bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A review of the clinical applications of ketamine in pediatric oncology
Authors: Prakash Satya , Gupta Aditya Kumar , Meena Jagdish Prasad , Seth Rachna
Published: October 2020

Ketamine is a dissociative anesthetic agent with excellent analgesic properties and a favorable safety profile. The feasibility and efficacy of various routes of administration have been established, including intravenous (IV), intramuscular (IM), oral, intranasal, rectal, and transdermal routes. The advent of newer anesthetic agents has led to a decline in the use of ketamine as an anesthetic, but its utility in short‐term sedation and analgesia has expanded. Its value for chronic pain management in children with cancer is being increasingly recognized but requires more evidence. The use of topical ketamine is largely in investigational stages. Medical use of ketamine is, to a great extent, free from significant long‐term neurological side effects. The objective of this review is to provide a brief account of the pharmacology of ketamine and primarily focus on the clinical applications of ketamine in pediatric oncology.
Quantitative 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (qHNMR) methods for accurate purity determination of glucosinolates isolated from Isatis indigotica roots
Authors: Guo Qihui , Li Zeyun , Shen Lulu , Xiao Ying , Cheng Zhihong
Published: October 2020

Introduction

Glucosinolates (1–5) are important secondary metabolites found in Isatis indigotica roots. Due to their high hydrophilic and ionic nature, purified glucosinolates often contain salt impurities and moisture. Accurate assessment of their purities is important for glucosinolates being utilised as chemical markers.

Objective

To develop and validate quantitative proton (1H) nuclear magnetic resonance (qHNMR) methods for purity assessments of aliphatic and indole glucosinolates (1–5).

Method

Several NMR parameters such as pulse program, relaxation time, and delay time were optimised. Three qHNMR methods were developed using gluconapin (3), neoglucobrassicin (4), and sinigrin (5) for method validation and with maleic acid as internal standard.

Results

The quantification was based on the integrated area ratios of an olefinic proton (H‐4 for 1–3; H‐6 for 4; and H‐3 for 5) of the side chain from glucosinolates relative to the olefinic proton from the internal standard using deuterated water (D2O) as the solvent. The qHNMR methods were successfully applied for purity assessments of four aliphatic glucosinolates (1–3 and 5: progoitrin, epiprogoitrin, gluconapin, and sinigrin), and an indole glucosinolate (4: neoglucobrassicin).

Conclusion

The purity of glucosinolates isolated from I. indigotica and commercial sinigrin was accurately assessed using the developed qHNMR method. The qHNMR provides a reliable and superior means to determine the purity of glucosinolates.
Performance of first trimester screening for Trisomy 21 in twin pregnancies
Authors: Bergstrand Eva , Borregaard Miltoft Caroline , Tabor Ann
Published: October 2020

Objectives

To assess the performance of the Danish first trimester screening program in twin pregnancies.

Method

Retrospective, nation‐wide, cohort study with data collected from the Danish Fetal Medicine Database (DFMD) and The Danish Central Cytogenetic Registry (DCCR). The cohort included all women with twin pregnancies participating in the national first trimester screening program for Trisomy 21. Risk assessment was based on maternal age, nuchal translucency (NT) thickness and, if available, biochemical markers (β‐hCG and PAPP‐A). Results: 8812 twin pregnancies including 42 pregnancies with Trisomy 21 had a risk assessment between 2009 and 2017. The detection rate (DR) for pregnancies with a risk assessment based on maternal age and NT only (missing data on biochemical markers, n = 4693) was 69.6% (95% CI: 50.8%‐88.4%) for a 6.3% false positive rate (FPR) (95% CI: 5.6%‐7.0%), whereas for pregnancies with a risk assessment based on all three parameters (n = 4119) the DR was 89.5% (95% CI: 76.7%‐100.0%) for a 7.2% FPR (95% CI: 6.4%‐8.0%).

Conclusion

The DR of Trisomy 21 in twin pregnancies, seems as high as for singleton pregnancies, when using optimal screening techniques, but the FPR is nearly twice as high.
Exploring the predicted yield of prenatal testing by evaluating a postnatal population with structural abnormalities using a novel mathematical model
Authors: Nunley Peyton B. , Hashmi Syed S. , Johnson Anthony , Ashfaq Myla , Farach Laura S. , Singletary Claire N. , Stevens Blair K.
Published: October 2020

Objective

To determine the yield of prenatal testing and screening options after identification of fetal structural abnormalities using a novel mathematical model.

Method

A retrospective chart review was conducted to collect structural abnormality and genetic testing data on infants who were evaluated postnatally by a medical geneticist. A novel mathematical model was used to determine and compare the predicted diagnostic yields of prenatal testing and screening options.

Results

Over a quarter of patients with at least one structural abnormality (28.1%, n = 222) had a genetic aberration identified that explained their phenotype. Chromosomal microarray (CMA) had the highest predicted diagnostic yield (26.8%, P < .001). Karyotype (20.8%) had similar yields as genome wide NIPT (21.2%, P = .859) and NIPT with select copy number variants (CNVs) (17.9%, P = .184). Among individuals with an isolated structural abnormality, whole exome sequencing (25.9%) and CMA (14.9%) had the highest predicted yields.

