bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Recurrent metastasis risk factors in esophageal cancer after salvage endoscopic resection for local failure following chemoradiotherapy
Authors: Yamashita Hiroki , Nakajo Keiichiro , Takashima Kenji , Murano Tatsuro , Kadota Tomohiro , Sinmura Kensuke , Yoda Yusuke , Ikematsu Hiroaki , Fujii Satoshi , Yano Tomonori
Published: April 2022

Objectives

Although salvage endoscopic resection is an optimal treatment for local failure after chemoradiotherapy for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, recurrent metastasis (lymph node and/or distant metastasis) after salvage endoscopic resection may occur with a certain degree of unavoidable frequency and is associated with a poor prognosis. However, the risk factors for recurrent metastasis are unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the risk factors for recurrent metastasis after salvage endoscopic resection.

Methods

Patients who underwent salvage endoscopic resection for local failure after chemoradiotherapy/radiotherapy were analyzed in this single‐center, retrospective study. We evaluated the cumulative incidence rates of recurrent metastases, overall survival, and the risk factors for recurrent metastasis after salvage endoscopic resection.

Results

We analyzed 132 patients. The 5‐year cumulative incidence rate of recurrent metastases after salvage endoscopic resection was 25.7%. The 5‐year overall survival rates in all patients and in patients with recurrent metastasis were 66.8% and 22.5%, respectively. Local failure pattern with a residual lesion after chemoradiotherapy/radiotherapy (subdistribution hazard ratio 2.34; P = 0.012) and the presence of lymphatic invasion in salvage endoscopic resection specimen (subdistribution hazard ratio 3.20; P = 0.002) were significant risk factors for recurrent metastasis.

Conclusions

Patients with local failure pattern with a residual lesion after chemoradiotherapy/radiotherapy and presence of lymphatic invasion have a high risk for recurrent metastasis. Thus, appropriate surveillance for these patients should be considered.
Effect of mold enclosure and chisel design on fatigue bond strength of dental adhesive systems
Authors: Barkmeier Wayne W. , Tsujimoto Akimasa , Latta Mark A. , Takamizawa Toshiki , Radniecki Scott M. , Garcia‐Godoy Franklin
Published: April 2022

To examine the effect of mold enclosure and chisel design on macro shear fatigue bond strengths of dental adhesive systems. The fatigue bond strength testing was conducted with two commercially available dental adhesive systems, (1) OptiBond eXTRa and (2) Scotchbond Universal, for bonding a resin composite (Filtek Supreme Ultra) to both enamel and dentin using a mold enclosure and a non‐mold enclosure with a knife‐edge and two sized notched‐edge chisel assemblies for loading. As a loading reference for the fatigue testing, macro shear bond strengths of the adhesive systems to enamel and dentin were conducted using a mold enclosure and a knife‐edge chisel assembly. The shear bond strengths with the mold enclosure using knife‐edge chisel assembly did not exhibit a significant difference between the adhesive systems for either enamel or dentin. The fatigue bond strengths of bonded specimens demonstrated significant differences when comparing the mold enclosure and non‐mold enclosure, but not between knife‐edge and notched‐edge chisel assemblies. The fatigue bond strengths of dental adhesive systems demonstrated significantly higher values when using mold‐enclosed bonded specimens than a non‐mold enclosure, regardless of type of chisel assembly.
Occupational stigma among further education teaching staff in hair and beauty: Mild but challenging
Authors: Harness Oonagh M.
Published: April 2022

This article explores how Further Education (FE) lecturers and trainers manage a mild stigma that socially taints their work through a discourse intersecting gender and class. To frame their experiences, I draw upon identity work tactics established within the dirty work literature. Through an interview and observational study, the potency of cultural imagery and discourse is shown to manifest as a stigma. This stigma differentiates those associated with hair and beauty work by imposing discrediting tropes pertaining to skill, class status, and social value. Lecturers and trainers become tainted by proxy through the association with an industry and interaction with bodies that are discredited through a gender‐class discourse. Through close proximal positioning to a tainted subject matter, FE lecturers and trainers rely upon esteem‐enhancing strategies to minimize discrediting assumptions. The students they teach may embody stigma through tainted attributes that signal working‐class femininity, yet they enable FE lecturers and trainers to minimize taint by drawing from an alternate discourse that celebrates upward cultural mobility and a more refined iteration of femininity. By broadening the landscape of stigma to recognize it as milder than its extreme theorization in dirty work, this article explores discourse and representation as a centralizing source of stigma.
Y2O3:Eu3+@SiO2 nanocomposites as a convertor for a broadband solar‐blind UV photodetector
Authors: Jia Hong , Zhang Xian , Feng Zhenyi , Zhao Xuefei , Zhu Yibing , Fan Yidan , Pan Jinping , Ding Chaoliang , Zhang Zhiling , Xu Xiaoyun , Cao Yan
Published: April 2022

Core–shell nanocomposites have attracted extensive attention in the photoelectric field because of their improved material properties and the combination of multiple functions. Particularly, these nanocomposites exhibit tunable structure and excellent optical properties. Inspired by these unique features, a novel optically active nanocomposites, Y2O3:Eu3+@SiO2 with a core–shell structure, is designed and fabricated by a hydrothermal method and electrophoretic deposition. In addition, the Y2O3:Eu3+@SiO2 composite film is also successfully developed and applied as a spectral down‐converter in the solar‐blind ultraviolet (UV) waveband region of 200–280 nm. Moreover, a broadband solar‐blind UV photodetector device is elaborated and a notable enhancement in the UV sensitivity is achieved. The findings not only provide a new idea for the development of broadband solar‐blind UV photodetector but also extended the application range of core–shell nanocomposites in photonics.
Microstructure evolution in Si+ion irradiated and annealed Ti3SiC2MAX phase
Authors: Ye Chao , Chang Qing , Lei Penghui , Dong Wenhui , Peng Qing
Published: April 2022

