bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Polydioxanone Internal Support Matrix: A Rationale for Prophylactic Internal Bra Support in Breast Augmentation
Authors: Chiemi Julia A , Kelishadi S Sean
Published: March 2022

Background

Textured breast implants have been used in aesthetic breast surgery to decrease the rates of implant malposition. A recent analysis of a large-volume single-surgeon experience found statistically similar rates of malposition in smooth vs micro-textured breast implants.

Objectives

Prophylactic use of a polydioxanone (PDO) internal support matrix in breast augmentation was hypothesized to prevent scar malposition and increase pocket control.

Methods

In total, 200 patients received silicone gel primary augmentations performed by a single surgeon from January 2018 to December 2020; 84 patients received smooth implants alone; 49 patients received micro-textured implants; and 67 patients received smooth implants plus PDO internal support matrix. All surgeries were performed in the dual plane using an inframammary incision. Implant-related complications and scar malposition were recorded and compared.

Results

No significant difference in implant-related complication rates was found between shell types (3.57% for smooth devices alone and 2.04% for textured devices [P = 0.62; 95% CI −0.06 to 0.01]). There were zero complications in the smooth plus mesh study arm. A comparison of scar malposition rates between the smooth alone and textured groups revealed no significant difference (15.4% for smooth devices and 8.16% for textured devices [P = 0.23; 95% CI −0.12 to 0.01]). The smooth implant group with the prophylactic placement of PDO mesh had the lowest scar malposition rate of 4.48%, a significant difference compared with the smooth devices alone (P = 0.03; 95% CI −0.21 to −0.01).

Conclusions

Micro-textured devices show a trend toward decreased scar malposition, although not significant. Prophylactic use of PDO internal support matrix in silicone gel breast augmentation is safe and has the lowest incidence of scar malposition.

Level of Evidence: 3
The role of landiolol in the management of atrial tachyarrhythmias in patients with acute heart failure and cardiogenic shock: case reports and review of literature
Authors: Bezati Sofia , Velliou Maria , Polyzogopoulou Eftihia , Boultadakis Antonios , Parissis John
Published: March 2022

Atrial tachyarrhythmias and worsening heart failure frequently coexist and potentially progress to a life threatening condition. Therapeutic approach requires simultaneous management of rapid ventricular response and heart failure symptom relief in order to improve haemodynamic stability and cardiac function. Landiolol is an ultra-short-acting b-adrenergic receptor blocker with high b1 selectivity incorporated in 2020 European Society of Cardiology guidelines for the management of atrial fibrillation. We provide a report of two cases with atrial fibrillation treated with landiolol in the acute setting of pulmonary oedema and cardiogenic shock, respectively. Additionally, we searched the international database PUBMED (MEDLINE, PubMed Central) to retrieve scientific evidence regarding its implementation in the treatment of atrial tachyarrhythmias in patients with cardiac dysfunction. Recent studies support the use of landiolol in patients with acute heart failure and atrial tachyarrhythmias. Compared to digoxin, landiolol proved to be more effective in controlling heart rate, with minimal adverse effects. Moreover, landiolol may be helpful in the conversion of atrial tachyarrhythmia to sinus rhythm. A more potent effect has been reported in patients with heart failure with preserved or mildly reduced ejection fraction, small left ventricular volume and high blood pressure. Likewise, administration of low doses of landiolol in patients with cardiogenic shock and atrial tachyarrhythmias reduced heart rate and pulmonary capillary wedge pressure and improved cardiac contractility without reducing blood pressure. Landiolol seems to be an attractive alternative in the acute management of patients with atrial tachyarrhythmias and cardiac dysfunction, though further clinical trials are needed to establish its role.
DISTRIBUTION OF IODINE-127 IN MARINE ORGANISMS FROM COASTAL WATERS AROUND AOMORI, JAPAN
Authors: Imai Shoko , Matsushita Kensaku , Takaku Yuichi , Ishikawa Yoshio
Published: March 2022

We measured the concentrations and determined the distribution of the stable isotope 127I in the marine organisms. Marine fish were collected from the Pacific Ocean near Aomori, Japan. The mean 127I concentrations in the muscle of marine fish ranged from 0.67 μg g−1-wet weight (ww) in cherry salmon to 0.84 μg g−1-ww in fat greenling. Among the tissues measured, the muscle showed the lowest levels of 127I in all fish species. The highest 127I concentration in the tissues of marine fish was observed in the ovary of fat greenling. The mean 127I concentration in the of Japanese scallop ranged from 0.06 μg g−1-ww in adductor muscle to 5.49 μg g−1-ww in mid-gut gland. The 127I concentrations in seaweeds were 67 μg g−1-dry weight (dw) in sea lettuce and 1783 μg g−1-dw in kombu. Thus, the distribution of 127I concentration in marine organisms varied considerably depending on the tissue.
Exploration of the Utility of Speckle-Tracking Echocardiography During Mechanical Ventilation and Mechanical Circulatory Support
Authors: Sato Kei , Chan Jonathan , Appadurai Vinesh , Obonyo Nchafatso , See Hoe Louise , Suen Jacky Y. , Fraser John F.
Published: March 2022

OBJECTIVE:

This narrative review aims to discuss the potential applicability of speckle-tracking echocardiography (STE) in patients under mechanical ventilation (MV) and mechanical circulatory support (MCS). Both its benefits and limitations were considered through critical analyses of the current available evidence.