Conclusion

This study introduces a novel mathematical model for predicting the potential yield of prenatal testing and screening options. This study provides further evidence that CMA has the highest predicted diagnostic yield in cases with structural abnormalities. Screening with expanded NIPT options shows potential for patients who decline invasive testing, but only in the setting of adequate pre‐test counseling.
Contact repellency by l‐menthol is mediated by TRPM channels in the red flour beetle Tribolium castaneum
Authors: Shimomura Kenji , Oikawa Hinoki , Hasobe Maaya , Suzuki Nobuhiro , Yajima Shunsuke , Tomizawa Motohiro
Published: October 2020

BACKGROUND

Among insects, beetles are one of the most destructive pests of agricultural and stored products. Researchers have been investigating alternatives to pesticides for more sustainable pest management. Here, we focused on insect transient receptor potential (TRP) channel‐targeted repellency. Among transient receptor potential melastatin (TRPM) channels, mammalian TRPM8 is activated by menthol and its derivatives, but few previous studies have reported on whether the insect TRPM channel is activated by chemical compounds. Here, we investigated whether the TRPM channel (TcTRPM) of the red flour beetle Tribolium castaneum (Herbst), a major stored‐products pest, mediated the repellent behavior of l‐menthol and its derivatives.

RESULTS

We initially investigated the repellent activity of l‐menthol and menthoxypropanediol (MPD) against T. castaneum. The laboratory bioassay revealed that the repellent activities of l‐menthol and MPD were dose dependent. RNA interference was used for transcriptional knockdown of TcTRPM and revealed that a reduced transcript level resulted in a significant decrease in l‐menthol and MPD repellent activities. However, no significant decrease was observed for N,N‐diethyl‐3‐methylbenzamide (DEET) repellency. The most abundant TcTRPM transcripts were observed in the antennae. However, antennae‐plucked beetles maintained their repellent behavior with l‐menthol.

CONCLUSION

The repellent activities of l‐menthol and MPD for T. castaneum are mediated by TcTRPM, and it was suggested that the olfactory response is not adequate for avoidance, but that contact repellency might be a more important repellant method. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry
Quasilocalized Vibrations in Vitreous Silica
Authors: Shcheblanov Nikita S. , Povarnitsyn Mikhail E. , Wiles Jamie D. , Elliott Stephen R. , Taraskin Sergei N.
Published: October 2020

The properties of quasilocalized atomic vibrations in numerical models of vitreous silica are studied by means of a demixing technique. The low‐frequency vibrational modes are decomposed into bare non‐localized (plane‐wave‐like) modes and bare localized modes (BLMs). The BLMs are shown to exhibit three distinct spatial regions, characterized by different decay behaviors of the displacement field amplitude: the core, tail, and crossover regions. In the core region near the center of localization, the displacement amplitude decays exponentially with a typical localization length being on the order of the interatomic spacing. In the tail region, the decay of the displacement amplitude follows approximately a power law characterized by a decay exponent α, found to be in the range . The crossover between the core and tail regions takes place at about 10 Å. By means of a local symmetry‐mode comparative projection technique, a distinct similarity in the local vibrational motion for quasilocalized modes in vitreous silica and optic phonons in α‐cristobalite is demonstrated.
Unusual substituent effects in the Tr···Te triel bond
Authors: Wang Ruijing , Luo Canlin , Li Qingzhong , Scheiner Steve
Published: October 2020

The triel bond between the π‐hole on the triel atom of TrR3 (Tr = B, Al, Ga; R = H, F, Cl, Br) and a lone pair on the Te atom of H2Te is examined using ab initio methods. For Tr = B, the triel bond is weakened as the R substituent becomes more electronegative, while the opposite pattern is noted for Al and Ga. The weakest triel bond of all occurs in H2Te‐BF3 (2.9 kcal/mol) but is much stronger for all the other complexes (>11 kcal/mol). The placement of electron‐releasing OH, NH2, and CH3 R′ substituents on the R′2Te base strengthens the triel bond, whereas the opposite occurs for the electron‐withdrawing CN. Despite its high electronegativity, the F substituent causes a strengthening of the interaction, which is due in large part to the formation of secondary chalcogen bonds that involve the σ‐holes on Te in F2Te. However, the F atom on TrF3 is unable to act as an electron donor in these chalcogen bonds, leading to weakened F2Te··TrF3 interactions.
Phylogenomics supported by geometric morphometrics reveals delimitation of sexual species within the polyploid apomictic Ranunculus auricomus complex (Ranunculaceae)
Authors: Karbstein Kevin , Tomasello Salvatore , Hodač Ladislav , Dunkel Franz G. , Daubert Mareike , Hörandl Elvira
Published: October 2020

