bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Long‐term outcomes of high‐dose (74 GyE) proton beam therapy with concurrent chemotherapy for stage III nonsmall‐cell lung cancer
Authors: Ohnishi Kayoko , Ishikawa Hitoshi , Nakazawa Kensuke , Shiozawa Toshihiro , Mori Yutaro , Nakamura Masatoshi , Okumura Toshiyuki , Sekine Ikuo , Hizawa Nobuyuki , Sakurai Hideyuki
Published: March 2021

Background

To evaluate the long‐term outcomes of high‐dose (74 GyE) proton beam therapy (PBT) with concurrent chemotherapy for stage III non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Methods

Between July 2007 and March 2018, 45 patients with stage III NSCLC were treated with passive‐scattering PBT of 74 GyE and concurrent chemotherapy. Among the 45 patients, the median age was 62 years (range 39–79 years) and 32 patients were men. The clinical stages were stage IIIA in 14 patients and stage IIIB in 31 patients. Thirty‐six patients received chemotherapy consisting of cisplatin and vinorelbine.

Results

The median follow‐up time was 42.1 months (range 6.4–127.0 months) for all patients and 63.5 months (range 9.4–127.0 months) for the 12 survivors. The 3‐ and 5‐year overall survival rates were 63.7% and 38.8%, respectively, and the median overall survival was 49.1 months. Over the follow‐up period, disease recurrence was observed in 32 (71%) patients. The 3‐ and 5‐year progression‐free survival rates were 22.2% and 17.7%, respectively, with a median progression‐free survival of 13.1 months. In‐field control improved survival and the in‐field control rate was better in patients with T0–3 tumors (p = 0.023) and stage IIIA/IIIB‐N3 disease (p = 0.030). Dosimetric parameters of the heart and lung were not associated with survival. No grade 4 or 5 acute or late non‐hematologic toxicities were observed.

Conclusions

Passive‐scattering PBT of 74 GyE with chemotherapy showed favorable survival and a low incidence of severe adverse events in patients with stage III NSCLC.
Antioxidant effect of Elamipretide on bull's sperm cells during freezing/thawing process
Authors: Kowalczyk Alicja , Czerniawska Piątkowska Ewa
Published: March 2021

Background

Spermatozoa are subjected to drastic changes in temperature, ice crystal formation, and diverse types of stresses (chemical, physical, osmotic, and oxidative) during the cryopreservation process, which severely compromise sperm quality and fertility. In this study, we aimed to investigate the protective role of Elamipretide in the cryopreservation of bull's spermatozoa.

Materials and methods

The study included 36 healthy Simmental bulls with an average age of 2 ± 0.5 years housed individually in pens. Two ejaculates were collected from each bull using an artificial vagina at 7 a.m. Subsequently, the semen was extended with animal protein‐free commercial BIOXcell® extender (IMV Technologies) to a final concentration of 160 × 106 spermatozoa/ml, and rated in terms of motile sperm percentage, progressive motility, viability, and morphological abnormality of spermatozoa. Semen samples that showed more than 60% motility and 60% viability, were selected for the experiment. The fresh semen was then divided into five equal fractions. The first fraction was left for the control group (without Elamipretide), to the next were added in succession 0.1; 1; 5; and 10 μM of Elamipretide TFA (Trifluoroacetic) (MedChemExpress). After that semen was subjected to freezing and thawing. Next semen was assessed for motility, viability, mitochondrial membrane potential and acrosome integrity, and antioxidant activity (SOD, CAT, MDA).

Results

It has been shown that a concentration of 5 and 10 μM proved to be the most effective in terms of tested parameters of the quality of sperm cells subjected to cryopreservation.

Conclusion

In conclusion, addition of the Elamipretide to the cryopreservation extender significantly improved frozen‐thawed sperm cells quality and their function. The results of this study indicate that Elamipretide can be used as a cryoprotective agent to protect cells against the devastating effects of oxidative stress and increasing sperm survival after cryopreservation.
Characterization of macular choroid in normal‐tension glaucoma: a swept‐source optical coherence tomography study
Authors: Wang Yu Meng , Hui Vivian W. K. , Shi Jian , Wong Mandy O. M. , Chan Poemen P. , Chan Noel , Lai Isabel , Cheung Carol Y. , Tham Clement C.
Published: March 2021

Purpose

To investigate the features of the small‐to‐medium (choriocapillaris and Sattler’s layer) and large (Haller’s layer) sized vessel layers of the macular choroid in normal‐tension glaucoma (NTG) patients using swept‐source optical coherence tomography (SS‐OCT).

Methods

We conducted an observational cross‐sectional study in 234 NTG eyes from 134 patients, and 203 normal eyes from 109 non‐glaucomatous control subjects. We used Image J to segment the choroidal layer and then a Python script to measure the average macular choroidal thickness (MCT) and choroidal vascular index (CVI) of two vessel layers at five different locations. Quantitative optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) metrics for the superficial capillary plexus (SCP) and deep capillary plexus (DCP) at macular region were also measured by a customized MATLAB program. Generalized estimating equations (GEE) models were performed to determine ocular and demographic factors associated with the choroidal metrics, adjusting for inter‐eye correlation.

