bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Research on Thermal Design of Server Structure Based on LRM Mode
Authors: Ju Lu , Men Shiying , Liu Huan , Chen Yaozhong , Qiao Jinfeng
Published: November 2021

Aiming at the module heat dissipation problem of a military domestic LRM mode server, a thermal design which can improve the module cooling efficiency and equipment integration is proposed. The design can realize the easy heat dissipation and high integration of on-board equipment. Through the design of fan device, module cooling and heat pipe, the heat dissipation efficiency of the server was improved, and the heat dissipation capacity of the module was improved. Thus the integration degree of on-board equipment was improved. The designed server was thermally analyzed and tested at + 65 °C. By comparing the experimental results with the thermal analysis results, the conclusion proved the correctness and feasibility of the research content in this paper.
Verifying the Movable Elastoplastic Boundary Method by Using Galin’s Problem
Authors: Bukhalov V.I.
Published: November 2021

Galin’s solution for the problem of biaxial tension of a plate with a hole completely covered by the plastic region appears to be a pearl recognized by the world scientific community. This solution serves as a test for all sorts of approximate approaches to solving elastoplastic problems, including the semi-analytical iterative method being developed by the author, focused on solving more complex problems such as the Kirsch problem in the elastoplastic formulation. The proposed iterative approach for a semi-analytical solution involves an explicit analytical expression for stresses in the plastic region and an iterative numerical solution in the elastic region with a refined border. The paper shows the convergence of the results based on the iterative procedure for the elastoplastic region boundary approaching its analytical position, which follows from the analytical solution of Galin’s elastoplastic problem. Consideration has also been given to obtaining results on the determination of the boundary between the elastic and plastic regions using a competing approximate perturbation method. The advantage of the proposed method lays in not limited modifications in parameters due to the requirement for small differences while formulating a problem from the axisymmetric case as seen in the perturbation method.
Kinematics Analysis of Incomplete Gear and Rack Pumping Unit
Authors: Shao Jun , Ding Kang , Wang Dewei
Published: November 2021

A pumping unit with incomplete gear and rack reversal was designed for smooth motion and low energy consumption. This paper first describes the working principle of the pumping unit. The kinematical equation of the pumping unit is established on the basis of analyzing the kinematic relationship between the first tooth meshing area, the normal meshing area and the final tooth meshing area of incomplete gear and rack. The kinematic relationship curve of the pumping unit is obtained by ADAMS simulation. The simulation results show that the theoretical model is correct. By comparing the results with the conventional pumping unit, it can be seen that: the pumping unit has a smooth movement of the up-down strokes, with fluctuations of movement only in the process of changing directions. The incomplete gear and rack drive is smooth, which can improve the kinestate of the pumping unit.
Fault Diagnosis Model and Application of Water Injection Well Based on SPC Rules and Real-time Data Fusion
Authors: Zheng Chunfeng , Li Ang , Wang Song , An Cheng , Tan Chaodong , Du Guanghao , Niu Huizhao
Published: November 2021

Based on the Extended SPC rules and real-time data fusion, the operating fault diagnosis model and application research of water injection wells were carried out. The historical operating parameters of water injection wells were studied, a multi-parameter rule fault chart was established, and the weight factors of fault diagnosis parameters were obtained based on expert Pcores. A operating fault diagnosis model of water injection wells based on SPC rules and real-time data fusion was constructed. The example analysis shows that the model has good adaptability in Bohai oilfield, can diagnose the fault of water injection wells in real time, quantitatively and accurately, and improves the intelligent level of real-time fault diagnosis of water injection wells.
Data Driven Model of Gas Well Integrity and Its Application
Authors: Hong Jiangling , Zhang Hongjie , Wang Jiaqi , Liu Jinbo , Liu Honglei , Tan Chaodong , Hou Pengkun , Song Wenrong
Published: November 2021

In view of the problems that there are many well control risk points and the situation is grim of Xinjiang No.1 gas production plant, this paper carries out the gas well integrity evaluation and risk assessment, and establishes the comprehensive fuzzy evaluation model (FCEM) of gas well integrity. This paper analysed the integrity status of gas wells in Xinjiang No.1 gas production plant, establishes the integrity evaluation index system with well barrier components, real-time dynamic index and management organization as the main influence factors, determines the membership function of each index, calculates the weight of each index by using analytic hierarchy process(AHP), and establishes the risk degree calculation model by using fuzzy comprehensive evaluation, Quantitative analysis of gas well integrity. In this paper, a case study of a well in Xinjiang No.1 gas production plant shows that the model can quantitatively calculate the risk of gas well integrity and provide a reference for early warning of gas well integrity failure.
Model theory and metric convergence II: Averages of unitary polynomial actions
Authors: Dueñez Eduardo , Iovino José
Published: November 2021

We use model theory of metric structures to prove the pointwise convergence, with a uniform metastability rate, of averages of a polynomial sequence

{

T
n

}

\{T_n\}

(in Leibman’s sense) of unitary transformations of a Hilbert space. As a special case, this applies to unitary sequences

{

U

p
(
n
)

