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This paper studies the aeroelastic behavior of a rectangular, cantilever wing equipped with the spanwise morphing trailing edge (SMTE) concept. The SMTE consists of multiple trailing edge flaps that allow controlling the spanwise camber distribution of a wing. The flaps are attached at the wing’s trailing edge using torsional springs. The Rayleigh–Ritz method is used to develop the equations of motion of the wing-flap system. The use of shape functions allows for representing the wing as an equivalent 2D airfoil with generalized coordinates that are defined at the wingtip. Strip theory, based on Theodorsen’s unsteady aerodynamic model, is used to compute the aerodynamic loads acting on the wing. A representative Padé approximation for Theodorsen’s function is utilized to model the aerodynamic behaviors in a state-space form allowing time-domain simulation and analysis. The model is validated using a rectangular cantilever wing and the data are available in the literature. A comprehensive parametric comparison study is conducted to assess the impact of flap stiffness on the aeroelastic boundary. In addition, the potential of the SMTE to provide load alleviation and flutter suppression is assessed for a wide range of flight conditions, using a discrete (1-cosine) gust. Finally, the implementation and validation of a controller for a wing with SMTE for gust load alleviation are studied and controller parameters are tuned for a specific gust model.

Abstract Background Single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) technologies and associated analysis methods have rapidly developed in recent years. This includes preprocessing methods, which assign sequencing reads to genes to create count matrices for downstream analysis. While several packaged preprocessing workflows have been developed to provide users with convenient tools for handling this process, how they compare to one another and how they influence downstream analysis have not been well studied. Results Here, we systematically benchmark the performance of 10 end-to-end preprocessing workflows (Cell Ranger, Optimus, salmon alevin, alevin-fry, kallisto bustools, dropSeqPipe, scPipe, zUMIs, celseq2, and scruff) using datasets yielding different biological complexity levels generated by CEL-Seq2 and 10x Chromium platforms. We compare these workflows in terms of their quantification properties directly and their impact on normalization and clustering by evaluating the performance of different method combinations. While the scRNA-seq preprocessing workflows compared vary in their detection and quantification of genes across datasets, after downstream analysis with performant normalization and clustering methods, almost all combinations produce clustering results that agree well with the known cell type labels that provided the ground truth in our analysis. Conclusions In summary, the choice of preprocessing method was found to be less important than other steps in the scRNA-seq analysis process. Our study comprehensively compares common scRNA-seq preprocessing workflows and summarizes their characteristics to guide workflow users.

Abstract A modified Chromium 10x droplet-based protocol that subsamples cells for both short-read and long-read (nanopore) sequencing together with a new computational pipeline (FLAMES) is developed to enable isoform discovery, splicing analysis, and mutation detection in single cells. We identify thousands of unannotated isoforms and find conserved functional modules that are enriched for alternative transcript usage in different cell types and species, including ribosome biogenesis and mRNA splicing. Analysis at the transcript level allows data integration with scATAC-seq on individual promoters, improved correlation with protein expression data, and linked mutations known to confer drug resistance to transcriptome heterogeneity.

Abstract Anthracyclines are highly effective chemotherapeutic agents; however, their clinical utility is limited by severe anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity (ACT). Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have uncovered several genetic variants associated with ACT, but the impact of these findings requires further elucidation. We conducted a transcriptome-wide association study (TWAS) using our previous GWAS summary statistics (n = 280 patients) to identify gene expression-related associations with ACT. We identified a genetic association between decreased expression of GDF5 and ACT (Z-score = −4.30, P = 1.70 × 10−5), which was replicated in an independent cohort (n = 845 patients, P = 3.54 × 10−3). Additionally, cell viability of GDF5-silenced human cardiac myocytes was significantly decreased in response to anthracycline treatment. Subsequent gene set enrichment and pathway analyses of the TWAS data revealed that genes essential for survival, cardioprotection and response to anthracyclines, as well as genes involved in ribosomal, spliceosomal and cardiomyopathy pathways are important for the development of ACT.

