bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Single flap approach with or without enamel matrix derivative in the treatment of severe supraosseous defects: a retrospective study
Authors: Simonelli Anna , Minenna Luigi , Trombelli Leonardo , Farina Roberto
Published: April 2021

Aim

To comparatively evaluate the clinical effectiveness of the single flap approach (SFA) with and without enamel matrix derivative (EMD) in the treatment of supraosseous defects (SDs) associated with deep pockets.

Materials and methods

Twenty patients, each contributing one SD associated with a deep (≥ 6 mm) pocket and treated with buccal SFA either alone (SFA group; n = 10) or in combination with EMD (SFA+EMD group; n =10), were retrospectively selected. Clinical parameters (probing depth, PD; clinical attachment level, CAL; gingival recession, REC) had been assessed at pre-surgery and 12 months post-surgery.

Results

Complete wound closure was observed in 70% and 80% of defects treated with SFA and SFA+EMD, respectively. Treatments resulted in a significant PD reduction of 3.1±1.0 mm (p=0.005). In SFA+EMD group, 100% of closed pockets was obtained, while 90% of closed pockets was observed in SFA group. Both treatments resulted in a significant CAL gain of 2.1±0.9 mm and 1.9±1.7 mm in SFA and SFA+EMD group, respectively (p= 0.465). In both groups, REC significantly increased 1.0±1.1 mm in SFA group and 1.1±1.1 mm in SFA+EMD group (p= 0.722).

Conclusions

Within their limits, the findings of present study suggest that SFA may represent a valuable option for the surgical treatment of SDs associated with deep pockets. EMD did not result in a significant clinical benefit to the procedure.

Clinical relevance

SFA may represent a valuable option in obtaining pocket closure when treating SDs associated with deep residual pockets.
Cooling tower plume abatement and plume modeling: a review
Authors: Li Shuo , Flynn M. R.
Published: April 2021

Visible plumes above wet cooling towers are of great concern due to the associated aesthetic and environmental impacts. The parallel path wet/dry cooling tower is one of the most commonly used approaches for plume abatement, however, the associated capital cost is usually high due to the addition of the dry coils. Recently, passive technologies, which make use of free solar energy or the latent heat of the hot, moist air rising through the cooling tower fill, have been proposed to minimize or abate the visible plume and/or conserve water. In this review, we contrast established versus novel technologies and give a perspective on the relative merits and demerits of each. Of course, no assessment of the severity of a visible plume can be made without first understanding its atmospheric trajectory. To this end, numerous attempts, being either theoretical or numerical or experimental, have been proposed to predict plume behavior in atmospheres that are either uniform versus density-stratified or still versus windy (whether highly-turbulent or not). Problems of particular interests are plume rise/deflection, condensation and drift deposition, the latter consideration being a concern of public health due to the possible transport and spread of Legionella bacteria.
Modelling the Inflation and Elastic Instabilities of Rubber-Like Spherical and Cylindrical Shells Using a New Generalised Neo-Hookean Strain Energy Function
Authors: Anssari-Benam Afshin , Bucchi Andrea , Saccomandi Giuseppe
Published: April 2021

The application of a newly proposed generalised neo-Hookean strain energy function to the inflation of incompressible rubber-like spherical and cylindrical shells is demonstrated in this paper. The pressure ($P$
P
) – inflation ($\lambda $
λ
or $v$
v
) relationships are derived and presented for four shells: thin- and thick-walled spherical balloons, and thin- and thick-walled cylindrical tubes. Characteristics of the inflation curves predicted by the model for the four considered shells are analysed and the critical values of the model parameters for exhibiting the limit-point instability are established. The application of the model to extant experimental datasets procured from studies across 19th to 21st century will be demonstrated, showing favourable agreement between the model and the experimental data. The capability of the model to capture the two characteristic instability phenomena in the inflation of rubber-like materials, namely the limit-point and inflation-jump instabilities, will be made evident from both the theoretical analysis and curve-fitting approaches presented in this study. A comparison with the predictions of the Gent model for the considered data is also demonstrated and is shown that our presented model provides improved fits. Given the simplicity of the model, its ability to fit a wide range of experimental data and capture both limit-point and inflation-jump instabilities, we propose the application of our model to the inflation of rubber-like materials.
Comparative Analysis of Nonlinear Viscoelastic Models Across Common Biomechanical Experiments
Authors: Zhang Will , Capilnasiu Adela , Nordsletten David
Published: April 2021

