bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A novel insight into transcriptional and epigenetic regulation underlying sex expression and flower development in melon (Cucumis melo L.)
Authors: Aamir Mohd , Karmakar Pradip , Singh Vinay Kumar , Kashyap Sarvesh Pratap , Pandey Sudhakar , Singh Binod Kumar , Singh Prabhakar Mohan , Singh Jagdish
Published: February 2021

Melon (Cucumis melo L.) is an important cucurbit and has been considered as a model plant for studying sex determination. The four most common sexual morphotypes in melon are monoecious (A‐G‐M), gynoecious (−‐ggM‐), andromonoecious (A‐G‐mm), and hermaphrodite (‐‐ggmm). Sex expression in melons is complex, as the genes and associated networks that govern the sex expression are not fully explored. Recently, RNA‐seq transcriptomic profiling, ChIP‐qPCR analysis integrated with gene ontology annotation and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathways predicted the differentially expressed genes including sex‐specific ACS and ACO genes, in regulating the sex‐expression, phytohormonal cross‐talk, signal transduction, and secondary metabolism in melons. Integration of transcriptional control through genetic interaction in between the ACS7, ACS11, and WIP1 in epistatic or hypostatic manner, along with the recruitment of H3K9ac and H3K27me3, epigenetically, overall determine sex expression. Alignment of protein sequences for establishing phylogenetic evolution, motif comparison, and protein–protein interaction supported the structural conservation while presence of the conserved hydrophilic and charged residues across the diverged evolutionary group predicted the functional conservation of the ACS protein. Presence of the putative cis‐binding elements or DNA motifs, and its further comparison with DAP‐seq‐based cistrome and epicistrome of Arabidopsis, unraveled strong ancestry of melons with Arabidopsis. Motif comparison analysis also characterized putative genes and transcription factors involved in ethylene biosynthesis, signal transduction, and hormonal cross‐talk related to sex expression. Overall, we have comprehensively reviewed research findings for a deeper insight into transcriptional and epigenetic regulation of sex expression and flower development in melons.
Seed inoculation of desert‐plant growth‐promoting rhizobacteria induce biochemical alterations and develop resistance against water stress in wheat
Authors: Zia Rabisa , Nawaz Muhammad Shoib , Yousaf Sumaira , Amin Imran , Hakim Sughra , Mirza Muhammad Sajjad , Imran Asma
Published: February 2021

Water shortage limits agricultural productivity, so strategies to get higher yields in dry agricultural systems is vital to circumvent the effect of climate change and land‐shortage. The plant rhizosphere harbors beneficial bacteria able to confer biotic/abiotic tolerance along with a positive impact on plant growth. Herein, three bacterial strains, Proteus mirabilis R2, Pseudomonas balearica RF‐2 and Cronobacter sakazakii RF‐4 (accessions: LS975374, LS975373, LS975370, respectively) isolated from native desert‐weeds were investigated for their response to improve wheat growth under drought stress. The bacteria showed drought tolerance up to 20% polyethylene glycol (PEG; −0.6 MPa), and salt (65–97 g l−1), 1‐aminocyclopropane‐1‐carboxylate (ACC)‐deaminase activity, P/Zn/K‐solubilization, calcite degradation, IAA, and siderophore production. The plant growth‐promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) were evaluated on wheat under water stress. The P. balearica strain RF‐2 primed seeds showed a maximum promptness index and germination index under PEG‐stress, that is, 68% and 100%, respectively. Inoculation significantly improved plant growth, leaf area, and biomass under water stress. P. mirabilis R2 inoculated plant leaves showed the highest water contents as compared to the plants inoculated with other strains. C. sakazakii RF‐4 inoculated plants showed minimum cell injury, electrolyte leakage, and maximum cell membrane stability at PEG stress. After 13 days exposure to drought, C. sakazakii RF‐4 treated plants showed an overall higher expression of cytosolic ascorbate peroxidase (cAPX) and ribulose‐bisphosphate carboxylase (rbcL) genes. The activity of stress‐induced catalase and polyphenol oxidase was reduced, while that of peroxidase and superoxide dismutase increased after inoculation but the response was temporal. Taken together, this data explains that different PGPR (especially C. sakazakii RF‐4) modulate differential responses in wheat that eventually leads towards drought tolerance, hence, it has the potential to enhance crop production in arid regions.
Autonomic reactivity to emotion: A marker of sub‐clinical anxiety and depression symptoms?
Authors: De Zorzi Lucas , Ranfaing Stéphane , Honoré Jacques , Sequeira Henrique
Published: February 2021

