bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Mitigating Injection‐Induced Seismicity Along Basement Faults by Extraction: Application to 2016–2018 Pohang Earthquakes
Authors: Chang K. W. , Yoon H.
Published: March 2021

The risk of induced earthquake is considered as the major obstacle for sustainable subsurface energy activities. As a mitigation approach, mechanistic risk assessment can be essential to minimize the potential of seismic hazard. Coupled hydro‐mechanical modeling approach is integrated with geomechanical analysis to better assess the occurrence of seismicity induced by injection and/or extraction, which will provide a basis to update operational conditions (e.g., number and location of mitigating wells, rate and duration of operations) for mitigating earthquake nucleation. The Coulomb stability analysis and seismicity rate estimates from this generic study indicate that simultaneous extraction can relieve injection‐induced pore‐pressure buildup, but also transfer and accumulate elastic energy along the faults. Field‐scale simulation with variation in well design for the Pohang EGS site, South Korea, show that multiple wells aligned across a preexisting fault form gradients of pressure and stress fields normal to the fault, which can enhance the direct impact of diffusion process and poroelastic stressing on the fault stability perturbation. Our mechanistic study suggests multiphysics‐oriented mitigation strategies that consider (1) possible mechanical deformation, caused by hydro‐mechanical coupling effects, and (2) proper configuration of well operations based on site‐specific geological characteristics.
Annual Mixed Layer Carbon Budget for the West Antarctic Peninsula Continental Shelf: Insights From Year‐Round Mooring Measurements
Authors: Yang Bo , Shadwick Elizabeth H. , Schultz Cristina , Doney Scott C.
Published: March 2021

For the first time the annual carbon budget on the West Antarctic Peninsula shelf was studied with continuously measured CO2 system parameters (pH and pCO2) from a subsurface mooring. The temporal evolution of the mixed layer dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) is investigated via a mass balance. The annual mixed layer DIC inventory change was 1.1 ± 0.4 mol m−2 yr−1, which was mainly regulated by biological drawdown (−2.8 ± 2.4 mol m−2 yr−1), diapycnal eddy diffusion (2.6 ± 1.3 mol m−2 yr−1), entrainment/detrainment (0.9 ± 0.4 mol m−2 yr−1), and air‐water gas exchange (0.4 ± 2.1 mol m−2 yr−1). Significant carbon drawdown was observed in the spring and summer, which was replenished by the physical processes mentioned above. These observations suggest this area is an annual atmosphere CO2 sink with a mixed layer net community production of 2.8 ± 2.4 mol m−2 yr−1. These results highlight the significant seasonality in the DIC mass balance and the necessity of year‐round continuous observations for robust assessments of biogeochemical cycling in this region.
A New Probabilistic Wave Breaking Model for Dominant Wind‐Sea Waves Based on the Gaussian Field Theory
Authors: Stringari C. E. , Prevosto M. , Filipot J.‐F. , Leckler F. , Guimarães P. V.
Published: March 2021

This study presents a novel method for obtaining the probability of wave breaking (Pb) of deep water, dominant wind‐sea waves (i.e., waves made of the energy within ±30% of the peak wave frequency) derived from Gaussian wave field theory. For a given input wave spectrum, we demonstrate how it is possible to derive a joint probability density function between wave phase speed (c) and horizontal orbital velocity at the wave crest (u) from which a model for Pb can be obtained. A nonlinear kinematic wave breaking criterion consistent with the Gaussian framework is further proposed. Our model would allow, therefore, the application of the classical wave breaking criterion (i.e., wave breaking occurs if u/c > 1) in spectral wave models which, to the authors' knowledge, has not been done to date. Our results show that the proposed theoretical model has errors in the same order of magnitude as six other historical models when assessed using three field data sets. With optimization of the proposed model's single free parameter, it can become the best performing model for specific data sets. Although our results are promising, additional, more complete wave breaking data sets collected in the field are needed to comprehensively assess the present model, especially in regards to the dependence on phenomena such as direct wind forcing, long wave modulation, and wave directionality.
Hypoxic Effects on the Radiocarbon in DIC of the ECS Subsurface Water
Authors: Wang Shing‐Lin , Fan Daidu , Huang Wei‐Jen , Wu Yijing , Su Jianfeng
Published: March 2021

Dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) in the East China Sea (ECS) is physically and chemically affected by the northward intrusion of the Kuroshio Branch Current (KBC) and the Changjiang River (CR) outflow. We trace these processes using dual DIC isotopic compositions (Δ14C and δ13C) along transects that begin in the CR and estuary, and extend out into middle shelf waters of the ECS. We especially focus on frequently occurred nearshore hypoxia, as they appeared in the summer of 2017. The Δ14C values (28.8‰–35.3‰) from the ECS mid‐shelf water were comparable to the reported value from the Kuroshio Current (KC) at the continental slope (34.4‰ ± 7.4‰), but Δ14C values in the CR (−173.6‰ & −162.3‰) were substantially lower than observations made in 2014. We also found that the Δ14C of DIC in the bottom waters along the inner shelf, including hypoxic area, decreased from 25.0‰ to 18.5‰, from south to north. Water masses mixing between the CR and the ECS mid‐shelf waters with and without organic carbon degradation can be identified in plots of Δ14C versus DIC‐1. With simple mixing calculations, we show that the northward decreasing Δ14C of inner shelf bottom water is caused by downward transport of DIC with low Δ14C value mediated by biological process from the surface, as opposed to simple physical mixing.
Modeling Extreme Warm‐Air Advection in the Arctic During Summer: The Effect of Mid‐Latitude Pollution Inflow on Cloud Properties
Authors: Bossioli Elissavet , Sotiropoulou Georgia , Methymaki Georgia , Tombrou Maria
Published: March 2021

