bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Endourological Management of Encrusted Ureteral Stents
Authors: Jones Patrick , Pietropaolo Amelia , Somani Bhaskar K.
Published: August 2022

Ureteral stents are an integral tool in urology. However, despite their merits, they can be associated with many adverse sequelae such as discomfort, migration and encrustation. The latter can be a particularly difficult clinical scenario for the clinician to manage. Fortunately, advances in minimally invasive methods have resulted in nearly all cases being able to be successfully managed using such techniques. Often, this can be achieved in a single operative session. Adopting a multidisciplinary and methodical strategy for its management is paramount for achieving the safest outcome for the patient. At the same time, clinicians should maintain awareness for those patients who are high risk for developing this problem. This chapter provides an overview of the assessment, planning and treatment for such cases.
Biomaterial-Associated Infection: Pathogenesis and Prevention
Authors: Riool Martijn , Zaat Sebastian A. J.
Published: August 2022

The use of medical devices, such as urinary stents, catheters, artificial heart valves, prosthetic joints and other implants, collectively often referred to as “biomaterials” has increased dramatically over the past century, and has become a major part of modern medicine and our daily life. With the aging society, the higher demand on these devices to restore function and quality of life, combined with the ever improving technology within the medical field, the problem of biomaterial-associated infection (BAI) is expected to increase.

The most common causative microorganisms in BAI are Staphylococcus aureus, a major pathogen in wound infections, and Staphylococcus epidermidis, the harmless skin commensal. Depending on the type of device and location of application, other pathogens such as coagulase-negative staphylococci, enterococci, streptococci, Propionibacterium acnes and yeast can also cause BAI.

Prevention of BAI is a challenging problem, in particular due to the increased risk of resistance development associated with current antibiotic-based strategies. Here we showed the evidence of biofilms as a source for peri-implant tissue colonization, clearly showing the importance of preventive measures to be able to act both against implant and tissue colonization. Subsequently, we described different strategies to prevent BAI and other difficult-to-treat biofilm infections. We conclude that future research should focus on the development of combination devices with both anti-fouling or contact-killing capacities—to protect the implant—and controlled release of an antimicrobial agent to protect the surrounding tissue.
Plasma Based Approaches for Deposition and Grafting of Antimicrobial Agents to Polymer Surfaces
Authors: Vladkova Todorka Gancheva , Gospodinova Dilyana Nikolaeva
Published: August 2022

Improved protection of urinary stents against infections is a significant current challenge because of the increasing microbial resistance to the conventional antibiotics and negative issues for the patients. Formation of crystalline biofilms of pathogenic microbial cells is the leading cause of urinary stent associated infections. A lot of approaches, antimicrobial agents and techniques are under a study to mitigate the problem by creation of contact killing; releasing or low adhesive surfaces do not allow attachment of microbial cells. The plasma treatment has a number of advantages that make it preferable in many strategies for the development of antimicrobial biomaterials. The control over the plasma processing parameters allows control over the surface chemistry, charge, structure, morphology, hydrophilic/hydrophobic balance, etc. Due to a variety of biomaterials and bacteria, causing urinary tract infections, plasma assisted antibacterial strategies need in tailoring to each specific surface. Plasma treatment of polymers under corresponding operation conditions allows deposition of contact killing, releasing (including controlled release) or low-adhesive antimicrobial coatings, as well as polymer surface functionalization and durable immobilization of antimicrobial molecules. Most of the plasma technologies are developed in laboratory and the surface engineered biomaterials are testedin vitro.
Indications, Complications and Side Effects of Metallic Ureteral Stents
Authors: Rako Duje
Published: August 2022

First widely used ureteral stents were polymeric and first documented metallic stent placed in ureter was vascular permanent stent in patient with malignant obstruction. Due to high complication rates with off label bare metal stents and covered metal stents development of purpose-based urological metallic stents was started. They are nowadays usually exploited when longer indwelling times are envisioned due to benign conditions, malignant obstruction or post-radiotherapy. In our analysis we have witnessed high risk of complication—68% per patient and 50% per stent.

Further research in form of multi-institutional prospective RCT in order to obtain better understanding of complications is needed which in turn can drive further development of stent materials, coatings and designs ultimately giving our patients better QoL.
Preventing Biofilm Formation and Encrustation on Urinary Implants: (Bio)molecular and Physical Research Approaches
Authors: Abou-Hassan Ali , Barros Alexandre A. , Buchholz Noor , Carugo Dario , Clavica Francesco , Mergulhao Filipe , Zheng Shaokai
Published: August 2022

Stents and catheters are used to facilitate urine drainage within the urinary system. When such sterile implants are inserted into the urinary tract, ions, macromolecules and bacteria from urine, blood or underlying tissues accumulate on their surface. We presented a brief but comprehensive overview of future research strategies in the prevention of urinary device encrustation with an emphasis on biodegradability, molecular, microbiological and physical research approaches. The large and strongly associated field of stent coatings and tissue engineering is outlined elsewhere in this book. There is still plenty of room for future investigations in the fields of material science, surface science, and biomedical engineering to improve and create the most effective urinary implants. In an era where material science, robotics and artificial intelligence have undergone great progress, futuristic ideas may become a reality. These ideas include the creation of multifunctional programmable intelligent urinary implants (core and surface) capable to adapt to the complex biological and physiological environment through sensing or by algorithms from artificial intelligence included in the implant. Urinary implants are at the crossroads of several scientific disciplines, and progress will only be achieved if scientists and physicians collaborate using basic and applied scientific approaches.
Ten Steps to Strategic Planning for the Urinary Stents of the Future
Authors: Soria Federico
Published: August 2022

