bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Core decompression with bone chips allograft in combination with fibrin platelet-rich plasma and concentrated autologous mesenchymal stromal cells, isolated from bone marrow: results for the treatment of avascular necrosis of the femoral head after 2 years minimum follow-up
Authors: Rocchi Martina , Del Piccolo Nicoladrea , Mazzotta Alessandro , Giavaresi Gianluca , Fini Milena , Facchini Fabio , Stagni Cesare , Dallari Dante
Published: December 2020

Introduction:

Avascular necrosis of femoral head (AVN) is 1 of the main factors causing disability in young adults. Hip prosthesis can be considered an effective treatment of the painful symptoms but it is a major surgical intervention for this type of population. Thus, a large space should be left to therapeutic alternatives such as regenerative medicine. This retrospective study evaluates 52 AVN treated by core decompression, bone chips allograft, fibrin platelet-rich plasma (PRF) and concentrated autologous mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs).

Methods:

The AVN was diagnosed using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and graded according to ARCO classification: a patient was classified stage 1 (21 patients), stage 3 (26 patients), and 4 patients were classified as stage 4. We evaluated patients with functional scores (Harris Hip Score) and radiological analysis at 3, 6, 12 and 24 months after the procedure. Patients requiring prosthetic replacement of the joint were included; in these cases, follow-up was interrupted at the time of the joint replacement procedure.

Results:

Our statistical analysis showed differences between survived and failed treatments, in terms of patient profile and ARCO radiological classification. The best result occurred in patients with ARCO grades 1 and 2, while the more advanced grades showed a high failure rate. It is interesting to note that ARCO quantification, conceived as the joint surface involved in the necrosis, has a negative influence on the outcome of the procedure. Indeed, patients affected by ARCO 3a, where necrosis involved a small portion of the femoral epiphysis and the collapse of the articular surface was limited to 2 mm, showed results similar to those obtained in patients with ARCO 1 and 2.

Conclusions:

In conclusion, compared with the alternative technique of decompression, our data suggest that post-collapse cases with a small area of necrosis and the use of bone grafts may show better results compared to those of the literature.
“Anterolateral” approach to the hip: a systematic review of the correct definition of terms
Authors: Lepri Andrea Cozzi , Villano Marco , Matassi Fabrizio , Carulli Christian , Innocenti Massimo , Civinini Roberto
Published: December 2020

Purpose:

The Watson-Jones interval plane between tensor fascia lata (TFL) and the gluteus medius (GM) has come back into fashion in the past few years - Röttinger described the anterolateral minimal invasive approach (ALMI) for use in total hip replacement, in which the standard Watson-Jones interval was used, but with a completely intermuscular plane. However, the term anterolateral is often still utilised to describe intramuscular approaches in which the GM was violated, thus creating a potential misunderstanding in the literature. Accordingly, we have designed a study to answer the following questions: (1) are there articles in the recent literature that use the term “anterolateral” to describe different approaches; (2) which would be the correct description of the anterolateral approach?

Methods:

We did a systematic review of the literature based on PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines, to look for peer reviewed papers of any evidence level focusing on the definition of anterolateral approach; MEDLINE and EMBASE were searched.

Results:

73 manuscripts met the criteria of the systematic search. 53 papers (72.6%) reported the term anterolateral approach to describe a complete intermuscular approach between the interval between GM and TFL. Nonetheless, in the remaining 20 papers (27.4%) the term anterolateral was used to describe intramuscular approaches in which the gluteus medius was violated.

Conclusion:

In about 1 out of 4 papers in the recent literature, the term anterolateral was utilised to describe approaches that are completely different both in terms of anatomy and function.
A Paradigm to Discover Biomarkers Associated With Chronic Kidney Disease Progression
Authors: Ali Ibrahim , Ibrahim Sara T , Chinnadurai Rajkumar , Green Darren , Taal Maarten , Whetton Tony D , Kalra Philip A
Published: December 2020

Biomarker discovery in the field of risk prediction in chronic kidney disease (CKD) embraces the prospect of improving our ability to risk stratify future adverse outcomes and thereby guide patient care in a new era of personalised medicine. However, many studies that report biomarkers predictive of CKD progression share a key methodological limitation: failure to characterise patients’ renal progression precisely. This weakens any observable association between a biomarker and an outcome poorly defined by a patient’s change in renal function over time. In this commentary, we discuss the need for a better approach in this research arena and describe a compelling strategy that has the advantage of offering robust and meaningful biomarker exploration relevant to CKD progression.
miRNA Expression Analysis: Cell Lines HCC1500 and HCC1937 as Models for Breast Cancer in Young Women and the miR-23a as a Poor Prognostic Biomarker
Authors: Oltra Sara S , Peña-Chilet Maria , Martinez Maria T , Tormo Eduardo , Cejalvo Juan Miguel , Climent Joan , Eroles Pilar , Lluch Ana , Ribas Gloria
Published: December 2020

