bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Association of the STAT4, CDKN1A, and IRF5 variants with risk of lupus nephritis and renal biopsy classification in patients in Vietnam
Authors: Nghiem Trung Dung , Do Gia Tuyen , Luong Long Hoang , Nguyen Quy Linh , Dang Ha Viet , Viet Anh Nguyen , Nguyen Thuy Thu , Tran Van Khanh , Ta Thanh Van , Tran Thinh Huy
Published: March 2021

Background

Lupus nephritis is a common complication of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE, OMIM #15200) in the Asian population and a main contributor to mortality and morbidity. In this study, we evaluate the variants on three genes STAT4, CDKN1A, and IRF5 and their association with lupus nephritis.

Method

One hundred fifty‐two SLE patients with confirmed lupus nephritis (through biopsy) and 76 healthy controls were recruited. Genotyping of SNPs on three gene STAT4, CDKN1A, and IRF5, phenotypic, and laboratory assessment were performed; renal biopsy and classification were carried out for the patient group.

Results

Carriers of rs7582694 C alleles on STAT4 have higher risk of lupus nephritis (OR 2.0; 95% CI [1.14, 3.19]; p = 0.015), at higher risk of hematuria and higher serum level of dsDNA antibodies compared to controls (p < 0.05) and were more likely to have nephrotic histopathology grading of class III or higher. No association was observed for CDKN1A; and no variation was observed for the IRF5 gene in both the study and control group.

Conclusion

This study investigates the relationship between STAT4, CDKN1A, and IRF5 gene and SLE in a Vietnamese patient population. Patients with the C allele (STAT4) in rs7582694 were associated with a more severe disease phenotype.
Mapping properties of pseudo‐differential operator on the spaces of type Gelfand‐Shilov
Authors: Mahato Kanailal , Pasawan Durgesh
Published: March 2021

This paper deals with the study of some mapping properties of fractional Hankel transform on some suitably constructed Gelfand‐Shilov spaces of type W. Further pseudo‐differential operator associated with fractional Hankel transform is defined and studied its bounded ness properties on some suitably designed Gelfand‐Shilov spaces of type W.
Phenolic Metabolites in the Urine and Plasma of Healthy Men After Acute Intake of Purple Potato Extract Rich in Methoxysubstituted Monoacylated Anthocyanins
Authors: Jokioja Johanna , Percival Jasmine , Philo Mark , Yang Baoru , Kroon Paul A. , Linderborg Kaisa M.
Published: March 2021

Scope

Structurally stable acylated anthocyanins have potential in various food applications but the effects of acylation and methoxysubstitution on anthocyanin metabolism are poorly understood. This is the first study thoroughly investigating phenolic metabolites, their time‐wise changes, and pharmacokinetics following an acute intake of methoxysubstituted monoacylated anthocyanins.

Methods and Results

Healthy male volunteers (n = 17) consumed a yellow potato meal with and without purple potato extract rich in acylated anthocyanins (152 mg) and hydroxycinnamic acid conjugates (140 mg). Ultra‐high performance liquid chromatography‐tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC‐MS/MS) is used for identification and quantification of metabolites from serially collected urine and plasma. While the parent anthocyanins are not detected, 28 phenolic metabolites from urine and 14 from plasma are quantified, including hydroxybenzoic and hydroxycinnamic acids and protocatechuic acid sulfates and glucuronides; three (catechol, gallic acid‐4‐O‐glucuronide, and 2‐methoxybenzoic acid) are detected for the first time after anthocyanin‐rich food. Urinary hippuric acid is the most abundant with an increase of 139 µM mM−1 creatinine after the treatment. A large additional set of tentatively identified phenolic metabolites are detected. Late urinary peak time values suggest colonic degradation.

Conclusion

Acylated anthocyanins are more bioavailable than earlier reported after extensive degradation in human and/or colonial metabolism to phenolic metabolites, which may be further conjugated and demethylated.
Steady‐state analysis of load balancing with Coxian‐2 distributed service times
Authors: Liu Xin , Gong Kang , Ying Lei
Published: March 2021

This paper studies load balancing for many‐server (N servers) systems. Each server has a buffer of size b − 1, and can have at most one job in service and b − 1 jobs in the buffer. The service time of a job follows the Coxian‐2 distribution. We focus on steady‐state performance of load balancing policies in the heavy traffic regime such that the normalized load of system is λ = 1 − N−α for 0 < α < 0.5. We identify a set of policies that achieve asymptotic zero waiting. The set of policies include several classical policies such as join‐the‐shortest‐queue (JSQ), join‐the‐idle‐queue (JIQ), idle‐one‐first (I1F) and power‐of‐d‐choices (Po d) with d = O(Nα log N). The proof of the main result is based on Stein's method and state space collapse. A key technical contribution of this paper is the iterative state space collapse approach that leads to a simple generator approximation when applying Stein's method.
The sluggard has no locusts: From persistent pest to irresistible icon
Authors: Dominy Nathaniel J. , Fannin Luke D.
Published: March 2021

Desert locusts Schistocerca gregaria are threatening the food security of millions of people and devastating economies in eastern Africa and northern India. The ongoing outbreak is the largest in seven decades.

These events give us cause to reflect on the natural history of locusts, our fraught relationship with them, and how they are represented in American popular culture and others.

Symbolic representations span millennia and most have roots in the natural life cycle of locusts—they transform, they swarm, they devastate specific food crops. There is strong tendency to exaggerate the body size of locusts and the effectiveness of control efforts. Expressions of human futility are rare except in the form of ironic humour.

