bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy with dilated cardiomyopathy preceding skeletal muscle symptoms
Authors: Takamizawa Koichi , Kim Ki-Sung , Ueda Hideaki
Published: November 2021

Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy is a slowly progressive skeletal muscle and joint disorder associated with cardiac complications. Dilated cardiomyopathy was the initial manifestation of Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy in an 8-year-old girl. Despite normal muscle and myocardial biopsies, genetic testing revealed LMNA mutations. As Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy is associated with minimal skeletal muscle weakness, cardiac complications can facilitate its diagnosis.
Novel use of a mechanical suction thrombectomy system for interposition graft occlusion in complex congenital heart disease
Authors: Boyer Preston J. , Zampi Jeffrey D. , Salavitabar Arash
Published: November 2021

Complete thrombosis of a pulmonary artery interposition graft in an adolescent with complex repaired CHD was treated successfully with a combination of a novel mechanical thrombectomy system, stent implantation, and thrombolysis. This thrombectomy system used a flexible catheter with a built-in mechanism to attenuate blood loss, while providing effective recanalisation of a foreign graft.
The Political Implications of COVID-19 for Globalization: Ways to Develop a Global World After the Pandemic
Authors: Volkov Andrey
Published: November 2021

The article is concerned with analysing the key challenges afflicting the world order. The coronavirus pandemic has hit the entire world order, and only now is humankind beginning to realize its far-reaching consequences. An analysis of expert opinions allows us to conclude that, in the near future, not much of the global balance of power will change, although tensions will rise among the world powers regarding leadership and ‘survival’ in terms of the political and economic crisis of the world system caused by the pandemic. The research results can be used to reinforce the line of international and foreign policy activities, as well as be used in the development of scientific programmes in the field of challenges and alternatives to globalization.
Electron Probe Microanalysis of Transition Metals using L lines: The Effect of Self-absorption
Authors: Llovet Xavier , Moy Aurélien , Fournelle John H.
Published: November 2021

Electron microprobe-based quantitative compositional measurement of first-row transition metals using their L$\alpha$ X-ray lines is hampered by, among other effects, self-absorption. This effect, which occurs when a broad X-ray line is located close to a broad absorption edge, is not accounted for by matrix corrections. To assess the error due to neglecting self-absorption, we calculate the L$\alpha$ X-ray intensity emitted from metallic Fe, Ni, Cu, and Zn targets, assuming a Lorentzian profile for the X-ray line and taking into account the energy dependence of the mass absorption coefficient near the absorption edge. We find that calculated X-ray intensities depart increasingly, for increasing electron beam energy, from those obtained assuming a narrow X-ray line and a single fixed absorption coefficient (conventional approach), with a maximum deviation of $\sim$15% for Ni and of $\sim$10% for Fe. In contrast, X-ray intensities calculated for metallic Zn and Cu do not differ significantly from those obtained using the conventional approach. The implications of these results for the analysis of transition-metal compounds by electron probe microanalysis as well as strategies to account for self-absorption effects are discussed.
Infinite length slotted ultra-wideband monopole antenna using step-feed with band notch characteristics
Authors: Ahuja Neha , Khanna Rajesh , Kaur Jaswinder
Published: November 2021

In this work, a printed ultra-wideband (UWB) antenna has been proposed exhibiting band notch characteristics. The proposed design covers the entire UWB band except for the 3.5 GHz band providing the band notch for the WiMAX band. This design consists of two-quarter elliptical patches placed symmetrically over the FR4 substrate. The elliptical shape of the patch is responsible for the UWB band achieved. The slot has been created on the optimized patch area to achieve the desired characteristics providing a notch for the WiMAX band. The slot in the patch is so perfectly designed that it gives the patch a perfect shape of butterfly wings. After designing, the proposed antenna was simulated and then fabricated. The fabricated and simulated results are in close agreement with each other which shows, the proposed UWB antenna is good enough for biomedical applications.
Observed Relationships Between Cloud Droplet Effective Radius and Biogenic Gas Concentrations in Summertime Marine Stratocumulus Over the Eastern North Atlantic
Authors: Miller Mark A. , Mages Zackary , Zheng Qiuxuan , Trabachino Lynne , Russell Lynn M. , Shilling John E. , Zawadowicz Maria A.
Published: November 2021

Biogenic gases are a prominent component of the summertime marine boundary layer (MBL) over the Eastern North Atlantic. One of these gases, dimethyl sulfide (DMS), can produce sulfate cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) that, in theory, can brighten clouds through photolysis, and produces a reaction product, methane sulfonic acid (MSA). It is also possible that DMS can interact with sea‐salt or other marine aerosols changing their CCN activation spectrum, which could also modify cloud microphysical structure. Data collected aboard the G1 aircraft during the Aerosol Cloud Experiment Eastern North Atlantic (ACE‐ENA) in well‐mixed and decoupled marine boundary layers (MBLs) were used to examine relationships between the cloud droplet effective radii, , and the concentrations of DMS and MSA in constant cloud liquid water content (LWC) bins. A weak but statistically significant negative correlation was observed between CCN concentration and in most LWC bins, regardless of the source of the CCN, while a weak but statistically significant positive correlation between and DMS was observed. No correlation between the cloud droplet number concentration and DMS was found. The presence of MSA indicated that DMS‐to‐sulfate photolysis was likely occurring, but data sparsity prevented a statistically significant conclusion regarding the relationship between MSA and . Data sparsity in decoupled conditions also prevented statistically significant conclusions. To properly address biogenic gas impacts on cloud microphysics, it is recommended that aircraft data be supplemented by long‐term biogenic gas measurements at the surface in marine locations with appropriate remote and in‐situ cloud sensing capabilities, and the analysis limited to well‐mixed MBL's.
Neutral Densities in the Outer Exosphere Near the Subsolar Magnetopause
Authors: Sibeck D. G. , Collier M. R. , Silveira M. V. D.
Published: November 2021

