bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Relationship between diabetes mellitus and atrial fibrillation prevalence in the Polish population: a report from the Non-invasive Monitoring for Early Detection of Atrial Fibrillation (NOMED-AF) prospective cross-sectional observational study
Authors: Gumprecht Jakub , Lip Gregory Y. H. , Sokal Adam , Średniawa Beata , Mitręga Katarzyna , Stokwiszewski Jakub , Wierucki Łukasz , Rajca Aleksandra , Rutkowski Marcin , Zdrojewski Tomasz , Grodzicki Tomasz , Kaźmierczak Jarosław , Opolski Grzegorz , Kalarus Zbigniew
Published: June 2021

Background

The global burden of atrial fibrillation (AF) and diabetes mellitus (DM) is constantly rising, leading to an increasing healthcare burden of stroke. AF often remains undiagnosed due to the occurrence in an asymptomatic, silent form, i.e., silent AF (SAF). The study aims to evaluate the relationships between DM and AF prevalence using a mobile long-term continuous ECG telemonitoring vest in a representative Polish and European population ≥ 65 years for detection of AF, symptomatic or silent.

Methods

A representative sample of 3014 participants from the cross-sectional NOMED-AF study was enrolled in the analyses (mean age 77.5, 49.1% female): 881 (29.2%) were diagnosed with DM. AF was screened using a telemonitoring vest for a mean of 21.9 ± 9.1days.

Results

Overall, AF was reported in 680 (22.6%) of the whole study population. AF prevalence was higher among subjects with concomitant DM (DM+) versus those without DM (DM−) [25%, 95% CI 22.5-27.8% vs 17%; 95% CI 15.4–18.5% respectively, p < 0.001]. DM patients were commonly associated with SAF [9%; 95% CI 7.9–11.4 vs 7%; 95% CI 5.6–7.5 respectively, p < 0.001], and persistent/permanent AF [12.2%; 95% CI 10.3–14.3 vs 6.9%; 95% CI 5.9–8.1 respectively, p < 0.001] compared to subjects without DM. The prolonged screening was associated with a higher percentage of newly established AF diagnosis in DM+ vs DM− patients (5% vs 4.5% respectively, p < 0.001). In addition to shared risk factors, DM+ subjects were associated with different AF and SAF independent risk factors compared to DM− individuals, including thyroid disease, peripheral/systemic thromboembolism, hypertension, physical activity and prior percutaneous coronary intervention/coronary artery bypass graft surgery.

Conclusions

AF affects 1 out of 4 subjects with concomitant DM. The higher prevalence of AF and SAF among DM subjects than those without DM highlights the necessity of active AF screening specific AF risk factors assessment amongst the diabetic population.

Trial registration: NCT03243474
Exosomes from cervical cancer cells facilitate pro-angiogenic endothelial reconditioning through transfer of Hedgehog–GLI signaling components
Authors: Bhat Anjali , Yadav Joni , Thakur Kulbhushan , Aggarwal Nikita , Tripathi Tanya , Chhokar Arun , Singh Tejveer , Jadli Mohit , Bharti Alok Chandra
Published: June 2021

Background

Angiogenic switch is a hallmark feature of transition from low-grade to high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) in cervical cancer progression. Therefore, early events leading to locally-advanced cervical metastatic lesions demand a greater understanding of the underlying mechanisms. Recent leads indicate the role of tumor-derived exosomes in altering the functions of endothelial cells in cervical cancer, which needs further investigation.

Methods

Exosomes isolated from cervical cancer cell lines were assessed for their angiogenic effect on the human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) using tube formation and wound healing assay. The exosomal uptake by HUVEC cells was monitored using PKH-67 labelling followed by fluorescence microscopy. Alterations in Hh-GLI signaling components, PTCH1 and GLI1, in HUVEC were measured by immunoblotting. Changes in angiogenesis-related transcripts of vascular endothelial growth factor VEGF-A, VEGF-B, VEGFR2 and angiopoietin-1, angiopoietin-2, osteopontin were measured in exosome-treated HUVEC and in the exosomal RNA by RT-PCR.

Results

Enhanced tube formation, with an increased number of nodes and branching was observed in HUVEC’s treated with exosomes derived from different cervical cancer cell lines. HPV-positive (SiHa and HeLa) cells’ exosomes were more angiogenic. Exosome-treated HUVEC showed increased migration rate. PKH-67 labelled exosomes were found internalized in HUVEC. A high level of PTCH1 protein was detected in the exosome—treated endothelial cells. Subsequent RT-PCR analysis showed increased transcripts of Hh-GLI downstream target genes VEGF-A, VEGFR2, angiopoietin-2, and decreased expression of VEGF-B, and angiopoietin-1, suggestive of active Hh-GLI signaling. These effects were more pronounced in HUVEC’s treated with exosomes of HPV-positive cells. However, these effects were independent of tumor-derived VEGF-A as exosomal cargo lacked VEGF-A transcripts or proteins.

Conclusion

Overall, the data showed cervical cancer exosomes promote pro-angiogenic response in endothelial cells via upregulation of Hh-GLI signaling and modulate downstream angiogenesis-related target genes. The study provides a novel exosome-mediated mechanism potentially favoring cervical angiogenesis and thus identifies the exosomes as potential pharmacological targets against locally-advanced metastatic cervical lesions.

