bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Does RE still matter?
Authors: Orchard Janet
Published: October 2020

The role which subject Religious Education (RE) plays in promoting religious literacy matters in my view, acknowledging that I am biased in my judgement, as my professional raison d’etre, thus livelihood, rests on it continuing. However, others similarly are biased, whether from a specific moral and religious or ideological perspective or their academic positioning. Given whether subject RE exists in schools, or not, is a normative affair. I re-visit an established philosophical discussion of possible justifiable aims for compulsory RE in schools considering these reasons in turn, with particular reference to the RE curriculum in England and South Africa. Resisting the urge to identify one over-riding aim for RE, for reasons I explain, I suggest all three of these potentially justifiable reasons can be seen to inter-relate and reflect on whether they might be re-considered more broadly and used to strengthen more recent theoretical work concerned with studying religion in inter-disciplinary ways which promote religious and related ‘literacies’? On the understanding of RE I seek to develop, the implications for teacher education and continuing professional development would be significant but worthwhile, I conclude, if RE is to be promoted as an entitlement which is taught well and adequately resourced to contribute to the flourishing of many children and young people.
Challenges and Development of Tin-Based Anode with High Volumetric Capacity for Li-Ion Batteries
Authors: Xin Fengxia , Whittingham M. Stanley
Published: October 2020

The ever-increasing energy density needs for the mass deployment of electric vehicles bring challenges to batteries. Graphitic carbon must be replaced with a higher-capacity material for any significant advancement in the energy storage capability. Sn-based materials are strong candidates as the anode for the next-generation lithium-ion batteries due to their higher volumetric capacity and relatively low working potential. However, the volume change of Sn upon the Li insertion and extraction process results in a rapid deterioration in the capacity on cycling. Substantial effort has been made in the development of Sn-based materials. A SnCo alloy has been used, but is not economically viable. To minimize the use of Co, a series of Sn–Fe–C, SnyFe, Sn–C composites with excellent capacity retention and rate capability has been investigated. They show the proof of principle that alloys can achieve Coulombic efficiency of over 99.95% after the first few cycles. However, the initial Coulombic efficiency needs improvement. The development and application of tin-based materials in LIBs also provide useful guidelines for sodium-ion batteries, potassium-ion batteries, magnesium-ion batteries and calcium-ion batteries.

Graphic Abstract
Methodology for the in situ testing of the moisture content of brick walls: an example of application
Authors: Hoła Anna
Published: October 2020

The article presents original methodology of testing the moisture content of brick walls in buildings. It was developed on the basis of own experience acquired during testing the moisture content in many excessively wet buildings erected in various historical periods. The tests were conducted using different methods, including non-destructive methods. To emphasize the importance of the problem, an overview of the methodology was preceded by a brief presentation of the causes and negative effects of excessive moisture and salinity in brick walls. In addition, the article is illustrated with an example of the effects of moisture content tests carried out according to the developed methodology on a facility from the fourteenth century. According to the author, knowledge of the presented methodology, and its application, should contribute to both the improvement of the quality of conducted research and the credibility of the obtained results.
Desire for Parenthood and Associated Trends in Czech Lesbian Women
Authors: Turcan Pavel , Prochazka Martin , Pokorny Pavel , Kvintova Jana , Sigmund Martin , Juraskova Eva Sedlata
Published: October 2020

Introduction

Worldwide, there are more lesbians who chose to have children in the context of a same-sex relationship than ever before. The Czech studies focusing on this issue, including the analysis of methods of conception, are limited.

Aim

We aimed to examine the changes over time in the desire of Czech lesbian women for children and to analyze their chosen methods of conception.

Methods

We analyzed retrospectively the personal history of lesbian patients who visited our clinic in the period from 2009 to 2017. Our sample (n = 318) was divided into 2 groups: Group A – our patients between 2009 and 2013, whereas group B comprised our patients from 2013 to 2017.

Main outcome measures

The outcome of this study is comparing groups A and B, regarding factors associated to parenthood, such as desire to have a child and preferences in methods of conception.

Results

We compared group A and group B and obtained the following results: The percentage of homosexual women who did not desire to have a child decreased (22.5% vs 15.6%). Regarding the changes in the preferences in methods of conception among group A and group B, the findings are as follows: a child from a previous relationship (31.2% vs 27.4%), clinically assisted reproduction with an anonymous donor (19.6% vs 30.1%), home intrauterine insemmination with a known donor (24.6% vs 19.2%), clinically assisted reproduction with a known donor (13.1% vs 9.6%), coitus outside the relationship for the purpose of a child conception (9.8% vs 5.5%), home intrauterine insemmination by sperm from an anonymous donor (1.6% vs 4.1%), assisted reproduction performed abroad was selected only in group B (2.7%).

Conclusions

We confirm that the percentage of Czech lesbians who have a child or want to have a child has increased and that several variables regarding the desire for parenthood in the Czech lesbian community are changing over time (eg, methods of conception) mostly in concordance with other Western European countries.