In a seminal analysis, Fuselier et al. (2020) combined subsolar in situ magnetosheath plasma observations with remote energetic neutral atom (ENA) observations to derive an exospheric neutral density of 11 cm−3 in the vicinity of the subsolar magnetopause. This commentary extends the analysis of Fuselier et al. (2020) to (a) employ predicted and observed magnetosheath plasma parameters at times other than those immediately following an MMS magnetopause crossing, (b) take into account the component of the plasma bulk flow transverse to the ENA spacecraft's line‐of‐sight through the flank magnetosheath, and (c) consider the cooling that results from the antisunward expansion of the magnetosheath plasma. With these additional considerations, subsolar exospheric neutral densities rise by a factor of 4.1–4.5 to 45–50 cm−3, consistent with results from previous studies.
Helheim Glacier Poised for Dramatic Retreat
Authors: Williams Joshua J. , Gourmelen Noel , Nienow Peter , Bunce Charlie , Slater Donald
Published: November 2021

Helheim Glacier, one of the largest marine‐terminating outlet glaciers draining the Greenland Ice Sheet, underwent significant retreat and acceleration in the early 2000s, accounting for an appreciable proportion of the ice sheet's mass loss during that period. Using a range of remotely sensed datasets, we show that despite a subsequent readvance, the glacier has continued to lose mass and thin, and has retreated inland of the retracted position occupied in 2005. Critically, the near‐terminus is up to 100 m thinner than during 2005, and the front 5 km is within 25–50 m of flotation, with retrograde bed slopes extending several kilometers inland of the terminus. The neighboring Fenris and Midgard Glaciers have both undergone recent large‐scale and rapid retreat once their near‐terminus regions began to float, suggesting that under projected climate warming and associated glacier thinning, Helheim Glacier is poised to pass a threshold whereby the near‐terminus region will retreat rapidly.
Titan's Global Radiant Energy Budget During the Cassini Epoch (2004–2017)
Authors: Creecy Ellen C. , Li Liming , Jiang Xun , West Robert A. , Fry Patrick M. , Nixon Conor A. , Kenyon Matthew E. , Seignovert Benoît
Published: November 2021

Radiant energies of planets and moons are of wide interest in the fields of geoscience and planetary science. Based on long‐term multiinstrument observations from the Cassini spacecraft, we provide here the first observational study of Titan's global radiant energy budget and its seasonal variations. Our results show that Titan's radiant energy budget is not balanced over the Cassini era (2004–2017) with the absorbed solar energy (1.208 ± 0.008) × 1023 J larger than the emitted thermal energy (1.174 ± 0.005) × 1023 J. The energy imbalance is 2.9 ± 0.8% of the emitted thermal energy. Titan's global radiant energy budget is not balanced either at the timescales of Earth's years and Titan's seasons. In particular, the energy imbalance can be beyond 10% of the emitted thermal energy at the timescale of an Earth year. The energy imbalance revealed in this study has important impacts on Titan, which should be examined further by theories and models.
The Effects of Eddy Size on the Sea Surface Heat Flux
Authors: Lin Yanjiang , Wang Guihua
Published: November 2021

The effects of eddy size on the surface turbulent heat flux anomaly (THFA) are revealed from the analysis of satellite observations. As eddy size increases from 80 to 140 km, the coupling coefficient between the sea surface temperature anomaly (SSTA) and THFA increases from 35.2 to 41.5 in the Kuroshio Extension (KE). Because eddy size decreases from the equator to the polar, the coupling coefficient () also weakens poleward. Analysis shows that for same SSTA, a large warm (cold) eddy deepens (shallows) the atmosphere boundary layer height (ABLH) more than a small one. This change in ABLH will lead to an increased (decreased) sea surface wind speed anomaly, which amplifies the THFA further. Theoretical results also show that the is proportional to a quarter of the eddy size, , where is depending upon SSTA and the transfer coefficient for momentum ().
Multispacecraft Observation of the Presubstorm Long‐Lasting Poloidal ULF Wave
Authors: Rubtsov Aleksandr V. , Mikhailova Olga S. , Mager Pavel N. , Klimushkin Dmitri Yu. , Ren Jie , Zong Qiu‐Gang
Published: November 2021

We report global dayside observation of Pc4–5 wave at the late recovery phase of a magnetic storm from seven satellites. Oscillations lasted for 15 hr and revealed the wave appearance before the substorm onset. The continuous observation showed that substorm injections did not affect the wave behavior, and all the wave parameters change was caused by magnetospheric plasma recovery after a magnetic storm. The wave was identified as a second harmonic poloidal Alfvén wave propagating westward with a high azimuthal wave number (|m| ∼ 210) and coupled with 100 keV protons through the drift‐bounce resonance. A large radial gradient of phase space density was an energy source for the wave.
Characterizing Spatiotemporal Patterns of Terrestrial Water Storage Variations Using GNSS Vertical Data in Sichuan, China
Authors: Jiang Zhongshan , Hsu Ya‐Ju , Yuan Linguo , Yang Xinchun , Ding Yihang , Tang Miao , Chen Changfu
Published: November 2021

