bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Biological Activities of Extracts from Ageratum fastigiatum: Phytochemical Study and In Silico Target Fishing Approach
Authors: Sudan Carolina Reis Cerqueira , Pereira Lucas Campos , Silva Andréia Fonseca , Moreira Carolina Paula de Souza , de Oliveira Denise Scoaris , Faria Gilson , dos Santos Janete Soares Coelho , Leclercq Sophie Yvette , Caldas Sergio , Silva Cláudia Gontijo , Lopes Júlio César Dias , de Almeida Vera Lúcia
Published: September 2021

In the present study, the ethanolic extract from aerial parts of Ageratum fastigiatum was evaluated in vitro against epimastigote forms of Trypanosoma cruzi (Y strain), promastigote forms of Leishmania amazonensis (PH8 strain), and L. chagasi (BH400 strain). The extract was also evaluated against Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25 923), Escherichia coli (ATCC 11 775), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 10 145), and Candida albicans (ATCC 36 802). The phytochemical screening was performed by thin-layer chromatography and high-performance liquid chromatography. The extract was fractionated using flash preparative chromatography. The ethanolic extract showed activity against T. cruzi, L. chagasi, and L. amazonensis and antimicrobial activity against S. aureus, E. coli, P. aeruginosa, and C. albicans. The phytochemical screening revealed coumarins, terpenes/sterols, and flavonoids in the
ethanolic extract. In addition, the coumarin identified as ayapin was isolated from this extract. We also performed in silico prediction of potential biological activities and targets for compounds previously found in A. fastigiatum. Several predictions were confirmed both retrospectively and prospectively by experimental results described here or elsewhere. Some activities described in the in silico target fishing approach were validated by the ethnopharmacological use and known biological properties. Some new activities and/or targets were predicted and could guide future studies. These results suggest that A. fastigiatum can be an interesting source of substances with antiparasitic and antimicrobial activities.
Baseline Working Memory Predicted Response to Low-Dose Ketamine
Infusion in Patients with Treatment-Resistant Depression
Authors: Chen Mu-Hong , Lin Wei-Chen , Li Cheng-Ta , Tsai Shih-Jen , Wu Hui-Ju , Bai Ya-Mei , Hong Chen-Jee , Tu Pei-Chi , Su Tung-Ping
Published: September 2021

Introduction Pretreatment neurocognitive function may predict the
treatment response to low-dose ketamine infusion in patients with
treatment-resistant depression (TRD). However, the association between working
memory function at baseline and the antidepressant efficacy of ketamine infusion
remains unclear.

Methods A total of 71 patients with TRD were randomized to one of three
treatment groups: 0.5 mg/kg ketamine, 0.2 mg/kg
ketamine, or normal saline. Depressive symptoms were measured using the 17-item
Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) at baseline and after treatment.
Cognitive function was evaluated using working memory and go-no-go tasks at
baseline.

Results A generalized linear model with adjustments for demographic
characteristics, treatment groups, and total HDRS scores at baseline revealed
only a significant effect of working memory function (correct responses and
omissions) on the changes in depressive symptoms measured by HDRS at baseline
(F=12.862, p<0.05). Correlation analysis further showed a
negative relationship (r=0.519, p=0.027) between pretreatment
working memory function and changes in HDRS scores in the
0.5 mg/kg ketamine group.

Discussion An inverse relationship between pretreatment working memory
function and treatment response to ketamine infusion may confirm that low-dose
ketamine infusion is beneficial and should be reserved for patients with
TRD.
Extended-Duration Low-Intensity Apixaban to Prevent Recurrence in Patients with Provoked Venous Thromboembolism and Enduring Risk Factors: Rationale and Design of the HI-PRO Trial
Authors: Bikdeli Behnood , Hogan Heather , Morrison Ruth B. , Fanikos John , Campia Umberto , Barns Briana M. , Pfeferman Mariana B. , Snyder Julia E. , Khairani Candrika D. , Goldhaber Samuel Z. , Piazza Gregory
Published: September 2021

Patients with acute venous thromboembolism (VTE) in the setting of transient provoking factors are typically treated with short-term anticoagulation. However, the risk of recurrence may be increased in the presence of enduring risk factors. In such patients, the optimal duration of treatment remains uncertain. HI-PRO is a single-center, double-blind randomized trial. Patients with deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or pulmonary embolism (PE) following a major provoking factor, including major surgery or major trauma, who completed at least 3 months of standard-dose therapeutic anticoagulation and have at least one enduring risk factor (such as obesity or heart failure) will be considered for inclusion. Patients will be randomized to apixaban 2.5 mg twice daily or placebo for 12 months. The primary efficacy outcome will be symptomatic recurrent VTE—a composite of DVT and/or PE at 12 months after randomization. Secondary efficacy outcomes include a composite of death due to cardiovascular causes, nonfatal myocardial infarction, stroke or systemic embolism, major adverse limb events, or coronary or peripheral ischemia requiring revascularization at 12 months, and individual components of these outcomes. The primary safety outcome is major bleeding according to the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis definition. The study plans to enroll 600 patients (300 per arm) to have 80% power for detecting a 75% relative risk reduction in the primary outcome. Active recruitment began in March 2021. HI-PRO will provide clinically meaningful data on whether patients with provoked VTE and enduring risk factors have fewer adverse clinical outcomes if prescribed low-intensity extended-duration anticoagulation.
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Associated with Prolonged Opiate Use, Increased Short-Term Complications, and the Need for Revision Surgery following Total Knee Arthroplasty
Authors: Lemme Nicholas J. , Glasser Jillian Lynn , Yang Daniel S. , Testa Edward J. , Daniels Alan H. , Antoci Valentin
Published: September 2021

