bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of Ketamine and Dexmedetomidine as Adjuvant to Total Intravenous Anesthesia on Intraoperative Cranial Nerve Monitoring in the Patients Undergoing Posterior Fossa Craniotomies—A Randomized Quadruple Blind Placebo-Controlled Study
Authors: Pathak Sharmishtha , Gupta Priyanka , Kaushal Ashutosh , Biswas Konish
Published: September 2023

Objectives Total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA) is used during surgery with intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring. Addition of adjuvant may minimize suppression of potentials by reducing doses of propofol. We studied the effect of addition of ketamine or dexmedetomidine to propofol–fentanyl-based TIVA on corticobulbar motor evoked potential (CoMEP) in patients undergoing posterior fossa surgeries.

Materials and Methods Forty-two patients were assigned to three groups (n = 14 each), Group S—saline, Group D—dexmedetomidine (0.25 μg/kg/h), and Group K—ketamine (0.25 mg/kg/h). Patients received propofol and fentanyl infusions along with study drugs. CoMEPs were recorded from muscles innervated by cranial nerves bilaterally at predefined intervals (Tbaseline, T2, T3, T4, and T5). Effect on amplitude and latency of CoMEPs was assessed.

Results A significant fall in CoMEP amplitude was observed across all analyzed muscles at time T4 and T5 in saline and dexmedetomidine group as compared with ketamine group, p-value less than 0.05. A significant increase in latency was observed at T4 and T5 among groups (p-value, D vs. K = 0.239, D vs. S = 0.123, and K vs. S = 0.001).

Conclusion Both ketamine and dexmedetomidine provide and allow effective recording of CoMEPs. Ketamine emerges as a better agent especially when prolonged surgical duration is expected as even propofol–fentanyl-based TIVA adversely affects CoMEPs when used for long duration.
Aptis Distal Radioulnar Joint Arthroplasty: A Multicenter Evaluation of Functional Outcomes, Complications, and Patient Satisfaction
Authors: Stougie Shirley D. , Boekel Leonieke C. van , Beumer Annechien , Hoogvliet Peter , Strackee Simon D. , Coert J. Henk
Published: September 2023

Background The Aptis distal radioulnar joint (DRUJ) implant has been commonly used to replace the DRUJ and restore wrist function in patients with a severely destroyed DRUJ.

Objective Promising results have been described in the literature. However, the clinical results in a multicenter setting are sparse and variable. This study evaluates the short- to midterm clinical results of 53 patients with a (mean) follow-up of 51 months.

Patients and Methods Fifty-three patients (59 implants) treated between 2011 and 2020 in three different institutions were retrospectively identified in a prospectively collected database. The main indication for Aptis DRUJ arthroplasty was a destroyed DRUJ and gross distal radioulnar instability and isolated DRUJ osteoarthritis. Functional outcome, complications, and patient satisfaction were evaluated. Patients completed the Patient-Rated Wrist Evaluation (PRWE) questionnaire and an additional questionnaire about patient satisfaction and return to hobby/work.

Results Implant survival was 92%, the surgical follow-up showed many complications (64,4%), and revision surgery was needed frequently (40.7%). In 13 cases, the follow-up was longer than 5 years. Three reimplantations had to be performed and two implants were permanently explanted. In spite of this all, wrist and forearm motion as well as pain reduction was adequate and patient satisfaction was reasonable (72.2%).

Conclusion The Aptis DRUJ arthroplasty is a viable option that can provide adequate wrist and forearm function after secure patient selection and surgical placement of the implant in the wrist with a good bone stock of the radius. The complication rate was found to be high, yet patient satisfaction was reasonable. In the case of secondary surgery, additional surgery seems to be needed. For primary surgery, the implant seems to be successful without complications. Different complications have been described, but further analysis is warranted to find the causes of complications and to objectify the performance of the Aptis DRUJ implant.

Level of Evidence IV.
Molecular Diagnosis of Hemophilia A and Pathogenesis of Novel F8 Variants in Shanxi, China
Authors: Zhang Xialin , Chen Kun , Bian Sicheng , Wang Gang , Qin Xiuyu , Zhang Ruijuan , Yang Linhua
Published: September 2023

The aim of this study was to perform a molecular diagnosis of hemophilia A (HA) among patients in the Shanxi Province of China. Fifty-two HA patients were tested, including IVS22 (31 samples), IVS1 (3 samples), missense (11 samples), nonsense (3 samples), and 4 cases of frameshift (2 cases of deletion, 1 case of insertion, 1 case of single-base duplication). With the exception of the single-base G duplication variant (p.Ile1213Asnfs*28), this was the hotspot variant reported by research groups at an early stage. The remaining variants were found, for the first time, in the region. The missense variants p.Cys172Ser, p.Tyr404Ser, p.Asp1903Gly, and p.Ser2284Asn, the deletion variant p.Leu2249fs*9, and the insertion variant p.Pro2319fs*97 were novel variants. The application of next-generation sequencing (NGS) molecular diagnosis enriched the variant spectrum of HA, which is greatly significant for individualized genetic counseling, clinical diagnosis, and treatment. NGS and a variety of bioinformatics prediction methods can further analyze the impact of genetic variation on protein structure or function and lay the foundation to reveal the molecular pathogenic mechanism of novel variants.
Novel Interlocking Nail Explantation Utilizing Custom-Made Jig and Cortical Bone Windowing Technique in a Dog
Authors: Iversen James , Chong Wye-Li , Davey Jack , Michelsen Jacob
Published: September 2023

