bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Selective thermal emitters for high-performance all-day radiative cooling
Authors: Chowdhary Ashish Kumar , Reddy Veluri Anurag , Sikdar Debabrata
Published: November 2021

Passive radiative coolers (PRCs), which pump excess heat to cold exterior space via thermal radiation, have emerged as a promising energy-free technology in cooling buildings, thermal power plants, and photovoltaics. However, designing a ‘daytime’ PRC is challenging due to the simultaneous requirement of high reflectance in the solar spectral regime (0.3–2.5 µm) and high emissivity in the atmospheric transmittance window (8–13 µm). Here, we present a large-area compatible and lithography-free nanoscale multilayer design of daytime PRC based on two pairs of tandem silicon dioxide–aluminium nitride dielectric layer cascaded to a silver ground metal placed over a silicon substrate. We theoretically achieve near-perfect reflectance (97.3%) over the solar spectral regime while maintaining high emissivity (80%) in the atmospheric transmittance window. During the daytime under direct sunlight, the cooling power of the proposed structure is reported to be 115

W
m

−
2

with a temperature reduction up to 15 K below the ambient temperature, when the effect of convection and conductive heat transfer is considered. Our design is polarization-independent and angle-insensitive up to 70 degrees of angle of incidence. An excellent match between our theoretical and simulation results validates our findings. The fabrication tolerance study reveals that the cooling performance of our robust design is unlikely to degrade much during experimental realization. The figure of merit calculation indicates that our PRC can outperform recently reported daytime PRCs.
Analyte-restrained silver coating of gold nanostructures: an efficient strategy to advance multicolorimetric probes
Authors: Naseri Amene , Ghasemi Forough
Published: November 2021

Visual detection based on gold nanorods (AuNRs) has gained tremendous attention in sensing applications owing to the potential for simple, inexpensive, instrument-free, and on-site detection. The proper selection of the mechanism involved in the interaction between the analyte and the nanostructure plays a significant role in designing a selective and multicolorimetric probe for visual purposes. A winning mechanism to develop multicolorimetric probes is the silver metalization of AuNRs. Herein, an unprecedented idea is presented to expand the variety of multicolorimetric sensors relying on the mechanism of silver deposition. We introduce the anti-silver deposition mechanism in which the analyte directly or indirectly restrains the silver coating of AuNRs. To ascertain the anti-silver deposition mechanism, we have exploited the proposed idea for the direct detection of nitrate. The presence of nitrate (as restrainer agent), which was firstly treated with ascorbic acid (as reducing agent), induced a decrease in the spectral blueshift of AuNRs along with diverse sharp color transitions from reddish-orange (blank) to maroon, wine, berry/purple, dark blue, teal, green, seafoam, and mint. The difference in the spectrum area of the probe in the absent (S
o) and presence (S) of nitrate were linearly proportional to nitrate concentration in the range of 0.5–5.5 mmol l−1 and the limit of detection was calculated to be 465 μmol l−1. Furthermore, the practicability of the multicolor probe was assessed by the determination of nitrate in complex environmental samples.
Diagnosing asymmetric bipolar HiPIMS discharges using laser Thomson scattering
Authors: Law Marcus A , Lockwood Estrin Francis , Bowden Mark D , Bradley James W
Published: November 2021

The temporal evolution of the electron temperature T
e and density n
e has been measured at two positions on the centre-line of an asymmetrically pulsed bi-polar HiPIMS plasma using incoherent laser Thomson scattering (LTS). The magnetron was operated with a tungsten target in argon atmospheres. The results show that in the plasma afterglow when positive voltage pulses are applied (above a threshold of at least 200 V) significant heating of the electrons can occur in which T
e can rise to values comparable to the those measured in HiPIMS on-time. The on-set of the rises in T
e are significantly delayed relative to the start of the positive pulse, with the delay time decreasing with the magnitude of the positive voltage. The delay is only weakly dependent on the operating pressure. The presence of large positive pulses can also affect the local electron density with n
e seen to decay significantly more quickly in the afterglow than for the corresponding unipolar pulsing case, in which no positive pulse is applied. The LTS measurements were complemented by a time-resolved study of the plasma optical emission (neutral argon and tungsten lines). With increasing positive potentials applied in the afterglow the Ar(I) line intensities grow consistent with increasing T
e. Interestingly, W(I) line intensities are detected in the afterglow with positive voltages >200 V despite the termination of all target sputtering, suggesting that tungsten is being re-sputtered from the vessel walls. With the aid of emissive probe measurements of the spatial and temporal evolution of plasma potential profile along the centre-line we discuss the phenomena of plasma electron heating and wall sputtering in the positive pulse. This is done in terms of the existence of a non-sustained reverse discharge, in which the vessel walls become an effective cathode.
On electrical analysis of Al-rich p-AlGaN films for III-nitride UV light emitters
Authors: Jadhav Aakash , Bagheri Pegah , Klump Andrew , Khachariya Dolar , Mita Seiji , Reddy Pramod , Rathkanthiwar Shashwat , Kirste Ronny , Collazo Ramon , Sitar Zlatko , Sarkar Biplab
Published: November 2021

