bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
RAB27A‐dependent release of exosomes by liver cancer stem cells induces Nanog expression in their differentiated progenies and confers regorafenib resistance
Authors: Huang Hongxia , Hou Jue , Liu Kewei , Liu Qin , Shen Liting , Liu Biying , Lu Qian , Zhang Ni , Che Linrong , Li Jinyang , Jiang Shan , Wang Bin , Wen Qinglian , Hu Lu , Gao Jian
Published: July 2021

Background and Aim

Regorafenib is a potent multikinase inhibitor for the second‐line targeted therapy against hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC); however, drug resistance is emerging in clinical settings. Although cancer stem cells (CSCs) are considered as key determinate of drug sensitivity, it remains unclear how CSCs may communicate with the differentiated counterparts (non‐CSC) to dictate therapeutic efficacy. Therefore, we sought to investigate the regorafenib resistance mechanism of CSCs in HCC.

Methods

We used sphere formation and soft agar colony formation assays to evaluate the stemness capacity of cancer cells. Cell viability assay was performed to detect the sensitivity of cancer cells to regorafenib. Real‐time quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blot were used to analyze gene expression. Mouse xenograft tumor model was performed to assess Regorafenib sensitivity in vivo.

Results

Exosomes are highly enriched in CSC supernatant compared with that of non‐CSC, and RAB27A mediates exosome secretion from CSCs to maintain stem‐like phenotype and regorafenib insensitivity. Moreover, exosomes released by CSCs upregulate the expression of Nanog in non‐CSC, while depleting Nanog sensitizes non‐CSC to regorafenib in the presence of CSC exosomes. Consistently, analysis of TCGA datasets reveals that RAB27A expression tightly correlates with Nanog in HCC tissues. More importantly, depletion of RAB27A downregulates Nanog expression and sensitizes cancer cells to regorafenib in nude mice.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that CSCs release exosomes in a RAB27A‐dependent manner to induce Nanog expression and regorafenib resistance in differentiated cells, targeting this exosome signaling between distinct cellular subsets may be a potential therapeutic strategy for HCC patients.
Prevention of false smut (Ustilaginoidea virens) on rice hybrids and pure‐line cultivars by manipulating planting date
Authors: Lore Jagjeet Singh , Jain Jyoti , Kumar Sanjay , Kamboj Ishwinder , Khanna Renu , Dhillon Buta Singh , Zaidi Najam W. , Singh Uma S.
Published: July 2021

False smut of rice is an emerging disease and a potential threat to hybrids and inbred rice cultivars grown in Asian countries. The aim of the study was to avoidance of false smut incidence by manipulating the planting date in rice. The genotypes including five rice hybrids, namely, KRH 2, US 312, DRRH 3, PHB 71, PA 6644 and three pure‐line cultivars, namely, BPT 5204, PR 116 and HKR 47 were evaluated in different planting dates (PD1: June 25, PD2: July 5, PD3: July 15). All the tested genotypes flowered during 100–110 days, except BPT 5204, which took 115 days to flower. False smut was quantified on rice genotypes using different disease variables such as infected panicle/plant, total false smut ball/plant and disease score. Disease variables were significantly and positively correlated to each other. The significant interaction between the genotype and planting date was observed. The early planting date (June 25) showed higher incidence than late planting (July 15). Overall mean of disease variables was higher in hybrids than pure‐line cultivars. Weather factors such as rainfall, rainy days and high relative humidity during the flowering period were favourable for disease development. The manipulation in the planting date can be utilized as a potential non‐monetary cultural approach for minimizing the incidence of false smut in rice. Cultivar HKR 47 with lower disease variables in different planting date can be used in diseases resistance breeding program.
Genomic breed composition of Ningxiang pig via different SNP panels
Authors: Gao Zhendong , Zhang Yuebo , Li Zhi , Zeng Qinhua , Yang Fang , Song Yuexiang , Song Yukun , He Jun
Published: July 2021

The genomic breed composition (GBC) reflects the genetic relationship between individual animal and ancestor breeds in composite or hybrid breeds. Also, it can estimate the genomic contribution of each breed (ancestor) to the genome of each individual animal. Using genomic SNP information to estimate Ningxiang pig GBC is of great significance. First of all, GBC was widely used in cattle and had significant effects, but there is almost no using experience in Chinese endemic pig breeds. Importantly, High‐density SNPs are expensive but can be economized by deploying a relatively small number of highly informative SNP scattered evenly across the genome. Moreover, the impact of low‐density SNPs selection strategy on estimating the GBC of individual animals has not been fully explained. Using SNP data from different databases and organizations, we established reference (N = 2015) and verification (N = 302) data sets. Twelve successively smaller SNP panels (500, 1K, 5K, 10K) were built from those SNP in the reference data by three selection methods (uniform, maximized the Euclidean distance (MED) and random distribution method). For each panel, the GBC of Ningxiang pigs in the reference dataset was estimated. Then combining Shannon entropy and the GBC results, the optimal panel (the 10K SNP panel constructed by MED method) was picked out to estimate the GBC of verification Ningxiang pig, which detected that 230 individuals were purebred Ningxiang pigs and the remaining 72 impure individuals contained 6.44% blood related with Rongchang pigs and 4.09% with Bamaxiang pigs in the verification Ningxiang population. Finally, the genetic structure analysis of verification population was performed combining with the results of GBC, multi‐dimensional scaling (MDS) analysis and hierarchical cluster analysis. These results showed: (a) GBC could accurately identify purebred Ningxiang pigs and, scientifically, calculate the genomic contribution of each breed of each hybrid animal. (b) GBC could carry out population genetic structure and understand the genetic background of Ningxiang pigs.

