bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Efficient automated localization of ECoG electrodes in CT images via shape analysis
Authors: Centracchio Jessica , Sarno Antonio , Esposito Daniele , Andreozzi Emilio , Pavone Luigi , Di Gennaro Giancarlo , Bartolo Marcello , Esposito Vincenzo , Morace Roberta , Casciato Sara , Bifulco Paolo
Published: March 2021

Purpose

People with drug-refractory epilepsy are potential candidates for surgery. In many cases, epileptogenic zone localization requires intracranial investigations, e.g., via ElectroCorticoGraphy (ECoG), which uses subdural electrodes to map eloquent areas of large cortical regions. Precise electrodes localization on cortical surface is mandatory to delineate the seizure onset zone. Simple thresholding operations performed on patients’ computed tomography (CT) volumes recognize electrodes but also other metal objects (e.g., wires, stitches), which need to be manually removed. A new automated method based on shape analysis is proposed, which provides substantially improved performances in ECoG electrodes recognition.

Methods

The proposed method was retrospectively tested on 24 CT volumes of subjects with drug-refractory focal epilepsy, presenting a large number (> 1700) of round platinum electrodes. After CT volume thresholding, six geometric features of voxel clusters (volume, symmetry axes lengths, circularity and cylinder similarity) were used to recognize the actual electrodes among all metal objects via a Gaussian support vector machine (G-SVM). The proposed method was further tested on seven CT volumes from a public repository. Simultaneous recognition of depth and ECoG electrodes was also investigated on three additional CT volumes, containing penetrating depth electrodes.

Results

The G-SVM provided a 99.74% mean classification accuracy across all 24 single-patient datasets, as well as on the combined dataset. High accuracies were obtained also on the CT volumes from public repository (98.27% across all patients, 99.68% on combined dataset). An overall accuracy of 99.34% was achieved for the recognition of depth and ECoG electrodes.

Conclusions

The proposed method accomplishes automated ECoG electrodes localization with unprecedented accuracy and can be easily implemented into existing software for preoperative analysis process. The preliminary yet surprisingly good results achieved for the simultaneous depth and ECoG electrodes recognition are encouraging.

Ethical approval n°NCT04479410 by “IRCCS Neuromed” (Pozzilli, Italy), 30th July 2020.
Exploring the Mineralogy at Lonar Crater with Hyperspectral Remote Sensing
Authors: Gore Ranjana , Mishra Abhilasha , Deshmukh Ratnadeep
Published: March 2021

The earth crust is made up of variety of minerals. These minerals are having very significant applications in our day today life. The various studies, characterizing physical, chemical, electrical, structural properties, have been carried out on the Lonar crater for studying mineralogy, surface morphology and geology but has not been done by remote sensing technology. So, the proposed work focused on exploring the mineralogy at the Lonar crater by using high resolution hyperspectral imageries. The spectral reflectance of minerals was characterized by using FieldSpec4 spectroradiometer. The minerals at Lonar crater were explored by performing preprocessing and spectral analysis. The techniques used in the work are Spectral Angle Mapper and Spectral Feature Fitting. The results of the work marked the presence of pigeonite and augite at Lonar crater which indicates that this crater is the result of extrusive volcanic activity. Also, the presence of augite underneath basaltic igneous rocks as the rock type of Lonar crater. The salinity of the Lonar lake is proved by the presence of mirabilite and salt. Thus, the important results of this work are presence of minerals quartz, actinol, jarosite, pigeonite, augite, albite, mirabilite and scolecite. The significance of these minerals related to the crater is discussed here. It also validated the existence of these minerals which were identified through the previous geological, chemical, physical, electrical and magnetic studies and the minerals pyrite, chlorite, richter, illite, limonite, allanite, amphibolite and margarite were also identified.
Geochemical Characteristics of Quartzite in Parts of Paleoproterozoic Dhanjori Group, Singhbhum Craton, Eastern India: Implications for Provenance and Paleoweathering
Authors: Chaudhary Usman Aarif , Alvi Shabber Habib
Published: March 2021

Singhbhum craton preserves the records of sedimentation, magmatism, and tectono-thermal events from Mesoarchaean to Neoproterozoic. The Dhanjori Group (DG), located on the northeast margin of the Singhbhum craton, comprises of a variety of rocks including quartz pebble conglomerate, quartzite, schist, interlayered with mafic to intermediate and rarely acidic lava flows, tuff and agglomerate. Petrography and geochemical characteristics of the Dhanjori quartzite have been undertaken to interpret paleoweathering and provenance characteristics. Studied quartzites are made up of abundant quartz, feldspar, mica, and lithic fragments. With the help of geochemical data, the studied quartzites are classified as quartz-arenites and sub-arkoses. In addition to the A-CN-K plot, various chemical indices such as the chemical index of weathering (CIW), chemical index of alteration (CIA), and plagioclase index of alteration (PIA) indicate moderate to intense chemical weathering of the provenance under semi-humid climatic conditions. Rare earth element (REE) chondrite normalized patterns of the studied samples illustrate enriched light rare earth elements (LREEs) (LaN/SmN = 3.11 – 6.19), depleted heavy rare earth elements (HREEs) (GdN/YbN = 0.35 – 3.12) and negative Eu anomaly (Eu/Eu* = 0.55 - 0.87, ~ 0.68). Such patterns are similar to that of the upper continental crust (UCC). In the discrimination function diagram, studied samples of the Dhanjori Group fall in quartzose sedimentary field. In addition, La/Sc vs. Th/Co and La-Th-Sc diagrams, various ratios like Th/Sc (~0.61), La/Sc (~4.42), Th/Co (~0.03), La/Co (~0.11), and Cr/Th (~141.62) imply a mixed provenance for the studied samples. Hence, it has been inferred that the meta-sediments and orthoamphibolites of the older metamorphic group, Singhbhum granitoid complex, as well as associated Archaean metavolcanic suites, would have acted as the probable source rocks for the studied Dhanjori quartzites.
Not All Doom and Gloom: How Energy-Intensive and Temporally Flexible Data Center Applications May Actually Promote Renewable Energy Sources
Authors: Fridgen Gilbert , Körner Marc-Fabian , Walters Steffen , Weibelzahl Martin
Published: March 2021

