bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Role of angiotensin receptors in the medial amygdaloid nucleus in autonomic, baroreflex and cardiovascular changes evoked by chronic stress in rats
Authors: Costa‐Ferreira Willian , Gomes‐de‐Souza Lucas , Crestani Carlos C.
Published: December 2020

This study investigated the role of AT1, AT2 and Mas angiotensinergic receptors within the MeA in autonomic, cardiovascular and baroreflex changes evoked by a 10‐day (1  hr daily) repeated restraint stress (RRS) protocol. Analysis of cardiovascular function after the end of the RRS protocol indicated increased values of arterial pressure, without heart rate changes. Arterial pressure increase was not affected by acute MeA treatment after the RRS with either the selective AT1 receptor antagonist losartan, the selective AT2 receptor antagonist PD123319 or the selective Mas receptor antagonist A‐779. Analysis of heart rate variability indicated that RRS increased the sympathetic tone to the heart, which was inhibited by MeA treatment with either losartan, PD123319 or A‐779. Baroreflex function assessed using the pharmacological approach via intravenous infusion of vasoactive agents revealed a facilitation of tachycardia evoked by blood pressure decrease in chronically stressed animals, which was inhibited by MeA treatment with losartan. Conversely, baroreflex responses during spontaneous fluctuations of blood pressure were impaired by RRS, and this effect was not affected by injection of the angiotensinergic receptor antagonists into the MeA. Altogether, the data reported in the present study suggest an involvement of both angiotensinergic receptors present in the MeA in autonomic imbalance evoked by RRS, as well as an involvement of MeA AT1 receptor in the enhanced baroreflex responses during full range of blood pressure changes. Results also indicate that RRS‐evoked increase in arterial pressure and impairment of baroreflex responses during spontaneous variations of arterial pressure are independent of MeA angiotensinergic receptors.
Multiple stressors determine river ecological status at the European scale: Towards an integrated understanding of river status deterioration
Authors: Lemm Jan U. , Venohr Markus , Globevnik Lidija , Stefanidis Kostas , Panagopoulos Yiannis , van Gils Jos , Posthuma Leo , Kristensen Peter , Feld Christian K. , Mahnkopf Judith , Hering Daniel , Birk Sebastian
Published: December 2020

The biota of European rivers are affected by a wide range of stressors impairing water quality and hydro‐morphology. Only about 40% of Europe's rivers reach ‘good ecological status’, a target set by the European Water Framework Directive (WFD) and indicated by the biota. It is yet unknown how the different stressors in concert impact ecological status and how the relationship between stressors and status differs between river types. We linked the intensity of seven stressors to recently measured ecological status data for more than 50,000 sub‐catchment units (covering almost 80% of Europe's surface area), which were distributed among 12 broad river types. Stressor data were either derived from remote sensing data (extent of urban and agricultural land use in the riparian zone) or modelled (alteration of mean annual flow and of base flow, total phosphorous load, total nitrogen load and mixture toxic pressure, a composite metric for toxic substances), while data on ecological status were taken from national statutory reporting of the second WFD River Basin Management Plans for the years 2010–2015. We used Boosted Regression Trees to link ecological status to stressor intensities. The stressors explained on average 61% of deviance in ecological status for the 12 individual river types, with all seven stressors contributing considerably to this explanation. On average, 39.4% of the deviance was explained by altered hydro‐morphology (morphology: 23.2%; hydrology: 16.2%), 34.4% by nutrient enrichment and 26.2% by toxic substances. More than half of the total deviance was explained by stressor interaction, with nutrient enrichment and toxic substances interacting most frequently and strongly. Our results underline that the biota of all European river types are determined by co‐occurring and interacting multiple stressors, lending support to the conclusion that fundamental management strategies at the catchment scale are required to reach the ambitious objective of good ecological status of surface waters.
Growing winter Brassica carinata as part of a diversified crop rotation for integrated weed management
Authors: Tiwari Ruby , Reinhardt Piskáčková Theresa A. , Devkota Pratap , Mulvaney Michael J. , Ferrell Jason A. , Leon Ramon G.
Published: December 2020

Brassica carinata A. Braun is a non‐edible, oilseed winter crop for biofuel production that can diversify crop rotations and improve integrated weed management. The research objective was to evaluate the influence of B. carinata on weed population dynamics in the southeastern United States cropping systems. B. carinata was grown after cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.), peanut (Arachis hypogea L.), or a clean summer fallow, and winter weed pressure was modified with or without S‐metolachlor. The emergence of Lamium amplexicaule L. increased at least 40% after cotton or peanut in 2018–2019 and 50% after cotton in 2019–2020 compared to summer fallow. Stellaria media (L.) Vill. emergence was increased over threefold after peanut or cotton in 2019–2020. Senna obtusifolia (L.) H.S. Irwin & Barneby emergence after cotton was increased at least 43% during both experimental years, whereas Amaranthus hybridus L. emergence was increased over 50% after peanut in 2019–2020 compared to summer fallow. Even without S‐metolachlor, B. carinata reduced A. hybridus (>27%) and S. obtusifolia (>25%) emergence compared to weedy winter fallow. After B. carinata harvest, A. hybridus emergence was reduced >40% with or without S‐metolachlor compared to winter fallow in 2018–2019. Overall, B. carinata biomass was highest after peanut for both seasons. B. carinata seed yield did not differ among crop history treatments in the first season, whereas in 2019–2020, the yield was higher after peanut (2417 kg ha−1) or fallow (2520 kg ha−1) compared to cotton (1710 kg ha−1). Weed management treatments were not different for B. carinata biomass or yield in any year. The results indicate that B. carinata can enhance integrated weed management strategies at the rotational level for summer crops by reducing seed banks of summer weed species, in addition to its potential as a winter biofuel crop for the southeastern United States.
Influence of social support on limitation in daily living among older persons in Malaysia
Authors: Mahmud Nur A , Shahein Nik A , Yoep Norzawati , Mahmud Mohd Amierul F , Maw Pin Tan , Paiwai Faizah , Yusof Muslimah , Muhamad Nor A
Published: December 2020

