bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
IκB kinase promotes Nrf2 ubiquitination and degradation by phosphorylating cylindromatosis, aggravating oxidative stress injury in obesity-related nephropathy
Authors: Chen Yin-Yin , Hong Han , Lei Yu-Ting , Zou Jia , Yang Yi-Ya , He Li-Yu
Published: October 2021

Background

Obesity-related nephropathy (ORN) has become one of the leading causes of end-stage renal disease and has tripled over the past decade. Previous studies have demonstrated that decreased reactive oxygen species production may contribute to improving ORN by ameliorating oxidative stress injury. Here, IκB kinase (IKK) was hypothesized to inactivate the deubiquitination activity of cylindromatosis (CYLD) by activating the phosphorylation of CYLD, thus promoting the ubiquitination of NF-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and further aggravating oxidative stress injury of the kidney in ORN. This study was aimed to confirm this hypothesis.

Methods

Haematoxylin and eosin (HE), periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) and Oil Red O staining were performed to assess histopathology. Dihydroethidium (DHE) staining and MDA, SOD, CAT, and GSH-PX assessments were performed to measure reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. Immunohistochemical (IHC) staining, qRT–PCR and/or western blotting were performed to assess the expression of related genes. JC-1 assays were used to measure the mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) of treated HK-2 cells. Co-immunoprecipitation experiments (Co-IP) were used to analyse the interaction between CYLD and Nrf2 in ORN.

Results

ORN in vivo and in vitro models were successfully constructed, and oxidative stress injury was detected in the model tissues and cells. Compared with the control groups, the phosphorylation level of CYLD increased while Nrf2 levels decreased in ORN model cells. An IKK inhibitor reduced lipid deposition, ROS production, CYLD phosphorylation levels and ΔΨm in vitro, which were reversed by knockdown of CYLD. Nrf2 directly bound to CYLD and was ubiquitinated in ORN cells. The proteasome inhibitor MG132 activated the Nrf2/ARE signalling pathway, thereby reversing the promoting effect of CYLD knockdown on oxidative stress.

Conclusion

IKK inactivates the deubiquitination activity of CYLD by activating the phosphorylation of CYLD, thus promoting the ubiquitination of Nrf2 and further aggravating oxidative stress injury of the kidney in ORN. This observation provided a feasible basis for the treatment of kidney damage caused by ORN.
Early initial video-electro-encephalography combined with variant location predict prognosis of KCNQ2-related disorder
Authors: Xu Yan , Dou Ya-lan , Chen Xiang , Dong Xin-ran , Wang Xin-hua , Wu Bing-bing , Cheng Guo-qiang , Zhou Yuan-feng
Published: October 2021

Background

The clinical features of KCNQ2-related disorders range from benign familial neonatal seizures 1 to early infantile epileptic encephalopathy 7. The genotype-phenotypic association is difficult to establish.

Objective

To explore potential factors in neonatal period that can predict the prognosis of neonates with KCNQ2-related disorder.

Methods

Infants with KCNQ2-related disorder were retrospectively enrolled in our study in Children’s Hospital of Fudan University in China from Jan 2015 to Mar 2020. All infants were older than age of 12 months at time of follow-up, and assessed by Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development-Third Edition (BSID-III) or Wechsler preschool and primary scale of intelligence-fourth edition (WPPSI-IV), then divided into three groups based on scores of BSID-III or WPPSI-IV: normal group, mild impairment group, encephalopathy group. We collected demographic variables, clinical characteristics, neuroimaging data. Considered variables include gender, gestational age, birth weight, age of the initial seizures, early interictal VEEG, variant location, delivery type. Variables predicting prognosis were identified using multivariate ordinal logistic regression analysis.

Results

A total of 52 infants were selected in this study. Early interictal video-electro-encephalography (VEEG) (β = 2.77, 1.20 to 4.34, P = 0.001), and variant location (β = 2.77, 0.03 to 5.5, P = 0.048) were independent risk factors for prognosis. The worse the early interictal VEEG, the worse the prognosis. Patients with variants located in the pore-lining domain or S4 segment are more likely to have a poor prognosis.

Conclusions

The integration of early initial VEEG and variant location can predict prognosis. An individual whose KCNQ2 variant located in voltage sensor, the pore domain, with worse early initial VEEG background, often had an adverse outcome.
Needs assessment for physical activity information during COVID-19 among a nationally representative sample of parents and children ages 6–17 in the United States: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Johnson Ashleigh M. , Kroshus Emily , Tandon Pooja S.
Published: October 2021

Background

The COVID-19 pandemic presented novel barriers to youth physical activity engagement. Identifying what resources parents and children are interested in receiving can support efforts to mitigate the negative impact of the pandemic on youth physical activity behavior. This study aimed to identify physical activity-related information needs during the COVID-19 pandemic among a nationally representative sample of American parents of children 6–10 years-old and parent-child dyads of children 11–17 years-old.

Methods

A cross-sectional survey was conducted by a market research company in October–November 2020. Parents and children were asked about their interest in specific types of information about helping their family and themselves, respectively, be active (Yes/No). Weighted percentages were calculated for reported information needs and compared using two-sample test of proportions.

