bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Depth-enhanced head-mounted light field displays based on integral imaging
Authors: Wang Xuan , Hua Hong
Published: January 2021

Conventional display systems based on integral imaging (InI) suffer from a major tradeoff between depth of field and spatial resolution. In this Letter, a new, to the best of our knowledge, a method for an InI-based light field display with an extended depth of field is proposed, where a digitally switchable multi-focal micro lens array can yield a depth of field spanning a depth range from zero to over three diopters without sacrificing either spatial resolution or form factor. A high optical performance display prototype was built and demonstrated with printed aperture arrays as a substitute for a custom-designed programmable shutter array that is still under construction.
SESAM mode-locked Yb:YAB thin-disk oscillator delivering an average power of 19 W
Authors: Dannecker Benjamin , Beirow Frieder , Weichelt Birgit , Rytz Daniel , Graf Thomas , Abdou Ahmed Marwan
Published: January 2021

We report on a semiconductor saturable absorber mirror mode-locked thin-disk oscillator based on Yb:YAB delivering pulses with a duration of 462 fs at an average output power of 19.2 W and a pulse energy of 0.38 µJ.
Highly resistant all-silica polarizing coatings for normal incidence applications
Authors: Grineviciute Lina , Ramalis Lukas , Buzelis Rytis , Tolenis Tomas
Published: January 2021

Several fundamental restrictions limit the implementation of microlasers in high power systems, low resistivity of coatings and compactness of elements, especially if control of polarization is necessary. Thin-film-based coatings with extremely high optical resistivity and polarizing properties for normal incidence could become a preferable solution. In this Letter, a novel multilayer approach to form all-silica polarizing coatings for normal incidence angle applications is proposed. Laser induced damage thresholds (test one-on-one) at the wavelength of 355 nm were

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Broad and flat dual-band NIR luminescence from Er3+/Tm3+/Ho3+ tri-doped tellurite glass
Authors: Xia Lizhang , Zhang Yu , Shen Xinjie , Zhou Yaxun
Published: January 2021

We report the near-infrared (NIR) broadband luminescent property of tellurite glasses incorporated with

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ions. Under the excitation of a commercial 808 nm laser diode, two ultra-broadband and flat NIR luminescent bands ranging from 1350–1600 and 1600–2200 nm with respective full width at half-maximums of 153 and 374 nm. were obtained simultaneously in tellurite glass with an optimal combination of three

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ions. This valuable discovery enables us to develop new, to the best of our knowledge, NIR broadband fiber amplifiers and tunable lasers which can be applied to fields such as optical communication and biomedicine.
Chiral single-photon switch-assisted quantum logic gate with a nitrogen-vacancy center in a hybrid system
Authors: Zhou Yuan , Lü Dong-Yan , Zeng Wei-You
Published: January 2021

We propose what we believe is a novel proposal for realizing a quantum C-NOT logic gate, through fabricating an interesting hybrid device with a chiral photon-pulse switch, a single nitrogen-vacancy (NV) center, and an optical microcavity. Three major different practical routes on realizing a chiral photon emitter are discussed, which can implement a chiral control unit via the nonreciprocal emitter–photon interactions, so-called “propagation-direction-dependent” emission. With the assistance of dichromatic microwave driving fields, we carry out the relevant C-NOT operations by engineering the interactions on a single NV spin in a cavity. We note that this logic gate is robust against practical noise and experimental imperfection, and this attempt may evoke wide and fruitful applications in quantum information processing.
Breast cancer is marked by specific, Public T-cell receptor CDR3 regions shared by mice and humans
Authors: Gordin Miri , Philip Hagit , Zilberberg Alona , Gidoni Moriah , Margalit Raanan , Clouser Christopher , Adams Kristofor , Vigneault Francois , Cohen Irun R. , Yaari Gur , Efroni Sol
Published: January 2021

The partial success of tumor immunotherapy induced by checkpoint blockade, which is not antigen-specific, suggests that the immune system of some patients contain antigen receptors able to specifically identify tumor cells. Here we focused on T-cell receptor (TCR) repertoires associated with spontaneous breast cancer. We studied the alpha and beta chain CDR3 domains of TCR repertoires of CD4 T cells using deep sequencing of cell populations in mice and applied the results to published TCR sequence data obtained from human patients. We screened peripheral blood T cells obtained monthly from individual mice spontaneously developing breast tumors by 5 months. We then looked at identical TCR sequences in published human studies; we used TCGA data from tumors and healthy tissues of 1,256 breast cancer resections and from 4 focused studies including sequences from tumors, lymph nodes, blood and healthy tissues, and from single cell dataset of 3 breast cancer subjects. We now report that mice spontaneously developing breast cancer manifest shared, Public CDR3 regions in both their alpha and beta and that a significant number of women with early breast cancer manifest identical CDR3 sequences. These findings suggest that the development of breast cancer is associated, across species, with biomarker, exclusive TCR repertoires.
Coincident glutamatergic depolarizations enhance GABAA receptor-dependent Cl- influx in mature and suppress Cl- efflux in immature neurons
Authors: Lombardi Aniello , Jedlicka Peter , Luhmann Heiko J. , Kilb Werner
Published: January 2021