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a condition which causes a substantial burden to patients, physicians, and the health care system at large. Medical comorbidities are commonly associated with adverse health outcomes in the postoperative period. Here, we present a large database review of patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty (TKA) to determine the effect of COPD on patient outcomes. The PearlDiver database was queried for all patients who underwent TKA between 2007 and the first quarter of 2017. Medical complications, surgical complications, 30-day readmission rates, revision rates, and opioid utilization were assessed at various intervals following TKA among patients with and without COPD. Multivariable regression was used to calculate adjusted odds ratios controlling for age, sex, and medical comorbidities. A total of 46,769 TKA patients with COPD and 120,177 TKA patients without COPD were studied. TKA patients with COPD experienced increased risk of 30-day readmission (40.8% vs. 32.2%, p < 0.0001), 30-day total medical complications (10.2% vs. 7.0%, p < 0.0001), prosthesis explanation at 6 months (0.4% vs. 0.2, p = 0.0130), 1 year (0.6% vs. 0.3%, p = 0.0005), and 2 years (0.8% vs. 0.5%, p = 0.0003), as well as an increased rate of revision (p < 0.0046) compared to TKA patients without COPD. Opioid utilization of TKA patients with COPD was greater significantly than that of TKA patients without COPD at 3, 6, and 12 months. Patients with COPD have an increased risk for medical and surgical complications, readmission, and prolonged opioid use following TKA.
The Impact of COVID-19 on Plastic Surgery Training in the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia—A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Budden Curtis R , Rannard Francesca , Mennie Joanna , Bulstrode Neil
Published: September 2021

Background Surgical trainees worldwide have been thrust into a period of uncertainty, with respect to the implications COVID-19 pandemic will have on their roles, training, and future career prospects. It is currently unclear how plastic surgery trainees are being affected by COVID-19. This study examined the experience of plastic surgery trainees in Canada, the UK, and Australia to determine trainee roles during the early COVID-19 emergency response and how training changed during this time.

Methods A cross-sectional survey-based study was designed for plastic surgery trainees in the UK, Canada and Australia. In total, 110 trainees responded to the survey. Statistical tests were conducted to determine differences in responses, based on year of training and country of residence.

Results In total, 9.7% (10/103) of respondents reported being deployed to cover another service. There was a significant difference between redeployment based on country (p = 0.001). Within the UK group, 28.9% of respondents were redeployed. For trainees not deployed, 95.5% (85/89) reported that there has been a reduction in operative volume. Ninety-seven (94.1%) respondents reported that there were ongoing teaching activities offered by their program. The majority of trainees (66.4%) were concerned about their training. There was a significant difference between overall concern and country (p < 0.05).

Conclusion In these unprecedented times, training programs in plastic surgery should be aware of the major impact that COVID-19 has had on trainees and will have on their training. The majority of plastic surgery trainees have experienced a reduction in surgical exposure but have maintained some form of regular teaching.
Wide-Awake Approach for Flexor Digitorum Superficialis Tendon Transfer Followed by Early Active Mobilization
Authors: Kuroda Takuma , Moriya Koji , Tsubokawa Naoto , Narisawa Hiroko , Maki Yutaka , Inagaki Katsunori , Yoshizu Takae
Published: September 2021

Background The standard clinical practice to treat closed ruptures of the flexor digitorum profundus (FDP) tendons includes free tendon grafting; however, it is not suitable when the muscle amplitude of the ruptured FDP is not sufficient. We report outcomes of six patients who underwent flexor digitorum superficialis (FDS) tendon transfer of the ring finger using the wide-awake approach to repair the closed rupture of the FDP tendon of the little finger in zone 3 or 4.

Methods The patients were identified by reviewing our institutional billing records from January 2012 to October 2019 for the International Classification of Disease 10 code M66.3 that describes the diagnosis as “spontaneous rupture of flexor tendons.”

Results The patients comprised two men and four women with an average age of 72.2 years (standard deviation [SD], 8.4 years). All patients were hospitalized after surgery to undergo early active mobilization. The average total active motion at the final evaluation was 201.8° (range: 85–248°). According to Strickland’s criteria, outcomes were excellent for two, good for three, and poor for one patient. No patients complained about the ring finger.