Usually the Arctic is relatively free of anthropogenic influence in summer, which means that particles from natural sources can be the most significant nuclei for cloud droplets. However, this is not the case during anomalously warm‐air intrusions when the air origin comes from lower latitudes. In this modeling study, we investigate the effect of mid‐latitude pollution inflow (anthropogenic and biomass burning [BB]) on the aerosol‐cloud‐radiation interactions during an episode of extreme warm‐air advection. This particular episode resulted in anomalously high air temperatures over the East Siberian Sea and has accelerated sea‐ice melting. The impact of different emission sources on aerosol vertical distribution, chemical composition, cloud formation, and radiation budget is examined using the Weather Research and Forecasting model, fully coupled with chemistry. Elevated turbulent clouds that occurred at the beginning of the episode are found to be more sensitive to aerosol variations and their negative feedback on supersaturation, compared to stably stratified fog layers that were dominant during the core period. Omission of either anthropogenic or BB source results in decreased cloud liquid water and cloud droplet concentrations; however, these changes are not substantially large to significantly modify the net surface radiation budget. Significant reduction of the net surface radiation is only observed if both anthropogenic and BB transported pollution reaches the area of interest.
Evaluation of the Effect of Low Soil Temperature Stress on the Land Surface Energy Fluxes Simulation in the Site and Global Offline Experiments
Authors: Zhu Siguang , Chen Haishan , Dai Yongjiu , Lu Xingjie , Shangguan Wei , Yuan Hua , Wei Nan
Published: March 2021

The root water uptake (RWU) rate of plants is influenced by various environmental factors. Low soil temperature stress can reduce RWU rate by inhibiting the growth of plant roots and increasing the hydraulic resistance of water transport among the soil‐plant‐atmosphere continuum. Given that low soil temperature stress is not accounted for in current land surface models (LSMs); in this study, we introduce three functions to represent low soil temperature stress, and modify the RWU scheme of the Common Land Model to quantify the role of low soil temperature stress on water and energy exchange between land and atmosphere. The simulated water and energy fluxes are evaluated using both in situ and global observational data sets. The results from in situ simulations show that ignoring effects of low soil temperature stress, latent, and sensible heat fluxes in spring are overestimated and underestimated, respectively, with the root mean square error up to 40 W/m2. By incorporating the low soil temperature stress functions into the RWU scheme, nearly 40% of the simulated errors are reduced. The global simulated results also highlight the importance of accounting for low soil temperature stress on increasing the accuracy of the modeled latent heat flux over high latitude areas. While uncertainties from related physical processes and parameters warrant further investigations, our results indicate that consideration of low soil temperature stress significantly affects water and energy transport from land to atmosphere by restricting RWU rate, emphasizing the need to integrate it in LSMs to increase the model reliability, especially over cold regions.
Difference in the Sporadic E Layer Occurrence Ratio Between the Southern and Northern Low Magnetic Latitude Regions as Observed by COSMIC Radio Occultation Data
Authors: Niu J.
Published: March 2021

In this study, the difference in the sporadic E layer occurrence ratio between two low‐magnetic‐latitude (±5° to ±15°) regions is analyzed by using COSMIC scintillation observations covering the period from 2007.001 to 2017.365. Obvious longitudinal, seasonal, and LT dependencies of this phenomenon are found. Most features of the differences between two hemispheres could be explained by the difference in zonal vertical wind shear between the two hemispheres induced by the difference between the magnetic and geographic latitudes of the studied regions. This result also indicates that the wind shear mechanism still dominates sporadic E layer formation in low‐magnetic‐latitude regions.
Long Short‐Term Memory Neural Network for Ionospheric Total Electron Content Forecasting Over China
Authors: Xiong Pan , Zhai Dulin , Long Cheng , Zhou Huiyu , Zhang Xuemin , Shen Xuhui
Published: March 2021

An increasing number of terrestrial‐ and space‐based radio‐communication systems are influenced by the ionospheric space weather, making the ionospheric state increasingly important to forecast. In this study, a novel extended encoder‐decoder long short‐term memory extended (ED‐LSTME) neural network, which can predict ionospheric total electron content (TEC) is proposed. Useful inherent features were automatically extracted from the historical TEC by LSTM layers, and the performance of the proposed model was enhanced by considering solar flux and geomagnetic activity data. The proposed ED‐LSTME model was validated using 15‐min TEC values from GPS measurements over one solar cycle (from January 2006 to July 2018) collected at 15 GPS stations in China. Different assessment experiments were conducted in different geographical locations and seasons as well as under varying geomagnetic activities, to comprehensively evaluate the model's performance. These comparative experiments were conducted using an ED‐LSTM, a traditional LSTM, a deep neural network, autoregressive integrated moving average, and the 2016 International Reference Ionosphere models. The results indicated that the ED‐LSTME model is superior to the other statistical models, with R2 and root mean square error values of 0.89 and 12.09 TECU, respectively. In addition, TEC was adequately predicted under different ionospheric conditions, and satisfactory results were obtained even under geomagnetically disturbed conditions. These results suggest that the prediction performance could be significantly improved by utilizing auxiliary data. These observations confirm that the proposed model outperforms several state‐of‐the‐art models in making predictions at different times and under diverse conditions.
Early Cretaceous Provenance, Sediment Dispersal, and Foreland Basin Development in Southwestern Montana, North American Cordillera
Authors: Rosenblume Justin A. , Finzel Emily S. , Pearson David M.
Published: March 2021

