bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Serum concentration of taurochenodeoxycholic acid predicts clinically significant portal hypertension
Authors: Žížalová Kateřina , Nováková Barbora , Vecka Marek , Petrtýl Jaromír , Lánská Věra , Pelinková Květa , Šmíd Václav , Brůha Radan , Vítek Libor , Leníček Martin
Published: November 2022

Background & Aims

Severity of portal hypertension is usually quantified by measuring the hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG). However, due to its invasiveness, alternative markers are being sought. Bile acids (BA), being synthesized, metabolized, and transported by the liver, seem to have the potential to serve as endogenous markers. The aim of the present study was to determine whether serum BA reflect the severity of portal hypertension.

Methods

We correlated serum concentrations of individual BA with portal pressure (as HVPG) in an exploratory cohort of 21 cirrhotic patients with portal hypertension. The predictive potential of selected candidates was then confirmed in an independent validation cohort (n = 214). Additionally, nine previously published noninvasive markers were added to the stepwise logistic regression model to identify the most relevant ones, which were eventually used to create a prognostic index of portal hypertension.

Results

Serum levels of taurochenodeoxycholic acid (TCDCA) significantly correlated with HVPG and showed a high potential to predict clinically significant portal hypertension (HVPG ≥ 10 mm Hg: AUROC = 0.97 ± 0.06). This was confirmed in the validation cohort (AUROC = 0.96 ± 0.01). The predictive index (constructed based on AST/ALT, spleen diameter, and TCDCA concentration) was able to distinguish clinically significant portal hypertension with 95% sensitivity and 76% specificity.

Conclusions

TCDCA seems to be a promising noninvasive marker of clinically significant portal hypertension. Its predictive potential may be further enhanced when it is combined with both the AST/ALT ratio and spleen diameter.
Introgression from extinct species facilitates adaptation to its vacated niche
Authors: Frei David , Reichlin Pascal , Seehausen Ole , Feulner Philine G. D.
Published: November 2022

Anthropogenic disturbances of ecosystems are causing a loss of biodiversity at an unprecedented rate. Species extinctions often leave ecological niches underutilized, and their colonization by other species may require new adaptation. In Lake Constance, on the borders of Germany, Austria and Switzerland, an endemic profundal whitefish species went extinct during a period of anthropogenic eutrophication. In the process of extinction, the deep‐water species hybridized with three surviving whitefish species of Lake Constance, resulting in introgression of genetic variation that is potentially adaptive in deep‐water habitats. Here, we sampled a water depth gradient across a known spawning ground of one of these surviving species, Coregonus macrophthalmus, and caught spawning individuals at greater depths (down to 90 m) than historically recorded. We sequenced a total of 96 whole genomes, 11–17 for each of six different spawning depth populations (4, 12, 20, 40, 60 and 90 m), to document genomic intraspecific differentiation along a water depth gradient. We identified 52 genomic regions that are potentially under divergent selection between the deepest (90 m) and all shallower (4–60 m) spawning habitats. At 12 (23.1%) of these 52 loci, the allele frequency pattern across historical and contemporary populations suggests that introgression from the extinct species potentially facilitates ongoing adaptation to deep water. Our results are consistent with the syngameon hypothesis, proposing that hybridization between members of an adaptive radiation can promote further niche expansion and diversification. Furthermore, our findings demonstrate that introgression from extinct into extant species can be a source of evolvability, enabling rapid adaptation to environmental change, and may contribute to the ecological recovery of ecosystem functions after extinctions.
A Rare Successful Nonproliferation Policy: The JCPOA
Authors: Serim A. Esra
Published: November 2022

In July 2015, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) addressed the international community's concerns about Iran's nuclear program. The United States and the other P5+1 countries (the permanent members of the UN Security Council, plus Germany) agreed to lift the nuclear‐related economic and financial sanctions they had imposed. This article discusses how the US administration successfully formulated a nonproliferation policy to convince Iran to engage in nuclear negotiations in the period before the 2015 agreement and how diplomacy and sanctions were used as integrated tools to achieve the goal of nonproliferation. The article also focuses on the administration's agitating for more sanctions and isolation of Tehran from the international community while employing the two diplomatic methods. In implementing the strategy, it faced major domestic and foreign challenges. Nevertheless, the US nonproliferation strategy toward Iran achieved its primary purpose.
A shake table protocol for seismic assessment and qualification of acceleration‐sensitive nonstructural elements
Authors: Zito Martino , D'Angela Danilo , Maddaloni Giuseppe , Magliulo Gennaro
Published: November 2022

A shake table protocol for seismic assessment and qualification of acceleration‐sensitive nonstructural elements (NEs) is developed. The paper critically reviews existing protocols and highlights their criticalities, pointing out the need for the development of novel assessment and qualification approaches and protocols. The protocol is developed in light of these criticalities, considering the most recent advances in the field and the specific expertise of the research team. The most significant and contributing parts of the developed protocol consist of the definition of novel required response spectra and the generation of signals for seismic performance evaluation tests. The reliability and robustness of the protocol are evidenced in the paper considering real‐floor motions as a reference, also proving the superiority of the developed protocol with respect to the reference alternatives. The defined approach and procedures are generally applicable and easily extendable to different case studies, as the process is highly versatile and modifiable. The implementation of the developed approach and protocol in the literature and in practice will significantly enhance seismic assessment and qualification of acceleration‐sensitive NEs. This will possibly have a strong impact on public safety and economy.
Prophage excision switches the primary ribosome rescue pathway and rescue‐associated gene regulations in Escherichia coli
Authors: Onodera Haruka , Niwa Tatsuya , Taguchi Hideki , Chadani Yuhei
Published: November 2022