Conclusion These results suggest that FDS tendon transfer is recommended when the muscle amplitude of the ruptured FDP is insufficient. We believe that the wide-awake approach and early active mobilization may contribute to satisfactory outcomes.
Orthognathic Surgery—LeFort I Osteotomy
Authors: Weiss Robert O. , Ong Adrian A. , Reddy Likith V. , Bahmanyar Sara , Vincent Aurora G. , Ducic Yadranko
Published: September 2021

Orthognathic surgery is a complex type of facial surgery that can have a profound impact on a patient's occlusal function and facial aesthetics. Close collaboration between the maxillofacial surgeon and an orthodontist is required, and the surgical team must have a strong foundation in facial analysis and firm understanding of the maxillofacial skeleton to achieve surgical success. Herein, we review the maxillary LeFort I osteotomy as it pertains to orthognathic surgery, with particular attention to the indications, contraindications, preoperative assessment, surgical technique, and possible complications encountered.
The Use of Navigation or Robotic-Assisted Technology in Total Knee Arthroplasty Does Not Reduce Postoperative Pain
Authors: Zak Stephen Gerard , Yeroushalmi David , Tang Alex , Meftah Morteza , Schnaser Erik , Schwarzkopf Ran
Published: September 2021

The use of intraoperative technology (IT), such as computer-assisted navigation (CAN) and robot-assisted surgery (RA), in total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is increasingly popular due to its ability to enhance surgical precision and reduce radiographic outliers. There is disputing evidence as to whether IT leads to better clinical outcomes and reduced postoperative pain. The purpose of this study was to determine if use of CAN or RA in TKA improves pain outcomes. This is a retrospective review of a multicenter randomized control trial of 327 primary TKAs. Demographics, surgical time, IT use (CAN/RA), length of stay (LOS), and opioid consumption (in morphine milligram equivalents) were collected. Analysis was done by comparing IT (n = 110) to a conventional TKA cohort (n = 217). When accounting for demographic differences and the use of a tourniquet, the IT cohort had shorter surgical time (88.77 ± 18.57 vs. 98.12 ± 22.53 minutes; p = 0.005). While postoperative day 1 pain scores were similar (p = 0.316), the IT cohort has less opioid consumption at 2 weeks (p = 0.006) and 1 month (p = 0.005) postoperatively, but not at 3 months (p = 0.058). When comparing different types of IT, CAN, and RA, we found that they had similar surgical times (p = 0.610) and pain scores (p = 0.813). Both cohorts had similar opioid consumption at 2 weeks (p = 0.092), 1 month (p = 0.058), and 3 months (p = 0.064) postoperatively. The use of IT in TKA does not yield a clinically significant reduction in pain outcomes. There was also no difference in pain or perioperative outcomes between CAN and RA technology used in TKA.
Simulating the effects of misalignment on impinging jet behavior
Authors: Lim Alane
Published: September 2021

Misalignment effect on the atomization of impinging jets revealed.
Kruskal’s simplification scheme in ferrite dynamics
Authors: Lemoula Romuald K. K. , Kamdem Brice A. , Kuetche Victor K. , Noule Raïssa S. , Defo Jean J. , Youssoufa Saliou
Published: September 2021

In this work, we deal with the dynamics of a ferromagnet slab of zero conductivity under the influence of an external magnetic field and submitted to an electromagnetic wave perturbation as described by coupled complex-valued system equations. As a result, with the aid of the Painlevé analysis, we find that for the above ferrite system to support microwave excitations, the damping factor raised from the Landau–Lifshitz–Gilbert formalism ought to vanish while implying the existence of some set of infinite law of conservations. Following the underlying feature of Kruskal’s approach to generating in a straightforward manner some typical solutions, we henceforth discuss the physical implications of the traveling waveguide excitations.
Surface anchoring mediates bifurcation in nematic microflows within cylindrical capillaries
Authors: Steffen Paul , Stellamanns Eric , Sengupta Anupam
Published: September 2021

Capillary microflows of liquid crystal phases are central to material, biological and bio-inspired systems. Despite their fundamental and applied significance, a detailed understanding of the stationary behavior of nematic liquid crystals (NLC-s) in cylindrical capillaries is still lacking. Here, using numerical simulations based on the continuum theory of Leslie, Ericksen, and Parodi, we investigate stationary NLC flows within cylindrical capillaries possessing homeotropic (normal) and uniform planar anchoring conditions. By considering the material parameters of the flow-aligning NLC, 5CB, we report that instead of the expected, unique director field monotonically approaching the alignment angle over corresponding Ericksen numbers (dimensionless number capturing viscous vs elastic effects), a second solution emerges at a threshold flow rate (or applied pressure gradient). We demonstrate that the onset of the second solution, a nematodynamic bifurcation yielding distinct director configurations at the threshold pressure gradient, can be controlled by the surface anchoring and the flow driving mechanism (pressure-driven or volume-driven). For homeotropic surface anchoring, this alternate director field orients against the alignment angle in the vicinity of the capillary center; while in the uniform planar case, the alternate director field extends throughout the capillary volume, leading to reduction of the flow speed with increasing pressure gradients. While the practical realization and utilization of such nematodynamic bifurcations still await systematic exploration, signatures of the emergent rheology have been reported by the authors previously within microfluidic environments, under both homeotropic and planar anchoring conditions.
Exploring the limits of Solov'ev profiles
Authors: Maceda-Ramírez O. , Carrera-Padilla C. R. , Salguero-Martínez K. , Segura-Ramírez M. A. , Herrera-Velázquez J. J. E.
Published: September 2021

