bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Preventing recurrent preterm birth with 125 mg of 17‐alpha‐hydroxyprogesterone caproate
Authors: Fukuda Toma , Kyozuka Hyo , Murata Tsuyoshi , Yasuda Shun , Yamaguchi Akiko , Fujimori Keiya
Published: July 2021

Aim

There is strong evidence that weekly intramuscular (IM) injections of 250 mg of 17‐alpha‐hydroxyprogesterone caproate (17‐OHPC) reduce the risk of recurrent preterm birth (PTB); however, whether a lower dose of 17‐OHPC could reduce the risk of recurrent PTB remains unclear. This study aimed to assess whether 125 mg of 17‐OHPC reduces recurrent PTB among women with a prior singleton spontaneous PTB and cervical length >25 mm.

Methods

This retrospective cohort study at a tertiary‐care medical center in Japan included women with a prior singleton spontaneous PTB between 20 and 36 weeks' gestation and cervical length >25 mm, between 2008 and 2018. Primary outcomes were PTB <37 and <34 weeks' gestation. We calculated the adjusted odds ratio (aOR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) using a multiple logistic regression model. Gestational age at delivery was compared using the Kaplan–Meier survival curve and log‐rank test.

Results

Overall, 173 women met the inclusion criteria. Eighty‐four women received weekly injections of 125 mg of 17‐OHPC, and 89 did not. Treatment with 125 mg of 17‐OHPC significantly reduced the risk of recurrent spontaneous PTB <37 (aOR: 0.156 [95% CI: 0.049–0.497]) and <34 weeks' gestation (aOR: 0.156 [95% CI: 0.049–0.497]). The mean delivery gestational age was also significantly longer in the 17‐OHPC group (log‐rank p = 0.005).

Conclusions

In this study population, weekly IM injections of 125 mg of 17‐OHPC reduced the risk of recurrent PTB <37 and <34 weeks' gestation.
Limits of therapeutic intervention in a tertiary neonatal intensive care unit in patients with major congenital anomalies in Brazil
Authors: Gibelli Maria A B C , de Carvalho Werther B , Krebs Vera L J
Published: July 2021

Aim

Major congenital anomalies are an important cause of death in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Therapeutic interventions and the suspension of those already in place often raise ethical dilemmas in neonatal care.

Methods

We analysed treatments—such as ventilatory support, vasoactive drugs, antibiotics, sedation/or analgesia, central venous access and other invasive procedures—offered up to 48 h before death to all newborns with major congenital anomalies over a 3‐year period in a NICU in Brazil. We also gathered information contained in medical records concerning conversations with the families and decisions to limit therapeutic interventions.

Results

We enrolled 74 newborns who were hospitalised from 1 January 2015 to 31 December 2017. A total of 81.1% had central venous access, 74.3% were on ventilatory support, 56.8% received antibiotics and 43.2% used some sedative/analgesic drugs in their final moments. Conversations were registered in medical records in 76% of cases, and 46% of the families chose therapeutic intervention limits. Those who chose to limit therapeutic interventions asked for less exposure to vasoactive drugs (P = 0.003) and antibiotics (P = 0.003), as well as fewer invasive procedures (P = 0.046). There was no change in ventilatory support (P = 0.66), and palliative extubation was not performed for any patient.

Conclusions

The therapeutic intervention was mainly characterised by maintenance of the current treatment when a terminal situation was identified with no introduction of new treatments that could increase suffering. The families' approach proved to be essential for making difficult decisions in the NICU.
Daytime and nocturnal activity in treated dogs with idiopathic epilepsy compared to matched unaffected controls
Authors: Barry Megan , Cameron Starr , Kent Sean , Barnes‐Heller Heidi , Grady Kylie
Published: July 2021

Background

In dogs, antiepileptic drugs (AED) cause lethargy but quantitative data regarding the effects of AED on activity levels are not available, and little is known about how AEDs affect sleep quality.

Objective

To quantitatively compare activity levels and nocturnal activity in dogs previously diagnosed with idiopathic epilepsy (IE) receiving AEDs compared to age‐ and breed‐matched control dogs.

Animals

Sixty‐two dogs with IE and 310 control dogs.

Methods

This is a 3‐month prospective parallel observational study. An activity monitoring device for dogs was used to measure daily activity levels and sleep scores in all dogs.

Results

Dogs with IE treated with AEDs had an 18% average lower baseline activity level compared to control dogs (P = .005; point estimate = 0.82, 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.75‐0.90). The combination of phenobarbital and potassium bromide (KBr) was associated with an average 28% decrease in activity in dogs with IE compared to control dogs (P = .03; point estimate = 0.72; CI, 0.62‐0.82). Mean sleep scores were not significantly different in dogs with IE receiving AEDs compared to control dogs (P = .43). However, higher dosages of KBr were associated with lower sleep scores (P = .01).