Escherichia coli has multiple pathways to release nonproductive ribosome complexes stalled at the 3′ end of nonstop mRNA: tmRNA (SsrA RNA)‐mediated trans‐translation and stop codon‐independent termination by ArfA/RF2 or ArfB (YaeJ). The arfA mRNA lacks a stop codon and its expression is repressed by trans‐translation. Therefore, ArfA is considered to complement the ribosome rescue activity of trans‐translation, but the physiological situations in which ArfA is expressed have not been elucidated. Here, we found that the excision of CP4‐57 prophage adjacent to E. coli ssrA leads to the inactivation of tmRNA and switches the primary rescue pathway from trans‐translation to ArfA/RF2. This “rescue‐switching” rearranges not only the proteome landscape in E. coli but also the phenotype such as motility. Furthermore, among the proteins with significantly increased abundance in the ArfA+ cells, we found ZntR, whose mRNA is transcribed together as the upstream part of nonstop arfA mRNA. Repression of ZntR and reconstituted model genes depends on the translation of the downstream nonstop ORFs that trigger the trans‐translation‐coupled exonucleolytic degradation by polynucleotide phosphorylase (PNPase). Namely, our studies provide a novel example of trans‐translation‐dependent regulation and re‐define the physiological roles of prophage excision.
LapB (YciM) orchestrates protein–protein interactions at the interface of lipopolysaccharide and phospholipid biosynthesis
Authors: Möller Anna‐Maria , Brückner Simon , Tilg Lea‐Janina , Kutscher Blanka , Nowaczyk Marc M. , Narberhaus Franz
Published: November 2022

The outer membrane (OM) of Gram‐negative bacteria functions as an essential barrier and is characterized by an asymmetric bilayer with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in the outer leaflet. The enzyme LpxC catalyzes the first committed step in LPS biosynthesis. It plays a critical role in maintaining the balance between LPS and phospholipids (PL), which are both derived from the same biosynthetic precursor. The essential inner membrane proteins YejM (PbgA, LapC), LapB (YciM), and the protease FtsH are known to account for optimal LpxC levels, but the mechanistic details are poorly understood. LapB is thought to be a bi‐functional protein serving as an adaptor for FtsH‐mediated turnover of LpxC and acting as a scaffold in the coordination of LPS biosynthesis. Here, we provide experimental evidence for the physical interaction of LapB with proteins at the biosynthetic node from where the LPS and PL biosynthesis pathways diverge. By a total of four in vivo and in vitro assays, we demonstrate protein–protein interactions between LapB and the LPS biosynthesis enzymes LpxA, LpxC, and LpxD, between LapB and YejM, the anti‐adaptor protein regulating LapB activity, and between LapB and FabZ, the first PL biosynthesis enzyme. Moreover, we uncovered a new adaptor function of LapB in destabilizing not only LpxC but also LpxD. Overall, our study shows that LapB is a multi‐functional protein that serves as a protein–protein interaction hub for key enzymes in LPS and PL biogenesis presumably by virtue of multiple tetratricopeptide repeat (TPR) motifs in its cytoplasmic C‐terminal region.
Misalignment Management in Joint Ventures: Drafting JV Agreements to Prevent, De‐escalate, and Resolve Disputes
Authors: Bamford James , Drutowski Mackenzie , Fernandes Lois , Litewka Matias , Pyle Tracy Branding
Published: November 2022

As with any group endeavor, joint ventures and partnerships are inherently prone to misalignment, deadlock, and disputes, given the constant evolution of partner strategies, interests, and constraints. Ideally, JV contractual agreements would be structured to manage those misalignments as they emerge, but the typical JV agreement utilizes boilerplate dispute resolution language without considering a fulsome slate of contractual paths to creatively prevent, de‐escalate, or resolve such misalignments. This article offers a range of practical insights, benchmarks, and contractual terms to better manage misalignment in JVs, leveraging the authors' analysis of dispute‐related terms in 137 JV agreements and experience working on hundreds of JV and other partnership transactions around the world.
The identity of Caralluma dolichocarpa (Apocynaceae–Asclepiadoideae) and a combination in Ceropegia for Echidnopsis globosa
Authors: Thulin Mats , Al‐Hawshabi Othman S. S.
Published: November 2022

Caralluma dolichocarpa is shown to be an older name for C. lavrani, a succulent species restricted to southern Yemen and southwestern Oman, and the new combination Ceropegia dolichocarpa is made. The new combination Ceropegia globosa is proposed for Echidnopsis globosa, another succulent, endemic to southern Yemen. Photographs, synonymies and notes on the distribution, habitat and taxonomy of these two species are provided.
Ethical considerations in engaging young people in European obesity prevention research: The CO‐CREATE experience
Authors: Budin‐Ljøsne Isabelle , Ayuandini Sherria , Baillergeau Evelyne , Bröer Christian , Helleve Arnfinn , Klepp Knut‐Inge , Kysnes Bjarte , Lien Nanna , Luszczynska Aleksandra , Nesrallah Samantha , Rito Ana , Rutter Harry , Samdal Oddrun , Savona Natalie , Veltkamp Gerlieke
Published: November 2022

