bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Ultrasonic oscillations induced property development of water-bentonite suspension containing sulfonated wood coal
Authors: Guo Wen-Yu , Peng Bo
Published: June 2021

During drilling fluid preparation, ultrasonic oscillations were introduced into water-bentonite suspension incorporating sulfonated wood coal (SMC) by a specially designed device. The influences of ultrasonic oscillations on fluid loss and rheological performances of the drilling fluid as well as mechanism of ultrasonic action were investigated. The experimental results showed that the filtrate volume decreased with the increase of ultrasonic time till a certain extent and then leveled off. In the presence of ultrasound, shorter time of 15 min and mild intensity of 250 W could lead to a satisfactory result in fluid loss properties, including the reasonable filtrate volume and thin and compact filter cakes. With increasing ultrasonic intensity, the fluid loss properties changed relatively little but various rheological data of the drilling fluids always increased. Adsorption tests through total organic carbon, infrared spectrum and thermogravimetic analyses as well as clay particle size analysis confirmed that as compared with the conventional agitation, ultrasound-assisted mud preparation could not only increase adsorbed amount of SMC on bentonite but also decrease average clay particle diameter attributed to acoustic cavitation. A plausible mechanism based on sonochemical thermodynamics is proposed to explain the improvement of the colloidal structure and performances of drilling fluid.
Research of a novel double cross-linking fracturing fluid
Authors: Ge Yanrong , Zhao Zhongcong , Cheng Xiaoliang , Chen Tengfei , Liu Tao , Guo Xiupeng
Published: June 2021

A kind of JDL-1 thickener for betaine hydrophobic association polymer was prepared by aqueous solution polymerization of mixed micelles, AM, AA, AMPS and DM16 were used as raw materials, which was synthesized by redox initiator system. Friction tester and high-temperature rheometer were used to evaluate the resistance reduction and temperature and shear resistance of the thickener. The results show that the viscosity average molecular weight of the polymer prepared with AM, AA, AMPS and DM16 mass ratio of 70∶20∶5∶5 was higher than 12 million, and the dissolution time of the polymer was less than 3 min. When the surfactant is used for physical cross-linking, the apparent viscosity of the cross-linked fracturing fluid is larger than that of 60 mPa·s at 90 °C, 170 s-1 sheared 1 h; when metal cross-linking agent is used for coordination cross-linking, the apparent viscosity is larger than that of 80 mPa·s at 120 °C, 170 s-1 sheared 1 h. The drag reduction rate was 73%, the anti-swelling rate was higher than70%, and the damage rate was less than10%. The field trial was successful and confirmed the multifunctional effect of betaine-type hydrophobic associating polymer.
Load torque analysis and compensation device design for low power drilling fluid continuous wave generator
Authors: Wu Jiafeng , Jiang Jianming , Zhou Botao , Zhao Shuxing , Han Ning , Qin Dongli , Wang Ruihe
Published: June 2021

As an advanced downhole instrument in drilling engineering, drilling fluid continuous wave generator (DFCWG) has great application prospects. The large load torque is one of the key problems that hinder the development of DFCWG. In this paper, based on the design theory of rotary valve and finite element method, the structure of rotary valve is designed and the load torque characteristics is analyzed and points out that the load torque has strong alternating characteristics. It is pointed out that the load torque has the characteristics of strong alternating. According to the characteristics of the load torque, the "fluid-magnetic" collaborative compensation method is proposed. The load compensation turbine and magnetic compensation device are used to compensate the DC and AC components of the load torque respectively, and the load compensation device is designed. The rationality of the design of the load compensation device is verified by simulation. Finally, the comprehensive compensation effect is analyzed by the finite element method. According to the analysis results, the "fluid-magnetic" collaborative compensation method can effectively reduce the load torque. The research results can provide technical support for DFCWG design.
Cumulative oil production in flow unit-crossing wells estimated by multilayer perceptron networks
Authors: Neto Edvaldo F. M. , Oliveira Gustavo P. , Magalhães Rafael M. , Batista Leonardo V. , Cabral Lucídio A. F. , Santos Moisés D.
Published: June 2021

Knowing the ultimate oil production in wells is a crucial point for reservoir planning and management to anticipate value for money. Commercial reservoir simulators are able to predict production curves with high confidence, but repetitive tasks in a few cases may spend a precious time of staff as well as require a large computational effort. Although artificial intelligence (AI) is providing an alternative path to the usual workflow, many commercial simulators lack robust AI algorithms. This work introduces a methodology based on a multilayer perceptron (MLP) neural network to predict the final cumulative oil production of a reservoir at vertical wells that cross hydraulic flow units (HFUs), which are volumes endowed with good flow attributes. Each well location is attached to special spots previously determined from clustering and calculation of maximum closeness centrality points (MaxCs) within a class of HFUs. The database is divided into training, validation, and testing sets organized after processing the UNISIM-I-D synthetic model, representative of the Namorado Field, Campos Basin, Brazil. The key rationale of this paper is to use the feature of MaxCs of being drivers for well placement as knowledge base to learn the production mechanisms of the oilfield. The outcomes are presented from two perspectives: an original MLP and its post-processed version. Both are compared with reservoir simulations carried out in CMG Imex$$^{\copyright }$$

