bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Efficient exponential timestepping algorithm using control variate technique for simulating a functional of exit time of one-dimensional Brownian diffusion with applications in finance
Authors: Alzubaidi Hasan
Published: July 2020

The exponential timestepping Euler algorithm with a boundary test is adapted to simulate an expected of a function of exit time, such as the expected payoff of barrier options under the constant elasticity of variance (CEV) model. However, this method suffers from a high Monte Carlo (MC) statistical error due to its exponentially large exit times with unbounded samples. To reduce this kind of error efficiently and to speed up the MC simulation, we combine such an algorithm with an effective variance reduction technique called the control variate method. We call the resulting algorithm the improved Exp algorithm for abbreviation. In regard to the examples we consider in this paper for the restricted CEV process, we found that the variance of the improved Exp algorithm is about six times smaller than that of the Jansons and Lythe original method for the down-and-out call barrier option. It is also about eight times smaller for the up-and-out put barrier option, indicating that the gain in efficiency is significant without significant increase in simulation time.
Addressing male sexual and reproductive health in the wake of COVID-19 outbreak
Authors: Sansone A. , Mollaioli D. , Ciocca G. , Limoncin E. , Colonnello E. , Vena W. , Jannini E. A.
Published: July 2020

Purpose

The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by the SARS-CoV-2, represents an unprecedented challenge for healthcare. COVID-19 features a state of hyperinflammation resulting in a “cytokine storm”, which leads to severe complications, such as the development of micro-thrombosis and disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). Despite isolation measures, the number of affected patients is growing daily: as of June 12th, over 7.5 million cases have been confirmed worldwide, with more than 420,000 global deaths. Over 3.5 million patients have recovered from COVID-19; although this number is increasing by the day, great attention should be directed towards the possible long-term outcomes of the disease. Despite being a trivial matter for patients in intensive care units (ICUs), erectile dysfunction (ED) is a likely consequence of COVID-19 for survivors, and considering the high transmissibility of the infection and the higher contagion rates among elderly men, a worrying phenomenon for a large part of affected patients.

Methods

A literature research on the possible mechanisms involved in the development of ED in COVID-19 survivors was performed.

Results

Endothelial dysfunction, subclinical hypogonadism, psychological distress and impaired pulmonary hemodynamics all contribute to the potential onset of ED. Additionally, COVID-19 might exacerbate cardiovascular conditions; therefore, further increasing the risk of ED. Testicular function in COVID-19 patients requires careful investigation for the unclear association with testosterone deficiency and the possible consequences for reproductive health. Treatment with phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE5) inhibitors might be beneficial for both COVID-19 and ED.

Conclusion

COVID-19 survivors might develop sexual and reproductive health issues. Andrological assessment and tailored treatments should be considered in the follow-up.
Student Characteristics Associated with Passing the Exam in Undergraduate Pharmacology Courses—a Cross-sectional Study in Six University Degree Programs
Authors: Carlsson Thomas , Winder Michael , Eriksson Anna L. , Wallerstedt Susanna M.
Published: July 2020

Adequate knowledge in pharmacology is crucial in many professions but a non-negligible proportion of students fail the exams and knowledge of underlying factors is largely lacking. This study was performed to evaluate to what extent various factors are related to student performance in pharmacology-related courses in higher education, linking administrative data to attendance at non-mandatory teaching sessions and questionnaire replies. A total of 596 students (median age: 22 years; 70% female) were included from eight courses which are part of either the medical, pharmacy, dentistry, nursing, or biomedical analyst degree programs at the Sahlgrenska Academy, Gothenburg, Sweden. In all, 380 (64%) students passed the regular program- and course-specific exam. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that a high participation rate in non-mandatory teaching sessions, as well as a perceived great interest in pharmacology, was associated with students’ passing of the exam; adjusted odds ratio (95% confidence interval): 1.30 (1.19 to 1.42; per 10 percentage unit increase in attendance) and 3.38 (1.86 to 6.12), respectively. Working for wages during the course weeks and pre-university grades used in the program application were significant factors in subgroups of students, negatively and positively associated with the exam results, respectively. Age, having Swedish as a second language, and time spent studying were only associated with the exam result in the univariate analyses. To conclude, both students and teachers can contribute significantly to successful education within pharmacology, students by participating in the teaching sessions and teachers by encouraging students to find the subject interesting.
Populismus auf Facebook
Authors: Spieß Elina , Frieß Dennis , Schulz Anne
Published: July 2020

Die Beziehung zwischen Medien und Populismus ist in den letzten Jahren vermehrt in den Fokus wissenschaftlichen Interesses gerückt. Mit Blick auf das Internet und soziale Medien wurde schon früh eine strukturelle Kompatibilität für populistische Kommunikation theoretisiert. Entsprechend haben Studien auch empirisch untersucht, in welchem Ausmaß politische Akteure populistische Inhalte online publizieren. Der explorative Beitrag knüpft an diese Forschungslinie an und nimmt die offiziellen Facebook-Seiten der AfD, CDU und SPD in den Blick. Dabei wird der Populismusgehalt a) der dort in Posts platzierten Parteien-Kommunikation selbst sowie b) der Anschlusskommunikation, die in Nutzerkommentaren unter entsprechenden Posts sichtbar wird, vergleichend analysiert. Schließlich exploriert der Beitrag c) inwiefern Populismus in der Parteienkommunikation den Populismusgehalt der Anschlusskommunikation beeinflusst. Die Ergebnisse einer Inhaltsanalyse von 224 Parteienposts und 448 Nutzerkommentaren lassen erkennen, dass die AfD (im Vergleich zu CDU und SPD) am häufigsten und intensivsten populistische Inhalte über Facebook verbreitet. Nutzerkommentare sind jedoch insbesondere auf der CDU Facebook-Seite populistisch aufgeladen. Ein positiver Zusammenhang zwischen dem Populismusgehalt der Initialposts und dem Populismusgehalt der Nutzerkommentare kann für die AfD und die CDU festgestellt werden, jedoch nicht bei der SPD. Zudem offenbart die Analyse, dass auf den Seiten der CDU und SPD viel häufiger kritische Oppositionsstimmen zu finden sind als auf der AfD-Facebookseite. Diese oppositionellen Kommentare sind wiederum signifikant häufiger populistisch.
The Euler equations in a critical case of the generalized Campanato space
Authors: Chae Dongho , Wolf Jörg
Published: July 2020

