bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Shear Variation at the Ice‐Till Interface Changes the Spatial Distribution of Till Porosity and Meltwater Drainage
Authors: Kasmalkar Indraneel , Damsgaard Anders , Goren Liran , Suckale Jenny
Published: December 2021

Many subglacial environments consist of a fine‐grained, deformable sediment bed, known as till, hosting an active hydrological system that routes meltwater. Observations show that the till undergoes substantial shear deformation as a result of the motion of the overlying ice. The deformation of the till, coupled with the dynamics of the hydrological system, is further affected by the substantial strain rate variability in subglacial conditions resulting from spatial heterogeneity at the bed. However, it is not clear if the relatively low magnitudes of strain rates affect the bed structure or its hydrology. We study how laterally varying shear along the ice‐bed interface alters sediment porosity and affects the flux of meltwater through the pore spaces. We use a discrete element model consisting of a collection of spherical, elasto‐frictional grains with water‐saturated pore spaces to simulate the deformation of the granular bed. Our results show that a deforming granular layer exhibits substantial spatial variability in porosity in the pseudo‐static shear regime, where shear strain rates are relatively low. In particular, laterally varying shear at the shearing interface creates a narrow zone of elevated porosity which has increased susceptibility to plastic failure. Despite the changes in porosity, our analysis suggests that the pore pressure equilibrates near‐instantaneously relative to the deformation at critical state, inhibiting potential strain rate dependence of the deformation caused by bed hardening or weakening resulting from pore pressure changes. We relate shear variation to porosity evolution and drainage element formation in actively deforming subglacial tills.
Commensal Pseudomonas protect Arabidopsis thaliana from a coexisting pathogen via multiple lineage-dependent mechanisms
Authors: Shalev Or , Ashkenazy Haim , Neumann Manuela , Weigel Detlef
Published: December 2021

Plants are protected from pathogens not only by their own immunity but often also by colonizing commensal microbes. In Arabidopsis thaliana, a group of cryptically pathogenic Pseudomonas strains often dominates local populations. This group coexists in nature with commensal Pseudomonas strains that can blunt the deleterious effects of the pathogens in the laboratory. We have investigated the interaction between one of the Pseudomonas pathogens and 99 naturally co-occurring commensals, finding plant protection to be common among non-pathogenic Pseudomonas. While protective ability is enriched in one specific lineage, there is also a substantial variation for this trait among isolates of this lineage. These functional differences do not align with core-genome phylogenies, suggesting repeated gene inactivation or loss as causal. Using genome-wide association, we discovered that different bacterial genes are linked to plant protection in each lineage. We validated a protective role of several lineage-specific genes by gene inactivation, highlighting iron acquisition and biofilm formation as prominent mechanisms of plant protection in this Pseudomonas lineage. Collectively, our work illustrates the importance of functional redundancy in plant protective traits across an important group of commensal bacteria.
CD82 protects against glaucomatous axonal transport deficits via mTORC1 activation in mice
Authors: Ye Meng , Huang Jingqiu , Mou Qianxue , Luo Jing , Hu Yuanyuan , Lou Xiaotong , Yao Ke , Zhao Bowen , Duan Qiming , Li Xing , Zhang Hong , Zhao Yin
Published: December 2021

Glaucoma is a leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide and is characterized by progressive optic nerve degeneration and retinal ganglion cell loss. Axonal transport deficits have been demonstrated to be the earliest crucial pathophysiological changes underlying axonal degeneration in glaucoma. Here, we explored the role of the tetraspanin superfamily member CD82 in an acute ocular hypertension model. We found a transient downregulation of CD82 after acute IOP elevation, with parallel emergence of axonal transport deficits. The overexpression of CD82 with an AAV2/9 vector in the mouse retina improved optic nerve axonal transport and ameliorated subsequent axon degeneration. Moreover, the CD82 overexpression stimulated optic nerve regeneration and restored vision in a mouse optic nerve crush model. CD82 exerted a protective effect through the upregulation of TRAF2, which is an E3 ubiquitin ligase, and activated mTORC1 through K63-linked ubiquitylation and intracellular repositioning of Raptor. Therefore, our study offers deeper insight into the tetraspanin superfamily and demonstrates a potential neuroprotective strategy in glaucoma treatment.
Illuminate the hidden: in vivo mapping of microscale pH in the mycosphere using a novel whole-cell biosensor
Authors: Xiong Bi-Jing , Dusny Christian , Wang Lin , Appel Jens , Lindstaedt Kristin , Schlosser Dietmar , Harms Hauke , Wick Lukas Y
Published: December 2021

The pH of an environment is both a driver and the result of diversity and functioning of microbial habitats such as the area affected by fungal hyphae (mycosphere). Here we used a novel pH-sensitive bioreporter, Synechocystis sp. PCC6803_peripHlu, and ratiometric fluorescence microscopy, to spatially and temporally resolve the mycosphere pH at the micrometre scale. Hyphae of the basidiomycete Coprionopsis cinerea were allowed to overgrow immobilised and homogeneously embedded pH bioreporters in an agarose microcosm. Signals of >700 individual cells in an area of 0.4 × 0.8 mm were observed over time and used to create highly resolved (3 × 3 µm) pH maps using geostatistical approaches. C. cinerea changed the pH of the agarose from 6.9 to ca. 5.0 after 48 h with hyphal tips modifying pH in their vicinity up to 1.8 mm. pH mapping revealed distinct microscale spatial variability and temporally stable gradients between pH 4.4 and 5.8 over distances of ≈20 µm. This is the first in vivo mapping of a mycosphere pH landscape at the microscale. It underpins the previously hypothesised establishment of pH gradients serving to create spatially distinct mycosphere reaction zones.
Polymorphism and cocrystal salt formation of 2-((2,6-dichlorophenyl)amino)benzoic acid, harvest of a second form of 2-((2,6-dimethylphenyl)amino)benzoic acid, and isomorphism between the two systems
Authors: Zhoujin Yunping , Li Yuping , Zhang Mingtao , Parkin Sean , Guo Ju , Li Tonglei , Yu Faquan , Long Sihui
Published: December 2021

