bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Subsoil SOC increased by high C:N ratio straw application with optimized nitrogen supplementation
Authors: Zhao Deqiang , Liu Zixi , Xu Yiping , Wang Zhitong , Li Zexue , Ling Jun , Wu Gong , Wen Yuan 
Published: February 2024

AbstractThe application of straw and nutrients to agricultural subsoils is of significant interest to enhance carbon (C) sequestration and soil fertility. However, little research has explored the effect straw application on microbial stoichiometry, soil organic carbon (SOC) mineralization and accumulation and their relationships, in subsoil. In order to address these knowledge gaps, we examined the soil characteristics (organic carbon mineralization, available nutrient contents and microbial stoichiometric ratio) under straw addition (maize leaf and stem) with and without nitrogen (N) supplementation (no addition, 30 mg N kg−1 dry soil−1, 60 mg N kg−1 dry soil−1) during an 80‐day incubation experiment. The microbial stoichiometric ratio imbalance (C:N and C:Phosphorus (P)) and extracellular enzyme stoichiometry were measured as indicators of the systematic relationship between soil resource availability and the mineralization of organic carbon. Our study demonstrated that the addition of straw significantly enhanced CO2 emissions and led to an increase in the C:N imbalance, while simultaneously decreasing microbial carbon use efficiency (CUE). In addition, stem addition showed 5.6% lower CUE, but 8.2% higher SOC compared with leaf addition. We also found that nitrogen addition to subsoil alleviated microbial nitrogen limitation. 60 mg N kg−1 dry soil rates of nitrogen application had a positive effect on reducing C:N imbalance and promoting the accumulation of SOC. Extracellular enzyme activity and microbial stoichiometric ratio were the most important controlling factors of SOC mineralization and microbial CUE, respectively. In conclusion, the application of straw alongside N to balance stoichiometric ratios can significantly increase SOC content, indicating the potential for carbon sequestration in agricultural subsoils.
Myelo‐CT imaging findings in 15 dogs with surgically‐treated cervical acute compressive hydrated nucleus pulposus extrusion
Authors: Farré Mariné Alba , López Beltran Marta , Ortiz Nisa Sonia , Luján Feliu‐Pascual Alejandro 
Published: February 2024

AbstractCompressive hydrated nucleus pulposus extrusion (HNPE) is a sudden extrusion of hydrated, nondegenerated nucleus pulposus material with well‐known characteristic MRI findings. The appearance of compressive HNPE during contrast‐enhanced CT has already been described, but never its myelo‐CT characteristics. The aim of this retrospective multicenter case series is to describe the myelo‐CT findings in 15 dogs with compressive HNPE confirmed with gross surgical findings. A distinctive and consistent myelo‐CT appearance of cervical compressive HNPE in dogs that included a focal extradural “seagull”‐shaped extradural compression dorsal to the annulus fibrosus combined with a narrowing of the affected intervertebral disc space was found. The extruded material was hypoattenuating in the soft tissue algorithm. Myelo‐CT could be a useful diagnostic tool and influence the clinical decision to address cervical compressive HNPE conservatively or surgically when MRI is not available.
Thermodynamic limitations on brain oxygen metabolism: physiological implications*
Authors: Buxton Richard B. 
Published: February 2024