Turcan P, Prochazka M, Prochazka P, et al. Desire for Parenthood and Associated Trends in Czech Lesbian Women. Sex Med 2020;8:650–659.
How Racial Injustice Undermines News Sources and News-Based Inferences
Authors: Bayruns García Eric
Published: October 2020

I argue racial injustice undermines the reliability of news source reports in the information domain of racial injustice. I argue that this in turn undermines subjects’ doxastic justification in inferences they base on these news sources in the racial injustice information domain. I explain that racial injustice does this undermining through the effect of racial prejudice on news organizations’ members and the effect of society's racially unjust structure on non-dominant racial group-controlled news sources.
Characteristics of ice rises and ice rumples in Dronning Maud Land and Enderby Land, Antarctica
Authors: Goel Vikram , Matsuoka Kenichi , Berger Cesar Deschamps , Lee Ian , Dall Jørgen , Forsberg René
Published: October 2020

Ice rises and rumples, locally grounded features adjacent to ice shelves, are relatively small yet play significant roles in Antarctic ice dynamics. Their roles generally depend upon their location within the ice shelf and the stage of the ice-sheet retreat or advance. Large, long-stable ice rises can be excellent sites for deep ice coring and paleoclimate study of the Antarctic coast and the Southern Ocean, while small ice rises tend to respond more promptly and can be used to reveal recent changes in regional mass balance. The coasts of Dronning Maud Land (DML) and Enderby Land in East Antarctica are abundant with these features. Here we review existing knowledge, presenting an up-to-date status of research in these regions with focus on ice rises and rumples. We use regional datasets (satellite imagery, surface mass balance and ice thickness) to analyze the extent and surface morphology of ice shelves and characteristic timescales of ice rises. We find that large parts of DML have been changing over the past several millennia. Based on our findings, we highlight ice rises suitable for drilling ice cores for paleoclimate studies as well as ice rises suitable for deciphering ice dynamics and evolution in the region.
Caregiver Burden and Relationship Satisfaction in ASD-NT Relationships
Authors: Millar-Powell Naomi , Warburton Wayne A.
Published: October 2020

While some people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are unable to live independent lives, others can, and they often develop romantic relationships. Couplings where one partner has ASD and the other does not (ASD-neurotypical [NT] relationships) were the focus of this mixed-methods study. Relationship satisfaction was lower among NT participants than those with ASD. Caregiver burden was comparatively high and negatively related to relationship satisfaction. Key themes identified in the qualitative analysis include caregiver burden, loneliness, and self-care within ASD-NT relationships. These findings have clinical implications for helping professionals and people engaged in ASD-NT relationships, and highlight the need for support to assist these couplings maintain satisfying relationships.
Advancing the physics basis for quasi-helically symmetric stellarators
Authors: Bader A. , Faber B. J. , Schmitt J. C. , Anderson D. T. , Drevlak M. , Duff J. M. , Frerichs H. , Hegna C. C. , Kruger T. G. , Landreman M. , McKinney I. J. , Singh L. , Schroeder J. M. , Terry P. W. , Ware A. S.
Published: October 2020

A new optimized quasi-helically symmetric configuration is described that has the desirable properties of improved energetic particle confinement, reduced turbulent transport by three-dimensional shaping and non-resonant divertor capabilities. The configuration presented in this paper is explicitly optimized for quasi-helical symmetry, energetic particle confinement, neoclassical confinement and stability near the axis. Post optimization, the configuration was evaluated for its performance with regard to energetic particle transport, ideal magnetohydrodynamic stability at various values of plasma pressure and ion temperature gradient instability induced turbulent transport. The effects of discrete coils on various confinement figures of merit, including energetic particle confinement, are determined by generating single-filament coils for the configuration. Preliminary divertor analysis shows that coils can be created that do not interfere with expansion of the vessel volume near the regions of outgoing heat flux, thus demonstrating the possibility of operating a non-resonant divertor.
Information, Privacy, and Just War Theory
Authors: McDonald Jack
Published: October 2020

Are the sources of a combatant's knowledge in war morally relevant? This article argues that privacy is relevant to just war theory in that it draws attention to privacy harms associated with the conduct of war. Since we cannot assume that information is made available to combatants in a morally neutral manner, we must therefore interrogate the relationship between privacy harms and the acts that they enable in war. Here, I argue that there is ample evidence that we cannot discount the analysis of privacy harms in war, and that analysis of such harms requires us to examine social goods. I develop this point to demonstrate the problems that this poses for aspects of revisionist just war theory; namely, reductivism and individualism. In order to evaluate the moral consequences of privacy harms in war, we must understand the unilateral and adversarial character of balancing privacy harms against social goods in the context of war, which, in turn, requires that we consider social goods and social institutions as objects of moral evaluation. Further, concepts drawn from privacy scholarship, such as Helen Nissenbaum's concept of contextual integrity, enable us to identify a range of moral problems associated with contemporary war that deserve further attention from just war theorists.
CURB-65 may serve as a useful prognostic marker in COVID-19 patients within Wuhan, China: a retrospective cohort study
Authors: Guo Jun , Zhou Boda , Zhu Mengen , Yuan Yifang , Wang Qian , Zhou Hua , Wang Xiaohui , Lv Tingting , Li Siyuan , Liu Peng , Yang Ying , He Ping , Zhang Ping
Published: October 2020