To achieve a sustainable energy system, a further increase in electricity generation from renewable energy sources (RES) is imperative. However, the development and implementation of RES entail various challenges, e.g., dealing with grid stability issues due to RES’ intermittency. Correspondingly, increasingly volatile and even negative electricity prices question the economic viability of RES-plants. To address these challenges, this paper analyzes how the integration of an RES-plant and a computationally intensive, energy-consuming data center (DC) can promote investments in RES-plants. An optimization model is developed that calculates the net present value (NPV) of an integrated energy system (IES) comprising an RES-plant and a DC, where the DC may directly consume electricity from the RES-plant. To gain applicable knowledge, this paper evaluates the developed model by means of two use-cases with real-world data, namely AWS computing instances for training Machine Learning algorithms and Bitcoin mining as relevant DC applications. The results illustrate that for both cases the NPV of the IES compared to a stand-alone RES-plant increases, which may lead to a promotion of RES-plants. The evaluation also finds that the IES may be able to provide significant energy flexibility that can be used to stabilize the electricity grid. Finally, the IES may also help to reduce the carbon-footprint of new energy-intensive DC applications by directly consuming electricity from RES-plants.
Boehmite nanopowder recovered from aluminum cans waste as a potential adsorbent for the treatment of oilfield produced water
Authors: Abdelkader Adel , Hussien Basem M. , Fawzy Eman M. , Ibrahim Asma A.
Published: March 2021

In the present study, high surface area boehmite nanopowder was recovered from aluminum cans waste. The sodium aluminate solution was first prepared by dissolving aluminum cans in NaOH solution and then, H2O2 solution was added to precipitate boehmite. The prepared boehmite was characterized by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and N2 adsorption–desorption techniques. The thermal stability of the boehmite sample was investigated using thermogravimetry (TG) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) techniques. The feasibility of using the prepared boehmite powder as a new low-cost adsorbent for the treatment of oilfield produced water was investigated. For comparison, commercial activated carbon was used for the treatment of the produced water under the same conditions. The efficiency of both of boehmite and activated carbon in the treatment of produced water was determined by monitoring the values of a number of pollution indicators [i.e. turbidity, sulfides, sulfates, total organic carbon (TOC), total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH), and chemical oxygen demand (COD)] before and after the treatment. The boehmite powder showed very good efficiency in the treatment of the produced water, which is very close to that of commercial activated carbon under the same conditions. The effect of adsorbent dose, treatment time, and pH of the media on the adsorption efficiency of both of boehmite and activated carbon was examined at room temperature using chemical oxygen demand as a pollution indicator. The maximum capacity for COD reduction was 69.6% for boehmite and 83.5% for activated carbon at 40 g/l adsorbent dosage, pH7, and 24-h contact time.

Graphic abstract
On the behaviour of analytic representation of the generalized Pascal snail
Authors: Kanas S. , Masih V. S.
Published: March 2021

We find an unifying approach to the analytic representation of the domain bounded by a generalized Pascal snail. Special cases as the Pascal snail, Both leminiscate, conchoid of the Sluze and a disc are included. The behaviour of functions related to generalized Pascal snail is studied.
Influence of a 12-week physical activity program on leptin resistance in metabolic syndrome: a preliminary study
Authors: Anche Parameshwar , Maiya G. Arun , Kamath Shobha Ullas , Shastry B. Ananthakrishna
Published: March 2021

Purpose

Metabolic syndrome is a condition with clustering of risk factors like insulin resistance, obesity, dyslipidemia, and hypertension. Leptin is a protein of obese gene produced by white adipose tissue. Leptin resistance is the insensitivity of leptin in hypothalamus despite high amounts in blood causing obesity and metabolic syndrome. The study focused on the influence of a 12-week physical activity promotion program on leptin resistance in people with metabolic syndrome

Methods

After approval from institutional ethics committee (IEC 343-2018), 18 participants (malesN= 4, femalesN=14) of age group 45.0±7.6 years with metabolic syndrome according to (NCEP ATP-III) criteria were included in the study. The participants underwent a 12-week physical activity program consisting of 150 min of moderate to vigorous activity per week as per GPAQ domains—work, transport, and recreation. The outcomes were measured at baseline and after 12 weeks.

Results

Out of 18 participants, 10 participants who completed the study were analysed. Twelve-week physical activity showed significant changes in waist circumference (p=0.047), post prandial blood glucose (p=0.0396), triglycerides (p=0.0323), body mass index (p=0.0056), subcutaneous fat (p=0.0354), and basal metabolic rate (p=0.0035). Fasting blood glucose (p=0.254), lipid profiles (total cholesterol (p=0.062)), high-density lipoprotein (p=0.367), low-density lipoprotein (p=0.641), and leptin showed insignificant change (p=0.328). Global physical activity questionnaire showed significant change (p=0.0254) suggesting changes in physical activity behaviors.