Species are the basic units of biodiversity and evolution. Nowadays, they are widely considered as ancestor‐descendant lineages. Their definition remains a persistent challenge for taxonomists due to lineage evolutionary role and circumscription, i.e., persistence in time and space, ecological niche, or a shared phenotype. Recognizing and delimiting species is particularly methodically challenging in fast‐evolving, evolutionary young species complexes often characterized by low genetic divergence, hybrid origin, introgression, and incomplete lineage sorting. Ranunculus auricomus is a large Eurasian apomictic polyploid complex that probably has arisen from the hybridization of a few sexual progenitor species. However, even delimitation of and relationships among diploid sexual progenitors are unclear, ranging from 2 to 12 species. Here, we present an innovative workflow combining phylogenomic methods based on 86,782 parameter‐optimized RADseq loci and target enrichment of 663 nuclear genes accompanied by geometric morphometrics to delimit sexual species in this evolutionary young complex (<1 Mya). For the first time, we revealed a fully resolved and well‐supported maximum likelihood tree phylogeny congruent to neighbor‐net network and STRUCTURE results based on RADseq data. In a few clades, we found evidence of discordant patterns indicated by quartet sampling, and reticulation events in the neighbor‐net network probably caused by introgression and incomplete lineage sorting. Together with coalescent‐based species delimitation approaches based on target enrichment data, we found five main genetic lineages, with an allopatric distribution in central and southern Europe. A concatenated geometric morphometric dataset including data from basal and stem leaves, as well as receptacles, revealed the same five main clusters. We accept those five morphologically differentiated, geographically isolated, genetic main lineages as species: R. cassubicifolius s.l. (incl. R. carpaticola), R. envalirensis s.l. (incl. R. cebennensis), R. flabellifolius, R. marsicus, and R. notabilis s.l. (incl. R. austroslovenicus, R. calapius, R. mediocompositus, R. peracris, and R. subcarniolicus). Our comprehensive workflow combing phylogenomic methods supported by geometric morphometrics proved to be successful in delimiting closely related sexual taxa and applying an evolutionary species concept. This workflow is also applicable to other evolutionarily young complexes.
Attitude toward informal science in the early years and development of Leisure Time in Science (LeTiS), a pictographic scale
Authors: Paños Esther , Ruiz‐Gallardo José‐Reyes
Published: October 2020

Attitude toward science has been recognized as highly influential in students' engagement with science and future career choices. Science is important in our everyday lives as well, in a society demanding more scientific vocations and higher levels of scientific literacy. There is little research on how attitudes develop and evolve at early ages, which may be due to a lack of appropriate measurement tools. The objective of this study is to design and validate a tool to measure attitude toward informal science in 5 to 6‐year‐old children, who are not yet familiarized with “formal science.” Rather, these children are constantly interacting and learning about their surrounding world. These early experiences are important for future science engagement. The Leisure Time in Science (LeTiS) scale consists of eight pictures representing science learning activities in informal environments. Children's intentions of performing the activities shown in the LeTiS pictures are measured by comparing them with other leisure nonscientific activities. We also analyze parents' views on their children's leisure interests for comparison. The relationship among attitudes, intentions, and interests is also analyzed as part of this study involving 387 children and 188 parents. LeTiS is a pictographic scale, which is easy to interpret, with reliable psychometric properties, Oω = .88, and a unidimensional factorial structure. The results show that participants, aged 5–6, have a very positive attitude, with no gender‐based differences. Nevertheless, their intentions to perform the activities are less promising, as nonscientific activities are consistently the first choice. Although parents' views report considerable science interest in their children, there is a low correlation with attitudes and intentions. The findings may offer clues on the relationship between children's attitudes toward science and their actual behavior. The study may also contribute to planning science curriculum in the early educational years.
Contributions of an environmental management system for sustainable development at a Brazilian university
Authors: Beuron Thiago Antônio , Madruga Lúcia Rejane da Rosa Gama , Garlet Valéria , Avila Lucas Veiga , Guarda Fernando Guilherme Kaehler , Terra Camila Castilhos de Freitas , Balsan Laércio André Gassen
Published: October 2020

In addressing quality education, the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), one of them translates the responsibility of universities into context to ensure that all students acquire the theoretical and practical knowledge necessary to promote sustainability through education for sustainable development and sustainable lifestyles, respect for human rights, gender equality, the promotion of a culture of peace and nonviolence, global citizenship, and the enhancement of cultural diversity. There is some consensus in the area about the alignment between SDGs and education for sustainable development, and, in this study, we sought to develop a tool that has helped universities to contribute to an environment that is capable of strengthening a culture of ethos of sustainability. The present work has an objective to examine the environmental management system of a Brazilian university. In order to carry out this research, the design of a single study case was chosen. Multiple sources of evidence were considered, such as interviews, nonparticipant observation, and documents; all were analyzed qualitatively. For constructing the case, different data collection units were contemplated, together with management personnel, technicians, and professors. The categories of analysis arose from theoretical models already existing in the theory. The university in question is one of the largest private educational institutions in the country, and it has approximately 31 thousand students in the categories of presential and distance education. The main campus consists of a preserved area of more than 90 hectares, with lakes and green areas interconnected, which meets the criteria of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO 14001) since 2004. The case presents contributions in relation to the progress of sustainable universities in the national context, making it possible to qualify the necessary discussions for changes in infrastructures, curricula, teaching practices, and research that still do not address all problems that are global in scale and require more holistic approaches.
Fetal blood sampling in mid‐pregnancy: does it still have a role in prenatal diagnosis?
Authors: Zhen L. , Li D.‐Z.
Published: November 2020

Linked article: This Correspondence comments on Tanvisut et al. Click here to view the article.
Membranes, Plates, and Microphones
Authors: Garrett Steven L.
Published: November 2020

