bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Elucidating Contributions from Multiple Species during Photoconversion of Enhanced Green Fluorescent Protein (EGFP) under Ultraviolet Illumination
Authors: Dhamija Shaina , De Arijit K.
Published: February 2021

Photocycle in wild‐type green fluorescent protein (wt‐GFP) involves generation of a bright fluorescent deprotonated chromophore from feebly fluorescent protonated form via excited‐state proton transfer. In addition to this usual photocycle, wt‐GFP is also known to exhibit irreversible photoconversion upon illumination with ultraviolet and visible radiation. However, a detailed understanding of photoconversion in enhanced GFP (EGFP: S65T/F64L mutant of wt‐GFP), which predominantly exists in deprotonated form, is yet to be explored. Using 254 nm irradiation, we study how photoconversion proceeds in EGFP. The key findings are observation of spreading out of an isosbestic point and existence of an initial lag phase in spectral kinetics of absorbance, indicative of sequential photoconversion through an intermediate. Fluorescence kinetics of EGFP and its photoproduct are estimated by assigning two unique fluorescence lifetimes which is further complicated by the fact that their fluorescence are spectrally inseparable, as evident from global analysis of fluorescence lifetime. Time‐resolved fluorescence anisotropy studies further suggest minimal structural changes in protein scaffold upon photoconversion. Based on these findings, an analytic model is developed to account for the overall decay in fluorescence (as photoconversion proceeds) that inherently incorporates the initial lag phase and a summary of energetics and processes involved is provided.
scRNA‐seq of ovarian follicle granulosa cells from different fertility goats reveals distinct expression patterns
Authors: Li Zengkuan , Wang Junjie , Zhao Yong , Ma Dongxue , Zhao Minghui , Li Na , Men Yuhao , Zhang Yuan , Chu Huimin , Lei Chuzhao , Shen Wei , El‐Mahdy Othman Othman , Min Lingjiang
Published: February 2021

The new technology of high‐throughput single‐cell RNA sequencing (10 × scRNA‐seq) was developed recently with many advantages. However, it was not commonly used in farm animal research. There are few reports for the gene expression of goat ovarian follicle granulosa cells (GCs) during different developmental stages. In the current investigation, the gene expression of follicle GCs at different stages from two populations of Ji'ning grey goats: high litter size (HL; ≥3/L; 2 L) and low litter size (LL; ≤2 /L; 2 L) were analysed by scRNA‐seq. Many GC marker genes were identified, and the pseudo‐time showed that GCs developed during the time course which reflected the follicular development and differentiation trajectory. Moreover, the gene expression difference between the two populations HL versus LL was very clear at different developmental stages. Many marker genes differentially expressed at different developmental stages. ASIP and ASPN were found to be highly expressed in the early stage of GCs, INHA, INHBA, MFGE8 and HSD17B1 were identified to be highly expressed in the growing stage of GCs, while IGFBP2, IGFBP5 and CYP11A1 were found to be highly expressed in late stage. These marker genes could be used as reference genes of goat follicle GC development. This investigation for the first time discovered the gene expression patterns in goat follicle GCs in high‐ or low‐fertility populations (based on litter size) by scRNA‐seq which may be useful for uncovering the oocyte development potential.
“Counsels of Wisdom: An ancient Babylonian instruction for scribal students”
Authors: Lenzi Alan
Published: February 2021

This article provides a historical and cultural contextualization of the Babylonian poem entitled “Counsels of Wisdom,” an example of the ancient “instruction” genre also attested in Egyptian and Biblical literature. After a brief description of the poem's textual basis and reconstruction from cuneiform tablets, the article offers an interpretation of the poem within the context of Babylonian scribal curricula. Specifically, the article argues “Counsels of Wisdom” was a pedagogical text that school masters used to instill important personal and professional values in future scribes during their training. In the course of developing this interpretation, the article also presents an introductory literary treatment of “Counsels of Wisdom,” including discussions of the poem's genre, structure, content, poetics, and ethical and religious perspectives.
The use of text‐based responses to improve our understanding and prediction of suicide risk
Authors: Jacobucci Ross , Ammerman Brooke A. , Tyler Wilcox Kenneth
Published: February 2021

Objective

Text‐based responses may provide significant contributions to suicide risk prediction, yet research including text data is limited. This may be due to a lack of exposure and familiarity with statistical analyses for this data structure.

Method

The current study provides an overview of data processing and statistical algorithms for text data, guided by an empirical example of 947 online participants who completed both open‐ended items and traditional self‐report measures. We give an introduction to a number of text‐based statistical approaches, including dictionary‐based methods, topic modeling, word embeddings, and deep learning.

Results

We analyze responses from the open‐ended question “How do you feel today?”, detailing characteristics of the responses, as well as predicting past‐year suicidal ideation.

Conclusions

We see the analysis of text from social media, open‐ended questions, and other text sources (i.e., medical records) as an important form of complementary assessment to traditional scales, shedding insight on what we are missing in our current set of questionnaires, which may ultimately serve to improve both our understanding and prediction of suicide.
A network perspective on suicidal behavior: Understanding suicidality as a complex system
Authors: de Beurs Derek , Bockting Claudi , Kerkhof Ad , Scheepers Floortje , O’Connor Rory , Penninx Brenda , van de Leemput Ingrid
Published: February 2021

Background

Suicidal behavior is the result of complex interactions between many different factors that change over time. A network perspective may improve our understanding of these complex dynamics. Within the network perspective, psychopathology is considered to be a consequence of symptoms that directly interact with one another in a network structure. To view suicidal behavior as the result of such a complex system is a good starting point to facilitate moving away from traditional linear thinking.

