bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Ray-tracing in relativistic jet simulations: A polarimetric study of magnetic field morphology and electron scaling relations
Authors: Kramer Joana A. , MacDonald Nicholas R.
Published: September 2021

Context. The jets emanating from the centers of active galactic nuclei are among the most energetic objects in the Universe. Investigating how the morphology of the jet’s synchrotron emission depends on the magnetic nature of the jet’s relativistic plasma is fundamental to the comparison between numerical simulations of relativistic jets and their observed polarization.

Aims. Through the use of 3D relativistic magnetohydrodynamic jet simulations (computed using the PLUTO code) we study how the synchrotron emission from a jet depends on the morphology of its magnetic field structure. Through the application of polarized radiative transfer and ray-tracing (via the RADMC-3D code), we create synthetic radio maps of the total intensity of a jet as well as the linearly and circularly polarized intensity for each jet simulation.

Methods. In particular, we create synthetic ray-traced images of the polarized synchrotron emission from a jet when this latter carries a predominantly poloidal, helical, and toroidal magnetic field. We also explore several scaling relations in which the underlying electron power-law distribution is set proportional to: (i) the jet’s thermal plasma density, (ii) its internal energy density, and (iii) its magnetic energy density.

Results. We find that: (i) the jet emission is edge-brightened when the magnetic field is toroidal in nature and spine brightened when the magnetic field is poloidal in nature; (ii) the circularly polarized emission exhibits both negative and positive sign for the toroidal magnetic field morphology at an inclination of i = 45° as well as i = 5°; and (iii) the relativistic jet’s emission is largely independent of different emission scaling relations when the ambient medium is excluded.
Economic perspective of indonesian rubber on agroforestry development
Authors: Azis Miftahul , Kristyantoadi Dermoredjo Saktyanu , Sayaka Bambang , Purwaningrat Linda
Published: September 2021

Rubber commodity is one of the plantation commodities that supports agroforestry, besides that it is one of the attractors in the creation of labor in rural areas. The economic linkages around intensive plantations will affect development of rubber in agroforestry areas. Rubber agroforestry is important because demands of global trade will encourage the development of agroforestry itself. For this reason, this paper can provide a description of the rubber economy in supporting the national economy. The data used is secondary data including national and global data, especially for countries of ITRC forum group members. The analytical method usesPrincipal Component Analysiswhich is expected to provide an overview of the conditions for the development of the national rubber economy. The results showed that 55.34 percent indicated that the economic development of rubber was already export-oriented, while 8.56 percent indicated that global production would affect the decline in rubber area, while 13.70 percent of the global relative price had its own characteristics. Thus, it can be seen that the challenges ahead, need to anticipate the development of rubber cultivation, both in monoculture and agroforestry plantations, which can support each other with an interconnected agribusiness system for harmony with global demand.
The profitability analysis of rubber plantation in Batang Hari Regency and Sanggau Regency (Case study: Penerokan Village and Semoncol Village)
Authors: Shoutun Nida Fajri , Bastuti Purwantini Tri
Published: September 2021

During 2009-2012 the price of rubber increased sharply, on the contrary during 2012-2018 the price decreased, and the farm price level in 2018 was lower than the average in 2009. The decline in rubber prices had an impact on the income of rubber farming. This study aims to analyze the changes in rubber prices on the performance of rubber farming and rubber farmers’ incomes The main data used is the ICASEPS’ Patanas database for 2009, 2012, and 2018. This study took cases in small-holder farmer in Penerokan Village (Batang Hari Regency, Jambi) and Semoncol Village (Sanggau Regency, West Kalimantan). Data analysis using R/C ratio. The results showed that the average price of rubber during 2009-2012 increased from IDR7,961/kg to IDR12,968/kg or increased by 62.9%, but in 2018 its decreased by an average of 45% to IDR6,875/kg and tended to decrease. Revenue from rubber farming during 2009, 2012 and 2019 in Penerokan was IDR12,974,000 respectively; IDR10,843,000 and IDR7,878,000 with an R/C ratio of 1.67; 1.87 and 1.67. Revenue from rubber farming in Semoncol 2009, 2012 and 2019 was IDR 10,656,000 respectively; IDR15,990,000 and IDR10,950,000 with an R/C ratio of 1.50; 2.00 and 1.29. The R/C ratio of rubber farming in both villages is more than 1, indicating that rubber farming is economically feasible. Household income in both locations still dominated by agricultural activities.
Agroforestry for restoration of degraded peatlands
Authors: Maftu’ah Eni , Susilawati Ani , Sulaeman Yiyi
Published: September 2021

The area of degreded peatlands in Indonesia is estimated at 4.4 million ha. Currently, the degraded peatland often a source of environmental problems, including sources of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and land fires. Restoration of degraded peatlands is intended to restore the value, function and benefits of the peat ecosystem, including efforts to prevent land damage, provide protection, and restore the ecosystem. One of the efforts to restore degraded peatlands is through revegetation. Agroforestry is a cropping pattern that uses a combination of tree crops with seasonal crops, and/or with livestock/fisheries activities. Agroforestry systems can be applied to degraded peatlands in production forest areas and other use areas. The advantages of agroforestry systems include; optimization of land, diversification of crops, reduce the risk of failure, can also prevent land preparation (for seasonal crops) with the burn system, and increase carbon stock. The success of an agroforestry system is very dependent on tree management which can reduce adverse effects and maximize the beneficial effects physically, economically, socially and environmentally. The selection of tree and agricultural plant types is important in order to restore degraded peatlands. The jelutung + pineapple agroforestry system provides physical, economic, social and environmental benefits. Jelutung + corn + horticultural crops are able to provide significant benefits. Agroforestry systems can be implemented to mitigate carbon emissions in degraded peatlands.
Study on design of visual intelligent detection instrument for aviation cable fault
Authors: Li Hailiang , Cai Jing , Kang Tingwei
Published: September 2021

