bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
La pandemia de la COVID-19. Una oportunidad para aprender a conciliar trabajo y familia en las Fuerzas Armadas españolas
Authors: Hossain-López Sheima , Ruiz-Berdún Dolores
Published: February 2022

El confinamiento, impuesto durante la primera ola de la pandemia causada por el virus SARS-CoV-2, ocasionó el cierre de centros educativos complicando la situación para las familias con menores a cargo. El desafío fue aún mayor entre los trabajadores denominados «esenciales», como el personal de las Fuerzas Armadas españolas (F.A.S.). Dada la distribución asimétrica de las tareas de cuidado en España y la posición minoritaria de las féminas en la institución armada, la situación de las mujeres mil-itares era potencialmente crítica. Objetivo. Analizar el uso de las medidas extraordinarias de conciliación, implementadas por el Ministerio de Defensa durante el estado de alarma. Material y método. Se realizó un estudio cuantitativo, transversal y retrospectivo a través de un cuestionario electrónico, anónimo y autoadministrado a una muestra de 473 mujeres militares. Resultados. Durante el periodo analizado, aumentó ligeramente el porcentaje de mujeres militares que hacían uso de medidas de conciliación familiar. Sin embargo, en casos de parejas/exparejas donde ambos progenitores son militares, se duplicó el número de padres que disfrutaron de ellas. Por su parte, las familias monomarentales optaron por la permanencia de la madre en el domicilio. Conclusiones. El confinamiento cambió el perfil de uso de la conciliación familiar en las F.A.S., con mayor presencia de las madres en hogares monomarentales, pero también mayor corresponsabilidad en hogares con ambos progenitores militares. Nuevos análisis sobre los factores que han propiciado esta mayor corresponsabilidad podrían aportar valiosa información para lograr reducir las consecuencias profesionales de la maternidad en las mujeres de las F.A.S.
Aplicación de dispositivos digitales para vigilar, enfrentar y controlar la pandemia de COVID-19 en 2020
Authors: García Veiga Josué , Sánchez Preciado Lorena
Published: February 2022

Frente a la emergencia sanitaria detonada en diciembre de 2019 por la pandemia de covid-19 la mayoría de los países en el mundo han implementado soluciones tecnológicas digitales para el resguardo de la salud pública. La presente investigación tiene como objetivo principal ubicar la instrumentalización de tecnologías digitales con fines de vigilar, controlar y administrar las situaciones que emergen bajo el contexto de crisis sanitaria provocada por el virus sars-cov-2. De esta manera la investigación presenta una sistematización de las tecnologías digitales a nivel mundial de acuerdo con sus principales aplicaciones de vigilar y controlar. El texto propone una lectura de la pandemia desde un enfoque biopolítico que retoma los aportes de Foucault y Deleuze para identificar una lógica planetaria en el empleo de tecnologías digitales como dispositivos de disciplinamiento y control social.
Cibercontrol al disseny i les arts digitals
Authors: Pujadas Matarín Anna
Published: February 2022

A la nostra vida quotidiana, utilitzant targetes de crèdit, càmeres web, etiquetant les nostres imatges a Facebook, navegant per una ciutat amb els nostres telèfons intel·ligents, participem constantment com a ciutadans en la societat de la vigilància. Contràriament, en el disseny i l'art la participació en les estratègies de vigilància esdevé una tàctica de crítica política i d'acció subversiva. En aquest article es ressenyen les obres i projectes d'artistes i dissenyadors digitals que s'institueixen com a agents polítics principals del discurs sobre la societat en xarxa. Són creadors que exploren críticament la manera en què les narratives postcapitalistes afecten l’alfabetització de les màquines, els humans i els ecosistemes. Les seves principals línies de recerca inclouen la materialitat d’Internet, la vigilància, la visualització de dades i les interfícies.
La algoritmizaci´ón en el mundo del capitalismo de la vigilancia
Authors: Estévez Araujo José Antonio
Published: February 2022

Las empresas del capitalismo de la vigilancia, como Google o Facebook (y muchísimas otras, menos gigantescas y conocidas) recopilan inmensas cantidades de información sobre nosotros. Sus algoritmos nos clasifican y establecen correlaciones estadísticas a partir de nuestros datos que les permiten predecir y manipular nuestra conducta. Junto con las empresas, los poderes públicos han construido un auténtico “complejo estatal-industrial” de la vigilancia. El uso de los algoritmos plantea cruciales problemas ético-políticos, cuando afectan a los derechos fundamentales, especialmente aquéllos que son capaces de aprender por sí mismos y reprogramarse autónomamente. La irrupción de los algoritmos del capitalismo de la vigilancia en una esfera de la vida transforma su estructura y su lógica de funcionamiento. Como consecuencia se nos está despojando de nuestra identidad y alejándonos de las prácticas democráticas. Tenemos pocos recursos jurídicos para defendernos de esa colonización. Pero eso no significa que debamos resignarnos y aceptar la presente situación. Multitud de personas y organizaciones están desarrollando formas de resistencia al despotismo del capitalismo de la vigilancia. Luchan por la creación de una ciudadanía digital todavía por venir.
Aprendre a aprendre: una experiència amb la funcionalitat Wiki i l’eina taller del Moodle
Authors: Lluch Molins Laia , Solé Català Marina
Published: February 2022

