bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A new minimally invasive technique for correction of pectus carinatum
Authors: Ping Wei , Fu Shengling , Li Yangkai , Yu Jun , Zhang Ni , Fu Xiangning , Cai Yixin
Published: September 2021

Background

The Abramson technique for the correction of pectus carinatum (PC) is commonly performed worldwide. However, the postoperative complications of this technique related to bar fixation, including wire breakage and bar displacement, are relatively high. In this study, a new minimally invasive technique for correction of PC is described, in which the pectus bar is secured by bilateral selected ribs, and for which no special fixation to the rib is needed.

Methods

The procedure was performed by placing the pectus bar subcutaneously over the sternum with both ends of the bar passing through the intercostal space of the selected rib at the anterior axillary line. The protruding sternum was depressed by the bar positioned in this 2 intra- and 2 extra-thorax manners. Between October 2011 and September 2019, 42 patients with PC underwent this procedure.

Results

Satisfactory cosmetic results were obtained in all the patients. The mean operation time was 87.14 min, and the mean postoperative stay was 4.05 days. Wound infection occurred in 3 patients, 2 were cured by antibiotics, and 1 received bar removal 4 months after the initial operation due to the exposure of the implant resulting from uncontrolled infection. Mild pneumothorax was found in 3 patients and cured by conservative treatment. One patient suffered from hydropneumothorax, which was treated with chest drainage. The bars were removed at a mean duration of 24.4 months since primary repair in 20 patients without recurrence.

Conclusions

This new technique for minimally invasive correction of PC deformity is a safe and feasible procedure yielding good results and minimal complications.
Clinical, laboratory and ultrasonographic findings in 38 calves with type-4 abomasal ulcer
Authors: Braun Ueli , Widmer Christina , Nuss Karl , Hilbe Monika , Gerspach Christian
Published: September 2021

Background

Type-4 abomasal ulcers (U4) are perforated ulcers causing diffuse peritonitis. This retrospective study describes the clinical, laboratory and ultrasonographic findings in 38 calves with U4. The medical records of 38 calves aged three days to 20 weeks with U4 were scrutinised.

Results

The most common clinical findings were poor general health (95%), reduced skin elasticity (95%), rumen atony (91%), abdominal guarding (76%) and positive percussion auscultation and/or swinging auscultation on the right side of the abdomen (75%). The most frequent laboratory findings were increased numbers of segmented neutrophils (87%), eosinopenia (87%), acidosis (84%), azotaemia (79%) and hyponatraemia (79%). The most frequent abdominal ultrasonographic findings were intestinal atony (68%), fluid (67%) and fibrin deposits (58%) in the abdomen. Thirty-five calves were euthanased and three calves died spontaneously. All calves underwent pathological examination. Diffuse peritonitis caused by a transmural abomasal ulcer was the principal diagnosis in all calves.

Conclusions

Perforated abomasal ulcers cause severe illness, and a thorough clinical examination combined with ultrasonographic abdominal examination should lead to a tentative diagnosis.
Long term treatment with omalizumab in adolescent with refractory solar urticaria
Authors: Iannelli Mauro , Passanisi Stefano , Crisafulli Giuseppe , Arasi Stefania , Caminiti Lucia , Zirilli Giuseppina , Pajno Giovanni B.
Published: September 2021

Background

Solar urticaria represents an uncomfortable form of chronic inducible urticaria. First and second-line treatments are ineffective in some patients, leading to an impairment in their quality of life. Omalizumab represents a safe therapeutic option in case of refractory solar urticaria.

Case presentation

We update a case of a 21-year-old Caucasian girl affected by solar urticaria from the age of 14. Poor disease control was achieved with standard or high-dose of H1-antihistamines. Several omalizumab courses, including a 1-year-long course, were practiced resulting in clinical remission and significant improvement in patient’s quality of life.

Conclusion

Our experience confirms the effectiveness and safety of omalizumab for the management of refractory solar urticaria. Future studies are awaited in order to monitor long term effects and chronic doses of this treatment, particularly in patients who need concomitant therapy with antihistamines.
Association of deranged cerebrovascular reactivity with brain injury following cardiac arrest: a post-hoc analysis of the COMACARE trial
Authors: Laurikkala Johanna , Aneman Anders , Peng Alexander , Reinikainen Matti , Pham Paul , Jakkula Pekka , Hästbacka Johanna , Wilkman Erika , Loisa Pekka , Toppila Jussi , Birkelund Thomas , Blennow Kaj , Zetterberg Henrik , Skrifvars Markus B.
Published: September 2021

Background

Impaired cerebrovascular reactivity (CVR) is one feature of post cardiac arrest encephalopathy. We studied the incidence and features of CVR by near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) and associations with outcome and biomarkers of brain injury.

Methods

A post-hoc analysis of 120 comatose OHCA patients continuously monitored with NIRS and randomised to low- or high-normal oxygen, carbon dioxide and mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) targets for 48 h. The tissue oximetry index (TOx) generated by the moving correlation coefficient between cerebral tissue oxygenation measured by NIRS and MAP was used as a dynamic index of CVR with TOx > 0 indicating impaired reactivity and TOx > 0.3 used to delineate the lower and upper MAP bounds for disrupted CVR. TOxwas analysed in the 0–12, 12–24, 24–48 h time-periods and integrated over 0–48 h. The primary outcome was the association between TOxand six-month functional outcome dichotomised by the cerebral performance category (CPC1-2 good vs. 3–5 poor). Secondary outcomes included associations with MAP bounds for CVR and biomarkers of brain injury.

