bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Putative transcription antiterminator RfaH contributes to Erwinia amylovora virulence
Authors: Klee Sara M. , Sinn Judith P. , Held Jeremy , Vosburg Chad , Holmes Aleah C. , Lehman Brian L. , Peter Kari A. , McNellis Timothy W.
Published: August 2022

The gram‐negative bacterium Erwinia amylovora causes fire blight disease of apple and pear trees. The exopolysaccharide amylovoran and lipopolysaccharides are essential E. amylovora virulence factors. Production of amylovoran and lipopolysaccharide is specified in part by genes that are members of long operons. Here, we show that full virulence of E. amylovora in apple fruitlets and tree shoots depends on the predicted transcription antiterminator RfaH. RfaH reduces pausing in the production of long transcripts having an operon polarity suppressor regulatory element within their promoter region. In E. amylovora, only the amylovoran operon and a lipopolysaccharide operon have such regulatory elements within their promoter regions and in the correct orientation. These operons showed dramatically increased polarity in the ΔrfaH mutant compared to the wild type as determined by RNA sequencing. Amylovoran and lipopolysaccharide production in vitro was reduced in rfaH mutants compared to the wild type, which probably contributes to the rfaH mutant virulence phenotype. Furthermore, type VI secretion cluster 1, which contributes to E. amylovora virulence, showed reduced expression in ΔrfaH compared to the wild type, although without an increase in polarity. The data suggest that E. amylovora RfaH directly, specifically, and exclusively suppresses operon polarity in the amylovoran operon and a lipopolysaccharide operon.
Proximal and distal intragastric meal distribution during gastric emptying scintigraphy: Relationships to symptoms of gastroparesis
Authors: Silver Paul J. , Dadparvar Simindokht , Maurer Alan H. , Parkman Henry P.
Published: August 2022

Background

Total gastric retention (TGR) from gastric emptying scintigraphy (GES) is used for diagnosing gastroparesis (Gp), but correlates poorly with patients' symptoms. Regional intragastric meal distribution (RIMD) can also be assessed from GES. This study classified patients' meal distribution as proximal or distal to relate RIMD to symptoms of Gp.

Methods

GES studies in patients (n = 193) and control subjects (n = 21) were selected for RIMD analysis. Patients completed Patient Assessment of Upper Gastrointestinal Symptoms (PAGI‐SYM) for symptom severity before GES. TGR was analyzed using % TGR, and RIMD used a proximal/distal gastric count ratio (PDCR). Results were classified as proximal or distal RIMD at 0, 1, 2, and 4 h postprandially based on their PDCR being above or below the median value of the patients.

Results

Patients with delayed GE and immediate post‐meal ingestion distal distribution had more severe early satiety and regurgitation. Distal distribution at 1 h had more severe early satiety and loss of appetite compared to proximal distribution. Patients with delayed GE and proximal distribution at 4 h had more severe nausea, retching, and vomiting compared to 4 h distal distribution. Severely delayed 4 h proximal distribution had more nausea than severely delayed 4 h distal distribution.

Conclusions

Increased early distal IMD in patients with delayed GE was associated with regurgitation and early satiety whereas increased late proximal IMD was associated with nausea, retching, and vomiting. Differentiating proximal from distal meal distribution patterns helps to relate symptoms to gastric dysfunction and may be helpful for directing therapy.
Long‐lasting visceral hypersensitivity in a model of DSS‐induced colitis in rats
Authors: López‐Estévez Sergio , López‐Torrellardona Josep Manuel , Parera Marc , Martínez Vicente
Published: August 2022

Background

Persistent visceral hypersensitivity is a key component of functional and inflammatory gastrointestinal diseases. Current animal models fail to fully reproduce the characteristics of visceral pain in humans, particularly as it relates to persistent hypersensitivity. This work explores the validity of DSS‐induced colitis in rats as a model to mimic chronic intestinal hypersensitivity.

Methods

Exposure to DSS (5% for 7 days) was used to induce colitis in rats. Thereafter, changes in viscerosensitivity (visceromotor responses to colorectal distension—CRD), the presence of somatic referred pain (mechanosensitivity of the hind paws, von Frey test) and the expression (qRT‐PCR) of sensory‐related markers (colon, lumbosacral DRGs, and lumbosacral spinal cord) were assessed at different times during the 35 days period after colitis induction.

Results

Following colitis, a sustained increase in visceromotor responses to CRD were observed, indicative of the presence of visceral hypersensitivity. Responses in animals without colitis remained stable over time. In colitic animals, somatic referred hypersensitivity was also detected. DSS‐induced colitis was associated to a differential expression of sensory‐related markers (with both pro‐ and anti‐nociceptive action) in the colon, lumbosacral DRGs and lumbosacral spinal cord; indicating the presence of peripheral and central sensitization.

Conclusions and Inferences

DSS‐induced colitis in rats is associated to the generation of a long‐lasting state of visceral (colonic) hypersensitivity, despite clinical colitis resolution. This model reproduces the changes in intestinal sensitivity characteristics of inflammatory and functional gastrointestinal disorders in humans and can be used in the characterization of new pharmacological treatments against visceral pain.
Insights into source/sink controls on wood formation and photosynthesis from a stem chilling experiment in mature red maple
Authors: Rademacher Tim , Fonti Patrick , LeMoine James M. , Fonti Marina V. , Bowles Francis , Chen Yizhao , Eckes‐Shephard Annemarie H. , Friend Andrew D. , Richardson Andrew D.
Published: August 2022

Whether sources or sinks control wood growth remains debated with a paucity of evidence from mature trees in natural settings.

