bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of owners’ attitudes towards veterinary insurance in a specialty hospital
Authors: Chaumet A. C. S. G. , Rossi T. A. , Murphy L. A. , Nakamura R. K.
Published: February 2021

Objectives

The purpose of this study was to investigate the frequency and perception of veterinary insurance among owners’ at a small animal specialty hospital around a large urban city.

Materials and Methods

A questionnaire evaluated the prevalence and perception of insurance among owners at a small animal specialty hospital over a 2 month period. Respondents provided demographic information including age, sex, educational level and household income. Respondents without insurance were asked reasons for not having insurance, approximate cost of insurance per month desired and percentage of coverage of medical expenses they would want insurance to provide. Respondents with insurance were asked how they chose their current plan, how it affects their medical decisions for their pet and their overall satisfaction.

Results

Sixty‐seven (28.5%) owners reporting having insurance for at least one pet. Owners most commonly selected their current insurance plan based on online research (27, 40.3%). Fifty‐two respondents (77.6%) reported being satisfied with their insurance plan and 49 (73.2%) stated that would recommend their current insurance plan to a friend.

Clinical Significance

Insurance had a relatively high prevalence in this study group with most owners being satisfied with their current plan and would be likely to recommend it to a friend. The role of insurance in how it affects owner's medical decisions, care for their pet and interactions with veterinarians in companion animal medicine requires further evaluation.
Could the use of saliva substitutes improve food oral processing in individuals with xerostomia? A systematic review
Authors: Piaton Sophie , Duconseille Anne , Roger‐Leroi Valérie , Hennequin Martine
Published: February 2021

Xersotomia is associated with food avoidance and low nutritional assessment. This review seeks to document whether products called “saliva substitutes” or “artificial saliva” can really replace saliva in food oral processing. Pubmed and Science Direct were searched for articles using the keywords “saliva substitutes” and “artificial saliva.” An advanced search was applied using the terms “xerostomia” and/or “food oral processing” and/or “eating” and/or “mastication” and/or “chewing” and/or “swallowing.” The analysis methods and the inclusion criteria were documented in a protocol published in the International prospective register of systematic reviews (PROSPERO with the registration number CRD42019124585). The search included 43 articles, published between 1979 and 2017. Among the included studies, 17 were observational studies, 5 were pilot studies, 21 were crossover studies, and 14 of these studies were blinded. The Strobe score for the included articles varied from 7.5 to 20. The possible effects of the use of saliva substitutes on the ingestion function were poorly investigated. No evidence was based on physiological studies. It is unknown whether using a saliva substitute has an effect on the composition and rheological properties of the food bolus, on the lubrication of the oral and laryngeal mucosa or on both phenomena. Moreover, saliva substitutes were not formulated to improve food oral processing and most of them are flavored. New saliva substitutes and artificial saliva should be designed and formulated to improve food oral processing.
HCV microelimination strategies: An interventional study in diagnosed patients without access to the system
Authors: Guerra Veloz María Fernanda , Del Pino Bellido Pilar , Cordero Ruiz Patricia , Vega Rodriguez Francisco , Bellido Muñoz Francisco , Ramirez de Arellano Encarnación , Caunedo Álvarez Angel , Pascual Hernandez Alvaro , Carmona Soria Isabel
Published: February 2021

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) one‐step diagnosis improves recovery in patients with active infection. However, patients with previous anti‐HCV+ may be excluded. We aimed to identify and retrieve non‐referred or lost‐to‐follow‐up HCV‐infected patients. All anti‐HCV+ patients seen in our hospital between 2013 and 2018 were included. In the first phase, we identified anti‐HCV+ patients who were not referred to the Gastroenterology Unit (GU) or lost‐to‐follow‐up. In the second phase, recovered patients were invited for a one‐step visit for liver evaluation. A total of 1330 anti‐HCV+ patients were included: 21.7% had not been referred to GU, and 23.1% were lost‐to‐follow‐up. In the second phase, 49.6% of patients were contacted, and 92.8% attended a medical consultation: 62.7% had active infection, 92.2% were treated, and 86.5% achieved SVR (ITT). We concluded that screening microbiological data and referring unidentified patients with active HCV infection directly to specialists is an effective tool in achieving HCV microelimination.
Rodents harbouring zoonotic pathogens take advantage of abandoned land in post‐Katrina New Orleans
Authors: LaDeau Shannon L.
Published: February 2021

Leptospirosis is a disease that disproportionately affects impoverished urban communities, but is likely to become more prevalent as changing climate alters flooding regimes. The persistence and transmission of the Leptospira pathogen is reliant on small vertebrate animals, predominantly rodents. In this issue of Molecular Ecology, Peterson et al. demonstrate how changes in rodent diversity and abundances across the complex mosaic of abandonment and recovery investment in post‐Katrina New Orleans can predict zoonotic infection prevalence. Understanding the ecological conditions that support persistence and transmission of zoonotic pathogens in urban ecosystems, where they are most likely to affect humans, is critical to effective monitoring and prevention.
An inconvenient tooth: Evaluating female choice in multiple paternity using an evolutionarily and ecologically important vertebrate clade
Authors: Lyons Kady , Kacev Dovi , Mull Christopher G.
Published: February 2021