Results

In 108 patients with sufficient data to calculate TOx, 76 patients (70%) had impaired CVR and among these, chronic hypertension was more common (58% vs. 31%,p = 0.002). Integrated TOxfor 0–48 h was higher in patients with poor outcome than in patients with good outcome (0.89 95% CI [− 1.17 to 2.94] vs. − 2.71 95% CI [− 4.16 to − 1.26],p = 0.05). Patients with poor outcomes had a decreased upper MAP bound of CVR over time (p = 0.001), including the high-normal oxygen (p = 0.002), carbon dioxide (p = 0.012) and MAP (p = 0.001) groups. The MAP range of maintained CVR was narrower in all time intervals and intervention groups (p < 0.05). NfL concentrations were higher in patients with impaired CVR compared to those with intact CVR (43 IQR [15–650] vs 20 IQR [13–199] pg/ml,p = 0.042).

Conclusion

Impaired CVR over 48 h was more common in patients with chronic hypertension and associated with poor outcome. Decreased upper MAP bound and a narrower MAP range for maintained CVR were associated with poor outcome and more severe brain injury assessed with NfL.

Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov,NCT02698917.
Anabolic–androgenic steroids and dietary supplements among resistance trained individuals in western cities of Saudi Arabia
Authors: Almohammadi Ameen Mosleh , Edriss Anas Mohammed , Enani Turki Talal
Published: September 2021

Background

Anabolic–androgenic steroids (AAS) contain testosterone-like androgens and are used as supplements to improve performance, therapeutic measures, appearance, and muscular development.

Purpose

This study aimed to estimate using anabolic–androgenic steroids (AAS) and good and bad practices about dietary supplements among resistance-trained individuals. It further seeked to determine the use of common drugs and supplements containing anabolic steroids among resistance-trained individuals (who work out at the sports centre) and assess users' knowledge about its side effects.

Methods

A cross-sectional survey was conducted at the sports centres of the western cities of Saudi Arabia. A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data from 120 male resistance-trained individuals.

Results

The majority of the participants (80%) reported that they had not used any hormonal bodybuilding supplement last year, while 20% said they had used such hormonal supplements. Approximately half (52.5%) of participants reported that they always used dietary supplements. A total of 44.2% of participants possessed inadequate knowledge of these products. The main reason behind the use of hormones and supplements was to increase muscle mass.

Conclusions

A minority of resistance-trained individuals in the studied population frequently misused AAS. However, the results cannot be generalised to the whole of Saudi Arabia. AAS consumption can be reduced by enhancing the level of awareness and knowledge of potential adverse health outcomes.
Novel culture media enhances mononuclear cells from patients with chronic limb-threatening ischemia to increase vasculogenesis and anti-inflammatory effect
Authors: Chruewkamlow Nuttapol , Pruekprasert Kanin , Phutthakunphithak Phakawan , Acharayothin Onchira , Prapassaro Tossapol , Hongku Kiattisak , Hahtapornsawan Suteekhanit , Puangpunngam Nattawut , Chinsakchai Khamin , Wongwanit Chumpol , Ruangsetakit Chanean , Sermsathanasawadi Nuttawut
Published: September 2021

Background

Quality and Quantity culture media (QQ culture media) was reported to enhance vasculogenesis and angiogenesis function of mononuclear cells (MNCs) from healthy volunteers. In this study, MNCs from chronic limb-threatening ischemia (CLTI) patients were cultured in QQ culture media, and then investigated for angiogenesis-related phenotype and function.

Methods

Patients aged ≥ 18 years with CLTI caused by atherosclerosis of the lower extremities were prospectively recruited at Siriraj Hospital (Bangkok, Thailand) during July 2017–December 2018. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMNCs) were isolated from peripheral blood. PBMNCs were cultured in either QQ culture media or standard culture media. The number of CD34+CD133+ cells, CD206+ cells, CD4+CD25+CD127+ cells, colony formation assay, and human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) tube formation assay in MNCs were compared between those cultured in QQ culture media and those cultured in standard culture media.

Results

Thirty-nine patients were included with a mean age of 69 ± 11 years. Diabetes mellitus was found in 25 (64%) patients. The percentage of CD34+CD133+ progenitor cells in MNCs cultured in QQ culture media and in MNCs cultured in standard culture media was 4.91 ± 5.30% and 0.40 ± 0.46%, respectively (p < 0.0001). The percentage of CD206+ cells in MNCs cultured in QQ culture media and in MNCs cultured in standard culture media was 19.31 ± 11.42% and 4.40 ± 2.54%, respectively (p < 0.0001). The percentage of inactive population of T regulatory cells (CD4+CD25+CD127+ cells) in MNCs cultured in standard culture media and in MNCs cultured in QQ culture media was 14.5 ± 10.68% and 1.84 ± 1.37%, respectively (p < 0.0001). The total number of colony-forming units from MNCs cultured in QQ culture media and in MNCs cultured in standard culture media was 8.86 ± 8.35 of 2 × 105 cells/dish, and 0.58 ± 1.05 of 2 × 105 cells/dish, respectively (p < 0.0001). The mean intensity of Dil-Ac-LDL uptake that incorporated into the HUVEC forming tube was 1.37 ± 0.88 in MNCs cultured in QQ culture media, and 0.78 ± 0.41 in MNCs cultured in standard culture media. (p < 0.0003).