Aim

Studies on the influence of social support on activity limitation among older persons remain limited. A better understanding of this relationship will help with resource planning and policy making aimed to reduce burden of care. The objective of this study was to assess the influence of social support on limitation in daily living among older persons in Malaysia.

Methods

Data from the National Health and Morbidity Survey 2018, a nation‐wide, cross‐sectional survey using a two‐stage stratified sampling design, were analyzed. A representative sample of individuals aged ≥60 years identified through national sampling frames throughout Malaysia was included. Face‐to‐face interviews were conducted using validated questionnaires on activities of daily living (ADL) and instrumental ADL (IADL). Social support was measured using the Duke Social Support Index.

Results

The overall prevalence of the presence of any limitations in ADL and IADL was 17.0% and 42.9% respectively. Overall prevalence of the older persons with low to fair social support was 30.8% and high to very high social support was 69.2%. Logistic regression analysis identified the following factors as being associated with limitations in ADL and IADL: being female, of older age, having a monthly income <RM 1000 and reporting low to fair social support.

Conclusion

Low social support was associated with limitation in daily living among older persons in Malaysia. Future studies should consider evaluating the potential benefits of increasing social support on the activity limitation of our older population. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2020; 20: 26–32.
Prevalence and determinants of hearing disability among older persons in Malaysia: Finding of National Health Morbidity Survey (NHMS) 2018
Authors: Harith Abdul Aziz , Ahmad Noor Ani , Sahril Norhafizah , Wahab Nor'ain Ab , Kassim Noraida Abdul , Othman Salimah , Din Sobani , Hussin Siti Suriani Che , Mahmud Nur Azna , Azlan Mohd Shaiful , Seman Zamtira
Published: December 2020

Aim

An aging population is a potential burden for unprepared developing countries. Malaysia is foreseen to be an aging country by 2035. Thus, this study aimed to determine the prevalence and factors associated with hearing disability among older persons in Malaysia.

Methods

Data from a nationwide survey implemented using a stratified cluster sampling design were analyzed. This study was carried out through face‐to‐face interviews and guided questionnaires. The questions were based on the Washington Group of Disability (WG) questionnaires, which produce multiple disability identifiers. Hearing disability is defined as at least one domain or question out of four questions coded as “A lot of difficulty” or “Cannot hear at all”.

Results

The prevalence of hearing disability among older persons aged ≥60 years was 6.4% (95% CI 5.0–8.3), whereas 1.5% (95% CI 0.90, 2.50) older persons were reported to be using a hearing aid. The determinants of hearing disability are being male (aOR 2.67, 95% CI 1.94–3.66), being unemployed (retired, homemaker, unemployed; aOR 1.86, 95% CI 1.86–4.14) and had no formal education (aOR 18.25, 95% CI 4.18–79.55).

Conclusions

Promoting healthy aging is important and crucial for Malaysia, in preparation toward an aging nation, as it could reduce the country's financial burden in the long term. Health‐related agencies should promote health awareness and treatment centers in relation to hearing disability among older persons, as they should be educated and informed about healthcare choices availability, which is aligned with the Global Disability Action Plan 2014–2021. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2020; 20: 43–48.
The international collaborations of Shane Godbolt: EAHIL, ICML and irish health science libraries
Authors: Doran Beatrice , Law Derek
Published: December 2020

This article summarises Shane Godbolt’s international Collaborations. It includes her associations with the European Association of Health Information & Libraries (EAHIL), International Congress on Medical Librarianship (ICML) and the Irish Health Sciences Libraries (HSLG).
The nonlinear optical properties of silver nanoparticles decorated glass obtained from sintering mesoporous powders
Authors: Zhao Yuye , Dong Ningning , Qiu Pengpeng , Jiang Wan , Wang Jun , Wang Lianjun , Gu Shijia , Zhou Beiying , Luo Wei
Published: December 2020

Silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) have excellent third‐order nonlinear optical properties but it is still difficult to obtain silica glass containing Ag NPs with homogenous dispersion and small particle size. Herein, silica glass with homogenously distributed Ag NPs in its matrix was derived from sintering a famous type of mesoporous silica (FDU‐12) encapsulated with Ag NPs (Ag NPs/FDU‐12) through Spark Plasma Sintering (SPS) technique. Benefited from the low‐temperature sintering property of the Ag NPs/FDU‐12 powders (~930°C within 5 min), the Ag NPs can be directly trapped in the derived silica glass with small particle size (<3.0 nm) and without mass loss. The as‐prepared Ag NPs/glass showed a typical reverse saturable absorption curve, which is measuredviathe Z‐scan method by using a 532 nm nanosecond laser. The nonlinear coefficientand imaginary third‐order susceptibilitywere calculated as 11.46 cm/GW and 2.22 × 10−12esu, respectively, indicating the excellent third‐order nonlinear optical properties of the Ag NPs/glass. This study demonstrates a great potential for preparing silica glasses functionalized with well dispersed ultrafine functional particles, which is appealing in photonic field.
Visible‐to‐MIR broadband modulating electrochromic metal oxides‐based coating for thermal management
Authors: Chein Sheng Ly Kally , Zhang Haiwen , Liu Xianghui , Tang Daoyuan , Xu Jianming , Fu Xuecheng , Zhou Han , Fan Tongxiang
Published: December 2020

The overheating/cooling of spacecraft solar cells under the contrastive temperature variation due to solar influence leads to severe consequences on both its performance and its long‐term stability. Radiative thermal management by broadband optical modulating coating provides a versatile and effective solution for spatial environments. Here we design a visible‐to‐mid‐infrared broadband modulating metal oxide‐based electrochromic coating for spacecraft solar cell thermal management. Upon impedance matching between multilayered architecture and control of crystallinity of WO3 with optimized morphology, the final coating successfully presents reversible transition from solar transmitter and thermal emitter to heat preserving coating with infrared (IR) stealth ability. The transmission spectrum of the coating in its bleached state fits the solar spectrum curve (0.3‐1.2 μm) for photocurrent harvesting and it transmits up to 88% at 450 nm, at the solar radiation peak. The average mid‐infrared (MIR) (2‐16 μm) emissivity of the coating is 80%, with a tunability of 20% in average. The demonstrated capabilities of broadband modulating electrochromic coating are highly promising for solar cell thermoregulation in space or terrestrial environments and also for IR‐stealth applications in the defense sector.
LINC01116 promotes proliferation and migration of endometrial stromal cells by targeting FOXP1 via sponging miR‐9‐5p in endometriosis
Authors: Cui Liangyi , Chen Silei , Wang Dandan , Yang Qing
Published: December 2020

Endometriosis is a common multi‐factorial gynaecological disease. Recent studies have revealed that long non‐coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are involved in the pathogenesis of endometriosis. In the present study, the expression profiles of lncRNAs in 6 pairs of endometriosis ectopic endometrium (ecEM) and eutopic endometrium (euEM) tissues were analysed by RNA sequencing. From the profiles, LINC01116 was found to be up‐regulated in ecEM tissues compared to euEM tissues and was verified by quantitative real‐time PCR (qRT‐PCR). Then, functional experiments demonstrated that LINC01116 promoted the proliferation and migration of ectopic primary endometrial stromal cells (ESCs), while miR‐9‐5p exerted the opposite effects. Dual‐luciferase reporter assays verified that LINC01116 directly sponged miR‐9‐5p and relieved the suppression of its target, Forkhead box protein P1 (FOXP1). Rescue experiments further demonstrated that LINC01116 could promote proliferation and migration of ESCs by targeting FOXP1 via sponging miR‐9‐5p. Overall, our study illuminates that LINC01116 promotes the progression of endometriosis through the miR‐9‐5p/FOXP1 axis. This finding provides a novel therapeutic target for patients with endometriosis.
An integrated pan‐cancer analysis of TFAP4 aberrations and the potential clinical implications for cancer immunity
Authors: Liu Jian‐Nan , Kong Xiang‐Shuo , Sun Ping , Wang Rui , Li Wang , Chen Qi‐Feng
Published: December 2020

Studies have shown that transcription factor activating enhancer binding protein 4 (TFAP4) plays a vital role in multiple types of cancer; however, the TFAP4 expression profile is still unknown, as is its value within the human pan‐cancer analysis. The present study comprehensively analysed TFAP4 expression patterns from 33 types of malignancies, along with the significance of TFAP4 for prognosis prediction and cancer immunity. TFAP4 displayed inconsistent levels of gene expression across the diverse cancer cell lines, and displayed abnormal expression within most malignant tumours, which closely corresponded to overall survival. More importantly, the TFAP4 level was also significantly related to the degree of tumour infiltration. TFAP4 was correlated using gene markers in tumour‐infiltrating immune cells and immune scores. TFAP4 expression was correlated with tumour mutation burden and microsatellite instability in different cancer types, and enrichment analyses identified TFAP4‐associated terms and pathways. The present study comprehensively analysed the expression of TFAP4 across 33 distinct types of cancers, which revealed that TFAP4 may possibly play a vital role during cancer formation and development. TFAP4 is related to differing degrees of immune infiltration within cancers, which suggests the potential of TFAP4 as an immunotherapy target in cancers. Our study demonstrated that TFAP4 plays an important role in tumorigenesis as a prognostic biomarker, which highlights the possibility of developing new targeted treatments.
PLCγ1 inhibition‐driven autophagy of IL‐1β‐treated chondrocyte confers cartilage protection against osteoarthritis, involving AMPK, Erk and Akt
Authors: Chen Xiaolei , Wang Yue , Qu Ning , Zhang Bing , Xia Chun
Published: December 2020