Purpose: The study of breast cancer nearly always involves patients close to menopause or older. Therefore, young patients are mostly underrepresented. Our aim in this study was to demonstrate biological differences in breast cancer of young people using as a model available cell lines derived from people with breast cancer younger than 35 years. Methods: Global miRNA expression was analyzed in breast cancer cells from young (HCC1500, HCC1937) and old patients (MCF-7, MDA-MB-231, HCC1806, and MDA-MB-468). In addition, it was compared with same type of results from patients. Results: We observed a differential profile for 155 miRNAs between young and older cell lines. We identified a set of 24 miRNA associated with aggressiveness that were regulating pluripotency of stem cell-related pathways. Combining the miRNA expression data from cell lines and breast cancer patients, 132 miRNAs were differently expressed between young and old samples, most of them previously found in cell lines. MiR-23a-downregulation was also associated with poor survival in young patients. Conclusions: Our results suggest that HCC1500 and HCC1937 cell lines could be suitable cellular models for breast cancer affecting young women. The miR-23a-downregulation could have a potential role as a poor prognosis biomarker in this age group.
First Steps in the Development of an Expertise-Based Anthroposophic Complex Intervention for Oncological Treatment in Primary Care: A Qualitative Study
Authors: Belt-van Zoen E. , De Bruin A. M. , Ponstein A. S. , Ephraïm M. P. , Baars E. W.
Published: December 2020

Introduction:

The aim of this study was to develop a prototype of an anthroposophic complex intervention (CI) for oncological patients in primary care.

Methods:

Standardized methods for the development of CIs were used. Qualitative data were collected among professionals (n = 44) working in 3 Dutch anthroposophic primary care centers. The following topics were discussed in interviews and panel discussions (n = 12): treatment phases, treatment dimensions, treatment goals, and content of the indicated treatments and therapies. In a multidisciplinary focus group (n = 23) completeness and comprehensibility of the CI, and integration in daily practice were addressed. Subsequently, the developed CI was tested on face validity (n = 21) and compared with conventional guidelines.

Results:

Professionals reached consensus about 4 oncological treatment phases, 4 anthroposophic treatment dimensions, and twelve general treatment goals. The following anthroposophic therapies were found to be suited for oncological patients in primary care: medication (eg, mistletoe preparations); nursing (eg, external embrocation); physiotherapy (eg, rhythmic massage); eurythmy therapy; dietetics; art therapy; and counseling. The content of each therapy must be tailored to the individual. Comparison with existing guidelines demonstrated added value and the ability to fit with conventional care.

Discussion:

Strengths of the developed CI prototype are its focus on primary care, its practical applicability, the use of validated research methods, and the check on face validity in 2 other Dutch anthroposophic primary care centers. Limitations are that no systematic literature review was done and patient experiences were not collected.

Conclusions:

An applicable prototype of an anthroposophic CI for oncological patients in primary care was developed. To complete the development of this CI, a systematic review of the literature is needed, feasibility should be tested, patient experiences need to be collected, and implementation should be initiated and monitored. Finally, development of a patient decision aid (PtDA) and a decision-making tool (DMT) are recommended.
Crisis of care and education in the early years: Paradoxical moments in the global pandemic
Authors: Lee I-Fang
Published: December 2020

Care in the early years entails more than childcare. This paper has three major sections. In the first section, I begin with an introduction and a quick overview of the ECEC system in Australia. This snapshot of the Australian ECEC system presents a messy map of the care and education system for young children under a neoliberal political economy to elucidate what this may mean in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. With this contextual background of the ECEC system in Australia, in the second section I discuss my theoretical, ethical, political, ontological, and epistemological positioning when re-imagining and reconceptualizing what a socially just ECEC landscape might look like through the lens of a feminism approach. This onto-epistemological discussion explains the shift toward a feminist approach and how this enables me to (re)think about care and education in the early years differently. Taking up this different set of analytical tools with a post-structural sensibility of the politics of caring, in the third section, I continue on to critical analyses and discussions, highlighting the paradoxes of care and education in the early years. A key aim of this paper is to un-settle the taken-for-granted ways of thinking and talking about ECEC in Australia. I build my discussions by unsettling the dominant ways of thinking about care and education in the early years to deconstruct the narrowed political rhetoric of care in the early years as childcare only. I assert such a critical analytical position requires a new language from a new onto-epistemological positioning to mobilize a different system of reasoning as a strategy for re-imagining a new landscape toward an ethical world with social justice and greater social inclusion for all children.
Brand conversation: Linguistic practices on social media in the light of face-work theory
Authors: Andriuzzi Andria , Michel Géraldine
Published: December 2020

The rise of social media has resulted in brand–consumer interaction and more frequent conversations between consumers and brand representatives. To better understand how this ‘brand conversation’ occurs, our research employs face-work theory and explores ambivalent consumer perceptions towards brand linguistic practices. Specifically, our results show how ‘threatening’ messages (according to face-work theory) can be accepted by consumers, while ‘flattering’ messages can be rejected. These paradoxical situations can be explained by brand relationships and the commercial and symbolic brand status. By identifying the specific features of brand–consumer interactions in the light of face-work, we propose a decision-making tool for brand management and community management practices.
Migrant Workers and COVID-19: Listening to the Unheard Voices of Invisible India
Authors: Yadav Sangeeta , Priya Kumar Ravi
Published: December 2020