Biomechanical modeling has a wide range of applications in the medical field, including in diagnosis, treatment planning and tissue engineering. The key to these predictive models are appropriate constitutive equations that can capture the stress-strain response of materials. While most applications rely on hyperelastic formulations, experimental evidence of viscoelastic responses in tissues and new numerical techniques has spurred the development of new viscoelastic models. Classical as well as fractional viscoelastic formulations have been proposed, but it is often difficult from the practitioner perspective to identify appropriate model forms. In this study, a systematic examination of classical and fractional nonlinear isotropic viscoelastic models is presented (consider six primary forms). Consideration is given for common testing paradigms, including varying strain or stress loading and dynamic conditions. Models are evaluated across model parameter spaces to assess the range of behaviors exhibited in these different forms across all tests. Similarity metrics are introduced to compare thousands of models, with exemplars for each type of model presented to illustrate the response and behavior of different model variants. The parameter analysis does not only identify how the models can be tailored, but also informs on the model complexity and fidelity. These results illustrate where these common models yield physical and non-physical behavior across a wide range of tests, and provide key insights for deciding on the appropriate viscoelastic modeling formulations.
The Truth About Better Understanding?
Authors: Ross Lewis
Published: April 2021

The notion of understanding occupies an increasingly prominent place in contemporary epistemology, philosophy of science, and moral theory. A central and ongoing debate about the nature of understanding is how it relates to the truth. In a series of influential contributions, Catherine Elgin has used a variety of familiar motivations for antirealism in philosophy of science to defend a non-factive theory of understanding. Key to her position are: (1) the fact that false theories can contribute to the upwards trajectory of scientific understanding, and (2) the essential role of inaccurate idealisations in scientific research. Using Elgin’s arguments as a foil, I show that a strictly factive theory of understanding has resources with which to offer a unified response to both the problem of idealisations and the role of false theories in the upwards trajectory of scientific understanding. Hence, strictly factive theories of understanding are viable notwithstanding these forceful criticisms.
A discrete version of Liouville’s theorem on conformal maps
Authors: Pinkall Ulrich , Springborn Boris
Published: April 2021

Liouville’s theorem says that in dimension greater than two, all conformal maps are Möbius transformations. We prove an analogous statement about simplicial complexes, where two simplicial complexes are considered discretely conformally equivalent if they are combinatorially equivalent and the lengths of corresponding edges are related by scale factors associated with the vertices.
Dialectical Processes in Parent-child Relationships among Somali Families in Sweden
Authors: Osman Fatumo , Randell Eva , Mohamed Abdikerim , Sorbring Emma
Published: April 2021

Non-voluntary migration has been demonstrated to have an impact on family relationships as a result of children acculturating to the host country faster than their parents. Studies have reported on immigrant parents’ perceptions of their parenting in host countries. However, less is known about how both children and parents view and make sense of their relationships in new contexts. This exploratory qualitative study aims to capture the dialectical processes in parent-child relationships among Somali families in Sweden. Data were collected using focus group discussions with youth (n = 47) and their parents (n = 33). The data were analysed using a thematic analysis. Two themes, each with three themes of their own, were identified from the analysis: finding a balance between hierarchical and egalitarian relationships and sharing of spaces. Youth and parents described different factors, including contextual changes, generational gaps, peer pressure and lack of a father figures, as affecting their relationships with each other and sometimes creating conflicts between them. Both perceived themselves as active agents in contributing to family life after migrating to Sweden. In general, the youth expressed their emotional needs, the motivations desired from their parents and their desire to be equally treated as sons and daughters. Overall, this study demonstrates that there is a need to offer immigrant families culturally tailored parenting support programmes, thereby strengthening parent-child relationships.
A COVID moonshot: assessment of ligand binding to the SARS-CoV-2 main protease by saturation transfer difference NMR spectroscopy
Authors: Kantsadi Anastassia L. , Cattermole Emma , Matsoukas Minos-Timotheos , Spyroulias Georgios A. , Vakonakis Ioannis
Published: April 2021

