bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Epitaxial film growth by thermal laser evaporation
Authors: Kim Dong Yeong , Mannhart Jochen , Braun Wolfgang
Published: August 2021

We demonstrate the epitaxial growth of thin films by thermal laser evaporation. Epitaxial metal oxide films are grown by laser evaporating Ni, V, and Ru elemental sources in a variety of oxygen-ozone atmospheres on laser-heated oxide substrates. This results in NiO (111), VO2 (M1) (020), and RuO2 (110) epitaxial films on Al2O3 (0001) or MgO (100) substrates. The films show well-defined crystallographic orientation relationships with the substrates, as confirmed by in-plane and out-of-plane x-ray measurements. The results reveal the potential of thermal laser epitaxy for the epitaxial growth of ultrahigh-purity oxide heterostructures.
Validation of Smartphone Accelerometry for the Evaluation of Sit-To-Stand Performance and Lower-Extremity Function in Older Adults
Authors: Song Yuwei , Begum Momotaz , Arthanat Sajay , LaRoche Dain P.
Published: August 2021

This study tested the concurrent and construct validity of smartphone accelerometry measurement of sit-to-stand (STS) performance in individuals aged 65–89 years. Normal and fast STS times were recorded by smartphone accelerometer, force plate, and video motion systems concurrently, and isokinetic knee extension power and STS whole-body power were obtained. Normal and fast speed STS times from a smartphone accelerometer agreed closely with force plate and motion system methods (mean difference = 0.04 s). Normal and fast STS times were inversely related to isokinetic knee extension power (r = −.93, p < .001 and r = −.82, p < .001, respectively) and STS whole-body power (r = −.76, p < .001 and r = −.70, p < .001, respectively). The STS time obtained from a smartphone accelerometer was equivalent to the established, precise measures of STS time and was related to lower-extremity power, making it a potentially useful metric of lower-extremity function.
Perturbed BMP signaling and denervation promote muscle wasting in cancer cachexia
Authors: Sartori Roberta , Hagg Adam , Zampieri Sandra , Armani Andrea , Winbanks Catherine E. , Viana Laís R. , Haidar Mouna , Watt Kevin I. , Qian Hongwei , Pezzini Camilla , Zanganeh Pardis , Turner Bradley J. , Larsson Anna , Zanchettin Gianpietro , Pierobon Elisa S. , Moletta Lucia , Valmasoni Michele , Ponzoni Alberto , Attar Shady , Da Dalt Gianfranco , Sperti Cosimo , Kustermann Monika , Thomson Rachel E. , Larsson Lars , Loveland Kate L. , Costelli Paola , Megighian Aram , Merigliano Stefano , Penna Fabio , Gregorevic Paul , Sandri Marco
Published: August 2021

Neuromuscular junction remodeling and deterioration due to impaired BMP signaling are associated with cancer-induced muscle wasting.
Adaptive Synthesis of a Rough Lipopolysaccharide in Geobacter sulfurreducens for Metal Reduction and Detoxification
Authors: Clark Morgen M. , Paxhia Michael D. , Young Jenna M. , Manzella Michael P. , Reguera Gemma
Published: August 2021

Some metal-reducing bacteria produce a LPS without the repeating sugars (O-antigen) that decorate the surface of most Gram-negative bacteria, but the biological significance of this adaptive feature has never been investigated. Using the model representative
Geobacter sulfurreducens
strain PCA and mutants carrying stepwise truncations in the LPS core sugars, we demonstrate the importance of the rough LPS in the control of cell surface chemistry during the respiration of iron minerals and the formation of electroactive biofilms.
Vibrio cholerae Motility in Aquatic and Mucus-Mimicking Environments
Authors: Grognot Marianne , Mittal Anisha , Mah’moud Mattia , Taute Katja M.
Published: August 2021

Cholera disease produces vomiting and severe diarrhea and causes approximately 100,000 deaths per year worldwide. The disease is caused by the bacterium
Vibrio cholerae
colonizing the lining of the small intestine.
V. cholerae
’s ability to swim is known to increase its infectivity, but the underlying mechanisms are not known.
A New Dose-Response Model for Estimating the Infection Probability of Campylobacter jejuni Based on the Key Events Dose-Response Framework
Authors: Abe Hiroki , Takeoka Kohei , Fuchisawa Yuto , Koyama Kento , Koseki Shigenobu
Published: August 2021

Based on the mechanistic approach called the key events dose-response framework (KEDRF), an alternative to previous nonmechanistic approaches, the dose-response models for infection probability of
C. jejuni
were developed considering with age of people who ingest pathogen and food type. The developed predictive framework illustrates highly accurate prediction of dose (minimum difference 0.21 log CFU) for a certain infection probability compared with the previously reported dose-response relationship.
Treponema pallidum Macrolide Resistance and Molecular Epidemiology in Southern Africa, 2008 to 2018
Authors: Venter Johanna M. E. , Müller Etienne E. , Mahlangu Mahlape P. , Kularatne Ranmini S.
Published: August 2021

Treponema pallidum
macrolide resistance and clinical treatment failure have emerged rapidly within communities where macrolides have been used as convenient, oral therapeutic alternatives to benzathine penicillin G for syphilis or for other clinical indications. Macrolides are not included in the South African syndromic management guidelines for genital ulcer disease; however, in 2015, a 1-g dose of azithromycin was incorporated into treatment algorithms for genital discharge.
RNA Structure Protects the 5′ End of an Uncapped Tombusvirus RNA Genome from Xrn Digestion
Authors: Gunawardene Chaminda D. , Im Jennifer S. H. , White K. Andrew
Published: August 2021