DATA SOURCES AND STUDY SELECTION:

A literature search was conducted in PubMed and Excerpta Medica Database indexed databases (2012–2021). In addition, the reference lists of all selected studies were manually scanned for further identification of potentially relevant studies.

DATA EXTRACTION:

The terms “Speckle-Tracking Echocardiography,” “Mechanical Ventilation,” “Mechanical Circulatory Support,” “Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation,” “Ventricular Assist Devices,” and “Left Ventricular Unloading Devices” were searched for the identification of relevant articles for narrative synthesis.

DATA SYNTHESIS:

STE is a well-established post-processing method of analyzing myocardial function, with potentially greater clinical utility than conventional 2D echocardiography. STE has been incorporated into the guideline recommendations for both the diagnostic and prognostic evaluations of myocardial and valvular pathologies. However, the potential of STE application within critical care settings has not yet been fully realized. Its utility in the assessment of patients undergoing MV and MCS is substantial. Specifically, it may serve as an ideal modality in the assessment of subtle changes in cardiac function. In the limited number of studies reviewed, STE was consistently a more sensitive marker of myocardial functional change, compared with traditional markers of 2D and Doppler parameters during changes in MV and MCS.

CONCLUSIONS:

Although current evidence is extremely limited, STE strain is suggested to be a more sensitive and reproducible parameter of myocardial function than conventional echocardiographic parameters and may have value in the assessment of patients undergoing MV and MCS in critical care settings. Further studies in larger populations are required to elucidate STE’s prognostic capability and its value as a point-of-care tool in guiding clinical practice for subjects under MV and MCS.
The Global Open Source Severity of Illness Score (GOSSIS)*
Authors: Raffa Jesse D. , Johnson Alistair E. W. , O’Brien Zach , Pollard Tom J. , Mark Roger G. , Celi Leo A. , Pilcher David , Badawi Omar
Published: March 2022

OBJECTIVES:

To develop and demonstrate the feasibility of a Global Open Source Severity of Illness Score (GOSSIS)-1 for critical care patients, which generalizes across healthcare systems and countries.

DESIGN:

A merger of several critical care multicenter cohorts derived from registry and electronic health record data. Data were split into training (70%) and test (30%) sets, using each set exclusively for development and evaluation, respectively. Missing data were imputed when not available.

SETTING/PATIENTS:

Two large multicenter datasets from Australia and New Zealand (Australian and New Zealand Intensive Care Society Adult Patient Database [ANZICS-APD]) and the United States (eICU Collaborative Research Database [eICU-CRD]) representing 249,229 and 131,051 patients, respectively. ANZICS-APD and eICU-CRD contributed data from 162 and 204 hospitals, respectively. The cohort included all ICU admissions discharged in 2014–2015, excluding patients less than 16 years old, admissions less than 6 hours, and those with a previous ICU stay.

INTERVENTIONS:

Not applicable.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS:

GOSSIS-1 uses data collected during the ICU stay’s first 24 hours, including extrema values for vital signs and laboratory results, admission diagnosis, the Glasgow Coma Scale, chronic comorbidities, and admission/demographic variables. The datasets showed significant variation in admission-related variables, case-mix, and average physiologic state. Despite this heterogeneity, test set discrimination of GOSSIS-1 was high (area under the receiver operator characteristic curve [AUROC], 0.918; 95% CI, 0.915–0.921) and calibration was excellent (standardized mortality ratio [SMR], 0.986; 95% CI, 0.966–1.005; Brier score, 0.050). Performance was held within ANZICS-APD (AUROC, 0.925; SMR, 0.982; Brier score, 0.047) and eICU-CRD (AUROC, 0.904; SMR, 0.992; Brier score, 0.055). Compared with GOSSIS-1, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE)-IIIj (ANZICS-APD) and APACHE-IVa (eICU-CRD), had worse discrimination with AUROCs of 0.904 and 0.869, and poorer calibration with SMRs of 0.594 and 0.770, and Brier scores of 0.059 and 0.063, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS:

GOSSIS-1 is a modern, free, open-source inhospital mortality prediction algorithm for critical care patients, achieving excellent discrimination and calibration across three countries.
Progress in prostate cancer prevention
Authors: Cozzi Gabriele , Musi Gennaro , Ferro Matteo , Cioffi Antonio , de Cobelli Ottavio , Corso Giovanni
Published: March 2022

After lung, prostate cancer is the second most frequently diagnosed cancer and fourth in cancer-related mortality. The etiology is largely unknown and no clear risk factors have been identified. Primary prevention is therefore challenging. Also, secondary prevention, screening, in large populations is difficult. Germline mutations are implicated in hereditary prostate cancer, accounting for about 10% of screened men. Currently, only prostate-specific antigen test is adopted for early detection but is considered insufficient to further improve prevention and care. In this opinion article, we discuss novel diagnostic biomarkers and imaging tools, along with more promising targeted prostate biopsies.
The association between Dietary Diversity Score and odds of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: a case-control study
Authors: Ebrahimi Mousavi Sara , Dehghanseresht Narges , Dashti Fatemeh , Khazaei Yasaman , Salamat Shekoufeh , Asbaghi Omid , Mansoori Anahita
Published: March 2022

Objective

There is no previous study that investigated the association between Dietary Diversity Score (DSS) and odds of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The present study aimed to examine the association between DDS and its components and NAFLD among Iranian adults.