}

\{U^{p(n)}\}

where

p
p

is a polynomial

Z

→

Z

\mathbb {Z}\to \mathbb {Z}

and

U
U

a fixed unitary operator; however, our convergence results hold for arbitrary Leibman sequences. As a case study, we show that the non-nilpotent “lamplighter group” 

Z

≀

Z

\mathbb {Z}\wr \mathbb {Z}

is realized as the range of a suitable quadratic Leibman sequence. We also indicate how these convergence results generalize to arbitrary Følner averages of unitary polynomial actions of any abelian group 

G

\mathbb {G}

in place of 

Z

\mathbb {Z}

.
On a conjecture of Naito-Sagaki: Littelmann paths and Littlewood-Richardson Sundaram tableaux
Authors: Torres Jacinta
Published: November 2021

In recent work with Schumann we have proven a conjecture of Naito-Sagaki giving a branching rule for the decomposition of the restriction of an irreducible representation of the special linear Lie algebra to the symplectic Lie algebra, therein embedded as the fixed-point set of the involution obtained by the folding of the corresponding Dyinkin diagram. It provides a new approach to branching rules for non-Levi subalgebras in terms of Littelmann paths. In this paper we motivate this result, provide examples, and give an overview of the combinatorics involved in its proof.
Exposure to Parental Alcohol Use Is Associated with Adolescent Drinking Even When Accounting for Alcohol Exposure of Best Friend and Peers
Authors: Smit Koen , Zucker Robert A , Kuntsche Emmanuel
Published: November 2021

Aims

To further disentangle the role of exposure to drinking of role models (parents, peers, best friends) in the development of young adolescent alcohol use, the current study examined (a) whether parent’s alcohol use exposure was associated with alcohol use outcomes among adolescents and (b) whether this association remained significant when including best friend and peer drinking exposure.

Methods

A longitudinal study followed 765 adolescents from the Netherlands over 3 years. Adolescents (45.6% male, Mage = 11.78, standard deviation = 0.49 at baseline) completed questionnaires every 6 months, resulting in seven measurement waves. Adolescents reported their own alcohol use and exposure to parental, best friend and peers drinking.

Results

Multilevel regression analyses indicated that parental alcohol use exposure was positively associated with a higher likelihood of adolescent alcohol use in the past 6 months, drinking in the last month and binge drinking in the last month. These associations remained significant when including exposure to peer and best friend’s alcohol use, also when controlling for alcohol use at the previous timepoint (i.e. change in drinking). These associations were also consistent for boys and girls.

Conclusions

Throughout early adolescence, parental alcohol exposure matters for their offspring’s alcohol use, independently of whether peers or their best friend expose them to alcohol or not. Parental alcohol exposure should be considered in prevention efforts to further decrease the number of adolescents that engage in early alcohol use and binge drinking.
Latinx Historicisms in the Present
Authors: Cutler John Alba
Published: November 2021

History is a problem, one that manifests in distinct but interrelated phenomena for Latinx literary studies: first, the pressure on scholars to performatively embody the field; second, the asymmetry of ignorance between scholars of American Literature and Latinx literatures; and third, the presentist orientation of Latinx literary studies. Kandice Chuh argues that diversity management in the field of “American Literature” has led to the segregation of minoritized literatures from dominant literatures under a pernicious logic which distinguishes between aesthetics and politics, reserving the former for white literature and the latter for minoritized literatures. In practice, the distinction between aesthetics and politics is also a distinction between history and identity that makes it possible for racialized subjects to appear in the present wholly formed and wholly subordinate. I argue that Latinx historicism—my shorthand for recent work foregrounding the contingency of Latinx literary histories—offers an urgent corrective to this constrained historical imagination.
Ndufs4 knockout mouse models of Leigh syndrome: pathophysiology and intervention
Authors: van de Wal Melissa A E , Adjobo-Hermans Merel J W , Keijer Jaap , Schirris Tom J J , Homberg Judith R , Wieckowski Mariusz R , Grefte Sander , van Schothorst Evert M , van Karnebeek Clara , Quintana Albert , Koopman Werner J H
Published: November 2021

Mitochondria are small cellular constituents that generate cellular energy (ATP) by oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS). Dysfunction of these organelles is linked to a heterogeneous group of multisystemic disorders, including diabetes, cancer, ageing-related pathologies and rare mitochondrial diseases. With respect to the latter, mutations in subunit-encoding genes and assembly factors of the first OXPHOS complex (complex I) induce isolated complex I deficiency and Leigh syndrome. This syndrome is an early-onset, often fatal, encephalopathy with a variable clinical presentation and poor prognosis due to the lack of effective intervention strategies. Mutations in the nuclear DNA-encoded NDUFS4 gene, encoding the NADH:ubiquinone oxidoreductase subunit S4 (NDUFS4) of complex I, induce ‘mitochondrial complex I deficiency, nuclear type 1’ (MC1DN1) and Leigh syndrome in paediatric patients. A variety of (tissue-specific) Ndufs4 knockout mouse models were developed to study the Leigh syndrome pathomechanism and intervention testing.

