bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Surface Modification of Magnetite with PBS Using a Ricinoleic‐Toluene Diisocyanate Fragment as the Binder Structure
Authors: Moraes Rafael , Gomes Souza Jr Fernando , Saez Vivian , Silva Luiza , Middea Antonieta
Published: August 2021

Magnetite nanoparticles are widely used in current medicine because their magnetite properties allow several uses as drug delivery systems, contrasts in imaging tests, and even for magnetohyperthermia. However, magnetic nanoparticles possess meager Zeta potential, presenting a strong tendency to agglomerate. For clinical use, they must be covered with a biocompatible material to maintain colloidal stability, without, however, altering its magnetic properties. Thus, for biomedical applications in general, magnetic nanocomposites are more interesting than pure magnetite. The present work applies poly(butylene succinate) (PBS), as a coating on magnetite nanoparticles, aiming to increase their biocompatibility. PBS is a polymer obtained from renewable sources, being entirely suitable for pharmacological uses. In this work, the synthesis of ricinoleic acid from natural castor oil is carried out through the saponification method and subsequent acid hydrolysis. In turn, the synthesis of magnetite nanoparticles is performed by coprecipitation. Then, by an acid‐base reaction, the nanoparticles are treated with ricinoleic acid. Soon afterward, toluene diisocyanate is used to produce bonding between the modified particles and PBS. Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy confirms the synthesis of the material. Also, scanning electron microscopy and dynamic light scattering experiments are performed. The obtained results allow inferring the success in the preparation of the pursued hybrid material.
Spectroscopic, Microscopic, X‐Ray Diffraction and Thermal Stability Studies of Stearic Acid Modified Hydrotalcite Formed through Memory Effect
Authors: Daniel Saju , Alapat Padmanabhan , Kalarikkal Nandakumar , Thomas Sabu
Published: August 2021

Organic modification of layered double hydroxide (LDH) (hydrotalcite) is a remarkable and a very essential step in the field of fabrication of exfoliated LDH polymer nanocomposites for novel multifaceted applications. In this research work, stearic acid (SA) modification of LDH has been conducted successfully by memory effect. The modification of LDH has been confirmed by atomic force microscopic analysis, scanning electron microscopic analysis, transmission electron microscopic analysis, X‐ray diffraction analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic analysis, X‐ray photo electron spectroscopic analysis, Raman spectroscopic analysis, energy dispersive X‐ray microanalysis, and thermogravimeric analysis. The basal spacing in the SA‐modified LDH is found to be 5.03 nm, which is almost double the value of 18 C‐C lengths in SA. This indicates the formation of a bilayer of stearate ion in the interlamellar region of LDH in the modified form. Hence, this work is novel as it paved a breakthrough for making organic‐inorganic hybrid for drug delivery, gene delivery, controlled pesticide release, etc. with the prolonged delivery time as the interlayer region consisted of double the number of stearate ions in monolayer intercalated LDH.
Gait Variability in Spinocerebellar Ataxia Assessed Using Wearable Inertial Sensors
Authors: Shah Vrutangkumar V. , Rodriguez‐Labrada Roberto , Horak Fay B. , McNames James , Casey Hannah , Hansson Floyd Kyra , El‐Gohary Mahmoud , Schmahmann Jeremy D. , Rosenthal Liana S. , Perlman Susan , Velázquez‐Pérez Luis , Gomez Christopher M.
Published: August 2021

Background

Quantitative assessment of severity of ataxia‐specific gait impairments from wearable technology could provide sensitive performance outcome measures with high face validity to power clinical trials.

Objectives

The aim of this study was to identify a set of gait measures from body‐worn inertial sensors that best discriminate between people with prodromal or manifest spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA) and age‐matched, healthy control subjects (HC) and determine how these measures relate to disease severity.

Methods

One hundred and sixty‐three people with SCA (subtypes 1, 2, 3, and 6), 42 people with prodromal SCA, and 96 HC wore 6 inertial sensors while performing a natural pace, 2‐minute walk. Areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves (AUC) were compared for 25 gait measures, including standard deviations as variability, to discriminate between ataxic and normal gait. Pearson's correlation coefficient assessed the relationships between the gait measures and severity of ataxia.

Results

Increased gait variability was the most discriminative gait feature of SCA; toe‐out angle variability (AUC = 0.936; sensitivity = 0.871; specificity = 0.896) and double‐support time variability (AUC = 0.932; sensitivity = 0.834; specificity = 0.865) were the most sensitive and specific measures. These variability measures were also significantly correlated with the scale for the assessment and rating of ataxia (SARA) and disease duration. The same gait measures discriminated gait of people with prodromal SCA from the gait of HC (AUC = 0.610, and 0.670, respectively).

Conclusions

Wearable inertial sensors provide sensitive and specific measures of excessive gait variability in both manifest and prodromal SCAs that are reliable and related to the severity of the disease, suggesting they may be useful as clinical trial performance outcome measures. © 2021 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society
High‐resolution ultrasound demonstrates in vivo effects of wrist movement on the median nerve along the forearm
Authors: Jengojan Suren , Schellen Christoph , Dovjak Gregor , Schmidhammer Robert , Weber Michael , Kasprian Gregor , Bodner Gerd
Published: August 2021

Introduction/Aims

High‐resolution ultrasound (HRUS) is the imaging method of choice to visualize peripheral nerve size, structure, and biomechanical performance. The purpose of this study was to show and quantify the effects of active and passive wrist alignment on median nerve (MN) cross‐sectional area (CSA) along the forearm in a healthy population.