Aviation cable is used to transmit electric energy and signal, and its performance directly affects the safety of aircraft. It is difficult to locate cable faults on aircraft and there is a lack of suitable high-precision detection equipment. Based on the Time-Domain Reflectometry Technology (TDR), combining with the embedded systems such as Raspberry Pi and FPGA, an aviation cable fault detector is designed. Firstly, based on the frequency-doubling clock generated by the PLL, the detector emits a low-voltage pulse whose width is smaller than the cycle of the source clock. Then, based on the multiple ADC sampling method, the detector samples the reflected pulse. Finally, the detector uses the intelligent algorithm to automatically determine the fault type and fault location, and displays the sampling waveform and detection results on the LCD screen. Through experimental verification, the detector can basically meet the requirements of aviation cable fault detection.
Numerical simulation of cavitation characteristics in high speed water entry of head-jetting underwater vehicle
Authors: Zhao Hairui , Shi Yao , Pan Guang
Published: September 2021

Autonomous underwater vehicle will be subjected to a huge impact load during high speed water entry, which will damage the structure and the internal instruments of the vehicle. Therefore, it is of great significance to study the buffer mechanism of the vehicle during the process of water-entry. In this paper, a kind of head-jetting device with disk cavitation is used. The complex cavitation forms, under the three-phase coupling of gas, liquid and solid, in the water entry process of the vehicle on which the device is installed. In this paper, the numerical simulation of high-speed water entry of the vehicle equipped with head jet device is carried out. Through the analysis of water entry cavitation under typical working conditions, the following conclusions are obtained. After the installation of head jet device, the water entry cavity of the vehicle changes gradually from cone to spindle shape. The air jet, compared with that without jet, can promote the formation of water inlet supercavitation, decrease the interaction area between the vehicle and water, and reduce the impact load during water entry. At the same water entry depth, the diameter of cavitation increases with the amount of air jet. The water entry velocity has a great influence on the difference of cavitation shape. The water entry depth closure phenomenon, when the water entry velocity is less than 100 m/s, can be observed in the depth of 3.5 times of the projectile length. The water entry angle has a significant effect on the cavitation shape. The cavity shows obvious asymmetry when the vehicle slants into the water, and the diameter and length of the bubbles decrease with the increase of the water entry angle. The research content of this paper provides technical support for the engineering practice of high-speed water entry and load reduction, and the conclusions are of great significance in related fields.
Resilience analysis for reconfigurable network with cascading failures
Authors: Zhu Wenjin , Wang Luohaoji , Cai Zhiqiang , Si Shubin , Bai Guanghan
Published: September 2021

A network is a topology composed of nodes and the edges of connecting nodes. The nodes interact with each other through edges and realize the function of network. The break of one or several nodes in the network will cause the failure of other nodes through the connection relationship between nodes and this phenomenon is known as cascading failure. The function of large network depends on network structure. When some nodes or edges fail, the network can restore and maintain certain functions by means of reconstruction and load distribution. Based on the cluster of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and communication network, the cascading failure and reconfigurable features are considered in this study. By introducing the limitation of the maximum number of connections of nodes, a multi-state cascading failure rule based on information load distribution and a dynamic network reconnection rule based on probability are proposed, and the influence of the spread and propagation of cascading failure behavior on the invulnerability of the network are studied. Through simulation experiment design and analysis, several feasible suggestions to improve the invulnerability of UAV clusters are concluded.
A new end-to-end image dehazing algorithm based on residual attention mechanism
Authors: Yang Zhenjian , Shang Jiamei , Zhang Zhongwei , Zhang Yan , Liu Shudong
Published: September 2021

Traditional image dehazing algorithms based on prior knowledge and deep learning rely on the atmospheric scattering model and are easy to cause color distortion and incomplete dehazing. To solve these problems, an end-to-end image dehazing algorithm based on residual attention mechanism is proposed in this paper. The network includes four modules: encoder, multi-scale feature extraction, feature fusion and decoder. The encoder module encodes the input haze image into feature map, which is convenient for subsequent feature extraction and reduces memory consumption; the multi-scale feature extraction module includes residual smoothed dilated convolution module, residual block and efficient channel attention, which can expand the receptive field and extract different scale features by filtering and weighting; the feature fusion module with efficient channel attention adjusts the channel weight dynamically, acquires rich context information and suppresses redundant information so as to enhance the ability to extract haze density image of the network; finally, the encoder module maps the fused feature nonlinearly to obtain the haze density image and then restores the haze free image. The qualitative and quantitative tests based on SOTS test set and natural haze images show good objective and subjective evaluation results. This algorithm improves the problems of color distortion and incomplete dehazing effectively.
Infrared and visible image fusion method based on compound decomposition and intuitionistic fuzzy set
Authors: Zhu Yahui , Gao Li
Published: September 2021