The impact of GABAergic transmission on neuronal excitability depends on the Cl--gradient across membranes. However, the Cl--fluxes through GABAAreceptors alter the intracellular Cl-concentration ([Cl-]i) and in turn attenuate GABAergic responses, a process termed ionic plasticity. Recently it has been shown that coincident glutamatergic inputs significantly affect ionic plasticity. Yet how the [Cl-]ichanges depend on the properties of glutamatergic inputs and their spatiotemporal relation to GABAergic stimuli is unknown. To investigate this issue, we used compartmental biophysical models of Cl-dynamics simulating either a simple ball-and-stick topology or a reconstructed CA3 neuron. These computational experiments demonstrated that glutamatergic co-stimulation enhances GABA receptor-mediated Cl-influx at low and attenuates or reverses the Cl-efflux at high initial [Cl-]i. The size of glutamatergic influence on GABAergic Cl--fluxes depends on the conductance, decay kinetics, and localization of glutamatergic inputs. Surprisingly, the glutamatergic shift in GABAergic Cl--fluxes is invariant to latencies between GABAergic and glutamatergic inputs over a substantial interval. In agreement with experimental data, simulations in a reconstructed CA3 pyramidal neuron with physiological patterns of correlated activity revealed that coincident glutamatergic synaptic inputs contribute significantly to the activity-dependent [Cl-]ichanges. Whereas the influence of spatial correlation between distributed glutamatergic and GABAergic inputs was negligible, their temporal correlation played a significant role. In summary, our results demonstrate that glutamatergic co-stimulation had a substantial impact on ionic plasticity of GABAergic responses, enhancing the attenuation of GABAergic inhibition in the mature nervous systems, but suppressing GABAergic [Cl-]ichanges in the immature brain. Therefore, glutamatergic shift in GABAergic Cl--fluxes should be considered as a relevant factor of short-term plasticity.
Ciona Brachyury proximal and distal enhancers have different FGF dose-response relationships
Authors: Harder Matthew J. , Hix Julie , Reeves Wendy M. , Veeman Michael T.
Published: January 2021

Many genes are regulated by two or more enhancers that drive similar expression patterns. Evolutionary theory suggests that these seemingly redundant enhancers must have functionally important differences. In the simple ascidian chordateCiona, the transcription factor Brachyury is induced exclusively in the presumptive notochord downstream of lineage specific regulators and FGF-responsive Ets family transcription factors. Here we exploit the ability to finely titrate FGF signaling activity via the MAPK pathway using the MEK inhibitor U0126 to quantify the dependence of transcription driven by differentBrachyuryreporter constructs on this direct upstream regulator. We find that the more powerful promoter-adjacent proximal enhancer and a weaker distal enhancer have fundamentally different dose-response relationships to MAPK inhibition. The Distal enhancer is more sensitive to MAPK inhibition but shows a less cooperative response, whereas the Proximal enhancer is less sensitive and more cooperative. A longer construct containing both enhancers has a complex dose-response curve that supports the idea that the proximal and distal enhancers are moderately super-additive. We show that the overall expression loss from intermediate doses of U0126 is not only a function of the fraction of cells expressing these reporters, but also involves graded decreases in expression at the single-cell level. Expression of the endogenous gene shows a comparable dose-response relationship to the full length reporter, and we find that different notochord founder cells are differentially sensitive to MAPK inhibition. Together, these results indicate that although the twoBrachyuryenhancers have qualitatively similar expression patterns, they respond to FGF in quantitatively different ways and act together to drive high levels ofBrachyuryexpression with a characteristic input/output relationship. This indicates that they are fundamentally not equivalent genetic elements.
Health professionals' overestimation of knowledge on snakebite management, a threat to the survival of snakebite victims—A cross-sectional study in Ghana
Authors: Ameade Evans Paul Kwame , Bonney Isaac , Boateng Evans Twumasi
Published: January 2021

Background

According to the World Health Organization, snakebites, a common occupational hazard in developing countries accounts for an annual loss of between 81,000 and 138, 000 lives following 5 million bites of which 2.7 million results in envenomation. Since snakebite-associated morbidity and mortality are more prevalent in agricultural economies such as Ghana, health professionals should be optimally knowledgeable on how to manage the incidence of snakebites. Lack of knowledge or overestimation of a professional's knowledge can affect heath delivery especially for emergencies such as snakebites. The three rurally situated Tongu districts in South-Eastern Ghana with agriculture as the major source of livelihood for their inhabitants, are prone to snakebites. This study, therefore, brings up the need to assess whether the health professionals in these districts are well-equipped knowledge-wise to handle such emergencies and whether they can rightly estimate their knowledge with regards to snakebite management.

Methodology/Principal findings

Data was collected using a de novo semi-structured questionnaire administered through google form whose link was sent via WhatsApp to 186 health workers made up of nurses, midwives, physician assistants, medical doctors, pharmacists, and pharmacy technicians. This data was analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) Version 25. Association between variables was determined using the appropriate tools where necessary, using a confidence interval of 95% and significance assumed when p ≤ 0.05. This study found male health workers significantly more knowledgeable about snakebite management (11.53±5.67 vs 9.64±5.46; p = 0.022) but it was the females who overestimated their knowledge level (27.9% vs 24.1%). The medical doctors exhibited the best knowledge on snakebite management with the registered general nurses least knowledgeable. Although most professionals overestimated their knowledge, the registered general nurses were the worst at that (53.7%). Overall knowledge of health care professionals on snakebite management was below average [10.60±5.62/22 (48.2%)] but previous in-service training and involvement in the management of snakebite were associated with better knowledge. Respondents who had no previous training overestimated their knowledge level compared to those who had some post-qualification training on snakebite management (38.1% vs 7.5%). The greatest knowledge deficit of respondents was on the management of ASV associated adverse reactions.