Results

Final analytic sample was 1000 parents (55.4% female; 74.7% White; 74.0% non-Hispanic); 500 children 11–17 years-old (52.1% male; 77.6% White). Over 40% of participants were interested in information about being active during COVID-19. Parents were more likely to be interested in information if they always (versus never) worked from home [53.3% (95% CI: 43.3–63.0%) versus 22.0% (95% CI: 14.9–31.3%), p < 0.001]; had children attending school remotely versus in-person [47.3% (95% CI:40.2–54.5%) versus 27.5% (95% CI: 19.6–37.1%), p < 0.001]; and lived in a big city versus a rural area [66.5% (95% CI:54.5–76.7%) versus 34.1% (95% CI: 22.8–47.6%), p < 0.001]. Children most interested were those who did not have resources for online activity engagement and those worried about their safety or getting infected with COVID-19. Children were also more likely to be interested if their parents worked full-time versus not working [48.6% (95% CI:41.7–55.6%) versus 31.5% (95% CI: 24.1–39.9%), p < 0.001], and lived in a big city versus a rural area [57.2% (95% CI:45.3–68.3%) versus 27.8% (95% CI:17.8–40.7%), p < 0.001].

Conclusions

Families are interested in physical activity resources, particularly those whose daily routines and opportunities for physical activity may have been most significantly impacted by the pandemic. This includes parents who always worked from home or whose children attended school remotely. Identifying felt needs is an important step in developing tailored interventions that aim to effectively and sustainably support families in promoting physical activity.
Comparison of percutaneous transforaminal endoscopic decompression and short-segment fusion in the treatment of elderly degenerative lumbar scoliosis with spinal stenosis
Authors: Li Pengfei , Tong Yuexin , Chen Ying , Zhang Zhezhe , Song Youxin
Published: October 2021

Background

Degenerative lumbar scoliosis (DLS) combined with spinal stenosis is increasingly being diagnosed in the elderly. However, the appropriate surgical approach remains somewhat controversial. The aim of this study was to compare the results of percutaneous transforaminal endoscopic decompression (PTED) and short-segment fusion for the treatment of mild degenerative lumbar scoliosis combined with spinal stenosis in older adults over 60 years of age.

Methods

Of the 54 consecutive patients included, 30 were treated with PTED and 24 were treated with short-segment open fusion. All patients were followed up for at least 12 months (12–24 months). Patient demographics, and perioperative and clinical outcomes were recorded. Visual analog scale (VAS) scores, Oswestry disability index (ODI) scores, and modified Macnab criteria were used to assess clinical outcomes. At the same time, changes in disc height, segmental lordosis, coronal Cobb angle, and lumbar lordosis were compared.

Results

The mean age was 68.7 ± 6.5 years in the PTED group and 66.6 ± 5.1 years in the short-segment fusion group. At 1 year postoperatively, both groups showed significant improvement in VAS and ODI scores compared with preoperative scores (p < 0.05), with no statistically significant difference between groups. However, VAS-Back and ODI were lower in the PTED group at 1 week postoperatively (p < 0.05). According to the modified Macnab criteria, the excellent rates were 90.0 and 91.6% in the PTED and short-segment fusion groups, respectively. However, the PTED group had a significantly shorter operative time, blood loss, postoperative hospital stay, postoperative bed rest, and complication rate. There was no significant difference in radiological parameters between the two groups preoperatively. At the last follow-up, there were significant differences in disc height, segmental lordosis at the L4–5 and L5–S1 levels, and Cobb angle between the two groups.

Conclusion

Both PTED and short-segment fusion for mild degenerative lumbar scoliosis combined with spinal stenosis have shown good clinical results. PTED under local anesthesia may be an effective supplement to conventional fusion surgery in elderly patients with DLS combined with spinal stenosis.
The lost productivity cost of absenteeism due to COVID-19 in health care workers in Iran: a case study in the hospitals of Mashhad University of Medical Sciences
Authors: Faramarzi Ahmad , Javan-Noughabi Javad , Tabatabaee Seyed Saeed , Najafpoor Ali Asghar , Rezapour Aziz
Published: October 2021

Background

Human resources management plays an important role in social development and economic growth. Absence from work due to health problems can make obstacles to the growth of economy. This study conducted aimed to estimate the absenteeism costs of COVID-19 among the personnel of hospitals affiliated to Mashhad University of Medical Sciences in Mashhad, Iran.

Methods

This cross-sectional study was conducted between February 19, 2020, and September 21, 2020. The absenteeism costs were calculated using the human capital approach. Finally, we applied the linear regression to assess the impact of variables on the lost productivity of absenteeism due to COVID-19 among the personnel of hospitals affiliated to Mashhad University of Medical Sciences.

Results

The results of this study showed that 1958 personnel had COVID-19. The total of absenteeism days in our study were 32,209 days, with an average of 16.44 absenteeism days. Total costs due to absenteeism were estimated to be nearly $1.3 million, with an average of $671.4 per patient. The results of regression model showed that gender (male), age (> 50 years), employment Type (non-permanent) and monthly income had a positive relationship with the absenteeism cost. Also, there are a negative significant relationship between absenteeism cost with job (physicians) and work experience.

