bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Recognition of Autumn Crop Based on Polsar Data and Feature Selection
Authors: T Q Li , J Chen , J Y Liu , Z Lian , J Li
Published: June 2021

Optical remote sensed images have been intensively used to map global and regional agriculture information. However, few optical images could be collected due to cloud contamination during the crop growth period. Therefore, synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images could be used to extract crop distribution since it is capable of acquiring data without regard to bad weather conditions. Although numerous studies have been successfully carried out to highlight the potential of SAR images in crop monitoring, there are still some problems to be solved. The high dimensionality of multi-temporal SAR images remains a major issue, classification using all features is limited to efficiency. In this study, a method of autumn crop recognition based on PolSAR data and feature selection was proposed. Using Radarsat-2 PolSAR images acquired during the autumn crop growing season, the optimal subset of features was obtained by 3 feature selection methods and 15 polarimetric target decomposition methods. With optimal feature subset and train samples, crops and other ground objects were classified by SVM. The classification result was assessed by test samples.
Preparation of Quinone Mediator / Polyvinylidene Fluoride Functionalized Membrane
Authors: Ye Qian , Huang Yinyin , Wang Wenling , Xu Su , Lin Xiongshui , Yan Bin
Published: June 2021

In this study, the redox mediator accelerated the degradation of dyes and improved the efficiency of dye wastewater treatment by immobilizing quinone mediators on the membrane. Specifically, polyvinylidene fluoride, quinone, and lithium chloride were used as the membrane substrate, redox mediator modifier, and porogen, respectively. By changing the type of quinone, the concentration of quinone, and the concentration of crossing-linker, the effect of quinone mediator-functionalized polyvinylidene fluoride membrane on the decolorization of dye wastewater was investigated. This study has shown that the cross-linking agent could effectively improve the compatibility of the quinone mediator casting solution system, and the increase in the addition amount of quinone mediator increased the decolorization rate of the membrane. The increase of the quinone content could also improve the decolorization effect of the dye. The decolorization rate of the original membrane without adding quinone was only 36%, whereas the decolorization rate of the blend membrane reached 75%, which shows the PVDF film with immobilized quinone mediator exhibited a significant dye degradation effect.
Socio-Economics of Sustainable Built Environment: A Conundrum and Paradox for Developing Countries
Authors: Ali Kumo Hassan , Dalibi S.G. , Inuwa Labaran Usman , Alkali M.A. , Umar Abdullahi M. , Adamu Kabiru , Danja I.I.
Published: June 2021

Sustainable development encompasses all the efforts to balance both the present and future generations’ needs without compromise by making important and wiser decisions. However, achieving such a feat may be less complicated for some developed countries, but it is a dilemma and more complicated for developing countries like Nigeria, whose population is increasing annually. Every population growth comes with its prospects, needs, and challenges. These include the need for investments, economic diversification, and upgrading various industries to compete globally, poverty eradication, creating more employment opportunities, increasing income and wealth to the population and the government. These are often more prioritized than avoiding adverse effects on the environment when infrastructural projects become the medium for such. Hence, this paper was structured to identify, review and discuss the conundrum that leads to paradoxical issues about socio-economics of a sustainable built environment from developing countries with Nigeria as a focal point. A desk research methodology was adopted in the study, and the results show the relationship between socio-economic pressures and targets of developing countries with the SDGs targets for sustainable development within the built environment.
Optimizing Building Orientation for Reduced Cooling Load in Northeast Nigeria’s Residential Architecture
Authors: Alkali M A , Jie Liu , Dalibi S G , Danja I I , Nasir M.H. , Inuwa Labaran Usman , Umar Abdullahi M. , Adamu Kabiru
Published: June 2021

Between 1996 and 2005, the domestic sector was responsible for over half (55% -61%) of energy consumption in Nigeria. In addition, electrical energy used for cooling makes a significant contribution to national consumption. In the larger context of climate change and its accompanying adverse effects, it is important for architecture to reduce its global carbon footprint. Developing nations lack sufficient building performance standards, and as a consequence, sustainable building methods are neither pursued nor enforced. Thus, in the absence of high-tech green building practices, this paper seeks to evaluate how simpler passive means of design can be used to reduce cooling energy consumption in Northeast Nigeria’s hot dry climate. DesignBuilder is used to produce different building orientation iterations to evaluate their impact on cooling loads and an ideal building orientation is determined for the region. An optimal orientation of 270° is found to be optimal, as it reduces maximum cooling loads from 11150.95 kwh/yr to 9981.1 kwh/yr, a reduction of energy use of 10.5%.
Sustaining the Sustainable Development in Nigeria’s Built Environment: Determinant Factors
Authors: Inuwa Labaran Usman , Dalibi S.G. , Danja I.I. , Alkali M.A. , Ali Kumo Hassan , Adamu Kabiru , Umar Abdullahi M.
Published: June 2021

