bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Linear and nonlinear substructured Restricted Additive Schwarz iterations and preconditioning
Authors: Chaouqui F. , Gander M. J. , Kumbhar P. M. , Vanzan T.
Published: April 2022

Iterative substructuring Domain Decomposition (DD) methods have been extensively studied, and they are usually associated with nonoverlapping decompositions. It is less known that classical overlapping DD methods can also be formulated in substructured form, i.e., as iterative methods acting on variables defined exclusively on the interfaces of the overlapping domain decomposition. We call such formulations substructured domain decomposition methods. We introduce here a substructured version of Restricted Additive Schwarz (RAS) which we call SRAS. We show that RAS and SRAS are equivalent when used as iterative solvers, as they produce the same iterates, while they are substantially different when used as preconditioners for GMRES. We link the volume and substructured Krylov spaces and show that the iterates are different by deriving the least squares problems solved at each GMRES iteration. When used as iterative solvers, SRAS presents computational advantages over RAS, as it avoids computations with matrices and vectors at the volume level. When used as preconditioners, SRAS has the further advantage of allowing GMRES to store smaller vectors and perform orthogonalization in a lower dimensional space. We then consider nonlinear problems, and we introduce SRASPEN (Substructured Restricted Additive Schwarz Preconditioned Exact Newton), where SRAS is used as a preconditioner for Newton’s method. In contrast to the linear case, we prove that Newton’s method applied to the preconditioned volume and substructured formulation produces the same iterates in the nonlinear case. Next, we introduce two-level versions of nonlinear SRAS and SRASPEN. Finally, we validate our theoretical results with numerical experiments.
Heated policy: policy actors’ emotional storylines and conflict escalation
Authors: Verhoeven Imrat , Metze Tamara
Published: April 2022

Policy conflict is gaining attention in policy studies. In this paper, we explore the relation between emotional storylines and policy conflict escalation in the case of the Dutch gasquakes in the north of the country. Based on a longitudinal analysis of emotional storylines in 1308 newspaper articles and additional empirical data we find that Dutch subnational governmental actors as well as citizen action groups discursively express emotional storylines about anxiety/fear, anger, and contempt in relation to discursive expressions of trustworthiness/distrust. Over time, specific combinations of these emotional storylines shape the interpretation of the problem and point toward responsible actors. Also the way in which specific sequences of emotional storylines develop (particularly from fear to anger) suggests a discursive escalation. In addition, discursive escalation can be found in the increased intensity of specific emotional storylines. We conclude that the combinations, sequencing and increasing intensity of the emotional storylines suggest a process of emotionally expressed escalation, which we have only just begun to explore.
Multicore implementation of a multichannel parallel graphic equalizer
Authors: Belloch Jose A. , Badía José M , León German , Bank Balázs , Välimäki Vesa
Published: April 2022

Numerous signal processing applications are emerging on mobile computing systems. These applications are subject to responsiveness constraints for user interactivity and, at the same time, must be optimized for energy efficiency. Many current embedded devices are composed of low-power multicore processors that offer a good trade-off between computational capacity and low power consumption. In this context, equalizers are widely used in multiple mobile-based applications such as “Music streaming” to adjust the levels of bass and treble in sound reproduction. In this study, we evaluate a graphic equalizer from audio, computational capacity, and energy efficiency perspectives, as well as the execution of multiple real-time equalizers running on an embedded quad-core processor of a mobile device. To this end, we experiment with the working frequencies as well as the parallelism that can be extracted from a quad-core ARM Cortex-A57. Results show that using high CPU frequencies and three or four cores, our parallel algorithm is able to equalize more than five channels per watt in real time with an audio buffer of 4096 samples, which implies a latency of 92.8 ms at the standard sample rate of 44.1 kHz.
The Reality of the ‘Publish or Perish’ Concept, Perspectives from the Global South
Authors: Amutuhaire Tibelius
Published: April 2022

Historically, educators in higher education (HE) were expected to educate, generate knowledge, and do community service. With some commentators arguing that an academic must ‘publish or perish’, the expectation to create knowledge through research became overemphasized. The concept is widespread in HE institutions around the world. It aids to keep staff, particularly those in universities, constantly engaged with relevant knowledge works in their fields of expertise. According to this viewpoint, research publications are the most important factor in determining whether an academic or an administrator gets employed, promoted, acknowledged, retained, or not hired. The idea of ‘publish or perish’, on the other hand, is based on the dominant Western knowledge creation realities, which largely misrepresent or ignore African realities. To avoid perpetuating inequalities in academia, it is critical to re-examine how this idea informs knowledge creation in Africa. For example, the enormous number of publications required for one to advance up the academic ladder comes at a hefty cost that is not always feasible to low-paid academics in Africa’s resource-poor countries. This limits promotion of some individuals. Basically, for many Africans, what matters is the information gained, not how many times one’s work is acknowledged in scholarly publications. We need to establish knowledge-creation processes that are tailored to African realities. To that goal, we must strike a balance between having numerous publications with the potential to have an impact on society, given that developing solutions to development concerns appears to be more vital for Africa right now. This paper problematizes the ‘publish or perish’ concept for African academics, especially those intending to make an impact in their society with a purpose of eliminating inequalities in academia.
Chasing a Drunk Robber in Many Classes of Graphs
Authors: Songsuwan Nuttanon , Thongtha Dawud , Kaemawichanurat Pawaton
Published: April 2022