In this paper we prove local in time well-posedness for the incompressible Euler equations in

\mathbb{R}^{n}

for the initial data in

\mathscr{L}_{1(1)}^{1}(\mathbb{R}^{n})

, which corresponds to a critical case of the generalized Campanato spaces

\mathscr{L}_{q(N)}^{s}(\mathbb{R}^{n})

. The space is studied extensively in our companion paper [9], and in the critical case we have embeddings

B_{\infty ,1}^{1}(\mathbb{R}^{n})↪\mathscr{L}_{1(1)}^{1}(\mathbb{R}^{n})↪C^{0,1}(\mathbb{R}^{n})

, where

B_{\infty ,1}^{1}(\mathbb{R}^{n})

and

C^{0,1}(\mathbb{R}^{n})

are the Besov space and the Lipschitz space respectively. In particular

\mathscr{L}_{1(1)}^{1}(\mathbb{R}^{n})

contains non-

C^{1}(\mathbb{R}^{n})

functions as well as linearly growing functions at spatial infinity. We can also construct a class of simple initial velocity belonging to

\mathscr{L}_{1(1)}^{1}(\mathbb{R}^{n})

, for which the solution to the Euler equations blows up in finite time.
The Value of Fairness and the Wrong of Wage Exploitation
Authors: Berkey Brian
Published: July 2020

In a recent article in this journal, David Faraci (2019) argues that the value of fairness can plausibly be appealed to in order to vindicate the view that consensual, mutually beneficial employment relationships can be wrongfully exploitative, even if employers have no obligation to hire or otherwise benefit those who are badly off enough to be vulnerable to wage exploitation. In this commentary, I argue that several values provide potentially strong grounds for thinking that it is at least sometimes better, morally speaking, for employers to hire worse-off people at intuitively exploitative wages than to hire better-off people at intuitively fair wages. Rather than suggesting that hiring badly off people at intuitively exploitative wages is permissible, however, I suggest that this gives us reason to think that employers can be obligated to hire worse-off people rather than better-off people and to pay them nonexploitative wages.
Experiences of HIV/STD Providers in New York State During Hurricane Sandy: Strengths, Challenges, and Recommendations
Authors: Vacca Kristen , Shipp-Hilts Asante , Mack Stephanie , Li Yunshu , Eidson Millicent , Nguyen Trang , Birkhead Guthrie
Published: July 2020

Objectives:

The aim of this study was to assess strengths and challenges experienced by HIV/STD providers in providing care during the response to Hurricane Sandy (Sandy) in New York State, and their recommendations for future preparedness.

Methods:

A mixed methods approach, including a focus group (n = 3), interviews (n = 3), and survey (n = 31) of HIV/STD providers, was used. Key words identified by means of open coding methodology from collected data were organized into strengths, challenges, and recommendations and then grouped into federal and study-associated preparedness capabilities.

Results:

Key words were organized into 81 strengths (38.8%), 73 challenges (34.9%), and 55 recommendations (26.3%). Services most interrupted during Sandy were related to HIV/STD outreach and education. While providers reported challenges with external agency communication, the ability to still connect clients to needed resources was reported as a strength. Strengthening partnerships with federal, state, and local agencies was among the major recommendations made by these providers.

Conclusions:

This study presents unique information about challenges experienced by HIV/STD providers in providing services during a natural disaster and the use of national public health emergency preparedness capabilities to address and overcome those challenges. Lessons learned and recommendations regarding inter-agency communications emerged as an important priority during a natural disaster to minimize or reduce service interruption.
RESOLVING TIME AMONG NON-STRATIFIED SHORT-DURATION CONTEXTS ON A RADIOCARBON PLATEAU: POSSIBILITIES AND CHALLENGES FROM THE AD 1480–1630 EXAMPLE AND NORTHEASTERN NORTH AMERICA
Authors: Manning Sturt W , Birch Jennifer , Conger Megan Anne , Sanft Samantha
Published: July 2020

Reversals and plateaus in the radiocarbon (14C) calibration curve lead to similar 14C ages applying to a wide range of calendar dates, creating imprecision, ambiguity, and challenges for archaeological dating. Even with Bayesian chronological modeling, such periods remain a problem when no known order—e.g., a stratigraphic sequence—exists, and especially if site durations are relatively short. Using the reversal/plateau AD 1480–1630 and the archaeology of northeastern North America as our example, we consider possible strategies to improve chronological resolution across such reversal/plateau periods in the absence of stratigraphic sequences, including uses of wood-charcoal TPQs from even very short wiggle-matches, and site phase duration constraints based on ethnohistoric and archaeological evidence.
Dealing with a “Rogue State”: The Libya Precedent
Authors: Schwartz Jonathan B.
Published: July 2020

