Overhunting is extirpating large animals across tropical forests, affecting tree populations and potentially global carbon cycling. Species reliant on large-bodied seed dispersers may be particularly negatively affected. But defaunation also affects seed predation, trampling of seedlings, and conspecific density dependence. Therefore, defaunation predictions must incorporate multiple plant-animal interactions in the context of the entire tree life cycle. Because we cannot conduct such analyses for every species, we assess whether we can predict species' responses to defaunation based on phenotypic and demographic traits. Using population models, Monte Carlo simulations, and syntheses of demographic data, we found that responses to defaunation were best explained by how hunting altered seed predation, particularly for small-seeded angiosperms. How tree species will respond to defaunation still cannot be precisely predicted, but ascertaining how seed predation varies across species and hunting scenarios could greatly enhance our understanding of changing species composition and carbon dynamics in defaunated forests.

Versatile counterstrategies shift the balance of intersexual conflict from males to females

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NiCr metal matrix composite reinforced with Cr3C2 particles can be applied as coating to various pieces of equipment, including those operating under fatigue. In the present study, the nanometric powder was obtained by high energy milling and sprayed by the high velocity oxygen fuel technique on ASTM A516 steel substrate. The comparison was made between the layer obtained from powders in nanometric scale, micrometric scale and mixing 50% of both. The coating thickness, hardness, microstructure, porosity and roughness were evaluated. Fatigue tests were performed on the three coatings in addition to the layer free substrate. The effect of coating morphology and its roughness on fatigue performance was studied. The surface roughness of the Nano coating was significantly lower than both of the other coatings. However, the three different layers that were tested did not experience significant differences in their fatigue performance. All three coatings had lower fatigue performance than the steel substrate.

Garg and Kumar (Scientia Iranica, 2017, https://doi.org/ 10.24200/SCI.2017.4454) proposed some new correlation coefficient between intuitionistic fuzzy sets (IFSs). To point out the advantages of their proposed correlation coefficient over the existing correlation coefficient, Garg and Kumar applied their proposed correlation coefficient as well as the existing correlation coefficient to identify a suitable classifier for an unknown pattern, represented by an intuitionistic fuzzy set (IFS), from the known patterns, each represented by IFS. Garg and Kumar suggested that the existing correlation coefficient fails to identify a suitable classifier, whereas, the correlation coefficient, proposed by them, does not fail to identify a suitable classifier. So, it is appropriate to use the correlation coefficient, proposed by them, instead of the existing correlation coefficient. In this note, it is shown that the correlation coefficient, proposed by Garg and Kumar, also fails to identify a suitable classifier. Furthermore, it is shown that more computational efforts are required to apply the correlation coefficient, proposed by Garg and Kumar, as compared to the existing correlation coefficient. In the actual case, it is inappropriate to apply the correlation coefficient for identifying a suitable classifier.

Innate immune sensing of viral molecular patterns is essential for development of antiviral responses. Like many viruses SARS CoV-2 has evolved strategies to circumvent innate immune detection including low CpG levels in the genome, glycosylation to shield essential elements including the receptor binding domain, RNA shielding and generation of viral proteins that actively impede anti-viral interferon responses. Together these strategies allow widespread infection and increased viral load. Despite the efforts of immune subversion SARS-CoV-2 infection does activate innate immune pathways inducing a robust type I/III interferon response, production of proinflammatory cytokines, and recruitment of neutrophils and myeloid cells. This may induce hyperinflammation or alternatively, effectively recruit adaptive immune responses that help clear the infection and prevent reinfection. The dysregulation of the renin-angiotensin system due to downregulation of angiotensin converting enzyme 2, the receptor for SARS-CoV-2, together with the activation of type I/III interferon response, and inflammasome response converge to promote free radical production and oxidative stress. This exacerbates tissue damage in the respiratory system but also leads to widespread activation of coagulation pathways leading to thrombosis. Here, we review the current knowledge of the role of the innate immune response following SARS-CoV-2 infection, much of which is based on the knowledge from SARS-CoV and other coronaviruses. Understanding how the virus subverts the initial immune response and how an aberrant innate immune response contributes to the respiratory and vascular damage in COVID-19 may help explain factors that contribute to the variety of clinical manifestations and outcome of SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Introduction: Intense immunological dysregulation including immune cell lesions have been characteristically observed in severe cases of Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19), for which molecular mechanisms are least understood. A study of physiological expressions of SARS-CoV-2 host cell entry related factors in immune system components may help explain molecular mechanisms involved in COVID-19 immunopathology. Materials and Methods: Transcriptomic and proteomic expression metadata for SARS-CoV-2 host cell entry receptor ACE2 and entry associated proteases (TMPRSS2, CTSL, and FURIN) were analysed in silico across immune system components including blood lineage cells. Results: ACE2 was not-detected in any of the studied immune cell components, however, varying transcriptomic and proteomic expressions were observed, for TMPRSS2, CTSL, and FURIN. Conclusions: Non-detectable expressions of SARS-CoV-2 host cell entry receptor ACE2 in immune system components or blood lineage cells indicate it doesn’t mediate immune cell lesions in COVID-19. Alternative mechanisms need to be explored for COVID-19 immuno-pathogenesis.

