bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
New ways of treatment of fractures of the humeral shaft: does the combination of intramedullary nail osteosynthesis and cerclage improve the healing process?
Authors: von der Helm Franziska , Fenwick Annabel , Reuter Jan , Adolf-Lisitano Leonard , Mayr Edgar , Förch Stefan
Published: December 2021

Introduction

The humeral shaft fracture is a rare fracture of the long bones with various treatment options. Dreaded complications such as lesions of the radial nerve or non-unions make the decision for what kind of therapy option more difficult. Biomechanically the upper arm is mostly exposed to rotational forces, which affect intramedullary nail osteosynthesis. Additive cerclage may compensate for these in spiral fractures. The aim of this study is to investigate what effect a combination of intramedullary nail osteosynthesis and limited invasive cerclage has on the rate of healing. In addition, this study addresses the question if complications arise as a result of cerclage.

Methods

In this retrospective study, 109 patients were evaluated, who, during a period of 6 years, underwent operative treatment of a humerus shaft fracture with a combination of intramedullary nail osteosynthesis and additive cerclage. The primary end point was to establish the rate of healing. A secondary end point was to evaluate complications such as infections and damage to the nerve. This was followed by an examination of patient files and X-ray images and a statistical analysis with SPSS.

Results and conclusion

The healing process shows a non-union rate of 2.6%, and complications such as secondary radial nerve lesions of 4.6%. The antegrade intramedullary nail osteosynthesis with limited invasive, additive cerclage reduces the risk of non-union and does not lead to an increased risk of iatrogenic damage to the radial nerve. Wound healing was not impaired and there were no infections through the cerclage in our patient cohort.
Finding light in dark archives: using AI to connect context and content in email
Authors: Decker Stephanie , Kirsch David A. , Kuppili Venkata Santhilata , Nix Adam
Published: December 2021

Email archives are important historical resources, but access to such data poses a unique archival challenge and many born-digital collections remain dark, while questions of how they should be effectively made available remain. This paper contributes to the growing interest in preserving access to email by addressing the needs of users, in readiness for when such collections become more widely available. We argue that for the content of email to be meaningfully accessed, the context of email must form part of this access. In exploring this idea, we focus on discovery within large, multi-custodian archives of organisational email, where emails’ network features are particularly apparent. We introduce our prototype search tool, which uses AI-based methods to support user-driven exploration of email. Specifically, we integrate two distinct AI models that generate systematically different types of results, one based upon simple, phrase-matching and the other upon more complex, BERT embeddings. Together, these provide a new pathway to contextual discovery that accounts for the diversity of future archival users, their interests and level of experience.
Subsequent surgery after primary ACLR results in a significantly inferior subjective outcome at a 2-year follow-up
Authors: von Essen Christoffer , Cristiani Riccardo , Lord Lise , Stålman Anders
Published: December 2021

Purpose

To analyze minimal important change (MIC), patient-acceptable symptom state (PASS) and treatment failure after reoperation within 2 years of primary ACL reconstruction and compare them with patients without additional surgery.

Methods

This is a retrospective follow-up study of a cohort from a single-clinic database with all primary ACLRs enrolled between 2005 and 2015. Additional surgery within 2 years of the primary ACLR on the ipsilateral knee was identified using procedural codes and analysis of medical records. Patients who completed the Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) questionnaire preoperatively and at the 2-year follow-up were included in the study. MIC, PASS and treatment failure thresholds were applied using the aggregate KOOS (KOOS4) and the five KOOS subscales.

Results

The cohort included 6030 primary ACLR and from this 1112 (18.4%) subsequent surgeries were performed on 1018 (16.9%) primary ACLRs. 24 months follow-up for KOOS was obtained on 523 patients (54%) in the reoperation group and 2084 (44%) in the no-reoperation group. MIC; the no-reoperation group had a significantly higher improvement on all KOOS subscales, Pain 70.3 vs 60.2% (p < 0.01), Symptoms 72.1 vs 57.4% (p < 0.01), ADL 56.3 vs 51.2% (p < 0.01), Sport/Rec 67.3 vs 54.4% (p < 0.01), QoL 73.9 vs 56.3% (p < 0.01). PASS; 62% in the non-reoperation group reported their KOOS4 scores to be satisfactory, while only 35% reported satisfactory results in the reoperated cohort (p < 0.05). Treatment failure; 2% in the non-reoperation group and 6% (p < 0.05) in the reoperation group considered their treatment to have failed.

Conclusion

Patients who underwent subsequent surgeries within 2 years of primary ACLR reported significantly inferior outcomes in MIC, PASS and treatment failure compared to the non-reoperated counterpart at the 2-year follow-up. This study provides clinicians with important information and knowledge about the outcomes after an ACLR with subsequent additional surgery.

Level of evidence

III.
Anal endosonographic assessment of the accuracy of clinical diagnosis of obstetric anal sphincter injury
Authors: Jones Angharad , Ferrari Linda , Martinez Paula Igualada , Oteng-Ntim Eugene , Hainsworth Alison , Schizas Alexis
Published: December 2021

Introduction and hypothesis

Obstetric anal sphincter injuries (OASIS) are a common cause of maternal morbidity with an overall incidence in the UK of 2.9% (range 0–8%). They can cause a range of physical symptoms and psychological distress. This study aims to assess the accuracy of clinical diagnosis of OASIS using endoanal ultrasound (EAUS) and the correlation between confirmed injury and change to anorectal physiology squeeze pressure and the incidence of bowel symptoms.