On June 30,2006, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice rescinded die United States designation of Libya as a state sponsor of terrorism. Her action ended nearly twenty-seven years of Libya’s pariah status in American law and rhetoric.The road to the rehabilitation of Libya was a long one in more than a temporal sense. During the 1980s, the country was widely perceived as the world’s strongest supporter of terrorism.The United States in particular saw Libya under the leadership of Muammar el-Qaddafi as a “rogue state” posing a serious threat to U.S. national security interests.This fear was confirmed by Libya’s destruction of Pan Am Flight 103 in 1988. A bomb placed by Libyan agents on board the aircraft en route to New York detonated over Lockerbie, Scodand, resulting in the deaths of 270 civilians, including 189 Americans. It was perhaps the single worst act of terrorism against the United States until the carnage of September 11, 2001.
Diplomatic Claims (Eritrea v. Ethiopia), Eritrea ' s Claim 20/Ethiopia ' s Claim 8, Partial Awards; Economic Loss Throughout Ethiopia (Ethiopia v. Eritrea), Ethiopia ' s Claim 7, Partial Award; Jus ad Bellum (Ethiopia v. Eritrea), Ethiopia ' s Claims 1-8, Partial Award; Loss of Property in Ethiopia Owned by Non-Residents (Eritrea v. Ethiopia), Eritrea ' s Claim 24, Partial Award; Pensions (Eritrea v. Ethiopia), Eritrea ' s Claims 15, 19 & 23, Final Award; Ports (Ethiopia v. Eritrea), Ethiopia ' s Claim 6, Final Award; Western & Eastern Fronts (Ethiopia v. Eritrea), Ethiopia ' s Claims 1 & 3, Partial Award; Western Front, Aerial Bombardment & Related Claims (Eritrea v. Ethiopia), Eritrea ' s Claims 1, 3, 5, 9-13, 14, 21, 25 & 26, Partial Award
Authors: Bodansky Daniel , Weeramantry J. Romesh
Published: July 2020

Diplomatic Claims (Eritrea v. Ethiopia), Eritrea's Claim 20/Ethiopia's Claim 8, Partial Awards. At .

Eritrea Ethiopia Claims Commission, December 19, 2005.

Economic Loss Throughout Ethiopia (Ethiopia v. Eritrea), Ethiopia's Claim 7, Partial Award. At .

Eritrea Ethiopia Claims Commission, December 19, 2005.

Jus ad Bellum (Ethiopia v. Eritrea), Ethiopia's Claims 1–8, Partial Award. At .

Eritrea Ethiopia Claims Commission, December 19, 2005.

Loss of Property in Ethiopia Owned by Non-Residents (Eritrea v. Ethiopia), Eritrea's Claim 24, Partial Award. At .

Eritrea Ethiopia Claims Commission, December 19, 2005.

Pensions (Eritrea v. Ethiopia), Eritrea's Claims 15, 19 & 23, Final Award. At .

Eritrea Ethiopia Claims Commission, December 19, 2005.

Ports (Ethiopia v. Eritrea), Ethiopia's Claim 6, Final AwardS At .

Eritrea Ethiopia Claims Commission, December 19, 2005.

Western & Eastern Fronts (Ethiopia v. Eritrea), Ethiopia's Claims 1 & 3, Partial Award. At .

Eritrea Ethiopia Claims Commission, December 19, 2005.

Western Front, Aerial Bombardment & Related Claims (Eritrea v. Ethiopia), Eritrea's Claims 1, 3, 5, 9–13,14, 21, 25 & 26, Partial Award. At .

Eritrea Ethiopia Claims Commission, December 19, 2005.

On December 19, 2005, the Eritrea Ethiopia Claims Commission (Commission) issued seven partial awards and two final awards. These awards determined the respective international responsibility of Eritrea and Ethiopia arising out of the 1998–2000 armed conflict between those two states.
The Fifty-Eighth Session of the International Law Commission
Authors: Matheson Michael J.
Published: July 2020

The International Law Commission (ILC) of the United Nations held its fifty-eighth session in Geneva from May 1 to June 9, and from July 3 to August 11, 2006. This was the final year of the Commission's most recent five-year term (or quinquennium), and it finished work on several topics by completing sets of draft articles on diplomatic protection, principles on international liability for transboundary harm, “guiding principles” on unilateral acts, and conclusions on fragmentation of international law. The Commission also completed its first reading of articles on transboundary aquifers; continued its work on reservations to treaties, responsibility of international organizations, and the effect of armed conflict on treaties; began its consideration of the obligation to extradite or prosecute and the expulsion of aliens; and added a variety of new topics to its long-term program.
A NOTE ON DERIVED LENGTH AND CHARACTER DEGREES
Authors: ÇINARCI BURCU , ERKOÇ TEMHA
Published: July 2020

Isaacs and Seitz conjectured that the derived length of a finite solvable group $G$ is bounded by the cardinality of the set of all irreducible character degrees of $G$. We prove that the conjecture holds for $G$ if the degrees of nonlinear monolithic characters of $G$ having the same kernels are distinct. Also, we show that the conjecture is true when $G$ has at most three nonlinear monolithic characters. We give some sufficient conditions for the inequality related to monolithic characters or real-valued irreducible characters of $G$ when the commutator subgroup of $G$ is supersolvable.
Fever without a source in children with congenital heart disease
Authors: DonaireGarcia Alvaro , Burke Brendan , Latifi Samir Q. , Agarwal Hemant S.
Published: July 2020

Two paediatric congenital heart disease patients presented with a brief history of low-grade fever without any focal symptoms. Their clinical features and laboratory tests were unremarkable; however, their blood cultures were positive that prompted further work-up. Infective endocarditis should be considered in any paediatric congenital heart disease patient who presents with fever without any other associated clinical features.
Frequency of meals that includes staple, main and side dishes and nutrient intake: findings from the 2012 National Health and Nutrition Survey, Japan
Authors: Ishikawa-Takata Kazuko , Kurotani Kayo , Adachi Miyuki , Takimoto Hidemi
Published: July 2020

Objective:

To investigate the relationship between nutrient intake and a straightforward Japanese nutritional goal of consuming a meal that includes staple, main and side dishes (SMS meal) more than twice a day.