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the etiological cause of the coronavirus disease 2019, for which no effective antiviral therapeutics are available. The SARS-CoV-2 main protease (Mpro) is essential for viral replication and constitutes a promising therapeutic target. Many efforts aimed at deriving effective Mpro inhibitors are currently underway, including an international open-science discovery project, codenamed COVID Moonshot. As part of COVID Moonshot, we used saturation transfer difference nuclear magnetic resonance (STD-NMR) spectroscopy to assess the binding of putative Mpro ligands to the viral protease, including molecules identified by crystallographic fragment screening and novel compounds designed as Mpro inhibitors. In this manner, we aimed to complement enzymatic activity assays of Mpro performed by other groups with information on ligand affinity. We have made the Mpro STD-NMR data publicly available. Here, we provide detailed information on the NMR protocols used and challenges faced, thereby placing these data into context. Our goal is to assist the interpretation of Mpro STD-NMR data, thereby accelerating ongoing drug design efforts.
Epilepsy attacks recognition based on 1D octal pattern, wavelet transform and EEG signals
Authors: Tuncer Türker , Dogan Sengul , Naik Ganesh R. , Pławiak Paweł
Published: April 2021

Electroencephalogram (EEG) signals have been generally utilized for diagnostic systems. Nowadays artificial intelligence-based systems have been proposed to classify EEG signals to ease diagnosis process. However, machine learning models have generally been used deep learning based classification model to reach high classification accuracies. This work focuses classification epilepsy attacks using EEG signals with a lightweight and simple classification model. Hence, an automated EEG classification model is presented. The used phases of the presented automated EEG classification model are (i) multileveled feature generation using one-dimensional (1D) octal-pattern (OP) and discrete wavelet transform (DWT). Here, main feature generation function is the presented octal-pattern. DWT is employed for level creation. By employing DWT frequency coefficients of the EEG signal is obtained and octal-pattern generates texture features from raw EEG signal and wavelet coefficients. This DWT and octal-pattern based feature generator extracts 128 × 8 = 1024 (Octal-pattern generates 128 features from a signal, 8 signal are used in the feature generation 1 raw EEG and 7 wavelet low-pass filter coefficients). (ii) To select the most useful features, neighborhood component analysis (NCA) is deployed and 128 features are selected. (iii) The selected features are feed to k nearest neighborhood classifier. To test this model, an epilepsy seizure dataset is used and 96.0% accuracy is attained for five categories. The results clearly denoted the success of the presented octal-pattern based epilepsy classification model.
Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Ti-6Al-4V Manufactured by Selective Laser Melting after Stress Relieving, Hot Isostatic Pressing Treatment, and Post-Heat Treatment
Authors: Eshawish Naeem , Malinov Savko , Sha Wei , Walls Patrick
Published: April 2021

Additive manufacturing (AM) is defined as a technology performed for tooling applications. It is used for manufacturing tools that have complex shapes and figures. In this study, an extensively applied Ti-6Al-4V alloy was made using the selective laser melting method. Post-production heat treatments were applied to decrease thermal stresses and to enhance the mechanical properties and the microstructure. The study investigates the fatigue mechanical properties, microstructure, hardness, and porosity of the AM Ti-6Al-4V after stress relieving (SR) and after SR followed by hot isostatic pressing (HIP). The samples’ upper and lower parts were independently examined to determine the effects of thermal conditions and the heat treatment of the microstructure. The microstructures were examined through optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and x-ray diffraction methods. The mechanical properties were investigated through microhardness testing, alongside assessment by fatigue testing at room temperature. The findings demonstrated that the microstructure after SR at 704 °C for 2 h is 100% fine martensitic α'-Ti, with a microhardness value of 408 HV. Air and furnace cooled samples have a more homogenous structure and are characterised by mixture (α + β) with microhardness values of 382 and 356 HV, respectively. After HIP at 920 °C and 100 MPa for 2 h was applied, the martensite was converted into a lamellar (α + β) microstructure, whereby the α phase is presented as fine needles situated among the β ridges in the microstructure, with the existence of the prior β grain boundary.
Use of digital healthcare solutions for care delivery during a pandemic-chances and (cyber) risks referring to the example of the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Kaiser Florian Klaus , Wiens Marcus , Schultmann Frank
Published: April 2021