Solov'ev profiles, which are the simplest that allow analytic solutions for the Grad–Shafranov (G–Sh) equation, can reproduce some features of experimental equilibria when the free parameters are appropriately chosen. The purpose of this paper is to study how the freedom in the choice of the parameters and the number of terms in a series solution to the homogeneous equation affect the equilibria obtained. Keeping equatorial symmetry for simplicity, the limits of this approach are tested. The behavior of the solutions for devices with different sizes and aspect ratios, such as ITER, ST40, and MAST-U, is studied, and also examples in which physically relevant figures of merit are found. While the toroidal current density profile is necessarily limited, and cannot be realistic, some of the main features of the magnetic field flux surfaces can be obtained. Three sets of parameters are distinguished, so their roles can be better understood: (1) The geometrical parameters of the boundary conditions, which determine the last closed magnetic field flux surface, (2) The general parameters of an experiment, such as the plasma current, the major radius, and the toroidal magnetic field at the major radius, and (3) the Solov'ev parameters. The regions of acceptable values for the Solov'ev parameters, are identified, depending on the topology of the solutions.
Electrical investigation of a pin-to-plane dielectric barrier discharge in contact with water
Authors: Tian Tian , Rabat Hervé , Magureanu Monica , Aubry Olivier , Hong Dunpin
Published: September 2021

Numerous investigations on plasma–liquid interaction have been published in the literature using various reactor geometries. However, our understanding of the basic configuration of a pin-to-plane dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) in contact with water is still incomplete. We, therefore, performed the electrical diagnostics of such a discharge, operated in an AC regime with sinusoidal high voltage, focusing mainly on the power injected into the plasma in relation with several experimental parameters. It was found that the injected power increased linearly with the amplitude of the applied voltage, while without water, the evolution followed a second-order polynomial. In both cases, the discharge power was proportional approximately with the frequency. For the DBD above water, the power was about three times greater than that without water for the same air gap. It was observed that changing the discharge gap from 1 to 5 mm led to a slight increase in power by only 15%. The water conductivity also influenced the power injected into the plasma only to a small extent. Thus, the variation in water conductivity over four orders of magnitude determined a fluctuation in discharge power of ±20%.
A FPGA-based adaptive differential current source for electrical impedance tomography
Authors: Liu J. Z. , Li X. B. , Xiong H.
Published: September 2021

A high output impedance current source with a wide bandwidth is needed in electrical impedance tomography systems. Limitations appear mainly at higher frequencies and non-simple loads. In order to adjust the output current, the amplitude and phase are made to achieve the expected value automatically. A current source based on the field programmable gate array is designed. In this paper, we proposed a double DAC differential current source structure. By measuring the voltage of the sampling resistor in series with the load and using the proposed dynamic reference point demodulation algorithm, the actual current amplitude and phase on the load can be quickly obtained. Through the adaptive compensation module, the output current is adjusted to the expected value. The experimental results show that the output resistance of the current source can reach 10 MΩ and the output capacitance can be less than 0.8 pF in the frequency range of 10 kHz–1.28 MHz. At the same time, the current amplitude attenuation is less than 0.016%, and the phase error is less than 0.0025° after compensation. Therefore, the proposed current source achieves widebands, biocompatibility, and high precision.
Theoretical analysis of a 0.22 THz multistage confocal waveguide gyro-TWT with circle-sector-shaped electron beam
Authors: Yang Jie , Xu Shouxi , Wang Yong , Wang Xiaoyan
Published: September 2021

In order to improve the beam–wave interaction efficiency, a special circle-sector-shaped electron beam is designed and simulated in the confocal waveguide gyrotron traveling-wave tube (gyro-TWT). The linear and nonlinear characteristics of a 0.22 THz multistage confocal waveguide gyro-TWT are analyzed. Based on kinetic theory, the linear gain, critical current of absolute instability, and starting current of backward wave oscillation (BWO) are analyzed. A quasi-optical sever is utilized in the confocal waveguide to suppress the BWO while having a slight impact on the output power. Meanwhile, the impact of velocity spread on the output parameters is also taken into consideration. The nonlinear analyses indicate that the efficiency can be up to 34%, which is substantially higher than the traditional annular electron beam.
Who needs, receives and misses out on palliative and end-of-life care? A population-based study to identify needs and gaps in a regional health service
Authors: Westley-Wise Victoria , Moules Stephen , Masso Malcolm , Barclay Greg , Nangati Zivai , Allingham Sam , Davis Joanne , Eagar Kathy
Published: September 2021