A 4-year-old, female, neutered, Greyhound cross presented to the Animal Referral Hospital, Canberra, for assessment and surgical correction of a proximally exposed interlocking nail within the left tibia, which was placed 20 months earlier. Removal included the use of a custom-made jig and cortical windowing technique. This method of extraction worked to combine preexisting knowledge from within the human medical field, specifically total hip arthroplasty procedures, while employing a novel extraction tool. At the time of publication, to the best of the authors' knowledge, no similar methods had been described yet.
Long-Term Recurrent Intramedullary Arachnoid Cyst: Case Report and Literature Review
Authors: Afana Hatem B. , Kananeh Salman F.M. , Duraisamy Rajamagesh , Farah Abdulkadir , Figueiredo Nicandro
Published: September 2023

Objectives This article reports the management of a case of a 32-year-old male who presented with progressive weakness in the lower limbs and spastic paraparesis secondary to an intramedullary arachnoid cyst (IMAC). For literature review, the authors used the phrase “intramedullary arachnoid cyst” in PubMed search engine. 23 articles describing cases with IMAC were included in this review, with a total of 26 patients.

Materials and Methods We report a case with long term recurrant intramedullary arachnoid cyst and present a review on spinal intramedullary arachnoid cyst.

Result IMAC is showing bimodal incidence and trending to occur below 10 years and after 30 years. However, rarely, it should be considered in the differential diagnosis of intramedullary cystic lesions. Authors suggest doing laminoplasty or fusion for the pediatric patients to prevent kyphoscoliosis deformity in the long run, but doing early surgery to gain better outcome. Resection of the cyst wall should be done as much as possible; if it could not be achieved, then marsupialization or cysto-subarachnoid shunt should be considered. Aspiration alone or fenestration is not enough to eradicate the cyst. Long-term and prospective studies are recommended to achieve the best treatment options.

Conclusion Review supports early surgical treatment of symptomatic IMACs with resection of the cyst wall as much as possible.
The Prognostic Value of Sequential 18F-FDG PET/CT Metabolic Parameters in Outcomes of Upper-Third Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Patients Treated with Definitive Chemoradiotherapy
Authors: Ha Le Ngoc , Chau Nguyen Dinh , Bieu Bui Quang , Son Mai Hong
Published: September 2023

Objective The aim of this study is to determine prognostic values of sequential 18F-FDG PET/CT metabolic parameters in locally advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) patients treated with definitive chemoradiotherapy.

Materials and Methods Forty locally advanced ESCC patients treated with definitive chemoradiotherapy (dCRT) who received pre-treatment 18F-FDG PET/CT (PET1) and 3-months post-treatment 18F-FDG PET/CT (PET2) were enrolled in the prospective study. 18F-FDG PET parameters of the primary tumor including maximum and mean standardized uptake values (SUVmax, SUVmean), metabolic tumor volume (MTV), and total lesion glycolysis (TLG) were calculated on PET delineated primary tumor. Using Kaplan-Meier curves to estimated overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), and local-regional control (LRC). Cox regression analysis was performed to find significant prognostic factors for survival.

Results With a median follow-up of 13.5 months, the 4-year OS, PFS, and LRC rates were 67.3%, 52.6%, and 53.4% respectively. Patients with MTV 2 > 5.7 had lower OS, PFS, and LRC rates than the lower MTV 2 group (p < 0.05). Univariate Cox regression analysis showed that MTV2 was a significant prognostic factor for OS, PFS, and LRC (p < 0.05).

Conclusion MTV parameter of sequential 18F-FDG PET/CT could be used as a prognostic factor for OS, PFS, and LRC in locally advanced ESCC patients treated with dCRT.
3D-OSEM versus FORE + OSEM: Optimal Reconstruction Algorithm for FDG PET with a Short Acquisition Time
Authors: Tsuda Keisuke , Suzuki Takayuki , Toya Kazuhito , Sato Eisuke , Fujii Hirofumi
Published: September 2023

Objective In this study, we investigated the optimal reconstruction algorithm in fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) with a short acquisition time.

Materials and Methods In the phantom study, six spheres filled with FDG solution (sphere size: 6.23–37 mm; radioactivity ratio of spheres to background = 8:1) and placed in a National Electrical Manufacturers Association phantom were evaluated. Image acquisition time was 15 to 180 seconds, and the obtained image data were reconstructed using each of the Fourier rebinning (FORE) + ordered subsets expectation-maximization (OSEM) and 3D-OSEM algorithms. In the clinical study, mid-abdominal images of 19 patients were evaluated using regions of interest placed on areas of low, intermediate, and high radioactivity. All obtained images were investigated visually, and quantitatively using maximum standardized uptake value (SUV) and coefficient of variation (CV).