Engaging youth in obesity prevention research and policy action is essential to develop strategies that are relevant and sensitive to their needs. Research with young people requires critical reflection to safeguard their rights, dignity, and well‐being. The CO‐CREATE project used various methods to engage approximately 300 European youth aged 15–19 years in the development of policies to prevent adolescent obesity. This paper discusses ethical considerations made in the project pertaining to the youth's voluntary participation, their protection from obesity stigma, respect for their time, data privacy and confidentiality, power balance, and equality of opportunity to participate in the research. We describe measures implemented to prevent or limit the emergence of ethical challenges in our interaction with youth and discuss their relevance based on our experience with implementation. While some challenges seemingly were prevented, others arose related to the youth's voluntary participation, time burdens on them, and the sustainability of participation under the Covid‐19 pandemic. Concrete and ongoing ethical guidance may be useful in projects aiming to interact and build collaborative relationships with youth for long periods of time.
Effects of Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus HD100 on experimental periodontitis in rats
Authors: Silva Pedro Henrique Felix , Oliveira Luiz Fernando Ferreira , Cardoso Renata Silva , Santana Sandro Isaias , Casarin Renato Correa , Ervolino Edilson , Salvador Sergio Luiz , Palioto Daniela Bazan , Furlaneto Flávia Aparecida Chaves , Messora Michel Reis
Published: November 2022

Aim

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus HD100 on experimental periodontitis (EP) in rats.

Methods

Thirty‐two rats were divided into four groups: control, C‐HD100 (B. bacteriovorus), EP, and EP‐HD100. On day 0, EP was induced by the placement of cotton ligatures around the mandibular first molars (MFMs) in the EP and EP‐HD100 groups. In the C‐HD100 and EP‐HD100 groups, suspensions containing 1 × 109 PUF/ml of B. bacteriovorus HD100 were topically administered to the subgingival region of MFMs on days 0, 3, and 7. Animals were euthanized on day 14. Morphometrics analyses were performed in hemimandibles. The levels of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF‐α), interleukin (IL)‐6, monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)‐1, IL‐10, IL‐1β, transforming growth factor beta (TGF‐β), macrophage colony‐stimulating factor (M‐CSF) and regulated on activation and normal T cell expressed and secreted (RANTES) were determined by enzymatic immunoassays in gingival tissues. Beta defensin (BD)‐1, BD‐2, and BD‐3, Toll‐like receptors (TLR)‐2 and TLR‐4, and a cluster of differentiation (CD)‐4, CD‐8 and CD‐57 were analyzed by immunohistochemistry in hemimandibles. Data were statistically analyzed.

Results

The EP group showed greater alveolar bone loss than EP‐HD100 (p < .05). The EP‐HD100 group showed higher levels of MCP‐1, RANTES, IL‐10, and TGF‐β, lower levels of TNF‐α than the EP group (p < .05). No differences were observed in IL‐1β, IL‐6, and M‐CSF levels between EP and EP‐HD100 groups. The C‐HD100 group had higher IL‐6, TNF‐α, RANTES, and MCP‐1 levels than the control group (p < .05). Regarding BD, the EP‐HD100 group showed a larger immunolabeling pattern for BD‐1, BD‐2, and BD‐3 than the EP group (p < .05). No significant differences in the immunolabeling pattern were observed for TLR‐2, TLR‐4, CD‐4, CD‐8, and CD‐57 between EP and EP‐HD100 groups.

Conclusion

The topical use of B. bacteriovorus HD100 reduces alveolar bone loss, increases expression of BD, and modulates the cytokines levels on periodontal tissues in rats with EP.
The Biomechanical Effects of Different Bag‐Carrying Styles on Lumbar Spine and Paraspinal Muscles: A Combined Musculoskeletal and Finite Element Study
Authors: Zhao Geng , Wang Hongwei , Wang Lianlei , Ibrahim Yakubu , Wan Yi , Sun Junyuan , Yuan Suomao , Liu Xinyu
Published: November 2022

Objectives

Bags such as handbags, shoulder bags, and backpacks are commonly used. However, it is difficult to assess the biomechanical effects of bag‐carrying styles on the lumbar spine and paraspinal muscles using traditional methods. This study aimed to evaluate the biomechanical effects of bag‐carrying styles on the lumbar spine.

Methods

We developed a hybrid model that combined a finite element (FE) model of the lumbar spine and musculoskeletal models of three bag‐carrying styles. The image data was collected from a 26‐years‐old, 176 cm and 70 kg volunteer. OpenSim and ABAQUS were used to do the musculoskeletal analysis and finite analysis. Paraspinal muscle force, intervertebral compressive force (ICF), and intervertebral shear force (ISF) on L1 were calculated and loaded into the FE model to assess the stress distribution on the lumbar spine.