The aim of this chapter is to present all the current knowledge related to urinary stents. As well as to describe the future lines of research and improvement that are needed in this field of knowledge. To this end, a decalogue is described in which the main lines of research are addressed, as well as the needs for improvement of urinary stents. This research pathway must begin with an adequate understanding the side effects and complications related to urinary stents. Another very important factor is to describe the proper indication for the use of urinary stents, because if it is possible to correct their use, their adverse effects will be avoided. This is currently complicated by the lack of medical consensus on this issue. It is clear that urology needs a great deal of development of biodegradable biomaterials and coatings, which prevent biofilm formation and stent encrustation. This is one of the most important fields of development for the years to come, due to the obvious hostility of urine to current biomaterials. The development of new and improved stent designs, as well as the ability of stents to deliver drugs into the urinary tract, are also much needed lines of research.
Interpreting the Scriptures
Authors: Hart Matthew J , Hill Daniel J
Published: August 2022

This chapter discusses how the thesis that God intends that sin occur might be inferred from the Christian Scriptures. It discusses some schemata of propositions that might be so inferred, and considers how much evidence an instance of each would provide for the thesis. It is concluded that what is really desired is an instance of (P*):

(P*) God chooses to bring it about that a [sin] occur in order that a [state of affairs that can obtain only in virtue of the sin’s occurring] should obtain.

An objection from divine simplicity against God’s having discrete intentions is considered towards the end of the chapter.
Completing R4 using O(d, d)
Authors: Wulff Linus
Published: August 2022

Abstract

The tree-level string effective action is known to contain quartic Riemann terms with coefficient ζ(3)α′3. In the case of the type II string this is the first α′ correction. We use the requirement that the action reduced on a d-torus should have an O(d, d) symmetry to find the B-field couplings up to fifth order in fields. The answer turns out to have a surprisingly intricate structure.
Mounting evidence for a 95 GeV Higgs boson
Authors: Biekötter T. , Heinemeyer S. , Weiglein G.
Published: August 2022

Abstract

In 2018 CMS reported an excess in the light Higgs-boson search in the diphoton decay mode at about 95 GeV based on Run 1 and first year Run 2 data. The combined local significance of the excess was 2.8 σ. The excess is compatible with the limits obtained in the ATLAS searches from the diphoton search channel. Recently, CMS reported another local excess with a significance of 3.1 σ in the light Higgs-boson search in the di-tau final state, which is compatible with the interpretation of a Higgs boson with a mass of about 95 GeV. We show that the observed results can be interpreted as manifestations of a Higgs boson in the Two-Higgs Doublet Model with an additional real singlet (N2HDM). We find that the lightest Higgs boson of the N2HDM can fit both excesses simultaneously, while the second-lightest state is such that it satisfies the Higgs-boson measurements at 125 GeV, and the full Higgs-boson sector is compatible with all Higgs exclusion bounds from the searches at LEP, the Tevatron and the LHC as well as with other theoretical and experimental constraints. Finally, we demonstrate that it is furthermore possible to accommodate the excesses observed by CMS in the two search channels together with a local 2.3 σ excess in the $$ b\overline{b} $$
b

b
¯

final state observed at LEP in the same mass range.
Dissipation rate and exposure risk of trifloxystrobin in dry climatic field environments
Authors: Malhat Farag , Saber El-Sayed , Anagnostopoulos Chris , Amin Alaa Sayed , Abdeen Ahmed , Hussien Mohamed , Shokr Shokr Abdel Salam
Published: August 2022

The investigation of the magnitude of residues after application of a pesticide is important to ensure consumer safety and is also a regulatory requirement to grant authorization. To address those issues, the behavior of trifloxystrobin residues was investigated in outdoor strawberry and cucumber cultivations, following the recommended and more critical agricultural practices under Egyptian dry climatic conditions. Fruits were collected at several pre-harvest intervals and analyzed with the Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged, and Safe (QuEChERS) extraction protocol followed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. The limit of quantitation of the method was 0.001 mg kg−1. When trifloxystrobin was applied on the field, the half-lives were 2.4 days in cucumbers and 6.2 days in strawberries. Risk assessment showed that chronic and acute dietary exposure to residues following the investigated agricultural patterns are of no concern to consumers.
Aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) reveals evidence of antagonistic pleiotropy in the regulation of the aging process
Authors: Salminen Antero
Published: August 2022