We conclude by suggesting that we humans indulge in hyperbole and humour to normalize and inure ourselves to the psychologically unbearable, and that this tendency is a precondition for the techno‐optimism that drives anti‐locust technologies.

There is no substitute for effective monitoring and management programs, but the importance of new and emerging anti‐locust technologies is expected to increase with projections of increased cyclone activity in the northern Indian Ocean.

A free Plain Language Summary can be found within the Supporting Information of this article.
Synthesis of a novel N‐alkoxyamine containing macromolecular intumescent flame retardant and its synergism in flame‐retarding polypropylene
Authors: Wang Binglin , Li Jiaxin , Lai Xuejun , Li Hongqiang , Chen Yishen , Zeng Xingrong
Published: March 2021

Endowing intumescent flame retardant (IFR) with free‐radical quenching capability is a promising method to improve its efficiency. Herein, a novel N‐alkoxyamine containing macromolecular intumescent flame retardant (RQMIFR) was synthesized via nucleophilic substitution reaction and combined with ammonium polyphosphate (APP) to improve the thermostability and fire resistance of polypropylene (PP). The results showed that there was a good synergism between RQMIFR and APP, which effectively enhanced the thermostability and flame retardancy of PP. When the content of RQMIFR was 8.33 wt% and APP was 16.67 wt%, the limiting oxygen index of PP increased from 19.0% to 39.5% and achieved a UL‐94 V‐0 rating. Besides, the peak heat release rate, total heat release, carbon monoxide production, and carbon dioxide production were remarkably reduced. It was revealed that during combustion, RQMIFR generated nitroxyl free‐radicals and quenched the active free radicals produced by PP both in gas and condensed phase. Simultaneously, RQMIFR and APP worked synergistically to form a compact intumescent char layer through the esterification, cross‐linking, cyclization, and foaming reactions, thus effectively improved the thermostability and flame retardancy of PP.
Prevention and treatment of anticipatory chemotherapy‐induced nausea and vomiting in pediatric cancer patients and hematopoietic stem cell recipients: Clinical practice guideline update
Authors: Patel Priya , Robinson Paula D. , Devine Katie A. , Positano Karyn , Cohen Marie , Gibson Paul , Holdsworth Mark , Phillips Robert , Spinelli Daniela , Thackray Jennifer , van de Wetering Marianne , Woods Deborah , Cabral Sandra , Sung Lillian , Dupuis L. Lee
Published: March 2021

This 2021 clinical practice guideline update provides recommendations for preventing anticipatory chemotherapy‐induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) in pediatric patients. Recommendations are based on systematic reviews that identified (1) if a history of acute or delayed CINV is a risk factor for anticipatory CINV, and (2) interventions for anticipatory CINV prevention and treatment. A strong recommendation to optimize acute and delayed CINV control in order to prevent anticipatory CINV is made. Conditional recommendations are made for hypnosis, systematic desensitization, relaxation techniques, and lorazepam for the secondary prevention of anticipatory CINV. No recommendation for the treatment of anticipatory CINV can be made.
Self‐healing performance of hybrid core‐shell nanofibers mat containing epoxy‐mercaptan at subroom temperature
Authors: Sadeghi Sayed Ali Mirmohammad , Borhani Sedigheh , Zadhoush Ali , Dinari Mohammad
Published: March 2021

Self‐healing epoxy composite working at subroom temperature could be useful in aerospace industry and wind turbine blades. In this research, hybrid core‐shell nanofibers mat containing epoxy resin and mercaptan was embedded in epoxy matrix to investigate repeated self‐healing ability of the fabricated composite at subroom temperature (10°C). The results of three‐point bending test illustrated that the release of epoxy resin and mercaptan into cracks and curing reaction between them could restore flexural properties of the composite. In fourth bending cycle, flexural modulus of composite reinforced by hybrid mat and unreinforced epoxy (without nanofiber) was reduced 6% and 24%, respectively. In addition, hybrid mat reinforced composite was broken at fifth bending cycle whereas for unreinforced epoxy specimen occurred at fourth bending cycle. Non‐isothermal differential scanning calorimetry thermograms after each three‐point bending cycle of hybrid mat reinforced composite showed an exothermic peak centered about 64°C. This peak is related to epoxy and mercaptan reaction that could confirm self‐healing ability of hybrid core‐shell nanofibers mat. Extraction results, FTIR analysis, and three‐point bending test showed the stability of epoxy and mercaptan into nanofibers during 8 months.
Inhibition of human prostate stromal cell growth and smooth muscle contraction by thalidomide: A novel remedy in LUTS?
Authors: Tamalunas Alexander , Sauckel Cora , Ciotkowska Anna , Rutz Beata , Wang Ruixiao , Huang Ru , Li Bingsheng , Stief Christian G. , Gratzke Christian , Hennenberg Martin
Published: March 2021

Background

Medical treatment in benign prostatic hyperplasia targets prostate size to prevent disease progression, complications, and surgery, and prostate smooth muscle tone for rapid relief of lower urinary tract symptoms. Combination therapies are still required to target both at once. However, current medications are insufficient, due to an unfavorable balance between side effects and efficacy. The limited efficacy of α1‐blockers may be due to nonadrenergic mediators like endothelin‐1 and thromboxane A2 (TXA2), which keep up prostate smooth muscle contraction even in the presence of α1‐blockers. Consequently, future options with higher efficacy need to target α1‐adrenergic and nonadrenergic contractions as well as stromal cell growth at once. Thalidomide has been approved as an oral medication for various diseases, including the treatment of prostate cancer. Therefore, we investigated the effect of thalidomide on cellular functions of prostate stromal cells and human prostate smooth muscle contraction.

