bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Characterization of the dystrophin‐associated protein complex by mass spectrometry
Authors: Canessa Emily H. , Spathis Rita , Novak James S. , Beedle Aaron , Nagaraju Kanneboyina , Bello Luca , Pegoraro Elena , Hoffman Eric P. , Hathout Yetrib
Published: November 2022

The dystrophin‐associated protein complex (DAPC) is a highly organized multiprotein complex that plays a pivotal role in muscle fiber structure integrity and cell signaling. The complex is composed of three distinct interacting subgroups, intracellular peripheral proteins, transmembrane glycoproteins, and extracellular glycoproteins subcomplexes. Dystrophin protein nucleates the DAPC and is important for connecting the intracellular actin cytoskeletal filaments to the sarcolemma glycoprotein complex that is connected to the extracellular matrix via laminin, thus stabilizing the sarcolemma during muscle fiber contraction and relaxation. Genetic mutations that lead to lack of expression or altered expression of any of the DAPC proteins are associated with different types of muscle diseases. Hence characterization of this complex in healthy and dystrophic muscle might bring insights into its role in muscle pathogenesis. This review highlights the role of mass spectrometry in characterizing the DAPC interactome as well as post‐translational glycan modifications of some of its components such as α‐dystroglycan. Detection and quantification of dystrophin using targeted mass spectrometry are also discussed in the context of healthy versus dystrophic skeletal muscle.
Do green concerns promote corporate green innovation? Evidence from Chinese stock exchange interactive platforms
Authors: Li Haidong , Qian Ziming , Wang Shanyong , Wang Jing , Wang Qian
Published: November 2022

How to inspire firms to conduct green innovation is still an under‐explored question. This study finds that the green concerns of minority shareholders can significantly promote firms to conduct green innovation. Mechanism tests reveal that green concerns promote firm green innovation by increasing media attention and reducing financing constraints. Further research shows that the positive effect of green concerns of minority shareholders on green innovation is more significant for companies with high competition, more effective internal controls, and high public involvement at the location. Based on the findings, policy implications of promoting corporate green innovation are discussed.
Implications of product line competition on channel matching strategies in a retail platform
Authors: Dai Bin , Wang Minglu , Ke Jiannan
Published: November 2022

As retail platforms proliferate, the presence of agency selling and reselling in burgeoning retail platforms gives suppliers an incentive to match their product lines to sales channels. This study considers a supplier providing a product line of quality‐differentiated products in a retail platform. We aim to examine the equilibrium pricing in two mutually exclusive channel matching strategies: high‐end (low‐end) products are sold in an agency selling channel and low‐end (high‐end) products are sold in a reselling channel (termed channel matching strategies HL [LH]), and further analyze the impact of quality differentiation on the channel matching strategies and equilibrium outcomes. The results show that the impact of quality differentiation on channel matching strategies is jointly moderated by the channel competition, the commission rate, and the product cost difference. If the channel competition is intensive and the commission rate is low, under small (large) product cost difference, quality differentiation motivates the supplier to select strategy HL (LH). Counter‐intuitively, we show that improving the quality of high‐end products in a certain region at free of cost could make the supplier worse off when the product cost difference is sufficiently high. Interestingly, we find that when both the product cost difference and commission rate are small, the channel matching strategies can achieve a win‐win‐win situation for the supplier, the retail platform, and consumers simultaneously under a moderate (low) level of quality differentiation and intensive (weak) channel competition.
T1 relaxation of bound and pore water in cortical bone
Authors: Ketsiri Thammathida , Uppuganti Sasidhar , Harkins Kevin D. , Gochberg Daniel F. , Nyman Jeffry S. , Does Mark D.
Published: November 2022

MRI measures of bound and/or pore water concentration in cortical bone offer potential diagnostics of bone fracture risk. The transverse relaxation characteristics of both bound and pore water are relatively well understood and have been used to design clinical MRI pulse sequences to image each water pool quantitatively. However, these methods are also sensitive to longitudinal relaxation characteristics, which have been less well studied. Here, spectroscopic relaxometry measurements of 31 human cortical bone specimens provided a more detailed picture of
of both bound and pore water. The results included mean, standard deviation, and range of
spectra from both bound and pore water, as well as novel presentations of the 2D
distribution of pore water. Importantly, for each sample the pore water
spectrum was found to span more than one order of magnitude and varied substantially across the 31 sample studies. Because many existing methods assume pore water
to be mono‐exponential and constant across individuals, the results were used to compute the potential effect neglecting this intra‐ and intersample
variation on accurate MRI measurement of both bound and pore water concentrations. The greatest effect was found for adiabatic inversion recovery (AIR) based measurements of bound water concentration, which showed an average of 8.8% and as much as 37% error when using a common mono‐exponential assumption of pore water
. Despite these errors, the simulated AIR measurements were still moderately well correlated with the bound water concentrations derived from the spectroscopic data.
Data‐physics driven reduced order homogenization
Authors: Fish Jacob , Yu Yang
Published: November 2022

