bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Rheology, rheometers, and matching models to experiments
Authors: Scott L Ridgway
Published: January 2023

We consider the general problem of matching rheological models to experiments. We introduce the concept of identifiability of models from a given set of experiments. To illustrate this in detail, we study two rheology models, the grade-two and Oldroyd 3-parameter models, and consider two hypothetical rheometers to see if the coefficients of the rheology models are identifiable from experimental measurements or not. For the Oldroyd models, we show that the coefficients can be estimated from experiments from the two rheometers. But for the grade-two model, it is not possible to distinguish the two nonNewtonian parameters, only their sum can be estimated, and thus the grade-two model is not identifiable by the two hypothetical rheometers. However, our results imply that a different rheometer may be able to do that.
Simulation on the transition of electrostatic instabilities in EAST steady-state scenario
Authors: MA Lianjie , ZHANG Debing , YU Limin , XUE Erbing , ZHANG Xianmei , HUANG Juan , XIAO Yong , GONG Xianzu , QIAN Jinping
Published: January 2023

The parameter dependence of transition between electrostatic instabilities is studied using gyrokinetic simulation based on a real discharge of steady-state scenario in the Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak. The scan of radial locations shows that trapped electron mode (TEM) dominates around the core while the ion temperature gradient mode (ITG) simultaneously dominates outside. The maximum growth rate of TEM appears around ρ = 0.24, where the maximum electron temperature gradient R/L

Te locates, ρ is the normalized poloidal flux. Effects of the parameters on the transition between TEM and ITG instability are studied at ρ = 0.24. It is found that TEM dominates in the scanning with individually changing R/L

Te from 2.50 to 25.02 or the density gradient R/L

n
from 1.38 to 13.76. Meanwhile, the electron-ion temperature ratio T
e/T
i is found to destabilize TEM, the effect of T
e is more sensitive than that of T
i. The dominant instability diagrams in the (R/L

Te, R/L

Ti) plane at different T
e/T
i and R/L

n
are numerically obtained, which clearly show the parameter range of the dominant TEM or dominant ITG instability region. It is found that the dominant TEM region becomes narrower in the plane by decreasing R/L

n
when T
e/T
i > 0.5.
Motivic Euler Products and Motivic Height Zeta Functions
Authors: Bilu Margaret
Published: January 2023

A motivic height zeta function associated to a family of varieties parametrised by a curve is the generating series of the classes, in the Grothendieck ring of varieties, of moduli spaces of sections of this family with varying degrees. This text is devoted to the study of the motivic height zeta function associated to a family of varieties with generic fiber having the structure of an equivariant compactification of a vector group. Our main theorem describes the convergence of this motivic height zeta function with respect to a topology on the Grothendieck ring of varieties coming from the theory of weights in cohomology. We deduce from it the asymptotic behaviour, as the degree goes to infinity, of a positive proportion of the coefficients of the Hodge-Deligne polynomial of the above moduli spaces: in particular, we get an estimate for their dimension and the number of components of maximal dimension. The main tools for this are a notion of motivic Euler product for series with coefficients in the Grothendieck ring of varieties, an extension of Hrushovski and Kazhdan’s motivic Poisson summation formula, and a motivic measure on the Grothendieck ring of varieties with exponentials constructed using Denef and Loeser’s motivic vanishing cycles.
An Anatomic Analysis of the Bony Vault: From the Perspective of Osteotomy in Rhinoplasty
Authors: Kim Su Jin , Kim Tae Hyun , Lee Kun Hee
Published: January 2023

Background

Osteotomy is one of the most traumatic but critical procedures in rhinoplasty. A detailed preoperative analysis of the bony vault is essential to performing a successful osteotomy.

Objectives

This study aimed to analyze bone thickness along the osteotomy path in primary rhinoplasty patients.

Methods

Preoperative 3-dimensional facial bone computed tomography images of 250 patients who underwent primary rhinoplasty were analyzed, and their bony vaults categorized based on symmetry. The bone thickness was measured at 3 points along the lateral and at 2 points along the medial and intermediate osteotomy paths.

Results

Of the 250 patients analyzed, 88 (35.2%) had asymmetric and 162 (64.8%) had symmetric bony vaults. The mean thickness of the bony vault was thickest at the middle level of the lateral osteotomy path, and the bony vault was thicker in male patients at all points of medial and lateral osteotomies. Furthermore, in the asymmetric bony vault, the deviated side was thicker than the contralateral side along all osteotomy paths. In particular, the deviated side was thicker, and the contralateral side was thinner, in the asymmetric bony vault than in the symmetric bony vault at the middle level of the lateral osteotomy path.

Conclusions

The thickness of the bony vault differs according to osteotomy path and gender. The lateral osteotomy, especially at the midpoint of the deviated side in male patients, is crucial in achieving a more controlled fracture.
The incremental value of multi-organ assessment of congestion using ultrasound in outpatients with heart failure
Authors: Pugliese Nicola Riccardo , Pellicori Pierpaolo , Filidei Francesco , Del Punta Lavinia , De Biase Nicolò , Balletti Alessio , Di Fiore Valerio , Mengozzi Alessandro , Taddei Stefano , Gargani Luna , Mullens Wilfried , Cleland John G F , Masi Stefano
Published: January 2023

Aims

We investigated the prevalence and clinical value of assessing multi-organ congestion by ultrasound in heart failure (HF) outpatients.

