bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Electromagnetic interference from left ventricular assist device in patients with transvenous implantable cardioverter‐defibrillator
Authors: Khetarpal Banveet Kaur , Lee Justin Z. , Javaid Awad I. , Mi Lanyu , Venepally Nithin Rao , Narasimhan Bharat , Hardaway Brian W. , Cha Yong‐Mei , Kusumoto Fred , Mulpuru Siva K. , Srivathsan Komandoor
Published: May 2021

Background

Many advanced heart failure patients have both a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) and an implantable cardioverter‐defibrillator (ICD). This study examines incidence, clinical impact, and management of LVAD‐related EMI.

Methods

We performed a three‐center retrospective analysis of transvenous ICD implanted patients with LVAD implanted between January 1, 2005 and December 31, 2020. The primary outcome was EMI after LVAD implantation, categorized as LVAD‐related noise or telemetry interference.

Results

The rate of LVAD‐related EMI among the 737 patients (mean age 58.6 ± 12.8 years) studied was 5.0%. Telemetry interference (1.5%) compromised ICD interrogation in all patients. This was resolved successfully with use of a metal shield, encased wand, radiofrequency tower, different ICD programmer or by increasing distance between ICD programmer and LVAD (n = 6). ICD replacement was required to reestablish successful communication in three patients. LVAD‐related noise (3.5%) led to oversensing (n = 4), inappropriate mode switches (n = 4), noise reversion (n = 3), inhibition of pacing (n = 2), inappropriate detection as atrial fibrillation (AF) (n = 2) and inappropriate detection as ventricular tachycardia (VT) and/or ventricular fibrillation (VF) (n = 2). This noise interference persisted (n = 3), resolved spontaneously (n = 16), resolved with programming change (n = 6) or required lead revision (n = 1).

Conclusions

EMI from LVAD impacts ICD function, although, the incidence rate is low. Physicians implanting both, LVAD in patients with ICD (more common) or ICD in patients with LVAD, should be aware of possible interferences. Telemetry failure not resolved by metal shielding was overcome by ICD generator replacement to a different manufacturer. In most cases, LVAD‐related noise resolves spontaneously.
Occurrence of two races of Puccinia kuehnii causing orange rust of sugarcane in Florida
Authors: Sanjel Santosh , Hincapie Martha , Wang Yunwen , Todd James , Chaulagain Bhim , Sood Sushma , Comstock Jack C. , Raid Richard N. , Rott Philippe
Published: May 2021

Orange rust of sugarcane caused by Puccinia kuehnii was first reported in Florida in 2007. Since then, several sugarcane cultivars that were resistant during the initial epidemics became susceptible within a few years. These shifts in resistance were attributed to the evolution of the pathogen and appearance of new races. To study the variation in virulence of P. kuehnii, healthy leaf pieces of sugarcane cultivars susceptible to orange rust were brush inoculated with isolates of P. kuehnii collected from susceptible cultivars in the field. After inoculation, leaf pieces were placed in an incubator and disease severity based on the number of rust uredinia was determined 2 weeks postinoculation. Isolates of P. kuehnii collected from sugarcane cultivar CP 89‐2143, which only showed severe symptoms of orange rust starting in 2011–2012, produced 300%–500% more uredinia on CP 89‐2143 than the isolates collected from cultivar CL 85‐1040 that has been susceptible since 2007. Sugarcane cultivar CL 85‐1040 exhibited high and equivalent numbers of uredinia regardless of the inoculated isolate of the pathogen. These data support the occurrence of pathogenic specialization within P. kuehnii and the existence of at least two races of this pathogen in Florida. Analysis of amplified fragment‐length polymorphism among isolates of P. kuehnii from cultivars CP 89‐2143 and CL 85‐1040 differing in resistance to orange rust revealed genetic variation among rust uredinia. However, this variation was not associated with a specific sugarcane cultivar, suggesting that pathogenic variation was not linked to major, but rather to small genetic changes within the genome of P. kuehnii.
Larvae of longhorned beetles (Coleoptera; Cerambycidae) have evolved a diverse and phylogenetically conserved array of plant cell wall degrading enzymes
Authors: Shin Na Ra , Shin Seunggwan , Okamura Yu , Kirsch Roy , Lombard Vincent , Svacha Petr , Denux Olivier , Augustin Sylvie , Henrissat Bernard , McKenna Duane D. , Pauchet Yannick
Published: May 2021

Longhorned beetles (Cerambycidae) are the most diverse group of predominantly wood‐feeding (xylophagous) insects on Earth. Larvae of most species feed within tissues of plants made up of large amounts of plant cell wall (PCW), which is notoriously difficult to digest. To efficiently access nutrients from their food source, cerambycid larvae have to deconstruct PCW polysaccharides – such as cellulose, hemicelluloses and pectin – requiring them to possess a diversity of plant cell wall degrading enzymes (PCWDEs) in their digestive tract. Genomic data for Cerambycidae are mostly limited to notorious forest pests and are lacking for most of the taxonomic groups. Consequently, our understanding of the distribution and evolution of cerambycid PCWDEs is quite limited. We addressed the numbers, kinds and evolution of cerambycid PCWDEs by surveying larval midgut transcriptomes from 23 species representing six of the eight recognized subfamilies of Cerambycidae and each with very diverse host types (i.e., gymnosperms, angiosperms, xylem, phloem, fresh or dead plant tissues). Using these data, we identified 340 new putative PCWDEs belonging to ten carbohydrate active enzyme families, including two gene families (GH7 and GH53) not previously reported from insects. The remarkably wide range of PCWDEs expressed by Cerambycidae should allow them to break down most PCW polysaccharides. Moreover, the observed distribution of PCWDEs encoded in cerambycid genomes agreed more with phylogenetic relationship of the species studied than with the taxonomic origin or quality of the host plant tissues.
High dose valaciclovir to prevent cytomegalovirus infection in allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients
Authors: Lam Stephanie , Boan Peter , Polistena Paola , Cannell Paul , Cooney Julian , Wright Matthew , Purtill Duncan
Published: May 2021

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection causes morbidity and mortality after allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). We investigated whether prophylaxis with high dose valaciclovir is effective at reducing the incidence of clinically significant CMV infection (csCMVi) within six months of allogeneic HSCT.

