bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Micro/atomic-scale vibration induced superlubricity
Authors: Shi Shuai , Guo Dan , Luo Jianbin
Published: July 2020

With the rapid development of industry, the inconsistency between the rapid increase in energy consumption and the shortage of resources is becoming significant. Friction is one of the main causes of energy consumption; thus, the emergence of superlubricity technology can substantially improve the energy efficiency in motion systems. In this study, an efficient method to control superlubricity at the atomic-scale is proposed. The method employs vibrational excitation, which is called vibration induced superlubricity (VIS). The VIS can be easily and steadily achieved by employing external vibration in three directions. The simple method does not depend on the type of sample and conductivity. Dependence of oscillation amplitude, frequency, scanning speed, and normal force (FN)on friction were investigated. Experimental and simulated explorations verified the practical approach for reducing energy dissipation and achieving superlubricity at the atomic-scale.
Design thinking in the library space: Problem-solving signage like a graphic designer
Authors: Jalees Dania
Published: July 2020

Librarians and graphic designers have a lot in common. Both are information professionals that offer means or cues to help users navigate, understand and solve a problem within a certain space. Without the librarian, the library space itself becomes the interface where users are offered signage to problem-solve intuitively. Because of this, effective communication via signage and wayfinding becomes imperative to the library user experience. By empathizing with our patrons and clearly articulating what the problem is, it is possible to anticipate user needs, address them by utilizing the design-thinking process, and prototype solutions like a graphic designer. However, this is not a permanent, one-time process, and it will need to be repeated whenever the needs of the patrons evolve and new problems emerge.
The Colonial/Modern [Cis]Gender System and Trans World Traveling
Authors: Leo Brooklyn
Published: July 2020

Trans of Color inclusion is not simply a gesture of affectionate commitment to María Lugones's theory of impure communities. Rather, it is required for the enactment of her liberatory theory within and across communities of color. While María Lugones's historico-theoretical analysis of the colonial/modern gender system relies upon anthropological citations of Native gender and sexual diversity, she argues that we must bracket gender for the benefit of [cis]women of color feminisms. However, if this bracketing does not first carefully uncover cisgender histories of violence, then this decolonial feminist praxis reinscribes the invisibility of transphobia, racism, and colonialism's violent intersections, performing another mode of erasure and silence on Trans, Two-Spirit, and Nonbinary Native, Black, and Latinx peoples. In placing Lugones's texts into conversation with the voices of Two-Spirit and Trans of Color theorists, I argue that the mutilation of trans flesh makes possible the integration of [cis]People of Color into the gender–sex binary even if as failures. More important, this essay offers the beginnings of a phenomenological account of Trans World-Traveling, where the unruliness of Two-Spirit and Trans of Color bodies cocoons decolonial worlds from within the spiraling folds of abject flesh—always already in infra-communication with ancestral pasts, presents, and futures.
Probit or Logit? Which is the better model to predict the longevity of seeds?
Authors: de Faria Rute Q. , dos Santos Amanda R. P. , Amorim Deoclecio J. , Cantão Renato F. , da Silva Edvaldo A. A. , Sartori Maria M. P.
Published: July 2020

The prediction of seed longevity (P50) is traditionally performed by the use of the Probit model. However, due to the fact that the survival data are of binary origin (0,1), the fit of the model can be compromised by the non-normality of the residues. Consequently, this leads to prediction losses, despite the data being partially smoothed by Probit and Logit models. A possibility to reduce the effect of non-normality of the data would be to apply the principles of the central limit theorem, which states that non-normal residues tend to be normal as the n sample is increased. The Logit and Probit models differ in their normal and logistic distribution. Therefore, we developed a new estimation procedure by using a small increase of the n sample and tested it in the Probit and Logit functions to improve the prediction of P50. The results showed that the calculation of P50 by increasing the n samples from 4 to 6 replicates improved the index of correctness of the prediction. The Logit model presented better performance when compared with the Probit model, indicating that the estimation of P50 is more adequate when the adjustment of the data is performed by the Logit function.
From Suffragists to Pink Pussyhats: In Search of Intersectional Solidarity
Authors: Crowder Chaya , Smith Candis Watts
Published: July 2020

The 100th anniversary of the ratification of the Nineteenth Amendment is an opportunity to reflect on the role of women in American politics. The tools of intersectionality allow scholars to pinpoint the progress and pitfalls produced by ongoing modes of sexism and patriarchy as well as racism and classism. It is now well known that major movements for the rights of American women have not always addressed the issues specific to black women (Simien 2006). Indeed, in 1851, Sojourner Truth discussed this issue of not being included in conversations about women’s rights (or civil rights for blacks) in her alleged “Ain’t I a Woman” speech. Similarly, the fact that Ida B. Wells and other black women were told to process at the back of the 1913 Women’s March on Washington is another illustration of the historical exclusion of black women by their white counterparts (Boissoneault 2017). Decades later and even after the 1965 Voting Rights Act enforced black women’s enfranchisement, the Combahee River Collective (1977) noted the exclusion of issues that affect black women by both 1970s white feminist movements and male-dominated anti-racist movements.
Estimating and comparing cropland nitrogen need with dairy farm nutrient recovery: a case study in Whatcom County, WA
Authors: Stacey Nathan , Hills Karen , Yorgey Georgine
Published: July 2020