Understanding mating systems is a pillar of behavioural ecology, placing the complex interactions between females and males into a reproductive context. The field of multiple paternity, the phenomenon whereby many sires contribute to an individual litter, has traditionally viewed females as passive players in a male–male competitive framework. With the emergence of feminist perspectives in ecological fields, novel alternative mechanisms and evolutionary theories across invertebrate and vertebrate taxa recognize females are active stakeholders in the reproductive process. Despite their evolutionary significance, ecological diversity and myriad reproductive modes, elasmobranch (sharks, skates and rays) research lags behind other fields regarding complex biological processes, such as multiple paternity which is often ascribed to convenience polyandry. Here, we layout hypotheses and resynthesize multiple paternity literature from a female and life history perspective to highlight how alternative mechanisms influence the predominance of multiple paternity across elasmobranchs. We draw upon parallels in other invertebrate and vertebrate taxa to demonstrate how female elasmobranchs can influence multiple paternity outcomes that benefit their reproductive success. Our article challenges dogma that has resulted from years of dismissing the female perspective as important and provides a framework for future advancement using more holistic approaches to studying mating systems.
Mapping of flow velocity using spatiotemporal changes in time‐intensity curves from indocyanine green videoangiography
Authors: Niizawa Tomoya , Hachiya Ryota , Sugashi Takuma , Terao Satoshi , Nagai Mutsumi , Ishikawa Mami , Masamoto Kazuto
Published: February 2021

Objective

The present study developed an image‐based analysis method that uses indocyanine green videoangiography (ICG‐VA) to measure flow velocity in the arteries and veins of the cortical surface in patients undergoing neurosurgery.

Methods

MATLAB‐based code was used to correct motion artifacts in the ICG‐VA and determine the time‐intensity curve of the ICG. The slope of the initial increase in ICG intensity following the bolus injection was measured and normalized using the predicted input function in the imaging field. Flow velocity over a certain distance determined by the user was measured based on a time shift of the time‐intensity curves along the centerline of the vessels.

Results

The normalized slope of ICG intensity represented the expected differences in the flow velocity among the artery (0.67 ± 0.05 s−1), parenchymal tissue (0.49 ± 0.10 s−1), and vein (0.44 ± 0.11 s−1). The flow velocities measured along the vessel centerline were 2.5 ± 1.1 cm/s and 1.1 ± 0.3 cm/s in the arteries (0.5 ± 0.2 mm in diameter) and veins (0.6 ± 0.2 mm in diameter), respectively.

Conclusions

An image‐based analysis method for ICG‐VA was developed to map the expected differences in the flow velocity based on the rising slope of ICG intensity and to measure the absolute flow velocities using the flexible zone and cross‐correlation methods.
Arabidopsis downy mildew effector HaRxLL470 suppresses plant immunity by attenuating the DNA‐binding activity of bZIP transcription factor HY5
Authors: Chen Shuyun , Ma Tao , Song Shiren , Li Xinlong , Fu Peining , Wu Wei , Liu Jiaqi , Gao Yu , Ye Wenxiu , Dry Ian B. , Lu Jiang
Published: February 2021

The oomycete pathogen Hyaloperonospora arabidopsidis delivers diverse effector proteins into host plant cells to suppress the plant’s innate immunity. In this study, we investigate the mechanism of action of a conserved RxLR effector, HaRxLL470, in suppressing plant immunity.

Genomic, molecular and biochemical analyses were performed to investigate the function of HaRxLL470 and the mechanism of the interaction between HaRxLL470 and the target host protein during H. arabidopsidis infection.

We report that HaRxLL470 enhances plant susceptibility to H. arabidopsidis isolate Noco2 by interacting with the host photomorphogenesis regulator protein HY5. Our results demonstrate that HY5 is not only an important component in the regulation of light signalling, but also positively regulates host plant immunity against H. arabidopsidis by transcriptional activation of defense‐related genes. We show that the interaction between HaRxLL470 and HY5 compromises the function of HY5 as a transcription factor by attenuating its DNA‐binding activity.

The present study demonstrates that HY5 positively regulates host plant defense against H. arabidopsidis whereas HaRxLL470, a conserved RxLR effector across oomycete pathogens, enhances pathogenicity by interacting with HY5 and suppressing transcriptional activation of defense‐related genes.
Social workers as street‐level policy entrepreneurs
Authors: Aviv Inbal , Gal John , Weiss‐Gal Idit
Published: February 2021

Knowledge on street‐level bureaucrats as policy entrepreneurs is in its infancy. This article contributes to this emerging field by examining three cases of successful efforts by social workers employed by local social services in Israel to introduce local policy change. These processes varied in the issues that they addressed and the length of time that the policy process took. In each case, a small number of low‐ and meso‐street level community social workers were identified as policy entrepreneurs. Despite their limited resources, formal authority and political capital, the social workers invested efforts over long periods of time into furthering policies they believed would help the communities they worked with. The strategies adopted included seeking legitimacy; creating and disseminating knowledge; participating in policy arenas; and generally eschewing subversive tactics. The interplay between professional affiliation and institutional context informed their motivation to address specific social problems and the strategies they adopted.
What controls the remobilization and deformation of surficial sediment by seismic shaking? Linking lacustrine slope stratigraphy to great earthquakes in South–Central Chile
Authors: Molenaar Ariana , Van Daele Maarten , Vandorpe Thomas , Degenhart Gerald , De Batist Marc , Urrutia Roberto , Pino Mario , Strasser Michael , Moernaut Jasper
Published: February 2021

