bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Accuracy of Japanese claims data in identifying diabetes‐related complications
Authors: Fujihara Kazuya , Yamada‐Harada Mayuko , Matsubayashi Yasuhiro , Kitazawa Masaru , Yamamoto Masahiko , Yaguchi Yuta , Seida Hiroyasu , Kodama Satoru , Akazawa Kohei , Sone Hirohito
Published: February 2021

Purpose

To evaluate the accuracy of various claims‐based definitions of diabetes‐related complications (coronary artery disease [CAD], heart failure, cerebrovascular disease and dialysis).

Methods

We evaluated data on 1379 inpatients who received care at the Niigata University Medical & Dental Hospital in September 2018. Manual electronic medical chart reviews were conducted for all patients with regard to diabetes‐related complications and were used as the gold standard. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) of each claims‐based definition associated with diabetes‐related complications based on Diagnosis Procedure Combination (DPC), International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD‐10) codes, procedure codes and medication codes were calculated.

Results

DPC‐based definitions had higher sensitivity, specificity, and PPV than ICD‐10 code definitions for CAD and cerebrovascular disease, with sensitivity of 0.963–1.000 and 0.905–0.952, specificity of 1.000 and 1.000, and PPV of 1.000 and 1.000, respectively. Sensitivity, specificity, and PPV were high using procedure codes for CAD and dialysis, with sensitivity of 0.963 and 1.000, specificity of 1.000 and 1.000, and PPV of 1.000 and 1.000, respectively. DPC and/or ICD‐10 codes + medication were better for heart failure than the ICD‐10 code definition, with sensitivity of 0.933, specificity of 1.000, and PPV of 1.000. The PPVs were lower than 60% for all diabetes‐related complications using ICD‐10 codes only.

Conclusion

The DPC‐based definitions for CAD and cerebrovascular disease, procedure codes for CAD and dialysis, and DPC or ICD‐10 codes with medication codes for heart failure could accurately identify these diabetes‐related complications from claims databases.
Registration of ‘Eiger’ great northern bean
Authors: Kelly James D. , Awale Halima E. , Wiersma Andrew T. , Wright Evan M.
Published: February 2021

‘Eiger’ great northern bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) (Reg. no. CV‐339, PI 695269), developed by Michigan State University AgBioResearch, was released in 2020 as a high‐yielding, upright, full‐season cultivar with anthracnose resistance and acceptable canning quality. Eiger was developed using the pedigree breeding method to the F4 generation followed by pure line selection for disease, agronomic, and quality traits. In 4 yr of field trials, Eiger yielded 3,166 kg ha−1 across 15 locations in mid‐Michigan, flowered in 44 d, and matured in 98 d on average. Plants averaged 54 cm in height, with a lodging resistance score of 1.3 and seed weight of 38.7 g per 100 seed. Eiger combines high yield potential and erect architecture with full‐season maturity in a great northern seed type. Eiger has resistance to lodging and high pod placement within the plant structure, making it suitable for direct harvest under narrow‐row production systems. The upright architecture also contributes to avoidance of white mold, a disease that is intensified in narrow rows. Eiger is resistant to races 73 and 109 of anthracnose present in Michigan and produces a top necrosis reaction to strain NL 3 of Bean common mosaic necrosis virus. Eiger produces seed that meets industry standards for export and packaging, and canning quality was rated acceptable for the great northern bean seed class.
Synthesis of polyethylene thermoplastic elastomer by using robust α‐diimine Ni(II) catalysts with abundant tBu substituents
Authors: Li Shuaikang , Zhao Yihua , Dai Shengyu
Published: February 2021

The synthesis of polyethylene thermoplastic elastomers via α‐diimine‐nickel‐catalyzed ethylene polymerization using polymerization conditions of elevated temperatures and alkane solvents is highly desirable in industrial production. In this contribution, we constructed a series of highly sterically demanding α‐diimine Ni(II) catalysts with abundant tBu substituents for this purpose. These nickel catalysts were examined for ethylene polymerization in hexanes at elevated temperatures (up to 90°C) and proved to be thermally robust at temperatures as high as 90°C. Generally, these nickel catalysts can generate highly branched (ca. 70–80/1000°C) polyethylenes with very high molecular weight (Mn up to 55.79 × 104 g/mol) and the resultant polyethylenes displayed characteristics of thermoplastic elastomers with excellent elastic recovery (SR up to 84%). Compared with some similar α‐diimine Ni(II) catalysts, it is shown that the presence of axial remote tBu substituents not only facilitates the dissolution of the catalyst in alkanes, but also improves the elastic recovery value of the obtained polyethylene.
Psychological resilience among palliative patients with advanced cancer: A systematic review of definitions and associated factors
Authors: Lau Jerrald , Khoo Athena Ming‐Gui , Ho Andy Hau‐Yan , Tan Ker‐Kan
Published: February 2021

Objective

The palliative journey can be emotionally stressful for both patients with advanced cancer and their families. Psychological resilience is crucial in aiding with patients' adaptation and post‐traumatic growth. The aim of this systematic review was to critically examine the definitions of psychological resilience and its associated factors in palliative patients with advanced cancer.