Such findings highlight a variety of opportunities to better protect and identify other endangered local breeds in China facing the same situation as Ningxiang pig and provide more accurate, economical and efficient new technical support in GBC estimation breeding work.
Puppyhood diet as a factor in the development of owner‐reported allergy/atopy skin signs in adult dogs in Finland
Authors: Hemida Manal B. M. , Salin Siru , Vuori Kristiina A. , Moore Robin , Anturaniemi Johanna , Rosendahl Sarah , Barrouin‐Melo Stella Maria , Hielm‐Björkman Anna
Published: July 2021

Background

The increased prevalence of atopic dermatitis (AD) in dogs necessitates research in its disease etiology.

Objectives

To explore the association between puppyhood dietary exposures and prevalence of owner‐reported allergy/atopy skin signs (AASS) after the age of 1 year.

Animals

Four thousand and twenty‐two dogs were eligible, 1158 cases, and 2864 controls.

Methods

This cross‐sectional hypothesis‐driven observational study was extracted from the DogRisk food frequency questionnaire. Forty‐six food items and the ratio of 4 major diet types were tested for their association with AASS incidence later in life. Potential puppyhood dietary risk factors for AASS incidence were specified using binary multivariable logistic regression. The model was adjusted for age and sex.

Results

Eating raw tripe (odds ratio, 95% confidence intervals OR, 95% CI = 0.36, 0.16‐0.79; P = .01), raw organ meats (OR, 95% CI = 0.23, 0.08‐0.67; P = .007), human meal leftovers, and fish oil supplements as well as eating more that 20% of the diet as raw and/or <80% of the diet as dry, in general, were associated with significantly lower AASS incidence in adulthood. In contrast, dogs fed fruits (OR, 95% CI = 2.01, 1.31‐3.07; P = .001), mixed‐oil supplements, dried animal parts, and dogs that drank from puddles showed significantly higher AASS incidence in adulthood.

Conclusions and Clinical Importance

Puppyhood exposure to raw animal‐based foods might have a protective influence on AASS incidence in adulthood, while puppyhood exposure to mixed oils, heat processed foods and sugary fruits might be a potential risk factor of AASS incidence later. The study suggests a causal relationship but does not prove it.
In vitro and in vivo evaluation of a new phytotherapic blend to treat acute externa otitis in dogs
Authors: Vercelli Cristina , Pasquetti Mario , Giovannetti Giovanni , Visioni Sara , Re Giovanni , Giorgi Mario , Gambino Graziana , Peano Andrea
Published: July 2021

Canine otitis externa is frequently encountered in veterinary practice, caused by primary factors with bacteria and yeast overgrowth acting as secondary and perpetuating factors. The pharmacological support includes anti‐inflammatory, antimicrobials, and antimycotic drugs, but therapeutic failure and antimicrobial resistance are leading to alternative strategies based on phytotherapic products. This study aimed to evaluate an essential oil blend (Otogen®) to treat otitis externa in dogs. The experimental design was divided in: (a) an in vitro approach, based on the European Normative UNI EN 1275:2006, to assess the efficacy of the product against the most frequently isolated microorganisms during otitis externa. (b) an in vivo part, 12 owned dogs presenting with acute otitis externa were enrolled. A significant growth reduction (>99.9%) of Malassezia pachydermatis and Candida albicans after 15 min of contact and Pseudomonas aeruginosa after 1 h of incubation was recorded. For Staphylococcus pseudintermedius, 50% of growth reduction were appreciated after 15 min. Results obtained in vivo after 7 days of blend administration, noted a significant improvement of all the considered parameters (most important were head shaking, erythema, and scraping). The results obtained may support the usefulness of the tested phytotherapic blend to manage acute otitis externa in dogs.
The effective sample size for multivariate spatial processes with an application to soil contamination
Authors: Vallejos Ronny , Acosta Jonathan
Published: July 2021

Effective sample size accounts for the equivalent number of independent observations contained in a sample of correlated data. This notion has been widely studied in the context of univariate spatial variables. In that case, the effective sample size determines the reduction in the sample size due to the existing spatial correlation. In this paper, we generalize the methodology for multivariate spatial variables to provide a common effective sample size when all variables have been measured at the same locations. Together with the definition, we provide examples to investigate what an effective sample size looks like. An application for a soil contamination data set is considered. To reduce the dimensions of the process, clustering techniques are applied to obtain three bivariate vectors that are modeled using coregionalization models. Because the sample size of the data set is moderate and the locations are very unevenly distributed in the study area, the spatial analysis is challenging and interesting. We find that due to the presence of spatial autocorrelation, the sample size can be reduced by 38.53%, avoiding the duplication of information.

Recommendations for Resource Managers:

Before carrying out a sample survey with georeferenced data, it is essential to consider the impact of spatial correlation on sample size calculations.

When the nature of the problem requires multivariate characteristics analysis, we provide a methodology to evaluate the effective sample size from a multivariate perspective.