Sustainable development is means to balance the needs of the present and future generations without compromise. However, achieving such a feat may be less challenging for developed countries, but it is a big challenge and more complicated for developing countries like Nigeria, located in West Africa. Nigeria’s population is about 200million and growing, which comes with its prospects, needs, and challenges such as the need for more infrastructure and industries to reduce poverty and create more employment opportunities. Other challenges include addressing housing shortages, disposal of domestic and industrial wastes, curbing industrial pollutions, providing cleaner and drinking water for domestic purposes, need for more power supply, increased food, material production, and consumptions etc. altogether, they must be within a balanced ecosystem and environmentally sustainable biodiversity within the built environment. This paper assessed and discussed the determinant factors related to sustaining sustainable development in Nigeria to offer more insight into such factors, paving ways of addressing such issues. A sequential mixed methodology was adopted in the study to collect and analyze the data on such factors. The results show that Stakeholders Awareness and Interests; Funding; Policy framework, Infrastructure project planning, and execution; corruption were among the most significant impact factors that sustained Nigeria’s built environment’s sustainable developments. Depending on the project type, such factors can promote or hinder sustainable developments in the built environment based on their levels of impacts.
The Role of Sustainable Finance in the Achievement of Sustainable Development Goals in Nigeria: A Focus on Chinese Foreign Direct Investment
Authors: Adiyoh Imanche Sunday , Ze Tian , Gidado Dalibi Salisu , Kenneth Yuguda Taitiya , Ali Kumo Hassan
Published: June 2021

Due to globalization, the great diversity that prevails requires more innovative concepts of businesses, Foreign Direct Investments (FDI), and ventures that consider economic and environmental aspects of sustainable development that facilitate the growth of communities, towns, cities, and countries at large. As such, for a country like Nigeria to attain sustainability and significantly achieve the 17nr. Sustainable development goals (SDGs): Complete diversification of the economy is needed through adequate infrastructure, planned and executed without harming the environment. In China, African countries like Nigeria found a partner whose FDI is directed towards infrastructural projects that is adequately financed between China (Financier) and Nigeria (Host). These affirm that Nigeria needs Chinese financing for its projects to achieve its SDGs while China needs resources from Nigeria for its manufacturing. However, despite these mutualisms, sustainable funding agreements for developments, it is impacted by factors that hinder or promote such arrangements. Hence, this study examined the role of Chinese FDI in infrastructures across various sectors that enable achieving SDGs in Nigeria. Desk research concept was adopted as the sole research method by reviewing secondary sources of data from existing and publicly available data, which enable identification of projects by sectors that Chinese finances are playing a development role in Nigeria. The results show that Chinese FDI in development projects in countries like Nigeria enable Chinese companies to function properly on one hand, while Nigeria benefits from projects that drive growth and sustainable development that rhymes with its SDGs.
Phosphorous Transformation during Coal and Sewage Sludge Co-Combustion
Authors: Xiao Yi , Zhao Ruihua , Chen Juan
Published: June 2021

Sewage sludge (SS) contained considerable phosphorous resource and SS incineration technology had become an important method to reuse SS. To alleviate the difficulty of SS mono-combustion caused by its low heating value, high-rank fuels should be introduced. Effects of SS and coal co-combustion on phosphorus fixation rate in ash were studied through drop tube furnace. It was concluded that rising temperature increased the fixation rate of phosphorus in SS ash. Due to the obvious high calcium content in Xiaolongtan coal (XLT), the co-combustion of SS and XLT effectively increased the fixation rate of phosphorus in ash and phosphorous capture by solid minerals was improved by temperature increase. In the meanwhile, more XLT introduced more calcium into the combustion system, which captured more phosphorous in ash. Whereas, there were just a small quantity of calcic and magnesian minerals in Xiheishan coal (XHS) and as a result, higher temperature accelerated phosphorous emission. The fixation rate of phosphorus during co-combustion of SS and XHS was not significantly affected by the different proportions of XHS. Finally, the co-combustion of 70 % XLT and 30 % SS effectively fixed phosphorus at 1000 °C, where the fixation rate in ash was risen dramatically to as high as 93.29 %.
Multi Elements Simulation of Biaxial Test with Two Different Soil Layers Using Hypoplastic Constitutive Model
Authors: Khalaj O , Abedin Nejad S , Janda T
Published: June 2021

Practically, the ground condition usually consists of several layers, which have various properties from each other so it is important to have precise understanding about these layers and their behaviour. For this purpose, two different soil layers in biaxial test was analysed. In the single element simulation, it is impossible to generate the shear strain localization in the porous media but we can get numerous useful results. For strain localization analyse, using multi element models is necessary. The numerical simulation shows that the behaviour of each layer is totally different and the friction angle of both layers changed during simulation.
Experimental modelling of materials properties and microstructure of new high-strength steels for press-hardening and hot metal gas forming
Authors: Opatová Kateřina , Jeníček Štěpán , Stehlík Adam , Jirková Hana
Published: June 2021

