bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Total nodule number is an independent prognostic factor in resected stage III non-small cell lung cancer: a deep learning powered study
Authors: Chen Xiuyuan , Qi Qingyi , Sun Zewen , Wang Dawei , Sun Jinlong , Tan Weixiong , Liu Xianping , Liu Taorui , Hong Nan , Yang Fan
Published: March 2021

Almost every lung cancer patient has multiple pulmonary nodules while the significance of nodule multiplicity in locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remained unclear. This study explores the relationship between deep learning detected total nodule number (TNN) and survival outcomes in patients with surgical resected stage I-III NSCLC. Patients who underwent surgical resection for stage I-III NSCLC with accessible preoperative chest CT scan from 2005 to 2018 were identified from our database. Deep learning-based AI algorithms using convolutional neural networks (CNN) was applied for pulmonary nodule (PN) detection and classification. Of the 2126 patients, a total number of 33410 PNs were detected by AI. Median TNN detected per person was 12 (IQR 7-20). AI-detected TNN (analyzed as continuous variable) was independent prognostic factor for both RFS (HR 1.012, 95% CI 1.002-1.022, p = 0.021) and OS (HR 1.013, 95% CI 1.002-1.025, p = 0.021) in multivariate analyses of stage III cohort; while it was not significantly associated with survival in stage I and II cohorts. In terms of nodule categories, the numbers of upper-lobe nodule, same-side nodule, other-side nodule, solid nodule, and even solid nodule at small size (≤ 6mm) were independent prognostic factors; while the numbers of middle/lower-lobe nodule, same-lobe nodule, subsolid nodule, calcific nodule and perifissural nodule were not associated with survival. In survival tree analysis, rather than using traditional IIIA and IIIB classification, the model grouped cases by AI-detected TNN (lower vs. higher: log-rank p < 0.001), which showed superior discrimination of survival in stage III cohort. In conclusion, AI-detected TNN was significantly associated with survival in patients with surgical resected stage III NSCLC. Lower TNN detected on preoperative CT scan indicated better prognosis in patients who underwent complete surgical resection.
N6-methyladenosine RNA modification regulates strawberry fruit ripening in an ABA-dependent manner
Authors: Zhou Leilei , Tang Renkun , Li Xiaojing , Tian Shiping , Li Bingbing , Qin Guozheng
Published: March 2021

Background

Epigenetic marks, such as DNA methylation, play pivotal roles in regulating ripening of both climacteric and non-climacteric fruits. However, it remains unclear whether mRNA m6A methylation, the epitranscriptome, is functionally conserved for ripening control.

Results

Here we show that m6A methylation, which has been revealed to regulate ripening of tomato, a typical climacteric fruit, displays a dramatic change at ripening onset of strawberry, a classical non-climacteric fruit. The m6A modification in the coding sequence (CDS) regions appears to be ripening-specific and tends to stabilize the mRNAs, whereas m6A around the stop codons and within the 3’ untranslated regions is generally negatively correlated with the abundance of the mRNAs. We identified thousands of transcripts with m6A hypermethylation in the CDS regions, including those ofNCED5,ABAR, andAREB1in the abscisic acid (ABA) biosynthesis and signaling pathway. We demonstrated that the methyltransferases MTA and MTB are indispensable for normal ripening of strawberry fruit, and MTA-mediated m6A modification promotes mRNA stability ofNCED5andAREB1, while facilitates translation ofABAR.

Conclusion

Our findings uncover that m6A methylation regulates ripening of non-climacteric strawberry fruit by targeting ABA pathway, which is distinct from that in climacteric tomato fruit.
The memory B cell response to influenza vaccination is impaired in older persons
Authors: Carr Edward J , Wheatley Adam K , Hill Danika L , Linterman Michelle A
Published: March 2021

Influenza imparts an age-related increase in mortality and morbidity. The most effective countermeasure is vaccination; however, vaccines offer modest protection in older adults. To investigate how ageing impacts the memory B cell response we tracked haemagglutinin specific B cells by indexed flow sorting and single cell RNA sequencing in twenty healthy adults administered the trivalent influenza vaccine. We found age-related skewing in the memory B cell compartment six weeks after vaccination, with younger adults developing haemagglutinin specific memory B cells with anFCRL5+“atypical” phenotype, showing evidence of somatic hypermutation and positive selection, which happened to a lesser extent in older persons. We confirmed the germinal center ancestry of theseFCRL5+“atypical” memory B cells using scRNASeq from fine needle aspirates of influenza responding human lymph nodes and paired blood samples. Together, this study shows that the aged human germinal center reaction and memory B cell response following vaccination is defective.