The antagonistic pleiotropy hypothesis is a well-known evolutionary theory to explain the aging process. It proposes that while a particular gene may possess beneficial effects during development, it can exert deleterious properties in the aging process. The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) has a significant role during embryogenesis, but later in life, it promotes several age-related degenerative processes. For instance, AhR factor (i) controls the pluripotency of stem cells and the stemness of cancer stem cells, (ii) it enhances the differentiation of embryonal stem cells, especially AhR signaling modulates the differentiation of hematopoietic stem cells and progenitor cells, (iii) it also stimulates the differentiation of immunosuppressive Tregs, Bregs, and M2 macrophages, and finally, (iv) AhR signaling participates in the differentiation of many peripheral tissues. On the other hand, AhR signaling is involved in many processes promoting cellular senescence and pathological processes, e.g., osteoporosis, vascular dysfunction, and the age-related remodeling of the immune system. Moreover, it inhibits autophagy and aggravates extracellular matrix degeneration. AhR signaling also stimulates oxidative stress, promotes excessive sphingolipid synthesis, and disturbs energy metabolism by catabolizing NAD+ degradation. The antagonistic pleiotropy of AhR signaling is based on the complex and diverse connections with major signaling pathways in a context-dependent manner. The major regulatory steps include, (i) a specific ligand-dependent activation, (ii) modulation of both genetic and non-genetic responses, (iii) a competition and crosstalk with several transcription factors, such as ARNT, HIF-1α, E2F1, and NF-κB, and (iv) the epigenetic regulation of target genes with binding partners. Thus, not only mTOR signaling but also the AhR factor demonstrates antagonistic pleiotropy in the regulation of the aging process.
Metal artifacts and artifact reduction of neurovascular coils in photon-counting detector CT versus energy-integrating detector CT — in vitro comparison of a standard brain imaging protocol
Authors: Schmitt Niclas , Wucherpfennig Lena , Rotkopf Lukas T. , Sawall Stefan , Kauczor Hans-Ulrich , Bendszus Martin , Möhlenbruch Markus A. , Schlemmer Heinz-Peter , Vollherbst Dominik F.
Published: August 2022

Objectives

Photon-counting detector computed tomography (PCD-CT) is a promising new technique for CT imaging. The aim of the present study was the in vitro comparison of coil-related artifacts in PCD-CT and conventional energy-integrating detector CT (EID-CT) using a comparable standard brain imaging protocol before and after metal artifact reduction (MAR).

Methods

A nidus-shaped rubber latex, resembling an aneurysm of the cerebral arteries, was filled with neurovascular platinum coils and inserted into a brain imaging phantom. Image acquisition and reconstruction were repeatedly performed for PCD-CT and EID-CT (n = 10, respectively) using a standard brain imaging protocol. Moreover, linear interpolation MAR was performed for PCD-CT and EID-CT images. The degree of artifacts was analyzed quantitatively (standard deviation in a donut-shaped region of interest) and qualitatively (5-point scale analysis).

Results

Quantitative and qualitative analysis demonstrated a lower degree of metal artifacts in the EID-CT images compared to the total-energy PCD-CT images (e.g., 82.99 ± 7.89 Hounsfield units (HU) versus 90.35 ± 6.28 HU; p < 0.001) with no qualitative difference between the high-energy bin PCD-CT images and the EID-CT images (4.18 ± 0.37 and 3.70 ± 0.64; p = 0.575). After MAR, artifacts were more profoundly reduced in the PCD-CT images compared to the EID-CT images in both analyses (e.g., 2.35 ± 0.43 and 3.18 ± 0.34; p < 0.001).

Conclusion

PCD-CT in combination with MAR have the potential to provide an improved option for reduction of coil-related artifacts in cerebral imaging in this in vitro study.

Key Points

• Photon-counting detector CT produces more artifacts compared to energy-integrating detector CT without metal artifact reduction in cerebral in vitro imaging after neurovascular coil-embolization.

• Spectral information of PCD-CT provides the potential for new post-processing techniques, since the coil-related artifacts were lower in PCD-CT images compared to EID-CT images after linear interpolation metal artifact reduction in this in vitro study.
Ultrasound-based “CEUS-Bosniak”classification for cystic renal lesions: an 8-year clinical experience
Authors: Herms Elena , Weirich Gregor , Maurer Tobias , Wagenpfeil Stefan , Preuss Stephanie , Sauter Andreas , Heck Matthias , Gärtner Anita , Hauner Katharina , Autenrieth Michael , Kübler Hubert P. , Holzapfel Konstantin , Schwarz-Boeger Ulrike , Heemann Uwe , Slotta-Huspenina Julia , Stock Konrad Friedrich
Published: August 2022

Purpose

Renal cysts comprise benign and malignant entities. Risk assessment profits from CT/MRI imaging using the Bosniak classification. While Bosniak-IIF, -III, and -IV cover complex cyst variants, Bosniak-IIF and -III stand out due to notorious overestimation. Contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) is promising to overcome this deficit but warrants standardization. This study addresses the benefits of a combined CEUS and CT/MRI evaluation of renal cysts. The study provides a realistic account of kidney tumor boards' intricacies in trying to validate renal cysts.

Methods

247 patients were examined over 8 years. CEUS lesions were graded according to CEUS-Bosniak (IIF, III, IV). 55 lesions were resected, CEUS-Bosniak- and CT/MRI-Bosniak-classification were correlated with histopathological diagnosis. Interobserver agreement between the classifications was evaluated statistically. 105 lesions were followed by ultrasound, and change in CEUS-Bosniak-types and lesion size were documented.