Remobilization and deformation of surficial subaqueous slope sediments create turbidites and soft sediment deformation structures, which are common features in many depositional records. Palaeoseismic studies have used seismically‐induced turbidites and soft sediment deformation structures preserved in sedimentary sequences to reconstruct recurrence patterns and – in some cases – allow quantifying rupture location and magnitude of past earthquakes. However, current understanding of earthquake‐triggered remobilization and deformation lacks studies targeting where these processes take place, the subaqueous slope and involving direct comparison of sedimentary fingerprint with well‐documented historical earthquakes. This study investigates the sedimentary imprint of six megathrust earthquakes with varying rupture characteristics in 17 slope sediment cores from two Chilean lakes, Riñihue and Calafquén, and evaluates how it links to seismic intensity, peak ground acceleration, bracketed duration and slope angle. Centimetre‐scale stratigraphic gaps ranging from ca 1 to 20 cm – caused by remobilization of surficial slope sediment – were identified using high‐resolution multi‐proxy core correlation of slope to basin cores, and six types of soft sediment deformation structures ranging from ca 1 to 25 cm thickness using high‐resolution three‐dimensional X‐ray computed tomography data. Stratigraphic gaps occur on slope angles of ≥2.3°, whereas deformation already occurs from slope angle 0.2°. The thickness of both stratigraphic gaps and soft sediment deformation structures increases with slope angle, suggesting that increased gravitational shear stress promotes both surficial remobilization and deformation. Seismic shaking is the dominant trigger for surficial remobilization and deformation at the studied lakes. Total remobilization depth correlates best with bracketed duration and is highest in both lakes for the strongest earthquakes (Mw ca 9.5). In lake Riñihue, soft sediment deformation structure thickness and type correlate best with peak ground acceleration providing the first field‐based evidence of progressive soft sediment deformation structure development with increasing peak ground acceleration for soft sediment deformation structures caused by Kelvin‐Helmholtz instability. The authors propose that long duration and low frequency content of seismic shaking favours surficial remobilization, whereas ground motion amplitude controls Kelvin‐Helmholtz instability‐related soft sediment deformation structure development.
Effectiveness of personal communication strategy in motivating replacement donors to become voluntary blood donors
Authors: Jain Romesh , Kumar Rakesh , Coshic Poonam , Chandra Pandey Hem , Jain Shubhangi
Published: February 2021

Background and objectives

Blood donation is very crucial for continuous supply of blood in blood banks for the appropriate patient management. This study was conducted to obtain information from replacement blood donors regarding barriers for voluntary blood donation, and for this, we assessed the effectiveness of personal communication strategy to convert them into voluntary blood donors.

Materials and methods

Prospective longitudinal interventional study with personal communication strategy as intervention, conducted on in‐house replacement blood donors, who never donated voluntarily, and to convert them into future voluntary blood donors. Enrolled blood donors were randomized into the case and the control arms, and a questionnaire regarding barrier for voluntary blood donation was administered. Personal communication strategy was applied in the case arm, and no intervention was done in the control arm. Six months after the enrolment, donors were contacted telephonically and the history of repeat donation in the last 3 months was asked.

Results

Of the selected 769 donors, 381 and 388 donors were randomized into the case and the control arms, respectively. Lack of awareness about voluntary blood donation, lack of time and convenience were the most common reasons for not donating blood voluntarily. In the post‐motivational period, 23·35% and 3·35% of the blood donors in the case and the control arms, respectively, donated blood voluntarily.

Conclusion

This study revealed the factors for not donating blood voluntarily. We believe that our results can be used to convert the existing replacement donors into voluntary donors by applying the personal communication strategy, and future study can be planned, combined with some other effective tools to bring the maximum desired results.
Influence of the mode of heating on cerebral blood flow, non‐invasive intracranial pressure and thermal tolerance in humans
Authors: Gibbons Travis D. , Ainslie Philip N. , Thomas Kate N. , Wilson Luke C. , Akerman Ashley P. , Donnelly Joseph , Campbell Holly A. , Cotter Jim D.
Published: February 2021

Key points

The human brain is particularly vulnerable to heat stress; this manifests as impaired cognition, orthostatic tolerance, work capacity and eventually, brain death.

The brain's limitation in the heat is often ascribed to inadequate cerebral blood flow (CBF), but elevated intracranial pressure is commonly observed in mammalian models of heat stroke and can on its own cause functional impairment.

The CBF response to incremental heat strain was dependent on the mode of heating, decreasing by 30% when exposed passively to hot, humid air (sauna), while remaining unchanged or increasing with passive hot‐water immersion (spa) and exercising in a hot environment.

Non‐invasive intracranial pressure estimates (nICP) were increased universally by 18% at volitional thermal tolerance across all modes of heat stress, and therefore may play a contributing role in eliciting thermal tolerance.