Immune responses to vaccination wane with age. Using single cell RNA sequencing of influenza vaccine specific B cells, this study delineates changes in B cell memory generation, antibody mutation and their subsequent selection in older persons.
Mature parvalbumin interneuron function in prefrontal cortex requires activity during a postnatal sensitive period
Authors: Canetta Sarah E. , Holt Emma S. , Benoit Laura J. , Teboul Eric , Sahyoun Gabriella M. , Ogden R. Todd , Harris Alexander Z. , Kellendonk Christoph
Published: March 2021

In their seminal findings, Hubel and Wiesel identified sensitive periods in which experience can exert lasting effects on adult visual cortical functioning and behavior via transient changes in neuronal activity during development. Whether comparable sensitive periods exist for non-sensory cortices, such as the prefrontal cortex, in which alterations in activity determine adult circuit function and behavior is still an active area of research. Here, we demonstrate that inhibition of prefrontal parvalbumin-expressing interneurons during the juvenile and adolescent period, results inpersistentimpairments in adult prefrontal circuit connectivity,in vivonetwork function and behavioral flexibility that can be reversed by targeted activation of parvalbumin interneurons in adulthood. In contrast, transient suppression of parvalbumin interneuron activity in adulthood produces no lasting effects. These findings identify an activity-dependent sensitive period for prefrontal circuit maturation and highlight how abnormal parvalbumin interneuron activity during development alters adult prefrontal circuit function and cognitive behavior.
Acyloxyacyl Hydrolase Modulates the Gut Microbiome Through Transcriptional Regulators of Corticotropin-Releasing Factor
Authors: Rahman-Enyart Afrida , Aguiniga Lizath M. , Yang Wenbin , Yaggie Ryan E. , White Bryan , Welge Michael , Auvil Loretta , Berry Matthew , Bushell Colleen , Schaeffer Anthony J. , Klumpp David J.
Published: March 2021

Gut microbiome-host interactions play a crucial role in health and disease. Altered gut microbiome composition has been observed in patients with interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS), a disorder characterized by pelvic pain, voiding dysfunction, and often co-morbid with anxiety/depression. We recently showed that mice deficient for acyloxyacyl hydrolase (AOAH) mimic pelvic pain symptoms and comorbidities of IC/BPS and also exhibit gut dysbiosis. In addition, we previously identified that the conditional knockout (cKO) of two transcriptional regulators of the gene encoding corticotropin-releasing factor,Crf, that are downstream of AOAH, aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ(PPARγ), alleviate anxiety/depressive and voiding phenotypes of AOAH-deficient mice. Here, we examined the effects of AhR and PPARγin CRF-expressing cells on the dysbiosis of AOAH-deficiency. AOAH-deficient mice with cKO ofPPARγandAhR/PPARγexhibited reduced pelvic allodynia compared to AOAH-deficient mice, suggesting a role for PPARγin regulating pelvic pain. 16S rRNA sequencing of fecal stool from female AOAH-deficient mice with a cKO of AhR and/or PPARγin CRF-expressing cells identified altered gut microbiota distinct from AOAH-deficient stool. The cKO of AhR and PPARγshowed improved cecum barrier function in females compared to AOAH-deficient mice, whereas males were primarily affected by PPARγ, suggesting sex differences in gut responses. Pair-wise comparison of microbiota also suggested sex differences in response to AOAH-deficiency and conditional knockout ofAhRandPPARγ. Our findings suggest that the dysbiosis and leaky gut of AOAH deficiency is mediated by AhR and PPARγin CRF-expressing cells and reveal a novel mechanism and therapeutic targets for pelvic pain.
GroEL/S helps purge deleterious mutations and reduce genetic diversity during adaptive protein evolution
Authors: Iyengar Bharat Ravi , Wagner Andreas
Published: March 2021

Chaperones are proteins that help other proteins fold. They also affect the adaptive evolution of their client proteins by buffering deleterious mutations and increasing the genetic diversity of evolving proteins. We study how the bacterial chaperone GroE (GroEL + GroES) affects the evolution of green fluorescent protein (GFP). To this end we subjected GFP to multiple rounds of mutation and selection for its color phenotype in four replicateE. colipopulations, and studied its evolutionary dynamics through high-throughput sequencing and mutant engineering. We evolved GFP both under stabilizing selection for its ancestral (green) phenotype, and to directional selection for a new (cyan) phenotype,. We did so both under low and high expression of the chaperone GroE. In contrast to prevailing wisdom, we observe that GroE does not just buffer but also helps purge deleterious mutations from evolving populations. In doing so, GroE helps reduce the genetic diversity of evolving populations. In addition, it causes phenotypic heterogeneity in mutants with the same genotype, potentiating their effect in some cells, and buffering it in others. Our observations show that chaperones can affect adaptive evolution through more than one mechanism.

Highlights

GroE reduces genetic diversity

GroE potentiates the effect of deleterious mutations

GroE intensifies purifying selection and leads to higher activity of client proteins
Executives with customer experience and firm performance in the B2B context
Authors: Feng Cong , Sun Jiong , Fang Yiwei , Hasan Iftekhar
Published: March 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to examine the presence of an executive with customer experience (ECE) in a supplier firm’s top management team (TMT). The role of ECE presence remains understudied in the marketing literature. This study attempts to examine the relationship between ECE presence and firm performance.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper draws on the resource-based view of the firm and adopts a panel firm fixed effects estimator to test the proposed hypotheses. The empirical analysis uses a sample of 1,974 firm-year observations with 489 unique supplier firms. Selection-induced endogeneity is mitigated through the Heckman procedure.

Findings

ECE presence improves firm performance. Additionally, firms benefit less from ECE presence if a board member with customer experience (BCE) is also present, if a chief executive officer commands a higher pay slice (compared to other executives), and if a TMT is more functionally diversified. However, ECE presence is particularly beneficial if the overall economy is in contraction. Comparing the functional positions held by ECEs reveals that ECE in the marketing function (as a chief marketing officer) offers the largest benefit to an average supplier firm. ECE presence is also associated with other firm outcomes (e.g. bankruptcy odds, innovation and customer orientation).