Estimular i promoure l’aprenentatge autoregulat, el treball autònom i la competència d’aprendre a aprendre és un dels grans reptes de l’educació superior. El feedback entre iguals pot constituir una estratègia que contribueixi a l’autoregulació, però això requereix dissenys pedagògics que permetin als estudiants participar i comprendre com millorar els seus processos d’aprenentatge. En aquest sentit, es considera que l’ús d’estratègies com l’aprenentatge cooperatiu per part del mateix estudiant pot donar suport als processos d’aprenentatge a la llum d’aquests reptes.
El propòsit de l’article és presentar dues activitats d’avaluació continuada que es van proposar als estudiants que van cursar l’assignatura Economia Política en un grup del grau de Gestió i Administració Pública (Facultat de Dret, Universitat de Barcelona) en el curs 2020-2021. Aquestes activitats van ser dissenyades en el marc del projecte I+D “Anàlisi dels efectes de la provisió de feedback suportat per les tecnologies digitals de monitorització sobre les competències transversals” (ref. PID2019-104285GB-I00). Es tractava de crear un entorn d’aprenentatge en què els estudiants haguessin de treballar cooperativament, d’una banda, i donar-se feedback els uns als altres per aconseguir millorar els resultats assolits, de l’altra.
En l’article s’introdueix, en primer lloc, un resum d’algunes aportacions teòriques rellevants relacionades amb els beneficis del feedback en les dinàmiques d’aprenentatge. A continuació es dona informació detallada sobre el disseny de l’activitat i sobre les eines tecnològiques utilitzades i els materials de suport que es van elaborar per guiar l’alumnat que va participar en l’experiència. Finalment s’aporten algunes reflexions sobre el desenvolupament i els resultats de l’experiència segons les oportunitats i limitacions trobades durant la seva implementació.
Performance analysis of a compact auto-phoropter for accessible refractive assessment of the human eye
Authors: Akhoundi Farhad , Ozgur Erol , Draper Craig , Voorakanam Ram , Wycoff Jaclyn , Reetz Daniel , Blanche Pierre-Alexandre , LaComb Lloyd , Peyman Gholam , Schwiegerling Jim , Peyghambarian N.
Published: February 2022

We present the performance analysis and specifications of a portable auto-phoropter system that can be employed for fast refractive assessment of a large population. A customized Shack–Hartmann wavefront sensor is developed to accurately measure the defocus and astigmatism of the eye within

±
10

D

and

±
6

D

, respectively. Three fluidic lenses are designed to correct the vision in real time. A digital Snellen chart is integrated into the system to validate the accuracy of the measurement and the correction by means of achieving 20/20 vision. The refractive error of eight subjects (16 eyes) has been measured objectively (without patient’s feedback) using the proposed system and the results are compared with their clinical prescription through the Bland–Altman method. It is shown that the auto-phoropter takes less than 8 s to measure and correct the eye refractive error with an accuracy of

±

0.25

D

.
Dynamics of quantum Fisher information and quantum coherence of two interacting atoms under time–fractional analysis
Authors: El Anouz K. , Onyenegecha C. P. , Opara A. I. , Salah Ahmed , El Allati A.
Published: February 2022

In this paper, we give an exact general solution to the fractional Schrödinger equation of two interacting atoms. It consists of using the Riemann–Liouville fractional integral operator to examine the interaction between two identical atoms under temporal–fractional evolution. The dynamics of quantum Fisher information with respect to changes in the phase parameter and the quantum coherence by means of the

l
1

-norm and relative entropy of coherence are discussed. Moreover, the analytical fractional solution allows us to evaluate the relationship between the estimation precision of the phase parameter and the coherence measures for various atom–atom states. Indeed, the obtained results show a good similarity between these measures for certain critical values of the phase parameter. In addition, it is observed that initially, for such coherent-like fractional states, the amount of quantum Fisher information may be sensitive or insensitive to changes in the phase parameter. Therefore, one can conclude that quantum Fisher information can be considered as an indicator of quantum coherence in a composite quantum state.
Femtosecond multidimensional spectroscopy with multiple repetition-frequency-stabilized lasers: tutorial
Authors: Kim JunWoo , Jeon Jonggu , Yoon Tai Hyun , Cho Minhaeng
Published: February 2022

Time-resolved multidimensional spectroscopy is an advanced spectroscopic technique that can be used to study the molecular structure and dynamics of chromophores in condensed phases by probing multiple resonances of chemical and biophysical systems. To achieve such a multidimensional measurement, the nonlinear optical response of materials should be measured for varying time delays between multiple optical pulses. Inevitably, the data acquisition time dramatically increases with the number of dimensions and the length of each time-delay scan. Therefore, technical breakthroughs toward improved data acquisition rates and time resolutions have long been sought for more versatile and extensive use of coherent multidimensional spectroscopy. Here, we present a tutorial description of the concepts and methods of coherent multidimensional spectroscopy with multiple repetition-frequency-stabilized lasers. Pulse trains from two lasers with slightly different repetition frequencies enable an asynchronous optical sampling (ASOPS), i.e., an automatic scan of the time delay between the pulses. By combining mechanical delay lines for interferometric pulse-pair generation and signal field detection with an incoherent ASOPS scheme for probing slow population dynamics of chromophores in condensed phases, we show that the dynamic range of time-delay scan and data acquisition speed for coherent multidimensional spectroscopy could be dramatically enhanced. In this tutorial paper, we summarize the current developments in this and related research areas, and provide perspectives on all optically controlled multidimensional spectroscopy with multiple synchronized lasers.
Realizing PIT-like transparency via the coupling of plasmonic dipole and ENZ modes
Authors: Mao Miao , Wang Junqiao , Mu Kaijun , Fan Chunzhen , Jia Yuanlin , Li Ran , Chen Shu , Liang Erjun
Published: February 2022