Results

146 patients (156 lesions) were included. CEUS classified 67 lesions as CEUS-Bosniak-IIF, 44 as CEUS-Bosniak-III, and 45 as CEUS-Bosniak-IV. Histopathology of 55 resected lesions revealed benign cysts in all CEUS-Bosniak-IIF lesions (2/2), 40% of CEUS-Bosniak-III and 8% of CEUS-Bosniak-IV, whereas malignancy was uncovered in 60% of CEUS-Bosniak-III and 92% of CEUS-Bosniak-IV. Overall, CEUS-Bosniak-types matched CT/MRI-Bosniak types in 58% (fair agreement, κ = 0.28). CEUS-Bosniak resulted in higher stages than CT/MRI-Bosniak (40%). Ultrasound follow-up of 105 lesions detected no relevant differences between CEUS-Bosniak-types concerning cysts size. 99% of lesions showed the same CEUS-Bosniak-type.

Conclusion

The CEUS-Bosniak classification is an essential tool in clinical practice to differentiate and monitor renal cystic lesions and empowers diagnostic work-up and patient care.
Reconstruction of the deterministic turbulent boundary layer for the study of aerofoil self-noise mechanisms
Authors: Chong T. P. , Juknevicius A.
Published: August 2022

In the experimental aeroacoustics, it is always a challenge to study the far-field radiation and near field hydrodynamics simultaneously, and be able to firmly establish the causality between them. The main objective of this paper is to present an experimental technique that can exploit the deterministic turbulent boundary layer generated under a base flow of either mildly separated or laminar boundary layer to either disrupt an existing acoustic scattering mechanism, or reconstruct a new acoustic scattering scenario to enable the ensemble-averaging and wavelet analysis to study the aerofoil trailing edge noise source mechanisms in the spatial, temporal and frequency domains. One of the main attractions of this technique is that the experimental tool does not need to be extremely high fidelity as a priori in order to fully capture the pseudo time-resolved boundary layer instability or turbulent structures. In one of the case studies presented here, roll-up vortices of the order of $$\sim$$
∼
 kHz can be captured accurately by a 15-Hz PIV. A single hot-wire probe is also demonstrated to be capable of reconstructing the turbulent/coherent structures in a spatio−temporal domain. The proposed experimental technique can be extended to other self-noise scenarios when the aerofoil trailing edge is subjected to different flow control treatments, such as the porous structure, surface texture, or finlet, whose mechanisms are largely not understood very well at present.

Graphical abstract
Genetic and modifiable risk factors combine multiplicatively in common disease
Authors: Pang Shichao , Yengo Loic , Nelson Christopher P. , Bourier Felix , Zeng Lingyao , Li Ling , Kessler Thorsten , Erdmann Jeanette , Mägi Reedik , Läll Kristi , Metspalu Andres , Mueller-Myhsok Bertram , Samani Nilesh J. , Visscher Peter M. , Schunkert Heribert
Published: August 2022

Background

The joint contribution of genetic and environmental exposures to noncommunicable diseases is not well characterized.

Objectives

We modeled the cumulative effects of common risk alleles and their prevalence variations with classical risk factors.

Methods

We analyzed mathematically and statistically numbers and effect sizes of established risk alleles for coronary artery disease (CAD) and other conditions.

Results

In UK Biobank, risk alleles counts in the lowest (175.4) and highest decile (205.7) of the distribution differed by only 16.9%, which nevertheless increased CAD prevalence 3.4-fold (p < 0.01). Irrespective of the affected gene, a single risk allele multiplied the effects of all others carried by a person, resulting in a 2.9-fold stronger effect size in the top versus the bottom decile (p < 0.01) and an exponential increase in risk (R > 0.94). Classical risk factors shifted effect sizes to the steep upslope of the logarithmic function linking risk allele numbers with CAD prevalence. Similar phenomena were observed in the Estonian Biobank and for risk alleles affecting diabetes mellitus, breast and prostate cancer.

Conclusions

Alleles predisposing to common diseases can be carried safely in large numbers, but few additional ones lead to sharp risk increments. Here, we describe exponential functions by which risk alleles combine interchangeably but multiplicatively with each other and with modifiable risk factors to affect prevalence. Our data suggest that the biological systems underlying these diseases are modulated by hundreds of genes but become only fragile when a narrow window of total risk, irrespective of its genetic or environmental origins, has been passed.