Research limitations/implications

This study makes four contributions to the literature. First, this research contributes to existing studies that investigate marketing expertise in the upper corporate pyramid. Second, the study contributes to the burgeoning body of work across business disciplines that attempt to understand the impact of CxOs on firm performance. Third, the study contributes to the vast literature on customer orientation indirectly. Finally, this paper contributes to the broader literature studying the influence of board and TMT characteristics.

Practical implications

The findings are of particular importance to business-to-business firms. This paper shows that suppliers can benefit significantly from managers with customer experience. Four contingency factors moderate the relationship between ECE presence and firm performance. Among the various functional positions held by an ECE, the findings suggest that hiring an ECE for the marketing functional area is the most beneficial. ECE stands out as a better option for a company than BCE to improve firm performance. ECE presence is also associated with bankruptcy odds, innovation and customer orientation.

Originality/value

This paper provides the first empirical evidence regarding how ECE affects firm performance and also extends prior research on the value of human capital in TMT.
Analyzing the root of regional innovation performance in the European territory
Authors: Lopes João M. , Silveira Paulo , Farinha Luís , Oliveira Márcio , Oliveira José
Published: March 2021

Purpose

Regional innovation performance is an important indicator for decision-making regarding the implementation of policies intended for regional development. However, regional development policies have led economies to very different competitive positions in matters of innovation. To address these issues, this paper aims to identify the variables that most contribute to the positioning of economies in terms of performance innovation in Europe.

Design/methodology/approach

The data for this study were collected at the regional innovation scoreboard. This paper uses a quantitative methodology through a multivariate statistical technique (discriminant analysis).

Findings

The results suggest that specific innovation strategies explain the competitive positioning of economies within each group of countries. It was possible to demonstrate that economies with leader classification show greater comparative robustness in the variables “Small and medium enterprise (SMEs) with product or process innovations,” “SMEs with product or process innovations,” “research and development (R&D) expenditure public sector” and “population with tertiary education,” constituting an effective instrument of innovation policy. Furthermore, it was possible to show that the economies belonging to the modest group do not have a competitive advantage in any of the variables under study, thus providing a reflection opportunity for policymakers at this level.

Originality/value

The present research identifies which variables are most relevant to the classification considering the regional innovation performance in leader, strong, moderate and modest. Several suggestions were given to companies, policymakers and higher education institutions in the sense that the regions where they operate can improve their innovative performance, which may help to a change in their current classification.
Effect of corneal incision features on anterior and posterior corneal astigmatism and higher‐order aberrations after cataract surgery
Authors: He Qin , Huang Jiani , He Xiaoying , Yu Wangshu , Yap Maurice , Han Wei
Published: March 2021

Purpose

To evaluate the influence of 2.2 mm clear corneal incision (CCI) features in surgically induced astigmatism (SIA) and higher‐order aberrations (HOAs) after cataract surgery.

Methods

Right eyes of 92 subjects receiving 2.2 mm incision cataract surgery were involved. A total of 38 eyes were categorized as the intact incision group, and 54 eyes were the defective incision group. Pre‐ and postoperative (1 month and 6 months) corneal astigmatism and HOAs on anterior and posterior corneal surfaces, corneal volume, and corneal thickness (CT) were measured using Pentacam. The CCI features including incision length (IL), incision angles, distance from incision to central cornea (Dis‐En/Ex), and CT at incision site were quantified using AS‐OCT.

Results

The defective incision group showed shorter IL and larger incision angles [false discovery rate (FDR) – p < 0.05]. Changes in CT at incision site were more pronounced for the defective incision group (FDR – p < 0.05). Some SIA parameters were related to the certain specific CCI features, especially IL (FDR – p < 0.05). Both groups exhibited significant increased 6 mm posterior corneal tHOAs at 1 month (Bonferroni corrected – p < 0.01) and the defective incision group showed increased 6 mm posterior tHOAs at 6 months (Bonferroni corrected – p = 0.023). There were characteristic correlations between Zernike terms and CCI features including IL, CT, Dis‐En/Ex, and incision angles at 1 month, especially over 6 mm zone.

Conclusion

The CCI deformities can affect corneal recovery and induce more HOAs at 1 month postoperatively. Such effects became minor, but could persist until 6 months. The IL combined with Angle‐En/Ex was important factor influencing CCI integrity and corneal optical quality.
Evaluation of the performances of a single‐use duodenoscope: Prospective multi‐center national study
Authors: Napoléon Bertrand , Gonzalez Jean‐Michel , Grandval Philippe , Lisotti Andrea , Laquière Arthur E. , Boustière Christian , Barthet Marc , Prat Frédéric , Ponchon Thierry , Donatelli Gianfranco , Vanbiervliet Geoffroy
Published: March 2021

Objectives

A single‐use duodenoscope (SUD) has been recently developed to overcome issues with endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)‐related cross‐infections. The aim was to evaluate SUD safety and performance in a prospective multi‐centre study.

Methods

All consecutive patients undergoing ERCP in six French centers were prospectively enrolled. All procedures were performed with the SUD; in case of ERCP failure, operators switched to a reusable duodenoscope. Study outcomes were the successful completion of the procedure with SUD, safety and operators’ satisfaction based on a VAS 0–10 and on 22 qualitative items. The study protocol was approved by French authorities and registered (ID‐RCB: 2020‐A00346‐33). External companies collected the database and performed statistical analysis.

