bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Chemical Surface Modification Methods of Resin Composite Repaired with Resin-Modified Glass-Ionomer Cement
Authors: Klaisiri Awiruth , Phumpatrakom Panupat , Thamrongananskul Niyom
Published: October 2022

Objective This study examined the chemical surface modification methods of resin composite repaired with resin-modified glass-ionomer cement (RMGIC).

Materials and Methods Ninety aged resin composite rods were produced and sorted into 9 groups of 10 specimens and surface modified with silane agent and/or bonding agent as follows: group 1, no surface modified; group 2, etch + single bond 2 (SB2); group 3, SB2; group 4, etch + RelyX ceramic primer (RXP) + SB2; group 5, RXP + SB2; group 6, etch + single bond universal (SU); group 7, SU; group 8, etch + RXP + SU; and group 9, RXP + SU. A clear silicone mold was placed on the top of specimen center, and then filled with RMGIC. The specimens' shear bond strengths (SBSs) were examined in mechanical testing equipment. To determine failure types, the fractured specimen surfaces were inspected using a stereomicroscope.

Statistical Analysis The data collected were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance, and significance level was operated using Tukey's test (p < 0.05).

Results Group 8 had the greatest SBS, but it was statistically indistinguishable from groups 4, 5, and 9. The most frequent fracture mode was adhesive failure. High SBS was commonly associated with mixed failure.

Conclusion The use of bonding agents enhances the resin composite's wettability and allows it to bond to RMGIC. Moreover, the use of the silane coupling agent before applying bonding agent showed significantly higher bonding ability of resin composite and RMGIC interface.
Effect of Different Surface Treatment Methods on the Shear Bond Strength of Resin Composite/Zirconia for Intra-oral Repair of Zirconia Restorations
Authors: Fathpour Kamyar , Nili Ahmadabadi Mahsa , Atash Ramin , Fathi Amir Hossein
Published: October 2022

Objective A durable resin/zirconia bond is essential for successful intra-oral repair of zirconia restorations. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence of two mechanical treatments followed by seven chemical treatments on the shear bond strength (SBS) of composite resin to zirconia.

Materials and Methods In this in vitro study, 280 zirconia blocks (Y-TZP) were either air-abraded or bur roughened and divided into seven experimental groups (n = 20) in terms of primer/resin application: 1) ZPP, Z-Prime Plus; 2) ZPP + GP, Z-Prime Plus followed by G-premio bond; 3) ZPP + ALB, Z-Prime Plus followed by All Bond Universal; 4) ZPP + CLRF, Z-Prime Plus followed by Clearfil SE Bond; 5)GP, G-Premio Bond 6) ALB, All Bond Universal; and 7) CLRF, Clearfil SE Bond. After composite bonding and storage in distilled water (24 hours), half of each group specimen (n = 10) were thermocycled. All specimens were subjected to shear force. Statistical analysis was performed using Kruskal–Wallis and Mann–Whitney test (α = 0.05).

Results Significant reduction in SBS was observed in all groups after thermocycling(p < 0.05), except for the air-abraded ZPP + CLRF (p = 0.143). After aging, air-abraded CLRF exhibited the highest SBS (13.55 ± 7.8 MPa) and bur roughened ZPP showed the lowest SBS (1.16 ± 1.23 MPa). In the aged specimens, there was a significant difference between air abrasion and bur roughening in all groups (p < 0.05).

Conclusion Air-abrasion followed by application of adhesive (with/without prior primer application) is the most efficient technique for repair of veneered zirconia restorations with resin composite.
Correlation of Nonthyroidal Illness Syndrome with Extubation Outcome in Mechanically Ventilated Children: A Prospective Cohort Study
Authors: Abdelaziz Tarek A. , Romih Mohamed Mahmoud , Ismail Weaam Ibrahim , Emhalhal Khadija A.L. Mabrouk , Baz Eman Gamal
Published: October 2022

This study aimed to assess the relationship between non-thyroidal illness syndrome (NTIS) and extubation outcomes in pediatric patients requiring mechanical ventilation. This prospective cohort study included 59 patients who underwent mechanical ventilation in the pediatric intensive care unit of a tertiary care university hospital from July 2020 to June 2021. Each patient underwent laboratory testing including serum levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), free T3 (fT3), free T4 (fT4), and reverse T3 (rT3) on the first and third days of mechanical ventilation. On the first day of mechanical ventilation, 62.7% of patients had low fT3, which significantly increased to 78% of patients on the third day. In comparison to values on day one, median levels of fT3 and fT4 significantly decreased and rT3 significantly increased on day three. However, no significant differences were found in the median TSH levels over the same time span. Thirty-five patients (59%) survived while 24 patients (41%) did not survive. Compared with survivors, non-survivors had significantly higher median serum TSH levels on day one, while all other thyroid function tests assays did not significantly differ between days one and three. Of note, serum TSH, fT3, fT4, and rT3 levels, on the first and third days, did not differ significantly between patients who experienced extubation failure and extubation success. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to examine thyroid function values in mechanically ventilated children to determine their correlation with extubation outcomes. In this study, NTIS did not correlate with extubation outcomes in critically ill children undergoing mechanical ventilation.
Metabolic Abnormalities in Association with Clinical Neonatal Seizures in an Indian Tertiary Care Centre
Authors: Y. Ramesh Bhat , PD Sandeep
Published: October 2022