In agricultural regions, like Whatcom County, Washington, crop and dairy production co-exist, but increased agricultural specialization and intensification have divorced what was, historically, an integrated approach to production. This agricultural segregation contributes to farm, regional and watershed-scale nutrient imbalances, and several different management approaches have been devised to improve, correct and close these nutrient cycling disparities. In high-density production regions, utilizing locally produced bio-based fertilizers may provide one avenue toward closing regional nutrient loops. Technologies such as dairy-operated nutrient recovery systems may help improve the flow of nutrients between dairy and cropping systems by extracting nutrients from raw manure and producing materials that are more easily used on farms than raw manure. To evaluate the potential impact of a nutrient recovery system and its related product, we estimated nitrogen balances between cropland use and manure production within Whatcom County, Washington and examined a theoretical scenario in which a specific nutrient recovery product was utilized across the region. We considered one economic barrier, transportation cost, and calculated a hypothetical comparison for transporting nitrogen in two forms, a downstream nutrient recovery product and raw manure. The scenarios presented here demonstrate a potential gap between regional nutrient supply and demand, illustrate the tradeoffs with a technological approach, and make clear that both technological tools and practical management strategies are needed to address the challenges of redistributing nutrients in high-density production areas.
Science and Law in Environmental Law and Policy: The Case of the European Commission
Authors: Čavoški Aleksandra
Published: July 2020

This article draws on empirical research conducted with European Commission officials in three Directorates-General and its other services on their perception of how the legislative and policy-making process facilitates the interaction of science and environmental law. This article deploys Sheila Jasanoff's theoretical framework of co-production as an important lens to examine how the European Commission creates this interaction of science and law in environmental policy making and identifies how the Commission incorporates different voices and stakeholders in this policy area. The Commission can be seen as a vehicle of co-production of science and law in EU environmental policy by building strong expert identities, putting in place institutional processes and instruments, and creating discourse between scientists and lawyers leading to outputs of co-production. It is argued that in actively facilitating co-production, the Commission underpins the legislative and policy-making process with its institutional values.
Arase Observation of the Source Region of Auroral Arcs and Diffuse Auroras in the Inner Magnetosphere
Authors: Shiokawa K. , Nosé M. , Imajo S. , Tanaka Y.‐M. , Miyoshi Y. , Hosokawa K. , Connors M. , Engebretson M. , Kazama Y. , Wang S.‐Y. , Tam S. W. Y. , Chang Tzu‐Fang , Wang Bo‐Jhou , Asamura K. , Kasahara S. , Yokota S. , Hori T. , Keika K. , Kasaba Y. , Shoji M. , Kasahara Y. , Matsuoka A. , Shinohara I.
Published: July 2020

Auroral arcs and diffuse auroras are common phenomena at high latitudes, though characteristics of their source plasma and fields have not been well understood. We report the first observation of fields and particles including their pitch‐angle distributions in the source region of auroral arcs and diffuse auroras, using data from the Arase satellite at L ~ 6.0–6.5. The auroral arcs appeared and expanded both poleward and equatorward at local midnight from ~0308 UT on 11 September 2018 at Nain (magnetic latitude: 66°), Canada, during the expansion phase of a substorm, while diffuse auroras covered the whole sky after 0348 UT. The top part of auroral arcs was characterized by purple/blue emissions. Bidirectional field‐aligned electrons with structured energy‐time spectra were observed in the source region of auroral arcs, while source electrons became isotropic and less structured in the diffuse auroral region afterwards. We suggest that structured bidirectional electrons at energies below a few keV were caused by upward field‐aligned potential differences (upward electric field along geomagnetic field) reaching high altitudes (~30,000 km) above Arase. The bidirectional electrons above a few keV were probably caused by Fermi acceleration associated with the observed field dipolarization. Strong electric‐field fluctuations and earthward Poynting flux were observed at the arc crossing and are probably also caused by the field dipolarization. The ions showed time‐pitch‐angle dispersion caused by mirror reflection. These results indicate a clear contrast between auroral arcs and diffuse auroras in terms of source plasma and fields and generation mechanisms of auroral arcs in the inner magnetosphere.
Preparing for a Handoff
Authors: Benningfield Damond
Published: July 2020

Scientists with Interstellar Probe, a proposed 50-year flight to interstellar space, are pondering how to plan and carry out a multigenerational mission.
A nationwide cross-sectional survey on hepatitis B and C screening among workers in Japan
Authors: Tatemichi Masayuki , Furuya Hiroyuki , Nagahama Satsue , Takaya Norihide , Shida Yukari , Fukai Kota , Owada Satoshi , Endo Hitoshi , Kinoue Takaaki , Korenaga Masaaki
Published: July 2020

In Japan, there is no publicly funded screening for hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections (using HBs antigen and HCV antibody, respectively) among workers, and workplace health programmes play a crucial role in reducing viral hepatitis-related deaths. The national number of hepatitis screening tests conducted in the workplace is unknown. To provide baseline data for policy formulation, we conducted a nationwide survey to estimate these parameters using data from approximately 10.5 million workers (6.8 million men and 3.8 million women) who underwent mandatory health examinations in their workplaces between April 2016 and March 2017. Among these workers, 494,303 (5.23%, 95% confidence interval [CI] 5.22%–5.24%) and 313, 193 (3.82%, 95% CI 3.81%–3.84%) were screened for HBV and HCV, respectively. Among those who were screened, 0.28% (95% CI 0.27–0.30%) and 0.35% (95% CI 0.33–0.37%) tested positive for HBs antigen and HCV antibody, respectively. According to the age-specific prevalence from the survey an estimated 0.30 and 0.14 million workers in Japan require treatment for HBV and HCV, respectively. To reduce viral hepatitis-related deaths by efficiently identifying workers who need treatment and promoting access to treatment, one-time hepatitis screening of all workers should be considered.
Quantum double-double-slit experiment with momentum entangled photons
Authors: Kaur Manpreet , Singh Mandip
Published: July 2020