Graphic abstract
Exogenous L-carnitine ameliorates burn-induced cellular and mitochondrial injury of hepatocytes by restoring CPT1 activity
Authors: Li Pengtao , Xia Zhengguo , Kong Weichang , Wang Qiong , Zhao Ziyue , Arnold Ashley , Xu Qinglian , Xu Jiegou
Published: June 2021

Background

Impaired hepatic fatty acid metabolism and persistent mitochondrial dysfunction are phenomena commonly associated with liver failure. Decreased serum levels of L-carnitine, a amino acid derivative involved in fatty-acid and energy metabolism, have been reported in severe burn patients. The current study aimed to evaluate the effects of L-carnitine supplementation on mitochondrial damage and other hepatocyte injuries following severe burns and the related mechanisms.

Methods

Serum carnitine and other indicators of hepatocytic injury, including AST, ALT, LDH, TG, and OCT, were analyzed in severe burn patients and healthy controls. A burn model was established on the back skin of rats; thereafter, carnitine was administered, and serum levels of the above indicators were evaluated along with Oil Red O and TUNEL staining, transmission electron microscopy, and assessment of mitochondrial membrane potential and carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1 (CPT1) activity and expression levels in the liver. HepG2 cells pretreated with the CPT1 inhibitor etomoxir were treated with or without carnitine for 24 h. Next, the above indicators were examined, and apoptotic cells were analyzed via flow cytometry. High-throughput sequencing of rat liver tissues identified several differentially expressed genes (Fabp4, Acacb, Acsm5, and Pnpla3) were confirmed using RT-qPCR.

Results

Substantially decreased serum levels of carnitine and increased levels of AST, ALT, LDH, and OCT were detected in severe burn patients and the burn model rats. Accumulation of TG, evident mitochondrial shrinkage, altered mitochondrial membrane potential, decreased ketogenesis, and reduced CPT1 activity were detected in the liver tissue of the burned rats. Carnitine administration recovered CPT1 activity and improved all indicators related to cellular and fatty acid metabolism and mitochondrial injury. Inhibition of CPT1 activity with etomoxir induced hepatocyte injuries similar to those in burn patients and burned rats; carnitine supplementation restored CPT1 activity and ameliorated these injuries. The expression levels of the differentially expressed genes Fabp4, Acacb, Acsm5, and Pnpla3 in the liver tissue from burned rats and etomoxir-treated hepatocytes were also restored by treatment with exogenous carnitine.

Conclusion

Exogenous carnitine exerts protective effects against severe burn-induced cellular, fatty-acid metabolism, and mitochondrial dysfunction of hepatocytes by restoring CPT1 activity.
The utilisation of tools to facilitate cross-border communication during international food safety events, 1995–2020: a realist synthesis
Authors: Savelli Carmen Joseph , Garcia Acevedo Raul Fernando , Simpson Jane , Mateus Céu
Published: June 2021

Efficient communication and coordination are needed between countries to prevent, detect and respond to international food safety events. While communication tools, networks and systems exist, current evidence suggests that they are only useful within particular contexts and several only target specific geographic areas. There is a need to unpack and explore the mechanisms of how and in what context such communication tools and their components are effective at facilitating international communication and coordination to keep food safe and mitigate the burden of foodborne disease around the world.

A realist synthesis was undertaken to understand how and why certain processes and structures of communication tools, used during international food safety events, influence their utility and effectiveness according to different contextual factors. The focus of this review was explanatory and aimed to develop and refine theory regarding how contextual factors trigger specific processes and mechanisms to produce outcomes. Using the realist context–mechanism–outcome configuration of theory development, a range of sources was used to develop an initial programme theory, including the authors’ experience, a scoping review of published papers and grey literature and input from an expert reference committee. Literature was then systematically located and synthesised from several databases with input from the expert reference committee to refine the programme theory.

The programme theory developed indicates that when a country has interests in food import or export, has the technical infrastructure to detect and respond to food safety events, and is governed in accordance with regional and/or global laws and regulations relating to food control and global health security, then specific mechanisms will facilitate various outcomes. Mechanisms include trust, experience, support, awareness, understanding, a sense of community, standardisation and intersectoral collaboration. The outcomes include using communication tools to relay information abroad and the prevention of foodborne diseases, among others.

Components of such communication tools may be adapted according to different contextual factors to promote, support and improve their use. Improving international coordination and communication during international food safety events is in the interest of global health security and can mitigate the global burden of foodborne disease.
Sjögren’s syndrome with nervous system injury combined with pulmonary and osseous cryptococcosis: a case report
Authors: Xu Liping , Song Xinwei , Zhang Yan , Lin Na , Wang Ji-An
Published: June 2021

Background

Sjögren’s syndrome is a common autoimmune disease that can involve the nervous system, but rarely both the central and peripheral. Long-term use of high-dose corticosteroids and immunosuppressants are the main risk factors for Cryptococcus infection in patients with Sjögren’s syndrome, of which pulmonary infection is the most common, while multiple bone infections are rare.