The plus-strand RNA genomes of plant viruses in the large family
Tombusviridae
are not 5′ capped. Here, we explored how a species in the type genus
Tombusvirus
protects its genomic 5′ end from cellular nuclease attack.
Context-Specific Function of the Engineered Peptide Domain of PHP.B
Authors: Martino R. Alexander , Fluck Edwin C. , Murphy Jacqueline , Wang Qiang , Hoff Henry , Pumroy Ruth A. , Lee Claudia Y. , Sims Joshua J. , Roy Soumitra , Moiseenkova-Bell Vera Y. , Wilson James M.
Published: August 2021

Targeting AAV vectors to specific cellular receptors is a promising strategy for enhancing expression in target cells or tissues while reducing off-target transgene expression. The AAV9-PHP.B/Ly6a interaction provides a model system with a robust biological readout that can be interrogated to better understand the biology of AAV vectors’ interactions with target receptors.
Identification of a Proline-Kinked Amphipathic α-Helix Downstream from the Methyltransferase Domain of a Potexvirus Replicase and Its Role in Virus Replication and Perinuclear Complex Formation
Authors: Komatsu Ken , Sasaki Nobumitsu , Yoshida Tetsuya , Suzuki Katsuhiro , Masujima Yuki , Hashimoto Masayoshi , Watanabe Satoru , Tochio Naoya , Kigawa Takanori , Yamaji Yasuyuki , Oshima Kenro , Namba Shigetou , Nelson Richard S. , Arie Tsutomu
Published: August 2021

RNA viruses characteristically associate with intracellular membranes during replication. Although virus replicases are assumed to possess membrane-targeting properties, their membrane association domains generally remain unidentified or poorly characterized.
Genomic Epidemiology of Multidrug-Resistant Nontyphoidal Salmonella in Young Children Hospitalized for Gastroenteritis
Authors: Woh Pei Yee , Yeung May Pui Shan , Goggins William Bernard , Lo Norman , Wong Kam Tak , Chow Viola , Chau Ka Yee , Fung Kitty , Chen Zigui , Ip Margaret
Published: August 2021

Nontyphoidal
Salmonella
(NTS) gastroenteritis is a foodborne disease with a large global burden. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) among foodborne pathogens is an important public health concern, and multidrug-resistant (MDR)
Salmonella
is prevalent in Southeast Asia and China.
Evaluation of the INDICAID COVID-19 Rapid Antigen Test in Symptomatic Populations and Asymptomatic Community Testing
Authors: Chiu Ricky Y. T. , Kojima Noah , Mosley Garrett L. , Cheng Kwok Kin , Pereira David Y. , Brobeck Matthew , Chan Tsun Leung , Zee Jonpaul Sze-Tsing , Kittur Harsha , Chung Cheuk Yiu Tenny , Tsang Eric , Maran Kajal , Yung Raymond Wai-Hung , Leung Alex Chin-Pang , Siu Ryan Ho-Ping , Ng Jessica Pui-Ling , Choi Tsz Hei , Fung Mei Wai , Chan Wai Sing , Lam Ho Yin , Lee Koon Hung , Parkin Sean , Chao Felix C. , Ho Stephen Ka-Nung , Marshak Daniel R. , Ma Edmond Shiu-Kwan , Klausner Jeffrey D.
Published: August 2021

Laboratory-based RT-PCR, the current gold standard for COVID-19 testing, can require a turnaround time of 24 to 48 h from sample collection to result. The delayed time to result limits the effectiveness of centralized RT-PCR testing to reduce transmission and stem potential outbreaks.
Identification of Novel Rotihibin Analogues in
Streptomyces scabies
, Including Discovery of Its Biosynthetic Gene Cluster
Authors: Planckaert Sören , Deflandre Benoit , de Vries Anne-Mare , Ameye Maarten , Martins José C. , Audenaert Kris , Rigali Sébastien , Devreese Bart
Published: August 2021

Rotihibins A and B are plant growth inhibitors acting on the TORK pathway. We report the isolation and characterization of new sequence analogues of rotihibin from
Streptomyces scabies
, a major cause of common scab in potato and other tuber and root vegetables.
A model involving amphibolite lower crust melting and subsequent melt extraction for leucogranite generation
Authors: Wang Liqiang , Cheng Wenbin , Gao Teng , Wang Yong
Published: August 2021