Results

Different paraspinal muscle activation occurred in the three bag‐carrying models. The increase in the ICF generated by all three bags was greater than the bags' weights. The handbag produced greater muscle force, ICF, ISF, and peak stress on the nucleus pulposus than the backpack and shoulder bag of the same weight. Peak stress on the intervertebral discs in the backpack model and the L1–L4 segments of the shoulder bag model increased linearly with bag weight, and increased exponentially with bag weight in the handbag model.

Conclusion

Unbalanced bag‐carrying styles (shoulder bags and handbags) led to greater muscle force, which generated greater ICF, ISF, and peak stress on the lumbar spine. The backpack produced the least burden on the lumbar spine and paraspinal muscles. Heavy handbags should be used carefully in daily life.
Suitability of the left internal jugular vein for CRT‐D placement in the setting of extensive venous occlusion: Case report and review of the literature
Authors: Manongi Ngoda , Goldbarg Seth
Published: November 2022

Placement of coronary sinus (CS) leads is predominantly accomplished via the left cephalic‐axillary‐subclavian venous system. However, vein stenosis or occlusion from long‐term chronic hemodialysis (HD) in patients with end‐stage renal failure can pose a challenge. Cannulation of the CS via the left internal jugular vein (IJV) is technically difficult but often feasible. We report a case in which a patient with end‐stage renal disease (ESRD) had extensive left venous system occlusion from prior in dwelling HD catheters, and an AV fistula contralaterally, who underwent biventricular implantable cardioverter defibrillator placement with lead insertion through the left IJV.
Therapeutic response of iNO in preterm infants with hypoxemic respiratory failure
Authors: Oka Shuntaro , Nishimura Eri , Ozawa Junichi , Haga Mitsuhiro , Miyahara Naoyuki , Sakatani Shun , Minamitani Yohei , Namba Fumihiko
Published: November 2022

Background

Inhaled nitric oxide (iNO) has been used as a rescue treatment for preterm infants with hypoxemic respiratory failure (HRF). However, its effectiveness remains debatable. Thus, in this study, we aimed to examine the impact of iNO therapy on HRF in extremely preterm infants.

Methods

A retrospective observational study was performed. Extremely preterm infants admitted to our neonatal intensive care unit who received iNO therapy later in their postnatal life were included. The oxygen saturation index (OSI) was used as an index of the severity of respiratory failure.

Results

In total, 30 extremely preterm infants were included in this study. Oxygenation was enhanced after the administration of iNO in infants with HRF. The OSI decreased by more than 20% in 12 patients (40%, positive responder) and did not decrease in 17 patients (57%, negative responder) within the first 6 h of treatment. The iNO initiation day was the significant independent factor associated with a positive response to iNO therapy in extremely preterm infants with HRF.

Conclusions

iNO therapy was effective in enhancing oxygenation in extremely preterm infants with HRF. Earlier use of iNO was the significant factor associated with a positive therapeutic response to iNO, implying that iNO may be more effective in pulmonary vessels which are less damaged by shorter‐term mechanical ventilation.
Soil health indicators for monitoring forest ecological restoration: a critical review
Authors: Gatica‐Saavedra Paula , Aburto Felipe , Rojas Patricia , Echeverría Cristian
Published: November 2022

Forest restoration is considered among the most affordable and effective practices to address ecosystem and biodiversity loss and mitigate the impacts of human‐induced global change. Soils are intrinsically complex systems that mediate and regulate multiple processes and functions vital for forest ecosystem restoration. Although monitoring soil attributes are critical for evaluating the success of forest restoration projects, research, and development of soil function indicators are still limited. Here, we have reviewed the most commonly reported soil indicators in forest restoration research and their recovery trajectory on a global scale. We also identified and discussed less frequently used indicators that have the potential for monitoring ecosystem recovery. We found that soil indicators have considerably increased in the literature. However, research is regionally concentrated, and a significant proportion of publications neither considered reference ecosystems (41%) nor provided basic information about soil types (<21%). The most reported indicator types were chemical (76%) (e.g., soil carbon, nitrogen, and pH). A significant proportion of the studies (46%) performed long‐term evaluations (>15 years) of indicators. The majority of the indicators tended to resemble the levels of the reference ecosystem in the long term, with a few exceptions (e.g., water content and bulk density). We identified several less used but more integrative indicators with great potential for monitoring forest ecosystem recovery (e.g., aggregate stability, oxidizable carbon, soil respiration, and enzyme activity). Our results emphasize the need to effectively develop standardized soil health indicators to monitor ecosystem recovery under different conditions and expand their use in underrepresented regions.
The ScAPD1‐like gene from the desert moss Syntrichia caninervis enhances resistance to Verticillium dahliae via phenylpropanoid gene regulation
Authors: Li Xiaoshuang , Yang Ruirui , Liang Yuqing , Gao Bei , Li Shimin , Bai Wenwan , Oliver Melvin J. , Zhang Daoyuan
Published: November 2022

