bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Ubiquitin‐specific protease 7 as a potential therapeutic target in dogs with hematopoietic malignancies
Authors: Pawlak Aleksandra , Bajzert Joanna , Bugiel Katarzyna , Hernández Suárez Beatriz , Kutkowska Justyna , Rapak Andrzej , Hildebrand Wojciech , Obmińska‐Mrukowicz Bożena , Freire Raimundo , Smits Veronique A. J.
Published: March 2021

Background

Ubiquitin‐specific protease 7 (USP7) belongs to the group of deubiquitinating enzymes (DUBs), which remove ubiquitin which controls various cellular processes such as chromosome segregation, DNA repair, gene expression, protein localization, kinase activity, protein degradation, cell cycle progression, and apoptosis. It is critical for several important functions in the cell, and therefore dysregulation of USP7 can contribute to tumorigenesis.

Objectives

Alterations in the USP7 protein have been identified in various malignancies of humans. Our aim was to examine whether USP7 could be a potential therapeutic target in hematopoietic cancers of dogs.

Methods

The expression level of USP7 in lymphocytes from healthy dogs and canine lymphoma cells was determined, and the effect of USP7 inhibition on the vital functions of canine cancer cells was examined.

Results

We showed that USP7 was overexpressed in lymphomas in dogs. The USP7 inhibitor P5091 has selective cytotoxic activity in canine lymphoma and leukemia cell lines. Our results indicate that inhibition of USP7 leads to a disruption of cell cycle progression, and triggers DNA damage and apoptosis. The observed proapoptotic effect of the USP7 inhibitor most likely is not dependent on the p53 pathway.

Conclusions and Clinical Importance

Our results suggest that USP7 could be explored as a potential therapeutic target in dogs with lymphoma. The effectiveness of USP7 inhibition in malignant cells is predicted to be independent of their p53 status.
Myb10‐D confers PHS‐3D resistance to pre‐harvest sprouting by regulating NCED in ABA biosynthesis pathway of wheat
Authors: Lang Jing , Fu Yuxin , Zhou Yong , Cheng Mengping , Deng Min , Li Maolian , Zhu Tingting , Yang Jian , Guo Xiaojiang , Gui Lixuan , Li Linchuan , Chen Zhongxu , Yi Yingjin , Zhang Lianquan , Hao Ming , Huang Lin , Tan Chao , Chen Guoyue , Jiang Qiantao , Qi Pengfei , Pu Zhien , Ma Jian , Liu Zehou , Liu Yujiao , Luo Ming‐Cheng , Wei Yuming , Zheng Youliang , Wu Yongrui , Liu Dengcai , Wang JiRui
Published: March 2021

Pre‐harvest sprouting (PHS), the germination of grain before harvest, is a serious problem resulting in wheat yield and quality losses.

Here, we mapped the PHS resistance gene PHS‐3D from synthetic hexaploid wheat to a 2.4 Mb presence–absence variation (PAV) region and found that its resistance effect was attributed to the pleiotropic Myb10‐D by integrated omics and functional analyses.

Three haplotypes were detected in this PAV region among 262 worldwide wheat lines and 16 Aegilops tauschii, and the germination percentages of wheat lines containing Myb10‐D was approximately 40% lower than that of the other lines. Transcriptome and metabolome profiling indicated that Myb10‐D affected the transcription of genes in both the flavonoid and abscisic acid (ABA) biosynthesis pathways, which resulted in increases in flavonoids and ABA in transgenic wheat lines. Myb10‐D activates 9‐cis‐epoxycarotenoid dioxygenase (NCED) by biding the secondary wall MYB‐responsive element (SMRE) to promote ABA biosynthesis in early wheat seed development stages.

We revealed that the newly discovered function of Myb10‐D confers PHS resistance by enhancing ABA biosynthesis to delay germination in wheat. The PAV harboring Myb10‐D associated with grain color and PHS will be useful for understanding and selecting white grained PHS resistant wheat cultivars.
What do unions do… with digital technologies? An affordance approach
Authors: Hennebert Marc‐Antonin , Pasquier Vincent , Lévesque Christian
Published: March 2021

This article examines the affordances that digital technologies offer to labour unions. The results of our study of 13 trade unions in Canada contrast with the prevailing techno‐deterministic perspectives in the literature which describe digital technologies as fundamentally good, bad or neutral for unions. By adopting an affordance approach, our paper examines how union actors perceive digital technology utility and constraints across five union core functions. The study identifies four digital information and communication technology affordances for unions (visibility, intensification, aggregation and addressability) and contributes to the literature on union renewal by showing how these affordances interact in a complex way and can reinforce trade unions' capabilities.
Gender and ethnic diversity in global ophthalmology and optometry association leadership: a time for change
Authors: Yashadhana Aryati , Clarke Neriah A , Zhang Justine H , Ahmad Jawad , Mdala Shaffi , Morjaria Priya , Yoshizaki Miho , Kyari Fatima , Burton Matthew J , Ramke Jacqueline
Published: March 2021

Purpose

To assess the diversity of leadership bodies of member organisations of the International Council of Ophthalmology (ICO) and the World Council of Optometry (WCO) in terms of: (1) the proportion who are women in all world regions, and (2) the proportion who are ethnic minority women and men in Eurocentric high‐income regions.

