bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Proteome profiling of chicken ovarian follicles immediately before and after cyclic recruitment
Authors: Ghanem Kahina , Johnson Alan L.
Published: July 2021

A shotgun proteomics study using isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantification labeling was conducted to characterize proteins in chicken ovarian follicles immediately before and after cyclic recruitment. Granulosa cell (GC) layers from the most recently recruited follicle (GC9) and from each of the four largest prerecruitment follicles (GC1–4) plus theca tissue (TH) from the most recently recruited (TH9) and largest prerecruitment (TH1) follicles were compared. Of 1535 proteins identified, none were determined to be differentially expressed between TH9 and TH1. A pairwise comparison between GC9 and GC1, GC2, GC3, or GC4 resulted in one, five, five, and six differentially expressed proteins, respectively, including yolk and cholesterol transport proteins (vitellogenin 1–3 and apolipoprotein B). In addition, transforming growth factor‐beta 1 and microRNA‐21 pathways were predicted to be activated at recruitment. We also report, for the first time, the expression of the neuropeptide, RELAXIN‐3 (RLN3), in GC. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction determined RLN3 expression to be highest in GC9 and GC1, but its receptors, RXFP1 and RXFP3, were highest in TH and ovarian stroma, respectively. Overall, cyclic recruitment is associated with changes in protein expression predominantly within follicle GC, and a potential role for RLN3 in follicle recruitment and the initiation of GC differentiation warrants further investigation.
Mechanical properties of 3D printed macroscopic models of schwarzites
Authors: Gaal Vladimir , Felix Levi C. , Woellner Cristiano F. , Galvao Douglas S. , Tiwary Chandra Sekhar , d'Ávila Marcos Akira , Rodrigues Varlei
Published: July 2021

Additive manufacturing allows to produce parts with complex geometries is an essential tool in materials science. Schwarzites is a class of carbon allotropes with interesting mechanical properties. However, most of the schwarzite studies are theoretical until now because the synthesis of large schwarzite fragments remains elusive. In this work, we have carried out molecular dynamics simulations, and extensive experimental tests of 3D printed schwarzites to study their mechanical behavior. Our results show that this behavior does not strongly depend on printed used material, model size, or the number of structural unit cells. We also observed a strong correlation between the stress‐strain curves of 3D printed and the ones obtained from fully atomistic molecular dynamics simulations. Both results show the same trends for almost all investigated schwarzites, suggesting that topological features and scale‐size invariant dominate some deformation mechanisms. Our results further validate the use of atomic models of materials with complex geometries that are impractical or very difficult to synthesize, translated into macro models that can be 3D printed, and offer an innovative engineered approach to produce new materials with tunable mechanical behavior.
Efficacy of transcutaneous perineal electrostimulation versus intracavitary anal electrostimulation in the treatment of urinary incontinence after a radical prostatectomy: Randomized controlled trial
Authors: Pané‐Alemany Regina , Ramírez‐García Inés , Kauffmann Stéphanie , Blanco‐Ratto Laia , Carralero‐Martínez Andrea , Sánchez Ruiz Emília
Published: July 2021

Aim

To compare the efficacy of the treatment with transcutaneous perineal electrostimulation versus intracavitary electrostimulation to reduce the frequency of urinary incontinence after radical prostatectomy and the impact on the quality of life (QoL).

Methods

This single‐blind equivalence‐randomized controlled trial equally (1:1) randomly allocated men with urinary incontinence post radical prostatectomy into surface electrodes perineal group (intervention group, IG) and intra‐anal probe group (control group, CG). Outcomes included changes in the 24h‐Pad Test (main variable), and ICIQ‐SF (International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire Short‐Form), SF‐12 (Short Form Health Survey), and I‐QOL (incontinence quality of life questionnaire) questionnaires. Clinical data were collected at baseline, 6 and 10 weeks. For the comparisons between variables, χ2 test and Student's t test were used. Equivalence was analyzed by estimating the mean change (90% confidence interval) of urinary incontinence based on the Pad Test. The analysis was performed for the per‐protocol and the intention‐to‐treat populations. Statistical significance level was set at p < 0.05.

Results

Seventy patients were included, mean age 62.8 (SD 9.4) years. Mean baseline 24h‐Pad Test was 328.3 g (SD 426.1) and a significant decrease (p < 0.001) in the grams of urine loss at 5 weeks (159.1 g in the IG and 121.7 g in the CG), and at 10 weeks of treatment (248.5 g in the IG and 235.8 g in the CG) was observed. However, the final difference in the grams of urine loss between both treatments showed the absence of statistical significance (p = 0.874). In both groups, the ICIQ‐SF, I‐QOL, and SF‐12 questionnaires revealed a significant improvement in QoL.

