bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Production of lepton pairs from an arbitrarily magnetised QCD medium
Authors: Chowdhury Aminul Islam , Das Aritra , Bandyopadhyay Aritra
Published: December 2022

We have estimated the rate of production of lepton pairs from a magnetised hot and dense QCD medium. We get rid of all kinds of previously considered approximations in terms of the strength of the magnetic field as well as the components of the momentum of the emitted lepton pairs. We find an enhancement in the rate in presence of an arbitrary strength of the magnetic field. With further consideration of an effective model scenario, we find the appearance of a gap in the rate. The implications of such a gap and other quasi-quark effects on the rate have been investigated in detail.
Decay parameters and the axial-vector form factors for strangeness changing as well as strangeness conserving semileptonic decays of the hyperons
Authors: Dahiya Harleen , Girdhar Aarti , Randhawa Monika
Published: December 2022

We have calculated the axial-vector form factors for the hyperon semileptonic decays Bi → Bflv̄ in the chiral constituent quark model (χCQM). The decays considered here are the strangeness changing as well as strangeness conserving semileptonic decays of the hyperons. The conventional dipole form of parametrization has been used to analyse the Q2 dependence of the axialvector form factors (giBiBf (Q2)) as well their decay constants.
Subleading power corrections to heavy quarkonium production in QCD factorization approach
Authors: Lee Kyle , Qiu Jian-Wei , Sterman George , Watanabe Kazuhiro
Published: December 2022

We report the current understanding of heavy quarkonium production at high transverse momentum (pT) in hadronic collisions in terms of QCD factorization. In this presentation, we highlight the role of subleading power corrections to heavy quarkonium production, which are essential to describe the pT spectrum of quarkonium at a relatively lower pT. We also introduce prescription to match QCD factorization to fixed-order NRQCD factorization calculations for quarkonium production at low pT.
Static quark anti-quark interactions at non-zero temperature from lattice QCD
Authors: Parkar Gaurang , Bala Dibyendu , Kaczmarek Olaf , Larsen Rasmus , Mukherjee Swagato , Petreczky Peter , Rothkopf Alexander , Heinrich Weber Johannes
Published: December 2022

We present results on the in-medium interactions of static quark antiquark pairs using realistic 2+1 HISQ flavor lattice QCD. Focus is put on the extraction of spectral information from Wilson line correlators in Coulomb gauge using four complementary methods. Our results indicate that on HISQ lattices, the position of the dominant spectral peak associated with the real-part of the interquark potential remains unaffected by temperature. This is in contrast to prior work in quenched QCD and we present follow up comparisons to newly generated quenched ensembles.
The effective complex heavy-quark potential in an anisotropic quark-gluon plasma
Authors: Islam Ajaharul , Dong Lihua , Guo Yun , Rothkopf Alexander , Strickland Michael
Published: December 2022

We introduce a method for reducing anisotropic heavy-quark potentials to isotropic potentials by using an effective screening mass that depends on the quantum numbers l and m of a given state. We demonstrate that, using the resulting 1D effective potential model, one can solve a 1D Schrödinger equation and reproduce the full 3D results for the energies and binding energies of low-lying heavy-quarkonium bound states to relatively high accuracy. This includes the splitting of different p-wave polarizations. The resulting 1D effective model provides a way to include momentum anisotropy effects in open quantum system simulations of heavy-quarkonium dynamics in the quark-gluon plasma.
Two-photon decay of fully-charmed tetraquarks from light-by-light scattering at the LHC
Authors: Biloshytskyi Volodymyr , Harland-Lang Lucian , Malaescu Bogdan , Pascalutsa Vladimir , Schmieden Kristof , Schott Matthias
Published: December 2022

The LHC newly-discovered resonant structures around 7 GeV, such as the X(6900), could be responsible for the observed excess in light-by-light scattering between 5 and 10 GeV. We show that the ATLAS data for light-bylight scattering may indeed be explained by such a state with the γγ branching ratio of order of 10−4. This is much larger than the value inferred by the vectormeson dominance, but agrees quite well with the tetraquark expectation for the nature of this state. Further light-by-light scattering data in this region, obtained during the ongoing Run-3 and future Run-4 of the LHC, are required to pin down these states in γγ channel.
Nucleon scalar and tensor couplings from lattice QCD at the physical points
Authors: Tsuji Ryutaro , Aoki Yasumichi , Ishikawa Ken-Ichi , Kuramashi Yoshinobu , Sasaki Shoichi , Shintani Eigo , Yamazaki Takeshi
Published: December 2022

We present results for the axial, scalar and tensor isovector-couplings (gA, gS and gT) of the nucleon obtained from 2+1 flavor QCD with the physical light quark masses (Mπ = 135 MeV). Our calculations are performed at a single lattice spacing of 0.085 fm, but with two large volumes of (10.9 fm)4 and (5.5 fm)4. The configurations are generated by the PACS Collaboration with nonperturbatively 𝒪(a) improved Wilson quark action and Iwasaki gauge action. The result of gA is a good indicator for determination of gS and gT with respect to accuracy and precision. Our result of gA well reproduces the experimental value within a statistical error of less than 2%. As for gS and gT, we compute the renormalization constants at the scale of 2 GeV in the ̅M̅S scheme through the RI/SMOM(γμ) intermediate scheme, and then obtain gS = 0.927(83)stat(22)syst and gT = 1.036(6)stat(20)syst.
Is there pasta in neutron stars?
Authors: Chamel Nicolas , Pearson John Michael , Shchechilin Nikolai
Published: December 2022