Results

Sixty patients (34 females, median age 65.5 years old) were enrolled. Main indications were bile duct stones (41.7%) and malignant biliary obstruction (26.7%). Most ERCP were considered ASGE grade 2 (58.3%) or 3 (35.0%). Fifty‐seven (95.0%) procedures were completed using the SUD. Failures were unrelated to SUD (one duodenal stricture, one ampullary infiltration, and one tight biliary stricture) and could not be completed with reusable duodenoscopes. Median operators’ satisfaction was 9 (7–9). Qualitative assessments were considered clinically satisfactory in a median of 100% of items and comparable to a reusable duodenoscope in 97.9% of items. Three patients (5%) reported an adverse event. None was SUD‐related.

Conclusions

The use of a SUD allows ERCP to be performed with an optimal successful rate. Our data show that SUD could be used for several ERCP indications and levels of complexity.
Suez: A hollow canal in need of peopling. Currents and stoppages in the historiography, 1859–1956
Authors: Carminati Lucia
Published: March 2021

Since its excavation took off in 1859 in Ottoman‐Egyptian territory, the Suez Canal has conveyed much more than armies or cargoes. This essay dives into the currents and stoppages in the historiography of the Suez Canal and its brand‐new cities between 1859, when the project began, and 1956, when the Egyptian government nationalized this waterway. Writings on the 19th and early 20th‐century history of the Suez Canal have followed a course of their own, quite divergent from mainstream historical scholarship on modern Egypt. The Suez Canal has funneled political aspirations ranging from the colonial to the semicolonial and the nationalist, ideas on its built environment, utopias about a cosmopolitan society, and experiences of actual social dystopias. This essay suggests that scholars need to pay attention to labor and migration in order to people the history of the Suez Canal and its surrounding region, for this waterway not to remain the hollow ditch it has been so far in most of its pre‐1956 historiography.
Cyanophora paradoxa mitochondrial tRNAs play a double game
Authors: Salinas‐Giegé Thalia , Ubrig Elodie , Drouard Laurence
Published: March 2021

Present‐day mitochondria derive from a single endosymbiosis of an α‐proteobacterium into a proto‐eukaryotic cell. Since this monophyletic event, mitochondria have evolved considerably, and unique traits have been independently acquired in the different eukaryotic kingdoms. Mitochondrial genome expression and RNA metabolism have diverged greatly. Here, Cyanophora paradoxa, a freshwater alga considered as a living fossil among photosynthetic organisms, represents an exciting model for studying the evolution of mitochondrial gene expression. As expected, fully mature tRNAs are released from primary transcripts to function in mitochondrial translation. We also show that these tRNAs take part in an mRNA processing punctuation mechanism in a non‐conventional manner, leading to mRNA–tRNA hybrids with a CCA triplet at their 3′‐extremities. In this case, tRNAs are probably used as stabilizing structures impeding the degradation of mRNA by exonucleases. From our data we propose that the present‐day tRNA‐like elements (t‐elements) found at the 3′‐terminals of mitochondrial mRNAs in land plants originate from true tRNAs like those observed in the mitochondria of this basal photosynthetic glaucophyte.
A Genetic Algorithm for Scheduling and Decomposition of Multidisciplinary Design Problems
Authors: Altus Stephen S. , Kroo Ilan M. , Gage Peter J.
Published: March 2021

Complex engineering studies typically involve hundreds of analysis routines and thousands of variables. The sequence of operations used to evaluate a design strongly affects the speed of each analysis cycle. This influence is particularly important when numerical optimization is used, because convergence generally requires many iterations. Moreover, it is common for disciplinary teams to work simultaneously on different aspects of a complex design. This practice requires decomposition of the analysis into subtasks, and the efficiency of the design process critically depends on the quality of the decomposition achieved. This paper describes the development of software to plan multidisciplinary design studies. A genetic algorithm is used, both to arrange analysis subroutines for efficient execution, and to decompose the task into subproblems. The new planning tool is compared with an existing heuristic method. It produces superior results when the same merit function is used, and it can readily address a wider range of planning objectives.
Flame: A Manufacturability Evaluator for Use at Different Levels of Abstraction
Authors: Peplinski Jesse D. , Koch Patrick N. , Allen Janet K. , Mistree Farrokh
Published: March 2021

How can design for manufacture be implemented very early on a design time-line, for example, when only the function is known? Our response is embodied in an approach to design for manufacture at the function level of abstraction based on the notion of design using available assets. In this paper we focus on the solution scheme and computer implementation of our approach to design for manufacture. Our solution scheme takes the form of a Heuristic Selection Decision Support Problem, and our computer tool is called FLAME: the Function Level of Abstraction Manufacturability Evaluator. We use this tool to identify, evaluate and select potential manufacturing alternatives for products modeled at the function level of abstraction. We illustrate some of its uses by exploring the selection of manufacturing processes and materials for a component from a design of an aircraft evacuation system, although our focus is on the method rather than on the results per se.
Parametric Vibrations in Discs: Point-Wise and Distributed Loads, Including Rotating Friction
Authors: Ouyang H. , Chan S. N. , Mottershead J. E. , Friswell M. I. , Cartmell M. P.
Published: March 2021