Here, we review and discuss the role of complex I and NDUFS4 mutations in human mitochondrial disease, and review how the analysis of Ndufs4 knockout mouse models has generated new insights into the MC1ND1/Leigh syndrome pathomechanism and its therapeutic targeting.
Construction and stochastic scale-free modelling of empirical, global, index-case SARS-CoV-2 transmission network
Authors: Singh Vikram , Singh Vikram
Published: November 2021

First reported in Wuhan, the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has astonished health-care systems across the globe due to its rapid and simultaneous spread to the neighbouring and distantly located countries. We constructed the first, global, spatio-temporal, index-case transmission network of SARS-CoV-2 or C19-TraNet consisting of $185$ nodes and $196$ edges, by manually curating their travel history information that allowed us to map multiple virus invasion routes, both short- as well as long-range, into different geographical locations. To model the growing C19-TraNet, a novel stochastic scale-free (SSF) algorithm is proposed that accounts for stochastic addition of both nodes as well as edges at each time step. C19-TraNet is characterized by a fourth-order polynomial growth of average connectivity having two growth phases, namely, a Chinese and a European wave separated by a stagnation phase that delayed overall growth by $51$ days, compared to $1000$ corresponding SSF models. Its community structure reveals a heterogeneous grouping of countries, from different WHO regions, suggesting easy invasion of SARS-CoV-2 to susceptible populations through short- as well as long-range transmission. Border control measures initially diminished Chinese wave, however, lack of coordinated actions, multiple transmission routes transported SARS-CoV-2 to remaining countries.
Skin depletion of Kif3a resembles the pediatric atopic dermatitis transcriptome profile
Authors: Stevens Mariana L , Mersha Tesfaye B , Zhang Zhonghua , Kothari Arjun , Khurana Hershey Gurjit K
Published: November 2021

Skin deficiency of kinesin family member 3A causes disrupted skin barrier function and promotes development of atopic dermatitis (AD). It is not known how well Kif3aK14∆/∆ mice approximate the human AD transcriptome. To determine the skin transcriptomic profile of Kif3aK14∆/∆ mice and compare it with other murine AD models and human AD, we performed RNA-seq of full-thickness skin and epidermis from 3- and 8-week-old Kif3aK14∆/∆ mice and compared the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) with transcriptomic datasets from mite-induced NC/Nga, flaky tail (Tmem79ma/ma Flgft/ft), and filaggrin-mutant (Flgft/ft) mice, as well as human AD transcriptome datasets including meta-analysis derived atopic dermatitis [MADAD] and the pediatric atopic dermatitis [PAD]. We then interrogated the Kif3aK14∆/∆ skin DEGs using the LINCS-L1000 database to identify potential novel drug targets for AD treatment. We identified 471 and 901 DEGs at 3 and 8 weeks of age, respectively, in the absence of Kif3a. Kif3aK14∆/∆ mice had 3.5–4.5 times more DEGs that overlapped with human AD DEGs compared to the flaky tail and Flgft/ft mice. Further, 55%, 85% and 75% of 8-week Kif3aK14∆/∆ DEGs overlapped with the MADAD and PAD non-lesional and lesional gene lists, respectively. Kif3aK14∆/∆ mice spontaneously develop a human AD-like gene signature, which better represents pediatric non-lesional skin compared to other mouse models including flaky tail, Flgft/ft and NC/Nga. Thus, Kif3aK14∆/∆ mice may model pediatric skin that is a precursor to the development of lesions and inflammation, and hence may be a useful model to study AD pathogenesis.
An exploratory analysis of general practitioner prescribing patterns in Malaysia using a health insurance claims database
Authors: Su Wen Sing , Thum Chun Mun , Loo Jason S E
Published: November 2021

Objectives

To determine the prescribing patterns and identify potentially inappropriate prescribing practices among general practitioners in the private primary care sector by analysing a large electronic health insurance claims database.

Methods

Medical claims records from February 2019 to February 2020 were extracted from a health insurance claims database. Data cleaning and data analysis were performed using Python 3.7 with the Pandas, NumPy and Matplotlib libraries. The top five most common diagnoses were identified, and for each diagnosis, the most common medication classes and medications prescribed were quantified. Potentially inappropriate prescribing practices were identified by comparing the medications prescribed with relevant clinical guidelines.

Key findings

The five most common diagnoses were upper respiratory tract infection (41.5%), diarrhoea (7.7%), musculoskeletal pain (7.6%), headache (6.7%) and gastritis (4.0%). Medications prescribed by general practitioners were largely as expected for symptomatic management of the respective conditions. One area of potentially inappropriate prescribing identified was inappropriate antibiotic choice. Same-class polypharmacy that may lead to an increased risk of adverse events were also identified, primarily involving multiple paracetamol-containing products, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and antihistamines. Other areas of non-adherence to guidelines identified included the potential overuse of oral corticosteroids and oral salbutamol, and inappropriate gastroprotection for patients receiving NSAIDs.