Conclusions

MNCs from CLTI patients that were cultured in QQ culture media had a significantly higher number of CD34+CD133+ cells and anti-inflammatory cells, and higher angiogenesis-related function compared to MNCs cultured in standard culture media.
Applications, challenges and prospects of mesenchymal stem cell exosomes in regenerative medicine
Authors: Rezabakhsh Aysa , Sokullu Emel , Rahbarghazi Reza
Published: September 2021

Recent advances in the identification and application of different stem cell types have offered alternative therapeutic approaches for clinicians. The lack of successful engraftment, migration into the injured site, loss of functionality and viability, ethical issues, shortage of donated allogeneic stem cells and the possibility of transmission of infectious are the main challenges associated with direct cell transplantation. The discovery and research on exosomes have led to the rise of hopes for the alleviation of different pathologies in regenerative medicine. Exo are nano-sized extracellular vesicles (40–150 nm) and released by each type. These nanoparticles participate in cell-to-cell communication in a paracrine manner. It is thought that the application of Exo can circumvent several drawbacks related to whole-cell therapies. Because of their appropriate size and stability, Exo are touted as therapeutic bullets transferring signaling factors into the acceptor cells in a paracrine manner. Despite these advantages, technologies associated with Exo isolation and purification are challenging because of heterogeneity in exosomal size and cargo. The lack of standard GMP-grade protocols is the main hurdle that limits the extensive application of Exo in the clinical setting. Here, the authors aimed to inspire a logical and realistic vision about problems associated with Exo application in regenerative medicine.
FP-ADMET: a compendium of fingerprint-based ADMET prediction models
Authors: Venkatraman Vishwesh
Published: September 2021

Motivation

The absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity (ADMET) of drugs plays a key role in determining which among the potential candidates are to be prioritized. In silico approaches based on machine learning methods are becoming increasing popular, but are nonetheless limited by the availability of data. With a view to making both data and models available to the scientific community, we have developed FPADMET which is a repository of molecular fingerprint-based predictive models for ADMET properties.

In this article, we have examined the efficacy of fingerprint-based machine learning models for a large number of ADMET-related properties. The predictive ability of a set of 20 different binary fingerprints (based on substructure keys, atom pairs, local path environments, as well as custom fingerprints such as all-shortest paths) for over 50 ADMET and ADMET-related endpoints have been evaluated as part of the study. We find that for a majority of the properties, fingerprint-based random forest models yield comparable or better performance compared with traditional 2D/3D molecular descriptors.

Availability

The models are made available as part of open access software that can be downloaded from https://gitlab.com/vishsoft/fpadmet.
On iterative methods for bilevel equilibrium problems
Authors: Jaipranop Chanitnan , Saejung Satit
Published: September 2021

We use the notion of Halpern-type sequence recently introduced by the present authors to conclude two strong convergence theorems for solving the bilevel equilibrium problems proposed by Yuying et al. and some authors. Our result excludes some assumptions as were the cases in their results.
Coupling reduced-order blood flow and cardiac models through energy-consistent strategies: modeling and discretization
Authors: Manganotti Jessica , Caforio Federica , Kimmig François , Moireau Philippe , Imperiale Sebastien
Published: September 2021

In this work we provide a novel energy-consistent formulation for the classical 1D formulation of blood flow in an arterial segment. The resulting reformulation is shown to be suitable for the coupling with a lumped (0D) model of the heart that incorporates a reduced formulation of the actin-myosin interaction. The coupling being consistent with energy balances, we provide a complete heart-circulation model compatible with thermodynamics hence stable numerically and informative physiologically. These latter two properties are verified by numerical experiments.
A cross-sectional examination of the simultaneous association of four emotion regulation strategies with abnormal eating behaviours among women in Japan
Authors: Murayama Yasuo , Ohya Aiko
Published: September 2021

Background

Research has suggested an association between emotion regulation strategies (ERSs) and abnormal eating behaviours/attitudes (AEB), and many studies have examined the association of one particular ERS with AEB. Additionally, different ERSs are reported to be strongly correlated with each other. Therefore, the associations between an individual ERS and AEB, reported previously, may be spurious. The present cross-sectional study aims to examine the simultaneous associations of four ERSs (brooding, reflection, expressive suppression, cognitive reappraisal) with AEB in a sample of women in Japan.

Methods

The participants comprised 1528 Japanese women (Mage = 40.65 years, SDage = 10.22 years, range 21–59). They self-reported the frequency at which they use these ERSs, their levels of AEB (i.e. drive for thinness, bulimic symptoms), and the confounding variables (e.g. psychological distress and BMI) online. AEB was measured using the Japanese version of the 91-item Eating Disorder Inventory; brooding and reflection were measured using the Japanese version of the Rumination Response Scale; individual differences in the use of reappraisal and expression suppression was measured using the Japanese version of the Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (J-ERQ); and participants’ psychological distress was assessed using the Kessler 6 Japanese version (K6-J).