We invert daily GNSS vertical position time series for terrestrial water storage (TWS) changes and characterize their spatiotemporal patterns using various geodetic and hydrological data in Sichuan which features complex climatic and geographical conditions. Our inversion strategy depends on a variational Bayesian principal component analysis (VBPCA), which recovers the equivalent water height (EWH) changes using three principal components that explain 82% of the data variance. Various data sets from GNSS, GRACE, and GLDAS indicate an increasing seasonal water variability from northeast to southwest Sichuan. The GNSS modeling results reveal significant annual EWH amplitudes (up to 300 mm), which are largely underestimated in both GRACE‐EWH (∼120 mm) and GLDAS‐EWH (∼100 mm) products. The GNSS‐EWH also shows considerable seasonal changes in the high‐altitude plateau but subtle seasonal oscillations in the lowland basin, whereas this sharp contrast is invisible in GRACE‐ and GLDAS‐EWH primarily due to coarse spatial resolution. The GNSS inferred water products are used to determine the scaling factor for GRACE, with a value of 2.1 in Sichuan. The regional average precipitation peaks in July, about 1–2 months ahead of the maximum of monthly water heights. A bimodal feature in daily precipitation data is most notable in the low‐elevation Sichuan Basin and results in two peaks in daily GNSS‐EWH time series. Our results demonstrate that GNSS can serve as an independent tool for measuring water storage with high spatiotemporal resolution and provides additional constraints for understanding hydrological dynamics.
Field‐Scale Modeling of CO2 Mineral Trapping in Reactive Rocks: A Vertically Integrated Approach
Authors: Postma T. J. W. , Bandilla K. W. , Peters C. A. , Celia M. A.
Published: November 2021

Unlike sedimentary formations, flood basalts have the potential for relatively rapid mineral trapping when used as an injection target for CO2 storage. However, there are still open questions surrounding the implementation of CO2 storage in basalt at a large scale. These include how the porosity of the target formation will be altered by the geochemical activity, as well as whether a large‐scale CO2 storage project can expect the same fast mineralization rates observed during small‐scale pilot injections. Field‐scale numerical modeling studies can play a role in answering these questions, by improving our understanding of the way in which details such as mineralogy, temperature or injection strategy affect the timing and spatial location of geochemical processes. Simulations of reactive transport processes in the subsurface often rely on computationally demanding methods. Although these methods provide comprehensive simulation capabilities, they may not provide the efficiency needed for wide exploration of parameter spaces or for simulations over long time scales. The present work combines a vertically integrated model of two‐phase flow in porous media with a fully customizable geochemical model to create an efficient vertically integrated method for field‐scale simulation of CO2 mineral trapping in basalt. The proposed method provides a platform for extensive field‐scale modeling studies that can help address some of the remaining barriers to large‐scale implementation of CO2 storage in basalt formations.
Piperine analogs arrest c-myc gene leading to downregulation of transcription for targeting cancer
Authors: Pandya Nirali , Kumar Amit
Published: November 2021

G-quadruplex (G4) structures are considered a promising therapeutic target in cancer. Since Ayurveda, Piperine has been known for its medicinal properties. Piperine shows anticancer properties by stabilizing the G4 motif present upstream of the c-myc gene. This gene belongs to a group of proto-oncogenes, and its aberrant transcription drives tumorigenesis. The transcriptional regulation of the c-myc gene is an interesting approach for anticancer drug design. The present study employed a chemical similarity approach to identify Piperine similar compounds and analyzed their interaction with cancer-associated G-quadruplex motifs. Among all Piperine analogs, PIP-2 exhibited strong selectivity, specificity, and affinity towards c-myc G4 DNA as elaborated through biophysical studies such as fluorescence emission, isothermal calorimetry, and circular dichroism. Moreover, our biophysical observations are supported by molecular dynamics analysis and cellular-based studies. Our study showed that PIP-2 showed higher toxicity against the A549 lung cancer cell line but lower toxicity towards normal HEK 293 cells, indicating increased efficacy of the drug at the cellular level. Biological evaluation assays such as TFP reporter assay, quantitative real-time PCR (qRT- PCR), and western blotting suggest that the Piperine analog-2 (PIP-2) stabilizes the G-quadruplex motif located at the promoter site of c-myc oncogene and downregulates its expression. In conclusion, Piperine analog PIP-2 may be used as anticancer therapeutics as it affects the c-myc oncogene expression via G-quadruplex mediated mechanism.
Give me a pain that I am used to: distinct habituation patterns to painful and non-painful stimulation
Authors: Paul Katharina , Tik Martin , Hahn Andreas , Sladky Ronald , Geissberger Nicole , Wirth Eva-Maria , Kranz Georg S. , Pfabigan Daniela M. , Kraus Christoph , Lanzenberger Rupert , Lamm Claus , Windischberger Christian
Published: November 2021