Methods and results

Ultrasound congestion was defined as inferior vena cava of ≥21 mm, highest tertile of lung B-lines, or discontinuous renal venous flow. Associations with clinical characteristics and prognosis were explored. We enrolled 310 HF patients [median age: 77 years, median NT-proBNP: 1037 ng/L, 51% with a left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) <50%], and 101 patients without HF. There were no clinical signs of congestion in 224 (72%) patients with HF, of whom 95 (42%) had at least one sign of congestion by ultrasound (P < 0.0001). HF patients with ≥2 ultrasound signs were older, and had greater neurohormonal activation, lower urinary sodium concentration, and larger left atria despite similar LVEF. During a median follow-up of 13 (interquartile range: 6–15) months, 77 patients (19%) died or were hospitalized for HF. HF patients without ultrasound evidence of congestion had a similar outcome to patients without HF [reference; hazard ratio (HR) 1.02, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.86–1.35], while those with ≥2 ultrasound signs had the worst outcome (HR 26.7, 95% CI 12.4–63.6), even after adjusting for multiple clinical variables and NT-proBNP. Adding multi-organ assessment of congestion by ultrasound to a clinical model, including NT-proBNP, provided a net reclassification improvement of 28% (P = 0.03).

Conclusion

Simultaneous assessment of pulmonary, venous, and kidney congestion by ultrasound is feasible, fast, and identifies a high prevalence of sub-clinical congestion associated with poor outcomes.
Environmental stress during the last trimester of gestation in pregnant cows and its effect on offspring growth performance and response to glucose and adrenocorticotropic hormone
Authors: Nickles Kirsten R , Relling Alejandro E , Garcia-Guerra Alvaro , Fluharty Francis L , Parker Anthony J
Published: January 2023

Winter and spring precipitation are predicted to increase in the Midwest region of the United States, causing muddy conditions. In a previous experiment, Angus cows (8 per treatment) were paired based on initial body weight (BW) and one cow from each pair was randomly allocated to either the mud or control treatment. Though cows consumed the same amount of dry matter, cows in the mud treatment weighed 37.4 kg less than cows in the control treatment by day 269 of gestation. The objective of this experiment was to evaluate developmental programming effects of steers born to cows in the mud treatment (MUD; n = 7) or the control treatment (CON; n = 6). Steers were weighed at birth and then weekly from approximately 56 d of age until weaning and were subjected to a glucose tolerance test (GTT) and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) challenge after weaning. Steers were then placed in the feedlot for an 84-d growing phase and were weighed weekly and 12th rib back fat (BF) and ribeye area (REA) were imaged every 28 d using ultrasonography. Data were analyzed as a randomized complete block design with repeated measurements when appropriate (SAS 9.4). Although there was a 37.4 kg decrease in BW of cows by the end of gestation, there was no evidence of a pen treatment effect on calf birth weight (P = 0.60) or weaning weight (P = 0.99). Additionally, there was no evidence of a pen treatment × day effect for steer BW from birth to weaning (P = 0.67) or growing phase BW (P = 0.60). There was evidence of a treatment × day of growing phase effect (P = 0.02) for BF, such that CON steers had greater BF on day 28 of the growing phase; however, there was no evidence of a treatment × day effect for REA (P = 0.20). Furthermore, there was no evidence of a pen treatment effect for the growing phase average daily gain (P = 0.74), dry matter intake (P = 0.65), gain:feed (P = 0.48), plasma glucose concentration (P = 0.67) or plasma insulin concentration (P = 0.61) in response to the GTT, or plasma cortisol concentration in response to the ACTH challenge (P = 0.51). These results indicate that while mud increased net energy requirements for cows in the MUD treatment, there were no subsequent effects observed for steer BW, gain:feed, or response to glucose and ACTH during the growing phase.
Post-weaning management of modern dairy cattle genetics for beef production: a review
Authors: Jaborek Jerad R , Carvalho Pedro H V , Felix Tara L
Published: January 2023