The internal migrant workers in India, despite being highly vulnerable in terms of physical and mental health, have remained the backbone of the Indian economy. However, the recent lockdown situation created by pandemic has put them in a more precarious condition. On one hand, they have lost their jobs and earnings, while on the other, they did not have enough resources to survive at the place of migration. As a result, the nation witnessed mass exodus, where men, women, children were seen returning to their native places on foot. This article, through a critical review of interdisciplinary and ethnographic research, focuses on the status of migrant workers in India amidst lockdown and strategies that may help to mitigate the situation. This article also explores the future course of action that can improve migrant workers’ condition.
Under the Tutelage of M. N. Srinivas: Homage of the Last Pupil
Authors: Prasad R. Siva
Published: December 2020

My close and direct association with Srinivas (MNS) as his last student began in 1976 that lasted till I joined the University of Hyderabad in June 1991 as a faculty in the Department of Anthropology. After joining the University of Hyderabad, I physically got distanced. I also learnt that he was a bit annoyed with me as I was moving out of Bangalore and he never wanted me to leave Bangalore. I was also not very happy to get distanced from him physically. Professor Srinivas and Mrs Srinivas always treated me as a family member and almost like a son. However, my condition was such that I had to get out of the Institute of Social and Economic Change (ISEC) to get into a secure academic job, as I was on a tenurial project position at ISEC. Also, I was not growing any younger. V. S. Parthasarathy (hereafter VSP), a close associate of MNS, told him about my plight but still, the hurt feeling remained. I feel that I have always been unlucky in this regard. These things apart, I have immensely gained academically under his tutelage. If I count my meetings and interactions for my PhD thesis, they are only a few and far between. However, during my frequent interactions with him (every Saturday morning, I used to visit him from 1987 till I left Bangalore in 1991 June, and I tried to make a catalogue of the books in his library), I have learnt about many scholars of all hues, the discipline of anthropology and sociology, academic politics, and much more. Each meeting with him was a rich experience of learning. That is why, it is difficult for me as to where and how to begin to write about my journey under MNS’ tutelage. There were also some misgivings created by circumstances (maybe also by some persons) which also had impacted the relationship with MNS sometime in the middle. Because of perseverance, they all got dissolved and the relationship was always in a buoyance state. In other words, there were times of trials and tribulations in this journey, but patience and perseverance always paid in managing my relationship with MNS. He used to enquire about my problems and always tried to comfort me. This I have always tried to do with my students as it helps them to overcome any psychological trauma that they face. Anyway, I will not discuss in this write-up non-academic or personal matters. Let me make this write-up a little structured. I would like to divide this into five parts of timeline events that happened during my association with him and how each one taught me many things, including also as to how to face problems in career and life.
RCAN1 in cardiovascular diseases: molecular mechanisms and a potential therapeutic target
Authors: Wang Shuai , Wang Yuqing , Qiu Kaixin , Zhu Jin , Wu Yili
Published: December 2020

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of mortality worldwide. Considerable efforts are needed to elucidate the underlying mechanisms for the prevention and treatment of CVDs. Regulator of calcineurin 1 (RCAN1) is involved in both development/maintenance of the cardiovascular system and the pathogenesis of CVDs. RCAN1 reduction protects against atherosclerosis by reducing the uptake of oxidized low-density lipoproteins, whereas RCAN1 has a protective effect on myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury, myocardial hypertrophy and intramural hematoma/aortic rupture mainly mediated by maintaining mitochondrial function and inhibiting calcineurin and Rho kinase activity, respectively. In this review, the regulation and the function of RCAN1 are summarized. Moreover, the dysregulation of RCAN1 in CVDs is reviewed. In addition, the beneficial role of RCAN1 reduction in atherosclerosis and the protective role of RCAN1 in myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury, myocardial hypertrophy and intramural hematoma /aortic rupture are discussed, as well as underlying mechanisms. Furthermore, the therapeutic potential and challenges of targeting RCAN1 for CVDs treatment are also discussed.
Regulatory T cells mediated immunomodulation during asthma: a therapeutic standpoint
Authors: Khan Mohammad Afzal
Published: December 2020

Asthma is an inflammatory disease of the lung airway network, which is initiated and perpetuated by allergen-specific CD4+T cells, IgE antibodies, and a massive release of Th2 cytokines. The most common clinical manifestations of asthma progression include airway inflammation, pathological airway tissue and microvascular remodeling, which leads to airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR), and reversible airway obstruction. In addition to inflammatory cells, a tiny population of Regulatory T cells (Tregs) control immune homeostasis, suppress allergic responses, and participate in the resolution of inflammation-associated tissue injuries. Preclinical and clinical studies have demonstrated a tremendous therapeutic potential of Tregs in allergic airway disease, which plays a crucial role in immunosuppression, and rejuvenation of inflamed airways. These findings supported to harness the immunotherapeutic potential of Tregs to suppress airway inflammation and airway microvascular reestablishment during the progression of the asthma disease. This review addresses the therapeutic impact of Tregs and how Treg mediated immunomodulation plays a vital role in subduing the development of airway inflammation, and associated airway remodeling during the onset of disease.
Electrostimulation of the carotid sinus nerve in mice attenuates inflammation via glucocorticoid receptor on myeloid immune cells
Authors: Falvey Aidan , Duprat Fabrice , Simon Thomas , Hugues-Ascery Sandrine , Conde Silvia V. , Glaichenhaus Nicolas , Blancou Philippe
Published: December 2020

Background

The carotid bodies and baroreceptors are sensors capable of detecting various physiological parameters that signal to the brain via the afferent carotid sinus nerve for physiological adjustment by efferent pathways. Because receptors for inflammatory mediators are expressed by these sensors, we and others have hypothesised they could detect changes in pro-inflammatory cytokine blood levels and eventually trigger an anti-inflammatory reflex.