Conclusion

Surface and intra‐anal electrostimulation treatments reduced significantly losses of urine, but differences in grams of urine loss throughout the therapy between groups were not significant, suggesting that the efficacy of the two treatments is not statistically different. Nonetheless, the improvement observed in both groups was statistically significant and clinically relevant.
Visualization of Ethereum P2P network topology and peer properties
Authors: Maeng Soohoon , Essaid Meryam , Lee Changhyun , Park Sejin , Ju Hongteak
Published: July 2021

Ethereum is arguably the second most popular cryptocurrency‐based network after Bitcoin. Both use the distributed ledger technology known as the blockchain, which is considered secure. However, the provided security level is proportional to the number of connected nodes, the number of influential nodes, and the supported amount of hash power. Thus, the knowledge of the network properties and nodes' behavior is helpful to protect the network from possible attacks such as double‐spending attacks, DDoS attacks, 51% attacks, and Sybil attacks. This paper proposes a node discovery mechanism, which performs a P2P link discovery on the Ethereum main network. For that, we develop Search‐node, a modified version of Ethereum client that searches for all participating nodes in the blockchain network, stores the node information in the Bucket, and then processes the peer discovery method. Based on the collected data, we first visualize the Ethereum network topology and analyze the attributes of the network such as node degree, path length, diameter, and clustering coefficient. We then analyze the node properties and provide analytical results regarding the relationship between nodes, heavily connected nodes, node geo‐distribution, security issues, and possible attacks over the influential nodes. As a result, we have identified 68,406 nodes with a total of 642,034 edges. By analyzing the collected data, we have found that the diameter in the Ethereum network is equal to 8. The node degree is over 19, which is two times higher than the default configuration.
Uncertainty quantification by optimal spline dimensional decomposition
Authors: Dixler Steven , Jahanbin Ramin , Rahman Sharif
Published: July 2021

An optimal version of spline dimensional decomposition (SDD) is unveiled for general high‐dimensional uncertainty quantification analysis of complex systems subject to independent but otherwise arbitrary probability measures of input random variables. The resulting method involves optimally derived knot vectors of basis splines (B‐splines) in some or all coordinate directions, whitening transformation producing measure‐consistent orthonormalized B‐splines equipped with optimal knots, and Fourier‐spline expansion of a general high‐dimensional output function of interest. In contrast to standard SDD, there is no need to select the knot vectors uniformly or intuitively. The generation of optimal knot vectors can be viewed as an inexpensive preprocessing step toward creating the optimal SDD. Analytical formulas are proposed to calculate the second‐moment properties by the optimal SDD method for a general output random variable in terms of the expansion coefficients involved. It has been shown that the computational complexity of the optimal SDD method is polynomial, as opposed to exponential, thus mitigating the curse of dimensionality by a discernible magnitude. Numerical results affirm that the optimal SDD method developed is more precise than polynomial chaos expansion, sparse‐grid quadrature, and the standard SDD method in calculating not only the second‐moment statistics, but also the cumulative distribution function of an output random variable. More importantly, the optimal SDD outperforms standard SDD by sustaining nearly identical computational cost.
The shifted boundary method for solid mechanics
Authors: Atallah Nabil M. , Canuto Claudio , Scovazzi Guglielmo
Published: July 2021

We propose a new embedded/immersed framework for computational solid mechanics, aimed at vastly speeding up the cycle of design and analysis in complex geometry. In many problems of interest, our approach bypasses the complexities associated with the generation of CAD representations and subsequent body‐fitted meshing, since it only requires relatively simple representations of the surface geometries to be simulated, such as collections of disconnected triangles in three dimensions, widely used in computer graphics. Our approach avoids the complex treatment of cut elements, by resorting to an approximate boundary representation and a special (shifted) treatment of the boundary conditions to maintain optimal accuracy. Natural applications of the proposed approach are problems in biomechanics and geomechanics, in which the geometry to be simulated is obtained from imaging techniques. Similarly, our computational framework can easily treat geometries that are the result of topology optimization methods and are realized with additive manufacturing technologies. We present a full analysis of stability and convergence of the method, and we complement it with an extensive set of computational experiments in two and three dimensions, for progressively more complex geometries.
TheBDF2 FDMfor the fourth‐order equations with the multi‐termR‐Lfractional integral kernels
Authors: Liu Yuan , Zhang Haixiang , Yang Xuehua , Liu Yanling
Published: July 2021

In this paper, we formulated the finite difference method for the fourth order integro‐differential equation with the Riemann‐Liouville multi‐term fractional integral kernels. The formally two‐step backward differentiation formula method and second‐order convolution quadrature are used in time. Theand‐norm stability and convergence at each time level are given. Numerical results show that our scheme obtains the expected optimal convergence rates.
Greater financial toxicity relates to greater distress and worse quality of life among breast and gynecologic cancer survivors
Authors: Benedict Catherine , Fisher Sophie , Schapira Lidia , Chao Sabrina , Sackeyfio Sarah , Sullivan Tara , Pollom Erqi , Berek Jonathan S. , Kurian Allison W. , Palesh Oxana
Published: July 2021

Background

Financial toxicity includes distress and burden from cancer‐related costs. Women are more likely to experience worse cancer‐related financial outcomes than men. This study evaluated breast and gynecologic cancer patients' subjective experiences of financial toxicity and associations with distress and quality of life (QOL).

Methods

A cross‐sectional survey study included measures of financial toxicity (Comprehensive Score for Financial Toxicity [COST] Version 2), distress (Patient Health Questionnaire), and QOL (Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy). Chi‐square, t‐tests, and ANOVAs examined bivariate relationships. Two regression models tested associations between financial toxicity and distress and QOL, controlling for covariates. Financial toxicity subgroups were compared based on a validated grading system.

