bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Development of quality indicators for the diagnosis and management of achalasia
Authors: Kamal Afrin N. , Kathpalia Priya , Otaki Fouad , Bredenoord Albert J , Castell Donald O. , Clarke John O. , Falk Gary W. , Fass Ronnie , Prakash Gyawali C. , Kahrilas Peter J , Katz Philip O. , Katzka David A. , Pandolfino John E. , Penagini Roberto , Richter Joel E. , Roman Sabine , Savarino Edoardo , Triadafilopoulos George , Vaezi Michael F. , Vela Marcelo F. , Leiman David A.
Published: March 2021

Background

The management of achalasia has improved due to diagnostic and therapeutic innovations. However, variability in care delivery remains and no established measures defining quality of care for this population exist. We aimed to use formal methodology to establish quality indicators for achalasia patients.

Methods

Quality indicator concepts were identified from the literature, consensus guidelines and clinical experts. Using RAND/University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Appropriateness Method, experts in achalasia independently ranked proposed concepts in a two‐round modified Delphi process based on 1) importance, 2) scientific acceptability, 3) usability, and 4) feasibility. Highly valid measures required strict agreement (≧ 80% of panelists) in the range of 7–9 for across all four categories.

Key Results

There were 17 experts who rated 26 proposed quality indicator topics. In round one, 2 (8%) quality measures were rated valid. In round two, 19 measures were modified based on panel suggestions, and experts rated 10 (53%) of these measures as valid, resulting in a total of 12 quality indicators. Two measures pertained to patient education and five to diagnosis, including discussing treatment options with risk and benefits and using the most recent version of the Chicago Classification to define achalasia phenotypes, respectively. Other indicators pertained to treatment options, such as the use of botulinum toxin for those not considered surgical candidates and management of reflux following achalasia treatment.

Conclusions & Inferences

Using a robust methodology, achalasia quality indicators were identified, which can form the basis for establishing quality gaps and generating fully specified quality measures.
ELISA detection of anti‐desmoglein 1 and anti‐desmoglein 3 and indirect immunofluorescence in oral pemphigus: A retrospective study
Authors: Petruzzi Massimo , Lucchese Alberta , Contaldo Maria , Tampoia Marilina , Frassanito Maria Antonia , Lauritano Dorina , della Vella Fedora
Published: March 2021

Objective

The aim of this study was to test the efficacy of autoantibodies to desmoglein 1 and desmoglein 3 detected by ELISA and indirect immunofluorescence in the diagnosis of oral pemphigus and to correlate the antibody titres with the severity of the disease.

Materials and Methods

We report a retrospective cohort study of 22 patients with oral pemphigus and 64 controls from a single tertiary centre. Data about histopathological examination, direct immunofluorescence, indirect immunofluorescence and ELISA were analysed. Global validation of ELISA and IIF both alone and combined was established by calculating sensitivity, specificity, accuracy and both positive predictive value and negative predictive value. The relationship between Oral Disease Severity Score values and ELISA titres was analysed using Pearson's coefficient.

Results

The best diagnostic performance was observed for anti‐desmoglein 3 ELISA. The sensitivity was 75% and specificity 100% and positive predictive value and negative predictive value were 92.5% and accuracy 93.9%. The level of agreement with histopathology + direct immunofluorescence was substantial (k = .758). Anti‐desmoglein 3 titres showed a significant correlation with Oral Disease Severity Score (p < .05).

Conclusions

Serological tests are commonly employed during clinical practice as adjunctive tools. Anti‐desmoglein 3 ELISA should be considered as a first‐instance diagnostic test for oral pemphigus early detection.
The multifaceted roles of antimicrobial peptides in oral diseases
Authors: Niu John Yun , Yin Iris Xiaoxue , Mei May Lei , Wu William Ka Kei , Li Quan‐Li , Chu Chun Hung
Published: March 2021

Antimicrobial peptides are naturally occurring protein molecules with antibacterial, antiviral and/or antifungal activity. Some antimicrobial peptides kill microorganisms through direct binding with negatively charged microbial surfaces. This action disrupts the cytoplasmic membrane and leads to the leakage of the cytoplasm. In addition, they are involved in the innate immune response. Antimicrobial peptides play an important role in oral health, as natural antimicrobial peptides are the first line of host defence in response to microbial infection. The level of natural antimicrobial peptides increases during severe disease conditions and play a role in promoting the healing of oral tissues. However, they are insufficient for eliminating pathogenic micro‐organisms. The variability of the oral environment can markedly reduce the effect of natural antimicrobial peptides. Thus, researchers are developing synthetic antimicrobial peptides with promising stability and biocompatibility. Synthetic antimicrobial peptides are a potential alternative to traditional antimicrobial therapy. Pertinent to oral diseases, the deregulation of antimicrobial peptides is involved in the pathogenesis of dental caries, periodontal disease, mucosal disease and oral cancer, where they can kill pathogenic microorganisms, promote tissue healing, serve as biomarkers and inhibit tumor cells. This narrative review provides an overview of the multifaceted roles of antimicrobial peptides in oral diseases.
Snout shape and masticatory apparatus of the rodent‐like mesotheriid ungulates (Notoungulata, Typotheria): exploring evolutionary trends in dietary strategies through ancestral reconstructions
Authors: Ercoli Marcos D. , Armella Matías A.
Published: March 2021