The interior of neutron stars may contain a mantle made of very exotic neutron-proton clusters with unusual shapes such as rods or slabs collectively referred to as “nuclear pastas” coexisting with free nucleons and a charge neutralizing gas of electrons. Adding shell and pairing effects perturbatively and consistently to the fourth-order extended Thomas-Fermi method using the Brussels-Montreal functional BSk24, we find that nuclear pastas are much less abundant than previously thought from liquid-drop models, thus questioning their very existence in neutron stars.
Conformality and percolation threshold in neutron stars
Authors: Marczenko Michał , McLerran Larry , Redlich Krzysztof , Sasaki Chihiro
Published: December 2022

Speed of sound is given attention in multi-messenger astronomy as it encodes information of the dense matter equation of state. Recently the trace anomaly was proposed as a more informative quantity. In this work, we statistically determine the speed of sound and trace anomaly and show that they are driven to their conformal values at the centers of maximally massive neutron stars. We show that the local peak in the speed of sound can be associated deconfinement along with percolation conditions in QCD matter.
Kernel controlled real-time Complex Langevin simulation
Authors: Alvestad Daniel , Larsen Rasmus , Rothkopf Alexander
Published: December 2022

This study explores the utility of a kernel in complex Langevin simulations of quantum real-time dynamics on the Schwinger-Keldysh contour. We give several examples where we use a systematic scheme to find kernels that restore correct convergence of complex Langevin. The schemes combine prior information we know about the system and the correctness of convergence of complex Langevin to construct a kernel. This allows us to simulate up to 2β on the real-time Schwinger-Keldysh contour with the 0 + 1 dimensional anharmonic oscillator using m = 1; λ = 24, which was previously unattainable using the complex Langevin equation.
Applying gauge/gravity duality to Composite Higgs models
Authors: Porod Werner
Published: December 2022

The AdS/CFT correspondence and its generalization to gauge/gravity dualities provide a very useful approach into solving strongly coupled systems. We put this at work for the strongly coupled sector of Composite Higgs models. We work out relations between masses of proposed states in Composite Higgs. As a cross check we compare these results to existing lattice calculations for which we find good agreement.
Holographic dense QCD in the Veneziano limit
Authors: Järvinen Matti
Published: December 2022

Solving the properties of dense QCD matter is an extremely challenging problem because standard theoretical tools do not work at intermediate densities. The gauge/gravity duality may help to provide answers in this region. I give a brief review of recent progress in this field, focusing on the V-QCD model, which is one of the most sophisticated holographic models of QCD. I discuss predictions for the phase diagram, the equation of state, and properties of baryons. I apply these results to analyze the properties of neutron stars and to quark matter production in neutron star mergers.
Holographic spacetime from lattice Yang-Mills theory
Authors: Jokela Niko , Pönni Arttu , Rindlisbacher Tobias , Rummukainen Kari , Salami Ahmed
Published: December 2022

Entanglement entropy is a notoriously difficult quantity to compute in strongly interacting gauge theories. Existing lattice replica methods have suffered from a severe signal-to-noise ratio problem, making high-precision studies prohibitively expensive. Our improved lattice method mitigates this situation and allows us to probe holographic predictions for the behavior of entanglement entropies in three- and four-dimensional Yang-Mills theories. We use this data for the numerical reconstruction of holographic bulk metrics.
Differentiation and Immunological Function of MDSC-Derived Dendritic Cells
Authors: Ding Zequn , Zhang Yan
Published: December 2022

Dendritic cells (DCs) play a key role in initiating and regulating immune responses, and in addition to their roles in vivo, DCs are used as natural adjuvants for various tumor vaccines. In vitro, monocytes can be used to induce DCs, but in tumor patients, due to insufficient bone marrow hematopoiesis, extramedullary hematopoiesis and tumor-associated myeloid cells expand, and monocytes mainly exist in the form of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs). The purpose of this experiment was to explore the differences in the differentiation and immune function of DCs induced by MDSCs in tumor patients. In a mouse model, we used normal mouse bone marrow cell-derived DCs as control cells, and in a tumor-bearing model, we induced MDSCs in the spleen to generate DCs (MDSC-DCs). Through flow cytometry, we found that the production of MDSC-DCs was significantly higher than that of control mice, and the secretion of interferon-γ of MDSC-DCs was significantly reduced. Through OVA antigen presentation experiments, we found that the antigen presentation ability of MDSC-DCs was significantly decreased. Through adoptive treatment of tumor-bearing mice cells, we found that the antitumor immune function of MDSC-DCs was significantly reduced. After that, we explored the mechanism of the decrease of immune function activity of MDSC-DCs. We determined that the surface markers of MDSC-DCs were changed by flow cytometry. Through flow sorting and RNA sequencing, we found that some pathways and key gene expression in MDSC-DCs were changed. In conclusion, this study found that the immune function of MDSC-DCs decreased and explored the mechanism of the decreased immune function activity.
Impact of the Vertical Division of the Rectum on the Decrease in Reloading of the Endostapler for a Complete Division in Colorectal Cancer
Authors: Debakey Yasser A. , Nofal Amr A. , Sheier Sayed S. , Hanafy Ayman A. , Abdalwahab Abdalwahab R. , Hashem Tarek M. , Albastaki Sara I.
Published: December 2022

Background Despite several improvements in surgical techniques, the intracorporeal division of the distal end of the rectum is still challenging, particularly when it is too deep in a narrow pelvis. Even though it helps avoid spillage, the double-stapling technique (DST) raises concerns regarding safety and anastomotic leakage if multiple stapler firings are essential to complete the rectal division.