A hybrid data‐physics driven reduced‐order homogenization (dpROH) approach aimed at improving the accuracy of the physics‐based reduced order homogenization (pROH), but retain its unique characteristics, such as interpretability and extrapolation, has been developed. The salient feature of the dpROH is that the data generated by a high‐fidelity model based on the first order computational homogenization (i.e., without model reduction) can improve markedly the accuracy of the physic‐based model reduction. The dpROH consist of the offline and online stages. In the offline stage, an enhanced model reduction strategy based on the Bayesian inference (BI) that employs the gated recurrent unit (GRU) neural network surrogate is conceived. In the online stage, the dpROH (rather than the GRU surrogate employed in the BI process) is utilized for the component level predictions. Numerical examples comparing various variants of the dpROH with the pROH, and the reference solution demonstrate its improved accuracy.
Validation of claims‐based algorithms to identify non‐live birth outcomes
Authors: Zhu Yanmin , Bateman Brian T. , Hernandez‐Diaz Sonia , Gray Kathryn J. , Straub Loreen , Reimers Rebecca M. , Manning‐Geist Beryl , Yoselevsky Elizabeth , Taylor Lockwood G. , Ouellet‐Hellstrom Rita , Ma Yong , Qiang Yandong , Hua Wei , Huybrechts Krista F.
Published: November 2022

Purpose

Perinatal epidemiology studies using healthcare utilization databases are often restricted to live births, largely due to the lack of established algorithms to identify non‐live births. The study objective was to develop and validate claims‐based algorithms for the ascertainment of non‐live births.

Methods

Using the Mass General Brigham Research Patient Data Registry 2000–2014, we assembled a cohort of women enrolled in Medicaid with a non‐live birth. Based on ≥1 inpatient or ≥2 outpatient diagnosis/procedure codes, we identified and randomly sampled 100 potential stillbirth, spontaneous abortion, and termination cases each. For the secondary definitions, we excluded cases with codes for other pregnancy outcomes within ±5 days of the outcome of interest and relaxed the definitions for spontaneous abortion and termination by allowing cases with one outpatient diagnosis only. Cases were adjudicated based on medical chart review. We estimated the positive predictive value (PPV) for each outcome.

Results

The PPV was 71.0% (95% CI, 61.1–79.6) for stillbirth; 79.0% (69.7–86.5) for spontaneous abortion, and 93.0% (86.1–97.1) for termination. When excluding cases with adjacent codes for other pregnancy outcomes and further relaxing the definition, the PPV increased to 80.6% (69.5–88.9) for stillbirth, 86.6% (80.5–91.3) for spontaneous abortion and 94.9% (91.1–97.4) for termination. The PPV for the composite outcome using the relaxed definition was 94.4% (92.3–96.1).

Conclusions

Our findings suggest non‐live birth outcomes can be identified in a valid manner in epidemiological studies based on healthcare utilization databases.
High‐aspect‐ratio oxide etching using CF4/C6F12O plasma in an inductively coupled plasma etching system with low‐frequency bias power
Authors: Kim Jinhyuk , Choi Gilyoung , Kwon Kwang‐Ho
Published: November 2022

High‐aspect‐ratio (HAR) etch of SiO2 films was attempted using a low‐frequency (2 MHz) bias power in an inductively coupled plasma (ICP) system using heptafluoroisopropyl pentafluoroethyl ketone (C6F12O) gas, which has a lower global warming potential (GWP). Etching characteristics of the oxide film according to changes such as the CF4/C6F12O mixing ratio, source power (13.56 MHz), and bias power were derived. To understand the etching characteristics and mechanism, optical emission spectroscopy (OES), double Langmuir probe (DLP) measurement, and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis were performed. We observed the vertically etched profile of the 100 nm etched line pattern with a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and at first suggested that the HAR oxide etching process is feasible using the ICP system.
Phase III randomized clinical trial of BV‐4051, an Ayurvedic polyherbal formulation in moderate SARS‐CoV‐2 infections and its impact on inflammatory biomarkers
Authors: Chitre Deepa , Nadkarni Satej , Jagtap Namdev , Tulle Rahul , Gitte Amol , Rahate Prashant , Chaskar Sunetra , Dey Debendranath
Published: November 2022

SARS‐CoV‐2 virus and its variants continue to be a challenge inspite of widespread vaccination and preventive measures. We hypothesized an oral, safe polyherbal formulation with antiinflammatory properties may improve the clinical outcome of this disease. BV‐4051, a formulation from four Ayurvedic plants namely Ashwagandha, Boswellia, Ginger and Turmeric was used for the treatment of hospitalized moderate COVID‐19 patients along with standard of care (SOC). Patients were randomly assigned to receive BV‐4051 or placebo tablets for 14 days, at four sites in India during late 2020 to early 2021. Among 208 randomized subjects, 175 completed the study. In BV‐4051 group the mean reduction in duration of illness (p = 0.036), alleviation and severity scores of several symptoms like fever, cough, smell, and taste disorders were statistically significant (p ≤ 0.05). A sub‐set analysis of subjects treated with or without Remdesivir as SOC showed mean reduction in duration of illness in BV‐4051 (p = 0.030), and severity scores (p ≤ 0.05). Mean difference in Interleukin‐6 was statistically significant (p = 0.042) on BV‐4051 without Remdesivir. BV‐4051 may reduce duration of illness, symptoms severity, Interleukin‐6, and prevent the incidence of COVID‐19 complications. It may have an adjunctive effect with other SOC. Larger extensive clinical testing may give a better understanding of its effect.
Perilla frutescens L. alleviates trimethylamine N‐oxide–induced apoptosis in the renal tubule by regulating ASK1‐JNK phosphorylation
Authors: Yong Chen , Huang Guoshun , Ge Hongwei , Zhu Yiye , Yang Yang , Yu Yongfei , Tian Fang , Gao Kun , Zhou Enchao
Published: November 2022