Here, we altered carbon supply rate in stems of mature red maples (Acer rubrum) within the growing season by restricting phloem transport using stem chilling; thereby increasing carbon supply above and decreasing carbon supply below the restrictions, respectively.

Chilling successfully altered nonstructural carbon (NSC) concentrations in the phloem without detectable repercussions on bulk NSC in stems and roots. Ring width responded strongly to local variations in carbon supply with up to seven‐fold differences along the stem of chilled trees; however, concurrent changes in the structural carbon were inconclusive at high carbon supply due to large local variability of wood growth. Above chilling‐induced bottlenecks, we also observed higher leaf NSC concentrations, reduced photosynthetic capacity, and earlier leaf coloration and fall.

Our results indicate that the cambial sink is affected by carbon supply, but within‐tree feedbacks can downregulate source activity, when carbon supply exceeds demand. Such feedbacks have only been hypothesized in mature trees. Consequently, these findings constitute an important advance in understanding source–sink dynamics, suggesting that mature red maples operate close to both source‐ and sink‐limitation in the early growing season.
Single Modified Posterior Approach through the Space of the Proximal Radioulnar Joint for Terrible Triad Injury: A Comparative Study
Authors: Li Dianqing , Song Deye , Ni Jiangdong , Tang Sihuai , Gao Zhi , Li Penglin , Liu Xudong , Xu Wenbin
Published: August 2022

Objective

In order to reduce surgical scars and the risk of neurovascular injury for the treatment of terrible triad injuries of the elbow (TTI), minimally invasive and better therapeutic effect approaches are being explored to replace the conventional combined lateral and medial approach (CLMA). This study was performed to compare the clinical effect and security of the modified posterior approach (MPA) through the space of the proximal radioulnar joint vs the CLMA for treatment of TTI.

Methods

This study retrospectively analyzed 76 patients treated for TTI from January 2009 to December 2020 (MPA: n = 44; CLMA: n = 32). Treatment involved plate and screw fixation or Steinmann pin fixation for the radial head and ulnar coronoid process fractures. Surgeons only sutured the lateral ligament because the medial collateral ligament was usually integrated in the TTI. The continuous variables were compared by the independent Student t‐test and the categorical variables by the χ2‐test or Fisher's exact test.

Results

Both groups of patients attained a satisfactory MEPS after the operation. The MEPS (MPA: 96.82 ± 6.04 vs CLMA: 96.56 ± 5.51) was not significantly different between the two groups (p > 0.05). However, the MPA resulted in better elbow flexion and extension (MPA: 123.98 ± 10.09 vs CLMA: 117.66 ± 8.29), better forearm rotation function (MPA: 173.41 ± 6.81 vs CLMA: 120.00 ± 12.18), and less intraoperative hemoglobin (MPA: 9.34 ± 5.64 vs CLMA: 16.5 ± 8.75) and red cell volume loss (MPA: 3.09 ± 2.20 vs CLMA: 6.70 ± 2.97) (All p < 0.05). Although the CLMA had a shorter surgery time (MPA: 171.73 ± 80.68 vs CLMA: 130.16 ± 71.50) (p < 0.05), it had a higher risk of neurologic damage (MPA: 0 vs CLMA: 4) (p < 0.05). Four patients developed forearm or hand numbness after the CLMA, but no patients developed numbness after the MPA. All 76 patients were followed up for 15 months postoperatively.

Conclusion

The MPA through the space of the proximal radioulnar joint has more prominent advantages than the CLMA for TTI, including single scar, clear exposure, good fixation, lower risk of neurovascular injury, and better elbow joint motion. It is a safe and effective surgical approach that is worthy of clinical promotion.
Seeing invisible support: Understanding provider motivation, intent, and enactment of support
Authors: Mason Adam J. , Shebib Samantha J. , Boumis Josephine K. , Allard Amanda , Holmstrom Amanda J. , Mazur Allison
Published: August 2022

The concept of invisible support (Bolger et al., 2000) has sparked interest among social support researchers. Theoretically, invisible support avoids negative support outcomes related to face threats and, therefore, should lead to better outcomes than traditional support. Unfortunately, empirical tests of invisible support have yielded inconsistent results, potentially due to a lack of conceptual and operational clarity in defining invisible support. The present study addresses this issue, advocating for the inclusion of provider intention to reduce support visibility in the definition of invisible support and establishing the foundation for a typology of invisible support by eliciting participants' experiences with its provision.
Development and validation of the Ascertain Dementia 8 (AD8) Thai version
Authors: Thaipisuttikul Papan , Nakawiro Daochompu , Kuladee Sanchai , Chittaropas Pitchayawadee , Sukying Chakrit
Published: August 2022

Background

The Ascertain Dementia 8 (AD8) is a brief informant‐based questionnaire which reliably distinguishes patients with neurocognitive disorder (NCD) and normal cognition. Our objective was to translate the AD8 into Thai and test its validity as a potentially useful measure to detect patients with the mild stage of major NCD due to Alzheimer disease (major NCD‐AD).