Objective To assess the feasibility of vertically dividing the rectum and its impact in reducing the number of reloads essential for that division in non-low rectal cancer patients undergoing total mesorectal excision (TME).

Materials and Methods A retroprospective study.

Results From January 2017 to November 2021, a total of 123 patients with sigmoid and rectal cancers were enrolled in the present study; their data were collected and analyzed, and 21 patients were excluded. The remaining sample of 102 subjects was composed of 47 male (46%) and 55 female (54%) patients with a median age of 54 years (range: 30 to 78 years). Only 1 reload was enough to complete the rectal division in 82 (80.39%) cases, and 2 reloads were used in the remaining 20 (19.61%) patients. Anastomotic leakage was clinically evident in 4 cases (3.9%). No statically significant difference was observed when firing one or two staplers. No 30-day mortality was recorded in this series.

Conclusion Our early experience indicates that this type of division has a real advantage in terms of decreasing the number of reloads needed and, in turn, lowering the incidence of anastomotic leakage after partial mesorectal excision (PME) or TME when applied with proper patient selection.
Presentation Patterns and Outcomes in Patients with Colorectal Cancer Seeking the Emergency Department for Consultation
Authors: Simanke Caroline D. , DaCás Eduardo , Bussyguin Danilo S. , Belizário Ana Clara , de Alencar Eduardo D. , Tomasich Flavio D. S. , Skare Thelma , Nisihara Renato
Published: December 2022

Background Patients with colorectal cancer may seek the emergency department for symptoms related to chemotherapy and radiotherapy side effects as well as those from the disease itself and from surgery complications.

Objectives To establish the epidemiological and clinical profile of colorectal cancer patients that look for consultations in the emergency department.

Methods Retrospective study of emergency room charts from colorectal cancer patients that consulted in a single oncological hospital for the period of 1 year.

Results Four hundred and forty-six consultations were identified (49.5% males and 50.5% females) with a mean age of 63 years and with advanced disease (most with tumor, node, metastases [TNM] stages III and IV). The most common complaint was abdominal pain (27.5%), followed by nausea (4.7%; more commonly seen in females with p = 0.03) and bladder symptoms (4.7%; more commonly seen in males, with p = 0.003). Infections (10.3%) and acute abdominal pain (9.1%) were the most frequent diagnoses. About 18% of them were admitted to the hospital and 80% were discharged home.

Conclusion The profile of patients with colorectal cancer seeking the emergency department comprises patients with advanced disease and a similar proportion of males and females. Symptom-driven complaints were the most frequent reason for consultations.
Case Series of Right Colon Diverticulitis in the West: A Neglected Disease?
Authors: Sobrado Lucas Faraco , Caldas Tarsila Gomes , Facanali Carolina Graciolli , Bustamente-Lopez Leonardo , Sobrado Carlos Walter
Published: December 2022

Introduction Right colon diverticulitis (RCD) is an uncommon condition in Western populations, but its incidence has increased over the last decades. Due to its rarity, many surgeons are unfamiliar with this disease, which is often mistakenly diagnosed as acute appendicitis. The lack of data about the diagnosis and management of RCD in Western populations makes it difficult to establish the optimal therapeutic strategy.

Objective To evaluate the outcomes of patients treated for acute RCD and to propose a therapeutic algorithm for the diagnosis and treatment.

Methods A retrospective analysis of the medical records of patients treated for acute RCD between 2008 and 2020 by a single experienced colorectal surgeon was performed.

Results In total, 12 patients were identified, 8 male and 4 female subjects, with a mean age of 49.6 years; 9 of these patients were of Western origin. The median follow-up time was of 49 months (range: 12 to 144 months). The most frequent symptoms were abdominal pain (100%) and fever (66%). Diagnostic errors in imaging exams occurred in four patients. A total of 6 patients were managed clinically, and the other 6 underwent surgical treatment with right colectomy (n = 5) and total colectomy (n = 1), 2 via laparoscopy and 4 through a laparotomy. The anatomopathological examination confirmed RCD in all operated patients. There was no incidental finding of neoplasia and there were no deaths during the study period.

Conclusion Uncomplicated RCD can be treated conservatively with a high success rate. Recurrent cases that impact quality of life or complicated forms of RCD should undergo surgical treatment, preferably through a right laparoscopic colectomy. The authors present a diagnostic and therapeutic algorithm to facilitate the diagnosis and to guide the management of this uncommon disease.
Watch and Wait, Worth It?
Authors: Lins Neto Manoel Álvaro de Freitas , Salvador Filho Luís Henrique Alves , Coelho Jorge Artur Peçanha de Miranda , Rolim João Otávio de Moraes
Published: December 2022

Background The surgery with total mesorectal excision recommended by R. J. Heald in 1982 is the gold standard. Rectal cancer (RC) surgery has a morbidity rate ranging from 6 to 35%, and it can cause functional issues such as sexual, urinary, and bowel dysfunction in the long term. Neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (CRT) has been gaining ground in patients with lesions in the middle and lower rectum. The aim of the present study is to present the experience of a reference service in the treatment of RC.

