bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Toward integrated pest management in bivalve aquaculture
Authors: Cahill Patrick L , Davidson Ian C , Atalah Javier A , Cornelisen Chris , Hopkins Grant A
Published: June 2022

Pests of bivalve aquaculture are a challenging problem that can reduce productivity, profitability and sustainability. A range of pest management approaches have been developed for bivalve aquaculture, but a general absence of guiding frameworks has limited the scale and permanency of implementation. Applying principles of ‘integrated pest management’ (IPM) could change this paradigm to improve economic and environmental outcomes. We reviewed existing research and tools for pest management in bivalve aquaculture, with studies grouped under five pillars of IPM: pest ecology (25 studies), bioeconomic cost–benefits (4 studies), continual monitoring (17 studies), proactive prevention (32 studies) and reactive control (65 studies). This body of knowledge, along with insights from terrestrial agriculture, provide a strong foundation for developing and implementing IPM in bivalve aquaculture. For example, IPM principles have been applied by a regional collective of oyster farmers in the US Pacific Northwest to optimize pesticide application and search for other options to control problematic burrowing shrimps. However, IPM has not yet been broadly applied in aquaculture, and data gaps and barriers to implementation need to be addressed. Priorities include establishing meaningful pest–crop bioeconomic relationships for various bivalve farming systems and improving the efficacy and operational scale of treatment approaches. An IPM framework also could guide potential step‐change improvements through directing selective breeding for resistance to pests, development of bespoke chemical control agents, applying emerging technologies for remote surveillance and farm management, and regional alignment of management interventions. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.
A review of leopard seal (Hydrurga leptonyx) births and pups using a standardised age-class classification system
Authors: van der Linde Krista , Visser Ingrid N. , Bout Rick , Krause Douglas J. , Forcada Jaume , Siniff Donald , Stone Sheridan , Fyfe Jim , Fernández-Ferrada Nicolás , Macallan Kathryne , Savenko Oksana , Cooper Tracy E.
Published: June 2022

Despite the ecological importance of leopard seals (Hydrurga leptonyx) as apex marine predators, little is known about their reproductive biology. To address this paucity, we reviewed leopard seal birth and pup records and applied a standardised age-class classification system to differentiate between births/newborns (offspring ≤ 14 days old) and pups (> 14 days but <  6 months old). We compiled 19 birth/newborn and 141 pup records and examined their occurrence by month, region, substrate, birth-specific attributes (i.e. birth observations, fresh umbilicus or placental), standard length, weight, presence of mother, presence of lanugo, sex, status (e.g. born alive) and fate. These records indicate that leopard seal births occur between September and December, with peak records from September to November, whilst pup records peaked between August and December. The regions with the most birth/newborn records were the sub-Antarctic Islands (31.6%) and Chile (31.6%), followed by Antarctica (15.8%), New Zealand (15.8%) and the Falkland Islands (5.3%). Pups were recorded predominantly in the sub-Antarctic Islands (54.6%), followed by the Antarctic (42.6%), Chile (2.1%) and Australia (0.7%). Whilst leopard seal birth records were predominantly on ice, they were also found onterra firma. The northernmost published leopard seal birth records occurred in New Zealand whilst the northernmost published leopard seal pup records occurred in Australia. This study contradicts the long-standing hypothesis that leopard seals only give birth on Antarctic pack ice, and instead, here we indicate that 84.2% and 57.4% of collated leopard seal birth and pup records, respectively, occur outside of Antarctica. Our records illustrate the importance of northern regions as part of the leopard seal’s range. We emphasise the need to conduct research focused on the reproductive biology of this keystone species throughout its range and that future management of leopard seal populations should also consider their northern range.
Urine podocyte mRNA loss in preterm infants and related perinatal risk factors
Authors: Gao Qi , Lu Congchao , Tian Xiuying , Zheng Jun , Ding Fangrui
Published: June 2022

Background

Preterm birth has been identified as a risk factor for development of long-term chronic kidney disease. Podocyte loss has been reported to contribute to this process in preterm animal models. However, details about podocyte loss in preterm infants and related perinatal risk factors have not been well clarified.

Methods

Forty full-term infants and 106 preterm infants were enrolled. Urine samples were collected from full-term infants within 4–7 days of birth and preterm infants at 37–40 weeks of corrected age. Levels of urine podocin mRNA, urine protein (UP), and urine microalbumin (UMA) were measured, and the relationship between these markers was evaluated. Clinical information in these infants was collected, and potential correlates that may lead to increased podocyte loss during the perinatal period were identified using linear regression analysis.

Results

Urine podocyte loss indicated by the urine podocin mRNA to creatinine ratio (UpodCR) was higher in preterm infants than in full-term infants. UpodCR was correlated with the levels of UP and UMA. Multiple linear regression analysis also showed that lower gestational age (GA) at birth and small for gestational age (SGA) were high risk factors for urine podocyte loss.

Conclusions

Increasing urine podocyte loss was identified in preterm infants. Moreover, perinatal factors were associated with podocyte loss and may be a potential direction for comprehensive research and intervention in this field.

