bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Institutional Supports for Language Development through English‐Medium Instruction: A Factor Analysis
Authors: Goodman Bridget , Kambatyrova Assel , Aitzhanova Kamila , Kerimkulova Sulushash , Chsherbakov Andrey
Published: November 2021

The purpose of this paper is to build and test a framework of four factors stakeholders in postgraduate higher education institutions in Kazakhstan perceive as supporting or hindering language development in English‐medium programs. Data in this mixed‐methods study were collected through student surveys and interviews with students, faculty and administration from six universities across Kazakhstan. Factor analysis confirmed the value of structural, pedagogical, sociolinguistic, and cultural factors for language development. Quantitative and qualitative data demonstrated that respondents highly valued structural factors such as academic mobility abroad and having an opportunity to interact with international faculty. However, they were less satisfied with national and university policies on the implementation of EMI. Additional structural factors including: a significant lack of pedagogical trainings, lack of collaboration with EFL instructors for curriculum development, and low overall English language proficiency of faculty and students, led to pedagogical challenges in classrooms. These challenges were somewhat mitigated by translanguaging practices. The sociolinguistic factors scale demonstrated that out of three languages, Russian was the most prevalent on campuses, which, according to qualitative data, creates pressure to maintain English. Finally, the cultural factors data revealed that students were highly motivated for their ideal self, whereas institutions strived to be research‐oriented and included in the international ranking lists. Based on these findings, it is recommended that curricula be adjusted to include spaces for multilingual practices, and that faculty be provided support in teaching in English through professional development courses.
First‐trimester ultrasound diagnostic features of placenta accreta spectrum in low‐implantation pregnancy
Authors: Abinader R. R. , Macdisi N. , El Moudden I. , Abuhamad A.
Published: November 2021

Objective

Low‐implantation pregnancy (LIP) is an important marker for the diagnosis of placenta accreta spectrum (PAS) in the first trimester. Many grayscale and color Doppler ultrasound markers of PAS have been defined in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy, but have not been studied in the first trimester. The aim of this study was to determine whether PAS sonographic markers could be used in the first trimester to differentiate patients with LIP who develop PAS from those who do not.

Methods

This was a retrospective case–control study of women who delivered at our institution between 2009 and 2019. Cases were women with PAS who delivered by Cesarean hysterectomy and who had undergone first‐trimester ultrasound demonstrating LIP. Controls were women with persistent placenta previa without PAS who delivered by Cesarean section without postpartum hemorrhage and who had undergone first‐trimester ultrasound demonstrating LIP. Sonographic images were reviewed by an investigator blinded to pregnancy outcome and ultrasound reports. Images were reviewed for presence of abnormal uteroplacental interface, increased lower uterine segment hypervascularity and placental lacunae, with or without swirling on grayscale or color Doppler ultrasound.

Results

Following review of the electronic health records, 21 cases and 46 controls met the inclusion criteria. Placental lacunae were present in 18/21 (85.7%) cases and 7/46 (15.2%) controls (odds ratio (OR), 33.4; 95% CI, 7.7–144.4; P < 0.001). The number of lacunae was significantly higher in cases compared with controls, with a median of five lacunae present in cases compared with a median of one lacuna in controls (P < 0.001). The median size of the lacunae was also significantly larger in cases compared with controls, measuring 10.03 (interquartile range (IQR), 7.3–12.05) mm and 4.15 (IQR, 4.05–5.05) mm, respectively (P = 0.001). Lacunae swirling on grayscale or color Doppler ultrasound was noted only in PAS cases, with 10/12 (83.3%) having swirling on grayscale ultrasound and 12/12 (100%) having swirling on color Doppler (P < 0.001). Presence of an abnormal uteroplacental interface was also observed only in PAS cases, at a rate of 17/20 (85.0%) (P < 0.001). Lower uterine segment (uterovesical, subplacental and/or intraplacental) hypervascularity was present in 14/14 (100%) cases and only 1/12 (8.3%) controls (P < 0.001).

Conclusion

In women at risk of PAS, ultrasound markers of PAS can and should be assessed as early as in the first trimester. The use of a first‐trimester prenatal ultrasound screening protocol and standardized approach to ultrasound examination in at‐risk mothers may help increase detection of PAS and enable planning for optimal management of affected pregnancies. © 2021 International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.
Quantitative assessment of progressive laryngeal hemiplegia in a 4‐year‐old beagle
Authors: Martin‐Flores Manuel , Sakai Daniel M. , Cheetham Jonathan
Published: November 2021

Progression of unilateral laryngeal paralysis (LP) was quantified in an asymptomatic 4‐year‐old beagle during spontaneous breathing stimulated with inhaled 10% CO2. Laryngeal evaluation was performed sequentially to track progression of LP over an 18‐month period. Videos of the larynx during CO2‐stimulated breathing were obtained under propofol anaesthesia. Maximal inspiratory normalised glottal gap area (NGGA) was determined on each occasion for left and right hemiglottis. Left NGGA was smaller than the right side throughout the period of follow‐up. After 18 months, LP had progressed to such a degree that the left arytenoid was completely paralysed with no movement during inspiration. This case report demonstrates the possibility of early detection of LP, and quantification of progression. Early detection may allow regenerative surgical strategies for LP to maintain glottic area and reduce postoperative complication rates.
A review on upflow anaerobic sludge blanket reactor: Factors affecting performance, modification of configuration and its derivatives
Authors: Mariraj Mohan S. , Swathi T.
Published: November 2021

The upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor can be considered as one of the promising anaerobic wastewater treatment technologies suitable for the treatment of high‐strength wastewater. In the recent period, researchers have focused on the treatment of low‐strength wastewater using this technology. This review focuses on the key factors affecting the reactor performance such as hydraulic retention time (HRT), temperature, organic loading rate (OLR), pH and alkalinity, granulation, wastewater characteristics, mixing, and modification to conventional configuration. Start‐up and granulation played a major role in the determination of reactor performance, and various theories have been proposed to understand the mechanism of granulation. Correlation between start‐up time and OLR was found to be low, as other operating parameters might have been influencing the start‐up time. Flowchart depicting the development of UASB reactor over time is included. In the present work, further development and derivatives of the UASB reactor such as static granular bed reactor (SGBR) and expanded granular sludge bed (EGSB) reactor are analyzed. The optimal conditions for UASB for treating various types of substrates was found to be HRT of 3–24 h, OLR of 1–15 kg COD/m3/d, and operational temperature in mesophilic range (30–40°C). Analysis of various modifications that pave the way for identification of future areas of research to improve reactor performance is also presented.
Influence of oxygen on the vinyl acetate elimination pathway and microbial community structure of methanogenic sludge
Authors: Durán Ulises , Monroy Oscar , Gómez Jorge , Ramírez Florina
Published: November 2021

Methanogenic‐aerobic coupled processes were used to biological degradation of vinyl acetate (VA) to provide evidence of oxygen role for their complete elimination from different angles. First, physiological characterization of a continuous methanogenic‐aerobic reactor fed by VA and glucose (G) showed that by adding G, the VA got 100% hydrolyzed to acetate, and then, by adding 1 mg·L−1·d−1 of dissolved oxygen (DO), this acetate got methanized by 40% and aerobically mineralized by 60%. Second, batch assays in the presence and absence of sodium azide suggest that VA at different concentrations was eliminated by both anaerobic and aerobic metabolic pathways, because without azide and in the presence of 1 mg DO·L−1 increased methane and carbon dioxide formation rates at 80% and 75%, respectively. Finally, microbial population dynamics analysis of the reactor by DGGE‐sequencing highlighted that Brevibacillus agri (aerobic) and Methanosarcina barkeri (anaerobic) were identified as responsible for VA elimination by up to 98.6%.

Practitioner Points

Vinyl acetate is removed by simultaneous methanation and aerobic respiration.

Methanosarcina barkeri and Brevibacillus agri removed up to 99% of vinyl acetate.

DO and VA have a selective effect on the metabolism and population dynamics.
Lu20Ir5In3 and Lu20Pt5In3 – superstructures of the Al5Co2 type by coloring and distortion
Authors: Gulay Nataliya L. , Reimann Maximilian Kai , Kalychak Yaroslav M. , Pöttgen Rainer
Published: November 2021

The lutetium‐rich intermetallic compounds Lu20Ir5In3 and Lu20Pt5In3 were synthesized from the elements in sealed tantalum ampules in an induction furnace. The phase purity of the samples was checked by powder X‐ray diffraction. The structures of Lu20Ir5In3 and Lu20Pt5In3 were refined from single crystal X‐ray diffractometer data: P
2m, a=1618.53(4), c=919.36(4) pm, wR2=0.0588, 2665 F2 values, 88 variables for Lu20Ir5In3 and a=1630.58(4), c=920.43(4) pm, wR2=0.0836, 3024 F2 values, 89 variables for Lu19.92Pt5In3. The platinum compound showed small amounts of defects on one lutetium site. Lu20Ir5In3 and Lu20Pt5In3 are non‐centrosymmetric superstructures (through coloring and distortions) that derive from the aristotype Al5Co2 via two steps of symmetry reduction (P63/mmc→P63/mcm→P
2m). The structures are discussed together with the coloring variants Y10RuCd3 and Y9CoMg4 on the basis of a group subgroup scheme. Striking features of the Lu20Ir5In3 structure are short Ir−Lu contacts and the structural segregation of In3 triangles (300 and 315 pm In−In) that are solely coordinated by lutetium atoms. Temperature dependent magnetic susceptibility studies of the Lu20Ir5In3 and Lu20Pt5In3 samples indicate Pauli paramagnetism.
Thermodynamics and transport of holographic nodal line semimetals
Authors: Rodgers Ronnie , Mauri Enea , Gürsoy Umut , Stoof Henk T.C.
Published: November 2021

Abstract

We study various thermodynamic and transport properties of a holographic model of a nodal line semimetal (NLSM) at finite temperature, including the quantum phase transition to a topologically trivial phase, with Dirac semimetal-like conductivity. At zero temperature, composite fermion spectral functions obtained from holography are known to exhibit multiple Fermi surfaces. Similarly, for the holographic NLSM we observe multiple nodal lines instead of just one. We show, however, that as the temperature is raised these nodal lines broaden and disappear into the continuum one by one, so there is a finite range of temperatures for which there is only a single nodal line visible in the spectrum. We compute several transport coefficients in the holographic NLSM as a function of temperature, namely the charge and thermal conductivities, and the shear viscosities. By adding a new non-linear coupling to the model we are able to control the low frequency limit of the electrical conductivity in the direction orthogonal to the plane of the nodal line, allowing us to better match the conductivity of real NLSMs. The boundary quantum field theory is anisotropic and therefore has explicitly broken Lorentz invariance, which leads to a stress tensor that is not symmetric. This has important consequences for the energy and momentum transport: the thermal conductivity at vanishing charge density is not simply fixed by a Ward identity, and there are a much larger number of independent shear viscosities than in a Lorentz-invariant system.
The emergence of strange metal and topological liquid near quantum critical point in a solvable model
Authors: Oh Eunseok , Yuk Taewon , Sin Sang-Jin
Published: November 2021