Methods

Sixteen healthy volunteers underwent HRUS of their dominant forearm (n = 16, 10 males, 6 females, 18–55 y of age). Median nerveʼs CSA was assessed at four defined areas on the forearm in relation to active and passive wrist alignment.

Results

Changes in wrist alignment were significantly associated with MN CSA (P < .001), regardless if the wrist was moved actively or passively. MN CSA was lowest during passive extension of the wrist joint and highest during passive flexion of the wrist joint (range: 4.5–23.2 mm2).

Discussion

The elasticity of nerve tissue, the loose connective tissue between the fascicles, and the paraneurium allow peripheral nerves to adapt to longitudinal strain. HRUS enables the demonstration of significant median nerve CSA changes along the forearm during active and passive wrist movement in healthy volunteers.
Anlotinib Combined with S-1 in Third- or Later-Line Stage IV Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Treatment: A Phase II Clinical Trial
Authors: Xiang Miao , Yang Xiyue , Ren Surong , Du Huan , Geng Lidan , Yuan Li , Wen Yixue , Lin Binwei , Li Jie , Zhang Yu , Feng Gang , Du Xiaobo
Published: August 2021

Lessons Learned

Background

This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of anlotinib combined with S-1 as a third- or later-line treatment for patients with stage IV non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Anlotinib was approved in 2018 by the Chinese Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a third-line treatment for patients with refractory advanced NSCLC and is under study in the U.S. and Europe.

Methods

Simon's phase II clinical trial design with an α error of 5% and a power β of 80% was used, anticipating a 10% objective response rate (ORR) of anlotinib and a 30% ORR of anlotinib combined with S-1; the required sample size was 29. A total of 29 patients were enrolled in the clinical trial. Patients were treated with anlotinib plus S-1 over a 21-day treatment course until disease progression or unacceptable toxic effects. If the efficacy was assessed as stable disease, partial response, or complete response after six cycles, anlotinib was maintained until disease progression or death. The primary endpoint was the objective response rate. Somatic mutations were not required for study enrollment.

Results

The median follow-up time was 11.1 months. Objective responses were observed in 11 of 29 (37.9%) patients making up the intention-to-treat population, which reached the target primary endpoint of 30% ORR. The median overall and progression-free survival were 16.7 and 5.8 months, respectively. The most common grade 3 adverse events (AEs) were gastrointestinal, including nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, fatigue, and hypertension. No grade 4 treatment-related AEs or treatment-related deaths occurred.

Conclusion

The combination of anlotinib with S-1 in the third- or later-line treatment of stage IV NSCLC shows promising antitumor activity and manageable toxicity in patients with NSCLC; phase III trials will be planned in the future.
Histologic Discordance Between Primary Tumor and Nodal Metastasis in Breast Cancer: Solving a Clinical Conundrum in the Era of Genomics
Authors: Yun Nicole K. , Slostad Jessica A. , Naqib Ankur , Frankenberger Casey , Perez Claudia B. , Ghai Ritu , Usha Lydia
Published: August 2021

Next-generation sequencing (NGS) technologies have become increasingly used for managing breast cancer. In addition to the conventional use of NGS for predicting recurrence risk and identifying potential actionable mutations, NGS can also serve as a powerful tool to understand clonal origin and evolution of tumor pairs and play a unique role in clarifying complex clinical presentations. We report an unusual case of early-stage breast cancer in which the primary tumor and draining axillary node were histologically discordant. The primary tumor was invasive lobular carcinoma, whereas the nodal metastasis was invasive ductal carcinoma. This discordance led us to question whether the tumors had the same origin. NGS performed on both specimens identified no overlapping variants, leading us to conclude that the patient had two separate primary breast cancers, with the nodal tumor representing metastasis from an occult breast cancer. DNA sequencing of the primary tumor and the nodal metastasis allowed us to predict the patient's recurrence risk, and we initiated adjuvant chemotherapy and hormonal therapy based on these results. This case illustrates the utility of NGS for successfully managing a rare and challenging case.

Key Points
Impact of CYP2D6 Pharmacogenomic Status on Pain Control Among Opioid-Treated Oncology Patients
Authors: Reizine Natalie , Danahey Keith , Schierer Emily , Liu Ping , Middlestadt Merisa , Ludwig Jenna , Truong Tien M. , Wijk Xander M.R. , Yeo Kiang-Teck J. , Malec Monica , Ratain Mark J. , O'Donnell Peter H.
Published: August 2021

Background

Several opioids have pharmacogenomic associations impacting analgesic efficacy. However, germline pharmacogenomic testing is not routinely incorporated into supportive oncology. We hypothesized that CYP2D6 profiling would correlate with opioid prescribing and hospitalizations.

Materials and Methods

We analyzed 61,572 adult oncology patients from 2012 to 2018 for opioid exposures. CYP2D6 metabolizer phenotype (ultra-rapid [UM], normal metabolizer [NM], intermediate [IM], or poor [PM]), the latter two of which may cause inefficacy of codeine, tramadol, and standard-dose hydrocodone, was determined for patients genotyped for reasons unrelated to pain. The primary endpoint was number of opioid medications received during longitudinal care (IM/PMs vs. NMs). Secondary endpoint was likelihood of pain-related hospital encounters.