Results

Correlation analyses revealed that all ERSs were positively correlated with AEB. However, regression analyses revealed inconsistent findings. In the regression model, after controlling for the confounding variables, only brooding indicated a positive association with the drive for thinness. Regarding bulimic symptoms, all ERSs showed a positive association, except reappraisal, which had a weak, negative association.

Conclusion

These results suggest that brooding is related to the symptom levels of both eating disorders among women, whereas, the other ERSs are related to those of bulimic symptoms only. However, further research is required to clarify the causal relations between AEB and ERSs.
High-throughput and high-sensitivity capillary electrophoresis–mass spectrometry method for sulfur-containing amino acids
Authors: Zhao Jieyu , Dong Bing , Zhao Yanni , Yang Jun , Pei Pei , Ji Xianbing , Quan Yulian
Published: September 2021

Biological thiol amino acids have been suggested as biomarkers for pathological changes because they are reactive chemicals that participate in various physiological processes. In this study, multisegmented injection capillary electrophoresis–mass spectrometry with online sample preconcentration was used for analysis of thiol amino acids and intermediates of sulfur metabolism in human glioma cell line U-251 with high accuracy, throughput, and sensitivity. This was achieved using multiple, large-volume injections for online sample preconcentration. The 16 intermediates of sulfur metabolism had a good linear correlation coefficient range of 0.984–1 and the limit of detection range was 1.4–203.9 ng/mL. The recovery ranges of most amino acids were 88.1–114.5%, 89.0–104.3%, and 76.9–104.5% at 0.3, 0.75, and 1.5 μg/mL, respectively. The relative standard deviation ranges for the inter- and intra-day precision were 1.8–10.7% and 4.3–18.8%, respectively. Compared with the traditional injection method, the analytical time for compounds in sulfur metabolism was reduced to 4 min/sample, the method throughput was enhanced five times, and the sensitivity was increased 14.4–33.1 times. Customized injection sequences were applied in experimental optimization. The developed method simplified the experimental optimization to one injection and is suitable for the analysis of sulfur metabolites in biological samples and has high sensitivity, throughput, speed, and accuracy.
Convolutional neural network optimizes the application of diffusion kurtosis imaging in Parkinson’s disease
Authors: Sun Junyan , Chen Ruike , Tong Qiqi , Ma Jinghong , Gao Linlin , Fang Jiliang , Zhang Dongling , Chan Piu , He Hongjian , Wu Tao
Published: September 2021

Objectives

The literature regarding the use of diffusion-tensor imaging-derived metrics in the evaluation of Parkinson’s disease (PD) is controversial. This study attempted to assess the feasibility of a deep-learning-based method for detecting alterations in diffusion kurtosis measurements associated with PD.

Methods

A total of 68 patients with PD and 77 healthy controls were scanned using scanner-A (3 T Skyra) (DATASET-1). Meanwhile, an additional five healthy volunteers were scanned with both scanner-A and an additional scanner-B (3 T Prisma) (DATASET-2). Diffusion kurtosis imaging (DKI) of DATASET-2 had an extra b shell compared to DATASET-1. In addition, a 3D-convolutional neural network (CNN) was trained from DATASET-2 to harmonize the quality of scalar measures of scanner-A to a similar level as scanner-B. Whole-brain unpaired t test and Tract-Based Spatial Statistics (TBSS) were performed to validate the differences between the PD and control groups using the model-fitting method and CNN-based method, respectively. We further clarified the correlation between clinical assessments and DKI results.

Results

An increase in mean diffusivity (MD) was found in the left substantia nigra (SN) in the PD group. In the right SN, fractional anisotropy (FA) and mean kurtosis (MK) values were negatively correlated with Hoehn and Yahr (H&Y) scales. In the putamen (Put), FA values were positively correlated with the H&Y scales. It is worth noting that these findings were only observed with the deep learning method. There was neither a group difference nor a correlation with clinical assessments in the SN or striatum exceeding the significance level using the conventional model-fitting method.

Conclusions

The CNN-based method improves the robustness of DKI and can help to explore PD-associated imaging features.
A case of appendiceal ganglioneuroma in neurofibromatosis type 1
Authors: Shimizu Tadaaki , Hondo Nao , Miyagawa Yusuke , Kitazawa Masato , Muranaka Futoshi , Tokumaru Shigeo , Nakamura Satoshi , Koyama Makoto , Yamamoto Yuta , Ehara Takehito , Miyazaki Satoru , Iijima Yasuhiro , Iwaya Mai , Soejima Yuji
Published: September 2021

Background

Neurofibromatosis type 1 is an autosomal dominant inherited disease associated with multiple skin neurofibromas or other neurogenic tumors, such as nodular plexiform neurinoma or cerebrospinal tumor. Gastrointestinal stromal tumors are often complicated in patients with neurofibromatosis type 1, although involvement of the appendix is rare, and there have been few reports of appendiceal ganglioneuroma.

