bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Experimental investigation of performance tailoring of the multifunctional sensor using transition metal (Fe) doped ZnO nanorods synthesized via a facile solution-based method
Authors: Ramany Kiruthika , Shankararajan Radha , Savarimuthu Kirubaveni , Venkatachalapathi Shyamala , Gunasekaran Iyappan , Rajamanickam Govindaraj , Perumalsamy Ramasamy
Published: October 2021

A systematic interpretation of the undoped and Fe doped ZnO based multifunctional sensor developed employing economic and facile low-temperature hydrothermal method is reported. The tailoring of the performance improvement of the sensor was deliberately carried out using varied concentration (1, 3 and 5 Wt%) of Fe dopant in ZnO nanorods. The structural and morphological analysis reveal the undisturbed ZnO hexagonal wurtzite structure formation and 1D morphology grown even when the dopant is added. The optical property study evidences a decreased bandgap (3.10 eV) and decreased defects of 5 Wt% of Fe dopant in ZnO nanorods based sensor compared to the undoped one. The electrical process transpiring in the tailored multifunctional sensor is investigated using photoconductivity and impedance analysis elucidates proper construction of p–n junction between the piezoelectric n-type active layer (undoped and Fe doped ZnO nanorods) and p-type PEDOT:PSS ((poly(3,4-ethylene dioxythiophene) polystyrene sulfonate)) and reduced internal resistance of 5 Wt% of Fe dopant in ZnO nanorods based sensor (131.97 Ω) respectively. The investigation on the experimental piezoelectric acceleration and gas sensing validation and the performance measurement were interpreted using test systems. A revamped output voltage of 3.71 V for 1 g input acceleration and a comprehensive sensitivity of 7.17 V g−1 was achieved for the 5 Wt% of Fe dopant in ZnO nanorods based sensor sensor. Similarly, an upgraded sensitivity of 2.04 and 6.75 for 5 Wt% of Fe dopant in ZnO nanorods based sensor was obtained when exposed to 10 ppm of target gases namely CO and CH4 respectively at room temperature. Appending to this, acceptable stability of the sensor for both the sensing (acceleration and gas) was also attained manifesting its prospective application in multifunctional based systems like sewage systems.
Low-speed flutter of artificial stalk-leaf and its application in wind energy harvesting
Authors: Wang Kun , Xia Wei , Lin Tianlong , Wu Jianmin , Hu Shuling
Published: October 2021

Developing wind energy harvester (WEH) by mimicking the leaf flutter may provide an innovative way for increasing the power efficiency and decreasing the cut-in speed. The low-speed flutter mechanism of the stalk-leaf system is investigated through introducing a frictionless hinge into the stalk-leaf finite element model. The aeroelastic system is established by the usage of doublet-lattice aerodynamics and the spline interpolation between structural motion and flow downwash. The critical flutter speed and frequency are analyzed via V-g method. The evolution of damping and frequency with wind speed which various from static air to Beaufort level 5 are simulated. The influence of inclined angle of the stalk on the flutter characteristics is studied. The stainless-steel artificial stalk-leaf systems with inclined angles of 0°, 15°, 30°, 45°, 60°, 75°, and 90° are fabricated and tested in wind tunnel. The wind energy harvesting performance is also measured by attaching macro-fiber composite patches on root of the stalk. It is found that the 30° stalk-leaf WEH has the lowest critical flutter speed, while the energy harvesting output (voltage and power) increases slowly with the increase of the wind speed. On the contrary, although the 90° stalk-leaf (vertical stalk) WEH has the steepest velocity-voltage and velocity-power curve, it also has the highest cut-in speed. In the preliminary tests, the 30° stalk-leaf WEH outputs steady power density of 47.46 μW cm−3 with stable oscillating frequency of 6.6 Hz at 11 m s−1 wind, while the 90° stalk-leaf WEH outputs power density of 92.88 μW cm−3 with oscillating frequency of 7.2 Hz at the same wind speed. The stalk-leaf design presents a possible way to balance the performance between the high efficiency and the low cut-in speed for the WEHs.
Bio-inspired soft bistable actuator with dual actuations
Authors: Wang Xing , Zhou Hongyu , Kang Hanwen , Au Wesley , Chen Chao
Published: October 2021

Soft bending actuators, as one of the most important components of soft robotics, have attracted significantly increasing attention due to their robustness, compliance, inherent safety, and ease of manufacture. However, the key disadvantages can be the low output force, slow response speed, large deformation and vibration, which can potentially be addressed by introducing a bistable mechanism enabled by a prestressed steel shell. This work proposes a novel soft actuator with bistable property, which can maintain the predefined initial state and enhance bending motion at the corresponding stable state. A novel dual-actuation mechanism, which utilises pneumatic pressure for closing and tendon-driven for opening process, is proposed for autonomous transition between both states, and for a fast response. Mathematical model is proposed and compared with the experimental result for triggering pressure, which serves as a threshold to activate the transition of the stable state. Experimental results also indicate that closing and opening speeds are enhanced by 9.82% and more than ten times, respectively, as compared with the existing pneumatic bistable reinforced actuator design. Mathematical and experimental results suggest that a programmable bending angle at the second stable state can also be achieved by adjusting the preset tendon extension. The tendon arrangement also acts as a passive damping mechanism to reduce the oscillation while closing. The damping ratio is increased by more than four times, indicating that the oscillation decay is significantly accelerated for quick stabilization. Finally, a three-finger soft gripper is developed based on the proposed actuator design, which demonstrates promising performance in grasping objects with various shapes and sizes. The experimental results also show that the proposed bistable gripper can grasp the object with a weight up to 2067 g, which is more than 17 times heavier than that of three actuators.
Design and fabrication of a crawling robot based on a soft actuator
Authors: Li Junfeng , Chen Songyu , Sun Minjie
Published: October 2021