Design:

This was a cross-sectional, observational study using the data from de-identified records of the 2012 National Health and Nutrition Survey. Dietary assessment was conducted using semi-weighed dietary records that were completed on one weekday.

Setting:

A home-based setting in Japan.

Participants:

30 269 subjects (male n 14 284; female n 15 985) aged ≥6 years (6–103 years, mean 50·4 (sd 22·3) years).

Results:

As the frequency of SMS meals increased, we found a higher intake of most nutrients and each food group. Subjects who consumed SMS meals at least twice a day were more likely to meet the Dietary Reference Intakes (DRI) for Japan compared with subjects who consumed an SMS meal once a day or less. However, the frequency of SMS meals did not necessarily ensure that DRI for Japan for saturated fatty acid, vitamin A, vitamin B1, calcium, iron and salt were met.

Conclusions:

Consuming SMS meals at least twice a day is a useful and straightforward nutrition goal to achieve adequate intake of some nutrients. However, it is necessary to provide the public with more information on foodstuff choice to ensure an adequate intake of all nutrients.
The effect of time use and food cost on dietary quality
Authors: Carpio Carlos E , Kalenkoski Charlene M , Moyeda-Carabaza Ana F , Murimi Mary
Published: July 2020

Objective:

To develop a questionnaire to measure food nutrition, food expenditures and time spent in food-related activities; and to assess the association between diet quality, time spent in food-related activities and food expenditures using data from a pilot study.

Design:

Cross-sectional study. Multiple linear regression models were used to analyse participants’ survey response behaviours and the relationship between food nutritional quality and time and money expenditures.

Setting:

Online survey using Qualtrics software in a public university located in West Texas, USA.

Participants:

Faculty and staff aged 18 years and older from a public university located in West Texas, USA

Results:

Combining questions from three survey instruments that collect data on food nutrition, food expenditures and time spent in food-related activities resulted in a thirty-page survey instrument. The median completion time of the survey instrument was about 30 min. Preliminary results suggest that time and money expenditures are associated with food quality but that their role is small relative to sociodemographic characteristics such as race and gender.

Conclusions:

Time and money expenditures are associated with food quality but their role is small relative to sociodemographic characteristics such as race and gender.
Flint, Michigan, and the Politics of Safe Drinking Water in the United States
Authors: Hughes Sara
Published: July 2020

Flint’s drinking water crisis has brought renewed⸺and needed⸺attention to the importance of safe drinking water in the United States. The Flint water crisis was the result of a confluence of factors operating at multiple scales in time and space. My aim is to draw out more explicitly the role of policy, and specifically rationalized policy, in incentivizing and allowing the mistakes and decisions that most proximately led to the Flint water crisis. I build on and extend existing analyses of the Flint water crisis, drawing on thirteen semi-structured interviews and publicly available reports, testimony, newspaper articles, and secondary data. My analysis brings to the fore the particular vulnerability to the marginalizing effects of rationalized policy and its implementation of poor and minority communities in the United States, and it reveals the stickiness and entrenchment of these rationalized policies. The response to the Flint water crisis, both in Michigan and nationally, has centered on renewed commitment to risk-based standards and rulemaking for safe drinking water protections, and maintains interventionist approaches to municipal financial distress. I discuss important alternatives that are emerging and indicate areas for future research on the politics of safe drinking water.
Rise of Competitive Authoritarianism in Bangladesh
Authors: Mostofa Shafi Md. , Subedi D. B.
Published: July 2020

We examine the changing nature of an authoritarian regime, which is emerging from the social and political conditions shaped by the unconsolidated democracy in Bangladesh. Drawing on desk-based research combined with interviews from the field, we argue that the current form of the authoritarian regime in Bangladesh represents the characteristics of competitive authoritarianism. We find that authoritarianism in Bangladesh combines “election manipulation” with three additional social and political mechanisms: “marginalization of political oppositions” leading to the oppositional void, “institutionalization of authoritarian policies,” and “co-option of religious leaders.” By adding these new mechanisms of authoritarian politics and tracing the links between politics and religion, we aim to expand the theory of competitive authoritarianism and unpack the puzzle of democratic consolidation in Bangladesh.
Influence of Upper Mantle Anisotropy on Isotropic P‐Wave Tomography Images Obtained in the Eastern Mediterranean Region
Authors: Confal Judith M. , Bezada Maximiliano J. , Eken Tuna , Faccenda Manuele , Saygin Erdinc , Taymaz Tuncay
Published: July 2020

