bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Exoskelette und Gehtraining
Authors: Mehrholz Jan , Elsner Bernhard
Published: March 2022

Moderne Technologien inkl. neuer mobiler Exoskelette nehmen mehr und mehr zu und werden weiterentwickelt. Noch ist die Evidenz nicht ausreichend, um Therapieempfehlungen für bestimmte Patientengruppen geben zu können, doch es werden zunehmend Studien zu mobilen Geräten durchgeführt. Wie ist der aktuelle Wissensstand?
Gangtraining, kritische Reflexion – ein Interview
Authors: Rutte Katja
Published: March 2022

Katja Rutte arbeitet seit 23 Jahren als Physiotherapeutin in der Klinik Bavaria in Kreischa. Ihr Hauptaufgabengebiet ist die Neurorehabilitation in den Phasen B bis D.
Nephrologisches Jahresgespräch 2021 vom 19.–21.11.2021 in Köln
Authors: Mc Guinness Anne , Schrooten Charlotte
Published: March 2022

Der Verband Deutsche Nierenzentren (DN) e. V. tagte im Jahr 2021 erstmals im Lindner Hotel City Plaza in Köln.
Förderpreis Nephrologische Pflege 2022
Authors: Schäfer Christian
Published: March 2022

Die Thieme Gruppe schreibt im Jahr 2022 wieder den Förderpreis Nephrologische Pflege aus und stiftet das Preisgeld von 1500 Euro.
Solution-processed thin film transistors incorporating YSZ gate dielectrics processed at 400 °C
Authors: Antoniou Giorgos , Halcovitch Nathan R. , Mucientes Marta , Milne William I. , Nathan Arokia , MacManus-Driscoll Judith L. , Kolosov Oleg V. , Adamopoulos George
Published: March 2022

This work investigates a solution process for yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) thin film deposition involving the addition of yttria nanoparticles, at 400 °C, in air. Different yttrium doping levels in the YSZ were studied and a wide range of optical, structural, surface, dielectric, and electronic transport properties were also investigated. An optimum yttrium doping level of 5% mol. resulted in the smoothest films (RRMS ∼ 0.5 nm), a wide bandgap (∼5.96 eV), a dielectric constant in excess of 26, and a leakage current of ∼0.3 nA cm−2 at 2 MV/cm. The solution-processed YSZ films were incorporated as gate dielectrics in thin films transistors with solution-processed In2O3 semiconducting channels. Excellent operational characteristics, such as negligible hysteresis, low operational voltages (5 V), electron mobility in excess of 36 cm2 V−1 s−1, high on/off current modulation ratio on the order of 107, and low interfacial trap density states (<1012 cm−2), were demonstrated. In addition, excellent film homogeneity was achieved over a large area (16 × 16 cm2), with both film thickness and capacitance deviation of <1.2%.
Impact of non-ferroelectric phases on switching dynamics in epitaxial ferroelectric Hf0.5Zr0.5O2 films
Authors: Song Tingfeng , Sánchez Florencio , Fina Ignasi
Published: March 2022

Determining the switching speed and mechanisms in ferroelectric HfO2 is essential for applications. Switching dynamics in orthorhombic epitaxial ferroelectric Hf0.5Zr0.5O2 films with either significant or negligible presence of monoclinic paraelectric phase is characterized. Switching spectroscopy reveals that the polarization dynamics in pure orthorhombic ferroelectric phase films can be modeled by the Kolmogorov–Avrami–Ishibashi mechanism with large characteristic time (≈1 µs), which is shortened in fatigued junctions. The long switching time indicates that non-archetypical switching mechanisms occur and that ionic motion or other extrinsic contributions might be at play. Films containing a higher amount of paraelectric monoclinic phase show a shorter switching time of 69 ns, even in pristine state, for applied electric field parallel to the imprint field, enabling synaptic-like activity using fast electric stimuli. Thus, the presence of defects or paraelectric phase is found to improve the switching speed, contrary to what one can expect a priori.
Direct STM measurements of R-type and H-type twisted MoSe2/WSe2
Authors: Nieken Rachel , Roche Anna , Mahdikhanysarvejahany Fateme , Taniguchi Takashi , Watanabe Kenji , Koehler Michael R. , Mandrus David G. , Schaibley John , LeRoy Brian J.
Published: March 2022

When semiconducting transition metal dichalcogenide heterostructures are stacked, the twist angle and lattice mismatch lead to a periodic moiré potential. As the angle between the layers changes, so do the electronic properties. As the angle approaches 0° or 60°, interesting characteristics and properties, such as modulations in the band edges, flat bands, and confinement, are predicted to occur. Here, we report scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy measurements on the bandgaps and band modulations in MoSe2/WSe2 heterostructures with near 0° rotation (R-type) and near 60° rotation (H-type). We find a modulation of the bandgap for both stacking configurations with a larger modulation for R-type than for H-type as predicted by theory. Furthermore, local density of states images show that electrons are localized differently at the valence band and conduction band edges.
Magnetic properties and neutron spectroscopy of lanthanoid-{tetrabromocatecholate/18-crown-6} single-molecule magnets
Authors: Dunstan Maja A. , Cagnes Marina , Phonsri Wasinee , Murray Keith S. , Mole Richard A. , Boskovic Colette
Published: March 2022