Methods

Cytoskeletal organization was visualized by phalloidin staining, cell growth was assessed by 5‐ethynyl‐2ʹ‐deoxyuridine assay, cell viability by cell counting kit‐8, and apoptosis and cell death by flow cytometry in cultured prostate stromal cells (WPMY‐1). Contractions of human prostate tissues from radical prostatectomy were studied in an organ bath, where they were induced by the α1‐adrenoceptor agonists methoxamine, noradrenaline, phenylephrine, and the nonadrenergic agonists endothelin‐1, TXA2 analog U46619, or electric field stimulation (EFS).

Results

Thalidomide significantly reduced the proliferation of WPMY‐1 cells, which was time‐ and concentration‐dependent (10–300 µM). In parallel, organization of actin filaments collapsed after treatment with thalidomide. Thalidomide (30–100 µM) inhibited noradrenaline‐, phenylephrine‐, and methoxamine‐induced contractions, as well as nonadrenergic contractions induced by endothelin‐1 and U46619, and neurogenic contractions induced by EFS. No reduction in viability and no increases in apoptosis or in cell death were observed in WPMY‐1 cells.

Conclusions

Thalidomide impairs the growth of human prostate stromal cells, without showing a decrease in cell viability. In parallel, thalidomide inhibits adrenergic, neurogenic, and nonadrenergic contractions. This may be explained by a breakdown of the actin cytoskeleton. In vivo, urodynamic effects of thalidomide appear possible and may even exceed those of α1‐blockers or combination therapies.
Optimal resource allocation for satellite‐aided collaborative computing among multiple user pairs
Authors: Zhang Shanghong , Cui Gaofeng , Long Yating , Wang Weidong
Published: March 2021

Satellite‐aided communication networks play a vital role for users in remote areas. With the increasing enhancement of users' computing capacities for satellite‐aided communication networks, a part of the data can be compressed first at the source node and then decompressed at the destination node to relieve the burden of the transmission. In this way, collaborative computing among multiple user pairs is achieved. Due to the limitations of the computing and communication resources, how to realize collaborative computing efficiently and allocate the communication resource optimally is the problem that needs to be addressed. In this paper, a collaborative computing and resources allocation (CCRA) method is proposed to minimize the weighted‐sum latency of multiple user pairs formed by two nodes with computing capacities that exchange data via the satellite. With CCRA, the upper bound of the end‐to‐end latency is defined and used to decompose the problem of joint computing and resource allocation for multiple user pairs into independent problems for every user pair. And then, the optimal solutions for collaborative computing and resource allocation can be achieved with closed‐form solutions and low complexity. Numerical results verify the effectiveness of CCRA in latency optimization.
A perspective on sustainable energy materials for lithium batteries
Authors: Cheng Xin‐Bing , Liu He , Yuan Hong , Peng Hong‐Jie , Tang Cheng , Huang Jia‐Qi , Zhang Qiang
Published: March 2021

Lithium ion battery has achieved great success in portable electronics and even recently electronic vehicles since its commercialization in 1990s. However, lithium‐ion batteries are confronted with several issues in terms of the sustainable development such as the high price of raw materials and electronic products, the emerging safety accidents, etc. The recent progresses are herein emphasized on lithium batteries for energy storage to clearly understand the sustainable energy chemistry and emerging energy materials. The Perspective presents novel lithium‐ion batteries developed with the aims of enhancing the electrochemical performance and sustainability of energy storage systems. First, revolutionary material chemistries, including novel low‐cobalt cathode, organic electrode, and aqueous electrolyte, are discussed. Then, the characteristics of safety performance are analyzed and strategies to enhance safety are subsequently evaluated. Battery recycling is considered as the key factor for a sustainable society and related technologies are present as well. Finally, conclusion and outlook are drawn to shed lights on the further development of sustainable lithium‐ion batteries.
Renewable biomass‐derived carbons for electrochemical capacitor applications
Authors: Luo Xianyou , Chen Shaorui , Hu Tianzhao , Chen Yong , Li Feng
Published: March 2021

Biomass is rich, renewable, sustainable, and green resources, thereby excellent raw material for the fabrication of carbon materials. The diversity in structure and morphology of biomass are relevant in obtaining carbon materials with different structures and performances. The inherent ordered porous structure of biomass also benefits the activation process to yield porous carbons with ultrahigh specific surface area and pore volume. Besides, obtained biomass‐derived carbons (BDCs) are hard carbon with porous morphology, stable structure, superior hardness/strength, and good cycling performances when used in electrochemical capacitors (ECs). The inherent N, S, P, and O elements in biomass yield naturally self‐doped N, S, P, and O BDCs with unique intrinsic structures. In this paper, the synthesis approaches and applications of BDCs in ECs are reviewed. It shows that BDCs electrochemical performances are highly determined by their pore structures, specific surface areas, heteroatoms doping, graphitization degree, defects, and morphologies. The electrochemical performances of BDCs can further be improved by compositing with other materials, such as graphene, carbon nanofibers/nanotubes, transition metal oxides or hydroxides, and conducting polymers. The future challenges and outlooks of BDCs are also provided.
Two Intermediates in Ammonothermal InN Crystal Growth: [In(NH3)5Cl]Cl2 and InF2(NH2)
Authors: Becker Peter , Cekovski Toni Boris , Niewa Rainer
Published: March 2021