Inspired by biological systems, soft crawling robots provide unique advantages in terms of resilience and adaptive shaping during robotic motion. However, soft robots actuated by motors and pumps are usually heavy, noisy and bulky. In this paper, based on the principle of liquid-vapor changes of ethanol, a novel soft crawling robot that demonstrates more silent actuation and lighter weight compared with other robots is proposed. To increase the crawling speed of the robot, silicone mixed with liquid metal with a volume ratio of 20% is used to fabricate the actuators. The deformation of the actuator is analyzed and can be predicted using a theoretical model. To obtain effective crawling performance, a crawling locomotion sequence consisting of the three different parts (central, head and tail) based on the variable friction mechanism of actuators B and C is presented. The experimental results demonstrate that the robot can achieve forward movement on a horizontal surface and along vertical pipes and sticks. This study will provide further inspiration and guidance for the future development of crawling robots.
Dielectric metasurface for high-precision detection of large unilamellar vesicles
Authors: Conteduca D , Quinn S D , Krauss T F
Published: October 2021

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are very promising biomarkers for the diagnosis of various diseases, including cardiovascular, infectious and neurodegenerative disorders. Of particular relevance is their importance in cancer liquid biopsy, where they play a key role in the early detection and monitoring of the tumour. A number of technologies have recently been developed to improve the performance of current EV detection methods, but a technique that can provide high resolution, high accuracy and a multiplexing capability for the detection of several biomarkers in parallel remains a challenge in this field. Here, we demonstrate the detection of large unilamellar vesicles, which are excellent models of EVs, down to a concentration <103 EV ml−1 (<10 pM) using a dielectric resonant metasurface. This result represents an improvement in performance and functionality compared to competing plasmonic and electrochemical modalities and is due to the strong resonance amplitude and high Q-factor of our metasurface. We also verify the selectivity of the approach by detecting vesicles that have been surface-functionalised with a CD9 protein. The ease of integration of our method into a point-of-care instrument offers a path towards personalised cancer medicine.
Investigation of the characteristics of the dual-band electromagnetic induction transparent-like terahertz spectrum in a grating-like structure
Authors: Zhao Chaoying , Hu Jiahao
Published: October 2021

In this paper, a new structure is proposed which is expected to realize a dual-band electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT)-like effect in the terahertz spectrum. It can be regarded as a metamaterial of grating-like elements composed of dual-band U-shaped resonators. The near-field coupling between bright modes can produce an EIT-like effect. After optimizing the parameters, our numerical simulated results are in good agreement with the theoretical analysis. The EIT-like effect can significantly reduce the group speed near the transparent window, and may gain more significant potential applications in slow-light transmission and optical storage.
Measurement of two-dimensional electrical potential fields in CFRP using four-probe resistance scans
Authors: Scholle Patrick , Sinapius Michael
Published: October 2021

The carbon fibers in fiber reinforced plastics could be used sensorially to observe the present stress state of the structural component by measuring its electrical resistance. However, the use of resistivity requires a detailed understanding of the electrical potential distribution in a given specimen. Current experimental techniques measure the electrical potential on a limited amount of relatively large electrodes mounted onto the parts surface. This approach suffers from the limited spacial resolution as well as the retroactivity between attached electrodes and observed specimen. This article discusses an experimental method to scan the electrical potential distribution on the surface of a conductor using a typical 4-probe setup and a gantry style robot to move one of the probes. The method is applied to eletrical conduction processes in carbon fiber reinforced plastics (CFRPs) in an effort to visualize the electrical potential distribution near current contacts. This approach allows us to have a much more detailed understanding of electrical conduction processes in CFRP, which can help to better interpret experimental data in the future. A two-dimensional mathematical model based on Laplace equation is derived with appropriate boundary conditions and compared to the measured results. Experimental and numerical results agree well and show the existance of strong current inhomogeneities within the CFRP part. The developed setup is simple to implement, but nevertheless prooved to be effective in measuring the explicit electrical conduction paths in both isotropic and anisotropic conductors.
Turning of steels under various cooling and lubrication techniques: a review of literature, sustainability aspects, and future scope
Authors: Shaikh Mohd Bilal Naim , Ali Mohammed
Published: October 2021