Press-hardening is a highly dynamic process that involves rapid temperature changes. These process aspects play a major role in microstructural evolution and mechanical properties. In order to develop any thermomechanical processing sequence, including press-hardening, materials models of the best possible accuracy are needed, if relevant results are to be obtained from FEM methods employed for designing metalworking processes. Therefore, relevant data on materials behaviour under real process conditions must be obtained experimentally. In one such experiment, as described here, PHS 1800 and PHS 2000 low-alloy sheets of steel were subjected to thermal exposure identical to the heating sequence for press-hardening, including the removal from the furnace and transfer to the tool. Heat treatment sequences were proposed which correspond to the thermal profiles in the actual process. The results were input into FE simulations of press-hardening. In the low-alloy steels, the selected heat treatment sequence led to strengths of more than 2000 MPa and elongation levels of approx. 9%.
Scanning electron microscopy as a useful tool for the analysis of non-conductive materials
Authors: Tichá Iveta , Kučerová Ludmila
Published: June 2021

Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) in the analysis of non-conductive samples became one of the most important methods for the investigation of material properties. In this work, we used SEM microstructure analysis for the investigation of the origin of cracks in granite composites and also, we tested the porosity inside the regenerated carbon biowaste, potentially used as a clean source of carbon for the future applications in materials production. Additionally, the morphology and the chemical composition of small particles used for the moulding processes of plastics were also tested. The importance of the microstructure investigation was supported by Energy-Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS) often used for the chemical composition evaluation of these non-conductive materials.
Computational analysis of austenite film thickness and C-redistribution in carbide-free bainite
Authors: Retzl P , Zamberger S , Kozeschnik E
Published: June 2021

In this work, a methodology for the computational analysis of some essential microstructural features of a bainitic microstructure is developed. The focus lies in the accurate prediction of the ferritic subunit size, the thickness of the residual austenite films, their corresponding C-enrichment and the accompanying stabilization of the residual austenite. Basis of the approach is the T
0-temperature concept in combination with the numerical simulation of C-diffusion profiles utilizing the cell diffusion module of the thermokinetic software package MatCalc. This methodology gives the opportunity to predict the C-distribution under consideration of consecutively forming subunits, which is necessary to estimate the C-content of austenite films. The simulations also take into account the effect of C trapping at the dislocations formed inside the ferritic platelets due to plastic deformation and its influence on the chemical potentials. Good agreement is achieved between measured and predicted retained austenite layer thickness and the C-enrichment of the layers accompanying the C redistribution process.
Catalytic reactions for H2 production on multimetallic surfaces: a review
Authors: Afonso Rui V , Gouveia José D , Gomes José R B
Published: June 2021

Herewith, an overview is provided on the recent developments in the utilization of multimetallic catalysts to produce large amounts of molecular hydrogen, especially via the steam reforming of hydrocarbons and the water–gas shift reaction. Emphasis is given on the explanation of the problems affecting the currently used catalysts and how the addition/incorporation of other metals in available or new catalysts may lead to improved catalyst activity, selectivity and stability. We compare results from selected key examples taken from the literature where multimetallic catalysts are used for the aforementioned reactions. The methanol and ammonia decompositions are also critically analyzed, with focus on Earth-abundant metal elements.
*-Bimodules
Authors: Schmüdgen Konrad
Published: June 2021

A

∗
*

-bimodule for a unital

∗
*

-algebra

A
A

is an

A
A

-bimodule

X
X

which is a vector space with involution

x
↦

x
+

x\mapsto x^+

satisfying

(
a
⋅
x
⋅
b

)
+

=

b
+

⋅

x
+

⋅

b
+

(a\cdot x\cdot b)^+=b^+\cdot x^+\cdot b^+

for

x
∈
X

x\in X

and

a
,
b
∈
A

a,b\in A

. An algebraic model for

∗
*

-bimodules is given. Hilbert space representations of

∗
*

-bimodules are defined and studied. A GNS-like representation theorem is obtained.
Heritable Cognitive Phenotypes Influence Appetitive Learning but not Extinction in Honey Bees
Authors: Sezen Eda , Dereszkiewicz Emily , Hozan Alvin , Bennett Meghan M , Ozturk Cahit , Smith Brian H , Cook Chelsea N
Published: June 2021

Learning and attention allow animals to better navigate complex environments. While foraging, honey bees (Apis mellifera L.) learn several aspects of their foraging environment, such as color and odor of flowers, which likely begins to happen before they evaluate the quality of the food. If bees begin to evaluate quality before they taste food, and then learn the food is depleted, this may create a conflict in what the bee learns and remembers. Individual honey bees differ in their sensitivity to information, thus creating variation in how they learn or do not learn certain environmental stimuli. For example, foraging honey bees exhibit differences in latent inhibition (LI), a learning process through which regular encounter with a stimulus without a consequence such as food can later reduce conditioning to that stimulus. Here, we test whether bees from distinct selected LI genotypes learn differently if reinforced via just antennae or via both antennae + proboscis. We also evaluate whether learned information goes extinct at different rates in these distinct LI genetic lines. We find that high LI bees learned significantly better when they were reinforced both antenna + proboscis, while low LI and control bees learned similarly with the two reinforcement pathways. We also find no differences in the acquisition and extinction of learned information in high LI and low LI bees. Our work provides insight into how underlying cognition may influence how honey bees learn and value information, which may lead to differences in how individuals and colonies make foraging decisions.
How do we define and measure sarcopenia? A meta-analysis of observational studies
Authors: Carvalho do Nascimento Paulo R , Bilodeau Martin , Poitras Stéphane
Published: June 2021

Objective

this study aimed to investigate how sarcopenia has been defined and measured in the literature reporting its prevalence, and how different definitions and measurement tools can affect prevalence estimates.

