bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Homage to Schoenberg and Bartók: Symmetry, Transpositional Combination and Octatonicism in the First Movement of Roberto Gerhard's Quartetto No. 3
Authors: Alonso Tomás Diego
Published: December 2020

The first movement of Roberto Gerhard's Quartetto No. 3 (ca. 1927), his final assignment under Schoenberg, represents a direct homage to the teacher. Gerhard finished the movement with a clearly identifiable allusion to the minor and major chords that close Schoenberg's String Quartet in F♯ minor No. 2, Op. 10 (1907–8). Furthermore, he employed the four‐note set resulting from the fusion of these chords (pc set 4–17) as the movement's generative idea, expanding its main structural properties, namely inversional symmetry and transpositional combination, to inform the movement's large‐scale sonata layout and a number of configurations of key structural importance throughout the movement. In the development, he elaborated Schoenberg's materials by implementing a technique used extensively by Bartók at the time, namely the combination of dyads with one or more transpositions of themselves for generating larger (often octatonic) structures. Gerhard's compositional method in the movement shows not only the decisive impact of Schoenberg's principles but also his indebtedness to the music of Bartók, to whom the composition seems to pay tribute as equally as to Schoenberg. This article utilises these perspectives to offer an analysis of the first movement of Gerhard's Quartetto No. 3/Concertino.
ESNM/ANMS consensus paper: Diagnosis and management of refractory gastro‐esophageal reflux disease
Authors: Zerbib Frank , Bredenoord Albert J. , Fass Ronnie , Kahrilas Peter J. , Roman Sabine , Savarino Edoardo , Sifrim Daniel , Vaezi Michael , Yadlapati Rena , Gyawali C.Prakash
Published: December 2020

Up to 40% of patients with symptoms suspicious of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) do not respond completely to proton pump inhibitor (PPI) therapy. The term “refractory GERD” has been used loosely in the literature. A distinction should be made between refractory symptoms (ie, symptoms may or may not be GERD‐related), refractory GERD symptoms (ie, persisting symptoms in patients with proven GERD, regardless of relationship to ongoing reflux), and refractory GERD (ie, objective evidence of GERD despite adequate medical management). The present ESNM/ANMS consensus paper proposes use the term “refractory GERD symptoms” only in patients with persisting symptoms and previously proven GERD by either endoscopy or esophageal pH monitoring. Even in this context, symptoms may or may not be reflux related. Objective evaluation, including endoscopy and esophageal physiologic testing, is requisite to provide insights into mechanisms of symptom generation and evidence of true refractory GERD. Some patients may have true ongoing refractory acid or weakly acidic reflux despite PPIs, while others have no evidence of ongoing reflux, and yet others have functional esophageal disorders (overlapping with proven GERD confirmed off therapy). In this context, attention should also be paid to supragastric belching and rumination syndrome, which may be important contributors to refractory symptoms.
Associations between the built environment and dietary intake, physical activity, and obesity: A scoping review of reviews
Authors: Dixon Brittney N. , Ugwoaba Umelo A. , Brockmann Andrea N. , Ross Kathryn M.
Published: December 2020

There exists a large body of literature examining the association between built environment factors and dietary intake, physical activity, and weight status; however, synthesis of this literature has been limited. To address this gap, we conducted a scoping review of reviews and identified 74 reviews and meta‐analyses that investigated the association between built environment factors and dietary intake, physical activity, and/or weight status. Results across reviews were mixed, with heterogeneous effects demonstrated in terms of strength and statistical significance; however, preliminary support was identified for several built environment factors. For example, quality of dietary intake appeared to be associated with the availability of grocery stores, higher levels of physical activity appeared to be most consistently associated with greater walkability, and lower weight status was associated with greater diversity in land‐use mix. Overall, reviews reported substantial concern regarding methodological limitations and poor quality of existing studies. Future research should focus on improving study quality (e.g., using longitudinal methods, including natural experiments, and newer mobile sensing technologies) and consensus should be drawn regarding how to define and measure both built environment factors and weight‐related outcomes.
What assessments are currently used to investigate and diagnose cerebral visual impairment (CVI) in children? A systematic review
Authors: McConnell Emma L , Saunders Kathryn J , Little Julie‐Anne
Published: December 2020

Purpose

Cerebral visual impairment (CVI) is the leading cause of childhood visual impairment in the developed world. Despite this, there are no agreed clinical guidelines for the investigation and diagnosis of the condition. Before development of such guidelines can commence, it is important to recognise which approaches are currently employed. This systematic review evaluated the literature to identify which methods of assessment are currently used to investigate and diagnose childhood CVI.

Methods

Medline, Embase, CINAHL, Scopus and the Cochrane Library databases were systematically searched in January 2020 using defined search terms. Articles were included if they: (i) were research papers, conference abstracts or research protocols published in peer‐reviewed scientific journals, or relevant textbooks; (ii) included a clinical investigation of CVI in children; (iii) provided an explanation or criteria to diagnose CVI and (iv) were specifically investigating cerebral/cortical visual impairment. Methods used to a) assess and b) diagnose CVI were extracted from included articles. ‘Assessment scores’ were assigned for each method employed by researchers to investigate and diagnose CVI to quantify and compare approaches between articles. A quality grading was also applied to each article.

