bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Different dietary combinations of folic acid and vitamin B12 in parental diet results in epigenetic reprogramming of IGF2R and KCNQ1OT1 in placenta and fetal tissues in mice
Authors: Mahajan Aatish , Sapehia Divika , Bagga Rashmi , Kaur Jyotdeep
Published: May 2021

Genomic imprinting is important for mammalian development and its dysregulation can cause various developmental defects and diseases. The study evaluated the effects of different dietary combinations of folic acid and B12 on epigenetic regulation of IGF2R and KCNQ1OT1 ncRNA in C57BL/6 mice model. Female mice were fed diets with nine combinations of folic acid and B12 for 4 weeks. They were mated and off‐springs born (F1) were continued on the same diet for 6 weeks postweaning and were allowed to mate. The placenta and fetal (F2) tissues were collected at day 20 of gestation. Dietary deficiency of folate (BNFD and BOFD) and B12 (BDFN) with either state of other vitamin or combined deficiency of both vitamins (BDFD) in comparison to BNFN, were overall responsible for reduced expression of IGF2R in the placenta (F1) and the fetal liver (F2) whereas a combination of folate deficiency with different levels of B12 revealed sex‐specific differences in kidney and brain. The alterations in the expression of IGF2R caused by folate‐deficient conditions (BNFD and BOFD) and both deficient condition (BDFD) was found to be associated with an increase in suppressive histone modifications. Over‐supplementation of either folate or B12 or both vitamins in comparison to BNFN, led to increase in expression of IGF2R and KCNQ1OT1 in the placenta and fetal tissues. The increase in the expression of IGF2R caused by folate over‐supplementation (BNFO) was associated with decreased DNA methylation in fetal tissues. KCNQ1OT1 noncoding RNA (ncRNA), however, showed upregulation under deficient conditions of folate and B12 only in female fetal tissues which correlated well with hypomethylation observed under these conditions. An epigenetic reprograming of IGF2R and KCNQ1OT1 ncRNA in the offspring was evident upon different dietary combinations of folic acid and B12 in the mice.
Examination of optimized protocols for pCASL: Sensitivity to macrovascular contamination, flow dispersion, and prolonged arterial transit time
Authors: Zhang Logan X. , Woods Joseph G. , Okell Thomas W. , Chappell Michael A.
Published: May 2021

Purpose

Previously, multi‐ post‐labeling delays (PLD) pseudo‐continuous arterial spin labeling (pCASL) protocols have been optimized for the estimation accuracy of the cerebral blood flow (CBF) with/without the arterial transit time (ATT) under a standard kinetic model and a normal ATT range. This study aims to examine the estimation errors of these protocols under the effects of macrovascular contamination, flow dispersion, and prolonged arrival times, all of which might differ substantially in elderly or pathological groups.

Methods

Simulated data for four protocols with varying degrees of arterial blood volume (aBV), flow dispersion, and ATTs were fitted with different kinetic models, both with and without explicit correction for macrovascular signal contamination (MVC), to obtain CBF and ATT estimates. Sensitivity to MVC was defined and calculated when aBV > 0.5%. A previously acquired dataset was retrospectively analyzed to compare with simulation.

Results

All protocols showed underestimation of CBF and ATT in the prolonged ATT range. With MVC, the protocol optimized for CBF only (CBFopt) had the lowest sensitivity value to MVC, 33.47% and 60.21% error per 1% aBV in simulation and in vivo, respectively, among multi‐PLD protocols. All multi‐PLD protocols showed a significant decrease in estimation error when an extended kinetic model was used. Increasing flow dispersion at short ATTs caused increasing CBF and ATT overestimation in all protocols.

Conclusion

CBFopt was the least sensitive protocol to prolonged ATT and MVC for CBF estimation while maintaining reasonably good performance in estimating ATT. Explicitly including a macrovascular component in the kinetic model was shown to be a feasible approach in controlling for MVC.
Effects of motion and retrospective motion correction on the visualization and quantification of perivascular spaces in ultrahigh resolution T2‐weighted images at 7T
Authors: Zong Xiaopeng , Nanavati Soham , Hung Sheng‐Che , Li Tengfei , Lin Weili
Published: May 2021

Purpose

Motion can strongly affect MRI image quality and derived imaging measures. We studied the effects of motion and retrospective motion correction (MC) on the visualization and quantitative measures of the perivascular space and penetrating vessel (PVSV) complex, an essential part of the glymphatic system, on high‐resolution T2‐weighted MRI images at 7T.

Methods

MC was achieved by adjusting k‐space data based on head positions measured using fat navigator images. PVSV visibility and quantitative measures including diameter, volume fraction (VF), count, and contrast were compared between images with and without MC.

Results

Without MC, VF, and count decreased significantly with increasing head rotation. MC improved PVSV visualization in all cases with severe motion artifacts. MC decreased diameter in white matter (WM) and increased VF, count, and contrast in basal ganglia and WM. The changes of VF, count, and contrast after MC strongly correlated with motion severity. MC eliminated the significant dependences of VF and count on rotation and reduced the inter‐subject variations of VF and count. The effect sizes of age and breathing gas effects on VF and count, and contrast increased in most cases after MC, while those on diameter exhibited inconsistent behavior.

Conclusions

Motion affects PVSV quantification without MC. MC improves PVSV visibility and increases the statistical power of detecting physiological PVSV VF, count, and contrast changes but may have limited benefits for increasing the power for detecting diameter changes.
Exploring the knowledge of community‐based nurses in supporting parents of preterm babies at home: A survey‐based study
Authors: Petty Julia , Whiting Lisa , Fowler Cathrine , Green Janet , Mosenthal Alison
Published: May 2021

Aim

This study aimed to investigate the confidence levels, knowledge base and learning needs of community‐based nurses relating to the care of preterm babies and parents, to explore what education is required and in what format.