Design

systematic review and meta-analysis.

Setting and participants

community-dwelling older people.

Methods

meta-analysis of data collected from observational studies. We performed an electronic search in five databases to identify studies reporting the prevalence of sarcopenia. We used descriptive statistics to present data pertaining sarcopenia definition and measurement tools, and the quality-effects model for meta-analysis of pooled prevalence.

Results

we found seven different operational definitions for sarcopenia and a variety of tools applied to assess the sarcopenic markers; muscle mass, muscle strength and physical performance. The prevalence of sarcopenia varied between the definitions with general estimates ranging from 5% based on the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People (EWGSOP1) criterion to 17% with the International Working Group on Sarcopenia. According to the tool used to assess muscle mass, strength and physical performance, prevalence values also varied within definitions extending from 1 to 7%, 1 to 12% and 0 to 22%, respectively.

Conclusion and implications

the criteria used to define sarcopenia, as well as the measurement tools applied to assess sarcopenic markers have influence in the prevalence of sarcopenia. The establishment of a unique definition for sarcopenia, the use of methods that guarantee an accurate evaluation of muscle mass and the standardisation of measurement tools are necessary to allow a proper diagnosis and comparison of sarcopenia prevalence among populations.
Predicting anti-cancer drug response by finding optimal subset of drugs
Authors: Yassaee Meybodi Fatemeh , Eslahchi Changiz
Published: June 2021

Motivation

One of the most difficult challenges in precision medicine is determining the best treatment strategy for each patient based on personal information. Since drug response prediction in vitro is extremely expensive, time-consuming and virtually impossible, and because there are so many cell lines and drug data, computational methods are needed.

Results

MinDrug is a method for predicting anti-cancer drug response which try to identify the best subset of drugs that are the most similar to other drugs. MinDrug predicts the anti-cancer drug response on a new cell line using information from drugs in this subset and their connections to other drugs. MinDrug employs a heuristic star algorithm to identify an optimal subset of drugs and a regression technique known as Elastic-Net approaches to predict anti-cancer drug response in a new cell line. To test MinDrug, we use both statistical and biological methods to assess the selected drugs. MinDrug is also compared to four state-of-the-art approaches using various k-fold cross-validations on two large public datasets: GDSC and CCLE. MinDrug outperforms the other approaches in terms of precision, robustness and speed. Furthermore, we compare the evaluation results of all the approaches with an external dataset with a statistical distribution that is not exactly the same as the training data. The results show that MinDrug continues to outperform the other approaches.

Availability and implementation

MinDrug’s source code can be found at https://github.com/yassaee/MinDrug.

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Cortical and phase rim lesions on 7 T MRI as markers of multiple sclerosis disease progression
Authors: Treaba Constantina A , Conti Allegra , Klawiter Eric C , Barletta Valeria T , Herranz Elena , Mehndiratta Ambica , Russo Andrew W , Sloane Jacob A , Kinkel Revere P , Toschi Nicola , Mainero Caterina
Published: June 2021

In multiple sclerosis, individual lesion-type patterns on magnetic resonance imaging might be valuable for predicting clinical outcome and monitoring treatment effects. Neuropathological and imaging studies consistently show that cortical lesions contribute to disease progression. The presence of chronic active white matter lesions harbouring a paramagnetic rim on susceptibility-weighted magnetic resonance imaging has also been associated with an aggressive form of multiple sclerosis. It is, however, still uncertain how these two types of lesions relate to each other, or which one plays a greater role in disability progression. In this prospective, longitudinal study in 100 multiple sclerosis patients (74 relapsing-remitting, 26 secondary progressive), we used ultra-high field 7-T susceptibility imaging to characterize cortical and rim lesion presence and evolution. Clinical evaluations were obtained over a mean period of 3.2 years in 71 patients, 46 of which had a follow-up magnetic resonance imaging. At baseline, cortical and rim lesions were identified in 96% and 63% of patients, respectively. Rim lesion prevalence was similar across disease stages. Patients with rim lesions had higher cortical and overall white matter lesion load than subjects without rim lesions (P = 0.018–0.05). Altogether, cortical lesions increased by both count and volume (P = 0.004) over time, while rim lesions expanded their volume (P = 0.023) whilst lacking new rim lesions; rimless white matter lesions increased their count but decreased their volume (P = 0.016). We used a modern machine learning algorithm based on extreme gradient boosting techniques to assess the cumulative power as well as the individual importance of cortical and rim lesion types in predicting disease stage and disability progression, alongside with more traditional imaging markers. The most influential imaging features that discriminated between multiple sclerosis stages (area under the curve±standard deviation = 0.82 ± 0.08) included, as expected, the normalized white matter and thalamic volume, white matter lesion volume, but also leukocortical lesion volume. Subarachnoid cerebrospinal fluid and leukocortical lesion volumes, along with rim lesion volume were the most important predictors of Expanded Disability Status Scale progression (area under the curve±standard deviation = 0.69 ± 0.12). Taken together, these results indicate that while cortical lesions are extremely frequent in multiple sclerosis, rim lesion development occurs only in a subset of patients. Both, however, persist over time and relate to disease progression. Their combined assessment is needed to improve the ability of identifying multiple sclerosis patients at risk of progressing disease.
Pain in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Optogenetic Strategies for Study of Neural–Epithelial Signaling
Authors: Najjar Sarah A , Albers Kathryn M
Published: June 2021