Methods

Four databases were systematically searched from inception to August 2020. Both qualitative and quantitative studies that examined factors associated with psychological resilience in a sample of patients with advanced cancer undergoing palliative care were included.

Results

A total of 15 studies met the criteria, of which 10 were qualitative and five were quantitative. Nine studies included a definition of psychological resilience, from which five common themes of buffering, adaptation, resources, recovery, and growth were derived. The quantitative studies found association between resilience and hope, independence, social support, fatigue, emotional distress, and coping strategies. The qualitative studies reported additional sources of resilience such as spirituality, social support, prior experience dealing with illness and life adversity, meaning‐making, reconciling with life's finiteness, acceptance of illness, control, determination, positive attitude, dignity, engagement with palliative care and quality of life being supported by palliative care.

Conclusions

More research is needed for developing an overarching definition of psychological resilience in palliative advanced cancer patients that acknowledges and appreciates the contextual sensitivity of this concept among different cultural groups. Further studies are also needed to examine a holistic range of bio‐psycho‐socio‐spiritual factors associated with psychological resilience among these patients and their families.
Comparison of chest radiography and chest CT for evaluation of pediatric COVID‐19 pneumonia: Does CT add diagnostic value?
Authors: Das Karuna M. , Alkoteesh Jamal A. , Al Kaabi Jumaa , Al Mansoori Taleb , Winant Abbey J. , Singh Rajvir , Paraswani Rajesh , Syed Rizwan , Sharif Elsadeg M. , Balhaj Ghazala B. , Lee Edward Y.
Published: February 2021

Purpose

First, to investigate the added diagnostic value of chest computed tomography (CT) for evaluating COVID‐19 in symptomatic children by comparing chest CT findings with chest radiographic findings, and second, to identify the imaging signs and patterns on CT associated with COVID‐19 pneumonia in children.

Materials and Methods

From March 2020 to December 2020, 56 consecutive children (33 males and 23 girls; mean age ± SD, 14.8 ± 5.0 years; range, 9 months–18 years) with mild to moderate symptom and laboratory confirmed COVID‐19 (based on Centers for Disease Control criteria) underwent both chest radiography and chest CT on the same day within the first 2 days of initial presentation to the hospital. Two experienced radiologists independently evaluated chest radiographs and chest CT studies for thoracic abnormalities. The findings from chest radiography and chest CT were compared to evaluate the added diagnostic value of chest CT for affecting patient management. Interobserver agreement was measured with Cohen's κ statistics.

Results

Eleven (19.6%) of 56 patients had abnormal chest radiographic findings, including ground‐glass opacity (GGO) in 5/11 (45.4%) and combined GGO and consolidation in 6/11 (54.5%). On chest CT, 26 (46.4%) of 56 patients had abnormal CT findings, including combined GGO and consolidation in 19/26 (73.1%), GGO in 6/26 (23.1%), and consolidation in 1/26 (3.8%). Chest CT detected all thoracic abnormalities seen on chest radiography in 11/26 (42.3%) cases. In 15/26 (57.7%), chest CT detected lung abnormalities that were not observed on chest radiography, which included GGO and consolidation in 9/15 (60%), GGO in 5/15 (33.3%), and consolidation in 1/15 (6.6%) cases. These additional CT findings did not affect patient management. In addition, chest CT detected radiological signs and patterns, including the halo sign, reversed halo sign, crazy paving pattern, and tree‐in‐bud pattern. There was almost perfect interobserver agreement between the two reviewers for detecting findings on both chest radiographs (κ, 0.89, p = .001) and chest CT (κ, 0.96, p = .001) studies.

Conclusion

Chest CT detected lung abnormalities, including GGO and/or consolidation, that were not observed on chest radiography in more than half of symptomatic pediatric patients with COVID‐19 pneumonia. However, these additional CT findings did not affect patient management. Therefore, CT is not clinically indicated for the initial evaluation of mild to moderately symptomatic pediatric patients with COVID‐19 pneumonia.
The bronchiolitis severity score: An assessment of face validity, construct validity, and interobserver reliability
Authors: Siraj Shaila , Stark Wayne , McKinley Scott Daniel , Morrison John Michael , Sochet Anthony Alexander
Published: February 2021

Objective

To assess face validity, interobserver reliability, and the ability to discriminate escalations of care within 24‐h of admission (late rescues) for the bronchiolitis severity score (BSS) for children hospitalized for acute bronchiolitis.

Hypotheses

The BSS will yield variable face validity, have clinically relevant interobserver reliability (kappa > 0.7), and distinguish late rescues during hospitalization.

Methods

We performed a combined retrospective and prospective, mixed methods study where (1) interobserver agreement was prospectively assessed by overall and subcategory congruence (kappa) calculations, (2) face value were qualitatively assessed from aggregate questionnaire responses, and (3) construct validity for late rescues were assessed using receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve analyses.

