bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Recurrent erosion of COA1/MITRAC15 exemplifies conditional gene dispensability in oxidative phosphorylation
Authors: Shinde Sagar Sharad , Sharma Sandhya , Teekas Lokdeep , Sharma Ashutosh , Vijay Nagarjun 
Published: December 2021

AbstractSkeletal muscle fibers rely upon either oxidative phosphorylation or the glycolytic pathway with much less reliance on oxidative phosphorylation to achieve muscular contractions that power mechanical movements. Species with energy-intensive adaptive traits that require sudden bursts of energy have a greater dependency on glycolytic fibers. Glycolytic fibers have decreased reliance on OXPHOS and lower mitochondrial content compared to oxidative fibers. Hence, we hypothesized that gene loss might have occurred within the OXPHOS pathway in lineages that largely depend on glycolytic fibers. The protein encoded by the COA1/MITRAC15 gene with conserved orthologs found in budding yeast to humans promotes mitochondrial translation. We show that gene disrupting mutations have accumulated within the COA1 gene in the cheetah, several species of galliform birds, and rodents. The genomic region containing COA1 is a well-established evolutionary breakpoint region in mammals. Careful inspection of genome assemblies of closely related species of rodents and marsupials suggests two independent COA1 gene loss events co-occurring with chromosomal rearrangements. Besides recurrent gene loss events, we document changes in COA1 exon structure in primates and felids. The detailed evolutionary history presented in this study reveals the intricate link between skeletal muscle fiber composition and the occasional dispensability of the chaperone-like role of the COA1 gene.
The value of lateral flow urine lipoarabinomannan assay and empirical treatment in Xpert MTB/RIF ultra negative patients with presumptive TB: a prospective cohort study
Authors: Kebede Wakjira , Abebe Gemeda , Gudina Esayas Kebede , Van Rie Annelies 
Published: December 2021

AbstractThe value of Lateral Flow urine Lipoarabinomannan (LF-LAM) assay and the role of empiric tuberculosis (TB) treatment in the era of the highly sensitive Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra (Xpert Ultra) assay is unclear. This study aimed to assess the additional yield of LF-LAM assay when used in combination with Xpert Ultra, and the role of empiric TB treatment when Xpert Ultra used as the initial diagnostic in presumptive TB cases admitted to a tertiary hospital in Ethiopia. We performed a secondary analysis of a cohort of hospitalized Xpert MTB/RIF-negative patients. Sputum samples were examined for Mycobacterium tuberculosis by culture and Xpert Ultra. In HIV positive and severely ill patients, a urine sample was collected for the LF-LAM assay. Treatment outcome was assessed six months after enrollment. Logistic regression was used to identify factors predictive of deaths among Xpert Ultra negative patients. The Xpert Ultra assay diagnosed 31 of the 35 culture positive among the 250 hospitalized Xpert MTB/RIF-negative participants. The LF-LAM assay did not identify any case not detected by Xpert Ultra among the 52 (21.4%) participants living with HIV and the 16 patients with severe disease. Among Xpert Ultra negative patients, those who received empirical TB treatment had a similar odds of death (aOR 0.74, 95% CI: 0.1–2.7) as those not started on TB treatment. Low body mass index (≤ 18.5 kg/m2) was the only significant predictor of death in Xpert Ultra negative patients (aOR 4. 0, 95% CI: 1.08–14.6). In this prospective cohort, LF-LAM did not improve the diagnostic yield when used in combination with Xpert Ultra. Empiric TB treatment for Xpert Ultra negative presumptive TB cases was not associated with death at six months. Future studies in diverse settings should be to determine the optimal management of Xpert Ultra negative patients.
Modulation of the NLRP3 inflammasome by Sars-CoV-2 Envelope protein
Authors: Yalcinkaya Mustafa , Liu Wenli , Islam Mohammad N. , Kotini Andriana G. , Gusarova Galina A. , Fidler Trevor P. , Papapetrou Eirini P. , Bhattacharya Jahar , Wang Nan , Tall Alan R. 
Published: December 2021