Abdominal pain is common in patients with active inflammation of the colon but can persist even in its absence, suggesting other mechanisms of pain signaling. Recent findings suggest colon epithelial cells are direct regulators of pain-sensing neurons. Optogenetic activation of epithelial cells evoked nerve firing and pain-like behaviors. Inhibition of epithelial cells caused the opposite effect, reducing responses to colon distension and inflammatory hypersensitivity. Thus, epithelial cells alone can regulate the activation of pain circuits. Future goals are to define the anatomical and cellular mechanisms that underlie epithelial–neural pain signaling and how it is altered in response to colon inflammation.
Sequential Use of High-Dose Tofacitinib After Infliximab Salvage Therapy in Acute Severe Ulcerative Colitis
Authors: Gilmore Robert , Hilley Patrick , Srinivasan Ashish , Choy Matthew , De Cruz Peter
Published: June 2021

Background and Aims

Preliminary data regarding the effectiveness of tofacitinib in acute severe ulcerative colitis [ASUC] have been presented in two previous case series. We aimed to describe the novel use of high-dose tofacitinib immediately following non-response to infliximab in the setting of steroid-refractory ASUC.

Methods

Five patients who received high-dose tofacitinib 10 mg three times a day immediately following non-response to infliximab for steroid-refractory ASUC were identified at an Australian tertiary inflammatory bowel disease centre.

Results

Four of the five patients demonstrated clinical response to high-dose tofacitinib induction during their inpatient admission, with one patient requiring colectomy owing to a lack of clinical response. At 90 days, all four initial responders remained colectomy-free, with two patients achieving combined clinical and endoscopic remission. No adverse events directly attributable to high-dose tofacitinib were identified.

Conclusions

High-dose tofacitinib may have a role as salvage therapy in the setting of steroid-refractory ASUC. Prospective studies are required to determine the safety and efficacy of high-dose tofacitinib to determine whether it can be routinely recommended as primary or sequential salvage therapy in the setting of steroid-refractory ASUC.
Left ventricular remodelling in mitral valve prolapse patients: implications of apical papillary muscle insertion
Authors: Moura-Ferreira Sara , Vandenberk Bert , Masci Pier Giorgio , Dresselaers Tom , Garweg Christophe , Symons Rolf , Willems Rik , Bogaert Jan
Published: June 2021

Aims

Mitral valve prolapse (MVP) causes left ventricular (LV) remodelling even in the absence of significant mitral regurgitation. To evaluate whether apical insertion of the papillary muscle (PM) influences the pattern and severity of MVP-related LV remodelling.

Methods and results

All MVP patients who underwent CMR at our institution between December 2008 and December 2019 were included, thoroughly reviewed and grouped according to apical/non-apical PM insertion. Apical PM insertion was found in 53/92 patients (58%) and associated with mitral leaflet thickening (P < 0.01) and a trend towards higher prevalence of mitral annular disjunction (P = 0.05). Whereas no differences in ventricular volumes or ejection fraction were found, patients with apical PM insertion showed more lateral wall remodelling with mid lateral wall thinning [2.1 (1.8–2.5) vs. 4.0 (3.5–5.0) mm, P < 0.01], increased LV eccentricity and a lower GCS at this level (15 ± 3% vs. 20 ± 3%, P < 0.01). In long-axis direction, increased end-diastolic mid lateral wall angulation was found (i.e. angle <155° measured in the thinnest point of the mid lateral wall in four-chamber view) with a higher angle variation during systole (25 ± 11° vs. 17 ± 8°, P < 0.01). Remarkably, PM fibrosis was significantly more frequent in patients with apical PM insertion (i.e. 66% vs. 28%, P < 0.01). Finally, a higher burden of premature ventricular complexes (>5%) and non-sustained ventricular tachyarrhythmias was found in patients with apical PM insertion: 53% vs. 25% (P = 0.04) and 38% vs. 18% (P = 0.04), respectively.