Methods

To test this hypothesis, we surgically isolated the carotid sinus nerve and implanted an electrode, which could deliver an electrical stimulation package prior and following a lipopolysaccharide injection. Subsequently, 90 min later, blood was extracted, and cytokine levels were analysed.

Results

Here, we found that carotid sinus nerve electrical stimulation inhibited lipopolysaccharide-induced tumour necrosis factor production in both anaesthetised and non-anaesthetised conscious mice. The anti-inflammatory effect of carotid sinus nerve electrical stimulation was so potent that it protected conscious mice from endotoxaemic shock-induced death. In contrast to the mechanisms underlying the well-described vagal anti-inflammatory reflex, this phenomenon does not depend on signalling through the autonomic nervous system. Rather, the inhibition of lipopolysaccharide-induced tumour necrosis factor production by carotid sinus nerve electrical stimulation is abolished by surgical removal of the adrenal glands, by treatment with the glucocorticoid receptor antagonist mifepristone or by genetic inactivation of the glucocorticoid gene in myeloid cells. Further, carotid sinus nerve electrical stimulation increases the spontaneous discharge activity of the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus leading to enhanced production of corticosterone.

Conclusion

Carotid sinus nerve electrostimulation attenuates inflammation and protects against lipopolysaccharide-induced endotoxaemic shock via increased corticosterone acting on the glucocorticoid receptor of myeloid immune cells. These results provide a rationale for the use of carotid sinus nerve electrostimulation as a therapeutic approach for immune-mediated inflammatory diseases.
An integrity monitoring algorithm for WiFi/PDR/smartphone-integrated indoor positioning system based on unscented Kalman filter
Authors: Yao Haiyun , Shu Hong , Sun Hongxing , Mousa B. G. , Jiao Zhenghang , Suo Yingbo
Published: December 2020

Indoor positioning navigation technologies have developed rapidly, but little effort has been expended on integrity monitoring in Pedestrian Dead Reckoning (PDR) and WiFi indoor positioning navigation systems. PDR accuracy will drift over time. Meanwhile, WiFi positioning accuracy decreases in complex indoor environments due to severe multipath propagation and interference with signals when people move about. In our research, we aimed to improve positioning quality with an integrity monitoring algorithm for a WiFi/PDR-integrated indoor positioning system based on the unscented Kalman filter (UKF). The integrity monitoring is divided into three phases. A test statistic based on the innovation of UKF determines whether the positioning system is abnormal. Once a positioning system abnormality is detected, a robust UKF (RUKF) is triggered to achieve higher positioning accuracy. Again, the innovation of RUKF is used to judge the outliers in observations and identify positioning system faults. In the last integrity monitoring phase, users will be alerted in time to reduce the risk from positioning fault. We conducted a simulation to analyze the computational complexity of integrity monitoring. The results showed that it did not substantially increase the overall computational complexity when the number of dimensions in the state vector and observation vector in the system is small (< 20). In practice, the number of dimensions of state vector and observation vector in an indoor positioning system rarely exceeds 20. The proposed integrity monitoring algorithm was tested in two field experiments, showing that the proposed algorithm is quite robust, yielding higher positioning accuracy than the traditional method, using only UKF.
The mixed problem in the theory of strain gradient thermoelasticity approached with the Lagrange identity
Authors: Marin Marin , Vlase Sorin , Tuns Ioan
Published: December 2020

In our paper we address the thermoelasticity theory of the strain gradient. First, we define the mixed problem with initial and boundary data in this context. Then, with the help of an identity of Lagrange type, we prove some uniqueness theorems with regards to the solution of this problem and two theorems with regards to the continuous dependence of solutions on loads and on initial data. We want to highlight that the use of the approach proposed in this work enables obtaining results without recourse to any boundedness assumptions on the coefficients or to any laws of conservation of energy. Also, we do not impose restrictions on thermoelastic coefficients regarding their positive definition.
Comparison of patients hospitalized with COVID-19, H7N9 and H1N1
Authors: Deng Li-Si , Yuan Jing , Ding Li , Chen Yuan-Li , Zhao Chao-Hui , Chen Gong-Qi , Li Xing-Hua , Li Xiao-He , Luo Wen-Tao , Lan Jian-Feng , Tan Guo-Yu , Tang Sheng-Hong , Xia Jin-Yu , Liu Xi
Published: December 2020

Background

There is an urgent need to better understand the novel coronavirus, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), for that the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) continues to cause considerable morbidity and mortality worldwide. This paper was to differentiate COVID-19 from other respiratory infectious diseases such as avian-origin influenza A (H7N9) and influenza A (H1N1) virus infections.