Isomorphism and isostructurality were observed between form I of 2-((2,6-dimethylphenyl)amino)benzoic acid and its analog 2-((2,6-dichlorophenyl)amino)benzoic acid, which suggests double Cl–CH3 exchange also leads to structural similarity.
MXene nanofibers confining MnOx nanoparticles: a flexible anode for high-speed lithium ion storage networks
Authors: Guo Ying , Zhang Deyang , Bai Zuxue , Yang Ya , Wang Yangbo , Cheng Jinbing , Chu Paul K. , Luo Yongsong
Published: December 2021

A flexible MnOx-MXene/CNF negative electrode shows enhanced Li+ adsorption and electrical/ion transmission. The strong anchoring effect between MXene and MnOx results in extraordinary performance and cycling stability.
Porous single-crystalline vanadium nitride octahedra with a unique electrocatalytic performance
Authors: Yu Xiaoyan , Cheng Fangyuan , Xie Kui
Published: December 2021

Here we grow porous single-crystalline vanadium nitride that has a good performance in the HER, showing high activity and stability.
Rhodium(iii)-catalyzed oxidative annulation of isoquinolones with allyl alcohols: synthesis of isoindolo[2,1-b]isoquinolin-5(7H)-ones
Authors: Jiang Jinyuan , Liu Jidan , Yang Zhenke , Zheng Jieying , Tian Xin , Zheng Liyao , Liu Zhao-Qing
Published: December 2021

An efficient method to construct isoindolo[2,1-b]isoquinolin-5(7H)-ones via a Rh(iii)-catalyzed direct C–H oxidative annulation of isoquinolones with allyl alcohols has been developed.
Rh/RhOx nanosheets as pH-universal bifunctional catalysts for hydrazine oxidation and hydrogen evolution reactions
Authors: Yang Junjun , Xu Liang , Zhu Wenxiang , Xie Miao , Liao Fan , Cheng Tao , Kang Zhenhui , Shao Mingwang
Published: December 2021

Rh/RhOx nanosheet electrocatalysts designed with Rh–O–Rh interfaces regulate the distance between the active site and the intermediate and effectively generate hydrogen in electrolytes of different pH values containing hydrazine.
Research of weak signal detection based on super‐regenerative chaotic oscillator
Authors: Yang Yifan , Xu Jian , Kuang Yun , Tu Hanfen , Wei Haoran , Yang Hao , Min Ke , Yang Wenliang
Published: December 2021

Under certain circumstances, chaos will occur in the super‐regenerative receiver. The gain of the receiver reaches the maximum and the receiver is immune to the external noise in this case. The concept of super‐regenerative chaotic oscillator is proposed, and its potential capability of detection for the weak signal is studied for the first time. The simulation results show that, under the same input SNR, the signal sensitivity of the super‐regenerative chaotic oscillator is up to 40dB higher than that of the ordinary super‐regenerative oscillator, which means that it has stronger noise suppression and more sensitive response to the signal submerged in the noise. It shows its potential application value for the weak signal detection.
Online refinement of day‐ahead forecasting using intraday data for campus‐level load
Authors: Ji Yuanfan , Yang Yang , Geng Guangchao , Jiang Quanyuan
Published: December 2021

Day‐ahead forecasting for campus‐level load is important for better energy management, but especially difficult to be accurate, compared to large‐scale loads such as cities or regions. This is because irregular and unpredictable behavior of individual loads in small‐scale loads cannot be fully smoothed out and thus pose a negative impact on forecasting accuracy. This paper presents an online refinement strategy for day‐ahead forecasting using intraday data for a campus‐level load, focusing on self‐adapting correction of forecasting considering load pattern. First, according to the load pattern forecasted by Classification and Regression Trees (CART) one day ahead, the correction parameter group is assigned to the correction model. If the correction conditions are met, the forecasting results for the rest of the day will be updated. After all‐day load data is achieved, the actual load pattern can be identified and used to train CART model. To confirm the effectiveness of the proposed strategy, the model is evaluated by two datasets, a real‐life dataset of an industrial park in Shanghai China and a public dataset of an institute campus in Delhi, India. The results demonstrate that the proposed strategy can improve short‐term forecasting accuracy.
Power reserve control strategy in the left‐side of maximum power point for primary frequency regulation of grid‐connected photovoltaic systems
Authors: Yan Xiangwu , Wang Chenguang , Rasool Aazim , Liang Baixue , Ma Hongbin
Published: December 2021