Objective

To review the existing paradigms and theories and their application to suicidal behavior.

Methods

In the first part of this paper, we introduce the relevant concepts within network analysis such as network density and centrality. Where possible, we refer to studies that have applied these concepts within the field of suicide prevention. In the second part, we move one step further, by understanding the network perspective as an initial step toward complex system theory. The latter is a branch of science that models interacting variables in order to understand the dynamics of complex systems, such as tipping points and hysteresis.

Results

Few studies have applied network analysis to study suicidal behavior. The studies that do highlight the complexity of suicidality. Complexity science offers potential useful concepts such as alternative stable states and resilience to study psychopathology and suicidal behavior, as demonstrated within the field of depression. To date, one innovative study has applied concepts from complexity science to better understand suicidal behavior. Complexity science and its application to human behavior are in its infancy, and it requires more collaboration between complexity scientists and behavioral scientists.

Conclusions

Clinicians and scientists are increasingly conceptualizing suicidal behavior as the result of the complex interaction between many different biological, social, and psychological risk and protective factors. Novel statistical techniques such as network analysis can help the field to better understand this complexity. The application of concepts from complexity science to the field of psychopathology and suicide research offers exciting and promising possibilities for our understanding and prevention of suicide.
Taking charge and stepping in: Individuals who punish are rewarded with prestige and dominance
Authors: Redhead Daniel , Dhaliwal Nathan , Cheng Joey T.
Published: February 2021

A hallmark of human societies is the scale at which we cooperate with many others, even when they are not closely genetically related to us. One proposed mechanism that helps explain why we cooperate is punishment; cooperation may pay and proliferate if those who free ride on the cooperation of others are punished. Yet this ‘solution’ raises another puzzle of its own: Who will bear the costs of punishing? While the deterrence of free‐riders via punishment serves collective interests, presumably any single individual—who has no direct incentive to punish—is better off letting others pay the costs of punishment. However, emerging theory and evidence indicate that, while punishment may at times be a costly act, certain individuals are better able to ‘afford’ to pay the price of punishment and are often consequentially rewarded with fitness‐enhancing reputation benefits. Synthesizing across these latest lines of research, we propose a novel framework that considers how high status individuals—that is, individuals with greater prestige or dominance—enjoy lower punishment costs. These individuals are thus more willing to punish, and through their punitive action can in turn reap reputational rewards by further gaining more prestige or dominance. These reputational gains, which work in concert to promote the social success of punishers, recoup the costs of punishing. Together, these lines of work suggest that while punishment is often assumed to be altruistic, it need not always depend on altruism, and motivations to punish may at times be self‐interested and driven (whether consciously or unconsciously) by reputational benefits.
Alles eine Frage von Kosten und Nutzen? Eine Aggregatdatenanalyse der Abstimmungsbeteiligung in den deutschen Bundesländern zwischen 1946 und 2019
Authors: Thomeczek Jan Philipp
Published: February 2021

Direct democracy in Germany is primarily practiced at the state level. However, little research has analysed why participation rates vary, sometimes drastically, between individual referendums in Germany. The following article addresses this research gap with an analysis of a new aggregate dataset of participation in referendums in the federal states between 1946 and 2019. Based on the Rational Choice Theory of voting, three main factors may explain the variance in participation rates. Higher participation rates can be anticipated when the expected benefit for voters is high (state‐initiated referendums, constitutional or restructuring referendums); when the participation costs are reduced (by combining referendums with salient parallel elections); and when the result is expected to be close. The article demonstrates the analytical usefulness of the Rational Choice Approach. It can serve as a starting point for future empirical referendum participation research, which is hardly developed in Germany, especially at the individual level.
The Lying Test, Ambiguity, and Determination of Content: Lying and Determination of Content
Authors: Vignolo Massimiliano
Published: February 2021

For many philosophers, the Lying Test is a reliable instrument for collecting data in semantics. Michaelson argued that the Lying Test does not fall prey to the problem with ambiguity that limits the Cancellability Test of Gricean inspiration. I contend that Michaelson's argument in favor of the Lying Test overlooks two fundamental aspects of what determine the content of an utterance.
Justice, Symmetry, and Voting Rights Ceilings
Authors: Volacu Alexandru
Published: February 2021

In this article I aim to offer a first critical assessment of the most prominent arguments in favour of restricting the voting rights of senior citizens. The first argument discussed, most thoroughly articulated by van Parijs, maintains that intergenerational justice would be improved under schemes which restrict the voting rights of senior citizens, thereby diminishing their overall electoral weight. The second argument, reconstructed from Lau's defence of child enfranchisement, maintains that the cognitive decline associated with the process of aging should lead us to treat children and senior citizens identically in respect to electoral rights; thus, if we agree that children should not have the right to vote, consistency dictates that senior citizens should be disenfranchised as well. I respond to these arguments with several objections, arguing that the former relies on a number of faulty empirical premises and has deeply unattractive implications for enfranchisement once consistently applied, and that the latter fails to make empirically salient distinctions between children and senior citizens when it comes to the political domain.
Loquat (Eriobotrya japonica (Thunb.) Lindl) population genomics suggests a two‐staged domestication and identifies genes showing convergence/parallel selective sweeps with apple or peach
Authors: Wang Yunsheng , Paterson Andrew H.
Published: February 2021