Methods

We included patients who had been hospitalized with laboratory-confirmed infection by SARS-CoV-2 (n = 83), H7N9 (n = 36), H1N1 (n = 44) viruses. Clinical presentation, chest CT features, and progression of patients were compared. We used the Logistic regression model to explore the possible risk factors.

Results

Both COVID-19 and H7N9 patients had a longer duration of hospitalization than H1N1 patients (P < 0.01), a higher complication rate, and more severe cases than H1N1 patients. H7N9 patients had higher hospitalization-fatality ratio than COVID-19 patients (P = 0.01). H7N9 patients had similar patterns of lymphopenia, neutrophilia, elevated alanine aminotransferase, C-reactive protein, lactate dehydrogenase, and those seen in H1N1 patients, which were all significantly different from patients with COVID-19 (P < 0.01). Either H7N9 or H1N1 patients had more obvious symptoms, like fever, fatigue, yellow sputum, and myalgia than COVID-19 patients (P < 0.01). The mean duration of viral shedding was 9.5 days for SARS-CoV-2 vs 9.9 days for H7N9 (P = 0.78). For severe cases, the meantime from illness onset to severity was 8.0 days for COVID-19 vs 5.2 days for H7N9 (P < 0.01), the comorbidity of chronic heart disease was more common in the COVID-19 patients than H7N9 (P = 0.02). Multivariate analysis showed that chronic heart disease was a possible risk factor (OR > 1) for COVID-19, compared with H1N1 and H7N9.

Conclusions

The proportion of severe cases were higher for H7N9 and SARS-CoV-2 infections, compared with H1N1. The meantime from illness onset to severity was shorter for H7N9. Chronic heart disease was a possible risk factor for COVID-19.The comparison may provide the rationale for strategies of isolation and treatment of infected patients in the future.
Minimally Invasive Complete Response Assessment of the Breast After Neoadjuvant Systemic Therapy for Early Breast Cancer (MICRA trial): Interim Analysis of a Multicenter Observational Cohort Study
Authors: van Loevezijn Ariane A. , van der Noordaa Marieke E.M. , van Werkhoven Erik D. , Loo Claudette E. , Winter-Warnars Gonneke A. O. , Wiersma Terry , van de Vijver Koen K. , Groen Emilie J. , Blanken-Peeters Charlotte F. J. M. , Zonneveld Bas J.G.L. , Sonke Gabe S. , van Duijnhoven Frederieke H. , Vrancken Peeters Marie-Jeanne T. F. D.
Published: December 2020

Background

The added value of surgery in breast cancer patients with pathological complete response (pCR) after neoadjuvant systemic therapy (NST) is uncertain. The accuracy of imaging identifying pCR for omission of surgery, however, is insufficient. We investigated the accuracy of ultrasound-guided biopsies identifying breast pCR (ypT0) after NST in patients with radiological partial (rPR) or complete response (rCR) on MRI.

Methods

We performed a multicenter, prospective single-arm study in three Dutch hospitals. Patients with T1–4(N0 or N +) breast cancer with MRI rPR and enhancement ≤ 2.0 cm or MRI rCR after NST were enrolled. Eight ultrasound-guided 14-G core biopsies were obtained in the operating room before surgery close to the marker placed centrally in the tumor area at diagnosis (no attempt was made to remove the marker), and compared with the surgical specimen of the breast. Primary outcome was the false-negative rate (FNR).

Results

Between April 2016 and June 2019, 202 patients fulfilled eligibility criteria. Pre-surgical biopsies were obtained in 167 patients, of whom 136 had rCR and 31 had rPR on MRI. Forty-three (26%) tumors were hormone receptor (HR)-positive/HER2-negative, 64 (38%) were HER2-positive, and 60 (36%) were triple-negative. Eighty-nine patients had pCR (53%; 95% CI 45–61) and 78 had residual disease. Biopsies were false-negative in 29 (37%; 95% CI 27–49) of 78 patients. The multivariable associated with false-negative biopsies was rCR (FNR 47%; OR 9.81, 95% CI 1.72–55.89;p = 0.01); a trend was observed for HR-negative tumors (FNR 71% in HER2-positive and 55% in triple-negative tumors; OR 4.55, 95% CI 0.95–21.73;p = 0.058) and smaller pathological lesions (6 mm vs 15 mm; OR 0.93, 95% CI 0.87–1.00;p = 0.051).

Conclusion

The MICRA trial showed that ultrasound-guided core biopsies are not accurate enough to identify breast pCR in patients with good response on MRI after NST. Therefore, breast surgery cannot safely be omitted relying on the results of core biopsies in these patients.
Two-photon fluorescence and second harmonic generation hyperspectral imaging of old and modern spruce woods
Authors: Tai Hwan-Ching , Chen Po-Lin , Xu Jia-Wei , Chen Szu-Yu
Published: December 2020

Spruce is the commonly-used tonewood for the top plate of violin-family instruments, such as violins and cellos. The wood properties can critically determine the acoustic quality. It’s been shown the wood of famous old instruments differ from modern ones due to chemical treatment and aging. To reveal the differences microscopically in both spatial and spectral domains, a two-photon hyperspectral system has been applied to investigate the autofluorescence and second harmonic generation within wood samples. Not only the cellular structures were observed through optical sectioning, but the spectral variations were revealed among different age wood samples and different cellular structures.
3D time-domain beam mapping for studying nonlinear dynamics in multimode optical fibers
Authors: Leventoux Y. , Granger G. , Krupa K. , Tonello A. , Millot G. , Ferraro M. , Mangini F. , Zitelli M. , Wabnitz S. , Février S. , Couderc V.
Published: December 2020