The traditional method of operating photovoltaic (PV) systems on the right side of the maximum power point (MPP) may cause the voltage to be close to the open‐circuit voltage of the PV panel, resulting in a large oscillation of the PV power. In contrast, the change in dP/dU value of the curve on the left of the MPP is small, which is more conducive to adjusting the output power of the PV. A frequency regulation control strategy is proposed for a single‐stage PV power plant (PVPP), maintaining the PV string operating on the left side of the MPP. This paper proposes an optimal step‐size calculation method based on the flexible power tracking evaluation function. This calculation method is suitable for PV operating on the left side of the MPP and can improve the dynamic and steady‐state performance of the PV power tracking process. In addition, the system response is analyzed by establishing a small‐signal model with PV operating on the left side of the MPP. Finally, simulations and experiments verify the correctness and accuracy of the proposed primary frequency regulation strategy and step‐size calculation method.
Enabling demand response for optimal deployment of multi‐carrier microgrids incorporating incentives
Authors: Azimian Mahdi , Amir Vahid , Javadi Saeid , Siano Pierluigi , Alhelou Hassan Haes
Published: December 2021

This paper inspects customer multi‐carrier microgrid deployments' techno‐economic viability and assists investors in deciding whether or not to invest in multi‐carrier microgrid installations equipped with smart demand‐side technologies. The solution of the proposed model determines the optimal mix and size of distributed energy resources, and identifies the ideal participation rate of potential responsive customers within the multi‐carrier microgrid. The objective of the proposed model is to minimize the overall deployment cost comprising the investment and replacement of distributed energy resources, demand‐side smart measurement and informing appliances, loan payoff, operation, maintenance, peak demand charge, energy demand shifting reward or penalty, emission, and unserved energy while ensuring the desired levels of reliability and online reserve. The model also considers incentive policies to encourage customers to install demand‐side smart technologies to participate in demand response programs actively. The planning problem is formulated by mixed‐integer programming. The proposed model is applied to an industrial zone as an aggregate load. Numerical simulations exhibit the model's efficacy and scrutinize in‐depth, the effect of a variety of factors on multi‐carrier microgrid planning results, including the extents of the capital investment fund and loan in addition to demand response enabling technology cost.
Modelling and simulation of earthquake‐induced changes in methane emission from the working face in an underground coal mine
Authors: Qi Qingjie , Zhang Liang , Zuo Shaojie , Sun Zuo , Deng Kai , Bi Ruiqing , Cao Yun
Published: December 2021

Evidence demonstrates that unusual methane emissions in coal mines may happen after earthquakes or mine tremors. Here, a seismicity‐induced permeability change model is constructed and validated using field data from the Laohutai coalmine. The validated model is employed to explore the extent to which different peak ground velocities (PGVs), seismic acceleration coefficients, remnant coal seam methane pressures, and initial coal seam permeabilities affect earthquake‐induced methane emissions. Detailed simulation results suggest that the permeability of a coal seam subjected to earthquakes is both controlled by the dual competing mechanism of earthquake‐imposed strain and excess pore pressure. A higher PGV leads to a rapid increase in the coal seam permeability and the maximum of methane concentration in the airflow, while higher seismic acceleration coefficients could somewhat reduce them. Meanwhile, increasing the remnant methane pressure and initial permeability in a coal seam subjected to an earthquake increases the maximum of methane concentration in the airflow at working faces. These results have provided reliable guidance for how to adopt emergent measures to prevent earthquake‐triggered methane accidents in underground coal mines.
Homoeopathic Treatment in Hypothyroidism—An Open-Label, Prospective, Single-Arm, Clinical Trial
Authors: Ray Aniket Singha , Ganguly Subhasish , Mukherjee Shyamal Kumar , Hazra Pallavi , Dutta Souvik , Nath Arunava , Koley Munmun , Saha Subhranil
Published: December 2021

Background Hypothyroidism is one of the most common endocrinal disorders in India and its incidence is gradually increasing. A preliminary clinical trial was conducted to assess the probable role of individualised homoeopathic (IH) medicines in hypothyroidism with the assessment of hormonal titre (serum thyroid-stimulating hormone [TSH] and free T4) and symptomatic improvement.

Methods An open-label, prospective, single-arm trial was conducted on 40 patients suffering from hypothyroidism at the outpatient of D. N. De Homeopathic Medical College and Hospital, West Bengal, India, and treated with IH. Serum TSH and FT4 were considered as the primary outcomes and Zuleswki's clinical scoring (ZCS) and thyroid symptom questionnaire (TSQ) as the secondary outcomes, measured at baseline and after 3 months of treatment. Intention-to-treat sample was analysed in the end by paired t-tests.

Results Total 58 patients were screened, of which 40 patients were enrolled; 4 patients dropped out, 36 patients completed the trial. Mean age was 44 years (standard deviation: 13.6), and majority of the patients were female (87.5%). Improvement in both primary and secondary outcomes was statistically significant (p <0.001, paired t-tests), TSH (mean reduction: 2.7, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.9–3.6, p = 0.001), FT4 (mean increase: −0.2, 95% CI: −0.3 to −0.2, p = 0.001), ZCS (mean reduction: 3.7, 95% CI: 2.9–4.6, p = 0.001), and TSQ (mean reduction: 2.9, 95% CI: 2.1–3.6, p = 0.001). Most frequently used medicines were Sulphur (20%), Pulsatilla nigricans (12.5%), Iodium (10%), Phosphorus (10%), and Natrum muriaticum (7.5%).