Ti3SiC2samples were irradiated by a 6‐MeV Si+ion to a fluence of 2  1016Si+ions/cm2at 300°C followed by annealing at 900°C for 5 h. A transmission electron microscope was used to characterize microstructural evolution. The phase of Ti3SiC2transformed from the hexagonal close‐packed (HCP) to a face‐centered cubic structure after irradiation. Hexagonal screw dislocation networks were identified at the deepest position of the irradiated area, which are the products of dislocations reactions. After annealing, the irradiated region has reverted to the original HCP structure. High‐density cavities and stacking faults were formed along the basal planes. In addition, ripplocations have been observed in the irradiated region in the Ti3SiC2sample after annealing. Our insights into the formation processes and corresponding mechanisms of these defect structures might be helpful in the material design of advanced irradiation tolerance materials.
Mrada3 is required for sexual reproduction and secondary metabolite production in industrial fungi Monascus strain
Authors: Gao Jing , Song Cuina , Zhang Jing , Hu Yifan , Shao Yanchun
Published: April 2022

Aims

Monascus spp. are valuable industrial fungi for producing beneficial compounds. Because sporulation is often coupled with the production of secondary metabolites, the current study was performed to investigate how Mrada3 regulated asexual and sexual development and the production of edible pigments and mycotoxin.

Methods and Results

The functional characteristics of Mrada3 were identified by gene deletion and overexpression in Monascus ruber M7 (the wild-type, WT). The results revealed that the ΔMrada3 strain aborted sexual development, but it produced many more conidia than WT. RNA-seq data showed that the deletion of Mrada3 altered the expression levels of partial genes involved in sexual and asexual development. In addition, the deletion of Mrada3 also resulted in slower growth, lower pigment production and increased citrinin yield during the late period. For the Mrada3-overexpressed strain, the number of ascospores and pigment content were significantly higher than those of WT, but citrinin was slightly lower than that of WT.

Conclusions

The Mrada3 gene plays a vital role in the sporulation development and secondary metabolism of Monascus species.

Significance and impact of the study

Mrada3 is first identified as an essential regulator for sexual development in Monascus species, enriching the regulatory knowledge of sexual development in filamentous fungi.
White wine grape pomace as a suitable carbon source for lipid and carotenoid production by fructophilic Rhodorotula babjevae
Authors: Pedras Bruno M. , Gonçalves Carla , Figueira Diogo R. , Simões Pedro , Gonçalves Paula , Paiva Alexandre , Barreiros Susana , Salema-Oom Madalena
Published: April 2022

Aim

We aim to explore the non-structural sugars from white wine grape pomace (WWGP) as the input carbon source for the co-production of multiple high-value products by the non-fastidious yeast Rhodotorula babjevae to create a sustainable and economically appealing process.

Methods and Results

Water extraction of unfermented, soluble sugars from WWGP yielded extracts with similar amounts of glucose and fructose, which were used to prepare a growth medium. Rhodorotula babjevae multiplied as fast on WWGP-based medium as on a reference medium but achieved higher cell dry weight (CDW) and lower intracellular triacylglycerol accumulation (22.5% vs. 28.6%) in WWGP-based medium. In addition, R. babjevae produced mannitol and arabitol and carotenoids and secreted polyol esters of fatty acids, a rare type of glycolipid as confirmed by Fourier transform-infrared, nuclear magnetic resonance and high-performance liquid chromatography analyses. Remarkably, R. babjevae consumed simultaneously both fructose and glucose when on WWGP-based medium and left glucose practically untouched in the reference medium, evidencing a fructophilic character.

Conclusions

Rhodorotula babjevae, a metabolic versatile yeast, proliferated on a minimally processed extract and successfully converted glucose and fructose into high-value products.

Significance and Impact of Study

Different chemicals with market potential can be produced through the valorization of abundant waste feedstocks generated by the wine industry to which R. babjevae can contribute.
Systematic review of electrophysiology procedures in patients with obstruction of the inferior vena cava
Authors: Al‐Sinan Ali , Chan Kim H. , Young Glenn D. , Martin Andrew , Sepahpour Ali , Sy Raymond W.
Published: April 2022

Aims

The objective of the study was to conduct a systematic review to describe and compare the different approaches for performing cardiac electrophysiology (EP) procedures in patients with interrupted inferior vena cava (IVC) or equivalent entities causing IVC obstruction.

Methods

We conducted a structured search to identify manuscripts reporting EP procedures with interrupted IVC or IVC obstruction of any aetiology published up until August 2020. No restrictions were applied in the search strategy. We also included seven local cases that met inclusion criteria.