This paper is concerned with the parametric resonances in a stationary annular disc when excited by a rotating load system. Two forms of the load system are considered. In the first, the load consists of a discrete transverse mass-spring-damper system and a frictional follower load. Secondly, a distributed mass-spring system (without friction) is studied. In both cases the transverse load is rotated at a uniform speed around the disc. Equations of motion are developed for the two cases, and the results of a multiple scales analysis are presented. The disc is found to exhibit many parametric resonances at subcritical speeds when friction is present.
Recovering the Timing of Impulsive Forces From Noisy Vibration Transients
Authors: McCarthy Daniel J. , Lyon Richard H.
Published: March 2021

A transient vibration signal can be processed to extract information about impulsive forces within a machine, by removing the effects of dispersion and reverberation. These source waveform signatures, like the timing and strength of valve impact forces within a reciprocating air compressor, can then be used to diagnose machine faults. Stable and causal inverse filters are guaranteed through the use of minimum-phase processing. Unfortunately, the timing of the impulsive source waveform is lost in this manner. A technique to accurately recover the timing is highly desirable.

The time of occurrence of the force input can be robustly obtained from the frequency-averaged group delays of the transfer function and vibration response once the nonminimum-phase behavior of the signals, except that due to pure delay, has been removed. This is best done with the allpass components of the signals because, in addition to the nonminimum-phase inherently present in a structure due to reverberation, additional nonminimum-phase zeros can be artificially introduced by data truncation. Since only the phase is of interest, the nonminimum-phase behavior can be removed by electronically damping the signals with exponential windows, effectively de-reverberating them.

In some instances the timing of the impulsive source events that we aim to recover will change as faults develop; also, in any machine there will be some normal random variation in the timing of internal events like valve impacts. The correct timing can be determined in the presence of this inherent variability through the use of a sliding exponential window and statistical curve fitting.
Do Intervention Studies to Promote Physical Activity and Reduce Sedentary Behavior in Children and Adolescents Take Sex/Gender Into Account? A Systematic Review
Authors: Schlund Annegret , Reimers Anne K. , Bucksch Jens , Brindley Catherina , Schulze Carolin , Puil Lorri , Coen Stephanie E. , Phillips Susan P. , Knapp Guido , Demetriou Yolanda
Published: March 2021

Background: Physical inactivity is often reported in youth and differs among boys and girls. The aim of this study is to assess sex/gender considerations in intervention studies promoting physical activity and reducing sedentary behavior in youth using a sex/gender checklist. Methods: A systematic search was conducted in August 2018 to identify all relevant controlled trials. Studies screened must have reported a quantified measure of physical activity and/or sedentary behavior, and identified participants by sex/gender at baseline. For evaluation of the sex/gender consideration, the authors used a sex/gender checklist developed by expert consensus. Results: The authors reviewed sex/gender considerations in all aspects of intervention development, implementation, and evaluation in 217 studies. Sex/gender aspects were only rudimentarily taken into account, most frequently during statistical analyses, such as stratification or interaction analysis. Conclusions: Sex/gender effects are not sufficiently reported. To develop guidelines that are more inclusive of all girls and boys, future interventions need to document sex/gender differences and similarities, and explore whether sex/gender influences different phases of intervention programs. The newly developed sex/gender checklist can hereby be used as a tool and guidance to adequately consider sex/gender in the several steps of intervention planning, implementation, and evaluation.
Data in paper about Swedish schoolchildren come under fire
Authors: Vogel Gretchen
Published: March 2021

Critics question
NEJM
letter that downplayed the risks of keeping schools open with few precautions.
Endless cleanup
Authors: Normile Dennis
Published: March 2021

Dismantling the Fukushima nuclear plant will take at least another 30 years.
Science at Sundance 2021
Son of Monarchs
,
Alexis Gambis
, director, Imaginal Disc, 2020, 97 minutes.
A Glitch in the Matrix
,
Rodney Ascher, director
, Campfire, 2021, 108 minutes.
Taming the Garden
,
Salomé Jashi, director
, Syndicado Film Sales, 2021, 91 minutes.
All Light, Everywhere
,
Theo Anthony, director
, MEMORY, 2021, 105 minutes.
Bring Your Own Brigade
,
Lucy Walker, director
, Good 'n Proper, 2021, 127 minutes.
Luzzu
,
Alex Camilleri, director
, Memento Films International, 2021, 94 minutes.
In the Earth
,
Ben Wheatley, director
, Neon, 2020, 107 minutes.
Fire in the Mountains
,
Ajitpal Singh, director
, Jar Pictures, 2020, 83 minutes.
In the Same Breath
,
Nanfu Wang, director
, Stay At Home Production Inc., 2021, 95 minutes.
Authors: Imara Nia , Thompson Valerie , Chandra Amit , Gil Mike , Brown Lindsey
Published: March 2021

Like most events that have taken place since March of last year, the Sundance Film Festival—normally hosted in the cozy ski town of Park City, Utah—was held virtually in 2021. But what it lacked in celebrity sightings and snowy ambiance was more than made up for in the festival's assortment of provocative and timely offerings—from gripping accounts of the COVID-19 pandemic and California's wildfire crisis to mind-bending meditations on the limits of perception and the nature of reality. Read on to see what our reviewers thought of nine of the films that featured strong science and technology themes.
Calcium-Regulated Protein CarP Responds to Multiple Host Signals and Mediates Regulation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Virulence by Calcium
Authors: King Michelle , Kubo Aya , Kafer Leah , Braga Reygan , McLeod Daniel , Khanam Sharmily , Conway Tyrrell , Patrauchan Marianna A.
Published: March 2021