Mesotheriidae were small to medium‐sized native South American ungulates. Mesotheriids radiated from the early Oligocene epoch to the early–middle Pleistocene, in two subfamilies: Trachytheriinae and Mesotheriinae. Beyond the conspicuous fossil record, little is known about mesotheriid palaeobiology, and particularly, the dietary habits. To date, different studies suggest grazing habits, similar to some extant ungulates, but recent contributions are challenging this vision. Here, we explore dietary preferences in mesotheriids, focusing on food intake and oral processing strategies. We performed a shape analysis of the snout and reconstructed ancestral shapes to assess evolutionary trends within the clade. Also, we considered other morphological variables of the masticatory apparatus to perform a functional characterization. We recognized three snout configurations: Trachytherus, ‘Intermediate’ and Mesotherium morphotypes that can be associated with different food intake capabilities and, considering other morphological proxies, with the consumption of different food items. Taking into account palaeoenvironmental conditions, the evolution of the masticatory apparatus is interpreted in the context of a consumption gradient from coarse and tough foods (roots, tubers, tough leaves) to grasses. We propose that during the ecomorphological evolution of mesotheriids, an initial phase took place during the late Oligocene and Miocene, consisting of diversification and specialization for consumption of hard‐to‐break food items. A second phase began incipiently during the late Miocene, and became well‐defined during the Pliocene and Pleistocene, characterized by an ecomorphological displacement towards grazing habits. Inferred dietary habits in Mesotheriidae could provide light on palaeoecological evolution and niche partitioning within South American herbivorous mammalian communities.
Secrecy and transparency in political philosophy
Authors: Kogelmann Brian
Published: March 2021

Political institutions can be transparent or secret. If they are transparent, then we have access to information about how agents act within them. If they are secret, then we do not have access to this information. The presence and extent of transparency has tremendous impact on how political institutions function. The purpose of this article is to offer a brief overview of what political philosophers have thus far had to say about transparency as it pertains to political institutions. In doing so, I hope to connect philosophical questions about transparency to relevant social scientific work and to highlight areas where more work needs to be done.
Taking stock of regularity theories of causation
Authors: Johansen Marc
Published: March 2021

This article takes stock of the regularity theory of causation. It considers three challenges to the theory: the problem of joint effects, the problems of redundant causation, and omission‐involving causation. The former is often cited as a special, and especially challenging, problem for regularity theories. But the force of this problem has been greatly overstated. The threat to regularity theories instead comes from the latter two.
Toward a Test Protocol for Surface Decontamination Using a Mobile Whole‐room UVGI Device†
Authors: Vincent Richard L. , Rudnick Stephen N. , McDevitt James J. , Wallach Frances R.
Published: March 2021

Mobile whole‐room UVGI devices are used in healthcare settings to control surface‐borne pathogens. Unfortunately, no standard method comparing the efficacy of these devices is available. We accessed the effect of shadows on UVC 254 nm inactivation. The evaluation of a mobile whole‐room UVGI device used spores of Bacillus atrophaeus as a surrogate for Clostridium difficile and Staphylococcus aureus as a surrogate for MSRA. Inactivation after 10 min of exposure varied significantly depending on whether the spores received direct UV exposure (4.3 log reduction), both direct and reflected UV exposure (3.0–4.0 log reduction) or reflected UV exposure alone (<1.0 log reduction). The susceptibility (z‐value) for inactivation of B. atrophaeus spores on a glass surface was estimated to be 0.00312 m2 J−1. Staphylococcus aureus microbial log reductions were approximately 5.5 for direct UV exposure, 3.6–5.2 for both direct and reflected UV exposure and approximately 2.75 for only reflected UV exposure. Our measurement of reflected dose ranged from 0.46% to 1.47%. Based on our findings, B. atrophaeus spores should be considered as a model organism for testing the impact of shadows on mobile whole‐room UVGI device inactivation. Optimizing the reflected component of whole‐room UVGI is important, especially for UVC‐resistant organisms.
Molecular methods for the detection and quantification of Pestalotiopsis and Neopestalotiopsis inoculum associated with macadamia
Authors: Prasannath Kandeeparoopan , Galea Victor J. , Akinsanmi Olufemi A.
Published: March 2021

Pestalotiopsis blight and leaf spot in macadamia are caused by species of Pestalotiopsis and Neopestalotiopsis. Conidia produced by these pathogens are mostly dispersed by wind and rain splash and are the primary infecting propagules. Rapid detection and quantification of airborne conidia are essential to determine the seasonal dynamics of inoculum and critical infection periods in macadamia orchards. A quantitative PCR (qPCR) using a new primer pair and a hydrolysis probe was developed to detect and quantify airborne conidia of Pestalotiopsis and Neopestalotiopsis species. The amplification efficiency of the qPCR was 96.4% and the assay had a limit of detection of 400 fg of Pestalotiopsis/Neopestalotiopsis gDNA, which corresponds to approximately 10 conidia. The qPCR assay coupled with spore trapping was used to monitor airborne conidia dispersal under field conditions. The results showed that the assay is specific and sensitive for detecting and quantifying Pestalotiopsis/Neopestalotiopsis conidia in macadamia orchards. The detection and quantification of the pathogen inoculum will improve our understanding of disease epidemiology and the ability to manage these diseases in macadamia.
Three SNPs within exons of INHA and ACVR2B genes are significantly associated with litter size in Dazu black goats
Authors: Wang Shi‐Zhi , E Guang‐Xin , Zeng Yan , Han Yan‐Guo , Huang Yong‐Fu , Na Ri‐Su
Published: March 2021