Lanthanoid single-molecule magnets (Ln-SMMs) exhibit slow magnetic relaxation at low temperatures. This arises from an energy barrier to magnetisation reversal associated with the crystal field (CF) splitting of the Ln(III) ion. The magnetic relaxation is impacted by the interaction of the molecule with the crystal lattice, so factors including particle size and crystal packing can play an important role. In this work, a family of compounds of general formula [Ln(18-c-6)(NO3)(Br4Cat)]·X (Ln = La, Tb, Dy; 18-c-6 = 18-crown-6; Br4Cat2− = tetrabromocatecholate) has been studied by inelastic neutron scattering (INS) and magnetometry to elucidate the effects of crystal packing on the slow magnetic relaxation of the Tb(III) and Dy(III) compounds. The deuterated analogues [Ln(18-c-6-d24)(NO3)(Br4Cat)]·CH3CN-d3 (1-LnD; Ln = La, Tb, Dy) have been synthesised, with 1-TbD and the diamagnetic analogue 1-LaD measured by INS. The dynamic magnetic properties of 1-TbD and 1-DyD have also been measured and compared for two samples with different particle sizes. To probe packing effects on the slow magnetic relaxation, two new solvatomorphs of the hydrogenous compounds [Ln(18-c-6)(NO3)(Br4Cat)]·X (2-Ln: X = CH2Cl2; 3-Ln: X = 0.5 toluene) have been obtained for Ln = Tb and Dy. The CF splitting between the ground and first excited CF pseudo-doublets has been experimentally determined for 1-TbD by INS, and strongly rare earth dependent and anharmonic lattice vibrational modes have also been observed in the INS spectra, with implications for slow magnetic relaxation. Dynamic magnetic measurements reveal significant particle-size dependence for the slow magnetic relaxation for 1-TbD, while a previously reported anomalous phonon bottleneck effect in the 1-DyD analogue does not change with particle size. Further dynamic magnetic measurements of 2-Ln and 3-Ln show that the slow magnetic relaxation in these Ln-SMMs is strongly dependent on lattice effects and crystal packing, which has implications for the future use of Ln-SMMs in devices.
Imaging-based screening of wheat seed characteristics towards distinguishing drought-responsive Iranian landraces and cultivars
Authors: Rabieyan Ehsan , Bihamta Mohammad Reza , Esmaeilzadeh Moghaddam Mohsen , Mohammadi Valiollah , Alipour Hadi
Published: March 2022

Improving drought endurance in wheat needs high-throughput screening of yield components including seed volume, area, and weight, all of which are very effortful, time-consuming, and visually mostly infeasible. Imaging-based screening presents an opportunity for more exact/rapid analysis of seed morphometric traits. Therefore, this study was aimed at evaluating the phenotypic diversity of wheat seeds under rain-fed and well-watered conditions by using image analysis. From our observations, the criteria Feret (largest axis length) and MaxR (radius of the enclosing circle centered at the middle of mass) exhibited that grain length is less affected by drought. In the rain-fed environment, seed weight had the highest correlation with seed volume (r = 0.76**) and area (r = 0.76**). The correlation of 1000-grain weight with aspect ratio (r = –0.22**) and Rroundness (r = –0.21**) was negative and also non-significant (P > 0.05). The PCA and cluster analysis highlights the MinR (radius of the inscribed circle centered at the middle of mass), Area, Circ (Circularity), ArEquivD (area equivalent diameter), thickness, and seed volume characteristics can be used as useful parameters to identify genotypes suitable for planting in a rain-fed environment. The relative importance of traits for 1000-grain weight in the neural network displayed that the greatest impact in the rain-fed environment was related to seed volume, area, and MBCRadius (radius of the minimal bounding circle). Overall, our findings permitted the formation of a morphometric seed database for the conservation and characterisation of wheat germplasm.
Light exposure during sleep impairs cardiometabolic function
Authors: Mason Ivy C. , Grimaldi Daniela , Reid Kathryn J. , Warlick Chloe D. , Malkani Roneil G. , Abbott Sabra M. , Zee Phyllis C.
Published: March 2022

Significance

Ambient nighttime light exposure is implicated as a risk factor for adverse health outcomes, including cardiometabolic disease. However, the effects of nighttime light exposure during sleep on cardiometabolic outcomes and the related mechanisms are unclear. This laboratory study shows that, in healthy adults, one night of moderate (100 lx) light exposure during sleep increases nighttime heart rate, decreases heart rate variability (higher sympathovagal balance), and increases next-morning insulin resistance when compared to sleep in a dimly lit (<3 lx) environment. Moreover, a positive relationship between higher sympathovagal balance and insulin levels suggests that sympathetic activation may play a role in the observed light-induced changes in insulin sensitivity.
Minority salience and the overestimation of individuals from minority groups in perception and memory
Authors: Kardosh Rasha , Sklar Asael Y. , Goldstein Alon , Pertzov Yoni , Hassin Ran R.
Published: March 2022