Results

The analysis included 142 patients (mean age 48.9 years; 48% female) undergoing 143 procedures. Obstruction of the IVC was not known before the index procedure in 54% of patients. Congenital interruption of IVC was the most frequent cause (80%); and, associated congenital heart disease (CHD) was observed in 43% of patients in this setting. The superior approach for ablation was the most frequently used strategy (52%), followed by inferior approach via the azygos or hemiazygos vein (24%), transhepatic approach (14%), and retroaortic approach (10%). Electroanatomical mapping (58%), use of long sheaths (41%), intracardiac echocardiography (19%), transesophageal echocardiography (15%) and remote controlled magnetic navigation (13%) were used as adjuncts to aid performance. Ablation was successful in 135 of 140 procedures in which outcomes were reported. Major complications were only reported in patients undergoing AF ablation, including two patients with pericardial effusion, one of whom required surgical repair, and another patient who died after inadvertent entry into an undiagnosed atrioesophageal fistula from a previous procedure.

Conclusion

The superior approach is most frequent approach for performing EP procedures in the setting of obstructed IVC. Transhepatic approach is a feasible alternative, and may provide a “familiar approach” for transseptal access when it is required. Adjunctive use of long sheaths, intravascular echocardiography, electro‐anatomical mapping and remote magnetic navigation may be helpful, especially if there is associated complex CHD. With careful planning, EP procedures can usually be successfully performed with a low risk of complications.
Editorial: The near ubiquity of comorbidity – what are the implications for children’s mental health research and practice?
Authors: Fisher Helen L.
Published: April 2022

The experience of two or more mental health disorders or symptom‐clusters, either simultaneously or sequentially, is common among adults. Increasing evidence suggests that such comorbidity may also be prevalent among children though it often extends beyond mental health disorders. This is highlighted by several of the papers featured in the current issue of the Journal, which are summarised in this editorial. These studies underscore the importance of providing integrated care for children to ensure all their needs are effectively addressed. It also raises questions about the distinctions we draw between disorders and supports calls for dimensional approaches to conceptualising psychopathology and its inter‐relatedness with other aspects of health and functioning.
The Larix kaempferi genome reveals new insights into wood properties
Authors: Sun Chao , Xie Yun‐Hui , Li Zhen , Liu Yan‐Jing , Sun Xiao‐Mei , Li Jing‐Jing , Quan Wei‐Peng , Zeng Qing‐Yin , Van de Peer Yves , Zhang Shou‐Gong
Published: April 2022

Here, through single‐molecule real‐time sequencing, we present a high‐quality genome sequence of the Japanese larch (Larix kaempferi), a conifer species with great value for wood production and ecological afforestation. The assembled genome is 10.97 Gb in size, harboring 45,828 protein‐coding genes. Of the genome, 66.8% consists of repeat sequences, of which long terminal repeat retrotransposons are dominant and make up 69.86%. We find that tandem duplications have been responsible for the expansion of genes involved in transcriptional regulation and stress responses, unveiling their crucial roles in adaptive evolution. Population transcriptome analysis reveals that lignin content in L. kaempferi is mainly determined by the process of monolignol polymerization. The expression values of six genes (LkCOMT7, LkCOMT8, LkLAC23, LkLAC102, LkPRX148, and LkPRX166) have significantly positive correlations with lignin content. These results indicated that the increased expression of these six genes might be responsible for the high lignin content of the larches' wood. Overall, this study provides new genome resources for investigating the evolution and biological function of conifer trees, and also offers new insights into wood properties of larches.
Dietary supplementations modulate the physiological parameters, fatty acids profile and the growth of red claw crayfish (Cherax quadricarinatus)
Authors: Shehata Akram Ismael , Alhoshy Mayada , Wang Tao , Mohsin Muhammad , Wang Jianfeng , Wang Xuexi , Han Tao , Wang Yilei , Zhang Ziping
Published: April 2022

An optimal diet is an important factor for the proper growth and health of crustaceans. However, the regulation of antioxidant activity and non‐specific immunity related to the consumption of feed additives has not been studied in RC‐crayfish. Triplicate groups of 20 crayfish/tank (36.72 ± 0.70 g) fed with a basal diet and sixteen experimental diets that contained five feed additives with four grade levels (40, 160, 240 and 320 mg/kg vitamin E, 2, 4, 6 and 8 g/kg nucleotides, 2, 4, 6 and 8 g/kg Haematococcus pluvialis, 5, 10, 15 and 20 g/kg arachidonic acid and 2.5, 5, 10 and 15 g/kg yeast extract) on physiological parameters, fatty acids profile and growth of Cherax quadricarinatus for a period of 70 days by using orthogonal array method (L16 45). The results showed that the antioxidants activity in the haemolymph and hepatopancreas were both higher in crayfish fed with diets NO. 9 to 12 than others. Also, all the diets except diets NO. 13 to 16 showed lower free radicals contents than the control group. Similarly, significantly higher non‐specific immune parameters were observed in the hepatopancreas of crayfish supplementations than those fed a control diet. Biochemical parameters related to protein profile in haemolymph increased in diets NO. 9 to 12 and then decreased in control and diets NO. 13 to 16, while the highest biochemical parameters related to lipid profile except HDL‐c contents in haemolymph were observed in crayfish fed the control diet. Fatty acid composition in the hepatopancreas, muscle and ovary of RC‐crayfish was significantly influenced by using the combination of Vit E, NT, H. pluvialis and YP compared to the control group. Compared to all treatments, RC‐crayfish fed with diets NO. 2 and 12 had significantly stimulated higher growth performance and feed utilisation. Overall, our results suggest that diets supplemented with Vit E level of 240 mg/kg, in combination with 8 g/kg NT, 4 g/kg, H. pluvialis, 5 g/kg ARA and 10 g/kg YP are the promising treatments to increase antioxidants activity, non‐specific immune response, fatty acids composition and growth of RC‐crayfish. However, high dietary supplementations level can reduce antioxidants activity, immunity and inhibit growth.
TOR inhibition primes immunity and pathogen resistance in tomato in a salicylic acid‐dependent manner
Authors: Marash Iftah , Leibman‐Markus Meirav , Gupta Rupali , Avni Adi , Bar Maya
Published: April 2022