Trimethylamine N‐oxide (TMAO) is associated with overall mortality in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Previous findings suggest that P. frutescens (L.) can alleviate renal injury, but its effects and mechanisms underlying alleviation of TMAO‐induced kidney damage remain unclear. In this study, a TMAO injury model, in vivo and in vitro, was established to clarify the effects and mechanisms of P. frutescens in alleviating TMAO‐induced kidney injury. The results show that TMAO (60 mM/L) can induce the activation of apoptosis signal‐regulating kinase 1 (ASK1)‐c‐Jun N‐terminal kinase (JNK), thus aggravating downstream cell apoptosis in vitro. The study also found that P. frutescens aqueous extract (PFAE) (5 mg/mL) can inhibit TMAO‐induced apoptosis by downregulating ASK1‐JNK phosphorylation. In the in vivo experiments, it was demonstrated that TMAO can increase the levels of blood urea nitrogen and cystatin C, aggravating renal tubular epithelial apoptosis. The results also show that PFAE can reduce TMAO‐induced renal damage by inhibiting ASK1‐JNK phosphorylation in vivo. Our findings confirmed that P. frutescens can alleviate TMAO‐induced renal tubule apoptosis by regulating ASK1‐JNK phosphorylation, indicating that P. frutescens may be an effective treatment for alleviating TMAO damage in CKD.
Safety assessment and adverse drug reaction reporting of tea tree oil (Melaleuca aetheroleum)
Authors: Bekhof Anne‐Sophie M. W. , van Hunsel Florence P. A. M. , van de Koppel Sonja , Woerdenbag Herman J.
Published: November 2022

Tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia) essential oil is widely used as an antiseptic. It mainly consists of monoterpenes with terpinen‐4‐ol as the major constituent. The aim of this study was to review literature on safety data about tea tree oil and to assess its safety by investigating 159 cases of adverse reactions possibly caused by the oil, reported to the World Health Organization (WHO) from December 1987 until September 2021. To extract these data, VigiBase, the WHO global database of individual case safety reports maintained by the Uppsala Monitoring Centre (UMC), was used. All cases were categorized and analysed and 16 serious cases further assessed. It was concluded that tea tree oil should never be administered orally, as it can lead to central nervous system depression and pneumonitis. Applied topically, skin disorders may occur, especially when the oil had been exposed to light or air. This yields monoterpene oxidation products, being potent skin irritants. Tea tree oil stored under appropriate conditions and not exceeding the expiration date should be considered safe to use by non‐vulnerable people for non‐serious inflammatory skin conditions, although the occurrence of adverse reactions such as contact allergies is difficult to predict.
Bifurcation based quadratic feedback control for Moore‐Greitzer model with surge and multiple stall modes
Authors: Su Ning , Wang Yong
Published: November 2022

We consider the ‐mode truncation of the Moore‐Greitzer partial differential equation model for axial compressors with bleed valve as actuator. It is well known that all the rotating stall modes are linearly unstabilizable past the peak of the compressor characteristic. By using the center manifold and normal form reduction, we obtain a model describing the nonlinear interactions of rotating stall and surge modes when the compressor operates in a neighborhood of the peak pressure rise. The normal form is a special class of the the famous Lotka–Volterra system. Typically, there are equilibria as the throttle coefficient varies. We analyze the stability of these equilibria for the normal form, and interpret their relevance to the robustness of the nominal equilibrium near the peak pressure rise. We also derive the necessary and sufficient conditions for stabilizing the peak of the characteristic using a quadratic feedback control law.
Event‐triggered H∞ control for switched interval type‐2 fuzzy systems under denial‐of‐service
Authors: Qu Hanqing , Zhao Jun
Published: November 2022

This article focuses on the control problem for event‐triggered switched interval type‐2 (IT2) fuzzy systems under denial‐of‐service (DoS) attacks. For a switched IT2 fuzzy system subject to DoS attacks, we introduce an acknowledgment (ACK) mechanism to detect DoS attacks. With the help of the ACK detection scheme, we take the initiative to zero the input signal being attacked. In this way, when the system is being attacked, we need not consider issues of controller premise variables not being updated and the controller mode unmatched with the plant mode. Then, an event‐triggering scheme resilient to DoS is presented to reduce the bandwidth pressure of the network. Moreover, we design a sampled‐based switching law to not only achieve the stability of switched systems but also exclude the Zeno behavior of switchings. Sufficient conditions are proposed to guarantee the stability with the performance of switched IT2 fuzzy systems under DoS. Finally, we give two examples to testify the effectiveness of our results.
PPy and CQDs‐doped novel CuO nanocomposites for enhanced antibacterial activity against drug‐resistant bacteria.**
Authors: Zhang Mengmeng , Han Sha , Niu Xiaohui , Li Hongxia , Zhang Deyi , Fan Haiyan , Liu Xiaoyu , Wang Kunjie
Published: November 2022

