bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Optimization algorithm and simulation of supply chain coordination based on cross-border E-commerce network platform
Authors: Wang Deli , Li Wuwei
Published: February 2021

With the rapid development of cross-border e-commerce, the improvement of consumer satisfaction has become the focus of cross-border e-commerce platform optimization. Relying on advanced algorithm technology, it can realize the accurate and efficient matching between massive information and users, which is conducive to improving the user experience. Based on the consideration of consumer satisfaction, this paper constructs a dual channel supply chain composed of cross-border suppliers, cross-border e-commerce enterprises, retailers and consumers and studies the revenue and cost sharing contract of the supply chain under the conditions of centralized decision and decentralized decision. The research shows that cross-border e-commerce enterprises can choose to form revenue and expenditure sharing contracts through online and offline channels, optimize decentralized decision-making, and achieve win–win cooperation among supply chain entities.
A proactive resource allocation method based on adaptive prediction of resource requests in cloud computing
Authors: Chen Jing , Wang Yinglong , Liu Tao
Published: February 2021

With the development of big data and artificial intelligence, cloud resource requests present more complex features, such as being sudden, arriving in batches and being diverse, which cause the resource allocation to lag far behind the resource requests and an unbalanced resource utilization that wastes resources. To solve this issue, this paper proposes a proactive resource allocation method based on the adaptive prediction of the resource requests in cloud computing. Specifically, this method first proposes an adaptive prediction method based on the runs test that improves the prediction accuracy of resource requests, and then, it builds a multiobjective resource allocation optimization model, which alleviates the latency of the resource allocation and balances the utilizations of the different types of resources of a physical machine. Furthermore, a multiobjective evolutionary algorithm, the Nondominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm with the Elite Strategy (NSGA-II), is improved to further reduce the resource allocation time by accelerating the solution speed of the multiobjective optimization model. The experimental results show that this method realizes the balanced utilization between the CPU and memory resources and reduces the resource allocation time by at least 43% (10 threads) compared with the Improved Strength Pareto Evolutionary algorithm (SPEA2) and NSGA-II methods.
Effect of interventions based on regular physical activity on weight management in adolescents: a systematic review and a meta-analysis
Authors: Moeini Babak , Rezapur-Shahkolai Forouzan , Bashirian Saeed , Doosti-Irani Amin , Afshari Maryam , Geravandi Azam
Published: February 2021

Background

Physical inactivity is one of the major risk factors for non-communicable diseases. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to assess the effects of educational interventions on promoting regular physical activity in adolescent weight management programs.

Methods

The relevant studies indexed in Embase, Web of Science, Scopus, and ProQuest databases were searched using keywords namely “Physical Activity, Adolescent, Weight Management, Body Mass Index (BMI), Randomized Controlled Trials, and Clinical Trial.” Up to the end of March 2020, two authors independently screened the papers, extracted data, and assessed the methodological quality of the studies using Effective Public Health Practice Project (EPHPP) tool.

Results

Out of 12,944 initial studies, 14 met the inclusion criteria after screening the titles, abstracts, and full texts of the papers. The participants in these studies were aged between 6 and 18 years, and 13 studies included participants from both sexes. Moreover, eight of them were performed as a controlled clinical trial. The overall estimate of the difference showed that the interventions improved weight loss which is a statistically significant finding. The participants in the intervention group had a weight loss of 1.02 kg compared to the control group at a 95% confidence interval (− 4.794–0.222).

Conclusion

Published longitudinal data indicated that physical activity declines over the transition from adolescence to adulthood. Using the results of the study, policy-makers can design educational interventions using educational models and patterns.

Systematic review registration

PROSPERO registration number: CRD42020173869
Obesity and clinical severity in patients with COVID-19: a scoping review protocol
Authors: Costa Marcela Larissa , Souza Carlos Adriano Santos , Silva Ana Caroline Cardoso , Santos Dayane Franciely Conceição , Nonato Edilene Fernandes , Santana Francismayne Batista , dos Santos Dias Giselle , Barreto Jessyca Teles , Costa Laís Santos , Costa Maria Carolina Barros , das Neves Ferreira Tamila , Santana Jeniffer Santos , Mendes-Netto Raquel Simões , do Nascimento Tereza Virgínia Silva Bezerra , Nunes Marco Antônio Prado , de Souza Márcia Ferreira Cândido
Published: February 2021

Background

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19), caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 strain, was first identified in late 2019 in China. The outcomes of patients affected by the virus can worsen, developing acute respiratory failure and other serious complications, especially in older individuals and people with obesity and comorbidities. Thus, obese patients tend to have a more severe course of COVID-19. Thus, this review aims to synthesize the evidence in the literature that associates COVID-19 and the severity of clinical outcomes in infected obese patients.