The sauna, more so than the spa or exercise, poses a greater challenge to the brain under mild to severe heating due to lower blood flow but similarly increased nICP.

The human brain is particularly vulnerable to heat stress; this manifests as impaired cognitive function, orthostatic tolerance, work capacity, and eventually, brain death. This vulnerability is often ascribed to inadequate cerebral blood flow (CBF); however, elevated intracranial pressure (ICP) is also observed in mammalian models of heat stroke. We investigated the changes in CBF with incremental heat strain under three fundamentally different modes of heating, and assessed whether heating per se increased ICP. Fourteen fit participants (seven female) were heated to thermal tolerance or 40°C core temperature (Tc; oesophageal) via passive hot‐water immersion (spa), passive hot, humid air exposure (sauna), cycling exercise, and cycling exercise with CO2 inhalation to prevent heat‐induced hypocapnia. CBF was measured with duplex ultrasound at each 0.5°C increment in Tc and ICP was estimated non‐invasively (nICP) from optic nerve sheath diameter at thermal tolerance. At thermal tolerance, CBF was decreased by 30% in the sauna (P < 0.001), but was unchanged in the spa or with exercise (P ≥ 0.140). CBF increased by 17% when end‐tidal was clamped at eupnoeic pressure (P < 0.001). On the contrary, nICP increased universally by 18% with all modes of heating (P < 0.001). The maximum Tc was achieved with passive heating, and preventing hypocapnia during exercise did not improve exercise or thermal tolerance (P ≥ 0.146). Therefore, the regulation of CBF is dramatically different depending on the mode and dose of heating, whereas nICP responses are not. The sauna, more so than the spa or exercise, poses a greater challenge to the brain under equivalent heat strain.
Assessment of Human Reliability Under the Conditions of Uncertainty: SPAR-H Methodology Interpreted in Terms of Interval-Valued Probabilities
Authors: Krymsky Victor G. , Akhmedzhanov Farit M.
Published: February 2021

The well-known standardized plant analysis risk-human reliability (SPAR-H) methodology is widely used for analysis of human reliability in complex technological systems. It allows assessing the human error probability taking into account eight important groups of performance shaping factors. Application of this methodology to practical problems traditionally involves assumptions which are difficult to verify under the conditions of uncertainty. In particular, it introduces only two possible values of the nominal human error probabilities (for diagnosis and for actions) which do not cover the whole spectrum of the tasks within operator's activity. In addition, although the traditional methodology considers the probabilities of human errors as the random variables, it operates only on a single predefined type of distribution for these variables and does not deal with the real situations in which the type of distribution remains uncertain. The paper proposes modification to the classical approach to enable more adequate modeling of real situations with the lack of available information. The authors suggest usage of the interval-valued probability technique and of the expert judgment on the maximum probability density for actual probabilities of human errors. Such methodology allows obtaining generic results that are valid for the entire set of possible distributions (not only for one of them). The modified methodology gives possibility to derive final assessments of human reliability in interval form indicating “the best case” and “the worst case.” A few numerical examples illustrate the main stages of the suggested procedure.
Low Friction Coefficient Nanocomposite CrAlSiN/Gradient-CrAlSiCN Coatings for High Speed/Dry Machining Applications
Authors: Puneet C. , Valleti Krishna , Venu Gopal A.
Published: February 2021

Providing advanced coating solutions for high-speed dry machining applications is gaining importance by the day especially with the increasing employment of difficult-to-machine materials in niche areas. Taking into account the recent demands in developing such coatings, in the present study, a novel low-friction coefficient nanocomposite coating: CrAlSiN/gradient (G)-CrAlSiCN was developed which can be used in high-speed or dry machining applications. Initially, CrAlSiN nanocomposite coating and carbon incorporated CrAlSiN coating were deposited separately using the cylindrical cathodic arc physical vapor deposition (PVD) technique. The as-deposited films were comprehensively analyzed to determine their adhesion strength, phase composition, sliding wear properties (friction coefficient), hardness, and tool life. Preliminary observations revealed that the films did not show evidence of diamond-like carbon (DLC) formation (from Raman analysis). Further, an increase in the carbon content led to a steep decrease in the adhesion strength. This result persuaded a study on developing a novel coating with gradient carbon architecture that would retain the properties of a nanocomposite whilst supporting the nanocomposite underlayer by reducing the coefficient of friction. In comparison with the CrAlSiN nanocomposite coating and a standard DLC coating, the novel gradient carbon coating showed superior tribological properties along with better tool life. This study marks the first such attempt at studying the influence of carbon incorporation to the CrAlSiN nanocomposite coating on improving the overall mechanical and tribological properties of the coating architecture (CrAlSiN/G-CrAlSiCN) for dry machining applications.
Increasing Throughput in Fused Deposition Modeling by Modulating Bed Temperature
Authors: Snapp Kelsey L. , Gongora Aldair E. , Brown Keith A.
Published: February 2021

