bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Point to point propagation over a phase gradient grooved surface
Authors: Mellish Steve , Taherzadeh Shahram , Attenborough Keith
Published: December 2020

Previous work on deriving a modal theory for predicting point-to-point propagation over a uniformly grooved surface is extended to predict propagation over a periodic variable depth grooved surface with a low flow resistivity porous material of different thickness in each groove. The form of the surface is intended to create an approximately linear phase gradient for plane waves reflected from the surface. The resulting attenuation due to ground effect is found to be larger and more broadband than predicted over either an acoustically hard grooved surface or an acoustically soft layer with thickness equal to the largest groove depth for the same source-receiver geometry. Various contributions to the excess attenuation spectrum from surface waves associated with the different groove depths, quarter wavelength resonances in the grooves, the phase gradient for plane wave reflections and diffracted modes are investigated. As result the broadband nature of the excess attenuation is explained and important parameters in designing such surfaces are identified.
How do words compete? Quantifying lexical competition with acoustic distance
Authors: Kelley Matthew C. , Tucker Benjamin V.
Published: December 2020

Research on speech perception and lexical access often uses the activation and competition metaphor to describe the process of spoken word recognition. One way of expressing competition associated with a given word is its phonological neighborhood density, which is a calculation of similarity. The present study uses acoustic distance as an alternative to phonological neighborhood density to measure lexical competition during speech perception. The quantification of a word's lexical competition is given by what is termed its acoustic distinctiveness, which is taken as its average acoustic distance to all other words in the lexicon. A variety of possible abstract acoustic representations for items in the lexicon are analyzed. Statistical modeling shows that acoustic distinctiveness has a similar effect as phonological neighborhood density. Additionally, acoustic distinctiveness consistently increases model fitness more than phonological neighborhood density, regardless of the abstract representation used. Acoustic distinctiveness, however, does not explain all the same things as phonological neighborhood density. Potential theoretical implications of acoustic distinctiveness's usefulness in statistical and psycholinguistic models are discussed.
The massive auditory lexical decision database: Acoustic analyses of a large-scale, single speaker corpus
Authors: Podlubny Ryan G. , Tucker Benjamin V.
Published: December 2020

Studying speech production has allowed the discovery of numerous patterns that hold within—and, at times, differ across—speaker groups (e.g., voice-onset-time as a cue for consonant voicing). However, such work rarely explores the variation and consistencies that might be observed within comparable numbers of productions from a single speaker. In fact, acoustic analyses of speech production most often survey relatively few observations from each speaker, where high participant numbers are required to offset limited by-speaker contributions. Therefore, previous research often addresses inter-speaker variation, but by nature disallows any meaningful exploration of variation/consistency across productions from a single speaker. In tandem with the Massive Auditory Lexical Decision (MALD) study [Tucker et al., Behav. Res. 51(3), 1187–1204 (2019)], the present work serves two purposes: (1) to analyze and describe speech stimuli comprising the MALD single-speaker corpus (26 793 English words and 9592 English pseudowords, roughly 6 h of recorded speech in total), and (2) to suggest the breadth of work possible using such a corpus. As examples of the latter, analyses are provided to compare and contrast acoustic characteristics associated with varying degrees of lexical stress, and to explore the vowel space as realized in words versus pseudowords.
Labeling databases with individual acoustic cues to distinctive features
Authors: Choi Jeung-Yoon , Shattuck-Hufnagel Stefanie
Published: December 2020

Several speech databases have been manually annotated for individual acoustic cues to distinctive features. The acoustic cue labels include 8 landmark types (Stevens 2002) related to the manner features, and 32 other types related to place and voicing features. The labeled data include isolated words and syllables, read speech and task-driven conversational speech. The isolated words and syllables are drawn from a VCV database, which consists of about 400 vowel-consonant-vowel utterances (3 speakers), and from the UConn Isolated Words dataset, which comprises around 1200 monosyllabic words each spoken by 4 speakers. The continuous speech samples include a subset (40 speakers) of the TIMIT read sentences database, and a Map Task spontaneous speech database (8 speakers) consisting of 16 conversations. These feature-cue-labeled databases can serve as a training set for cue-recognition algorithms, and can provide material for analysis of systematic context-governed cue modification patterns, such as the loss of closure and release landmarks for coda nasals with preservation of nasality in the preceding vowel, and the loss of coda stop landmarks with preservation of duration cues to voicing in the preceding vowel. In addition, an online tutorial that outlines how to label individual acoustic cues to distinctive features is under development.
Estimation of the frequency of occurence of italian phonemes in text
Authors: Arango Javier , DeCaprio Alec , Yao Stephanie , Baik Sunwoo , Shattuck-Hufnagel Stefanie , Di Benedetto Maria-Gabriella
Published: December 2020

The purpose of this project was to derive a reliable estimate of the frequency of occurrence of the 30 phonemes – plus consonant geminated counterparts- of the Italian language, based on four selected written texts. Since no comparable dataset was found in previous literature, the present analysis may serve as a reference in future studies. Four textual sources were considered: Come si fa una tesi di laurea: le materie umanistiche by Umberto Eco, I promessi sposi by Alessandro Manzoni, a recent article in Corriere della Sera (a popular daily Italian newspaper), and In altre parole by Jhumpa Lahiri. The sources were chosen to represent varied genres, subject matter, time periods, and writing styles. Results of the analysis, which also included an analysis of variance, showed that, for all four sources, the frequencies of occurrence reached relatively stable values after about 6000 phonemes (approximately 1250 words), varying by <0.025%. Estimated frequencies are provided for each single source and as an average across sources.
Establishing an index of somatosensory acuity: comparison of three measures in adults
Authors: Gritsyk Olesia , Kabakoff Heather M. , Li Joanne Jingwen , Ayala Samantha , Shiller Doug , McAllister Tara
Published: December 2020

