bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effects of Discontinuation of Drugs Used for Augmentation Therapy on Treatment Outcomes in Depression: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
Authors: Kato Hideo , Koizumi Teruki , Takeuchi Hiroyoshi , Tani Hideaki , Mimura Masaru , Uchida Hiroyuki
Published: December 2020

Introduction There has been no consensus on whether and how long add-on drugs for augmentation therapy should be continued in the treatment of depression.

Methods Double-blind randomized controlled trials that examined the effects of discontinuation of drugs used for augmentation on treatment outcomes in patients with depression were identified. Meta-analyses were performed to compare rates of study withdrawal due to any reason, study-defined relapse, and adverse events between patients who continued augmentation therapy and those who discontinued it.

Results Seven studies were included (n=841 for continuing augmentation therapy; n=831 for discontinuing augmentation therapy). The rate of study withdrawal due to any reason was not significantly different between the 2 groups (risk ratio [RR]=0.86, 95% confidence interval [CI]=0.69–1.08, p=0.20). Study withdrawal due to relapse was less frequent in the continuation group than in the discontinuation group (RR=0.61, 95% CI=0.40–0.92, p=0.02); however, this statistical significance disappeared when one study using esketamine as augmentation was excluded. Analysis of the data from 5 studies that included a stabilization period before randomization found less frequent relapse in the continuation group than in the discontinuation group (RR=0.47, 95% CI=0.36–0.60, p<0.01). This finding was repeated when the esketamine study was excluded.

Discussion No firm conclusions could be drawn in light of the small number of studies included. Currently available evidence suggests that add-on drugs, other than esketamine, used for augmentation therapy for depression may be discontinued. This may not be the case for patients who are maintained with augmentation therapy after remission.
Prompt Return to Work after Bilateral Transforaminal Full-endoscopic Lateral Recess Decompression under Local Anesthesia: A Case Report
Authors: Sugiura Kosuke , Yamashita Kazuta , Manabe Hiroaki , Ishihama Yoshihiro , Tezuka Fumitake , Takata Yoichiro , Sakai Toshinori , Maeda Toru , Sairyo Koichi
Published: December 2020

Transforaminal full-endoscopic lumbar diskectomy became established early in the 21st century. It can be performed under local anesthesia and requires only an 8-mm skin incision, making it the least invasive disk surgery method available. The full-endoscopic technique has recently been used to treat lumbar spinal canal stenosis. Here, we describe the outcome of simultaneous bilateral decompression of lumbar lateral recess stenosis via a transforaminal approach under local anesthesia in a 60-year-old man. The patient presented with a complaint of bilateral leg pain that was preventing him from standing and walking, and he had been able to continue his work as a dentist by treating patients while seated. Imaging studies revealed bilateral lumbar lateral recess stenosis with central herniated nucleus pulposus at L4/5. We performed simultaneous bilateral transforaminal full-endoscopic lumbar lateral recess decompression (TE-LRD) under local anesthesia. Both decompression and diskectomy were successfully completed without complications. Five days after TE-LRD, he was able to return to work, and 3 months after the surgery, he resumed playing golf. Full-endoscopic surgery under local anesthesia can be very effective in patients who need to return to work as soon as possible after surgery.
Giant Pericardial Tube Roll Aneurysm after the Treatment of Aortic Interruption
Authors: Ulukan Mustafa O. , Yildiz Yahya , Ata Emin C. , Oztas Didem M. , Erkanli Korhan , Ugurlucan Murat , Turkoglu Halil
Published: December 2020

Various techniques have been described for the treatment of interrupted aortic arch pathology. Graft interposition, either autologous or synthetic, is included among these methods. In this article, we present the images of giant pericardial roll aneurysm that was used for the treatment of aortic interruption during the newborn period.
Iatrogenic Acute Type A Aortic Dissection following Elective Cardiopulmonary Bypass
Authors: Huette Pierre , Beyls Christophe , Guilbart Mathieu , Haye Guillaume , Vial Jérémie , Touati Gilles , Mahjoub Yazine , Abou-Arab Osama
Published: December 2020

We report a 62-year-old woman who was scheduled for an elective Tirone David valve sparing aortic root replacement under cardiopulmonary bypass. Within the next few hours, the patient developed bilateral acute ischemia of both lower limbs. A thoracic and abdominopelvic computed tomography scan showed acute Type A aortic dissection with a perforation at the brachiocephalic arterial trunk and a complete malperfusion of the inferior mesenteric and iliac arteries.
Hallazgos en tomografía computada de las complicaciones de la pancreatitis aguda
Authors: Polanco Amesquita Víctor César , Larrañaga Nebil , Espil Germán , Romualdo Jésica Eliana , Prado Fabiana , Kozima Shigeru
Published: December 2020