The aim of this study was to analyse the association between single‐nucleotide polymorphisms within INHA and ACVR2B and litter size in Dazu black goats. In total, twenty‐two SNPs were genotyped in 190 individuals by SNaPshot and resequencing. The results showed that three SNPs (SNP_1, SNP_12 and SNP_13 in this study) were detected to have significant additive genetic effect on the recorded goat litter size (p < .05). The SNP_1 (NC_030809.1), a non‐synonymous substitution of G for T at chr2‐g. 28314990 in the exon 2 of INHA gene (NM_001285606.1), resulted in homozygote 2 (HOM2) contributed 0.25 and heterozygote (HET) contributed 0.12 larger litter than homozygote 1 (HOM1). Meanwhile, SNP_12 (Chr22‐g. 11721225 A > T) and SNP_13 (Chr22‐g. 11721227 A > C) (NC_030829.1) simultaneously mutated at the first and third position of a triplet AAA (lysine, K) in the exon 4 of ACVR2B gene (XM_018066623.1) had estimated genetic effects of HOM1 (0.00) and HOM2 (0.03) larger than HET (−0.12). In conclusion, one SNPs (chr2‐g. 28314990 T > G) within the exon 2 of INHA and two SNPs (Chr22‐g. 11721225 A > T and Chr22‐g. 11721227 A > C) in the exon 4 of ACVR2B gene were highly recommended as candidate markers of litter size in Dazu black goats. A large‐scale association study to assess the impact of these variants on litter size is still necessary.
Cyberbullying among Turkish high school students
Authors: Cagirkan Baris , Bilek Gunal
Published: March 2021

Cyberbullying, a new form of the traditional bullying that has been transferred to the electronic environments (social media, online gaming environments, blogs, etc.), from the physical context to the virtual context, refers mainly to aggression that is deliberately carried out by adolescents. This study aims to measure the level of cyberbullying in Turkish high school students living in Eastern Turkey and identify the demographic and socio‐economic factors which lead to being bully and being cyberbullied. The study population consists of 470 students aged from 15–19 years. exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) were implemented to identify the factor structure of the scale and it was observed that the Turkish version of the cyberbullying scale (CBS) is best represented by a one‐factor structure. The comparisons across demographic and socio‐economic variables were implemented using independent samples t test, one‐way ANOVA, and Tukey HSD. To summarize the key findings, the variables that significantly affect the students’ CBS scores are; gender, school type, number of siblings, ownership of a mobile phone, length of ownership of a mobile phone, private access to the Internet, family supervision, purpose of Internet usage, length of time spent on the Internet and type of application used to message with others.
Internalizing and externalizing problems in preschool children: The role of mothers’ and fathers’ observed parenting behavior in a well‐resourced sample
Authors: Steenhoff Tine , Tharner Anne , Væver Mette S.
Published: March 2021

Empirical evidence links sensitive parenting behavior to positive developmental trajectories in children, whereas parental intrusiveness, in contrast, has been found to increase the risk of socio‐emotional problems in children of various ages. However, most studies investigating the effect of parenting behavior have been conducted with mothers. Thus, little is yet known about fathers’ role in child development and if mothers’ and fathers’ parenting behaviors are linked to child socio‐emotional outcomes in similar or different ways. To date, findings are ambiguous, and this is why more studies are needed. The present study examined associations between mothers’ and fathers’ observed sensitivity and intrusiveness and children’s internalizing and externalizing problems as reported by parents and by children themselves. The sample compromised 52 mothers, 41 fathers and their preschool children. Results from hierarchical regression analyses showed a negative association between fathers’ intrusiveness, at low levels, and children’s internalizing problems. This result was unexpected. However, in line with this finding, a number of recent studies suggest that when fathers challenge and push their children’s limits, it buffers against emotional problems such as anxiety. The present study highlights the importance of a continuous investigation into fathers’ potentially unique contribution to children’s socio‐emotional development. No other associations were identified between mothers’ and fathers’ parenting behaviors and children’s internalizing and externalizing problems. Most likely, because this study was conducted with a low‐risk sample, where children were in general well‐functioning.
Standard reference sequences for submission of HLA genotyping for the 18th International HLA and Immunogenetics Workshop
Authors: Matern Benedict M. , Mack Steven J. , Osoegawa Kazutoyo , Maiers Martin , Niemann Matthias , Robinson James , Heidt Sebastiaan , Spierings Eric
Published: March 2021

