bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Chronic endometritis: A prevalent yet poorly understood entity
Authors: Margulies Samantha L. , Flores Valerie , Parkash Vinita , Pal Lubna
Published: October 2021

Objective

To examine the prevalent understanding of and management approaches to chronic endometritis among obstetricians/gynecologists.

Methods

In a cross‐sectional observational study, 262 members of national and international professional obstetrician/gynecologist societies were surveyed via anonymous electronic survey that investigated knowledge of the pathophysiology, diagnostic criteria, clinical implications, and treatment strategies for chronic endometritis. Statistical analyses of results were performed using Fisher's exact tests, chi square tests and odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals. A two‐sided P < 0.05 was deemed statistically significant.

Results

Responses identified a concerning spectrum of deficiencies in the understanding of the pathophysiology of chronic endometritis, in awareness of clinical presentation of chronic endometritis, and in the understanding of methodology/ies that allow diagnosis of chronic endometritis. Heterogeneities in management approaches to chronic endometritis were apparent.

Conclusion

Our findings underscore a need for targeted efforts to gain clarity on chronic endometritis and to establish evidence‐based consensus for good clinical practice. In the absence of a clear understanding of chronic endometritis diagnosis, we posit that the prevalent inconsistencies are likely inflicting unquantified and underappreciated burdens on patients and healthcare systems. We propose consideration for a task force to examine existing literature and create standards for good practice for a prevalent condition.
Maternal outcomes before and after new oxytocin protocol at cesarean delivery
Authors: Kotze Adri , Adam Yasmin , Naidoo Poovangela
Published: October 2021

Objective

The primary objective was to describe the incidence of post‐partum hemorrhage at cesarean delivery before and after implementation of a new high dose oxytocin protocol at Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital.

Methods

This was a cross sectional retrospective record review 3 months before and 3 months after the implementation of a high dose oxytocin protocol. The study included all women that underwent cesarean delivery between 1 November 2016 and 30 April 2017 with a gestation of >24 weeks.

Results

A total of 4604 Cesarean deliveries were performed during the study period, 2162 before the implementation of the new protocol and 2442 after. The incidence of post‐partum hemorrhage was 4.8% (n = 91) in the Before group and 3.9% (n = 89) in the After group (P = 0.17). There was a 17.9% change in incidence of postpartum hemorrhage between the groups (P = 0.17). There was no significant difference in uterine atony between the Before and After groups (21.8% and 30.1%, P = 0.30).

Conclusion

There was no difference in the incidence of postpartum hemorrhage at cesarean delivery after the implementation of a high dose oxytocin protocol.
Thymoquinone upregulates miR‐125a‐5p, attenuates STAT3 activation, and potentiates doxorubicin antitumor activity in murine solid Ehrlich carcinoma
Authors: Atteia Hebatallah H. , Arafa Manar H. , Mohammad Nanies S. , Amin Dalia M. , Sakr Amr T.
Published: October 2021

In breast cancer, there has been evidence of atypical activation of signal transduction and activators of transcription 3 (STAT3). Thymoquinone (TQ) exerts its anti‐neoplastic effect through diverse mechanisms, including STAT3 inhibition. The tumor suppressor, microRNA‐125a‐5p was reported to be downregulated in various breast cancer cells. Therefore, we investigated the influence of TQ and/or doxorubicin on microRNA‐125a‐5p and its correlation with STAT3 activation as well as tumor growth in mice bearing solid Ehrlich tumors. We found that TQ markedly suppressed inducible and constitutive phosphorylation of STAT3 in tumor tissue without affecting STAT5. Moreover, it attenuated tumor growth, downregulated STAT3 downstream target proteins, and increased the apoptotic activities of caspase‐3 and ‐9. Interestingly, TQ‐elicited synergism of doxorubicin anti‐neoplastic activity was coupled with upregulation of tumoral microRNA‐125a‐5p. Taken together, the current findings raise the potential of TQ as a promising chemomodulatory adjuvant to augment mammary carcinoma sensitivity to doxorubicin.
Preference for Material Products in Identity‐Based Consumption
Authors: Leung Eugina , Cito Maria Cristina , Paolacci Gabriele , Puntoni Stefano
Published: October 2021

Only a few years ago, people interested in novels or movies had no choice but to use physical media such as books or DVDs. Technological advances allowed dematerializing these products, making consumption instantly accessible with a download. The trend towards dematerialization has been steady across product domains, and recent confinement measures might further accelerate it. We investigate how preferences for dematerialized products depend on people’s identity motives in consumption. In a series of studies, we find that the identity relevance of a product increases the appeal of its physical versions. Even when the hedonic experience is identical (e.g., watching a movie), material products are better tools for consumers to self‐verify (i.e., provide better feedback to consumers about the identity which is implicated in consumption). As a result, identity‐motivated consumers are more likely to forgo the benefits of dematerialization. This finding has implications for our understanding of digitized consumption and for the marketing of media products.
Mitochondrial dysfunction in skeletal muscle contributes to the development of acute insulin resistance in mice
Authors: Lee Hyunjung , Ha Tae Youl , Jung Chang Hwa , Nirmala Farida Sukma , Park So‐Young , Huh Yang Hoon , Ahn Jiyun
Published: October 2021

Background

Although mounting evidence indicates that insulin resistance (IR) co‐occurs with mitochondrial dysfunction in skeletal muscle, there is no clear causal link between mitochondrial dysfunction and IR pathogenesis. In this study, the exact role of mitochondria in IR development was determined.