Consecutive allogeneic HSCT recipients who received 2g valaciclovir orally four times daily from transplant until day 100 (prophylaxis group) were compared to subsequent patients who received no CMV prophylaxis (control group).

Forty‐nine patients in the prophylaxis group and 59 in the control group were included. The cumulative incidence of csCMVi at 6 months was 20% (95% confidence interval (CI): 9%‐27%) in the prophylaxis group and 39% (95% CI: 26%‐47%) in the control group (P = .009). There was no CMV disease in the prophylaxis group and three cases in the control group. There was no difference in time to neutrophil or platelet recovery nor graft failure between groups. On multivariable analysis, lack of high dose valaciclovir prophylaxis, positive recipient CMV IgG and age were associated with greater likelihood of csCMVi. There was no significant difference in acute graft versus host disease, non‐relapse mortality or overall survival between groups.

In this retrospective cohort study, high dose valaciclovir prophylaxis resulted in a lower incidence of csCMVi within six months of HSCT.
Nuclear transport factor GmNTF2B‐1 enhances soybean drought tolerance by interacting with oxidoreductase GmOXR17 to reduce reactive oxygen species content
Authors: Chen Kai , Su Chen , Tang Wensi , Zhou Yongbin , Xu Zhaoshi , Chen Jun , Li Haiyan , Chen Ming , Ma Youzhi
Published: May 2021

Drought is a critical abiotic stressor that modulates soybean yield. Drought stress drastically enhances reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation, and maintaining ROS content above a cytostatic level but below a cytotoxic level is essential for normal biology processes in plants. At present, most of the known ROS‐scavenging systems are in the cytoplasm, and the mechanism of ROS regulation in the nucleus remains unclear. GmNTF2B‐1 is a member of the IV subgroup in the nucleus transporter family. Its expression is localized to the roots and is stimulated by drought stress. In this study, the overexpression of GmNTF2B‐1 was found to improve the drought tolerance of transgenic soybean by influencing the ROS content in plants. An oxidoreductase, GmOXR17, was identified to interact with GmNTF2B‐1 in the nucleus through the yeast two‐hybrid, coimmunoprecipitation and bimolecular fluorescence complementation assays. The drought tolerance of GmOXR17 transgenic soybean was similar to that of GmNTF2B‐1. GmNTF2B‐1 was expressed in both cytoplasm and nucleus, and GmOXR17 transferred from the cytoplasm to the nucleus under drought stress. The overexpression of GmNTF2B‐1 enhanced the nuclear entry of GmOXR17, and the overexpression of GmNTF2B‐1 or GmOXR17 could decrease the H2O2 content and oxidation level in the nucleus. In conclusion, the interaction between GmNTF2B‐1 and GmOXR17 may enhance the nuclear entry of GmOXR17, thereby enhancing nuclear ROS scavenging to improve the drought resistance of soybean.
Theoretical Leakage Equations Towards Liquid-Phase Flow in the Straight-Through Labyrinth Seal
Authors: Han Lingsheng , Wang Yongqing , Liu Kuo , Ban Ziyou , Qin Bo , Liu Haibo , Dai Minghua
Published: May 2021

Labyrinth seals are widely applied in turbomachinery for gas and liquid sealing. A series of labyrinth seal leakage equations so far have been proposed for compressible gas and few equations for incompressible liquid. Based on the flow conserving governing equations, this paper originally presents semi-empirical analytic equations of the leakage flow rate and tooth-clearance pressure for liquid-phase flow in the straight-through labyrinth seal. The equations indicate that the leakage and pressure are closely related to the inlet pressure, outlet pressure, seal geometrical parameters, and four empirical coefficients, while no relation to the temperature and compressibility effects compared to the common gas equations. The empirical coefficients include the velocity compensation coefficient, friction coefficient, jet contraction coefficient, and resistance coefficient. Particularly, the velocity compensation coefficient is determined through an optimization by the genetic algorithm, while others are referred from previous research. Ultimately, taking the sealing of deeply subcooled liquid nitrogen within the spindle of the cryogenic cooling machine tool as a case, the accuracy of proposed equations is evaluated under various pressure ratios and geometry conditions using the numerical approach, whose numerical model has been validated by the experimental data in the literature. The results show that errors between calculation and simulation are generally within the limit of ±5%, except for the pressure values at the first two teeth. This work provides a theoretical basis for further studies on the liquid leakage equations in other labyrinth seal types.
Experimental Study on the Coefficient of Friction of the Ball Screw
Authors: Zhang Lu-Chao , Zhou Chang-Guang
Published: May 2021