The International human leukocyte antigen (HLA) and Immunogenetics Workshops (IHIWs) have fostered international collaborations of researchers and experts in the fields of HLA, histocompatibility and immunology. These IHIW collaborations have comprised many projects focused on achieving a variety of specific goals. The international and collaborative nature of these projects necessitates the collection and analysis of complex data generated in multiple laboratories, often using multiple methods of acquisition. Collection and storage of these data in a consistent way adds value to IHIW projects, which can be extended to future work. DNA‐based genotyping data, especially HLA genotyping data, can be transmitted in the form of a Histoimmunogenetics Markup Language (HML) document. HML facilitates clear communication of a genotype and supporting metadata, such as, sequencing platform, laboratory assays, consensus sequence, and interpretation. Sequence information can be reported relative to known reference sequences, which add meaning and context to genotypes. Selecting the correct reference sequence for a given allele sequence is nuanced, and guidelines have emerged through collaborative community efforts such as Data Standards Hackathons. Here, we describe the guidelines established for the selection of reference sequences to be used in transmission of HLA (and MICA/MICB) genotyping data for the 18th IHIW.
Differentiation and Political De-Differentiation in the Periphery of the Modern Society
Authors: Farías Raúl Zamorano
Published: March 2021

This work wants to analyze, from the theoretical-conceptual architectural frame of the General Theory of Social Systems (TGSS), and problematize the relationships and the logical articulations between the system of politics, economics and law to observe what have been the hetero-descriptions of the democratic state in the periphery of modern society (1).The processes of functional differentiation characterizing the institutionalization of structures and expectations –normative, cognitive– in the evolutionary becoming of the State-nation, in Latin America, stabilized the logic of the patrimonial political centralism, so that the history of innumerable legal-political and economic reforms have been used rather to perpetuate the status quo than to change something (2). It's interesting to observe, for this reason, the developing of many forms of coordination and social development to achieve the desired modernity in the continent, from the presidential caudillism, Cepalian developmentalism (1950), military praetorianism (1970), till the forms of economical laissez faire (1990). These models have basically revolved around the valorization of the clientelistic political regime as a central space for the construction of democracy and the market (3). In this context, cognitive and normative expectations (law) have not managed to generate lasting political accommodations that facilitate sociopolitical evolution, where corporations, families and clientelistic caudillism continue to prevail, except the institutionalized expectations (4). The question then is not how ‘democracy should be’, but how is this possible in this periphery of modernity.
A direct injection technique for investigation of lung sensory properties and reflex functions
Authors: Walker Jerome F. , Yu Jerry
Published: March 2021

New Findings

This article reviews a unique direct injection technique that complements the more conventional right atrial injection and aerosol delivery methods to study sensory and reflex effects of the lung sensors. Used in combination with other methods, this technique should contribute to the pulmonary sensory research.

The lungs house sensory receptors (sensors) that mediate a variety of sensory and reflex responses to mechanical or chemical changes. These reflexes are mainly carried through pulmonary sympathetic and vagal afferent pathways. The chemosensors in the lung periphery are especially important in pulmonary diseases and their reflex responses have traditionally been studied either by aerosol delivery, which also activates receptors in the central airways, or by right atrial injection, which also activates receptors lying outside the lung. Thus, these techniques may confound the interpretation of sensory function. Our laboratory has developed a direct injection technique to deliver agents into the lung parenchyma, which complements the conventional techniques with some important advantages. This article reviews the technique.
Vitamin D binding protein/GC‐globulin: a novel regulator of alpha cell function and glucagon secretion
Authors: Viloria Katrina , Hewison Martin , Hodson David J.
Published: March 2021

The contribution of glucagon to type 1 and type 2 diabetes has long been known, but the underlying defects in alpha cell function are not well‐described. During both disease states, alpha cells respond inappropriately to stimuli, leading to dysregulated glucagon secretion, impaired glucose tolerance and hypoglycaemia. The mechanisms involved in this dysfunction are complex, but possibly include changes in alpha cell glucose‐sensing, alpha cell de‐differentiation, paracrine feedback, as well as alpha cell mass. However, the molecular underpinnings of alpha cell failure are still poorly understood. Recent transcriptomic analyses have identified vitamin D binding protein (DBP), encoded by GC/Gc, as an alpha cell signature gene. DBP is highly localized to the liver and alpha cells and is virtually absent from other tissues and cell types under non‐pathological conditions. While the vitamin D transportation role of DBP is well characterized in the liver and circulation, its function in alpha cells remains more enigmatic. Recent work reveals that loss of DBP leads to smaller and hyperplastic alpha cells, which secrete less glucagon in response to low glucose concentration, despite vitamin D sufficiency. Alpha cells lacking DBP display impaired Ca2+ fluxes and Na+ conductance, as well as changes in glucagon granule distribution. Underlying these defects is an increase in the ratio of cytoskeletal F‐actin to G‐actin, highlighting a novel intracellular actin scavenging role for DBP in islets.