Results In the phantom study, FORE + OSEM images with a short acquisition time had large CVs (poor image quality) but comparatively constant maximum SUVs. 3D-OSEM images showed comparatively constant CVs (good image quality) but significantly low maximum SUVs. The results of visual evaluation were well correlated with those of quantitative evaluation. Small spheres were obscured on 3D-OSEM images with short acquisition time, but image quality was not greatly deteriorated. The clinical and phantom studies yielded similar results.

Conclusion FDG PET images with a short acquisition time reconstructed by FORE + OSEM showed poorer image quality than by 3D-OSEM. However, images obtained with a short acquisition time and reconstructed with FORE + OSEM showed clearer FDG uptake and more useful than 3D-OSEM in the light of the detection of lesions.
Neural network approximation of optimal controls for stochastic reaction–diffusion equations
Authors: Stannat W. , Vogler A. , Wessels L.
Published: September 2023

We present a numerical algorithm that allows the approximation of optimal controls for stochastic reaction–diffusion equations with additive noise by first reducing the problem to controls of feedback form and then approximating the feedback function using finitely based approximations. Using structural assumptions on the finitely based approximations, rates for the approximation error of the cost can be obtained. Our algorithm significantly reduces the computational complexity of finding controls with asymptotically optimal cost. Numerical experiments using artificial neural networks as well as radial basis function networks illustrate the performance of our algorithm. Our approach can also be applied to stochastic control problems for high dimensional stochastic differential equations and more general stochastic partial differential equations.
Electron acceleration in a coil target-driven low-β magnetic reconnection simulation
Authors: Yu Jiacheng , Zhong Jiayong , Ping Yongli , An Weiming
Published: September 2023

Magnetic reconnection driven by a capacitor coil target is an innovative way to investigate low-β magnetic reconnection in the laboratory, where β is the ratio of particle thermal pressure to magnetic pressure. Low-β magnetic reconnection frequently occurs in the Earth’s magnetosphere, where the plasma is characterized by β ≲ 0.01. In this paper, we analyze electron acceleration during magnetic reconnection and its effects on the electron energy spectrum via particle-in-cell simulations informed by parameters obtained from experiments. We note that magnetic reconnection starts when the current sheet is down to about three electron inertial lengths. From a quantitative comparison of the different mechanisms underlying the electron acceleration in low-β reconnection driven by coil targets, we find that the electron acceleration is dominated by the betatron mechanism, whereas the parallel electric field plays a cooling role and Fermi acceleration is negligible. The accelerated electrons produce a hardened power-law spectrum with a high-energy bump. We find that injecting electrons into the current sheet is likely to be essential for further acceleration. In addition, we perform simulations for both a double-coil co-directional magnetic field and a single-coil one to eliminate the possibility of direct acceleration of electrons beyond thermal energies by the coil current. The squeeze between the two coil currents can only accelerate electrons inefficiently before reconnection. The simulation results provide insights to guide future experimental improvements in low-β magnetic reconnection driven by capacitor coil targets.
Magnetocaloric properties of TbCrO3 and TmCrO3 and their comparison with those of the other RCrO3 systems (R = Gd, Dy, Ho, and Er)
Authors: Shi Jianhang , Seehra Mohindar S. , Pfund Jacob , Yin Shiqi , Jain Menka
Published: September 2023

Magnetocaloric properties of TbCrO3 and TmCrO3 are reported and compared with those of the previously reported rare-earth chromites RCrO3 (R = Gd, Dy, Ho, and Er) and other perovskite-type oxides. The samples of TbCrO3 and TmCrO3 in this work were synthesized using a citrate gel combustion technique, and their magnetic properties were investigated and compared with those reported previously on RCrO3 (R = Gd, Dy, Ho, and Er). The Cr3+–Cr3+ ordering temperatures were found to strongly depend on the ionic radii of the rare-earth. By fitting the dc magnetization data with modified Curie–Weiss law including the Dzyaloshinsky–Moriya antisymmetric exchange interaction (D) and the symmetric exchange constant Je, spin canting angles (α) were obtained. In general, α was found to increase with the decreasing ionic radii of R3+ in RCrO3. The magnetocaloric properties investigated included the magnetic entropy change (−ΔS) for a given change in magnetic field (ΔH), the corresponding adiabatic temperature change (ΔTad), and their relative variations (ΔTad/ΔH) and (−ΔS/ΔH). It is observed that for RCrO3, (−ΔS) measured in the vicinity of the ordering temperature of R3+–R3+, varies almost as G2/3 where G is the de Gennes factor. Among RCrO3, GdCrO3 shows the largest value of (−ΔS/ΔH), because of its largest G factor and its magnitudes of (ΔTad/ΔH) and (−ΔS/ΔH) compare well with the reported values for the perovskites GdFeO3 and EuTiO3. These comparisons presented here provide useful information on the potential use of these materials in magneto-refrigeration technology.
Patterning nucleation area by femtosecond laser in exchange-coupled systems
Authors: Vallobra P. , Xu Y. , Wang H. , Malinowski G. , Hehn M. , Rojas-Sánchez J.-C. , Mangin S.
Published: September 2023