AbstractDespite the initial success of some drugs and vaccines targeting COVID-19, understanding the mechanism underlying SARS-CoV-2 disease pathogenesis remains crucial for the development of further approaches to treatment. Some patients with severe Covid-19 experience a cytokine storm and display evidence of inflammasome activation leading to increased levels of IL-1β and IL-18; however, other reports have suggested reduced inflammatory responses to Sars-Cov-2. In this study we have examined the effects of the Sars-Cov-2 envelope (E) protein, a virulence factor in coronaviruses, on inflammasome activation and pulmonary inflammation. In cultured macrophages the E protein suppressed inflammasome priming and NLRP3 inflammasome activation. Similarly, in mice transfected with E protein and treated with poly(I:C) to simulate the effects of viral RNA, the E protein, in an NLRP3-dependent fashion, reduced expression of pro-IL-1β, levels of IL-1β and IL-18 in broncho-alveolar lavage fluid, and macrophage infiltration in the lung. To simulate the effects of more advanced infection, macrophages were treated with both LPS and poly(I:C). In this setting the E protein increased NLRP3 inflammasome activation in both murine and human macrophages. Thus, the Sars-Cov-2 E protein may initially suppress the host NLRP3 inflammasome response to viral RNA while potentially increasing NLRP3 inflammasome responses in the later stages of infection. Targeting the Sars-Cov-2 E protein especially in the early stages of infection may represent a novel approach to Covid-19 therapy.
Mimicking B and T cell epitopes between Mycobacterium leprae and host as predictive biomarkers in type 1 reaction in leprosy
Authors: Pathak Vinay Kumar , Singh Itu , Singh Shoor Vir , Sengupta Utpal 
Published: December 2021

AbstractSeveral Mycobacterial infections including leprosy and tuberculosis are known to evoke autoimmune responses by modulating homeostatic mechanism of the host. Presence of autoantibodies like, rheumatoid factor, anti-nuclear factor and antibodies to host, collagen, keratin, myelin basic protein (MBP) and myosin, have been earlier reported in leprosy patients. In the present study, we detected the role of mimicking epitopes between Mycobacterium leprae and host components in the induction of autoimmune response in leprosy. Based on our previous findings, we predicted and synthesized a total of 15 mimicking linear B cell epitopes (BCE) and 9 mimicking linear T cell epitopes (TCE) of keratin and MBP. Humoral and cell-mediated immune responses against these epitopes were investigated in Non-reaction (NR), Type 1 reaction (T1R) leprosy patients, and healthy controls. We observed significantly higher levels of antibodies against 8 BCE in T1R in comparison to NR leprosy patients. Further, we also found 5 TCE significantly associated with lymphocyte proliferation in the T1R group. Our results indicated that these epitopes play a key role in the induction of autoimmune response in leprosy and are also strongly associated with the inflammatory episodes of T1R. Conclusively, these molecules may be employed as a biomarker to predict the inflammatory episodes of T1R.
A subspace regenerating code with minimum decoding bandwidth
Authors: Liu Yantao , Qin Na 
Published: December 2021

AbstractHollmann built a theoretical framework for subspace regenerating storage code. In this framework, a storage node is equipped with a constant dimension subspace chosen from an overall message space . The projection of user message on the subspace is stored on the corresponding node. A subspace code needs to fulfil decoding and repairing functionality. The framework stipulates the property for subspace storage code, but a simple implementable construction is still missing. To decrease the complexity of code design as well as encoding and decoding, this article proposed a subspace code implementation over F2 with the parameters of . It is proved theoretically the code is characterized by minimum decoding bandwidth, minimum storage, and exact repair. Still, the code is explicit, feasible and lightweight. A series of examples are given to elucidate the encoding, decoding and repairing procedures, which show in cases of m ≤ 5, the code could achieve high repair efficiency by combining with network coding.
Block‐sparse recovery network for two‐dimensional harmonic retrieval
Authors: Fu Rong , Huang Tianyao , Wang Lei , Liu Yimin 
Published: December 2021

AbstractBlock‐sparse signals, whose non‐zero entries appear in clusters, have received much attention recently. An unfolded network, named Ada‐BlockLISTA, was proposed to recover a block‐sparse signal at a small computational cost, which learns an individual weight matrix for each block. However, as the number of network parameters is increasingly associated with the number of blocks, the demand for parameter reduction becomes very significant, especially for large‐scale multidimensional harmonic retrieval (MHR) problems. Based on the dictionary characteristics in two‐dimensional (2D) harmonic retrieve problems, the authors introduce a weight coupling structure to shrink Ada‐BlockLISTA, which significantly reduces the number of weights without performance degradation. In simulations, the proposed block‐sparse reconstruction network, named AdaBLISTA‐CP, shows excellent recovery performance with a smaller number of learned parameters.
Data‐driven cooperative load frequency control method for microgrids using effective exploration‐distributed multi‐agent deep reinforcement learning
Authors: Li Jiawen , Yang Shengchun , Yu Tao 
Published: December 2021