Conclusion

Health workers in rural Ghana overestimated their knowledge about snakebite management although their knowledge was low. Training schools, therefore, need to incorporate snakebite management in their curriculum and health authorities should also expose health workers to more in-service training on this neglected tropical disease.
A comparison of machine learning models versus clinical evaluation for mortality prediction in patients with sepsis
Authors: van Doorn William P. T. M. , Stassen Patricia M. , Borggreve Hella F. , Schalkwijk Maaike J. , Stoffers Judith , Bekers Otto , Meex Steven J. R.
Published: January 2021

Introduction

Patients with sepsis who present to an emergency department (ED) have highly variable underlying disease severity, and can be categorized from low to high risk. Development of a risk stratification tool for these patients is important for appropriate triage and early treatment. The aim of this study was to develop machine learning models predicting 31-day mortality in patients presenting to the ED with sepsis and to compare these to internal medicine physicians and clinical risk scores.

Methods

A single-center, retrospective cohort study was conducted amongst 1,344 emergency department patients fulfilling sepsis criteria. Laboratory and clinical data that was available in the first two hours of presentation from these patients were randomly partitioned into a development (n = 1,244) and validation dataset (n = 100). Machine learning models were trained and evaluated on the development dataset and compared to internal medicine physicians and risk scores in the independent validation dataset. The primary outcome was 31-day mortality.

Results

A number of 1,344 patients were included of whom 174 (13.0%) died. Machine learning models trained with laboratory or a combination of laboratory + clinical data achieved an area-under-the ROC curve of 0.82 (95% CI: 0.80–0.84) and 0.84 (95% CI: 0.81–0.87) for predicting 31-day mortality, respectively. In the validation set, models outperformed internal medicine physicians and clinical risk scores in sensitivity (92% vs. 72% vs. 78%;p<0.001,all comparisons) while retaining comparable specificity (78% vs. 74% vs. 72%;p>0.02). The model had higher diagnostic accuracy with an area-under-the-ROC curve of 0.85 (95%CI: 0.78–0.92) compared to abbMEDS (0.63,0.54–0.73), mREMS (0.63,0.54–0.72) and internal medicine physicians (0.74,0.65–0.82).

Conclusion

Machine learning models outperformed internal medicine physicians and clinical risk scores in predicting 31-day mortality. These models are a promising tool to aid in risk stratification of patients presenting to the ED with sepsis.
Older people’s challenges and expectations of healthcare in Ghana: A qualitative study
Authors: Atakro Confidence Alorse , Atakro Abigail , Aboagye Janet Sintim , Blay Alice Aluwah , Addo Stella Boatemaa , Agyare Dorcas Frempomaa , Adatara Peter , Amoa-Gyarteng Kwaku Gyimah , Menlah Awube , Garti Isabella , Boni George Sedinam , Berchie Osei Kwaku , Ansong Isaac Kwadwo
Published: January 2021

Background

The increase in the number of elderly persons in developing countries has not had a corresponding increase in social and health care support systems for the elderly. There is a substantial difference in the quality of healthcare received by older people in developing and developed countries. Elderly persons in developing countries including Ghana are increasingly becoming marginalised and isolated. There is, however, limited evidence of healthcare challenges and expectations by elderly persons in Ghana. This study explored healthcare challenges and expectations of elderly persons to inform policy that could lead to improved quality of life for elderly persons in Ghana.

Materials and methods

Qualitative exploratory descriptive study design was used in conducting this study. Semi-structured interviews were used in collecting data from 30 participants from three regions in Ghana (10 from each region). Data analysis was carried out through content analysis.

Results

Four themes were extracted from data. These themes were: 1. Inadequate information from health workers regarding care of the older person. 2. Queuing frustrations. 3. Financial burden. 4. Focused elderly care demand.

Conclusion

The elderly in Ghana experience challenges of healthcare which include inadequate information, queuing frustrations and financial burdens. Elderly persons also have expectations of healthcare which include having dedicated professionals and units that will attend to them during their hospital visits. Academic and clinical gerontology experts could collaborate and help improve gerontology knowledge of health workers through workshops and conferences. Improving knowledge of health workers in gerontology may be a positive step towards meeting healthcare expectations of older Ghanaians.
With or without internal limiting membrane peeling during idiopathic epiretinal membrane surgery: A meta-analysis
Authors: Huang Qinying , Li Jinying
Published: January 2021

Background

Although previously published meta-analyses have compared the surgical effects between the methods of Idiopathic epiretinal membrane (iERM) removal with or without ILM peeling, they did not reach an agreement.

Purpose

We aimed to provide more evidence for the treatment of iERM and whether additional ILM peeling was better or not by analyzing more updated studies and randomized control trials (RCTs).