Optical control of the exchange bias field in IrMn/[Co/Pt]N heterostructures has been recently demonstrated. We show that this phenomenon can be used to create specific nucleation areas and even decide the preferential direction of propagation of the domain wall inside these preferred areas of nucleation. Using different features of a femtosecond laser, such as the helicity, fluence, and number of pulses, we designed robust patterns of various shapes and magnetic properties that can be host for domain wall propagation observations. Our finding provides an alternative method to already existing and time-consuming patterning methods.
Quantifying nonequilibrium dynamics and thermodynamics of cell fate decision making in yeast under pheromone induction
Authors: Li Sheng , Liu Qiong , Wang Erkang , Wang Jin
Published: September 2023

Cellular responses to pheromone in yeast can range from gene expression to morphological and physiological changes. While signaling pathways are well studied, the cell fate decision-making during cellular polar growth is still unclear. Quantifying these cellular behaviors and revealing the underlying physical mechanism remain a significant challenge. Here, we employed a hidden Markov chain model to quantify the dynamics of cellular morphological systems based on our experimentally observed time series. The resulting statistics generated a stability landscape for state attractors. By quantifying rotational fluxes as the non-equilibrium driving force that tends to disrupt the current attractor state, the dynamical origin of non-equilibrium phase transition from four cell morphological fates to a single dominant fate was identified. We revealed that higher chemical voltage differences induced by a high dose of pheromone resulted in higher chemical currents, which will trigger a greater net input and, thus, more degrees of the detailed balance breaking. By quantifying the thermodynamic cost of maintaining morphological state stability, we demonstrated that the flux-related entropy production rate provides a thermodynamic origin for the phase transition in non-equilibrium morphologies. Furthermore, we confirmed that the time irreversibility in time series provides a practical way to predict the non-equilibrium phase transition.
Self-defocusing nonlinear coupled system with PT-symmetric super-Gaussian potential
Authors: A. R. Thasneem , P. A. Subha
Published: September 2023

The stationary solutions of the coupled nonlinear Schrödinger equation with self-defocusing nonlinearity and super-Gaussian form of parity-time (PT) symmetric potential in an optical system have been analyzed. The stationary eigenmodes of the ground and excited states and the influence of the gain/loss coefficient on the eigenvalue spectra are discussed. The threshold condition of the PT-symmetric phase transition of the high and low-frequency modes has been studied. Also, the variation of the threshold values with the coupling constant and the effect of the nonlinearity on the eigenmodes are analyzed. The stability of the solution is verified using the linear-stability analysis. In addition, the power distribution of the fundamental solutions with the propagation, in the two channels of the system, is analyzed in the PT and broken PT regimes.
Elucidating the water–anatase TiO2(101) interface structure using infrared signatures and molecular dynamics
Authors: O’Connor Christopher R. , Calegari Andrade Marcos F. , Selloni Annabella , Kimmel Greg A.
Published: September 2023

The structure and dynamics of water on solid surfaces critically affect the chemistry of materials in ambient and aqueous environments. Here, we investigate the hydrogen bonding network of water adsorbed on the majority (101) surface of anatase TiO2, a widely used photocatalyst, using polarization- and azimuth-resolved infrared spectroscopy combined with neural network potential molecular dynamics simulations. Our results show that one monolayer of water saturates the undercoordinated titanium (Ti5c) sites, forming one-dimensional chains of molecule hydrogen bonded to surface undercoordinated bridging oxygen (O2c) atoms. As the coverage increases, water adsorption on O2c sites leads to significant restructuring of the water monolayer and the formation of a two-dimensional hydrogen bond network characterized by tightly bound pairs of water molecules on adjacent Ti5c and O2c sites. This structural motif likely persists at ambient conditions, influencing the reactions occurring there. The results reported here provide critical details of the structure of the water–anatase (101) interface that were previously hypothesized but unconfirmed experimentally.
Wafer-scale emission uniformity of InGaN-based red light-emitting diodes on an in situ InGaN decomposition template
Authors: Hu Junwei , Xing Kun , Xia Zhihu , Sang Yimeng , Yang Xiaoping , Tao Tao , Zhuang Zhe , Zhang Rong , Liu Bin
Published: September 2023

We propose a strain relaxed template (SRT), which consists of an InGaN decomposition layer (DL) and GaN protecting layers grown at three different temperatures as decomposition stop layers (DSLs), to enhance the indium incorporation in quantum wells. The high-temperature growth of the DSL decomposed the InGaN DL and created voids inside to release the strain of the as-grown templates. Although the surface morphology slightly degraded with the DL-DSL SRT, the emission wavelength over the 4-in. wafer was uniform with a standard deviation of 3.4 nm. In addition, the chip containing DL-DSL SRT exhibited an average redshift of 15 nm in peak wavelength compared to the chip without DL-DSL SRT, and the full widths at half-maximum of all samples were below 55 nm. Finally, we achieved an InGaN red LED chip using the DL-DSL SRT structure, exhibiting a red emission of 634 nm at 10 A/cm2 with an external quantum efficiency of 1.3%. The high-efficiency and uniform emission wavelength across the epi-wafer demonstrate the great potential of inserting a DL-DSL SRT to mass-produce high-performance, long-wavelength InGaN LEDs.
Design and experimental verification of the working mode of an electrostatic suspension accelerometer
Authors: Wang Zuolei , Li Yunpeng , Lei Jungang , Wang Zhenxing , Xi Dongxue , Min Jian , Wei Yongqiang , Yang Shijia , Luo Ziren
Published: September 2023