Double-double-slit thought experiment provides profound insight on interference of quantum entangled particles. This paper presents a detailed experimental realisation of quantum double-double-slit thought experiment with momentum entangled photons and theoretical analysis of the experiment. Experiment is configured in such a way that photons are path entangled and each photon can reveal the which-slit path information of the other photon. As a consequence, single photon interference is suppressed. However, two-photon interference pattern appears if locations of detection of photons are correlated without revealing the which-slit path information. It is also shown experimentally and theoretically that two-photon quantum interference disappears when the which-slit path of a photon in the double-double-slit is detected.
Gastrin releasing peptide receptor targeted nano-graphene oxide for near-infrared fluorescence imaging of oral squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Li Ran , Gao Ruifang , Wang Yimei , Liu Zhuanzhuan , Xu Hang , Duan Ailin , Zhang Fang , Ma Lixin
Published: July 2020

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is the most common malignant tumor that occurs in the oral mucosa. Pathological biopsy is still the current gold standard for OSCC diagnosis; however, some drawbacks need to be overcome. Therefore, it is urgently needed to find a non-invasive targeted technology for OSCC early diagnosis. Fluorescent optical imaging using near infrared (NIR) dyes tagged to tumor specific target will benefit such developments. Gastrin releasing peptide receptor (GRPR) is an attractive target for OSCC imaging and therapy. In this study, we synthesized nano-graphene oxide (NGO) nanoparticles with GRPR-specific peptides AF750-6Ahx-Sta-BBN via hydrogen bond and π–π bonds (NGO-BBN-AF750), and investigated their receptor binding, cell uptake and internalization in HSC-3 cells. NGO-BBN-AF750 and AF750-6Ahx-Sta-BBN showed a similar binding affinity to GRPR on HSC-3 cells. In contrast to AF750-6Ahx-Sta-BBN antagonist peptide, NGO-BBN-AF750 showed cellular internalization property. Overall, this study proposes a NGO nanoclusters-based nanoprobe for GRPR targeted near-infrared fluorescence imaging for OSCC. Nanoparticle-based delivery systems have shown highly significant potential in the delivery of a wide range of therapeutic agents.
Polymorphisms of TLR2, TLR4 and TOLLIP and tuberculosis in two independent studies
Authors: Wu Shouquan , Liu Xiangmin , Chen Ling , Wang Yu , Zhang Miaomiao , Wang Minggui , He Jian-Qing
Published: July 2020

Genetic polymorphisms for tuberculosis (TB) susceptibility have been researched by some studies, but few have studied multiple innate immunity genes associated with TB. Evidence suggests that the toll-like receptor 2, 4 (TLR2, TLR4) and toll interacting protein (TOLLIP) may be associated with TB susceptibility. In this self-validated study, we explored the association between common single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of TLR2, TLR4 and TOLLIP in the Chinese Han and Tibetan populations. A SNPscan™ method was used to genotype SNPs in the three genes. Multiple logistic regression adjusted by sex and age was used to detect the association between SNPs and TB. In TLR2, rs1898830 was associated with decreased risk against TB in the Chinese Han population, which was validated in the Tibetan population. In TLR4, rs11536889 was a protective factor for TB in the Tibetan population, but not in the Han population. Additionally, in the Tibetan population, we also found that the frequency of genotypes of TOLLIP rs11536889 differs significantly between TB patients and controls. We found rs1898830 in TLR2 was associated with TB susceptibility in both Chinese Han and Tibetan populations while rs11536889 in TLR4 and rs3750920 in TOLLIP were protective factors against TB in the Tibetan population.
Contrast-enhanced harmonic versus standard endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration in solid pancreatic lesions: a single-center prospective randomized trial
Authors: Seicean Andrada , Samarghitan Andrada , Bolboacă Sorana D. , Pojoga Cristina , Rusu Ioana , Rusu Daniel , Sparchez Zeno , Gheorghiu Marcel , Al Hajjar Nadim , Seicean Radu
Published: July 2020

Background Contrast-enhanced harmonic endoscopic ultrasound (CH-EUS) can visualize necrotic areas and vessels inside lesions. CH-EUS findings combined with EUS-guided fine-needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) improves diagnosis in pancreatic solid masses. CH-EUS can also guide EUS-FNA (CH-EUS-FNA), potentially improving the diagnostic rate of EUS-FNA, but such superiority has not been proved in prospective studies. We aimed to assess whether CH-EUS-FNA is superior to standard EUS-FNA for specific diagnosis of solid pancreatic masses and what factors affect the diagnostic rate.

Methods This randomized controlled study in one tertiary medical academic center included patients with suspected pancreatic solid masses on transabdominal ultrasound or computed tomography (CT) scan. Two passes with a 22-G standard FNA needle were done using EUS-FNA and CH-EUS-FNA in random order, and the visible core obtained was sent for histological analysis. Final diagnosis was based on EUS-FNA or surgical specimen results and on 12-month follow-up by imaging.