Conclusions

Absenteeism costs of COVID-19 in the hospitals of Mashhad University of Medical Sciences represent a significant economic burden. The findings of our study emphasize the emergency strategies to prevent and control COVID-19 among the healthcare workers. It can decrease the economic impacts of COVID-19 and improve human resources management during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Community-based rehabilitation implementation for people with disabilities in South Africa: a protocol for a scoping review
Authors: Blose Sithembiso , Cobbing Saul , Chetty Verusia
Published: October 2021

Background

People with disabilities (PWDs) remain among the poorest and least empowered population. They experience limited access to basic services, especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC). The infringement of their human rights remains at an alarming level, despite the availability of the community-based rehabilitation (CBR) strategy and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities (UNCRPD). CBR, as a strategy for poverty alleviation, social inclusion and equalisation of opportunity, has broadened its scope from a mere strategy for access to health and rehabilitation services to include education, livelihood, social inclusivity and empowerment. CBR is implemented across the world in the majority of LMIC signatories to the UNCRPD. South Africa is among the countries that are implementing CBR. However, the extent and the nature of implementation is not known. This study, therefore, aims to map out the empirical evidence of the implementation of CBR in South Africa.

Method

The study is a scoping review based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extended for Scoping Review (PRISMA-ScR) methodology. The information will be extracted and captured on a data charting template that will be used through each phase of the study. The review will be guided by the following research question validated by the amended population-concept-context framework according to the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology for scoping reviews: ‘An investigation into CBR implementation in South Africa.’ The search will be conducted in the following electronic databases Google Scholar, PubMed, Medline, and Cochrane, etc, using Boolean logic. Restrictions will be set for years (Jan. 2009–Dec. 2019), English language peer-reviewed studies based on South Africa. The search output will be screened for primary studies on Community based rehabilitation in South Africa. Two independent reviewers will conduct title and abstract screening to identify potential eligible studies. After which full-text screening on the potential eligible studies and assessed for inclusion by the two independent reviewers. The Mixed Method Appraisal Tool will be applied to assess the quality of the studies included in the review.

Discussion

The gathered evidence from the selected studies will be discussed in relation to the research questions using a narrative to identify and explore emergent themes. The review will provide a baseline of evidence on the implementation of CBR and will highlight gaps regarding the implementation of CBR in a South African Context. The gaps identified will be used to develop a framework that will guide implementation of CBR in South Africa.
Taxonomic revision of the Savanna Nightjar (Caprimulgus affinis) complex based on vocalizations reveals three species
Authors: Sangster George , Cancino Kim Manzon , Hutchinson Robert O.
Published: October 2021

Background

The Savanna Nightjar (Caprimulgus affinis) is a widespread, polytypic species which was previously treated as two or three species. It is currently treated as a single species based on superficial similarity of their songs but no detailed comparisons of the songs in this complex have been made.

Methods

A total of 15 acoustic variables were measured for the songs of 86 individuals representing 8 of the 10 subspecies in the complex.

Results

Three major groups can be distinguished based on univariate and multivariate analyses: a northern group consisting of the subspeciesC. a. monticolus,C. a. amoyensisandC. a. stictomus; a southern group consisting ofC. a. affinis,C. a. kasuidori,C. a. timorensisandC. a. propinquus; and a third group in the Philippines consisting ofC. a. griseatus.

Conclusions

It is here argued that these groups are best treated as species, and that Franklin’s Nightjar (C. monticolus) and Kayumanggi Nightjar (C. griseatus) are reinstated as separate species.
Options for Endocrine-Refractory, Hormone Receptor–Positive Breast Cancer: Which Target and When?
Authors: Borges Virginia F.
Published: October 2021

The Oncology Grand Rounds series is designed to place original reports published in the Journal into clinical context. A case presentation is followed by a description of diagnostic and management challenges, a review of the relevant literature, and a summary of the authors' suggested management approaches. The goal of this series is to help readers better understand how to apply the results of key studies, including those published in Journal of Clinical Oncology, to patients seen in their own clinical practice.
Introduction to Chinese Anthology of American Poetry (19th–20th c.), ed. Li Zhimin
Authors: Bernstein Charles
Published: October 2021

Li Zhimin, poet and professor at Guangzhou University, asked Charles Bernstein to write the introduction to his anthology of American poetry, which spanned from Dickinson to Stevens, with Bernstein the youngest poet in the collection. Published here in English for the first time.
Exordium
Authors: Winter Enrique
Published: October 2021

As an introduction to Charles Bernstein's first poetry collection in Spanish, his translator traces a genealogy of linguistic procedures in American poetry and other theoretical and artistic sources relevant to the Language poets as well as to those influenced by them. This article offers a contextual and critical companion to each of Bernstein's publications throughout more than four decades. The special attention in the first half to a varying range of conceptual strategies in his books and rhetorical figures in his poems echoes in the arguments set in the second half for the selection and translation decisions made by the author in order to bring Bernstein's work into the Hispanic world.
Afterword to Pied bot
Authors: Gleize Jean-Marie
Published: October 2021