Case presentation

The patient was a 29-year-old man diagnosed with neurofibromatosis type 1 based on physical findings and his family history. During the follow-up of neurofibromatosis, computed tomography was performed to detect neurological tumors, such as neurofibromas in the brain, spinal cord, and gastrointestinal tract. Computed tomography showed a markedly thickened appendix wall, and an appendiceal tumor was suspected. Laparoscopic appendectomy was performed, and a 50 × 35 mm appendiceal submucosal tumor was resected with a negative resection margin. At histopathological examination, the tumor was diagnosed as ganglioneuroma; it showed short spindle-shaped cells and ganglion cells diffusely infiltrated into the proper muscle layer and fibrous tissue that grew around nerve cells. The patient was discharged on the 5th postoperative day without postoperative complications and was doing well at 13 months following the operation.

Conclusions

Gastrointestinal stromal tumor and neurofibroma are the most common gastrointestinal tumors associated with neurofibromatosis type 1, but ganglioneuroma of the appendix is rare. Appendiceal neurogenic tumors should be considered in patients with neurofibromatosis type 1, and surgical resection is necessary because of the risk of malignancy.
The legacy of fire: long-term changes to the forest understory from periodic burns in a New England oak-hickory forest
Authors: Borden Caroline G. , Duguid Marlyse C. , Ashton Mark S.
Published: September 2021

Background

Over the last century, fire exclusion has caused dramatic structural and compositional changes to southern New England forests, highlighting the need to reintroduce fires into the historically pyrogenic landscape to study the response. We investigated the effects of a single overstory thinning and midstory removal to create an open oak-hickory woodland structure, followed by repeated prescribed burns. We hypothesized that burning would create greater floristic diversity comprising fire-tolerant woody regeneration and shade-intolerant herbaceous flora. We followed shifts in plant structure, composition, and diversity over a 23-year period, using a before-after-control-impact design with data collected once prior to burning and twice after burn treatments had begun and with soil samples collected after nearly 20 years of burning.

Results

We observed a dense ingrowth of saplings on unburned plots that were largely absent from burned plots and a shift in midstory composition to favor mesic sweet birch (Betula lentaL.) in the unburned treatment, as opposed to the hickories (CaryaNutt. spp.) and oaks (QuercusL. spp.) that dominated the burned treatment. Burning resulted in a significantly greater density, richness, Shannon diversity, and evenness of understory vegetation (forbs, shrubs, tree seedlings). These four measures remained high on burned plots, despite a decrease in both floristic diversity and evenness on unburned plots and a reduction in unburned site-level richness. Understory composition varied significantly by year and burn treatment, with unburned plots largely characterized by shade-tolerant species while burned plots showed an enhanced abundance of heliophilic plants.

Conclusions

Our results suggest that periodic burning increases nutrient microsite heterogeneity and periodically maintains greater understory light, both of which in turn increase understory plant density and diversity and cause a shift in understory composition. This study shows that repeated prescribed burns in an open New England woodland have lasting structural and compositional effects capable of restoring pre-settlement, pyrogenic vegetation patterns.
Interplay of Things
Authors: Pinn Anthony B.
Published: September 2021

In Interplay of Things Anthony B. Pinn theorizes religion as a technology for interrogating human experiences and the boundaries between people and other things. Rather than considering religion in terms of institutions, doctrines, and creeds, Pinn shows how religion exposes the openness and porousness of all things and how they are always involved in processes of exchange and interplay. Pinn examines work by Nella Larsen and Richard Wright that illustrates an openness between things, and he traces how pop art and readymades point to the multidirectional nature of influence. He also shows how Ron Athey's and Clifford Owens's performance art draws out inherent interconnectedness to various cultural codes in ways that reveal the symbiotic relationship between art and religion as a technology. Theorizing that antiblack racism and gender- and class-based hostility constitute efforts to close off the porous nature of certain bodies, Pinn shows how many artists have rebelled against these attempts to counter openness. His analyses offer a means by which to understand the porous, unbounded, and open nature of humans and things.
Dynamic movements facilitate extreme gap crossing in flying snakes
Authors: Graham Mal , Socha John J.
Published: September 2021

In arboreal habitats, direct routes between two locations can be impeded by gaps in the vegetation. Arboreal animals typically use dynamic movements, such as jumping, to navigate these gaps if the distance between supports exceeds their reaching ability. In contrast, most snakes only use the cantilever crawl to cross gaps. This behavior imposes large torques on the animal, inhibiting their gap-crossing capabilities. Flying snakes (Chrysopelea), however, are known to use dynamic behaviors in a different arboreal context: they use a high-acceleration jump to initiate glides. We hypothesized that flying snakes also use jumping take-off behaviors to cross gaps, allowing them to cross larger distances. To test this hypothesis, we used a six-camera motion-capture system to investigate the effect of gap size on crossing behavior in Chrysopelea paradisi, and analyzed the associated kinematics and torque requirements. We found that C. paradisi typically uses cantilevering for small gaps (<47.5% snout–vent length, SVL). Above this distance, C. paradisi were more likely to use dynamic movements than cantilevers, either arching upward or employing a below-branch loop of the body. These dynamic movements extended the range of horizontal crossing to ∼120% SVL. The behaviors used for the largest gaps were kinematically similar to the J-loop jumps used in gliding, and involved smaller torques than the cantilevers. These data suggest that the ability to jump allows flying snakes to access greater resources in the arboreal environment, and supports the broader hypothesis that arboreal animals jump across gaps only when reaching is not mechanically possible.
Bone conduction pathways confer directional cues to salamanders
Authors: Capshaw G. , Christensen-Dalsgaard J. , Soares D. , Carr C. E.
Published: September 2021