Crop domestication and evolution represent key fields of plant and genetics research. Here, we re‐sequenced and analyzed whole genome data from 51 wild accessions and 53 representative cultivars of Eriobotrya japonica, an important semi‐subtropical fruit crop. Population genomics analysis suggested that modern cultivated E. japonica experienced a two‐staged domestication fitting the “marginality model,” being initially domesticated in west‐northern Hubei province from a mono‐phylogenetic wild progenitor, then refined mainly in Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Fujian provinces of China. Cultivated E. japonica has experienced little reduction in genome‐wide nucleotide polymorphism compared with wild forms. Genes responsible for sugar biosynthesis were enriched in regions harboring putative selective sweeps. An approach based on co‐clustering into gene families and evaluating chromosome colinearity of orthologous and paralogous genes was used to identify convergent/parallel selective sweeps among different crops. Specifically, more than one hundred of orthologs and paralogs undergoing selective sweeps were identified between loquat, apple and peach, among which 14 encoded “UDP glycosyltransferase 1.” In sum, the study not only provided valuable information for breeding of E. japonica, but also enriched knowledge of crop domestication.
Engineering and optimization of the 2‐phenylethylglucosinolate production in Nicotiana benthamiana by combining biosynthetic genes from Barbarea vulgaris and Arabidopsis thaliana
Authors: Wang Cuiwei , Crocoll Christoph , Agerbirk Niels , Halkier Barbara Ann
Published: February 2021

2‐Phenylethylglucosinolate (2PE) derived from homophenylalanine is present in plants of the Brassicales order as a defense compound. It is associated with multiple biological properties, including deterrent effects on pests and antimicrobial and health‐promoting functions, due to its hydrolysis product 2‐phenylethyl isothiocyanate, which confers 2PE as a potential application in agriculture and industry. In this study, we characterized the putative key genes for 2PE biosynthesis from Barbarea vulgaris W.T. Aiton and demonstrated the feasibility of engineering 2PE production in Nicotiana benthamiana Domin. We used different combinations of genes from B. vulgaris and Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh. to demonstrate that: (i) BvBCAT4 performed more efficiently than AtBCAT4 in biosynthesis of both homophenylalanine and dihomomethionine; (ii) MAM1 enzymes were critical for the chain‐elongated profile, while CYP79F enzymes accepted both chain‐elongated methionine and homophenylalanine; (iii) aliphatic but not aromatic core structure pathway catalyzed the 2PE biosynthesis; (iv) a chimeric pathway containing BvBCAT4, BvMAM1, AtIPMI and AtIPMDH1 resulted in a two‐fold increase in 2PE production compared with the B. vulgaris‐specific chain elongation pathway; and (v) profiles of chain‐elongated products and glucosinolates partially mirrored the profiles in the gene donor plant, but were wider in N. benthamiana than in the native plants. Our study provides a strategy to produce the important homophenylalanine and 2PE in a heterologous host. Furthermore, chimeric engineering of the complex 2PE biosynthetic pathway enabled detailed understanding of catalytic properties of individual enzymes – a prerequisite for understanding biochemical evolution. The new‐to‐nature gene combinations have the potential for application in biotechnological and plant breeding.
Effects of storage time and temperature on thromboelastographic analysis in dogs and horses
Authors: Lemon Ashleigh V. , Goddard Amelia , Hooijberg Emma H.
Published: February 2021

Background

The accessibility of thromboelastography (TEG) to general practitioners is limited by short sample storage times (30 minutes) and storage temperatures (20‐23°C).

Objectives

We aimed to evaluate the stability of canine and equine citrated blood samples when stored for extended periods of time, both at room temperature (RT) (20‐23°C) and refrigerator temperature (FT) (2‐7.5°C).

Methods

Citrated whole blood samples from healthy dogs and horses (n = 10 for each) were stored for 30 minutes (baseline) at RT before TEG analysis. Baseline values for TEG variables R, K, α, MA, LY30, and LY60 were compared with those from samples stored for 2, 8, and 22.5 h, at RT and FT. Results were compared using an ANOVA (P < .05). Total allowable analytical error (TEa) based on biological variation data was used to evaluate stability.

Results

In dogs, statistically significant differences included shorter R, longer K, decreased MA, and increased LY60 at various time points and storage temperatures from 2 h onward. Only samples stored for 2 h at FT showed acceptable stability compared with TEa. In horses, statistically significant differences included shorter R and K, and decreased α, LY30, and LY60 at various time points and storage temperatures from 2 h onward. Samples were not stable at any time compared with TEa, regardless of the temperature.