Speech production is directed by auditory and somatosensory targets that shape and update the motor plan through corresponding feedback channels (Guenther, 2016). Somatosensory feedback is instrumental in ensuring accurate articulator placement, as shown in studies where perturbed somatosensory feedback leads to reduced speech precision (Ringel and Steer, 1963; Gammon et al., 1971; Jones and Munhall, 2003). As no gold standard for measuring somatosensory acuity exists, the current study will compare three measures in 20 adults: (1) an oral stereognosis task (Steele et al., 2014) measuring tactile input received by the articulators; (2) a novel phonetic awareness task measuring the proprioceptive sense of articulator position; (3) a bite-block task with auditory masking (Zandipour et al., 2006) measuring the degree of compensation for perturbation using only somatosensory feedback. To test the hypothesis that participants with higher somatosensory acuity showed larger increases in production accuracy, participants’ scores on each task will be used to predict performance in an L2 vowel learning task (Li et al., in press). Three linear regression models will be fit, one for each somatosensory measure. The model that best explains change in production accuracy will be selected using the Akaike/Bayes Information Criteria. Establishing a valid measure of somatosensory acuity will enable future research to elucidate somatosensory influences on speech production.
Testing the Cue-Weighting Transfer Hypothesis with Korean listeners’ perception of English lexical stress
Authors: Kim Hyoju , Tremblay Annie
Published: December 2020

This study investigates whether listeners’ use of prosodic cues to lexical contrasts can transfer from the processing of one phonological phenomenon in the native (i.e., first) language (L1) to the processing of another phonological phenomenon in a second language (L2). It does so by investigating how Gyeongsang Korean (GK) and Seoul Korean (SK) listeners process English lexical stress contrasts. While GK has lexical pitch accents, SK does not. Korean L2 learners of English completed a sequence-recall task in which they were asked to recall four-item sequences of English words that differed suprasegmentally (stress contrast) or segmentally (phonemic contrast). The results show that there is a significant interaction between L1 and contrast type for GK listeners, but not for SK listeners. The simple effects of L1 confirm that SK listeners showed lower accuracy than GK listeners in the stress contrast condition. GK listeners’ advantage over SK listeners in the stress contrast condition suggests that L2 learners can transfer the use of prosodic cues from one phonological phenomenon in the L1 (lexical pitch accents) to another phonological phenomenon in the L2 (lexical stress), providing robust evidence for the phonetic approach (e.g., Cue-Weighting Transfer Hypothesis) to the perception of lexical stress contrasts.
Slowing late infantile Batten disease by direct brain parenchymal administration of a rh.10 adeno-associated virus expressing
CLN2
Authors: Sondhi Dolan , Kaminsky Stephen M. , Hackett Neil R. , Pagovich Odelya E. , Rosenberg Jonathan B. , De Bishnu P. , Chen Alvin , Van de Graaf Benjamin , Mezey Jason G. , Mammen Grace W. , Mancenido Denesy , Xu Fang , Kosofsky Barry , Yohay Kaleb , Worgall Stefan , Kaner Robert J. , Souwedaine Mark , Greenwald Bruce M. , Kaplitt Michael , Dyke Jonathan P. , Ballon Douglas J. , Heier Linda A. , Kiss Szilard , Crystal Ronald G.
Published: December 2020

Administration of an adeno-associated virus coding for the
CLN2
gene into the brain parenchyma slows the progression of CLN2 disease in children.
Evidence for a protective role of placental growth factor in cardiovascular disease
Authors: Chen Yihong , Nilsson Anna Hultgårdh , Goncalves Isabel , Edsfeldt Andreas , Engström Gunnar , Melander Olle , Orho-Melander Marju , Rauch Uwe , Tengryd Christoffer , Venuraju Shreenidhi M. , Lahiri Avijit , Liang Chun , Nilsson Jan
Published: December 2020

Placental growth factor is expressed in response to cellular stress and lowers cardiovascular risk by stimulating vascular repair.
Can your diet change your clock?
Authors: Hurley Jennifer M.
Published: December 2020

High-fat diets disturb circadian metabolic rhythms in the brain.
A triple threat for cancer treatment
Authors: Ankrum James
Published: December 2020

Coupling a photosensitizer to camptothecin enhances selectivity and potency of the chemotherapy to kill cancer cells in vitro and in vivo.
Engineering a Culturable Serratia symbiotica Strain for Aphid Paratransgenesis
Authors: Elston Katherine M. , Perreau Julie , Maeda Gerald P. , Moran Nancy A. , Barrick Jeffrey E.
Published: December 2020

Insects have remarkably diverse and integral roles in global ecosystems. Many harbor symbiotic bacteria, but very few of these bacteria have been genetically engineered.
Comparison of ZMAC and MARC-145 Cell Lines for Improving Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus Isolation from Clinical Samples
Authors: Yim-im Wannarat , Huang Haiyan , Park Jie , Wang Chong , Calzada Gabriela , Gauger Phillip , Harmon Karen , Main Rodger , Zhang Jianqiang
Published: December 2020