An electrostatic suspension accelerometer is an important instrument for measuring quasi-steady micro-acceleration. A reasonable working mode is the premise to ensure acquisition and stable control of the accelerometer in-orbit and then to carry out high-precision linear measurement. Based on the dynamic model analysis of the electrostatic suspension accelerometer, and taking the force balance of inertial proof mass as the fundamental requirement, the design of the acquisition working mode and measurement working mode based on displacement sensing output and feedback control output is proposed. The rationality and feasibility of the proposed working mode design are verified by the ground drop tower test of the Taiji-1 accelerometer prototype and in-flight test of the actual product.
Spin reorientation induced large spin memory loss at Py/Pd interface
Authors: Li Zhihao , Li Jingxin , Wang Yihao , Li Junbo , Li Tian , Li Teng , Chen Feng , Tong Wei , Cao Liang , Xiong Yimin
Published: September 2023

Achieving spin current switching functionality is crucial for the development next-generation low power information storage. In this study, the spin reorientation and temperature dependence of spin Hall angle θSH in the Permalloy (Py)/Pd bilayer were investigated by using ferromagnetic resonance, spin pumping, inverse spin Hall effect, and quantum interference transport. The uniaxial ferromagnetic perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA) induced by spin reorientation persists at the Py/Pd interface below 30 K. This PMA further enhances the interfacial spin scattering, leading to a reduction of injected spin current, as indicated by the underestimated θSH values. These experimental results demonstrate that the interfacial spin reorientation at the ferromagnet/heavy metal interface, commonly employed in spintronic devices, causes a significant spin memory loss effect. Our findings provide valuable insights into the influence of interlayer spin configuration on spin transport, which can be utilized in the rational design of spintronic devices based on pure spin current.
Oscillating reaction in porous media under saddle flow
Authors: Izumoto Satoshi
Published: September 2023

Pattern formation due to oscillating reactions represents variable natural and engineering systems, but previous studies employed only simple flow conditions such as uniform flow and Poiseuille flow. We studied the oscillating reaction in porous media, where dispersion enhanced the spreading of diffusing components by merging and splitting flow channels. We considered the saddle flow, where the stretching rate is constant everywhere. We generated patterns with the Brusselator system and classified them by instability conditions and Péclet number (Pe), which was defined by the stretching rate. The results showed that each pattern formation was controlled by the stagnation point and stable and unstable manifolds of the flow field due to the heterogeneous flow fields and the resulting heterogeneous dispersion fields. The characteristics of the patterns, such as the position of stationary waves parallel to the unstable manifold and the size of local stationary patterns around the stagnation point, were also controlled by Pe.
Theoretical prediction of diffusive ionic current through nanopores under salt gradients
Authors: Ma Long , Gao Zihao , Man Jia , Li Jianyong , Du Guanghua , Qiu Yinghua
Published: September 2023

In charged nanopores, ionic diffusion current reflects the ionic selectivity and ionic permeability of nanopores, which determines the performance of osmotic energy conversion, i.e., the output power and efficiency. Here, theoretical predictions of the diffusive currents through cation-selective nanopores have been developed based on the investigation of diffusive ionic transport under salt gradients with simulations. The ionic diffusion current I satisfies a reciprocal relationship with the pore length I ∝ α/L (α is a constant) in long nanopores. α is determined by the cross-sectional areas of diffusion paths for anions and cations inside nanopores, which can be described with a quadratic power of the diameter, and the superposition of a quadratic power and a first power of the diameter, respectively. By using effective concentration gradients instead of nominal ones, the deviation caused by the concentration polarization can be effectively avoided in the prediction of ionic diffusion current. With developed equations of effective concentration difference and ionic diffusion current, the diffusion current across nanopores can be well predicted in cases of nanopores longer than 100 nm and without overlapping of electric double layers. Our results can provide a convenient way for the quantitative prediction of ionic diffusion currents under salt gradients.
Performance of young endophyte-free and endophyte-infected tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea) plants under partial and total submergence
Authors: Petigrosso Lucas R. , Vignolio Osvaldo R. , Gundel Pedro E. , Monterubbianesi María G. , Assuero Silvia G.
Published: September 2023

Context Tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) is a valuable temperate forage grass. Tall fescue plants associated with Epichloë fungal endophytes are successfully spreading in grassland regions that are recurrently exposed to flooding. Aims We asked whether the association with fungal endophytes increases plant performance under water excess. Methods In a greenhouse experiment, we evaluated the differential performance of young endophyte-infected and endophyte-free tall fescue plants in response to 14 days of partial and total submergence. We included a wild local population and a cultivar, each with their respective fungal endophyte: the common endophyte and a safe (non-toxic) endophyte (AR584). Key results Relative to control (non-submerged) plants, and regardless of endophyte status, total submergence resulted in a significant growth reduction. At the end of the partial submergence period, the number of leaves per plant increased (21%) in the presence of the safe endophyte AR584 but decreased (18%) in the presence of the wild endophyte. Moreover, under partial submergence, the presence of wild endophyte decreased pseudostem dry weight by 10%. Conclusions Our results show that the presence of either the wild or the safe endophyte did not increase the performance of young tall fescue plants under submergence conditions. Implications Although all endophyte-free and endophyte-infected tall fescue plants survived submergence treatments, we cannot rule out that Epichloë endophytes might improve plant fitness under longer stressful submergence conditions. Future research should explore how endophytes modulate host performance under water excess, considering different phenological plant phases and/or co-occurrence with other stress factors (e.g. high temperatures).
The benefits and risks of child-dog attachment and child-dog behaviours for child psychological well-being
Authors: Hawkins Roxanne D. , Robinson Charlotte , McGuigan Nicola
Published: September 2023