In this review work, various conventional cutting fluids and their application methods have been discussed, which serve different functions such as cooling, lubrication, cleaning, and corrosion protection during the machining process. According to the available research, issues associated with the conventional ones have beenidentified concerning sustainability metrics, i.e., economic, environmental, and social dimensions. These issues necessitated shifting toward sustainable alternatives. All such alternatives have been reviewed thoroughly, which are presently practiced in the machining of steels as a workpiece. It can be concluded that these sustainable methods, i.e., dry cutting, minimum quantity cooling and lubrication, cryogenic lubricant, gas-based coolant, solid lubricant, etc, provide better machinability performance as compared to conventional ones. However, there is a need oftrade-off analysis between cost-effectiveness and sustainability for various combinations of cutting fluids and their application methods. The last section summarizes the review study and recommends prospects based on the demands and challenges ahead. Further, it can be concluded that knowledge of the cutting fluid types and their application methods with detailed efficiency and energy consumption models are critically important to make them commercially viable.
Dimensional reduction of phenotypes from 53 000 mouse models reveals a diverse landscape of gene function
Authors: Konopka Tomasz , Vestito Letizia , Smedley Damian
Published: October 2021

Animal models have long been used to study gene function and the impact of genetic mutations on phenotype. Through the research efforts of thousands of research groups, systematic curation of published literature and high-throughput phenotyping screens, the collective body of knowledge for the mouse now covers the majority of protein-coding genes. We here collected data for over 53 000 mouse models with mutations in over 15 000 genomic markers and characterized by more than 254 000 annotations using more than 9000 distinct ontology terms. We investigated dimensional reduction and embedding techniques as means to facilitate access to this diverse and high-dimensional information. Our analyses provide the first visual maps of the landscape of mouse phenotypic diversity. We also summarize some of the difficulties in producing and interpreting embeddings of sparse phenotypic data. In particular, we show that data preprocessing, filtering and encoding have as much impact on the final embeddings as the process of dimensional reduction. Nonetheless, techniques developed in the context of dimensional reduction create opportunities for explorative analysis of this large pool of public data, including for searching for mouse models suited to study human diseases.

Availability and implementation

Source code for analysis scripts is available on GitHub at https://github.com/tkonopka/mouse-embeddings. The data underlying this article are available in Zenodo at https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.4916171.

Contact

t.konopka@qmul.ac.uk

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics Advances online.
FindNonCoding: rapid and simple detection of non-coding RNAs in genomes
Authors: Wright Erik S
Published: October 2021

Non-coding RNAs are often neglected during genome annotation due to their difficulty of detection relative to protein coding genes. FindNonCoding takes a pattern mining approach to capture the essential sequence motifs and hairpin loops representing a non-coding RNA family and quickly identify matches in genomes. FindNonCoding was designed for ease of use and accurately finds non-coding RNAs with a low false discovery rate.

Availability and implementation

FindNonCoding is implemented within the DECIPHER package (v2.19.3) for R (v4.1) available from Bioconductor. Pre-trained models of common non-coding RNA families are included for bacteria, archaea and eukarya.

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Increased expression of GABAA receptor subunits associated with tonic inhibition in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy
Authors: Sperk Günther , Pirker Susanne , Gasser Elisabeth , Wieselthaler Anna , Bukovac Anneliese , Kuchukhidze Giorgi , Maier Hans , Drexel Meinrad , Baumgartner Christoph , Ortler Marin , Czech Thomas
Published: October 2021

Epilepsy animal models indicate pronounced changes in the expression and rearrangement of GABAA receptor subunits in the hippocampus and in para-hippocampal areas, including widespread downregulation of the subunits α5 and δ, and upregulation of α4, subunits that mediate tonic inhibition of GABA. In this case–control study, we investigated changes in the expression of subunits α4, α5 and δ in hippocampal specimens of drug resistant temporal lobe epilepsy patients who underwent epilepsy surgery. Using in situ hybridization, immunohistochemistry and α5-specific receptor autoradiography, we characterized expression of the receptor subunits in specimens from patients with and without Ammon’s horn sclerosis compared to post-mortem controls. Expression of the α5-subunit was abundant throughout all subfields of the hippocampus, including the dentate gyrus, sectors CA1 and CA3, the subiculum and pre- and parasubiculum. Significant but weaker expression was detected for subunits α4 and δ notably in the granule cell/molecular layer of control specimens, but was faint in the other parts of the hippocampus. Expression of all three subunits was similarly altered in sclerotic and non-sclerotic specimens. Respective mRNA levels were increased by about 50–80% in the granule cell layer compared with post-mortem controls. Subunit α5 mRNA levels and immunoreactivities were also increased in the sector CA3 and in the subiculum. Autoradiography for α5-containing receptors using [3H]L-655,708 as ligand showed significantly increased binding in the molecular layer of the dentate gyrus in non-sclerotic specimens. Increased expression of the α5 and δ subunits is in contrast to the previously observed downregulation of these subunits in different epilepsy models, whereas increased expression of α4 in temporal lobe epilepsy patients is consistent with that in the rodent models. Our findings indicate increased tonic inhibition likely representing an endogenous anticonvulsive mechanism in temporal lobe epilepsy.
ECCO-ESGAR Topical Review on Optimizing Reporting for Cross-Sectional Imaging in Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Authors: Kucharzik Torsten , Tielbeek Jeroen , Carter Dan , Taylor Stuart A , Tolan Damian , Wilkens Rune , Bryant Robert V , Hoeffel Christine , De Kock Isabelle , Maaser Christian , Maconi Giovanni , Novak Kerri , Rafaelsen Søren R , Scharitzer Martina , Spinelli Antonino , Rimola Jordi
Published: October 2021

Background and Aims

The diagnosis and follow up of patients with inflammatory bowel disease [IBD] requires cross-sectional imaging modalities, such as intestinal ultrasound [IUS], magnetic resonance imaging [MRI] and computed tomography [CT]. The quality and homogeneity of medical reporting are crucial to ensure effective communication between specialists and to improve patient care. The current topical review addresses optimized reporting requirements for cross-sectional imaging in IBD.