Method

The search was conducted in Pubmed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science and Open Grey without language limitation and the studies included were from inception to December 2019. All studies of iERM with or without ILM peeling showed at least one of outcomes, such as best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), central macular thickness (CMT) and recurrence of ERM. The pooled results between above groups were showed by the mean differences (MDs) and risk ratios (RR) with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

Result

In total, 1645 eyes of five randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and fifteen retrospective studies were included. The short-term (<12 months) BCVA improvement in both groups showed no significant difference (MD = -0.01; 95% CI = -0.02 to 0.01; P = 0.36). However, the BCVA improvement was significantly better in ILM peeling eyes than in those without ILM peeling when considering the risk bias (MD = -0.04; 95% CI = -0.07 to -0.01; P = 0.008). The short-term (<12 months) CMT had a higher reduction in non ILM peeling group (MD = -9.02; 95% CI = -12.51 to -5.54; P < 0.00001) and the recurrence of ERM in ILM peeling group was lower (P < 0.00001). The long-term (≥12months) BCVA improvement ((MD = -0.00; 95% CI = -0.03 to 0.03; P = 0.97) and reduction of long-term (≥12months) CMT (MD = -1.14; 95% CI = -7.14 to -4.86; P = 0.71) were similar in both groups.

Conclusion

By considering the risk of bias, we should determine whether ILM peeling is beneficial for short-term changes in BCVA in patients with iERM. Nevertheless, further studies are needed to confirm this. iERM removal without ILM peeling can improve the short-term decrease in CMT and ILM peeling decreases the recurrence of ERM, but the long-term changes in BCVA and CMT are similar with or without ILM peeling. There is a need for a true large scale randomized trial that will also include microperimetry and other functional measures.
CKMT1B is a potential prognostic biomarker and associated with immune infiltration in Lower-grade glioma
Authors: Shi Huadi , Song Yuling , Song Zhi , Huang Chun
Published: January 2021

Background

Lower-grade glioma (LGG) is the most common histology identified in glioma. CKMT1B has not been investigated in glioma. The purpose of this research was to investigate the prognostic value of CKMT1B and its correlation with immune infiltration in LGG.

Methods

We used Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis (GEPIA) to analyze the expression of CKMT1B in LGG. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were used to assess the effect of CKMT1B expression and screened variables on survival. The correlation between CKMT1B and immune infiltration was evaluated by TIMER and CIBERSORT. Moreover, the possible biological functions of CKMT1B were studied by GSEA. The statistical analysis was conducted by R software.

Results

The expression of CKMT1B was significantly lower than the normal samples in LGG. Low expression of CKMT1B predicts a worse prognosis. Multivariate Cox analyses revealed that CKMT1B might be an independent favorable prognostic indicator. TIMER analysis revealed that CKMT1B expression level was related to immune infiltration. CIBERSORT analysis showed that CKMT1B expression was positively related to the infiltration level of activated mast cells and negatively related to macrophage M2 in LGG. Moreover, GESA showed that multiple cancer-related and immune-related gene sets were enriched in the low-CKMT1B group in the top 5 of the most significant differences.

Conclusion

CKMT1B is a prognostic biomarker with potential applications and associated with immune infiltration in Lower-grade glioma.
Association of high-risk neuroblastoma classification based on expression profiles with differentiation and metabolism
Authors: Kimura Shunsuke , Sekiguchi Masahiro , Watanabe Kentaro , Hiwatarai Mitsuteru , Seki Masafumi , Yoshida Kenichi , Isobe Tomoya , Shiozawa Yusuke , Suzuki Hiromichi , Hoshino Noriko , Hayashi Yasuhide , Oka Akira , Miyano Satoru , Ogawa Seishi , Takita Junko
Published: January 2021

Neuroblastoma, the most common extracranial solid malignancy among children, originates from undifferentiated neural crest cells (NCC). Despite recent intensified treatment, high-risk patients still have a high mortality rate. To explore a new therapeutic strategy, we performed an integrated genomic and transcriptomic analysis of 30 high-risk neuroblastoma cases. Based on the expression profiling of RNA sequencing, neuroblastoma was classified into Mesenchymal (MES; n = 5) and Noradrenergic (ADRN; n = 25) clusters, as previously reported in the super-enhancer landscape. The expression patterns in MES-cluster cases were similar to normal adrenal glands, with enrichment in secretion-related pathways, suggesting chromaffin cell-like features built from NCC-derived Schwann cell precursors (SCPs). In contrast, neuron-related pathways were enriched in the ADRN-cluster, indicating sympathoblast features reported to originate from NCC but not via SCPs. Thus, MES- and ADRN-clusters were assumed to be corresponding to differentiation pathways through SCP and sympathoblast, respectively. ADRN-cluster cases were further classified into MYCN- and ATRX-clusters, characterized by genetic alterations, MYCN amplifications and ATRX alterations, respectively. MYCN-cluster cases showed high expression of ALDH18A1, encoding P5CS related to proline production. As reported in other cancers, this might cause reprogramming of proline metabolism leading to tumor specific proline vulnerability candidate for a target therapy of metabolic pathway. In ATRX-cluster, SLC18A2 (VMAT2), an enzyme known to prevent cell toxicity due to the oxidation of dopamine, was highly expressed and VMAT2 inhibitor (GZ-793A) represented significant attenuation of cell growth in NB-69 cell line (high SLC18A2 expression, no MYCN amplification) but not in IMR-32 cell line (MYCN amplification). In addition, the correlation of VMAT2 expression with metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) avidity suggested a combination of VMAT2 inhibitor and MIBG radiation for a novel potential therapeutic strategy in ATRX-cluster cases. Thus, targeting the characteristics of unique neuroblastomas may prospectively improve prognosis.
Changes in cardiovascular parameters in rats exposed to chronic widespread mechanical allodynia induced by hind limb cast immobilization
Authors: Yoshimoto Takahiko , Sakurai Hiroki , Ohmichi Yusuke , Ohmichi Mika , Morimoto Atsuko , Ushida Takahiro , Sato Jun
Published: January 2021