Plasmon induced transparency (PIT), known as the coupling of plasmon modes in metamaterials, has attracted intensive research interests in photonic applications. In this work, a PIT-like transparency is realized via the strong coupling of plasmonic dipole and epsilon-near-zero (ENZ) mode. Two types of metasurfaces, namely the gold nanoantenna and dolmen-like metasurface, are designed with an integrated ENZ material aluminum doped zinc oxide (AZO) film. Simulations with the finite element method (FEM) demonstrate that single and double transparent windows are achieved respectively. The adjustments of the peak position and transmittance of transparent windows via the structure parameters and the AZO film thickness are further investigated. This work provides an alternative coupling scheme of realizing PIT-like transparency with simple metasurface design, and offers great potential for future metamaterial applications.
Four concurrent feedforward and feedback networks with different roles in the visual cortical hierarchy
Authors: Barzegaran Elham , Plomp Gijs
Published: February 2022

Visual stimuli evoke fast-evolving activity patterns that are distributed across multiple cortical areas. These areas are hierarchically structured, as indicated by their anatomical projections, but how large-scale feedforward and feedback streams are functionally organized in this system remains an important missing clue to understanding cortical processing. By analyzing visual evoked responses in laminar recordings from 6 cortical areas in awake mice, we uncovered a dominant feedforward network with scale-free interactions in the time domain. In addition, we established the simultaneous presence of a gamma band feedforward and 2 low frequency feedback networks, each with a distinct laminar functional connectivity profile, frequency spectrum, temporal dynamics, and functional hierarchy. We could identify distinct roles for each of these 4 processing streams, by leveraging stimulus contrast effects, analyzing receptive field (RF) convergency along functional interactions, and determining relationships to spiking activity. Our results support a dynamic dual counterstream view of hierarchical processing and provide new insight into how separate functional streams can simultaneously and dynamically support visual processes.
Dynamic assembly of the mRNA m6A methyltransferase complex is regulated by METTL3 phase separation
Authors: Han Dasol , Longhini Andrew P. , Zhang Xuemei , Hoang Vivian , Wilson Maxwell Z. , Kosik Kenneth S.
Published: February 2022

m6A methylation is the most abundant and reversible chemical modification on mRNA with approximately one-fourth of eukaryotic mRNAs harboring at least one m6A-modified base. The recruitment of the mRNA m6A methyltransferase writer complex to phase-separated nuclear speckles is likely to be crucial in its regulation; however, control over the activity of the complex remains unclear. Supported by our observation that a core catalytic subunit of the methyltransferase complex, METTL3, is endogenously colocalized within nuclear speckles as well as in noncolocalized puncta, we tracked the components of the complex with a Cry2-METTL3 fusion construct to disentangle key domains and interactions necessary for the phase separation of METTL3. METTL3 is capable of self-interaction and likely provides the multivalency to drive condensation. Condensates in cells necessarily contain myriad components, each with partition coefficients that establish an entropic barrier that can regulate entry into the condensate. In this regard, we found that, in contrast to the constitutive binding of METTL14 to METTL3 in both the diffuse and the dense phase, WTAP only interacts with METTL3 in dense phase and thereby distinguishes METTL3/METTL14 single complexes in the dilute phase from METTL3/METTL14 multicomponent condensates. Finally, control over METTL3/METTL14 condensation is determined by its small molecule cofactor, S-adenosylmethionine (SAM), which regulates conformations of two gate loops, and some cancer-associated mutations near gate loops can impair METTL3 condensation. Therefore, the link between SAM binding and the control of writer complex phase state suggests that the regulation of its phase state is a potentially critical facet of its functional regulation.
Slow nucleosome dynamics set the transcriptional speed limit and induce RNA polymerase II traffic jams and bursts
Authors: Mines Robert C. , Lipniacki Tomasz , Shen Xiling
Published: February 2022

Nucleosomes are recognized as key regulators of transcription. However, the relationship between slow nucleosome unwrapping dynamics and bulk transcriptional properties has not been thoroughly explored. Here, an agent-based model that we call the dynamic defect Totally Asymmetric Simple Exclusion Process (ddTASEP) was constructed to investigate the effects of nucleosome-induced pausing on transcriptional dynamics. Pausing due to slow nucleosome dynamics induced RNAPII convoy formation, which would cooperatively prevent nucleosome rebinding leading to bursts of transcription. The mean first passage time (MFPT) and the variance of first passage time (VFPT) were analytically expressed in terms of the nucleosome rate constants, allowing for the direct quantification of the effects of nucleosome-induced pausing on pioneering polymerase dynamics. The mean first passage elongation rate γ(hc, ho) is inversely proportional to the MFPT and can be considered to be a new axis of the ddTASEP phase diagram, orthogonal to the classical αβ-plane (where α and β are the initiation and termination rates). Subsequently, we showed that, for β = 1, there is a novel jamming transition in the αγ-plane that separates the ddTASEP dynamics into initiation-limited and nucleosome pausing-limited regions. We propose analytical estimates for the RNAPII density ρ, average elongation rate v, and transcription flux J and verified them numerically. We demonstrate that the intra-burst RNAPII waiting times tin follow the time-headway distribution of a max flux TASEP and that the average inter-burst interval tIBI¯ correlates with the index of dispersion De. In the limit γ→0, the average burst size reaches a maximum set by the closing rate hc. When α≪1, the burst sizes are geometrically distributed, allowing large bursts even while the average burst size NB¯ is small. Last, preliminary results on the relative effects of static and dynamic defects are presented to show that dynamic defects can induce equal or greater pausing than static bottle necks.
A genetic screen in C. elegans reveals roles for KIN17 and PRCC in maintaining 5’ splice site identity
Authors: Suzuki Jessie M. N. G. L. , Osterhoudt Kenneth , Cartwright-Acar Catiana H. , Gomez Destiny R. , Katzman Sol , Zahler Alan M.
Published: February 2022