Methods

Six‐week‐old C57BL/6 mice were fed a high‐fat diet for 2 weeks to induce acute IR or for 24 weeks to induce chronic IR (n = 8 per group). To characterize mitochondrial function, we measured citrate synthase activity, ATP content, mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) content, and oxygen consumption rate in gastrocnemius and liver tissues. We intraperitoneally administered mitochondrial division inhibitor 1 (mdivi‐1) to mice with acute IR and measured mitochondrial adaptive responses such as mitophagy, mitochondrial unfolded protein response (UPRmt), and oxidative stress (n = 6 per group).

Results

Acute IR occurred coincidently with impaired mitochondrial function, including reduced citrate synthase activity (−37.8%, P < 0.01), ATP production (−88.0%, P < 0.01), mtDNA (−53.1%, P < 0.01), and mitochondrial respiration (−52.2% for maximal respiration, P < 0.05) in skeletal muscle but not in liver. Administration of mdivi‐1 attenuated IR development by increasing mitochondrial function (+58.5% for mtDNA content, P < 0.01; 4.06 ± 0.69 to 5.84 ± 0.95 pmol/min/mg for citrate synthase activity, P < 0.05; 13.06 ± 0.70 to 34.87 ± 0.70 pmol/min/g for maximal respiration, P < 0.001). Western blot analysis showed acute IR resulted in increased autophagy (mitophagy) and UPRmt induction in muscle tissue. This adaptive response was inhibited by mdivi‐1, which reduced the mitochondrial oxidative stress of skeletal muscle during acute IR.

Conclusions

Acute IR induced mitochondrial oxidative stress that impaired mitochondrial function in skeletal muscle. Improving mitochondrial function has important potential for treating acute IR.
Anthropogenic influence on extreme temperatures in China based on CMIP6 models
Authors: Hu Ting , Sun Ying
Published: October 2021

With rapid warming since the mid‐20th century, China has experienced remarkable changes in the extreme temperatures. We use the updated observational data and the newest generation of climate models from Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 (CMIP6) to investigate the relative contribution from different external forcing to the temperature extremes. We find that both intensity and frequency indices of extreme temperature experience continuous warming during 1951–2018. More intense and more frequent warm extremes and less intense and less frequent cold extremes are observed in most regions. An exception is a warming slowdown in the intensity of the coldest extremes since the late 1990s in northeast China. These observed changes are generally well reproduced by CMIP6 climate models, especially for the warm days and nights. Detection analyses based on an optimal fingerprinting method show that anthropogenic forcing (ANT) is the main driver for these changes, with cold extremes less detectability than warm extremes. Three‐signal detections show that both greenhouse gas (GHG) and anthropogenic aerosols (AA) influences can be detected and separated in most warm extreme indices but not in the cold extremes, while the natural forcing influence is negligible for most indices. GHG forcing plays a dominant role, accounting for about 1.6 (1.1–2) times of observed warming in changes of most indices, while the AA offset about 35% (10–60%) of GHG induced warming for warm extremes. Anthropogenic factors including land use and ozone may have a very small positive contribution to the extreme temperatures.
In Vitro and in Vivo Characterization of Inosine Monophosphate Delivered by a Nanoparticle in Rainbow Trout
Authors: Jenik K. , Alkie T. N. , Samms K. , Lalousis A. , Moore E. , De Jong J. D. , Dewitte-Orr S. J.
Published: October 2021

Rainbow Trout Oncorhynchus mykiss are a commonly farmed fish worldwide and, as such, are of economic importance in many countries. Inosine monophosphate (IMP) has been shown to have a positive effect on Rainbow Trout growth performance and overall health. The aim of the current study was to test whether a novel phytoglycogen nanoparticle (NP) was nontoxic and if it could enhance the positive effects of IMP on Rainbow Trout health at the cellular and whole-animal level. The NP used in this study is derived from sweet corn and can act as a carrier, delivering its payload to the cell. The NP was chemically modified to covalently bind IMP. The effects of four experimental groups were tested on Rainbow Trout at the in vitro and in vivo level: untreated control, NP alone, IMP alone, and IMP covalently conjugated to the NP (IMP-NP). The effects of the four experimental groups were measured at the cellular level using a Rainbow Trout intestinal epithelial cell line (RTgutGC). Cellular metabolism was significantly increased in RTgutGC when treated with IMP-NP for 24 and 48 h compared with NP or IMP alone. These treatments did not result in a compromised cell membrane, with the exception of minimal membrane integrity loss at 48 h with the higher doses of IMP-NP. During the 48-h time frame, enhanced metabolism did not result in enhanced cell proliferation. A pilot study was performed in Rainbow Trout to test the safety of the NP to fish. Over an 8-week feeding trial, no mortalities were observed. Additionally, intestinal villi density increased with IMP-NP and NP treatments, while villus height and width were unaffected. This study introduces the use of a phytoglycogen-based NP as a novel delivery system for IMP that is able to increase metabolism at the cellular level and is nontoxic in Rainbow Trout.
Experimental quantification of differences in damage due to in‐plane tensile test and bending of paperboard
Authors: Marin Gustav , Nygårds Mikael , Östlund Sören
Published: October 2021

