bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Generation of ovarian follicles from mouse pluripotent stem cells
Authors: Yoshino Takashi , Suzuki Takahiro , Nagamatsu Go , Yabukami Haruka , Ikegaya Mika , Kishima Mami , Kita Haruka , Imamura Takuya , Nakashima Kinichi , Nishinakamura Ryuichi , Tachibana Makoto , Inoue Miki , Shima Yuichi , Morohashi Ken-ichirou , Hayashi Katsuhiko
Published: July 2021

Reconstituting the ovarian follicle

Recent advances have enabled the generation of oocytes from pluripotent stem cells in vitro. However, these cells require a somatic environment to develop fully as reproductive cells. Yoshino
et al.
applied what is known about differentiation processes in vivo to determine a culture condition to differentiate embryonic stem cells into gonadal somatic cell–like cells (see the Perspective by Yang and Ng). When the embryonic stem cell–generated ovarian gonadal tissue was combined with early primordial germ cells or in vitro–derived primordial germ cell–like cells, germ cells developed into viable oocytes within the reconstituted follicles that could be fertilized and result in viable offspring. This system enables an alternative method for mouse gamete production and advances our understanding of mammalian reproduction and development.

Science
, abe0237, this issue p.
eabe0237
; see also abj8347, p.
282
Beware explanations from AI in health care
Authors: Babic Boris , Gerke Sara , Evgeniou Theodoros , Cohen I. Glenn
Published: July 2021

The benefits of explainable artificial intelligence are not what they appear
Determinants of crystal structure transformation of ionic nanocrystals in cation exchange reactions
Authors: Li Zhanzhao , Saruyama Masaki , Asaka Toru , Tatetsu Yasutomi , Teranishi Toshiharu
Published: July 2021

Shape and nanocrystal transformations

Cation exchange reactions that change the composition of a nanocrystal (NC) under mild conditions usually preserve the sublattice of the larger anions. Li
et al.
found that the shape of roxbyite (Cu
1.8
S) nanocrystals, which have a distorted, hexagonal, close-packed sulfide anion sublattice, affected the outcome of exchange reactions with cobalt ions. Flat nanoplates retained the anion lattice and formed cobalt sulfide, but tall nanorods transformed into Co
9
S
8
nanocrystals with a cubic, close-packed structure. Facile crystal plane sliding in the taller nanocrystals appears to have driven the different layer stacking of sulfide anions.

Science
, abh2741, this issue p.
332
The making of an ovarian niche
Authors: Yang Lin , Ng Huck-Hui
Published: July 2021

Ovarian somatic cells are derived in vitro from pluripotent embryonic stem cells
Accurate prediction of protein structures and interactions using a three-track neural network
Authors: Baek Minkyung , DiMaio Frank , Anishchenko Ivan , Dauparas Justas , Ovchinnikov Sergey , Lee Gyu Rie , Wang Jue , Cong Qian , Kinch Lisa N. , Schaeffer R. Dustin , Millán Claudia , Park Hahnbeom , Adams Carson , Glassman Caleb R. , DeGiovanni Andy , Pereira Jose H. , Rodrigues Andria V. , van Dijk Alberdina A. , Ebrecht Ana C. , Opperman Diederik J. , Sagmeister Theo , Buhlheller Christoph , Pavkov-Keller Tea , Rathinaswamy Manoj K. , Dalwadi Udit , Yip Calvin K. , Burke John E. , Garcia K. Christopher , Grishin Nick V. , Adams Paul D. , Read Randy J. , Baker David
Published: July 2021

Deep learning takes on protein folding

In 1972, Anfinsen won a Nobel prize for demonstrating a connection between a protein’s amino acid sequence and its three-dimensional structure. Since 1994, scientists have competed in the biannual Critical Assessment of Structure Prediction (CASP) protein-folding challenge. Deep learning methods took center stage at CASP14, with DeepMind’s Alphafold2 achieving remarkable accuracy. Baek
et al
. explored network architectures based on the DeepMind framework. They used a three-track network to process sequence, distance, and coordinate information simultaneously and achieved accuracies approaching those of DeepMind. The method, RoseTTA fold, can solve challenging x-ray crystallography and cryo–electron microscopy modeling problems and generate accurate models of protein-protein complexes. —VV
Complete Genome Sequences of Two
Lysobacter
Strains, Isolated from Seawater (
Lysobacter caseinilyticus
) and Soil (
Lysobacter helvus
) in South Korea
Authors: Watanabe Yasuha , Arakawa Kazuharu
Published: July 2021

Lysobacter
species produce lysobactin, a depsipeptide antibiotic that is effective against methicillin-resistant
Staphylococcus aureus
and vancomycin-resistant
Staphylococcus aureus
. Here, we report complete genome sequences of two
Lysobacter
strains, which were isolated from seawater (
Lysobacter caseinilyticus
) and soil (
Lysobacter helvus
) in South Korea.
Draft Genome Sequence of Enterobacter hormaechei subsp.
steigerwaltii
Strain BEI01
Authors: Wee Soon Keong , Chan Sharon Cui Mun , Guan Xue Li , Yap Eric Peng Huat
Published: July 2021