Design

An online survey methodology was used.

Methods

A 32‐item questionnaire was distributed via social media platforms to community‐based nurses in Australia.

Results

Descriptive analysis was undertaken relating to knowledge base, confidence levels, previous training, learning and resource needs and barriers to education. It was deemed vital to expand confidence and knowledge in this area. Gaps in learning resources were identified and a need for more training in topics such as developmental outcomes, feeding, expected milestones, weight gain, growth trajectories and supporting parents. Online resources were the preferred format to teach key knowledge to community‐based health professionals, tailored to the specific features of preterm babies and support needs of parents.
Trajectory tracking control for mobile robots considering position of mass center
Authors: Shahbazzadeh Majid , Sadati Seyed Jalil , Minagar Sara
Published: May 2021

In this study, the control problem of trajectory tracking of mobile robots considering the difference between the center of mass and the geometric center is presented. In vehicles, sometimes the mass and geometric centers are not the same, which may be due to a load. In this case, the tracking error model is obtained for the first time. Then, this model is linearized around the reference trajectory. The control law consists of feedforward and feedback actions. The feedforward part is calculated from the reference trajectory, which leads to solving a complex differential equation. On the other hand, based on the linearized tracking error model, a model predictive controller is utilized to compute the feedback control part. Finally, the simulation results illustrate the modeling accuracy and efficiency of the proposed method.
Computational Approaches to Discover Novel Natural Compounds for SARS‐CoV‐2 Therapeutics
Authors: Rampogu Shailima , Lee Gihwan , Kulkarni Apoorva M. , Kim Donghwan , Yoon Sanghwa , Kim Myeong Ok , Lee Keun Woo
Published: May 2021

Scientists all over the world are facing a challenging task of finding effective therapeutics for the coronavirus disease (COVID‐19). One of the fastest ways of finding putative drug candidates is the use of computational drug discovery approaches. The purpose of the current study is to retrieve natural compounds that have obeyed to drug‐like properties as potential inhibitors. Computational molecular modelling techniques were employed to discover compounds with potential SARS‐CoV‐2 inhibition properties. Accordingly, the InterBioScreen (IBS) database was obtained and was prepared by minimizing the compounds. To the resultant compounds, the absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion and toxicity (ADMET) and Lipinski's Rule of Five was applied to yield drug‐like compounds. The obtained compounds were subjected to molecular dynamics simulation studies to evaluate their stabilities. In the current article, we have employed the docking based virtual screening method using InterBioScreen (IBS) natural compound database yielding two compounds has potential hits. These compounds have demonstrated higher binding affinity scores than the reference compound together with good pharmacokinetic properties. Additionally, the identified hits have displayed stable interaction results inferred by molecular dynamics simulation results. Taken together, we advocate the use of two natural compounds, STOCK1N‐71493 and STOCK1N‐45683 as SARS‐CoV‐2 treatment regime.
Influence of floating plant density on potential herbicide spray loss
Authors: Mudge Christopher R , Sperry Benjamin P , Getsinger Kurt D
Published: May 2021

BACKGROUND

Mesocosm experiments were conducted to evaluate the effect of floating plant density on over‐the‐top spray solution loss to the column using a tracer dye. Experiments quantified in‐water rhodamine water tracer (RWT) dye concentration after foliar treatment at 935 L ha−1 to waterhyacinth [Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) Solms], waterlettuce (Pistia stratiotes L.) and giant salvinia (Salvinia molesta D.S. Mitchell) at 0, 25, 50 and 100% area covered (PAC).

RESULTS

As expected, spray loss to the water surface decreased with increasing plant density in all species. However, each species exhibited an unique relationship between density and percentage spray loss. The plant material required to result in 50% spray loss (ED50) was 32, 62 and 55 PAC for waterhyacinth, waterlettuce and giant salvinia, respectively. Greater ED50 estimates in waterlettuce and giant salvinia were attributed to plant architecture and leaf orientation compared to waterhyacinth, which grows more vertically and has a greater overall surface area to intercept and retain spray solution. However, when treated at 100 PAC, waterhyacinth and waterlettuce resulted in 20–25% spray loss, whereas giant salvinia resulted in only 10% loss. Consequently, giant salvinia exhibited a near 1:1 relationship between spray loss and PAC (slope = −0.93).

CONCLUSION

These data suggest that potential herbicide spray loss, as affected by plant density, is largely species‐specific and dependent on leaf morphology and plant architecture. Further research will confirm these findings under field conditions as well as to identify other parameters that might affect spray loss when treating floating and emergent plants. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry. This article has been contributed to by US Government employees and their work is in the public domain in the USA.
SIL analysis of subsea control system components based on a typical OREDA database
Authors: Mahmoudi Jafar
Published: May 2021

Proper performance evaluation of subsea system components is of high significance for reliable operation and remote monitoring or the replacement of the components before the occurrence of any failure. As a part of subsea systems, subsea control system (SCS) plays a key role in accomplishing a reliable performance. Hence, achieving knowledge of the components’ failure rates is highly important in the safety analysis of SCS. To the author's knowledge, limited work is done on the safety analysis of SCS using failure rates for a multitude of components. Also, the number of research papers that are based on industrial works is restricted. Hence, this paper aims to provide a noticeable contribution in fulfilling the referred gap. For this purpose, a safety integrity‐level (SIL) analysis is proposed based on a typical OREDA database. In the implementation of the proposed SIL, a failure mode classification table is provided for a selection of SCS components. This is followed by the estimation of several parameters, such as the total time in service, as well as obtaining the values of critical failure rates. The analysis indicates that signal failure is the failure mode occurring more than the other ones. Also, the subsea electronic module yields the highest value of critical failure rates. Besides, a comparison of parameter values is provided for two different versions of the utilized database.
Ethical issues concerning a pay-to-participate stem cell study
Authors: Turner Leigh , Snyder Jeremy
Published: May 2021