Pain habituation is associated with a decrease of activation in brain areas related to pain perception. However, little is known about the specificity of these decreases to pain, as habituation has also been described for other responses like spinal reflexes and other sensory responses. Thus, it might be hypothesized that previously reported reductions in activation are not specifically related to pain habituation. For this reason, we performed a 3 T fMRI study using either painful or non-painful electrical stimulation via an electrode attached to the back of the left hand. Contrasting painful vs. non-painful stimulation revealed significant activation clusters in regions well-known to be related to pain processing, such as bilateral anterior and posterior insula, primary/secondary sensory cortices (S1/S2) and anterior midcingulate cortex (aMCC). Importantly, our results show distinct habituation patterns for painful (in aMCC) and non-painful (contralateral claustrum) stimulation, while similar habituation for both types of stimulation was identified in bilateral inferior frontal gyrus (IFG) and contralateral S2. Our findings thus distinguish a general habituation in somatosensory processing (S2) and reduced attention (IFG) from specific pain and non-pain related habituation effects where pain-specific habituation effects within the aMCC highlight a change in affective pain perception.
Meta-QTLs and candidate genes for stripe rust resistance in wheat
Authors: Jan Irfat , Saripalli Gautam , Kumar Kuldeep , Kumar Anuj , Singh Rakhi , Batra Ritu , Sharma Pradeep Kumar , Balyan Harindra Singh , Gupta Pushpendra Kumar
Published: November 2021

In bread wheat, meta-QTL analysis was conducted using 353 QTLs that were available from earlier studies. When projected onto a dense consensus map comprising 76,753 markers, only 184 QTLs with the required information, could be utilized leading to identification of 61 MQTLs spread over 18 of the 21 chromosomes (barring 5D, 6D and 7D). The range for mean R2(PVE %) was 1.9% to 48.1%, and that of CI was 0.02 to 11.47 cM; these CIs also carried 37 Yr genes. Using these MQTLs, 385 candidate genes (CGs) were also identified. Out of these CGs, 241 encoded known R proteins and 120 showed differential expression due to stripe rust infection at the seedling stage; the remaining 24 CGs were common in the sense that they encoded R proteins as well as showed differential expression. The proteins encoded by CGs carried the following widely known domains: NBS-LRR domain, WRKY domains, ankyrin repeat domains, sugar transport domains, etc. Thirteen breeders’ MQTLs (PVE > 20%) including four pairs of closely linked MQTLs are recommended for use in wheat molecular breeding, for future studies to understand the molecular mechanism of stripe rust resistance and for gene cloning.
Wind plants can impact long-term local atmospheric conditions
Authors: Bodini Nicola , Lundquist Julie K. , Moriarty Patrick
Published: November 2021

Long-term weather and climate observatories can be affected by the changing environments in their vicinity, such as the growth of urban areas or changing vegetation. Wind plants can also impact local atmospheric conditions through their wakes, characterized by reduced wind speed and increased turbulence. We explore the extent to which the wind plants near an atmospheric measurement site in the central United States have affected their long-term measurements. Both direct observations and mesoscale numerical weather prediction simulations demonstrate how the wind plants induce a wind deficit aloft, especially in stable conditions, and a wind speed acceleration near the surface, which extend $$\sim 30$$

∼
30

 km downwind of the wind plant. Turbulence kinetic energy is significantly enhanced within the wind plant wake in stable conditions, with near-surface observations seeing an increase of more than 30% a few kilometers downwind of the plants.
Siamese anchor-free object tracking with multiscale spatial attentions
Authors: Zhang Jianming , Huang Benben , Ye Zi , Kuang Li-Dan , Ning Xin
Published: November 2021

Recently, object trackers based on Siamese networks have attracted considerable attentions due to their remarkable tracking performance and widespread application. Especially, the anchor-based methods exploit the region proposal subnetwork to get accurate prediction of a target and make great performance improvement. However, those trackers cannot capture the spatial information very well and the pre-defined anchors will hinder robustness. To solve these problems, we propose a Siamese-based anchor-free object tracking algorithm with multiscale spatial attentions in this paper. Firstly, we take ResNet-50 as the backbone network to generate multiscale features of both template patch and search regions. Secondly, we propose the spatial attention extraction (SAE) block to capture the spatial information among all positions in the template and search region feature maps. Thirdly, we put these features into the SAE block to get the multiscale spatial attentions. Finally, an anchor-free classification and regression subnetwork is used for predicting the location of the target. Unlike anchor-based methods, our tracker directly predicts the target position without predefined parameters. Extensive experiments with state-of-the-art trackers are carried out on four challenging visual object tracking benchmarks: OTB100, UAV123, VOT2016 and GOT-10k. Those experimental results confirm the effectiveness of our proposed tracker.
Flow and heat transport phenomenon for dynamics of Jeffrey nanofluid past stretchable sheet subject to Lorentz force and dissipation effects
Authors: Shahzad Faisal , Baleanu Dumitru , Jamshed Wasim , Nisar Kottakkaran Sooppy , Eid Mohamed R. , Safdar Rabia , Ismail Khadiga Ahmed
Published: November 2021

Survey of literature unveils that nanofluids are more efficient for heat transport in comparison to the traditional fluids. However, the enlightenment of developed techniques for the augmentation of heat transport in nanomaterials has considerable gaps and, consequently, an extensive investigation for aforementioned models is vital. The ongoing investigation aims to study the 2-D, incompressible Jeffrey nanofluid heat transference flow due to a stretchable surface. Furthermore, the effect of dispersion of graphene nanoparticles in base liquid ethylene glycol (EG) on the performance of flow and heat transport using the Tawari-Das model in the existence of Ohmic heating (electroconductive heating) and viscous heat dissipation is contemplated. The boundary-layer PDEs are reconstituted as ODEs employing appropriate similarity transformation. Keller-Box Method (KBM) is utilized to determine the numerical findings of the problem. Graphene conducts heat greater in rate than all of the other materials and it is a good conductor of electrical energy. Graphene/EG nanofluid is employed to look out the parametric aspects of heat transport flow, drag coefficient, and heat transference rate phenomena with the aid of graphs and tables. The numerical outcomes indicate that concentration and magnetic field abate the shear stresses for the nanofluid. An increase of Graphene nanoparticle volume fraction parameter can boost the heat transport rate. The effect of Prandtl Number is to slow down the rate of heat transport as well as decelerate the temperature. Additionally, the rate of heat transportation augments on a surface under Deborah's number. Results indicate that the temperature of the graphene-EG nanofluid is greater than the convectional fluid hence graphene-EG nanofluid gets more important in the cooling process, biosensors and drug delivery than conventional fluids.
Empathy reduces susceptibility to false memory
Authors: Lo Shih-Yu
Published: November 2021