To overcome the shortcomings of traditional image fusion algorithms based on multiscale transform, an infrared and visible image fusion method based on compound decomposition and intuitionistic fuzzy set is proposed. Firstly, the non-subsampled contour transform is used to decompose the source image into low-frequency coefficients and high-frequency coefficients. Then the potential low-rank representation model is used to decompose low-frequency coefficients into basic sub-bands and salient sub-bands, in which the visual saliency map is taken as weighted coefficient. The weighted summation of low-frequency basic sub-bands is used as the fusion rule. The maximum absolute value of low-frequency salient sub-bands is also used as the fusion rule. The two fusion rules are superimposed to obtain low-frequency fusion coefficients. The intuitionistic fuzzy entropy is used as the fusion rule to measure the texture information and edge information of high-frequency coefficients. Finally, the infrared visible fusion image is obtained with the non-subsampled contour inverse transform. The comparison results on the objective and subjective evaluation of several sets of fusion images show that our image fusion method can effectively keep edge information and rich information on source images, thus producing better visual quality and objective evaluation than other image fusion methods.
ANCA-assoziierte Vaskulitiden
Authors: Moosig Frank , Holle Julia U.
Published: September 2021

Was ist neu?

Remissionsinduktion bei Granulomatose mit Polyangiitis (GPA)/mikroskopischer Polyangiitis (MPA) Das Komplementsystem spielt in der Pathogenese, anders als früher vermutet, eine bedeutsame Rolle. Durch diese Erkenntnis war es möglich, einen vollständig neuen Therapieansatz zu etablieren. Die Blockade des C5a-Rezeptors mit Avacopan erwies sich in klinischen Studien als effektiv und ermöglichte erstmals eine (fast) GC-freie Remissionsinduktion. Avacopan ist eine kleines, gezielt eingreifendes Molekül und wird absehbar in die Therapie der GPA/MPA Einzug halten. Die therapeutische Bedeutung der Plasmapherese tritt weiter in den Hintergrund. Diese Therapieform bleibt aktuell wenigen Ausnahmesituationen vorbehalten und kann nicht mehr generell bei Glomerulonephritis oder pulmorenalem Syndrom empfohlen werden. Therapieprotokolle mit vermindertem GC-Einsatz zeigen ähnlich gute Erfolge wie Hochdosisprotokolle. Der GC-Einsatz kann daher weiter limitiert werden.

GPA/MPA-Remissionserhaltung Vor allem die MAINRITSAN-Studien zeigen, dass Rituximab dem Azathioprin in der Remissionserhaltung überlegen ist und dass eine längere Erhaltungstherapie, insbesondere bei Risikopatienten, mit klinisch relevant geringeren Rezidivraten einhergeht.

Genetik der eosinophilen Granulomatose mit Polyangiitis (EGPA) Trotz der Seltenheit der EGPA konnte ein internationales Konsortium eine genomweite Assoziationsstudie (GWAS) durchführen. Hierbei bestätigte sich auch auf der genetischen Ebene der klinische Eindruck zweier distinkter Subgruppen. Es kann ein mehr vaskulitisch geprägter Subtyp von einem durch die Eosinophilie dominierten unterschieden werden. Diese Ergebnisse werden für zukünftige Therapiekonzepte relevant sein.

EGPA-Therapie Die bisher größte RCT bei EGPA wies eine verminderte Rezidivrate sowie einen GC-einsparenden Effekt eines Anti-IL-5-Antikörpers (Mepolizumab) nach. Der klinische Nutzen bestätigte sich in einer weiteren Analyse der Daten und auch in der „Real Life“-Anwendung.
Die neue Leitlinie zum Reizdarmsyndrom: Was ändert sich?
Authors: von Schassen Henrike , Andresen Viola , Layer Peter
Published: September 2021

Was ist neu?

Reizdarmsyndrom: Was ändert sich? Folgende Ausführung bezieht sich nur auf das Reizdarmsyndrom (RDS) beim Erwachsenen. Die neue Leitlinie enthält einen eigenständigen Anteil Reizdarmsyndrom für pädiatrische Patienten. Das RDS präsentiert sich als heterogenes Bild mit chronisch-abdominellen Beschwerden, die auf den Darm bezogen werden. Diese gehen in der Regel mit Stuhlgangveränderungen einher und führen zu einer Beeinträchtigung der Lebensqualität. Die Genese ist multifaktoriell und es liegen komplexe pathophysiologische Mechanismen zugrunde, die mit einem RDS assoziiert sind. So konnten Störungen in verschiedenen Komponenten der Darm-Hirn-Achse und auch die zunehmende Bedeutung des Mikrobioms identifiziert werden. Auch verschiedene psychische Komorbiditäten spielen eine Rolle.

Diagnostik Die Diagnosestellung erfolgt durch eine gründliche Anamnese und symptomorientierten Ausschluss wichtiger Differenzialdiagnosen (Ausschlussdiagnose). Eine Unterteilung in verschiedene Subtypen je nach Hauptsymptom ist für das weitere Management der RDS-Patienten vorteilhaft. Die Diagnose Reizdarmsyndrom sollte möglichst früh nach zuverlässigem Ausschluss der wichtigen Differenzialdiagnosen erfolgen. Wenn die Diarrhö als Symptom dominiert, ist eine ausführliche Differenzialdiagnostik und Funktionsdiagnostik durchzuführen.