Here, we report the genome sequence of
Enterobacter hormaechei
subsp.
steigerwaltii
strain BEI01, originally deposited as a member of the
Enterobacter cloacae
complex. The genome is 4,900,246 bp in size with a GC content of 55.44%; it contains multidrug antimicrobial resistance genes and several metal resistance gene operons.
Complete Genome Sequence of Bacillus velezensis KOF112, an Antifungal Endophytic Isolate from Shoot Xylem of the Indigenous Japanese Wine Grape
Vitis
sp. cv. Koshu
Authors: Hamaoka Kazuhiro , Suzuki Shunji
Published: July 2021

Bacillus
species are the most well-studied biological control agents and produce a large variety of antibiotics that exert antifungal activity against phytopathogens and induce defense responses in plants. Here, we introduce the genome sequence of
Bacillus velezensis
KOF112, an antifungal endophytic isolate from the shoot xylem of a wine grape.
Draft Genome Sequences of Putative Aerobic Anoxygenic Phototrophic Bacterial Strains
Jannaschia
sp. Strains AI_61 and AI_62, Isolated from Seawater around a Coastal Aquaculture Area
Authors: Sato-Takabe Yuki , Nakajima Yu , Suzuki Satoru , Sekiguchi Kota , Hanada Satoshi , Shiozaki Takuhei
Published: July 2021

Here, we report the draft genome sequences of putative aerobic anoxygenic phototrophic bacterial strains
Jannaschia
sp. AI_61 and AI_62, isolated from seawater around a coastal aquaculture in Ainan, Ehime, Japan. These genome sequences could be useful for our understanding of the variation of aerobic anoxygenic phototrophs in the genus.
Complete Genome Sequence of an Extremely Halophilic Archaeon from Great Salt Lake,
Halobacterium
sp. GSL-19
Authors: DasSarma Priya , Anton Brian P. , von Ehrenheim Hedvig A. L. , Roberts Richard J. , DasSarma Shiladitya
Published: July 2021

An extremely halophilic archaeon,
Halobacterium
sp. strain GSL-19, was isolated from the north arm of Great Salt Lake in Utah. Single-molecule real-time (SMRT) sequencing was used to establish a GC-rich 2.3-Mbp genome composed of a circular chromosome and 2 plasmids, with 2,367 predicted genes, including 1 coding a CTAG-methylase widely distributed among
Haloarchaea
.
Genome Sequences of 15 SARS-CoV-2 Sublineage B.1.617.2 Strains in Bangladesh
Authors: Afrad Mokibul Hassan , Khan Manjur Hossain , Rahman Sadia Isfat Ara , Bin Manjur Omar Hamza , Hossain Mohabbat , Alam Ahmed Nawsher , Khan Farzana Islam , Afreen Nawroz , Haque Farsim Tarannum , Thomson Nicholas R. , Shirin Tahmina , Qadri Firdausi
Published: July 2021

We report the coding-complete genome sequences of 15 severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) sublineage B.1.617.2 strains that were obtained from Bangladeshi individuals with a history of recent travel to India and from the Bangladeshi community. Genomic data were generated by Nanopore sequencing using the amplicon sequencing approach developed by the ARTIC Network.
En-bloc resection of soft-tissue sarcoma of anterior chest wall and reconstruction with titanium bars and free anterolateral thigh flap
Authors: Nardi Walter Sebastián , Buero Agustin , Pankl Leonardo , Quildrian Sergio Damián
Published: July 2021

Primary soft-tissue sarcomas (STSs) of the chest wall are uncommon. Complete surgical resection remains the mainstay of treatment being sternal resection ocassionally required. We present a 25-year-old man with an anterior chest wall STS. The patient underwent complete oncological resection with reconstruction using titanium bars combined with a free vascularised anterolateral thigh flap. STSs of the chest wall are very rare and they comprise a surgical challenge for both resection and reconstruction.
Successful mepolizumab treatment for DRESS-induced refractory eosinophilic myocarditis and concurrent thyroiditis
Authors: Truong Kelvin , Kelly Shane , Bayly Angela , Smith Annika
Published: July 2021

Drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) is a potentially life-threatening adverse drug reaction with a mortality rate of 10%. Interstitial nephritis, pneumonitis, myocarditis, meningitis, thyroiditis and pancreatitis are major causes of morbidity and mortality in this syndrome. Cessation of offending medication is paramount. There is paucity in high quality prospective studies guiding the treatment of DRESS, and there are no published therapeutic clinical trials in the treatment of corticosteroid refractory hypersensitivity myocarditis. The authors present a unique case of ciprofloxacin-induced DRESS with concurrent thyroiditis and refractory eosinophilic myocarditis that required mepolizumab and multiple immunosuppressants for successful treatment.
Safer return to jazz dance instruction after simultaneous bilateral total hip arthroplasty
Authors: Mizoguchi Yasuaki , Urakawa Tsukasa , Kurabayashi Hitoshi
Published: July 2021

To describe the case of a 48-year-old Japanese female patient with more than two decades of experience in jazz dance instructor returning to work after simultaneous bilateral total hip arthroplasty (SBTHA). We provided her with a tailored postoperative physical therapy programme considering her preoperative activity level and skills using three-dimensional motion analysis for guidance. The patient returned to jazz dance instruction 8 months after undergoing SBTHA, and her disease-specific quality of life assessment score at 1-year postsurgery was almost perfect. Use of three-dimensional motion analysis helped facilitate our assessment of whether her hip angle was within the acceptable range for teaching the compound movements necessary in jazz dance, but her preoperative experience was crucial in determining her full-scale participation in jazz dance. At present, 7 years since the surgery, the patient is able to continue jazz dancing, the THA component remains stable.
Parameningeal alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma in a child
Authors: Kumar Abhinav , Pothula Vijay
Published: July 2021