In this work, an alternative scheme to estimate the resistivity and ionization energy of Al-rich p-AlGaN epitaxial films is developed using two large-area ohmic contacts. Accordingly, the resistivities measured using current–voltage measurements were observed to corroborate the Hall measurements in the Van der Pauw configuration. A free hole concentration of ∼1.5 × 1017 cm−3 and low ionization energy of ∼65 meV in Mg-doped Al0.7Ga0.3N films is demonstrated. Nearly an order of magnitude lower hydrogen concentration than Mg in the as-grown AlGaN films is thought to reduce the Mg passivation and enable higher hole concentrations in Al-rich p-AlGaN films, compared to p-GaN films. The alternate methodology proposed in this work is expected to provide a simpler pathway to evaluate the electrical characteristics of Al-rich p-AlGaN films for future III-nitride ultraviolet light emitters.
Anisotropic effective redshift and evolving clustering amplitude
Authors: Obuljen Andrej , Percival Will J.
Published: November 2021

A typical galaxy survey geometry results in galaxy pairs of
different separation and angle to the line-of-sight having different
distributions in redshift and consequently a different effective
redshift. However, clustering measurements are analysed assuming
that the clustering is representative of that at a single effective
redshift. We investigate the impact of variations in the galaxy-pair
effective redshift on the large-scale clustering measured in galaxy
surveys. We find that galaxy surveys spanning a large redshift range
have different effective redshifts as a function of both pair
separation and angle. Furthermore, when considering tracers whose
clustering amplitude evolves strongly with redshift, this
combination can result in an additional scale-dependent clustering
anisotropy. We demonstrate the size of this effect on the eBOSS DR16
Quasar sample and show that, while the impact on monopole is
negligible, neglecting this effect can result in a tilt of ∼
4% and ∼40% in quadrupole and hexadecapole, respectively, on
scales ∼1 h
-1Gpc. We discuss strategies to
mitigate this effect when making measurements.
Confinement in electron heated plasmas in Wendelstein 7-X and ASDEX Upgrade; the necessity to control turbulent transport
Authors: Beurskens M.N.A. , Angioni C. , Bozhenkov S. A. , Ford O. , Kiefer C. , Xanthopoulos P. , Turkin Y. , Alcusón J.A. , Baehner J.P. , Beidler C. , Birkenmeier G. , Fable E. , Fuchert G. , Geiger B. , Grulke O. , Hirsch M. , Jakubowski M. , Laqua H.P. , Langenberg A. , Lazerson S. , Pablant N. , Reisner M. , Schneider P. , Scott E.R. , Stange T. , von Stechow A. , Stober J. , Stroth U. , Wegner Th. , Weir G. , Zhang D. , Zocco A. , Wolf R.C. , Zohm H. , the W7-X Team  , the ASDEX Upgrade Team  , the EUROfusion MST1 Team
Published: November 2021

In electron (cyclotron) heated plasmas, in both ASDEX Upgrade (L-mode) and Wendelstein 7-X, clamping of the ion temperature occurs at T
i ∼ 1.5 keV independent of magnetic configuration. The ions in such plasmas are heated through the energy exchange power as

n

e

2

(

T

e

−

T

i

)

/

T

e

3
/
2

, which offers a broad ion heating profile, similar to that offered by alpha heating in future thermonuclear fusion reactors. However, the predominant electron heating may put an additional constraint on the ion heat transport, as the ratio T
e/T
i > 1 can exacerbates ITG/TEM core turbulence. Therefore, in practical terms the strongly ‘stiff’ core transport translates into T
i-clamping in electron heated plasmas. Due to this clamping, electron heated L-mode scenarios, with standard gas fueling, in either tokamaks or stellarators may struggle to reach high normalized ion temperature gradients required in a compact fusion reactor. The comparison shows that core heat transport in neoclassically optimized stellarators is driven by the same mechanisms as in tokamaks. The absence of a strong H-mode temperature edge pedestal in stellarators, sofar (which, like in tokamaks, could lift the clamped temperature-gradients in the core), puts a strong requirement on reliable and sustainable core turbulence suppression techniques in stellarators.
Helicon full-wave modeling with scrape-off-layer turbulence on the DIII-D tokamak
Authors: Lau Cornwall , Brookman Michael , Dimits Andris , Dudson Ben , Martin Elijah , Pinsker Robert I. , Thomas Matt , Van Compernolle Bart
Published: November 2021

Helicon waves have been recently proposed as an off-axis current drive actuator due to their expected high current drive efficiency in the mid-radius region in high beta tokamaks. This paper focuses on a numerical study to better understand effects of scrape-off-layer (SOL) turbulence on helicon wave propagation and absorption on the DIII-D tokamak using a recently developed helicon full-wave model with turbulent density inputs from synthetic single wavelength SOL turbulence and first-principles HERMES multi-wavelength turbulence models. With both input turbulence models, three key effects are observed: the helicon wave can scatter to undesirable locations in the plasma, large helicon wave electric fields can form in localized regions near the SOL turbulence, and the helicon wave can mode convert to slow waves in the SOL. This is shown to cause helicon wave refraction to undesirable locations and strong helicon wave absorption in the SOL resulting in significantly less helicon wave power in the core plasma. Using synthetic SOL turbulence, the simulations additionally show that high amplitudes and long wavelengths greater than a few cm on average have the largest effect on modifying the helicon wave propagation and absorption; the modeling predicts, for example, that approximately 60% of helicon power can be absorbed in the SOL for ñ/n ∼ 0.8 and lambda_perp ∼ 0.05 m. Several potential physical mechanisms that may explain the interaction of helicon waves with SOL turbulence in these simulations are discussed.
Numerical Analysis of Solidification Behavior during Laser Welding Nickel-based Single-crystal Superalloy Part IV: Optimization of Thermo-metallurgical Factors
Authors: Gao Zhiguo
Published: November 2021