To elucidate the relationship between chronic pain conditions with cast immobilization and autonomic function, we investigated the functional changes of the autonomic nervous system in conscious rats with chronic post-cast pain (CPCP) induced by a two-week cast immobilization of one hind limb. We telemetrically examined the time courses of systolic arterial blood pressure (SBP), heart rate (HR), and the middle-frequency (MF) component obtained from the power spectral analysis of SBP variability as a vasomotor sympathetic index. We also investigated the baroreflex sensitivity to phentolamine, an α-adrenoceptor antagonist, and the SBP and HR responses to a low ambient temperature (LT; 9.0 ± 0.2°C) exposure, a sympathetic stimulant. Rats exposed to cast immobilization exhibited mechanical allodynia lasting for at least 10 weeks after cast removal in the calf area (skin and muscle) of the bilateral hind limbs. Under resting conditions, the SBP, HR, and MF components were significantly increased during cast immobilization (all p < 0.001). Following cast removal, these parameters gradually decreased and within 1 week reached lower than baseline levels, lasting for over 10 weeks. Phentolamine administration (10 mg/kg, intraperitoneally) significantly decreased the SBP before and during cast immobilization (before, p < 0.001; during, p = 0.001) but did not lower the SBP after cast removal. The baroreflex gain after phentolamine administration, calculated as the HR increase divided by the SBP reduction, was significantly increased after cast removal (p = 0.002). The SBP increase on LT exposure was significantly greater after cast removal than that before cast immobilization, suggesting hypersensitivity to sympathetic neurotransmitters. These results revealed that, in the CPCP model, sympathetic activation was augmented during cast immobilization, which then decreased after cast removal and remained below normal levels with persisting pain behaviors. Additionally, the responsiveness of the autonomic nervous system was impaired in the CPCP model.
An integrated study discloses chopping tools use from Late Acheulean Revadim (Israel)
Authors: Venditti Flavia , Agam Aviad , Tirillò Jacopo , Nunziante-Cesaro Stella , Barkai Ran
Published: January 2021

Chopping tools/choppers provide one of the earliest and most persistent examples of stone tools produced and used by early humans. These artifacts appeared for the first time ~2.5 million years ago in Africa and are characteristic of the Oldowan and Acheulean cultural complexes throughout the Old World. Chopping tools were manufactured and used by early humans for more than two million years regardless of differences in geography, climate, resource availability, or major transformations in human cultural and biological evolution. Despite their widespread distribution through time and space in Africa and Eurasia, little attention has been paid to the function of these items, while scholars still debate whether they are tools or cores. In this paper, we wish to draw attention to these prominent and ubiquitous early lithic artifacts through the investigation of 53 chopping tools retrieved from a specific context at Late Acheulean Revadim (Israel). We combined typo-technological and functional studies with a residue analysis aimed at shedding light on their functional role within the tool-kits of the inhabitants of the site. Here we show that most of the chopping tools were used to chop hard and medium materials, such as bone, most probably for marrow extraction. A few of the tools were also used for cutting and scraping activities, while some also served as cores for further flake detachment. The chopping tools exhibit extraordinarily well-preserved bone residues suggesting they were used mainly for bone-breaking and marrow acquisition. We discuss the data and explore the tool versus core debate also in light of a sample of 50 flake cores made on pebbles/cobbles retrieved from the same archeological layer. The results add further pieces to the puzzle of activities carried out at Revadim and add to our knowledge of the production and use of these enigmatic tools and their role in human evolutionary history.
Extensive proteomic and transcriptomic changes quench the TCR/CD3 activation signal of latently HIV-1 infected T cells
Authors: Carlin Eric , Greer Braxton , Lowman Kelsey , Duverger Alexandra , Wagner Frederic , Moylan David , Dalecki Alexander , Samuel Shekwonya , Perez Mildred , Sabbaj Steffanie , Kutsch Olaf
Published: January 2021

