With the catalytic induction of EG, anhydrous DMEA shows CO2 absorption performance via chemical binding and physical storage under normal pressure. Among the absorbents, pure DMEA can hardly absorb CO2 directly but when the zwitterionic alkylcarbonates are formed between CO2 and DMEA-EG which can be characterized by 13C NMR and FTIR, the absorption rate of CO2 will be improved at this time. An increasing the CO2 loading as the mass fraction of EG in DMEA-EG, 90wt.% EG captures up to 0.72 mol/mol. The amount of chemically bound and physically stored is directly dependent on temperature, within the range of 293 to 323K, an absorption-regeneration cycle can be formed in a closed vessel because of the zwitterion DMEA-EG-CO2 is unstable at the higher temperature. In other words, DMEA-EG-CO2 can be easily regenerated upon appropriate depressurization or heating, corresponding thermodynamic calculations prove that the regenerative energy of DMEA-EG-CO2 is 25.49kJ/mol.

Background: Acute type A aortic dissection(ATAAD) is life-threatening and requires immediate surgery. Sudden chest pain may lead to a risk of misdiagnosis as acute coronary syndrome and may lead to subsequent antiplatelet therapy. We used the Chinese Acute Aortic Syndrome Collaboration Database (AAS) to study the effects of antiplatelet therapy (APT) on clinical outcomes. Methods: The AAS database is a retrospective multicentre database where 31 of 3092 had APT with aspirin or clopidogrel or both before surgery. Before and after propensity score matching, the incidence of complications and mortality was compared between APT and non-APT patients by using a logistic regression model. The sample remaining after PSM was 30 in the APT group and 80 in the non-APT group. Results: The sample remaining after matching was 30 in the APT group and 80 in the non-APT group. We found 10 cases with percutaneous coronary intervention in the APT group(33.3%). The APT group received more volume of packed red blood cell (RBC), 8.4±6.05 units; plasma, 401.67±727 ml, and platelet transfusion(14.07±8.92 units). The drainage volume was much more in the APT group( 5009.37±2131.44ml, P=0.004). Mortality was higher in APT group(26% vs 10%, P=0.027). The preoperative APT was independent predictor of mortality(OR 6.808, 95% CI1.554-29.828, P = 0.011). Conclusion: APT prior to ATAAD repair was associated with more transfusions and higher early mortality. The timing of surgery should be carefully considered based on the patient’s status and the surgeon’s experience.

What makes a model organism? Identifying the qualities of a model organism has been given a great deal of attention in the biomolecular sciences, but less so in the fields of evolution, ecology, and behavior (EEB). In EEB, biotic and abiotic variation are features to understand, not bugs to get rid of, and EEB scientists often select organisms to study which best suit the scientific question at hand. Successful EEB model organisms can be studied at multiple biological scales and have a wealth of accumulated knowledge on which current research programs build. A recent call within EEB to invest in the inclusive development of diverse model systems and scientists has led us to evaluate the standing of the widespread, abundant, terrestrial salamander we study, the eastern red-backed salamander (Plethodon cinereus). We first look at salamanders as EEB models more generally, to determine where P. cinereus fits in this broader context. We next present a comprehensive review of the literature on the eastern red-backed salamander (Plethodon cinereus) since the last comprehensive review was completed in 1998. The core of our paper reviews 410 recent studies and highlights inconsistencies, gaps in our knowledge, and future directions in the context of the 1998 review. Finally, we present a collaborative research network, SPARCnet, as a nascent infrastructure for continued research on P. cinereus. Here, we especially discuss how this type of infrastructure can be broadly applied not just to other salamanders, but to other model systems, so that the future of EEB research may benefit from models which accurately represent, in Darwin’s words, “endless forms most beautiful and most wonderful.”

Discrete wavelet transform and discrete periodic wavelet transform have been widely used in image compression and data approximation. Due to discontinuity on the boundary of original data, the decay rate of the obtained wavelet coefficients is slow. In this study, we use the combination of polynomial interpolation and one-dimensional/two-dimensional discrete periodic wavelet transforms to mitigate boundary effects. The decay rate of the obtained wavelet coefficients in our improved algorithm is faster than that of traditional two-dimensional discrete wavelet transform. Moreover, our improved algorithm can be extended naturally to the higher-dimensional case.