©

and achieve reasonable agreement. The performance is measured by root-mean-squared error (RMSE) and mean absolute scaled error (MASE) both in original and post-processed versions. We show that average RMSE and MASE values near 0.07 and 14.00, respectively, are achieved without post-processing. With post-processing, gains of up to 43% are reported for the integral oil volume.
Application of improved time–frequency representation to local noise removal
Authors: Liu Baotong , Liu Qiyuan , Kang Xuefu
Published: June 2021

The temporal resolution of conventional S transform (ST) is not sufficient for the separation of local coherent noise. We present a revised S transform (RST) which uses an analyzing window function with two control parameters of the scalar σ and the exponential factor γ. Selecting proper parameter values (say σ = 1.1, γ = 1.08), the time–frequency representation (TFR) acquired by our method exhibits a higher temporal resolution. Applying an appropriate filter in the time–frequency domain, we are able to remove specific local noise. Distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) VSP section may suffer from fiber cable coupling noise, hindering the subsequent data processing and geologic interpretation. The real data example shows the coupling noise occurred in the DAS VSP can be removed by the presented RST.
Comparison of malondialdehyde levels and superoxide dismutase activity in resveratrol and resveratrol/donepezil combination treatment groups in Alzheimer’s disease induced rat model
Authors: Rao Y. Lakshmisha , Ganaraja B. , Marathe Aradhana , Manjrekar Poornima A. , Joy Teresa , Ullal Sheetal , Pai Mangala M. , Murlimanju B. V.
Published: June 2021

The aim of this study was to determine the malondialdehyde (MDA) level and superoxide dismutase(SOD) activity in colchicine induced Alzheimer’s disease(AD), resveratrol(RS) treated and RS + donepezil (DPZ) treated rat models. The objective was to compare the MDA level and SOD activity among these rat models. The present study included 3 months old male albinoWistarrats, which were in-house bred and weighting about 220–250 g. The rats were divided into nine subgroups which included control, sham, AD induced, RS treated and DPZ treated groups in different doses and combinations. The lipid peroxidation product for MDA in the brain homogenate was measured by estimating the levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substance. Estimation of SOD was done by the method of autoxidation of pyrogallol by Marklund and Marklund. There was a marked increase in the MDA levels in AD induced group in comparison to the control group (p < 0.05). The SOD activity was higher in the RS 10 and RS 20 treated groups in contrast to the AD group (p < 0.05). In DPZ + RS group, there was a substantial increase in the SOD activity (p < 0.05). It is also observed that the RS 20 treatment group showed higher SOD activity than the RS 10 group (p < 0.05). This study showed that, AD induced group had elevated levels of MDA, which indicates the poor oxidative stress–defence mechanism. The RS 10 and RS 20 groups showed higher SOD activity in comparison to the AD group, which indicated the improved oxidative stress–defence mechanism. The RS + DPZ group showed higher SOD activity, indicating a synergistic effect of DPZ and RS.
Bellman–Ford algorithm for solving shortest path problem of a network under picture fuzzy environment
Authors: Parimala Mani , Broumi Said , Prakash Karthikeyan , Topal Selçuk
Published: June 2021

An elongation of the novel intuitionistic fuzzy set is a picture fuzzy set theory. The demonstration of this has been used to deal with the abstinence criteria in a decision-making problem. The uncertainty in nature occurs sometimes in real-world problems and amidst them, the prominent one is the shortest path problem (SPP) solving. In the last few years, one of the best algorithms on the network for finding SPP is Bellman–Ford. Due to uncertainty in the decision-making process, it becomes difficult for decision-makers for communicating their point of view and judgment with certainty. We conceive of SPP in this contribution via Bellman's algorithm (BA) for a network with trapezoidal picture fuzzy numbers (TPFNs). We introduce a new algorithm to stand the shortest picture fuzzy path between each pair of nodes. A TPFN is considered for the length of all edges. A numerical example for the validation of the presented algorithm has also been proposed. There has also been relative research with existing techniques showing the benefits of the new algorithm.
A review of the mechanisms underlying selected comorbidities in Alzheimer’s disease
Authors: Maciejewska Karolina , Czarnecka Kamila , Szymański Paweł
Published: June 2021

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder of the central nervous system (CNS) leading to mental deterioration and devastation, and eventually a fatal outcome. AD affects mostly the elderly. AD is frequently accompanied by hypercholesterolemia, hypertension, atherosclerosis, and diabetes mellitus, and these are significant risk factors of AD. Other conditions triggered by the progression of AD include psychosis, sleep disorders, epilepsy, and depression. One important comorbidity is Down’s syndrome, which directly contributes to the severity and rapid progression of AD. The development of new therapeutic strategies for AD includes the repurposing of drugs currently used for the treatment of comorbidities. A better understanding of the influence of comorbidities on the pathogenesis of AD, and the medications used in its treatment, might allow better control of disease progression, and more effective pharmacotherapy.