Soloist is a member of a distinct and small subfamily within the AP2/ERF transcriptional factor family that play important roles in plant biotic and abiotic stress responses. There are limited studies of Soloist genes and their functions are poorly understood. We characterized the abiotic and biotic stress tolerance function of the ScSoloist gene (designated as ScAPD1‐like) from the desert moss Syntrichia caninervis. ScAPD1‐like responded to multiple abiotic, biotic stresses and plant hormone treatments. ScAPD1‐like protein located to the nucleus and bound to several DNA elements. Overexpression of ScAPD1‐like in Arabidopsis did not alter abiotic stress resistance or inhibit Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato (Pst) DC3000 infection. However, overexpression of ScAPD1‐like significantly increased the resistance of transgenic Arabidopsis and S. caninervis to Verticillium dahliae infection, decreased reactive oxygen species accumulation and improved reactive oxygen species scavenging activity. ScAPD1‐like overexpression plants altered the abundance of transcripts for lignin synthesis and promoted lignin accumulation in Arabidopsis. ScAPD1‐like directly bind to RAV1, AC elements, and TATA‐box in the promoters of AtPAL1 and AtC4H genes, respectively, in vitro. Chromatin immunoprecipitation‐quantitative polymerase chain reaction assays demonstrated ScAPD1‐like directly bound to PAL and C4H genes promoters in Arabidopsis and their homologs in S. caninervis. In S. caninervis, ScAPD1‐like overexpression and RNAi directly regulated the abundance of ScPAL and ScC4H transcripts and modified the metabolites of phenylpropanoid pathway. We provide insight into the function of Soloist in plant defense mechanisms that likely occurs through activation of the phenylpropanoid biosynthesis pathway. ScAPD1‐like is a promising candidate gene for breeding strategies to improve resistance to Verticillium wilt.
Thermodynamic Analysis and Optimization for Exhaust Energy Splitting: An Innovative Method of Improving Exhaust Energy Grade for the Low-Speed Marine Diesel Engine
Authors: He Fengshuo , Lu Tong , Pan Zhenjia , Niu Yu , Zhou Gongjie , Lu Yong
Published: November 2022

In this study, a method for improving the exhaust energy grade called exhaust energy splitting is proposed. During the exhausting process of a low-speed marine diesel engine, the exhaust energy splitting is used to split and recover the exhaust in the early stage and the sweeping gas in the late stage separately. GT-Power software and Flowmaster software are used to co-simulate and design the exhaust energy splitting system. Through exergy analysis of the exhaust piping system before and after the energy splitting, the exergy efficiency of the system increases by about 0.47–4.92%, and the optimal splitting phase is around −115 deg. At the same time, the exhaust splitting system is optimized from the perspectives of heat exergy and kinetic energy exergy, and the results show that the exergy efficiency of the optimized exhaust piping system improves by 0.2–2%. This paper demonstrates the feasibility of exhaust energy splitting through exergy analysis.
2D Active Liner Experimental Results in Acoustic Flow Duct Facility
Authors: Billon Kevin , Collet Manuel , Salze Edouard , Gillet Martin , Ouisse Morvan , Volery Maxime , Lissek Hervé , Mardjono Jacky
Published: November 2022

This paper is focused on experimental characterization of new active liners technologies in acoustic flow duct facilities (FDF). These measurements have been performed in the NLR (Netherlands Aerospace Center). Different configurations of passive and active treatments have been tested using the same grazing flow conditions (Mach 0.3) in an aeroacoustic test bench: 1 conventional liner (standard SDOF sandwich panels with honeycomb core) used as reference and a 2D active liner based on an array of electroacoustic absorbers. The grazing flow test campaign comprises acoustics and aerodynamics measurements to characterize the aeroacoustics flow conditions, the membrane behavior, the acoustic impedance and the resulting insertion loss.
Dynamics and Stability of Camber Morphing Wing With Time-Varying Stiffness
Authors: Prabhakar Manoj , Murugan Senthil
Published: November 2022

Morphing wing structures are a promising concept to improve the aircraft performance. Many research works are focusing on the design of mechanism for camber morphing and its aerodynamic performance analysis. However, the dynamic and aeroelastic models of camber morphing wing that can capture the phenomena associated with morphing for performance analysis are not available. This study develops an analytical dynamic model and the solution methods to perform dynamics and stability analysis of camber morphing wing. The change in geometrical and material properties of morphing wing are modeled as time varying stiffness parameters. Floquet theory is then used to study the stability and response of the morphing wing dynamics. The dynamic response and instability regions induced due to aerodynamic flow variations, magnitude and frequency of time varying stiffness (i.e, camber morphing) are identified and quantified with these models. Numerical results show that the morphing process has significant effect on the dynamic response and stability of the camber morphing wing.
Design Space Exploration and Modelling of GATOR 3D Printed Morphing Skins
Authors: Heeb Rafael M. , Dicker Michael , Woods Benjamin K. S.
Published: November 2022

Morphing aircraft wings are one of the proposed solutions to reducing aviation’s environmental impact as they seek to improve the aircraft’s aerodynamic efficiency and thereby reduce green-house gas emissions. The competing structural requirements of morphing skins, which are required to have a high out-of-plane stiffness to resist aerodynamic loading and a low in-plane stiffness to keep the actuation energy low, are one of the key reasons why this technology is not yet being deployed on a large scale. The novel Geometrically Anisotropic Thermoplastic Rubber (GATOR) morphing skins introduced by these authors seek to take advantage of multi-material 3D printing and structural scaling laws to allow for better compromises between the competing design constraints.