Methods

An expert consensus panel consisting of gastroenterologists, radiologists and surgeons convened by the ECCO in collaboration with ESGAR performed a systematic literature review covering the reporting aspects of MRI, CT, IUS, endoanal ultrasonography and transperineal ultrasonography in IBD. Practice position statements were developed utilizing a Delphi methodology incorporating two consecutive rounds. Current practice positions were set when ≥80% of the participants agreed on a recommendation.

Results

Twenty-five practice positions were developed, establishing standard terminology for optimal reporting in cross-sectional imaging. Assessment of inflammation, complications and imaging of perianal CD are outlined. The minimum requirements of a standardized report, including a list of essential reporting items, have been defined.

Conclusions

This topical review offers practice recommendations to optimize and homogenize reporting in cross-sectional imaging in IBD.
Does the Presence of the Biological Control Agent,Hypena opulenta(Lepidoptera: Erebidae) on Swallow-Worts Deter Monarch Oviposition?
Authors: Alred Brianna , Haan Nathan , Landis Douglas A , Szűcs Marianna
Published: October 2021

Invasive black and pale swallow-worts (Vincetoxicum nigrum (L.) Moench, and Vincetoxicum rossicum Kelopow), which are related to milkweeds, can act as ecological traps for monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus L. (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae)) as they lay eggs on them that fail to develop. A recently approved biological control agent against swallow-worts, Hypena opulenta Christoph, occupies the same feeding guild on swallow-worts as monarch larvae and could be perceived as a competitor to monarchs. We tested how the presence of this defoliating moth on swallow-worts may influence monarch host selection. In a two-year field experiment, we placed pale swallow-wort plants that were either infested with H. opulenta or noninfested as well as common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca L.), into monarch habitats to assess oviposition rates. In the laboratory, monarchs were either given a choice or not between milkweeds and black swallow-worts with or without H. opulenta. While monarchs strongly preferred common milkweed in the field, up to 25% of the eggs we observed were laid on pale swallow-wort, without preference for swallow-wort with (10.7%) or without (14.3%) H. opulenta. In laboratory choice and no-choice tests, monarchs did not lay any eggs on black swallow-wort, likely because of the long-term laboratory rearing on common milkweeds. Our results confirm that pale swallow-wort may act as an oviposition sink to monarchs in Michigan as well. Since the biological control program is still in its infancy, the nature of interactions between monarchs and H. opulenta may change as the biocontrol agent becomes more widespread.
Correlation Between Left Ventricular Electromechanical Delay and Body Mass Index
Authors: Salem Ahmed Salah , Abazeed Sara Hussein , Elhawary Ahmed , Abdelmonem Ahmed Hassan
Published: October 2021

Aim

To evaluate effect of body mass index on left ventricle electromechanical delay among adults with no history of cardiac disease. Obesity is a complex disorder involving an excessive amount of body fat. Being extremely obese increases the risk of diseases and health problems, such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension and premature death.

The assessment of LV dyssynchrony has been gaining interest because it is increasingly considered to indicate the risk of progression to heart failure in various populations.

Ventricular electromechanical delay can be measured from the onset of the QRS complex on electrocardiogram to the onset or peak of ventricular contraction determined by tissue Doppler imaging.

Methods

66 subjects divided into three groups with 22 subjects for each group with age range (≥18 years and < 60 years old) of either sex with no history of cardiac disease were classified according to BMI into three group; Group A: subjects with normal BMI (18.5 – 24.9 kg/m2|), Group B: overweight subjects with BMI (25-29.9 kg/m2), Group C: obese subjects with BMI (≥ 30 kg/m2). The study groups were age, gender and risk factors matched. The time from the beginning of the QRS complex (on electrocardiogram) to the onset of systolic velocities in the septum and lateral wall were assessed and the time from the beginning of the QRS complex (on electrocardiogram) to the peak of systolic velocities in the septum and lateral wall were assessed using the pulsed wave Tissue Doppler Imaging (PW-TDI) by placing the sample volume in the middle of the basal portions of the LV septal and lateral walls in the apical four-chamber view at end-expiratory at a sweep speed of 100 mm/s, The difference between time recorded from septal and that recorded from lateral walls was referred as the lateral-to-septal delay.

Results

There was significant difference between the three groups regarding (lateral to septal delay) from onset of QRS to onset of S'(23.36±7.6 ms vs. 24.05±5.9ms vs. 35.18±9.3ms respectively, P < 0.0001), also there was a significant difference between study groups regarding (lateral to septal delay) from onset of QRS to peak of S'(39.41±9 ms vs. 48±10.4ms vs. 62.82±15.3ms respectively, P < 0.0001). There was a direct correlation between BMI and (lateral to septal delay) onset of QRS to peak of S' (r = 0.633, P < 0.0001) as well as (lateral to septal delay) onset of QRS to onset of S'(r = 0.64, P < 0.0001).