If the sample size is large, the effective sample size allows us to define the size of the subsample that should be used to preserve the theoretical properties of the estimation of the mean.
Understanding the bright side and the dark side of telework: An empirical analysis of working conditions and psychosomatic health complaints
Authors: Wöhrmann Anne Marit , Ebner Christian
Published: July 2021

In the course of digitisation, work away from the principal office using information and communications technology (telework, telecommuting, and mobile work) has established itself in various segments of the labour market. Still, the impact of telework on employees’ health is far from clear and is often controversially discussed at the individual, organisational and political level—but also in social research. Against this background, we analyse the effects of telework on employees’ psychosomatic health complaints with the help of large‐scale and representative German survey data. Applying the statistical method of path analysis, we find indirect relationships between telework and employees’ health via working time control, time pressure, boundaryless working hours, relationships with coworkers, and disturbances and interruptions. These findings add to the debate on the beneficial and detrimental effects of digitisation by focusing on significant working conditions related to telework.
Can biomarkers be used to improve diagnosis and prediction of metabolic syndrome in childhood cancer survivors? A systematic review
Authors: Pluimakers Vincent G. , van Santen Selveta S. , Fiocco Marta , Bakker Marie‐Christine E. , van der Lelij Aart J. , van den Heuvel‐Eibrink Marry M. , Neggers Sebastian J. C. M. M.
Published: July 2021

Childhood cancer survivors (CCS) are at increased risk to develop metabolic syndrome (MetS), diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. Common criteria underestimate adiposity and possibly underdiagnose MetS, particularly after abdominal radiotherapy. A systematic literature review and meta‐analysis on the diagnostic and predictive value of nine newer MetS related biomarkers (adiponectin, leptin, uric acid, hsCRP, TNF‐alpha, IL‐1, IL‐6, apolipoprotein B (apoB), and lipoprotein(a) [lp(a)]) in survivors and adult non‐cancer survivors was performed by searching PubMed and Embase. Evidence was summarized with GRADE after risk of bias evaluation (QUADAS‐2/QUIPS). Eligible studies on promising biomarkers were pooled. We identified 175 general population and five CCS studies. In the general population, valuable predictive biomarkers are uric acid, adiponectin, hsCRP and apoB (high level of evidence), and leptin (moderate level of evidence). Valuable diagnostic biomarkers are hsCRP, adiponectin, uric acid, and leptin (low, low, moderate, and high level of evidence, respectively). Meta‐analysis showed OR for hyperuricemia of 2.94 (age‐/sex‐adjusted), OR per unit uric acid increase of 1.086 (unadjusted), and AUC for hsCRP of 0.71 (unadjusted). Uric acid, adiponectin, hsCRP, leptin, and apoB can be alternative biomarkers in the screening setting for MetS in survivors, to enhance early identification of those at high risk of subsequent complications.
A Sequence‐Analysis Approach to the Study of the Transition to Adulthood in Low‐ and Middle‐Income Countries
Authors: Pesando Luca Maria , Barban Nicola , Sironi Maria , Furstenberg Frank F.
Published: July 2021

This study investigates whether young people in low‐ and middle‐income countries (LMICs) have experienced processes of destandardization of the life course similar to those observed in high‐income societies. We provide two contributions to the relevant literature. First, we use data from 263 Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) across 69 LMICs, offering the richest comparative account to date of women's transition to adulthood (TTA) patterns in the developing world. In so doing, we adopt sequence analysis and shift the focus from individual life‐course events—namely first sexual intercourse, first union, and first birth—to a visually appealing approach that allows us to describe interrelations among events. By focusing on the analysis of trajectories rather than the occurrence of single events, the study provides an in‐depth focus on the timing of events, time intervals between events, and how experiencing (or not) one event might have consequences for subsequent markers in the TTA in cross‐national comparative perspective. Second, we identify clusters of TTA and explore their changes across cohorts by region and household location of residence (rural vs. urban). We document significant differences by macro‐regions, yet relative stability across cohorts. We interpret the latter as suggestive of cultural specificities that make the TTA resistant to change and slow to converge across regions, if converging at all. Also, we find that much of the difference across cluster typologies ensues from variation related to when the transition begins (early vs. late), rather than from the duration between events, which tends to be uniformly quick across three out of four clusters.
Financial manager professionalism and use of interfund transfers: Evidence from Georgia counties
Authors: Lofton Michelle L. , Ivonchyk Mikhail
Published: July 2021

Public managers strategically use resources to smooth out cash receipts and disbursements. As a cash flow management tool, managers can use interfund transfers, which are flows of assets without equivalent return flows and without repayment. This study asserts that managerial professionalism, in the form of a full‐time finance director, drives the likelihood of interfund transfers. Using 2010–2017 data from Georgia counties, hurdle model results indicate that full‐time finance directors are more likely to use interfund transfers and increase their level. This finding demonstrates the role of financial management expertise in increasing the strategic options available to manage cash flows.

Applications for Practice

Local governments with a full‐time finance director use more interfund transfers as one working capital management strategy to manage cash flows.

Results from this study provide a justification for local governments to hire a full‐time finance director to improve the array of financial management strategies accessed.

