bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Maternal Isocaloric High‐Fat Diet Induces Liver Mitochondria Maladaptations and Homeostatic Disturbances Intensifying Mitochondria Damage in Response to Fructose Intake in Adult Male Rat Offspring
Authors: Souza Aline F. P. , Woyames Juliana , Miranda Rosiane A. , Oliveira Lorraine S. , Caetano Bruna , Martins Isabela L. , Souza Manuella S. , Andrade Cherley B. V. , Bento‐Bernardes Thais , Bloise Flavia F. , Fortunato Rodrigo S. , Trevenzoli Isis H. , Souza Luana L. , Pazos‐Moura Carmen C.
Published: February 2022

Scope

Perinatal maternal obesity and excessive fructose consumption have been associated with liver metabolic diseases. The study investigates whether moderate maternal high‐fat diet affects the liver mitochondria responses to fructose intake in adult offspring.

Methods and Results

Wistar female rats have received a standard diet (mSTD) or high‐fat diet (mHFD) (9% and 28.6% fat, respectively), before mating until the end of lactation. Male offspring were fed standard diet from weaning to adulthood and received water or fructose‐drinking water (15%) from 120 to 150 days old. Fructose induces liver mitochondrial ultrastructural alterations with higher intensity in mHFD offspring, accompanied by reduced autophagy markers. Isolated mitochondria respirometry shows unaltered ATP‐coupled oxygen consumption with increased Atp5f1b mRNA only in mHFD offspring. Fructose increases basal respiration and encoding complex I‐III mRNA, only in mSTD offspring. Uncoupled respiration is lower in mHFD mitochondria that are unable to exhibit fructose‐induced increase Ucp2 mRNA. Fructose decreases antioxidative defense markers, increases unfolded protein response and insulin resistance only in mHFD offspring without fructose‐induced hepatic lipid accumulation.

Conclusion

Mitochondrial dysfunction and homeostatic disturbances in response to fructose are early events evidencing the higher risk of fructose damage in the liver of adult offspring from dams fed an isocaloric moderate high‐fat diet.
Brief assessment of cognitive function in myotonic dystrophy: Multicenter longitudinal study using computer‐assisted evaluation
Authors: Deutsch Gayle K. , Hagerman Katharine A. , Sampson Jacinda , Dent Gersham , Dekdebrun Jeanne , Parker Dana M. , Thornton Charles A. , Heatwole Chad R. , Subramony Sub H. , Mankodi Ami K. , Ashizawa Tetsuo , Statland Jeffrey M. , Arnold W. David , Moxley Richard T. , Day John W. ,   Myotonic Dystrophy Clinical Research Network
Published: February 2022

Introduction/Aims

Myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) is known to affect cognitive function, but the best methods to assess central nervous system involvement in multicenter studies have not been determined. In this study our primary aim was to evaluate the potential of computerized cognitive tests to assess cognition in DM1.

Methods

We conducted a prospective, longitudinal, observational study of 113 adults with DM1 at six sites. Psychomotor speed, attention, working memory, and executive functioning were assessed at baseline, 3 months, and 12 months using computerized cognitive tests. Results were compared with assessments of muscle function and patient reported outcomes (PROs), including the Myotonic Dystrophy Health Index (MDHI) and the 5‐dimension EuroQol (EQ‐5D‐5L) questionnaire.

Results

Based on intraclass correlation coefficients, computerized cognitive tests had moderate to good reliability for psychomotor speed (0.76), attention (0.82), working memory speed (0.79), working memory accuracy (0.65), and executive functioning (0.87). Performance at baseline was lowest for working memory accuracy (P < .0001). Executive function performance improved from baseline to 3 months (P < .0001), without further changes over 1 year. There was a moderate correlation between poorer executive function and larger CTG repeat size (r = −0.433). There were some weak associations between PROs and cognitive performance.

Discussion

Computerized tests of cognition are feasible in multicenter studies of DM1. Poor performance was exhibited in working memory, which may be a useful variable in clinical trials. Learning effects may have contributed to the improvement in executive functioning. The relationship between PROs and cognitive impairment in DM1 requires further study.
Synthesis of Cu nanoparticles in a chitosan entrapped copolymer matrix for photocatalytic reduction of textile dye and column adsorption of heavy metal ions from water
Authors: Bhangi Bidyut Kumar , Ray Samit Kumar
Published: February 2022

Polymer metal nano‐composites (PMNC) were synthesized by integrating different weight percentage of chitosan (CS), N,N′‐methylenebisacrylamide (MBA) crosslinked poly(acrylic acid‐co‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate) copolymer and Cu nanoparticles (CuNPs). CuNPs were generated in situ during polymerization by reducing CuSO4.5H2O with ascorbic acid. The presence of the CuNPs in the polymer network, functionality, crystallinity, morphology, size distribution of the CuNPs, elemental composition, thermal characteristics, network parameters, pH sensitivity, and strength of the composites was evaluated. The CuNP‐loaded PMNC4 composite prepared with 10:1 acrylic acid : hydroxyethyl methacrylate molar ratio, 1 wt% each of initiator and MBA crosslinker and 4 wt% CS showed a photodegradation efficiency of 64% in 5 h for 50 mg/L methyl violet dye in water. The same polymer showed a rejection of 91.45% and a mass transfer coefficient of 4.14 × 10−5 cm/s for continuous adsorption of 20 mg/L Pb(II) ion in water in a fixed bed of height 22 mm for an inflow rate of 30 ml/min.
Embedding equity into school mental health theory, research, and practice: An introduction to the special issue series
Authors: Exner‐Cortens Deinera , Gaias Larissa , Splett Joni W. , Jones Janine , Walker Whitney
Published: February 2022