P. aeruginosa
is a human pathogen causing life-threatening infections. It is particularly notorious for its ability to adapt to diverse environments within the host.
Helicobacter pylori Antimicrobial Resistance and Gene Variants in High- and Low-Gastric-Cancer-Risk Populations
Authors: Mannion Anthony , Dzink-Fox JoAnn , Shen Zeli , Piazuelo M. Blanca , Wilson Keith T. , Correa Pelayo , Peek Richard M. , Camargo M. Constanza , Fox James G.
Published: March 2021

Colombia, South America has one of the world’s highest burdens of
Helicobacter pylori
infection and gastric cancer. While multidrug antibiotic regimens can effectively eradicate
H. pylori
, treatment efficacy is being jeopardized by the emergence of antibiotic-resistant
H. pylori
strains.
Comparative Genomics Reveals Prophylactic and Catabolic Capabilities of
Actinobacteria
within the Fungus-Farming Termite Symbiosis
Authors: Murphy Robert , Benndorf René , de Beer Z. Wilhelm , Vollmers John , Kaster Anne-Kristin , Beemelmanns Christine , Poulsen Michael
Published: March 2021

Actinobacteria
have repeatedly been isolated in fungus-farming termites, and our genome analyses provide insights into the potential roles they may serve in defense and for plant biomass breakdown. These insights, combined with their relatively higher abundances in fungus combs than in termite gut, suggest that they are more likely to play roles in fungus combs than in termite guts.
The Mechanism of the Solute-Free Water Reabsorption Increase in the Rat Kidney by Oxytocin Saluresis
Authors: Natochin Yu. V. , Shakhmatova E. I. , Bogolepova A. E.
Published: March 2021

We found an experimental solution to the paradox when the reabsorption of solute-free water increases with a simultaneous increase in diuresis and saluresis in the rat kidney under the oxytocin action. Injection of oxytocin to rats (0.25 nmol/100 g of body weight) increases diuresis from 0.16 ± 0.03 to 0.26 ± 0.02 mL/h, the excretion of solutes from 134 ± 13.7 to 300 ± 16.3 μOsm/h, and the reabsorption of solute-free water, which correlates with the renal excretion of oxytocin (p < 0.001). The mechanism of the effect is that oxytocin decreases the reabsorption of ultrafiltrate in the proximal tubule (the clearance of lithium increases) and increases the fluid flow through the distal segment of the nephron. In vivarium rats, urine osmolality (1010 ± 137 mOsm/kg H2O) and the concentration of vasopressin are high, this causes an increase in the reabsorption of solute-free water. Thus, oxytocin increases saluresis, which, against the background of a high level of endogenous vasopressin, increases the water reabsorption in the collecting ducts.
Formation of a Unique Population of CD8+ T Lymphocytes after Adoptive Transfer of Syngeneic Splenocytes to Mice with Lymphopenia
Authors: Silaeva Yu. Yu. , Kalinina A. A. , Khromykh L. M. , Deykin A. V. , Kazansky D. B.
Published: March 2021

Under conditions of lymphopenia, T lymphocytes proliferate and acquire a surface activation phenotype, which in many respects is similar to the phenotype of true memory T cells. We investigated the phenotypic features of the CD8+ T-cell population formed from donor lymphocytes after adoptive transfer of syngeneic splenocytes to sublethally irradiated mice. This population expresses markers CD44, CD122, CD5, CD49d and the chemokine receptor CXCR3. Thus, for the first time, the phenomenon of the formation of a population of T cells with signs of suppressive CD8+ T lymphocytes and true memory cells was demonstrated.
Unusual presentation of a man with recurrent chylous ascites
Authors: Joshi Alka N , Valliani Talal , Przemioslo Robert
Published: March 2021

We describe an interesting case of a 77-year-old man presenting with refractory chylous ascites of unknown aetiology. After extensive diagnostic workup, unifying diagnosis of an intriguing condition of yellow nail syndrome was reached. This case is unusual as it describes a rare cause of chylous ascites in this age group. Despite refractory ascites and the need for recurrent paracentesis, this patient has a good prognosis with no significant impact on overall mortality.
Herlyn-Werner-Wunderlich syndrome: clinical considerations and management
Authors: Horst Wagner , de Melo Rafael Cardoso , Theilacker Giulia , Schmitt Betina
Published: March 2021

Herlyn-Werner-Wunderlich syndrome (HWWS), defined by the triad of uterus didelphys, obstructed hemivagina and ipsilateral renal agenesis, is a rare Mullerian duct malformation, usually diagnosed after menarche, when symptoms related to haematocolpos arise. We report a case of a 14-year-old patient who presented to the emergency department complaining of proctalgia and pelvic pain treated in our medical centre. Ultrasound and abdomino-pelvic MRI imaging studies confirmed the diagnosis. Treatment was surgical incision of the vaginal septum. At the follow-up visit, after the initial procedure, excess vaginal tissue was excised using a hysteroscopic approach during diagnostic vaginoscopy. Vaginoscopy-assisted treatment of the patient proved to be a safe and effective minimally invasive treatment modality that resulted in symptomatic relief and fertility preservation. In conclusion, although premenarche is asymptomatic in the vast majority of cases, HWWS would be optimally diagnosed in childhood to avoid acute late complications, although it is usually first diagnosed after menarche as a result of haematocolpos. Gynaecologists should consider the syndrome in the presence of pelvic mass, renal agenesis, menstrual changes and cyclic pelvic pain.
Deep vein thrombosis on the fourth day of risperidone therapy
Authors: Konnakkaparambil Ramakrishnan Kavitha , George Mithila
Published: March 2021