The ammonothermal synthesis is a promising instrument for synthesis and crystal growth of the metastable semiconductor InN. Two novel intermediates within the ammonothermal InN crystal growth have been synthesized, namely pentaamminechloridoindium dichloride, [In(NH3)5Cl]Cl2, and indium amide difluoride, InF2(NH2). Both intermediates were obtained under ammonothermal conditions (Tmax=663 K, pmax=118.3 MPa, and Tmax=753 K, respectively) in a near‐ammononeutral milieu as established for InN crystal growth, using the respective indium trihalide together with potassium amide as mineralizer system. The crystal structure of [In(NH3)5Cl]Cl2 shows strong structural relations to the corresponding intermediate [Ga(NH3)5Cl]Cl2 within ammonoacidic GaN crystal growth. At ambient pressure, it decomposes above 450 K under release of ammonia. InF2(NH2) shows attributes of a classical MX3 crystal structure, realizing the motif of a hexagonal close packing of (NH)2− together with F− ions and indium occupying one third of the octahedral holes between every layer of the packing. Vibrational spectroscopy for both solid intermediates is reported.
Spontaneous leptogenesis in Higgs inflation
Authors: Lee Sung Mook , Oda Kin-ya , Park Seong Chan
Published: March 2021

Abstract

We propose a scenario of spontaneous leptogenesis in Higgs inflation with help from two additional operators: the Weinberg operator (Dim 5) and the derivative coupling of the Higgs field and the current of lepton number (Dim 6). The former is responsible for lepton number violation and the latter induces chemical potential for lepton number. The period of rapidly changing Higgs field, naturally realized in Higgs inflation during the reheating, allows large enhancement in the produced asymmetry in lepton number, which is eventually converted into baryon asymmetry of the universe. This scenario is compatible with high reheating temperature of Higgs inflation model.
More on complex Sachdev-Ye-Kitaev eternal wormholes
Authors: Zhang Pengfei
Published: March 2021

Abstract

In this work, we study a generalization of the coupled Sachdev-Ye-Kitaev (SYK) model with U(1) charge conservations. The model contains two copies of the complex SYK model at different chemical potentials, coupled by a direct hopping term. In the zero-temperature and small coupling limit with small averaged chemical potential, the ground state is an eternal wormhole connecting two sides, with a specific chargeQ= 0, which is equivalent to a thermofield double state. We derive the conformal Green’s functions and determine corresponding IR parameters. At higher chemical potential, the system transit into the black hole phase. We further derive the Schwarzian effective action and study its quench dynamics. Finally, we compare numerical results with the analytical predictions.
An obstacle to sub-AdS holography for SYK-like models
Authors: Zhang Pengfei , Gu Yingfei , Kitaev Alexei
Published: March 2021

Abstract

We argue that “stringy” effects in a putative gravity-dual picture for SYK-like models are related to the branching time, a kinetic coefficient defined in terms of the retarded kernel. A bound on the branching time is established assuming that the leading diagrams are ladders with thin rungs. Thus, such models are unlikely candidates for sub-AdS holography. In the weak coupling limit, we derive a relation between the branching time, the Lyapunov exponent, and the quasiparticle lifetime using two different approximations.
The minimally displaced set of an irreducible automorphism of $$F_N$$ is co-compact
Authors: Francaviglia Stefano , Martino Armando , Syrigos Dionysios
Published: March 2021

We study the minimally displaced set of irreducible automorphisms of a free group. Our main result is the co-compactness of the minimally displaced set of an irreducible automorphism with exponential growth $$\phi $$
ϕ
, under the action of the centraliser $$C(\phi )$$

C
(
ϕ
)

. As a corollary, we get that the same holds for the action of $$ <\phi>$$

<
ϕ
>

on $$Min(\phi )$$

M
i
n
(
ϕ
)

. Finally, we prove that the minimally displaced set of an irreducible automorphism of growth rate one consists of a single point.
Design of an improved universal signal peptide based on the α-factor mating secretion signal for enzyme production in yeast
Authors: Aza Pablo , Molpeceres Gonzalo , de Salas Felipe , Camarero Susana
Published: March 2021

Saccharomyces cerevisiae plays an important role in the heterologous expression of an array of proteins due to its easy manipulation, low requirements and ability for protein post-translational modifications. The implementation of the preproleader secretion signal of the α-factor mating pheromone from this yeast contributes to increase the production yields by targeting the foreign protein to the extracellular environment. The use of this signal peptide combined with enzyme-directed evolution allowed us to achieve the otherwise difficult functional expression of fungal laccases in S. cerevisiae, obtaining different evolved α-factor preproleader sequences that enhance laccase secretion. However, the design of a universal signal peptide to enhance the production of heterologous proteins in S. cerevisiae is a pending challenge. We describe here the optimisation of the α-factor preproleader to improve recombinant enzyme production in S. cerevisiae through two parallel engineering strategies: a bottom-up design over the native α-factor preproleader (αnat) and a top-down design over the fittest evolved signal peptide obtained in our lab (α9H2 leader). The goal was to analyse the effect of mutations accumulated in the signal sequence throughout iterations of directed evolution, or of other reported mutations, and their possible epistatic interactions. Both approaches agreed in the positive synergism of four mutations (Aα9D, Aα20T, Lα42S, Dα83E) contained in the final optimised leader (αOPT), which notably enhanced the secretion of several fungal oxidoreductases and hydrolases. Additionally, we suggest a guideline to further drive the heterologous production of a particular enzyme based on combinatorial saturation mutagenesis of positions 86th and 87th of the αOPT leader fused to the target protein.
Correction to: Implementation methods of infection prevention measures in orthopedics and traumatology – a systematic review
Authors: Marche Benedikt , Neuwirth Meike , Kugler Christiane , Bouillon Bertil , Mattner Frauke , Otchwemah Robin
Published: March 2021