Graphical Abstract

A higher resolution version of the Graphical abstract is available as Supplementary information
COVID-19 testing in Delaware’s underserved communities: demographic and social determinants of testing inequality
Authors: Wang Sharron Xuanren , Rogers Nicole Bell , Harrington Melissa , Dillard Dorothy
Published: June 2022

Background

Health experts believe that frequent COVID-19 testing is one of the most important practices for stopping the spread of the COVID-19 virus. Demographic and social factors might play a role in whether a person gets tested for COVID. This present study aimed to investigate (1) the demographic and social factors affecting a person’s likelihood of getting tested for COVID-19, and (2) the demographic and social factors related to a positive serology test (i.e., indicating likely past infection).

Methods

Data were extracted from a survey conducted in Delaware’s underserved communities. Participants were asked to complete a questionnaire about their COVID-19 testing history, and nurses at the study site collected a serology sample from each participant.

Results

Our results indicated that Black or Hispanic individuals living in underserved communities had greater odds of having been tested previously for COVID compared to being non-Hispanic White. In addition, our study found that being female, educated, feeling safe in one’s neighborhood, being vaccinated against COVID, and being an essential worker increased one’s odds of having been previously tested for COVID-19. Regarding the results of the COVID-19 antibody serology tests, our findings revealed that Hispanic respondents were more likely to have a positive serology test compared to non-Hispanic White respondents, indicating that the Hispanic individuals were more likely to contract the virus. Educated individuals were less likely to have a positive serology test compared to the less-educated. Those who expressed hesitancy about getting vaccinated for COVID-19 and identified themselves as essential workers were more likely to have a positive serology test and to have previously contracted the virus.

Conclusions

Identifying key factors associated with COVID-19 testing may help establish novel strategies to increase testing rates among vulnerable population. Public health and policy implications are discussed in the article.
Microscopic pumping of viscous liquids with single cavitation bubbles
Authors: Reese Hendrik , Schädel Robin , Reuter Fabian , Ohl Claus-Dieter
Published: June 2022

A cavitation bubble expanding and collapsing near a rigid boundary develops a directed jet flow towards the boundary. In the case of a perforated plate, some of the jet flow passes through the plate and thus the bubble acts as a pump transporting liquid from one side of the plate to the opposite side. The transport is rather complex, is time dependent and varies with the geometric parameters of the bubble and the connecting channel. Therefore, we first model the transport of liquid through a perforated rigid plate for a large range of parameters and then compare some regimes with experiments using single laser-induced bubbles. The simulations are based on a Volume-of-Fluid solver in OpenFOAM and account for surface tension, compressibility and viscosity. The resulting flux and generated velocity in the channel obtained in the simulations are discussed with regards to the dependence of the channel geometry, liquid viscosity and stand-off distance of the bubble to the plate. In general, high flow rates are achieved for long cylindrical channels that have a similar width as the jet produced by the collapsing bubble. At low stand-off distances combined with thick plates, an annular inflow creates a fast and thin jet, also called needle jet, which is approximately a magnitude faster and significantly thinner than the usually encountered microjet. In contrast, for thin plates and small stand-off distances, liquid is pumped in the opposite direction via a reverse jet.
Resting-state functional connectivity patterns associated with childhood maltreatment in a large bicentric cohort of adults with and without major depression
Authors: Goltermann Janik , Winter Nils Ralf , Meinert Susanne , Sindermann Lisa , Lemke Hannah , Leehr Elisabeth J. , Grotegerd Dominik , Winter Alexandra , Thiel Katharina , Waltemate Lena , Breuer Fabian , Repple Jonathan , Gruber Marius , Richter Maike , Teckentrup Vanessa , Kroemer Nils B. , Brosch Katharina , Meller Tina , Pfarr Julia-Katharina , Ringwald Kai Gustav , Stein Frederike , Heindel Walter , Jansen Andreas , Kircher Tilo , Nenadić Igor , Dannlowski Udo , Opel Nils , Hahn Tim
Published: June 2022

Background

Childhood maltreatment (CM) represents a potent risk factor for major depressive disorder (MDD), including poorer treatment response. Altered resting-state connectivity in the fronto-limbic system has been reported in maltreated individuals. However, previous results in smaller samples differ largely regarding localization and direction of effects.

Methods

We included healthy and depressed samples [n = 624 participants with MDD; n = 701 healthy control (HC) participants] that underwent resting-state functional MRI measurements and provided retrospective self-reports of maltreatment using the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire. A-priori defined regions of interest [ROI; amygdala, hippocampus, anterior cingulate cortex (ACC)] were used to calculate seed-to-voxel connectivities.

Results

No significant associations between maltreatment and resting-state connectivity of any ROI were found across MDD and HC participants and no interaction effect with diagnosis became significant. Investigating MDD patients only yielded maltreatment-associated increased connectivity between the amygdala and dorsolateral frontal areas [pFDR < 0.001; η2partial = 0.050; 95%-CI (0.023–0.085)]. This effect was robust across various sensitivity analyses and was associated with concurrent and previous symptom severity. Particularly strong amygdala-frontal associations with maltreatment were observed in acutely depressed individuals [n = 264; pFDR < 0.001; η2partial = 0.091; 95%-CI (0.038–0.166)). Weaker evidence – not surviving correction for multiple ROI analyses – was found for altered supracallosal ACC connectivity in HC individuals associated with maltreatment.