Results

Participants (N = 273; 74% breast cancer) averaged 54.65 years (SD = 12.08), were 3.42 years (SD = 4.20) post‐diagnosis, and 33% reported cancer‐related change in employment status. Financial toxicity was “mild” overall (COST M = 26.11, SD = 11.14); 32% worried about cancer‐related financial problems (quite a bit/very much; item‐level analysis). Worse financial toxicity related to younger age (p < 0.001), identifying as a non‐Asian minority (p = 0.03) or Hispanic (p = 0.01), being single (p < 0.001), lower education (p = 0.004), lower income (p < 0.001), late‐stage disease (p = 0.001), recurrent disease (p = 0.004), and active treatment (p < 0.001). In separate multivariable models, greater financial toxicity related to greater distress (β = −0.45 p < 0.001) and worse QOL (β = 0.58, p < 0.001). Financial toxicity subgroups reported clinically significant differences in distress and QOL (p's < 0.05).

Conclusions

Cancer‐related financial burden is associated with pervasive negative effects and may impact subgroups differently. Future research should explore financial experiences across subgroups, aiming to better identify those at risk and build targeted interventions.
EVALI versus MIS‐C, one more overlapping diagnosis to consider
Authors: Cruz‐Vidal Diego A. , Mull Eric S. , Taveras Jeanette , Shell Richard , Hunt Garrett W. , Fowler Brian , Wallihan Rebecca , Erdem Guliz
Published: July 2021

We describe six teenagers presenting with fever and severe abdominal symptoms admitted with concerns for multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS‐C). Laboratory evaluation revealed elevated markers of inflammation, lymphopenia, and increased D‐dimers. Imaging studies revealed multifocal airspace disease and ground‐glass opacities. SARS‐CoV‐2 polymerase chain reaction and serologies were negative. All patients reported a history of vaping, prompting E‐cigarette, or vaping, product use‐associated lung injury (EVALI) diagnosis. MIS‐C has overlapping clinical and laboratory features highlighting the added challenge of diagnosing EVALI during the COVID‐19 pandemic.

Keywords COVID‐19 pandemic, EVALI, MIS‐C
MRSA strains with distinct accessory genes predominate at different ages in cystic fibrosis
Authors: Porterfield Harry S. , Maakestad Lucas J. , LaMarche Mason M. , Thurman Andrew L. , Kienenberger Zoe E. , Pitcher Nicholas J. , Hansen Alexis R. , Zirbes Christian F. , Boyken Linda , Muyskens Bethany L. , Pezzulo Alejandro A. , Singh Sachinkumar B. , Twait Erik , Ford Bradley , Diekema Daniel J. , Reeb Valérie , Fischer Anthony J.
Published: July 2021

Rationale

Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is prevalent and consequential in cystic fibrosis (CF). Whole genome sequencing (WGS) could reveal genomic differences in MRSA associated with poorer outcomes or detect MRSA transmission.

Objectives

To identify MRSA genes associated with low lung function and potential MRSA transmission in CF.

Methods

We collected 97 MRSA isolates from 74 individuals with CF from 2017 and performed short‐read WGS. We determined sequence type (ST) and the phylogenetic relationship between isolates. We aligned accessory genes from 25 reference genomes to genome assemblies, classified isolates by accessory gene content, and correlated the accessory genome to clinical outcomes.

Results

The most prevalent ST were ST5 (N = 55), ST8 (N = 15), and ST105 (N = 14). Closely related MRSA strains were shared by family members with CF, but rarely between unrelated individuals. Three clusters of MRSA were identified by accessory genome content. Cluster A, including ST5 and ST105, was highly prevalent at all ages. Cluster B, including ST8, was more limited to younger patients. Cluster C included 6 distantly related strains. Patients 20 years old and younger infected with Cluster A had lower forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1) and higher sputum biomass compared to similar‐aged patients with Cluster B.

Conclusions

In this CF cohort, we identified MRSA subtypes that predominate at different ages and differ by accessory gene content. The most prevalent cluster of MRSA, including ST5 and ST105, was associated with lower FEV1. ST8 MRSA was more common in younger patients and thus has the potential to rise in prevalence as these patients age.
Long noncoding RNA highly upregulated in liver cancer promotes the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma and attenuates the chemosensitivity of oxaliplatin by regulating miR‐383‐5p/vesicle‐associated membrane protein‐2 axis
Authors: Li Peng , Li Yuwei , Ma Lieting
Published: July 2021