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Social Impact Archaeology: Pontefract Castle and the Gatehouse Project
Authors: Wilkins Brendon
Published: March 2021

Archaeology is said to add value to development, creating a deeper sense of place, community identity as well as improving health and wellbeing. Accentuating these wider social values has been welcomed by a profession keen to broaden its public relevance and legitimacy and protect its seat at the table in modern cultural life, but how much, if at all, do the public actually benefit from developer-led archaeology? Benefits to individuals and communities from archaeology projects are often abstract, intangible and difficult to attribute, and the discipline arguably lacks a satisfactory frame of reference around which it can express and design for these additional social values. Drawing on the language of social impact investing, this article will explore how the UK-based collaborative platform, DigVentures, has addressed this challenge. It introduces a 'Theory of Change' and 'Standards of Evidence' framework to account for the impact of development-led archaeology programmes, illustrating the causal links between activity and change through the case of the Pontefract Castle Gatehouse Project. It is complemented by a short documentary film exploring the spectrum of digital and physical opportunities for participation by the public alongside a team of highly experienced professional field archaeologists, demonstrating how development-led archaeology can be designed to accomplish far more than answer a planning brief.
Foreword. Archaeology and Public Benefit
Authors: Watson Sadie
Published: March 2021

Foreword to issue 57 introducing articles from the 21st EAC Symposium (March 2020) on the theme of Archaeology and Public Benefit.
A Case Study in Archaeology and Public Benefit from an Urban Excavation in an Old Brewery: Cork City, Ireland
Authors: Hurley Maurice F.
Published: March 2021

A major urban development in Cork City entailed dewatering and very deep excavations for new basements. This revealed significant archaeology from the Viking period, which was excavated where necessary. A very successful series of public events followed, with senior politicians visiting. This paper concludes by emphasising the need to provide the public with accurate information.
CANDU-Like Features in Emerging Small Modular Reactor Designs
Authors: Hussein Esam M. A.
Published: March 2021

Several small modular reactor (SMR) designs are emerging, but only the CANDU® SMR and a couple of Indian designs incorporate the familiar features of the larger CANDU reactors. This paper shows that while the CANDU-reactor concept did not seem to receive wider attention among SMR designers, it has influenced a few. The paper discusses how the CANDU-reactor operating experience can aid in the construction and operation of some SMRs. For example, the concept of passive reactor shutdown by draining the moderator, which was utilized in the early Pickering A units, is adopted in the Copenhagen Atomics Waste Burner; a molten slat (LiF-ThF 4) heavy-water moderated reactor. The heavy-water and lithium in this salt produce tritium and can benefit from the CANDU-reactor experience in handling tritium. The online refueling of CANDU reactors, their large heat sinks, and seamless configuration are also reflected in SMR designs.
Pressure Drop, Air Entrainment, and Moments of the Axial Velocity in the Laminar-Turbulent Transition Jet Flow in Domestic Gas Injectors
Authors: Carrillo Ibañez William A. , Demétrio Márcio J. E. , Oliveira Amir A. M. , Pereira Fernando M.
Published: March 2021

This work aims at characterizing the flow in the outlet of three gas injectors used in atmospheric burners and developing correlations for the discharge coefficient, air entrainment, momentum, and energy flow rates. These devices have millimeter-sized orifices, a cup-like region at the injector outlet, and the flow occurs in the transition from the laminar to the fully turbulent regimes. The pressure drop was measured and correlated as a function of the orifice Reynolds number for the three injectors. The correlations are able to predict the discharge coefficient within ±5% deviation from the measurements in the range 90≤Re≤4400. The axial velocity and turbulent intensity were measured at the outlet of the injectors using a hot-wire anemometer at the orifice Reynolds number of 3060, which is typical of the applications. The measurements were compared to computational fluid dynamics (CFD) solutions using the γ−Reθ Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes transition model in the star-ccm+ commercial package. The results indicate the strong influence of the shape of the outlet cup-like region of the injectors on the development of an internal mixing layer and the external mixing layer in the free jet. The momentum and energy flow rates for the injector model with the largest cup are reduced to 50% and 21%, respectively, of the simplest gas injector. However, the gas jet in this injector carries 28% of the stoichiometric air before leaving the cup. These aspects must be taken into account in the preliminary design of atmospheric burners.
Channel-Confined Wake Structure Interactions Between Two Permeable Side-by-Side Bars of a Square Cross-Section
Authors: Jamshed Saqib , Dhiman Amit
Published: March 2021

The current research focuses on the laminar flow through permeable side-by-side bars of a square cross section in a channel-confined domain. Vorticity generation on the leeward sides of the permeable bodies further necessitates the study for a better understanding of underlying physics. Reynolds number (Re) and Darcy number (Da) are varied from 5 to 150 and 10−6 to 10−2, respectively, at transverse gap ratios s/d = 2.5–10. In the perspective of periodic unsteady flow, critical Re for the onset of vortex shedding is analyzed. Streamlines, vorticity, pressure coefficient distribution, and velocity profiles are discussed to identify the wake patterns. In lower permeability level, vortex-shedding from the permeable square cylinders is observed either in synchronized antiphase mode or a single large vortex street with a synchronized in-phase pattern in the near wake. A steady-state wake pattern symmetric and flocked toward the centerline is observed for all s/d at a higher permeability level regardless of Re. Wake patterns are not altered for Da = 10−6 to 10−3; instead, prompt extermination of the two vortex streets downstream is observed at Da = 10−3 as compared to Da = 10−6. The impact of s/d, Re, and permeability on the drag is examined. A jump in the flow characteristics and drag forces is noticed at higher Re for the midrange Da remarkably at lower s/d. For the extent of high permeability, the drag coefficient asymptotically gets closer to zero.
Monitoring changes in human activity during the COVID-19 shutdown in Las Vegas using infrasound microbarometers
Authors: Bird Elijah J. , Bowman Daniel C. , Seastrand Douglas R. , Wright Melissa A. , Lees Jonathan M. , Dannemann Dugick Fransiska K.
Published: March 2021