Local governments that increase tax base diversity have reduced engagement for General fund interfund transfers in, while higher levels of reported cash generate larger amounts of transfer activity.
Bannayan‐Riley‐Ruvalcaba syndrome with gingival hyperpigmentation and facial papules
Authors: Niklinska Eva B. , Lyons Eden Marie , Hicks Alexander , Zwerner Jeffrey P. , Albers Sharon E.
Published: July 2021

One of the distinctive cutaneous manifestations of Bannayan‐Riley‐Ruvalcaba syndrome (BRRS), a PTEN hamartoma tumor syndrome, is penile pigmented macules. We present a 13‐year‐old boy with gingival hyperpigmentation along with facial and ear angiofibromas in the context of a BRRS‐concordant phenotype and PTEN hamartoma tumor syndrome genotype. To our knowledge, these two findings have not been previously reported with BRRS and may expand the known phenotype of this disorder.
Bivalirudin for the prevention of hepatic artery thrombosis in pediatric liver transplantation
Authors: Craig‐Schapiro Rebecca , Banc‐Husu Anna M. , Taylor Sarah A. , Bercovitz Rachel S. , Lemoine Caroline P. , Superina Riccardo A.
Published: July 2021

Background

Early hepatic artery thrombosis (HAT) after liver transplantation is a serious complication that frequently results in graft loss and the need for retransplantation. Although studies have reported on various operative and endovascular treatment approaches, pharmacologic strategies for the prevention or management of HAT are not well defined. Patients with blood clotting disorders, those with a contraindication to heparin, and those who have previously developed HAT represent unique challenges in management.

Methods

We present the case of a 9‐month‐old male with a hypercoagulable state who developed early HAT after two liver transplants, despite the use of postoperative therapeutic heparin infusion.

Results and Conclusion

The patient successfully underwent a third liver transplant using intraoperative and postoperative bivalirudin infusion, a direct thrombin inhibitor. Rotational thromboelastometry (ROTEM) was used to guide anticoagulation and blood product administration in the perioperative period. At 1.5 years post‐transplant, the patient has good graft function with patent hepatic vasculature. This case demonstrates the innovative use of bivalirudin anticoagulant therapy and viscoelastic methodologies to improve outcomes in hypercoagulable liver transplant recipients.
Fused Graphical Lasso for Brain Networks with Symmetries
Authors: Ranciati Saverio , Roverato Alberto , Luati Alessandra
Published: July 2021

Neuroimaging is the growing area of neuroscience devoted to produce data with the goal of capturing processes and dynamics of the human brain. We consider the problem of inferring the brain connectivity network from time-dependent functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scans. To this aim we propose the symmetric graphical lasso, a penalized likelihood method with a fused type penalty function that takes into explicit account the natural symmetrical structure of the brain. Symmetric graphical lasso allows one to learn simultaneously both the network structure and a set of symmetries across the two hemispheres. We implement an alternating directions method of multipliers algorithm to solve the corresponding convex optimization problem. Furthermore, we apply our methods to estimate the brain networks of two subjects, one healthy and one affected by mental disorder, and to compare them with respect to their symmetric structure. The method applies once the temporal dependence characterizing fMRI data have been accounted for and we compare the impact on the analysis of different detrending techniques on the estimated brain networks. Although we focus on brain networks, symmetric graphical lasso is a tool which can be more generally applied to learn multiple networks in a context of dependent samples.
Outcomes of symptomatic coronavirus disease 19 in maintenance hemodialysis patient in India
Authors: Prasad Narayan , Behera Manas Ranjan , Bhatt Mansi , Agarwal Sanjay Kumar , Gopalakrishnan N. , Fernando Edwin , Chaudhary Arpita Roy , Sahay Manisha , Singh Shivendra , Jain Apoorva , Tapiawala Shruti , Kamble Aniket , Khanna Umesh , Bohra Rubina , Gupta Anurag , Anandh Urmila , Jha Vivekanand
Published: July 2021

Background

Maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) patients face disadvantages with higher risk of acquiring SARS‐CoV‐2 infection, atypical manifestations, and associated multiple comorbidities. We describe patients' outcomes with symptomatic COVID‐19 on MHD in a large cohort of patients from India.

Methods

Data were collected prospectively from hemodialysis units in 11 public and private hospitals between March 15, 2020, and July 31, 2020. The survival determinants were analyzed using stepwise backward elimination cox‐regression analysis.

Results

Of the 263 total patients (mean age 51.76 ± 13.63 years and males 173) on MHD with symptomatic COVID‐19, 35 (13.3%) died. Those who died were older (p = 0.01), had higher frequency of diabetic kidney disease (p = 0.001), comorbidities (p = 0.04), and severe COVID‐19 (p = 0.001). Mortality was higher among patients on twice‐weekly MHD than thrice‐weekly (p = 0.001) and dialysis through central venous catheter (CVC) as compared to arteriovenous fistula (p = 0.001). On multivariate analysis, CVC use (HR 2.53, 95% CI 1.26–5.07, p = 0.009), disease severity (HR = 3.54, 95% CI 1.52–8.26, p = 0.003), and noninvasive ventilatory support (HR 0.59, 95% CI 0.25–0.99, p = 0.049) had significant effect on mortality.

