bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Clinical impact of defibrillation testing in a real‐world S‐ICD population: Data from the ELISIR registry
Authors: Ricciardi Danilo , Ziacchi Matteo , Gasperetti Alessio , Schiavone Marco , Picarelli Francesco , Diemberger Igor , Bontempi Luca , Di Belardino Natale , Bisignani Giovanni , De Bonis Silvia , Mitacchione Gianfranco , Calabrese Vito , Lavalle Carlo , Piro Agostino , Pignalberi Carlo , Santini Luca , Grigioni Francesco , Tondo Claudio , Biffi Mauro , Forleo Giovanni Battista
Published: December 2020

Background

Current guidelines recommend defibrillation testing (DT) performance in patients with a subcutaneous implantable cardioverter defibrillator (S‐ICD), theoretically to reduce the amount of ineffective shocks. DT, however, has been proven unnecessary in transvenous ICD and real‐world data show a growing trend in avoidance of DT after S‐ICD implantation.

Methods

All patients undergoing S‐ICD implant at nine associated Italian centers joining in the ELISIR registry (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04373876) were enrolled and classified upon DT performance. Long‐term follow‐up events were recorded and compared to report the long‐term efficacy and safety of S‐ICD implantations without DT in a real‐world setting.

Results

A total of 420 patients (54.0 ± 15.5 years, 80.0% male) were enrolled in the study. A DT was performed in 254 (60.5%) patients (DT+ group), while in 166 (39.5%) was avoided (DT− group). Over a median follow‐up of 19 (11–31) months, a very low rate (0.7%) of ineffective shocks was observed, and no significant differences in the primary combined arrhythmic outcome were observed between the two groups (p = .656). At regression analysis, the only clinical predictor associated with the primary combined outcome was S‐ICD placement for primary prevention (odds ratio: 0.42; p = .013); DT performance instead was not associated with a reduction in primary outcome (p = .375).

Conclusion

Implanting an S‐ICD without DT does not appear to impact the safety of defibrillation therapy and overall patients' survival.
Alterations of retinal thickness measured by optical coherence tomography correlate with neurophysiological measures in diabetic polyneuropathy
Authors: Yamada Yuichiro , Himeno Tatsuhito , Tsuboi Kotaro , Shibata Yuka , Kawai Miyuka , Asada‐Yamada Yuriko , Hayashi Yusuke , Asano‐Hayami Emi , Hayami Tomohide , Ishida Yuichiro , Ejima Yohei , Motegi Mikio , Asano Saeko , Kato Makoto , Nagao Eriko , Nakai‐Shimoda Hiromi , Ishikawa Takahiro , Morishita Yoshiaki , Kondo Masaki , Tsunekawa Shin , Kato Yoshiro , Nakayama Takayuki , Kamei Motohiro , Nakamura Jiro , Kamiya Hideki
Published: December 2020

Aims/Introduction

Diabetic polyneuropathy (DPN) and diabetic retinopathy (DR) are traditionally regarded as microvascular complications. However, these complications may share similar neurodegenerative pathologies. Here we evaluate the correlations in the severity of DPN and changes in the thickness of neuroretinal layers to elucidate whether these complications exist at similar stages of progression.

Materials and Methods

A total of 43 patients with type 2 diabetes underwent a nerve conduction study (NCS), a macular optical coherence tomography, and a carotid artery ultrasound scan. Diabetic polyneuropathy was classified according to Baba’s classification using NCS. The retina was automatically segmented into four layers; ganglion cell complex (GCC), inner nuclear layer/outer plexiform layer (INL/OPL), outer nuclear layer/photoreceptor inner and outer segments, and retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). The thickness of each retinal layer was separately analyzed for the fovea and the parafovea.

Results

Fourteen patients were classified as having moderate to severe diabetic polyneuropathy. The thicknesses of the foveal and parafoveal INL/OPL increased in patients with diabetic polyneuropathy compared with patients without. The thickness of the parafoveal retinal pigment epithelium decreased in patients with diabetic polyneuropathy. The thinning of parafoveal ganglion cell complex and foveal and parafoveal retinal pigment epithelium were positively correlated with deterioration of nerve functions in the nerve conduction study, but the thickening of INL/OPL was positively correlated with the nerve function deterioration. The thinning of parafoveal ganglion cell complex and foveal retinal pigment epithelium were positively correlated with the thickening of the carotid intima‐media.

Conclusions

Depending on the progression of diabetic polyneuropathy, the ganglion cell complex and retinal pigment epithelium became thinner and the INL/OPL became thicker. These retinal changes might be noteworthy for pathological investigations and for the assessment of diabetic polyneuropathy and diabetic retinopathy.
Dynamic optical coherence tomography shows characteristic alterations of blood vessels in malignant melanoma
Authors: Welzel J. , Schuh S. , De Carvalho N. , Themstrup L. , Ulrich M. , Jemec G.B.E. , Holmes J. , Pellacani G.
Published: December 2020

Background

Dynamic optical coherence tomography (D‐OCT) allows in vivo visualization of blood vessels in the skin and in malignant tumours. Vessel patterns in malignant melanoma may be associated with tumour stage.

Objective

The aim of this study was to describe blood vessel patterns in melanomas and to correlate them with stage.