A correction to this paper has been published: https://doi.org/ 10.1007/s00432-021-03543-4
Correction to: How has COVID-19 affected the treatment of osteoporosis? An IOF-NOF-ESCEO global survey
Authors: Fuggle N.R. , Singer A. , Gill C. , Patel A. , Medeiros A. , Mlotek A.S. , Pierroz D.D. , Halbout P. , Harvey N.C. , Reginster J.-Y. , Cooper C. , Greenspan S.L.
Published: March 2021

A Correction to this paper has been published: 10.1007/s00198-021-05905-7
Prognostic Significance of Myocardial Ischemia Detected by Single-Photon Emission Computed Tomography in Children with Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
Authors: Ziolkowska Lidia , Boruc Agnieszka , Sobielarska-Lysiak Dorota , Grzyb Agnieszka , Petryka-Mazurkiewicz Joanna , Mazurkiewicz Łukasz , Brzezinska-Rajszys Grazyna
Published: March 2021

Myocardial ischemia caused by microvascular dysfunction is an important pathophysiologic component of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), promoting myocardial fibrosis, adverse left ventricular remodeling, and impacting on clinical course and outcome in HCM patients. The aim of study was to assess the prevalence and clinical significance of myocardial ischemia in children with HCM using 99mTc-MIBI single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). Ninety-one children with HCM, median age 13.6 years, underwent SPECT evaluation from 2006 to 2017. Imaging was performed at rest and after maximal exercise. Myocardial perfusion defects were identified in 70 children (76.9%; group I), median age 13.8 years. Fixed perfusion defects were evident in 22 of them, while reversible at rest in 48. In 21 children (23.1%; group II), median age 11 years, myocardial perfusion defects were not detected. Patient demographics, echocardiography, resting electrocardiogram (ECG), 24-h Holter ECG, myocardial fibrosis in cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging, and cardiovascular events were analyzed and compared between the groups. During follow-up at a median of 8.3 years in children with myocardial ischemia, clinical endpoints occurred more often (47 vs. 5;p = 0.02) and more patients reached a clinical endpoint (28 [40%] vs. 3 [14.3%];p = 0.036). In children with myocardial ischemia, myocardial fibrosis was observed with greater frequency. Myocardial perfusion defects may reflect an ischemic process which (1) affects the clinical manifestations and (2) is an important predictor of adverse clinical events and risk of death in children with HCM. Myocardial ischemia in HCM patients frequently correlates with myocardial fibrosis.
Rhizobium and Mycorrhizal Fungal Species Improved Soybean Yield Under Drought Stress Conditions
Authors: Igiehon Ozede N. , Babalola Olubukola O.
Published: March 2021

Food insecurity is a serious threat due to the increasing human population particularly in developing countries and may be minimized by the use of microbial inoculants. Also, the problems of excessive use of chemical fertilizers including the fact that most of the fertilizers are relatively non-affordable and that they also contaminate underground and surface water, which can increase the risk of blue baby syndrome in infants and stomach cancer in adults. There is therefore the need to harness a more cost-effective, eco-friendly and beneficial biological agents to improve crops productivity especially under drought conditions. Thus, in this study, the ability of rhizobia species and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) to enhance soybean tolerance to drought stress under water regimens of 100, 70 and 40% field capacity (FC) was investigated. It was observed that co-inoculation of soybean withRhizobiumspp. (R1+R3) as well as withRhizobiumspp. and mycorrhizal consortium (R1+R3MY) had significant impacts (P< 0.05) on soybean leaf relative water content and electrolyte leakage, respectively. The levels of proline increased mainly in microbially amended soybean exposed to drought stress. Plants inoculated with R1+R3MY showed the highest number of spore and % mycorrhization in all the water regimes. At 40% FC, R1+R3MY treatment was found to promote soybean growth compared to the non-inoculated plants. Similarly, at 40% FC, R1+R3MY inoculum had the greatest impacts on soybean pod number, seed number, seed fresh weight, highest seed number per pod and seed dry weight while at 70% water stress, significant impacts of R1MY inoculation were observed on pod number, pod fresh weight and seed dry weight. These results revealed that co-inoculation of rhizobia and mycorrhizal fungi can be harnessed biotechnologically to proffer solution to food insecurity.
Two-scale, non-local diffusion in homogenised heterogeneous media
Authors: Ramírez-Torres Ariel , Penta Raimondo , Grillo Alfio
Published: March 2021

We study how and to what extent the existence of non-local diffusion affects the transport of chemical species in a composite medium. For our purposes, we prescribe the mass flux to obey a two-scale, non-local constitutive law featuring derivatives of fractional order, and we employ the asymptotic homogenisation technique to obtain an overall description of the species’ evolution. As a result, the non-local effects at the micro-scale arecipheredin the effective diffusivity, while at the macro-scale the homogenised problem features an integro-differential equation of fractional type. In particular, we prove that in the limit case in which the non-local interactions are neglected, classical results of asymptotic homogenisation theory are re-obtained. Finally, we perform numerical simulations to show the impact of the fractional approach on the overall diffusion of species in a composite medium. To this end, we consider two simplified benchmark problems, and report some details of the numerical schemes based on finite element methods.
The effects of 12 weeks of static stretch training on the functional, mechanical, and architectural characteristics of the triceps surae muscle–tendon complex
Authors: Longo Stefano , Cè Emiliano , Bisconti Angela Valentina , Rampichini Susanna , Doria Christian , Borrelli Marta , Limonta Eloisa , Coratella Giuseppe , Esposito Fabio
Published: March 2021

Purpose

We investigated the effects of 12 weeks of passive static stretching training (PST) on force-generating capacity, passive stiffness, muscle architecture of plantarflexor muscles.