Creasing is an essential process to convert paperboards into packages since it enables folding along well‐defined lines. The creasing process relies on purpose‐made damage that is initiated in the paperboard structure: delamination. However, creasing might also cause in‐plane cracks, which must be avoided. In this laboratory study, three paperboards were creased at six different depths, respectively. Two mechanical tests were performed to characterize the creases at standard climate (23°C and 50% RH): 2‐point folding, to examine the bending force and short‐span in‐plane tensile test to evaluate the strength. The results were normalized with the values for the uncreased boards, which gave the relative strength ratios: relative creasing strength (RCS) and relative tensile strength (RTS). When the relative strengths were evaluated against the normative shear strains, a creasing window was formed. This window has an upper limit given by the RTS values, corresponding to the in‐plane cracks, and a lower limit given by the RCS values, corresponding to the delamination damage initiated in the paperboard during creasing. It was observed that both the RCS and RTS values exhibit a linear relation against normative shear strain. From this, it was concluded that performing tests at two creasing depths might be sufficient to estimate the lower, and upper, limits for the creasing window in future studies. Finally, the effect of moisture was investigated by creasing, folding and tensile testing at 23°C and 90% RH, which showed that moisture had no clear effect on the RCS or the RTS values.
Therapeutic Nanoparticles from Grape Seed for Modulating Oxidative Stress
Authors: Wang Tianyou , Fan Qianqian , Hong Jiaxu , Chen Zhan , Zhou Xujiao , Zhang Jianhua , Dai Yiqin , Jiang Hao , Gu Zhipeng , Cheng Yiyun , Li Yiwen
Published: October 2021

The therapeutic potential of nanomaterials toward oxidative damage relevant diseases has attracted great attentions by offering promising advantages compared with conventional antioxidants. Although different kinds of nanoantioxidants have been well developed, the facile fabrication of robust and efficient nanoscavengers is still met with challenges like the use of toxic and high‐cost subunits, the involvement of multistep synthetic process, and redundant purification work. Herein, a direct fabrication strategy toward polyphenol nanoparticles with tunable size, excellent biocompatibility, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging capacities from grape seed via an enzymatic polymerization method is reported. The resulting nanoparticles can efficiently prevent cell damage from ROS and exert promising in vivo antioxidant therapeutic effects on several oxidative stress‐related diseases, including accelerating wound healing, inhibiting ulcerative colitis, and regulating the oxidative stress in dry eye disease. This study can stimulate the development of more kinds of low‐cost, safe, and efficient biomass‐based antioxidative nanomaterials via similar fabrication methodologies.
Ultrahigh‐Current‐Density and Long‐Term‐Durability Electrocatalysts for Water Splitting
Authors: Wen Qunlei , Zhao Yang , Liu Youwen , Li Huiqiao , Zhai Tianyou
Published: October 2021

Hydrogen economy is imagined where excess electric energy from renewable sources stored directly by electrochemical water splitting into hydrogen is later used as clean hydrogen fuel. Electrocatalysts with the superhigh current density (1000 mA cm−2‐level) and long‐term durability (over 1000 h), especially at low overpotentials (<300 mV), seem extremely critical for green hydrogen from experiment to industrialization. Along the way, numerous innovative ideas are proposed to design high efficiency electrocatalysts in line with industrial requirements, which also stimulates the understanding of the mass/charge transfer and mechanical stability during the electrochemical process. It is of great necessity to summarize and sort out the accumulating knowledge in time for the development of laboratory to commercial use in this promising field. This review begins with examining the theoretical principles of achieving high‐efficiency electrocatalysts with high current densities and excellent durability. Special attention is paid to acquaint efficient strategies to design perfect electrocatalysts including atomic structure regulation for electrical conductivity and reaction energy barrier, array configuration constructing for mass transfer process, and multiscale coupling for high mechanical strength. Finally, the importance and the personal perspective on future opportunities and challenges, is highlighted.
Photocatalytic H2 Evolution Coupled with Furfuralcohol Oxidation over Pt‐Modified ZnCdS Solid Solution
Authors: Wang Zhongliao , Wang Linxi , Cheng Bei , Yu Huogen , Yu Jiaguo
Published: October 2021

Coupling photocatalytic H2 production with organic synthesis attracts immense interest in the energy and chemical engineering field for the low‐cost, clean, and sustainable generation of green energy and value‐added products. Nevertheless, the performance of current photocatalysts is greatly limited by grievous charge recombination and tardy H2 evolution. To tackle these issues, a Pt nanocluster‐modified ZnCdS solid solution is fabricated for photocatalytic H2 production and selective furfuralcohol oxidation. The internal electric field inside the ZnCdS and Schottky junction between ZnCdS and Pt nanoclusters drastically ameliorate charge separation. Meanwhile, the Pt nanoclusters remarkably expedite the H2 evolution kinetics on ZnCdS. As a result, the H2 production rate over Pt‐loaded ZnCdS reaches 1045 µmol g−1 h−1, which is about 26‐ and 70‐fold that of CdS and ZnS, respectively. Under light irradiation for 3 h, the conversion of furfuralcohol to furfural reaches 71% with 89% furfural selectivity. The photocatalytic mechanism is investigated by in situ characterizations and theoretical calculations.
Outcome Summary of the International Experience in Developing the Financial Resources of Universities
Authors: AI-Youbi Abdulrahman Obaid , Zahed Adnan Hamza Mohammad , Atalar Abdullah
Published: October 2021

It is widely believed that economic returns of tertiary education to the public are much higher than those in other sectors of the economy. Excellence in education and research, therefore, is an important factor for the welfare of countries. To improve the well-being of their citizens, governments invested heavily in higher education. The number of higher education institutes in the world has reached 18,000, and as a result, a larger fraction of people is getting tertiary education degrees. The expansion of the university system required a corresponding increase in the funding.
Nachhaltige Entwicklung in einer Gesellschaft des Umbruchs – Zur Einführung
Authors: Blättel-Mink Birgit , Hickler Thomas
Published: October 2021