The coefficient of friction (COF) is a key factor to estimate the performance of ball screws. Pieces of research focus on the experimental study of the COF, leading to the COF chosen empirically in many studies. To acquire the COF of the ball screw, a measuring system is conducted to detect the friction torque under different preloads and rotational speeds and the effects of the applied axial load and rotational speed on the COF are analyzed. By the curve fitting method, the Stribeck curve of the ball screw is obtained. The experimental results show that the lubricating state can be divided into two categories: the mixed lubrication state and the elastohydrodynamic lubrication state. This study is beneficial to choose a suitable working condition for a different performance of the ball screw.
Finite-State Automata-Based Representation of Device States for Function Modeling of Multimodal Devices
Authors: Chowdhury Ahmed , Venkatanarasimhan Lakshmi N.A. , Sen Chiradeep
Published: May 2021

Graph-based function models used in early-stage systems design usually represent only one operational mode of the system. Currently, there is a need, but no rigorous formalism to model multiple possible modes in the model and logically predict the behavior of the system as it transitions between the modes. This paper presents a representation of operational modes and states of technical devices and systems based on automata theory for both discrete and continuous state transitions. It then presents formal definitions of three signal-processing verbs that actuate or regulate energy flows: Actuate_E, Regulate_E_Discrete, and Regulate_E_Continuous. The graphical templates, definitions, and application of each verb in modeling are illustrated. Finally, a system-level model is used to illustrate the verbs’ modeling and reasoning ability, in terms of cause-and-effect propagation and the systems’ transition between operational modes.
Design of line seeds for glancing angle deposition
Authors: Qu Chuang , Alphenaar Bruce , McNamara Shamus , Walsh Kevin
Published: May 2021

This paper presents an enhanced seeding rule for the design and fabrication of line seeds for glancing angle deposition (GLAD). GLAD is capable of creating nanometer-level three-dimensional (3D) features by ballistic shadowing from natural/artificial nuclei at oblique incident angles in physical vapor deposition processes. The GLAD features, including columns, springs, zigzags, and ribbons, are building blocks of a wide range of optical, mechanical, and sensing applications. Nanoribbons can be obtained from sub-100 nm-wide line seeds from GLAD; however, volume production of the ultralong fine lines is difficult by conventional fabrication techniques. Additionally, a general process for designing line seeds for creating nanoribbons, especially line seeds with two-dimensional cross sections, is lacking. This paper fills the gaps by integrating the design, fabrication, and optimization of line seeds for obtaining nanoribbons by GLAD. In this paper, a new seeding theory for line seeds for GLAD is proposed by first introducing an empirical model for accurately determining the percent coverage of the deposition for an incident angle over 70°. We discuss the optimum shape and size of the lines for obtaining continuous solid ribbons by matching the percent coverage under predetermined incident angles in a GLAD process. The thickness of the GLAD ribbons is controllable by the geometric parameters of the seeds; ∼100 nm-thick ribbons are obtained from micrometer-width lines created using conventional photolithography. The design process of parabolic cross-sectional line seeds is demonstrated as an example of applying the upgraded seeding rule. Finally, the fabrication of centimeter-long nanoribbons and the use of the ribbons as templates for nanochannels are demonstrated.
Noninvasive visualization of electrical conductivity in tissues at the micrometer scale
Authors: Huang Yuanhui , Omar Murad , Tian Weili , Lopez-Schier Hernán , Westmeyer Gil Gregor , Chmyrov Andriy , Sergiadis George , Ntziachristos Vasilis
Published: May 2021

Meters-long radio waves reveal a microscopic view of tissue ionic content.
Crystalline shielding mitigates structural rearrangement and localizes memory in jammed systems under oscillatory shear
Authors: Teich Erin G. , Galloway K. Lawrence , Arratia Paulo E. , Bassett Danielle S.
Published: May 2021

Amorphous materials store spatially heterogeneous memories of shear direction in particles buried inside crystal grains.
The SAM domain-containing protein 1 (SAMD1) acts as a repressive chromatin regulator at unmethylated CpG islands
Authors: Stielow Bastian , Zhou Yuqiao , Cao Yinghua , Simon Clara , Pogoda Hans-Martin , Jiang Junyi , Ren Yanpeng , Phanor Sabrina Keita , Rohner Iris , Nist Andrea , Stiewe Thorsten , Hammerschmidt Matthias , Shi Yang , Bulyk Martha L. , Wang Zhanxin , Liefke Robert
Published: May 2021

SAMD1 is a newly identified repressive CpG island regulator.
Enhanced interfacial electron transfer between thylakoids and RuO
2
nanosheets for photosynthetic energy harvesting
Authors: Hong Hyeonaug , Lee Jang Mee , Yun JaeHyoung , Kim Yong Jae , Kim Seon Il , Shin HyeIn , Ahn Hyun S. , Hwang Seong-Ju , Ryu WonHyoung
Published: May 2021

RuO
2
2D nanosheet electrodes are used for enhanced photosynthetic electron harvesting from thylakoids.
Forced into an ecological corner: Round-the-clock deep foraging on small prey by elephant seals
Authors: Adachi Taiki , Takahashi Akinori , Costa Daniel P. , Robinson Patrick W. , Hückstädt Luis A. , Peterson Sarah H. , Holser Rachel R. , Beltran Roxanne S. , Keates Theresa R. , Naito Yasuhiko
Published: May 2021

It is not easy to get fat: Seals’ extreme foraging suggests evolutionary trade-off of large body size in marine mammals.
Comment on “Nuclear receptor PXR targets AKR1B7 to protect mitochondrial metabolism and renal function in AKI”
Authors: Luan Zhilin , Ming Wenhua , Zhang Cong , Huo Xiaoxiao , Zheng Feng , Zhang Xiaoyan , Guan Youfei
Published: May 2021

The nuclear pregnane X receptor may not protect against ischemia/reperfusion-induced acute kidney injury in mice.
Response to comment on “Nuclear receptor PXR targets AKR1B7 to protect mitochondrial metabolism and renal function in AKI”
Authors: Yu Xiaowen , Zhang Yue , Jia Zhanjun , Zhang Aihua
Published: May 2021