A recently developed pneumonia caused by SARS-CoV-2 has quickly spread across the world. Unfortunately, a simplified risk score that could easily be used in primary care or general practice settings has not been developed. The objective of this study is to identify a simplified risk score that could easily be used to quickly triage severe COVID-19 patients. All severe and critical adult patients with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 on the West campus of Union Hospital, Wuhan, China, from 28 January 2020 to 29 February 2020 were included in this study. Clinical data and laboratory results were obtained. CURB-65 pneumonia score was calculated. Univariate logistic regressions were applied to explore risk factors associated with in-hospital death. We used the receiver operating characteristic curve and multivariate COX-PH model to analyse risk factors for in-hospital death. A total of 74 patients (31 died, 43 survived) were finally included in the study. We observed that compared with survivors, non-survivors were older and illustrated higher respiratory rate, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, D-dimer and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), but lower SpO2 as well as impaired liver function, especially synthesis function. CURB-65 showed good performance for predicting in-hospital death (area under curve 0.81, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.71–0.91). CURB-65 ⩾ 2 may serve as a cut-off value for prediction of in-hospital death in severe patients with COVID-19 (sensitivity 68%, specificity 81%, F1 score 0.7). CURB-65 (hazard ratio (HR) 1.61; 95% CI 1.05–2.46), LDH (HR 1.003; 95% CI 1.001–1.004) and albumin (HR 0.9; 95% CI 0.81–1) were risk factors for in-hospital death in severe patients with COVID-19. Our study indicates CURB-65 may serve as a useful prognostic marker in COVID-19 patients, which could be used to quickly triage severe patients in primary care or general practice settings.
Pilot of a novel theoretically derived intervention for cancer-related anxiety with patients with advanced or recurred disease
Authors: Curran Leah , Sharpe Louise , Butow Phyllis
Published: October 2020

Background:

Treatments for cancer-related anxiety show modest benefits, but most have been trialled in patients with early stage disease or patients who are currently disease free. However, many patients with cancer have incurable disease, or their disease is slowly progressing or likely to recur. Treating anxiety in the context of realistic threat and ongoing uncertainty is particularly challenging. Based on a theoretical model of cancer-related anxiety, we developed a transdiagnostic intervention for patients with advanced or recurred disease who are experiencing clinically significant anxieties. The intervention was a novel integration of traditional and contemporary CBT.

Aims:

To evaluate the feasibility, acceptability and preliminary efficacy of the intervention in a pilot with patients with advanced or recurred cancer.

Method:

Twelve patients with advanced or recurred cancer, who were experiencing anxiety, participated. Feasibility and acceptability were assessed with participant’s ratings and adherence and retention rates. Psychological outcomes (anxiety, traumatic symptoms, fear of progression, depression, death anxiety and quality of life) were assessed pre-intervention, post-intervention and at 2-month follow-up.

Results:

Eleven of the 12 participants completed at least five therapy sessions of whom eight completed all nine sessions. Participants rated the intervention as having excellent face validity. Post-intervention, statistically significant improvements were demonstrated for anxiety, traumatic symptoms, fear of progression, depression and quality of life. These improvements were maintained at follow-up for anxiety, traumatic symptoms and depression.

Conclusions:

This pilot provides preliminary evidence for the feasibility, acceptability and effectiveness of the novel intervention for cancer-related anxiety in the context of advanced disease.
‘Men are not playing their roles’, maternal and child nutrition in Nanoro, Burkina Faso
Authors: Compaoré Adélaïde , Ouedraogo Kadija , Boua Palwende R , Watson Daniella , Kehoe Sarah H , Newell Marie-Louise , Tinto Halidou , Barker Mary , Sorgho Hermann ,   for the INPreP group
Published: October 2020

Objective:

To collect context-specific insights into maternal and child health and nutrition issues, and to explore potential solutions in Nanoro, Burkina Faso.

Design:

Eleven focus groups with men and women from eleven communities, facilitated by local researchers.

Setting:

The study took place in the Nanoro Health district, in the West-Central part of Burkina Faso.

Participants:

Eighty-six men (18–55 years) and women by age group: 18–25; 26–34 and 35–55 years, participated in the group discussions.

Results:

Participants described barriers to optimal nutrition of mothers and children related to a range of community factors, with gender inequality as central. Major themes in the discussions are related to poverty and challenges generated by socially and culturally determined gender roles. Sub-themes are women lacking access to food whilst pregnant and having limited access to health care and opportunities to generate income. Although communities believe that food donations should be implemented to overcome this, they also pointed out the need for enhancing their own food production, requiring improved agricultural technologies. Given the important role that women could play in reducing malnutrition, these communities felt they needed to be empowered to do so and supported by men. They also felt that this had to be carried out in the context of an enhanced health care system.