AbstractShrimp are a valuable aquaculture species globally; however, disease remains a major hindrance to shrimp aquaculture sustainability and growth. Mechanisms mediated by endogenous viral elements have been proposed as a means by which shrimp that encounter a new virus start to accommodate rather than succumb to infection over time. However, evidence on the nature of such endogenous viral elements and how they mediate viral accommodation is limited. More extensive genomic data on Penaeid shrimp from different geographical locations should assist in exposing the diversity of endogenous viral elements. In this context, reported here is a PacBio Sequel-based draft genome assembly of an Australian black tiger shrimp (Penaeus monodonP. monodon

The effectiveness of anthracycline chemotherapeutics (e.g., doxorubicin) is limited by anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity (ACT). A nonsynonymous variant (S427L) in the retinoic acid receptor-γ (RARG) gene has been associated with ACT. This variant causes reduced RARG activity, which is hypothesized to lead to increased susceptibility to ACT through reduced activation of the retinoic acid pathway. This study explored the effects of activating the retinoic acid pathway using a RAR-agonist, all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA), in human cardiomyocytes and mice treated with doxorubicin. In human cardiomyocytes, ATRA induced the gene expression of RARs (RARG, RARB) and repressed the expression of topoisomerase II enzyme genes (TOP2A, TOP2B), which encode for the molecular targets of anthracyclines and repressed downstream ACT response genes. Importantly, ATRA enhanced cell survival of human cardiomyocytes exposed to doxorubicin. The protective effect of ATRA was also observed in a mouse model (B6C3F1/J) of ACT, in which ATRA treatment improved heart function compared to doxorubicin-only treated mice. Histological analyses of the heart also indicated that ATRA treatment reduced the pathology associated with ACT. These findings provide additional evidence for the retinoic acid pathway's role in ACT and suggest that the RAR activator ATRA can modulate this pathway to reduce ACT.

الملخص: أهداف البحث: الخروج ضد المشورة الطبية من المستشفى قد يكون له تأثير سلبي على صحة المريض. هدفت هذه الدراسة إلى التحقيق في الأسباب الرئيسة للخروج ضد المشورة الطبية من قبل آباء الأطفال المنومين في جناح الأطفال في مستشفى علي بن أبي طالب في زاهدان، إيران. طرق البحث: أجريت هذه الدراسة للحالات على ١٣٠ طفلا تم تنويمهم في جناح الأطفال في المستشفى. تم تقسيم الأطفال بالتساوي إلى مجموعتين؛ من هم غير مكتملي العلاج وأولئك الذين تم بقائهم في المستشفى حتى إنتهاء علاجهم واتبعوا الخروج العادي. تم تطبيق استبانة تعبأ ذاتيا لجمع البيانات. النتائج: تضمنت مجموعة الدراسة ١٣٠ طفلا أعمارهم أقل من ١ إلى ١٨ عاما بمتوسط ٣.٣±٣.٧عاما. وكان هناك ٥١.٥٪ (٦٧) من الفتيات و٤٨.٥٪ (٦٣) من الفتيان. أظهرت النتائج علاقة كبيرة بين تعليم الآباء ومدة العلاج في المستشفى، ومدة العلاج والخروج ضد المشورة الطبية عندما لم تكن هناك عوامل أخرى ذات علاقة هامة. الاستنتاجات: كانت الأسباب الرئيسة للخروج ضد المشورة الطبية هو عدم الرضا من الأطباء والعاملين في المستشفى، واضطراب الأسرة بسبب وجود أطفال آخرين في المنزل، وعدم كفاية الوضع الاقتصادي والبقاء بعيدا عن البيت. يمكن لإعطاء ثقافة مناسبة للآباء والشرح عن الفوائد والأضرار لرفض إكمال العلاج أن يساعد الآباء لاتخاذ قرارات أفضل. Abstract: Objectives: Discharge against medical advice (DAMA) from the hospital may negatively impact patients’ well-being. The present study aimed to investigate the main reasons for DAMA among parents of children admitted to the paediatric ward of the Ali Ebne Abitaleb Hospital in Zahedan, Iran. Methods: Participants in this case–control study included 130 children who had been admitted to the hospital's paediatric ward. Participants were divided into two equal groups: (1) those with incomplete treatment and (2) those who stayed in the hospital until the completion of their management and followed regular discharge procedures. A self-administered questionnaire was utilised for data collection. Results: Participants included 130 children aged 0.05). Conclusion: This study found that the key reasons for DAMA were as follows: lack of satisfaction with physicians and hospital staff, family disturbance due to the presence of other children at home, inadequate economic situation, and being away from home. Providing professional education to parents and expressing the benefits and disadvantages of refusing complete treatment may help parents make better decisions. الكلمات المفتاحية: الخروج ضد المشورة الطبية, الخروج العادي, مقارنة, جناح الأطفال, رضا المريض, Keywords: Comparison, Discharge against medical advice, Normal discharge, Paediatric wards, Patient satisfaction

Reduced representation bisulfite sequencing (RRBS) provides an efficient method for measuring DNA methylation at single base resolution in regions of high CpG density. This technique has been extensively tested on the HiSeq2500, which uses a 4-colour detection method, however it is unclear if the method will also work on the NextSeq500 platform, which employs a 2-colour detection system. We created an RRBS library and sequenced it on both the HiSeq2500 and NextSeq500, and found no significant difference in the base composition of reads derived from either machine. Moreover, the methylation calls made from the data of each instrument were highly concordant, with methylation patterns across the genome appearing as expected. Therefore, RRBS can be sequenced on the Nextseq500 with comparable quality to that of the HiSeq2500. All sequencing data are deposited in the GEO database under accession number GSE87097.