Results 148 patients were evaluated. EUS-FNA and CH-EUS-FNA showed diagnostic sensitivities of 85.5 % and 87.6 %, respectively (not significantly different) and the combined sensitivity of the two passes was 93.8 %. The false-negative rate was not significantly different when hypoenhanced or hyperenhanced lesions were compared with the EUS-FNA results. No differences were seen for the results related to location, size, tumor stage, chronic pancreatitis features, or presence of biliary plastic stent.

Conclusions The diagnostic rates for samples obtained using 22-G needles with standard EUS-FNA and CH-EUS-FNA were not statistically significantly different.
Argon plasma coagulation for Barrett’s esophagus with low-grade dysplasia: a randomized trial with long-term follow-up on the impact of power setting and proton pump inhibitor dose
Authors: Wronska Ewa , Polkowski Marcin , Orlowska Janina , Mroz Andrzej , Wieszczy Paulina , Regula Jaroslaw
Published: July 2020

Background This study evaluated the impact of power setting and proton pump inhibitor (PPI) dose on efficacy and safety of argon plasma coagulation (APC) of Barrett’s esophagus (BE) with low-grade dysplasia (LGD).

Methods 71 patients were randomized to APC with power set at 90 W or 60 W followed by 120 mg or 40 mg omeprazole. The primary outcome was the rate of complete (endoscopic and histologic) ablation of BE at 6 weeks. Secondary outcomes included safety and long-term efficacy.

Results Complete ablation rate in the 90 W/120 mg, 90 W/40 mg, and 60 W/120 mg groups was 78 % (18/23; 95 % confidence interval [CI] 61–95), 60 % (15/25; 95 %CI 41–79), 74 % (17/23; 95 %CI 56–92), respectively, at 6 weeks and 70 % (16/23; 95 %CI 51–88), 52 % (13/25; 95 %CI 32–72), and 65 % (15/23; 95 %CI 46–85) at 2 years post-treatment (differences not significant). Additional APC was required in 28 patients (23 residual and 5 recurrent BE). At median follow-up of 108 months, 66/71 patients (93 %; 95 %CI 87–99) maintained complete ablation. No high-grade dysplasia or adenocarcinoma developed. Overall, adverse events (97 % mild) did not differ significantly between groups. Chest pain/discomfort was more frequent in patients receiving 90 W vs. 60 W power (P < 0.001). One patient had esophageal perforation and two developed stenosis.

Conclusions APC power setting and PPI dose did not impact efficacy and safety of BE ablation. Complete ablation of BE with LGD was durable in > 90 % of patients, without any evidence of neoplasia progression in the long term.
Effect of Salicylic Acid 3% + Benzoic Acid 6% (Whitfield’s Ointment), Clotrimazole 1% Cream, and Systemic Terbinafine on Mild-to-Moderate Tinea Corporis: A Randomized Comparative Study
Authors: Rahangdale Vishwas , Deshmukh Sneha , Madke Bhushan , Singh Adarsh Lata ,   Vaishnavi
Published: July 2020

Introduction The various epidemiological studies conducted on dermatophytic infection in different parts of India have concluded that there is a rising prevalence of dermatophytosis, with change in clinical presentation of infection. Although most of the therapeutic interventions show sufficient effect, there is a need for objective high-quality randomized comparative study to evaluate the effects of intervention, which can provide reliable evidence for clinical practice. Therefore, keeping this need in mind, we undertook this research work. To date, to the best of our knowledge, the inclusion of body surface area (BSA) as a tool for the evaluation of clinical improvement in dermatophytosis infection has not been considered.

Objective The aim of this study was to assess the effect of topical antifungal as a monotherapy in naive and in combination with systemic antifungal drug in relapse cases of mild-to-moderate tinea corporis, to study and compare the efficacy of Clotrimazole 1% and Whitfield’s ointment as a monotherapy in mild-to-moderate cases of tinea corporis, and to study and compare the efficacy of combination of systemic terbinafine with Whitfield’s ointment and with clotrimazole 1% in mild-to-moderate relapsed cases of tinea corporis.

Materials and Methods A total of 102 patients with mild-to-moderate tinea corporis who fulfilled the inclusion and exclusion criteria were enrolled. The naive patients for monotherapy and relapsed cases for a combination of systemic and topical antifungal drugs were randomly distributed.

Results Predominance of males than females and the duration of disease for more than 6 weeks were observed. There was a significant reduction of infection in all the groups after 4 weeks, but early response was observed with clotrimazole as a monotherapy and in combination of clotrimazole with systemic drug.