Results

Of 6454 identified articles, 45 met the inclusion criteria. From these, 10 categories of assessment utilised within included articles were identified: (1) Medical history, (2) Vision assessment/ophthalmologic examination, (3) Neuroimaging, (4) Visual behaviour and direct observation, (5) Structured history‐taking, (6) Visual perception tests, (7) Ocular movement and posture assessment, (8) Intelligence/IQ assessment, (9) Clinical electrophysiology and (10) Neurodevelopmental tests. In terms of diagnostic criteria, the most commonly reported approach was one of exclusion, i.e., CVI was diagnosed when visual dysfunction could not be attributed to abnormalities detected in the anterior visual pathway.

Conclusion

There is a lack of common practice in the approaches used by clinicians to investigate and diagnose CVI in children. At present, a ‘diagnosis of exclusion’ remains the most common means to diagnose CVI. Development of clinical guidelines for assessment and diagnosis are necessary to ensure consistency in the diagnosis of CVI and the timely implementation of support to alleviate the impact of CVI on the child’s daily living.
Late mandibular angle fracture after third molar removal: A case report and critical review
Authors: Aires Carolina Chaves Gama , de Figueiredo Eugênia Leal , Neres Bruno José Carvalho Macêdo , Santos Neto Fernando Ferreira dos , de Holanda Vasconcellos Ricardo José , Cavalcanti do Egito Vasconcelos Belmiro
Published: December 2020

Introduction

Late mandibular angle fracture after surgical removal of a lower third molar is a major complication. The aetiology of this complication is believed to be multifactorial and might be associated with age, gender, angulation and the level of third molar impaction. The aims of this study were to report the case of a mandibular angle fracture that occurred 21 days after third molar removal and to perform a critical review of the subject.

Case report

A 44‐year‐old male patient reported a distinct cracking noise in his right mandibular angle during masticatory movements, 21 days after surgery to remove his right lower third molar. Based on the clinical and imaging findings, surgical reduction was performed under general anaesthesia and the fracture was properly fixed with two 2.0‐mm plate and screw systems installed at fractured site using transbuccal instrumentation.

Discussion

Multiple factors are related to mandibular angle fractures resulting from the removal of third molars, such as age, gender, state of dentition, parafunctional habits, angulation and level of impaction of the third molar, relative depth and volume of the tooth in bone and local or systemic disease, which may compromise bone strength and the surgical technique.

Conclusions

The decision to remove lower third molars must be made taking into account all risks associated with the procedure, especially mandibular angle fractures. An accurate diagnosis and optimal timing of this procedure are necessary to minimize the occurrence of these complications.
Therapeutic Effects Comparison and Revision Case Analysis of Unicompartmental Knee Arthroplasty and Open Wedge High Tibial Osteotomy in Treating Medial Knee Osteoarthritis in Patients Under 60 years: A 2–6‐year Follow‐up Study
Authors: Ziqi Zhang , Yufeng Mei , Lei Zhang , Chunsheng Wang , Pei Yang , Kunzheng Wang
Published: December 2020

Objective

To evaluate the therapeutic effects and revision cases of unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA) and open wedge high tibial osteotomy (OWHTO) in treating medial knee osteoarthritis (MKOA) in patients under 60 years.

Methods

The present retrospective study included a total of 192 patients who were diagnosed with MKOA and treated by UKA or OWHTO in the Second Affiliated hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University and Xi'an Honghui Hospital between December 2012 and December 2016. Among these patients, 83 were treated by UKA (17 men and 66 women, aged 53.7 ± 5.2 years) and 109 were treated by OWHTO (23 men and 86 women, aged 51.8 ± 6.9 years). Patients were followed up at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months for the first year postoperation, and every 6 months from the second year postoperation. Basic data, perioperative data, hospital for special surgery (HSS) score, visual analogue pain score (VAS), low‐impact recovery, and revision cases of the patients were evaluated.

Results

The average follow‐up periods of the UKA group and the OWHTO group were 39.3 ± 11.2 months and 40.2 ± 13.5 months, respectively. No significant difference was found in the basic data of the two groups (P ≥ 0.05). The operative time, incision length, and dominant blood loss of the UKA group was less than those of OWHTO group by 19.6%, 10.7%, and 35.1%, respectively, and the differences were significant (P < 0.05), while no significant difference was found in postoperative in‐bed time (P ≥ 0.05). The HSS scores of the UKA group at 1 and 3 months postoperation were higher than those of the OWHTO group by 5.1% and 3.9% (P < 0.05), while no differences were found from 6 months postoperation (P ≥ 0.05). The VAS score of the UKA group 1 month postoperation was lower than that of the OWHTO group by 12.2% (P < 0.05), while no differences were found from 3 months postoperation (P ≥ 0.05). One year after the operation, most patients in both groups could not achieve ideal recovery in low‐impact sports, and no significant differences were found (P < 0.05). The sport in which most patients could not achieve ideal recovery was mountain climbing. No revision cases occurred in the OWHTO group, while two revisions occurred in the UKA group.