Methods and materials

Retrospective study of prospectively collected data from 1135 women who attended the Third- and Fourth-Degree Tears Clinic at our institution, 12 weeks post-delivery, between June 2008 and October 2019.

Results

OASIS was confirmed in 876 (78.8%) women and 236 (21.3%) had no injury. Of the women who underwent anorectal physiology, 45.6% had a mean maximal resting pressure below the normal range and 68.8% had a mean incremental squeeze pressure below normal. Women with confirmed OASIS had significantly lower pressures (p < 0.001) than those without a confirmed sphincter injury. Three hundred ninety-three (34.8%) women reported bowel symptoms, with those with endosonographic evidence of injury more likely to develop flatus incontinence.

Conclusion

Of the women in this study with a suspected OASIS, 21.2% could be reassured that they did not have an injury. This information is useful for women considering future mode of delivery. Those with confirmed injury are more likely to complain of flatus incontinence and have reduced anal sphincter pressures.
Generalized flatness constants, spanning lattice polytopes, and the Gromov width
Authors: Averkov Gennadiy , Hofscheier Johannes , Nill Benjamin
Published: December 2021

In this paper we motivate some new directions of research regarding the lattice width of convex bodies. We show that convex bodies of sufficiently large width contain a unimodular copy of a standard simplex. Following an argument of Eisenbrand and Shmonin, we prove that every lattice polytope contains a minimal generating set of the affine lattice spanned by its lattice points such that the number of generators (and the lattice width of their convex hull) is bounded by a constant which only depends on the dimension. We also discuss relations to recent results on spanning lattice polytopes and how our results could be viewed as the beginning of the study of generalized flatness constants. Regarding symplectic geometry, we point out how the lattice width of a Delzant polytope is related to upper and lower bounds on the Gromov width of its associated symplectic toric manifold. Throughout, we include several open questions.
Local radiotherapy and E7 RNA-LPX vaccination show enhanced therapeutic efficacy in preclinical models of HPV16+ cancer
Authors: Salomon Nadja , Selmi Abderaouf , Grunwitz Christian , Kong Anthony , Stanganello Eliana , Neumaier Jennifer , Petschenka Jutta , Diken Mustafa , Kreiter Sebastian , Türeci Özlem , Sahin Ugur , Vascotto Fulvia
Published: December 2021

Human papilloma virus (HPV) infection is a causative agent for several cancers types (genital, anal and head and neck region). The HPV E6 and E7 proteins are oncogenic drivers and thus are ideal candidates for therapeutic vaccination. We recently reported that a novel ribonucleic acid lipoplex (RNA-LPX)-based HPV16 vaccine, E7 RNA-LPX, mediates regression of mouse HPV16+ tumors and establishes protective T cell memory. An HPV16 E6/E7 RNA-LPX vaccine is currently being investigated in two phase I and II clinical trials in various HPV-driven cancer types; however, it remains a high unmet medical need for treatments for patients with radiosensitive HPV16+ tumors. Therefore, we set out to investigate the therapeutic efficacy of E7 RNA-LPX vaccine combined with standard-of-care local radiotherapy (LRT). We demonstrate that E7 RNA-LPX synergizes with LRT in HPV16+ mouse tumors, with potent therapeutic effects exceeding those of either monotherapy. Mode of action studies revealed that the E7 RNA-LPX vaccine induced high numbers of intratumoral-E7-specific CD8+T cells, rendering cold tumors immunologically hot, whereas LRT primarily acted as a cytotoxic therapy, reducing tumor mass and intratumor hypoxia by predisposing tumor cells to antigen-specific T cell-mediated killing. Overall, LRT enhanced the effector function of E7 RNA-LPX-primed T cell responses. The therapeutic synergy was dependent on total radiation dose, rather than radiation dose-fractionation. Together, these results show that LRT synergizes with E7 RNA-LPX and enhances its anti-tumor activity against HPV16+ cancer models. This work paves into a new translational therapy for HPV16+ cancer patients.
How groundwater time series and aquifer property data explain heterogeneity in the Permo-Triassic sandstone aquifers of the Eden Valley, Cumbria, UK
Authors: Colyer Alex , Butler Adrian , Peach Denis , Hughes Andrew
Published: December 2021

A novel investigation of the impact of meteorological and geological heterogeneity within the Permo-Triassic Sandstone aquifers of the River Eden catchment, Cumbria (UK), is described. Quantifying the impact of heterogeneity on the water cycle is increasingly important to sustainably manage water resources and minimise flood risk. Traditional investigations on heterogeneity at the catchment scale require a considerable amount of data, and this has led to the analysis of available time series to interpret the impact of heterogeneity. The current research integrated groundwater-level and meteorological time series in conjunction with aquifer property data at 11 borehole locations to quantify the impact of heterogeneity and inform the hydrogeological conceptual understanding. The study visually categorised and used seasonal trend decomposition by LOESS (STL) on 11 groundwater and meteorological time series. Decomposition components of the different time series were compared using variance ratios. Though the Eden catchment exhibits highly heterogeneous rainfall distribution, comparative analysis at borehole locations showed that (1) meteorological drivers at borehole locations are broadly homogeneous and (2) the meteorological drivers are not sufficient to generate the variation observed in the groundwater-level time series. Three distinct hydrogeological regimes were identified and shown to coincide with heterogeneous features in the southern Brockram facies, which is the northern silicified region of the Penrith Sandstone and the St Bees Sandstone. The use of STL analysis in combination with detailed aquifer property data is a low-impact insightful investigative tool that helps guide the development of hydrogeological conceptual models.
Cross-cultural perspective on sustainable consumption: implications for consumer motivations and promotion
Authors: Ur Rahman Saleem , Chwialkowska Agnieszka , Hussain Nazim , Bhatti Waheed Akbar , Luomala Harri
Published: December 2021

