bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of strain rate on strength and deformation behavior of an Fe-Mn-Al-Ni shape memory alloy
Authors: Henschel Sebastian , Krüger Lutz
Published: September 2021

The strength and deformation behavior of an Fe-Mn-Al-Ni shape memory alloy at different strain rates was studied. Furthermore, the effect of grain size was investigated. To this end, a batch with bamboo-like grain arrangement and a batch with smaller, nevertheless coarse, grains were analyzed. Tensile tests at quasi-static, intermediate, and dynamic loading rates were performed. Digital image correlation and microstructural analysis revealed the localized deformation and phase transformation in favorable oriented grains. At higher strain rates, a increased number of orientations was activated for the phase transformation. A higher strain rate resulted in an increased strength for the coarse-grained material while the bamboo-like material did not show this effect. The analysis of fracture surfaces revealed ductile fracture and cleavage fracture for all strain rates.
Experimental investigation on the response of UHP(FR)C at high stress-rates under compression
Authors: Cadoni Ezio , Dotta Matteo , Forni Daniele , Riganti Gianmario , Tesio Nicoletta
Published: September 2021

Understanding the dynamic response of Ultra-High Performance Fibre-Reinforced Concrete has important implications for engineering applications, including protective structures and critical infrastructures. It is wellknown that the loading rate affects both material failure mechanism and mechanical properties such as strengths and absorbed energy. Moreover, materials properties are influenced by stress confinement, which usually occurs in a real structure. The aim of this preliminary experimental campaign was to analyse the behaviour of the dynamic response of UHPFRC and its matrix under compression considering a pre-compression state of 56.5 MPa (about 1/3 of the failure stress). Compression at high stress rate (1.5 TPa/s) were carried out on cylindrical specimens with diameter of 30mm and three different heights of 30, 45 and 60 mm, respectively. An increment of strength and fracture time has been observed while increasing of the length of the specimen and a slight reduction of both quantities with the introduction of fibres for the longer specimens. The experimental results are analysed and discussed with the aim to better understand the mechanical behaviour of UHPFRC materials in case of dynamic event under service loading conditions and to study the size-effect on the material response.
The compression mechanical properties of graphene aerogel
Authors: Niu Lulu , Xie Jing , Li Guangyong , Zhang Xuetong , Chen Pengwan
Published: September 2021

Graphene aerogel (GA) samples, prepared by the Sol-Gel method, were tested under quasi-static and dynamical compression, and characterized via surface area analyzer and scanning electron microscopy. The results show that the drying method has a significant influence on the sample’s microstructure as well as its mechanical compression properties. The supercritical CO2 dried sample has a notable higher specific surface area, and higher compression strength; although the freeze dried sample is much lighter than the supercritical CO2 dried sample, it exhibits a nonlinear superelastic behavior and large compressibility with a reversible strain up to 94%; under the dynamic compression test, the supercritical CO2 dried sample presents a negative Poisson’s ratio behavior whereas the flower-like failure pattern was observed for the freeze dried sample. GA, therefore, is a promising candidate for energy absorption purposes because of its very low density, high specific surface area and porous microstructure.
Dynamice fracture in a semicristalline polymer: an analysis of the fracture surface
Authors: Kopp Jean-Benoît , Girardot Jérémie
Published: September 2021

The fracture behaviour of a specific material, a semi-crystalline biobased polymer, was here studied. Dynamic fracture tests on strip band specimens were carried out. Fracture surfaces were observed at different scales by optical and electron microscopy to describe cracking scenarios. Crack initiation, propagation and arrest zones were described. Three distinct zones are highlighted in the initiation and propagation zone: a zone with conical markings, a mist zone and a hackle zone. The conical mark zone shows a variation in the size and density of the conical marks along the propagation path. This is synonymous with local speed variation. Microcracks at the origin of the conical marks in the initiation zone seem to develop from the nucleus of the spherulites. In the propagation zone with complex roughness, the direction of the microcracks and their cracking planes are highly variable. Their propagation directions are disturbed by the heterogeneities of the material. They branch or bifurcate at the level of the spherulites. In the arrest zone, the microcracks developed upstream continue to propagate in different directions. The surface created is increasingly smoother as the energy release rate decreases. It is shown that the local velocity of the crack varies in contrast to the macroscopic speed.
Mechanical response of two different molecular weight polycarbonates at varying rates and temperatures
Authors: Song Peihao , Trived Akash R , Siviour Clive R
Published: September 2021

Polymers are widely used for lightweight design in industrial applications, such as helmets and car bumpers, where the most common causes of failure or damage are dynamic impact events. It is well known that the mechanical response of most polymers is highly dependent on the loading rate and temperature, and that it is not sufficient to use properties measured under static loads in the analysis of dynamic events. However, the time-temperature equivalence phenomenon offers the chance to predict high-rate performance using low-rate data. In this study, information about the constitutive behaviour of two different molecular weight polycarbonates, is obtained in low-rate experiments and then compared with the high-rate response. A master curve of storage modulus constructed from Dynamic Mechanical Analysis data is employed to understand the viscoelastic response under small-strain loading at various frequencies and temperatures. For the large-strain constitutive response, experiments at strain rates from 0.001 s-1 to 3000 s-1 are performed using a conventional crosshead device, hydraulic device, and split-Hopkinson pressure bar. Moreover, experiments at strain rates of 0.01 s-1 and temperatures from -60 to 120 °C are also performed, and the results are compared. This approach can distinguish ’constitutive’ rate dependence from the effects of specimen self-heating due to adiabatic heating under high-rate deformation. Meanwhile, the molecular weight effects on the mechanical response at varying rates and temperatures are also noted.
Conflict of Interest at Microsurgery Conferences: Disclosure of Its Extent and Nature
Authors: Ha Grace , Gray Rachel , Clappier Mona , Tanna Neil , Kasabian Armen K.
Published: September 2021