Seismic body‐wave tomography studies typically assume an isotropic upper mantle, possibly mapping anisotropy into artificial isotropic velocity anomalies in the resulting images. The Eastern Mediterranean with its oceanic, continental, and extinct subduction systems, as well as dense station coverage, provides an ideal setting to explore this issue. To examine the influence of seismic anisotropy, our study deals with both synthetic and real data inversions in which realistic seismic anisotropy models derived from 3D mantle convection simulations and shear wave splitting measurements are taken as a priori constraints. Spatial large‐scale velocity perturbations are mostly consistent between models derived with and without considering anisotropy. Small differences in the magnitude (up to 2%) and shape of velocity perturbations occur, and some structures are less diffuse when including anisotropy. Additionally, good backazimuthal coverage of teleseismic events and a larger data set improve the resolution of our model with respect to previous tomography studies and allow us to better interpret first‐order isotropic velocity anomalies. Key features, such as the half‐arc subducting oceanic plate in the southern Aegean and a wide and deep tear in the slab beneath southwestern Turkey, are clearly visible in all models. Our final tomography images also provide evidence for a shallow horizontal tear in the northern Hellenides and a vertical tear between two parts of the Cyprian slab. In eastern Anatolia, slab‐related high‐velocity anomalies are absent due to the continental collision and break‐off.
Snow Topography on Undeformed Arctic Sea Ice Captured by an Idealized “Snow Dune” Model
Authors: Popović Predrag , Finkel Justin , Silber Mary C. , Abbot Dorian S.
Published: July 2020

Our ability to predict the future of Arctic sea ice is limited by ice's sensitivity to detailed surface conditions such as the distribution of snow and melt ponds. Snow on top of the ice decreases ice's thermal conductivity, increases its reflectivity (albedo), and provides a source of meltwater for melt ponds during summer that decrease the ice's albedo. In this paper, we develop a simple model of premelt snow topography that accurately describes snow cover of flat, undeformed Arctic sea ice on several study sites for which data were available. The model considers a surface that is a sum of randomly sized and placed “snow dunes” represented as Gaussian mounds. This model generalizes the “void model” of Popović et al. (2018, https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.120.148701) and, as such, accurately describes the statistics of melt pond geometry. We test this model against detailed LiDAR measurements of the premelt snow topography. We show that the model snow depth distribution is statistically indistinguishable from the measurements on flat ice, while small disagreement exists if the ice is deformed. We then use this model to determine analytic expressions for the conductive heat flux through the ice and for melt pond coverage evolution during an early stage of pond formation. We also formulate a criterion for ice to remain pond‐free throughout the summer. Results from our model could be directly included in large‐scale models, thereby improving our understanding of energy balance on sea ice and allowing for more reliable predictions of Arctic sea ice in a future climate.
AR-induced long non-coding RNA LINC01503 facilitates proliferation and metastasis via the SFPQ-FOSL1 axis in nasopharyngeal carcinoma
Authors: He Shi-Wei , Xu Cheng , Li Ying-Qing , Li Ying-Qin , Zhao Yin , Zhang Pan-Pan , Lei Yuan , Liang Ye-Lin , Li Jun-Yan , Li Qian , Chen Yang , Huang Sheng-Yan , Ma Jun , Liu Na
Published: July 2020

Increasing evidence indicates that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play vital roles in the tumorigenesis and progression of cancers. However, the functions and regulatory mechanisms of lncRNAs in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) are still largely unknown. Our previous lncRNA expression profiles identified that LINC01503 was overexpressed in NPC. Here, we verified that LINC01503 was highly expressed in NPC and correlated with poor prognosis. LINC01503 promoted NPC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion in vitro, and facilitated tumor growth and metastasis in vivo. Mechanistically, LINC01503 recruited splicing factor proline-and glutamine-rich (SFPQ) to activate Fos like 1 (FOSL1) transcription, and ectopic expression of FOSL1 reversed the suppressive effect of LINC01503 knockdown on NPC progression. Moreover, androgen receptor (AR)-mediated transcription activation was responsible for the overexpression of LINC01503, and AR ligand-dependent cell growth, migration, and invasion in NPC cells. Taken together, our findings reveal that AR-induced LINC01503 can promote NPC progression through the SFPQ-FOSL1 axis, which represents a novel prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target for NPC patients.
Circ-ADAM9 targeting PTEN and ATG7 promotes autophagy and apoptosis of diabetic endothelial progenitor cells by sponging mir-20a-5p
Authors: Tian Ding , Xiang Yin , Tang Yong , Ge Zhuowang , Li Qianhui , Zhang Yachen
Published: July 2020

Dysfunction of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) is a key factor in vascular complications of diabetes mellitus. Although the roles of microRNAs and circular RNAs in regulating cell functions have been thoroughly studied, their role in regulating autophagy and apoptosis of EPCs remains to be elucidated. This study investigated the roles of mir-20a-5p and its predicted target circ-ADAM9 in EPCs treated with high glucose (30 mM) and in a diabetic mouse hind limb ischemia model. It is found that Mir-20a-5p inhibited autophagy and apoptosis of EPCs induced by high-concentration glucose. Further, mir-20a-5p could inhibit the expression of PTEN and ATG7 in EPCs, and promote the phosphorylation of AKT and mTOR proteins under high-glucose condition. Investigation of the underlying mechanism revealed that circ-ADAM9, as a miRNA sponges of mir-20a-5p, promoted autophagy and apoptosis of EPCs induced by high-concentration glucose. Circ-ADAM9 upregulated PTEN and ATG7 in interaction with mir-20a-5p, and inhibited the phosphorylation of AKT and mTOR to aggravate autophagy and apoptosis of EPCs under high glucose. In addition, silencing of circ-ADAM9 increased microvessel formation in the hind limbs of diabetic mice. Our findings disclose a novel autophagy/apoptosis-regulatory pathway that is composed of mir-20a-5p, circ-ADAM9, PTEN, and ATG7. Circ-ADAM9 is a potential novel target for regulating the function of diabetic EPCs and angiogenesis.
Aspirin attenuates YAP and β-catenin expression by promoting β-TrCP to overcome docetaxel and vinorelbine resistance in triple-negative breast cancer
Authors: Ma Ji , Fan Zhenhai , Tang Qiulin , Xia Hongwei , Zhang Tao , Bi Feng
Published: July 2020