Conclusion

The adjusted mortality risk of COVID‐19 in MHD patients is high in patients associated with severe COVID‐19 and patients having CVC as vascular access.
Development of Emergency Response Team Technical Competency (ER2TC) Assessment Tool for Offshore Process Safety
Authors: Lim Wen Khai , Rusli Risza , Buang Azizul , Wan Abdullah Taram Satiraksa
Published: July 2021

The importance in identifying safety critical task in high-risk industries for competence assessment is greatly emphasised to ensure the personnel is well equipped with high level of competence and assurance in certain safety critical tasks. Lack of competency had resulted in various accidents in oil and gas industry. Failure in escape, evacuation, and rescue (EER) operation in history has led to tragic consequences associated with high number of fatalities, such as Alexander L. Kielland platform collapse, Piper Alpha disaster and tragedy of Ocean Ranger. Although competency assessment is widely implemented in offshore industry, accident still occur which indicates that reliable competency assessment is highly essential. In this research, a technical competency assessment tool is developed to assess the technical skills of each individual in emergency response team during EER activities. Case studies are selected to evaluate the designed Emergency Response Team Technical Competency (ER2TC) assessment tool where a range of different inputs and parameters are designed and tested on the designed tool. Analysis is conducted to identify how the overall output is affected by the uncertainty from the designed tool’s input and discover the impact of potential errors in the tool towards the output generated from the tool. The ER2TC assessment tool overcomes personal subjectivity and biasness of assessors, thus, producing reusable and reliable tool for decision makers in the evaluation of candidates. This tool has also implemented stricter assessing criteria to evaluate the performance of candidates in EER activities. This is seen as necessary due to the critical nature and the must to ensure the successful for EER operations as any failure could potentially results in loss of lives. Thus, this ER2TC assessment tool has indeed sufficient to assess the technical skills of personnel in ensuring the success of EER operations in offshore installations.
Perspekif Orientalisme Tentang Islam di Borneo (Orientalism Perspective About Islam in Borneo)
Authors: Yaacob Hashim Fauzy
Published: July 2021

Western Orientalists works about Islam in Borneo can be divided into two groups, first, traveler, priest or journalist like Horace St. John and Snouck Hurgronje. Some of them can speak and write in Malay. Snouck Hogranje was one of the influential authors who contributed to the formation of many Dutch policies in Indonesia. The second group is the imperialist leaders comprising administrators or colonial officials such as Stamford Raffles, Spenser St. John and Hugh Low who made a policies but they also sometimes write a books that refered by travelers. James Brooke as an example makes Raffles works as a reference to understand the Malays and the situation in the archipelago. There are orientalists who elaborate or do an objective research about people of Borneo. Otherwise, there are many unobjective interpretations, bias, prejudice about ruling system, socio-cultural system, the Malay-Muslim community and Islam itself to discredit Islam and the indigenous population. One of the most prominent perspectives on Islam in Borneo is the use of the term "mohammadenism" to refer to Islam. This concept is also used in official meeting of colonial governments such as Sarawak State Council. Base on this premise, this work will describe an orientalist view of Islam in Borneo based on historical sources.
Interventions, barriers, and facilitators associated with return to work for adults following stroke: a scoping review protocol
Authors: Coutts Emma , Cooper Kay
Published: July 2021

Objective:

The purpose of this scoping review is to map what has been reported on interventions, barriers, and facilitators associated with return to work for adults with and without communication disorders following a stroke.

Introduction:

Difficulties in returning to work following a stroke can have a significant impact on people's lives, not only in terms of the individual's finances (and the economy as a whole), but also in terms of the person's psychosocial adjustment, for example, their sense of role and purpose and their self-esteem. This scoping review aims to map the literature examining interventional approaches, barriers, and facilitators relevant to this topic.

Inclusion criteria:

This review will include literature on the return to work for adults aged 16 years or older who have had a stroke. It will be restricted to research conducted in developed countries.

Methods:

Databases that will be searched include MEDLINE, CINAHL, Embase, AMED, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, PEDRo, and OTSeeker. Gray literature or unpublished studies will be searched in OpenGrey and ProQuest Dissertations and Theses, as well as professional bodies and organizations whose remit includes stroke and vocational rehabilitation. The search will be limited to studies written in English since 2010. Titles and abstracts will be screened by two independent reviewers and full-text articles assessed against the inclusion criteria by two independent reviewers. Data will be extracted and the findings will be presented in tabular and graphical format along with a narrative summary.
Heat Transfer in a Rib Turbulated Pin Fin Array for Trailing Edge Cooling
Authors: Otto Marcel , Kapat Jayanta , Ricklick Mark , Mhetras Shantanu
Published: July 2021

Ribs were added into a pin fin array for a uniquely new cooling concept enabled through additive manufacturing. Heat transfer measurements are obtained using the thermochromic liquid crystal technique in a trapezoidal duct with pin fins and rib turbulators. Three pin blockage ratios and four rib heights at Reynolds numbers between 40,000 and 106,000 were tested. The Nusselt number augmentation is generally higher at the longer base of the trapezoidal duct. The same high heat transfer trend is seen at the columns closer to the longer base of the trapezoidal duct than on the shorter base. Through the length of the duct, the flow shifts from the nose region to the larger opening on the opposite wall. Also, it is observed that increasing the blockage ratio as well as increasing the rib height has a positive impact on heat transfer as ribs act as additional extended surfaces and alter the near-wall flow field. The heat transfer augmentation of pins and ribs is found to not be equal to the sum of both: Both heat transfer mechanisms are highly non-linear, thus cannot be superimposed. The observed heat transfer augmentation of the combined cases exceeded over the rib and pin only cases by up to 100%, but the weighted friction factor also doubled. The combination of ribs and pins is an excellent concept to achieve more uniform cooling over an array at higher levels when pressure drop is not of concern.
Closed-Form Solutions of Bending-Torsion Coupled Forced Vibrations of a Piezoelectric Energy Harvester Under a Fluid Vortex
Authors: Zhao X. , Zhu W. D. , Li Y. H.
Published: July 2021