Methods

We undertook a cross‐sectional study of board members and chairs of ICO and WCO member organisations using a desk‐based assessment of member organisation websites during February and March 2020. Gender and ethnicity of board members and chairs were collected using a combination of validated algorithmic software and manual assessment, based on names and photographs where available. Gender proportions were calculated across Global Burden of Disease super‐regions, and gender and ethnicity proportions in the high‐income regions of Australasia, North America and Western Europe.

Results

Globally, approximately one in three board members were women for both ICO (34%) and WCO (35%) members, and one in three ICO (32%) and one in five WCO (22%) chairpersons were women. Women held at least 50% of posts in only three of the 26 (12%) leadership structures assessed; these were based in Latin America and the Caribbean (59% of WCO board positions held by women, and 56% of WCO chairs), and Southeast Asia, East Asia and Oceania (55% of ICO chairs). In the Eurocentric high‐income regions, white men held more than half of all board (56%) and chair (58%) positions and white women held a further quarter of positions (26% of board and 27% of chair positions). Ethnic minority women held the fewest number of board (6%) and chair (7%) positions.

Conclusions

Improvements in gender parity are needed in member organisations of the WCO and ICO across all world regions. In high‐income regions, efforts to address inequity at the intersection of gender and ethnicity are also needed. Potential strategies to enable inclusive leadership must be centred on structurally enabled diversity and inclusion goals to support the professional progression of women, and people from ethnic minorities in global optometry and ophthalmology.
Time trends of childhood food allergy in China: Three cross‐sectional surveys in 1999, 2009, and 2019
Authors: Ma Zhuoying , Chen Lin , Xian Ruoling , Fang Heping , Wang Juan , Hu Yan
Published: March 2021

Background

Many countries have recorded the trends of food allergy (FA) prevalence. Little is known about epidemiologic trends of childhood FA in China.

Methods

In three cross‐sectional surveys conducted in 1999, 2009, and 2019, the prevalence of and characteristic changes in FA in children aged ≤ 2 years were assessed and the outcomes were compared. All the children were recruited during well‐baby check‐ups at the Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University. All participants had a detailed medical history taken and underwent skin prick tests using ten commercial food extracts. Open food challenges were used for confirmation of FA.

Results

The three studies included 1228 children (314 in 1999, 401 in 2009, and 513 in 2019; response rate > 95%). The prevalence of FA in 2009 (7.7%) and 2019 (11.1%) was significantly higher than that in 1999 (3.5%). However, there was no statistically significant difference in prevalence between 2009 and 2019 (P = .086). There was evidence of increased prevalence in CMPA between 1999 and 2019 (1.6% versus 5.7%; P = .004). However, no statistic difference was found in egg allergy (2.9% versus 5.5%; P = .21). The incidence of skin symptoms did not differ significantly over the study period, while the incidence of gastrointestinal symptoms increased significantly (18.2% in 1999, 12.9% in 2009, and 43.9% in 2019; P < .05).

Conclusions

The prevalence of FA in children rapidly increased after the 1990s and gradually stabilized after 2010. Cow's milk has become the most common food allergen among children in Chongqing. The incidence of gastrointestinal symptoms as a manifestation of FA has increased significantly since 2010.
Hybrid event beds generated by erosional bulking of modern hyperpycnal flows on the Choshui River delta front, Taiwan Strait
Authors: Jin Lina , Shan Xin , Shi Xuefa , Fonnesu Marco , Qiao Shuqing , Kandasamy Selvaraj , Wang Huawei , Liu Shengfa , Fang Xisheng , Zou Xinqing
Published: March 2021

Hyperpycnal flows are important agents for transporting detrital sediments from rivers to oceans. Previous studies often assumed that the deposits of flood‐controlled delta fronts would be dominated by graded sand with common hummocky cross‐stratification. This study documents, for the first time, hybrid event beds and plumite deposits inside the succession of a modern delta front. This delta in the Taiwan Strait is fed by the Choshui River, which is considered a highly efficient sediment transport system with individual floods with extremely high suspended sediment concentrations. The deltaic event beds recorded in the core were interpreted as hyperpycnal flow‐generated hybrid event beds and turbidites triggered by hypopycnal flows. Accelerator Mass Spectrometry 14C dating, grain‐size analysis and measurements of stable isotopic composition of organic matter were conducted to delineate the depositional process of the recognized beds. The internal subdivisions of the hybrid event beds were differentiated mainly based on sedimentary textures, including cohesive mud content, sand content and sorting. The disorganized portion (division H3) appears internally chaotic and contains large rafted substrate clasts but also displays an upward increase in dispersed cohesive mud from 35% (division H3a) to 50% (division H3b). In contrast, massive H1 divisions are characterized by much lower cohesive mud of ca 8%. The vertical arrangement between depositional facies allows the discrimination of three hybrid event bed types. The stable carbon isotopic composition of the organic matter reveals that the cohesive mud in each division of the hybrid event beds was sourced from marine substrate, rather than supplied by the original hyperpycnal flows. Therefore, the hybrid event beds are generated by energetic hyperpycnal flows, which can delaminate the muddy sea‐floor and incorporate large quantities of substrate fragments. The bulking of erosional hyperpycnal turbulent flow forces flow transformation and generates a more cohesive flow with a turbulent, dense head and trailing bipartite debris flow. The occurrence of hybrid event beds in modern shallow delta front settings is also an important novelty, implying a high density of hyperpycnal flows at the mouth of sediment‐laden rivers as well as the crucial impact of substrate entrainment on the development of hybrid event beds.
Integrative systematics of the scleractinian coral genera Caulastraea, Erythrastrea and Oulophyllia
Authors: Arrigoni Roberto , Huang Danwei , Berumen Michael L. , Budd Ann F. , Montano Simone , Richards Zoe T. , Terraneo Tullia I. , Benzoni Francesca
Published: March 2021