Noch nie waren Menschen global so vernetzt, und Informationen wurden so schnell um den Globus ausgetauscht wie heute. Dies führt zu Innovationen und vielen neuen Möglichkeiten. Der schnelle Wandel birgt jedoch auch Gefahren für Mensch und Natur. Dazu zählen der globale Verlust an Biodiversität und die irreversible Erderwärmung, und auch die akute Krise durch die Corona-Pandemie ist ein Symptom derartiger Gefahren. Der Wissenschaftliche Beirat der Bundesregierung Globale Umweltveränderungen (WBGU 2011) und der Weltbiodiversitätsrat (IPBES 2019) fordern eine tiefgreifende gesellschaftliche Transformation in Richtung Nachhaltigkeit. Dafür braucht es auf der Ebene der Forschung mehr inter- bzw. transdisziplinäre Ansätze und damit auch neue Entwicklungen an den Universitäten. In dieser Einleitung fassen wir kurz die Beiträge von Kolleg*innen an der Goethe-Universität zu diesem Buch zusammen, welche sich aus ganz unterschiedlichen Perspektiven mit Nachhaltigkeit befassen.
Wie ist ein nachhaltiger Umgang mit Plastik möglich?
Authors: Kramm Johanna , Völker Carolin
Published: October 2021

Stellt Plastik ein Risiko für unsere Umwelt dar? Wie finden wir einen besseren Umgang mit einem Material, das so viele Bereiche unseres Alltags durchdrungen hat? Mit diesen und weiteren Fragen beschäftigt sich die inter- und transdisziplinär arbeitenden Nachwuchsgruppe „PlastX – Plastik in der Umwelt als systemisches Risiko“. Der Beitrag stellt die unterschiedlichen Forschungsfelder (Mikroplastik, Meeresmüll, Verpackungen und Bioplastik) vor. Der Ansatz der systemischen Risiken wird als integrative Perspektive diskutiert.
Ars Longa. Kunst und Nachhaltigkeit
Authors: Kuni Verena
Published: October 2021

Welchen Beitrag kann zeitgenössische Kunst zu einer sozial-ökologischen Nachhaltigkeitsperspektive leisten? Dieser Frage geht der Beitrag ausgehend von künstlerischen Projekten nach, die in Feldern operieren, in denen die drei Säulen des bekannten Nachhaltigkeits-Modells – Umwelt, Soziales und Wirtschaft – gleichermaßen relevant sind: in der Forstwirtschaft („Bäume pflanzen“) und in der Imkerei („Bienen züchten“). So entstehen in der Kunst Bilder, die nicht nur zur Vermittlung entsprechender Einsichten in für ein nachhaltiges Denken und Handeln relevante Zusammenhänge beitragen, sondern darüber hinaus je auf ihre Weise zum aktiven sozial-ökologischen Engagement einladen.
Ökologischer Imperativ, Nachhaltigkeit, Planetare Grenzwerte und „One Health“ –Zielfunktionen für ein zukunftsfähiges Geoengineering
Authors: Mosbrugger Volker
Published: October 2021

Der Mensch greift seit jeher in das Systemgefüge der Erde ein, doch seit dem Neolithikum entwickeln sich diese Eingriffe zunehmend zu einer nicht nachhaltigen Ausbeutung der Natur. Durch die gravierenden rasanten Veränderungen im Anthropozän wird ein modernes Erdsystem-Management oder Geoengineering, das die „Permanenz echten menschlichen Lebens“ (Hans Jonas) sichert, nun zu einer dringenden Herausforderung. Dafür müssen zunächst gültige Zielgrößen definiert werden, die fortlaufend immer wieder im wechselseitigen Abgleich der aus dem Management-System resultierenden Folgen angepasst werden müssen. Für ein solches weltweit wirkendes System sind sowohl technische als auch ökonomische und politische Werkzeuge notwendig, die durch eine umfassende Governance gesteuert werden.
Climate Change, Policy, and Justice
Authors: Moellendorf Darrel
Published: October 2021

Climate change and climate change policy raise important issues of intergenerational and international justice. Intergenerational justice requires that CO2emissions be halted by the middle of this century or shortly thereafter. But since human development requires energy, the elimination of emissions raises important questions of international justice. Responding adequately to climate change requires international cooperation in order to affect a rapid transition to renewable energy production and consumption and to safeguard conditions in which continued progress in human development can be made.
Sustainable use of Savanna Vegetation in West Africa in the Context of Climate and Land use Change
Authors: Hahn Karen , Leßmeister Anna
Published: October 2021

West African savannas undergo severe changes due to climate change and land use pressure, resulting in degradation and biodiversity loss. These changes directly impact local rural livelihoods, as many cash poor rural communities depend on the provisioning ecosystem services of their environments. In a case study of the interdisciplinary research project UNDESERT, the increasingly challenging sustainable use of wild plant species in West African savannas was investigated. In this study, we present the results and give examples of how scientific results can serve for practical actions to foster sustainable use of important plant resources.
Umkämpfte Nachhaltigkeit – vergessene Leiblichkeit. Der Fall der Wildpferde in Namibia
Authors: Pütz Robert , Schlottmann Antje
Published: October 2021