We aimed to explore the function and underlying mechanism of highly upregulated in liver cancer (HULC; an long noncoding RNAs) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and chemosensitivity of oxaliplatin (Oxa). The expression of HULC, miR‐383‐5p, and vesicle‐associated membrane protein‐2 (VAMP2) was detected by quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction. Western blot assay was applied for measuring the protein expression of cyclinD1, cleaved‐caspase‐3, light Chain 3 I/II, p62, and VAMP2. Cell viability and Oxa IC50 value were determined by Cell Counting Kit‐8 assay. A colony formation assay was conducted to evaluate colony formation ability. Cell apoptosis was assessed by flow cytometry. The interaction between miR‐383‐5p and HULC or VAMP2 was predicted by bioinformatics analysis and verified by dual‐luciferase reporter assay and RNA immunoprecipitation assay. The mice xenograft model was established to investigate the roles of HULC in vivo. HULC and VAMP2 were overexpressed whereas miR‐383‐5p was lowly expressed in HCC tissues. HULC overexpression promoted the progression of HCC cells and inhibited chemosensitivity of Oxa by increasing cell proliferation and protective autophagy and inhibiting apoptosis, whereas HULC silence presented opposite effects. Moreover, miR‐383‐5p was a direct target of HULC and miR‐383‐5p reversed the effects of HULC on the progression of HCC cells and chemosensitivity of Oxa. Besides, HULC acted as a molecular sponge of miR‐383‐5p to regulate VAMP2 expression. HULC promoted the progression of HCC and inhibited Oxa sensitivity by regulating miR‐383‐5p/VAMP2 axis, elucidating a novel regulatory mechanism for chemosensitivity of Oxa and providing a potential lncRNA‐targeted therapy for HCC.
Development of a database strategy based on liquid chromatography–quadrupole time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry for the screening of 75 estrogenic chemicals from treated sewage effluent
Authors: Yagishita Mayuko , Kubo Takuya , Otsuka Koji , Nakayama Shoji F. , Nakajima Daisuke
Published: July 2021

The detection of endocrine disrupting chemicals such as estrogenic compounds in environmental samples is a hot topic of research. In this context, this study describes a new screening method for 75 estrogenic chemicals from environmental water samples based on two databases built from the data obtained from liquid chromatography with quadrupole time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry. A first database, named “DATABASE I,” is constructed from the retention time and m/z of molecular weight‐related ions with measured accurate mass of the 75 estrogenic chemicals. A second database, “DATABASE II,” includes the collision‐induced fragmentation spectra with measured accurate mass of the compounds. These databases are respectively applied for a rough screening and precise identification of the estrogenic chemicals of sewage effluents as follows: Step (1): A treated sewage effluent sample is subjected to analysis using the time‐of‐flight scan mode, and a rough screening using DATABASE I is performed. Step (2): The obtained candidate estrogenic chemicals by step 1 are measured using the targeted tandem mass spectrometry mode in which collision energy dependence fragmentations of them are induced. The resulting fragmentation mass spectra are screened using DATABASE II. The application of these two databases improved the accuracy in the identification of estrogenic chemicals, reducing the risk of misidentification.
Standardization of a protein extraction protocol for the proteomic analysis of the leaves of Oryza sativa L. cv. BRS AG
Authors: Vighi Isabel Lopes , Seixas Neto Amilton , de Sousa Guilherme Feijó , de Carvalho Juliana Oliveira , da Silva Pinto Luciano
Published: July 2021

The rice cultivar BRS AG (Oryza sativa L.) is a cereal developed to serve as a raw material for ethanol production or animal feed, contributing to an increasing energy demand and the economic sustainability of the rice sector. However, only few studies have reported this new cultivar. As proteomic analysis is crucial in understanding the physiological and adaptive behavior of BRS AG rice leaves under biotic and abiotic stresses, the present study compared the following three precipitation protocols for the protein extraction of leaf tissue in two‐dimensional electrophoresis analysis: phenol method, trichloroacetic acid‐acetone method, and a third method developed in our laboratory (BIOPRO). The efficiency and repeatability of the protein extraction protocols were evaluated by two‐dimensional electrophoresis analysis. Our results indicate that the BIOPRO protocol was the most efficient in protein extraction as compared to the efficiency of other protocols. We detected a greater amount of protein (15.44 μg/μL) and 414 spots, and the BIOPRO protocol provided the best results regarding reproducibility, focusing, resolved spots, the intensity of spots, and single spot detection. This novel protocol is useful for extracting high‐quality proteins from leaves and presents an efficient removal of contaminants, which is directly linked to a better resolution for two‐dimensional electrophoresis analysis.
Sectional analysis of the cyclic behavior of steel fiber reinforced concrete
Authors: Vandecruys Eline , De Smedt Maure , Vrijdaghs Rutger , Verstrynge Els , Vandewalle Lucie
Published: July 2021

Steel fiber reinforced concrete (SFRC) is known for improving the tensile post‐cracking fatigue behavior of concrete. This paper presents a method to obtain the cyclic tensile behavior of SFRC through sectional analysis, using a limited amount of input parameters. The analytical model is divided into two parts: a monotonic and cyclic model. The monotonic model calculates the uniaxial stress‐crack width curves or constitutive laws of SFRC that fulfill the beam's equilibrium with the smallest error. Afterwards, when the constitutive law is known, the cyclic model predicts the behavior during progressive load cycles. Two methods are used to implement the damage caused by cyclic loading: based on the experimental stiffness during cyclic direct tensile tests (DTTs) and based on a relation between the plastic crack width and the crack width at unloading. The latter option is preferred as no additional DTTs are needed. The proposed methodology therefore eliminates the need for challenging DTTs and only requires more feasible monotonic three‐point bending tests (3PBTs) for model calibration. The model is validated by means of DTTs and cyclic 3PBTs and its potential for extension to fatigue loading is shown.
An experimental investigation on the impermeability and durability of concrete with a novel and multifunctional hydrophobic admixture addition
Authors: Zhang Bo , Li Qingbin , Ma Rui , Niu Xujing , Yang Lin , Hu Yu , Zhang Jinliang
Published: July 2021