AbstractRecent thermodynamic modelling indicates that maintaining the brain tissue ratio of O2 to CO2 (abbreviated tissue O2/CO2) is critical for preserving the entropy increase available from oxidative metabolism of glucose, with a fall of that available entropy leading to a reduction of the phosphorylation potential and impairment of brain energy metabolism. This provides a novel perspective for understanding physiological responses under different conditions in terms of preserving tissue O2/CO2. To enable estimation of tissue O2/CO2 in the human brain, a detailed mathematical model of O2 and CO2 transport was developed, and applied to reported physiological responses to different challenges, asking: how well is tissue O2/CO2 preserved? Reported experimental results for increased neural activity, hypercapnia and hypoxia due to high altitude are consistent with preserving tissue O2/CO2. The results highlight two physiological mechanisms that control tissue O2/CO2: cerebral blood flow, which modulates tissue O2; and ventilation rate, which modulates tissue CO2. The hypoxia modelling focused on humans at high altitude, including acclimatized lowlanders and Tibetan and Andean adapted populations, with a primary finding that decreasing CO2 by increasing ventilation rate is more effective for preserving tissue O2/CO2 than increasing blood haemoglobin content to maintain O2 delivery to tissue. This work focused on the function served by particular physiological responses, and the underlying mechanisms require further investigation. The modelling provides a new framework and perspective for understanding how blood flow and other physiological factors support energy metabolism in the brain under a wide range of conditions.
imageKey points
Thermodynamic modelling indicates that preserving the O2/CO2 ratio in brain tissue is critical for preserving the entropy change available from oxidative metabolism of glucose and the phosphorylation potential underlying energy metabolism.
A detailed model of O2 and CO2 transport was developed to allow estimation of the tissue O2/CO2 ratio in the human brain in different physiological states.
Reported experimental results during hypoxia, hypercapnia and increased oxygen metabolic rate in response to increased neural activity are consistent with maintaining brain tissue O2/CO2 ratio.
The hypoxia modelling of high‐altitude acclimatization and adaptation in humans demonstrates the critical role of reducing CO2 with increased ventilation for preserving tissue O2/CO2.
Preservation of tissue O2/CO2 provides a novel perspective for understanding the function of observed physiological responses under different conditions in terms of preserving brain energy metabolism, although the mechanisms underlying these functions are not well understood.
Evaluation of Extreme Value Predictions for Unsteady Flow Distortion of Aero-Engine Intakes
Authors: Migliorini Matteo , Zachos Pavlos K. , MacManus David G. 
Published: February 2024

Abstract
Unsteady flow distortion is of interest for the development of air-breathing propulsion systems. Stochastic fluctuations can generate incompatibilities between intakes and aero-engines. Observing the extreme flow distortion events during experimental testing is not guaranteed and statistical models such as extreme value theory (EVT) can be used to estimate the occurrence and magnitude of the fluctuations. However, the current industry standard does not provide guidance on how to apply these methods to obtain useful predictions. This work proposes a systematic process to assess the required number of observations for obtaining statistical convergence of the EVT predictions. This is achieved through shuffling of the data samples and relies on the availability of a sufficiently large initial dataset. This can be adopted by gas turbine engineers to evaluate the data recording requirements and to potentially reduce costs associated with experimental programs.
Band Heater Heat Flux Characterization Using Inverse Heat Conduction Problem Models
Authors: Peruchi Pacheco da Silva Ramon , Woodbury Keith , Samadi Forooza , Carpenter Joseph 
Published: February 2024

Abstract
An experimental apparatus was constructed to correlate water flowrate and temperature rise under an external band heater. Due to the physical characteristics of the band heater, its transient heating behavior is unknown. This paper investigates the application of inverse heat conduction problem (IHCP) methods to characterize the heat flux from the band heater. Three experiments with different heating times (5, 10, and 20 s) and no flowrate were conducted to measure the transient temperature under the 400 W band heater. Type-T thermocouples measure surface temperature at the centerline of the band heater. The experimental results are computed with five different heat conduction models. The models are chosen to identify how the heat flux response varies from a simplified to a realistic model. Additionally, the results of the experimental heat flux are compared to the manufacturer band heater data (58.9 kW/m2) for each model. The minimum time needed for the heater to fully energize the system is from 10 to 12 s. The residuals for each model are analyzed and used to evaluate the appropriateness of the five different models. The results show that the use of simpler models can achieve results similar to those of complex models, with less time and computational cost.
Investigation of Heat Source Layout Optimization by Using Deep Learning Surrogate Models
Authors: Lang Ji , Wang Qianqian , Tong Shan 
Published: February 2024