This is the case of a parameningeal alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma (ARMS) in a 13-year-old boy who presented with painless loss of vision in the right eye, but very few other physical signs. The ARMS diagnosis was confirmed with imaging and molecular characterisation of the tumour. Despite tolerating the initial chemotherapy and radiotherapy regimens, there was leptomeningeal recurrence and the patient unfortunately passed away. Parameningeal ARMS occurs in an area of the body, which leads to a wide variety of possible presenting symptoms, creating a long list of differentials that can delay treatment. This tumour subtype has a poor prognosis, and due to the location of the tumour around vital structures in the head, treatment toxicities must be taken into account. This highlights the necessity for having a strong index of suspicion for this tumour in atypical presentations in children, and the necessity for prompt treatment to prevent leptomeningeal disease from occurring.
Atypical gnathostomiasis-confirmed cutaneous larva migrans, Vietnam
Authors: Duong Cuong Minh , Le Phuc Vinh Dinh , Pham Oanh Kieu Nguyet , Huynh Hong Quang
Published: July 2021

We reported a case of gnathostomiasis in a 42-year-old woman with an unclear history of eating high-risk foods and had a non-migratory skin lesion, negative serological testing and normal blood eosinophil counts. A diagnosis of gnathostomiasis was based on a live, third-stageGnathostoma spinigerumlarva that was randomly taken from the patient’s skin lesion by herself. The presenting case report demonstrates challenges in correctly diagnose cutaneous gnathostomiasis even in endemic countries due to atypical skin lesions, negative serology testing and the absence of eosinophilia and thus, the widely used classic triad of suggestive evidence of gnathostomiasis is not fulfilled.
Placement of a customised load-bearing titanium plate for prevention of iatrogenic mandibular fracture in surgical removal of odontogenic keratocyst recurrence
Authors: Castellani Andrea , Ferrari Luca , Daleffe Francesco , Tewfik Karim
Published: July 2021

A 72-year-old woman with a history of removal of a right hemimandibular keratocyst 10 years ago was referred to our attention for a large swelling of the right cheek. The orthopantomography and the CT scan showed a huge osteolytic area of the right mandibular ramus and angle. The patient’s refusal to resection and reconstruction with a free flap pushed us towards a conservative treatment. The high probability of a iatrogenic mandibular fracture during and after surgery required the design of a customised titanium plate to be preliminary placed through cervical incision along the posterior border of the mandible. The patient successfully underwent the surgical positioning of the customised plate and subsequent removal of the keratocyst. She was discharged fit and well 5 days after surgery. She did not experience any infections, pathological fractures or relapse in the 6-month follow-up.
Association of the mobility level of critically ill adult patients with the success of extubation: protocol for a cohort study
Authors: Pal Camila , Fu Carolina , Carvalho Carlos Roberto Ribeiro , Auler Júnior José Otávio Costa , Yamauchi Liria Yuri
Published: July 2021

Introduction

Several factors contribute to the reduction of the mobility in ICU), such as the use of sedatives, severity, invasive devices, acute clinical instability, lack of resources, the culture of immobility, architectural barriers and the own weakness developed in the ICU. The need for ventilatory support is common in most of patients, and weaning from mechanical ventilation (MV) is an arduous process that requires the commitment of the entire team. Instruments that objectively assess the mobility of patients admitted to the ICU can be useful to identify the existence or not of an association between mobility and prognosis.

Objective

To estimate the association between the level of mobility and successful extubation.

Methods and analysis

Prospective cohort study with the beginning of follow-up when the patient completes 24 hours of invasive MV in the ICU and ends on the date the patient’s hospital discharge. Adult patients (≥18 years old) admitted to the ICU will be included in the first invasive MV event in this hospitalisation. Patients should be independently able to mobilise before current hospital admission. Predictor variables will be collected (age, sex, body mass index, Simplified Acute Physiological Score III (SAPS III), ICU admission type: clinic, elective or emergency surgery postoperative, Charlson Index, number of physiotherapists per patient in each ICU, use of sedation, vasoactive drugs and neuromuscular blocker, ICU mobility scale, time of invasive MV, ICU admission and hospital admission, and outcome. The primary outcome is the result of extubation (success or failure).

Ethics and dissemination

This study was approved by the Ethics Committee, certificate number 92878218.1.0000.5505. The protocol was registered on theRegistro Brasileiro de Ensaios Clínicos(ReBEC) (registration number RBR-8k4f68). The results will be published in specialised journals and disseminated to the medical society and the general public.
Developing a midwifery service task list for Chinese midwives in the task-shifting context: a Delphi study
Authors: Gu Chunyi , Lindgren Helena , Wang Xiaojiao , Zhang Zheng , Liang Shuang , Ding Yan , Qian Xu
Published: July 2021

Objective

To develop and validate a midwifery-led task list in the task-shifting context.

Design

An extensive literature review followed by a two-iterative Delphi survey.

Setting

Twenty university hospitals, three non-university hospitals and four university colleges from nine provincial regions of China.

