bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Torticollis, Facial Asymmetry, Local Pain, and Barré‐Liéou Syndrome in Connection with One‐Sided Ponticulus Posticus: A Case Report and Review of the Literature
Authors: Li Guangzhou , Wang Qing , Wang Gaoju
Published: April 2022

Background

Ponticulus posticus (PP) occurs frequently and may cause symptom series, including vertebrobasilar insufficiency, migraine, hearing loss, and Barré‐Liéou syndrome. However, few studies to date have described surgical treatment of PP. We report a rare case of a patient who suffered from torticollis, facial asymmetry, localized pain, and Barré‐Liéou syndrome in connection with PP. We also review the pertinent literature, focusing on surgical treatment for symptoms due to PP.

Case presentation

A 23‐year‐old male presented with the chief complaint of continuous significant dizziness to the point of losing consciousness while rotating his head to the right. Plain radiographs and computed tomography (CT) scans of the cervical spine showed a С1 anomaly with the formation of complete PP on the left (dominant) side, with acute‐angled, С‐shaped kinking of the vertebral artery. Resection of PP via the posterior midline was performed successfully. The patient had satisfactory postoperative relief from localized pain and Barré‐Liéou syndrome, but there were no obvious changes in the torticollis and facial asymmetry observed during the 3‐month follow‐up period.

Conclusions

This case is a rare presentation of torticollis, facial asymmetry, localized pain, and Barré‐Liéou syndrome in connection with one‐sided complete PP. This tetrad indicates that PP may affect the patient earlier than expected. In such situations, early diagnosis and timely surgical treatment may significantly improve patients' quality of life and avoid the development of torticollis and face asymmetry.
Overexpression of cytoplasmic C4Flaveria bidentis carbonic anhydrase in C3Arabidopsis thaliana increases amino acids, photosynthetic potential, and biomass
Authors: Kandoi Deepika , Ruhil Kamal , Govindjee Govindjee , Tripathy Baishnab C.
Published: April 2022

An important method to improve photosynthesis in C3 crops, such as rice and wheat, is to transfer efficient C4 characters to them. Here, cytosolic carbonic anhydrase (CA: βCA3) of the C4 Flaveria bidentis (Fb) was overexpressed under the control of 35S promoter in Arabidopsis thaliana, a C3 plant, to enhance its photosynthetic efficiency. Overexpression of CA resulted in a better supply of the substrate for the endogenous phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase in the cytosol of the overexpressers, and increased its activity for generating malate that feeds into the tricarboxylic acid cycle. This provided additional carbon skeleton for increased synthesis of amino acids aspartate, asparagine, glutamate, and glutamine. Increased amino acids contributed to higher protein content in the transgenics. Furthermore, expression of FbβCA3 in Arabidopsis led to a better growth due to expression of several genes leading to higher chlorophyll content, electron transport, and photosynthetic carbon assimilation in the transformants. Enhanced CO2 assimilation resulted in increased sugar and starch content, and plant dry weight. In addition, transgenic plants had lower stomatal conductance, reduced transpiration rate, and higher water‐use efficiency. These results, taken together, show that expression of C4 CA in the cytosol of a C3 plant can indeed improve its photosynthetic capacity with enhanced water‐use efficiency.
Outcomes after liver transplantation in MPV17 deficiency (Navajo neurohepatopathy): A single‐center case series
Authors: Huang Alice C. , Ebel Noelle H. , Romero Danielle , Martin Brock , Jhun Iny , Brown Megan , Enns Gregory M. , Esquivel Carlos , Bonham Clark
Published: April 2022

Background

MPV17‐related mitochondrial DNA maintenance defect (MPV17 deficiency) is a rare, autosomal recessive mitochondrial DNA depletion syndrome with a high mortality rate in infancy and early childhood due to progression to liver failure. Liver transplantation for children with MPV17 deficiency has been considered controversial due to uncertainty about the potential progression of extrahepatic manifestations following liver transplantation.

Methods

We describe our institution's experience for two infants diagnosed with infantile MPV17 deficiency who presented in acute on chronic liver failure, but with normal development and normal neurological status who successfully underwent liver transplantation.

Results

Both patients underwent successful liver transplantation with normal development and neurological status at 3 years and 16 months post‐transplant, respectively.

Conclusions

In this rare disease population, we describe two infants with MPV17 deficiency who underwent liver transplantation for acute on chronic liver failure who continue to have normal development, without progression of neurological disease. MPV17 deficiency should not be considered a contraindication to liver transplantation.
Alteration of plant species mixtures by virus infection: Managed pastures the forgotten dimension
Authors: Jones Roger A. C.
Published: April 2022

What occurs when virus infection is spreading within a mixed plant species population? This question is important not only for economically significant, mixed species managed systems but also for environmentally significant mixed wild species populations. It received attention in recently published ecological studies on wild plant species, but these, and recent general pasture research publications, rarely mention earlier virus studies involving mixed species managed pasture. This review seeks to rectify that situation. It describes 10 diverse examples of past research on mixed species managed pasture done over two decades on three continents that demonstrated plant species balance changes arising from virus infection. These examples showed that plants belonging to susceptible pasture cultivars sensitive to systemic virus infection are sufficiently weakened that their ability to withstand competition from nonhost plants of other pasture species, or weed species, was diminished sufficiently to alter the plant species balance. Also, a similar alteration occurred when they were competing with virus‐resistant or virus‐tolerant host plants of the same or other pasture species, or a virus‐resistant weed species. Such competition also diminished seed production, which decreased their ability to regenerate. Notably, as reported subsequently with wild plant species populations, when two different pasture species infected by the same virus compete with each other, growth of the more sensitive species is suppressed. Because managed mixed species pastures constitute an important component of regenerative agriculture, retaining an optimal balance of pasture species and delaying pasture decline from weed invasion both require effective management of virus diseases.
An unusual complication of prolonged tunneled cuffed hemodialysis catheter
Authors: Kang Seok Hui , Kim A. Young , Do Jun Young
Published: April 2022