Methods

Thirty healthy adults participated in the study. Fifteen participants (STR, 6 women, 9 men) underwent 12-week plantarflexor muscles PST [(5 × 45 s-on/15 s-off) × 2exercises] × 5times/week (duration: 2250 s/week), while 15 participants (CTRL, 6 women, 9 men) served as control (no PST). Range of motion (ROM), maximum passive resistive torque (PRTmax), triceps surae architecture [fascicle length, fascicle angle, and thickness], passive stiffness [muscle–tendon complex (MTC) and muscle stiffness], and plantarflexors maximun force-generating capacity variables (maximum voluntary contraction, maximum muscle activation, rate of torque development, electromechanical delay) were calculated Pre, at the 6th (Wk6), and the 12th week (Wk12) of the protocol in both groups.

Results

Compared to Pre, STR ROM increased (P < 0.05) at Wk6 (8%) and Wk12 (23%). PRTmax increased at Wk12 (30%, P < 0.05), while MTC stiffness decreased (16%, P < 0.05). Muscle stiffness decreased (P < 0.05) at Wk6 (11%) and Wk12 (16%). No changes in triceps surae architecture and plantarflexors maximum force-generating capacity variables were found in STR (P > 0.05). Percentage changes in ROM correlated with percentage changes in PRTmax (ρ = 0.62, P = 0.01) and MTC stiffness (ρ = − 0.78, P = 0.001). In CTRL, no changes (P > 0.05) occurred in any variables at any time point.

Conclusion

The expected long-term PST-induced changes in ROM were associated with modifications in the whole passive mechanical properties of the ankle joint, while maximum force-generating capacity characteristics were preserved. 12 weeks of PST do not seem a sufficient stimulus to induce triceps surae architectural changes.
Mortality after cardiopulmonary resuscitation on a medical ICU
Authors: Rezar Richard , Wernly Bernhard , Haslinger Michael , Seelmaier Clemens , Schwaiger Philipp , Pretsch Ingrid , Eisl Maria , Jung Christian , Hoppe Uta C. , Lichtenauer Michael
Published: March 2021

Background

Performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and postresuscitation care in the intensive care unit (ICU) are standardized procedures; however, there is evidence suggesting sex-dependent differences in clinical management and outcome variables after cardiac arrest (CA).

Methods

A prospective analysis of patients who were hospitalized at a medical ICU after CPR between December 2018 and March 2020 was conducted. Exclusion criteria were age < 18 years, hospital length of stay < 24 h and traumatic CA. The primary study endpoint was mortality after 6 months and the secondary endpoint neurological outcome assessed by cerebral performance category (CPC). Differences between groups were calculated by using U‑tests and χ2-tests, for survival analysis both univariate and multivariable Cox regression were fitted.

Results

A total of 106 patients were included and the majority were male (71.7%). No statistically significant difference regarding 6‑month mortality between sexes could be shown (hazard risk, HR 0.68, 95% confidence interval, CI 0.35–1.34;p = 0.27). Neurological outcome was also similar between both groups (CPC 1 88% in both sexes after 6 months;p = 1.000). There were no statistically significant differences regarding general characteristics, pre-existing diseases, as well as the majority of clinical and laboratory parameters or measures performed on the ICU.

Conclusion

In a single center CPR database no statistically significant sex-specific differences regarding post-resuscitation care, survival and neurological outcome after 6 months were observed.
Automatic detection and classification of emotional states in virtual reality and standard environments (LCD): comparing valence and arousal of induced emotions
Authors: Magdin Martin , Balogh Zoltán , Reichel Jaroslav , Francisti Jan , Koprda Štefan , György Molnár
Published: March 2021

The following case study was carried out on a sample of one experimental and one control group. The participants of the experimental group watched the movie section from the standardized LATEMO-E database via virtual reality (VR) on Oculus Rift S and HTC Vive Pro devices. In the control group, the movie section was displayed on the LCD monitor. The movie section was categorized according to Ekman's and Russell's classification model of evoking an emotional state. The range of valence and arousal was determined in both observed groups. Valence and arousal were measured in each group using a Self-Assessment Manikin (SAM). The control group was captured by a camera and evaluated by Affdex software from Affectiva in order to compare valence values. The control group showed a very high correlation (0.92) between SAM and Affdex results. Having considered the Affdex results as a reference value, it can be concluded that SAM participants evaluated their emotions objectively. The results from both groups show that the movie section is supposed to evoke negative emotion. Negative emotion was perceived more intensely than its counterpart, positive emotion. Using virtual reality to evoke negative emotion (anger) has confirmed that VR triggers a significantly stronger intensity of emotion than LCD.
The influence of training level on manual flight in connection to performance, scan pattern, and task load
Authors: Friedrich Maik , Lee Seung Yong , Bates Paul , Martin Wayne , Faulhaber Anja K.
Published: March 2021