Previous studies identified the involvement of phosphoinositide‐specific phospholipase C (PLC) γ1 in some events of chondrocytes. This study aims to investigate whether and how PLCγ1 modulates autophagy to execute its role in osteoarthritis (OA) progression. Rat normal or human OA chondrocytes were pretreated with IL‐1β for mimicking or sustaining OA pathological condition. Using Western blotting, immunoprecipitation, qPCR, immunofluorescence and Dimethylmethylene blue assays, and ELISA and transmission electron microscope techniques, we found that PLCγ1 inhibitor U73122 enhanced Collagen II, Aggrecan and GAG levels, accompanied with increased LC3B‐II/I ratio and decreased P62 expression level, whereas autophagy inhibitor Chloroquine partially diminished its effect. Meanwhile, U73122 dissociated Beclin1 from Beclin1‐IP3R‐Bcl‐2 complex and blocked mTOR/ULK1 axis, in which the crosstalk between PLCγ1, AMPK, Erk and Akt were involved. Additionally, by haematoxylin and eosin, Safranin O/Fast green, and immunohistochemistry staining, we observed that intra‐articular injection of Ad‐shPLCγ1‐1/2 significantly enhanced Collagen and Aggrecan levels, accompanied with increased LC3B and decreased P62 levels in a rat OA model induced by anterior cruciate ligament transection and medial meniscus resection. Consequently, PLCγ1 inhibition‐driven autophagy conferred cartilage protection against OA through promoting ECM synthesis in OA chondrocytes in vivo and in vitro, involving the crosstalk between PLCγ1, AMPK, Erk and Akt.
Multigranularity cascade forest algorithm based on hyperspectral imaging to detect moisture content in Daqu
Authors: Huang Haoping , Hu Xinjun , Tian Jianping , Chen Ping , Huang Dan
Published: December 2020

To evaluate the quality of Daqu, the change of moisture content during the fermentation process is an important indicator. To improve the accuracy of measuring the moisture content, we studied a measuring method that used a near‐infrared hyperspectral imaging technique. In the process of using multigranularity cascade forest algorithm to do deep learning on the detection task, two improvements were made to improve detection accuracy. One was to establish a multigranularity cascade forest model with various scanning window combinations to solve the problem of distribution offset in the prediction results. The other was to do continuum removal processing to obtain enhanced spectral data from the sample spectral data. The results showed that the multigranularity cascade forest was markedly better than a support vector machine and a backpropagation neural network. The coefficient of determination of the prediction set (R2) and root mean square error of the Prediction set reached 0.9977 and 0.0021, respectively. The study results indicated that the hyperspectral imaging technique could achieve highly accurate detection and distribution visualization of the moisture content of Daqu during the fermentation process.

Practical applications

Daqu, a flavoring agent and fermentation starter, plays a vital role in the solid‐state liquor brewing process. During the fermentation process, moisture content is an important indicator for quality evaluation of Daqu. Therefore, it is highly important to detect the moisture content in Daqu quickly and accurately. The hyperspectral imaging technique, as an emerging detection technology, has advantages that traditional detection methods do not have, so that the disadvantages of traditional detection can be overcome. In our study, the hyperspectral imaging technique could achieve high‐precision detection of the moisture content of Daqu during the fermentation process, indicating that hyperspectral technology could be used to detect Daqu moisture content. Moreover, this method has great potential for real‐time indicators detection in winery for future work.
Exosomes in Parkinson disease
Authors: Pinnell Jennifer R. , Cui Mei , Tieu Kim
Published: December 2020

Parkinson disease (PD) is a prevalent neurodegenerative disease, in which the formation of misfolded and aggregated α‐synuclein is a key neuropathological hallmark. Recent studies reveal that extracellular vesicles such as exosomes present a potential mechanism for propagation of pathological α‐synuclein throughout the brain. The ability of exosomes to transport proteins and genetic material between cells, including mRNA and microRNAs which have been implicated in PD pathology, provides critical insights as to how exosomes may contribute to pathological progression in PD. Advances have also been made in the investigation of exosomes as potential tools for the modulation of Parkinson's pathology; their detection extracellularly may facilitate their use as biomarkers, while their small size could be utilised as vectors for the delivery of therapeutics. The aim of this review was to highlight our current knowledge of the role of exosomes in PD and potential clinical application.

image
Enabling patient safety awareness using the Green Cross method: A qualitative description of users’ experience
Authors: Schwarz Anneli , Isaksson Stina , Källman Ulrika , Rusner Marie
Published: December 2020

Aim

The Green Cross method was developed to support healthcare staff in daily patient safety work. The aim of this study was to describe users’ experiences of the method when working with patient safety and their views on the core elements.

Background

Patient safety systems need to be user‐friendly to facilitate learning from adverse events. The Green Cross method is described as a simple visual method to recognise risks and preventable adverse events (PAEs) in real time. There are no previous studies describing users’ experiences of the Green Cross method.

Design

A qualitative descriptive design.

Methods

32 healthcare workers and managers from different specialties in a Swedish hospital were interviewed, from May–September 2018 about their experiences of the Green Cross method; either individually or as part of a group. The interviews were analysed using thematic analysis. The study follows the COREQ guidelines for qualitative data.