The Lower Cretaceous Kootenai Formation in western Montana records the onset of foredeep sedimentation in the Idaho‐Montana retroforeland basin of the North American Cordillera. Contrasting models for sediment dispersal during Early Cretaceous time have been proposed. We use sandstone petrography, large‐n (n = 600) detrital zircon U‐Pb geochronology, and mixture modeling to determine the provenance of the Kootenai Formation. These new data combined with additional data from the literature suggest three discrete provenance signatures. Type I sandstones are quartz‐rich with U‐Pb age peaks at ca. 158, 238, 410, 600, and 1,035 Ma; they were sourced from exhumed Jurassic continental strata and transported northward by axial drainages. Type II sandstones are lithic‐rich with U‐Pb age peaks at ca. 154, 166, 1,840, 1,920, 2,080, and 2,700 Ma; they were deposited by transverse rivers that drained exhumed lower‐middle Paleozoic strata from the Sevier belt. Type III sandstones contain feldspars and minor volcanic lithics with U‐Pb age spectra that are dominated by ca. 112 and 162 Ma ages; they were transported by transverse drainages that connected the hinterland of the orogen with the western Montana foreland. Based on provenance analysis of the Kootenai Formation, subtle Early Cretaceous thick‐skinned deformation in southwestern Montana did not exhume basement nor did it partition the foreland into locally sourced depocenters. Sediment sources for the western Montana foreland are consistent with those to the north in Alberta and different than southern Idaho. These data also provide insight into the translational history of terranes in the hinterland of the orogen during this time.
A high-quality genome assembly highlights rye genomic characteristics and agronomically important genes
Authors: Li Guangwei , Wang Lijian , Yang Jianping , He Hang , Jin Huaibing , Li Xuming , Ren Tianheng , Ren Zhenglong , Li Feng , Han Xue , Zhao Xiaoge , Dong Lingli , Li Yiwen , Song Zhongping , Yan Zehong , Zheng Nannan , Shi Cuilan , Wang Zhaohui , Yang Shuling , Xiong Zijun , Zhang Menglan , Sun Guanghua , Zheng Xu , Gou Mingyue , Ji Changmian , Du Junkai , Zheng Hongkun , Doležel Jaroslav , Deng Xing Wang , Stein Nils , Yang Qinghua , Zhang Kunpu , Wang Daowen
Published: March 2021

Rye is a valuable food and forage crop, an important genetic resource for wheat and triticale improvement and an indispensable material for efficient comparative genomic studies in grasses. Here, we sequenced the genome of Weining rye, an elite Chinese rye variety. The assembled contigs (7.74 Gb) accounted for 98.47% of the estimated genome size (7.86 Gb), with 93.67% of the contigs (7.25 Gb) assigned to seven chromosomes. Repetitive elements constituted 90.31% of the assembled genome. Compared to previously sequenced Triticeae genomes, Daniela, Sumaya and Sumana retrotransposons showed strong expansion in rye. Further analyses of the Weining assembly shed new light on genome-wide gene duplications and their impact on starch biosynthesis genes, physical organization of complex prolamin loci, gene expression features underlying early heading trait and putative domestication-associated chromosomal regions and loci in rye. This genome sequence promises to accelerate genomic and breeding studies in rye and related cereal crops.
Anti-metastatic effect of methylprednisolone targeting vascular endothelial cells under surgical stress
Authors: Hagi Takaomi , Kurokawa Yukinori , Kobayashi Noboru , Takahashi Tsuyoshi , Saito Takuro , Yamashita Kotaro , Tanaka Koji , Makino Tomoki , Yamasaki Makoto , Nakajima Kiyokazu , Eguchi Hidetoshi , Doki Yuichiro
Published: March 2021