Psychological and physiological evidence has demonstrated that the underlying mechanisms for empathy and for autobiographical memories were related to a great extent. However, whether the facilitative effect of empathy on memory also applied to misinformation was unknown. To test this, we used a misinformation paradigm on a sample of 51 participants aged 20–27. The participants viewed videos that evoked different degrees of empathy, and then were fed misleading information. The participants’ susceptibility to misleading information was lower for the videos that provoked a high degree of empathy compared to the videos that provoked a low degree of empathy. Based on our data, we conclude that empathy can prevent people from being misled by false information.
An ensemble-based approach for estimating personalized intraocular lens power
Authors: Moutari Salissou , Moore Jonathan E.
Published: November 2021

The fundamental difference between modern formulae for intraocular lens (IOL) power calculation lies on the single ad hoc regression model they use to estimate the effective lens position (ELP). The ELP is very difficult to predict and its estimation is considered critical for an accurate prediction of the required IOL power of the lens to be implanted during cataract surgery. Hence, more advanced prediction techniques, which improve the prediction accuracy of the ELP, could play a decisive role in improving patient refractive outcomes. This study introduced a new approach for the calculation of personalized IOL power, which used an ensemble of regression models to devise a more accurate and robust prediction of the ELP. The concept of cross-validation was used to rigorously assess the performance of the devised formula against the most commonly used and published formulae. The results from this study show that overall, the proposed approach outperforms the most commonly used modern formulae (namely, Haigis, Holladay I, Hoffer Q and SRK/T) in terms of mean absolute prediction errors and prediction accuracy i.e., the percentage of eyes within ± 0.5D and ± 1 D ranges of prediction, for various ranges of axial lengths of the eyes. The new formula proposed in this study exhibited some promising features in terms of robustness. This enables the new formula to cope with variations in the axial length, the pre-operative anterior chamber depth and the keratometry readings of the corneal power; hence mitigating the impact of their measurement accuracy. Furthermore, the new formula performed well for both monofocal and multifocal lenses.
LIPSS-based functional surfaces produced by multi-beam nanostructuring with 2601 beams and real-time thermal processes measurement
Authors: Hauschwitz P. , Martan J. , Bičišťová R. , Beltrami C. , Moskal D. , Brodsky A. , Kaplan N. , Mužík J. , Štepánková D. , Brajer J. , Rostohar D. , Kopeček J. , Prokešová L. , Honner M. , Lang V. , Smrž M. , Mocek T.
Published: November 2021

A unique combination of the ultrashort high-energy pulsed laser system with exceptional beam quality and a novel Diffractive Optical Element (DOE) enables simultaneous production of 2601 spots organized in the square-shaped 1 × 1 mm matrix in less than 0.01 ms. By adjusting the laser and processing parameters each spot can contain Laser Induced Periodic Surface Structures (LIPSS, ripples), including high-spatial frequency LIPSS (HFSL) and low-spatial frequency LIPSS (LSFL). DOE placed before galvanometric scanner allows easy integration and stitching of the pattern over larger areas. In addition, the LIPSS formation was monitored for the first time using fast infrared radiometry for verification of real-time quality control possibilities. During the LIPSS fabrication, solidification plateaus were observed after each laser pulse, which enables process control by monitoring heat accumulation or plateau length using a new signal derivation approach. Analysis of solidification plateaus after each laser pulse enabled dynamic calibration of the measurement. Heat accumulation temperatures from 200 to 1000 °C were observed from measurement and compared to the theoretical model. The temperature measurements revealed interesting changes in the physics of the laser ablation process. Moreover, the highest throughput on the area of 40 × 40 mm reached 1910 cm2/min, which is the highest demonstrated throughput of LIPSS nanostructuring, to the best of our knowledge. Thus, showing great potential for the efficient production of LIPSS-based functional surfaces which can be used to improve surface mechanical, biological or optical properties.
The study on the inverse problem of applied current thermoacoustic imaging based on generative adversarial network
Authors: Guo Liang , Li Su , Wang Xiangye , Zeng Caihong , Liu Chunyu
Published: November 2021