In this article, we present an introduction and overview for a two‐part special issue series focused on embedding equity into school mental health through theory, research, and practice. The papers in Part 1 of the special issue series cover critical topics for advancing equitable school mental health, including the centering of community and youth perspectives; a focus on reducing disproportionality in discipline practices; and details on equity‐focused interventions. In Part 2, papers focus on integrating race and racial equity into school mental health frameworks; integrating a racial equity lens into trauma‐informed school practices; addressing outcomes that have disproportionate impacts on youth of color; and exploring domains of injustice and oppression beyond racial inequity. We hope that the topics discussed in this special issue series move us towards providing equitable and just school mental health services for all children and youth.
Plasma‐water‐based nitrogen fixation: Status, mechanisms, and opportunities
Authors: Huang Zhongzheng , Xiao Ao , Liu Dawei , Lu Xinpei , Ostrikov Kostya (Ken)
Published: February 2022

Nitrogen‐based crop fertilizers are the most important industrial chemicals supporting the global food supply. Plasma‐water‐based nitrogen fixation (PWBNF) provides a clean, sustainable, and flexible alternative, which is amenable for decentralized, small‐to‐medium‐scale production systems. This process is based on the targeted activation of N2 or air molecules by plasmas. Plasma can interact with water molecules, water droplets, and water layers through the plasma physical and chemical mechanisms. This review summarizes the current state of the art of PWBNF and provides insights into the effective mechanisms for the synthesis of NH3, NO2− and NO3− in highly reactive plasma environments. The opportunities and challenges for this plasma‐enabled approach are identified to guide the development of sustainable nitrogen fixation technology.
Short‐term effect and effect on rate of lung function decline after surgery for neuromuscular or syndromic scoliosis
Authors: Veldhoen Esther S. , de Vries Anneloes , Schlosser Tom P. C. , Kruyt Moyo C. , van Eijk Ruben P. A. , Tersmette Joyce M. , Hulzebos Erik H. , van der Pol Ludo W. , Wösten‐van Asperen Roelie M. , van der Ent Cornelis K.
Published: February 2022

Introduction

Understanding the impact of scoliosis surgery on lung function is important for counseling patients about risks and benefits of surgery. We prospectively compared the trends in lung function test (LFT) results before and after scoliosis surgery in children with neuromuscular diseases or dysmorphic syndromes. We hypothesized a stabilization.

Methods

We prospectively included children with neuromuscular or syndromic scoliosis able to perform LFTs. We studied (forced) vital capacity ([F]VC), ratio of forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) and FVC, and peak expiratory flow (PEF). Preoperative LFT results were compared with results 3–4 months after surgery. The mean monthly change in LFT results up to 2 years after surgery was compared with the preoperative natural history using linear mixed‐effects models.

Results

We included 43 patients. No significant change was observed in absolute values of (F)VC, FEV1/FVC, and PEF before and after surgery. In 23 neuromuscular patients median standardized VC, FVC, and PEF decreased significantly after surgery from 43% to 33%, 42% to 31%, and 51% to 40%, respectively. In 20 syndromic patients, median FVC decreased from 68% to 65%. The monthly rate of change in FVC did not change significantly in both groups with a mean difference of 0.18% (95% CI: −0.27, −0.61) and −0.44% (95% CI: −1.05, 0.16).

Conclusion

No stabilization of lung function 3–4 months after scoliosis surgery was observed in children with neuromuscular and syndromic scoliosis with restrictive lung function disease. The effect on the rate of lung function decline remains inconclusive.
Translation of the quality of life questionnaire for primary ciliary dyskinesia (QOL‐PCD) into Hebrew: The Israeli experience
Authors: Amirav Israel , Shoshan Noa B. , Behan Laura , Bar‐Yoseph Ronen , Lavie Moran
Published: February 2022

Background

Patients with primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) have chronic morbidities affecting their quality of life (QOL). Health‐related QOL (HRQOL) has been recognized as an important tool for assessing the burden of PCD on patients and their families. A PCD‐specific HRQOL questionnaire (QOL‐PCD) was developed and validated for the English‐speaking populations. Still, it has not yet been translated into Hebrew or adapted for Israeli PCD patients.

Methods

This describes our translation of the original English version of QOL‐PCD into a Hebrew version. The process involved forward translation by independent translators, construction of a consensus version, back‐translation into the original English version, analysis by the expert committee, and a pretest. The pretest was administered to 20 participants with PCD (the patients and the parents of minor patients) to assess the feasibility and practicality of the tool. Scale and item indices (scale‐level content validity index [S‐CVI] and item‐level content validity index [I‐CVI]) were calculated for content validity.

Results

All study participants understood the final Hebrew version that the expert committee had approved with no difficulty. The instrument had satisfactory (>0.80) content validity, with S‐CVI indexes of 0.99 for the adult version, 0.86 for the parental version, 0.95 for the adolescent version, and 1.00 for the child version.