Conclusions

While prescribing practices are generally appropriate within the private primary care sector, there remain several areas where some potentially inappropriate prescribing occurs. The areas identified should be the focus in continuing efforts to improve prescribing practices to obtain the optimal clinical outcomes while reducing unnecessary risks and healthcare costs.
Antimicrobial-induced horizontal transfer of antimicrobial resistance genes in bacteria: a mini-review
Authors: Liu Gang , Thomsen Line Elnif , Olsen John Elmerdahl
Published: November 2021

The emergence and spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) among pathogenic bacteria constitute an accelerating crisis for public health. The selective pressures caused by increased use and misuse of antimicrobials in medicine and livestock production have accelerated the overall selection of resistant bacteria. In addition, horizontal gene transfer (HGT) plays an important role in the spread of resistance genes, for example mobilizing reservoirs of AMR from commensal bacteria into pathogenic ones. Antimicrobials, besides antibacterial function, also result in undesirable effects in the microbial populations, including the stimulation of HGT. The main aim of this narrative review was to present an overview of the current knowledge of the impact of antimicrobials on HGT in bacteria, including the effects of transformation, transduction and conjugation, as well as other less well-studied mechanisms of HGT. It is widely accepted that conjugation plays a major role in the spread of AMR in bacteria, and the focus of this review is therefore mainly on the evidence provided that antimicrobial treatment affects this process. Other mechanisms of HGT have so far been deemed less important in this respect; however, recent discoveries suggest their role may be larger than previously thought, and the review provides an update on the rather limited knowledge currently available regarding the impact of antimicrobial treatment on these processes as well. A conclusion from the review is that there is an urgent need to investigate the mechanisms of antimicrobial-induced HGT, since this will be critical for developing new strategies to combat the spread of AMR.
First Report of the L993S Mutation in the Voltage-Gated Sodium Channel in Field Populations of the German Cockroach Blattella germanica
Authors: Liu Juan , Xu Yong , Li Chong , Tan Ai , Zeng Jiarui , Liu Peng , Yu Xuelan , Wang Mingqiang , Wang Rongzhuo , Luo Wenbin , Qiu Xinghui
Published: November 2021

The long-term and frequent use of pyrethroid insecticides has led to the development of pyrethroid resistance in many insect populations around the world. Specific mutations in the voltage-gated sodium channel (VGSC) have been well documented to be responsible for knockdown resistance (kdr) to pyrethroids and dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) in a variety of arthropods. However, reports regarding naturally occurring kdr mutation in field populations of the German cockroach Blattella germanica (Linnaeus) (Dictyoptera: Blattellidae) in China have remained scarce. In this study, a survey was conducted to detect the presence and frequency of kdr mutations in field populations of B. germanica across Neijiang, Sichuan province of China. In addition to the previously reported L993F mutation, a new amino acid substitution L993S was discovered for the first time. Overall, the classical 993F was the dominant allele with frequencies ranging from 61.8 to 89.6%, while the frequencies of the novel L993S mutation were in the range between 2.5 and 15.0%. Notably, high frequencies (50.0–79.2%) of resistant homozygotes were detected in our samples, indicating high levels of pyrethroid resistance in these B. germanica populations. The results suggest that alternative insecticides with a mode of action different from pyrethroids should be considered in the control of German cockroaches in these regions.
How much can screening reduce colorectal cancer mortality in Japan? Scenario-based estimation by microsimulation
Authors: Kamo Ken-Ichi , Fukui Keisuke , Ito Yuri , Nakayama Tomio , Katanoda Kota
Published: November 2021

Background

Screening is one of the effective interventions for the reduction of colorectal cancer mortality. Though the Japanese government recommends faecal occult blood test and colonoscopy as a follow-up examination following a diagnosis, both participation rates have not been so high and the national mortality rate has not shown a clear decreasing trend.

Methods

Microsimulation models simulate the life histories of a large population of individuals under various scenarios. In this study, we applied a microsimulation model to estimate the reduction of colorectal cancer mortality based on screening scenarios.

Results

The effect of reducing the age-standardized mortality rate for colorectal cancer was estimated at 9.4% for men and 6.0% for women under the scenario which calls for 50% participation in faecal occult blood test and 90% participation of follow-up examination. This scenario corresponds to the goal setting for screening in the third-term of the Basic Plan to Promote Cancer Control Programs in Japan.

Conclusions

Our microsimulation model was found to be useful in estimating the mortality reduction effect of cancer control policy. Such modelling techniques can be utilized to develop effective and optimal cancer control programs.
What’s unique? The unfolded protein response in plants
Authors: Yu Chao-Yuan , Cho Yueh , Sharma Oshin , Kanehara Kazue
Published: November 2021

The investigation of a phenomenon called the unfolded protein response (UPR) started approximately three decades ago, and we now know that the UPR is involved in a number of cellular events among metazoans, higher plants, and algae. The relevance of the UPR in human diseases featuring protein folding defects, such as Alzheimer’s and Huntington’s diseases, has drawn much attention to the response in medical research to date. While metazoans and plants share similar molecular mechanisms of the UPR, recent studies shed light on the uniqueness of the plant UPR, with plant-specific protein families appearing to play pivotal roles. Given the considerable emphasis on the original discoveries of key factors in metazoans, this review highlights the uniqueness of the plant UPR based on current knowledge.
The Photo-Astrometric vertical tracer density of the Milky Way – I. The method
Authors: Everall Andrew , Evans N Wyn , Belokurov Vasily , Boubert Douglas , Grand Robert J J
Published: November 2021

