bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Bicyclic Graphs with the Second-Maximum and Third-Maximum Degree Resistance Distance
Authors: Ning Wenjie , Wang Kun , Raza Hassan
Published: November 2021

Let

G
=

V
,
E

be a connected graph. The resistance distance between two vertices

u

and

v

in

G

, denoted by

R

G

u
,
v

, is the effective resistance between them if each edge of

G

is assumed to be a unit resistor. The degree resistance distance of

G

is defined as

D

R

G

=

∑

u
,
v

⊆
V

G

d

G

u

+

d

G

v

R

G

u
,
v

, where

d

G

u

is the degree of a vertex

u

in

G

and

R

G

u
,
v

is the resistance distance between

u

and

v

in

G

. A bicyclic graph is a connected graph

G
=

V
,
E

with

E

=

V

+
1

. This paper completely characterizes the graphs with the second-maximum and third-maximum degree resistance distance among all bicyclic graphs with

n
≥
6

vertices.
Experimental Study of Strain Rockburst considering Temperature Effect: Status‐of‐the‐Art and Prospect
Authors: Xu Lei , Gong Fengqiang
Published: November 2021

In deep mining and excavation of tunnels with high geothermal, the surrounding rock is not only subjected to high ground stress but also subjected to high temperature. Temperature will change mechanical characteristics and energy storage capacity of rocks, as well as increase the destructiveness and randomness of rockburst. To reveal the mechanism of high‐temperature strain burst in deep rock, the rockburst tests from uniaxial compression to three‐dimensional compression were reviewed, and the research results of the minimum principal stress rapid unloading, true‐triaxial loading with one free face, and dynamic disturbance triggered pre‐heated granite rockburst simulation tests were focused on. According to the occurrence state of country rock for deep high‐temperature and stress state in the whole process during excavation, six development directions for high‐temperature strain rockburst simulation tests were proposed: (1) constructing the damage constitutive models of high‐temperature rocks according to linear energy dissipation law; (2) developing the true triaxial rockburst simulation testing system accomplishing the function of “real‐time high temperature + unloading + dynamic disturbance”; (3) considering the true triaxial rockburst simulation test after microwave irradiation; (4) developing the real‐time high‐temperature rockburst simulation testing device for large‐size specimens and internal unloading; (5) focusing on the energy actuating mechanism for deep high‐temperature rock failure via rockburst simulation tests; and (6) implementing the three‐dimensional rockburst simulation test on the basis of deep in situ coring.
Research Progress of Adsorption and Photocatalysis of Formaldehyde on TiO2/AC
Authors: Zhu Xinwei , Wang Denghui , Hui Shien
Published: November 2021

Based on the increasingly serious formaldehyde pollution, effective degradation of formaldehyde has become a practical problem that humans urgently need to solve. Among many treatment methods, activated carbon has the advantages of large specific surface area, high adsorption efficiency, and uniform pore size distribution. As a kind of clean photocatalytic material for formaldehyde degradation, titanium dioxide supported by activated carbon has become a research hotspot to develop adsorption-catalytic materials for formaldehyde degradation. In this paper, the research progress of activated carbon and its modification, the photocatalytic principle and modification of titanium dioxide, and TiO2/AC materials are reviewed. The results show that the pore size distribution gradient and acidic oxygen-containing functional groups of activated carbon play key roles in the formaldehyde adsorption process. TiO2 doped with metal ions and nonmetal ions can significantly improve the photocatalytic activity. The TiO2/AC material can greatly improve the photocatalytic rate and achieve the technical goal of efficient and clean degradation for formaldehyde.
Interoperability of Multimedia Network Public Opinion Knowledge Base Group Based on Multisource Text Mining
Authors: Zhu Yanru
Published: November 2021

Internet media has gradually replaced the existence of traditional media and has become the main place for people to express their views and opinions on social events. Based on the huge user base, after social events occur, a large number of Internet users promote the derivation and dissemination of topics to form Internet public opinion. The fast communication process and wide communication coverage have brought higher requirements to the supervision of Internet public opinion. Internet public opinion is an important expression of sociological intelligence at present, and multisource text mining technology has become a commonly used form of expression based on unstructured data by research scholars, providing relatively important technical support for public opinion information data analysis. After analyzing the relevant research literature of the multimedia network knowledge base groups in detail, this paper analyzes the operating factors and mechanisms among the multimedia network knowledge base groups elaborately. Finally, it is applied to the process of network public opinion analysis. The results of the case analysis show that the multisource text mining algorithm can provide a strong basis for the construction of a multimedia network public opinion knowledge base group.
A Narrative Review of Neuroimaging Studies in Acupuncture for Migraine
Authors: Ma Peihong , Dong Xiaohui , Qu Yuzhu , He Zhaoxuan , Yin Tao , Cheng Shirui , Tian Zilei , Teng Yuke , Xie Kunnan , Sun Ruirui , Yu Siyi , Zeng Fang
Published: November 2021