La pancreatitis aguda es una patología inflamatoria del páncreas que se caracteriza por dolor abdominal y elevación de los niveles séricos de amilasa. Desde el punto de vista imagenológico, se la estudia con tomografía computada (TC), siendo esa la modalidad de elección para evaluar la extensión y la localización de las complicaciones. Según la gravedad, el tiempo de evolución y la extensión, hay distintos tipos de complicaciones y una variedad de hallazgos en TC.
Concomitant Rupture of Extensor Pollicis Longus and Index Extensor Tendons following Distal Radius Plating—Report of Two Cases and Their Clinical Implication for Tendon Transfer Surgery
Authors: Bhardwaj Praveen , Varadharajan Vigneswaran , Sabapathy S Raja
Published: December 2020

Extensor indicis proprius (EIP) tendon transfer is a standard operation for restoration of the thumb extension following rupture of extensor pollicis longus (EPL). In its standard form often the EIP is transferred to the EPL without inspection of the extensor tendons in the fourth compartment and it is retained in its anatomical fourth compartment. However, in a setting of EPL rupture in relation to the distal radius fracture (with or without fixation), concomitant injury to the extensor tendons to the index finger may result in failure of the transfer and even a loss of index finger extension (index finger drop) further complicating the reconstruction and resulting in immense patient dissatisfaction. We herein present two such rare cases to highlight this clinical scenario and how an awareness of this possibility and inspection of the extensor tendons to the index finger before EIP transfer allowed us to prevent this complication. In essence, if we know it, we can prevent it.
Dual-band transmissive metasurface with linear to dual-circular polarization conversion simultaneously
Authors: Han Bowen , Li Sijia , Cao Xiangyu , Han Jiangfeng , Jidi Liaori , Li Yunbo
Published: December 2020

Metasurfaces, as two dimensional periodic structures, are an important candidate to manipulate the polarization of electromagnetic (EM) waves. However, there are few reports on the simultaneous realization of wideband dual-circular polarization conversion using transmissive metasurfaces with one periodic structure in measurement. In this paper, we propose a dual-band dual-circular transmissive metasurface (DCT-MS) for polarization conversion. A DCT-MS simultaneously converts linearly polarized (LP) EM waves into left-hand circularly polarized (LHCP) EM waves in a lower band and right-hand circularly polarized (RHCP) EM waves in a higher band. The unit cell of a DCT-MS consists of a thin substrate and two metal patches in the shape of symmetrical arrows above and below the substrate. The simulated results show that LP waves can be converted into LHCP waves from 7.31 GHz to 10.58 GHz with the axial ratio less than 3 dB. Moreover, the RHCP waves can be realized from 14.26 GHz to 17.36 GHz with the same standard. A DCT-MS sample is measured, and the experimental results are in good agreement with the simulation results.
Bioavailable soil Pb minimized by in situ transformation to plumbojarosite
Authors: Karna Ranju R. , Noerpel Matt R. , Nelson Clay , Elek Brittany , Herbin-Davis Karen , Diamond Gary , Bradham Karen , Thomas David J. , Scheckel Kirk G.
Published: December 2020

Significance

As a strategy to stabilize soil Pb, we evaluated the effect of PLJ formation on the bioavailability of soil Pb. Our technology for PLJ formation resulted in >90% incorporation of soil Pb into the mineral structure of jarosite. This conversion decreased soil Pb bioavailability greater than 90%, even after pH neutralization to revitalize the soil to agronomic health. PLJ formation may be a more effective remediation method than other soil treatment technologies and may reduce removal clean-up efforts and costs. Because jarosite can sequester both cationic and anionic contaminants, it may be effective for both Pb and arsenic remediation. Furthermore, this treatment is not influenced by initial soil pH or organic matter content and uses an environmentally safe chemical.
Ancient DNA from Guam and the peopling of the Pacific
Authors: Pugach Irina , Hübner Alexander , Hung Hsiao-chun , Meyer Matthias , Carson Mike T. , Stoneking Mark
Published: December 2020

Significance

We know more about the settlement of Polynesia than we do about the settlement of the Mariana Islands in the western Pacific. There is debate over where people came from to get to the Marianas, with various lines of evidence pointing to the Philippines, Indonesia, New Guinea, or the Bismarck Archipelago, and over how the ancestors of the present Mariana Islanders, the Chamorro, might be related to Polynesians. We analyzed ancient DNA from Guam from two skeletons dating to ∼2,200 y ago and found that their ancestry is linked to the Philippines. Moreover, they are closely related to early Lapita skeletons from Vanuatu and Tonga, suggesting that the early Mariana Islanders may have been involved in the colonization of Polynesia.
Challenges in joining of metallic pipes using microwave hybrid heating
Authors: Gamit D N , Chudasama M K
Published: December 2020

Microwave hybrid heating (MHH) is a distinct and emerging alternative joining technique used to join metallic materials compared to available conventional joining processes such as FW, TIG, MIG, etc. MHH shows significant characteristics such as selective and volumetric heating, lower processing time, eco-friendly processing against conventional joining. This paper aims to investigate the joining of 316L stainless steel pipes by incorporating micrometric size (45μm) of 316L stainless steel powder in between the faying surfaces of the candidate material. Charcoal as a susceptor material was placed at the joint zone and exposed to microwave energy at 2.45 GHz inside the domestic microwave applicator at 900 W power levels. The challenges and principles involved in joining SS 316 L pipes using MHH have been discussed and initial experimental observations have been analyzed.
Unidirectional dry sliding wear analysis of ZE41 magnesium alloy
Authors: Kaushik B , Anand Kumar S , Prabhu T R , Moganraj A
Published: December 2020