Additive manufacturing (AM) techniques, such as fused deposition modeling (FDM), are able to fabricate physical components from three-dimensional (3D) digital models through the sequential deposition of material onto a print bed in a layer-by-layer fashion. In FDM and many other AM techniques, it is critical that the part adheres to the bed during printing. After printing, however, excessive bed adhesion can lead to part damage or prevent automated part removal. In this work, we validate a novel testing method that quickly and cheaply evaluates bed adhesion without constraints on part geometry. Using this method, we study the effect of bed temperature on the peak removal force for polylactic acid (PLA) parts printed on bare borosilicate glass and polyimide (PI)-coated beds. In addition to validating conventional wisdom that bed adhesion is maximized between 60 and 70 °C (140 and 158 °F), we observe that cooling the bed below 40 °C (104 °F), as is commonly done to facilitate part removal, has minimal additional benefit. Counterintuitively, we find that heating the bed after printing is often a more efficient process for facile part removal. In addition to introducing a general method for measuring and optimizing bed adhesion via bed temperature modulation, these results can be used to accelerate the production and testing of AM components in printer farms and autonomous research systems.
Adaptive Parameter Estimation With Convergence Analysis for the Prandtl–Ishlinskii Hysteresis Operator
Authors: Xu Rui , Zhou Miaolei , Tan Xiaobo
Published: February 2021

Hysteresis is a nonlinear characteristic ubiquitously exhibited by smart material sensors and actuators, such as piezoelectric actuators and shape memory alloys. The Prandtl–Ishlinskii (PI) operator is widely used to describe hysteresis of smart material systems due to its simple structure and the existence of analytical inverse. A PI operator consists of a weighted superposition of play (backlash) operators. While adaptive estimation of the weights for PI operators has been reported in the literature, rigorous analysis of parameter convergence is lacking. In this article, we establish persistent excitation and thus parameter convergence for adaptive weight estimation under a rather modest condition on the input to the PI operator. The analysis is further supported via simulation, where a recursive least square (RLS) method is adopted for parameter estimation.
Characterization and Synthesis of Duty Cycles for Battery Energy Storage Used in Peak Shaving Dispatch
Authors: Moy Kevin , Lee Seong Beom , Onori Simona
Published: February 2021

Energy storage systems (ESSs), such as lithium-ion batteries, are being used today in renewable grid systems to provide the capacity, power, and quick response required for operation in grid applications, including peak shaving, frequency regulation, back-up power, and voltage support. Each application imposes a different duty cycle on the ESS. This represents the charge/discharge profile associated with energy generation and demand. Different duty cycle characteristics can have different effects on the performance, life, and duration of ESSs. Within lithium-ion batteries, various chemistries exist that own different features in terms of specific energy, power, and cycle life, that ultimately determine their usability and performance. Therefore, the characterization of duty cycles is a key to determine how to properly design lithium-ion battery systems for grid applications. Given the usage-dependent degradation trajectories, this research task is a critical step to study the unique aging behaviors of grid batteries. Significant energy and cost savings can be achieved by the optimal application of lithium-ion batteries for grid-energy storage, enabling greater utilization of renewable grid systems. In this paper, we propose an approach, based on unsupervised learning and frequency domain techniques, to characterize duty cycles for the grid-specific peak shaving applications. Finally, we propose synthetic duty cycles to mimic grid-battery dynamic behaviors for use in laboratory testing.
The Low-Temperature Adsorption Characteristics of Activated Carbon With 3He and 4He as Sorption Cooler Cryogens
Authors: Xi Xiaotong , Yang Biao , Wang Jue , Chen Liubiao , Wang Junjie
Published: February 2021

As a commonly used sub-Kelvin refrigeration technology, helium sorption coolers play an important role in space and ground applications. The adsorption characteristics of the porous material inside the sorption cooler at low temperature have a crucial influence on its performance. At present, the analysis and calculation of sorption coolers are mainly based on helium 4 (4He) as the working gas, and there is a lack of systematic research on the low-temperature adsorption characteristics of helium-3 (3He) and its coupling effect characteristics of temperature, pressure, and mass distribution in different components. In this paper, a molecular model of activated carbon that is similar to the actual structure was constructed, and the adsorption isobars and isosteric heat of 3He and 4He at 0.8–5 K were comparatively studied based on the grand canonical Monte Carlo (GCMC) method. Besides, the influence of adsorption characteristics of 3He and 4He on the condensation efficiency, the mass distribution after condensation equilibrium, and the self-cooling loss of the sorption cooler were analyzed. The results show that for the 3He sorption cooler, the main factor affecting the condensation efficiency is the adsorbed helium in the sorption pump, while for the 4He sorption cooler, it is the adsorbed helium and the gas in the dead volume. For both 3He and 4He sorption coolers, the condensation efficiency increases as the sorption pump temperature increases or the heat sink temperature decreases, while the self-cooling loss decreases as the heat sink temperature decreases or the operating temperature increases.
Methodologies for Predicting the Effectiveness of Full-Scale Fixed-Bed Regenerators From Small-Scale Test Data
Authors: Krishnan Easwaran N. , Ramin Hadi , Gurubalan A. , Alabi Wahab O. , Simonson Carey J.
Published: February 2021