In our critique of a pay-to-participate study, we address how the failure to disclose study-related payments appears to have violated STEM CELLS Translational Medicine's editorial policies concerning conflict-of-interest and financial disclosure. Our analysis also identifies broader ethical issues and scientific concerns related to pay-to-participate studies conducted by businesses with a record of selling purported stem cell treatments before determining whether the products they sell are safe and efficacious. Authors of peer-reviewed articles have a responsibility to comply with journal policies and disclose financial conflicts of interest to editors, reviewers, and readers. Authors should also disclose when stem cell interventions being tested in clinical trials have already been sold on a direct-to-consumer basis as “stem cell treatments” by authors' affiliate institutions. Financial conflicts of interest and other forms of possible bias must be disclosed to put clinical studies in context and facilitate the critical assessment of research methods, findings, and conclusions. The apparent failure to comply with journal editorial policies and disclose such financial conflicts warrants careful investigation.
Surveillance of a vomiting outbreak in dogs in the UK using owner‐derived and internet search data
Authors: Woolley Charlotte S. C. , Handel Ian G. , Bronsvoort Barend M. , Schoenebeck Jeffrey J. , Clements Dylan N.
Published: May 2021

Background

In early 2020, the Small Animal Veterinary Surveillance Network reported evidence of an outbreak of acute prolific vomiting in dogs in the UK. The aims of this study were to investigate whether there was evidence for a vomiting outbreak in Dogslife and Google Trends data and to describe its characteristics.

Methods

Incidence of Dogslife vomiting reports and the Google search index for ‘dog vomiting’ and ‘puppy vomiting’ between December 2019 and March 2020 was compared to the respective data from the same months in previous years. Risks for dogs vomiting and factors influencing veterinary attendance in Dogslife were identified using multivariable logistic regression.

Results

This study confirmed a vomiting outbreak was evident in UK dogs between December 2019 and March 2020 using data from Dogslife and Google Trends. The odds of a vomiting incident being reported to Dogslife was 1.51 (95% CI: 1.24–1.84) in comparison to previous years. Dogslife data identified differences in owner‐decision making when seeking veterinary attention and identified factors associated with dogs at higher odds of experiencing a vomiting episode.

Conclusion

Owner‐derived data including questionnaires and internet search queries should be considered a valid, valuable source of information for veterinary population health surveillance.
Research perspectives and further studies on catalyst effects on the stability of different polyethylenes during multiple extrusion: Inter‐relationship of oxidation chemistry and antioxidant activity
Authors: Allen Norman S. , Liauw Christopher M. , Edge Michele , Hoang Eric , Fontan Eusebio
Published: May 2021

The degradation and stabilization of an extensive range of unstabilized and stabilized polyethylenes during multiple extrusions are examined in order to investigate and determine their chemical and structural changes and inter‐relationship with different commercial antioxidant/stabilizer packages including nondust blends. Unsaturation changes were also assessed after each extrusion. Oxidative stability was also evaluated by hydroperoxide analysis and carbonyl index. Metal catalysts residues of the neat polymers were determined and their contribution toward the overall oxidative stability of the polymers assessed along with the activity of the phenolic/phosphite antioxidants (as determined by HPLC). All the chromium‐based HD polyethylenes and the metallocene LLDPE crosslinked during multiple extrusions. The HDPE with high Cr/Ti and Al levels underwent chain scission after the second extrusion. The results indicated that crosslinking reactions during processing were initiated at the unsaturated groups. Melt flow index (MFI) changes observed during processing were accompanied by vinyl disappearance and trans‐vinylene formation. The addition of alkyl radicals to vinyl unsaturations appears to be the main reaction. All stabilized packages effectively inhibited carbonyl growth during multiple extrusions but did not inhibit MFI change due to the crosslinking reactions, except for one LLDPE.
Knowledge‐based enrichment: Development of a novel enrichment device for captive chimpanzees
Authors: Brooks James , Yoshimura Hiroto , Taki Yuto
Published: May 2021

The field of environmental enrichment has grown considerably, but most enrichment is still focused on tasks where highly valued food rewards are directly visible. We designed a device which would instead make use of knowledge states, motivational structure, and physical reasoning skills and could use hidden, low‐quality food items while remaining low in cost. Food items were hidden in small cardboard tubes and placed snugly inside another, larger, tube such that they were difficult to extract and presented a challenging dexterity and physical reasoning task. Rare favored food items were distributed so animals would be rewarded at irregular intervals. The devices were then presented to two groups of chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) who either had experience extracting food from identical small cardboard tubes or had no such experience. We found that the chimpanzees with no prior experience with the small tubes used the device very little until one individual removed a small tube, revealing the food inside, at which point use time significantly increased. In the knowledgeable group, no change was observed after the first tube retrieval. Individuals in both groups used the devices for over 20 min each on average over a 1‐h observation period, and in both facilities at least one device still contained all inner tubes. Our study suggests that enrichment can make use of animals' prior knowledge, that enrichment devices can thus be layered into one another, and reiterates the importance of considering animals' psychology in designing enrichment.
Milk composition of white rhinoceros over lactation and comparison with other Perissodactyla
Authors: Osthoff Gernot , Beukes Blake , Steyn Aletta C. , Hugo Arnold , Deacon Francois , Butler Hendrik J. B. , O'Neill Frans H. , Grobler J. Paul
Published: May 2021