Pre-mRNA splicing is an essential step of eukaryotic gene expression carried out by a series of dynamic macromolecular protein/RNA complexes, known collectively and individually as the spliceosome. This series of spliceosomal complexes define, assemble on, and catalyze the removal of introns. Molecular model snapshots of intermediates in the process have been created from cryo-EM data, however, many aspects of the dynamic changes that occur in the spliceosome are not fully understood.Caenorhabditis elegansfollow the GU-AG rule of splicing, with almost all introns beginning with 5’ GU and ending with 3’ AG. These splice sites are identified early in the splicing cycle, but as the cycle progresses and “custody” of the pre-mRNA splice sites is passed from factor to factor as the catalytic site is built, the mechanism by which splice site identity is maintained or re-established through these dynamic changes is unclear. We performed a genetic screen inC.elegansfor factors that are capable of changing 5’ splice site choice. We report that KIN17 and PRCC are involved in splice site choice, the first functional splicing role proposed for either of these proteins. Previously identified suppressors of cryptic 5’ splicing promote distal cryptic GU splice sites, however, mutations in KIN17 and PRCC instead promote usage of an unusual proximal 5’ splice site which defines an intron beginning with UU, separated by 1nt from a GU donor. We performed high-throughput mRNA sequencing analysis and found that mutations in PRCC, and to a lesser extent KIN17, changed alternative 5’ splice site usage at native sites genome-wide, often promoting usage of nearby non-consensus sites. Our work has uncovered both fine and coarse mechanisms by which the spliceosome maintains splice site identity during the complex assembly process.
Planktonic sea urchin larvae change their swimming direction in response to strong photoirradiation
Authors: Yaguchi Shunsuke , Taniguchi Yuri , Suzuki Haruka , Kamata Mai , Yaguchi Junko
Published: February 2022

To survive, organisms need to precisely respond to various environmental factors, such as light and gravity. Among these, light is so important for most life on Earth that light-response systems have become extraordinarily developed during evolution, especially in multicellular animals. A combination of photoreceptors, nervous system components, and effectors allows these animals to respond to light stimuli. In most macroscopic animals, muscles function as effectors responding to light, and in some microscopic aquatic animals, cilia play a role. It is likely that the cilia-based response was the first to develop and that it has been substituted by the muscle-based response along with increases in body size. However, although the function of muscle appears prominent, it is poorly understood whether ciliary responses to light are present and/or functional, especially in deuterostomes, because it is possible that these responses are too subtle to be observed, unlike muscle responses. Here, we show that planktonic sea urchin larvae reverse their swimming direction due to the inhibitory effect of light on the cholinergic neuron signaling>forward swimming pathway. We found that strong photoirradiation of larvae that stay on the surface of seawater immediately drives the larvae away from the surface due to backward swimming. When Opsin2, which is expressed in mesenchymal cells in larval arms, is knocked down, the larvae do not show backward swimming under photoirradiation. Although Opsin2-expressing cells are not neuronal cells, immunohistochemical analysis revealed that they directly attach to cholinergic neurons, which are thought to regulate forward swimming. These data indicate that light, through Opsin2, inhibits the activity of cholinergic signaling, which normally promotes larval forward swimming, and that the light-dependent ciliary response is present in deuterostomes. These findings shed light on how light-responsive tissues/organelles have been conserved and diversified during evolution.
Limitations of bacterial culture, viral PCR, and tulathromycin susceptibility from upper respiratory tract samples in predicting clinical outcome of tulathromycin control or treatment of bovine respiratory disease in high-risk feeder heifers
Authors: Sarchet Jeffrey J. , Pollreisz John P. , Bechtol David T. , Blanding Mitchell R. , Saltman Roger L. , Taube Patrick C.
Published: February 2022