In the southern Tibetan Plateau, leucogranites are dominantly distributed in the Himalayan orogenic belt with minor occurrences in the southern Lhasa subterrane. In this paper, we report the first Miocene Anglonggangri leucogranites in the northern Lhasa subterrane. This finding provides important constraints on both leucogranite petrogenesis and the tectono-magmatic evolution of the Lhasa terrane. The Anglonggangri leucogranites include biotite-muscovite granite and slightly younger garnet-muscovite granite and pegmatite. Zircon U-Pb and muscovite 40Ar-39Ar dating of these leucogranites yields Miocene ages of 11.1–10.2 Ma. The biotite-muscovite and garnet-muscovite granites are characterized by high SiO2 (72.3–74.4 wt.%) and Al2O3 contents (14.4–15.4 wt.%) and are peraluminous. The biotite-muscovite granite displays geochemical signatures with high Sr/Y (29.2–81.0) and (La/Yb)N (37.5–98.9) ratios, low Y (4.30–7.22 ppm) and Yb contents (0.26–0.47 ppm), low to moderate initial (87Sr/86Sr)i ratios (0.7085–0.7192), and moderate εNd(t) values (−10.17 to −6.94). Furthermore, they also exhibit radiogenic Pb isotope and variable zircon εHf(t) values (−9.6 to +4.4) with Proterozoic Nd (1.1–1.4 Ga) and Hf model ages (0.8–1.7 Ga). By comparison, the garnet-muscovite granite has lower CaO, MgO, TiO2, and total FeO contents and is enriched in Rb (380–466 ppm) and depleted in Sr (24.1–38.5 ppm) and Ba (30.7–58.6 ppm) and further characterized by a significant rare earth element (REE) tetrad effect and non-charge and radius-controlled (CHARAC) trace element behaviors. The garnet-muscovite granite shows a negative Eu anomaly and positive correlations among Sr and Eu, Sr and Ba, and Th and light rare earth elements (LREEs). Pegmatite comprising Nb-Ta oxides and cassiterite occurs in the garnet-muscovite granite. Geochronological and geochemical characteristics of the Anglonggangri leucogranites indicate that the magma of the biotite-muscovite granite was derived from partial melting of amphibolite lower crust contaminated with Proterozoic-Archean upper crustal materials. The garnet-muscovite granite was generated through melt extraction from the biotite-muscovite granite crystal mush. These results confirm that partial melting of the amphibolite lower crust not only occurred in the southern and central Lhasa subterranes but also in the northern Lhasa subterrane.
Supplemental Material: Building a continental arc section: Constraints from Paleozoic granulite-facies metamorphism, anatexis, and magmatism in the northern margin of the Qilian Block, northern Tibet Plateau
Authors: Peng Yinbiao , Shengyao Yu , al. et
Published: August 2021

Tables S1–S4: Representative electron microprobe data; Tables S5–S16: Zircon U‐Th‐Pb LA‐ICP‐MS data for nine representative samples; Tables S17–S22: LA‐MC‐ICP‐MS Lu‐Hf isotope data for 6 representative samples; Table S23: Major and trace element compositions of plutons and volcanic rocks.
Supplemental Material: New tectonic model and division of the Ubendian-Usagaran Belt, Tanzania: A review and in-situ dating of eclogites
Authors: Boniface Nelson , Tsujimori Tatsuki
Published: August 2021

Conference abstracts of Boniface and Tsujimori (2014, 2016).
Preoperative clinical model to predict myocardial injury after non-cardiac surgery: a retrospective analysis from the MANAGE cohort in a Spanish hospital
Authors: Serrano Ana Belen , Gomez-Rojo Maria , Ureta Eva , Nuñez Monica , Fernández Félix Borja , Velasco Elisa , Burgos Javier , Popova Ekaterine , Urrutia Gerard , Gomez Victoria , del Rey Jose Manuel , Sanjuanbenito Alfonso , Zamora Javier , Monteagudo Juan Manuel , Pestaña David , de la Torre Basilio , Candela-Toha Ángel
Published: August 2021

Objectives

To determine preoperative factors associated to myocardial injury after non-cardiac surgery (MINS) and to develop a prediction model of MINS.

Design

Retrospective analysis.

Setting

Tertiary hospital in Spain.

Participants

Patients aged ≥45 years undergoing major non-cardiac surgery and with at least two measures of troponin levels within the first 3 days of the postoperative period. All patients were screened for the MANAGE trial.

Primary and secondary outcome measures

We used multivariable logistic regression analysis to study risk factors associated with MINS and created a score predicting the preoperative risk for MINS and a nomogram to facilitate bed-side use. We used Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator method to choose the factors included in the predictive model with MINS as dependent variable. The predictive ability of the model was evaluated. Discrimination was assessed with the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) and calibration was visually assessed using calibration plots representing deciles of predicted probability of MINS against the observed rate in each risk group and the calibration-in-the-large (CITL) and the calibration slope. We created a nomogram to facilitate obtaining risk estimates for patients at pre-anaesthesia evaluation.

Results

Our cohort included 3633 patients recruited from 9 September 2014 to 17 July 2017. The incidence of MINS was 9%. Preoperative risk factors that increased the risk of MINS were age, American Status Anaesthesiology classification and vascular surgery. The predictive model showed good performance in terms of discrimination (AUC=0.720; 95% CI: 0.69 to 0.75) and calibration slope=1.043 (95% CI: 0.90 to 1.18) and CITL=0.00 (95% CI: −0.12 to 0.12).

Conclusions

Our predictive model based on routinely preoperative information is highly affordable and might be a useful tool to identify moderate-high risk patients before surgery. However, external validation is needed before implementation.
Manual Therapy for Fibrosis-Related Late Effect Dysphagia in head and neck cancer survivors: the pilot MANTLE trial
Authors: Hutcheson Katherine , McMillan Holly , Warneke Carla , Porsche Christine , Savage Kiara , Buoy Sheila , Wang Jihong , Woodman Karin , Lai Stephen , Fuller Clifton
Published: August 2021

Introduction

Late dysphagia that develops or persists years after head and neck cancer (HNC) is a disabling survivorship issue. Fibrosis is thought to stiffen connective tissues and compress peripheral nerve tracts, thereby contributing to diminished strength, flexibility, and in some cases denervation of swallowing muscles. Manual therapy (MT) is used in cancer survivors for pain and other indications, but it is unknown if increasing blood flow, flexibility and cervical range of motion (CROM) in the head and neck may improve late dysphagia.