Methods

This protocol was designed following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Protocols Statement. Scientific and gray literature will be systematically selected from PubMed/MEDLINE, Latin American Literature in Health Sciences, Online Scientific Electronic Library, Scopus, ScienceDirect, Web of Science, Embase, and Cochrane. The selection of articles will be limited to studies published in English, Portuguese, and Spanish from December 2019 onwards. The main clinical outcomes will be clinical severity in obese patients with COVID-19 as tachypnea (respiratory rate, ≥ 30 breaths per minute), hypoxemia (oxygen saturation, ≤ 93%), the ratio of the partial pressure of arterial oxygen to fraction of inspired oxygen (< 300), lung infiltrate (> 50% of the lung field involved within 24–48 h), diagnosis of the severe acute respiratory syndrome, need of invasive mechanical ventilation, and mortality. Two reviewers will independently screen all citations, full-text articles, and abstract data. Selection bias will be minimized by excluding studies published before December 2019. Conflicts will be resolved through a third reviewer and consensus-building. Moreover, findings will be reported using narrative synthesis and tabulation of the summaries.

Discussion

Given the need for early detection of the possible implications and treatment for patients with obesity diagnosed with COVID-19, the scoping review will be useful to capture the state of the current literature, identify the gaps, and make recommendations for future research for directing the conduct and optimization of therapies in these patients by the multiprofessional teams.

Systematic review registration

Open Science Framework: https://osf.io/xrkec
Finite-time stability of multiterm fractional nonlinear systems with multistate time delay
Authors: Arthi G. , Brindha N. , Ma Yong-Ki
Published: February 2021

This work is mainly concentrated on finite-time stability of multiterm fractional system for$0 < \alpha _{2} \leq 1 < \alpha _{1} \leq 2$0<α2≤1<α1≤2with multistate time delay. Considering the Caputo derivative and generalized Gronwall inequality, we formulate the novel sufficient conditions such that the multiterm nonlinear fractional system is finite time stable. Further, we extend the result of stability in the finite range of time to the multiterm fractional integro-differential system with multistate time delay for the same order by obtaining some inequality using the Gronwall approach. Finally, from the examples, the advantage of presented scheme can guarantee the stability in the finite range of time of considered systems.
Common fixed point for some generalized contractive mappings in a modular metric space with a graph
Authors: Chaira Karim , Eladraoui Abderrahim , Kabil Mustapha , Kamouss Abdessamad
Published: February 2021

In this paper, we investigate the existence and the uniqueness of a common fixed point of a pair of self-mappings satisfying new contractive type conditions on a modular metric space endowed with a reflexive digraph. An application is given to show the use of our main result.
Sustainable neonatal CLABSI surveillance: consensus towards new criteria in the Netherlands
Authors:   the Working Group on Neonatal Infectious Diseases of the Section of Neonatology of the Dutch Paediatric Society, Heijting I. E. , Antonius T. A. J. , Tostmann A. , de Boode W. P. , Hogeveen M. , Hopman J.
Published: February 2021

Background

Central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI) are a main focus of infection prevention and control initiatives in neonatal care. Standardised surveillance of neonatal CLABSI enables intra- and interfacility comparisons which can contribute to quality improvement. To date, there is no national registration system for CLABSI in neonatal care in the Netherlands and several criteria are used for local monitoring of CLABSI incidence rates. To achieve standardised CLABSI surveillance we conducted a consensus procedure with regard to nationwide neonatal CLABSI surveillance criteria (SC).

Methods

A modified Delphi consensus procedure for the development of nationwide neonatal CLABSI SC was performed between January 2016 and January 2017 in the Netherlands. An expert panel was formed by members of the Working Group on Neonatal Infectious Diseases of the Section of Neonatology of the Dutch Paediatric Society. The consensus procedure consisted of three expert panel rounds.

Results

The expert panel achieved consensus on Dutch neonatal CLABSI SC. Neonatal CLABSI is defined as a bloodstream infection occurring more than 72 h after birth, associated with an indwelling central venous or arterial line and laboratory confirmed by one or more blood cultures. In addition, the blood culture finding should not be related to an infection at another site and one of the following criteria can be applied: 1. a bacterial or fungal pathogen is identified from one or more blood cultures; 2. the patient has clinical symptoms of sepsis and 2A) a common commensal is identified in two separate blood cultures or 2B) a common commensal is identified by one blood culture and C-reactive protein level is above 10 mg/L in the first 36 h following blood culture collection.

Conclusions

The newly developed Dutch neonatal CLABSI SC are concise, specified to the neonatal population and comply with a single blood culture policy in actual neonatal clinical practice. International agreement upon neonatal CLABSI SC is needed to identify best practices for infection prevention and control.
Grave thoraco-intestinal complication secondary to an undetected traumatic rupture of the diaphragm: a case report
Authors: Beshay Morris , Krüger Martin , Singh Kashika , Borgstedt Rainer , Benhidjeb Tahar , Bölke Edwin , Vordemvenne Thomas , Schulte am Esch Jan
Published: February 2021

Background

Diaphragmatic lesions as a result of blunt or penetrating trauma are challenging to detect in the initial trauma setting. This is especially true when diaphragmatic trauma is part of a polytrauma. Complications of undetected diaphragmatic defects with incarcerating bowel are rare, but as in our patient can be serious.