In order to improve the durability of concrete, hydrophobic technology is used to isolate the contact between concrete and external water. The addition of hydrophobic admixture is a popular method, but most of the hydrophobic agents mixed with cement sacrifice the partial strength of concrete to improve the hydrophobicity. In this paper, a novel and multifunctional hydrophobic admixture named YREC was prepared, which has a positive effect on strength, impermeability, and durability under freeze–thaw attack. The chloride resistance permeability of concrete mixed with YREC increases by 5.3 times. Water contact angles up to 108 ± 2° were achieved on the concrete. The action mechanism of YREC was investigated using multiscale pore size distribution by means of nitrogen adsorption and mercury intrusion porosimetry, scanning electron microscope, X‐ray diffraction testing, and thermogravimetric analysis (TG). The results indicate that YREC particles can accelerate cement hydration based on TG‐DTG analysis. YREC can be more effectively applied in practical engineering due to the simpler preparation process and cheaper raw material.
Imaging in gynecological disease (23): clinical and ultrasound characteristics of ovarian carcinosarcoma
Authors: Ciccarone F. , Biscione A. , Moro F. , Fischerova D. , Savelli L. , Munaretto M. , Jokubkiene L. , Sladkevicius P. , Chiappa V. , Fruscio R. , Franchi D. , Epstein E. , Timmerman D. , Froyman W. , Valentin L. , Scambia G. , Testa A. C.
Published: July 2021

Objective

To describe the clinical and ultrasound characteristics of ovarian carcinosarcoma.

Methods

This was a retrospective multicenter study. Patients with a histological diagnosis of ovarian carcinosarcoma, who had undergone preoperative ultrasound examination between 2010 and 2019, were identified from the International Ovarian Tumor Analysis (IOTA) database. Additional patients who were examined outside of the IOTA study were identified from the databases of the participating centers. The masses were described using the terms and definitions of the IOTA group. Additionally, two experienced ultrasound examiners reviewed all available images to identify typical ultrasound features using pattern recognition.

Results

Ninety‐one patients with ovarian carcinosarcoma who had undergone ultrasound examination were identified, of whom 24 were examined within the IOTA studies and 67 were examined outside of the IOTA studies. Median age at diagnosis was 66 (range, 33–91) years and 84/91 (92.3%) patients were postmenopausal. Most patients (67/91, 73.6%) were symptomatic, with the most common complaint being pain (51/91, 56.0%). Most tumors (67/91, 73.6%) were International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) Stage III or IV. Bilateral lesions were observed on ultrasound in 46/91 (50.5%) patients. Ascites was present in 38/91 (41.8%) patients. The median largest tumor diameter was 100 (range, 18–260) mm. All ovarian carcinosarcomas contained solid components, and most were described as solid (66/91, 72.5%) or multilocular‐solid (22/91, 24.2%). The median diameter of the largest solid component was 77.5 (range, 11–238) mm. Moderate or rich vascularization was found in 78/91 (85.7%) cases. Retrospective analysis of ultrasound images and videoclips using pattern recognition in 73 cases revealed that all tumors had irregular margins and inhomogeneous echogenicity of the solid components. Forty‐seven of 73 (64.4%) masses appeared as a solid tumor with cystic areas. Cooked appearance of the solid tissue was identified in 28/73 (38.4%) tumors. No pathognomonic ultrasound sign of ovarian carcinosarcoma was found.

Conclusions

Ovarian carcinosarcomas are usually diagnosed in postmenopausal women and at an advanced stage. The most common ultrasound appearance is a large solid tumor with irregular margins, inhomogeneous echogenicity of the solid tissue and cystic areas. The second most common pattern is a large multilocular‐solid mass with inhomogeneous echogenicity of the solid tissue. © 2021 International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.
Removing the effects of temperature on electrical resistivity tomography data collected in partially frozen ground: Limitations and considerations for field applications
Authors: Herring Teddi , Pidlisecky Adam , Cey Edwin
Published: July 2021

Time‐lapse electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) can be used to image a wide variety of subsurface processes. It is often necessary to remove the effects of seasonal near‐surface temperature variability in order to interpret the signal of interest. Here, we use a synthetic modeling approach to explore the challenges related to removing temperature effects from ERT data in seasonally frozen ground. Electrical resistivity tomography data collection and processing methods that are often used to improve resolution in frozen ground do not appreciably improve the accuracy of temperature corrected data. A sensitivity analysis showed that errors in the temperature corrected data are primarily caused by error in the inverted resistivity models, and that this sensitivity to model error is much higher in partially frozen ground than in unfrozen ground.
LéXPLORE: A floating laboratory on Lake Geneva offering unique lake research opportunities
Authors: Wüest Alfred , Bouffard Damien , Guillard Jean , Ibelings Bastiaan W. , Lavanchy Sébastien , Perga Marie‐Elodie , Pasche Natacha
Published: July 2021