With the development of modern medicine, the use of antibiotics is more and more extensive, drug‐resistant bacteria appear, the antibacterial effect of traditional antibiotics becomes weak, and new drugs are urgently needed to solve the problem of bacterial resistance. In this paper, carbon quantum dots (CQDs) were synthesized by hydrothermal method, polypyrrole (PPy) was synthesized by chemical polymerization, and PPy/CuO/CQD ternary composite was formed by composite with copper oxide. FT‐IR and XPS were used to characterize and analyze the chemical composition of PPy/CuO/CQDs. XRD results confirmed the purity of CuO, and SEM and TEM images showed that the addition of CQDs made CuO nanorods distributed evenly on PPy nanosheets. In vitro antibacterial experiments showed that PPy/CuO/CQDs nanocomposites had high antibacterial performance against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus. When the concentration of PPy/CuO/CQDs nanocomposites was 0.5 mg/mL, the growth inhibition of the three kinds of bacteria could reach 99.99 %, and the antibacterial effect was realized by the synergistic effect of the three components. It provides a good idea for the development of antibacterial drugs in medicine. In addition, in vitro cell proliferation experiments showed that PPy/CuO/CQDs complex had an anti‐tumor effect on HepG2 cells.
Intramembrane Nanoaggregates of Antimicrobial Peptides Play a Vital Role in Bacterial Killing
Authors: Liao Mingrui , Gong Haoning , Quan Xuebo , Wang Ziwei , Hu Xuzhi , Chen Zheng , Li Zongyi , Liu Huayang , Zhang Lin , McBain Andrew J. , Waigh Thomas A. , Zhou Jian , Lu Jian Ren
Published: November 2022

Recent developments in antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have focused on the rational design of short sequences with less than 20 amino acids due to their relatively low synthesis costs and ease of correlation of the structure‐function relationship. However, gaps remain in the understanding of how short cationic AMPs interact with the bacterial outer and inner membranes to affect their antimicrobial efficacy and dynamic killing. The membrane‐lytic actions of two designed AMPs, G(IIKK)3I‐NH2 (G3) and G(IIKK)4I‐NH2 (G4), and previously‐studied controls GLLDLLKLLLKAAG‐NH2 (LDKA, biomimetic) and GIGAVLKVLTTGLPALISWIKRKR‐NH2 (Melittin, natural) are examined. The mechanistic processes of membrane damage and the disruption strength of the four AMPs are characterized by molecular dynamics simulations and experimental measurements including neutron reflection and scattering. The results from the combined studies are characterized with distinctly different intramembrane nanoaggregates formed upon AMP‐specific binding, reflecting clear influences of AMP sequence, charge and the chemistry of the inner and outer membranes. G3 and G4 display different nanoaggregation with the outer and inner membranes, and the smaller sizes and further extent of insertion of the intramembrane nanoaggregates into bacterial membranes correlate well with their greater antimicrobial efficacy and faster dynamic killing. This work demonstrates the crucial roles of intramembrane nanoaggregates in optimizing antimicrobial efficacy and dynamic killing.
Electronic Structure Modulation Induced by Cobalt‐doping and Lattice‐Contracting on Armor‐Like Ruthenium Oxide Drives pH‐Universal Oxygen Evolution
Authors: Gong Rui , Liu Bowen , Wang Xiaolei , Du Shichao , Xie Ying , Jia Wanqi , Bian Xinxin , Chen Zhimin , Ren Zhiyu
Published: November 2022

Exquisite design of RuO2‐based catalysts to simultaneously improve activity and stability under harsh conditions and reduce the Ru dosage is crucial for advancing energy conversion involving oxygen evolution reaction (OER). Herein, a distinctive cobalt‐doped RuOx framework is constructed on Co3O4 nanocones (Co3O4@CoRuOx) as a promising strategy to realize above urgent desires. Extensive experimental characterization and theoretical analysis demonstrate that cobalt doped in RuOx lattice brings the oxygen vacancies and lattice contraction, which jointly redistribute the electron configuration of RuOx. The optimized d‐band center balances the adsorption energies of oxygenated intermediates, lowing the thermodynamical barrier of the rate‐determining step; and meanwhile, the over‐oxidation and dissolution of Ru species are restrained because of the p‐band down‐shifting of the lattice oxygen. Co3O4@CoRuOx with 3.7 wt.% Ru delivers the extremely low OER overpotentials at 10 mA cm−2 in alkaline (167 mV), neutral (229 mV), and acidic electrolytes (161 mV), and super operating stability over dozens of hours. The unprecedented activity ranks first in all pH‐universal OER catalysts reported so far. These findings provide a route to produce robust low‐loading Ru catalysts and an engineering approach for regulating the central active metal through synergy of co‐existing defects to improve the catalytic performance and stability.
Advances in Spin Catalysts for Oxygen Evolution and Reduction Reactions
Authors: Bai Haoyun , Feng Jinxian , Liu Di , Zhou Pengfei , Wu Rucheng , Kwok Chi Tat , Ip Weng Fai , Feng Wenlin , Sui Xulei , Liu Hongchao , Pan Hui
Published: November 2022

Searching for high effective catalysts has been an endless effort to improve the efficiency of green energy harvesting and degradation of pollutants. In the past decades, tremendous strategies are explored to achieve high effective catalysts, and various theoretical understandings are proposed for the improved activity. As the catalytic reaction occurs at the surface or edge, the unsaturated ions may lead to the fluctuation of spin. Meanwhile, transition metals in catalysts have diverse spin states and may yield the spin effects. Therefore, the role of spin or magnetic moment should be carefully examined. In this review, the recent development of spin catalysts is discussed to give an insightful view on the origins for the improved catalytic activity. First, a brief introduction on the applications and advances in spin‐related catalytic phenomena, is given, and then the fundamental principles of spin catalysts and magnetic fields‐radical reactions are introduced in the second part. The spin‐related catalytic performance reported in oxygen evolution/reduction reaction (OER/ORR) is systematically discussed in the third part, and general rules are summarized accordingly. Finally, the challenges and perspectives are given. This review may provide an insightful understanding of the microscopic mechanisms of catalytic phenomena and guide the design of spin‐related catalysts.
Evolution of bridge construction by nonmetallic technologies
Authors: Kasuga Akio
Published: November 2022

