bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A model for physical dislocation transmission through grain boundaries and its implementation in a discrete dislocation dynamics tool
Authors: Stricker M. , Weygand D. 
Published: May 2024

AbstractThe mechanical behavior of most metals in engineering applications is dominated by the grain size. Physics-based models of the interaction between dislocations and the grain boundary are important to correctly predict the plastic deformation behavior of polycrystalline materials. Dislocation-grain boundary interaction is complex and a challenge to model. We present a model for simulating the physical transmission of dislocations through grain boundaries within Discrete Dislocation Dynamics tools. The properties (glide plane, Burgers vector, initial length) of the transmitted dislocation are chosen based on geometric criteria as well as a maximization of the resolved shear stress of the transmitted dislocation. Additionally, stress and displacement transparency as well as the discontinuity are ensured via a grain boundary dislocation – a butterfly-like geometry in the general case – whose properties are selected to minimize the residual Burgers vector at the interface. This additional ‘grain boundary dislocation’ allows a direct comparison as well as a calibration of the model with experiments on the macroscale particularly for neighboring grains with a high dislocation density contrast. Two basic examples illustrate the model and an application to a 40-grain polycrystal demonstrates the scalability of the approach.
Estimating the expression levels of genes controlling biofilm formation and evaluating the effects of different conditions on biofilm formation and secreted aspartic proteinase activity in Candida albicans and Saccharomyces cerevisiae: a comparative study
Authors: Sobieh Shaimaa S. , Elshazly Rowida G. , Tawab Sahar A. , Zaki Sanaa S. 
Published: May 2024

Abstract
Background
Characterization of yeast virulence genes is an important tool for identifying the molecular pathways involved in switching yeast virulence. Biofilm formation (BF) and secreted aspartic proteinase (SAP) activity are essential virulence factors that contribute to yeast pathogenicity.

Results
Four Candida albicans and two Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains were tested for BF and SAP activity under optimum conditions, and the expression levels of several genes controlling BF were quantified under the optimal conditions. Biofilm formation was assessed by the microplate method at different pH values, incubation times and culture media. Similarly, SAP activity was assessed at different pH values and incubation periods. The expression levels of nine genes were determined via qRT-PCR technique. All tests were carried out in triplicate, and the values presented as the means ± standard deviations and were analysed with the SPSS programme. Only C. albicans (1), C. albicans (2) and S. cerevisiae 43 formed biofilms. The optimal BF was obtained after culture in sabouraud dextrose broth with 8% glucose at pH 7.5, 4 and 6, respectively, for 48h. Candida albicans biofilm production was more significant than that of S. cerevisiae 43. Moreover, the SAP activity was estimated under the optimum conditions. All yeasts showed optimal SAP activity at pH 4, but astonishingly the SAP activity of S. cerevisiae 44 was higher than that of C. albicans. The expression levels of EFG1 and ZAP1 (transcription factors); ALS3, HWP1and YWP1 (adhesion genes); SAP1 and SAP4 (aspartic proteinase) in C. albicans (1); and FLO11 (adhesion gene) and YPS3 (aspartic proteinase) in S. cerevisiae 43 were quantified during biofilm development at different time intervals. The expression levels of EFG1, ALS3, YWP1, SAP1, SAP4, FLO11 and YPS3 were upregulated at 8 h, while that of ZAP1 was upregulated at 48 h. Only HWP1 was downregulated.

Conclusions
The findings of the present study may provide information for overcoming yeast BF and pathogenicity by regulating specific genes at specific times. Additionally, this study revealed the virulence of the commensal S. cerevisiae, which may take the pathogenicity direction as C. albicans.
Simplified Risk Stratification Model for Patients With Waldenström Macroglobulinemia
Authors: Zanwar Saurabh , Le-Rademacher Jennifer , Durot Eric , D’Sa Shirley , Abeykoon Jithma P. , Mondello Patrizia , Kumar Shaji , Sarosiek Shayna , Paludo Jonas , Chhabra Saurabh , Cook Joselle M. , Parrondo Ricardo , Dispenzieri Angela , Gonsalves Wilson I. , Muchtar Eli , Ailawadhi Sikandar , Kyle Robert A. , Rajkumar S. Vincent , Delmer Alain , Fonseca Rafael , Gertz Morie A. , Treon Steven P. , Ansell Stephen M. , Castillo Jorge J. , Kapoor Prashant 
Published: May 2024