Modern systematics integrating molecular and morphological data has greatly improved our understanding of coral evolutionary relationships during the last two decades and led to a deeply revised taxonomy of the order Scleractinia. The family Merulinidae (Cnidaria: Scleractinia) was recently subjected to a series of revisions following this integrated approach but the phylogenetic affinities of several genera ascribed to it remain unknown. Here, we partially fill this gap through the study of 89 specimens belonging to all 10 valid species from four genera (Caulastraea, Erythrastrea, Oulophyllia and Dipsastraea) collected from 14 localities across the Indo‐Pacific realm. Four molecular loci (histone H3, COI, ITS and IGR) were sequenced, and a total of 44 skeletal morphological characters (macromorphology, micromorphology and microstructure) were analysed. Molecular phylogenetic analyses revealed that the phaceloid Caulastraea species are split into two distinct lineages. A species previously ascribed to the genus Dipsastraea, Dipsastraea maxima, is also recovered in one on these lineages. Furthermore, Erythrastrea is nested within Oulophyllia. The molecular reconstructions of evolutionary relationships are further corroborated by multiscale morphological evidence. To resolve the taxonomy of these genera, Astraeosmilia is resurrected to accommodate Astraeosmilia connata, Astraeosmilia curvata, Astraeosmilia tumida and Astraeosmilia maxima, with Caulastraea retaining Caulastraea furcata and Caulastraea echinulata. Based on the examination of type material, Erythrastrea flabellata is considered an objective synonym of Lobophyllia wellsi, which is transferred to Oulophyllia following the obtained morpho‐molecular results. This work further confirms that an integrated morpho‐molecular approach based on a rigorous phylogenetic framework is fundamental for an objective classification that reflects the evolutionary history of scleractinian corals.
Self-management, self-care, and self-help in adolescents with emotional problems: a scoping review protocol
Authors: Town Rosa , Hayes Daniel , Fonagy Peter , Stapley Emily
Published: March 2021

Objective:

The objective of this scoping review is to clarify the ways in which the concepts of self-management, self-care, and self-help are defined in the literature in the context of adolescents with emotional problems, as well as to identify the strategies or techniques that have been proposed to facilitate self-management, self-care, and self-help for this group.

Introduction:

There is evidence that emotional problems are rising amongst adolescents, yet timely access to specialist mental health treatment is limited to adolescents with greater severity of mental health difficulties. Nonetheless, self-management, self-care, and self-help strategies may be used by adolescents. Given the overlap in existing definitions and the lack of clarity around these concepts in a youth mental health context, a scoping review of the literature is warranted.

Inclusion criteria:

The review will consider studies that involve adolescents aged 10 to 19 years with symptoms of emotional problems. These problems do not require a formal diagnosis and may be based on self-reporting. Studies that reference self-management, self-care, or self-help in this population, in any setting, will be included. Strategies may be provided by a mental health professional or discovered by the adolescent on their own. Quantitative, qualitative, economic, and mixed methods studies, as well as systematic, scoping, and literature reviews, are eligible for inclusion.

Methods:

MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, Web of Science, CINAHL, Google Scholar, and MedNar will be searched for English-language texts from the year 2000 onward. A map or typology of definitions will be presented alongside a narrative summary of the results.
Turbine-Blade Vibration Due to Partial Admission
Authors: Kroon R. P.
Published: March 2021

This paper deals with stresses in steam-turbine blades set up during partial admission, that is, when the steam loading on the blades is intermittent. By making simplifying assumptions about the character of the loading, it is possible to develop simple relations showing how the blade stress depends on frequency, running speed, and damping. Apparatus to determine experimentally the damping of blade steels and optical equipment to investigate the exact nature of the steam forces acting on the blades in actual operation are described.
Energy and Exergy Performance Comparative Analysis of a Solar-Driven Organic Rankine Cycle Using Different Organic Fluids
Authors: Chowdhury Md. Tareq , Mokheimer Esmail M. A.
Published: March 2021

In this study, the performance of parabolic trough collector (PTC) integrated with an organic Rankine cycle (ORC) is investigated to find the optimum operating scenarios and to assess the exergy destruction at different components of the system. A commercial PTC LS-2 model with Therminol VP-1 as heat transfer fluid was integrated with an ORC that was examined for its thermal and exergetic performance using different organic fluids. It was found that every fluid has an optimum pressure and temperature level at which it works better than other fluids. R134a (tetrafluoroethane, CH2FCF3) showed the best performance for the turbine inlet temperature range from 340 K to 440 K regarding the achieved energy and exergy efficiencies. At a temperature of 362.8 K and a pressure of 2750 kPa, R134a showed the highest energy efficiency of 8.55% and exergy efficiency of 21.84% with the lowest mass flowrate required in ORC. Energy efficiency of other fluids, namely, R245fa (pentafluoropropane, CF3CH2CHF2), n-pentane, and toluene, was less than 5%. On the other hand, toluene exhibited thermal efficiency of 23.5% at a turbine inlet temperature of 550 K and a pressure of 2500 kPa, while the exergy efficiency was 62.89% at solar irradiation of 1 kW/m2.
Treatment of persistent hiccups after arthroplasty: effects of acupuncture at PC6, CV12 and ST36
Authors: Xu Jianda , Qu Yuxing , Yue Yongbin , Zhao Hong , Gao Yi , Peng Libo , Zhang Qi
Published: March 2021

Objective:

There are multiple treatment options for hiccups, including non-pharmacological therapies, but little evidence of superiority of one treatment over another. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of acupuncture on persistent hiccups after arthroplasty.