AbstractTo reduce the total power generation cost and improve the frequency stability of an island microgrid integrating renewable energy generation sources, a data‐driven cooperative load frequency control (DC‐LFC) method is proposed for solving the coordination control problem occurring between the controller and power distributor of the system. A novel algorithm, termed the effective exploration‐distributed multiagent twin‐delayed deep deterministic policy gradient (EED‐MATD3) algorithm, is further proposed, the design of which is structured based on the concepts of imitation learning, ensemble learning, and curriculum learning. The EED‐MATD3 method employs various exploration strategies, and the controller and power distributor are treated as two agents. Through centralized training and decentralized execution, a robust cooperative control strategy is realized. The performance of the proposed algorithm is verified in an LFC model of Zhuhai Tandang Island, an island microgrid in the China Southern Power Grid.
Exergy optimization of a multi‐stage solar micro‐cogeneration system
Authors: Kallio Sonja , Siroux Monica 
Published: December 2021

AbstractThis paper proposes a dynamic model of a solar‐based micro‐cogeneration system called photovoltaic‐thermal (PVT) collector to perform a design optimization of the multi‐stage PVT system. The parametric study reveals the most important design parameters influencing the water‐based flat‐plate PVT system performance. The analysis also shows an existing trade‐off between thermal and electrical efficiencies during the PVT operation. A novel exergy‐based multi‐objective design optimization method is demonstrated to find a trade‐off design solution of the multi‐stage PVT collector which compromises between the electrical and thermal exergy efficiencies under different weather conditions. The electrical and thermal exergy efficiencies are defined to be the objective functions of the Matlab gamultiobj‐function, which is a multi‐objective evolutionary algorithm using non‐dominated sorting genetic algorithm‐II (NSGA‐II). As a result of the algorithm, the Pareto optimal sets were derived that revealed the optimal solutions taking into account the trade‐off nature of the optimization problem. The decision‐making method called an ideal point method was used in the decision‐making process to find the final optimal solutions for different weather conditions. The results revealed that the optimal number of the PVT collectors in series depended on the weather conditions and decreased from 3 to 2 if the conditions got cooler.
A three‐dimensional physical model for calculating the corona onset voltage of a large‐diameter alternating‐current shielding ball under different ambient conditions
Authors: Huang Shilong , Yan Xiaoliang , Liu Yunpeng , Zhang Yuqing , Quan Shanshan , Tang Jian , Liu Chen , Li Yongshuang 
Published: December 2021

AbstractFor an alternating‐current (AC) shielding ball with a large radius of curvature, a three‐dimensional (3‐d) physical model for the corona onset voltage (COV) of the large‐diameter shielding ball under different ambient conditions was established according to numerical calculation in concert with the theory governing gas discharge. At first, distribution of the spatial 3‐d electric field around the shielding ball was calculated by using the ring charge simulation method. Then, a calculation criterion suitable for the COV of the shielding ball was derived and the area factor of the geometric absorption function for photons applicable to such structures was proposed in detail based on the theory of secondary photoelectron emission. Moreover, tests on COVs of shielding balls with different diameters were conducted in an extra‐high voltage (EHV) AC test‐base. The test results show that the model was found to show a favourable effect in calculating the COV of a large‐diameter shielding ball under different ambient conditions. Finally, in combination with the thickness of the ionosphere and effective ionization coefficient, the influence and mechanism of action of various parameters (such as atmospheric pressure, humidity, and temperature) on the COV of the shielding ball were investigated.
Joint dictionary and deep learning for cosparse recovery of the millimeter wave massive MIMO channels
Authors: Hajjaj Moufida 
Published: December 2021

AbstractThe channel estimation (CE) for millimeter wave (mmW) massive multiple input multiple output (mMIMO) is a challenging task because of the important number of transmit and receive antennas, which results in high pilot overhead. In conventional CE algorithms, the channel is modeled using pre‐constructed dictionary. This often leads to a suboptimal solution which cannot guarantee CE accuracy. In this paper, an iterative two‐stage CE algorithm is presented. In the first stage, training measurements under different conditions are collected and it is proposed to estimate the virtual sparse mmW mMIMO channel using a deep residual learning based orthogonal approximate message passing (DRL‐OAMP) algorithm from these measurements. The estimated channel is used in the second stage to learn the dictionary via a projected gradient algorithm. Simulation results show that the proposal improves the CE accuracy with low pilot overhead.
Primary and Secondary Prevention of CAD: A Review
Authors: Short Lindsay , La Van T. , Patel Mandira , Pai Ramdas G. 
Published: December 2021