Conclusions:

Findings reported here highlight the importance of nutrition-sensitive interventions and women’s empowerment in improving maternal and child nutrition. There is a need to integrate a sustainable multi-sectorial approach which goes beyond food support.
Systematic framework for performance evaluation of exoskeleton actuators
Authors: Di Natali Christian , Toxiri Stefano , Ioakeimidis Stefanos , Caldwell Darwin G. , Ortiz Jesús
Published: October 2020

Wearable devices, such as exoskeletons, are becoming increasingly common and are being used mainly for improving motility and daily life autonomy, rehabilitation purposes, and as industrial aids. There are many variables that must be optimized to create an efficient, smoothly operating device. The selection of a suitable actuator is one of these variables, and the actuators are usually sized after studying the kinematic and dynamic characteristics of the target task, combining information from motion tracking, inverse dynamics, and force plates. While this may be a good method for approximate sizing of actuators, a more detailed approach is necessary to fully understand actuator performance, control algorithms or sensing strategies, and their impact on weight, dynamic performance, energy consumption, complexity, and cost. This work describes a learning-based evaluation method to provide this more detailed analysis of an actuation system for ourXoTrunkexoskeleton. The study includes: (a) a real-world experimental setup to gather kinematics and dynamics data; (b) simulation of the actuation system focusing on motor performance and control strategy; (c) experimental validation of the simulation; and (d) testing in real scenarios. This study creates a systematic framework to analyze actuator performance and control algorithms to improve operation in the real scenario by replicating the kinematics and dynamics of the human–robot interaction. Implementation of this approach shows substantial improvement in the task-related performance when applied on a back-support exoskeleton during a walking task.
More Gas Wells Linked to More Symptoms in Pennsylvania Residents
Authors: Waldron Patricia
Published: October 2020

Natural gas production has been booming in southwestern Pennsylvania, but it may also yield multiple health complaints, especially for residents surrounded by oil and gas facilities.
Ganymede‐Induced Decametric Radio Emission: In Situ Observations and Measurements by Juno
Authors: Louis C. K. , Louarn P. , Allegrini F. , Kurth W. S. , Szalay J. R.
Published: October 2020

At Jupiter, part of the auroral radio emissions are induced by the Galilean moons Io, Europa, and Ganymede. Until now, they have been remotely detected, using ground‐based radio telescopes or electric antennas aboard spacecraft. The polar trajectory of the Juno orbiter allows the spacecraft to cross the magnetic flux tubes connected to these moons, or their tail, and gives a direct measure of the characteristics of these decametric moon‐induced radio emissions. In this study, we focus on the detection of a radio emission during the crossing of magnetic field lines connected to Ganymede's tail. Using electromagnetic waves (Juno/Waves) and in situ electron measurements (Juno/JADE‐E), we estimate the radio source size of ∼250 km, a radio emission growth rate >3 × 10−4, a resonant electron population of energy
–15 keV and an emission beaming angle of θ = 76–83°, at a frequency ∼1.005–1.021 × fce. We also confirmed that radio emission is associated with Ganymede's downtail far ultraviolet emission.
Optical Spectra of Small‐Scale Sprite Features Observed at 10,000 fps
Authors: Stenbaek‐Nielsen H. C. , McHarg M. G. , Haaland R. , Luque A.
Published: October 2020

Spectra of small‐scale sprite structures, downward and upward propagating streamers, glow, and beads, were recorded with a slitless spectrograph at 10,000 frames per second (fps) from aircraft missions in 2009 and 2013. The spectra are dominated by emissions from molecular nitrogen, the first positive band in the red, and in the blue the second positive band plus the first negative band of molecular nitrogen ions. The excitation threshold for the blue emissions is higher than for the red emissions, so the blue/red ratio can, in principle, be used as a proxy for the electron energy leading to the emissions. We extracted for analysis time series of spectra from 11 sprites: 18 time series from downward propagating streamers, 6 from upward propagating streamers, 14 from glow, and 12 from beads. The total number of spectra in the 50 time series is 953. Blue emissions are almost exclusively associated with streamers indicating the more energetic nature of streamers compared with glow and beads. Both downward and upward propagating streamers start and end with low blue emissions indicating time variations in the associated processes. Because the red and blue nitrogen emissions are significantly affected by quenching, which is altitude dependent, and we do not have sufficiently accurate altitudes, the observed spectral blue/red ratios cannot be directly applied to sprite models.
Understanding the Extreme Spread in Climate Sensitivity within the Radiative‐Convective Equilibrium Model Intercomparison Project
Authors: Becker Tobias , Wing Allison A.
Published: October 2020