Harvesting of microalgae is essentially the most energy intensive process in commercial algal culture ventures. Developing innovative, cost effective harvesting systems is of paramount need for commercial algal culture ventures. The study thus aimed at investigating the use of eco-friendly Solar Powered Electroflocculation (SPEF) coupled with battery for harvesting marine microalgae using aluminium electrodes. Optimization of various operating parameters like initial algal density, time of operation (5, 10, 15 and 30 min), (initial biomass concentration 0.1, 0.5 and 1.0 gL-1) and electrode distance (35, 55, 75 and 95 cms) were done using direct current (D.C). Best flocculation efficiency (91.31 ± 2.91 %) was obtained using a current density of 37.2 Acm-2, a voltage of 24 V for 15 min at an electrode distance of 95 cm and pH 8.0. The quality of the harvested biomass was ascertained in-terms of biochemical components using Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy, total lipid and pigment profile. Due to the low resistance of seawater the energy required for electroflocculation was as low as 0.223 kWh/ton. The energy requirement for the electroflocculation system with or without solar power was also predicted. The results revealed SPEF can be developed as a potential alternative marine microalgal harvesting system for nutraceutical coupled biodiesel production.

Background: To compare long-term oncological and renal functional outcomes of laparoscopic and robotic partial nephrectomy for small renal masses. Methods: A total of 103 patients who underwent laparoscopic (n= 31) and robotic (n= 72) partial nephrectomy between April 2015 and November 2018 were included in the study. Perioperative parameters, long-term oncological and functional outcomes were compared between the laparoscopic and robotic groups. Results: No significant differences were found in terms of age, tumor size, RENAL and PADUA scores, preoperative estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), and presence of chronic hypertension and diabetes (p=0.479, p=0.199, p=0.120 and p=0.073, p=0.561 and p=0.082 and p=0.518, respectively). Only estimated blood loss was significantly higher in the laparoscopic group in operative parameters (158.23±72.24 mL vs 121.11±72.17 mL; P=0.019), but transfusion rates were similar between the groups (p=0.33). In the laparoscopic group, two patients (6.5%) required conversion to open, while no conversion was needed in the robotic group (p=0.89). There were no differences in terms of positive surgical margin and complication rates (p=0.636 and p=0.829, respectively). No significant differences were observed in eGFR changes and postoperative new-onset chronic kidney disease at one year after the operation (p=0.768, p=0.614, respectively). The overall mean follow- up period was 36.07±13.56 months (p=0.007). During the follow-up period, no cancer-related death observed in both group and non-cancer specific survival was 93.5% and 94.4% in laparoscopic and robotic groups, respectively (p=0.859). Conclusions: In this study, perioperative and long-term oncological and functional outcomes seems to be comparable between laparoscopic and robotic partial nephrectomies.