The proximate composition of milk from fifteen free‐ranging white rhinoceroses at different lactation stages is reported with detailed analysis of fatty acid composition and minerals. Lactose is the main component at 7.93 ± 0.53%, followed by 0.93 ± 0.19% protein, 1.76 ± 0.39% fat, 0.40 ± 0.18% ash, 0.05 ± 0.01% glucose, and 0.04 ± 0.02% non protein nitrogen The interindividual variation of all the components is high, showing no trend of change over lactation. The K and P content decreased over lactation. The fatty acid composition of rhinoceros milk is characteristic with a high saturated fatty acids content of 62%–84%, of which the medium chain fatty acids form the major portion. The C10:0, C12:0, C16:0, and C18:1c9 are the major fatty acids in the milk fat. The results are compared with the two other Perissodactylae families, the Equidae and Tapiridae. Differences in gross composition are small, but the milk of the Rhinocerotidae have the lowest gross energy, while the milk fats consist of the highest amounts of saturated fatty acids, while the low levels of C16:1c9 and C18:1c9 indicate the lowest mammary Δ9‐desaturase activity.
Generation and Molecular Characterization of Transient tet1/2/3 Zebrafish Knockouts
Authors: Ross Samuel E. , Bogdanovic Ozren
Published: May 2021

5-methylcytosine (5mC) is a gene-regulatory mark associated with transcriptional repression. 5mC can be erased through the catalytic action of Ten-eleven translocation (TET) methylcytosine dioxygenases (TET1, TET2, TET3), which oxidize 5mC resulting in its removal from the genome. In vertebrates, TET enzymes facilitate DNA demethylation of regulatory regions linked to genes involved in developmental processes. Consequently, TET ablation leads to severe morphological defects and developmental arrest. Here we describe a system that can facilitate the study of relationships between TET enzymes, 5mC, and embryo development. We provide detailed descriptions for the generation of F0 zebrafish tet1/2/3 knockouts using CRISPR/Cas9 technology and elaborate on the strategies to assess the impact of TET loss by reduced representation bisulfite sequencing (RRBS).
Estimating Global Methylation and Erasure Using Low-Coverage Whole-Genome Bisulfite Sequencing (WGBS)
Authors: Ortega-Recalde Oscar , Peat Julian R. , Bond Donna M. , Hore Timothy A.
Published: May 2021

Whole-genome bisulfite sequencing (WGBS) is a popular method for characterizing cytosine methylation because it is fully quantitative and has base-pair resolution. While WGBS is prohibitively expensive for experiments involving many samples, low-coverage WGBS can accurately determine global methylation and erasure at similar cost to high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) or enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). Moreover, low-coverage WGBS has the capacity to distinguish between methylation in different cytosine contexts (e.g., CG, CHH, and CHG), can tolerate low-input material (<100 cells), and can detect the presence of overrepresented DNA originating from mitochondria or amplified ribosomal DNA. In addition to describing a WGBS library construction and quantitation approach, here we detail computational methods to predict the accuracy of low-coverage WGBS using empirical bootstrap samplers and theoretical estimators similar to those used in election polling. Using examples, we further demonstrate how non-independent sampling of cytosines can alter the precision of error calculation and provide methods to improve this.
Gaining Insight into Determinants of Physical Activity Using Bayesian Network Learning
Authors: Tummers Simone C. M. W. , Hommersom Arjen , Lechner Lilian , Bolman Catherine , Bemelmans Roger
Published: May 2021

Bayesian network modelling is applied to health psychology data in order to obtain more insight into the determinants of physical activity. This preliminary study discusses some challenges to apply general machine learning methods to this application domain, and Bayesian networks in particular. We investigate several suitable methods for dealing with missing data, and determine which method obtains good results in terms of fitting the data. Furthermore, we present the learnt Bayesian network model for this e-health intervention case study, and conclusions are drawn about determinants of physical activity behaviour change and how the intervention affects physical activity behaviour and its determinants. We also evaluate the contributions of Bayesian network analysis compared to traditional statistical analyses in this field. Finally, possible extensions on the performed analyses are proposed.
Conceptual design of BabyIAXO, the intermediate stage towards the International Axion Observatory
Authors:   The IAXO collaboration, Abeln A. , Altenmüller K. , Arguedas Cuendis S. , Armengaud E. , Attié D. , Aune S. , Basso S. , Bergé L. , Biasuzzi B. , Borges De Sousa P. T. C. , Brun P. , Bykovskiy N. , Calvet D. , Carmona J. M. , Castel J. F. , Cebrián S. , Chernov V. , Christensen F. E. , Civitani M. M. , Cogollos C. , Dafní T. , Derbin A. , Desch K. , Díez D. , Dinter M. , Döbrich B. , Drachnev I. , Dudarev A. , Dumoulin L. , Ferreira D. D. M. , Ferrer-Ribas E. , Fleck I. , Galán J. , Gascón D. , Gastaldo L. , Giannotti M. , Giomataris Y. , Giuliani A. , Gninenko S. , Golm J. , Golubev N. , Hagge L. , Hahn J. , Hailey C. J. , Hengstler D. , Henriksen P. L. , Houdy T. , Iglesias-Marzoa R. , Iguaz F. J. , Irastorza I. G. , Iñiguez C. , Jakovčić K. , Kaminski J. , Kanoute B. , Karstensen S. , Kravchuk L. , Lakić B. , Lasserre T. , Laurent P. , Limousin O. , Lindner A. , Loidl M. , Lomskaya I. , López-Alegre G. , Lubsandorzhiev B. , Ludwig K. , Luzón G. , Malbrunot C. , Margalejo C. , Marin-Franch A. , Marnieros S. , Marutzky F. , Mauricio J. , Menesguen Y. , Mentink M. , Mertens S. , Mescia F. , Miralda-Escudé J. , Mirallas H. , Mols J. P. , Muratova V. , Navick X. F. , Nones C. , Notari A. , Nozik A. , Obis L. , Oriol C. , Orsini F. , Ortiz de Solórzano A. , Oster S. , Pais Da Silva H. P. , Pantuev V. , Papaevangelou T. , Pareschi G. , Perez K. , Pérez O. , Picatoste E. , Pivovaroff M. J. , Poda D. V. , Redondo J. , Ringwald A. , Rodrigues M. , Rueda-Teruel F. , Rueda-Teruel S. , Ruiz-Choliz E. , Ruz J. , Saemann E. O. , Salvado J. , Schiffer T. , Schmidt S. , Schneekloth U. , Schott M. , Segui L. , Tavecchio F. , ten Kate H. H. J. , Tkachev I. , Troitsky S. , Unger D. , Unzhakov E. , Ushakov N. , Vogel J. K. , Voronin D. , Weltman A. , Werthenbach U. , Wuensch W. , Yanes-Díaz A.
Published: May 2021