Significance

Our minds are tuned to the uncommon or unexpected in our environment. In most environments, members of minority groups are just that—uncommon. Therefore, the cognitive system is tuned to spotting their presence. Our results indicate that individuals from minority groups are salient in perception, memory, and visual awareness. As a result, we consistently overestimate their presence—leading to an illusion of diversity: the environment seems to be more diverse than it actually is, decreasing our support for diversity-promoting measures. As we try to make equitable decisions, it is important that private individuals and decision-makers alike become aware of this biased perception. While these sorts of biases can be counteracted, one must first be aware of the bias.
Eyetracking the impact of subtitle length and line number on viewers’ allocation of visual attention
Authors: Zahedi Saber , Khoshsaligheh Masood
Published: March 2022

Compared to one-line subtitles, two-line subtitles are believed to receive more attention from viewers based on previous research. Yet, in the majority of these studies, two-liners are considerably longer than the one-line subtitles. The authors argue that the findings of the previous studies could have been affected by the difference in subtitle length, and there is a need to operationally distinguish between the impact of subtitle length and line number on viewers’ attention allocation. Therefore, an SMI eye tracker was used in this study to record the eye movements of 32 Iranian viewers while reading the Persian subtitles of a short segment of a feature film, A Prophet (Jacques Audiard 2009). The results showed that the viewers’ attention to one-line subtitles was significantly greater than the attention they allotted to two-line subtitles although they were of the same length. The attention allocated to the long subtitles was also significantly greater compared to the attention paid to the short subtitles. Retrospective interviews also showed that the participants favored short and two-line subtitles.
Swarmalators under competitive time-varying phase interactions
Authors: Sar Gourab K , Nag Chowdhury Sayantan , Perc Matjaž , Ghosh Dibakar
Published: March 2022

Swarmalators are entities with the simultaneous presence of swarming and synchronization that reveal emergent collective behavior due to the fascinating bidirectional interplay between phase and spatial dynamics. Although different coupling topologies have already been considered, here we introduce time-varying competitive phase interaction among swarmalators where the underlying connectivity for attractive and repulsive coupling varies depending on the vision (sensing) radius. Apart from investigating some fundamental properties like conservation of center of position and collision avoidance, we also scrutinize the cases of extreme limits of vision radius. The concurrence of attractive–repulsive competitive phase coupling allows the exploration of diverse asymptotic states, like static π, and mixed phase wave states, and we explore the feasible routes of those states through a detailed numerical analysis. In sole presence of attractive local coupling, we reveal the occurrence of static cluster synchronization where the number of clusters depends crucially on the initial distribution of positions and phases of each swarmalator. In addition, we analytically calculate the sufficient condition for the emergence of the static synchronization state. We further report the appearance of the static ring phase wave state and evaluate its radius theoretically. Finally, we validate our findings using Stuart–Landau oscillators to describe the phase dynamics of swarmalators subject to attractive local coupling.
Near-field multiple super-resolution imaging from Mikaelian lens to generalized Maxwell’s fish-eye lens
Authors: Zhou Yangyang , Chen Huanyang
Published: March 2022

Super-resolution imaging is vital for optical applications, such as high capacity information transmission, real-time bio-molecular imaging, and nanolithography. In recent years, technologies and methods of super-resolution imaging have attracted much attention. Different kinds of novel lenses, from the superlens to the super-oscillatory lens, have been designed and fabricated to break through the diffraction limit. However, the effect of the super-resolution imaging in these lenses is not satisfactory due to intrinsic loss, aberration, large sidebands, and so on. Moreover, these lenses also cannot realize multiple super-resolution imaging. In this research, we introduce the solid immersion mechanism to Mikaelian lens (ML) for multiple super-resolution imaging. The effect is robust and valid for broadband frequencies. Based on conformal transformation optics as a bridge linking the solid immersion ML and generalized Maxwell’s fish-eye lens (GMFEL), we also discovered the effect of multiple super-resolution imaging in the solid immersion GMFEL.
Application of 2 × 5 MPX3 camera with monolithic sensor for phase contrast imaging and computed tomography
Authors: Vavrik D. , Dudak J. , Kumpova I. , Zemlicka J.
Published: March 2022

This work focuses on the non-destructive identification of delamination in layered structures utilizing the X-ray phase contrast effect. This effect naturally occurs on sharp edges, material interfaces and fine textures, and can be retrieved from radiographic data even without any grating in special cases, as will be demonstrated for the layered carbon fibre reinforced plastic composites used in the aerospace industry. Such delamination can be described as the local disbonding of composite layers, which often occurs due to the cyclic loading of the structural elements while in service. Such a flaw may significantly decrease its bearing capacity, and therefore periodic non-destructive inspection is needed. Aside from ultrasound inspection, which provides limited resolution and detectability, X-ray imaging and tomography is widely used in practise. Nevertheless, the identification of delamination may be difficult utilizing X-ray computed tomography, as delaminated faces may remain in contact — the defect has negligible volume. On the other hand, the distance between faces is not relevant for X-ray phase contrast imaging. In addition, access to the structural elements is often limited for X-ray imaging. For shaped parts, it will be shown in this work that limited access is not as critical a problem in comparison with standard computed tomography.
Annual water deficit in response to climate variabilities across the globe
Authors: Yin Dongqin , Li Qian , Li Xiang , Zhu Ruirui
Published: March 2022