The nuclear pregnane X receptor protects against bilateral renal ischemia/reperfusion-induced acute kidney injury in mice.
Physiological Role of the Previously Unexplained Benzenetriol Dioxygenase Homolog in the
Burkholderia
sp. Strain SJ98 4-Nitrophenol Catabolism Pathway
Authors: Liu Juan , Xu Ying , Deng Shi-Kai , Liu Lei , Min Jun , Shi Ting , Spain Jim C. , Zhou Ning-Yi
Published: May 2021

An apparently superfluous gene (
pnpG
) encoding BT 1,2-dioxygenase is always found in the catabolic clusters involved in 4-nitrophenol degradation via HQ by Gram-negative bacteria. Our experiments reveal that
pnpG
is not essential for 4-nitrophenol degradation in
Burkholderia
sp. strain SJ98 but instead enables its degradation of 4-nitrocatechol via BT.
Usefulness of BioFire FilmArray BCID2 for Blood Culture Processing in Clinical Practice
Authors: Berinson Benjamin , Both Anna , Berneking Laura , Christner Martin , Lütgehetmann Marc , Aepfelbacher Martin , Rohde Holger
Published: May 2021

Rapid pathogen characterization from positive blood cultures (BC) can improve management of patients with bloodstream infections (BSI). The FilmArray blood culture identification (BCID) assay is a molecular test approved for direct identification of BSI causing pathogens from positive BC.
Genome Sequence of a Virulent African Swine Fever Virus Isolated in 2020 from a Domestic Pig in Northern Vietnam
Authors: Truong Quang Lam , Nguyen Thi Lan , Nguyen Thi Hoa , Shi Jishu , Vu Hiep Lai Xuan , Lai Thi Lan Huong , Nguyen Van Giap
Published: May 2021

This study reports the genome sequence of an isolated African swine fever (ASF) virus (VNUA-ASFV-05L1/HaNam) obtained at the fourth passage on pulmonary alveolar macrophages. The virus was isolated during a typical acute ASF outbreak in pigs in a northern province of Vietnam in 2020.
Metagenome-Assembled Genomes Isolated from a Human Fecal Diarrhea Sample
Authors: Ateba Tshepiso Pleasure , Alayande Kazeem Adekunle , Lubanza Ngoma , Mwanza Mulunda
Published: May 2021

Diarrheal infection is the second leading infectious disease that is killing children under the age of 5 years. This study investigates the microbial community within a fecal sample from a diarrhea-affected child through shotgun metagenomic sequencing.
Complete Genome Assembly of Multidrug-Resistant Yersinia enterocolitica Y72, Isolated in Sweden
Authors: Karlsson Philip A. , Hechard Tifaine , Jernberg Cecilia , Wang Helen
Published: May 2021

Here, we report the complete genome sequence of a Swedish clinical strain of
Yersinia enterocolitica
, Y72. With emerging
Yersinia
outbreaks circulating in Nordic countries, the Y72 genome will provide more insights on the genetic relatedness and antibiotic resistance dissemination in future studies.
Draft Genome Sequence of Bacillus velezensis BZR 277, a Prospective Biocontrol Agent against Phytoparasitic Nematodes
Authors: Asaturova Anzhela M. , Нomyak Anna I. , Kozitsyn Alexander E. , Shternshis Margarita V. , Rakitin Andrey L. , Beletsky Alexey V. , Mardanov Andrey V. , Ravin Nikolai V.
Published: May 2021

Bacillus velezensis
strain BZR 277 is a rhizobacterium isolated from the rhizoplane of a winter oilseed rape plant from the Krasnodar region in Russia. This study presents the genome sequence of the rhizobacterium
Bacillus velezensis
BZR 277, which exhibited high antagonistic activity against the root-knot nematode
Meloidogyne incognita
Kof.
sparse-growth-curve: a Computational Pipeline for Parsing Cellular Growth Curves with Low Temporal Resolution
Authors: Cheng Chuankai , Thrash J. Cameron
Published: May 2021

Here, we introduce a Python-based repository sparse-growth-curve, a software package designed for parsing cellular growth curves with low temporal resolution. The repository uses cell density and time data as the input, automatically separates different growth phases, calculates the exponential growth rates, and produces multiple graphs to aid in interpretation.
Complete Genome Sequence of Buttiauxella agrestis DSM 9389
Authors: Nakamichi Nao , Moriuchi Ryota , Dohra Hideo , Futamata Hiroyuki , Tashiro Yosuke
Published: May 2021

We report here the complete genome sequence of
Buttiauxella agrestis
DSM 9389, which harbors eight 16S rRNA genes classified into three types. The genome sequence of this strain showed a higher average nucleotide identity value (97.3%) than that of the highly membrane vesicle-producing strain
B. agrestis
ATCC 33320
T
.
Leptin Deficiency, Caused by Malnutrition, Makes You Susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 Infection but Could Offer Protection from Severe COVID-19
Authors: Schoeman Dewald , Fielding Burtram C.
Published: May 2021

In much of the developing world, severe malnutrition is the most prevalent cause of immunodeficiency and affects up to 50% of the population in some impoverished communities. As yet, we do not know how severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) will behave in populations with immunodeficiency caused by malnourishment.
Development and Characterization of a Highly Sensitive NanoLuciferase-Based Immunoprecipitation System for the Detection of Anti-Influenza Virus HA Antibodies
Authors: Honda Tomoko , Gomi Sumiko , Yamane Daisuke , Yasui Fumihiko , Yamamoto Takuya , Munakata Tsubasa , Itoh Yasushi , Ogasawara Kazumasa , Sanada Takahiro , Yamaji Kenzaburo , Yasutomi Yasuhiro , Tsukiyama-Kohara Kyoko , Kohara Michinori
Published: May 2021