Anxiety and depression are both characterized by dysregulated autonomic reactivity to emotion. However, most experiments until now have focused on autonomic reactivity to stimuli presented in central vision (CV) even if affective saliency is also observed in peripheral vision (PV). We compared autonomic reactivity to CV and PV emotional stimulation in 58 participants with high anxious (HA) or low anxious (LA) and high depressive (HD) or low depressive (LD) symptomatology, based on STAI‐B and BDI scores, respectively. Unpleasant (U), pleasant (P), and neutral (N) pictures from IAPS were presented at three eccentricities (0°: CV; −12 and 12°: PV). Skin conductance (SC), skin temperature, pupillary diameter, and heart rate (HR) were recorded. First, HA participants showed greater pupil dilation to emotional than to neutral stimuli in PV than in CV. Second, in contrast to HD, the valence effect indexed by SC and emotional arousal effect indexed by skin temperature were observed in LD. Third, both anxiety and depression lead to a valence effect indexed by pupillary light reflex and heart rate. These results suggest a hyperreactivity to emotion and hypervigilance to PV in anxiety. Depression is associated with an attenuation of positive effect and a global blunted autonomic reactivity to emotion. Moreover, anxiety mostly modulates the early processes of autonomic reactivity whereas depression mainly affects the later processes. The differential impact of emotional information over the visual field suggests the use of new stimulation strategies in order to attenuate anxious and depressive symptoms.
Lytic regulated cell death in aquaculture fish
Authors: Xia Xiaojing , He Bin , Zhang Xiulin , Cheng Zhe , Liu Mingcheng , Wei Xiaobing , Jiang Jinqing , Hu Jianhe
Published: February 2021

Cell death is an important physiological and pathological phenomenon in multicellular animals and occurs widely in various body’s systems. In recent years, researchers have gained a deeper understanding of the mechanisms of necrosis and apoptosis in mammals. In addition, many new forms of lytic regulated cell death (RCD), such as pyroptosis, necroptosis and ferroptosis, have been discovered, thus enhancing our understanding of the molecular mechanisms of programmed cell death (PCD) and the associated signalling pathways as well as their relationship with diseases. However, our understanding of lytic RCD in fish is limited. Recently, some progress has been made regarding the induction conditions, expression of related genes and regulation of lytic RCD in fish. Furthermore, research on the roles of lytic RCD in tissue development, against pathogenic microorganism, inflammatory disease and neurological disease, has also been advanced. Understanding lytic RCD in fish will enable the regulation of its occurrence through human intervention to inhibit disease processes, improve fish health and explore possible countermeasures based on these basic theoretical studies.
INSL‐3 protein expression in normal and cryptorchid testes of Ziwuling black goats
Authors: Yuan Ligang , Wang Hua , Wang Qianmei , Li Chengye , Yang Dapeng
Published: February 2021

Ziwuling black goats are typically found in loess plateaus regions and the Ziwuling Nature Reserve. Cryptorchidism is a common disease in this inbred goat, and its pathogenesis has been linked with the expression of insulin‐like factor 3 (INSL‐3). Therefore, this study aimed to investigate anatomical alterations caused by cryptorchism and the expression and distribution of INSL‐3 in normal and cryptorchid testicular tissues. The testicular tissues of 6‐month‐old Ziwuling black goats were collected for microscopic analyses using histochemical, immunohistochemical, immunofluorescence and biometrical methods, as well as Western blotting to compare the expression and distribution of INSL‐3. A lower expression of INSL‐3 was observed in cryptorchid compared with normal testicular tissues (p < .01). Cryptorchidism caused a significant reduction in layers of spermatogenic epithelium and tubule areas in Ziwuling black goat (p < .01). The interstitial to seminiferous tubule area ratio was larger in cryptorchid than in normal group. Periodic Acid‐Schiff (PAS) staining revealed pronounced positive bands in the interstitial tissue, while positive Alcian blue (AB) staining was not clear, and AB‐PAS staining revealed a positive red band in the basement membrane of cryptorchid group. Immunofluorescence revealed a strong signal of INSL‐3 expression in Sertoli and peritubular myoid cells, and moderate signal in Leydig and spermatogenic cells in the normal group. However, in cryptorchid testicular tissues, the signal of INSL‐3 expression was strong in primary spermatocytes, occasional in Sertoli cells, limited in Leydig cells and absent in peritubular myoid cells. Furthermore, immunohistochemistry showed that INSL‐3 expression was higher in normal testes compared with cryptorchid testicular tissues (p < .05), especially in primary spermatocytes and Sertoli cells. Collectively, our results indicate that cryptorchidism is closely related to the disorder of acid glycoprotein metabolism and the reduction in release of INSL‐3 from Leydig cells. Moreover, Sertoli and peritubular myoid cells are crucial for INSL signalling and could underpin further research on the mechanism of cryptorchidism in animal.
Integration of Evidence on Community Cancer Risks from Elongate Mineral Particles in Silver Bay, Minnesota
Authors: Dell Linda D. , Gallagher Alexa E. , Yost Lisa J. , Mundt Kenneth A.
Published: February 2021