Conclusion

Apical PM insertion is part of the phenotypic spectrum of MVP, impacts significantly LV remodelling, and potentially may be related to increased ventricular arrhythmogenicity.
Left-dominant arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy: an association with desmoglein-2 gene mutation—a case report
Authors: Lao Nicole , Laiq Zenab , Courson Jeffrey , Al-Quthami Adeeb
Published: June 2021

Background

Desmosomes are specialized intercellular adhesive junctions of cardiac and epithelial cells that provide intercellular mechanical coupling through glycoproteins, one of which is desmoglein (DSG). DSG-2 mutations are frequently associated with biventricular arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy (ACM). We report a case of left-dominant ACM in a patient who initially was misclassified as dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM).

Case summary

A 28-year-old-woman was found to have a moderately reduced left ventricular (LV) systolic function and frequent premature ventricular contractions (PVCs). Targeted genetic testing revealed a heterozygous likely pathogenic variant associated with ACM in exon 15 of the DSG-2 gene (c.3059_3062del; p.Glu1020Alafs*18). Subsequent cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging showed epicardial and mid-myocardial fatty infiltration involving multiple LV wall segments, multiple areas of mid-myocardial fibrosis/scar, regional dyskinesis involving both ventricles, and an overall reduced left ventricular ejection fraction. The patient’s right ventricular (RV) cavity size and overall RV systolic function were normal. Based on the patient’s frequent PVCs, family history, fibrofatty myocardial replacement in multiple LV segments, and dyskinetic motion of multiple ventricular wall segments (predominantly affecting the LV), the patient was diagnosed with left-dominant ACM.

Discussion

Identifying a likely pathogenic mutation associated with ACM in a patient with ventricular arrhythmias and a family history of sudden cardiac death increased the possibility of ACM. Subsequent CMR imaging confirmed the diagnosis of left-dominant ACM by demonstrating regional biventricular dyskinesia and a characteristic pattern of fibrofatty myocardial replacement. Our case highlights the importance of targeted genetic testing and advanced cardiac imaging in distinguishing left-dominant ACM from DCM.
The impact of surgical training on early and long-term outcomes after isolated aortic valve surgery
Authors: Dimagli Arnaldo , Sinha Shubhra , Benedetto Umberto , Caputo Massimo , Angelini Gianni D
Published: June 2021

OBJECTIVES

Patients presenting with more comorbidities, requiring more complex cardiac surgical procedures and an increase in public scrutiny are impacting on training programme because of the perceived risk of worse outcomes. Hence, we aimed to provide evidence that trainees as the first operator can achieve comparable results to consultants when performing isolated surgical aortic valve replacement.

METHODS

From 1996 to 2017, 2919 patients underwent surgical aortic valve replacement at the Bristol Heart Institute, operated on by either a consultant (n = 2220) or a trainee (n = 870) as the first operator. Propensity score matching was used to adjust for imbalance in the baseline characteristics of the 2 groups.

RESULTS

Over a 21-year period, the proportion of trainee cases dropped from 41.5% to 25.9%. No differences in the rates and risk of in-hospital mortality, new cerebrovascular accidents, re-exploration for bleeding, deep sternal wound infection and length of stay were found between patients operated on in the 2 groups. Also, there was a comparable risk of late death between the 2 groups (HR 0.88; 95% CI 0.73–1.06; P = 0.27) and this was present regardless of trainees career level and patients surgical risk based on the EuroSCORE. Finally, we showed an increase in patients risk profile in the latest year but, this was not associated with the worst outcomes when trainees performed the operation.

CONCLUSIONS

Surgical aortic valve replacement is a safe and reproducible technique and regardless of the patient’s risk profile, and no differences in the outcomes between trainees and consultant cases were found.
Species interactions drive the spread of ampicillin resistance in human-associated gut microbiota
Authors: O’Brien Siobhán , Baumgartner Michael , Hall Alex R
Published: June 2021

Background and objectives

Slowing the spread of antimicrobial resistance is urgent if we are to continue treating infectious diseases successfully. There is increasing evidence microbial interactions between and within species are significant drivers of resistance. On one hand, cross-protection by resistant genotypes can shelter susceptible microbes from the adverse effects of antibiotics, reducing the advantage of resistance. On the other hand, antibiotic-mediated killing of susceptible genotypes can alleviate competition and allow resistant strains to thrive (competitive release). Here, by observing interactions both within and between species in microbial communities sampled from humans, we investigate the potential role for cross-protection and competitive release in driving the spread of ampicillin resistance in the ubiquitous gut commensal and opportunistic pathogen Escherichia coli.

Methodology

Using anaerobic gut microcosms comprising E.coli embedded within gut microbiota sampled from humans, we tested for cross-protection and competitive release both within and between species in response to the clinically important beta-lactam antibiotic ampicillin.

Results

While cross-protection gave an advantage to antibiotic-susceptible E.coli in standard laboratory conditions (well-mixed LB medium), competitive release instead drove the spread of antibiotic-resistant E.coli in gut microcosms (ampicillin boosted growth of resistant bacteria in the presence of susceptible strains).