Conclusion

The English version of a QOL‐PCD was translated into Hebrew and adapted in Israel. This translation is a valid instrument to assess HRQOL in Hebrew‐speaking patients with PCD and their family members. It may be helpful for PCD patient management and research in Israel.
Transgenic HepaRG cells expressing CYP2D6 as an improved model of primary human hepatocytes
Authors: Okuyama Shota , Mine Akari , Nakamura Teppei , Ohasi Yusuke , Seto Mayuko , Tada Masako
Published: February 2022

CYP2D6 and CYP3A4, which are members of the cytochrome P450 superfamily of metabolic enzymes, play major roles in the metabolism of commonly available drugs. CYP3A4 is involved in the metabolism of 50% of drugs on the market, whereas CYP2D6 is involved in the metabolism of 25% of them. CYP2D6 exhibits a high degree of polymorphic nature in the human population, causing individual differences in CYP2D6 expression and enzymatic activity. Therefore, accurate prediction of drug metabolism and toxicity require a human adult hepatocyte cell model that mimics individual responses in the average population. HepaRG cells, a human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line, is the only cell line that can differentiate into hepatocyte‐like cells with high expression of CYP3A4 but poor expression of CYP2D6. To solve this problem, we developed transgenic HepaRG cell clones expressing either full‐length or spliced CYP2D6 at various levels with an easy monitoring system for CYP2D6 expression in living cells under a fluorescent microscope. As CYP2D6 mRNA, protein, and fluorescence intensity were closely correlated among transgenic HepaRG clones, fluorescence levels will provide a simple tool for quality assurance of CYP2D6‐expressing HepaRG cells. Thus, the package of transgenic HepaRG cell clones expressing CYP2D6 at various levels will provide an improved hepatocyte model that reflects the average or individual reactions in the human population for in vitro studies of drug metabolism and toxicity involving CYP2D6 and CYP3A4.
Network pharmacology reveals potential functional components and underlying molecular mechanisms of Andrographis paniculata in esophageal cancer treatment
Authors: Cheung Man Kit , Yue Grace Gar‐Lee , Gomes Adele Joyce , Wong Eric Chun‐Wai , Lee Julia Kin‐Ming , Kwok Frankie Hin‐Fai , Chiu Philip Wai‐Yan , Lau Clara Bik‐San
Published: February 2022

Antitumor and antimetastatic effects of the medicinal herb Andrographis paniculata (AP) in esophageal cancer (EC) have been previously reported. In this study, we aimed to uncover the potential functional components and the underlying molecular mechanisms of AP in EC treatment using network pharmacology and experimental validation. Twenty‐two potential active AP compounds against EC were revealed, including the antitumor/antiinflammatory compounds panicolin, moslosooflavone, and deoxyandrographiside. Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), RAC‐alpha serine/threonine‐protein kinase (AKT1), prostaglandin‐endoperoxide synthase 2 (PTGS2), chemokine (C‐X‐C motif) ligand 8 (CXCL8), phosphatidylinositol 4,5‐bisphosphate 3‐kinase subunit alpha (PIK3CA), and toll‐like receptor 4 (TLR4) were most highly ranked among the predicted targets of AP in EC treatment and may play important roles in the anti‐EC effects of AP. KEGG pathway analysis revealed the enrichment of multiple cancer‐related pathways and signaling pathways. Quantitative reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction (qRT‐PCR) and western blotting validation showed that overnight treatment with 850.3 μg/ml of AP water extract significantly reduced the mRNA expressions of EGFR and AKT in human EC‐109 cells. The presence of panicolin and moslosooflavone in the AP water extract samples were confirmed using LC‐MS against reference standards. This study has comprehensively revealed for the first time the potential functional components of AP in EC and explored the underlying molecular mechanisms. Future studies should characterize the potential pharmacological properties of the other highly ranked yet understudied compounds in AP detected.
The novel oral gonadotropin‐releasing hormone receptor antagonist relugolix is a new option for controlled ovarian stimulation cycles
Authors: Komiya Shinnosuke , Tsuzuki‐Nakao Tomoko , Asai Yoshiko , Inoue Tomoko , Morimoto Yoshiharu , Okada Hidetaka
Published: February 2022

Purpose

Relugolix is an oral gonadotropin‐releasing hormone antagonist (GnRHant), which was first introduced in 2019. This study investigated the effects of the conventional injectable GnRHant formulation and this new oral GnRHant formulation on controlled ovarian stimulation (COS) cycles.

Methods

Relugolix was administered in 126 cycles and conventional GnRHant injection was administered in 658 cycles (controls). The follicle stimulation was performed by an antagonist method, and for final oocyte maturation, recombinant human chorionic gonadotropin (rHCG), or gonadotropin‐releasing hormone agonist (GnRHa), or both (dual trigger) were selected. The number of retrieved oocytes was counted and then they were evaluated for subsequent development up to cleavage stage.

Results

The number of retrieved oocytes which was the primary outcome of this research was affected by the combination of GnRHant type and the final oocyte maturation agent. The combination of relugolix and a GnRHa trigger showed a significantly lower number of retrieved oocytes (p < 0.001) than the other combinations.

Conclusions

Relugolix is a new option for COS cycles, but should be carefully combined with the final maturation agent.