A cops and robbers game (CR) on graphs was originated in 1983 by Quilliot and by Nowakowski and Winkler independently. This game has been applied in many problems in the area of theoretical computer science such as information seeking, robot motion planning or network security as evidenced by many conferences and publications. The CR game has also been extensively studied and varied to many versions. In this paper, we focus on CR game under the condition that the robber performs a random walk. Namely, he drunkenly, or randomly, chooses his next move to escape the cop, while the cop plays optimally in order to minimize the expected drunk capture times$${\textit{dct}}(G)$$

dct
(
G
)

of a graph G. We apply the concepts of expected hitting time in Markov Chain and combinatorial technique to find $${\textit{dct}}(G)$$

dct
(
G
)

for graphs G that have been used in many applications which are cycles, complete multipartite graphs, grid graphs and prism graphs.
Infinite diameter confidence sets in Hedges’ publication bias model
Authors: Moss Jonas
Published: April 2022

Meta-analysis, the statistical analysis of results from separate studies, is a fundamental building block of science. But the assumptions of classical meta-analysis models are not satisfied whenever publication bias is present, which causes inconsistent parameter estimates. Hedges’ selection function model takes publication bias into account, but estimating and inferring with this model is tough for some datasets. Using a generalized Gleser–Hwang theorem, we show there is no confidence set of guaranteed finite diameter for the parameters of Hedges’ selection model. This result provides a partial explanation for why inference with Hedges’ selection model is fraught with difficulties.
Technology and the Public Interest
Authors: Sun Haochen
Published: April 2022

In this groundbreaking work, Haochen Sun analyzes the ethical crisis unfolding at the intersection of technology and the public interest. He examines technology companies' growing power and their increasing disregard for the public good. To tackle this asymmetry of power and responsibility, he argues that we must reexamine the nature and scope of the right to technology and dynamically protect it as a human right under international law, a collective right under domestic civil rights law, and potentially a fundamental right under domestic constitutional law. He also develops the concept of fundamental corporate responsibility requiring technology companies to compensate users for their contributions, assume an active role responsibility in upholding the public interest, and counter injustices caused by technological developments.
The New Atlantic Order
Authors: Cohrs Patrick O.
Published: April 2022

This magisterial new history elucidates a momentous transformation process that changed the world: the struggle to create, for the first time, a modern Atlantic order in the long twentieth century (1860–2020). Placing it in a broader historical and global context, Patrick O. Cohrs reinterprets the Paris Peace Conference of 1919 as the original attempt to supersede the Eurocentric 'world order' of the age of imperialism and found a more legitimate peace system – a system that could not yet be global but had to be essentially transatlantic. Yet he also sheds new light on why, despite remarkable learning-processes, it proved impossible to forge a durable Atlantic peace after a First World War that became the long twentieth century's cathartic catastrophe. In a broader perspective this ground-breaking study shows what a decisive impact this epochal struggle has had not only for modern conceptions of peace, collective security and an integrative, rule-based international order but also for formative ideas of self-determination, liberal-democratic government and the West.
Continuous cropping legumes in semi-arid Southern Africa: Legume productivity and soil health implications
Authors: Jani Arun D. , Motis Timothy N. , Longfellow Joy M. , Lingbeek Brandon J. , D’Aiuto Christopher J.
Published: April 2022

Legume agronomic research in Southern Africa has often focused on integrating legumes into smallholder cereal cropping systems, but there is limited information available on the feasibility and soil health implications of continuous cropping legumes in the region. Continuous legumes may be suitable in areas with large livestock populations where a premium is placed on high-quality forage, or where efforts are underway to reclaim degraded cropland. Our objectives in this study were to (i) evaluate the performance of diverse legumes under continuous cropping and conservation tillage management with no fertility inputs and (ii) assess the response of soil health parameters to continuous legumes in a semi-arid environment. A 4-year study was conducted in Limpopo, South Africa beginning in the 2011–2012 growing season in which 10 legume and fallow treatments were imposed in the same plots for 4 growing seasons. All legumes responded negatively in varying degrees to continuous cropping in terms of biomass and nutrient accumulation. Lablab (Lablab purpureus L.) was the top-performing legume in the study and accumulated 4.5–13 Mg ha−1 of biomass and 153–345, 11–34, and 75–286 kg ha−1 of N, P, and K, respectively. Lablab often outperformed natural fallow, while other legumes generally performed as well as or inferior to natural fallow, depending on species and growing season. Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata Walp) was especially incompatible with continuous cropping and averaged less than 252 kg ha−1 and 2.1 Mg ha−1 of grain and biomass, respectively, from 2012–2013 to 2014–2015. Continuous cropping did not lead to sustained improvements in soil health. By 2014–2015, soil organic matter for all treatments had either declined or resembled baseline values. Rates of potentially mineralizable N in cowpea, lablab, vining mucuna (Mucuna pruriens var. Utilis), natural fallow, and bare ground plots fell by 70–96% during the study. There was also evidence for lower recovery of leached K by legumes compared to natural fallow species. In conclusion, legumes, such as lablab, should be considered as continuous forages on marginal land in areas where high-quality forage is in demand, but continuous cropping legumes without fertility inputs are not an effective strategy for improving soil health on degraded cropland in this semi-arid region of Southern Africa. Future research efforts may focus on the grazing strategies and baling frequencies required to optimize annual biomass accumulation of continuous lablab to meet livestock demand and support smallholder livelihoods.
Plagiarism and English for academic purposes: A research agenda
Authors: Pecorari Diane
Published: April 2022