Results

Most patients with cancer (n = 34,675, 56%) received multiple opioids (average 2.8 ± 1.6/patient). Hydrocodone was most commonly prescribed (62%), followed by tramadol, oxycodone, and codeine. In the CYP2D6 genotyped cohort (n = 105), IM/PMs received a similar number of opioids (3.4 ± 1.4) as NMs (3.3 ± 1.9). However, IM/PMs were significantly more likely to experience pain-related hospital encounters compared with NMs, independent of other variables (odds ratio [OR] = 5.4; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.2–23.6; p = .03). IM/PMs were also more likely to be treated with later-line opioids that do not require CYP2D6 metabolism, such as morphine and hydromorphone (OR = 3.3; 95% CI, 1.1–9.8; p = .03).

Conclusion

CYP2D6 genotype may identify patients with cancer at increased risk for inadequate analgesia when treated with typical first-line opioids like codeine, tramadol, or standard-dose hydrocodone. Palliative care considerations are an integral part of optimal oncology care, and these findings justify prospective evaluation of preemptive genotyping as a strategy to improve oncology pain management.

Implications for Practice

Genomic variation in metabolic enzymes can predispose individuals to inefficacy when receiving opioid pain medications. Patients with intermediate and/or poor CYP2D6 metabolizer status do not adequately convert codeine, tramadol, and hydrocodone into active compounds, with resulting increased risk of inadequate analgesia. This study showed that patients with cancer frequently receive CYP2D6-dependent opioids. However, patients with CYP2D6 intermediate and poor metabolizer status had increased numbers of pain-related hospitalizations and more frequently required the potent non-CYP2D6 opioids morphine and hydromorphone. This may reflect inadequate initial analgesia with the common “first-line” CYP2D6-metabolized opioids. Preemptive genotyping to guide opioid prescribing during cancer care may improve pain-related patient outcomes.
Strategies to modify the structure of thin‐film composite membranes for advanced separation of metronidazole antibiotic from wastewater
Authors: Zabihi Zohreh , Homayoonfal Maryam
Published: August 2021

In this research, thin‐film composite (TFC) membranes were used for separating metronidazole antibiotic from effluents. In order to enhance the metronidazole separation performance, thin‐film nanocomposite (TFNC) membranes containing copper sulfide nanoparticles as well as modified thin‐film nanocomposite (MFTNC) membranes containing copper sulfide nanoparticles coated with acrylic acid were employed. The spherical morphology of CuS nanoparticles along with the acrylic acid chains coated on their surface was confirmed through TEM, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X‐Ray spectroscopy (EDS) analysis. The crystalline size of nanoparticles was obtained as 29 nm according to XRD. The effect of nanoparticles on chemical functional groups and membrane elemental analysis was investigated by FTIR and CHNS analysis. The structural comparison of TFC, TFNC, and MTFC membranes indicated that the degree of grafting (DG) of the composite thin‐film was 17.2, 27.2, and 46.1%, respectively. The structural modification caused the contact angle of TFC, TFNC, and MTFNC to diminish by 47, 34, and 21°, and their porosity to rise by 37, 67, and 53%, respectively. Improvement of porosity and surface hydrophilicity resulted in flux recovery of 87, 100, and 100% in metronidazole filtration by TFC, TFNC, and MTFNC membranes respectively. AFM analysis reported lower roughness of TFNC and MTFNC compared to TFC roughness, obtained in response to less fouling for TFNC and MTFNC over TFC. The size of pores of TFC, TFNC, and MTFNC membranes was measured as 26.5, 16.8, and 14.5 nm respectively, bringing about metronidazole separations of 86.3%, 87.5%, and 98.3%, respectively.
PAX3‐NCOA1 alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma of the tongue: A rare entity with challenging diagnosis and management
Authors: Di Carlo Daniela , Chargari Cyrus , Scoazec Jean‐Yves , Cotteret Sophie , Felix Arthur , Moalla Salma , Temam Stephane , Minard‐Colin Véronique
Published: August 2021

Alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma (ARMS) is associated with PAX3/PAX7‐FOXO1 fusion, which confers specific clinic and biologic characteristics with inferior outcomes. A minority of tumors still histologically classified as “true” ARMS lack the canonical PAX‐FOXO1 fusion but have new molecular alterations. We present the first case of PAX3‐NCOA1 ARMS with clinical data and follow‐up in a two‐year‐old girl with ARMS of the tongue and nodal extension, treated with chemotherapy, hemi glossectomy, lymph node dissection, and brachytherapy to conserve oral function and limit long‐term sequelae. Given the rarity of such variant fusion in ARMS, international collaboration is required to evaluate its prognostic value.
Paracetamol exposure and asthma: What does the evidence say? An overview of systematic reviews
Authors: Singh Manvi , Varukolu Suresh , Chauhan Anil , Jaiswal Nishant , Pradhan Pranita , Mathew Joseph L. , Singh Meenu
Published: August 2021

Objective

To conduct an umbrella review collating the existing evidence to determine whether there is an association between exposure of Paracetamol in‐utero or in infancy and the development of childhood Asthma.

Methods

In this review, systematic reviews with or without meta‐analysis that reported the association between paracetamol and asthma in children were included. To identify relevant reviews, a search was performed in the electronic databases PubMed, the Cochrane Library, and Ovid MEDLINE. The protocol was registered in PROSPERO CRD42020156023. A separate search was conducted for primary studies from the last 5 years not yet included in systematic reviews reporting the association from January 2016 to March 2021.