Important metallurgical factors, such as alloying aluminum redistribution, supersaturation and undercooling of dendrite tip around solid/liquid interface, are separately optimized to alleviate stray grain formation and columnar/equiaxed transition (CET) with series of welding conditions and provide a very efficient method for microstructure control through modification of growth kinetics of dendrite tip under nonequilibrium solidification conditions of ternary Ni-Cr-Al molten pool. Asymmetrical (001)/[110] welding configuration is inferior to symmetrical (001)/[100] welding configuration, because overall area-weighted alloying redistribution, supersaturation and undercooling of dendrite tip throughout the solid/liquid interface of weld pool are consistently severer to exacerbate solidification behavior and microstructure development and incur morphology instability of columnar/equiaxed transition. High heat input, such as combination of higher laser power and slower welding speed, monotonically increases aluminum enrichment, supersaturation and undercooling of dendrite tip near solidification interface to simultaneously deteriorate nucleation and growth of stray grain formation and weaken columnar dendrite morphology, while low heat input, such as combination of lower laser power and faster welding speed, decreases solute buildup, relieves supersaturation and beneficially suppresses dendrite tip undercooling to minimize equiaxed dendrite morphology in the crack-susceptible region, and thereby facilitate single-crystal epitaxial growth with decrease of thermo-metallurgical factors for columnar/equiaxed transition in order to provide prerequisite for optimization of welding conditions. Favorable solidification conditions are obtainable with preferential crystallographic orientation to eliminate columnar/equiaxed transition under which the epitaxy of single-crystal metallurgical properties across fusion boundary of substrate is predominantly promoted to essentially reduce stray grain formation in (001)/[100] welding configuration, and is kinetically capable of significant reduction of microstructure anomalies and nonuniform solidification behavior. The useful relationship among welding conditions, alloying aluminum redistribution, supersaturation and undercooling of dendrite tip is properly established within dendrite stability range through thorough analysis. In addition, the validation of theoretical predictions is fairly reasonable by the experiment results. It is worth that the contributions of kinetics-related solidification phenomena with advancement of solid/liquid interface are imposed altogether to understand why stray grain formation occurs on the basis of controlling mechanism of minimum undercooling or minimum velocity by the reproducible methodology procedure.
Influence of Recorded Pattern on Background Interference impact in Magnetic Recording
Authors: Chaiduangsri Nuttapon , Kaitwanidvilai Somyot , Tongsomporn Damrongsak
Published: November 2021

This paper discusses the impact of background interference on a recorded pattern for heat-assisted magnetic recording technology (HAMR). Several patterns of the background track were examined, with the log bit error rate and signal to noise ratio measured via a spin-stand tester using HAMR head and media. It was found that the low frequency pattern gave the highest BER and SNR loss due to the strong magnetic field from the adjacent tracks. Similar to its practical use, the PRBS pattern also showed high interference. These observations may be used to support HDD areal density growth.
Development of a front-end electronics for thin-gap resistive plate chamber
Authors: Ge J.J. , Li Q.Y. , Su C. , Xue Z.W. , Liu Y.W. , Sun Y.J. , Liang H.
Published: November 2021

To cope with the challenge of high hit rates in some
applications, the new-generation large-area Resistive Plate Chamber
(RPC) with 1 mm thin gap was proposed. Compared to the RPC
generation presently, the signal of the thin-gap RPC is much weaker
(of the order of hundreds of μV) and faster (pulse width of about
5 ns). Hence a new-generation Front-End (FE) electronics needs to
be developed for the thin-gap RPC. The FE board contains 8
independent electronic channels, each with an amplifier, a
discriminator, and a Low-Voltage Differential Signaling (LVDS)
transmitter. The amplifier is made of discrete components, with
particular emphasis on SiGe:C transistors. A simplified but stable
power system is designed for the FE board, and its status can be
monitored in real-time. The test results show that the overall
charge gain of the FE amplifier reaches 0.4 mV/fC, with very low
noise (lower than 700 μV RMS with up to 10 pF input detector
capacitance), and good linearity when the amplitude of the input
amplitude is lower than 3 mV. The -3-dB bandwidth of the
amplifier reaches 154 MHz. The jitter caused by the electronics
(including amplifier, discriminator and LVDS transmitter) is around
10 ps when the threshold voltage is higher than 20 mV. The maximum
event rate per channel exceeds 20 MHz. The cosmic ray test was
conducted with two FE boards mounted on a 1 mm thin-gap RPC of
1.4 × 0.4 m2 area. The efficiency of the detector system
reaches 95% when the threshold voltage is 20 mV, with almost no
accidental coincidence event. The overall time resolution of the
detector system is 484 ps. The performance of our FE electronics
satisfies the requirement of the thin-gap RPC.
Three ways social identity shapes climate change adaptation
Authors: Barnett Jon , Graham Sonia , Quinn Tara , Adger W Neil , Butler Catherine
Published: November 2021