Graphic abstract
Key interactions with deazariboflavin cofactor for light-driven energy transfer in Xenopus (6–4) photolyase
Authors: Morimoto Ayaka , Hosokawa Yuhei , Miyamoto Hiromu , Verma Rajiv Kumar , Iwai Shigenori , Sato Ryuma , Yamamoto Junpei
Published: June 2021

Photolyases are flavoenzymes responsible for light-driven repair of carcinogenic crosslinks formed in DNA by UV exposure. They possess two non-covalently bound chromophores: flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) as a catalytic center and an auxiliary antenna chromophore that harvests photons and transfers solar energy to the catalytic center. Although the energy transfer reaction has been characterized by time-resolved spectroscopy, it is strikingly important to understand how well natural biological systems organize the chromophores for the efficient energy transfer. Here, we comprehensively characterized the binding of 8-hydroxy-7,8-didemethyl-5-deazariboflavin (8-HDF) to Xenopus (6–4) photolyase. In silico simulations indicated that a hydrophobic amino acid residue located at the entrance of the binding site dominates translocation of a loop upon binding of 8-HDF, and a mutation of this residue caused dysfunction of the efficient energy transfer in the DNA repair reaction. Mutational analyses of the protein combined with modification of the chromophore suggested that Coulombic interactions between positively charged residues in the protein and the phenoxide moiety in 8-HDF play a key role in accommodation of 8-HDF in the proper direction. This study provides a clear evidence that Xenopus (6–4) photolyase can utilize 8-HDF as the light-harvesting chromophore. The obtained new insights into binding of the natural antenna molecule will be helpful for the development of artificial light-harvesting chromophores and future characterization of the energy transfer in (6–4) photolyase by spectroscopic studies.
Ethical funding for trustworthy AI: proposals to address the responsibilities of funders to ensure that projects adhere to trustworthy AI practice
Authors: Gardner Allison , Smith Adam Leon , Steventon Adam , Coughlan Ellen , Oldfield Marie
Published: June 2021

AI systems that demonstrate significant bias or lower than claimed accuracy, and resulting in individual and societal harms, continue to be reported. Such reports beg the question as to why such systems continue to be funded, developed and deployed despite the many published ethical AI principles. This paper focusses on the funding processes for AI research grants which we have identified as a gap in the current range of ethical AI solutions such as AI procurement guidelines, AI impact assessments and AI audit frameworks. We highlight the responsibilities of funding bodies to ensure investment is channelled towards trustworthy and safe AI systems and provides case studies as to how other ethical funding principles are managed. We offer a first sight of two proposals for funding bodies to consider regarding procedures they can employ. The first proposal is for the inclusion of a Trustworthy AI Statement’ section in the grant application form and offers an example of the associated guidance. The second proposal outlines the wider management requirements of a funding body for the ethical review and monitoring of funded projects to ensure adherence to the proposed ethical strategies in the applicants Trustworthy AI Statement. The anticipated outcome for such proposals being employed would be to create a ‘stop and think’ section during the project planning and application procedure requiring applicants to implement the methods for the ethically aligned design of AI. In essence it asks funders to send the message “if you want the money, then build trustworthy AI!”.
Hydrogeophysical Characterization in a Volcanic Context From Local to Regional Scales Combining Airborne Electromagnetism and Magnetism
Authors: Dumont M. , Reninger P. A. , Aunay B. , Pryet A. , Jougnot D. , Join J. L. , Michon L. , Martelet G.
Published: June 2021

In volcanic islands, a crucial step in managing watershed water resources is the characterization of groundwater aquifers from local to regional scales. Airborne geophysical data provide high‐resolution images down to hundreds of meters below the surface, over large areas. Yet, the production of an accurate interpretation of regional geophysical imagery may be time consuming or limited by the low density of geological and hydrological field observations. Here, we propose an approach combining airborne electromagnetic and magnetic data in order to reduce geophysical ambiguities and provide a multiscale hydrogeophysical characterization of Piton des Neiges volcano (Réunion Island). With limited calibration data, this methodology produces a geological model more accurate than using airborne electromagnetic data alone. Through the continuous coverage of both methods, we demonstrate the influence of volcanic unit geometries on groundwater flows within the critical zone and we highlight major structures impacting groundwater flows at both local and regional scales.
Mercury Inputs Into Eastern China Seas Revealed by Mercury Isotope Variations in Sediment Cores
Authors: Meng Mei , Liu Hongwei , Yu Ben , Yin Yongguang , Hu Ligang , Li Yanbin , Chen Jiubin , Shi Jianbo , Jiang Guibin
Published: June 2021