Results

The electronic searches identified 1966 review titles. After the removal of 493 duplicates, 1475 titles and abstracts were screened against the eligibility criteria. Full‐text screening yielded six systematic reviews to be included in this review. The search for primary studies in the last 5 years yielded 1214 hits, out of which 5 studies were found suitable for inclusion. Three of them, that were not included in the systematic reviews, and have been summarised in this paper. The odds ratios (ORs) for the outcome of asthma in offspring of mothers with prenatal paracetamol consumption in any trimester were 1.28 (1.13–1.39) and 1.21 (1.02–1.44). For first trimester exposures, they were 1.12 (0.99–1.27), 1.39 (1.01–1.91), and 1.21 (1.14–1.28), for the second or third trimester, they were 1.49 (1.37–1.63) and 1.13 (1.04–1.23). For the third trimester only, the figure was 1.17 (1.04–1.31). Of the six reviews included, 1 had a low risk of bias, 2 had an unclear risk while 3 had a high risk of bias assessed using the ROBIS tool. There was no significant increased risk of asthma with early infancy exposure. The inter‐study heterogeneity varied from I2 = 41% to I2 = 76% across reviews. In the primary studies, the OR for prenatal exposure ranged from 1.12 (0.25–4.98) to 4.66 (1.92–11.3) and for infancy exposure was 1.56 (1.06–2.30). All three included primary studies were adjudged to be of high quality using the Newcastle Ottawa scale.

Conclusions

There is a modest association between paracetamol exposure in‐utero and the future development of asthma. Exposure in infancy has a less consistant association. All the studies done thus far are observational in nature, with their inherent biases. Further research, preferably randomized controlled trials are recommended to answer this pertinent question.
SuP‐Ring: A pneumatic tactile display with substitutional representation of contact force components using normal indentation
Authors: Ly Hoang Hiep , Tanaka Yoshihiro , Fujiwara Michitaka
Published: August 2021

Background

Shear force is important for tumour detection and can contribute to minimally invasive surgery (MIS). A popular method uses lateral skin stretch to produce shear force but has some limitations.

Methods

We have developed a ring‐type pneumatic tactile display that employs normal indentation substituted for lateral skin stretch to represent normal and shear feedback, called SuP‐Ring. Psychophysical experiments were conducted to evaluate how users perceive the provided feedback and the effectiveness of SuP‐Ring in tumour localisation.

Results

The experimental results show that the participants could perceive the provided normal and shear feedback well. Shear feedback enables users to enhance their performance in localising the tumour and normal feedback could contribute to ensuring the safety requirements in MIS.

Conclusions

The proposed tactile display could be useful for intraoperative tumour localisation and has the potential to be used in a wide variety of applications.
Fault estimation for periodic piecewise T‐S fuzzy systems
Authors: Fan Chenchen , Lam James , Xie Xiaochen
Published: August 2021

This article addresses the fault estimation problem for continuous‐time periodic piecewise T‐S fuzzy systems affected by both faults and disturbances for the first time. Rather than conventional time‐invariant results on fuzzy systems, a fault estimation observer with periodic time‐varying observer parameters is developed. By constructing the Lyapunov function with periodic time‐varying Lyapunov matrices, the asymptotic stability and ‐ (energy‐to‐peak) performance are investigated for the augmented error dynamic systems with relaxation on the detectability assumption of all subsystems. Fault estimation observer parameters are obtained by solving the linear matrix inequality conditions which are derived by dealing with matrix polynomials. The effectiveness and conservatism reduction of the proposed method are verified by numerical examples.
Adaptive quantized control for uncertain nonlinear systems with unknown control directions
Authors: Wu Jing , Sun Wei , Su Shun‐Feng , Wu Yuqiang
Published: August 2021

This study reports adaptive quantized control for a class of uncertain strict‐feedback nonlinear systems with unknown control directions. Combining backstepping technique and Lyapunov stability theory, a systematic analysis method is designed. Based on the disintegration of the hysteresis quantizer, a Nussbaum‐based scheme can be developed to get over the obstacle of the quantized input signal and unknown control directions. Moreover, the number of adaptive laws is small, thereby reducing the computational burden. Then we testify the boundedness of all signals in the closed‐loop system. Besides, the tracking error can converge to an arbitrarily small domain of origin. Finally, a simulation example is provided to verify the feasibility of the control scheme.
Preparation and Properties of Hydrogels Based on Lignosulfonate and Its Efficiency of Drug Delivery
Authors: Li Bozhen , Wang Yusheng , Wang Zejun , He Yufeng , Song Pengfei , Wang Rongmin
Published: August 2021

The preparation of hydrogels for excellent sustained‐release drugs has been a focus of extensive research. In this study, lignosulfonate (LS), a kind of byproduct of papermaking, was used as a natural polymer material, acrylamide (AM) and hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) as monomers, N, N’‐methylene‐bis‐acrylamide (MBA) as cross‐linking agent, a novel LS‐based polymer hydrogels (LS‐PHGs) with pH‐responsive and excellent mechanical properties was successfully prepared by grafting copolymerization. The influence of LS on the grafting mechanism was investigated. We were pleasantly surprised to find that LS‐PHGs displayed a high swelling degree (over 20 g/g), a great loading capacity of bovine serum albumin (BSA) and obvious responsiveness for controlling drug release. Therefore, the obtained hydrogels has a promising prospect for drug delivery with excellent drug‐controlled release.
Acetic Acid Mediated Electrochemical Synthesis of Benzazole and its Application in the Synthesis of Pharmaceutically Active Compounds
Authors: Ghoshal Tanay , Patel Tarun M. , Kotturi Sharadsrikar
Published: August 2021