The potential for cancer‐related risks to community members from ambient exposure to elongate mineral particles (EMPs) in taconite processing has not been formally evaluated. We evaluated 926 ambient air samples including 12,928 EMPs (particle structures with length‐to‐width ratio ≥3:1) collected over 26 years near a taconite processing facility in Silver Bay, Minnesota. Eighty‐two percent of EMPs were ≤3 μm in length and 97% of EMPs had an average aspect ratio <20:1. A total of 935 (7.3%) EMPs had length >5 μm and AR ≥3:1. Average ambient concentration of NIOSH countable amphibole EMPs over all years was 0.000387 EMPs per cubic centimeter (EMP/cm3). Of 12,765 nonchrysotile EMPs, the number of amphiboles with length and width dimensions that correlate best with asbestos‐related carcinogenicity ranged from four (0.03%) to 13 (0.1%) and the associated ambient amphibole air concentrations ranged from 0.000003 to 0.000007 EMP/cm3. After 65 years of taconite processing in Silver Bay, evidence of an increased risk of mesothelioma and lung cancer in community members who did not work in the taconite industry is lacking. The absence of an increased risk of asbestos‐related cancer in the Silver Bay community is coherent with supporting evidence from epidemiological and toxicological studies, as well as ambient exposure data and lake sediment data collected in Minnesota Iron Range communities. Collectively, the data provide consistent evidence that nonasbestiform amphibole minerals lack the carcinogenic potential exhibited by amphibole asbestos.
A Nonmechanistic Parametric Modeling Approach for Benchmark Dose Estimation of Event‐Time Data
Authors: Jensen Signe M. , Cedergreen Nina , Kluxen Felix M. , Ritz Christian
Published: February 2021

We propose benchmark dose estimation for event‐time data, using a two‐step approach. This approach avoids estimation of complex models and has been previously shown to give robust results for summarizing relevant parameters for risk assessment. In the first step, the probability of the event of interest to occur (in a certain time interval) is described as a function of time, resulting in an event‐time model; such a model is fitted allowing an individual curve for each dose, and relevant estimates are extracted. In the second step, a dose–response model is fitted to the estimates of t50 obtained from the event‐time model in the first step. Given a predefined benchmark response, the benchmark dose is then estimated from the resulting model. This novel approach is demonstrated in two examples. Our application of the time‐to‐event model showed a gain in power compared to the traditional analysis of end‐of‐study summary data.
Does Conservation Ethic Include Intergenerational Bequest? A Random Utility Model Analysis of Conservation Easements and Agricultural Landowners*
Authors: Keske Catherine M. H. , Arnold Parker , Cross Jennifer E. , Bastian Christopher T.
Published: February 2021

As the average age of agricultural producers continues to rise, farm succession planning and the large number of anticipated land transfers are expected to transform rural American agricultural production and landscapes. Policy tools like conservation easements (CEs) can facilitate agricultural land preservation through “dead hand control” by restricting the development through binding legal contracts that can be transferred across generations. We examine whether agricultural landowners seek CE agreements to keep the land in agriculture for intergenerational bequest, rather than selling the land for financial gains that could be enjoyed immediately or passed to heirs. We assess whether this may be influenced by landowner conservation ethic or perceived threat to sense of place. We analyze the survey data collected from 2,270 agricultural landowners in Colorado and Wyoming utilizing a random utility model estimation. We find that landowners are less likely to reject a CE agreement when there is a desire to bequest agricultural land to the next generation or a perceived threat to sense of place; however, conservation ethic mitigates intergenerational bequest effects. This indicates that conservation ethic encompasses a desire to pass land to the next generation. Our findings contribute to the conservation literature by advocating for the regenerative approach to land conservation rather than the theory of planned behavior.
Hyper‐Securitization, Everyday Security Practice and Technification: Cyber‐Security Logics in Switzerland
Authors: Dunn Cavelty Myriam , Egloff Florian J.
Published: February 2021

This contribution to the SPSR debate about technology and security in Switzerland looks at how and by whom cyber‐security is constructed in Swiss security politics. Using three securitization logics as developed by reflexive Security Studies – hyper‐securitization, everyday security practices, and technification – it illustrates how Swiss actors have sorted out roles and responsibilities over the years. The article suggests that all three logics are present in the political process, but that ‘technification’ – a way to construct the issue as reliant upon technical knowledge and the supposition that this serves a political and normatively neutral agenda – is currently the dominant one. For democratic politics, technification is a big challenge. Assigning an issue to the technical realm has a depoliticizing influence and makes contestation from those with less technical expertise very hard.
Municipal Insurance Pools and Disenfranchisement in Indian Country
Authors: Dietrich Joseph , Schroedel Jean , Mazareas Kara , Lake Joseph
Published: February 2021

Objective

Our objective is to establish the impact of a litigation pattern used by defendants in voting rights cases in Indian Country which relies on municipal insurance pools and the barring of fee recovery.

Methods

We use history and case studies from four states to demonstrate the argument.

Results

Court is the only option for challenging disenfranchisement of voters, but cases require financial resources often unavailable to Native American plaintiffs. Defendants, typically state and local governments, do not face similar resource constraints as they participate in municipal insurance pools. Defendants, therefore, attempt to raise litigation costs to pressure plaintiffs to dispose of cases. If defendants think they will lose, they settle, preventing plaintiffs from recovering litigation costs or setting a precedent. This form of voting rights infringement discourages others from filing lawsuits as the financial impact can be devastating.