Conclusion

We present an interesting finding of left ventricular electromechanical delay in asymptomatic obese subjects with sinus rhythm and no history of cardiac disease. It would be speculative to say that the intraventricular dyssynchrony seen in asymptomatic obese individuals is related to cardiac electrical remodeling occurs with obesity and gives a proposal to understand pathophysiology of heart failure occurring in obese patients.
Evaluation of Left Ventricular Dysfunction in Patients with Isolated Mitral Valve Stenosis Using Speckle Tracking Echocardiography
Authors: ElGendi Mohamed , Ayman Mohamed , Sadaka Mohamed , Magdi Gehan
Published: October 2021

Aim

The aim was to evaluate left ventricular (LV) systolic function in patients with isolated mitral stenosis (MS) using 2D speckle tracking echocardiography.

Methods

24 patients (39.50 ± 5.55 years, 17 females) with isolated MS (MVA: 1.35 ± 0.16 cm2) with preserved LV systolic function and sinus rhythm were compared to 12 matched healthy control subjects (36.42 ± 5.99 years, 8 females). Conventional echocardiography was performed to both groups. Longitudinal strain and Circumferential strain echocardiography were obtained. Peak systolic strain was measured from the mean strain proﬁle for a total of 17 segments of the LV for the longitudinal strain and 16 segments for the circumferential strain. Global longitudinal (G.L.) and circumferential strain (G.C.) were calculated separately as the average of the sum of the studied segments.

Results

The global longitudinal strain of the cases group ranged from -11 – -17% with a mean value of -14.67 ± -1.69% and that of the control group ranged from -15 – -20% with a mean value of -17.83 ± -1.53% with a statistically significant difference between the two groups.

In our study, there was a negative but non-significant correlation between LV GLSS and LA diameter (r = -0.054, p = 0.802), Echo score (r = -0.018, p = 0.933) and PASP (r = 0.021, p = 0.922) in patients group.

Also, the correlation was negative but non-significant between LV GCSS and LA diameter (r = -0.142, p = 0.507), Echo score (r = -0.200, p = 0.349) and PASP (r = -0.155, p = 0.471) in patients group.

Conclusion

• 2D speckle tracking echocardiography can detect subclinical LV systolic dysfunction which cannot be recognized by 2D conventional echocardiography.

• Isolated rheumatic MS may be associated with subclinical LV systolic dysfunction.
Prognostic Value of Cardiac Troponin I In Infective Endocarditis
Authors: Thabet Salma M , Meshaal Marwa , Yazied Yasser , Sharaf Yasser
Published: October 2021

Aim

The aim of this study is to assess the prognostic value of cardiac troponin I as a predictor of in-hospital morbidity and mortality in patients with infective endocarditis.

Methods

This study included 48 patients with definite and possible IE according to modified Duke’s criteria for diagnosis of IE. This prospective longitudinal study was conducted on patients admitted to the cardiovascular department of Cairo University hospitals. All patients were subjected to full history taking and clinical examination, all laboratory and radiological investigations which included chest radiography, echocardiogram and other diagnostic procedures as needed for diagnosis and follow-up of IE were done with emphasis on cardiac troponin I level on admission.

Results

Troponin I was found to be statistically significant predictor for heart failure (NYHA III/IV), septic pulmonary embolism and in-hospital mortality in infective endocarditis patients by univariate and multivariate regression analysis with P values 0.023, 0.037and 0.002 respectively. Tricuspid valve vegetations had showed significant relation to troponin I levels with p value 0.033. Also it was found that SOFA score on first day of admission showed significant relation to troponin I level with P value 0.045 and 0.004 for prediction of hospital stay duration. Shock and intracranial hemorrhage showed borderline significance with P values 0.097, 0.069. On other hand, troponin I as predictor of pulmonary edema, mechanical complications, systemic embolization, acute kidney injury and presence of aortic root abscess had no statistical significance in our studied patients.

Conclusions

This study showed that there is as significant predictive value of elevated cardiac troponin I with heart failure, septic pulmonary embolism and all cause in-hospital mortality. In addition, it was significant predictor of the length of hospital stay, lymphocytosis and SOFA score. These results are emphasizing that cTn I level may predict higher risk patients who would need early and aggressive control of infection medically alone or combined with surgery in IE patients.
Role of Awareness Activities in Mega-Events
Authors: Ghanem Noha , ElShal Ahmed , Darwish Salma , Emam Marwa , ElWalili Mariam , Mehanna Radwa
Published: October 2021

Background

Cardiovascular diseases remain to be one of the leading causes of death worldwide. There are some well-established risk factors such as a genetic disposition (hereditary), hypertension (high blood pressure), diabetes mellitus, obesity, high cholesterol level, poor dietary habits, inactive lifestyle, and smoking. The Egyptian direction is to invest in developing educational programs on cardiovascular diseases for the whole community and particularly for women. This initiative is echoed by experts who call for urgent action to improve care, prevent disease and increase awareness of cardiovascular diseases generally and within the women community. The Egyptian community is in great need to public awareness campaigns about cardiovascular diseases especially myocardial infarction and stroke. The CardioVascular Research, Education, Prevention foundation (CVREP) in collaboration with Stent Save a Life (SSL) initiative Egypt and the American Heart Association (AHA) and its initiative “Go Red For Women”, initiated a very successful awareness campaign for physicians and for public during the mega cardiovascular conference CardioAlex.21. ICOM Group (International Center for Organization and Marketing) in collaboration with Expand created a comprehensive public awareness program during CardioAlex.21 held in Alexandria, Egypt during the period 01 – 04 June, 2021.