Methods:

From April 2010 to December 2015, 15 patients with primary unilateral total hip/knee arthroplasty were diagnosed with persistent hiccups and given acupuncture at PC6, CV12 and ST36. Each acupuncture session lasted 30 min. The total number of treatment sessions was determined by the persistence of symptoms, but acupuncture was administered no more than three times over the course of a week. The hiccups assessment instrument (HAI) was used to assess the severity of hiccups pre-treatment and post-treatment. Adverse events were also recorded.

Results:

Absolute resolution was observed in all 15 patients after less than three acupuncture sessions. Of these, 10 patients required only one acupuncture session, 3 patients required two sessions and 2 patients required three sessions. The HAI score improved after each round of acupuncture treatment (P<0.05). The average HAI score improved significantly post-acupuncture compared to baseline values pre-treatment (P<0.05). Symptoms accompanying the hiccups included pain in the diaphragmatic area (five patients), mild dyspnoea (three patients), dysphagia (two patients) and nausea/vomiting (one patient). All these accompanying symptoms disappeared at the point of resolution of the hiccups. There were no adverse effects related to acupuncture during the study period.

Conclusion:

Based on our results, acupuncture may represent a potential treatment option for hiccups after arthroplasty. Caution must be exercised, however, given the lack of a control group. Accordingly, randomised controlled trials will be required to verify the efficacy and effectiveness of acupuncture for the treatment of hiccups.
Transcutaneous electrical acupuncture point stimulation improves pregnancy outcomes in patients with recurrent implantation failure undergoing in vitro fertilisation and embryo transfer: a prospective, randomised trial
Authors: Shuai Zhenhong , Li Xuemei , Tang Xuelian , Lian Fang , Sun Zhengao
Published: March 2021

Objective:

To evaluate the effect of transcutaneous electrical acupuncture stimulation (TEAS) on pregnancy outcomes in patients with recurrent implantation failure (RIF) undergoing in vitro fertilisation (IVF).

Methods:

A total of 122 women with RIF undergoing fresh embryo transfer cycle IVF were randomly allocated to a TEAS or mock TEAS (MTEAS) group. Gonadotrophin therapy using a long protocol was provided in both groups. TEAS consisted of 30 min of stimulation (9–25 mA, 2 Hz) at SP6, CV3, CV4 and Zigong from day 5 of the ovarian stimulation cycle once every other day until the day of embryo transfer. The patients in the control group received MTEAS. Implantation, clinical pregnancy and live birth rates were compared.

Results:

In the TEAS group, the implantation rate, clinical pregnancy rate and live birth rate (24.3%, 32.8% and 27.9%, respectively) were significantly higher than in the MTEAS group (12.1%, 16.4% and 13.1%, respectively).

Conclusions:

TEAS significantly improves the clinical outcomes of subsequent IVF cycles among women who have experienced RIF.

Trial registration number:

ChiCTR-TRC-14004730.
Acupuncture attenuates cognitive impairment, oxidative stress and NF-κB activation in cerebral multi-infarct rats
Authors: Yang Jing-Wen , Wang Xue-Rui , Ma Si-Ming , Yang Na-Na , Li Qian-Qian , Liu Cun-Zhi
Published: March 2021

Backgroud:

Patients with multiple infarct dementia (MID) have subtle deficits that commonly go unnoticed, and are at risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. Oxidative stress induced by ischaemic injury results in intracellular calcium accumulation and neuronal apoptosis, leading to cognitive impairment by triggering various cellular signal transduction pathways. Several studies have suggested that NF-κB in the presence of p53 has a pro-apoptotic function in various models, but the mechanism is unclear.

Aims:

The aim of this study was to investigate whether acupuncture could protect cognitive function against cerebral multi-infarction (CMi) induced oxidative stress by inhibiting the activation of NF-κB and its target gene p53.

Methods:

An animal model of CMi was established by injecting homologous blood emboli into the right internal carotid artery of male Wistar rats. After 2 weeks of acupuncture treatment, cognitive function was detected by novel object recognition. Electron spin resonance and Fluo-3 fuorescence imaging were used to test the generation of ROS and intracellular calcium accumulation, respectively. Expression of NF-κB and p53 was examined by Western blot analysis and immunofluorescence.

Results:

CMi induced spatial learning and memory impairment, overproduction of intracellular hydroxyl radicals, and elevations of Ca2+, which were ameliorated by verum acupuncture treatment. Acupuncture inhibited activation of NF-κB and its downstream target gene p53.