The mercury (Hg) loadings to the coastal regions of China have significantly increased in the last decades, and it is thus critical to unravel the input pathway and historical influx of these Hg. Here, concentrations and isotope compositions of Hg in three sediment cores collected from different mud areas of eastern China seas were comprehensively analyzed to investigate the spatial and temporal Hg inputs. The sediment core from nearshore mud area had distinctly higher δ202Hg and lower Δ199Hg values than those from offshore mud area, exhibiting an obvious difference in dominant Hg sources (land‐based vs. atmospheric). An isotope mixing model on basis of Hg isotope signatures of these cores revealed that the contributions of Hg sources varied significantly not only among different sites but also among different periods. Rapid development of industrialization and urbanization since the 1980s have significantly increased Hg especially industrial Hg inputs into eastern China seas. Our study suggests that the central mud area of Yellow Sea could well record the historical influxes of different Hg sources especially atmospheric Hg, as well as historical Hg emission events like industrialization/urbanization and modern Chinese wars, which would contribute to reconstruct the chronology of Hg inputs into eastern China seas.
The Influence of Tides on Coastal Plain Channel Geomorphology: Altamaha River, Georgia, USA
Authors: Sulaiman Z. A. , Viparelli E. , Torres R. , Yankovsky A. , Grego J.
Published: June 2021

Rivers that traverse the terrestrial‐marine interface may have lower reaches that are influenced by both terrestrial and marine processes. However, only a handful of studies have focused on how the interactions of fluvial and tidal processes translate to channel geomorphology, and those are largely from delta/distributary systems. Here we quantify channel properties along the fluvial‐tidal transition reach of a coastal plain river and provide insight into their origins. The study site is a 47 km long tidal, single‐thread freshwater section of a river at 29 to 76 river kilometers inland of the estuary mouth, upstream of the delta/distributary system, and with average riverbed slope of 10−4. Results show that a tidal wave approaching the study reach loses 15%–17% of its incident energy (per horizontal area) per kilometer of channel, and at 51 km upstream of the mouth the incident energy is reduced to <1%. Also, at or near 51 km we observed breaks in along‐channel trends of channel cross‐section geometry, bed grain size, sinuosity, channel bed and water surface slopes. We propose that fluvial‐tidal flow processes and corresponding geomorphic feedbacks are apparent as abrupt changes in channel properties that highlight the influence of tides, and these discontinuities may be endemic to fluvial‐tidal transition zones in general. How these transition reaches self‐adjust in response to climate change remains largely unexplored but these reaches are likely to become important geomorphic hotspots.
Middle Miocene Temperature and Productivity Evolution at a Northeast Atlantic Shelf Site (IODP U1318, Porcupine Basin): Global and Regional Changes
Authors: Sangiorgi Francesca , Quaijtaal Willemijn , Donders Timme H. , Schouten Stefan , Louwye Stephen
Published: June 2021

We present a high‐resolution multiproxy middle Miocene sea surface temperature (SST) and productivity (SSP) reconstruction of Integrated Ocean Drilling Program Site U1318, from the upper slope edge (∼400 m water depth) of the Porcupine Basin continental margin, eastern North Atlantic Ocean. Biomarker and dinoflagellate cyst proxies reveal warm and mostly stratified waters during the Miocene Climatic Optimum (MCO) that cooled ∼3°C across the Miocene Climate Transition (MCT). The organic biomarker (TEX86 and ) paleothermometers document a series of 11 transient cooling events (CEs), superimposed on the long‐term climate evolution. These CEs are associated with increases in cold‐water dinocysts and correlate to global benthic δ18O shifts, including the Mi‐2, Mi‐3, and Mi‐4 events. Most CEs are also associated with increases in primary productivity. A prolonged interval of high SSP between ∼13.8 and 13.6 Ma supports the idea that carbon production (and burial) in shallow areas represents a feedback mechanism contributing to long‐term atmospheric CO2 decline and cooling during the MCT. SST comparison in three North Atlantic sites (Azores Site 608, Porcupine Basin Site U1318, and Rockall Plateau Site 982) reveals that MCO SSTs are much warmer at Site 608 than at the other two sites. The low‐resolution SST record of Site 982 shows no decrease in temperature around the MCT. This may be linked to contemporaneous tectonic changes in the Tethys, Central American, and Arctic Seaways impacting local ocean circulation, superimposed on global drivers of climate change.
Population dynamics in the Japanese Archipelago since the Pleistocene revealed by the complete mitochondrial genome sequences
Authors: Mizuno Fuzuki , Gojobori Jun , Kumagai Masahiko , Baba Hisao , Taniguchi Yasuhiro , Kondo Osamu , Matsushita Masami , Matsushita Takayuki , Matsuda Fumihiko , Higasa Koichiro , Hayashi Michiko , Wang Li , Kurosaki Kunihiko , Ueda Shintaroh
Published: June 2021