This essay was the afterword to Charles Bernstein's Pied bot, trans. Martin Richet, Collection Américaine (Nantes, France: Editions Joca Seria, 2012).
This Working Title Will Be Replaced: Charles Bernstein's Forever Forthcoming
Authors: Stefans Brian Kim
Published: October 2021

Focusing on two key themes, or vectors, of Charles Bernstein's latest book of poetry, Topsy-Turvy, that of brokenness and the various references to “God” or religious belief, this review argues that there is a new metaphysical dimension in Bernstein's recent poetry that moves beyond his poetry's earlier emphases on the purely interpersonal and material nature of language and its uses. Through a discussion of Bernstein's concept of the never-attained “virtual” in his essay “Poetics of the Americas” and philosopher Gilles Deleuze's concept of the “virtual,” I argue that we can discern something like a “transcendental” aspect in Bernstein's poetry and philosophy, but not one that points to a God, a realm of ideals, or toward a telos, but something that exists now—a very real, but not yet actual, potential. As opposed to the merely “possible,” this potentiality allows for the truly novel to appear, either in poetry or the world itself.
Cost and Efficiency in Government Outsourcing: Evidence from the Dredging Industry
Authors: Barkley Aaron
Published: October 2021

This paper investigates the how government outsourcing affects efficiency and expenditures by considering how outsourcing decisions are determined along two dimensions: (i) cost differences between private firms and government suppliers of public goods and (ii) dynamics arising from cost complementarities and capacity constraints. I formulate and estimate a dynamic model of government outsourcing using project-level data from the dredging industry. Model estimates indicate substantial cost savings due to outsourcing but also that government presence in the market yields cost reduction. A counterfactual policy featuring direct competition between government and private sector firms finds a total expenditure reduction of 15.7 percent. (JEL D44, H41, H57, L84)
Truth in Science and Medicine: The Hope and Hype of Stem Cell Therapies
Authors: Dulak Józef
Published: October 2021

The article examines the practice of cell therapies, often named as stem cell therapies. For the general public this is recognized as promising treatment for many diseases, offering hope for many people to restore health to themselves or their loved ones. However, despite the enormous potential that this type of treatment holds, it has its limitations. The tension between hope, science, truth and deception can come to the fore especially when someone is fighting for their life. Moral and ethical issues play a key role in such cases, serving as guideposts obscured, however, by information noise.
The Forgery of Deepfake and the “Advent” of Artificial Intelligence
Authors: Grassi Edmondo
Published: October 2021

The concept of politics changes its semantic value according to the historical period and the cultural changes affecting the social fabric. In classical literature, there was no distinction between politics and society or politics and ethics, since the first indicated the collective space in which cultural, social, economic relations of human life developed that were differentiated from other living forms. To date, with the advent of digitalization and artificial intelligence, we have a concrete assessment of how politics has acquired a new perspective and is changing to adapt to new technologies and its uses: on the one hand, we are experiencing the propagation of debate, confrontation, and information accessible at any time. On the other hand, it has become an instrument for the annihilation of rivals and subjugation of those who consider any data received from the Internet as truthful, exploiting the media and digital technologies, until it pervades the social structure, making even nonsense seem credible. The purpose of this contribution, therefore, is to outline theoretically the contours and contemporary phenomena that relate, through a dialogical relationship, with the use of deepfake techniques and artificial intelligence technology, the concepts of politics – in its dimension of the relationship of collective power – and of social communication.
It’s Not at What You Look that Matters, It’s What You See
Authors: Stosik Dominik
Published: October 2021

One of the important themes in the literature on truth is its connection to meaning, or more generally, to language. As Einstein once stated, reality is merely an illusion, albeit a very persistent one. Therefore, truth, as an element inextricably connected to the subjectively perceived reality of each individual, is dependent on the form of communication and the skills used in conversation. The following essay does not focus on the issue in the study of truth itself but instead portrays and deeply analyses each step of a study of a conversation between a surgeon and a patient drawing upon concepts of communication theory and neuroplasticity. Indeed, it shows at each step and juncture of the ongoing conversation, both how the truth may be misconceived and how slight changes in communication techniques contribute to the transmission of truth in the sense of an unimpeded flow of information.
Conservatism Gets Funded? A Field Experiment on the Role of Negative Information in Novel Project Evaluation
Authors: Lane Jacqueline N. , Teplitskiy Misha , Gray Gary , Ranu Hardeep , Menietti Michael , Guinan Eva C. , Lakhani Karim R.
Published: October 2021

The evaluation and selection of novel projects lies at the heart of scientific and technological innovation, and yet there are persistent concerns about bias, such as conservatism. This paper investigates the role that the format of evaluation, specifically information sharing among expert evaluators, plays in generating conservative decisions. We executed two field experiments in two separate grant-funding opportunities at a leading research university, mobilizing 369 evaluators from seven universities to evaluate 97 projects, resulting in 761 proposal-evaluation pairs and more than $250,000 in awards. We exogenously varied the relative valence (positive and negative) of others’ scores and measured how exposures to higher and lower scores affect the focal evaluator’s propensity to change their initial score. We found causal evidence of a negativity bias, where evaluators lower their scores by more points after seeing scores more critical than their own rather than raise them after seeing more favorable scores. Qualitative coding of the evaluators’ justifications for score changes reveals that exposures to lower scores were associated with greater attention to uncovering weaknesses, whereas exposures to neutral or higher scores were associated with increased emphasis on nonevaluation criteria, such as confidence in one’s judgment. The greater power of negative information suggests that information sharing among expert evaluators can lead to more conservative allocation decisions that favor protecting against failure rather than maximizing success.