This work focuses on the analysis of pilots’ performance during manual flight operations in different stages of training and their influence on gaze strategy. The secure and safe operation of air traffic is highly dependent on the individual performances of the pilots. Before becoming a pilot, he/she has to acquire a broad set of skills by training to pass all the necessary qualification and licensing standards. A basic skill for every pilot is manual control operations, which is a closed-loop control process with several cross-coupled variables. Even with increased automation in the cockpit, the manual control operations are essential for every pilot as a last resort in the event of automation failure. A key element in the analysis of manual flight operations is the development over time in relation to performance and visual perception. An experiment with 28 participants (including 11 certified pilots) was conducted in a Boeing 737 simulator. For defined flight phases, the dynamic time warping method was applied to evaluate the performance for selected criteria, and eye-tracking methodology was utilized to analyze the gaze-pattern development. The manipulation of workload and individual experience influences the performance and the gaze pattern at the same time. Findings suggest that the increase of workload has an increased influence on pilots depending on the flight phase. Gaze patterns from experienced pilots provide insights into the training requirements of both novices and experts. The connection between workload, performance and gaze pattern is complex and needs to be analyzed under as many differing conditions. The results imply the necessity to evaluate manual flight operations with respect to more flight phases and a detailed selection of performance indications.
Vascular endothelial growth factors and angiopoietins as new players in mastocytosis
Authors: Marcella Simone , Petraroli Angelica , Braile Mariantonia , Parente Roberta , Ferrara Anne Lise , Galdiero Maria Rosaria , Modestino Luca , Cristinziano Leonardo , Rossi Francesca Wanda , Varricchi Gilda , Triggiani Massimo , de Paulis Amato , Spadaro Giuseppe , Loffredo Stefania
Published: March 2021

Mastocytosis is a disorder characterized by the abnormal proliferation and/or accumulation of mast cells in different organs. More than 90% of patients with systemic mastocytosis have a gain-of-function mutation in codon 816 of the KIT receptor on mast cells (MCs). The symptoms of mastocytosis patients are related to the MC-derived mediators that exert local and distant effects. MCs produce angiogenic and lymphangiogenic factors, including vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGFs) and angiopoietins (ANGPTs). Serum concentrations of VEGF-A, VEGF-C, VEGF-D, ANGPT1 and ANGPT2 were determined in 64 mastocytosis patients and 64 healthy controls. Intracellular concentrations and spontaneous release of these mediators were evaluated in the mast cell lines ROSAKIT WTand ROSAKIT D816Vand in human lung mast cells (HLMCs). VEGF-A, ANGPT1, ANGPT2 and VEGF-C concentrations were higher in mastocytosis patients compared to controls. The VEGF-A, ANGPT2 and VEGF-C concentrations were correlated with the symptom severity. ANGPT1 concentrations were increased in all patients compared to controls. ANGPT2 levels were correlated with severity of clinical variants and with tryptase levels. VEGF-A, ANGPT1 and VEGF-C did not differ between indolent and advanced mastocytosis. ROSAKIT WT, ROSAKIT D816Vand HLMCs contained and spontaneously released VEGFs and ANGPTs. Serum concentrations of VEGFs and ANGPTs are altered in mastocytosis patients.
Limited host range in the idiobiont parasitoid Phymastichus coffea, a prospective biological control agent of the coffee pest Hypothenemus hampei in Hawaii
Authors: Yousuf Fazila , Follett Peter A. , Gillett Conrad P. D. T. , Honsberger David , Chamorro Lourdes , Johnson M. Tracy , Giraldo-Jaramillo Marisol , Benavides-Machado Pablo , Wright Mark G.
Published: March 2021

Phymastichus coffea LaSalle (Hymenoptera:Eulophidae) is an adult endoparasitoid of the coffee berry borer, Hypothenemus hampei (Ferrari) (Coleoptera:Curculionidae:Scolytinae), which has been introduced in many coffee producing countries as a biological control agent. To determine the effectiveness of P. coffea against H. hampei and environmental safety for release in Hawaii, we investigated the host selection and parasitism response of adult females to 43 different species of Coleoptera, including 23 Scolytinae (six Hypothenemus species and 17 others), and four additional Curculionidae. Non-target testing included Hawaiian endemic, exotic and beneficial coleopteran species. Using a no-choice laboratory bioassay, we demonstrated that P. coffea was only able to parasitize the target host H. hampei and four other adventive species of Hypothenemus: H. obscurus, H. seriatus, H. birmanus and H. crudiae. Hypothenemus hampei had the highest parasitism rate and shortest parasitoid development time of the five parasitized Hypothenemus spp. Parasitism and parasitoid emergence decreased with decreasing phylogenetic relatedness of the Hypothenemus spp. to H. hampei, and the most distantly related species, H. eruditus, was not parasitized. These results suggest that the risk of harmful non-target impacts is low because there are no native species of Hypothenemus in Hawaii, and P. coffea could be safely introduced for classical biological control of H. hampei in Hawaii.
Estimation of MCS intensity for Italy from high quality accelerometric data, using GMICEs and Gaussian Naïve Bayes Classifiers
Authors: Cataldi Laura , Tiberi Lara , Costa Giovanni
Published: March 2021