The contribution of dairy steers to the U.S. fed beef supply has increased from 6.9% to 16.3% over the last two decades; in part, due to declining beef cow numbers and the increased use of sexed dairy semen to produce genetically superior replacement heifers from the best dairy cows. Raising dairy cattle for beef production offers unique opportunities and challenges when compared with feeding cattle from beef breeds. Dairy steers offer predictable and uniform finishing cattle performance (ADG, DMI, G:F) as a group and more desirable quality grades on average compared with their beef steer counterparts. However, dairy steers have lesser dressing percentages and yield 2%–12% less red meat compared with beef steers due to a greater ratio of bone to muscle, internal fat, organ size, and gastrointestinal tract weight. In addition, carcasses from dairy steers can present problems in the beef packing industry, with Holstein carcasses being longer and Jersey carcasses being lighter weight than carcasses from beef breeds. Beef × dairy crossbreeding strategies are being implemented on some dairy farms to increase the income generated from dairy bull calves, while beef × dairy crossbreeding strategies can also improve the G:F and red meat yield of beef produced from the U.S. dairy herd. This alternative model of beef production from the dairy herd is not without its challenges and has resulted in variable results thus far. Successful adoption of beef × dairy crossbreeding in the cattle industry will depend on the proper selection of beef sires that excel in calving ease, growth, muscling, and marbling traits to complement the dairy genetics involved in beef production.
Taxonomic revision ofIsochelesStimpson, 1858 andLoxopagurusForest, 1964 (Decapoda: Anomura: Diogenidae) using morphological and multigene data, with the description of a new Eastern Pacific species
Authors: Vera-Silva Ana L , Mantelatto Fernando L
Published: January 2023

The genera IsochelesStimpson, 1858 and LoxopagurusForest, 1964 are endemic to America and occur in tropical and subtropical waters. There are five species of Isocheles, two of them are found in the Western Atlantic (I. sawayaiForest & de Saint Laurent, 1968 and I. wurdemanniStimpson 1859) and three in the Eastern Pacific (I. pilosus (Holmes, 1900), I. pacificusBouvier, 1907, and I. aequimanus (Dana, 1852)). Loxopagurus is a monotypic genus and occurs only in southeastern South America. These two genera are morphologically similar, with differences in shape and size of chelae. The published information on the taxonomy of these genera is scant, and there have been some recent doubts about their phylogenetic relationship. Our study aimed to elucidate the phylogenetic relationship of Isocheles and Loxopagurus and evaluate their taxonomic validity and contextualization in Diogenidae Ortmann, 1892. We performed an integrative analysis using multigene data (16S rRNA, COI, and H3) and a detailed morphological evaluation, including redescriptions, seeking characters that allow the clear identification of these species. The type specimens of I. aequimanus, I. pilosus, and L. loxochelis (Moreira, 1901) were lost and errors are common regarding the identification of the species of Isocheles. Characters that clearly delimit these species, such as the ornamentation and shape of the chelipeds and the number of teeth on the second article of the antenna, were stated. The morphological and molecular analyses corroborated the taxonomical validity of Isocheles and Loxopagurus as two distinct genera based on the differences of the shield and chelipeds, on the topology of the trees, and on the genetic divergence inferred from three molecular markers. We also verified that the five amplified species of Isocheles constitute five distinct clades and described a new species of Isocheles, using both molecular and morphological differences from congeners. An identification key for Isocheles is proposed. Although the type material of two out of the five species of Isocheles and the holotype of Loxopagurus loxochelis were lost, the designation of neotypes is not recommended in these cases.
Changed epidemiology of narcolepsy before, during, and after the 2009 H1N1 pandemic: a nationwide narcolepsy surveillance network study in mainland China, 1990–2017
Authors: Wang Xiling , Xiao Fulong , Wang Yiping , Deng Xiaowei , Chen Zhiyuan , Dong Xiaosong , Wang Wei , Li Chenyang , Xu Zhifei , Wu Huijuan , Yu Huan , Su Changjun , Wang Zan , Tang Xiangdong , Lv Yunhui , Li Yun , Sun Shuchen , Huang Junying , Hao Lijuan , Wei Xuan , Deng Liying , Huang Yu-Shu , Zhang Jihui , Wing Yun-Kwok , Zhang Jun , Mignot Emmanuel , Han Fang , Yu Hongjie
Published: January 2023

Study Objectives

Increased incidence of narcolepsy was reported in children during the 2009 H1N1 pandemic following Pandemrix, a H1N1 flu vaccine. A link with A(H1N1) pdm09 infections remains controversial. Using nationwide surveillance data from China (1990 to 2017), the epidemiology of narcolepsy was analyzed.

Methods

Individual records of narcolepsy patients were collected from 15 of 42 hospitals across China known to diagnose cases. Incidence was estimated assuming the representativeness of these hospitals. Age-specific incidence, epidemiological and clinical characteristics of patients were evaluated before, during, and after the 2009 H1N1 pandemic. Sensitivity analyses were conducted by including NT1 cases only and excluding the effect of the 2009 H1N1 vaccination.

Results

Average annual incidence was 0.79 per 100 000 person-years (PY) from 1990 to 2017 and 1.08 per 100 000 PY from 2003 to 2017. Incidence increased 4.17 (95% CI 4.12, 4.22) and 1.42 (95% CI 1.41, 1.44) fold during and after the 2009 H1N1 pandemic when compared to baseline. These results were robust in sensitivity analyses. Patients with the onset of narcolepsy during the pandemic period were younger (notably in 5–9-year-old strata), and the age shift toward younger children reversed to baseline following the pandemic.