Conclusion

Candidates for UKA should be chosen carefully and the current indications and contraindications raised by Goodfellow should be modified.
Ventricular fibrillation due to coronary spasm after pepper spray
Authors: Lechner Adam , Alderson Tyler , Gautam Sandeep , Flaker Greg
Published: December 2020

Pepper spray is used as a crowd control agent and for self‐defense. It has been thought to be safe; however, 27 persons have died in police custody after exposure to pepper spray. We report on a 21‐year‐old man, with no underlying heart disease and a normal ECG and echocardiogram in the past, who was pepper sprayed and developed ventricular fibrillation. An admission ECG showed marked ST segment elevation but subsequent coronary arteriography was normal. We hypothesize that pepper spray triggered coronary spasm, resulting in ventricular fibrillation. This report adds to a body of information that pepper spray is dangerous.
Update on food allergy
Authors: Peters Rachel L. , Krawiec Marta , Koplin Jennifer J. , Santos Alexandra F.
Published: December 2020

Food allergy is a major public health issue with growing prevalence in the urbanized world and significant impact on the lives of allergic patients and their families. Research into the risk factors that have contributed to this increase and their underlying immune mechanisms could lead us to definitive ways for treatment and prevention of food allergy. For the time being, introduction of peanut and other allergenic foods in the diet at the time of weaning seems to be an effective way to prevent the development of food allergy. Improved diagnosis and appropriate management and support of food allergic patients are central to patient care with food immunotherapy and biologics making the transition to clinical practice. With the new available treatments, it is becoming increasingly important to include patients' and family preferences to provide a management plan tailored to their needs.
Large‐fragment insertion activates gene GaFZ (Ga08G0121) and is associated with the fuzz and trichome reduction in cotton (Gossypium arboreum)
Authors: Wang Xiaoyang , Miao Yuchen , Cai Yingfan , Sun Gaofei , Jia Yinhua , Song Song , Pan Zhaoe , Zhang Yuanming , Wang Liyuan , Fu Guoyong , Gao Qiong , Ji Gaoxiang , Wang Pengpeng , Chen Baojun , Peng Zhen , Zhang Xiaomeng , Wang Xiao , Ding Yi , Hu Daowu , Geng Xiaoli , Wang Liru , Pang Baoyin , Gong Wenfang , He Shoupu , Du Xiongming
Published: December 2020

Cotton seeds are typically covered by lint and fuzz fibres. Natural ‘fuzzless’ mutants are an ideal model system for identifying genes that regulate cell initiation and elongation. Here, using a genome‐wide association study (GWAS), we identified a ~ 6.2 kb insertion, larINDELFZ, located at the end of chromosome 8, composed of a ~ 5.0 kb repetitive sequence and a ~ 1.2 kb fragment translocated from chromosome 12 in fuzzless Gossypium arboreum. The presence of larINDELFZ was associated with a fuzzless seed and reduced trichome phenotypes in G. arboreum. This distant insertion was predicted to be an enhancer, located ~ 18 kb upstream of the dominant‐repressor GaFZ (Ga08G0121). Ectopic overexpression of GaFZ in Arabidopsis thaliana and G. hirsutum suggested that GaFZ negatively modulates fuzz and trichome development. Co‐expression and interaction analyses demonstrated that GaFZ might impact fuzz fibre/trichome development by repressing the expression of genes in the very‐long‐chain fatty acid elongation pathway. Thus, we identified a novel regulator of fibre/trichome development while providing insights into the importance of noncoding sequences in cotton.
Disparities in telemedicine access for Spanish‐speaking patients during the COVID‐19 crisis
Authors: Blundell Andrew R. , Kroshinsky Daniela , Hawryluk Elena B. , Das Shinjita
Published: December 2020

The rapid rise of telemedicine during the COVID‐19 pandemic raised the prospect of worsening health care disparities for vulnerable populations. We retrospectively compared pediatric teledermatology visits scheduled during the pandemic (03/17/2020‐07/31/2020) with in‐person appointments scheduled during the same period in 2019 and found that Spanish‐speaking patients had significantly fewer scheduled appointments in 2020 (9% vs 5%, P < .001). Among the telemedicine cohort, Spanish‐speaking patients were less likely to have an email address documented within the electronic medical record and less likely to have activated an online patient portal account prior to their visit during the pandemic (45% vs 62%, P = .017, and 23% vs 66%, P < .001, respectively). Our findings suggest that email connectedness may represent a bottleneck in telemedicine access for Spanish‐speaking pediatric dermatology patients.
Light‐based treatment of pediatric port‐wine birthmarks
Authors: Tran Jennifer M. , Kelly Kristen M. , Drolet Beth A. , Krakowski Andrew C. , Arkin Lisa M.
Published: December 2020

Port‐wine birthmarks (PWBs) are progressive vascular malformations with significant disfigurement and psychosocial morbidity; early light‐based treatment has shown improved outcomes in the pediatric population. Somatic mosaic mutations underly the progressive nature of PWBs and explain the significant differences in response and heterogeneity of vessel architecture in the pediatric population when compared to the adult cohort. Here, we summarize a review of pediatric specific literature on the various light‐based treatment modalities, including pulsed dye laser, near‐infrared lasers, and intense pulsed light, providing the various indications, tips, advantages, and disadvantages for the pediatric dermatologist.
24‐epibrassinolide‐induced growth promotion of wheat seedlings is associated with changes in the proteome and tyrosine phosphoproteome
Authors: Avalbaev A. , Yuldashev R. , Fedorova K. , Petrova N. , Fedina E. , Gilmanova R. , Karimova F. , Shakirova F.
Published: December 2020

Brassinosteroids (BRs) represent a unique class of steroidal plant hormones that display pronounced growth‐promoting activity at very low concentrations. Although many efforts have been made to characterize the molecular basis of BR action, little is known about the mechanisms behind the growth‐promoting effect of BRs at protein level.