Patients and Methods A retrospective study involving 53 patients diagnosed with RC between January 2017 and December 2019 with follow-up until December 2020. We examined tumor location, disease stage, digital rectal exam findings, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), therapeutic modality offered, and follow-up time.

Results A total of 32% of the patients were men and 68% were women, with a mean age of 60 years old. Location: upper rectum in 6 cases, middle rectum in 21 cases, and lower rectum in 26 cases with evolution from 9.8 to 13.5 months. The most frequent complaints were hematochezia and constipation. A total of 36 patients underwent neoadjuvant therapy: 11 complete clinical response (CCR) (30.5%), 20 (55.5%) partial clinical response (PCR), and no response in 5 patients (14%). The follow-up ranged from 12 to 48 months, with a mean of 30.5 months. A total of 25% of the patients had RC that went beyond the mesorectal fascia, and 22.64% had metastases in other parts of the body when they were diagnosed.

Conclusion Neoadjuvant radio and chemotherapy present themselves as an alternative in the treatment of rectal cancer. In 36 patients, 30.5% had a complete clinical response, 55.5% had a partial clinical response, and 14% had no response. It was worth doing the “Watch and Wait” (W&W) to sample. A definitive colostomy was avoided. However, it is necessary to expand the study to a larger follow-up and more patients. Additionally, it is necessary to implement a multicenter study.
Perceived Barriers to Increasing Diversity within Oculofacial Plastic Surgery
Authors: Maru Johsias A. , Carvajal Nicole D. , de Alba Campomanes Alejandra G. , Parikh Neeti , Ashraf Davin C. , Kersten Robert C. , Winn Bryan J. , Vagefi M. Reza , Grob Seanna R.
Published: December 2022

Purpose Physician diversity is limited in ophthalmology and oculofacial plastic surgery. Determination of barriers within the application process for oculofacial plastic surgery may help target efforts to improve the recruitment of underrepresented groups. This study aimed to illuminate perceived barriers to increasing diversity in oculofacial plastic surgery trainees, according to the American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (ASOPRS) fellows and fellowship program directors (FPDs).

Methods During the month of February 2021, we sent surveys out to 54 current oculofacial plastic surgery fellows and 56 FPDs at 56 oculofacial plastic surgery programs recognized by the ASOPRS nationwide using a 15-question Qualtrics survey.

Results Sixty-three individuals (57%) responded to the survey: 34 fellows (63%) and 29 FPDs (52%). Eighty-eight percent of fellows and 68% of FPDs identified as non-underrepresented in medicine (UiM). Forty-four percent of fellows and 25% of FPDs identified as men. FPDs most commonly noted, “Not enough minorities applying to our program” and “The objective data (Ophthalmic Knowledge Assessment Program score, United States Medical Licensing Examination Step scores, clinical honors, Alpha Omega Alpha status, letter of recommendation) for minority applicants often do not meet the threshold required to offer an interview or to be ranked to match” as barriers. Among fellows, the lowest-rated considerations when applying to oculofacial plastic surgery were “Racially/ethnically diverse faculty” and “Perceptions of minority candidates by fellowship programs,” whereas “Likelihood of matching in program of choice” was ranked highest in considerations. Fellows identifying as men indicated greater concern for “Financial factors related to fellowship (e.g., loans, salary, cost of living, or cost of interviewing)” compared to fellows identifying as women who noted greater concern for “Program or preceptor acceptance of starting or having a family during fellowship.”

Conclusion Responses from FPDs suggest that efforts focused on recruiting and supporting diverse students to medicine and ophthalmology, mentoring applicants interested in oculofacial plastic surgery, and restructuring the application process to decrease bias, may improve diversity within the subspecialty. The lack of UiM representation in this study, 6% fellows and 7.4% FPDs identified as UiM, shows both the stark underrepresentation and the need for further research into this topic.
The Effect of Centrifuge Duration on Fat Graft Survival
Authors: Demirel Oguzhan , Karakol Percin , Bozkurt Mehmet , Tuglu Mehmet Ibrahim
Published: December 2022

Background Although fat grafts are widely used for reconstruction and aesthetic purposes, their survival rates differ significantly. Centrifugation is one of the methods used to increase the survival of fat grafts. However, experimental studies examining the long-term outcomes of centrifugation duration are currently limited. Thus, in the present study, the effects of centrifugation duration on the survival of fat grafts were assessed using an animal model.

Methods Thirty Sprague Dawley rats were included in the study and fat grafts were obtained from each specimen by excision from inguinal fat pads. Preparation protocols were administered as an en-bloc fat graft in Group 1, minced fat graft in Group 2, and fat graft centrifuged at 1,054 ×g for 2 minutes, 3 minutes, and 4 minutes in Group 3, 4, and 5, respectively. After 12 weeks of follow-up, grafts were harvested and were subjected to histopathological evaluation based on an established scoring system.

Results En-block fat grafts were associated with necrosis, fibrosis, inflammation, vacuole formation, and alterations in adipocyte morphology. Among the three centrifugation groups, Group 3 demonstrated the best adipocyte viability and vascularity. However, graft weights decreased in all experimental groups.