Abstract

We discuss quantum phase transition by a solvable model in the dual gravity setup. By considering the effect of the scalar condensation on the fermion spectrum near the quantum critical point(QCP), we find that there is a topologically protected fermion zero mode associated with the metal to insulator transition. Unlike the topological insulator, our zero mode is for the bulk of the material, not the edge. We also show that the strange metal phase with T-linear resistivity emerges at high enough temperature as far as a horizon exists. The phase boundaries calculated according to the density of states allow us understanding the structures of the phase diagram near the QCP.
Wheat genetic loci conferring resistance to stripe rust in the face of genetically diverse races of the fungus Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici
Authors: Bouvet Laura , Percival-Alwyn Lawrence , Berry Simon , Fenwick Paul , Mantello Camila Campos , Sharma Rajiv , Holdgate Sarah , Mackay Ian J. , Cockram James
Published: November 2021

Key message

Analysis of a wheat multi-founder population identified 14 yellow rust resistance QTL. For three of the four most significant QTL, haplotype analysis indicated resistance alleles were rare in European wheat.

Stripe rust, or yellow rust (YR), is a major fungal disease of wheat (Triticum aestivum) caused byPuccinia striiformisWestend f. sp.tritici(Pst). Since 2011, the historically clonal EuropeanPstraces have been superseded by the rapid incursion of genetically diverse lineages, reducing the resistance of varieties previously showing durable resistance. Identification of sources of genetic resistance to such races is a high priority for wheat breeding. Here we use a wheat eight-founder multi-parent population genotyped with a 90,000 feature single nucleotide polymorphism array to genetically map YR resistance to such newPstraces. Genetic analysis of five field trials at three UK sites identified 14 quantitative trait loci (QTL) conferring resistance. Of these, four highly significant loci were consistently identified across all test environments, located on chromosomes 1A (QYr.niab-1A.1), 2A (QYr.niab-2A.1), 2B (QYr.niab-2B.1) and 2D (QYr.niab-2D.1), together explaining ~ 50% of the phenotypic variation. Analysis of these four QTL in two-way and three-way combinations showed combinations conferred greater resistance than single QTL, and genetic markers were developed that distinguished resistant and susceptible alleles. Haplotype analysis in a collection of wheat varieties found that the haplotypes associated with YR resistance at three of these four major loci were rare (≤ 7%) in European wheat, highlighting their potential utility for future targeted improvement of disease resistance. Notably, the physical interval for QTLQYr.niab-2B.1contained five nucleotide-binding leucine-rich repeat candidate genes with integrated BED domains, of which two corresponded to the cloned resistance genesYr7andYr5/YrSp.

Graphical abstract
Breastfeeding and circulating immunological markers during the first 3 years of life: the DIABIMMUNE study
Authors: Miettinen Maija E. , Honkanen Jarno , Niinistö Sari , Vaarala Outi , Virtanen Suvi M. , Knip Mikael ,   the DIABIMMUNE Study Group
Published: November 2021

Aims/hypothesis

Our aim was to study the association between duration of breastfeeding and circulating immunological markers during the first 3 years of life in children with HLA-conferred susceptibility to type 1 diabetes.

Methods

We performed a longitudinal analysis of 38 circulating immunological markers (cytokines, chemokines and growth factors) in serum samples from Finnish (56 individuals, 147 samples), Estonian (56 individuals 148 samples) and Russian Karelian children (62 individuals, 149 samples) at 3, 6, 12, 18, 24 and 36 months of age. We also analysed gut inflammation markers (calprotectin and human β defensin-2) at 3 (n = 96) and 6 months (n = 153) of age. Comparisons of immunological marker medians were performed between children who were breastfed for 6 months or longer vs children who were breastfed for less than 6 months.

Results

Breastfeeding for 6 months or longer vs less than 6 months was associated with lower median of serum immunological markers at 6 months (granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor [GMCSF], macrophage inflammatory protein [MIP-3α]), 12 months (IFN-α2, vascular endothelial growth factor, GMCSF, IFN-γ, IL-21), 18 months (FGF-2, IFN-α2) and 24 months of age (CCL11 [eotaxin], monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, TGFα, soluble CD40 ligand, IL-13, IL-21, IL-5, MIP-1α) (all p < 0.01) but not at 36 months of age. Breastfeeding was not associated with gut inflammation markers at 3 and 6 months of age.

Conclusions/interpretation

Children who were breastfed for 6 months or longer had lower medians for 14 immunological markers at one or more age points during the first 2 years of life compared with children who were breastfed for less than 6 months. The clinical meaning of the findings is not clear. However, the present study contributes to the understanding of immunological differences in children that have been breastfed longer, and thus provides a mechanistic suggestion for the previously observed associations between breastfeeding and risk of type 1 diabetes.