Objective The aim of this study was to assess the unmet need for palliative and other end-of-life care, as well as the sociodemographic and diagnostic factors associated with suboptimal access, among residents in an Australian region. Methods A cross-sectional descriptive and analytical study was performed using non-identifiable linked data from four administrative and two clinical datasets. The study population comprised 3175 patients aged ≥15 years who died in hospital in 2016 and 2017. The main outcome measures were the proportion of decedents potentially benefitting from end-of-life care and receiving end-of-life care. Results An estimated 74.8% of decedents needed palliative or other end-of-life care in the year before death. Approximately 13.3% did not receive any end-of-life care despite its potential benefit. The highest proportions with ‘unmet need’ were decedents with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (31.0%) and heart failure (26.3%). Adjusting for sociodemographic and diagnostic factors, access was lowest among those aged <65 years (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 0.44; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.31–0.64) and those with heart failure (aOR 0.58; 95% CI 0.47–0.72). Conclusions Estimates of need and access provide a sound basis for planning local palliative and end-of-life care services. These methods can be used on an ongoing basis to monitor service delivery. What is known about this topic? There is a small but expanding literature on estimating the need for palliative care at a population level. There is a lack of data regarding access to palliative and other end-of-life care across multiple settings (e.g. home, specialist palliative care unit, hospital) and patient groups (e.g. defined by sociodemographics and diagnostics). What does this paper add? The study builds on previously used methods for estimating the need for palliative care, with some refinements, including the addition of ‘other clinical indications’ and the use of weights to derive more realistic estimates. The estimates of need are consistent with recent estimates from Australia and overseas, whereas the estimates of access are similar to a recent Australian estimate, but higher than estimates from overseas. The gaps in access are highest among those with the major types of chronic organ failure, particularly heart and respiratory. What are the implications for practitioners? The study demonstrates how routinely collected data at a regional level can be used to estimate need and access to palliative and end-of-life care, in the hospital and in the community. These methods of estimating need and unmet need can be used to inform the planning and development of services, as well as to monitor progress with implementation of changes in service provision.
TBK1 and IKKε act like an OFF switch to limit NLRP3 inflammasome pathway activation
Authors: Fischer Fabian A. , Mies Linda F. M. , Nizami Sohaib , Pantazi Eirini , Danielli Sara , Demarco Benjamin , Ohlmeyer Michael , Lee Michelle Sue Jann , Coban Cevayir , Kagan Jonathan C. , Di Daniel Elena , Bezbradica Jelena S.
Published: September 2021

Significance

The NLRP3 inflammasome is an innate sensor activated by signals released from pathogens or injured tissues. Activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome can be beneficial during infection and vaccination. Nonetheless, when NLRP3 activity is uncontrolled and chronic it becomes detrimental and contributes to inflammation-driven pathology in several diseases. Licensing mechanisms must exist that prevent unwanted NLRP3 inflammasome responses. Here, we characterize one such mechanism. We describe that TBK1 and IKKε, two closely related kinases activated upon TLR signaling, act as a novel OFF switch for the NLRP3 pathway. Using pharmacological and genetic approaches, we show that TBK1 and IKKε together limit the responses downstream of the NLRP3 inflammasome activation and work against the PP2A phosphatase ON switch to balance NLRP3 activity.
Neuromorphic learning with Mott insulator NiO
Authors: Zhang Zhen , Mondal Sandip , Mandal Subhasish , Allred Jason M. , Aghamiri Neda Alsadat , Fali Alireza , Zhang Zhan , Zhou Hua , Cao Hui , Rodolakis Fanny , McChesney Jessica L. , Wang Qi , Sun Yifei , Abate Yohannes , Roy Kaushik , Rabe Karin M. , Ramanathan Shriram
Published: September 2021

Significance

Neuromorphic computing requires emulation of animal learning in synthetic matter. Materials with highly tunable electronic structures and a dynamical response to environmental stimuli are particularly suited for this task. Here, we demonstrate universal learning characteristics such as habituation and sensitization in a prototypical quantum material, NiO. With stimuli such as oxygen, ozone, and light, the concentration of atomic defects can be modulated reversibly, resulting in changes to electrical conductivity that mimic nonassociative learning. The material behavior inspires new algorithms for unsupervised learning in neural networks and opens up new directions for use of Mott insulators in artificial intelligence.
Facilitation of neural responses to targets moving against optic flow
Authors: Nicholas Sarah , Nordström Karin
Published: September 2021

Significance

Target detection in visual clutter is a difficult computational task that insects, with their poor spatial resolution compound eyes and small brains, do successfully and with extremely short behavioral delays. We here show that the responses of target selective descending neurons are attenuated by background motion in the same direction as target motion but facilitated by background motion in the opposite direction. This finding is important for understanding how target pursuit can occur in tandem with gaze stabilization. Indeed, the neural facilitation would come into effect if the hoverfly is subjected to background motion in one direction but the target it is pursuing moves in the opposite direction and could therefore be used to override gaze stabilizing corrective turns.
North Atlantic jet stream projections in the context of the past 1,250 years
Authors: Osman Matthew B. , Coats Sloan , Das Sarah B. , McConnell Joseph R. , Chellman Nathan
Published: September 2021