Conclusions

The majority of previous resting-state connectivity correlates of CM could not be replicated in this large-scale study. The strongest evidence was found for clinically relevant maltreatment associations with altered adult amygdala-dorsolateral frontal connectivity in depression. Future studies should explore the relevance of this pathway for a maltreated subgroup of MDD patients.
‘LUXURY BEYOND MORALS’: THE RISE AND TRANSFORMATION OF THE CONCEPT IN EIGHTEENTH-CENTURY RUSSIA
Authors: Korchmina Elena , Kiselev Mikhail
Published: June 2022

Luxury has always been an intrinsic part of world history, but the words “luxe” or “luxury” in the conventional sense are quite new, entering the French and English languages only in the seventeenth century. It was only at the end of the seventeenth century that the core of this phenomenon came up for discussion in Europe against a backdrop of development of international trade and incipient economic growth. During these debates, the concept of luxury was gradually demoralized by economic liberalism. Translations played a seminal role in the defining of the concept of luxury. European thinkers coordinated their positions even if they disagreed with each other. How was the notion of luxury conceptualized outside the European Roman world? Russia is an interesting example that helps to understand it. The article answers when and why the concept of luxury entered Russian political thought and why luxury, although finding itself outside the bounds of morality, continued to be only condemned in the economic sphere.
Planning for a Job
Authors: Pultz Sabina , Hansen Magnus Paulsen , Jepsen Helene
Published: June 2022

Abstract. Like most OECD countries, unemployed people in Denmark have been subject to activation policies imbued with rights and obligations for decades. However, during the lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic, activation and conditionality were temporarily suspended. This article explores what happens to the experience of unemployment when part of the system is put on hold. Based on in-depth interviews conducted during the COVID-19 crisis with 25 unemployed people, we apply the theoretical framework of regimes of engagement developed by Laurent Thévenot to explore how unemployed people cope with and reflect on their situation. In doing so, we explore how the plans of the unemployed to find a job interact with or create tension between other engagements related to everyday life (family life, ideas about quality of life, etc.) as well as living up to the demands of public employment services. In this way, the suspension provides an opportunity to examine the effects of the active labor market programs through their absence.
Spatial heterogeneity of extensively drug resistant-tuberculosis in Western Cape Province, South Africa
Authors: Sy Karla Therese L. , Leavitt Sarah V. , de Vos Margaretha , Dolby Tania , Bor Jacob , Horsburgh C. Robert , Warren Robin M. , Streicher Elizabeth M. , Jenkins Helen E. , Jacobson Karen R.
Published: June 2022

Tuberculosis (TB) remains a leading infectious disease killer globally. Treatment outcomes are especially poor among people with extensively drug-resistant (XDR) TB, until recently defined as rifampicin-resistant (RR) TB with resistance to an aminoglycoside (amikacin) and a fluoroquinolone (ofloxacin). We used laboratory TB test results from Western Cape province, South Africa between 2012 and 2015 to identify XDR-TB and pre-XDR-TB (RR-TB with resistance to one second-line drug) spatial hotspots. We mapped the percentage and count of individuals with RR-TB that had XDR-TB and pre-XDR-TB across the province and in Cape Town, as well as amikacin-resistant and ofloxacin-resistant TB. We found the percentage of pre-XDR-TB and the count of XDR-TB/pre-XDR-TB highly heterogeneous with geographic hotspots within RR-TB high burden areas, and found hotspots in both percentage and count of amikacin-resistant and ofloxacin-resistant TB. The spatial distribution of percentage ofloxacin-resistant TB hotspots was similar to XDR-TB hotspots, suggesting that fluoroquinolone-resistace is often the first step to additional resistance. Our work shows that interventions used to reduce XDR-TB incidence may need to be targeted within spatial locations of RR-TB, and further research is required to understand underlying drivers of XDR-TB transmission in these locations.
Radon signature of CO2 flux constrains the depth of degassing: Furnas volcano (Azores, Portugal) versus Syabru-Bensi (Nepal Himalayas)
Authors: Girault Frédéric , Viveiros Fátima , Silva Catarina , Thapa Sandeep , Pacheco Joana E. , Adhikari Lok Bijaya , Bhattarai Mukunda , Koirala Bharat Prasad , Agrinier Pierre , France-Lanord Christian , Zanon Vittorio , Vandemeulebrouck Jean , Byrdina Svetlana , Perrier Frédéric
Published: June 2022