Adaptation to climate change is inescapably influenced by processes of social identity—how people perceive themselves, others, and their place in the world around them. Yet there is sparse evidence into the specific ways in which identity processes shape adaptation planning and responses. This paper proposes three key ways to understand the relationship between identity formation and adaptation processes: (a) how social identities change in response to perceived climate change risks and threats; (b) how identity change may be an objective of adaptation; and (c) how identity issues can constrain or enable adaptive action. It examines these three areas of focus through a synthesis of evidence on community responses to flooding and subsequent policy responses in Somerset county, UK and the Gippsland East region in Australia, based on indepth longitudinal data collected among those experiencing and enacting adaptation. The results show that adaptation policies are more likely to be effective when they give individuals confidence in the continuity of their in-groups, enhance the self-esteem of these groups, and develop their sense of self-efficacy. These processes of identity formation and evolution are therefore central to individual and collective responses to climate risks.
Quantum combinatorial designs and k-uniform states
Authors: Zang Yajuan , Facchi Paolo , Tian Zihong
Published: November 2021

Goyeneche et al [2018 Phys. Rev. A
97 062326] introduced several classes of quantum combinatorial designs, namely quantum Latin squares, quantum Latin cubes, and the notion of orthogonality on them. They also showed that mutually orthogonal quantum Latin arrangements can be entangled in the same way in which quantum states are entangled. Moreover, they established a relationship between quantum combinatorial designs and a remarkable class of entangled states called k-uniform states, i.e. multipartite pure states such that every reduction to k parties is maximally mixed. In this article, we put forward the notions of incomplete quantum Latin squares and orthogonality on them and present construction methods for mutually orthogonal quantum Latin squares and mutually orthogonal quantum Latin cubes. Furthermore, we introduce the notions of generalized mutually orthogonal quantum Latin squares and generalized mutually orthogonal quantum Latin cubes, which are equivalent to quantum orthogonal arrays of size d
2 and d
3, respectively, and thus naturally provide two- and three-uniform states.
Absorbed driven diffusion can provide positive heat and work output
Authors: Chvosta Petr
Published: November 2021

We investigate overdamped Brownian motion in a fluctuating potential on a one-dimensional interval bordered by absorbing boundaries. The potential switches randomly between the ∨-shaped and the ∧-shaped form and is symmetric with respect to the origin. We derive exact expressions describing the absorption process, dynamics and stochastic energetics of the particle. The mean absorption time can exhibit a pronounced minimum as the function of the potential switching rate. Moreover, there exists a parameter region where both the output work and the released heat are positive. We give a plausible explanation for this phenomenon based on typical statistical features of absorbed trajectories. The presented analytical method can be generalized to other models based on dichotomous switching between two potential shapes.
Efficient recurrent neural network methods for anomalously diffusing single particle short and noisy trajectories
Authors: Garibo-i-Orts Òscar , Baeza-Bosca Alba , Garcia-March Miguel A. , Conejero J. Alberto
Published: November 2021

Anomalous diffusion occurs at very different scales in nature, from atomic systems to motions in cell organelles, biological tissues or ecology, and also in artificial materials, such as cement. Being able to accurately measure the anomalous exponent associated to a given particle trajectory, thus determining whether the particle subdiffuses, superdiffuses or performs normal diffusion, is of key importance to understand the diffusion process. Also it is often important to trustingly identify the model behind the trajectory, as it this gives a large amount of information on the system dynamics. Both aspects are particularly difficult when the input data are short and noisy trajectories. It is even more difficult if one cannot guarantee that the trajectories output in experiments are homogeneous, hindering the statistical methods based on ensembles of trajectories. We present a data-driven method able to infer the anomalous exponent and to identify the type of anomalous diffusion process behind single, noisy and short trajectories, with good accuracy. This model was used in our participation in the anomalous diffusion (AnDi) challenge. A combination of convolutional and recurrent neural networks was used to achieve state-of-the-art results when compared to methods participating in the AnDi challenge, ranking top 4 in both classification and diffusion exponent regression.
Preparation and electrochromic properties of flexible transparent WO3/AgNW-decorated nanofiber composite film
Authors: Noh Jae-Hyun , Radhakrishnan Sivaprakasam , Lee Ki Tae , Ko Tae Hoon , Kim Byoung-Suhk
Published: November 2021