Firms in the past have based their marketing and promotion strategies on the assumption of infinite resources and zero environmental impact. With the growing importance of environmental costs associated with finite resources, firms need to revisit their marketing and promotion strategies. This study defines and conceptualizes horizontal/vertical individualism–collectivism (H/V I-C) cultural value orientations as antecedents of sustainable consumption. Drawing onH/V I-Cvalue orientations, this study attempts to build asustainable consumption modelto better understand how horizontal/vertical individualism–collectivism cultural values are reflected in consumers’ sustainable consumption motives and how they can be translated into persuasive advertising appeals tailored to specific cultural segments. This study contributes to provide new theoretical and managerial insights into understanding culturally relevant sustainable consumption motives and to establish appropriate strategies of sustainable consumption promotion in cross-cultural contexts. Most importantly, this study provides implications to companies for balancing more carefully their growth goals with the need to pursue sustainability across different cultures.
A Finite Difference Method for the Variational p-Laplacian
Authors: del Teso Félix , Lindgren Erik
Published: December 2021

We propose a new monotone finite difference discretization for the variational p-Laplace operator, $$\Delta _pu=\text{ div }(|\nabla u|^{p-2}\nabla u),$$

Δ
p

u
=

div

(
|
∇
u
|

p
-
2

∇
u
)
,

and present a convergent numerical scheme for related Dirichlet problems. The resulting nonlinear system is solved using two different methods: one based on Newton-Raphson and one explicit method. Finally, we exhibit some numerical simulations supporting our theoretical results. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first monotone finite difference discretization of the variational p-Laplacian and also the first time that nonhomogeneous problems for this operator can be treated numerically with a finite difference scheme.
Impact of a School-Based Multicomponent Positive Psychology Intervention on Adolescents’ Time Attitudes: A Latent Transition Analysis
Authors: Tejada-Gallardo Claudia , Blasco-Belled Ana , Alsinet Carles
Published: December 2021

Time attitudes, which refer to positive and negative feelings towards the past, present, and future, are a salient phenomenon in the developmental stage of adolescence and have been related to better well-being. Positive feelings towards time can be promoted in the school setting through empirically validated positive psychology interventions. However, the extent to which these interventions impact the time attitudes of adolescents remains unknown. The current study investigated the influence of a multicomponent positive psychology intervention on adolescents’ transitions between time attitude profiles and how these transitions are related to their emotional, social, and psychological well-being. Participants consisted of 220 (M = 14.98; 47.3% female) adolescents from two Spanish high schools who participated in the six-week Get to Know Me+ program. Adolescents’ time attitudes and well-being were measured via the Adolescents and Adult Time Inventory–Time Attitudes and the Mental Health Continuum–Short Form, respectively, at pre- and postintervention. Participants were clustered in different profiles through a latent profile analysis, and the transitions were analyzed using a latent transition analysis. Five profiles were identified (negative, present/future negative, past negative, optimistic, and positive), and results indicated that adolescents who participated in the intervention were more likely to transition to positive profiles (optimistic and positive) and generally reported higher well-being, especially those in the negative, present/future negative, and optimistic profiles. Preliminary evidence showed that school-based multicomponent positive psychology interventions can have a positive impact on adolescents’ feelings towards time and well-being.
Deep learning for historical books: classification of printing technology for digitized images
Authors: Im Chanjong , Kim Yongho , Mandl Thomas
Published: December 2021

Printing technology has evolved through the past centuries due to technological progress. Within Digital Humanities, images are playing a more prominent role in research. For mass analysis of digitized historical images, bias can be introduced in various ways. One of them is the printing technology originally used. The classification of images to their printing technology e.g. woodcut, copper engraving, or lithography requires highly skilled experts. We have developed a deep learning classification system that achieves very good results. This paper explains the challenges of digitized collections for this task. To overcome them and to achieve good performance, shallow networks and appropriate sampling strategies needed to be combined. We also show how class activation maps (CAM) can be used to analyze the results.
Can a paid model for peer review be sustainable when the author can decide whether to pay or not?
Authors: García J. A. , Rodriguez-Sánchez Rosa , Fdez-Valdivia J.
Published: December 2021