Results

Participants associated the Green Cross method with patient safety, but no core elements of the method were identified. Instead, the opportunity to be engaged in patient safety work in a systematic way was underlined by all study participants. Highlighted key areas were the simplicity and the systematic framework of the method along with a need of distinct leadership. The daily meetings promoted trust and dialogue and developed the patient safety mindset. Daily meetings, together with the visualisation of the cross, were emphasised as important by users who otherwise had limited knowledge of the entire method.

Conclusion

This study offers valuable information that can help deepen the understanding of how the method specifically supports patient safety work.

Relevance to clinical practice

Healthcare workers are expected to report patient safety issues. This study presents user‐friendly aspects of the method as well as limitations, relevant for present and future users.
Cohabitation and Marital Dissolution: A Comment on Rosenfeld and Roesler (2019)
Authors: Manning Wendy D. , Smock Pamela J. , Kuperberg Arielle
Published: December 2020

Objective

Our goal is to comment on a recently published paper (Rosenfeld & Roesler, 2019. Journal of Marriage and Family, 81, 42‐58) and provide an alternative analysis of the association between premarital cohabitation and marital instability.

Background

Their findings run counter to recently published papers on this topic. Although their article offers a potential explanation for this finding, the models include multiple and potentially confounding measures of time creating questions about their conclusions.

Method

Our comment is based on approaches used in prior studies of cohabitation and marital instability using the same data source. Reviews of measures of time and data limitations are included along with new event history analyses focusing on marriage cohorts.

Results

Their models arguably include too many indicators of time. Unlike the study by Rosenfeld and Roesler (2019) and consistent with other recent studies, we find that cohabitation has a weaker association with dissolution among recently married couples and cohabitation with a spouse prior to marriage is not associated with marital instability for recent marriage cohorts. This finding holds even when accounting for variation by marital duration.

Conclusion

This comment provides insights into the use of the National Survey of Family Growth data (
https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nsfg/index.htm data) and measurement of time. Our results provide evidence that counters the conclusion by Rosenfeld and Roesler (2019) that scholars have been “misled” about the role of cohabitation and marital dissolution.
Experiential holism in time
Authors: Chuard Philippe
Published: December 2020

Temporally extended experiences, experiential holists have it, are not reducible to successions of their temporal parts because some whole experiences determine their parts (in some way). This paper suggests, first, that some forms of experiential holism are in fact consistent with the rival atomist view (that experiences are successions of their parts) and, second, that the main reasons advanced for experiential holism are compatible with atomism too. The paper then looks at how holistic determination of its parts by a whole experience might take place in time, arguing that it is either inconsistent or undermines widespread assumptions regarding the mechanisms underlying experiences.
The ambiguities of self‐determination: IGAD and the secession of South Sudan
Authors: de Waal Alex
Published: December 2020

This paper examines the 1994 Declaration of Principles (DoP) for the resolution of the Sudanese civil war, adopted by the Inter‐Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD). This was the only occasion on which an African inter‐state organization included separation as an option for resolving a civil war. It was the basis for South Sudan's independence in 2011. The DoP was drafted by the Ethiopian government, and imposed on belligerent parties, both of which were, at the time, unionist. The paper identifies two concepts of self‐determination within the DoP— independence for colonial territories and the Marxist‐Leninist idea of self‐determination for national groups. The rationale for including both arose from Ethiopian leadership within IGAD. The paper also examines the diverse Sudanese debates on self‐determination, including several strands of nationalism, Islamism, and the ‘New Sudan’ of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM). There was radical disagreement among Sudanese on national identity and self‐determination, creating ambiguities that ironically facilitated the exercise in southern self‐determination in 2011. Drawing on documentation of Sudanese negotiations, the paper examines how the DoP unlocked the Sudanese debate on the issue, and how the different concepts fared up to the time of the independence of South Sudan.
Lactobacilli postbiotics reduce biofilm formation and alter transcription of virulence genes of Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans
Authors: Ishikawa Karin H. , Bueno Manuela R. , Kawamoto Dione , Simionato Maria R. L. , Mayer Marcia P. A.
Published: December 2020

Periodontitis is characterized by a dysbiotic microbial community and treatment strategies include the reestablishment of symbiosis by reducing pathogens abundance. Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans (Aa) is frequently associated with rapidly progressing periodontitis. Since the oral ecosystem may be affected by metabolic end‐products of bacteria, we evaluated the effect of soluble compounds released by probiotic lactobacilli, known as postbiotics, on Aa biofilm and expression of virulence‐associated genes. Cell‐free pH‐neutralized supernatants (CFS) of Lactobacillus rhamnosus Lr32, L. rhamnosus HN001, Lactobacillus acidophilus LA5, and L. acidophilus NCFM were tested against a fimbriated clinical isolate of Aa JP2 genotype (1 × 107 CFU/well) on biofilm formation for 24 hr, and early and mature preformed biofilms (2 and 24 hr). Lactobacilli CFS partially reduced Aa viable counts and biofilms biomass, but did not affect the number of viable non‐adherent bacteria, except for LA5 CFS. Furthermore, LA5 CFS and, in a lesser extent HN001 CFS, influenced Aa preformed biofilms. Lactobacilli postbiotics altered expression profile of Aa in a strain‐specific fashion. Transcription of cytolethal distending toxin (cdtB) and leukotoxin (ltxA) was downregulated by CFS of LA5 and LR32 CFS. Although all probiotics produced detectable peroxide, transcription of katA was downregulated by lactobacilli CFS. Transcription of dspB was abrogated by LR32 and NCFM CFS, but increased by HN001, whereas expression of pgA was not affected by any postbiotic. Our data indicated the potential of postbiotics from lactobacilli, especially LA5, to reduce colonization levels of Aa and to modulate the expression of virulence factors implicated in evasion of host defenses.
Dealing with vulnerability to carbon emission from gas flaring: the roles of transparency and utilisation policies in Nigeria
Authors: Hassan Aminu
Published: December 2020