Graphical Abstract
Weighted average ensemble-based semantic segmentation in biological electron microscopy images
Authors: Shaga Devan Kavitha , Kestler Hans A. , Read Clarissa , Walther Paul
Published: August 2022

Semantic segmentation of electron microscopy images using deep learning methods is a valuable tool for the detailed analysis of organelles and cell structures. However, these methods require a large amount of labeled ground truth data that is often unavailable. To address this limitation, we present a weighted average ensemble model that can automatically segment biological structures in electron microscopy images when trained with only a small dataset. Thus, we exploit the fact that a combination of diverse base-learners is able to outperform one single segmentation model. Our experiments with seven different biological electron microscopy datasets demonstrate quantitative and qualitative improvements. We show that the Grad-CAM method can be used to interpret and verify the prediction of our model. Compared with a standard U-Net, the performance of our method is superior for all tested datasets. Furthermore, our model leverages a limited number of labeled training data to segment the electron microscopy images and therefore has a high potential for automated biological applications.
Getting Beyond Pros and Cons: Results of a Stakeholder Needs Assessment on Physician Assisted Dying in the Hospital Setting
Authors: Frolic Andrea , Murray Leslie , Swinton Marilyn , Miller Paul
Published: August 2022

This study assessed the attitudes and needs of physicians and health professional staff at a tertiary care hospital in Canada regarding the introduction of physician assisted dying (PAD) during 2015–16. This research aimed to develop an understanding of the wishes, concerns and hopes of stakeholders related to handling requests for PAD; to determine what supports/structures/resources health care professionals (HCP) require in order to ensure high quality and compassionate care for patients requesting PAD, and a supportive environment for all healthcare providers across the moral spectrum. This study constituted a mixed methods design with a qualitative descriptive approach for the study’s qualitative component. A total of 303 HCPs working in a tertiary care hospital completed an online survey and 64 HCPs working in hospital units with high mortality rates participated in 8 focus group discussions. Both focus group and survey data coalesced around several themes to support the implementation of PAD following the decriminalization of this practice: the importance of high quality care; honoring moral diversity; supporting values (such as autonomy, privacy, beneficence); and developing resources, including collaboration with palliative care, education, policies and a specialized team. This study provided the foundational evidence to support the development of the PAD program described in other papers in this collection, and can be a model for gathering evidence from stakeholders to inform the implementation of PAD in any healthcare organization.
Behavioral Specialization of Workers of the Leafcutter Ant Acromyrmex octospinosus (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) with an External Bacterial Layer
Authors: Fladerer Johannes-Paul , Bucar Franz
Published: August 2022

Leafcutter ants live in symbiosis with fungi they grow for food and different bacteria they use for protection against fungal parasites. Some workers are covered with a layer of bacteria like Pseudonocardia, but the behavior of these workers has been the subject of little research. In order to obtain a clearer understanding of this phenomenon in Acromyrmex octospinosus, two experiments were conducted with majors, minors, workers with little bacterial layer and workers with a well-developed bacterial layer. In a first step, scan sampling was used to distinguish the preferred location of workers with bacterial coats, compared to the preferences of their nestmates. Finally, 21 behavior patterns of workers with a bacterial layer on their integument were investigated through focal observations and compared to the behavior of their nestmates. Our findings suggest that workers covered with a high amount of Pseudonocardia differ from their sisters in their preference of location, in that they significantly prefer the bottom part of the nest and cannot be found outside the fungus chamber in the feeding area or the waste area. Additionally, these ants show more fungus grooming and are groomed by nestmates more often than the other workers. These results suggest that workers with an external bacterial layer evolved behavioral specialization.
In Vitro Effects of Acitretin on Human Neuronal SH-SY5Y Cells
Authors: Cai Aojie , Liu Nana , Lin Zehong , Li Xiao , Wang Jingmin , Wu Ye , Gao Kai , Jiang Yuwu
Published: August 2022

Acitretin is an oral drug approved by the Food and Drug Administration that is commonly used to treat psoriasis. In recent years, acitretin has been identified as a candidate drug for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease, but its role in neuronal development is still unclear. In this study, the human neuroblastoma cell line SH-SY5Y was used as a model to study neuronal differentiation. We found that acitretin effectively promoted the differentiation of SH-SY5Y cells into neuronal cells and upregulated the expression of the neuronal marker β-III tubulin and the mature neuronal marker NFH. Differentially expressed genes were identified by RNA sequencing and analyzed by bioinformatics approaches. The results showed that genes associated with neuron development-related pathways, such as SSPO and KCNT1, had significant changes in expression. Analysis showed that PRKCA and CAMK2B may play important roles in the process by which acitretin promotes neurodevelopment. Through whole-cell patch clamping and a microelectrode array assay, we found that acitretin-treated neurons generated electrical spikes similar to those generated by mature neurons. This study provided evidence to support an accessible and safe model of neuron-like cells and verified that acitretin can promote the differentiation of neurons and has the potential to treat brain tumors and neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative diseases.
Maternal Intake of Probiotics to Program Offspring Health
Authors: Cuinat Céline , Stinson Sara E. , Ward Wendy E. , Comelli Elena M.
Published: August 2022

Purpose of Review

Probiotics intake may be considered beneficial by prospective and pregnant mothers, but their effects on offspring development are incompletely understood. The purpose of this review was to examine recent pre-clinical and clinical studies to understand how maternal probiotics exposure affects offspring health outcomes.

Recent Findings

Effects were investigated in the context of supporting offspring growth, intestinal health, and gut microbiota, preventing allergic diseases, supporting neurodevelopment, and preventing metabolic disorders in pre-clinical and clinical studies. Most human studies focused on infancy outcomes, whereas pre-clinical studies also examined outcomes at adolescence and young adulthood. While still understudied, both pre-clinical and clinical studies propose epigenetic modifications as an underlying mechanism. Optimal timing of intervention remains unclear.