Aim

Building awareness to the community to the signs and the “must take actions” in cardiovascular emergencies, as heart attacks.

Methods

A very creative campaign was held at the last day of CardioAlex.21 in Alexandria, Egypt, in which, ICOM and Expand teams organized a Marathon (Run) followed by an educational lecture for physicians and a session for public along with screening clinics stations for all attendees to have an onsite check up on their blood pressure and blood glucose level. “GO RED FOR WOMEN”, addressed the message for women to raise the awareness of cardiovascular risks and a very informative discussion was held. The audience questions were answered by SSL Board who moderated the session on a one-to-one story telling technique which made the sessions very interesting. Data was collected from persons who attended the session representing the Egyptian society.

Results

Eighty persons attended the awareness day, 54% of which were middle-aged participants with an age mean of 50 years old. 60% were women, 55% completed secondary education or more and 77% of them reported to have heard about heart attacks while, more than half stated they knew someone who had it. This campaign raised the public awareness regarding cardiovascular disease and how a minute is life changing, knowing how to react if someone experienced one or more of the heart attack symptoms as well as the proper management of MI patients. Also, the healthy lifestyle after undergoing a PPCI procedure was discussed.
Experimental test of microbiome protection across pathogen doses reveals importance of resident microbiome composition
Authors: Weitzman Chava L , Rostama Bahman , Thomason Courtney A , May Meghan , Belden Lisa K , Hawley Dana M
Published: October 2021

The commensal microbes inhabiting a host tissue can interact with invading pathogens and host physiology in ways that alter pathogen growth and disease manifestation. Prior work in house finches (Haemorhous mexicanus) found that resident ocular microbiomes were protective against conjunctival infection and disease caused by a relatively high dose of Mycoplasma gallisepticum. Here, we used wild-caught house finches to experimentally examine whether protective effects of the resident ocular microbiome vary with the dose of invading pathogen. We hypothesized that commensal protection would be strongest at low M. gallisepticum inoculation doses because the resident microbiome would be less disrupted by invading pathogen. Our five M. gallisepticum dose treatments were fully factorial with an antibiotic treatment to perturb resident microbes just prior to M. gallisepticum inoculation. Unexpectedly, we found no indication of protective effects of the resident microbiome at any pathogen inoculation dose, which was inconsistent with the prior work. The ocular bacterial communities at the beginning of our experiment differed significantly from those previously reported in local wild-caught house finches, likely causing this discrepancy. These variable results underscore that microbiome-based protection in natural systems can be context dependent, and natural variation in community composition may alter the function of resident microbiomes in free-living animals.
A Neuroscience Primer for Integrating Geroscience With the Neurobiology of Aging
Authors: Hernandez Caesar M , Hernandez Abigail R , Hoffman Jessica M , King Peter H , McMahon Lori L , Buford Thomas W , Carter Christy , Bizon Jennifer L , Burke Sara N
Published: October 2021

Neuroscience has a rich history of studies focusing on neurobiology of aging. However, much of the aging studies in neuroscience occur outside of the gerosciences. The goal of this primer is 2-fold: first, to briefly highlight some of the history of aging neurobiology and second, to introduce to geroscientists the broad spectrum of methodological approaches neuroscientists use to study the neurobiology of aging. This primer is accompanied by a corresponding geroscience primer, as well as a perspective on the current challenges and triumphs of the current divide across these 2 fields. This series of manuscripts is intended to foster enhanced collaborations between neuroscientists and geroscientists with the intent of strengthening the field of cognitive aging through inclusion of parameters from both areas of expertise.
Hospital Length of Stay After Hip Fracture and It’s Association With 4-Month Mortality—Exploring the Role of Patient Characteristics
Authors: Ek Stina , Meyer Anna C , Hedström Margareta , Modig Karin
Published: October 2021

Background

Hospital length of stay (LoS) is believed to be associated with higher mortality in hip fracture patients; however, previous research has shown conflicting results. We aimed to explore the association between LoS and 4-month mortality in different groups of hip fracture patients.

Methods

The study population in this Swedish register-based cohort study was 47 811 patients 65 years or older with a first hip fracture during 2012–2016, followed up for 4 months after discharge. LoS was categorized by cubic splines, and the association between LoS and mortality was analyzed with Cox regression models, adjusted for sociodemographic- and health-related factors.

Results

Mean LoS was 11.2 ± 5.9 days and 12.3% of the patients died within 4 months. Both a shorter and a longer LoS, compared to the reference 9–12 days, were associated with higher mortality (hazard ratio [95% confidence interval]): 2–4 days 2.15 (1.98–2.34), 5–8 days 1.58 (1.47–1.69), and 24+ days 1.29 (1.13–1.46). However, in fully adjusted models, only the association with a long LoS remained: 13–23 days 1.08 (1.00–1.17) and 24+ days 1.42 (1.25–1.61). Stratifying by living arrangement revealed that the increased risk for a short LoS was driven by the group living in care homes. For patients living at home, a short LoS was associated with lower risk: 0.65 (0.47–0.91) and 0.85 (0.74–0.98) for 2–4 and 5–8 days, respectively.