Conclusions

Dogs with IE receiving AEDs have lower activity levels, but no difference in sleep scores, compared to controls. The combination of phenobarbital and KBr had the largest decrease in activity between groups. Higher doses of KBr may affect nocturnal activity in epileptic dogs.
Multigenerational backcrossing and introgression between two woodrat species at an abrupt ecological transition
Authors: Jahner Joshua P. , Parchman Thomas L. , Matocq Marjorie D.
Published: July 2021

When organisms experience secondary contact after allopatric divergence, genomic regions can introgress differentially depending on their relationships with adaptation, reproductive isolation, recombination, and drift. Analyses of genome‐wide patterns of divergence and introgression could provide insight into the outcomes of hybridization and the potential relationship between allopatric divergence and reproductive isolation. Here, we generate population genetic data (26,262 SNPs; 353 individuals) using a reduced‐representation sequencing approach to quantify patterns of ancestry, differentiation, and introgression between a pair of ecologically distinct mammals—the desert woodrat (N. lepida) and Bryant's woodrat (N. bryanti)—that hybridize at a sharp ecotone in southern California. Individual ancestry estimates confirmed that hybrids were rare in this bimodal hybrid zone, and entirely consisted of a few F1 individuals and a broad range of multigenerational backcrosses. Genomic cline analyses indicated more than half of loci had elevated introgression from one genomic background into the other. However, introgression was not associated with relative or absolute measures of divergence, and loci with extreme values for both were not typically found near detoxification enzymes previously implicated in dietary specialization for woodrats. The decoupling of differentiation and introgression suggests that processes other than adaptation, such as drift, may underlie the extreme clines at this contact zone.
Autophosphorylation of the KaiC‐like protein ArlH inhibits oligomerization and interaction with ArlI, the motor ATPase of the archaellum
Authors: de Sousa Machado J. Nuno , Vollmar Leonie , Schimpf Julia , Chaudhury Paushali , Kumariya Rashmi , van der Does Chris , Hugel Thorsten , Albers Sonja‐Verena
Published: July 2021

Motile archaea are propelled by the archaellum, whose motor complex consists of the membrane protein ArlJ, the ATPase ArlI, and the ATP‐binding protein ArlH. Despite its essential function and the existence of structural and biochemical data on ArlH, the role of ArlH in archaellum assembly and function remains elusive. ArlH is a structural homolog of KaiC, the central component of the cyanobacterial circadian clock. Since autophosphorylation and dephosphorylation of KaiC are central properties for the function of KaiC, we asked whether autophosphorylation is also a property of ArlH proteins. We observed that both ArlH from the euryarchaeon Pyrococcus furiosus (PfArlH) and from the crenarchaeon Sulfolobus acidocaldarius (SaArlH) have autophosphorylation activity. Using a combination of single‐molecule fluorescence measurements and biochemical assays, we show that autophosphorylation of ArlH is closely linked to its oligomeric state when bound to hexameric ArlI. These experiments also strongly suggest that ArlH is a hexamer in its ArlI‐bound state. Mutagenesis of the putative catalytic residue (Glu‐57 in SaArlH) in ArlH results in a reduced autophosphorylation activity and abolished archaellation and motility in S. acidocaldarius, indicating that optimum phosphorylation activity of ArlH is essential for archaellation and motility.
Methodological overview and data‐merging approaches in the study of plant–frugivore interactions
Authors: Quintero Elena , Isla Jorge , Jordano Pedro
Published: July 2021

Recording species interactions is one of the main challenges in ecological studies. Frugivory has received much attention for decades as a model for mutualisms among free‐living species, and a variety of methods have been designed and developed for sampling and monitoring plant–frugivore interactions. The diversity of techniques poses an important challenge when comparing, combining or replicating results from different sources with different methodologies. With the emergence of modern techniques, such as molecular analysis or multimedia remote recorders, issues when combining data from different sources have become especially relevant. We provide an overview of all the techniques used for monitoring endozoochorous primary seed dispersal, focusing on a critical appraisal of the advantages and limitations, as well as the context‐dependency nature, of the different methods. We propose five data merging approaches potentially useful to combine frugivory interactions data from different methodologies. Additionally, we provide two case studies where we combine empirical data from plant–animal interactions in Mediterranean shrublands using different methodologies. Data merging resulted in a net increase in the number of distinct pairwise interactions recorded and compensated biases inherent to different methods, resulting in a more robust estimation of network topological descriptors. These case studies clarify the context‐dependent character of the merging approaches, highlighting the value of collecting detailed information on the sampling effort in terms of reliable results and reproducibility. Finally, we discuss the trends with different methodological approaches used in the last decades and future perspectives in this field.
“Phytopathological strolls” in the dual context of COVID‐19 lockdown and IYPH2020: Transforming constraints into an opportunity for public education about plant pathogens
Authors: Suffert Frédéric , Suffert Muriel
Published: July 2021