Metabolic disturbances frequently occur in neonatal seizures either as an underlying cause or as an associated abnormality. A prompt recognition of metabolic abnormalities and early therapy are necessary to avoid poor neurological outcome. Neonates with clinical seizures were enrolled in the study. Diagnostic evaluation included complete blood count, sepsis screen, and estimation of blood glucose, serum sodium, calcium and magnesium before instituting any specific treatment. Metabolic abnormalities were considered as isolated when hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE), sepsis, intracranial hemorrhage, and polycythemia were ruled out. Among 80 newborns with clinical seizures, one metabolic abnormality was detected in 46 (57.5%) newborns. The commonest metabolic abnormality observed was hypoglycemia, noted in 22/80 (27.5%) newborns. Hypocalcemia was the second common abnormality, noted in 10/80 (12.5%) newborns. Isolated metabolic abnormalities were observed in 23.8% (19/80) of newborns with seizures. Associated morbidities with seizures included HIE in 21 (26.3%) and sepsis in 28 (35%). Hypoglycemia was the commonest isolated metabolic abnormality (12.5%). Metabolic abnormalities co-existed with HIE in nine out of 21 neonates and with sepsis in eight out of 28 neonates. Hypoglycemia was the common abnormality associated with both the conditions. Inborn errors of metabolism constituted 8.8% of the cohort studied (7 of 80 patients). A metabolic abnormality was detected in more than 50% neonates with clinical seizures enrolled in our study. Metabolic abnormality also co-exists in neonates with HIE as well as sepsis-related seizures.
Exact solution of an integrable non-equilibrium particle system
Authors: Frassek Rouven , Giardinà Cristian
Published: October 2022

We consider the integrable family of symmetric boundary-driven interacting particle systems that arise from the non-compact XXX Heisenberg model in one dimension with open boundaries. In contrast to the well-known symmetric exclusion process, the number of particles at each site is unbounded. We show that a finite chain of N sites connected at its ends to two reservoirs can be solved exactly, i.e., the factorial moments of the non-equilibrium steady-state can be written in the closed form for each N. The solution relies on probabilistic arguments and techniques inspired by integrable systems. It is obtained in two steps: (i) the introduction of a dual absorbing process reducing the problem to a finite number of particles and (ii) the solution of the dual dynamics exploiting a symmetry obtained from the quantum inverse scattering method. Long-range correlations are computed in the finite-volume system. The exact solution allows us to prove by a direct computation that, in the thermodynamic limit, the system approaches local equilibrium. A by-product of the solution is the algebraic construction of a direct mapping between the non-equilibrium steady state and the equilibrium reversible measure.
Ground state sign-changing solutions for Schrödinger–Kirchhoff-type problem with critical growth
Authors: Zhao Yu-Xin , Wu Xing-Ping , Tang Chun-Lei
Published: October 2022

In this paper, we study the following Schrödinger–Kirchhoff-type problem: −a+b∫R3|∇u|2dx△u+u=|u|4u+f(u), x∈R3, where a > 0 and b > 0 are small enough. Under suitable assumptions on f, we obtain the existence of ground state sign-changing solution ub by the constraint variational method with Miranda’s theorem. Moreover, we prove that its energy is strictly larger than twice that of the ground state solution.
Eulerian simulations of electrostatic waves in plasmas with a single sign of charge
Authors: Cristofaro S. , Pezzi O. , O'Neil T. M. , Veltri P. , Valentini F.
Published: October 2022

An Eulerian, numerical simulation is used to model the launching of plasma waves in a non-neutral plasma that is confined in a Penning–Malmberg trap. The waves are launched by applying an oscillating potential to an electrically isolated sector at one end of the conducting cylinder that bounds the confinement region and are received by another electrically isolated sector at the other end of the cylinder. The launching of both Trivelpiece–Gould waves and electron acoustic waves is investigated. Adopting a stratagem, the simulation captures essential features of the finite length plasma, while retaining the numerical advantages of a simulation employing periodic spatial boundary conditions. As a benchmark test of the simulation, the results for launched Trivelpiece–Gould waves of small amplitude are successfully compared to a linearized analytic solution for these fluctuations.
Optically Detected Magnetic Resonance of Diamond Nitrogen-Vacancy Centers under Megabar Pressures
Authors: Dai Jian-Hong , Shang Yan-Xing , Yu Yong-Hong , Xu Yue , Yu Hui , Hong Fang , Yu Xiao-Hui , Pan Xin-Yu , Liu Gang-Qin
Published: October 2022

Megabar pressures are of crucial importance for cutting-edge studies of condensed matter physics and geophysics. With the development of diamond anvil cell (DAC), laboratory studies of high pressure have entered the megabar era for decades. However, it is still challenging to implement in situ magnetic sensing under ultrahigh pressures. In this work, we demonstrate optically detected magnetic resonance and coherent quantum control of diamond nitrogen-vacancy (NV) center, a promising quantum sensor inside the DAC, up to 1.4 Mbar. The pressure dependence of optical and spin properties of NV centers in diamond are quantified, and the evolution of an external magnetic field has been successfully tracked at about 80 GPa. These results shed new light on our understanding of diamond NV centers and pave the way for quantum sensing under extreme conditions.
Temperature tunable electromagnetically induced transparency in terahertz metasurface fabricated on ferroelectric platform
Authors: Devi Koijam Monika , Jana Arun , Rane Shreeya , Roy Choudhury Palash , Roy Chowdhury Dibakar
Published: October 2022