Sound and vibration are generated by mechanical disturbances within the environment, and the ability to detect and localize these acoustic cues is generally important for survival, as suggested by the early emergence of inherently directional otolithic ears in vertebrate evolutionary history. However, fossil evidence indicates that the water-adapted ear of early terrestrial tetrapods lacked specialized peripheral structures to transduce sound pressure (e.g. tympana). Therefore, early terrestrial hearing should have required nontympanic (or extratympanic) mechanisms for sound detection and localization. Here, we used atympanate salamanders to investigate the efficacy of extratympanic pathways to support directional hearing in air. We assessed peripheral encoding of directional acoustic information using directionally masked auditory brainstem response recordings. We used laser Doppler vibrometry to measure the velocity of sound pressure-induced head vibrations as a key extratympanic mechanism for aerial sound reception in atympanate species. We found that sound generates head vibrations that vary with the angle of the incident sound. This extratympanic pathway for hearing supports a figure-eight pattern of directional auditory sensitivity to airborne sound in the absence of a pressure-transducing tympanic ear.
Micro-Level Misallocation and Selection
Authors: Yang Mu-Jeung
Published: September 2021

How large are the aggregate productivity losses from the misallocation of resources across firms? With endogenous selection, microfrictions can induce extensive margin misallocation among firms: too many unproductive firms are active (Zombies), and too many productive firms are inactive (Shadows). Therefore, the same set of measured distortions potentially induces much larger aggregate productivity losses, as the composition of firms is shifted toward unproductive active firms. I develop and calibrate a model with plant-level microdata for Indonesia to quantify aggregate welfare in the presence of extensive margin misallocation. My estimates show that selection can magnify aggregate TFP losses from microdistortions by over 40 percent compared to existing estimates. Realistic values of measurement error even increase the relative importance of extensive margin misallocation. (JEL D22, D24, E23, J24, J31, O14, O15)
Why Are Banks Exposed to Monetary Policy?
Authors: Di Tella Sebastian , Kurlat Pablo
Published: September 2021

We propose a model of banks’ exposure to movements in interest rates and their role in the transmission of monetary shocks. Since bank deposits provide liquidity, higher interest rates allow banks to earn larger spreads on deposits. Therefore, if risk aversion is higher than one, banks’ optimal dynamic hedging strategy is to take losses when interest rates rise. This risk exposure can be achieved by a traditional maturity-mismatched balance sheet and amplifies the effects of monetary shocks on the cost of liquidity. The model can match the level, time pattern, and cross-sectional pattern of banks’ maturity mismatch. (JEL E43, E44, E51, E52, G21, G32)
Uncertainty and Business Cycles: Exogenous Impulse or Endogenous Response?
Authors: Ludvigson Sydney C. , Ma Sai , Ng Serena
Published: September 2021

Uncertainty about the future rises in recessions. But is uncertainty a source of business cycles or an endogenous response to them, and does the type of uncertainty matter? We propose a novel SVAR identification strategy to address these questions via inequality constraints on the structural shocks. We find that sharply higher macroeconomic uncertainty in recessions is often an endogenous response to output shocks, while uncertainty about financial markets is a likely source of output fluctuations. (JEL D81, E23, E32, E44, G14)
The Young, the Old, and the Government: Demographics and Fiscal Multipliers
Authors: Basso Henrique S. , Rachedi Omar
Published: September 2021

We document that government spending multipliers depend on the population age structure. Using the variation in military spending and birth rates across US states, we show that the local fiscal multiplier is 1.5 and increases with the population share of young people, implying multipliers of 1.1–1.9 in the interquartile range. A parsimonious life cycle open economy New Keynesian model with credit market imperfections and age-specific differences in labor supply and demand explains 87 percent of the relationship between local multipliers and demographics. The model implies that the US population aging between 1980 and 2015 caused a 38 percent drop in national government spending multipliers. (JEL D15, E12, E24, E62, J11, J22, J23)
A digital twin network solution for end-to-end network service level agreement (SLA) assurance
Authors: Sun Xiaowen , Zhou Cheng , Duan Xiaodong , Sun Tao
Published: September 2021

With the gradual development of the 5G industry network and applications, each industry application has various network performance requirements, while customers hope to upgrade their industrial structures by leveraging 5G technologies. The guarantee of service level agreement (SLA) requirements is becoming more and more important, especially SLA performance indicators, such as delay, jitter, bandwidth, etc. For network operators to fulfill customer’s requirements, emerging network technologies such as time-sensitive networking (TSN), edge computing (EC) and network slicing are introduced into the mobile network to improve network performance, which increase the complexity of the network operation and maintenance (O&M), as well as the network cost. As a result, operators urgently need new solutions to achieve low-cost and high-efficiency network SLA management. In this paper, a digital twin network (DTN) solution is innovatively proposed to achieve the mapping and full lifecycle management of the end-to-end physical network. All the network operation policies such as configuration and modification can be generated and verified inside the digital twin network first to make sure that the SLA requirements can be fulfilled without affecting the related network environment and the performance of the other network services, making network operation and maintenance more effective and accurate.
Emotional burnout of police officers: phenomenology and prevention
Authors: Pryahina Marina , Dushkin Anton , Goncharova Natal'ya , Sharanov Yuriy , Shakhmatov Alexander
Published: September 2021