The experience presented here relates to 2020, a particularly timely year for plant disease‐related communication (International Year of Plant Health, IYPH2020), but also a unique year because of the COVID‐19 pandemic. Our goal was to illustrate the diversity and beauty of fungal plant pathogens through a naturalist approach that could be followed by any amateur. We achieved this end through “phytopathological strolls”, in which we observed and determined the origin of symptoms on diseased plants found in our garden, in the local streets, and in nearby open spaces, and shared this matter with a broad public. The lockdown imposed in France created an additional motivation to take up the challenge, and to involve our children, even under strong constraints such as movement restrictions. We observed and described fungal pathogens through hundreds of photographs, shared our findings with a large audience on Twitter, and received feedback. The material used was deliberately simple and transportable: a digital reflex camera, an old microscope, a mobile phone, some books, and an internet connection. Between 17 March 2020 and 20 June 2021 we found 196 plant pathogens, including 97 rusts, 27 powdery mildews, and 28 septoria‐like diseases. We discuss here the importance of promoting searches for plant pathogens, their description and conservation, through a combination of classical approaches and digital tools in tune with the times, such as Twitter, by treating pathogen identification like a detective game and, more surprisingly, by making use of the addictive nature of collection approaches, drawing a parallel with Pokémon GO.
Time‐resolved proteomic profiling of cigarette smoke‐induced experimental chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Authors: Skerrett‐Byrne David A. , Bromfield Elizabeth G. , Murray Heather C. , Jamaluddin M. Fairuz B. , Jarnicki Andrew G. , Fricker Michael , Essilfie Ama T. , Jones Bernadette , Haw Tatt J. , Hampsey Daniel , Anderson Amanda L. , Nixon Brett , Scott Rodney J. , Wark Peter A. B. , Dun Matthew D. , Hansbro Philip M.
Published: July 2021

Background and objective

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the third leading cause of illness and death worldwide. Current treatments aim to control symptoms with none able to reverse disease or stop its progression. We explored the major molecular changes in COPD pathogenesis.

Methods

We employed quantitative label‐based proteomics to map the changes in the lung tissue proteome of cigarette smoke‐induced experimental COPD that is induced over 8 weeks and progresses over 12 weeks.

Results

Quantification of 7324 proteins enabled the tracking of changes to the proteome. Alterations in protein expression profiles occurred in the induction phase, with 18 and 16 protein changes at 4‐ and 6‐week time points, compared to age‐matched controls, respectively. Strikingly, 269 proteins had altered expression after 8 weeks when the hallmark pathological features of human COPD emerge, but this dropped to 27 changes at 12 weeks with disease progression. Differentially expressed proteins were validated using other mouse and human COPD bronchial biopsy samples. Major changes in RNA biosynthesis (heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoproteins C1/C2 [HNRNPC] and RNA‐binding protein Musashi homologue 2 [MSI2]) and modulators of inflammatory responses (S100A1) were notable. Mitochondrial dysfunction and changes in oxidative stress proteins also occurred.

Conclusion

We provide a detailed proteomic profile, identifying proteins associated with the pathogenesis and disease progression of COPD establishing a platform to develop effective new treatment strategies.
Predicting Individual Effects in Fixed Effects Panel Probit Models
Authors: Kunz Johannes S. , Staub Kevin E. , Winkelmann Rainer
Published: July 2021

Many applied settings in empirical economics require estimation of a large number of individual effects, like teacher effects or location effects; in health economics, prominent examples include patient effects, doctor effects or hospital effects. Increasingly, these effects are the object of interest of the estimation, and predicted effects are often used for further descriptive and regression analyses. To avoid imposing distributional assumptions on these effects, they are typically estimated via fixed effects methods. In short panels, the conventional maximum likelihood estimator for fixed effects binary response models provides poor estimates of these individual effects since the finite sample bias is typically substantial. We present a bias-reduced fixed effects estimator that provides better estimates of the individual effects in these models by removing the first-order asymptotic bias. An additional, practical advantage of the estimator is that it provides finite predictions for all individual effects in the sample, including those for which the corresponding dependent variable has identical outcomes in all time periods over time (either all zeros or ones); for these, the maximum likelihood prediction is infinite. We illustrate the approach in simulation experiments and in an application to health care utilization.
Identification of the novel KIR3DL1*00702 allele in a Northern Chinese Han individual
Authors: Yang Zhi‐Chao , Chen Hao , Deng Zhi‐Hui
Published: July 2021

The novel KIR3DL1*00702 allele differs from the closest allele KIR3DL1*00701 by a single silent mutation.
Custom‐built constrained uniaxial and rotating hinge total knee replacement in cats: Clinical application, design principles, surgical technique, and clinical outcome
Authors: Fitzpatrick Noel , Miraldo Diogo C. , Meswania Jay
Published: July 2021

Objective

To describe the design principles and evolution, surgical technique, and outcome for custom constrained (uniaxial and rotating hinge) total knee replacement (TKR) in cats.

Study design

Retrospective case series.

Animals

Nine cats with traumatic stifle luxation (n = 8) or severe distal femoral deformity (n = 1) were considered suitable candidates.

Methods

Cats that met eligibility criteria and received a custom TKR between 2009 and 2018 by a single surgeon were included in this case series. Three generations of implant were used. Implant positioning was assessed by postoperative orthogonal radiography. Functional outcome was determined by clinical assessment, owner interview, and a feline musculoskeletal pain index questionnaire.