Gas flaring, a practice described as environmentally damaging and financially wasteful, still persists on a large scale in the Nigerian oil and gas industry. Firstly, this paper investigates the vulnerability of the Nigerian economic performance to environmental pollution by estimating and analysing the relationship between carbon emission from gas flaring and Nigeria’s GDP. Secondly, the study examines how transparency and gas utilisation policies, deployed by the country, are performing in dealing with vulnerability to carbon emission from gas flaring. The paper uses an autoregressive distributed lag bounds testing approach to cointegration and error‐correction‐based Granger causality. The paper establishes that carbon emission from gas flaring affects Nigeria’s GDP negatively in both the short and long run. However, the results show that GDP has started exhibiting resilience to carbon emission from gas flaring in the long run. Findings imply that even though transparency and gas utilisation policies are doing well in increasing GDP’s long‐run resilience, persistent carbon emission from gas flaring continues to cause short‐run and long‐run economic vulnerability. The study discusses policy implications meant to be useful to the Nigerian government and the relevant regulatory authorities in the country's oil and gas industry.
Cryoablation for pulmonary veins isolation in obese patients with atrial fibrillation compared to nonobese patients
Authors: Malaspina Daniele , Brasca Francesco , Iacopino Saverio , Arena Giuseppe , Molon Giulio , Pieragnoli Paolo , Tondo Claudio , Manfrin Massimiliano , Rovaris Giovanni , Verlato Roberto , Dello Russo Antonio , Startari Umberto , Sgarito Giuseppe , Perego Giovanni Battista
Published: December 2020

Background

Pulmonary veins isolation (PVI) by cryoballoon (CB) ablation is marginally represented in clinical studies in obese patients. The aim of this analysis was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of CB‐PVI in a large cohort of overweight and obese patients from the 1STOP project.

Methods

From 2012 to 2018, 2048 patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) (70% male, 59 ± 11 years; 75% paroxysmal AF) underwent index CB‐PVI. The patient data were separated into three cohorts for statistical evaluation, including: normal weight (body mass index [BMI] < 25 kg/m2), overweight (BMI = 25‐30 kg/m2), and obese patients (BMI > 30 kg/m2).

Results

Out of 2048 patients, 693 (34%) patients had a BMI < 25 and were deemed as normal. There were 944 (46%) patients categorized as overweight (BMI = 25‐30) and 411 (20%) as obese (BMI > 30). Overweight or obese patients were more often in persistent AF, had more frequently hypertension and diabetes, had higher CHA2DS2‐VASc score, and had a number of failed antiarrhythmic drug (AAD). Periprocedural complication rates were similar among the three cohorts. The 12‐month freedom from AF recurrence was 76.4% in the normal BMI group as compared to 79.2% in the overweight and 73.5% in the obese group (p = .35). However, 48% of overweight patients were on AAD treatment during the follow‐up. By multivariate analysis, BMI was not a predictor for AF recurrence following the index CB‐PVI.

Conclusion

CB‐PVI in obese patients is a safe procedure. Increased BMI (either moderate or severe) does not seem to be associated with a worse outcome or to a different rate of AAD discontinuation at 12 months.
Risk‐adapted therapy for the management of cytokine release syndrome in children undergoing unmanipulated haploidentical stem cell transplantation
Authors: Jayakumar Indira , Uppuluri Ramya , Lakshmanan Chidhambharam , Kumar Gowdhaman Anand , Vellaichamy Swaminathan Venkateswaran , Raj Revathi
Published: December 2020

Background

We aimed to describe an algorithm for the management of cytokine release syndrome (CRS) associated with haploidentical hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (haploSCT).

Patients and methods

We performed a prospective study where children up to 18 years of age undergoing haploSCT with post‐transplant cyclophosphamide from September 2014 to March 2020 were included. Supportive care included low‐dose adrenaline, high‐flow nasal cannula, and N‐acetylcysteine (NAC). Methylprednisolone and tocilizumab were administered in the peri‐engraftment phase for grade 2 CRS or one‐log increase and grade 3 CRS or a two‐log increase in ferritin, respectively.

Results

Data were analyzed in 135/148 children as 13 children died before engraftment due to sepsis. CRS was noted in 97% transplants (grade 1—74.1%, grade 2—15.6%, grade 3—6.7%, grade 4—1.4%). Grade 2 and above CRS was higher in non‐malignant conditions (33% vs 13%, P‐value .009). The percentage median rise in ferritin was 129%—grade 1, 171%—grade 2, and 344%—grade 3. Seven children received tocilizumab, and two of whom had ferritin values greater than 100 000 ng/mL with no mortality in this group. Low‐dose adrenaline, high‐flow nasal cannula, and ventilator support were needed in 13%, 10%, and 4%, respectively. Mortality in our cohort was 3/135 (2.2%), with two deaths due to sepsis and one due to grade 4 CRS.