The biomolecular mechanisms controlling latent HIV-1 infection, despite their importance for the development of a cure for HIV-1 infection, are only partially understood. For example,ex vivostudies have recently shown that T cell activation only triggered HIV-1 reactivation in a fraction of the latently infected CD4+ T cell reservoir, but the molecular biology of this phenomenon is unclear. We demonstrate that HIV-1 infection of primary T cells and T cell lines indeed generates a substantial amount of T cell receptor (TCR)/CD3 activation-inert latently infected T cells. RNA-level analysis identified extensive transcriptomic differences between uninfected, TCR/CD3 activation-responsive and -inert T cells, but did not reveal a gene expression signature that could functionally explain TCR/CD3 signaling inertness. Network analysis suggested a largely stochastic nature of these gene expression changes (transcriptomic noise), raising the possibility that widespread gene dysregulation could provide a reactivation threshold by impairing overall signal transduction efficacy. Indeed, compounds that are known to induce genetic noise, such as HDAC inhibitors impeded the ability of TCR/CD3 activation to trigger HIV-1 reactivation. Unlike for transcriptomic data, pathway enrichment analysis based on phospho-proteomic data directly identified an altered TCR signaling motif. Network analysis of this data set identified drug targets that would promote TCR/CD3-mediated HIV-1 reactivation in the fraction of otherwise TCR/CD3-reactivation inert latently HIV-1 infected T cells, regardless of whether the latency models were based on T cell lines or primary T cells. The data emphasize that latent HIV-1 infection is largely the result of extensive, stable biomolecular changes to the signaling network of the host T cells harboring latent HIV-1 infection events. In extension, the data imply that therapeutic restoration of host cell responsiveness prior to the use of any activating stimulus will likely have to be an element of future HIV-1 cure therapies.
Virtual groups: An analysis of new forms of connection
Authors: Smith Elijah
Published: January 2021

In this probe, I seek to analyse the characteristics and tendencies of virtual groups, which I define as any group of people that are connected in a decentralized and persistent manner, via the internet or cellular networks. By analysing two dimensions that shape virtual groups – their size and their velocity of communication – we can understand some intrinsic environments that are formed, by nature of the medium itself. The velocity of a platform can be understood as how quickly ideas are transferred and a response is expected – consider reading a forum post versus participating in a video chat. Slow-velocity mediums, by nature of the eye, tend to promote an individualistic view and refined thoughts. High-velocity mediums, corresponding to the ear and occurring in real time, promote more unity and collective views. The second dimension (the size or openness of a platform) is determined both by how many members are in the group, but also by how access is controlled. Small and private groups, like a close-knit tribe, function as a whole and promote familial harmony. Large or public groups struggle to maintain a collective vision but benefit from a wide variety of view points. By analysing these dimensions together and looking at specific examples, we can strive to understand deep-seated issues within virtual groups and make predictions for what the future of decentralized gatherings will look like.
Slow Media: Why Slow Is Satisfying, Sustainable, and Smart, Jennifer Rauch (2018)
Authors: Mullan Margaret M.
Published: January 2021

Review of: Slow Media: Why Slow Is Satisfying, Sustainable, and Smart, Jennifer Rauch (2018)

New York: Oxford University Press, 208 pp.,

ISBN 978-0-19064-1-795, p/bk, $34.95
Civic media and technologies of belonging: Where digital citizenship and ‘the right to the city’ converge
Authors: Alevizou Giota
Published: January 2021

This article contributes to an emerging field of ‘urban communication’ research and its intersections with civic culture and digital citizenship. It does so by presenting a case study of how an activist group in North London’s Tottenham region co-designed bespoke digital media platforms, akin to civic media, to advocate an approach to urban planning that also recognizes migrants’ rights. Conducted as a part of a broader participatory action research project, the study outlined here offers an analysis of the online and offline communicative routes taken, the urban rights enacted and the visions expressed during an eight-week consultation period. Drawing on both quantitative and qualitative metrics from the official and alternative digital platforms inviting consultation around the community-led planning application, the article offers insights about the co-construction of space, and the effect that the particular site had in unearthing wider enactments of ‘the right to the city’ and affective belonging, alongside struggles against threats of displacement. By offering these insights, the study contributes to a better understanding of the digital mediation of belonging through space/place and what this means for urban citizenship. Looking beyond processes of urban planning, this understanding seeks to contribute to wider debates of urban citizenship, often expressed at the intersection of urban rights, digital citizenship and virtual reality.
Struggling for legitimate meaning: Agent–structure dynamics in German filmmaking
Authors: Wiedemann Thomas
Published: January 2021

Given the state sponsorship of film production in Germany, this article examines general mechanisms in the formation of meaning in German filmmaking. With reference to Schimank’s framework of agent–structure dynamics and based on a constructivist understanding of the world, the results of 97 expert interviews with screenwriters, directors, producers, distributors, cinema theatre operators, funding representatives and public television editors, as well as document analyses, show that the medium’s construction of reality is anything but unconditioned. On the contrary, due to the fundamental role of film funding and public television in the agent constellations intertwined with social structures that shape the film production process in Germany, the medium’s key communicators are confronted with expectations that go far beyond economic parameters. More precisely, the article reveals that German filmmaking reflects a political dimension, and expresses hierarchies and constraints that prompt struggles for legitimate meaning and challenge any autonomous practice in the field.
The economic drivers of media clusters
Authors: Komorowski Marlen , Fodor Máté Miklós
Published: January 2021

There is no consensus in the literature about how successful media clusters can be developed. Using insights from workshops and survey data, this study develops and tests a new model that explains why media activities agglomerate at certain places. The model consists of four economic drivers: urbanization, localization, agglomeration and perception economies. The findings emphasize that a one-size-fits-all policy regarding media cluster development is best avoided, due to the high levels of heterogeneity in the conditions for success.
Poetas inesperados: los versos de Juan Alfonso de Zamora y Fernando Díaz de Toledo en los paratextos de la primera traducción castellana de Valerio Máximo
Authors: Avenoza Gemma
Published: January 2021