Methods

One hundred fifty‐nine malignant melanomas were assessed in a multicentre study. Every tumour was imaged using D‐OCT prior to surgery and histologic evaluation. The tumour data such as thickness and ulceration as well as the staging at primary diagnosis and a follow‐up of at least 40 months resulted in a stage classification. The vessel patterns were assessed according to predefined categories, compared with healthy adjacent skin, and correlated to stage.

Results

Melanomas contained more blood vessels in different patterns compared with healthy adjacent skin. In particular, irregular vascular shapes such as blobs, coils, curves and serpiginous vessels were more common in melanomas. In addition, these patterns were significantly more often found in high‐risk and metastatic melanomas than in low‐risk lesions.

Conclusion

In melanomas, the density of the blood vessels is increased, and irregular vascular patterns are more frequent. At higher stages, especially in metastatic melanomas, these atypical vessels are significantly more common.
Development stage distribution as a proxy for feeding success and growth for first feeding Norwegian spring spawning herring larvae
Authors: Stenevik Erling K. , Nash Richard D. M. , Folkvord Arild
Published: December 2020

The estimation of growth rates in young herring larvae (Clupea harengus) in the field can be difficult because the primary increments in the otoliths may not be discernible or formed at a daily level. Likewise, the estimation of mortality rates of fish larvae in the field is very difficult to achieve, especially in a rigorous quantitative manner. In this study, the authors suggest the use of a stage‐based proxy of feeding success, growth and potential survival or mortality risk of field‐caught larvae. The stage‐based proxy is derived based on observations from previous laboratory studies where larvae successfully completing start‐feeding on external food sources will advance through the early development stages, whereas those that do not (unsuccessful larvae) remain and accumulate in the development stage preceding first feeding. The relative occurrence of larvae in the early development stages is therefore expected to reflect feeding conditions of the larvae, with higher ratios of unsuccessful larvae indicative of poor feeding success and higher mortality risk. Using field data on Norwegian spring spawning herring, the authors document that the relative occurrence of larvae in the late non‐feeding stage is significantly higher at lower average zooplankton concentrations, in line with the predictions of the authors that this novel approach of using a stage‐based proxy could be a useful indication of feeding success, growth and mortality in the field. Further, there was a significant interaction effect with ambient temperature, with the ratio being higher at low zooplankton concentrations at higher temperatures. This study also suggests that these findings are not population specific as the same accumulation of non‐feeding larvae in the late non‐feeding stage was observed in laboratory‐reared larvae of both autumn and spring spawning herring populations.
Laparoscopic lateral suspension to treat neovaginal prolapse in a patient with Mayer–Rokitansky–Kuster–Hauser syndrome: A rare case report
Authors: Mulayim Baris , Cimsir Meral Tugba
Published: December 2020

Various methods have been described to treat neovaginal prolapse in patients with Mayer–Rokitansky–Küster–Hauser (MRKH) syndrome. In this case report, we describe neovaginal prolapse of a 21‐year‐old patient with MRKH syndrome which had been created by sexual intercourse dilation. Herein, the laparoscopic lateral suspension was performed for the surgical correction of neovaginal prolapse which is not available in the literature as far as we search. Prolapse was successfully corrected and vaginal length was provided at a sufficient length of 7 cm. Since after 1‐year of operation, she has remained satisfied with her surgical outcome anatomically, sexually and psychologically. Laparoscopic lateral suspension is a safe and effective treatment in a patient who has neovaginal prolapse with MRKH syndrome and also can be used as a potentially alternative management in the treatment of neovaginal prolapse in patients with MRKH syndrome.
Consumers' perception of different brewed coffee extractions using the sorting technique
Authors: Ferini Juliana Lustosa , Morales Michele Veiga , da Silva Thaís Araújo , Pedreira Juliana Rocha Mendes , de Godoy Nathália Tiyo , de Oliveira Garcia Aline , Tfouni Silvia Amélia Verdiani
Published: December 2020

This study investigated coffee brewing methods from the consumer perspective using the sorting task. The hypothesis was that consumers consider espresso and coffee capsule beverages to be the result of similar extractions. In the first assessment, the following ten extraction methods were studied: paper filter, cloth strainer, Italian coffee maker, French press, electric coffee maker, espresso, and four capsule coffee machines, and 36 assessors conceptually sorted them into groups. In the second assessment, two espresso and eight capsule coffee samples were evaluated. One hundred and eighteen assessors tasted the samples and sorted them into groups according to their sensory similarity. They also evaluated each group for their acceptability and quality and characterized them by the check‐all‐that‐apply (CATA) method. The results showed that when conceptually evaluating the different brewing methods, the consumers considered espresso and capsule coffees to be alike, but when they tasted the different espresso and capsule coffees, they perceived them as different beverages. Therefore, the sorting task is suitable for measuring how the consumers perceive similarities and differences among different brewed coffees, and was improved by association with the CATA analysis.

Practical Applications

Coffee capsules are gaining markets worldwide, so this study investigated whether capsule coffee is similar to espresso coffee from the consumer point of view. To analyze this question, the sorting method was applied in an innovative way evaluating the perception of the different coffee extraction methods by presenting videos, photos and the coffee machines and devices themselves. Subsequently, sorting was applied to evaluate the actual beverages. When conceptually evaluating the different brewing methods, the consumers grouped espresso and capsule coffees together, but they perceived differences in the sensory characteristics when they tasted the samples. Thus, marketing companies will be able to use the findings of this research to better communicate with consumers.
Variation in the management of Kawasaki disease in Australia and New Zealand: A survey of paediatricians
Authors: Lucas Ryan , Dennington Peta , Wood Erica , Dionne Audrey , de Ferranti Sarah D , Newburger Jane W , Dahdah Nagib , Cheng Allen , Burgner David , Singh‐Grewal Davinder
Published: December 2020

Aim

This study aimed to describe the current management practices for Kawasaki disease (KD) in Australia and New Zealand.