We introduce a method to infer the vertical distribution of stars in the Milky Way using a Poisson likelihood function, with a view to applying our method to the Gaia catalogue. We show how to account for the sample selection function and for parallax measurement uncertainties. Our method is validated against a simulated sample drawn from a model with two exponential discs and a power-law halo profile. A mock Gaia sample is generated using the Gaia astrometry selection function, whilst realistic parallax uncertainties are drawn from the Gaia Astrometric Spread Function. The model is fit to the mock in order to rediscover the input parameters used to generate the sample. We recover posterior distributions that accurately fit the input parameters within statistical uncertainties, demonstrating the efficacy of our method. Using the GUMS synthetic Milky Way catalogue, we find that our halo parameter fits can be heavily biased by our overly simplistic model; however, the fits to the thin and thick discs are not significantly impacted. We apply this method to Gaia Early Data Release 3 in a companion paper where we also quantify the systematic uncertainties introduced by oversimplifications in our model.
Detecting FAST RADIO BURSTS in the MILKY WAY
Authors: Gohar Nayab , Flynn Chris
Published: November 2021

Fast radio bursts (FRBs) are highly energetic transient events with duration of order of microseconds to milliseconds and of unknown origin. They are known to lie at cosmological distances, through localization to host galaxies. Recently, an FRB-like event was seen from the Milky Way magnetar SGR 1935+2154 by the CHIME and Survey for Transient Astronomical Radio Emission 2 (STARE2) telescopes. This is the only magnetar that has produced FRB events in our Galaxy. Finding similar events in the Milky Way is of great interest to understanding FRB progenitors. Such events will be strongly affected by the turbulent interstellar medium (ISM) in the Milky Way, their intrinsic energy distribution, and their spatial locations within the plane of the Milky Way. We examine these effects using models for the distribution of electrons in the ISM to estimate the dispersion measure and pulse scattering of mock events, and a range of models for the spatial distribution and luminosity functions, including models motivated by the spatial distribution of the Milky Way’s magnetars. We evaluate the fraction of FRB events in the Milky Way that are detectable by STARE2 for a range of ISM models, spatial distributions, and burst luminosity functions. In all the models examined, only a fraction of burst events are detectable, mainly due to the scattering effects of the ISM. We find that Galactic Radio Explorer, a proposed all-sky experiment, could increase the detection rate of Milky Way FRB events by an order of magnitude, depending on assumptions made about the luminosity function and scale height of the FRBs.
A radio polarization study of magnetic fields in the Small Magellanic Cloud
Authors: Livingston J D , McClure-Griffiths N M , Mao S A , Ma Y K , Gaensler B M , Heald G , Seta A
Published: November 2021

Observing the magnetic fields of low-mass interacting galaxies tells us how they have evolved over cosmic time and their importance in galaxy evolution. We have measured the Faraday rotation of 80 extra-galactic radio sources behind the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC) using the CSIRO Australia Telescope Compact Array (ATCA) with a frequency range of 1.4–3.0 GHz. Both the sensitivity of our observations and the source density are an order-of-magnitude improvement on previous Faraday rotation measurements of this galaxy. The SMC generally produces negative rotation measures after accounting for the Milky Way foreground contribution, indicating that it has a mean coherent line-of-sight magnetic field strength of $-0.3\pm 0.1\, \mu$G, consistent with previous findings. We detect signatures of magnetic fields extending from the north and south of the Bar of the SMC. The random component of the SMC magnetic field has a strength of $\sim 5\, \mu$G with a characteristic size-scale of magneto-ionic turbulence <250 pc, making the SMC like other low-mass interacting galaxies. The magnetic fields of the SMC and Magellanic Bridge appear similar in direction and strength, hinting at a connection between the two fields as part of the hypothesized ‘pan-Magellanic’ magnetic field.
The stress–pressure lag in MRI turbulence and its implications for thermal instability in accretion discs
Authors: Held Loren E , Latter Henrik N
Published: November 2021

The classical alpha-disc model assumes that the turbulent stress scales linearly with – and responds instantaneously to – the pressure. It is likely, however, that the stress possesses a non-negligible relaxation time and will lag behind the pressure on some time-scale. To measure the size of this lag we carry out unstratified 3D magnetohydrodynamic shearing box simulations with zero-net-magnetic-flux using the finite-volume code pluto. We impose thermal oscillations of varying periods via a cooling term, which in turn drives oscillations in the turbulent stress. Our simulations reveal that the stress oscillations lag behind the pressure by ∼5 orbits in cases where the oscillation period is several tens of orbits or more. We discuss the implication of our results for thermal and viscous overstability in discs around compact objects.
A Swift study of long-term changes in the X-ray flaring properties of Sagittarius A
Authors: Andrés A , van den Eijnden J , Degenaar N , Evans P A , Chatterjee K , Reynolds M , Miller J M , Kennea J , Wijnands R , Markoff S , Altamirano D , Heinke C O , Bahramian A , Ponti G , Haggard D
Published: November 2021