Concrete engineers and researchers have been developed durable reinforced concrete technologies for long time. However, we have not reached the goal which gives us a perfect technology against deterioration of reinforced concrete. Basically, concrete itself is high durable material. And we recognize this fact when we see Roman concrete structures are still working now. The technologies described in this article are the challenge to derive the solutions against deterioration of reinforced concrete. This research and development have been taking for about 30 years. Then a non‐metallic highway bridge was built in 2020 with the key technologies of aramid fiber tendons, fiber‐reinforced concrete, and butterfly web.
Adsorption of Safranin dye, an emerging contaminant from wastewater by modified bamboo (Bambusa Tulda): Characterization and column model analysis
Authors: Laskar Nirban , Kumar Upendra
Published: November 2022

A fixed‐bed column study was studied to assess the performance of sodium bicarbonate modified Bambusa Tulda to remove Safranin from wastewater. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy analysis shows the existence of carboxyl as well as hydroxyl bonding and grouping. Scanning Electron Microscope analysis shows the enhanced structure of Bambusa Tulda before and after chemical modification, and Energy dispersive X‐ray analysis shows the existence of Na, O after chemical modification with sodium bicarbonate. The maximum removal was found at higher bed depth and low flow rate. The breakthrough analysis time and exhaust time increase with an increase in bed height. At 5 ml/min flow rate, with initial concentration of 50 mg/L and bed height of 15 cm of adsorbent, shows best removal rate of safranin dye in column analysis. The Bed Depth Service Time (BDST) model and Thomas model analysis remained similar with experiment results, which indicates that they are suitable for the design of column study. It is being concluded that sodium bicarbonate modified Bambusa Tulda is an effective, low cost and readily available adsorbent for the adsorption of Safranin from wastewater.
Three point bending and tensile properties of bio‐additive polydopamine‐coated 3D printing‐based distal ulna small locking bone plates: Future need of orthopedic implants
Authors: Sharma Shrutika , Mudgal Deepa , Gupta Vishal
Published: November 2022

Polylactic acid (PLA)‐based implants fabricated by 3D Printing process are biocompatible, porous in nature and light in weight. These biomimetic implants can be used as an alternative to metallic implants. However, such PLA‐based implants lack mechanical strength, limiting their application in biomedical field. In the present study, direct immersion coating technique has been used for application of polydopamine coating followed by studying the effect of input process parameters such as infill density, immersion time, speed of incubator shaker and concentration of coating solution using response surface methodology (RSM)‐based approach. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) has been applied for prediction of statistical models with respect to ultimate tensile and flexural strengths. The effect of individual process parameters has been discussed using main effect plots and the interactions occurring between significant parameters has been discussed using response surface and contour plots. From the findings, it was evident that infill density was highly significant parameter followed by immersion time, speed of incubator shaker and concentration of coating solution. Also, the mechanical properties improved with increase in infill density and immersion time. However, they initially increased and then decreased with increase in speed of incubator shaker and concentration of coating solution.
Correction to: An Event-Driven Multi Agent System for Scalable Traffic Optimization
Authors: Horn Geir , Przeźdiȩk Tomasz , Büscher Monika , Venticinque Salvatore , Aversa Rocco , Martino Beniamino Di , Esposito Antonio , Skrzypek Paweł , Leznik Mark
Published: November 2022

“An Event-Driven Multi Agent System for Scalable Traffic Optimization” was previously published non-open access. It has now been changed to open access under a CC BY 4.0 license and the copyright holder updated to ‘The Author(s)’. The book has also been updated with this change.
Correction to: Developing a VR Tool to Support Repeat Pattern Design Learning
Authors: Queiroz Francisco , dos Santos Lonsdale Maria , Henry Phillip
Published: November 2022

Chapter [“Developing a VR Tool to Support Repeat Pattern Design Learning”] was previously published non-open access. It has now been changed to open access under a CC BY 4.0 license and the copyright holder updated to ‘The Author(s)’. The book has also been updated with this change.
Bibliometric Analysis of Existing Knowledge on Digital Transformation in Higher Education
Authors: Cruz-Cárdenas Jorge , Ramos-Galarza Carlos , Guadalupe-Lanas Jorge , Palacio-Fierro Andrés , Galarraga-Carvajal Mercedes
Published: November 2022

Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) have been feeling great pressure to advance in digital transformation. This pressure has been intensified with the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic at the end of 2019. Because the digital transformation of HEIs has been attracting a growing number of publications, the present study sought to carry out a bibliometric analysis of such titles. For this purpose, 643 relevant documents were identified from the Scopus database in January 2022. The descriptive results show an accelerated growth of the relevant literature, with conference papers being the main form of publication, followed by articles, conference reviews, and book chapters. The areas with which the majority of documents were associated were computer science, followed by social science, engineering, and business and management. An analysis of the co-occurrence of terms based on the titles and abstracts enabled the identification of three thematic areas of interest: 1) digital transformation in teaching, particularly under the pressure exerted by COVID-19; 2) environmental influences on the digital transformation of HEIs; and 3) enabling technologies for digital transformation. A longitudinal analysis also based on titles and abstracts allows us to see how the primary focus shifted from the economic issue (in 2019) to the COVID issue (in 2021). This study concludes by discussing the theoretical and practical implications of the findings, demonstrating as a particularly interesting area for future research the study of the digital transformation of HEIs in a future post-COVID scenario.
New human ATM variants are able to regain ATM functions in ataxia telangiectasia disease
Authors: Ricci Anastasia , Biancucci Federica , Morganti Gianluca , Magnani Mauro , Menotta Michele
Published: November 2022