Vibration energy harvesting problems have strongly developed in recent years. However, many researchers just consider bending vibration models of energy harvesters. As a matter of fact, torsional vibration is also important and cannot be ignored in many cases. In this work, closed-form solutions of bending-torsion coupled forced vibrations of a piezoelectric energy harvester subjected to a fluid vortex are derived. Timoshenko beam model is used for modeling the energy harvester, and the extended Hamilton’s principle is used in the modeling process. Since piezoelectric effects in both bending and torsional directions are considered, two kinds of electric coupling effects appear in forced vibration equations, and a new model for the electric circuit equation is developed. Lamb–Oseen vortex model is considered in this study. Both the external aerodynamic force and moment are simple harmonic loads. Three damping coefficients are considered in the present model. Based on Green’s function method, closed-form solutions of the piezoelectric energy harvester subjected to the fluid vortex are derived. Some published results are used to verify the present solutions. It can be concluded through analysis that when torsional vibration is considered, the bandwidth of the high energy area of the voltage becomes large and the bending-torsion coupled vibration energy harvester can produce more power than a transverse vibration energy harvester.
Autonomous Vehicle Accident Data Analysis: California OL 316 Reports: 2015–2020
Authors: McCarthy Roger L.
Published: July 2021

Six years (2015–2020) of autonomous vehicle (AV Level 3) crash data from California's (CA) OL 316 collision reports of AV crashes while in the autonomous mode (AM) or disengaged from AM just before the collision, divided by the associated CA AV make and mileage driven in the AM, are compared with the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute (UMTRI) corrected human driver crash frequency. AV test drivers in CA mandatorily self-report every crash, whereas average drivers underreport minor accidents, so the UMTRI reporting correction factor permits comparison. CA's AV AM mileage is only a few million miles over the last few years, with virtually no police-reported crash data yet available. OL 316 crash consequence data (e.g., damage, injuries, etc.) is anecdotal and inconsistently self-reported. The CA collision report data indicate the CA AV test fleet exhibits multiples of the human crash frequency. Invariably, the AV accidents are the human driver's fault, with a majority being rear collisions. The human drivers appear less able to anticipate the AV's more conservative driving. CA's AV experience predicts more widespread deployment of existing AV technologies is not likely to reduce vehicle crash frequency, at least in the short term, and might well increase it.
Automated Transformation of uml/sysml
Behavioral Diagrams for Stochastic Error Propagation Analysis of Autonomous
Systems
Authors: Morozov Andrey , Mutzke Thomas , Ding Kai
Published: July 2021

Modern technical systems consist of heterogeneous components, including mechanical parts, hardware, and the extensive software part that allows the autonomous system operation. The heterogeneity and autonomy require appropriate models that can describe the mutual interaction of the components. uml and sysml are widely accepted candidates for system modeling and model-based analysis in early design phases, including the analysis of reliability properties. uml and sysml models are semiformal. Thus, transformation methods to formal models are required. Recently, we introduced a stochastic dual-graph error propagation model (DEPM). This model captures the control and data flow structures of a system and allows the computation of advanced risk metrics using probabilistic model checking techniques. This article presents a new automated transformation method of an annotated state machine diagram (SMD), extended with activity diagrams (ADs), to a hierarchical DEPM. This method will help reliability engineers to keep error propagation models up to date and ensure their consistency with the available system models. The capabilities and limitations of the transformation algorithm are described in detail and demonstrated on a complete model-based error propagation analysis of an autonomous medical patient table (MPT).
Experimental Study on Preparation and Heat Transfer of Nickel-Based Ammonia Loop Heat Pipe
Authors: Ning Wenjing , Ma Jun , Jiang Cheng , Cao Yingwen , Guo Chunsheng , Zou Yong
Published: July 2021

The loop heat pipe (LHP) is a passive heat sink used in aerospace and electronic devices. As the core component of the LHP, the physical property parameters of porous wick directly affect the overall performance of the LHP. In this paper, the performance of the porous wick is improved by adjusting the pore size, thereby improving the performance of the LHP. The nickel-based double-pore porous wicks are prepared by T225 nickel powder and NaCl particles, and the pore size of the porous wicks can be changed by different cold pressing force (30 kN, 40 kN, 50 kN, and 60 kN). The effects of different cold pressing force on the porosity, permeability, and other physical property parameters are studied when the ratio of pore former is 20 wt.%. In the end, we select the cold pressing force of 30 kN to prepare the porous wick of the LHP. Then the effects of constant load and variable load of the heat transfer performance under different placement elevations are studied. The results show that the heat load range is 10 W–100 W, the minimum evaporator thermal resistance is 0.424 K/W, and the minimum LHP thermal resistance is 0.598 K/W. When β = 0 deg, there is a “backflow” phenomenon at the initial stage of low thermal load. With the increase of thermal load, the “backflow” duration decreases until it disappears, and the startup time becomes shorter. The thermal resistances of the evaporator and LHP decrease rapidly and then slowly increase. When β = –90 deg, the LHP appears to demonstrate “reverse startup” phenomenon.
Analytical and Computational Modeling of Sustained-Release Drug Implants in the Vitreous Humor
Authors: Khoobyar Anahid , Naghdloo Amin , Penkova Anita N. , Humayun Mark S. , Sadhal Satwindar Singh
Published: July 2021