In this work, a finite element study of the novel GATOR skins is presented exploring the fundamental relationships between skin configuration and performance of a GATOR skin panel consisting of two face sheets and a zero Poisson’s ratio Morphcore using a numerical model comprised of second-order 3D elements and 2D first-order elements to model the core and the skin, respectively which was validated with experimental results. The GATOR skin is divided into 6 unique design parameters: core height, bending member thickness, core thickness, bending member angle, the distance between the unit cells, and skin thickness. A detailed design space analysis shows how those parameters influence the performance metrics such as axial and bending rigidity and mass properties to better understand what effect they have on those competing design requirements and how they can be used in a targeted way to optimize a GATOR skin.
Exploration of the Q factor for a parallel RLC circuit
Authors: Paulson J. G. , Ray M. W.
Published: November 2022

An important property of oscillating systems like RLC circuits is the Q factor, which quantifies the strength of damping in the system. The Q factor is inversely proportional to the resistance for a series RLC circuit but increases with the resistance in a parallel RLC circuit. The surprising behavior of the parallel RLC circuit makes building and modeling this circuit an interesting project for a student laboratory. We describe an experiment that has been performed to explore this topic, share an example of the results that can be obtained, and suggest analyses that students might perform.
Data transmission in a multimode optical fiber using a neural network
Authors: Kuusela Tom A.
Published: November 2022

In digital data transmission, single mode optical fibers are commonly used since they can carry very short optical pulses without any significant distortions. In contrast, multimode fibers support many propagation modes that travel with different speeds; thus, they cannot maintain the shape of a light pulse. This feature of multiple propagation modes can be a benefit since it makes possible the transmission of data through several channels simultaneously. We demonstrate how multimode fibers can be used to transmit images. Because of the different propagation constants of the modes, the transmitted image is scrambled to apparently random speckle patterns. A simple neural network can be used to model the transmission through the multimode fiber. We show how the neural network can be trained to recognize a set of patterns with high accuracy.
Speed of light measurement with a picosecond diode laser and a
voltage-controlled oscillator
Authors: Aljalal Abdulaziz M.
Published: November 2022

This work describes an experimental method for measuring the speed of light in air. It uses optical feedback from a visible picosecond diode laser operated below the threshold and a voltage-controlled oscillator to determine the time required for a pulse to travel a known distance. The experimental setup is compact, fitting into a space of 1 × 0.5 m2, and at the same time, can determine the speed of light with an uncertainty of 0.03%. The method does not require fast detectors or oscilloscopes.
An introduction to the Markov chain Monte Carlo method
Authors: Wang Wenlong
Published: November 2022

We present an intuitive, conceptual, and semi-rigorous introduction to the Markov Chain Monte Carlo method using a simple model of population dynamics and focusing on a few elementary distributions. We start from two states, then three states, and finally generalize to many states with both discrete and continuous distributions. Despite the mathematical simplicity, our examples include the essential concepts of the Markov Chain Monte Carlo method, including ergodicity, global balance and detailed balance, proposal or selection probability, acceptance probability, the underlying stochastic matrix, and error analysis. Our experience suggests that most senior undergraduate students in physics can follow these materials without much difficulty.
Human-level play in the game ofDiplomacyby combining language models with strategic reasoning
Authors:   Meta Fundamental AI Research Diplomacy Team (FAIR)†, Bakhtin Anton , Brown Noam , Dinan Emily , Farina Gabriele , Flaherty Colin , Fried Daniel , Goff Andrew , Gray Jonathan , Hu Hengyuan , Jacob Athul Paul , Komeili Mojtaba , Konath Karthik , Kwon Minae , Lerer Adam , Lewis Mike , Miller Alexander H. , Mitts Sasha , Renduchintala Adithya , Roller Stephen , Rowe Dirk , Shi Weiyan , Spisak Joe , Wei Alexander , Wu David , Zhang Hugh , Zijlstra Markus
Published: November 2022

Despite much progress in training artificial intelligence (AI) systems to imitate human language, building agents that use language to communicate intentionally with humans in interactive environments remains a major challenge. We introduce Cicero, the first AI agent to achieve human-level performance inDiplomacy, a strategy game involving both cooperation and competition that emphasizes natural language negotiation and tactical coordination between seven players. Cicero integrates a language model with planning and reinforcement learning algorithms by inferring players’ beliefs and intentions from its conversations and generating dialogue in pursuit of its plans. Across 40 games of an anonymous onlineDiplomacyleague, Cicero achieved more than double the average score of the human players and ranked in the top 10% of participants who played more than one game.
Structural Foundations of Potassium Selectivity in Channelrhodopsins
Authors: Govorunova Elena G. , Sineshchekov Oleg A. , Brown Leonid S. , Bondar Ana-Nicoleta , Spudich John L.
Published: November 2022