Environmental sciences depend heavily on observational data. Successful studies of ecological processes in lakes require in‐situ data that cover the relevant temporal scales from milliseconds to entire seasons. Temporal and spatial coverage requirements represent a non‐trivial challenge in lake sciences, which have traditionally used sampling campaigns conducted from research vessels or anchored moorings. These come with various logistical tasks and impose constraints on data coverage. An open water platform can overcome many of these limitations by providing continuous access and a wide range of analytical capabilities in direct contact with the lake environment. A consortium of five partner institutions constructed a 10 × 10 m, open‐water, multipurpose platform on Lake Geneva (Switzerland/France) for a broad range of limnological research. The LéXPLORE platform, anchored since February 2019 at a position reaching 110 m depth off the lake's north‐shore, provides workspace for a large number of instruments and up to 16 staff working in parallel on individual or integrated multidisciplinary projects. The safe, dry and protected floating laboratory offers direct access to the lake environment for high‐sensitivity, high‐throughput analyses including those which might advance sensor technology. The platform provides flexible workspace for both high‐resolution measurements and investigations of larger‐scale external forcing. It thus supports multidisciplinary empirical research in limnology, atmospheric sciences, and remote sensing. This article describes the platform and how it will advance aquatic sciences. The large number of projects that have already requested access to the platform demonstrate the efficacy and necessity of the LéXPLORE concept.

This article is categorized under:

Water and Life > Conservation, Management, and Awareness

Water and Life > Methods
Bioacoustics as a tool to monitor the estrus cycle in a female slow loris (Nycticebus sp.)
Authors: Schneiderová Irena , Vodička Roman
Published: July 2021

Evidence‐based husbandry leading to increased reproductive success and strengthening of ex situ populations of slow lorises (Nycticebus spp.) living in zoos is highly important. Better fulfillment of their social needs is one of the main priorities in achieving these objectives. We performed 21‐month long acoustic monitoring of a zoo‐kept female slow loris (Nycticebus sp.) housed either singly or with one of two males to examine whether her estrus cycle potentially could be detected based on her vocal activity. We found a regular cycle of remarkably increased whistle production that lasted approximately 31.2 days in a nocturnal exhibit and approximately 39 days in an off‐show room. The regular cycle of increased vocal activity corresponded to a previously described estrus cycle of slow lorises and was observable in the presence of both males as well as when the female was housed singly. Additionally, vaginal smears collected from the female close to the peak period of her vocal activity showed signs of proestrus and estrus. The acoustic properties of the whistles, specifically that they did not overlap with or were loud enough to exceed background noise commonly occurring in zoos, made them perfect candidates for analyses involving automatic processing of a large number of recordings. We conclude that bioacoustics represents a promising, completely noninvasive and relatively easily applicable tool that allows detection and anticipation of the estrus cycle in some females, thus improving the social management of slow lorises living in zoos.
Towards Autonomous Robot Evolution
Authors: Eiben Agoston E. , Hart Emma , Timmis Jon , Tyrrell Andy M. , Winfield Alan F.
Published: July 2021

We outline a perspective on the future of evolutionary robotics and discuss a long-term vision regarding robots that evolve in the real world. We argue that such systems offer significant potential for advancing both science and engineering. For science, evolving robots can be used to investigate fundamental issues about evolution and the emergence of embodied intelligence. For engineering, artificial evolution can be used as a tool that produces good designs in difficult applications in complex unstructured environments with (partially) unknown and possibly changing conditions. This implies a new paradigm, second-order software engineering, where instead of directly developing a system for a given application, we develop an evolutionary system that will develop the target system for us. Importantly, this also holds for the hardware; with a complete evolutionary robot system, both the software and the hardware are evolved. In this chapter, we discuss the long-term vision, elaborate on the main challenges, and present the initial results of an ongoing research project concerned with the first tangible implementation of such a robot system.
Composition, Separation of Roles and Model-Driven Approaches as Enabler of a Robotics Software Ecosystem
Authors: Schlegel Christian , Lotz Alex , Lutz Matthias , Stampfer Dennis
Published: July 2021

Successful engineering principles for building software systems rely on the separation of concerns for mastering complexity. However, just working on different concerns of a system in a collaborative way is not good enough for economically feasible tailored solutions. A successful approach for this is the composition of complex systems out of commodity building blocks. These come as is and can be represented as blocks with ports via data sheets. Data sheets are models and allow a proper selection and configuration as well as the prediction of the behavior of a building block in a specific context. This chapter explains how model-driven approaches can be used to support separation of roles and composition for robotics software systems. The models, open-source tools, open-source robotics software components and fully deployable robotics software systems shape a robotics software ecosystem.
NLO fragmentation functions for a quark into a spin-singlet quarkonium: same flavor case
Authors: Zheng Xu-Chang , Wu Xing-Gang , Huang Xu-Dong
Published: July 2021

Abstract

In the paper, we calculate the fragmentation functions for c → ηc and b → ηb up to next-to-leading-order (NLO) QCD accuracy. The ultraviolet divergences in the real corrections are removed through operator renormalization under the modified min- imal subtraction scheme. We then obtain the fragmentation functions $$ {D}_{c\to {\eta}_c} $$