Magnesium alloys have many characteristics like good castability, high strength to-weight ratio and good amenability. The ZE41 magnesium alloy consists of zirconium (Zr), zinc (Zn) and rare earth elements. Magnesium alloys have many application in aerospace, automotive industries and biomedical implants. Microstructure is shown for ZE41 magnesium alloy Wear rates are measured for ZE41 magnesium alloy using pin-on-disk experiment setup. Rate of wear and coefficient of friction is measured for 10N-20N range at sliding velocity of 0.5 m/s with constant sliding distance of 300 meters. It is observed that load is not affecting coefficient of friction significantly but there is decrement in the value of CoF when load is increased from 10N to 15N. Wear behaviour in initial condition is different but it is converging to general which means more the load more will be the wear. Wear mechanism is abrasion for low loads then slightly changes to delamination.
Slurry erosion behaviour of Ni-Hard under various impact angle and speed
Authors: Makwana Mohit , Sutaria B. M.
Published: December 2020

To Study wear analysis of slurry pump with an experimental condition is an economically costly and lengthy process. Therefore, wear study can be done on various laboratory tests such as Slurry pot tester, Coriolis wear tester, Whirling arm wear test device, particle impact jet test. To analyze of erosion wear rate of slurry pump material in different operating conditions is performed on slurry pot tester. In the latest pump the Ni-Hard is widely used material in the slurry transportation. The one of the major application of slurry pump made from Ni-Hard is in Thermal power plant for ash slurry transportation. In this paper an experimental work has been carried out to find the effect of impact angle and particle impact speed at 20% w/w slurry concentration of sand on the wear rate of the Ni-Hard material. From the experimental results it is found that as particle velocity increases erosion wear rate of the material is increases. It was also found that the erosion of the material increases with impact angle till 30° then the erosion of material decreases gradually.
Plant using Vibration Analysis
Authors: Panda D , Mohanty J K , Das S S , Mishra Anupam , Pradhan P K
Published: December 2020

Timely detection of fault and taking corrective measures reduces the downtime of any industry. It also increases the reliability and efficiency of the system. Nowadays, many industries have implemented condition monitoring (or condition based maintenance) techniques as a part of maintenance strategies. Condition based maintenance monitors the health condition of machine and diagnose the defect if any. Though there are various condition monitoring techniques, vibration analysis is one of the strongest and widely used technique for fault identification. It is used to diagnose the fault of rotating machine element. In a big power plant, condition monitoring techniques play an important role to reduce the downtime of primary system and its auxiliaries, which in turn leads to reduction in productivity loss. Therefore, it is desirable to ensure system availability.
Priority Based Train Scheduling Method Using ACO in Indian Railway Perspective
Authors: Mishra Abhishek , Kumar Neeraj , Kharb Seema
Published: December 2020

The aim of this paper is to solve a train scheduling problem (TSP) with different train priorities and travelling at different speeds in the Indian railways (IR) perspective. Initially, a mathematical model for a TSP is developed and then the Ant Colony Optimization (ACO) technique is applied to resolve the problem. A real-world train timetable problem is presented to make a comparison between the manual solutions method used by the Indian Railway (IR) and the solution obtained from ACO and CPLEX solver to check for quality and accuracy in terms of total travel time. The result shows that there is a 6.827% improvement in travel time using ACO over manual solution. A collision free train schedule is determined based on the obtained train sequence.
Lead Time Reduction for managing Engineering Changes
Authors: Kolapkar S. , Bharsakade R. S. , Rajurkar A. U.
Published: December 2020

Engineering changes need to be done in a product because of design improvement, product and process optimization, government regulations, etc. Implementation of those changes in the production shop floor involves multiple stakeholders and functions within and outside the company. Engineering change management (ECM) is the process of communication between all stakeholders to implement and document the engineering change on the shop floor. This involvement of multiple stakeholders and responsibilities increases ECM lead time and creates a challenge for change implementation on the shop floor. This paper presents such a case of engineering changes for factory shop floor implementation. Causes like delay in decisions behind an increase in lead time have been investigated. Process automation solutions that can reduce the ECM lead time drastically have been proposed and implemented. The developed solution for tool selection and layout problems achieves almost a 66% reduction in lead time and helps the factory for process standardization and resource optimization.
Optimization of Model and Structural Analysis Hypoid Gear
Authors: Ramana Reddy D.V. , Revanth Kumar G.
Published: December 2020