Conclusion

From present study, it is concluded that a 12-week physical activity promotion program brought marginal changes in leptin levels and has potential to modify metabolic syndrome parameters and improve physical activity.
Prophylaxe der Post-ERCP-Pankreatitis
Authors: Dolak Werner
Published: March 2021

Die Post-ERCP-Pankreatitis ist die häufigste Komplikation einer ERCP und wird durch eine Vielzahl an Faktoren beeinflusst. Zu deren Prophylaxe ist eine strenge Indikationsstellung zur ERCP erforderlich. Sofern keine Gegenanzeigen bestehen, sollen die Patienten vor, während und nach der Untersuchung eine forcierte i.v.-Flüssigkeitszufuhr mit Ringer-Laktat erhalten (in unserer Praxis wird beispielsweise ein Liter Ringer-Laktat vor Beginn der Untersuchung angehängt und zumindest ein weiterer Liter während oder nach der Untersuchung nachgegeben). Vor jeder ERCP sollen ferner 100 mg Diclofenac oder Indometacin rektal verabreicht werden, sofern keine Kontraindikationen bestehen. Je nach Eingriffsart und zusätzlichen intraprozeduralen Risikofaktoren kann schließlich die Platzierung eines Pankreasschutzstents erforderlich sein, um das Risiko weiter minimieren zu können.
Microcrystal alignment in drawn fiber over sub-meter to kilometer length scales
Authors: Tauzer Laurel , Mescher Ann
Published: March 2021

This paper describes a method for aligning stiff, high-aspect-ratio microcrystals over macro-length scales using a polymer fiber drawing process. A composite preform was constructed with an interfacial, liquid shell layer of grapeseed oil suspending ytterbium-doped potassium lutetium fluoride microcrystals (30% Yb:K2LuF5, KLF) between adjacent cylindrical surfaces of acrylic (polymethyl methacrylate, PMMA). The mean length of synthesized KLF microcrystals was 67 microns, and the mean aspect ratio, equivalent to crystal length divided by diameter, was eight. The acrylic-host preform was drawn into fiber, resulting in uniform reduction of all cross-sectional dimensions by a factor of approximately 20 in the final fiber. A corresponding width reduction of the interstitial liquid-filled gap, containing microcrystals between the polymer surfaces, constrains the microcrystals and causes alignment of the crystal long axes parallel to the axis of the drawn composite fiber. Alignment was best for clearly separated microcrystals and improved even further with the longest lengths, or highest aspect-ratio microcrystals.
Simple synthesis of gold-decorated silica nanoparticles by in situ precipitation method with new plasmonic properties
Authors: Félix Lizbet León , Porcel Joaquin Martinez , Aragón Fermín Fidel Herrera , Pacheco-Salazar David Gregorio , Sousa Marcelo Henrique
Published: March 2021

We describe a simple method for the preparation of gold-decorated silica (SiO2) nanoparticles (NPs) by the in situ precipitation method using simple BH4− ions reduction as a procedure, where BH4− ions are adsorbed onto PEI-functionalized SiO2 NPs for stabilizing and reducing gold ions onto PEI-SiO2 surface in water under ambient conditions. The result was 3-nm gold nanoshell NPs attached to SiO2 core (~ 75 nm) with a surface plasmon resonance (SPR) at ~ 680 nm. SPR band is associated with Au NP aggregates that arise from strong interparticle interaction. This is an alternative to the gold-seeding methods and the use of anionic gold species for the obtention of gold-decorated SiO2 NPs with an important red-shift in UV–Vis absorption and with potential applications in biosensors and photothermal therapy.
On averaged exponential integrators for semilinear wave equations with solutions of low-regularity
Authors: Buchholz Simone , Dörich Benjamin , Hochbruck Marlis
Published: March 2021

In this paper we introduce a class of second-order exponential schemes for the time integration of semilinear wave equations. They are constructed such that the established error bounds only depend on quantities obtained from a well-posedness result of a classical solution. To compensate missing regularity of the solution the proofs become considerably more involved compared to a standard error analysis. Key tools are appropriate filter functions as well as the integration-by-parts and summation-by-parts formulas. We include numerical examples to illustrate the advantage of the proposed methods.
Theory of language: a taxonomy
Authors: Austin Patrik
Published: March 2021

The study of language has been historically proposed as a model for human sciences. For the structuralists, it is because languages, like society, and cultural habits, are man-made rule-based systems. For the Darwinists, it is because cultures and societies are like living species, and can be studied with biological methodology. Sociology, biology and linguistics are considered analogous in different ways. To support work in theoretical and applied linguistics, this paper discusses the problem of the nature of language, investigating how the question “What is language?” has been approached from different angles. Textbook answers guide us in many different directions: language is a tool for communication—and for thinking. It is a collection of words and instructions how to use them. It is the characteristic which—arguably—separates humans from other animals. It is a social construction, a system of symbols, a system of systems, and so on. To classify perspectives, the intellectual history of schools of linguistic thought is examined, connecting linguistic theory with related disciplines. A taxonomy is proposed based on two axes: humanistic versus biological; and historical versus systemic. Main linguistics frameworks are identified and placed into a fourfold table based on these axes. They include the Bloomfieldian school (Type 1); Saussurean structuralism and its derivatives (Type 2); generative grammar and biolinguistics (Type 3); and cognitive‒evolutionary linguistics (Type 4).
The Economics and Productivity of Organic versus Conventional U.S. Dairy Farms
Authors: Nehring Richard F. , Gillespie Jeffrey , Greene Catherine , Law Jonathan
Published: March 2021