Methods and analysis

Manual Therapy for Fibrosis-Related Late Effect Dysphagia (MANTLE) is a National Cancer Institute-funded prospective single-arm pilot trial evaluating the feasibility, safety and therapeutic potential of MT in patients with late dysphagia after radiotherapy (RT) for HNC. Disease-free survivors ≥2 years after curative-intent RT for HNC with at least moderate dysphagia and grade ≥2 Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events version 4.0 fibrosis are eligible. The target sample size is 24 participants who begin the MANTLE programme. MANTLE is delivered in 10 MT sessions over 6 weeks with an accompanying home exercise programme (HEP). Patients then transition to a 6-week post-washout period during which they complete the HEP and then return for a final post-washout evaluation. Feasibility (primary endpoint) and safety will be examined. Serial assessments include CROM, modified barium swallow studies, quantitative MRI, electromyography (optional) and patient-reported outcomes as secondary, tertiary and exploratory endpoints.

Ethics and dissemination

The research protocol and informed consent document was approved by the Institutional Review Board at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. Findings will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publication that will be made publicly available on PubMed Central on acceptance for publication, in compliance with NIH public access policy.

Trial registration number

NCT03612531.
Opioid-induced constipation: a stepwise treatment algorithm feasibility study
Authors: Davies Andrew Neil , Leach Charlotte , Butler Claire , Patel Shuchita Dhwiren , Shorthose Kate , Batsari Kabir
Published: August 2021

Background

Opioid-induced constipation (OIC) is frequently undertreated in patients with advanced cancer. Our hypothesis is that the use of a stepwise treatment algorithm, supported by regular patient-reported outcome measures, should improve the management of OIC. The aim of this feasibility study was to determine whether a definitive study could be successfully completed.

Methods

Patients with OIC (Rome Foundation diagnostic criteria positive), and a Bowel Function Index (BFI) score of ≥30, were recruited to the study. The study involved weekly assessments, and decisions about management were based on the current BFI score (and the tolerability of the current treatment). Management was based on a four-step treatment algorithm, developed from recent international guidelines.

Results

One hundred patients entered the study, and 79 patients completed the study. Fifty-seven (72%) participants responded to treatment, with 34 (43%) participants having a ‘complete’ response (ie, final BFI<30) and 23 (29%) participants having a ‘partial’ response (ie, change in BFI≥12). In participants with a complete response, 73.5% were prescribed conventional laxatives, 12% were prescribed a peripherally acting mu-opioid receptor antagonist (PAMORA) and 14.5% were prescribed a PAMORA and conventional laxative.

Discussion

The feasibility study suggests that a definitive study can be successfully completed. However, we will amend the methodology to try to improve participant recruitment, participant retention and adherence to the treatment algorithm. The feasibility study also suggests that the use of the BFI to monitor OIC, and the use of a treatment algorithm to manage OIC, can result in clinically important improvements in OIC.

Trial registration number

NCT04404933
Clinicopathological characteristics and genetic variations of uterine tumours resembling ovarian sex cord tumours
Authors: Ye Shan , Wu Jing , Yao Lingli , He Jie
Published: August 2021

Aims

To investigate the clinicopathological and molecular characteristics of uterine tumours resembling ovarian sex cord tumours (UTROSCTs) and the value of molecular diversity in the clinical diagnosis and treatment.

Methods

Five patients with UTROSCT were enrolled, and their clinical data, pathological morphologies, immunophenotypes and molecular features were analysed. Fluorescence in situ hybridisation forNCOA1,NCOA2,NCOA3,JAZF1andPHF1and next-generation sequencing for 27 homologous recombination/repair (HRR) pathway genes were performed on five and three UTROSCT specimens, respectively.

Results

All five patients were treated for abnormal uterine bleeding and grossly presented with intrauterine polyps. Under a microscope, tumour cells grew diffusely and presented a cordlike arrangement and glandular duct-like structures, with nuclei ranging from round to oval, vesicular chromatin and visible nucleoli in some cases. The mitotic count was less than 3/10 high-power fields. Immunohistochemistry showed sex cord, epithelial cell and smooth muscle cell biomarkers and diffuse, strong staining for B cell lymphoma-2 (BCL-2).NCOA1andNCOA3rearrangements were identified in 80% (4/5) of the cases.JAZF1andPHF1rearrangements were not detected in any of five patients. HRR pathway gene mutations were detected in all three patients, includingFANCE,ATRandARID1Amutations in one case each.

Conclusion

UTROSCT is a rare mesenchymal tumour, and biopsy specimens are easily misdiagnosed. UTROSCT diagnosis requires the combined use of biomarkers and molecular detection. BCL-2 has potential diagnostic value as a marker. UTROSCT can have mutations related to the HRR pathway, suggesting that this tumour type may be sensitive to platinum/poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitors.
We need to work differently in a crisis: peer-professional leadership to redesign physicians’ work
Authors: Woiceshyn Jaana , Huq Jo-Louise , Kannappan Sunand , Fabreau Gabriel , Minty Evan , Pendharkar Sachin , Bharwani Aleem
Published: August 2021

Background

Understanding physician leadership is critical during pandemics and other health crises when formal organisational leaders may be unable to respond expeditiously. This study examined how physician leaders managed to quickly design a new model for acute-care physicians’ work, adopted across four large hospitals in a public health authority in Canada during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods

The research employed a qualitative case study methodology, with inductive analysis of interview transcripts and documents. Shortly after a physician work model redesign, we interviewed key informants: the physician leaders and others who participated in or supported the model’s development. Participants were chosen based on their leadership role and through snowballing. All those who were approached agreed to participate.