The Radiative‐Convective Equilibrium Model Intercomparison Project (RCEMIP) consists of simulations at three fixed sea‐surface temperatures (SSTs: 295, 300, and 305 K) and thus allows for a calculation of the climate feedback parameter based on the change of the top‐of‐atmosphere radiation imbalance. Climate feedback parameters range widely across RCEMIP, roughly from −6 to 3 W m−2 K−1, particularly across general‐circulation models (GCMs) as well as global and large‐domain cloud‐resolving models (CRMs). Small‐domain CRMs and large‐eddy simulations have a smaller range of climate feedback parameters due to the absence of convective self‐aggregation. More than 70–80% of the intermodel spread in the climate feedback parameter can be explained by the combined temperature dependencies of convective aggregation and shallow cloud fraction. Low climate sensitivities are associated with an increase of shallow cloud fraction (increasing the planetary albedo) and/or an increase in convective aggregation with warming. An increase in aggregation is associated with an increase in outgoing longwave radiation, caused primarily by mid‐tropospheric drying, and secondarily by an expansion of subsidence regions. Climate sensitivity is neither dependent on the average amount of aggregation nor on changes in deep/anvil cloud fraction. GCMs have a lower overall climate sensitivity than CRMs because in most GCMs convective aggregation increases with warming, whereas in CRMs, convective aggregation shows no consistent temperature trend.
Dissecting genetic diversity and genomic background of Petunia cultivars with contrasting growth habits
Authors: Guo Yufang , Warner Ryan M.
Published: October 2020

The cultivated petunia (Petunia ×hybrida) is derived from the progenitor species P. axillaris and P. integrifolia. The hybridization dates back only to the 1830s, though intensive breeding efforts have yielded cultivars exhibiting incredible diversity for many traits, including growth habit, flower color, and flower size. Until now, little is known about the genetic diversity and genomic background of modern cultivars. Here we selected a panel of 13 cultivars with contrasting growth habits and three wild species (the progenitors and P. exserta) to estimate the genomic contribution from the ancestral species and to study whether the variation of the genetic origin could be associated with different breeding programs or morphological variability. Transcriptome sequencing identified 1,164,566 SNPs representing 98.4% (32,451) of the transcripts that cover 99.2% (of 52,697,361 bp) of the P. axillaris transcriptome. Cultivars with an upright growth habit had more homozygous alleles and more P. axillaris-derived alleles than trailing cultivars, while mounded cultivars had intermediate heterozygosity. Unlike previous studies, we found the proportions of alleles derived from each progenitor species varied across cultivars but overall were not biased toward one progenitor species, suggesting diverse selection during cultivar development. For trailing cultivars, alleles potentially introgressed from other wild species (“out” alleles) were enriched. The “out” alleles were clustered in particular regions of chromosomes, suggesting that these regions may be hotspots of introgression. Transcripts in these regions were enriched with gene ontology terms associated with growth habit. This study provides novel insight into the contributions of progenitor species to the genomic background of modern petunia cultivars and identifies genome regions that may harbor genes conferring the trailing growth habit for further exploration.
Alternatively spliced BobCAL transcripts alter curd morphotypes in a collection of Chinese cauliflower accessions
Authors: Cao Wenguang , Cao Biting , Wang Xuan , Bai Jinjuan , Xu Yong-Zhen , Zhao Jianjun , Li Xiaorong , He Yuke , Hu Shengwu
Published: October 2020

The curd of cauliflower (Brassica oleracea L. var. botrytis) is a modified inflorescence that is consumed as a vegetable. Curd formation is proposed to be due to a mutation in the BobCAULIFLOWER (BobCAL) gene, but the genetic relationship between BobCAL variation and curd morphotypes remains obscure. To address this question, we collected and classified a collection of 78 cauliflower accessions into four subpopulations according to curd surface features: smooth, coarse, granular, and hairy curd morphotypes. Through the cDNA sequencing of BobCAL alleles, we showed that smooth and coarse accessions characterized by inflorescence meristem arrest presented a strong association with the 451T SNP (BobCAL_T), whereas granular and hairy accessions marked with floral organ arrest presented an association with 451G (BobCAL_G). Interestingly, all BobCAL alleles were alternatively spliced, resulting in a total of four alternative splice (AS) variants due to the retention of the fourth and/or seventh introns. Among accessions with BobCAL_G alleles, the total expression of all these AS variants in granular plants was almost equal to that in hairy plants; however, the expression of the individual AS variants encoding intact proteins relative to those encoding truncated proteins differed. Hairy accessions showed relatively high expression of the individual variants encoding intact proteins, whereas granular accessions displayed relatively low expression. In smooth cauliflower, the overexpression of the BobCAL_Ga variant caused an alteration in the curd morphotype from smooth to hairy, concurrent with an increase in the expression levels of downstream floral identity genes. These results reveal that alternative splicing of BobCAL transcripts is involved in the determination of cauliflower curd morphotypes.
Gibberellin induced shot berry formation in cv. Early Sweet is a direct consequence of high fruit set
Authors: Or Etti , Oren Orly , Halaly-Basha Tamar , Koilkonda Padmalatha , Shi Zhaowan , Zheng Chuanlin , Acheampong Atiako Kwame
Published: October 2020