Methods

In the case-control study, we enrolled 121 newly diagnosed cases of NAFLD and 122 with age, BMI and sex-matched controls. All NAFLD patients were diagnosed through ultrasonography methods by gastroenterologists. Anthropometric parameters of participants including weight, height, hip circumference and waist circumference were measured. A validated 147-item semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire was applied to assess the usual dietary intakes of participants. Binary logistic regression was conducted to estimate the risk of NAFLD in relation to DDS and its components, including refined grains, vegetables, fruits, dairy and meats.

Results

The mean age of study participants was 42.7 years of them 53.1% were male. Higher adherence to DDS [odds ratio (OR) = 0.48; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.25–0.95] and vegetable group (OR = 0.34; 95% CI, 0.16−0.71) were remarkably associated with lower risk of NAFLD, after adjusting for several confounders including age, BMI, physical activity, energy intake, job, education, and antihypertensive drugs usage. Contrastingly, greater adherence to the refined grain (OR = 3.36; 95% CI, 1.44–7.87) and meat group (OR = 3.27; 95% CI, 1.25–6.90) was significantly associated with increased risk of NAFLD.

Conclusion

High DDS is inversely correlated with the risk of NAFLD. Hence, increasing the diversity score of diet by emphasizing the higher diversity scores for vegetables and less for meat and refined grains may be profitable for the management of NAFLD.
Strategies to Successfully Implement an Eat, Sleep, Console Protocol
Authors: Wortham Stefanie E. , Bianchi Ann L.
Published: March 2022

Neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome is pervasive, reflected in a case rate increase among most demographics in the United States from 4.0 newborns per 1,000 hospitalized births in 2010 to 7.3 newborns per 1,000 hospitalized births in 2017. Historically, assessments have been based on present symptomatology, excluding the mother's input, and increasing the likelihood of pharmacotherapy. The Eat, Sleep, Console approach provides an opportunity for the mother to act as the treatment for her newborn as she performs nonpharmacologic interventions that reduce withdrawal severity. Maternal confidence to help her newborn grows with this level of involvement and mother/infant dyad care improves, as do nurse and mother interactions. Assessments are less subjective and less time-consuming for nurses to conduct than those of the often-used Finnegan tool, and are conducted in collaboration with the mother. Facilities implementing this approach have seen a reduction in newborn hospital length of stay, pharmacotherapy, associated medical costs, and improved breastfeeding rates. Implementing an Eat, Sleep, Console protocol involves a stepwise approach to ensure all stakeholders are effectively prepared for the transition. We present strategies to implement an Eat, Sleep, and Console clinical protocol. A stepwise approach to implementation along with a clinical nursing maternal education protocol exemplar is included. Methods to overcome barriers to implementation and recommendations for further development are discussed.
The Impact of Skin Color on the Recognition of Blunt Force Injuries
Authors: Santiago Christian J. , Weedn Victor W. , Diaz Francisco J.
Published: March 2022

Dark skin may obscure injuries. This is reflected in the illustrations in textbooks, which generally depict blunt force injuries in victims with light skin tones. We explored whether forensic pathologists can reliably recognize blunt force injuries in dark-toned skin by comparing the average number of contusions and abrasions of motor vehicle accident victims with dark- and light-toned skin. We also investigated whether the race of the forensic pathologist observer mattered. We found a significant difference in the number of injuries recorded in autopsies of motor vehicle accident victims based upon skin tone; there was also a difference in the race of the observer.
A Fatal Colchicine Ingestion With Antemortem Blood Concentration
Authors: McCabe Daniel J. , Wilson Bryan Z. , Radke Joshua B. , Bottei Edward M.
Published: March 2022

Although there are multiple therapeutic uses for colchicine, it is particularly dangerous in the setting of overdose due to an irreversible mechanism of action combined with a narrow therapeutic window. Colchicine is an antimitotic agent that binds tubulin and inhibits microtubule polymerization. This produces a predictable sequence of toxicity beginning with gastrointestinal effects with progression to multiorgan system dysfunction. Unfortunately, there are no specific antidotes for colchicine toxicity after organ injury has occurred, which can lead to tragic consequences. Despite the recognized toxicity, it is exceedingly rare to find a case in the medical literature with a confirmed time of ingestion, amount ingested, data from longitudinal examinations, and laboratory assessments, with a quantitative blood colchicine concentration. We present a case of acute colchicine overdose of 18 mg (approximately 0.25 mg/kg) with subsequent multiorgan failure and death with an antemortem blood colchicine concentration of 14 ng/mL at 18.5 hours after ingestion.
Evolution of cooperation with joint liability
Authors: Wang Guocheng , Su Qi , Wang Long
Published: March 2022

