bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Feasibility of streamline upwind Petrov-Galerkin angular stabilization of the linear Boltzmann transport equation with magnetic fields
Authors: Swan Amanda , Yang Ray , Zelyak Oleksandr , St-Aubin Joel
Published: December 2020

To accurately model dose in a magnetic field, the Lorentz force must be included in the traditional linear Boltzmann transport equation (LBTE). Both angular and spatial stabilization are required to deterministically solve this equation. In this work, a streamline upwind Petrov-Galerkin (SUPG) method is applied to achieve angular stabilization of the LBTE with magnetic fields. The spectral radius of the angular SUPG method is evaluated using a Fourier analysis method to characterize the convergence properties. Simulations are then performed on homogeneous phantoms and two heterogeneous slab geometry phantoms containing water, bone, lung/air and water for 0.5 T parallel and 1.5 T perpendicular magnetic field configurations. Fourier analysis determined that the spectral radius of the SUPG scheme is unaffected by magnetic field strength and the SUPG free parameter, indicating that the Gauss-Seidel source iteration method is unconditionally stable and the convergence rate is not degraded with increasing magnetic field strength. 100% of simulation points passed a 3D gamma analysis at a 2%/2 mm (3%/3 mm) gamma criterion for both magnetic field configurations in the homogeneous phantom study, with the exception of the 1.5 T perpendicular magnetic field in the pure lung phantom where a 77.4% (87.0%) pass rate was achieved. Simulations in the lung slab geometry phantom resulted in 100% of points passing a 2%/2 mm gamma analysis in a 0.5 T parallel magnetic field, and 97.7% (98.8%) of points passing a 2%/2 mm (3%/3 mm) gamma criterion in a 1.5 T perpendicular magnetic field. For the air slab geometry phantom, 72.1% (79.2%) of points passed a 2%/2 mm gamma criterion in a 0.5 T parallel magnetic field and 90.3% (92.8%) passed the same gamma criterion in a 1.5 T perpendicular magnetic field. While the novel SUPG angular stabilization method shows feasibility in some cases, it was found that the accuracy of this method was degraded for very low density media such as air.
Sagnac-type entangled photon source using only conventional polarization optics
Authors: Lee Youn Seok , Xie Mengyu , Tannous Ramy , Jennewein Thomas
Published: December 2020

We designed and implemented a novel combination of a Sagnac-interferometer with a Mach–Zehnder interferometer for a source of polarization-entangled photons. The new versatile configuration does not require multi-wavelength polarization optics, yet it performs with a good polarization quality and phase-stability over a wide wavelength range. We demonstrate the interferometer using only standard commercial optics to experimentally realize the pulsed generation of polarization-entangled photon-pairs at wavelengths of 764 nm and 1221 nm via type-I spontaneous four-wave mixing in a polarization-maintaining fiber. Polarization entanglement was verified by a polarization-correlation measurement with a visibility of 95.5% from raw coincidence counts and the violation of the Clauser–Horne–Shimony–Holt (CHSH) inequality with S = 2.70 ± 0.04. The long-term phase-stability was characterized by an Allan deviation of 8° over an integration time of about 1 h with no active phase-stabilization.
Generation of generalized hybrid entanglement in cavity electro–optic systems
Authors: Zhang Feng-Yang , Yang Chui-Ping
Published: December 2020

Schrödinger’s cat paradox has revealed the entanglement between microscopic and macroscopic objects. Recently, several approaches have been proposed to generate such hybrid entangled state. In this paper, we demonstrate the generation of generalized hybrid entangled state in a cavity electro–optic system. The hybrid entangled state between the optical cavity and the microwave field is generated by a one-step evolution. Numerical simulations show that the high-fidelity entangled state is obtained even if the decay of the system is considered. Also, this proposal can be applied to generate macroscopic quantum superposition states of the microwave field.
Computing homological residue fields in algebra and topology
Authors: Balmer Paul , Cameron James
Published: December 2020

We determine the homological residue fields, in the sense of tensor-triangular geometry, in a series of concrete examples ranging from topological stable homotopy theory to modular representation theory of finite groups.
Paradoxical Increase of 24-Hour Urinary Aldosterone Levels in Obese Patients With Resistant Hypertension on a High Salt Diet
Authors: Dudenbostel Tanja , Li Peng , Calhoun David A
Published: December 2020

BACKGROUND

Having previously reported that aldosterone levels increase progressively with body mass index (BMI), the current analysis was done to determine to what extent this association is related to dietary high salt intake. We anticipated that aldosterone levels would decrease with higher sodium status consistent with classical suppression of aldosterone release secondary to progressive fluid retention induced by high dietary sodium intake.

METHODS

Cross-sectional analysis of a large diverse cohort of 2,705 patients with resistant hypertension (HTN) seen in a referral HTN Clinic. Dietary sodium intake was indexed by 24-hour (h) urinary sodium (UNa), aldosterone status was determined by plasma aldosterone concentration, plasma renin activity, and 24 h urinary aldosterone (UAldo). Patients with normal weight served as control.

RESULTS

In this study, 1,572 individuals with complete 24 h urine collections were analyzed. Mean BMI was 32.5 ± 7.1 kg/m2 and ranged from 24.6 ± 2.4 kg/m2 (first quartile) to 41.0 ± 4.2 kg/m2 (fourth quartile). BMI was positively associated with 24 h UNa and UAldo levels (P < 0.0001), 24 h UNa and UAldo. There was a positively stronger correlation in obese (r = 0.273, P < 0.0001) compared with normal weight individuals (r = 0.108, P = 0.0342) independent of number and classes of antihypertensive medications.