Results

Significant average MCT thinning was found in NTG eyes at all five locations of the two layers, in comparison with controls (all p ≤ 0.05). In addition, compared with control eyes, significant decrease in CVI was found in NTG eyes at all five sections of the large sized vessel layer: 500 µm nasal and temporal to macula (p = 0.002), 1500 µm nasal (p < 0.001), 2500 µm nasal (p = 0.001), 1500 µm temporal (p < 0.001) and 2500 µm temporal (p = 0.004). In contrast, no significant CVI difference was detected in the small‐to‐medium sized vessel layer. In the comparison of OCTA metrics of SCP and DCP at macular region between NTG and normal eyes, there were no significant difference of parafoveal vessel density (VD), foveal avascular zone (FAZ) area, FAZ circularity and fractal dimension (FD) in both layers.

Conclusion

We found significant alterations in macular choroidal vascularity (reduced CVI and thinner layer) in NTG patients. Such alterations are more pronounced in the Haller’s layer, rather than the choriocapillaris & Sattler’s layer, in NTG. Choroidal layer may be more related to vasculature changes at macular region in NTG.
The impact of changed treatment patterns in multiple myeloma on health‐care utilisation and costs, myeloma complications, and survival: A population‐based comparison between two time periods in Denmark
Authors: Hannig Louise Hur , Nielsen Lene Kongsgaard , Ibsen Rikke , Arnheim‐Dahlström Lisen , Kjellberg Jakob , Abildgaard Niels
Published: March 2021

Objectives

To evaluate health‐care utilisation and costs, myeloma complications and survival in Danish patients with multiple myeloma (MM) before and after implementation of new early‐line treatments in 2009.

Methods

Based on data from the Danish National Health Registers, 3518 patients diagnosed with MM during 2002‐2005 or 2010‐2013 and randomly matched control individuals were identified, and health‐care utilisation and costs were estimated.

Results

Health‐care utilisation showed a marked shift from inpatient admissions towards outpatient visits. From early to late period, the mean annual number of outpatient visits increased by 22% and 28% in patients <65 years and ≥65 years, respectively. Additionally, the mean annual outpatient service costs increased correspondingly from 17 001€ to 23 643€ in younger patients and from 11 317€ to 16 144€ in the elderly. Increasing outpatient costs were outbalanced by lower inpatient admission costs and the adjusted total mean annual costs decreased in younger patients, probably partly due to fewer myeloma complications. The five‐year survival rates increased markedly in both younger (HR = 0.51) and elderly (HR = 0.69) patients.

Conclusion

Despite the introduction of new expensive early‐line MM treatments in 2009, health‐care costs remained stable due to a shift in health‐care utilisation towards outpatient clinic care and fewer complications.
The role of intolerance of uncertainty in the acquisition and extinction of reward
Authors: Morriss Jayne , Biagi Nicolo , Lonsdorf Tina B. , Andreatta Marta
Published: March 2021

Individuals, who score high in self‐reported intolerance of uncertainty (IU), tend to find uncertainty anxiety‐provoking. IU has been reliably associated with disrupted threat extinction. However, it is unclear whether IU would be related to disrupted extinction to other arousing stimuli that are not threatening (i.e., rewarding). We addressed this question by conducting a Pavlovian reward conditioning task with acquisition and extinction training phases (n = 58). In the Pavlovian reward conditioning task, we recorded liking ratings, skin conductance response (SCR), and corrugator supercilii activity (i.e., brow muscle indicative or negative and positive affect) to learned reward (CS+) and neutral (CS−) cues. Typical patterns of reward acquisition and extinction training were observed for liking ratings. There was evidence for conditioning in SCR during the extinction training phase but not the acquisition training phase. However, no evidence of conditioning in either the acquisition or extinction training phase was observed for the corrugator supercilii. IU was not related to any measures during the acquisition or extinction training phases. Taken together, these results suggest that the current Pavlovian reward conditioning task was not sufficient for eliciting a reliable conditioned reward response, and therefore, further research with optimized reward conditioning designs are required to test whether IU‐related deficits occur during the extinction of reward.
GEVI cell‐type specific labelling and a manifold learning approach provide evidence for lateral inhibition at the population level in the mouse hippocampal CA1 area
Authors: Nakajima Ryuichi , Laskaris Nikolaos , Rhee Jun Kyu , Baker Bradley J. , Kosmidis Efstratios K.
Published: March 2021