This paper was accepted by Alfonso Gambardella, business strategy.
Treatment choices
Authors: Collier Andrew
Published: October 2021

Andrew Collier asks, who decides what's best?
Raising awareness
Authors: Macey Karla
Published: October 2021

Karla Macey explains how dental teams can educate patients about oral cancer
Expanding knowledge and scope
Authors: Lacey Courtney
Published: October 2021

Courtney Lacey details her journey from dental nurse to dental hygiene/therapy student
Revision strategies
Authors: Lown Anna
Published: October 2021

Anna Lown explains how you can get the most out of your revision
British Orthodontic Conference 2021
Authors: Gill Pamela
Published: October 2021

Pamela Gill reviews this year's British Orthodontic Conference
A contactless world
Authors: Scheer Kate
Published: October 2021

Kate Scheer considers how dental practices can keep up with developments in contactless technology
Preparing for festive flair!
Authors: Rochford Diane
Published: October 2021

Diane Rochford explains how we can help children this Christmas season
Simple necessary conditions for Hadamard factorizability of Hurwitz polynomials
Authors: Białas Stanisław , Góra Michał
Published: October 2021

In this paper, we focus the attention on the Hadamard factorization problem for Hurwitz polynomials. We give a new necessary condition for Hadamard factorizability of Hurwitz stable polynomials of degree $n\geq 4$ and show that for $n= 4$ this condition is also sufficient. The effectiveness of the result is illustrated during construction of examples of stable polynomials that are not Hadamard factorizable.
Comparison of Dielectric Properties of Traditional and High-Oleic Runner-Type Peanuts at Microwave Frequencies
Authors: Lewis Micah A. , Trabelsi Samir
Published: October 2021

Highlights

Permittivity measurements were taken for traditional and high-oleic runner-type peanut pods and kernels at microwave frequencies.

The dielectric constant, loss factor, loss tangent, and complex plane were compared between the two cultivars to observe any effect caused by the high-oleic trait.

Despite differences in composition, minimal to no differences were observed in permittivity between the two cultivars.

Abstract. Different cultivars of peanuts containing higher amounts of oleic acid have been developed to improve oxidative stability and overall peanut quality. Increasing oleic acid levels and decreasing linoleic acid levels in peanuts deter lipid oxidation, preventing the creation of off-flavors and increasing the shelf life. Since their conception, high-oleic peanuts have been tested from chemical and sensory perspectives to observe differences between them and traditional peanuts. Such tests have shown minimal differences, if any. However, tests to observe the effect of changing the levels of oleic and linoleic acid on permittivity, which is often used for nondestructive determination of the moisture content and bulk density of foods and agricultural products, have not been reported. Thus, a vector network analyzer (VNA) was used to take free-space transmission measurements of the complex permittivities of high-oleic and traditional runner-type peanut pods and kernels. Measurements were taken at 23°C between 5 and 9 GHz. Measurements yielded the dielectric constant and loss factor, which are often correlated to moisture content. Analysis was performed to compare the changes in the dielectric constant, loss factor, and loss tangent with moisture content for high-oleic and traditional peanuts. Linear trends were observed for each parameter with increasing moisture content for both cultivars. Results from the complex plane showed coefficient of determination (r2) values greater than 0.9 for pods and kernels. Therefore, at microwave frequencies, changing the levels of oleic and linoleic acid within the peanuts was observed to have minimal to no effect on their permittivity. Thus, moisture calibrations based on correlations between dielectric properties and moisture content for traditional runner-type peanuts can be applied to high-oleic cultivars. Keywords: Dielectric properties, Free-space transmission measurements, Microwave measurements, Oleic acid, Peanut kernels, Peanut pods.
Effect of Chloroplast Movement on Laser Speckle Method
Authors: Inagaki Yohsuke , Akune Rina , Matsuda Ayano , Kuroki Shinichiro , Takisawa Kenji , Fukushima Takashi
Published: October 2021

Highlights

This study investigates the use of laser speckle to evaluate chloroplast movement in plant cells.

The analysis value of the laser speckle corresponds to chloroplast movement.

The run-length matrix analysis that we propose is more sensitive than existing methods.