Conclusion This study showed promising treatment effects of IH in hypothyroidism. Randomised trials are warranted (Trial registration: CTRI/2018/11/016451; UTN: U1111–1223–2292).
Diet Implications and Oral Health Status of Women in Central Italy
Authors: Zumbo Giulia , Costacurta Micaela , Zara Francesca , Pranno Nicola , Ceravolo Margherita , Covello Francesco , Saccucci Matteo , Vozza Iole
Published: December 2021

Objective The relationships between oral health habits, dietary practices, and oral health status, as well as general health status, in the population of Italian women, are complex, with many mutual and interrelating factors. The purpose of this study is to investigate oral habits, oral status, and dietary habits of a sample of women in Italy, highlighting the links between nutrition and oral health and discussing how oral health care professionals can integrate nutrition counseling that aimed at improving the oral health of their patients into their practices.

Materials and Methods In the period between February 2020 and July 2020, an anonymous questionnaire made up of 20 questions was administered to a randomized sample of 120 Italian women.

Results Most of women declare good manual skills in oral hygiene (50%) but just less than half of them brushes their teeth more than three times a day. Statistically significant correlations were found between frequency of dental checkups and dental mobility (p = 0.036), and halitosis (p = 0.006), as well as between frequency of flossing and gum bleeding. Correlation between the type of diet and oral health status showed more halitosis (∼21%), sensitivity (∼26%), and xerostomia (∼53.3%) for vegetarian and vegan women.

Conclusion More awareness need to be raised concerning oral hygiene habits, and regarding the importance of regular dental checkups. Brushing at least twice or three times a day needs to be encouraged and the valid support of dental aids has to be in the everyday domestic oral hygiene protocol, as scientific evidence demonstrates. Future clinical studies need to be performed on a more consistent number of vegetarian and vegan patients, to obtain more statistically significant results and support future research that will compare omnivorous, vegetarian, and vegan diets and their influence on oral health status.
Factor Xa Inhibitors for Patients after Mechanical Heart Valve Replacement?
Authors: Gerfer Stephen , Grandoch Maria , Wahlers Thorsten C.W. , Kuhn Elmar W.
Published: December 2021

Patients with a mechanical heart valve need a lifelong anticoagulation due to the increased risk of valve thrombosis and thrombo-embolism. Currently, vitamin K antagonists (VKA) are the only approved class of oral anticoagulants, but relevant interactions and side effects lead to a large number of patients not achieving the optimal therapeutic target international normalized ration (INR). Therefore, steady measurements of the INR are imperative to ensure potent anticoagulation within a distinctive range. Direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) with newer agents could serve as a possible alternative to VKAs in this patient cohort. DOACs are approved for several indications, e.g., atrial fibrillation (AF). They only have a minor interaction potential, which is why monitoring is not needed. Thereby, DOACs improve the livability of patients in need of chronical anticoagulation compared with VKAs. In contrast to dual platelet inhibition using aspirin in combination with an ADP receptor antagonist and the direct thrombin inhibitor dabigatran, the oral factor Xa inhibitors apixaban and rivaroxaban show promising results according to current evidence. In small-scale studies, factor Xa inhibitors were able to prevent thrombosis and thrombo-embolic events in patients with mechanical heart valves. Finally, DOACs seem to represent a feasible treatment option in patients with mechanical heart valves, but further studies are needed to evaluate clinical safety. In addition to the ongoing PROACT Xa trial with apixaban in patients after aortic On-X valve implantation, studies in an all-comer collective with rivaroxaban could be promising.
Prediction of Postcoronary Artery Bypass Grafting Atrial Fibrillation: POAFRiskScore Tool
Authors: Arslan Ahmet Kadir , Erdil Nevzat , Guldogan Emek , Colak Cemil , Akca Baris , Colak M. Cengiz
Published: December 2021

Background Atrial fibrillation (AF), a condition that might occur after a heart bypass procedure, has caused differing estimates of its occurrence and risk. The current study analyses the possible risk factors of post-coronary artery bypass grafting (post-CABG) AF (postoperative AF [POAF]) and presents a software for preoperative POAF risk prediction.

Methods This retrospective research was performed on 1,667 patients who underwent CABG surgery using the hospital database. The associations between the variables of the patients and AF risk factors after CABG were examined using multivariable logistic regression (LR) after preprocessing the relevant data. The tool was designed to predict POAF risk using Shiny, an R package, to develop a web-based software.

Results The overall proportion of post-CABG AF was 12.2%. According to the results of univariate tests, in terms of age (p < 0.001), blood urea nitrogen (p = 0.005), platelet (p < 0.001), triglyceride (p = 0.0026), presence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD; p = 0.01), and presence of preoperative carotid artery stenosis (PCAS; p < 0.001), there were statistically significant differences between the POAF and non-POAF groups. Multivariable LR analysis disclosed the independent risk factors associated with POAF: PCAS (odds ratio [OR] = 2.360; p = 0.028), COPD (OR = 2.243; p = 0.015), body mass index (OR = 1.090; p = 0.006), age (OR = 1.054, p < 0.001), and platelet (OR = 0.994, p < 0.001).

Conclusion The experimental findings from the current research demonstrate that the suggested tool (POAFRiskScore v.1.0) can help clinicians predict POAF risk development in the preoperative period after validated on large sample(s) that can represent the related population(s). Simultaneously, since the updated versions of the proposed tool will be released periodically based on the increases in data dimensions with continuously added new samples and related factors, more robust predictions may be obtained in the subsequent stages of the current study in statistical and clinical terms.
Removal of Electrophysiological Devices in the Context of Heart Transplantation: Comparison of Combined and Staged Extraction Procedures
Authors: Immohr Moritz Benjamin , Boeken Udo , Smiris Konstantinos , Erbel-Khurtsidze Sophiko , Oehler Daniel , Dalyanoglu Hannan , Westenfeld Ralf , Aubin Hug , Tudorache Igor , Lichtenberg Artur , Akhyari Payam
Published: December 2021

Background During heart transplantation (HTx), tip of the leads of cardiac implantable electrophysiological devices (CIEPD) has to be cut when resecting the heart. Timing of the removal of the remaining device and leads is still discussed controversially.