The CA1 area in the mammalian hippocampus is essential for spatial learning. Pyramidal cells are the hippocampus output neurons and their activities are regulated by inhibition exerted by a diversified population of interneurons. Lateral inhibition has been suggested as the mechanism enabling the reconfiguration of pyramidal cell assembly activity observed during spatial learning tasks in rodents. However, lateral inhibition in the CA1 lacks the overwhelming evidence reported in other hippocampal areas such as the CA3 and the dentate gyrus. The use of genetically encoded voltage indicators and fast optical recordings permits the construction of cell‐type specific response maps of neuronal activity. Here, we labelled mouse CA1 pyramidal neurons with the genetically encoded voltage indicator ArcLight and optically recorded their response to Schaffer Collaterals stimulation in vitro. By undertaking a manifold learning approach, we report a hyperpolarization‐dominated area focused in the perisomatic region of pyramidal cells receiving late excitatory synaptic input. Functional network organization metrics revealed that information transfer was higher in this area. The localized hyperpolarization disappeared when GABAA receptors were pharmacologically blocked. This is the first report where the spatiotemporal pattern of lateral inhibition is visualized in the CA1 by expressing a genetically encoded voltage indicator selectively in principal neurons. Our analysis suggests a fundamental role of lateral inhibition in CA1 information processing.
Estimating macropore parameters for HYDRUS using a meta‐model
Authors: Faúndez Urbina Carlos Alberto , van Dam Jos , Tang Darell , Gooren Harm , Ritsema Coen
Published: March 2021

The vertical change in the number of macropores causes a variation of the relative macroporosity (wf) and the effective aggregate width (dag) over the soil profile. Both parameters are used in HYDRUS to represent this variation, increasing the number of parameters and making automated calibration challenging. The working hypothesis is that we can improve an analytical estimation of wf and dag developed in previous research by inverse estimation with a meta‐model for HYDRUS 2D/3D, using disk infiltrometer data of infiltration at zero pressure head. We generate a meta‐model that describes the vertical heterogeneity of the macropore number with a general function using four parameters: the relative macroporosity at the soil surface (wfs), the effective macropore radius (rm), the maximum depth of macropores (zmax) and the shape parameter of the wf curve (m). The meta‐model computes the variation of wf and dag over depth, thus reducing the parameters for automated calibration with HYDRUS. We theoretically described how to directly obtain the meta‐model parameters with disk infiltrometer data, providing an example for field conditions. A complete parametrization of matrix and macropore parameters for HYDRUS 2D/3D was generated from these data and previous studies, which were updated by automated calibration. Only wfs was calibrated, increasing by about ~3.5 times the initial measurement. We tied several macropore parameters to wfs during calibration by their physical or mathematical relations. This methodology can be utilized to estimate HYDRUS parameters for risk assessment or detailed plot studies.

Highlights

A meta‐model to estimate macropore parameters for HYDRUS 2D/3D is presented.

The meta‐model reduces the number of macropore parameters for HYDRUS 2D/3D.

Initial estimations of meta‐model parameters are obtained by disk infiltrometer.

The parameters were updated through calibration with HYDRUS 2D/3D.

Preferential flow is predicted by a two‐dimensional model.
Subthalamic beta band suppression reflects effective neuromodulation in chronic recordings
Authors: Feldmann Lucia K. , Neumann Wolf‐Julian , Krause Patricia , Lofredi Roxanne , Schneider Gerd‐Helge , Kühn Andrea A.
Published: March 2021

Background and purpose

Biomarkers for future adaptive deep brain stimulation still need evaluation in clinical routine. Here, we aimed to assess stimulation‐induced modulation of beta‐band activity and clinical symptoms in a Parkinson's disease patient during chronic neuronal sensing using a novel implantable pulse generator.

Methods

Subthalamic activity was recorded OFF and ON medication during a stepwise increase of stimulation amplitude. Off‐line fast fourier transfom ‐based analysis of beta‐band activity was correlated with motor performance rated from blinded videos.

Results

The stepwise increase of stimulation amplitude resulted in decreased beta oscillatory activity and improvement of bradykinesia. Mean low beta‐band (13–20 Hz) activity correlated significantly with bradykinesia (ρ = 0.662, p < 0.01).

Conclusions

Motor improvement is reflected in reduced subthalamic beta‐band activity in Parkinson's disease, supporting beta activity as a reliable biomarker. The novel PERCEPT neurostimulator enables chronic neuronal sensing in clinical routine. Our findings pave the way for a personalized precision‐medicine approach to neurostimulation.
“Want to come play with me?” Outlier subgroup discovery on spatio‐temporal interactions
Authors: Centeio Jorge Carolina , Atzmueller Martin , Heravi Behzad M. , Gibson Jenny L. , Rossetti Rosaldo J. F. , Rebelo de Sá Cláudio
Published: March 2021

Our lives are made of social interactions which can be recorded through personal gadgets as well as sensors capturing ubiquitous and social data. This type of data, such as spatio‐temporal data from the real‐time location of people, for example, can then be used for inferring interactions which can be translated into behavioural patterns. In this paper, we consider the automatic discovery of exceptional social behaviour from spatio‐temporal interaction data, focusing on two areas: exceptional subgroups and spatio‐temporal outliers – both in the form of descriptive patterns. For that, we propose a method for exceptional social behaviour discovery, combining subgroup discovery and network science methods for identifying behaviour that deviates from the norm. We also propose the use of two outlier detection metrics for identifying outliers, namely the Local Outlier Factor (LOF) and the Voronoi area. We applied the proposed method on synthetic data as well as two real datasets containing location data from children playing in the school playground. Our results indicate that this is a valid approach which is able to obtain meaningful knowledge from the data.
Invasive crayfish outperform Potamonautid crabs at higher temperatures
Authors: Madzivanzira Takudzwa C. , South Josie , Weyl Olaf L. F.
Published: March 2021

Data on ecological impacts of freshwater crayfish invasions in Africa are scarce but invasion history suggests the likelihood of negative implications for biodiversity.