Conclusion

We conclude that the states provide a new arena to litigate voting rights cases.
A novel allele, HLA‐C*15:227, identified when typing COVID‐19 patients
Authors: Cheranev Valery , Loginova Maria , Jankevic Tatjana , Kutyavina Svetlana , Rebrikov Denis
Published: February 2021

HLA‐C*15:227 differs from HLA‐C*15:02:01:01 by a single nonsynonymous change (368A → G Tyrosine 99 to Cysteine).
Cutaneous cytomegalovirus – A case of disseminated cytomegalovirus presenting with extensive ulcerative skin lesions in a renal transplant recipient
Authors: Ferguson Jessica , Mooney Kelly , Saleem Atif , Stevens Bryan A. , Pinsky Benjamin A. , Centkowski Sierra , Zaba Lisa C. , Ho Dora Y.
Published: February 2021

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) reactivation is common in organ transplant recipients and can lead to significant morbidity and mortality. Cutaneous CMV findings are rarely reported in the literature and diagnosis can be delayed if not clinically recognized. We describe a case of a female patient 20 years post renal transplant who presented with extensive ulcerative skin lesions and diarrhea. She rapidly deteriorated and died on day 5 of hospitalization. Autopsy noted extensive CMV involvement of skin and gastrointestinal (GI) tract by CMV‐specific immunohistochemistry. These findings, along with high‐grade CMV viremia, led to the final postmortem diagnosis of disseminated CMV infection. This case focuses on the cutaneous findings of disseminated CMV as recognition of CMV skin lesions can lead to earlier initiation of appropriate therapy in transplant recipients.
SPL14/17 act downstream of strigolactone signalling to modulate rice root elongation in response to nitrate supply
Authors: Sun Huwei , Guo Xiaoli , Qi Xuejiao , Feng Fan , Xie Xiaonan , Zhang Yali , Zhao Quanzhi
Published: February 2021

Nitrogen (N) is an essential major nutrient for food crops. Although ammonium (NH4+) is the primary N source of rice (Oryza sativa), nitrate (NO3−) can also be absorbed and utilized. Rice responds to NO3− application by altering its root morphology, such as root elongation. Strigolactones (SLs) are important modulators of root length. However, the roles of SLs and their downstream genes in NO3−‐induced root elongation remain unclear. Here, the levels of total N and SL (4‐deoxyorobanchol) and the responses of seminal root (SR) lengths to NH4+ and NO3− were investigated in rice plants. NO3− promoted SR elongation, possibly due to short‐term signal perception and long‐term nutrient function. Compared with NH4+ conditions, higher SL signalling/levels and less D53 protein were recorded in roots of NO3−‐treated rice plants. In contrast to wild‐type plants, SR lengths of d mutants were less responsive to NO3− conditions, and application of rac‐GR24 (SL analogue) restored SR length in d10 (SL biosynthesis mutant) but not in d3, d14, and d53 (SL‐responsive mutants), suggesting that higher SL signalling/levels participate in NO3−‐induced root elongation. D53 interacted with SPL17 and inhibited SPL17‐mediated transactivation from the PIN1b promoter. Mutation of SPL14/17 and PIN1b caused insensitivity of the root elongation response to NO3− and rac‐GR24 applications. Therefore, we conclude that perception of SLs by D14 leads to degradation of D53 via the proteasome system, which releases the suppression of SPL14/17‐modulated transcription of PIN1b, resulting in root elongation under NO3− supply.
Enhancer‐mediated reporter gene expression in Arabidopsis thaliana: a forward genetic screen
Authors: Lin Yuan , Zhao Hainan , Kotlarz Magdalena , Jiang Jiming
Published: February 2021

Gene expression is controlled and regulated by interactions between cis‐regulatory DNA elements (CREs) and regulatory proteins. Enhancers are one of the most important classes of CREs in eukaryotes. Eukaryotic genes, especially those related to development or responses to environmental cues, are often regulated by multiple enhancers in different tissues and/or at different developmental stages. Remarkably, little is known about the molecular mechanisms by which enhancers regulate gene expression in plants. We identified a distal enhancer, CREβ, which regulates the expression of AtDGK7, which encodes a diacylglycerol kinase in Arabidopsis. We developed a transgenic line containing the luciferase reporter gene (LUC) driven by CREβ fused with a minimal cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV) 35S promoter. The CREβ enhancer was shown to play a role in the response to osmotic pressure of the LUC reporter gene. A forward genetic screen pipeline based on the transgenic line was established to generate mutations associated with altered expression of the LUC reporter gene. We identified a suite of mutants with variable LUC expression levels as well as different segregation patterns of the mutations in populations. We demonstrate that this pipeline will allow us to identify trans‐regulatory factors associated with CREβ function as well as those acting in the regulation of the endogenous AtDGK7 gene.
Subgenome evolution in allotetraploid plants
Authors: Schiavinato Matteo , Bodrug‐Schepers Alexandrina , Dohm Juliane C. , Himmelbauer Heinz
Published: February 2021