A 57‐year‐old male patient visited our center owing to abnormal tunneled cuffed hemodialysis catheter (TC‐HDC). He had been undergoing hemodialysis for 44 months. Hemodialysis was performed using a TC‐HDC, which became dilatated between the hub and exit site 19 months after the initiation of hemodialysis. The first TC‐HDC was exchanged using over the guidewire method. The second TC‐HDC was maintained for 25 months after catheter exchange. However, the second TC‐HDC was repeatedly dilatated 25 months later from the first catheter exchange. We re‐exchanged the dilatated TC‐HDC to the new TC‐HDC using over the guidewire method. Our case presented general dilatation of both lumens without leakage. The portion of catheter dilatation was limited between the hub and exit site. The embedded segment of the catheter was preserved owing to encasement of the adjacent tissue. Our case showed that clinicians should inspect both exposed and embedded segments to prevent further catheter injury and exchange the catheter before the development of complications.
Statistical inference for Cox proportional hazards models with a diverging number of covariates
Authors: Xia Lu , Nan Bin , Li Yi
Published: April 2022

For statistical inference on regression models with a diverging number of covariates, the existing literature typically makes sparsity assumptions on the inverse of the Fisher information matrix. Such assumptions, however, are often violated under Cox proportion hazards models, leading to biased estimates with under‐coverage confidence intervals. We propose a modified debiased lasso method, which solves a series of quadratic programming problems to approximate the inverse information matrix without posing sparse matrix assumptions. We establish asymptotic results for the estimated regression coefficients when the dimension of covariates diverges with the sample size. As demonstrated by extensive simulations, our proposed method provides consistent estimates and confidence intervals with nominal coverage probabilities. The utility of the method is further demonstrated by assessing the effects of genetic markers on patients' overall survival with the Boston Lung Cancer Survival Cohort, a large‐scale epidemiology study investigating mechanisms underlying the lung cancer.
What would it take to convince you to donate? A survey study of the relationship between motivators, barriers, and payment for whole blood, plasma, and platelet donation
Authors: France Christopher R. , France Janis L. , Himawan Lina K.
Published: April 2022

Background

With growing discussion about blood donor remuneration, the present study examined the level of payment that may be required to convince individuals to engage in whole blood, plasma, and platelet donations.

Study Design and Methods

Anonymous online surveys were completed by a college sample [n = 490; 76.9% female; Mean Age = 20.3 (SD = 4.9) years; 32.9% whole blood donors] and a ResearchMatch sample [n = 323; 70.6% female; Mean Age = 50.7 (SD = 16.6) years; 82.7% whole blood donors]. Level of payment needed to motivate whole blood, plasma, and platelet donation was examined as a function of donation history, sample, and gender. In addition, path analyses examined associations between donation motivators, barriers, and payment level.

Results

Across all types of donation, history of whole blood donation was related to a greater willingness to donate without payment. At the same time, however, sizeable portions of prior donors indicated that monetary payment would convince them to donate whole blood (24%), plasma (51%), or platelets (57%). Across all types of donation, donation‐related barriers (i.e., anxiety, fear) were indirectly related to higher payment levels via lower self‐efficacy and more negative donation attitudes. Donation‐related motivators (i.e., warm glow, regret, and altruism) were indirectly related to lower payment levels via higher self‐efficacy and more positive donation attitudes.

Conclusion

Despite reporting a strong commitment to nonremunerated blood donation, many respondents with and without a history of blood donation indicated that money would convince them to engage in whole blood, plasma, and platelet donation.
MODELLING OF CAPACITIVE POWER TRANSFER SYSTEM BASED ON CLASS-E LCCL TOPOLOGY
Authors: Yan Qi Cheok , Yusop Yusmarnita , Saat Shakir , Husina Huzaimah , Izadora Izadora
Published: April 2022

Nowadays, capacitive power transfer (CPT) is becoming increasingly popular technology in the wireless charging field due to its better mobility and higher durability. This paper proposed a CPT system by using Class-E inverter. This topology is selected due to its ability to achieve 100% efficiency theoretically. L-match impedance matching circuits are applied at both transmitter and receiver part to allow the load impedance to match with the source impedance to maximize the power transfer. The proposed CPT system is designed and simulated by using Simulink in MATLAB software. Its output performances are analyzed. Besides, the designed CPT system is used to investigate the factors that affect its output performance by varying the load, duty cycle and gap distance between coupling plates. From this work, the proposed CPT system produced up to 97.35% efficiency and output power of 10W.
Big principal series, -adic families and -invariants
Authors: Gehrmann Lennart , Rosso Giovanni
Published: April 2022