Results

Face validity, assessed from 39 questionnaire respondents, were generally positive for BSS utility, reliability, and usability. The BSS exhibited weak interobserver reliability (kappa = 0.22, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.11–0.31) calculated from 72 sequential, blinded calculations. Retrospectively, 181 children less than 2 years of age admitted to the general pediatric ward for acute bronchiolitis from November 2017 to April 2019 were identified of which 18 (9.9%) experienced late rescues. Admission BSS values were no different for children with and without late rescues (6[3,6] vs. 4[3,6]; p = .09). An ROC curve analysis revealed an area under the curve of 0.61 (95% CI: 0.48–0.75; threshold ≥6 with sensitivity = 56%, specificity = 69%) for BSS to discriminate late rescues.

Conclusion

Although clinicians expressed favorable perceptions of BSS face and content validity, we noted weak interobserver reliability and limited construct validity. Further development and validation are needed to strengthen the BSS before routine use.
Population structure and evolution of resistance to acetolactate synthase (ALS)‐inhibitors inAmaranthus tuberculatusin Italy
Authors: Milani Andrea , Lutz Ulrich , Galla Giulio , Scarabel Laura , Weigel Detlef , Sattin Maurizio
Published: February 2021

BACKGROUND

Before 2010,Amaranthus tuberculatus(Moq.) J. D. Sauer was barely known to farmers and stakeholders in Italy. Since then, several populations resistant to acetolactate synthase (ALS)‐inhibiting herbicides have been collected. In most populations, a known target site resistance‐endowing mutation was found, a Trp to Leu substitution at position 574 of theALSgene, but it was unclear whether they had evolved resistance independently or not. The aims of the work were (i) to elucidate the population structure of Italian ALS‐resistantA. tuberculatuspopulations, and (ii) to analyze theALShaplotypes of the various populations to determine whether resistance arose multiple times independently.

RESULTS

In order to determine the population structure of eightA. tuberculatuspopulations, eight previously described microsatellite loci were used. Two ancestors were found: three populations derived from one, and five from the other. In the 4‐kbALSregion of the genome, including the 2‐kb coding region, 389 single nucleotide polymorphisms were found.In silicohaplotype estimation was used to reconstruct the sequence of three distinct haplotypes carrying the Trp574Leu mutation. In addition, no mutation was found in 83% of plants of a single population.

CONCLUSIONS

(i) Resistance must have arisen independently at least three times; (ii) at least one population was already resistant to ALS inhibitors when introduced in Italy; (iii) a single haplotype with a Trp574Leu mutation was shared among six populations, probably because of broad seed dispersal; and (iv) one population likely evolved nontarget site ALS inhibitors resistance.

© 2021 The Authors.Pest Management Sciencepublished by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.
A DFT study of structural and thermal properties of 2D layers
Authors: Majid Abdul , Kanwal Hajra , Khan Salah Ud‐Din , Ahmad Ashfaq
Published: February 2021

Two‐dimensional (2D) materials are known to owe exceptional properties which are prerequisites for the future applications. Despite significant efforts and unprecedented achievements to realize resourceful beyond‐graphene 2D materials, the comprehensive knowledge on such materials is lacking due to which several device grade applications are still in pipeline. This work was carried out with motivation to investigate the thermal stability of contemporary 2D monolayered materials including graphene, borophene, aluminene, germanene, BN, SiC and MoS2 using Molecular Dynamics simulations. The thermal broadening, bond breakage and bond formation for the slabs are analyzed on the basis of radial distribution function (RDF). It is found that several materials out of the list are capable to withstand high temperatures depicting the essential thermal stability. The values of thermal stability of the materials were compared by plotting the temperature and energy curves whereas phase transition temperature and heat capacity of the slabs were found by taking germanene as benchmark. The phase transition temperatures are found as 4510 K, 2273 K, 933 K, 1670 K, 3246 K, 4050 K, and 1460 K for graphene, borophene, aluminene, germanene, BN, SiC, and MoS2 respectively.
Density functional study of atoms spatially confined inside a hard sphere
Authors: Majumdar Sangita , Roy Amlan K.
Published: February 2021

An atom placed inside a cavity of finite dimension offers many interesting features, and thus has been a topic of great current activity. This work proposes a density functional approach to pursue both ground and excited states of a multi‐electron atom under a spherically impenetrable enclosure. The radial Kohn‐Sham (KS) equation has been solved by invoking a physically motivated work‐function‐based exchange potential, which offers near‐Hartree‐Fock‐quality results. Accurate numerical eigenfunctions and eigenvalues are obtained through a generalized pseudospectral method (GPS) fulfilling the Dirichlet boundary condition. Two correlation functionals, viz., (i) simple, parametrized local Wigner‐type, and (ii) gradient‐ and Laplacian‐dependent non‐local Lee‐Yang‐Parr (LYP) functionals are adopted to analyze the electron correlation effects. Preliminary exploratory results are offered for ground states of He‐isoelectronic series (Z = 2 − 4), as well as Li and Be atom. Several low‐lying singly excited states of He atom are also reported. These are compared with available literature results–which offers excellent agreement. Radial densities as well as expectation values are also provided. The performance of correlation energy functionals are discussed critically. In essence, this presents a simple, accurate scheme for studying atomic systems inside a hard spherical box within the rubric of KS density functional theory.
First‐principles exploration of MgTi2O5 and MgV2O5 for CO2 capture and conversion
Authors: Kang Sung Gu
Published: February 2021