The Japanese Archipelago is widely covered with acidic soil made of volcanic ash, an environment which is detrimental to the preservation of ancient biomolecules. More than 10,000 Palaeolithic and Neolithic sites have been discovered nationwide, but few skeletal remains exist and preservation of DNA is poor. Despite these challenging circumstances, we succeeded in obtaining a complete mitogenome (mitochondrial genome) sequence from Palaeolithic human remains. We also obtained those of Neolithic (the hunting-gathering Jomon and the farming Yayoi cultures) remains, and over 2,000 present-day Japanese. The Palaeolithic mitogenome sequence was not found to be a direct ancestor of any of Jomon, Yayoi, and present-day Japanese people. However, it was an ancestral type of haplogroup M, a basal group of the haplogroup M. Therefore, our results indicate continuity in the maternal gene pool from the Palaeolithic to present-day Japanese. We also found that a vast increase of population size happened and has continued since the Yayoi period, characterized with paddy rice farming. It means that the cultural transition, i.e. rice agriculture, had significant impact on the demographic history of Japanese population.
A pH/H2O2 dual triggered nanoplatform for enhanced photodynamic antibacterial efficiency
Authors: Zhao Ying , Zhu Yucheng , Yang Guoliang , Xia Lei , Yu Fan , Chen Chao , Zhang Liangshun , Cao Hongliang
Published: June 2021

A bacterial microenvironment-responsive nanoplatform was developed to eliminate bacteria and bacterial biofilms with enhanced photodynamic antibacterial efficiency.
Leveraging attention‐based visual clue extraction for image classification
Authors: Cui Yunbo , Du Youtian , Wang Xue , Wang Hang , Su Chang
Published: June 2021

Deep learning‐based approaches have made considerable progress in image classification tasks, but most of the approaches lack interpretability, especially in revealing the decisive information causing the categorization of images. This paper seeks to answer the question of what clues encode the discriminative visual information between image categories and can help improve the classification performance. To this end, an attention‐based clue extraction network (ACENet) is introduced to mine the decisive local visual information for image classification. ACENet constructs a clue‐attention mechanism, that is global‐local attention, between the image and visual clue proposals extracted from it and then introduces a contrastive loss defined over the achieved discrete attention distribution to increase the discriminability of clue proposals. The loss encourages considerable attention to be devoted to discriminative clue proposals, that is those similar within the same category and dissimilar across categories. The experimental results for the Negative Web Image (NWI) dataset and the public ImageNet2012 dataset demonstrate that ACENet can extract true clues to improve the image classification performance and outperforms the baselines and the state‐of‐the‐art methods.
Dynamics and control of loop reactors: a review
Authors: Sheintuch Moshe , Nekhamkina Olga
Published: June 2021

In the loop reactor (LR) the system is composed of several reactor units that are organized in a loop and the feeding takes place at one of several ports with switching of the feed port in a periodic way. In its simplest operation a pulse is formed and rotates around it, producing high temperatures which enable combustion of dilute streams. A limiting model with infinite number of units was derived. Rotating pulses, that are steady in a coordinate moving with the switch velocity, emerge in both asymptotic and discrete models when the ratio of switching to front propagation velocities is around unity. But this behavior exists over a narrow domain of this ratio. Simulations were conducted with generic first order Arrhenius kinetics. Experimental observations of simple frozen rotating pulses are reviewed. Outside the narrow frozen rotating patterns domain the system may exhibit multi- or quasi-periodic operation separated by domains of inactive reaction. The bifurcation set incorporates many ’finger’-like domains of complex frequency-locked solutions that allow to significantly extend the operation domain with higher feed temperature or concentration. Control is necessary to attain stable simple rotating frozen patterns within the narrow domains of active operation. Various control approaches that were suggested, or experimentally applied for this purpose, are reviewed. Actual implementation of combustion in LR will involve several reactants of different ignition temperatures and varying concentration. Design and control should be aimed at producing locked fronts and avoid extinction of the slower reaction.
Scalable Synthesis of l-allo-Enduracididine: The Unusual Amino Acid Present in Teixobactin
Authors: Chandrasekhar Srivari , Gangathade Namdeo , Nayani Kiranmai , Bukya Hemalatha , Mainkar Prathama S.
Published: June 2021

A scalable synthesis of l-allo-enduracididine is achieved from commercially available (S)-glycidol in ten linear steps involving well-established synthetic transformations. The synthetic route is flexible and can be used to synthesize all four diastereomers by changing the stereochemistry of glycidol and Sharpless asymmetric dihydroxylation reagent.
Application of compositional data analysis to determine the effects of heating mode, moisture status and plant species on pyrolysates
Authors: Weise David R. , Fletcher Thomas H. , Safdari Mohammad-Saeed , Amini Elham , Palarea-Albaladejo Javier
Published: June 2021

Pyrolysate gas mixtures are multivariate and relative in nature. Statistical techniques applied to these data generally ignore their relative nature. Published data for permanent gases (CO, CO2, H2, CH4) and tars produced by pyrolysing 15 wildland fuels were reanalysed using compositional data analysis techniques. Mass and mole fractions were compositionally equivalent. Plant species, moisture status and heating mode effects on compositional balances formed from subsets of pyrolysates were tested. Plant species affected the amount of phenol, primary and secondary/tertiary tars relative to permanent gases and relative amounts of single- and multi-ring compounds. Plant moisture status affected the amount of CO relative to other permanent gases, of H2 to CH4 and tars to phenol. Heating mode and rate strongly influenced pyrolysate composition. Slow heating produced more primary tars relative to multi-ring tars than fast heating convective and combined radiant and convective heating modes. Slow heating produced relatively more compounds with fewer rings and fast heating produced relatively more multi-ring compounds. Compositional data analysis is a well-developed statistical methodology, providing models and methods equivalent to traditional ones, that accounts for the special constraining features of relative data. Future analysis of the compositional data related to wildland fire using compositional techniques is recommended.
Effects of advanced and continuous photoperiod regimes on maturation control and profiles of sex steroids in brook trout (
Authors: Fatima Shafaq , Adams Mark , Wilkinson Ryan
Published: June 2021