An acetic acid promoted electrochemical synthesis of benzazoles, benzimidazoles, benzthiazoles and benzoxazoles, is reported. The method offers large substrate scope, good functional group tolerance, while using cheap electrolyte. The method uses acetic acid as the electrolyte which has a better solubility in methanol, hence the reaction time is less and product formation is observed in high yield without much side product. This electrochemical method is further utilised to synthesise thiabendazole, fuberidazole, chlormidazole and advance intermediates of bilastine and clemizole in good yields.
Installation of Diverse Succinimides at C‐8 Position of Quinoline N‐Oxides via Rhodium(III)‐Catalyzed C−H Functionalization
Authors: Nale Sagar D. , Aslam Mohammad , Lee Yong Rok
Published: August 2021

This paper describes a highly efficient rhodium‐catalyzed regioselective C−H bond functionalization of quinoline N‐oxides with maleimides to assemble multisubstituted heteroaryl succinimides. The developed C−H bond functionalization approach allows the regioselective installation of numerous succinimide frameworks on the C‐8 position of quinoline N‐oxides. This methodology exhibits the advantages of broad scope, low catalyst loading, and mild reaction conditions without requiring external oxidizing agents.
Highly Conductive Ligand‐Free Cs2PtBr6 Perovskite Nanocrystals with a Narrow Bandgap and Efficient Photoelectrochemical Performance
Authors: Peng Huaping , Xu Luyao , Sheng Yilun , Sun Weiming , Yang Yu , Deng Haohua , Chen Wei , Liu Juewen
Published: August 2021

Design of high‐performance all‐inorganic halide perovskites, especially lead‐free perovskites, is key to the broadening of its application prospects. Herein, the authors report the synthesis of ligand‐free cesium platinum (IV) bromide nanocrystals (Cs2PtBr6 NCs), a new kind of vacancy‐ordered lead‐free perovskite nanomaterial, by a facile one‐pot method. The Cs2PtBr6 NCs exhibits a narrow band gap of 1.32 eV covering the entire visible range, which is supported by density functional theory calculations. Together with their high conductivity, matching energy levels with the work function of carbon electrodes, and excellent environmental stability, this NC displays a cathodic photocurrent density as high as 335 µA cm‐2, two orders of magnitude higher than other perovskites in aqueous solutions without the need of other electron acceptors. These combined properties suggest that the Cs2PtBr6 NCs have great potentials in a wide range of photoelectronic and photoelectrochemical sensing applications.
Making ecosystem services flexible: Why a whole new framework is a bad idea for practitioners
Authors: Raheem Nejem , Schwarzmann Danielle
Published: August 2021

Two economists working in the field of ecosystem services and conservation discuss why a flexible approach to using any of the existing frameworks is probably better than creating a new and “ideal” framework. They describe work they have both done with NOAA's Office of National Marine Sanctuaries as an example of how to modify an ecosystem services framework to suit a range of cultural and ecological conditions.

This article is categorized under:

Water and Life > Conservation, Management, and Awareness
Excited state Rényi entropy and subsystem distance in two-dimensional non-compact bosonic theory. Part II. Multi-particle states
Authors: Zhang Jiaju , Rajabpour M. A.
Published: August 2021

Abstract

We study the excited state Rényi entropy and subsystem Schatten distance in the two-dimensional free massless non-compact bosonic field theory, which is a conformal field theory. The discretization of the free non-compact bosonic theory gives the harmonic chain with local couplings. We consider the field theory excited states that correspond to the harmonic chain states with excitations of more than one quasiparticle, which we call multi-particle states. This extends the previous work by the same authors to more general excited states. In the field theory we obtain the exact Rényi entropy and subsystem Schatten distance for several low-lying states. We obtain short interval expansion of the Rényi entropy and subsystem Schatten distance for general excited states, which display different universal scaling behaviors in the gapless and extremely gapped limits of the non-compact bosonic theory. In the locally coupled harmonic chain we calculate numerically the excited state Rényi entropy and subsystem Schatten distance using the wave function method. We find excellent matches of the analytical results in the field theory and numerical results in the gapless limit of the harmonic chain. We also make some preliminary investigations of the Rényi entropy and the subsystem Schatten distance in the extremely gapped limit of the harmonic chain.
Single production of vector-like quarks: the effects of large width, interference and NLO corrections
Authors: Deandrea Aldo , Flacke Thomas , Fuks Benjamin , Panizzi Luca , Shao Hua-Sheng
Published: August 2021