Conclusions

In this study, canine samples could be stored for up to 2 h at FT without affecting TEG results; equine samples should be stored for 30 minutes at RT.
Windows of action for controlling palmer amaranth (Amaranthus palmeri) using emergence and phenology models
Authors: Reinhardt Piskackova Theresa A. , Reberg‐Horton Samuel Chris , Richardson Robert J. , Jennings Katie M. , Franca Lucas , Young Bryan G. , Leon Ramon G.
Published: February 2021

Amaranthus palmeri S. Watson is a competitive weed native to North America with many herbicide‐resistant biotypes that have been spreading around the world. Due to its fast growth, farmers need to optimise control timing to reduce the risk of escapes. This study tracked A. palmeri emergence and phenology using days or growing degree days (GDD, Tbase = 15°C; thermal time or hydrothermal time). While A. palmeri has been observed emerging throughout the summer growing season, this study found that 90% of total season A. palmeri emerged before July in the absence of a crop canopy. Using thermal time, emergence could be predicted in different locations and years: reaching 10%, 50% and 90% at 77, 278 and 593 GDD from January 1, respectively. From the time of emergence, 10% of A. palmeri were 10 cm tall after 148 GDD, showed first signs of inflorescence by 212 GDD, and open florets by 419 GDD. Also, 50% of A. palmeri plants had reached the respective stages by 244, 394 and 796 GDD. Using the probability of A. palmeri to reach different phenological stages over time as a function of emergence prediction, critical control windows were determined based on thresholds for risk of escapes. Many tactics and times of action are important for managing this weed. Information about A. palmeri biology indicates these actions could be timed more effectively using weather data and predictive models.
The Use of Pricing Tools to Leverage the Business Partners’ Profitability
Authors: Machado Diogo , Fernandes Rui
Published: February 2021

The profitability set per customer of a given organization implies several challenges, from the calculation of the net pricing to the development of a cost allocation system within the company's processes. Thus, the work proposed aims at exploring the potential of a customer evaluation methodology, using pricing techniques as a supporting tool, where the analysis of the customer clusters profitability will be done, in order to identify profitability patterns, according to the characteristics of the relationship between the customer and the company, including the customer's supply chain role, the dimension and the potential of the business under study, the types of business relationships that are established, as well as the relative effects of each cluster own characteristics in the overall business relationship. After developing the methodology, the customer profitability will be analyzed and recommendations will be set, highlighting and quantifying the possible improvements in the contribution, under leveraging techniques by the average and sensitivity analysis simulations. These insights will support the companies in their pricing decisions also as shifting their focus towards attracting and retaining the customers from the more profitable clusters.
Reviewer Acknowledgements
Authors: Willianms Ellery
Published: February 2021

Business and Management Studies (BMS) would like to acknowledge the following reviewers for their assistance with peer review of manuscripts for this issue. Many authors, regardless of whether BMS publishes their work, appreciate the helpful feedback provided by the reviewers. Their comments and suggestions were of great help to the authors in improving the quality of their papers. Each of the reviewers listed below returned at least one review for this issue.Reviewers for Volume 7, Number 1Andrzej Niemiec, Poznań University of Economics and Business, PolandFábio Albergaria de Queiroz, Catholic University of Brasília, BrazilJennilyn Castillo Mina, Nueva Ecija University of Science and Technology, PhilippinesMajdi Khaleeli, Khawarizmi International College, UAEMythili Kolluru, College of Banking and Financial Studies, OmanNEBA Cletus YAH, University of Douala, CameroonNedra Nouradeen Shili, Jazan University - KSA, TunisiaSandeep Kumar, Tecnia Institute of Advanced Studies, Affiliated to GGSIP University Delgi, IndiaTetiana Paientko, Kyiv National Economic Univercity, UkraineZoran Mastilo, University of East Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina Ellery WillianmsEditorial AssistantOn behalf of,The Editorial Board of Business and Management StudiesRedfame Publishing9450 SW Gemini Dr. #99416Beaverton, OR 97008, USAURL: http://bms.redfame.com
Acute moderate‐intensity aerobic exercise promotes purinergic and inflammatory responses in sedentary, overweight and physically active subjects
Authors: Moritz Cesar Eduardo Jacintho , Boeno Franccesco Pinto , Vieira Alexandra Ferreira , Munhoz Samuel Vargas , Scholl Juliete Nathali , de Fraga Dias Amanda , Pizzato Pauline Rafaela , Figueiró Fabrício , Battastini Ana Maria Oliveira , Reischak‐Oliveira Alvaro
Published: February 2021

New Finding

What is the central question of this study?

How does moderate‐intensity aerobic exercise affect the behaviour of purinergic enzymes in sedentary, overweight and physically active subjects? What is the relationship between purinergic and inflammatory responses triggered by exercise?

What is the main finding and its importance?

Moderate‐intensity aerobic exercise modifies the activity of purinergic enzymes and the levels of nucleotides and nucleosides. These results are similar in subjects with different biological characteristics. 5′‐Nucleotidase activity and adenosine levels are associated with inflammatory responses. This study suggests that a purinergic pathway is related to the inflammatory responses triggered by exercise.

Purinergic signalling is a mechanism of extracellular communication that modulates events related to exercise, such as inflammation and coagulation. Herein, we evaluated the effects of acute moderate‐intensity exercise on the activities of purinergic enzymes and plasma levels of adenine nucleotides in individuals with distinct metabolic characteristics. We analysed the relationship between purinergic parameters, inflammatory responses and cardiometabolic markers. Twenty‐four healthy males were assigned to three groups: normal weight sedentary (n = 8), overweight sedentary (n = 8) and normal weight physically active (n = 8). The volunteers performed an acute session of moderate‐intensity aerobic exercise on a treadmill at 70% of ; blood samples were drawn at baseline, immediately post‐exercise and at 1 h post‐exercise. Immediately post‐exercise, all subjects showed increases in ATP, ADP, AMP and p‐nitrophenyl thymidine 5′‐monophosphate hydrolysis, while AMP hydrolysis remained increased at 1 h after exercise. High‐performance liquid chromatography analysis demonstrated lower levels of ATP and ADP at post‐ and 1 h post‐exercise in all groups. Conversely, adenosine and inosine levels increased at post‐exercise, but only adenosine remained augmented at 1 h after exercise in all groups. With regard to inflammatory responses, the exercise protocol increased tumour necrosis factor α (TNF‐α) and interleukin 8 (IL‐8) concentrations in all subjects, but only TNF‐α remained elevated at 1 h after exercise. Significant correlations were found between the activity of 5′‐nucleotidase, adenosine levels, , triglyceride, TNF‐α and IL‐8 levels. Our findings suggest a purinergic signalling pathway that participates, at least partially, in the inflammatory responses triggered by acute moderate‐intensity exercise. The response of soluble nucleotidases to acute moderate exercise appears to be similar between subjects of different biological profiles.
Intermediate Dynamic Compression and Decreased Posterior Tilt With Interlocked Pins in Femoral Neck Fixation in Synthetic Bone
Authors: Brattgjerd Jan Egil , Niratisairak Sanyalak , Steen Harald , Strømsøe Knut
Published: February 2021