Applied Current Thermoacoustic Imaging (ACTAI) is a new imaging method which combines electromagnetic excitation with ultrasound imaging, and takes ultrasonic signal as medium and biological tissue conductivity as detection target. Taking the high contrast advantage of Electrical Impedance Tomography (EIT) and high resolution advantage of ultrasound imaging, ACTAI has broad application prospects in the field of biomedical imaging. Although ACTAI has high excitation efficiency and strong detectable Signal-to-Noise Ratio, yet while under low frequency electromagnetic excitation, it is still a big challenge to reconstruct a high-resolution image of target conductivity. This paper proposes a new method for reconstructing conductivity based on Generative Adversarial Network, and it consists of three main steps: firstly, use Wiener filtering deconvolution to restore the electrical signal output by the ultrasonic probe to a real acoustic signal. Then obtain the initial acoustic source image with filtered backprojection technology. Finally, match the conductivity image with the initial sound source image, which are used as training samples for generating the adversarial network to establish a deep learning model for conductivity reconstruction. After theoretical analysis and simulation research, it is found that by introducing machine learning, the new method can dig out the inverse problem solving model contained in the data, which further reconstruct a high-resolution conductivity image and has strong anti-interference characteristics. The new method provides a new way to solve the problem of conductivity reconstruction in Applied Current Thermoacoustic Imaging.
Development of a self-limiting model of methotrexate-induced mucositis reinforces butyrate as a potential therapy
Authors: da Silva Ferreira A. R. , van der Aa S. A. J. , Wehkamp T. , Wardill H. R. , ten Klooster J. P. , Garssen J. , Harthoorn L. F. , Hartog A. , Harmsen H. J. M. , Tissing W. J. E. , van Bergenhenegouwen J.
Published: November 2021

Gastrointestinal mucositis is a complication of anticancer treatment, with few validated in vitro systems suitable to study the complex mechanisms of mucosal injury. Therefore, we aimed to develop and characterize a chemotherapeutic-induced model of mucositis using 3D intestinal organoids. Organoids derived from mouse ileum were grown for 7 days and incubated with different concentrations of the chemotherapeutic agent methotrexate (MTX). Metabolic activity, citrulline levels and cytokine/chemokine production were measured to determine the optimal dosage and incubation time. The protective effects of folinic acid on the toxicity of MTX were investigated by pre-treating organoids with (0.0005–50 µg/mL) folinic acid. The impact of microbial-derived short-chain fatty acids was evaluated by supplementation with butyrate in the organoid model. MTX caused a dose-dependent reduction in cell metabolic activity and citrulline production that was salvaged by folinic acid treatment. Overall, MTX causes significant organoid damage, which can be reversed upon removal of MTX. The protective effect of folinic acid suggest that the organoids respond in a clinical relevant manner. By using the model for intervention, it was found that prophylactic treatment with butyrate might be a valuable strategy for prophylactic mucositis prevention.
The outcomes of acute myocardial infarction patients comorbidity with hypertension and hyperhomocysteinemia
Authors: Yan Jumei , Zhou Jiamin , Huang Jun , Zhang Hongyu , Deng Zilin , Du Yun
Published: November 2021

This study investigated the outcomes and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) incurred by acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patients comorbiding with hypertension and hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy) during hospitalization and 1-year follow-up. 648 consecutive AMI patients were divided into four categories: (1) hypertension with Hcy ≥ 15 µmol/L; (2) hypertension with Hcy < 15 µmol/L; (3) no-hypertension with Hcy ≥ 15 µmol/L; (4) no-hypertension with Hcy < 15 µmol/L. Information taken from these case files included gender, past medical history, vital signs, laboratory examination, electrocardiogram, coronary angiography, cardiac ultrasound, and medicine treatment. The primary endpoints were duration of coronary care units (CCU) stay, duration of in-hospital stay, and MACEs during follow-up. Our data show that hypertension and HHcy have a synergistic effect in AMI patients, AMI comorbiding with hypertension and HHcy patients had more severe multi-coronary artery disease and more frequent non-culprit coronary lesions complete clogging, had a higher prevalence of pro-brain natriuretic peptide, and significant decreases in the left ventricular ejection fraction. These patients had significant increases in the duration of CCU stay and in-hospital stay, had significant increase in the rate of MACEs, had significant decreases in the survival rate during follow-up.
Fecal microbiota changes in NZB/W F1 mice after induction of lupus disease
Authors: Chen Yen-Fu , Hsieh Ao-Ho , Wang Lian-Chin , Huang Yun-Ju , Yun-Chen Tsai  , Tseng Wen-Yi , Kuo Yu-Lun , Luo Shue-Fen , Yu Kuang-Hui , Kuo Chang-Fu
Published: November 2021

The association between the gut microbiota and the development of lupus is unclear. We investigated alterations in the gut microbiota after induction of lupus in a murine model using viral peptide of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV). Three treatment arms for the animals were prepared: intraperitoneal injection of HCMVpp65 peptide, adjuvant alone, and PBS injection. Feces were collected before and after lupus induction biweekly for 16S rRNA sequencing. HCMVpp65 peptide immunization induced lupus-like effects, with higher levels of anti-dsDNA antibodies, creatinine, proteinuria, and glomerular damage, compared with mice treated with nothing or adjuvant only. The Simpson diversity value was higher in mice injected with HCMVpp65 peptide, but there was no difference in ACE or Chao1 among the three groups. Statistical analysis of metagenomic profiles showed a higher abundance of various families (Saccharimonadaceae, Marinifiaceae, and Desulfovibrionaceae) and genera (Candidatus Saccharimonas, Roseburia, Odoribacter, and Desulfovibrio) in HCMVpp65 peptide-treated mice. Significant correlations between increased abundances of related genera (Candidatus Saccharimonas, Roseburia, Odoribacter, and Desulfovibrio) and HCMVpp65 peptide immunization-induced lupus-like effects were observed. This study provides insight into the changes in the gut microbiota after lupus onset in a murine model.
Development of a new clinical index to easily assess frailty of elderly patients with multiple myeloma in Asian population
Authors: Lee Ho Sup , Lee JiHyun , Jo Jae-Cheol , Jung Sung-Hoon , Lee Je-Jung , Kim Dajung , Lee Sangjin , Song Kevin
Published: November 2021