Polyploidization is a well‐known speciation and adaptation mechanism. Traces of former polyploidization events were discovered within many genomes, and especially in plants. Allopolyploidization by interspecific hybridization between two species is common. Among hybrid plants, many are domesticated species of agricultural interest and many of their genomes and of their presumptive parents have been sequenced. Hybrid genomes remain challenging to analyse because of the presence of multiple subgenomes. The genomes of hybrids often undergo rearrangement and degradation over time. Based on 10 hybrid plant genomes from six different genera, with hybridization dating from 10,000 to 5 million years ago, we assessed subgenome degradation, subgenomic intermixing and biased subgenome fractionation. The restructuring of hybrid genomes does not proceed proportionally with the age of the hybrid. The oldest hybrids in our data set display completely different fates: whereas the subgenomes of the tobacco plant Nicotiana benthamiana are in an advanced stage of degradation, the subgenomes of quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa) are exceptionally well conserved by structure and sequence. We observed statistically significant biased subgenome fractionation in seven out of 10 hybrids, which had different ages and subgenomic intermixing levels. Hence, we conclude that no correlation exists between biased fractionation and subgenome intermixing. Lastly, domestication may encourage or hinder subgenome intermixing, depending on the evolutionary context. In summary, comparative analysis of hybrid genomes and their presumptive parents allowed us to determine commonalities and differences between their evolutionary fates. In order to facilitate the future analysis of further hybrid genomes, we automated the analysis steps within manticore, which is publicly available at https://github.com/MatteoSchiavinato/manticore.git.
Does the order of intraocular pressure measurement affect tonometry results?
Authors: Pe’er Oren , Chiu Eni , Arad Dikla , Lelescu Cristina , Ross Maya , Ofri Ron
Published: February 2021

Purpose

To determine whether the order of intraocular pressure (IOP) measurement affects readings, regardless of which eye is measured first.

Methods

Intraocular pressure was measured in 31 and 41 dogs using applanation and rebound tonometry, respectively. Initially, IOP was measured in the first (randomly chosen) eye (reading A), followed by measurement in the fellow eye (reading B), and a third (repeated) measurement in the first eye (reading C). After 15 minutes, measurements were repeated in reverse order (readings D ‐ F).

Results

Applanation tonometry revealed significant differences between readings A & B (15.6 ± 2.3 and 14.8 ± 2.7 mm Hg, respectively, p = .02), A & C (15.6 ± 2.3 and 14.5 ± 2.4 mm Hg, respectively, p = .002), D & E (14.5 ± 2.3 and 13.7 ± 2.1 mm Hg, respectively, p = .02), D & F (14.5 ± 2.3 and 13.9 ± 1.9 mm Hg, respectively, p = .05), and A & E (15.6 ± 2.3 and 13.7 ± 2.1 mm Hg, respectively, p = .001). Rebound tonometry yielded similar results, with additional differences between B & C (19.1 ± 3.0 and 18.2 ± 2.4 mm Hg, respectively, p = .002) and E & F (18.7 ± 3.3 and 18.2 ± 3.3 mm Hg, respectively, p = .02).

Conclusions

Intraocular pressure measured in the first eye, whether right or left, is higher than in the fellow eye. Repeated tonometry in the same visit could result in a significant IOP decrease, though the magnitude may not be clinically appreciable.
Deferasirox‐associated Fanconi syndrome in adult patients with transfusional iron overload
Authors: Yui Jennifer C. , Geara Abdallah , Sayani Farzana
Published: February 2021

Background and Objectives

Deferasirox is an oral chelator approved for iron overload, which has a potential side effect of renal Fanconi syndrome, with proximal tubular dysfunction and tubular acidosis. Monitoring of renal function is recommended, though no standard for monitoring exists. We aim to describe cases of deferasirox‐associated Fanconi syndrome in adults and the renal monitoring required to detect these findings.

Materials and Methods

We present a review of the literature and six cases from our institution of deferasirox‐associated partial Fanconi syndrome in adult patients with transfusional iron overload secondary to β‐thalassemia or Diamond Blackfan Anaemia.

Results

While prior cases in the literature occurred at high doses of deferasirox, our series included patients on doses as low as deferasirox 10 mg/kg who had been aggressively chelated. All patients had resolution of laboratory abnormalities with drug interruption.

Conclusion

Rather than chelating to normal iron levels, this series supports prior suggestions that deferasirox dose be reduced if ferritin <500–1000 ng/ml, and also supports dose reduction if liver iron content <3 mg iron per g dry weight or for those undergoing aggressive chelation with rapid decrease in iron. Monitoring with metabolic panel and urinalysis were sufficient to detect clinically significant proximal tubular dysfunction, but should be followed up with additional studies to confirm the diagnosis while deferasirox dose is decreased or held.
Effectiveness of pharmacotherapy for depression after traumatic brain injury in adults: an umbrella review protocol
Authors: Hicks Amelia J. , Clay Fiona J. , James Amelia C. , Hopwood Malcolm , Ponsford Jennie L.
Published: February 2021

Objective:

The objective of this review is to synthesize systematic reviews of the effectiveness of pharmacotherapy vs any other comparator for the management of post-traumatic brain injury depression in adults.

Introduction:

Depression following a traumatic brain injury can have a considerable impact on the life of the individual, their family members, and the health care system. There have been several recent systematic reviews and meta-analyses on pharmacologic treatment for depression caused by post-traumatic brain injury. These reviews differ in conduct, quality, and reporting, and have discordant results and conclusions. Therefore, an umbrella review can provide prescribers with a summary of the evidence.

Inclusion criteria:

This review will consider systematic reviews of studies of adults 16 years or older who have sustained a traumatic brain injury of any severity at any time in the past, who are receiving pharmacotherapy for depression of any severity in any health care setting. Studies that include the following outcomes will be considered: change in symptoms of depression and occurrence of harms.