Background Industry relationships and conflicts of interest can impact research funding, topics, and outcomes. Little research regarding the role of biomedical companies at microsurgery conferences is available. This study evaluates the role of industry at conferences by comparing payments received by speakers at the American Society for Reconstructive Microsurgeons (ASRM) meeting with those received by speakers at the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (ASAPS) meeting, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) meeting, and an average plastic surgeon. It also compares payments made by different companies.

Methods General payments received by speakers at the 2017 ASAPS, ASPS, and ASRM conferences were collected from the Open Payments Database. Mean payments received at each conference were calculated and the Mann–Whitney U test evaluated differences between conference speakers and the average plastic surgeon. The total amount of payments from each company was collected through the Open Payments Database, and Z-tests identified which companies paid significantly more than others.

Results The mean (and median) general payments made to conference speakers at ASAPS (n = 75), ASPS (n = 247), and ASRM (n = 121) were $75,577 ($861), $27,562 ($1,021), and $16,725 ($652), respectively. These payments were significantly greater (p < 0.001 for all) than those of the average plastic surgeon ($4,441 and $327), but not significantly different from each other. Allergan contributed significantly more than other companies to speakers at ASPS and ASAPS, while LifeCell Corporation, Zimmer Biomet Holdings, and Axogen contributed significantly more to speakers at ASRM.

Conclusion Payments to physicians at ASRM were significantly higher than those of an average plastic surgeon but not significantly different from those of speakers at ASAPS and ASPS. Certain companies paid significantly more than their peers at each conference. Given these findings, speakers should strive to make clear the nature and extent of their conflicts of interest when presenting at conferences.
Addressing the Upper Third of the Nose in Endonasal Rhinoplasty
Authors: Gupta Amar
Published: September 2021

Effective management of the upper nasal vault is based on a thorough preoperative analysis and detailed understanding of the requisite principles and techniques utilized to modify the anatomic structures in this region. The surgeon must equally consider form and function when performing manipulation of the upper nasal vault. Special considerations apply when managing this anatomic region via an endonasal or closed approach. A review of this topic is presented with a focus on techniques as they apply to the endonasal rhinoplasty patient.
Reproducible coherence characterization of superconducting quantum devices
Authors: McRae Corey Rae H. , Stiehl Gregory M. , Wang Haozhi , Lin Sheng-Xiang , Caldwell Shane A. , Pappas David P. , Mutus Josh , Combes Joshua
Published: September 2021

As the field of superconducting quantum computing approaches maturity, optimization of single-device performance is proving to be a promising avenue toward large-scale quantum computers. However, this optimization is possible only if performance metrics can be accurately compared among measurements, devices, and laboratories. Currently, such comparisons are inaccurate or impossible due to understudied errors from a plethora of sources. In this Perspective, we outline the current state of error analysis for qubits and resonators in superconducting quantum circuits and discuss what future investigations are required before superconducting quantum device optimization can be realized.
Vorticity transports in turbulent channels under large-scale control via spanwise wall jet forcing
Authors: Ji Yong , Yao Jie , Hussain Fazle , Chen Xi
Published: September 2021

Vorticity transport in turbulent channels under large-scale active drag control (i.e., spanwise opposed jet forcing) is investigated via direct numerical simulation of the Navier–Stokes equation. The skin-friction coefficient is newly expressed by the volume integration average of the mean flow dissipation expressed in terms of the spanwise vorticity (Ωz), and the turbulent transports of the spanwsie vorticity fluctuation (−v′ω′z) and of the wall-normal vorticity fluctuation (w′ω′y). Three Reynolds number cases (i.e., Reτ=180,395, and 550) with notable drag reductions (i.e., 18%, 16%, and 15%, respectively) are examined, following the setup in Yao et al. [Phys. Rev. Fluids 2, 062601(R) (2017)]. The transports of vorticity fluctuations dominate the contributions to the frictional drag, consistent with previous results for the passive drag reduction strategy of slip-wall [Yoon et al., Phys. Fluids. 28, 081702 (2016)]. Specifically, the effect of −v′ω′z is to increase drag (due to sweeping −v′), while w′ω′y decreases the drag. A triple decomposition (mean, coherent, and random) reveals the random −v″ω′′z as the only term adding to drag, while the random w″ω′′y and the coherent −ṽω̃z and w̃ω̃y transports all decrease the drag. Weighted joint probability distribution function (p.d.f.) of v″ and ω′′z shows a transition from the first–third quadrant dominance (hence positive-correlated) near the wall to the second–fourth quadrant dominance (hence negative-correlated) away from wall. In contrast, w″ and ω′′y are negatively correlated in the entire region. The analysis here suggests that the suppression of random spanwise-vorticity transport (v″ω′′z) is the target for more effective drag reduction under the current method.
Perspectives in flow-induced vibration energy harvesting
Authors: Wang Junlei , Yurchenko Daniil , Hu Guobiao , Zhao Liya , Tang Lihua , Yang Yaowen
Published: September 2021