Case presentation

A 57-year-old female presented to the Emergency Room of our Hospital in a critical condition with 3 days of increasing abdominal pain. The initial clinical examination showed peritonism with tinkling peristaltic bowel sounds of mechanical obstruction. A thoraco-abdominal CT scan demonstrated colon prolapsed through the left diaphragmatic center with a large sero-pneumothorax under tension. As the patient was hemodynamically increasingly unstable with developing septic shock, an emergency laparotomy was performed. After retraction of the left colon, which had herniated through a defect of the tendinous center of the left diaphragm and was perforated due to transmural ischemia, large amounts of feces and gas discharged from the left thorax. A left hemicolectomy resulting in a Hartmann-type procedure was performed. A fully established pleural empyema required meticulous debridement and lavage conducted via the 7–10 cm in diameter phrenic opening followed by a diaphragmatic defect reconstruction. Due to pneumonia and recurring pleural empyema redo-debridement of the left pleural space via thoracotomy were required. The patient was discharged on day 56. A thorough history of possible trauma revealed a bicycle-fall trauma 7 months prior to this hospitalization with a surgically stabilized fracture of the left femur and conservatively treated fractures of ribs 3–9 on the left side.

Conclusion

This is the first report on a primarily established empyema at the time of first surgical intervention for feco-pneumothorax secondary to delayed diagnosed diaphragmatic rupture following abdomino-thoracic blunt trauma with colic perforation into the pleural space, requiring repetitive surgical debridement in order to control local and systemic sepsis. Thorough investigation should always be undertaken in cases of blunt abdominal and thoracic trauma to exclude diaphragmatic injury in order to avoid post-traumatic complications.
Effects of landscape positions on soil physicochemical properties at Shenkolla Watershed, South Central Ethiopia
Authors: Bufebo Belayneh , Elias Eyasu , Agegnehu Getachew
Published: February 2021

Background

Understanding the effects of landscape positions on soil physicochemical properties is crucial for improving the soil productivity and to ensure the environmental sustainability. Three land use types forest land, grazing land and cultivated land all within upper, middle and lower landscape positions were selected to determine the effects of landscape positions, land use types and their interaction effects on soil physicochemical properties. Twenty seven soil samples were collected from lower landscape, middle landscape and upper landscape positions at the depth of 0–20 cm in nine replications. In addition, undisturbed soil samples were taken using core sampler from each land use type under upper, middle and lower landscape positions for the ascertainment of bulk density and water retentive capacity. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) was applied to determine variations in soil parameters among landscape positions and land use types. A Generalized Linear Models (GLMs) analysis was conducted to determine the influence of independent (fixed) factors, on the soil properties (response variables). Treatment means comparison was determined using the Least Significant Difference (LSD) at 0.05 level of significances.

Results

The result indicated that among the soil properties sand (p < 0.001), silt (p < 0.001), clay (p < 0.001), bulk density (p < 0.01), water holding capacity at FC (p < 0.001), water retention at PWP (p < 0.01), Available water content (AWC) (p < 0.01), soil reaction (pH) (p < 0.05), Soil organic carbon (SOC%) (p < 0.01), Total nitrogen (TN%) (p < 0.01), available phosphorus (p < 0.05) and CEC (p < 0.001) have shown a significant variation among the landscape categories. Similarly, variation of sand (p < 0.001), silt (p < 0.001), clay (p < 0.001), bulk density (p < 0.01), water holding capacity at FC (p < 0.001), water retention at PWP (p < 0.001), Available water content (AWC) (p < 0.01), soil reaction (pH) (p < 0.01), SOC (p < 0.01), TN (p < 0.001) available phosphorus (AP) (p < 0.001) and CEC (p < 0.001) were also statistically significant among the land use types. Moreover, lower landscape position and forest land had high mean value of SOC, TN, AP, CEC, EB (exchangeable bases), and available micronutrients, whereas upper landscape position and intensively cultivated land had low mean value of SOC, TN, AP, CEC, EB (exchangeable bases), and available micronutrients.

Conclusion

Landscape positions, land use types and interaction effects of landscape position and land use types (LSP * LU) significantly affected soil properties. Soil with best quality was found in lower landscape position and forest land, while less quality of soil was found in upper landscape position and cultivated land. Thus, efforts should be made to improve the quality of soil under upper landscape position and cultivated land using biological and physical soil conservation measures.
Intrauterine growth restriction alters nutrient metabolism in the intestine of porcine offspring
Authors: Li Tiantian , Huang Shimeng , Lei Long , Tao Shiyu , Xiong Yi , Wu Guoyao , Hu Jie , Yuan Xiongkun , Zhao Shengjun , Zuo Bin , Yang Hongjian , Xiao Yingping , Lin Gang , Wang Junjun
Published: February 2021

Background

Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) has negative impacts on the postnatal survival, growth and development of humans and animals, with not only on newborns but also adulthood. However, the characteristics for nutrient digestion and absorption in IUGR offspring are still largely unknown. Therefore, the normal birth weight (NBW) and IUGR growing pigs were used in this study to investigate their differences in nutrient utilization, with an expectition for further nutritional optimization of the IUGR offspring during their later life.