The MARC-145 cell line is commonly used to isolate porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) for diagnostics, research, and vaccine production, but it yields frustratingly low success rates of virus isolation (VI). The ZMAC cell line, derived from porcine alveolar macrophages, has become available, but its utilization for PRRSV VI from clinical samples has not been evaluated.
Mutations in PB1, NP, HA, and NA Contribute to Increased Virus Fitness of H5N2 Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Virus Clade 2.3.4.4 in Chickens
Authors: Youk Sung-Su , Leyson Christina M. , Seibert Brittany A. , Jadhao Samadhan , Perez Daniel R. , Suarez David L. , Pantin-Jackwood Mary J.
Published: December 2020

H5Nx highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) viruses of the A/goose/Guangdong/1/96 lineage continue to circulate widely, affecting both poultry and wild birds. These viruses continue to change and reassort, which affects their fitness for different avian hosts.
Modeling Aβ42 Accumulation in Response to Herpes Simplex Virus 1 Infection: Two Dimensional or Three Dimensional?
Authors: Abrahamson Eric E. , Zheng Wenxiao , Muralidaran Vaishali , Ikonomovic Milos D. , Bloom David C. , Nimgaonkar Vishwajit L. , D’Aiuto Leonardo
Published: December 2020

The pathogen hypothesis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) proposes that brain HSV-1 infection is an initial source of amyloid beta (Aβ) peptide-containing amyloid plaque development. Aβ accumulation was reported in HSV-1-infected 2D neuronal cultures and neural stem cell cultures as well as in HSV-1-infected 3D neuronal culture models.
Red meat intake and risk of coronary heart disease among US men: prospective cohort study
Authors: Al-Shaar Laila , Satija Ambika , Wang Dong D , Rimm Eric B , Smith-Warner Stephanie A , Stampfer Meir J , Hu Frank B , Willett Walter C
Published: December 2020

Objectives

To study total, processed, and unprocessed red meat in relation to risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) and to estimate the effects of substituting other protein sources for red meat with CHD risk.

Design

Prospective cohort study with repeated measures of diet and lifestyle factors.

Setting

Health Professionals Follow-Up Study cohort, United States, 1986-2016.

Participants

43 272 men without cardiovascular disease or cancer at baseline.

Main outcome measures

The primary outcome was total CHD, comprised of acute non-fatal myocardial infarction or fatal CHD. Cox models were used to estimate hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals across categories of red meat consumption. Substitution analyses were conducted by comparing coefficients for red meat and the alternative food in models, including red meat and alternative foods as continuous variables.

Results

During 1 023 872 person years of follow-up, 4456 incident CHD events were documented of which 1860 were fatal. After multivariate adjustment for dietary and non-dietary risk factors, total, unprocessed, and processed red meat intake were each associated with a modestly higher risk of CHD (hazard ratio for one serving per day increment: 1.12 (95% confidence interval 1.06 to 1.18) for total red meat, 1.11 (1.02 to 1.21) for unprocessed red meat, and 1.15 (1.06 to 1.25) for processed red meat). Compared with red meat, the intake of one serving per day of combined plant protein sources (nuts, legumes, and soy) was associated with a lower risk of CHD (0.86 (0.80 to 0.93) compared with total red meat, 0.87 (0.79 to 0.95) compared with unprocessed red meat, and 0.83 (0.76 to 0.91) compared with processed red meat). Substitutions of whole grains and dairy products for total red meat and eggs for processed red meat were also associated with lower CHD risk.

Conclusions

Substituting high quality plant foods such as legumes, nuts, or soy for red meat might reduce the risk of CHD. Substituting whole grains and dairy products for total red meat, and eggs for processed red meat, might also reduce this risk.
Suitability and acceptability of the Carer Support Needs Assessment Tool (CSNAT) for the assessment of carers of people with MND: a qualitative study
Authors: Ewing Gail , Croke Sarah , Rowland Christine , Grande Gunn
Published: December 2020

Objectives

Motor neurone disease (MND) is a progressive, life-limiting illness. Caregiving impacts greatly on family carers with few supportive interventions for carers. We report Stages 1 and 2 of a study to: (1) explore experiences of MND caregiving and use carer-identified support needs to determine suitability and acceptability of the Carer Support Needs Assessment Tool (CSNAT), (2) adapt the CSNAT as necessary for comprehensive assessment and support of MND carers, prior to (Stage 3) feasibility testing.

Design

Qualitative: focus groups, interviews and carer workshops.

Setting

Three UK MND specialist centres serving a wide range of areas.

Participants

Stage 1: 33 carers, 11 from each site: 19 current carers, 14 bereaved. Stage 2: 19 carer advisors: 10 bereaved, 9 current carers. Majority were spouses/partners ranging in age from under 45 years to over 75 years. Duration of caring: 4 months to 12.5 years.

Results

Carers described challenges of a disease that was terminal from the outset, of ‘chasing’ progressive deterioration, trying to balance normality and patient independence against growing dependence, and intensive involvement in caregiving. Carers had extensive support needs which could be mapped to existing CSNAT domains: both ‘enabling’ domains which identify carers’ needs as co-workers as well as carers’ ‘direct’ needs as clients in relation to their own health and well-being. Only one aspect of their caregiving experience went beyond existing domains: a new domain on support needs with relationship changes was identified to tailor the CSNAT better to MND carers.