All organisms need to sense and process information about the availability of nutrients, energy status, and environmental cues to determine the best time for growth and development. The conserved target of rapamycin (TOR) protein kinase has a central role in sensing and perceiving nutritional information. TOR connects environmental information about nutrient availability to developmental and metabolic processes to maintain cellular homeostasis. Under favourable energy conditions, TOR is activated and promotes anabolic processes such as cell division, while suppressing catabolic processes. Conversely, when nutrients are limited or environmental stresses are present, TOR is inactivated, and catabolic processes are promoted. Given the central role of TOR in regulating metabolism, several previous works have examined whether TOR is wired to plant defence. To date, the mechanisms by which TOR influences plant defence are not entirely clear. Here, we addressed this question by testing the effect of inhibiting TOR on immunity and pathogen resistance in tomato. Examining which hormonal defence pathways are influenced by TOR, we show that tomato immune responses and disease resistance to several pathogens increase on TOR inhibition, and that TOR inhibition‐mediated resistance probably requires a functional salicylic acid, but not jasmonic acid, pathway. Our results support the notion that TOR is a master regulator of the development–defence switch in plants.
PERKing up our understanding of the proline‐rich extensin‐like receptor kinases, a forgotten plant receptor kinase family
Authors: Invernizzi Marie , Hanemian Mathieu , Keller Jean , Libourel Cyril , Roby Dominique
Published: April 2022

Proline‐rich extensin‐like receptor kinases (PERKs) are an important class of receptor‐like kinases (RLKs) containing an extracellular proline‐rich domain. While they are thought to be putative sensors of the cell wall integrity, there are very few reports on their biological functions in the plant, as compared with other RLKs. Several studies support a role for PERKs in plant growth and development, but their effect on the cell wall composition to regulate cell expansion is still lacking. Gene expression data suggest that they may intervene in response to environmental changes, in agreement with their subcellular localization. And there is growing evidence for PERKs as novel sensors of environmental stresses such as insects and viruses. However, little is known about their precise role in plant immunity and in the extracellular network of RLKs, as no PERK‐interacting RLK or any coreceptor has been identified as yet. Similarly, their signaling activities and downstream signaling components are just beginning to be deciphered, including Ca2+ fluxes, reactive oxygen species accumulation and phosphorylation events. Here we outline emerging roles for PERKs as novel sensors of environmental stresses, and we discuss how to better understand this overlooked class of receptor kinases via several avenues of research.
Urbanisation modulates the attractiveness of plant communities to pollinators by filtering for floral traits
Authors: Cabon Valentin , Kracht Alice , Seitz Birgit , Kowarik Ingo , von der Lippe Moritz , Buchholz Sascha
Published: April 2022

Urbanisation is known to change biodiversity patterns and plant–animal interactions such as pollination – a key ecological process. Floral traits like colour, size or UV‐patterns are essential attractors for many pollinators. It is largely unknown, though, how the distribution of such floral traits within plant communities changes along an urbanisation gradient.

This study aims to understand to which extent floral traits known to attract pollinators are filtered by urban environments. We used dry grassland, spanning a broad urbanisation gradient in the Berlin metropolitan area, Germany, as a model ecosystem and identified the distribution of plant traits related to bee‐perceived flower colours, UV reflection and flower size in 47 grassland patches. We analysed how these traits were related to abiotic and biotic factors at different spatial scales.

The most influent predictor was an abiotic factor measured at the landscape scale: the proportion of impervious surface, found to be positively related to UV‐reflectance strength and floral UV patterns, but negatively to floral size diversity. At the local scale, abiotic factors showed an intermediary number of relationships. Temperature was negatively associated with the bee‐colour ‘green + UV‐green' and with flower size. The light environment was negatively related to the same bee‐colour and to floral size diversity. Biotic factors related to local pollinator communities were less important: species richness was negatively related to flower size, while proportion of bees to floral sizes diversity.

This study shows that floral traits known to attract pollinators are mostly filtered by abiotic factors related to urbanisation (share of impervious surface) or the urban heat island (local temperature). Biotic factors related to local pollinator communities were less important. These results increase our functional understanding of plant–animal interactions in cities by illustrating how urban environments modulate the attractiveness of plant communities to pollinators by filtering for floral plant traits.
Measuring Pandemic and Lockdown Impacts on Wellbeing
Authors: Grimes Arthur
Published: April 2022

With the onset of the COVID‐19 pandemic, New Zealand's official statistical agency (Stats NZ) moved quickly to supplement the quarterly Household Labour Force Survey with wellbeing measures from the General Social Survey. The first supplement (June 2020) began toward the end of a restrictive national lockdown. Subsequent quarterly surveys continued through a second lockdown for the Auckland region, enabling tests of regional lockdown impacts. Survey measures include questions on life satisfaction, health, income adequacy, social capital (trust), and loneliness. Published aggregated data indicate that life satisfaction, social capital, health, and financial wellbeing were each higher through the pandemic (in 2020) than prior to it, including for disadvantaged groups, but loneliness rose. Analysis of the individual‐level data, confined to the within‐pandemic period, however indicates that more restrictive lockdowns were associated both with reduced life satisfaction and greater loneliness, with differing impacts according to labor market and household status.
Depositional age models in lacustrine systems from zircon and carbonate U‐Pb geochronology
Authors: Montano Damaris , Gasparrini Marta , Rohais Sébastien , Albert Richard , Gerdes Axel
Published: April 2022