CONCLUSIONS

Our analysis shows that there is an altered regulation of aldosterone in obese patients in the setting of high dietary salt intake.
struct: an R/Bioconductor-based framework for standardized metabolomics data analysis and beyond
Authors: Lloyd Gavin Rhys , Jankevics Andris , Weber Ralf J M
Published: December 2020

Implementing and combining methods from a diverse range of R/Bioconductor packages into ‘omics’ data analysis workflows represents a significant challenge in terms of standardization, readability and reproducibility. Here, we present an R/Bioconductor package, named struct (Statistics in R using Class-based Templates), which defines a suite of class-based templates that allows users to develop and implement highly standardized and readable statistical analysis workflows. Struct integrates with the STATistics Ontology to ensure consistent reporting and maximizes semantic interoperability. We also present a toolbox, named structToolbox, which includes an extensive set of commonly used data analysis methods that have been implemented using struct. This toolbox can be used to build data-analysis workflows for metabolomics and other omics technologies.

Availability and implementation

struct and structToolbox are implemented in R, and are freely available from Bioconductor (http://bioconductor.org/packages/struct and http://bioconductor.org/packages/structToolbox), including documentation and vignettes. Source code is available and maintained at https://github.com/computational-metabolomics.
MobiDB-lite 3.0: fast consensus annotation of intrinsic disorder flavors in proteins
Authors: Necci Marco , Piovesan Damiano , Clementel Damiano , Dosztányi Zsuzsanna , Tosatto Silvio C E
Published: December 2020

Motivation

The earlier version of MobiDB-lite is currently used in large-scale proteome annotation platforms to detect intrinsic disorder. However, new theoretical models allow for the classification of intrinsically disordered regions into subtypes from sequence features associated with specific polymeric properties or compositional bias.

Results

MobiDB-lite 3.0 maintains its previous speed and performance but also provides a finer classification of disorder by identifying regions with characteristics of polyolyampholytes, positive or negative polyelectrolytes, low-complexity regions or enriched in cysteine, proline or glycine or polar residues. Subregions are abundantly detected in IDRs of the human proteome. The new version of MobiDB-lite represents a new step for the proteome level analysis of protein disorder.

Availability and implementation

Both the MobiDB-lite 3.0 source code and a docker container are available from the GitHub repository: https://github.com/BioComputingUP/MobiDB-lite
Lateralized memory circuit dropout in Alzheimer’s disease patients
Authors: Tyrer Ashley , Gilbert Jessica R , Adams Sarah , Stiles Alexandra B , Bankole Azziza O , Gilchrist Iain D , Moran Rosalyn J
Published: December 2020

Altered connectivity within neuronal networks is often observed in Alzheimer’s disease. However, delineating pro-cognitive compensatory changes from pathological network decline relies on characterizing network and task effects together. In this study, we interrogated the dynamics of occipito-temporo-frontal brain networks responsible for implicit and explicit memory processes using high-density EEG and dynamic causal modelling. We examined source-localized network activity from patients with Alzheimer’s disease (n = 21) and healthy controls (n = 21), while they performed both visual recognition (explicit memory) and implicit priming tasks. Parametric empirical Bayes analyses identified significant reductions in temporo-frontal connectivity and in subcortical visual input in patients, specifically in the left hemisphere during the recognition task. There was also slowing in frontal left hemisphere signal transmission during the implicit priming task, with significantly more distinct dropout in connectivity during the recognition task, suggesting that these network drop-out effects are affected by task difficulty. Furthermore, during the implicit memory task, increased right frontal activity was correlated with improved task performance in patients only, suggesting that right-hemisphere compensatory mechanisms may be employed to mitigate left-lateralized network dropout in Alzheimer’s disease. Taken together, these findings suggest that Alzheimer’s disease is associated with lateralized memory circuit dropout and potential compensation from the right hemisphere, at least for simpler memory tasks.
Event-related potential and EEG oscillatory predictors of verbal memory in mild cognitive impairment
Authors: Xia Jiangyi , Mazaheri Ali , Segaert Katrien , Salmon David P , Harvey Danielle , Shapiro Kim , Kutas Marta , Olichney John M
Published: December 2020

Reliable biomarkers of memory decline are critical for the early detection of Alzheimer’s disease. Previous work has found three EEG measures, namely the event-related brain potential P600, suppression of oscillatory activity in the alpha frequency range (∼10 Hz) and cross-frequency coupling between low theta/high delta and alpha/beta activity, each of which correlates strongly with verbal learning and memory abilities in healthy elderly and patients with mild cognitive impairment or prodromal Alzheimer’s disease. In the present study, we address the question of whether event-related or oscillatory measures, or a combination thereof, best predict the decline of verbal memory in mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease. Single-trial correlation analyses show that despite a similarity in their time courses and sensitivities to word repetition, the P600 and the alpha suppression components are minimally correlated with each other on a trial-by-trial basis (generally |rs| < 0.10). This suggests that they are unlikely to stem from the same neural mechanism. Furthermore, event-related brain potentials constructed from bandpass filtered (delta, theta, alpha, beta or gamma bands) single-trial data indicate that only delta band activity (1–4 Hz) is strongly correlated (r = 0.94, P < 0.001) with the canonical P600 repetition effect; event-related potentials in higher frequency bands are not. Importantly, stepwise multiple regression analyses reveal that the three event-related brain potential/oscillatory measures are complementary in predicting California Verbal Learning Test scores (overall R2’s in 0.45–0.63 range). The present study highlights the importance of combining EEG event-related potential and oscillatory measures to better characterize the multiple mechanisms of memory failure in individuals with mild cognitive impairment or prodromal Alzheimer’s disease.
Perfusion strategy using axillary or femoral cannulation for minimally invasive cardiac surgery: experience in 270 patients with computed tomography-based criteria
Authors: Nakamura Yoshitsugu , Nishijima Shuhei , Kuroda Miho , Nakayama Taisuke , Tsuruta Ryo , Yoshiyama Daiki , Yasumoto Yuto , Ito Yujiro
Published: December 2020