Flow-induced vibration (FIV) energy harvesting has attracted extensive research interest in the past two decades. Remarkable research achievements and contributions from different aspects are briefly overviewed. Example applications of FIV energy harvesting techniques in the development of Internet of Things are mentioned. The challenges and difficulties in this field are summarized from two sides. First, the multi-physics coupling problem in FIV energy harvesting still cannot be well handled. There is a lack of system-level theoretical modeling that can accurately account for fluid–structure interaction, the electromechanical coupling, and complicated interface circuits. Second, the robustness of FIV energy harvesters needs to be further improved to adapt to the uncertainties in practical scenarios. To be more specific, the cut-in wind speed is expected to be further reduced and the power output to be increased. Finally, Perspectives on the future development in this direction are discussed. Machine-learning approaches, the versatility of metamaterials, and more advanced interface circuits should receive more attention from researchers, since these cutting-edge techniques may have the potential to address the multi-physics modeling problem of FIV energy harvesters and significantly improve the operation performance. In addition, in-depth collaborations between researchers from different disciplines are anticipated to promote the FIV energy harvesting technology to step out of the lab and into real applications.
Learning the structure of wind: A data-driven nonlocal turbulence model for the atmospheric boundary layer
Authors: Keith B. , Khristenko U. , Wohlmuth B.
Published: September 2021

We develop a novel data-driven approach to modeling the atmospheric boundary layer. This approach leads to a nonlocal, anisotropic synthetic turbulence model which we refer to as the deep rapid distortion (DRD) model. Our approach relies on an operator regression problem that characterizes the best fitting candidate in a general family of nonlocal covariance kernels parameterized in part by a neural network. This family of covariance kernels is expressed in Fourier space and is obtained from approximate solutions to the Navier–Stokes equations at very high Reynolds numbers. Each member of the family incorporates important physical properties such as mass conservation and a realistic energy cascade. The DRD model can be calibrated with noisy data from field experiments. After calibration, the model can be used to generate synthetic turbulent velocity fields. To this end, we provide a new numerical method based on domain decomposition which delivers scalable, memory-efficient turbulence generation with the DRD model as well as others. We demonstrate the robustness of our approach with both filtered and noisy data coming from the 1968 Air Force Cambridge Research Laboratory Kansas experiments. Using these data, we witness exceptional accuracy with the DRD model, especially when compared to the International Electrotechnical Commission standard.
‘Knowing that’, ‘knowing why’ and ‘knowing how’
Authors: Graf Eva-Maria , Dionne Frédérick
Published: September 2021

Our contribution maps the journey towards setting up a transdisciplinary, interprofessional collaboration between coaching practitioners and coaching researchers from the fields of Applied Linguistics and Applied Psychology. The goal of such a project is to build a community of interest around a common cause, i.e., a practically relevant, language-based coaching problem (in our case, questioning practices in executive coaching), and to collaboratively solve the problem on the basis of assembling and integrating the various epistemes. The purpose of our contribution in the form of a travel report is twofold: firstly, to theoretically and conceptually discuss the challenges and affordances of aligning perspectives and assembling epistemes for such a transdisciplinary research project; Secondly, to present the available epistemic bases and offer first empirical results from our applied linguistic research and our cooperation with Applied Psychology that served as the basis for conceptualising the projectQuestioning Sequences in Coaching(Graf, Spranz-Fogasy, & Künzli, 2020). We end this travel report by critically assessing the transdisciplinary character of the current project and by envisioning another kind of cooperation between coaching practice and coaching research as the future destination of our research journey.
Overhead throwing biomechanics in cricketers: The effect of a run‐up approach
Authors: Dutton Megan , Gray Janine , Divekar Nikhil , Prins Danielle , Tam Nicholas
Published: September 2021

Overhead throwing by cricketers when fielding with different approaches has been described using two‐dimensional analysis. Currently, the three‐dimensional kinematic and kinetic characteristics of an overhead throw performed by cricketers following a run‐up are unknown. Fifteen South African cricketers performed six overhead throws, from a stationary position and with a run‐up over 15–20 m prior to fielding a ball, respectively. Kinematic data and ground reaction forces were collected throughout the throwing trials. Joint kinetics were calculated using inverse dynamics. An independent t‐test or Mann–Whitney U‐test was used to determine joint kinetic differences between throwing approaches. Differences between the kinematic waveforms for stationary and run‐up throwing approaches were assessed using one‐dimensional statistical parametric mapping ANOVA (P < 0.05). The shoulder, elbow and thoraco‐lumbar joints displayed similar kinematics between throwing approaches. The run‐up approach displayed increased hip flexion between 0–34% and 57–100% (F(1, 28) = 6.726; P = 0.01) of the throwing cycle; and lumbo‐pelvic flexion between 57 and 65% (F(1, 28) = 6.823; P = 0.02) of the throwing cycle; greater shoulder compression (F(1, 28) = 1.036; P = 0.02) and posterior force (F(1, 28) = 1.052; P = 0.009) at maximum external rotation; yet less superior shoulder force (F(1, 28) = 1.744; P = 0.005) and elbow compression (F(1, 28) = 4.331; P = 0.03), superior (F(1, 28) = 1.212; P = 0.002) and medial (F(1, 28) = 1.370; P = 0.03) elbow forces at ball release, when compared to a stationary position. Cricketers maintain similar upper limb kinematics between overhead throwing approaches. However, throwing with a run‐up approximately doubles the forces exerted on the shoulder at maximum external rotation, which is most likely caused by the greater dominant hip and lumbo‐pelvic flexion noted. This may amplify the potential risk for shoulder injury when throwing.