Case presentation

A 46-year-old Chinese woman with a 2-year history of Sjögren’s syndrome presented to our hospital with numbness of limbs, shortness of breath, and weakness. Blood immunochemistry showed that antinuclear antibody (1:640), anti-Sjögren’s syndrome-A antibodies, and anti-centromere antibodies were strongly positive. Cranial magnetic resonance imaging revealed multiple demyelinating lesions in the white matter of bilateral cerebral hemispheres. Electromyography indicated serious peripheral nerve injury, especially in lower limbs. Computed tomography scan of lumbar vertebral displayed multiple high-density shadows, and the corresponding vertebrae on magnetic resonance imaging showed abnormal low signal intensity on T1 and T2 sequences. Positron emission tomography–computed tomography showed multiple lesions with high 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose uptake in lung and vertebral bodies. Both lung and bone biopsies suggested Cryptococcus infection, with the diagnosis of Sjögren’s syndrome with nervous system injury combined pulmonary and osseous cryptococcosis. She took a reduced dose of prednisone about 10 mg/day, terminated mycophenolate mofetil, and began to take immunoglobulin of 0.4 g/kg/day intravenously for 5 days, fluconazole (400 mg/day) for 6 months. Within 3 weeks, her chest radiography showed a marked improvement, and 3 months later, the pulmonary lesions disappeared on her computed tomography scan.

Conclusions

This case exhibits an extremely rare condition of neural involvement in Sjögren’s syndrome combined with pulmonary and osseous cryptococcosis. This report also highlights the crucial role of detailed clinical examination, serologic markers, and biopsy in avoiding misdiagnosis. Currently, there is no guideline for this situation; in this case, we controlled the disease successfully with antifungal drugs and adequate gamma globulin, followed by an appropriate dose of corticosteroids.
Multi-source localization by using offset residual weight
Authors: Jia Maoshen , Gao Shang , Bao Changchun
Published: June 2021

Multiple sound source localization is a hot issue of concern in recent years. The Single Source Zone (SSZ) based localization methods achieve good performance due to the detection and utilization of the Time-Frequency (T-F) zone where only one source is dominant. However, some T-F points consisting of components from multiple sources are also included in the detected SSZ sometimes. Once a T-F point in SSZ is contributed by multiple components, this point is defined as an outlier. The existence of outliers within the detected SSZ is usually an unavoidable problem for SSZ-based methods. To solve this problem, a multi-source localization by using offset residual weight is proposed in this paper. In this method, an assumption is developed: the direction estimated by all the T-F points within the detected SSZ has a difference along with the actual direction of sources. But this difference is much smaller than the difference between the directions estimated by the outliers along with the actual source localization. After verifying this assumption experimentally, Point Offset Residual Weight (PORW) and Source Offset Residual Weight (SORW) are proposed to reduce the influence of outliers on the localization results. Then, a composite weight is formed by combining PORW and SORW, which can effectively distinguish the outliers and desired points. After that, the outliers are removed by composite weight. Finally, a statistical histogram of DOA estimation with outliers removed is used for multi-source localization. The objective evaluation of the proposed method is conducted in various simulated environments. The results show that the proposed method achieves a better performance compared with the reference methods in sources localization.
Correction to: On the achievable rate of bandlimited continuous-time AWGN channels with 1-bit output quantization
Authors: Bender Sandra , Dörpinghaus Meik , Fettweis Gerhard P.
Published: June 2021

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via the original article.
Three new approaches for solving a class of strongly nonlinear two-point boundary value problems
Authors: Nosrati Sahlan Monireh , Afshari Hojjat
Published: June 2021

Three new and applicable approaches based on quasi-linearization technique, wavelet-homotopy analysis method, spectral methods, and converting two-point boundary value problem to Fredholm–Urysohn integral equation are proposed for solving a special case of strongly nonlinear two-point boundary value problems, namely Troesch problem. A quasi-linearization technique is utilized to reduce the nonlinear boundary value problem to a sequence of linear equations in the first method. Second method is devoted to applying generalized Coiflet scaling functions based on the homotopy analysis method for approximating the numerical solution of Troesch equation. In the third method we use an interesting technique to convert the boundary value problem to Urysohn–Fredholm integral equation of the second kind; afterwards generalized Coiflet scaling functions and Simpson quadrature are employed for solving the obtained integral equation. Introduced methods are new and computationally attractive, and applications are demonstrated through illustrative examples. Comparing the results of the presented methods with the results of some other existing methods for solving this kind of equations implies the high accuracy and efficiency of the suggested schemes.
Hand Osteoarthritis: investigating Pain Effects of estrogen-containing therapy (HOPE-e): a protocol for a feasibility randomised placebo-controlled trial
Authors: Marian Ioana R. , Goff Megan , Williams Jennifer A. E. , Gulati Malvika , Chester-Jones Mae , Francis Anne , Watson Marion , Vincent Tonia L. , Woollacott Sue , Mackworth-Young Charles , Glover Victoria , Furniss Dominic , Gardiner Matthew , Lamb Sarah E. , Vincent Katy , Barber Vicki S. , Black Joanna , Dutton Susan J. , Watt Fiona E.
Published: June 2021

Background

Hand osteoarthritis (OA) is a common condition, causing pain, stiffness and reduced quality of life. Incidence is higher amongst women, particularly around the age of the menopause. Whilst the relationship between sex hormones and OA has been studied in vitro, in epidemiological studies and in clinical trials of hormone replacement therapy (HRT), this study is the first to investigate the effect of estrogen-containing therapy on hand pain in post-menopausal women with symptomatic hand OA in a randomised study design.