Methods

Twelve IUGR and 12 NBW growing pigs were fitted with catheters in their portal vein to measure blood flow rate as well as nutrients and metabolites in plasma. The digestibilities of nutrients in different intestinal segments, and bacterial fermentation in the large intestine were examined to reveal the characteristics of nutrients utilization in IUGR versus NBW pigs.

Results

The rate of portal venous blood flow did not differ beween IUGR and NBW pigs. Plasma concentrations of total cholesterol, triglycerides and glucose were much lower but those of urea were higher in the portal vein of IUGR pigs, compared with the NBW pigs. The ileal digestibility of dry matter, gross energy and starch were lower in IUGR pigs than in NBW pigs. IUGR increased hindgut microbial diversity and bacterial fermentation activity in the caecum. In vitro cross-fermentation of ileal digesta by caecal microbes of NBW and IUGR pigs showed that gas production was much higher for IUGR ileal digesta regardless of the source of caecal inocula.

Conclusion

IUGR impairs the nutrient digestion and absorption in small intestine, reduces caecal microbial diversity and promotes bacterial fermentation in the large intestine during the growing phase. These findings aid in our understanding of nutrient metabolism in IUGR pigs and provide the basis for future nutritional interventions.
Functional and dysfunctional fear of COVID-19: a classification scheme
Authors: Solymosi Reka , Jackson Jonathan , Pósch Krisztián , Yesberg Julia A. , Bradford Ben , Kyprianides Arabella
Published: February 2021

Worry about COVID-19 is a central topic of research into the social and economic consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. In this paper, we present a new way of measuring worry about catching COVID-19 that distinguishes between worry as a negative experience that damages people’s quality of life (dysfunctional) and worry as an adaptive experience that directs people’s attention to potential problems (functional). Drawing on work into fear of crime, our classification divides people into three groups: (1) the unworried, (2) the functionally worried (where worry motivates proactive behaviours that help people to manage their sense of risk) and (3) the dysfunctionally worried (where quality of life is damaged by worry and/or precautionary behaviour). Analysing data from two waves of a longitudinal panel study of over 1000 individuals living in ten cities in England, Scotland and Wales, we find differing levels of negative anxiety, anger, loneliness, unhappiness and life satisfaction for each of the three groups, with the dysfunctionally worried experiencing the most negative outcomes and the functionally worried experiencing less negative outcomes than unworried. We find no difference between groups in compliance and willingness to re-engage in social life. Finally, we show a difference between the dysfunctionally worried compared with functional and unworried groups in perceptions of risk (differentiating between likelihood, control and consequence). This finding informs what sort of content-targeted messaging aimed at reducing dysfunctional worry might wish to promote. We conclude with some thoughts on the applicability of our measurement scheme for future research.
Correlation of mutational landscape and survival outcome of peripheral T-cell lymphomas
Authors: Ye Yingying , Ding Ning , Mi Lan , Shi Yunfei , Liu Weiping , Song Yuqin , Shu Shaokun , Zhu Jun
Published: February 2021

Objective

To explore the correlation of mutation landscape with clinical outcomes in patients with peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL).

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed the clinicopathological and prognosis data of 53 patients with PTCL from November 2011 to December 2017. Targeted next-generation sequencing of a 659-gene panel was performed for tissues from 53 patients with PTCLs. The correlation of mutation landscape with clinical outcomes was analyzed.

Results

TET2 was the most frequently mutated gene (64%), followed by RHOA (43%), PCLO (23%), DNMT3A (19%), IDH2 (17%), PIEZO1 (17%) and TP53 (15%). When mutated genes were categorized into functional groups, the most common mutations were those involved in epigenetic/chromatin modification (75%), T-cell activation (74%), and the DNA repair/TP53 pathway (64%). TET2/TP53 mutations were significantly associated with positive B symptoms (P = 0.045), and elevated lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) level (P = 0.011). Moreover, TET2/TP53 mutation was a risk factor for PTCL patient survival (HR 3.574, 95% CI 1.069 − 11.941, P = 0.039). The occurrence of JAK/STAT pathway mutations in angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma (AITL) patients conferred a worse progression-free survival (HR 2.366, 95% CI 0.9130–6.129, P = 0.0334).

Conclusions

Heterogeneous gene mutations occur in PTCL, some of which have a negative impact on the survival outcome.
Antibiotic-associated dysbiosis affects the ability of the gut microbiota to control intestinal inflammation upon fecal microbiota transplantation in experimental colitis models
Authors: Strati Francesco , Pujolassos Meritxell , Burrello Claudia , Giuffrè Maria Rita , Lattanzi Georgia , Caprioli Flavio , Troisi Jacopo , Facciotti Federica
Published: February 2021

Background

The gut microbiota plays a central role in host physiology and in several pathological mechanisms in humans. Antibiotics compromise the composition and functions of the gut microbiota inducing long-lasting detrimental effects on the host. Recent studies suggest that the efficacy of different clinical therapies depends on the action of the gut microbiota. Here, we investigated how different antibiotic treatments affect the ability of the gut microbiota to control intestinal inflammation upon fecal microbiota transplantation in an experimental colitis model and in ex vivo experiments with human intestinal biopsies.