A cross-sectional prospective cohort study including 1026 heifers administered tulathromycin due to high risk of clinical signs of bovine respiratory disease (BRD), measured poor association between BRD clinical outcomes and results of bacterial culture and tulathromycin susceptibility from BRD isolates of deep nasopharyngeal swabs (DNS) and adequate association with viral polymerase chain reaction (PCR) results from nasal swabs. Isolation rates from DNS collected on day-0 and at 1stBRD-treatment respectively were:Mannheimia haemolytica(10.9% & 34.1%);Pasteurella multocida(10.4% & 7.4%);Mycoplasma bovis(1.0% & 36.6%); andHistophilus somni(0.7% & 6.3%). Prevalence of BRD viral nucleic acid on nasal swabs collected exclusively at 1stBRD-treatment were: bovine parainfluenza virus type-3 (bPIV-3) 34.1%; bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) 26.3%; bovine herpes virus type-1 (BHV-1) 10.8%; and bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV) 54.1%. Increased relative risk, at 95% confidence intervals, of 1stBRD-treatment failure was associated with positive viral PCR results: BVDV 1.39 (1.17–1.66), bPIV-3 1.26 (1.06–1.51), BHV-1 1.52 (1.25–1.83), and BRSV 1.35 (1.11–1.63) from nasal swabs collected at 1stBRD-treatment and culture ofM.haemolytica1.23 (1.00–1.51) from DNS collected at day-0. However, in this population of high-risk feeder heifers, the predictive values of susceptible and resistant isolates had inadequate association with BRD clinical outcome. These results indicate, that using tulathromycin susceptibility testing of isolates ofM.haemolyticaorP.multocidafrom DNS collected on arrival or at 1stBRD-treatment to evaluate tulathromycin clinical efficacy, is unreliable.
Selective neurodegeneration of the hippocampus caused by chronic cerebral hypoperfusion: F-18 FDG PET study in rats
Authors: Lee Jung-In , Lim Ji Sun , Hong Jeong-Ho , Kim Shin , Lee Sang-Woo , Ji Hyun Dong , Won Kyoung Sook , Song Bong-Il , Kim Hae Won
Published: February 2022

Background

Chronic cerebral hypoperfusion (CCH) is known to induce Alzheimer’s disease (AD) pathology, but its mechanism remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to identify the cerebral regions that are affected by CCH, and to evaluate the development of AD pathology in a rat model of CCH.

Methods

A rat model of CCH was established by bilaterally ligating the common carotid arteries in adult male rats (CCH group). The identical operations were performed on sham rats without arteries ligation (control group). Regional cerebral glucose metabolism was evaluated at 1 and 3 months after bilateral CCA ligation using positron emission tomography with F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose. The expression levels of amyloid β40 (Aβ40), amyloid β42 (Aβ42), and hyperphosphorylated tau were evaluated using western blots at 3 months after the ligation. Cognitive function was evaluated using the Y-maze test at 3 months after the ligation.

Results

At 1 month after the ligation, cerebral glucose metabolism in the entorhinal, frontal association, motor, and somatosensory cortices were significantly decreased in the CCH group compared with those in the control group. At 3 months after the ligation, cerebral glucose metabolism was normalized in all regions except for the anterodorsal hippocampus, which was significantly decreased compared with that of the control group. The expression of Aβ42 and the Aβ42/40 ratio were significantly higher in the CCH group than those in the control group. The phosphorylated-tau levels of the hippocampus in the CCH group were significantly lower than those in the control group. Cognitive function was more impaired in the CCH group than that in the control group.

Conclusion

Our findings suggest that CCH causes selective neurodegeneration of the anterodorsal hippocampus, which may be a trigger point for the development of AD pathology.
Socioeconomic status and ADL disability of the older adults: Cumulative health effects, social outcomes and impact mechanisms
Authors: Liu Huan , Wang Meng
Published: February 2022

Introduction

Socioeconomic status (SES) is one of the important indicators affecting individual’s social participation and resource allocation, and it also plays an important role in the health shock of individuals. Faced by the trend of aging society, more and more nations across the world began to pay attention to prevent the risk of health shock of old adults.

Methods

Based on the data of China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) in 2013, 2015 and 2018, this study uses path analysis and ologit model to empirically estimate the effects of SES and health shock on the activities of daily living (ADL) disability of old adults.

Results

As a result, first, it was found that SES has significant impact on the disability of old adults. Specifically, economic conditions (income) plays dominant role. Economic status affects the risk of individual disability mainly through life security and health behavior. Secondly, SES significantly affecting health shock, with education and economic status showing remarkable impact, and there is an apparent group inequality. Furthermore, taking high education group as reference, the probability of good sight or hearing ability of the low education group was only 49.76% and 63.29% of the high education group, respectively, while the rates of no pain and severe illness were 155.50% and 54.69% of the high education group. At last, the estimation of path effect of SES on ADL disability indicates evident group inequality, with health shock plays critical mediating role.

Conclusions

SES is an important factor influencing residents’ health shock, and health shocks like cerebral thrombosis and cerebral hemorrhage will indirectly lead to the risk of individual ADL disability. Furthermore, among the multi-dimensional indicators of SES, individual income and education are predominant factors affecting health shock and ADL disability, while occupation of pre-retirement have little impact.
Microdialysis and CO2 sensors detect pancreatic ischemia in a porcine model
Authors: Rydenfelt Kristina , Strand-Amundsen Runar , Horneland Rune , Hødnebø Stina , Kjøsen Gisle , Pischke Søren Erik , Tønnessen Tor Inge , Haugaa Håkon
Published: February 2022

Background

Pancreatic transplantation is associated with a high rate of early postoperative graft thrombosis. If a thrombosis is detected in time, a potentially graft-saving intervention can be initiated. Current postoperative monitoring lacks tools for early detection of ischemia. The aim of this study was to investigate if microdialysis and tissue pCO2 sensors detect pancreatic ischemia and whether intraparenchymal and organ surface measurements are comparable.