Abstract

This article describes BabyIAXO, an intermediate experimental stage of the International Axion Observatory (IAXO), proposed to be sited at DESY. IAXO is a large-scale axion helioscope that will look for axions and axion-like particles (ALPs), produced in the Sun, with unprecedented sensitivity. BabyIAXO is conceived to test all IAXO subsystems (magnet, optics and detectors) at a relevant scale for the final system and thus serve as prototype for IAXO, but at the same time as a fully-fledged helioscope with relevant physics reach itself, and with potential for discovery. The BabyIAXO magnet will feature two 10 m long, 70 cm diameter bores, and will host two detection lines (optics and detector) of dimensions similar to the final ones foreseen for IAXO. BabyIAXO will detect or reject solar axions or ALPs with axion-photon couplings down to gaγ ∼ 1.5 × 10−11 GeV−1, and masses up to ma ∼ 0.25 eV. BabyIAXO will offer additional opportunities for axion research in view of IAXO, like the development of precision x-ray detectors to identify particular spectral features in the solar axion spectrum, and the implementation of radiofrequency-cavity-based axion dark matter setups.
Challenges for a QCD axion at the 10 MeV scale
Authors: Liu Jia , McGinnis Navin , Wagner Carlos E. M. , Wang Xiao-Ping
Published: May 2021

Abstract

We report on an interesting realization of the QCD axion, with mass in the range $$ \mathcal{O} $$
O
(10) MeV. It has previously been shown that although this scenario is stringently constrained from multiple sources, the model remains viable for a range of parameters that leads to an explanation of the Atomki experiment anomaly. In this article we study in more detail the additional constraints proceeding from recent low energy experiments and study the compatibility of the allowed parameter space with the one leading to consistency of the most recent measurements of the electron anomalous magnetic moment and the fine structure constant. We further provide an ultraviolet completion of this axion variant and show the conditions under which it may lead to the observed quark masses and CKM mixing angles, and remain consistent with experimental constraints on the extended scalar sector appearing in this Standard Model extension. In particular, the decay of the Standard Model-like Higgs boson into two light axions may be relevant and leads to a novel Higgs boson signature that may be searched for at the LHC in the near future.
Pseudomomentum: origins and consequences
Authors: Singh H. , Hanna J. A.
Published: May 2021

The balance of pseudomomentum is discussed and applied to simple elasticity, ideal fluids, and the mechanics of inextensible rods and sheets. A general framework is presented in which the simultaneous variation of an action with respect to position, time, and material labels yields bulk balance laws and jump conditions for momentum, energy, and pseudomomentum. The example of simple elasticity of space-filling solids is treated at length. The pseudomomentum balance in ideal fluids is shown to imply conservation of vorticity, circulation, and helicity, and a mathematical similarity is noted between the evaluation of circulation along a material loop and the J-integral of fracture mechanics. Integration of the pseudomomentum balance, making use of a prescription for singular sources derived by analogy with the continuous form of the balance, directly provides the propulsive force driving passive reconfiguration or locomotion of confined, inhomogeneous elastic rods. The conserved angular momentum and pseudomomentum are identified in the classification of conical sheets with rotational inertia or bending energy.
Homöopathie – eine Therapieoption für die Praxis?
Authors: Lübbers Christian W. , Endruscheit Udo
Published: May 2021

Viele Veröffentlichungen bezeichnen die Homöopathie als „umstritten“. Angesichts umfangreicher Forschungsergebnisse zur Homöopathie besteht jedoch längst weitestgehend wissenschaftlicher Konsens dahin, dass es keinen belastbaren Beleg für eine spezifische medizinische Wirksamkeit gibt. Die Gesamtevidenz spricht klar gegen Effekte, die über die von Placebo- und anderen Kontexteffekten hinausgehen. Umso mehr muss es als Phänomen erscheinen, dass die Homöopathie nach wie vor Gegenstand medizinisch-therapeutischer Praxis ist. Dies mag eine wesentliche Ursache darin haben, dass sich die homöopathische Szene der medizinischen Forschung und des Evidenzbegriffs auf eine Weise bemächtigt, die geeignet ist, den Anschein aufrechtzuerhalten, es gäbe noch einen wissenschaftlich relevanten Diskurs zu bestreiten. Dass dies nicht der Fall ist und deshalb die Homöopathie als therapeutische Option, auch nach den Grundsätzen zeitgemäßer Medizinethik, obsolet ist, will der nachstehende Beitrag begründen.
Manuelle Medizin, manuelle Therapie
Authors: Locher Hermann
Published: May 2021