Background: This study evaluated the utilization and outcomes of postcardiotomy mechanical circulatory support (MCS). Methods: This was a retrospective, single institution analysis of adult cardiac surgery cases that required de novo MCS following surgery from 2011-2018. Patients that were bridged with MCS to surgery were excluded. The primary outcomes were early operative mortality and longitudinal survival. Secondary outcomes included postoperative complications, and five-year all-cause readmission. Results: 533 patients required de novo postcardiotomy MCS, with the most commonly performed procedure being isolated coronary artery bypass grafting (29.8%). Median cardiopulmonary bypass and cross clamp times were 185 (IQR 123-260) minutes and 122 (IQR 81-179) minutes, respectively. A total of 442 (82.9%) of patients were supported with intra-aortic balloon pump counterpulsation, 23 (4.3%) with an Impella device, and 115 (21.6%) with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. Three (0.6%) patients had an unplanned ventricular assist device placed. Operative mortality was 29.8%. Longitudinal survival was 56.1% and 43.0% at 1- and 5-years, respectively. Survival was lowest in those supported with ECMO and highest with those supported with an Impella (P<0.001). Freedom from readmission was 61.4% at 5-years. Postoperative ECMO was an independent predictor of mortality (HR 5.1, 95% CI 2.0-12.9, P<0.001), but none of the MCS types predicted long-term hospital readmission after risk adjustment. Conclusions: Postcardiotomy MCS is associated with high operative mortality. Even patients that survive to discharge have compromised longitudinal survival, with nearly only half surviving to 1-year. Close follow-up and early referral to advanced heart failure specialists may be prudent in improving these outcomes.

In this research paper beginning from the fundamental concepts, all the basic approach is introduced for short. Then after obtaining the discrete Lagrange-dissipative model ({L,D}- model for short) of a discrete time observed physical/engineering dynamic system, the model will be used to develope the discrete Hamiltonian together with discrete dissipation energy as discrete Lyapunov function and as such, a systematic method is proposed to obtain discrete Lyapunov function in form of a residual energy function for discrete (time) observed physical systems to analyze the discrete time system related to stability. Stability analysis of a discrete time observed physical dynamic system is performed using discrete Lyapunov function in form of a residual energy function consisting of Hamiltonian together with dissipation energy. Application of the method was shown using two discrete time physical examples, one of which is a coupled one and time dependent. This coupled physical discrete time example is analyzed related to stability using two different formulations, one form of which leads to a result.

Improved treatment adherence and allergic disease control during a COVID-19 pandemic lockdownPauline Poh Lin Chan Ng, MBBS, MRCPCH1,2, Alicia Yi Hui Kang, BSc1, Liang Shen, PhD3, Lydia Su-Yin Wong, MBBS, MRCPCH1,2, Elizabeth Huiwen Tham, MBBS, MCI, MRCPCH*1,2,41Department of Paediatrics, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore (NUS), Singapore2Khoo Teck Puat-National University Children’s Medical Institute, National University Health System (NUHS), Singapore3Biostatistics Unit, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore (NUS), Singapore4Human Potential Translational Research Programme, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore

A long-overlooked aspect of fatigue crack growth is the potential contribution to it, of stable crack extension (SCE). Reduction in specimen size and increase in magnitude of cyclic loading will induce increased contribution of SCE. SCE as a load interaction effect is manifest in disproportionately high crack extension due to periodic overloads. SCE can exceed by more than an order of magnitude estimates of crack growth from the da/dN versus DK relationship. Simple equations are proposed to account for SCE in fatigue crack growth. A numerical analysis is performed to characterize the significance of SCE to constant amplitude and variable amplitude fatigue crack growth.

Authors   Xulei Wu1,2, Bingjie Dang2, Hong Wang5, Xiulong Wu1,*, and Yuchao Yang2,3,4,* 1School of Electronics and Information Engineering, Anhui University, Hefei 230601, China. 2Key Laboratory of Microelectronic Devices and Circuits (MOE), School of Integrated Circuits, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China.

Title Successful treatment with haploidentical PBSCT with post-transplant cyclophosphamide in a child with relapsed neuroblastoma after autologous PBSCT

We report a case of granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) in a pediatric patient with a history of type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) after a somewhat unusual presentation. Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitides are a relatively rare entity in the general population, and are even less common amongst the pediatric population. Our patient’s chronic history of vague and systemic symptoms paired with social and environmental stressors contributed to her convoluted picture and late diagnosis. In addition, her T1DM adds an interesting element to her case, begging the question of whether her propensity for autoimmune conditions played a role in the development of this disease. With this case, we hope to increase clinician level of suspicion and promote early diagnosis and treatment for future pediatric patients.