In earlier work, the first named author generalized the construction of Darmon-style$\mathcal {L}$-invariants to cuspidal automorphic representations of semisimple groups of higher rank, which are cohomological with respect to the trivial coefficient system and Steinberg at a fixed prime. In this paper, assuming that the Archimedean component of the group has discrete series we show that these automorphic$\mathcal {L}$-invariants can be computed in terms of derivatives of Hecke eigenvalues in$p$-adic families. Our proof is novel even in the case of modular forms, which was established by Bertolini, Darmon and Iovita. The main new technical ingredient is the Koszul resolution of locally analytic principal series representations by Kohlhaase and Schraen. As an application of our results we settle a conjecture of Spieß: we show that automorphic$\mathcal {L}$-invariants of Hilbert modular forms of parallel weight$2$are independent of the sign character used to define them. Moreover, we show that they are invariant under Jacquet–Langlands transfer and, in fact, equal to the Fontaine–Mazur$\mathcal {L}$-invariant of the associated Galois representation. Under mild assumptions, we also prove the equality of automorphic and Fontaine–Mazur$\mathcal {L}$-invariants for representations of definite unitary groups of arbitrary rank. Finally, we study the case of Bianchi modular forms to show how our methods, given precise results on eigenvarieties, can also work in the absence of discrete series representations.
Assessment of Performance Boundaries and Operability of Low Specific Thrust GUHBPR Engines for EIS2025
Authors: Mo Da , Roumeliotis Ioannis , Mourouzidis Christos , Kissoon Sajal , Liu Yixiong
Published: April 2022

This paper aims to develop a robust design process by approaching the performance boundaries and evaluating the operability of the pursued geared turbofan (GTF) engine with low specific thrust for entry-into-service (EIS) 2025. A two-spool direct-drive turbofan (DDTF) engine of EIS 2000 was improved according to aircraft specifications and technology boundaries in 2025. A series of optimized engines with consecutive fan diameters were established to seek the ideal engine by balancing specific fuel consumption (SFC), weight, and mission fuel burn. The fan diameter was proved to be a decisive factor for lowering SFC and energy usage. The cycle design optimization process achieved a thermal efficiency of approximately 52%, and a propulsive efficiency of 79.5%, which is 8.19% increase in propulsive efficiency by enlarging fan diameter from 1.6 m to 1.9 m. Meanwhile, the 1.9 m-fan diameter engine achieved a reduction in SFC and fuel burn of 7.47% and 6.58%, respectively, which offers an overall reduction of 30.82% in block fuel burnt and CO2 emission compared to the DDTF engine. A feasibility check verified the viability of the designed optimum engine in terms of fan tip speed, stage loading, and AN2. Dynamic simulation offered a deep understanding of transient behavior and fundamental mechanism of the GTF engine. An important aspect of this paper is the use of advanced ceramic matrix composite (CMC) materials, which led to an improvement of 4.92% in block fuel burn and 2.93% in engine weight.
Development of a Strain-Based Model to Predict Eviscerated Thoracic Response From Dynamic Individual Rib Tests
Authors: Sreedhar Akshara , Agnew Amanda M. , Bolte John H. , Murach Michelle , Ramachandra Rakshit , Kang Yun-Seok
Published: April 2022

The objective of this study was to develop an analytical model using strain–force relationships from individual rib and eviscerated thorax impacts to predict bony thoracic response. Experimental eviscerated thorax forces were assumed to have two distinct responses: an initial inertial response and subsequently, the main response. A second-order mass-spring-damper model was used to characterize the initial inertial response of eviscerated thorax force using impactor kinematics. For the main response, equivalent strains in rib levels 4–7 were mapped at each time point and a strain-based summed force model was constructed using individual rib tests and the same ribs in the eviscerated thorax test. A piecewise approach was developed to join the two components of the curve and solve for mass, damping, stiffness parameters in the initial response, transition point, and scale factor of the strain-based summed force model. The final piecewise model was compared to the overall experimental eviscerated thorax forces for each postmortem human subjects (PMHS) (n = 5) and resulted in R2 values of 0.87–0.96. A bootstrapping approach was utilized to validate the model. Final model predictions for the validation subjects were compared with the corridors constructed for the eviscerated thorax tests. Biofidelity ranking system score (BRSS) values were approximately 0.71 indicating that this approach can predict eviscerated responses within one standard deviation from the mean response. This model can be expanded to other tissue states by quantifying soft tissue and visceral contributions, therefore successfully establishing a link between individual rib tests and whole thoracic response.
Bubble Behavior and Its Effect on Surface Integrity in Laser-Induced Plasma Micro-Machining Silicon Wafer
Authors: Zhang Zhen , Zhang Yi , Liu Denghua , Zhang Yanming , Zhao Jiaquan , Zhang Guojun
Published: April 2022

Laser-induced plasma micro-machining (LIPMM) process does well in fabricating high-quality surface microstructures of hard and brittle materials. However, the liquid medium is overheated to induce lots of bubbles to defocus the laser beam, reducing machining stability, and explosive behavior of bubbles destroys the surface quality. Thus, the static and dynamical behaviors of bubbles in LIPMM are comprehensively investigated in this article. First, a series of mechanisms including bubble generation and growth, bubble motion and explosion, and the effect of bubbles behavior on machining characteristics were explained. Second, a volume of fluid (VOF) model of bubble motions in laser-induced plasma micro-machining was established to simulate the dynamical behavior of bubbles under different depths of water layer, which reflect the growth of microbubbles, the aggregation of multiple bubbles, and the floating movement of bubbles. Then, a series of experiments were carried out to reveal bubble static behaviors, and further bubble explosion behaviors on surface integrity, surface defects, and hardness were analyzed. The increase of laser frequency leads to the increase of the maximum attached bubble size. Obstructed by bubble dynamical behaviors, a discontinuous section and the unablated area are observed in the microchannel. The elastic modulus and surface hardness of surface impacted by explosion bubbles are reduced. This research contributes to better understanding bubble behavior related to machining performances in LIPMM of single-crystal silicon.
How to Quickly Evaluate the Thermodynamic Performance and Identify the Optimal Heat Source Temperature for Organic Rankine Cycles?
Authors: Yan Dong , Yang Fubin , Zhang Hongguang , Xu Yonghong , Wang Yan , Li Jian , Ge Zhong
Published: April 2022