Recently discovered microbial light-gated ion channels (channelrhodopsins) with a higher permeability for K
+
than for Na
+
(potassium-selective channelrhodopsins [kalium channelrhodopsins, or KCRs]) demonstrate an alternative K
+
selectivity mechanism, unrelated to well-characterized “selectivity filters” of voltage- and ligand-gated K
+
channels. KCRs can be used for optogenetic inhibition of neuronal firing and potentially for the development of gene therapies to treat neurological and cardiovascular disorders.
Specific Enriched Acinetobacter in
Camellia
Weevil Gut Facilitate the Degradation of Tea Saponin: Inferred from Bacterial Genomic and Transcriptomic Analyses
Authors: Li Zikun , Huang Suya , He Xinghua , Ma Haijie , Zhou Xudong , Lin Haiping , Zhang Shouke
Published: November 2022

Microorganism is directly exposed to the plant toxin environment and play a crucial third party in herbivores gut. Although previous studies have proved the existence of gut bacteria that help CWs degrade TS, the specific core flora and its function have not been explored.
Lower limb alignment correction can improve knee stability in congenital absence of anterior cruciate ligament
Authors: MacInnes Poppy , Lewis Thomas Lorchan , Kokkinakis Michail
Published: November 2022

We report the 4-year postoperative outcome of a child with Manner Type I aplasia of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in her left knee and severe genu valgum. The child was experiencing pain, reduced mobility, and frequent left knee locking and instability. The patient was successfully treated with hemiepiphysiodesis (guided growth procedure) of the left knee joint to treat genu valgum deformity using 8-plates, resulting in improvement of knee stability. This spared her major ligament reconstruction of the knee to treat the aplastic ACL, and the patient was able to fully participate in physical activities with peers with no symptoms.
Autoimmune haemolytic anaemia due to immunodeficiency
Authors: Samitinjay Aditya , Ramavath Arjun , Kulakarni Sai Charan , Biswas Rakesh
Published: November 2022

Autoimmune disorders are common presenting manifestations of immunodeficiency syndromes. We present a case of a woman in her late teens, with a history of frequent sinopulmonary tract infections during her childhood, who presented to our hospital with anaemia, jaundice and fatigue. She also had significant physical growth retardation for her age and sex. With this case report, we intend to present the diagnostic and therapeutic challenges faced by the patient and our healthcare system and propose a few feasible solutions to tackle these challenges.
Thoracic Gorham-Stout disease masquerading as an ovarian malignancy: a differential diagnosis in non-malignant causes of raised Ca-125 and overview of this rare pathology
Authors: Sattar Alisha , Smyth Sarah , Soleymani majd Hooman
Published: November 2022

Gorham-Stout disease (GSD) is thought to be due to uncontrolled proliferation of vascular and lymphatic structures within bone tissue causing destruction and osteolysis of bone. We present a patient in her mid-40s who reported chronic shoulder pain, a pleural effusion and irregular periods. Investigations showed osteolysis of her ribs, pleural effusions, an ovarian mass and a raised carbohydrate antigen 125 (Ca-125). She was subsequently diagnosed with GSD, and referred to gynaecology-oncology in consideration of potential ovarian malignancy. GSD is a diagnosis of exclusion that requires a high degree of clinical suspicion, as well as multiple investigations to achieve diagnosis. Clinicians rely on a small number of case reports to provide guidance for this. Therefore, this report provides an overview of a rare pathology, considers the differentials of a raised Ca-125 and describes how a pleural effusion, which links them both, alarmed us regarding an incidental finding of an ovarian cyst.
Successful treatment of vertebral osteomyelitis due toAspergillus flavusin an immunocompetent patient
Authors: Kim Myong Gyu Joshua , Overton Kristen
Published: November 2022

Aspergillus osteomyelitis (AO) is a rare and often lethal opportunistic infection in predominantly immunocompromised patients. Treatment has shifted from amphotericin therapy to voriconazole monotherapy due to increased effectiveness and less toxicity. We report a case of an immunocompetent woman with vertebral osteomyelitis due toAspergillus flavuswho was successfully treated with surgery (requiring hardware implantation) and monotherapy posaconazole (following intolerance and hepatitis due to voriconazole). She remained well at follow-up post cessation of 12 months of antifungal therapy. We provide an updated literature review examining the role of azole monotherapy as the gold standard of treatment for AO.
Endovascular management of pulmonary arteriovenous malformations presenting as multiple brain abscesses
Authors: Prasad Surya Nandan , Sharma Srishti , Singh Vivek , Phadke Rajendra Vishnu
Published: November 2022

Pulmonary arteriovenous malformations (PAVMs) are rare vascular lesions characterised by abnormal connections between the pulmonary artery and vein bypassing the pulmonary capillary bed and causing right-to-left shunt. Paradoxical embolism is known to occur in these cases, leading to inoculation of septic focus in the systemic circulation. We report a case of multiple PAVMs who presented clinically with seizures and altered sensorium. On radiological work-up, multiple brain abscesses and large PAVMs were evident. The patient was successfully treated by endovascular embolisation of the PAVMs using a vascular plug and multiple coils. The patient showed complete clinical recovery and resolution of brain abscesses on follow-up.
Synchronous mucoepidermoid carcinoma and papillary microcarcinomas of the thyroid gland
Authors: Gupta Keshav Kumar , Garas George , Wilkes Jonathan , De Mriganka
Published: November 2022

