bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Reconstruction of a catalogue of genome-scale metabolic models with enzymatic constraints using GECKO 2.0
Authors: Domenzain Iván , Sánchez Benjamín , Anton Mihail , Kerkhoven Eduard J. , Millán-Oropeza Aarón , Henry Céline , Siewers Verena , Morrissey John P. , Sonnenschein Nikolaus , Nielsen Jens
Published: March 2021

Genome-scale metabolic models (GEMs) have been widely used for quantitative exploration of the relation between genotype and phenotype. Streamlined integration of enzyme constraints and proteomics data into GEMs was first enabled by the GECKO method, allowing the study of phenotypes constrained by protein limitations. Here, we upgraded the GECKO toolbox in order to enhance models with enzyme and proteomics constraints for any organism with an available GEM reconstruction. With this, enzyme-constrained models (ecModels) for the budding yeastsSaccharomyces cerevisiae, Yarrowia lipolyticaandKluyveromyces marxianuswere generated, aiming to study their long-term adaptation to several stress factors by incorporation of proteomics data. Predictions revealed that upregulation and high saturation of enzymes in amino acid metabolism were found to be common across organisms and conditions, suggesting the relevance of metabolic robustness in contrast to optimal protein utilization as a cellular objective for microbial growth under stress and nutrient-limited conditions. The functionality of GECKO was further developed by the implementation of an automated framework for continuous and version-controlled update of ecModels, which was validated by producing additional high-quality ecModels forEscherichia coliandHomo sapiens.These efforts aim to facilitate the utilization of ecModels in basic science, metabolic engineering and synthetic biology purposes.
Structural basis for the coiled-coil architecture of human CtIP
Authors: Morton C. R. , Rzechorzek N. J. , Maman J. D. , Kuramochi M. , Sekiguchi H. , Rambo R. , Sasaki Y. C. , Davies O. R. , Pellegrini L.
Published: March 2021

The DNA repair factor CtIP has a critical function in Double-Strand Break (DSB) repair by Homologous Recombination, promoting the assembly of the repair apparatus at DNA ends and participating in DNA-end resection. However, the molecular mechanisms of CtIP function in DSB repair remain unclear. Here we present an atomic model for the three-dimensional architecture of human CtIP, derived from a multi-disciplinary approach that includes X-ray crystallography, Small-angle X-ray Scattering (SAXS) and Diffracted X-ray Tracking (DXT). Our data show that CtIP adopts an extended dimer-of-dimers structure, in agreement with a role in bridging distant sites on chromosomal DNA during recombinational repair. The zinc-binding motif in CtIP’s N-terminus alters dynamically the coiled coil structure, with functional implications for the long-range interactions of CtIP with DNA. Our results provide a structural basis for the three-dimensional arrangement of chains in the CtIP tetramer, a key aspect of CtIP function in DNA DSB repair.
Multi-Species Phenotypic Screening across Disease Models of Mucolipidosis Type IV
Authors: Hadjikyriacou Andrea , Iyer Sangeetha , Mast Joshua D. , DiPrimio Nina , Concannon John , Ketterman Joshua , Sigoillot Frederic , Rodriguez Tamy P. , Sam Feba S. , Tsang Hillary , Prangley Madeleine , Bilen Julide , Murthy Kausalya , Hartl Tom A. , Antczak Christophe , Jenkins Jeremy L , Ross Nathan T. , Nyfeler Beat , Jain Rishi K. , Tallarico John A. , Perlstein Ethan O. , Canham Stephen M.
Published: March 2021

Invertebrate model organisms (the nematodeCaenorhabditis elegansand the fruit flyDrosophila melanogaster) are valuable tools to bridge the gap between traditional in vitro discovery and preclinical animal models. Invertebrate model organisms are poised to serve as better disease models than 2D cellular monocultures for drug discovery, as well as easier and more cost-effective to scale up than 3D organoids/assembloids or co-cultures. A strength of model organisms is the opportunity to probe conserved biology such as lysosomal function and autophagy in a physiological setting. However, invertebrate models are not without pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic challenges, such as poor tissue penetration and confidence in a compound’s mechanism of action. To confront those challenges, we took advantage of the Novartis mechanism-of-action box (MoA Box), a compound library of well-annotated and drug-like chemical probes. Curious as to how the MoA Box, comprised of chemical probes optimized for mammalian targets, would fare in an invertebrate setting we screened the MoA Box across three different models of the lysosomal storage disease mucolipidosis Type IV (MLIV). MLIV is caused by mutations in the lysosomal transient receptor potential ion channel mucolipin-1 (TRPML1) resulting in hyper-acidic lysosomes and dysregulated autophagy. The overlap of screening hits from worm, fly, and patient fibroblast screens identified cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) inhibition as an evolutionarily conserved disease modifier and potential drug repurposing strategy.