Abstract
The heat source layout optimization (HSLO) is typically used to facilitate superior heat dissipation in thermal management. However, HSLO is characterized by numerous degrees-of-freedom and complex interrelations between components. Conventional optimization methodologies often exhibit limitations such as high computational demands and diminished efficiency, particularly for complex scenarios. This study demonstrates the application of deep learning surrogate models based on the feedforward neural network (FNN) to optimize heat source layouts. These models provide rapid and precise evaluations, with diminished computational loads and enhanced efficiency of HSLO. The proposed approach integrates coarse and fine search modules to traverse the layout space and pinpoint optimal configurations. Parametric examinations are taken to explore the impact of refinement grades and conductive ratios, which dominate the optimization problem. The pattern changes of the conductive channel have been presented. Moreover, the critical conductive ratio has been found, below which the conductive material can no longer contribute to heat dissipation. The outcomes elucidate the fundamental mechanisms of HSLO, providing valuable insights for thermal management strategies.
Non-Isothermal Plane Couette Flow and Its Stability in an Anisotropic and Inhomogeneous Porous Layer Underlying a Fluid Layer Saturated by Water
Authors: Barman N. , Aleria A. , Bera P. 
Published: February 2024

Abstract
In this article, the linear stability of nonisothermal plane Couette flow (NPCF) in an anisotropic and inhomogeneous porous layer underlying a fluid layer is investigated. The Darcy model is utilized to describe the flow in the porous layer. The stability analysis indicates that the introduction of media-anisotropy (K*) and media-inhomogeneity (in terms of inhomogeneity parameter A) still renders the isothermal plane Couette flow (IPCF) in such superposed fluid-porous systems unconditionally stable. For NPCF, three different modes, unimodal (porous or fluid mode), bimodal (porous and fluid mode) and trimodal (porous, fluid and porous mode), are observed along the neutral stability curves and characterized by the secondary flow patterns. It has been found that the instability of the fluid-porous system increases on increasing the media permeability and inhomogeneity along the vertical direction. Contrary to natural convection, at d̂=0.2 (d̂=depth of fluid layer/depth of porous layer) and K*=1, in which the critical wavelength shows both increasing and decreasing characteristics with increasing values of A (0≤A≤5), here in the present study, the same continuously decreases with increasing values of A. Finally, scale analysis indicates that the onset of natural convection requires a relatively higher temperature difference (ΔT) between lower and upper plates in the presence of Couette flow. However, by including media anisotropy and inhomogeneity in the porous media, the system becomes unstable even for a small critical temperature difference of about 2 °C.
Single- Versus Double-Leg Cycling: Small Muscle Mass Exercise Improves Exercise Capacity to a Greater Extent in Older Compared With Younger Population
Authors: Haddad Toni , Spence Angela L. , Peiffer Jeremiah J. , Blain Gregory M. , Brisswalter Jeanick , Abbiss Chris R. 
Published: February 2024

Manipulating the amount of muscle mass engaged during exercise can noninvasively inform the contribution of central cardiovascular and peripheral vascular-oxidative functions to endurance performance. To better understand the factors contributing to exercise limitation in older and younger individuals, exercise performance was assessed during single-leg and double-leg cycling. 16 older (67 ± 5 years) and 14 younger (35 ± 5 years) individuals performed a maximal exercise using single-leg and double-leg cycling. The ratio of single-leg to double-leg cycling power (RatioPower SL/DL) was compared between age groups. The association between fitness (peak oxygen consumption, peak power output, and physical activity levels) and RatioPower SL/DL was explored. The RatioPower SL/DL was greater in older compared with younger individuals (1.14 ± 0.11 vs. 1.06 ± 0.08, p = .041). The RatioPower SL/DL was correlated with peak oxygen consumption (r = .886, p < .001), peak power output relative to body mass (r = .854, p < .001), and levels of physical activity (r = .728, p = .003) in the younger but not older subgroup. Reducing the amount of muscle mass engaged during exercise improved exercise capacity to a greater extent in older versus younger population and may reflect a greater reduction in central cardiovascular function compared with peripheral vascular-oxidative function with aging.
C-terminal deletion of RelA protein is suggested as a possible cause of infective endocarditis recurrence with
Enterococcus faecium
Authors: Ortiz de la Rosa José Manuel , Martín-Gutiérrez Guillermo , Casimiro-Soriguer Carlos S. , Gimeno-Gascón María Adelina , Cisneros José Miguel , de Alarcón Arístides , Lepe José Antonio 
Published: February 2024