Results

A process model describes leadership actions during four phases of work model development (priming, early planning, readying for operations and transition). These actions were: (1) recognising the threat, (2) committing to action, (3) forming and organising, (4) building and relying on relationships, (5) developing supporting processes and (6) designing functions and structure. We offer three additional contributions to knowledge about leadership in a time of crisis: (1) leveraging peer-professional leadership to initiate, formalise and organise change processes, (2) designing a new work model on existing and emerging evidence and (3) building and relying on relationships to unify various actors.

Conclusions

The model of peer-professional leadership can deepen understanding of how to lead professionals. Our findings could assist peer-professional and organisational leaders to encourage quick redesign of professionals’ work in response to new phases of the COVID-19 pandemic or other crises.
Post-Newtonian properties of EMRI with power law potential
Authors: Gandevikar Chinmay N. , Solanki Divyesh N. , Dey Dipanjan
Published: August 2021

There are many astrophysical scenarios where extreme mass ratio inspiral (EMRI) binaries can be surrounded by inhomogenous matter distribution. The distribution of mass can affect the dynamical properties (e.g. orbital frequency, average energy radiation rate, etc.) of the EMRI. In this matter distribution, instead of Kepler–Newton potential, one may consider a more general form of potential i.e. power law potential. Moreover, due to the power law potential, at the Newtonian order itself, the velocity profile of test particles does not fall as much as that predicted by Kepler–Newton potential and this feature of the velocity profile may be observationally important. In this study, we have obtained the first post-Newtonian (1PN) expressions for dynamical quantities and the average energy radiation rate from the circular orbit EMRI which is surrounded by a matter distribution. We show that the energy radiation rate and orbital frequency of EMRI can be significantly different in the presence of power law potential as compared to that in the Kepler–Newton potential, signatures of which may be observed in gravitational waves from EMRI.
High(est) energy lepton colliders
Authors: Franceschini Roberto
Published: August 2021

We discuss the physics opportunities and challenges presented by high energy lepton colliders in the range of center-of-mass energy between few and several tens of TeV. The focus is on the progress attainable on the study of weak and Higgs interactions in connection with new physics scenarios motivated by the shortcomings of the Standard Model.
Recommending Faulty Configurations for Interacting Systems Under Test Using Multi-objective Search
Authors: Safdar Safdar Aqeel , Yue Tao , Ali Shaukat
Published: August 2021

Modern systems, such as cyber-physical systems, often consist of multiple products within/across product lines communicating with each other through information networks. Consequently, their runtime behaviors are influenced by product configurations and networks. Such systems play a vital role in our daily life; thus, ensuring their correctness by thorough testing becomes essential. However, testing these systems is particularly challenging due to a large number of possible configurations and limited available resources. Therefore, it is important and practically useful to test these systems with specific configurations under which products will most likely fail to communicate with each other. Motivated by this, we present a search-based configuration recommendation (
SBCR
) approach to recommend faulty configurations for the system under test (SUT) based on cross-product line (CPL) rules. CPL rules are soft constraints, constraining product configurations while indicating the most probable system states with a certain degree of confidence. In
SBCR
, we defined four search objectives based on CPL rules and combined them with six commonly applied search algorithms. To evaluate
SBCR
(i.e.,

SBCR
NSGA-II
, SBCR
IBEA
, SBCR
MoCell
, SBCR
SPEA2
, SBCR
PAES

, and

SBCR
SMPSO

), we performed two case studies (Cisco and Jitsi) and conducted difference analyses. Results show that for both of the case studies,
SBCR
significantly outperformed random search-based configuration recommendation (
RBCR
) for 86% of the total comparisons based on six quality indicators, and 100% of the total comparisons based on the percentage of faulty configurations (PFC). Among the six variants of

SBCR, SBCR
SPEA2

outperformed the others in 85% of the total comparisons based on six quality indicators and 100% of the total comparisons based on PFC.
Parole Board Decision Making and Constitutional Rights
Authors: Hritz Amelia Courtney
Published: August 2021

Parole board decision making has changed dramatically over the last century, mirroring broader trends in criminal punishment. Even though parole decisions affect the length of prison sentences and the US Supreme Court has safeguarded defendants’ rights during the sentencing phase of criminal proceedings, the court has largely declined to interfere in parole. After briefly surveying the historical evolution of parole in the United States, this article proceeds in two parts. First, the article analyzes Supreme Court cases involving sentencing and parole and discusses questions raised by those decisions. Second, the article examines modern studies of parole board decisions and highlights ethical and legal questions raised by the research.
Trypanosome Signaling—Quorum Sensing
Authors: Matthews Keith R.
Published: August 2021

African trypanosomes are responsible for important diseases of humans and animals in sub-Saharan Africa. The best-studied species is Trypanosoma brucei, which is characterized by development in the mammalian host between morphologically slender and stumpy forms. The latter are adapted for transmission by the parasite's vector, the tsetse fly. The development of stumpy forms is driven by density-dependent quorum sensing (QS), the molecular basis for which is now coming to light. In this review, I discuss the historical context and biological features of trypanosome QS and how it contributes to the parasite's infection dynamics within its mammalian host. Also, I discuss how QS can be lost in different trypanosome species, such as T. brucei evansi and T. brucei equiperdum, or modulated when parasites find themselves competing with others of different genotypes or of different trypanosome species in the same host. Finally, I consider the potential to exploit trypanosome QS therapeutically.
Causative Microbes in Host-Microbiome Interactions
Authors: Britton Graham J. , Faith Jeremiah J.
Published: August 2021