Conclusions

Carers of people with MND found the adapted CSNAT to be an appropriate and relevant tool for assessment of their support needs. The revised version has potential for assessment of carers in other longer-term caring contexts. A further paper will report the Stage 3 study on feasibility of using the adapted CSNAT in routine practice.
Research protocol for the validation of a new portable technology for real-time continuous monitoring of Early Warning Score (EWS) in hospital practice and for an early-stage multistakeholder assessment
Authors: Manetti Stefania , Vainieri Milena , Guidotti Elisa , Zuccarino Sara , Ferré Francesca , Morelli Maria Sole , Emdin Michele
Published: December 2020

Introduction

The real-time continuous monitoring of vital parameters in patients affected by multiple chronic conditions and/or COVID-19 can lead to several benefits to the Italian National Healthcare System (IT-NHS). The UBiquitous Integrated CARE (UBICARE) technology is a novel health digital platform at the validation stage in hospital setting. UBICARE might support the urgent need for digitalisation and early intervention, as well as minimise the face-to-face delivery of care in both hospital and community-based care settings. This research protocol aims to design an early-stage assessment of the multidimensional impact induced by UBICARE within the IT-NHS alongside technology validation in a hospital ward.

Methods and analysis

The targeted patients will be medium/high-risk hypertensive individuals as an illustrative first example of how UBICARE might bring benefits to susceptible patients. A mixed-method study will be applied to incorporate to the validation study a multistakeholder perspective, including perceived patient experiences and preferences, and facilitate technology adoption. First, semistructured interviews will be undertaken with a variety of stakeholders including clinicians, health managers and policy-makers to capture views on the likely technology utility, economic sustainability, impact of adoption in hospital practice and alternative adoption scenarios. Second, a monocentric, non-randomised and non-comparative clinical study, supplemented by the administration of standardised usability questionnaires to patients and health professionals, will validate the use of UBICARE in hospital practice. Finally, the results of the previous stages will be discussed in a multidisciplinary-facilitated workshop with IT-NHS relevant stakeholders to reconcile stakeholders’ perspectives. Limitations include a non-random recruitment strategy in the clinical study, small sample size of the key stakeholders and potential stakeholder recruitment bias introduced by the research technique.

Ethics and dissemination

The Ethics Committee for Clinical Experimentation of Tuscany Region approved the protocol. Participation in this study is voluntary. Study results will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publications and academic conferences.
Trends of prescribing adherence of antiplatelet agents in Hong Kong patients with acute coronary syndrome: a 10-year retrospective observational cohort study
Authors: Lam Amy SM , Yan Bryan PY , Lee Vivian WY
Published: December 2020

Objectives

The objective of this study is to examine the temporal trend of antiplatelet prescribing pattern during index hospitalisation discharge in Hong Kong (HK) acute coronary syndrome (ACS) population.

Design

The study is a retrospective observational cohort study.

Setting

The study retrieved data from electronic health record from Hospital Authority (HA), HK.

Participants

The study included patients aged 18 years old or above, who were admitted to seven institutions under HA with diagnosis of ACS during 2008–2017.

Primary and secondary outcome measures

The primary outcome was the frequency of antiplatelet therapy prescription at the point of index hospitalisation discharge each year during 2008–2017. Association between demographics, baseline comorbidities, procedures and antiplatelet prescription were examined as secondary outcome using multivariate logistic regression model, with commonly used antiplatelet groups selected for comparison.

Results

Among the included 14 716 patients, 5888 (40.0%) discharged with aspirin alone, 6888 (46.8%) discharged with dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) with clopidogrel, and 973 (6.6%) discharged with DAPT with prasugrel/ticagrelor. Prescribing rate of aspirin alone decreased substantially from 56.8% in 2008 to 27.5% in 2017. Utilisation of DAPT with clopidogrel increased from 33.7% in 2008 to 52.7% in 2017. Use of DAPT with prasugrel/ticagrelor increased from 0.3% in 2010 to 15.3% in 2017. Compared with those prescribed with DAPT with clopidogrel, male patients (adjusted OR (aOR) 1.34, 95% CI 1.09 to 1.65), patients with non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (aOR 2.50, 1.98 to 3.16) or ST-elevation myocardial infarction (aOR 3.26, 2.59 to 4.09), use of glycoprotein IIb/IIIa (aOR 3.03, 2.48 to 3.68) or undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (aOR 3.85, 3.24 to 4.58) or coronary artery bypass graft (aOR 6.52, 4.63 to 9.18) during index hospitalisation, concurrent use of histamine-2 receptor antagonists (aOR 1.35, 1.10 to 1.65) or proton pump inhibitors (aOR 3.57, 2.93 to 4.36) during index hospitalisation discharge were more likely to be prescribed with DAPT with prasugrel/ticagrelor. Patients with older age (aOR 0.97, 0.96 to 0.97), diabetes (aOR 0.68, 0.52 to 0.88), chronic kidney disease (aOR 0.43, 0.22 to 0.85) or concurrent use of oral anticoagulant (aOR 0.16, 0.07 to 0.42) were more likely to received DAPT with clopidogrel.