Abstract

We provide a comprehensive discussion, together with a complete setup for simulations, relevant for the production of a single vector-like quark at hadron colliders. Our predictions include finite width effects, signal-background interference effects and next-to-leading order QCD corrections. We explicitly apply the framework to study the single production of a vector-like quark T with charge 2/3, but the same procedure can be used to analyse the single production of vector-like quarks with charge −4/3, −1/3, 2/3 and 5/3, when the vector-like quark interacts with the Standard Model quarks and electroweak bosons. Moreover, this procedure can be straightforwardly extended to include additional interactions with exotic particles. We provide quantitative results for representative benchmark scenarios characterised by the T mass and width, and we determine the role of the interference terms for a range of masses and widths of phenomenological significance. We additionally describe in detail, both analytically and numerically, a striking feature in the invariant mass distribution appearing only in the T → th channel.
Colony fitness increases in the honey bee at queen mating frequencies higher than genetic diversity asymptote
Authors: Delaplane Keith S. , Given J. Krispn , Menz John , Delaney Deborah A.
Published: August 2021

Across the eusocial Hymenoptera, a queen’s mating frequency is positively associated with her workers’ genetic diversity and colony’s fitness. Over 90% of a colony’s diversity potential is achieved by its mother’s tenth effective mating (me); however, many females mate at levels of me > 10, a zone we here call hyperpolyandry. We compared honey bee colony fitness at mating levels near and above this genetic diversity asymptote. We were interested in how hyperpolyandry affects colony phenotypes arising from both common tasks (brood care) and rare specialized tasks (parasite resistance). We used an unselected wild line of bees and a Varroa Sensitive Hygiene (VSH) line selected to resist the parasite Varroa destructor. Virgin queens were instrumentally inseminated to replicate the following queen/colony conditions: (1) VSH semen/low polyandry (observed mating number = mo = 9), (2) VSH semen/high polyandry (mo = 54), (3) wild type semen/low polyandry, or (4) wild semen/high polyandry. There was a positive effect of polyandry on brood survival, an outcome of common tasks, with highest values at mo = 54. There was an interaction between polyandry and genetics such that differences between genetic lines expressed only at mo = 54, with fewer mites in VSH colonies. These results are consistent with two hypotheses for the evolution of mating levels in excess of the genetic diversity asymptote: hyperpolyandry improves colony fitness by (1) optimizing genotype compositions for common tasks and (2) by capturing rare specialist allele combinations, resisting cliff-edge ecological catastrophes.

Significance statement

Polyandry is a female’s practice of mating with several males, storing their sperm, and using it to produce one or more clutches of genetically diverse offspring. In the social Hymenoptera, polyandry increases the genetic diversity and task efficiency of workers, leading to improved colony fitness. Over 90% of the increase in a colony’s diversity potential is achieved by its mother’s tenth mating; however, many females practice hyperpolyandry, a term we reserve here for mating levels above this genetic diversity asymptote. We show that a token of colony fitness arising from common tasks, brood survival, improves universally as one moves from sub- to hyperpolyandrous mating levels. However, a colony phenotype arising from a rare parasite resistance task is only expressed in the presence of the controlling alleles and under conditions of hyperpolyandry. These results suggest adaptive mechanisms by which hyperpolyandry could evolve.
Biomechanical stability of complex coronal plane fracture fixation of the capitellum
Authors: Borbas Paul , Loucas Rafael , Loucas Marios , Vetter Maximilian , Hofstede Simon , Ernstbrunner Lukas , Wieser Karl
Published: August 2021

Introduction

Coronal plane fractures of the distal humerus are relatively rare and can be challenging to treat due to their complexity and intra-articular nature. There is no gold standard for surgical management of these complex fractures. The purpose of this study was to compare the biomechanical stability and strength of two different internal fixation techniques for complex coronal plane fractures of the capitellum with posterior comminution.

Materials and methods

Fourteen fresh frozen, age- and gender-matched cadaveric elbows were 3D-navigated osteotomized simulating a Dubberley type IIB fracture. Specimens were randomized into one of two treatment groups and stabilized with an anterior antiglide plate with additional anteroposterior cannulated headless compression screws (group antiGP + HCS) or a posterolateral distal humerus locking plate with lateral extension (group PLP). Cyclic testing was performed with 75 N over 2000 cycles and ultimately until construct failure. Data were analyzed for displacement, construct stiffness, and ultimate load to failure.

Results

There was no significant difference in displacement during 2000 cycles (p = 0.291), stiffness (310 vs. 347 N/mm; p = 0.612) or ultimate load to failure (649 ± 351 vs. 887 ± 187 N; p = 0.140) between the two groups.

Conclusions

Posterolateral distal humerus locking plate achieves equal biomechanical fixation strength as an anterior antiglide plate with additional anteroposterior cannulated headless compression screws for fracture fixation of complex coronal plane fractures of the capitellum. These results support the use of a posterolateral distal humerus locking plate considering the clinical advantages of less invasive surgery and extraarticular metalware.