Summary statement

A trio of phenotypic screens acrossDrosophila,C. elegans,andH. sapiensmodels of mucolipidosis IV was performed and identified overlapping hits including cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors.
A cell wall invertase controls nectar volume and sugar composition
Authors: Minami Anzu , Kang Xiaojun , Carter Clay J.
Published: March 2021

Flowering plants produce nectar to attract pollinators. The main nectar sugars are sucrose, glucose, and fructose, which can vary widely in ratio and concentration across species.Brassicaspp. produce a hexose-dominant nectar (high in the monosaccharides glucose and fructose) with very low levels of the disaccharide sucrose. Cell wall invertases (CWINVs) catalyze the irreversible hydrolysis of sucrose into glucose and fructose in the apoplast. We found thatBrCWINV4Ais highly expressed in the nectaries ofBrassica rapa. Moreover, abrcwinv4anull mutant has (1) greatly reduced cell wall invertase activity in the nectaries, and (2) produces a sucrose-rich nectar with little hexose content, but (3) with significantly less volume. These results were recapitulated via exogenous application of an invertase inhibitor to wild-type flowers. Honeybees prefer nectars with some sucrose, but wild-typeB. rapaflowers were much more heavily visited than those ofbrcwinv4a, suggesting that the potentially attractive sucrose-rich nectar ofbrcwinv4acould not compensate for its low volume. These results cumulatively indicate that BrCWINV4A is not only essential for producing a hexose-rich nectar, but also support a model of nectar secretion in which its hydrolase activity is required for maintaining a high intracellular-to-extracellular sucrose ratio that facilitates the continuous export of sucrose into the apoplast via SWEET9. Extracellular hydrolysis of each sucrose into two hexoses byBrCWINV4Aalso likely creates the osmotic potential required for nectar droplet formation. In summary, modulation of CWINV activity can at least partially account for naturally occurring differences in nectar volume and sugar composition.
An instrument for measuring the influence of consumers' cultural values on functional food perception
Authors: Neupane Saugat , Chimhundu Ranga , Chan K.C.
Published: March 2021

Purpose

The purpose of the article is to develop an instrument for measuring the influence of consumers' cultural values on functional food perception.

Design/methodology/approach

The study is quantitative in nature and builds on an earlier qualitative study that employed in-depth interviews, thematic analysis and constant comparative analysis to construct a survey instrument which initially had 53 items. The quantitative study involved an online survey that was conducted using this instrument, which resulted in 365 complete cases that included 173 Anglo-Australian, 102 Chinese and 90 Indian respondents living in Australia. The survey data were subjected to exploratory factor analysis using Principal axis factoring, with Promax rotation.

Findings

The research has validated that functional food perception is dependent upon consumers' cultural values. The results of the exploratory factor analysis provided a six-factor instrument with 32 items.

Research limitations/implications

Only three ethnic groups were involved in this study and that is not entirely representative of Australia or other countries. The instrument, however, will allow researchers in the field of functional food to extend the research to other diverse communities.

Practical implications

The instrument will further enable functional food producers and marketers to develop effective marketing strategies based on their knowledge of the influence of cultural values on functional food perception.

Originality/value

The instrument developed from this study, for measuring consumers' functional food perception based on cultural values, is the first of its kind.
The strategic alignment between supply chain process management maturity model and competitive strategy
Authors: Santos Inêz Manuele dos , Mota Caroline Maria de Miranda , Alencar Luciana Hazin
Published: March 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to propose a conceptual framework to integrate a maturity model to the supply chain (SC) strategy, in order to understand how a maturity model can be useful in diagnosing and developing the capabilities of SC business processes (BPs) to meet SC's strategy.

Design/methodology/approach

The proposed framework was based on an SC strategy framework, in which a maturity model was added in order to diagnose and identify SC process capabilities that need to be developed, per maturity level, according to the type of SC strategy and the competitive strategy. A grid was proposed to analyze the relationship between them. An exploratory case study (multiple cases) was applied to verify the applicability of the model.

Findings

Findings indicate that a maturity model can delimit and align, as far as the company needs to reach, the SC strategic interests with the company's competitive objectives. However, some barriers and facilitating factors implicit can impact on this alignment. It is also noted that the maximum level of SC management (SCM) maturity may not be in the strategic interest of the company.

Originality/value

Due to the few empirical studies on the value of maturity models, this research contributes to the understanding of the usefulness of an SC process maturity model for the SC strategy. Moreover, the framework can show how a maturity model can serve as a parameter and guide to develop the capabilities of processes, resources and activities to meet the SC strategy and the reach of the competitive strategy.
Data envelopment analysis using the binary-data
Authors: Pourmahmoud Jafar , Gholam Azad Maedeh
Published: March 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to propose the data envelopment analysis (DEA) model that can be used as binary-valued data. Often the basic DEA models were developed by assuming that all of the data are non-negative. However, there are situations where all data are binary. As an example, the information on many diseases in health care is binary data. The existence of binary data in traditional DEA models may change the behavior of the production possibility set (PPS). This study defines a binary summation operator, expresses the modified principles and introduces the extracted PPS of axioms. Furthermore, this study proposes a binary integer programming of DEA (BIP-DEA) for assessing the efficiency scores to use as an alternate tool in prediction.