Methods Between 2010 and 2021, n = 201 patients underwent HTx, of those n = 124 (61.7%) carried a present CIEPD. These patients were divided on the basis of the time of complete device removal (combined procedure with HTx, n = 40 or staged procedure, n = 84).

Results CIEPD was removed 11.4 ± 6.7 days after the initial HTx in staged patients. Dwelling time, number of leads as well as incidence of retained components (combined: 8.1%, staged: 7.7%, p = 1.00) were comparable between both groups. While postoperative incidence of infections (p = 0.52), neurological events (p = 0.47), and acute kidney injury (p = 0.44) did not differ, staged patients suffered more often from primary graft dysfunction with temporary mechanical assistance (combined: 20.0%, staged: 40.5%, p = 0.03). Consecutively, stay on intensive care unit (p = 0.02) was prolonged and transfusions of red blood cells (p = 0.15) and plasma (p = 0.06) as well as re-thoracotomy for thoracic bleeding complications (p = 0.10) were numerically increased in this group. However, we did not observe any differences in postoperative survival.

Conclusion Presence of CIEPD is common in HTx patients. However, the extraction strategy of CIEPD most likely did not affect postoperative morbidity and mortality except primary graft dysfunction. Especially, retained components, blood transfusions, and infective complications are not correlated to the timing of CIEPD removal.
Screening for Substance Use Disorders during Pregnancy: A Decision at the Intersection of Racial and Reproductive Justice
Authors: Kravitz Elizabeth , Suh Michelle , Russell Matthew , Ojeda Andres , Levison Judy , McKinney Jennifer
Published: December 2021

Objective: Improve racial equity with routine universal drug screening / Study Design: Commentary on the medicolegal and social history of the United States and the field of obstetrics and gynecology regarding drug screening policy / Results: Critical aspects to inform an equitable drug screening policy include (1) racial bias and stigma related to substance use, (2) the legislative history surrounding substance use during pregnancy, (3) the relationship between substance use and mass incarceration which disproportionately affects persons of color, (4) propensity toward punitive measures for Black mothers with substance use, including termination of parental rights, (5) the role of the medical field in fostering mistrust among our patients / Conclusion: new practices in screening for substance use during pregnancy are needed.

Key Points
Prognostic Significance of Clinical and Post-Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy Associated Histomorphological Parameters in Osteosarcoma: A Retrospective Study from a Tertiary Care Center
Authors: Vangala Navatha , Uppin Shantveer G. , Rao K. Nageshwara , Chandrasekhar P. , Gundeti Sadashivudu
Published: December 2021

Introduction Osteosarcoma is the most prevalent bone cancer in adolescents. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) followed by resection is the current modality of treatment for osteosarcoma. Histological evaluation of extent of tumor necrosis on resection is a well-established prognostic indicator in osteosarcoma correlating with survival in most cases.

Objectives The main objective of this study was to establish prognostic significance of various clinical and histological parameters post-NACT in osteosarcoma and to compare the integrated prognostic index proposed by Chui et al, with grading of response to NACT by Huvos and Rosen for osteosarcoma.

Materials and Methods This is a retrospective study done over a period of four years and includes 47 cases of osteosarcoma treated with NACT. All slides were reviewed and association of various clinical and histological parameters with overall survival was assessed with chi-squared test and Cox-regression analysis.

Results Statistical analysis revealed the prognostic significance of age at presentation, anatomic site, primary tumor size, metastatic status, and clinical stage. Histological parameters such as mitosis ≥10/10hpfs, ≥10% residual tumor were significantly associated with poor survival. Tumor necrosis ≥ 90% (excluding areas of hemorrhage, fibrosis and acellular osteoid) was significantly associated with increased survival. An integrated prognostic index formed by combining above parameters gives a better estimate of overall survival compared with residual disease or necrosis alone.

Conclusion Integrated prognostic index improves prognostication in patients treated for osteosarcoma.
Severe Maternal Morbidity among Women in the U. S. Military, 2003–2015
Authors: Hall Clinton , Romano Celeste J. , Bukowinski Anna T. , Gumbs Gia R. , Dempsey Kaitlyn N. , Poole Aaron T. , Conlin Ava Marie S. , Lamb Shannon V.
Published: December 2021

Objective This study aimed to assess trends and correlates of severe maternal morbidity at delivery among active duty women in the U.S. military, all of whom are guaranteed health care and full employment.

Study Design Linked military personnel and medical encounter data from the Department of Defense Birth and Infant Health Research program were used to identify a cohort of delivery hospitalizations among active duty military women from January 2003 through August 2015. Cases of severe maternal morbidity were identified by applying 21- and 20-condition algorithms (with and without blood transfusion) developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Rates (per 10,000 delivery hospitalizations) were reported overall and by specific condition. Multivariable Poisson regression models estimated associations with demographic, clinical, and military characteristics.