Level of evidence

Biomechanical study.
From GPS to semantic data: how and why—a framework for enriching smartphone trajectories
Authors: Ibrahim Ahmed , Zhang Heng , Clinch Sarah , Harper Simon
Published: August 2021

Deriving human behaviour from smartphone location data is a multitask enrichment process that can be of value in behavioural studies. Optimising the algorithmic details of the enrichment tasks has shaped the current advances in the literature. However, the lack of a processing framework built around those advances complicates the planning for implementing the enrichment. This work fulfils the need for a holistic and integrative view that comprehends smartphone-specific requirements and challenges to help researchers plan the implementation. We propose a structural framework from a systematic literature review conducted to pinpoint the main challenges and requirements of research on enriching location data. We classify findings based on the enrichment task and integrate them accordingly into workflows that facilitate the task’s implementation. These workflows help researchers better streamline their implementations of the enrichment process and analyse errors within and across tasks. Moreover, researchers can integrate the presented findings with the proposed opportunities to better predict the impact of their research.
Associations of age, sex, sexual abuse, and genotype with monoamine oxidase a gene methylation
Authors: Checknita David , Tiihonen Jari , Hodgins Sheilagh , Nilsson Kent W.
Published: August 2021

Epigenome-wide studies report higher methylation among women than men with decreasing levels with age. Little is known about associations of sex and age with methylation of monoamine oxidase A (MAOA). Methylation of the first exonic and partial first intronic region of MAOA has been shown to strengthen associations of interactions of MAOA-uVNTR genotypes and adversity with aggression and substance misuse. Our study examined associations of sex and age with MAOA first exon and intron methylation levels in 252 women and 157 men aged 14–73 years. Participants included adolescents recruited at a substance misuse clinic, their siblings and parents, and healthy women. Women showed ~ 50% higher levels of exonic, and ~ 15% higher intronic, methylation than men. Methylation levels were similar between younger (M = 22.7 years) and older (M = 46.1 years) participants, and stable across age. Age modified few associations of methylation levels with sex. MAOA genotypes modified few associations of methylation with sex and age. Higher methylation levels among women were not explained by genotype, nor interaction of genotype and sexual abuse. Findings were similar after adjusting for lifetime diagnoses of substance dependence (women = 24.3%; men = 34.2%). Methylation levels were higher among women who experienced sexual abuse than women who did not. Results extend on prior studies by showing that women display higher levels of methylation than men within first intronic/exonic regions of MAOA, which did not decrease with age in either sex. Findings were not conditioned by genotype nor interactions of genotype and trauma, and indicate X-chromosome inactivation.
Long term outcome and elasticity of a polyester mesh used for laparoscopic ventral hernia repair
Authors: O’Dwyer P. J. , Chew C. , Qandeel H.
Published: August 2021

Background

Repair of a ventral hernia is increasingly being performed by a laparoscopic approach despite lack of good long term follow up data on outcomes. The aim of this study was to examine the long term performance of a polyester mesh and to assess its elastic properties in patients undergoing laparoscopic ventral hernia repair.

Methods

All patients being assessed for a ventral hernia repair between August 2011 and November 2013 were placed on a prospective database. Those undergoing laparoscopic repair with a polyester mesh were seen at clinic at one month and one year, while their electronic records were assessed at 34 months (range 24–48 months) and 104 months (range 92–116 months). In addition, CT scans of the abdomen and pelvis performed for any reason on these patients during the follow up period were reviewed by a consultant gastrointestinal radiologist. Mechanical failure testing of the mesh was also performed.

Results

Thirty-two of the 100 patients assessed for ventral hernia repair had a laparoscopic repair with a polyester mesh. Nineteen (59%) had CT scans performed during the follow-up period. No recurrence was recorded at 34 months, while three (9.4%) had a recurrence at 104 months. Two had central breakdown of the mesh at 81 and 90 months, while 1 presented acutely at 116 months after operation. Mesh had stretched across the defect by an average of 21% (range 5.7–40%) in nine patients. Mechanical testing showed that this mesh lost its elasticity at low forces ranging between 1.8 and 3.2 N/cm.

Conclusion

This study shows that late recurrence is a problem following laparoscopic ventral hernia repair with polyester mesh. The mesh loses it elasticity at a low force. This combined with degradation of mesh seems the most likely cause of failure. This is unlikely to be a unique problem of polyester mesh and further long-term studies are required to better assess this operative approach to ventral hernia repair.
Runtime translation of OCL-like statements on Simulink models: Expanding domains and optimising queries
Authors: Sanchez Beatriz A. , Zolotas Athanasios , Hoyos Rodriguez Horacio , Kolovos Dimitris , Paige Richard F. , Cooper Justin C. , Hampson Jason
Published: August 2021

Open-source model management frameworks such as OCL and ATL tend to focus on manipulating models built atop the Eclipse Modelling Framework (EMF), a de facto standard for domain specific modelling. MATLAB Simulink is a widely used proprietary modelling framework for dynamic systems that is built atop an entirely different technical stack to EMF. To leverage the facilities of open-source model management frameworks with Simulink models, these can be transformed into an EMF-compatible representation. Downsides of this approach include the synchronisation of the native Simulink model and its EMF representation as they evolve; the completeness of the EMF representation, and the transformation cost which can be crippling for large Simulink models. We propose an alternative approach to bridge Simulink models with open-source model management frameworks that uses an “on-the-fly” translation of model management constructs into MATLAB statements. Our approach does not require an EMF representation and can mitigate the cost of the upfront transformation on large models. To evaluate both approaches we measure the performance of a model validation process with Epsilon (a model management framework) on a sample of large Simulink models available on GitHub. Our previous results suggest that, with our approach, the total validation time can be reduced by up to 80%. In this paper, we expand our approach to support the management of Simulink requirements and dictionaries, and we improve the approach to perform queries on collections of model elements more efficiently. We demonstrate the use of the Simulink requirements and dictionaries with a case study and we evaluate the optimisations on collection queries with an experiment that compares the performance of a set of queries on models with different sizes. Our results suggest an improvement by up to 99% on some queries.
Individual and Relationship-Level Correlates of Transactional Sex Among Adolescent Girls and Young Women in Malawi: A Multilevel Analysis
Authors: Gichane Margaret W. , Rosenberg Nora E. , Zimmer Catherine , Pettifor Audrey E. , Maman Suzanne , Maseko Bertha , Moracco Kathryn E.
Published: August 2021