Abstract. Abiotic and biotic stresses change the cytoplasmic streaming in plant cells. In particular, the state of chloroplast movement changes rapidly in response to environmental changes. Thus, detecting chloroplast movement allows us to comprehend the physiological state of plants. This study investigated the applicability of the laser speckle method for evaluating chloroplast movement. Moreover, we propose a new analysis method for sensitively evaluating chloroplast movement. Leaves of Egeria densa were used, and electrical stimulation was applied as recoverable abiotic stress. Laser speckle measurement and light microscopic observation of the same specimen were performed before and after stimulation. The results showed that the laser speckle method can nondestructively evaluate macroscopic and collective chloroplast movement. The proposed method was more sensitive to chloroplast movement than existing methods. Keywords: Chloroplast, Image processing, Laser speckle, Textual analysis.
Acromial Index in Indian Population and it’s Significance on Rotator Cuff Tears
Authors: Balemane Sharat , Eswaran Kaushik , Shetty Nishanth
Published: October 2021

Background: The etiopathogenesis of rotator cuff tears remains debatable. Among the many causes, abnormal scapular morphology has been found to accelerate the degenerative process of rotator cuff tears. The morphology and lateral extension of the acromion process were assessed indetail by Nyffeler et al. and the Acromion Index (AI) was introduced, which measures the lateral extension of the acromion. It was theorized that a large lateral extension of the acromion increased the chances of the supraspinatus tendon to degenerate because of impingement between the acromion and the deltoid muscle. The AI was compared between patients with rotator cuff tears and patients with an intact rotator cuff.
Methods: 21 Indian patients presenting to the orthopaedics OPD, Yenepoya Medical College, with rotator cuff tears were taken up for this study between August 2020 and February 2021. Another 21 patients with intact rotator cuff and other shoulder diseases such as frozen shoulder were included in this study. Patients with rotator cuff tears were included in group A, and patients with intact rotator cuff were included in group B. Both groups had the AI measured on radiographs, and their values were compared.
Results: The mean Acromial Index (AI) in the rotator cuff tear group was 0.74 and in the intact rotator cuff group it was 0.59, which was statistically significant. There was no statistical difference in AI between male and female patients. The mean age of the patients in the rotator cuff group was 50.8 years, and in non rotator cuff tear group, it was 50.2 years.
Conclusion: Acromial Index is a useful predictive tool for detecting rotator cuff tears in the Indian population. Further studies are required to assess its usefulness in predicting the progression of a rotator cuff tear.
Keywords: Rotator cuff tear; Acromial Index; Shoulder.
Role And Outcomes of Conservative Treatment in Management of Rotator Cuff Tears: A Systematic Review of Randomised Controlled Trials
Authors: Arjun Sayampanathan Andrew , Tan Marcus Wei Ping , Lie Denny Tjiauw Tjoen
Published: October 2021

Rotator cuff tears are known to result in significant societal burden. This review synthesises the evidence regarding the role and outcomes of conservatively managed rotator cuff tears. 17 prospective randomised controlled trials (RCTs) (Level 1 and 2 studies) were included in this systematic review. Modalities which were studied were classified into physical rehabilitative modalities, electrophysiological rehabilitative modalities, biological therapies, and pharmacologic therapies. Outcomes which were evaluated in the included RCTs comprised of clinical outcomes, functional outcomes, pain scores, quality of life scores, imaging based outcomes, and patient satisfaction scores. As the modalities and outcomes studied were varied, no quantitative analysis could be performed based on the primary data available. Nevertheless, most studies do suggest that conservative treatment remains beneficial for the management of rotator cuff tears. Based on these findings, an algorithm which proposes conservative therapy as the central mode of management for rotator cuff tear patients has been described. More high-quality studies are required in this area of study to allow for a quantitative review (meta-analysis and meta-regression) of the various non-surgical treatment
modalities of rotator cuff tears.
Keywords: Rotator Cuff Tears; Conservative; Non-operative; Management; Randomised controlled trials; Review.
A Case Report of Bilateral Asymmetrical Traumatic Hip Dislocation – A Rare Presentation
Authors: Nandi Ritwika , Das Pinaki , Nandi Sujit Narayan
Published: October 2021

Introduction: Asymmetric bilateral hip dislocations are very rarely reported in literature. We report a unique case of asymmetric traumatic bilateral hip dislocation in a 34-year-old male, describing the management and post-operative complications.

Case Report:A 34-year-old truck driver sustained injury to both his hips in a head on collision between two trucks while seated in the passenger seat. There was a delay in presentation at our institution as he was referred after 17 h of the trauma. After evaluation, he underwent closed reduction of both hips under intravenous anesthesia on the same day. The post-reduction assessment revealed a left-sided posterior wall fracture which was suspected due to the instability after reduction. Fixation of the fracture was done using two spring plates. The patient was followed up throughout his rehabilitation and thereafter when he resumed his occupation. Six months after the incident, the patient had pain-free, full range of motion of both hips. Three years after the surgery radiological investigations revealed changes suggestive of early avascular necrosis (AVN), however, the patient did not have any functional restriction.

Conclusion: This is a case of bilateral asymmetric hip dislocation with left side posterior wall fracture. It is important to reduce the hip and also address the fracture as early as possible to prevent AVN.

Keywords: Bilateral asymmetric hip dislocation, posterior wall fracture, Kocher-Langenbeck, avascular necrosis.
Extensive Giant Tuberous and Tendon Xanthomas in a 48-year-old Gentleman: A Case Report
Authors: Virk Jagandeep S. , Arora Divya , Bhaker Poonam , Jain Sumit
Published: October 2021

Introduction: Xanthomas are defined as benign lesions characterized by an accumulation of lipid-laden macrophages that develop in the cutis and subcutaneous tissue. Xanthomas are classified as eruptive, tuberous, tendinous, or planar depending on their location and clinical appearance. Co-existence of both tuberous and tendinous forms in an atypical large-sized pattern is a rarity and presented herewith.