Participants

Purposive non-probability sampling of a national panel of experts in maternal healthcare, obstetrics, nursing and midwifery. Experts in the panel were asked to rate each midwifery service item regarding importance, feasibility and advancement on a 5-point scale, in order to determine those best suited for midwifery-led practice in China.

Results

Two rounds of Delphi surveys were completed before consensus was achieved, with effective response rate ranging from 96.4% (27/28) to 100% (27/27), indicating a high positive coefficient of the experts. The authority coefficient of experts was 0.882, indicating the high reliability of this study. The Kendall harmony coefficient (W) in the two rounds of consultations was 0.196 (p<0.001) and 0.324 (p<0.001), respectively. A detailed, three-level midwifery-led task list was developed, including 3 domains of midwifery practice (first-level indicators), 13 types of task (second-level indicators) and 58 midwifery service items (third-level indicators). The 3 domains of midwifery practice involved the appropriate scope of practice for Chinese midwives, including antenatal care, intrapartum care and postnatal care. The 58 service items embraced core components of caring task in the Chinese midwifery profession.

Conclusion

This study outlines the first midwifery-led task list that defines clearly the Chinese midwives’ scope of practice. It will provide a foundational framework for future midwifery practice in China and abroad, and can be used to inform the design of midwifery-led task shifting interventions in various maternity settings.
From COVID-19 adversity comes opportunity: teaching an online integrative medicine course
Authors: Ben-Arye Eran , Keshet Yael , Schiff Ariel , Zollman Catherine , Portalupi Emanuela , Nave Rachel , Shaham Dorith , Samuels Noah , Schiff Elad
Published: July 2021

Background

We examine the impact of a 5-day online elective course in integrative medicine (IM) taking place during the COVID-19 pandemic, attended by 18 medical students from two faculties of medicine in Israel.

Methods

The course curriculum addressed effectiveness and safety of IM practices highlighting supportive and palliative care, demonstrated the work of integrative physicians (IPs) in designing patient-tailored treatments and taught practical skills in communication regarding IM. Group discussions were conducted via Zoom with 32 physicians, healthcare practitioners and IM practitioners working in integrative academic, community and hospital-based settings, in Israel, Italy, UK and Germany. An 18-item questionnaire examined student attitudes and perceived acquisition of skills for implementing what was learned in clinical practice. Student narratives were analysed using ATLAS.Ti software for systematic coding, identifying barriers and advantages of the online learning methodology.

Results

Students reported a better understanding of the benefits of IM for specific outcomes (p=0.012) and of potential risks associated with these therapies (p=0.048). They also perceived the acquisition of skills related to the IM-focused history (p=0.006), learnt to identify effectiveness and safety of IM treatments (p=0.001), and internalised the referral to IPs for consultation (p=0.001). Student narratives included reflections on the tools provided during the course for assessing effectiveness and safety, enhancing communication with patients, enriching their patient-centred perspective, raising awareness of available therapeutic options, and personal and professional growth.

Conclusions

Online clinical electives in IM are feasible and can significantly increase students’ awareness and modify attitudes towards acquirement of patient-centred perspectives.
Sodium+/taurocholate cotransporting polypeptide as target therapy for liver fibrosis
Authors: Salhab Ahmad , Amer Johnny , Lu Yinying , Safadi Rifaat
Published: July 2021

Objective

Sodium+/ taurocholate cotransporting polypeptide (NTCP) is a membrane transporter affecting the enterohepatic circulation of bile acids (BAs). We aimed to evaluate NTCP’s roles in humans and animal models of liver fibrosis (LF).

Design

Primary hepatic stellate cells (pHSCs) isolated from livers biopsies of patients with LF with different fibrosis grading were stained for NTCP. NTCP gene silencing, taurocholic acid (TCA), obeticholic acid (OCA), epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) and HA-100 dihydrochloride (HA-100) were used as tools to modulate NTCP expression on human HSC line (LX2). BA trafficking/uptake were assessed extracellularly (LX2 culture medium) and intracellularly following treatment with/without NTCP neutralizing antibody. LF models of C57/BL6 mice of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) and leptin-deficient (Ob/Ob) fed with high-fat diet (Ob/ObHFD) were evaluated for pHSCs-NTCP expressions, metabolic and LF profiles following intraperitoneal injections of NTCP neutralizing antibody.

Results

pHSCs from F3/F4-scored patients of LF exhibit threefold increased NTCP expressions compared with F0-scored patients (p<0.0001). Sorted-activated HSCs (LX2αSMA+) showed high expressions of NTCP and high TCA uptake in vitro and triggered a further increase in their activations. This phenomenon was inhibited with NTCP small interfering RNA and the NTCP neutralizing antibody. Sorted LX2NTCP+(high alpha smooth muscle actin (αSMA)/high NTCP) cells showed high phosphorylated pathways of AKT/mTOR and protein kinase C (PKC) accompanied with a decrease in farnesoid X receptor expression. Moreover, LX2NTCP+cells treated with EGCG, OCA and PKC inhibitor HA-100 significantly decreased NTCP and αSMA. NTCP neutralizing antibody inhibited NTCP (less TCA uptake); it attenuated LF in both CCl4andOb/ObHFDanimal models with ameliorated metabolic profile.