Design/methodology/approach

In this study, the extracted PPS of modified axioms and the BIP-DEA model for assessing the efficiency score is proposed.

Findings

The binary integer model was proposed to eliminate the challenges of the binary-value data in DEA.

Originality/value

The importance of the proposed model for many fields including the health-care industry is that it can predict the occurrence or non-occurrence of the events, using binary data. This model has been applied to evaluate the most important risk factors for stroke disease and mechanical disorders. The targets set by this model can help to diagnose earlier the disease and increase the patients’ chances of recovery.
Economic growth, carbon dioxide emissions and energy consumption in Algeria: a wavelet coherence approach
Authors: Chekouri Sidi Mohammed , Chibi Abderrahim , Benbouziane Mohamed
Published: March 2021

Purpose

The world is nowadays facing major environmental damage and climate change everywhere. Carbon dioxide emissions are major causes of such change. It is in this respect that the current study provides a fresh insight into the dynamic nexus between energy consumption (EC), economic growth (EG) and CO2 emissions in Algeria, as it is considered as one of the top CO2 emitters in Africa.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors use the wavelet approaches and Breitung and Candelon (2006) causality test to gauge the association between EC, EG and CO2 emissions over the period 1971–2018. Specifically, this study implements the wavelet power spectrum (WPS) to identify the power and variability of each variable at different time scales. The wavelet coherence, phase differences and partial wavelet coherence are also used to assess the co-movement and lead lag relationship between economic growth, energy consumption and CO2 emissions over different time scale. Finally, Breitung and Candelon (2006) causality test is used to find the causality among variables.

Findings

The wavelet power spectrum results indicate that economic growth, energy consumption and CO2 emissions share common strong variance in the medium and long run. Furthermore, the wavelet coherence results suggest that there is a significant co-movement between EG and CO2 emissions, and EG is the leading variable for CO2 emissions and EC. The results also unveil that both EG and EC cause CO2 emissions both in short and long run. The results suggest that Algeria should take suitable measures towards the promotion of renewable energy sources.

Originality/value

The present empirical study filled the literature gap of applying the wavelet approach and frequency domain spectral causality test to examine this relevant issue for Algeria.
Shadow economy, institutions and environmental pollution: insights from Africa
Authors: Dada James Temitope , Ajide Folorunsho Monsur , Sharimakin Akinwumi
Published: March 2021

Purpose

This study investigates the effect of shadow economy on environmental pollution and the role of institutional quality in moderating the impact in African countries between 1991 and 2015.

Design/methodology/approach

The study employs three pollutant variables namely: carbon dioxide emissions per capita, methane emission and nitrous oxide emission as robustness check. Also, battery of methodologies; ordinary least squares, fixed effects and system generalised method of moments are used to drive out the conclusions of this study.

Findings

The findings reveal that shadow economy and institutional quality contribute significantly to environmental pollution in Africa. Further, the interactive effect of shadow economy and institutional quality worsens environmental quality in the region. This reveals that weak institutional quality recorded in the region increases the level of shadow economy, thereby intensifying environmental pollution.

Practical implications

The study concludes that weak institutional framework in the region reinforces shadow economy and environmental pollution. Hence, findings from this study can help policymakers in the region to better understand the role of institutional quality in reducing shadow economy and environmental pollution.

Originality/value

This study enriches one’s understanding on the role of institutional quality in the relationship between environmental quality and shadow economy in African context. It investigates the direct and indirect impact of institutions and shadow economy on environmental quality. The study also uses three different robust variables to measure environmental pollution (carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions per capita, methane emission and nitrous oxide emission) for sensitivity analysis.
Mesenchymal plasticity of devil facial tumour cells during in vivo vaccine and immunotherapy trials
Authors: Patchett Amanda L , Tovar Cesar , Blackburn Nicholas B , Woods Gregory M , Lyons A Bruce
Published: March 2021

Immune evasion is critical to the growth and survival of cancer cells. This is especially pertinent to transmissible cancers, which evade immune detection across genetically diverse hosts. The Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii) is threatened by the emergence of Devil Facial Tumour Disease (DFTD), comprising two transmissible cancers (DFT1 and DFT2). The development of effective prophylactic vaccines and therapies against DFTD has been restricted by an incomplete understanding of how allogeneic DFT1 and DFT2 cells maintain immune evasion upon activation of tumour‐specific immune responses. In this study, we used RNA sequencing to examine tumours from three experimental DFT1 cases. Two devils received a vaccine prior to inoculation with live DFT1 cells, providing an opportunity to explore changes to DFT1 cancers under immune pressure. Analysis of DFT1 in the non‐immunised devil revealed a ‘myelinating Schwann cell’ phenotype, reflecting both natural DFT1 cancers and the DFT1 cell line used for the experimental challenge. Comparatively, immunised devils exhibited a ‘dedifferentiated mesenchymal’ DFT1 phenotype. A third ‘immune‐enriched’ phenotype, characterised by increased PDL1 and CTLA‐4 expression, was detected in a DFT1 tumour that arose after immunotherapy. In response to immune pressure, mesenchymal plasticity and upregulation of immune checkpoint molecules are used by human cancers to evade immune responses. Similar mechanisms are associated with immune evasion by DFTD cancers, providing novel insights that will inform modification of DFTD vaccines. As DFT1 and DFT2 are clonal cancers transmitted across genetically distinct hosts, the Tasmanian devil provides a ‘natural’ disease model for more broadly exploring these immune evasion mechanisms in cancer.
WeChat‐assisted health education improves care ability, reduces care burden and improves quality of life of parents of infants after enterostomy
Authors: Gao Xiao‐Tan , Huang Ke‐Chu , Cui Xu , Zhou Chao‐Ming
Published: March 2021