The ‘seedless’ table grape industry relies mainly on stenospermocarpic cultivars, in which endosperm abortion results in berries with seed rudiments and low levels of bioactive gibberellin (GA). Application of GA to enhance berry sizing in these cultivars is often accompanied by adverse effects, one of which is increased proportions of very small berries (termed shot berries). Manual removal of these berries, which is essential to improve uniformity and market value, increases production cost and exposes the cluster to damage. Unraveling the physiological causes of shot berry formation is thus of both scientific and practical value. This study focuses on understanding the GA-mediated regulation of shot berry formation inVitis viniferacv. Early Sweet, known for a high proportion of shot berries, which severely damage cluster appearance. As GA is known to induce the parthenocarpic fruit set, we first tested the assumption that the parthenocarpic nature of a fruitlet is a primary cause for shot berry development. We then examined the consequence of the flower load on the proportion of shot berries in the cluster. Our data suggests that: (1) contrary to prior assumptions, the parthenocarpic nature of a fruitlet is not the primary cause for shot berry development, demonstrated by the fact that parthenocarpic fruitlets develop into a full-size berries; (2) the proportion of shot berries on a cluster is a function of the initial flower load on the inflorescence, with high initial flower load resulting in greater shot berry percentage in the cluster; (3) GA treatment bypasses the natural regulation of flower load, resulting in high fruitlet density and increased competition among fruitlets; (4) variation of flower load within the cluster influences berry size uniformity to a greater extent than does the variation in number of cluster per vine. The identity of the factors that determine the fate of a given flower on a high-load cluster remains an open question.
Frequent new particle formation over the high Arctic pack ice by enhanced iodine emissions
Authors: Baccarini Andrea , Karlsson Linn , Dommen Josef , Duplessis Patrick , Vüllers Jutta , Brooks Ian M. , Saiz-Lopez Alfonso , Salter Matthew , Tjernström Michael , Baltensperger Urs , Zieger Paul , Schmale Julia
Published: October 2020

In the central Arctic Ocean the formation of clouds and their properties are sensitive to the availability of cloud condensation nuclei (CCN). The vapors responsible for new particle formation (NPF), potentially leading to CCN, have remained unidentified since the first aerosol measurements in 1991. Here, we report that all the observed NPF events from the Arctic Ocean 2018 expedition are driven by iodic acid with little contribution from sulfuric acid. Iodic acid largely explains the growth of ultrafine particles (UFP) in most events. The iodic acid concentration increases significantly from summer towards autumn, possibly linked to the ocean freeze-up and a seasonal rise in ozone. This leads to a one order of magnitude higher UFP concentration in autumn. Measurements of cloud residuals suggest that particles smaller than 30 nm in diameter can activate as CCN. Therefore, iodine NPF has the potential to influence cloud properties over the Arctic Ocean.
Porous organic cages as synthetic water channels
Authors: Yuan Yi Di , Dong Jinqiao , Liu Jie , Zhao Daohui , Wu Hui , Zhou Wei , Gan Hui Xian , Tong Yen Wah , Jiang Jianwen , Zhao Dan
Published: October 2020

Nature has protein channels (e.g., aquaporins) that preferentially transport water molecules while rejecting even the smallest hydrated ions. Aspirations to create robust synthetic counterparts have led to the development of a few one-dimensional channels. However, replicating the performance of the protein channels in these synthetic water channels remains a challenge. In addition, the dimensionality of the synthetic water channels also imposes engineering difficulties to align them in membranes. Here we show that zero-dimensional porous organic cages (POCs) with nanoscale pores can effectively reject small cations and anions while allowing fast water permeation (ca. 109 water molecules per second) on the same magnitude as that of aquaporins. Water molecules are found to preferentially flow in single-file, branched chains within the POCs. This work widens the choice of water channel morphologies for water desalination applications.
Structural basis for substrate recognition and chemical inhibition of oncogenic MAGE ubiquitin ligases
Authors: Yang Seung Wook , Huang Xin , Lin Wenwei , Min Jaeki , Miller Darcie J. , Mayasundari Anand , Rodrigues Patrick , Griffith Elizabeth C. , Gee Clifford T. , Li Lei , Li Wei , Lee Richard E. , Rankovic Zoran , Chen Taosheng , Potts Patrick Ryan
Published: October 2020

Testis-restricted melanoma antigen (MAGE) proteins are frequently hijacked in cancer and play a critical role in tumorigenesis. MAGEs assemble with E3 ubiquitin ligases and function as substrate adaptors that direct the ubiquitination of novel targets, including key tumor suppressors. However, how MAGEs recognize their targets is unknown and has impeded the development of MAGE-directed therapeutics. Here, we report the structural basis for substrate recognition by MAGE ubiquitin ligases. Biochemical analysis of the degron motif recognized by MAGE-A11 and the crystal structure of MAGE-A11 bound to the PCF11 substrate uncovered a conserved substrate binding cleft (SBC) in MAGEs. Mutation of the SBC disrupted substrate recognition by MAGEs and blocked MAGE-A11 oncogenic activity. A chemical screen for inhibitors of MAGE-A11:substrate interaction identified 4-Aminoquinolines as potent inhibitors of MAGE-A11 that show selective cytotoxicity. These findings provide important insights into the large family of MAGE ubiquitin ligases and identify approaches for developing cancer-specific therapeutics.
Discovery of gramicidin A analogues with altered activities by multidimensional screening of a one-bead-one-compound library
Authors: Takada Yuri , Itoh Hiroaki , Paudel Atmika , Panthee Suresh , Hamamoto Hiroshi , Sekimizu Kazuhisa , Inoue Masayuki
Published: October 2020