Methods:

MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Epistemonikos, and PROSPERO will be searched, as well as Google Scholar, ResearchGate, TRIP Medical Database, and hand searching journals. There will be no restriction on publication date. Only systematic reviews published in English will be considered. Screening of articles, assessment of methodological quality, and data extraction will be performed independently by two reviewers. A Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation Summary of Findings will be presented. Data will be summarized in narrative form with supporting tables.

Systematic review registration number:

PROSPERO CRD42020184915
Liquid Desiccant Air Conditioning Using Single Storage Solution Tank, Evaporative Cooling, and Marquise-Shaped Solar Collector
Authors: Sajesh M. , Fekadu Geleta , Kalpana  , Subudhi Sudhakar
Published: February 2021

The present paper deals with the experimental study of the liquid desiccant air conditioning system using the single storage solution tank. The novelty of the system is that the dehumidification and regeneration are carried out in a single compact unit. The regeneration of solution is done using the marquise-shaped solar collector. The liquid desiccant solution used here is calcium chloride and water. The moisture removal rate (MRR), moisture, and enthalpy effectiveness are used as the performance parameters. The effects of mass flowrate of solution, solution temperature, inlet air temperature, and relative humidity (RH) on the performance are investigated. The experimental outcome shows that when the solution flowrate is increased from 0.263 to 0.437 kg/s, the MRR is improved from 5.08 to 7.82 g/kg and when the RH is increased from 70% to 92%, the MRR is enhanced from 5.56 to 12.45 g/kg. The new correlation for moisture effectiveness is developed based on the experimental values and depending parameters, and also another correlation is developed based on Chung’s correlation (Chung, T.-W., 1994, “Predictions of Moisture Removal Efficiencies for Packed-Bed Dehumidification Systems,” Gas Sep. Purif., 8(4), pp. 265–268).
Energetically Consistent Computation of Combustor Stability With a Model Consisting of a Helmholtz Finite Element Method Domain and a Low-Order Network
Authors: Heilmann Gerrit , Hirsch Christoph , Sattelmayer Thomas
Published: February 2021

An efficient approach for the detection of the acoustic damping of gas turbine combustors is the combination of spatially resolved finite element method (FEM) approaches based on the Helmholtz equation with low-order networks for all elements leading to acoustic damping. A fundamental problem of such hybrid approaches is that the flow is considered in the networks, but not in the spatially resolved FEM area. Without special treatment of the coupling plane and the boundary conditions, this leads to serious errors in the calculation of the damping rate. The purpose of the paper is the derivation of the required correction procedures, which allow the energetically consistent formulation of such hybrid models and lead to correct damping rates. The time-averaged equation of acoustic energy flux for nonuniform fluid flows is expressed in terms of reflection coefficients and compared to the equivalent formulation for vanishing mean flows. An existing transformation for boundary conditions to obtain equal energy flux at the interface between network and Helmholtz domain is analyzed in detail. The findings are then used to derive an energetically consistent transformation of transfer matrices to couple two FEM domains via a network model. The relevance of energetically consistent transfer matrices for stability analysis is demonstrated with a generic test case. The central partition is acoustically characterized via a low-order model considering mean flow. The resulting acoustic two-port is transformed to obtain an energetically consistent transfer matrix for a subsequent FEM discretized eigenvalue analysis of the remaining geometry. The eigenvalues of energetically consistent calculations are finally compared to eigenvalues of energetically inconsistent setups.
A Methodology to Evaluate the Effects of Kinematic Measurement Uncertainties on Knee Ligament Properties Estimated From Laxity Measurements
Authors: Andersen Michael Skipper , Dzialo Christine Mary , Marra Marco Antonio , Pedersen Dennis
Published: February 2021

Ligaments are important joint stabilizers but assessing their mechanical properties remain challenging. We developed a methodology to investigate the effects of kinematic measurement uncertainty during laxity tests on optimization-based estimation of ligament properties. We applied this methodology to a subject-specific knee model with known ligament properties as inputs and compared the estimated to the known knee ligament properties under the influence of noise. Four different sets of laxity tests were simulated with an increasing number of load cases, capturing anterior/posterior, varus/valgus, and internal/external rotation loads at 0 deg and 30 deg of knee flexion. 20 samples of uniform random noise ([−0.5,0.5] mm and degrees) were added to each set and fed into an optimization routine that subsequently estimated the ligament properties based on the noise targets. We found a large range of estimated ligament properties (stiffness ranges of 5.97 kN, 7.64 kN, 8.72 kN, and 3.86 kN; reference strain ranges of 3.11%, 2.53%, 1.88%, and 1.58% for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), posterior cruciate ligament (PCL), medical collateral ligament (MCL), and lateral collateral ligament (LCL), respectively) for three sets of laxity tests, including up to 22 load cases. A set of laxity tests with 60 load cases kept the stiffness and reference strain ranges below 470 N per unit strain and 0.85%, respectively. These results illustrate that kinematic measurement noise have a large impact on estimated ligament properties and we recommend that future studies assess and report both the estimated ligament properties and the associated uncertainties due to kinematic measurement noise.
The Potential for Quantifying Regional Distributions of Radial and Shear Strain in the Thoracic and Abdominal Aortic Wall Using Spiral Cine DENSE Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Authors: Jones Patrick A. , Wilson John S.
Published: February 2021