Highlights

Throwing arm motion is similar irrespective of the approach used by cricketers to throw.

Throwing with a run‐up produced increased angles of lumbo‐pelvic and dominant hip flexion in various phases of the throwing cycle.

Throwing with a run‐up resulted in greater shoulder compression and posterior force at maximum external rotation.
Anomalous broadening of specific heat jump at T
c in high-entropy-alloy-type superconductor TrZr2
Authors: Kasem Md Riad , Yamashita Aichi , Hatano Taishi , Sakurai Kota , Oono-Hori Naoko , Goto Yosuke , Miura Osuke , Mizuguchi Yoshikazu
Published: September 2021

A high-entropy-alloy-type (HEA-type) superconductor is new category of highly disordered superconductors. Therefore, finding brand-new superconducting characteristics in the HEA-type superconductors would open new avenue to investigate the relationship between structural disorder and superconductivity. Here, we report on the remarkable broadening of specific heat jump near a superconducting transition tempreature (T
c) in transition-metal zirconides (TrZr2) with different mixing entropy (ΔS
mix) at the Tr site. With increasing ΔS
mix, the superconducting transition seen in specific heat became broader, whereas those seen in magnetization were commonly sharp. Therefore the broadening of specific heat jump would be related to the microscopic inhomogeneity of the formation of Cooper pairs behind the emergence of bulk superconductivity states.
Sustained methane emissions from China after 2012 despite declining coal production and rice-cultivated area
Authors: Sheng Jianxiong , Tunnicliffe Rachel , Ganesan Anita L , Maasakkers Joannes D , Shen Lu , Prinn Ronald G , Song Shaojie , Zhang Yuzhong , Scarpelli Tia , Anthony Bloom A , Rigby Matthew , Manning Alistair J , Parker Robert J , Boesch Hartmut , Lan Xin , Zhang Bo , Zhuang Minghao , Lu Xi
Published: September 2021

China’s anthropogenic methane emissions are the largest of any country in the world. A recent study using atmospheric observations suggested that recent policies aimed at reducing emissions of methane due to coal production in China after 2010 had been largely ineffective. Here, based on a longer observational record and an updated modelling approach, we find a statistically significant positive linear trend (0.36 ± 0.04 (

±
1
σ

) Tg CH4 yr−2) in China’s methane emissions for 2010–2017. This trend was slowing down at a statistically significant rate of -0.1 ± 0.04 Tg CH4 yr−3. We find that this decrease in growth rate can in part be attributed to a decline in China’s coal production. However, coal mine methane emissions have not declined as rapidly as production, implying that there may be substantial fugitive emissions from abandoned coal mines that have previously been overlooked. We also find that emissions over rice-growing and aquaculture-farming regions show a positive trend (0.13 ± 0.05 Tg CH4 yr−2 for 2010–2017) despite reports of shrinking rice paddy areas, implying potentially significant emissions from new aquaculture activities, which are thought to be primarily located on converted rice paddies.
Reachable sets for two-level open quantum systems driven by coherent and incoherent controls
Authors: Lokutsievskiy Lev , Pechen Alexander
Published: September 2021

In this work, we study controllability in the set of all density matrices for a two-level open quantum system driven by coherent and incoherent controls. In Pechen (2011 Phys. Rev. A 84 042106) an approximate controllability, i.e. controllability with some precision, was shown for generic N-level open quantum systems driven by coherent and incoherent controls. However, the explicit formulation of this property, including the behavior of this precision as a function of transition frequencies and decoherence rates of the system, was not known. The present work provides a rigorous analytical study of reachable sets for two-level open quantum systems. First, it is shown that for N = 2 the presence of incoherent control does not affect the reachable set (while incoherent control may affect the time necessary to reach particular state). Second, the reachable set in the Bloch ball is described and it is shown that already just for one coherent control any point in the Bloch ball can be achieved with precision δ ∼ γ/ω, where γ is the decoherence rate and ω is the transition frequency. Typical values are δ ≲ 10−3 that implies high accuracy of achieving any density matrix. Moreover, we show that most points in the Bloch ball can be exactly reached, except of two lacunae of size ∼δ. For two coherent controls, the system is shown to be completely controllable in the set of all density matrices. Third, the reachable set as a function of the final time is found and shown to exhibit a non-trivial structure.
Aging behavior of Cu-rich precipitates in Fe-3% Si-Cu alloy
Authors: Zhang Huimin , Zhang Chengyuan , Wu Zhongwang , Gao Xueyun , Xing Lei , Jin Zili , Ren Huiping
Published: September 2021