Clinical trial approval

This study was conducted after approval by the Medical Corporation Sankeikai Institutional Ethics Committee (approval number: 2019‐34).
Amara e bella, bitter and beautiful: A praxis of care in valuing Sicilian olive oil and landscapes
Authors: Hilton Amanda
Published: February 2022

This article discusses how Sicilian oliviculturalists imbue value into their olivicultural landscapes. I combine a political ecology framework, attending to the impact of global political economy on local socioecological systems, with feminist theorizations of care to argue that while participants articulated varied values about place, livelihood, and landscape, participants nonetheless rejected an economistic valuation of their labor, livelihood, and landscapes. Instead, they embraced what I call a praxis of care. In describing this praxis of care, I draw on recent work on global environmental ruination and devastation as a result of capitalist overextraction to illustrate how Sicilian oliviculturalists conceptualize and experience ruined landscapes, specifically in the context of abbandono, “abandonment,” and their positioning in relation to contemporary iterations of the historical Southern Question.
Catalyst‐Free Synthesis of Thioethers through C−N Bond Cleavage of Aminonaphthol/Aminophenol Derivatives
Authors: Suresh Pavithira , Kumari Subramaniyan Prasanna , Krishnan Keerthana , Ganesan Subramaniapillai Selva
Published: February 2022

Readily available aminonaphthol/aminophenol derivatives were converted to the corresponding thioethers under catalyst‐free reaction conditions. Environmentally benign aqueous medium was utilized for the transformation of aminonaphthol derivatives to the corresponding thioethers under aerobic reaction conditions. Saturated brine solution was identified as a suitable medium for the synthesis of thioethers from aminophenol derivatives. Control experiments revealed that the nature of leaving group and reaction atmosphere plays a vital role in determining the yield of the products.
Recent Advances in Metal Catalyzed C−H Functionalization with a Wide Range of Directing Groups
Authors: Ahmad Muhammad Siddique , Meguellati Kamel
Published: February 2022

C−H bond functionalization is an emerging field with various pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals and dye chemistry applications. We have explored the use of C−H bond functionalization with catalytic metals and various remote/directing groups such as pyridine, pyrimidine, 8‐aminoquinoline or n‐quinoline, 2‐isopropylpyridine, oxazoline,2‐aminopyridine‐1‐oxide, N‐(2‐(methylthio)phenyl), 2‐methoxyiminoacetyl, 2‐amino‐3‐fluoro‐N,N‐dimethylbenzamide, 2‐dimethylaminoethylamine, N‐(2‐aminophenyl)‐acetamide, 5‐methylisoxazole‐3‐carboxamide, oligopeptide, β‐carboline amide, N‐tosylethylenediamine, acetohydrazide, β‐alanine, 3‐amino‐2‐benzylpropanoic acid and 2‐(methylsulfinyl)aniline with metacycles sides. Moreover, these metals employed (Pd, Rh, Ru, Mn, Ni, Fe, Cu or Co) in these reactions have relevant good catalytic properties and can catalyze a wide range of chemical reactions such as cyanations, arylations, alkenylations, allylations, alkylations and alkynylations with a wide range of removable auxiliary were reviewed. Importantly, functionalization of β‐C(sp3)−H, ortho‐(sp2)−H carbonyl compounds, γ‐C(sp3)−H arylation and γ‐C(sp2)−H of amines, amino esters and alkyl acetal are summarized in this review.
Discovery of 2‐Amino‐4H‐1, 3, 4‐thiadiazine‐5(6H)‐one Derivatives and Their In Vitro Antitumor Investigation
Authors: Mohammed Faten Zahran , Rizzk Youstina William , El‐Deen Ibrahim Mohey , Gad Emad M. , El Behery Mohammed , Mahdy Ahmed R. E.
Published: February 2022

Novel 2‐Amino‐4H‐1,3,4‐thiadiazine‐5‐(6H)‐one derivatives 3–6 were designed, synthesized, and assessed for their anticancer effects on MCF‐7 and A549 cell lines. The cytotoxicity screening found several active compounds. Meanwhile, compound 5 b exhibited the strongest cytotoxic activity compared to Doxorubicin (DOX). Furthermore, DNA flow cytometry investigation over MCF‐7 cells indicated that compound 5 b demonstrated arrest at G1/S stages of the cell cycle and induction of apoptosis by rising pre‐G1 stage. In addition, the underlying mechanistic studies of compound 5b′s proapoptotic activities revealed that they induced the elevation of P53 and the BAX/BCL‐2 ratio expression that led to a rise in active Caspase 3/7 levels and triggered apoptosis. Finally, Compound 5 b displayed a significant dual topoisomerase IIβ enzyme and β‐tubulin polymerization inhibition.
A New Lipid‐Droplets‐Targeted Fluorescence Probe with Dual‐Reactive Sites for Specific Detection of ClO− in Living Cells
Authors: Li Zhao , Yang Yuan , Yin Pei , Yang Zengming , Zhang Bo , Zhang Shengjun , Han Bingyang , Lv Jiawei , Dong Fenghao , Ma Hengchang
Published: February 2022

Lipid droplets (LDs) are organelles composed of a lipid core surrounded by a phospholipid monolayer, plays an important role in a variety of physiological processes as well as diseases. In this work, TPAs‐SCH3‐2CN with an enhanced electron D‐π‐A system, is synthesized, which makes itself as an orange emission compound (Em=590 nm) and also have high polarity. It is verified that TPAs‐SCH3‐2CN is an excellent LDs‐targeted probe, and it also sensitive to the ClO− detection in vitro and in cells. Impressively, due to the high lipophilicity, TPAs‐SCH3‐2CN is able to stain the yolk lipids in zebrafish, exhibiting the potential for monitoring lipid transport and metabolism processes.
Semicrystalline SrTiO3‐Decorated Anatase TiO2 Nanopie as Heterostructure for Efficient Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution
Authors: He Yilei , Zhang Lijuan , Wei Yanze , Zhang Xing , Wang Zumin , Yu Ranbo
Published: February 2022