The restoring forces on membranes are due to the applied tension, while the restoring forces for plates are due to the flexural rigidity of the plate’s material. The transition to two dimensions introduces some features that did not show up in our analysis of one-dimensional vibrating systems. Instead of applying boundary conditions at one or two points, those constraints will have to be applied along a line or a curve. In this way, incorporation of the boundary condition is linked inexorably to the choice of coordinate systems used to describe the resultant normal mode shape functions. For two-dimensional vibrators, two indices are required to specify the frequency of a normal mode,fm,n, with the number of modes in a given frequency interval increasing in proportion to the center frequency of the interval, even though that interval remains a fixed frequency span. It is also possible that modes with different mode numbers might correspond to the same frequency of vibration, a situation that is designated as “modal degeneracy.” A membrane’s response to sound pressures provides the basis for broadband condenser microphone technology that produces signals related to the electrical properties of that capacitor and the charge stored on its plates.
Nondissipative Lumped Elements
Authors: Garrett Steven L.
Published: November 2020

The goal of this chapter is to start applying the laws of hydrodynamics to acoustics. By applying these laws to some simple acoustical networks, we can begin to develop our understanding of their meaning, as well as exploit their broad utility. We start by ignoring dissipation and by choosing acoustical elements that are small compared to the wavelength of sound. In this nondissipative lumped-element approximation, the continuity equation leads us to the definition of an acoustical compliance (or gas stiffness) that plays the same role as a capacitor in alternating current (AC) electrical circuit theory or a spring in the theory of mechanical vibrations. Under those same approximations, the Euler equation leads to the definition of an acoustical inertance, which is equivalent to an inductor in the electrical analogy, or a mass in the theory of mechanical vibrations. The combination of an acoustical inertance and acoustical compliance is called a Helmholtz resonator. The DeltaEC software is introduced to model such acoustical networks. Because DeltaEC includes dissipation, it provides benchmark results that can be compared to the calculations based on dissipative hydrodynamics in the following chapter.
Dissipative Hydrodynamics
Authors: Garrett Steven L.
Published: November 2020

In the previous chapter, the resonance frequency, ωo, of a Helmholtz resonator was calculated. When driven at that frequency, the predicted pressure amplitude inside the resonator’s volume (compliance) became infinite. This was because the theory used to model that inertance and compliance network in Figs. 10.1007/978-3-030-44787-8_8#Fig11 and 10.1007/978-3-030-44787-8_8#Fig15, and in Eq. (10.1007/978-3-030-44787-8_8#Equ50), did not include any dissipation. By introducing DeltaEC, we were able to calculate the amount of power dissipated in the neck (inertance) and volume (compliance) of a 500 ml boiling flask. In this chapter, those losses will be calculated from hydrodynamic “first principles.”
The Changing Nature of Elections in Africa: Impact on Peacebuilding
Authors: Oduro Franklin
Published: November 2020

Elections, particularly ones which transition societies from autocracy to democracy, are one of the central pillars of peacebuilding in Africa. How regular, inclusive, and credible they are will determine if they contribute to or undermine peace. This chapter probes the complicated nexus between elections and peacebuilding, as well as recent trends in election practice and technology that have impacted the way Africans perceive this vital element of democratic consolidation. It provides some provisional ideas on minimizing the “winner-take-all” ethos and other potential triggers for election-related violence in Africa.
Trends in SADC Mediation and Long-Term Conflict Transformation
Authors: Deleglise Dimpho
Published: November 2020

While mediation efforts cannot lead to holistic societal transformations overnight, this chapter argues that the Southern African Development Community (SADC) has singularly failed to lay the groundwork for such transformations in its region. In reviewing the cases of SADC mediation and involvement in Lesotho, Madagascar, and Zimbabwe, the chapter probes why the organization has been unable to fulfill its long-term agenda for sustainable peace. To improve its prospects, SADC should seek to support long-term solutions which hinge both on the demilitarization of politics and investment in effective institutions of participation and development. The chapter uses as its departure point the systemic conflict transformation (SCT) framework to explain how SADC might achieve what is referred to in academic literature as “positive peace.”
The International Criminal Court’s Impact on Peacebuilding in Africa
Authors: Clark Phil
Published: November 2020

This chapter examines the International Criminal Court (ICC) and its intersections with two widespread domestic conflict resolution processes in Africa: national amnesties and peace negotiations. In doing so, it connects to two overarching scholarly and policy debates, namely the appropriateness and legality of amnesties as opposed to prosecutions for suspected perpetrators of international crimes, and the “peace versus justice” debate over whether the threat of prosecution imperils peace negotiations that involve high-level atrocity suspects. This chapter focuses on the ICC’s first two—and therefore most developed—situations in northern Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), with secondary reference to Rwanda, South Sudan, and other conflict-affected states in Africa. The chapter concludes with some lessons from the ICC’s interventions for recrafting international criminal justice in support of the wider pursuit of peace.
Conclusion
Authors: McNamee Terence , Muyangwa Monde
Published: November 2020