Conclusions

Increased incidence of narcolepsy was observed during the 2009 H1N1 pandemic period. This is likely to be associated with the circulation of the wild type A(H1N1)pdm09 virus. This observation should be considered for future influenza pandemic preparedness plans.
INCOG 2.0 Guidelines for Cognitive Rehabilitation Following Traumatic Brain Injury, Part IV: Cognitive-Communication and Social Cognition Disorders
Authors: Togher Leanne , Douglas Jacinta , Turkstra Lyn S. , Welch-West Penny , Janzen Shannon , Harnett Amber , Kennedy Mary , Kua Ailene , Patsakos Eleni , Ponsford Jennie , Teasell Robert , Bayley Mark Theodore , Wiseman-Hakes Catherine
Published: January 2023

Introduction:

Moderate to severe traumatic brain injury causes significant cognitive impairments, including impairments in social cognition, the ability to recognize others' emotions, and infer others' thoughts. These cognitive impairments can have profound negative effects on communication functions, resulting in a cognitive-communication disorder. Cognitive-communication disorders can significantly limit a person's ability to socialize, work, and study, and thus are critical targets for intervention. This article presents the updated INCOG 2.0 recommendations for management of cognitive-communication disorders. As social cognition is central to cognitive-communication disorders, this update includes interventions for social cognition.

Methods:

An expert panel of clinicians/researchers reviewed evidence published since 2014 and developed updated recommendations for interventions for cognitive-communication and social cognition disorders, a decision-making algorithm tool, and an audit tool for review of clinical practice.

Results:

Since INCOG 2014, there has been significant growth in cognitive-communication interventions and emergence of social cognition rehabilitation research. INCOG 2.0 has 9 recommendations, including 5 updated INCOG 2014 recommendations, and 4 new recommendations addressing cultural competence training, group interventions, telerehabilitation, and management of social cognition disorders. Cognitive-communication disorders should be individualized, goal- and outcome-oriented, and appropriate to the context in which the person lives and incorporate social communication and communication partner training. Group therapy and telerehabilitation are recommended to improve social communication. Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) should be offered to the person with severe communication disability and their communication partners should also be trained to interact using AAC. Social cognition should be assessed and treated, with a focus on personally relevant contexts and outcomes.

Conclusions:

The INCOG 2.0 recommendations reflect new evidence for treatment of cognitive-communication disorders, particularly social interactions, communication partner training, group treatments to improve social communication, and telehealth delivery. Evidence is emerging for the rehabilitation of social cognition; however, the impact on participation outcomes needs further research.
INCOG 2.0 Guidelines for Cognitive Rehabilitation Following Traumatic Brain Injury, Part II: Attention and Information Processing Speed
Authors: Ponsford Jennie , Velikonja Diana , Janzen Shannon , Harnett Amber , McIntyre Amanda , Wiseman-Hakes Catherine , Togher Leanne , Teasell Robert , Kua Ailene , Patsakos Eleni , Welch-West Penny , Bayley Mark Theodore
Published: January 2023

Introduction:

Moderate to severe traumatic brain injury (MS-TBI) commonly causes disruption in aspects of attention due to its diffuse nature and injury to frontotemporal and midbrain reticular activating systems. Attentional impairments are a common focus of cognitive rehabilitation, and increased awareness of evidence is needed to facilitate informed clinical practice.

Methods:

An expert panel of clinicians/researchers (known as INCOG) reviewed evidence published from 2014 and developed updated guidelines for the management of attention in adults, as well as a decision-making algorithm, and an audit tool for review of clinical practice.

Results:

This update incorporated 27 studies and made 11 recommendations. Two new recommendations regarding transcranial stimulation and an herbal supplement were made. Five were updated from INCOG 2014 and 4 were unchanged. The team recommends screening for and addressing factors contributing to attentional problems, including hearing, vision, fatigue, sleep-wake disturbance, anxiety, depression, pain, substance use, and medication. Metacognitive strategy training focused on everyday activities is recommended for individuals with mild-moderate attentional impairments. Practice on de-contextualized computer-based attentional tasks is not recommended because of lack of evidence of generalization, but direct training on everyday tasks, including dual tasks or dealing with background noise, may lead to gains for performance of those tasks. Potential usefulness of environmental modifications is also discussed. There is insufficient evidence to support mindfulness-based meditation, periodic alerting, or noninvasive brain stimulation for alleviating attentional impairments. Of pharmacological interventions, methylphenidate is recommended to improve information processing speed. Amantadine may facilitate arousal in comatose or vegetative patients but does not enhance performance on attentional measures over the longer term. The antioxidant Chinese herbal supplement MLC901 (NeuroAiD IITM) may enhance selective attention in individuals with mild-moderate TBI.

Conclusion:

Evidence for interventions to improve attention after TBI is slowly growing. However, more controlled trials are needed, especially evaluating behavioral or nonpharmacological interventions for attention.
Hospital Utilization for Coronary Artery Disease, 1997–2014
Authors: Shakya Shamatree , Cary Michael P.
Published: January 2023

Background

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the leading cause of cardiovascular morbidity, mortality, and healthcare costs in the United States. There are few reports on how public health and payment reforms might have influenced inpatient hospital use among patients with CAD.

Objective

This study describes trends in hospital discharges, hospital charges, and discharge destinations in a national sample of patients with CAD between 1997 and 2014.