Severe water deficits due to abnormal climatic conditions can be observed in hydrology and agriculture and can be assessed by various characteristics of the water system that showdifferent responses to climate variability. This paper comprehensively investigates the sensitivities of hydrological (i.e. streamflow and water storage) and agricultural (i.e. plant water availability) water deficits to climate variability at a global scale from a hydrological cycle perspective. The sensitivities of 77 large basins across the globe are quantified by both multiple linear regression (MLR) and the Budyko framework based on a newly released terrestrial water cycle dataset. We find that streamflow and water storage deficits are generally more sensitive to rainfall variation, while plant water availability is more responsive to variations of potential evapotranspiration. The climate sensitivities of the water deficit indices are shown to vary with the wetness index and are shaped by catchment surface properties like water storage capacity. The sensitivities of streamflow deficits to rainfall are higher in wetter regions, while the sensitivities of plant water availability to potential evapotranspiration are higher in drier regions. The findings about the divergent responses in water deficit indices can be conducive to developing region-dependent water resource management strategies to alleviate water deficits under a changing environment.
Kinetics and percolation: coke in heterogeneous catalysts
Authors: Zhdanov Vladimir P
Published: March 2022

In the conventional lattice percolation models, bonds or sites are open at random, whereas in reality there is often interplay of percolation and the kinetics under consideration. An interesting and practically important example is hydrocarbon conversion occurring in a reactor containing

∼
1

mm-sized porous pellets with catalytic nanoparticles deposited at walls of the nanopores. Such catalytic heterogeneous reactions are often accompanied by coke formation deactivating catalytic nanoparticles and blocking pores for reactant diffusion, so that one needs to remove coke from time to time e.g. via reaction with oxygen. Herein, I first present generic coarse-grained Monte Carlo simulations of coke formation in a single pellet with the emphasis on the reaction regime influenced by reactant diffusion in pores. Then, the obtained coke distributions are used for similar simulations of coke removal. This combination of the models has allowed me to illustrate qualitatively new spatio-temporal regimes of the processes under consideration. For example, the removal of coke can be slow in the beginning, due to blocking of oxygen diffusion near the external pellet-gas interface and preventing its penetration to the central part of a pellet, and then fast when the pathways for diffusion to the center become to be open.
On the Einstein relation between mobility and diffusion coefficient in an active bath
Authors: Solon Alexandre , Horowitz Jordan M
Published: March 2022

An active bath, made of self-propelling units, is a nonequilibrium medium in which the Einstein relation D = μk
B
T between the mobility μ and the diffusivity D of a tracer particle cannot be expected to hold a priori. We consider here heavy tracers for which these coefficients can be related to correlation functions which we estimate. We show that, to a good approximation, an Einstein relation does hold in an active bath upon using a different temperature which is defined mechanically, through the pressure exerted on the tracer.
The Evolution of Life Cycle Assessment Approach: A Review of Past and Future Prospects
Authors: Amahmoud Aliaa , El Attar Mohamed M , Meleishy Alaa
Published: March 2022

There is consensus evidence that the thousands of years known earth’s capability to sustain life has been seriously eroded, especially since the industrial revolution. Modern forms of human existence related to prompt economic development have given a massive share in the permanent degradation of the plant, its ecosystem, resources, and quality of life of its inhabitants. Consecutively, there is increasing environmental awareness in material use and its environmental impacts, resulting in the proliferation of environmental assessment tools such as Life Cycle Assessment approaches. Ever since the first approach was proposed in the 1960s, LCA has undergone robust development in both approaches and applications. It is now a well-known and widely used tool across the industry, academia, and policy. So, this paper aims to introduce the LCA hotspots in history with a highlight on the main five periods: Early years period, conception period, standardization period, elaboration period, concept period. It is vital to address the growth in the futuristic aspiration of the new methodology related to integrating Building Information Modelling (BIM) with the LCA procedure to provide real-time results in the early design stages.
A Study of Biophilic design and how it relates to the children’s hospitals design
Authors: Abo Sabaa S G , Abdel Azem M , Al-Shanwany H , El-Ibrashy M
Published: March 2022

As a modern design approach, biophilic design encourages the incorporation of natural components into the built environment, which has a substantial impact on human health, well-being, and productivity. The research aims to shed light on the architecture trends during the past period that addressed the design of children’s hospitals, and among these recent trends is the biophilic design, which addresses with the impact of the natural environment surrounding users within health care buildings and its great impact on improving the mental health of children’s hospital users, to suit it with the personality and tendencies of the child, and its reflection on raising the child’s morale which brings him comfort during his treatment period, and increased recovery rates. The research is based on a common strategy between the historical and the descriptive approach, to evaluate the experience of adding biophilic design patterns as a competitive advantage to raise the efficiency of children’s hospitals, which is reflected in providing a good experience for patients. The results will indicate Biophilic architecture is more inclusive than trends that uses or mimics nature in design, because of it is the genetic tendencies that humans have to be affected by nature, whether physical, emotional, or psychological.
A scalable helium gas cooling system for trapped-ion applications
Authors: Lebrun-Gallagher F R , Johnson N I , Akhtar M , Weidt S , Bretaud D , Hile S J , Owens A , Bonus F , Hensinger W K
Published: March 2022