Results Overall, 187,063 hospitalizations for live births were included for analyses. The overall 21- and 20-condition severe maternal morbidity rates were 111.7 (n = 2089) and 37.4 (n = 699) per 10,000 delivery hospitalizations, respectively. The 21-condition rate increased by 184% from 2003 to 2015; the 20-condition rate increased by 40%. Compared with non-Hispanic White women, the adjusted 21-condition rate of severe maternal morbidity was higher for Hispanic (adjusted rate ratio [aRR] = 1.28, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.13–1.46), non-Hispanic Black (aRR = 1.34, 95% CI: 1.21–1.49), Asian/Pacific Islander (aRR = 1.35, 95% CI: 1.13–1.61), and American Indian/Alaska Native (aRR = 1.39, 95% CI: 1.06–1.82) women. Rates also varied by age, clinical factors, and deployment history.

Conclusion Active duty U.S. military women experienced an increase in severe maternal morbidity from 2003 to 2015 that followed national trends, despite protective factors such as stable employment and universal health care. Similar to other populations, military women of color were at higher risk for severe maternal morbidity relative to non-Hispanic White military women. Continued surveillance and further investigation into maternal health outcomes are critical for identifying areas of improvement in the Military Health System.

Key Points
Single Chest Drain Practice Reduces Discharge Opioid Prescriptions in Thoracic Surgery
Authors: Zorrilla-Vaca Andres , Feldman Hope , Antonoff Maria , Sepesi Boris , Hofstetter Wayne , Rajaram Ravi , Swisher Stephen , Mena Gabriel , Vaporciya Ara , Mehran Reza , Rice David
Published: December 2021

Introduction Chest drains are placed following pulmonary resection to promote lung re-expansion. The superiority of two chest drains at preventing postoperative complications has not been established, and practice remains largely dictated by surgeon preference. We sought to compare patient outcomes based on number of chest drains used.

Methods This is a retrospective analysis including patients undergoing lobectomies and segmentectomies between March 2016 and April 2020. Patients were categorized based on number of chest drains placed and were matched 1:1 using the nearest neighbor (greedy) technique. Our primary outcome was opioid prescriptions at discharge (in morphine equivalent daily dose [MEDD]). Associations were tested using multilevel mixed-effects regression to account for variability between surgeons.

Results A total of 1,094 patients met inclusion criteria. Single chest drain was used in 922 patients, whereas 172 had two chest tubes. After matching, there were 111 patients in each group. In multilevel mixed-effects logistic regression, patients treated with a single chest drain received fewer opioid prescriptions (β: −194 MEDD, 95% confidence interval [CI]: −302 to −86 MEDD, p < 0.01), were more likely to be opioid-free at hospital discharge (odds ratio [OR] = 2.11, 95% CI: 1.08–4.12, p = 0.03), and had lower readmission rates within 30 days (OR = 0.33, 95% CI: 0.13–0.84, p = 0.02). Single chest drain practice did not affect the risk of pulmonary complications and there was no statistically significant difference in length of hospital stay (3 days [interquartile range: 2–5] vs. 4 days [3–6], p = 0.08).

Conclusion Single chest drain practice in lobectomies and segmentectomies was associated with less opioid prescription requirement without any increase in complications.
Impact of Prematurity on the Buccal Epithelial Cells of the Neonates via Wnt/Beta-Catenin Signaling Pathway and Apoptosis
Authors: Donmez Hanife Guler , Celik Hasan Tolga , Kayki Gozdem , Tanacan Atakan , Cagan Murat , Yigit Sule , Yurdakok Murat , Cakar Ayse Nur , Beksac Mehmet Sinan
Published: December 2021

Objective Understanding the reflections of prematurity is necessary for the management of neonatal complications. We focused on the impact of prematurity and related “maternal risk factors/obstetric complications” on buccal cells of the neonates via evaluation of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway and apoptosis.

Study Design This study consisted of “early preterm neonates (EPN) (≤34th gestational week [gw]) (n = 36),” “late preterm neonates (LPN) (34th– < 37th gw) (n = 46),” and “term neonates (control) (≥37th gw) (n = 56).” Cohort was also subclassified according to the presence of maternal risk factors, obstetric complications, and neonatal complications. Wnt/β-catenin signaling and caspase-3 activation pathways were studied immunocytochemically.

Results Wnt/β-catenin signaling positivity was statistically more frequent at buccal smears of the EPN and LPN groups compared with controls (p < 0.001). The cutoff for gestational age at delivery in receiver operating characteristic curve with the best balance of sensitivity (67.4%) and specificity (67.3%) was 35.8th gw for determining the reduction of Wnt/β-catenin signaling positivity (p < 0.001). The study demonstrated that obstetric complications significantly affected the activity of signaling, while maternal risk factors do not have any effect on Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway (p = 0.003 and p = 0.828, respectively). This study also demonstrated a significant relationship between Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway and the presence of neonatal complications (p = 0.015).

Conclusion Dynamic characteristics of buccal cells are influenced by prematurity and related obstetric and neonatal problems. Buccal smear is a good tool to investigate the impact of prematurity and obstetric problems on perinatal outcome.