It is well-known that tungsten oxide (WO3) is extensively used for electrochromic (EC) devices due to its special properties, such as high coloration/bleaching response time, good coloration efficiency, etc. The preparation of flexible EC devices is highly desirable for various applications. However, the fabrication of flexible EC devices with improved performance is still a major task due to their limited experimental protocols. In this study, we have prepared highly flexible transparent films consisting of WO3 and silver nanowires coated on nanofiber-reinforced composite films (WO3/AgNW-NCF). A novel flexible transparent WO3/AgNW-NCF is used for EC applications. The as-fabricated EC device based on WO3/AgNW-NCF demonstrated good coloration efficiency (161.3 cm2 C−1), excellent stability (81.5%) and rapid response time for coloration (2.9 s) and bleaching (3.2 s). The fabricated transparent flexible EC device may potentially be useful for designing an outstanding EC device for smart window applications.
Ultra-broadband perfect solar energy absorber based on tungsten ring arrays
Authors: Cheng Yu , Xiong Min , Chen Ming , Deng Shijie , Liu Houquan , Teng Chuanxin , Yang Hongyan , Deng Hongchang , Yuan Libo
Published: November 2021

Metamaterials play a crucial role in the research of broadband absorbers. In order to achieve broadband and efficient absorption of solar energy, a novel solar energy absorber based on tungsten ring array is proposed in this paper. The results of numerical analysis show that the absorption efficiency of the absorber is over 90% at 300∼2000 nm, the average absorption efficiency is 96.2%, and the absorption peak is 99.9%. Broadband absorption can be attributed to the excitation of plasmon and Fabry–Perot resonance effect on the surface of metal-insulator-metal. In addition, thanks to the high symmetry of the structure, it is relatively independent of incident angle and polarization angle. In the future, the absorbent will have a promising application prospect in the fields of solar energy utilization, photothermal conversion and infrared detection.
Listening to Extinction: Early Conservation Radio Sounds and the Silences of Species
Authors: Hui Alexandra
Published: November 2021

In the first decades of the twentieth century, American radio producers used both artificial and wild-recorded sounds of nature to promote principles of environmental conservation and wildlife management. These techniques were shaped by established listening practices — especially those of birders — and also fostered new ones. Specifically, conservation radio programs like those produced by the American Wildlife Institute and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, made it possible for listeners to experience silence in a new way; as indicative of absence, potentially even extinction, both locally and globally. By examining how conservation radio in the 1930s was a mechanism through which environmental awareness and even action was fostered, this article demonstrates the dividends of working at the intersection of sensory studies and environmental history. New inflection points and temporal framing are made apparent as is the development of the critical sensory perceptual shifts necessary for the environmental movement to come. Tracing the sounds and listening to them in individuals’ understanding of nature prompts us to consider the shifting, culturally-bound, mechanisms through which we have sensed and perceived and acted upon the world.
Relationality without obligation
Authors: Lewis James H P
Published: November 2021

Some reasons are thought to depend on relations between people, such as that of a promiser to a promisee. It has sometimes been assumed that all reasons that are relational in this way are moral obligations. I argue, via a counter example, that there are non-obligatory relational reasons. If true, this has ramifications for relational theories of morality.
ResNet18DNN: prediction approach of drug-induced liver injury by deep neural network with ResNet18
Authors: Chen Zhao , Jiang Yin , Zhang Xiaoyu , Zheng Rui , Qiu Ruijin , Sun Yang , Zhao Chen , Shang Hongcai
Published: November 2021

Drug-induced liver injury (DILI) has always been the focus of clinicians and drug researchers. How to improve the performance of the DILI prediction model to accurately predict liver injury was an urgent problem for researchers in the field of medical research. In order to solve this scientific problem, this research collected a comprehensive and accurate dataset of DILI with high recognition and high quality based on clinically confirmed DILI compound datasets, including 1446 chemical compounds. Then, the residual neural network with 18-layer by using more 5-layer blocks (ResNet18) with deep neural network (ResNet18DNN) model was proposed to predict DILI, which was an improved model for DILI prediction through vectorization of compound structure image. In predicting DILI, the ResNet18DNN learned greatly and outperformed the existing state-of-the-art DILI predictors. The results of DILI prediction model based on ResNet18DNN showed that the AUC (area under the curve), accuracy, recall, precision, F1-score and specificity of the training set were 0.973, 0.992, 0.995, 0.994, 0.995 and 0.975; those of test set were, respectively, 0.958, 0.976, 0.935, 0.947, 0.926 and 0.913, which were better than the performance of previously published described DILI prediction models. This method adopted ResNet18 embedding method to vectorize molecular structure images and the evaluation indicators of Resnet18DNN were obtained after 10 000 iterations. This prediction approach will greatly improve the performance of the predictive model of DILI and provide an accurate and precise early warning method for DILI in drug development and clinical medication.
Tumor immune microenvironment lncRNAs
Authors: Park Eun-Gyeong , Pyo Sung-Jin , Cui Youxi , Yoon Sang-Ho , Nam Jin-Wu
Published: November 2021