Fe-3%Si-Cu alloys with different Cu content were aging treated at 500 ∼ 800 °C. In order to study the dynamic behavior of the aging precipitations, the microstructure and the aging precipitation behavior of copper-rich phase in these alloys under different aging heat treatment were tested by OM, TEM technology and Vickers hardness. The results show that the amount of the copper-rich precipitates in the two alloys are gradually increase with the aging time going after aging treated at 600 °C. Within the 103 s aging time, the size of the copper-rich precipitates of the two samples is below 20 nm. When it reaches 105.5 s, the copper-rich precipitates have obvious cluster phenomenon and the size are not more than 100 nm. After being treated with different aging temperature, the hardness of Fe-3% Si-Cu alloys with different copper component increases first and then decreases with time going, with obvious aging hardening peaks. When the aging temperature is 500 °C and the aging time is 104.5 s, the hardness of the two alloys reaches the maximum and they are 264 HV and 238 HV, respectively. The precipitation kinetics curve of the copper-bearing Fe-3% Si-Cu alloy is in the shape of ‘C’, and there is a certain precipitation incubation period. When the aging temperature is 600 ∼ 650 °C, the precipitation incubation period is the shortest. The increase of the copper content in the alloy will shorten the incubation period of the precipitation kinetic curve, increase the precipitation tendency of copper and cause the curve shifted to the left obviously.
Every maximal ideal may be Katětov above of all 𝐹_{𝜎} ideals
Authors: Cancino-Manríquez J.
Published: September 2021

We prove that it is relatively consistent with

Z
F
C

\mathsf {ZFC}

that every maximal ideal is Katětov above of all

F
σ

F_\sigma

ideals. In particular, we prove that it is consistent that there is no Hausdorff ultrafilter. The main theorem answers questions from Mauro Di Nasso and Marco Forti [Proc. Amer. Math. Soc. 134 (2006), pp. 1809–1818], Jana Flašková [WDS’05 proceedings of contributed papers: part I - mathematics and computer sciences, 2005; Comment. Math. Univ. Carolin. 47 (2006), pp. 617–621; 10th Asian logic conference, World Sci. Publ., Hackensack, NJ, 2010], Osvaldo Guzmán and Michael Hrušák [Topology Appl. 259 (2019), pp. 242–250], and Mauro Di Nasso and Marco Forti [Logic and its applications, Contemp. Math., Amer. Math. Soc., Providence, RI, 2005], and gives a different model for a question from Michael Benedikt [J. Symb. Log. 63 (1998), pp. 638–662], which was originally solved by S. Shelah [Logic colloquium ’95 (Haifa), lecture notes logic, Springer, Berlin, 1998].
Development of a novel tau propagation mouse model endogenously expressing 3 and 4 repeat tau isoforms
Authors: Hosokawa Masato , Masuda-Suzukake Masami , Shitara Hiroshi , Shimozawa Aki , Suzuki Genjiro , Kondo Hiromi , Nonaka Takashi , Campbell William , Arai Tetsuaki , Hasegawa Masato
Published: September 2021

The phenomenon of ‘prion-like propagation’ in which aggregates of abnormal amyloid-fibrilized protein propagate between neurons and spread pathology, is attracting attention as a new mechanism in neurodegenerative diseases. There is a strong correlation between the accumulation or spread of abnormal tau aggregates and the clinical symptoms of tauopathies. Microtubule-associated protein tau (MAPT) contains a microtubule-binding domain that consists of three or four repeats (3R/4R) due to alternative mRNA splicing of transcripts for the MAPT gene. Although a number of models for tau propagation have been reported, most use 4R human tau transgenic mice or adult wild-type mice expressing only endogenous 4R tau and these models have not been able to reproduce the pathology of Alzheimer's disease in which 3R and 4R tau accumulate simultaneously, or that of Pick’s disease in which only 3R tau is aggregated. These deficiencies may reflect differences between human and rodent tau isoforms in the brain.

To overcome this problem, we used genome editing techniques to generate mice that express an equal ratio of endogenous 3R and 4R tau, even after they become adults. We injected these mice with sarkosyl-insoluble fractions derived from the brains of human tauopathy patients such as those afflicted with Alzheimer’s disease (3R and 4R tauopathy), corticobasal degeneration (4R tauopathy) or Pick’s disease (3R tauopathy).

At 8–9 months following intracerebral injection of mice, histopathological and biochemical analyses revealed that the abnormal accumulation of tau was seed-dependent, with 3R and 4R tau in Alzheimer’s disease-injected brains, 4R tau only in corticobasal degeneration-injected brains and 3R tau only in Pick disease-injected brains, all of which contained isoforms related to those found in the injected seeds. The injected abnormal tau was seeded, and accumulated at the site of injection and at neural connections, predominantly within the same site. The abnormal tau newly accumulated was found to be endogenous in these mice and to have crossed the species barrier. Of particular importance, Pick’s body-like inclusions were observed in Pick’s disease-injected mice, and accumulations characteristic of Pick’s disease were reproduced, suggesting that we have developed the first model that recapitulates the pathology of Pick’s disease.