PURPOSE Patients with Waldenström macroglobulinemia (WM) have disparate outcomes. Newer therapies have emerged since the development of International Prognostic Scoring System, and MYD88 L265P mutation is now frequently assessed at diagnosis, warranting reexamination of the prognostic parameters. PATIENTS AND METHODS We reviewed records of 889 treatment-naïve patients with active WM, consecutively seen between January 01, 1996, and December 31, 2017, to identify clinical predictors of overall survival (OS) in univariate analyses. Patients with complete data for the parameters significant on the univariate analyses (n = 341) were included in a multivariable analysis to derive a prognostic model, subsequently validated in a multi-institutional cohort. RESULTS In the derivation cohort (n = 341), age (hazard ratio [HR], 1.9 [95% CI, 1.2 to 2.1]; P = .0009), serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) above upper limit of normal (HR, 2.3 [95% CI, 1.3 to 4.5]; P = .007), and serum albumin <3.5 g/dL (HR, 1.5 [95% CI, 0.99 to 2.3]; P = .056) were independently prognostic. By assigning a score of 1 point each to albumin <3.5 g/dL (HR, 1.5) and age 66-75 years (HR 1.4) and 2 points for age >75 years (HR, 2.6) or elevated LDH (HR, 2.3), four groups with distinct outcomes were observed on the basis of the composite scores. Five-year OS was 93% for the low-risk (score 0), 82% for low-intermediate risk (score 1), 69% for intermediate-risk (score 2), and 55% for the high-risk (score ≥3; P < .0001) groups. In the validation cohort (N = 335), the model maintained its prognostic value, with a 5-year OS of 93%, 90%, 75%, and 57% for the four groups, respectively ( P < .0001). CONCLUSION Modified Staging System for WM (MSS-WM), utilizing age, albumin, and LDH is a simple, clinically useful, and externally validated prognostic model that reliably risk-stratifies patients with symptomatic WM into four groups with distinct prognosis.
Low Bone Mineral Density as a Predictor of Mortality and Infections in Stroke Patients: A Hospital-Based Study
Authors: Tsai Yu-Lin , Chuang Ya-Chi , Cheng Yuan-Yang , Deng Ya-Lian , Lin Shih-Yi , Hsu Chun-Sheng 
Published: May 2024

Abstract

Context
Low bone mineral density (BMD) has been linked to elevated risks of mortality and infections in the general population; however, its association with these outcomes in stroke patients remains unclear.

Objective
This study aims to investigate the correlation between low BMD and risks of mortality and infections among stroke patients in a Taiwanese cohort.

Methods
In this single-center retrospective cohort study, 905 stroke patients from a Taiwanese database (2000-2022) were analyzed. Patients were grouped based on BMD measurements of the femur and spine. The primary outcome was all-cause mortality, and secondary outcomes included urinary tract infection (UTI) and pneumonia. Accelerated failure time regression model analyses evaluated the association between BMD and these outcomes, while the Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank test assessed survival differences between groups.

Results
Among the participants (average age 76.1 years, 70.5% female), 33.82% had osteopenia and 55.25% had osteoporosis. Stroke patients with lower spine and right femur BMD had significantly reduced survival rates, especially when the BMD value fell below 0.842 g/cm2 (spine), and 0.624 g/cm2 (right femur), respectively. Regarding secondary outcomes, lower spine BMD was significantly associated with an increased risk of UTI.

Conclusion
Low BMD, particularly in the femur and spine, is a significant predictor of mortality and UTI in stroke patients. These findings highlight the importance of assessing and managing BMD in stroke patients to improve outcomes and reduce complications.
Mapping Thyroid Changes in Size and Position During Enlargement in Adult Mice With Hyperthyroidism
Authors: Li Zhongmin , Wenhart Clara , Reimann Andreas , Goebel Silvia , Cho Yi-Li , Muench Goetz 
Published: May 2024