OBJECTIVES

In patients with atherosclerotic disease, minimally invasive cardiac surgery using retrograde perfusion for cardiopulmonary bypass via femoral cannulation (FC) carries a higher risk of brain embolization compared with antegrade perfusion. However, guidelines for selecting antegrade versus retrograde perfusion do not exist. We developed a computed tomography (CT)-based perfusion strategy and assessed outcomes.

METHODS

We studied 270 minimally invasive cardiac surgery patients, aged 68 ± 13, 124 female, body surface area 1.6 ± 0.2 m2. Antegrade perfusion using axillary cannulation (AC) was selected if any of the following preoperative enhanced CT scan criteria were satisfied anywhere in the aorta or iliac arteries: thrombosis thickness >3 mm, thrombosis >one-third of the total circumference and calcification present in the total circumference. FC was selected otherwise. Asymptomatic brain injury was assessed by diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging.

RESULTS

AC and FC were selected in 95 (35%) and 175 patients, respectively. AC patients were 10 years older (P < 0.001) and had higher EuroSCORE II (2.7 ± 3.4 vs 1.7 ± 1.9, P = 0.002). The median cardiopulmonary time and cross-clamp times were not significantly different. No patients died in hospital. There was no immediate stroke in either group during 48 h after surgery. Asymptomatic brain injury was detected in 25 (26%) and 27 (15%) AC and FC patients, respectively, P = 0.03.

CONCLUSIONS

We believe our CT-based perfusion strategy using AC or FC minimized brain embolic rates. AC can be a good alternative to prevent brain embolization for minimally invasive cardiac surgery patients with advanced atherosclerotic disease.
High-resolution source imaging based on time-reversal wave propagation simulations using assimilated dense seismic records
Authors: Furumura Takashi , Maeda Takuto
Published: December 2020

This paper describes an efficient approach to high-resolution time-reversal source imaging simulation. Dense seismograph network records are backpropagated from stations to the hypocentre through a 3-D subsurface structure model to estimate the initial source wavefield at the earthquake initiation time. By assimilating high-density observational data into the time-reversal wave propagation, a clearer source image can be determined, even for deep and distant earthquakes, than is achievable with conventional source imaging. The effectiveness of data-assimilation-based source imaging by a time-reversal wave propagation simulation with a 3-D heterogeneous structural model was demonstrated using recordings from a nationwide strong-motion seismograph network during the 2007 Off Niigata, Japan, Mw 6.6 earthquake, and the 2007 Off Ibaraki, Japan,Mw 6.8 earthquake. Such data-assimilated-based simulations are also effective for early forecasting of strong ground motions caused by large earthquakes through fast time-advancing simulations based on the current assimilated wavefield. We will discuss the feasibility of a disaster prevention system for the early forecasting of strong motion disasters due to large earthquakes, based on repeatedly estimating source parameters and forecasting strong motions in future time based on the current assimilated wavefields.
Paternal body mass index and offspring DNA methylation: findings from the PACE consortium
Authors: Sharp Gemma C , Alfano Rossella , Ghantous Akram , Urquiza Jose , Rifas-Shiman Sheryl L , Page Christian M , Jin Jianping , Fernández-Barrés Silvia , Santorelli Gillian , Tindula Gwen ,   and 36 other members of the Pregnancy and Childhood Epigenetics (PACE) consortium
Published: December 2020

Background

Accumulating evidence links paternal adiposity in the periconceptional period to offspring health outcomes. DNA methylation has been proposed as a mediating mechanism, but very few studies have explored this possibility in humans.

Methods

In the Pregnancy And Childhood Epigenetics (PACE) consortium, we conducted a meta-analysis of coordinated epigenome-wide association studies (EWAS) of paternal prenatal body mass index (BMI) (with and without adjustment for maternal BMI) in relation to DNA methylation in offspring blood at birth (13 data sets; total n = 4894) and in childhood (6 data sets; total n = 1982).

Results

We found little evidence of an association at either time point: at all CpGs, the false-discovery-rate-adjusted P-values were >0.05. In secondary sex-stratified analyses, we found just four CpGs for which there was robust evidence of an association in female offspring. To compare our findings to those of other studies, we conducted a systematic review, which identified seven studies, including five candidate gene studies showing associations between paternal BMI/obesity and offspring or sperm DNA methylation at imprinted regions. However, in our own study, we found very little evidence of enrichment for imprinted genes.