Methods

Evaluations of 144 informant–patient dyads were made. Participants were patients who attended the memory clinic at Ramathibodi Hospital and non‐patient volunteers. The AD8‐Thai version was administered separately from doctor's interviews and neuropsychological assessments. Diagnostic workups included a complete medical history, physical and neurological examinations, neuropsychological testing, the Clinical Dementia Rating Scale‐Sum of Boxes (CDR‐SOB), Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), blood tests and brain imaging, preferably with magnetic resonance imaging. All researchers were blinded to the AD8 results.

Results

An AD8 score ≥3 had a sensitivity of 95.5%, a specificity of 89.5%, a positive predictive value of 84%, and a negative predictive value of 97.1% for screening major NCD‐AD and those with normal cognition. A subgroup analysis with participants aged ≥65 years and with ≥12 years of education revealed comparable ability to the whole group. AD8 scores had a moderate negative relationship with MoCA scores (r = −0.470) and a strong positive relationship with CDR‐SOB scores (r = 0.547). The performance of AD8 scores in differentiating mild NCD from normal cognition was not as good as for major NCD‐AD.

Conclusions

AD8‐Thai version is an acceptable screening tool for major NCD‐AD. For patients aged 65 years or older, with at least 12 years of education, and with cognitive complaints in memory clinic, an AD8‐Thai score of 3 or more would be sufficient to work on major NCD diagnosis. The performance of the AD8‐Thai in mild NCD needs further investigation.
Adding some NOVELTY to treatable traits
Authors: Gibson Peter G.
Published: August 2022

See related article
We just ‘SHAREit’: Smartphones, data and music sharing in urban Papua New Guinea
Authors: Crowdy Denis , Horst Heather A.
Published: August 2022

This article examines how the use of mobile phones and associated software creates and sustains regionally diverse urban communities. There is an interdependent connection between music that is highly participatory and locally relevant, and processes involved in sustaining key social relationships across a variety of groupings. Increasingly ubiquitous technologies such as mobile phones are used for musical purposes in ways that specifically put certain processes to work to sustain these social phenomena. This connects people with transnational software‐based commerce through social media, local telecommunications companies and phone manufacturers. That results in the navigation of ecologies and economies of data, hardware and software that work in local urban circumstances. In the case of data, we demonstrate how modes of exchange and reciprocity tied to social relationships exhibit similarities with informal economies of tobacco and betelnut. With social groups, the church‐based community perspective provides urban examples of communities that cross regions, and extended family networks. This ethnographic perspective shows how increasingly global technologies are used in urbanite Melanesia in ways that sustain longstanding values and practices, while also incorporating identities and associations around changing urban, national and international circumstances.
Dynamic impacts of intermittent trade conflicts
Authors: Wu Ruohan , Miranda Mario J.
Published: August 2022

This paper examines how intermittent trade conflicts affect production, investment and exports of an industry that produces for both domestic and international markets. We construct a dynamic stochastic model of a representative profit maximising firm that is exposed to intermittent trade conflicts. We then extend the firm‐level model to an industry comprising a continuum of firms with heterogeneous production costs and calibrate its parameters to reflect the stylised facts of Chinese manufacturers between 2005 and 2007. We find that an exporting firm's response to the eruption of a trade conflict depends critically on its cost of production, with low‐cost firms temporarily adjusting production but continuing to export, and high‐cost firms permanently exiting the international market. We also find that an industry can respond quickly to the onset and cessation of a trade conflict. We further predict that in the long run, the severity of trade conflicts has increasing marginal impacts on industry exports, whereas the duration and frequency of conflicts have diminishing marginal impacts. Lastly, we argue that if the government desires to fully restore industry exports or value to pre‐conflict levels, the most efficient policy is to subsidise capital investment.
Methodology and Instrumentation for Electron Paramagnetic Resonance Dosimetry With Tooth Enamel
Authors: Ghimire Lekhnath , Waller Edward
Published: August 2022

When tooth enamel is exposed to ionizing radiation, it generates a dose-dependent concentration of free radical centers (i.e., unpaired electrons). The concentration of these free radical centers is identified and quantified using electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy in the form of an EPR spectrum. The intensity of the spectrum is proportional to the absorbed dose. Four international intercomparisons have already demonstrated that the EPR tooth enamel dosimetric technique is reliable for retrospective dose assessment in acute and chronic exposure scenarios. Additionally, EPR dosimetry is regarded same as a gold standard for reconstructing the total lifetime dose of individuals using tooth enamel. The accuracy and reproducibility of EPR dose reconstruction depend on the sample preparation, spectrum acquisition, and EPR spectra analysis techniques. So, this paper reviews some of the widely applied and accepted laboratory protocols or methodologies for the EPR dosimetric methods. The minimum detection limit in tooth enamel using this technique was 30 mGy. So, this review aims to share these protocols so that it would be easy to reconstruct the accident doses or chronic exposures with reliable accuracy and precision. Different bands (e.g., L, X, Q, etc.) continuous wave (CW) EPR spectrometers have been used in many historical and accident dose reconstructions; however, due to the availability, moderate price, and not being much influenced by the small amount of moisture in a sample, the X-band has been widely used. A well-developed methodology, a highly sensitive EPR spectrometer, and a well-trained operator are vital for the reliable measurements of absorbed low doses in EPR dosimetry with tooth enamel.
Presleep Heart-Rate Variability Biofeedback Improves Mood and Sleep Quality in Chinese Winter Olympic Bobsleigh Athletes
Authors: Li QinLong , Steward Charles J. , Cullen Tom , Che Kaixuan , Zhou Yue
Published: August 2022