Conclusions

Use of DAPT with prasugrel/ticagrelor was suboptimal yet improving during 2008–2017 in HK patients with ACS. Considering DAPT, predictors for clopidogrel prescription, compared with prasugrel/ticagrelor, were consistent with identified risk factors of bleeding.
Hospital managers’ perspectives with implementing quality improvement measures and a new regulatory framework: a qualitative case study
Authors: Øyri Sina Furnes , Braut Geir Sverre , Macrae Carl , Wiig Siri
Published: December 2020

A new regulatory framework to support local quality and safety efforts in hospitals was introduced to the Norwegian healthcare system in 2017. This studyaimedto investigate hospital managers’ perspectives on implementation efforts and the resulting work practices, to understand if, and how, the new Quality Improvement Regulation influenced quality and safety improvement activities.

Design

This article reports one study level (the perspectives of hospital managers), as part of a multilevel case study. Data were collected by interviews and analysed according to qualitative content analysis.

Setting

Three hospitals retrieved from two regional health trusts in Norway.

Participants

20 hospital managers or quality advisers selected from different levels of hospital organisations.

Results

Four themes were identified in response to the study aim: (1) adaptive capacity in hospital management and practice, (2) implementation efforts and challenges with quality improvement, (3) systemic changes and (4) the potential to learn. Recent structural and cultural changes to, and development of, quality improvement systems in hospitals were discovered (3). Participants however, revealed no change in their practice solely due to the new Quality Improvement Regulation (2). Findings indicated that hospital managers are legally responsible for quality improvement implementation and participants described several benefits with the new Quality Improvement Regulation (2). This related to adaptation and flexibility to local context, and clinical autonomy as an inevitable element in hospital practice (1). Trust and a safe work environment were described as key factors to achieve adverse event reporting and support learning processes (4).

Conclusions

This study suggests that a lack of time, competence and/or motivation, impacted hospitals’ implementation of quality improvement efforts. Hospital managers’ autonomy and adaptive capacity to tailor quality improvement efforts were key for the new Quality Improvement Regulation to have any relevant impact on hospital practice and for it to influence quality and safety improvement activities.
Targeting G protein-coupled receptors for the treatment of chronic pain in the digestive system
Authors: Gottesman-Katz Lena , Latorre Rocco , Vanner Stephen , Schmidt Brian L , Bunnett Nigel W
Published: December 2020

Chronic pain is a hallmark of functional disorders, inflammatory diseases and cancer of the digestive system. The mechanisms that initiate and sustain chronic pain are incompletely understood, and available therapies are inadequate. This review highlights recent advances in the structure and function of pronociceptive and antinociceptive G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) that provide insights into the mechanisms and treatment of chronic pain. This knowledge, derived from studies of somatic pain, can guide research into visceral pain. Mediators from injured tissues transiently activate GPCRs at the plasma membrane of neurons, leading to sensitisation of ion channels and acute hyperexcitability and nociception. Sustained agonist release evokes GPCR redistribution to endosomes, where persistent signalling regulates activity of channels and genes that control chronic hyperexcitability and nociception. Endosomally targeted GPCR antagonists provide superior pain relief in preclinical models. Biased agonists stabilise GPCR conformations that favour signalling of beneficial actions at the expense of detrimental side effects. Biased agonists of µ-opioid receptors (MOPrs) can provide analgesia without addiction, respiratory depression and constipation. Opioids that preferentially bind to MOPrs in the acidic microenvironment of diseased tissues produce analgesia without side effects. Allosteric modulators of GPCRs fine-tune actions of endogenous ligands, offering the prospect of refined pain control. GPCR dimers might function as distinct therapeutic targets for nociception. The discovery that GPCRs that control itch also mediate irritant sensation in the colon has revealed new targets. A deeper understanding of GPCR structure and function in different microenvironments offers the potential of developing superior treatments for GI pain.
Competition effects in breeding value prediction of forest trees
Authors: Jansson Gunnar , Kerr Richard , Dutkowski Greg , Kroon Johan
Published: December 2020

Competition is a concern for tree breeding because of its potential to reduce the genetic gain. Competition, if not accounted for in the analytical model, can potentially introduce a source of bias in genetic parameter estimation and breeding value prediction. This study modelled competition between trees in 20 Swedish progeny trials of Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.), Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.), and lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta Douglas ex Loudon). The competition model assumed a tree has a direct additive genetic effect, which affects the tree’s own phenotype, and an indirect additive effect, which affects the phenotypes of its neighbours. Genetic parameters were estimated via a factor analytic structure in which separate indirect effects were considered for each neighbour, or via a combined indirect effect approach. We analysed diameter, as it is the trait that can be expected to be affected most by competition. Competition at the genetic level was detected in 17 of the 20 trials analysed. In most cases, the ratio of indirect to direct additive variance was less than 20% and no major changes in ranking resulted. At this stage, there is little incentive to incorporate indirect effects into program-wide genetic evaluation models. The added complexity is not commensurate with the benefit that would be gained.
Scattering of charged fermion to two-dimensional wormhole with constant axial magnetic flux
Authors: Pimsamarn Kulapant , Burikham Piyabut , Rojjanason Trithos
Published: December 2020

Scattering of charged fermion with $$(1+2)$$

(
1
+
2
)