Fixation failure with resulting non-union is the key complication after femoral neck fixation. It can be avoided by permitting dynamic compression and reducing rotation and posterior tilt of the femoral head. To achieve this, a novel implant that features an interlocking plate with three hook-pins (The Hansson Pinloc® System) was developed from the original two hook-pins. Only an enhanced torsional fixation by the implant modification is reported. The purpose was to compare the biomechanical compressive and bending stability of the original and modified implant in femoral neck fixation. To analyze the contribution of both modified components, three individual pins were included, although not in regular use. Forty-eight synthetic femurs with mid-cervical wedge osteotomies were fixated by two pins or identical triangular pin patterns with or without the plate. Eight specimens of each group were loaded cyclically in compression with an inferior wedge to simulate stance and anteroposterior bending with a posterior wedge to imitate sitting down. The clinically relevant stability measurements were stiffness and deformation. Fissure formation defined failure. The novel implant improved bending stability by 30% increased stiffness, 44% reduced deformation, and less frequent posterior neck fissure formation (p < 0.001) while increased compressive stability was only evident with 25% reduced deformation and less frequent inferior neck fissures (p < 0.001). These impacts were mainly mediated by the third pin, while the plate prevented a lateral fissure in compression (p < 0.001). The clinical stability was improved by dynamic compression and decreased posterior tilt by implant modification.
In Vitro Mechanical Characterization and Modeling of Subcutaneous Adipose Tissue: A Comprehensive Review
Authors: Sun Zhaonan , Gepner Bronislaw D. , Cottler Patrick S. , Lee Sang-Hyun , Kerrigan Jason R.
Published: February 2021

Mechanical models of adipose tissue are important for various medical applications including cosmetics, injuries, implantable drug delivery systems, plastic surgeries, biomechanical applications such as computational human body models for surgery simulation, and blunt impact trauma prediction. This article presents a comprehensive review of in vivo experimental approaches that aimed to characterize the mechanical properties of adipose tissue, and the resulting constitutive models and model parameters identified. In particular, this study examines the material behavior of adipose tissue, including its nonlinear stress–strain relationship, viscoelasticity, strain hardening and softening, rate-sensitivity, anisotropy, preconditioning, failure behavior, and temperature dependency.
Grooving of Metals by High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound-Assisted Water-Confined Laser Micromachining
Authors: Liu Ze , Wu Benxin , Xu Rong , Zhao Kejie
Published: February 2021

Laser grooving (i.e., the production of surface grooves through laser machining) has several advantages and many current or potential industrial applications. However, conventional laser grooving in air may often suffer from quality defects such as debris depositions. A new machining process, with the name “ultrasound-assisted water-confined laser micromachining” (UWLM), was previously proposed by the corresponding author. In UWLM, in situ ultrasound is applied during laser machining of a water-immersed workpiece surface region to improve the machining quality and/or efficiency. If the ultrasound is applied using a high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) transducer, the process can be called “HIFU-based UWLM.” Despite previous investigations on UWLM, to the authors' best knowledge, experimental studies on surface grooving using a HIFU-based UWLM process have been rarely reported in any paper. Such a study has been presented in this paper (for the first time in a paper to the authors' best knowledge). In this work, surface grooves are produced through the ablation of a moving workpiece immersed in water by laser pulses fired at a pulse repetition rate of 1 kHz or 3 kHz. Each laser pulse is followed by a focused ultrasound pulse (from a HIFU transducer) that reaches the workpiece surface approximately 30 µs later. The laser spot on the workpiece surface is approximately at the same location as the geometrical focal point of the HIFU transducer. Under the conditions investigated, it has been found that typically the grooves produced by the HIFU-based UWLM process appear much cleaner and have much smaller amounts of debris particles and recast material than those produced by laser ablation in air, and they typically have much larger depths than those by laser ablation in water without ultrasound. Some related fundamental physical mechanisms have been discussed. The study suggests that the HIFU-based UWLM process has a great potential to provide a new surface grooving technology with competitive performance.
Evaluating the Profile of Psychological Strategies: An Applied Profile for Assessing the Perceived Effectiveness of Athletes’ Psychological Strategies in Sport
Authors: Doğan Umut
Published: February 2021