Organic Rankine cycle (ORC) is a promising technology to convert low- and medium-temperature energy into power. Identifying the optimal working fluids and heat source temperature are always the focuses in the ORC field. This paper presents a new methodology to evaluate the thermodynamic performance of ORC with different working fluids and identify the optimal heat source temperature. Initially, the parameterization model is developed to characterize the working fluids by thermodynamic property parameters including critical temperature (Tc), critical pressure (pc), acentric factor (ω), and ideal gas isobaric heat capacity (cp0). Subsequently, the simultaneous optimization of thermodynamic property parameters and cycle parameters is conducted to obtain the thermodynamic performance limits of simple and regenerative ORCs at six typical geothermal heat source temperatures. By comparing the thermodynamic performance limits of ORC under different heat source temperatures, the optimal heat source temperature is identified. Then, ten commonly used working fluids are selected as reference working fluids, and the thermodynamic property parameters comparisons between reference and ideal working fluids, which can be characterized by the optimized thermodynamic property parameters, are investigated. Finally, multiple linear regression models are developed to evaluate the thermodynamic performance. The numerical differences of thermodynamic property parameters between the ideal reference and reference working fluids are chosen as initial variables, while the thermal efficiency and volumetric power output are used as thermodynamic performance indicators. The results show that the optimal heat source temperature is 250 °C, which is independent of cycle configuration. The thermodynamic performance of ORCs can be evaluated accurately by the multiple linear regression models. The maximum relative error of the multiple linear regression models is 3.02%. Moreover, Tc is the most dominant thermodynamic property parameter.
Modeling Players’ Scanning Activity in Football
Authors: Pokolm Marius , Rein Robert , Müller Daniel , Nopp Stephan , Kirchhain Marie , Aksum Karl Marius , Jordet Geir , Memmert Daniel
Published: April 2022

The purpose of this study was to develop and test models of scanning activity in football. Gibson’s ecological approach of visual perception and exploratory activity provided the theoretical framework for the models. The video-based data analysis consisted of 17 selected matches and 239 players of the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) U17 and U19 European Championship 2018 and the UEFA U17 and U21 European Championship 2019. The results showed a positive relation between scanning frequency and successful passes, as well as changes in body orientation. Scanning frequency was also related to a player’s appearances in national teams and to opponent pressure. Opponent pressure had a large effect on pass result and the player’s body orientation. Previous research on the relation between scanning frequency and performance was extended by several contextual predictors. Future research should focus on gaining a deeper understanding of the relation between scanning frequency and further contextual variables related to scanning.
Descriptive Epidemiology of Injuries in Professional Speedball Athletes
Authors: Meshram Prashant , Yasser Omar , Joseph Jacob , Larijani Kian , Lopes Sauers Andrea , Srikumaran Uma , McFarland Edward G.
Published: April 2022

Context: Speedball is an increasingly popular racquet sport played in more than 25 countries. Our objective was to describe injury incidence and patterns among Egyptian national-level speedball athletes. Design: Descriptive epidemiological. Methods: We conducted a survey of athletes who were registered with the Egyptian Speedball Federation during the 2018–2019 professional season. The survey inquired about injury types and athlete exposures (AEs). The response rate was 63% (100/160 athletes). Respondent ages ranged from 18 to 41 years. We analyzed demographic characteristics; number, location, and mechanism of injuries; treatment; and speedball participation time lost because of injury. Results: Of 100 respondents, 65 reported having sustained at least one injury during the season for a total of 90 injuries and a rate of 4.7 injuries per 1000 AEs (95% confidence interval, 3.7 to 5.7). More injuries occurred during practice (77%) than during competition (23%). Thirty percent of respondents reported having missed a competition because of injury. The most frequent anatomic locations of injury were the shoulder (50%; 2.4/1000 AEs), elbow (14%; 0.68/1000 AEs), and low back (9%; 0.4/1000 AEs). The most frequently cited causes of injury were increased intensity of training (40%) and lack of warming up (18%). Seventy-seven percent of injured respondents underwent treatment by a health care professional, and 9% of these respondents underwent surgery. Conclusion: The shoulder was the most common anatomic location for injuries in speedball athletes. Our results suggest that attention should be directed toward sport-specific injury prevention and intervention strategies because speedball is a fast-growing sport in several countries.
The Effect of the Second Messenger c-di-GMP on Bacterial Chemotaxis in Escherichia coli
Authors: Liu Xiang , Zhang Chi , Zhang Rongjing , Yuan Junhua
Published: April 2022

The ubiquitous bacterial second messenger c-di-GMP was known to regulate chemotaxis in many bacterial species, but its effect on
E. coli
chemotaxis was unclear. Here we studied the effect of elevated c-di-GMP levels on chemotaxis in
E. coli
.
Temperate Conditions Limit Zika Virus Genome Replication
Authors: Tesla Blanka , Powers Jenna S. , Barnes Yvonne , Lakhani Shamil , Acciani Marissa D. , Brindley Melinda A.
Published: April 2022