Proteomic analysis of response to the steroid plant hormone 24‐epibrassinolide (EBR) in wheat seedling shoots (Triticum aestivum L.) was performed using two‐dimensional electrophoresis (2‐DE) and immunoblotting with highly specific antibodies (PY20) to phosphotyrosine. EBR‐modulated proteins and phosphotyrosine polypeptides were identified using MALDI‐TOF mass spectrometry.

The study revealed that EBR‐stimulated growth of wheat seedlings was accompanied by changes in the content of multiple proteins as well as in tyrosine phosphorylation of numerous polypeptides. Among them, 22 differentially accumulated proteins and 13 phosphotyrosine proteins were identified. Based on their performed functions, the identified proteins are involved in physiological processes (photosynthesis, growth, energy and amino acid metabolism) closely associated with intensification of plant metabolism.

The EBR‐induced changes in protein abundance and tyrosine phosphorylation profile may contribute to growth stimulation of wheat seedlings under the action of EBR. The obtained data suggest an important role for EBR in the activation of protein metabolism underlying fundamental physiological processes, including growth promotion.
Screening of chemical attractants for second‐stage juveniles of Meloidogyne species on agar plates
Authors: Oka Yuji
Published: December 2020

The attractiveness of 60 aromatic compounds, mainly carboxylic acids, alcohols, aldehydes, and phenols, to second‐stage juveniles (J2) of four Meloidogyne species (M. hapla, M. incognita, M. javanica, and M. marylandi) was evaluated based on the relative density of J2 attracted to a test compound on an agar plate in an 8.5‐cm Petri dish. Three types of nematode responses were observed in the single‐compound assays: attraction, in which J2 were attracted to test compounds; concentration‐dependent attraction, in which J2 were attracted to the zone located 1–2 cm from test compounds; and no response. None of the test compounds effectively attracted M. incognita or repelled J2 of any species. Thirty‐five compounds attracted J2 of at least one of the other three nematode species. Highly effective attractants were trans‐cinnamic acid, salicylic acid, 4′‐hydroxy‐3′‐methoxyacetophenone, o‐vanillin, carvacrol, 3‐methoxybenzyl alcohol, 2‐methoxycinnamaldehyde, trans‐p‐methoxycinnamaldehyde, 4‐methoxy‐3‐methylbenzaldehyde, 2‐methoxy‐4‐propenylphenol, and thymol. Salicylic acid dissolved in the agar reduced the attraction of M. marylandi J2 to salicylic acid and to o‐vanillin. Two‐ and three‐compound assays revealed differences in attractiveness to M. marylandi J2 between or among structural isomers of the attractants. o‐Vanillin and salicylic acid were much more attractive to M. marylandi than vanillin and the two isomers of salicylic acid, respectively. It is not clear whether nematodes utilize the attractants found in the study for locating hosts in nature, but the attractants may have potential for use in nematode control.
Manipulation of Chlorella vulgaris polyunsaturated ω‐3 fatty acid profile by supplementation with vegetable amino acids and fatty acids
Authors: Siahbalaei Roghayeh , Kavoosi Gholamreza , Noroozi Mostafa
Published: December 2020

The present research aims to investigate the fatty acid profile of the microalgae Chlorella vulgaris supplemented with bioactive oils and amino acids from Oliveria decumbens, Thymus kotschyanus, Trachyspermum ammi, and Zataria multiflora. C. vulgaris was cultured during 4 days in presence of the plant oil (5 mL/1000 mL) and amino acid (5 g/1000 mL) extracts at the end of the logarithmic phase. Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry analysis (GC–MS) revealed that major fatty acids of C. vulgaris were palmitic (29.33%), oleic (15.76%), linoleic (10.02%), α‐linolenic (8.69%), γ‐linolenic (4.11%), palmitoleic (3.43%), and lauric (2.48%) acids, as well as 5,8,11,14,17‐eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) (2.26%). The used vegetable oil mainly composed of ω‐3 and ω‐6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and significantly induced ω‐3 and ω‐6 fatty acids such as linoleic, α‐linolenic, γ‐linolenic, and oleic acids, as well as EPA in C. vulgaris. Furthermore, the analyzed vegetable amino acids significantly induced ω‐3 and ω‐6 PUFAs, such as linoleic, α‐linolenic, γ‐linolenic, and oleic acids, as well as EPA in C. vulgaris, but with a differential manner relative to fatty acids.
Quietist metaethical realism and moral determination
Authors: Kalf Wouter Floris
Published: December 2020

Metaethical realists believe that moral facts exist, but they disagree among themselves about whether moral facts have ontological import. Robust realists think that they do. Quietist realists deny this. I argue that quietist realism faces a new objection; viz., the moral determination objection. This is the objection that general moral facts (or moral principles) must determine specific moral facts (or which actions in the world are right and wrong) but that general moral facts cannot do this if they lack ontological import. I also argue that some robust realists can answer the moral determination objection. This gives these robust realists an edge over quietist realism.
Do International Sanctions Reduce Household and Government Consumption in Developing Countries?
Authors: Williams Kevin
Published: December 2020