The use of aspirin has been associated with reduced breast cancer risk, but it is litter known if aspirin overcomes chemoresistance in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Herein, we demonstrated that changes in the expression of Yes-associated protein (YAP) and β-catenin might be a promising predictive biomarker for neoadjuvant chemotherapy sensitivity in TNBC patients. Inhibition of YAP or β-catenin enhanced the cytotoxicity of the anti-microtubule agents docetaxel and vinorelbine against drug-resistant TNBC cells as well as the sensitivity of these cells to the agents in vitro and in vivo. Interestingly, aspirin not only significantly inhibited the growth of TNBC cells, but also attenuated YAP and β-catenin expression by upregulating the E3 ubiquitin ligase β-TrCP to abolished docetaxel and vinorelbine resistance. The combination of aspirin and docetaxel or vinorelbine remarkably inhibited the growth of drug-resistant TNBC cells in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, TNBC patients with high YAP and/or β-catenin expression had a higher risk of relapse or mortality than patients with low YAP and/or β-catenin expression. Collectively, our study discovered a novel role of aspirin based on its anticancer effect, and put forward some possible mechanisms of chemoresistance in TNBC. The combined use of aspirin and anti-microtubule drugs presented several promising therapeutic approaches for TNBC treatment.
Depletion of microglia exacerbates injury and impairs function recovery after spinal cord injury in mice
Authors: Fu Haitao , Zhao Yanpeng , Hu Die , Wang Song , Yu Tengbo , Zhang Licheng
Published: July 2020

The role of microglia in spinal cord injury (SCI) remains ambiguous, partially due to the paucity of efficient methods to discriminate these resident microglia with blood-derived monocytes/macrophages. Here, we used pharmacological treatments to specifically eliminate microglia and subsequently to investigate the response of microglia after SCI in mice. We showed that treatment with colony stimulating factor 1 receptor (CSF1R) inhibitor PLX3397 eliminated ~90% microglia and did not affect other cell types in mouse spinal cord. PLX3397 treatment also induced a strong decrease in microglial proliferation induced by SCI. Depletion of microglia after SCI disrupted glial scar formation, enhanced immune cell infiltrates, reduced neuronal survival, delayed astrocyte repopulation, exacerbated axonal dieback, and impaired locomotor recovery. Therefore, our findings suggest microglia may play a protective role after SCI in mice.
The prognostic value of six survival-related genes in bladder cancer
Authors: Cheng Shuting , Jiang Zhou , Xiao Jing , Guo Huiling , Wang Zhengrong , Wang Yuhui
Published: July 2020

This study was conducted to identify genes that are differentially expressed in paracancerous tissue and to determine the potential predictive value of selected gene panel. Gene transcriptome data of bladder tissue was downloaded from UCSC Xena browser and NCBI GEO repository, including GTEx (the Genotype-Tissue Expression project) data, TCGA (The Cancer Genome Atlas) data, and GEO (Gene Expression Omnibus) data. Differentially Expressed Genes (DEGs) analysis was performed to identify tumor-DEGs candidate genes, using the intersection of tumor-paracancerous DEGs genes and paracancerous-normal DEGs genes. The survival-related genes were screened by Kaplan–Meier (KM) survival analysis and univariable Cox regression with the cutoff criteria of KM < 0.05 and cox p-value < 0.05. The risk model was developed using Lasso regression. The clinical data were analyzed by univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis. Gene Ontology (GO) and KEGG enrichment analysis were performed in the DEGs genes between the high-risk and low-risk subgroups. We identified six survival-related genes, EMP1, TPM1, NRP2, FGFR1, CAVIN1, and LATS2, found in the DEG analyses of both, tumor-paracancerous and paracancerous-normal differentially expressed data sets. Then, the patients were classified into two clusters, which can be distinguished by specific clinical characteristics. A three-gene risk prediction model (EMP1, FGFR1, and CAVIN1) was constructed in patients within cluster 1. The model was applied to categorize cluster 1 patients into high-risk and low-risk subgroups. The prognostic risk score was considered as an independent prognostic factor. The six identified survival-related genes can be used in molecular characterization of a specific subtype of bladder cancer. This subtype had distinct clinical features of T (topography), N (lymph node), stage, grade, and survival status, compared to the other subtype of bladder cancer. Among the six identified survival-related genes, three-genes, EMP1, FGFR1, and CAVIN1, were identified as potential independent prognostic markers for the specific bladder cancer subtype with clinical features described.
Meta-analysis of multidecadal biodiversity trends in Europe
Authors: Pilotto Francesca , Kühn Ingolf , Adrian Rita , Alber Renate , Alignier Audrey , Andrews Christopher , Bäck Jaana , Barbaro Luc , Beaumont Deborah , Beenaerts Natalie , Benham Sue , Boukal David S. , Bretagnolle Vincent , Camatti Elisa , Canullo Roberto , Cardoso Patricia G. , Ens Bruno J. , Everaert Gert , Evtimova Vesela , Feuchtmayr Heidrun , García-González Ricardo , Gómez García Daniel , Grandin Ulf , Gutowski Jerzy M. , Hadar Liat , Halada Lubos , Halassy Melinda , Hummel Herman , Huttunen Kaisa-Leena , Jaroszewicz Bogdan , Jensen Thomas C. , Kalivoda Henrik , Schmidt Inger Kappel , Kröncke Ingrid , Leinonen Reima , Martinho Filipe , Meesenburg Henning , Meyer Julia , Minerbi Stefano , Monteith Don , Nikolov Boris P. , Oro Daniel , Ozoliņš Dāvis , Padedda Bachisio M. , Pallett Denise , Pansera Marco , Pardal Miguel Ângelo , Petriccione Bruno , Pipan Tanja , Pöyry Juha , Schäfer Stefanie M. , Schaub Marcus , Schneider Susanne C. , Skuja Agnija , Soetaert Karline , Spriņģe Gunta , Stanchev Radoslav , Stockan Jenni A. , Stoll Stefan , Sundqvist Lisa , Thimonier Anne , Van Hoey Gert , Van Ryckegem Gunther , Visser Marcel E. , Vorhauser Samuel , Haase Peter
Published: July 2020