Conclusion

Our findings do not support the hypothesis that paternal BMI around the time of pregnancy is associated with offspring-blood DNA methylation, even at imprinted regions.
Error bounds for overdetermined and underdetermined generalized centred simplex gradients
Authors: Hare Warren , Jarry–Bolduc Gabriel , Planiden Chayne
Published: December 2020

Using the Moore–Penrose pseudoinverse this work generalizes the gradient approximation technique called the centred simplex gradient to allow sample sets containing any number of points. This approximation technique is called the generalized centred simplex gradient. We develop error bounds and, under a full-rank condition, show that the error bounds have ${\mathcal O}(\varDelta ^2)$, where $\varDelta $ is the radius of the sample set of points used. We establish calculus rules for generalized centred simplex gradients, introduce a calculus-based generalized centred simplex gradient and confirm that error bounds for this new approach are also ${\mathcal O}(\varDelta ^2)$. We provide several examples to illustrate the results and some benefits of these new methods.
On Boundary Correlations in Planar Ashkin–Teller Models
Authors: Lis Marcin
Published: December 2020

We generalize the switching lemma of Griffiths, Hurst, and Sherman to the random current representation of the Ashkin–Teller model. We then use it together with properties of two-dimensional topology to derive linear relations for multipoint boundary spin correlations and bulk order–disorder correlations in planar models. We also show that the same linear relations are satisfied by products of Pfaffians. As a result, a clear picture arises in the noninteracting case of two independent Ising models where multipoint correlation functions are given by Pfaffians and determinants of their respective two-point functions. This gives a unified treatment of both the classical Pfaffian identities and recent total positivity inequalities for boundary spin correlations in the planar Ising model. We also derive the Simon and Gaussian inequalities for general Ashkin–Teller models with negative four-body coupling constants.
Resistance to tetracyclines among clinical isolates ofMycoplasma hominisandUreaplasmaspecies: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Ahmadi Mohammad H
Published: December 2020

Background

Resistance to tetracyclines, the first-line treatment for urogenital infections caused by Mycoplasma hominis and Ureaplasma species, is increasing worldwide. The aim of the present study was to determine the global status of resistance to this class of antibiotics.

Methods

Electronic databases were searched using keywords including ‘Mycoplasma’, ‘Mycoplasma hominis’, ‘M. hominis’, ‘Ureaplasma’, ‘Ureaplasma urealyticum’, ‘Ureaplasma parvum’, ‘U. urealyticum’, ‘U. parvum’, ‘Ureaplasma species’, ‘resistance’, ‘antibiotic resistance’, ‘antibiotic susceptibility’, ‘antimicrobial resistance’, ‘antimicrobial susceptibility’, ‘tetracycline’, ‘doxycycline’ and ‘minocycline’. Finally, after some exclusions, 37 studies from different countries were included in the study and meta-analysis was performed on the data collected.

Results

The midrange resistance rates for M. hominis and U. urealyticum/parvum to tetracycline, doxycycline and minocycline were 50.0%, 9.0% and 16.7% and 43.3%, 28.6% and 9.0%, respectively. A high level of heterogeneity was observed in all studies (I2 > 50%, P value < 0.05), except those representing doxycycline resistance in M. hominis isolates (I2 = 39.1%, P  = 0.02). No evidence of publication bias was observed in the studies and neither Egger’s test nor Begg’s test showed significant publication bias.

Conclusions

The results of the present study show that the overall resistance to tetracyclines is relatively high and prevalent among M. hominis and Ureaplasma species throughout the world. This highlights the importance of and necessity for regional and local antibiotic susceptibility testing before treatment choice as well as development of newer generations of tetracyclines to prevent antibiotic misuse, emergence and spread of resistant strains and, finally, the failure of treatment.
Simultaneous Analytical Efficiency Evaluation Using an HPTLC Method for the Analysis of Syringic Acid and Vanillic Acid and Their Anti-Oxidant Capacity from Methanol Extract of Ricinus communis L. and Euphorbia hirta L
Authors: Singh Pradeep , Arif Muhammad , Qadir Abdul , Kannojia Pushpendra
Published: December 2020

Background

The well-known medicinal plants Ricinus communis L. and Euphorbia hirta L. have been traditionally used to treat a variety of ailments in the India and other countries.

Objective

In the present research, a simple, rapid, reliable, and accessible HPTLC technique has been established for concurrent quantification of phenolic compounds (syringic acid and vanillic acid) and evaluation of their anti-oxidant capacity.

Method

The chromatographic separation was conceded on pre-coated silica gel plates 60 F254 as the stationary phase. The appropriate mobile phase combination of toluene–ethyl acetate–formic acid (7:2.5:0.5, v/v/v) were developed to expand the plates which separated components according to the marker compounds. Further, the anti-oxidant potential of methanol extract of R. communis (MERC) and E. hirta (MERH) were also assessed with 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) by using UV spectrophotometry.

Results

Densitometric scanning was performed with a Camag V scanner and measured at two different wave lengths, 272 and 318 nm. The marker compounds were practically resolved with RF 0.5 ± 0.04 for syringic acid and 0.6 ± 0.06 for vanillic acid. The results obtained in the study of anti-oxidant activity of MERC and MERH showed significant free radical scavenging capacity against DPPH-generated free radicals.