The Yacoraite Formation (Salta rift, Argentina) consists of Maastrichtian–Danian lacustrine carbonate and siliciclastic deposits with interbedded volcanic ash layers, organized in four third‐order stratigraphic sequences. It offers the exceptional opportunity to jointly apply in situ zircon and carbonate U‐Pb geochronology that resulted in two distinct depositional age depth models. Ages of the youngest zircon population from ash layers were linearly interpolated to derive a zircon depositional age depth model. A carbonate depositional age depth model was instead obtained from dated carbonate phases including microbialites, ooids, oncoids of calcitic and dolomitic mineralogy as well as early lacustrine calcite cements. Mean ages were defined from different carbonate phases belonging to the same layer and then linearly interpolated. Sedimentation rates were calculated from both depth models between pairs of dated samples and used to estimate the age of sequence boundaries, as well as the duration of the four stratigraphic sequences. The zircon and carbonate depositional age depth models agree with biostratigraphic constraints and exhibit excellent consistency. The onset and end of sedimentation were estimated at 68.2 ± 0.9 Ma and 62.3 ± 0.6 Ma (duration ca 5.7 Ma) via zircon geochronology and at 67.9 ± 1.7 Ma and 61.9 ± 1.3 Ma (duration ca 6.0 Ma) via carbonate geochronology. Results from this study show that with suitable samples and a newly implemented working strategy, in situ U‐Pb dating of depositional and early diagenetic carbonates represent a valuable chronostratigraphic tool for estimating sedimentation rate and duration in poorly time‐framed depositional systems.
Un método de investigación multiescalar y multitemporal para la arquitectura de vivienda social
Authors: Bamba Vicente Juan Carlos , Sandoya Lara Ricardo Andrés , Hidalgo Espinel Claire Esther
Published: April 2022

La investigación plantea la necesidad fundamental de atravesar las escalas de aproximación al entorno físico, no de forma lineal y esquemática, sino dando saltos que se producen con las prácticas sociales de la vida cotidiana que modifican los límites de la jerarquización urbana. El método entiende que la realidad física es continua, pero que la aproximación gráfica no puede serlo, por lo que se plantea un análisis multiescalar, definiendo una serie de encuadres que suplen la necesidad de continuidad en el análisis del proyecto de vivienda. También se lleva a cabo un análisis multitemporal, en donde se identifican las transformaciones que sufren los conjuntos de viviendas a lo largo del tiempo. El análisis comparativo se aborda parcialmente desde diferentes escalas que posteriormente se unifican en una caracterización morfo-topológica integral de los casos de estudio en su estado actual con el objetivo final de plantear posibles estrategias de regeneración. Los proyectos comparados, Mucho Lote I del Municipio de Guayaquil (2001-2005) y Socio Vivienda I del Ministerio de Desarrollo Urbano y Vivienda del Ecuador (2008-2012), son dos conjuntos de Vivienda de Interés Social construidos en Guayaquil, Ecuador, por el gobierno local y el Estado, respectivamente, pioneros de las nuevas políticas de vivienda que consolidan un modelo de desarrollo urbano disperso y segregado, y tipos habitacionales individualizados.
Study on Flow and Cavitation Characteristics of an Energy Storage Chamber Type Common-Rail Injector
Authors: Wentai Wang , Bolan Liu , Yaohui Han , Junwei Zhang , Fanshuo Liu , Ben Li , Peng Wan
Published: April 2022

The high-pressure common-rail fuel injection system is one of the key technologies of diesel engines, which directly affects engine combustion. An energy storage chamber type common rail injector was studied in this paper. The injector is considered to have good control of pressure fluctuation by utilizing a special chamber inside its body. To investigate the flow and cavitation characteristics of the injector, a computational fluid dynamic model was built and validated by experimental data. The flow performance of the energy storage chamber, control valve, and SAC was conducted. The results show that the flow inside the energy storage cavity is smooth, and there is almost no cavitation phenomenon. Although the eccentric valve needle of the control valve will accelerate the flow rate, it will cause a serious cavitation phenomenon, which should be avoided. Increasing the diameter of the injector needle will weaken the cavitation, but it will cause the injector needle valve outlet flow rate to decrease. Finally, for the SAC cavity, increasing the cavity radius, increasing the nozzle inlet angle, and reducing the nozzle length can improve the discharge coefficient and optimize the flow characteristics of the injector.
Atomic layer etching of Al2O3 with NF3 plasma fluorination and trimethylaluminum ligand exchange
Authors: Kim Jihyun , Shim Dahee , Kim Yongjae , Chae Heeyeop
Published: April 2022