En este artículo se estudian y editan unos versos correspondientes al género de las Preguntas y respuestas, obra de dos personajes activos en la época de Juan II y vinculados a las cortes de Castilla y Aragón: Juan Alfonso de Zamora, secretario del rey de Castilla, y Fernando Díaz de Toledo, arcediano de Niebla. El poema no entró en ninguno de los cancioneros y podría entenderse como una poesía de circunstancias sin mayor interés. Ahora bien, leyéndolo junto con el prólogo al que acompaña ―el de la primera traducción castellana de los Facta et dicta memoriabilia de Valerio Máximo― y en el marco de la peripecia vital de Juan Alfonso de Zamora y de Fernando Díaz de Toledo se llena de significado y pone de manifiesto que sus autores, de los que no se documenta ninguna otra actividad poética, participaban de los ejercicios poéticos cortesanos y conocían perfectamente los recursos métricos, retóricos y estéticos de aquella poesía, dando entrada además, alguna broma relacionada con descendientes de conversos.
Letras de justadores y categorías del amor poético en la Tercera parte del espejo de príncipes y cavalleros
Authors: Campos García Rojas Axayácatl
Published: January 2021

En este artículo están reunidas y analizadas todas las letras de justadores que Marcos Martínez incorporó a su libro de caballerías Tercera parte del espejo de príncipes y cavalleros (1588). Se han clasificado en diez categorías que definen el amor poético y cortesano. El estudio de estos poemas se hace en el contexto argumental de la obra, pues se identifica para cada uno de ellos tres niveles de significado: un nivel narrativo o argumental, un nivel plástico-alegórico, que se refiere a la descripción de las armas y la divisa de los caballeros que las portan, y un nivel poético donde la letra misma completa el sentido que se desea expresar respecto a los sentimientos de los personajes o de la situación narrada en el episodio. Además del análisis, se ofrece un catálogo de las letras.
Validation of real-time polymerase chain reaction versus conventional polymerase chain reaction for diagnosis of brucellosis in cattle sera
Authors: Abdel-Hamid Nour H. , Beleta Eman I. M. , Kelany Mohamed A. , Ismail Rania I. , Shalaby Nadia A. , Khafagi Manal H. M.
Published: January 2021

Background and Aim: Different polymerase chain reaction (PCR) techniques have and are still being used for the direct detection of Brucella DNA in serum samples of different animal species and humans without being validated or properly validated, resulting in discrepancies. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic performance of the TaqMan Real- Time-PCR (RT-PCR) targeting the bcsp31 gene versus conventional PCR for the accurate diagnosis of brucellosis at the genus level in cattle sera.

Materials and Methods: One hundred and eighty-four serum samples were collected from bacteriologically positive and negative cows with ages ranging from 1 to 5 years old at some infected private farms in the Nile Delta under quarantine measures as well as brucellosis free farms. These samples were classified into four groups after serological diagnosis and investigated by TaqMan RT-PCR and conventional PCR targeting the IS711 gene for Brucella DNA detection. The diagnostic performance characteristics of both PCR techniques were estimated considering the bacteriological results as a gold standard.

Results: TaqMan RT-PCR revealed superiority over conventional PCR; it was able to detect Brucella DNA in 95% (67/70) and 89% (25/28) of the cattle sera samples belonging to Group 1 (serologically and bacteriologically positive) and Group 2 (serologically negative but bacteriologically positive), respectively. On evaluating the diagnostic performance, TaqMan RT-PCR showed superior diagnostic sensitivity (93.9%), diagnostic specificity (88.4%), performance index (182.3), almost perfect kappa agreement (0.825±0.042), strong positive correlation (r=0.826), high accuracy based on the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, and area under the ROC curve (0.911) at p<0.05 and CI of 95%.

Conclusion: A cattle serum sample is not the metric of choice for targeting Brucella genomic DNA by conventional PCR. The time-saving and rapid TaqMan RT-PCR method revealed a better diagnostic performance in the detection of Brucella DNA in cattle sera. Such performance offered by TaqMan RT-PCR may be considered a step toward the possibility of using such technology in the direct differentiation between Brucella-infected and -vaccinated cattle immunized by smooth vaccines from cattle sera using primers specific for such vaccines.
The spatial current structure in the Indonesian Seas in November 2014, during The Expedition of Widya Nusantara (EWIN)
Authors: Purwandana Adi , Surinati Dewi , Bayhaqi Ahmad , Azis Ismail Mochamad Furqon , Iskandar Mochamad Riza , Corvianawatie Corry , Budiman Asep Sandra , Edikusmanto Edikusmanto , Irianto Djatmiko , Muhadjirin Muhadjirin
Published: January 2021