Purpose: To evaluate the effectiveness of heart-rate variability (HRV) biofeedback in improving autonomic function, mood, and sleep in elite bobsleigh athletes. Methods: Eight Chinese Winter Olympic bobsleigh athletes (age: 24 [2] y, body mass: 89 [15] kg, and height: 184 [5] cm) completed a randomized crossover study with and without HRV biofeedback before a single night’s sleep. HRV biofeedback was provided 35 minutes prior to bedtime in the experimental condition. The assessment of HRV took place 45 and 10 minutes before bedtime. The Profile of Mood States questionnaire was completed 50 and 15 minutes prior to bedtime. Sleep duration and quality were measured through an air-mattress sleep-monitoring system. Results: Sleep efficiency (P = .020; F = 7.831; CI, 0.008 to 0.072) and the percentage of deep sleep duration increased (P = .013; F = 10.875; CI, 0.006 to 0.035), while the percentage of light sleep decreased (P = .034; F = 6.893; CI, −0.038 to −0.002). Presleep HRV biofeedback increased parasympathetic and decreased sympathetic activity. Mood states of anger (P = .006, F = 7.573), panic (P = .031, F = 4.288), tension (P = .011, F = 6.284), depression (P = .010, F = 6.016), fatigue (P = .000, F = 16.901), and total mood disturbance (P = .001, F = 11.225) were reduced before sleep. Conclusion: Presleep HRV biofeedback improved some measures of autonomic function, mood, and sleep quality in Chinese Olympic bobsleigh athletes. Presleep HRV biofeedback provides a practical strategy that may help reduce sleep disturbances during periods of training and competition.
Lipid-driven condensation and interfacial ordering of FUS
Authors: Chatterjee Sayantan , Maltseva Daria , Kan Yelena , Hosseini Elnaz , Gonella Grazia , Bonn Mischa , Parekh Sapun H.
Published: August 2022

Protein condensation into liquid-like structures is critical for cellular compartmentalization, RNA processing, and stress response. Research on protein condensation has primarily focused on membraneless organelles in the absence of lipids. However, the cellular cytoplasm is full of lipid interfaces, yet comparatively little is known about how lipids affect protein condensation. Here, we show that nonspecific interactions between lipids and the disordered fused in sarcoma low-complexity (FUS LC) domain strongly affect protein condensation. In the presence of anionic lipids, FUS LC formed lipid-protein clusters at concentrations more than 30-fold lower than required for pure FUS LC. Lipid-triggered FUS LC clusters showed less dynamic protein organization than canonical, lipid-free FUS LC condensates. Lastly, we found that phosphatidylserine membranes promoted FUS LC condensates having β sheet structures, while phosphatidylglycerol membranes initiated unstructured condensates. Our results show that lipids strongly influence FUS LC condensation, suggesting that protein-lipid interactions modulate condensate formation in cells.
Black carbon health impacts in the Indo-Gangetic plain: Exposures, risks, and mitigation
Authors: Verma Shubha , Ghosh Sanhita , Boucher Olivier , Wang Rong , Menut Laurent
Published: August 2022

A large discrepancy between simulated and observed black carbon (BC) surface concentrations over the densely populated Indo-Gangetic plain (IGP) has so far limited our ability to assess the magnitude of BC health impacts in terms of population exposure, morbidity, and mortality. We evaluate these impacts using an integrated modeling framework, including successfully predicted BC concentrations. Population exposure to BC is notable, with more than 60 million people identified as living in hotspots of BC concentration (wintertime mean, >20 μg m
−3
). The attributable fraction of the total cardiovascular disease mortality (CVM) burden to BC exposures is 62% for the megacity. The semiurban area comprised about 49% of the total BC-attributable CVM burden over the IGP. More than 400,000 lives can potentially be saved from CVM annually by implementing prioritized emission reduction from the combustion of domestic biofuel in the semiurban area, diesel oil in transportation, and coal in thermal power plant and brick kiln industries in megacities.
Tumor microenvironmental signals reshape chromatin landscapes to limit the functional potential of exhausted T cells
Authors: Ford B. Rhodes , Vignali Paolo D. A. , Rittenhouse Natalie L. , Scharping Nicole E. , Peralta Ronal , Lontos Konstantinos , Frisch Andrew T. , Delgoffe Greg M. , Poholek Amanda C.
Published: August 2022