Transactional sex increases HIV risk among adolescent girls and young women (AGYW). Understanding the individual and dyadic nature of transactional sex may provide evidence for risk reduction interventions. Multilevel logistic regression was used to cross-sectionally examine correlates of transactional sex among AGYW in Lilongwe, Malawi. Participants (N = 920) reported 1227 relationships. Individual-level associations were found between being divorced/widowed (AOR 5.07, 95% CI 1.93, 13.25), married (AOR 0.26, 95% CI 0.09, 0.72), or unstably housed (AOR 7.11, 95% CI 2.74, 18.47) and transactional sex. At the relationship-level, transactional sex occurred in relationships with: non-primary primary partners (AOR 4.06, 95% CI 2.37, 6.94), perceived partner concurrency (AOR 1.85, 95% CI 1.11, 3.08), and feared violence with couples HIV testing (AOR 2.81, 95% CI 1.26, 6.29), and less likely to occur in relationships with children (AOR 0.15, 95% CI 0.06, 0.38). Multiple co-occurring social and structural vulnerabilities increase transactional sex engagement warranting the need for social protection and gender transformative approaches.
The phosphorylated pathway of serine biosynthesis is crucial for indolic glucosinolate biosynthesis and plant growth promotion conferred by the root endophyte Colletotrichum tofieldiae
Authors: Zimmermann Sandra E. , Blau Samira , Frerigmann Henning , Krueger Stephan
Published: August 2021

Key message

Phosphoglycerate Dehydrogenase 1 of the phosphorylated pathway of serine biosynthesis, active in heterotrophic plastids, is required for the synthesis of serine to enable plant growth at high rates of indolic glucosinolate biosynthesis.

Plants have evolved effective strategies to defend against various types of pathogens. The synthesis of a multitude of specialized metabolites represents one effective approach to keep plant attackers in check. The synthesis of those defense compounds is cost intensive and requires extensive interaction with primary metabolism. However, how primary metabolism is adjusted to fulfill the requirements of specialized metabolism is still not completely resolved. Here, we studied the role of the phosphorylated pathway of serine biosynthesis (PPSB) for the synthesis of glucosinolates, the main class of defensive compounds in the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana. We show that major genes of the PPSB are co-expressed with genes required for the synthesis of tryptophan, the unique precursor for the formation of indolic glucosinolates (IG). Transcriptional and metabolic characterization of loss-of-function and dominant mutants of ALTERED TRYPTOPHAN1-like transcription factors revealed demand driven activation of PPSB genes by major regulators of IG biosynthesis. Trans-activation of PPSB promoters by ATR1/MYB34 transcription factor in cultured root cells confirmed this finding. The content of IGs were significantly reduced in plants compromised in the PPSB and these plants showed higher sensitivity against treatment with 5-methyl-tryptophan, a characteristic behavior of mutants impaired in IG biosynthesis. We further found that serine produced by the PPSB is required to enable plant growth under conditions of high demand for IG. In addition, PPSB-deficient plants lack the growth promoting effect resulting from interaction with the beneficial root-colonizing fungus Colletotrichum tofieldiae.
Perturbations in cardiac metabolism in a human model of acute myocardial ischaemia
Authors: Chacko Sanoj , Mamas Mamas A. , El-Omar Magdi , Simon David , Haseeb Sohaib , Fath-ordoubadi Farzin , Clarke Bernard , Neyses Ludwig , Dunn Warwick B.
Published: August 2021

Introduction

Acute myocardial ischaemia and the transition from reversible to irreversible myocardial injury are associated with abnormal metabolic patterns. Advances in metabolomics have extended our capabilities to define these metabolic perturbations on a metabolome-wide scale.

Objectives

This study was designed to identify cardiac metabolic changes in serum during the first 5 min following early myocardial ischaemia in humans, applying an untargeted metabolomics approach.

Methods

Peripheral venous samples were collected from 46 patients in a discovery study (DS) and a validation study (VS) (25 for DS, 21 for VS). Coronary sinus venous samples were collected from 7 patients (4 for DS, 3 for VS). Acute myocardial ischaemia was induced by transient coronary occlusion during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Plasma samples were collected at baseline (prior to PCI) and at 1 and 5 min post-coronary occlusion. Samples were analyzed by Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry in an untargeted metabolomics approach.

Results

The study observed changes in the circulating levels of metabolites at 1 and 5 min following transient coronary ischaemia. Both DS and VS identified 54 and 55 metabolites as significant (P < 0.05) when compared to baseline levels, respectively. Fatty acid beta-oxidation and anaerobic respiration, lysoglycerophospholipids, arachidonic acid, docosahexaenoic acid, tryptophan metabolism and sphingosine-1-phosphate were identified as mechanistically important.

Conclusion

Using an untargeted metabolomics approach, the study identified important cardiac metabolic changes in peripheral and coronary sinus plasma, in a human model of controlled acute myocardial ischaemia. Distinct classes of metabolites were shown to be involved in the rapid cardiac response to ischemia and provide insights into diagnostic and interventional targets.