Long non-coding ribonucleic acids (RNAs) (lncRNAs) are key players in tumorigenesis and immune responses. The nature of their cell type-specific gene expression and other functional evidence support the idea that lncRNAs have distinct cellular functions in the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME). To date, the majority of lncRNA studies have heavily relied on bulk RNA-sequencing data in which various cell types contribute to an averaged signal, limiting the discovery of cell type-specific lncRNA functions. Single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) is a potential solution for tackling this limitation despite the lack of annotations for low abundance yet cell type-specific lncRNAs. Hence, updated annotations and further understanding of the cellular expression of lncRNAs will be necessary for characterizing cell type-specific functions of lncRNA genes in the TIME. In this review, we discuss lncRNAs that are specifically expressed in tumor and immune cells, summarize the regulatory functions of the lncRNAs at the cell type level and highlight how a scRNA-seq approach can help to study the cell type-specific functions of TIME lncRNAs.
Computationally prioritized drugs inhibit SARS-CoV-2 infection and syncytia formation
Authors: Serra Angela , Fratello Michele , Federico Antonio , Ojha Ravi , Provenzani Riccardo , Tasnadi Ervin , Cattelani Luca , del Giudice Giusy , Kinaret Pia A S , Saarimäki Laura A , Pavel Alisa , Kuivanen Suvi , Cerullo Vincenzo , Vapalahti Olli , Horvath Peter , Lieto Antonio Di , Yli-Kauhaluoma Jari , Balistreri Giuseppe , Greco Dario
Published: November 2021

The pharmacological arsenal against the COVID-19 pandemic is largely based on generic anti-inflammatory strategies or poorly scalable solutions. Moreover, as the ongoing vaccination campaign is rolling slower than wished, affordable and effective therapeutics are needed. To this end, there is increasing attention toward computational methods for drug repositioning and de novo drug design.

Here, multiple data-driven computational approaches are systematically integrated to perform a virtual screening and prioritize candidate drugs for the treatment of COVID-19. From the list of prioritized drugs, a subset of representative candidates to test in human cells is selected. Two compounds, 7-hydroxystaurosporine and bafetinib, show synergistic antiviral effects in vitro and strongly inhibit viral-induced syncytia formation. Moreover, since existing drug repositioning methods provide limited usable information for de novo drug design, the relevant chemical substructures of the identified drugs are extracted to provide a chemical vocabulary that may help to design new effective drugs.
Building family connectedness—A new practice tool for social workers
Authors: Woodman Elise , Ross and Jessica
Published: November 2021

Family connectedness is important for youth mental health and well-being. Social workers can help families build and maintain connections during adolescence. Evidence-based practice tools which approach youth well-being through a whole-of-family lens help legitimise social work’s person-in-environment approach to mental health. In this study, fifteen Australian social workers piloted a new practice tool to support family connectedness. The tool outlines key elements of family connectedness from the perspectives of young people and provides detailed examples to help understand and strengthen family connections. The social workers trialled the Family Connectedness Practice Tool for two months. Before the trial, participants were surveyed on which skills, theories and practice approaches they used to support family connectedness. After the trial, participants were surveyed on how they used the tool and how useful it was in their practice. The findings highlight the range of knowledge informing practice with children, youth and families. The tool was considered very useful by participants and helped with family connectedness education, assessment and intervention. The findings raise questions about how much young people’s perspectives are valued in practice and the challenges social workers face when using a whole-of-family approach.
Learning from children and youth: A qualitative study about the changes that young people identify through a positive parenting programme
Authors: Urrea-Monclús Aida , Ponce Alifonso Carmen , Balsells Bailón M Àngels
Published: November 2021

This article presents the results of an investigation regarding the perceptions of people participating in a programme on parental competencies for family reunification about the changes achieved through the same. This included the perceptions of children, adolescents, and their parents. A qualitative research was carried out based on thirteen focus groups comprising n = 59 children and adolescents out of the total 135 programme participants. Contributions of the young persons allowed the identification of changes in (1) parental competency related to foster care measures, visits and contact during foster care; (2) parental competency related to family adjustment and parental role during the return home and (3) personal awareness about foster care and family members’ reunification process. Additionally, two other concepts emerged, which are considered cross-sectional to the process of foster care and family reunification: (4) the child-rights approach and (5) resources supporting parental education. The findings indicated the importance of resilience phases, communication skills and emotional competencies and attitude and awareness regarding the process of fostering and reuniting families.
NPTX1 mutations trigger endoplasmic reticulum stress and cause autosomal dominant cerebellar ataxia
Authors: Coutelier Marie , Jacoupy Maxime , Janer Alexandre , Renaud Flore , Auger Nicolas , Saripella Ganapathi-Varma , Ancien François , Pucci Fabrizio , Rooman Marianne , Gilis Dimitri , Larivière Roxanne , Sgarioto Nicolas , Valter Rémi , Guillot-Noel Léna , Le Ber Isabelle , Sayah Sabrina , Charles Perrine , Nümann Astrid , Pauly Martje G , Helmchen Christoph , Deininger Natalie , Haack Tobias B , Brais Bernard , Brice Alexis , Trégouët David-Alexandre , El Hachimi Khalid H , Shoubridge Eric A , Durr Alexandra , Stevanin Giovanni
Published: November 2021

With more than 40 causative genes identified so far, autosomal dominant cerebellar ataxias exhibit a remarkable genetic heterogeneity. Yet, half the patients are lacking a molecular diagnosis.