Therapie Es gibt keine gesicherte kausale und etablierte Standardtherapie. Aufgrund der variablen Genese und Symptommanifestation des RDS resultiert ein breites Spektrum an Therapiemöglichkeiten, wobei keine individuelle Vorhersage bezüglich der Wirksamkeit besteht und daher jede Therapie zunächst probatorisch ist. Zu den symptomunabhängigen allgemeinen Therapieverfahren, die für alle Subtypen zur Anwendung kommen können, gehören Verfahren der Ernährung (z. B. die Low-FODMAP-Diät), Probiotika, Verfahren der Psychotherapie und der Komplementärmedizin. Die Wahl der symptomabhängigen medikamentösen Behandlungen erfolgt je nach Subtyp/Hauptsymptom. Bei Diarrhö können neben Loperamid auch Gallensäurebinder, das nicht resorbierbare Antibiotikum Rifaximin oder in Einzelfällen 5-HT3-Antagonisten eingesetzt werden. Bei der Obstipation haben neben der Verwendung von löslichen Ballaststoffen und Makrogol/anderen Laxanzien auch Prucaloprid und Linaclotid einen Stellenwert. Bei Bauchschmerzen/Krämpfen zeigt die Studienlage gute Ergebnisse für Spasmolytika, besonders für Pfefferminzöl, und für Antidepressiva vom Typ der Trizyklika. Beim Hauptsymptom Blähungen konnten Probiotika, Rifaximin und vor allem auch die Low-FODMAP-Diät positive Ergebnisse in Studien zeigen.
Schmerz und Demenz: Was ist zu beachten?
Authors: Schuler Matthias
Published: September 2021

Was ist neu?

Schmerzerfassung Das „Schmerzinterview für geriatrische Patienten“ gibt Vorschläge, wie wichtige Informationen zu Schmerzen bei älteren Patienten selbst mit kognitiven Beeinträchtigungen erfasst werden können, solange eine gewisse Kommunikationsfähigkeit erhalten ist. Zur Schmerzerfassung bei eingeschränkter Kommunikationsfähigkeit eignen sich Fremdbeobachtungsinstrumente für Schmerzen zur Ersterfassung und für den Verlauf von Schmerzen und somit auch zur Beurteilung der Schmerztherapie. PAIC-15 ist der jüngste Vorschlag, der auf der Grundlage bestehender Instrumente entwickelt wurde, allerdings noch nicht ausreichend auf Validität geprüft wurde.

Therapie Schmerzedukation für Angehörige, Musiktherapie, Krafttraining und Ausdauertraining mildern Verhaltensauffälligkeiten bei Demenz. Die Wirksamkeit auf Schmerzen ist bei allen beschriebenen Verfahren unzureichend untersucht. Nur für Paracetamol gibt es auch bei Menschen mit Demenz und reduzierter Kommunikationsfähigkeit Erkenntnisse, die eine Schmerzlinderung nahelegen. Wahrscheinlich bewirkt die Summe der verabreichten Medikamente mit anticholinergen Nebenwirkungen (= anticholinerge Last) die mangelnde Verträglichkeit auch vieler Analgetika.
Aktuelle Aspekte in der Diagnostik und Therapie der Anorexia nervosa (Magersucht)
Authors: Reich Günter
Published: September 2021

Anorexia nervosa (Magersucht) ist eine der gefährlichsten Erkrankungen, die eine Jugendliche entwickeln kann. Betroffen sind hauptsächlich weibliche Personen (90–95 %). Das Haupterkrankungsalter liegt zwischen 15 und 19 Jahren. Die Lebenszeitprävalenz liegt bei 0,9 % 1. Allerdings wurden auch höhere Zahlen gefunden (1,4 % 2 und 6,2 % 3). Wie alle Essstörungen ist auch die am Untergewicht deutlich erkennbare Anorexie unterdiagnostiziert.
Profile of Scrub Typhus Meningitis/Meningoencephalitis in Children with and without Scrub Typhus IgM Antibody in CSF
Authors: Behera Bijayini , Satapathy Amit Kumar , Ranjan Jai , Chandrasekar Shyam , Patel Subhakanta , Mishra Baijayantimala , Mahapatro Samarendra , Das Rashmi Ranjan
Published: September 2021

The aim of this article was to study the spectrum of scrub typhus meningitis/meningoencephalitis (STM) cases in children. Children ≤14 years of age with acute undifferentiated febrile illness were included. Immunoglobulin M (IgM) enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was done in blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of children with suspected STM. Demographic, clinical, and laboratory details were expressed as descriptive statistics. Factors associated with neurological involvement were identified on univariate analysis. A total of 76 children had ST during the study period (meningitis/meningoencephalitis = 8 [10.5%], of which 5 [62.5%] had detectable ST IgM antibodies in CSF). The included children were 4 to 12 years of age with boys > girls. Headache and vomiting were common in those with STM, whereas hyponatremia and thrombocytopenia were common in those without STM. All children with STM recovered with sequelae in one child (right lateral rectus palsy). There was no mortality. STM has an incidence of 10.5% in children with ST from Eastern India. Headache and vomiting were significant predictors of STM, whereas hyponatremia and thrombocytopenia were significant predictor of non-STM.
Measuring the importance of individual units in producing the collective behavior of a complex network
Authors: Liang X. San
Published: September 2021