Conclusion:

These findings suggest that acupuncture could protect cognitive function against oxidative stress induced by CMi, which is partially associated with suppression of NF-κB-p53 activation.
Acupuncture for overactive bladder in adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Mak Tony C , Chen Hai Yong , Cho William C
Published: March 2021

Background:

Overactive bladder is prevalent in adults over 40 years of age and its prevalence increases with age. The use of acupuncture in adults with overactive bladder is increasing globally. However, its effectiveness/efficacy and safety have not yet been confirmed.

Objective:

To determine the effectiveness/efficacy and safety of acupuncture and to identify the pattern of commonly used traditional acupuncture points in the management of overactive bladder in adults.

Methods:

Ten electronic English and Chinese language databases were systematically searched and two English together with four Chinese journals relevant to acupuncture were manually searched in libraries for randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of acupuncture for overactive bladder in adults from their inception to March 2017. The Cochrane risk of bias tool was used to assess the methodological quality of the RCTs. RevMan v.5.3 software was employed for data analysis.

Results:

Seven eligible trials involving 695 participants were included. Meta-analysis showed that acupuncture was comparable to drugs (tolterodine tartrate/solifenacin) in the reduction of micturition episodes over 24 hours (pooled standardised mean difference (SMD) 0.36, 95% CI −0.23 to 0.95; I2=83%), increase in voided volume of each micturition episode (pooled SMD −0.15, 95% CI −0.36 to 0.05; I2=0%), and reduction of overactive bladder symptom score (pooled SMD −0.23, 95% CI −1.30 to 0.85; I2=91%). In addition, acupuncture was not significantly different compared with placebo in the reduction of overactive bladder symptom score (pooled SMD −2.36, 95% CI −5.64 to 0.93; I2=97%). No serious adverse events were reported.

Conclusions:

No significant differences in effectiveness or efficacy were found between acupuncture and drug or between verum and sham acupuncture, respectively. Further high-quality studies are required.
Assessment of the quality of reporting in studies of acupuncture for patients with cancer using the STRICTA guidelines
Authors: Hughes John G , Lewith George , MacPherson Hugh , Witt Claudia M , Cummings Mike , Fisher Peter
Published: March 2021

Introduction:

There has been a burgeoning of research evaluating acupuncture for various symptoms of cancer and the side-effects associated with its treatment. A systematic review was conducted to examine the quality of reporting in published studies of acupuncture in cancer according to the STRICTA (STandards for Reporting Interventions in Clinical Trials of Acupuncture) guidelines.

Methods:

Systematic review of published research of acupuncture for symptoms of cancer and the side-effects associated with its treatment. Databases searched were: Medline, CINAHL, Cochrane (all databases), Scopus, and PubMed from their inception to December 2014. Clinical trials, pilot/feasibility studies, observational studies, and case studies were included. Only full journal papers published in English were included. The quality of reporting was evaluated using STRICTA guidelines. Each included paper was assessed by two independent reviewers, with disagreements adjudicated by a third reviewer.

Results:

88 papers were identified which met the inclusion criteria. The median number of STRICTA items reported in trials with a control or comparator arm (n=47) was 14 out of 17 (range 8 to 17, IQR 4). For studies without a control or comparator arm the median was 11 out of a possible 15 (range 5 to 15, IQR 3). Key weaknesses in reporting included details of other components of treatments, and details of the acupuncturist administering treatments.

Conclusions:

Despite the widespread use of the STRICTA guidelines in acupuncture research, adherence remains poor for a few specific items. Further research is required to explore the reasons why authors fail to report those items, and to develop strategies to improve the adherence to the guidelines.
Health of mothers of children with a life-limiting condition: a comparative cohort study
Authors: Fraser Lorna K , Murtagh Fliss EM , Aldridge Jan , Sheldon Trevor , Gilbody Simon , Hewitt Catherine
Published: March 2021

Objective

This study aimed to quantify the incidence rates of common mental and physical health conditions in mothers of children with a life-limiting condition.

Methods

Comparative national longitudinal cohort study using linked primary and secondary care data from the Clinical Practice Research Datalink in England. Maternal–child dyads were identified in these data. Maternal physical and mental health outcomes were identified in the primary and secondary care datasets using previously developed diagnostic coding frameworks. Incidence rates of the outcomes were modelled using Poisson regression, adjusting for deprivation, ethnicity and age and accounting for time at risk.

Results

A total of 35 683 mothers; 8950 had a child with a life-limiting condition, 8868 had a child with a chronic condition and 17 865 had a child with no long-term condition.

The adjusted incidence rates of all of the physical and mental health conditions were significantly higher in the mothers of children with a life-limiting condition when compared with those mothers with a child with no long-term condition (eg, depression: incidence rate ratio (IRR) 1.21, 95% CI 1.13 to 1.30; cardiovascular disease: IRR 1.73, 95% CI 1.27 to 2.36; death in mothers: IRR 1.59, 95% CI 1.16 to 2.18).