Conclusions and implications

Competition between resistant strains and other members of the gut microbiota can restrict the spread of ampicillin resistance. If antibiotic therapy alleviates competition with resident microbes by killing susceptible strains, as here, microbiota-based interventions that restore competition could be a key for slowing the spread of resistance.

Lay Summary

Slowing the spread of global antibiotic resistance is an urgent task. In this paper, we ask how interactions between microbial species drive the spread of resistance. We show that antibiotic killing of susceptible microbes can free up resources for resistant microbes and allow them to thrive. Therefore, we should consider microbes in light of their social interactions to understand the spread of resistance.
Seven Types of Translation: Translation Tables
Authors: Atkins Tim
Published: June 2021

This article and accompanying table provide an overview and catalogue of a large number of experimental translation methods that have been used by avantgarde poets. Poetic/experimental translation as defined and explored herein is a form of translation in which the aesthetic and execution of the translator is as important as that of the perceived intention of the original writer. The article’s seven-section table gives a definition of each method, and gives examples and expositions of a range of particular poets' work. The table of translation methods recognizes and explores the fact that of all forms of writing, poetry concerns itself with the ‘how it is said’ more than any other. The table outlines many different methods of translation, looking at how meaning, rhyme, sound, form, constraint, or style can be translated by the experimental writer when translating one or more source texts. These individual, intellectual, and aesthetic choices made by a wide range of poets are collated and detailed in seven discrete-yet-overlapping areas.
Reading and surviving the harsh conditions in desert biological soil crust: the cyanobacterial viewpoint
Authors: Xu Hai-Feng , Raanan Hagai , Dai Guo-Zheng , Oren Nadav , Berkowicz Simon , Murik Omer , Kaplan Aaron , Qiu Bao-Sheng
Published: June 2021

Biological soil crusts (BSCs) are found in drylands, cover ∼12% of the Earth's surface in arid and semi-arid lands and their destruction is considered an important promoter of desertification. These crusts are formed by the adhesion of soil particles to polysaccharides excreted mostly by filamentous cyanobacteria, which are the pioneers and main primary producers in BSCs. Desert BSCs survive in one of the harshest environments on Earth, and are exposed to daily fluctuations of extreme conditions. The cyanobacteria inhabiting these habitats must precisely read the changing conditions and predict, for example, the forthcoming desiccation. Moreover, they evolved a comprehensive regulation of multiple adaptation strategies to enhance their stress tolerance. Here, we focus on what distinguishes cyanobacteria able to revive after dehydration from those that cannot. While important progress has been made in our understanding of physiological, biochemical and omics aspects, clarification of the sensing, signal transduction and responses enabling desiccation tolerance are just emerging. We plot the trajectory of current research and open questions ranging from general strategies and regulatory adaptations in the hydration/desiccation cycle, to recent advances in our understanding of photosynthetic adaptation. The acquired knowledge provides new insights to mitigate desertification and improve plant productivity under drought conditions.
Multi-modal data collection for measuring health, behavior, and living environment of large-scale participant cohorts
Authors: Wu Congyu , Fritz Hagen , Bastami Sepehr , Maestre Juan P , Thomaz Edison , Julien Christine , Castelli Darla M , de Barbaro Kaya , Bearman Sarah Kate , Harari Gabriella M , Cameron Craddock R , Kinney Kerry A , Gosling Samuel D , Schnyer David M , Nagy Zoltan
Published: June 2021

Background

As mobile technologies become ever more sensor-rich, portable, and ubiquitous, data captured by smart devices are lending rich insights into users’ daily lives with unprecedented comprehensiveness and ecological validity. A number of human-subject studies have been conducted to examine the use of mobile sensing to uncover individual behavioral patterns and health outcomes, yet minimal attention has been placed on measuring living environments together with other human-centered sensing data. Moreover, the participant sample size in most existing studies falls well below a few hundred, leaving questions open about the reliability of findings on the relations between mobile sensing signals and human outcomes.

Results

To address these limitations, we developed a home environment sensor kit for continuous indoor air quality tracking and deployed it in conjunction with smartphones, Fitbits, and ecological momentary assessments in a cohort study of up to 1,584 college student participants per data type for 3 weeks. We propose a conceptual framework that systematically organizes human-centric data modalities by their temporal coverage and spatial freedom. Then we report our study procedure, technologies and methods deployed, and descriptive statistics of the collected data that reflect the participants’ mood, sleep, behavior, and living environment.