Perioperative systemic inflammation induced by surgical stress elevates the risk of hematogenous cancer metastasis. This study investigated the anti-metastatic effects and mechanisms of methylprednisolone (MP) administration for surgical stress. We examined the effects of MP on the expression of adhesion molecules in human vascular endothelial cells and in a murine hepatic metastasis model under lipopolysaccharide (LPS) administration, which mimics systemic inflammation induced by surgical stress. Serum E-selectin level was measured in blood samples obtained from 32 gastric cancer patients who were randomly assigned to treat preoperatively with or without MP. The expression of E-selectin in LPS-induced vascular endothelial cells was suppressed by MP. An adhesion assay showed the number of LPS-induced adherent tumour cells was significantly lower following MP. In the in vivo study, LPS significantly elevated the number of hepatic metastases, but pretreatment with MP before LPS significantly inhibited this elevation. The LPS-induced expression of E-selectin in the vascular endothelium of the portal vein was suppressed by MP. In human clinical samples, serum E-selectin level was significantly decreased by preoperative MP. Suppression of surgically induced systemic inflammation by MP administration might prevent hematogenous cancer metastases by suppressing the induction of E-selectin expression in the vascular endothelium.
Intranasal administration of the chemotherapeutic perillyl alcohol results in selective delivery to the cerebrospinal fluid in rats
Authors: Nehra Geetika , Andrews Shannon , Rettig Joan , Gould Michael N. , Haag Jill D. , Howard Steven P. , Thorne Robert G.
Published: March 2021

Perillyl alcohol (POH) has been extensively studied for the treatment of peripheral and primary brain tumors. The intranasal route of administration has been preferred for dosing POH in early-stage clinical trials associated with promising outcomes in primary brain cancer. However, it is unclear how intranasal POH targets brain tumors in these patients. Multiple studies indicate that intranasally applied large molecules may enter the brain and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) through direct olfactory and trigeminal nerve-associated pathways originating in the nasal mucosa that bypass the blood–brain barrier. It is unknown whether POH, a small molecule subject to extensive nasal metabolism and systemic absorption, may also undergo direct transport to brain or CSF from the nasal mucosa. Here, we compared CSF and plasma concentrations of POH and its metabolite, perillic acid (PA), following intranasal or intravascular POH application. Samples were collected over 70 min and assayed by high-performance liquid chromatography. Intranasal administration resulted in tenfold higher CSF-to-plasma ratios for POH and tenfold higher CSF levels for PA compared to equal dose intravascular administration. Our preclinical results demonstrate POH undergoes direct transport from the nasal mucosa to the CSF, a finding with potential significance for its efficacy as an intranasal chemotherapeutic for brain cancer.
A comparison of continuous and discrete time modeling of affective processes in terms of predictive accuracy
Authors: Loossens Tim , Tuerlinckx Francis , Verdonck Stijn
Published: March 2021

Intra-individual processes are thought to continuously unfold across time. For equally spaced time intervals, the discrete-time lag-1 vector autoregressive (VAR(1)) model and the continuous-time Ornstein–Uhlenbeck (OU) model are equivalent. It is expected that by taking into account the unequal spacings of the time intervals in real data between observations will lead to an advantage for the OU in terms of predictive accuracy. In this paper, this is claim is being investigated by comparing the predictive accuracy of the OU model to that of the VAR(1) model on typical ESM data obtained in the context of affect research. It is shown that the VAR(1) model outperforms the OU model for the majority of the time series, even though time intervals in the data are unequally spaced. Accounting for measurement error does not change the result. Deleting large abrupt changes on short time intervals (that may be caused by externally driven events) does however lead to a significant improvement for the OU model. This suggests that processes in psychology may be continuously evolving, but that there are factors, like external events, which can disrupt the continuous flow.
Impact of pre- and post-variant filtration strategies on imputation
Authors: Charon Céline , Allodji Rodrigue , Meyer Vincent , Deleuze Jean-François
Published: March 2021

Quality control (QC) methods for genome-wide association studies and fine mapping are commonly used for imputation, however they result in loss of many single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). To investigate the consequences of filtration on imputation, we studied the direct effects on the number of markers, their allele frequencies, imputation quality scores and post-filtration events. We pre-phrased 1031 genotyped individuals from diverse ethnicities and compared the imputed variants to 1089 NCBI recorded individuals for additional validation. Without QC-based variant pre-filtration, we observed no impairment in the imputation of SNPs that failed QC whereas with pre-filtration there was an overall loss of information. Significant differences between frequencies with and without pre-filtration were found only in the range of very rare (5E−04–1E−03) and rare variants (1E−03–5E−03) (p < 1E−04). Increasing the post-filtration imputation quality score from 0.3 to 0.8 reduced the number of single nucleotide variants (SNVs) < 0.001 2.5 fold with or without QC pre-filtration and halved the number of very rare variants (5E−04). Thus, to maintain confidence and enough SNVs, we propose here a two-step filtering procedure which allows less stringent filtering prior to imputation and post-imputation in order to increase the number of very rare and rare variants compared to conservative filtration methods.
Estimation of the prevalence and incidence of motor neuron diseases in two Spanish regions: Catalonia and Valencia
Authors: Barceló Maria A. , Povedano Mònica , Vázquez-Costa Juan F. , Franquet Álvaro , Solans Marta , Saez Marc
Published: March 2021