Conclusion Topical drugs as a monotherapy in naive and in combination of topical and systemic antifungal drug in relapsed cases were effective, but to achieve zero BSA, treatment for more than 4 weeks is required.
Six-dimensional ab initio potential energy surface
and bound States for He-H2S complex
Authors: Han Chao-ying , Jiang Ting , Zhu Hua , Fan Hong-jun
Published: July 2020

We present a new six-dimensional potential energy surface for He-H2S including the intramolecular Q1, Q2, and Q3 normal modes for the ν1 symmetric stretching, ν2 bending and ν3 asymmetric stretching of H2S. The potential was calculated at the coupled-cluster singles and doubles with noniterative inclusion of connected triples [CCSD(T)]-F12a level with augmented correlation-consistent polarized-valence triple-zeta (aug-cc-pVTZ) basis set plus the midpoint bond function (3s3p2d1f1g). Three vibrationally averaged potentials with H2S at the vibrational ground state ν1 as well as the excited states ν2 and ν3 were generated from the integration of the six-dimensional potential over the Q1, Q2 and Q3 coordinates. Each potential has a planar T-shaped global minimum, a planar local minimum, two inplane saddle points as well as an out-plane saddle point. The global minimum is located at R=3.46 Å, θ=109.9° and φ=0.0° with a well depth of 35.301 cm−1. The radial discrete variable representation/angular finite basis representation method and the Lanczos algorithm were employed to calculate the rovibrational energy levels. The calculated band origins are blue-shifted (0.025 cm−1 and 0.031 cm−1) and (0.041 cm−1 and 0.060 cm−1) for He-(para-H2S) and He-(ortho-H2S) in the ν2 and ν3 region of the H2S molecule, respectively.
Welfare of beef cattle in Australian feedlots: a review of the risks and measures
Authors: Salvin Hannah E. , Lees Angela M. , Cafe Linda M. , Colditz Ian G. , Lee Caroline
Published: July 2020

The rising global demand for animal protein is leading to intensification of livestock production systems. At the same time, societal concerns about sustainability and animal welfare in intensive systems is increasing. This review examines the risks to welfare for beef cattle within commercial feedlots in Australia. Several aspects of the feedlot environment have the potential to compromise the physical and psychological welfare of cattle if not properly monitored and managed. These include, but are not limited to, animal factors such as the influence of genetics, temperament and prior health, as well as management factors such as diet, pen design, resource provision, pregnancy management, and stock-person attitudes and skills. While current industry and producer initiatives exist to address some of these issues, continuous improvements in welfare requires accurate, reliable and repeatable measures to allow quantification of current and future welfare states. Existing measures of welfare are explored as well as proxy indicators that may signal the presence of improved or reduced welfare. Finally, potential future measures of welfare that are currently under development are discussed and recommendations for future research are made.
Type I interferon receptors and interferon-τ-stimulated genes in peripheral blood mononuclear cells and polymorphonuclear leucocytes during early pregnancy in beef heifers
Authors: Melo G. D. , Pinto L. M. F. , Rocha C. C. , Motta I. G. , Silva L. A. , da Silveira J. C. , Gonella-Diaza A. M. , Binelli M. , Pugliesi G.
Published: July 2020

This study characterised the expression of interferon (IFN)-τ-stimulated genes (ISGs) and Type I IFN receptors in circulating polymorphonuclear cells (PMNs) of beef heifers and compared it with expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) up to Day 20 of gestation. Nelore heifers (n=26) were subjected to fixed-time AI (FTAI) on Day 0. PMNs and PBMCs were isolated on Days 0, 10, 14, 16, 18 and 20 after FTAI. The abundance of target transcripts (ubiquitin-like protein (ISG15), 2′-5′-oligoadenylate synthetase 1 (OAS1), myxovirus resistance 1 (MX1), myxovirus resistance 2 (MX2), IFN receptor I (IFNAR1) and IFN receptor 2 (IFNAR2)) was determined using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction and compared between pregnant (n=8) and non-pregnant (n=9) females. In both PBMCs and PMNs, ISG15 and OAS1 expression was greater in pregnant than non-pregnant heifers on Days 18 and 20. There were no significant differences in the expression of ISGs between PBMCs and PMNs. A time effect on expression was found for IFNAR1 in PBMCs and IFNAR2 in PMNs, with decreased expression of both genes on Days 18 and 20. When the expression of these genes was compared between cell types only in pregnant heifers, IFNAR2 expression in PMNs had an earlier decrease when compared to its expression in PBMCs, starting from Day 18. In conclusion, PMNs do not respond earlier to the conceptus stimulus, and ISG15 and OAS1 expression in both PMNs and PBMCs can be used as a suitable marker for pregnancy diagnosis on Days 18 and 20. In addition, gestational status did not affect IFNAR1 and IFNAR2 expression, but IFNAR2 showed a distinct response between PMNs and PBMCs of pregnant heifers.
Metaphor and one-off pictures
Authors: Kennedy John M.
Published: July 2020

All representational media support tropes.
This chapter considers pictures and asks how pictorial
metaphors can be devised by people with relatively
little experience in the medium. The examples considered are
raised-line drawings devised by blind children and adults. In some,
the shapes of objects are anomalous but apt. In others the use of a
line contrasts with its use in outline drawings – for example,
atmospheric lines surround a target object. The
blind and sighted concur on the meaning of pictorial metaphors. The
theory of metaphor in drawings presented here treats perception,
outline, realistic shape and departures from realism. Pictures have
primary meanings, and metaphoric pictures require secondary
meanings.
Producing figurative meanings
Authors: Koring Loes
Published: July 2020

This paper explores the hypothesis that
definiteness marking can be used as a tool for the speaker to
trigger idiomaticity. In an experiment, we asked participants to
produce the content of newly created figurative expressions. The
results showed that the manipulation of a single parameter,
definiteness marking, gave rise to a difference in the type of
content participants produced for the novel figurative expressions.
In particular, figurative expressions that contained a pragmatically
unlicensed definite article gave rise to greater idiomaticity than
expressions that contained a (licensed) indefinite article.
Violating the felicity conditions on the use of a definite article
is therefore one way for the speaker to produce figuration.
Metaphor generation through context sensitive distributional
semantics
Authors: McGregor Stephen , Purver Matthew , Wiggins Geraint
Published: July 2020