Microfabricated ion-trap devices offer a promising pathway towards scalable quantum computing. Research efforts have begun to focus on the engineering challenges associated with developing large-scale ion-trap arrays and networks. However, increasing the size of the array and integrating on-chip electronics can drastically increase the power dissipation within the ion-trap chips. This leads to an increase in the operating temperature of the ion-trap and limits the device performance. Therefore, effective thermal management is an essential consideration for any large-scale architecture. Presented here is the development of a modular cooling system designed for use with multiple ion-trapping experiments simultaneously. The system includes an extensible cryostat that permits scaling of the cooling power to meet the demands of a large network. Following experimental testing on two independent ion-trap experiments, the cooling system is expected to deliver a net cooling power of 111 W at ∼70 K to up to four experiments. The cooling system is a step towards meeting the practical challenges of operating large-scale quantum computers with many qubits.
Traveling water waves — the ebb and flow of two centuries
Authors: Haziot Susanna , Hur Vera , Strauss Walter , Toland J. , Wahlén Erik , Walsh Samuel , Wheeler Miles
Published: March 2022

This survey covers the mathematical theory of steady water waves with an emphasis on topics that are at the forefront of current research. These areas include: variational characterizations of traveling water waves; analytical and numerical studies of periodic waves with critical layers that may overhang; existence, nonexistence, and qualitative theory of solitary waves and fronts; traveling waves with localized vorticity or density stratification; and waves in three dimensions.
Pre- and Perinatal Factors Predicting Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Population-Based Study with Fifty Years of Follow-Up
Authors: Velosa Monica , Hochner Hagit , Yerushalmi Baruch , Harel Sasha , Friss Chagit , Calderon-Margalit Ronit , Paltiel Ora , Manor Orly , Balicer Ran D , Greenfeld Shira , Kariv Revital , Ledderman Natan , Matz Eran , Peter Inga , Friedlander Yechiel , Turner Dan
Published: March 2022

Background

Pre- and perinatal events may be associated with an increased risk of inflammatory bowel disease [IBD]. We aimed to investigate the role of pre- and perinatal factors as potential risk factors for the development of IBD in a population with a follow-up of 50 years.

Methods

We conducted a nested case-control study, reporting IBD incidence among individuals born in 1964–76, for whom pre- and perinatal exposures were reported as part of the Jerusalem Perinatal Study [JPS], by linking them to the database of the epidemiology group of the Israeli IBD Research Nucleus [epi-IIRN], including all IBD patients in Israel since 2005 and their matched controls.

Results

We identified 2789 individuals within the epi-IIRN cohort who were also included in the JPS cohort [n = 90 079]: 746 IBD patients (405 with Crohn’s disease [CD] and 341 with ulcerative colitis [UC]) and 2043 non-IBD controls. Those with a ‘Non-western’ family origin had decreased odds of developing CD and UC. High socioeconomic status was associated with CD but not UC. Low birth weight [≤2500 g] occurred less frequently in IBD cases compared to controls, especially in UC patients, showing a protective effect. Being the first born was associated with CD, and having older siblings lowered the odds of developing CD, decreasing 7% with each additional sibling. Smoking and breastfeeding data were available for a subset of individuals, but neither was associated with IBD development.

Conclusion

This population-based study identifies several pre- and perinatal variables as predictors of IBD development. This information may be helpful to facilitate implementation of early diagnosis interventions and family follow-up protocols.
Rocks support a distinctive and consistent mycobiome across contrasting dry regions of Earth
Authors: Coleine Claudia , Delgado-Baquerizo Manuel , Albanese Davide , Singh Brajesh K , Stajich Jason E , Selbmann Laura , Egidi Eleonora
Published: March 2022

Rock-dwelling fungi play critical ecological roles in drylands, including soil formation and nutrient cycling; however, we know very little about the identity, function and environmental preferences of these important organisms, and the mere existence of a consistent rock mycobiome across diverse arid regions of the planet remains undetermined. To address this knowledge gap, we conducted a meta-analysis of rock fungi and spatially associated soil communities, surveyed across 28 unique sites spanning four major biogeographic regions (North America, Arctic, Maritime and Continental Antarctica) including contrasting climates, from cold and hot deserts to semiarid drylands. We show that rocks support a consistent and unique mycobiome that was different from that found in surrounding soils. Lichenized fungi from class Lecanoromycetes were consistently indicative of rocks across contrasting regions, together with ascomycetous representatives of black fungi in Arthoniomycetes, Dothideomycetes and Eurotiomycetes. In addition, compared with soil, rocks had a lower proportion of saprobes and plant symbiotic fungi. The main drivers structuring rock fungi distribution were spatial distance and, to a larger extent, climatic factors regulating moisture and temperature (i.e. mean annual temperature and mean annual precipitation), suggesting that these paramount and unique communities might be particularly sensitive to increases in temperature and desertification.
Identification and analysis of Rap–Phr system in Bacillus cereus 0–9
Authors: Zhao Linlin , Liu Qing , Xu Feng Hua , Liu Huiping , Zhang Juanmei , Liu Fengying , Wang Gang
Published: March 2022