Plagiarism is a consistent source of concern for educators, and particularly so for English for Academic Purposes (EAP) practitioners, whose objective is to equip students for success across the curriculum. Plagiarism has been on the EAP research agenda for some 35 years and remains a topic of considerable research interest. While perceptions of plagiarism have been extensively investigated, a number of questions relating to the prevalence and causes of plagiarism remain unanswered, and solid evidence about effective pedagogical methods is largely lacking. This article outlines directions for future research on the topic and describes specific investigations that could be conducted.
Extraordinary Back-to-Back Human and Animal Figures in the Art of Western Arnhem Land, Australia: One of the World's Largest Assemblages
Authors: Taçon Paul S.C. , May Sally K. , Goldhahn Joakim , Taylor Luke , Brady Liam M. , Ressel Alex , Jalandoni Andrea , Wesley Daryl , Maralngurra Gabriel
Published: April 2022

Depictions of mythical beings appear in many different forms of art world-wide, including rock art of various ages. In this paper we explore a particular type of imagery, back-to-back figures, consisting of two human-like figures or animals of the same species next to each other and facing in opposite directions. Some human-like doubles were joined at the back rather than side-by-side, but also face opposite directions. In this paper, we report on new research on rock art, bark paintings and recent paintings on paper and chart a 9000-year history of making aesthetically, symbolically and spiritually powerful back-to-back figures in Arnhem Land, Northern Territory, Australia.
Re-creation and self-creation in temple design
Authors: Hardy Adam
Published: April 2022

The article discusses an approach taken for the design of a new temple in Karnataka, India, to be built in the medieval ‘Hoysala’ style, which followed the Karnata Dravida tradition of temple architecture. This style is unfamiliar to present-day traditional temple builders in India. The design needs to be based on research into architectural history, of a kind that aims to relive the processes through which temples were designed, assimilating the architectural language and its principles. This kind of architectural history involves re-creation, and this kind of design can contribute to architectural history as ‘design research’.

An application of such research is the reconstruction of temple designs from ruins. The temples can potentially be rebuilt, or they can be reconstructed graphically, and presented meaningfully on site. Re-creation of temples through drawing is also a key for understanding canonical Sanskrit texts on architecture. These texts are not illustrated but call for interpretation through drawing. Temple types are typically presented in sequences of evolution from simple to complex forms, one type emanating from another in way reminiscent of how the architectural traditions themselves develop. Texts provide a framework for a design, demanding interpretation, improvisation, and invention. The results are only partly determined by an individual architect, and the framework can stimulate creations that an individual would never have thought of, as if such temples are svayambhu, or ‘self-creating’.

A ’svayambhu’ approach has been taken in the design of the new Hoysala temple. No texts survive from the Karnata Dravida tradition, but the surviving creations of that tradition display the emanatory logic of its unfolding. A ‘self-creating’ design for this temple can be achieved by exploring formal possibilities inherent in the tradition and extrapolating a new form, while accommodating ritual and iconographic requirements, and being open to the unexpected.
Circulating microRNAs from early childhood and adolescence are associated with pre-diabetes at 18 years of age in women from the PMNS cohort
Authors: Joglekar Mugdha V. , Kunte Pooja S. , Wong Wilson K.M. , Bhat Dattatray. S. , Satoor Sarang N. , Patil Rohan R. , Karandikar Mahesh S. , Fall Caroline H. D. , Yajnik Chittaranjan S. , Hardikar Anandwardhan A.
Published: April 2022

With type 2 diabetes presenting at younger ages, there is a growing need to identify biomarkers of future glucose intolerance. A high (20%) prevalence of glucose intolerance at 18 years was seen in women from the Pune Maternal Nutrition Study (PMNS) birth cohort. We investigated the potential of circulating microRNAs in risk stratification for future pre-diabetes in these women. Here, we provide preliminary longitudinal analyses of circulating microRNAs in normal glucose tolerant (NGT@18y, N = 10) and glucose intolerant (N = 8) women (ADA criteria) at 6, 12 and 17 years of their age using discovery analysis (OpenArray™ platform). Machine-learning workflows involving Lasso with bootstrapping/leave-one-out cross-validation identified microRNAs associated with glucose intolerance at 18 years of age. Several microRNAs, including miR-212-3p, miR-30e-3p and miR-638, stratified glucose-intolerant women from NGT at childhood. Our results suggest that circulating microRNAs, longitudinally assessed over 17 years of life, are dynamic biomarkers associated with and predictive of pre-diabetes at 18 years of age. Validation of these findings in males and remaining participants from the PMNS birth cohort will provide a unique opportunity to study novel epigenetic mechanisms in the life-course progression of glucose intolerance and enhance current clinical risk prediction of pre-diabetes and progression to type 2 diabetes.
Fluid‐Kinetic Variations in the Storm‐Time Inner Magnetosphere
Authors: Chaston Christopher C.
Published: April 2022