Methods

This is a feasibility study of a double-blinded placebo-controlled intervention with 1:1 randomisation to either a combination of conjugated estrogens 0.45 mg and bazedoxifene acetate 20 mg (Duavive) or placebo. The target population is post-menopausal women with symptomatic hand OA, aiming to recruit 60–90 study participants. The primary objective is to assess the feasibility of a future fully powered randomised controlled trial (RCT). Participants will take the study medication for 24 weeks and be followed up for 28 weeks after randomisation. The primary outcomes used to determine feasibility are eligible participant identification rates and routes; recruitment, randomisation and retention rates of eligible participants; study medication compliance; and the likelihood of unintentional unblinding. Secondary outcomes include measures of hand pain, function, appearance and menopausal symptoms. An end of study questionnaire and focus groups will help to refine the final protocol for a full study.

Discussion

Identifying new treatments for symptomatic hand OA is a recognised research priority. The study will help us to understand whether there are sufficient interested and eligible individuals in this target population who would consider HRT for their hand symptoms. It will provide proof-of-concept RCT data on the effects of HRT on hand pain and other clinically relevant outcomes in this population. The study will gain valuable information on the feasibility of a full RCT and how best to run this. The findings will be published in a peer-reviewed journal and presented at a relevant conference.

Trial registration

ISRCTN12196200 registered on 15 January 2019.
Business ecosystem architecture development: a case study of Electric Vehicle home charging
Authors: Ma Zheng , Christensen Kristoffer , Jørgensen Bo Nørregaard
Published: June 2021

Due to the complexity of business ecosystems, the architecture of business ecosystems has not been well discussed in the literature, and modeling or simulation of business ecosystems has been rarely focused. Therefore, this paper proposes a business ecosystem ontology and introduces a methodology for business ecosystem architecture design. The proposed methodology includes five stages: 1) Boundary identification of a business ecosystem; 2) Identification of actors and their roles in the business ecosystem; 3) Identification of actors’ value propositions; 4) Identification of interaction between actors; 5) Verification of business ecosystem architecture design. This paper uses the Danish electricity system as an example to introduce the methodology, and use Electric Vehicle home charging as a case study to demonstrate the application of the developed methodology. The case study demonstrates that the proposed methodology is a systematic approach and can be easily applied to any ecosystem architecture design with the five stages, and the designed ecosystem architecture can represent the physical system and business. Several definitions are clarified in the paper, e.g., actor, role, interaction, ecosystem roadmap and expanded/shifted ecosystem, etc. With clear definitions, the proposed methodology provides a visualized, clear structure of behaviors and specifications for a given business ecosystem.
Chronology of cardiac dysfunction after permanent pacemaker implantation: an observational 2 year prospective study in North India
Authors: Gupta Harshit , Showkat Hakim Irfan , Aslam Naved , Tandon Rohit , Wander G. S. , Gupta Shweta , Anwar Sadaf , Sohil Mohd Maqbool
Published: June 2021

Background

The purpose of this study is to evaluate cardiac functions using transthoracic echocardiography, change in lead parameters and electrocardiogram (ECG) morphology in patients undergoing permanent pacemaker implantation over a follow-up period of 6 months.

Methods

This is a prospective study in patients undergoing permanent pacemaker implantation in a tertiary care hospital. Patients undergoing permanent pacemaker implantation were enrolled for up to one year and Echocardiographic parameters (by 2 blind operators) and ECG parameters were recorded at admission (within 24 h), before discharge (within 7 days of pacemaker implantation), after 1 month (± 7 days) and after 6 months (± 7 days) of follow-up.

Results

A total of 96 patients (60.4% males and 39.6% female, mean age 66.65 years) were implanted with permanent pacemaker. The mean QRS duration was 133.18 ms and increased significantly to 146.03 ms by 6 months despite septal lead placement in majority (92%) of patients. The mean baseline ejection fraction of 51.47 decreased significantly to 47.83 by 6 months. Diastolic parameters like left atrial volume index, early to late diastolic transmitral flow velocity (E/A) and early diastolic mitral annular tissue velocity (E/e′) showed a significant increase (> 5%) from baseline by the end of first week. By the end of first month, systolic dysfunction of RV sets in with significant (> 5%) change from baseline in parameters like Right ventricle myocardial performance index, transannular plane systolic excursion and right ventricle systolic excursion velocity (RVS′).