‘Personal responsibility’, one of the basic principles of social governance, requires one to be accountable for what one does. However, personal responsibility is far from the only norm ruling human interactions, especially in social and economic activities. In many collective communities such as among enterprise colleagues and family members, one’s personal interests are often bound to others’—once one member breaks the rule, a group of people have to bear the punishment or sanction. Such a mechanism is termed ‘joint liability’. Although many real-world cases have evidenced that joint liability can help to maintain collective collaboration, a deep and systematic theoretical analysis on how and when it promotes cooperation remains lacking. Here, we use evolutionary game theory to model an interacting system with joint liability, where one’s losing credit could deteriorate the reputation of the whole group. We provide the analytical condition to predict when cooperation evolves and analytically prove that in the presence of punishment, being jointly liable greatly promotes cooperation. Our work stresses that joint liability is of great significance in promoting current economic prosperity.
Differential gene expression reveals host factors for viral shedding variation in mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) infected with low-pathogenic avian influenza virus
Authors: Dolinski Amanda C. , Homola Jared J. , Jankowski Mark D. , Robinson John D. , Owen Jennifer C.
Published: March 2022

Intraspecific variation in pathogen shedding impacts disease transmission dynamics; therefore, understanding the host factors associated with individual variation in pathogen shedding is key to controlling and preventing outbreaks. In this study, ileum and bursa of Fabricius tissues of wild-bred mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) infected with low-pathogenic avian influenza (LPAIV) were evaluated at various post-infection time points to determine genetic host factors associated with intraspecific variation in viral shedding. By analysing transcriptome sequencing data (RNA-seq), we found that LPAIV-infected wild-bred mallards do not exhibit differential gene expression compared to uninfected birds, but that gene expression was associated with cloacal viral shedding quantity early in the infection. In both tissues, immune gene expression was higher in high/moderate shedding birds compared to low shedding birds, and significant positive relationships with viral shedding were observed. In the ileum, expression for host genes involved in viral cell entry was lower in low shedders compared to moderate shedders at 1 day post-infection (DPI), and expression for host genes promoting viral replication was higher in high shedders compared to low shedders at 2 DPI. Our findings indicate that viral shedding is a key factor for gene expression differences in LPAIV-infected wild-bred mallards, and the genes identified in this study could be important for understanding the molecular mechanisms driving intraspecific variation in pathogen shedding.
Mycobacteriophage D29 induced association of Mycobacterial RNA polymerase with ancillary factors leads to increased transcriptional activity
Authors: Sengupta Shreya , Bhawsinghka Niketa , Shaw Rahul , Patra Madhu Manti , Das Gupta Sujoy K.
Published: March 2022

Mycobacteriophage D29 infects species belonging to the genus Mycobacterium including the deadly pathogen Mycobacterium tuberculosis. D29 is a lytic phage, although, related to the lysogenic mycobacteriophage L5. This phage is unable to lysogenize in mycobacteria as it lacks the gene encoding the phage repressor. Infection by many mycobacteriophages cause various changes in the host that ultimately leads to inactivation of the latter. One of the host targets often modified in the process is RNA polymerase. During our investigations with phage D29 infected

Mycobacterium smegmatis

(Msm) we observed that the promoters from both phage, and to a lesser extent those of the host were found to be more active in cells that were exposed to D29, as compared to the unexposed. Further experiments indicate that the RNA polymerase purified from phage infected cells possessed higher affinity for promoters particularly those that were phage derived. Comparison of the purified RNA polymerase preparations from infected and uninfected cells showed that several ancillary transcription factors, Sigma factor F, Sigma factor H, CarD and RbpA are prominently associated with the RNA polymerase from infected cells. Based on our observations we conclude that the higher activity of RNA polymerase observed in D29 infected cells is due to its increased association with ancillary transcription factors.
Solvation Dynamics of a Single Triglyceride as a Function of its Chain Length
Authors: Sacher Sukriti , Ray Arjun
Published: March 2022

Triglycerides (TG) are transported packaged inside lypophillic particles. Several lipid exchange/transfer proteins interact with these lipoproteins and facilitate lipid exchange amongst lipoproteins, to maintain a constant flux in RCT. During this process, these neutral lipids are inadvertently exposed to the bulk water. Previous studies have elucidated the behavior of triglycerides in the bulk (on the surface of bilayer or inside a lipid droplet). However, isolated TGs during lipid exchange behave differently than when in bulk, due to an increased exposure to water. We studied the solvation dynamics of a single TG in a polar (water) and a non-polar (cyclohexane) medium to elucidate it’s solvated structure while drawing parallels with its structural organization in bulk (lipid droplet). We also examine the role of acyl chain length and it’s contribution to the free energy of solvation. Finally, we have established the predominant conformation of TG in water and cyclohexane and discuss the thermodynamics for such a preference.
Memory consolidation during sleep involves context reinstatement in humans
Authors: Schechtman Eitan , Heilberg Julia , Paller Ken A.
Published: March 2022