These models are not only useful for elucidating the mechanism of propagation of tau pathology involving both 3R and 4R isoforms, but can also reproduce the pathology of tauopathies, which should lead to the discovery of new therapeutic agents.
Clinical and genetic spectrum of a large cohort of patients with δ-sarcoglycan muscular dystrophy
Authors: Alonso-Pérez Jorge , González-Quereda Lidia , Bruno Claudio , Panicucci Chiara , Alavi Afagh , Nafissi Shahriar , Nilipour Yalda , Zanoteli Edmar , Isihi Lucas Michielon de Augusto , Melegh Béla , Hadzsiev Kinga , Muelas Nuria , Vílchez Juan J , Dourado Mario Emilio , Kadem Naz , Kutluk Gultekin , Umair Muhammad , Younus Muhammad , Pegorano Elena , Bello Luca , Crawford Thomas O , Suárez-Calvet Xavier , Töpf Ana , Guglieri Michela , Marini-Bettolo Chiara , Gallano Pia , Straub Volker , Díaz-Manera Jordi
Published: September 2021

Sarcoglycanopathies include four subtypes of autosomal recessive limb-girdle muscular dystrophies (LGMDR3, LGMDR4, LGMDR5 and LGMDR6) that are caused, respectively, by mutations in the SGCA, SGCB, SGCG and SGCD genes. Delta-sarcoglycanopathy (LGMDR6) is the least frequent and is considered an ultra-rare disease. Our aim was to characterize the clinical and genetic spectrum of a large international cohort of LGMDR6 patients and to investigate whether or not genetic or protein expression data could predict a disease’s severity.

This is a retrospective study collecting demographic, genetic, clinical and histological data of patients with genetically confirmed LGMDR6 including protein expression data from muscle biopsies.

We contacted 128 paediatric and adult neuromuscular units around the world that reviewed genetic data of patients with a clinical diagnosis of a neuromuscular disorder. We identified 30 patients with a confirmed diagnosis of LGMDR6 of which 23 patients were included in this study. Eighty-seven per cent of the patients had consanguineous parents. Ninety-one per cent of the patients were symptomatic at the time of the analysis. Proximal muscle weakness of the upper and lower limbs was the most common presenting symptom. Distal muscle weakness was observed early over the course of the disease in 56.5% of the patients. Cardiac involvement was reported in five patients (21.7%) and four patients (17.4%) required non-invasive ventilation. Sixty per cent of patients were wheelchair-bound since early teens (median age of 12.0 years). Patients with absent expression of the sarcoglycan complex on muscle biopsy had a significant earlier onset of symptoms and an earlier age of loss of ambulation compared to patients with residual protein expression.

This study confirmed that delta-sarcoglycanopathy is an ultra-rare neuromuscular condition and described the clinical and molecular characteristics of the largest yet-reported collected cohort of patients. Our results showed that this is a very severe and quickly progressive disease characterized by generalized muscle weakness affecting predominantly proximal and distal muscles of the limbs. Similar to other forms of sarcoglycanopathies, the severity and rate of progressive weakness correlates inversely with the abundance of protein on muscle biopsy.
XPRIZE Carbon Removal: largest incentive prize in history
Authors: Extavour Marcius
Published: September 2021

XPRIZE Carbon Removal is a 4-year global competition that invites innovators and teams from anywhere on the planet to create and demonstrate solutions that can pull carbon dioxide directly from the atmosphere or oceans, and sequester it.
Projected Long-Term Impact of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic on Hepatitis C Outcomes in the United States: A Modeling Study
Authors: Barocas Joshua A , Savinkina Alexandra , Lodi Sara , Epstein Rachel L , Bouton Tara C , Sperring Heather , Hsu Heather E , Jacobson Karen R , Schechter-Perkins Elissa M , Linas Benjamin P , White Laura F
Published: September 2021

Background

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic disrupted access to and uptake of hepatitis C virus (HCV) care services in the United States. It is unknown how substantially the pandemic will impact long-term HCV-related outcomes.

Methods

We used a microsimulation to estimate the 10-year impact of COVID-19 disruptions in healthcare delivery on HCV outcomes including identified infections, linkage to care, treatment initiation and completion, cirrhosis, and liver-related death. We modeled hypothetical scenarios consisting of an 18-month pandemic-related disruption in HCV care starting in March 2020 followed by varying returns to pre-pandemic rates of screening, linkage, and treatment through March 2030 and compared them to a counterfactual scenario in which there was no COVID-19 pandemic or disruptions in care. We also performed alternate scenario analyses in which the pandemic disruption lasted for 12 and 24 months.

Results

Compared to the “no pandemic” scenario, in the scenario in which there is no return to pre-pandemic levels of HCV care delivery, we estimate 1060 fewer identified cases, 21 additional cases of cirrhosis, and 16 additional liver-related deaths per 100 000 people. Only 3% of identified cases initiate treatment and <1% achieve sustained virologic response (SVR). Compared to “no pandemic,” the best-case scenario in which an 18-month care disruption is followed by a return to pre-pandemic levels, we estimated a smaller proportion of infections identified and achieving SVR.

Conclusions

A recommitment to the HCV epidemic in the United States that involves additional resources coupled with aggressive efforts to screen, link, and treat people with HCV is needed to overcome the COVID-19-related disruptions.
Dihydroartemisinin-Piperaquine Chemoprevention and Malaria Incidence After Severe Flooding: Evaluation of a Pragmatic Intervention in Rural Uganda
Authors: Boyce Ross M , Hollingsworth Brandon D , Baguma Emma , Xu Erin , Goel Varun , Brown-Marusiak Amanda , Muhindo Rabbison , Reyes Raquel , Ntaro Moses , Siedner Mark J , Staedke Sarah G , Juliano Jonathan J , Mulogo Edgar M
Published: September 2021

Background

Malaria epidemics are a well-described phenomenon after extreme precipitation and flooding. Yet, few studies have examined mitigation measures to prevent post-flood malaria epidemics.