Deep vein thrombosis has been recognised as a complication of antipsychotic treatment and is reported to be more common with atypical antipsychotics. Risperidone is a second-generation atypical antipsychotic and there have been case reports of risperidone-associated deep vein thrombosis, most of them reporting the complication from 2 weeks to a few months of initiation of therapy. Here, we are reporting a case of deep vein thrombosis in a male patient in his early forties with paranoid schizophrenia, which presented on the fourth day of starting risperidone therapy. This case is being reported to highlight the fact that deep vein thrombosis can occur as early as fourth day of initiation of risperidone therapy, that too at a low dose (2 mg/day). The case also emphasises the importance of monitoring these patients for this rare but potentially serious adverse effect from the first day itself after initiation of a new antipsychotic.
Systemic reaction during intradermal skin tests with beta-lactams
Authors: Carvalho Joana , Oliveira Georgeta
Published: March 2021

Beta-lactam (BL) antibiotics are the most frequent cause of drug hypersensitivity in children, inducing both immediate and non-immediate reactions. Here we report a case of a 4-year-old child with a disseminated maculopapular exanthema 7 days after the first dose of amoxicillin–clavulanate, referred to our paediatric allergy department. Skin prick tests were negative. Intradermal tests were performed and, after 10 hours, indurated wheals larger than 10×10 mm with progressive erythema and disseminated maculopapular eruption were developed, related to amoxicillin and amoxicillin–clavulanate. Systemic reactions to BL skin tests are rarely reported and the majority are immediate reactions. This case illustrates a rare example of a non-immediate systemic reaction to intradermal tests, underlying the importance of skin testing before drug provocation tests in cases of moderate to severe non-immediate reactions.
Influences of Different Drop Height Training on Lower Extremity Kinematics and Stiffness during Repetitive Drop Jump
Authors: Wang I-Lin , Chen Yi-Ming , Zhang Ke-Ke , Li Yu-Ge , Su Yu , Wu Chou , Ho Chun-Sheng
Published: March 2021

Drop jump (DJ) is often used as a plyometric exercise to improve jumping performance. Training from improper drop heights and for improper durations lead to unfavorable biomechanical changes in the lower extremities when landing, which result in reduced training effects and even lower extremity injuries. Purpose. To study the effects of repeated DJ training at drop heights of 30 cm, 40 cm, and 50 cm (drop jump height (DJH) 30, DJH40, and DJH50) on lower extremity kinematics and kinetics. The 1st, 50th, 100th, 150th, and 200th DJs (DJ1, DJs50, DJs100, DJs150, and DJs200) were recorded by using a BTS motion capture system and force platform. The MATLAB software was used to compare the kinematic and stiffness data of DJ1, DJs50, DJs100, DJs150, and DJs200 with one-way ANOVA repeated measure. If there were significant differences, the LSD method was used for post hoc comparisons. Methods. Twenty healthy male Division III athlete volunteers were selected as subjects, and 200 drop jumps (DJs200) were performed from DJH30, DJH40, and DJH50. Results. The jumping height (JH), contact time (CT), and GRF increased with drop height, and the stiffness of the legs and ankle at DJH30 was higher than that at DJH40 and DJH50 (

p
<
0.05

). Conclusion. Within DJs200, training at DJH50 yield the high impact easily leads to lower extremity injury; training at DJH30 can increase the stiffnesses of the legs and ankle joints, thus effectively utilizing the SSC benefits to store and release elastic energy, reducing the risk of lower extremity musculoskeletal injury. Therefore, coaches can choose different drop heights and training quantities for each person to better prevent lower extremity injury.
Evaluation of Corrosion Protection of Self-Healing Coatings Containing Tung and Copaiba Oil Microcapsules
Authors: Paolini Nicolas Augusto , Cordeiro Neto Alexandre Gonçalves , Pellanda Alana Cristine , Carvalho Jorge Agne Roani de , Barros Soares Bryan de , Floriano João Batista , Berton Marcos Antonio Coelho , Vijayan P Poornima , Thomas Sabu
Published: March 2021

The objective of the current research is to evaluate and compare the corrosion protection efficiency of the microcapsules containing tung oil and copaiba oil using stereoscopic images, electrochemical tests, open circuit potential (OCP), and polarization curves (Tafel analysis). Carbon steel plates were painted with three different coating systems: (a) a coating system with an automotive primer which served as the control, (b) a coating system with microcapsules containing 3% tung oil, and (c) a coating system with microcapsules containing 3% copaiba oil. A crosscut was performed using a scalpel on the coating surfaces to promote the release of the oils, and after drying, electrochemical cells were assembled using electrolyte 3% NaCl. From OCP analyses, it was verified that the coating system containing tung oil loaded microcapsules obtained more positive final values than the control system and the coating system containing copaiba oil loaded microcapsules. The stereoscope images corroborate the OCP results, and the polarization curve analyses also indicated that the microcapsules containing tung oil offer better corrosion protection than the other systems studied.
Factors Associated with Survival and Survival without Major Morbidity in Very Preterm Infants in Two Neonatal Networks: SEN1500 and NEOCOSUR
Authors: García-Muñoz Rodrigo Fermin , Fabres Jorge , Tapia Jose L. , D’Apremont Ivonne , San Feliciano Laura , Zozaya Nieto Carlos , Figueras-Aloy Josep , Mariani Gonzalo , Musante Gabriel , Silvera Fernando , Zegarra Jaime , Vento Máximo
Published: March 2021