An alternative assessment tool called the Profile of Psychological Strategies (ProPS) was recently developed to measure athletes’ perceptions of (a) which strategies they use, (b) to pursue which psychological outcomes, and (c) how effective their strategies are in pursuing those psychological outcomes. This case study explains the process of evaluating this new, flexible, and highly applied tool’s theoretical validity/coherence, reliability, and immediate utility with 101 competitive athletes. This study showed that the theoretical validity and reliability of even nonstandardized, highly applied assessment tools can be evaluated. The ProPS was found to have good preliminary levels of divergent validity and immediate utility. The ProPS was also preliminarily found to have acceptable levels of known-group, concurrent, and convergent evidence, as well as test–retest reliability. Athletes in higher resilience and/or lower concentration disruption groups tended to report higher levels of effectiveness in selected psychological strategies. This case study can be useful for sport experts, especially sport psychology practitioners, wishing to use the ProPS to measure athletes’ psychological strategies and for those aiming to evaluate their own applied assessment tool.
Sleep Characteristics of Elite Youth Athletes: A Clustering Approach to Optimize Sleep Support Strategies
Authors: Suppiah Haresh T. , Swinbourne Richard , Wee Jericho , Tay Vanes , Gastin Paul
Published: February 2021

Purpose: Elite athletes experience chronic sleep insufficiency due to training and competition schedules. However, there is little research on sleep and caffeine use of elite youth athletes and a need for a more nuanced understanding of their sleep difficulties. This study aimed to (1) examine the differences in sleep characteristics of elite youth athletes by individual and team sports, (2) study the associations between behavioral risk factors associated with obstructive sleep apnea and caffeine use with sleep quality, and (3) characterize the latent sleep profiles of elite youth athletes to optimize the sleep support strategy. Methods: A group (N = 135) of elite national youth athletes completed a self-administered questionnaire consisting of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and questions pertaining to obstructive sleep apnea, napping behavior, and caffeine use. K-means clustering was used to characterize unique sleep characteristic subgroups based on PSQI components. Results: Athletes reported 7.0 (SD = 1.2) hours of sleep. Out of the total group, 45.2% of the athletes had poor quality sleep (PSQI global >5), with team-sport athletes reporting significantly poorer sleep quality than individual-sport athletes. Multiple logistic regression analysis indicated that sport type significantly correlated with poor sleep quality. The K-means clustering algorithm classified athletes’ underlying sleep characteristics into 4 clusters to efficiently identify athletes with similar underlying sleep issues to enhance interventional strategies.Conclusion: These findings suggest that elite youth team-sport athletes are more susceptible to poorer sleep quality than individual-sport athletes. Clustering methods can help practitioners characterize sleep-related problems and develop efficient athlete support strategies.
Spatial heterogeneity and environmental predictors of permafrost region soil organic carbon stocks
Authors: Mishra Umakant , Hugelius Gustaf , Shelef Eitan , Yang Yuanhe , Strauss Jens , Lupachev Alexey , Harden Jennifer W. , Jastrow Julie D. , Ping Chien-Lu , Riley William J. , Schuur Edward A. G. , Matamala Roser , Siewert Matthias , Nave Lucas E. , Koven Charles D. , Fuchs Matthias , Palmtag Juri , Kuhry Peter , Treat Claire C. , Zubrzycki Sebastian , Hoffman Forrest M. , Elberling Bo , Camill Philip , Veremeeva Alexandra , Orr Andrew
Published: February 2021

Heterogeneous environmental controls on permafrost region soil organic carbon stocks can now be quantified with spatial modeling.
Enhancement of liver-directed transgene expression at initial and repeat doses of AAV vectors admixed with ImmTOR nanoparticles
Authors: Ilyinskii Petr O. , Michaud Alicia M. , Roy Christopher J. , Rizzo Gina L. , Elkins Stephanie L. , Capela Teresa , Chowdhury Aparajita C. , Leung Sheldon S. , Kishimoto Takashi K.
Published: February 2021

Liver-directed AAV transgene expression is enhanced by ImmTOR nanoparticles.
Atmospheric aging enhances the ice nucleation ability of biomass-burning aerosol
Authors: Jahl Lydia G. , Brubaker Thomas A. , Polen Michael J. , Jahn Leif G. , Cain Kerrigan P. , Bowers Bailey B. , Fahy William D. , Graves Sara , Sullivan Ryan C.
Published: February 2021

Ability of biomass-burning smoke particles to glaciate clouds increases as the plume undergoes atmospheric dilution and aging.
Injectable hydrogel with MSNs/microRNA-21-5p delivery enables both immunomodification and enhanced angiogenesis for myocardial infarction therapy in pigs
Authors: Li Yan , Chen Xin , Jin Ronghua , Chen Lu , Dang Ming , Cao Hao , Dong Yun , Cai Bolei , Bai Guo , Gooding J. Justin , Liu Shiyu , Zou Duohong , Zhang Zhiyuan , Yang Chi
Published: February 2021

On-demand controlled miR-21-5p delivery system integrates immune modification and proangiogenesis assists MI therapy.
Cryo-EM structure of a proton-activated chloride channel TMEM206
Authors: Deng Zengqin , Zhao Yonghui , Feng Jing , Zhang Jingying , Zhao Haiyan , Rau Michael J. , Fitzpatrick James A. J. , Hu Hongzhen , Yuan Peng
Published: February 2021

Cryo-EM reveals structural insights into a new class of chloride channels that underlies acid-sensitive anion currents.
R.U.R.
versus
Q.U.R.
Authors: Murphy Robin R.
Published: February 2021