First‐principles calculations were done to reveal the properties of MgTi2O5 and MgV2O5 for CO2 capture. The highest temperatures of MgTi2O5 and MgV2O5 for CO2 capture at different partial pressures (i.e., 0.1, 1, and 10 bar) were determined. CO2 was absorbed at higher temperatures by MgV2O5 than by MgTi2O5 at each partial pressure. Furthermore, the electronic properties of V‐doped MgTi2O5 were theoretically examined to assess its potential use for photocatalytic CO2 conversion. The electronic properties of MgTi2O5 were found to be changed after V doping. Specifically, the band gap of MgTi2O5 was 2.75 eV and that of V‐doped MgTi2O5 in the spin‐up (down) channel was 0.48 (2.73 eV), showing the band gap decrease upon V doping.
Diffuse alveolar haemorrhage due to pheochromocytoma crisis
Authors: Shijubou Naoki , Sumi Toshiyuki , Kamada Koki , Yamada Yuichi , Nakata Hisashi , Chiba Hirofumi
Published: February 2021

Key message

Clinicians should be aware that interstitial shadows with extreme hypertension should be considered as indicators for diffuse alveolar haemorrhage due to pheochromocytoma crisis.
Sampled‐parameter dependent stabilization for linear parameter varying systems with asynchronous parameter sampling
Authors: Han Seungyong , Lee Sangmoon
Published: February 2021

In this paper, we propose a new sampled‐data stabilization method for linear parameter‐varying (LPV) systems with asynchronous parameter sampling. A sampled‐parameter‐dependent controller is designed by considering the sampling of parameters as well as that of states. Based on a newly proposed sampled‐parameter‐dependent looped‐functional (SPDLF), a relaxed linear matrix inequality (LMI) condition in the parameterized stabilization criteria is derived by considering the deviation bound between the continuous‐time parameter of the plant and the sampled parameter. Finally, numerical examples are provided to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Global robust output regulation of a class of MIMO nonlinear systems by nonlinear internal model control
Authors: Ping Zhaowu , Li Yaoyi , Huang Yunzhi , Lu Jun‐Guo , Wang Hai
Published: February 2021

Recently, the global robust output regulation problem for a class of uncertain multi‐input multi‐output (MIMO) nonlinear systems which may not have well‐defined relative degree and are subject to a nonlinear exosystem has been studied based on a constructive nonlinear internal model. However, the proposed nonlinear internal model‐based control law is applicable to the case where the exogenous signals are reference input and/or measurable disturbance rather than unmeasurable disturbance. For this reason, this paper further studies the same control problem based on a general nonlinear internal model independent of the exogenous signal. It is shown that this control problem can be converted into a global robust stabilization problem of a more complicated MIMO nonlinear system with various uncertainties and well solved by a recursive state feedback controller design. Thus our approach applies to a broader class of output regulation problem of MIMO nonlinear systems.
Quantized stabilization for switched affine systems with event‐triggered mechanism
Authors: Xu Xiaozeng , Li Yang , Zhang Hongbin
Published: February 2021

This article is mainly concerned with quantized stabilization for switched affine systems with the periodic event‐triggered mechanism. By considering the effect of the event‐triggered scheme, a mathematical model for a closed‐loop control system with quantization is constructed. Theorems for main results are developed to guarantee the practical stability of the desired equilibrium point by using Lyapunov stability theory and linear matrix inequality techniques. Based on the derived sufficient conditions in theorems, the state feedback gains together with a switching function are presented in an explicit form. At last, a numerical example is proposed to illustrate our approach.
Selecting the model for multiple imputation of missing data: Just use an IC!
Authors: Noghrehchi Firouzeh , Stoklosa Jakub , Penev Spiridon , Warton David I.
Published: February 2021

Multiple imputation and maximum likelihood estimation (via the expectation‐maximization algorithm) are two well‐known methods readily used for analyzing data with missing values. While these two methods are often considered as being distinct from one another, multiple imputation (when using improper imputation) is actually equivalent to a stochastic expectation‐maximization approximation to the likelihood. In this article, we exploit this key result to show that familiar likelihood‐based approaches to model selection, such as Akaike's information criterion (AIC) and the Bayesian information criterion (BIC), can be used to choose the imputation model that best fits the observed data. Poor choice of imputation model is known to bias inference, and while sensitivity analysis has often been used to explore the implications of different imputation models, we show that the data can be used to choose an appropriate imputation model via conventional model selection tools. We show that BIC can be consistent for selecting the correct imputation model in the presence of missing data. We verify these results empirically through simulation studies, and demonstrate their practicality on two classical missing data examples. An interesting result we saw in simulations was that not only can parameter estimates be biased by misspecifying the imputation model, but also byoverfittingthe imputation model. This emphasizes the importance of using model selection not just to choose the appropriate type of imputation model, but also to decide on the appropriate level of imputation model complexity.
Signal Origin of Electrochemical Strain Microscopy and Link to Local Chemical Distribution in Solid State Electrolytes
Authors: Schön Nino , Schierholz Roland , Jesse Stephen , Yu Shicheng , Eichel Rüdiger‐A. , Balke Nina , Hausen Florian
Published: February 2021