A quantitative evaluation of the contribution of individual units in producing the collective behavior of a complex network can allow us to understand the potential damage to the structure integrity due to the failure of local nodes. Given a time series for each unit, a natural way to do this is to find the information flowing from the unit of concern to the rest of the network. In this study, we show that this flow can be rigorously derived in the setting of a continuous-time dynamical system. With a linear assumption, a maximum likelihood estimator can be obtained, allowing us to estimate it in an easy way. As expected, this “cumulative information flow” does not equal the sum of the information flows to other individual units, reflecting the collective phenomenon that a group is not the addition of individual members. For the purpose of demonstration and validation, we have examined a network made of Stuart–Landau oscillators. Depending on the topology, the computed information flow may differ. In some situations, the most crucial nodes for the network are not the hubs, i.e., nodes with high degrees; they may have low degrees and, if depressed or attacked, will cause the failure of the entire network. This study can help diagnose neural network problems, control epidemic diseases, trace city traffic bottlenecks, identify the potential cause of power grid failure (e.g., the 2003 great power outage that darkened much of North America), build robust computer networks, and so forth.
Neutron calorimeter design for pulsed neutron experiment diagnostics
Authors: Turner B. , Thomas R. , Procassini R. , Grange K.
Published: September 2021

Neutron calorimeter for diagnostic support of both fission- and fusion-based pulsed neutron experiments is described. The calorimeter generates a voltage signal output via a pair of thermocouples contacting a sample material, which experiences a temperature increase due to interactions with an incident neutron fluence. Advantages of the calorimeter include the versatility derived from its small size, modularity, and the variety of employable neutron absorber materials and sizes. These characteristics permit use with neutron energies between the thermal and fast (up to 14 MeV) spectra. Design overview and requirements, Monte Carlo particle transport simulation results, test data, and possibilities for calorimeter development are provided and discussed.
Molecular simulation of flows in thermochemical non-equilibrium around a cylinder using ab initio potential energy surfaces for N2 + N and N2 + N2 interactions
Authors: Valentini Paolo , Grover Maninder S. , Bisek Nicholas , Verhoff Ashley
Published: September 2021

We present two-dimensional direct molecular simulation (DMS) results for high-enthalpy nitrogen flows in thermochemical non-equilibrium around a circular cylinder. The simulations are carried out using accurate ab initio potential energy surfaces (PES) to describe N2 + N and N2 + N2 interactions. Select comparisons with the direct simulation Monte Carlo method are presented to demonstrate how the high-fidelity DMS data, both at the level of bulk flow quantities and local molecular distributions, can be used to thoroughly inform or validate simplified reduced-order descriptions. Then, a partially dissociated nitrogen flow around a circular cylinder is obtained from two successive refinements of a well-established ab initio nitrogen PES. The only input in both calculations is the respective PESs, all other simulation parameters being precisely equal. This work, enabled by large scale computing, represents the first attempt at establishing a rigorous methodology for (i) the validation of lower-fidelity, computationally efficient models using ab initio, assumption-free calculations (DMS) as benchmarks and (ii) a systematic assessment of ab initio PES accuracy using entire flow field results.
Emergent probability fluxes in confined microbial navigation
Authors: Cammann Jan , Schwarzendahl Fabian Jan , Ostapenko Tanya , Lavrentovich Danylo , Bäumchen Oliver , Mazza Marco G.
Published: September 2021

Significance

Motile microorganisms commonly live in porous media comprising microhabitats filled with interfaces of complex shape. On such small scales, the interactions with these interfaces, rather than external gradients, dominate their motion in the search for favorable living conditions. We demonstrate with experiments and theory that the geometry of confining interfaces shapes the topology of the most likely, average trajectory, leading to directed fluxes of probability that are not exclusively localized at the near-wall region. Employing this principle allows us to actively shape a microbe’s average direction of movement, which could be of use in the design of topological transport mechanisms for microfluidic environments.
Valveless microliter combustion for densely packed arrays of powerful soft actuators
Authors: Heisser Ronald H. , Aubin Cameron A. , Peretz Ofek , Kincaid Nicholas , An Hyeon Seok , Fisher Elizabeth M. , Sobhani Sadaf , Pepiot Perrine , Gat Amir D. , Shepherd Robert F.
Published: September 2021

Significance

Even in the rapidly accelerating digital age, the portable, electronic tactile display remains an unsolved actuation technology challenge. The design requirements associated with manufacturing arrays of closely spaced, small actuators are notoriously difficult to satisfy, shown by how currently available actuation strategies fail when implemented at the scale of braille dots. Through experiments with a less common actuation method, microliter combustion in elastomers, we find that hyperelastic membranes can be forcefully and quickly displaced. Without valves, we can pack actuators more closely together to introduce a potential pathway toward powering a practical, portable, electronic haptic display system.
Nanosecond heme-to-heme electron transfer rates in a multiheme cytochrome nanowire reported by a spectrally unique His/Met-ligated heme
Authors: van Wonderen Jessica H. , Adamczyk Katrin , Wu Xiaojing , Jiang Xiuyun , Piper Samuel E. H. , Hall Christopher R. , Edwards Marcus J. , Clarke Thomas A. , Zhang Huijie , Jeuken Lars J. C. , Sazanovich Igor V. , Towrie Michael , Blumberger Jochen , Meech Stephen R. , Butt Julea N.
Published: September 2021