Ataxia telangiectasia is a rare neurodegenerative disease caused by biallelic mutations in the ataxia telangiectasia mutated gene. No cure is currently available for these patients but positive effects on neurologic features in AT patients have been achieved by dexamethasone administration through autologous erythrocytes (EryDex) in phase II and phase III clinical trials, leading us to explore the molecular mechanisms behind the drug action. During these investigations, new ATM variants, which originated from alternative splicing of ATM messenger, were discovered, and detected in vivo in the blood of AT patients treated with EryDex. Some of the new ATM variants, alongside an in silico designed one, were characterized and examined in AT fibroblast cell lines. ATM variants were capable of rescuing ATM activity in AT cells, particularly in the nuclear role of DNA DSBs recognition and repair, and in the cytoplasmic role of modulating autophagy, antioxidant capacity and mitochondria functionality, all of the features that are compromised in AT but essential for neuron survival. These outcomes are triggered by the kinase and further functional domains of the tested ATM variants, that are useful for restoring cellular functionality. The in silico designed ATM variant eliciting most of the functionality recover may be exploited in gene therapy or gene delivery for the treatment of AT patients.
Are hypopressive and other exercise programs effective for the treatment of pelvic organ prolapse?
Authors: Bø Kari , Anglès-Acedo Sònia , Batra Achla , Brækken Ingeborg H. , Chan Yi Ling , Jorge Cristine Homsi , Kruger Jennifer , Yadav Manisha , Dumoulin Chantale
Published: November 2022

Introduction and hypothesis

Pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) is effective for the treatment of pelvic organ prolapse (POP), but other exercise programs have also been promoted and used. The aim of this review was to evaluate the effect of hypopressive and other exercise programs besides PFMT for POP.

Methods

A literature search was conducted on Ovid Medline, EMBASE, CINAHL, Cochrane, PEDro, and Scopus databases from January 1996 to 30 December 2021. Only randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were included. The keywords were combinations of “pelvic organ prolapse” or “urogenital prolapse,” and “exercise therapy,” “hypopressive exercise,” “Kegel,” “pelvic floor muscle training,” “pelvic floor muscle exercises,” “Pilates,” “treatment,” “yoga,” “Tai Chi.” Methodological quality was assessed using the PEDro rating scale (0–10).

Results

Seven RCTs containing hypopressive exercise, yoga or breathing and hip muscle exercises in an inverted position were retrieved and analyzed. PEDro score ranged from 4 to 7. There was no additional effect of adding hypopressive exercise to PFMT, and PFMT was more effective than hypopressive exercise alone. The studies that included the term “yoga” included regular PFMT and thus can be classified as PFMT. Hip exercises in an inverted position added to PFMT vs PFMT alone showed better improvement in some secondary outcomes but not in the primary outcome, POP stage.

Conclusions

There are few RCTs assessing the effects of other exercise programs besides PFMT in the treatment of POP. To date, there is no evidence that other exercise programs are more effective than PFMT for POP.
Energy Correlations of Non-Integrable Ising Models: The Scaling Limit in the Cylinder
Authors: Antinucci Giovanni , Giuliani Alessandro , Greenblatt Rafael L.
Published: November 2022

We consider a class of non-integrable 2D Ising models whose Hamiltonian, in addition to the standard nearest neighbor couplings, includes additional weak multi-spin interactions which are even under spin flip. We study the model in cylindrical domains of arbitrary aspect ratio and compute the multipoint energy correlations at the critical temperature via a multiscale expansion, uniformly convergent in the domain size and in the lattice spacing. We prove that, in the scaling limit, the multipoint energy correlations converge to the same limiting correlations as those of the nearest neighbor Ising model in a finite cylinder with renormalized horizontal and vertical couplings, up to an overall multiplicative constant independent of the shape of the domain. The proof is based on a representation of the generating function of correlations in terms of a non-Gaussian Grassmann integral, and a constructive Renormalization Group (RG) analysis thereof. A key technical novelty compared with previous works is a systematic analysis of the effect of the boundary corrections to the RG flow, in particular a proof that the scaling dimension of boundary operators is better by one dimension than their bulk counterparts. In addition, a cancellation mechanism based on an approximate image rule for the fermionic Green’s function is of crucial importance for controlling the flow of the (superficially) marginal boundary terms under RG iterations.
Robot-assisted versus navigation-assisted screw placement in spinal vertebrae
Authors: Yu Tong , Jiao Jian-Hang , Wang Yang , Wang Qing-Yu , Jiang Wei-Bo , Wang Zhong-Han , Wu Min-Fei
Published: November 2022

Purpose

Both robots and navigation are effective strategies for optimizing screw placement, as compared to freehand placement. However, few studies have compared the accuracy and efficiency of these two techniques. Thus, the purpose of this study is to compare the accuracy and efficiency of robotic and navigation-assisted screw placement in the spinal vertebrae.