The importance of secure human attachments in childhood for healthy psychological development is well-established, yet the well-being implications of child-dog symbiotic relationships are less understood. Children form strong emotional bonds with their pet dogs that meet the prerequisites for an attachment relationship. These bonds can be mutually reinforcing and beneficial and could indicate positive child well-being. However, not all child-dog relationships are positive and here we explore whether harmful and unsafe interactions are associated with poorer emotional and behavioural functioning. The aim of this study was to examine whether the type of child-dog behaviour (positive or negative) mediates the relationship between child-dog attachment and well-being indicators. Data from caregiver reports (N = 117) and child self-reports (N = 77) were collected through an online survey. The results revealed that positive child-dog interactions significantly mediated the relationship between high attachment scores and better child outcomes (higher scores for well-being, positive outlook, happiness, quality of life, higher social satisfaction, and lower loneliness), whereas the reverse was found for negative child-dog interactions, predicting lower attachment scores and worse child outcomes (negative outlook, increased loneliness and social dissatisfaction, lower quality of life). This study has identified important mechanisms through which pet dogs may pose both benefits and risks to children’s psychological well-being. These findings will aid the development and evaluation of interventions that promote positive and safe child-dog interactions and subsequent child and dog psychological health and welfare.
Competition for calnexin binding regulates secretion and turnover of misfolded GPI-anchored proteins
Authors: Cheatham Amber M. , Sharma Nishi Raj , Satpute-Krishnan Prasanna
Published: September 2023

In mammalian cells, misfolded glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored proteins (GPI-APs) are cleared out of the ER to the Golgi via a constitutive and a stress-inducible pathway called RESET. From the Golgi, misfolded GPI-APs transiently access the cell surface prior to rapid internalization for lysosomal degradation. What regulates the release of misfolded GPI-APs for RESET during steady-state conditions and how this release is accelerated during ER stress is unknown. Using mutants of prion protein or CD59 as model misfolded GPI-APs, we demonstrate that inducing calnexin degradation or upregulating calnexin-binding glycoprotein expression triggers the release of misfolded GPI-APs for RESET. Conversely, blocking protein synthesis dramatically inhibits the dissociation of misfolded GPI-APs from calnexin and subsequent turnover. We demonstrate an inverse correlation between newly synthesized calnexin substrates and RESET substrates that coimmunoprecipitate with calnexin. These findings implicate competition by newly synthesized substrates for association with calnexin as a key factor in regulating the release of misfolded GPI-APs from calnexin for turnover via the RESET pathway.
Synchronous coordinates and gauge-invariant observables in cosmological spacetimes
Authors: Fröb Markus B , Lima William C C
Published: September 2023

We consider the relational approach to construct gauge-invariant observables in cosmological perturbation theory using synchronous coordinates. We construct dynamical synchronous coordinates as non-local scalar functionals of the metric perturbation in the fully non-linear theory in an arbitrary gauge. We show that the observables defined in this dynamical coordinate system are gauge-independent, and that the full perturbed metric has the expected form in these coordinates. Our construction generalises the familiar synchronous gauge in linearised gravity, widely used in cosmological perturbation theory, to the non-linear theory. We also work out the expressions for the gauge-invariant Einstein equation, sourced either by an ideal fluid or a scalar field up to second order in perturbation theory, and give explicit expressions for the Hubble rate—as measured by synchronous observers or by observers co-moving with the matter field—up to that order. Finally, we consider quantised linear perturbations around Minkowski and de Sitter backgrounds, and compute the two-point function of the gauge-invariant metric perturbation in synchronous coordinates, starting with two-point function in a general linear covariant gauge. Although the gauge-fixed two-point function contains gauge modes, we show that the resulting gauge-invariant two-point function only contains the physical tensor modes and it is thus positive, i. e. it has a spectral representation.
Micro gas chromatography column coated with ionic liquid/metal–organic framework composites as the stationary phase
Authors: Zhang Kangning , Wu Xinyu , Wang Dazuo , Hua Xinyuan , Zhang Ze , Li Peng , Tian Bing , Wang Hairong , Sun Jianhai
Published: September 2023