Influenza virus HA-specific antibodies can be detected via the hemagglutination inhibition (HI) assay, the neutralization (NT) assay, and the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). However, these assays have some drawbacks, including narrow dynamic range and the requirement for large amounts of sera.
Inhibition of Antiviral Innate Immunity by
Avibirnavirus
VP3 via Blocking TBK1-TRAF3 Complex Formation and IRF3 Activation
Authors: Deng Tingjuan , Hu Boli , Wang Xingbo , Lin Lulu , Zhou Jianwei , Xu Yuting , Yan Yan , Zheng Xiaojuan , Zhou Jiyong
Published: May 2021

Type I interferon plays a critical role in the host response against virus infection, including
Avibirnavirus.
However, many viruses have developed multiple strategies to antagonize the innate host antiviral immune response during coevolution with the host. In this study, we first identified that K33-linked polyubiquitination of lysine-155 of TRAF3 enhances the interaction with TBK1, which positively regulates the host IFN immune response.
Immediate temperature response in northern Iberia to last deglacial changes in the North Atlantic
Authors: Bernal-Wormull J.L. , Moreno A. , Pérez-Mejías C. , Bartolomé M. , Aranburu A. , Arriolabengoa M. , Iriarte E. , Cacho I. , Spötl C. , Edwards R.L. , Cheng H.
Published: May 2021

Major disruptions in the North Atlantic circulation during the last deglaciation triggered a series of climate feedbacks that influenced the course of Termination I, suggesting an almost synchronous response in the ocean-atmosphere system. We present a replicated δ18O stalagmite record from Ostolo cave in the northern Iberian Peninsula with a robust chronological framework that continuously covers the last deglaciation (18.5–10.5 kyr B.P.). The Ostolo δ18O record, unlike other speleothem records in the region that were related to humidity changes, closely tracks the well-known high-latitude temperature evolution, offering important insights into the structure of the last deglaciation in the Northern Hemisphere. In addition, this new record is accompanied by a clear signal of the expected cooling events associated with the deglacial disruptions in North Atlantic deep convection during Heinrich event 1.
Widespread glacial erosion on the Scandinavian passive margin
Authors: Pedersen Vivi K. , Knutsen Åsne Rosseland , Pallisgaard-Olesen Gustav , Andersen Jane Lund , Moucha Robert , Huismans Ritske S.
Published: May 2021

The topography in Scandinavia features enigmatic high-elevation low-relief plateau regions dissected by deep valleys and fjords. These plateau regions have long been interpreted as relict landforms of a preglacial origin, whereas recent studies suggest they have been modified significantly by glacial and periglacial denudation. We used late Pliocene–Quaternary source-to-sink analyses to untangle this scientific conundrum. We compared glacier-derived offshore sediment volumes with estimates of erosion in onshore valleys and fjords and on the inner shelf. Our results suggest that onshore valley and fjord erosion falls 61%–66% short of the offshore sink volume. Erosion on the inner shelf cannot accommodate this mismatch, implying that the entire Scandinavian landscape and adjacent shelf have experienced significant glacial erosion.
Supplemental Material: Out-of-phase Late Pleistocene glacial maxima in the Western Alps reflect past changes in North Atlantic atmospheric circulation
Authors: Gribenski Natacha Madeleine , al. et
Published: May 2021

Details on geomorphological and sedimentological context and luminescence dating analyses.
Supplemental Material: Raising the West: Mid-Cenozoic Colorado-plano related to subvolcanic batholith assembly in the Southern Rocky Mountains (USA)?
Authors: Lipman Peter
Published: May 2021

Chemical data for paleo-crustal-thickness estimates.
Supplemental Material: Anisotropy-revealed change in hydration along the Alaska subduction zone
Authors: Lynner Colton
Published: May 2021

Supplemental Tables S1 (individual split measurements), S2 (individual null measurements), and S3 (ocean-bottom station orientations), along with Figures S1–S6 (plots of seismicity in the AACSE region, individual splitting results, particle motions, examples of splitting measurements, station orientations, and earthquakes used in this study).
Sigmoid volvulus in children
Authors: Damkjaer Merete Berthu , Farooqui Waqas , Ifaoui Inge , Penninga Luit
Published: May 2021

Sigmoid volvulus in paediatric patients is a rare but potentially life-threatening condition. Since 1940, only 100 cases have been reported. There are no consensual guidelines for juvenile sigmoid volvulus unlike in adults, where the condition and the treatment is well described. We report a case of a 12-year-old patient, who presented with uncharacteristic symptoms of mild abdominal discomfort and lack of passage of stool. A CT-scan showed a sigmoid volvulus and emergency resection was performed with placement of a colostomy. With this case, we want to emphasise juvenile sigmoid volvulus as a probable differential diagnosis when symptoms of abdominal distress and constipation occur.
Structural evaluation in inherited retinal diseases
Authors: Daich Varela Malena , Esener Burak , Hashem Shaima A , Cabral de Guimaraes Thales Antonio , Georgiou Michalis , Michaelides Michel
Published: May 2021