Graphical abstract
A sharp relative-error bound for the Helmholtz h-FEM at high frequency
Authors: Lafontaine D. , Spence E. A. , Wunsch J.
Published: November 2021

For the h-finite-element method (h-FEM) applied to the Helmholtz equation, the question of how quickly the meshwidth h must decrease with the frequency k to maintain accuracy as k increases has been studied since the mid 80’s. Nevertheless, there still do not exist in the literature any k-explicit bounds on the relative error of the FEM solution (the measure of the FEM error most often used in practical applications), apart from in one dimension. The main result of this paper is the sharp result that, for the lowest fixed-order conforming FEM (with polynomial degree, p, equal to one), the condition “$$h^2 k^3$$

h
2

k
3

sufficiently small" is sufficient for the relative error of the FEM solution in 2 or 3 dimensions to be controllably small (independent of k) for scattering of a plane wave by a nontrapping obstacle and/or a nontrapping inhomogeneous medium. We also prove relative-error bounds on the FEM solution for arbitrary fixed-order methods applied to scattering by a nontrapping obstacle, but these bounds are not sharp for $$p\ge 2$$

p
≥
2

. A key ingredient in our proofs is a result describing the oscillatory behaviour of the solution of the plane-wave scattering problem, which we prove using semiclassical defect measures.
MRI of focal cortical dysplasia
Authors: Urbach Horst , Kellner Elias , Kremers Nico , Blümcke Ingmar , Demerath Theo
Published: November 2021

Focal cortical dysplasia (FCD) are histopathologically categorized in ILAE type I to III. Mild malformations of cortical development (mMCD) including those with oligodendroglial hyperplasia (MOGHE) are to be integrated into this classification yet. Only FCD type II have distinctive MRI and molecular genetics alterations so far. Subtle FCD including FCD type II located in the depth of a sulcus are often overlooked requiring the use of dedicated sequences (MP2RAGE, FLAWS, EDGE) and/or voxel (VBM)- or surface-based (SBM) postprocessing. The added value of 7 Tesla MRI has to be proven yet.
A Nationwide Enumeration of the Surgical Workforce, its Production and Disparities in Operative Productivity in Liberia
Authors: Adde H. A. , van Duinen A. J. , Sherman L. M. , Andrews B. C. , Salvesen Ø. , Dunbar N. K. , Bleah A. J. , Weiser T. G. , Bolkan H. A.
Published: November 2021

Background

Any health care system that strives to deliver good health and well‐being to its population relies on a trained workforce. The aim of this study was to enumerate surgical provider density, describe operative productivity and assess the association between key surgical system characteristics and surgical provider productivity in Liberia.

Methods

A nationwide survey of operation theatre logbooks, available human resources and facility infrastructure was conducted in 2018. Surgical providers were counted, and their productivity was calculated based on operative numbers and full‐time equivalent positions.

Results

A total of 286 surgical providers were counted, of whom 67 were accredited specialists. This translated into a national density of 1.6 specialist providers per 100,000 population. Non‐specialist physicians performed 58.3 percent (3607 of 6188) of all operations. Overall, surgical providers performed a median of 1.0 (IQR 0.5–2.7) operation per week, and there were large disparities in operative productivity within the workforce. Most operations (5483 of 6188) were categorized as essential, and each surgical provider performed a median of 2.0 (IQR 1.0–5.0) different types of essential procedures. Surgical providers who performed 7–14 different types of essential procedures were more than eight times as productive as providers who performed 0–1 essential procedure (operative productivity ratio = 8.66, 95% CI 6.27–11.97, P < 0.001).

Conclusion

The Liberian health care system struggles with an alarming combination of few surgical providers and low provider productivity. Disaggregated data can provide a high‐resolution picture of local challenges that can lead to local solutions.
Closer vein spacing by ectopic expression of nucleotide-binding and leucine-rich repeat proteins in rice leaves
Authors: Lo Shuen-Fang , Chatterjee Jolly , Biswal Akshaya K. , Liu I.-Lun , Chang Yu-Pei , Chen Pei-Jing , Wanchana Samart , Elmido-Mabilangan Abigail , Nepomuceno Robert A. , Bandyopadhyay Anindya , Hsing Yue-Ie , Quick William Paul
Published: November 2021

Key message

Elevated expression of nucleotide-binding and leucine-rich repeat proteins led to closer vein spacing and higher vein density in rice leaves.

To feed the growing global population and mitigate the negative effects of climate change, there is a need to improve the photosynthetic capacity and efficiency of major crops such as rice to enhance grain yield potential. Alterations in internal leaf morphology and cellular architecture are needed to underpin some of these improvements. One of the targets is to generate a “Kranz-like” anatomy in leaves that includes decreased interveinal spacing close to that in C4plant species. As C4photosynthesis has evolved from C3photosynthesis independently in multiple lineages, the genes required to facilitate C4may already be present in the rice genome. The Taiwan Rice Insertional Mutants (TRIM) population offers the advantage of gain-of-function phenotype trapping, which accelerates the identification of rice gene function. In the present study, we screened the TRIM population to determine the extent to which genetic plasticity can alter vein density (VD) in rice. Close vein spacing mutant 1 (CVS1), identified from a VD screening of approximately 17,000 TRIM lines, conferred heritable high leaf VD. Increased vein number inCVS1was confirmed to be associated with activated expression of two nucleotide-binding and leucine-rich repeat (NB-LRR) proteins. Overexpression of the twoNB-LRRgenes individually in rice recapitulates the high VD phenotype, due mainly to reduced interveinal mesophyll cell (M cell) number, length, bulliform cell size and thus interveinal distance. Our studies demonstrate that the trait of high VD in rice can be achieved by elevated expression of NB-LRR proteins limited to no yield penalty.
Additional MRI for initial M-staging in pancreatic cancer: a cost-effectiveness analysis
Authors: Gassert Felix G. , Ziegelmayer Sebastian , Luitjens Johanna , Gassert Florian T. , Tollens Fabian , Rink Johann , Makowski Marcus R. , Rübenthaler Johannes , Froelich Matthias F.
Published: November 2021