Methods

This was a longitudinal study with descriptive analysis of the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project of National Inpatient Sample data.

Findings

During this study period, the total number of discharges was 1 333 996. Patients with CAD between 65 and 84 years old were among the highest users of inpatient hospital services, followed by those in the 45- to 64-year age group. The death rate increased from 5961 to 7217 per 10 000 patients during this time. The mean charge increased more than 5 times, from $9100 to $49 643. There was a large difference in mean hospital charges in urban ($51 666) and rural ($25 548) locations in 2014. Coronary artery disease patients with private insurance paid more than those with Medicaid and Medicare plans. The discharge to home and healthcare costs increased by 4.1% and 4.8%, respectively.

Conclusion and Implications

Future researchers should use data sets, such as Medicare claims/Medical Expenditure Panel Study, that can provide comprehensive insights into patient-level factors influencing the use of inpatient care services among patients with CAD. Healthcare providers in posthospital settings should be well skilled in providing advanced cardiac rehabilitation and education to patients with CAD.
Learning Cortical Hierarchies with Temporal Hebbian Updates
Authors: Aceituno Pau Vilimelis , Farinha Matilde Tristany , Loidl Reinhard , Grewe Benjamin F.
Published: January 2023

A key driver of mammalian intelligence is the ability to represent incoming sensory information across multiple abstraction levels. For example, in the visual ventral stream, incoming signals are first represented as low-level edge filters and then transformed into high-level object representations. These same hierarchical structures routinely emerge in artificial neural networks (ANNs) trained for image/object recognition tasks, suggesting that a similar process might underlie biological neural networks. However, the classical ANN training algorithm, backpropagation, is considered biologically implausible, and thus several alternative biologically plausible methods have been developed. For instance, several cortical-inspired ANNs in which the apical dendrite of a pyramidal neuron encodes top-down prediction signals have been proposed. In this case, akin to theories of predictive coding, a prediction error can be calculated locally inside each neuron for updating its incoming weights. Notwithstanding, from a neuroscience perspective, it is unclear whether neurons could compare their apical vs. somatic spiking activities to compute prediction errors. Here, we propose a solution to this problem by adapting the framework of the apical-somatic prediction error to the temporal domain. In particular, we show that if the apical feedback signal changes the postsynaptic firing rate, we can use differential Hebbian updates, a rate-based version of the classical spiking time-dependent plasticity (STDP) updates. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time a cortical-like deep ANN has been trained using such time-based learning rules. Overall, our work removes a key requirement of biologically plausible models for deep learning that does not align with plasticity rules observed in biology and proposes a learning mechanism that would explain how the timing of neuronal activity can allow supervised hierarchical learning.
Genome-wide temperature-sensitivity of PcG regulation and reduction thereof in temperateDrosophila melanogaster
Authors: Voigt Susanne , Froschauer Christin
Published: January 2023

Epigenetic regulation varies with the environment. In the fruit flyDrosophila melanogaster, environmental temperature can affect chromatin-based gene regulation. Genes regulated by the Polycomb group (PcG) can vary in their transcriptional output in response to changes in temperature, which typically increases with decreasing temperature. Here, we studied temperature-sensitive expression of PcG target genes on a genome-wide scale, as well as temperature-sensitive enrichment of two histone modifications associated with the regulation of PcG target genes, H3K27me3 and H3K4me3. We investigated temperature-sensitivity in adult flies, and possible differences thereof between populations adapted to temperate and tropical climates. Compared to genes not targeted by the PcG, an elevated number of target genes showed higher expression at the lower temperature, as it is typically observed for PcG regulation. Many of the PcG target genes also exhibited temperature-sensitive H3K4me3 enrichment in the same direction, and the H3K4me3 temperature response correlated positively with that of expression. A small set of target sites also showed temperature-sensitive enrichment of H3K27me3, again with a higher proportion corresponding to increased transcriptional activation at the lower temperature. Overall, higher transcriptional activity at lower temperature was less pronounced in males compared to females, and in temperate compared to tropical flies. Possible trans- and cis-acting factors responsible for reduced expression plasticity in temperate flies were identified, including factors belonging to the Trithorax group (TrxG) and insulator binding proteins, respectively.
Grasping with a twist: Dissociating action goals from motor actions in human frontoparietal circuits
Authors: Rens Guy , Figley Teresa D. , Gallivan Jason P. , Liu Yuqi , Culham Jody C.
Published: January 2023

In daily life, prehension is typically not the end goal of hand-object interactions but a precursor for manipulation. Nevertheless, functional MRI (fMRI) studies investigating manual manipulation have primarily relied on prehension as the end goal of an action. Here, we used slow event-related fMRI to investigate differences in neural activation patterns between prehension in isolation and prehension for object manipulation. Sixteen participants were instructed either to simply grasp the handle of a rotatable dial (isolated prehension) or to grasp and turn it (prehension for object manipulation). We used representational similarity analysis to investigate whether the experimental conditions could be discriminated from each other based on differences in task-related brain activation patterns. We also used temporal multivoxel pattern analysis to examine the evolution of regional activation patterns over time. Importantly, we were able to differentiate isolated prehension and prehension for manipulation from activation patterns in the early visual cortex, the caudal intraparietal sulcus, and the superior parietal lobule. Our findings indicate that object manipulation extends beyond the putative cortical grasping network (anterior intraparietal sulcus, premotor and motor cortices) to include the superior parietal lobule and early visual cortex.