Results

Median clinical follow‐up time was 12 months (range, 4‐41); follow‐up time was increased to 29 months (range, 22‐47) when results of functional questionnaires with owner were included. Median radiographic follow‐up was 12 months (range, 4‐25). One cat had a catastrophic outcome. Three cats had good outcomes, and five cats had excellent outcomes.

Conclusion

Most cats treated with custom‐built TKR achieved good to excellent outcomes.

Clinical significance

Custom TKR is a viable option for the treatment of severe pathologies of the feline stifle. Additional research is required to fully evaluate implant suitability.
Food Numeracy: Definition and Application Across the Australian Secondary School Curriculum
Authors: Shakeri Shirin , McDaid Karen P , Fethney Judith
Published: July 2021

Introduction: The poor dietary intake among adolescents and the consequential health, economic and environmental concerns associated with poor intakes have been established in the literature. This calls for strengthening of school-based food and nutrition education interventions as recommended in the Australian National Action Plan for the Health of Children and Young People (2020-2030). One researched intervention, by the authors, is the integration of food literacy and food numeracy (FL&FN) across Australian secondary school curriculum. Aim: Food numeracy is a newly introduced term by the authors; this paper provides its substantiated definition, key elements, and an example pedagogy as an approach for integration and application across the curriculum. Methods: Methodologically, a review of scholarly peer-reviewed and grey litearture, and thematic analysis of all secondary school curriculum documents (years 7-10) have been conducted. Results: Food numeracy is defined as the ability to use mathematical skills effectively to partake of daily requirements and be aware of its value from farm to fork. Additionally, two food numeracy key elements of food production and food consumption with several sub-elements with their corresponding curriculum descriptors have been deduced from the curriculum documents. Finally, practical application and integration of food numeracy across all subjects has been demonstrated using deduced food numeracy and relevant numeracy elements from the Australian curriculum. Conclusion/future implication: It is anticipated that integration of food numeracy across the curriculum can strengthen adolescents’ knowledge and skills in both food and nutrition, and numeracy which has a direct correlation with enhanced health status. Introduction and application of food numeracy aligns with contemporary teaching practices which aim to inspire students to use analytical thinking to solve food-related problems and become conscientious global citizens.
A Critical Nugget Size Prediction Model for Al–Si-Coated Press Hardened Steel Resistance Spot Welds
Authors: Chen Ruiming , Lou Ming , Li YongBing , Carlson Blair E.
Published: July 2021

For the automotive industry, it is important to predict the fracture mode of resistance spot-welded joints. Traditional 4t0.5 (where t is the sheet thickness) criterion for the transition from interfacial fracture (IF) to button pullout fracture (BPF) mode is not applicable for press hardened steel, press-hardened steel (PHS), welds. This study aims to investigate the effect of Al–Si coating and critical heat affected zone (CHAZ) location on the lap-shear fracture mode transition mechanism of Al–Si-coated PHS welds. It was found that in-situ tempering pulse after the welding stage could change the relative location of the CHAZ and weld nugget, which in turn, had a significant effect upon the fracture mode transition. Thus, a new analytical model was built to predict the critical nugget size for Al–Si-coated PHS, wherein the Al–Si coating and the CHAZ location are considered as critical factors for predicting the fracture mode transition of PHS spot welds and are incorporated into this model. A reasonable correlation of the model to experimental data was achieved.
Data-Driven Design-By-Analogy: State-of-the-Art and Future Directions
Authors: Jiang Shuo , Hu Jie , Wood Kristin L. , Luo Jianxi
Published: July 2021

Design-by-analogy (DbA) is a design methodology wherein new solutions, opportunities, or designs are generated in a target domain based on inspiration drawn from a source domain; it can benefit designers in mitigating design fixation and improving design ideation outcomes. Recently, the increasingly available design databases and rapidly advancing data science and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies have presented new opportunities for developing data-driven methods and tools for DbA support. In this study, we survey existing data-driven DbA studies and categorize individual studies according to the data, methods, and applications into four categories, namely, analogy encoding, retrieval, mapping, and evaluation. Based on both nuanced organic review and structured analysis, this paper elucidates the state-of-the-art of data-driven DbA research to date and benchmarks it with the frontier of data science and AI research to identify promising research opportunities and directions for the field. Finally, we propose a future conceptual data-driven DbA system that integrates all propositions.
Energy, Exergy, and Emission Analysis on Industrial Air Compressors
Authors: Nourin Farah Nazifa , Espindola Juan , Selim Osama M. , Amano Ryoichi S.
Published: July 2021

Air compressors, a key fluid power technology, play an essential role in industrial plants and office buildings, hospitals, and other types of facilities. The efficient use of the air compressor is crucial. By controlling unnecessary inefficiencies, high energy consumption can be reduced. This study aims to provide energy and exergy analysis on air compressors for different industries. Detailed case studies were also analyzed. The case study focuses on the energy and exergy analyses of the compressed air system of foundry industries. The results indicate that applying the six improvement recommendations yields significant amounts of energy and cost savings and significant improvements in the system's overall performance. The payback periods for different recommendations are economically feasible and worthwhile to use. The suggested improvement methods can provide cost savings with a low payback period.
A Computable Framework to Efficiently Design Both Current and Robotic Legged Landers for Extraterrestrial Exploration Mission
Authors: Han Youcheng , Guo Weizhong
Published: July 2021