Maturation of salmonid species reduces growth, flesh quality and immunocompetency and has inhibited, in part, the commercial production of brook trout in Tasmania. Photoperiod manipulation is routinely used to inhibit or reduce the incidence of maturation in salmonids, so an experimental adaptation of this approach was trialled experimentally for brook trout. Mixed-sex fish (age = 14 months) were subjected to simulated natural photoperiod (NP), advanced photoperiod (AP) and continuous photoperiod (CP) to investigate the response of endogenous circannual rhythm upon sexual maturity in this species. Light treatments commenced on the first day of the last month of the southern hemisphere’s winter and concluded towards the end of autumn when fish were ovulating. Maturation was observed in 100% of females and 96% of males held under NP. Fish exposed to AP corrected their maturation cycle by advanced phase shift of their endogenous rhythm for eight weeks and achieved final maturation during March–April. Plasma profiles of testosterone and oestradiol-17β were also adjusted according to advancement of photoperiod. Exposure to AP inhibited maturation by 6% and 8% in males and females, respectively. CP treatment for 10 consecutive months failed to inhibit gonadal development; however, this regime did delay or inhibit spermiation and ovulation.
Suitability of Hybrid and Landrace Maize Plants Within Conventional and Organic-Polyculture Maize Agroecosystems for Hosting Parasitic Wasps
Authors: Moya-Raygoza Gustavo , Figueroa-Bautista Pedro
Published: June 2021

Polycultures and conventional monoculture have different effects on insect pests and natural enemies. Little is known about the parasitoid response to landrace and hybrid plants damaged by insect pests within organic-polyculture agroecosystems vs. monoculture ones. The aim of the present study was to compare the suitability of these agroecosystems for hosting parasitic wasps by evaluating the parasitism rate, parasitoid abundance, and species composition on landrace and hybrid maize races within organic-polyculture and conventional maize agroecosystems. This study was performed within the Mesoamerican region where maize was originally domesticated and where the maize insect pest Dalbulus maidis (DeLong) (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) originated. Maize plants of landrace and hybrid varieties were used to attract egg parasitoids of D. maidis within each of the two agroecosystems; conventional maize monoculture and an organic-polyculture of landrace maize, beans, and squash, which also included weed plants. Four treatments were conducted in this field experiment: 1) landrace-within organic agroecosystem, 2) hybrid-within organic agroecosystem, 3) landrace-within conventional agroecosystem, and 4) hybrid-within conventional agroecosystem. A community of parasitic wasps, of which the micro-wasp Paracentrobia sp. (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) was the most abundant member, was found attacking the D. maidis eggs in both agroecosystems. The parasitism rate and parasitoid abundance were similar among the four treatments. However, the abundance of parasitoids was greater in the conventional maize monoculture. Bait plants (landrace and hybrid maize) within each agroecosystem did not show differences in either parasitoid abundance or parasitism rate.
peakPantheR, an R package for large-scale targeted extraction and integration of annotated metabolic features in LC–MS profiling datasets
Authors: Wolfer Arnaud M , D S Correia Gonçalo , Sands Caroline J , Camuzeaux Stephane , Yuen Ada H Y , Chekmeneva Elena , Takáts Zoltán , Pearce Jake T M , Lewis Matthew R
Published: June 2021

Untargeted liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC–MS) profiling assays are capable of measuring thousands of chemical compounds in a single sample, but unreliable feature extraction and metabolite identification remain considerable barriers to their interpretation and usefulness. peakPantheR (Peak Picking and ANnoTation of High-resolution Experiments in R) is an R package for the targeted extraction and integration of annotated features from LC–MS profiling experiments. It takes advantage of chromatographic and spectral databases and prior information of sample matrix composition to generate annotated and interpretable metabolic phenotypic datasets and power workflows for real-time data quality assessment.

Availability and implementation

peakPantheR is available via Bioconductor (https://bioconductor.org/packages/peakPantheR/). Documentation and worked examples are available at https://phenomecentre.github.io/peakPantheR.github.io/ and https://github.com/phenomecentre/metabotyping-dementia-urine.

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Major hepatectomy with combined vascular resection for perihilar cholangiocarcinoma
Authors: Sugiura T , Uesaka K , Okamura Y , Ito T , Yamamoto Y , Ashida R , Ohgi K , Otsuka S , Nakagawa M , Aramaki T , Asakura K
Published: June 2021

Background

Hepatectomy with vascular resection (VR) for perihilar cholangiocarcinoma (PHCC) is a challenging procedure. However, only a few reports on this procedure have been published and its clinical significance has not been fully evaluated.