Conclusion

This study clearly demonstrates the higher incidence rates of common and serious physical and mental health problems and death in mothers of children with a life-limiting condition. Further research is required to understand how best to support these mothers, but healthcare providers should consider how they can target this population to provide preventative and treatment services.
Phakic intraocular lens implantation in a case of Tourette syndrome exacerbated by wearing glasses and contact lenses
Authors: Rampat Radhika , Bhatia Vilomi , Quadir Monica , Angunawela Romesh
Published: March 2021

A 25-year-old longsighted woman presented with a history of spectacle and contact lens induced exacerbation of Tourette syndrome symptoms. Preoperatively, she had very poor unaided vision (6/60), achieving good (6/9) vision in both eyes with spectacle correction. The patient underwent bilateral simultaneous implantation of phakic implantable collamer lens (ICL) implants (STAAR, USA) which sit in front of the natural lens. Postoperatively, her uncorrected visual acuity was markedly improved as were her manifestations of Tourette syndrome. She achieved her full potential of unaided vision (6/9). This is the first documented case of Tourette syndrome triggered by glasses and contact lenses in which bilateral phakic toric lens implants were effective in improving vision and controlling motor symptoms. Phakic toric ICL implantation is a reversible technique for the correction of visually significant ametropia in selected patients and has improved this patient’s quality of life.
Systemic Arterial Blood Pressure and Intracerebral Hemorrhage after Mechanical Thrombectomy in Anterior Cerebral Circulation
Authors: An Jiaqi , Tang Yonglan , Cao Xiangqi , Yuan Huijie , Wei Meng , Yuan Xingyun , Zhang Aifeng , Li Yongxin , Saguner Ardan , Li Guoliang , Luo Guogang
Published: March 2021

The relationship between systemic arterial blood pressure (BP) and intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) after mechanical thrombectomy (MT) of the cerebral artery remains unclear. This study aimed to determine the effect of BP variables on ICH after MT in patients with acute occlusions of the anterior cerebral circulation. Patients undergoing MT due to acute occlusions of the anterior cerebral circulation were enrolled in this single-center study. Non-invasive BP data following MT were obtained within the first 24 hours, including mean, maximum, minimum, difference between maximum and minimum, SD and coefficient of variation for systolic BP (SBP) and diastolic BP (DBP) and mean arterial pressure. ICH was defined and classified according to the European Cooperative Acute Stroke Study-II. In 164 enrolled patients (median age 65 (IQR 56-75) years; 31.7% female), higher maximum (89.5 mm Hg vs 98.5 mm Hg, p=0.001) and SD (9.8 mm Hg vs 10.9 mm Hg, p=0.038) of DBP were associated with higher risk of ICH. The optimal cut-off values associated with ICH for maximum SBP were 155 mm Hg and for maximum DBP 92.5 mm Hg, respectively. Higher BP within 24 hours after MT in acute occlusions of the anterior cerebral circulation is associated with a greater risk of ICH. More studies are needed to further determine optimal BP goals in the acute phase after MT.
On the hard Lefschetz theorem for pseudoeffective line bundles
Authors: Wu Xiaojun
Published: March 2021

In this paper, we obtain a number of results related to the hard Lefschetz theorem for pseudoeffective line bundles, due to Demailly, Peternell and Schneider. Our first result states that the holomorphic sections produced by the theorem are in fact parallel, when the Chern connection associated with the singular metric is computed in the sense of currents, and the corresponding multiplier ideal sheaves are taken into account. Our proof is based on a control of the covariant derivative in the delicate approximation process used in the construction of these sections. Then we show that there is an isomorphism between the space of such parallel sections and the sheaf cohomology group of appropriate degree. As an application, we show that the closedness property of the sections produces a singular holomorphic foliation on the tangent bundle. Finally, we discuss some questions related to the optimality of the multiplier ideal sheaves involved in the generalized hard Lefschetz theorem.
Fresh insights on properties of particle fluxes in cosmic rays measured with the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer on the international space station
Authors: Li Ziyuan , Feng Jie
Published: March 2021

The Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer is a particle physics detector focusing on the search for dark matter, the existence of antimatter, the origin and composition of cosmic rays from primordial sources in the universe and the exploration of new physics in space. Important features of the elementary particle (proton, antiproton, positron and election) fluxes in cosmic rays are presented: (1) The proton spectrum has a smooth hardening from 200 GeV; (2) antiproton and positron spectra show excess from traditional physics background; (3) in particular, the positron flux shows a source term with a cutoff energy of 810 GeV, which raises the question of its source; (4) the origin of the energetic electrons is different from that of positrons and (5) the identical momentum dependence of primary and secondary cosmic ray nuclei fluxes are also reviewed.
Vortex sheet turbulence as solvable string theory
Authors: Migdal Alexander
Published: March 2021