Current legged landers are typical truss structures acting as one type of fundamental equipment for the close-range extraterrestrial exploration missions. Unluckily, the development process applying the current design framework always consumes a long time span searching for the final design, accompanying masses of trial and error with inefficiency and diseconomy. Its kernel reason is that the stages from concept to scheme employ the paradigm of structural-analysis-oriented redesign and untimely embed physical prototype experiments in masses of iterative design cycles. Furthermore, the current framework cannot support the creative development of future legged landers with novel functions and mechanisms. Herein, we present a complete computable design framework for speeding up the development of both current and future legged landers, highlighted by new mathematical models and new principles of forward-design paradigm and multi-mode synergistic design paradigm. It applies the numerical prototype simulation instead of the physical prototype experiment in most iterative processes. This work will facilitate the extraterrestrial exploration missions using the current legged landers (truss-based) and the future legged lander (robot-based).
Slow Wave Sleep of Elite and Nonelite Gymnasts Is Influenced by Weekly Training Hours, Not by Fitness Level
Authors: Dumortier Jasmien , Mariman An , Boone Jan , Delesie Liesbeth , Tobback Els , Vogelaers Dirk , Bourgois Jan G.
Published: July 2021

Purpose: This study aimed to determine the influencing factors of potential differences in sleep architecture between elite (EG) and nonelite (NEG) female artistic gymnasts. Methods: Twelve EG (15.1 [1.5] y old) and 10 NEG (15.3 [1.8] y old) underwent a nocturnal polysomnography after a regular training day (5.8 [0.8] h vs 2.6 [0.7] h), and, on a separate test day, they performed an incremental treadmill test after a rest day in order to determine physical fitness status. A multiple linear regression assessed the predictive value of training and fitness parameters toward the different sleep phases. Total sleep time and sleep efficiency (proportion of time effectively asleep to time in bed), as well as percentage of nonrapid eye movement sleep phase 1 (NREM1) and 2 (NREM2), slow wave sleep (SWS), and rapid eye movement sleep (REM), during a single night were compared between EG and NEG using an independent-samples t test. Results: Peak oxygen uptake influenced NREM1 (β = 1.035, P = .033), while amount of weekly training hours predicted SWS (β = 1.897, P = .032). No differences were documented between EG and NEG in total sleep time and sleep efficiency. SWS was higher in EG (36.9% [11.4%]) compared with NEG (25.9% [8.3%], P = .020), compensated by a lower proportion of NREM2 (38.7% [10.2%] vs 48.4% [6.5%], P = .017), without differences in NREM1 and REM. Conclusions: The proportion of SWS was only predicted by weekly training hours and not by training hours the day of the polysomnography or physical fitness, while NREM1 was linked with fitness level. Sleep efficiency did not differ between EG and NEG, but in EG, more SWS and less NREM2 were identified.
Housing and health inequities during COVID-19: findings from the national Household Pulse Survey
Authors: Bushman Gregory , Mehdipanah Roshanak
Published: July 2021

Background

COVID-19 has exploited the inequities within the US housing system. Examining the association between housing and health during the pandemic is imperative to reducing health inequities and improving population health.

Methods

We analysed 957 714 responses from the Household Pulse Survey Study, collected between April and July 2020. Using survey-weighted multivariable regression analyses, we assessed the relationships between housing tenure and health, both on average and over time, as well as how these relationships were moderated by COVID-19-related hardships including job loss, food insecurity and inability to afford housing-related costs. We controlled for a variety of potential socioeconomic and demographic confounding factors.

Results

We found that housing tenure was significantly associated with both self-rated health and mental distress. Compared with homeowners without mortgage debt, homeowners with mortgage debt reported worse self-rated health (β=−0.13; 95% CI −0.15 to −0.12, p<0.001) and greater mental distress (β=0.50; 95% CI 0.44 to 0.55, p<0.001). Renters also reported worse self-rated health (β=−0.18; 95% CI −0.20 to −0.16, p<0.001) and greater mental distress (β=0.76; 95% CI 0.69 to 0.83, p<0.001) than homeowners without mortgage debt. Across all tenure groups, self-rated health decreased (β=−0.007; 95% CI −0.011 to −0.004, p<0.001) and mental distress increased (β=0.05; 95% CI 0.05 to 0.06, p<0.001) over this period. Additionally, time and COVID-19-related hardships compounded differences in health status between homeowners and renters.

Conclusions

These results add to a limited body of evidence suggesting that, during this period, housing instability and COVID-19-related hardships have contributed to an increase in health inequities in the USA.
Lung transplantation for acute exacerbation of interstitial lung disease
Authors: Chizinga Mwelwa , Machuca Tiago N , Shahmohammadi Abbas , Patel Divya C , Innabi Ayoub , Alzghoul Bashar , Scheuble Vanessa , Pipkin Mauricio , Mehrad Borna , Pelaez Andres , Lin Christine , Gomez- Manjarres Diana
Published: July 2021

Background

Acute exacerbations of interstitial lung diseases (AE-ILD) have a high mortality rate with no effective medical therapies. Lung transplantation is a potentially life-saving option for patients with AE-ILD, but its role is not well established. The aim of this study is to determine if this therapy during AE-ILD significantly affects post-transplant outcomes in comparison to those transplanted with stable disease.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective study of consecutive patients with AE-ILD admitted to our institution from 2015 to 2018. The comparison group included patients with stable ILD listed for lung transplant during the same period. The primary end-points were in-hospital mortality for patients admitted with AE-ILD and 1-year survival for the transplanted patients.