Methods

Patients undergoing surgical resection for PHCC from 2002–2017 were studied. The surgical outcomes of VR and non-VR groups were compared.

Results

Some 238 patients were included. VR was performed in 85 patients. The resected vessels were hepatic artery alone (31 patients), portal vein alone (37 patients) or both (17 patients). The morbidity rates were almost the same in the VR (49.4 per cent) and non-VR (43.8 per cent) groups (P = 0.404). The mortality rates of VR (3.5 per cent) and non-VR (3.3 per cent) were also comparable (P > 0.999). The median survival time (MST) was 45 months in the non-VR group and 36 months in VR group (P = 0.124). Among patients in whom tumour involvement was suspected on preoperative imaging and whose carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9) value was 37 U/ml or less, MST in the VR group was significantly longer than that in the non-VR group (50 versus 34 months, P = 0.017). In contrast, when the CA19-9 value was greater than 37 U/ml, MST of the VR and non-VR groups was comparable (28 versus 29 months, P = 0.520).

Conclusion

Hepatectomy with VR for PHCC can be performed in a highly specialized hepatobiliary centre with equivalent short- and long-term outcomes to hepatectomy without VR.
Loss of Yap/Taz in cardiac fibroblasts attenuates adverse remodelling and improves cardiac function
Authors: Mia Masum M , Cibi Dasan Mary , Ghani Siti Aishah Binte Abdul , Singh Anamika , Tee Nicole , Sivakumar Viswanathan , Bogireddi Hanumakumar , Cook Stuart A , Mao Junhao , Singh Manvendra K
Published: June 2021

Aims

Fibrosis is associated with all forms of adult cardiac diseases including myocardial infarction (MI). In response to MI, the heart undergoes ventricular remodelling that leads to fibrotic scar due to excessive deposition of extracellular matrix mostly produced by myofibroblasts. The structural and mechanical properties of the fibrotic scar are critical determinants of heart function. Yes-associated protein (Yap) and transcriptional coactivator with PDZ-binding motif (Taz) are the key effectors of the Hippo signalling pathway and are crucial for cardiomyocyte proliferation during cardiac development and regeneration. However, their role in cardiac fibroblasts, regulating post-MI fibrotic and fibroinflammatory response, is not well established.

Methods and results

Using mouse model, we demonstrate that Yap/Taz are activated in cardiac fibroblasts after MI and fibroblasts-specific deletion of Yap/Taz using Col1a2Cre(ER)T mice reduces post-MI fibrotic and fibroinflammatory response and improves cardiac function. Consistently, Yap overexpression elevated post-MI fibrotic response. Gene expression profiling shows significant downregulation of several cytokines involved in post-MI cardiac remodelling. Furthermore, Yap/Taz directly regulate the promoter activity of pro-fibrotic cytokine interleukin-33 (IL33) in cardiac fibroblasts. Blocking of IL33 receptor ST2 using the neutralizing antibody abrogates the Yap-induced pro-fibrotic response in cardiac fibroblasts. We demonstrate that the altered fibroinflammatory programme not only affects the nature of cardiac fibroblasts but also the polarization as well as infiltration of macrophages in the infarcted hearts. Furthermore, we demonstrate that Yap/Taz act downstream of both Wnt and TGFβ signalling pathways in regulating cardiac fibroblasts activation and fibroinflammatory response.

Conclusion

We demonstrate that Yap/Taz play an important role in controlling MI-induced cardiac fibrosis by modulating fibroblasts proliferation, transdifferentiation into myofibroblasts, and fibroinflammatory programme.
Persisting burden and challenges of rheumatic heart disease
Authors: Marijon Eloi , Mocumbi Ana , Narayanan Kumar , Jouven Xavier , Celermajer David S
Published: June 2021

Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) is the result of episodes of acute rheumatic fever with valvular (and other cardiac) damage caused by an abnormal immune response to group A streptococcal infections, usually during childhood and adolescence. As a result of improved living conditions and the introduction of penicillin, RHD was almost eradicated in the developed world by the 1980s. However, being a disease of poverty, its burden remains disproportionately high in the developing world, despite being a fundamentally preventable disease. Rheumatic heart disease generates relatively little attention from the medical and science communities, in contrast to other common infectious problems (such as malaria, HIV, tuberculosis), despite the major cardiovascular morbidity/mortality burden imposed by RHD. This relative neglect and paucity of funding have probably contributed to limited fundamental medical advances in this field for over 50 years. Given the importance of prevention before the onset of major valvular damage, the main challenges for RHD prevention are improving social circumstances, early diagnosis, and effective delivery of antibiotic prophylaxis. Early identification through ultrasound of silent, subclinical rheumatic valve lesions could provide an opportunity for early intervention. Simple echocardiographic diagnostic criteria and appropriately trained personnel can be valuable aids in large-scale public health efforts. In addition, a better understanding of the immunogenic determinants of the disease may provide potential routes to vaccine development and other novel therapies.
Accuracy of a Self-Administered Online Cognitive Assessment in Detecting Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment
Authors: Paterson Theone S E , Sivajohan Brintha , Gardner Sandra , Binns Malcolm A , Stokes Kathryn A , Freedman Morris , Levine Brian , Troyer Angela K
Published: June 2021

Objectives

Our aim was to validate the online Brain Health Assessment (BHA) for detection of amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) compared to gold-standard neuropsychological assessment. We compared the diagnostic accuracy of the BHA to the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA).