This paper uses a panel of 30 developing countries over the 1996‐2015 period to study the effect that international sanctions have on household and government consumption in target countries. I use a broad set of sanctions covering different aspects of sanctions. The panel model estimates show that sanctions have heterogeneous effect on household and government consumption. Household consumption responds significantly negative to noneconomic sanctions. Government consumption, in contrast, is negatively associated with intensity of sanctions, economic sanctions, plurilaterial sanctions, EU sanctions and U.S. sanctions. Disaggregating government consumption reveals that the intensity of sanctions increases government expenditure on subsidies and transfers, while government expenditure on goods and services is not correlated with sanctions. With regard to health outcomes, there is no clear evidence that sanctions are significantly associated with either life expectancy or infant mortality in target countries.
Nurses’ perceptions of care quality for older patients suffering cancer in acute care settings: A descriptive study
Authors: Launonen Minna , Vehviläinen‐Julkunen Katri , Repo Marita , Kvist Tarja
Published: December 2020

Aims

To describe the quality of care for older cancer patients in acute care settings as perceived by the responsible nursing staff.

Methods

A cross‐sectional study design was used. Data were collected using a questionnaire completed by 90 nursing staff at a university hospital and a city hospital. Quality of care was measured using the Revised Humane Caring Scale. Descriptive statistics, reliability analysis, nonparametric tests and linear regression analysis were used to analyse the data.

Findings

Generally, the nursing staff perceived the quality of care as good; however, university hospital nursing staff perceived the quality of care to be better than city hospital nursing staff. Compared with other age groups, nursing staff in the 30‐ to 40‐year age group more frequently indicated that patients’ information and participation need improvement. Moreover, supplemental education in cancer care was found to have no significant impact on the quality of care. Altogether, nursing staff disagreed the most about their perceptions of staffing, sufficient time and an unhurried atmosphere.

Conclusion

Nursing staff should focus more on patients’ personal needs, particularly with regard to patients’ provision of information and participation in care. Younger nurses need more support and mentoring about complex care from their experienced colleagues when performing their work. Leaders should guarantee availability of the adequate number of competent staff in hospital wards.
‘How would you describe Grandpa?’ Mothers’ personal intelligence predicts personality talk with their children
Authors: Kenney Erin M. , Leichtman Michelle D. , Mayer John D.
Published: December 2020

Mother–child conversations reflect and support many important skills—including, perhaps, children's understanding of personality. Children acquire an understanding of people's personalities during the preschool and early elementary years. This study of 4‐ to 9‐year‐old children and their mothers (Npairs = 135) investigated the relation between mothers’ ability to reason about the personalities of self and others—termed personal intelligence—and characteristics of their conversations with their children. Mothers and children conversed about topics potentially involving personality (e.g., contrasting two relatives), and later completed a validated ability‐based measure of personal intelligence. Across the conversations recorded between mother and child dyads, mothers’ personality talk was correlated with children's, and mothers’ personal intelligence scores predicted both, independent of age. This is the first study to document individual differences among mothers that may shape their conversations with children about people, with implications for children's developing understanding of personality.
Influence of quarantine mask use on skin characteristics: One of the changes in our life caused by the COVID‐19 pandemic
Authors: Kim Jongwook , Yoo Suji , Kwon Oh Sun , Jeong Eui Taek , Lim Jun Man , Park Sun Gyoo
Published: December 2020

Background

The influence of various environmental factors on skin properties is well known. However, there is a lack of research into the effect of quarantine masks on skin properties, even though the use of masks has significantly increased after the COVID‐19 outbreak. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the influence of mask use on skin properties.

Materials and Methods

Twenty subjects were enrolled in this study. The subjects used approved quarantine masks for 6 hours a day for 2 weeks. We measured eight skin biophysical parameters: temperature, redness, pore volume, texture, elasticity, trans‐epidermal water loss (TEWL), sebum content, and pH, and evaluated acne lesions before and after using quarantine masks. The evaluation was performed on the mask‐wearing area of the face.

Results

Skin temperature, redness, and TEWL increased significantly after a 6‐hour mask use, while the sebum content increased marginally. Skin elasticity was reduced by the use of masks over 1 and 2 weeks, whereas the pore volume and the number of acne lesions increased after a 2‐week mask use. The skin changes caused by mask use showed sex‐based differences in the skin elasticity (after 6 hours), redness, and roughness (after 2 weeks).

Conclusions

The use of quarantine masks causes a change in the skin temperature, redness, and TEWL in the short term and in skin elasticity, pores, and acne in the long term. This study revealed that prolonged mask use could have negative effects on the skin.
Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients in Spain: Human leukocyte antigen characteristics and diversity by high‐resolution analysis
Authors: Guerreiro Manuel , Planelles Dolores , Aguilar‐Gallardo Cristóbal , Lorenzo José Ignacio , Montoro Juan , Sanz Jaime , Balaguer Aitana , Gómez Inés , Solves Pilar , Pérez Ariadna , Blanquer Miguel , Espigado Ildefonso , Solano Carlos , Piñana José Luis ,   Grupo Español de Trasplante Hematopoyético y Terapia Celular (GETH)
Published: December 2020