Conclusion

NTCP expression is linearly correlated with fibrosis severity. Modulated BA trafficking could be an important step in LF pathogenesis. Antagonising BA uptake may suggest a therapeutic strategy for preventing disease progression.
Hospitalisation and mortality from COVID-19 in Mexican indigenous people: a cross-sectional observational study
Authors: Serván-Mori Edson , Seiglie Jacqueline A , Gómez-Dantés Octavio , Wirtz Veronika J
Published: July 2021

Background

Despite having a large indigenous population, little is known about the differences in COVID-19-related health outcomes between indigenous and non-indigenous patients in Mexico. The aim of this study is to analyse the variation in hospitalisation and death between indigenous and non-indigenous patients with COVID-19 to guide future policies and clinical practice.

Methods

We used data from the Mexican Ministry of Health (MoH) to study the hospitalisation and death of adults with laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 in MoH facilities between 1 March 2020 and 28 February 2021. Predicted probabilities of hospitalisation and death were adjusted for sociodemographic and presentation to care characteristics as well as municipal social deprivation index and health jurisdiction-level index of human resource and hospital equipment availability.

Results

Of 465 676 hospitalised adults with COVID-19, 5873 (1.3%) were identified as indigenous. Indigenous patients had higher odds of hospitalisation (adjusted OR (aOR)=1.9, 95% CI 1.8 to 2.0), death (aOR=1.3, 95% CI 1.1 to 1. 3) and early mortality (aOR=1.2, 95% CI 1.0 to 1.4), compared with non-indigenous patients. Living in municipalities with high social deprivation was associated with a higher risk of hospitalisation and early death. Living in areas with low healthcare resources was associated with a higher risk of hospitalisation but not death. Being male, aged 51 years or older, having diabetes, hypertension and obesity were associated with an incremental probability of hospitalisation and death among indigenous patients.

Conclusions

Indigenous patients with COVID-19 in Mexico have a higher risk of hospitalisation and death than non-indigenous individuals. Our findings can guide future efforts to protect this population from SARS-CoV-2 infection and associated outcomes.
#3079 Investigating the feasibility of automating the differential diagnosis of transient loss of consciousness
Authors: Pevy Nathan , Christensen Heidi , Walker Traci , Reuber Markus
Published: July 2021

Background

There are three common causes of Transient Loss of Consciousness (TLOC), syncope, epileptic and psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES). Many individuals who have experienced TLOC initially receive an incorrect diagnosis and inappropriate treatment. Whereas syncope can be distinguished from the other two causes relatively easily with a small number of yes/no questions, the differentiation of the other two causes of TLOC is more challenging. Previous qualitative research based on the methodology of Conversation Analysis has demonstrated that epileptic and nonepileptic seizures are described differently when patients talk to clinicians about their TLOC experiences. One particularly prominent difference is that epileptic seizure descriptions are characterised by more formulation effort than accounts of nonepileptic seizures.

Aim

This research investigates whether features likely to reflect the level of formulation effort can be automatically elicited from audio recordings and transcripts of speech and used to differentiate between epileptic and nonepileptic seizures.

Method

Verbatim transcripts of conversations between patients and neurologists were manually produced from video and audio recordings of interactions with 45 patients (21 epilepsy and24 PNES). The subsection of each transcript containing the patients account of their first seizure was manually extracted for the analysis. Seven automatically detectable features were designed as markers of formulation effort. These features were used to train a Random Forest machine learning classifier.

Results

There were significantly more hesitations and repetitions in descriptions of first epileptic than nonepileptic seizures. Using a nested leave-one-out cross validation approach, 71% of seizures were correctly classified by the Random Forest classifier.

Conclusions

This pilot study provides proof of principle that linguistic features that have been automatically extracted from audio recordings and transcripts could be used to distinguish between epileptic seizures and PNES and thereby contribute to the differential diagnosis of TLOC. Future research should explore whether additional observations can be incorporated into a diagnostic stratification tool. Moreover, future research should explore the performance of these features when they have been extracted from transcripts produced by automatic speech recognition and when they are combined with additional information provided by patients and witnesses about seizure manifestations and medical history.
Effects of multimodal prehabilitation on muscle size, myosteatosis, and dietary intake of surgical patients with lung cancer — a randomized feasibility study
Authors: Lawson Claire , Ferreira Vanessa , Carli Francesco , Chevalier Stéphanie
Published: July 2021

Many patients with lung cancer undergo surgery, which can increase the risk for muscle loss, leading to worsened outcomes. A multimodal prehabilitation intervention integrating dietary and muscle assessment may help clinicians better understand changes in these outcomes. This pilot assessed feasibility of multimodal prehabilitation in early-stage surgical lung cancer patients and explored relationships between body composition, muscle characteristics and dietary intake, as well as muscle changes due to prehabilitation. Patients were randomized to 1 of 2 groups: multimodal prehabilitation including nutritional supplements (fish oil with vitamin D3 + whey protein with leucine), exercise and relaxation, or standard of care. Physical function, dietary intake and muscle were evaluated at 0 and 4 weeks pre-operatively. Of 87 patients assessed for eligibility, 34 (39%) were randomized and 3 (9%) were lost to follow-up. Median age was 69 years and baseline protein intake was 1.0 g/kg/day. Adherence to exercise (86%) and supplements was high (93%); 3 patients (16%) reported side effects. Supplements significantly increased protein, omega-3 fatty acid, leucine and vitamin D intake. There were no significant changes in muscle characteristics. Multimodal prehabilitation with dietary and muscle analyses proved to be feasible. An adequately powered randomized controlled trial is warranted. ClinicalTrials.gov registration no: NCT04610606.