Significance

The North Atlantic jet stream impacts North American and European societies and is expected to be influenced by ongoing 21st-century warming. To better contextualize recently observed and model-projected jet stream changes, long-term records are required. We use insights from a state-of-the-art water isotope–enabled climate model and a compilation of ice-core records from Greenland to reconstruct mean annual North Atlantic jet stream changes back to the 8th century CE. Our reconstruction suggests that observed jet stream variations are consistent with natural variations, despite dramatic warming across recent decades. Under unabated future warming, however, a progressive migration of the jet stream northward is projected to render it distinct from natural variability by 2060 CE.
Click-to-lead design of a picomolar ABA receptor antagonist with potent activity in vivo
Authors: Vaidya Aditya S. , Peterson Francis C. , Eckhardt James , Xing Zenan , Park Sang-Youl , Dejonghe Wim , Takeuchi Jun , Pri-Tal Oded , Faria Julianna , Elzinga Dezi , Volkman Brian F. , Todoroki Yasushi , Mosquna Assaf , Okamoto Masanori , Cutler Sean R.
Published: September 2021

Significance

Abscisic acid (ABA) is a phytohormone that plants utilize to coordinate responses to abiotic stress, modulate seed dormancy, and is central to plant development in several contexts. Chemicals that activate or block ABA signaling are useful as research tools and as potential agrochemical leads. Many successes have been reported for ABA activators (agonists), but existing ABA blockers (antagonists) are limited by modest in vivo activity. Here we report antabactin (ANT), a potent ABA blocker developed using “click chemistry”–based diversification of a known ABA activator. Structural studies reveal, ANT disrupts signaling by stabilizing ABA receptors in an unproductive form. ANT can accelerate seed germination in multiple species, making it a chemical tool for improving germination.
Evidence for biosurfactant-induced flow in corners and bacterial spreading in unsaturated porous media
Authors: Yang Judy Q. , Sanfilippo Joseph E. , Abbasi Niki , Gitai Zemer , Bassler Bonnie L. , Stone Howard A.
Published: September 2021

Significance

Here, we demonstrate a previously unreported mechanism of bacterial spreading in unsaturated porous media, which can inform understanding of soil contamination by pathogens, soft rot in plants, and potentially many pulmonary diseases. We discover that surfactant-producing bacteria establish self-generated flows along corners by producing surfactants that change the wettability of the solid surface. We validate this corner flow mechanism in a model of soil consisting of packed grains. These results provide a mechanistic explanation for observations that the spread of bacteria increases with increasing surfactants in soil and plants. The biosurfactant-driven corner flow has an average velocity of millimeters per hour, which is significant in terms of the spread of bacteria (e.g., pathogens) in soil and other unsaturated porous media.
A local history of Tok Pisin
Authors: Sankoff Gillian
Published: September 2021

Research on language contact in Papua New Guinea beginning in the mid 1960s, prior to national independence, revealed linguistic micro-evolution as constrained by society, culture, and people’s relationships “on the ground”. Among speakers of Buang, most men and women under 40 were already fluent in Tok Pisin. Many also spoke another Austronesian language learned at missionary schools: Yabem. Exploring the micro-evolution of Buang speech varieties along the river valley, this chapter situates ‘place’ as fundamental in the differentiation of Buang speech varieties. It further attempts to show how the inter-influence of speech varieties in complex repertoires can be culturally framed as natural and unproblematic.
Conventionalized creativity in the emergence of a mixed language – A case study of Light Warlpiri
Authors: O'Shannessy Carmel
Published: September 2021

Questions of how contact languages are best categorized and how their paths of development are most accurately described remain contentious. Mixed languages or split languages raise many unanswered questions about mechanisms of change in multilingual contexts, and how they lead to specific structural outcomes. An examination of the structure of Light Warlpiri, a mixed language spoken in a Warlpiri community in northern Australia, shows that the main mechanism of change is insertional code-switching where a verbal phrase from one language, Kriol (an English-lexified Creole) is inserted into a string of another language, Warlpiri. The result is a way of speaking that is mixed at every level, and can be categorized as underlyingly Warlpiri with innovative insertions and reanalyses from Kriol.
Learnability and ecological factors as motivators of language change
Authors: Efrat-Kowalsky Nour
Published: September 2021

This chapter adopts Mufwene’s (2001) framework according to which language acquisition is a process whereby competition and selection of linguistic features from the inputs create a unique idiolect. It examines the principles of selection of a given feature over others, and the mechanisms by which a feature spreads across a community (i.e., from one idiolect to another). These questions are addressed at the individual and population levels by analysing data from a twitter corpus. The frequency of a feature in the input as well as a suggested learnability factor are relevant to this discussion. Learnability is defined as the combination of the specific linguistic properties of a linguistic feature, and the universal human capacity to learn those specific properties.
Talking to children with atypical development
Authors: Fasulo Alessandra
Published: September 2021

Interactional studies of children with language impairments and their habitual interlocutors are key to understanding reciprocal adaptations in communication. The chapter is based on video recorded observations of three families at home, each with a child with Down Syndrome of approximately 6 years of age. The analysis focuses on the parental practice of asking the children ‘Are you going to’ questions. The results document two main uses: ‘request for information’ and ‘action solicit’. The analysis suggests that using the question as action solicit may hamper children’s comprehension and undermine their agency. A comparison with other action solicits and relative frequencies of use suggests family styles that either privilege a Requester’s Perspective or the Child’s Perspective. It is argued that, by privileging the Child’s Perspective, parents limit the imposition on children but subtract potential for normative and epistemic socialisation, as well as opportunities for the child to display their collaboration.
Language, interaction, and culture at school1
Authors: Caronia Letizia , Nasi Nicola
Published: September 2021