According to the degree of upper and lower motor neuron degeneration, motor neuron diseases (MND) can be categorized into amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), primary lateral sclerosis (PLS) or progressive muscular atrophy (PMA). Although several studies have addressed the prevalence and incidence of ALS, there is a high heterogeneity in their results. Besides this, neither concept has been previously studied in PLS or PMA. Thus, the objective of this study was to estimate the prevalence and incidence of MND, (distinguishing ALS, PLS and PMA), in the Spanish regions of Catalonia and Valencia in the period 2011–2019. Two population-based Spanish cohorts were used, one from Catalonia and the other from Valencia. Given that the samples that comprised both cohorts were not random, i.e., leading to a selection bias, we used a two-part model in which both the individual and contextual observed and unobserved confounding variables are controlled for, along with the spatial and temporal dependence. The prevalence of MND was estimated to be between 3.990 and 6.334 per 100,000 inhabitants (ALS between 3.248 and 5.120; PMA between 0.065 and 0.634; and PLS between 0.046 and 1.896), and the incidence between 1.682 and 2.165 per 100,000 person-years for MND (ALS between 1.351 and 1.754; PMA between 0.225 and 0.628; and PLS between 0.409–0.544). Results were similar in the two regions and did not differ from those previously reported for ALS, suggesting that the proposed method is robust and that neither region presents differential risk or protective factors.
Fractal dimension of coastline of Australia
Authors: Husain Akhlaq , Reddy Jaideep , Bisht Deepika , Sajid Mohammad
Published: March 2021

Coastlines are irregular in nature having (random) fractal geometry and are formed by various natural activities. Fractal dimension is a measure of degree of geometric irregularity present in the coastline. A novel multicore parallel processing algorithm is presented to calculate the fractal dimension of coastline of Australia. The reliability of the coastline length of Australia is addressed by recovering the power law from our computational results. For simulations, the algorithm is implemented on a parallel computer for multi-core processing using the QGIS software,R-programming language and Python codes.
Exploring the capability of mayenite (12CaO·7Al2O3) as hydrogen storage material
Authors: Visbal Heidy , Omura Takuya , Nagashima Kohji , Itoh Takanori , Ohwaki Tsukuru , Imai Hideto , Ishigaki Toru , Maeno Ayaka , Suzuki Katsuaki , Kaji Hironori , Hirao Kazuyuki
Published: March 2021

We utilized nanoporous mayenite (12CaO·7Al2O3), a cost-effective material, in the hydride state (H−) to explore the possibility of its use for hydrogen storage and transportation. Hydrogen desorption occurs by a simple reaction of mayenite with water, and the nanocage structure transforms into a calcium aluminate hydrate. This reaction enables easy desorption of H− ions trapped in the structure, which could allow the use of this material in future portable applications. Additionally, this material is 100% recyclable because the cage structure can be recovered by heat treatment after hydrogen desorption. The presence of hydrogen molecules as H− ions was confirmed by 1H-NMR, gas chromatography, and neutron diffraction analyses. We confirmed the hydrogen state stability inside the mayenite cage by the first-principles calculations to understand the adsorption mechanism and storage capacity and to provide a key for the use of mayenite as a portable hydrogen storage material. Further, we succeeded in introducing H− directly from OH− by a simple process compared with previous studies that used long treatment durations and required careful control of humidity and oxygen gas to form O2 species before the introduction of H−.
Occurrence and characterization of tremolite asbestos from the Mid Atlantic Ridge
Authors: Di Giuseppe Dario , Perchiazzi Natale , Brunelli Daniele , Giovanardi Tommaso , Nodari Luca , Della Ventura Giancarlo , Malferrari Daniele , Maia Marcia , Gualtieri Alessandro F.
Published: March 2021

Tremolite is one of the most common amphibole species and, in the fibrous form (i.e., characterized by crystals/particles consisting of fibres with length > 5 µm, width < 3 µm and aspect ratio > 3), one of the six asbestos minerals. Until now the attention of crystallographers has focused only on samples from continental environment. Here we report the first chemical and structural data of a tremolite asbestos found along the Mid Atlantic Ridge (MAR) at the eastern intersection of the Romanche Transform Fault (Equatorial MAR). Tremolite is associated with chlorite and lizardite and was formed through the green shale facies lower than zeolite in a predominantly fluid system. MAR tremolite asbestos shows very slight deviations from the ideal crystal structure of tremolite. Differences in cation site partitioning were found with respect to tremolite asbestos from ophiolitic complexes, attributed to the different chemical–physical conditions during the mineral formation. In particular, oceanic tremolite asbestos is enriched in Al and Na, forming a trend clearly distinct from the continental tremolites.
Sites of blood collection and topical antiseptics associated with contaminated cultures: prospective observational study
Authors: Ota Koshi , Oba Koji , Fukui Keisuke , Ito Yuri , Hamada Emi , Mori Naomi , Oka Masahiro , Ota Kanna , Shibata Yuriko , Takasu Akira
Published: March 2021

We aimed to determine whether puncture sites for blood sampling and topical disinfectants are associated with rates of contaminated blood cultures in the emergency department (ED) of a single institution. This single-center, prospective observational study of 249 consecutive patients aged ≥ 20 years proceeded in the ED of a university hospital in Japan during 6 months. Pairs of blood samples were collected for aerobic and anaerobic culture from all patients in the ED. Physicians selected puncture sites and topical disinfectants according to their personal preference. We found 50 (20.1%) patients with potentially contaminated blood cultures. Fifty-six (22.5%) patients were true bacteremia and 143 (57.4%) patients were true negatives. Multivariate analysis associated more frequent contamination when puncture sites were disinfected with povidone-iodine than with alcohol/chlorhexidine (adjusted risk difference, 12.9%; 95% confidence interval [CI] 8.8–16.9; P < 0.001). Sites of blood collection were also associated with contamination. Femoral and central venous with other sites were associated with contamination more frequently than venous sites (adjusted risk difference), 13.1% (95% CI 8.2–17.9; P < 0.001]) vs. 17.3% (95% CI 3.6–31.0; P = 0.013). Rates of contaminated blood cultures were significantly higher when blood was collected from femoral sites and when povidone-iodine was the topical antiseptic.
Utilization potential of intraluminal optical coherence tomography for the Eustachian tube
Authors: Byun Hayoung , Kim Yeon Hoon , Xing Jingchao , Shin Su-Jin , Lee Seung Hwan , Yoo Hongki , Chung Jae Ho
Published: March 2021