Significance

Multiheme cytochromes have been identified as essential proteins for electron exchange between bacterial enzymes and redox substrates outside of the cell. In microbiology, these proteins contribute to efficient energy storage and conversion. For biotechnology, multiheme cytochromes contribute to the production of green fuels and electricity. Furthermore, these proteins inspire the design of molecular-scale electronic devices. Here, we report exceptionally high rates of heme-to-heme electron transfer in a multiheme cytochrome. We expect similarly high rates, among the highest reported for ground-state electron transfer in biology, in other multiheme cytochromes as the close-packed hemes adopt similar configurations despite very different amino acid sequences and protein folds.
Influence of the magnetic field on the discharge physics of a high power impulse magnetron sputtering discharge
Authors: Rudolph M , Brenning N , Hajihoseini H , Raadu M A , Minea T M , Anders A , Gudmundsson J T , Lundin D
Published: September 2021

The magnetic field is a key feature that distinguishes magnetron sputtering from simple diode sputtering. It effectively increases the residence time of electrons close to the cathode surface and by that increases the energy efficiency of the discharge. This becomes apparent in high power impulse magnetron sputtering (HiPIMS) discharges, as small changes in the magnetic field can result in large variations in the discharge characteristics, notably the peak discharge current and/or the discharge voltage during a pulse. Here, we analyze the influence of the magnetic field on the electron density and temperature, how the discharge voltage is split between the cathode sheath and the ionization region, and the electron heating mechanism in a HiPIMS discharge. We relate the results to the energy efficiency of the discharge and discuss them in terms of the probability of target species ionization. The energy efficiency of the discharge is related to the fraction of pulse power absorbed by the electrons. Ohmic heating of electrons in the ionization region
leads to higher energy efficiency than electron energization in the sheath. We find that the electron density and ionization probability of the sputtered species depend largely on the discharge current. The results suggest ways to adjust electron density and electron temperature using the discharge current and the magnetic field, respectively, and how they influence the ionization probability.
Nonlinear, neuronal adaptation in insect vision models improves target discrimination within repetitively moving backgrounds
Authors: James John V , Cazzolato Benjamin S , Grainger Steven , Wiederman Steven D
Published: September 2021

Neurons which respond selectively to small moving targets, even against a cluttered background, have been identified in several insect species. To investigate what underlies these robust and highly selective responses, researchers have probed the neuronal circuitry in target-detecting, visual pathways. Observations in flies reveal nonlinear adaptation over time, composed of a fast onset and gradual decay. This adaptive processing is seen in both of the independent, parallel pathways encoding either luminance increments (ON channel) or decrements (OFF channel). The functional significance of this adaptive phenomenon has not been determined from physiological studies, though the asymmetrical time course suggests a role in suppressing responses to repetitive stimuli. We tested this possibility by comparing an implementation of fast adaptation against alternatives, using a model of insect ‘elementary small target motion detectors’. We conducted target-detecting simulations on various natural backgrounds, that were shifted via several movement profiles (and target velocities). Using performance metrics, we confirmed that the fast adaptation observed in neuronal systems enhances target detection against a repetitively moving background. Such background movement would be encountered via natural ego-motion as the insect travels through the world. These findings show that this form of nonlinear, fast-adaptation (suitably implementable via cellular biophysics) plays a role analogous to background subtraction techniques in conventional computer vision.
Retracted: An evaluation of allogeneic freeze-dried concentrated growth factors biocompatibility in vitro and in vivo
Authors: Wang Hong , Ding Xiaoling , Liu Changkui , Yang Sefei , Zhao Bingjing
Published: September 2021

This study evaluated the biocompatibility of allogeneic freeze-dried concentrated growth factors (AFD-CGFs) in vitro and in vivo. For the in vitro experiments, bone marrow stem cells (BMSCs) were cultured in 10% fresh allogeneic concentrated growth factors (CGFs). AFD-CGF solution was used as the experimental group, and Dulbecco’s modified Eagle medium was used as control. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) showed that the cell ultrastructure was unchanged, and membranes were intact. Scanning electron microscopy, cell counting kit-8, and quantitative polymerase chain reaction indicated that BMSCs and differentiation were unchanged between AFD-CGFs versus control groups (all p > 0.05). Alkaline phosphatase activity was higher in CGF groups (peaked at 14 d) than in the control group. Regarding the in vivo experiments, four beagles were used for surgery and the rest as controls. Beagles were sacrificed at 2 weeks to observe acute response and membrane absorption; at 12 weeks for wound healing and chronic damage to the liver. According to general observations and histology, the CGFs of all groups were absorbed 2 weeks after in vivo implantation. No sign of intolerance was observed. Histology showed a slight increase in immune cells appearing in the implantation area after 2 weeks. However, no or very few inflammatory and immune cells were detected 3 months after the operation. Based on the hematoxylin and eosin staining and TEM results, the ultrastructure of the liver tissue was unchanged. In general, the results suggest that AFD-CGFs are biocompatible and may be a promising option for tissue healing.
Femtosecond-laser sharp shaping of millimeter-scale geometries with vertical sidewalls
Authors: Zhu Qiuchi , Fan Peixun , Li Nan , Carlson Timothy , Cui Bai , Silvain Jean-François , Hudgins Jerry L , Lu Yong Feng
Published: September 2021