We present the first genetic map of tedera (Bituminaria bituminosa (L.) C.H. Stirton), a drought-tolerant forage legume from the Canary Islands with useful pharmaceutical properties. It is also the first genetic map for any species in the tribe Psoraleeae (Fabaceae). The map comprises 2042 genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS) markers distributed across 10 linkage groups, consistent with the haploid chromosome count for this species (n = 10). Sequence tags from the markers were used to find homologous matches in the genome sequences of the closely related species in the Phaseoleae tribe: soybean, common bean, and cowpea. No tedera linkage groups align in their entirety to chromosomes in any of these phaseoloid species, but there are long stretches of collinearity that could be used in tedera research for gene discovery purposes using the better-resourced phaseoloid species. Using Ks analysis of a tedera transcriptome against five legume genomes provides an estimated divergence time of 17.4 million years between tedera and soybean. Genomic information and resources developed here will be invaluable for breeding tedera varieties for forage and pharmaceutical purposes.

Background: Our aim was to determine the service quality of delivered care for people with Caesarean Section and Normal Delivery. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 200 people who had caesarean section and normal delivery in Al-Zahra Teaching Hospital in Tabriz, north western Iran. Service quality was calculated using: Service Quality = 10 – (Importance × Performance) based on importance and performance of service quality aspects from the postpartum women‟s perspective.A hierarchical regression analysis was applied in two steps using the enter method to examine the associations between demographics and SQ scores. Data were analysed using the SPSS-17 software. Results: “Confidentiality”, “autonomy”, “choice of care provider” and “communication” achieved scores at the highest level of quality; and “support group”, “prompt attention”, “prevention and early detection”, “continuity of care”, “dignity”, “safety”, “accessibility and “basic amenities” got service quality score less than eight. Statistically significant relationship was found between service quality score and continuity of care (P=0.008). Conclusion: A notable gap between the participants‟ expectations and what they have actually received in most aspects of provided care. So, there is an opportunityto improve the quality of delivered care.

Cisplatin is a highly-effective and widely-used chemotherapeutic agent that causes ototoxicity in many patients. Pharmacogenomic studies of key genes controlling drug biotransformation identified variants in thiopurine methyltransferase (TPMT) as predictors of cisplatin-induced ototoxicity, although the mechanistic basis of this interaction has not been reported. Expression constructs of TPMT*3A, *3B and *3C variants were generated and monitored in cultured cells. Cellular TPMT*3A levels were detected at >20-fold lower amounts than the wild type confirming the unstable nature of this variant. The expression of wild type TPMT (TPMT*1) in two murine ear cell lines, HEI-OC1 and UB/OC-1, significantly mitigated their susceptibility to cisplatin toxicity. Cisplatin treatment induced Tlr4 gene expression in HEI-OC1 cells and this response was blunted by the expression of wild type TPMT but not TPMT*3A. In line with the significant mitigation of TPMT*1-expressing cells to cisplatin cytotoxicity, these findings demonstrate a drug-gene interaction between increased TPMT activity and decreased susceptibility to cisplatin-induced toxicity of inner ear cells.

Background: This systematic review seeks to define the general advantages and disadvantagesof accreditation programs to assist in choosing the most appropriate approach.Method: Systematic search of SID, Ovid Medline & PubMed databases was conducted by thekeywords of accreditation, hospital, medical practice, clinic, accreditation models, health careand Persian meanings. From 2379 initial articles, 83 articles met the full inclusion criteria.From initial analysis, 23 attributes were identified which appeared to define advantages anddisadvantages of different accreditation approaches and the available systems were comparedon these.Results: Six systems were identified in the international literature including the JCAHO fromUSA, the Canadian program of CCHSA, and the accreditation programs of UK, Australia,New Zealand and France. The main distinguishing attributes among them were: qualityimprovement, patient and staff safety, improving health services integration, public’s confidence,effectiveness and efficiency of health services, innovation, influence global standards,information management, breadth of activity, history, effective relationship with stakeholders,agreement with AGIL attributes and independence from government.Conclusion: Based on 23 attributes of comprehensive accreditation systems we have definedfrom a systematic review, the JCAHO accreditation program of USA and then CCHSA ofCanada offered the most comprehensive systems with the least disadvantages. Other programssuch as the ACHS of Australia, ANAES of France, QHNZ of New Zealand and UK accreditationprograms were fairly comparable according to these criteria. However the decision forany country or health system should be based on an assessment weighing up their specificobjectives and needs.