Fixed-bed regenerators (FBRs) are air-to-air energy exchangers (AAEEs) used to reduce energy consumption in heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. Since energy savings are directly related to the effectiveness of FBRs, testing is essential to determine the effectiveness of FBRs for quality assurances and during product development. However, testing of full-scale FBRs has disadvantages such as requiring full-scale prototypes, a high volume of conditioned airflow, long tests, and large testing laboratories. The disadvantages are especially crucial during product development and can be overcome by small-scale testing provided the test data can be used to evaluate accurately full-scale FBRs. The major contribution of this paper is two new methodologies (one direct method and one predictive method) to determine the sensible effectiveness of full-scale FBRs from small-scale test data. In the direct method, the effectiveness of the full-scale FBR is determined directly from the small-scale test data, whereas in the predictive method the effectiveness is determined using the Wilson plot technique and a numerical model in addition to the small-scale test data. Both methods are shown to have uncertainties within the specified uncertainty limits required by testing standards and are applied to evaluate the influence of geometrical parameters (corrugation angle and corrugation depth) on the effectiveness of FBRs. The test methods and results will be useful in the design and development of FBRs for HVAC applications.
Heat Transfer and Second Law Analysis of Ethylene Glycol-Based Ternary Hybrid Nanofluid Under Laminar Flow
Authors: Sundar L. Syam , Chandra Mouli Kotturu V.V. , Said Zafar , Sousa Antonio C. M.
Published: February 2021

Experiments were conducted to evaluate the thermal entropy generation, frictional entropy generation, and exergy efficiency of reduced graphene oxide (rGO)–Fe3O4–TiO2 hybrid nanofluid flow in a circular tube under laminar flow. The ternary nanoparticles were synthesized using the sol–gel technique and characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The stable ethylene glycol-based ternary hybrid nanofluid was prepared and its thermophysical properties, heat transfer, friction factor, and pumping power at various values of particle weight concentrations (0.05–0.2%) and Reynolds number (211–2200) were studied experimentally. Nusselt number, heat transfer coefficient, friction factor, and exergy efficiency augment with increasing values of particle loading and Reynolds number. Results show the thermal conductivity and viscosity increase, as compared to the base fluid, by 10.6% and 108.3% at ψ = 0.2% and 60 °C. Similarly, for ψ = 0.2% and Reynolds number of 1548, and in comparison to the base fluid data, the Nusselt number and heat transfer coefficient enhancement are 17.78% and 24.76%, respectively, the thermal entropy generation reduction is 19.85%, and the exergy efficiency enhancement is 6.23%. At Reynolds number of 221.1, the rise in pressure drop, pumping power, and friction factor is 13.65%, 11.33%, and 16%, respectively, for ψ = 0.2% as compared to the base fluid data. The overall thermal performance of the system is enhanced by 14.32%. New equations are developed for the evaluation of the thermophysical properties, Nusselt number, and friction factor.
Exercise Plus Presleep Protein Ingestion Increases Overnight Muscle Connective Tissue Protein Synthesis Rates in Healthy Older Men
Authors: Holwerda Andrew M. , Trommelen Jorn , Kouw Imre W.K. , Senden Joan M. , Goessens Joy P.B. , van Kranenburg Janneau , Gijsen Annemie P. , Verdijk Lex B. , van Loon Luc J.C.
Published: February 2021

Protein ingestion and exercise stimulate myofibrillar protein synthesis rates. When combined, exercise further increases the postprandial rise in myofibrillar protein synthesis rates. It remains unclear whether protein ingestion with or without exercise also stimulates muscle connective tissue protein synthesis rates. The authors assessed the impact of presleep protein ingestion on overnight muscle connective tissue protein synthesis rates at rest and during recovery from resistance-type exercise in older men. Thirty-six healthy, older men were randomly assigned to ingest 40 g intrinsically L-[1-13C]-phenylalanine and L-[1-13C]-leucine-labeled casein protein (PRO, n = 12) or a nonprotein placebo (PLA, n = 12) before going to sleep. A third group performed a single bout of resistance-type exercise in the evening before ingesting 40 g intrinsically-labeled casein protein prior to sleep (EX+PRO, n = 12). Continuous intravenous infusions of L-[ring-2H5]-phenylalanine and L-[1-13C]-leucine were applied with blood and muscle tissue samples collected throughout overnight sleep. Presleep protein ingestion did not increase muscle connective tissue protein synthesis rates (0.049 ± 0.013 vs. 0.060 ± 0.024%/hr in PLA and PRO, respectively; p = .73). Exercise plus protein ingestion resulted in greater overnight muscle connective tissue protein synthesis rates (0.095 ± 0.022%/hr) when compared with PLA and PRO (p < .01). Exercise increased the incorporation of dietary protein-derived amino acids into muscle connective tissue protein (0.036 ± 0.013 vs. 0.054 ± 0.009 mole percent excess in PRO vs. EX+PRO, respectively; p < .01). In conclusion, resistance-type exercise plus presleep protein ingestion increases overnight muscle connective tissue protein synthesis rates in older men. Exercise enhances the utilization of dietary protein-derived amino acids as precursors for de novo muscle connective tissue protein synthesis during overnight sleep.
Alternative Splicing of Heat Shock Transcription Factor 2 Regulates Expression of the Laccase Gene Family in Response to Copper in
Trametes trogii
Authors: Zhang Yu , Wu Yuanyuan , Yang Xulei , Yang En , Xu Huini , Chen Yuhui , Chagan Irbis , Yan Jinping
Published: February 2021