-dimensional wormhole in the presence of constant axial magnetic flux is explored. By extending the class of fermionic solutions of the Dirac equation in the curved space of wormhole surface to include normal modes with real energy and momentum, we found a quantum selection rule for the scattering of fermion waves to the wormhole. The newly found momentum–angular momentum relation implies that only fermion with the quantized momentum $$k=m'/a\sqrt{q}$$

k
=

m
′

/
a

q

can be transmitted through the hole. The allowed momentum is proportional to an effective angular momentum quantum number $$m'$$

m
′

and inversely proportional to the radius of the throat of the wormhole a. Flux dependence of the effective angular momentum quantum number permits us to select fermions that can pass through according to their momenta. A conservation law is also naturally enforced in terms of the unitarity condition among the incident, reflected, and transmitted waves. The scattering involving quasinormal modes (QNMs) of fermionic states in the wormhole is subsequently explored. It is found that the transmitted waves through the wormhole for all scenarios involving QNMs are mostly suppressed and decaying in time. In the case of QNMs scattering, the unitarity condition is violated but a more generic relation of the scattering coefficients is established. When the magnetic flux $$\phi =mhc/e$$

ϕ
=
m
h
c
/
e

, i.e., quantized in units of the magnetic flux quantum hc/e, the fermion will tunnel through the wormhole with zero reflection.
Mean-field backward–forward stochastic differential equations and nonzero sum stochastic differential games
Authors: Chen Yinggu , Djehiche Boualem , Hamadène Said
Published: December 2020

We study a general class of fully coupled backward–forward stochastic differential equations of mean-field type (MF-BFSDE). We derive existence and uniqueness results for such a system under weak monotonicity assumptions and without the non-degeneracy condition on the forward equation. This is achieved by suggesting an implicit approximation scheme that is shown to converge to the solution of the system of MF-BFSDE. We apply these results to derive an explicit form of open-loop Nash equilibrium strategies for nonzero sum mean-field linear-quadratic stochastic differential games with random coefficients. These strategies are valid for any time horizon of the game.
A Parameter Study of the Burton–Miller Formulation in the BEM Analysis of Acoustic Resonances in Exterior Configurations
Authors: Chen Xin , He Qiang , Zheng Chang-Jun , Wan Cheng , Bi Chuan-Xing , Wang Bin
Published: December 2020

The application of a boundary element technique in combination with a contour integral approach to the numerical analysis of acoustic resonances in exterior configurations is investigated in this paper. Similar to the boundary element analysis of exterior acoustic radiation or scattering problems, spurious eigenfrequencies also turn up in the boundary element solution to exterior acoustic resonance problems. To filter out the spurious eigenfrequencies, the Burton–Miller-type combined formulation is employed to shift them from the real axis to the complex domain. The shifting effect brought by the combined formulation with different types of coupling parameters is investigated. Unlike in acoustic radiation and scattering analyses for which [Formula: see text] is suggested as the coupling parameter, it will be shown that the coupling parameter specified as [Formula: see text] with [Formula: see text] (the time-dependent term herein is [Formula: see text]) is more desirable in distinguishing the spurious eigenfrequencies in the boundary element analysis of exterior acoustic resonances.
Nutritional Preconditioning in Cancer Treatment in Relation to DNA Damage and Aging
Authors: van den Boogaard Winnie M.C. , van den Heuvel-Eibrink Marry M. , Hoeijmakers Jan H.J. , Vermeij Wilbert P.
Published: December 2020

Dietary restriction (DR) is the most successful nutritional intervention for extending lifespan and preserving health in numerous species. Reducing food intake triggers a protective response that shifts energy resources from growth to maintenance and resilience mechanisms. This so-called survival response has been shown to particularly increase life- and health span and decrease DNA damage in DNA repair–deficient mice exhibiting accelerated aging. Accumulation of DNA damage is the main cause of aging, but also of cancer. Moreover, radiotherapies and most chemotherapies are based on damaging DNA, consistent with their ability to induce toxicity and accelerate aging. Since fasting and DR decrease DNA damage and its effects, nutritional preconditioning holds promise for improving (cancer) therapy and preventing short- and long-term side effects of anticancer treatments. This review provides an overview of the link between aging and cancer, highlights important preclinical studies applying such nutritional preconditioning, and summarizes the first clinical trials implementing nutritional preconditioning in cancer treatment.
Bandwidth Enhancement on Half-Mode Substrate Integrated Waveguide Antenna Using Cavity-Backed Triangular Slot
Authors: Astuti Dian Widi , Asvial Muhamad , Zulkifli Fitri Yuli , Rahardjo Eko Tjipto
Published: December 2020

This paper proposes bandwidth enhancement of a cavity-backed slot antenna using a triangular slot on a half-mode substrate integrated waveguide structure antenna. The bandwidth enhancement was achieved by combining the fixed TE101 and the downward shifting TE102 modes, resulting in hybrid modes. The design evolution of the slot antenna from a half nonresonating rectangular slot to a triangular slot antenna increased the fractional bandwidth. The simulation result showed that fractional bandwidth increased from 6.27% to 9.1%. It was confirmed by measurement that the fractional bandwidth of 9.87% was achieved which reflects a 350 MHz bandwidth with center frequency at 3.84 GHz. The measured gain at center frequency was 4.2 dBi. It is shown that the radiation characteristics obtained from both measurement and simulation results are in very good agreement.
Impact of Urban Undersea Tunnel Longitudinal Slope on the Visual Characteristics of Drivers
Authors: Wang Shoushuo , Du Zhigang , Jiao Fangtong , Yang Libo , Ni Yudan
Published: December 2020