Methods

We performed a secondary analysis on the Australian and New Zealand responses to a large international survey of clinicians' perspectives on KD diagnosis and management.

Results

There was general consensus among Australian and New Zealand clinicians regarding the indications for intravenous immunoglobulin and aspirin in the management of acute KD. There was less consensus on the dose of these agents, the definition and management of treatment‐resistant KD and the approach to long‐term thromboprophylaxis.

Conclusion

Most clinicians use intravenous immunoglobulin for primary treatment of KD. There is variation regarding other aspects of KD diagnosis and important management issues. Future studies should confirm whether this reported variation occurs in real‐world practice and assess potential impacts on patient outcome.
Cultural and Linguistic Diversity Among Children and Families Referred for Diagnostic Evaluation of Developmental Delay and Disability: Implications for Service Delivery
Authors: Lewis Amelia K.
Published: December 2020

A significant proportion of health‐ and disability‐sector consumers in Australia speak a language other than English (LOTE) at home. Barriers to service access in culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) populations are acknowledged; however, there is limited data to guide service delivery among care providers. The aims of the present study were to investigate the linguistic diversity of preschool‐aged children and families presenting for diagnostic assessment of developmental delay and disability at the Disability Specialist Unit, a multidisciplinary assessment service, and assess whether CALD status was associated with poorer service engagement. Specifically, it was hypothesized that CALD status would be associated with decreased likelihood of receiving intervention (particularly multidisciplinary intervention) and attending center‐based care, and an increased likelihood of requiring referral to access available government funding. A retrospective record audit was undertaken of 88 clients seen by the Disability Specialist Unit over a 12‐month period to collect information about CALD status (whether a LOTE was spoken at home) and a range of clinically relevant variables including clinical diagnosis/es, age at assessment, involvement with therapies, attendance at center‐based child care, and whether a referral to access government funding was required. Differences between CALD and non‐CALD groups were explored statistically via odds ratios and independent samples t test. Children from CALD backgrounds were significantly less likely than non‐CALD children to be engaged in multidisciplinary therapy at the time of assessment and significantly more likely to require support to access funding than children from non‐CALD families. Furthermore, children from CALD backgrounds were significantly more likely to receive a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder and global developmental delay or ID. These findings suggest that children from CALD backgrounds are disadvantaged compared to non‐CALD children with respect to service access at the point of tertiary diagnostic evaluation of a developmental disability. Implications for service delivery are discussed.
A New Protocol Using Acidification for Preserving DMSP in Macroalgae and Comparison with Existing Protocols
Authors: Bucciarelli Eva , Stiger‐Pouvreau Valérie , Connan Solène
Published: December 2020

Dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP) plays many important physiological and ecological roles in macroalgae. The most common method to measure DMSP is by gas chromatography analysis of the dimethylsulfide (DMS) produced after NaOH hydrolysis (pH > 12). Storage of DMS, however, is not recommended for more than a week. We investigated if acidification can be a suitable method to preserve DMSP in macroalgal samples over three months of storage, compared to widely used protocols such as drying and freezing at −20°C. The DMSP content of green (Ulva sp. and Ulva compressa), red (Chondrus crispus), and brown (Bifurcaria bifurcata) macroalgae were analyzed: 24 h after NaOH addition (control values); and after acidification (0.2 mol · L HCl−1) for 24 h of fresh material, followed by NaOH addition for 24 h. These values were compared to measurements after 3‐month storage of samples that had been either dried in a heater (60°C for a night, and storage at room temperature), or frozen at −20°C, or kept in 0.2 mol · L HCl−1. There was no significant difference between DMSP measurements on freshly collected material and after acidification of the samples, whether 24 h later or after 3 months of storage. This was in contrast to 3‐month storage protocols involving overnight drying at 60°C (75‐98% DMSP loss), and to a lesser degree freezing at −20°C (37‐80% DMSP loss). We thus advise to acidify macroalgal samples for preservation over long periods of time rather than drying or freezing, when assaying DMSP content.
Three‐dimensional conformal radiation therapy for canine aortic body tumour: 6 cases (2014–2019)
Authors: Maeda A. , Murakami M. , Iwasaki R. , Goto S. , Kitagawa K. , Sakai H. , Mori T.
Published: December 2020

Objective

To determine the feasibility of three‐dimensional conformal radiation therapy for canine aortic body tumours.

Materials and Methods

Medical records of dogs that had undergone three‐dimensional conformal radiation therapy with presumptive diagnosis of aortic body tumour were reviewed for clinical characteristics, treatment modality and outcomes.