The members of laccase gene family in
Trametes
strains are the primary source of industrial laccase and have gained widespread attention. Increasing the yield and enzymatic properties of laccase through various methods has always been a topic worthy of attention, and there is no report on the regulation of laccase expression through HSF transcription factor engineering.
Response of Leucine-Rich Repeat Domain-Containing Protein in Haemaphysalis longicornis to Babesia microti Infection and Its Ligand Identification
Authors: Yao Jialing , Xu Zhengmao , Sun Zeyu , Zhou Keke , Lu Jinmiao , Mi Rongsheng , Huang Yan , Han Xiangan , Ren Keyi , Chen Zhaoguo , Gong Haiyan
Published: February 2021

Haemaphysalis longicornis
is a blood-feeding hard tick known for transmitting a variety of pathogens, including
Babesia
. How the parasites in the imbibed blood become anchored in the midgut of ticks is still unknown.
Copan eNAT Transport System To Address Challenges in COVID-19 Diagnostics in Regions with Limited Testing Access
Authors: Richard-Greenblatt Melissa , Comar Courtney E. , Flevaud Laurence , Berti Marina , Harris Rebecca M. , Weiss Susan R. , Glaser Laurel
Published: February 2021

Community-based health care clinics and hospital outreach services have the potential to expand coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) diagnostics to rural areas. However, reduced specimen stability during extended transport, the absence of a cold chain to centralized laboratories, and biosafety concerns surrounding specimen handling have limited this expansion.
SERINC5 Can Enhance Proinflammatory Cytokine Production by Primary Human Myeloid Cells in Response to Challenge with HIV-1 Particles
Authors: Pierini Virginia , Gallucci Lara , Stürzel Christina M. , Kirchhoff Frank , Fackler Oliver T.
Published: February 2021

SERINC5 (S5) is a host cell restriction factor (RF) that impairs the infectivity of HIV-1 particles in target cell lines. To assess the potential physiological relevance of this restriction, we assessed the effects of S5 on HIV-1 infection of relevant primary human target cells.
Histone Modifications in Papillomavirus Virion Minichromosomes
Authors: Porter Samuel S. , Liddle Jennifer C. , Browne Kristen , Pastrana Diana V. , Garcia Benjamin A. , Buck Christopher B. , Weitzman Matthew D. , McBride Alison A.
Published: February 2021

A relatively unique feature of papillomaviruses is that the viral genome is associated with host histones inside the virion. However, little is known about the nature of the epigenome within papillomavirions or its biological relevance to the infectious viral cycle.
Brachypodium
Phenylalanine Ammonia Lyase (PAL) Promotes Antiviral Defenses against
Panicum mosaic virus
and Its Satellites
Authors: Pant Shankar R. , Irigoyen Sonia , Liu Jiaxing , Bedre Renesh , Christensen Shawn A. , Schmelz Eric A. , Sedbrook John C. , Scholthof Karen-Beth G. , Mandadi Kranthi K.
Published: February 2021

Although the role of plant defense mechanisms against viruses are relatively well studied in dicots and in incompatible plant-microbe interactions, studies of their roles in compatible interactions and in grasses are lagging behind. In this study, we leveraged the emerging grass model
Brachypodium
and genetic resources to dissect
Panicum mosaic virus
(PMV)- and its satellite virus (SPMV)-compatible grass-virus interactions.
High-Resolution Differentiation of Enteric Bacteria in Premature Infant Fecal Microbiomes Using a Novel rRNA Amplicon
Authors: Graf J. , Ledala N. , Caimano M. J. , Jackson E. , Gratalo D. , Fasulo D. , Driscoll M. D. , Coleman S. , Matson A. P.
Published: February 2021

Achieving strain-level resolution is a major obstacle for source tracking and temporal studies of microbiomes. In this study, we describe a novel deep-sequencing approach that provides species- and strain-level resolution of the neonatal microbiome.
Comparative Fungal Community Analyses Using Metatranscriptomics and Internal Transcribed Spacer Amplicon Sequencing from Norway Spruce
Authors: Schneider Andreas N. , Sundh John , Sundström Görel , Richau Kerstin , Delhomme Nicolas , Grabherr Manfred , Hurry Vaughan , Street Nathaniel R.
Published: February 2021

A deeper understanding of microbial communities associated with plants is revealing their importance for plant health and productivity. RNA extracted from plant field samples represents the host and other organisms present.
Long-Term Bacterial and Fungal Dynamics following Oral Lyophilized Fecal Microbiota Transplantation in Clostridioides difficile Infection
Authors: Haifer Craig , Paramsothy Sudarshan , Borody Thomas J. , Clancy Annabel , Leong Rupert W. , Kaakoush Nadeem O.
Published: February 2021