This study’s objective was to develop a method by which smallholder forest plantations can be mapped accurately in Andhra Pradesh, India, using multitemporal visible and near-infrared (VNIR) bands from the Sentinel-2 MultiSpectral Instruments (MSIs). Conversion to agriculture, coupled with secondary dependencies on and scarcity of wood products, has driven the deforestation and degradation of natural forests in Southeast Asia. Concomitantly, forest plantations have been established both within and outside of forests, with the latter (as contiguous blocks) being the focus of this study. Accurately mapping smallholder forest plantations in South and Southeast Asia is difficult using remotely sensed data due to the plantations’ small size (average of 2 hectares), short rotation ages (4-7 years for timber species), and spectral similarities to croplands and natural forests. Cloud-free Harmonized Landsat Sentinel-2 (HLS) S10 data was acquired over six dates, from different seasons, over four years (2015-2018). Available in situ data on forest plantations was supplemented with additional training data resulting in 2,230 high-quality samples aggregated into three land use classes: non-forest, natural forest, and forest plantations. Image classification used random forests on a thirty-band stack consisting of the VNIR bands and NDVI images for all six dates. The median classification accuracy from the 5-fold cross-validation was 94.3%. Our results, predicated on high-quality training data, demonstrate that (mostly smallholder) forest plantations can be separated from natural forests even using only the Sentinel-2 VNIR bands when multitemporal data (across both years and seasons) are used.

We report a novel Cultured Neuronal Network on a chip as a viable alternative to current culture methods for the analysis of neuronal network formation and evolution of the structural properties of the network's graph . This innovative microfluidic chip fabricated from Polydimethylsiloxane, vinyl, and glass offers worthy features such as the posibility to develop and produce custom designs effortlessly, easy handling and monitoring, culture medium renewal, and reducing the exposure to contamination. Due to these benefits, longer survival of the neuronal networks are observed in comparison to conventional methods. In addition to the fast and cost-effective manufacturing of the chip, this technology provides a significant step forward in the studies of neuronal network development and many challening applications such as drug testing of in vitro cell culture models .

Electrochemical machining (ECM) is a method for removing metal by anodic dissolution. At the interface between the workpiece surface and an electrically conductive fluid (electrolyte), the material is dissolved locally without direct physical contact to the cathodic tool. Due to the force-free nature of the process, ECM is used for machining high-strength or hard materials, such as titanium aluminides, Inconel, Waspaloy, and high nickel, cobalt, and rhenium alloys.1 However, determining suitable process parameters remains challenging due to their interacting effects on working distances during the machining process. Therefore a simulation-based approach to process design substantially reduces resource and time investment to achieve the desired geometry of the finished part. This methodology requires data about the materials electrochemical properties, such as removal velocity and current efficiency, which have to be obtained experimentally. In this study, a methodology for acquiring and processing this data as well as the development of multiphysics simulation models is presented for two use cases: (i) manufacturing a centrifugal impeller with a diameter of 14 mm consisting of the nickel alloy Inconel 713C for use in turbomachinery and (ii) the generation of a defined surface micro structure into the novel Mg-Y-Zn alloy WZ73.

Objective: Estimated fetal weight, large for gestational age (eLGA) (≥90th percentile) may be associated with failed trial of labor after Cesarean (TOLAC), like fetal macrosomia. The aim of this study was to evaluate obstetrical outcome and safety of TOLAC, for women with eLGA. Design: A retrospective cohort study. Setting: a single large tertiary care center. Population or Sample: all women with singleton pregnancy, gestational age ≥ 37weeks, admitted for TOLAC between 2012 and 2017. Methods: Women with eLGA were compared to women with EFW < 90th percentile. Main outcome measures: the rate of successful vaginal delivery, adverse obstetrical outcomes. Results: 1949 women met inclusion criteria, including78 (4%) eLGA and 1871 (96%) controls. Study group were older (35 vs. 33 year; p=0.004), with higher Body Mass Index (30.9 vs. 27.5 kg/m2; p=0.001) and higher gravidity (4 vs. 3; p=0.001) compared to the controls. Median fetal weight was [3887g (IQR 3718-4073) vs. 3275g (IQR 2995-3545); p=0.001 in the study vs. controls respectively]. 55 (70.5%) women in the study group had successful vaginal delivery compared to 1506 (80.5%) women in the control (p= 0.03). The rate of obstetrical complications, including: scar dehiscence, uterine rupture, 3rd /4th degree perineal tear or shoulder dystocia were comparable. The rate of post-partum hemorrhage was increased in the study group compared to controls (7.7% vs.1.7%; p=0.001). Conclusion: TOLAC for eLGA fetuses can be considered as safe, however, lower successful VBAC rates and increased PPH rate may be expected.