Aortic displacement encoding with stimulated echoes (DENSE) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was recently developed to assess heterogeneities in aortic wall circumferential strain (CS). However, previous studies neglected potential radial and shear strain (RSS) distributions. Herein, we present an improved aortic DENSE MRI postprocessing method to assess the feasibility of quantifying all components of the two-dimensional (2D) strain tensor. 32 previously acquired 2D DENSE scans from three distinct aortic locations were re-analyzed. Contrasting previous studies, displacements of the inner and outer aortic wall layers were processed separately to preserve RSS. Differences in regional strain between the new and old postprocessing methods were evaluated, along with interobserver, intraobserver, and interscan repeatability for all strain components. The new postprocessing method revealed an overall mean absolute difference in regional CS of 0.01 ± 0.01 compared to the prior method, with minimal impact on CS repeatability. Mean absolute magnitudes of regional RSS increased significantly compared to changes in CS (radial 0.04 ± 0.05, p < 0.001; shear 0.04 ± 0.04, p = 0.02). Most repeatability metrics for RSS were significantly worse than for CS. The unique distributions of RSS for each axial location associated well with local periaortic structures and mean aortic displacement. The new postprocessing method captures heterogeneous distributions of nonzero RSS which may provide new information for improving clinical diagnostics and computational modeling of heterogeneous aortic wall mechanics. However, future studies are required to improve the repeatability of RSS and assess the influence of partial volume effects.
Application of Proper Orthogonal Decomposition to Study Coherent Flow Structures in a Saccular Aneurysm
Authors: Yu Paulo , Durgesh Vibhav , Xing Tao , Budwig Ralph
Published: February 2021

Aneurysms are localized expansions of weakened blood vessels that can be debilitating or fatal upon rupture. Previous studies have shown that flow in an aneurysm exhibits complex flow structures that are correlated with its inflow conditions. Therefore, the objective of this study was to demonstrate the application of proper orthogonal decomposition (POD) to study the impact of different inflow conditions on energetic flow structures and their temporal behavior in an aneurysm. To achieve this objective, experiments were performed on an idealized rigid sidewall aneurysm model. A piston pump system was used for precise inflow control, i.e., peak Reynolds number (Rep) and Womersley number (α) were varied from 50 to 270 and 2 to 5, respectively. The velocity flow field measurements at the midplane location of the idealized aneurysm model were performed using particle image velocimetry (PIV). The results demonstrate the efficacy of POD in decomposing complex data, and POD was able to capture the energetic flow structures unique to each studied inflow condition. Furthermore, the time-varying coefficient results highlighted the interplay between the coefficients and their corresponding POD modes, which in turn helped explain how POD modes impact certain flow features. The low-order reconstruction results were able to capture the flow evolution and provide information on complex flow in an aneurysm. The POD and low-order reconstruction results also indicated that vortex formation, evolution, and convection varied with an increase in α, while vortex strength and formation of secondary structures were correlated with an increase in Rep.
Comparison of the Trueness of Fits of the Biphasic Transverse Isotropic and Kelvin Models to the Tensile Behavior of Temporomandibular Joint Disc
Authors: Li Wuyang , Trbojevic Sara , Almarza Alejandro J.
Published: February 2021

This technical brief explores the validity and trueness of fit for using the transverse isotropic biphasic and Kelvin models (first and second order generalized) for characterization of the viscoelastic tensile properties of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) discs from pigs and goats at a strain rate of 10 mm/min. We performed incremental stress-relaxation tests from 0 to 12% strain, in 4% strain steps on pig TMJ disc samples. In addition, to compare the outcomes of these models between species, we also performed a single-step stress-relaxation test of 10% strain. The transverse isotropic biphasic model yielded reliable fits in reference to the least root mean squared error method only at low strain, while the Kelvin models yielded good fits at both low and high strain, with the second order generalized Kelvin model yielding the best fit. When comparing pig to goat TMJ disc in 10% strain stress-relaxation test, unlike the other two Kelvin models, the transverse isotropic model did not fit well for this larger step. In conclusion, the second order Kelvin model showed the best fits to the experimental data of both species. The transverse isotropic biphasic model did not fit well with the experimental data, although better at low strain, suggesting that the assumption of water flow only applies while uncrimping the collagen fibers. Thus, it is likely that the permeability from the biphasic model is not truly representative, and other biphasic models, such as the poroviscoelastic model, would likely yield more meaningful outputs and should be explored in future works.
An Equilibrium Prediction Method for Control and Fault Detection of Energy Systems
Authors: Rogers Austin , Guo Fangzhou , Rasmussen Bryan
Published: February 2021