Storm‐time broadband electromagnetic field variations along the interface between the dipolar field of the Earth's inner‐magnetosphere and the stretched fields of the plasma‐sheet are decomposed as a superposition of fluid‐kinetic modes. Using model eigen‐vectors operating on the full set of Van Allen Probes fields measurements it is shown how these variations are composed of a broad spectrum of dispersive Alfvén waves with significant spectral energy densities in the fast and slow modes over scales extending into the kinetic range. These modes occupy volumes in ‐space that define the field variations observed at each spacecraft frame frequency (). They are in aggregate not necessarily planar and often comprise filamentary structures with no distinct propagation direction in the perpendicular plane. Within these volumes the characteristic parallel phase speeds of the fast and Alfvénic modes coincide over a broad range of suggestive of coupling/conversion between modes.
Uranium Detected in Latinx Communities’ Water Systems
Authors: Cartier Kimberly
Published: April 2022

The unsafe contaminant levels could not be attributed to differences in regional geology, water source, or community size. Researchers suggest they are due to a failure of regulatory policy.
Thank You to Our 2021 Peer Reviewers
Authors: Florindo Fabio , Carlton Annmarie G. , D’Odorico Paolo , Duan Qingyun , Halekas Jasper S. , Mollenhauer Gesine , Rohling Eelco J. , Bingham Robert G. , Brodsky Emily E. , Crucifix Michel C. , Gettelman Andrew , Robock Alan
Published: April 2022

Reviews of Geophysics is the top‐rated journal in Geochemistry and Geophysics (ISI Web of Knowledge category) reflecting the many excellent contributions we received. It is an important milestone achieved with the reviewers' investment of time and effort. Their expertise ensures that the papers published in this journal meet the standards that the research community expects. We sincerely appreciate the time the reviewers spent reading and commenting on manuscripts, and we are very grateful for their willingness and readiness to serve in this role.
Opioid-sparing effect of cannabinoids for analgesia: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis of preclinical and clinical studies
Authors: Nielsen Suzanne , Picco Louisa , Murnion Bridin , Winters Bryony , Matheson Justin , Graham Myfanwy , Campbell Gabrielle , Parvaresh Laila , Khor Kok-Eng , Betz-Stablein Brigid , Farrell Michael , Lintzeris Nicholas , Le Foll Bernard
Published: April 2022

Cannabinoid co-administration may enable reduced opioid doses for analgesia. This updated systematic review on the opioid-sparing effects of cannabinoids considered preclinical and clinical studies where the outcome was analgesia or opioid dose requirements. We searched Scopus, Cochrane Central Registry of Controlled Trials, Medline, and Embase (2016 onwards). Ninety-two studies met the search criteria including 15 ongoing trials. Meta-analysis of seven preclinical studies found the median effective dose (ED50) of morphine administered with delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol was 3.5 times lower (95% CI 2.04, 6.03) than the ED50of morphine alone. Six preclinical studies found no evidence of increased opioid abuse liability with cannabinoid administration. Of five healthy-volunteer experimental pain studies, two found increased pain, two found decreased pain and one found reduced pain bothersomeness with cannabinoid administration; three demonstrated that cannabinoid co-administration may increase opioid abuse liability. Three randomized controlled trials (RCTs) found no evidence of opioid-sparing effects of cannabinoids in acute pain. Meta-analysis of four RCTs in patients with cancer pain found no effect of cannabinoid administration on opioid dose (mean difference −3.8 mg, 95% CI −10.97, 3.37) or percentage change in pain scores (mean difference 1.84, 95% CI −2.05, 5.72); five studies found more adverse events with cannabinoids compared with placebo (risk ratio 1.13, 95% CI 1.03, 1.24). Of five controlled chronic non-cancer pain trials; one low-quality study with no control arm, and one single-dose study reported reduced pain scores with cannabinoids. Three RCTs found no treatment effect of dronabinol. Meta-analyses of observational studies found 39% reported opioid cessation (95% CI 0.15, 0.64,I295.5%, eight studies), and 85% reported reduction (95% CI 0.64, 0.99,I292.8%, seven studies). In summary, preclinical and observational studies demonstrate the potential opioid-sparing effects of cannabinoids in the context of analgesia, in contrast to higher-quality RCTs that did not provide evidence of opioid-sparing effects.
Targeting farnesylation as a novel therapeutic approach in HRAS-mutant rhabdomyosarcoma
Authors: Odeniyide Patience , Yohe Marielle E. , Pollard Kai , Vaseva Angelina V. , Calizo Ana , Zhang Lindy , Rodriguez Fausto J. , Gross John M. , Allen Amy N. , Wan Xiaolin , Somwar Romel , Schreck Karisa C. , Kessler Linda , Wang Jiawan , Pratilas Christine A.
Published: April 2022