Despite identification of numerous associations between microbiomes and diseases, the complexity of the human microbiome has hindered identification of individual species and strains that are causative in host phenotype or disease. Uncovering causative microbes is vital to fully understand disease processes and to harness the potential therapeutic benefits of microbiota manipulation. Developments in sequencing technology, animal models, and bacterial culturing have facilitated the discovery of specific microbes that impact the host and are beginning to advance the characterization of host-microbiome interaction mechanisms. We summarize the historical and contemporary experimental approaches taken to uncover microbes from the microbiota that affect host biology and describe examples of commensals that have specific effects on the immune system, inflammation, and metabolism. There is still much to learn, and we lay out challenges faced by the field and suggest potential remedies for common pitfalls encountered in the hunt for causative commensal microbes.
Constitutive transgenic α-Klotho overexpression enhances resilience to and recovery from murine acute lung injury
Authors: Gagan Joshuah M. , Cao Khoa , Zhang Yu-An , Zhang Jianning , Davidson Taylor L. , Pastor Johanne V. , Moe Orson W. , Hsia Connie C. W.
Published: August 2021

Normal lungs do not express α-Klotho (Klotho) protein but derive cytoprotection from circulating soluble Klotho. It is unclear whether chronic supranormal Klotho levels confer additional benefit. To address this, we tested the age-related effects of modest Klotho overexpression on acute lung injury (ALI) and recovery. Transgenic Klotho-overexpressing ( Tg-Kl) and wild-type ( WT) mice (2 and 6 mo old) were exposed to hyperoxia (95% O2; 72 h; injury; Hx) then returned to normoxia (21% O2; 24 h; recovery; Hx-R). Control mice were kept in normoxia. Renal and serum Klotho, lung histology, and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid oxidative damage markers were assessed. Effects of hyperoxia on Klotho release were tested in human embryonic kidney cells stably expressing Klotho. A549 lung epithelial cells transfected with Klotho cDNA or vector were exposed to cigarette smoke; lactate dehydrogenase and double-strand DNA breaks were measured. Serum Klotho decreased with age. Hyperoxia suppressed renal Klotho at both ages and serum Klotho at 2 mo of age. Tg-Kl mice at both ages and 2-mo-old WT mice survived Hx-R; 6-mo-old Tg-Kl mice showed lower lung damage than age-matched WT mice. Hyperoxia directly inhibited Klotho expression and release in vitro; Klotho transfection attenuated cigarette smoke-induced cytotoxicity and DNA double-strand breaks in lung epithelial cells. Young animals with chronic high baseline Klotho expression were more resistant to ALI. Chronic constitutive Klotho overexpression in older Tg-Kl animals attenuated hyperoxia-induced lung damage and improves survival and short-term recovery despite an acute reduction in serum Klotho during injury. We conclude that chronic enhancement of Klotho expression increases resilience to ALI.
Oxylipin responses to fasting and insulin infusion in a large mammalian model of fasting-induced insulin resistance, the northern elephant seal
Authors: Wright Dana N. , Katundu Kondwani G. H. , Viscarra Jose A. , Crocker Daniel E. , Newman John W. , La Frano Michael R. , Ortiz Rudy M.
Published: August 2021

The prolonged, postweaning fast of northern elephant seal ( Mirounga angustirostris) pups is characterized by a reliance on lipid metabolism and reversible, fasting-induced insulin resistance, providing a unique model to examine the effects of insulin on lipid metabolism. We have previously shown that acute insulin infusion induced a shift in fatty acid metabolism dependent on fasting duration. This study complements the previous study by examining the effects of fasting duration and insulin infusion on circulating levels of oxylipins, bioactive metabolites derived from the oxygenation of polyunsaturated fatty acids. Northern elephant seal pups were studied at two postweaning periods ( n = 5/period): early fasting (1–2 wk postweaning; 127 ± 1 kg) and late fasting (6–7 wk postweaning; 93 ± 4 kg). Different cohorts of pups were weighed, sedated, and infused with 65 mU/kg of insulin. Plasma was collected prior to infusion (T0) and at 10, 30, 60, and 120 min postinfusion. A profile of ∼80 oxylipins was analyzed by UPLC-ESI-MS/MS. Nine oxylipins changed between early and late fasting and eight were altered in response to insulin infusion. Fasting decreased prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α) and increased 14,15-dihydroxyicosatrienoic acid (14,15-DiHETrE), 20-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (20-HETE), and 4-hydroxy-docosahexaenoic acid (4-HDoHE) ( P < 0.03) in T0 samples, whereas insulin infusion resulted in an inverse change in area-under-the-curve (AUC) levels in these same metabolites ( P < 0.05). In addition, 12-12-hydroperoxyeicosatetraenoic acid (HpETE) and 12-HETE decreased with fasting and insulin infusion, respectively ( P < 0.04). The oxylipins altered during fasting and in response to insulin infusion may contribute to the manifestation of insulin resistance and participate in the metabolic regulation of associated cellular processes.
Global REACH 2018: volume regulation in high-altitude Andeans with and without chronic mountain sickness
Authors: Steele Andrew R. , Tymko Michael M. , Meah Victoria L. , Simpson Lydia L. , Gasho Christopher , Dawkins Tony G. , Williams Alexandra M. , Villafuerte Francisco C. , Vizcardo-Galindo Gustavo A. , Figueroa-Mujíca Rómulo J. , Ainslie Philip N. , Stembridge Mike , Moore Jonathan P. , Steinback Craig D.
Published: August 2021