Significance statement

A simple act such as turning an oven dial requires not only that the central nervous system encode the initial state (starting dial orientation) of the object but also the appropriate posture to grasp it in order to achieve the desired end state (final dial orientation) and the motor commands to achieve that state. Using advanced temporal neuroimaging analysis techniques, we reveal how such actions unfold over time and how they differ between object manipulation (turning a dial) vs. grasping alone. We find that a combination of brain areas implicated in visual processing and sensorimotor integration can distinguish between the complex and simple tasks during planning, with neural patterns that approximate those during the actual execution of the action.
RNA-seq preprocessing and sample size considerations for gene network inference
Authors: Altay Gökmen , Zapardiel-Gonzalo Jose , Peters Bjoern
Published: January 2023

Background

Gene network inference (GNI) methods have the potential to reveal functional relationships between different genes and their products. Most GNI algorithms have been developed for microarray gene expression datasets and their application to RNA-seq data is relatively recent. As the characteristics of RNA-seq data are different from microarray data, it is an unanswered question what preprocessing methods for RNA-seq data should be applied prior to GNI to attain optimal performance, or what the required sample size for RNA-seq data is to obtain reliable GNI estimates.

Results

We ran 9144 analysis of 7 different RNA-seq datasets to evaluate 300 different preprocessing combinations that include data transformations, normalizations and association estimators. We found that there was no single best performing preprocessing combination but that there were several good ones. The performance varied widely over various datasets, which emphasized the importance of choosing an appropriate preprocessing configuration before GNI. Two preprocessing combinations appeared promising in general: First, Log-2 TPM (transcript per million) with Variance-stabilizing transformation (VST) and Pearson Correlation Coefficient (PCC) association estimator. Second, raw RNA-seq count data with PCC. Along with these two, we also identified 18 other good preprocessing combinations. Any of these algorithms might perform best in different datasets. Therefore, the GNI performances of these approaches should be measured on any new dataset to select the best performing one for it. In terms of the required biological sample size of RNA-seq data, we found that between 30 to 85 samples were required to generate reliable GNI estimates.

Conclusions

This study provides practical recommendations on default choices for data preprocessing prior to GNI analysis of RNA-seq data to obtain optimal performance results.
Neural correlates of face perception modeled with a convolutional recurrent neural network
Authors: O’Reilly Jamie A. , Wehrman Jordan , Carey Aaron , Bedwin Jennifer , Hourn Thomas , Asadi Fawad , Sowman Paul F.
Published: January 2023

Event-related potential (ERP) sensitivity to faces is predominantly characterized by an N170 peak that has greater amplitude and shorter latency when elicited by human faces than images of other objects. We developed a computational model of visual ERP generation to study this phenomenon which consisted of a convolutional neural network (CNN) connected to a recurrent neural network (RNN). We used open-access data to develop the model, generated synthetic images for simulating experiments, then collected additional data to validate predictions of these simulations. For modeling, visual stimuli presented during ERP experiments were represented as sequences of images (time x pixels). These were provided as inputs to the model. The CNN transformed these inputs into sequences of vectors that were passed to the RNN. The ERP waveforms evoked by visual stimuli were provided to the RNN as labels for supervised learning. The whole model was trained end-to-end using data from the open-access dataset to reproduce ERP waveforms evoked by visual events. Cross-validation model outputs strongly correlated with open-access (r = 0.98) and validation study data (r = 0.78). Open-access and validation study data correlated similarly (r = 0.81). Some aspects of model behavior were consistent with neural recordings while others were not, suggesting promising albeit limited capacity for modeling the neurophysiology of face-sensitive ERP generation.
In VivoDelivery of Therapeutic Molecules by Transplantation of Genome-Edited Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells
Authors: Nakajima Ittetsu , Tsukimura Takahiro , Ono Terumi , Shiga Tomoko , Shitara Hiroshi , Togawa Tadayasu , Sakuraba Hitoshi , Miyaoka Yuichiro
Published: January 2023