United States certified organic and conventional dairy farms are compared on the basis of economic, financial, and technological measures using dairy data from the 2016 USDA Agricultural Resource Management Survey. A stochastic production frontier model using an input distance function framework is estimated for U.S. dairy farms to examine technical efficiency and returns to scale (RTS) of farms of both systems and by multiple size categories. Financial and economic measures such as net return on assets and input costs, as well as technological adoption measures are compared by system and size. For both systems, size is the major determinant of competitiveness based on selected measures of productivity and RTS.
Burden of healthcare-associated infections among hospitalized children within community hospitals participating in an infection control network
Authors: Akinboyo Ibukunoluwa C. , Young Rebecca R. , Smith Michael J. , Lewis Sarah S. , Smith Becky A. , Anderson Deverick J.
Published: March 2021

We describe the frequency of pediatric healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) identified through prospective surveillance in community hospitals participating in an infection control network. Over a 6-year period, 84 HAIs were identified. Of these 51 (61%) were pediatric central-line–associated bloodstream infections, and they often occurred in children <1 year of age.
RADIOCARBON DATING OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL MATERIAL RECOVERED FROM THE BASIN OF MEXICO
Authors: Balcorta Yépez Francisco Antonio , Alavez Ortúzar Montserrat , Flores Montes de Oca Zulema Berenice , Martínez-Carrillo Miguel Ángel , Solís Corina , Rodríguez-Ceja María , Ortiz María Esther
Published: March 2021

The Mexico City Basin has had exceptional plant and animal diversity since ancient times due to its varied orography and benign climate. This environment attracted diverse human groups, from hunter-gatherers to one of the most influential pre-Hispanic cultures of Mesoamerica: the Mexica, also known as the Aztec. The subsoil of Mexico City hides a rich and varied cultural heritage. The Archaeological Rescue Department works to preserve cultural heritage, review archaeological studies, and expand archaeological information with new findings. We report on archaeological rescue works carried out at two sites in the Mexico City Basin prior to the beginning of new construction projects. The first one is the Reforma Hidalgo Complex Office in Teocaltitlán, one of the neighborhoods of ancient Mexica City, Mexico-Tenochtitlan. Some wooden post samples were selected for accelerator mass spectrometry radiocarbon (AMS 14C) dating, believed to have been used as chinampa supports. We seek to determine their temporality and possible reuse by Hispanic builders. The second one, the La Otra Banda Site, is part of the human settlements that were founded around Cuicuilco, one of the main ancient urban centers of the highlands of Central Mexico. Some human bones and coal samples were selected to be dated, aiming to establish the site’s occupation time.
THE EMBEDDINGS OF THE HEISENBERG GROUP INTO THE CREMONA GROUP
Authors: DÉSERTI JULIE
Published: March 2021

In this article, we describe the embeddings of the Heisenberg group into the Cremona group.
A Well-Adjusted Debt: How the International Anti-Debt Movement Failed to Delink Debt Relief and Structural Adjustment
Authors: Baillot Hélène
Published: March 2021

This article analyses the process by which the issues of debt and structural adjustment were redefined by a plurality of actors, from institutional experts to activists, during the 1980s and 1990s. Although it mainly focuses on the 1990s, when the Jubilee 2000 campaign emerged, blossomed, and died, it takes into account the institutional mobilization preceding it. It then points to the need to think about the dynamics of competition and the division of labour among international players. While the leading Jubilee 2000 coalition in the Global North opposed debt on economic and religious grounds, African anti-structural adjustment programme (SAP) activists who joined the Jubilee Afrika campaign promoted an alternative framework: according to them, debt was not just economically “unsustainable”; it was first and foremost “illegitimate”, as were any conditions attached to its reduction, beginning with the implementation of SAPs. The story of the anti-debt campaign is the story of their failure.
Is newborn survival influenced by place of delivery? A comparison of home, public sector and private sector deliveries in India
Authors: Verma Asmita , Cleland John
Published: March 2021

In 2005 and again in 2011, the Government of India launched schemes to encourage institutional delivery among poor women, with the aim of improving maternal and newborn health outcomes. Partly as a result of these initiatives, the proportion of children born in a health facility rose steeply from 42% in 2000–2005 to 81% a decade later. In this context, the objective of this paper was to determine the association between place of delivery (public sector, private sector, home) and early neonatal mortality, defined as death in the first 7 days after birth. The focus was on early neonatal mortality because over half of all under-five deaths occur in his period and because the protective effect of an institutional place of birth should be strongest in those few early days. Both bivariate methods and multivariate logistic regression analysis were applied to data from the fourth round of the National Family Health Survey conducted in 2015–16. For the country as a whole, it was found that the adjusted odds of death in the early neonatal period were lower for deliveries in public health facilities than for home deliveries (OR 0.833 p<0.01), but no significant difference was found between deliveries in private health facilities and at home. Adjusted odds of death were higher for deliveries in private than public sector facilities (OR 1.41 p<0.01). On further investigation, for the poor in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, it was found that the risks of dying in the early neonatal period were even higher for babies delivered in private health facilities than for home deliveries with adjusted odds of over 2.0. These results raise serious questions about quality of care in the private sector in India. In the context of increased emphasis on public–private partnerships in health services provision in the country, it becomes imperative to enforce better inspection, licensing and quality control of private sector facilities, especially in the states of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.
Bridging the gap between collisional and collisionless shock waves
Authors: Bret Antoine , Pe'er Asaf
Published: March 2021