Characterization of the complex spatiotemporal dynamics of optical beam propagation in nonlinear multimode fibers requires the development of advanced measurement methods, capable of capturing the real-time evolution of beam images. We present a new space–time mapping technique, permitting the direct detection, with picosecond temporal resolution, of the intensity from repetitive laser pulses over a grid of spatial samples from a magnified image of the output beam. By using this time-resolved mapping, we provide, to the best of our knowledge, the first unambiguous experimental observation of instantaneous intrapulse nonlinear coupling processes among the modes of a graded index fiber.
Frequency-modulated continuous-wave laser ranging using low-duty-cycle signals for the applications of real-time super-resolved ranging
Authors: Xu Zhongyang , Sun Xiuyuan , Yu Fengxi , Chen Kai , Pan Shilong
Published: December 2020

A frequency-modulated continuous-wave laser ranging method using low-duty-cycle linear-frequency-modulated (LFM) signals is proposed. A spectrum consisting of a dense Kronecker comb is obtained so that the frequency of the beat signal can be measured with finer resolution. Since the dense comb is provided, super-resolved laser ranging can be achieved using a single-parametric frequency estimation method. Therefore, the run times of the estimation are reduced which promises real-time applications. A proof-of-concept experiment is carried out, in which an LFM signal with a bandwidth of 5 GHz and a duration of 1 µs is used. The duty-cycle of the LFM signal is 10%. The time delay of a scanning variable optical delay line is obtained in real time from the frequency of the highest comb tooth, of which the measurement resolution is 20 ps. Moreover, a single-parametric nonlinear least squares method is used to fit the envelope so that the time delay can be estimated with super-resolution. The standard deviation of the estimation displacements is 2.3 ps, which is 87 times finer than the bandwidth-limited resolution (200 ps). Therefore, the variation of the time delay can be precisely monitored. The proposed method may be used to achieve real-time high-resolution laser ranging with low-speed electronic devices.
Risk mapping of scrub typhus infections in Qingdao city, China
Authors: Xin Hualei , Fu Peng , Sun Junling , Lai Shengjie , Hu Wenbiao , Clements Archie C. A. , Sun Jianping , Cui Jing , Hay Simon I. , Li Xiaojing , Li Zhongjie
Published: December 2020

Background

The emergence and re-emergence of scrub typhus has been reported in the past decade in many global regions. In this study, we aim to identify potential scrub typhus infection risk zones with high spatial resolution in Qingdao city, in which scrub typhus is endemic, to guide local prevention and control strategies.

Methodology/Principal findings

Scrub typhus cases in Qingdao city during 2006–2018 were retrieved from the Chinese National Infectious Diseases Reporting System. We divided Qingdao city into 1,101 gridded squares and classified them into two categories: areas with and without recorded scrub typhus cases. A boosted regression tree model was used to explore environmental and socioeconomic covariates associated with scrub typhus occurrence and predict the risk of scrub typhus infection across the whole area of Qingdao city. A total of 989 scrub typhus cases were reported in Qingdao from 2006–2018, with most cases located in rural and suburban areas. The predicted risk map generated by the boosted regression tree models indicated that the highest infection risk areas were mainly concentrated in the mid-east and northeast regions of Qingdao, with gross domestic product (20.9%±1.8% standard error) and annual cumulative precipitation (20.3%±1.1%) contributing the most to the variation in the models. By using a threshold environmental suitability value of 0.26, we identified 757 squares (68.7% of the total) with a favourable environment for scrub typhus infection; 66.2% (501/757) of the squares had not yet recorded cases. It is estimated that 6.32 million people (72.5% of the total population) reside in areas with a high risk of scrub typhus infection.

Conclusions/Significance

Many locations in Qingdao city with no recorded scrub typhus cases were identified as being at risk for scrub typhus occurrence. In these at-risk areas, awareness and capacity for case diagnosis and treatment should be enhanced in the local medical service institutes.
Mitochondrial dysfunction underlying sporadic inclusion body myositis is ameliorated by the mitochondrial homing drug MA-5
Authors: Oikawa Yoshitsugu , Izumi Rumiko , Koide Masashi , Hagiwara Yoshihiro , Kanzaki Makoto , Suzuki Naoki , Kikuchi Koichi , Matsuhashi Tetsuro , Akiyama Yukako , Ichijo Mariko , Watanabe Shun , Toyohara Takafumi , Suzuki Takehiro , Mishima Eikan , Akiyama Yasutoshi , Ogata Yoshiaki , Suzuki Chitose , Hayashi Hironori , Kodama Eiichi N. , Hayashi Ken-ichiro , Itoi Eiji , Aoki Masashi , Kure Shigeo , Abe Takaaki
Published: December 2020