The radiative counterpart of the supermassive black hole at the Galactic Centre, Sagittarius A*, displays flaring emission in the X-ray band atop a steady, quiescent level. Flares are also observed in the near-infrared band. The physical process producing the flares is not fully understood and it is unclear if the flaring rate varies, although some recent works suggest it has reached unprecedented variability in recent years. Using over a decade of regular X-ray monitoring of Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory, we studied the variations in count rate of Sgr A* on time-scales of years. We decomposed the X-ray emission into quiescent and flaring emission, modelled as a constant and power-law process, respectively. We found that the complete, multiyear data set cannot be described by a stationary distribution of flare fluxes, while individual years follow this model better. In three of the ten studied years, the data is consistent with a purely Poissonian quiescent distribution, while for 5 yr, only an upper limit of the flare flux distribution parameter could be determined. We find that these possible changes cannot be explained fully by the different number of observations per year. Combined, these results are instead consistent with a changing flaring rate of Sgr A*, appearing more active between 2006–2007 and 2017–2019, than between 2008–2012. Finally, we discuss this result in the context of flare models and the passing of gaseous objects, and discuss the extra statistical steps taken, for instance, to deal with the background in the Swift observations.
Chronic kidney disease, physical activity and cognitive function in older adults—results from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2011–2014)
Authors: Chu Nadia M , Hong Jingyao , Harasemiw Oksana , Chen Xiaomeng , Fowler Kevin J , Dasgupta Indranil , Bohm Clara , Segev Dorry L , McAdams-DeMarco Mara A ,   the Global Renal Exercise Network
Published: November 2021

Background

Cognitive impairment is common among persons with chronic kidney disease (CKD), due in part to reduced kidney function. Given that physical activity (PA) is known to mitigate cognitive decline, we examined whether associations between CKD stage and global/domain-specific cognitive function differ by PA.

Methods

We leveraged 3223 participants (≥60 years of age) enrolled in National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES, 2011–2014), with at least one measure of objective cognitive function [immediate recall (CERAD-WL), delayed recall (CERAD-DR), verbal fluency (AF), executive function/processing speed (DSST), global (average of four tests) or self-perceived memory decline (SCD)]. We quantified the association between CKD stage {no CKD: estimated glomerular filtration rate [eGFR] ≥60 mL/min/1.73 m2 and albuminuria [albumin:creatinine ratio (ACR)] <30 mg/g; stages G1–G3: eGFR ≥60 mL/min/1.73 m2 and ACR ≥30 mg/g or eGFR 30–59 mL/min/1.73 m2; stages G4 and G5: eGFR <30 mL/min/1.73 m2} and cognitive function using linear regression (objective measures) and logistic regression (SCD), accounting for sampling weights for nationally representative estimates. We tested whether associations differed by PA [Global Physical Activity Questionnaire, high PA ≥600 metabolic equivalent of task (MET) · min/week versus low PA <600 MET · min/week] using a Wald test.

Results

Among NHANES participants, 34.9% had CKD stages G1–G3, 2.6% had stages G4 and G5 and 50.7% had low PA. CKD stages G4 and G5 were associated with lower global cognitive function {difference = −0.38 standard deviation [SD] [95% confidence interval (CI) −0.62 to −0.15]}. This association differed by PA (Pinteraction = 0.01). Specifically, among participants with low PA, those with CKD stages G4 and G5 had lower global cognitive function [difference = −0.57 SD (95% CI −0.82 to −0.31)] compared with those without CKD. Among those with high PA, no difference was found [difference = 0.10 SD (95% CI −0.29–0.49)]. Similarly, the CKD stage was only associated with immediate recall, verbal fluency, executive function and processing speed among those with low PA; no associations were observed for delayed recall or self-perceived memory decline.

Conclusions

CKD is associated with lower objective cognitive function among those with low but not high PA. Clinicians should consider screening older patients with CKD who have low PA for cognitive impairment and encourage them to meet PA guidelines.
Reducing salt intake: a systematic review and meta-analysis of behavior change interventions in adults
Authors: Khalesi Saman , Williams Edwina , Irwin Christopher , Johnson David W , Webster Jacqui , McCartney Danielle , Jamshidi Arash , Vandelanotte Corneel
Published: November 2021

Context

Prolonged high salt (sodium) intake can increase the risk of hypertension and cardiovascular disease. Behavioral interventions may help reduce sodium intake at the population level.

Objective

The effectiveness of behavior change interventions to reduce sodium intake in adults was investigated in this systematic review and meta-analysis.

Data source

The PubMed, Cochrane Library, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, and EMBASE databases were searched.

Data extraction

Narrative synthesis and random-effects meta-analyses were used to determine intervention efficacy. A total of 61 trials (46 controlled trials and 15 quasi-experimental studies) were included.

Results

Behavior change interventions resulted in significant improvements in salt consumption behavior (eg, decrease in purchase of salty foods; increase in use of salt substitutes), leading to reductions in sodium intake as measured by urinary sodium in 32 trials (N = 7840 participants; mean difference, –486.19 mg/d [95%CI, –669.44 to –302.95]; P < 0.001; I2 = 92%) and dietary sodium in 19 trials (N = 3750 participants; mean difference –399.86 mg/d [95%CI, –581.51 to –218.20]; P < 0.001; I2 = 96%), equivalent to a reduction of >1 g of salt intake daily. Effects were not significantly different based on baseline sodium intakes, blood pressure status, disease status, the use of behavior change theories, or the main method of intervention delivery (ie, online vs face-to-face).