The Budyko curve, relating a catchment’s water and energy balance, provides a useful tool to analyse how humans may impact long-term runoff. Often a parametric form of the curve, the Fu’s equation, is used to represent the relationship between a catchment’s long-term water partitioning behaviour and climate. Fu’s parameter ω, typically derived from observed climate and runoff data, can further be related to catchments’ physio-climatic characteristics for understanding the main drivers of its water balance. We employ this approach to quantify the impact of human interventions on surface water partitioning across India. We explore the relationship between ω and a curated database of 33 physio-climatic and socio-economic characteristics for 534 regional divisions of India using two related machine learning algorithms: classification and regression trees (CART) and random forest (RF). Both algorithms diagnose the hierarchy of representative vegetation, climate, soil, land use land cover, topography and anthropogenic controls. RF validates CART output while also providing a data-driven model to estimate ω in assumed data-scarce regions, enabling us to assess the value of this dataset for predictions in ungauged basins. The most relevant characteristics controlling ω based on CART and RF analysis were: long-term temperature, percentage of short rooted vegetation, population density, and long-term precipitation. RFs were able to correctly predict the classified ω for 63.9 % of assumed ungauged regions. We found that population density’s influence on ω was comparable to that of climate and vegetation, highlighting the role of humans in controlling long-term surface water partitioning variability across India.

The global pandemic of COVID-19 caused by coronavirus has had a profound impact on the delivery of health care in the United States and globally. Boston was among the earliest hit cities in the United States, and within Boston, the Massachusetts General Hospital provided care for more patients with COVID -19 than any other hospital in the region. This necessitated a massive re-allocation of resources and priorities, with near doubling of intensive care bed capacity and a halt in all deferrable surgical cases. During this crisis, the Division of Cardiac Surgery responded in a unified manner, dealing honestly with the necessity to reduce Intensive Care Unit resource utilization, for the benefit of both the institution and our community, by deferring non-emergent cases while also continuing to efficiently care for those patients in urgent or emergent need of surgery. Many of the interventions that we instituted have continued to support teamwork as we adapt to the remarkably fluid changes in resource availability during the recovery phase. We believe that the culture of our division and the structure of our practice facilitated our ability to contribute to the mission of our hospital to support the community in this crisis, and now to its recovery. We describe here the challenge we faced in Boston and some of the details of the structure and function of our division.

Tree spatial patterns in dry coniferous forests of the western US, and analogous ecosystems globally, were historically aggregated, comprising a mixture of single trees and groups of trees. Modern forests, in contrast, are generally more homogeneous and overstocked than their historical counterparts. As these modern forests lack regular fire, pattern formation and maintenance is generally attributed to fire. Accordingly, fires in modern forests may not yield historically analogous patterns. However, direct observations on how selective tree mortality among pre-existing forest structure shapes tree spatial patterns is limited. In this study, we (1) simulated fires in historical and contemporary counterpart plots in a Sierra Nevadan mixed-conifer forest, (2) estimated tree mortality, and (3) examined tree spatial patterns of live trees before and after fire, and of fire-killed trees. Tree mortality in the historical period was clustered and density-dependent, because trees were aggregated and segregated by tree size before fire. Thus, fires maintained an aggregated distribution of tree groups. Tree mortality in the contemporary period was widespread, except for dispersed large trees, because most trees were a part of large, interconnected tree groups. Thus, post-fire tree patterns were more uniform and devoid of moderately sized tree groups. Post-fire tree patterns in the historical period, unlike the contemporary period, were within the historical range of variability identified for the western US. This divergence suggests that decades of forest dynamics without significant disturbances has altered the historical means of pyric pattern formation. Our results suggest that ecological silvicultural treatments, such as forest restoration thinnings, which emulate qualities of historical forests may facilitate the reintroduction of fire as a means to reinforce forest structural heterogeneity.