With half of the human population at risk, arboviral diseases represent a substantial global health burden. Zika virus, previously known to cause sporadic infections in humans, emerged in the Americas in 2015 and quickly spread worldwide.
Evidence for an ACE2-Independent Entry Pathway That Can Protect from Neutralization by an Antibody Used for COVID-19 Therapy
Authors: Hoffmann Markus , Sidarovich Anzhalika , Arora Prerna , Krüger Nadine , Nehlmeier Inga , Kempf Amy , Graichen Luise , Winkler Martin S. , Niemeyer Daniela , Goffinet Christine , Drosten Christian , Schulz Sebastian , Jäck Hans-Martin , Pöhlmann Stefan
Published: April 2022

The interaction of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein (S) with the cellular receptor ACE2 is considered essential for infection and constitutes the key target for antibodies induced upon infection and vaccination. Here, using a surrogate system for viral entry, we provide evidence that a naturally occurring mutation can liberate SARS-CoV-2 from ACE2-dependence and that ACE2-independent entry may protect the virus from neutralization by an antibody used for COVID-19 therapy.
S51 Family Peptidases Provide Resistance to Peptidyl-Nucleotide Antibiotic McC
Authors: Yagmurov Eldar , Gilep Konstantin , Serebryakova Marina , Wolf Yuri I. , Dubiley Svetlana , Severinov Konstantin
Published: April 2022

Here, we identified a natural substrate for a major phylogenetic clade of poorly characterized S51 family proteases from bacteria. We show that these proteins can contribute to a basal level of resistance to an important class of natural antibiotics.
Whole-Genome Sequence of Psychromonas antarctica Strain DSM 10704
Authors: Chandaluri Shanmukh , Thomas Jonathan C.
Published: April 2022

Here, we report the first draft genome sequence of the psychrophilic species
Psychromonas antarctica
. The genome of strain DSM 10704 was sequenced using an Illumina MiSeq instrument; it was assembled into 300 contigs and totaled 3,916,717 bp, with 95× coverage.
Complete Genome Sequence of Stenotrophomonas maltophilia Podophage Pepon
Authors: Lee Jin , Lo Johnathan , Clark James , Le Tram , Burrowes Ben , Liu Mei
Published: April 2022

Stenotrophomonas maltophilia
is an opportunistic bacterium that is commonly associated with respiratory infections in immunocompromised patients, including cystic fibrosis patients. In this report, we introduce the complete genome sequence of
S. maltophilia
podophage Pepon, which is a T7-like phage closely related to the previously reported phage Ponderosa.
Organized Violence and Organized Abandonment Beyond the Human: the Case of Brucellosis among Palestinians in Israel
Authors: Tanous Osama , Eghbariah Rabea
Published: April 2022

The importance of this article is the novelty in combining public health, colonial studies, and legal research to understand the ecology of human brucellosis. This approach allows us to move from a “snap-shot” reading of diseases and cultural practices toward a reading of bacteria, animals, and humans within their political and historical context.
Fecal Microbiota Transplantation Exerts Neuroprotective Effects in a Mouse Spinal Cord Injury Model by Modulating the Microenvironment at the Lesion Site
Authors: Jing Yingli , Bai Fan , Wang Limiao , Yang Degang , Yan Yitong , Wang Qiuying , Zhu Yanbing , Yu Yan , Chen Zhiguo
Published: April 2022

FMT treatment shows a profound impact on the microenvironment that involves microcirculation, blood-spinal cord-barrier, activation of immune cells, and secretion of neurotrophic factors. Analysis of metabolic profiles reveals around 22 differentially detected metabolites between the groups, and β-alanine was further chosen for functional validation experiments.
Stepwise Expansion of Antimicrobial Stewardship Programs and Its Impact on Antibiotic Use and Resistance Rates at a Tertiary Care Hospital in Korea
Authors: Shin Dong Hoon , Kim Hyung-Sook , Heo Eunjeong , Shin Myoung-jin , Kim Nak-Hyun , Lee Hyunju , Park Jeong Su , Park Kyoung Un , Jung Jongtak , Song Kyoung-Ho , Kang Minsun , Jung Jaehun , Kim Eu Suk , Kim Hong Bin
Published: April 2022

Antimicrobial stewardship programs aimed to optimize antibiotic use are difficult to implement in limited-resource settings. Our study indicates that stepwise implementation of core antimicrobial stewardship program elements was effective in reducing antibiotic use in a tertiary care hospital despite the lack of sufficient manpower.
Synergistic Antimicrobial Effect of Colistin in Combination with Econazole against Multidrug-Resistant Acinetobacter baumannii and Its Persisters
Authors: Xie Miaomiao , Chen Kaichao , Chan Edward Wai-Chi , Chen Sheng
Published: April 2022

Findings described in this study constitute concrete evidence that it is possible to significantly enhance the antimicrobial activity of colistin by using an antifungal drug, econazole, as a colistin adjuvant. We showed that this drug combination can kill not only multidrug-resistant
A. baumannii
but also the tolerant subpopulation of such strains known as persisters, which may cause chronic and recurrent infections in clinical settings.
BiallelicCFAP61variants cause male infertility in humans and mice with severe oligoasthenoteratozoospermia
Authors: Hu Tongyao , Meng Lanlan , Tan Chen , Luo Chen , He Wen-Bin , Tu Chaofeng , Zhang Huan , Du Juan , Nie Hongchuan , Lu Guang-Xiu , Lin Ge , Tan Yue-Qiu
Published: April 2022

Background

The genetic causes for most male infertility due to severe oligoasthenoteratozoospermia (OAT) remain unclear.