Acupuncture has been widely used as an alternative and complementary therapy for migraine. With the development of neuroimaging techniques, the central mechanism of acupuncture for migraine has gained increasing attention. This review aimed to analyze the study design and main findings of neuroimaging studies of acupuncture for migraine to provide the reference for future research. The original studies were collected and screened in three English databases (PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library) and four Chinese databases (Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure, Chinese Biomedical Literature database, the Chongqing VIP database, and Wanfang database). As a result, a total of 28 articles were included. Functional magnetic resonance imaging was the most used neuroimaging technique to explore the cerebral activities of acupuncture for migraine. This review manifested that acupuncture could elicit cerebral responses on patients with migraine, different from sham acupuncture. The results indicated that the pain systems, including the medial pain pathway, lateral pain pathway, and descending pain modulatory system, participated in the modulation of the cerebral activities of migraine by acupuncture.
Xanthohumol Induces ROS through NADPH Oxidase, Causes Cell Cycle Arrest and Apoptosis
Authors: Wang Chun-Ming , Chen Jun , Zhao Jing , Hu Shan-Shan , Zhang Shu-Qiu , Mi Xiang-Quan , Shi Xiang , Cao Xin-Hui , Li Zhen
Published: November 2021

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are either toxic in excess or essential for redox signalling at the physiological level, which is closely related to the site of generation. Xanthohumol (XN) is an important natural product of hops (Humulus lupulus L.) and was reported to induce ROS in mitochondria. While in the present study, our data indicate that NADPH oxidase (NOX) is another site. In human acute myeloid leukemia HL‐60 cells, we first identified that cell proliferation was inhibited by XN without affecting viability, and this could be alleviated by the antioxidant N‐acetyl‐L‐cysteine (NAC); cell cycles were blocked at G1 phase, apoptosis was induced in a dose‐dependent manner, and malondialdehyde (MDA) content was upregulated. XN‐induced ROS generation was detected by flow cytometry, which can be inhibited by diphenyleneiodonium chloride (DPI, a NOX inhibitor), while not by NG‐methyl‐L‐arginine acetate (L‐NMMA, a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor). The involvement of NOX in XN‐induced ROS generation was further evaluated: immunofluorescence assay indicated subunits assembled in the membrane, and gp91phox knockdown with siRNA decreased XN‐induced ROS. Human red blood cells (with NOX, without mitochondria) were further selected as a cell model, and the XN‐induced ROS and DPI inhibiting effects were found again. In conclusion, our results indicate that XN exhibits antiproliferation effects through ROS‐related mechanisms, and NOX is a source of XN‐induced ROS. As NOX‐sourced ROS are critical for phagocytosis, our findings may contribute to the anti‐infection and anti‐inflammatory effect of XN.
Two-Step Distal Radial Artery Cannulation for Challenging Radial Anatomies
Authors: Ferreira-Martins João , Lim Pitt O.
Published: November 2021

The radial artery is the preferred access site for cardiac catheterization because of patient comfort, early ambulation, and improved survival in acute coronary syndromes, when compared to the femoral artery route. However, it is associated with a high radial artery occlusion (RAO) rate, and patent haemostasis which can reduce this is extremely hard to implement in a busy clinical practice. Smaller sized sheaths are associated with less RAO but are uncommonly used as they could limit procedural prowess and complexity. Alternatively, the distal radial artery (dRA) approach appears to be safer with observed RAO rates of well under 1 percent without compromising benefits offered by the radial artery access. Default dRA can be accessed by palpation alone in most cases with some practice, and this can be improved further with ultrasound guidance. There is a subset of patients, especially in the elderly, where dRA access can be particularly challenging. To mitigate this, we propose a two-step cannulation strategy and illustrate this with a few cases with difficult dRA and radial artery anatomies.
Characterizing Tissue Remodeling and Mechanical Heterogeneity in Cerebral Aneurysms
Authors: Shih Elizabeth D. , Provenzano Paolo P. , Witzenburg Colleen M. , Barocas Victor H. , Grande Andrew W. , Alford Patrick W.
Published: November 2021

Accurately assessing the complex tissue mechanics of cerebral aneurysms (CAs) is critical for elucidating how CAs grow and whether that growth will lead to rupture. The factors that have been implicated in CA progression – blood flow dynamics, immune infiltration, and extracellular matrix remodeling – all occur heterogeneously throughout the CA. Thus, it stands to reason that the mechanical properties of CAs are also spatially heterogeneous. Here, we present a new method for characterizing the mechanical heterogeneity of human CAs using generalized anisotropic inverse mechanics, which uses biaxial stretching experiments and inverse analyses to determine the local Kelvin moduli and principal alignments within the tissue. Using this approach, we find that there is significant mechanical heterogeneity within a single acquired human CA. These results were confirmed using second harmonic generation imaging of the CA’s fiber architecture and a correlation was observed. This approach provides a single-step method for determining the complex heterogeneous mechanics of CAs, which has important implications for future identification of metrics that can improve accuracy in prediction risk of rupture.
A Questionnaire-Based Survey on the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Gastrointestinal Endoscopy in Asia
Authors: Otani Koji , Watanabe Toshio , Higashimori Akira , Suzuki Hidekazu , Kamiya Takeshi , Shiotani Akiko , Sugimoto Mitsushige , Nagahara Akihito , Fukudo Shin , Motoya Satoshi , Yamaguchi Satoru , Zhu Qi , Chan Francis K.L. , Hahm Ki-Baik , Tablante Maria Carla , Prachayakul Varayu , Abdullah Murdani , Ang Tiing Leong , Murakami Kazunari ,   The International Gastrointestinal Consensus Symposium Study Group
Published: November 2021