Gramicidin A (1) is a peptide antibiotic that disrupts the transmembrane ion concentration gradient by forming an ion channel in a lipid bilayer. Although long used clinically, it is limited to topical application because of its strong hemolytic activity and mammalian cytotoxicity, likely arising from the common ion transport mechanism. Here we report an integrated high-throughput strategy for discovering analogues of 1 with altered biological activity profiles. The 4096 analogue structures are designed to maintain the charge-neutral, hydrophobic, and channel forming properties of 1. Synthesis of the analogues, tandem mass spectrometry sequencing, and 3 microscale screenings enable us to identify 10 representative analogues. Re-synthesis and detailed functional evaluations find that all 10 analogues share a similar ion channel function, but have different cytotoxic, hemolytic, and antibacterial activities. Our large-scale structure-activity relationship studies reveal the feasibility of developing analogues of 1 that selectively induce toxicity toward target organisms.
Cardiovascular deconditioning during long-term spaceflight through multiscale modeling
Authors: Gallo Caterina , Ridolfi Luca , Scarsoglio Stefania
Published: October 2020

Human spaceflight has been fascinating man for centuries, representing the intangible need to explore the unknown, challenge new frontiers, advance technology, and push scientific boundaries further. A key area of importance is cardiovascular deconditioning, that is, the collection of hemodynamic changes—from blood volume shift and reduction to altered cardiac function—induced by sustained presence in microgravity. A thorough grasp of the 0G adjustment point per se is important from a physiological viewpoint and fundamental for astronauts’ safety and physical capability on long spaceflights. However, hemodynamic details of cardiovascular deconditioning are incomplete, inconsistent, and poorly measured to date; thus a computational approach can be quite valuable. We present a validated 1D–0D multiscale model to study the cardiovascular response to long-term 0G spaceflight in comparison to the 1G supine reference condition. Cardiac work, oxygen consumption, and contractility indexes, as well as central mean and pulse pressures were reduced, augmenting the cardiac deconditioning scenario. Exercise tolerance of a spaceflight traveler was found to be comparable to an untrained person with a sedentary lifestyle. At the capillary–venous level significant waveform alterations were observed which can modify the regular perfusion and average nutrient supply at the cellular level. The present study suggests special attention should be paid to future long spaceflights which demand prompt physical capacity at the time of restoration of partial gravity (e.g., Moon/Mars landing). Since spaceflight deconditioning has features similar to accelerated aging understanding deconditioning mechanisms in microgravity are also relevant to the understanding of aging physiology on the Earth.
A 2015 inventory of embodied carbon emissions for Chinese power transmission infrastructure projects
Authors: Wei Wendong , Wang Meng , Zhang Pengfei , Chen Bin , Guan Dabo , Shao Shuai , Li Jiashuo
Published: October 2020

The spatial mismatch of energy resources and electricity demand in China drives the large-scale construction of power transmission infrastructure, which consumes a large amount of carbon-intensive products. However, a systematic accounting framework for the carbon emissions of power transmission infrastructure has not yet been established. This study for the first time compiles an embodied carbon emissions inventory covering 191 typical power transmission infrastructure projects in China in 2015, including 145 types of alternating current (AC) transmission line projects, 37 typical AC substation projects, 8 typical direct current (DC) transmission line projects and 1 typical DC converter station project. The inventory also shows the detailed inputs of all the projects. These data not only enable a quantitative assessment of the embodied carbon emissions of power transmission infrastructure in China but also provide essential information for climate mitigation policy design in the power sector.
Optical and mechanical properties of streptavidin-conjugated gold nanospheres through data mining techniques
Authors: Peli Simone , Ronchi Andrea , Bianchetti Giada , Rossella Francesco , Giannetti Claudio , Chiari Marcella , Pingue Pasqualantonio , Banfi Francesco , Ferrini Gabriele
Published: October 2020

The thermo-mechanical properties of streptavidin-conjugated gold nanospheres, adhered to a surface via complex molecular chains, are investigated by two-color infrared asynchronous optical sampling pump-probe spectroscopy. Nanospheres with different surface densities have been deposited and exposed to a plasma treatment to modify their polymer binding chains. The aim is to monitor their optical response in complex chemical environments that may be experienced in, e.g., photothermal therapy or drug delivery applications. By applying unsupervised learning techniques to the spectroscopic traces, we identify their thermo-mechanical response variation. This variation discriminates nanospheres in different chemical environments or different surface densities. Such discrimination is not evident based on a standard analysis of the spectroscopic traces. This kind of analysis is important, given the widespread application of conjugated gold nanospheres in medicine and biology.
A myofibre model for the study of uterine excitation-contraction dynamics
Authors: Goldsztejn Uri , Nehorai Arye
Published: October 2020