Conclusions

A risk‐stratified approach using steroids in grade 2 and tocilizumab in grade 3/4 in the setting of haploSCT with NAC infusion and early use of low‐dose adrenaline and HFNC can help provide adequate control of CRS, thereby ensuring optimal outcomes and survival.
Plasma Treatment as a Promising Environmentally Benign Approach for Synthesis of Valuable Multi‐gas Doped Nano‐TiO2‐P25: An Efficient Way to Boost the Photocatalytic Performance under Visible Light Illumination
Authors: Hosseini Saber , Amoozadeh Ali
Published: December 2020

An ingenious prospect has been established to synthesize a wide range of non‐metal‐doped TiO2‐P25 by plasma technique. Different atmospheres (Air, O2, N2, Ar and CO2) have been embedded on the surface of TiO2‐P25 by plasma treating as an effective alternative to wet chemical pretreatment processes. This approach is clean beyond recognition by employing pure gases as well as no need to poison precursors or organic solvents without producing waste stream, which surprisingly can meet green chemistry purposes. More specifically, plasma has been a contributing factor in the narrowing band gap energies of doped photocatalysts in comparison with pure TiO2‐P25. Synthesized photocatalysts gained enormous benefit from the plasma treatment in the selective oxidation of benzyl alcohols to associating aldehydes under blue LED illumination with excellent yields, which dramatically decreased the time reaction to many folds. Additionally, benzaldehyde formation under influence of various wavelengths of visible light, including blue photons (λmax = 460 nm), green photons (λmax = 510 nm) and red photons (λmax = 630 nm) was compared to assess the effect of plasma treating on photoactivity of nano‐TiO2‐P25. Furthermore, as‐prepared photocatalysts were investigated by diverse characterization techniques.
Centromere organization and UU/V sex chromosome behavior in a liverwort
Authors: Sousa Aretuza , Schubert Veit , Renner Susanne S.
Published: December 2020

In 1917, sex chromosomes in plants were discovered in a liverwort with hetermorphic U and V chromosomes. Such heteromorphy is unexpected because, unlike the XY chromosomes in diploid‐dominant plants, in haploid‐dominant plants the female U and the male V chromosomes experience largely symmetrical potential recombination environments. Here we use molecular cytogenetics and super‐resolution microscopy to study Frullania dilatata, a liverwort with one male and two female sex chromosomes. We applied a pipeline to Illumina sequences to detect abundant types of repetitive DNA and developed FISH probes to microscopically distinguish the sex chromosomes. We also determined the phenotypic population sex ratio because biased ratios have been reported from other liverworts with heteromorphic sex chromosomes. Populations had male‐biased sex ratios. The sex chromosomes are monocentric, and of 14 probes studied (eight satellites, five transposable elements and one plastid region), four resulted in unique signals that differentiated the sex chromosomes from the autosomes and from each other. One FISH probe selectively marked the centromeres of both U chromosomes, so we could prove that during meiosis each U chromosome associates with one of the opposite telomeres of the V chromosome, resulting in a head‐to‐head trivalent. The similarity of the two U chromosomes to each other in size and in their centromere FISH signal positions points to their origin via a non‐disjunction event (aneuploidy), which would fit with the general picture of sex chromosomes rarely crossing‐over and being prone to suffer from non‐disjunction.
Transfer learning with pre-trained deep convolutional neural networks for the automatic assessment of liver steatosis in ultrasound images
Authors: Constantinescu Elena Codruta , Udriștoiu Anca-Loredana , Udriștoiu Ștefan Cristinel , Iacob Andreea Valentina , Gruionu Lucian Gheorghe , Gruionu Gabriel , Săndulescu Larisa , Săftoiu Adrian
Published: December 2020

Aim: In this paper we proposed different architectures of convolutional neural network (CNN) to classify fatty liver disease in images using only pixels and diagnosis labels as input. We trained and validated our models using a dataset of 629 images consisting of 2 types of liver images, normal and liver steatosis. Material and methods: We assessed two pre-trained models of convolutional neural networks, Inception-v3 and VGG-16 using fine-tuning. Both models were pre-trained on ImageNet dataset to extract features from B-mode ultrasound liver images. The results obtained through these methods were compared for selecting the predictive model with the best performance metrics. We trained the two models using a dataset of 262 images of liver steatosis and 234 images of normal liver. We assessed the models using a dataset of 70 liver steatosis im-ages and 63 normal liver images. Results. The proposed model that used Inception v3 obtained a 93.23% test accuracy with a sensitivity of 89.9%% and a precision of 96.6%, and areas under each receiver operating characteristic curves (ROC AUC) of 0.93. The other proposed model that used VGG-16, obtained a 90.77% test accuracy with a sensitivity of 88.9% and a precision of 92.85%, and areas under each receiver operating characteristic curves (ROC AUC) of 0.91. Conclusion. The deep learning algorithms that we proposed to detect steatosis and classify the images in normal and fatty liver images, yields an excellent test performance of over 90%. However, future larger studies are required in order to establish how these algorithms can be implemented in a clinical setting.
Decoration to Demonstration: A New Point Source for 3D Ray Tracing
Authors: Harnish Peter
Published: December 2020