Summary

Administration of selected probiotics to mothers has programming potential for sustaining life-long health of offspring. Administration protocols, specific windows of susceptibility, and individual-specific responses need to be further studied.
FIUVV: Associations and Outcome
Authors: Alam Khurshid , Goswami Pradip , Joshi Tulika , Goswami Promeet
Published: August 2022

To investigate the ultrasound characteristics, associations and obstetric outcomes in pregnancies with intra-abdominal umbilical vein varix of the fetus. This was a retrospective cohort study conducted over 2 years from March 2019 to February 2021. The data collected were demographic characteristics, varix characteristics, obstetric complications (fetal growth restriction/IUFD) and neonatal outcomes. Descriptive statistics (means, standard deviations, and percentages [%]) were calculated using SPSS, version 21.0 (SPSS Inc, Chicago, USA). Over the period of 2 years, six cases of FIUVV were diagnosed putting the incidence of FIUVV at 5/10000 pregnancies. The incidence of isolated FIUVV was 4.4/10000 cases. Mean gestational age at diagnosis was 25 weeks 3 days with earliest diagnosis at 19w1D. Mean varix size was 11.85 mm ± 2.28 mm (range 8.9–14.8 mm). No incidence of turbulence or thrombus formation within the varix was seen in the current study. One case had absent DV with anomalous drainage of the umbilical vein in to the IVC along with pleural effusion, polyhydramnios and increased nuchal fold thickness. Perinatal death after planned LSCS at term was noted in this pregnancy. One case had rapid dilatation of the varix from 9.5 at 19 weeks to 15.4 mm at 27 weeks. The patient reported sudden IUFD at 33 weeks. The association of FIUVV with the adverse obstetrical outcomes was seen in some cases during the current study. Increased surveillance to look for rapid dilatation/ turbulence/ thrombosis may prevent adverse perinatal outcomes.
Ultrabroad Microwave Absorption Ability and Infrared Stealth Property of Nano-Micro CuS@rGO Lightweight Aerogels
Authors: Wu Yue , Zhao Yue , Zhou Ming , Tan Shujuan , Peymanfar Reza , Aslibeiki Bagher , Ji Guangbin
Published: August 2022

Developing ultrabroad radar-infrared compatible stealth materials has turned into a research hotspot, which is still a problem to be solved. Herein, the copper sulfide wrapped by reduced graphene oxide to obtain three-dimensional (3D) porous network composite aerogels (CuS@rGO) were synthesized via thermal reduction ways (hydrothermal, ascorbic acid reduction) and freeze-drying strategy. It was discovered that the phase components (rGO and CuS phases) and micro/nano structure (microporous and nanosheet) were well-modified by modulating the additive amounts of CuS and changing the reduction ways, which resulted in the variation of the pore structure, defects, complex permittivity, microwave absorption, radar cross section (RCS) reduction value and infrared (IR) emissivity. Notably, the obtained CuS@rGO aerogels with a single dielectric loss type can achieve an ultrabroad bandwidth of 8.44 GHz at 2.8 mm with the low filler content of 6 wt% by a hydrothermal method. Besides, the composite aerogel via the ascorbic acid reduction realizes the minimum reflection loss (RLmin) of − 60.3 dB with the lower filler content of 2 wt%. The RCS reduction value can reach 53.3 dB m2, which effectively reduces the probability of the target being detected by the radar detector. Furthermore, the laminated porous architecture and multicomponent endowed composite aerogels with thermal insulation and IR stealth versatility. Thus, this work offers a facile method to design and develop porous rGO-based composite aerogel absorbers with radar-IR compatible stealth.
Quantum Information Theory in Infinite Dimensions with Application to Optical Channels
Authors: Sharma Vinod , Shenoy Konchady Gautam
Published: August 2022

Information theory deals with the efficient representation of information sources as well as providing fundamental limits to the amount of information communicated reliably over channels. These sources and channels are generally classical, i.e., represented by standard probability distributions. Quantum information theory takes it to the next level where we allow for the sources as well as channels to be quantum. From the representation of quantum states to the communication over quantum channels, the theory not only essentially encapsulates classical information theoretic methods but also accounts for quantum effects such as superposition, entanglement, interference, etc. In this article, we will review and focus on the information theoretic analysis of quantum channels with infinite dimensions. Infinite dimensionality is needed to model quantum optical channels which are ubiquitous in today’s practical networks, distributed quantum communication and quantum internet. The infinite dimensionality introduces some unique problems when compared with finite-dimensional channels and has not been deeply explored in literature from the quantum information theoretic perspective. For these channels, we provide the essential concepts and state-of-the-art channel capacity results. To make this paper self-contained, we also recall the finite dimensional results.
Fine-mapping and association analysis of candidate genes for papilla number in sea cucumber, Apostichopus japonicus
Authors: Zhu Xinghai , Ni Ping , Sturrock Marc , Wang Yangfan , Ding Jun , Chang Yaqing , Hu Jingjie , Bao Zhenmin
Published: August 2022