The purpose of this work is to analyze structural behaviour of differential hypoid gear. For the studying of the structural analysis of the gear is made up of the different composite materials & as well as alloy materials compared with conventional metallic materials. As, composite materials provide enough strength and emerged as a good alternative for replacing metallic gears which is Ni-Cr steel. The alloy materials considered here is Aluminium alloy, Grey cast iron, and the composite material is Epoxy E-Glass unidirectional and compare with existing gear material Ni-Cr steel. This work makes an attempt to replace the metallic gears of Ni-Cr steel with alloy & composite materials based on static structural analysis results. For the analysis purpose the solid model is created by using CATIAV5R20 design software and ANSYS 17.1 is used to determine the Total deformation, Von-Mises stress and the equivalent elastic strain for the different selected materials at three different speeds.
Influence of Alkaline ratios on strength properties of Fly ash-Ground Granulated Blast Furnace Slag Based Geopolymer Mortars
Authors: Venu M. , Rao G. Mallikarjuna , Kumar Y. Anil , Madduru Sri Rama Chand , Bellum Ramamohana Reddy
Published: December 2020

Geopolymer concrete is a new and alternative to cement concrete, thus decreasing greenhouse emissions and leading to better construction practices. This can be produced by complete replacement of cement with pozzolanic materials such as Fly Ash (FA), Ground Granulated Blast Furnace Slag (GGBS) and activation through alkaline activator solution. The present study aims to investigate the effect of 8M sodium hydroxide solution for the chemical ratios of Na2SiO3 to NaOH are 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, and 3 with different combinations of fly ash and GGBS. The cast specimens were outdoor cured and tested at the age of 1, 3, 7, and 28 days for compressive strength, followed by XRD analysis to identify the mineralogical variations with a change in parameters. The obtained results concluded that GGBS content with 8M concentration of sodium hydroxide in the mix increases the compressive strength of geopolymer mortar. The optimum dosage of Na2SiO3/NaOH was 2.5 based on the compressive strength of mortar. The compounds responsible for strength were identified through XRD analysis as N-A-S-H gel and C-A-S-H gel in mixes with fly ash and GGBS as binders.
Optimization of Time and Cost for a Research Project by Project Crashing Method
Authors: Sharma S , Bedi N , Sukhwani VK
Published: December 2020

The aim of current study is to access trade off between time and cost for the duration of a research project. A linear programming model (LPP) was developed and used for the same purpose. Normal and Crashing Costs for the project activities were obtained from the principal investigator of the project and were used for conducting the analysis in the excel solver. Maximum and minimum duration for the project was obtained through critical path method and crashing method respectively. The result of the study indicated significant reduction in project duration with normal increase in project cost. A small increase in the project cost with reduction of nearly 45 days in the project interval was observed. Nearly 5% increase in cost of the project was noticed with reduction of 15% in total project duration.
Stability of the cut locus and a central limit theorem for Fréchet means of Riemannian manifolds
Authors: Eltzner Benjamin , Galaz-García Fernando , Huckemann Stephan , Tuschmann Wilderich
Published: December 2020

We obtain a central limit theorem for closed Riemannian manifolds, clarifying along the way the geometric meaning of some of the hypotheses in Bhattacharya and Lin’s Omnibus central limit theorem for Fréchet means. We obtain our CLT assuming certain stability hypothesis for the cut locus, which always holds when the manifold is compact but may not be satisfied in the non-compact case.
Therapeutic dilemmas in dialysis patients hospitalized for COVID-19: balancing between nihilism, off-label treatment and side effects
Authors: Kusztal Mariusz , Myślak Marek
Published: December 2020

Avoiding the use of drugs in patients with a glomerular filtration rate (GFR) <30 mL/min/1.73 m2 is due to the exclusion of this group of patients from many clinical trials. However, in view of the widespread COVID-19 pandemic and the need to treat all patients, including those with renal failure, the World Health Organization points out in the Solidarity trial the need for the inclusion some patients with kidney failure and recognizes the urgent need for trials/studies in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) with lower GFR. It is well known that the therapeutic goal to treat patients with renal failure, acute kidney injury or on maintenance dialysis is complicated by pharmacokinetics, drug interactions and extracorporeal therapies. In patients with COVID-19 and impaired kidney function, the role of nephrologists is crucial in order to draw a balance between nihilism and benefits or potentially harmful effects of current available treatments. The potential use of European Medicines Agency recommended remdesivir and dexamethasone for COVID-19 among dialysis patients are discussed.
Polyalanine peptide variations may have different mechanisms of action against multidrug-resistant bacterial pathogens
Authors: Felício Mário R , Silveira Gislaine G O S , Oshiro Karen G N , Meneguetti Beatriz T , Franco Octávio L , Santos Nuno C , Gonçalves Sónia
Published: December 2020

Objectives

The number of bacterial pathogens resistant to the currently available antibiotics has dramatically increased, with antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) being among the most promising potential new drugs. In this study, the applicability and mechanisms of action of Pa-MAP 2 and Pa-MAP 1.9, two AMPs synthetically designed based on a natural AMP template, were evaluated.

Methods

Pa-MAP 2 and Pa-MAP 1.9 were tested against a clinically isolated multidrug-resistant (MDR) Escherichia coli strain. Biophysical approaches were used to evaluate the preference of both peptides for specific lipid membranes, and bacterial surface changes imaged by atomic force microscopy (AFM). The efficacy of both peptides was assessed both in vitro and in vivo.