Introduction: The COVID-19 outbreak abruptly restricted gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy services during the first wave of the pandemic. We aimed to assess the impact of COVID-19 on the practice of GI endoscopy in Asian countries. Methods: This was an International Questionnaire-based Internet Survey conducted at multiple facilities by the International Gastrointestinal Consensus Symposium. A total of 166 respondents in Japan, China, Hong Kong, South Korea, Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia, and Singapore participated in this study. Results: The volume of endoscopic screening or follow-up endoscopies and therapeutic endoscopies were markedly reduced during the first wave of the pandemic, which was mainly attributed to the decreased number of outpatients, cancellations by patients, and adherence to the guidelines of academic societies. The most common indications for GI endoscopy during the first wave were GI bleeding, cholangitis or obstructive jaundice, and a highly suspicious case of neoplasia. The most common GI symptoms of COVID-19 patients during the infected period included diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting. The pandemic exacerbated some GI diseases, such as functional dyspepsia and irritable bowel syndrome. There were cases with delayed diagnosis of cancers due to postponed endoscopic procedures, and the prescription of proton pump inhibitors/potassium-competitive acid blockers, steroids, immunosuppressive agents, and biologics was delayed or canceled. The personal protective equipment used during endoscopic procedures for high-risk patients were disposable gloves, disposable gowns, N95 or equivalent masks, and face shields. However, the devices on the patient side during endoscopic procedures included modified surgical masks, mouthpieces with filters, and disposable vinyl boxes or aerosol boxes covering the head. Furthermore, the time for education, basic research, clinical research, and daily clinical practice decreased during the first wave. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that the COVID-19 pandemic profoundly affected the method of performing GI endoscopy and medical treatment for patients with GI diseases in Asian countries.
SPRINT Revisited: Updated Results and Implications
Authors: Wright Jackson T. , Whelton Paul K. , Johnson Karen C. , Snyder Joni K. , Reboussin David M. , Cushman William C. , Williamson Jeff D. , Pajewski Nicholas M. , Cheung Alfred K. , Lewis Cora E. , Oparil Suzanne , Rocco Michael V. , Beddhu Srinivasan , Fine Lawrence J. , Cutler Jeffrey A. , Ambrosius Walter T. , Rahman Mahboob , Still Carolyn H. , Chen Zhengyi , Tatsuoka Curtis ,   for the SPRINT Research Group
Published: November 2021

The SPRINT (Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial) results have influenced clinical practice but have also generated discussion regarding the validity, generalizability, and importance of the findings. Following the SPRINT primary results manuscript in 2015, additional results and analyses of the data have addressed these concerns. The primary objective of this article is to respond to key questions that have been raised.
Comprehensive Support and Student Success: Can Out of School Time
Make a Difference?
Authors: Komisarow Sarah
Published: November 2021

StudentU is a comprehensive program that provides education, nutrition, and social support services to disadvantaged middle and high school students outside of the regular school day. In this paper I investigate the effects of this multiyear program on the early high school outcomes of participating students by exploiting data from oversubscribed admissions lotteries. I find that the subgroup of lottery winners who entered the comprehensive program with low baseline achievement earned more course credits (0.82 credits), achieved higher grade point averages (0.37 grade points), and were less likely to be suspended (17.1 percentage points) during ninth grade than their lottery loser counterparts. Investigation of intervening variables indicates that on-time grade progress and decreases in course failure and disciplinary infractions are potential mediating channels. Using an index of early high school outcomes, I predict that lottery winners are around 4 percentage points more likely to graduate from high school than lottery losers (5 percent effect). These results suggest that comprehensive services delivered outside of the regular school day have the potential to improve the educational outcomes of disadvantaged students.
A Spatial Informance Design Method to Elicit Early Interface Prototypes for Augmented Reality
Authors: Cowlyn Joe , Dalton Nick
Published: November 2021

Designing for augmented reality (AR) applications is difficult and expensive. A rapid system for the early design process of spatial interfaces is required. Previous research has used video for mobile AR design, but this is not extensible to head-mounted AR. AR is an emergent technology with no prior design precedent, requiring designers to allow free speculation or risk the pitfalls of “path dependence.” In this article, a participatory elicitation method we call “spatial informance design” is presented. We found combining “informance design,” “Wizard of Oz,” improvisation, and “paper prototyping,” to be a fast and lightweight solution for ideation of rich designs for spatial interfaces. A study using our method with 11 participants, produced similar and wildly different interface configurations and interactions for an augmented reality email application. Based on our findings, we propose design implications and an evaluation of our method using spatial informance for the design of head-mounted AR applications.
Influence of the Local Urban Environment on the Thermoradiative and Hydrological Behavior of a Garden Lawn
Authors: Lemonsu Aude , Munck Cécile de , Redon Emilie , Masson Valéry , Keravec Pascal , Rodriguez Fabrice , Pineau Laetitia , Legain Dominique
Published: November 2021