D

c
→

η
c

(z, μF) and $$ {D}_{b\to {\eta}_b} $$

D

b
→

η
b

(z, μF) up to NLO QCD accuracy, which are presented as figures and fitting functions. The numerical results show that the NLO corrections are significant. The sensitives of the fragmentation functions to the renormalization scale and the factorization scale are analyzed explicitly.
Photogrammetric evaluation of shear modulus of glulam timber using torsion test method and dual stereo vision system
Authors: Mohamed Ahmed , Deng Yu , Zhang Hexin , Wong Simon H. F. , Uheida Kal , Zhang Y. X. , Zhu Mei-Chun , Lehmann Martin , Quan Yanfang
Published: July 2021

The shear modulus of timber and timber-based composite materials is a fundamental mechanical property, which is used in the design of timber and engineered wood products. The problem of experimentally determining appropriate values of shear modulus for timber-based composite is not as simple and straightforward as in isotropic materials. Although the torsion test is a recommended standard approach to determine the shear modulus of structural-size timber and glulam beams, it is difficult to measure the rotational deformations of the timber beams. Therefore, in this paper, a stereo camera system combined with a photogrammetric approach is proposed to evaluate the values and variations of the shear modulus of glulam beams under the torsion test. The photogrammetric approach is a non-contact method, which provides an efficient and alternative approach for measuring the deformations of the torsion specimens in three dimensions. A series of experiments was conducted on glulam timber beams under the torsion test to investigate the applicability of the optical approach to evaluate the values and variations of shear modulus as well as to investigate the effect of applying torques in a clockwise or anticlockwise direction on the shear modulus of the beams. This optical system not only allows the performance and reliability of the traditional sensors to be assessed, but also allows the rotational deformation of the torsion samples to be monitored at various locations. This enables the values of shear modulus at different cross-sections of the torsion specimens to be evaluated without the need to use more devices. The test results showed that applying torques to the glulam timber specimens during loading and unloading in either a clockwise or anticlockwise direction does not influence or cause a significant change in the shear modulus of the beams. By comparing shear modulus values of glulam beams measured based on different shear spans, it was found that the larger the shear span the smaller the shear modulus value. This might indicate that the variations of shear modulus values at these different gauge lengths need to be considered.
Discrete systems in thermal physics and engineering: a glance from non-equilibrium thermodynamics
Authors: Muschik W.
Published: July 2021

Non-equilibrium processes in Schottky systems generate by projection onto the equilibrium subspace reversible accompanying processes for which the non-equilibrium variables are functions of the equilibrium ones. The embedding theorem which guarantees the compatibility of the accompanying processes with the non-equilibrium entropy is proved. The non-equilibrium entropy is defined as a state function on the non-equilibrium state space containing the contact temperature as a non-equilibrium variable. If the entropy production does not depend on the internal energy, the contact temperature changes into the thermostatic temperature also in non-equilibrium, a fact which allows to use temperature as a primitive concept in non-equilibrium. The dissipation inequality is revisited, and an efficiency of generalized cyclic processes beyond the Carnot process is achieved.
Information acquisition and provision in school choice: a theoretical investigation
Authors: Chen Yan , He YingHua
Published: July 2021

When participating in school choice, students may incur information acquisition costs to learn about school quality. This paper investigates how two popular school choice mechanisms, the (Boston) Immediate Acceptance and the Deferred Acceptance, incentivize students’ information acquisition. Specifically, we show that only the Immediate Acceptance mechanism incentivizes students to learn their own cardinal and others’ preferences. We demonstrate that information acquisition costs affect the efficiency of each mechanism and the welfare ranking between the two. In the case where everyone has the same ordinal preferences, we evaluate the welfare effects of various information provision policies by education authorities.
High fibroblast-activation-protein expression in castration-resistant prostate cancer supports the use of FAPI-molecular theranostics
Authors: Kesch Claudia , Yirga Leubet , Dendl Katharina , Handke Analena , Darr Christopher , Krafft Ulrich , Radtke Jan Philipp , Tschirdewahn Stephan , Szarvas Tibor , Fazli Ladan , Gleave Martin , Giesel Frederik L. , Haberkorn Uwe , Hadaschik Boris
Published: July 2021

Purpose

To evaluate fibroblast-activation-protein (FAP) expression in different clinical stages of prostate cancer (PC) with regards to utility of [68 Ga]Ga-FAPI-04 PET/CT imaging in patients with castration-resistant PC (CRPC).

Methods

Tissue microarrays (TMAs) were constructed from prostatic tissue from 94 patients at different stages of PC (primary PC, patients undergoing neoadjuvant androgen deprivation therapy, CRPC, and neuroendocrine PC (NEPC)) and were stained with anti-FAP monoclonal antibody. A positive pixel count algorithm (H-Index) was used to compare FAP expression between the groups. Additionally, three men with advanced CRPC or NEPC underwent [68 Ga]Ga-FAPI-04 PET/CT, and PET positivity was analyzed.

Results

The mean H-index for benign tissue, primary PC, neoadjuvant androgen deprivation therapy before radical prostatectomy, CRPC, and NEPC was 0.018, 0.031, 0.042, 0.076, and 0.051, respectively, indicating a significant rise in FAP expression with advancement of disease. Corroborating these findings [68 Ga]Ga-FAPI-04 PET/CT was highly positive in men with advanced CRPC.