Reflecting on the key insights and cross-cutting themes to emerge from the book, The Conclusion observes that the challenge of how to rebuild society following conflict has not become easier over time. It suggests that at thematic and country-level, the sheer complexity of the task at hand is understated, nor is their clarity on what successful peacebuilding looks like. Should we be guided by whether a society has been able to return to stability, which permits people to get on with their lives? Or must it entail some resolution of the underlying causes of conflict? The Conclusion affirms that more work needs to be done in three common areas of concern in peacebuilding worldwide—poor understanding of context, lack of local ownership and leadership, and inadequate collaboration—as well as several areas specific to Africa, notably is the mismatch between the pan-African ideal of self-reliance and the heavy dependency on external (non-African) funding.
The Economics of Peacebuilding: International Organizations for Dealing with Victor and Vanquished
Authors: Songwe Vera
Published: November 2020

This chapter draws on the sharply contrasting experiences of both the League of Nations and the United Nations in the twentieth century in order to highlight the importance of the economic dimension to peace building. In doing so, this chapter questions the conventional wisdom and practice that only after peace is fully restored in a conflict environment can the focus shift to economic development. With special reference to the cases of Guinea Bissau, Cote d’Ivoire and Sudan, it suggests that the insistent, quasi-dogmatic priority given to sequencing actions in this way has served to undermine many peace-building processes before they even begin. At the heart of most of Africa’s largely internal conflicts are the economic imbalances and weaknesses evident in all states on the continent. Just as peace was built in war-shattered Europe through a massive reconstruction plan, the chapter argues that peace-building solutions in Africa must give much greater weight to the economic dimension.
Religion and Peacebuilding in Sub-Saharan Africa
Authors: Ludovic, S. J. Lado Tonlieu
Published: November 2020

This chapter critically examines the contribution of religion to peacebuilding in Sub-Saharan Africa. An overview of the complex and evolving religious landscape of Africa today, where Christianity and Islam coexist alongside African traditional religions, is followed by an exploration of the intersection of secular and faith-based processes of peacebuilding in what remains a profoundly religious continent. Thirdly, this chapter probes the different ways religion has been appropriated or justified in the service of terror, notably in the case of the Central African Republic. Lastly, the chapter considers how religion-based efforts to mitigate conflict in Africa can be made more effective, especially Muslim-based initiatives, given the disproportionate impact on Africa’s Muslims.
A one parameter family of Calabi-Yau manifolds with attractor points of rank two
Authors: Candelas Philip , de la Ossa Xenia , Elmi Mohamed , van Straten Duco
Published: October 2020

Abstract

In the process of studying the ζ-function for one parameter families of Calabi-Yau manifolds we have been led to a manifold, first studied by Verrill, for which the quartic numerator of the ζ-function factorises into two quadrics remarkably often. Among these factorisations, we find persistent factorisations; these are determined by a parameter that satisfies an algebraic equation with coefficients in ℚ, so independent of any particular prime. Such factorisations are expected to be modular with each quadratic factor associated to a modular form. If the parameter is defined over ℚ this modularity is assured by the proof of the Serre Conjecture. We identify three values of the parameter that give rise to persistent factorisations, one of which is defined over ℚ, and identify, for all three cases, the associated modular groups. We note that these factorisations are due a splitting of Hodge structure and that these special values of the parameter are rank two attractor points in the sense of IIB supergravity. To our knowledge, these points provide the first explicit examples of non-singular, non-rigid rank two attractor points for Calabi-Yau manifolds of full SU(3) holonomy. The values of the periods and their covariant derivatives, at the attractor points, are identified in terms of critical values of the L-functions of the modular groups. Thus the critical L-values enter into the calculation of physical quantities such as the area of the black hole in the 4D spacetime. In our search for additional rank two attractor points, we perform a statistical analysis of the numerator of the ζ-function and are led to conjecture that the coefficients in this polynomial are distributed according to the statistics of random USp(4) matrices.
Short-distance HLbL contributions to the muon anomalous magnetic moment beyond perturbation theory
Authors: Bijnens Johan , Hermansson-Truedsson Nils , Laub Laetitia , Rodríguez-Sánchez Antonio
Published: October 2020

Abstract

The hadronic light-by-light contribution to the muon anomalous magnetic moment depends on an integration over three off-shell momenta squared ($$ {Q}_i^2 $$Qi2) of the correlator of four electromagnetic currents and the fourth leg at zero momentum. We derive the short-distance expansion of this correlator in the limit where all three$$ {Q}_i^2 $$Qi2are large and in the Euclidean domain in QCD. This is done via a systematic operator product expansion (OPE) in a background field which we construct. The leading order term in the expansion is the massless quark loop. We also compute the non-perturbative part of the next-to-leading contribution, which is suppressed by quark masses, and the chiral limit part of the next-to-next-to leading contributions to the OPE. We build a renormalisation program for the OPE. The numerical role of the higher-order contributions is estimated and found to be small.
Nuclear modification factors for jet fragmentation
Authors: Caucal P. , Iancu E. , Mueller A. H. , Soyez G.
Published: October 2020

Abstract

Using a recently-developed perturbative-QCD approach for jet evolution in a dense quark-gluon plasma, we study the nuclear modification factor for the jet fragmentation function. The qualitative behaviour that we find is in agreement with the respective experimental observations in Pb+Pb collisions at the LHC: a pronounced nuclear enhancement at both ends of the spectrum. Our Monte Carlo simulations are supplemented with analytic estimates which clarify the physical interpretation of the results. The main source of theoretical uncertainty is the sensitivity of our calculations to a low-momentum cutoff which mimics confinement. To reduce this sensitivity, we propose a new observable, which describes the jet fragmentation into subjets and is infrared-and-collinear safe by construction. We present Monte Carlo predictions for the associated nuclear modification factor together with their physical interpretation.
Phenomenology of magnetic black holes with electroweak-symmetric coronas
Authors: Bai Yang , Berger Joshua , Korwar Mrunal , Orlofsky Nicholas
Published: October 2020