Methods

In 8 anaesthetized pigs, pairs of lactate monitoring microdialysis catheters and tissue pCO2 sensors were simultaneously inserted into the parenchyma and attached to the surface of the pancreas. Ischemia was induced by sequential arterial and venous occlusions of 45-minute duration, with two-hour reperfusion after each occlusion. Microdialysate was analyzed every 15 minutes. Tissue pCO2 was measured continuously. We investigated how surface and parenchymal measurements correlated and the capability of lactate and pCO2 to discriminate ischemic from non-ischemic periods.

Results

Ischemia was successfully induced by arterial occlusion in 8 animals and by venous occlusion in 5. During all ischemic episodes, lactate increased with a fold change of 3.2–9.5 (range) in the parenchyma and 1.7–7.6 on the surface. Tissue pCO2 increased with a fold change of 1.6–3.5 in the parenchyma and 1.3–3.0 on the surface. Systemic lactate and pCO2 remained unchanged.

The area under curve (AUC) for lactate was 0.97 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.93–1.00) for parenchymal and 0.90 (0.83–0.97) for surface (p<0.001 for both). For pCO2 the AUC was 0.93 (0.89–0.96) for parenchymal and 0.85 (0.81–0.90) for surface (p<0.001 for both). The median correlation coefficients between parenchyma and surface were 0.90 (interquartile range (IQR) 0.77–0.95) for lactate and 0.93 (0.89–0.97) for pCO2.

Conclusions

Local organ monitoring with microdialysis and tissue pCO2 sensors detect pancreatic ischemia with adequate correlation between surface and parenchymal measurements. Both techniques and locations seem feasible for further development of clinical pancreas monitoring.
Using machine learning as a surrogate model for agent-based simulations
Authors: Angione Claudio , Silverman Eric , Yaneske Elisabeth
Published: February 2022

In this proof-of-concept work, we evaluate the performance of multiple machine-learning methods as surrogate models for use in the analysis of agent-based models (ABMs). Analysing agent-based modelling outputs can be challenging, as the relationships between input parameters can be non-linear or even chaotic even in relatively simple models, and each model run can require significant CPU time. Surrogate modelling, in which a statistical model of the ABM is constructed to facilitate detailed model analyses, has been proposed as an alternative to computationally costly Monte Carlo methods. Here we compare multiple machine-learning methods for ABM surrogate modelling in order to determine the approaches best suited as a surrogate for modelling the complex behaviour of ABMs. Our results suggest that, in most scenarios, artificial neural networks (ANNs) and gradient-boosted trees outperform Gaussian process surrogates, currently the most commonly used method for the surrogate modelling of complex computational models. ANNs produced the most accurate model replications in scenarios with high numbers of model runs, although training times were longer than the other methods. We propose that agent-based modelling would benefit from using machine-learning methods for surrogate modelling, as this can facilitate more robust sensitivity analyses for the models while also reducing CPU time consumption when calibrating and analysing the simulation.
Comparison of factor analysis models applied to the NCANDA neuropsychological test battery
Authors: Cummins Kevin M. , Pitpitan Eileen V. , Brumback Ty , Moore Tyler M. , Trim Ryan S. , Clark Duncan B. , Brown Sandra A. , Tapert Susan F.
Published: February 2022

The factor structure of neuropsychological functioning among a large sample (N = 831) of American youth (ages 12–21 at baseline) was investigated in order to identify an optimal model. Candidate models were selected based on their potential to provide service to the study of adolescent development and the effects of heavy episodic alcohol consumption. Data on neuropsychological functioning were obtained from the NCANDA study. This is a longitudinal community study of the effects of alcohol exposure on neurodevelopment. Three conceptually motivated and one empirically motivated factor analysis model of neuropsychological domains were compared based on penalized-likelihood selection criteria and model fit statistics. Two conceptually-motivated models were found to have adequate fit and pattern invariance to function as a measurement model for the Penn Computerized Neurocognitive Battery (Penn CNB) anchored neuropsychological battery in NCANDA. Corroboration of previous factor analysis models was obtained, in addition to the identification of an alternative factor model that has higher discriminant capacity for neuropsychological domains hypothesized to be most sensitive to alcohol exposure in human adolescents. The findings support the use of a factor model developed originally for the Penn CNB and a model developed specifically for the NCANDA project. The NCANDA 8-Factor Model has conceptual and empirical advantages that were identified in the current and prior studies. These advantages are particularly valuable when applied in alcohol research settings.
Foliar application of potassium and moringa leaf extract improves growth, physiology and productivity of kabuli chickpea grown under varying sowing regimes
Authors: Irshad Sohail , Matloob Amar , Iqbal Shahid , Ibrar Danish , Hasnain Zuhair , Khan Shahbaz , Rashid Nabila , Nawaz Muhammad , Ikram Rao Muhammad , Wahid Muhammad Ashfaq , Al-Hashimi Abdulrahman , Elshikh Mohamed S. , Diao Zeng-Hui
Published: February 2022