Currently, police work is considered a stressful professional occupation that requires police officers to be able to cope with danger, uncertainty and unpredictability, which, together with other factors, determines the development of emotional burnout syndrome in police officers. The article presents a phenomenological analysis of the scientific positions of domestic and foreign authors, which allowed us to establish the characteristic manifestations of emotional burnout and establish the consistency of views on this phenomenon within the framework of three main directions: individual psychological, socio-psychological and organizational-psychological. The purpose of the study was to update and bring together views on a significant problem, the solution of which provides the subject of the law enforcement sphere with the preservation of working capacity, well-being, and psychological health. As a result of the conducted research, groups of factors of personal, organizational, role and motivational genesis that affect the development of emotional burnout are established. The features of emotional burnout of police officers are revealed, which are manifested in the reduction of the performance of official duties due to irrational or reduced emotional expression, a sense of dissatisfaction with oneself, personal alienation, depression, emotional lability, irritability, neuroticism with a tendency to spontaneous and reactive aggression. The protective and coping behavior of police officers is associated with the predominance of non-constructive coping of the antisocial, passive and manipulative type, as well as the priority use of the "regression"mechanism of psychological protection. On the basis of the conducted research, the directions of psychological prevention of emotional burnout of police officers are determined
Peculiarities of 630.0 and 557.7 nm emissions in the main ionospheric trough: March 17, 2015
Authors: Zolotukhina Nina , Polekh Nelya , Mikhalev Aleksandr , Beletsky Aleksandr , Podlesny Stepan
Published: September 2021

Peculiarities of 557.7 and 630.0 nm emissions observed in the second step of the magnetic storm main phase at the mid-latitude observatory Tory (52° N, 103° E) on March 17, 2015 are compared with the changes in ionospheric parameters above this station, detected from ionospheric sounding data and total electron content maps. We have found that the intensity of the 557.7 and 630.0 nm emissions noticeably increased after the observatory entered into the longitudinal sector of the developed main ionospheric trough (MIT). The most powerful synchronous increases in intensities of the two emissions are associated with amplification of the westward electrojet during strengthening of the magnetospheric convection. We study the dependence of the ratios between the intensities of 630.0 nm emission recorded in the north, zenith, and south directions on the position of emitting regions relative to the MIT bottom. The SAR arc is shown to appear initially near the bottom of the MIT polar wall and approach the zenith of the station during registration of F3s reflections by an ionosonde, which indicate the presence of a polarization jet near the observation point.
The Rule of Existential Generalisation and Explicit Substitution
Authors: Raclavský Jiří
Published: September 2021

The present paper offers the rule of existential generalization (EG) that is uniformly applicable within extensional, intensional and hyperintensional contexts. In contradistinction to Quine and his followers, quantification into various modal contexts and some belief attitudes is possible without obstacles. The hyperintensional logic deployed in this paper incorporates explicit substitution and so the rule (EG) is fully specified inside the logic. The logic is equipped with a natural deduction system within which (EG) is derived from its rules for the existential quantifier, substitution and functional application. This shows that (EG) is not primitive, as often assumed even in advanced writings on natural deduction. Arguments involving existential generalisation are shown to be valid if the sequents containing their premises and conclusions are derivable using the rule (EG). The invalidity of arguments seemingly employing (EG) is explained with recourse to the definition of substitution.
Dynamic Risked Equilibrium
Authors: Ferris Michael , Philpott Andy
Published: September 2021

We study a competitive partial equilibrium in markets where risk-averse agents solve multistage stochastic optimization problems formulated in scenario trees. The agents trade a commodity that is produced from an uncertain supply of resources. Both resources and the commodity can be stored for later consumption. Several examples of a multistage risked equilibrium are outlined, including aspects of battery and hydroelectric storage in electricity markets, distributed ownership of competing technologies relying on shared resources, and aspects of water control and pricing. The agents are assumed to have nested coherent risk measures based on one-step risk measures with polyhedral risk sets that have a nonempty intersection over agents. Agents can trade risk in a complete market of Arrow-Debreu securities. In this setting, we define a risk-trading competitive market equilibrium and establish two welfare theorems. Competitive equilibrium will yield a social optimum (with a suitably defined social risk measure) when agents have strictly monotone one-step risk measures. Conversely, a social optimum with an appropriately chosen risk measure will yield a risk-trading competitive market equilibrium when all agents have strictly monotone risk measures. The paper also demonstrates versions of these theorems when risk measures are not strictly monotone.
‘Let there be Light,’ and there was Light, but was it Enough? A Review of Modern Dental Light Curing
Authors: Bonsor Stephen J , Palin William M
Published: September 2021

Light curing, or photopolymerization, is a very common method of effecting the set of resin-containing dental materials. This review summarizes key aspects that influence optimal photopolymerization, and how both a basic knowledge of chemistry and properties of the light-curing device are essential to achieve optimal clinical performance of the material. Tips are offered with respect to both the light-curing units and those materials which are cured by them to ensure best practice when working clinically.