Aortic stenosis is one of the most common degenerative valvular diseases in the elderly. Transapical aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is an innovative technique for high-risk patients with severe, symptomatic aortic stenosis and multiple comorbidities. However, potential obstruction to the left ventricular outflow tract, from a left ventricular thrombus, poses significant patient risk and challenge for the anesthetist. An 82-year-old man with these conditions underwent TAVI and intracardiac thrombectomy under general anesthesia, combined with cardiopulmonary bypass. We abandoned traditional surgical aortic valve replacement and thrombectomy; a fast-track cardiac anesthesia strategy was adopted. No complications were observed during recovery. Cardiac function was normal upon follow-up 1 year, post-operatively. Transapical aortic valve replacement aided by cardiopulmonary bypass, implemented under Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) strategy, is suitable for high-risk patients under similar conditions. Strategies and equipment should be maximized for analgesia, organ protection, and circulatory homeostasis for perioperative safety and enhanced prognosis.

Expanding the armamentarium for reoperative coronary artery bypass graftingShort title : Expanding the armamentarium for redo CABGMaria Currie, MD PhD11 Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine

In this paper, a complete analytical solution to the integro-differential model describing the nucleation and growth of ellipsoidal crystals in a supersaturated solution is obtained. The asymptotic solution of the model equations is constructed using the saddle-point method to evaluate the Laplace-type integral. Numerical simulations carried out for physical parameters of real solutions show that the first four terms of the asymptotic series give a convergent solution. The developed theory was compared with the experimental data on desupersaturation kinetics in proteins. It is shown that the theory and experiments are in good agreement.

Aortic pseudocoarctation is a rare congenital aortic anomaly that causes elongation, stenosis and kinking of the aorta at the isthmus level. Although aortic coarctation and pseudocoarctation share a similar clinical spectrum, pseudocoarctation rarely results in a significant gradient in descending aorta and haemodynamic consequence. Therefore, it's critical to differentiate in coarctation. All imaging modalities but especially cardiac CT angiography and catheterization are very important in the differential diagnosis. Our case highlighted to differences between aortic pseudocoarctation and coarctation, with other cardiac anomalies accompanying pseudocoarctation. And also the importance of cardiac imaging in the differential diagnosis of pseudocoarctation was emphasized.

Ricinodendron heudelotii, Vitex doniana and Cleome gynandra are three indigenous species of Benin/West Africa. This review focuses on the physicochemical characteristics of their seeds and the nutritional and functional properties of their oils. In this systematic review, scientific articles and reports were used to collect information. The minima, maxima and mean values were considered and converted into a dry basis and/or the same units by using the international system of units when needed to allow comparison. Seeds of Ricinodendron, Vitex and Cleome fat contents were 51.83 g/100 g dw, 28.55 g/100 g dw and 27.35 g/100 g dw, respectively. The three seed oils contained 58.54 to 87% mono and polyunsaturated fatty acids. Ricinodendron seed oil contained a conjugated polyunsaturated fatty acid α-eleostearic acid (49.3–51.1%). Data varied from one author to another due to the methods used. R. heudelotii seeds oil is traditionally used for the treatment of several diseases. Its oil showed phytochemical and antimicrobial properties suggesting its possible use in pharmaceutical industries. Ricinodendron and Vitex seed oil should not be used for cooking at high temperatures or frying because of their high and medium levels of unsaturation.

We are reporting a COVID-19 positive patient who developed diplopia and was found to have an isolated abducens palsy. We reviewed the available English literature of cranial mononeuropathy as a possible manifestation of COVID-19 infection.It is a rare presentation of COVID-19.

Background: Combined treatment with probiotic and peanut oral immunotherapy (PPOIT) was shown to induce sustained unresponsiveness (SU) in a proof-of-concept randomized trial. Additional data on safety and long-term outcomes are needed. This study aimed to evaluate the safety and long-term effects of PPOIT in children with peanut allergy. Methods: Open-label study of 20 children aged 1-12 years with challenge-confirmed peanut allergy; all children received 18-months of PPOIT. Efficacy endpoints were desensitization, 8-week SU, and persistence of 8-week SU at 3-years post-treatment, assessed by double-blind placebo-controlled food challenge (cumulative 4950mg peanut protein). Treatment emergent adverse events and relationship to study treatment were recorded. Immunologic measures and health related quality of life (HRQL) were evaluated at screening, end-of-treatment and 3-years post-treatment. Results: Sixteen children (75%) completed treatment. By intention-to-treat analysis, 75% (15/20) achieved desensitization and 60% (12/20) achieved 8-week SU. Ten of 12 participants with SU at end-of-treatment consented to the 3-year SU challenge; 6 (60%) had persistence of SU. PPOIT was associated with significantly reduced peanut skin prick test wheal size and serum peanut specific-IgE levels at end-of-treatment, 12-months and 3-years post-treatment. There were no serious adverse events. HRQL scores improved (exceeding the Minimal Clinically Important Difference of 0.45) at 12-months post-treatment with benefit sustained at 3-years post-treatment. Conclusions: Eighteen months of PPOIT induced high rates of desensitization and SU, and SU persisted to 3-years post-treatment in a majority of initial responders. PPOIT led to long-lasting suppression of peanut sIgE and long-lasting clinically important improvement in HRQL.