In this paper, the μGC-IL/MOF and the μGC-IL were prepared using [P66614][NTf2]/ZIF-8 and [P66614][NTf2] as the stationary phase, respectively. [P66614][NTf2]/ZIF-8 composite stationary phase material has high specific surface area and porous structure, which increases the diffusion of gas molecules in the column. Compared to μGC-IL, μGC-IL/MOF can separate n-alkanes mixture (C5–C12) and lung cancer biomarkers (pentane, isoprene, acetone, benzene, 2-pentanone) with higher resolution, and the resolution (R) of pentane and isoprene was increased by 257.00% in particular. The μGC-IL/MOF can separate lung cancer biomarkers in about 5 min with optimal carrier gas velocity and column temperature. The retention times of pentane, isoprene, acetone, benzene, and 2-pentanone were 0.884 min, 1.246 min, 1.634 min, 2.204 min, and 3.049 min, respectively. The resolutions of adjacent peaks were 1.785, 1.525, 2.521, and 3.514, respectively. Which meets the requirements of quantitative analysis (R > 1.5). Therefore, the μGC-IL/MOF is expected to be integrated into portable devices for environmental monitoring and medical diagnosis in the future.
Development of multi-depth probing 3D microelectrode array to record electrophysiological activity within neural cultures
Authors: Yadav Neeraj , Lisa Donatella Di , Giacomozzi Flavio , Cian Alessandro , Giubertoni Damiano , Martinoia Sergio , Lorenzelli Leandro
Published: September 2023

Microelectrode arrays (MEAs) play a crucial role in investigating the electrophysiological activities of neuronal populations. Although two-dimensional neuronal cell cultures have predominated in neurophysiology in monitoring in-vitro the electrophysiological activity, recent research shifted toward culture using three-dimensional (3D) neuronal network structures for developing more sophisticated and realistic neuronal models. Nevertheless, many challenges remain in the electrophysiological analysis of 3D neuron cultures, among them the development of robust platforms for investigating the electrophysiological signal at multiple depths of the 3D neurons’ networks. While various 3D MEAs have been developed to probe specific depths within the layered nervous system, the fabrication of microelectrodes with different heights, capable of probing neural activity from the surface as well as from the different layers within the neural construct, remains challenging. This study presents a novel 3D MEA with microelectrodes of different heights, realized through a multi-stage mold-assisted electrodeposition process. Our pioneering platform allows meticulous control over the height of individual microelectrodes as well as the array topology, paving the way for the fabrication of 3D MEAs consisting of electrodes with multiple heights that could be tailored for specific applications and experiments. The device performance was characterized by measuring electrochemical impedance, and noise, and capturing spontaneous electrophysiological activity from neurospheroids derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells. These evaluations unequivocally validated the significant potential of our innovative multi-height 3D MEA as an avant-garde platform for in vitro 3D neuronal studies.
Magnetization reversal study of Ni
4−x
Zn
x
Nb2O9 compounds using Monte Carlo simulations
Authors: Rufeil Fiori Elena , Bolletta Juan P , Martin Christine , Maignan Antoine , Billoni Orlando V
Published: September 2023

The magnetization reversal (MR) of the layered Ni

4
−
x

Zn
x
Nb2O9 ferrimagnetic compounds, with

x
=
0
,
0.25
,
0.50

and 0.75, is studied in this work using Monte Carlo (MC) simulations and mean field (MF) calculations. First, we analyze the parent compound to set the parameters of our simulations; testing together MC simulations, MF calculations, and MR experiments reported by Bolletta et al (2022 J. Appl. Phys.
132 153901). Then using two different approaches we fit the MR curves of the series of compounds finding a quite good agreement between MC simulations and the experiments. According to these results, Zn substitutions change the relative contribution to the magnetization of the different layers. Here we present two possible hypotheses to explain this effect; one involving a heterogeneous distribution of Zn2+ among the layers, and the other related to distortions of the NiO6 octahedra.
Electric field distributions in realistic 3D rat head models during alternating electric field (AEF) therapy: a computational study
Authors: Nguyen Ha , Schubert Keith E , Chang Edwin , Nie Ying , Pohling Christoph , Van Buskirk Samuel , Yamamoto Vicky , Zeng Yuping , Schulte Reinhard W , Patel Chirag B
Published: September 2023

Objective. Application of alternating electrical fields (AEFs) in the kHz range is an established treatment modality for primary and recurrent glioblastoma. Preclinical studies would enable innovations in treatment monitoring and efficacy, which could then be translated to benefit patients. We present a practical translational process converting image-based data into 3D rat head models for AEF simulations and study its sensitivity to parameter choices. Approach. Five rat head models composed of up to 7 different tissue types were created, and relative permittivity and conductivity of individual tissues obtained from the literature were assigned. Finite element analysis was used to model the AEF strength and distribution in the models with different combinations of head tissues, a virtual tumor, and an electrode pair. Main results. The simulations allowed for a sensitivity analysis of the AEF distribution with respect to different tissue combinations and tissue parameter values. Significance. For a single pair of 5 mm diameter electrodes, an average AEF strength inside the tumor exceeded 1.5 V cm−1, expected to be sufficient for a relevant therapeutic outcome. This study illustrates a robust and flexible approach for simulating AEF in different tissue types, suitable for preclinical studies in rodents and translatable to clinical use.
Deep learning for fast denoising filtering in ultrasound localization microscopy
Authors: Yu Xiangyang , Luan Shunyao , Lei Shuang , Huang Jing , Liu Zeqing , Xue Xudong , Ma Teng , Ding Yi , Zhu Benpeng
Published: September 2023