Results

Of 53 patients admitted for AE-ILD, 28 were treated with medical therapy alone and 25 underwent transplantation. All patients with AE-ILD who underwent transplantation survived to hospital discharge, whereas only 43% of the AE-ILD medically treated did. During the same period, 67 patients with stable ILD underwent transplantation. Survival at 1 year for the transplanted patients was not different for the AE-ILD group versus stable ILD group (96% vs 92.5%). The rates of primary graft dysfunction, post-transplant hospital length-of-stay and acute cellular rejection were similar between the groups.

Conclusion

Patients with ILD transplanted during AE-ILD had no meaningful difference in overall survival, rate of primary graft dysfunction or acute rejection compared with those transplanted with stable disease. Our results suggest that lung transplantation can be considered as a therapeutic option for selected patients with AE-ILD.
COVID-19 and a temporary ban on tobacco sales in South Africa: impact on smoking cessation
Authors: Saloojee Yussuf , Mathee Angela
Published: July 2021

Objective

To evaluate the impact of COVID-19 plus a temporary ban on the sale of tobacco and vaping products, on smoking cessation in South Africa, by reviewing research surveys conducted while the prohibition was in place.

Method

An internet search was conducted on 20 August 2020, using the key words: ‘South Africa’, ‘survey’, ‘poll’, ‘smoking’, ‘cigarettes’, ‘tobacco”, ‘vaping’, and ‘COVID-19’. There were no language restrictions. Additional studies were identified through press reports. Only studies conducted between March and August 2020 were included.

Results

Four surveys which reported on smokers quitting behaviour were included. None had been published in a peer reviewed journal. The heterogeneity of the data did not allow pooling. Support for the ban on tobacco sales amongst smokers varied from 6% to 36%. Similarly, there were inconsistent findings about quitting behaviour. Nationally, between 16% to 49% of smokers reported not smoking during the ban.

Conclusions

Cigarette smoking in SA dropped during the 2020 COVID-19 lockdown, but the estimates were inconsistent, probably because of survey design. There was evidence that the lockdown achieved the fastest rate of decline in smoking prevalence in the country’s history. The true extent of the fall though is uncertain. Prevalence studies post lockdown, using probability sampling, may more accurately show how many people quit smoking.
Genus fields of Kummer ℓn-cyclic extensions
Authors: Reyes-Morales Carlos Daniel , Villa-Salvador Gabriel
Published: July 2021

We give a construction of the genus field for Kummer [Formula: see text]-cyclic extensions of rational congruence function fields, where [Formula: see text] is a prime number. First, we compute the genus field of a field contained in a cyclotomic function field, and then for the general case. This generalizes the result obtained by Peng for a Kummer [Formula: see text]-cyclic extension. Finally, we study the extension [Formula: see text], for [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text] abelian extensions of [Formula: see text].
Finding the dominant zero of the energy probability distribution
Authors: Carvalho J. J. , Mota A. L.
Published: July 2021

In this work, we present a computational procedure to locate the dominant Fisher zero of the partition function of a thermodynamic system. The procedure greatly reduces the required computer processing time to find the dominant zero when compared to other dominant zero search procedures. As a consequence, when the partition function results in very large polynomials, the accuracy of the results can be increased, since less drastic truncation of the polynomials (or even no truncation) is necessary. We apply the procedure to the 2D Ising model in a square lattice, obtaining very accurate results for the critical temperature and some of the critical exponents of the model. We also show the results obtained when the technique is used with the Monte Carlo simulated 2D Ising model in large lattices.
Angelica dahurica and Rheum officinale Facilitated Diabetic Wound Healing by Elevating Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor
Authors: Chao Yuh-Huey , Yang Wan-Ting , Li Ming-Chang , Yang Fwu-Lin , Lee Ru-Ping
Published: July 2021

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) provides alternative treatment choices for diabetic wounds. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of Angelica dahurica and Rheum officinale (ARE) on diabetic wounds and its underlying action mechanism. A total of 36 healthy male Sprague–Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups: diabetes mellitus (DM) rats treated with ARE (DM-ARE), DM rats treated with 0.9% saline (DM-NS), and non-DM rats treated with 0.9% saline (NDM-NS). DM was induced by intraperitoneal administration of 40 mg/kg of streptozotocin after a 2-week high-fat diet feeding. After excisional skin wounds and treatments, the remaining wound area (RWA) in each group was measured. The RWA in the DM-NS group (69.60% ± 2.35%) was greater than that in the DM-ARE (55.70% ± 1.85%) and NDM-NS groups (52.50% ± 2.77%) on day 6. Besides, the DM-ARE group showed higher vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), higher inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOs), higher [Formula: see text]-smooth muscle actin ([Formula: see text]-SMA), and lower nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cell (NF-[Formula: see text]B) expression in the wound skin tissue. These results showed that treatment with ARE shifted the recovery pattern of diabetic rats to the pattern of nondiabetic rats, indicating that ARE may improve wound healing in diabetic conditions.
Timeless state of gravity: Black hole universal clock
Authors: Ali Ahmed Farag
Published: July 2021