Response rates to immunotherapy in solid tumors remain low due in part to the elevated prevalence of terminally exhausted T cells, a hypofunctional differentiation state induced through persistent antigen and stress signaling. However, the mechanisms promoting progression to terminal exhaustion in the tumor remain undefined. Using the low-input chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing method CUT&RUN, we profiled the histone modification landscape of tumor-infiltrating CD8
+
T cells throughout differentiation. We found that terminally exhausted T cells had unexpected chromatin features that limit their transcriptional potential. Terminally exhausted T cells had a substantial fraction of active chromatin, including active enhancers enriched for bZIP/AP-1 transcription factor motifs that lacked correlated gene expression, which was restored by immunotherapeutic costimulatory signaling. Reduced transcriptional potential was also driven by an increase in histone bivalency, which we linked directly to hypoxia exposure. Enforced expression of the hypoxia-insensitive histone demethylase
Kdm6b
was sufficient to overcome hypoxia, increase function, and promote antitumor immunity. Our study reveals the specific epigenetic changes mediated by histone modifications during T cell differentiation that support exhaustion in cancer, highlighting that their altered function is driven by improper costimulatory signals and environmental factors. These data suggest that even terminally exhausted T cells may remain competent for transcription in settings of increased costimulatory signaling and reduced hypoxia.
Asymmetrical forward and reverse developmental trajectories determine molecular programs of B cell antigen receptor editing
Authors: Okoreeh Michael K. , Kennedy Domenick E. , Emmanuel Akinola Olumide , Veselits Margaret , Moshin Azam , Ladd Robert H. , Erickson Steven , McLean Kaitlin C. , Madrigal Brianna , Nemazee David , Maienschein-Cline Mark , Mandal Malay , Clark Marcus R.
Published: August 2022

During B lymphopoiesis, B cell progenitors progress through alternating and mutually exclusive stages of clonal expansion and immunoglobulin (Ig) gene rearrangements. Great diversity is generated through the stochastic recombination of Ig gene segments encoding heavy and light chain variable domains. However, this commonly generates autoreactivity. Receptor editing is the predominant tolerance mechanism for self-reactive B cells in the bone marrow (BM). B cell receptor editing rescues autoreactive B cells from negative selection through renewed light chain recombination first at
Ig
κ then
Ig
λ loci. Receptor editing depends on BM microenvironment cues and key transcription factors such as NF-κB, FOXO, and E2A. The specific BM factor required for receptor editing is unknown. Furthermore, how transcription factors coordinate these developmental programs to promote usage of the λ chain remains poorly defined. Therefore, we used two mouse models that recapitulate pathways by which Igλ light chain–positive B cells develop. The first has deleted J kappa (Jκ) genes and hence models Igλ expression resulting from failed
Ig
κ recombination (Igκ
del
). The second models autoreactivity by ubiquitous expression of a single-chain chimeric anti-Igκ antibody (κ-mac). Here, we demonstrated that autoreactive B cells transit asymmetric forward and reverse developmental trajectories. This imparted a unique epigenetic landscape on small pre-B cells, which opened chromatin to transcription factors essential for
Ig
λ recombination. The consequences of this asymmetric developmental path were both amplified and complemented by CXCR4 signaling. These findings reveal how intrinsic molecular programs integrate with extrinsic signals to drive receptor editing.
The role of sex in exhaustion
Authors: Henrickson Sarah E.
Published: August 2022

Androgen receptor signaling promotes CD8 T cell exhaustion that diminishes antitumor immunity.
On Convergence of Finite-Difference Shock-Capturing Schemes in Regions of Shock Waves Influence
Authors: Kovyrkina O. A. , Ostapenko V. V. , Tishkin V. F.
Published: August 2022

We perform a comparative accuracy study of the Rusanov, CABARETM, and WENO5 difference schemes used to compute the dam break problem for shallow water theory equations. We demonstrate that all three schemes have the first order of convergence inside the region occupied by a centered rarefaction wave, and the Rusanov scheme has the second order of convergence in the area of constant flow between the shock and the rarefaction wave, while in the CABARETM and WENO5 schemes there is no local convergence in this area. This is due to the fact that the numerical solutions obtained by the CABARETM and WENO5 schemes have undamped oscillations in the region of influence of the shock, the amplitude of which does not decrease with decreasing of the difference grid steps. As a result, taking into account the Lax-Wendroff theorem, the numerical solutions obtained by the conservative schemes CABARETM and WENO5 converge only weakly to the exact constant solution in the region of influence of the shock wave, in contrast to the Rusanov scheme, which locally converges with the second order to the exact solution in this region.
Solving Nonlinear Inverse Problems Based on the Regularized Modified Gauss–Newton Method
Authors: Vasin V. V.
Published: August 2022

A nonlinear operator equation is investigated in the case when the Hadamard correctness conditions are violated. A two-stage method is proposed for constructing a stable method for solving the equation. It includes modified Tikhonov regularization and a modified iterative Gauss–Newton process for approximating the solution of the regularized equation. The convergence of the iterations and the strong Fejér property of the process are proved. An order optimal estimate for the error of the two-stage method is established in the class of sourcewise representable functions.
Poor downstream passage at a dam creates an ecological trap for migratory fish
Authors: Ohms Haley A. , Chargualaf Dereka N. , Brooks Gabriel , Hamilton Cory , Palkovacs Eric P. , Boughton David A.
Published: August 2022

Ecological traps can be caused when partial restoration leads organisms to make maladaptive habitat choices. One example of this is fishways (e.g., fish ladders) that provide upstream passage at dams but are not paired with adequate downstream passage. We tested the hypothesis that attracting anadromous fishes to spawn above a dam, but blocking downstream passage of their offspring leads to an ecological trap. Using passive integrated transponder (PIT) tags, we monitored the movements of steelhead ( Oncorhynchus mykiss) at a dam and fishway on the central California coast. We found that downstream passage for juveniles and kelts was limited by four factors: migration delay, loss in the reservoir, avoidance of the downstream bypass, and water depths on the spillway. Based on the spillway-passage depth thresholds, we estimated that the ability for fish to pass downstream was limited to only half of the migration season in 55% of the past 20 years (2002–2021). Our results support the ecological trap hypothesis, which may explain why restoration using fishways has failed to produce recovery gains in this population and elsewhere.
Contrastive Learning between Classical and Modern Chinese for Classical Chinese Machine Reading Comprehension
Authors: Liu Maofu , Xiang Junyi , Xia Xu , Hu Huijun
Published: August 2022