Many fault detection, optimization, and control logic methods rely on sensor feedback that assumes the system is operating at steady-state conditions, despite persistent transient disturbances. While filtering and signal processing techniques can eliminate some transient effects, this paper proposes an equilibrium prediction method for first-order dynamic systems using an exponential regression. This method is particularly valuable for many commercial and industrial energy system, whose dynamics are dominated by first-order thermo-fluid effects. To illustrate the basic advantages of the proposed approach, Monte Carlo simulations are used. This is followed by three distinct experimental case studies to demonstrate the practical efficacy of the proposed method. First, the ability to predict the carbon dioxide level in classrooms allows for energy efficient control of the ventilation system and ensures occupant comfort. Second, predicting the optimal time to end the cool-down of an industrial sintering furnace allows for maximum part throughput and worker safety. Finally, fault detection and diagnosis (FDD) methods for air conditioning systems typically use static system models; however, the transient response of many air conditioning signals may be approximated as first-order, and therefore, the prediction model enables the use of static fault detection methods with transient data (a need that has not been addressed in over 20 years of air conditioning FDD research). In this paper, the equilibrium prediction method's performance will be quantified using both Monte Carlo simulations and case studies.
Ignition Studies of C1–C7 Natural Gas Blends at Gas-Turbine-Relevant Conditions
Authors: Sahu Amrit Bikram , Mohamed A. Abd El-Sabor , Panigrahy Snehasish , Bourque Gilles , Curran Henry
Published: February 2021

New ignition delay time measurements of natural gas mixtures enriched with small amounts of n-hexane and n-heptane were performed in a rapid compression machine to interpret the sensitization effect of heavier hydrocarbons on auto-ignition at gas-turbine relevant conditions. The experimental data of natural gas mixtures containing alkanes from methane to n-heptane were carried out over a wide range of temperatures (840–1050 K), pressures (20–30 bar), and equivalence ratios (φ = 0.5 and 1.5). The experiments were complimented with numerical simulations using a detailed kinetic model developed to investigate the effect of n-hexane and n-heptane additions. Model predictions show that the addition of even small amounts (1–2%) of n-hexane and n-heptane can lead to an increase in reactivity by ∼40–60 ms at compressed temperature (TC) = 700 K. The ignition delay time (IDT) of these mixtures decreases rapidly with an increase in concentration of up to 7.5% but becomes almost independent of the C6/C7 concentration beyond 10%. This sensitization effect of C6 and C7 is also found to be more pronounced in the temperature range 700–900 K compared to that at higher temperatures (>900 K). The reason is attributed to the dependence of IDT primarily on H2O2(+M) ↔ 2ȮH(+M) at higher temperatures while the fuel-dependent reactions such as H-atom abstraction, RȮ2 dissociation, or Q˙OOH + O2 reactions are less important compared to 700–900 K, where they are very important.
Numerical Study of Ammonia/O2-Fired Semiclosed Cycle Gas Turbine for Oxy-Fuel IGCC Power Generation With CO2 Capture
Authors: Hasegawa Takeharu
Published: February 2021

With an increase in renewable energy generation, thermal power generation has been switched to standby power in various parts of the world. Ammonia, one of the storage and transport media for H2, is produced in a highly efficient oxyfuel integrated coal gasification combined cycle (IGCC) system with CO2 capture, for the future hydrogen-using society. Using ammonia as an industrial raw material, agricultural fertilizer, and transportation fuel, energy systems can be established by combining renewable energy and thermal power generation. Therefore, it is possible to simultaneously construct a thermal power supply system suitable for backup power source owing to the fluctuation of the renewable power generation and to improve the availability of the thermal power plant and the load-leveling. This will serve as an incentive to build a future zero-emission thermal power plant. In this study, an oxy-fuel IGCC power generation coproduced with ammonia and CO2 capture is conceptually proposed. Furthermore, the features and challenges of a gas turbine that fuels CO2-free NH3 are investigated. In particular, the combustion exhaust characteristics of ammonia/oxygen-fired semiclosed cycle gas turbine combustor in comparison with those of the conventional fuels are characterized through a kinetic analysis.
Torsional Vibration Extraction of Dual-Period Instantaneous Angular Speed Measurement of the Generalized Incremental Encoder
Authors: Zhang Yuhao , Gu Yujiong , Zhao Pengcheng , Chen Dongchao , Yang Kun
Published: February 2021

Torsional vibration is key information in monitoring the condition of the shaft system. Using the vector superposition principle, the relationship between the rotation motion and the torsional vibration of the shaft is analyzed. This paper proposes a generalized incremental encoder model and constructs a piecewise function to describe the principle of the pulse output type speed measuring device. The incremental encoder uses a fixed angular increment to stamp the time component of the angular motion of the shaft, thereby establishing a discrete relationship between the angular motion of the shaft and the time component. The relationship between the angular resolution of the encoder and the torsional vibration signal sampling theorem is deduced. The asymmetric under-sampling of the torsional vibration signals is explained from the perspective of signal sampling. According to the index period invariance of the reconstruction of the encoder disk angle sequence, a dual-period instantaneous angular speed (IAS) calculation method is proposed, which uses all the time stamps, avoiding the sampling bandwidth idle caused by the single-period method, causing the torsional vibration signal to obtain more detailed information, and its analysis bandwidth is twice that of the single-period method. Simulation and experiment verified the correctness and superiority of the research content. Finally, the calculation method was packaged as a functional module and embedded in an online torsional vibration monitoring device applied to two 1000 Mw nuclear power turbine generator sets.