AbstractCoronary artery disease is the leading cause of death in both men and women, yet adequate control of risk factors can largely reduce the incidence and recurrence of cardiac events. In this review, we discuss various life style and pharmacological measures for both the primary and secondary prevention of coronary artery disease. With a clear understanding of management options, health care providers have an excellent opportunity to educate patients and ameliorate a significant burden of morbidity and mortality.
SARS-CoV-2 Virus Infection-Related Arterial Thromboembolism Leading to Critical Limb Ischemia and Amputation
Authors: Smith Jenna , Mirza Aleem , Manunga Jesse , Skeik Nedaa 
Published: December 2021

AbstractCOVID-19 infection has been shown to increase risk for thromboembolism. With most studies reporting mainly venous thromboembolic events, there is a lack of literature regarding the incidence of arterial thromboses in patients with COVID-19 infection. We report a dramatic case of a 55-year-old male with confirmed COVID-19 infection who presented with acute left critical limb ischemia leading to amputation as a result of thromboembolism from a distal abdominal aortic thrombus. Our case report contributes to the limited body of literature on COVID-19-related arterial thromboembolism. The patient consented to publish this case.
Does Proximal Row Carpectomy Improve Union in Wrist Arthrodesis? A Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Bartoletta John J. , Rioux-Forker Dana , Patel Raahil S. , Hinchcliff Katharine M. , Shin Alexander Y. , Rhee Peter C. 
Published: December 2021

Abstract
Background Some surgeons advocate for concomitant proximal row carpectomy (PRC) with total wrist arthrodesis (TWA), though there are limited data to support or oppose this view.
Questions/Purposes Does concomitant PRC improve rates of union, revision, hardware loosening, hardware failure, and hardware removal in TWA?
Patients and Methods A retrospective cohort study of patients who underwent TWA with and without concomitant PRC between January 2008 and December 2018 was undertaken. Patients were included if they underwent TWA using a dorsal spanning plate. Patients were excluded if they underwent partial wrist arthrodesis, revision TWA, or TWA with nondorsal spanning plate fixation.
Results A total of 183 wrists in 180 patients were included in the study, 96 (52.5%) in the TWA only and 87 (47.5%) in the TWA + PRC groups. Median clinical and radiographic follow-up was 18.0 months (3.0–133.0 months) in the TWA + PRC group and 18.5 months (2.0–126.0 months) in the TWA only group (p = 0.907). No difference in nonunion (TWA + PRC: 13/87 [14.9%], TWA only: 18/96 [18.8%], odds ratio: 0.76, p = 0.494), revision (TWA + PRC: 5/87 [5.75%], TWA only: 8/96 [8.33%], hazard ratio [HR]: 0.73, p = 0.586), loosening (TWA + PRC: 4/87 [4.60%], TWA only: 6/96 [6.25%], HR: 0.74, p = 0.646), failure (TWA + PRC: 5/87 [5.75%], TWA only: 4/96 [4.17%], HR: 1.55, p = 0.530), and removal (TWA + PRC: 12/87 [13.8%], TWA only: 16/96 [16.7%], HR: 0.84, p = 0.634) were identified.
Conclusion Concomitant PRC might not improve rates of union or diminish complications in patient undergoing TWA. The role of PRC and the rationale for its use in TWA need to be individualized and discussed with patients prior to surgery.
Level of Evidence This is a Level IV, therapeutic study.
Different Doses of Intravenous Tranexamic Acid in Revision Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Retrospective Study
Authors: Chen Liyile , Zhao Chenchen , Luo Yue , Wang Qiuru , Li Qianhao , Kang Pengde 
Published: December 2021