Results

Experimental results showed that both peptides have antimicrobial activity against the E. coli MDR strain. Zeta potential and surface plasmon resonance assays showed that they interact extensively with negatively charged membranes, changing from a random coil structure, when free in solution, to an α-helical structure after membrane interaction. The antibacterial efficacy was evaluated in vitro, by several techniques, and in vivo, using a wound infection model, showing a concentration-dependent antibacterial effect. Different membrane properties were evaluated to understand the mechanism underlying peptide action, showing that both promote destabilization of the bacterial surface, as imaged by AFM, and change properties such as membrane surface and dipole potential.

Conclusions

Despite their similarity, data indicate that the mechanisms of action of the peptides are different, with Pa-MAP 1.9 being more effective than Pa-MAP 2. These results highlight their potential use as antimicrobial agents against MDR bacteria.
Rare presentation of growing teratoma syndrome in patient with remote history of testicular cancer resection
Authors: Nelson Blessie , Warfield Dylan , Mejia Camilo Velasquez , Walker John Patrick
Published: December 2020

Growing teratoma syndrome (GTS) is documented in literature to be a rare complication of non-seminomatous germ cell tumors that arises following chemotherapeutic treatment. Though represented through multiple case reports, the condition is rare that it evades observation and diagnosis, leading to complications secondary to metastasis and unchecked growth. GTS is identified via incidental finding on imaging (e.g. CT) or due to complications involving mass obstruction. Due to the potential severity of undiagnosed malignancy, it is important to effectively diagnose GTS in those presenting with non-specific symptoms and a history of testicular/ovarian cancer. It is also necessary to develop a method on how to monitor those considered to be at increased risk for developing such a condition. Here, we present a case of a middle-aged male who presented with complaints of a left lower quadrant abdominal mass and incidental finding of right retroperitoneal lesion, consistent with GTS.
Congenital peritoneal encapsulation—a rare entity presented with small bowel obstruction
Authors: Tojal André , Marques Júlio , Coelho Sandra , Ferreira Maria-João , Carrilho Noel , Horta-Oliveira António , Casimiro Carlos
Published: December 2020

Congenital peritoneal encapsulation is a rare congenital malformation in which all or part of the small bowel is covered by a thin accessory peritoneal membrane. Despite being usually asymptomatic and an incidental finding during surgery or autopsy, there is a small number of reports in the literature whose diagnosis was established in the context of intestinal obstruction. The authors review the topic and describe a case report undergoing surgery for intestinal obstruction. Intraoperatively, there was a partial peritoneal encapsulation of the small bowel with signs of intestinal malrotation. Peritoneal membrane excision, terminal ileum release and complementary appendicectomy were performed. There was a favorable clinical evolution in the postoperative period. Although rare, it is important to remember this entity in the differential diagnosis of patients with intestinal obstruction, in the absence of other etiologic factors.
Patent Macracanthorhynchus ingens Infection in a 17-Month-Old Child, Ohio
Authors: Chancey Rebecca J , Sapp Sarah G H , Fox Mark , Bishop Henry S , Ndubuisi MacKevin , de Almeida Marcos , Montgomery Susan P , Congeni Blaise
Published: December 2020

Limited data exist on human Macracanthorhynchus infections. We report an asymptomatic 17-month-old who passed eggs and an adult Macracanthorhynchus ingens worm, indicating parasite maturation and reproduction. Macracanthorhynchus ingens may have a greater capacity to mature in humans versus Macracanthorhynchus hirudinaceus.
Anxiety
Authors: Bergo Bettina
Published: December 2020

This is a study of the unlikely “career” of anxiety in nineteenth- and twentieth-century philosophy. Anxiety is an affect, something more subtle, sometimes more persistent, than an emotion or a passion. It lies at the intersection of embodiment and cognition, sensation and emotion. But anxiety also runs like a red thread through European thought, beginning from receptions of Kant’s transcendental project. Like a symptom of the quest to situate and give life to the philosophical subject, like a symptom of an interrogation that strove to take form in European intellectual culture, angst (from anxiety to anguish) passed through Schelling’s Romanticism into Schopenhauer’s metaphysics, until it was approached existentially by Kierkegaard. Nietzsche situates it in the long history of producing an animal able to promise. Its returns in the twentieth century allow us to grasp the connection between phenomenology’s exploration of passivity, followed by interpretations of the human reality in a world and open to a call that it can hardly assume. The study thus begins with Kant; it probes late idealism and Romanticism, the metaphysical vitalism that flickered with Schopenhauer, the aesthetics and religious senses of angst in Nietzsche and Kierkegaard. It turns to three avatars of anxiety in the evolving psychoanalysis before exploring the return to rationalism and formalism in twentieth-century phenomenology, followed again by efforts to resituate human beings in world and body as well as, significantly, before the anxiogenic “other.”
Increased cortical excitability but stable effective connectivity index during attentional lapses
Authors: Cardone Paolo , Van Egroo Maxime , Chylinski Daphne , Narbutas Justinas , Gaggioni Giulia , Vandewalle Gilles
Published: December 2020