In this paper, we outline a preliminary
methodology for generating metaphor based on contextual projections
of representations built up through a statistical analysis of a
large-scale linguistic corpus. These projections involve defining
subspaces of co-occurrence statistics in which we show that
metaphors can be modelled as mappings between congruent regions of
semantic representations. We offer this methodology as an empirical
implementation pointing towards a resolution of theoretical stances,
at times incompatible, construing metaphor as on the one hand an
artefact of underlying cognitive processes and on the other hand a
product of the environmentally situated generation of ephemeral
conceptual schemes.
Hybridization and the origin of new yeast lineages
Authors: Gabaldón Toni
Published: July 2020

Hybrids originate from the mating of two diverged organisms, resulting in novel lineages that have chimeric genomes. Hybrids may exhibit unique phenotypic traits that are not necessarily intermediate between those present in the progenitors. These unique traits may enable them to thrive in new environments. Many hybrid lineages have been discovered among yeasts in the Saccharomycotina, of which many have industrial or clinical relevance, but this might reflect a bias toward investigating species with relevance to humans. Hybridization has also been proposed to be at the root of the whole-genome duplication in the lineage leading to Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Thus, hybridization seems to have played a prominent role in the evolution of Saccharomycotina yeasts, although it is still unclear how common this evolutionary process has been during the evolution of this and other fungal clades. Similarly, the evolutionary aftermath of hybridization, including implications at the genomic, transcriptional, physiological or ecological levels, remains poorly understood. In this review, I survey recent findings from genomic analysis of yeast hybrids of industrial or clinical relevance, and discuss the evolutionary implications of genomic hybridization for the origin of new lineages, including when such hybridization results in a whole-genome duplication.
Self-undermining policy feedback and the creation of National Health Insurance in Ghana
Authors: Wireko Ishmael , Béland Daniel , Kpessa-Whyte Michael
Published: July 2020

Contributing to the ongoing debate about policy feedback in comparative public policy research, this article examines the evolution of healthcare financing policy in Ghana. More specifically, this article investigates the shift in healthcare financing from full cost recovery, known as ‘cash-and-carry’, to a nation-wide public health insurance policy called the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS). It argues that unintended, self-undermining feedback effects from the existing health policy constrained the menu of options available to reformers, while simultaneously opening a window of opportunity for transformative policy change. The study advances the current public policy scholarship by showing how the interaction between policy feedbacks and other factors—particularly ideas and electoral pressures—can bring about path-departing policy change. Given the dearth of scholarship on self-undermining policy feedback effects in the Global South, this contribution’s originality lies in its application of the novel theory to the sub-Saharan African context.
Burns in the Military Setting—Analyzing 12,799 Routine and Combat Cases
Authors: Yaacobi (Shilo) Dafna , Lvovsky Alex , Ad-El Nitay , Levi Diana , Yaacobi Eyal , Olshinka Asaf , Glick Yuval , Furer Ariel , Ad-El Dean D
Published: July 2020

Burns are a major trauma source in civilian and military settings, with a huge impact on patient’s well-being, health system, and operation status of the force in the military setting. The purpose of our study was to summarize characteristics of all burn cases seen by the Israel Defense Forces primary care physicians during the years 2008 to 2016. This can help understand what causes most burns, in what units, at which stages and settings and consequently will allow commanders to make decisions regarding safety rules, protective equipment and uniforms, medical education for soldiers, etc. Data were collected from the military database system. All burn-related visits were analyzed using a designated big data computerized algorithm that used keywords and phrases to retrieve data from the database. 12,799 burn injuries were found presented in 65,536 burn-related visits which were analyzed according to the demographics, burn mechanism, and military unit. It was observed that most of the burns (70.7%) occurred during routine noncombat setting and there was a gradual decrease in burn injuries during the investigated period, from 17.6% of the cases in 2008 to 2.3% in 2016. Most of the burns occurred in the Air Force (19.4%), and the leading etiology was chemical (35%). The average TBSA was 7.5%. Since most of the burns occurred in a routine setting and were occupational-related, investment in education and improving fire protection has proven itself, leading to the decrease in burn prevalence, we recommend that more emphasis should be given on proper handling of chemicals.
A Case Report of Hydrocephalus in a US Military Recruit
Authors: Clerc Jacqueline , Harp Garrett M , Cathey Michael , Bauer Matthew
Published: July 2020

We present a case of chronic non-communicating hydrocephalus (NCH) in a US military recruit. Non-communicating hydrocephalus is a pathologic obstruction of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) resulting in enlargement of the ventricles and elevated intracranial pressure. The patient is an 18-year-old male recruit who was evaluated in the Naval Medical Center emergency room for left hip pain and incidentally was found to have profound ventriculomegaly on head imaging. The diagnosis and evaluation of hydrocephalus is greatly dependent on clinical history and supported by radiographic imaging. Based on these factors, one can determine if the hydrocephalus is either acute or chronic and communicating or non-communicating.
Percutaneous Computed Tomography-Guided Radiofrequency Ablation of Spinal Trigeminal Tract and Nucleus Caudalis for Refractory Trigeminal Neuropathic Pain: 2-Dimensional Operative Video
Authors: Larkin M Benjamin , North Robert Y , Viswanathan Ashwin
Published: July 2020

This is a surgical video of a computed tomography (CT)-guided percutaneous radiofrequency ablation of the spinal trigeminal tract and nucleus caudalis for refractory trigeminal neuropathic pain.
1,2

Many have contributed historically, among them, Sjoqvist
3
in 1938 first described destruction of the descending medullary trigeminal tractus via open craniotomy.
3-6
In 1967 and 1968, Crue
7
and Hitchcock
8
independently developed a percutaneous tractotomy technique. Although Kanpolat
9,10
first described the use of CT imaging for percutaneous creation of a single tractotomy/nucleotomy lesion resulting in satisfactory pain relief for 85% of patients.