Activating RAS mutations are found in a subset of fusion-negative rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS), and therapeutic strategies to directly target RAS in these tumors have been investigated, without clinical success to date. A potential strategy to inhibit oncogenic RAS activity is the disruption of RAS prenylation, an obligate step for RAS membrane localization and effector pathway signaling, through inhibition of farnesyltransferase (FTase). Of the major RAS family members, HRAS is uniquely dependent on FTase for prenylation, whereas NRAS and KRAS can utilize geranylgeranyl transferase as a bypass prenylation mechanism. Tumors driven by oncogenic HRAS may therefore be uniquely sensitive to FTase inhibition. To investigate the mutation-specific effects of FTase inhibition in RMS we utilized tipifarnib, a potent and selective FTase inhibitor, in in vitro and in vivo models of RMS genomically characterized for RAS mutation status. Tipifarnib reduced HRAS processing, and plasma membrane localization leading to decreased GTP-bound HRAS and decreased signaling through RAS effector pathways. In HRAS-mutant cell lines, tipifarnib reduced two-dimensional and three-dimensional cell growth, and in vivo treatment with tipifarnib resulted in tumor growth inhibition exclusively in HRAS-mutant RMS xenografts. Our data suggest that small molecule inhibition of FTase is active in HRAS-driven RMS and may represent an effective therapeutic strategy for a genomically-defined subset of patients with RMS.
IRF4 deficiency vulnerates B-cell progeny for leukemogenesis via somatically acquired Jak3 mutations conferring IL-7 hypersensitivity
Authors: Das Gupta Dennis , Paul Christoph , Samel Nadine , Bieringer Maria , Staudenraus Daniel , Marini Federico , Raifer Hartmann , Menke Lisa , Hansal Lea , Camara Bärbel , Roth Edith , Daum Patrick , Wanzel Michael , Mernberger Marco , Nist Andrea , Bauer Uta-Maria , Helmprobst Frederik , Buchholz Malte , Roth Katrin , Bastian Lorenz , Hartmann Alina M. , Baldus Claudia , Ikuta Koichi , Neubauer Andreas , Burchert Andreas , Jäck Hans-Martin , Klein Matthias , Bopp Tobias , Stiewe Thorsten , Pagenstecher Axel , Lohoff Michael
Published: April 2022

The processes leading from disturbed B-cell development to adult B-cell progenitor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (BCP-ALL) remain poorly understood. Here, we describeIrf4−/−mice as prone to developing BCP-ALL with age.Irf4−/−preB-I cells exhibited impaired differentiation but enhanced proliferation in response to IL-7, along with reduced retention in the IL-7 providing bone marrow niche due to decreased CXCL12 responsiveness. Thus selected, preB-I cells acquiredJak3mutations, probably following irregular AID activity, resulting in malignant transformation. We demonstrate heightened IL-7 sensitivity due toJak3mutants, devise a model to explain it, and describe structural and functional similarities toJak2mutations often occurring in human Ph-like ALL. Finally, targeting JAK signaling with Ruxolitinib in vivo prolonged survival of mice bearing establishedIrf4−/−leukemia. Intriguingly, organ infiltration including leukemic meningeosis was selectively reduced without affecting blood blast counts. In this work, we present spontaneous leukemogenesis following IRF4 deficiency with potential implications for high-risk BCP-ALL in adult humans.
Circulatory amino acid responses to milk consumption in dairy and lactose intolerant individuals
Authors: Prodhan Utpal Kumar , Milan Amber Marie , Shrestha Aahana , Vickers Mark Hedley , Cameron-Smith David , Barnett Matthew Philip Greig
Published: April 2022

Background/objectives

Self-reported digestive intolerance to dairy foods is common. As dairy can be an important source of dietary protein, this study aimed to identify whether milk protein digestion is compromised in individuals with digestive intolerance.

Subjects/methods

Adult women (n = 40) were enroled in this double-blinded, randomised cross-over trial, with digestive symptoms characterised using a lactose challenge and self-reported digestive symptom questionnaire. Participants were classified as either lactose intolerant (LI, n = 10), non-lactose dairy intolerant (NLDI, n = 20) or dairy tolerant (DT, n = 10). In a randomised sequence, participants consumed three different kinds of milk (750 ml); conventional milk (CON), a2 Milk™ (A2M), and lactose-free conventional milk (LF-CON). Circulatory plasma amino acid (AA) concentrations were measured at baseline and every 30 min until 3 h post-ingestion.

Results

In all participants across all milk types, plasma AA concentrations (AUC0-180) increased after milk ingestion with no significant differences in responses observed between milk types or participants (P > 0.05), with the exception of the suppressed lysine response in the DT group following A2M ingestion, relative to the other two groups and milk types (P < 0.05).

Conclusion

Milk protein digestion, as determined by circulatory AAs, is largely unaffected by dairy- and lactose- intolerances.
Transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulation of checkpoint genes on the tumour side of the immunological synapse
Authors: Dobosz Paula , Stempor Przemysław A. , Ramírez Moreno Miguel , Bulgakova Natalia A.
Published: April 2022

Cancer is a disease of the genome, therefore, its development has a clear Mendelian component, demonstrated by well-studied genes such as BRCA1 and BRCA2 in breast cancer risk. However, it is known that a single genetic variant is not enough for cancer to develop leading to the theory of multistage carcinogenesis. In many cases, it is a sequence of events, acquired somatic mutations, or simply polygenic components with strong epigenetic effects, such as in the case of brain tumours. The expression of many genes is the product of the complex interplay between several factors, including the organism’s genotype (in most cases Mendelian-inherited), genetic instability, epigenetic factors (non-Mendelian-inherited) as well as the immune response of the host, to name just a few. In recent years the importance of the immune system has been elevated, especially in the light of the immune checkpoint genes discovery and the subsequent development of their inhibitors. As the expression of these genes normally suppresses self-immunoreactivity, their expression by tumour cells prevents the elimination of the tumour by the immune system. These discoveries led to the rapid growth of the field of immuno-oncology that offers new possibilities of long-lasting and effective treatment options. Here we discuss the recent advances in the understanding of the key mechanisms controlling the expression of immune checkpoint genes in tumour cells.
Methods for numerical simulation of knit based morphable structures: knitmorphs
Authors: Rout Sangram K. , Bisram Marisa Ravena , Cao Jian
Published: April 2022