Possibly the greatest irony of physics education is the difficulty of demonstrating optics in a visible way. The two most common solutions to this conundrum are to either use “all-inclusive” optical apparatuses, like a large- format camera, or to rely on classic ray-tracing diagrams. While the former looks elegant while demonstrating the inverted nature of its images at the front of a classroom, its inner workings and method of inverting remain mysterious. The mechanics of the latter are more evident but are limited to two dimensions and the willingness of students to accept the drawing as fact. More advanced solutions include computer modeling of 3D optics or benchtop ray-tracing demonstrations, but between these the demonstrator effectively trades a third dimension for verisimilitude. A more encompassing solution would be a means to trace rays in three dimensions through a variety of optical devices. Previously, the rub has been identifying a viable point source of rays for classroom demonstrations. In this paper, we present such a source and several sequences of demonstrations utilizing it.
Why the Concept of Potential Energy Must Be Frame Invariant
Authors: Hecht Eugene
Published: December 2020

In recent years, there have been a number of articles published concerning whether or not potential energy (PE) as defined in mechanics is invariant under Galilean transformation. This essay addresses that issue in a different, more fundamental and elegant way than has been done thus far. It recognizes that a considerable change in the concept of PE has occurred over the last century, mostly as a result of both the special and general theories of relativity. We will show, by simple argument, that PE is Lorentz invariant, even if it is not a rigorously proper relativistic quantity. Although PE is an extremely important classical (i.e., pre-relativistic) theoretical device, it depends on the positions of the interacting bodies at any and every moment. Simply put, if the relative position of any constituent changes, the corresponding interactions must change instantly, and that violates special relativity. In general relativity, PE is not even a well-defined concept.
Using Desmos to Understand the Difference Between Phase and Group Velocity
Authors: Mungan Carl E.
Published: December 2020

An individual harmonic wave (i.e., having a single frequency and wavelength over all time and space) traveling in a loss-free medium has a single constant speed, which is equal to the magnitude of the phase velocity of the wave. However, when a set of different harmonic waves are traveling in the same direction, they interfere to form wave packets. In general, the peak of a wave packet travels at a speed equal to the magnitude of the group velocity that can be vastly different than the phase speeds of the component harmonic waves, even if the entire set of harmonic waves only differ among themselves slightly in frequency and wavelength. It is difficult for students to understand the origin of this difference from verbal descriptions and static graphs of wave functions at successive instants in times, such as are typically presented in textbooks. However, considerable insight is possible using the free online software Desmos.
Quantum Matter on the Table: A Pretty, Simple Hands-on
Activity
Authors: Day James , Lantagne-Hurtubise Étienne , Sheyerman Alexander , Liao Yu-Huan Theresa , Hoyt Char
Published: December 2020

This paper introduces quantum materials and the notion of using models to aid the comprehension of complex ideas. It describes a hands-on activity, collaboratively developed by scientists and artists, that promotes an understanding of how experts take advantage of analogical thinking and model building to develop important frameworks. Quantum physics concepts provide an exciting way to introduce students to leading-edge research in atomic-level design of novel quantum materials.
Enhancing Student Learning in Introductory Physics Through Funds of
Knowledge
Authors: Zeng Liang , Zeng Guang
Published: December 2020

Researchers have reported the funds of knowledge (FK) pedagogical approach effective in engaging minority students in learning. However, there are a lack of studies connecting FK to introductory college physics or physical science classes. By using examples from regional Mexican-American lived experiences at an Hispanic-serving institution located along the recently politicized U.S.-Mexico border, this paper provides evidence to show how physics educators can use FK to engage students in learning introductory college physics concepts.
Learning Physics with Refugee Children in Germany
Authors: MacIsaac Dan , Genz Florian , Resvoll Michael
Published: December 2020

Since 2015, Germany has officially registered over 1.3 million refugees, many fleeing the Syrian civil war during the most recent European migrant crisis. The majority reaction of 82 million German citizens and their government to the crisis led to the welcoming culture (Willkommenskultur)—the development of multiple government, non-government organization (NGO), and private programs of accommodation, resettlement, German language training, and more general education, acculturation, and inclusion into German society for many of these refugees. With government and private funding for supplies, training, and administration, the German Physical Society (Deutsche Physikalische Gesellschaft or DPG) under the guidance of Professor Dr. Arnulf Quadt of Georg-August-Universität Göttingen established a program in which volunteers provide physics educational experiences to these refugee children and possible future German citizens called Physics for Refugees (Physik für Flüchtlinge or PfF).
A Simple Way to Demonstrate Fluorescent Image by Employing a Conventional
Microscope and Transparent Colored Acrylic Pieces
Authors: Quang Ngo Khoa
Published: December 2020

In this study, we describe a method to employ a conventional compound light microscope, usually available in laboratories, to obtain fluorescence. In particular, two pieces of colored acrylic plastic were utilized to assist the microscope in filter performance. We also attempted to examine the applicability of the setup by staining onion cells with highlighter ink. This activity is intended to serve as an experiment for life sciences courses using physics-based methods in a biological context. This setup has the advantages of ease of use and low cost.