Conclusion

Behavior change interventions are effective at improving salt consumption practices and appear to reduce salt intake by >1 g/d.

Systematic Review Registration

PROSPERO registration no. CRD42020185639.
Posttranslational regulation of transporters important for symbiotic interactions
Authors: McDonald Tami R , Rizvi Madeeha F , Ruiter Bretton L , Roy Rahul , Reinders Anke , Ward John M
Published: November 2021

Coordinated sharing of nutritional resources is a central feature of symbiotic interactions, and, despite the importance of this topic, many questions remain concerning the identification, activity, and regulation of transporter proteins involved. Recent progress in obtaining genome and transcriptome sequences for symbiotic organisms provides a wealth of information on plant, fungal, and bacterial transporters that can be applied to these questions. In this update, we focus on legume–rhizobia and mycorrhizal symbioses and how transporters at the symbiotic interfaces can be regulated at the protein level. We point out areas where more research is needed and ways that an understanding of transporter mechanism and energetics can focus hypotheses. Protein phosphorylation is a predominant mechanism of posttranslational regulation of transporters in general and at the symbiotic interface specifically. Other mechanisms of transporter regulation, such as protein–protein interaction, including transporter multimerization, polar localization, and regulation by pH and membrane potential are also important at the symbiotic interface. Most of the transporters that function in the symbiotic interface are members of transporter families; we bring in relevant information on posttranslational regulation within transporter families to help generate hypotheses for transporter regulation at the symbiotic interface.
Investor Attention and Asset Pricing Anomalies
Authors: Jiang Lei , Liu Jinyu , Peng Lin , Wang Baolian
Published: November 2021

We investigate the relationship between investor attention and financial market anomalies. We find that anomaly returns tend to be higher following high-attention days. The result is robust after controlling for the effect of news and in a natural experiment setting in which a stock market regulation and rounding errors generate exogenous variations in attention. An analysis of order imbalances suggests that large traders trade on anomaly signals more aggressively upon observing higher attention. We discuss the extent to which the findings are driven by inattention-driven underreaction, bias amplification, or coordinated arbitrage mechanisms, thereby providing insight into the understanding of anomalies.
Morbidity in Patients with Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma and Radiation-Induced Skin Lesions: Cause, Risk Factors, and Dermatitis Evolution and Severity
Authors: Yao Zexin , Cheng Biao
Published: November 2021

OBJECTIVE

Radiation-induced skin injuries such as lesions (RSLs) and dermatitis are the most common complication during radiotherapy (RT) for nasopharyngeal carcinoma, but little is known about risk factors unique to oncology. This study sought a greater understanding of these risk factors to stratify patients based on risk and guide clinical decision-making.

METHODS

Investigators analyzed the data of 864 consecutive patients referred to the RT center of the Southern Theater General Hospital for a new RSL from 2013 to 2019. These patients were followed up for an average of approximately 16 months until their death or March 30, 2020, whichever came first. Multivariate logistic regression analysis and Cox proportional hazards model were used to identify predictors of grade 3 or 4 dermatitis.

RESULTS

The main causes of treatment interruption included dermatitis and oral mucositis. Significant patient-specific risk factors for RSLs included current smoking, current drinking, and lower Karnofsky Performance Scale score and significant procedure-specific risk factors included receiving intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), hyperfractionated RT, induction chemotherapy, multicycle chemotherapy, and taxol- and cisplatin-based drugs. The three factors that independently predicted risk of RSL were IMRT, lower Karnofsky Performance Scale score, and multicycle chemotherapy. Comparing predictive factors among patients with severe RSL revealed that patients who received IMRT were more likely to develop grade 3 or 4 dermatitis.

CONCLUSIONS

Oncology providers should note that IMRT is an aggressive technique with a trend toward increased RSL. Providers should pay special attention to adverse effects to skin in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma.
The Quantification of Extracellular Trap Cell Death-Derived Products as Diagnostic Biomarkers for Otitis Media With Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibody-Associated Vasculitis and Eosinophilic Otitis Media
Authors: Morita Shinya , Nakamaru Yuji , Fukuda Atsushi , Fujiwara Keishi , Suzuki Masanobu , Hoshino Kimiko , Honma Aya , Homma Akihiro
Published: November 2021

Objective:

This study aimed to quantify the cell-free deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), citrullinated-histone H3 (cit-H3)-DNA complex, and myeloperoxidase (MPO)-DNA complex as extracellular trap cell death (ETosis)-derived products in the middle ear fluid, and to identify diagnostic biomarkers for the discrimination of antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (OMAAV) from eosinophilic otitis media (EOM).

Study Design:

Prospective study.

Setting:

Tertiary referral center.

Patients:

OMAAV patients were eligible for inclusion in this analysis. Patients with EOM were examined as controls.