Human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) have already been used in transplantation therapies. Currently, cells from healthy people are transplanted into patients with diseases. With the rapid evolution of genome editing technology, genetic modification could be applied to enhance the therapeutic effects of iPSCs, such as the introduction of secreted molecules to make the cells a drug delivery system. Here, we addressed this possibility by utilizing a Fabry disease mouse model, as a proof of concept. Fabry disease is caused by the lack of α-Galactosidase A (GLA). We previously developed an immunotolerant therapeutic molecule, modified α-N-acetylgalactosaminidase (mNAGA). We confirmed that secreted mNAGA from genome-edited iPSCs compensated for the GLA activity in GLA-deficient cells using anin vitroco-culture system. Moreover, iPSCs transplanted into Fabry model mice secreted mNAGA and supplied GLA activity to the liver. This study demonstrates the great potential of genome-edited iPSCs secreting therapeutic molecules.
A Gamma-adapted recombinant subunit vaccine induces broadly neutralizing antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 variants and protects mice from infection
Authors: Coria Lorena M. , Rodriguez Juan Manuel , Demaria Agostina , Bruno Laura A. , Rios Medrano Mayra , Pueblas Castro Celeste , Castro Eliana F. , Del Priore Sabrina A. , Hernando Insua Andres C. , Kaufmann Ingrid G. , Saposnik Lucas M. , Stone William B. , Prado Lineia , Krum Valeria , Zurvarra Francisco M. , Sidabra Johanna E. , Drehe Ignacio , Baqué Jonathan A. , Li Causi Mariana , De Nichilo Analia V. , Payes Cristian J. , Auguste Albert J. , Vega Julio C. , Álvarez Diego E. , Flo Juan M. , Pasquevich Karina A. , Cassataro Juliana
Published: January 2023

The COVID-19 pandemic continues with the emergence of successive new variants of concern (VOC). One strategy to prevent breakthrough infections is developing safe and effective broad-spectrum vaccines. Here, we present preclinical studies of a RBD recombinant vaccine candidate derived from the Gamma SARS-CoV-2 variant adjuvanted with alum. Gamma RBD-derived antigen elicited better neutralizing antibody and T cell responses than formulation containing ancestral RBD antigen. The Gamma-adapted subunit vaccine elicited a long-lasting antibody response with cross-neutralizing activity against different VOC including the Omicron variant. Additionally, Gamma variant RBD-adapted vaccine elicited robust T cells responses with induction of Th1 and CD8+T cell responses in spleen and lung. Vaccine-induced immunity protected K18-hACE2 mice from intranasal challenge with SARS-CoV-2 increasing survival, reducing body weight loss and viral burden in the lungs and brain. Importantly, the subunit vaccine demonstrated a potent effect as heterologous booster of different vaccine platforms including the non-replicating adenovirus vaccine ChAdOx1-S, the mRNA vaccine BNT162b2 and the inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine BBIBP-CorV, increasing cross-reactive antibody responses. Our study indicates that the adjuvanted Gamma RBD vaccine is highly immunogenic and a broad-spectrum vaccine candidate to combat SARS-CoV-2 variants including Omicron.
Research on multiple transient modeling scheme for full-cycle design of the 12-pulse PSR rectifier
Authors: Yuan Dongsheng , Yin Zhonggang , Wang Shuhong , Duan Nana , Zhang Yanqing
Published: January 2023

Purpose

This paper aims to propose a novel multiple transient modeling scheme for the 12-pulse phase-shifting reactor (PSR) rectifier to enhance the efficiency of full-cycle design evaluation.

Design/methodology/approach

The detailed time-domain method is adopted to model the rectifier at the behavioral layer. The diode bridges/transformer model at the architecture layer is established by using the switch function and Park transformation. The frequency domain model at the functional layer is derived with the time-varying Fourier decomposition and frequency-shifting. At the component layer, the magneto-thermal characteristics of the rectifier are analyzed with field-circuit and magnetic-thermal coupling methods. A computer-aided design program integrating multiple modeling is also developed for industrial product design.

Findings

The function layer modeling is preferred in the initial design stage, making up for the lack of modeling accuracy at the architectural layer and the lack of modeling rapidity at the behavioral layer. The component modeling is irreplaceable for the detailed evaluation in the latter design stage. The multiple modeling scheme based on the four-layer modeling helps the designers achieve high-quality products with a short development cycle.

Originality/value

The singular transient modeling cannot cover the needs of different stages in the full-cycle design evaluation. This paper fills this gap with a novel multiple modeling scheme. Meanwhile, the proposed multiple modeling scheme and developed computer-aided design program provide a great convenience for full cycle design evaluation of the 12-pulse PSR rectifier.
Employee's performance and Kaizen events' success: does supervisor behaviour play a moderating role?
Authors: Kharub Manjeet , Gupta Himanshu , Rana Sudhir , McDermott Olivia
Published: January 2023

Purpose

The study's goal was to identify the factors contributing to the practical completion of Kaizen events (KEs). The effect of the work-study man's characteristics, the supervisor's conduct and the autonomy of the Kaizen team are analysed in this study.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected from 249 respondents working in the manufacturing sector in India, mainly those who had been involved in Kaizen projects. Three-step procedures, namely, exploratory factor analysis, confirmatory factor analysis and partial least squares, have been applied to test the research hypotheses through structural equational modelling.

Findings

The exploratory factor analysis extracted in-role performance, creative performance and human aspect as latent variables explaining work-study man's performance (eigenvalue = 1). The study's findings indicate that the performance of work-study man (in-role, creative and human) and supervisors' conduct is directly related to the success of KEs. It was shown that supervisors might influence the outcomes of KEs only by moderating the human aspects. Additionally, the degree of autonomy of the Kaizen team was found having a significant positive relationship with the success of KEs.