As femtosecond (fs) laser machining advances from micro/nanoscale to macroscale, approaches capable of machining macroscale geometries that sustain micro/nanoscale precisions are in great demand. In this research, an fs laser sharp shaping approach was developed to address two key challenges in macroscale machining (i.e. defects on edges and tapered sidewalls). The evolution of edge sharpness (edge transition width) and sidewall tapers were systematically investigated through which the dilemma of simultaneously achieving sharp edges and vertical sidewalls were addressed. Through decreasing the angle of incidence (AOI) from 0° to −5°, the edge transition width could be reduced to below 10 µm but at the cost of increased sidewall tapers. Furthermore, by analyzing lateral and vertical ablation behaviors, a parameter-compensation strategy was developed by gradually decreasing the scanning diameters along depth and using optimal laser powers to produce non-tapered sidewalls. The fs laser ablation behaviors were precisely controlled and coordinated to optimize the parameter compensations in general manufacturing applications. The AOI control together with the parameter compensation provides a versatile solution to simultaneously achieve vertical sidewalls as well as sharp edges of entrances and exits for geometries of different shapes and dimensions. Both mm-scale diameters and depths were realized with dimensional precisions below 10 µm and surface roughness below 1 µm. This research establishes a novel strategy to finely control the fs laser machining process, enabling the fs laser applications in macroscale machining with micro/nanoscale precisions.
GraphQL for the delivery of bioinformatics web APIs and application to ZincBind
Authors: Ireland Sam M , Martin Andrew C R
Published: September 2021

Motivation

Many bioinformatics resources are provided as ‘web services’, with large databases and analysis software stored on a central server, and clients interacting with them using the hypertext transport protocol (HTTP). While some provide only a visual HTML interface, requiring a web browser to use them, many provide programmatic access using a web application programming interface (API) which returns XML, JSON or plain text that computer programs can interpret more easily. This allows access to be automated. Initially, many bioinformatics APIs used the ‘simple object access protocol’ (SOAP) and, more recently, representational state transfer (REST).

Results

GraphQL is a novel, increasingly prevalent alternative to REST and SOAP that represents the available data in the form of a graph to which any conceivable query can be submitted, and which is seeing increasing adoption in industry. Here, we review the principles of GraphQL, outline its particular suitability to the delivery of bioinformatics resources and describe its implementation in our ZincBind resource.

Availability and implementation

https://api.zincbind.net.

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics Advances online.
Differences in the sperm metabolomes of smoking and nonsmoking men
Authors: Engel Kathrin M , Baumann Sven , Blaurock Janet , Rolle-Kampczyk Ulrike , Schiller Jürgen , von Bergen Martin , Grunewald Sonja
Published: September 2021

Currently, spermiogram analysis is the most relevant method used to clarify the potential infertility of a couple. However, in some cases, the reasons for infertility remain obscure. Smoking is among the factors that have been described to adversely affect male fertility. Smoking increases oxidative stress and thus promotes various pathological processes. Comparative studies, particularly those on metabolomic changes in sperm and seminal plasma caused by smoking, have not yet been published. Thus, the present pilot study aimed at the mass spectrometric characterization of the metabolomes of specimens from both smoking and nonsmoking subjects and the comparison of the evaluated data in terms of sperm apoptosis and spermiogram parameters. The results provided evidence that the conventional spermiogram is not altered in smokers compared to nonsmokers. However, a more careful investigation of sperm cells by metabolomic profiling reveals profound effects of smoking on sperm: first, nitrogen oxide synthase, a marker of oxidative stress, is activated. Second, the uptake of fatty acids into sperm mitochondria is reduced, leading to an impaired energy supply. Third, phenylalanine hydroxylation and tryptophan degradation, which are both indications of altered tetrahydrobiopterin biosynthesis, are reduced. Moreover, flow cytometry approaches indicated increased sperm caspase-3 activity, a sign of apoptosis. The present study clearly shows the negative effects of smoking on semen quality. Especially for idiopathic cases, metabolomic profiling can help to shed light on male subfertility or infertility.
Varied effects of doxorubicin (DOX) on the corpus luteum of C57BL/6 mice during early pregnancy†
Authors: Andersen Christian Lee , Byun Haeyeun , Li Yuehuan , Xiao Shuo , Miller Doris M , Wang Zidao , Viswanathan Suvitha , Hancock Jonathan Matthew , Bromfield Jaymie , Ye Xiaoqin
Published: September 2021

Certain chemotherapeutic drugs are toxic to ovarian follicles. The corpus luteum (CL) is normally developed from an ovulated follicle for producing progesterone (P4) to support early pregnancy. To fill in the knowledge gap about effects of chemotherapy on the CL, we tested the hypothesis that chemotherapy may target endothelial cells and/or luteal cells in the CL to impair CL function in P4 steroidogenesis using doxorubicin (DOX) as a representative chemotherapeutic drug in mice. In both mixed background mice and C57BL/6 mice, a single intraperitoneal injection of DOX (10 mg/kg) on 0.5-day postcoitum (D0.5, postovulation) led to ~58% D3.5 mice with serum P4 levels lower than the serum P4 range in the phosphate buffer saline-treated control mice. Further studies in the C57BL/6 ovaries revealed that CLs from DOX-treated mice with low P4 levels had less defined luteal cords and disrupted collagen IV expression pattern, indicating disrupted capillary, accompanied with less differentiated luteal cells that had smaller cytoplasm and reduced StAR expression. DOX-treated ovaries had increased granulosa cell death in the growing follicles, reduced proliferating cell nuclear antigen-positive endothelial cells in the CLs, enlarged lipid droplets, and disrupted F-actin in the luteal cells. These novel data suggest that the proliferating endothelial cells in the developing CL may be the primary target of DOX to impair the vascular support for luteal cell differentiation and subsequently P4 steroidogenesis. This study fills in the knowledge gap about the toxic effects of chemotherapy on the CL and provides critical information for risk assessment of chemotherapy in premenopausal patients.
Every Country, Every Family: Time to Act for Group B Streptococcal Disease Worldwide
Authors: Lawn Joy E , Chandna Jaya , Paul Proma , Jit Mark , Trotter Caroline , Lambach Philipp , Ter-Meulen Ajoke Sobanjo
Published: September 2021