Objective To determine the accuracy of intrapartum fetal heart rate (FHR) abnormalities as defined by National Institute of Health and Care Excellence guidelines for the prediction of moderate-severe hypoxic-ischemic neonatal encephalopathy (HIE). Design Case-control study Setting Rotunda Hospital, Dublin, Ireland. Population or Sample Eligible babies were born between September 2006 and November 2017 at ≥35+0 weeks’ gestational age. Cases were eligible babies with moderate-severe HIE. Controls were eligible babies born before and after each case with normal Apgar scores. Methods Blinded manual marking of FHR trace features followed by automated categorisation of each 15-minute segment. Main Exposure Measures FHR pattern features: baseline, variability, accelerations, early, variable, deep/prolonged variable, late or prolonged decelerations, bradycardia, sinusoidal pattern FHR pattern categories: normal, suspicious, or pathological Results Adequate FHR traces results were available in 52 of 88 cases and 118 of 176 controls. The FHR pattern feature with the largest area under the receiving operator characteristic curve (AUROCC) was the maximum number of consecutive segments with the baseline >160bpm (0.71 [95% confidence interval {CI}: 0.62-0.80]). The FHR category variable with the highest AUROCC was the number of suspicious segments (0.76 [95% CI: 0.67-0.84]). A multivariate model incorporating the number of segments and the percentage of segments classed suspicious/pathological achieved an AUROCC of 0.782 (95% CI: 0.704-0.861). Conclusions The power of FHR analysis to predict HIE is hampered by poor sensitivity for the rarity of the outcome. When analysing a suspicious FHR trace, it is beneficial to consider the overall duration of the suspicious patterns

Sir, We read with interests the article by Lorraine S Kasaven and collegues, entitled “Implications for the future of Obstetrics and Gynaecology following the COVID‐19 pandemic: A commentary”. They discussed the impact of COVID-19 on practice of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, and summarized detailed suggestions. We would like to emphasize the importance of prevention in pregnancy.Though the management guidelines during pregnancy are evolving continuously, pregnant women suffered with COVID-19 mean worse pregnancy outcomes, both physically and mentally, especially during the first or second trimester, both the patient and doctor may stuck in the middle. What is worse, no drug or vaccine has been proved to be effective and safe enough to prevent COVID-19 until now.Physical distancing, face masks, and eye protection have been proved to be effective in preventing person-to-person transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19. As confirmed that public health interventions could temporally improve control of the COVID-19 outbreak.“Don’t wait to lose to know how to cherish”, so as to health. After all, it could not be regarded as common flu, COVID-19 has a strong contagion effect and could cause significant morbidity and mortality. In the 1902 paper, Ballantyne said, “as with the premature, the ideal plan of procedure is prevention”, so with the COVID-19. With strong awareness of prevention and effective measures to be taken among the non-infected population, the current situation will gradually get better, and people will definitely defeat the epidemic at the end.Rui-hong Xue,1 He-feng Huang11International Peace Maternity and Child Health Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China

Goal: Fast Fourier transform (FFT), has been the main tool for EEG spectral analysis (SPA). As EEG can show nonlinear and non-stationary behavior, FFT may at times be meaningless. A novel method was developed for analyzing nonlinear and non-stationary signals using the Hilbert-Huang transform. Methods: We compared spectral analyses of EEG using FFT with Hilbert marginal spectra (HMS) with a multivariate empirical mode decomposition algorithm. Segments of continuous 60-sec EEGs recorded from 19 leads of 47 healthy volunteers were studied. Results: HMS showed a reduction of the alpha activity (-5.64%), with increments in the beta-1 (+1.67%), and gamma (+1.38%) fast activity bands, an increment in theta (+2.14%), and in delta (+0.45%) bands, and vice versa for the FFT method. For weighted mean frequencies, insignificant mean differences (lower than 1Hz) were observed between both methods for delta, theta, alpha, beta-1 and beta-2 bands, and only for gamma band values. The HMS were 3 Hz higher than the FFT method. Conclusion: HMS may be considered a good alternative for SPA of the EEG when nonlinearity or non-stationarity may be present.