Abstract

Magnetically charged black holes (MBHs) are interesting solutions of the Standard Model and general relativity. They may possess a “hairy” electroweak-symmetric corona outside the event horizon, which speeds up their Hawking radiation and leads them to become nearly extremal on short timescales. Their masses could range from the Planck scale up to the Earth mass. We study various methods to search for primordially produced MBHs and estimate the upper limits on their abundance. We revisit the Parker bound on magnetic monopoles and show that it can be extended by several orders of magnitude using the large-scale coherent magnetic fields in Andromeda. This sets a mass-independent constraint that MBHs have an abundance less than 4 × 10−4 times that of dark matter. MBHs can also be captured in astrophysical systems like the Sun, the Earth, or neutron stars. There, they can become non-extremal either from merging with an oppositely charged MBH or absorbing nucleons. The resulting Hawking radiation can be detected as neutri- nos, photons, or heat. High-energy neutrino searches in particular can set a stronger bound than the Parker bound for some MBH masses, down to an abundance 10−7 of dark matter.
A cut finite element method for a model of pressure in fractured media
Authors: Burman Erik , Hansbo Peter , Larson Mats G.
Published: October 2020

We develop a robust cut finite element method for a model of diffusion in fractured media consisting of a bulk domain with embedded cracks. The crack has its own pressure field and can cut through the bulk mesh in a very general fashion. Starting from a common background bulk mesh, that covers the domain, finite element spaces are constructed for the interface and bulk subdomains leading to efficient computations of the coupling terms. The crack pressure field also uses the bulk mesh for its representation. The interface conditions are a generalized form of conditions of Robin type previously considered in the literature which allows the modeling of a range of flow regimes across the fracture. The method is robust in the following way: (1) Stability of the formulation in the full range of parameter choices; and (2) Not sensitive to the location of the interface in the background mesh. We derive an optimal order a priori error estimate and present illustrating numerical examples.
Bacteria associated with cockroaches: health risk or biotechnological opportunity?
Authors: Guzman Juan , Vilcinskas Andreas
Published: October 2020

Cockroaches have existed for 300 million years and more than 4600 extant species have been described. Throughout their evolution, cockroaches have been associated with bacteria, and today Blattabacterium species flourish within specialized bacteriocytes, recycling nitrogen from host waste products. Cockroaches can disseminate potentially pathogenic bacteria via feces and other deposits, particularly members of the family Enterobacteriaceae, but also Staphylococcus and Mycobacterium species, and thus, they should be cleared from sites where hygiene is essential, such as hospitals and kitchens. On the other hand, cockroaches also carry bacteria that may produce metabolites or proteins with potential industrial applications. For example, an antibiotic-producing Streptomyces strain was isolated from the gut of the American cockroach Periplaneta americana. Other cockroach-associated bacteria, including but not limited to Bacillus, Enterococcus, and Pseudomonas species, can also produce bioactive metabolites that may be suitable for development as pharmaceuticals or plant protection products. Enzymes that degrade industrially relevant substrates, or that convert biomasses into useful chemical precursors, are also expressed in cockroach-derived bacteria and could be deployed for use in the food/feed, paper, oil, or cosmetics industries. The analysis of cockroach gut microbiomes has revealed a number of lesser-studied bacteria that may form the basis of novel taxonomic groups. Bacteria associated with cockroaches can therefore be dangerous or useful, and this review explores the bacterial clades that may provide opportunities for biotechnological exploitation.

Key points

• Members of the Enterobacteriaceae are the most frequently cultivated bacteria from cockroaches.

• Cultivation-independent studies have revealed a diverse community, led by the phyla Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes.

• Although cockroaches may carry pathogenic bacteria, most strains are innocuous and may be useful for biotechnological applications.
Impact of age and sex correction on the diagnostic performance of dopamine transporter SPECT
Authors: Schmitz-Steinkrüger Helen , Lange Catharina , Apostolova Ivayla , Mathies Franziska L. , Frings Lars , Klutmann Susanne , Hellwig Sabine , Meyer Philipp T. , Buchert Ralph
Published: October 2020

Purpose

The specific binding ratio (SBR) of 123I-FP-CIT (FP-CIT) in the putamen decreases with age by about 5% per decade and most likely is about 10% higher in females. However, the clinical utility of age and sex correction of the SBR is still a matter of debate. This study tested the impact of age and sex correction on the diagnostic performance of the putamen SBR in three independent patient samples.

Methods

Research sample: 207 healthy controls (HC) and 438 Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients. Clinical sample A: 183 patients with neurodegenerative parkinsonian syndrome (PS) and 183 patients with non-neurodegenerative PS from one site. Clinical sample B: 84 patients with neurodegenerative PS and 38 patients with non-neurodegenerative PS from another site. Correction for age and sex of the putamen SBR was based on linear regression in the HC or non-neurodegenerative PS, separately in each sample. The area under the ROC curve (AUC) was used as performance measure.