While the front of a fluid shock is a few mean-free-paths thick, the front of a collisionless shock can be orders of magnitude thinner. By bridging between a collisional and a collisionless formalism, we assess the transition between these two regimes. We consider non-relativistic, non-magnetized, planar shocks in electron–ion plasmas. In addition, our treatment of the collisionless regime is restricted to high-Mach-number electrostatic shocks. We find that the transition can be parameterized by the upstream plasma parameter

$\varLambda$

which measures the coupling of the upstream medium. For

$\varLambda \lesssim 1.12$

, the upstream is collisional, i.e. strongly coupled, and the strong shock front is about

$\mathcal {M}_1 \lambda _{\mathrm {mfp},1}$

thick, where

$\lambda _{\mathrm {mfp},1}$

and

$\mathcal {M}_1$

are the upstream mean free path and Mach number, respectively. A transition occurs for

$\varLambda \sim 1.12$

beyond which the front is

$\sim \mathcal {M}_1\lambda _{\mathrm {mfp},1}\ln \varLambda /\varLambda$

thick for

$\varLambda \gtrsim 1.12$

. Considering that

$\varLambda$

can reach billions in astrophysical settings, this allows an understanding of how the front of a collisionless shock can be orders of magnitude smaller than the mean free path, and how physics transitions continuously between these two extremes.
Modelling liquefied natural gas ship traffic in port based on cellular automaton and multi-agent system
Authors: Liu Jingxian , Liu Yang , Qi Le
Published: March 2021

Over the past few decades, the number of liquefied natural gas (LNG) ships and terminals has been increasing, playing an important role in global clean energy transportation. However, the traffic capacity of LNG shipping in port areas is limited because of its high safety requirements. In view of this problem, a novel model is proposed to study the ship traffic in a port area by combining cellular automaton (CA) and multi-agent methods. Taking the CNOOC Tianjin LNG Terminal as an example, the ship traffic in Tianjin Port is simulated. Based on the simulation results, the LNG ship traffic capacity and its impact on the general shipping traffic flow under different special traffic rules are obtained. This model can provide theoretical support for optimising the port traffic organisation for LNG ships.
Sperm-borne small RNAs improve the developmental competence of pre-implantation cloned embryos in rabbit
Authors: Qin Hongyu , Qu Pengxiang , Hu Huizhong , Cao Wenbin , Liu Hengchao , Zhang Yanru , Zhao Jinpeng , Nazira Fatima , Liu Enqi
Published: March 2021

The low efficiency of somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) greatly limits its application. Compared with the fertilized embryo, cloned embryos display abnormal epigenetic modification and other inferior developmental properties. In this study, small RNAs were isolated, and miR-34c and miR-125b were quantified by real-time PCR; results showed that these micro-RNAs were highly expressed in sperm. The test sample was divided into three groups: one was the fertilized group, one was the SCNT control group (NT-C group), and the third group consisted of SCNT embryos injected with sperm-borne small RNA (NT-T group). The level of tri-methylation of lysine 9 on histone H3 (H3K9me3) at the 8-cell stage was determined by immunofluorescence staining, and the cleavage ratio, blastocyst ratio, apoptotic cell index of the blastocyst and total cell number of blastocysts in each group were analyzed. Results showed that the H3K9me3 level was significantly higher in the NT-C group than in the fertilized group and the NT-T group. The apoptosis index of blastocysts in the NT-C group was significantly higher than that in the fertilized group and the NT-T group. The total cell number of SCNT embryos was significantly lower than that of fertilized embryos, and injecting sperm-borne small RNAs could significantly increase the total cell number of SCNT blastocysts. Our study not only demonstrates that sperm-borne small RNAs have an important role in embryo development, but also provides a new strategy for improving the efficiency of SCNT in rabbit.
Porcine oocyte preincubation in oviductal fluid flush beforein vitrofertilization in the presence of oviductal epithelial cells improves monospermic zygote production
Authors: Batista Ribrio Ivan Tavares Pereira , Moro Lucia N. , Corbin Emilie , Alminana Carmen , Souza-Fabjan Joanna Maria Gonçalves , Freitas Vicente José de Figueirêdo , Mermillod Pascal
Published: March 2021

The present study was designed to evaluate the effect of the combination of oviduct fluid flush (OFF) and oviduct epithelial cells (OEC) in modulating the incidence of polyspermy in pigs. Therefore, forin vitrofertilization (IVF), oocyte and sperm were co-cultured in Tris-buffered medium (TBM) either supplemented with 10% OFF (OFFD group), or in the presence of a bovine OEC monolayer (OEC group), or the oocytes were exposed to OFF for 30 min before IVF (OFFB group), or in the presence of an OEC monolayer (OFFB + OEC group). Regardless of sperm concentration used (0.5, 1.5, and 4.5 × 105cells/ml), supplementation of IVF medium with 10% OFF led to an increased (P< 0.05) monospermy rate, without alteration (P> 0.05) of the penetration rate in comparison with the control and OEC groups. When the IVF medium was supplemented with heparin, an overall increase (P< 0.05) of the final output of the IVF system in terms of zygotes with two pronuclei (2PN) was observed in the OFFD group, compared with the control and OEC groups, at a sperm concentration of 4.5 × 105cells/ml. At this concentration, OFFB improved the monospermy rate but decreased the penetration rate, resulting in low efficiency of monospermic zygotes production. Despite this, no major effect was observed in the developmental competence of the presumed zygotes up to the blastocyst stage. The combination of OFFB with OEC improved the penetration rate, while maintaining the high monospermic rate induced by OFFB. In conclusion, the combination of treatment of oocytes by diluted OFF 30 min before IVF, followed by IVF in the presence of OEC, improved monospermic zygote production without reducing the penetration rate, when the IVF medium was supplemented with heparin.
Fire takes no vacation: impact of fires on tourism
Authors: Otrachshenko Vladimir , Nunes Luis C.
Published: March 2021