In an earlier work we showed that for ordered fields F not isomorphic to the reals R, there are continuous 1-1 unctions on [0, 1]F which map some interior point to a boundary point of the image (and so are not open). Here we show that over closed bounded intervals in the rationals Q as well as in all non-Archimedean ordered fields of countable cofinality, there are uniformly continuous 1-1 functions not mapping interior to interior. In particular, the minimal non-Archimedean ordered field Q(x), as well as ordered Laurent series fields with coefficients in an ordered field accommodate such pathological functions.

The generalized degrees of freedom of the two-user symmetric multiple input multiple output interference channel are characterized as a function of the channel strength levels and the level of channel state information at the transmitters. In this symmetric setting, each transmitter is equipped with M antennas, each receiver is equipped with N antennas, and both cross links have the same strength parameter α and the same channel uncertainty parameter β. The main challenge resides in the proof of the outer bound which is accomplished by a generalization of the aligned image sets approach.

This article reports the preparation of new mesoporous triazine‐based organic polymers and their characterization. The polymers were synthesized via a nucleophilic condensation reaction between cyanuric chloride and bisphenols or aromatic diamine linkers. As a result, two types of triazine‐based polymers were prepared: triazine‐ether and triazine‐amine polymers. The polymers reveal a mesoporous nature with surface area values ranging between 345 and 1275 m2 g−1 and mesopore volume between 0.273 and 1.03 cm3 g−1. These values were determined from argon gas isotherms at 87 K. The pore size distribution also confirmed the micro–mesoporosity, which reached up to 3.0 nm for all polymers. The triazine‐amine polymer shows good thermal oxidative stability up to 450 °C. Motivated by the mesopore size, the new polymers were also employed as palladium nanoparticle supports. The X‐ray diffraction technique indicated the successful incorporation of palladium nanoparticles, and Fourier transform infrared measurements proved that the framework of the polymers was retained after forming palladium supports. To ensure the catalytic reactivity of palladium nanoparticles, we employed one example as a catalyst in a Suzuki coupling reaction. The catalyst exhibited remarkable recyclability, maintaining catalytic efficiency through seven cycles, thereby enabling the use of palladium‐loaded triazine‐based polymeric catalysts in a variety of organic reactions in future. © 2023 Society of Industrial Chemistry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract In this study, a novel fluorescence nanoprobe based on Materials of Institute Lavoisier (MIL-101) metal-organic frameworks embedding into the agarose hydrogel is fabricated using a hydrothermal technique. It uses for sensitive quantification of deferiprone in exhaled breath condensate (EBC) samples. The morphology and characterization of MIL-101/agarose nanocomposite hydrogel is studied by transmission electron microscopy, dynamic light scattering instrument, powder X-ray diffraction analysis, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The probe shows a reasonable fluorescence intensity quenching in the presence of deferiprone due to the interactions between iron centers in MIL-101 (Fe) and deferiprone, which likely form non-fluorescent complexes. The proposed nanoprobe demonstrates a linear calibration curve from 0.005 to 1.5 µg mL− 1 with a detection limit of 0.003 µg mL− 1. The intra- and inter-day precision of the reported method are 0.3% and 0.4% (n = 5, deferiprone concentration = 1.0 µg mL− 1), respectively. This method demonstrates high sensitivity and specificity towards deferiprone in the EBC samples and also presents a sensing platform with simplicity, convenience, fast implementation, and cost-effective in medical monitoring.

Injection of carbon dioxide (CO2) is an effective method to improve oil recovery from hydrocarbon reservoirs. The interfacial tension (IFT) between CO2 and crude oil is a critical parameter during CO2 flooding. IFT of different crude oils in compressed carbon dioxide was measured at different pressures and temperatures. The minimum miscibility and first-contact miscibility pressures were calculated using vanishing IFT analysis. The minimum miscibility pressure is significantly affected by temperature with less dependency on the crude oil composition. The first-contact miscibility pressure was found to be more sensitive to temperature and crude composition. Measured IFT values at different pressure and temperature conditions were correlated to crude oil density and acid number using a wide range of crude gravity and total acid number. These properties are simple and less costly to measure but they directly reflect the effect of crude oil composition on IFT as a function of pressure. This new approach of correlating IFT between CO2 and crude oil under reservoir conditions will improve the simulation of CO2 EOR projects under reservoir conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]