The coupling of TiO2 and SrTiO3 through elaborate bandgap engineering can provide synergies for highly efficient photocatalysts. To further improve the separation between photogenerated electrons and holes, a nano‐heterostructured combination of semicrystalline SrTiO3 (S‐SrTiO3) and anatase TiO2 nanoparticles is designed, and an optimized interface is achieved between uniformly grown S‐SrTiO3 and metal organic framework (MOF)‐derived anatase TiO2 through a controlled hydrothermal process. Besides tuning of the bandgap and broadening of the absorption spectral range, S‐SrTiO3 particles alleviate charge carrier recombination benefiting from the coupling of the semicrystalline SrTiO3 around the interface. Additionally, highly dispersed S‐SrTiO3 on TiO2 provides a good spatial distribution of active sites and the abundant carbon remained from MOF may reduce charge transport resistance. Moreover, the rapid transfer within the nano‐heterostructure promotes the separation of the photogenerated charge carriers. With the above predominant architecture, when used as a photocatalyst, the as‐synthesized S‐SrTiO3/TiO2 heterostructure exhibits exceptionally high photocatalytic performance of 13 005 µmol h–1 g–1 for H2 production, exceeding most oxide‐based photocatalysts reported. This study might provide mechanistic insights into a new perspective for the design and preparation of photocatalysts with novel structure and enhanced catalysis activity.
Characterization of the Stability of Indium Tin Oxide and Functional Layers for Semitransparent Back‐Contact Applications on Cu(in,Ga)Se2Solar Cells
Authors: Fonoll-Rubio Robert , Placidi Marcel , Hoelscher Torsten , Thomere Angelica , Li-Kao Zacharie Jehl , Guc Maxim , Izquierdo-Roca Victor , Scheer Roland , Pérez-Rodríguez Alejandro
Published: February 2022

Herein, a detailed study of the stability of different ITO‐based back‐contact configurations (including bare ITO contacts and contacts functionalized with nanometric Mo, MoSe2, and MoS2layers) under the coevaporation processes developed for the synthesis of high‐efficiency Cu(In,Ga)Se2(CIGSe) solar cells is reported. The results show that bare ITO layers can be used as efficient back contacts for coevaporation process temperatures of 480 ºC. However, higher temperatures produce an amorphous In–Se phase at the ITO surface that reduces the contacts transparency in the visible region. This is accompanied by degradation of the solar cells’ efficiency. Inclusion of a Mo functional layer leads to the formation of a MoSe2interfacial phase during the coevaporation process, which improves the cells’ efficiency, achieving device efficiencies similar to those obtained with reference solar cells fabricated with standard Mo back contacts. Optimization of the initial Mo layer thickness improves the contact transparency, achieving contacts with an optical transparency of 50% in the visible region. This is accompanied by a relevant decrease in back reflectivity in the CIGSe devices, confirming the potential of these contact configurations for the development of semitransparent CIGSe devices with improved optical aesthetic quality without compromising the device performance.
China's strategies for promoting differentiated urban resilience measurement from the social ecosystem perspective
Authors: Luo Xixi , Liu Quanlong , Song Xuefeng
Published: February 2022

Building resilient cities has become a hot topic in urban planning and risk management. Adopting the perspective of the social‐ecological system (SES), this paper incorporated economy–ecology–society–infrastructure into an integrated research framework and established a system for assessing the urban resilience development level. The entropy weight method was combined with a cloud model to systematically calculate and classify the resilience of 31 provinces (cities) in China. The evaluation results show that (1) the overall level of urban resilience in China was relatively low; the regional analysis showed that (2) the urban resilience of the eastern region was higher than the national average and that of the central and western regions, and from the perspective of the four subsystems, (3) the comprehensive development of each subsystem was the key to improving urban resilience. Finally, five improvement strategies were proposed to provide ideas for enhancing urban SES ability.
Metamorphic relation prioritization for effective regression testing
Authors: Srinivasan Madhusudan , Kanewala Upulee
Published: February 2022

Metamorphic testing (MT) is widely used for testing programs that face the oracle problem. It uses a set of metamorphic relations (MRs), which are relations among multiple inputs and their corresponding outputs to determine whether the program under test is faulty. Typically, MRs vary in their ability to detect faults in the program under test, and some MRs tend to detect the same set of faults. In this paper, we propose approaches to prioritize MRs to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of MT for regression testing. We present two MR prioritization approaches: (i) fault‐based and (ii) coverage‐based. To evaluate these MR prioritization approaches, we conduct experiments on three complex open‐source software systems. Our results show that the MR prioritization approaches developed by us significantly outperform the current practice of executing the source and follow‐up test cases of the MRs in an ad‐hoc manner in terms of fault detection effectiveness. Further, fault‐based MR prioritization leads to reducing the number of source and follow‐up test cases that needs to be executed as well as reducing the average time taken to detect a fault, which would result in saving time and cost during the testing process.
Estimation of blade loads for a variable pitch Vertical Axis Wind Turbine with strain gage measurements
Authors: LeBlanc Bruce , Ferreira Carlos
Published: February 2022