In a large family with nine sampled affected members, we performed exome sequencing combined with whole-genome linkage analysis. We identified a missense variant in NPTX1, NM_002522.3:c.1165G>A: p.G389R, segregating with the phenotype. Further investigations with whole-exome sequencing and an amplicon-based panel identified four additional unrelated families segregating the same variant, for whom a common founder effect could be excluded. A second missense variant, NM_002522.3:c.980A>G: p.E327G, was identified in a fifth familial case. The NPTX1-associated phenotype consists of a late-onset, slowly progressive, cerebellar ataxia, with downbeat nystagmus, cognitive impairment reminiscent of cerebellar cognitive affective syndrome, myoclonic tremor and mild cerebellar vermian atrophy on brain imaging.

NPTX1 encodes the neuronal pentraxin 1, a secreted protein with various cellular and synaptic functions. Both variants affect conserved amino acid residues and are extremely rare or absent from public databases. In COS7 cells, overexpression of both neuronal pentraxin 1 variants altered endoplasmic reticulum morphology and induced ATF6-mediated endoplasmic reticulum stress, associated with cytotoxicity. In addition, the p.E327G variant abolished neuronal pentraxin 1 secretion, as well as its capacity to form a high molecular weight complex with the wild-type protein. Co-immunoprecipitation experiments coupled with mass spectrometry analysis demonstrated abnormal interactions of this variant with the cytoskeleton. In agreement with these observations, in silico modelling of the neuronal pentraxin 1 complex evidenced a destabilizing effect for the p.E327G substitution, located at the interface between monomers. On the contrary, the p.G389 residue, located at the protein surface, had no predictable effect on the complex stability.

Our results establish NPTX1 as a new causative gene in autosomal dominant cerebellar ataxias. We suggest that variants in NPTX1 can lead to cerebellar ataxia due to endoplasmic reticulum stress, mediated by ATF6, and associated to a destabilization of NP1 polymers in a dominant-negative manner for one of the variants.
Diabetic retinopathy as a potential marker of Parkinson’s disease: a register-based cohort study
Authors: Larsen Maria E C , Thykjaer Anne S , Pedersen Frederik N , Möller Sören , Laugesen Caroline S , Andersen Nis , Andresen Jens , Hajari Javad , Heegaard Steffen , Højlund Kurt , Kawasaki Ryo , Schielke Katja C , Rubin Katrine H , Blaabjerg Morten , Stokholm Lonny , Grauslund Jakob
Published: November 2021

Neurodegeneration is an early event in the pathogenesis of diabetic retinopathy, and an association between diabetic retinopathy and Parkinson’s disease has been proposed. In this nationwide register-based cohort study, we investigated the prevalence and incidence of Parkinson’s disease among patients screened for diabetic retinopathy in a Danish population-based cohort. Cases (n = 173 568) above 50 years of age with diabetes included in the Danish Registry of Diabetic Retinopathy between 2013 and 2018 were matched 1:5 by gender and birth year with a control population without diabetes (n = 843 781). At index date, the prevalence of Parkinson’s disease was compared between cases and controls. To assess the longitudinal relationship between diabetic retinopathy and Parkinson’s disease, a multivariable Cox proportional hazard model was estimated. The prevalence of Parkinson’s disease was 0.28% and 0.44% among cases and controls, respectively. While diabetic retinopathy was not associated with present (adjusted odds ratio 0.93, 95% confidence interval 0.72–1.21) or incident Parkinson’s disease (adjusted hazard ratio 0.77, 95% confidence interval 0.56–1.05), cases with diabetes were in general less likely to have or to develop Parkinson’s disease compared to controls without diabetes (adjusted odds ratio 0.79, 95% confidence interval 0.71–0.87 and adjusted hazard ratio 0.88, 95% confidence interval 0.78–1.00). In a national cohort of more than 1 million persons, patients with diabetes were 21% and 12% were less likely to have prevalent and develop incident Parkinson’s disease, respectively, compared to an age- and gender-matched control population without diabetes. We found no indication for diabetic retinopathy as an independent risk factor for incident Parkinson’s disease.
Human variation in error-based and reinforcement motor learning is associated with entorhinal volume
Authors: de Brouwer Anouk J , Areshenkoff Corson N , Rashid Mohammad R , Flanagan J Randall , Poppenk Jordan , Gallivan Jason P
Published: November 2021

Error-based and reward-based processes are critical for motor learning and are thought to be mediated via distinct neural pathways. However, recent behavioral work in humans suggests that both learning processes can be bolstered by the use of cognitive strategies, which may mediate individual differences in motor learning ability. It has been speculated that medial temporal lobe regions, which have been shown to support motor sequence learning, also support the use of cognitive strategies in error-based and reinforcement motor learning. However, direct evidence in support of this idea remains sparse. Here we first show that better overall learning during error-based visuomotor adaptation is associated with better overall learning during the reward-based shaping of reaching movements. Given the cognitive contribution to learning in both of these tasks, these results support the notion that strategic processes, associated with better performance, drive intersubject variation in both error-based and reinforcement motor learning. Furthermore, we show that entorhinal cortex volume is larger in better learning individuals—characterized across both motor learning tasks—compared with their poorer learning counterparts. These results suggest that individual differences in learning performance during error and reinforcement learning are related to neuroanatomical differences in entorhinal cortex.
Bacterial Endosymbionts of Bactericera maculipennis and Three Mitochondrial Haplotypes of B. cockerelli (Hemiptera: Psylloidea: Triozidae)
Authors: Cooper W Rodney , Horton David R , Swisher-Grimm Kylie , Krey Karol , Wildung Mark R
Published: November 2021