To evaluate the potential for ecological impacts we describe the consumer‐resource dynamics of two established crayfish species (Cherax quadricarinatus and Procambarus clarkii) in comparison with the native trophic analogue, the freshwater crab Potamonautes perlatus preying upon Clarias gariepinus fry using comparative functional responses (FRs) and FR ratio (FRR). Experiments were conducted under dark and light conditions as well as low (19°C) and high (28°C) temperature treatments.

All three species exhibited potentially population destabilising Type II (hyperbolic) FRs towards prey, which was significantly higher in the dark than in the light. At low temperatures, P. perlatus exhibited the highest maximum feeding estimate although the FR curve was not significantly different from C. quadricarinatus at the highest prey densities. Both crayfish species had higher attack rates at both temperatures and consumed significantly more prey at the high temperature than P. perlatus. The FRR of both crayfish species at the high temperature treatment was higher than that of P. perlatus due to high attack rate and low handling parameters.

At 19°C, P. perlatus had a higher or negligible relative FR magnitude compared to P. clarkii and C. quadricarinatus respectively, which suggests some degree of biotic resistance at this temperature; however, this resistance is decreased at 28°C. Cherax quadricarinatus consistently had disruptive FR parameters across both temperatures.

Findings from this study represent an important step towards understanding the impacts of crayfish in Africa for public authorities and environmental managers. The two invasive crayfish species have the potential to exert greater per capita impacts on benthic prey communities in invaded systems as shown by their high FRs and FRRs. Furthermore, C. quadricarinatus is an emerging invader globally and our results provide evidence of potential for negative ecological impact regardless of thermal conditions. African countries and their respective environmental managers should therefore maximise efforts to prevent the introduction and spread of these invaders to conserve native biodiversity.
Long‐term outcome of endotherapy for pancreatic stones by using a dedicated pancreatic basket catheter
Authors: Saito Tomotaka , Nakai Yousuke , Mizuno Suguru , Isayama Hiroyuki , Sasahira Naoki , Kanai Sachiko , Noguchi Kensaku , Sato Tatsuya , Ishigaki Kazunaga , Hakuta Ryunosuke , Saito Kei , Hamada Tsuyoshi , Takahara Naminatsu , Kogure Hirofumi , Koike Kazuhiko
Published: March 2021

Background and Aim

Although endotherapy for pancreatic stones is less invasive compared with surgical interventions, its recurrence rate is high and residual pancreatic stones can be a cause of recurrence. We previously reported usefulness of a novel basket catheter with nitinol fine reticular structure for pancreatic stone retraction. In this retrospective study, we aimed to evaluate the long‐term outcomes of endotherapy for pancreatic stones with and without the use of this dedicated basket catheter.

Methods

We retrospectively compared patients with symptomatic pancreatic stones who underwent the initial endotherapy between 2008 and 2019. The primary outcome was the symptomatic recurrence after complete stone clearance. Secondary outcomes were the rate of complete stone clearance, complications, risk factors for recurrences, and the treatment cost.

Results

A total of 101 patients who underwent endotherapy for pancreatic stones were analyzed: 41 patients by using the dedicated basket catheter and 60 patients by only the conventional devices. The complete stone clearance was achieved in 87.8% in the dedicated basket group and 88.3% in the conventional device group. Symptomatic recurrence was observed in 16.7% of the dedicated basket group and 47.2% of the conventional device group (P < 0.01). In the multivariate analysis, the use of the dedicated basket catheter was significantly associated with the reduced risk of symptomatic recurrence (hazard ratio, 0.40; 95% confidence interval, 0.15–0.92, P = 0.031). The complication rate and the cost were comparable between the two groups.

Conclusion

The use of this dedicated pancreatic basket catheter significantly reduced symptomatic recurrence after complete pancreatic stone removal.
Effects ofBacillus pumiluson growth performance, immunological indicators and gut microbiota of mice
Authors: Zhang Nanchi , Wang Li , Wei Yong
Published: March 2021