Several urban canopy models now incorporate urban vegetation to represent local urban cooling related to natural soil and plant evapotranspiration. Nevertheless, little is known about the realism of simulating these processes and turbulent exchanges within the urban canopy. Here, the coupled modeling of thermal and hydrological exchanges was investigated for a lawn located in an urban environment and for which soil temperature and water content measurements were available. The ISBA diffusive (ISBA-DF) surface–vegetation–atmosphere transfer model is inline coupled to the Town Energy Balance urban canopy model to model mixed urban environments. For the present case study, ISBA-DF was applied to the lawn and first evaluated in its default configuration. Particular attention was then paid to the parameterization of turbulent exchanges above the lawn and to the description of soil characteristics. The results highlighted the importance of taking into account local roughness related to surrounding obstacles for computing the turbulent exchanges over the lawn and simulating realistic surface and soil temperatures. The soil nature and texture vertical heterogeneity are also key properties for simulating the soil water content evolution and water exchanges.
Efficacy of simulation training for beating heart coronary anastomosis using BEAT  +  YOUCAN simulator
Authors: Nishi Hiroyuki , Yokoyama Hitoshi , Yaku Hitoshi , Doi Kiyoshi , Nishimura Yoshiharu , Abe Kohei , Tsukui Hiroyuki , Tabata Minoru , Okamoto Kazuma , Park Young-Kwang , Matsuda Hikaru
Published: November 2021

Background

We sought to evaluate our distributed practice program developed for training for beating heart anastomosis by employing a novel beating heart simulator.

Methods

Eleven trainees watched and reviewed instructional video recordings of coronary anastomosis methods with a BEAT  +  YOUCAN training device, then performed coronary anastomosis procedures under a beating condition. Next, they participated in a four-hour training program developed by faculty surgeons. Ten different anastomosis components were assessed on a five-point rating scale (5, good; 3, average; 1, poor). After finishing the training program, each trainee again performed a coronary anastomosis procedure. Component scores were then compared before and after the training program.

Results

The mean time to completion of the procedure improved from 1033  ±  424 to 795  ±  201 s (p < 0.05). Assessment scores improved from 1.88  ±  0.41 to 2.57  ±  0.30 (p < 0.05). Improvements in some technical components related to handling of instruments were noted (p < 0.05), whereas no significant improvement was seen with arteriotomy, graft orientation, suture management, or knot tying after finishing the training program.

Conclusion

Trainees who participated in our four-hour focused training program for coronary anastomosis with a novel beating heart simulator showed improved ability under the beating condition in regard to technical skills related to handling instruments.
A cosmopolitan bubble? Constructions of locality at an international school in China
Authors: Assa-Inbar Michal
Published: November 2021

The notion of cosmopolitanism captures the duality of the global world. On one hand, it represents an inclusive orientation towards the cultural Other, while on the other, it has become a form of cultural capital that is owned by the global elite and frequently used to demarcate social distinctions. This article, based on ethnographic research in an international school in China, introduces the concretization of this paradox. The article shows how teachers and students in a gated school – in which local students, by Chinese law, were not permitted to study – used different practices to signify invented Chineseness as legitimate and non-legitimate. This process is explored by deciphering practices of boundary-making that produced a unique bubble. Based on three mechanisms of boundary-making and groupness, I show how a cultural process of identification and differentiation challenges previous empirical assumptions of selective boundaries in reference to the locale. Instead, the presence of ambiguous perceptions of Chinese locality in school suggest the existence of elastic, continuous and unfixed boundaries.
“You Can Do So Much Better Than What They Expect”: An Arts-Based Engagement Ethnography on School Integration With Newcomer Youth
Authors: Matejko Emily , Saunders Jessica F. , Kassan Anusha , Zak Michelle , Smith Danielle , Mukred Rabab
Published: November 2021

Newcomer adolescents make up a large minority of Canada’s population and their positive integration experiences with education systems across the country are critical for both their development and the country’s long-term success. The current study examined newcomer adolescents’ ( n = 4, between 16 and 18 years old) integration experiences using an arts-based engagement ethnography to understand what influences their positive integration into the school system. Artifacts, interview, and focus group data were analyzed systematically using ethnographic research guidelines. Five structures were identified: (1) barriers to advancement at individual, school, and macro levels, (2) fluctuating relationship with cultural identity, (3) limited trust in systems, (4) resilience through independent learning, and (5) facilitating factors to positive integration experiences at the family and school level. In keeping with a relational developmental systems theory framework, each structure accounts for multiple inter- and intra-individual factors at multiple environmental levels. These findings outline considerations for systemic issues in academic institutions and offer suggestions for how institutions can better support newcomer adolescents.
On the tribology of complex 2D/3D composites bearing
Authors: Zahabi Saeed Reza , Sheikhzadeh Mohammad , Akbarzadeh Saleh , Bahi Addie , Ko Frank
Published: November 2021