In this study, eight rap-related genes were found in the Bacillus cereus 0–9 genome; five rap genes were located on chromosomes and three on large plasmids. A total of five Rap proteins in B. cereus 0–9 were annotated as ‘tetratricopeptide repeat proteins’. SMART Server analysis showed that the eight Rap proteins had typical tetrapeptide repeat sequence (TPR) domains. Biofilm assays and crystal violet staining showed that overexpression of the rapp1 and rap5 genes affected the biofilm formation of B. cereus 0–9, and the activities of Rapp1 and Rap5 proteins were inhibited by their corresponding cognate Phr, suggesting that the Rap–Phr quorum sensing (QS) system might also exist in the B. cereus 0–9 strain. In addition, overexpression of rap1 genes inhibited in the extracellular amylase decomposition capacity of B. cereus 0–9. The results of the sporulation assay indicated that overexpression of the eight rap genes inhibited the spore formation of B. cereus 0–9 to varying degrees. These results provide a reference for research on the regulation of the Rap–Phr QS system in B. cereus.
Snap-freezing in the Field: Effect of Sample Holding Time on Performance of Bactericidal Assays
Authors: Claunch Natalie M , Downs Cynthia J , Schoenle Laura A , Oakey Samantha J , Ely Teresa , Romagosa Christina , Briggs Christopher W
Published: March 2022

Synopsis

Comparative analyses in biology rely on the quality of available data. Methodological differences among studies may introduce variation in results that obscure patterns. In the field of eco-immunology, functional immune assays such as antimicrobial capacity assays are widely used for among-species applications. Sample storage time and animal handling time can influence assay results in some species, but how sample holding time prior to freezing influences assay results is unknown. Sample holding time can vary widely in field studies on wild animals, prompting the need to understand the implications of such variation on assay results. We investigated the hypothesis that sample holding time prior to freezing influences assay results in six species (Leiocephalus carinatus, Iguana iguana, Loxodonta africana, Ceratotherium simum, Columba livia, and Buteo swainsoni) by comparing antibacterial capacity of serum with varying processing times prior to snap-freezing. Blood was collected once from each individual and aliquots were placed on ice and assigned different holding times (0, 30, 60, 180, and 240 min), after which each sample was centrifuged, then serum was separated and snap-frozen on dry ice and stored at −80ºC for 60 days prior to assaying. For each aliquot, we conducted antibacterial capacity assays with serial dilutions of serum inoculated with E. coli and extracted the dilution at 50% antibacterial capacity for analysis. We found a decrease in antibacterial capacity with increased holding time in one of the six species tested (B. swainsoni), driven in part by complete loss of antibacterial capacity in some individuals at the 240-min time point. While the majority of species’ antibacterial capacity were not affected, our results demonstrate the need to conduct pilot assays spanning the anticipated variation in sample holding times to develop appropriate field protocols.
The Economic Impact of the Pandemic in Rwanda: An Analysis of Firm-Level VAT Data
Authors: Mascagni Giulia , Lees Adrienne
Published: March 2022

There are substantial differences in the spread of the covid-19 pandemic and policy responses to it between high- and low-income countries. While evidence on the former is growing, there remain more unanswered questions on the latter. This paper addresses this gap by providing insights on the impact of the pandemic in Rwanda, based on firm-level administrative data from Value Added Tax (VAT) returns. We find that VAT sales in 2020 declined by 11.4 % compared to 2019. These losses are particularly associated with a lockdown imposed around April 2020, after which sales quickly rebounded to pre-crisis levels once restrictions were lifted. In absolute terms, the economic cost is concentrated among the largest firms. However, small firms have been most affected in proportional terms. Disaggregating our results further, we show that firms in accommodation and food, transport services, wholesale and retail trade, as well as those registered in the capital, have been particularly affected by the crisis. Overall, the decline in sales translated to a similarly large percentage loss in VAT revenue for the government.
Intraoperative Management of Tracheal Cautery Injury in a Post-Bypass Cardiac Surgery Patient
Authors: Little Benjamin W , Fowler William M , Gibson Steve , Popa Christian , Hodgson John A
Published: March 2022

We present the case of a tracheal injury that occurred during a Maze procedure performed via sternotomy that was not initially detected by ventilator air leak, but rather by the visual presence of gas bubbles escaping the trachea during chest irrigation. Careful investigation and machine check did reveal a subsequent air leak that would have otherwise been overlooked. Furthermore, the use of intraoperative bronchoscopy was essential in guiding and confirming surgical repair. This case underscores the need for ongoing vigilance and suggests the utility of chest irrigation with Valsalva maneuvers after procedures performed in the vicinity of the trachea to exclude injury.
Signal Detection of Adverse Events Associated with Trastuzumab in a Cohort of Elderly Patients with Breast Cancer
Authors: Polychronopoulou Efstathia , Giordano Sharon H , Chou Lin-Na , Yu Xiaoying , Kuo Yong-Fang
Published: March 2022

Aim

Utilization of signal detection methods in longitudinal claims data can improve post-marketing drug surveillance, but to date there has been limited application. The aim of this study is to use 3 approaches, the proportional reporting ratio, Gamma Poisson Shrinker, and tree-based scan statistic in detecting adverse drug events (ADEs) attributed to trastuzumab using an administrative claims dataset.

Methods

Using data from the Texas Cancer Registry and SEER linked to Medicare from 2010 to 2013, we conducted 1:2 propensity score matching. Breast cancer HER2+ patients treated with trastuzumab in addition to standard chemotherapy were matched to HER2– patients treated with standard chemotherapy. Inpatient and outpatient encounters up to 6 months from start of therapy were used to identify adverse events.