Local biodiversity trends over time are likely to be decoupled from global trends, as local processes may compensate or counteract global change. We analyze 161 long-term biological time series (15–91 years) collected across Europe, using a comprehensive dataset comprising ~6,200 marine, freshwater and terrestrial taxa. We test whether (i) local long-term biodiversity trends are consistent among biogeoregions, realms and taxonomic groups, and (ii) changes in biodiversity correlate with regional climate and local conditions. Our results reveal that local trends of abundance, richness and diversity differ among biogeoregions, realms and taxonomic groups, demonstrating that biodiversity changes at local scale are often complex and cannot be easily generalized. However, we find increases in richness and abundance with increasing temperature and naturalness as well as a clear spatial pattern in changes in community composition (i.e. temporal taxonomic turnover) in most biogeoregions of Northern and Eastern Europe.
TAASRAD19, a high-resolution weather radar reflectivity dataset for precipitation nowcasting
Authors: Franch Gabriele , Maggio Valerio , Coviello Luca , Pendesini Marta , Jurman Giuseppe , Furlanello Cesare
Published: July 2020

We introduce , a high-resolution radar reflectivity dataset collected by the Civil Protection weather radar of the Trentino South Tyrol Region, in the Italian Alps. The dataset includes 894,916 timesteps of precipitation from more than 9 years of data, offering a novel resource to develop and benchmark analog ensemble models and machine learning solutions for precipitation nowcasting. Data are expressed as 2D images, considering the maximum reflectivity on the vertical section at 5 min sampling rate, covering an area of 240 km of diameter at 500 m horizontal resolution. The distribution also includes a curated set of 1,732 sequences, for a total of 362,233 radar images, labeled with precipitation type tags assigned by expert meteorologists. We validate as a benchmark for nowcasting methods by introducing a deep learning model to forecast reflectivity, and a procedure based on the UMAP dimensionality reduction algorithm for interactive exploration. Software methods for data pre-processing, model training and inference, and a pre-trained model are publicly available on GitHub (https://github.com/MPBA/TAASRAD19) for study replication and reproducibility.
To gel or not to gel: differential expression of carrageenan-related genes between the gametophyte and tetasporophyte life cycle stages of the red alga Chondrus crispus
Authors: Lipinska Agnieszka P. , Collén Jonas , Krueger-Hadfield Stacy A. , Mora Theo , Ficko-Blean Elizabeth
Published: July 2020

Chondrus crispus is a marine red alga with sulfated galactans, called carrageenans, in its extracellular matrix. Chondrus has a complex haplodiplontic life cycle, alternating between male and female gametophytes (n) and tetrasporophytes (2n). The Chondrus life cycle stages are isomorphic; however, a major phenotypic difference is that carrageenan composition varies significantly between the tetrasporophytes (mainly lambda-carrageenan) and the gametophytes (mainly kappa/iota-carrageenans). The disparity in carrageenan structures, which confer different chemical properties, strongly suggests differential regulation of carrageenan-active genes between the phases of the Chondrus life cycles. We used a combination of taxonomy, biochemistry and molecular biology to characterize the tetrasporophytes and male and female gametophytes from Chondrus individuals isolated from the rocky seashore off the northern coast of France. Transcriptomic analyses reveal differential gene expression of genes encoding several galactose-sulfurylases, carbohydrate-sulfotransferases, glycosyltransferases, and one family 16 glycoside hydrolase. Differential expression of carrageenan-related genes was found primarily between gametophytes and tetrasporophytes, but also between the male and female gametophytes. The differential expression of these multigenic genes provides a rare glimpse into cell wall biosynthesis in algae. Furthermore, it strongly supports that carrageenan metabolism holds an important role in the physiological differentiation between the isomorphic life cycle stages of Chondrus.
Professional mathematicians do not differ from others in the symbolic numerical distance and size effects
Authors: Hohol Mateusz , Willmes Klaus , Nęcka Edward , Brożek Bartosz , Nuerk Hans-Christoph , Cipora Krzysztof
Published: July 2020

The numerical distance effect (it is easier to compare numbers that are further apart) and size effect (for a constant distance, it is easier to compare smaller numbers) characterize symbolic number processing. However, evidence for a relationship between these two basic phenomena and more complex mathematical skills is mixed. Previously this relationship has only been studied in participants with normal or poor mathematical skills, not in mathematicians. Furthermore, the prevalence of these effects at the individual level is not known. Here we compared professional mathematicians, engineers, social scientists, and a reference group using the symbolic magnitude classification task with single-digit Arabic numbers. The groups did not differ with respect to symbolic numerical distance and size effects in either frequentist or Bayesian analyses. Moreover, we looked at their prevalence at the individual level using the bootstrapping method: while a reliable numerical distance effect was present in almost all participants, the prevalence of a reliable numerical size effect was much lower. Again, prevalence did not differ between groups. In summary, the phenomena were neither more pronounced nor more prevalent in mathematicians, suggesting that extremely high mathematical skills neither rely on nor have special consequences for analogue processing of symbolic numerical magnitudes.
Indian Ocean Dipole in CMIP5 and CMIP6: characteristics, biases, and links to ENSO
Authors: McKenna Sebastian , Santoso Agus , Gupta Alexander Sen , Taschetto Andréa S. , Cai Wenju
Published: July 2020