The number of elderly people is rapidly growing, and the proportion of elderly patients with multiple myeloma (MM) continues to increase. This study aimed to develop a frailty assessment tool based on clinical data and to estimate its feasibility in elderly patients with MM. This study analyzed data from 728 elderly transplant-ineligible patients with newly diagnosed MM who were treated between January 2010 and October 2019. Our clinical frailty index included age (< 75, and ≥ 75 years), Charlson comorbidity index (CCI; < 3 and ≥ 3), and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status score (ECOG score; 0, 1–2, and ≥ 3). Patients were classified as fit, intermediate, or frail if they had a score of 0, 1, or ≥ 2, respectively. The overall survival rates differed significantly according to frailty (fit vs. intermediate: hazard ratio [HR] = 2.41; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.43–4.06; P = 0.001; fit vs. frail: HR = 4.61; 95% CI = 2.74–7.77; P < 0.001 and intermediate vs. frail: HR = 1.91, 95% CI = 1.49–2.45, P < 0.001, respectively). The frail had significantly shorter EFS compared with the fit and intermediate group in our frailty index (fit vs. intermediate: HR = 1.34, 95% CI = 0.92–1.96, P = 0.132; fit vs. frail: HR = 2.06, 95% CI = 1.40–3.02, P < 0.001; and intermediate vs. frail: HR = 1.53, 95% CI = 1.22–1.92, P < 0.001, respectively). The new clinical frailty index, which is based on age, CCI, and ECOG PS, can easily assess frailty in elderly patients with MM and can be helpful in predicting survival outcomes in real world clinical setting.
Artifact reduction of coaxial needles in magnetic resonance imaging-guided abdominal interventions at 1.5 T: a phantom study
Authors: Schmidt Vanessa Franziska , Arnone Federica , Dietrich Olaf , Seidensticker Max , Armbruster Marco , Ricke Jens , Kazmierczak Philipp Maximilian
Published: November 2021

Needle artifacts pose a major limitation for MRI-guided interventions, as they impact the visually perceived needle size and needle-to-target-distance. The objective of this agar liver phantom study was to establish an experimental basis to understand and reduce needle artifact formation during MRI-guided abdominal interventions. Using a vendor-specific prototype fluoroscopic T1-weighted gradient echo sequence with real-time multiplanar acquisition at 1.5 T, the influence of 6 parameters (flip angle, bandwidth, matrix, slice thickness, read-out direction, intervention angle relative to B0) on artifact formation of 4 different coaxial MR-compatible coaxial needles (Nitinol, 16G–22G) was investigated. As one parameter was modified, the others remained constant. For each individual parameter variation, 2 independent and blinded readers rated artifact diameters at 2 predefined positions (15 mm distance from the perceived needle tip and at 50% of the needle length). Differences between the experimental subgroups were assessed by Bonferroni-corrected non-parametric tests. Correlations between continuous variables were expressed by the Bravais–Pearson coefficient and interrater reliability was quantified using the intraclass classification coefficient. Needle artifact size increased gradually with increasing flip angles (p = 0.002) as well as increasing intervention angles (p < 0.001). Artifact diameters differed significantly between the chosen matrix sizes (p = 0.002) while modifying bandwidth, readout direction, and slice thickness showed no significant differences. Interrater reliability was high (intraclass correlation coefficient 0.776–0.910). To minimize needle artifacts in MRI-guided abdominal interventions while maintaining optimal visibility of the coaxial needle, we suggest medium-range flip angles and low intervention angles relative to B0.
A multichannel color filter with the functions of optical sensor and switch
Authors: Chou Chau Yuan-Fong , Chou Chao Chung-Ting , Huang Hung Ji , Chen Sy-Hann , Kao Tsung Sheng , Chiang Hai-Pang
Published: November 2021

This paper reports a multichannel color filter with the functions of optical sensor and switch. The proposed structure comprises a metal–insulator–metal (MIM) bus waveguide side-couples to six circular cavities with different sizes for filtering ultra-violet and visible lights into individual colors in the wavelength range of 350–700 nm. We used the finite element method to analyze the electromagnetic field distributions and transmittance properties by varying the structural parameters in detail. The designed plasmonic filter takes advantage of filtering out different colors since the light-matter resonance and interference between the surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs) modes within the six cavities. Results show that the designed structure can preferentially select the desired colors and confine the SPPS modes in one of the cavities. This designed structure can filter eleven color channels with a small full width at half maximum (FWHM) ~ 2 nm. Furthermore, the maximum values of sensitivity, figure of merit, quality factor, dipping strength, and extinction ratio can achieve of 700 nm/RIU, 350 1/RIU, 349.0, 65.04%, and 174.50 dB, respectively, revealing the excellent functions of sensor performance and optical switch, and offering a chance for designing a beneficial nanophotonic device.
Upregulated type I interferon responses in asymptomatic COVID-19 infection are associated with improved clinical outcome
Authors: Masood Kiran Iqbal , Yameen Maliha , Ashraf Javeria , Shahid Saba , Mahmood Syed Faisal , Nasir Asghar , Nasir Nosheen , Jamil Bushra , Ghanchi Najia Karim , Khanum Iffat , Razzak Safina Abdul , Kanji Akbar , Hussain Rabia , E. Rottenberg Martin , Hasan Zahra
Published: November 2021