Key Points
Application of Health Technology Assessment for Oncology Care in India: Implications for Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Aarogya Yojana
Authors: Gupta Nidhi , Jyani Gaurav , Rajsekar Kavitha , Gupta Rakesh , Nagar Anu , Gedam Praveen , Prinja Shankar
Published: December 2021

A health system is considered efficient when it provides maximum health gains to the population from the available resources. Newer drugs, diagnostics and treatment strategies aim to improve the health of the population, however, they come at an increased cost. Therefore, for an efficient health system, it needs to be decided if the extra cost being incurred is justified to achieve the extra health gains. In this regard, health technology assessment (HTA) helps to make evidence informed decisions by evaluating relative cost and benefits of the available interventions. Economic evidence generated by HTA can also be used in framing standard treatment guidelines (STGs) for high-cost cancer care. In multi-payer systems like India, the decisions regarding the clinical management of patients are taken based on the patients' ability to pay, which creates inequities in utilization of healthcare. Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Aarogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) offers an opportunity to ensure equity as it reduces financial barriers, besides having a potential to affect efficiency by including only cost-effective interventions in the benefit package. As a result, informed clinical decisions based upon HTA evidence can make cancer treatment more efficient, equitable and affordable for the patients.
Expression Levels of the CA9, WT1, and PRAME Genes and Genotyping-Associated Antigens for the Diagnosis and Prognosis of Colorectal Cancer
Authors: Jassim Tabark S
Published: December 2021

Background Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most prevalent type of cancer worldwide, and is one of the major health problems in Asia, Africa, Europe, and America. The tumor antigens recently are of interesting indicators as diagnostic and prognostic tools. The aim of the present study is to detect the expression levels of carbonic anhydrase IX (CA9), the Wilms tumor gene (WT1), and the preferentially expressed antigen in melanoma (PRAME) in the peripheral blood of CRC patients in comparison with healthy controls.

Methods A prospective case-control study of CRC patients was conducted. We included 25 newly-diagnosed CRC eligible patients and obtained peripheral blood samples of them as well as 10 blood samples from the control group. All samples were then submitted to deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) extraction and a molecular study through real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

Results The CRC group consisted of 15 (60%) female and 10 (40%) male patients with a mean age of 50.52 ± 9.8 years, while the control group included 4 (40%) female and 6 (60%) male patients with a mean age of 47.7 ± 7.9 years. The CRC group, 24 (96%) of patient samples were CA9-positive with strong statistically significant differences (p < 0.00001; sensitivity: 96%; specificity: 90%). Regarding the WT1 gene, there were 11 (44%) positive samples in the CRC group, with no statistically significant differences (p = 0.055; sensitivity: 44%; specificity: 90%). The PRAME gene was positive in 9 (36%) samples in the CRC group, with no statistically significant differences (p = 0.357; sensitivity: 36%; specificity: 80%. Among CA9 (24 patients; 96%) of patients with CRC expressed positive results, in WT1 11(91.6%) CRC patients expressed gene, and in PRAME gene, 9 patients with CRC (81.8%) expressed positive results.

Conclusion Overexpression of the CA9 gene in CRC of high sensitivity and specificity to be used as a tool to discriminate CRC from benign associate with high accuracy compare to WT1 and PRAME genes.
Heart rate variability after bariatric surgery: The add‐on value of exercise
Authors: Belzile D. , Auclair A. , Roberge J. , Piché ME , Lebel A. , Pettigrew M. , Marceau S. , Biertho L. , Poirier P.
Published: December 2021

Purpose

To assess the impact of bariatric surgery and an added supervised exercise training programme on heart rate variability (HRV) in patients with severe obesity.

Methods

Fifty‐nine patients who underwent bariatric surgery were randomised in the post‐operative period to a 12‐week supervised exercise training programme (moderate intensity combination aerobic/resistance exercise training programme) or a control group. Indices of HRV including time‐domain, spectral‐domain, and nonlinear parameters were measured preoperatively, and at 3, 6, and 12 months.

Results

After the surgical procedure, both groups improved anthropometric parameters. Type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and dyslipidemia resolutions were similar between groups. Total body weight loss at 6 and 12 months were also comparable between groups (6 months: 28 ± 6 vs. 30 ± 6%; 12 months: 38 ± 9 vs. 38 ± 10%; control vs. intervention group respectively). Bariatric surgery improved HRV parameters at 12 months compared to the pre‐operative values in the intervention group: standard deviation of R‐R interval (SDNN) (156.0 ± 46.4 vs. 122.6 ± 33.1 ms), low frequency (LF) (6.3 ± 0.8 vs. 5.8 ± 0.7 ms2), and high frequency (HF) (5.1 ± 0.8 vs. 4.7 ± 0.9 ms2) (all p<0.001). For the control patients, similar improvements in SDNN (150.0 ± 39.4 vs. 118.8 ± 20.1 ms), LF (6.1 ± 0.9 vs. 5.7 ± 0.8 ms2), and HF (5.0 ± 0.9 vs. 4.7 ± 0.9 ms2) were obtained (all p<0.001). However, there was no add‐on impact of the supervised exercise training programme on HRV after 12 months (p>0.05 for all HRV parameters).