During pandemics, regular service provisioning processes in medical care may be disrupted. Digital health promises many opportunities for service provisioning during a pandemic. However, a broad penetration of medical processes with information technology also has drawbacks. Within this work, the authors use the COVID-19 pandemic to analyze the chances and the risks that may come with using digital health solutions for medical care during a pandemic. Therefore, a multi-methods approach is used. First we use a systematic literature review for reviewing the state of the art of digital health applications in healthcare. Furthermore, the usage of digital health applications is mapped to the different processes in care delivery. Here we provide an exemplary process model of oncological care delivery. The analysis shows that including digital health solutions may be helpful for care delivery in most processes of medical care provisioning. However, research on digital health solutions focuses strongly on some few processes and specific disciplines while other processes and medical disciplines are underrepresented in literature. Last, we highlight the necessity of a comprehensive risk-related debate around the effects that come with the use of digital healthcare solutions.
Annual, seasonal and monthly rainfall trend analysis in the Tafna watershed, Algeria
Authors: Bouklikha Afaf , Habi Mohammed , Elouissi Abdelkader , Hamoudi Saaed
Published: April 2021

Scientists, since a long time, have paid attention on climate change and, in particular, rainfall decrease. These changes have resulted in modifications of the rainfall regime in many Mediterranean regions. This work is based on monthly rainfall data from 17 stations located in the Tafna catchment (North West of Algeria). The study aim is to identify long-term (1970–2016) spatial and temporal trends in annual, seasonal and monthly precipitation, using the innovative trend analysis (ITA) method. The approach is used to classify trends into “low”, “medium”, “high”, which should be taken in consideration in future studies on floods (“high”) and drought (“low”). The monthly rainfall shows a decreasing trend in all studied stations (100% of stations) during February, March, April, and May, the same phenomenon observed in the majority of stations for June, July (82% of stations), and December (58% of stations). Seasonal analysis indicates a downward trend in winter and spring. Using annual rainfall, the stations located in the north, west and central part of the Tafna show a decrease in rainfall (59% of stations).
Antioxidant activity and short-chain fatty acid production of lactic acid bacteria isolated from Korean individuals and fermented foods
Authors: Kang Chang-Ho , Kim Jin-Seong , Park Hye Min , Kim Seonyoung , Paek Nam-Soo
Published: April 2021

Compounds of the cell walls of heat-killed lactic acid bacteria show immunomodulatory properties which boost immunological systems, and are used ad postbiotics (paraprobiotics). In this study, we used 17 different heat-killed isolates as postbiotics and evaluated their anti-inflammatory potential on the expression of proinflammatory mediators and cellular signaling pathways of murine macrophage, RAW 264.7 cells. Bifidobacterium bifidum MG731 showed the high 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging activity (90.6%), followed by Bifidobacterium lactis MG741 (59.6%). The Bi. lactis MG741 showed the high ABTS free radical scavenging activity (99.5%), followed by Lactobacillus plantarum MG989 (98.9%), Lactobacillus salivarius MG242 (97.1%), and Bi. bifidum MG731 (96.1%). In addition, Bi. bifidum MG731 showed the lowest nitric oxide production (4.28 µM), followed by B. lactis MG741 (10.80 µM), L. salivarius MG242 (14.60 µM), and L. plantarum MG989 (19.60 µM). The selected strains showed a decreased nitric oxide production via downregulation of inducible nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase 2, which were upregulated via LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages. Short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) including acetic, propionic, and butyric acid were produced by four strains. The Bi. bifidum MG731 showed total SCFAs production (4998.6 µg/g), Bi. lactis MG741 (2613.9 µg/g), L. salivarius MG242 (1456.1 µg/g), and L. plantarum MG989 (630.2 µg/g). These results indicated that the various selected strains may possess an anti-inflammatory potential and provide a molecular basis for the development of functional probiotics.
Invasive mechanical ventilation and clinical parameters in COVID19 patient: Can age be a factor?
Authors: Farzan Nina , Vahabi Sepideh , Hashemi Madani Shima Sadat , Farzan Behrooz
Published: April 2021