Conclusions

We were able to collect from a large participant cohort satisfactorily complete multi-modal sensing and survey data in terms of both data continuity and participant adherence. Our novel data and conceptual development provide important guidance for data collection and hypothesis generation in future human-centered sensing studies.
Turkey's changing engagement with the global South
Authors: Levaggi Ariel González , Donelli Federico
Published: June 2021

Over the past fifteen years, Turkey has tried to achieve the status of global actor. Enhancing ties with the global South has been one policy to achieve this objective. The article aims to analyse the changing trajectory of Ankara's approach towards a non-traditional orientation of its foreign policy, the southern dimension, by focusing on the determinants of the Justice and Development Party's (AKP) foreign policy in the last decade. The key argument is that the southern orientation of Turkish foreign policy has lost its constructive and developmental direction due to the complex interactions between the regional crisis in Turkey's neighborhood and domestic democratic backsliding, coupled with Erdogan's executive centralization, especially after the failed coup of 2016. As a major finding, the agenda securitization and the increased personalization of Turkey's domestic and international agenda have polluted an attractive foreign policy, even in non-priority regional areas.
The Fundamental Gap of Horoconvex Domains in ℍn
Authors: Nguyen Xuan Hien , Stancu Alina , Wei Guofang
Published: June 2021

We show that, for horoconvex domains in the hyperbolic space, the product of their fundamental gap with the square of their diameter has no positive lower bound. The result follows from the study of the fundamental gap of geodesic balls as the radius goes to infinity. In the process, we improve the lower bound for the first eigenvalue of balls in hyperbolic space.
Implementation of an Extraction-Free COVID Real-Time PCR Workflow in a Pediatric Hospital Setting
Authors: Dumm Rebekah E , Elkan Michael , Fink Jeffrey , Richard-Greenblatt Melissa , Obstfeld Amrom E , Harris Rebecca M
Published: June 2021

Background

This study outlines the development, implementation, and impact of a laboratory-developed, extraction-free real-time PCR assay as the primary diagnostic test for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in a pediatric hospital.

Methods

Clinical specimens from both upper and lower respiratory tract sources were validated, including nasopharyngeal aspirates, nasopharyngeal swabs, anterior nares swabs, and tracheal aspirates (n = 333 clinical samples). Testing volumes and laboratory turnaround times were then compared before and after implementation to investigate effects of the workflow changes.

Results

Compared to magnetic-bead extraction platforms, extraction-free real-time PCR demonstrated ≥95% positive agreement and ≥97% negative agreement across all tested sources. Implementation of this workflow reduced laboratory turnaround time from an average of 8.8 (+/−5.5) h to 3.6 (+/−1.3) h despite increasing testing volumes (from 1515 to 4884 tests per week over the reported period of testing).

Conclusions

The extraction-free workflow reduced extraction reagent cost for SARS-CoV-2 testing by 97%, shortened sample handling time, and significantly alleviated supply chain scarcities due to the elimination of specialized extraction reagents for routine testing. Overall, this assay is a viable option for laboratories to increase efficiency and navigate reagent shortages for SARS-CoV-2 diagnostic testing.
When an Arab State Entered into International Refugee Instruments: Behind the Scenes of Egypt’s Accession to the 1951 Refugee Convention
Authors: Fujibayashi Hirotaka
Published: June 2021

This article explores why Egypt, unlike the majority of Arab states in the Middle East, decided to accede to the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees (1951 Convention) in 1981. Drawing on both primary and secondary source information, this article investigates the process of relevant negotiations between the Egyptian state and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). The article’s historical analysis finds that Egypt’s major foreign policy reforms in the late 1970s became a key trigger for the country’s growing rapport with the UNHCR and the regime of the 1951 Convention. Yet, it is also argued that the UNHCR and pro-Western foreign ministry officials of Egypt played a pivotal role in leading to the successful outcome. Expanding on the state’s foreign policy rationale, this article provides useful insights into the conditions under which a previously reluctant state, like Egypt, could eventually become a party to the 1951 Convention.
Multi-Project Assessments of Sample Quality in Cross-National Surveys: The Role of Weights in Applying External and Internal Measures of Sample Bias
Authors: Jabkowski Piotr , Cichocki Piotr , Kołczyńska Marta
Published: June 2021

This paper examines existing methods of evaluating sample quality, showing that their practical utility and applicability to large-scale cross-project comparisons depends on whether they require auxiliary individual-level data. Among those methods that do not demand any such additional data, we differentiate between two approaches that rely on (i) external criteria, that is, comparisons of sample estimates to benchmarks derived from external population statistics, and (ii) internal criteria, that is, comparisons of subsample estimates to a theoretically derived aprioristic value. Our analyses demonstrate the advantages and limitations of both approaches based on an evaluation of 1,125 national surveys carried out in Europe between 2002 and 2016 within four survey projects: the Eurobarometer, European Quality of Life Survey, European Social Survey, and International Social Survey Programme. We show that the prevailing absence of design weights in cross-national survey datasets severely limits the applicability of external criteria evaluations. In contrast, using internal criteria without any weights proves acceptable because incorporating design weights in calculations of internal sample quality has only minor consequences for estimates of sample bias. Furthermore, applying internal criteria, we find that around 75 percent of samples in the four analyzed projects are not significantly biased. We also identify surveys with extremely high sample bias and investigate its potential sources. The paper concludes with recommendations regarding future research, which are directed at secondary data users, as well as producers of cross-national surveys.