The integration of active materials in terahertz (THz) metasurfaces is pivotal for the realization of functional device applications in diverse fields like sensing, imaging, communication, etc. In this context, ferroelectric materials endowed with tunable electro-optic properties have recently emerged as a novel candidate for achieving actively tuned THz metasurfaces. Here, we experimentally investigate temperature tuning of electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) effects in a THz metasurface based on ferroelectric barium titanate (BaTiO3 (BTO)) thin film. We characterize tunable dielectric properties of the BTO thin film under variable temperatures (25 °C–100 °C) at THz frequencies by utilizing THz-time domain spectroscopy technique. Based on this aspect, we design a THz metasurface capable of displaying the EIT effect. THz transmissions through the metasurface sample are then probed for different applied temperatures. The EIT features undergo frequency shifts along with amplitude modulations owing to the temperature induced variations of the dielectric properties of the BTO thin film. A total red shift ∼27 GHz in EIT resonance dip is observed experimentally as the temperature increases from 25 °C to 100 °C. Therefore, we demonstrate utilities of ferroelectric platform toward the development of temperature tunable EIT metasurfaces.
Reversible exchange bias in epitaxial V2O3/Ni hybrid magnetic heterostructures
Authors: Ignatova K , Thorsteinsson E B , Jósteinsson B A , Strandqvist N , Vantaraki C , Kapaklis V , Devishvili A , Pálsson G K , Arnalds U B
Published: October 2022

In this work we present a temperature and angular dependent study of the structural and magnetic properties in highly crystalline V2O3/Ni/Zr magnetic heterostructure films. Our investigation focuses on the coupling between the ferromagnetic Ni layer and V2O3 layer which undergoes an antiferromagnetic/paramagnetic phase transition coupled to the structural phase transition of the material at around 150 K. Structural investigations using x-ray diffraction reveal highly crystalline films of a quality which has previously not been reported in the literature. The Ni layers display an absence of in-plane magnetic anisotropy owing to the highly textured (1 1 1) layering of the Ni films on the underlying V2O3(0 0 0 1) oriented layer. During the transition we observe a strain related enhancement of the coercivity and the onset of a weak exchange bias for cooling under an external magnetic field. Heating the films to above the transition temperature, the exchange bias in the Ni is removed and can be reversed upon subsequent cooling under an inverted external magnetic field. Using temperature dependent polarized neutron reflectometry we investigate the film structure at the interface, capturing the magnetic and nuclear profiles.
Tumor microenvironment and redox dual stimuli-responsive polymeric nanoparticles for the effective cisplatin-based cancer chemotherapy
Authors: Jia Yi-Yang , Huan Meng-Lei , Wang Wei , Jia Zhou-Yan , Wan Yu-Hang , Zhou Si-Yuan , Zhang Bang-Le
Published: October 2022

The serious side effects of cisplatin hindered its clinical application and the nanotechnology might be the potential strategy to address the limitation. However, rapid clearance in the blood circulation and ineffective controlled drug release from nanocarriers hamper the therapeutic efficacy of the nano-delivery system. We constructed a tumor microenvironment and redox dual stimuli-responsive nano-delivery system PEG-c-(BPEI-SS-Pt) by cross-linking the disulfide-containing polymeric conjugate BPEI-SS-Pt with the dialdehyde group-modified PEG2000 via Schiff base. After optimized the cross-linking time, 72 h was selected to get the nano-delivery system. 1H NMR and drug release assays showed that under the acidic tumor microenvironment (pH 6.5–6.8), the Schiff base can be broken and detached the PEG cross-linked outer shells, displaying the capability to release the drugs with a sequential pH- and redox-responsive manner. Moreover, PEG-c-(BPEI-SS-Pt) showed more effective anti-tumor therapeutic efficacy in vivo with no significant side effects when compared with the drug of cisplatin used in the clinic. This strategy highlights a promising platform with the dual stimuli-responsive profile to achieve better therapeutic efficacy and minor side effects for platinum-based chemotherapy.
3D homogenization of the T-A formulation for the analysis of coils with complex geometries
Authors: Vargas-Llanos Carlos Roberto , Huber Felix , Riva Nicolò , Zhang Min , Grilli Francesco
Published: October 2022

The modeling and analysis of superconducting coils is an essential task in the design stage of most devices based on high-temperature superconductors (HTS). These calculations allow verifying basic estimations and assumptions, proposing improvements, and computing quantities that are not easy to calculate with an analytical approach. For instance, the estimation of losses in HTS is fundamental during the design stage since losses can strongly influence the cooling system requirements and operating temperature. Typically, 2D finite element analysis is used to calculate AC losses in HTS, due to the lack of analytical solutions that can accurately represent complex operating conditions, such as AC transport current and AC external applied magnetic field in coils. These 2D models are usually a representation of an infinitely long arrangement. Therefore, they cannot be used to analyze end effects and complex 3D configurations. In this publication, we use the homogenization of the T-A formulation in 3D for the analysis of superconducting coils with complex geometries where a 2D approach cannot provide accurate analyses and verification of assumptions. The modeling methodology allows an easier implementation in commercial software (COMSOL Multiphysics) in comparison with the currently available 3D H homogenization, despite the complexity of the geometry. This methodology is first validated with a racetrack coil (benchmark case) by comparing the results with the well-established H formulation. Then, the electromagnetic behavior of coils with more complex geometries is analyzed.
SPECULOOS Northern Observatory: Searching for Red Worlds in the Northern Skies
Authors: Burdanov Artem Y. , Wit Julien de , Gillon Michaël , Rebolo Rafael , Sebastian Daniel , Alonso Roi , Sohy Sandrine , Niraula Prajwal , Garcia Lionel , Barkaoui Khalid , Chinchilla Patricia , Ducrot Elsa , Murray Catriona A. , Pedersen Peter P. , Jehin Emmanuël , McCormac James , Zúñiga-Fernández Sebastián
Published: October 2022