Conclusion

Bariatric surgery is associated with an improvement in HRV. A supervised exercise training programme in the post‐operative period did not modulate further the benefits of bariatric surgery regarding HRV parameters.
Atomistic simulation of ultra-short pulsed laser ablation of Al: an extension for non-thermalized electrons and ballistic transport
Authors: Eisfeld Eugen , Förster Daniel , Klein Dominic , Roth Johannes
Published: December 2021

For our model material aluminum, the influence of laser pulse duration in the range between 0.5 and 16 ps on the ablation depth is investigated in a computational study with a hybrid approach, combining molecular dynamics with the well known two-temperature model. A simple, yet expedient extension is proposed to account for the delayed thermalization as well as ballistic transport of the excited electrons. Comparing the simulated ablation depths to a series of our own experiments, the extension is found to considerably increase the predictive power of the model.
Dynamic resistive switching devices for neuromorphic computing
Authors: Wu Yuting , Wang Xinxin , Lu Wei D
Published: December 2021

Neuromorphic systems that can emulate the structure and the operations of biological neural circuits have long been viewed as a promising hardware solution to meet the ever-growing demands of big-data analysis and AI tasks. Recent studies on resistive switching or memristive devices have suggested such devices may form the building blocks of biorealistic neuromorphic systems. In a memristive device, the conductance is determined by a set of internal state variables, allowing the device to exhibit rich dynamics arising from the interplay between different physical processes. Not only can these devices be used for compute-in-memory architectures to tackle the von Neumann bottleneck, the switching dynamics of the devices can also be used to directly process temporal data in a biofaithful fashion. In this review, we analyze the physical mechanisms that govern the dynamic switching behaviors and highlight how these properties can be utilized to efficiently implement synaptic and neuronal functions. Prototype systems that have been used in machine learning and brain-inspired network implementations will be covered, followed with discussions on the challenges for large scale implementations and opportunities for building bio-inspired, highly complex computing systems.
Frontally polymerizable shape memory polymer for 3D printing of free-standing structures
Authors: An Yongsan , Jang Joon Hyeok , Youk Ji Ho , Yu Woong-Ryeol
Published: December 2021

Four-dimensional (4D) printing is used to describe three-dimensional (3D)-printed objects with properties that change over time. Shape memory polymers (SMPs) are representative materials for 4D printing technologies. The ability to print geometrically complex, free-standing forms with SMPs is crucial for successful 4D printing. In this study, an SMP capable of frontal polymerization featuring exothermic self-propagation was synthesized by adding cyclooctene to a poly(dicyclopentadiene) network, resulting in switching segments. The rheological properties of this SMP were controlled by adjusting incubation time. A nozzle system was designed such that the SMP could be printed with simultaneous polymerization to yield a free-standing structure. The printing speed was set to 3 cm min−1 according to the frontal polymerization speed. A free-standing, hexagonal spiral was successfully printed and printed spiral structure showed excellent shape memory performance with a fixity ratio of about 98% and a recovery ratio of 100%, thereby demonstrating the 3D printability and shape memory performance of frontally polymerizable SMPs.
The qutrit as a heat diode and circulator
Authors: Díaz Israel , Sánchez Rafael
Published: December 2021

We investigate the heat transport properties of a three-level system coupled to three thermal baths, assuming a model based on superconducting circuit implementations. The system-bath coupling is mediated by resonators which serve as frequency filters for the different qutrit transitions. Taking into account the finite quality factors of the resonators, we find thermal rectification and circulation effects not expected in configurations with perfectly-filtered couplings. Heat leakage in off-resonant transitions can be exploited to make the system work as an ideal diode where heat flows in the same direction between two baths irrespective of the sign of the temperature difference, as well as a perfect heat circulator whose state is phase-reversible.
The physics program of the PADME experiment
Authors: Caricato A P , Martino M , Oceano I , Oliva F , Spagnolo S , Chiodini G , Bossi F , Buonomo B , De Sangro R , Di Giulio C , Domenici D , Finocchiaro G , Foggetta L G , Garattini M , Ghigo A , Giacchino F , Gianotti P , Sarra I , Sciascia B , Spadaro T , Spiriti E , Taruggi C , Vilucchi E , Ferrarotto F , Leonardi E , Safai Tehrani F , Valente P , Fiore S , Georgiev G , Ivanov S , Simeonov R , Kozhuharov V , Liberti B , Long E , Organtini G C , Piperno G , Raggi M , Martini M , Capirossi V , Iazzi F , Pinna F , Alexander J , Frankenthal A
Published: December 2021

PADME (Positron Annihilation into Dark Matter Experiment) is a fixed target experiment located at the Beam Test Facility (BTF) at the Laboratori Nazionali di Frascati (LNF) designed to search for a massive dark photon

A
′

in the process

e

+

e

−

→
γ
A
′

, using a positron beam of energy up to 550 MeV. The experiment exploits the missing mass technique which allows for a search of

A
′

in a model independent way. A sensitivity on the mixing constant ϵ > 10−3 for a dark photon mass in the range

1
≤

m

A
′

≤
23.7

MeV

/c2 can be achieved by collecting 4 × 1013 positrons on target. Run 2 data taking finished in December 2020 and allowed to reach an integrated luminosity of 5 × 1012 positrons on target.
Propagation of dust-acoustic nonlinear waves in a homogeneous collisional dusty plasma
Authors: Alotaibi B M
Published: December 2021

Nonlinear propagation of dust-acoustic waves DAWs in a weakly collisional dusty plasma comprising warm adiabatic fluid dust particles, isothermal electrons, and ions is investigated. We used the reductive perturbation theory to reduce the basic set of fluid equations to one evolution equation, namely damped Kadomtsev–Petviashivili (DKP). The analytical stationary solutions of the DKP equation are numerically analyzed, and the effect of various dusty plasma parameters on DAWs wave propagation is taken into account. We obtained, blast, anti-kink, periodic cnoidal and cnoidal waves. It is well known that explosive waves are a double edged sword. They can be seen, for example, in the atmosphere, or in engineering applications in metal coating.