An increasing number ofBacillusstrains have been developed for use as animal feed additives. The aim of the current work was to evaluate the impacts ofBacillus pumilusfsznc‐09 in growth performance, organs development, blood constituents, genes expression of growth and immune in spleen and microbial communities in jejunum of weanling mice. The results showed that the body weight of mice in BP1 group increased significantly (p < 0.05) after feedingBacillus pumilusfsznc‐09. Compared with control group, the feed conversion ratio of BP1 and BP2 groups showed 13.57% (p < 0.05) and 9.64% improvements, respectively. The lengths of large intestine, small intestine in BP1 group were significantly increased (p < 0.05). While compared with control group, the organ indexes in BP1 and BP2 group did not differ significantly. Compared with control group, the activities of serum total superoxide dismutase (T‐SOD), alkaline phosphatase (AKP), lysozyme (LZM) in BP1 group and T‐SOD, AKP in BP2 group were significantly increased (p < 0.05). Compared with control group, the expressions of ghrelin‐2 (Ghrl‐2) and insulin‐like growth factor 1 (Igf1) in BP1 group were significantly increased (p < 0.05). Compared with control group, the expressions of interleukin‐6 (IL‐6), nitric oxide synthase (INOS), tumour necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α), interleukin‐1β (IL‐1β) in BP1 group and the expressions ofIL‐6,INOS,TNF‐α,IL‐1β and interferon alpha 11 (Ifna11) in BP2 group were slightly decreased. Moreover, compared with control group, the diversity of intestinal flora and relative abundance of potentially probiotics (e.g.,Bifidobacterium,Bacillus) in BP1 and BP2 groups were increased. While compared with control group, the relative abundance of the potentially pathogenic bacterium (e.g.,Staphylococcus) was reduced. The relative abundances of dominant species in BP1 (Lactobacillus johnsonii) and BP2 (Lactobacillus reuteri) groups were also higher than control group (Lactobacillus intestinalis). In conclusion,Bacillus pumilusfsznc‐09 might improve the growth performance and immunity of mice.
Neonatal lupus erythematosus presenting as orolabial ulcerations: Two cases and a review of the literature
Authors: Drohan Alex , Snyder Alan , Plante John , Karlin Samantha , Wine Lee Lara , Cotton Colleen H.
Published: March 2021

We report two unrelated infants who presented with orolabial ulcerations as a presenting manifestation of neonatal lupus erythematosus (NLE). Subsequent positive anti‐SSA/SSB titers confirmed the diagnosis. In both infants, the ulcerations were painless and spontaneously resolved. NLE should be included in the differential diagnosis of orolabial ulcerations in the newborn, especially since mothers of affected infants may be asymptomatic.
A guide for many authors: Writing manuscripts in large collaborations
Authors: Moshontz Hannah , Ebersole Charles R. , Weston Sara J. , Klein Richard A.
Published: March 2021

Writing manuscripts collaboratively affords both opportunities and challenges: Collaborative papers can benefit from the expertise, perspectives, and collective effort of the group but can lack coherence or be produced inefficiently. When collaborations are large, involving tens or hundreds of researchers, there are more and different opportunities and challenges, like appropriately crediting the contributions of many people. This paper is a practical guide for authors writing collaborative manuscripts, particularly those working in large collaborations. We emphasize the importance of deliberate leadership and describe five general strategies that lead authors can employ to maximize opportunities and navigate challenges: care in recruiting the author team, care in crediting the author team, clear and frequent communication, organized materials, and deliberate and early decision‐making. For each, we offer specific tips in line with these strategies (e.g., use collaboration agreements, leverage Open Science practices). We then suggest how lead authors can structure the writing and revising process to produce a coherent manuscript and offer tips for submitting papers and responding to peer‐reviews. A repository of resources for people writing manuscripts in collaborations is available at osf.io/dzwcn.
Glycogen supercompensation is due to increased number, not size, of glycogen particles in human skeletal muscle
Authors: Jensen Rasmus , Ørtenblad Niels , Stausholm Marie‐Louise H. , Skjærbæk Mette C. , Larsen Daniel N. , Hansen Mette , Holmberg Hans‐Christer , Plomgaard Peter , Nielsen Joachim
Published: March 2021

New Findings

What is the central question of this study?

Glycogen supercompensation after glycogen‐depleting exercise can be achieved by consuming a carbohydrate‐enriched diet, but the associated effects on the size, number and localization of intramuscular glycogen particles are unknown.

What is the main finding and its importance?

Using transmission electron microscopy to inspect individual glycogen particles visually, we show that glycogen supercompensation is achieved by increasing the number of particles while keeping them at submaximal sizes. This might be a strategy to ensure that glycogen particles can be used fast, because particles that are too large might impair utilization rate.

Glycogen supercompensation after glycogen‐depleting exercise can be achieved by consuming a carbohydrate‐enriched diet, but the associated effects on the size, number and localization of intramuscular glycogen particles are unknown. We investigated how a glycogen‐loading protocol affects fibre type‐specific glycogen volume density, particle diameter and numerical density in three subcellular pools: between (intermyofibrillar) or within (intramyofibrillar) the myofibrils or beneath the sarcolemma (subsarcolemmal). Resting muscle biopsies from 11 physically active men were analysed using transmission electron microscopy after mixed (MIX), LOW or HIGH carbohydrate consumption separated by glycogen‐lowering cycling at 75% of maximal oxygen consumption until exhaustion. After HIGH, the total volumetric glycogen content was 40% [95% confidence interval 16, 68] higher than after MIX in type I fibres (P< 0.001), with little to no difference in type II fibres (9% [95% confidence interval −9, 27]). Median particle diameter was 22.5 (interquartile range 20.8–24.7) nm across glycogen pools and fibre types, and the numerical density was 61% [25, 107] and 40% [9, 80] higher in the subsarcolemmal (P< 0.001) and intermyofibrillar (P< 0.01) pools of type I fibres, respectively, with little to no difference in the intramyofibrillar pool (3% [−20, 32]). In LOW, total glycogen was in the range of 21–23% lower, relative to MIX, in both fibre types, reflected in a 21–46% lower numerical density across pools. In comparison to MIX, particle diameter was unaffected by other diets ([−1.4, 1.3] nm). In conclusion, glycogen supercompensation after prolonged cycling is exclusive to type I fibres, predominantly in the subsarcolemmal pool, and involves an increase in the numerical density rather than the size of existing glycogen particles.
Oil-Based Drilling Fluid's Cuttings Bed Removal Properties for Deviated Wellbores
Authors: Ytrehus Jan David , Lund Bjørnar , Taghipour Ali , Carazza Luca , Gyland Knud Richard , Saasen Arild
Published: March 2021