Ophthalmic genetics is a field that has been rapidly evolving over the last decade, mainly due to the flourishing of translational medicine for inherited retinal diseases (IRD). In this review, we will address the different methods by which retinal structure can be objectively and accurately assessed in IRD. We review standard-of-care imaging for these patients: colour fundus photography, fundus autofluorescence imaging and optical coherence tomography (OCT), as well as higher-resolution and/or newer technologies including OCT angiography, adaptive optics imaging, fundus imaging using a range of wavelengths, magnetic resonance imaging, laser speckle flowgraphy and retinal oximetry, illustrating their utility using paradigm genotypes with on-going therapeutic efforts/trials.
Primary trabeculectomy for advanced glaucoma: pragmatic multicentre randomised controlled trial (TAGS)
Authors: King Anthony J , Hudson Jemma , Fernie Gordon , Kernohan Ashleigh , Azuara-Blanco Augusto , Burr Jennifer , Homer Tara , Shabaninejad Hosein , Sparrow John M , Garway-Heath David , Barton Keith , Norrie John , McDonald Alison , Vale Luke , MacLennan Graeme
Published: May 2021

Objective

To determine whether primary trabeculectomy or primary medical treatment produces better outcomes in term of quality of life, clinical effectiveness, and safety in patients presenting with advanced glaucoma.

Design

Pragmatic multicentre randomised controlled trial.

Setting

27 secondary care glaucoma departments in the UK.

Participants

453 adults presenting with newly diagnosed advanced open angle glaucoma in at least one eye (Hodapp classification) between 3 June 2014 and 31 May 2017.

Interventions

Mitomycin C augmented trabeculectomy (n=227) and escalating medical management with intraocular pressure reducing drops (n=226)

Main outcome measures

Primary outcome: vision specific quality of life measured with Visual Function Questionnaire-25 (VFQ-25) at 24 months. Secondary outcomes: general health status, glaucoma related quality of life, clinical effectiveness (intraocular pressure, visual field, visual acuity), and safety.

Results

At 24 months, the mean VFQ-25 scores in the trabeculectomy and medical arms were 85.4 (SD 13.8) and 84.5 (16.3), respectively (mean difference 1.06, 95% confidence interval −1.32 to 3.43; P=0.38). Mean intraocular pressure was 12.4 (SD 4.7) mm Hg for trabeculectomy and 15.1 (4.8) mm Hg for medical management (mean difference −2.8 (−3.8 to −1.7) mm Hg; P<0.001). Adverse events occurred in 88 (39%) patients in the trabeculectomy arm and 100 (44%) in the medical management arm (relative risk 0.88, 95% confidence interval 0.66 to 1.17; P=0.37). Serious side effects were rare.

Conclusion

Primary trabeculectomy had similar quality of life and safety outcomes and achieved a lower intraocular pressure compared with primary medication.

Trial registration

Health Technology Assessment (NIHR-HTA) Programme (project number: 12/35/38). ISRCTN registry:
ISRCTN56878850
.
Let It Out (LIO) study: protocol for a mixed-methods study to optimise the design and assess the feasibility of an online emotional disclosure-based intervention in UK hospices
Authors: McInnerney Daisy , Candy Bridget , Stone Patrick , Kupeli Nuriye
Published: May 2021

Introduction

The current COVID-19 pandemic has forced hospices to look for more ways to support people remotely, including psychological support. Emotional disclosure-based interventions hold potential as a way of providing support remotely. However, evidence of their efficacy in people with terminal illness is mixed. Reviews have highlighted this may be due to interventions not being tailored to the unique needs of this population. In response to this, we are developing Let It Out (LIO), an online, self-guided emotional disclosure-based intervention tailored for people living with terminal illness.

Aims

The primary objective of the study is to optimise the design of the LIO intervention. Secondary objectives include assessing its acceptability and feasibility; exploring potential impact on well-being; identifying potential adverse effects; and informing choice of outcome measures for potential future evaluation.

Methods and analysis

A single arm, mixed-methods, multisite, longitudinal study. Up to 40 people living with a terminal illness under the care of hospices in England and Scotland will receive the online LIO intervention. LIO consists of 3, self-guided expression sessions over 2 weeks. The primary outcome measures are (1) a structured feedback form completed by participants after the final expression session; and (2) semi-structured interviews and focus groups with ≤15 patient participants, ≤30 hospice staff and ≤15 informal carers. These quantitative and qualitative data will be triangulated via process evaluation to inform optimisation of the intervention design. Secondary outcome measures include validated measures of physical and psychological health collected at baseline and after the final expression session (immediately, 1, 4 and 8 weeks after); and data on recruitment, retention and fidelity.

Ethics and dissemination

The study is approved by the University College London Research Ethics Committee (reference: 15281/002). The findings will be shared through peer-reviewed scientific journals and conferences, and traditional, online and social media platforms.
Modification of maternal late pregnancy sleep position: a survey evaluation of a New Zealand public health campaign
Authors: Cronin Robin S , Thompson John M D , Taylor Rennae S , Wilson Jessica , Falloon Karen F , Skelton Sophie , Brown Elsie , Culling Vicki M , Mitchell Edwin A , McCowan Lesley M E
Published: May 2021

Introduction

A ‘Sleep-On-Side When Baby’s Inside’ public health campaign was initiated in New Zealand in 2018. This was in response to evidence that maternal supine going-to-sleep position was an independent risk factor for stillbirth from 28 weeks’ gestation. We evaluated the success of the campaign on awareness and modification of late pregnancy going-to-sleep position through nationwide surveys.

Methods and analysis

Two web-based cross-sectional surveys were conducted over 12 weeks in 2019–2020 in a sample of (1) pregnant women ≥28 weeks, primary outcome of going-to-sleep position; and (2) health professionals providing pregnancy care, primary outcome of knowledge of going-to-sleep position and late stillbirth risk. Univariable logistic regression was performed to identify factors associated with supine going-to-sleep position.