ABSTRACT

Infective endocarditis (IE) caused by
Enterococcus spp.
represents the third most common cause of IE, with high rates of relapse compared with other bacteria. Interestingly, late relapses (>6 months) have only been described in
Enterococcus faecalis,
but here we describe the first reported IE relapse with
Enterococcus faecium
more than a year (17 months) after the initial endocarditis episode. Firstly, by multi locus sequence typing (MLST), we demonstrated that both isolates (EF646 and EF641) belong to the same sequence type (ST117). Considering that EF641 was able to overcome starvation and antibiotic treatment conditions surviving for a long period of time, we performed bioinformatic analysis in identifying potential genes involved in virulence and stringent response. Our results showed a 13-nucleotide duplication (positions 1638–1650) in the gene
relA
, resulting in a premature stop codon, with a loss of 167 amino acids from the C-terminal domains of the RelA enzyme. RelA mediates the stringent response in bacteria, modulating levels of the alarmone guanosine tetraphosphate (ppGpp). The
relA
mutant (EF641) was associated with lower growth capacity, the presence of small colony variants, and higher capacity to produce biofilms (compared with the strain EF646), but without differences in antimicrobial susceptibility patterns according to standard procedures during planktonic growth. Instead, EF641 demonstrated tolerance to high doses of teicoplanin when growing in a biofilm. We conclude that all these events would be closely related to the long-term survival of the
E. faecium
and the late relapse of the IE. These data represent the first clinical evidence of mutations in the stringent response (
relA
gene) related with
E. faecium
IE relapse.
Contrasting roles for IgM and B-cell MHCII expression in
Brucella abortus
S19 vaccine-mediated efficacy against
B. melitensis
infection
Authors: Abushahba Mostafa F. N. , Dadelahi Alexis S. , Ponzilacqua-Silva Bárbara , Moley Charles R. , Skyberg Jerod A. 
Published: February 2024

ABSTRACT

Brucellosis, caused by the bacterium
Brucella
, poses a significant global threat to both animal and human health. Although commercial live
Brucella
vaccines including S19, RB51, and Rev1 are available for animals, their unsuitability for human use and incomplete efficacy in animals necessitate the further study of vaccine-mediated immunity to
Brucella
. In this study, we employed
in vivo
B-cell depletion, as well as immunodeficient and transgenic mouse models, to comprehensively investigate the roles of B cells, antigen uptake and presentation, antibody production, and class switching in the context of S19-mediated immunity against brucellosis. We found that antibody production, and in particular secretory IgM plays a protective role in S19-mediated immunity against virulent
Brucella melitensis
early after the challenge in a manner associated with complement activation. While T follicular helper cell deficiency dampened IgG production and vaccine efficacy at later stages of the challenge, this effect appeared to be independent of antibody production and rather was associated with altered T-cell function. By contrast, B-cell MHCII expression negatively impacted vaccine efficacy at later timepoints after the challenge. In addition, B-cell depletion after vaccination, but before the challenge, enhanced S19-mediated protection against brucellosis, suggesting a deleterious role of B cells during the challenge phase. Collectively, our findings indicate antibody production is protective, while B-cell MHCII expression is deleterious, to live vaccine-mediated immunity against brucellosis.

IMPORTANCE

Brucella
is a neglected zoonotic pathogen with a worldwide distribution. Our study delves into B-cell effector functions in live vaccine-mediated immunity against brucellosis. Notably, we found antibody production, particularly secretory IgM, confers protection against virulent
Brucella melitensis
in vaccinated mice, which was associated with complement activation. By contrast, B-cell MHCII expression negatively impacted vaccine efficacy. In addition, B-cell depletion after vaccination, but before the
B. melitensis
challenge, enhanced protection against infection, suggesting a detrimental B-cell role during the challenge phase. Interestingly, deficiency of T follicular helper cells, which are crucial for aiding germinal center B cells, dampened vaccine efficacy at later stages of challenge independent of antibody production. This study underscores contrasting and phase-dependent roles of B-cell effector functions in vaccine-mediated immunity against
Brucella
.
Rasch analysis of a patient-reported outcome measure for self-perceived health among psychiatric patients in Denmark
Authors: Valentin Jan Brink , Mainz Jan , Johnsen Søren Paaske , Kristensen Klaudia , Kristensen Solvejg 
Published: February 2024