Abstract
The thyroid in Graves’ disease undergoes a considerable divergence in size and position from the normal anatomy. However, knowledge of the pathological anatomy related to the change, which is required before planned surgical or local intervention, or diagnosis, is neglected. To investigate Graves’ disease, we established a model of mice that successfully mimicked all the signs presented in the clinic. Under a long-term immunization (35 weeks), the animals displayed large heterogeneity in thyroid size, such as the cases of natural occurrence. These thyroids in the model were sized into various phases and registered. A blend of the registered thyroids and the thyroid and tracheal cartilage landmarks led to the production of site-dependent incidence graphs of thyroid in the front view and on the section for each phase. The merger of the incidence graphs of all the phases resulted in thyroid phase-dependent topography. The depicted graphs illustrate the fine localization of the thyroid in various sizes and their dynamic changes during enlargement, which may facilitate currently used fine-needle aspiration biopsy and ultrasonography-guided biopsy techniques. Familiarity with this knowledge might avoid misclassifying an abnormality as normal, or vice versa, and be helpful for imaging diagnosis and local surgery therapy in Graves’ disease.
Staged Versus Same-Day Surgery in Circumferential Minimally Invasive Deformity Correction
Authors: Kolcun John Paul G. , Fessler Richard G. , Nunley Pierce D. , Eastlack Robert K. , Mummaneni Praveen V. , Okonkwo David O. , Uribe Juan S. , Fu Kai-Ming , Wang Michael Y. , Kanter Adam S. , Anand Neel , Mundis Gregory M. , Passias Peter G. , Chou Dean 
Published: May 2024

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES:
We sought to compare long-term clinical and radiographic outcomes in patients who underwent staged vs same-day circumferential minimally invasive surgery (cMIS) for adult spinal deformity (ASD).

METHODS:
We reviewed staged and same-day cMIS ASD cases in a prospective multi-institution database to compare preoperative and 2-year clinical and radiographic parameters between cohorts.

RESULTS:
A total of 85 patients with a 2-year follow-up were identified (27 staged, 58 same-day). Staged patients had more extensive surgeries and greater hospital length of stay (all P < .001). There were no significant differences in preoperative or 2-year postoperative clinical metrics between cohorts. Patients in the staged cohort also had greater preoperative coronal deformity and thus experienced greater reduction in coronal deformity at 2 years (all P < .01).

CONCLUSION:
Patients undergoing staged or same-day cMIS correction had similar outcomes at 2 years postoperatively. Staged cMIS ASD correction may be more appropriate in patients with greater deformity, higher frailty, and who require longer, more extensive surgeries.
A small-molecule TrkB ligand improves dendritic spine phenotypes and atypical behaviors in female Rett syndrome mice
Authors: Medeiros Destynie , Ayala-Baylon Karen , Egido-Betancourt Hailey , Miller Eric , Chapleau Christopher , Robinson Holly , Phillips Mary L. , Yang Tao , Longo Frank M. , Li Wei , Pozzo-Miller Lucas 
Published: May 2024

ABSTRACT
Rett syndrome (RTT) is a neurodevelopmental disorder caused by mutations in MECP2, which encodes methyl-CpG-binding protein 2, a transcriptional regulator of many genes, including brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). BDNF levels are lower in multiple brain regions of Mecp2-deficient mice, and experimentally increasing BDNF levels improve atypical phenotypes in Mecp2 mutant mice. Due to the low blood-brain barrier permeability of BDNF itself, we tested the effects of LM22A-4, a brain-penetrant, small-molecule ligand of the BDNF receptor TrkB (encoded by Ntrk2), on dendritic spine density and form in hippocampal pyramidal neurons and on behavioral phenotypes in female Mecp2 heterozygous (HET) mice. A 4-week systemic treatment of Mecp2 HET mice with LM22A-4 restored spine volume in MeCP2-expressing neurons to wild-type (WT) levels, whereas spine volume in MeCP2-lacking neurons remained comparable to that in neurons from female WT mice. Female Mecp2 HET mice engaged in aggressive behaviors more than WT mice, the levels of which were reduced to WT levels by the 4-week LM22A-4 treatment. These data provide additional support to the potential usefulness of novel therapies not only for RTT but also to other BDNF-related disorders.
Modulation of prey capture kinematics in relation to prey distance helps predict success
Authors: Oufiero Christopher E. , Garikipati Lohitashwa , McMillan Elizabeth , Katherine Sullivan Mary , Turnbaugh Ryan 
Published: May 2024