New memories aren’t quarantined from each other when first encoded; rather, they are interlinked with memories that were encoded in temporal proximity or share semantic features. By selectively biasing memory processing during sleep, here we test whether context influences sleep-consolidation. Participants first formed 18 idiosyncratic narratives, each linking four objects together. Before sleep,they also memorized an on-screen position for each object. During sleep, 12 object-specific sounds were unobtrusively presented, thereby cuing the corresponding spatial memories and impacting spatial recall as a function of initial memory strength. As hypothesized, we find that recall for non-cued objects contextually linked with cued objects also changed. Post-cue electrophysiological responses suggest that activity in the sigma band supports context reinstatement and predicts context-related memory benefits. Concurrently, context-specific electrophysiological activity patterns emerge during sleep. We conclude that reactivation of individual memories during sleep evokes reinstatement of their context, thereby impacting consolidation of associated knowledge.
Containing Cancer with Personalized Minimum Effective Dose
Authors: M A Masud , Kim Jae-Young , Kim Eunjung
Published: March 2022

Resistance to treatment is a challenge in many cancer therapies. This is partly due to the heterogeneous nature of tumors, where drug-sensitive and drug-resistant cells compete for the same resources. This competition is largely shaped by cancer treatment. The rapid reduction of drug-sensitive cell population during therapy with a maximum-tolerated dose relaxes competitive stress on the drug-resistant cell population, promoting relapse. Therefore, maintaining a high level of drug-sensitive cell population with a treatment break or lower dose can impose effective competitive stress on drug-resistant cell populations. Adaptive therapy (AT) exploits the competition between cancer cells. However, given the heterogeneous treatment response of individual patients, determining a personalized optimal treatment that can fine-tune competitive stress remains challenging. Using a deterministic model of cancer cell population competition, this study defines an effective dose window (EDW) as a range of doses that conserve sufficient sensitive cells, while maintaining the tumor volume below a threshold (e.g., initial tumor volume), to maintain a sustained competition against resistant cells. As a proof of concept, we sought to determine the EDW for a small cohort of patients with melanoma (n=8). We first fitted the model to longitudinal tumor response data from each patient. We performed structural and practical identifiability analyses to confirm the reproducibility and uniqueness of the estimated parameters. Then, we considered a subset of the cohort with uniquely identifiable parameters and estimated patient-specific EDW. We demonstrated that if the dose belongs to the EDW, the tumor volume for each patient could be indefinitely contained either using continuous or AT strategy. Using the optimal control theory, we concluded that the lower bound of the EDW approximates the minimum effective dose (MED) for containing cancer. Taken together, using tumor biomarker data, this study provides a proof of concept that there may exist a patient-specific EDW that keeps the tumor below a threshold (e.g., initial volume) by maintaining sustained competition on resistant cells.
Estimating interaction matrices from performance data for diverse systems
Authors: Bimler Malyon D. , Mayfield Margaret M. , Martyn Trace E. , Stouffer Daniel B.
Published: March 2022

Network theory allows us to understand complex systems by evaluating how their constituent elements interact with one another. Such networks are built from matrices which describe the effect of each element on all others. Quantifying the strength of these interactions from empirical data can be difficult, however, because the number of potential interactions increases non-linearly as more elements are included in the system, and not all interactions may be empirically observable when some elements are rare.

We present a novel modelling framework which estimates the strength of pairwise interactions in diverse horizontal systems, using measures of species performance in the presence of varying densities of their potential interaction partners.

Our method allows us to directly estimate pairwise effects when they are statistically identifiable and approximate pairwise effects when they would otherwise be statistically unidentifiable. The resulting interaction matrices can include positive and negative effects, the effect of a species on itself, and are non-symmetrical.

The advantages of these features are illustrated with a case study on an annual wildflower community of 22 focal and 52 neighbouring species, and a discussion of potential applications of this framework extending well beyond plant community ecology.
Hip osteoarthritis: A novel network analysis of subchondral trabecular bone structures
Authors: Dorraki Mohsen , Muratovic Dzenita , Fouladzadeh Anahita , Verjans Johan W , Allison Andrew , Findlay David M , Abbott Derek
Published: March 2022

Hip osteoarthritis (HOA) is a degenerative joint disease that leads to the progressive destruction of subchondral bone and cartilage at the hip joint. Development of effective treatments for HOA remains an open problem, primarily due to the lack of knowledge of its pathogenesis and a typically late-stage diagnosis. We describe a novel network analysis methodology for micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) images of human trabecular bone. We explored differences between the trabecular bone microstructure of femoral heads with and without HOA. Large-scale automated extraction of the network formed by trabecular bone revealed significant network properties not previously reported for bone. Profound differences were discovered, particularly in the proximal third of the femoral head, where HOA networks demonstrated elevated numbers of edges, vertices and graph components. When further differentiating healthy joint and HOA networks, the latter showed fewer small-world network properties, due to decreased clustering coefficient and increased characteristic path length. Furthermore, we found that HOA networks had reduced length of edges, indicating the formation of compressed trabecular structures. In order to assess our network approach, we developed a deep learning model for classifying HOA and control cases, and we fed it with two separate inputs: (i) micro-CT images of the trabecular bone, and (ii) the network extracted from them. The model with plain micro-CT images achieves 74.63% overall accuracy while the trained model with extracted networks attains 96.47% accuracy. We anticipate our findings to be a starting point for a novel description of bone microstructure in HOA, by considering the phenomenon from a graph theory viewpoint.
Reactive oxygen species generated by infrared laser light in optical tweezers inhibits the germination of bacterial spores
Authors: Malyshev Dmitry , Robinson Nicholas Finlay , Öberg Rasmus , Dahlberg Tobias , Andersson Magnus
Published: March 2022