We study steady vortex sheet solutions of the Navier–Stokes in the limit of vanishing viscosity at fixed energy flow. We refer to this as the turbulent limit. These steady flows correspond to a minimum of the Euler Hamiltonian as a functional of the tangent discontinuity of the local velocity parametrized as [Formula: see text]. This observation means that the steady flow represents the low-temperature limit of the Gibbs distribution for vortex sheet dynamics with the normal displacement [Formula: see text] of the vortex sheet as a Hamiltonian coordinate and [Formula: see text] as a conjugate momentum. An infinite number of Euler conservation laws lead to a degenerate vacuum of this system, which explains the complexity of turbulence statistics and provides the relevant degrees of freedom (random surfaces). The simplest example of a steady solution of the Navier–Stokes equation in the turbulent limit is a spherical vortex sheet whose flow outside is equivalent to a potential flow past a sphere, while the velocity is constant inside the sphere. Potential flow past other bodies provide other steady solutions. The new ingredient we add is a calculable gap in tangent velocity, leading to anomalous dissipation. This family of steady solutions provides an example of the Euler instanton advocated in our recent work, which is supposed to be responsible for the dissipation of the Navier–Stokes equation in the turbulent limit. We further conclude that one can obtain turbulent statistics from the Gibbs statistics of vortex sheets by adding Lagrange multipliers for the conserved volume inside closed surfaces, the rate of energy pumping, and energy dissipation. The effective temperature in our Gibbs distribution goes to zero as [Formula: see text] with Reynolds number [Formula: see text] in the turbulent limit. The Gibbs statistics in this limit reduces to the solvable string theory in two dimensions (so-called [Formula: see text] critical matrix model). This opens the way for nonperturbative calculations in the Vortex Sheet Turbulence, some of which we report here.
STUDY OF HARDNESS AND CORROSION RATE OF COPPER IONS IRRADIATED Mg–Al–Zn ALLOY IN RINGER LACTATE SOLUTION
Authors: AKHTAR MUHAMMAD HAMZA , AFZAL NAVEED , RAFIQUE MOHSIN , FAROOQ AMEEQ , AWAIS ALI , ALEEM MUHAMMAD ADEEL , TAYYAB KAAB BIN
Published: March 2021

In this work, the surface properties of Mg–Al–Zn (AZ91D) alloy such as surface morphology, hardness and electrochemical corrosion were studied after copper ions (Cu[Formula: see text] irradiation at different energies (0.8, 1.5, 2.5 and 3.5[Formula: see text]MeV) while keeping the ion dose constant at [Formula: see text] ions/cm2. The morphological features of irradiated samples showed defects composed of ejected material from the alloy surface that became more significant at 3.5[Formula: see text]MeV. The Vickers hardness was increased with increase of the Cu[Formula: see text] energy. The electrochemical testing of the samples was conducted in a Ringer Lactate solution. The potentiodynamic polarization results revealed anomalous changes in the corrosion rate of the Mg alloy with increase of the Cu[Formula: see text] energy. The corrosion rate was considerably decreased with increase of the Cu[Formula: see text] energy to 3.5[Formula: see text]MeV. These changes were associated with the surface defects and passive film formation on the alloy surface.
Dynamic Characterization of Steel Decks with Damping Material by Impact Test
Authors: Silvestri P. , Pais T. , Gaggero F. , Bassetti M.
Published: March 2021

Acoustic insulation optimization of the ship decks to contain impact noise is generally obtained by adopting suitable types of viscoelastic resilient materials. For this purpose, it is necessary to be able to make a correct choice of material. This is obtained by experimentally identifying the vibro-acoustic behavior of the combined semi-reverberant room and floor system according to an ISO standard (ISO 16283-2). These tests are generally onerous as they require the availability of the floor with both trimmed and untrimmed configurations. In addition, qualified technicians are needed to correctly spread the material on the floor. Finally, after the test has ended, the material must be removed and disposed of properly. To reduce this wasted time and cost, in this paper, a new methodology is proposed that predicts the vibro-acoustic behavior of the floor and viscoelastic material assembled together starting from separate dynamic information of the two components. Once these two elements are properly experimentally identified, the proposed method foresees the vibro-acoustic response of the overall system in presence of an impact footfall excitation.
Risk Assessment of Logistics Enterprises Using FMEA Under Free Double Hierarchy Hesitant Fuzzy Linguistic Environments
Authors: Shen Mengjiao , Liu Peide
Published: March 2021

Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA) is an effective tool for prioritization of the failures by identifying and eliminating potential risks, free double hierarchy hesitant fuzzy linguistic term set (FDHHFLTS) can describe the hesitation more accurately and reasonably by adding the free second hierarchy hesitant fuzzy linguistic terms, and multiattribute decision-making (MADM) methods have advantages in ranking and selecting different alternatives. By considering the advantages of MADM methods and FMEA model, in this paper, we propose a novel model to evaluate the risk failure modes (FMs) under FDHHFLTS context. First, an extended Complex Proportional Assessment (COPRAS) method is proposed to address the risk assessment problems. The proposed risk assessment model is utilized to assess and rank the FMs to address the limitations of the traditional FMEA. Second, a weight determination model is constructed based on the Kemeny Median (KEM) method and Stepwise Weight Assessment Ratio Analysis (SWARA) method, which can make the weight more practical and effective under the situation of completely unknown weights. Finally, the proposed model is used to the case of logistics enterprises’ risk assessment. The application of the case shows the feasibility of the proposed model, and the comparisons with some existing methods illustrate the advantages of the proposed risk assessment model.
RMI-DBG algorithm: A more agile iterative de Bruijn graph algorithm in short read genome assembly
Authors: Hosseini Zeinab Zare , Rahimi Shekoufeh Kolahdouz , Forouzan Esmaeil , Baraani Ahmad
Published: March 2021