Results

Eight dogs were diagnosed with aortic body tumour and were treated with three‐dimensional conformal radiation therapy. One dog had proliferation of a mass in the right atrium during treatment and died of respiratory distress. Another dog did not undergo follow‐up CT to evaluate the treatment response due to the increased blood urea nitrogen values. The remaining 6 dogs were included in the case series. Radiotherapy was performed using a median dose per fraction of 7 Gy (3.3‐7.14 Gy), a median of seven divided doses (7‐15) and a total median dose of 49 Gy (45‐50 Gy). The median number of CT scans during the follow‐up period was 5 (range: 3‐8 times). CT revealed acute side effects in four dogs—grade 1 effects related to the lung (n = 4) and skin (n = 2). Self‐limiting or asymptomatic late side effects (grade 1 lung‐related effect) were observed in three dogs. After therapy, one dog demonstrated a complete response, another demonstrated a partial response and the disease remained stable in four animals. The median follow‐up period was 514.5 (235‐1219) days. After three‐dimensional conformal radiation therapy, the aortic body tumour reduced gradually over time without regrowth in all these 6 dogs.

Clinical Significance

In this small case series, aortic body tumours responded to three‐dimensional conformal radiation therapy. Transient and self‐limiting side effects of the treatments were common. Further controlled studies are required to prove the effectiveness and the safety of this intervention.
Developing a self‐checklist of staff development behavior for associate nurse unit managers using the Delphi method
Authors: Shimazaki Kazuyo , Ota Katsumasa , Niimi Yukari
Published: December 2020

The most significant influence on nurses' professional growth is through work under direct guidance in clinical settings. Associate nurse unit managers perform direct patient care with the staff, as well as assist management work of nurse unit managers. They can be excellent role models for the staff. We examined their behaviors that help promote staff development, aimed to identify effective behaviors, and created a self‐checklist to evaluate them. We created 53 items to assess staff development behaviors, which were evaluated via a Delphi survey with 252 experts and a questionnaire survey with 124 associate nurse unit managers in Japan to evaluate whether the created item was appropriate. The results of the Delphi survey showed an agreement rate of over 90%, and associate nurse unit managers showed an acceptance rate of 82.6–99.2% for 40 of 53 items. Consequently, we created 40‐item self‐checklist of staff development behaviors for associate nurse unit managers with adequate validity. This checklist would be helpful for them to promote staff development while working in clinical settings and would contribute to enhancing the quality of nursing.
Repeatability of pupil size measurements with NIDEK OPD‐Scan III in myopic children
Authors: Tan Qi , Ng Alex LK , Cheng George PM , Woo Victor CP , Cho Pauline
Published: December 2020

Objective

To investigate the repeatability of pupil size measurements, determined from the NIDEK OPD‐Scan III, of myopic eyes in children wearing single‐vision spectacles (SVS), undergoing orthokeratology (OK) and receiving combined treatment of 0.01% atropine and orthokeratology (AOK).

Methods

A single examiner took two sets of mesopic pupil size measurements from the right eyes of 80 children (SVS:16, OK: 34, AOK: 30) (mesopic 1 and mesopic 2) and two sets of photopic (photopic 1 and photopic 2) pupil size measurements (internal light source) using the NIDEK OPD‐Scan III. Each set was taken at a single visit, 15 min apart. Subjects in the OK and AOK groups had undergone treatment for at least 6 months, and the SVS subjects had no previous myopia treatment other than wearing spectacles. Repeatability of measurements was analysed using intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), Bland‐Altman (BA) plot, and coefficient of repeatability (CoR).

Results

Mesopic 1 and 2 values were not significantly different among the three groups (p = 0.56, 0.77), hence the data were pooled for each set of measurements (mean [±S.D.] values were 7.09 ± 0.61 and 7.12 ± 0.61 mm, respectively) for further analyses. ICC for repeated mesopic pupil size measurements was 0.98 (95% CI, 0.98–0.99). No significant correlation was found between the means of the mesopic 1 and 2 measurements and their differences (Pearson's r = −0.02, p = 0.83). A BA plot also demonstrated narrow 95% limits of agreement, with a CoR of 0.28 mm.

Mean photopic 1 and 2 measurements for the AOK group (3.74 ± 0.46; 3.73 ± 0.43 mm, respectively) were significantly larger (p = 0.01; 0.009) than those of the SVS and OK groups, but no significant difference was found between the latter two groups (p > 0.05). Hence, photopic 1 and 2 measurements for the SVS and OK groups were pooled (SVS‐OK) for further analyses. ICC for repeatability of the photopic measurements was 0.98 (95% CI, 0.96 to 0.99) for the SVS‐OK and AOK groups. The differences between photopic 1 and 2 measurements were not significantly correlated with their means, either in the AOK group (Pearson's r = −0.25, p = 0.19), or in the pooled SVS‐OK group (Pearson's r = −0.04, p = 0.78). BA plots also showed narrow 95% limits of agreement, and CoR was 0.25 mm and 0.23 mm in the AOK and pooled SVS‐OK groups, respectively.

Conclusion

Mesopic and photopic pupil size measurement using the NIDEK OPD‐Scan III was highly repeatable and suitable for use on children.
Ultrasound‐Guided Erector Spinae Plane Block in Patients Undergoing Laparoscopic Bariatric Surgery: A Prospective Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Mostafa Shaimaa F. , Abdelghany Mohamed S. , Abu Elyazed Mohamed M.
Published: December 2020

Background

Bariatric surgery is frequently complicated with considerable postoperative pain. We evaluated the impact of ultrasound‐guided erector spinae plane block on perioperative analgesia and pulmonary functions following laparoscopic bariatric surgery.