Conclusions

A long LoS after a hip fracture is associated with increased 4-month mortality risk even after considering patient characteristics. The association between mortality and a short LoS, however, is explained by individuals coming from care homes (with higher mortality risk), being discharged early.
There’s something about Brown: A reply to Emmett Macfarlane
Authors: Delaney Erin F , Schmidt Christopher W
Published: October 2021

Emmett Macfarlane’s theory of judicial constitutional amendment draws needed attention to the role of transformative court decisions in the process of constitutional development. We agree with Macfarlane that the analysis should include a controversial ruling’s reasoning and immediate reception. But in this response essay, we argue that expanding beyond Macfarlane’s focus allows us to better capture the full scope of what it means to amend a constitution. We use Brown v. Board of Education to illustrate the need for both ex ante and ex post analysis in constructing a theory of judicial constitutional amendment.
Genomic analysis of 600 vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium reveals a high prevalence of ST80 and spread of similar vanA regions via IS1216E and plasmid transfer in diverse genetic lineages in Ireland
Authors: Egan Sarah A. , Kavanagh Nicole L. , Shore Anna C. , Mollerup Sarah , Samaniego Castruita José A. , O’Connell Brian , McManus Brenda A. , Brennan Grainne I. , Pinholt Mette , Westh Henrik , Coleman David C.
Published: October 2021

Background

Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium (VREfm) cause a wide range of hospital infections. Ireland has had one of the highest invasive VREfm infection rates in Europe over the last decade, yet little is known about Irish VREfm.

Objectives

To investigate the population structure of Irish VREfm, explore diversity by analysing the vanA transposon region and compare Irish, Danish and global isolates.

Methods

E. faecium (n = 648) from five Irish hospitals were investigated, including VREfm [547 rectal screening and 53 bloodstream infection (BSI)] isolates and 48 vancomycin-susceptible (VSEfm) BSI isolates recovered between June 2017 and December 2019. WGS and core-genome MLST (cgMLST) were used to assess population structure. Genetic environments surrounding vanA were resolved by hybrid assembly of short-read (Illumina) and long-read (Oxford Nanopore Technologies) sequences.

Results

All isolates belonged to hospital-adapted clade A1 and the majority (435/648) belonged to MLST ST80. The population structure was highly polyclonal; cgMLST segregated 603/648 isolates into 51 clusters containing mixtures of screening and BSI isolates, isolates from different hospitals, and VREfm and VSEfm. Isolates within clusters were closely related (mean average ≤16 allelic differences). The majority (96.5%) of VREfm harboured highly similar vanA regions located on circular or linear plasmids with multiple IS1216E insertions, variable organization of vanA operon genes and 78.6% harboured a truncated tnpA transposase. Comparison of 648 Irish isolates with 846 global E. faecium from 30 countries using cgMLST revealed little overlap.

Conclusions

Irish VREfm are polyclonal, yet harbour a characteristic plasmid-located vanA region with multiple IS1216E insertions that may facilitate spread.
Dosing strategies of imipenem in neonates based on pharmacometric modelling and simulation
Authors: Dao Kim , Fuchs Aline , André Pascal , Giannoni Eric , Decosterd Laurent A. , Marchetti Oscar , Asner Sandra A. , Pfister Marc , Widmer Nicolas , Buclin Thierry , Csajka Chantal , Guidi Monia
Published: October 2021

Objectives

Imipenem is a broad-spectrum antibacterial agent used in critically ill neonates after failure of first-line treatments. Few studies have described imipenem disposition in this population. The objectives of our study were: (i) to characterize imipenem population pharmacokinetics (PK) in a cohort of neonates; and (ii) to conduct model-based simulations to evaluate the performance of six different dosing regimens aiming at optimizing PK target attainment.

Methods

A total of 173 plasma samples from 82 neonates were collected over 15 years at the Lausanne University Hospital, Switzerland. The majority of study subjects were preterm neonates with a median gestational age (GA) of 27 weeks (range: 24–41), a postnatal age (PNA) of 21 days (2–153) and a body weight (BW) of 1.16 kg (0.5–4.1). PK data were analysed using non-linear mixed-effect modelling (NONMEM).

Results

A one-compartment model best characterized imipenem disposition. Population PK parameters estimates of CL and volume of distribution were 0.21 L/h and 0.73 L, with an interpatient variability (CV%) of 20.1% on CL in a representative neonate (GA 27 weeks, PNA 21 days, BW 1.16 kg, serum creatinine, SCr 46.6 μmol/L). GA and PNA exhibited the greatest impact on PK parameters, followed by SCr. These covariates explained 36% and 15% of interindividual variability in CL, respectively.

Simulated regimens using a dose of 20–25 mg/kg every 6–12 h according to postnatal age led to the highest PTA (T>MIC over 100% of time).

Conclusions

Dosing adjustment according to BW, GA and PNA optimizes imipenem exposure in neonates.
Simple, Precise, and Less Biased GMO Quantification by Multiplexed Genetic Element-Specific Digital PCR
Authors: Noma Satoshi , Kikuchi Yosuke , Satou Megumi , Tanaka Tomoki , Takiya Toshiyuki , Okusu Hideki , Futo Satoshi , Takabatake Reona , Kitta Kazumi , Mano Junichi
Published: October 2021

Background

To provide the consumer with choices of genetically modified organisms (GMO) or non-GMO, official food labeling systems were established in many countries. Because the threshold GMO content values were set to distinguish between “non-GMO” and “GMO” designations, GMO content quantification methods are required for ensuring the appropriateness of labeling.