Imaging the Eustachian tube is challenging because of its complex anatomy and limited accessibility. This study fabricated a fiber-based optical coherence tomography (OCT) catheter and investigated its potential for assessing the Eustachian tube anatomy. A customized OCT system and an imaging catheter, termed the Eustachian OCT, were developed for visualizing the Eustachian tube. Three male swine cadaver heads were used to study OCT image acquisition and for subsequent histologic correlation. The imaging catheter was introduced through the nasopharyngeal opening and reached toward the middle ear. The OCT images were acquired from the superior to the nasopharyngeal opening before and after Eustachian tube balloon dilatation. The histological anatomy of the Eustachian tube was compared with corresponding OCT images, The new, Eustachian OCT catheter was successfully inserted in the tubal lumen without damage. Cross-sectional images of the tube were successfully obtained, and the margins of the anatomical structures including cartilage, mucosa lining, and fat could be successfully delineated. After balloon dilatation, the expansion of the cross-sectional area could be identified from the OCT images. Using the OCT technique to assess the Eustachian tube anatomy was shown to be feasible, and the fabricated OCT image catheter was determined to be suitable for Eustachian tube assessment.
Modulation of torque evoked by wide-pulse, high-frequency neuromuscular electrical stimulation and the potential implications for rehabilitation and training
Authors: Donnelly Chris , Stegmüller Jonathan , Blazevich Anthony J. , Crettaz von Roten Fabienne , Kayser Bengt , Neyroud Daria , Place Nicolas
Published: March 2021

The effectiveness of neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) for rehabilitation is proportional to the evoked torque. The progressive increase in torque (extra torque) that may develop in response to low intensity wide-pulse high-frequency (WPHF) NMES holds great promise for rehabilitation as it overcomes the main limitation of NMES, namely discomfort. WPHF NMES extra torque is thought to result from reflexively recruited motor units at the spinal level. However, whether WPHF NMES evoked force can be modulated is unknown. Therefore, we examined the effect of two interventions known to change the state of spinal circuitry in opposite ways on evoked torque and motor unit recruitment by WPHF NMES. The interventions were high-frequency transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) and anodal transcutaneous spinal direct current stimulation (tsDCS). We show that TENS performed before a bout of WPHF NMES results in lower evoked torque (median change in torque time-integral: − 56%) indicating that WPHF NMES-evoked torque might be modulated. In contrast, the anodal tsDCS protocol used had no effect on any measured parameter. Our results demonstrate that WPHF NMES extra torque can be modulated and although the TENS intervention blunted extra torque production, the finding that central contribution to WPHF NMES-evoked torques can be modulated opens new avenues for designing interventions to enhance WPHF NMES.
Administration of β-lactam antibiotics and delivery method correlate with intestinal abundances of Bifidobacteria and Bacteroides in early infancy, in Japan
Authors: Imoto Naruaki , Kano Chie , Aoyagi Yumi , Morita Hiroto , Amanuma Fumitaka , Maruyama Hidekazu , Nojiri Shuko , Hashiguchi Naoyuki , Watanabe Shin
Published: March 2021

The intestinal microbiome changes dynamically in early infancy. Colonisation byBifidobacteriumandBacteroidesand development of intestinal immunity is interconnected. We performed a prospective observational cohort study to determine the influence of antibiotics taken by the mother immediately before delivery on the intestinal microbiome of 130 healthy Japanese infants. Faecal samples (383) were collected at 1, 3, and 6 months and analysed using next-generation sequencing. Cefazolin was administered before caesarean sections, whereas ampicillin was administered in cases with premature rupture of the membranes and in Group BStreptococcus-positive cases.BifidobacteriumandBacteroideswere dominant (60–70% mean combined occupancy) at all ages. A low abundance ofBifidobacteriumwas observed in infants exposed to antibiotics at delivery and at 1 and 3 months, with no difference between delivery methods. A lower abundance ofBacteroideswas observed after caesarean section than vaginal delivery, irrespective of antibiotic exposure. Additionally, occupancy byBifidobacteriumat 1 and 3 months and byBacteroidesat 3 months differed between infants with and without siblings. All these differences disappeared at 6 months. Infants exposed to intrapartum antibiotics displayed alteredBifidobacteriumabundance, whereas abundance ofBacteroideswas largely associated with the delivery method. Existence of siblings also significantly influenced the microbiota composition of infants.
A cautionary tale for machine learning generated configurations in presence of a conserved quantity
Authors: Azizi Ahmadreza , Pleimling Michel
Published: March 2021