CPD/Clinical Relevance: A thorough knowledge and understanding of photopolymerization is critical to clinicians given that many dental materials in contemporary use are cured by this means.
An update on indirect prosthodontic materials and their manufacturing techniques
Authors: Gray David , Barraclough Olivia , Ali Zaid , Nattress Brian
Published: September 2021

Innovations in the fabrication of removable partial dentures depend not only on the development of new materials, but also on the availability of manufacturing techniques that can be applied to a dental environment. Many of these new materials have limited clinical evaluations, hence it can be difficult for the general dental practitioner to confidently determine which materials to use. The introduction of any new material into clinical practice often requires practitioners to go through a learning curve to make the most of the material and employ it most appropriately. This article provides an update on the materials available for removable partial dentures and discusses the advantages and disadvantages to enable the GDP to make an evidence-based decision.

CPD/Clinical Relevance: It is important that clinicians are aware of the alternative materials to conventional acrylic and cobalt chrome.
Medical Interactive Recovery Assistant: a useful clinical tool in paediatric shoulder rehabilitation?
Authors: Hashim Sophia SR , Sau Nasreen , Trickett Toni , Jaggi Anju , Eastwood Deborah M
Published: September 2021

Background/aims

Outpatient physical therapy is the mainstay of treatment in shoulder instability, but lack of motivation and intermittent monitoring of progress is associated with poor compliance. ‘Exergames’ (a combination of videogames and physical exercise) may provide an additional or alternative motivational factor. The aim of this study was to determine the applicability of the Medical Interactive Recovery Assistant Xbox Kinect gaming software in the management of adolescent atraumatic shoulder instability.

Methods

Patients completed six 30-minute sessions playing games using the Medical Interactive Recovery Assistant while participating in a therapy programme. Pain and fatigue questionnaires, functional assessments and a framework analysis of free-text comments were used.

Results

A total of 20 female patients (15 unilateral, five bilateral pathology, mean age 14.1 years) completed the sessions. An average session length was 10.8 mins (range 0–24 mins). After each session using the Medical Interactive Recovery Assistant, 80% were neither in pain, nor overly tired. At 2 weeks, the Stanmore Percentage of Normal Shoulder Assessment scores had improved by a mean 17.9% and 10 (50%) patients showed improvements in Oxford Shoulder Instability Scores. Overall, 15 participants (75%) liked the technology; however six (32%) preferred standard physiotherapy, because of software limitations and lack of personal interaction.

Conclusions

Medical Interactive Recovery Assistant gamification is applicable for this patient cohort and could be integrated into adolescent atraumatic shoulder instability rehabilitation programmes; however, results emphasise the importance of personal contact.
Management of persistent sinus tachycardia during post-acute rehabilitation in a critical patient with COVID-19: a single-case study
Authors: Tay Matthew Rong Jie , Thio Jocelyn Mei Lin , Low Yee Hong , Lau Simon Wing Tai , Chan Wai Lim William
Published: September 2021

Background

Sinus tachycardia is a common arrhythmia in patients with COVID-19, and may pose challenges during rehabilitation.

Case description

This is a case report of a 39-year-old critically ill patient with COVID-19 with no premorbid conditions, who presented with intensive care unit-acquired weakness and persistent sinus tachycardia after their stay in an intensive care unit. The sinus tachycardia and exertional symptoms contributed to a severely limited exercise capacity (assessed through the 6-Minute Walk Test and 2-Minute Step Test), which impaired the progress of inpatient rehabilitation. This was addressed through the use of bisoprolol for heart rate control and a rehabilitation programme based on cardiac rehabilitation principles.

Results

The patient's intensive care unit-acquired weakness improved with exercise-based rehabilitation, and the Functional Independence Measure motor subscore improved from 54/91 to 91/91 on discharge after 6 weeks of inpatient rehabilitation. After bisoprolol was started for sinus tachycardia, the patient's resting heart rate improved from 106 beats per minute to less than 90 beats per minute during this period of inpatient rehabilitation. During the same period, the patient exhibited concurrent improvement in exercise capacity on weekly 6-Minute Walk Test measurements. Improvements in the 2-Minute Step Test were also documented.

Conclusions

Patient assessment using submaximal exercise testing with serial 6-Minute Walk Tests and 2-Minute Step Tests, along with using beta-blockers and cardiac rehabilitation principles, can be useful in the post-acute rehabilitation of patients recovering from COVID-19 with persistent sinus tachycardia.
Minimum distance and idempotent generators of minimal cyclic codes of length ${p_1}^{\alpha_1}{p_2}^{\alpha_2}{p_3}^{\alpha_3}$
Authors: KUMAR Pankaj , DEVİ Pinki
Published: September 2021

Let $ p_1, p_2, p_3, q $ be distinct primes and $ m={p_1}^{\alpha_1}{p_2}^{\alpha_2}{p_3}^{\alpha_3}$. In this paper, it is shown that the explicit expressions of primitive idempotents in the semi-simple ring $R_m = { F_q[x]}/{(x^m-1)}$ are the trace function of explicit expressions of primitive idempotents from $R_{p_i^{\alpha_i}}$. The minimal polynomials, generating polynomials and minimum distances of minimal cyclic codes of length $m$ over $F_q$ are also discussed. All the results obtained in \cite{ref[1]}, \cite{ref[4]}, \cite{ref[5]}, \cite{ref[6]}, \cite{ref[11]} and \cite{ref[14]} are simple corollaries to the results obtained in the paper.