Modern lifestyle curtails sleep and increases nighttime work and leisure activities. This has a deleterious impact on vigilance and attention, exacerbating chances of committing attentional lapses, with potential dramatic outcomes. Here, we investigated the brain signature of attentional lapses and assessed whether cortical excitability and brain response propagation were modified during lapses and whether these modifications changed with aging. We compared electroencephalogram (EEG) responses to transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) during lapse and no-lapse periods while performing a continuous attentional/vigilance task at night, after usual bedtime. Data were collected in healthy younger (N = 12; 18–30 years) and older individuals (N = 12; 50–70 years) of both sexes. The amplitude and slope of the first component of the TMS-evoked potential were larger during lapses. In contrast, TMS response scattering over the cortical surface, as well as EEG response complexity, did not significantly vary between lapse and no-lapse periods. Importantly, despite qualitative differences, age did not significantly affect any of the TMS–EEG measures. These results demonstrate that attentional lapses are associated with a transient increase of cortical excitability. This initial change is not associated with detectable changes in subsequent effective connectivity—as indexed by response propagation—and are not markedly different between younger and older adults. These findings could contribute to develop models aimed to predicting and preventing lapses in real-life situations.
Occupational use of agrochemicals results in inhibited cholinesterase activity and altered reproductive hormone levels in male farmers from Buea, Cameroon
Authors: Manfo Faustin Pascal Tsagué , Suh Christian Fusi , Nantia Edouard Akono , Moundipa Paul Fewou , Cho-Ngwa Fidelis
Published: December 2020

The efficiency of agro pesticides and fertilizers in eliminating pests and scaling up crop yield has motivated farmers to increase their use. Unfortunately, health hazards caused on farmers by these agrochemicals are of growing concern, though not well elucidated. In order to evaluate the effects of occupational exposure to agrochemicals on some key parameters of male farmers’ health in Buea Subdivision, Cameroon, a total of 101 men, including 62 farmers using the agrochemicals and a reference population of 39 men not involved in occupational utilization of the agrochemicals, were interviewed on use of protective equipment, exposure symptoms and reproductive health status. Thereafter, serum cholinesterase [acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE)] activities, total antioxidant capacity and reproductive hormones [follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone and testosterone] were assessed. Results revealed that farmers mainly used insecticides followed by fungicides, herbicides and fertilizers, but with inadequate protective measures. The use of agrochemicals resulted in several exposure symptoms including weakness, itches, burning sensation, headache, sneezing, coughing and vomiting, as well as decrease in serum AChE activity when compared to the reference population. The agrochemicals impacted negatively on the farmers’ reproductive health as evidenced by increased FSH levels. Taken altogether, these results suggested that exposure to agrochemicals adversely affects farmers’ health. Therefore, there is a need to further sensitize the farmers on the use of protective equipment to mitigate the exposure and resulting health hazards.
The effect of malaria on stunting: an instrumental variables approach
Authors: Ateba François Freddy , Doumbia Seydou , ter Kuile Feiko O , Terlouw Dianne J , Lefebvre Genevieve , Kariuki Simon , Small Dylan S
Published: December 2020

Background

Previous studies have found mixed evidence for an effect of malaria on stunting, but have suffered from concerns about confounding and/or power. Currently, an effect of malaria on stunting is not included in the Lives Saved Tool (LiST) model.

Methods

We used instrumental variables regression with the sickle cell trait and random assignment to bednets as instruments in the analysis of data on children aged 0–2 y from a bednet trial in western Kenya.

Results

We estimated that one additional clinical malaria episode per year increases the odds of a child being stunted by 6% (OR estimate: 1.06, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.11).

Conclusions

Our finding that malaria affects stunting suggests that an effect of malaria on stunting in young children should be considered in the LiST model.
DNA Methylation Age Is More Closely Associated With Infection Risk Than Chronological Age in Kidney Transplant Recipients
Authors: Schaenman Joanna , Zhou Xinkai , Guo Rong , Rossetti Maura , Liang Emily C. , Lum Erik , Abdalla Basmah , Bunnapradist Suphamai , Pham Phuong-Thu T. , Danovitch Gabriel , Karlamangla Arun , Reed Elaine , Horvath Steve , Elashoff David
Published: December 2020

Background.

Older kidney transplant recipients demonstrate increased rates of infection but decreased rates of rejection compared with younger recipients, suggesting that older transplant patients are functionally overimmunosuppressed. We hypothesized that this is a consequence of reduction in immunological activity due to biological aging and that an immune biological age, as determined by DNA methylation (DNAm), would be associated more strongly with incidence of infection than chronological age.

Methods.

DNAm analysis was performed on peripheral blood mononuclear cell collected from 60 kidney transplant recipients representing older (≥age 60 y) and younger (aged 30–59 y) patients 3 months after transplantation. DNAm age was calculated based on methylation status of a panel of CpG sites, which have been previously identified as indicative of biological age.

Results.

Correlation was seen between chronological and DNAm age; however, there were many patients with significant differences (either acceleration or slowing) between DNAm age and chronological age. A statistically significant association was seen between increased DNAm age and incidence of infection in the first year after kidney transplantation, whereas no significant association was seen between chronological age and infection.

Conclusions.

