulsations from the Classical Nova ASASSN-16ma

I report here a new result extracted from the Fermi Large Area Telescope observation of the classical nova ASASSN-16ma that exhibits coherent γ-ray pulsations at 544.84(7) s during its outburst in 2016. Considering the number of independent trials, the significance of the evidence is 4.0σ, equivalent to a false-alarm probability of 5.9 × 10−5. The periodicity was steady during the 4 days of its appearance, indicating its origin as the spinning signal of the white dwarf. Given that the optical and γ-ray light curves of some shock-powered γ-ray novae have been recently shown to be closely correlated to each other, the γ-ray pulsation phenomenon likely implies an existence of associated optical pulsations, which would provide detailed ephemerides for these extreme white dwarf binaries for further investigations in the near future.

Designing of Morlet wavelet as a neural network for a novel prevention category in the HIV system

The aim of this work is to present a design of Morlet wavelet neural network (MWNN) for solving a novel prevention category (P) in the HIV system, known as HIPV mathematical model. The numerical performance of the novel HIPV mathematical model will be observed by exploiting the MWNN that works through the optimization procedures of global/local via “genetic algorithm (GA)” and local search “interior-point algorithm (IPA)”, i.e. MWNN-GA-IPA. An error function using the differential HIPV mathematical model and its initial conditions is presented and optimized by the MWNN-GA-IPA. The obtained results have been compared with the Adams method to check the competence of the MWNN-GA-IPA. For the reliability and stability of the scheme, the performance using different statistical operators has been performed based on the multiple independent trials to solve the novel HIPV mathematical model.

Toxicity Assay of Methanolic Extract of Caryota No Seed using Drosophila melanogaster Model

Objectives: To investigate the effect of methanolic extract of Caryota no (CN) seeds in Drosophila melanogaster (DM) survival and life span. Study Design: Experimental design. Place and Duration: African Centre of Excellence for Phytomedicine Research and Development, University of Jos, Jos Plateau State Nigeria between June 2018 and February 2019. Methods: The LC50 was determined by exposing 50 flies to concentrations ranging from 1 mg to 600 mg per 10 g diet and mortality of flies was scored every 24 hours for 14 days and from the results, five doses were chosen for the next assay. Survival assays were carried out by exposing 50 flies in each vial to the following concentrations: 300 mg, 350 mg, 400 mg, 500 mg and 600 mg of methanolic extract in 5 replicates for 28 days with daily recording of mortality while the longevity assay continued from the survival until the last fly dies. All three experiments were done as three independent trials. Results: The LC50 values of the methanolic extract was determined to be 6.533e+017 mg/10g food in D. melanogaster. The result of the survival assay with methanolic extract of CN showed slight significant (P < .05) increase with the lowest two doses but no significant (P > .05) difference with other higher doses compared to the control. The longevity assay revealed that the extract significantly (P < .05) decreased longevity in Drosophila melanogaster. Conclusion: The results obtained from evaluating the methanolic extract of Caryota no indicate that the plant is relatively non-toxic and maybe safe under acute and subacute exposures but may become deleterious during chronic exposure.

A New Method to Test Molluscicides against the Philippine Schistosomiasis Snail Vectors

To expedite the discovery of novel molluscicides in the laboratory, this study aimed to evaluate the performance of a new molluscicidal assay. This assay is based on Oncomelania hupensis quadrasi snails and is called miniaturized plate test or mpt. To perform this assay, a 12-well plate, 3 snails per well, and 24-h exposure period were used. The performance of mpt was evaluated using niclosamide and Ardisia plant extract (tagpo extract) as test substances while WHO’s guidelines for a conventional plate test (cpt) served as standard. One cpt and four mpt independent trials were performed for niclosamide and tagpo extract. Probit analysis of dose–response data was run in R to generate lethal concentrations (LC50 and LC90), while lethal ratio test was performed to detect significant difference between paired LC50s (or LC90s). Using niclosamide, the calculated LC50 values were 0.104, 0.127, 0.136, 0.139, and 0.140 g/m2 for cpt, mpt 1, mpt 2, mpt 3, and mpt 4, respectively, while the LC90 values were 0.266, 0.268, 0.244, 0.251, and 0.261 g/m2, using the same sequence, respectively. For tagpo extract, the LC50 values were 1.467, 1.547, 1.659, 1.797, and 1.659 g/m2, for cpt, mpt 1, mpt 2, mpt 3, and mpt 4, respectively, and the LC90s were 2.188, 2.195, 2.501, 2.358, and 2.501 g/m2, respectively. The lethal ratio test revealed that a significant difference exists between the LC50s of cpt and mpt 1 when using niclosamide with a lethal ratio and confidence limits of 0.820 (0.663, 0.977, p<0.05) and another significant difference between LC50s of mpt 1 and mpt 3 using tagpo extract with computed lethal ratio and confidence limits of 0.861 (0.782, 0.939, p<0.05). Taken together, the results point out that mpt generates accurate and reproducible lethal concentration values. Hence, mpt may be used as an alternative method to screen molluscicides that are active against schistosome snail vectors.