The chapter provides an overview of selected studies that, from the mid-twentieth century, have variously dealt with classroom language, interaction, and culture. Moving from the recognition that schools represent (at least in western societies) a major site for children’s socialization into the adult world, several ethnographic accounts of how this process concretely takes place in and through everyday classroom practices are presented and discussed. As the chapter illustrates, the focus on situated language use allows to appreciate how school is a lieu where the micro-macro dialectic emerges with particular evidence. Specifically, the chapter reports on research dealing with (a) classroom’ typical interactional structures, (b) teachers’ and pupils’ communicative practices, and (c) the interactional competence needed to appropriately participate in classroom everyday activities. An appraisal of the challenges that this multifaceted research field is facing in contemporary societies concludes the article.
Dialogicity in diapers
Authors: Pileri Anna
Published: September 2021

This chapter describes a systematic study of adult-child interactions at the nursery school in Italy and France. The research is based on the assumption that these interactions can play an important role in creating an inclusive educational context and ensuring children’s well being in it. Within the framework of communicative musicality theory and drawing on video microanalysis, we focus on the interactions occurring during the main transition moments of the nursery everyday life: the welcome-separation and reunion phase at the beginning and the end of the school day. We identify and describe two profile of interaction respectively characterized by attunement and misattunement, and make a case of their dramatic difference in ensuring a “good enough” transition between the two main contexts of children’s development, the home and the school.
Building bridges
Authors: Hughes Joanne , Loader Rebecca
Published: September 2021

This chapter examines group talk between Catholic and Protestant teachers in Northern Ireland as they discuss their collaboration on a Shared Education project. Shared Education is an initiative which offers opportunities for teachers and pupils from different communities to engage with each other and to promote positive and harmonious group interaction across the divided society in Northern Ireland. The chapter discusses the historical, social and geopolitical context in which teachers represent themselves and how this informs their views on the role of (cross-cultural) educational initiatives.Using discourse analysis, we illustrate how the teachers’ dialogue evidences both a struggle with competing and contested cultural positions and world views. We discuss how an exposition of teacher dialogue can be used as a tool of reflection in consideration of how to progress shared education.
Language, culture and social interaction
Authors: Caronia Letizia
Published: September 2021

In the 20th century, a theoretical insight surfaced and gradually prevailed as an agreed upon framework to (re)thinking children’s socialization and socio-cognitive development: language and interaction are the main tools through which cultures, social organization, moral orders as well as individuals’ identities are constituted on everyday bases. Philosophical arguments, anthropological systematic observations, psycho- and socio-linguistic empirical studies and some strands in developmental psychology converged toward a dialogical turn and set the premises for studying the constitutive role of language and social interaction in children becoming culturally competent members of their communities. This introductory essay reconstructs the landscape of theories and research that paved the way for contemporary sensitivity to children’s socio-cultural and cognitive development as a complex, multifaceted and radically dialogical phenomenon.
Intercrypt sentinel macrophages tune antibacterial NF-κB responses in gut epithelial cells via TNF
Authors: Hausmann Annika , Felmy Boas , Kunz Leo , Kroon Sanne , Berthold Dorothée Lisa , Ganz Giverny , Sandu Ioana , Nakamura Toshihiro , Zangger Nathan Sébastien , Zhang Yang , Dolowschiak Tamas , Fattinger Stefan Alexander , Furter Markus , Müller-Hauser Anna Angelika , Barthel Manja , Vlantis Katerina , Wachsmuth Laurens , Kisielow Jan , Tortola Luigi , Heide Danijela , Heikenwälder Mathias , Oxenius Annette , Kopf Manfred , Schroeder Timm , Pasparakis Manolis , Sellin Mikael Erik , Hardt Wolf-Dietrich
Published: September 2021

Intestinal epithelial cell (IEC) NF-κB signaling regulates the balance between mucosal homeostasis and inflammation. It is not fully understood which signals tune this balance and how bacterial exposure elicits the process. Pure LPS induces epithelial NF-κB activation in vivo. However, we found that in mice, IECs do not respond directly to LPS. Instead, tissue-resident lamina propria intercrypt macrophages sense LPS via TLR4 and rapidly secrete TNF to elicit epithelial NF-κB signaling in their immediate neighborhood. This response pattern is relevant also during oral enteropathogen infection. The macrophage–TNF–IEC axis avoids responses to luminal microbiota LPS but enables crypt- or tissue-scale epithelial NF-κB responses in proportion to the microbial threat. Thereby, intercrypt macrophages fulfill important sentinel functions as first responders to Gram-negative microbes breaching the epithelial barrier. The tunability of this crypt response allows the induction of defense mechanisms at an appropriate scale according to the localization and intensity of microbial triggers.
Can ionic concentration changes due to mechanical deformation be responsible for the neurostimulation caused by focused ultrasound? A simulation study
Authors: Filkin Vladimir , Kuznetsov Igor , Antonova Olga , Tarotin Ilya , Nemov Alexander , Aristovich Kirill
Published: September 2021