Objective

Pancreatic cancer is portrayed to become the second leading cause of cancer-related death within the next years. Potentially complicating surgical resection emphasizes the importance of an accurate TNM classification. In particular, the failure to detect features for non-resectability has profound consequences on patient outcomes and economic costs due to incorrect indication for resection. In the detection of liver metastases, contrast-enhanced MRI showed high sensitivity and specificity; however, the cost-effectiveness compared to the standard of care imaging remains unclear. The aim of this study was to analyze whether additional MRI of the liver is a cost-effective approach compared to routinely acquired contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CE-CT) in the initial staging of pancreatic cancer.

Methods

A decision model based on Markov simulation was developed to estimate the quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) and lifetime costs of the diagnostic modalities. Model input parameters were assessed based on evidence from recent literature. The willingness-to-pay (WTP) was set to $100,000/QALY. To evaluate model uncertainty, deterministic and probabilistic sensitivity analyses were performed.

Results

In the base-case analysis, the model yielded a total cost of $185,597 and an effectiveness of 2.347 QALYs for CE-MR/CT and $187,601 and 2.337 QALYs for CE-CT respectively. With a net monetary benefit (NMB) of $49,133, CE-MR/CT is shown to be dominant over CE-CT with a NMB of $46,117. Deterministic and probabilistic survival analysis showed model robustness for varying input parameters.

Conclusion

Based on our results, combined CE-MR/CT can be regarded as a cost-effective imaging strategy for the staging of pancreatic cancer.

Key Points

• Additional MRI of the liver for initial staging of pancreatic cancer results in lower total costs and higher effectiveness.

• The economic model showed high robustness for varying input parameters.
Unsupervised deep learning based ego motion estimation with a downward facing camera
Authors: Gilles Maximilian , Ibrahimpasic Sascha
Published: November 2021

Knowing the robot's pose is a crucial prerequisite for mobile robot tasks such as collision avoidance or autonomous navigation. Using powerful predictive models to estimate transformations for visual odometry via downward facing cameras is an understudied area of research. This work proposes a novel approach based on deep learning for estimating ego motion with a downward looking camera. The network can be trained completely unsupervised and is not restricted to a specific motion model. We propose two neural network architectures based on the Early Fusion and Slow Fusion design principle: “EarlyBird” and “SlowBird”. Both networks share a Spatial Transformer layer for image warping and are trained with a modified structural similarity index (SSIM) loss function. Experiments carried out in simulation and for a real world differential drive robot show similar and partially better results of our proposed deep learning based approaches compared to a state-of-the-art method based on fast Fourier transformation.
Trajectories of energy intake distribution and subsequent risk of hyperglycemia among Chinese adults: findings from the China Health and Nutrition Survey (1997–2018)
Authors: Song Xiaoyun , Wang Huijun , Su Chang , Wang Zhihong , Du Wenwen , Hu Haojie , Huang Feifei , Zhang Jiguo , Jia Xiaofang , Jiang Hongru , Ouyang Yifei , Li Li , Bai Jing , Zhang Xiaofan , Ding Gangqiang , Zhang Bing
Published: November 2021

Aims

Few studies have examined the secular trend of the energy intake distribution, and its effect on future risk of hyperglycemia. This study aims to describe trajectories of energy intake distribution over 12 years and relate them to subsequent risk of hyperglycemia over 9 years of follow-up.

Methods

Our study used ten waves of data from the CHNS survey, a population-based longitudinal survey in China, ongoing since 1989. We examined a cohort of adult participants who were free from diabetes but had at least three waves of dietary data from 1997 to 2009. We assessed energy intake using three consecutive 24 h recalls. We used these data to identify trajectory groups of energy intake distribution by multi-trajectory model based on energy intake proportions of breakfast, lunch, and dinner. We followed up participants for hyperglycemia, diabetes, and impaired fasting glucose for 9 years from 2009 to 2018. Outcomes were ascertained with fasting glucose, serum HbA1c, and self-report of diabetes and/or glucose-lowering medication. We estimated relative risk (RR) for hyperglycemia, diabetes, and impaired fasting glucose by identified trajectory groups using multilevel mixed-effects modified Poisson regression with robust (sandwich) estimation of variance. Gender difference was additionally examined.