Given how hard it is to recruit good reviewers who are aligned with authors in their functions, journal editors could consider the use of better incentives, such as paying reviewers for their time. In order to facilitate a speedy turn-around when a rapid decision is required, the peer-reviewed journal can also offer a review model in which selected peer reviewers are compensated to deliver high-quality and timely peer-review reports. In this paper, we consider a peer-reviewed journal in which the manuscript’s evaluation consists of a necessary peer review component and an optional speedy peer review component. We model and study that journal under two different scenarios to be compared: a paid peer-reviewing scenario that is considered as the benchmark; and a hybrid peer-review scenario where the manuscript’s author can decide whether to pay or not. In the benchmark scenario of paid peer-reviewing, the scholarly journal expects all authors to pay for the peer review and charges separately for the necessary and the optional speedy peer-review components. Alternatively, in a hybrid peer-review scenario, the peer-reviewed journal gives the option to the authors to not pay for the necessary peer review if they are not able to pay. This will determine an altruistic amplification of pay utility. However, the no-pay authors cannot avail of the optional speedy peer review, which determines a restriction-induced no-pay utility reduction. In this paper, we find that under the hybrid setting of compensated peer review where the author can decide whether to pay or not, the optimal price and review quality of the optional speedy peer review are always higher than under the benchmark scenario of paid peer-reviewing, due to the altruistic amplification of pay utility. Our results show that when the advantage of adopting the hybrid mode of compensated peer review is higher due to the higher difference between the altruistic author utility amplification and the restriction-induced no-pay utility reduction, the journal can increase its profitability by increasing the price for the necessary peer review above that in the benchmark scenario of paid peer review. A key insight from our results is the journal’s capability to increase the number of paying authors by giving the option to the authors to not pay for the necessary peer review if they are not able to pay.
Habitat-, age-, and sex-related alterations in oxidative stress biomarkers in the blood of mute swans (Cygnus olor) inhabiting pomeranian coastal areas (Northern Poland)
Authors: Kurhaluk Natalia , Tkachenko Halyna
Published: December 2021

The mute swan (Cygnus olor) can be considered a representative species of birds associated with the aquatic environment and responding very clearly to changes in the environment. Assuming that the condition of the mute swan population well reflects the state of the environment, this species was used in our research as a bioindicative species. Thus, the aim of our study was to elucidate the association between metal contents in soil samples collected from a habitat of mute swans and element contents in their feathers as well as the levels of biomarkers of lipid peroxidation, oxidatively modified proteins, and total antioxidant capacity in the blood of mute swans living in three agglomerations in coastal areas in the southern part of the Baltic Sea (Pomeranian region, northern Poland). We compared the effects of inhabitation, age, and sex on the ecophysiological accumulation of metals in three wintering populations of the mute swan from coastal areas of northern Poland, i.e., Słupsk, Gdynia, and Sopot. In Słupsk, the anthropogenic pressure was related predominantly to the level of Al and, to a lesser extent, to the content of Rh and Ru. We found maximum levels of lipid peroxidation biomarkers in the blood of the mute swans from Gdynia (38.20 ± 6.35 nmol MDA·mL−1). At the same time, maximum levels of aldehydic and ketonic derivatives of oxidatively modified proteins were noted in the blood of swans from Sopot compared to the values obtained in mute swans from Słupsk and Gdynia. This trend suggesting high levels of oxidative stress biomarkers was also confirmed by a decrease in the total antioxidant capacity in these groups.
Exogenous artificial DNA forms chromatin structure with active transcription in yeast
Authors: Zhou Jianting , Zhang Chao , Wei Ran , Han Mingzhe , Wang Songduo , Yang Kaiguang , Zhang Lihua , Chen Weigang , Wen Mingzhang , Li Cheng , Tao Wei , Yuan Ying-Jin
Published: December 2021

Yeast artificial chromosomes (YACs) are important tools for sequencing, gene cloning, and transferring large quantities of genetic information. However, the structure and activity of YAC chromatin, as well as the unintended impacts of introducing foreign DNA sequences on DNA-associated biochemical events, have not been widely explored. Here, we showed that abundant genetic elements like TATA box and transcription factor-binding motifs occurred unintentionally in a previously reported data-carrying chromosome (dChr). In addition, we used state-of-the-art sequencing technologies to comprehensively profile the genetic, epigenetic, transcriptional, and proteomic characteristics of the exogenous dChr. We found that the data-carrying DNA formed active chromatin with high chromatin accessibility and H3K4 tri-methylation levels. The dChr also displayed highly pervasive transcriptional ability and transcribed hundreds of noncoding RNAs. The results demonstrated that exogenous artificial chromosomes formed chromatin structures and did not remain as naked or loose plasmids. A better understanding of the YAC chromatin nature will improve our ability to design better data-storage chromosomes.
Surgical Outcomes After Treatment of Urethral Complications Following Metoidioplasty in Transgender Men
Authors: de Rooij Freek P.W. , Falcone Marco , Waterschoot Mieke , Pizzuto Giuseppe , Bouman Mark-Bram , Gontero Paolo , Lumen Nicolaas , Pigot Garry L.S.
Published: December 2021

Background

Several treatment options for urethral complications following metoidioplasty in transmen are described in the literature, yet little is known with regard to the surgical outcomes.

Aim

The aim of this study was to analyze the surgical outcomes after treatment of urethral strictures and urethral fistulas following metoidioplasty.

Methods

A multicenter retrospective cohort study was conducted with transmen treated for strictures and fistulas after metoidioplasty in 3 tertiary referral centers.

Outcomes

The primary outcome was the recurrence-free rate after surgical treatment of urethral strictures and urethral fistulas over a time period of 3 years postoperatively.