This study aims to investigate the impact of the urban undersea tunnel longitudinal slope on the visual characteristics of drivers. 20 drivers were enrolled to conduct the real vehicle test of the urban undersea tunnel. First, the data of average fixation time and visual lobe were collected by an eye tracker. The differential significance was tested using the one-way repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA). Then, the difference between the up-and-down slope (direction) factor and the longitudinal slope (percent) factor on the two indexes were analyzed using the two-way repeated measures ANOVA. Second, by constructing a Lorentz model, the impact of the longitudinal slope on the average fixation time and the visual lobe were analyzed. Besides, a three-dimensional model of the longitudinal slope, average fixation time, and visual lobe was quantified. The results showed that the average fixation time and visual lobe under different longitudinal slopes markedly differed when driving on the uphill and downhill sections. The average fixation time and visual lobe under two factors were markedly different. Moreover, with an increase in the longitudinal slope, the average fixation time exhibited a trend of increasing first then decreasing; the visual lobe exhibited a trend of decreasing first and then increasing. The average fixation time reached the minimum and maximum value when the slope was 2.15% and 4.0%, whereas the visual lobe reached the maximum and minimum value when the slope was 2.88% and 4.0%. Overall, the longitudinal slope exerted a great impact on the visual load of the driver.
The Dependence between Urinary Levels of Angiogenesis Factors, 8-Iso-prostaglandin F2α, ɣ-Synuclein, and Interleukin-13 in Patients with Bladder Cancer: A Pilot Study
Authors: Szymańska Beata , Sawicka Ewa , Matuszewski Michał , Dembowski Janusz , Piwowar Agnieszka
Published: December 2020

During the last decade, a significant increase in the incidence of bladder cancer (BC) has been observed. Angiogenesis plays a key role in the process of tumor growth and metastasis. Additionally, the participation of oxidative stress and chronic inflammation in BC pathogenesis is indicated. The aim of the study was to evaluate the urinary levels of parameters of angiogenesis, stimulating angiogenin (ANG) and inhibiting angiostatin (ANGST), 8-iso-prostaglandin F2α (8-iso-PGF2α) as a marker of oxidative stress, ɣ-synuclein (SNCG) as a cancer progression parameter, and interleukin-13 (IL-13) as an anti-inflammatory immunomodulator. The levels of ANG, ANGST, 8-iso-PGF2α, SNCG, and IL-13 in the urine of BC patients and healthy controls were measured by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. These parameters were examined in the whole group of BC patients and in subgroups depending on the clinical stage: nonmuscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) and muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC); histopathologic malignancy: low grade (LG) and high grade (HG) and in primary and recurrent BC. Significantly, higher urinary parameters were found in BC patients in comparison to controls. Levels of all parameters increased with the development of cancer, with the exception of 8-iso-prostaglandin F2α, in which the level was higher in the early stages of the disease, but these differences were not statistically significant. Some correlations have been demonstrated between parameters in BC patients. Based on the receiver operating characteristic curves, ANG and ANGST had the best diagnostic value for BC. The obtained results indicate the important role of the examined parameters of angiogenesis, oxidative stress, and inflammation in the pathogenesis and development of BC. It is reasonable to continue research in order to thoroughly assess the impact of various associated processes on the course of BC. It is also important to carry out similar tests in patients with other urological diseases.
A Rare Case of Complex Pelvic Injury and Associated Intrathecal Fat Embolism due to Spinopelvic Dislocation with Sacral Burst Fracture
Authors: Clausen Jan-Dierk , Fink Karsten , Wilhelmi Michaela , Macke Christian , Winkelmann Marcel , Krettek Christian , Mommsen Philipp
Published: December 2020

Introduction. Pelvic and lumbar spine injuries are very common especially in multiple trauma patients. The usual mechanism in young patients leading to pelvic fractures is a high-energy trauma such as traffic accidents. In elderly patients, low energy traumas are causal for such injuries. Compared to the high number of patients with pelvic or lumbar spine injuries, cerebral fat embolism is a quite rare finding but it needs to be considered to not misinterpret the radiological findings. Case. We present the case of a 41-year-old patient, who got hit and trapped in the lumbar region by a hydraulic arm in a car repair shop. The patient was primarily admitted to a level II trauma center. The radiological and clinical examinations revealed an open pelvic type C injury in terms of a spinopelvic dissociation, dislocation of the left hip joint, rupture of the mesentery of the rectum and colon sigmoideum, and a complex injury to the left ureter. Additionally, CT scan showed fluid with higher density than cerebro spinal fluid (CSF) in the lateral ventricles indicating an intracranial bleeding. After an immediate surgery to stabilize the patient, he was admitted to a level I trauma center. The reanalysis of the existing CT datasets combined with a new head CT leads to the conclusion that the high density fluid in the lateral ventricles is not a intracranial bleeding but rather fat deriving from the complex pelvic and lumbar spine fracture into the CSF system. Therefore, an immediate operation was performed to stabilize the spinopelvic dissociation and to close the injured dural sheath. Additionally, a ventricle drainage has been placed, which confirmed the diagnosis of intrathecal fat embolism. Afterwards, complex plastic surgery was necessary to restore the soft tissue damage. Conclusions. Intrathecal fat embolism in muliple trauma patients is a rare condition, which should be considered in patients with complex spine or pelvic injuries. It is important to distinguish this rare condition from intracranial bleedings, which are much more common because the consequent therapeutic strategy is quite different. In case of intrathecal fat embolism, a ventricle drainage system should be placed immediately, and the underlying spine or pelvic injuries need to be stabilized combined with closure of the dural sheath to prevent continuous fat embolism and meningeal infection.
Relationship between Periodontitis and Glaucoma: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Byun Soo Hwan , Yoo Dae Myoung , Chang Minwook , Choi Hyo Geun , Hong Seok Jin
Published: December 2020