Results

Murine fecal donors were pre-treated with different antibiotics, i.e., vancomycin, streptomycin, and metronidazole before FMT administration to colitic animals. The analysis of the gut microbiome, fecal metabolome, and the immunophenotyping of colonic lamina propria immune cells revealed that antibiotic pre-treatment significantly influences the capability of the microbiota to control intestinal inflammation. Streptomycin and vancomycin-treated microbiota failed to control intestinal inflammation and were characterized by the blooming of pathobionts previously associated with IBD as well as with metabolites related to the presence of oxidative stress and metabolism of simple sugars. On the contrary, the metronidazole-treated microbiota retained its ability to control inflammation co-occurring with the enrichment of Lactobacillus and of innate immune responses involving iNKT cells. Furthermore, ex vivo cultures of human intestinal lamina propria mononuclear cells and iNKT cell clones from IBD patients with vancomycin pre-treated sterile fecal water showed a Th1/Th17 skewing in CD4+ T-cell populations; metronidazole, on the other hand, induced the polarization of iNKT cells toward the production of IL10.

Conclusions

Diverse antibiotic regimens affect the ability of the gut microbiota to control intestinal inflammation in experimental colitis by altering the microbial community structure and microbiota-derived metabolites.
Pathogenic convergence of CNVs in genes functionally associated to a severe neuromotor developmental delay syndrome
Authors: García-Hernández Juan L. , Corchete Luis A. , Marcos-Alcalde Íñigo , Gómez-Puertas Paulino , Fons Carmen , Lazo Pedro A.
Published: February 2021

Background

Complex developmental encephalopathy syndromes might be the consequence of unknown genetic alterations that are likely to contribute to the full neurological phenotype as a consequence of pathogenic gene combinations.

Methods

To identify the additional genetic contribution to the neurological phenotype, we studied as a test case a boy, with a KCNQ2 exon-7 partial duplication, by single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) microarray to detect copy-number variations (CNVs).

Results

The proband presented a cerebral palsy like syndrome with a severe motor and developmental encephalopathy. The SNP array analysis detected in the proband several de novo CNVs, nine partial gene losses (LRRC55, PCDH9, NALCN, RYR3, ELAVL2, CDH13, ATP1A2, SLC17A5, ANO3), and two partial gene duplications (PCDH19, EFNA5). The biological functions of these genes are associated with ion channels such as calcium, chloride, sodium, and potassium with several membrane proteins implicated in neural cell-cell interactions, synaptic transmission, and axon guidance. Pathogenically, these functions can be associated to cerebral palsy, seizures, dystonia, epileptic crisis, and motor neuron dysfunction, all present in the patient.

Conclusions

Severe motor and developmental encephalopathy syndromes of unknown origin can be the result of a phenotypic convergence by combination of several genetic alterations in genes whose physiological function contributes to the neurological pathogenic mechanism.
Stress, coping strategies and expectations among breast cancer survivors in China: a qualitative study
Authors: Hu Ruo-Yu , Wang Jing-Ya , Chen Wan-Li , Zhao Jie , Shao Chun-Hai , Wang Ji-Wei , Wei Xiao-Min , Yu Jin-Ming
Published: February 2021

Background

Breast cancer is a common tumor in China and has become a public health problem in modern society. Stress plays an important role in the occurrence and progression of cancer. At present, the current situation of stress on breast cancer survivors (BCSs) in China has not been fully understood. This study aims to explore the stress and coping strategies of Chinese BCSs, which provide suggestions to help BCSs reduce stress.

Methods

Sixty-three BCSs from the Shanghai Cancer Rehabilitation Club in China were included in this study and were divided into eight focus groups. These were transcribed verbatim, coded using thematic analysis and analyzed using NVivo 11.

Results

Three themes were extracted from the data to address our research objectives: stress, coping strategies and expectations. The stress of BCSs included psychological stress, stress caused by physical pain, economic stress, stress caused by the change of life status, and stress caused by information overload; the coping strategies included self-strategies and help from others; from the perspective of the survivors, they put forward their expectations for both the society and themselves.