We investigate Rindler’s frame measurements. From its perspective, we found a geometric/gravitational interpretation of speed of light, mass and uncertainty principle. This can be interpreted as measurements of a black hole universal clock. This led to an emergence of a timeless state of gravity in a mathematically consistent way. In other words, space may be a frozen time.
Investigation of stock price network based on time series analysis and complex network
Authors: Cui Xiaodong , Hu Jun , Ma Yiming , Wu Peng , Zhu Peican , Li Hui-Jia
Published: July 2021

Complex network is now widely used in a series of disciplines such as biology, physics, mathematics, sociology and so on. In this paper, we construct the stock price trend network based on the knowledge of complex network, and then propose a method based on information entropy to divide the stock network into some communities, that is, a gathering study of stock price trend. We construct time series networks for each stock in Chinese A-share market based on time series network model, and then use these networks to divide the stock market into communities. We find that the average trend of stocks in the same community is the same as the trend of market value weighting, but the average trend of stocks in different communities is quite different and the sequence correlation is low. This conclusion shows that stocks in the same community share the same price trend, while the stock trend in different communities varies. This paper is a successful application of complex network and information entropy in stock trend analysis, which mainly includes two contributions. First, the success of the visibility graph algorithm provides a new perspective for enriching stock price trend modeling. Second, our conclusion proves that the clustering based on information entropy theory is effective, which provides a new method for further research on stock price trend, portfolio construction and stock return prediction.
The Holographic cosmology with axion field
Authors: Saharian A. A. , Timoshkin A. V.
Published: July 2021

In this paper, we considered an axion F(R) gravity model and described, with the help of holographic principle, the cosmological models of viscous dark fluid coupled with axion matter in a spatially flat Friedmann–Robertson–Walker (FRW) universe. This description based on generalized infrared-cutoff holographic dark energy was proposed by Nojiri and Odintsov. We explored the Little Rip, the Pseudo Rip, and the power-law bounce cosmological models in terms of the parameters of the inhomogeneous equation of the state of viscous dark fluid and calculated the infrared cutoffs analytically. We represented the energy conservation equation for the dark fluid from a holographic point of view and showed a correspondence between the cosmology of a viscous fluid and holographic cosmology. We analyzed the autonomous dynamic system. In the absence of interaction between fluids, solutions are obtained corresponding to two cases. In the first case, dark energy is missing and the extension describes the component of dark matter. The second case corresponds to cosmological models with an extension due to dark energy. The solutions obtained are investigated for stability. For a cosmological model with the interaction of a special type, the stability of solutions of the dynamic system is also investigated.
Late Ordovician solutan echinoderms from the Western Tafilalt, Morocco
Authors: Nohejlová Martina , Lefebvre Bertrand
Published: July 2021

In the western Tafilalt area, eastern Anti-Atlas (Morocco), solutan echinoderms are a major faunal element of most echinoderm Lagerstätten occurring within the Lower Ktaoua Formation (late Sandbian–early Katian). For the first time, members of the class Soluta are formally described from Morocco and Africa. All solutans from the Lower Ktaoua Formation are identified as
Dendrocystites aff. sedgwicki
. Three size-related morphotypes, probably corresponding to successive growth stages (‘juvenile’, ‘adult’ and ‘gerontic’), could be distinguished within the abundant and well-preserved material from Morocco. The occurrence of the genus
Dendrocystites
in the western Tafilalt confirms the strong faunal affinities between Morocco and other regions of the Mediterranean Province (Czech Republic and Spain) in Late Ordovician times. In high palaeolatitude (peri-)Gondwanan areas,
Dendrocystites
was a gregarious solutan living in shallow, siliciclastic settings at or above the storm-wave base.
Ultrasonic Image Diagnosis of Liver and Spleen Injury Based on a Double‐Channel Convolutional Neural Network
Authors: He Maorui , Zhang Rui , Liu Shuni , Tan Yansong , Zeng Yang
Published: July 2021

Automatic and accurate diagnosis of liver and spleen injury in ultrasonic images is of great significance for the development of automatic clinical diagnosis. In order to realize more accurate ultrasonic image diagnosis of liver and spleen injury, an algorithm of ultrasonic image classification diagnosis of liver and spleen injury based on double‐channel convolutional neural network was proposed. Firstly, the anisotropic diffusion denoising model is used to realize data preprocessing of ultrasonic images of the liver and spleen to improve the image quality of ultrasonic images. Secondly, the external edge of the lesion location was detected to obtain the characteristics of the external edge. Then, the rotation invariant local binary mode feature of the extracted image is taken as the inner texture feature of the image. Finally, the external edge feature and internal texture feature are used as two input channels of the convolutional neural network, respectively, to classify and identify ultrasonic images of liver and spleen injury. The experimental results show that the proposed method diagnoses liver and spleen injury more accurately.
Phenotypic Characterization of Fine-Aroma Cocoa from Northeastern Peru
Authors: Oliva-Cruz Manuel , Goñas Malluri , García Ligia M. , Rabanal-Oyarse Raúl , Alvarado-Chuqui Cástula , Escobedo-Ocampo Patricia , Maicelo-Quintana Jorge L.
Published: July 2021