Conclusions

The developed HPTLC method was validated for accuracy, linearity, precision, and specificity. Both the extracts revealed considerable antioxidant activity. The reported existing phenolic and flavonoids compounds are responsible for antioxidant activity of plant extracts.
Mastitis and More: A Pictorial Review of the Red, Swollen, and Painful Breast
Authors: Woodard Genevieve A , Bhatt Asha A , Knavel Erica M , Hunt Katie N
Published: December 2020

Clinically, acute mastitis presents as a red, swollen, and painful breast. Targeted ultrasound can be performed to evaluate the extent of infection and for an underlying abscess. Noncomplicated mastitis or a small fluid collection may respond to oral antibiotics without further intervention, but a larger or more complex abscess may require single or serial percutaneous aspiration. Breast infections, particularly those complicated by an abscess, can have a prolonged clinical course, and close follow-up is required. Since the clinical presentation and imaging features of acute infectious mastitis can overlap with other etiologies, such as inflammatory breast cancer and idiopathic granulomatous mastitis, a percutaneous biopsy may be indicated to accurately diagnose patients.
Procreative rights denied? Access to assisted reproduction technologies by single women in China
Authors: Zhu Lei
Published: December 2020

The Chinese regulatory framework on access to assisted reproduction technologies (hereafter ART) is relatively restrictive, limiting ART exclusively to heterosexual married couples as a medical treatment for infertility. ART clinics across China are prohibited from providing ART services for single women. This creates significant regulatory barrier for single women to exercise their procreative rights. The restriction finds its root in the population and family planning law under which reproduction is tied to marriage and childbirth outside marriage are deemed as illegitimate with punishing consequences. It essentially denies the procreative rights of single women which are recognized by Chinese law. A welcoming development is that in seven out of 10 cases the court is willing to grant exceptions by allowing posthumous implantation procedure for widowed women after the sudden and unexpected death of the husband.
Type A aortic dissection after ‘zone 0’ thoracic endovascular aortic repair for type 1 hybrid aortic arch replacement of arch aneurysm
Authors: Han Sung Joon , Shim Man-Shik , Han Woo Sik , Cho Hyun Jin , Kang Min-Woong , Kang Shin Kwang , Yu Jae Hyeon , Na Myung Hoon
Published: December 2020

The recent rise in minimally invasive cardiovascular procedures is being accompanied by an increase in related complications. We report on an acute type A aortic dissection performed in an 82-year-old man 1 week after staged ‘zone 0’ hybrid thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR). Previously, the patient had undergone type I hybrid arch debranching and staged ‘zone 0’ TEVAR for an aortic arch aneurysm. ‘Zone 0’ TEVAR after type I hybrid debranching might increase the risk for aortic injury on the residual native aorta and should, therefore, be closely followed up to enable the early diagnosis of complications.
Surgical management of ovarian carcinosarcoma with inferior vena cava extension into the right atrium
Authors: Merchant Akeel M , Friedland Mark D , Behrens Marcus A , Williams Adam R , Berchuck Andrew , Guinn Nicole R
Published: December 2020

Gynecological carcinosarcomas are aggressive tumors with rare occurrence and high rates of metastases. We present the case of a 49-year-old woman with vaginal bleeding and abdominal distension who was found to have a large ovarian carcinosarcoma invading the gonadal vein and inferior vena cava (IVC) and extending into right atrium (RA). She underwent gynecologic tumor resection, IVC cavotomy and en bloc resection of tumor/thrombus through the RA. Use of intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography helped assess extent and mobility of mass in the RA to guide surgical approach. This case posed unique challenges with regard to management of induction, hemodynamics and coagulopathy.
Eclectic mimēsis in Imperial Greek oratory: Topological metrics for syntactical quantification using wavelets
Authors: Bozia Eleni
Published: December 2020

This article presents a novel method to determine particular syntactical attributes of Ancient Greek oratory to quantitatively compare the orators of the Classical to those of the Imperial era based on their style of writing. The study first provides a philological overview of Classical Atticism and its Imperial counterpart and argues that the latter is the product of creative mimēsis and not a mere reproduction of archetypes. Then the article briefly explains a node-based metric method that was developed to quantify the morphology of a syntactically annotated Treebank that led to a more thorough weighting scheme using Haar Wavelets. Wavelets were then used to capture both the linear topology of a sentence and the tree network topology of the corresponding syntactical tree. The results were subsequently processed using principal component analysis to analyze and visualize the data. The method is demonstrated using a database of syntactically annotated sentences from six Attic orators.
Dynamics of tidal disruption events: statistical properties
Authors: Weissbein Amir , Sari Re’em
Published: December 2020

We study the correlations between the dynamical history of a star that eventually experiences a tidal disruption event (TDE) and the properties of the TDE itself. As expected, we find that (i) in empty loss cone at the radius of influence, most TDEs are non-violent TDEs; i.e. the star’s periastron is only a bit smaller than the tidal radius. These stars had experienced strong tidal interactions with the supermassive black hole (SMBH), just slightly outside the tidal radius. (ii) In full loss cone at the radius of influence, most TDEs are violent; i.e. the star’s periastron is significantly smaller than the tidal radius. These stars did not previously encounter strong tidal effects. Nevertheless, we demonstrate that even in extremely empty or extremely full loss cone a finite fraction of order ${\sim} 10{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$ of the events are non-typical. This is due to two surprising effects: (i) In an empty loss cone, a logarithmic fraction of the events are associated with stars that entered the loss cone via strong scatterings. Those events are usually violent penetrating deep into the loss cone. (ii) In full loss cone, orbits with semimajor axis smaller than the radius of influence, where the loss cone is marginally empty, dominate the TDE rate. As a result, a constant fraction of TDEs involve stars in empty loss cone orbits, which have typically experienced strong interactions with the SMBH in previous orbits.
MiR-CLIP reveals iso-miR selective regulation in the miR-124 targetome
Authors: Wang Yuluan , Soneson Charlotte , Malinowska Anna L , Laski Artur , Ghosh Souvik , Kanitz Alexander , Gebert Luca F R , Robinson Mark D , Hall Jonathan
Published: December 2020