By leveraging self-supervised tasks,
pre-trained language model (PLM)
has made significant progress in the field of
machine reading comprehension (MRC)
. However, in
classical Chinese MRC (CCMRC)
, the passage is typically in classical style, but the question and options are given in modern style. Existing pre-trained methods seldom model the relationship between classical and modern styles, resulting in overall misunderstanding of the passage. In this paper, we propose a contrastive learning method between classical and modern Chinese in order to reach a deep understanding of the two different styles. In particular, a novel pre-training task and an enhanced co-matching network have been defined: (1) The
synonym discrimination (SD)
task is used to identify whether modern meaning corresponds to classical Chinese. (2) The
enhanced dual co-matching (EDCM)
network is employed for a more interactive understanding of the classical passage and the modern options. The experimental results show that our proposed method improves language understanding ability and outperforms existing PLMs on the Haihua, CCLUE, and ChID datasets.
Perceptual Guidelines for Optimizing Field of View in Stereoscopic Augmented Reality Displays
Authors: Wang Minqi , Cooper Emily A.
Published: August 2022

Near-eye display systems for augmented reality (AR) aim to seamlessly merge virtual content with the user’s view of the real-world. A substantial limitation of current systems is that they only present virtual content over a limited portion of the user’s natural field of view (FOV). This limitation reduces the immersion and utility of these systems. Thus, it is essential to quantify FOV coverage in AR systems and understand how to maximize it. It is straightforward to determine the FOV coverage for monocular AR systems based on the system architecture. However, stereoscopic AR systems that present 3D virtual content create a more complicated scenario because the two eyes’ views do not always completely overlap. The introduction of partial binocular overlap in stereoscopic systems can potentially expand the perceived horizontal FOV coverage, but it can also introduce perceptual nonuniformity artifacts. In this arrticle, we first review the principles of binocular FOV overlap for natural vision and for stereoscopic display systems. We report the results of a set of perceptual studies that examine how different amounts and types of horizontal binocular overlap in stereoscopic AR systems influence the perception of nonuniformity across the FOV. We then describe how to quantify the horizontal FOV in stereoscopic AR when taking 3D content into account. We show that all stereoscopic AR systems result in a variable horizontal FOV coverage and variable amounts of binocular overlap depending on fixation distance. Taken together, these results provide a framework for optimizing perceived FOV coverage and minimizing perceptual artifacts in stereoscopic AR systems for different use cases.
Swarm Control for Distributed Construction: A Computational Complexity Perspective
Authors: Wareham Todd , de Haan Ronald , Vardy Andrew , van Rooij Iris
Published: August 2022

Over the last 20 years, human interaction with robot swarms has been investigated as a means to mitigate problems associated with the control and coordination of such swarms by either human teleoperation or completely autonomous swarms. Ongoing research seeks to characterize those situations in which such interaction is both viable and preferable. In this article, we contribute to this effort by giving the first computational complexity analyses of problems associated with algorithm, environmental influence, and leader selection methods for the control of swarms performing distributed construction tasks. These analyses are done relative to a simple model in which swarms of deterministic finite-state robots operate in a synchronous error-free manner in 2D grid-based environments. We show that all three of our problems are polynomial-time intractable in general and remain intractable under a number of plausible restrictions (both individually and in many combinations) on robot controllers, environments, target structures, and sequences of swarm control commands. We also give the first restrictions relative to which these problems are tractable, as well as discussions of the implications of our results for both the design and deployment of swarm control assistance software tools and the human control of swarms.
Anodic Dissolution Behavior in the Electrorefining of Al–Cu Alloys Using an EmImCl–AlCl3 Ionic Liquid
Authors: Nunomura Junji , Matsushima Hisayoshi , Kyo Yoshihiko , Kojima Yoichi , Ueda Mikito
Published: August 2022

To produce high-purity Al from Al–Cu alloys, the dissolution behaviors of various Al–Cu binary alloy anodes in EmImCl–AlCl3 ionic liquid have been investigated at 323 K. In the anodic polarization measurements, anodic current density peaks were observed at potentials of approximately 0.3 and 0.8 V vs Al/Al(III) for the Al–5.0%Cu casting alloy. In the constant potential electrolysis of the Al–5.0%Cu casting alloy and cold-rolled plate at 0.3 V, Al atoms in the matrix phase were preferentially dissolved followed by the formation of Al2Cu surface species. The dissolution of both Al2Cu and Al in the alloy matrix occurred during electrolysis at 0.8 and 1.2 V. Moreover, a Cu-rich layer derived from Al2Cu was formed on the cold-rolled plate surface at a potential of 0.8 V. Additionally, Cu was co-deposited on the cathode at the potentials at which Al2Cu dissolved. The dependence of the anodic dissolution behavior of the Al−Cu alloys on the potential in the EmImCl–AlCl3 ionic liquid was analyzed. By controlling the anodic dissolution potential, the dissolution of Cu in Al2Cu into the electrolyte can be suppressed, thus considerably increasing the purity of electrorefined Al.
Detection of Marginally Discriminated Ions with Differential Solid Contact Ion-Selective Electrodes
Authors: Kovács Miklós Márton , Kis Martin , Höfler Lajos
Published: August 2022