Der Beitrag analysiert Konflikte um nachhaltigen Naturschutz. Er zeigt erstens, inwiefern diese in divergierenden Vorstellungen von Natur gründen, z. B. welche Tiere lokale Ökosysteme repräsentieren (dürfen), zweitens, dass Diskursanalysen diese Konflikte nicht hinreichend erfassen, da sie eine agency of natureausblenden (müssen), und drittens, dass Naturschutzkonflikte immer auch inkorporierte Praxis sind, wenn z. B. die verinnerlichte Normativität von Nachhaltigkeit mit der leiblichen Erfahrung der Arbeit mit Tieren in Widerspruch tritt. In den dominierenden Rationalitäten von Nachhaltigkeit findet diese Dimension keinen Platz.
Transformation and Contestation. Learning from Actors and Socio-political Engagements in Transformative Science
Authors: Sierra Rosa
Published: October 2021

The chapter presents the design and content of a sustainability research project in the humanities and the social sciences, as well as some methodological and theoretical guidelines from two different transformational frameworks that were assessed in the project. It then outlines the tension that emerges when we consider transformation from the point of view of processes and try to integrate the role of agency, especially of actors that contest structures or processes rather than initiating or supporting them. It finally explores how this tension challenges the assessed frameworks and which aspects of them can be stressed in order to face the challenge.
The Spatial Variants and Temporal Sequence of the Indigenous Cultural System of Southeast China During Neolithic, Bronze, and Early Iron Ages
Authors: Wu Chunming
Published: October 2021

The archaeological cultures from Neolithic Age to early Iron Age in the Southeast of China including south of Jiangsu (江苏) and Anhui (安徽), Zhejiang (浙江), Jiangxi (江西), southeast of Hunan (湖南), Fujian (福建), Guangdong (广东), Guangxi (广西), Hainan (海南), Taiwan (台湾) and the adjacent coast of Vietnam, compose one of the special segment in the unity of “Assimilation and Integration of Pluralistic Cultures” in prehistoric and early history of China. These regional cultures with the continuingly temporal sequence have developed for thousands of years from early Neolithic Age to early Iron Age, “Relying on Huaxia Nationality of Central Nation and Facing Maritime Barbarians of Austronesian”, are just the material cultural heritages of the indigenous Miao, Man, Bai Yue and their ancestors in the “Southeastern Direction” of the ancient Chinese history.
The Inheritance of Island Yi and the Acculturation of Maritime Fan in the Han People on Southeast Coast of China
Authors: Wu Chunming
Published: October 2021

The Han people of southern China living in the coastal regions lying to the south of the lower reaches of the Yangtze River show a series of distinctive essences of physique, language or dialect, lifestyle and economic pattern, religion and worship of supernatural spirits, cultural orientations to the oceans and maritime character and so on. The maritime orientation of “living on boats as home, depending on sea as lifestyle, trading with Maritime Fan (诸番) ” was the most prominent characters of the Han people in south of China, especially in the southeast coast in Zhejiang, Fujian, and Guangdong. The accumulation and assimilation of the prehistoric and early indigenous Bai Yue (百越), Island Yi (岛夷) and proto-Austronesian of the Maritime Region of Southeastern Asia, as well as the immigration and acculturation of the overseas ethnic groups of foreign Maritime Fan since the medieval ages, were the two main sources of the formation and development of the unique maritime cultural character of the Han people in southeast coast of China.
Searching for the Prehistoric Seafaring Craft Between Southeast Coast of China and the Pacific Islands
Authors: Wu Chunming
Published: October 2021

The historical documents and archaeological discoveries inform that sophisticated maritime cultures had been developed thousands of years ago along southeast coast of China and adjacent Southeast Asia. The indigenous Bai Yue (百越) ethnicities carried out early navigation between the coastal region East and Southeast Asia since Neolithic age, that is earlier before than the migration of Han people from North to South 2000 years ago (Chang, K.C. 1989; Rolett, B.V. 2007; Wu, C.M. 2019). These Neolithic seafaring groups have also been taken as the origin of the Pacific Austronesians (Chang, K.C. et al. 1964; Chang, K.C. 1987a; Rolett, B.V. et al. 2002; Wu, C.M. 2012a). By what kind of craft did they take on the great sea thousands of years ago? Archaeologists, historians, ethno-historians, and maritime culture researchers argued with different viewpoints.
Topological confinement of vortices in two-flavor dense QCD
Authors: Fujimoto Yuki , Nitta Muneto
Published: October 2021

Abstract

We find a novel confinement mechanism in the two-flavor dense quark matter proposed recently, that consists of the 2SC condensates and the P-wave diquark condensates of d-quarks. This quark matter exhibiting color superconductivity as well as superfluidity is classified into two phases; confined and deconfined phases of vortices. We establish that the criterion of the confinement is color neutrality of Aharonov-Bohm (AB) phases: vortices exhibiting color non-singlet AB phases are confined by the so-called AB defects to form color-singlet bound states. In the deconfined phase, the most stable vortices are non-Abelian Alice strings, which are superfluid vortices with fractional circulation and non-Abelian color magnetic fluxes therein, exhibiting color non-singlet AB phases. On the other hand, in the confined phase, these non-Abelian vortices are confined to either a baryonic or mesonic bound state in which constituent vortices are connected by AB defects. The baryonic bound state consists of three non-Abelian Alice strings with different color magnetic fluxes with the total flux canceled out connected by a domain wall junction, while the mesonic bound state consists of two non-Abelian Alice strings with the same color magnetic fluxes connected by a single domain wall. Interestingly, the latter contains a color magnetic flux in its core, but this can exist because of color neutrality of its AB phase.
Complexity from the reduced density matrix: a new diagnostic for chaos
Authors: Bhattacharyya Arpan , Haque S. Shajidul , Kim Eugene H.
Published: October 2021