Manuelle Medizin ist die medizinische Disziplin, die sich umfassend mit Diagnose, Therapie und Prävention reversibler Funktionsstörungen am Bewegungsorgan und anderen damit verbundenen Organsystemen befasst. Der Beitrag beleuchtet neuroanatomische und -physiologische Grundelemente der Wirkungsweisen manualmedizinischer Diagnostik und Therapie. Anhand neuester Literatur und Betrachtung verschiedener wissenschaftlicher Leitlinien wird die evidenzbasierte Wirksamkeit manualmedizinischer Verfahren dargestellt, im Einzelnen: akute und chronische Lumbalgie, zervikogener Kopfschmerz, Schulter- und Nackenschmerzen, radikulärer Armschmerz, dysfunktionelle thorakale Schmerzsyndrome, Erkrankungen der Rotatorenmanschette, Karpaltunnelsyndrom und Plantarfasziitis. Fallbeispiele veranschaulichen die klinische Vorgehensweise. Die Begrifflichkeit, die Provenienz und die klinische Präsenz der „Osteopathie“ werden ausführlich gewürdigt, und die nationalen und internationalen Vereinigungen und Gesellschaften der manuellen Medizin (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Manuelle Medizin [DGMM], European Scientific Society of Manual Medicine [ESSOMM], Fédération Internationale de Medicine Manuelle [FIMM]) werden lexikalisch dargestellt. Abschließend finden sich Kontraindikationen und ein Ausblick auf die Erfordernisse und Möglichkeiten der wissenschaftlichen Schmerzanalyse, wie sie in der Präambel der Leitlinie „Spezifischer Kreuzschmerz“ der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Orthopädie und Orthopädische Chirurgie (DGOOC) postuliert werden.
Diagnosis and management of non-clonal erythrocytosis remains challenging: a single centre clinical experience
Authors: Anžej Doma Saša , Drnovšek Eva , Kristan Aleša , Fink Martina , Sever Matjaž , Podgornik Helena , Belčič Mikič Tanja , Debeljak Nataša , Preložnik Zupan Irena
Published: May 2021

Erythrocytosis has a diverse background. While polycythaemia vera has well defined criteria, the diagnostic approach and management of other types of erythrocytosis are more challenging. The aim of study was to retrospectively analyse the aetiology and management of non-clonal erythrocytosis patients referred to a haematology outpatient clinic in an 8-year period using a 3-step algorithm. The first step was inclusion of patients with Hb > 185 g/L and/or Hct > 0.52 in men and Hb > 165 g/L and/or Hct > 0.48 in women on two visits ≥ two months apart, thus confirming true erythrocytosis. Secondly, polycythaemia vera was excluded and secondary causes of erythrocytosis (SE) identified. Thirdly, idiopathic erythrocytosis patients (IE) were referred to next-generation sequencing for possible genetic background evaluation. Of the 116 patients, 75 (65%) are men and 41 (35%) women, with non-clonal erythrocytosis 34/116 (29%) had SE, 15/116 (13%) IE and 67/116 (58%) stayed incompletely characterized (ICE). Patients with SE were significantly older and had significantly higher Hb and Hct compared to patients with IE. Most frequently, SE was attributed to obstructive sleep apnoea and smoking. Phlebotomies were performed in 56, 53 and 40% of patients in the SE, IE, and ICE group, respectively. Approx. 70% of patients in each group received aspirin. Thrombotic events were registered in 12, 20 and 15% of SE, IE and ICE patients, respectively. Congenital erythrocytosis type 4 (ECYT4) was diagnosed in one patient. The study demonstrates real-life management of non-clonal erythrocytosis which could be optimized using a 3-step diagnostic algorithm.
MRI in head and neck cancer following chemoradiotherapy: what is the optimal delay to demonstrate maximal response?
Authors: Connor S. E. J. , Burd C. , Sivarasan N. , Goh V.
Published: May 2021

Objectives

To investigate the optimal timing for post-chemoradiotherapy (CRT) reference magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in head and neck cancer, so as to demonstrate a maximal treatment response. To assess whether this differs in human papillomavirus–related oropharyngeal cancer (HPV-OPC) and whether the MRI timing impacts on the ability to predict treatment success.

Methods

Following ethical approval and informed consent, 45 patients (40 male, mean age 59.7 ± 7.9 years, 33 HPV-OPC) with stage 3 and 4 HNSCC underwent pre-treatment, 6- and 12-week post-CRT MRIs in this prospective cohort study. Primary tumour (n = 39) size, T2w morphology and diffusion weight imaging (DWI) scores, together with nodal (n = 42) size and necrotic/cystic change, were recorded. Interval imaging changes were analysed for all patients and according to HPV-OPC status. MRI descriptors and their interval changes were also compared with 2-year progression-free survival (PFS).

Results

All MRI descriptors significantly changed between pre-treatment and 6-week post-treatment MRI studies (p < .001). Primary tumour and nodal volume decreased between 6- and 12-week studies; however, interval changes in linear dimensions were only evident for HPV-OPC lymph nodes. Nodal necrosis scores also evolved after 6 weeks but other descriptors were stable. The 6-week nodal necrosis score and the 6- and 12-week nodal volume were predictive of 2-year PFS.