Accurately representing the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) is crucial for reliable climate predictions and future projections. However, El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and IOD interact, making it necessary to evaluate ENSO and IOD simultaneously. Using the historical simulation from 32 fifth phase of Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP5) models and 34 CMIP6 models, here we find that there are some modest changes in the basic characteristics of the IOD and ENSO from CMIP5 to CMIP6. Firstly, there is a slight shift in the seasonality of IOD toward an earlier peak in September in CMIP6, from November in CMIP5. Secondly, inter-model spread in the frequency of ENSO and the IOD has reduced in CMIP6 relative to CMIP5. ENSO asymmetry is still underestimated in CMIP6, based on the skewness of the Niño3 index, while the IOD skewness has degraded from CMIP5. Finally, mean state SST biases impact on the strength of the IOD; the Pacific cold tongue mean state is important in CMIP5, but in CMIP6 the Pacific warm pool mean state is more important.
Spatiotemporal gait characteristics and ankle kinematics of backward walking in people with chronic ankle instability
Authors: Balasukumaran Tharani , Gottlieb Uri , Springer Shmuel
Published: July 2020

Backward walking offers a unique challenge to balance and ambulation. This study investigated the characteristics of spatiotemporal gait factors and ankle kinematics during backward walking in people with chronic ankle instability. Sixteen subjects with chronic ankle instability and 16 able-bodied controls walked on a treadmill at their self-selected speed under backward and forward walking conditions. Gait speed, cadence, double limb support percentage, stride time variability, and three-dimensional ankle kinematics were compared between groups and conditions. During backward walking, both groups had significantly slower gait speed, lower cadence, and greater stride time variability. In addition, under backward walking condition, subjects in both groups demonstrated significant sagittal and frontal kinematic alternations, such as greater dorsiflexion and inversion following initial contact (0–27.7%, 0–25.0% of gait cycle respectively, p < 0.001). However, there were no significant differences between groups in any of the measured outcomes. This indicates that subjects with chronic ankle instability adapt to self-selected speed backward walking similarly to healthy controls. Assessments with more challenging tasks, such as backward walking with dual task and backward walking at fast speed, may be more appropriate for testing gait impairments related to chronic ankle instability.
Velocity and acceleration freely tunable straight-line propagation light bullet
Authors: Li Zhaoyang , Kawanaka Junji
Published: July 2020

Three-dimensional (3-D) light solitons in space–time, referred to as light bullets, have many novel properties and wide applications. Here we theoretically show how the combination of diffraction-free beam and ultrashort pulse spatiotemporal-coupling enables the creation of a straight-line propagation light bullet with freely tunable velocity and acceleration. This light bullet could propagate with a constant superluminal or subluminal velocity, and it could also counter-propagate with a very fast superluminal velocity (e.g., − 35.6c). Apart from uniform motion, an acceleration or deceleration straight-line propagation light bullet with a tunable instantaneous acceleration could also be produced. The high controllability of the velocity and the acceleration of a straight-line propagation light bullet would enable very specific applications, such as velocity and/or acceleration matched micromanipulation, microscopy, particle acceleration, radiation generation, and so on.
Author Correction: Decreased integrity of exercise-induced plasma cell free nuclear DNA – negative association with the increased oxidants production by circulating phagocytes
Authors: Stawski Robert , Walczak Konrad , Perdas Ewelina , Wlodarczyk Anna , Sarniak Agata , Kosielski Piotr , Meissner Pawel , Budlewski Tomasz , Padula Gianluca , Nowak Dariusz
Published: July 2020

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.
Solar-trackable super-wicking black metal panel for photothermal water sanitation
Authors: Singh Subhash C. , ElKabbash Mohamed , Li Zilong , Li Xiaohan , Regmi Bhabesh , Madsen Matthew , Jalil Sohail A. , Zhan Zhibing , Zhang Jihua , Guo Chunlei
Published: July 2020

Solar-based water sanitation is an environmentally friendly process for obtaining clean water that requires efficient light-to-heat-to-vapour generation. Solar-driven interfacial evaporation has potential, but the inability to control interfacial evaporators for solar tracking limits efficiency at large solar zenith angles and when using optical concentration. Furthermore, clogging affects the efficiency of the device. Here, we create a super-wicking and super-light-absorbing (SWSA) aluminium surface for efficient solar-based water sanitation. The measured evaporation rate exceeds that of an ideal device operating at 100% efficiency, which we hypothesize resulted from a reduced enthalpy of vaporization within the microcapillaries. Limited solar absorber–water contact for water transport minimizes heat losses to bulk water and maximizes heat localization at the SWSA surface. The device can be mounted at any angle on a floating platform to optimize incident solar irradiance and can readily be integrated with commercial solar-thermal systems. With a design that is analogous to bifacial photovoltaic solar panels, we show a 150% increase in efficiency compared with a single-sided SWSA. Given the open capillary channels, the device surface can be easily cleaned and reused. Using the SWSA surface to purify contaminated water, we show a decrease in the level of contaminants to well below the WHO and EPA standards for drinkable water.