ABSTRACT

Background:

Severity of corona virus disease 2019 (COVID19) is presented with respiratory distress and requires mechanical ventilation. Advanced age is one of the significant risk factors of the worst prognosis and mortality in this disease. The aim of this study is to investigate the clinical parameter among COVID19 patients under mechanical ventilation in regard to the age groups.

Method:

In this retrospective study, COVID19 patients under invasive mechanical ventilation at Shahid Beheshti Hospital in Qom were included. The patients were divided in two age groups, those aged ≥50 years and <50 years. Clinical parameter of these patients like blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate, oxygen saturation and body temperature were recorded at the time of mechanical ventilation and 24, 48 and 72 h under the mechanical ventilation.

Result:

A total of 317 patients were included in the study where 214 patients were over the age of 50 years and 98 were under 50 years. The mean age of patients was 59.71 ± 16.46 year. At the start of mechanical ventilation and 24, 48 and 72 h during the ventilation, blood pressure, pulse rate, rate of respiration, oxygen saturation, Glasgow coma scale and temperature were not significantly different at among the two age groups, p > 0.05, respectively.

Conclusions:

The findings of the study indicated that prognosis of COVID19 patients under invasive mechanical ventilation in terms of changes in clinical parameters might not be associated with the age.

Highlights
Parfit's Ethics
Authors: Chappell Richard Yetter
Published: April 2021

Derek Parfit (1942–2017) was one of the most important and influential moral philosophers of the late 20th and early 21st centuries. This Element offers a critical introduction to his wide-ranging ethical thought, focusing especially on his two most significant works, Reasons and Persons (1984) and On What Matters (2011), and their contribution to the consequentialist moral tradition. Topics covered include: rationality and objectivity, distributive justice, self-defeating moral theories, Parfit's Triple Theory (according to which consequentialism, contractualism, and Kantian ethics ultimately converge), personal identity, and population ethics.
Mussolini's Theatre
Authors: Gaborik Patricia
Published: April 2021

Benito Mussolini has persistently been described as an 'actor' – and also as a master of illusions. In her vividly narrated account of the Italian dictator's relationship with the theatre, Patricia Gaborik discards any metaphorical notions of Il Duce as a performer and instead tells the story of his life as literal spectator, critic, impresario, dramatist and censor of the stage. Discussing the ways in which the autarch's personal tastes and convictions shaped, in fascist Italy, theatrical programming, she explores Mussolini's most significant dramatic influences, his association with important figures such as Luigi Pirandello, Gabriele D'Annunzio and George Bernard Shaw, his oversight of stage censorship, and his forays into playwriting. By focusing on its subject's manoeuvres in the theatre, and manipulation of theatrical ideas, this consistently illuminating book transforms our understandings of fascism as a whole. It will have strong appeal to readers in both theatre studies and modern Italian history.
Becoming Socrates
Authors: Priou Alex
Published: April 2021

A rigorous investigation of Socrates' early education, pinpointing the thought that led Socrates to turn from natural science to the study of morality, ethics, and politics
Exoplanets prediction in multiplanetary systems
Authors: Mousavi-Sadr M. , Gozaliasl G. , Jassur D.M.
Published: April 2021

We present the results of a search for additional exoplanets in all multiplanetary systems discovered to date, employing a logarithmic spacing between planets in our Solar System known as the Titius–Bode (TB) relation. We use the Markov Chain Monte Carlo method and separately analyse 229 multiplanetary systems that house at least three or more confirmed planets. We find that the planets in$\sim 53\%$of these systems adhere to a logarithmic spacing relation remarkably better than the Solar System planets. Using the TB relation, we predict the presence of 426 additional exoplanets in 229 multiplanetary systems, of which 197 candidates are discovered by interpolation and 229 by extrapolation. Altogether, 47 predicted planets are located within the habitable zone of their host stars, and 5 of the 47 planets have a maximum mass limit of 0.1–2${\rm M}_{\oplus}$and a maximum radius lower than 1.25${\rm R}_{\oplus}$. Our results and prediction of additional planets agree with previous studies’ predictions; however, we improve the uncertainties in the orbital period measurement for the predicted planets significantly.
Is Kant among the Prophets? Hebrew Prophecy and German Historical Thought, 1880–1920
Authors: Kurtz Paul Michael
Published: April 2021