Results from cuttings transport tests in the laboratory using different field-applied oil-based drilling fluids with similar weight and varying viscosities are presented in this paper. The fluids are designed for highly deviated wells, and the cuttings transport performance at relevant wellbore inclinations was investigated. The experiments have been performed in a flow loop that consists of a 10-m-long test section with 50.4 mm (2″) diameter freely rotating steel drill string inside a 100-mm (≈4″) diameter wellbore made of cement. Sand particles were injected while circulating the drilling fluid through the test section. Experiments were performed at three wellbore inclinations: 48, 60, and 90 deg from vertical. The applied flow loop dimensions are designed so that the results are scalable to field applications; especially for the 12 ¼″and 8 ½″ sections. The selected setup provides correct shear rate ranges and similar Reynolds numbers to the field application when the same fluids are applied. Results show that hole cleaning abilities of the tested fluids vary significantly with well angle, drill string rotation, and flowrate. Results support field experience showing that low viscous fluids are more efficient than viscous fluids at higher flowrates and low drill string rotation. As well as per field experience, more viscous fluids are efficient in combination with high drill string rotation rates. The results show the effect of cuttings transport efficiency as a function of hydraulic frictional pressure drop, demonstrating methods to achieve a more optimal hydraulic design in the tested conditions. The key findings have direct relevance to drilling operations.
Main Memory Database Recovery
Authors: Magalhaes Arlino , Monteiro Jose Maria , Brayner Angelo
Published: March 2021

Many of today’s applications need massive real-time data processing. In-memory database systems have become a good alternative for these requirements. These systems maintain the primary copy of the database in the main memory to achieve high throughput rates and low latency. However, a database in RAM is more vulnerable to failures than in traditional disk-oriented databases because of the memory volatility. DBMSs implement recovery activities (logging, checkpoint, and restart) for recovery proposes. Although the recovery component looks similar in disk- and memory-oriented systems, these systems differ dramatically in the way they implement their architectural components, such as data storage, indexing, concurrency control, query processing, durability, and recovery. This survey aims to provide a thorough review of in-memory database recovery techniques. To achieve this goal, we reviewed the main concepts of database recovery and architectural choices to implement an in-memory database system. Only then, we present the techniques to recover in-memory databases and discuss the recovery strategies of a representative sample of modern in-memory databases.
Incentivizing Stable Path Selection in Future Internet Architectures
Authors: Scherrer Simon , Legner Markus , Perrig Adrian , Schmid Stefan
Published: March 2021

By delegating path control to end-hosts, future Internet architectures offer flexibility for path selection. However, a concern arises that the distributed routing decisions by endhosts, in particular load-adaptive routing, can lead to oscillations if path selection is performed without coordination or accurate load information. Prior research has addressed this problem by devising local path-selection policies that lead to global stability. However, little is known about the viability of these policies in the Internet context, where selfish end-hosts can deviate from a prescribed policy if such a deviation is beneficial from their individual perspective. In order to achieve network stability in future Internet architectures, it is essential that end-hosts have an incentive to adopt a stability-oriented path-selection policy.

In this work, we perform the first incentive analysis of the stability-inducing path-selection policies proposed in the literature. Building on a game-theoretic model of end-host path selection, we show that these policies are in fact incompatible with the self-interest of end-hosts, as these strategies make it worthwhile to pursue an oscillatory path-selection strategy. Therefore, stability in networks with selfish endhosts must be enforced by incentive-compatible mechanisms. We present two such mechanisms and formally prove their incentive compatibility.
Load-Optimization in Reconfigurable Networks
Authors: Dai Wenkai , Foerster Klaus-Tycho , Fuchssteiner David , Schmid Stefan
Published: March 2021

Emerging reconfigurable data centers introduce the unprecedented flexibility in how the physical layer can be programmed to adapt to current traffic demands. These reconfigurable topologies are commonly hybrid, consisting of static and reconfigurable links, enabled by e.g. an Optical Circuit Switch (OCS) connected to top-of-rack switches in Clos networks. Even though prior work has showcased the practical benefits of hybrid networks, several crucial performance aspects are not well understood.

In this paper, we study the algorithmic problem of how to jointly optimize topology and routing in reconfigurable data centers with a known traffic matrix, in order to optimize a most fundamental metric, maximum link load. We chart the corresponding algorithmic landscape by investigating both un-/splittable flows and (non-)segregated routing policies. We moreover prove that the problem is not submodular for all these routing policies, even in multi-layer trees, where a topological complexity classification of the problem reveals that already trees of depth two are intractable.