SPECULOOS is a ground-based transit survey consisting of six identical 1 m robotic telescopes. The immediate goal of the project is to detect temperate terrestrial planets transiting nearby ultracool dwarfs (late M-dwarf stars and brown dwarfs), which could be amenable for atmospheric research with the next generation of telescopes. Here, we report the developments of the northern counterpart of the project—SPECULOOS Northern Observatory, and present its performance during the first three years of operations from mid-2019 to mid-2022. Currently, the observatory consists of one telescope, which is named Artemis. The Artemis telescope demonstrates remarkable photometric precision, allowing it to be ready to detect new transiting terrestrial exoplanets around ultracool dwarfs. Over the period of the first three years after the installation, we observed 96 objects from the SPECULOOS target list for 6000 hr with a typical photometric precision of 0.5%, and reaching a precision of 0.2% for relatively bright non-variable targets with a typical exposure time of 25 s. Our weather downtime (clouds, high wind speed, high humidity, precipitation and/or high concentration of dust particles in the air) over the period of three years was 30% of overall night time. Our actual downtime is 40% because of additional time loss associated with technical problems.
Dependence of the tidal deformability of neutron stars on the nuclear equation of state*
Authors: Xie 谢 Wen-Jie 文杰 , Chen 陈 Jian-Ling 建玲 , Ma 马 Zi-Wei 紫微 , Guo 郭 Jun-Hua 俊华 , Zhu 祝 Long 龙
Published: October 2022

Within the Bayesian framework, using an explicitly isospin-dependent parametric equation of state (EOS) for the core of neutron stars (NSs), we studied how the NS EOS behaves when we confront it with the tidal deformabilities

of canonical NSs with different error and different lower boundaries, and with the tidal deformabilities of massive NSs. We found that it does not significantly improve the constraints on the NS EOS but has a weak effect on narrowing down the slope parameter of the symmetry energy by decreasing the measurement errors of

. Both the isospin-dependent and isospin-independent parts of the NS EOS were significantly constrained and raised as the tidal deformabilities of massive NSs were adopted in the calculations, especially in high-density regions. We also found that

is more competent to limit the curvature parameter than the slope parameter of the symmetry energy, whereas the opposite occurs for the radius of canonical NSs

. The tidal deformability of an NS with two times the solar mass

is more sensitive to skewness than the curvature parameter of the symmetry energy, and

and

have no correlation with the former.
Study on the effect of focal position change on the expansion velocity and propagation mechanism of plasma generated by millisecond pulsed laser-induced fused silica
Authors: WANG Lixue , CAI Jixing
Published: October 2022

In this work, by controlling the positional relationship between the target and the focal point, the surface damage, shock wave phenomenon and propagation mechanism involved in the plasma generation of fused silica by millisecond pulsed laser irradiation at different focal positions were studied. Laser energy is an important experimental variable. The dynamic process of plasma was detected by optical shadow method, and the influence of surface film damage on plasma propagation and the propagation mechanism at different focal positions were discussed. The study found that the plasma induced by the pulsed laser at the focus position within 0–20 μs exploded, the micro-droplets formed around 20 μs. At the same time, a shock wave is formed by the compressed air, the micro-droplets are compressed under the action of the shock wave recoil pressure, and the micro-droplets channel phenomenon is observed in the micro-droplets. The peak velocities of plasma and combustion wave appear earlier in the pre-focus position than in the post-focus position. This research provides a reference for the field of laser processing using fused silica as the substrate.
An updated overview of experimental and computational approaches to identify non-canonical DNA/RNA structures with emphasis on G-quadruplexes and R-loops
Authors: Shi Xiaohui , Teng Huajing , Sun Zhongsheng
Published: October 2022

Multiple types of non-canonical nucleic acid structures play essential roles in DNA recombination and replication, transcription, and genomic instability and have been associated with several human diseases. Thus, an increasing number of experimental and bioinformatics methods have been developed to identify these structures. To date, most reviews have focused on the features of non-canonical DNA/RNA structure formation, experimental approaches to mapping these structures, and the association of these structures with diseases. In addition, two reviews of computational algorithms for the prediction of non-canonical nucleic acid structures have been published. One of these reviews focused only on computational approaches for G4 detection until 2020. The other mainly summarized the computational tools for predicting cruciform, H-DNA and Z-DNA, in which the algorithms discussed were published before 2012. Since then, several experimental and computational methods have been developed. However, a systematic review including the conformation, sequencing mapping methods and computational prediction strategies for these structures has not yet been published. The purpose of this review is to provide an updated overview of conformation, current sequencing technologies and computational identification methods for non-canonical nucleic acid structures, as well as their strengths and weaknesses. We expect that this review will aid in understanding how these structures are characterised and how they contribute to related biological processes and diseases.
Evolutionary aspects of the parasitoid life strategy, with a particular emphasis on fly–spider interactions
Authors: Sýkora Jakub , Barták Miroslav , Heneberg Petr , Korenko Stanislav
Published: October 2022