Aim

The purpose of this study was to explore the effect of implementing WeChat‐assisted health education for parents of infants after enterostomy.

Methods

This study retrospectively analysed the clinical data of 106 infants after enterostomy whose parents received WeChat‐assisted health education in our hospital from June 2017 to June 2019. The clinical data of 92 infants after enterostomy whose parents received traditional health education in our hospital from May 2015 to May 2017 were selected as the control group.

Results

The care ability of the WeChat health education group was significantly better than that of the traditional health education group (P < 0.05). The care burden of the WeChat health education group was significantly lower than that of the traditional health education group (P < 0.05). The results of the WHOQOL‐BREF showed that the quality of life for WeChat health education group was significantly higher than that for the traditional health education group (P < 0.05). The incidence of complications, including mucosal oedema, allergic dermatitis, faecal dermatitis and avulsion injury, in the WeChat health education group was significantly lower than that in the traditional health education group.

Conclusion

The implementation of WeChat‐assisted health education for parents of infants after enterostomy can effectively improve parents' care ability, reduce parents' care burden, improve parents' quality of life and reduce the incidence of complications in patients.
Storifying routines and routinising stories: A dualistic subject positioning analysis of controversies about constraints on patient autonomy
Authors: Smith Simon
Published: March 2021

This paper uses subject positioning theory to explore how conflicts between autonomy and protection are managed in the justification of controversial care arrangements for patients with mental/neurological illness. Its basic argument is twofold: firstly, to justify or propose care arrangements at strategic or contentious moments, actors position illness as an actant and make it present in talk‐in‐interaction, exploiting alignments and misalignments between the there and then of reported events and the above and beyond of shared societal discourses to say what matters and what's to be done here and now; secondly, the introduction of authoritative voices from elsewhere involves imbricating narrative and routine sequences in order to prioritise different subjectivities. Dilemmas opposing autonomy and protection may seem less intractable if we adopt a corresponding perspective interplay between narrative and routine situational readings.
Arabidopsis JMJ17 promotes cotyledon greening during de‐etiolation by repressing genes involved in tetrapyrrole biosynthesis in etiolated seedlings
Authors: Islam Md. Torikul , Wang Long‐Chi , Chen I‐Ju , Lo Kuan‐Lin , Lo Wan‐Sheng
Published: March 2021

Arabidopsis histone H3 lysine 4 (H3K4) demethylases play crucial roles in several developmental processes, but their involvement in seedling establishment remain unexplored.

Here, we show that Arabidopsis JUMONJI DOMAIN‐CONTAINING PROTEIN17 (JMJ17), an H3K4me3 demethylase, is involved in cotyledon greening during seedling establishment. Dark‐grown seedlings of jmj17 accumulated a high concentration of protochlorophyllide, an intermediate metabolite in the tetrapyrrole biosynthesis (TPB) pathway that generates chlorophyll (Chl) during photomorphogenesis. Upon light irradiation, jmj17 mutants displayed decreased cotyledon greening and reduced Chl level compared with the wild‐type; overexpression of JMJ17 completely rescued the jmj17‐5 phenotype.

Transcriptomics analysis uncovered that several genes encoding key enzymes involved in TPB were upregulated in etiolated jmj17 seedlings. Consistently, chromatin immunoprecipitation‐quantitative PCR revealed elevated H3K4me3 level at the promoters of target genes. Chromatin association of JMJ17 was diminished upon light exposure. Furthermore, JMJ17 interacted with PHYTOCHROME INTERACTING FACTOR1 in the yeast two‐hybrid assay.