Results

A total of 4417 participants were included. Four trajectory groups were identified, characterized and labeled by “Energy evenly distributed with steady trend group” (Group 1), “Dinner and lunch energy dominant with relatively steady trend group” (Group 2), “Dinner energy dominant with increasing trend and breakfast energy with declining trend group” (Group 3), and “breakfast and dinner energy dominant with increasing trend group” (Group 4). During 48,091 person-years, 1053 cases of incident hyperglycemia occurred, 537 cases of incident diabetes occurred, and 516 cases of impaired fasting glucose occurred. Compared with Group 1, Group 3 was associated with higher subsequent risk of incident hyperglycemia in 9 years of follow-up (RR = 1.28, 95% CI = 1.02, 1.61). No association was found for incident diabetes and impaired fasting glucose. Among males, Group 3 was associated with higher risk of incident hyperglycemia in 9 years of follow-up (RR = 1.44, 95% CI = 1.07, 1.94). No relationship was found in females.

Conclusions

Energy intake distribution characterized by over 40% of energy intake from dinner with a rising trend over years was associated with higher long-term risk of hyperglycemia in Chinese adults.
Analysis of biomechanical gait parameters in patients after total hip replacement operated via anterolateral approach depending on size of the femoral head implant: retrospective matched-cohort study
Authors: Stolarczyk Artur , Stolarczyk Magda , Oleksy Łukasz , Maciąg Grzegorz J. , Stępiński Piotr , Szymczak Jakub , Świercz Maciej , Żarnovsky Krystian , Mostowy Marcin , Maciąg Bartosz M.
Published: November 2021

Introduction

Total hip replacement (THR) is considered one of the most effective medical procedures in treatment of osteoarthritis. Since its introduction, there has been a worldwide debate over proper implant selection in terms of size, bearing type and shape. Following study was designed to assess the importance of femoral head size in long-term follow-up.

Materials and methods

A cohort of 30 patients with primary end stage osteoarthritis who underwent total hip replacement was analysed retrospectively. A homogenous group was chosen with no major differences in BMI. Patients’ gait parameters were measured in a biomechanics laboratory using the 3D BTS Smart system. WOMAC and VAS questionnaires were used to assess patient reported outcome.

Results

The subgroup with larger implant head size had several outcomes significantly superior to the subgroup with standard head size and non-inferior to healthy hips. Following variables were measured during this study: time of support phase, time of swing phase, double support time, walking hip extension angle.

Conclusions

Use of larger sized femoral heads during THR gives better results in terms of gait pattern. Since restoring the gait pattern is one of the aspects of rehabilitation and returning to daily activities it seems to be an important observation.
The effect of virtual reality on temporal bone anatomy evaluation and performance
Authors: Timonen Tomi , Dietz Aarno , Linder Pia , Lehtimäki Antti , Löppönen Heikki , Elomaa Antti-Pekka , Iso-Mustajärvi Matti
Published: November 2021

Purpose

There is only limited data on the application of virtual reality (VR) for the evaluation of temporal bone anatomy. The aim of the present study was to compare the VR environment to traditional cross-sectional viewing of computed tomography images in a simulated preoperative planning setting in novice and expert surgeons.

Methods

A novice (n = 5) and an expert group (n = 5), based on their otosurgery experience, were created. The participants were asked to identify 24 anatomical landmarks, perform 11 distance measurements between surgically relevant anatomical structures and 10 fiducial markers on five cadaver temporal bones in both VR environment and cross-sectional viewings in PACS interface. The data on performance time and user-experience (i.e., subjective validation) were collected.

Results

The novice group made significantly more errors (p < 0.001) and with significantly longer performance time (p = 0.001) in cross-sectional viewing than the expert group. In the VR environment, there was no significant differences (errors and time) between the groups. The performance of novices improved faster in the VR. The novices showed significantly faster task performance (p = 0.003) and a trend towards fewer errors (p = 0.054) in VR compared to cross-sectional viewing. No such difference between the methods were observed in the expert group. The mean overall scores of user-experience were significantly higher for VR than cross-sectional viewing in both groups (p < 0.001).

Conclusion

In the VR environment, novices performed the anatomical evaluation of temporal bone faster and with fewer errors than in the traditional cross-sectional viewing, which supports its efficiency for the evaluation of complex anatomy.
Exosomes produced by melanoma cells significantly influence the biological properties of normal and cancer-associated fibroblasts
Authors: Strnadová Karolína , Pfeiferová Lucie , Přikryl Petr , Dvořánková Barbora , Vlčák Erik , Frýdlová Jana , Vokurka Martin , Novotný Jiří , Šáchová Jana , Hradilová Miluše , Brábek Jan , Šmigová Jana , Rösel Daniel , Smetana Karel , Kolář Michal , Lacina Lukáš
Published: November 2021

The incidence of cutaneous malignant melanoma is increasing worldwide. While the treatment of initial stages of the disease is simple, the advanced disease frequently remains fatal despite novel therapeutic options . This requires identification of novel therapeutic targets in melanoma. Similarly to other types of tumours, the cancer microenvironment plays a prominent role and determines the biological properties of melanoma. Importantly, melanoma cell-produced exosomes represent an important tool of intercellular communication within this cancer ecosystem. We have focused on potential differences in the activity of exosomes produced by melanoma cells towards melanoma-associated fibroblasts and normal dermal fibroblasts. Cancer-associated fibroblasts were activated by the melanoma cell-produced exosomes significantly more than their normal counterparts, as assessed by increased transcription of genes for inflammation-supporting cytokines and chemokines, namely IL-6 or IL-8. We have observed that the response is dependent on the duration of the stimulus via exosomes and also on the quantity of exosomes. Our study demonstrates that melanoma-produced exosomes significantly stimulate the tumour-promoting proinflammatory activity of cancer-associated fibroblasts. This may represent a potential new target of oncologic therapy .
Mathematization of nature: how it is done
Authors: van Hemmen J. Leo
Published: November 2021