While studies of urban acoustics are typically restricted to the audio range, anthropogenic activity also generates infrasound (<20 Hz, roughly at the lower end of the range of human hearing). Shutdowns related to the COVID-19 pandemic unintentionally created ideal conditions for the study of urban infrasound and low frequency audio (20–500 Hz), as closures reduced human-generated ambient noise, while natural signals remained relatively unaffected. An array of infrasound sensors deployed in Las Vegas, NV, provides data for a case study in monitoring human activity during the pandemic through urban acoustics. The array records a sharp decline in acoustic power following the temporary shutdown of businesses deemed nonessential by the state of Nevada. This decline varies spatially across the array, with stations close to McCarran International Airport generally recording the greatest declines in acoustic power. Further, declines in acoustic power fluctuate with the time of day. As only signals associated with anthropogenic activity are expected to decline, this gives a rough indication of periodicities in urban acoustics throughout Las Vegas. The results of this study reflect the city's response to the pandemic and suggest spatiotemporal trends in acoustics outside of shutdowns.
Connecting the grain-shearing, creep, and squirt flow models for wave propagation in the seabed
Authors: Chotiros Nicholas P.
Published: March 2021

The generalized creep and squirt flow models are shown to be stationary creep processes. A fractional exponent is used to develop a new generalized squirt flow model. The responses of the grain-shearing and generalized creep models are identical, although based on entirely different concepts: a single spring and time-varying damper versus a continuous distribution of parallel Maxwell elements. The random structure of marine sand is more consistent with the latter, implying absence of strain-hardening. The generalized squirt flow model has a high frequency cutoff suited to practical systems, limited by the speed with which underlying physical changes can occur.
Exertional Rhabdomyolysis Following Noncontact Collegiate Recreational Activity: A Case Report
Authors: Morogiello Jenna , Roessler Rebekah
Published: March 2021

A healthy 19-year-old male (body mass = 68.04 kg, height = 175.26 cm) participating in a collegiate intramural flag football tournament presented with unilateral gastrocnemius exercise-associated muscle cramps. He was given electrolytes, stretched, and returned to play. The exercise-associated muscle cramps progressed to his quadriceps bilaterally within 23 min of initial reported symptoms. Emergency medical services was activated and the patient was transported by ambulance to the emergency department, where he was diagnosed with acute exertional rhabdomyolysis. This case report explores the rarity of exertional rhabdomyolysis in a noncontact intramural sport and highlights the necessity for early recognition and treatment.
Effect of Maximally Relaxed Lying Posture on the Severity of Stuttering in Young Adults Who Stutter
Authors: Almudhi Abdulaziz , Zafar Hamayun
Published: March 2021

The current study was carried out with the aim of investigating the effect of maximally relaxed lying posture on disfluencies in young adults who stutter. A total of 24 participants (17 males, seven females; mean age = 24.9 ± 6.2 years) with developmental stuttering were a part of the study. The participants were asked to perform spontaneous speaking and reading aloud tasks in standard sitting and maximally relaxed lying postures. The severity of stuttering for the studied postures was estimated by using the Stuttering Severity Instrument. The results on the Stuttering Severity Instrument showed that stuttering parameters improved during the maximally relaxed lying posture compared with the standard sitting position. The results are discussed in the light of motor control concepts. It is concluded that the maximally relaxed lying posture can facilitate improvement in stuttering scores during spontaneous speaking as well as reading aloud in young adults who stutter. Reduced stuttering scores in the maximally relaxed lying posture suggest that speech therapists can position participants in this position while treating people who stutter.
Substrate Oxidation Is Altered by Obesity During Submaximal Cycling in Prepubertal and Early Pubertal Children: A Quality Study
Authors: Delaney Kerri Z. , Spatari Leandra , Henderson Mélanie , Santosa Sylvia , Mathieu Marie-Eve
Published: March 2021

Background: To examine substrate oxidation in prepubertal and early pubertal children as a function of body weight, body composition, and sex during an exhaustive cycling test. Methods: This study included 320 children in prepubertal and early puberty (Tanner stage 1 or 2; n = 188 males) who completed a minimum of 4 stages (2–5 min/stage) of an adapted version of the McMaster exhaustive exercise protocol on an upright cycle ergometer. Substrate utilization, relative to individual VO2peak, was determined using VO2 and VCO2 data, obtained with breath-by-breath gas analysis during exercise. Results: Both peak (mg/kg lean body mass·min) and submaximal lipid oxidation (mg/kg lean body mass·min) were highest (P < .01) in children with healthy weight (HW), then overweight, and lowest in obese (OB). Both females with HW (compared with males with HW) and females with OB (compared with males with OB) had higher (P < .01) peak and submaximal lipid oxidation. In children with OB, fat-free mass correlated positively (P < .01) with submaximal lipid oxidation (r = .50). In contrast, in children with HW and overweight, fat-free mass correlated positively (P < .01) with carbohydrate oxidation (r = .52 and r = .47, respectively). Conclusion: Obesity during childhood may alter substrate oxidation during exercise. These results may have implications in the implementation of exercise programs in prepubertal or early puberty to control adiposity.
SARS-CoV-2 infection of human iPSC–derived cardiac cells reflects cytopathic features in hearts of patients with COVID-19
Authors: Perez-Bermejo Juan A. , Kang Serah , Rockwood Sarah J. , Simoneau Camille R. , Joy David A. , Silva Ana C. , Ramadoss Gokul N. , Flanigan Will R. , Fozouni Parinaz , Li Huihui , Chen Pei-Yi , Nakamura Ken , Whitman Jeffrey D. , Hanson Paul J. , McManus Bruce M. , Ott Melanie , Conklin Bruce R. , McDevitt Todd C.
Published: March 2021