The papilla number is one of the most economically important traits of sea cucumber in the China marketing trade. However, the genetic basis for papilla number diversity in holothurians is still scarce. In the present study, we conducted genome-wide association studies (GWAS) for the trait papilla number of sea cucumbers utilizing a set of 400,186 high-quality SNPs derived from 200 sea cucumbers. Two significant trait-associated SNPs that passed Bonferroni correction (P < 1.25E−7) were located in the intergenic region near PATS1 and the genic region of EIF4G, which were reported to play a pivotal role in cell growth and proliferation. The fine-mapping regions around the top two lead SNPs provided precise causative loci/genes related to papilla formation and cellular activity, including PPP2R3C, GBP1, and BCAS3. Potential SNPs with P < 1E−4 were acquired for the following GO and KEGG enrichment analysis. Moreover, the two lead SNPs were verified in another population of sea cucumber, and the expressive detection of three potential candidate genes PATS1, PPP2R3C, and EIF4G that near or cover the two lead SNPs was conducted in papilla tissue of TG (Top papilla number group) and BG (Bottom papilla number group) by qRT-PCR. We found the significantly higher expression profile of PATS1 (3.34-fold), PPP2R3C (4.90-fold), and EIF4G (4.23-fold) in TG, implying their potential function in papilla polymorphism. The present results provide valuable information to decipher the phenotype differences of the papilla trait and will provide a scientific basis for selective breeding in sea cucumbers.
Trends in Primary Anatomical Single-Bundle Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction Practice in Adult Patients Prevalent Among Arthroscopy Surgeons of Six Southern States of India
Authors: Pandey Vivek , Madi Sandesh , Thonse Chirag , Joseph Clement , Rajan David , Varughese Jacob , Thilak Jai , Jayaprasad P. S. , Acharya Kiran , Ramamurthy Krishna Gopal , Reddy Raghuveer , Amravathi Rajkumar , Rao Sharath , Gangavarapu Sridhar , Srinivas Moparthi , Jose Sujit , Sundararjan S. R.
Published: August 2022

Background

Although guidelines from multiple scientific studies decide the general trend in ACLR practice, there is often a variation between scientific guidelines and actual practice.

Methods

A 17-member committee comprised of sports surgeons with experience of a minimum of 10 years of arthroscopy surgery finalized a survey questionnaire consisting of concepts in ACL tear management and perioperative trends, intraoperative and post-operative practices regarding single-bundle anatomic ACLR. The survey questionnaire was mailed to 584 registered sports surgeons in six states of south India. A single, non-modifiable response was collected from each member and analyzed.

Results

324 responses were received out of 584 members. A strong consensus was present regarding Hamstring tendons preference for ACLR, graft diameter ≥ 7.5 mm, viewing femoral footprint through the anterolateral portal, drilling femoral tunnel from anteromedial portal guided by ridges and remnants of femoral footprint using a freehand technique, suspensory devices to fix the graft in femur and interference screw in the tibia and post-operative bracing. A broad consensus was achieved in using a brace to minimize symptoms of instability of an ACL tear and antibiotic soaking of graft. There was no consensus regarding the timing of ACLR, preferred graft in athletes, pre-tensioning, extra-articular procedure, and return to sports. There was disagreement over hybrid tibial fixation and suture tapes to augment graft.

Conclusion

Diverse practices continue to prevail in the management of ACL injuries. However, some of the consensuses reached in this survey match global practices. Contrasting or inconclusive practices should be explored for potential future research.
Plan for healthy neighborhoods to improve mental wellbeing: a pilot study in Fresno, California
Authors: Dong Hongwei , Li Ming , Perez Miguel A. , Wang Chih-Hao
Published: August 2022

By using data collected from a self-administered survey, this study evaluates the variation of mental wellbeing between individuals and neighborhoods and its personal and neighborhood determinants in Fresno, California. It reveals the disparities of mental wellbeing, physical activity, and neighborhood environment between disadvantaged and non-disadvantaged neighborhoods in Fresno. Residents in disadvantaged neighborhoods report slightly lower levels of mental wellbeing and physical activity, significantly weaker neighborhood social capital, and much lower neighborhood environment quality. Our path analysis suggests that outdoor physical activity and perceived neighborhood social capital are the only two factors that influence mental wellbeing after controlling for personal socioeconomics and personality. Neither perceived nor objectively measured neighborhood environmental factors show significant and direct impacts on mental wellbeing. Neighborhood environment, however, shows indirect associations with mental wellbeing through their correlations with outdoor physical activity and perceived neighborhood social capital.
“The Vision of Daniel” from the St. Petersburg Genizah
Authors: Ben-Sasson Menahem
Published: August 2022

This article includes translation of a “new” Vision of Daniel as it survived, albeit incomplete. It reflects a “meeting point” between three monotheistic religions in the ninth and tenth centuries CE. A comparative study of the work enables the reconstruction of its missing parts. The Vision may have been composed in the area where al-Muʿtaṣim battled Theophilos in the 830s CE, namely, northern Syria and southeastern Anatolia. An “updated” appendix was added around 1000 CE. Towards the end of the Vision, exact times are replaced with “flexible times,” a moderate expression of the cosmic changes found in similar eschatological works. The two anti-messiahs described, constructed as integrations of Jewish-Christian-Muslim traditions of the apocalyptical devils, reflect the shifting identities of messianic figures, who will reveal themselves once again (Parousia), albeit as demonic antichrists. One of the two is an inversion of the Christian image of Moses/Jesus, whereas the second is Armilus.
A New Model of Solar Ultraviolet Irradiance Variability With 0.1–0.5 nm Spectral Resolution
Authors: Lean J. L. , Coddington O. , Marchenko S. V. , DeLand M. T.
Published: August 2022