Many microRNAs regulate gene expression via atypical mechanisms, which are difficult to discern using native cross-linking methods. To ascertain the scope of non-canonical miRNA targeting, methods are needed that identify all targets of a given miRNA. We designed a new class of miR-CLIP probe, whereby psoralen is conjugated to the 3p arm of a pre-microRNA to capture targetomes of miR-124 and miR-132 in HEK293T cells. Processing of pre-miR-124 yields miR-124 and a 5′-extended isoform, iso-miR-124. Using miR-CLIP, we identified overlapping targetomes from both isoforms. From a set of 16 targets, 13 were differently inhibited at mRNA/protein levels by the isoforms. Moreover, delivery of pre-miR-124 into cells repressed these targets more strongly than individual treatments with miR-124 and iso-miR-124, suggesting that isomirs from one pre-miRNA may function synergistically. By mining the miR-CLIP targetome, we identified nine G-bulged target-sites that are regulated at the protein level by miR-124 but not isomiR-124. Using structural data, we propose a model involving AGO2 helix-7 that suggests why only miR-124 can engage these sites. In summary, access to the miR-124 targetome via miR-CLIP revealed for the first time how heterogeneous processing of miRNAs combined with non-canonical targeting mechanisms expand the regulatory range of a miRNA.
The effect of temperature gradient on the heavy quark–antiquark potential using a gravity dual model
Authors: Ganesh S , Mishra M
Published: December 2020

Thermal systems have traditionally been modeled via Euclideanized space by analytical continuation of time to an imaginary time. We extend the concept to static thermal gradients by recasting the temperature variation as a variation in the Euclidean metric. We apply this prescription to determine the quark–antiquark potential in a system with a thermal gradient. A naturally occurring QCD medium with thermal gradients is a quark–gluon plasma (QGP). However, the QGP evolves in time. Hence, we use a quasi-stationary approximation, which is applicable only if the rate of time evolution is slow. The application of our proposal to a quark–antiquark potential in QGP can be seen as a step towards a more exact theory that would incorporate time-varying thermal gradients. The effect of a static temperature gradient on the quark–antiquark potential is analyzed using a gravity dual model. A non-uniform black string metric is developed by perturbing the Schwarzschild metric, which allows us to incorporate the temperature gradient in the dual anti-de Sitter space. Finally, an expression for the quark–antiquark potential in the presence of a static temperature gradient is derived.
Innovative Care Delivery of Acute Rehabilitation for Patients With COVID-19: A Case Report
Authors: Livingston Tara , Sullivan Elle K , Wilske Grace , Gustavson Allison M
Published: December 2020

Objective

The novel coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) has impacted acute rehabilitation delivery by challenging the reliance on in-person care and the standard practice of delivering separate physical and occupational therapy services. Health care systems are rapidly developing innovative models of care that provide essential acute rehabilitation services while mitigating viral spread. We present 2 case reports to illustrate how we used technology and COVID-19–specific decision-making frameworks to deliver acute rehabilitation.

Methods

We iteratively developed 2 decision-making models regarding care delivery and discharge planning in the context of the challenges to delivering care in a pandemic. We leveraged use of video communication systems installed in all COVID-19 rooms to reduce the number of in-room providers and frequency of contact. Two patients were admitted to the hospital with symptomatic COVID-19 (males, ages 65 and 40 years).

Results

With the use of a video communication system and the decision-making frameworks for care delivery and discharge planning, we avoided 7 in-person sessions. Both patients demonstrated functional gains and were dischargedhome.

Conclusion

The 2 case reports highlight the innovative use of a technology and COVID-19–specific decision-making processes to provide patient-centered care given the challenges to care delivery during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Impact

The use of technology and decision-making models allows for delivery of safe acute rehabilitation care that minimizes contact, conserves personal protective equipment, and prepares for COVID-19 surges. The discussion points raised have applicability to patients without COVID-19 and other health care systems. Future research is needed to determine the effectiveness, costs, and downstream effects of our novel approach to acute rehabilitation for patients with COVID-19.
Beyond death and afterlife: the complicated process of grief in the time of COVID-19
Authors: Corpuz Jeff Clyde G
Published: December 2020