Macroseismic intensity provides a qualitative description of seismic damage. It can be associated with Ground Motion Parameters (GMPs), which are extracted in near real-time from instrumental recordings during an earthquake. Several formulations of this empirical association exist in literature for Italy, mainly focusing on the relationship between intensity expressed on the Mercalli-Cancani-Sieberg (MCS) scale and peak ground acceleration or velocity. They are usually in the form of Ground Motion to Intensity Conversion Equations (GMICEs), which treat intensity as a continuous quantity. We propose an alternative approach, the Gaussian Naïve Bayes (GNB) classifiers, which allows to correctly treat intensity according to its ordinal definition. As a comparison, we also implement a modified version of the standard GMICE approach. We expand the existing database of GMP/MCS-intensity points with new, high-quality accelerometric data recorded in Italy in the period from 2002 to 2016 and resample the database by treating the intermediate intensities with half integer values (which are not meaningful in the MCS description) as both belong to the above and below full integer classes with an assigned weight. As a result, we estimate a new set of regression relations and GNB probability distributions between integer MCS intensity classes and eight GMPs (peak acceleration, velocity, displacement, Arias and Housner intensities, spectral acceleration at 0.3, 1.0 and 3.0 s). Results based on PGA and PGV are the most stable on the whole intensity scale. GNB models score better than GMICEs in terms of performance on unseen data and classification scores.
Changes in the cellulose fiber wall supramolecular structure during the initial stages of chemical treatments of wood evaluated by NMR and X-ray scattering
Authors: Brännvall Elisabet , Larsson P. Tomas , Stevanic Jasna S.
Published: March 2021

The effect of initial stages of pulping of spruce, resembling prehydrolysis and alkaline cooking was studied using CP/MAS 13C-NMR, X-ray scattering, FSP and carbohydrate composition in order to study the impact of the pre-treatments on the fiber wall nanostructure. Removal of fiber wall components, hemicellulose and lignin, increased the fiber wall porosity and induced cellulose fibril aggregation. The effect of temperature and pH in the treatment on cellulose fibril aggregate size appears to be secondary. It is the removal of hemicellulose that has a profound effect on the supramolecular structure of the cellulose fiber wall. As the amount of hemicellulose dissolved from wood increases, the fibril aggregate size determined by NMR increases as well, ranging from 16 to 28 nm. Specifically, a good correlation between the amount of glucomannan in the fiber wall and the fibril aggregate size is seen. The lower the amount of glucomannan, the larger the aggregate size. Glucomannan thus seems to prevent aggregation as it acts as a very efficient spacer between fibrils. Elemental fibril size determined by NMR, was quite similar for all samples, ranging from 3.6 to 4.1 nm. By combining measurement methods, a more well-resolved picture of the structural changes occurring during was obtained.
MINLP formulations for continuous piecewise linear function fitting
Authors: Goldberg Noam , Rebennack Steffen , Kim Youngdae , Krasko Vitaliy , Leyffer Sven
Published: March 2021

We consider a nonconvex mixed-integer nonlinear programming (MINLP) model proposed by Goldberg et al. (Comput Optim Appl 58:523–541, 2014. 10.1007/s10589-014-9647-y) for piecewise linear function fitting. We show that this MINLP model is incomplete and can result in a piecewise linear curve that is not the graph of a function, because it misses a set of necessary constraints. We provide two counterexamples to illustrate this effect, and propose three alternative models that correct this behavior. We investigate the theoretical relationship between these models and evaluate their computational performance.
Clinical value of a screening tool for tumor predisposition syndromes in childhood cancer patients (TuPS): a prospective, observational, multi-center study
Authors: Postema Floor A. M. , Hopman Saskia M. J. , de Borgie Corianne A. J. M. , Aalfs Cora M. , Anninga Jakob K. , Berger Lieke P. V. , Bleeker Fonnet E. , Dommering Charlotte J. , van Eijkelenburg Natasha K. A. , Hammond Peter , van den Heuvel-Eibrink Marry M. , Hol Janna A. , Kors Wijnanda A. , Letteboer Tom G. W. , Loeffen Jan L. C. M. , Meijer Lisethe , Olderode-Berends Maran J. W. , Wagner Anja , Hennekam Raoul C. , Merks Johannes H. M.
Published: March 2021

Recognizing a tumor predisposition syndrome (TPS) in a child with cancer is of clinical relevance. Earlier we developed a screening tool to increase diagnostic accuracy and clinical efficiency of identifying TPSs in children with cancer. Here we report on the value of this tool in clinical practice. TuPS is a prospective, observational, multi-center study including children newly diagnosed with cancer from 2016 to 2019 in the Netherlands. Children in whom a TPS had been diagnosed before the cancer diagnosis were excluded. The screening tool consists of a checklist, 2D and 3D photographic series and digital assessment of these by a clinical geneticist. If a TPS was suspected, the patient was assessed positive and referred for routine genetic consultation. Primary aim was to assess the clinical value of this new screening tool. Of the 363 included patients, 57% (208/363) were assessed positive. In 15% of patients (32/208), the 2D photographic series with (n = 12) or without (n = 20) 3D photographs were decisive in the positive assessment. In 2% (4/208) of positive assessed patients, a TPS was diagnosed, and in an additional 2% (4/208) a germline variant of uncertain significance was found. Thirty-five negatively assessed patients were evaluated through routine genetic consultation as controls, in none a TPS was detected. Using the screening tool, 57% of the patients were assessed as suspected for having a TPS. No false negative results were identified in the negative control group in the clinical care setting. The observed prevalence of TPS was lower than expected, due to selection bias in the cohort.