Many Mediterranean-type climates around the world will face increased risks of wildfires as a consequence of climate change. In this study we consider the case of Portugal and estimate the impact of the increasing risk of forest fires on tourism. Using data for 278 municipalities for the 2000–2016 period, we find a considerable negative impact of burned areas on the number of tourist arrivals, both domestic and inbound. We go beyond the traditional impact analysis and provide predictions for 2030 and 2050. The estimated annual costs to the Portuguese economy due to the impact of burned areas in 2030 range between €17.03 and 24.18 million for domestic tourist arrivals and between €18.26 and 38.08 million for inbound ones. In 2050, those costs will increase at least fourfold. These findings underscore the importance of taking the forest fire risks into account when planning local investments.
Novel use of a vaginal cylinder purposed dually as obturator and localiser for stereotactic ablative radiotherapy delivery
Authors: Thompson J. Spencer , Chen Yong , Ali Imad , Henson Christina , Arntzen Julie , Holman Laura , Cantrell J. Nathan , Ahmad Salahuddin
Published: March 2021

Background:

Vaginal cancer is a rare malignancy that poses a challenge to treat and cure, as surgical excision requires life-changing procedures because of the proximity and involvement of rectum, bladder and anus. We report in this case study the successful delivery of stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SABR) for a patient with vaginal cancer after previous radiotherapy.

Methods:

A 71-year-old white female who presented with dyspareunia and irritative urinary symptoms proven by biopsy was our candidate patient. Subsequent PET/CT revealed a hypermetabolic 3 cm lesion at the 12–1 o’clock position in the distal vagina involving the clitoris. The patient was initially treated with volumetric-modulated arc therapy (VMAT) with simultaneous integrated boost technique to the involved nodes, and later upon recurrence treated with SABR using 30 Gy in six fractions.

Findings:

To our knowledge, this is the first report of a vaginal cylinder used to physically distance organs at risk from the treatment target and also as a localising device with image guidance for the delivery of SABR using an external beam.
Presidential power effects on government and ministerial durability: evidence from Central and Eastern Europe
Authors: Semenova Elena , Dowding Keith
Published: March 2021

In this article, we examine the variation in the institutional powers granted to president to terminate cabinets (by dismissing prime ministers), and appointing ministers to show how variations affect both cabinet durability (and the mode of cabinet termination) and ministerial durability (i.e., the overall time a minister remains in cabinet). Using the most extensive survival data set on ministers in 14 Central and Eastern European countries available to date alongside data on government survival, our Cox regression models demonstrate that the institutional rules granting extensive powers to the presidents are powerful determinants of ministerial durability. We show that the effect of presidential powers reduces cabinet durability but increases ministerial durability. These results demonstrate that the specific powers given to chief executives are essential for issues surrounding implications for ministerial and cabinet durability, institutional choice, policy stability, and governmental accountability.
MMS Observation on the Cross‐Tail Current Sheet Roll‐up at the Dipolarization Front
Authors: Zhang L. Q. , Wang C. , Dai L. , Fu H. S. , Lui A. T. Y. , Baumjohann W. , Yu Y. , Ren Y. , Burch James L. , Khotyaintsev Yu. V.
Published: March 2021

We perform a case study on the evolution of the current sheet in different regions around the dipolarization front (DF), including magnetic‐dip preceding the DF, front at the DF, and magnetic pileup region (MPR) behind the DF based on magnetospheric multiscale (MMS) observation on July 31, 2017. In this event, MMS1 stays inside the current sheet during the whole bursty bulk flow (BBF) interval. Our analysis reveals that the cross‐tail current sheet at the DF is rolled up, signified by the depression (−Vz/−Bz) at the dip and elevation (+Vz/+Bz) at the front. The minimum variance analysis on the magnetic field method is applied to obtain the normal direction of the current sheet. The result confirms the roll‐up, that is, downward at the depressed current sheet and upward at the elevated current sheet. The current sheet roll‐up at the DF is asymmetric, with steeper elevation than depression. The elevation angle of the elevated current sheet is evaluated to be ∼30°. Strong duskward and predominantly perpendicular J spike (∼90 nA/m2) concentrate at the interface between the dip and the front. The strength of the current of the J‐spike is about nine/three times the current at the dip/front. The front is characterized by positive E·J. In the dip/MPR, no such preference is seen. Ion/Electron pitch angle distributions exhibit significant and different evolutions in the roll‐up current sheet from dip to front, including their energy‐dependence and distributions. Finally, the roll‐up current sheet could decelerate BBF and change the flow structure. The potential significance of the roll‐up current sheet on BBF evolution is emphasized.
Detection and Characterization of Circular Expanding UV‐Emissions Observed in Jupiter's Polar Auroral Regions
Authors: Hue V. , Greathouse T. K. , Gladstone G. R. , Bonfond B. , Gérard J.‐C. , Vogt M. F. , Grodent D. C. , Versteeg M. H. , Kammer J. A. , Clark G. , Ebert R. W. , Giles R. S. , Davis M. W. , Haewsantati K. , Bolton S. J. , Levin S. M. , Connerney J. E. P.
Published: March 2021