Conclusion

Apart from HPV-OPC patients with nodal disease, the 6-week post-CRT MRI demonstrates maximal reduction in the linear dimensions of head and neck cancer; however, a later reference study should be considered if volumetric analysis is applied.

Key Points

• This study provides guidance on when early post-treatment imaging should be performed in head and neck cancer following chemoradiotherapy, in order to aid subsequent detection of recurrent tumour.

• Lymph nodes in HPV-related oropharyngeal cancer patients clearly reduced in size from 6 to 12 weeks post-treatment. However, other lymph node disease and all primary tumours showed only a minor reduction in size beyond 6 weeks, and this required a detailed volumetric analysis for demonstration.

• Timing of the reference MRI following chemoradiotherapy for head and neck cancer depends on whether the patient has HPV-related oropharyngeal cancer and whether there is nodal disease. MRI as early as 6 weeks post-treatment may be performed unless volumetric analysis is routinely performed.
Endometrial delay is found to be part of a normal individual dynamic transformation process
Authors: Alfer Joachim , Popovici Roxana M. , Fattahi Amir , Krieg Jürgen , Dittrich Ralf , Beckmann Matthias W. , Hartmann Arndt , Bleisinger Nathalie
Published: May 2021

Purpose

Limited information is clinically available concerning endometrial receptivity; assessing endometrial transformation status is therefore an urgent topic in assisted reproductive technology. This study aimed to investigate individual endometrial transformation rates during the secretory phase in subfertile patients using personal endometrial transformation analysis.

Methods

Monitoring was carried out during the secretory phase to obtain endometrial receptivity profiles. For the investigation, two endometrial biopsies were taken within one menstrual cycle. The extended endometrial dating was based on the Noyes criteria, combined with immunohistochemical analyses of hormone receptors and proliferation marker Ki-67. Biopsies were taken mainly at days ovulation (OV, n = 76)/hormone replacement therapy (HRT, n = 58) + 5 and + 10.

Results

The results of the two biopsies were correlated with the clinically expected day of the cycle and showed temporal delays or hypercompensations, diverging from the expected cycle days by 0.5–5 days. In comparison with the first biopsies, the transformation rate in the second biopsies showed compensation, augmented delay, or constant transformation in 48.69, 22.37, and 28.94% of cases for ovulation in natural cycles and 56.89, 25.85, and 17.26% for HRT cycles, respectively.

Conclusion

The study revealed an individually dynamic transformation process of the endometrium, with the ability to compensate or enlarge an initial “delay”, which is now identified as a normal individual transformation process during the secretory phase. This information is of great importance for the scientific investigation of dynamic changes in endometrial tissue, as well as for the timing of embryo transfers.
Metabolic instability vs fibre recruitment contribution to the $${\dot{V}O_2}$$ slow component in different exercise intensity domains
Authors: Colosio Alessandro L , Caen Kevin , Bourgois Jan G. , Boone Jan , Pogliaghi Silvia
Published: May 2021

This study focused on the steady-state phase of exercise to evaluate the relative contribution of metabolic instability (measured with NIRS and haematochemical markers) and muscle activation (measured with EMG) to the oxygen consumption ($${\dot{V}O_2}$$

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) slow component ($${\dot{V}O_2}{_s}{_c}$$

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) in different intensity domains. We hypothesized that (i) after the transient phase, $${\dot{V}O_2}$$

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, metabolic instability and muscle activation tend to increase differently over time depending on the relative exercise intensity and (ii) the increase in $${\dot{V}O_2}{_s}{_c}$$

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 is explained by a combination of metabolic instability and muscle activation. Eight active men performed a constant work rate trial of 9 min in the moderate, heavy and severe intensity domains. $${\dot{V}O_2}$$

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, root mean square by EMG (RMS), deoxyhaemoglobin by NIRS ([HHb]) and haematic markers of metabolic stability (i.e. [La−], pH, HCO3−) were measured. The physiological responses in different intensity domains were compared by two-way RM-ANOVA. The relationships between the increases of [HHb] and RMS with $${\dot{V}O_2}$$

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 after the third min were compared by simple and multiple linear regressions. We found domain-dependent dynamics over time of $${\dot{V}O_2}$$

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, [HHb], RMS and the haematic markers of metabolic instability. After the transient phase, the rises in [HHb] and RMS showed medium–high correlations with the rise in $${\dot{V}O_2}$$

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 ([HHb] r = 0.68, p < 0.001; RMS r = 0.59, p = 0.002). Moreover, the multiple linear regression showed that both metabolic instability and muscle activation concurred to the $${\dot{V}O_2}{_s}{_c}$$

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 (r = 0.75, [HHb] p = 0.005, RMS p = 0.042) with metabolic instability possibly having about threefold the relative weight compared to recruitment. Seventy-five percent of the dynamics of the $${\dot{V}O_2}{_s}{_c}$$

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 was explained by [HHb] and RMS.
Evidence of active magmatic rifting at the Ma’Alalta volcanic field (Afar, Ethiopia)
Authors: Tortelli Gianmaria , Gioncada Anna , Pagli Carolina , Rosi Mauro , De Dosso Laura , Keir Derek
Published: May 2021