Objective. Ultrasound stimulation is an emerging neuromodulation technique, for which the exact mechanism of action is still unknown. Despite the number of hypotheses such as mechanosensitive ion channels and intermembrane cavitation, they fail to explain all of the observed experimental effects. Here we are investigating the ionic concentration change as a prime mechanism for the neurostimulation by the ultrasound. Approach. We derive the direct analytical relationship between the mechanical deformations in the tissue and the electric boundary conditions for the cable theory equations and solve them for two types of neuronal axon models: Hodgkin–Huxley and C-fibre. We detect the activation thresholds for a variety of ultrasound stimulation cases including continuous and pulsed ultrasound and estimate the mechanical deformations required for reaching the thresholds and generating action potentials (APs). Main results. We note that the proposed mechanism strongly depends on the mechanical properties of the neural tissues, which at the moment cannot be located in literature with the required certainty. We conclude that given certain common linear assumptions, this mechanism alone cannot cause significant effects and be responsible for neurostimulation. However, we also conclude that if the lower estimation of mechanical properties of neural tissues in literature is true, or if the normal cavitation occurs during the ultrasound stimulation, the proposed mechanism can be a prime cause for the generation of APs. Significance. The approach allows prediction and modelling of most observed experimental effects, including the probabilistic ones, without the need for any extra physical effects or additional parameters.
On the justification of the Poisson–Boltzmann equation in the context of technological plasmas
Authors: Köhn Kevin , Krüger Dennis , Kemaneci Efe , Xu Liang , Eremin Denis , Brinkmann Ralf Peter
Published: September 2021

The Poisson–Boltzmann (PB) equation is a nonlinear differential equation for the electric potential that describes equilibria of conducting fluids. Its standard justification is based on a variational principle which characterizes the thermodynamic equilibrium of a system in contact with a heat reservoir as a minimum of the Helmholtz free energy. The PB equation is also employed in the context of technological plasmas. There, however, the standard justification is inapplicable: technological plasmas are neither in thermodynamic equilibrium nor in contact with heat reservoirs. This study presents an alternative variational principle which is based on the functionals of entropy, particle number, and electromagnetic enthalpy. It allows to justify the PB equation for a wide class of technological plasmas under realistic assumptions.
Design and implementation of an inverter and its application in ring oscillator circuits using an organic-thin-film-transistor based on an FTM-derived channel
Authors: Singh Abhishek Kumar , Dwivedi A D D , Pandey A , Chakrabarti P
Published: September 2021

The organic thin film transistor (OTFT) has evolved in a big way, eventually replacing inorganic-based solid-state devices. An extensive survey of the literature reveals that the full potential of OTFTs has neither been explored nor exploited for circuit-level implementation for logic circuit design, despite the popularity of these devices. We have fabricated a PBTTT-C14 (poly (2,5-bis (3-tetradecylthiophen 2yl) thieno (3,2b) thiophene)) based OTFT by using a low-cost solution-processable technique via the floating transfer method (FTM). The fabricated OTFT using FTM shows better electrical behavior than its counterpart fabricated by using the conventional solution-processable technique. The superior electrical characteristics of the FTM-derived devices prompted us to develop a compact model of the p-channel OTFT. The compact modeling results of OTFT show a reasonably good agreement with our experimental results. We have also designed and implemented a PBTTT-C14 OTFT-based inverter circuit and ring oscillator circuit to explore the future of organic-based integrated circuits.
Butt-joint regrowth method by MOCVD for integration of evanescent wave coupled photodetector and multi-quantum well semiconductor optical amplifier
Authors: Xiao Feng , Han Qin , Ye Han , Wang Shuai , Lu Zi-Qing , Xiao Fan
Published: September 2021

We have realized integration of evanescent wave coupled photodetector (ECPD) and multi-quantum well (MQW) semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA) on MOCVD platform by investigating butt-joint regrowth method of thick InP/InGaAsP waveguides to deep etched SOA mesas. The combination of inductively coupled plasma etching and wet chemical etching technique has been studied to define the final mesa shape before regrowth. By comparing the etching profiles of different non-selective etchants, we have obtained a controllable non-reentrant mesa shape with smooth sidewall by applying one step 2HBr:2H3PO4:K2Cr2O7 wet etching. A high growth temperature of 680 °C is found helpful to enhance planar regrowth. By comparing the growth morphologies and simulating optical transmission along different directions, we determined that waveguides should travel across the regrowth interface along the [110] direction. The relation between growth rate and mask design has been extensively studied and the result can provide an important guidance for future mask design and vertical alignment between the active and passive cores. ECPD-SOA integrated device has been successfully achieved by this method without further regrowth steps and provided a responsivity of 7.8 A/W. The butt-joint interface insertion loss is estimated to be 1.05 dB/interface.