Novelty: Multimodal prehabilitation incorporating dietary assessment and muscle analysis is feasible for early-stage surgical lung cancer patients. An adequately powered randomized controlled trial is warranted to further explore functional and post-operative outcomes.
Effects of volume-matched resistance training with different loads on glycemic control, inflammation, and body composition in prediabetic older adults
Authors: Tsai Shun-Hsi , Cheng Hao-Chien , Liu Hung-Wen
Published: July 2021

The purpose of the investigation was to examine the influence of resistance training (RT) with equal volume and varying load on glycemic control, inflammation, and body composition in non-obese prediabetic older adults. Non-obese older adults with prediabetes were randomized into 2 groups, high-load (80% of 1RM) and low-load (40% of 1RM) RT (n = 12/group), both with the same training volume. Oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and blood samples were collected at baseline and again after 10 weeks of RT. Fasting blood glucose (103.8 vs. 99.9 mg/dL) and the area under the curve (AUC) of OGTT (0–30 min) decreased significantly in older adults with prediabetes after 10 weeks of volume-matched RT (p < 0.05). Serum levels of MCP-1 (138.7 vs. 98.5 pg/mL) and TNF-α (1.8 vs. 1.3 pg/mL) showed significant decrease after 10 weeks of high-load RT (p < 0.05). There were no changes in IL-10, IL-6, and CRP levels in both groups. Leptin showed significant decrease after 10 weeks of low-load RT (p < 0.05). Changes in fasting glucose and AUC of OGTT (0–120 min) were positively correlated with changes in MCP-1 and TNF-α (p < 0.05). Lean body mass (39.6 vs. 40.3 kg) increased significantly after 10 weeks of volume-matched RT (p < 0.05). Results indicate that equal-volume RT at different loads is beneficial to glycemic control and muscle growth, and high-load RT shows more prominent anti-inflammatory effects.

Novelty: Short-term high-load resistance training can help older adults bring their blood sugar level back to normal. High-load resistance training attenuates aging-associated chronic inflammation.
The utility of biochar for increasing the fertility of new agricultural lands converted from boreal forests
Authors: Abedin Joinal , Unc Adrian
Published: July 2021

The agricultural soils of the Happy Valley-Goose Bay (HV-GB) region of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada are Podzols that are converted from boreal forest and have limited productivity due to their sandy texture, acidity, low soil organic matter (SOM), cation-exchange capacity (CEC), and water and nutrient retention capacity. Although numerous studies advocate biochar for mitigating soil quality problems and enhancing agronomic productivity, there is limited information on managing biochar for boosting the productivity of Podzols under newly converted agricultural lands. A 5 year experiment evaluated the impact of eight biochar rates (0–80 Mg C·ha−1) on soil properties including SOM, CEC, and availability of plant nutrients and metals in agricultural soils of HV-GB. Both immediate and long-term impacts were thus assessed. Biochar generally improved soil fertility indicators. Although the largest rates (40 and 80 Mg C·ha−1) led to the greatest changes, significant changes were also found with rates as low as 10 Mg C·ha−1. Increasing biochar rates had diminishing returns for quality parameters of soil. The impact of biochar decreased with time after application, but the largest rate led to longer lasting effects. Although biochar was incorporated in topsoil, its effects were also measurable in the subsoil, albeit with a temporal delay, usually of 1 year. Thus, given the diminishing returns of increasing biochar rates, and that beneficial effects diminish over years, it is advisable that biochar be added in smaller amounts immediately after conversion, as little as 10 Mg C·ha−1, with regular supplementation as needed.
A comprehensive review of dietary strategies of sigmodontine rodents of central-eastern Argentina: linking diet, body mass, and stomach morphology
Authors: Barbero Sofía , Teta Pablo , Cassini Guillermo H.
Published: July 2021

Information on dietary ecology plays a key role in a wide array of biological research and conservation decisions, but its availability is biased towards large and charismatic taxa, whereas small mammals are underrepresented. Of the scarce publications on the Neotropical sigmodontine rodents, most are concentrated in central-eastern Argentina and, up until now, no revision of the totality of these data has been made available. In this work, we performed a thorough review of the dietary information from over 50 publications on 22 species, finding omissions and errors propagated up to the present time. This resulted in a robust database, the proposal of a posteriori dietary categories, and a list of the species that have been neglected in feeding ecology research. In turn, we used that database to test whether the patterns which associate diet and morphology in medium-sized and large mammals could be replicated in these small rodents, despite their overall generalist habits and the restrictions characteristic to their size. We found that larger species tend towards a low-protein diet. Additionally, we identified some stomach types that are restricted to specific diets. These results are consistent with the observations for larger species and shed light on the biology of small mammals.
Recent amendments to the Endangered Species Act and an uncertain future for species at risk: a case study of Ontario’s Niagara Region
Authors: Bethlenfalvy Allegra , Olive Andrea
Published: July 2021