Results

Of 96 transmen included in this study with a urethral complication, 44 (46%) experienced a urethral fistula, 31 (32%) a urethral stricture, and 21 (22%) both complications simultaneously. The recurrence-free rate for urethral strictures following endoscopic management (ie, urethral dilation or direct visual internal urethrotomy) was 61% after 1, 50% after 2, and 43% after 3 years, compared to 82% following open treatment options after 1, 2, and 3 years (P = .002). Open treatment options were Heineke-Mikulicz procedure (7/9, 78% success), excision and primary anastomosis (3/3, 100%), 2-stage without graft (9/9, 100%), pedicled flap urethroplasty (1/1, 100%), and buccal mucosa graft urethroplasty (2/4 [50%] single-stage, 1/1 [100%] 2-stage). The recurrence-free rate for small urethral fistulas located at the pendulous urethra was 79% after 1, and 72% after 2 and 3 years, compared to 45% after 1, and 41% after 2 and 3 years for large fistulas, generally located at the urethral anastomoses of the fixed urethra. Treatment options for urethral fistulas were fistulectomy (26/48, 54%), fistulectomy & (redo) colpectomy (7/11, 64%), buccal mucosa graft urethroplasty (1/1, 100%), and retubularization of the urethral plate (3/4, 75%). A colpectomy before or during reoperation of a urethral fistula at the proximal urethral anastomosis showed higher success rates compared to without a colpectomy (7/11 [64%] vs 2/13 [15%] respectively, P = .03).

Clinical Implications

This study provides insight in the treatment possibilities and corresponding outcomes of urethral complications following metoidioplasty in transmen.

Strengths & Limitations

Strengths were the relatively large sample size and the overview of multiple treatment options available. Limitations were the heterogeneity of the cohort, underexposure of some surgical modalities, and absence of patient-reported outcomes.

Conclusion

Open surgical techniques show better long-term outcomes in the management of urethral strictures compared to endoscopic options, and a colpectomy is beneficial before or during urethral fistula repair at the proximal urethral anastomosis.
Defending the “Peace of Sunday”: The Debate over Sunday Labor in the West German Steel Industry after the Second World War
Authors: Patch William L.
Published: December 2021

Working hours were largely unregulated in nineteenth-century Germany, but a powerful alliance emerged in the 1890s between the Christian churches and the socialist labor movement to prohibit most industrial labor on Sunday, including most production of steel. In the 1950s steel management persuaded organized labor that it would be advantageous to produce steel continuously throughout the week, the prevalent system in other countries. The Evangelical Church retreated in this debate, but the Catholic Church waged a fierce and partly successful campaign from 1952 to 1961 to defend the old prohibition. Until the 1980s organized labor continued to cooperate with both major churches to keep Sunday industrial labor quite rare. Their influence declined suddenly after national reunification in 1990, however, and many Germans have come to prize individual freedom above the old principle, honored by Christians and the unchurched alike, that most people should have the same day of rest.
Application of large-scale grid-connected solar photovoltaic system for voltage stability improvement of weak national grids
Authors: Adetokun Bukola Babatunde , Ojo Joseph Olorunfemi , Muriithi Christopher Maina
Published: December 2021

This paper investigates the application of large-scale solar photovoltaic (SPV) system for voltage stability improvement of weak national grids. Large-scale SPV integration has been investigated on the Nigerian power system to enhance voltage stability and as a viable alternative to the aged shunt reactors currently being used in the Nigerian national grid to mitigate overvoltage issues in Northern Nigeria. Two scenarios of increasing SPV penetration level (PL) are investigated in this work, namely, centralized large-scale SPV at the critical bus and dispersed large-scale SPV across the weak buses. The voltage stability of the system is evaluated using the active power margin (APM) also called megawatt margin (MWM) derived from Active Power–Voltage (P–V) analysis, the reactive power margin (RPM) and the associated critical voltage–reactive power ratio (CVQR) index obtained from Reactive Power–Voltage (Q–V) analysis. All simulations are carried out in DIgSILENT PowerFactory software and result analyses done with MATLAB. The results show that with centralized SPV generation for the case study system, the highest bus voltage is able to fall within acceptable limits at 26.29% (1000 MW), while the dispersed SPV achieves this at 21.44% (800 MW). Also, the dispersed SPV scenario provides better voltage stability improvement for the system as indicated by the MWM, RPM and the CVQR index of the system. Therefore, this work provides a baseline insight on the potential application of large-scale SPV in weak grids such as the Nigerian case to address the voltage stability problems in the power system while utilizing the abundant solar resource to meet the increasing energy demand.
Mitochondrial function influences expression of methamphetamine-induced behavioral sensitization
Authors: Calma I. Daphne , Persons Amanda L. , Napier T. Celeste
Published: December 2021

Repeated methamphetamine use leads to long lasting brain and behavioral changes in humans and laboratory rats. These changes have high energy requirements, implicating a role for mitochondria. We explored whether mitochondrial function underpins behaviors that occur in rats months after stopping methamphetamine self-administration. Accordingly, rats self-administered intravenous methamphetamine for 3 h/day for 14 days. The mitochondrial toxin rotenone was administered as (1 mg/kg/day for 6 days) via an osmotic minipump starting at 0, 14 or 28 days of abstinence abstinence. On abstinence day 61, expression of methamphetamine-induced behavioral sensitization was obtained with an acute methamphetamine challenge in rotenone-free rats. Rotenone impeded the expression of sensitization, with the most robust effects obtained with later abstinence exposure. These findings verified that self-titration of moderate methamphetamine doses results in behavioral (and thus brain) changes that can be revealed months after exposure termination, and that the meth-initiated processes progressed during abstinence so that longer abstinence periods were more susceptible to the consequences of exposure to a mitochondrial toxin.
Photothermal therapy may be a double-edged sword by inducing the formation of bacterial antibiotic tolerance
Authors: Qiu Yun , Yu Shimin , Wang Yulan , Xiao Leyi , Pei Linsen , Pu Yingying , Zhang Yufeng
Published: December 2021