As the uterus remodels in preparation for delivery, the excitability and contractility of the uterine smooth muscle layer, the myometrium, increase drastically. But when remodelling proceeds abnormally it can contribute to preterm birth, slow progress of labour, and failure to initiate labour. Remodelling increases intercellular coupling and cellular excitability, which are the main targets of pharmaceutical treatments for uterine contraction disorders. However, the way in which electrical propagation and force development depend on intercellular coupling and cellular excitability is not fully understood. Using a computational myofibre model we study the dependency of electrical propagation and force development on intercellular coupling and cellular excitability. This model reveals that intercellular coupling determines the conduction velocity. Moreover, our model shows that intercellular coupling alone does not regulate force development. Further, cellular excitability controls whether conduction across the cells is blocked. Lastly, our model describes how cellular excitability regulates force development. Our results bridge cellular factors, targeted by drugs to regulate uterine contractions, and tissue level electromechanical properties, which are responsible for delivery. They are a step forward towards understanding uterine excitation-contraction dynamics and developing safer and more efficient pharmaceutical treatments for uterine contraction disorders.
Molecular signatures of anthroponotic cutaneous leishmaniasis in the lesions of patients infected with Leishmania tropica
Authors: Masoudzadeh Nasrin , Östensson Malin , Persson Josefine , Mashayekhi Goyonlo Vahid , Agbajogu Christopher , Taslimi Yasaman , Erfanian Salim Reza , Zahedifard Farnaz , Mizbani Amir , Malekafzali Ardekani Housein , Gunn Bronwyn M. , Rafati Sima , Harandi Ali M.
Published: October 2020

Anthroponotic cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) caused by Leishmania tropica (L. tropica) represents a public health challenge in several resource poor settings. We herein employed a systems analysis approach to study molecular signatures of CL caused by L. tropica in the skin lesions of ulcerative CL (UCL) and non-ulcerative CL (NUCL) patients. Results from RNA-seq analysis determined shared and unique functional transcriptional pathways in the lesions of the UCL and NUCL patients. Several transcriptional pathways involved in inflammatory response were positively enriched in the CL lesions. A multiplexed inflammatory protein analysis showed differential profiles of inflammatory cytokines and chemokines in the UCL and NUCL lesions. Transcriptional pathways for Fcγ receptor dependent phagocytosis were among shared enriched pathways. Using L. tropica specific antibody (Ab)-mediated phagocytosis assays, we could substantiate Ab-dependent cellular phagocytosis (ADCP) and Ab-dependent neutrophil phagocytosis (ADNP) activities in the lesions of the UCL and NUCL patients, which correlated with L. tropica specific IgG Abs. Interestingly, a negative correlation was observed between parasite load and L. tropica specific IgG/ADCP/ADNP in the skin lesions of CL patients. These results enhance our understanding of human skin response to CL caused by L. tropica.
Optimization of regeneration and Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of Stevia (Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni): a commercially important natural sweetener plant
Authors: Taak Pooja , Tiwari Siddharth , Koul Bhupendra
Published: October 2020

Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni is a commercially important zero calorie natural-sweetener herb which produce sweet compounds known as steviol glycosides. Rising demands of steviol glycosides by food and beverage industries has led to an increase in its cultivation in various countries. Unfortunately, stevia cultivation faces 2–25% yield penalty due to weeds which further adds to its cultivation cost. To resolve this major challenge, Agrobacterium-mediated genetic transformation of in vitro derived stevia-nodal explants using herbicide resistance gene (bar) has been optimized, for the production of stable transgenic stevia plants. Several parameters including explant type, pre-incubation duration, acetosyringone (As) concentration, Agrobacterium cell density, Agro-inoculation duration, co-cultivation duration, selection regime and plant growth regulators (PGRs) combination and concentration, have been successfully optimized. Among the two types of explants used, nodal explants showed a higher regeneration response of 82.85%, with an average of 25 shoots/explant. The best PGRs combination and concentration for shoot-induction, shoot-elongation and root-induction was found to be 6-benzyladenine (1.0 mg l−1) + naphthalene acetic acid (0.5 mg l−1), gibberellic acid (1.0 mg l−1), and half-strength MS medium, respectively. The two-step selection (phosphinothricin) regime resulted in an average transformation efficiency of 40.48% with nodal explants. Molecular characterization of putative transformants through PCR, RT-PCR, qRT-PCR and Southern-blot hybridization confirmed the presence, stability, expression as well as copy number of bar gene respectively. Compared to the non-transgenic plants, the T0 transgenic plants successfully tolerated 8 mg l−1 glufosinate ammonium sprays. Thus, the optimized protocol can be useful for the introduction of other genes (inter-kingdom transfer) into stevia genome.
A three-dimensional laser interferometer gravitational-wave detector
Authors: Liu Mengxu , Gong Biping
Published: October 2020

The gravitational wave (GW) has opened a new window to the universe beyond the electromagnetic spectrum. Since 2015, dozens of GW events have been caught by the ground-based GW detectors through laser interferometry. However, all the ground-based detectors are L-shaped Michelson interferometers, with very limited directional response to GW. Here we propose a three-dimensional (3-D) laser interferometer detector in the shape of a regular triangular pyramid, which has more spherically symmetric antenna pattern. Moreover, the new configuration corresponds to much stronger constraints on parameters of GW sources, and is capable of constructing null-streams to get rid of the signal-like noise events. A 3-D detector of kilometer scale of such kind would shed new light on  the joint search of GW and electromagnetic emission.