R.U.R.
created the term “robot” and the robot uprising meme, but
Q.U.R.
may be more relevant to robotics.
Effect of an Adenovirus-Vectored Universal Influenza Virus Vaccine on Pulmonary Pathophysiology in a Mouse Model
Authors: Dhakal Santosh , Loube Jeffrey , Misplon Julia A. , Lo Chia-Yun , Creisher Patrick S. , Mulka Kathleen R. , Deshpande Sharvari , Mitzner Wayne , Klein Sabra L. , Epstein Suzanne L.
Published: February 2021

Respiratory viruses can emerge and spread rapidly before vaccines are available. It would be a tremendous advance to use vaccines that protect against whole categories of viruses, such as universal influenza vaccines, without the need to predict which virus will emerge.
Microfilaments and Microtubules Alternately Coordinate the Multistep Endosomal Trafficking of Classical Swine Fever Virus
Authors: Cheng Yan , Lou Jin-xiu , Liu Chun-chun , Liu Ya-yun , Chen Xiong-nan , Liang Xiao-dong , Zhang Jin , Yang Qian , Go Yun Young , Zhou Bin
Published: February 2021

Endocytosis, an essential biological process mediating cellular internalization events, is often exploited by pathogens for their entry into target cells. Previously, we reported different mechanisms of CSFV endocytosis into the porcine epithelial cells (PK-15) and macrophages (3D4/21); however, the details of microfilaments/microtubules mediated virus migration within the host cells remained to be elucidated.
HIV-1 Uses Dynamic Podosomes for Entry into Macrophages
Authors: Li Wei , Liu Ji , Liu Yuanyuan , Li Qin , Yin Wen , Wanderi Kevin K. , Zhang Xiaowei , Zhang Zhiping , Zhang Xian-En , Cui Zongqiang
Published: February 2021

Macrophages are motile leukocytes and play critical roles in HIV-1 infection and AIDS progression. Podosomes, as small dynamic adhesion microdomains driven by the dynamic actin cytoskeleton, are mainly involved in cell migration of macrophages.
Draft Genome Sequence of
Flavobacterium
sp. Strain PL002, Isolated from Antarctic
Porphyra
Algae
Authors: Teoh Chui Peng , Lavin Paris , Najimudin Nazalan , Lee Ping Chin , Iancu Lavinia , Purcarea Cristina , Wong Clemente Michael Vui Ling
Published: February 2021

Here, we report the draft genome sequence of
Flavobacterium
sp. strain PL002, isolated from Antarctic
Porphyra
algae. The 4,299,965-bp genome sequence is assembled into 170 contigs, has 32.92% GC content, and 3,734 predicted genes.
Coding-Complete Genome Sequence of a Partitivirus Isolated from Pine Processionary Moth Eggs
Authors: Dorkeld Franck , Streiff Réjane , Kerdelhué Carole , Ogliastro Mylène
Published: February 2021

Two coding-complete nucleotide sequences of a partitivirus (family
Partitiviridae
) were discovered in transcriptomic data sets obtained from eggs of the Lepidoptera
Thaumetopoea pityocampa
. Each segment encodes a single open reading frame, and these two segments are predicted to encode an RNA-dependent RNA polymerase and a coat protein, respectively.
Complete Genome Sequence of Escherichia coli Strain FEX669, a ColV Plasmid-Containing Isolate from Retail Chicken Meat
Authors: Elder Jacob R. , Liu Yanhong , Kanrar Siddhartha , Gehring Andrew , Xu Aixia , Sommers Christopher H. , Johnston Brian D. , Johnson James R.
Published: February 2021

Escherichia coli
strain FEX669 was isolated from retail ground chicken and shown to contain the extraintestinal pathogenic
E. coli
(ExPEC) virulence genes
sfaD/focC
and
iutA
. Because this presumptive ExPEC strain was isolated from a retail food item and it was a weak biofilm former, it was characterized using whole-genome sequencing using the PacBio RS II platform.
Antimicrobial Potential of the Alkalophilic Fungus Sodiomyces alkalinus and Selection of Strains–Producers of New Antimicotic Compound
Authors: Kuvarina A. E. , Georgieva M. L. , Rogozhin E. A. , Kulko A. B. , Gavryushina I. A. , Sadykova V. S.
Published: February 2021

The ability of alkalophilic micromycetes of the species Sodiomyces alkalinus to produce antimicrobial compounds was studied. As a result of the determination of the spectrum and yield of antibiotic compounds, a promising producer of the antimycotics Sodiomyces alkalinus was selected from the most active strains 8KS17-10. The producer exhibited antifungal activity against opportunistic fungi, as well as pathogenic clinical isolates of molds and yeasts—pathogens of systemic mycoses. The isolated active compound can be attributed to the group of antimicrobial glycopeptides based on the totality of the identified structural features (molecular weight, absorption ratio at certain wavelengths).
Gastrointestinal mucosal damage in patients with COVID-19 undergoing endoscopy: an international multicentre study
Authors: Vanella Giuseppe , Capurso Gabriele , Burti Cesare , Fanti Lorella , Ricciardiello Luigi , Souza Lino Andre , Boskoski Ivo , Bronswijk Michiel , Tyberg Amy , Krishna Kumar Nair Govind , Angeletti Stefano , Mauro Aurelio , Zingone Fabiana , Oppong Kofi W. , de la Iglesia-Garcia Daniel , Pouillon Lieven , Papanikolaou Ioannis S. , Fracasso Pierluigi , Ciceri Fabio , Rovere-Querini Patrizia , Tomba Carolina , Viale Edi , Eusebi Leonardo Henry , Riccioni Maria Elena , van der Merwe Schalk , Shahid Haroon , Sarkar Avik , Yoo Jin Woo (Gene) , Dilaghi Emanuele , Speight R. Alexander , Azzolini Francesco , Buttitta Francesco , Porcari Serena , Petrone Maria Chiara , Iglesias-Garcia Julio , Savarino Edoardo V. , Di Sabatino Antonio , Di Giulio Emilio , Farrell James J. , Kahaleh Michel , Roelandt Philip , Costamagna Guido , Artifon Everson Luiz de Almeida , Bazzoli Franco , Testoni Per Alberto , Greco Salvatore , Arcidiacono Paolo Giorgio
Published: February 2021