Discussion

The survey of pregnant women comprised 1633 eligible participants. Going-to-sleep position last night was supine (30, 1.8%), non-supine (1597, 97.2%) and no recall (16, 1.0%). Supine position had decreased from 3.9% in our previous New Zealand-wide study (2012–2015). Most women (1412, 86.5%) had received sleep-on-side advice with no major resultant worry (1276, 90.4%). Two-thirds (918, 65.0%) had changed their going-to-sleep position based on advice, with most (611 of 918, 66.5%) reporting little difficulty. Supine position was associated with Māori (OR 5.05, 95% CI 2.10 to 12.1) and Asian-non-Indian (OR 4.20, 95% CI 1.27 to 13.90) ethnicity; single (OR 10.98, 95% CI 4.25 to 28.42) and cohabitating relationship status (OR 2.69, 95% CI 1.09 to 6.61); hospital-based maternity provider (OR 2.55, 95% CI 1.07 to 6.10); education overseas (OR 3.92, 95% CI 1.09 to 14.09) and primary-secondary level (OR 2.80, 95% CI 1.32 to 6.08); and not receiving sleep-on-side advice (OR 6.70, 95% CI 3.23 to 13.92). The majority of health professionals (709 eligible participants) reported awareness of supine going-to-sleep position and late stillbirth risk (543, 76.6%).

Conclusion

Most pregnant women had received and implemented sleep-on-side advice without major difficulty or concern. Some groups of women may need a tailored approach to acquisition of going-to-sleep position information.
DNGR-1 limits Flt3L-mediated antitumor immunity by restraining tumor-infiltrating type I conventional dendritic cells
Authors: Cueto Francisco J , del Fresno Carlos , Brandi Paola , Combes Alexis J. , Hernández-García Elena , Sánchez-Paulete Alfonso R , Enamorado Michel , Bromley Christian P , Gomez Manuel J , Conde-Garrosa Ruth , Mañes Santos , Zelenay Santiago , Melero Ignacio , Iborra Salvador , Krummel Matthew F. , Sancho David
Published: May 2021

Background

Conventional type 1 dendritic cells (cDC1s) are central to antitumor immunity and their presence in the tumor microenvironment associates with improved outcomes in patients with cancer. DNGR-1 (CLEC9A) is a dead cell-sensing receptor highly restricted to cDC1s. DNGR-1 has been involved in both cross-presentation of dead cell-associated antigens and processes of disease tolerance, but its role in antitumor immunity has not been clarified yet.

Methods

B16 and MC38 tumor cell lines were inoculated subcutaneously into wild-type (WT) and DNGR-1-deficient mice. To overexpress Flt3L systemically, we performed gene therapy through the hydrodynamic injection of an Flt3L-encoding plasmid. To characterize the immune response, we performed flow cytometry and RNA-Seq of tumor-infiltrating cDC1s.

Results

Here, we found that cross-presentation of tumor antigens in the steady state was DNGR-1-independent. However, on Flt3L systemic overexpression, tumor growth was delayed in DNGR-1-deficient mice compared with WT mice. Of note, this protection was recapitulated by anti-DNGR-1-blocking antibodies in mice followingFlt3Lgene therapy. This improved antitumor immunity was associated withBatf3-dependent enhanced accumulation of CD8+T cells and cDC1s within tumors. Mechanistically, the deficiency in DNGR-1 boosted an Flt3L-induced specific inflammatory gene signature in cDC1s, includingCcl5expression. Indeed, the increased infiltration of cDC1s within tumors and their protective effect rely on CCL5/CCR5 chemoattraction. Moreover,FLT3LGandCCL5orCCR5gene expression signatures correlate with an enhanced cDC1 signature and a favorable overall survival in patients with cancer. Notably, cyclophosphamide elevated serum Flt3L levels and, in combination with the absence of DNGR-1, synergized against tumor growth.

Conclusion

DNGR-1 limits the accumulation of tumor-infiltrating cDC1s promoted by Flt3L. Thus, DNGR-1 blockade may improve antitumor immunity in tumor therapy settings associated to high Flt3L expression.
Design publicity of black box algorithms: a support to the epistemic and ethical justifications of medical AI systems
Authors: Ferrario Andrea
Published: May 2021

In their article ‘Who is afraid of black box algorithms? On the epistemological and ethical basis of trust in medical AI’, Durán and Jongsma discuss the epistemic and ethical challenges raised by black box algorithms in medical practice. The opacity of black box algorithms is an obstacle to the trustworthiness of their outcomes. Moreover, the use of opaque algorithms is not normatively justified in medical practice. The authors introduce a formalism, called computational reliabilism, which allows generating justified beliefs on the algorithm reliability and trustworthy outcomes of artificial intelligence (AI) systems by means of epistemic warrants, called reliability indicators. However, they remark the need for reliability indicators specific to black box algorithms and that justified knowledge is not sufficient to justify normatively the actions of the physicians using medical AI systems. Therefore, Durán and Jongsma advocate for a more transparent design and implementation of black box algorithms, providing a series of recommendations to mitigate the epistemic and ethical challenges behind their use in medical practice. In this response, I argue that a peculiar form of black box algorithm transparency, called design publicity, may efficiently implement these recommendations. Design publicity encodes epistemic, that is, reliability indicators, and ethical recommendations for black box algorithms by means of four subtypes of transparency. These target the values and goals, their translation into design requirements, the performance and consistency of the algorithm altogether. I discuss design publicity applying it to a use case focused on the automated classification of skin lesions from medical images.
Fast Accurate and Automatic Brushstroke Extraction
Authors: Fu Yunfei , Yu Hongchuan , Yeh Chih-Kuo , Lee Tong-Yee , Zhang Jian J.
Published: May 2021