Case Presentation: A 48-year-old male patient presented with multiple large masses in his elbows, knees, Achilles tendons, feet, and hands. The largest swellings measured 12 cm × 10 cm in dimensions. The blood workup of the patient showed an elevated level of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and was subsequently diagnosed with Type IIa familial hypercholesterolemia and multiple large co-existing tuberous and tendinous xanthomas which is a rare clinical presentation. Local surgical excision was performed to remove the symptomatic massive xanthomas from the elbows, knees, and feet. Histological analysis of the surgical specimens confirmed the clinical diagnosis of xanthomas.

Conclusion: Tuberous and tendinous xanthomas can co-exist in the same patient, including atypical large-sized forms. Usually, patients with xanthomas have some underlying metabolic lipid derangement and a cardiology workup to detect future cardiac risk is warranted. Intervention at an early stage can prevent the formation of disfiguring xanthomas in patients with underlying lipid disorder. The case also highlights a multi-disciplinary approach to such rare clinical presentations.

Keywords: Xanthomas, Familial Hypercholesterolemia, Giant, Tuberous.
Functional Outcome of Modified Downsloping Tibial Tuberosity Osteotomy in Biplanar Opening-wedge High Tibial Osteotomy: A Case Report
Authors: Khan Mohammad Tauseef
Published: October 2021

Introduction: Opening-wedge high tibial osteotomy (OWHTO) is a widely used procedure to improve knee function, decrease knee pain and delay arthroplasty in unicompartmental knee osteoarthritis in young patients. However, faulty technique can lead to patella baja and maltracking of extensor mechanism- leading to poor outcome. Modified biplanar downsloping OWHTO – where tibial tuberosity (TT) remains attached to proximal osteotomy fragment prevents patella baja by preventing TT to slide down during opening of osteotomy. Biplanar osteotomy also prevents rotation of distal tibial fragment. Biplanar along with downsloping osteotomy both factors combined prevents patella baja and change in quadriceps vector angle and hence patellar tracking is not altered leading to a better functional result.

Case Report:A 20 years male patient with right knee pain while walking for 2 years. Knee inspection shows varus deformity and varus thurst gait. No evidence of ligamentous laxity and meniscal injury. He was treated with modified biplanar downsloping OWHTO. Overall 12 patients were operated between 2018 and 2020 with same technique in a similar profile of patients.

Conclusion: Outcome of OWHTO can be improved and untoward complications such as patella baja which invariably occurs when TT remains attached to distal osteotomy fragment or when osteotomy passes above TT. This can be easily avoided with this downsloping OWHTO technique to give a better outcome in all 12 cases.

Keywords: Opening-wedge high tibial osteotomy, downsloping owhto, upsloping owhto, patella baja, descending owhto, ascending owhto.
Fast calculation method based on hidden region continuity for computer-generated holograms with multiple cameras in a sports scene
Authors: Watanabe Ryosuke , Koiso Ryota , Nonaka Keisuke , Sakamoto Yuji , Kobayashi Tatuya
Published: October 2021

We propose, to the best of our knowledge, the world’s first system
capable of fast calculating computer-generated holograms (CGHs) from a
large-scale outdoor sports scene captured with multiple RGB cameras.
In the system, we introduce a fast calculation method focusing on
hidden region continuity (HRC) that frequently appears in a point
cloud of a 3D sports scene generated from free-viewpoint video
technology. The experimental results show that the calculation time of
the proposed HRC method is five to ten times faster than that of the
point-based method, which is one of the common CGH calculation
methods.
Pulsed vapor cell atomic clock with a differential Faraday rotation angle detection
Authors: Wang Ke-Mu , Du Zhi-Jing , Liu Yan-Yan , Yu Zhi-Jian , Yan Shu-Bin , Liu Tao , Dong Rui-Fang , Zhang Shou-Gang
Published: October 2021

Laser intensity noise is one of the main limiting factors in pulsed vapor cell clocks. To reduce the contribution of the laser intensity noise to detection signal in the pulsed optically pumped atomic clock, a scheme based on the differential Faraday rotation angle is proposed. Theoretically, the Ramsey fringes, the sensitivity of clock frequency to laser intensity fluctuation and the signal to noise ratio for absorption, differential, and Faraday rotation angle methods are calculated and compared. Using a Wollaston prism rotated 45°relative to the incident polarization, and two photodetectors, Ramsey fringes of three detection methods are obtained simultaneously. In the proposed scheme, the long-term Faraday rotation angle fluctuation is 0.66% at 30000s, which is much smaller than fluctuation of traditional absorption signal 3.9% at 30000s. And the contribution of laser intensity noise to clock instability is also reduced. Using optimized photodetector with high common mode rejection ratio, a better performance should be expected. This proposed scheme is attractive for the development of high performance vapor clock based on pulsed optically pumped.
Design of broadband and wide-field-of-view metalenses
Authors: Yang Fan , An Sensong , Shalaginov Mikhail Y. , Zhang Hualiang , Rivero-Baleine Clara , Hu Juejun , Gu Tian
Published: October 2021