Results

The putamen SBR was higher in females compared to males (PPMI: 14%, p < 0.0005; clinical sample A: 7%, p < 0.0005; clinical sample B: 6%, p = 0.361). Age-related decline of the putamen SBR ranged between 3.3 and 10.4% (p ≤ 0.019). In subjects ≥ 50 years, age and sex explained < 10% of SBR between-subjects variance. Correction of the putamen SBR for age and sex resulted in slightly decreased AUC in the PPMI sample (0.9955 versus 0.9969, p = 0.025) and in clinical sample A (0.9448 versus 0.9519, p = 0.057). There was a small, non-significant AUC increase in clinical sample B (0.9828 versus 0.9743, p = 0.232).

Conclusion

These findings do not support age and sex correction of the putaminal FP-CIT SBR in the diagnostic workup of parkinsonian syndromes. This most likely is explained by the fact that the proportion of between-subjects variance caused by age and sex is considerably below the symptom threshold of about 50% reduction in neurodegenerative PS.
A systematic review of the surgical anatomy of the orbital apex
Authors: Engin Ӧ. , Adriaensen G. F. J. P. M. , Hoefnagels F. W. A. , Saeed P.
Published: October 2020

Purpose

The orbital apex is the narrowest part of the orbit, housing the link between the intracranial cavity and orbit. Knowledge of orbital apex anatomy is crucial to selecting a surgical approach and reducing the risk of complications. Our purpose is to summarize current knowledge on surgical anatomy and attempt to reach a consensus on definition of the orbital apex.

Methods

The online databases of Embase, the Cochrane library, Web of Science and PubMed (MEDLINE) were queried in a comprehensive bibliographic search on the (surgical) anatomy of the orbital apex and consisted of a combination of two subjects, using indexed terms and free text: “Orbital Apex” and “Orbital Anatomy.”

Results

A total of 114 relevant papers were included in this review. Numerous anatomical variations are described in the literature. Variations of the optic canal include duplication (0.64%) and keyhole anomaly (2.65%). Variations in pneumatization of the anterior clinoid process were unilateral in almost 10%, bilateral in 9%, and normal in 72%. A rare variant of the superior orbital fissure (SOF) is Warwick’s foramen, which appears as if the lowest portion of the SOF was separated from the main fissure by a transverse bony bridge.

Conclusion

The definition of the orbital apex varies in the literature, and further research would most likely identify additional variations. A universal definition reporting these variations and pathology and imaging findings is essential for determining the optimal surgical approach to the orbital apex.
Participation of the HIM1 gene of yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae in the error-free branch of post-replicative repair and role Polη in him1-dependent mutagenesis
Authors: Alekseeva E. A. , Evstyukhina T. A. , Peshekhonov V. T. , Korolev V. G.
Published: October 2020

In eukaryotes, DNA damage tolerance (DDT) is determined by two repair pathways, homologous repair recombination (HRR) and a pathway controlled by the RAD6-epistatic group of genes. Monoubiquitylation of PCNA mediates an error-prone pathway, whereas polyubiquitylation stimulates an error-free pathway. The error-free pathway involves components of recombination repair; however, the factors that act in this pathway remain largely unknown. Here, we report that theHIM1gene participates in error-free DDT. Notably, inactivationRAD30gene encoding Polη completely suppresseshim1-dependent UV mutagenesis. Furthermore, data obtained show a significant role of Polη inhim1-dependent mutagenesis, especially at non-bipyrimidine sites (NBP sites). We demonstrate thathim1mutation significantly reduces the efficiency of the induction expression ofRNRgenes after UV irradiation. Besides, this paper presents evidence that significant increase in the dNTP levels suppresshim1-dependent mutagenesis. Our findings show that Polη responsible forhim1-dependent mutagenesis.
Can 3D-printing avoid discomfort-related implant removal in midshaft clavicle fractures? A four-year follow-up
Authors: van Doremalen Rob F. M. , van der Linde Rens A. , Kootstra Jan J. , van Helden Sven H. , Hekman Edsko E. G.
Published: October 2020

Introduction

Due to the variation in shape and curvature of the clavicle, plates often have to be adjusted during surgery to acquire a good fit. Poorly fitted plates can cause discomfort, eventually requiring implant removal. 3D-printed replicas of the fractured clavicle can assist in planning of the surgical approach, plate selection and, if necessary, adjustment of the plate prior to surgery. We hypothesized this method of preoperative preparation would reduce implant-related discomfort resulting in a reduced reoperation rate

Materials and methods

In a prospective cohort study, perioperative plate handling and clavicle fixation were timed and follow-up data were collected from participants undergoing operative treatment for a midshaft clavicle fracture. The control group (n = 7) received conventional surgery with standard precontoured plates. For the intervention group (n = 7), 3D-printed replicas of the fractured clavicle and a mirrored version of the healthy contralateral clavicle were available prior to surgery for planning of the surgical approach, and for plate selection and contouring. Primary outcome was reoperation rate due to implant-related discomfort. Secondary outcomes were complications and time differences in the different surgical phases (reduction, fixation and overall operation time)

Results

More participants in the control group had the plate removed due to discomfort compared to the intervention group (5/7 vs. 0/6; P = 0.012). One participant was excluded from the intervention group due to a postoperative complication; an infection occurred at the implant site. No relevant time difference in surgical plate handling was found between both groups.