A differential sensor is reported for decreasing the interference from multiple ionic and non-ionic species in droplet-sized samples, hence lowering the detection limit for ions that are particularly hard to measure by conventional ion-selective potentiometry. We believe that the proposed approach represents significant progress beyond state-of-the-art by making the application of ion-selective membranes possible for ions that do not have selective ionophores. Two solid contact ion-selective electrodes (SCISEs) are utilized, which are prepared similarly, except for adding ionophore to one of the membranes. We show experimentally and theoretically that a significant signal is observed only when the analyte ion is present in the sample solution. The dynamic response of the sensor is investigated theoretically by Nernst-Planck-Poisson finite element simulations. Symbolic regression is used to generate human-readable expressions. Differential SCISEs are tested under potentiometric and amperometric conditions. While a large potential response is seen in the conventional SCISE vs reference electrode setup at high concentrations of interfering ions, the signal of interfering species is eliminated in the differential SCISE setup. Consequently, it is possible to measure a few μM levels of ammonium in droplets without the interference of potassium using an ionophore that is not especially selective for ammonium over potassium.
Emerging mitochondrial signaling mechanisms in cardio-oncology: beyond oxidative stress
Authors: Bikomeye Jean C. , Terwoord Janée D. , Santos Janine H. , Beyer Andreas M.
Published: August 2022

Many anticancer therapies (CTx) have cardiotoxic side effects that limit their therapeutic potential and cause long-term cardiovascular complications in cancer survivors. This has given rise to the field of cardio-oncology, which recognizes the need for basic, translational, and clinical research focused on understanding the complex signaling events that drive CTx-induced cardiovascular toxicity. Several CTx agents cause mitochondrial damage in the form of mitochondrial DNA deletions, mutations, and suppression of respiratory function and ATP production. In this review, we provide a brief overview of the cardiovascular complications of clinically used CTx agents and discuss current knowledge of local and systemic secondary signaling events that arise in response to mitochondrial stress/damage. Mitochondrial oxidative stress has long been recognized as a contributor to CTx-induced cardiotoxicity; thus, we focus on emerging roles for mitochondria in epigenetic regulation, innate immunity, and signaling via noncoding RNAs and mitochondrial hormones. Because data exploring mitochondrial secondary signaling in the context of cardio-oncology are limited, we also draw upon clinical and preclinical studies, which have examined these pathways in other relevant pathologies.
Efficient Removal of Cd (II) from Aquatic Media by Heteronanostructure MgO@TiO2@g‐C3N4
Authors: Modwi A. , Ismail M. , Idriss H. , Aissa M. A. Ben , Khezami L. , Bououdina M.
Published: August 2022

MgO@TiO2@g‐C3N4 heteronanostructure was synthesized using a simple ultrasonication technique and assessed potentially to remove Cd (II) from aqueous environments. X‐ray diffraction analysis confirms composite formation with mean crystallite size in the range of 4‐17 nm while transmission electron microscopy analysis reveals nanosheet‐like nanoparticles with the homogeneous elemental distribution. N2 adsorption‐desorption measurements indicate the formation of a mesoporous structure with a BET surface area of about 107 m2/g. Fourier‐transformed infrared elucidates the presence of O–H, amino groups, triazine, Mg–O, and Ti–O vibrations modes. At the same time, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis manifests the presence of Mg, O, N, Ti, and C elements. For aqueous Cd (II) ions, the MgO@TiO2@g‐C3N4 nanostructure displays a superior adsorption efficiency, reaching 99.94% Cd (II) elimination with an optimum adsorption capacity of 515.86 mg/g in a short duration of 16 min. This study demonstrates the capability of using the MgO@TiO2@g‐C3N4 nanostructure as an efficient and reusable adsorbent for the uptake of Cd (II) ions in wastewater treatment and potentially for the removal of other heavy metal ions.
Accuracy and Limitations of Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy after Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy in Breast Cancer Patients with Positive Nodes
Authors: Aragon-Sanchez Sofia , Oliver-Perez M. Reyes , Madariaga Ainhoa , Tabuenca M. Jose , Martinez Mario , Galindo Alberto , Arroyo M. Luisa , Gallego Marta , Blanco Marta , Ciruelos-Gil Eva M.
Published: August 2022