In this Letter, we adapt the direct search method to metasurface optimization. We show that the direct search algorithm, when coupled with deep learning techniques for free-form meta-atom generation, offers a computationally efficient optimization approach for metasurface optics. As an example, we apply the approach to optimization of achromatic metalenses. Taking advantage of the diverse dispersion responses of free-form meta-atoms, metalenses designed using this approach exhibit superior broadband performances compared to their multilevel diffractive counterparts. We further demonstrate an achromatic and wide-field-of-view metalens design.
Variation in Leishmania chemokine suppression driven by diversification of the GP63 virulence factor
Authors: Antonia Alejandro L. , Barnes Alyson B. , Martin Amelia T. , Wang Liuyang , Ko Dennis C.
Published: October 2021

Leishmaniasis is a neglected tropical disease with diverse outcomes ranging from self-healing lesions, to progressive non-healing lesions, to metastatic spread and destruction of mucous membranes. Although resolution of cutaneous leishmaniasis is a classic example of type-1 immunity leading to self-healing lesions, an excess of type-1 related inflammation can contribute to immunopathology and metastatic spread. Leishmania genetic diversity can contribute to variation in polarization and robustness of the immune response through differences in both pathogen sensing by the host and immune evasion by the parasite. In this study, we observed a difference in parasite chemokine suppression between the Leishmania (L.) subgenus and the Viannia (V.) subgenus, which is associated with severe immune-mediated pathology such as mucocutaneous leishmaniasis. While Leishmania (L.) subgenus parasites utilize the virulence factor and metalloprotease glycoprotein-63 (gp63) to suppress the type-1 associated host chemokine CXCL10, L. (V.) panamensis did not suppress CXCL10. To understand the molecular basis for the inter-species variation in chemokine suppression, we used in silico modeling to identify a putative CXCL10-binding site on GP63. The putative CXCL10 binding site is in a region of gp63 under significant positive selection, and it varies from the L. major wild-type sequence in all gp63 alleles identified in the L. (V.) panamensis reference genome. Mutating wild-type L. (L.) major gp63 to the L. (V.) panamensis sequence at the putative binding site impaired cleavage of CXCL10 but not a non-specific protease substrate. Notably, Viannia clinical isolates confirmed that L. (V.) panamensis primarily encodes non-CXCL10-cleaving gp63 alleles. In contrast, L. (V.) braziliensis has an intermediate level of activity, consistent with this species having more equal proportions of both alleles. Our results demonstrate how parasite genetic diversity can contribute to variation in immune responses to Leishmania spp. infection that may play critical roles in the outcome of infection.
The Second Heart Program—A multidisciplinary team supporting people who inject drugs with infective endocarditis: Protocol of a feasibility study
Authors: Lennox Robin , Lamarche Larkin , Martin Leslie , O’Shea Tim , Belley-Côté Emilie , Cvetkovic Anna , Virag Olivia , Whitlock Richard
Published: October 2021

Introduction

Infective endocarditis (IE) is a severe and highly prevalent infection among people who inject drugs (PWID). While short-term (30-day) outcomes are similar between PWID and non-PWID, the long-term outcomes among PWID after IE are poor, with 1-year mortality rates in excess of 25%. Novel clinical interventions are needed to address the unique needs of PWID with IE, including increasing access to substance use treatment and addressing structural barriers and social determinants of health.

Methods and analysis

PWID with IE will be connected to a multidisciplinary team that will transition with them from hospital to the community. The six components of the Second Heart Team are: (1) peer support worker with lived experience, (2) systems navigator, (3) addiction medicine physician, (4) primary care physician, (5) infectious diseases specialist, (6) cardiovascular surgeon. A convergent mixed-methods study design will be used to test the feasibility of this intervention. We will concurrently collect quantitative and qualitative data and ‘mix’ at the interpretation stage of the study to answer our research questions.

Ethics and dissemination

This study has been approved by the Hamilton Integrated Research Ethics Board (Project No. 7012). Results will be presented at national and international conferences and submitted for publication in a scientific journal.

Clinical trail registrarion

Trial registration number: ISRCTN14968657 https://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN14968657.
Are women always better able to recognize faces? The unveiling role of exposure time
Authors: Hansen Torben , Zaichkowsky Judith , de Jong Ad
Published: October 2021

A longer exposure time generally improves individuals’ ability to recognize faces. The current research investigates whether this effect varies between genders and whether it is influenced by the gender of the exposed faces. Based on a set of four experimental studies, we advance our knowledge of face recognition, gender, gender distribution of exposed faces, and exposure time in three main ways. First, the results reveal that women are more likely than men to suffer from a decrease in face recognition ability due to a lower exposure time. Second, the findings show that when exposure time is short (vs. long) women recognize a larger proportion of same gender faces and also recognize a larger proportion of same gender faces as compared with the proportion of same gender faces recognized by men. Third, findings reveal that when individuals are only exposed to same gender faces, women recognize more faces than men regardless whether exposure time is short, or long. In short, the findings of this research suggest that insight into the interplay between gender and exposure time length is critical to appropriately determine human beings’ ability to recognize faces.