Electrochemical strain microscopy (ESM) is a distinguished method to characterize Li‐ion mobility in energy materials with extremely high spatial resolution. The exact origin of the cantilever deflection when the technique is applied on solid state electrolytes (SSEs) is currently discussed in the literature. Understanding local properties and influences on ion mobility in SSEs is of utmost importance to improve such materials for next generation batteries. Here, the exact signal formation process of ESM when applied on sodium super ionic conductor (NASICON)‐type SSE containing Na‐ and Li‐ions is investigated. Changes in the dielectric properties, which are linked to the local chemical composition, are found to be responsible for the observed contrast in the deflection of the cantilever instead of a physical volume change as a result of Vegard´s Law. The cantilever response is strongly reduced in areas of high sodium content which is attributed to a reduction of the tip‐sample capacitance in comparison to areas with high lithium content. This is the first time a direct link between electrostatic forces in contact mode and local chemical information is demonstrated on SSEs. The results open up new possibilities in information gain since dielectric properties are sensitive to subtle changes in local chemical composition.
Population genetics and genome‐wide association studies provide insights into the influence of selective breeding on genetic variation in lettuce
Authors: Park Sunchung , Kumar Pawan , Shi Ainong , Mou Beiquan
Published: February 2021

Genetic diversity is an important resource in
crop breeding to improve cultivars with desirable traits. Selective breeding can lead to a reduction of genetic diversity. However, our understanding on this subject remains limited in lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.). Genotyping‐by‐sequencing (GBS) can provide a reduced version of the genome as a cost‐effective method to identify genetic variants across the genome. We genotyped a diverse set of 441 lettuce accessions using the GBS method. Phylogenetic and population genetic analyses indicated substantial genetic divergence among four horticultural types of lettuce: butterhead, crisphead, leaf, and romaine. Genetic‐diversity estimates between and within the four types indicated that the crisphead type was the most differentiated from other types, whereas its population was the most homogenous with the slowest linkage disequilibrium (LD) decay among the four types. These results suggested that crisphead lettuces had relatively less genetic variation across the genome as well as low gene flow from other types. We identified putative selective sweep regions that showed low genetic variation in the crisphead type. Genome‐wide association study (GWAS) and quantitative trait loci (QTL) analyses provided evidence that these genomic regions were, in part, associated with delayed bolting, implicating the positive selection of delayed bolting in reducing variation. Our findings enhance the current understanding of genetic diversity and the impacts of selective breeding on patterning genetic variation in lettuce.
Modeling first order additive × additive epistasis improves accuracy of genomic prediction for sclerotinia stem rot resistance in canola
Authors: Derbyshire Mark C , Khentry Yuphin , Severn‐Ellis Anita , Mwape Virginia , Saad Nur Shuhadah Mohd , Newman Toby E , Taiwo Akeem , Regmi Roshan , Buchwaldt Lone , Denton‐Giles Matthew , Batley Jacqueline , Kamphuis Lars G
Published: February 2021

The fungus Sclerotinia sclerotiorum infects hundreds of plant species including many crops. Resistance to this pathogen in canola (Brassica napus L. subsp. napus) is controlled by numerous quantitative trait loci (QTL). For such polygenic traits, genomic prediction may be useful for breeding as it can capture many QTL at once while also considering nonadditive genetic effects. Here, we test application of common regression models to genomic prediction of S. sclerotiorum resistance in canola in a diverse panel of 218 plants genotyped at 24,634 loci. Disease resistance was scored by infection with an aggressive isolate and monitoring over 3 wk. We found that including first‐order additive × additive epistasis in linear mixed models (LMMs) improved accuracy of breeding value estimation between 3 and 40%, depending on method of assessment, and correlation between phenotypes and predicted total genetic values by 14%. Bayesian models performed similarly to or worse than genomic relationship matrix‐based models for estimating breeding values or overall phenotypes from genetic values. Bayesian ridge regression, which is most similar to the genomic relationship matrix‐based approach in the amount of shrinkage it applies to marker effects, was the most accurate of this family of models. This confirms several studies indicating the highly polygenic nature of sclerotinia stem rot resistance. Overall, our results highlight the use of simple epistasis terms for prediction of breeding values and total genetic values for a complex disease resistance phenotype in canola.
Getting in touch with your senses: Mechanisms specifying sensory interneurons in the dorsal spinal cord
Authors: Gupta Sandeep , Butler Samantha J.
Published: February 2021

The spinal cord is functionally and anatomically divided into ventrally derived motor circuits and dorsally derived somatosensory circuits. Sensory stimuli originating either at the periphery of the body, or internally, are relayed to the dorsal spinal cord where they are processed by distinct classes of sensory dorsal interneurons (dIs). dIs convey sensory information, such as pain, heat or itch, either to the brain, and/or to the motor circuits to initiate the appropriate response. They also regulate the intensity of sensory information and are the major target for the opioid analgesics. While the developmental mechanisms directing ventral and dorsal cell fates have been hypothesized to be similar, more recent research has suggested that dI fates are specified by novel mechanisms. In this review, we will discuss the molecular events that specify dorsal neuronal patterning in the spinal cord, thereby generating diverse dI identities. We will then discuss how this molecular understanding has led to the development of robust stem cell methods to derive multiple spinal cell types, including the dIs, and the implication of these studies for treating spinal cord injuries and neurodegenerative diseases.