This program director survey attempts to determine how coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is impacting current training in cardiothoracic surgery. A transition to virtual didactic sessions may prove beneficial with increasing attendance. On the other hand, decreasing live simulation and case volumes may jeopardize achieving competency in surgical skills.

Phylogenetic diversity of symbiotic bacteria in sucking lice suggests that lice have experienced a complex history of symbiont acquisition, loss, and replacement during their evolution. By combining metagenomics and amplicon screening across several populations of two louse genera (Polyplax and Hoplopleura) we describe a novel louse symbiont lineage related to Neisseria and Snodgrassella, and show its independent origin within dynamic lice microbiomes. While the genomes of these symbionts are highly similar in both lice genera, their respective distributions and status within lice microbiomes indicate that they have different functions and history. In Hoplopleura acanthopus, the Neisseria-related bacterium is a dominant obligate symbiont universally present across several host’s populations, and seems to be replacing a presumably older and more degenerated obligate symbiont. In contrast, the Polyplax microbiomes are dominated by the obligate symbiont Legionella polyplacis, with the Neisseria-related bacterium co-occurring only in some samples and with much lower abundance.

In this paper, 316 stainless steel was treated by laser shock peening (LSP) technology, and the micro-hardness, residual stress and rolling contact fatigue (RCF) performance were investigated. The result suggests that LSP can effectively improve the RCF performance of 316 stainless steel. The main factor is that LSP can induce high amplitude compressive residual stress on the surface layer. With the increase of residual compressive stress, the worn mechanism of RCF surface changes from delamination to micro-plastic deformation. It is also found that the RCF of 316 stainless steel treated by LSP was sensitive to the contact stress.

Objective: To explore the characteristics of intra-cardiac blood cysts to provide a reference for accurate diagnosis and prognosis. Methods: In this study, 8 cases of cardiac blood cysts were analyzed retrospectively from January 2006 to March 2020, and the clinical symptoms, echocardiography, operation and prognosis were analyzed. Results: All clinical symptoms were not typical and cysts were isolated. The cysts were attached to the anterior leaflet of the mitral valve (n=4), posterior papillary muscle and chordae of mitral valve (n=1), septal leaflet of the tricuspid valve (n=2), or the tricuspid valve orifice and tricuspid anterior annulus (n=1). Echocardiography revealed the cysts were small and balloon‑like. They had high tension wall, the wall was thin and smooth. Calcification could be seen on the cyst wall. The inside was none echogenicity area and the cyst moved and swung with the valve or chordae. Of the 8 patients, 1 had no hemodynamic effects and did not need surgery. The other 7 cases were confirmed by surgery and pathology for the cardiac blood cysts. 3 subjects underwent simple cystectomy alone. 1 with infectious endocarditis and mitral valve vegetation, and the other one caused the left ventricular outflow tract obstruction. 2 subjects had a history of mitral valve abnormality with mechanical mitral valve replacement. Conclusions: Cardiac blood cysts are rare and benign heart condition in adults. They can be diagnosed by echocardiography to guide intervention.

In spite of existing profuse information regarding hemorrhagic complications of hemophilia, literature is scarce towards the presence of cancer in hemophilia, especially in pediatric patients. There are still many uncertainties concerning these patients’ diagnosis and workup. We report here a rare case of two severe aggressive diseases (neuroblastoma and hemophilia A [HA]) concomitantly present in the same pediatric patient. We highlight that the diagnosis of severe HA did not have a negative impact on the patient’s oncologic course. This case also illustrates the significance of the enriching cooperation among different specialties and hospitals when caring for the same patient.