JMJ17 binds directly to gene promoters to demethylate H3K4me3 to suppress PROTOCHLOROPHYLLIDE OXIDOREDUCTASE C expression and TPB in the dark. Light results in de‐repression of gene expression to modulate seedling greening during de‐etiolation. Our study reveals a new role for histone demethylase JMJ17 in controlling cotyledon greening in etiolated seedlings during the dark‐to‐light transition.
Four-Bar Linkage Synthesis Methods for Two Precision Positions Combined With N Quasi-Positions
Authors: Mirth John A.
Published: March 2021

Mechanisms seldom need to pass through more than one or two exact positions. The method of quasi-position synthesis combines a number of approximate or “quasi” positions with two exact positions to design four-bar linkages that will produce a specified, bounded motion. Quasi-position synthesis allows for the optimization of some linkage characteristic (such as link lengths or transmission angles) by using the three variables that describe a single quasi-position. Procedures for circuit and transmission angle rectification are also easily incorporated into the quasi-position synthesis method.
Numerical Solution of Some Three-State Random Vibration Problems
Authors: Wojtkiewicz S. F. , Bergman L. A. , Spencer B. F.
Published: March 2021

This paper reports some of the recent efforts by the authors to examine the random vibration of mechanical systems of large dimension. A finite element solution method for the stationary three-dimensional Fokker-Planck equation, employing sparse storage and iterative solution strategies, is outlined and then applied to several representative systems. The first of these is a linear oscillator subjected to a first order linearly filtered Gaussian white noise process. This problem is used to verify and assess the accuracy of the method. After verification, two Duffing systems are analyzed, one exhibiting unimodal and the other bimodal response characteristics. Finally, some comparisons of the finite element results with those from Monte Carlo simulation are made for the two nonlinear systems.
Updating the Damping Matrix Using Frequency Response Data
Authors: Reix Cécile , Gerard Alain , Tombini Christian
Published: March 2021

This paper presents a method for the updating of the damping matrix of a linear dynamic system.

For this dynamic study, it is presumed that the characteristic mass and stiffness matrices are perfectly known thanks to the updating of the experimental and calculed frequencies and mode shapes as from a finit element model. Furthermore, it is accepted that damping has only a minor effect on the frequencies and mode shapes of a structure (a hypothesis that has been verified for structures with low damping). It is proposed to adjuste the coefficients of the [D] hysteretic damping matrix as from the superposition of the experimental and analytical Frequency Response Functions (FRF). The frequencies and mode shapes are extracted from the solutions of the caracteristic equation (3) resulting from the classic dynamic equation. An analytical FRF is calculed and then used to establish the sensitivity matrix, translating the influence of the updating parameters on the FRF. To update the [D] matrix, we use a non-linear weighted least squares estimation.
Dynamic Analysis of Geared Rotor-Bearing Systems by the Transfer Matrix Method
Authors: Choi Siu-Tong , Mau Sheng-Yang
Published: March 2021

In this paper, an analytical study of the dynamic characteristics of geared rotor-bearing systems by the transfer matrix method is presented. Rotating shafts are modeled as Timoshenko beam with shear deformation and gyroscopic effects taken into account. The gear mesh is modeled as a pair of rigid disks connected by a spring-damper set and a transmission-error exciter. The transfer matrix of a gear mesh is developed. The coupling motions of the lateral and torsional vibration are studied. In free vibration analysis of geared rotor systems, natural frequencies and corresponding mode shapes, and the whirl frequencies under different spin speeds are determined. Effects of bearing stiffness, isotropic and orthotropic bearings, pressure angle of the gear mesh are studied. In steady-state vibration analysis, responses due to the excitation of mass unbalance and the transmission error are studied. Parametric characteristics of geared rotor systems are discussed.
Fracture Mechanics Analysis of a Last Stage Steam Turbine Blade Failure
Authors: Rao J. S.
Published: March 2021

In the early morning hours on March 31, 1993, a major accident took place in a nuclear power plant located at Narora in Northern India. Blade # 52 of the last stage has shown a clear fatigue fracture at the first landing of its root The fracture surface clearly indicated three zones, the first zone with a crack initiating at the strain raiser point and propagating over a period of time, a second zone where the blade was subjected to a multiple impact type of loading and fresh crack initiation and propagation and the third zone consisting of unstable fracture. This paper describes the analysis of these cracks based on Stress Intensity Factor approach.
Friction Dampers: Measurement, Modelling and Application to Blade Vibration Control
Authors: Sanliturk Kenan Y. , Stanbridge Anthony B. , Ewins David J.
Published: March 2021

This paper describes a procedure that combines the measurement of dry-friction contact behaviour, its theoretical modelling and the analysis of structures with friction joints. The experimental part describes a friction damper test rig which is specifically designed for measuring the dynamic force-response characteristics of a joint. A hybrid mathematical model, which is a combination of the traditional macro- and micro-slip models, is proposed to represent the joint characteristics and it is shown that such a model represents the measured behaviour better than any of the traditional ones. The final part of the paper demonstrates the procedure applied to a blade-damper test structure and which includes testing, analysis and correlation of both sets of results. The non-linear response levels are predicted using a dedicated program based on the Harmonic Balance Method and it is found that the proposed analysis procedure can predict the amount of response reduction, the optimum friction damper load and the locked natural frequency quite accurately.
The Method of Successive Decrease and the Concept of Harmonic Wave Filter in Structural Wave Control
Authors: Wang Dajun , Wang Quan , Leung A. Y. T.
Published: March 2021

Most of the available vibration control methods for flexible structures are based on the modal control method, which, however, sometimes meets with problems. For examples, the problem of spillover has not been solved adequately. And, for flexible large space structures with closely spaced natural frequencies, it is very difficult to use modal method to treat vibration control problems because the modes corresponding to closely spaced and repeated frequencies can not be computed accurately.