In this study, a cyclic isotropic plasma atomic layer etching (ALE) process was developed for aluminum oxide that involves fluorination with NF3 plasma and ligand exchange with trimethylaluminum (TMA). The isotropic plasma ALE consists of two steps: fluorination and removal. During the fluorination step, the Al2O3 surface was fluorinated to AlOFx with NF3 plasma at 100 °C. The formation of the AlOFx layer was confirmed by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis, and the atomic fraction of fluorine on the surface was saturated at 25% after 50 s of plasma fluorination. The depths of the fluorinated layers were in the range of 0.79–1.14 nm at different plasma powers. In the removal step, the fluorinated layer was removed by a ligand exchange reaction with TMA at an elevated temperature range of 250–480 °C. The etch per cycle (EPC) was 0.20–0.30 nm/cycle and saturated after 30 s in the temperature range of 290–330 °C. No etching was observed below 250 °C, and the EPC increased in the temperature range of 250–300 °C during the removal step with the ligand exchange reaction and reached the maximum at 300 °C. Then, the EPC was significantly reduced at high temperatures, possibly due to TMA decomposition. The fluorine atomic fraction on the surface was reduced to 14% after the removal. In conclusion, Al2O3 was successfully etched at the atomic scale by the cyclic plasma ALE process. The average surface roughness of Al2O3 was reduced from 8.6 to 5.3 Å after 20 cycles of etching.
Properties of gallium oxide thin films grown by ion beam sputter deposition at room temperature
Authors: Kalanov Dmitry , Unutulmazsoy Yeliz , Spemann Daniel , Bauer Jens , Anders André , Bundesmann Carsten
Published: April 2022

Gallium oxide thin films were grown by ion beam sputter deposition (IBSD) at room temperature on Si substrates with systematically varied process parameters: primary ion energy, primary ion species (O2+ and Ar+), sputtering geometry (ion incidence angle α and polar emission angle β), and O2 background pressure. No substrate heating was applied because the goal of these experiments was to investigate the impact of the energetic film-forming species on thin film properties. The films were characterized with regard to film thickness, growth rate, crystallinity, surface roughness, mass density, elemental composition and its depth profiles, and optical properties. All films were found to be amorphous with a surface roughness of less than 1 nm. The stoichiometry of the films improved with an increase in the energy of film-forming species. The mass density and the optical properties, including the index of refraction, are correlated and show a dependency on the kinetic energy of the film-forming species. The ranges of IBSD parameters, which are most promising for further improvement of the film quality, are discussed.
Effects of Bilateral Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex High-Definition Transcranial Direct-Current Stimulation on Physiological and Performance Responses at Severe-Intensity Exercise Domain in Elite Road Cyclists
Authors: Gallo Gabriele , Geda Elisabetta , Codella Roberto , Faelli Emanuela , Panascì Marco , Ranieri Luis Eduardo , Pollastri Luca , Brighenti Stefania , Molino Luigi , Riba Ugo , Luzi Livio , Ruggeri Piero , Filipas Luca
Published: April 2022

Purpose: To investigate the effects of bilateral dorsolateral prefrontal cortex high-definition transcranial direct-current stimulation (HD-tDCS) on physiological and performance responses during exercise at the upper limit of the severe-intensity exercise domain in elite-level road cyclists. Methods: Eleven elite-level road cyclists (VO2peak: 71.8 [3.1] mL·kg−1·min−1) underwent the HD-tDCS or SHAM condition in a double-blind, counterbalanced, and randomized order. After 20 minutes of receiving either HD-tDCS on dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (F3 and F4) or SHAM stimulation, participants completed a 10-minute constant-load trial (CLT1) at 90% of the first ventilatory threshold and a 2-minute CLT (CLT2) at peak power output. Thereafter, they performed a simulated 2-km time trial (TT). Maximal oxygen uptake, respiratory exchange ratio, heart rate, and rating of perceived exertion were recorded during CLT1 and CLT2, whereas performance parameters were recorded during the TT. Results: In 6 out of 11 cyclists, the total time to complete the TT was 3.0% faster in HD-tDCS compared to SHAM. Physiological and perceptual variables measured during CLT1 and CLT2 did not change between HD‐tDCS and SHAM. Conclusions: HD-tDCS over the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex seemed to improve cycling TT performance within the upper limit of the severe-intensity exercise domain, suggesting that an upregulation of the prefrontal cortex could be critical even in this exercise intensity domain. However, the limited dimension and the high interindividual variability require further studies to test these putative ergogenic effects.
Effectiveness of Ultrasound-Guided Corticosteroid Injections, Prolotherapy, and Exercise Therapy on Partial-Thickness Supraspinatus Tears
Authors: Eroglu Ali , Yargic Melda Pelin
Published: April 2022

Context: To investigate the effects of steroid injection (STE), prolotherapy (PRO), and exercise therapy in the treatment of partial tears of the supraspinatus. Design: A retrospective cohort study. Methods: A total of 64 patients with clinically and radiologically diagnosed partial-thickness supraspinatus tear who received either a cortisone injection (STE), dextrose PRO, or physical therapy combined with home-based exercise therapy were included. Main outcome measures were patients’ visual analog scale scores, Western Ontario Rotator Cuff (WORC) Index scores, and the Shoulder Pain and Disability Index scores at the baseline, 3 weeks, and 3 months. Results: The effect of group, time, and group–time interaction on visual analog scale, WORC, and Shoulder Pain and Disability Index scores was statistically significant (P < .001). Visual analog scale and Shoulder Pain and Disability Index scores were the lowest in the STE group at week 3, and the lowest in the PRO group at month 3 (P < .001). WORC scores of the STE group were the highest at week 3 (P < .001). At month 3, WORC scores of STE and PRO groups were similar (P = .089), but significantly higher than exercise therapy. Conclusions: Corticosteroids provide a fast pain-relieving effect and improvement in function in partial-thickness rotator cuff tears, but these effects diminish over time, whereas PRO provides a long-lasting effect.
Comparison of neonatal morbidity and mortality between single-room and open-bay care: a retrospective cohort study
Authors: Jansen Sophie , Berkhout Romy J M , te Pas Arjan B , Steggerda Sylke J , de Vries Linda S , Schalij-Delfos Nicoline , van der Hoeven Alieke , Lopriore Enrico , Bekker Vincent
Published: April 2022

Objective

In response to the increasing focus on family-centred care, neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) environments have gradually shifted towards the single-room design. However, the assumed benefits of this emerging design remain a subject of debate. Our goal was to evaluate the impact of single-room versus open-bay care on the risk of neonatal morbidity and mortality in preterm neonates.