In the present work, a hierarchical braided polymer composite consists of Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) fibers, reinforcement fibers, and epoxy resin was designed as a self-lubricant composite and bearing. Different reinforcements such as glass, carbon, and Kevlar fibers were employed to investigate the effect of reinforcement on the wear characteristics of composites. Besides, the influence of 2D/3D braid fabric was examined on the wear behavior of samples. Also, 90 and 120 N loads were applied to assess the load impact. Results illustrated that compared to glass and Kevlar, carbon could lead to a greater wear weight loss and friction coefficient. However, PTFE tribofilm was observed according to scanning electron microscopy (SEM)/energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) analysis. Moreover, with the increase of load, the wear stability of the composites faded significantly. Furthermore, the tribological features became inappropriate with the deployment of the 3D braid structure. Finally, the modeling of tribological parameters was carried out using response surface methodology-based D-optimal design. The adequacy of the models was checked by analysis of variance. Results implied that there is an excellent correlation between the model and the experiments.
Influence of Landscape Structure on Toucans and Parrots in the Fragmented Landscape of Los Tuxtlas, Mexico
Authors: Martínez-Ruiz Marisela , De Labra-Hernández Miguel A. , Gonçalves Bonfim Fernando César , Cazetta Eliana
Published: November 2021

Background and Research Aims: Habitat amount plays an important role in determining the presence and abundance of bird species in modified landscapes, whereas habitat fragmentation has shown little effects. Toucans (Ramphastidae) and parrots (Psittacidae) are large-bodied primary consumers and among the most representative birds in Neotropical forests. They are highly sensitive to habitat loss; nevertheless, their response to fragmentation has been poorly assessed leading to contradictory results. Here, we evaluate the influence of landscape structure on toucans and parrots in the tropical forest of Los Tuxtlas, Mexico. Methods: We censused birds in 12 landscapes of Los Tuxtlas and used a multi-scale landscape approach to assess the influence of landscape composition and configuration on the number of individuals of toucans and parrots. Results: We found that the most important and positive predictor of toucans and parrots was the amount of primary forest cover in the landscape. Forest fragmentation had positive effects on the number of toucan individuals, whereas parrots had negative responses to patch density but positive responses to edge density in the landscape. Conclusion: Our results suggest that primary forest loss is the main threat for toucans and parrots in Los Tuxtlas. Implications for conservation: Future conservation and land management must consider the protection of large and small remnants of primary forest and avoid additional forest loss in order to preserve toucan and parrots and their functional roles in human-modified Neotropical landscapes.
Mineralogy of Ga- and Ge-bearing metallurgical slags from Tsumeb, Namibia
Authors: Ettler Vojtěch , Mihaljevič Martin , Strnad Ladislav , Jedlicka Radim , Kříbek Bohdan , Bowell Rob J. , Kamona Fred , Mapani Ben
Published: November 2021

Gallium (Ga) and germanium (Ge) are technologically important critical elements. Lead blast furnace slags from Tsumeb, Namibia, comprise over two million metric tons of material that contains high levels of Ga (135–156 ppm) and Ge (128–441 ppm) in addition to significant Zn concentrations (up to 11 wt.%) and represent a potential resource for these elements. A combination of mineralogical and chemical methods (PXRD, FEG-SEM-EPMA and LA-ICP-MS) indicated different partitioning of Ga and Ge within the individual slag phases. Gallium is predominantly bound in small euhedral crystals of Zn–Fe–Al spinels (<10 μm in size), exhibiting concentrations in the range of 480–1370 ppm (up to 0.004 atoms per formula unit, apfu). Concentrations of Ga in other phases (e.g. melilite) are systematically below 90 ppm. The principal host of Ge is the silicate glass and, to a lesser extent, silicates (melilite and olivine group phases). Concentrations of Ge in glass attained a concentration of 470 ppm (EPMA), but the LA-ICP-MS analysis of glass matrix containing submicrometre spinel crystallites indicated that average Ge levels vary in the range of 113–394 ppm. In the potential extraction of Ga and Ge, the results indicate that ultrafine milling is needed to liberate the Ga- and Ge-hosting phases prior to metallurgical processing of the slag.
EFMlrs: a Python package for elementary flux mode enumeration via lexicographic reverse search
Authors: Buchner Bianca A , Zanghellini Jürgen
Published: November 2021

Background

Elementary flux mode (EFM) analysis is a well-established, yet computationally challenging approach to characterize metabolic networks. Standard algorithms require huge amounts of memory and lack scalability which limits their application to single servers and consequently limits a comprehensive analysis to medium-scale networks. Recently, Avis et al. developed —a parallel version of the lexicographic reverse search (lrs) algorithm, which, in principle, enables an EFM analysis on high-performance computing environments (Avis and Jordan. mplrs: a scalable parallel vertex/facet enumeration code. arXiv:1511.06487, 2017). Here we test its applicability for EFM enumeration.

Results

We developed , a Python package that gives users access to the enumeration capabilities of . uses COBRApy to process metabolic models from sbml files, performs loss-free compressions of the stoichiometric matrix, and generates suitable inputs for as well as , providing support not only for our proposed new method for EFM enumeration but also for already established tools. By leveraging COBRApy, also allows the application of additional reaction boundaries and seamlessly integrates into existing workflows.