Substantial terrestrial gas emissions, such as carbon dioxide (CO2), are associated with active volcanoes and hydrothermal systems. However, while fundamental for the prediction of future activity, it remains difficult so far to determine the depth of the gas sources. Here we show how the combined measurement of CO2and radon-222 fluxes at the surface constrains the depth of degassing at two hydrothermal systems in geodynamically active contexts: Furnas Lake Fumarolic Field (FLFF, Azores, Portugal) with mantellic and volcano-magmatic CO2, and Syabru-Bensi Hydrothermal System (SBHS, Central Nepal) with metamorphic CO2. At both sites, radon fluxes reach exceptionally high values (> 10 Bq m−2 s−1) systematically associated with large CO2fluxes (> 10 kg m−2day−1). The significant radon‒CO2fluxes correlation is well reproduced by an advective–diffusive model of radon transport, constrained by a thorough characterisation of radon sources. Estimates of degassing depth, 2580 ± 180 m at FLFF and 380 ± 20 m at SBHS, are compatible with known structures of both systems. Our approach demonstrates that radon‒CO2coupling is a powerful tool to ascertain gas sources and monitor active sites. The exceptionally high radon discharge from FLFF during quiescence (≈ 9 GBq day−1) suggests significant radon output from volcanoes worldwide, potentially affecting atmosphere ionisation and climate.
Constitutive expression of a pea apyrase, psNTP9, increases seed yield in field-grown soybean
Authors: Sabharwal Tanya , Lu Zhongjin , Slocum Robert D. , Kang Seongjoon , Wang Huan , Jiang Han-Wei , Veerappa Roopadarshini , Romanovicz Dwight , Nam Ji Chul , Birk Simon , Clark Greg , Roux Stanley J.
Published: June 2022

To address the demand for food by a rapidly growing human population, agricultural scientists have carried out both plant breeding and genetic engineering research. Previously, we reported that the constitutive expression of a pea apyrase (Nucleoside triphosphate, diphosphohydrolase) gene, psNTP9, under the control of the CaMV35S promoter, resulted in soybean plants with an expanded root system architecture, enhanced drought resistance and increased seed yield when they are grown in greenhouses under controlled conditions. Here, we report that psNTP9-expressing soybean lines also show significantly enhanced seed yields when grown in multiple different field conditions at multiple field sites, including when the gene is introgressed into elite germplasm. The transgenic lines have higher leaf chlorophyll and soluble protein contents and decreased stomatal density and cuticle permeability, traits that increase water use efficiency and likely contribute to the increased seed yields of field-grown plants. These altered properties are explained, in part, by genome-wide gene expression changes induced by the transgene.
Evidence for mitochondrial Lonp1 expression in the nucleus
Authors: Gibellini Lara , Borella Rebecca , De Gaetano Anna , Zanini Giada , Tartaro Domenico Lo , Carnevale Gianluca , Beretti Francesca , Losi Lorena , De Biasi Sara , Nasi Milena , Forcato Mattia , Cossarizza Andrea , Pinti Marcello
Published: June 2022

The coordinated communication between the mitochondria and nucleus is essential for cellular activities. Nonetheless, the pathways involved in this crosstalk are scarcely understood. The protease Lonp1 was previously believed to be exclusively located in the mitochondria, with an important role in mitochondrial morphology, mtDNA maintenance, and cellular metabolism, in both normal and neoplastic cells. However, we recently detected Lonp1 in the nuclear, where as much as 22% of all cellular Lonp1 can be found. Nuclear localization is detectable under all conditions, but the amount is dependent on a response to heat shock (HS). Lonp1 in the nucleus interacts with heat shock factor 1 (HSF1) and modulates the HS response. These findings reveal a novel extramitochondrial function for Lonp1 in response to stress.
A general skull stripping of multiparametric brain MRIs using 3D convolutional neural network
Authors: Pei Linmin , Ak Murat , Tahon Nourel Hoda M. , Zenkin Serafettin , Alkarawi Safa , Kamal Abdallah , Yilmaz Mahir , Chen Lingling , Er Mehmet , Ak Nursima , Colen Rivka
Published: June 2022

Accurate skull stripping facilitates following neuro-image analysis. For computer-aided methods, the presence of brain skull in structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) impacts brain tissue identification, which could result in serious misjudgments, specifically for patients with brain tumors. Though there are several existing works on skull stripping in literature, most of them either focus on healthy brain MRIs or only apply for a single image modality. These methods may be not optimal for multiparametric MRI scans. In the paper, we propose an ensemble neural network (EnNet), a 3D convolutional neural network (3DCNN) based method, for brain extraction on multiparametric MRI scans (mpMRIs). We comprehensively investigate the skull stripping performance by using the proposed method on a total of 15 image modality combinations. The comparison shows that utilizing all modalities provides the best performance on skull stripping. We have collected a retrospective dataset of 815 cases with/without glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) and The Cancer Imaging Archive (TCIA). The ground truths of the skull stripping are verified by at least one qualified radiologist. The quantitative evaluation gives an average dice score coefficient and Hausdorff distance at the 95th percentile, respectively. We also compare the performance to the state-of-the-art methods/tools. The proposed method offers the best performance.

The contributions of the work have five folds: first, the proposed method is a fully automatic end-to-end for skull stripping using a 3D deep learning method. Second, it is applicable for mpMRIs and is also easy to customize for any MRI modality combination. Third, the proposed method not only works for healthy brain mpMRIs but also pre-/post-operative brain mpMRIs with GBM. Fourth, the proposed method handles multicenter data. Finally, to the best of our knowledge, we are the first group to quantitatively compare the skull stripping performance using different modalities. All code and pre-trained model are available at: https://github.com/plmoer/skull_stripping_code_SR.
Manure amendment can reduce rice yield loss under extreme temperatures
Authors: Zhu Xiangcheng , Chen Jin , Huang Shan , Li Weiwei , Penuelas Josep , Chen Ji , Zhou Feng , Zhang Weijian , Li Ganghua , Liu Zhenghui , Ding Yanfeng , Wang Songhan , van Groenigen Kees Jan , Jiang Yu
Published: June 2022