Sporadic inclusion body myositis (sIBM) is the most common idiopathic inflammatory myopathy, and several reports have suggested that mitochondrial abnormalities are involved in its etiology. We recruited 9 sIBM patients and found significant histological changes and an elevation of growth differential factor 15 (GDF15), a marker of mitochondrial disease, strongly suggesting the involvement of mitochondrial dysfunction. Bioenergetic analysis of sIBM patient myoblasts revealed impaired mitochondrial function. Decreased ATP production, reduced mitochondrial size and reduced mitochondrial dynamics were also observed in sIBM myoblasts. Cell vulnerability to oxidative stress also suggested the existence of mitochondrial dysfunction. Mitochonic acid-5 (MA-5) increased the cellular ATP level, reduced mitochondrial ROS, and provided protection against sIBM myoblast death. MA-5 also improved the survival of sIBM skin fibroblasts as well as mitochondrial morphology and dynamics in these cells. The reduction in the gene expression levels of Opa1 and Drp1 was also reversed by MA-5, suggesting the modification of the fusion/fission process. These data suggest that MA-5 may provide an alternative therapeutic strategy for treating not only mitochondrial diseases but also sIBM.
An automated homecage system for multiwhisker detection and discrimination learning in mice
Authors: Bernhard Sarah M. , Lee Jiseok , Zhu Mo , Hsu Alex , Erskine Andrew , Hires Samuel A. , Barth Alison L.
Published: December 2020

Automated, homecage behavioral training for rodents has many advantages: it is low stress, requires little interaction with the experimenter, and can be easily manipulated to adapt to different experimental conditions. We have developed an inexpensive, Arduino-based, homecage training apparatus for sensory association training in freely-moving mice using multiwhisker air current stimulation coupled to a water reward. Animals learn this task readily, within 1–2 days of training, and performance progressively improves with training. We examined the parameters that regulate task acquisition using different stimulus intensities, directions, and reward valence. Learning was assessed by comparing anticipatory licking for the stimulus compared to the no-stimulus (blank) trials. At high stimulus intensities (>9 psi), animals showed markedly less participation in the task. Conversely, very weak air current intensities (1–2 psi) were not sufficient to generate rapid learning behavior. At intermediate stimulus intensities (5–6 psi), a majority of mice learned that the multiwhisker stimulus predicted the water reward after 24–48 hrs of training. Both exposure to isoflurane and lack of whiskers decreased animals’ ability to learn the task. Following training at an intermediate stimulus intensity, mice were able to transfer learning behavior when exposed to a lower stimulus intensity, an indicator of perceptual learning. Mice learned to discriminate between two directions of stimulation rapidly and accurately, even when the angular distance between the stimuli was <15 degrees. Switching the reward to a more desirable reward, aspartame, had little effect on learning trajectory. Our results show that a tactile association task in an automated homecage environment can be monitored by anticipatory licking to reveal rapid and progressive behavioral change. These Arduino-based, automated mouse cages enable high-throughput training that facilitate analysis of large numbers of genetically modified mice with targeted manipulations of neural activity.
Adaptability and stability analyses of plants using random regression models
Authors: de Souza Michel Henriques , Pereira Júnior José Domingos , Steckling Skarlet De Marco , Mencalha Jussara , Dias Fabíola dos Santos , Rocha João Romero do Amaral Santos de Carvalho , Carneiro Pedro Crescêncio Souza , Carneiro José Eustáquio de Souza
Published: December 2020

The evaluation of cultivars using multi-environment trials (MET) is an important step in plant breeding programs. One of the objectives of these evaluations is to understand the genotype by environment interaction (GEI). A method of determining the effect of GEI on the performance of cultivars is based on studies of adaptability and stability. Initial studies were based on linear regression; however, these methodologies have limitations, mainly in trials with genetic or statistical unbalanced, heterogeneity of residual variances, and genetic covariance. An alternative would be the use of random regression models (RRM), in which the behavior of the genotypes is characterized as a reaction norm using longitudinal data or repeated measurements and information regarding a covariance function. The objective of this work was the application of RRM in the study of the behavior of common bean cultivars using a MET, based on Legendre polynomials and genotype-ideotype distances. We used a set of 13 trials, which were classified as unfavorable or favorable environments. The results revealed that RRM enables the prediction of the genotypic values of cultivars in environments where they were not evaluated with high accuracy values, thereby circumventing the unbalanced of the experiments. From these values, it was possible to measure the genotypic adaptability according to ideotypes, according to their reaction norms. In addition, the stability of the cultivars can be interpreted as variation in the behavior of the ideotype. The use of ideotypes based on real data allowed a better comparison of the performance of cultivars across environments. The use of RRM in plant breeding is a good alternative to understand the behavior of cultivars in a MET, especially when we want to quantify the adaptability and stability of genotypes.
Quantitative magnetic resonance imaging predicts individual future liver performance after liver resection for cancer
Authors: Mole Damian J. , Fallowfield Jonathan A. , Sherif Ahmed E. , Kendall Timothy , Semple Scott , Kelly Matt , Ridgway Gerard , Connell John J. , McGonigle John , Banerjee Rajarshi , Brady J. Michael , Zheng Xiaozhong , Hughes Michael , Neyton Lucile , McClintock Joanne , Tucker Garry , Nailon Hilary , Patel Dilip , Wackett Anthony , Steven Michelle , Welsh Fenella , Rees Myrddin ,   the HepaT1ca Study Group
Published: December 2020