Objective

As the number of GMOs is continuously increasing around the world, we set out to develop a low-cost, simple and less biased analytical strategy to cover all necessary detection targets.

Methods

Digital PCR methods are advantageous compared to the conventional quantitative real-time PCR methods. We developed a digital PCR-based GMO quantification method to evaluate the GMO content in maize grains. To minimize the analytical workload, we adopted multiplex digital PCR targeting the 35S promoter and the nopaline synthase terminator, which are genetic elements commonly introduced in many GMOs.

Results

Our method is significantly simpler and more precise than the conventional real-time PCR-based methods. Additionally, we found that this method enables quantification of the copy number of GMO DNA without double counting multiple elements (35S promoter and nopaline synthase terminator) tandemly placed in a recombinant DNA construct.

Conclusion

This is the first report on the development of a genetically modified maize quantification method using a multiplexed genetic element-specific digital PCR method. The tandem effect we report here is quite useful for reducing the bias in the analytical results.

Highlights

Multiplexed genetic element-specific digital PCR can simplify weight-based GMO quantification and thus should prove useful in light of the continuous increase in the number of GM events.
6 Does Bedding Influence Lying Behaviour of Cattle Unloaded for Rest During Long-distance Transportation?
Authors: Guzman Paula Olivares , Pearl David L , Schwartzkopf-Genswein Karen S , Widowski Tina M , Meléndez Suárez Daniela M , Marti Sonia , Haley Derek B
Published: October 2021

In Canada, cattle must be unloaded, fed, watered, and rested after 36 h of transport; however, little is known about what constitutes appropriate rest station conditions. The objective of this study was to determine the relationship between providing straw bedding (14-cm deep) and trip, load, and commercial rest station characteristics, on lying behaviour. Truckloads (n = 13) were split; half the animals were assigned to either bedded (n = 452 cattle) or non-bedded (n = 470 cattle) pens. Trip characteristics [time in motion (TIM), duration of stops en route (DUR_STOPS)], load characteristics (sex: heifers, steers, both; and load weight), and rest station characteristics [ambient temperature at unloading; rest pen space allowance (k_PEN); time in resting pen (TIP)] were recorded. Once unloaded we counted the number of cattle lying/pen, every 10 min for 8 h. A mixed logistic regression model with random intercepts for load and truck compartment was fitted to examine associations between the proportion of animals lying and the independent variables (i.e., treatment, trip, load, and rest station characteristics). Odds of lying increased with load weight (i.e., cattle weight class, P = 0.02) and with DUR_STOPS (P < 0.03). There was an interaction (P < 0.01) between treatment and TIM: as TIM increased, the odds of observing cattle lying showed a notable increase for cattle rested in bedded pens, whereas for those rested in non-bedded pens, the odds showed little change as TIM increased. An interaction (P < 0.01) was also found between treatment and TIP: early in the observation period, the odds of cattle lying were greater in bedded pens. Both groups showed an increase in the probability of lying over time, plateauing at similar levels, near the end of the 8-h observation period. In conclusion, providing straw bedding at rest stations influenced cattle’s motivation to lie, particularly following longer transport durations.
1 Effect of Conditioning, Rest, and Post-rest Transport Duration on Welfare Indicators of Beef Cattle Transported by Road
Authors: Melendez Daniela M , Marti Sonia , Schwinghamer Timothy D , Haley Derek B , Schwartzkopf-Genswein Karen S
Published: October 2021

The aim of this study was to assess the effects of conditioning, rest, and post-rest transport duration on welfare indicators of 6–7 mo old beef calves. Three hundred and twenty-eight weaned calves (237 ± 29.7 kg BW) were randomly assigned to a 2 × 2 × 2 nested factorial design: conditioning, conditioned (C) or non-conditioned (N); rest, 0 (R0) or 8 (R8) h, and post-rest transport, 4 (T4) or 15 (T15) h. Calves were sampled prior to the first loading (L1), after 20h of transport, prior to and after the additional 4 or 15-h transport, and at 1, 2, 3, 5, 14, and 28 d after transport ended. Data were analyzed using the GLIMMIX procedure of SAS. Fixed effects included conditioning, transport and time nested within rest period, while random effects included animal and pen. Greater shrink (P < 0.01) was observed in C than N calves after the initial 20-h transport. The N calves had greater (P < 0.01) ADG than C calves between L1 and d 5, while C had greater (P < 0.01) ADG than N calves between 14 and 28 d. L-lactate concentrations and flight speed were greater (P ≤ 0.05) in C than N calves between L1 and d 5. The R8-T4 calves had greater (P < 0.01) ADG than R8-T15 calves between L1 and d 5. The R0-T4 calves had greater (P = 0.02) L-lactate concentrations than R0-T15 and R8-T4 calves on d 1. The R0 calves had greater (P < 0.01) ADG than R8 calves between 14 and 28 d. Preliminary results show physiological, behavioral, and performance differences across treatments, however, additional indicators are required to accurately assess the effect of conditioning, rest, and post-rest transport durations on calf welfare.