The high-altitude maladaptation syndrome known as chronic mountain sickness (CMS) is characterized by polycythemia and is associated with proteinuria despite unaltered glomerular filtration rate. However, it remains unclear if indigenous highlanders with CMS have altered volume regulatory hormones. We assessed NH2-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT pro-BNP), plasma aldosterone concentration, plasma renin activity, kidney function (urinary microalbumin, glomerular filtration rate), blood volume, and estimated pulmonary artery systolic pressure (ePASP) in Andean males without ( n = 14; age = 39 ± 11 yr) and with ( n = 10; age = 40 ± 12 yr) CMS at 4,330 m (Cerro de Pasco, Peru). Plasma renin activity (non-CMS: 15.8 ± 7.9 ng/mL vs. CMS: 8.7 ± 5.4 ng/mL; P = 0.025) and plasma aldosterone concentration (non-CMS: 77.5 ± 35.5 pg/mL vs. CMS: 54.2 ± 28.9 pg/mL; P = 0.018) were lower in highlanders with CMS compared with non-CMS, whereas NT pro-BNP was not different between groups (non-CMS: 1394.9 ± 214.3 pg/mL vs. CMS: 1451.1 ± 327.8 pg/mL; P = 0.15). Highlanders had similar total blood volume (non-CMS: 90 ± 15 mL·kg−1vs. CMS: 103 ± 18 mL·kg−1; P = 0.071), but Andeans with CMS had greater total red blood cell volume (non-CMS: 46 ± 10 mL·kg−1vs. CMS: 66 ± 14 mL·kg−1; P < 0.01) and smaller plasma volume (non-CMS: 43 ± 7 mL·kg−1vs. CMS: 35 ± 5 mL·kg−1; P = 0.03) compared with non-CMS. There were no differences in ePASP between groups (non-CMS: 32 ± 9 mmHg vs. CMS: 31 ± 8 mmHg; P = 0.6). A negative correlation was found between plasma renin activity and glomerular filtration rate in both groups (group: r = −0.66; P < 0.01; non-CMS: r = −0.60; P = 0.022; CMS: r = −0.63; P = 0.049). A smaller plasma volume in Andeans with CMS may indicate an additional CMS maladaptation to high altitude, causing potentially greater polycythemia and clinical symptoms.
Oculomotor target selection is mediated by complex objects
Authors: Kehoe Devin H. , Lewis Jennifer , Fallah Mazyar
Published: August 2021

We challenge the role of the oculomotor system in discriminating features during saccadic target selection. Our data suggest that the onset latency of oculomotor vector representations is scaled by task difficulty and featural complexity, suggesting that featural computations are performed outside of the oculomotor system, which receives the output of these computations only after sufficient visual and cognitive processing. We also challenge the convention that initial oculomotor vector representations are feature invariant, as they encoded task relevance.
Efficacy of Oxidized Regenerated Cellulose/Collagen Dressing for Management of Skin Wounds: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Zhang Li , Wang Simei , Tan Meihua , Zhou Hongwei , Tang Ying , Zou Yan
Published: August 2021

Objective. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the wound healing efficacy of oxidized regenerated cellulose (ORC)/collagen dressing and ORC/collagen/silver-ORC dressings compared to standard of care or control in treatment of chronic skin wounds such as diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs), venous leg ulcers (VLUs), and pressure injuries sore ulcers (PISUs). Methods. An electronic search was carried out in four popular databases PubMed, Scopus, Embase, and CENTRAL to identify thirteen included studies, comparing the clinical efficacy of ORC/collagen dressings when compared to control in management of chronic skin wounds, especially DFUs, VLUs, and PISUs, and skin graft donor site wounds. Results. Consolidated data from thirteen comparative clinical studies undertaken for management of DFUs, VLUs, and PISUs showed favorable outcomes towards use of ORC/collagen compared to other traditional and hydrocolloid foam dressings in terms of wound healing rate (

P
=
0.02

) and percentage wound relative reduction (

P
=
0.003

). The time taken to achieve complete wound healing in the included studies did not show any statistical significant difference (

P
=
0.24

). There was no significant difference in adverse events between ORC/collagen-treated group and comparative group (

P
=
0.19

). Conclusion. ORC/collagen wound dressings are beneficial in terms of improved wound healing rate and percentage wound relative reduction compared to already existing traditional standard of care with non-MMP, inhibiting biomaterials such as moistened gauze, autologous growth factors, hydrocolloid foam dressings, or ovine extracellular matrix.
Investigation into Macro- and Microcrack Propagation Mechanism of Red Sandstone under Different Confining Pressures Using 3D Numerical Simulation and CT Verification
Authors: Zhang Wen , Chen Yan-yu , Guo Jin-ping , Wu Sai-sai , Yan Cheng-yuan
Published: August 2021