Abstract

We investigate circuit complexity to characterize chaos in multiparticle quantum systems. In the process, we take a stride to analyze open quantum systems by using complexity. We propose a new diagnostic of quantum chaos from complexity based on the reduced density matrix by exploring different types of quantum circuits. Through explicit calculations on a toy model of two coupled harmonic oscillators, where one or both of the oscillators are inverted, we demonstrate that the evolution of complexity is a possible diagnostic of chaos.
WNT3 hypomethylation counteracts low activity of the Wnt signaling pathway in the placenta of preeclampsia
Authors: Zhang Linlin , Sang Min , Li Ying , Li Yingying , Yuan Erfeng , Yang Lijun , Shi Wenli , Yuan Yangyang , Yang Bo , Yang Peifeng , Yuan Enwu
Published: October 2021

Preeclampsia is a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy. Many studies have shown that epigenetic mechanisms may play a role in preeclampsia. Moreover, our previous study indicated that the differentially methylated genes in preeclampsia were enriched in the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. This study aimed to identify differentially methylated Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway genes in the preeclamptic placenta and to study the roles of these genes in trophoblast cells in vitro. Using an Illumina Infinium HumanMethylation 850 K BeadChip, we found that the Wnt signaling pathway was globally hypermethylated in the preeclamptic group compared with the term birth group, but hypomethylated in the preeclamptic group compared with the preterm birth group. Among all Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway factors, WNT3 was the most significantly differentially expressed gene and was hypomethylated in the preeclamptic group compared to the nonhypertensive groups, namely, the preterm birth group and term birth group. This result was confirmed by pyrosequencing. Through quantitative real-time PCR and western blot analysis, the WNT3 gene was found to be highly expressed in preeclamptic placental tissues, in contrast to other WNT factors, which were previously reported to be expressed at low levels in placental tissues. Additionally, in the HTR8/SVneo cell line, knockdown of WNT3 suppressed the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, consistent with the findings for other WNT factors. These results prompted us to speculate that the WNT3 gene counteracts the low activation state of the Wnt signaling pathway in the preeclamptic placenta through methylation modification.
IFITM1 expression determines extracellular vesicle uptake in colorectal cancer
Authors: Kelemen Andrea , Carmi Idan , Oszvald Ádám , Lőrincz Péter , Petővári Gábor , Tölgyes Tamás , Dede Kristóf , Bursics Attila , Buzás Edit I. , Wiener Zoltán
Published: October 2021

The majority of colorectal cancer (CRC) patients carry mutations in the APC gene, which lead to the unregulated activation of the Wnt pathway. Extracellular vesicles (EV) are considered potential therapeutic tools. Although CRC is a genetically heterogeneous disease, the significance of the intra-tumor heterogeneity in EV uptake of CRC cells is not yet known. By using mouse and patient-derived organoids, the currently available best model of capturing cellular heterogeneity, we found that Apc mutation induced the expression of interferon-induced transmembrane protein 1 (Ifitm1), a membrane protein that plays a major role in cellular antiviral responses. Importantly, organoids derived from IFITM1high CRC cells contained more proliferating cells and they had a markedly reduced uptake of fibroblast EVs as compared to IFITM1low/− cells. In contrast, there was no difference in the intensity of EV release between CRC subpopulations with high and low IFITM1 levels. Importantly, the difference in cell proliferation between these two subpopulations disappeared in the presence of fibroblast-derived EVs, proving the functional relevance of the enhanced EV uptake by IFITM1low CRC cells. Furthermore, inactivating IFITM1 resulted in an enhanced EV uptake, highlighting the importance of this molecule in establishing the cellular difference for EV effects. Collectively, we identified CRC cells with functional difference in their EV uptake ability that must be taken into consideration when using EVs as therapeutic tools for targeting cancer cells.
Hecke Triangle Groups, Transfer Operators and Hausdorff Dimension
Authors: Soares Louis
Published: October 2021

We consider the family of Hecke triangle groups $$ \Gamma _{w} = \langle S, T_w\rangle $$

Γ
w

=

⟨
S
,

T
w

⟩

generated by the Möbius transformations $$ S : z\mapsto -1/z $$

S
:
z
↦
-
1
/
z

and $$ T_{w} : z \mapsto z+w $$

T
w

:
z
↦
z
+
w

with $$ w > 2.$$

w
>
2
.

In this case, the corresponding hyperbolic quotient $$ \Gamma _{w}\backslash {\mathbb {H}}^2 $$

Γ
w

\

H

2

is an infinite-area orbifold. Moreover, the limit set of $$ \Gamma _w $$

Γ
w

is a Cantor-like fractal whose Hausdorff dimension we denote by $$ \delta (w). $$

δ
(
w
)
.

The first result of this paper asserts that the twisted Selberg zeta function $$ Z_{\Gamma _{ w}}(s, \rho ) $$

Z

Γ
w

(
s
,
ρ
)

, where $$ \rho : \Gamma _{w} \rightarrow \mathrm {U}(V) $$

ρ
:

Γ
w

→
U

(
V
)

is an arbitrary finite-dimensional unitary representation, can be realized as the Fredholm determinant of a Mayer-type transfer operator. This result has a number of applications. We study the distribution of the zeros in the half-plane $$\mathrm {Re}(s) > \frac{1}{2}$$

Re

(
s
)

>

1
2

of the Selberg zeta function of a special family of subgroups $$( \Gamma _w^N )_{N\in {\mathbb {N}}} $$

(

Γ
w
N

)

N
∈
N

of $$\Gamma _w$$

Γ
w

. These zeros correspond to the eigenvalues of the Laplacian on the associated hyperbolic surfaces $$X_w^N = \Gamma _w^N \backslash {\mathbb {H}}^2$$