The spatial current patterns in the Indonesian seas were mapped based on a wide range of snapshot observations during the Expedition of Widya Nusantara (EWIN 2014) Leg 1 in November 2014. The current profiles were measured using the Shipboard Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (SADCP) of the RV Baruna Jaya VIII. This study is aimed to reveal the current system in the Indonesian seas from observation. Remarkable current patterns of the Indonesian throughflow (ITF) were observed penetrating via the Mindanao Strait, southern Makassar Strait, and Lifamatola Passage, including its recirculation in the northern Maluku Sea and in the Sulawesi Sea. These results suggested that during the late Southeast Monsoon (SEM), the upper layer ITF is still significantly penetrating the Indonesian seas. The indication of anticyclonic and cyclonic circulations in the upper 50 m and lower 75 m, respectively, was also observed in the western Banda Sea
Transboundary debris in Indonesian frontier and outermost island: A preliminary case study of Nipah Island
Authors: Cordova Muhammad Reza , Purbonegoro Triyoni , Puspitasari Rachma , Subandi Riyana , Kaisupy Muhammad Taufik , Wibowo Singgih Prasetyo Adi , Nurjamin Nurjamin , Suparmo Suparmo , Sapulete Serly
Published: January 2021

Anthropogenic debris in marine pollution is one of the significant environmental problems. The objective of the research was focused on the abundance and the distribution of debris found on Nipah Island,Riau Island Province, which was surveyed at ten sampling points, as a preliminary monitoring. Abundance and distribution were estimated with line transect of 50m x 3m. Debris items were categorized by the type of material from the NOAA Marine Debris Program. The abundance and weight calculated each of the types, and simple identification of country supplier also determined from the labels of the plastic.  The result showed the average debris abundance of 7.05±6.71 items/m2 and an average weight of 1.67±3.98 kg/m2. The most debris abundance found in every station were plastic (single-use plastic bottle/cup), lumber, metal, and glass. Stranded lumber was the dominant weighted samples, followed by plastic debris. Approximately 51.60% of total plastic (food wrappers) with identifiable labels were from Malaysia (24.26%), Indonesia (23.68%), Singapore (2.33%), and elsewhere (1.33%). In order to manage transboundary debris, science is the primary point to obtain proper alternative handling. In order to make successful marine pollution prevention, it is necessary to have a good education and outreach program, a reliable system of law and policy, and law enforcement to the government and private sector.
Francis Bacon: De sapientia veterum – A régiek bölcsességéről (részletek)
Authors: Petneházi Gábor
Published: January 2021

Bacon allegórikus mítoszmagyarázatokat tartalmazó műve a 17. század egyik bestsellere volt, magyar fordítása mindeddig nem jelent meg. A rövid szövegek esszenciálisan tartalmazzák mindazt, amit Bacon a természet- és morálfilozófiáról, az ismeretelméletről, vagy általában a tudomány feladatáról és funkciójáról vallott és gondolt.
Átjárók az Olymposra
Authors: Pataki Elvira
Published: January 2021

S. A. Brown 2017-es, az angolszász YA fantasy aktuális trendjeit vizsgáló tanulmányában meglepő, új jelenségként hívja fel a figyelmet a görög és római mitológia egyre jelentősebb térvesztésére. Állítása szerint a klasszikus antikvitás háttérbe szorulása, az ókori világ inspiratív erejének fogyatkozása pszichológiai és kulturális okokra vezethető vissza. Az olymposi istenek nagyfokú kegyetlensége, önzése, felelőtlensége lényegében a szülői tekintély sajátos megnyilvánulásaként értelmezhető, amely ellen természetszerűleg lázad az ifjú olvasó. Másrészt, a hagyományos európai oktatásban századokon át vezető szerepet játszó antik mítosz iskolai felülreprezentáltsága miatt mára kiüresedett, unalmassá vált. A jelen munka kettős megközelítésben tárgyalja újra Brown felvetéseit. A tanulmány első része vázlatos műfajtörténeti áttekintésben kíván rávilágítani a görög irodalom, mindenekelőtt a hellénizmus gyerekábrázolásának azon vonásaira, amelyek előképül szolgálhatnak a modern fantasy mitológiában kalandozó hősökről szóló elbeszéléseihez. A vizsgálat második része két, közelmúltban megjelent magyar fantasy-trilógia (Szakács Eszter: Grifflovasok; Bessenyei Gábor: A jövő harcosai) elemzésével kívánja bemutatni a görög-római ókor kultúrájára épülő regények narratív lehetőségeit és sajátos esztétikáját.
SOME APPROACHES TO THE CALCULATING OF THE URBAN ENVIRONMENT QUALITY INDEX
Authors: Koroleva E.N. , Mishchenko Val. V.
Published: January 2021

The article is devoted to the method of calculating the urban environment quality index on the territory of the Russian Federation. The authors reviewed the existing methodology for calculating the urban environment quality index of cities, and made a comparative analysis of statistical data and sample research materials on this issue. As a result, some discrepancies were found in the calculation of the following indicators: “the share of green areas”, “attractiveness of green areas”, “variety of services in green areas”. The article proposes a method for calculating the indicator: “the share of green areas” and a model for adjusting the following indicators: “attractiveness of green areas”, “variety of services in green areas”. Application of this method and adjustment of indicators will not only lead to changes in the calculation of the urban environment quality index for the city of Barnaul and for other cities of the Russian Federation, but will also allow to “qualitatively” evaluate Russian cities by the level of improvement and comfort of living of residents. Thus, Federal authorities will be able to provide targeted assistance to municipalities in areas where there is an urgent need.