Conclusion The centrifugation process may have positive effects on adipocyte survival by means of purifying the fat graft and increasing adipocyte concentration. When the centrifugal durations were compared, 3-minute centrifuge yielded the most favorable results.
Utility of First Dorsal Metacarpal Artery Flap for Thumb Defects
Authors: Aggarwal Krittika , Singh Kuldeep
Published: December 2022

Background Reconstruction of thumb tip, while providing a durable and sensate flap, is a challenging task. It is important as thumb accounts for 50% of hand functions. Options for coverage are: healing by secondary intention, local/regional flaps, microsurgical toe wraparound flap, etc. First dorsal metacarpal artery (FDMA) flap is one regional flap that has been used for thumb cover, usually for defects till interphalangeal joint or just distal to it. We present our case series for FDMA flap and its variations for thumb reconstruction. We also report reverse FDMA flap cover for reconstruction of defects over distal phalanx of thumb.

Methods The procedure was performed in patients with partial loss of thumb soft tissue in 16 patients presenting during 2017 to 2020. The FDMA flap was performed according to the standard technique. In case after “planning in reverse,” it was seen that the reach of FDMA flap was insufficient, reverse FDMA flap was done. Physiotherapy for index finger and thumb was started on day 10. Patient satisfaction, in terms of cosmesis and function was recorded (graded as poor, good, and very good). Static two-point discrimination (2-PD) was assessed at 6 months' follow-up. Patients were followed up for 6 months.

Results The operative time was 1 to 2 hours. Out of total 16 cases, 8 patients underwent racquet-shaped (intact skin paddle) FDMA flap. Islanded flap was performed in five and reverse FDMA flap in three. Twelve patients had uneventful recovery and four patients (three islanded and one reverse FDMA) had partial skin loss. Static 2-PD was assessed at the 6 months postoperative period.

Conclusion FDMA flap is a useful regional flap for thumb reconstruction. It provides good supple, durable, and sensate cover. The reverse FDMA flap that increases the pedicle length can be used for more distal defects, where conventional FDMA flap is doubtful.
Bilateral Microvascular Submandibular Gland Transfer with Implantation of Wharton's Duct in Superior Conjunctival Fornix: A Vision-Saving Procedure for Severe Dry Eye Disease
Authors: Sharma Mohit , Radhakrishnan Anil , Rai Shravan , Pillai Gopal S. , Balasubramanian Deepak , Thankappan Krishnakumar , G. Srilekha Reddy , Jain Vasundhra , Badam Abhinandan , Shah Kannisha , Rajan Amritha V.
Published: December 2022

Dry eye can initially cause mild symptoms of irritation and may rapidly progress to corneal scarring and blindness. Tear substitutes can only help for mild cases. With the advancement in microsurgical techniques, an option of transferring vascularized salivary glands has shown positive results. We present a case of a 5-year-old boy with congenital alacrimia with ocular surface damage. Vascularized autologous submandibular gland transfer was considered as a viable option for this patient. We performed the gland transfer in two separate stages for the two eyes (1 year 5 months apart). The patient was evaluated for up to 2 years for the right eye and for 7 months for the left eye. Dry eye workup showed drastic improvement (right > left). Biochemical analysis showed gradual transition to resemble that of natural tears. This procedure can result in significant symptomatic improvement and can be a promising treatment option for cases of severe dry eye.
Neopharyngeal Stricture following Laryngectomy
Authors: Hanubal Krishna S. , Chheda Neil N. , Dziegielewski Peter T.
Published: December 2022

Stricture formation is a serious complication following pharyngeal reconstruction. These strictures can be life-threatening and can severely impact quality of life. In this article, the existing literature on surgical risk factors linked to neopharyngeal stricture formation is reviewed. Intraoperative preventative measures reconstructive surgeons should consider are also discussed. Finally, this article will describe the evaluation and management of pharyngoesophageal strictures, including the challenges and options when dealing with refractory strictures.
Comparison of the Outcome and Efficacy of Single-Layer versus Dual-Layer Mesh Stent among Carotid Stenosis Patients Attending a Tertiary Care Setting—A Prospective Observational Study
Authors: Reddy Vemireddy Pradeep Kumar , Mulimani Navin M.
Published: December 2022

The effect of stent design whether single-layer or double-layer on long-term durability of carotid artery stenting (CAS) is unknown. The aim of this article was to compare the clinical outcome and efficacy of single-layer versus dual-layer mesh stent for CAS among carotid stenosis patients. A prospective observational study was conducted among 41 consecutive patients, who underwent CAS procedures between November 2019 and November 2021. Procedural data and outcomes for patients treated with the single-layer stent (n = 19patients) and double-layer stent (n = 22) were compared. Procedural efficacy and complications were considered as primary outcome variable. SPSS version 22 was used for statistical analysis. Mean age of study population in dual-layer stents group was 63.86 ± 11.08 years and it was 61.47 ± 8.26 years in single-layer stent group. There was no statistically significant difference between two groups with age, stenosis, side of stenosis, prestenting angioplasty, and poststenting angioplasty (p-value >0.05). Out of 22 participants with dual-layer stent, only one (4.5%) participant experienced five episodes of transient ischemic attack in last 1 month. Both clinical and associated complaints were more in dual-layer group compared with single layer. One (5.26%) participant in single-layer group had reclusion/restenosis at 30 days. Majority in single-(57.8%) and double-layer (63.64%) stents group showed modified Rankin Scale score of 0. Restenosis after CAS occurred less frequently in patients treated with double-layer mesh when compared with single-layer stent. However, both stents were equally effective at preventing peri procedural complications.
A Systematic Review of Open and Minimally Invasive Surgery for Treating Recurrent Hallux Valgus
Authors: Nair Arun , Bence Matthew , Saleem Jawaad , Yousaf Azka , Al-Hilfi Lena , Kunasingam Kumar
Published: December 2022

Background Despite advancements in primary correction of hallux valgus (HV), significant rates of reoperation remain across common techniques, with complications following primary correction up to 50% according to some studies.1 This study explored different methods of surgery currently used in treating HV recurrence specifically (for which literature on the subject has been limited), evaluating open and adapted minimally invasive surgical (MIS) primary techniques used for revision.