Methods

A total of 60 patients aged 18 to 65 years with a body mass index (BMI) of ≥ 40 kg/m2 were randomly allocated into two groups. Patients received either bilateral erector spinae plane block using 20 mL bupivacaine 0.25% at the level of the T7 transverse process or bilateral sham block using 20 mL normal saline on each side. Visual analog scale, intraoperative fentanyl consumption, the cumulative 24‐hour postoperative morphine consumption, and postoperative pulmonary functions were recorded.

Results

Visual analog scale for the first eight postoperative hours were significantly lower in the erector spinae plane block group than the control group. The median (interquartile range [IQR]) intraoperative fentanyl consumption was higher in the control group (159.5 [112.0 to 177.8] μg) than in the erector spinae plane block group (0.0 [0.0 to 74.5] μg) (P < 0.001). The median (IQR) cumulative 24‐hour postoperative morphine consumption was lower in the erector spinae plane block group (8.0 [7.0 to 9.0] mg) than in the control group (21.0 [17.0 to 26.25] mg) (P < 0.001, 95% CI [11.00, 15.00]). Postoperative pulmonary functions were significantly impaired in both groups compared with baseline values without significant difference between both groups.

Conclusion

Ultrasound‐guided erector spinae plane block provided satisfactory postoperative analgesia following laparoscopic bariatric surgery with decreased analgesic consumption without significant difference in postoperative pulmonary functions compared with the control group.
Bootstrapping Conceptual Normativity?
Authors: Thornton Tim
Published: December 2020

Both anti‐reductionist and reductionist accounts of meaning face challenges accounting for first acquiring linguistic concepts. This paper examines whether Ginsborg's ‘primitive normativity’ might explain such learning. Primitive normativity can be understood as either a ‘no conception’ or a ‘local conception’ version. Rejecting the ‘no conception’ account in favour of a ‘local conception’ of a rule or norm expressed in context‐dependent demonstrations provides one response to Fodor's argument that concept learning is impossible. It also provides anti‐reductionism with at least one stepping stone to learning full‐blown linguistically articulated concepts based on a more primitive local form of normativity.
Comparative transcriptome profile analysis of rice varieties with different tolerance to zinc deficiency
Authors: Lu X. , Liu S. , Zhi S. , Chen J. , Ye G.
Published: December 2020

Zinc (Zn) is an indispensable element for rice growth. Zn deficiency results in brown blotches and streaks 2–3 weeks after transplanting, as well as stunting, reduced tillering, and low productivity of rice plants. These processes are controlled by different families of expressed genes.

A comparative transcriptome profile analysis was conducted using the roots of two Zn deficiency tolerant varieties (UCP122 and KALIBORO26) and two sensitive varieties (IR26 and IR64) by merging data from untreated control (CK) and Zn deficiency treated samples.

Results revealed a total of 4,688 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between the normal Zn and deficient conditions, with 2,702 and 1,489 unique DEGs upregulated and downregulated, respectively. Functional enrichment analysis identified transcription factors (TFs), such as WRKY, MYB, ERF, and bHLH which are important in the regulation of the Zn deficiency response. Furthermore, chitinases, jasmonic acid, and phenylpropanoid pathways were found to be important in the Zn deficiency response. The metal tolerance protein (MTP) genes also appeared to play an important role in conferring tolerance to Zn deficiency. A heavy metal‐associated domain‐containing protein 7 was associated with tolerance to Zn deficiency and negatively regulated downstream genes.

Collectively, our findings provide valuable expression patterns and candidate genes for the study of molecular mechanisms underlying the response to Zn deficiency and for improvements in breeding for tolerance to Zn deficiency in rice.
A Survey of Recent Progress in the Asymptotic Analysis of Inventory Systems
Authors: Goldberg David A. , Reiman Martin I. , Wang Qiong
Published: December 2020

It has long been recognized that many inventory models most relevant to practice are inherently high‐dimensional, and hence generally believed to become computationally intractable as certain problem parameters grow large (suffering from the “curse of dimensionality”). In the last decade, asymptotic analysis has shown that in many interesting settings such problems can actually be well‐approximated by much simpler optimization problems, leading to new algorithms and insights. In this survey, we review the state‐of‐the‐art as regards applying asymptotic analysis to such challenging inventory problems. In addition to surveying the literature, we present a detailed introduction to the relevant tools and methodologies through three in‐depth case studies in which asymptotic analysis has recently led to major progress: lost‐sales models, dual‐sourcing models, and Assemble‐to‐Order systems in the presence of large lead times.
Expressions of cytochrome P450 aromatase and anti‐Müllerian hormone in testes of fattening pigs by the timing of the first vaccination for immunocastration
Authors: Srisuwatanasagul Kongkiat , Srisuwatanasagul Sayamon , Roongsitthichai Atthaporn
Published: December 2020