Parasitoids are significant ecological elements of terrestrial food webs and have evolved within seven insect orders. Interestingly, however, associations with spiders as hosts have evolved only in two insect orders, Diptera and Hymenoptera. Here, we summarize various aspects of host utilization by dipteran flies with an emphasis on associations with spiders. Our synthesis reveals that spider flies (family Acroceridae) have evolved a unique life strategy among all the parasitoid taxa associated with spiders, in which koinobiont small-headed flies utilize an indirect oviposition strategy. This indirect oviposition in spider flies is inherited from Nemestrinimorpha ancestors which appeared in the Late Triassic and is characterized by the evolution of planidial larvae. Further, we discuss the advantages and disadvantages of indirect oviposition in spider flies. On the one hand, indirect oviposition allows the fly to avoid contact/wrestling with spider hosts. On the other hand, larval survival is low because the planidium must actively seek out and infect a suitable host individually. The risk of failure to find a suitable spider host is offset by the fly’s extremely high fecundity.
Impact of cumulative complications on 1-year treatment-related healthcare costs in patients with colorectal peritoneal metastases undergoing cytoreductive surgery with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy
Authors: van der Zant Femke A , Kooijman Bob J L , Hentzen Judith E K R , Helfrich Wijnand , Ploeg Emily M , van Ginkel Robert J , van Leeuwen Barbara L , Been Lukas B , Klaase Joost M , Hemmer Patrick H J , van der Hilst Christian S , Kruijff Schelto
Published: October 2022

Background

The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of all minor and major complications on treatment-related healthcare costs in patients who undergo cytoreductive surgery (CRS) with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) for the treatment of colorectal peritoneal metastases (PMs).

Method

Patients with histologically proven colorectal PMs who underwent CRS + HIPEC from March 2006 to October 2019 in a tertiary referral centre were retrospectively identified from a prospectively maintained database. Patients were divided into six subgroups according to the severity of the complications, which were scored using the comprehensive complication index (CCI) (CCI 0–9.9, CCI 10–19.9, CCI 20–29.9, CCI 30–39.9, CCI 40–49.9, and CCI 50 or higher). Treatment-related healthcare costs up to 1 year after CRS + HIPEC were obtained from the financial department. Differences in costs and survival outcomes were compared using the chi-squared test and Kruskal–Wallis H test.

Results

A total of 142 patients were included (CCI 0–9.9, 53 patients; CCI 10–19.9, 0 patients; CCI 20–29.9, 45 patients; CCI 30–39.9, 14 patients; CCI 40–49, 9 patients; and CCI 50 or higher, 21 patients). Median (interquartile range) treatment-related healthcare costs increased significantly and exponentially for the CCI 30–39, CCI 40–49, and CCI 50 or higher groups (€48 993 (€44 262–€84 805); €57 167 (€43 047–€67 591); and €82 219 (€55 487–€145 314) respectively) compared with those for the CCI 0–9.9 and CCI 20–29.9 groups (€33 856 (€24 433–€40 779) and €40 621 (€31 501–€58 761) respectively, P < 0.010).

Conclusion

Treatment-related healthcare costs increase exponentially as more complications develop among patients who undergo CRS + HIPEC for the treatment of colorectal PMs. Anastomotic leakages after CRS + HIPEC lead to an increase of 295 per cent of treatment-related healthcare costs.
Precise motor rhythmicity relies on motor network responsivity
Authors: Uehara Kazumasa , Togo Hiroki , Hanakawa Takashi
Published: October 2022

Rhythmic movements are the building blocks of human behavior. However, given that rhythmic movements are achieved through complex interactions between neural modules, it remains difficult to clarify how the central nervous system controls motor rhythmicity. Here, using a novel tempo-precision trade-off paradigm, we first modeled interindividual behavioral differences in tempo-dependent rhythmicity for various external tempi. We identified 2 behavioral extremes: conventional and paradoxical tempo-precision trade-off types. We then explored the neural substrates of these behavioral differences using task and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging. We found that the responsibility of interhemispheric motor network connectivity to tempi was a key to the behavioral repertoire. In the paradoxical trade-off type, interhemispheric connectivity was low at baseline but increased in response to increasing tempo; in the conventional trade-off type, strong baseline connectivity was coupled with low responsivity. These findings suggest that tunable interhemispheric connectivity underlies tempo-dependent rhythmicity control.
Effect of Malaria and Malaria Chemoprevention Regimens in Pregnancy and Childhood on Neurodevelopmental and Behavioral Outcomes in Children at 12, 24, and 36 Months: A Randomized Clinical Trial
Authors: Bangirana Paul , Conroy Andrea L , Opoka Robert O , Semrud-Clikeman Margaret , Jang Jeong H , Apayi Claire , Kakuru Abel , Muhindo Mary K , Georgieff Michael K , Dorsey Grant M , Kamya Moses R , Havlir Diane , John Chandy C
Published: October 2022

Background

Malaria in pregnancy has been associated with worse cognitive outcomes in children, but its association with behavioral outcomes and the effectiveness of malaria chemoprevention on child neurodevelopment are not well characterized.