This article is categorized under:

Neurological Diseases > Stem Cells and Development
Introduction
Authors: Pastoors Andreas , Lenssen-Erz Tilman
Published: February 2021

This book explains that after long periods of prehistoric research in which the importance of the archaeological as well as the natural context of rock art has been constantly underestimated, research has now begun to take this context into focus for documentation, analysis, interpretation and understanding. Human footprints are prominent among the long-time under-researched features of the context in caves with rock art. In order to compensate for this neglect an innovative research program has been established several years ago that focuses on the merging of indigenous knowledge and western archaeological science for the benefit of both sides. The book composes first the methodological diversity in the analysis of human tracks. Here major representatives of anthropological, statistical and traditional approaches feature the multi-layered methods available for the analysis of human tracks. It second compiles case studies from around the globe of prehistoric human. For the first time the most important sites which have been found worldwide are published in a single publication. The third focus of this book is on first hand experiences of researchers with indigenous tracking experts from around the globe, expounding on how archaeological science can benefit from the ancestral knowledge.
Tracking with Batek Hunter-Gatherers of Malaysia
Authors: Lye Tuck-Po
Published: February 2021

Tropical hunting studies that focus on tracking – how signs are interpreted – are rarely done if at all. This paper provides a preliminary sketch of the tracking strategies and knowledge of Batek of Malaysia. Studies of hunter-gatherer tracking rely heavily on Liebenberg’s carefully observed documentation of San tracking, enriched by his own scientific expertise in faunal behavior. Of the three levels of tracking he mentions, simple tracking is unreliable for the Batek, simply because of the nature of tropical forests. The default mode is systematic tracking, carefully gathering information, and piecing together a multisensorial picture of where prey is to be found. Their visual, auditory, and olfactory acuity is exceptional and so is their vocabulary for expressing these states. Tracking for Batek is not limited to the interpretation of tracks, or, rather, the notion of tracks needs to be broadened, to include tracks that cannot be seen, but can be heard and smelt. Tracking is about multisensory engagement in the needs of the moment and deploying the skills to decide what is and is not relevant information. It is about performance.
Trackers’ Consensual Talk: Precise Data for Archaeology
Authors: Biesele Megan
Published: February 2021

This paper is based on ethnographic research with Ju|’hoan San in Botswana starting in 1970 and on translation and transcription work with Ju|’hoan San trackers from Namibia who travelled to the Caves du Volp in the French Pyrenees in 2013 to do archaeological work. The Tracking in Caves project, headed by German archaeologists Andreas Pastoors and Tilman Lenssen-Erz, was investigating fossilized human footprints in the caves dating back to around 17,000 calBP. The paper discusses three main verbal formats that can provide useful information to the archaeology of tracking: (1) narrative in the form of folktales and other oral forms referring to animal behaviour, (2) talk in the form of accounts of actual hunts, and (3) consensual discussion in the form of deliberations among trackers as they seek to gain many types of information from tracks. The paper outlines how the trackers and the archaeologists, after an initial period of misunderstanding and miscommunication, mutually learned from each other and eventually bonded on the basis of the scientific method. It does so by drawing on evidence from narrative, talk, and consensual discussion. By investigating verbal data provided by People’s Science, the Tracking in Caves project shows us that skill in tracking, using the tools of egalitarian communication and based on extensive environmental knowledge, has been an enabling feature of the long human story.
Walking Together: Ways of Collaboration in Western-Indigenous Research on Footprints
Authors: Zwischenberger Hannah
Published: February 2021

A combination of western analytical methods with experience-based indigenous methods of tracking can be a chance to get closer to individuals of past times. In such collaborative research projects, different western and indigenous knowledge systems meet. These are characterized in more detail below. This chapter examines the question of how respectful and mutually beneficial cooperation is possible against the background of different epistemologies. Recommendations for practical action in collaborative projects are summarized in an ethics guide and an interview guide, and alternative forms of writing and publication are proposed.
Experimental Re-creation of the Depositional Context in Which Late Pleistocene Tracks Were Found on the Pacific Coast of Canada
Authors: McLaren Duncan , Mackie Quentin , Fedje Daryl
Published: February 2021

To better understand the depositional context of Late Pleistocene human tracks found at archaeology site EjTa-4 on Calvert Island, on the Pacific Coast of Canada, we present here the results of an experiment designed to recreate the conditions by which these tracks were formed, preserved and then revealed through excavation. Based on radiocarbon ages on small twigs and the analysis of sediments and microfossils, the interpretation of the site formation processes relate that the tracks were impressed into a clayey soil substrate just above the high tide line between 13,317 and 12,633 calBP. The features were subsequently encapsulated by black sand, which washed over the tracks from the nearby intertidal zone during a storm event. To test this interpretation, we enlisted the aid of high school student volunteers to recreate the conditions by which the tracks were formed. A clayey substrate was prepared in a laboratory setting at the University of Victoria and a few plant macrofossils were placed on top it. This was followed by having the students create tracks in the clay, which were then covered with a layer of sand. Upon excavation of these experimental tracks, we found that they had a very similar character to those found in the field, including the pressing of macrofossils into the clay by the weight of the track maker. These results support the interpretation and chronological assessment of the depositional events that occurred during late Pleistocene times at archaeology site EjTa-4.
Optimization-Based Control of Microgrids for Ancillary Services Provision and Islanded Operation
Authors: La Bella Alessio
Published: February 2021