Shape morphing behavior has applications in many fields such as soft robotics, actuators and sensors, solar cells, tight packaging, flexible electronics, and biomedicine. The most common approach to achieve shape morphing structures is through shape memory alloys or hydrogels. These two materials undergo differential strains which generate a variety of shapes. In this work, we demonstrate the novel concept that 2D knits comprising of yarns from different materials can be morphed into different three-dimensional shapes thereby forming a bridge between traditional knitting and shape changing structures. This concept is referred to as Knitmorphs. Our computational analysis acts as the proof of concept revealing that knitted patterns of varying materials morph into complex shapes, such as saddle, axisymmetric cup, and a plate with waves when subjected to thermal loads. Two-dimensional circular models of plain and rib developed on CAD packages are imported to the finite element analysis software Abaqus, followed by post-processing into wires and assigning fiber material properties of different thermal coefficients of expansion and stiffness. We also propose potential applications for the concept of programmable knits for developing robots based upon jellyfish like locomotion, and complex structures similar to wind turbine blades. This novel concept is meant to introduce a new field for design when considering morphable structures.
Fast environmental sound classification based on resource adaptive convolutional neural network
Authors: Fang Zheng , Yin Bo , Du Zehua , Huang Xianqing
Published: April 2022

Recently, with the construction of smart city, the research on environmental sound classification (ESC) has attracted the attention of academia and industry. The development of convolutional neural network (CNN) makes the accuracy of ESC reach a higher level, but the accuracy improvement brought by CNN is often accompanied by the deepening of network layers, which leads to the rapid growth of parameters and floating-point operations (FLOPs). Therefore, it is difficult to transplant CNN model to embedded devices, and the classification speed is also difficult to accept. In order to reduce the hardware requirements of running CNN and improve the speed of ESC, this paper proposes a resource adaptive convolutional neural network (RACNN). RACNN uses a novel resource adaptive convolutional (RAC) module, which can generate the same number of feature maps as conventional convolution operations more cheaply, and extract the time and frequency features of audio efficiently. The RAC block based on the RAC module is designed to build the lightweight RACNN model, and the RAC module can also be used to upgrade the existing CNN model. Experiments based on public datasets show that RACNN achieves higher performance than the state-of-the-art methods with lower computational complexity.
Design of a photoelectrochemical lab-on-a-chip immunosensor based on enzymatic production of quantum dots in situ
Authors: Díez-Buitrago Beatriz , Fernández-San Argimiro Francisco Javier , Lorenzo Jaione , Bijelic Goran , Briz Nerea , Pavlov Valeri
Published: April 2022

We present a new photoelectrochemical immunoassay based on a microfluidic device. Its operation employs enzymatic generation of CdS quantum dots.
Applicability of the nearest-neighbour model for pseudoknot RNAs
Authors: Satpathi Sagar , Endoh Tamaki , Sugimoto Naoki
Published: April 2022

The nearest-neighbour (NN) model was validated as applicable in the stem region of pseudoknot structures, providing crucial knowledge to predict the structural stability of pseudoknots based on their sequence compositions.
Sustainable lithium-ion batteries based on metal-free tannery waste biochar
Authors: Salimi Pejman , Tieuli Sebastiano , Taghavi Somayeh , Venezia Eleonora , Fugattini Silvio , Lauciello Simone , Prato Mirko , Marras Sergio , Li Tao , Signoretto Michela , Costamagna Paola , Proietti Zaccaria Remo
Published: April 2022

In the present study we tackle the sustainable batteries topic by proposing a tannery-based high performance and eco-friendly battery anode.
In-line measurement of liquid–liquid phase separation boundaries using a turbidity-sensor-integrated continuous-flow microfluidic device
Authors: Coliaie Paria , Prajapati Aditya , Ali Rabia , Boukerche Moussa , Korde Akshay , Kelkar Manish S. , Nere Nandkishor K. , Singh Meenesh R.
Published: April 2022

A novel turbidity-sensor-integrated microfluidic device is developed to quickly measure the liquid–liquid phase separation boundaries.
Order, disorder, and metalation of tetraphenylporphyrin (2H-TPP) on Au(111)
Authors: Edmondson Matthew , Frampton Eleanor S. , Judd Chris J. , Champness Neil R. , Jones Robert G. , Saywell Alex
Published: April 2022

An on-surface reaction (thermally-induced order-disorder transition and formation of Au-porphyrin species) is characterised by scanning tunnelling microscopy and photoelectron spectroscopies.
A nanodevice with lifetime-improved singlet oxygen for enhanced photodynamic therapy
Authors: Cao A-Min , Liu Wen-Long , Zou Mei-Zhen , Qin Si-Yong , Cheng Yin-Jia , Zhang Ai-Qing
Published: April 2022