Conclusion

Increased FAP tissue expression supports the use of FAP inhibitor (FAPI)-molecular theranostics in CRPC.
Postoperative radiological assessment of the mastoid facial canal in cochlear implant patients in correlation with facial nerve stimulation
Authors: Burck Iris , Helal Rania A. , Naguib Nagy N. N. , Nour-Eldin Nour-Eldin A. , Scholtz Jan-Erik , Martin Simon , Leinung Martin , Helbig Silke , Stöver Timo , Lehn Annette , Vogl Thomas J.
Published: July 2021

Objectives

To correlate the radiological assessment of the mastoid facial canal in postoperative cochlear implant (CI) cone-beam CT (CBCT) and other possible contributing clinical or implant-related factors with postoperative facial nerve stimulation (FNS) occurrence.

Methods

Two experienced radiologists evaluated retrospectively 215 postoperative post-CI CBCT examinations. The mastoid facial canal diameter, wall thickness, distance between the electrode cable and mastoid facial canal, and facial-chorda tympani angle were assessed. Additionally, the intracochlear position and the insertion angle and depth of electrodes were evaluated. Clinical data were analyzed for postoperative FNS within 1.5-year follow-up, CI type, onset, and causes for hearing loss such as otosclerosis, meningitis, and history of previous ear surgeries. Postoperative FNS was correlated with the measurements and clinical data using logistic regression.

Results

Within the study population (mean age: 56 ± 18 years), ten patients presented with FNS. The correlations between FNS and facial canal diameter (p = 0.09), wall thickness (p = 0.27), distance to CI cable (p = 0.44), and angle with chorda tympani (p = 0.75) were statistically non-significant. There were statistical significances for previous history of meningitis/encephalitis (p = 0.001), extracochlear-electrode-contacts (p = 0.002), scala-vestibuli position (p = 0.02), younger patients’ age (p = 0.03), lateral-wall-electrode type (p = 0.04), and early/childhood onset hearing loss (p = 0.04). Histories of meningitis/encephalitis and extracochlear-electrode-contacts were included in the first two steps of the multivariate logistic regression.

Conclusion

The mastoid-facial canal radiological assessment and the positional relationship with the CI electrode provide no predictor of postoperative FNS. Histories of meningitis/encephalitis and extracochlear-electrode-contacts are important risk factors.

Key Points

• Post-operative radiological assessment of the mastoid facial canal and the positional relationship with the CI electrode provide no predictor of post-cochlear implant facial nerve stimulation.

• Radiological detection of extracochlear electrode contacts and the previous clinical history of meningitis/encephalitis are two important risk factors for postoperative facial nerve stimulation in cochlear implant patients.

• The presence of scala vestibuli electrode insertion as well as the lateral wall electrode type, the younger patient’s age, and early onset of SNHL can play important role in the prediction of post-cochlear implant facial nerve stimulation.
Short-term outcome of Ivor Lewis esophagectomy following neoadjuvant chemoradiation versus perioperative chemotherapy in patients with locally advanced adenocarcinoma of the esophagus and gastroesophageal junction: a propensity score-matched analysis
Authors: Plum Patrick Sven , Damanakis Alexander , Buschmann Lisa , Ernst Angela , Datta Rabi Raj , Schiffmann Lars Mortimer , Zander Thomas , Fuchs Hans , Chon Seung-Hun , Alakus Hakan , Schröder Wolfgang , Hölscher Arnulf Heinrich , Bruns Christiane Josephine , Bludau Marc
Published: July 2021

Background

Patients with locally advanced esophageal or gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma benefit from multimodal therapy concepts including neoadjuvant chemoradiation (nCRT), respectively, perioperative chemotherapy (pCT). However, it remains unclear which treatment is superior concerning postoperative morbidity.

Methods

In this study, we compared the postsurgical survival (30-day/90-day/1-year mortality) (primary endpoint), treatment response, and surgical complications (secondary endpoints) of patients who either received nCRT (CROSS protocol) or pCT (FLOT protocol) due to esophageal/gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma. Between January 2013 and December 2017, 873 patients underwent Ivor Lewis esophagectomy in our high-volume center. 339 patients received nCRT and 97 underwent pCT. After 1:1 propensity score matching (matching criteria: sex, age, BMI, ASA score, and Charlson score), 97 patients per subgroup were included for analysis.

Results

After matching, tumor response (ypT/ypN) did not differ significantly between nCRT and pCT (p = 0.118, respectively, p = 0.174). Residual nodal metastasis occurred more often after pCT (p = 0.001). Postsurgical mortality was comparable within both groups. No patient died within 30 or 90 days after surgery while the 1-year survival rate was 72.2% for nCRT and 68.0% for pCT (p = 0.47). Only grade 3a complications according to Clavien–Dindo were increased after pCT (p = 0.04). There was a trend towards a higher rate of pylorospasm within the pCT group (nCRT: 23.7% versus pCT: 37.1%) (p = 0.061). Multivariate analysis identified pCT, younger age, and Charlson score as independent variables for pylorospasm.

Conclusion

Both nCRT and pCT are safe and efficient within the multimodal treatment of esophageal/gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma. We did not observe differences in postoperative morbidity. However, functional aspects such as gastric emptying might be more frequent after pCT.