In practice, two injections of gonadotropin‐releasing hormone (GnRH) vaccine are recommended for pig immunocastration for effective outcomes. The present study aimed to investigate the expressions of cytochrome P450 aromatase (P450arom) and anti‐Müllerian hormone (AMH) in testes, testicular length and testicular histomorphometry of the fattening pigs receiving the first injection of GnRH vaccine 6 weeks earlier than the standard protocol. Based on vaccination protocol, 24 pigs were equally divided into three groups: T1 was vaccinated at 15 and 19 weeks of age, T2 received vaccine at 9 and 19 weeks of age and C remained intact. P450arom and AMH expressions were analysed using immunohistochemistry and Western blot. The results revealed that testicular length was highest in C pigs, but not different between T1 and T2 groups (6.5 ± 0.2 versus 6.9 ± 0.3 cm, p = .538). Histomorphometry demonstrated that the height of spermatogenic epithelia, the diameter of seminiferous tubules and the number of seminiferous tubules between T1 and T2 groups were not different (p > .05). For P450arom, immunohistochemistry revealed that H‐score of C group was significantly higher than that of both T1 and T2 groups. Western blot analysis showed that C group possessed the densest protein band. Moreover, H‐score between T1 and T2 groups was not significantly different. Protein band intensity between both groups was not apparently different. As for AMH, C pigs had significantly lower H‐score than both T1 and T2 pigs. Furthermore, T2 pigs possessed significantly higher H‐score than T1 pigs. Western blot analysis showed that the most intense protein band was found in T2 group. In summary, GnRH vaccine affected testicular development and functions. The first injection could be performed either at 9 or 15 weeks of age since both protocols contributed to comparable results in aspect of testicular length, histomorphometry and expressions of P450arom and AMH.
The genome of Shanputao (Vitis amurensis) provides a new insight into cold tolerance of grapevine
Authors: Wang Yi , Xin Haiping , Fan Peige , Zhang Jisen , Liu Yongbo , Dong Yang , Wang Zemin , Yang Yingzhen , Zhang Qing , Ming Ray , Zhong Gan‐Yuan , Li Shaohua , Liang Zhenchang
Published: December 2020

Vitis amurensis (Shanputao) is the most cold tolerant Vitis species and so is of great interest to grape breeders and producers in areas with low winter temperatures. Here, we report its high‐quality, chromosome‐level genome assembly based on a combination of sequence data from Illumina and PacBio platforms, BioNano optical mapping and high‐throughput chromosome conformation Capture (Hi‐C) mapping. The 604.56‐Mb genome contains 32 885 protein‐coding genes. Shanputao was found to share a common ancestor with PN40024 (V. vinifera) approximately 2.17–2.91 million years ago, and gene expansion observed in Shanputao might contribute to the enhancement of cold tolerance. Transcriptome analysis revealed 17 genes involved in cold signal transduction, suggesting that there was a different response mechanism to chilling temperature and freezing conditions. Furthermore, a genome‐wide association study uncovered a phosphoglycerate kinase gene that may contribute to the freezing resistance of buds in the winter. The Shanputao genome sequence not only represents a valuable resource for grape breeders, but also is important for clarifying the molecular mechanisms involved in cold tolerance.
Shamanskii Method for Solving Parameterized Fuzzy Nonlinear Equations
Authors: Ibrahim Sulaiman Mohammed , Mamat Mustafa , Ghazali Puspa Liza
Published: December 2020

One of the most significant problems in fuzzy set theory is solving fuzzy nonlinear equations. Numerous researches have been done on numerical methods for solving these problems, but numerical investigation indicates that most of the methods are computationally expensive due to computing and storage of Jacobian or approximate Jacobian at every iteration. This paper presents the Shamanskii algorithm, a variant of Newton method for solving nonlinear equation with fuzzy variables. The algorithm begins with Newton’s step at first iteration, followed by several Chord steps thereby reducing the high cost of Jacobian or approximate Jacobian evaluation during the iteration process. The fuzzy coe?cients of the nonlinear systems are parameterized before applying the proposed algorithm to obtain their solutions. Preliminary results of some benchmark problems and comparisons with existing methods show that the proposed method is promising.
The somatosensory cortical activity in individuals with cerebral palsy displays an aberrant developmental trajectory
Authors: Trevarrow Michael P. , Kleinsmith Joseph , Taylor Brittany K. , Wilson Tony W. , Kurz Max J.
Published: December 2020

Key points

Individuals with cerebral palsy (CP) have a reduced somatosensory cortical response

Somatosensory cortical response strength decreases from adolescence to early adulthood

Somatosensory cortical responses in youth with CP are similar to adult controls

Individuals with CP may have aberrant maturation of the somatosensory system

Numerous studies have documented tactile and proprioceptive deficits in children with cerebral palsy (CP) and linked these with weaker somatosensory cortical activity. However, whether such aberrations in somatosensory processing extend and/or progress into adulthood remains poorly understood. In the current study, we used magnetoencephalography (MEG) to investigate the primary somatosensory responses in a sample of individuals with CP (N = 42; age = 9–28 years) and a cohort of healthy controls (N = 23; age range = 11–23 years). Briefly, transient electrical stimulation was applied to the right tibial nerve, and standardized low‐resolution brain electromagnetic tomography (sLORETA) was used to image the dynamic somatosensory cortical response. We found that the strength of somatosensory cortical activity within the 112–252 ms time window was significantly reduced in the individuals with CP compared with the healthy controls (HC = 286.53 ± 30.51, 95% CI [226.74, 346.32]; CP = 208.30 ± 19.66,CI [169.77, 246.83], P = 0.0126). These results corroborate previous findings of aberrant somatosensory cortical activity in individuals with CP. Our results also suggest that the somatosensory cortical activity tends to become weaker with age, with a similar rate of neurophysiological change in individuals with CP and healthy controls (P = 0.8790). Visualization of regression models fitted to the data imply that youth with CP may have somatosensory cortical activity similar to adult controls. These findings suggest that some individuals with CP exhibit an aberrant developmental trajectory of their somatosensory system.
Randomized Trial of a Modification of Rainwater Street Catch Basins to Physically Control the Aedes aegypti Dengue Mosquito Vector
Authors: Ceron-Hernandez Victor Alfonso , Peña Miguel Ricardo , Alexander Neal
Published: December 2020