Abstract
Purpose This article assessed the efficacy and safety of different doses of intravenous tranexamic acid (TXA) in revision total knee arthroplasty (TKA).
Methods We retrospectively identified 122 patients in our institution who underwent revision TKA with a history of perioperative intravenous TXA utilization. According to the sum of intravenous TXA documented, all patients were divided into three groups: 1 g intravenous TXA, 2 g intravenous TXA, and equal or greater than 3 g intravenous TXA. The primary outcomes included total blood loss (TBL), hidden blood loss (HBL), transfusion rate, and the incidence of symptomatic venous thromboembolism among the three groups. A correlation analysis was conducted to analyze the correlation between the dose of TXA and the blood loss.
Results In total, there was no significance difference in TBL and revised HBL (rHBL) between the first two groups (1 g/dL for intravenous TXA, 2 g/dL for intravenous TXA; p = 0.486; p = 0.525). Equal or greater than 3 g intravenous TXA (≥3 g/dL for intravenous TXA) reached a significant reduction in TBL, rHBL, and length of stay compared with the first two groups (p = 0.01; p = 0.01; p = 0.01). The rate of transfusion between the three groups did not differ significantly (p = 0.21). Due to the limitations in sample size, only one symptomatic venous thromboembolism was reported in the 1 g intravenous TXA group.
Conclusion Applying the dose of intravenous TXA equal or greater than 3 g in revision TKA might further reduce the blood loss and shorten the length of stay.
Are All Unloader Braces Created Equal? Recommendations for Evidence-Based Implementation of Unloader Braces for Patients with Unicompartmental Knee OA
Authors: Rucinski Kylee , Williams Jonathan , Crecelius Cory R. , Redington Lindsey , Guess Trent M. , Cook James L. 
Published: December 2021

AbstractUnicompartmental knee osteoarthritis (UKOA) is a complex issue that is estimated to affect roughly 28% of patients with knee OA, and can result in severe cartilage degeneration, meniscus deficiency, and concomitant varus or valgus malalignment. This malalignment results in abnormally high joint reaction forces in the affected compartment, which can elicit pain, cause dysfunction, and exacerbate joint degradation. For more than two decades, the use of knee unloader braces has been advocated as a cost-effective option for symptomatic management of UKOA.During bipedal ambulation with a normal lower extremity mechanical axis, ground reaction forces create a knee adduction moment (KAM) such that the medial compartment of the knee experiences approximately 60% of joint loading and the lateral compartment experiences approximately 40% of joint loading. UKOA disrupts the mechanical axis, altering KAM and joint loading and causing pain, dysfunction, and disease progression. In theory, knee unloader braces were designed to mitigate the symptoms of UKOA by normalizing KAM via shifts in the lever arms about the knee. However, studies vary, and suggest that push-mechanism knee unloaders do not consistently provide significant biomechanical benefits for medial or lateral UKOA. Current evidence suggests that pull-mechanism unloaders may be more effective, though contrasting data have also been reported, such that further validation is necessary. The purpose of our study was to synthesize current best evidence for use of knee unloader braces for management of UKOA to suggest evidence-based best practices as well as gaps in knowledge to target for future studies. Unloader bracing for patients with UKOA appears to be a cost-effective treatment option for patients with medial UKOA who have insurance coverage. Pull-mechanism unloader bracing should be considered in conjunction with other nonoperative management therapies for those who are willing to adhere to consistent brace use for weight-bearing activities.
Industrial-scale production of high-quality graphene sheets by millstone grinders
Authors: Lv Peng , Li Xiaoshi , Zhang Zihan , Nie Biao , Wu Yiliang , Deng Ningqin , Tian He , Ren Tian-Ling , Wang Guanzhong 
Published: December 2021

Abstract
Graphene exhibits a variety of unprecedented innate properties and has sparked great interest in both fundamental science and regarding prospective commercial applications. To meet the ever-increasing demand for high-quality graphene sheets, an industrial-scale, reliable, environmental-friendly, low-cost production process is required. However, large-scale production high quality graphene remains elusive. Here we demonstrate a scalable mechanical cleavage method for large-quantity production of high quality large-area and few-layer graphene sheets by introducing a millstone grinding process. The average thickness of the graphene sheets is around 5 nm. This procedure is simpler than the state-of-the-art methods that allows for scalable preparation of graphene dispersion in hundreds of litres by mechanical cleavage of graphite, and the yield is 30%–40%. The size of the prepared graphene sheets can be tuneable from few micrometers to tens of micrometers by varying the dimension of raw graphite, which is larger than that produced by the state-of-the-art methods. Moreover, comparing to conductive agents, the conductivity of wafers containing graphene can be increased by one order of magnitude, suggesting a high potential of the prepared graphene sheets for the application as conductive agent in lithium battery cathodes. This allows the requirements of different sizes graphene sheets for industry applications in different fields.