However, networks that can be abstracted by a single packet switch (e.g., nonblocking Fat-Tree topologies) can be optimized efficiently, and we present optimal polynomialtime algorithms accordingly. We complement our theoretical results with trace-driven simulation studies, where our algorithms can significantly improve the network load in comparison to the state of the art.
On the Capacity Region of Bipartite and Tripartite Entanglement Switching
Authors: Vardoyan Gayane , Guha Saikat , Nain Philippe , Towsley Don
Published: March 2021

We study a quantum switch serving a set of users in a star topology. The function of the switch is to create bipartite or tripartite entangled state among users at the highest possible rates at a fixed ratio. We model a set of randomized switching policies. Discovering that some are better than others, we present analytical results for the case where the switch stores one qubit per user, and find that the best policies outperform a time division multiplexing (TDM) policy for sharing the switch between bipartite and tripartite state generation. This performance improvement decreases as the number of users grows. The model is easily augmented to study the capacity region in the presence of qubit decoherence, obtaining similar results. Moreover, decoherence appears to have little effect on capacity. We also study a smaller class of policies when the switch stores two qubits per user.
Asymptotically Optimal Load Balancing in Large-scale Heterogeneous Systems with Multiple Dispatchers
Authors: Zhou Xingyu , Shroff Ness , Wierman Adam
Published: March 2021

We consider the load balancing problem in large-scale heterogeneous systems with multiple dispatchers. We introduce a general framework called Local-Estimation-Driven (LED). Under this framework, each dispatcher keeps local (possibly outdated) estimates of the queue lengths for all the servers, and the dispatching decision is made purely based on these local estimates. The local estimates are updated via infrequent communications between dispatchers and servers. We derive sufficient conditions for LED policies to achieve throughput optimality and delay optimality in heavy-traffic, respectively. These conditions directly imply delay optimality for many previous local-memory based policies in heavy traffic. Moreover, the results enable us to design new delay optimal policies for heterogeneous systems with multiple dispatchers. Finally, the heavy-traffic delay optimality of the LED framework also sheds light on a recent open question on how to design optimal load balancing schemes using delayed information.
Network Speed Scaling
Authors: Vaze Rahul , Nair Jayakrishnan
Published: March 2021

Speed scaling for a network of servers represented by a directed acyclic graph is considered. Jobs arrive at a source server, with a specified destination server, and are defined to be complete once they are processed by all servers on any feasible path between the source and the corresponding destination. Each server has variable speed, with power consumption function P, a convex increasing function of the speed. The objective is to minimize the sum of the flow time (summed across jobs) and the energy consumed by all the servers, which depends on how jobs are routed, as well as how server speeds are set. Algorithms are derived for both the worst case and stochastic job arrivals setting, whose competitive ratio depends only on the power functions and path diversity in the network, but is independent of the workload.
Online Dynamic B-Matching
Authors: Bienkowski Marcin , Fuchssteiner David , Marcinkowski Jan , Schmid Stefan
Published: March 2021

This paper initiates the study of online algorithms for the maximum weight b-matching problem, a generalization of maximum weight matching where each node has at most b≥1 adjacent matching edges. The problem is motivated by emerging optical technologies which allow to enhance datacenter networks with reconfigurable matchings, providing direct connectivity between frequently communicating racks. These additional links may improve network performance, by leveraging spatial and temporal structure in the workload. We show that the underlying algorithmic problem features an intriguing connection to online paging (a.k.a. caching), but introduces a novel challenge. Our main contribution is an online algorithm which is O(b)- competitive; we also prove that this is asymptotically optimal. We complement our theoretical results with extensive trace-driven simulations, based on real-world datacenter workloads as well as synthetic traffic traces.
On the Throughput Optimization in Large-Scale Batch-Processing Systems
Authors: Kar Sounak , Rehrmann Robin , Mukhopadhyay Arpan , Alt Bastian , Ciucu Florin , Koeppl Heinz , Binnig Carsten , Rizk Amr
Published: March 2021

We analyze a data-processing system with n clients producing jobs which are processed in batches by m parallel servers; the system throughput critically depends on the batch size and a corresponding sub-additive speedup function that arises due to overhead amortization. In practice, throughput optimization relies on numerical searches for the optimal batch size which is computationally cumbersome. In this paper, we model this system in terms of a closed queueing network assuming certain forms of service speedup; a standard Markovian analysis yields the optimal throughput in w n4 time. Our main contribution is a mean-field model that has a unique, globally attractive stationary point, derivable in closed form. This point characterizes the asymptotic throughput as a function of the batch size that can be calculated in O(1) time. Numerical settings from a large commercial system reveal that this asymptotic optimum is accurate in practical finite regimes.
Pseudothrombocytopenia Inducing Nonindicated Platelet Transfusion after Cardiac Surgery
Authors: Ceran Enise , Schlömmer Christine , Kröckel Ivonne , Scheriau Georg , Angleitner Philipp , Steinlechner Barbara
Published: March 2021