Photothermal therapy kills bacteria while inducing higher formation rate of antibiotic tolerant cells. The effect was exerted by inducing low-metabolic activity state of bacteria through blockage of respiratory chain and protein aggregation.
Selective inclusion of p-xylene by bis-hydrazone compounds
Authors: Dwivedi Bhavna , Kumar Sunil , Das Dinabandhu
Published: December 2021

p-Xylene can be separated from a mixture of xylene isomers by the selective inclusion property of three novel bis-hydrazone compounds. Crystallization of these compounds in solvents containing p-XY generate voids which are complementary to only p-XY.
Protective effects of chlorogenic acid on trimethyltin chloride-induced neurobehavioral dysfunctions in mice relying on the gut microbiota
Authors: Xi Yu , Li He , Yu Meihong , Li Xuejie , Li Yan , Hui Bowen , Zeng Xiangquan , Wang Jing , Li Jian
Published: December 2021

Oral administration of CGA significantly alleviated neurobehavioral dysfunctions caused by acute exposure to trimethyltin chlorideviaameliorating neuronal degeneration and neuroinflammation with a potential mechanism relying on the gut microbiota.
Programmed hierarchical radial association of anisotropic foldamer assemblies
Authors: Jeong Rokam , Eom Jae-Hoon , Gong Jintaek , Kang Minsang , Kim Jaewook , Lee Hee-Seung
Published: December 2021

A Cys-modified foldamer was hierarchically assembled to form molecular architectures with distinctive radial patterns reminiscent of a geometric lotus mandala.
Nanotherapeutic macrophage-based immunotherapy for the peritoneal carcinomatosis of lung cancer
Authors: Wang Yonghui , Chen Binfan , He Zhidi , Tu Bin , Zhao Pengfei , Wang Huiyuan , Asrorov Akmal , Muhitdinov Bahtiyor , Jiang Jizong , Huang Yongzhuo
Published: December 2021

In this “two-birds-one stone” strategy using celastrol NP-containing M1Φ, M1Φ serves as not only a cell therapeutic agent but also a carrier for celastrol NPs that, in turn, facilitate M1 polarization. The exocytosed NPs can also kill tumor cells.
Radiosynthesis and evaluation of a fluorine-18 radiotracer [18F]FS1P1 for imaging sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor 1
Authors: Qiu Lin , Jiang Hao , Yu Yanbo , Gu Jiwei , Wang Jinzhi , Zhao Haiyang , Huang Tianyu , Gropler Robert J. , Klein Robyn S. , Perlmutter Joel S. , Tu Zhude
Published: December 2021

A promising sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor 1 PET radiotracer [18F]FS1P1 was synthesized using a facile multiple step F-18 radiochemistry procedure.
Anchoring stable FeS2 nanoparticles on MXene nanosheets via interface engineering for efficient water splitting
Authors: Xie Yaoyi , Yu Hanzhi , Deng Liming , Amin R. S. , Yu Deshuang , Fetohi Amani E. , Maximov Maxim Yu. , Li Linlin , El-Khatib K. M. , Peng Shengjie
Published: December 2021

Benefiting from an abundant interface with many active sites, robust interaction and synergistic effect between FeS2 and MXene, FeS2@MXene exhibits remarkable catalytic activity towards water splitting in alkaline electrolytes.
The rheology and foamability of crystal-melt suspensions composed of triacylglycerols
Authors: Mishra Kim , Kämpf Fabian , Ehrengruber Silas , Merkel Julia , Kummer Nico , Pauer Robin , Fischer Peter , Windhab Erich J.
Published: December 2021

The rheology and morphology of triacylglycerol crystal-melt suspensions from anhydrous milk fat, cocoa butter, and palm kernel oil as function of crystallization shear rate and crystal volume fraction is investigated and related to foamability.
Power allocation with QoS satisfaction in mmWave beamspace MIMO‐NOMA
Authors: Shili Maroua , Hajjaj Moufida , Ammari Mohamed Lassaad
Published: December 2021

In this paper, a non‐orthogonal multiple access (NOMA) scheme is considered for downlink millimeter‐wave (mmWave) transmissions over beamspace massive multiple‐input multiple‐output (MIMO) channels. To improve the NOMA detection and reduce its complexity, it is assumed that users are grouped in clusters. The major benefit of the NOMA depends on the power allocation (PA) among users. In this context, to ensure the quality of service (QoS) of users, a threshold rate for each user is defined. The aim of this work is to propose a new PA strategy that takes into account the pre‐defined threshold rates and maximizes the achievable sum rate. Thereafter, considering the Karush‐Kuhn‐Tucker (KKT) conditions, a closed‐form solution for the PA issue under perfect and imperfect channel state information (CSI) assumptions is derived. Through simulation results, it is shown that the proposed scheme outperforms the conventional orthogonal multiple access techniques in terms of spectral efficiency (SE) and energy efficiency (EE). In addition, the proposed robust PA scheme for the imperfect CSI case reduces the performance loss due to the channel uncertainty.
Selective part‐based correlation filter tracking algorithm with reinforcement learning
Authors: Lu Zhengzhi , Yang Guoan , Liu Deyang , Yang Junjie , Yang Yong , Zhou Chuanbo
Published: December 2021