The global burden of Group B Streptococcus (GBS) was estimated for 2015 prompting inclusion of GBS as a priority in the Global Meningitis Roadmap. New estimates for the year 2020 and a WHO report analysing the full value of GBS maternal vaccines has been launched to advance evidence based decision making for multiple stakeholders. In this first of a 10-article supplement, we discuss the following (1) gaps in evidence and action, (2) new evidence in this supplement, and (3) what actions can be taken now and key research gaps ahead. We call for investment in the research pipeline, notably description, development, and delivery, in order to accelerate progress and address the large burden of GBS for every family in every country.
Coronary artery calcification progression and long-term cardiovascular outcomes in renal transplant recipients: an analysis by the joint model
Authors: Seyahi Nurhan , Alagoz Selma , Atli Zeynep , Ozcan Seyda Gul , Tripepi Giovanni , Bakir Alev , Trabulus Sinan , Pekmezci Salih , Zoccali Carmine
Published: September 2021

Background

Compared with the general population, the risk of death is substantially higher in renal transplant recipients than in age- and sex-matched individuals in the general population. In the general population, coronary artery calcification (CAC) predicts all-cause and cardiovascular mortality. In this study we aimed to analyse these relationships in renal transplant recipients.

Methods

We examined 178 renal transplant patients in this prospective observational cohort study. We measured CAC with multidetector spiral computed tomography using the Agatston score at multiple time points. Overall, 411 scans were performed in 178 patients over an average 12.8 years follow-up. The clinical endpoint was a composite including all-cause death and non-fatal cardiovascular events. Data analysis was performed by the joint model.

Results

During a follow-up of 12.8 ± 2.4 years, coronary calcification progressed over time (P < 0.001) and the clinical endpoint occurred in 54 patients. In the analysis by the joint model, both the baseline CAC score and the CAC score progression were strongly associated with the incidence rate of the composite event [hazard ratio 1.261 (95% confidence interval 1.119–1.420), P = 0.0001].

Conclusions

CAC at baseline and coronary calcification progression robustly predict the risk of death and cardiovascular events in renal transplant recipients. These findings support the hypothesis that the link between the calcifying arteriopathy of renal transplant patients and clinical end points in these patients is causal in nature.
Successful treatment of refractory hypertension with bilateral nephrectomy in a patient with chronic kidney disease stage 3
Authors: Zemke Anna M , Rodby Roger A , Hertl Martin , Waleed Ali , Bakris George L
Published: September 2021

We present a case of life-threatening refractory hypertension (rHTN) in a patient with stage 3b chronic kidney disease that was unresponsive to open surgical renal denervation (RDN) but responded to bilateral nephrectomy (BLN). Both RDN and BLN reduce the increased sympathetic activation in rHTN. However, RDN has yet to show reductions in blood pressure adequate for the average patient with rHTN, and BLN has thus far been reserved for patients with preexisting end-stage kidney disease (ESKD). Our case suggests that there are patients with rHTN that warrant consideration of BLN prior to developing ESKD.
Genome-Scale Methylation Analysis of Circulating Cell-Free DNA in Gastric Cancer Patients
Authors: Ren Jie , Lu Ping , Zhou Xin , Liao Yuhan , Liu Xiaomeng , Li Jingyi , Wang Wendong , Wang Jilian , Wen Lu , Fu Wei , Tang Fuchou
Published: September 2021

Background

Aberrant DNA hypermethylation of CpG islands (CGIs) occurs frequently and is genome-wide in human gastric cancer (GC). A DNA methylation approach in plasma cell-free DNA (cfDNA) is attractive for the noninvasive detection of GC. Here, we performed genome-scale cfDNA methylation analysis in patients with GC.

Methods

We used MCTA-Seq, a genome-scale DNA methylation analysis method, on the plasma samples of patients with GC (n = 89) and control participants (n = 82), as well as 28 pairs of GC and adjacent noncancerous tissues. The capacity of the method for detecting GC and discriminating GC from colorectal cancer (CRC) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) was assessed.

Results

We identified 153 cfDNA methylation biomarkers, including DOCK10, CABIN1, and KCNQ5, for detecting GC in blood. A panel of these biomarkers gave a sensitivity of 44%, 59%, 78%, and 100% for stage I, II, III, and IV tumors, respectively, at a specificity of 92%. CpG island methylation phenotype (CIMP) tumors and NON-CIMP tumors could be distinguished and detected effectively. We also identified several hundreds of cfDNA biomarkers differentially methylated between GC, CRC, and HCC, and showed that MCTA-Seq can discriminate early-stage GC, CRC, and HCC in blood by using a high specificity (approximately 100%) algorithm.

Conclusions

Our comprehensive analyses provided valuable data on cfDNA methylation biomarkers of GC and showed the promise of cfDNA methylation for the blood-based noninvasive detection of GC.