Design

Retrospective cohort study.

Setting

Level III NICU.

Patients

Neonates born <32 weeks’ gestation between 15 May 2015 and 15 May 2019.

Main outcome measures

Mortality and morbidities of a cohort of neonates admitted to a new, single-room unit (SRU) were compared with a historical cohort of neonates admitted to an open-bay unit (OBU). Group differences were evaluated and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed.

Results

Three-hundred and fifty-six and 343 neonates were admitted to the SRU and OBU, respectively. No difference in neonatal morbidities and mortality were observed between cohorts (bronchopulmonary dysplasia: OR 1.08, 95% CI 0.73 to 1.58, p=0.44; retinopathy of the prematurity stage ≥2: OR 1.36, 95% CI 0.84 to 2.22, p=0.10; intraventricular haemorrhage: OR 0.89, 95% CI 0.59 to 1.34, p=0.86; mortality: OR 1.55, 95% CI 0.75 to 3.20, p=0.28). In adjusted regression models, single-room care was independently associated with a decreased risk of symptomatic patent ductus arteriosus (adjusted OR 0.54, 95% CI 0.31 to 0.95). No independent association between single-room care and any of the other investigated outcomes was observed.

Conclusions

Implementation of single-rooms in our NICU did not lead to a significant reduction in neonatal morbidity and mortality outcomes.
Progression through return-to-sport and return-to-academics guidelines for concussion management and recovery in collegiate student athletes: findings from the Ivy League–Big Ten Epidemiology of Concussion Study
Authors: Wiebe Douglas J , Bretzin Abigail C , D'Alonzo Bernadette A
Published: April 2022

Objective

To examine the progression of collegiate student athletes through five stages of a return-to-activity protocol following sport-related concussion (SRC).

Methods

In a multisite prospective cohort study, we identified the frequency of initial 24–48 hours physical and cognitive rest, and the sequence of (1) symptom resolution and return to (2) exertion activity, (3) limited sport, (4) full sport and (5) full academics. In resulting profiles we estimated the likelihood of return to full sport ≤14 days or prolonged >28 days and tested for variability based on timing of the stages.

Results

Among 1715 athletes with SRC (31.6% females), 67.9% had 24–48 hours initial physical and cognitive rest. The median was 6 days to return to full academics, 8 days to symptom resolution and 9 days to exertion. Three profiles emerged; all had the same sport-specific return progression, but varied in the relative timing of full academics. In unadjusted analyses, full academics as the first stage corresponded to the longest time to return to full sport, and initiating exertion the same day as symptom resolution resulted in the shortest time. In adjusted regression analyses, athletes initiating full academics while still symptomatic were 21.5% less likely (95% CI −27.4% to −15.5%) to return to full sport ≤14 days and, analogously, 19.1% more likely (95% CI 13.4% to 24.7%) to have prolonged return >28 days. While additionally controlling for initial rest, sex, symptom count and concussion history, the likelihood of prolonged return >28 days was 37.0% (95% CI 25.2% to 48.8%) in athletes initiating exertion considerably before symptoms resolved (ie, 7+ days), but only 3.6% (95% CI −1.4% to 8.6%) in athletes initiating exertion shortly before achieving symptom resolution (ie, 3–4 days).

Conclusion

We found evidence that sequential progressions were consistent with current recommendations including brief initial rest, and the initiation and relative timing of each stage impacted the final return-to-sport outcome.
FOXA2 prevents hyperbilirubinaemia in acute liver failure by maintaining apical MRP2 expression
Authors: Wang Sai , Feng Rilu , Wang Shan Shan , Liu Hui , Shao Chen , Li Yujia , Link Frederik , Munker Stefan , Liebe Roman , Meyer Christoph , Burgermeister Elke , Ebert Matthias , Dooley Steven , Ding Huiguo , Weng Honglei
Published: April 2022

Objective

Multidrug resistance protein 2 (MRP2) is a bottleneck in bilirubin excretion. Its loss is sufficient to induce hyperbilirubinaemia, a prevailing characteristic of acute liver failure (ALF) that is closely associated with clinical outcome. This study scrutinises the transcriptional regulation of MRP2 under different pathophysiological conditions.

Design

Hepatic MRP2, farnesoid X receptor (FXR) and Forkhead box A2 (FOXA2) expression and clinicopathologic associations were examined by immunohistochemistry in 14 patients with cirrhosis and 22 patients with ALF. MRP2 regulatory mechanisms were investigated in primary hepatocytes,Fxr−/−mice and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated mice.