In visual object tracking methods, improving both the run time and the accuracy in the face of complex situations has always been an important issue. Many complex tracking algorithms, such as part‐based algorithms, have better accuracy when facing occlusions, but they have much greater computational complexity. In response to the above problems, this paper proposes a selective part‐based correlation filter (SPCF) tracking algorithm with a reinforcement learning to achieve more stable and efficient tracking of targets. First, according to the conditions of the response map of the correlation filter (CF), the entire tracking process is divided into three states: simple environments, complex environments, and harsh environments. Second, this paper uses reinforcement learning to determine the states of frames in different situations to improve the tracking effect of the algorithm. Third, the process of the online selection of states is transformed into a Markov decision process (MDP), where the policy learning of the MDP is achieved by reinforcement learning. Additionally, different strategies are used to track a target in different states: the overall filter is used to increase the speed in simple environments; part‐based filters are used to improve the accuracy in complex environments; and in harsh environments where the target completely disappears, a redetection algorithm is used to find the target when it reappears. Finally, the performance of the tracking algorithm is verified on the VOT2018, OTB‐2015, and LaSOT datasets.
ArH+ and H2O+ absorption towards luminous galaxies
Authors: Jacob Arshia M. , Menten Karl M. , Wyrowski Friedrich , Winkel Benjamin , Neufeld David A. , Koribalski Bärbel S.
Published: December 2021

Context. Along several sight lines within the Milky Way ArH+ has been ubiquitously detected with only one detection in extragalactic environments, namely along two sight lines in the redshift z = 0.89 absorber towards the lensed blazar PKS 1830-211. Being formed in predominantly atomic gas by reactions between Ar+, which were initially ionised by cosmic rays and molecular hydrogen, ArH+ has been shown to be an excellent tracer of atomic gas as well as the impinging cosmic-ray ionisation rates.

Aims. In this work, we attempt to extend the observations of ArH+ in extragalactic sources to examine its use as a tracer of the atomic interstellar medium (ISM) in these galaxies.

Methods. We report the detection of ArH+ towards two luminous nearby galaxies, NGC 253 and NGC 4945, and the non-detection towards Arp 220 observed using the SEPIA660 receiver on the APEX 12 m telescope. In addition, the two sidebands of this receiver allowed us to observe the NKaKc = 11,0 − 10,1 transitions of another atomic gas tracer p-H2O+ at 607.227 GHz with the ArH+ line, simultaneously. We modelled the optically thin spectra of both species and compared their observed line profiles with that of other well-known atomic gas tracers such as OH+ and o-H2O+ and diffuse and dense molecular gas tracers HF and CO, respectively.

Results. Assuming that the observed absorption from the ArH+, OH+, and H2O+ molecules are affected by the same flux of cosmic rays, we investigate the properties of the different cloud layers. Based on a steady-state analysis of the chemistry of these three species and using statistical equilibrium calculations, we estimate the molecular fraction traced by ArH+ to be ∼​10−3 and find that ArH+ resides in gas volumes with low electron densities. We further study the ortho-to-para ratio of H2O+ and find that the derived ratios do not significantly deviate from the equilibrium value of three with spin temperatures greater than 15 and 24 K.
Local heating due to convective overshooting and the solar modelling problem
Authors: Baraffe I. , Constantino T. , Clarke J. , Le Saux A. , Goffrey T. , Guillet T. , Pratt J. , Vlaykov D. G.
Published: December 2021

Recent hydrodynamical simulations of convection in a solar-like model suggest that penetrative convective flows at the boundary of the convective envelope modify the thermal background in the overshooting layer. Based on these results, we implement in one-dimensional stellar evolution codes a simple prescription to modify the temperature gradient below the convective boundary of a solar model. This simple prescription qualitatively reproduces the behaviour found in the hydrodynamical simulations, namely a local heating and smoothing of the temperature gradient below the convective boundary. We show that introducing local heating in the overshooting layer can reduce the sound-speed discrepancy usually reported between solar models and the structure of the Sun inferred from helioseismology. It also affects key quantities in the convective envelope, such as the density, the entropy, and the speed of sound. These effects could help reduce the discrepancies between solar models and observed constraints based on seismic inversions of the Ledoux discriminant. Since mixing due to overshooting and local heating are the result of the same convective penetration process, the goal of this work is to invite solar modellers to consider both processes for a more consistent approach.
Prevalence of Molecular Subtypes of Breast Carcinoma and Its Comparison between Two Different Age Groups: A Retrospective Study from a Tertiary Care Center of Northeast India
Authors: Sharma Jagannath Dev , Khanna Sachin , Ramchandani Shubhra , Kakoti Lopa Mudra , Baruah Argha , Mamidala Vinay
Published: December 2021

Objective The aim of the study is to see the prevalence of different molecular subtypes in breast cancer patients among two different age groups: ≤40 years and >40 years.

Materials and Methods Retrospective study was conducted from January 2019 to December 2019. We studied 568 cases of breast carcinoma and classified them into four molecular subtypes—luminal A, luminal B, human epidermal growth factor-2 (HER 2), and triple negative. Cases were divided into two different groups: (1) ≤40 years and (2) >40 years.