The biodiversity crisis is a pressing global issue. In Ontario, Canada, species at risk are protected under the Endangered Species Act (2007) . The current government amended that legislation through the More Homes, More Choice Act (2019), leaving species at risk with an uncertain future. This paper uses the Niagara Region as a case study and relies on interviews and data collection about listed species to illuminate the possible implications for the new amendments. The results indicate a total of 71 species at risk that exist in the Region, with as many as 37 species that could be delisted and stripped of protection under the recent changes. There is also concern around the prioritization of the economics over science in the amendments. While uncertainty surrounding the implementation of the amendments to the Ontario Endangered Species Act exists, there is agreement that species at risk should be protected.
Higgs-like spectator field as the origin of structure
Authors: Karam Alexandros , Markkanen Tommi , Marzola Luca , Nurmi Sami , Raidal Martti , Rajantie Arttu
Published: July 2021

We show that the observed primordial perturbations can be entirely sourced by a light spectator scalar field with a quartic potential, akin to the Higgs boson, provided that the field is sufficiently displaced from vacuum during inflation. The framework relies on the indirect modulation of reheating, which is implemented without any direct coupling between the spectator field and the inflaton and does not require non-renormalisable interactions. The scenario gives rise to local non-Gaussianity with $$f_{\mathrm{NL}}\simeq 5$$

f
NL

≃
5

as the typical signal. As an example model where the indirect modulation mechanism is realised for the Higgs boson, we study the Standard Model extended with right-handed neutrinos. For the Standard Model running we find, however, that the scenario analysed does not seem to produce the observed perturbation.
Internal structure of cuscuton Bloch brane
Authors: Bazeia D. , Ferreira D. A. , Marques M. A.
Published: July 2021

This work deals with thick branes in bulk with a single extra dimension modeled by a two-field configuration. We first consider the inclusion of the cuscuton to also control the dynamics of one of the fields and investigate how it contributes to change the internal structure of the configuration in two distinct situations, with the standard and the asymmetric Bloch brane. The results show that the branes get a rich internal structure, with the geometry presenting a novel behavior which is also governed by the parameter that controls the strength of the cuscuton term. We also study the case where the dynamics of one of the two fields is only described by the cuscuton. All the models support analytical solutions which are stable against fluctuations in the metric, and the main results unveil significant modifications in the warp factor and energy density of the branes.
An excitonic model for the electron–hole plasma relaxation in proton-irradiated insulators
Authors: Stella Lorenzo , Smyth Jonathan , Dromey Brendan , Kohanoff Jorge
Published: July 2021

The relaxation of free electron–hole pairs generated after proton irradiation is modelled by means of a simplified set of hydrodynamic equations. The model describes the coupled evolution of the electron–hole pair and self-trapped exciton (STE) densities, along with the electronic and lattice temperatures. The equilibration of the electronic and lattice excitations is based on the two-temperature model, while two mechanisms for the relaxation of free electron–hole pairs are considered: STE formation and Auger recombination. Coulomb screening and band gap renormalisation are also taken into account. Our numerical results show an ultrafast ($${\ll }\,{\mathrm {1}}$$

≪

1

ps) free electron–hole pair relaxation time in amorphous $${{\mathrm {SiO}}_{\mathrm {2}}}$$

SiO
2

for initial carrier densities either below or above the exciton Mott transition. Coulomb screening alone is not found to yield the long relaxation time ($${\mathrm {\gg }}{\mathrm {10}}$$

≫
10

ps) experimentally observed in amorphous $${{\mathrm {SiO}}_{\mathrm {2}}}$$

SiO
2

and borosilicate crown glass BK7 irradiated with high-intensity laser pulses or BK7 irradiated by short proton pulses. Another mechanism, e.g. thermal detrapping of STEs, is required to correctly model the long free electron–hole pair relaxation time observed experimentally.

Graphical Abstract
On the Balancedness of Tree-to-Word Transducers
Authors: Löbel Raphaela , Luttenberger Michael , Seidl Helmut
Published: July 2021

A language over an alphabet [Formula: see text] of opening ([Formula: see text]) and closing ([Formula: see text]) brackets, is balanced if it is a subset of the Dyck language [Formula: see text] over [Formula: see text], and it is well-formed if all words are prefixes of words in [Formula: see text]. We show that well-formedness of a context-free language is decidable in polynomial time, and that the longest common reduced suffix can be computed in polynomial time. With this at a hand we decide for the class 2-[Formula: see text] of non-linear tree transducers with output alphabet [Formula: see text] whether or not the output language is balanced.
Multiplicity dependencies of midrapidity transverse momentum spectra of identified charged particles in p+p collisions at (s)1/2 = 13 TeV at LHC
Authors: Olimov Khusniddin K. , Liu Fu-Hu , Musaev Kobil A. , Olimov Kosim , Tukhtaev Boburbek J. , Yuldashev Bekhzod S. , Saidkhanov Nasir Sh. , Umarov Kobil I. , Gulamov Kadyr G.
Published: July 2021