Objective

To identify the genetic cause of male infertility characterised by OAT.

Methods

Variant screening was performed by whole-exome sequencing from 325 infertile patients with OAT and 392 fertile individuals. In silico and in vitro analyses were performed to evaluate the impacts of candidate disease-causing variants. A knockout mouse model was generated to confirm the candidate disease-causing gene, and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) was used to evaluate the efficiency of clinical treatment.

Results

We identified biallelicCFAP61variants (NM_015585.4: c.1654C>T (p.R552C) and c.2911G>A (p.D971N), c.144–2A>G and c.1666G>A (p.G556R)) in two (0.62%) of the 325 OAT-affected men. In silico bioinformatics analysis predicted that all four variants were deleterious, and in vitro functional analysis confirmed the deleterious effects of the mutants. Notably, H&E staining and electron microscopy analyses of the spermatozoa revealed multiple morphological abnormalities of sperm flagella, the absence of central pair microtubules and mitochondrial sheath malformation in sperm flagella from man withCFAP61variants. Further immunofluorescence assays revealed markedly reduced CFAP61 staining in the sperm flagella. In addition,Cfap61-deficient mice showed the OAT phenotype, suggesting that loss of function ofCFAP61was the cause of OAT. Two individuals accepted ICSI therapy using their own ejaculated sperm, and one of them succeeded in fathering a healthy baby.

Conclusions

Our findings indicate that CFAP61 is essential for spermatogenesis and that biallelicCFAP61variants lead to male infertility in humans and mice with OAT.
Magnetic phases of soils developed from igneous rocks in a climate gradient transept, Brazilian northern Amazonia
Authors: Silva Aduan L. , Araújo Roberto C. , Melo Valdinar F. , Sergio Cássio S. , Schaefer Carlos Ernesto G.R.
Published: April 2022

Knowledge on magnetic phases and properties of magnetic minerals has wide applications in soils and in agriculture, by the possibility, and perspectives in application of rock magnetic methods in soil science and agriculture; however, their role in highly weathered soils is still unclear. We characterized the mineralogy of soils from Brazilian northern Amazonia, with emphasis on magnetic soils. Samples with varying weathering degrees were collected from four different localities, and their magnetic phases (MPs) were separated and subjected to the following analysis: X-ray fluorescence (XRF), X-ray diffractometry (XRD), and measurements of field and temperature magnetization. The chemical composition by XRF analyses revealed the predominance of Fe, Si, Ti, and Mn. The XRD analysis, using the Rietveld method, revealed the presence of hematite, goethite, maghemite, and magnetite as magnetic phases: The highest concentration of MPs was detected in an Fe-rich Typic Eutrudept (54% magnetite). Magnetization measurements of the magnetic phases showed the presence of magnetite, associated with hematite and goethite, with magnetization values and transition temperature characteristics of these minerals. The magnetization varied according to soil type, indicating different weathering processes. Soil magnetism varied as a function of parent igneous rocks, in the following order: diabase > basalt > granite. The results indicate that parent material and mineral weathering influence soil magnetism in a tropical climate.
Using improved operator product expansion in Borel–Laplace sum rules with ALEPH $$\tau $$ decay data, and determination of pQCD coupling
Authors: Ayala César , Cvetič Gorazd , Teca Diego
Published: April 2022

We use improved truncated operator product expansion (OPE) for the Adler function, involving two types of terms with dimension $$D=6$$

D
=
6

, in the double-pinched Borel–Laplace sum rules and finite energy sum rules for the V + A channel strangeless semihadronic $$\tau $$
τ
decays. The generation of the higher order perturbative QCD terms of the $$D=0$$

D
=
0

part of the Adler function is carried out using a renormalon-motivated ansatz incorporating the leading UV renormalon and the first two leading IR renormalons. The trunacted $$D=0$$

D
=
0

part of the sum rules is evaluated by two variants of the fixed-order perturbation theory (FO), by principal value of the Borel resummation (PV), and by contour-improved perturbation theory (CI). For the experimental V + A channel spectral function we use the ALEPH $$\tau $$
τ
-decay data. We point out that the truncated FO and PV evaluation methods account correctly for the renormalon structure of the sum rules, while this is not the case for the truncated CI evaluation. We extract the value of the $${\overline{\mathrm{MS}}}$$

MS
¯

coupling $$\alpha _s(m_{\tau }^2) = 0.3235^{+0.0138}_{-0.0126}$$

α
s

(

m

τ

2

)

=
0
.

3235

-
0.0126

+
0.0138

[$$\alpha _s(M_Z^2)=0.1191 \pm 0.0016$$

α
s

(

M
Z
2

)

=
0.1191
±
0.0016

] for the average of the two FO methods and the PV method, which we consider as our main result. If we included in the average also CI extraction, the value would be $$\alpha _s(m_{\tau }^2) = 0.3299^{+0.0232}_{-0.0225}$$

α
s

(

m

τ

2

)

=
0
.

3299

-
0.0225

+
0.0232

[$$\alpha _s(M_Z^2)=0.1199^{+0.0026}_{-0.0028}$$

α
s

(

M
Z
2

)

=
0
.