The ongoing environmental crisis is pushing the electrical sector towards a radical transformation, as the wide diffusion of renewable sources requires the power system to be more distributed, cooperative, and flexible, being each portion of the grid now able to produce and absorb power. This poses much more coordination challenges with respect to the traditional centralized system, largely sustained by fully controllable fossil-based power plants. In this context, microgrids, i.e. intelligent small-scale grids equipped with distributed energy resources and smart loads, are considered as the fundamental bricks of this future paradigm. This is due to the opportunity of coordinating co-located sources and loads, and to the microgrids extreme flexibility, as they can be operated either connected to the main grid or in islanded mode. The contribution of this doctoral research consists in the design of dedicated control architectures for ensuring the efficient and secure operation of microgrids in these two modes, characterized by different challenges and opportunities.
Characterization and Modeling of Spin-Transfer Torque (STT) Magnetic Memory for Computing Applications
Authors: Carboni Roberto
Published: February 2021

With the ubiquitous diffusion of mobile computing and Internet of Things (IoT), the amount of data exchanged and processed over the internet is increasing every day, demanding secure data communication/storage and new computing primitives. Although computing systems based on microelectronics steadily improved over the past 50 years thanks to the aggressive technological scaling, their improvement is now hindered by excessive power consumption and inherent performance limitation associated to the conventional computer architecture (von Neumann bottleneck). In this scenario, emerging memory technologies are gaining interest thanks to their non-volatility and low power/fast operation. In this chapter, experimental characterization and modeling of spin-transfer torque magnetic memory (STT-MRAM) are presented, with particular focus on cycling endurance and switching variability, which both present a challenge towards STT-based memory applications. Then, the switching variability in STT-MRAM is exploited for hardware security and computing primitives, such as true-random number generator (TRNG) and stochastic spiking neuron for neuromorphic and stochastic computing.
Development of a 3” LaBr3 SiPM-Based Detection Module for High Resolution Gamma Ray Spectroscopy and Imaging
Authors: Montagnani Giovanni Ludovico
Published: February 2021

Gamma radiation detection finds many applications in different fields, including astrophysics, nuclear physics and medical diagnostics. Nowadays large Lanthanum Bromide crystals coupled to Photomultiplier Tubes (PMTs) represent the state of the art for gamma detection modules, in particular for spectroscopic measurements. Nevertheless, there is an interest in substituting photomultiplier tubes with solid state photodetectors like Silicon Photomultipliers (SiPMs), owing to the latter’s significant advantages. These include insensitivity to magnetic fields, low bias voltage, compactness, fast response and mechanical robustness. The aim of this thesis work, which was carried out within the context of the GAMMA project supported by IstitutoNazionale di FisicaNucleare (INFN), is the design, development and experimental characterization of a -ray spectrometer based on large Lanthanum Bromide scintillator crystals coupled with Silicon Photomultipliers. This detector specifications are compliant with nuclear physics experiments with energies ranging from 100 keV to 20 MeV, characterized by state-of-the-art energy resolution and imaging capability, in a compact, modular and robust structure. In order to perform the readout of large scintillator crystals, a matrix of 144 Silicon Photomultipliers was designed using NUV-HD SiPMs from Fondazione Bruno Kessler (FBK). These were chosen due to their high Photon Detection Efficiency in correspondence with the peak emission wavelength of the crystal, the high cell density and low Dark Count Rate.
Track Fitting
Authors: Frühwirth Rudolf , Strandlie Are
Published: February 2021

Track fitting is an application of established statistical estimation procedures with well-known properties. For a long time, estimators based on the least-squares principle were—with some notable exceptions—the principal methods for track fitting. More recently, robust and adaptive methods have found their way into the reconstruction programs. The first section of the chapter presents least-squares regression, the extended Kalman filter, regression with breakpoints, general broken lines and the triplet fit. The following section discusses robust regression by the M-estimator, the deterministic annealing filter, and the Gaussian-sum filter for electron reconstruction. The next section deals with linearized fits of space points to circles and helices. The chapter concludes with a section on track quality and shows how to test the track hypothesis, how to detect outliers, and how to find kinks in a track.
The chiral algebra of genus two class $$ \mathcal{S} $$ theory
Authors: Kiyoshige Kazuki , Nishinaka Takahiro
Published: February 2021