Statistical Analysis was done by using SPSS software version 20.0.

Results Out of 568 cases, 151 (26.6%) were ≤40 years of age and 417 (73.4%) were >40 years of age. The most common histological subtype of breast cancer was ductal carcinoma in 548 cases and the most common grade was grade III. Immunohistochemistry was done in 432 patients. In younger age group, the most common molecular subtype was luminal B (31%) followed by triple negative (20%), luminal A (14%), and then HER 2 (5.3%), while in the older age group most common molecular subtype was luminal B (27.8%) followed by triple negative (14%), HER 2 (12.2%), and then luminal A (12%).

Conclusion Luminal B is found to be the most common subtype in Northeast Indian women with breast cancer, as compared with other studies in which luminal A was the most common subtype. This could be due to the reason that Ki-67 was not done in most of the other studies.
Functional Preserving Sublobectomy: A Novel Method for Sublobectomy
Authors: Zhang Min , Chen Liang , Wu Qingchen , Ge Mingjian
Published: December 2021

We introduce a new method for sublobectomy. It utilizes the easiness and rapidity of wedge resection, and the accuracy and functional preserving of anatomical segmentectomy. It can preserve lung function with less sacrifice of lung parenchyma.
Advantages of Screening for Glucose Tolerance in the Sequential Weeks of Gestation
Authors: Seshiah Veeraswamy , Balaji Vijayam , Chandrasekar Anjalakshi , Das Ashok Kumar , Banerjee Samar , Paneerselvam A. , Jain Rajesh , Bhavatharani N.
Published: December 2021

Prelife exposure relates to development during the time preceding the first appearance of life, a time course from “conception to confinement.” From single cell zygote to finally formed fetus at confinement, a remarkable change occurs due to maternal fuels and hormonal influence on the fetal development. The crucial period in the fetal development is the first trimester. Early exposure to aberrant maternal metabolism in the embryonic developmental stage would result in congenital malformation and fetal wastage. Maintaining maternal glucose at the recommended level of fasting 80 to 90 mg and 2 hours postprandial plasma glucose 110 to 120 mg/dL during preconceptional period and throughout pregnancy is the assurance for the healthy offspring with ideal birth weight of 2.5 to 3.5 kg and prevention of noncommunicable diseases in the future.
Evidence-Based Homoeopathic Treatment of Acute Herpes Zoster (Shingles): A Case Report
Authors: Gupta Yogeshwari , Pandey Khushbu
Published: December 2021

Herpes zoster (HZ), also known as shingles, occurs due to reactivation of varicella zoster. It is manifested by unilateral, painful, vesicular rashes following a dermatome. Homoeopathy is well known for its tremendous results in chronic cases. This article presents the evidence-based significant result of single homoeopathic remedy in an acute case of HZ within a short time period without any post-herpetic neuralgia which usually follows the HZ for months. Three to four doses of Hypericum 30 CH provided significant relief within a day and complete recovery within 10 days. Modified Naranjo score is 9, indicating definite causal attribution. This case proves that by selecting appropriate similimum, promising and positive results are achieved by homoeopathy, be it acute or chronic cases in a safe and gentle way. No such existing homoeopathic literature provides any characteristic information particularly related to HZ in Hypericum. So, future research and clinical trials could be beneficial for better validation of Hypericum as a therapeutic for HZ.
Optimal Hair Transplant Recipient Site Slit Design: Minimizing Vascular Damage
Authors: Atodaria Pradipkumar R. , Venkataram Aniketh , Mysore Venkataram , Atodaria Kuldeepsinh P.
Published: December 2021

An often overlooked aspect of hair transplantation is the art of recipient site design and slit creation. There is also a lack of consensus on which technique provides the optimum coverage while minimizing vascular damage. This paper aims to provide logical arguments to determine the optimal instrument and method of slit creation, in order to ensure maximum density, optimal survival, minimal pop-out, and minimal damage to scalp vascularity.

The use of semiconical blades reduces the damage to the dermis and vascular plexus as compared with rectangular blades and needles, as the depth of penetration required is lower. The use of acute angle reduces the depth of penetration for the same length of slit and decreases damage to deep plexus. Coronal slits produce less vascular damage than that of sagittal slits with the same size blades.

We believe that these recommendations provide the optimum volume slits while causing minimal vascular damage.
Human Versus Machine: How Do We Know Who Is Winning? ROC Analysis for Comparing Human and Machine Performance under Varying Cost-Prevalence Assumptions
Authors: Merry Michael , Riddle Patricia Jean , Warren Jim
Published: December 2021

Background Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis is commonly used for comparing models and humans; however, the exact analytical techniques vary and some are flawed.

Objectives The aim of the study is to identify common flaws in ROC analysis for human versus model performance, and address them.

Methods We review current use and identify common errors. We also review the ROC analysis literature for more appropriate techniques.

Results We identify concerns in three techniques: (1) using mean human sensitivity and specificity; (2) assuming humans can be approximated by ROCs; and (3) matching sensitivity and specificity. We identify a technique from Provost et al using dominance tables and cost-prevalence gradients that can be adapted to address these concerns.

Conclusion Dominance tables and cost-prevalence gradients provide far greater detail when comparing performances of models and humans, and address common failings in other approaches. This should be the standard method for such analyses moving forward.