There are many studies on the polymorphism of the HLA system in healthy donor populations, such as registries of unrelated bone marrow donors. Investigations on the characterization of the HLA complex in hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) patients, however, are scarce, at least in the Spanish population. This study presents a large‐scale analysis of allelic diversity and HLA distribution at a high‐resolution level in 2886 patients undergoing HSCT in Spanish centres of the “Grupo Español de Trasplante Hematopoyético y Terapia Celular” during a period of 11 years. Allelic diversity analysis identified 67 HLA‐A, 133 HLA‐B, 60 HLA‐C, 63 HLA‐DRB1, 24 HLA‐DQB1 and 27 HLA‐DPB1 different alleles. Rare alleles were detected among which 33 alleles had not been reported in the European catalog of common and well‐documented HLA alleles. Regarding the distribution of five genes‐haplotypes, it was observed that the five most frequent extended haplotypes found in our population were between the most common in other Spanish populations, both in patients and in healthy subjects. However, some particular haplotypes were also detected. Bilocus associations HLA‐C ~ B and ‐DRB1 ~ DQB1 were analyzed in order to predict the probability of finding 10/10 matched donors in registries. We found HLA‐B alleles showing a great diversity of combinations with HLA‐C alleles and unusual associations involving a negative predicting factor. In the field of adoptive therapies, our work supports the necessity to expand further research of TCR‐engineered cells, adoptive transfer of virus‐specific T‐cells and vaccines to target HLA alleles other than A*02:01. HLA alleles such as A*01:01, A*03:01, A*24:02, B*44:03, B*07:02 or B*51:01, might be considered new targets due to its high frequency in our population.
Characterization of the novel HLA‐B*52:02:02 allele
Authors: Zheng Jie W. , Xie Jun Hua , Sun Ying , Xiang Dong
Published: December 2020

The HLA‐B*52:02:02 allele differs from B*52:02:01 by one nucleotide substitution at positions 141.
A milk casein hydrolysate‐derived peptide enhances glucose uptake through the AMP‐activated protein kinase signalling pathway in skeletal muscle cells
Authors: Iwasa Masayo , Takezoe Shiina , Kitaura Naoko , Sutani Takatoshi , Miyazaki Hidetoshi , Aoi Wataru
Published: December 2020

New Findings

What is the central question of this study?

How do common active ingredients contained in both Lactobacillus helveticus‐fermented milk and milk casein hydrolysate (MCH) enhance glucose metabolism by skeletal muscle?

What is the main finding and its importance?

MCH enhanced glucose uptake in skeletal muscle cells by stimulating AMP‐activated kinase, but not insulin, signalling. Moreover, the MCH‐derived specific peptide Ile‐Pro‐Pro mimicked this effect, suggesting a mechanism for MCH‐induced metabolic improvement.

Improvement of glucose metabolism in the skeletal muscle has a key role in exercise performance and prevention of metabolic diseases. In our previous study, we showed that intake of milk casein hydrolysate improves glucose metabolism in humans, but the mechanism of action was not elucidated. In this study, we aimed to investigate the mechanism of action of milk casein hydrolysate and its derived peptides on glucose uptake and glucose metabolic signalling in cultured skeletal muscle cells. Differentiated C2C12 myotubes were used for the experiments. The differentiated cells were incubated with milk casein hydrolysate, valine–proline–proline and isoleucine–proline–proline. Subsequently, the rate of 2‐deoxy‐glucose uptake and the phosphorylation levels of insulin‐dependent and ‐independent signalling factors were examined. We found that the rate of 2‐deoxy‐glucose uptake in both milk casein hydrolysate and isoleucine–proline–proline‐treated cells was higher than that in the control cells. Immunoblotting assays showed that the phosphorylation levels of AMP‐activated protein kinase, a rate‐limiting factor in insulin‐independent signalling, and of liver kinase B1, an upstream factor of AMP‐activated protein kinase, in both milk casein hydrolysate and isoleucine–proline–proline‐treated cells were higher than those in the control cells. Such significant effects were not observed after treatment with valine–proline–proline. Moreover, the insulin‐dependent signalling was not significantly affected under the different conditions. The findings of our study suggest that milk casein hydrolysate enhances glucose uptake by activating insulin‐independent AMP‐activated protein kinase signalling in skeletal muscle cells, which might be mediated by a milk casein hydrolysate‐derived peptide, namely, isoleucine–proline–proline.
Differential responses to breath‐holding, voluntary deep breathing and hypercapnia in left and right dorsal anterior cingulate
Authors: Holton Patrick , Huang Yongzhi , Bahuri Nor Faizal Ahmad , Boccard Sandra , Hyam Jonathan A. , Paterson David J. , Dorrington Keith L. , Aziz Tipu Z. , Moosavi Shakeeb H. , Green Alexander L.
Published: December 2020

New Findings

What is the central question of this study?

What is the role of dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) in respiration control in humans?

What is the main finding and its importance?

Direct evidence is provided for a role of the ACC in respiratory control in humans. The neurophysiological responses in dorsal ACC to different breathing tasks varied and were different between left and right ACC.