The phenotypic characterization of cacao (Theobroma cacao L.) plays an important role in the generation of information for the conservation of cacao germplasm. The objective of this study is to characterize phenotypically 146 ecotypes of fine-aroma native cacao (FFNC) from northeastern Peru that were collected from 280 to 1265 metres above sea level. Morphological descriptors of fruits and seeds, sensory characteristics, and productivity descriptors were used. The data obtained were analyzed using descriptive statistics with pie charts, distribution histograms, and multiple correspondence analysis. The results showed that 76.7% of the cocoa ecotypes had green immature fruits, 73% showed slight roughness on the surface of the fruit, 54% showed an intermediate thickness of the fruit wall, and 90% had the appearance of pairs of equidistant ridges. Regarding seed characteristics, 71% showed purplish cotyledons, with a high presence of floral and fruity notes and low levels of bitterness and astringency. Likewise, 52% of the fruits and 64% of the seeds were long. More importantly, cocoa beans needed to produce between 14 and 16 pods to obtain one kilogram of dry cocoa, which reflects a good level of productivity. Finally, there was a positive relationship between elevation levels and the presence of fine-flavoured native cocoa, i.e., the greatest diversity of native cocoa with floral and fruity notes was found above 501 metres above sea level.
Classification and Diagnosis of Pulmonary Nodules in Thoracic Surgery Using CT Image Segmentation Algorithm
Authors: Fang Degen , Li Chunlei , Ren Yanhong
Published: July 2021

This study was aimed at studying the pulmonary nodule (PN) classification and diagnosis through computed tomography (CT) images based on segmentation algorithms. 120 PN patients were taken as research subjects. Linear filter fine segmentation algorithm under 3D region growth was compared with the initial segmentation algorithm and applied to images of PN patients. The results showed that the segmentation effect of the proposed algorithm was at the upper-middle level. The cases of patients with smoking history were greatly more than those without (χ2 = 1.256,

P
<
0.05

). Benign and malignant PNs were classified, and morphological features included rough ones and round-like ones. The size characteristics included edge length and area. The gray-scale features included the uniformity of the gray-scale value and the mean value of the gray-scale value. The operation time of pulmonary lobectomy (76.2 ± 23.1 min) was obviously longer than that of pulmonary wedge resection (27.5.2 ± 4.5 min) (

P
<
0.05

). The surgical blood loss of patients who underwent pulmonary lobectomy (125 ± 42 mL) was remarkably higher versus patients who underwent pulmonary wedge resection (51.6 ± 13.8 mL) (

P
<
0.05

). After the operation, the length of stay of patients who underwent lobectomy (8.6 ± 1.4 days) was evidently longer than that of patients who underwent wedge resection (6.4 ± 1.2 days) (

P
<
0.05

). The classification of benign and malignant PNs can effectively obtain the shape and size characteristics of PNs. Preoperative positioning surgery based on classification can shorten the operation time, reduce the amount of bleeding during the operation, and help improve the success rate of surgical resection.
Effect of Lipopolysaccharide and TNFα on Neuronal Ascorbic Acid Uptake
Authors: Subramanian Veedamali S. , Teafatiller Trevor , Agrawal Anshu , Kitazawa Masashi , Marchant Jonathan S.
Published: July 2021

Vitamin C (ascorbic acid: AA) uptake in neurons occurs via the sodium-dependent vitamin C transporter-2 (SVCT2), which is highly expressed in the central nervous system (CNS). During chronic neuroinflammation or infection, CNS levels of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and LPS-induced tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα) are increased. Elevated levels of LPS and TNFα have been associated with neurodegenerative diseases together with reduced levels of AA. However, little is known about the impacts of LPS and TNFα on neuronal AA uptake. The objective of this study was to examine the effect of LPS and TNFα on SVCT2 expression and function using in vitro and in vivo approaches. Treatment of SH-SY5Y cells with either LPS or TNFα inhibited AA uptake. This reduced uptake was associated with a significant decrease in SVCT2 protein and mRNA levels. In vivo exposure to LPS or TNFα also decreased SVCT2 protein and mRNA levels in mouse brains. Both LPS and TNFα decreased SLC23A2 promoter activity. Further, the inhibitory effect of LPS on a minimal SLC23A2 promoter was attenuated when either the binding site for the transcription factor Sp1 was mutated or cells were treated with the NF-κB inhibitor, celastrol. We conclude that inflammatory signals suppress AA uptake by impairing SLC23A2 transcription through opposing regulation of Sp1 and NF-κB factors.