X
w
N

=

Γ
w
N

\

H

2

. We show that the classical Selberg zeta function $$Z_{\Gamma _w}(s)$$

Z

Γ
w

(
s
)

can be approximated by determinants of finite matrices whose entries are explicitly given in terms of the Riemann zeta function. Moreover, we prove an asymptotic expansion for the Hausdorff dimension $$\delta (w)$$

δ
(
w
)

as $$w\rightarrow \infty $$

w
→
∞

.
The social turn of artificial intelligence
Authors: Cristianini Nello , Scantamburlo Teresa , Ladyman James
Published: October 2021

Social machines are systems formed by material and human elements interacting in a structured way. The use of digital platforms as mediators allows large numbers of humans to participate in such machines, which have interconnected AI and human components operating as a single system capable of highly sophisticated behaviour. Under certain conditions, such systems can be understood as autonomous goal-driven agents. Many popular online platforms can be regarded as instances of this class of agent. We argue that autonomous social machines provide a new paradigm for the design of intelligent systems, marking a new phase in AI. After describing the characteristics of goal-driven social machines, we discuss the consequences of their adoption, for the practice of artificial intelligence as well as for its regulation.
Multifidelity domain-aware learning for the design of re-entry vehicles
Authors: Di Fiore Francesco , Maggiore Paolo , Mainini Laura
Published: October 2021

The multidisciplinary design optimization (MDO) of re-entry vehicles presents many challenges associated with the plurality of the domains that characterize the design problem and the multi-physics interactions. Aerodynamic and thermodynamic phenomena are strongly coupled and relate to the heat loads that affect the vehicle along the re-entry trajectory, which drive the design of the thermal protection system (TPS). The preliminary design and optimization of re-entry vehicles would benefit from accurate high-fidelity aerothermodynamic analysis, which are usually expensive computational fluid dynamic simulations. We propose an original formulation for multifidelity active learning that considers both the information extracted from data and domain-specific knowledge. Our scheme is developed for the design of re-entry vehicles and is demonstrated for the case of an Orion-like capsule entering the Earth atmosphere. The design process aims to minimize the mass of propellant burned during the entry maneuver, the mass of the TPS, and the temperature experienced by the TPS along the re-entry. The results demonstrate that our multifidelity strategy allows to achieve a sensitive improvement of the design solution with respect to the baseline. In particular, the outcomes of our method are superior to the design obtained through a single-fidelity framework, as a result of the principled selection of a limited number of high-fidelity evaluations.
No effect of 10-week training in click-based echolocation on auditory localization in people who are blind
Authors: Thaler Lore , Norman Liam J.
Published: October 2021

What factors are important in the calibration of mental representations of auditory space? A substantial body of research investigating the audiospatial abilities of people who are blind has shown that visual experience might be an important factor for accurate performance in some audiospatial tasks. Yet, it has also been shown that long-term experience using click-based echolocation might play a similar role, with blind expert echolocators demonstrating auditory localization abilities that are superior to those of people who are blind and who do not use click-based echolocation by Vercillo et al. (Neuropsychologia 67: 35–40, 2015). Based on this hypothesis we might predict that training in click-based echolocation may lead to improvement in performance in auditory localization tasks in people who are blind. Here we investigated this hypothesis in a sample of 12 adult people who have been blind from birth. We did not find evidence for an improvement in performance in auditory localization after 10 weeks of training despite significant improvement in echolocation ability. It is possible that longer-term experience with click-based echolocation is required for effects to develop, or that other factors can explain the association between echolocation expertise and superior auditory localization. Considering the practical relevance of click-based echolocation for people who are visually impaired, future research should address these questions.
In-Situ Biofloc Affects the Core Prokaryotes Community Composition in Gut and Enhances Growth of Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)
Authors: Deng Yale , Borewicz Klaudyna , van Loo Joost , Olabarrieta Marko Zabala , Kokou Fotini , Sipkema Detmer , Verdegem Marc C. J.
Published: October 2021

Biofloc technology is commonly applied in intensive tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) culture to maintain water quality, supply the fish with extra protein, and improve fish growth. However, the effect of dietary supplementation of processed biofloc on the gut prokaryotic (bacteria and archaea) community composition of tilapia is not well understood. In this study one recirculating aquaculture system was used to test how biofloc, including in-situ biofloc, dietary supplementation of ex-situ live or dead biofloc, influence fish gut prokaryotic community composition and growth performance in comparison to a biofloc-free control treatment. A core gut prokaryotic community was identified among all treatments by analyzing the temporal variations in gut prokaryotes. In-situ produced biofloc significantly increased the prokaryotic diversity in the gut by reducing the relative abundance of dominant Cetobacterium and increasing the relative abundance of potentially beneficial bacteria. The in-situ biofloc delivered a unique prokaryotic community in fish gut, while dietary supplementation of tilapias with 5% and 10% processed biofloc (live or dead) only changed the relative abundance of minor prokaryotic taxa outside the gut core microbiota. The modulatory effect of in-situ biofloc on tilapia gut microbiota was associated with the distinct microbial community in the biofloc water and undisturbed biofloc. The growth-promoting effect on tilapia was only detected in the in-situ biofloc treatment, while dietary supplementation of processed biofloc had no effect on fish growth performance as compared to the control treatment.
Evolutions in rectal cancer MRI staging and risk stratification in The Netherlands
Authors: Bogveradze Nino , el Khababi Najim , Schurink Niels W. , van Griethuysen Joost J. M. , de Bie Shira , Bosma Gerlof , Cappendijk Vincent C. , Geenen Remy W. F. , Neijenhuis Peter , Peterson Gerald , Veeken Cornelis J. , Vliegen Roy F. A. , Maas Monique , Lahaye Max J. , Beets Geerard L. , Beets-Tan Regina G. H. , Lambregts Doenja M. J.
Published: October 2021

Purpose

To analyze how the MRI reporting of rectal cancer has evolved (following guideline updates) in The Netherlands.