The role of subcortical structures and cerebral cortex in the maintenance of respiratory homeostasis in humans remains poorly understood. Emerging evidence suggests an important role of the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) in respiratory control. In this study, local field potentials (LFPs) from dorsal ACC were recorded in humans through implanted deep brain electrodes during several breathing activities, including voluntary activities of breath‐holding and deep breathing, and involuntary activities of inspiration of varying concentrations of carbon dioxide (1%, 3%, 5% and 7%). We found that the breath‐holding task induced significant unilateral left‐sided ACC changes in LFP power, including an increased activity in lower frequency bands (3–5 Hz) and decreased activity in higher frequency bands (12–26 Hz). The respiratory task involving reflex increase in ventilation due to hypercapnia (raised inspired CO2) was associated with bilateral changes in activity of the ACC (again with increased activity in lower frequency bands and reduced activity in higher frequency bands). The voluntary breathing task with associated hypocapnia (deep breathing) induced bilateral changes in activity within low frequency bands. Furthermore, probabilistic diffusion tractography analysis showed left‐sided connection of the ACC with the insula and frontal operculum, and bilateral connections within subsections of the cingulate gyrus and the thalamus. This electrophysiological analysis provides direct evidence for a role of the ACC in respiratory control in humans.
A carbon monoxide ‘single breath’ method to measure total haemoglobin mass: a feasibility study
Authors: Krehl Lisa‐Marie , Plumb James O. M. , Wachsmuth Nadine B. , Haupt Sandra , Kumar Shriya B. , Otto James M. , Schierbauer Janis , Grocott Michael P. W. , Montgomery Hugh E. , Schmidt Walter F. J.
Published: December 2020

New Findings

What is the central question of this study?

Is it possible to modify the CO‐rebreathing method to acquire reliable measurements of haemoglobin mass in ventilated patients?

What is the main finding and its importance?

A ‘single breath’ of CO with a subsequent 30 s breath hold provides almost as exact a measure of haemoglobin mass as the established optimized CO‐rebreathing method when applied to healthy subjects. The modified method has now to be checked in ventilated patients before it can be used to quantify the contributions of blood loss and of dilution to the severity of anaemia.

Anaemia is defined by the concentration of haemoglobin (Hb). However, this value is dependent upon both the total circulating haemoglobin mass (tHb‐mass) and the plasma volume (PV) – neither of which is routinely measured. Carbon monoxide (CO)‐rebreathing methods have been successfully used to determine both PV and tHb‐mass in various populations. However, these methods are not yet suitable for ventilated patients. This study aimed to modify the CO‐rebreathing procedure such that a single inhalation of a CO bolus would enable its use in ventilated patients. Eleven healthy volunteers performed four CO‐rebreathing tests in a randomized order, inhaling an identical CO volume. In two tests, CO was rebreathed for 2 min (optimized CO rebreathing; oCOR), and in the other two tests, a single inhalation of a CO bolus was conducted with a subsequent breath hold of 15 s (Procnew15s) or 30 s (Procnew30s). Subsequently, the CO volume in the exhaled air was continuously determined for 20 min. The amount of CO exhaled after 7 and 20 min was respectively 3.1 ± 0.3 and 5.9 ± 1.1 ml for oCOR, 8.7 ± 3.6 and 12.0 ± 4.4 ml for Procnew15s and 5.1 ± 2.0 and 8.4 ±2.6 ml for Procnew30s. tHb‐mass was 843 ± 293 g determined by oCOR, 821 ± 288 g determined by Procnew15s (difference: P < 0.05) and 849 ± 311 g determined by Procnew30s. Bland–Altman plots demonstrated slightly lower tHb‐mass values for Procnew15s compared with oCOR (−21.8 ± 15.3 g) and similar values for Procnew30s. In healthy volunteers, a single inhalation of a CO bolus, preferably followed by a 30 s breath hold, can be used to determine tHb‐mass. These results must now be validated for ventilated patients.
Homeobox A5 and C10 genes modulate adaptation of brown adipose tissue during exercise training in juvenile rats
Authors: Kato Hisashi , Ario Takuto , Kishida Toshiaki , Tadano Manami , Osawa Seita , Maeda Yuki , Takakura Hisashi , Izawa Tetsuya
Published: December 2020

New Findings

What is the central question of this study?

Exercise can stimulate brown adipose tissue (BAT) with subsequent increase in uncoupling protein 1 expression and mitochondrial biogenesis. In that case, do BAT‐specific Hox genes modify BAT functioning and cause uncoupling protein expression changes due to exercise?

What is the main finding and its importance?

Exercise enhanced brown adipocyte markers, with significant upregulation of HoxA5 and downregulation of HoxC10 mRNA expression in rat BAT. HoxA5 and HoxC10 are thus likely to play distinct roles in exercise‐induced changes in BAT markers during the early postnatal period. These findings provide new insight into the mechanisms underlying exercise‐induced changes in BAT function.

Brown adipose tissue (BAT) recruitment is involved in increased energy expenditure associated with cold exposure and exercise training. We explored whether exercise training induced changes in expression levels of brown adipocyte‐selective factors and Homeobox (Hox) genes during the post‐weaning growth period of male Wistar rats. Relative to total body weight, BAT weights alone were lower in exercise‐trained (EX) rats compared to sedentary control (SED) rats. mRNA expression of HoxA5 was higher and that of HoxC10 was lower in EX rats than in SED rats, accompanied by both higher citrate synthase activity and protein expression levels for uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1), peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor (PPAR) α, and PPARγ‐coactivator (PGC)‐1α. HoxA5 knockdown with siRNA reduced the expression of PR‐domain containing 16 (Prdm16), cell death‐inducing DNA fragmentation factor‐α‐like effector A (Cidea) gene, type 2 deiodinase mRNA, and PRDM16 protein. Comparatively, HoxC10 knockdown with siRNA enhanced mRNA expression of Prdm16, Pparα and Pgc1α and protein expression of UCP1, PPARα and PGC1α in brown adipocytes. The stimulation of brown adipocytes with isoproterenol, a β‐adrenoceptor agonist, caused a phenomenon similar to the effect of exercise training on the genes tested: upregulation of HoxA5 mRNA, downregulation of HoxC10 mRNA, and increased protein expression for UCP1 and PGC1α. Collectively, HoxA5 and HoxC10 may have unique functions that contribute to modulating the expression of BAT‐selective markers in BAT of juvenile rats during exercise training. The study findings regarding activation and recruitment of BAT during exercise training have implications for anti‐obesity management.
Dynamic Advanced Exergetic, Exergoeconomic, and Environmental Analyses of a Hybrid Solar City Gate Station
Authors: Khoshgoftar Manesh M. H. , Abdolmaleki M. , Vazini Modabber H. , Rosen M. A.
Published: December 2020