COVID-19 has already killed more than one million people around the world. The pandemic had a profound impact on the emotional, social and spiritual life of the public. Due to self-isolation, prohibition of mass-gatherings and quarantine protocols, hospitals and healthcare facilities are closed to visitors. Clergy members are unable to be physically present with sick in their final moments. Many families cannot say goodbye to their loved ones, many people cannot attend funeral rites and many people cannot perform their final mourning rituals. These complicated situations have not only distressed some family members but also someone who is close to death. In this time of crisis, it is important to implore the global community to reflect on the unique and unusual process of grieving. This paper is a response to the recent correspondence published in this journal where the author noted the changing landscapes of death and burial practices in the context of COVID-19. This paper further adds to the emerging and complicated process of death, dying and grief and ways of coping with loss in the context of COVID-19 pandemic.
Foresight and trade-off analyses: Tools for science strategy development in agriculture and food systems research
Authors: Barrett Christopher B , Beaudreault Amy R , Meinke Holger , Ash Andrew , Ghezae Nighisty , Kadiyala Suneetha , Nigussie Mandefro , Smith Allison Grove , Torrance Lesley
Published: December 2020

Foresight and trade-off analyses offer organizations such as CGIAR an opportunity to better prepare for alternative futures through adaptive research strategy and management. This essay introduces a set of papers that explore foresight and trade-off analyses within the context of the major reforms now occurring in the CGIAR. We tease out lessons not only for One CGIAR, but also for international development research organizations more broadly.
Divergence of Phyllosphere Microbial Communities Between Females and Males of the Dioecious Populus cathayana
Authors: Liu Liling , Lu Lu , Li Huilin , Meng Zhensi , Dong Tingfa , Peng Chao , Xu Xiao
Published: December 2020

Females and males of dioecious plants have evolved sex-specific characteristics in terms of their morphological and physiological properties. However, the differentiation of phyllosphere microbiota in dioecious plants remains largely unexplored. Here, the diversity and composition of female and male Populus cathayana phyllosphere bacterial and fungal communities were investigated using 16S rRNA/ITS1 gene–based MiSeq sequencing. The divergences of bacterial and fungal community compositions occurred between females and males. Both females and males had their unique phyllosphere bacterial and fungal microbiota, such as bacterial Gemmata spp. (5.41%) and fungal Pringsheimia spp. (0.03%) in females and bacterial Chitinophaga spp. (0.009%) and fungal Phaeococcomyces spp. (0.02%) in males. Significant differences in the relative abundance of phyla Proteobacteria and Planctomycetes bacteria and phyla Ascomycota and Basidiomycota fungi (P < 0.05) were also found between females and males. Some bacterial species of genera Spirosoma and Amnibacterium and fungal genera Venturia, Suillus, and Elmerina spp. were significantly enriched in males (P < 0.05). In contrast, levels of fungal genera Phoma and Aureobasidium spp. were significantly higher in females than in males (P < 0.05). The mineral, inorganic, and organic nutrients content contributed differently to the divergence of female and male phyllosphere microbial communities, with 87.08 and 45.17% of the variations being explained for bacterial and fungal communities, respectively. These results highlight the sexual discrimination of phyllosphere microbes on the dioecious plants and provide hints on the potential host-associated species in phyllosphere environments.

[Formula: see text] Copyright © 2021 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY 4.0 International license .
Does the Predominant Pain Location Influence Functional Outcomes, Satisfaction and Return to Work After Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion for Cervical Radiculopathy?
Authors: Goh Graham S. , Yue Wai-Mun , Guo Chang-Ming , Tan Seang-Beng , Chen John Li-Tat
Published: December 2020

Study Design.

Retrospective review of prospectively-collected registry data.

Objectives.

The aim of this study was to determine how different combinations of preoperative neck pain (NP) and arm pain (AP) influence functional outcomes, patient satisfaction, and return-to-work in patients undergoing anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) for degenerative cervical radiculopathy (DCR).

Summary of Background Data.

Surgeons often base decisions on the traditional belief that the predominance of radicular upper extremity symptoms is a stronger indication for cervical spine surgery than axial pain. However, there is a paucity of literature supporting this notion.

Methods.

A prospectively maintained registry was reviewed for all patients who underwent primary ACDF for DCR. Patients were categorized into three groups depending on predominant pain location: AP predominant ([APP]; AP > NP), NP predominant ([NPP]; NP > AP), and equal pain predominance ([EPP]; NP = AP). Patients were prospectively followed for at least 2 years.

Results.

In total, 303 patients were included: 27.4% APP, 38.9% NPP, and 33.7% EPP cases. The APP group was significantly older (P = 0.030), although there were no other preoperative differences among the three groups. After adjusting for baseline differences, the SF-36 Physical Component Summary was significantly better in the APP group at 6 months (P = 0.048) and 2 years (P = 0.039). In addition, they showed a trend towards better 6-month Neck Disability Index (P = 0.077) and 2-year SF-36 Mental Component Summary (P = 0.059). However, an equal proportion of patients in each group achieved the Minimal Clinically Important Difference for each outcome, were satisfied, and returned to work 2 years after surgery.

Conclusion.

Although patients with NPP had slightly poorer function and quality of life, all patients experienced a clinically meaningful improvement in patient-reported outcomes, regardless of the predominant pain location. High rates of satisfaction and return-to-work were also achieved. In the context of proper indications, these findings suggest that ACDF can be equally effective for DCR patients with varying combinations of NP or AP.

Level of Evidence: 3
Genetic Variants of CHD7 Are Associated with Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis
Authors: Wu Zhichong , Dai Zhicheng , Yuwen Wang , Liu Zhen , Qiu Yong , Cheng Jack Chun-Yiu , Zhu Zezhang , Xu Leilei
Published: December 2020

Study Design.

A case–control association study.

Objectives.