Dengue is the most important viral disease transmitted by mosquitoes. Ineffective vector control, cluttered urbanization, poor rainwater and wastewater management and increased air travel have encouraged the proliferation of the Aedes aegypti mosquito in Latin America, causing dengue and, more recently, zika and chikungunya, to become widespread public health problems. Vector control has targeted the reduction of breeding sites. Objective: For this reason, a randomized trial in a neighborhood of Cali, Colombia, subject to high dengue incidence was carried out. Materials and methods: Of 42 selected storm drains, 21 were randomly allocated for the installation of a filter bed that prevents water retention after a rain event (> 100 mm), with the remaining 21 being unmodified. The presence of standing water in the storm drains and the number of A. aegypti larvae were evaluated. Results and Discussion: Of the 21 modified (5 contained standing water) and unmodified storm drains (19 contained standing water), an Aedic Index (proportion positive for immature A. aegypti) of 5 % and 65 %, and a mean number of larvae per storm drain of 3.2 and 31.9, respectively, were obtained. A reduction of 90 % (p-value = 0.016) in the mean number was achieved. Conclusion: This intervention was effective against A. aegypti and is cost-effective (< $2/ inhabitant), environmentally friendly, and a sustainable strategy for the control of one of the most important breeding sites of this vector.
Filtering Out Microbes
Authors: Kosowatz John
Published: December 2020

A new HVAC filter, developed through a collaboration of Houston-based medical real estate developer Medistar and researchers at the University of Houston and Texas A&M University, uses a heated filter made of nickel foam that traps and kills 99.8 percent of the virus.
Taking the Measure of Electric Vehicles
Authors: Michaelides Efstathios E.
Published: December 2020

An engineer with more than 45 years’ experience on efficiency claims takes a look at whether electric vehicles are much more efficient than conventional cars powered by internal combustion engines. He found that EVs are marginally more efficient than the technology they are positioned to replace. A lot of the potential for improvement is, however, contingent on where the electricity comes from and how the vehicles are charged.
Piped Gas Fuels GT Power Plant Growth
Authors: Langston Lee S.
Published: December 2020

In the last 10 years the growth of America’s natural gas fueled, gas turbine power plants have flourished in its lower 48 states. They are replacing older coal-fueled steam turbine power plants, ending a century’s-old dominance of King Coal, for the nation’s electricity production.
Dependence of inherent selective atomic layer deposition of FeOx on Pt nanoparticles on the coreactant and temperature
Authors: Cai Jiaming , Merkx Marc J. M. , Lan Yuxiao , Jing Yao , Cao Kun , Wen Yanwei , Kessels Wilhelmus M. M. , Mackus Adriaan J. M. , Chen Rong
Published: December 2020

Selective growth of metal oxides on metal via atomic layer deposition (ALD) has attracted great interest due to their potential applications in the semiconductor industry, as well as energy and environment fields. In this work, the influence of an oxidizing coreactant and the reaction temperature on the selective growth of FeOx on the facets of Pt nanoparticles and low coordination edge sites are studied via in situ Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and first-principles calculations combined with microkinetic methods. It is found that selective deposition on the low coordination edge sites of Pt nanoparticles is realized when using O3 as the coreactant at low temperature (150 °C), while the ALD reaction takes place only above 250 °C without selectivity when using O2 as the coreactant. Based on density functional theory calculations, the edge-selective growth of FeOx on Pt is attributed to energy barrier differences for ALD reactions taking place at the Pt(111), Pt(100), and edge sites. Moreover, reaction rate analysis indicates that the selectivity of FeOx ALD on Pt nanoparticles is temperature dependent and that a high temperature suppresses the selectivity between different sites, which is also confirmed by the FTIR results.
Bilayer aberration-inducing gel phantom for high intensity focused ultrasound applications
Authors: Peek Alex T. , Hunter Christopher , Kreider Wayne , Khokhlova Tatiana D. , Rosnitskiy Pavel B. , Yuldashev Petr V. , Sapozhnikov Oleg A. , Khokhlova Vera A.
Published: December 2020

Aberrations induced by soft tissue inhomogeneities often complicate high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) therapies. In this work, a bilayer phantom made from polyvinyl alcohol hydrogel and ballistic gel was built to mimic alternating layers of water-based and lipid tissues characteristic of an abdominal body wall and to reproducibly distort HIFU fields. The density, sound speed, and attenuation coefficient of each material were measured using a homogeneous gel layer. A surface with random topographical features was designed as an interface between gel layers using a 2D Fourier spectrum approach and replicating different spatial scales of tissue inhomogeneities. Distortion of the field of a 256-element 1.5 MHz HIFU array by the phantom was characterized through hydrophone measurements for linear and nonlinear beam focusing and compared to the corresponding distortion induced by an ex vivo porcine body wall of the same thickness. Both spatial shift and widening of the focal lobe were observed, as well as dramatic reduction in focal pressures caused by aberrations. The results suggest that the phantom produced levels of aberration that are similar to a real body wall and can serve as a research tool for studying HIFU effects as well as for developing algorithms for aberration correction.
HIV researcher named to lead battered CDC
Authors: Kaiser Jocelyn
Published: December 2020