A nanodevice was designed with functions of singlet oxygen production, storage and release to improve the lifetime of singlet oxygen for enhancing photodynamic therapy.
Synthesis of skeletally diverse β-lactam haptens for the in vitro diagnosis of IgE-mediated drug allergy
Authors: Peña-Mendizabal Edurne , Hua Bruce K. , Ibañez-Echevarria Ethel , de Rojas Dolores Hernández-Fernández , Maquieira Ángel , Schreiber Stuart L. , Morais Sergi
Published: April 2022

Skeletally diverse compounds derived from β-lactam antibiotics were synthesized to generate antigens for the in vitro diagnosis of IgE-mediated allergy.
An ultrastable Ti-based metallocalixarene nanocage cluster with photocatalytic amine oxidation activity
Authors: Tian Yi-Qi , Cui Yun-Shu , Yu Wei-Dong , Xu Cong-Qiao , Yi Xiao-Yi , Yan Jun , Li Jun , Liu Chao
Published: April 2022

The first Ti(iv)-based metallocalixarene nanocage cluster was obtained using t-butylcalix[4]arene as the ligand, which has extraordinary chemical stability and can act as a stable photocatalyst to catalyze the oxidation of ammonia to imine.
(De)localization dynamics of molecular excitons: comparison of mixed quantum-classical and fully quantum treatments
Authors: Titov Evgenii , Kopp Tristan , Hoche Joscha , Humeniuk Alexander , Mitrić Roland
Published: April 2022

Exciton (de)localization dynamics in molecular dimers are analyzed using surface hopping and quantum dynamical calculations.
Rubrene single crystal solar cells and the effect of crystallinity on interfacial recombination
Authors: Akin Kara Duygu , Burnett Edmund K. , Kara Koray , Usluer Ozlem , Cherniawski Benjamin P. , Barron Edward J. , Gultekin Burak , Kus Mahmut , Briseno Alejandro L.
Published: April 2022

Single crystal studies provide a better understanding of the basic properties of organic photovoltaic devices.
A combined experimental and computational study on the deactivation of a photo-excited 2,2′-pyridylbenzimidazole–water complex via excited-state proton transfer
Authors: Khodia Saurabh , Maity Surajit
Published: April 2022

ESPT wins over ESHT: excited state deactivation via intersection of nπ* (S2) and ππ* (S1) along the ESPT followed by internal conversion to S0 state, confirmed by experimental observations.
Porphyrinoid actinide complexes
Authors: Vargas-Zúñiga Gabriela I. , Boreen Michael A. , Mangel Daniel N. , Arnold John , Sessler Jonathan L.
Published: April 2022

The diverse coordination modes and electronic features of actinide complexes of porphyrins and related oligopyrrolic systems (referred to as “porpyrinoids”) have been the subject of interest since the 1960s.
Rational design of a 2D TiO2–MoO3 step-scheme heterostructure for boosted photocatalytic overall water splitting
Authors: Alnaggar Gubran , Alkanad Khaled , Chandrashekar Sujay Shekar G. , Bajiri Mohammed Abdullah , Drmosh Qasem A. , Krishnappagowda Lokanath N. , Ananda Sannaiah
Published: April 2022

The design of step-scheme (S-scheme) heterostructure photocatalysts is a promising strategy for the high utilization of photogenerated charge carriers.
Counterion-controlled synthesis of multifunctional iron cobalt mixed oxide laminar superstructures
Authors: Kanwal Nureena , Akram Bilal , Saraj Chaudry Sajed , Ahmad Khalil , Talib Shamraiz Hussain , Asif Hafiz Muhammad
Published: April 2022

A low temperature good and poor solvent system-based synthetic strategy has been developed to obtain multifunctional nanostructures.
A novel naphthalene diimide-based conjugated polymer as an electron transport material for non-fullerene organic solar cells
Authors: Gong Shuai , Yin Zhipeng , Zhang Xinxin , He Xiang , Zhang Wenjun , Yang Shangfeng , Song Weijie
Published: April 2022

The only aliphatic amino side chains at the N-position of naphthalene diimide endow novel electron transport materials with good film-forming and interface modification properties, which improves the device efficiency and stability.
When ring makes the difference: coordination properties of Cu2+/Cu+ complexes with sulfur-pendant polyazamacrocycles for radiopharmaceutical applications
Authors: Tosato Marianna , Pelosato Matteo , Franchi Sara , Isse Abdirisak Ahmed , May Nóra Veronica , Zanoni Giordano , Mancin Fabrizio , Pastore Paolo , Badocco Denis , Asti Mattia , Di Marco Valerio
Published: April 2022

The Cu2+/+ complexes formed by sulfur-containing polyazamacrocycles were studied in aqueous solution using potentiometry, UV-Vis, NMR, EPR, and cyclic voltammetry.
Anti-cancer activity of heteroaromatic acetals of andrographolide and its isomers
Authors: Tamang Nitesh , Andrews Christopher , Mavileti Sai Kiran , Nanduri Srinivas , Golakoti Nageswara Rao , Karanam Balasubramanyam
Published: April 2022

Derivatives of andrographolide were screened for their anti-cancer potency against breast cancer MDA-MB-231 and their mechanism of action was further evaluated.
Structural symmetry-breaking of a perylene diimide acceptor at the N-position for enhanced photovoltaic performance
Authors: Liao Yinxiang , Wang Liping , Shen Hao , You Xiaoxiao , Wu Di , Xia Jianlong
Published: April 2022