Natural phenomena can be quantitatively described by means of mathematics, which is actually the only way of doing so. Physics is a convincing example of the mathematization of nature. This paper gives an answer to the question of how mathematization of nature is done and illustrates the answer. Here nature is to be taken in a wide sense, being a substantial object of study in, among others, large domains of biology, such as epidemiology and neurobiology, chemistry, and physics, the most outspoken example. It is argued that mathematization of natural phenomena needs appropriate core concepts that are intimately connected with the phenomena one wants to describe and explain mathematically. Second, there is a scale on and not beyond which a specific description holds. Different scales allow for different conceptual and mathematical descriptions. This is the scaling hypothesis, which has meanwhile been confirmed on many occasions. Furthermore, a mathematical description can, as in physics, but need not be universally valid, as in biology. Finally, the history of science shows that only an intensive gauging of theory, i.e., mathematical description, by experiment leads to progress. That is, appropriate core concepts and appropriate scales are a necessary condition for mathematizing nature, and so is its verification by experiment.
Technique of vessel-skeletonized parenchyma-sparing hepatectomy for the oncological treatment of bilobar colorectal liver metastases
Authors: Umeda Yuzo , Nagasaka Takeshi , Takagi Kosei , Yoshida Ryuichi , Yoshida Kazuhiro , Fuji Tomokazu , Matsuda Tatsuo , Yasui Kazuya , Kumano Kenjiro , Sato Hiroki , Yagi Takahito , Fujiwara Toshiyoshi
Published: November 2021

Background

To aid in the oncological management of multiple bilobar colorectal liver metastases (CRLMs), we describe a new surgical procedure, VEssel-Skeletonized PArenchyma-sparing Hepatectomy (VESPAH).

Study design

Of 152 patients with CRLMs treated with hepatectomy, 33 patients had multiple bilobar liver metastases (≥8 liver metastases); their surgical procedures and clinical outcomes were retrospectively summarized and compared between those who underwent VESPAH and those who underwent major hepatectomy (Major Hx).

Results

Of the 33 patients, 20 patients were resected by VESPAH (the VESPAH group) and 13 patients by major hepatectomy (Major Hx group). The median number of CRLMs was 13 (range, 8–53) in the VESPAH group and 10 (range, 8–41) in the Major Hx group (P=0.511). No operative mortality nor severe morbidity was observed in either group. The VESPAH group showed earlier recovery of remnant liver function after surgery than the Major Hx group; the incidence of grade B/C post hepatectomy liver failure was 5% in the VESPAH group and 38% in the Major Hx group, P=0.048). Intrahepatic tumor recurrence was confirmed in 14 (70%) and 7 (54%) patients in the VESPAH and Major Hx groups, respectively (P=0.416). There was no significant difference in median overall survival (OS) after hepatectomy between the two groups; the median OS was 47 months in the VESPAH group and 33 months in the Major Hx group (P=0.481). The VESPAH group showed the higher induction rate of adjuvant chemotherapy within 2 months after surgery (P=0.002) and total number of repeat hepatectomy for intrahepatic recurrence (P=0.060) than the Major Hx group.

Conclusions

VESPAH enables us to clear surgical navigation by hepatic vessel skeletonization and may enhance patient tolerability of not only adjuvant chemotherapy but also repeat hepatectomies during the patients’ lifetimes.
Late-maturity α-amylase (LMA): exploring the underlying mechanisms and end-use quality effects in wheat
Authors: Cannon Ashley E. , Marston Elliott J. , Kiszonas Alecia M. , Hauvermale Amber L. , See Deven R.
Published: November 2021

Main conclusion

A comprehensive understanding of LMA from the underlying molecular aspects to the end-use quality effects will greatly benefit the global wheat industry and those whose livelihoods depend upon it.

Late-maturity α-amylase (LMA) leads to the expression and protein accumulation of high pI α-amylases during late grain development. This α-amylase is maintained through harvest and leads to an unacceptable low falling number (FN), the wheat industry’s standard measure for predicting end-use quality. Unfortunately, low FN leads to significant financial losses for growers. As a result, wheat researchers are working to understand and eliminate LMA from wheat breeding programs, with research aims that include unraveling the genetic, biochemical, and physiological mechanisms that lead to LMA expression. In addition, cereal chemists and quality scientists are working to determine if and how LMA-affected grain impacts end-use quality. This review is a comprehensive overview of studies focused on LMA and includes open questions and future directions.
A Bayesian multiscale CNN framework to predict local stress fields in structures with microscale features
Authors: Krokos Vasilis , Bui Xuan Viet , Bordas Stéphane P. A. , Young Philippe , Kerfriden Pierre
Published: November 2021

Multiscale computational modelling is challenging due to the high computational cost of direct numerical simulation by finite elements. To address this issue, concurrent multiscale methods use the solution of cheaper macroscale surrogates as boundary conditions to microscale sliding windows. The microscale problems remain a numerically challenging operation both in terms of implementation and cost. In this work we propose to replace the local microscale solution by an Encoder-Decoder Convolutional Neural Network that will generate fine-scale stress corrections to coarse predictions around unresolved microscale features, without prior parametrisation of local microscale problems. We deploy a Bayesian approach providing credible intervals to evaluate the uncertainty of the predictions, which is then used to investigate the merits of a selective learning framework. We will demonstrate the capability of the approach to predict equivalent stress fields in porous structures using linearised and finite strain elasticity theories.
Least energy solutions to a cooperative system of Schrödinger equations with prescribed $$L^2$$-bounds: at least $$L^2$$-critical growth
Authors: Mederski Jarosław , Schino Jacopo
Published: November 2021