During continental rifting, strain and magmatism are believed to localize to narrow magmatic segments, while the rift margin is progressively abandoned. We integrate volcanological, geochemical, petrological and seismic data from the Ma’Alalta volcanic field (MVF) near the western margin of Afar, to show that the MVF is an active magmatic segment. Magmatism in MVF initiated with lava flows and large-volume, caldera-forming ignimbrites from a central edifice. However, the most recent magmatic activity shifted towards mafic lava fields, cinder cones and obsidian-rich silicic domes erupted from vents aligned NNW-SSE, defining a ~ 35-km-long magmatic segment. Along the same area, a NNW-SSE alignment of earthquakes was recorded by two local seismic networks (2005–2009 and 2011–2013). The geochemistry of the mafic rocks is similar to those of nearby axial volcanoes. Inferred magma storage depth from mineral geobarometry shows that a shallow, silicic chamber existed at ~ 5-km depth below the stratovolcano, while a stacked plumbing system with at least three magma storage levels between 9 and 24 km depth fed the recent basalts. We interpret the wide set of observations from the MVF as evidence that the area is an active magmatic segment, showing that localised axial extension can be heavily offset towards the rift margin.
Cyber sickness in low-immersive, semi-immersive, and fully immersive virtual reality
Authors: Martirosov Sergo , Bureš Marek , Zítka Tomáš
Published: May 2021

It is known that virtual reality (VR) experience may cause cyber sickness. One aspect of VR is an immersion or otherwise sense of presence, the sense of feeling oneself in a virtual world. In this paper an experiment which was conducted in order to find the link between level of immersion and cyber sickness felt by participants is presented. Eighty-nine participants aged between 19 and 36 years have been equally divided into four groups with different level of VR immersion. The low-immersive group was represented by PC with monoscopic screen, the semi-immersive group was represented by CAVE with stereoscopic projector, the fully immersive group was represented by VR head-mounted display, and the last group was the control group without any kind of immersion. The task for the participants was to navigate through the maze for a specified amount of time (10 min). The Simulator Sickness Questionnaire was used as a subjective measure tool for cyber sickness level and Grooved Pegboard Test for assessing the fine dexterity, both before and after the experiment. Regarding the time spend in VR the fully immersive environment had the biggest problems as more than half of the participants had to stop before 10 min (p < 0.001). Concerning the cyber sickness, the significant increase in nausea score between pre-test and post-test scores has been observed in semi-immersive group (p = 0.0018) and fully immersive group (p < 0.0001). The increase in oculomotor score was smaller. The significant difference was noted only in fully immersive group (p = 0.0449). In spite of great nausea factor after the VR immersion the participants did not show a decrease of fine dexterity in any group (p < 0.001).
Nonlinear dynamic responses of sandwich functionally graded porous cylindrical shells embedded in elastic media under 1:1 internal resonance
Authors: Liu Yunfei , Qin Zhaoye , Chu Fulei
Published: May 2021

In this article, the nonlinear dynamic responses of sandwich functionally graded (FG) porous cylindrical shell embedded in elastic media are investigated. The shell studied here consists of three layers, of which the outer and inner skins are made of solid metal, while the core is FG porous metal foam. Partial differential equations are derived by utilizing the improved Donnell’s nonlinear shell theory and Hamilton’s principle. Afterwards, the Galerkin method is used to transform the governing equations into nonlinear ordinary differential equations, and an approximate analytical solution is obtained by using the multiple scales method. The effects of various system parameters, specifically, the radial load, core thickness, foam type, foam coefficient, structure damping, and Winkler-Pasternak foundation parameters on nonlinear internal resonance of the sandwich FG porous thin shells are evaluated.
Frequency and Correlates of Fathers' Accommodation in Pediatric Anxiety Disorders
Authors: Alcan Ena , Anderson Tess , Lebowitz Eli R.
Published: May 2021

Previous studies investigating family accommodation (FA) in pediatric anxiety disorders have primarily relied on mothers' reports, while data on FA by fathers remains scarce. We examined the frequency and correlates of fathers' FA of anxious children and compared fathers’ and mothers’ reports of FA. Participants were 69 parents of treatment-seeking children and adolescents with a primary anxiety disorder. FA was highly prevalent amongst fathers, with the majority of fathers participating in symptom-related behaviors and modifying family routines due to child anxiety. Fathers' accommodation levels were significantly correlated with fathers' reports of child internalizing symptoms, child externalizing symptoms, and fathers' own anxiety symptoms. Fathers’ and mothers’ reports of FA were moderately correlated, whereas their reports of their respective distress related to the need to accommodate were only weakly correlated. Fathers reported a significantly lower frequency of FA than did mothers. These findings highlight the importance of obtaining reports from both fathers and mothers when assessing FA. Results are particularly relevant to family-focused and parent-based interventions designed to address and reduce FA amongst parents of clinically anxious children.
Correction to: The Japanese Breast Cancer Society Clinical Practice Guidelines for Breast Cancer Screening and Diagnosis, 2018 Edition
Authors: Uematsu Takayoshi , Nakashima Kazutaka , Kikuchi Mari , Kubota Kazunori , Suzuki Akihiko , Nakano Shogo , Hirokaga Kouichi , Yamaguchi Ken , Saji Shigehira , Iwata Hiroji
Published: May 2021

A correction to this paper has been published: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12282-021-01251-y
Linke Außenpolitik – einige Überlegungen
Authors: Bartsch Dietmar
Published: May 2021

Im Zentrum der außenpolitischen Agenda der Partei DIE LINKE steht der Gedanke, dass die kooperative Bearbeitung von Interessenskonflikten und globalen Problemen eine stabile Völkerrechtsordnung voraussetzt. Der vorliegende Beitrag diskutiert daher ausgewählte Staatenorganisationen bezüglich ihrer Eignung für eine kooperative Praxis.