Insects harbor bacterial endosymbionts that provide their hosts with nutritional benefit or with protection against natural enemies, plant defenses, insecticides, or abiotic stresses. We used directed sequencing of 16S rDNA to identify and compare endosymbionts of Bactericera maculipennis (Crawford) and the western, central, and northwestern haplotypes of B. cockerelli (Šulc) (Hemiptera: Psylloidea: Triozidae). Both species are native to North America, are known to harbor the plant pathogen ‘Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum’ and develop on shared host plants within the Convolvulaceae. The Old-World species Heterotrioza chenopodii (Reuter) (Psylloidea: Triozidae), now found in North America, was included as an outgroup. 16S sequencing confirmed that both Bactericera species harbor ‘Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum’ and revealed that both species harbor unique strains of Wolbachia and Sodalis. However, the presence of Wolbachia and Sodalis varied among haplotypes of B. cockerelli. The central and western haplotypes harbored the same strains of Wolbachia, which was confirmed by Sanger sequencing of the wsp and ftsZ genes. Wolbachia was also detected in very low abundance from the northwestern haplotype by high-throughput sequencing of 16S but was not detected from this haplotype by PCR screening. The northwestern and central haplotypes also harbored Sodalis, which was not detected in the western haplotype. Heterotrioza chenopodii harbored an entirely different community of potential endosymbionts compared with the Bactericera spp. that included Rickettsia and an unidentified bacterium in the Enterobacteriaceae. Results of this study provide a foundation for further research on the interactions between psyllids and their bacterial endosymbionts.
Welcomeness for people with substance use disorders to general practice: a qualitative study
Authors: Abbott Penelope , Watt Kelly , Magin Parker , Davison Joyce , Hu Wendy C Y
Published: November 2021

Background

Good primary care for people with substance use disorders (SUDs) is crucial given the high prevalence of SUDs and overdose deaths.

Objective

To explore general practice care for people with a history of SUDs from the perspectives of women involved with the criminal justice system.

Methods

Qualitative interview study with pre- and postrelease interviews, undertaken in Australian prisons and community settings. We utilized thematic analysis informed by constructivist grounded theory.

Results

We undertook 65 interviews with 39 women. Access to and experience of general practitioner (GP) care was affected by perceived welcomeness, decisions around disclosure, and consultation experiences related to medication prescription. Participants reported that they were not as welcome as other patients, welcome could be conditional on not disclosing SUDs or only requesting unrelated healthcare, and GPs did not always differentiate between past and current drug use. Participants perceived difficulty finding general practices where the potential benefit of disclosing SUDs outweighed the risks of stigmatized reactions and lack of GP skills and interest. Participants did not always recognize that care beyond physical health could occur in general practice. The pejorative implications of labelling patients as “doctor shoppers” were challenged by participants, as they considered it could be necessary to attend multiple GPs to find a welcoming practice.

Conclusions

People with histories of SUDs do not uniformly experience welcomeness in general practice, perpetuating poor engagement in healthcare and poor outcomes related to SUDs. Programmes targeting prescription drug misuse through general practice should also promote welcomeness for people with SUDs.
Development of a patient decision aid for COVID-19 vaccination with the Comirnaty vaccine
Authors: Vincent Yves-Marie , Frachon Adèle , Allaire Amandine , Boussageon Remy , Pouchain Denis , Ferrat Emilie , Rat Cédric
Published: November 2021

Background

SARS-CoV-2 has been responsible for a pandemic since the beginning of 2020. Vaccine arrival brings a concrete solution to fight the virus. However, vaccine hesitancy is high. In France, the first available vaccine was Comirnaty from Pfizer-BioNTech. Shared decision-making, based on tools such as patient decision aids (PtDAs), can help patients make an informed choice about vaccination with Comirnaty.

Objective

The French College of Teachers in General Practice (CNGE) aimed to create a PtDA for people who have to decide whether they will receive the Comirnaty vaccine.

Methods

Development of the PtDA was performed according to the International Patient Decision Aids Standards (IPDAS). The initial design was based on a literature review and semistructured interviews with 17 patients to explore and clarify patients’ expectations. A first draft of the PtDA was then alpha tested by a patient expert group and a physician expert group. The PtDA was finally beta tested in 14 prevaccine consultations. A steering group was consulted throughout the work. Patient support, community groups and the French National Authority for Health (HAS) were involved in the development process.

Results

A literature review identified one randomized trial on Comirnaty efficacy and safety. The first part of the PtDA allows patients to identify their own risk factors. The second part of the PtDA provides information on vaccination: benefits and risks, unknown data, and technical explanations about the mRNA vaccine.

Conclusions

We developed a PtDA to be used in primary care settings for shared decision-making regarding vaccination with Comirnaty.