Thyroid mucoepidermoid carcinoma (MEC) is a rare thyroid malignancy first documented in 1977. The majority of thyroid MECs are indolent, low-grade tumours with excellent prognosis. A woman in her 60s presented with an ongoing sensation of a lump in the left neck. There were no swallowing, voice or airway concerns. Ultrasound of the neck showed an enlarged thyroid with U5 and U3 features on the right and left lobes, respectively. Right fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) demonstrated certain features of Hurthle cell or anaplastic carcinoma (Thy5). Left FNAC showed Hurthle cell changes with atypical cells and prominent nucleoli (Thy3a). Following total thyroidectomy, histopathology revealed synchronous right low-grade MEC and left papillary thyroid microcarcinomas (pT2(m) N0 M0) on a background of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. This case adds to the literature and details the key histopathological features for a rare but important differential in patients with thyroid carcinoma due to synchronous histological types.
Oncological management dilemma: a rare presentation of hairy cell leukaemia with hepatic involvement presenting concomitantly with pancreatic adenocarcinoma
Authors: Al-Saheli Zaid Ihab , Bazzi Talal , Barthel Bernd
Published: November 2022

Hairy cell leukaemia (HCL) is a rare B cell malignancy that is associated with the BRAF V600E mutation and has good treatment response to purine analogues. Its presentation synchronously with other malignancies has been rarely reported. Here, we present a patient with HCL with hepatic involvement who was also found to have pancreatic adenocarcinoma concomitantly at the time of diagnosis. Treating these rare cases simultaneously is a challenge clinically. Throughout this case study, we provide our approach on how oncological care teams provided care for this complicated and rare disease state.
Imaging of extrapontine myelinolysis preceding central pontine myelinolysis in a case of ornithine transcarbamylase deficiency with hyperammonaemia and hypokalaemia
Authors: Tanaka Yuya , Matsuki Mitsuru , Furukawa Rieko , Nakata Waka , Sakurai Yoshio , Ajihara Sayaka , Kawano Akiko , Mori Harushi
Published: November 2022

Background

Patients with ornithine transcarbamylase deficiency (OTCD) often present with severe hyperammonaemia. We report a case of osmotic demyelination syndrome (ODS) secondary to the treatment of hyperammonaemia due to OTCD, a disease requiring early diagnosis, as it can have a severe prognosis.

Case

A girl toddler was brought to the hospital with a complaint of somnolence, presenting with hyperammonaemia and liver failure, and was diagnosed with OTCD. Treatment was started immediately, and the ammonia level returned to the normal range within 24 hours. On days 13–20, another treatment was commenced for re-elevated ammonia levels, which subsequently returned to within the reference range; however, mildly impaired consciousness persisted. Hypokalaemia coincided with temporary intravenous treatment and continuous haemodialysis. T2-weighted magnetic resonance images revealed lesions as high-signal areas in the bilateral putamen on day 11 (extrapontine myelinolysis (EPM)) and in the pons on day 51 (central pontine myelinolysis (CPM)). Consequently, ODS was diagnosed.

Conclusion

When interpreting magnetic resonance images of patients under acute treatment for hyperammonaemia due to OTCD, a condition that may be complicated by hypokalaemia, paying attention to findings suggesting EPM may help detect ODS before CPM appears and may improve patient prognosis.
Impact of additional community services provision on dementia caregiver burden: an interrupted time-series analysis of 12-year interRAI assessments in Hong Kong
Authors: Chan Crystal Ying , Chau Patsy Y K , Yeoh Eng-kiong , Wong Eliza L Y
Published: November 2022

Objectives

To evaluate the impact of providing additional dementia caregiver support services on caregiver burden.

Design

Interrupted time-series analysis using territory-wide panel data.

Settings

All public-funded district elderly community centres in Hong Kong (HK).

Participants

Primary caregivers for older adults (age over 65 years) living with dementia assessed through International Residential Assessment in HK between 1 October 2004 and 31 September 2016. Paid caregivers were excluded.

Interventions

In April 2014, US$280 million was allocated to provide additional psychological support, education and respite care for dementia caregivers in HK.

Main outcome measures

Caregiver burden was measured by two age-standardised rates: (1) caregivers in emotional distress; and (2) caregivers with long care time in a week (more than 20 hours a week). We fitted the two time-series into Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average models to evaluate intervention impacts, with follow-up analyses to consider a 6-month transition period of policy implementation. Segmented linear regressions and Holt-Winter exponential smoothening models were used as sensitivity analyses.

Results

36 689 dementia caregivers were included in this study, of which 14.4% caregivers were distress and 31.9% were long-hours caregivers after the policy intervention in April 2014. Providing additional caregiver service significantly reduced standardised rates of caregivers in distress (β (95% CI)=−3.93 (−7.85 to −0.01), p<0.05), but the effect was not sustained (p=0.183). There was no significant impact on the level of age-standardised rates of caregiver with long care time (β (95 CI)=−4.25 (−9.61 to 1.10), p=0.120). Also, there was no significant delay of intervention impacts.

Conclusion

Our study finds that strengthening caregiver services provision could reduce distress rates among primary caregivers for older adults living with dementia. Expanding community services for caregiver could be a solution to the escalating burden of informal care for people living with dementia.