Observations of solar irradiance made from space since 2003 with 0.1 nm spectral resolution at wavelengths from 115 to 310 nm and 0.5 nm spectral resolution at wavelengths from 260 to 500 nm are used to construct a new model, NRLSSI2h, of solar irradiance variability with higher spectral resolution than the 1 nm NRLSSI2 model used to specify the NOAA Solar Irradiance Climate Data Record. The new model better resolves irradiance variability in specific emission and absorption features that are directly attributable to atoms and molecules in the Sun’s atmosphere. Singularly prominent is spectral irradiance variability at 379–389 nm, dominated by the CN molecular band system; irradiance in this 10 nm band increased 0.078 W m−2 during solar cycle 23, contributing 4.6% of the 1.7 W m−2 concurrent total solar irradiance increase. Irradiance variability at wavelengths from 300 to 400 nm, a region dominated by multiple spectral features, is a factor of 2–5 smaller in the new model than estimated by semiempirical models that use radiative transfer codes to calculate the contrasts of faculae and sunspots, which alter the temperature‐dependent densities of these species relative to the surrounding continuum. Solar atmosphere temperature and composition profiles in radiative transfer models may therefore not be realistic or their atomic and molecular databases may be incomplete. Improved colocation of spectral features in solar irradiance and the absorption cross sections of molecular oxygen and ozone with the new model may allow higher fidelity calculations of energy deposition in Earth’s atmosphere.
Interhemispheric Asymmetry of the Equatorial Ionization Anomaly (EIA) on the African Sector Over 3 Years (2014–2016): Effects of Thermospheric Meridional Winds
Authors: Loutfi A. , Pitout F. , Bounhir A. , Benkhaldoun Z. , Makela J. J. , Abamni S. , Zyane K. , Elfakhiri A.
Published: August 2022

Observations made by the Langmuir probes on board the Swarm satellites and the Fabry–Perot interferometer installed at the Oukaimeden Observatory in Morocco have been systematically analyzed to study the effect of geomagnetic activity on the thermosphere–ionosphere system over 3 years. The annual variation of the electron density (Ne) shows that during the day, the ionospheric density starts to increase at midlatitudes, with a single crest between 8 LT and 12 LT. It is also noticeable that the double crest structure is present between 12 LT and 00 LT: symmetric from 12 LT to 20 LT and asymmetric from 20 LT to 24 LT. Observations show strong seasonal variations, with Ne being lower around the June solstice. We have noticed the semiannual anomaly: Ne is higher around equinox than around solstice. For solstice seasons, the asymmetries in Ne are stronger at the December solstice than at the June solstice. For equinox seasons, we can notice equinoctial symmetry in all local time sectors, meaning that the same trend is observed for both equinoxes with or without symmetrical crests. The effect of meridional neutral winds on equatorial ionization anomaly (EIA) crests have been classified during both quiet and disturbed conditions. Over the studied region, the southward meridional winds have the tendency to enhance the northern crest of the EIA during quiet time and in a more pronounced way during geomagnetically disturbed conditions. Finally, we have quantified the relations between the thermospheric neutral winds data and the EIA by introducing an asymmetrical index.
Global Magnetohydrodynamic Magnetosphere Simulation With an Adaptively Embedded Particle‐In‐Cell Model
Authors: Wang Xiantong , Chen Yuxi , Tóth Gábor
Published: August 2022

We perform a geomagnetic event simulation using a newly developed magnetohydrodynamic with adaptively embedded particle‐in‐cell (MHD‐AEPIC) model. We have developed effective criteria to identify reconnection sites in the magnetotail and cover them with the PIC model. The MHD‐AEPIC simulation results are compared with Hall MHD and ideal MHD simulations to study the impacts of kinetic reconnection at multiple physical scales. At the global scale, the three models produce very similar SYM‐H and SuperMag Electrojet indexes, which indicates that the global magnetic field configurations from the three models are very close to each other. We also compare the ionospheric solver results and all three models generate similar polar cap potentials and field‐aligned currents. At the mesoscale, we compare the simulations with in situ Geotail observations in the tail. All three models produce reasonable agreement with the Geotail observations. At the kinetic scales, the MHD‐AEPIC simulation can produce a crescent shape distribution of the electron velocity space at the electron diffusion region, which agrees very well with MMS observations near a tail reconnection site. These electron scale kinetic features are not available in either the Hall MHD or ideal MHD models. Overall, the MHD‐AEPIC model compares well with observations at all scales, it works robustly, and the computational cost is acceptable due to the adaptive adjustment of the PIC domain. It remains to be determined whether kinetic physics can play a more significant role in other types of events, including but not limited to substorms.