Conclusion

We show that due to ’s properties, the algorithm is perfectly suited for high-performance computing (HPC) and thus offers new possibilities for the unbiased analysis of substantially larger metabolic models via EFM analyses. is an open-source program that comes together with a designated workflow and can be easily installed via pip.
Integration of transcriptomics and network analysis reveals co-expressed genes in Frankliniella occidentalis larval guts that respond to tomato spotted wilt virus infection
Authors: Han Jinlong , Rotenberg Dorith
Published: November 2021

Background

The gut is the first barrier to infection by viruses that are internally borne and transmitted persistently by arthropod vectors to plant and animal hosts. Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV), a plant-pathogenic virus, is transmitted exclusively by thrips vectors in a circulative-propagative manner.Frankliniella occidentalis(western flower thrips), the principal thrips vector of TSWV, is transmission-competent only if the virus is acquired by young larvae. To begin to understand the larval gut response to TSWV infection and accumulation, a genome-assisted, transcriptomic analysis ofF. occidentalisgut tissues of first (early L1) and second (early L2 and late L2) instar larvae was conducted using RNA-Seq to identify differentially-expressed transcripts (DETs) in response to TSWV compared to non-exposed cohorts.

Results

The larval gut responded in a developmental stage-dependent manner, with the majority of DETs (71%) associated with the early L1 stage at a time when virus infection is limited to the midgut epithelium. Provisional annotations of these DETs inferred roles in digestion and absorption, insect innate immunity, and detoxification. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis using all assembled transcripts of the gut transcriptome revealed eight gene modules that distinguish larval development. Intra-module interaction network analysis of the three most DET-enriched modules revealed ten central hub genes. Droplet digital PCR-expression analyses of select network hub and connecting genes revealed temporal changes in gut expression during and post exposure to TSWV.

Conclusions

These findings expand our understanding of the developmentally-mediated interaction between thrips vectors and orthotospoviruses, and provide opportunities for probing pathways for biomarkers of thrips vector competence.
Screening for subjective cognitive decline in the elderly via subjective cognitive complaints and informant-reported questionnaires: a systematic review
Authors: Wasef Sara , Laksono Isabelle , Kapoor Paras , Tang-Wei David , Gold David , Saripella Aparna , Riazi Sheila , Islam Sazzadul , Englesakis Marina , Wong Jean , Chung Frances
Published: November 2021

Background

Subjective cognitive decline may represent at-risk persons progressing to mild cognitive impairment (MCI), which can be exacerbated by effects of anesthesia and surgery. The objective of this systematic review is to identify the most common questions in subjective cognitive complaint and informant-reported questionnaires used in assessing cognitive impairment of elderly patients that are correlated with standardized tests for cognitive impairment screening.

Methods

We searched Medline, PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Cochrane Database, Emcare Nursing, Web of Science, Scopus, CINAHL, ClinicalTrials.Gov, and ICTRP between September 20, 2005 to August 31, 2020. We included studies that evaluated subjective cognitive complaints and informant-reported questions in elderly patients.

Results and conclusion

A total of 28,407 patients were included from 22 studies that assessed 21 subjective complaint questionnaires and nine informant-reported questionnaires. The most common subjective cognitive complaints were those assessing anterograde memory, closely followed by perceptual-motor function and executive function. The most common informant-reported questions were those assessing executive function, temporal orientation, and anterograde memory. Questions assessing learning and memory were most associated with results from standardized tests assessing cognitive impairment. Assessing learning and memory plays a key role in evaluating subjective cognitive decline in elderly patients. Delivering subjective cognitive complaints questions to elderly patient preoperatively may aid in screening for those exhibiting cognitive signs, and in turn are at risk of postoperative complications. Thus, the results from this review contribute to knowledge for healthcare professionals regarding the use of subjective cognitive complaints and informant-reported complaints in preoperative settings.
A dangerously underrated entity? Non-specific complaints at emergency department presentation are associated with utilisation of less diagnostic resources
Authors: Birrenbach Tanja , Geissbühler Andrea , Exadaktylos Aristomenis K. , Hautz Wolf E. , Sauter Thomas C. , Müller Martin
Published: November 2021

Background

Patients presenting with non-specific complaints (NSC), such as generalised weakness, or feeling unwell, constitute about 20% of emergency care consultations. In contrast to patients presenting with specific symptoms, these patients experience more hospitalisations, longer stays in hospital and even higher mortality. However, little is known about the actual resources spent on patients with NSC in the emergency department (ED).

Methods

We have conducted a retrospective analysis from January 1st, 2013 until December 31st, 2017 in a Swiss tertiary care ED to assess the impact of NSC on the utilisation of diagnostic resources in adult patients with highlyurgent or urgent medical complaints.

Results

We randomly selected 1500 medical consultations from our electronic health record database: The majority of patients (n = 1310, 87.3%) presented with a specific complaint; n = 190 (12.7%) with a NSC. Univariate analysis showed no significant difference in the utilisation of total diagnostic resources in the ED [specific complaints: 844 (577–1313) vs. NSC: 778 (551–1183) tax points, p = 0.092, median (interquartile range)]. A backward selection logistic regression model was adjusted for the identified covariates (age, diabetes, cerebrovascular and liver disease, malignancy, past myocardial infarction, antihypertensive, antithrombotic or antidiabetic medication, night or weekend admission and triage category). This identified a significant association of NSC with lower utilisation of ED diagnostic resources [geometric mean ratio (GMR) 0.91, 95% CI: 0.84–0.99, p = 0.042].