Assessment of DNAm age holds promise as an approach for patient evaluation and individualization of immune suppression regimens. This analysis may provide insights into the immunological mechanism behind increased incidence of infection observed in older transplant patients. The ability to measure biological age would allow for patient risk stratification and individualization of immunosuppression, improving outcomes for the growing numbers of older patients undergoing kidney transplantation.
ADAMTS proteases in cardiovascular physiology and disease
Authors: Santamaria Salvatore , de Groot Rens
Published: December 2020

The a disintegrin-like and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motif (ADAMTS) family comprises 19 proteases that regulate the structure and function of extracellular proteins in the extracellular matrix and blood. The best characterized cardiovascular role is that of ADAMTS-13 in blood. Moderately low ADAMTS-13 levels increase the risk of ischeamic stroke and very low levels (less than 10%) can cause thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP). Recombinant ADAMTS-13 is currently in clinical trials for treatment of TTP. Recently, new cardiovascular roles for ADAMTS proteases have been discovered. Several ADAMTS family members are important in the development of blood vessels and the heart, especially the valves. A number of studies have also investigated the potential role of ADAMTS-1, -4 and -5 in cardiovascular disease. They cleave proteoglycans such as versican, which represent major structural components of the arteries. ADAMTS-7 and -8 are attracting considerable interest owing to their implication in atherosclerosis and pulmonary arterial hypertension, respectively. Mutations in theADAMTS19gene cause progressive heart valve disease and missense variants inADAMTS6are associated with cardiac conduction. In this review, we discuss in detail the evidence for these and other cardiovascular roles of ADAMTS family members, their proteolytic substrates and the potential molecular mechanisms involved.
Asymmetric contextual effects in age perception
Authors: Awad Deema , Clifford Colin W. G. , White David , Mareschal Isabelle
Published: December 2020

Perception is context dependent. For example, the perceived orientation of a bar changes depending on the presence of oriented bars around it. Contextual effects have also been demonstrated for more complex judgements, such as facial attractiveness or expression, although it remains unclear how these contextual facial effects depend on the types of faces surrounding the target face. To examine this, we measured the perceived age (a quantifiable measure) of a target face in the presence of differently aged faces in the surround. Using a unique database of standardized passport photos, participants were asked to estimate the age of a target face which was viewed either on its own or surrounded by two different identity flanker faces. The flanker faces were either both younger or both older than the target face, with different age offsets between flankers and targets of ±5, ±10, ±15, ±20 years. We find that when a target face is surrounded by younger faces, it systematically appears younger than when viewed on its own, and when it is surrounded by older faces, it systematically appears older than when viewed on its own. Surprisingly, we find that the magnitude of the flanker effects on perceived age of the target is asymmetric with younger flankers having a greater influence than older flankers, a result that may reflect the participants' own-age bias, since all participants were young. This result holds irrespective of gender or race of the faces and is consistent with averaging.
Forest landscape restoration: state of play
Authors: Stanturf John A. , Mansourian Stephanie
Published: December 2020

Tree planting has been widely touted as an inexpensive way to meet multiple international environmental goals for mitigating climate change, reversing landscape degradation and restoring biodiversity restoration. The Bonn Challenge and New York Declaration on Forests, motivated by widespread deforestation and forest degradation, call for restoring 350 million ha by 2030 by relying on forest landscape restoration (FLR) processes. Because the 173 million ha commitments made by 63 nations, regions and companies are not legally binding, expectations of what FLR means lacks consensus. The frequent disconnect between top-level aspirations and on-the-ground implementation results in limited data on FLR activities. Additionally, some countries have made landscape-scale restoration outside of the Bonn Challenge. We compared and contrasted the theory and practice of FLR and compiled information from databases of projects and initiatives and case studies. We present the main FLR initiatives happening across regional groups; in many regions, the potential need/opportunity for forest restoration exceeds the FLR activities underway. Multiple objectives can be met by manipulating vegetation (increasing structural complexity, changing species composition and restoring natural disturbances). Livelihood interventions are context-specific but include collecting or raising non-timber forest products, employment and community forests; other interventions address tenure and governance.
Correlating
in vitro
performance with physico-chemical characteristics of nanofibrous scaffolds for skin tissue engineering using supervised machine learning algorithms
Authors: Sujeeun Lakshmi Y. , Goonoo Nowsheen , Ramphul Honita , Chummun Itisha , Gimié Fanny , Baichoo Shakuntala , Bhaw-Luximon Archana
Published: December 2020

The engineering of polymeric scaffolds for tissue regeneration has known a phenomenal growth during the past decades as materials scientists seek to understand cell biology and cell–material behaviour. Statistical methods are being applied to physico-chemical properties of polymeric scaffolds for tissue engineering (TE) to guide through the complexity of experimental conditions. We have attempted using experimental
in vitro
data and physico-chemical data of electrospun polymeric scaffolds, tested for skin TE, to model scaffold performance using machine learning (ML) approach. Fibre diameter, pore diameter, water contact angle and Young's modulus were used to find a correlation with 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay of L929 fibroblasts cells on the scaffolds after 7 days. Six supervised learning algorithms were trained on the data using Seaborn/Scikit-learn Python libraries. After hyperparameter tuning, random forest regression yielded the highest accuracy of 62.74%. The predictive model was also correlated with
in vivo
data. This is a first preliminary study on ML methods for the prediction of cell–material interactions on nanofibrous scaffolds.
Three-dimensional visualization as a tool for interpreting locomotion strategies in ophiuroids from the Devonian Hunsrück Slate
Authors: Clark E. G. , Hutchinson J. R. , Briggs D. E. G.
Published: December 2020