Methods

To determine if more effective malaria chemoprevention in mothers and their children results in better neurodevelopment, 305 pregnant women were randomly assigned to 3 doses of sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine, 3 doses of dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine (DP), or monthly DP during pregnancy, and their 293 children were assigned to DP every 3 months or monthly DP from 2 to 24 months of age. Cognition, language, and motor function were assessed at 12, 24. and 36 months of age, and attention, memory, behavior, and executive function were assessed at 24 and 36 months of age.

Results

Children of mothers with versus without malaria in pregnancy had worse scores on cognitive, behavioral, and executive function outcomes at 24 months. Clinical malaria in children within the first 12 months was similarly associated with poorer scores in behavior and executive function at 24 months, language at 24 and 36 months, and motor function scores at 36 months. However, more effective malaria chemoprevention in the mothers and children was not associated with better outcomes.

Conclusions

Malaria in pregnancy was associated with worse cognitive, behavioral, and executive function scores in affected children, but more effective malaria chemoprevention measures did not result in better outcomes. Malaria chemoprevention prior to and early in gestation and with even higher efficacy in mothers and children may be required to prevent neurodevelopmental impairment in children.

Clinical Trials Registration. NCT02557425.
A contiguous de novo genome assembly of sugar beet EL10 (Beta vulgaris L.)
Authors: McGrath J Mitchell , Funk Andrew , Galewski Paul , Ou Shujun , Townsend Belinda , Davenport Karen , Daligault Hajnalka , Johnson Shannon , Lee Joyce , Hastie Alex , Darracq Aude , Willems Glenda , Barnes Steve , Liachko Ivan , Sullivan Shawn , Koren Sergey , Phillippy Adam , Wang Jie , Liu Tiffany , Pulman Jane , Childs Kevin , Shu Shengqiang , Yocum Anastasia , Fermin Damian , Mutasa-Göttgens Effie , Stevanato Piergiorgio , Taguchi Kazunori , Naegele Rachel , Dorn Kevin M
Published: October 2022

A contiguous assembly of the inbred ‘EL10’ sugar beet (Beta vulgaris ssp. vulgaris) genome was constructed using PacBio long-read sequencing, BioNano optical mapping, Hi-C scaffolding, and Illumina short-read error correction. The EL10.1 assembly was 540 Mb, of which 96.2% was contained in nine chromosome-sized pseudomolecules with lengths from 52 to 65 Mb, and 31 contigs with a median size of 282 kb that remained unassembled. Gene annotation incorporating RNA-seq data and curated sequences via the MAKER annotation pipeline generated 24,255 gene models. Results indicated that the EL10.1 genome assembly is a contiguous genome assembly highly congruent with the published sugar beet reference genome. Gross duplicate gene analyses of EL10.1 revealed little large-scale intra-genome duplication. Reduced gene copy number for well-annotated gene families relative to other core eudicots was observed, especially for transcription factors. Variation in genome size in B. vulgaris was investigated by flow cytometry among 50 individuals producing estimates from 633 to 875 Mb/1C. Read-depth mapping with short-read whole-genome sequences from other sugar beet germplasm suggested that relatively few regions of the sugar beet genome appeared associated with high-copy number variation.
May Measurement Month 2017–2019: an analysis of blood pressure screening results from Dominican Republic
Authors: Valdez-Tiburcio Osiris , Gonzalez-Medina Angel , Valdez-Valoy Laura , Santillan-Pascual Marcos , Baez-Noyer Nelson , Diaz-Montero Belianix , Wang Wei , Beaney Thomas , Poulter Neil R
Published: October 2022

Arterial hypertension is the main risk factor that contributes to cardiovascular disease and represents a leading cause of morbidity and mortality globally. May Measurement Month (MMM) is a global screening campaign with the aim of improving awareness of hypertension at the individual and population level, an initiative that has been supported in the Dominican Republic (DR) since 2017. Adults (≥18 years) were recruited by sampling in different places in the DR, three blood pressure (BP) readings were performed per participant, and data on risk factors and comorbidities were collected. Hypertension was defined as systolic BP ≥140 mm Hg, diastolic BP ≥ 90 mm Hg (mean of second and third readings), and/or taking antihypertensive medication. Multiple imputation was used to estimate participants’ mean BP when three readings were not available. Of 3693 participants, 2134 (57.8%) had hypertension, of whom 1646 (77.1%) were taking medication, but only 38.6% of those on treatment had their BP under control(<140/90 mmHg). The remaining 61.4% of the participants received inadequate treatment. A total of 66% of treated patients were taking a single antihypertensive drug. MMM provides an important platform for the standardized compilation of BP data and the creation of awareness of hypertension in the DR and other nations of the world. The data generated from the 2017–2019 MMM campaigns highlight the importance of adequate detection, knowledge, and control of BP.
Evaluation of functional constipation frequency and related factors
Authors: Cifci Ismail , Gokdemir Ozden , Aygun Olgu , Guldal Dilek
Published: October 2022

Background/Introduction

The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of functional constipation (FC) in İzmir using ROME IV criteria, as well as to investigate the relationship of FC with various factors, particularly obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) and personality traits.

Methods

This study was designed as cross-sectional analytical research. The participants were those aged 18 and over who applied to Family Health Centers (FHC). Participants were randomly selected from 11 FHC. Data were collected via a face-to-face interview, a questionnaire designed by the researcher using ROME IV criteria, the OCD module in the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview, and the Ten-Item Personality Inventory.