Jupiter's polar auroral region hosts UV auroral emissions that relate to the magnetospheric dynamics from the outer magnetosphere. Juno‐UVS has discovered intriguing features characterized by expanding emission circles of UV‐brightness <140 kR. These events are located at the border of the previously defined swirl region, nearby the polar dark region. The features expand into a circular shape up to ∼1,000 km in radius, at expansion velocities from 3.3 ± 1.7 up to 7.7 ± 3.5 km/s, as measured over the four best observed cases. Using color ratio measurements as a proxy for the depth of the recorded features, the mean electron energy responsible for these emissions is 80–160 keV. Events occurring in the outer magnetosphere at distances >100 RJ are likely causing for these features. Dayside magnetopause reconnection and Kelvin‐Helmholtz instabilities resulting from the shear flows near the magnetopause are expected to generate field‐aligned currents that could potentially be the cause of these features.
Single‐Rate Dual‐Domain Mass Transfer Model: Elucidating Temperature Effects
Authors: Binder M. , Hahnewald A. , Händel F. , Prommer H. , Engelmann C. , Burghardt D. , Stock P. , Tritschler F. , Liedl R. , Walther M.
Published: March 2021

In this study, the influence of varying temperatures on the transport behavior of conservative solutes in heterogeneous porous media has been investigated. Column flow experiments employing potassium bromide as tracer were conducted at four temperature levels (3°C, 10°C, 20°C, and 30°C) and the measured electrical conductivity (EC) signal was interpreted through inverse modeling. Additional experiments were performed with deuterium‐enriched water at 10°C and 30°C. For those experiments, deuterium isotope ratios were analyzed alongside anion and cation concentrations. Obtained EC‐based breakthrough curves showed measurable differences in both the observed peak values and tailing intensities that could be clearly attributed to variations in the experimental temperatures. The EC‐based results were further corroborated by the measured isotope ratios and corresponding anion/cation concentrations, although measured differences were less pronounced. The model‐based interpretation of the results employed the standard advection‐dispersion equation as well as three alternative variants that were all based on the single‐rate dual‐domain mass transfer (DDMT) approach, but embracing varying coupling intensities between the experiments. For all variants transport parameters were determined for EC, bromide, and deuterium, respectively. The estimated ranges of the transport parameters all point toward a direct correlation between the effective DDMT rates and the experimental temperature. The observed correlation directly follows the Arrhenius relationship, but is weaker than the one describing the temperature dependence of the molecular diffusion coefficients, therefore pointing to a contribution of non‐diffusive components.
A New Understanding of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge and Plate Tectonics
Authors: Rocheleau Jackie
Published: March 2021

The first seismic data obtained directly from the Mid-Atlantic Ridge suggest that upwelling may contribute to seafloor spreading.
Generation and characterization of CD19-iCre mice as a tool for efficient and specific conditional gene targeting in B cells
Authors: Yasuda Tomoharu , Saito Yuichi , Ono Chisato , Kawata Kazuhiko , Baba Akemi , Baba Yoshihiro
Published: March 2021

The Cre/loxP system is a powerful tool for generating conditional gene knockout (KO) mice and elucidate gene function in vivo. CD19-Cre and Mb1-iCre transgenic mice are commonly used for generating B cell-specific KO mice and investigate the development, as well as the physiological and pathophysiological roles of B cells. However, the CD19-Cre line low efficiency and the Mb1-iCre line occasional ectopic recombination represent challenges for their use. Thus, we developed a CD19-codon-improved Cre (CD19-iCre) knock-in mouse with the T2A-iCre sequence inserted into the Cd19 locus, just before the stop codon. The CD19-iCre mice were compared with existing models, crossed with the Rosa26-EYFP reporter mice, and their recombination activity in B cells carrying different Cre alleles was assessed. CD19-iCre mice showed more effective Cre recombination in the early B cell developmental stages compared with the CD19-Cre mice. The efficiencies of the CD19-iCre and Mb1-iCre lines were similar; however, the B lineage-specific recombination was more stringent in the CD19-iCre line. Furthermore, the utility value of the CD19-iCre model was superior than that of the CD19-Cre mice regarding deletion efficiency in IL10-floxed mice. Thus, the CD19-iCre line is a valuable tool for highly efficient gene targeting specific to the B cell compartment.
Incidence rate of congenital scoliosis estimated from a nationwide health insurance database
Authors: Kwon Ji-Won , Chae Hyun Wook , Lee Hye Sun , Kim Sinae , Sung Sahyun , Lee Soo Bin , Moon Seong-Hwan , Lee Hwan-Mo , Lee Byung Ho
Published: March 2021