Extreme temperatures are predicted to become increasingly common due to climate change, threatening the sustainability and profitability of global rice production. Manure amendment is a common agricultural practice to improve soil fertility and increase crop yields, but whether this practice modulates the effect of extreme temperatures on crop yield is unclear. Here we show through a series of experiments and meta-analysis that long-term manure amendment reduces losses of rice yield due to extreme temperatures. We propose that by increasing soil fertility, manure amendment increased net photosynthetic rate and plant physiological resistance to extreme temperatures. Without considering the impact of other global change factors, we estimate that manure amendment could potentially reduce global losses of rice yield due to extreme temperatures from 33.6 to 25.1%. Thus, our findings indicate that manure amendment may play a key role in improving food security in a changing climate.
Natural forest growth and human induced ecosystem disturbance influence water yield in forests
Authors: Yu Zhen , Chen Xiuzhi , Zhou Guoyi , Agathokleous Evgenios , Li Lin , Liu Zhiyong , Wu Jianping , Zhou Ping , Xue Meimei , Chen Yuchan , Yan Wenting , Liu Lei , Shi Tingting , Zhao Xiang
Published: June 2022

Together natural growth, afforestation and forest disturbance, such as felling, contribute to the dynamic nature of forests. Thus to enhance forest management, water resource management and carbon sequestration, the net effect of forest changes on water yield must be better understood. Here, we conduct a global meta-analysis of 496 watersheds over 25 years to investigate the impact of forest complexity and overall changes on water yields. We classify watersheds based on the type of human disturbance, including felling and thinning, afforestation, and absence of external disturbances. We find that the runoff coefficient (ratio of annual water yield in watershed outlet to precipitation) is more sensitive to external disturbances in forests with lower ecosystem complexity compared to forests with higher complexity. In addition, we found forest natural growth may increase runoff and lead to an increased runoff coefficient decades later. Our findings highlight the importance of nature-based forest restoration, especially in regions vulnerable to water shortage.
The osteogenic response to chirality-patterned surface potential distribution of CFO/P(VDF-TrFE) membranes
Authors: Zhang Jiamin , He Xuzhao , Zhou Zhiyuan , Chen Xiaoyi , Shao Jiaqi , Huang Donghua , Dong Lingqing , Lin Jun , Wang Huiming , Weng Wenjian , Cheng Kui
Published: June 2022

CFO/P(VDF-TrFE) membrane with a dextral-patterned surface potential distribution has a stronger osteogenic response, which can be attributed to the interaction of cells with the electrophysiological microenvironment that triggers the Arp2/3 complex.
Polyaspartate-derived synthetic antimicrobial polymer enhances the activity of rifampicin against multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections
Authors: Chaudhary Nalini , Aggarwal Bharti , Saini Varsha , Srinivas Yavvari Prabhu , Sharma Priyanka , Srivastava Aasheesh , Bajaj Avinash
Published: June 2022

Infections caused by multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) pose major challenges for treatment due to the acquired, adaptive, and intrinsic resistance developed by the bacteria.
Photoclick polysaccharide-based bioinks with an extended biofabrication window for 3D embedded bioprinting
Authors: Zhou Ke , Feng Miao , Mao Hongli , Gu Zhongwei
Published: June 2022

The proposed photoclick HC–HN bioink expands the palette of available polysaccharide-based bioinks and greatly extends the biofabrication window to broaden the application opportunities of 3D bioprinting.
Transient directing group enabled Pd-catalyzed C–H oxygenation of benzaldehydes and benzylic amines
Authors: Tian Mixiang , Shao Lidong , Su Xiaosan , Zhou Xuhong , Zhang Honglei , Wei Kun , Sun Ruifen , Wang Junliang
Published: June 2022

A general protocol for ortho-C–H fluoroalkoxylation of benzaldehydes and benzylic amines was exploited by utilizing an inexpensive amino amide as a transient directing group.
High-performance piezoelectric nanogenerators featuring embedded organic nanodroplets for self-powered sensors
Authors: Li Hai , Lim Sooman
Published: June 2022

A novel solid–liquid nanocomposite-based piezoelectric nanogenerator was developed by embedding FDTS droplets into a PVDF matrix, which delivers unprecedented properties.
Metal–organic frameworks as a therapeutic strategy for lung diseases
Authors: Zheng Yu , Zhao Yuxin , Bai Mengting , Gu Huang , Li Xiaofang
Published: June 2022

This review focuses on the design and application of MOF-based drugs against lung diseases, and discusses the possibility of preparing MOF-based inhalable formulations and the challenges and opportunities of MOFs in clinical applications targeting lung diseases.
A Technique of Continuous Catheter Irrigation in an Infected Wrist Joint: Improving Management in Septic Arthritis of the Wrist
Authors: Choudhury Muntasir Mannan , Jiang Jackson Kian Hong , Yap Robert Tze Jin
Published: June 2022