Methods In December 2020, literature search for both open and MIS surgical techniques in HV revision was conducted using PubMed, EMBASE, and MEDLINE library databases.

Results and Conclusion Of initial 143 publications, 10 were finally included for data synthesis including 273 patients and 301 feet. Out of 301 feet, 80 (26.6%) underwent revision with MIS techniques (involving distal metatarsal osteotomies). Those undergoing grouped MIS revisions had an average improvement of 38.3 in their American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society score, compared to 26.8 in those using open techniques. Revision approaches using grouped MIS techniques showed a postoperative reduction in intermetatarsal angle and HV angle of 5.6 and 18.4 degrees, respectively, compared to 15.5 and 4.4 degrees, respectively, for open techniques. There are, however, limitations in the current literature on MIS techniques in revision HV surgery specifically. MIS techniques grouped did not show worse outcomes or safety concerns compared to open techniques.
Dry launching of silica nanoparticles in vacuum
Authors: Khodaee Ayub , Dare Kahan , Johnson Aisling , Delić Uroš , Aspelmeyer Markus
Published: December 2022

Clean loading of silica nanoparticles with a radius as small as ∼50 nm is required for experiments in levitated optomechanics that operate in ultra-high vacuum. We present a cheap and simple experimental method for dry launching of silica nanoparticles by shaking from a polytetrafluoroethylene surface (PTFE). We report on the successful launching of single silica nanoparticles with a minimum radius of 43 nm, which is enabled by the low stiction to the launching surface. Nanoparticles with radii of 43 and 71.5 nm are launched with a high flux and small spread. The measured velocities are significantly smaller than 1 m/s. The demonstrated launching method allows for controlled loading of dry nanoparticles with radii as small as 43 nm into optical traps in (ultra-)high vacuum, although we anticipate that loading of smaller sizes is equally feasible.
Vorticity screening by dense layers
Authors: Doss Forrest W.
Published: December 2022

We investigate variable density layers in the presence of vortices, by analogy to line charges in the presence of a dielectric slab. We adapt solutions for dielectric layers from the literature to the variable density fluid case, obtaining exact hypergeometric expressions for flow velocities induced everywhere by a vortex in the vicinity of a finite-thickness slab of different densities. The dimensionless Atwood number, which appears naturally in other variable density phenomena, such as the Rayleigh–Taylor instability, reappears here as the natural ordering parameter for the influence of the slab, which acts primarily to screen the influence of vorticity across the slab to a lower effective circulation. The solution takes the form of scaling correction factors that might be applied to computational models or evaluated directly. Extensions, where vorticity is localized within the dense layer itself and amplified outside of it, are considered, as well as some speculative applications such as inertial confinement fusion capsule designs.
In-situ growth of CeO2/Ce(OH)CO3 composites with enhanced photocatalytic activity by the incomplete conversion of CeO2 to Ce(OH)CO3
Authors: Wu Xinhao , Tang Jianping , Li Yuan , Chen Yujun , Huang Guiwen , Wang Lei , Zhong Shengliang
Published: December 2022

In this paper, a novel strategy was used to grow CeO2/Ce(OH)CO3 composite in situ by the incomplete conversion of CeO2 to Ce(OH)CO3 using ethylene glycol (EG) as CO3
2− source and solvent. Interestingly, the content of Ce(OH)CO3 in CeO2/Ce(OH)CO3 composite can be controlled by changing the solvent composition. The obtained CeO2/Ce(OH)CO3 composite all exhibited enhanced photocatalytic performance for methylene blue (MB) degradation. The CeO2/Ce(OH)CO3 composite prepared at 200 °C for 24 h with a H2O/EG volume ratio of 0.5 showed the best visible-light activity with a degradation efficiency of 98.84% within 120 min. This work provided a novel method to fabricate basic rare Earth carbonates and their composites for environmental purification.
A power efficient fully adiabatic logic circuit design approach: application to inverter and 8421 to excess-3 code converter
Authors: Vanlalchaka Reginald H , Maity Reshmi , Maity Niladri Pratap
Published: December 2022

Decreasing power consumption is the leading challenge for very-large-scale-integrated (VLSI) designers. This paper introduces an innovative prototype for a power-efficient standard or a fully-adiabatic binary-coded-decimal (BCD) 8421 to Excess-3 (XS-3) code converter. The proposed design is compared with traditional complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) as well as two popular fully adiabatic logic families: adiabatic dynamic CMOS logic (ADCL) and two phase clocked adiabatic static CMOS logic (2PASCL). This investigation was conducted at frequencies ranging from 100 to 900 MHz. The circuit employs 0.3 μm CMOS technology, with channel length and width set at 0.3 μm and 0.75 μm, respectively. The power savings for the proposed logic at 500 MHz when compared to standard CMOS logic, ADCL, and 2PASCL are 54.54%, 28.57%, and 16.67%, respectively.
Research on aerodynamic performance analysis of micro radial spiral-grooved air bearing
Authors: Dong Yinghuai , Niu Yuebo , Wang Yan , Li Guangyan , Li Yuehua
Published: December 2022