Objective. Addition of a denoising filter step in ultrasound localization microscopy (ULM) has been shown to effectively reduce the error localizations of microbubbles (MBs) and achieve resolution improvement for super-resolution ultrasound (SR-US) imaging. However, previous image-denoising methods (e.g. block-matching 3D, BM3D) requires long data processing times, making ULM only able to be processed offline. This work introduces a new way to reduce data processing time through deep learning. Approach. In this study, we propose deep learning (DL) denoising based on contrastive semi-supervised network (CS-Net). The neural network is mainly trained with simulated MBs data to extract MB signals from noise. And the performances of CS-Net denoising are evaluated in both in vitro flow phantom experiment and in vivo experiment of New Zealand rabbit tumor. Main results. For in vitro flow phantom experiment, the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) of single microbubble image are 26.91 dB and 4.01 dB, repectively. For in vivo animal experiment , the SNR and CNR were 12.29 dB and 6.06 dB. In addition, single microvessel of 24 μm and two microvessels separated by 46 μm could be clearly displayed. Most importantly,, the CS-Net denoising speeds for in vitro and in vivo experiments were 0.041 s frame−1 and 0.062 s frame−1, respectively. Significance. DL denoising based on CS-Net can improve the resolution of SR-US as well as reducing denoising time, thereby making further contributions to the clinical real-time imaging of ULM.
Uneven terrain affects metabolic cost and gait in simulated complex lunar surfaces
Authors: Kim Kyoung Jae , Baughman Alexander , Estep Patrick , Rivas Eric , Young Millennia , Marshall-Goebel Karina , Abercromby Andrew , Somers Jeffrey
Published: September 2023

Objective. Upcoming missions of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to the Moon will include extensive human exploration of the lunar surface. Walking will be essential for many exploration tasks, and metabolic cost during ambulation on simulated complex lunar surfaces requires further characterization. In this study, ten healthy subjects (6 male and 4 female) participated in three simulated lunar terrain walking conditions at the NASA Johnson Space Center’s planetary ‘Rock Yard’: (1) flat terrain, (2) flat terrain with obstacles, and (3) mixed terrain. Approach. Energy expenditure and gait were quantified with a wearable metabolic energy expenditure monitoring system and body-worn inertial measurement units (IMUs), respectively. Main results. It was found that participants walking on the mixed terrain, representing the highest workload condition, required significantly higher metabolic costs than in other terrain conditions (p < 0.001). Additionally, our novel IMU-based gait variables discriminated different terrains and identified changes in gait in simulated lunar terrain environments. Significance. Our results showed that the various surface irregularities and inconsistencies could cause additional physical effort while walking on the complex terrain. These findings provide insight into the effects of terrain on metabolic energy expenditure during simulated lunar extravehicular activities.
Sensitive biosensing based on a D-type photonic crystal fiber
Authors: Chen Wenjian , Shen Tao , Feng Yue , Liu Chi , Liu Xin , Wu Yuhang
Published: September 2023

We designed a D-type photonic crystal fiber biosensor based on surface plasmon resonance, verified the simulation results of the existing glucose concentration in the blood of diabetic patients, and used the finite element simulation software COMSOL for numerical simulation. The influence of structural parameters of the biosensor on the sensing performance is mainly studied. The maximum wavelength sensitivity of the sensor is 42000 nm RIU–1, maximum figure-of-Merit (FOM) of 429.61 RIU−1, linearity is 0.99607, and wavelength resolution is 3.33 × 10−6 RIU in the refractive index range of 1.29–1.37. The biggest highlight of this sensor is not only the simple design structure and ultra-high sensitivity, but also when the diameter of the outermost air hole changes from 0.3 μm to 1.15 μm, it does not affect the phase matching conditions of the coupling mode inside the fiber. We believe that this sensor is expected to be the most competitive instrument among biosensors.
Numerical investigation of highly viscous droplet generation based on level set method
Authors: Zhang Chao , Tao Meng , Ling Mingxiang
Published: September 2023

Piezo-driven needle valves are widely used in electronic packaging due to their fast response, high resolution and good dispensing consistency. However, the stable generation of high-viscosity droplets is one of the key issues to its packaging quality. To investigate the formation mechanism of the high-viscosity droplet. In this paper, a 2D finite element model of the drop-on-demand injection process of the high-viscosity droplet is established based on the level set method, the droplet formation and separation processes are numerically simulated, and the reliability of the simulation results is checked by comparing the outcomes with published data. Specifically, the detailed evolution of the high-viscosity droplet formation and separation process is gained by coupling the two-phase flow-level set method and the dynamic grid technique, and the pressure distribution in the injection chamber is further discussed and the effects of operating parameters on the droplet formation volume are examined. The results of the study show that the needle motion is the main factor of pressure fluctuations in the injection chamber. Moreover, we also found that among the parameters of needle stroke, nozzle diameter, supply pressure, fluid viscosity, and surface tension, the nozzle diameter has the most significant effect on droplet volume, while surface tension has the least effect on droplet formation.