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Background and aims: We were interested to know if laboratory screens of root growth could be used to predict root performance and grain yield of wheat when grown in the field. A secondary aim of this work was to explore the relationship between root depth and grain yield. Methods: We screened 637 wheat lines, composed of elite as well as a limited number of breeding lines, to identify wheat lines with contrasting young root traits with a high throughput screen. We selected groups of wheat lines based on the size of the seedling root, root diameter and growth angle. Seventy-two wheat lines were subjected to further screening with a wax-layer screen and grown in a field experiment in two successive years. Root length distributions, from field grown wheat, were determined with the core-break method. Results: We were unable to find relationships between data from the laboratory root screens and root depth in the field. In the field, wheat lines with deep roots always had high grain yields, but deep roots were not essential to obtain high yields. Wheat lines with the deepest roots were also amongst those with the greatest number of shallow roots. Conclusion: Laboratory root screens did not predict root depth in the field. Root diameter, for reasons that are not clear, is correlated with high grain yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is a next step in the project of systematic description of colored knot and link invariants started in Mironov and Morozov (2015) and Mironov et al. (2017). In this paper, we managed to explicitly find the inclusive Racah matrices, i.e. the whole set of mixing matrices in channels R 1 ⊗ R 2 ⊗ R 3 ⟶ Q with all possible Q , for | R | ≤ 3 . The calculation is made possible by use of the highest weight method. The result allows one to evaluate and investigate colored polynomials for arbitrary 3-strand knots and links and to check the corresponding eigenvalue conjecture. Explicit answers for Racah matrices and colored polynomials for 3-strand knots up to 10 crossings are available at http://knotebook.org . Using the obtained inclusive Racah matrices, we also calculated the exclusive Racah matrices with the help of trick earlier suggested in the case of knots. This method is proved to be effective and gives the exclusive Racah matrices earlier obtained by another method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Large-scale experiments were carried out to investigate the detonation performance of a 1600-m3 ternary cloud consisting of aluminum powder, fuel droplets, and vapor, which were dispersed by a central explosive in a cylindrically stratified configuration. High-frame-rate video cameras and pressure gauges were used to analyze the large-scale explosive dispersal of the mixture and the ensuing blast wave generated by the detonation of the cloud. Special attention was focused on the effect of the descending motion of the charge on the detonation performance of the dispersed ternary cloud. The charge was parachuted by an ensemble of apparatus from the designated height in order to achieve the required terminal velocity when the central explosive was detonated. A descending charge with a terminal velocity of 32 m/s produced a cloud with discernably increased concentration compared with that dispersed from a stationary charge, the detonation of which hence generates a significantly enhanced blast wave beyond the scaled distance of 6m/kg1/3. The results also show the influence of the descending motion of the charge on the jetting phenomenon and the distorted shock front. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The differential expansion is one of the key structures reflecting group theory properties of colored knot polynomials, which also becomes an important tool for evaluation of non-trivial Racah matrices. This makes highly desirable its extension from knots to links, which, however, requires knowledge of the 6 j -symbols, at least, for the simplest triples of non-coincident representations. Based on the recent achievements in this direction, we conjecture a shape of the differential expansion for symmetrically-colored links and provide a set of examples. Within this study, we use a special framing that is an unusual extension of the topological framing from knots to links. In the particular cases of Whitehead and Borromean rings links, the differential expansions are different from the previously discovered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Residual feed intake ( RFI) is a measure of feed efficiency. Pigs with low RFI have reduced feed costs without compromising their growth. For marker-assisted selection, it is helpful to identify genes or genetic markers associated with RFI in animals with improved feed efficiency at an early age. Using Illumina's Porcine SNP60 BeadChip, we performed a pilot genome-wide association study of 217 Junmu No. 1 white male pigs phenotyped for RFI. Two-step and one-step methods were used separately to identify associated SNPs. Both methods obtained similar results. Twelve SNPs were identified as significantly associated with RFI at a Bonferroni adjusted P-level < 9.7 × 10−7, and 204 were found to have suggestive (moderately significant) association with RFI at P < 5 × 10−5. NMBR, KCTD16, ASGR1, PRKCQ, PITRM1, TIAM1 and RND3 were identified as candidate genes for RFI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fully self-consistent Hartree-Fock (HF) plus random phase approximation (RPA) based on Skyrme-type interaction is used to study the existence problem of proton semi-bubble structure in the $2_{1}^{+}$ state of Si. The experimental excitation energy and the transition strength of the $2_{1}^{+}$ state in Si can be reproduced quite well. The tensor effect is also studied. It is shown that the tensor interaction has a notable impact on the excitation energy of the $2_{1}^{+}$ state and a small effect on the B( E2) value. Besides, its effect on the density distributions in the ground and $2_{1}^{+}$ state of Si is negligible. Our present results with T36 and T44 show that the $2_{1}^{+}$ state of Si is mainly caused by proton transition from $\pi 1d_{5/2}$ orbit to $\pi 2s_{1/2}$ orbit, and the existence of a proton semi-bubble structure in this state is very unlikely. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the investigation of terrorist attacks and other intentional explosion events, it is important to grasp the depth of a burst and the mass of the explosive used in attacks as soon as possible. The above explosion information can be rapidly obtained from the crater generated by blast waves through examining the location and dimensions of the crater. First, a brief review of methods for crater size prediction is presented. Then a series of explosion experiments under the ground or on the soil surface are conducted with different amounts of explosive. We propose the inverse analysis method of the feature parameters of explosive sources based on the crater sizes. Finally, in order to validate the inverse analysis method and prove its ability to model the non-linear relationship between crater dimensions and feature parameters of explosive sources, we compare the modeling results with the results calculated with empirical equations and the experimental results, respectively. The mass of the explosives obtained with Generalized Regression Neural Network was consistent with that used in the experiments in the soils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diabetes mellitus (DM) patients with pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) have increased mycobacterial burden and pulmonary cavitation. Neutrophilia, upregulated inflammatory genes and systemic matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) protein expression are observed, but how neutrophils drive DM-TB immunopathology is unclear. We examined neutrophil function, MMPs, inhibitors of MMPs-tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinases (TIMPs), and chemokine expression in a DM-TB cellular model and patients to identify mechanisms of dysregulation. Primary neutrophils from type 2 DM patients (HbA1c>8%) and healthy control (HC) were stimulated with Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M.tb). Reactive oxygen species (ROS) was assessed by luminol-amplified chemiluminescence and neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) by ELISA. Neutrophil lysates were analysed using NF-kβ array. Plasma and sputum from a cohort of 33 TB and DM-TB patients were analysed for proteases and chemokines by luminex bead array. M.tb -infected DM neutrophils had increased ROS generation and MMP-9 secretion compared to HC (p<0.05). DM-TB patients had suppressed NETs, with lower plasma neutrophil elastase (NE) than non-DM TB patients (p<0.05), while M.tb- infected DM neutrophils resulted in lower NE-DNA release compared to HC (p=0.0736). Tumor necrosis factor receptors TNFR1 and TNFR2 expression were upregulated in M.tb -infected DM neutrophils compared to HC. MMP-8, MMP-9 and IL-8 were upregulated 6.68-, 2.42- and 3.74-fold respectively in DM-TB patients' sputum compared to non-DM TB patients (all p<0.05). Sputum MMP-8 and -9 strongly associated with acid-fast bacilli burden (both r=0.6, p<0.001), while IL-8 strongly associated with HbA1c% (r=0.62, p<0.01). Upregulated plasma MMP-8 in DM-TB patients is strongly associated with peripheral neutrophil count (r=0.7815, p<0.05). The hyper-inflammatory response with increased matrix-degrading phenotype in DM-TB is principally driven by neutrophils, with upregulated MMP-8/-9 in both systemic and respiratory compartments, relative to TB patients without DM. Neutrophil MMPs strongly associated with pulmonary M.tb burden with neutrophil chemokine IL-8 strongly associated with uncontrolled DM. Neutrophil hyper-inflammatory responses drive a worsened DM-TB immunopathology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We hypothesized that survival determinants differ between patients bridged to heart transplantation (HTx) via percutaneous left ventricular assist device (Impella) vs Intraaortic balloon pump (IABP). Such knowledge will guide device selection and optimization protocols for each HTx bridging platform. Using data from the United network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) registry, we identified adult HTx candidates listed between Oct 2018 - Apr 2022 as UNOS status 2, on Impella or IABP support. The primary outcome was survival to HTx. EXtreme Gradient Boost (XGBoost) machine learning model was applied on each study group separately, in an intention-to-treat fashion. We excluded variables with > 50% missing rate. We split data into training (70%) and test (30%) sets. The models were validated using five-fold cross-validation on the training set. Model hyperparameters were fine-tuned with Grid Search. We reported the model performance evaluated on the test set. We studied 677 patients in the Impella group and 3368 patients in the IABP group with observed waiting list mortality of 3.7% and 1.8% (P=0.02), respectively. Impella group survival was heavily influenced by central venous pressure and hepatic function while IABP model was driven by recipient age and body mass index (Figure 1). Ischemic time was an important factor for both groups. Impella survival model achieved C-statistic of 0.90, accuracy of 0.97 on test set, whereas the IABP survival model achieved C-statistic of 0.90 with accuracy of 0.84. Impella use as bridge to HTx is associated with twice the mortality rate compared to the IABP, with distinct predictors of survival. Accounting for such differences in the HTx allocation system may improve patient outcomes. Limitations to our models include the lack of external validation and not accounting for support platform upgrade pre-HTx. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the predictive value of the combination of DEEPVESSEL-fractional flow reserve (DVFFR) and quantitative plaque analysis using coronary computed tomographic angiography (CCTA) for major adverse cardiac events (MACE). In this retrospective study, data from 69 vessels from 58 consecutive patients were collected. These patients who underwent coronary angiography (CAG) with DVFFR were divided into MACE-positive and MACE-negative groups. DVFFR measurements were obtained from CCTA images acquired before CAG, and an FFR or DVFFR value ≤ 0.80 was considered haemodynamically significant. CCTA images were analysed quantitatively using automated software to obtain the following indices: total plaque volume (TPV) and burden (TPB), calcified plaque volume (CPV) and burden (CPB), non-calcified plaque volume (NCPV) and burden (NCPB), low-attenuation plaque (LAP), minimum lumen area (MLA), stenosis grade (SG) and lesion length (LL). Univariate and multivariate logistic regression, correlation, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analyses were used for statistical analysis. DVFFR was highly correlated with invasive FFR (R=0.728), and the Bland–Altman plot showed good agreement between DVFFR and FFR (95% CI: –0.109–0.087) on a per-vessel level. DVFFR showed a high diagnostic performance in identifying abnormal haemodynamic vessels, with an area under the ROC curve (AUC) of 0.984. In multivariate analysis, the following biomarkers were predictors of MACE: DVFFR ≤ 0.8, SG, TPB, NCPB, and LL values. The combination of the above independent risk factors yielded the most valuable prediction for MACE (AUC:0.888). DVFFR was highly correlated with FFR with satisfactory diagnostic accuracy. DVFFR, together with plaque analysis indices, yielded valuable predictions for MACE. • DVFFR is highly correlated with FFR. • DVFFR detect hemodynamic abnormalities with satisfactory diagnostic accuracy. • DVFFR combined with plaque analysis indices yielded valuable predictions for MACE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Used in combination with immunomodulatory therapies, remyelinating therapies are a viable therapeutic approach for treating individuals with multiple sclerosis. Studies of postmortem MS brains identified greater remyelination in demyelinated cerebral cortex than in demyelinated brain white matter and implicated reactive astrocytes as an inhibitor of white matter remyelination. An animal model that recapitulates these phenotypes would benefit the development of remyelination therapeutics. We have used a modified cuprizone protocol that causes a consistent and robust demyelination of mouse white matter and cerebral cortex. Spontaneous remyelination occurred significantly faster in the cerebral cortex than in white matter and reactive astrocytes were more abundant in white matter lesions. Remyelination of white matter and cerebral cortex was therapeutically enhanced by daily injections of thyroid hormone triiodothyronine (T3). In summary, we describe an in vivo demyelination/remyelination paradigm that can be powered to determine efficacy of therapies that enhance white matter and cortical remyelination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Gamow-Teller (GT) strength distributions and isobaric analog resonance (IAR) states of several N = Z + 2 nuclei with mass number A = 42 - 58 are studied by using a self-consistent Skyrme Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov method plus quasiparticle random phase approximation (HFB+QRPA) formalism. The isoscalar spin-triplet pairing interaction is included in QRPA on top of the isovector spin-singlet one in the HFB method. It is found that the isoscalar pairing correlations mix largely the (νj> → πj<) configurations into the low-energy states, and this mixing plays an important role in the formation and in the collectivity of these low-energy states. Furthermore, the observed excitation energy of the low-energy GT state with respect to the IAR can be well reproduced when the strength of isoscalar pairing is about 1.0-1.05 times that of the isovector pairing, irrespective of the adopted Skyrme interactions. In N = Z + 2 nuclei in the middle of the pf-shell, a mutual cooperative effect of isoscalar pairing and tensor interaction is found; namely, the tensor force reduces the spin-orbit splittings and enhances the effect of the isoscalar pairing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Many kinds of cardiac progenitor cell populations have been identified, including c-kit+, Nkx2.5+s and GATA4+ cells. However, these progenitors have limited ability to differentiate into different cardiac cell types. Recently, a new kind of cardiac progenitor cell named the multipotent Isl1+ cardiovascular progenitor ( MICPs) has been identified, which also expresses Nkx2.5, GATA4, CD34 and Flk1. Materials and methods: In this study, we have isolated and characterized MICPs from chicken embryonic heart tissues using immunofluorescence and PCR. Results: Results shown that they express markers of cardiac progenitor cells, with high clonality. They have the ability to self-renew and can give rise to three types of heart cell in vitro. Conclusions: Myocytes, smooth muscle cells and endothelial cells. Our work provides evidence for a developmental paradigm of the heart, that endothelial and muscle lineage diversification arises from multipotent cardiac progenitor cells. Existence of these cells provides a new opportunity for myocardial injury repair. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of the tensor force on β decay is studied in the framework of the proton-neutron random phase approximation with the Skyrme force. The investigation is performed for even-even semimagic and magic nuclei, 34Si, 68,78Ni, and 132Sn. The tensor correlation induces strong impact on the low-lying Gamow-Teller state. In particular, it improves the β-decay half-lives. Q and ft values are also investigated and compared with experimental data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]