Septic arthritis of the wrist though decidedly rare can lead to severe consequences with loss of form and function of the hand. The approach to diagnosis and treatment remains challenging and may need multiple surgeries, prolonged hospital stays along with intravenous antibiotics for restitution of a pain and disease-free functioning wrist. Arthroscopic washout of the wrist joint, has paved the way for a less invasive and more effective approach to the management of the condition reducing the number of operations needed and the need for open wrist washout. In our paper, we describe in addition to arthroscopic washout of an infected wrist joint the insertion of irrigation catheters followed by continuous irrigation with normal saline through the catheters using an infusion pump for 5 days leading to resolution of symptoms without further surgical interventions.
Fracture energy of high-Poisson's ratio oxide glasses
Authors: To Theany , Gamst Christian , Østergaard Martin B. , Jensen Lars R. , Smedskjaer Morten M.
Published: June 2022

The apparent relationship between Poisson's ratio and fracture energy has been used to guide the discovery of ductile glasses with a brittle-to-ductile (BTD) transition at Poisson's ratio around 0.32. Most organic and metallic glasses possess Poisson's ratio above 0.32, and thus, feature fracture energy that is around three orders of magnitude higher than that of oxide glasses, which feature Poisson's ratio typically below 0.30. However, whether the BTD transition can also be observed in oxide glasses remains unknown due to the lack of fracture energy measurements on oxide glasses with high Poisson's ratio. In this work, we measure the fracture energy of six oxide glasses with high Poisson's ratio between 0.30 and 0.34. We find no clear relationship between the two parameters even in those that possess the same Poisson's ratio as ductile metallic glasses. This suggests that Poisson's ratio is not the main property to enhance the fracture energy of oxide glasses. To this end, we instead find a positive relation between fracture energy and Young's modulus of oxide glasses, and even for some metallic glasses, which could explain their absence of ductility.
Thermal conductivity of SrTiO3 under high-pressure
Authors: Zhang Zhongyin , Yuan Kunpeng , Zhu Jie , Fan Xuanhui , Zhou Jing , Tang Dawei
Published: June 2022

Pressure is an effective way to regulate physical properties of ABO3 perovskites, such as thermal conductivity κ of SrTiO3, which can enhance fundamental understanding of structure–property relationships. In this Letter, κ of SrTiO3 was investigated up to ∼20 GPa using high-pressure time domain thermoreflectance together with Raman spectroscopy and first-principles calculations. Our theoretical predictions effectively explain the measured results. In both cubic and tetragonal phases, κ increased with compression, and optical phonons are the dominant heat carriers. The phonon group velocity and relaxation time make prominent contributions to κ with compression in the cubic phase, while the reduction in the anharmonicity of phonon modes and the phonon scattering channels dominates the increase in κ in the tetragonal phase. Especially, during the transition from cubic to tetragonal phases, there is a significant drop in κ, which originally results from the TiO6 octahedral distortion induced by the soft-phonon-mode, which markedly reduces the phonon group velocity. Our results not only help reveal the pressure effect on κ of complex oxides but also pave their way for applications on high-temperature superconductors and spin devices.
Positivity principle for measures on uniformly convex Banach spaces
Authors: Riss E.
Published: June 2022

A Banach space

X
X

is said to satisfy the positivity principle for small balls if for every finite Borel measures

μ
\mu

and

ν
\nu

on

X
X

, the inequalities

μ
(
B
)
≤
ν
(
B
)

\mu (B) \leq \nu (B)

for all balls B of radius less than 1 imply that

μ
≤
ν

\mu \leq \nu

. It is shown that no uniformly convex infinite-dimensional separable Banach space

X
X

obeys the positivity principle for small balls.
Do some nontrivial closed 𝑧-invariant subspaces have the division property?
Authors: Esterle J.
Published: June 2022

Banach spaces

E
E

of functions holomorphic on the open unit disk

D

\mathbb {D}

are considered such that the unilateral shift

S
S

and the backward shift

T
T

are bounded on

E
E

. Under the assumption that the spectra of

S
S

and

T
T

are equal to the closed unit disk, the existence is discussed of closed

z
z

-invariant subspaces 

N
N

of 

E
E

having the “division property,” which means that the function

f

λ

:
z
↦

f
(
z
)

z
−
λ

f_{\lambda }\colon z \mapsto \frac {f(z)}{z-\lambda }

belongs to

N
N

for every

λ
∈

D

\lambda \in \mathbb {D}

and for every

f
∈
N

f \in N

with

f
(
λ
)
=
0

f(\lambda )=0

. This question is related to the existence of nontrivial bi-invariant subspaces of Banach spaces of hyperfunctions on the unit circle 

T

\mathbb {T}

.
Mechanical circulatory support devices for elective percutaneous coronary interventions: novel insights from the Japanese nationwide J-PCI registry
Authors: Muramatsu Takashi , Inohara Taku , Kohsaka Shun , Yamaji Kyohei , Ishii Hideki , Shinke Toshiro , Toriya Takuo , Yoshiki Yu , Ozaki Yukio , Ando Hirohiko , Amano Tetsuya , Nakamura Masato , Ikari Yuji
Published: June 2022

Aims

We examined in-hospital outcomes of patients that required mechanical circulatory support (MCS), such as intra-aortic balloon pumping (IABP), Impella®, or veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO), for elective percutaneous coronary interventions (PCIs).