Conclusions

This study shows that BCSs face a variety of stress. In the face of stress, BCSs need comprehensive support, including social and family support to cope with stressors. The findings from this study provide evidence for improving the quality of life among BCSs.
A novel recessive mutation affecting DNAJB6a causes myofibrillar myopathy
Authors: Qian Fang-Yuan , Guo Yu-Dong , Zu Juan , Zhang Jin-Hua , Zheng Yi-Ming , Abdoulaye Idriss Ali , Pan Zhao-Hui , Xie Chun-Ming , Gao Han-Chao , Zhang Zhi-Jun
Published: February 2021

Mutations in the DNAJB6 gene have been identified as rare causes of myofibrillar myopathies. However, the underlying pathophysiologica mechanisms remain elusive. DNAJB6 has two known isoforms, including the nuclear isoform DNAJB6a and the cytoplasmic isoform DNAJB6b, which was thought to be the pathogenic isoform. Here, we report a novel recessive mutation c.695_699del (p. Val 232 Gly fs*7) in the DNAJB6 gene, associated with an apparently recessively inherited late onset distal myofibrillar myopathy in a Chinese family. Notably, the novel mutation localizes to exon 9 and uniquely encodes DNAJB6a. We further identified that this mutation decreases the mRNA and protein levels of DNAJB6a and results in an age-dependent recessive toxic effect on skeletal muscle in knock-in mice. Moreover, the mutant DNAJB6a showed a dose-dependent anti-aggregation effect on polyglutamine-containing proteins in vitro. Taking together, these findings reveal the pathogenic role of DNAJB6a insufficiency in myofibrillar myopathies and expand upon the molecular spectrum of DNAJB6 mutations.
Geo-environmental monitoring and 3D finite elements stability analysis for site investigation of underground monuments. Horemheb tomb (KV57), Luxor, Egypt
Authors: Hemeda Sayed
Published: February 2021

The Valley of the Kings (KV) is a UNESCO world heritage site with more than thirty opened tombs. Since the first tombs were constructed, at least 24 historical flash flood events has been identified, each of which has been contributed to the destruction and deterioration of the tombs. Recently, most of these tombs have been damaged and inundated after 1994 flood. In order to understand the Geo-environmental impact mainly the past flash floods due to the intensive rainfall storm on the valley of kings and the long-term rock mass behavior under geostatic stresses in selected Horemheb tomb (KV57) and its impact on past failures and current stability, Remote sensing, GIS, LIDAR, 3D finite element stability analysis and rock mass quality assessments had been carried out using advanced methods and codes. Our work provides environmental satellite space views via landviewer Erath Observation System (EOS) Platform with passive and active sensors which include the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), Soil-Adjusted Vegetation Index (SAVI), Atmospherically resistant vegetation index (ARVI), Green Chlorophyll Index (GCI), Normalized Burn Ratio (NBR), Normalized Difference Snow Index (NDSI), Light Detection And Ranging (LIDAR) images, Terrain (DEM) Digital Elevation Models, 3D geological maps. In other hand experimental and numerical geotechnical evaluations and modeling of the rock mass of these underground structures and their surroundings have been executed. We estimated the rock mass quality of the different members within the Thebes limestone and Esna shale formations using the mechanical testing and Rock Mass Rating (RMR), rock quality system (Q-system) and Geological Strength Index (GSI) systems. Our recent analyses show that the KV57 rock- cut tomb at Luxor has been cut into poor to very poor quality marl shale masses due to the impact of flash foods. Rock failures of ceilings and pillars were frequently facilitated by local, unfavorably oriented persistent discontinuities, such as tension cracks and faults. Other failures were related to the disintegration of the marl limestone and Esna shale Formations into individual nodules upon weathering. Our data suggest that, in ancient Egypt monumental tomb construction, low-strength rock masses rarely resulted in modifications of the planned tomb design in order to minimise the risk of rock falls and to prevent collapses. The current flood protection measures are not enough. For this two following measures are proposed 1—to rise the current wall by 50 cm. 2—to fill the depression by reshaping bathymetry.
Climate factors influencing effective use of geothermal resources in SE Poland: the Lublin trough
Authors: Ciapała Bartłomiej , Jurasz Jakub , Janowski Mirosław , Kępińska Beata
Published: February 2021

Although geothermal resources are practically independent of climate factors, those factors significantly condition the potential use of the Earth’s natural heat resources. Unlike all the other factors limiting or facilitating the use of geothermal heat (like receivers’ temperature expectation, financial issues or local regulations), climate factors remain immovable. Thus, climate remains the main factor influencing the effective use of geothermal resources. Volumes of sold energy, typical capacity factors and rapid changes in heat demand may all influence the financial and technological performance of an investment. In the current paper, climate factors are translated into heat demand based on historical data (meteorological and district heating logs) by means of a dedicated artificial neural network, and analysed in terms of possible constraints and facilitators that might affect the effective use of geothermal energy. The results of ANN simulation indicate that average and typical operation is expected without any turbulences, yet about 10% of operating hours may require additional technical measures, like peak source support, smart management and buffers in order to limit pumping ramp rate. With appropriate dimensioning and exploitation, capacity factors as high as 60% are available, proving the potential for financially and environmentally effective use of geothermal resources.
Flipped learning design in EFL classrooms: implementing self-regulated learning strategies to develop language skills
Authors: Öztürk Mücahit , Çakıroğlu Ünal
Published: February 2021