To investigate the epidemiology of congenital scoliosis (CS) and treatment trends. An age-matched, nationwide, population-based study was conducted using the National Health Insurance and Health Insurance Review and Assessment databases from 2010 to 2015. Data regarding the diagnosis and treatment of scoliosis were extracted using International Classifications of Diseases, 10th revision codes. The age-matched normal population was determined from the Korean Statistical Information Service database. We analyzed the incidence rate of CS according to age and sex, as well as the proportion of surgically treated patients. A total of 1664 patients (aged 0–19 years) were diagnosed with CS. The overall average incidence rate of CS over the 5-year period was 3.08 per 100,000 persons, with the highest and second highest rates at 0 years and 12–16 years of age, respectively. The incidence rate stratified by age ranged from 1.5 to 20.1 per 100,000 persons among the age-matched normal population, with peaks at 0 years of age and the second growth spurt in adolescence (12–16 years for males; 10–14 years for females). Anterior surgery was rarely performed; posterior surgery was performed in 92 patients (5.5% of all patients), with the highest prevalence (56.5%) in patients diagnosed at 10–14 years of age. The overall average incidence rate of CS over a 5-year period was 3.08 per 100,000 persons. Only 5.5% of patients underwent surgery within 5 years after the initial diagnosis.
NOTCH and EZH2 collaborate to repress PTEN expression in breast cancer
Authors: Pappas Kyrie , Martin Tiphaine C. , Wolfe Andrew L. , Nguyen Christie B. , Su Tao , Jin Jian , Hibshoosh Hanina , Parsons Ramon
Published: March 2021

Downregulation of the PTEN tumor suppressor transcript is frequent in breast cancer and associates with poor prognosis and triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) when comparing breast cancers to one another. Here we show that in almost all cases, when comparing breast tumors to adjacent normal ducts, PTEN expression is decreased and the PRC2-associated methyltransferase EZH2 is increased. We further find that when comparing breast cancer cases in large cohorts, EZH2 inversely correlates with PTEN expression. Within the highest EZH2 expressing group, NOTCH alterations are frequent, and also associate with decreased PTEN expression. We show that repression of PTEN occurs through the combined action of NOTCH (NOTCH1 or NOTCH2) and EZH2 alterations in a subset of breast cancers. In fact, in cases harboring NOTCH1 mutation or a NOTCH2 fusion gene, NOTCH drives EZH2, HES-1, and HEY-1 expression to repress PTEN transcription at the promoter, which may contribute to poor prognosis in this subgroup. Restoration of PTEN expression can be achieved with an EZH2 inhibitor (UNC1999), a γ-secretase inhibitor (Compound E), or knockdown of EZH2 or NOTCH. These findings elucidate a mechanism of transcriptional repression of PTEN induced by NOTCH1 or NOTCH2 alterations, and identifies actionable signaling pathways responsible for driving a large subset of poor-prognosis breast cancers.
Squalenoyl siRNA PMP22 nanoparticles are effective in treating mouse models of Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease type 1 A
Authors: Boutary Suzan , Caillaud Marie , El Madani Mévidette , Vallat Jean-Michel , Loisel-Duwattez Julien , Rouyer Alice , Richard Laurence , Gracia Céline , Urbinati Giorgia , Desmaële Didier , Echaniz-Laguna Andoni , Adams David , Couvreur Patrick , Schumacher Michael , Massaad Charbel , Massaad-Massade Liliane
Published: March 2021

Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease type 1 A (CMT1A) lacks an effective treatment. We provide a therapy for CMT1A, based on siRNA conjugated to squalene nanoparticles (siRNA PMP22-SQ NPs). Their administration resulted in normalization of Pmp22 protein levels, restored locomotor activity and electrophysiological parameters in two transgenic CMT1A mouse models with different severity of the disease. Pathological studies demonstrated the regeneration of myelinated axons and myelin compaction, one major step in restoring function of myelin sheaths. The normalization of sciatic nerve Krox20, Sox10 and neurofilament levels reflected the regeneration of both myelin and axons. Importantly, the positive effects of siRNA PMP22-SQ NPs lasted for three weeks, and their renewed administration resulted in full functional recovery. Beyond CMT1A, our findings can be considered as a potent therapeutic strategy for inherited peripheral neuropathies. They provide the proof of concept for a new precision medicine based on the normalization of disease gene expression by siRNA.
Tidal surface states as fingerprints of non-Hermitian nodal knot metals
Authors: Zhang Xiao , Li Guangjie , Liu Yuhan , Tai Tommy , Thomale Ronny , Lee Ching Hua
Published: March 2021

Non-Hermitian nodal knot metals (NKMs) contain intricate complex-valued energy bands which give rise to knotted exceptional loops and new topological surface states. We introduce a formalism that connects the algebraic, geometric, and topological aspects of these surface states with their parent knots. We also provide an optimized constructive ansatz for tight-binding models for non-Hermitian NKMs of arbitrary knot complexity and minimal hybridization range. Specifically, various representative non-Hermitian torus knots Hamiltonians are constructed in real-space, and their nodal topologies studied via winding numbers that avoid the explicit construction of generalized Brillouin zones. In particular, we identify the surface state boundaries as “tidal” intersections of the complex band structure in a marine landscape analogy. Beyond topological quantities based on Berry phases, we further find these tidal surface states to be intimately connected to the band vorticity and the layer structure of their dual Seifert surface, and as such provide a fingerprint for non-Hermitian NKMs.
Flexible thread-based electrochemical sensors for oxygen monitoring
Authors: Xia Junfei , Sonkusale Sameer
Published: March 2021

A thread-based oxygen sensor featuring a 'wire-type' design for measuring averaged oxygen over a large surface area and a ‘tip-type’ design for measuring local oxygen at region of interest.