An asymmetrical PDI2 derivative, namely MBI-PDI2, which was constructed by the installation of a mono-benzimidazole group at the imide position, was synthesized.
Application of palladium nanoparticle supported organo-kaolinite for 4-chloro-2-nitroaniline catalytic reduction and electrochemical detection
Authors: Mbiagaing Cyrille Djoko , Tagne Anselme Junior , Ngnie Gaelle , Dedzo Gustave Kenne , Ngameni Emmanuel
Published: April 2022

Successful chemical and electrochemical catalytic reduction of 4-chloro-2-nitroaniline onto palladium nanoparticle supported organo-kaolinite.
A simple method considering the synergetic effect of space charge and inhomogeneous material conductivity for DC electric field computation
Authors: Yang Xiao , Zhang Yi , Yang Zhuodong , Dong Hao , Li Chengrong , Qi Bo , Lu Licheng
Published: April 2022

The current continuity equation is usually applied to solve DC electric field distribution when there is inhomogeneous material conductivity due to temperature gradient or multi‐layer dielectrics. However, in the presence of charge accumulation, which may result from the process of electrode injection, impurity ionisation or charge trapping, the material conductivity is in tangled relationship with local field strength, and the current continuity equation can be hardly applied due to the ignorance of conductivity distribution. Thus, quantitative analysis on the effect of space (surface) charge for DC apparatus with inhomogeneous material conductivity has been a difficult problem, which requires a complicated physical model to solve. This paper has proposed a simple method to compute the synergetic influence of inhomogeneous conductivity and the space charge on the DC field distribution; through assigning bulk (interface) charge as functions of local material conductivity and field strength, the effect of inhomogeneous conductivity can be incorporated in Gauss' law and the space charge accumulation can be further included in the equation. The effect of space (surface) charge on electric field distribution in DC apparatus with temperature gradient as well as multiple‐layer dielectrics is simulated through the proposed method, which shows that the method has offered a convenient approach for investigating the effect of charge accumulation on DC field distribution under various insulation structure and working conditions.
Multi‐scale GAN with residual image learning for removing heterogeneous blur
Authors: Khan Rayyan Azam , Luo Yigang , Wu Fang‐Xiang
Published: April 2022

Processing images with heterogeneous blur remains challenging due to multiple degradation aspects that could affect structural properties. This study proposes a deep learning‐based multi‐scaled generative adversarial network (GAN) with residual image learning to process variant and in‐variant blur. Different scaled images with corresponding gradients are concatenated as a multi‐channel single input for the proposed GAN. Residual‐ and dense‐networks are combined to explore salient features in the bottleneck section while addressing the vanishing gradient problem. A hybrid content loss function with a gradient penalty minimises the error between generated and ground truth images. Due to structure sparsity, the generated output may lose some information that leads to artifacts. Residual image learning with dilation and end‐to‐end training is used to resolve this issue by recovering high‐resolution anatomical details. Three different datasets: GoPro, Köhler, and Lai, with variant and in‐variant blur, are used to perform qualitative and quantitative analyses. Experiments show the proposed method is effective in reducing blur while preserving structural properties compared to multiple preprocessing techniques for image analysis. Moreover, the consistently improved performance over multiple publicly available datasets validates the merits of the proposed method for large data analysis.
A grating lobe suppression method for displaced subarrays using genetic algorithm
Authors: Yang Lei , Wang Kan , Sun Hongbing
Published: April 2022

The large‐element‐spacing array is often used to reduce the channels and costs of the phased array. However, it will form grating lobes (GLs) in the visible space, which decrease the performance. The displaced subarray technique has strong GL suppression ability and simple engineering implementation, but its design process is very complex. This paper presents a new parameter design method of variable subarray gaps. The gaps between subarray are optimised using genetic algorithm, and the levels of GL and quantisation lobe (QL) can be minimised simultaneously. This method sets the normalised values of gaps and the maximum gap as optimisation variables, which greatly improves the convergence speed and has strong global optimisation. In addition, a new segmented multimode horn is proposed as the array element. Its influence on GL suppression is also considered in the optimisation process. This method is used to design a prototype with 52 subarrays. The measured results show that the GL level is below −15.9 dB and the QL level is below −24 dB from 16 to 19 GHz, which are in good agreement with the simulation results. It shows that this method has a strong ability to suppress GL and QL levels for wideband applications.
Directed transformation of food raw materials - as a key factor in the transition to “personalized nutrition”
Authors: Ilyina Irina , Zaporozhets Natalya , Machneva Irina
Published: April 2022

In the article, based on the results of the analysis of the relationship between public health and the nutrition structure of the Russian population, the main problems are identified and tasks in the field of personalized dietetics, functional and specialized nutrition are updated. The key points in solving these problems, taking into account scientific and technological achievements in the field of biochemistry, nutrigenetics, nutrigenomics and nutrimicrobiome in the 21st century, is the transition to "personalized nutrition". The main fundamental tasks in the field of agricultural science are determined, aimed primarily at identifying the patterns of transformation of food raw materials throughout the life cycle in order to create modern forms of food. On the example of pectin, it is shown that the study of the mechanisms and patterns of transformation of pectincontaining raw materials under the influence of physical, chemical, biotechnological methods in cooperation with scientists and specialists in the field of medicine and computer science makes it possible to create pectins with different chemical composition and structure and intended, in particular, for the prevention of intoxication heavy metals and organochlorine pesticides.