In recent years, the method of structural wave control has been developed, but it has not been studied sufficiently. The object of this paper is an attempt to solve some of the existing problems raised due to the application of the modal control method. A wave control method — the method of successive decrease is set up at first, which is aimed at one harmonic wave. Then, a new design method in wave control is proposed, based on the above method. The problem of control spillover is analyzed and the concept of harmonic wave filter is introduced.

As an example, the problem of the control of structures with closely spaced natural frequencies is treated by both the method of modal control and the method of successive decrease. The numerical results show that the method of successive decrease is more effective than the method of modal control. It proves that the method of successive decrease and the concept of harmonic wave filter is promising in solving the problems of structural control.
Vibration Control Method and Adaptability for Flexible Structures With Distributed Parameters Using a Hybrid Dynamic Absorber
Authors: Seto Kazuto , Kondo Susumu , Ezure Katsuhiko
Published: March 2021

This paper examines the vibration control of a flexible structure using a hybrid dynamic absorber. A new method for modeling flexible structures with distributed parameters using a reduced-order model with lumped parameters is specified. Both prevention of spillover and physical correspondence at the modeling points are taken into consideration. Due to restrictions of controller design it is necessary to employ reduced-order models of flexible structures when using LQ control theory to control vibration. By ignoring higher mode orders model reduction may invite vibration instability called spillover. In order to prevent spillover nodes of higher-order vibration modes are selected as modeling points. The effectiveness of this method is demonstrated by applying vibration control to a flexible tower-like structure. In addition the robustness of the control system is tested by placing the sensors and absorbers at points different from those selected by the model.
Parameter Identification of Linear and Nonlinear Finite Element Models
Authors: Vestroni Fabrizio , Capecchi Danilo , Antonacci Elena
Published: March 2021

In the field of civil engineering the availability of experimental data is often limited, so that it is imperative the use of all the available a priori information on the behavior of the structure. In this work a procedure is presented for the identification of a finite element model of a linear or nonlinear structures, which allows to meet this requirement. The procedure is framed within the output error techniques, which, while requiring more complex algorithm, can be easily extended from linear to nonlinear structures. The whole solution strategy is maintained with the single difference of the observed quantities: they are modal quantities in the linear case, while the time histories of the response is used in the nonlinear case. Two sample problems are presented. The identifiability aspects, the amplification of errors in the identification procedure and the optimal selection of parameters and measurements are discussed.
Effect of Resistance Training of Psoas Major in Combination With Regular Running Training on Performance in Long-Distance Runners
Authors: Yamanaka Ryo , Wakasawa Shinya , Yamashiro Koya , Kodama Naoki , Sato Daisuke
Published: March 2021

Purpose: The study determined whether the increase in the cross-sectional area (CSA) of psoas major, which is known as a hip-flexion muscle, by resistance training combined with running training improves the performance of long-distance runners. Methods: Subjects were 8 well-trained male long-distance runners. The personal best time in a 5000-m race was 15:10.0 (0:20.5) (mean [SD]). Each subject performed resistance training twice per week with running training for 12 weeks. The authors used 3 resistance training regimens that would train the hip flexor muscles. Training intensity was a maximum of 10 repetitions. The training amount was 3 sets × 10 times during the first 4 weeks followed by 4 sets × 10 times during the last 8 weeks. The authors measured the CSA of psoas major using magnetic resonance imaging and the performance of long-distance runners using a constant velocity running test before (pre) and after (post) the training term. Results: The combination training significantly (P < .01, d = 0.34) increased the CSA of psoas major (pre: 16.2 [1.5] cm2, post: 16.7 [1.4] cm2) and significantly (P < .01, d = 1.41) improved the duration of the constant velocity running test (pre: 500 [108] s, post: 715 [186] s). Moreover, multiple regression analysis showed that the pre to post change in the duration of the constant velocity exercise was significantly correlated with the change in CSA of the psoas major. Conclusion: The authors suggest that resistance training of psoas major with running training is correlated with an improvement in the performance of long-distance runners.
‘Lipo-tourism’ gone wrong: blood transfusion-transmitted cytomegalovirus disease
Authors: Brahier Mark , Neuda Rhanika , Davis William , Poon Rita
Published: March 2021

Medical tourism is the pursuit of more affordable surgeries; however, this comes at the risk of suboptimal standards and potential for life-threatening complications. In this case, we describe the diagnostic challenge of cytomegalovirus (CMV) pneumonia in a 40-year-old woman who experienced wound dehiscence and subsequent blood transfusion-transmitted CMV as complications of liposuction in the Dominican Republic. We explore the role of histopathology in the diagnosis of disseminated CMV, discuss the underlying aetiology of CMV pneumonia in this patient and weigh the risks and benefits of initiating antiviral therapy in an immunocompetent patient with CMV disease.
Electric cigarette-related lung injury and cardiovascular insult
Authors: Amirahmadi Roxana , Childress James , Patel Sonika , Wagner Lee-Ann
Published: March 2021