Bacterial spores are highly resistant to heat, radiation, and various disinfection chemicals. These impacts on the biophysical and physicochemical properties of spores can be studied on the single-cell level using optical tweezers. However, the effect of the trapping laser on spores’ germination rate is not fully understood. In this work, we assess the impact of 1064 nm laser light on the germination of Bacillus thuringiensis spores. The results show that the germination rate of spores after laser exposure follows a sigmoid dose-response relationship, with only 15 % of spores germinating after 20 J of laser light. Under anaerobic growth conditions, the percentage of germinating spores at 20 J increased to 65 %. The results thereby indicate that molecular oxygen is a major contributor to the germination-inhibiting effect observed. Thus, our study highlights the risk for optical trapping of spores and ways to mitigate it.
Enhanced perceptual task performance without deprivation in mice using medial forebrain bundle stimulation
Authors: Verdier Antonin , Dominique Noémi , Groussard Déborah , Aldanondo Anna , Bathellier Brice , Bagur Sophie
Published: March 2022

Training animals on perceptual decision-making tasks is essential to many fields of neuroscience. Current protocols generally use water as a reward in water-deprived animals. This can be challenging since it requires balancing animals’ deprivation level with their well-being. Moreover, trial number is limited once they reach satiation. Here, we present electrical stimulation of the medial forebrain bundle (MFB) as an alternative reward in mice that avoids deprivation entirely while yielding stable motivation for thousands of trials. We trained MFB rewarded mice to perform a series of auditory discrimination tasks using either licking or lever pressing as a behavioural report. MFB animals learnt tasks at similar speed to water-deprived mice and more reliably reached higher overall accuracy in harder tasks. Moreover, they performed up to 3800 trials within a session without loss of motivation. Importantly, MFB stimulation does not impact the sensory behaviour under study since psychometric parameters and response times are preserved. Finally, in accordance with the lack of deprivation, MFB mice lack signs of metabolic or behavioural stress compared to water-deprived mice (weight loss, open field, home cage behaviour). Overall, using MFB stimulation as a reward is a highly promising tool for task learning since it enhances task performance whilst avoiding deprivation.
The outer mitochondrial membrane protein TMEM11 is a novel negative regulator of BNIP3/BNIP3L-dependent receptor-mediated mitophagy
Authors: Gok Mehmet Oguz , Friedman Jonathan R.
Published: March 2022

Mitochondria play critical roles in cellular metabolism and to maintain their integrity, they are regulated by several quality control pathways, including mitophagy. During BNIP3/BNIP3L-dependent receptor-mediated mitophagy, mitochondria are selectively degraded by the direct recruitment of the autophagosome biogenesis protein LC3. BNIP3 and/or BNIP3L are upregulated situationally, for example during hypoxia and developmentally during erythrocyte maturation. However, it is not well understood how they are regulated at steady-state. Here, we find that the poorly characterized mitochondrial cristae morphology regulator TMEM11 unexpectedly localizes to the outer membrane where it forms a complex with BNIP3 and BNIP3L. Loss of TMEM11 causes mitochondrial morphology defects in a BNIP3/BNIP3L-dependent manner and, further, we find that mitophagy is hyper-active in the absence of TMEM11 during both normoxia and hypoxia. Our results reveal a non-canonical role for TMEM11 as a negative regulator of BNIP3/BNIP3L-mediated mitophagy and suggest that the TMEM11/BNIP3/BNIP3L complex coordinately regulates mitochondrial quality control.
Transcriptomics, Regulatory Syntax, and Enhancer Identification in Heterogenous Populations of Mesoderm-Induced ESCs at Single-Cell Resolution
Authors: Khateb Mamduh , Perovanovic Jelena , Ko Kyung Dae , Jiang Kan , Feng Xuesong , Acevedo-Luna Natalia , Chal Jérome , Ciuffoli Veronica , Genzor Pavol , Simone James , Haase Astrid D. , Pourquié Olivier , Dell’Orso Stefania , Sartorelli Vittorio
Published: March 2022