Pseudothrombocytopenia (PTCP) is an in vitro phenomenon of low platelet count caused by the agglutination of platelets, leading to false low platelet counts in automated cell counting. Typically, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) mediates this platelet clumping. PTCP has little clinical significance, but misdiagnosis may lead to unnecessary diagnostic tests and treatment. In this case report, we present a 65-year-old Caucasian female suffering from multiple complications during and after cardiac surgery. During her postoperative stay at the ICU, she was diagnosed with thrombocytopenia and an inadequate response to platelet supplementation.
AI Based Gravity Compensation Algorithm and Simulation of Load End of Robotic Arm Wrist Force
Authors: Chen Liang , Sun Hanxu , Zhao Wei , Yu Tao
Published: March 2021

With the rapid development of mechatronics and robotics technology, the application of robots has been extended from the industrial field to daily life and has become an indispensable part of work and daily life. The accuracy and flexibility of the operator determine the operating efficiency of the robot. Although the level of development of the operator is constantly improving, the traditional operator has a simple structure and generally adopts parallel movement or tightening. The holding structure has poor flexibility and stability, making it difficult to achieve precise position capture and control and cannot meet the requirements of delicate tasks. In this paper, a basic force analysis of the manipulator is carried out, and the change trend of the force and driving force of each joint when the manipulator is grasping objects is obtained, so as to determine that the manipulator can grasp the object stably; then, in the strength analysis of the manipulator, it is determined that the material meets the strength requirements. This paper conducts an output voltage experiment on the static performance and coupling error of the mechanical arm wrist force sensor. Secondly, in order to study the influence of the temperature change in the space environment on the zero-point output of the mechanical arm sensor, a high and low temperature test box are used to simulate the temperature brought by the temperature change to the sensor. Experiments show that the maximum coupling error of the sensor is 1.81%, which is less than 2% of the design index. This indicates that the operator sensor is used to detect the force and torque that the space operator’s edge operator experiences when it interacts with the external environment and provides the necessary power sensing information for power control and compatible operator motion control, completing some complex; the Fine project is an important prerequisite for realizing the intelligence of space operators.
Optimizing Centralized Dispatching of Flexible Feeder Transit considering Transfer Coordination with Regular Public Transit
Authors: Wang Yu-Qiong , Jia Shun-Ping , Wei Run-Bin , Wang Min
Published: March 2021

Optimizing centralized dispatching of flexible feeder transit to provide transport and transfer services is important and theoretically challenging for real-world applications. Considering transfer coordination with regular public transit, a multiobjective optimization model that can output an operation plan containing vehicle routes and a timetable for a bus fleet is proposed. By establishing constraints for parameters such as maximum acceptable advance or delay time of transfer, rated passenger capacity, and maximum travel time of a single trip, the proposed model attempts to maximize the successful response ratio, minimize the passengers’ average time costs, and minimize the operating costs of a single passenger. A genetic algorithm was designed to solve the optimal solution, and computational experiments were conducted in a residential area in Beijing. Results reveal that the proposed model and algorithm can be applied in the operation of flexible feeder transit. Moreover, compared with the distributed dispatching method, the value of the optimal objective function in the proposed model was improved by 26%. Although the successful response ratio showed a 29.3% increase and the average passenger time cost showed a small drop, the operating costs per passenger were reduced by 30.7%. The different weight coefficients of the subobjective function and maximum acceptable advance or delay time of transfer could result in different optimal operation plans. Essentially, the optimization procedures for the successful response ratio and the operating costs are in the same direction, whereas the one for the passenger’ cost is in the opposite direction. However, operators should select appropriate values to optimize operation plans.
Obstetrics Nursing and Medical Health System Based on Blockchain Technology
Authors: Sun Baolin , Lv Zhihui , Li Qin
Published: March 2021

Blockchain, as an emerging force transforming the Internet, has applications in finance, logistics, public services, and other fields. It will also have a huge impact on the medical and health industry. The salient features of blockchain technology include guaranteeing information security and user privacy, decentralization, without the involvement of third-party trust institutions, and being able to establish a high-value input and output two-way system, which has a very important application space in obstetric care, medical, and health. The traditional medical and health system is far from being able to meet the information exchange between doctors and individuals. Therefore, building an interconnected obstetric care and health system based on blockchain technology is the direction of future obstetric care and medical development. This paper has conducted an in-depth study of the obstetric care medical health system, with the help of the Internet of Things, blockchain, and other technical means; the purpose is to realize the sharing and security of medical data and to break the limitations of traditional user information. This paper builds a medical electronic health record system model and a hybrid consensus model based on blockchain technology to realize the safety and transparency of patients’ personal medical information data and achieve two-way communication and interconnection of information between doctors and patients. This paper analyzes the current status of domestic and foreign medical and health systems and the blockchain-based medical electronic health record system. It is concluded that the domestic investment in medical and health in 2018 was as high as 113.2 billion yuan, and the entire investment scale is continuously expanding. Pay attention to the health system. In the future, the obstetric care and medical health system based on blockchain technology will surely be realized and improved.