Methods and results

The J-PCI is a prospective Japanese nationwide multicentre registry sponsored by the Japanese Association of Cardiovascular Intervention and Therapeutics (CVIT) and designed to collect clinical variables and in-hospital outcome data on consecutive patients undergoing PCI. Of the 253 228 patients registered between January 2018 and December 2018, 1627 patients (0.6%) undergoing elective PCI under MCS at 551 sites were analyzed. The mean age of the patients was 74 years, and 25.2% of the patients were females. Multivessel disease and left main disease were observed in 59.0% and 19.7% of the patients, respectively. Majority of patients were treated with IABP alone (86.2%), followed by IABP plus VA-ECMO (6.0%) and Impella alone (3.9%). In-hospital mortality was reported in 134 patients (8.2%). Cardiac death was more common than non-cardiac death (6.8% vs. 1.5%). About 34.6% of the patients receiving VA-ECMO died during hospitalization, whereas 7.2% and 5.3% of patients receiving Impella and IABP died, respectively (P < 0.01). The proportion of patients with VA-ECMO or Impella who had major bleeding requiring blood transfusion was higher than that of patients with IABP (14.1% vs. 13.0% vs. 2.8%).

Conclusion

In the setting of elective PCI, in-hospital mortality of patients requiring MCS was considerably high. VA-ECMO or Impella was associated with a higher risk of major bleeding than IABP.
Neutralizing Antibody Activity to Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Delta (B.1.617.2) and Omicron (B.1.1.529) After 1 or 2 Doses of BNT162b2 Vaccine in Infection-Naive and Previously Infected Individuals
Authors: Moy James N , Anderson Mark , Shen Xiaoying , Fu Jia , Stec Michael , Gosha Amy , Naquiallah Dina , Kinslow Jennifer , Montefiori David C , Cloherty Gavin , Landay Alan
Published: June 2022

Previous reports demonstrated that severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) binding immunoglobulin G levels did not increase significantly between the first and second doses of the BNT162b2 vaccine in previously infected individuals. We tested neutralizing antibodies (nAbs) against SARS-CoV-2 Delta and Omicron variants after the first and second doses of this vaccine in infection-naive and previously infected individuals. Delta, but not Omicron, nAb titers significantly increased from the first to the second dose in both groups of individuals. Importantly, we found that Omicron nAb titers were much lower than Delta nAb titers and that even after 2 doses of vaccine, 17 of 29 individuals in the infection-naive group and 2 of 27 in the previously infected group did not have detectable Omicron nAb titers. Infection history alone did not adequately predict whether a second dose resulted in adequate nAb. For future variants of concern, the discussion on the optimal number of vaccine doses should be based on studies testing for nAb against the specific variant.
Ectopic Cavernous Sinus Microprolactinoma Treated Medically
Authors: Minns Robert M , Barranco-Trabi Javier , Yiu Alvin C , Hussain Ali , Elegino-Steffens Diane U
Published: June 2022

Ectopic prolactin-secreting microadenomas are rare and management is often surgical in contrast to intrasellar pituitary prolactin-secreting microadenomas. We present a case of ectopic dopamine-resistant microprolactinoma treated with cabergoline which led to symptom resolution, hormonal remission, and cystic degeneration of the tumor. A 30-year-old active duty male presented with a chief complaint of inability to maintain an erection for 6 months. Initial workup revealed suppressed serum testosterone of 128.60 ng/ml with an elevated prolactin level at 275.10 ng/ml. Pituitary magnetic resonance imaging showed a small mass measuring 9 mm in the left cavernous sinus. Medical management was initiated with cabergoline, which was titrated over the course of a year from 0.5 mg a week to 3.5 mg a week at its peak before being weaned off completely at 54 months. After treatment, the patient’s symptoms resolved, his prolactin decreased to 29.5 ng/ml, near-normal, and his tumor had decreased size with cystic degeneration. Management for any prolactinoma has three primary goals: remittance of symptoms, decrease in prolactin levels, and decrease in tumor size. These are achieved through primarily medical management or surgery. Even though ectopic microprolactinomas are still frequently addressed surgically, this case shows that medical therapy can successfully treat ectopic prolactin-secreting pituitary microadenomas even in cases of dopamine resistance.
A numerical method based on the Nambu bracket for the 3D vorticity equation
Authors: Suzuki Yukihito
Published: June 2022

In this study, numerical methods for the 3D vorticity equation and Euler equation, which preserve the structure of Nambu mechanics for fluid dynamics, are investigated. Discrete vector fields of the stream function (or vector potential), velocity, and vorticity, as well as discrete counterparts of the gradient, curl, and divergence operators acting on them, are defined such that the structure of the de Rham complex in 3D Euclidean space is preserved. The inner products of the discrete vector fields are defined such that discrete counterparts of integration-by-parts formulae for the gradient, curl, and divergence operators hold. In addition, cross products of the discrete vector fields are introduced to define a skew-symmetric trilinear form. A discrete Nambu bracket, as well as the (kinetic) energy, helicity, and enstrophy of the discrete flow field, are defined straightforwardly. They are employed to derive a discrete vorticity equation in the same way as in the continuum setting. A discrete Euler equation is derived from the discrete vorticity equation based on the discrete counterpart of the Poincaré lemma, which holds under some typical conditions. It is proved that any solution to these discretized equations satisfies discrete analogues of the balances of energy, helicity, and enstrophy. Numerical experiments on a periodic array of rolls are conducted to examine the effectiveness of the method.
Adult Mesenchymal Stem Cells and Derivatives in Improved Elastin Homeostasis in a Rat Model of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms
Authors: Dahal Shataakshi , Dayal Simran , Androjna Charlie , Peterson John , Ramamurthi Anand
Published: June 2022

Abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) are localized rupture-prone expansions of the aorta with limited reversibility that develop due to proteolysis of the elastic matrix. Natural regenerative repair of an elastic matrix is difficult due to the intrinsically poor elastogenicity of adult vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). This justifies the need to provide external, pro-elastin regenerative- and anti-proteolytic stimuli to VSMCs in the AAA wall towards reinstating matrix structure in the aorta wall. Introducing alternative phenotypes of highly elastogenic and contractile cells into the AAA wall capable of providing such cues, proffers attractive prospects for AAA treatment. In this regard, we have previously demonstrated the superior elastogenicity of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell (BM-MSC)-derived SMCs (cBM-SMCs) and their ability to provide pro-elastogenic and anti-proteolytic stimuli to aneurysmal SMCs in vitro. However, the major issues associated with cell therapy, such as their natural ability to home into the AAA tissue, their in vivo biodistribution and retention in the AAA wall, and possible paracrine effects on AAA tissue repair processes in the event of localization in remote tissues remain uncertain. Therefore, in this study we focused on assessing the fate, safety, and AAA reparative effects of BM-MSC-derived cBM-SMCs in vivo. Our results indicate that the cBM-SMCs (a) possess natural homing abilities similar to the undifferentiated BM-MSCs, (b) exhibit higher retention upon localization in the aneurysmal aorta than BM-MSCs, (c) downregulate the expression of several inflammatory and pro-apoptotic cytokines that are upregulated in the AAA wall contributing to accelerated elastic matrix breakdown and suppression of elastic fiber neo-assembly, repair, and crosslinking, and (d) improve elastic matrix content and structure in the AAA wall toward slowing the growth of AAAs. Our study provides initial evidence of the in vivo elastic matrix reparative benefits of cBM-SMCs and their utility in cell therapy to reverse the pathophysiology of AAAs.
A short review of male genito-urinary lesions caused by coronavirus disease 2019
Authors: Sun Xun , Lyu Jiaju
Published: June 2022

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a novel infectious disease that has spread worldwide since it first appeared in December 2019. It can cause pathologies in several organs of the body through direct and indirect mechanisms. After more than two years of study, the effects of COVID-19 on the genitourinary system are now well-evidenced as COVID-19 has considerable effects on the kidneys, testes, vas deferens, epididymis, seminal vesicles, prostate, and penis. Renal invasion is mainly characterized by acute kidney injury. Testicular invasion is characterized by orchitis, testicular epididymitis, etc. Although COVID-19 has been suspected to spread via serum, evidence for the presence of the virus in the semen of patients is currently scarce. COVID-19 also impacts the sexual function of patients to varying degrees, with some patients developing erectile dysfunction. The underlying mechanisms of COVID-19 invasion into the genitourinary system have not been clearly identified, and more clinical studies are required. This review discusses the impact of COVID-19 on the genitourinary system and male health.
Focused research in emergency medical systems in Asia: a necessity for trauma system advancement
Authors: Ratnayake Amila , Nakahara Shinji , Bagaria Dinesh , De Silva Sohan , De Silva Sri Lal , Llaneta April , Pattanarattanamolee Ratrawee , Li Yonggang , Hoang Bui Hai
Published: June 2022

Since trauma is a growing health problem worldwide, emergency trauma care including emergency medical services (EMS) is becoming an integral part of the healthcare system. The optimal EMS which will improve access to trauma care, will be different in each country because of different healthcare systems, trauma etiology, and economic situations. To adopt models that have succeeded in developed countries is not always appropriate. In order to identify the optimal EMS model in developing countries, comparing the systems among many countries in detail and examining their advantages and disadvantages would be necessary. Therefore, this article tries to identify important elements of EMS to achieve mature EMS systems based on comparisons of 7 Asian countries, and discusses the need to conduct more detailed and extensive comparisons.
United States trauma system: Maryland focus
Authors: Gupta Shailvi , Tannous Anthony , Scalea Thomas
Published: June 2022

Traumatic injury is a public health epidemic within the United States. The growth of trauma systems within the United States has saved countless lives as trauma care continues to improve nationally. This article briefly looks at the history of trauma systems within the United States, focusing on the Maryland system, one of the nation's first statewide, regionalized and organized trauma systems.
Severe Acute Hepatitis of Unknown Etiology in Children: Is It Caused by Pathogens or Non-infectious Factors?
Authors: Hu Wei , Zhang Min , Xu Zhe , Li Jing , Wang Fu-Sheng , Li Tong
Published: June 2022

Recently, an outbreak of severe acute hepatitis of unknown etiology in children has been reported in more than 27 countries worldwide. However, information on its prevalence in different countries and regions is still lacking. The evidence is suggestive of a potential viral infection, but this has not been fully confirmed. Cases of this disease have been reported in children, mainly in those younger than 5 years old. The reason for the age range of the disease requires further investigation.