Methods

We evaluated a malaria chemoprevention program implemented in response to severe flooding in western Uganda. Children aged ≤12 years from 1 village were eligible to receive 3 monthly rounds of dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine (DP). Two neighboring villages served as controls. Malaria cases were defined as individuals with a positive rapid diagnostic test result as recorded in health center registers. We performed a difference-in-differences analysis to estimate changes in the incidence and test positivity of malaria between intervention and control villages.

Results

A total of 554 children received at least 1 round of chemoprevention, with 75% participating in at least 2 rounds. Compared with control villages, we estimated a 53.4% reduction (adjusted rate ratio [aRR], 0.47; 95% confidence interval [CI]: .34–.62; P < .01) in malaria incidence and a 30% decrease in the test positivity rate (aRR, 0.70; 95% CI: .50–.97; P = .03) in the intervention village in the 6 months post-intervention. The impact was greatest among children who received the intervention, but decreased incidence was also observed in older children and adults (aRR, 0.57; 95% CI: .38–.84; P < .01).

Conclusions

Three rounds of chemoprevention with DP delivered under pragmatic conditions reduced the incidence of malaria after severe flooding in western Uganda. These findings provide a proof-of-concept for the use of malaria chemoprevention to reduce excess disease burden associated with severe flooding.
Developing and evaluating the Teen-Strong life skills programme in Southern Thailand
Authors: Pummanee Treenut , Chunuan Sopen , Tedla Yacob G , Purinthrapibal Shutiwan , Chupon Nichara
Published: September 2021

Risk sexual behaviours are known as a threat to health and wellbeing of adolescents. Although there are standard sexual education curriculums in Thai schools, most schools use traditional teaching methods rather than participatory teaching activities. This study aimed to (i) develop ‘Teen-Strong’ programme by combining the concept of the World Health Organization’s life skills programme with Thai sexual education curriculum and (ii) investigate the association of Teen-Strong programme with knowledge and decision-making regarding risky sexual behaviours and teenage pregnancy in Thai adolescents. The Teen-Strong programme was developed by means of experts review and cognitive interviewing process and evaluated in 66 adolescents in Grades 7–9 from six schools in southern Thailand. Twenty-six students were assigned to the experimental group (attended Teen-Strong programme and standard sexual education) and 40 to the control group (attended only the standard sexual education). A pre–post-test quasi-experimental design was used and the Teen-Strong questionnaire (TSQ) was administered to measure knowledge and decision-making at three time points: before (T1), immediately after (T2) and 1 month after (T3) attending the programme. A 2 × 3 mixed-design ANOVA was used to analyse the data. TSQ scores in the experimental and control groups were higher at T2 and T3 as compared with T1. Mean increase in TSQ scores at T2 and T3 compared with T1 were significantly higher in the experiment than the control group [T2 vs. T1: t (64) = 4.07, p-values < 0.0001; T3 vs. T1: t (64) = 3.32, p-values = 0.017]. This study showed that Teen-Strong programme could increase adolescent’s knowledge and decision-making skills regarding risk sexual behaviours.
Short versus prolonged courses of antimicrobial therapy for patients with uncomplicated Pseudomonas aeruginosa bloodstream infection: a retrospective study
Authors: Bae Moonsuk , Jeong Yunseo , Bae Seongman , Kim Min Jae , Chong Yong Pil , Kim Sung-Han , Lee Sang-Oh , Choi Sang-Ho , Kim Yang Soo , Jung Jiwon
Published: September 2021

Background

The optimal duration of antimicrobial therapy for uncomplicated Pseudomonas aeruginosa bloodstream infection (BSI) is unknown. We compared the outcomes of short and prolonged courses of antimicrobial therapy in adults with uncomplicated pseudomonal BSI.

Methods

All patients with uncomplicated P. aeruginosa BSI admitted at a tertiary-care hospital from April 2010 to April 2020 were included. We compared the primary outcome (a composite of the rate of recurrent P. aeruginosa infection and mortality within 30 days after discontinuing antimicrobial therapy) among patients who underwent short (7‒11 days) and prolonged (12‒21 days) courses of antimicrobial therapy using propensity score analysis with the inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) method.

Results

We evaluated 1477 patients with P. aeruginosa BSI; of them, 290 met the eligibility criteria who received antimicrobial agents with in vitro activity, including 97 (33%) who underwent short-course therapy [median of 9 (IQR = 8‒11) days] and 193 (67%) who underwent prolonged-course therapy [median of 15 (IQR = 14‒18) days]. We found no significant difference in the risk of recurrence or 30 day mortality between the prolonged-course and short-course groups [n = 30 (16%) versus n = 11 (11%); IPTW-adjusted HR = 0.68, 95% CI = 0.34 − 1.36, P = 0.28]. The prolonged-course therapy did not significantly reduce the risk of the recurrence of P. aeruginosa infection within 180 days compared with short-course therapy [n = 37 (19%) versus n = 12 (12%); IPTW-adjusted HR = 0.57, 95% CI = 0.29 − 1.10, P = 0.09].