1199

-
0.0028

+
0.0026

]. This work is an extension and improvement of our previous work (Ayala et al. in Eur Phys J. C 81(10): 930, 2021, arXiv:2105.00356 [hep-ph]) where we used for the truncated OPE a more naive (and widely used) form and where the extracted values for $$\alpha _s(M_Z^2)$$

α
s

(

M
Z
2

)

were somewhat lower.
Ultraviolet dimensional reduction of spacetime with zero-point length
Authors: Mondal Vikramaditya
Published: April 2022

Among the many disparate approaches towards quantum gravity, the reduction of spacetime dimension in the ultraviolet regime is expected to be a common thread. The spectral dimension of spacetime is defined in the context of diffusion processes on a manifold. We show that a spacetime with zero-point length has spectral dimension 3.5 when the characteristic diffusion time has the size of the zero-point length. The spectral dimension (negatively) diverges for an even shorter diffusion time, thus preventing reliable physical interpretation in the deep ultraviolet regime. The thermodynamic dimension is defined by realizing that the free energy $$F(\beta )$$

F
(
β
)

of a free field or ideal gas at finite temperature ($$\beta ^{-1}$$

β

-
1

) in D dimensions scales as $$F\sim \beta ^{-D}$$

F
∼

β

-
D

. Using Schwinger’s proper time formalism, we show that for spacetime incorporating a zero-point length, the thermodynamic dimension reduces to 1.5 near the Planck scale and then to 1 in the deep ultraviolet regime. This signifies a “phase-transition” in which a (massless) bosonic ideal gas in four dimensions essentially behaves like radiation ($$w=1/3$$

w
=
1
/
3

) at low energies, whereas near the Planck scale, it behaves equivalently to having an equation of state parameter $$w=2$$

w
=
2

. Furthermore, dimension can be deduced from the potential $$V_D(r)$$

V
D

(
r
)

of interaction between two point-like sources separated at a distance r as its scaling depends on D. Comparing with the scaling behavior of conventional Yukawa-like potentials at short distances, we show that the ultraviolet dimension appears to be either 2 or 3 depending on the use of massive or massless force carriers as probes.
Positive definiteness and infinite divisibility of certain functions of hyperbolic cosine function
Authors: Kosaki Hideki
Published: April 2022

Positive definiteness and infinite divisibility of certain functions of [Formula: see text] (explained in the introduction) are studied. Criterion of positive definiteness is useful to study certain norm comparison results for operator means.
AN INVESTIGATION OF ULTRASONIC VIBRATIONS EFFECT ON SURFACE ROUGHNESS IN ALUMINUM 7075 AND AISI 1045 CARBON STEEL DURING END MILLING AND SIDE MILLING OPERATION
Authors: FARDNAM A. POURDADASH , SHALVANDI M. , HADDAD F.
Published: April 2022

Milling is one of the discontinuous machining methods which makes tools contact with workpiece continuously along with the regular change of shear force. Providing strong materials for fabricating the required pieces challenge machining and producing complex shapes. Therefore, operations intended for reducing machining forces as well as increasing the final surface smoothness are remarkably important of which using ultrasonic vibrations is one method. This study centers on ultrasonic vibration-assisted milling operation. The required ultrasonic vibrations are applied using a transducer to an AISI 1045 steel workpiece and a 7075 aluminum. Also, by using an arithmetic modal analysis simulation on the related workpiece and fixture, the designing process was performed in a way to equate the natural frequency of the whole set to that of the ultrasonic transducer. The resonant frequency obtained for the steel and aluminum workpieces was 19840 and 19757[Formula: see text]Hz, respectively, and the milling operation was done by applying ultrasonic vibrations to the workpiece. The results obtained from surface roughness measurement indicated that an increase in the ultrasonic intensity from 15[Formula: see text]W/cm2 to 22.5[Formula: see text]W/cm2 in the aluminum workpiece resulted in improved surface roughness ([Formula: see text] by 70%. In addition, an increase in the ultrasonic intensity from 15[Formula: see text]W/cm2 to 22.5[Formula: see text]W/cm2 improved the surface smoothness ([Formula: see text] by 72%. Moreover, concerning the steel workpiece while the tool is perpendicular to the direction ahead of the workpiece, it was clear that applying 22.5[Formula: see text]W/cm2 ultrasonic vibrations to the end-milled surfaces resulted in an approximate increase in the average and maximum surface smoothness by 53% and 45%, respectively. Furthermore, applying 30[Formula: see text]W/cm2 ultrasonic vibrations to face-milled surfaces, either perpendicular to or parallel to the tool, led to an approximate increase in the average and maximum surface smoothness by 35% and 25%, respectively.
Additively Manufactured Lattice Truss Sandwich Cylinder and Free Vibration Behaviors
Authors: Lin Yiling , Cao Xinye , Ji Bin , Li Ming , An Xiyue , Fan Hualin
Published: April 2022

In aerospace engineering, it is attractive to combine additive manufacturing (AM) with lightweight design to reduce the weight of primary load-bearing structures. In this paper, a double-layer pyramidal lattice truss sandwich cylinder was designed and printed by selective laser melting (SLM) method, which has advantages in integrally manufacturing end frames and bolt holes. With diameter of 0.493 m, this cylinder is one of the lattice truss sandwich structures with the largest diameter at present. Free vibration testing was carried out to reveal the free vibration responses of the cylinder. The first-order vibration turns from a circle to an oval in the plane of the cross section. The fundamental frequency is 133.9 Hz. An equivalent shell free vibration theory was proposed and finite element models (FEMs) based on discrete model and equivalent shell model were applied to predict the natural frequencies and mode shapes of the cylinder. Advantages of the AM method in making light and stiff large-sized aerospace structures are confirmed through this research.
Bounded generation for congruence subgroups of Sp4(R)
Authors: Trost Alexander A.
Published: April 2022