We investigate the performance of machine learning algorithms trained exclusively with configurations obtained from importance sampling Monte Carlo simulations of the two-dimensional Ising model with conserved magnetization. For supervised machine learning, we use convolutional neural networks and find that the corresponding output not only allows to locate the phase transition point with high precision, it also displays a finite-size scaling characterized by an Ising critical exponent. For unsupervised learning, restricted Boltzmann machines (RBM) are trained to generate new configurations that are then used to compute various quantities. We find that RBM generates configurations with magnetizations and energies forbidden in the original physical system. The RBM generated configurations result in energy density probability distributions with incorrect weights as well as in wrong spatial correlations. We show that shortcomings are also encountered when training RBM with configurations obtained from the non-conserved Ising model.
Design and evaluation of a novel approach to invisible electrocardiography (ECG) in sanitary facilities using polymeric electrodes
Authors: dos Santos Silva Aline , Almeida Hugo , da Silva Hugo Plácido , Oliveira António
Published: March 2021

Multiple wearable devices for cardiovascular self-monitoring have been proposed over the years, with growing evidence showing their effectiveness in the detection of pathologies that would otherwise be unnoticed through standard routine exams. In particular, Electrocardiography (ECG) has been an important tool for such purpose. However, wearables have known limitations, chief among which are the need for a voluntary action so that the ECG trace can be taken, battery lifetime, and abandonment. To effectively address these, novel solutions are needed, which has recently paved the way for “invisible” (aka “off-the-person”) sensing approaches. In this article we describe the design and experimental evaluation of a system for invisible ECG monitoring at home. For this purpose, a new sensor design was proposed, novel materials have been explored, and a proof-of-concept data collection system was created in the form of a toilet seat, enabling ECG measurements as an extension of the regular use of sanitary facilities, without requiring body-worn devices. In order to evaluate the proposed approach, measurements were performed using our system and a gold standard equipment, involving 10 healthy subjects. For the acquisition of the ECG signals on the toilet seat, polymeric electrodes with different textures were produced and tested. According to the results obtained, some of the textures did not allow the acquisition of signals in all users. However, a pyramidal texture showed the best results in relation to heart rate and ECG waveform morphology. For a texture that has shown 0% signal loss, the mean heart rate difference between the reference and experimental device was − 1.778 ± 4.654 Beats per minute (BPM); in terms of ECG waveform, the best cases present a Pearson correlation coefficient above 0.99.
Site-specific antigen-adjuvant conjugation using cell-free protein synthesis enhances antigen presentation and CD8+ T-cell response
Authors: Weiss Adam M. , Ajit Jainu , Albin Tyler J. , Kapoor Neeraj , Maroju Shilpa , Berges Aym , Pill Lucy , Fairman Jeff , Esser-Kahn Aaron P.
Published: March 2021

Antigen-adjuvant conjugation is known to enhance antigen-specific T-cell production in vaccine models, but scalable methods are required to generate site-specific conjugation for clinical translation of this technique. We report the use of the cell-free protein synthesis (CFPS) platform as a rapid method to produce large quantities (> 100 mg/L) of a model antigen, ovalbumin (OVA), with site-specific incorporation of p-azidomethyl-l-phenylalanine (pAMF) at two solvent-exposed sites away from immunodominant epitopes. Using copper-free click chemistry, we conjugated CpG oligodeoxynucleotide toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9) agonists to the pAMF sites on the mutant OVA protein. The OVA-CpG conjugates demonstrate enhanced antigen presentation in vitro and increased antigen-specific CD8+ T-cell production in vivo. Moreover, OVA-CpG conjugation reduced the dose of CpG needed to invoke antigen-specific T-cell production tenfold. These results highlight how site-specific conjugation and CFPS technology can be implemented to produce large quantities of covalently-linked antigen-adjuvant conjugates for use in clinical vaccines.
The third form electric organ discharge of electric eels
Authors: Xu Jun , Cui Xiang , Zhang Huiyuan
Published: March 2021

The electric eel is a unique species that has evolved three electric organs. Since the 1950s, electric eels have generally been assumed to use these three organs to generate two forms of electric organ discharge (EOD): high-voltage EOD for predation and defense and low-voltage EOD for electrolocation and communication. However, why electric eels evolved three electric organs to generate two forms of EOD and how these three organs work together to generate these two forms of EOD have not been clear until now. Here, we present the third form of independent EOD of electric eels: middle-voltage EOD. We suggest that every form of EOD is generated by one electric organ independently and reveal the typical discharge order of the three electric organs. We also discuss hybrid EODs, which are combinations of these three independent EODs. This new finding indicates that the electric eel discharge behavior and physiology and the evolutionary purpose of the three electric organs are more complex than previously assumed. The purpose of the middle-voltage EOD still requires clarification.
An integrated approach for identification of a panel of candidate genes arbitrated for invasion and metastasis in oral squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Routray Samapika , Kumar Ravindra , Datta Keshava K. , Puttamallesh Vinuth N. , Chatterjee Aditi , Gowda Harsha , Mohanty Neeta , Dash Rupesh , Dixit Anshuman
Published: March 2021