Conclusions

Short-course antimicrobial therapy could be as effective as prolonged-course therapy for uncomplicated P. aeruginosa BSI.
Impact of Sterilization Methods on the Seeding Ability of Human Tau Proteopathic Seeds
Authors: Fernandes Analiese R , Dujardin Simon , Maté de Gérando Anastasie , Hyman Bradley T , Frosch Matthew P
Published: September 2021

The protein tau, when misfolded in neurodegenerative diseases, has several prion-like properties including being able to spread by cell-to-cell transfer, induce templated seeding, and exist in distinct conformational strains. These properties of transmission may present health hazards when lesion-containing biospecimens are used in research and neuropathology laboratories. We evaluated the impact standard sterilization and cleaning methods have on the capacity of tau seeds to induce aggregation. We employed a previously developed, highly sensitive FRET-based biosensor assay to assess remnant tau seeding after exposure to these procedures. For tau species derived from human Alzheimer disease tissue (brain homogenate and sarkosyl-insoluble fibrils), both autoclaving and incubation in 90.6% formic acid were sufficient to reduce tau bioactivity. By contrast, boiling was not always effective in completely blocking bioactivity in the seeding assay. Notably, only formic acid incubation was able to produce a similar reduction in tissue from a P301L mutant tau mouse model of tauopathy. Our study highlights nuances in methods for inactivation of tau seeding which may support adapted tissue processing procedures, especially in research settings. These findings also highlight the importance of universal precautions when handling human neuropathological and research laboratory materials.
High-Throughput Digital Image Analysis Reveals Distinct Patterns of Dystrophin Expression in Dystrophinopathy Patients
Authors: Torelli Silvia , Scaglioni Domenic , Sardone Valentina , Ellis Matthew J , Domingos Joana , Jones Adam , Feng Lucy , Chambers Darren , Eastwood Deborah M , Leturcq France , Yaou Rabah Ben , Urtizberea Andoni , Sabouraud Pascal , Barnerias Christine , Stojkovic Tanya , Ricci Enzo , Beuvin Maud , Bonne Gisele , Sewry Caroline A , Willis Tracey , Kulshrestha Richa , Tasca Giorgio , Phadke Rahul , Morgan Jennifer E , Muntoni Francesco
Published: September 2021

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is an incurable disease caused by out-of-frame DMD gene deletions while in frame deletions lead to the milder Becker muscular dystrophy (BMD). In the last decade several antisense oligonucleotides drugs have been developed to induce a partially functional internally deleted dystrophin, similar to that produced in BMD, and expected to ameliorate the disease course. The pattern of dystrophin expression and functionality in dystrophinopathy patients is variable due to multiple factors, such as molecular functionality of the dystrophin and its distribution. To benchmark the success of therapeutic intervention, a clear understanding of dystrophin expression patterns in dystrophinopathy patients is vital. Recently, several groups have used innovative techniques to quantify dystrophin in muscle biopsies of children but not in patients with milder BMD. This study reports on dystrophin expression using both Western blotting and an automated, high-throughput, image analysis platform in DMD, BMD, and intermediate DMD/BMD skeletal muscle biopsies. Our results found a significant correlation between Western blot and immunofluorescent quantification indicating consistency between the different methodologies. However, we identified significant inter- and intradisease heterogeneity of patterns of dystrophin expression in patients irrespective of the amount detected on blot, due to variability in both fluorescence intensity and dystrophin sarcolemmal circumference coverage. Our data highlight the heterogeneity of the pattern of dystrophin expression in BMD, which will assist the assessment of dystrophin restoration therapies.
Multiple Imputation with Massive Data: An Application to the Panel Study of Income Dynamics
Authors: Si Yajuan , Heeringa Steve , Johnson David , Little Roderick J A , Liu Wenshuo , Pfeffer Fabian , Raghunathan Trivellore
Published: September 2021

Multiple imputation (MI) is a popular and well-established method for handling missing data in multivariate data sets, but its practicality for use in massive and complex data sets has been questioned. One such data set is the Panel Study of Income Dynamics (PSID), a longstanding and extensive survey of household income and wealth in the United States. Missing data for this survey are currently handled using traditional hot deck methods because of the simple implementation; however, the univariate hot deck results in large random wealth fluctuations. MI is effective but faced with operational challenges. We use a sequential regression/chained-equation approach, using the software IVEware, to multiply impute cross-sectional wealth data in the 2013 PSID, and compare analyses of the resulting imputed data with those from the current hot deck approach. Practical difficulties, such as non-normally distributed variables, skip patterns, categorical variables with many levels, and multicollinearity, are described together with our approaches to overcoming them. We evaluate the imputation quality and validity with internal diagnostics and external benchmarking data. MI produces improvements over the existing hot deck approach by helping preserve correlation structures, such as the associations between PSID wealth components and the relationships between the household net worth and sociodemographic factors, and facilitates completed data analyses with general purposes. MI incorporates highly predictive covariates into imputation models and increases efficiency. We recommend the practical implementation of MI and expect greater gains when the fraction of missing information is large.
‘Blessed is the One who Stands in the Beginning’ (L. 18): Revisiting Protological Eschatology in the Gospel of Thomas
Authors: Joseph Simon J
Published: September 2021

Since its (re)discovery, the Gospel of Thomas has been a central site of debate in the study of Christian origins. Some scholars regard Thomas as a ‘fifth gospel’; others an ‘anti-Jewish’ text dependent on the Synoptics. This article revisits one of Thomas’s most distinctive themes: protological eschatology. This article argues that logion 18 represents a worldview characterized by an Urzeit/Endzeit correlation, a motif relatively common in apocalyptic Judaism, and reminiscent of arguments from creation characteristic of the historical Jesus.