Methods

The 24 spine models were divided into a robot- and navigation-assisted groups according to the left and right sides of the pedicle. The C-arm transmits image data simultaneously to the robot and navigates using only one scan. After screw placement, the accuracy of the two techniques were compared using “angular deviation” and “Gertzbein and Robbins scale” in different segments (C1–7, T1–4, T5–8, T9–12, and L1–S1). In addition, operation times were compared between robot- and navigation-assisted groups.

Results

Robots and navigation systems can simultaneously assist in screw placement. The robot-assisted group had significantly less angular deviation than the navigation-assisted group from C1 to S1 (p < 0.001). At the C1–7 and T1–4 segments, the robot-assisted group had a higher rate of acceptable screws than the robot-assisted group. However, at the T5–8, T9–12, and L1–S1 segments, no significant difference was found in the incidence of acceptable screws between the two groups. Moreover, robot-assisted screw placement required less operative time than navigation (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

The robot is more accurate and efficient than navigation in aiding screw placement. In addition, robots and navigation can be combined without increasing the number of fluoroscopic views.
Prediction of outcomes in patients with local recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma: development and validation of a four-factor prognostic model integrating baseline characteristics and [18F]FDG PET/CT parameters
Authors: Dongxiang Wen , Liting Liu , Yujing Liang , Meijuan Luo , Shanshan Guo , Longbin Xiong , Yanzhou Chen , Meiling Chen , Kang Ning , Haiqiang Mai , Linquan Tang , Qiuyan Chen
Published: November 2022

Objectives

To investigate the prognostic value of [18F]FDG PET/CT parameters in local recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma (lrNPC) and establish a prognostic tool for lrNPC patients based on these [18F]FDG PET/CT parameters.

Methods

A total of 358 lrNPC patients seen from 2010 to 2019 at Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center with complete baseline characteristics and [18F]FDG PET/CT data were retrospectively analyzed. Maximal standardized uptake value (SUVmax), SUVmean, SUVpeak, metabolic tumor volume (MTV), total lesion glycolysis (TLG), and heterogeneity index (HI) for recurrent nasopharynx tumors were included. Cox regression analysis was performed to select candidate variables. Subsequently, a nomogram for predicting overall survival (OS) for lrNPC patients was developed and internally validated.

Results

Multivariate Cox analysis results suggested that age ≥ 47 years (hazard ratio (HR), 1.62 (1.18-2.24); p = 0.003)，with smoking history (HR, 1.41 (1.01–1.98); p = 0.046), recurrent T stage {[rT3 vs rT1/2: HR, 1.81 (1.04–3.12); p = 0.037]; [rT4 vs rT1/2: HR, 2.46 (1.32–4.60); p = 0.005]}, and TLG {[37.1–184.3 vs ≤ 37.1: HR, 2.26 (1.49–3.42); p < 0.001]; [>184.3 vs ≤ 37.1: HR, 4.31 (2.50–7.43); p < 0.001]) were independent predictors of OS. A 4-factor nomogram was generated to stratify patients into 3 risk groups. This novel model showed good discrimination with a high C-index (0.752, 95%CI: 0.714–0.790). In addition, the calibration curves showed good agreement between the predicted probabilities and actual observations and decision curve analysis (DCA) suggested that the nomogram was useful for clinical decision-making.

Conclusions

Our study confirmed that [18F]FDG PET/CT parameters were valuable in predicting OS and PFS for lrNPC patients. The 4-factor prognostic model combing baseline patient characteristics with [18F]FDG PET/CT parameters for lrNPC patients had good discrimination, agreement, and clinical application potential.

Key Points

•[18F]FDGPET/CTparameters were valuable in predicting OS and PFS for lrNPC patients.

• The novel 4-factor nomogram for lrNPC patients had good discrimination, agreement, and potential for clinical application.
Nanoptera in Higher-Order Nonlinear Schrödinger Equations: Effects of Discretization
Authors: Moston-Duggan Aaron J. , Porter Mason A. , Lustri Christopher J.
Published: November 2022

We consider generalizations of nonlinear Schrödinger equations, which we call “Karpman equations,” that include additional linear higher-order derivatives. Singularly-perturbed Karpman equations produce generalized solitary waves (GSWs) in the form of solitary waves with exponentially small oscillatory tails. Nanoptera are a special type of GSW in which the oscillatory tails do not decay. Previous research on continuous third-order and fourth-order Karpman equations has shown that nanoptera occur in specific settings. We use exponential asymptotic techniques to identify traveling nanoptera in singularly-perturbed continuous Karpman equations. We then study the effect of discretization on nanoptera by applying a finite-difference discretization to continuous Karpman equations and examining traveling-wave solutions. The finite-difference discretization turns a continuous Karpman equation into an advance–delay equation, which we study using exponential asymptotic analysis. By comparing nanoptera in these discrete Karpman equations with nanoptera in their continuous counterparts, we show that the oscillation amplitudes and periods in the nanoptera tails differ in the continuous and discrete equations. We also show that the parameter values at which there is a bifurcation between nanopteron solutions and decaying oscillatory solutions depends on the choice of discretization. Finally, by comparing different higher-order discretizations of the fourth-order Karpman equation, we show that the bifurcation value tends to a nonzero constant for large orders, rather than to 0 as in the associated continuous Karpman equation.
Waterlogging effects on N2O and N2 emissions from a Stagnosol cultivated with Silphium perfoliatum and silage maize
Authors: Kemmann Björn , Ruf Thorsten , Matson Amanda , Well Reinhard
Published: November 2022