This article examines the interpretation of Hebrew prophecy by German Protestant scholars in the era of 1880–1920. It argues, first, that Old Testament interpreters valued the prophets since they presented God as the guiding force behind human history and, second, that these theologians cum philologians saw the prophetic conception of history as anticipating their own understanding of God in the world. The inquiry bases this argument on a reading of numerous exegetes, both leading lights and forgotten figures. Moreover, it traces this interpretative tendency across a range of sources, including specialist studies, theological monthlies, political and literary journals, popular works, public speeches, and pedagogical literature. Rather than leave the prophets in the past, these exegetes also ushered them into the present, employing their historical teachings to shore up the Christian faith. In doing so, they identified Hebrew prophecy with German Protestantism and in contrast to Judaism.
Fluctuating boundaries in a changing marine environment
Authors: Árnadóttir Snjólaug
Published: April 2021

Environmental changes, such as sea level rise and coastal erosion, have an increasing impact on coastlines worldwide. Unilaterally declared maritime limits are generally determined by reference to coastlines and they are only binding insofar as they conform to the applicable law. Bilateral maritime boundaries are not equally affected by changing coastal geography because, once established, they are binding on parties to the arrangement under the pacta sunt servanda and res judicata principles. Maritime delimitation generally produces geographically stable boundaries. In principle, these remain fixed notwithstanding changes to the coastal geography that generates maritime entitlements or the ecosystems central to national interests. Indeed, stability and predictability are among the objectives of maritime delimitation. However, legal stability can be achieved without geographic stability and the requirement of predictability may be unattainable in a new world of environmental uncertainty. After all, baselines and derived outer limits fluctuate to reflect changing coastal geography and the same is true of bilateral boundaries, unless and until otherwise agreed. States have concluded boundary agreements that refer to fluctuating concepts, such as the equidistance line, instead of fixed co-ordinates. Furthermore, the International Court of Justice has left a segment of a maritime boundary to fluctuate until otherwise agreed and a Chamber of the Court has addressed the possibility of establishing a boundary by reference to a fluid oceano-biological boundary in the marine environment. This suggests that maritime boundaries can fluctuate if established by reference to sufficiently clear and relevant limits in the natural environment.
Law as an argumentative practice: On the pitfalls of confirmatory research, false necessities, and (Kantian) stupidity – Comments on Knut Traisbach
Authors: KRATOCHWIL FRIEDRICH
Published: April 2021

The comment expands the logic of the critique of the ‘judicialisation’ in the global era and suggests that arguments in support of this development often engage in confirmatory research which weighs the ‘evidence’ in light of our wishes and political projects. The talk about ‘learning’ and ‘dialogue’ cannot sustain this form of judicial paternalism (at best) as an instantiation of emancipation or celebrate it as a victory for law by dispensing with politics. It is just a politics by other means. But in this politics some traditional remedies for insuring the accountability of the ‘rulers’ (or rule-handlers) have been weakened. The comment adds several critical observations about the practices of discourse, law, politics and judging which cannot camouflage the problem of power and its legitimisation. Thus we had better consider also a political alternative which relies on a variety of different institutional solutions where courts have to compete with other institutions without fixed hierarchies and where different sources of legitimacy stand in tension with each other.
Non-arbitrariness, rule of law and the ‘margin of appreciation’: Comments on Andreas Follesdal
Authors: PALOMBELLA GIANLUIGI
Published: April 2021