Infection of human iPSC–derived cardiomyocytes by SARS-CoV-2 leads to specific cytopathic features reflected in patient autopsy samples.
Laboratory Variants GES
G170L
, GES
G170K
, and GES
G170H
Increase Carbapenem Hydrolysis and Confer Resistance to Clavulanic Acid
Authors: Piccirilli Alessandra , Mercuri Paola Sandra , Segatore Bernardetta , Galleni Moreno , Brisdelli Fabrizia , Kerff Frédéric , Amicosante Gianfranco , Perilli Mariagrazia
Published: March 2021

The Guiana extended-spectrum (GES) β-lactamase GES
G170H
, GES
G170L
, and GES
G170K
mutants showed
k
cat
,

K
m

, and
k
cat
/

K
m

values very dissimilar to those of GES-1 and GES-5. The enhancement of the hydrolytic activity against carbapenems is potentially due to a shift of the substrate in the active site that provides better positioning of the deacylating water molecule caused by the presence of the imidazole ring of H170 and of the long side chain of K170 and L170.
The Nutritional Significance of Intestinal Fungi: Alteration of Dietary Carbohydrate Composition Triggers Colonic Fungal Community Shifts in a Pig Model
Authors: Luo Yuheng , Li Jiayan , Zhou Hua , Yu Bing , He Jun , Wu Aimin , Huang Zhiqing , Zheng Ping , Mao Xiangbing , Yu Jie , Li Hua , Wang Huifen , Wang Quyuan , Yan Hui , Chen Daiwen
Published: March 2021

Although fungi are a large group of microorganisms along with bacteria and archaea in the gut of monogastric animals, the nutritional significance of fungi has been ignored for a long time. Our previous studies revealed a distinct fungal community in the gut of grazing Tibetan pigs (
1
) and a close correlation between fungal species and short-chain fatty acids, the main microbial metabolites of carbohydrates in the hindgut of pigs (
2
).
Antimicrobial Resistance in Porcine Enterococci in Australia and the Ramifications for Human Health
Authors: Lee Terence , Jordan David , Sahibzada Shafi , Abraham Rebecca , Pang Stanley , Coombs Geoffrey W. , O’Dea Mark , Abraham Sam
Published: March 2021

Resistance to the critically important antimicrobials vancomycin, teicoplanin, and linezolid is not found in enterococci collected from Australian finisher pigs. However, some antimicrobial resistance was observed.
Does Antibody Avidity to Plasmodium falciparum Merozoite Antigens Increase with Age in Individuals Living in Malaria-Endemic Areas?
Authors: Tassi Yunga Samuel , Bobbili Naveen , Lloyd Yukie M. , Antallan Jovikka , Matsunaga Masako , Quakyi Isabella , Leke Rose F. G. , Taylor Diane Wallace
Published: March 2021

High-avidity antibodies (Abs) are acquired after a few
Plasmodium falciparum
infections in low transmission areas, but it remains unclear if Ab avidity to different merozoite antigens increases with age in individuals with persistent antigenemia and, if so, when a fully mature Ab response occurs. The study used plasma samples collected between 1996 and 1998 from 566 individuals aged 4 to 84 years in Simbok, Cameroon, where residents received an estimated 1.6 infectious mosquito bites/person/night.
A Newly Identified Prophage Gene,
ymfM
, Causes SOS-Inducible Filamentation in Escherichia coli
Authors: Ansari Shirin , Walsh James C. , Bottomley Amy L. , Duggin Iain G. , Burke Catherine , Harry Elizabeth J.
Published: March 2021

Filamentation is an important biological mechanism that aids in the survival, pathogenesis, and antibiotic resistance of bacteria within different environments, including pathogenic bacteria such as uropathogenic
Escherichia coli
. Here, we have identified a bacteriophage-encoded cell division inhibitor which contributes to the filamentation that occurs during the SOS response.
Unraveling Caspofungin Resistance in Cryptococcus neoformans
Authors: Papon Nicolas , Goldman Gustavo H.
Published: March 2021

Cryptococcus neoformans
is a basidiomycetous yeast responsible for hundreds of thousands of deaths a year and is particularly threatening in immunocompromised patients. There are few families of antifungals that are available to fight fungal infections, and the unique efficient treatment for the most deadly cerebral forms of cryptococcosis is based on a combination of 5-fluorocytosine and amphotericin B.
Trade-off between Plasticity and Velocity in Mycelial Growth
Authors: Fukuda Sayumi , Yamamoto Riho , Yanagisawa Naoki , Takaya Naoki , Sato Yoshikatsu , Riquelme Meritxell , Takeshita Norio
Published: March 2021