The use of solar energy to preheat natural gas before a city gate station (CGS) for reducing fuel consumption and environmental emissions is investigated in a real CGS. All analyses are conducted with a 1-h time-step throughout the entire year so that seasonal climate changes are accounted for precisely. A thermodynamic analysis of the hybrid system is performed with TRNSYS and verified with THERMOFLEX so as to ensure reliability. In addition, dynamic exergetic, exergoeconomic, and exergoenvironmental analyses for the proposed system are carried out. A life cycle assessment (LCA) based on Eco-indicator 99 is performed using SIMA PRO to compute the environmental impacts for each component of the system. The exergetic, exergoeconomic, and environmental analyses are performed in Engineering Equation Solver (EES) software. To perform the transient exergetic, exergoeconomic, and environmental analyses, the results of the thermodynamic analysis from TRNSYS are automatically imported into the EES code. The advanced exergetic, exergoeconomic, and exergoenvironmental analyses are performed to better determine components that have high potentials for improving the system; potentials are considered based on the exergy destruction, exergetic cost of destruction, and environmental impacts associated with exergy destruction.
Investigation of Liquid Droplet Flow Behavior in a Vertical Nozzle Chamber
Authors: Abousabae Mohamed , Amano Ryoichi S. , Casper Cody
Published: December 2020

This study aims to better understand the aluminum oxide agglomerates breakup mechanism, consequently determining the best solution for the solid rocket motor (SRM) nozzle erosion problem. Two-phase air-water flow experimental investigation was conducted as a substitute for liquid aluminum agglomerates and exhaust combustion gases. The results show that increasing the exhaust air velocity enhances the droplet's breakup tendency to reduce the average diameter and increase droplet numbers per the testing channel volume. Numerical models were constructed and validated using the experimental results. The percentage error in the droplets’ average diameter and the number is between 6 and 15% and 8 and 18%, respectively. Furthermore, the effect of reducing the liquid surface tension was studied. The results showed that it facilitates water bodies’ separation from the interface surface, because of the reduced bounding forces between surface’s molecules, which enhances the breakup process (0.5–17% increase in the droplets’ average diameter and 4–100% increase in its number) and reduces the droplets impact on the nozzle walls, hence reducing the SRM nozzle erosion problem.
Various Types of Defects Detection in Flat and Curved Laminated Composite Plates Using Nonintrusive Lamb Wave System
Authors: Yu Lingyu , Ma Zhaoyun
Published: December 2020

Composite materials are widely used in aerospace industries due to their light weight, strength, and various other desired properties. However, they are susceptible to various defects occurring during the manufacturing process or in service. Typical defects include porosity, wrinkles, and delamination. Nondestructive means of detection of the defects at any stage are of great importance to ensure quality and safety of composite structures. A nonintrusive removable Lamb wave system and accompanied methodology that is not material dependent are presented in this paper to detect various types of typical defects in laminated composite plates, flat or curved. Through multidimensional data acquisition and processing, abnormality in waves caused by defects is captured and presented in inspection images. The methodologies are demonstrated in two cases: delamination in a curved plate and wrinkles in a flat plate. Overall, the results show that Lamb waves using the piezoelectric transducer and laser vibrometer system can be used for various types of defects inspection in flat or curved composite plates.
Proximate underwater soundscape of a North Sea offshore petroleum exploration jack-up drilling rig in the Dogger Bank
Authors: Todd Victoria L. G. , Williamson Laura D. , Jiang Jian , Cox Sophie E , Todd Ian B. , Ruffert Maximilian
Published: December 2020

Little is known about localized, near-field soundscapes during offshore hydrocarbon drilling campaigns. In the Dogger Bank, North Sea, underwater noise recordings were made 41–60 m from the drill stem of the Noble Kolskaya jack-up exploration drilling rig. The aims were to document noise received levels (RLs) and frequency characteristics of rig-associated near-field noise. The rig produced sound pressure levels (SPLs) of 120 dB re 1 μPa in the frequency range of 2–1400 Hz. Over transient periods, RLs varied by 15–20 dB between softest (holding) and noisiest (drilling) operations. Tonal components at different frequencies varied with depth. Support vessel noise was significantly louder than the jack-up rig at frequencies <1 kHz, even in its noisiest “boulder-drilling” phase, though radiated noise levels were higher above 2 kHz. Rig SPLs fell rapidly above 8 kHz. Marine mammals, such as harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) forage regularly near offshore oil and gas rigs and platforms, and it is predicted that animals experience different noise regimes while traversing the water column and can potentially detect the higher-frequency components of drilling noise to a distance of 70 m from the source; however, while levels were unlikely to cause auditory injury, effects on echolocation behavior are still unknown.