Conclusion

We have observed that pacemaker recipients with baseline reduced left ventricle (LV) systolic functions perform significantly worse compared to those with baseline normal cardiac functions and had a higher rate of deterioration of LV function. RV dysfunction is the first abnormality that occurs, by 1 week followed by LV dysfunction which starts by 1 month and the diastolic dysfunctions precede the systolic dysfunction. QRS duration also showed a gradual increase despite septal lead placement in majority (92%) and lead parameters showed no significant change over 6 months.
Simultaneous inversion ofQand reflectivity using dictionary learning
Authors: Shao Jie , Wang Yibo
Published: June 2021

Quality factor ( Q) and reflectivity are two important subsurface properties in seismic data processing and interpretation. They can be calculated simultaneously from a seismic trace corresponding to an anelastic layered model by a simultaneous inversion method based on the nonstationary convolutional model. However, the conventional simultaneous inversion method calculates the optimum Q and reflectivity based on the minimum of the reflectivity sparsity by sweeping each Q value within a predefined range. As a result, the accuracy and computational efficiency of the conventional method depend heavily on the predefined Q value set. To improve the performance of the conventional simultaneous inversion method, we have developed a dictionary learning-based simultaneous inversion of Q and reflectivity. The parametric dictionary learning method is used to update the initial predefined Q value set automatically. The optimum Q and reflectivity are calculated from the updated Q value set based on minimizing not only the sparsity of the reflectivity but also the data residual. Synthetic data and two field data sets are used to test the effectiveness of our method. The results demonstrate that our method can effectively improve the accuracy of these two parameters compared to the conventional simultaneous inversion method. In addition, the dictionary learning method can improve computational efficiency up to approximately seven times when compared to the conventional method with a large predefined dictionary.
Anisotropic Born scattering for the qP scalar wavefield using a low-rank symbol approximation
Authors: Araújo Iury , Nascimento Murillo , Costa Jessé , Souza Alan , Schleicher Jörg
Published: June 2021

We have developed a procedure to derive low-rank evolution operators in the mixed space-wavenumber domain for modeling the qP Born-scattered wavefield at perturbations of an anisotropic medium under the pseudoacoustic approximation. To approximate the full wavefield, this scattered field is then added to the reference wavefield obtained with the corresponding low-rank evolution operator in the background medium. Being built upon a Hamiltonian formulation using the dispersion relation for qP-waves, this procedure avoids pseudo-S-wave artifacts and provides a unified approach for linearizing anisotropic pseudoacoustic evolution operators. Therefore, it is immediately applicable to any arbitrary class of anisotropy. As an additional asset, the scattering operators explicitly contain the sensitivity kernels of the Born-scattered wavefield with respect to the anisotropic medium parameters. This enables direct access to important information such as its offset dependence or directional characteristics as a function of the individual parameter perturbations. For our numerical tests, we specify the operators for a mildly anisotropic tilted transversely isotropic (TTI) medium. We validate our implementation in a simple model with weak contrasts and simulate reflection data in the BP TTI model to indicate that the procedure works in a more realistic scenario. The Born-scattering results indicate that our procedure is applicable to strongly heterogeneous anisotropic media. Moreover, we use the analytical capabilities of the kernels by means of sensitivity tests to demonstrate that using two different medium parameterizations leads to different results. The mathematical formulation of the method is such that it allows for an immediate application to least-squares migration in pseudoacoustic anisotropic media.
Behavior-dependent critical dynamics in collective states of active particles
Authors: Löffler Robert C. , Bäuerle Tobias , Kardar Mehran , Rohwer Christian M. , Bechinger Clemens
Published: June 2021

We experimentally demonstrate critical collective behavior in a system of active colloidal particles (APs), achieved through variations of their mutual interactions using feedback control. At the transition between a swarm and a swirl we observe an explicit bifurcation dynamics of the rotational order parameter and a critical slowing down, i.e., a growth of the relaxation time by almost one order of magnitude. Additional signatures of critical dynamics, including hysteresis in presence of symmetry-breaking particle interactions, and a maximum of the susceptibility, are measured and characterized in terms of a theoretical model which is based purely on the time-reversal symmetry of the order parameter.
Paradoxical Platypnea-Orthodeoxia Syndrome Induced by Patent Foramen Ovale and Highly Tortuous Descending Thoracic Aorta: A Case Report
Authors: Kohashi Yoshiki , Yamamoto Tomohiro , Yuza Mika , Nishimaki Hironobu
Published: June 2021

Perioperative hypoxemia is common in patients with aortic dissection. Platypnea-orthodeoxia syndrome (POS), in which hypoxemia in the upright position improves with relocating to a recumbent position, can be a rare cause of hypoxemia. This syndrome is more likely to occur in patients with an intracardiac shunt and aortic malformation. Hypoxemic symptoms present in our patient were paradoxical to those of common POS due to the highly tortuous descending thoracic aorta (DTA) and Eustachian valve. Therefore, establishing the diagnosis was difficult. POS should be suspected when patients with high tortuosity and curvature of DTA show hypoxemia.
Contesting Militarized Violence in “Northeast India”
Authors: Mehta Brinda J.
Published: June 2021

The northeastern states of India have been positioned as India’s postcolonial other in mainstream politics with the aim to create xenophobic binaries between insider and outsider groups. Comprising the eight “sister” states of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, and Tripura, this region represents India’s amorphous shadowlands in arbitrary political markings between the mainland and the off-centered northeastern periphery. These satellite states have been subjected to the neocolonial governance of the Indian government and its implementation of political terror through abusive laws, militarized violence, protracted wars against civilians and insurgents alike, and gender abuse. Women poets from the region, such as Monalisa Changkija, Temsüla Ao, Mamang Dai, and others, have played a leading role in exposing and denouncing this violence. This essay examines the importance of women’s poetry as a gendered documentation of conflict, a peace narrative, a poet’s reading of history, and a site of memory. Can poetry express the particularized “sorrow of women” (Mamang Dai) without sentimentality and concession? How do these poetic contestations of conflict represent complex interrogations of identity, eco-devastation, and militarization to invalidate an elitist “poetry for poetry’s sake” ethic?
The Mythical Courtesan
Authors: Putcha Rumya S.
Published: June 2021