Results

Physiologically, homeostatic MRP2 transcription is mediated by the nuclear receptor FXR/retinoid X receptor complex.Fxr−/−mice lack apical MRP2 expression and rapidly progress into hyperbilirubinaemia. In patients with ALF, hepatic FXR expression is undetectable, however, patients without infection maintain apical MRP2 expression and do not suffer from hyperbilirubinaemia. These patients express FOXA2 in hepatocytes. FOXA2 upregulates MRP2 transcription through binding to its promoter. Physiologically, nuclear FOXA2 translocation is inhibited by insulin. In ALF, high levels of glucagon and tumour necrosis factor α induce FOXA2 expression and nuclear translocation in hepatocytes. Impressively, ALF patients with sepsis express low levels of FOXA2, lose MRP2 expression and develop severe hyperbilirubinaemia. In this case, LPS inhibits FXR expression, induces FOXA2 nuclear exclusion and thus abrogates the compensatory MRP2 upregulation. In bothFxr−/−and LPS-treated mice, ectopic FOXA2 expression restored apical MRP2 expression and normalised serum bilirubin levels.

Conclusion

FOXA2 replaces FXR to maintain MRP2 expression in ALF without sepsis. Ectopic FOXA2 expression to maintain MRP2 represents a potential strategy to prevent hyperbilirubinaemia in septic ALF.
Structural geology of the Cadillac Group along the Malartic segment of the Larder Lake Cadillac deformation zone, Quebec, and implications for gold mineralization
Authors: Samson B. , Lafrance B. , Zhou X. , Hamilton M. , Quesnel B. , Scheffer C. , Beaudoin G. , Perrouty S.
Published: April 2022

The gold-endowed Larder Lake Cadillac deformation zone (LLCDZ) in the Abitibi greenstone belt of the Archean Superior Province generally trends east but swings to the southeast along the Malartic segment in Quebec. Immediately north of the LLCDZ along this segment, deformation of the less than ca. 2687 Ma metasedimentary Cadillac Group began with the formation of isoclinal F1 folds, which are overprinted by post-2676 ± 2.0 Ma regional F2 folds with an axial planar S2 cleavage oriented parallel to the trend of the Malartic segment. Auriferous quartz veins strike east–west (085°) anticlockwise to bedding and S2. They are folded into sigmoidal S-shaped folds due to sinistral shear parallel to bedding. Later dextral shearing segmented the veins and folded the F2 folds into Z-shaped F3 folds. The veins are similar in structural chronology, fluid isotopic composition (calculated [Formula: see text] value between –9.5‰ and –3.4‰ and [Formula: see text] values of 12‰), and isotopic re-equilibration temperatures (469 and 498 °C, quartz–biotite oxygen thermometer) to the veins at the nearby Canadian Malartic deposit to the east. They possess comparable Au–As–Sb association and sericite-arsenopyrite alteration halo, as other Cadillac-Group-hosted veins at the Lapa mine to the west. Collectively, they constitute a vein field that extends across the entire length of the Malartic segment. Contrary to recent interpretations of the Malartic segment as an early accretionary structure that controlled the emplacement of gold deposits, its southeast trend is interpreted as the short limb of a broad Z-shaped flexure that formed during later F3 folding of the LLCDZ.
Thermodynamic geometry of harmonically trapped ideal quantum gases
Authors: Ebadi Zahra , Mohammadzadeh Hosein
Published: April 2022

In this paper, we consider the thermodynamic geometry of harmonic trapped Bose and Fermi gases. We construct a thermodynamic geometry for these systems and evaluate the corresponding metric tensor and thermodynamic curvature. By observing that the thermodynamic curvature of the trapped Bose (Fermi) gas is always positive (negative), we conclude that the trapping potential does not affect the intrinsic statistical interactions. By inspecting the singular points of the thermodynamic curvature, we argue that the confinement dimension and the frequency of the trapping potential change the critical value of fugacity for the Bose gas.
Satisfiability Problems on Sums of Kripke Frames
Authors: Shapirovsky Ilya
Published: April 2022

We consider the operation of sum on Kripke frames, where a family of frames-summands is indexed by elements of another frame. In many cases, the modal logic of sums inherits the finite model property and decidability from the modal logic of summands [Babenyshev and Rybakov2010; Shapirovsky2018]. In this paper we show that, under a general condition, the satisfiability problem on sums is polynomial space Turing reducible to the satisfiability problem on summands. In particular, for many modal logics decidability in PSpace is an immediate corollary from the semantic characterization of the logic.
Are Two Binary Operators Necessary to Obtain a Finite Axiomatisation of Parallel Composition?
Authors: Aceto Luca , Castiglioni Valentina , Fokkink Wan , Ingólfsdóttir Anna , Luttik Bas
Published: April 2022

Bergstra and Klop have shown thatbisimilarityhas afiniteequational axiomatisation over ACP/CCS extended with the binaryleftandcommunication mergeoperators. Moller proved that auxiliary operators arenecessaryto obtain a finite axiomatisation of bisimilarity over CCS, and Aceto et al. showed that this remains true whenHennessy’s mergeis added to that language. These results raise the question of whether there isoneauxiliarybinaryoperator whose addition to CCS leads to a finite axiomatisation of bisimilarity. We contribute to answering this question in the simplified setting of the recursion-, relabelling-, and restriction-free fragment of CCS. We formulate three natural assumptions pertaining to the operational semantics of auxiliary operators and their relationship to parallel composition and prove that an auxiliary binary operator facilitating a finite axiomatisation of bisimilarity in the simplified setting cannot satisfy all three assumptions.