BackgroundPatient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) are valuable and necessary tools for establishing and maintaining patient-centred healthcare. The PRO-Psychiatry initiative was primarily initiated to support the patient’s voice in treatment decision-making and secondarily to monitor patient-perceived quality of care. The result of the initiative is a patient-reported instrument developed in collaboration between patients and clinicians. We aimed to validate the PROM developed for measuring self-perceived health among psychiatric patients in North Denmark Region, in terms of internal consistency, criterion validity and responsiveness.MethodPatients in contact with a psychiatric hospital in the North Denmark Region from September 2018 to March 2021 were included in the study. The PROM constitutes a scale of 17 items covering various aspects of self-perceived health including well-being (7 items), lack of well-being (5 items) and social functioning (5 items), where the former domain entails the WHO-5 Well-Being Index. The potential range of the total scale score is 0–85. We applied McDonald’s omega, average inter-item correlation (AIIC) and differential item functioning (DIF). In addition, we used mixed effects analyses to estimate temporal correlations. The instrument was compared with self-rated overall mental and psychiatric health.ResultsThe patient population consisted of 1132 unique patients and a total of 2476 responses corresponding to one response per patient pathway. McDonald’s omega was found to be 0.92 (95% CI 0.92 to 0.93), while the AIIC was found to be 0.42 (95% CI 0.39 to 0.44). For DIF, the largest systematic variation resulted in a maximum difference of 2.3 points on the total score when adjusting for the latent trait and was found when comparing initial measurements with follow-up measurements. The correlation between the total score and the outcomes regarding overall physical and mental health was 0.52 (95% CI 0.48 to 0.56) and 0.74 (95% CI 0.72 to 0.76). Similar correlations were found for the corresponding changes over time.ConclusionThe scale showed high consistency and little systematic variation between the comparison groups. The concurrent correlations and analyses of responsiveness coincided with the prespecified hypotheses. Overall, we deem the Danish PRO-Psychiatry instrument to possess suitable psychometric properties for measuring self-perceived health among a psychiatric population.
Optimizing Cervical Target Volume in Patients with Nasopharyngeal Cancer Based On Nodal Drainage Distance
Authors: Liu Yang , Yan Wenbin , Hu Chaosu , Huang Xiaodong , Wang Kai , Qu Yuan , Chen Xuesong , Wu Runye , Zhang Ye , Zhang Jianghu , Luo Jingwei , Li Yexiong , Wang Jingbo , Yi Junlin 
Published: February 2024

Abstract

Purpose:
To determine the potential nodal drainage distances of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) by investigating spatial distribution of metastatic lymph nodes (LN).

Experimental Design:
Patients with NPC harboring at least two ipsilateral metastatic LNs were enrolled. LN spreading distances were analyzed in nonrestricted direction, cranial-to-caudal direction, and between the two most caudal LNs. Euclidean distance (ED) and vertical distance (VD) between any two LNs were computed. The nearest-neighbor ED and VD covering 95% of LNs or patients (p95-ED and p95-VD) were considered drainage distances, and were further validated by independent internal and external cohorts with recurrent LNs.

Results:
In all, 5,836 metastatic LNs in 948 patients were contoured. Corresponding to the three scenarios, per-LN level, the p95-EDs were 2.83, 3.28, and 3.55 cm, and p95-VDs were 2.17, 2.32, and 2.63 cm, respectively. Per-patient level, the p95-EDs were 3.25, 3.95, and 3.81 cm, and p95-VDs were 2.67, 2.81, and 2.73 cm, respectively. In internal validation, over 95% of recurred LNs occurred within ED of 2.91 cm and VD of 0.82 cm to the neighbor LN, and the corresponding distances in external validation were 2.77 and 0.67 cm, respectively.

Conclusions:
In NPC, the maximum LN drainage distance was 3.95 cm without considering the direction. Specifically, in cranial-to-caudal direction, the sufficient vertical drainage distance was 2.81 cm, indicating that a 3-cm extension from the most inferior node may be rational as caudal border of the prophylactic clinical target volume (CTV). These findings promote in-depth understanding of nodal spreading patterns, uncovering paramount evidence for individualized CTV.