Clostridioides difficile
infection (CDI) is a substantial health concern worldwide, complicated by patterns of increasing antibiotic resistance that may impact primary treatment. Orally administered fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) is efficacious in the management of recurrent CDI, with specific bacterial species known to influence clinical outcomes.
Genomic Insights into Adaptations of Trimethylamine-Utilizing Methanogens to Diverse Habitats, Including the Human Gut
Authors: de la Cuesta-Zuluaga Jacobo , Spector Tim D. , Youngblut Nicholas D. , Ley Ruth E.
Published: February 2021

Methanomassiliicoccales
are less-known members of the human gut archaeome. Members of this order use methylated amines, including trimethylamine, in methane production.
Temporal Stability and Genetic Diversity of 48-Year-Old T-Series Phages
Authors: Subedi Dinesh , Barr Jeremy J.
Published: February 2021

T-series bacteriophages have been used throughout the world for various molecular biology researches, which were critical for establishing the fundamentals of molecular biology, from the structure of DNA to advanced gene-editing tools. These model bacteriophages help keep research data consistent and comparable between laboratories.
Machine Learning Reveals Time-Varying Microbial Predictors with Complex Effects on Glucose Regulation
Authors: Aasmets Oliver , Lüll Kreete , Lang Jennifer M. , Pan Calvin , Kuusisto Johanna , Fischer Krista , Laakso Markku , Lusis Aldons J. , Org Elin
Published: February 2021

Recent studies have shown a clear link between gut microbiota and type 2 diabetes. However, current results are based on cross-sectional studies that aim to determine the microbial dysbiosis when the disease is already prevalent.
Impaired exocrine pancreatic function in different stages of type 1 diabetes
Authors: Dozio Nicoletta , Indirli Rita , Giamporcaro Gian Maria , Frosio Laura , Mandelli Alessandra , Laurenzi Andrea , Bolla Andrea Mario , Stabilini Angela , Valle Andrea , Locatelli Massimo , Cavestro Giulia Martina , Scavini Marina , Battaglia Manuela , Bosi Emanuele
Published: February 2021

Introduction

Aim of this study was to investigate the pancreatic exocrine function in patients with type 1 diabetes (T1D) by multiple non-invasive tests.

Research design and methods

The study is a single-center, cross-sectional study of pancreatic exocrine function in adult patients with new-onset or long-standing T1D and healthy controls.

Results

Healthy controls, new-onset T1D, and long-standing T1D were similar for age at the time of the study, gender and body mass index (BMI) categories. Age of onset of T1D patients with long-standing disease was younger than that of patients with new-onset T1D (p<0.001). As expected, the three groups differed for C-peptide and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels. Lipase activity measured by13C-mixed triglyceride breath test was reduced progressively, although not significantly, from controls to recent-onset T1D and long-standing T1D participants. Fecal elastase-1 was significantly lower in participants with T1D, either new onset or long standing. Pancreatic amylase, lipase, retinol binding protein and prealbumin were significantly different across the groups, with a significant trend toward lower values in long-standing T1D and intermediate values in new-onset T1D, while no differences were observed for total amylase. The markers of impaired exocrine function tests (fecal elastase-1, serum pancreatic amylase and lipase) and of nutritional status (retinol binding protein and prealbumin levels) correlated with the reduction of fasting and urinary C-peptide.

Conclusions

Our results confirm that exocrine pancreatic impairment is a feature of T1D, with low fecal elastase-1, serum pancreatic amylase and lipase as specific markers, associated with reduced levels of nutritional indexes. Moreover, the evidence of more advanced insufficiency in long-standing disease reflects the chronic nature of this process, and its correlation with the residual β-cell function suggests parallel pathways for the impairment of the endocrine and exocrine pancreatic function.
When does proton pump inhibitor treatment become long term? A scoping review
Authors: Haastrup Peter Fentz , Jarbøl Dorte Ejg , Thompson Wade , Hansen Jane Møller , Søndergaard Jens , Rasmussen Sanne
Published: February 2021

Objective

Proton pump inhibitor (PPI) use has risen substantially, primarily driven by ongoing use over months to years. However, there is no consensus on how to define long-term PPI use. Our objectives were to review and compare definitions of long-term PPI use in existing literature and describe the rationale for each definition. Moreover, we aimed to suggest generally applicable definitions for research and clinical use.

Design

The databases PubMed and Cochrane Library were searched for publications concerning long-term use of PPIs and ClinicalTrials.gov was searched for registered studies. Two reviewers independently screened the titles, abstracts, and full texts in two series and subsequently extracted data.

Results

A total of 742 studies were identified, and 59 met the eligibility criteria. In addition, two ongoing studies were identified. The definition of long-term PPI use varied from >2 weeks to >7 years. The most common definition was ≥1 year or ≥6 months. A total of 12/61 (20%) of the studies rationalised their definition.

Conclusion

The definitions of long-term PPI treatment varied substantially between studies and were seldom rationalised.

In a clinical context, use of PPI for more than 8 weeks could be a reasonable definition of long-term use in patients with reflux symptoms and more than 4 weeks in patients with dyspepsia or peptic ulcer. For research purposes, 6 months could be a possible definition in pharmacoepidemiological studies, whereas studies of adverse effects may require a tailored definition depending on the necessary exposure time. We recommend to always rationalise the choice of definition.