Results

The study included 990 participants, 502 (50.7%) women and 488 (49.3%) men. According to the ROME IV criteria, 7% (n = 69) of the participants in our study had FC. OCD was found to be present in 13% of the cases. This rate was found to be significantly higher (P = 0.003). The emotional stability scores of FC patients were found to be significantly lower (P = 0.038).

Conclusions

FC is a common gastrointestinal system complaint in primary care and emphasizes the importance of the diagnostic approach, particularly in patients presenting with constipation due to treatment differences. Individuals with FC diagnoses had a significantly higher incidence of OCD, and their emotional stability levels were significantly lower. It should be noted that psychiatric diseases and personality traits may also play a role in this situation in individuals diagnosed with FC.
Expression and localization of tubulin isotypes and its mRNAs duringThecaphora freziidevelopments
Authors: Figueroa Ana Cristina , Díaz María Soledad , Alasino Roxana Valeria , Yang Pablo , Soria Néstor Walter , Beltramo Dante Miguel
Published: October 2022

Thecaphora frezii is a phytopathogenic fungus that infects Arachys hypogaea L. and produces peanut smut. It has three ontological stages teliospores, basidiospores, and hyphae. Microtubules are cellular structures that participate in various important cellular processes. In this work, we analyzed the presence and location of α-tubulin isotypes and enzymes that participate in tyrosination–detyrosination in the three stages of T. frezii. Although both tyrosinated and detyrosinated tubulin seem to be associated with a membrane fraction component that gives it a similar behavior to integral proteins, in the soluble cytosolic fraction, only detyrosinated tubulin was detected, not tyrosinated tubulin. The presence of α-tubulin was not detected using the monoclonal antibody DM1A as neither acetylated tubulin. The RNA-Seq analysis showed the presence of α, β, and γ-tubulins and the genes that codes for tyrosine–tubulin ligase and cytosolic carboxypeptidase 1, enzymes that are involved in post-translational modification processes. These sequences showed a high percentage of identity and homology with Ustilago maydis, Thecaphora thlaspeos, and Anthracocystis flocculosa. This is the first report for tubulins subpopulations and the cellular distribution in T. frezii, which together with the data obtained by RNA-Seq contribute to the knowledge of the pathogen, which will allow the development of control strategies
Turf Wars in Foreign Policy Bureaucracy: Rivalry between the Government and the Bureaucracy in Turkish Foreign Policy
Authors: Gülen Berkay
Published: October 2022

This paper, using examples from Turkish foreign policy between 2002 and 2014, argues that the fragmentation in foreign policymaking due to adopting different foreign policy ideas, that is, ideas of the elected leadership and the bureaucracy, is likely to generate competition between the state agencies that constitute the foreign policy bureaucracy. If there is backlash in the bureaucracy to realize the government's revisionist foreign policy goals, then the government aims to transform the bureaucracy by empowering certain small bureaucratic units, that is, missionary agencies. Once the degree of conflict between the government and the bureaucracy becomes severe, then the elected officials opt to work with the established bureaucratic agencies to speed up the decision-making processes. The analysis based on a series of interviews conducted with sixty-one Turkish foreign policymakers shows that the turf war in the foreign policy bureaucracy is a conceptual framework for comprehending how elected officials use bureaucratic tactics to undermine the involvement of bureaucrats in decision-making processes. Finally, the study contributes to current debates on populism and the presidentialization of foreign policy by showing that the foreign policy bureaucracy is not immune from the anti-elite, anti-establishment rhetoric of governments.
Germline de novo variant F747S extends the phenotypic spectrum ofCACNA1DCa2+ channelopathies
Authors: Török Ferenc , Tezcan Kamer , Filippini Ludovica , Fernández-Quintero Monica L , Zanetti Lucia , Liedl Klaus R , Drexel Raphaela S , Striessnig Jörg , Ortner Nadine J
Published: October 2022

Germline gain-of-function missense variants in the pore-forming Cav1.3 α1-subunit (CACNA1D gene) confer high risk for a severe neurodevelopmental disorder with or without endocrine symptoms. Here, we report a 4-week-old new-born with the novel de novo missense variant F747S with a so far not described prominent jittering phenotype in addition to symptoms previously reported for CACNA1D mutations including developmental delay, elevated aldosterone level and transient hypoglycemia. We confirmed the pathogenicity of this variant in whole-cell patch-clamp experiments with wild-type and F747S mutant channels heterologously expressed together with α2δ1 and cytosolic β3 or membrane-bound β2a subunits. Mutation F747S caused the quantitatively largest shift in the voltage dependence of activation (−28 mV) reported so far for CACNA1D germline mutations. It also shifted inactivation to more negative voltages, slowed the time course of current inactivation and slowed current deactivation upon repolarization with both co-expressed β-subunits. In silico modelling and molecular docking, simulations revealed that this gain-of-function phenotype can be explained by formation of a novel inter-domain hydrogen bond between mutant residues S747 (IIS6) with N1145 (IIIS6) stabilizing selectively the activated open channel state. F747S displayed 2–6-fold increased sensitivity for the L-type Ca2+ channel blocker isradipine compared to wild type. Our data confirm the pathogenicity of the F747S variant with very strong gain-of-function gating changes, which may contribute to the novel jittering phenotype. Increased sensitivity for isradipine suggests this drug for potential symptomatic off-label treatment for carriers of this mutation.
Correlation between seabirds and fisheries varies by species at fine-scale pattern
Authors: De la Cruz Andrés , Rodríguez-García Carlos , Cabrera-Castro Remedios , Arroyo Gonzalo M
Published: October 2022