The spinal trigeminal tract is a descending fiber pathway containing central processes of first-order afferent neurons from cranial nerves V, VII, IX, and X. The spinal trigeminal nucleus is the terminal projection of the spinal trigeminal tract comprised of 3 subnuclei: oralis, interpolaris, and caudalis. The nucleus caudalis is the most caudal of the 3 subdivisions of the spinal trigeminal nucleus and houses the cell bodies of second-order afferent neurons critical in nociception of the face. Lesioning of the spinal trigeminal tract and nucleus caudalis can provide pain relief without affecting facial sensation or trigeminal motor function.
9,11-13
Percutaneous radiofrequency ablation is performed using anatomical landmarks, serial CT scans, impedance monitoring, and functional confirmation to ensure appropriate insertion of the probe to the target of interest prior to lesioning.

This procedure remains uncommon in current practices even among functional neurosurgery pain specialists but offers a low-risk, minimally invasive treatment option for refractory facial pain.
14

This procedure was done under Institutional Review Board guidance (H-41228: retrospective chart review of patients undergoing spine surgery for pain). The risks and benefits were explained, and the patient consented to videography/procedure.

Images in the video used with permission from the following: Carter HV. Anatomy of the Human Body. Wikimedia Commons [Public Domain]. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Gray698.png. Published 1918. Accessed June 30, 2019; Carter HV. Anatomy of the Human Body. Wikimedia Commons [Public Domain]. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Gray784.png. Published 1918. Accessed June 30, 2019; Reprinted from Kanpolat Y, Kahilogullari G, Ugur HC, Elhan AH, CT-guided percutaneous trigeminal tractotomy-nucleotomy, Neurosurgery, 2008, 63(1 Suppl 1), ONS147-53; discussion ONS153-5, by permission of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons; Madhero88. Onion Distribution of Pain and Temperature Sense by Trigeminal Nerve. Wikimedia Commons [Creative Commons BY 3.0 license]. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Onionskinddistribution.svg#/media/File:Onionskinddistribution.svg. Accessed June 30, 2019.
The Art of Mercato: Buying City-States in Renaissance Tuscany
Authors: Martoccio Michael
Published: July 2020

Italian communes from 1300–1600 bought and sold numerous towns and castles from Crete (enfeoffed to Venice in 1205) to Arezzo (offered to Florence in 1384) to Tabarka (given as mortgage to a Genoese family in 1540). Despite the popularity of this custom, however, existing scholarship claims Renaissance cities expanded territorially through violent conquests that centralized government finances and promoted militant imperialist discourses. Drawing on case studies of the Florentine purchase of two cities — Lucca (1342) and Pisa (1405) — this article reveals how the buyers of Renaissance cities instead drew upon a vast, little-studied network of private creditors to pay for new lands. The vendibility of space, moreover, helped foster a commercialized ideology of empire. Diarists heralded their city’s superior commerce. Civic leaders tied the good of their communes to keeping its honour and faith with city-sellers. And polemicists stained opponents with accusations of fraud while demoting cities such as Pisa and Lucca to mere merchandise. Buying cities thus allowed Renaissance merchant elites to demonstrate not only their city’s superior material wealth, but also mercantile prowess — their ability to bargain for a good deal (buon mercato).
Four solutions of a two-cylinder electrostatic problem, and identities resulting from their equivalence
Authors: Lekner John
Published: July 2020

Four distinct solutions exist for the potential distribution around two equal circular parallel conducting cylinders, charged to the same potential. Their equivalence is demonstrated, and the resulting analytical identities are discussed. The identities relate the Jacobi elliptic function $sn$, the Jacobi theta functions $\theta _1 ,~\theta _2 $ and infinite series over trigonometric and hyperbolic functions.
ESTIMATION OF RADIOLOGICAL EXPOSURE LEVELS IN A MINING AREA BASED ON 238U, 226Ra, 232Th and 40K ACTIVITY MEASUREMENTS: A CASE STUDY FOR BEYLIKOVA-SIVRIHISAR COMPLEX ORE SITE IN TURKEY
Authors: Yücel Haluk , Övüç Süleyman , Akkaya Gizem , Çakmak Şadiye
Published: July 2020