This study examined the development of students’ language skills in a flipped English foreign language course designed with self-regulated learning strategies. The study was conducted with a quasi-experimental design. While the experimental group received the course through flipped classroom model designed with self-regulated learning strategies, control group did not use self-regulated learning strategies in the flipped classroom model. The results indicated that self-regulated learning strategies positively affected the development of foreign language skills in the flipped classroom model. A significant difference in favor of the group working with the platform including self-regulated learning strategies outperformed in speaking, reading, writing, and grammar test scores. However, no significant difference in the listening test results was found.
Criminal charge history, handgun purchasing, and demographic characteristics of legal handgun purchasers in California
Authors: Pear Veronica A. , Wright Mona A. , Shev Aaron B. , Wintemute Garen J. , Kagawa Rose M. C.
Published: February 2021

Background

The prevalence and characteristics of handgun purchasers’ criminal charge histories have never been described for a large population of firearm owners, but such information is critical to understanding risk factors for subsequent violence in this population. We sought to characterize legal handgun purchasers in California and compare this group to the state population, to quantify the proportion with a criminal charge history at purchase, and to identify modifiable factors associated with of having such a history.

Methods

This cross-sectional study of all 79,927 legal handgun purchasers aged 21–49 years in California in 2001 used log-linear generalized additive models to identify factors associated with having a criminal charge history at purchase. Subjects are from a longitudinal study of incident criminal activity among handgun purchasers.

Results

The majority (91.03%) of purchasers were male; whites were overrepresented and Hispanics were underrepresented relative to their population size. At the time of purchase, 16.68%  had a criminal charge history and 10.71% had a criminal conviction. Among men with such a history, 31.28% had been charged with a violent crime and 16.54% had been charged with a firearm-related crime. The strongest factor associated with having a criminal charge history was redeeming a pawned handgun (prevalence ratio: 1.82; 95% confidence interval: 1.71, 1.93).

Conclusions

Despite California’s stringent firearm purchase laws, more than 1-in-6 handgun purchasers had a criminal charge history at purchase. This proportion may be higher in states with less restrictive firearm purchasing eligibility criteria.
Non-monotonic growth and motion of the South Atlantic Anomaly
Authors: Amit Hagay , Terra-Nova Filipe , Lézin Maxime , Trindade Ricardo I.
Published: February 2021

The South Atlantic Anomaly (SAA) is a region at Earth’s surface where the intensity of the magnetic field is particularly low. Accurate characterization of the SAA is important for both fundamental understanding of core dynamics and the geodynamo as well as societal issues such as the erosion of instruments at surface observatories and onboard spacecrafts. Here, we propose new measures to better characterize the SAA area and center, accounting for surface intensity changes outside the SAA region and shape anisotropy. Applying our characterization to a geomagnetic field model covering the historical era, we find that the SAA area and center are more time dependent, including episodes of steady area, eastward drift and rapid southward drift. We interpret these special events in terms of the secular variation of relevant large-scale geomagnetic flux patches on the core–mantle boundary. Our characterization may be used as a constraint on Earth-like numerical dynamo models.
Clinical outcome after knee ligament reconstruction with tendon allografts
Authors: Drogset Jon Olav , Størset Kristina Hovde , Nitteberg Thea Marie , Gifstad Tone
Published: February 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate the clinical outcome for patients after knee ligament reconstructions with allografts at a university hospital.

Methods

A total of 33 patients received allografts for reconstructive knee surgery between 2007 and 2017. The follow up evaluation consisted of a clinical knee examination including evaluation of range of motion (ROM), lateral and medial laxity, the Lachman test, the Pivot shift test, the sag test, the posterior drawer test and checking for patellofemoral pain. The following patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) were used; the Lysholm Function Score, the Tegner activity score, and the Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS).

Results

Twenty-one (64%) patients were available for the follow-up evaluation and the mean follow-up time was 4.8 years. A total of 16 out of 21 patients had multiligament injuries of which the ACL was the ligament most frequently ruptured. At the time of follow-up, 14 out of 16 patients (87%) with ACL injury had Lachman test grade 0 or grade 1 + , and 12 out of 13 (92%) had a pivot shift grade 0 or 1 + . The mean Lysholm Score was 74. All mean KOOS subscale values were ≥ 59 at the follow-up. The preoperative Tegner activity score was 3 (range, 1–6) and 4 (range, 2–6) at follow up. There were no deep postoperative infections. A total of 19 out of 21 patients (90%) reported that they would have undergone surgery again had they known the clinical outcome in advance.