Can citizens’ interest in non-domination be satisfied by the principle of legality and the guarantee of non-arbitrariness? This comment argues that the rule of law requires an internal organization of law that entails an additional positive law, through conventions, common law, judicial precedents or constitutions, which the sovereign cannot legally override. In the supranational context, the rule of law requires an equilibrium of consideration and respect between different legalities by avoiding a legal monopoly of a supreme authority and fostering the interaction among orders based on content-dependent reasons. The same applies to the relations between the ECtHR and member states. The margin of appreciation, taken as a reminder of the complexities of international institutional relationships, embodies a non-domination caveat to consider (the reasons from) the ‘normativities’ of different orders. Nonetheless, as an argumentative tool of the Court, it allows for an often-disputed discretion. Accordingly, better refined guidelines and justifications are required.
Why Does Excellent Monitoring Accuracy Not Always Produce Gains in Memory Performance?
Authors: Dunlosky John , Mueller Michael L. , Morehead Kayla , Tauber Sarah K. , Thiede Keith W. , Metcalfe Janet
Published: April 2021

Abstract. Does excellent monitoring of learning support improvements in subsequent relearning? Although some studies answer this question affirmatively, others have suggested that excellent monitoring may not matter. Accordingly, we address the question, when will highly accurate monitoring judgments benefit restudy? According to the contingent-efficacy hypothesis, excellent monitoring accuracy will not benefit learning (a) when restudy itself produces only small learning gains for items that were restudied, (b) when few (or most) of the items have been learned prior to restudy, and (c) when learners use their accurate judgments inappropriately for making restudy selections. Under these circumstances, the contingent-efficacy hypothesis predicts that restudy will be suboptimal, whereas under more ideal conditions (e.g., learning gains are high during restudy), excellent monitoring is expected to enhance restudy efficacy. By confirming these predictions across three experiments, the current research reconciles the prior discrepancies and reveals when excellent monitoring will matter for effectively guiding restudy.
A Fast Non‐Local Means Filtering Method for Interferometric Phase Based on Wavelet Packet Transform
Authors: Yan Zhan , Yan Hang , Wang Tao
Published: April 2021

Phase unwrapping is very important to acquire surface deformation using InSAR, unwrapping the interferometric phase directly is not appropriate because the phase is affected by various noises. Therefore, it is essential to apply a suitable filter to the interferometric phase before phase unwrapping. Although there are many filtering methods for noise, these methods cannot be used directly due to the particularity of interferometric phase noise and therefore it is important to do the corresponding domain transformation. Here, a fast non‐local means filtering method based on wavelet packet transform is proposed. Originally, wavelet packet transform is performed on the real part and the imaginary part respectively, which avoids the influence of phase jumps on the subsequent filtering. Furthermore, the fast non‐local means filtering can be applied to smooth the acquired wavelet packet coefficients. Eventually, inverse transform of the wavelet packet is used to reconstruct the phase after filtering. Compared with other filtering algorithms in simulated and actual Sentinel‐1 data, the superiority of this algorithm is proved.
Effects of Irrigation on Seasonal and Annual Temperature and Precipitation over China Simulated by the WRF Model
Authors: Liu Jian , Jin Jiming , Niu Guo‐Yue
Published: April 2021

In this study, we developed a realistic irrigation scheme in version 3.6 of the Weather Research and Forecasting model (WRF3.6) with version 4 of the Community Land Model (CLM4) land surface scheme to investigate the effects of cropland irrigation on regional climate in China. Irrigation may occur throughout the year in most croplands with good thermal conditions to cultivate crops for more grain production, known as multiple cropping (MC). However, MC has been considered less in previous studies investigating the climatic effects of irrigation. In addition, the effects of cropland irrigation on seasonal climate in China have been less studied. The climatic effects of irrigation are assessed by comparing observations and model simulations with and without irrigation from 2001 through 2010. Results showed that the simulation with irrigation reduced mainly biases of land surface temperature (LST), surface air temperature (SAT), and precipitation over the irrigated areas. The simulation with irrigation also reproduced reliable annual irrigation water use and reasonable spatial distribution patterns of seasonal irrigation amounts. Both annual LST and SAT decreased 0.6 °C averaged over irrigated areas due to the irrigation‐induced cooling effect. Additionally, the decreased surface temperature in the spring led to a reduced land‐sea heat contrast that suppressed summer precipitation. The results indicated that a realistic irrigation scheme is important for accessing the climatic effects of irrigation. More broadly, including MC in the irrigation scheme may be useful for other assessments of the climatic effects of irrigation.
Intrinsic in-plane nodal chain and generalized quaternion charge protected nodal link in photonics
Authors: Wang Dongyang , Yang Biao , Guo Qinghua , Zhang Ruo-Yang , Xia Lingbo , Su Xiaoqiang , Chen Wen-Jie , Han Jiaguang , Zhang Shuang , Chan C. T.
Published: April 2021