The study estimated the radiological exposure levels in a mining area for miners in the Beylikova-Sivrihisar (Turkey) complex ore site containing 238U, 226Ra and 232Th. Sixty samples were collected from the study area based on a geologic map. The radionuclide activities were measured using a 78.5% efficient n-type HPGe detector. The measured mean activities were 1871 ± 38 Bq kg−1 for 238U, 1749 ± 5 Bq kg−1 for 226Ra, 3467 ± 9 Bq kg−1 for 232Th and 309 ± 2 Bq kg−1 for 40K. From the measured results, the external effective dose was calculated to be max. 3.80 ± 0.03 mSv y−1 (mean: 2.04 ± 0.03 mSv y−1) for inside gallery and max. 7.59 ± 0.05 mSv y−1 (mean: 4.08 ± 0.05 mSv y−1) for outdoor. Additionally, the external exposure index was calculated to be Hex = 33.5 ± 0.2(mean: 18.2 ± 0.3) and internal exposure index to be Hin = 45.9 ± 0.3 (mean: 22.9 ± 0.4). The results indicate that additional radiation protection measures should be taken during the mining process if an opencast mining is implemented in Beylikova complex ore deposit.
PdpaMn inhibits fatty acid synthase-mediated glycolysis by down-regulating PI3K/Akt signaling pathway in breast cancer
Authors: Okrah Eric Achiborebador , Wang Qiang , Fu Hexiu , Chen Qiuyun , Gao Jing
Published: July 2020

Novel manganese complex, PdpaMn ([(Pdpa)MnCl2]), was developed to induce apoptosis in breast cancer cells. The impact of phosphoinositide-(3)-kinase pathway onto fatty acid synthase (FASN) has an effect on cellular metabolism in breast cancer. However, reverse actions from FASN towards PI3K/Akt are still indefinable. Perhaps, loss of FASN could regulate glycolysis. Previously we established that PdpaMn inhibits FASN and involve in mitochondrial function. This study investigated the activity of PdpaMn on glycolysis and its mechanism. PdpaMn was used to suppress FASN expression in tumor. Expression of ATP and lactic acid level was measured to investigate the glycolysis variance in cells and animals. MCF-7 and 4T1 cells were treated with G28UCM, an inhibitor of FASN and PdpaMn, western blotting to detect PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. The capacity of proliferation was investigated by western blotting and immunohistochemistry. PdpaMn selectively inhibits cancer cells and tumor growth but also block FASN expression and suppresses the content of free fatty acid. Lactate dehydrogenase (LDHA) protein level was down-regulated as G28UCM and PdpaMn inhibited FASN, glucose transporter (Glut1), and pyruvate kinase (PKM2) proteins level were not affected. PI3K, p-Akt in the experimental group evidently declined compared to the control group. Proliferation was suppressed in FASN-arbitrated glycolysis. Our study supports the hypothesis that loss of FASN by PdpaMn suppressed glycolysis via down-regulating PI3K/Akt signaling pathway revealing the direct link between FASN and glycolysis. The results have paved the way to unravel the mechanisms of FASN and mitochondrial will be useful for designing novel co-targeting strategies for breast cancer.
Methods and implementation of a pediatric asthma pharmacogenomic study in the emergency department setting
Authors: Fishe Jennifer N. , Higley Rebecca K. , Casey Deirdre , Hogans Lamont , Wylie Todd W. , Hendry Phyllis L. , Henson Morgan , Bertrand Andrew , Blake Kathryn V.
Published: July 2020

Objectives

The emergency department (ED) is a challenging setting to conduct pharmacogenomic studies and integrate that data into fast-paced and potentially life-saving treatment decisions. Therefore, our objective is to present the methods and feasibility of a pilot pharmacogenomic study set in the ED that measured pediatric bronchodilator response (BDR) during acute asthma exacerbations.

Methods

This is an exploratory pilot study that collected buccal swabs for DNA and measured BDR during ED encounters for pediatric asthma exacerbations. We evaluated the study’s feasibility with a qualitative analysis of ED provider surveys and quantitatively by the proportion of eligible patients enrolled.

Results

We enrolled 59 out of 90 patients (65%) that were identified and considered eligible during a 5-month period (target enrollment 60 patients over 12 months). The median patient age was 7 years (interquartile range 4–9 years), 61% (N = 36) were male, and 92% (N = 54) were African American. Quality DNA collection was successful for all 59 patients. The ED provider survey response rate was 100%. Most ED providers reported that the study did not impact their workflow (98% of physicians, 88% of nurses, and 90% of respiratory therapists). ED providers did report difficulties with spirometry in the younger age group.

Conclusions

Pharmacogenomic studies can be conducted in the ED setting, and enroll a younger patient population with a high proportion of minority participants. By disseminating this study’s methods and feasibility analysis, we aim to increase interest in pharmacogenomic studies set in the ED and aimed toward future ED-based pharmacogenomic decision-making.
Imaging in mitral stenosis
Authors: Al-Sabeq Basil , Chamsi-Pasha Mohammed A.
Published: July 2020

Purpose of review

Mitral stenosis remains clinically relevant in developing countries where rheumatic heart disease is the predominant culprit. In the western world, mitral annular and valvular calcification is an increasingly recognized cause, particularly in an aging population. Echocardiography plays a primary role in imaging mitral stenosis with a growing role for cardiac computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. In this review, we aim to revisit mitral stenosis assessment and quantification using multimodality imaging.

Recent findings

There is an increasing role for advanced cardiac imaging especially in the era of transcatheter mitral valve intervention. Also, when echocardiography is suboptimal or discordant with symptoms, computed tomography can provide anatomical data, whereas magnetic resonance imaging can provide anatomical along with hemodynamic data.

Diagnosis of mitral stenosis is crucial as it carries an increased morbidity and mortality risk. Echocardiography is the cornerstone imaging modality with alternative, complementary advanced imaging considered when images are suboptimal.