Introduction: Very low-birth weight (VLBW) infants represent a high-risk population for morbidity and mortality in the neonatal period. Variability in practices and outcomes between centers has been acknowledged. Multicenter benchmarking studies are useful to detect areas of improvement and constitute an interesting research tool. Objectives: The aim of the study was to determine the perinatal variables and interventions associated with survival and survival without major morbidity in VLBW infants and compare the performance of 2 large networks. Methods: This is a prospective study analyzing data collected in 2 databases, the Spanish SEN1500 and the South American NEOCOSUR networks, from January 2013 to December 2016. Inborn patients, from 240 to 306 weeks of gestational age (GA) were included. Hazard ratios for survival and survival without major morbidity until the first hospital discharge or transfer to another facility were studied by using Cox proportional hazards regression. Results: A total of 10,565 patients, 6,120 (57.9%) from SEN1500 and 4,445 (42.1%) from NEOCOSUR, respectively, were included. In addition to GA, birth weight, small for gestational age (SGA), female sex, and multiple gestation, less invasive resuscitation, and the network of origin were significant independent factors influencing survival (aHR [SEN1500 vs. NEOCOSUR]: 1.20 [95% CI: 1.15–1.26] and survival without major morbidity: 1.34 [95% CI: 1.26–1.43]). Great variability in outcomes between centers was also found within each network. Conclusions: After adjusting for covariates, GA, birth weight, SGA, female sex, multiple gestation, less invasive resuscitation, and the network of origin showed an independent effect on outcomes. Determining the causes of these differences deserves further study.
Analysis on three phase cascaded H-bridge multilevel inverter based on sinusoidal and third harmonic injected pulse width modulation via level shifted and phase shifted modulation technique
Authors: A. Subki A. Shamsul Rahimi , Manap Zahariah , Tumari Mohd Zaidi , Jidin Aiman Zakwan , Saat Shahrizal , Abidin Amar Faiz Zainal , Saealal Muhammad Salihin
Published: March 2021

This work proposes a comparative analysis of sinusoidal and third harmonic injected reference signal modulation accompany with level-shifted PWM technique named as phase disposition (LSPD), phase opposition disposition (LSPOD), and alternate phase opposition disposition (LSAPOD) and phase-shifted PWM technique. Switching pulses from both reference signal and PWM technique have been fed into three phase eleven level cascaded H-bridge multilevel inverter (CHBMLI) fed on a resistive-inductive load with the modulation depth (MD) set to varied from 80% to 100%. For voltage source inverter, total harmonic distortion (THD) content is critical and must be within the allowable range. To prove the feasibility of the reference signal with carrier signal schemes, the entire simulation of the modulation techniques is established and conducted via the Simulink environment. According to the analyzed result, the performance is acceptable in terms of %THDV and %THDI values. Simulation analysis also indicates, at full modulation depth, due to higher fundamental output voltage component produces via the THIPWM modulation technique compared to the SPWM technique, this causes higher %THDV value.
Dynamic simulation of three-phase nine-level multilevel inverter with switching angles optimized using nature-inspired algorithm
Authors: Chew W. T. , Yong W. V. , Ong J. S. L. , Leong J. H. , Sutikno T.
Published: March 2021

This paper recommends the use of grasshopper optimization algorithm (GOA), a nature-inspired optimization algorithm, for optimizing switching-angle applied to cascaded H-bridge multilevel inverter (CHBMLI). Switching angles are selected based on the minimum value of the objective function formulated using the concept of selective harmonic minimization pulse width modulation (SHMPWM) technique. MATLAB/Simulink-PSIM dynamic co-simulation conducted on a 3-phase 9-level CHBMLI shows that the CHBMLI controlled using GOA derived switching-angle is able to respond to varying modulation index demand and synthesize an AC staircase output voltage waveform with the desired fundamental harmonic and minimized selected low-order harmonics. Compared to Newton Raphson (NR) technique, GOA is able to find optimum switching-angle solutions over a wider modulation index range. Compared to Genetic Algorithm (GA), GOA is able to find global minima with higher probability. The simulation results validate the performance of GOA for switching-angle calculation based on the concept of SHMPWM.
Synthesis of SMC algorithms applied to wind generator
Authors: Abdelli Houaria , Mezouar Abdelkader , Bendjebbar Mokhtar , Belgacem Kheira
Published: March 2021

The use of the classical (SMC) applied to control of stator’s powers of DFIG, gives the problem of chattering, therefore to avoid this phenomenon a robust algorithm (STSMC) is applied. This paper presents a comparison of conventional SMC with the proposed strategy of STSMC algorithm. The results are obtained using MATLAB and demonstrate stability and robustness of this algorithm.