Brushstrokes are viewed as the artist’s “handwriting” in a painting. In many applications such as style learning and transfer, mimicking painting, and painting authentication, it is highly desired to quantitatively and accurately identify brushstroke characteristics from old masters’ pieces using computer programs. However, due to the nature of hundreds or thousands of intermingling brushstrokes in the painting, it still remains challenging. This article proposes an efficient algorithm for brush Stroke extraction based on a Deep neural network, i.e., DStroke. Compared to the state-of-the-art research, the main merit of the proposed DStroke is to automatically and rapidly extract brushstrokes from a painting without manual annotation, while accurately approximating the real brushstrokes with high reliability. Herein, recovering the faithful soft transitions between brushstrokes is often ignored by the other methods. In fact, the details of brushstrokes in a master piece of painting (e.g., shapes, colors, texture, overlaps) are highly desired by artists since they hold promise to enhance and extend the artists’ powers, just like microscopes extend biologists’ powers. To demonstrate the high efficiency of the proposed DStroke, we perform it on a set of real scans of paintings and a set of synthetic paintings, respectively. Experiments show that the proposed DStroke is noticeably faster and more accurate at identifying and extracting brushstrokes, outperforming the other methods.
High-quality Frame Recurrent Video De-raining with Multi-contextual Adversarial Network
Authors: Sharma Prasen Kumar , Ghosh Sujoy , Sur Arijit
Published: May 2021

In this article, we address the problem of rain-streak removal in the videos. Unlike the image, challenges in video restoration comprise temporal consistency besides spatial enhancement. The researchers across the world have proposed several effective methods for estimating the de-noised videos with outstanding temporal consistency. However, such methods also amplify the computational cost due to their larger size. By way of analysis, incorporating separate modules for spatial and temporal enhancement may require more computational resources. It motivates us to propose a unified architecture that directly estimates the de-rained frame with maximal visual quality and minimal computational cost. To this end, we present a deep learning-based
Frame-recurrent Multi-contextual Adversarial Network
for rain-streak removal in videos. The proposed model is built upon a Conditional Generative Adversarial Network (CGAN)-based framework where the generator model directly estimates the de-rained frame from the previously estimated one with the help of its multi-contextual adversary. To optimize the proposed model, we have incorporated the Perceptual loss function in addition to the conventional Euclidean distance. Also, instead of traditional entropy loss from the adversary, we propose to use the Euclidean distance between the features of de-rained and clean frames, extracted from the discriminator model as a cost function for video de-raining. Various experimental observations across 11 test sets, with over 10 state-of-the-art methods, using 14 image-quality metrics, prove the efficacy of the proposed work, both visually and computationally.
Ternary Nitride Materials: Fundamentals and Emerging Device Applications
Authors: Greenaway Ann L. , Melamed Celeste L. , Tellekamp M. Brooks , Woods-Robinson Rachel , Toberer Eric S. , Neilson James R. , Tamboli Adele C.
Published: May 2021

Interest in inorganic ternary nitride materials has grown rapidly over the past few decades, as their diverse chemistries and structures make them appealing for a variety of applications. Due to synthetic challenges posed by the stability of N2, the number of predicted nitride compounds dwarfs the number that has been synthesized, offering a breadth of opportunity for exploration. This review summarizes the fundamental properties and structural chemistry of ternary nitrides, leveraging metastability and the impact of nitrogen chemical potential. A discussion of prevalent defects, both detrimental and beneficial, is followed by a survey of synthesis techniques and their interplay with metastability. Throughout the review, we highlight applications (such as solid-state lighting, electrochemical energy storage, and electronic devices) in which ternary nitrides show particular promise.
Loss of dystrophin expression in skeletal muscle is associated with senescence of macrophages and endothelial cells
Authors: Young Laura V. , Morrison William , Campbell Craig , Moore Emma C. , Arsenault Michel G. , Dial Athan G. , Ng Sean , Bellissimo Catherine A. , Perry Christopher G. R. , Ljubicic Vladimir , Johnston Adam P.
Published: May 2021

Cellular senescence is the irreversible arrest of normally dividing cells and is driven by cell cycle inhibitory proteins such as p16, p21, and p53. When cells enter senescence, they secrete a host of proinflammatory factors known as the senescence-associated secretory phenotype, which has deleterious effects on surrounding cells and tissues. Little is known of the role of senescence in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), the fatal X-linked neuromuscular disorder typified by chronic inflammation, extracellular matrix remodeling, and a progressive loss in muscle mass and function. Here, we demonstrate using C57- mdx (8-wk-old) and D2- mdx (4-wk-old and 8-wk-old) mice, two mouse models of DMD, that cells displaying canonical markers of senescence are found within the skeletal muscle. Eight-week-old D2- mdx mice, which display severe muscle pathology, had greater numbers of senescent cells associated with areas of inflammation, which were mostly Cdkn1a-positive macrophages, whereas in C57- mdx muscle, senescent populations were endothelial cells and macrophages localized to newly regenerated myofibers. Interestingly, this pattern was similar to cardiotoxin (CTX)-injured wild-type (WT) muscle, which experienced a transient senescent response. Dystrophic muscle demonstrated significant upregulations in senescence pathway genes [ Cdkn1a (p21), Cdkn2a (p16INK4A), and Trp53 (p53)], which correlated with the quantity of senescence-associated β-galactosidase (SA-β-Gal)-positive cells. These results highlight an underexplored role for cellular senescence in murine dystrophic muscle.