The aim of this study was to investigate whether CHD7 was associated with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis in Chinese Han population and to further explore the functional role of CHD7 in the development of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS).

Summary of Background Data.

Several studies have explored the association of CHD7 with scoliosis in patients of European descent, while the results were inconsistent. There was a lack of study investigating the association of CHD7 with AIS in Chinese Han population.

Methods.

Variants within CHD7 were genotyped in 965 AIS patients and 976 healthy controls. Whole exome sequencing was performed in 96 AIS patients. Paraspinal muscles of 43AIS patients and 38 lumbar disc herniation patients were collected for the evaluation of the gene expression. Intergroup comparison was performed with the χ
2 test for genotyping data or Student t test for tissue expression. The relationship of CHD7 expression with clinical phenotypes was determined by the Pearson correlation.

Result.

Variant rs121434341 of CHD7 was significantly associated with AIS. AIS patients were found to have a remarkable higher frequency of allele G when compared with healthy controls (2.89% vs. 1.57%, P = 0.0018), with an odds ratio value of 1.89. A pathogenic mutation affecting normal splicing was identified in a patient. Moreover, the expression level of CHD7 in AIS patients was significantly lower than in the controls (0.0008437 ± 0.00004583 vs. 0.001129 ± 0.00003773, P < 0.001), and CHD7 expression was positively correlated with bone mineral contents (P = 0.036, r = 0.32).

Conclusion.

Genetic variants of CHD7 were significantly associated with AIS. Moreover, the decreased expression of CHD7 may be involved in the abnormal bone mass of AIS patients. Further studies are warranted to investigate the functional role of CHD7 in the pathogenesis of AIS.

Level of Evidence: 3
Fear-avoidance and Patients’ Reported Outcomes are Strongly Correlated With Biomechanical Gait Parameters in Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy Patients
Authors: Haddas Ram , Boah Akwasi , Block Andrew
Published: December 2020

Study Design:

This was a prospective cohort study.

Objective:

The aim was to explores whether fear-avoidance is associated with altered gait patterns in cervical spinal myelopathy (CSM) patients.

Summary of Background Data:

Fear-avoidance is associated with activity restriction and emotional distress in chronic pain patients and with poorer spine surgery outcomes. In adults with spinal deformity, fear and avoidance correlates with gait pattern disruptions. Patients having CSM also display distorted gait.

Methods:

Ninety CSM patients completed the Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia (TSK) questionnaire, and the Fear-avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire (FABQ). Each patient performed a series of gait trials. Pearson’s product correlation analysis was used to determine the relationship between the self-reported fear of movement measures and the objective gait biomechanical data.

Results:

The TSK total score was correlated with walking speed (P=0.003), cadence (P=0.012), stride (P=0.010) and step (P=0.036) time, and stride (P=0.018) and step (P=0.035) length. The FABQ physical dimension was correlated with walking speed (P<0.001), cadence (P<0.001), stride (P<0.001) and step (P=0.006) time, stride (P<0.001) and step (P<0.001) length, and gait deviation index (P<0.001). The FABQ work dimension was correlated with walking speed (P=0.001), cadence (P=0.001), stride (P=0.001) and step (P=0.008) time, and stride (P=0.014) and step (P=0.002) length.

Conclusions:

These results provide a framework for further investigation of the relationship between psychosocial factors and objectively measured function in patients with CSM. This study demonstrates a strong correlation between fear and avoidance of movement, as measured with the TSK and FABQ and multiple biomechanical gait parameters, as measured with gait analysis. The current results may imply that fear and avoidance may compound and worsen functional deficits arising from CSM, and strongly suggest that fear and avoidance beliefs should be included as a component of presurgical diagnostic process for CSM patients.
Development and Validation of the Patient-Reported Submental Fat Rating Scale and the Patient-Reported Submental Fat Impact Scale
Authors: Lupo Mary , Dover Jeffrey S. , Baradaran Sarah , Patel Vaishali , Drinkwater Adrienne
Published: December 2020

BACKGROUND

No validated assessment tools are available to evaluate patient-reported outcomes specifically related to submental fat (SMF).

OBJECTIVE

To develop and validate scales measuring the severity (Patient-Reported SMF Rating Scale [PR-SMFRS]) and psychological impact (Patient-Reported SMF Impact Scale [PR-SMFIS]) of SMF.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A literature review, content validation interviews (concept elicitation [n = 29] and cognitive debriefing [n = 15]) in adults with SMF, and expert interviews (n = 3) were conducted to develop the PR-SMFRS and PR-SMFIS. Psychometric validity (acceptability, reliability, and validity) for the PR-SMFRS and PR-SMFIS was assessed using data from 1 phase 2 and 5 phase 3 ATX-101 studies in patients with excess SMF.

RESULTS

The PR-SMFRS was constructed as a single-item, 5-point rating of the SMF amount/size. The PR-SMFIS was constructed as a 6-item scale, with an 11-point numeric rating for each item. Both scales demonstrated acceptable psychometric properties (test–retest reliability and internal consistency). The anchor-based minimally important difference analysis suggests a 1-point improvement on the PR-SMFRS (scale of 0‒4) and a 3-point improvement on the PR-SMFIS (scale of 0‒10) represent clinically meaningful change.

CONCLUSION

The PR-SMFRS and PR-SMFIS are reliable, valid instruments for assessing the severity and psychosocial impact, respectively, of SMF and detecting clinically meaningful change with intervention.