The blade pitch of a Vertical Axis Wind Turbine can have a profound impact on the aerodynamic loading experienced by the turbine. This in turn impacts the structural loads and the performance of the machine. In order to characterize the effects of changing pitch, studies are conducted with fixed pitch offsets from a neutral pitch position in the open jet wind tunnel of TU Delft. Measurements with strain gages bonded to the turbine struts are used to estimate the normal loading of the blades. The measured behavior gives insights into the sensitivity of the turbine loading to the blade pitch angle. Aerodynamic phenomena associated with VAWTs are evident in the data including dynamic stall and blade vortex interaction. Shifting of turbine blade pitch is shown to alter the azimuthally varying normal loading, causing changes in magnitude and direction of rotor thrust. Frequency responses of the turbine and platform mounting structure are presented for rotating and fixed reference frames, respectfully. The effects of stall due to high pitch offsets is shown to excite higher per rev frequencies in both the rotor normal measurements and platform accelerations. The data sets are made available for validation of numerical models.
Stochastic inflation from quantum field theory and the parametric dependence of the effective noise amplitude
Authors: Andersen Jens O. , Eriksson Magdalena , Tranberg Anders
Published: February 2022

Abstract

The non-linear dynamics of long-wavelength cosmological fluctuations may be phrased in terms of an effective classical, but stochastic evolution equation. The stochastic noise represents short-wavelength modes that continually redshift into the long-wavelength domain. The effective evolution may be derived from first principles quantum field theory in an expanding background, through a sequence of approximations calling for additional scrutiny. We perform such an analysis, putting particular emphasis on the amplitude of the stochastic noise, which ultimately determines the cosmological correlations and provides a non-perturbative IR regulator to the dynamics.
Analytic results for Sudakov form factors in QCD
Authors: Ebert Markus A.
Published: February 2022

Abstract

Sudakov form factors appear ubiquitously in factorized cross sections where they allow one to resum large logarithms to all orders in perturbation theory. Their exact evaluation requires numerical integrals over anomalous dimensions, which in practice can hamper efficiency. Alternatively, one can use approximate analytic solutions, which provide fast evaluation at the cost of numerical precision and loss of properties such as renormalization group invariance. We provide an exact analytic expression of the QCD Sudakov form factor which allows one to obtain fast and numerically exact results.
Bootstrapping 2d ϕ4 theory with Hamiltonian truncation data
Authors: Chen Hongbin , Fitzpatrick A. Liam , Karateev Denis
Published: February 2022

Abstract

We combine the methods of Hamiltonian Truncation and the recently proposed generalisation of the S-matrix bootstrap that includes local operators to determine the two-particle scattering amplitude and the two-particle form factor of the stress tensor at s > 0 in the 2d ϕ4 theory. We use the form factor of the stress tensor at s ≤ 0 and its spectral density computed using Lightcone Conformal Truncation (LCT), and inject them into the generalized S-matrix bootstrap set-up. The obtained results for the scattering amplitude and the form factor are fully reliable only in the elastic regime. We independently construct the “pure” S-matrix bootstrap bounds (bootstrap without including matrix elements of local operators), and find that the sinh-Gordon model and its analytic continuation the “staircase model” saturate these bounds. Surprisingly, the ϕ4 two-particle scattering amplitude also very nearly saturates these bounds, and moreover is extremely close to that of the sinh-Gordon/staircase model.
Forest logging is associated with shape of males and gynes in the wood ant Formica aquilonia
Authors: Sorvari J. , Haatanen M.-K.
Published: February 2022

Environmental stress can affect individual development and fitness in insects. Forest logging is a serious environmental stress for forest-specialist insects, such as the mound-building wood ant Formica aquilonia Yarrow 1955, which builds its nests into forests and is dependent on the nutrition provided by the forest habitat. We studied whether the logging causes such a strong environmental stress that it would be visible in disproportionate growth and shape of young winged wood ant gynes (‘queens’) and males. We measured head width, thorax width and wing length of 144 gynes and 100 males from 12 nests from six clear-cut areas, 11 nests from unlogged forest stands and 10 nests in clear-cut—forest margins. We observed disproportionate growth of different body parts and allometric growth of wings in both sexes in areas with different logging-induced disturbance. Gynes had larger heads in clear-cut areas and males had narrowest thoraxes in forest clear-cut edges. With an increasing thorax width, the wing length decreases steeper in clear-cuts than in other habitats in gynes and increases steeper in clear-cuts than other habitats in males. It seems that in a strongly disturbed clear-cut environment, the gynes invest the growth of head width. There seems to be a trade-off between the growth of the thorax and wings in gynes but not in males. The altered body shape may be adaptation to clearings caused by storm events of wild fires, but not forest management practices of modern era. Large-headed gynes may be better in a colony take-over, needed for the establishment of new colonies in early succession stage habitats in this temporally social parasitic species. Long-winged males may have better long-range flight ability, and they may thus have better fitness and change to disperse their genes onto new habitats.
Variability in the indication of brain CT scan after mild traumatic brain injury. A transnational survey
Authors: Lagares Alfonso , Castaño-Leon Ana María , Richard Marion , Tsitsopoulos Parmenion Philip , Morales Julian , Mihai Podaru , Pavlov Vladislav , Mejan Odile , de la Cruz Javier , Payen Jean François ,   BRAINI investigators, Maignan Maxime , Jacquin Laurent , Douplat Marion , Laribi Said , Pes Philippe , Ray Patrick , Guenezan Jérémy , Sebbane Mustapha , Balen Frédéric , Durand Guillaume , Abric Cordelia , Lorca María Teresa , Ponce Mariana Garcia , Cuesta Maite , Alén Jose A. F.
Published: February 2022

Purpose

Clinical guidelines have been developed to standardize the management of mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) in the emergency room, in particular the indication of brain CT scan and the use of blood biomarkers. The objective of this study was to determine the degree of adherence to guidelines in the management of these patients across four countries of Southern Europe.