This article interrogates how and why courtesan identities are simultaneously embraced and disavowed by Brahman dancers. Using a combination of ethnographic and critical feminist methods, which allow the author to toggle between the past and the present, between India and the United States, and between film analysis and the dance studio, the author examines the cultural politics of the romanticized and historical Indian dancer—the mythical courtesan. The author argues that the mythical courtesan was called into existence through film cultures in the early twentieth century to provide a counterpoint against which a modern and national Brahmanical womanhood could be articulated. The author brings together a constellation of events that participated in the construction of Indian womanhood, especially the rise of sound film against the backdrop of growing anticolonial and nationalist sentiments in early twentieth-century South India. The author focuses on films that featured an early twentieth-century dancer-singer-actress, Sundaramma. In following her career through Telugu film and connecting it to broader conversations about Indian womanhood in the 1930s and 1940s, the author traces the contours of an affective triangle between three mutually constituting emotional points: pleasure, shame, and disgust.
Cell cycle control during early embryogenesis
Authors: Brantley Susanna E. , Di Talia Stefano
Published: June 2021

Understanding the mechanisms of embryonic cell cycles is a central goal of developmental biology, as the regulation of the cell cycle must be closely coordinated with other events during early embryogenesis. Quantitative imaging approaches have recently begun to reveal how the cell cycle oscillator is controlled in space and time, and how it is integrated with mechanical signals to drive morphogenesis. Here, we discuss how the Drosophila embryo has served as an excellent model for addressing the molecular and physical mechanisms of embryonic cell cycles, with comparisons to other model systems to highlight conserved and species-specific mechanisms. We describe how the rapid cleavage divisions characteristic of most metazoan embryos require chemical waves and cytoplasmic flows to coordinate morphogenesis across the large expanse of the embryo. We also outline how, in the late cleavage divisions, the cell cycle is inter-regulated with the activation of gene expression to ensure a reliable maternal-to-zygotic transition. Finally, we discuss how precise transcriptional regulation of the timing of mitosis ensures that tissue morphogenesis and cell proliferation are tightly controlled during gastrulation.
Zuotai (β-HgS)-containing 70 Wei Zhen-Zhu-Wan differs from mercury chloride and methylmercury on hepatic cytochrome P450 in mice
Authors: Nie Yu , Xu Shang-Fu , Lu Yan-Liu , Zhao Xiu-Rong , Li Cen , Wei Li-Xin , Liu Jie
Published: June 2021

Background: Zuotai (mainly β-HgS)-containing 70 Wei-Zhen-Zhu-Wan (70W, Rannasangpei) is a famous Tibetan medicine for treating cardiovascular and gastrointestinal diseases.  We have shown that 70W protected against CCl4 hepatotoxicity.  CCl4 is metabolized via cytochrome P450 (CYP) to produce reactive metabolites. Whether 70W has any effect on CYPs is unknown and such effects should be compared with mercury compounds for safety evaluation.  

Methods: Mice were given clinical doses of 70W (0.15-1.5 g/kg, po), Zuotai (30 mg/kg, po), and compared to HgCl2 (33.6 mg/kg, po) and MeHg (3.1 mg/kg, po) for seven days. Liver RNA and protein were isolated for qPCR and Western-blot analysis.

Results: 70W and Zuotai had no effects on hepatic mRNA expression of Cyp1a2, Cyp2b10, Cyp3a11, Cyp4a10 and Cyp7a1, and corresponding nuclear receptors [aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), constitutive androstane receptor (CAR), pregnane X receptor (PXR), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-α (PPARα); farnesoid X receptor (FXR)]. In comparison, HgCl2 and MeHg increased mRNA expression of Cyp1a2, Cyp2b10, Cyp4a10 and Cyp7a1 except for Cyp3a11, and corresponding nuclear receptors except for PXR. Western-blot confirmed mRNA results, showing increases in CYP1A2, CYP2B1, CYP2E1, CYP4A and CYP7A1 by HgCl2 and MeHg only, and all treatments had no effects on CYP3A.