G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are the largest family of human membrane proteins and represent the primary targets of about one third of currently marketed drugs. Despite the critical importance, experimental structures have been determined for only a limited portion of GPCRs and functional mechanisms of GPCRs remain poorly understood. Here, we have constructed novel sequence coevolutionary models of the A and B classes of GPCRs and compared them with residue contact frequency maps generated with available experimental structures. Significant portions of structural residue contacts were successfully detected in the sequence-based covariational models. “Exception” residue contacts predicted from sequence coevolutionary models but not available structures added missing links that were important for GPCR activation and allosteric modulation. Moreover, we identified distinct residue contacts involving different sets of functional motifs for GPCR activation, such as the Na+ pocket, CWxP, DRY, PIF and NPxxY motifs in the class A and the HETx and PxxG motifs in the class B. Finally, we systematically uncovered critical residue contacts tuned by allosteric modulation in the two classes of GPCRs, including those from the activation motifs and particularly the extracellular and intracellular loops in class A GPCRs. These findings provide a promising framework for rational design of ligands to regulate GPCR activation and allosteric modulation.

Animal seed dispersers may influence plant genetic diversity, though there are few examples linking disperser behavior to population genomic diversity. We hypothesized that breeding colonies of the frugivorous White-Crowned Pigeon (Patagioenas leucocephala) would increase population diversity and decrease population differentiation in fruit trees at nesting sites due to increased seed dispersal from foraging trips. We measured the density and extent of colonies at Parque Nacional Jaragua (Dominican Republic) and used nuclear and plastid SNPs from ddRADseq to examine the spatial genetic structure of two common species: poisonwood (Metopium toxiferum), a key fruit resource during the breeding season, and gumbo limbo (Bursera simaruba). We found that pigeon nesting aggregations in and around Parque Nacional Jaragua occupy areas between 3 and 5 Km2, with an estimated number of active nests for 2016 extrapolated to 3 km2 of 159,144  21,484 s.e., making this one of the largest breeding aggregations for the species across its range. However, colony locations did not determine tree genetic diversity and differentiation. Gumbo limbo (consumed by a diverse community) showed less isolation by distance than poisonwood. Saplings and plastid markers, expected to be more strongly influenced by seed dispersal, did not display geographic structure associated with colony sites, suggesting that patterns were not primarily due to pigeon foraging. Our results highlight the diversity of population genomic patterns among co-occurring species with similar ecological niches and demonstrate the limitations for frugivores to influence genetic differences among plant species.

In this paper, we establish existence of infinitely many weak solutions for a class of quasilinear stationary Kirchhoff type equations, which involves a general variable exponent elliptic operator with critical growth. Precisely, we study the following nonlocal problem \begin{equation*} \begin{cases} -\displaystyle{M}(\mathscr{A}(u))\operatorname{div}\Bigl(a(|\nabla u|^{p(x)})|\nabla u|^{p(x)-2}\nabla u\Bigl) = \lambda f(x,u)+ |u|^{s(x)-2}u \text{ in }\Omega, \\ u = 0 \text{ on } \partial \Omega, \end{cases} \end{equation*} where $\Omega$ is a bounded smooth domain of $\mathbb{R}^N,$ with homogeneous Dirichlet boundary conditions on $\partial \Omega,$ the nonlinearity $f:\overline{\Omega}\times \mathbb{R}\to \mathbb{R}$ is a continuous function, $a:\mathbb{R}^{+}\to\mathbb{R}^{+}$ is a function of the class $C^{1},$ $M:\mathbb{R}^{+}_{0}\to\mathbb{R}^{+}$ is a continuous function, whose properties will be introduced later, $\lambda$ is a positive parameter and $p,s\in C(\overline{\Omega})$. We assume that $\mathscr{C}=\{x\in \Omega: s(x)=\gamma^{*}(x)\}\neq \emptyset,$ where $\gamma^{*}(x)=N\gamma(x)/(N-\gamma(x))$ is the critical Sobolev exponent. We will prove that the problem has infinitely many solutions and also we obtain the asymptotic behavior of the solution as $\lambda\to 0^{+}$. Furthermore, we emphasize that a difference with previous researches is that the conditions on $a(\cdot)$ are general overall enough to incorporate some interesting differential operators. Our work covers a feature of the Kirchhoff’s problems, that is, the fact that the Kirchhoff’s function $M$ in zero is different from zero, it also covers a wide class of nonlocal problems for $p(x)>1,$ for all $x\in \overline{\Omega}.$ The main tool to find critical points of the Euler Lagrange functional associated with this problem is through a suitable truncation argument, concentration-compactness principle for variable exponent found in \cite{bonder}, and the genus theory introduced by Krasnoselskii.