ESCs can adopt lineage-specific gene expression programs by stepwise exposure to defined factors, resulting in the generation of functional cell types. Bulk and single cell-based assays were employed to catalogue gene expression, histone modifications, chromatin conformation, and accessibility transitions in ESC populations and individual cells acquiring a presomitic mesoderm fate and undergoing further lineage specification. These assays identified cis-regulatory regions and transcription factors presiding gene expression programs occurring at defined ESC transitions and revealed the presence of heterogeneous cell populations within discrete ESC developmental stages. The datasets were employed to identify previously unappreciated genomic elements directing the initial activation of Pax7 and myogenic and neurogenic gene expression programs. This study provides a resource for the discovery of genomic and transcriptional features of pluripotent, mesoderm-induced ESCs, and ESCs-derived cell lineages.
An environmentally ultrasensitive fluorine probe to resolve protein conformational ensembles by19F NMR and cryo-EM
Authors: Huang Yun , Reddy Krishna , Bracken Clay , Qiu Biao , Zhan Wenhu , Eliezer David , Boudker Olga
Published: March 2022

Limited chemical shift dispersion represents a significant barrier to studying multi-state equilibria of large membrane proteins by19F NMR. We describe a novel monofluoroethyl19F probe that dramatically increases the chemical shift dispersion. The improved conformational sensitivity and line shape enable the detection of previously unresolved states in 1D NMR spectra of a 134 kDa membrane transporter. Changes in the populations of these states in response to ligand binding, mutations, and temperature correlate with population changes of distinct conformations in structural ensembles determined by single-particle cryo-electron microscopy. Thus,19F NMR can guide sample preparation to discover and visualize novel conformational states and facilitate image analysis and 3D classification.
The effect of ply drop-off on tensile strength of thermoplastic carbon fiber composite: a numerical and experimental study
Authors: Kane Daouda , Gomes Guilherme , Macanhan Vanessa , Ancelotti Jr Antonio
Published: March 2022

Purpose

In laminate composite structure design, it is common to deal with the need of varying thickness to reach project requirement or improve performance. This change of thickness can be achieved by terminating or adding plies at different locations over the laminate. Unfortunately, the inherent weakness of this construction is the presence of material and geometric discontinuities at the ply drop region that induce premature interlaminar failure at interfaces between dropped and continuous plies.

Design/methodology/approach

In this work, tensile strength tests were performed on tapered laminates with internal ply drop-off using digital image correlation (DIC) technique. The laminate based on a new thermoplastic ELIUM® 150 reinforced by a plain weave carbon fabric was manufactured via VARTM. Stress, strain, displacement and tensile strength were analyzed. A 3D finite element analysis (FEA) and design of experiments (DOEs) were carried out for the analysis of effect of position and angle orientation of dropped plies near the thinner section of the tapered laminate. Tsai Wu's criterion was implemented to predict initiation of first ply failure.

Findings

Numerical and experimental results showed that position and angle orientation of ply drop-off near the thinner thickness influence tensile strength of tapered laminate. Tensile static strength increases 12% when drop-off near the midplane is oriented at ±45° instead of 0°. Results showed a trend of improvement in the tensile strength when drop-off is positioned over midplane of the laminate composite. Results obtained through the DOEs were able to adjust the metamodel according to a linear model with great efficiency. They show the significant relevance of the manufacturing variables and the interaction between the factors.

Originality/value

The present work aims to evaluate the effect of ply drop-off on the strength of carbon fiber thermoplastic composite laminates with internal drop-off under tensile load and propose a design guideline about angle orientation and position of dropped plies closer to the thinner section of the laminate.
Effects of supply chain collaboration on customer loyalty for household electronic appliances in Vietnam
Authors: Nguyen Thi Binh , Nguyen Thi Thu Hien
Published: March 2022

Purpose

In an era of global competition, firms need to collaborate for long-term benefits. Researchers have investigated the linkages between supply chain collaboration (SCC), customer satisfaction and loyalty. However, little attention has been paid to these linkages in the home electronics sector. This study attempts to investigate the impacts of SCC on firms' competitive advantage, customer satisfaction and customer loyalty in the home electronics sector of Vietnam.

Design/methodology/approach

Besides aggregation of literature review, the authors conducted an experimental study with a sample of 300 customers who bought household electronic appliances in the first six months of 2021 in Hanoi city, Vietnam. In this study, structural equation modelling (SEM) was used to analyse the hypotheses.

Findings

The findings indicate that SCC has a positive impact on competitive advantage, increasing customer satisfaction and loyalty in the home electronics sector. Evidence also revealed that competitive advantage can be enhanced through information sharing, decision synchronisation and incentive alignment.

Originality/value

This study can be applied to foster a more effective collaboration approach amongst supply chain members in the household electronic appliances sector, which, in turn, will increase competitiveness, customer satisfaction and loyalty.
Behaviour of thin flush end-plate connections in a 3D bare steel frame under fire loading: experimental study
Authors: Khonsari Seyed Vahid , Nejati Shahin , Rahdan Mohammadreza , Ahmadi Mahdi
Published: March 2022

Purpose

The paper aims to report a fire test conducted on a three-dimensional frame in order to investigate the behaviour of bare steel flush end-plate connections with relatively low thickness at elevated temperatures.

Design/methodology/approach

A half-scale model was fabricated and exposed to modified (scaled) ISO 834 heating curve using a semi-open furnace. The maximum temperature inside the furnace reached 1,026 °C.