We look for least energy solutions to the cooperative systems of coupled Schrödinger equations$$\begin{aligned} \left\{ \begin{array}{l} -\Delta u_i + \lambda _i u_i = \partial _iG(u)\quad \mathrm {in} \ {\mathbb {R}}^N, \ N \ge 3,\\ u_i \in H^1({\mathbb {R}}^N), \\ \int _{{\mathbb {R}}^N} |u_i|^2 \, dx \le \rho _i^2 \end{array} \right. i\in \{1,\ldots ,K\} \end{aligned}$$-Δui+λiui=∂iG(u)inRN,N≥3,ui∈H1(RN),∫RN|ui|2dx≤ρi2i∈{1,…,K}with$$G\ge 0$$G≥0, where$$\rho _i>0$$ρi>0is prescribed and$$(\lambda _i, u_i) \in {\mathbb {R}}\times H^1 ({\mathbb {R}}^N)$$(λi,ui)∈R×H1(RN)is to be determined,$$i\in \{1,\dots ,K\}$$i∈{1,⋯,K}. Our approach is based on the minimization of the energy functional over a linear combination of the Nehari and Pohožaev constraints intersected with the product of the closed balls in$$L^2({\mathbb {R}}^N)$$L2(RN)of radii$$\rho _i$$ρi, which allows to provide general growth assumptions aboutGand to know in advance the sign of the corresponding Lagrange multipliers. We assume thatGhas at least$$L^2$$L2-critical growth at 0 and admits Sobolev critical growth. The more assumptions we make aboutG,N, andK, the more can be said about the minimizers of the corresponding energy functional. In particular, if$$K=2$$K=2,$$N\in \{3,4\}$$N∈{3,4}, andGsatisfies further assumptions, then$$u=(u_1,u_2)$$u=(u1,u2)is normalized, i.e.,$$\int _{{\mathbb {R}}^N} |u_i|^2 \, dx=\rho _i^2$$∫RN|ui|2dx=ρi2for$$i\in \{1,2\}$$i∈{1,2}.
Association of polygenic risk scores, traumatic life events and coping strategies with war-related PTSD diagnosis and symptom severity in the South Eastern Europe (SEE)-PTSD cohort
Authors: Weber Heike , Maihofer Adam X. , Jaksic Nenad , Bojic Elma Feric , Kucukalic Sabina , Dzananovic Emina Sabic , Uka Aferdita Goci , Hoxha Blerina , Haxhibeqiri Valdete , Haxhibeqiri Shpend , Kravic Nermina , Umihanic Mirnesa Muminovic , Franc Ana Cima , Babic Romana , Pavlovic Marko , Mehmedbasic Alma Bravo , Aukst-Margetic Branka , Kucukalic Abdulah , Marjanovic Damir , Babic Dragan , Bozina Nada , Jakovljevic Miro , Sinanovic Osman , Avdibegović Esmina , Agani Ferid , Warrings Bodo , Domschke Katharina , Nievergelt Caroline M. , Deckert Jürgen , Dzubur-Kulenovic Alma , Erhardt Angelika
Published: November 2021

Objectives

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is triggered by extremely stressful environmental events and characterized by high emotional distress, re-experiencing of trauma, avoidance and hypervigilance. The present study uses polygenic risk scores (PRS) derived from the UK Biobank (UKBB) mega-cohort analysis as part of the PGC PTSD GWAS effort to determine the heritable basis of PTSD in the South Eastern Europe (SEE)-PTSD cohort. We further analyzed the relation between PRS and additional disease-related variables, such as number and intensity of life events, coping, sex and age at war on PTSD and CAPS as outcome variables.

Methods

Association of PRS, number and intensity of life events, coping, sex and age on PTSD were calculated using logistic regression in a total of 321 subjects with current and remitted PTSD and 337 controls previously subjected to traumatic events but not having PTSD. In addition, PRS and other disease-related variables were tested for association with PTSD symptom severity, measured by the Clinician Administrated PTSD Scale (CAPS) by liner regression. To assess the relationship between the main outcomes PTSD diagnosis and symptom severity, each of the examined variables was adjusted for all other PTSD related variables.

Results

The categorical analysis showed significant polygenic risk in patients with remitted PTSD and the total sample, whereas no effects were found on symptom severity. Intensity of life events as well as the individual coping style were significantly associated with PTSD diagnosis in both current and remitted cases. The dimensional analyses showed as association of war-related frequency of trauma with symptom severity, whereas the intensity of trauma yielded significant results independently of trauma timing in current PTSD.

Conclusions

The present PRS application in the SEE-PTSD cohort confirms modest but significant polygenic risk for PTSD diagnosis. Environmental factors, mainly the intensity of traumatic life events and negative coping strategies, yielded associations with PTSD both categorically and dimensionally with more significant p-values. This suggests that, at least in the present cohort of war-related trauma, the association of environmental factors and current individual coping strategies with PTSD psychopathology was stronger than the polygenic risk.