For rings of algebraic integers [Formula: see text] in a number field [Formula: see text] called [Formula: see text]-pseudo-good, this paper describes a bounded generation result concerning the minimal number of conjugates of suitable elementary matrices (or more precisely root elements) in [Formula: see text] needed to write any element of the [Formula: see text]-principal congruence subgroup of [Formula: see text] as their product. Using this bounded generation result, we give explicit bounds for the diameter of word norms on [Formula: see text] given by conjugacy classes thereby continuing an investigation into such diameters by Kedra et al. Additionally, we present some examples of [Formula: see text]-pseudo-good rings and classify normally generating subsets of [Formula: see text] for [Formula: see text] the ring of algebraic integers in any number field.
On UQ rings
Authors: Jangra Kanchan , Udar Dinesh
Published: April 2022

In this paper, we introduce [Formula: see text] rings. A ring [Formula: see text] is called [Formula: see text] if every non-unit element of [Formula: see text] can be represented as a product of a unit and a quasiregular element. We provide various properties of [Formula: see text] rings along with its characterizations. We give a new characterization of [Formula: see text]-good rings, and it turns out that [Formula: see text]-good rings are precisely the rings in which every element is a product of a unit and a quasiregular element. We discuss various extensions of [Formula: see text] rings such as Morita contexts, generalized matrix rings, formal matrix rings, group rings, etc.
Dielectric-Metamaterial Reflectors for Effective Absorption of Light in Solar Cells
Authors: Banu M. Zaheetha , Fathima M. Ismail , Mercy P. Arockia Michael , Wilson K. S. Joseph
Published: April 2022

Recent designs of dielectric-metamaterial composites have some advantages in improving the coupling effect of light in the visible region. The refractive index of the designed metal mesh or fishnet metamaterial structure consists of metals such as Ag, Cu and Al with MgF2 dielectric material as the substrate which is calculated theoretically using Bruggeman equation. It has been established recently that the dielectric-metamaterial reflector coating (DMMRC) produces outstanding results. It drastically increases the internal reflection and enhances absorption in the visible region. DMMRC is designed by two slabs with exclusive thickness and contrary refractive indices. One is dielectric material and the other is negative refractive index material (NIM). This theoretical model can be treated as a photonic crystal and hence novel light trapping mechanism can be revealed. The transmission spectrum is analyzed using the transverse matrix method (TMM). This system may also be analyzed for various incident angles and for various substrates which are used to improve the efficiency of the solar cell.
Interplay Between Competition Pinch Effect and Repulsion Force in Carbon Nanotubes
Authors: Mansouri M. , Dizaji H. Rezagholipour , Saeidi M. R. , Mirzaheydari A. , Vaezzadeh Majid
Published: April 2022

One of the important phenomena influencing the resistivity behavior of nanotubes based on the change of their radius is a physical effect called “pinch effect”. In this paper, according to the experimental results, the electrical resistivity behavior of carbon nanotubes is modeled as a function of the radius in the radius range of 3–10[Formula: see text]nm. The pinch effect is not observed for weak current, but if the radius of carbon nanotube is very small, this effect will be considerable and affects carbon nanotube resistivity. The deviations observed in [Formula: see text]–[Formula: see text] (resistivity as a function of nanotube radius) diagrams for individual carbon nanotube are justified with different parameters such as pinch effect phenomenon. The results show an acceptable theoretical model for the behavior of electrical resistivity relative to radius reduction. The theory diagram of the electrical resistivity behavior of carbon nanotubes in terms of radius reduction is predicted in very small radii. These results are consistent with the experimental results. It is consistent and generalizable.
Green Synthesis and Characterization of Gold Nanoparticles (Au-NPs) using Stem Extract of Euphorbia neriifolia L. and Evaluation of Their Antibacterial and Antifungal Potential
Authors: ul Haq Tauheed , Ullah Rehman
Published: April 2022

Nanotechnology is an emerging science in the world and attracted the interest of researchers due to their vast biological application. In this study, we Synthesized the gold nanoparticles (Au-NPs) using the stem extract of Euphorbia neriifolia L. The reduction of gold salt with the extract of E. neriifolia stem resulted in the formation of Au-NPs. The pathway is based on the reduction of AuCl4 by the extract of E. neriifolia stem. This method is simple, efficient, economic and nontoxic. Gold nanoparticles were characterized by UV-Vis spectroscopy, FT-IR Spectroscopy, X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) and Scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The UV-Vis spectra gave surface plasmon resonance (SPR) at 520–570 for gold nanoparticles. FT-IR spectrum indicated the presence of different functional groups present in the biomolecules capping the nanoparticles. XRD showed face-centered cubic structure of gold nanocrystals with an average size of 22[Formula: see text]nm. Gold nanoparticles were mostly spherical in shape and 23–25[Formula: see text]nm in size, confirmed through SEM. Further, the synthesized Au-NPs were examined for their antibacterial and antifungal activity which showed better antibacterial and antifungal potential compared to the stem extract.