Conclusions

Non-specific complaints (NSC) are a frequent reason for emergency medicine consultations and are associated with lower utilisation of diagnostic resources during ED diagnostic testing than with specific complaints.
Adverse pregnancy outcomes during the COVID-19 lockdown. A descriptive study
Authors: Badran Eman F. , Darwish Rula M. , Khader Yousef , AlMasri Rama , Al Jaberi Mira , AlMasri Mohammad , AlSa’di Farah , Yosef Leen abu , al-Badaineh Noor
Published: November 2021

Background

The ongoing spread coronavirus disease worldwide has caused major disruptions and led to lockdowns. Everyday lifestyle changes and antenatal care inaccessibility during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic have variable results that affect pregnancy outcomes. This study aimed to assess the alterations in stillbirth, neonatal-perinatal mortality, preterm birth, and birth weight during the COVID-19 national lockdown.

Methods

We used the data from the Jordan stillbirths and neonatal death surveillance system to compare pregnancy outcomes (gestational age, birth weight, small for gestational age, stillbirth, neonatal death, and perinatal death) between two studied periods (11 months before the pandemic (May 2019 to March 2020) vs. 9 months during the pandemic (April 2020 to March 1st 2020). Separate multinomial logistic and binary logistic regression models were used to compare the studied outcomes between the two studied periods after adjusting for the effects of mother’s age, income, education, occupation, nationality, health sector, and multiplicity.

Results

There were 31106 registered babies during the study period; among them, 15311 (49.2%) and 15795 (50.8%) births occurred before and during the COVID-19 lockdown, respectively. We found no significant differences in preterm birth and stillbirth rates, neonatal mortality, or perinatal mortality before and during the COVID-19 lockdown. Our findings report a significantly lower incidence of extreme low birth weight (ELBW) infants (<1kg) during the COVID-19 lockdown period than that before the lockdown (adjusted OR 0.39, 95% CI 0.3-0.5: P value <0.001)

Conclusions

During the COVID-19 lockdown period, the number of infants born with extreme low birth weight (ELBW) decreased significantly. More research is needed to determine the impact of cumulative socio-environmental and maternal behavioral changes that occurred during the pandemic on the factors that contribute to ELBW infants.
Psychometrics of Persian version of the 11 items De Jong Gierveld loneliness scale among an Iranian older adults population
Authors: Hosseini Lida , Froelicher Erika Sivarajan , Sharif Nia Hamid , Ashghali Farahani Mansoureh
Published: November 2021

Background

Older adults duo to circumstances of aging such as relationship losses, medical morbidities, and functional declines, are prone to social isolation and loneliness more than any other age group. Furthermore, with The recent outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic and the need to quarantine, the possibility of feelings of loneliness, especially in older adults, became an important nursing priority. Therefore, it is important to quickly identify loneliness and respond appropriately to prevent, reduce, or treat it. The aim of this study was to translate the De Jong Gierveld loneliness scale into Persian for older adults.

Methods

The sample was 400 adults aged 65 and older with a mean age of 71.32 (SD= ± 6.09) years. Recruitment and data collection was done via online methods. The original scale was translated into Persian using the World Health Organization (WHO) protocol of forward-backward translation technique. Face validity and content validity; was followed by exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis. Lastly, reliability was assessed using the Average Inter-Item Correlation, Cronbach’s alpha, and McDonald’s Omega.

Results

The results showed that the Persian version of the loneliness scale had two factors namely social loneliness (5 items) and emotional loneliness (3 items) and the combined score explained 45.66% of the total variance of this scale. In addition, all goodness of fit indices confirmed a two factors model fit and all of the reliability indices were excellent.

Conclusions

The Persian version of the loneliness scale is useful and suitable for detecting social loneliness and emotional loneliness in older Iranian adults.
Characteristics analysis of segmental and regional lumbar spontaneous compensation post thoracic fusion in Lenke 1 and 2 adolescent idiopathic scoliosis
Authors: Chen Kai , Zhai Xiao , Zhou Tianjunke , Deng Yu , Zhang Beichen , Chen Shaofeng , Yang Changwei , Li Ming
Published: November 2021

Objective

To explore the characteristics of compensation of unfused lumbar region post thoracic fusion in Lenke 1 and 2 adolescent idiopathic scoliosis.

Background

Preserving lumbar mobility in the compensation is significant in controlling pain and maintaining its functions. The spontaneous correction of the distal unfused lumbar curve after STF has been widely reported, but previous study has not concentrated on the characteristics of compensation of unfused lumbar region post thoracic fusion.

Method

A total of 51 Lenke 1 and2 AIS patients were included, whose lowest instrumented vertebrae was L1 from January 2013 to December 2019. For further analysis, demographic data and coronal radiographic films were collected before surgery, at immediate erect postoperatively and final follow-up. The wedge angles of each unfused distal lumbar segments were measured, and the variations in each disc segment were calculated at the immediate postoperative review and final follow-up. Meanwhile, the unfused lumbar curve was divided into upper and lower parts, and we calculated their curve angles and compensations.

Results

The current study enrolled 41 females (80.4%) and 10 males (19.6%). Thirty-six patients were Lenke type 1, while 15 patients were Lenke type 2. The average main thoracic Cobb angle and thoracolumbar/lumbar Cobb angle were 44.1 ± 7.7°and 24.1 ± 9.3°, preoperatively. At the final follow-up, the disc wedge angle variation of L1/2, L2/3, L3/4, L4/5 and L5/S1 was 3.84 ± 5.96°, 3.09 ± 4.54°, 2.30 ± 4.53°, − 0.12 ± 3.89° and − 1.36 ± 2.80°, respectively. The compensation of upper and lower coronal lumbar curves at final follow-up were 9.22 ± 10.39° and − 1.49 ± 5.14°, respectively.