Conclusions

Preoperative preparation using 3D-printed replicas of the clavicle fracture may reduce implant removal caused by plated-related discomfort. No relevant effect on surgery time was found.

Trial registration

Registered with ‘toetsingonline.nl’, trial number NL51269.075/14, 17-02-2015
Is the axial length a risk factor for post-LASIK myopic regression?
Authors: Gab-Alla Amr A.
Published: October 2020

Purpose

To assess the relationship between the axial length and post-LASIK regression in myopic patients.

Methods

This is a retrospective case series study conducted at a private eye centre, Ismailia, Egypt. The clinical records of the patients, who experienced LASIK to correct myopia from January 2016 to January 2018, were analysed for myopic regression. The patients were operated on, examined, and followed-up 1 year by one surgeon (AAG).

Results

This study included 1219 patients (2316 eyes) with myopia. Mean ± SD of pre-operative spherical equivalent (SE) was − 4.3 ± 2.1D, range (− 0.50 to − 10.0D). Mean ± SD age of the patients was 26.4 ± 6.8 years, range (21 to 50 years). Male to female ratio was 30.5 to 69.5%. The cumulative incidence rate of myopic regression according to the medical records of the patients was 25.12% (582 eyes out of total 2316 eyes) along the 2 years of this study (12.6% per year). Of the total patients, 14.94% had pre-operative high myopia, 35.84% had pre-operative moderate myopia, and 49.2% had pre-operative low myopia. Of the patients with myopic regression, 52.6% had pre-operative high myopia, 34% had pre-operative moderate myopia, and 13.4% had pre-operative low myopia. The mean ± SD of the axial length of the patients with myopic regression was 26.6 ± 0.44 mm, range (26.0 to 27.86 mm), while the mean ± SD of the axial length of other patients with stable refraction was 24.38 ± 0.73 mm, range (22.9 to 25.9 mm) (t test statistic = 69.3; P value < 0.001).

Conclusions

Pre-operative high axial length increases the risk of myopic regression after LASIK.
Indocyanine green fluorescence navigation in laparoscopic hepatectomy: a retrospective single-center study of 120 cases
Authors: Lu Hao , Gu Jian , Qian Xiao-feng , Dai Xin-zheng
Published: October 2020

Purpose

To explore the role of indocyanine green (ICG) fluorescence navigation in laparoscopic hepatectomy and investigate if the timing of its administration influences the intraoperative observation.

Methods

The subjects of this retrospective study were 120 patients who underwent laparoscopic hepatectomy; divided into an ICG-FN group (n = 57) and a non-ICG-FN group (n = 63). We analyzed the baseline data and operative data.

Results

There were no remarkable differences in baseline data such as demographic characteristics, lesion-related characteristics, and liver function parameters between the groups. Operative time and intraoperative blood loss were significantly lower in the ICG-FN group. The rate of R0 resection of malignant tumors was comparable in the ICG-FN and non-ICG-FN groups, but the wide surgical margin rate was significantly higher in the ICG-FN group. The administration of ICG 0–3 or 4–7 days preoperatively did not affect the intraoperative fluorescence imaging. Operative time, intraoperative blood loss, and a wide surgical margin correlated with ICG fluorescence navigation. ICG fluorescence navigation helped to minimize intraoperative blood loss and achieve a wide surgical margin.

Conclusion

ICG fluorescence navigation is safe and efficient in laparoscopic hepatectomy. It helps to achieve a wide surgical margin, which could result in a better prognosis. The administration of ICG 0–3 days preoperatively is acceptable.
Standard versus eversion-modified double-staple technique for low colorectal anastomoses after resection of rectal cancer
Authors: Illuminati Giulio , Pasqua Rocco , Perotti Bruno , Urciuoli Paolo , Nardi Priscilla , Fratini Chiara , Carboni Fabio , Valle Mario
Published: October 2020

Purpose

The double-staple technique, performed as either the standard procedure or after eversion of the rectal stump, is a well-established method of performing low colorectal anastomoses following the resection of rectal cancer. Eversion of the tumor-bearing ano-rectal stump was proposed to allow the linear stapler to be fired at a safe distance of clearance from the tumor. We conducted this study to compare the results of the standard versus the eversion-modified double-staple technique.

Methods

The subjects of this retrospective study were 753 consecutive patients who underwent low stapled colorectal anastomosis after resection of rectal cancer. The patients were divided into two groups according to the method of anastomosis used: Group A comprised 165 patients (22%) treated with the modified eversion technique and group B comprised 588 patients (78%) treated with the standard technique. The primary endpoints of the study were postoperative mortality, surgery-related morbidity, the number of sampled lymph nodes in the mesorectum, and late disease-related survival.

Results

Postoperative mortality was 1.2% in group A and 1.7% in group B (p = 0.66). Postoperative morbidity was 12% in group A and 11% in group B (p = 0.75). The mean number of sampled lymph nodes in the mesorectum was 23 (range 17–27) in group A and 24 (range 19–29) in group B (p = 0.06). The 5-year disease-related survival was 73% in group A and 74% in group B (p = 0.75).

Conclusion

The standard and eversion-modified double-staple techniques yield comparable results.