Biden also picks California attorney general for health and human services.
Mexico's controversial coronavirus czar
Authors: Ortega Rodrigo Pérez
Published: December 2020

Hugo López-Gatell Ramírez's response has drawn criticism and praise.
Stem-like CD8 T cells mediate response of adoptive cell immunotherapy against human cancer
Authors: Krishna Sri , Lowery Frank J. , Copeland Amy R. , Bahadiroglu Erol , Mukherjee Ratnadeep , Jia Li , Anibal James T. , Sachs Abraham , Adebola Serifat O. , Gurusamy Devikala , Yu Zhiya , Hill Victoria , Gartner Jared J. , Li Yong F. , Parkhurst Maria , Paria Biman , Kvistborg Pia , Kelly Michael C. , Goff Stephanie L. , Altan-Bonnet Grégoire , Robbins Paul F. , Rosenberg Steven A.
Published: December 2020

Stem-like T cells mediate response

Adoptive cell transfer (ACT) is a type of immunotherapy that uses a patient's own T lymphocytes to recognize and attack cancer. ACT has been effective in treating certain patients with metastatic melanoma and is being applied to treat some epithelial cancers. Krishna
et al.
investigated why some cancer patients respond to ACT, whereas others do not. They identified a population of CD8
+
T cells that had stem-like surface markers that were associated with effective tumor cell killing and favorable response of melanoma patients to ACT. Only a small subset of T cells specific against tumor mutations were found in this stem-like state, whereas most mutation-reactive T cells were terminally differentiated. These findings could be of value in improving cancer immunotherapy outcomes.

Science
, this issue p.
1328
Resonant collisional shielding of reactive molecules using electric fields
Authors: Matsuda Kyle , De Marco Luigi , Li Jun-Ru , Tobias William G. , Valtolina Giacomo , Quéméner Goulven , Ye Jun
Published: December 2020

Electric field shielding of ultracold molecules

Because reactive collisions limit the lifetime of ultracold molecular ensembles, controlling chemical reactivity at ultralow temperatures has been a long-standing goal. Using large electric fields that trigger resonant dipolar interactions between potassium-rubidium molecules trapped in a quasi–two-dimensional geometry, Matsuda
et al.
report suppression of the reactive loss rate in the vicinity of the dipolar-mediated resonances by up to an order of magnitude below the background value. The proposed shielding mechanism is general and is expected to be effective in three-dimensional geometry. It could also be used for creating long-lived quantum molecular gases of other polar molecules under strong electric fields.

Science
, this issue p.
1324
Diversity hotspots: Coldspots of speciation?
Authors: Morlon Hélène
Published: December 2020

Phylogeny of suboscine passerine birds finds lower speciation rates in biodiverse regions
Response to Comment on “Forest microclimate dynamics drive plant responses to warming”
Authors: Zellweger Florian , De Frenne Pieter , Lenoir Jonathan , Vangansbeke Pieter , Verheyen Kris , Bernhardt-Römermann Markus , Baeten Lander , Hédl Radim , Berki Imre , Brunet Jörg , Van Calster Hans , Chudomelová Markéta , Decocq Guillaume , Dirnböck Thomas , Durak Tomasz , Heinken Thilo , Jaroszewicz Bogdan , Kopecký Martin , Máliš František , Macek Martin , Malicki Marek , Naaf Tobias , Nagel Thomas A. , Ortmann-Ajkai Adrienne , Petřík Petr , Pielech Remigiusz , Reczyńska Kamila , Schmidt Wolfgang , Standovár Tibor , Świerkosz Krzysztof , Teleki Balázs , Vild Ondřej , Wulf Monika , Coomes David
Published: December 2020

Schall and Heinrichs question our interpretation that the climatic debt in understory plant communities is locally modulated by canopy buffering. However, our results clearly show that the discrepancy between microclimate warming rates and thermophilization rates is highest in forests where canopy cover was reduced, which suggests that the need for communities to respond to warming is highest in those forests.
An opportunity to improve innovation
Authors: Thorp H. Holden
Published: December 2020

The rapid development of COVID-19 vaccines is the outcome of Big Pharma's R&D prowess, billions of dollars in federal investment, and the dedication and ingenuity of scores of scientists. But it also illustrates the logic of the Bayh-Dole Act, passed 40 years ago in the United States, which governs how universities can work with industry to reap the benefits of federally funded research. The act permits universities to collaborate with private companies to license and commercialize these technologies under the rationale that the payoff for the government's investment is increased economic activity for the country. It is unlikely that the act will ever be brought back to the floor of Congress for revision, and its staying power suggests that it is a permanent fixture of the U.S. innovation ecosystem. Nevertheless, there are legitimate philosophical and logistical objections that the incoming administration should work to address.
Environmental Conditions Modulate the Protein Content and Immunomodulatory Activity of Extracellular Vesicles Produced by the Probiotic Propionibacterium freudenreichii
Authors: Rodovalho Vinícius de Rezende , da Luz Brenda Silva Rosa , Nicolas Aurélie , do Carmo Fillipe Luiz Rosa , Jardin Julien , Briard-Bion Valérie , Jan Gwénaël , Le Loir Yves , de Carvalho Azevedo Vasco Ariston , Guédon Eric
Published: December 2020

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are cellular membrane-derived nanosized particles that are produced by most cells in all three kingdoms of life. They play a pivotal role in cell-cell communication through their ability to transport bioactive molecules from donor to recipient cells.