ABSTRACT
Predators are not perfect, as some of their prey capture attempts result in failure. Successful attempts may be partly due to predators modulating their capture kinematics in relation to variation in the visual cues of the prey to increase the probability of success. In praying mantises, which have been suggested to possess stereoscopic vision, variation in prey distance has been shown to elicit variation in the probability of an attempt. However, it remains to be examined whether variation in prey distance results in mantises modulating their attempt to successfully capture prey. The goals of this study were to examine these relationships using the praying mantis system. Using 11 adult female Sphodromantis lineola, we recorded 192 prey capture attempts at 1000 Hz with two cameras to examine the 3D kinematics of successful and unsuccessful prey capture attempts. Using a combination of principal component analysis (PCA) and logistic regression, our results show that as prey distance increases, mantises adjust through greater and faster expansion of the forelegs and body (PC1), which significantly predicts capture success. However, PC1 only explains 22% of the variation in all prey capture attempts, suggesting that the other components may be related to additional aspects of the prey. Our results suggest that the distances at which mantises prefer to attempt to capture prey may be the result of their greater probability of successfully capturing the prey. These results highlight the range of motions mantises use when attempting to capture prey, suggesting flexibility in their prey capture attempts in relation to prey position.
Pigeonhole Design: Balancing Sequential Experiments from an Online Matching Perspective
Authors: Zhao Jinglong , Zhou Zijie 
Published: May 2024

Practitioners and academics have long appreciated the benefits of covariate balancing when they conduct randomized experiments. For web-facing firms running online A/B tests, however, it still remains challenging in balancing covariate information when experimental subjects arrive sequentially. In this paper, we study an online experimental design problem, which we refer to as the online blocking problem. In this problem, experimental subjects with heterogeneous covariate information arrive sequentially and must be immediately assigned into either the control or the treated group. The objective is to minimize the total discrepancy, which is defined as the minimum weight perfect matching between the two groups. To solve this problem, we propose a randomized design of experiment, which we refer to as the pigeonhole design. The pigeonhole design first partitions the covariate space into smaller spaces, which we refer to as pigeonholes, and then, when the experimental subjects arrive at each pigeonhole, balances the number of control and treated subjects for each pigeonhole. We analyze the theoretical performance of the pigeonhole design and show its effectiveness by comparing against two well-known benchmark designs: the matched-pair design and the completely randomized design. We identify scenarios when the pigeonhole design demonstrates more benefits over the benchmark design. To conclude, we conduct extensive simulations using Yahoo! data to show a 10.2% reduction in variance if we use the pigeonhole design to estimate the average treatment effect. This paper was accepted by George Shanthikumar, data science. Supplemental Material: The online appendix and data files are available at https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2023.02184 .
Platelet Rich Plasma Therapy in the Osteoarthritis of The Knee
Authors: Agarwal A , Agarwal V.K , Mehta R , Narula R 
Published: May 2024

Introduction:
Osteoarthritis (OA), with prevalence as high as 17 to 60.6%, is estimated to be the fourth leading cause of disability. There has been an increase in prevalence of knee osteoarthritis by as much as 100% since the mid-20th century.

Materials and Method:
The present prospective study of 50 cases was conducted in the Department of Orthopaedics, Rohilkhand Medical College, Bareilly. All patients affected by a Unilateral or Bilateral knee osteoarthritis of all radiological grades (grade 1-4), attending the department from November 2016 to October 2017 were invited to participate in the study.

Results:
A significant change in WOMAC score was observed. The range of change in WOMAC score at 1 week to 6 months follow up was 9.85% to 24.84%. Changes in WOMAC score at all the follow up visits were statistically significant (p<0.001). A subsequent decline in pre-treatment VAS score (Pain) was also observed at follow up visits at 1 week (1.15±0.69; 18.18%), 3 months (2.07±1.03; 32.63%) and 6 months (2.29±1.29; 36.14%).

Conclusion:
The Novel PRP regimen is a very good alternative treatment modality in patients with knee OA from KL grade 1 to grade 3 to delay the progression of the disease. It provided significant symptomatic improvement along with improvement in the functional outcome of the patients without any severe side-effects.
Delivering effective, comprehensive, multi-exercise component cardiac rehabilitation (CR) for chronic heart failure patients in low resource settings in sub-Saharan Africa: Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital—(QECH-CR) randomised CR study, Malawi
Authors: Namanja Alice , Nyondo Daston , Banda Tendai , Mndinda Ephraim , Midgely Adrian , Hobkirk James , Carroll Sean , Kumwenda Johnstone 
Published: May 2024

Background
The delivery of Cardiac Rehabilitation (CR) and attaining evidence-based treatment goals are challenging in developing countries, such as Malawi. The aims of this study were to (i) assess the effects of exercise training/ CR programme on cardiorespiratory and functional capacity of patients with chronic heart failure (CHF), and (ii) examine the effectiveness of a novel, hybrid CR delivery using integrated supervised hospital- and home-based caregiver approaches.