Living brittle stars (Echinodermata: Ophiuroidea) employ a very different locomotion strategy to that of any other metazoan: five or more arms coordinate powerful strides for rapid movement across the ocean floor. This mode of locomotion is reliant on the unique morphology and arrangement of multifaceted skeletal elements and associated muscles and other soft tissues. The skeleton of many Palaeozoic ophiuroids differs markedly from that in living forms, making it difficult to infer their mode of locomotion and, therefore, to resolve the evolutionary history of locomotion in the group. Here, we present three-dimensional digital renderings of specimens of six ophiuroid taxa from the Lower Devonian Hunsrück Slate: four displaying the arm structure typical of Palaeozoic taxa (
Encrinaster roemeri, Euzonosoma tischbeinianum, Loriolaster mirabilis, Cheiropteraster giganteus
) and two (
Furcaster palaeozoicus
,
Ophiurina lymani
) with morphologies more similar to those in living forms. The use of three-dimensional digital visualization allows the structure of the arms of specimens of these taxa to be visualized
in situ
in the round, to our knowledge for the first time. The lack of joint interfaces necessary for musculoskeletally-driven locomotion supports the interpretation that taxa with offset ambulacrals would not be able to conduct this form of locomotion, and probably used podial walking. This approach promises new insights into the phylogeny, functional morphology and ecological role of Palaeozoic brittle stars.
Uncertainty in and around biophysical modelling: insights from interdisciplinary research on agricultural digitalization
Authors: Espig M. , Finlay-Smits S. C. , Meenken E. D. , Wheeler D. M. , Sharifi M.
Published: December 2020

Agricultural digitalization is providing growing amounts of real-time digital data. Biophysical simulation models can help interpret these data. However, these models are subject to complex uncertainties, which has prompted calls for interdisciplinary research to better understand and communicate modelling uncertainties and their impact on decision-making. This article develops two corresponding insights from an interdisciplinary project in a New Zealand agricultural research organization. First, we expand on a recentRoyal Society Open Sciencejournal article (van der Bleset al. 2019Royal Society Open Science6, 181870 (doi:10.1098/rsos.181870)) and suggest a threefold conceptual framework to describe direct, indirect and contextual uncertainties associated with biophysical models. Second, we reflect on the process of developing this framework to highlight challenges to successful collaboration and the importance of a deeper engagement with interdisciplinarity. This includes resolving often unequal disciplinary standings and the need for early collaborative problem framing. We propose that both insights are complementary and informative to researchers and practitioners in the field of modelling uncertainty as well as to those interested in interdisciplinary environmental research generally. The article concludes by outlining limitations of interdisciplinary research and a shift towards transdisciplinarity that also includes non-scientists. Such a shift is crucial to holistically address uncertainties associated with biophysical modelling and to realize the full potential of agricultural digitalization.
Virtue as the mean: Pan-human consensus genome significantly improves the accuracy of RNA-seq analyses
Authors: Kaminow Benjamin , Ballouz Sara , Gillis Jesse , Dobin Alexander
Published: December 2020

The Human Reference Genome serves as the foundation for modern genomic analyses. However, in its present form, it does not adequately represent the vast genetic diversity of the human population. In this study, we explored the consensus genome as a potential successor of the current Reference genome and assessed its effect on the accuracy of RNA-seq read alignment. In order to find the best haploid genome representation, we constructed consensus genomes at the Pan-human, Super-population and Population levels, utilizing variant information from the 1000 Genomes project. Using personal haploid genomes as the ground truth, we compared mapping errors for real RNA-seq reads aligned to the consensus genomes versus the Reference genome. For reads overlapping homozygous variants, we found that the mapping error decreased by a factor of ~2-3 when the Reference was replaced with the Pan-human consensus genome. Interestingly, we also found that using more population-specific consensuses resulted in little to no increase over using the Pan-human consensus, suggesting a limit in the utility of incorporating more specific genomic variation. To assess the functional impact, we compared splice junction expression in the different genomes and found that the Pan-human consensus increases accuracy of splice junction quantification for hundreds of splice junctions.
Diffusion Fails to Make a Stink
Authors: McCaul Gerard , Mershin Andreas , Bondar Denys I.
Published: December 2020

In this work we consider the question of whether a simple diffusive model can explain the scent tracking behaviors found in nature. For such tracking to occur, both the concentration of a scent and its gradient must be above some threshold. Applying these conditions to the solutions of various diffusion equations, we find that a purely diffusive model cannot simultaneously satisfy the tracking conditions when parameters are in the experimentally observed range. This demonstrates the necessity of modelling odor dispersal with full fluid dynamics, where non-linear phenomena such as turbulence play a critical role.