Methods

An electronic survey including structural and general management of mTBI patients and six clinical vignettes was conducted. In-charge physicians from France, Spain, Greece and Portugal were contacted by telephone and email. Differences among countries were searched using an unconditional approach test on contingency tables.

Results

One hundred and eighty eight physicians from 131 Hospitals (78 Spain, 36 France, 12 Greece and 5 Portugal) completed the questionnaire. There were differences regarding the in-charge specialist across these countries. There was variability in the use of guidelines and their adherence. Spain was the country with the least guideline adherence. There was a global agreement in ordering a brain CT for patients receiving anticoagulation or platelet inhibitors, and for patients with seizures, altered consciousness, neurological deficit, clinical signs of skull fracture or signs of facial fracture. Aging was not an indication for CT in French centres. Loss of consciousness and posttraumatic amnesia were considered as indications for CT more frequently in Spain than in France. These findings were in line with the data from the 6 clinical vignettes. The estimated use of CT reached around 50% of mTBI cases. The use of S100B is restricted to five French centres.

Conclusions

There were large variations in the guideline adherence, especially in the situations considered to order brain CT after mTBI.
Quotient of Bergman kernels on punctured Riemann surfaces
Authors: Auvray Hugues , Ma Xiaonan , Marinescu George
Published: February 2022

In this paper we consider a punctured Riemann surface endowed with a Hermitian metric that equals the Poincaré metric near the punctures, and a holomorphic line bundle that polarizes the metric. We introduce a new method to compare the Bergman kernels of high tensor powers of the line bundle and of the Poincaré model near the singularity and show that their quotient tends to one uniformly on a neighborhood of the singularity up to arbitrary negative powers of the tensor power.
Intersections of thick compact sets in $${\mathbb {R}}^d$$
Authors: Falconer Kenneth , Yavicoli Alexia
Published: February 2022

We introduce a definition of thickness in $${\mathbb {R}}^d$$

R

d

and obtain a lower bound for the Hausdorff dimension of the intersection of finitely or countably many thick compact sets using a variant of Schmidt’s game. As an application we prove that given any compact set in $${\mathbb {R}}^d$$

R

d

with thickness $$\tau $$
τ
, there is a number $$N(\tau )$$

N
(
τ
)

such that the set contains a translate of all sufficiently small similar copies of every set in $${\mathbb {R}}^d$$

R

d

with at most $$N(\tau )$$

N
(
τ
)

elements; indeed the set of such translations has positive Hausdorff dimension. We also prove a gap lemma and bounds relating Hausdorff dimension and thickness.
Cytokines and chemokines multiplex analysis in patients with low disease activity rheumatoid arthritis
Authors: Skrzypkowska Maria , Stasiak Mariusz , Sakowska Justyna , Chmiel Joanna , Maciejewska Agata , Buciński Adam , Słomiński Bartosz , Trzonkowski Piotr , Łuczkiewicz Piotr
Published: February 2022

Rheumatoid arthritis is a severe chronic autoimmune disorder that results from pathological activation of immune cells and altered cytokine/chemokine network. The aim of our study was to evaluate concentrations of chosen cytokines and chemokines in blood sera and synovial fluid samples isolated from low disease activity rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients and osteoarthritis (OA) sufferers. Blood sera and synovial fluid samples have been obtained from 24 OA and 14 RA patients. Cytokines/chemokines levels have been determined using a Milliplex®Map 38-plex human cytokine/chemokine magnetic bead-based panel (Merck Millipore, Germany) and Luminex®MAGPIX®platform (Luminex USA). Low disease activity RA patients showed altered concentration of numerous cytokine/chemokine when compared to OA controls—they were characterized by, inter alia, increased: eotaxin/CCL11 (p = 0.037), GRO/CXCL1 (p = 0.037), IL-2 (p = 0.013), IL-4 (p = 0.017), IL-7 (p = 0.003), IL-8 (p = 0.0007) and GM-CSF (p = 0.037) serum levels, whilst MDC/CCL22 concentration was decreased in this group (p = 0.034). Eotaxin/CCL11 (p = 0.001), GRO/CXCL1 (p = 0.041), IL-10 (p = 0.003), GM-CSF (p = 0.01), IL-1RA (p = 0.0005) and VEGF (p = 0.01) concentrations in synovial fluid of RA females were also increased. Even with low disease activity score, RA patients exhibited increased concentrations of cytokines with pro- and anti-inflammatory activities, as well as numerous chemokines, growth factors and regulators of angiogenesis. Surprisingly, RA subjects also shown decreased concentration of CCL22 chemokine. The attempt to restore cytokine balance and tolerogenic environment is ineffective in RA sufferers even with good disease management. Distinguished factors could serve as possible indicators of disease progression even in low disease activity patients.
Partial monovision achieved by unilateral implantation of a multifocal add-on lens with bilateral pseudophakia: evaluation and results
Authors: Knecht Vitus André , Colosi Horaţiu Alexandru , Hassenstein Andrea
Published: February 2022

Purpose

To assess the results of partial monovision (PMV) in comparison to a bilateral monofocal implantation (MMV).