Results

A total of 4191 patients were included in the study. Across all methods, use of trastuzumab generated signals on 9 distinct body systems. Cardiomyopathy and heart valve disease were the most consistently detected signals. Clinical review determined that most signals represented known ADEs.

Conclusions

We showed that claims data can be used to complement current ADE monitoring using common data mining methods with propensity score matching. Our analysis identified all expected ADEs associated with trastuzumab, and additional signals of valvular heart disorders.
Spotlight on tobacco guidance: NICE public health guidance update
Authors: Pinho-Gomes Ana-Catarina , Owen Lesley , Carmona Chris , Baillie Nick , Richardson Judith
Published: March 2022

The updated NICE guidelines on tobacco recommend cost-effective and evidence-based interventions to prevent smoking initiation and promote smoking cessation across the life course.

E-cigarettes are a cost-effective adjunct to support smoking cessation in adults, but their long-term effects are yet to be fully understood.

Concerted efforts from healthcare and public health providers are required to reach underserved groups and hence address stark and longstanding inequalities in smoking prevalence and associated ill health in England.
Evolutionary history and introduction of SARS-CoV-2 Alpha VOC/B.1.1.7 in Pakistan through international travelers
Authors: Nasir Asghar , Bukhari Ali Raza , Trovão Nídia S , Thielen Peter M , Kanji Akbar , Mahmood Syed Faisal , Ghanchi Najia Karim , Ansar Zeeshan , Merritt Brian , Mehoke Thomas , Razzak Safina Abdul , Syed Muhammed Asif , Shaikh Suhail Raza , Wassan Mansoor , Aamir Uzma Bashir , Baele Guy , Rasmussen Zeba , Spiro David , Hasan Rumina , Hasan Zahra
Published: March 2022

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants continue to emerge, and their identification is important for the public health response to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Genomic sequencing provides robust information but may not always be accessible, and therefore, mutation-based polymerase chain reaction (PCR) approaches can be used for rapid identification of known variants. International travelers arriving in Karachi between December 2020 and February 2021 were tested for SARS-CoV-2 by PCR. A subset of positive samples was tested for S-gene target failure (SGTF) on TaqPathTM COVID-19 (Thermo Fisher Scientific) and for mutations using the GSD NovaType SARS-CoV-2 (Eurofins Technologies) assays. Sequencing was conducted on the MinION platform (Oxford Nanopore Technologies). Bayesian phylogeographic inference was performed integrating the patients’ travel history information. Of the thirty-five COVID-19 cases screened, thirteen had isolates with SGTF. The travelers transmitted infection to sixty-eight contact cases. The B.1.1.7 lineage was confirmed through sequencing and PCR. The phylogenetic analysis of sequence data available for six cases included four B.1.1.7 strains and one B.1.36 and B.1.1.212 lineage isolate. Phylogeographic modeling estimated at least three independent B.1.1.7 introductions into Karachi, Pakistan, originating from the UK. B.1.1.212 and B.1.36 were inferred to be introduced either from the UK or the travelers’ layover location. We report the introduction of SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.7 and other lineages in Pakistan by international travelers arriving via different flight routes. This highlights SARS-CoV-2 transmission through travel, importance of testing, and quarantine post-travel to prevent transmission of new strains, as well as recording detailed patients’ metadata. Such results help inform policies on restricting travel from destinations where new highly transmissible variants have emerged.
Rapid Multilocus Adaptation of Clonal Cabbage Leaf Curl Virus Populations toArabidopsis thaliana
Authors: Hoyer J. Steen , Wilkins Olivia W. , Munshi Aanandi , Wiese Emma , Dubey Divya , Renard Savannah , Mortensen Karoline Rosendal Hartø , Dye Anna E. , Carbone Ignazio , Duffy Siobain , Ascencio-Ibáñez José Trinidad
Published: March 2022

Cabbage leaf curl virus (CabLCV) has a bipartite single-stranded DNA genome and infects the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana. CabLCV serves as a model for the genus Begomovirus, members of which cause tremendous crop losses worldwide. We have used CabLCV as a model for within-plant virus evolution by inoculating individual plants with infectious clones of either a wild-type or mutagenized version of the CabLCV genome. Consistent with previous reports, detrimental substitutions in the replication-associated ( Rep) gene were readily compensated for by direct reversion or alternative mutations. A surprising number of common mutations were detected elsewhere in both viral segments (DNA-A and DNA-B), indicating convergent evolution and suggesting that CabLCV may not be as well adapted to A. thaliana as commonly presumed. Consistent with this idea, a spontaneous coat protein variant consistently rose to high allele frequency in susceptible accession Columbia-0, at a higher rate than in hypersusceptible accession Sei-0. Numerous high-frequency mutations were also detected in a candidate Rep binding site in DNA-B. Our results reinforce the fact that spontaneous mutation of this type of virus occurs rapidly and can change the majority consensus sequence of a within-plant virus population in weeks.