Tip-growing fungal cells maintain cell polarity at the apical regions and elongate by
de novo
synthesis of the cell wall. Cell polarity and tip growth rate affect mycelial morphology.
Cryo-Electron Tomography of the Herpesvirus Procapsid Reveals Interactions of the Portal with the Scaffold and a Shift on Maturation
Authors: Buch Michael H. C. , Newcomb William W. , Winkler Dennis C. , Steven Alasdair C. , Heymann J. Bernard
Published: March 2021

Herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) infects a majority of humans, causing mostly mild disease but in some cases progressing toward life-threatening encephalitis. Understanding the life cycle of the virus is important to devise countermeasures.
Inter- and Intra-Annual Bacterioplankton Community Patterns in a Deepwater Sub-Arctic Region: Persistent High Background Abundance of Putative Oil Degraders
Authors: Angelova Angelina G. , Berx Barbara , Bresnan Eileen , Joye Samantha B. , Free Andrew , Gutierrez Tony
Published: March 2021

Oil spills at sea are one of the most disastrous anthropogenic pollution events, with the Deepwater Horizon spill providing a testament to how profoundly the health of marine ecosystems and the livelihood of its coastal inhabitants can be severely impacted by spilled oil. The fate of oil in the environment is largely dictated by the presence and activities of natural communities of oil-degrading bacteria.
EMPress Enables Tree-Guided, Interactive, and Exploratory Analyses of Multi-omic Data Sets
Authors: Cantrell Kalen , Fedarko Marcus W. , Rahman Gibraan , McDonald Daniel , Yang Yimeng , Zaw Thant , Gonzalez Antonio , Janssen Stefan , Estaki Mehrbod , Haiminen Niina , Beck Kristen L. , Zhu Qiyun , Sayyari Erfan , Morton James T. , Armstrong George , Tripathi Anupriya , Gauglitz Julia M. , Marotz Clarisse , Matteson Nathaniel L. , Martino Cameron , Sanders Jon G. , Carrieri Anna Paola , Song Se Jin , Swafford Austin D. , Dorrestein Pieter C. , Andersen Kristian G. , Parida Laxmi , Kim Ho-Cheol , Vázquez-Baeza Yoshiki , Knight Rob
Published: March 2021

Phylogenetic trees are integral data structures for the analysis of microbial communities. Recent work has also shown the utility of trees constructed from certain metabolomic data sets, further highlighting their importance in microbiome research.
Common Presence of Phototrophic
Gemmatimonadota
in Temperate Freshwater Lakes
Authors: Mujakić Izabela , Andrei Adrian-Ştefan , Shabarova Tanja , Fecskeová Lívia Kolesár , Salcher Michaela M. , Piwosz Kasia , Ghai Rohit , Koblížek Michal
Published: March 2021

Photoheterotrophic bacterial phyla such as
Gemmatimonadota
are key components of many natural environments. Its first cultured member,
Gemmatimonas phototrophica
, was isolated in 2014 from a shallow lake in the Gobi Desert.
Treating the treatment: chemotherapy-induced multi-organ toxicity
Authors: Tyebally Sara , Abiodun Aderonke , Slater Sarah , Ghosh Arjun K
Published: March 2021

A 40-year-old man presented to a local hospital with a 2-day history of dyspnoea having been started on adjuvant chemotherapy consisting of oxaliplatin and capecitabine for mucinous adenocarcinoma of the colon. During his admission, he develops chest pain, worsening shortness of breath, and intermittent dysarthria and disorientation. Investigations reveal severely impaired left ventricular function on echocardiogram, bilateral acute pulmonary embolisms on CT pulmonary angiogragraphy, and diffused subcortical and callosal white matter signal change and restricted diffusion consistent with a toxic leukoencephalopathy on MRI of brain. This case highlights the pivotal role of the multidisciplinary cardio-oncology approach which enabled these challenging diagnoses to be made and ensured optimal patient outcome.
Successful expectant management of a giant chorioangioma
Authors: Mo Roxana
Published: March 2021

Giant chorioangiomas are benign placental tumours, which can have potential severe fetal consequences. Complications in pregnancy include polyhydramnios, fetal hydrops and growth restriction. Such pregnancies can carry a significant risk of poor perinatal outcome and require close monitoring. Therapeutic options include fetoscopic or interstitial vessel ablation, chemosclerosis and embolisation. Where there is no evidence of fetal compromise, such pregnancies can successfully be managed conservatively.
Inhaled nitrous oxide-induced functional B12deficiency
Authors: Padayachee Yorissa , Richards Chris , Morgan Owen
Published: March 2021

Recreational nitrous oxide (N2O) is commonly used among young people partly due to its low cost and accessibility, and awareness of its potential adverse effects is poor in this group. One such adverse effect is degeneration of the spinal cord due to its disruption of DNA synthesis by inactivating cobalamin (B12).

A 19-year-old man presented to the emergency department with a 4-week history of worsening paraesthesia in his fingers and lower limbs, and weakness in the hands and lower limbs for 2 weeks. On examination, he had an ataxic gait, reduced power of grip strength and ankle movements, and impaired sensation in the lower limbs. An MRI brain and spine revealed myelopathy of the cervical and thoracic cord.

On further questioning, he reported recreational N2O inhalation. His symptoms improved after stopping this and he was treated with supplementation of B vitamins. Education strategies regarding the risks of N2O misuse are indicated.