Conclusion

When choosing L1 as the lowest instrumented vertebrae, the distal unfused lumbar segments’ compensation showed a decreasing trend from the proximal end to the distal end. The adjacent L1/2 and L2/3 discs significantly contributed to this compensation.
Learning curve for minimally invasive oesophagectomy of oesophageal cancer and survival analysis
Authors: Zhao Yunpeng , Shan Lei , Peng Chuanliang , Cong Bo , Zhao Xiaogang
Published: November 2021

Purpose

Minimally invasive oesophagectomy is a technically demanding procedure, and the learning curve for this procedure should be explored. A survival analysis should also be performed.

Methods

A total of 214 consecutive patients who underwent minimally invasive oesophagectomy were retrospectively reviewed. To evaluate the development of thoracoscopic-laparoscopic oesophagectomy and compare mature minimally invasive oesophagectomy and open oesophagectomy, we comprehensively studied the clinical and surgical parameters. The cumulative sum (CUSUM) plot was used to evaluate the learning curve for systemic lymphadenectomy. Cox proportional hazards regression analysis was performed to explore the clinical factors affecting survival.

Results

The bleeding volume, operation time, and postoperative mortality within 3 months significantly decreased after 20 patients. The rise point for node dissection was visually determined to occur at patient 57 in the CUSUM plots. Patients who underwent mature thoracoscopic-laparoscopic oesophagectomy had better surgical data and short-term benefits than patients who underwent an open procedure. Cox proportional hazards regression analysis showed that the maximum diameter of the tumour cross-sectional area and the number of positive nodes significantly influenced survival.

Conclusions

The results suggest that thoracoscopic-laparoscopic oesophagectomy has short-term benefits. There was no evidence that it was associated with a significantly better prognosis for patients with oesophageal cancer.

ClinicalTrials Gov ID: NCT04217239; January 2, 2020 retrospectively registered.
Boosting the diagnostic power of amyloid-β PET using a data-driven spatially informed classifier for decision support
Authors: Venkataraman Ashwin V. , Bai Wenjia , Whittington Alex , Myers James F. , Rabiner Eugenii A. , Lingford-Hughes Anne , Matthews Paul M. ,   for the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative
Published: November 2021

Background

Amyloid-β (Aβ) PET has emerged as clinically useful for more accurate diagnosis of patients with cognitive decline. Aβ deposition is a necessary cause or response to the cellular pathology of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Usual clinical and research interpretation of amyloid PET does not fully utilise all information regarding the spatial distribution of signal. We present a data-driven, spatially informed classifier to boost the diagnostic power of amyloid PET in AD.

Methods

Voxel-wise k-means clustering of amyloid-positive voxels was performed; clusters were mapped to brain anatomy and tested for their associations by diagnostic category and disease severity with 758 amyloid PET scans from volunteers in the AD continuum from the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI). A machine learning approach based on this spatially constrained model using an optimised quadratic support vector machine was developed for automatic classification of scans for AD vs non-AD pathology.

Results

This classifier boosted the accuracy of classification of AD scans to 81% using the amyloid PET alone with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.91 compared to other spatial methods. This increased sensitivity to detect AD by 15% and the AUC by 9% compared to the use of a composite region of interest SUVr.

Conclusions

The diagnostic classification accuracy of amyloid PET was improved using an automated data-driven spatial classifier. Our classifier highlights the importance of considering the spatial variation in Aβ PET signal for optimal interpretation of scans. The algorithm now is available to be evaluated prospectively as a tool for automated clinical decision support in research settings.
Annotation of pituitary neuroendocrine tumors with genome-wide expression analysis
Authors: Tebani Abdellah , Jotanovic Jelena , Hekmati Neda , Sivertsson Åsa , Gudjonsson Olafur , Edén Engström Britt , Wikström Johan , Uhlèn Mathias , Casar-Borota Olivera , Pontén Fredrik
Published: November 2021

Pituitary neuroendocrine tumors (PitNETs) are common, generally benign tumors with complex clinical characteristics related to hormone hypersecretion and/or growing sellar tumor mass. PitNETs can be classified based on the expression pattern of anterior pituitary hormones and three main transcriptions factors (TF), SF1, PIT1 and TPIT that regulate differentiation of adenohypophysial cells. Here, we have extended this classification based on the global transcriptomics landscape using tumor tissue from a well-defined cohort comprising 51 PitNETs of different clinical and histological types. The molecular profiles were compared with current classification schemes based on immunohistochemistry. Our results identified three main clusters of PitNETs that were aligned with the main pituitary TFs expression patterns. Our analyses enabled further identification of specific genes and expression patterns, including both known and unknown genes, that could distinguish the three different classes of PitNETs. We conclude that the current classification of PitNETs based on the expression of SF1, PIT1 and TPIT reflects three distinct subtypes of PitNETs with different underlying biology and partly independent from the expression of corresponding hormones. The transcriptomic analysis reveals several potentially targetable tumor-driving genes with previously unknown role in pituitary tumorigenesis.