Sustained ocular drug delivery systems are necessary for patients needing regular drug therapy since frequent injection is painful, undesirable, and risky. One type of sustained-release systems includes pellets loaded with the drug, encapsulated in a porous shell that can be injected into the vitreous humor. There the released drug diffuses while the physiological flow of water provides the convective transport. The fluid flow within the vitreous is described by Darcy's equations for the analytical model and Brinkman flow for the computational analysis while the drug transport is given by the classical convection–diffusion equation. Since the timescale for the drug depletion is quite large, for the analytical model, we consider the exterior surrounding the capsule to be quasi-steady and the interior is time dependent. In the vitreous, the fluid-flow process is relatively slow, and meaningful results can be obtained for small Peclet number whereby a perturbation analysis is possible. For an isolated capsule, with approximately uniform flow in the far field around it, the mass-transfer problem requires singular perturbation with inner and outer matching. The computational model, besides accommodating the ocular geometry, allows for a fully time-dependent mass-concentration solution and also admits moderate Peclet numbers. As expected, the release rate diminishes with time as the drug depletion lowers the driving potential. The predictive results are sufficient general for a range of capsule permeability values and are useful for the design of the sustained-release microspheres as to the requisite permeability for specific drugs.
Reinforcement learning applied to metamaterial design
Authors: Shah Tristan , Zhuo Linwei , Lai Peter , De La Rosa-Moreno Amaris , Amirkulova Feruza , Gerstoft Peter
Published: July 2021

This paper presents a semi-analytical method of suppressing acoustic scattering using reinforcement learning (RL) algorithms. We give a RL agent control over design parameters of a planar configuration of cylindrical scatterers in water. These design parameters control the position and radius of the scatterers. As these cylinders encounter an incident acoustic wave, the scattering pattern is described by a function called total scattering cross section (TSCS). Through evaluating the gradients of TSCS and other information about the state of the configuration, the RL agent perturbatively adjusts design parameters, considering multiple scattering between the scatterers. As each adjustment is made, the RL agent receives a reward negatively proportional to the root mean square of the TSCS across a range of wavenumbers. Through maximizing its reward per episode, the agent discovers designs with low scattering. Specifically, the double deep Q-learning network and the deep deterministic policy gradient algorithms are employed in our models. Designs discovered by the RL algorithms performed well when compared to a state-of-the-art optimization algorithm using fmincon.
Predictions for flow-induced scission in well-entangled living polymers: The “living Rolie-Poly” model
Authors: Peterson Joseph D. , Gary Leal L.
Published: July 2021

In polymeric materials subject to both polymerization reactions and flow, there can be a complex interplay between reactions and stress relaxation processes. For example, reversible scission reactions can “shuffle” stresses across the molecular weight distribution, narrowing the stress relaxation spectra and decreasing the typical stress relaxation time. In addition, flow can stretch chains and make them more likely to break apart, leading to changes in the underlying reaction kinetics. Existing strategies for modeling the coupling between reactions and flow in polymer systems are limited in their range of applicability or dubious in their underlying approximations. Here, we develop a more flexible modeling approach with coupled population balance models that move both material and stress across the molecular weight distribution. The full model, which we call the “living Rolie Poly” (LRP) model, reproduces some earlier findings on linear rheology and offers new insights into nonlinear rheology and the role of flow-induced scission. For systems that are not inclined to shear band in the absence of flow-induced scission, we predict that flow-induced scission produces an additional shear thinning effect for steady shear flow, and in steady extensional flow, we predict that flow-induced scission acts like a finite extensibility correction, preventing the divergence of the steady viscosity. The LRP model is too complex to use in spatially resolved calculations or complex flow geometries at this time, but a “simplified” model with no such limitation arises naturally in the “fast--breaking” limit and shows good agreement with the full LRP model predictions.
Origin of potassic postcollisional volcanic rocks in young, shallow, blueschist-rich lithosphere
Authors: Wang Yu , Foley Stephen F. , Buhre Stephan , Soldner Jeremie , Xu Yigang
Published: July 2021

Unusually high Th/La in K-rich orogenic rocks may indicate shallow blueschist-rich sources in accretionary settings.
Snake extract–laden hemostatic bioadhesive gel cross-linked by visible light
Authors: Guo Yicheng , Wang Ying , Zhao Xiaohong , Li Xue , Wang Quan , Zhong Wen , Mequanint Kibret , Zhan Rixing , Xing Malcolm , Luo Gaoxing
Published: July 2021

Snake venom–inspired visible light–triggered bioadhesives can be used to treat tissue injuries by accelerating blood clot forming.
αβ/γδ T cell lineage outcome is regulated by intrathymic cell localization and environmental signals
Authors: Aghaallaei Narges , Dick Advaita M. , Tsingos Erika , Inoue Daigo , Hasel Eva , Thumberger Thomas , Toyoda Atsushi , Leptin Maria , Wittbrodt Joachim , Bajoghli Baubak
Published: July 2021