Background

Although evidence suggests frequent gastrointestinal (GI) involvement during coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), endoscopic findings are scarcely reported.

Aims

We aimed at registering endoscopic abnormalities and potentially associated risk factors among patients with COVID-19.

Methods

All consecutive patients with COVID-19 undergoing endoscopy in 16 institutions from high-prevalence regions were enrolled. Mann-Whitney U, χ2or Fisher’s exact test were used to compare patients with major abnormalities to those with negative procedures, and multivariate logistic regression to identify independent predictors.

Results

Between February and May 2020, during the first pandemic outbreak with severely restricted endoscopy activity, 114 endoscopies on 106 patients with COVID-19 were performed in 16 institutions (men=70.8%, median age=68 (58–74); 33% admitted in intensive care unit; 44.4% reporting GI symptoms). 66.7% endoscopies were urgent, mainly for overt GI bleeding. 52 (45.6%) patients had major abnormalities, whereas 13 bled from previous conditions. The most prevalent upper GI abnormalities were ulcers (25.3%), erosive/ulcerative gastro-duodenopathy (16.1%) and petechial/haemorrhagic gastropathy (9.2%). Among lower GI endoscopies, 33.3% showed an ischaemic-like colitis.

Receiver operating curve analysis identified D-dimers >1850 ng/mL as predicting major abnormalities. Only D-dimers >1850 ng/mL (OR=12.12 (1.69–86.87)) and presence of GI symptoms (OR=6.17 (1.13–33.67)) were independently associated with major abnormalities at multivariate analysis.

Conclusion

In this highly selected cohort of hospitalised patients with COVID-19 requiring endoscopy, almost half showed acute mucosal injuries and more than one-third of lower GI endoscopies had features of ischaemic colitis. Among the hospitalisation-related and patient-related variables evaluated in this study, D-dimers above 1850 ng/mL was the most useful at predicting major mucosal abnormalities at endoscopy.

Trial registration number

ClinicalTrial.gov (ID:NCT04318366).
Separate and combined relationships for cardiorespiratory fitness and muscular strength with visceral fat and insulin sensitivity in adolescents with obesity
Authors: Lee SoJung , Pooni Rubin , Arslanian Silva , Han Minsub , Kuk Jennifer L.
Published: February 2021

We examined the separate and combined associations for cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and muscular strength (MS) with total and regional fat, and insulin sensitivity (IS) in 204 adolescents (BMI ≥85th percentile, 12–18 years) at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh. CRF was measured by maximum oxygen consumption during a graded treadmill test. MS was quantified by combining 1-repetition maximum test for the leg and bench press. Participants were stratified as having either high or low CRF and MS based on sex-specific median split. Both high CRF and high MS groups had lower (P < 0.05) total fat after adjustment for sex, Tanner stage and ethnicity than the low CRF and MS groups (Difference: 6.6, 2.6–9.6% and 5.4, 2.4–8.3%, respectively). High CRF, but not high MS, had lower visceral (67.5 versus 77.9 cm2, P < 0.01) and intermuscular fat (3.6 versus 4.0 kg, P = 0.01) than the low CRF groups. Differences by CRF remained significant after adjustment for MS. High CRF, but not high MS, was associated (P < 0.05) with lower fasting glucose and higher IS after accounting for sex, Tanner stage and ethnicity than the low CRF group, and high CRF remained associated with these markers after adjustment for MS. High CRF is associated with lower total and regional fat, and higher IS after adjustment for MS.

Novelty: CRF is associated with lower total fat, visceral and intermuscular fat, and higher insulin sensitivity adjusting for muscular strength. Muscular strength is not associated with regional body fat and insulin sensitivity after accounting for CRF.
Adsorption and diffusion of Li/Na atom on blue phosphorene with defects by first-principles calculations
Authors: Zhang Ji , Liu Daojun
Published: February 2021

Two-dimensional materials such as blue phosphorene (BlueP) as a substitute for conventional anode materials in lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) and sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) have garnered significant attention recently because of their large surface areas, ultrafast intrinsic carrier mobilities, and shorter ion diffusion paths. In this study, the adsorption and diffusion properties of Li and Na ions on BlueP with defects are investigated through first-principles calculations. The calculations show that the adsorption energy increased from −0.64 to −1.50 eV for Li and from −0.72 to −1.61 eV for Na because of defects. Moreover, the defects resulted in middle bands in the density of states of BlueP, indicating enhanced electron localization. This may contribute to an increase in binding energies. However, it is discovered that Li and Na ion diffusion on the surface of BlueP with defects involves a larger migration energy barrier than Li and Na on pristine BlueP, which is disadvantageous to BlueP as a battery anode.