The paper simulates and analyzes the internal gas of the spiral-groove radial air bearing. Bearing clearance pressure distribution and bearing load capacity were obtained. Under various geometrical parameters and operational circumstances, the air flow properties of air bearings were examined and contrasted. There is established a law for the variation of air flow properties. The bearing geometric parameters are optimized which affect the gas bearing pressure and bearing capacity. The research provided a useful reference for the design and optimization of the air bearings. It is found that the bearing capacity increases with the increase of eccentricity. The bearing reaches the best effect when the groove depth is 40 μm and the groove number is 40.
Preprint Highlight: A lysosomal lipid transport pathway that enables cell survival under choline limitation
Authors: Bonet-Ponce Luis
Published: December 2022

Lysosomes maintain cellular homeostasis by clearing macromolecules and recycling their content to support the cell's needs. Lysosomal dysfunction is also a common feature in many human diseases. However, the mechanisms underlying the recycling of many essential metabolites remain unknown. The authors use a creative CRISPR-Cas9 screen to identify proteins involved in choline export from lysosomes to the cytosol. They identified SPNS1, a lysosomal transmembrane protein essential for cell growth under choline-depleted conditions. Targeted lipidomics on isolated lysosomes and isotope tracing revealed that SPNS1 transports lysophosphatidylcholine from lysosomes into the cytosol, where it is re-esterified into phosphatidylcholine. This work defines a new pathway for lysosomal phospholipid egress and provides a reliable new screening method for the identification of novel lysosomal pathways.

This preprint has been assigned the following badges: New Hypothesis, New Methods, Cross-Validation.

Read the preprint on bioRxiv ( Scharenberg et al., 2022 ): https://doi.org/10.1101/2022.11.27.517422 .
Expression and function of an S1-type nuclease in the digestive fluid of a sundew, Drosera adelae
Authors: Yu Meng , Arai Naoki , Ochiai Tadahiro , Ohyama Takashi
Published: December 2022

Background and Aims

Carnivorous plants trap and digest insects and similar-sized animals. Many studies have examined enzymes in the digestive fluids of these plants and have gradually unveiled the origins and gene expression of these enzymes. However, only a few attempts have been made at characterization of nucleases. This study aimed to reveal gene expression and the structural, functional and evolutionary characteristics of an S1-type nuclease (DAN1) in the digestive fluid of an Australian sundew, Drosera adelae, whose trap organ shows unique gene expression and related epigenetic regulation.

Methods

Organ-specificity in Dan1 expression was examined using glandular tentacles, laminas, roots and inflorescences, and real-time PCR. The methylation status of the Dan1 promoter in each organ was clarified by bisulphite sequencing. The structural characteristics of DAN1 were studied by a comparison of primary structures of S1-type nucleases of three carnivorous and seven non-carnivorous plants. DAN1 was prepared using a cell-free protein synthesis system. Requirements for metal ions, optimum pH and temperature, and substrate preference were examined using conventional methods.

Key Results

Dan1 is exclusively expressed in the glandular tentacles and its promoter is almost completely unmethylated in all organs. This is in contrast to the S-like RNase gene da-I of Dr. adelae, which shows similar organ-specific expression, but is controlled by a promoter that is specifically unmethylated in the glandular tentacles. Comparison of amino acid sequences of S1-type nucleases identifies seven and three positions where amino acid residues are conserved only among the carnivorous plants and only among the non-carnivorous plants, respectively. DAN1 prefers a substrate RNA over DNA in the presence of Zn2+, Mn2+ or Ca2+ at an optimum pH of 4.0.

Conclusions

Uptake of phosphates from prey is suggested to be the main function of DAN1, which is very different from the known functions of S1-type nucleases. Evolution has modified the structure and expression of Dan1 to specifically function in the digestive fluid.
An efficient and cost-effective method for directed mutagenesis at multiple dispersed sites—a case study with Omicron Spike DNA
Authors: Rani Rita , Parsa Kishore V L , Chatti Kiranam , Sevilimedu Aarti
Published: December 2022

Site-directed mutagenesis is an invaluable technique that enables the elucidation of the contribution of specific residues to protein structure and function. The simultaneous introduction of mutations at a large number of sites (>10), singly and in multiple combinations, is often necessary to fully understand the functional contributions. We report a simple, efficient, time and cost-effective method to achieve this using commonly available molecular biology reagents and protocols, as an alternative to gene synthesis. We demonstrate this method using the Omicron Spike DNA construct as an example, and create a construct bearing 37 mutations (as compared to wild-type Spike DNA), as well as 4 other constructs bearing subsets of the full spectrum of mutations. We believe that this method can be an excellent alternative to gene synthesis, especially when three or more variants are required.
Neotropical stingless bees display a strong response in cold tolerance with changes in elevation
Authors: Gonzalez Victor H , Oyen Kennan , Vitale Nydia , Ospina Rodulfo
Published: December 2022