Conclusions: Zuotai and Zuotai-containing 70W at clinical doses had minimal influence on hepatic CYPs and corresponding nuclear receptors, while HgCl2 and MeHg produced significant effects.  Thus, the use of total Hg content to evaluate the safety of HgS-containing 70W is inappropriate.
The genome sequence of the European water vole, Arvicola amphibius Linnaeus 1758
Authors: Carpenter Angus I. , Smith Michelle , Corton Craig , Oliver Karen , Skelton Jason , Betteridge Emma , Doulcan Jale , Quail Michael A. , McCarthy Shane A. , Uliano Da Silva Marcela , Howe Kerstin , Torrance James , Wood Jonathan , Pelan Sarah , Sims Ying , Tricomi Francesca Floriana , Challis Richard , Threlfall Jonathan , Mead Daniel , Blaxter Mark
Published: June 2021

We present a genome assembly from an individual male Arvicola amphibius (the European water vole; Chordata; Mammalia; Rodentia; Cricetidae). The genome sequence is 2.30 gigabases in span. The majority of the assembly is scaffolded into 18 chromosomal pseudomolecules, including the X sex chromosome. Gene annotation of this assembly on Ensembl has identified 21,394 protein coding genes.
Changing rituals and practices surrounding COVID-19 related deaths: implications for mental health nursing
Authors: Laranjeira Carlos , Querido Ana
Published: June 2021

With a rising number of coronavirus deaths, concerns have been raised over farewell rituals and the grieving processes. This commentary acknowledges the therapeutic potential of mental health nursing to help with the resolution of grief trajectories in the ongoing pandemic.
Focused ultrasound in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest by advanced paramedics
Authors: Brown Nick , Fothergill Rachael , McIntyre Ian , Faulkner Mark , Quinn Tom
Published: June 2021

Background:

This study describes and evaluates advanced paramedic practitioner (APP) use of focused cardiac ultrasound (FoCUS) in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA), and relates ultrasound findings with decisions to terminate resuscitation. The authors report characteristics of patients who do/do not undergo a FoCUS examination by APPs, ultrasound probe positions used and whether FoCUS findings were associated with decisions to terminate resuscitation or to convey patients to an emergency department (ED) with ongoing resuscitation.

Method:

A retrospective, observational cohort study of all adult medical OHCA patients attended by APPs in Greater London during 2018 was carried out using data from EMS and APP databases.

Results:

Twenty-eight APPs attended 1444 OHCA patients in 2018, of whom 744 underwent FoCUS. The subcostal probe position was used most frequently (74%), followed by the parasternal long axis (19%), with significantly smaller use of the parasternal short axis and apical windows. Absence of spontaneous cardiac motion (SCM) was associated with resuscitation being terminated (333 out of 391; 85%) and the presence of SCM was associated with conveyance to the emergency department (213 out of 264 patients; 80%). All decisions to terminate resuscitation were within the APP scope of practice.

Conclusion:

The authors believe this is the largest prehospital study involving FoCUS in OHCA. An association between FoCUS findings and decisions made to either convey patients to hospital or terminate resuscitation was found. The SC window was most used and ROLE decisions were deemed to be in accordance with local guidance and practice.
Visualising the Intended Practical Doing: Future-Oriented Movements in Swedish Vocational School Workshop Settings
Authors: Asplund Stig-Börje , Kilbrink Nina , Asghari Hamid
Published: June 2021

Context: This article focus on teaching and learning processes in a vocational classroom in Swedish vocational education. There are few studies within the field of vocational education that have a focus on how vocational learning is done in interaction in the vocational classroom/workshop, and what vocational learning content is displayed in the interaction between teacher and student, and thus made possible to learn. This article aims to fill this gap by exploring the future-oriented movements that take shape when a vocational teacher and vocational students negotiate how a practical task could, and should, be handled and solved in vocational teaching situations in vocational plumbing school workshop settings. An increased understanding of these processes can help to improve the actual teaching of a specific subject content to support students in their vocational learning, aiming for learning a professional trade.Methods: The data consists of video recorded lessons from the Sanitary, Heating and Property Maintenance Programme in Swedish upper secondary school. Through concrete empirical examples from video recorded lessons the article explores the interaction between teachers and students in vocational school workshop settings using CAVTA. CAVTA is based on Conversation Analysis (CA) and Variation Theory (VT) and is a theoretical and methodological framework that can be used together and integrated to reach understanding of both how- and what-aspects of the learning process in practice, when analysing teaching and interaction.Findings: Findings shows how aspects concerning a specific vocational learning content that revolves around a vocational practical doing compete for the space with a vocational learning content of a more general nature. These general objects of learning are also related to work-specific vocational learning and knowledge in relation to the future profession, but on a more general level than the task specific vocational knowledge. Altogether, this illuminates how different layers of work-specific vocational learning are made visible in the interaction, and how they mutually contextualise each other in the here and now.Conclusion: This article illustrates that the specific and the general vocational learning content can complement each other and open up for a more in-depth vocational learning. In conclusion, this article emphasises the importance for vocational teachers to develop teaching strategies to navigate between helping the students in their problem solving here and now, and contextualising the specific vocational learning content and making vocational learning relevant for future vocational occupation and working life.
Improved KS-GMM algorithm applied in classification and recognition of honey based on laser-induced fluorescence spectra
Authors: Chen He , Xu Qixiang , Jia Yiwen , Chen Siying , Zhang Yinchao , Guo Pan , Li Xin , Wu Huiyun
Published: June 2021

The laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) technique, which has been widely used for food testing, can be combined with various algorithms to classify and recognize different kinds of honey. This paper proposes the Kolmogorov–Smirnov test-Gaussian mixture model (KS-GMM) algorithm, which is coupled with the LIF technique to realize accurate classification and recognition of different types of pure honey. The experiments are designed and carried out to obtain a set of LIF spectrum data from various honey and syrup samples. The proposed KS-GMM algorithm is applied for classification and recognition, with GMM, k-nearest neighbor (kNN), and decision tree algorithms as cross-validation methods. By comparing recognition results of training sets containing different amounts of data, it is found that the KS-GMM algorithm exhibits a maximum recognition accuracy of 96.52%. The research results prove that the KS-GMM algorithm outperforms, to the best of our knowledge, the other three algorithms in classifying and recognizing the honey types.
Spatial Fano resonance of a dielectric microsphere impinged on by a Bessel beam
Authors: Klimov V. , Heydarian R. , Simovski C.
Published: June 2021

The general concept of Fano resonance is considered so as to show the possibility of this resonance in space. Using a recently found solution for a Bessel wave beam impinging on a dielectric sphere, we analyze the electromagnetic fields near a microsphere with different optical sizes and permittivity values. We theoretically reveal spatial Fano resonance when a resonant mode of the sphere interferes with an amount of non-resonant modes. This resonance results in a giant jump of the electric field behind the sphere impinged on by the first-order Bessel beam. The local minimum of the electromagnetic field turns out to be noticeably distanced from the rear edge of the microsphere. However, this is a near-field effect, and we prove it. We also show that this effect can be utilized for engineering a submicrometer optical trap with unusual and useful properties.
Suppression of symmetry breaking of nonlinear modes by defocusing saturable nonlinearity in parity-time symmetric potentials
Authors: He Xueqing , Ning Tigang , Zheng Jingjing , Li Jing , Pei Li , Bai Bing , You Haidong
Published: June 2021

Symmetry breaking of nonlinear localized modes and suppression of symmetry-breaking bifurcations are reported in the framework of the nonlinear Schrödinger equation with defocusing saturable nonlinearity in parity-time symmetric potentials. We found that, beyond a critical point, one type of the nonlinear modes with asymmetric profiles bifurcates from the branch of the first excited state. We prove that the bifurcation is essentially triggered by instability of the first excited state by linear stability analysis, which implies the symmetry breaking of the nonlinear modes is steerable by changing the stability of the first excited state of the nonlinear mode. A suppressing effect is that the symmetry-breaking bifurcation of the nonlinear modes can be completely suppressed by adjusting the strength of the saturable nonlinearity. This suppressing effect of symmetry-breaking bifurcation is illuminated by analyzing the stability behaviors of the nonlinear modes.
Dual-path deep learning reconstruction framework for propagation-based X-ray phase–contrast computed tomography with sparse-view projections
Authors: Han Shuo , Zhao Yuqing , Li Fangzhi , Ji Dongjiang , Li Yimin , Zheng Mengting , Lv Wenjuan , Xin Xiaohong , Zhao Xinyan , Qi Beining , Hu Chunhong
Published: June 2021

Propagation-based X-ray phase–contrast computed tomography (PB-PCCT) can serve as an effective tool for studying organ function and pathologies. However, it usually suffers from a high radiation dose due to the long scan time. To alleviate this problem, we propose a deep learning reconstruction framework for PB-PCCT with sparse-view projections. The framework consists of dual-path deep neural networks, where the edge detection, edge guidance, and artifact removal models are incorporated into two subnetworks. It is worth noting that the framework has the ability to achieve excellent performance by exploiting the data-based knowledge of the sample material characteristics and the model-based knowledge of PB-PCCT. To evaluate the effectiveness and capability of the proposed framework, simulations and real experiments were performed. The results demonstrated that the proposed framework could significantly suppress streaking artifacts and produce high-contrast and high-resolution computed tomography images.
Improved selectivity of optical transmission through cascaded waveguide–metal-grating filters
Authors: Le Perchec Jérôme
Published: June 2021

We analyze the resonant transmission of two near-field coupled, cascaded bandpass filters, based on metallic stripe or patch gratings. The response, in terms of both maximum efficiency and light rejection out of the resonance, overpasses the simple convolution of the responses of two isolated filters, while keeping good angular tolerance. Illustrations are given in the infrared and visible ranges where the technological integration of such compact structures is particularly relevant for detection applications.
Time-varying materials in the presence of dispersion: plane-wave propagation in a Lorentzian medium with temporal discontinuity
Authors: Solís Diego M. , Kastner Raphael , Engheta Nader
Published: June 2021

We study the problem of a temporal discontinuity in the permittivity of an unbounded medium with Lorentzian dispersion. More specifically, we tackle the situation in which a monochromatic plane wave forward-traveling in a (generally lossy) Lorentzian-like medium scatters from the temporal interface that results from an instantaneous and homogeneous abrupt temporal change in its plasma frequency (while keeping its resonance frequency constant). In order to achieve momentum preservation across the temporal discontinuity, we show how, unlike in the well-known problem of a nondispersive discontinuity, the second-order nature of the dielectric function now gives rise to two shifted frequencies. As a consequence, whereas in the nondispersive scenario the continuity of the electric displacement

D

and the magnetic induction

B

suffices to find the amplitude of the new forward and backward wave, we now need two extra temporal boundary conditions. That is, two forward and two backward plane waves are now instantaneously generated in response to a forward-only plane wave. We also include a transmission-line equivalent with lumped circuit elements that describes the dispersive time-discontinuous scenario under consideration.