Understanding key host protective mechanisms against SARS-CoV-2 infection can help improve treatment modalities for COVID-19. We used a blood transcriptome approach to study biomarkers associated with differing severity of COVID-19, comparing severe and mild Symptomatic disease with Asymptomatic COVID-19 and uninfected Controls. There was suppression of antigen presentation but upregulation of inflammatory and viral mRNA translation associated pathways in Symptomatic as compared with Asymptomatic cases. In severe COVID-19, CD177 a neutrophil marker, was upregulated while interferon stimulated genes (ISGs) were downregulated. Asymptomatic COVID-19 cases displayed upregulation of ISGs and humoral response genes with downregulation of ICAM3 and TLR8. Compared across the COVID-19 disease spectrum, we found type I interferon (IFN) responses to be significantly upregulated (IFNAR2, IRF2BP1, IRF4, MAVS, SAMHD1, TRIM1), or downregulated (SOCS3, IRF2BP2, IRF2BPL) in Asymptomatic as compared with mild and severe COVID-19, with the dysregulation of an increasing number of ISGs associated with progressive disease. These data suggest that initial early responses against SARS-CoV-2 may be effectively controlled by ISGs. Therefore, we hypothesize that treatment with type I interferons in the early stage of COVID-19 may limit disease progression by limiting SARS-CoV-2 in the host.
Structural and functional connectivity of the ascending arousal network for prediction of outcome in patients with acute disorders of consciousness
Authors: Enciso-Olivera Cesar O. , Ordóñez-Rubiano Edgar G. , Casanova-Libreros Rosángela , Rivera Diana , Zarate-Ardila Carol J. , Rudas Jorge , Pulido Cristian , Gómez Francisco , Martínez Darwin , Guerrero Natalia , Hurtado Mayra A. , Aguilera-Bustos Natalia , Hernández-Torres Clara P. , Hernandez José , Marín-Muñoz Jorge H.
Published: November 2021

To determine the role of early acquisition of blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) signals and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) for analysis of the connectivity of the ascending arousal network (AAN) in predicting neurological outcomes after acute traumatic brain injury (TBI), cardiopulmonary arrest (CPA), or stroke. A prospective analysis of 50 comatose patients was performed during their ICU stay. Image processing was conducted to assess structural and functional connectivity of the AAN. Outcomes were evaluated after 3 and 6 months. Nineteen patients (38%) had stroke, 18 (36%) CPA, and 13 (26%) TBI. Twenty-three patients were comatose (44%), 11 were in a minimally conscious state (20%), and 16 had unresponsive wakefulness syndrome (32%). Univariate analysis demonstrated that measurements of diffusivity, functional connectivity, and numbers of fibers in the gray matter, white matter, whole brain, midbrain reticular formation, and pontis oralis nucleus may serve as predictive biomarkers of outcome depending on the diagnosis. Multivariate analysis demonstrated a correlation of the predicted value and the real outcome for each separate diagnosis and for all the etiologies together. Findings suggest that the above imaging biomarkers may have a predictive role for the outcome of comatose patients after acute TBI, CPA, or stroke.
Wolbachia reduces virus infection in a natural population of Drosophila
Authors: Cogni Rodrigo , Ding Shuai Dominique , Pimentel André C. , Day Jonathan P. , Jiggins Francis M.
Published: November 2021

Wolbachia is a maternally transmitted bacterial symbiont that is estimated to infect approximately half of arthropod species. In the laboratory it can increase the resistance of insects to viral infection, but its effect on viruses in nature is unknown. Here we report that in a natural population of Drosophila melanogaster, individuals that are infected with Wolbachia are less likely to be infected by viruses. By characterising the virome by metagenomic sequencing and then testing individual flies for infection, we found the protective effect of Wolbachia was virus-specific, with the prevalence of infection being up to 15% greater in Wolbachia-free flies. The antiviral effects of Wolbachia may contribute to its extraordinary ecological success, and in nature the symbiont may be an important component of the antiviral defences of insects.
Cobalt, iron co-incorporated Ni(OH)2 multiphase for superior multifunctional electrocatalytic oxidation
Authors: Hao Pin , Xu Ruirui , Wang Qian , Zhao Zhenhuan , Wen Houguang , Xie Junfeng , Lei Fengcai , Cui Guanwei , Tang Bo
Published: November 2021

The Co, Fe co-incorporated Ni(OH)2 multiphase displays superior activity for electrocatalytic oxidation, benefitting from the multiphase and polymetallic synergy, as well as the perfectly exposed active sites.
Red-emitting fluorogenic BODIPY-tetrazine probes for biological imaging
Authors: Chen Lei , Li Fei , Li Yan , Yang Jun , Li Yongjun , He Bin
Published: November 2021

Red-emitting fluorogenic BODIPY-tetrazine probes for biological imaging have been developed by adopting the twist intramolecular charge transfer (TICT) process for fluorescence quenching.
Anionic states of C6Cl6 probed in electron transfer experiments
Authors: Kumar S. , Kilich T. , Łabuda M. , García G. , Limão-Vieira P.
Published: November 2021

Effective bond breaking in electron transfer from K collisions with C6Cl6.
Structures and reaction dynamics of N2 and H2 binding at FeMo-co, the active site of nitrogenase
Authors: Dance Ian
Published: November 2021

Here are 27 structures containing N2 and/or H2 bound at FeMo-co, the active site of the enzyme nitrogenase. Density functional simulations using a large protein model yield the dynamics of the binding, dissociation, and exchange of N2 and H2.