The cardiovascular effects of electronic cigarette use are unknown. Here we present a case describing a young, previously healthy patient without prior cardiopulmonary comorbidities who developed severe, acute cardiac dysfunction in the setting of e-cigarette use, in addition to the more commonly encountered respiratory symptoms. While pulmonary manifestations are characteristic of e-cigarette or vaping product use-associated lung injury (EVALI), the acute and reversible cardiomyopathy seen here has not been previously described in association with either EVALI or e-cigarette use.
When to consider tuberculosis: bronchiectasis in the elderly population
Authors: Morgan Caitlin Rose , Russell Georgina K , Kon Onn Min
Published: March 2021

In England patients aged 65 years and over experience a delay of more than 4 months between onset of symptoms and diagnosis of pulmonary TB. This report examines three cases of patients experiencing significant delays in both diagnosis and treatment. Each case had a background of bronchiectasis. Symptoms were initially believed to be secondary to their pre-existing lung disease. Immunosenescence, atypical presentation and pre-existing lung disease mean there is often a significant delay in diagnosis in this population at both a primary care and specialist level.
Alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma metastatic to the brain
Authors: Rodriguez-Beato Freddie , De Jesus Orlando , Sanchez-Ortiz Javier , Delgado Patricia , Perez-Berenguer Juan L , Labat Eduardo J
Published: March 2021

Alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma (ARMS) has a predilection for the peripheral extremities, and brain metastases are rare, with only a few cases reported after the initial diagnosis. We present a 22-year-old male patient with a right orbital-ethmoidal ARMS who presented with a recurrence to the brain 1 year after the initial diagnosis. He was referred to our institution due to acute neurological deterioration. A brain MRI was performed, showing an enhancing bilateral parafalcine lesion centred about the bilateral cingulate gyri with extension into the corpus callosum. The patient was taken to the operating room for a stereotactic biopsy under general anaesthesia, which was compatible with metastatic ARMS. Our case is exceedingly rare, considering the initial diagnosis of an orbital/ethmoidal ARMS, its subsequent metastasis to the brain and its clinical sequelae after a biopsy. Prognosis after cerebral metastatic ARMS is dismal, with most patients expiring due to central nervous system metastatic disease.
Spinal surgery for a late-onset axial myopathy
Authors: Karunaratne Kushan , Wade Charles , Lehovsky Jan , Viegas Stuart
Published: March 2021

Axial myopathies with paraspinal predominance usually present with dropped head, abnormal posture or rigidity of the spine. Management of axial myopathy can be difficult and there is little data in the literature about surgical treatment. We discuss a case of axial myopathy with late-onset scoliosis and dropped head, focusing on the surgical management of the case.
Isolated intestinal polyarteritis nodosa in an elderly patient
Authors: González-Meléndez Ariana , Medina-Parrilla Eduardo J , Vélez Román , Vilá Luis M
Published: March 2021

Polyarteritis nodosa (PAN) is a necrotising systemic vasculitis involving medium-sized and small-sized vessels. PAN limited to a single organ is rare, particularly in the elderly population. Herein, we present a 73-year-old-woman who developed severe abdominal pain. Mesenteric angiography showed multifocal areas of segmental dilation and narrowing of the superior mesenteric, ileocolic and right colonic arteries. Exploratory laparotomy revealed multiple areas of necrosis of the jejunum for which resection was performed. Histopathological exam disclosed mesenteric vasculitis with fibrinoid necrosis of the arterial wall with leucocytic infiltrates and haemorrhages consistent with PAN. She was started on high-dose corticosteroids with an initial good response. However, 6 months later, she developed intestinal pseudo-obstruction for which oral cyclophosphamide was started. After 5 months of cyclophosphamide therapy, she remained stable without further relapses. Our case suggests that PAN should be considered in elderly patients presenting with abdominal pain even in the absence of systemic involvement.
Life stage-specific trends in educational inequalities in health-related quality of life and self-rated health between 2002 and 2016 in Germany: findings from the German Socio-Economic Panel Study (GSOEP)
Authors: Sperlich Stefanie , Klar Marie Kristin , Safieddine Batoul , Tetzlaff Fabian , Tetzlaff Juliane , Geyer Siegfried
Published: March 2021

Objectives

While evidence suggests persisting health inequalities, research on whether these trends may vary according to different stages of life has rarely been considered. Against this backdrop, we analysed life stage-specific trends in educational inequalities in health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and poor self-rated health (SRH) for individuals in ‘later working life’ (50–64 years), ‘young seniors’ (65–79 years) and persons of ‘old age’ (80+ years).