Findings

The rotations of connections are reported and compared with those of a previous study on an exactly the same model with thick end-plates. Various modes of failure such as local buckling of the beams flanges and lateral-torsional buckling of beams were observed during the test. Finally, the structure collapsed after 29 min of heating due to the fracture of weld between one of the beams and one of its attached end-plates whilst the other beam had undergone a maximum deflection of 35 cm (≈ 1/6 span length). Other observed failure modes included bolt fracture, bolt thread stripping and large inelastic deformation of the end-plates.

Originality/value

Although the adoption of thin end-plates increased the rotational capacity of the connections, it did not improve the robustness of the structure under fire conditions.
Construction of alternate peer teaching method for digital animation game design
Authors: Wu Haitang , Tu Hua
Published: March 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop the teaching strategies of alternating peer teaching and progressive project-oriented learning, and apply them to the curriculum design of digital animation game production, and conduct teaching experimental research.

Design/methodology/approach

This research method under the teaching strategies of alternating peer teaching and progressive project-oriented learning, to the design of digital animation game and use teaching experiment animation game production tool was Game Maker animation game production software to develop the study. The production of learning history data was used in-game projects, to verify the digital animation game design effectiveness was used SPSS statistics method, and was to compare the learning effectiveness of the different teaching modes.

Findings

Through experimental design, learners can acquire the knowledge and skills of digital animation game production under the guidance of progressive project-oriented teaching strategies. In terms of the cognition and skills of animation game production, learners have acquired the skills of taking them in animation game design to be able to independently produce and design digital animation games. The research results can be used as a reference for future research on digital animation game teaching and curriculum development.

Originality/value

This study proposed a new approach to develop the teaching strategies of alternating peer teaching and progressive project-oriented learning, to design digital animation games. The research results show that effective teaching strategies guide successful learning, it can be used as a reference for future research on digital animation game teaching and curriculum development.
Technology acceptance before and after COVID-19: no-touch service from hotel robots
Authors: Zhong Lina , Coca-Stefaniak J. Andres , Morrison Alastair M. , Yang Liyu , Deng Baolin
Published: March 2022

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the consumer acceptance of robots in hotels before and after COVID-19, with a specific emphasis on whether COVID-19 had a significant effect on the acceptance of robots by hotel guests and whether guests had higher levels of acceptance of hotel robots since the initial COVID-19 outbreak was brought under control in China.

Design/methodology/approach

The sample for this research included Chinese hotel guests before and after COVID-19, with 247 responses obtained before its outbreak and a further 601 responses gathered after. Several hypotheses were developed and tested in a pseudo-experimental design.

Findings

The results showed that COVID-19 increased hotel guest acceptance of robots. After COVID-19, the perceived importance of the usefulness, social influence, attitude and value of robots increased, while the perceived importance of the ease of use and anthropomorphism of robots decreased. As a contactless service, the usefulness of robots was more valued by customers. This led customers to lower their requirements for the ease of use of robots. In addition, people were more concerned about the social influences on robot use.

Research limitations/implications

Hotel guest attitudes and behavioral intentions toward robots and the services they can provide are changing. However, whether this change is purely ephemeral and motivated by a pragmatic stance triggered by COVID-19 remains to be established.

Practical implications

The hospitality industry is encouraged to create a new profile of guests in terms of their favorable or unfavorable disposition toward being served by robots. Hotels should consider the deployment of robots according to the demographic characteristics of customers (e.g. according to guest age levels).

Originality/value

This research demonstrated that major crises affect customer attitudes and behaviors toward new technologies. COVID-19 resulted in guests paying more attention to the advantages of services offered by hotel robots as a means of reducing the probability of contagion.
An inactivating mutation in the vacuolar arginine exporter gene Vae results in culture degeneration in the fungus Metarhizium robertsii
Authors: Song Hui , Bao Yuting , Zhang Mingxiang , Liu Shuxing , Yu Chaonan , Dai Jin , Wu Congcong , Tang Dan , Fang Weiguo
Published: March 2022

Culture degeneration usually results in great commercial losses in the economically important filamentous fungi, but the genetic causes of the degeneration remain elusive. In the fungus Metarhizium robertsii, we found that deletion of the vacuolar arginine exporter gene Vae caused culture degeneration. Compared to the WT strain, the mutant showed increased apoptosis, reactive oxygen species (ROS) level and mitochondrial membrane potential collapse, reduced conidial yield and abnormal lipid droplet formation. The extent of the degeneration in the mutant gradually increased over the successive subculturing, which eventually became irreversible; compared to the third subculture of the mutant, the seventh subculture showed a lower conidial yield and pathogenicity to insects, stronger apoptosis, higher ROS level and a smaller number of conidial lipid droplets. Incorporation of the genomic clone of Vae could not restore the WT phenotypes in the seventh subculture, but could in the third one. Loss‐of‐function in Vae resulted in vacuolar arginine accumulation and reduction in the cytosolic arginine. This downregulated the expression of the regulator CAG9 of G protein signalling pathway, which accounted for most of the phenotypic changes associated with the degeneration of the mutant. We identified a deleterious mutation that causes culture degeneration in a filamentous fugus.