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is known for its aggressiveness associated with poor prognosis. The molecular mechanisms underlying the invasion and metastasis are still poorly understood. An improved understanding of these mechanisms shall precede the development of new diagnostic tools and targeted therapies. We report an integrated approach using bioinformatics to predict candidate genes, coupled with proteomics and immunohistochemistry for validating their presence and involvement in OSCC pathways heralding invasion and metastasis. Four genes POSTN, TNC, CAV1 and FSCN1 were identified. A protein–protein interaction network analysis teamed with pathway analysis led us to propose the role of the identified genes in invasion and metastasis in OSCC. Further analyses of archived FFPE blocks of various grades of oral cancer was carried out using TMT-based mass spectrometry and immunohistochemistry. Results of this study expressed a strong communiqué and interrelationship between these candidate genes. This study emphasizes the significance of a molecular biomarker panel as a diagnostic tool and its correlation with the invasion and metastatic pathway of OSCC. An insight into the probable association of CAF's and these biomarkers in the evolution and malignant transformation of OSCC further magnifies the molecular-biological spectrum of OSCC tumour microenvironment.
Development of patient specific, realistic, and reusable video assisted thoracoscopic surgery simulator using 3D printing and pediatric computed tomography images
Authors: Hong Dayeong , Kim HaeKang , Kim Taehun , Kim Yong-Hee , Kim Namkug
Published: March 2021

Herein, realistic and reusable phantoms for simulation of pediatric lung video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) were proposed and evaluated. 3D-printed phantoms for VATS were designed based on chest computed tomography (CT) data of a pediatric patient with esophageal atresia and tracheoesophageal fistula. Models reflecting the patient-specific structure were fabricated based on the CT images. Appropriate reusable design, realistic mechanical properties with various material types, and 3D printers (fused deposition modeling (FDM) and PolyJet printers) were used to represent the realistic anatomical structures. As a result, the phantom printed by PolyJet reflected closer mechanical properties than those of the FDM phantom. Accuracies (mean difference ± 95 confidence interval) of phantoms by FDM and PolyJet were 0.53 ± 0.46 and 0.98 ± 0.55 mm, respectively. Phantoms were used by surgeons for VATS training, which is considered more reflective of the clinical situation than the conventional simulation phantom. In conclusion, the patient-specific, realistic, and reusable VATS phantom provides a better understanding the complex anatomical structure of a patient and could be used as an educational phantom for esophageal structure replacement in VATS.
Ro-vibrational energies of cesium dimer and lithium dimer with molecular attractive potential
Authors: Onate C. A. , Akanbi T. A. , Okon I. B.
Published: March 2021

An approximate solution of the Schrӧdinger equation for a molecular attractive potential was obtained using the parametric Nikiforov–Uvarov method. The energy equation and the corresponding radial wave functions were calculated. The effects of the potential parameters on the energy eigenvalues were examined. The thermal properties under the molecular attractive potential were calculated and the behaviour of the thermal properties with the maximum quantum state (λ) and the temperature parameter (β) respectively, were studied. Using the molecular spectroscopic parameters, the Rydberg–Klein–Rees (RKR) of cesium dimer and lithium dimer were both obtained and compared with the experimental values. The RKR values of both cesium dimer and lithium dimer calculated aligned with the observed values. The deviation and average deviation of the RKR for each molecule were also calculated.
Global sagittal alignment after surgery of right thoracic idiopathic scoliosis in adolescents and adults with and without thoracic hypokyphosis
Authors: Yeung Kwong Hang , Man Gene Chi Wai , Skalli Wafa , Hu Zongshan , Hung Vivian Wing Yin , Hung Alec Lik Hang , Lam Tsz Ping , Ng Bobby Kin Wah , Cheng Jack Chun Yiu , Vergari Claudio , Chu Winnie Chiu Wing
Published: March 2021

This study aimed to characterize global sagittal alignment in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) with normal kyphosis (NTK, kyphosis > 10°) and with thoracic hypokyphosis (THK, kyphosis < 10°), before and after posterior spinal fusion, and compare them with asymptomatic controls. 27 AIS girls and young adults with right thoracic curves were included (seventeen with age ≤ 18 years, then age > 21). Biplanar radiographies were acquired at baseline, immediate post-operatively, 1-year and 2-year follow-up, and 3D reconstruction of the spine and pelvis was performed. NTK and THK showed different global sagittal alignment, as well as differences compared to controls. AIS with THK at baseline had higher SVA/SFD (2.0 ± 2.9 vs − 0.4 ± 1.9; P < 0.05) and OD-HA (0.2 ± 1.4° vs − 1.3 ± 1.6°; P < 0.05) than controls, indicating that THK had compensated balance with unusual forward leaning posture. Immediately post-operation, SVA/SFD remained high (1.3 ± 3.0) while OD-HA reversed (− 1.2 ± 1.7°), indicating that THK patients had found partially compensated balance. After 2-yeas, both SVA/SFD (− 1.3 ± 2.1) and OD-HA (− 1.4 ± 0.9°) were normalized. The changes in global sagittal alignment and mechanism of balance are different in AIS with or without THK. As the head plays a critical role on balance during immediate and delayed post-operation, OD-HA can be complementary parameter for assessing global balance during post-operative follow-up of AIS patients with THK.