The level of γδ T cells varies between species because of differences in cellular dynamics and signals from thymic niche.
Losartan prevents tumor-induced hearing loss and augments radiation efficacy in NF2 schwannoma rodent models
Authors: Wu Limeng , Vasilijic Sasa , Sun Yao , Chen Jie , Landegger Lukas D. , Zhang Yanling , Zhou Wenjianlong , Ren Jun , Early Samuel , Yin Zhenzhen , Ho William W. , Zhang Na , Gao Xing , Lee Grace Y. , Datta Meenal , Sagers Jessica E. , Brown Alyssa , Muzikansky Alona , Stemmer-Rachamimov Anat , Zhang Luo , Plotkin Scott R. , Jain Rakesh K. , Stankovic Konstantina M. , Xu Lei
Published: July 2021

Normalizing the tumor microenvironment with losartan prevents tumor-induced hearing loss and enhances radiation response in schwannoma rodent models.
Fluorescent Protein Expression as a Proxy for Bacterial Fitness in a High-Throughput Assay
Authors: Schlechter Rudolf O. , Kear Evan J. , Remus Daniela M. , Remus-Emsermann Mitja N. P.
Published: July 2021

We expand on an important limitation of the concept of measuring bacterial growth, which is classically limited to one strain at a time. By adopting our approach, it is possible to measure the growth of several bacterial strains simultaneously with high temporal resolution and in a high-throughput manner. This is important to investigate bacterial interactions, such as competition and facilitation.
Proteome, Bioinformatic, and Functional Analyses Reveal a Distinct and Conserved Metabolic Pathway for Bile Salt Degradation in the
Sphingomonadaceae
Authors: Feller Franziska M. , Wöhlbrand Lars , Holert Johannes , Schnaars Vanessa , Elsner Lea , Mohn William W. , Rabus Ralf , Philipp Bodo
Published: July 2021

This study highlights the biochemical diversity of bacterial degradation of steroid compounds in particular bile salts. Furthermore, it substantiates and advances knowledge of a variant pathway for degradation of steroids by sphingomonads, a group of environmental bacteria that are well known for their broad metabolic capabilities.
Interplay between Candida albicans and Lactic Acid Bacteria in the Gastrointestinal Tract: Impact on Colonization Resistance, Microbial Carriage, Opportunistic Infection, and Host Immunity
Authors: Zeise Karen D. , Woods Robert J. , Huffnagle Gary B.
Published: July 2021

Emerging studies have highlighted the disproportionate role of
Candida albicans
in influencing both early community assembly of the bacterial microbiome and dysbiosis during allergic diseases and intestinal inflammation. Nonpathogenic colonization of the human gastrointestinal (GI) tract by
C. albicans
is common, and the role of this single fungal species in modulating bacterial community reassembly after broad-spectrum antibiotics can be readily recapitulated in mouse studies.
Performance of the Abbott SARS-CoV-2 IgG II Quantitative Antibody Assay Including the New Variants of Concern, VOC 202012/V1 (United Kingdom) and VOC 202012/V2 (South Africa), and First Steps towards Global Harmonization of COVID-19 Antibody Methods
Authors: English Emma , Cook Laura E. , Piec Isabelle , Dervisevic Samir , Fraser William D. , John W. Garry
Published: July 2021

In the initial stages of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) COVID-19 pandemic, a plethora of new serology tests were developed and introduced to the global market. Many were not evaluated rigorously, and there is a significant lack of concordance in results across methods.
SARS-CoV-2 Disrupts Proximal Elements in the JAK-STAT Pathway
Authors: Chen Da-Yuan , Khan Nazimuddin , Close Brianna J. , Goel Raghuveera K. , Blum Benjamin , Tavares Alexander H. , Kenney Devin , Conway Hasahn L. , Ewoldt Jourdan K. , Chitalia Vipul C. , Crossland Nicholas A. , Chen Christopher S. , Kotton Darrell N. , Baker Susan C. , Fuchs Serge Y. , Connor John H. , Douam Florian , Emili Andrew , Saeed Mohsan
Published: July 2021

SARS-CoV-2 can infect various organs in the human body, but the molecular interface between the virus and these organs remains unexplored. In this study, we generated a panel of highly infectible human cell lines originating from various body organs and employed these cells to identify cellular processes commonly or distinctly disrupted by SARS-CoV-2 in different cell types.
Construction of Leaderless-Bacteriocin-Producing Bacteriophage Targeting E. coli and Neighboring Gram-Positive Pathogens
Authors: Masuda Yoshimitsu , Kawabata Shun , Uedoi Tatsuya , Honjoh Ken-ichi , Miyamoto Takahisa
Published: July 2021

We demonstrated that we could combine LLB and phage to construct promising novel antimicrobial agents, LLB-phage. The first LLB-phage,
lnqQ
-T7 phage, can control the growth of both the Gram-negative host strain and neighboring Gram-positive bacteria while preventing the emergence of phage resistance in the host strain.
Isolation of Alpha-Toxin-Deficient Clostridium perfringens Type F from Sewage Influents and Effluents
Authors: Yanagimoto Keita , Haramoto Eiji
Published: July 2021

Understanding the diversity of biochemical characteristics that may affect the identification of bacteria is essential.
C. perfringens
is a ubiquitous bacterium found in the environment, humans, and animals and is responsible for infectious disease in the intestine. Although the alpha-toxin of
C. perfringens
may be used for its detection, variants of the alpha-toxin lacking its activity have been isolated from soil and humans experiencing symptoms of diarrhea.