[Formula: see text] Copyright © 2022 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY 4.0 International license .
Comparison of the Endophytic Bacterial Microbiota of Asymptomatic and Symptomatic Ginger Rhizomes During the Activation of Adventitious Bud Development
Authors: Huang Ke , Sun Xiangcheng , Zou Yong , Li Huihe , Xu Panpan , Zhang Wenlin , Zhang Yin , Li Honglei , Sun Hanchang , Wang Wei , Pang Min , Luo Jie
Published: March 2022

Bacterial infections are the cause of rhizome rot in ginger (Zingiber officinale). Key members of the endophytic microbial community in ginger rhizomes have not been identified, and their impact on the decay of rhizomes during the activation of adventitious bud development has not been investigated. High-throughput, 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing and inoculation experiments were used to analyze the microbial diversity, community structure and composition, and pathogenicity of isolated bacteria. Our results indicated that the composition of the endophytic microbiota underwent a shift during the progression of rhizome rot disease. Enterobacteriaceae, Lachnospiraceae, and the bacterial genera Clostridium, Bacteroides, Acrobacter, Dysgonomonas, Anaerosinus, Pectobacterium, and Lactococcus were relatively abundant in the bacterial community of rhizomes exhibiting bacterial decay symptoms but were also present in asymptomatic rhizomes. The presence of Enterobacteriaceae and Pseudomonadaceae were positively correlated (ρ = 0.83) at the beginning of the sampling period in the symptomatic group, while a positive correlation (ρ = 0.89) was only observed after 20 days in the asymptomatic group. These data indicate that the co-occurrence of Enterobacteriaceae and Pseudomonadaceae may be associated with the development of ginger rot. Bacterial taxa isolated from ginger rhizomes, such as Enterobacter cloacae, E. hormaechei, and Pseudomonas putida, induced obvious rot symptoms when they were inoculated on ginger rhizomes. Notably, antibiotic-producing bacterial taxa in the Streptococcaceae and Flavobacteriaceae were also relatively abundant in rhizomes with rot and appeared to be linked to the onset of rhizome rot disease. Our results provide important information on the establishment and management of disease in ginger rhizomes.
Legionella sainthelensi Pneumonia with Abdominal Symptoms as Prominent Manifestations: A Case Report
Authors: Yuan Xin , Meng Fanglin , Yu Xinting , Bai Changqing , Jia Rui , Meng Fanping , Wang Fu-sheng , Fu Junliang
Published: March 2022

Few studies have reported Legionella sainthelensi infection. This infection primarily presents with respiratory manifestations. Here, we report an immunocompromised patient with cavitary pneumonia caused by L. sainthelensi who mainly had abdominal symptoms. The timely administration of moxifloxacin provided clinical improvement and resolution of symptoms. To our knowledge, this is one of the rare cases of L. sainthelensi infection presenting uniquely with abdominal distension and liver function impairment but without obvious respiratory symptoms.
Current Advances of Innate and Adaptive Immunity in Acute-on-Chronic Hepatitis B Liver Failure
Authors: Wang Liyuan , Fan Yuchen
Published: March 2022

Acute-on-chronic hepatitis B liver failure (ACHBLF) is a term used to define the acute deterioration of liver function that occurs in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus infection or hepatitis B virus-related liver cirrhosis. The specific pathogenesis of ACHBLF is still not completely understood. Current research has shown that an intense systemic inflammation is involved in the development of acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF). Meanwhile, a subsequent immune paresis over the course of ACLF favors the development of infection and sepsis. Deregulation in both the innate and adaptive immunity is the notable feature of ACLF. The dysregulated immune responses play a crucial role in disease progression and potentially drive organ failure and mortality in ACHBLF. In this review, we highlight the current knowledge of innate and adaptive immune cells in ACHBLF.
Application of Dual-layer Spectral Detector Computed Tomography to Evaluate the Expression of Ki-67 in Colorectal Cancer
Authors: Wang Yu-Li , Zhang Han-Wen , Mo Yong-Qian , Zhong Hua , Liu Wei-Ming , Lei Yi , Lin Fan
Published: March 2022

Background:

Compared with traditional computed tomography (CT), dual-layer spectral detector CT (SDCT) shows significant improvement in imaging soft tissues of the digestive tract. This work aimed to explore the application of SDCT to evaluate the expression of the molecular marker Ki-67 in colorectal cancer.

Methods:

We retrospectively analysed the imaging data of the SDCT (Philips Healthcare, IQon spectral CT) of 45 patients with colorectal cancer in our centre. We used Spearman’s test for the imaging parameters (reconstruction of 40, 70 keV, 100 keV virtual monoenergetic images (VMIs) and the slope of the HU attenuation plot (VMI-Slope) based on venous phase CT images, the arterial phase and venous phase iodine concentration (AP/VP-IC), and the effective atomic number (Z-effect)) and correlation analysis for the Ki-67 index. Multivariate logistic regression was used to eliminate confounding factors. We evaluated the expression level of Ki-67 and drew the ROC curve.

Results:

The 40 keV VMI, VMI-Slope and AP-IC were found to better reflect the Ki-67 index in patients with colorectal cancer with statistical significance. The 40 keV VMI (r=-0.612, p<0.001) and VMI-Slope (r=-0.523, p<0.001) were negatively correlated with the Ki-67 index, and AP-IC (r=0.378, p=0.010) was positively correlated with the Ki-67 index. The other indexes (p>0.05) were not statistically significant. The SDCT parameters demonstrated good performance, with AUCs of 0.785 for 40 keV VMI and 0.752 for AP-IC.

Conclusion:

The SDCT parameters 40 keV VMI and AP-IC can be used for preliminary evaluation of the Ki-67 index in colorectal cancer.