Practical implications

The current study suggests that in-role and creative performance are prime assets of a work-study man. At the same time, the human aspect is a delicate issue that can affect the supervisor's behaviour. Therefore, the study implies that work-study men have the tactics and abilities to work with other co-workers to make a Kaizen project successful.

Originality/value

Although the significance of Kaizen projects has been widely emphasised, past research has failed to establish what factors contribute to the success of Kaizen efforts. Similarly, the supervisor's critical role has been highlighted several times. However, it is unclear how their conduct influences the relationship between work-study man's performance and the effectiveness of Kaizen projects. This study contributes significantly to organisational culture and human resource management by answering these questions.
Beveridge at Eighty: Learning the Right Lessons
Authors: Kelly Gavin , Pearce Nick
Published: January 2023

The eightieth anniversary of the Beveridge inquiry is a timely moment to consider how the landmark report is used within contemporary UK politics. Calls for a ‘new Beveridge’ reflect a desire for a rupture with the past and the creation of a radical new welfare consensus. But this reflects a misunderstanding: Beveridge's approach was organic in nature, building on decades of experimentation, politically contested rather than consensual, and intellectually pluralist rather than moored to a single ideological worldview. The real insight Beveridge offers us today flows not from his substantive agenda—which was rooted in a particular set of historic circumstances—but as an approach to securing social reform. Successful welfare advances over the last generation have drawn on these ‘Beveridgean instincts’. Rather than calling for a new twenty‐first century blueprint to be handed down from above, reformers should build on experimentation and successful incremental change, from within the UK and abroad.
Venous chambers in clinical use for hemodialysis have limited capacity to eliminate microbubbles from entering the return bloodline: An in vitro study
Authors: Jonsson Per , Stegmayr Christofer , Stegmayr Bernd , Forsberg Ulf
Published: January 2023

Background

During hemodialysis (HD), blood passes through an extracorporeal circuit (ECC). To prevent air administration to the patient, a venous chamber (chamber) is located before the blood return. Microbubbles (MBs) may pass through the chamber and end up as microemboli in organs such as the brain and heart.

This in vitro study investigated the efficacy of various chambers in MB removal.

Materials and Methods

The in vitro recirculated setting of an ECC included an FX10 dialyzer, a dextran‐albumin solution to mimic blood viscosity and chambers with different flow characteristics in clinical use (Baxter: AK98 and Artis, Fresenius: 5008 and 6008) and preclinical test (Embody: Emboless®). A Gampt BCC200 device measured the presence and size of MBs (20–500 μm). Percentage change of MBs was calculated: ΔMB% = 100*(outlet–inlet)/inlet for each size of MB. Blood pump speed (Qb) was 200 (Qb200) or 300 (Qb300) ml/minute. Wilcoxon paired test determined differences.

Results

With Qb200 median ΔMB% reduction was: Emboless −58%, AK98 −24%, Fresenius 5008 −23%, Artis −8%, and Fresenius 6008 ± 0%. With Qb300 ΔMB% was: Emboless −36%, AK98 ± 0%, Fresenius 5008 ± 0%, Artis +25%, and Fresenius 6008 + 21%. The Emboless was superior to all other chambers with Qb200 and Qb300 (p < 0.001). Further, the Emboless with Qb300 still eliminated more MBs than all other chambers with Qb200 (p ≤ 0.003).

Conclusion

The results from the present study indicate that flow characteristics of the chamber and the Qb are important factors to limiting exposure of MB to the return bloodline. The Emboless chamber reduced MBs more effective than those chambers in clinical use investigated.
Gastric glomus tumor resection using laparoscopic endoscopic cooperative surgery: A case report
Authors: Iijima Yasuhiro , Tokumaru Shigeo , Kitazawa Masato , Nakamura Satoshi , Koyama Makoto , Yamamoto Yuta , Ehara Takehito , Hondo Nao , Miyazaki Satoru , Soejima Yuji
Published: January 2023

Gastric glomus tumors are rare submucosal mesenchymal neoplasms that are difficult to diagnose preoperatively. We present a case of a 60‐year‐old woman who was diagnosed with a gastric glomus tumor using endoscopic ultrasonography‐guided fine‐needle aspiration biopsy. The tumor was successfully resected with laparoscopic endoscopic cooperative surgery (LECS). LECS could be an effective method for the resection of gastric glomus tumors.
The Young Men and the Sea: Reflections on Male Infantile Development, Fatherhood and Psychoanalytic Training
Authors: Thrul Sebastian
Published: January 2023

This essay explores the challenge that men's experiences of uncertainty, vulnerability and dependency pose for phallic masculinity. The theory of the little boy's disidentification from the mother is revisited to account for a fear of drowning in a sea of overwhelming affect, as exemplified by my own experiences as father and psychoanalytic candidate. I argue that men's ability to tolerate the unconscious depends on their relationship to the maternal, which is forged on the threshold between preoedipal and oedipal functioning. The importance of receptive fathers to help men integrate the maternal is illustrated by a case discussion in which an early impasse is resolved in supervision.