Abstract

We construct the chiral algebra associated with the A1-type class $$ \mathcal{S} $$
S
theory for the genus two Riemann surface without punctures. By solving the BRST cohomology problem corresponding to a marginal gauging in four dimensions, we find a set of chiral algebra generators that form closed OPEs. Given the fact that they reproduce the spectrum of chiral algebra operators up to large dimensions, we conjecture that they are the complete set of generators. Remarkably, their OPEs are invariant under an action of SU(2) which is not associated with any conserved one-form current in four dimensions. We find that this novel SU(2) strongly constrains the OPEs of non-scalar Schur operators. For completeness, we also check the equivalence of Schur indices computed in two S-dual descriptions with a non-vanishing flavor fugacity turned on.
Long-lived light neutralinos at Belle II
Authors: Dey Sourav , Dib Claudio O. , Helo Juan Carlos , Nayak Minakshi , Neill Nicolás A. , Soffer Abner , Wang Zeren Simon
Published: February 2021

Abstract

We consider light neutralinos of mass about 1 GeV, produced from τ lepton rare decays at Belle II, in the context of R-parity-violating (RPV) supersymmetry. With large and clean samples of τ leptons produced at the Belle II experiment, excellent sensitivity to such light neutralinos with the exotic signatures of displaced vertices is expected. We focus on two benchmark scenarios of single RPV operators, $$ {\lambda}_{311}^{\prime }{L}_3{Q}_1{\overline{D}}_1 $$

λ
311
′

L
3

Q
1

D
¯

1

and $$ {\lambda}_{312}^{\prime }{L}_3{Q}_1{\overline{D}}_2 $$

λ
312
′

L
3

Q
1

D
¯

2

, which induce both the production and decay of the lightest neutralino. For the reconstruction of a displaced vertex, we require at least two charged pions in the final states. We perform Monte-Carlo simulations for both signal and background events, and find that Belle II can explore regions in the parameter space competitive with other probes. In particular, for the $$ {\lambda}_{311}^{\prime } $$

λ
311
′

scenario, it can put limits up to two orders of magnitude stronger than the current bounds.
Gravitational dyonic amplitude at one-loop and its inconsistency with the classical impulse
Authors: Kim Jung-Wook , Shim Myungbo
Published: February 2021

Abstract

The recent proposal [1, 2] of implementing electric-magnetic duality rotation at the level of perturbative scattering amplitudes and its generalisation to gravitational context where usual gravitational mass is rotated to the NUT parameter of the Taub-NUT spacetime opens up an interesting avenue for studying NUT-charged objects as dynamical entities, in contrast to the usual approach where NUT-charged objects are considered as a static background. We extend the tree-order analysis to one-loop order, and find a disagreement between geodesic motion on Taub-NUT background and impulse computation of scattering amplitudes. As a by-product of our analysis, we find a relation between tidal response parameters and resonance excitation parameters in the language of quantum field theory scattering amplitudes.
The Bi-Laplacian with Wentzell Boundary Conditions on Lipschitz Domains
Authors: Denk Robert , Kunze Markus , Ploß David
Published: February 2021

We investigate the Bi-Laplacian with Wentzell boundary conditions in a bounded domain$$\Omega \subseteq \mathbb {R}^d$$Ω⊆Rdwith Lipschitz boundary$$\Gamma $$Γ. More precisely, using form methods, we show that the associated operator on the ground space$$L^2(\Omega )\times L^2(\Gamma )$$L2(Ω)×L2(Γ)has compact resolvent and generates a holomorphic and strongly continuous real semigroup of self-adjoint operators. Furthermore, we give a full characterization of the domain in terms of Sobolev spaces, also proving Hölder regularity of solutions, allowing classical interpretation of the boundary condition. Finally, we investigate spectrum and asymptotic behavior of the semigroup, as well as eventual positivity.
Effekt eines mobilen Raumluftfilters auf die Aerosolbelastung in chirurgischen Untersuchungsräumen vor dem Hintergrund der COVID-19-Pandemie
Authors: Oberst Michael , Heinrich Andreas
Published: February 2021

Vor dem Hintergrund des Übertragungsweges von SARS-CoV-2-Viren durch kontaminierte Luftschwebeteilchen (Aerosole) wurde in einem chirurgischen Untersuchungsraum ohne Lüftungsmöglichkeit die Belastung an Luftschwebeteilchen mit bzw. ohne Verwendung eines Luftfiltergerätes gemessen. Hierbei zeigte sich bei Verwendung des Filtergerätes eine deutliche Reduktion der entsprechenden Luftpartikel. In Untersuchungs- und Behandlungsräumen, die baubedingt keine Lüftungsmöglichkeiten bieten, sollten mobile Luftfiltergeräte daher zum Einsatz kommen.
Analysis of diversity-dependent species evolution using concepts in population genetics
Authors: Kaj Ingemar , Glémin Sylvain , Tahir Daniah , Lascoux Martin
Published: February 2021

In this work, we consider a two-type species model with trait-dependent speciation, extinction and transition rates under an evolutionary time scale. The scaling approach and the diffusion approximation techniques which are widely used in mathematical population genetics provide modeling tools and conceptual background to assist in the study of species dynamics, and help exploring the analogy between trait-dependent species diversification and the evolution of allele frequencies in the population genetics setting. The analytical framework specified is then applied to models incorporating diversity-dependence, in order to infer effective results from processes in which the net diversification of species depends on the total number of species. In particular, the long term fate of a rare trait may be analyzed under a partly symmetric scenario, using a time-change transform technique.