The de Bruijn Graph algorithm (DBG) as one of the cornerstones algorithms in short read assembly has extended with the rapid advancement of the Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) technologies and low-cost production of millions of high-quality short reads. Erroneous reads, non-uniform coverage, and genomic repeats are three major problems that influence the performance of short read assemblers. To encounter these problems, the iterative DBG algorithm applies multiple [Formula: see text]-mers instead of a single [Formula: see text]-mer, by iterating the DBG graph over a range of [Formula: see text]-mer sizes from the minimum to the maximum. However, the iteration paradigm of iterative DBG deals with complex graphs from the beginning of the algorithm and therefore, causes more potential errors and computational time for resolving various unreal branches. In this research, we propose the Reverse Modified Iterative DBG graph (named RMI-DBG) for short read assembly. RMI-DBG utilizes the DBG algorithm and String graph to achieve the advantages of both algorithms. We present that RMI-DBG performs faster with comparable results in comparison to iterative DBG. Additionally, the quality of the proposed algorithm in terms of continuity and accuracy is evaluated with some commonly-used assemblers via several real datasets of the GAGE-B benchmark.
Design, Modeling and Control of an Enhanced Soft Pneumatic Network Actuator
Authors: Cao Guizhou , Chu Bing , Huo Benyan , Liu Yanhong
Published: March 2021

Inspired by nature, soft-bodied pneumatic network actuators (PNAs) composed of compliant materials have been successfully applied in the fields of industry and daily life because of large-amplitude motion and long life span. However, compliant materials simultaneously limit the output force, challenge the dynamic modeling and impede corresponding control. In this paper, we investigate the design, modeling and control of an enhanced PNA. First, an enhanced structure is proposed to improve the output force of PNAs with features of simplification of fabrication, lightweight and compliant material retentivity. Second, a dynamic model of the enhanced PNA is constructed based on the Euler–Lagrange (EL) method. Finally, an adaptive robust controller is addressed for PNAs in presence of system uncertainties without knowledge of its bounds in prior. Experiment results show that the output force of the enhanced PNA is four times greater than the actuator without enhanced structures, which affords to theoretical estimation. Moreover, the proposed controller is utilized and compared with previous works in humanoid finger experiments to illustrate the effectiveness.
A fibration theorem for collapsing sequences of Alexandrov spaces
Authors: Fujioka Tadashi
Published: March 2021

Suppose a sequence [Formula: see text] of Alexandrov spaces collapses to a space [Formula: see text] with only weak singularities. Yamaguchi constructed a map [Formula: see text] called an almost Lipschitz submersion for large [Formula: see text]. We prove that if [Formula: see text] has a uniform positive lower bound for the volumes of spaces of directions, which is sufficiently large compared to the weakness of singularities of [Formula: see text], then [Formula: see text] is a locally trivial fibration. Moreover, we show some properties on the intrinsic metric and the volume of the fibers of [Formula: see text].
Cylinder curves in finite holonomy flat metrics
Authors: Fu Ser-Wei , Leininger Christopher
Published: March 2021

For an orientable surface of finite type equipped with a flat metric with holonomy of finite order [Formula: see text], the set of maximal embedded cylinders can be empty, non-empty, finite, or infinite. The case when [Formula: see text] is well-studied as such surfaces are (semi-)translation surfaces. Not only is the set always infinite, the core curves form an infinite diameter subset of the curve complex. In this paper we focus on the case [Formula: see text] and construct examples illustrating a range of behaviors for the embedded cylinder curves. We prove that if [Formula: see text] and the surface is fully punctured, then the embedded cylinder curves form a finite diameter subset of the curve complex. The same analysis shows that the embedded cylinder curves can only have infinite diameter when the metric has a very specific form. Using this we characterize precisely when the embedded cylinder curves accumulate on a point in the Gromov boundary.
Tissue Homeostasis and Inflammation
Authors: Meizlish Matthew L. , Franklin Ruth A. , Zhou Xu , Medzhitov Ruslan
Published: March 2021

There is a growing interest in understanding tissue organization, homeostasis, and inflammation. However, despite an abundance of data, the organizing principles of tissue biology remain poorly defined. Here, we present a perspective on tissue organization based on the relationships between cell types and the functions that they perform. We provide a formal definition of tissue homeostasis as a collection of circuits that regulate specific variables within the tissue environment, and we describe how the functional organization of tissues allows for the maintenance of both tissue and systemic homeostasis. This leads to a natural definition of inflammation as a response to deviations from homeostasis that cannot be reversed by homeostatic mechanisms alone. We describe how inflammatory signals act on the same cellular functions involved in normal tissue organization and homeostasis in order to coordinate emergency responses to perturbations and ultimately return the system to a homeostatic state. Finally, we consider the hierarchy of homeostatic and inflammatory circuits and the implications for the development of inflammatory diseases.
Computing Analysis for First Zagreb Connection Index and Coindex of Resultant Graphs
Authors: Javaid Muhammad , Ali Usman , Liu Jia-Bao
Published: March 2021

A numeric parameter which studies the behaviour, structural, toxicological, experimental, and physicochemical properties of chemical compounds under several graphs’ isomorphism is known as topological index. In 2018, Ali and Trinajstić studied the first Zagreb connection index

Z

C

1

to evaluate the value of a molecule. This concept was first studied by Gutman and Trinajstić in 1972 to find the solution of

π

-electron energy of alternant hydrocarbons. In this paper, the first Zagreb connection index and coindex are obtained in the form of exact formulae and upper bounds for the resultant graphs in terms of different indices of their factor graphs, where the resultant graphs are obtained by the product-related operations on graphs such as tensor product, strong product, symmetric difference, and disjunction. At the end, an analysis of the obtained results for the first Zagreb connection index and coindex on the aforesaid resultant graphs is interpreted with the help of numerical values and graphical depictions.