Vaccination with Schistosoma mansoni cholinesterases reduces parasite burden and egg viability in a mouse model of schistosomiasis

Schistosomiasis is a neglected tropical disease which kills 300,000 people every year in developing countries and there is no vaccine. Recently, we have shown that cholinesterases (ChEs) - enzymes that regulate neurotransmission - from Schistosoma mansoni are expressed on the tegument and present in the excretory/secretory products of schistosomula and adult worms, and are essential for parasite survival in the definitive host, highlighting their utility as potential schistosomiasis vaccine targets. When treated in vitro with anti-SmChE IgG, both schistosomula and adult worms displayed significantly decreased ChE activity, which eventually resulted in parasite death. Vaccination with individual SmChEs, or a combination of all three SmChEs, significantly reduced worm burdens in two independent trials compared to controls. Liver egg burdens were significantly decreased for all vaccinated mice across both trials (13% - 46%) except for those vaccinated with SmAChE1 in trial 1. Egg viability, as determined by egg hatching from liver homogenates, was significantly reduced in the groups vaccinated with the SmChE cocktail (40%) and SmAChE2 (46%). Further, surviving worms from each vaccinated group were significantly stunted and depleted of glycogen stores, compared to controls. These results suggest that SmChEs could be incorporated into a vaccine against schistosomiasis to reduce the pathology and transmission of this debilitating disease.

Superiority of combining two independent trials in interim futility analysis

Traditionally, statistical methods for futility analysis are developed based on a single study. To establish a drug's effectiveness, usually at least two adequate and well-controlled studies need to demonstrate convincing evidence on its own. Therefore, in a standard clinical development program in chronic diseases, two independent studies are generally conducted for drug registration. This paper proposes a statistical method to combine interim data from two independent and similar studies for interim futility analysis and shows that the conditional power approach based on combined interim data has better operating characteristics compared to the approach based on single-trial interim data, even with small to moderate heterogeneity on the treatment effects between the two studies.

Is the Wedged Insole an Effective Treatment Option When Compared with a Flat (Placebo) Insole: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background. Using the lateral wedge insole is a conservative management strategy for knee osteoarthritis. The theoretical basis for this intervention is to correct femorotibial angle, thereby reducing pain and optimising function. Objective. This systematic review evaluates the evidence on the effectiveness of wedge insole compared with flat insole for the treatment of knee osteoarthritis. Methods. A systematic review was performed, searching published (MEDLINE, EMBASE, CNKI, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science) and unpublished literature from their inception to April 2018. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that compared the use of wedge insole with a flat insole were included. Risk of bias and clinical relevance were assessed, and outcomes were analysed through meta-analysis. Result. From a total of 413 citations, 8 studies adhered to the a priori eligibility criteria. The WOMAC pain was shown to be statistically nonsignificant change with the use of wedge insole (SMD=0.07), and low heterogeneity (I2=22%) and a 95% CI that crossed zero (95% CI: −0.09 to 0.24). The 5 independent trials were not significant in improving pain score (SMD = −0.02, 95% CI: −0.19 to 0.16). This review also revealed no significance in improving Lequesne index (SMD = −0.27, 95% CI: −0.72 to 0.19). The meta-analysis from the 2 independent trials was significant in improving femorotibial angle (SMD = −0.41, 95% CI: −0.73 to -0.09). In conclusion, this meta-analysis suggested that lateral wedge insoles can improve femorotibial angle but are of no benefit with pain and functions in knee osteoarthritis.