The risk of poor post-operative outcome and the benefits of surgical resection as a curative therapy require careful assessment by the clinical care team for patients with primary and secondary liver cancer. Advances in surgical techniques have improved patient outcomes but identifying which individual patients are at greatest risk of poor post-operative liver performance remains a challenge. Here we report results from a multicentre observational clinical trial (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03213314) which aimed to inform personalised pre-operative risk assessment in liver cancer surgery by evaluating liver health using quantitative multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). We combined estimation of future liver remnant (FLR) volume with corrected T1 (cT1) of the liver parenchyma as a representation of liver health in 143 patients prior to treatment. Patients with an elevated preoperative liver cT1, indicative of fibroinflammation, had a longer post-operative hospital stay compared to those with a cT1 within the normal range (6.5 vs 5 days; p = 0.0053). A composite score combining FLR and cT1 predicted poor liver performance in the 5 days immediately following surgery (AUROC = 0.78). Furthermore, this composite score correlated with the regenerative performance of the liver in the 3 months following resection. This study highlights the utility of quantitative MRI for identifying patients at increased risk of poor post-operative liver performance and a longer stay in hospital. This approach has the potential to inform the assessment of individualised patient risk as part of the clinical decision-making process for liver cancer surgery.
Predicting risk of dyslexia with an online gamified test
Authors: Rello Luz , Baeza-Yates Ricardo , Ali Abdullah , Bigham Jeffrey P. , Serra Miquel
Published: December 2020

Dyslexia is a specific learning disorder related to school failure. Detection is both crucial and challenging, especially in languages with transparent orthographies, such as Spanish. To make detecting dyslexia easier, we designed an online gamified test and a predictive machine learning model. In a study with more than 3,600 participants, our model correctly detected over 80% of the participants with dyslexia. To check the robustness of the method we tested our method using a new data set with over 1,300 participants with age customized tests in a different environment -a tablet instead of a desktop computer- reaching a recall of over 78% for the class with dyslexia for children 12 years old or older. Our work shows that dyslexia can be screened using a machine learning approach. An online screening tool in Spanish based on our methods has already been used by more than 200,000 people.
Differential physio-biochemical and yield responses of Camelina sativa L. under varying irrigation water regimes in semi-arid climatic conditions
Authors: Ahmed Zeeshan , Liu Junhe , Waraich Ejaz Ahmad , Yan Yan , Qi Zhiming , Gui Dongwei , Zeng Fanjiang , Tariq Akash , Shareef Muhammad , Iqbal Hassan , Murtaza Ghulam , Zhang Zhihao
Published: December 2020

Camelina sativa L. is an oilseed crop with wide nutritional and industrial applications. Because of favorable agronomic characteristics of C. sativa in a water-limiting environment interest in its production has increased worldwide. In this study the effect of different irrigation regimes (I0 = three irrigations, I1 = two irrigations, I2 = one irrigation and I3 = one irrigation) on physio-biochemical responses and seed yield attributes of two C. sativa genotypes was explored under semi-arid conditions. Results indicated that maximum physio-biochemical activity, seed yield and oil contents appeared in genotype 7126 with three irrigations (I0). In contrast water deficit stress created by withholding irrigation (I1, I2 and I3) at different growth stages significantly reduced the physio-biochemical activity as well as yield responses in both C. sativa genotypes. Nonetheless the highest reduction in physio-biochemical and yield attributes were observed in genotype 8046 when irrigation was skipped at vegetative and flowering stages of crop (I3). In genotypic comparison, C. sativa genotype 7126 performed better than 8046 under all I1, I2 and I3 irrigation treatments. Because 7126 exhibited better maintenance of tissue water content, leaf gas exchange traits and chlorophyll pigment production, resulting in better seed yield and oil production. Findings of this study suggest that to achieve maximum yield potential in camelina three irrigations are needed under semi-arid conditions, however application of two irrigations one at flowering and second at silique development stage can ensure an economic seed yield and oil contents. Furthermore, genotype 7126 should be adopted for cultivation under water limited arid and semi-arid regions due to its better adaptability.
Quantitative PCR assays to detect whales, rockfish, and common murre environmental DNA in marine water samples of the Northeastern Pacific
Authors: Andruszkiewicz Elizabeth A. , Yamahara Kevan M. , Closek Collin J. , Boehm Alexandria B.
Published: December 2020

Monitoring aquatic species by identification of environmental DNA (eDNA) is becoming more common. To obtain quantitative eDNA datasets for individual species, organism-specific quantitative PCR (qPCR) assays are required. Here, we present detailed methodology of qPCR assay design and testing, including in silico, in vitro, and in vivo testing, and comment on the challenges associated with assay design and performance. We use the presented methodology to design assays for three important marine organisms common in the California Current Ecosystem (CCE): humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae), shortbelly rockfish (Sebastes jordani), and common murre (Uria aalge). All three assays have excellent sensitivity and high efficiencies ranging from 92% to 99%. However, specificities of the assays varied from species-specific in the case of common murre, genus-specific for the shortbelly rockfish assay, and broadly whale-specific for the humpback whale assay, which cross-amplified with other two other whale species, including one in a different family. All assays detected their associated targets in complex environmental water samples.