Intervention:

All samples were obtained from the middle ear fluid in patients with OMAAV or EOM. The fluid samples were aspirated from the middle ear through the anterior-inferior portion of the tympanic membrane using a 1-ml tuberculin syringe with a 24- or 26-gauge needle under a microscope.

Main Outcome Measures:

The levels of cell-free DNA, cit-H3-DNA complex and MPO-DNA complex in the fluid samples were quantified using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Results:

Patients with OMAAV showed significantly higher levels of MPO-DNA complex compared to patients with EOM, regardless of the serum ANCA status at the time of sampling (p < 0.001 and p < 0.001, respectively). Meanwhile, there were no significant differences in the values of cell-free DNA or cit-H3-DNA complex between the OMAAV and EOM patients.

Conclusion:

The findings of this study suggest that the detection and quantification of MPO-DNA complex in the otitis media fluid can be utilized to discriminate OMAAV, especially in cases of eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis, from EOM regardless of the serum ANCA status. It should be noted that it is possible for cell-free DNA and cit-H3-DNA complex in fluid samples to be derived from dead cells other than neutrophils that undergo ETosis.
Prebending of Prefabricated Orbital Implants: Towards Improved Orbital Angle Symmetry Post Craniofacial Trauma Surgery
Authors: Zhang Trisha , Young Stephanie , Lang Stephanie S. , Sundar Gangadhara
Published: November 2021

Purpose:

Reconstructive surgery after craniofacial trauma aim to restore orbital anatomy for function and aesthetic reasons. The purpose of this study is to improve postoperative orbital symmetry with the use of prebent prefabricated titanium implants.

Methods:

In this retrospective study, patients with combined unilateral medial wall and floor fractures who underwent orbital reconstruction surgery were selected. The angle of inferomedial orbital strut (AIOS) was measured at 3 standard locations on preoperative facial computed tomography guided scans of the nonfractured orbit in the coronal view and used as a guide to bend the prefabricated titanium implants intraoperatively. The corresponding values were measured on the postoperative computed tomography and compared for symmetry.

Results:

Out of 83 patients recruited for the study, 54 were in the prebent group while 29 were in the control group. All other demographics were similar among the 2 groups. Anterior AIOS has a difference of 4.9° between 2 orbits in the prebent group whereas a difference of 15.5° was noted in the nonprebent group. For middle AIOS, a difference of 4.7° was noted in the prebent group whereas nonprebent group had a difference of 14.1°. For posterior AIOS, the prebent group had a difference of 3.8° versus 14.1° in the nonprebent group. The difference in AIOS at all 3 points between the prebent and nonprebent group were significant.

Conclusions:

Anatomical prefabricated titanium plates are versatile implants that facilitate orbital reconstruction. Prebending of these implants according to the fellow orbit can achieve better surgical outcomes in a cost-effective manner.
Dairy products as sources of methanogens for humans
Authors: Guindo Cheick Oumar , Drancourt Michel , Grine Ghiles
Published: November 2021

Methanogens are detected in human gut from the first moments of life and there is a diversification of methanogens during infancy. However, the sources of acquisition of methanogens are not well elucidated. We therefore investigated 56 dairy products as potential sources of methanogens by applying molecular biology. In the presence of negative controls, we obtained an overall prevalence of methanogens in 85.7% (48/56) of samples by real-time PCR. Further PCR-sequencing identified 73.2% (41/56) of Methanobrevibacter smithii. We also found for the first time in dairy products 1.8% (1/56) of Methanobrevibacter oralis, 7.1% (4/56) of Methanobrevibacter millerae, 1.8% (1/56) of Methanobrevibacter ruminantium, 1.8% (1/56) of Methanocorpusculum sp. We observed a significant presence (p-value=0.001) of methanogens in fermented dairy products compared to unfermented dairy products. This study gives credit to the fact that dairy products could be considered as a source of methanogens for humans, especially for children.
Population Imaging of Central Sensitization
Authors: Warwick Charles , Salsovic Joseph , Hachisuka Junichi , Smith Kelly M. , Chen Haichao , Ibinson James , Koerber H. Richard , Ross Sarah E.
Published: November 2021

Capsaicin applied locally to the skin causes central sensitization that results in allodynia, a state in which pain is elicited by innocuous stimuli. Here, we used two-photon calcium imaging of neurons in the dorsal spinal cord to visualize central sensitization across excitatory interneurons and spinal projection neurons. To distinguish among excitatory neuron subtypes, we developed CICADA, a cell profiling approach that leverages the expression of distinct Gq-coupled receptors. We then identified capsaicin-responsive and capsaicin-sensitized neuronal populations. Capsaicin-sensitized neurons showed emergent responses to low threshold input and increased receptive field sizes consistent with the psychophysical phenomenon that allodynia is observed across an extended secondary zone. Finally, we identified spinal projection neurons that showed a shift in tuning toward low threshold input. These experiments provide a population-level view of central sensitization and a framework with which to model somatosensory integration in the dorsal horn.

Highlight

Warwick et al. use two-photon calcium imaging coupled with pharmacological profiling to identify neuronal populations in the spinal dorsal horn that mediate capsaicin-induced central sensitization.