The case was a male neonate born by emergent cesarean section due to non-reassuring fetal status at 30 weeks of gestation. His manifestations were consistent with those of Rodriguez syndrome. Molecular analysis revealed an SF3B4 mutation.

Background and Purpose Orally administered ketoconazole rarely induces liver injury and adrenal dysfunction. In cellulo studies showed that a metabolite formed by arylacetamide deacetylase (AADAC)-mediated hydrolysis is relevant to ketoconazole-induced cytotoxicity. This study tried to examine the significance of AADAC in ketoconazole-induced toxicity in vivo using Aadac knockout mice. Experimental Approach Wild-type and Aadac knockout mice orally received 150 or 300 mg/kg/day ketoconazole, and plasma parameters, the concentrations of ketoconazole and N-deacetylketoconazole in plasma and tissues, and hepatic mRNA levels of immune- and inflammatory-related factors were measured. The effects of pretreatment with corticosterone (40 mg/kg, s.c.) on ketoconazole-induced liver injury were also examined. Key Results In a study of a single oral administration of 150 mg/kg ketoconazole, the area under the plasma concentration curve values of ketoconazole and N-deacetylketoconazole in Aadac knockout mice were significantly higher and lower than those in wild-type mice, respectively. With the administration of ketoconazole (300 mg/kg/day) for 7 days, Aadac knockout mice showed higher mortality (100%) than wild-type mice (42.9%), with significantly higher plasma alanine transaminase and lower corticosterone levels, representing liver injury and adrenal dysfunction, respectively. In Aadac knockout mice, hepatic mRNA levels of immune- and inflammatory-related factors were increased by the administration of ketoconazole, and the increase was restored by the replenishment of corticosterone, which shows anti-inflammatory effects. Conclusion and Implications Aadac defects exacerbated ketoconazole-induced liver injury by inhibiting glucocorticoid synthesis and enhancing the inflammatory response. This in vivo study revealed that the hydrolysis of ketoconazole by AADAC can mitigate ketoconazole-induced toxicities.

IIntroduction Isolated tricuspid valve prolapse (TVP) is a rare finding on transthoracic echocardiography. Right atrial enlargement or prominent ” v ” waves as a consequence of hemodynamic changes in severe tricuspid regurgitation (TR) are rarely seen with isolated TVP. Here is a case of isolated prolapse of anterior tricuspid leaflet presenting with giant C-V waves also known as Lancisi’s sign. Case Report A 66-year-old male presented with increasing exercise limitation and leg edema in recent months and was complaining about the persistent pulsation at his neck and elevated jugular venous pulse with prominent systolic pulsation that represents giant C-V waves, also known as ‘Lancisi’s sign’ consequence of severe TR due to isolated prolapse of the anterior leaflet.The patients’ symptoms resolved completely after tricuspid valve replacement. Discussion TVP is best defined at parasternal short axis view with more than 2 mm atrial displacement (AD) of leaflet/leaflets. TVP can also be detected from four chamber view with more than 2 mm AD or in right ventricular inflow view with more than 4 mm AD. As a consequence of TVP, the physiological jugular venous waveform alters due to severe TR.During severe TR; retrograde blood flow through right atrium during ventricular systole restrains x descent and produces a fusion of c and v waves that appears as a large pulsation in physical examination called as ‘Lancisi’s sign’ Conclusion ‘Lancisi’s sign’ is defined as a large visible systolic neck pulsation as a consequence of the c-v waves fusion by preventing x descent during severe TR.