Tropical pollinators are expected to experience substantial effects due to climate change, but aspects of their thermal biology remain largely unknown. We investigated the thermal tolerance of stingless honey-making bees, the most ecologically, economically and culturally important group of tropical pollinators. We assessed changes in the lower (CTMin) and upper (CTMax) critical thermal limits of 17 species (12 genera) at two elevations (200 and 1500 m) in the Colombian Andes. In addition, we examined the influence of body size (intertegular distance, ITD), hairiness (thoracic hair length) and coloration (lightness value) on bees’ thermal tolerance. Because stingless beekeepers often relocate their colonies across the altitudinal gradient, as an initial attempt to explore potential social responses to climatic variability, we also tracked for several weeks brood temperature and humidity in nests of three species at both elevations. We found that CTMin decreased with elevation while CTMax was similar between elevations. CTMin and CTMax increased (low cold tolerance and high heat tolerance) with increasing ITD, hair length and lightness value, but these relationships were weak and explained at most 10% of the variance. Neither CTMin nor CTMax displayed significant phylogenetic signal. Brood nest temperature tracked ambient diel variations more closely in the low-elevation site, but it was constant and higher at the high-elevation site. In contrast, brood nest humidity was uniform throughout the day regardless of elevation. The stronger response in CTMin, and a similar CTMax between elevations, follows a pattern of variation documented across a wide range of taxa that is commonly known as the Brett’s heat-invariant hypothesis. Our results indicate differential thermal sensitivities and potential thermal adaptations to local climate, which support ongoing conservation policies to restrict the long-distance relocations of colonies. They also shed light on how malleable nest thermoregulation can be across elevations.
Association between B-lines on lung ultrasound, invasive haemodynamics, and prognosis in acute heart failure patients
Authors: Imanishi Junichi , Maeda Takanori , Ujiro Sae , Masuda Mayuka , Kusakabe Yuta , Takemoto Makoto , Fujimoto Wataru , Kuroda Koji , Yamashita Soichiro , Iwasaki Masamichi , Todoroki Takahumi , Okuda Masanori
Published: December 2022

Aims

Increased left atrial pressure leads to pulmonary congestion. Although the B-lines in lung ultrasound (LUS) are useful in detecting pulmonary congestion, data regarding the association between B-lines and invasive haemodynamics are inconsistent. This study aimed to explore the correlation of the B-line count by LUS with pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP) stratified for preserved and reduced ejection fraction (EF) in acute heart failure patients.

Methods and results

We performed a prospective observational study on 116 hospitalized patients with acute heart failure (mean age, 75.2 ± 10.3 years), who underwent right heart catheterization before discharge. LUS was performed in eight zones within 4 h of right heart catheterization and compared with PCWP separately in each EF group. Cardiac events were recorded 1 year after discharge. PCWP revealed a clear pivot point at which the B-lines began to increase in the overall cohort and each EF. Specific thresholds of the increase in B-lines were identified at 19 and 25 mmHg for preserved and reduced EF, respectively. Residual congestion at discharge was defined as the presence of ≥6 B-lines. Patients with residual congestion had a higher risk for cardiac events than those without residual congestion (hazard ratio, 12.6; 95% confidence interval, 4.71–33.7; log-rank, P < 0.0001).

Conclusion

A clear pivot point was associated with increased B-lines count in PCWP at 19 and 25 mmHg for preserved and reduced EF, respectively. Moreover, the increased B-line count above the defined cut-off used to quantify residual congestion was associated with significantly worse outcomes.
Estimation of Cardiorespiratory fitness using a using a chest mounted accelerometer
Authors: Schmidt S E , Hansen M T , Roemer T , Soegaard P , Helge J W
Published: December 2022

Cardiorespiratory fitness expressed as maximal oxygen consumption (V̇O2 max) is a strong predictor of cardiovascular health. However, quantification of cardiorespiratory fitness by cardiopulmonary exercise (CPX) assessment is complex and costly and therefore not suitable in most clinical settings. In the current study we develop and validate an algorithm for estimation of V̇O2 max using seismocardiography (SCG-V̇O2 max). SCG is measurement of precordial vibrations using an accelerometer.

Methods

SCG recordings and results from ergometer CPX testing of V̇O2 max in 300 subjects from six clinical studies were combined in a database. 83 subjects underwent repeated measurements sessions across several days. SCG was obtained using a sensitive accelerometer, located on the lower sternum at the Xiphoid protrusion and subjects were placed in a supine position. 5 subjects were excluded due to cardiovascular disease, or missing data. A machine learning algorithm was devolved for estimation of V̇O2 max in a training set including 221 subjects. The remaining 74 subjects were included in a test set for validation. Correlation and accuracy between SCG-V̇O2 max and ergometer CPX V̇O2 max assessed and day to day variation was assessed in subjects who underwent multiple ergometer CPX sessions.

Results

In 144 recordings from 74 test set subjects SCG-V̇O2 max was 45.0±9.3 ml/min/kg which was comparable to the ergometer CPX V̇O2 max at 44.3±10.1 ml/min/kg (p=0.09) and correlation between ergometer CPX V̇O2 max and SCG-V̇O2 max was r=0.875. Mean average percentage error was 8.7%. Day to day variation measured as the within-subjects-standard-deviation was 1.2 ml/min/kg for SCG-V̇O2 max and 1.7 ml/min/kg for ergometer CPX.

Conclusions

SCG based estimation of VV̇O2 max is a novel, low cost, easy to use and accurate estimation method of CRF with a high level of reproducibility. SCG-V̇O2 max can potentially facilitate that cardiorespiratory fitness becomes an integrated part of modern health assessment.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: Private company. Main funding source(s): VentriJect A/S DK