Multiplicity dependencies of midrapidity [Formula: see text] spectra of identified charged particles in inelastic [Formula: see text] collisions at [Formula: see text] TeV at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), measured by ALICE Collaboration, have been analyzed. The combined minimum [Formula: see text] fits with thermodynamically consistent Tsallis function as well as Hagedorn function with the embedded transverse flow describe quite satisfactorily the [Formula: see text] spectra of particles in the studied 10 different classes of charged-particle multiplicity in inelastic [Formula: see text] collisions at [Formula: see text] TeV. The obtained effective temperatures [Formula: see text] of thermodynamically consistent Tsallis function demonstrate a consistent growth with an increase in multiplicity of charged particles in inelastic [Formula: see text] collisions at [Formula: see text] TeV, and the corresponding [Formula: see text] versus the average charged-particle (pseudorapidity) multiplicity density [Formula: see text] dependence is described very well by the simple power function with exponent parameter [Formula: see text] (1/3) in the whole analyzed range [Formula: see text]. It is found that the transverse (radial) flow becomes significant at higher multiplicity events in [Formula: see text] collisions at [Formula: see text] TeV, reaching the maximum value [Formula: see text] at the largest studied multiplicity density [Formula: see text]. It is estimated from analysis of [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] versus [Formula: see text] dependencies, obtained using Hagedorn function with the embedded transverse flow, that the probable onset of deconfinement phase transition in inelastic [Formula: see text] collisions at [Formula: see text] TeV occurs at [Formula: see text].
Application of singularity vibration for minimum energy consumption in high-speed milling
Authors: Van Hieu Phan
Published: July 2021

To provide a model for real-time prediction of cutting forces, vibrations and optimal energy consumption (EC) model, a new hybrid algorithm based on Back-Propagation Neural Network and Multi-Objective Particle Swarm Optimization (BPNN-MOPSO) was developed to determine the optimal cutting parameters with minimal total energy consumption. High-speed milling experiments were conducted to confirm the proposed online monitoring and optimal model’s accuracy and availability. The proposed optimal method, based on the proposed improvement model, can reduce EC by 10.49% compared to the empirical option method. The feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed model have been verified through experimental processes.
New optical soliton solutions of the Chen–Lee–Liu equation
Authors: Rehman Hamood Ur , Bibi Musarat , Saleem Muhammad Shoaib , Rezazadeh Hadi , Adel Waleed
Published: July 2021

In this work, we demonstrate the extraction of some optical soliton solutions of the Chen–Lee–Liu equation (CLLE) with applications in optical fibers. A novel method is presented which is called the new extended direct algebraic method (EDAM). This method is based on converting the nonlinear CLLE equation into an ordinary type equation through a wave transformation. We acquire new solutions like dark, bright, combined dark-bright, combined bright-singular and periodic singular soliton solutions by using this effective technique. These acquired soliton solutions are new with some new physical properties. Some graphical representations for these solutions are provided which prove that the new method is effective and can be extended to some similar problems.
Entropy-based theory of thermomagnetic phenomena
Authors: Sergeev Andrei , Reizer Michael
Published: July 2021

We show that in the linear response approximation only entropy provides coupling between thermal and electric phenomena. The dissipationless quantum currents — magnetization, superconducting, persistent and topological edge currents — do not produce and transfer entropy and may be excluded from final formulas for thermomagnetic coefficients. The magnetization energy flux, [Formula: see text], in crossed electric and magnetic fields strongly modifies the Poynting vector in magnetic materials and metamaterials, but do not contribute to the heat current. Calculating entropy fluxes of fluctuating Cooper pairs in pure and disordered superconductors, we obtained the fluctuation Nernst coefficient proportional to [Formula: see text] ([Formula: see text] is the Fermi energy). We also introduce the thermomagnetic entropy per unit charge and derive the Nernst coefficient proportional to the difference of the thermoelectric and thermomagnetic entropies. This explains the Sondheimer cancellation and high sensitivity of thermomagnetic phenomena to correlations. In 2D superconductors, the transport entropy transferred by a vortex moving through the background formed by vortex–antivortex pairs is the configuration entropy of [Formula: see text], which strongly exceeds the intrinsic entropy of vortex core. Beyond the linear response, the nonentropic forces can lead to phenomena unexpected from thermodynamics, such as vortex attraction to the moving hot spot. Quantum currents do not transfer entropy and may be used as ideal connectors to quantum nanodetectors.
Exact propagation of the isolated waves model described by the three coupled nonlinear Maccari’s system with complex structure
Authors: Zahran Emad H. M. , Shehata Maha S. M. , Mirhosseini-Alizamini S. M. , Alam Md Nur , Akinyemi Lanre
Published: July 2021

In this paper, the three nonlinear Maccari’s-system (TNLMS) which describes how isolated waves are propagated in a finite region of space is studied. New accurate wave solutions of this model are obtained for the first time using the Riccati–Bernoulli Sub-ODE method (RBSOM) that treats the problem for which the balance rule fails. The efficiency of this method for constructing these exact solutions has been demonstrated. The obtained results give an accurate interpretation of the propagation of these isolated waves. With an appropriate values for the physical parameters, some representative wave structures are graphically presented.
Propagation of ultrashort optical pulses in anisotropic optical media with carbon nanotubes
Authors: Konobeeva N. N. , Belonenko M. B.
Published: July 2021

In this paper, we investigate the evolution of electromagnetic waves in a nonlinear anisotropic optical medium with carbon nanotubes (CNTs). Based on Maxwell’s equation, an effective equation is obtained for the vector potential of the electromagnetic field, which takes into account different values of the velocity and polarization with two directions. The dependence of the pulse shape on the crystal type, as well as the angle between the electric field and the CNTs axis is revealed.