Conclusions

The patients improved from the preoperative score to the follow-up score in the knee-related Quality of Life (QoL) KOOS subscale. None of the patients were diagnosed with deep postoperative infections.
Computational design of highly stable and soluble alcohol dehydrogenase for NADPH regeneration
Authors: Xu Jinling , Zhou Haisheng , Yu Haoran , Deng Tong , Wang Ziyuan , Zhang Hongyu , Wu Jianping , Yang Lirong
Published: February 2021

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH), as a well-known cofactor, is widely used in the most of enzymatic redox reactions, playing an important role in industrial catalysis. However, the absence of a comparable method for efficient NADP+ to NADPH cofactor regeneration radically impairs efficient green chemical synthesis. Alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) enzymes, allowing the in situ regeneration of the redox cofactor NADPH with high specific activity and easy by-product separation process, are provided with great industrial application potential and research attention. Accordingly, herein a NADP+-specific ADH from Clostridium beijerinckii was selected to be engineered for cofactor recycle, using an automated algorithm named Protein Repair One-stop Shop (PROSS). The mutant CbADH-6M (S24P/G182A/G196A/H222D/S250E/S254R) exhibited a favorable soluble and highly active expression with an activity of 46.3 U/mL, which was 16 times higher than the wild type (2.9 U/mL), and a more stable protein conformation with an enhanced thermal stability: Δ $${T}_{1/2}^{60\mathrm{min}}$$

T

1
/
2

60
min

=  + 3.6 °C (temperature of 50% inactivation after incubation for 60 min). Furthermore, the activity of CbADH-6M was up-graded to 2401.8 U/mL by high cell density fermentation strategy using recombinant Escherichia coli, demonstrating its industrial potential. Finally, the superb efficiency for NADPH regeneration of the mutant enzyme was testified in the synthesis of some fine chiral aromatic alcohols coupling with another ADH from Lactobacillus kefir (LkADH).
Redirection of metabolic flux in Shewanella oneidensis MR-1 by CRISPRi and modular design for 5-aminolevulinic acid production
Authors: Yi Ying-Chen , Ng I-Son
Published: February 2021

Programming non-canonical organisms is more attractive due to the prospect of high-value chemical production. Among all,Shewanella oneidensisMR-1 possesses outstanding heme synthesis ability and is well-known for electron transfer, thus has high potential in microbial fuel cell and bioremediation. However, heme, as the final product of C4 and C5 pathways, is regulated by heme cluster for the high-value 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) for cancer photodynamic therapy, which has never been explored in MR-1. Herein, the heme metabolism in MR-1 was firstly optimized for ALA production. We applied CRISPR interference (CRISPRi) targeted on the genes to fine-tune carbon flux in TCA cycle and redirected the carbon out-flux from heme, leading to a significant change in the amino acid profiles, while downregulation of the essentialhemB showed a 2-fold increasing ALA production via the C5 pathway. In contrast, the modular design including of glucokinase, GroELS chaperone, and ALA synthase fromRhodobacter capsulatusenhanced ALA production markedly in the C4 pathway. By integrating gene cluster under dual T7 promoters, we obtained a new strain M::TRG, which significantly improved ALA production by 145-fold. We rewired the metabolic flux of MR-1 through this modular design and successfully produced the high-value ALA compound at the first time.
A CT-based radiomics nomogram for distinguishing between benign and malignant bone tumours
Authors: Sun Weikai , Liu Shunli , Guo Jia , Liu Song , Hao Dapeng , Hou Feng , Wang Hexiang , Xu Wenjian
Published: February 2021

Background

We sought to evaluate the performance of a computed tomography (CT)-based radiomics nomogram we devised in distinguishing benign from malignant bone tumours.

Methods

Two hundred and six patients with bone tumours were spilt into two groups: a training set (n = 155) and a validation set (n = 51). A feature extraction process based on 3D Slicer software was used to extract the radiomics features from unenhanced CT images, and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator logistic regression was used to calculate the radiomic score to generate a radiomics signature. A clinical model comprised demographics and CT features. A radiomics nomogram combined with the clinical model and the radiomics signature was constructed. The performance of the three models was comprehensively evaluated from three aspects: identification ability, accuracy, and clinical value, allowing for generation of an optimal prediction model.

Results

The radiomics nomogram comprised clinical and radiomics signature features. The nomogram model displayed good performance in training and validation sets with areas under the curve of 0.917 and 0.823, respectively. The areas under the curve, decision curve analysis, and net reclassification improvement showed that the radiomics nomogram model could obtain better diagnostic performance than the clinical model and achieve greater clinical net benefits than the clinical and radiomics signature models alone.

Conclusions

We constructed a combined nomogram comprising a clinical model and radiomics signature as a noninvasive preoperative prediction method to distinguish between benign and malignant bone tumours and assist treatment planning.
Multisensor robust localization in various environment with correlation checking test
Authors: Ohashi Nozomu , Funabora Yuki , Doki Shinji , Doki Kae
Published: February 2021

Probabilistic localization based on Bayesian theory has been researched as a sensor fusion method to improve the robustness of localization. Pieces of position information, generated by sensors’ observation models with consideration for noises, are fused according to Bayesian theory. However, having large noises not considered in their observation models, the sensors output erroneous position information; thus, the fusion result has a significant error, even when the other sensors output correct ones. In this research, we have proposed a sensor fusion system with a relative correlation checking test to realize robust localization. Pieces of erroneous position information, biased against others and having a negative correlation with others, are detected and excluded in our proposed system by checking their correlation between all of them. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the robustness of our fusion system by conducting recursive localization experiments in various environments.