The objective of this cross-sectional study was to evaluate the association between periodontitis and glaucoma. This prospective cohort study used epidemiological data from the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study performed between 2004 and 2016. Among 173,209 participants, 9572 patients with periodontitis and 115,332 controls (nonperiodontitis) were selected. We analysed the history of glaucoma in periodontitis and control participants. The participants were interviewed regarding their history of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidaemia, periodontitis, glaucoma, smoking, and alcohol consumption by trained interviewers. A logistic regression model was created to analyse the odds ratio of having a history of glaucoma among patients with periodontitis. Two-tailed analyses using chi-square and independent t-tests were used for statistical analysis. The adjusted odds ratio of periodontitis as a risk factor for glaucoma was 3.44 (95% confidence interval = 2.99–3.97,p<0.001). This study demonstrated that glaucoma was associated with periodontitis.
Isolation and Antimicrobial Susceptibility Profile of Escherichia coli O157 : H7 from Raw Milk of Dairy Cattle in Holeta District, Central Ethiopia
Authors: Ababu Ashenafi , Endashaw Dereje , Fesseha Haben
Published: December 2020

A cross-sectional study was conducted in small, medium, and large-scale dairy farms of Holeta district to isolate, identify, and antimicrobial susceptibility profile of Escherichia coli O157 : H7 in raw milk of dairy cattle. A total of 210 lactating cows were selected for raw milk samples, and 19% (40/210) were found to be positive for E. coli whereas 5.2% (11/210) were confirmed as E. coli O157 : H7 positive using the Escherichia coli O157 latex test. Accordingly, all E. coli was highly susceptible to Ciprofloxacin (100%), Gentamycin (100%), Oxytetracycline (100%), and Tetracycline (63.63%). Furthermore, the resistance of 72.73%, 54.54%, 54.54%, and 45.45% was developed to Cefoxitin, Sulphamethoxazole, Cloxacillin, and Streptomycin, respectively. Factors such as parity, age, body condition, herd size, milk yield, udder hygiene, and udder lesion showed a statistically significant (

p
<
0.05

) association with the occurrence of E. coli infection in dairy cattle. In conclusion, in this study, a higher prevalence of Escherichia coli O157 : H7 and its drug susceptibility profile is an alarm for the health of the public, and awareness creation to the farm owners and the community is recommended.
Association between Corneal Stiffness Parameter at the First Applanation and Keratoconus Severity
Authors: Yang Kaili , Xu Liyan , Fan Qi , Ren Shengwei
Published: December 2020

Objective. The study aimed to evaluate the character of corneal stiffness parameter at the first applanation (SP-A1) in normal and keratoconus eyes and explore the association between SP-A1 and keratoconus severity indicators. Methods. A total of 351 normal and 351 keratoconus eyes were included in the current study. Keratoconus was diagnosed according to the corneal topography map and slit-lamp examination. The severity of keratoconus was classified to mild (steep keratometry (Ks) < 48D), moderate (48 ≤ Ks < 55D), and severe (Ks ≥ 55D). The SP-A1 was measured using the Corvis ST software. The correlation analyses and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve were performed in the current analysis. ResultsThe SP-A1 values of keratoconus were lower than that of normal eyes (72.11 (57.02, 83.08) mmHg/mm vs 110.89 (100.45, 122.47) mmHg/mm,

P
<
0.001

). With the severity of keratoconus increasing, the SP-A1 decreased and the value of SP-A1 was 79.54 (70.30, 90.93) mmHg/mm, 65.11 (53.14, 77.46) mmHg/mm, and 47.59 (37.50, 62.14) mmHg/mm in mild, moderate, and severe keratoconus eyes, respectively (

P
<
0.001

). The negative association between SP-A1 and Ks was found in mild, moderate, and severe keratoconus eyes (r mild = -0.171, rmoderate = -0.317, rsevere = −0.288, all

P
<
0.05

). A positive association between SP-A1 and the thinnest corneal thickness (TCT) was found in all eyes (rnormal = 0.687, rmild = 0.519, rmoderate = 0.488, rsevere = 0.382, all

P
<
0.05

). SP-A1 was found to be statistically positively associated with intraocular pressure (IOP), biomechanical corrected IOP (bIOP), time from the initiation of air puff until the first applanation (A1T), corneal velocity at the second applanation (A2V), and negatively associated with deformation amplitude (DA), peak distance (PD), corneal velocity at the first applanation (A1V), time from the initiation of air puff until the second applanation (A2T), and DA Ratio Max [2 mm] both in normal and keratoconus eyes (all

P
<
0.05

). The ROC analysis indicated that the AUC (95% CI) of SP-A1 was 0.952 (0.934–0.967) and 0.930 (0.904–0.951) in detecting keratoconus eyes and mild keratoconus eyes from normal eyes, respectively. Conclusions. The SP-A1 value decreased while the keratoconus severity increased. It was lower in keratoconus than that in normal eyes and could be helpful in identifying keratoconus eyes from normal eyes. Further researches would be warranted to expand the clinical utility of SP-A1.