The growth and evolvement features of crack are of great significance to study the failure mechanism of rock mass and valuate the stability of the cavity. In this study, in order to obtain the mechanics parameters and external macroscopic crack propagation characteristics of red sandstone, triaxial compression tests were carried out. Based on the experimental results, a numerical model was established through the reasonable parameter calibration by the PFC3D software. The internal and external crack propagation processes of red sandstone under triaxial compression were simulated. Moreover, to verify the simulation results, the CT scanning and three-dimensional reconstruction technologies were used to observe the internal crack state of the specimens. The results showed that the internal crack failures occurred first at the end of the rock specimen. Then, the microcracks continued to accumulate and expand under the combined action of axial stress and confining pressure. The accumulated microcracks finally converged to form a macroscopic oblique shear failure. Based on the homogenizing treatment and reasonable parameter calibration, the internal and external crack expansion and evolution processes of the rock were simulated by the PFC3D model and the simulation results are consistent with the results obtained from the triaxial compression test and the CT scanning. The macro- and microfailure mode of crack propagation of the specimen deepens the understanding of rock failure mechanism. The PFC3D homogenization simulation method provides a new feasible method to study the macro- and microfailure mode of internal and external crack propagation of rock under compression.
Separation of the Structure Signal by the Maximal Overlap Discrete Wavelet Transform and Fast Fourier Transform
Authors: Nguyen Thanh Q.
Published: August 2021

Power spectral density (PSD) is used for evaluating a structure’s vibration process. Moreover, PSD not only shows a discrete form of vibration but also presents various components in a vibration structure. The superposition of multiple vibration patterns on the same spectrum poses difficulty in analyzing the spectral information in the way needed to find the structure’s discrete vibration. This paper proposes a method for separating the synthetic vibration signal into a structure’s discrete vibration and other extraneous vibrations using the maximal overlap discrete wavelet transform (MODWT) method combined with the method of fast Fourier transform (FFT). With the combination of these two algorithms, MODWT and FFT, the signals of the synthesized vibration have been separated into component signals with different frequency ranges. This means that PSD will be formed, which is based on the combination of the single power spectra of the component signals. Thus, the single spectrum of each of these constructed components can be used to evaluate the types of discrete vibrations coexisting in a structure’s vibration process. The survey results in this paper show the sensitivity and suitability of select types of discrete vibrations to be separated out during the assessment of the structural change, so as to achieve the best possible plan for eliminating the unwanted and unexpected noise and vibration components.
Iterative Data-Driven Control for Closed Loop with Two Unknown Controllers
Authors: Jianwang Hong , Ramirez-Mendoza Ricardo A. , Morales-Menendez Ruben
Published: August 2021

Iterative idea is combined with data-driven control and is used to design the feedforward controller and feedback controller simultaneously. Consider one closed loop system with two controllers, the classical model-based control holds on the condition of known plant. To alleviate the modeling process for plant, data-driven control is applied to design the two controllers. After these two controllers are parametrized by two unknown parameter vectors, the iterative idea is introduced to identify these two parameter vectors. Furthermore, for more general case of controllers, the closed relations between controllers and expected transfer functions are derived. Then, the iterative idea is also introduced to achieve the controller design. To be of benefit for latter stability analysis, some equities are derived for output-input sensitivity functions with three kinds of disturbances. Generally, after formulating the problem of the controller design as one model-matching problem, the purpose of this paper is threefold. First, we derive that, in case of two parametrized controllers, the iterative idea is performed to identify these two unknown parameter vectors, even when parameters converge to their true values. Second, we show how to design the two controllers iteratively for more general forms and find the closed relations between these controllers and expected closed loop transfer functions. Third, we provide some heuristic considerations on output-input sensitivity functions, which are of benefit for our stability analysis on data-driven control. Finally, one example is given to show the feasibility of our proposed theories.
Feature Point Extraction and Motion Tracking of Cardiac Color Ultrasound under Improved Lucas–Kanade Algorithm
Authors: Zhang Xiaoli , Li Punan , Li Yibing
Published: August 2021

The purpose of this research is to study the application effect of Lucas–Kanade algorithm in right ventricular color Doppler ultrasound feature point extraction and motion tracking under the condition of scale invariant feature transform (SIFT). This study took the right ventricle as an example to analyze the extraction effect and calculation rate of SIFT algorithm and improved Lucas–Kanade algorithm. It was found that the calculation time before and after noise removal by the SIFT algorithm was 0.49 s and 0.46 s, respectively, and the number of extracted feature points was 703 and 698, respectively. The number of feature points extracted by the SIFT algorithm and the calculation time were significantly better than those of other algorithms (

P
<
0.01

). The mean logarithm of the matching points of the SIFT algorithm for order matching and reverse order matching was 20.54 and 20.46, respectively. The calculation time and the number of feature points for the SIFT speckle tracking method were 1198.85 s and 81, respectively, and those of the optical flow method were 3274.19 s and 80, respectively. The calculation time of the SIFT speckle tracking method was significantly lower than that of the optical flow method (

P
<
0.05

), and there was no statistical difference in the number of feature points between the SIFT speckle tracking method and the optical flow method (

P
>
0.05

). In conclusion, the improved Lucas–Kanade algorithm based on SIFT significantly improves the accuracy of feature extraction and motion tracking of color Doppler ultrasound, which shows the value of the algorithm in the clinical application of color Doppler ultrasound.
Research on the Management Information System of College Education and Teaching Based on Web
Authors: Liu Jinhua , Wang Caiping , Wu Yanhua
Published: August 2021

The traditional university education and teaching management information system has the problems of low information recall, poor information precision, and long query time. Therefore, this paper designs a university education and teaching management information system based on Web. Through the analysis of the requirements of the higher education and teaching management information system, the design principle of the system is determined, and the structure design of the higher education and teaching management information system is realized; the teaching management information system management process is determined. By calculating the complexity of university education and teaching management information, the priority of query information is determined to effectively improve the processing effect of the system. Finally, the relational database model is designed to realize the design of university education and teaching management information system. In order to verify the effectiveness of this method, comparative experiments are designed. Experimental results show that this method can effectively improve the low information recall and the poor information precision and shorten the query time.