Methods

We used survey data from the German Socio-Economic Panel Study comprising the period from 2002 to 2016. The sample consists of 26 074 respondents (160 888 person-years) aged 50 years and older. Health was assessed using the mental and physical component summary scale (MCS/PCS) of the HRQOL questionnaire (12-Item Short Form Health Survey V.2) and the single item SRH. To estimate educational health inequalities, we calculated the regression-based Slope Index of Inequality (SII) and Relative Index of Inequality (RII). Time trends in inequalities were assessed by the inclusion of a two-way interaction term between school education and time.

Results

With increasing age, educational inequalities in PCS and poor SRH decreased whereas they rose in MCS. Over time, health inequalities decreased in men aged 65–79 years (MCSSII=2.76, 95% CI 0.41 to 5.11; MCSRII=1.05, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.10; PCSSII=2.12, 95% CI −0.27to 4.51; PCSRII=1.05, 95% CI 1.00 to 1.11; poor SRHSII=−0.10, 95% CI −0.19 to 0.01; poor SRHRII=0.73, 95% CI 0.48 to 1.13) and among women of that age for MCS (MCSSII=2.82, 95% CI 0.16 to 5.50; MCSRII=1.06, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.12). In contrast, health inequalities widened in the ‘later working life’ among women (PCSSII=−2.98, 95% CI −4.86 to −1.11; PCSRII=0.94, 95% CI 0.90 to 0.98; poor SRHSII=0.07, 95% CI 0.00 to 0.14) while remained largely stable at old age for both genders.

Conclusions

We found distinctive patterns of health inequality trends depending on gender and life stage. Our findings suggest to adopt a differentiated view on health inequality trends and to pursue research that explores their underlying determinants.
Cohort profile: the Dutch famine birth cohort (DFBC)— a prospective birth cohort study in the Netherlands
Authors: Bleker Laura S , de Rooij Susanne R , Painter Rebecca C , Ravelli Anita CJ , Roseboom Tessa J
Published: March 2021

Purpose

The Dutch famine birth cohort study was set up to investigate the effects of acute maternal undernutrition of the 1944–1945 Dutch famine during the specific stages of gestation on later health, with a particular focus on chronic cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, ageing and mental health.

Participants

The Dutch famine birth cohort consists of 2414 singletons born alive and at term in the Wilhelmina Gasthuis in Amsterdam around the time of the Dutch famine (1943–1947) whose birth records have been kept. The cohort has been traced and studied since 1994, when the first data collection started. The cohort has been interviewed and physically examined in several waves of data collection since that time, allowing repeated measures of a wide range of phenotypic information as well as the collection of biological samples (blood, urine, buccal swabs), functional testing (of heart, lungs, kidney, HPA axis) and imaging of the brain (MRI) and vasculature (ultrasound). Additionally, genetic and epigenetic information was collected. Through linkage with registries, mortality and morbidity information of the entire cohort has been obtained.

Findings to date

Prenatal famine exposure had lasting consequences for health in later life. The effects of famine depended on its timing during the gestation and the organs and tissues developing at that time, with most effects after exposure to famine in early gestation. The effects of famine were widespread and affected the structure and function of many organs and tissues, resulted in altered behaviour and increased risks of chronic degenerative diseases and increased mortality. The effects of famine were independent of size at birth, which suggests that programming may occur without altering size at birth.

Future plans

As the cohort ages, we will be assessing the effects of prenatal undernutrition on (brain) ageing, cognitive decline and dementia, as well as overall morbidity and mortality.

Registration

The Dutch famine birth cohort is not linked to a clinical trial.
Evaluation of the decision-making process underlying the initial off-label use of vaccines: a scoping review protocol
Authors: Diallo Dieynaba , Quach Caroline
Published: March 2021

Introduction

Vaccination has become a central part of public health prevention. Vaccines are introduced after licensure by national regulatory authorities, whereas recommendations for use of licensed vaccines are made by national or international advisory committees and may include off-label use. The methodological and decision-making processes that are used to assess novel initial off-label vaccine use are unclear. This review aims to examine the off-label assessment processes to map evidence and concepts used in the decision-making process and present a common approach between all recommendations and specifics of each decision.

Methods and analysis

The methodological framework described at the Joanna Briggs Institute will be applied to this scoping review. A search strategy was developed, in collaboration with an experienced senior health research librarian, by combining Mesgarpour’s highly sensitive search strategies. Peer-reviewed and grey literature will be systematically identified using PubMed, Medline and EMBASE; governmental agency and pharmaceutical websites; and search engines, such as Google Scholar. Reports and studies on off-label vaccine use in public health will be included. Screening will be independently undertaken by two reviewers. Data will be extracted using a standard form. Results will be narratively summarised to highlight relevant findings and guide the development of an analytical framework for off-label vaccination recommendations.

Ethics and dissemination

This research does not require ethical approval. This scoping review will provide decision-making elements and a synthesis of knowledge on vaccines off-label use. Findings will be relevant to decision-makers/advisory committees and public health. These will be disseminated through peer-reviewed articles and conferences.