Methods

Using a cross-sectional design, community-dwelling older adults completed a neuropsychological assessment, were diagnosed as normal cognition (NC) or aMCI, and completed the BHA and MoCA. Both logistic regression (LR) and penalized logistic regression (PLR) analyses determined BHA and demographic variables predicting aMCI; MoCA variables were similarly modeled. Diagnostic accuracy was compared using area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC AUC) analyses.

Results

Ninety-one participants met inclusion criteria (51 aMCI, 40 NC). PLR modeling for the BHA indicated Face–Name Association, Spatial Working Memory, and age-predicted aMCI (ROC AUC = 0.76; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.66–0.86). Optimal cut-points resulted in 21% classified as aMCI (positive), 23% negative, and 56% inconclusive. For the MoCA, digits, abstraction, delayed recall, orientation, and age predicted aMCI (ROC AUC = 0.71; 95% CI: 0.61–0.82). Optimal cut-points resulted in 22% classified positive, 8% negative, and 70% inconclusive (LR results presented within). The BHA model classified fewer participants into the inconclusive category and more as negative for aMCI, compared to the MoCA model (Stuart–Maxwell p = .004).

Discussion

The self-administered BHA provides similar detection of aMCI as a clinician-administered screener (MoCA), with fewer participants classified inconclusively. The BHA has the potential to save practitioners time and decrease unnecessary referrals for a comprehensive assessment to determine the presence of aMCI.
Role of data from cost and other economic analyses in healthcare decision-making for HIV, TB and sexual/reproductive health programmes in South Africa
Authors: Murphy Joshua P , Kgowedi Sharon , Naidoo Nalini , Girdwood Sarah , Jamieson Lise , Soeteman Djøra , Resch Stephen , Meyer-Rath Gesine
Published: June 2021

An increasing focus on the use of the results of cost analyses and other economic evaluations in health programme decision-making by governments, donors and technical support partners working in low- and middle-income countries is accompanied by recognition that this use is impeded by several factors, including the lack of skills, data and coordination between spheres of the government. We describe our experience generating economic evaluation data for human immunodeficiency virus, tuberculosis and sexual/reproductive health programmes in South Africa alongside the results of a series of in-depth interviews (IDIs) among decision-makers within the South African government and implementing organizations (data users) and producers of economic evaluations (data producers). We summarize results across (1) the process of implementing a new intervention; (2) barriers to the use of cost data and suggested solutions and (3) the transferability of experiences to the planned South African implementation of universal health coverage (UHC). Based on our experience and the IDIs, we suggest concrete steps towards the improvement of economic data use in the planning and the establishment of structures mandated under the transition to UHC. Our key recommendations include the following: (1) compile a publicly available and regularly updated in-country cost repository; (2) increase the availability of programmatic outcomes data at the aggregate level; (3) agree upon and implement a set of primary decision criteria for the adoption and funding of interventions; (4) combine the efforts of health economics institutions into a stringent system for health technology assessments and (5) improve the link between national and provincial planning and budgeting.
Aligning an interface terminology to the Logical Observation Identifiers Names and Codes (LOINC®)
Authors: Nikiema Jean Noël , Griffier Romain , Jouhet Vianney , Mougin Fleur
Published: June 2021

Objective

Our study consists in aligning the interface terminology of the Bordeaux university hospital (TLAB) to the Logical Observation Identifiers Names and Codes (LOINC). The objective was to facilitate the shared and integrated use of biological results with other health information systems.

Materials and Methods

We used an innovative approach based on a decomposition and re-composition of LOINC concepts according to the transversal relations that may be described between LOINC concepts and their definitional attributes. TLAB entities were first anchored to LOINC attributes and then aligned to LOINC concepts through the appropriate combination of definitional attributes. Finally, using laboratory results of the Bordeaux data-warehouse, an instance-based filtering process has been applied.

Results

We found a small overlap between the tokens constituting the labels of TLAB and LOINC. However, the TLAB entities have been easily aligned to LOINC attributes. Thus, 99.8% of TLAB entities have been related to a LOINC analyte and 61.0% to a LOINC system. A total of 55.4% of used TLAB entities in the hospital data-warehouse have been mapped to LOINC concepts. We performed a manual evaluation of all 1-1 mappings between TLAB entities and LOINC concepts and obtained a precision of 0.59.

Conclusion

We aligned TLAB and LOINC with reasonable performances, given the poor quality of TLAB labels. In terms of interoperability, the alignment of interface terminologies with LOINC could be improved through a more formal LOINC structure. This would allow queries on LOINC attributes rather than on LOINC concepts only.