European policy recommends that biomass production occur on marginal land, such as poorly draining Stagnosols. Compared to annual cropping, perennial crops may better mitigate N2O emissions at such sites, through more complete denitrification. To test that hypothesis, we compared N2 and N2O fluxes from the soils of a perennial crop (cup plant, Silphium perfoliatum L.) and an annual crop (silage maize, Zea mays L.). Intact soil columns (35 cm height, 14.4 cm diameter) were incubated for 37 days. The soils were fertilized with 60 or 120 kg N ha−1 and exposed to successive phases of waterlogging: free drainage, waterlogging of 1/3-, and waterlogging of 2/3- of the column. Source-specific N2O and N2 fluxes were measured using the 15 N gas flux method. Denitrification was higher in cup plant than maize soil and total N losses from denitrification were dominated by emissions from the third phase. Cup plant soil emitted 33.6 ± 78.1 mg N m−2 and 95.8 ± 64.4 mg N m−2 more N2O than maize soil in the low and high N treatments, respectively. The product ratio of denitrification (N2Oi = N2O/(N2 + N2O)) increased with waterlogging in maize soil, while remaining stable in cup plant soil. Emissions from the top 10 cm dominated the N2Oi rather than N2 fluxes from the saturated soil. This study did not show N2O mitigation in cup plant soil, instead highlighting the complexity of plant-soil effects on denitrification. We clearly showed that the application of a general N2Oi for agricultural soils across annual and perennial cropping is not recommended.
Impact of March North Atlantic Oscillation on Indian Ocean Dipole: role of air–sea interaction over the Western North Pacific
Authors: Jiang Jilan , Liu Yimin
Published: November 2022

We investigated the relationship between the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) and Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD), which has remained unknown to date. Reanalysis data and linear baroclinic model experiments were employed in our study. The results showed significant correlation between the March NAO and the boreal summer and autumn IOD, independent of the El Niño–Southern Oscillation signal, verified by partial correlation analysis. Air–sea interaction over the western North Pacific (WNP) is a significant aspect of the physical mechanism through which the March NAO affects the subsequent IOD. A strong positive March NAO induces equivalent barotropic cyclonic circulation over the WNP through a steady Rossby wave, accompanied by a local tripole sea surface temperature (SST) anomaly pattern. Facilitated by local air–sea positive feedback, the low-level cyclonic circulation and associated precipitation anomalies over the WNP persist from early spring to summer and shift equatorward. During May–June, the WNP anomalous cyclone strengthens the southeasterly wind and enhances cooling off Sumatra–Java through local meridional circulation. Such circulation ascends over the WNP and descends over the tropical southeastern Indian Ocean and Maritime Continent. Subsequently, wind–evaporation–SST and wind–thermocline–SST positive feedback in the tropical Indian Ocean contribute to IOD development. A diagnosis of ocean mixed-layer heat budget indicated that the ocean dynamic process associated with the NAO contributes more to IOD development than does atmospheric thermal forcing. Determining the influence mechanism of the March NAO on the subsequent IOD is considered useful in advancing the seasonal prediction of IOD.
The success rate of robotic natural orifice intracorporeal anastomosis and transrectal extraction (NICE procedure) in a large cohort of consecutive unselected patients
Authors: Haas Eric M. , de Paula Thais Reif , Luna-Saracho Roberto , Smith Melissa S. , De Elguea-Lizarraga Jose I. Ortiz , del Rio Roberto Secchi , Edgcomb Mark , LeFave Jean-Paul
Published: November 2022

Background

The Robotic NICE procedure is a total intracorporeal natural orifice approach in which specimen extraction and anastomosis is accomplished without an abdominal wall incision other than the port sites themselves. We aim to present the success rate of the NICE procedure in a large cohort of unselected consecutive patients presenting with colorectal disease using a stepwise and reproducible robotic approach.

Methods

Consecutive patients who presented with benign or malignant disease requiring left-sided colorectal resection and anastomosis between May 2018 and June 2021 were evaluated. Data abstracted included demographic, clinical data, disease features, intervention data, and outcomes data. The main outcome was success rate of Intracorporeal anastomosis (ICA), transrectal extraction of specimen (TRSE), and conversion rate.

Results

A total of 306 patients underwent NICE procedure. Diverticulitis was the main diagnosis (64%) followed by colorectal neoplasm (27%). Median operative time was 219 min, and the median estimated blood loss was 50 ml. ICA was achieved in all cases (100%). TRSE was successfully achieved in 95.4% of cases. In 14 patients (4.6%), an abdominal incision was required due to inability to extract a bulky specimen through the rectum. There overall postoperative complications rate was 12.4%. Eight patients (2.6%) experienced postoperative ileus. There were no superficial or deep surgical site infection (SSI). Eleven patients (3.6%) developed organ SSI space including 5 patients with intra-abdominal abscess and 4 patients with anastomotic leak. There was one mortality (0.3%) due to toxic megacolon from resistant Clostridium difficile. The 30-day reoperation rate was 2.9% (n = 9) including six patients presenting with organ space SSI and three patients with postoperative obstruction at the diverting loop ileostomy site.

Conclusion

The NICE procedure is associated with a very high success rate for both intracorporeal anastomosis and transrectal specimen extraction in a large cohort of unselected patients.