Methods

The PMV group was treated bilaterally with a monofocal intraocular lens (IOL) implantation, followed 3 months later by the implantation of a multifocal AddOn® lens (+ 3.00 D) into the non-dominant eye. The MMV group received a bilateral monofocal IOL implantation intending to achieve a slight anisometropia (0.0 D/ − 0.50 D). The near visual acuity (UNVA), intermediate visual acuity (UIVA), distance visual acuity (UDVA), defocus curve, and Lang-Stereotest II were conducted uncorrected, binocular, and minimum 3 months after the last operation. For the contrast sensitivity test, the patients were refractively corrected. The Quality of Vision Questionnaire (QoV), Visual Function Questionnaire (VF-14), spectacle independence, and general satisfaction were also assessed.

Results

A total of 27 PMV patients and 28 MMV patients without ocular diseases relevant to visual acuity were examined. The PMV group was significantly better at UNVA (0.11 ± 0.08 logMAR vs 0.56 ± 0.16 logMAR) and between − 2.00 and − 4.00 D in the defocus curve (p < 0.001). At the UIVA, the PMV group was slightly better (0.11 ± 0.10 logMAR vs 0.20 ± 0.18 logMAR) but not significant (p = 0.054). The UDVA (− 0.13 ± 0.09 logMAR vs − 0.09 ± 0.14 logMAR) (p = 0.315) and contrast sensitivity (p = 0.667) revealed no differences between the groups. The stereo vision was in favor of PMV (p = 0.008). Spectacle independence was statistically better for PMV at distance, intermediate, and near (distance p = 0.012; intermediate p < 0.001; near p < 0.001). In the VF-14 Questionnaire, the PMV was statistically superior (p < 0.001). The QoV Questionnaire showed no differences regarding frequency and severity of visual disturbances. Both groups were highly satisfied (p = 0.509).

Conclusion

Patients with PMV are more independent of glasses and are able to read without disadvantages in distance vision, due to halos and glare. The concept of PMV is well suited for the desire of eyeglass independence, without optical side effects.
A comparative review of peridynamics and phase-field models for engineering fracture mechanics
Authors: Diehl Patrick , Lipton Robert , Wick Thomas , Tyagi Mayank
Published: February 2022

Computational modeling of the initiation and propagation of complex fracture is central to the discipline of engineering fracture mechanics. This review focuses on two promising approaches: phase-field (PF) and peridynamic (PD) models applied to this class of problems. The basic concepts consisting of constitutive models, failure criteria, discretization schemes, and numerical analysis are briefly summarized for both models. Validation against experimental data is essential for all computational methods to demonstrate predictive accuracy. To that end, the Sandia Fracture Challenge and similar experimental data sets where both models could be benchmarked against are showcased. Emphasis is made to converge on common metrics for the evaluation of these two fracture modeling approaches. Both PD and PF models are assessed in terms of their computational effort and predictive capabilities, with their relative advantages and challenges are summarized.
Unsupervised single image dehazing with generative adversarial network
Authors: Ren Wei , Zhou Li , Chen Jie
Published: February 2022

Most recent learning algorithms for single image dehazing are designed to train with paired hazy and corresponding ground truth images, typically synthesized images. Real paired datasets can help to improve performance, but are tough to acquire. This paper proposes an unsupervised dehazing algorithm based on GAN to alleviate this issue. An end-to-end network based on GAN architecture is established and fed with unpaired clean and hazy images, signifying that the estimation of atmospheric light and transmission is not required. The proposed network consists of three parts: a generator, a global test discriminator, and a local context discriminator. Moreover, a dark channel prior based attention mechanism is applied to handle inconsistency haze. We conduct experiments on RESIDE datasets. Extensive experiments demonstrated the effectiveness of the proposed approach which outperformed previous state-of-the-art unsupervised methods by a large margin.
Emergence in southern France of a new SARS-CoV-2 variant harbouring both N501Y and E484K substitutions in the spike protein
Authors: Colson Philippe , Delerce Jérémy , Burel Emilie , Dahan Jordan , Jouffret Agnès , Fenollar Florence , Yahi Nouara , Fantini Jacques , La Scola Bernard , Raoult Didier
Published: February 2022

SARS-CoV-2 variants have become a major virological, epidemiological, and clinical concern, particularly with regard to the risk of escape from vaccine-induced immunity. Here, we describe the emergence of a new variant, with the index case returning from travel in Cameroon. For 13 SARS-CoV-2-positive patients living in the same geographical area of southeastern France, a qPCR test for screening variant-associated mutations showed an atypical combination. The genome sequences were obtained by next-generation sequencing with Oxford Nanopore Technologies on GridION instruments within about 8 h. Analysis revealed 46 nucleotide substitutions and 37 deletions, resulting in 30 amino acid substitutions and 12 deletions. Fourteen of the amino acid substitutions, including N501Y and E484K, and nine deletions are located in the spike protein. This genotype pattern led to the establishment of a new Pangolin lineage, named B.1.640.2, that is a phylogenetic sister group to the old B.1.640 lineage, which has now been renamed B.1.640.1. The lineages differ by 25 nucleotide substitutions and 33 deletions. The combination of mutations in these isolates and their phylogenetic position indicate, based on our previous definition, that they represent a new variant, which we have named “IHU”. These data are a further example of the unpredictability of the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants, and of their possible introduction into a given geographical area from abroad.