Methods
A pre-registered (UMIN000045380), randomised controlled trial of CR exercise therapy in patients with CHF was conducted between September 2021 and May 2022. Sixty CHF participants were randomly assigned into a parallel design-exercise therapy (ET) (n = 30) or standard of care (n = 30) groups. Resting hemodynamics, oxygen saturation, distance walked in six-minutes (6MWD) and estimated peak oxygen consumption (VO2 peak) constituted the outcome measures. The exercise group received supervised, group, circuit-based ET once weekly within the hospital setting and prescribed home-based exercise twice weekly for 12 weeks. Participants in both arms received a group-based, health behaviour change targeted education (usual care) at baseline, 8-, 12- and 16-weeks.

Results
Most of the participants were female (57%) with a mean age of 51.9 ±15.7 years. Sixty-five percent (65%) were in New York Heart Association class III, mostly with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (HFpEF) (mean Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction 52.9 ±10.6%). The 12-weeks ET led to significant reductions in resting haemodynamic measures (all P <0.05). The ET showed significantly higher improvements in the 6MWD (103.6 versus 13.9 m, p<0.001) and VO2 peak (3.0 versus 0.4 ml·kg-1·min-1, p <0.001). Significant improvements in 6MWD and VO2 peak (both p<0.001), in favour of ET, were also observed across all follow-up timepoints.

Conclusion
This novel, randomised, hybrid ET-based CR, delivered to mainly HFpEF patients using an integrated hospital- and home-based approach effectively improved exercise tolerance, cardiorespiratory fitness capacities and reduced perceived exertion in a resource-limited setting.
Experimental and Independent Italian Cinema: Legacies and Transformations into the Twenty-first Century, Anthony Cristiano and Carlo Coen (eds) (2020)
Authors: Catanese Rossella 
Published: May 2024

Review of: Experimental and Independent Italian Cinema: Legacies and Transformations into the Twenty-first Century, Anthony Cristiano and Carlo Coen (eds) (2020)
Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 332 pp.,
ISBN 978-1-47447-403-0, p/bk, $19.99/$90.00
Fare storia del cinema: Metodi, oggetti, temi, Fabio Andreazza (ed.) (2022)
Authors: Villa Paolo 
Published: May 2024

Review of: Fare storia del cinema: Metodi, oggetti, temi, Fabio Andreazza (ed.) (2022)
Roma: Carocci, 239 pp.,
ISBN 978-8-82901-716-4, p/bk, €26.00
Associations between various markers of intestinal barrier and immune function after a high‐intensity exercise challenge
Authors: Roca Rubio Maria Fernanda , Folkesson Mattias , Kremp Carolin , Evertsson Niklas , Repsilber Dirk , Eriksson Ulrika , Ganda Mall John‐Peter , Kadi Fawzi , Brummer Robert J. , König Julia 
Published: May 2024

AbstractStrenuous exercise can result in disruption of intestinal barrier function and occurrence of gastrointestinal symptoms. The aim of this exploratory study was to elucidate systemic effects of increased intestinal permeability after high‐intensity exercise. Forty‐one endurance‐trained subjects performed a 60‐min treadmill run at 80% VO2max. Small intestinal permeability was measured as urinary excretion ratio of lactulose/rhamnose (L/R). Blood, saliva and feces were analyzed for gut barrier and immune‐related biomarkers. The exercise challenge increased several markers of intestinal barrier disruption, immune function and oxidative stress. We found a negative correlation between L/R ratio and uric acid (r = −0.480), as well as a positive correlation between the L/R ratio and fecal chromogranin A in male participants (r = 0.555). No significant correlations were found between any of the markers and gastrointestinal symptoms, however, perceived exertion correlated with the combination of IL‐6, IL‐10 and salivary cortisol (r = 0.492). The lack of correlation between intestinal permeability and gastrointestinal symptoms could be due to minor symptoms experienced in lab settings compared to real‐life competitions. The correlation between L/R ratio and uric acid might imply a barrier‐protective effect of uric acid, and inflammatory processes due to strenuous exercise seem to play an important role regarding physical exhaustion.