Chickpea (Cicer arietinumL.) is of prime importance because of vital source of protein as major food legume. Globally, it is cultivated on large area to meet dietary requirements of humans. Climatic extremes (erratic rainfall, extreme high and low temperature) are key restrains for its production. Optimum sowing time is considered as an important factor to address climatic variations and to attain maximum yield. Foliar application of potassium (K) has also been reported to increase resistance against abiotic stresses. Similarly, exogenous application of plant based growth substances (bio-stimulants) like moringa leaf extract (MLE) are extensively used to enhance productivity of field crops. Therefore, current study was planned to evaluate the impact of foliar applied K and MLE on growth, physiology and productivity of kabuli chickpea grown under varying sowing dates. There were two sowing dates (normal sown; November 15 and late sown; December 15, 2020). Experiment was comprised of treatments i.e. control, water spray, foliar application of K at 1%, foliar application of MLE at 3% and combined application of K and MLE. Foliar applied K and MLE significantly improved physiological, biochemical and yield attributes of kabuli chickpea cultivated under normal and late sown conditions. Increase in growth and yield attributes like plant height, number of nodules per plant, nodules dry weight, branches and pods per plant, 100- grain weight, biological and grain yield were recorded in case of combined foliar application of K and MLE in normal and late sown chickpea. Maximum improvement in gas exchange attributes (stomatal conductance and transpiration rate), chlorophyll contents, antioxidants (catalase, superoxide dismutase and ascorbate peroxidase) and osmolytes (proline) were recorded with combined application of K and MLE in both sowing dates. Thus, combined applied K and MLE can be used to enhance productivity of kabuli chickpea.
Poor neutralization and rapid decay of antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 variants in vaccinated dialysis patients
Authors: Bassi Jessica , Giannini Olivier , Silacci-Fregni Chiara , Pertusini Laura , Hitz Paolo , Terrot Tatiana , Franzosi Yves , Muoio Francesco , Saliba Christian , Meury Marcel , Dellota Exequiel A. , Dillen Josh R. , Hernandez Patrick , Czudnochowski Nadine , Cameroni Elisabetta , Beria Nicola , Ventresca Mariangela , Badellino Alberto , Lavorato-Hadjeres Soraya , Lecchi Elisabetta , Bonora Tecla , Mattiolo Matteo , Trinci Guido , Garzoni Daniela , Bonforte Giuseppe , Forni-Ogna Valentina , Giunzioni Davide , Berwert Lorenzo , Gupta Ravindra K. , Ferrari Paolo , Ceschi Alessandro , Cippà Pietro , Corti Davide , Lanzavecchia Antonio , Piccoli Luca
Published: February 2022

Patients on dialysis are at risk of severe course of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Understanding the neutralizing activity and coverage of SARS-CoV-2 variants of vaccine-elicited antibodies is required to guide prophylactic and therapeutic COVID-19 interventions in this frail population. By analyzing plasma samples from 130 hemodialysis and 13 peritoneal dialysis patients after two doses of BNT162b2 or mRNA-1273 vaccines, we found that 35% of the patients had low-level or undetectable IgG antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 Spike (S). Neutralizing antibodies against the vaccine-matched SARS-CoV-2 and Delta variant were low or undetectable in 49% and 77% of patients, respectively, and were further reduced against other emerging variants. The fraction of non-responding patients was higher in SARS-CoV-2-naïve hemodialysis patients immunized with BNT162b2 (66%) than those immunized with mRNA-1273 (23%). The reduced neutralizing activity correlated with low antibody avidity. Patients followed up to 7 months after vaccination showed a rapid decay of the antibody response with an average 21- and 10-fold reduction of neutralizing antibodies to vaccine-matched SARS-CoV-2 and Delta variant, which increased the fraction of non-responders to 84% and 90%, respectively. These data indicate that dialysis patients should be prioritized for additional vaccination boosts. Nevertheless, their antibody response to SARS-CoV-2 must be continuously monitored to adopt the best prophylactic and therapeutic strategy.
Development and Evaluation of AccuPower COVID-19 Multiplex Real-Time RT-PCR Kit and AccuPower SARS-CoV-2 Multiplex Real-Time RT-PCR Kit for SARS-CoV-2 Detection in Sputum, NPS/OPS, Saliva and Pooled Samples
Authors: Suh In Bum , Lim Jaegyun , Kim Hyo Seon , Rhim Guil , Kim Heebum , Kim Hana , Lee Sae-Mi , Park Hyun-sang , Song Hyun Ju , Hong MyungKook , Shin Gyung Sook , Kim Moon Jung
Published: February 2022

Rapid and accurate detection of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is essential for the successful control of the current global COVID-19 pandemic. The real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (Real-time RT-PCR) is the most widely used detection technique. This research describes the development of two novel multiplex real-time RT-PCR kits,AccuPower®COVID-19 Multiplex Real-Time RT-PCR Kit (NCVM) specifically designed for use with theExiStation™48 system (comprised ofExiPrep™48 Dx andExicycler™96 by BIONEER, Korea) for sample RNA extraction and PCR detection, andAccuPower®SARS-CoV-2 Multiplex Real-Time RT-PCR Kit (SCVM) designed to be compatible with manufacturers’ on-market PCR instruments. The limit of detection (LoD) of NCVM was 120 copies/mL and the LoD of the SCVM was 2 copies/μL for both the Pan-sarbecovirus gene and the SARS-CoV-2 gene. TheAccuPower®kits demonstrated high precision with no cross reactivity to other respiratory-related microorganisms. The clinical performance ofAccuPower®kits was evaluated using the following clinical samples: sputum and nasopharyngeal/oropharyngeal swab (NPS/OPS) samples. Overall agreement of theAccuPower®kits with a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved emergency use authorized commercial kit (STANDARD™ M nCoV Real-Time Detection kit, SD BIOSENSOR, Korea) was above 95% (Cohen’s kappa coefficient ≥ 0.95), with a sensitivity of over 95%. The NPS/OPS specimen pooling experiment was conducted to verify the usability ofAccuPower®kits on pooled samples and the results showed greater than 90% agreement with individual NPS/OPS samples. The clinical performance ofAccuPower®kits with saliva samples was also compared with NPS/OPS samples and demonstrated over 95% agreement (Cohen’s kappa coefficient > 0.95). This study shows the BIONEER NCVM and SCVM assays are comparable with the current standard confirmation assay and are suitable for effective clinical management and control of SARS-CoV-2.
Culture-free perceptual invariant for trustworthiness
Authors: Mo Ce , Cristofori Irene , Lio Guillaume , Gomez Alice , Duhamel Jean-René , Qu Chen , Sirigu Angela
Published: February 2022