Understanding how fisheries influence seabird distribution is critical in the development of sustainable fisheries management. Species distribution models were applied to analyse the influence of the fishing footprint, discards, and oceanographic factors on seabird attendance patterns to trawlers in the Gulf of Cádiz. More than 30 species of seabirds were attracted to trawlers, although only seven were registered with relatively high frequency and abundance. For these species, fishery footprint was a good predictor for the distribution of four out of seven (yellow-legged gull, lesser black-backed gull, northern gannet, and Cory's shearwater). Yellow-legged and lesser black-backed gull flocked in large numbers to trawlers, mostly in shallow areas where they were also attracted by purse seines. Northern gannets and Cory's shearwaters appeared with relatively high frequency and their distributions correlated with trawler effort and abundance of potential prey discards. Balearic shearwaters were attracted in low numbers and concentrated in shallow areas, where potential prey discards were also more abundant. For these three species, discards as surrogate of natural prey distribution were good predictors of trawler attendance. Our research revealed that, at a local scale, the degree of interaction of seabirds on fishing discards varies by species. Therefore, fine-scale studies are essential in identifying interactions between seabirds and fisheries, and thus assessing conservation issues such as bycatch or the consequences of discard bans.
Genetic analysis of the exploited snow crab (Chionoecetes opilio) in the Barents Sea—possibilities of origin
Authors: Dahle Geir , Sainte-Marie Bernard , Mincks Sarah L , Farestveit Eva , Jørstad Knut E , Hjelset Ann Merete , Agnalt Ann-Lisbeth
Published: October 2022

After the initial opening of the Bering Strait  5.5–-5.0 My ago, there occurred several periods with exchange of marine species between the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. The snow crab ( Chionoecetes opilio) was first reported in the Barents Sea (BAR) in 1996, presumably following introduction via Ballast water. Since then, the population has increased in size and distribution and has become self-reproducing and of economic importance. We implemented genetic analysis to identify the origin and pathway of introduction of BAR snow crab. Samples from BAR, Alaska, eastern Canada, and west Greenland were genotyped with 12 microsatellite loci. Pairwise FST between 15 samples showed three geographic clusters, each significantly different from one another. Unexpectedly, the largest genetic distance was between the BAR and Greenland clusters. This clustering may be the result of dispersals through Bering Strait from the North Pacific Ocean and passage through the Arctic Ocean. The BAR samples did not show signs of a bottleneck in population size, as would be expected after introduction of small numbers of individuals. Presence of snow crab in the BAR may thus be the result of recent natural range expansion from around Alaska.
The efficacy of mycotoxin binders to control mycotoxins in feeds and the potential risk of interactions with nutrient: a review
Authors: Kihal Abdelhacib , Rodríguez-Prado María , Calsamiglia Sergio
Published: October 2022

Mycotoxicosis are a common problem in livestock, where a group of six major mycotoxins represents a high risk for animal health and production profits. Mycotoxin binders (MTB) can reduce the mycotoxin burden in the gastrointestinal tract of the animal. Mycotoxin binders are classified in inorganic, as clays and activated carbon (AC), and organic, as yeast cell wall (YCW) and micro-ionized fibers. The adsorption of mycotoxins into MTB is due to: 1) chemical interactions where the cation exchange capacity involves different types of bounds like ion-dipole, Van der Walls forces, or hydrogen bonds; and 2) to physical characteristics of MTB like pore size, or mycotoxin structure and shape. The adsorption capacity of MTB is determined using different in vitro tests that mimic the gastrointestinal tract of the animals. A literature search was conducted to identify in vitro research where the efficacy of adsorption of MTB was determined. The search was based on 8 MTB [AC, bentonite, clinoptilolite, hydrated sodium calcium aluminosilicate (HSCAS), montmorillonite (MMT), sepiolite, YCW and zeolite] and 6 mycotoxins [aflatoxin (AF), deoxynivalenol (DON), fumonisin (FUM), ochratoxin (OTA), T-2 toxin and zearalenone (ZEA)]. Sixty-eight papers with 1842 data were selected and analyzed with the PROC MIXED of SAS. The response variable was the percentage mycotoxins adsorption by MTB, and the model included the fixed effects of MTB, mycotoxins, incubation media, pH and their interactions, and the random effect of the study. Differences were considered significant when P < 0.05 and with tendency when 0.05 < P < 0.10. The mycotoxins adsorption capacity was 83% ± 1.0 for AC, 76% ± 3.1 for MMT, 62% ± 1.0 for bentonite, 55% ± 1.9 for HSCAS, 52% ± 9.1 for sepiolite, 52% ± 4.3 for clinoptilolite and 44% ± 0.4 for YCW. For mycotoxins, the adsorption of AF was 76% ± 0.6, for FUM was 50% ± 1.8, for OTA was 42% ± 1.0, for ZEA was 48% ± 1.1, for DON was 35% ± 1.6, and for T-2 was 27% ± 2.8. The pH affected the adsorption capacity of YCW with higher adsorption at low pH, and the adsorption of OTA and ZEA, where OTA adsorption tended to be lower at intermediate pH, and adsorption of ZEA tended to be higher at the two-steps pH. The potential adsorption of some essential nutrients, including amino acids and vitamins, should also be considered. Results should be used as a guide in the selection of the appropriate mycotoxin binder based on the predominant mycotoxin in feeds.