Methods

Retrospective analysis of 712 patients (2011–2018) from 8 teaching hospitals in The Netherlands with available original radiological staging reports that were re-evaluated by a dedicated MR expert using updated guideline criteria. Original reports were classified as “free-text,” “semi-structured,” or “template” and completeness of reporting was documented. Patients were categorized as low versus high risk, first based on the original reports (high risk = cT3-4, cN+, and/or cMRF+) and then based on the expert re-evaluations (high risk = cT3cd-4, cN+, MRF+, and/or EMVI+). Evolutions over time were studied by splitting the inclusion period in 3 equal time periods.

Results

A significant increase in template reporting was observed (from 1.6 to 17.6–29.6%; p < 0.001), along with a significant increase in the reporting of cT-substage, number of N+ and extramesorectal nodes, MRF invasion and tumor-MRF distance, EMVI, anal sphincter involvement, and tumor morphology and circumference. Expert re-evaluation changed the risk classification from high to low risk in 18.0% of cases and from low to high risk in 1.7% (total 19.7%). In the majority (17.9%) of these cases, the changed risk classification was likely (at least in part) related to use of updated guideline criteria, which mainly led to a reduction in high-risk cT-stage and nodal downstaging.

Conclusion

Updated concepts of risk stratification have increasingly been adopted, accompanied by an increase in template reporting and improved completeness of reporting. Use of updated guideline criteria resulted in considerable downstaging (of mainly high-risk cT-stage and nodal stage).

Graphic abstract
A plasma fatty acid profile associated to type 2 diabetes development: from the CORDIOPREV study
Authors: Villasanta-Gonzalez Alejandro , Alcala-Diaz Juan Francisco , Vals-Delgado Cristina , Arenas Antonio Pablo , Cardelo Magdalena P. , Romero-Cabrera Juan Luis , Rodriguez-Cantalejo Fernando , Delgado-Lista Javier , Malagon Maria M. , Perez-Martinez Pablo , Schulze Matthias B. , Camargo Antonio , Lopez-Miranda Jose
Published: October 2021

Purpose

The prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is increasing worldwide. For this reason, it is essential to identify biomarkers for the early detection of T2DM risk and/or for a better prognosis of T2DM. We aimed to identify a plasma fatty acid (FA) profile associated with T2DM development.

Methods

We included 462 coronary heart disease patients from the CORDIOPREV study without T2DM at baseline. Of these, 107 patients developed T2DM according to the American Diabetes Association (ADA) diagnosis criteria after a median follow-up of 60 months. We performed a random classification of patients in a training set, used to build a FA Score, and a Validation set, in which we tested the FA Score.

Results

FA selection with the highest prediction power was performed by random survival forest in the Training set, which yielded 4 out of the 24 FA: myristic, petroselinic, α-linolenic and arachidonic acids. We built a FA Score with the selected FA and observed that patients with a higher score presented a greater risk of T2DM development, with an HR of 3.15 (95% CI 2.04–3.37) in the Training set, and an HR of 2.14 (95% CI 1.50–2.84) in the Validation set, per standard deviation (SD) increase. Moreover, patients with a higher FA Score presented lower insulin sensitivity and higher hepatic insulin resistance (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

Our results suggest that a detrimental FA plasma profile precedes the development of T2DM in patients with coronary heart disease, and that this FA profile can, therefore, be used as a predictive biomarker.

Clinical Trials.gov.Identifier

NCT00924937.
Lifting the veil of secrecy: maternal and neonatal outcome of oocyte donation pregnancies in Germany
Authors: Altmann J. , Kummer J. , Herse F. , Hellmeyer L. , Schlembach D. , Henrich W. , Weichert A.
Published: October 2021

Background

In Germany, performing fertility procedures involving oocyte donation is illegal, as stated by the Embryo Protection Law. Nonetheless, in our clinical routine we attend to a steadily rising number of pregnant women, who have sought oocyte donation abroad. Due to the legal circumstances many women opt to keep the origin of their pregnancy a secret. However, studies have shown, that oocyte donation is an independent risk factor for the development of pregnancy complications, such as preeclampsia.

Objective

The aim of this study is to evaluate maternal and neonatal outcomes of oocyte donation pregnancies in three large obstetric care units in Berlin, Germany.

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed all available medical data on oocyte donation pregnancies at Charité University hospital, Vivantes Hospital Friedrichshain, and Neukoelln in the German capital.

Results

We included 115 oocyte donation (OD) pregnancies in the present study. Our data are based on 62 singleton, 44 twin, 7 triplet, and 2 quadruplet oocyte donation pregnancies. According to our data, oocyte donation pregnancies are associated with a high risk of adverse maternal and fetal outcome, i.e., hypertension in pregnancy, preterm delivery, Cesarean section as mode of delivery, and increased peripartum hemorrhage.

Conclusion

Although oocyte donation is prohibited by German law, many couples go abroad to seek reproductive measures using oocyte donation after former treatment options have failed. OD pregnancies are associated with a high risk of preeclampsia, C-section as mode of delivery, and peripartum hemorrhage. Detailed knowledge of the associated risks is of utmost importance to both the patient and the treating physician and midwife.