Humans beings decide to trust others selectively, often based on the appearance of a face. But how do observers deal with the wide variety of facial morphologies and, in particular, those outside their own familiar cultural group? Using reverse correlation, a data-driven approach to explore how individuals create internal representations without external biases, we studied the generation of trustworthy faces by French and Chinese participants (N = 160) within and outside their own cultural group. Participants selected the most trustworthy or attractive (control condition) face from two identical European or Asian descent faces that had been modified by different noise masks. A conjunction analysis to reveal facial features common to both cultures showed that Chinese and French participants unconsciously increased the contrast of the "pupil-iris area" to make the face appear more trustworthy. No significant effects common to both groups were found for the attraction condition suggesting that attraction judgements are dependent on cultural processes. These results suggest the presence of universal cross-cultural mechanisms for the construction of implicit first impressions of trust, and highlight the importance of the eyes area in this process.
Retrospective analysis of clinical trial safety data for pembrolizumab reveals the effect of co-occurring infections on immune-related adverse events
Authors: Makunts Tigran , Burkhart Keith , Abagyan Ruben , Lee Peter
Published: February 2022

Biologics targeting PD-1, PD-L1, and CTLA-4 immune checkpoint proteins have been used in a variety of tumor types including small and non-small cell lung cancers, melanoma, and renal cell carcinoma. Their anti-tumor activity is achieved through amplifying components of the patient’s own immune system to target immune response evading cancer cells. However, this unique mechanism of action causes a range of immune related adverse events, irAEs, that affect multiple physiological systems in the body. These irAEs, depending on severity, often cause suspension or discontinuation of therapy and, in rare cases, may lead to fatal outcomes. In this study we focused on pembrolizumab, a PD-1 inhibitor currently approved for multiple types of cancer. We analyzed over ten thousand adverse event reports from Keynote clinical trials of pembrolizumab for various cancer indications with or without co-occurring infections, and observed a statistically significant 80% increase in the risk of developing an irAE in subjects with infections.
p53 oligomerization status as an indicator of sensitivity of p53-wildtype neuroblastomas to the combination of DNA damaging agent and Chk1 inhibitor
Authors: Levesque Aime A. , Pappalardo Rebecca M. , Puli Pawan , Enzor Laura A. , Angeles Clara
Published: February 2022

Neuroblastomas are one of the most common types of solid tumors in infants and children and are responsible for approximately 15% of childhood cancer deaths. Neuroblastomas rarely have mutations in p53, with less than 2% of NB containing mutations in p53, compared to up to 60% for other tumor classes. Previous studies on the therapeutic combination of a DNA damaging agent and checkpoint kinase 1 (Chk1) inhibitor have shown that DNA damage-induced cell cycle arrest can be specifically abrogated in p53-defective tumors. However, some p53-wildtype tumors have also been shown to be sensitive to this therapeutic combination, suggesting that these cells have other defects in the p53 response that can be exploited for therapeutic purposes. In the current study, we investigated the response to the combination of a DNA damaging agent (SN38) and a Chk1 inhibitor (UCN-01) of four p53-wildtype neuroblastoma cell lines: SK-N-SH, SH-SY5Y, SK-N-AS, and Lan-5. When the cells were treated with concentrations of SN38 ranging from 0–30 ng/ml, all four cell lines accumulated p53 which was phosphorylated on serines 15 and 20. However, only the SK-N-SH were found to activate p21waf1 and repress cyclin B. In order to assess sensitivity to UCN-01-mediated abrogation of cell cycle arrest, cell were treated with 10 ng/ml SN38 for 24 h, followed by 25 nM UCN-01 for 6 and 24 h. The SK-N-SH showed no sensitivity to UCN-01 treatment whereas the SH-SY5Y, SK-N-AS, and Lan-5 abrogated G2 arrest within 24 h. Our recent studies revealed that cells that are sensitive to checkpoint abrogation lack p53 dimers and tetramers, so we analyzed the oligomerization status of p53 in all four cell lines using glutaraldehyde crosslinking. The SK-N-SH cells possessed levels of p53 dimers and tetramers similar to what has previously been reported in p53-wildtype MCF10A cells. The SH-SY5Y, SK-N-AS, and Lan-5 however, had extremely low to undetectable levels of dimers and tetramers. Our study also showed no cytoplasmic accumulation of p53 in these cells contrary to some previous reports. The results of this study suggest that oligomerization status may serve as an indicator of sensitivity of p53-wildtype tumors to the therapeutic combination of DNA damaging agent and Chk1 inhibitor.