Background. Axillary surgical management in patients with node-positive breast cancer at the time of diagnosis converted to negative nodes through neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) remains unclear. Removal of more than two sentinel nodes (SLNs) in these patients may decrease the false negative rate (FNR) of sentinel lymph node biopsies (SLNBs). We aim to analyse the detection rate (DR) and the FNR of SLNB assessment according to the number of SLNs removed. Methods. A retrospective study was performed from October 2012 to December 2018. Patients with invasive breast cancer who had a clinically node-positive disease at diagnosis and with a complete axillary response after neoadjuvant chemotherapy were selected. Patients included underwent SLNB and axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) after NAC. The SLN was considered positive if any residual disease was detected. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the clinicopathologic features and the results of SLNB and ALND. The DR of SLNB was defined as the number of patients with successful identification of SLN. Presence of residual disease in ALND and negative SLN was considered false negative. Results. A total of 368 patients with invasive breast cancer who underwent surgery after complete NAC were studied. Of them, 85 patients met the eligibility criteria and were enrolled in the study. The mean age at diagnosis was 50.8 years. Systematic lymphadenectomy was performed in all patients, with an average of 10 lymph nodes removed. The DR of SLNB was 92.9%, and the FNR was 19.1. The median number of SLNs removed was 3, and at least, three SLNs were obtained in 42 patients (53.2%). When at least three sentinel nodes were removed, the FNR decreased to 8.7%. Conclusions. In this cohort, the SLN assessment was associated with an adequate DR and a high FNR. Removing three or more SLNs decreased the FNR from 19.1% to 8.7%. Complementary approaches may be considered for axillary lymph node staging after neoadjuvant chemotherapy. The study was approved by our institution’s ethics committee (Instituto de Investigacion Sanitaria Hospital 12 de Octubre (imas12), Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain) (https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCEI:20/0048).
Effect of Bed Roughness and Negative Step on Characteristics of Hydraulic Jump in Rectangular Stilling Basin
Authors: Sayyadi Keikhosro , Heidarpour Manouchehr , Ghadampour Zahra
Published: August 2022

Water flow often releases excess energy after passing through gates and spillways. This energy should be reduced to avoid the destruction of downstream structures. The hydraulic jump, a natural phenomenon, inevitably reduces incoming flow energy. The experiments were carried out in this study to investigate the effect of bed roughness and abrupt negative drops on the characteristics of the hydraulic jump. Also, to investigate the effect of geometric and hydraulic parameters on energy dissipation and location of the hydraulic jump, there was a change in the height of the abrupt drop and roughness for different discharges between 30 and 50 L/s and the Froude numbers were ranging from 4.9 to 9.5. The results showed that increasing the bed roughness causes a reduction of the sequent depth ratio and the relative length of the jump by 16.6% and 20.7%, respectively, and increases the relative energy loss and the bed shear force coefficient by 10% and 31%, respectively. In contrast, increasing the step height causes an increase in the sequent depth ratio and the relative length of the jump by 6.5% and 7%, respectively, and increases the relative energy loss and the bed shear force coefficient by 11% and 3.2%, respectively.
Research on Home Product Design and Intelligent Algorithm Recommendation considering Ergonomics
Authors: Wang Xianya
Published: August 2022

Under the modern design concept, consider ergonomics to design home products. With the progress of civilization and technology, the improvement of life quality in the process of urbanization, and the increasing abundance of home life and home products, people’s requirements for living environment and environmental products are continuously improving. In order to further meet the necessities of life and solve the reasons such as limited living space at home, people are no longer satisfied with purchasing household products in large quantities but are more suitable for household needs. According to the user’s requirements for ergonomic home product design, a criterion layer is established, and the weight of the criterion layer is calculated to obtain its corresponding weight value. It can be obtained that consumers think that safety is the most important, followed by ease of use, functionality, and aesthetics. In the second criterion level, the order of importance is stable operation, safe use of materials, invisible circuit, strong practicability, massage function, safety guardrail, convenient installation, easy cleaning, intelligent operation, home style, structural strength, easy to move, natural materials, air purification, easy disassembly, suitable size, simple shape, convenient function, timely after-sales, soft color tone, noise reduction, simple decoration, single color matching, and comfortable function. The addition of the nearest neighbors improves the accuracy of the CFCNN-CL algorithm and the REPREDICT PCC algorithm in terms of smart algorithm recommendations for home products considering ergonomics. But compared between the two, the CFCNN-CL algorithm has better performance and better accuracy than the REPREDICT PCC algorithm. In terms of the influence of data sparseness, UCF-Jaccard has a smaller MAE value than other methods in general and is less susceptible to the influence of sparse data, and the MAE value does not change much. Among the group filtering methods, the RRP-UICL method has better prediction accuracy than the commonly used group filtering methods.
Study on Early Warning of Karst Collapse Based on the BP Neural Network
Authors: Chen Dongqin
Published: August 2022

In order to comprehensively grasp the dynamics of karst collapse, promote the comprehensive prevention and control level of karst collapse, and prevent secondary disasters caused by lava collapse, this study presents a method of karst collapse early warning based on the BP neural network. This method does not need to set the sliding surface in the finite element calculation model. The stress of the sliding surface is fitted according to the spatial stress relationship of the deep karst layer through the improved BP neural network PID control algorithm and BP neural network algorithm, which avoids the modeling and mesh generation of the complex sliding block and has good accuracy and ease of use. According to the basic theory of the BP neural network, the calculation formulas of multilayer feedforward and error back propagation processes are derived, and the two-dimensional and three-dimensional finite element models of gravity dams without and with sliding blocks are established, respectively. Finally, according to the common formulas of viscoelastic artificial boundary and equivalent load, the two-dimensional and three-dimensional input programs of the karst fluid state are compiled, and a neural network early warning model is obtained. The experimental results show that the process karst state simulated by the algorithm is very close to the actual situation, and the minimum value of antisliding coefficient and its occurrence time can be accurately predicted, with an error range of less than 3%. Conclusion. BP neural network prediction can effectively predict karst collapse, with higher prediction accuracy, and can effectively simulate the actual collapse risk.