Nodal lines are degeneracies formed by crossing bands in three-dimensional momentum space. Interestingly, these degenerate lines can chain together via touching points and manifest as nodal chains. These nodal chains are usually embedded in two orthogonal planes and protected by the corresponding mirror symmetries. Here, we propose and demonstrate an in-plane nodal chain in photonics, where all chained nodal lines coexist in a single mirror plane instead of two orthogonal ones. The chain point is stabilized by the intrinsic symmetry that is specific to electromagnetic waves at the Г point of zero frequency. By adding another mirror plane, we find a nodal ring that is constructed by two higher bands and links with the in-plane nodal chain. The nodal link in momentum space exhibits non-Abelian characteristics on a C2T - invariant plane, where admissible transitions of the nodal link structure are determined by generalized quaternion charges. Through near-field scanning measurements of bi-anisotropic metamaterials, we experimentally mapped out the in-plane nodal chain and nodal link in such systems.
Naturally-occurring spinosyn A and its derivatives function as argininosuccinate synthase activator and tumor inhibitor
Authors: Zou Zizheng , Hu Xiyuan , Luo Tiao , Ming Zhengnan , Chen Xiaodan , Xia Li , Luo Wensong , Li Jijia , Xu Na , Chen Ling , Cao Dongsheng , Wen Min , Kong Fanrong , Peng Kunjian , Xie Yuanzhu , Li Xuan , Ma Dayou , Yang Chuanyu , Chen Ceshi , Yi Wenjun , Liu Ousheng , Liu Suyou , Luo Junli , Luo Zhiyong
Published: April 2021

Argininosuccinate synthase (ASS1) is a ubiquitous enzyme in mammals that catalyzes the formation of argininosuccinate from citrulline and aspartate. ASS1 genetic deficiency in patients leads to an autosomal recessive urea cycle disorder citrullinemia, while its somatic silence or down-regulation is very common in various human cancers. Here, we show that ASS1 functions as a tumor suppressor in breast cancer, and the pesticide spinosyn A (SPA) and its derivative LM-2I suppress breast tumor cell proliferation and growth by binding to and activating ASS1. The C13-C14 double bond in SPA and LM-2I while the Cys97 (C97) site in ASS1 are critical for the interaction between ASS1 and SPA or LM-2I. SPA and LM-2I treatment results in significant enhancement of ASS1 enzymatic activity in breast cancer cells, particularly in those cancer cells with low ASS1 expression, leading to reduced pyrimidine synthesis and consequently the inhibition of cancer cell proliferation. Thus, our results establish spinosyn A and its derivative LM-2I as potent ASS1 enzymatic activator and tumor inhibitor, which provides a therapeutic avenue for tumors with low ASS1 expression and for those non-tumor diseases caused by down-regulation of ASS1.
Microscale Schottky superlubric generator with high direct-current density and ultralong life
Authors: Huang Xuanyu , Xiang Xiaojian , Nie Jinhui , Peng Deli , Yang Fuwei , Wu Zhanghui , Jiang Haiyang , Xu Zhiping , Zheng Quanshui
Published: April 2021

Miniaturized or microscale generators that can effectively convert weak and random mechanical energy into electricity have significant potential to provide solutions for the power supply problem of distributed devices. However, owing to the common occurrence of friction and wear, all such generators developed so far have failed to simultaneously achieve sufficiently high current density and sufficiently long lifetime, which are crucial for real-world applications. To address this issue, we invent a microscale Schottky superlubric generator (S-SLG), such that the sliding contact between microsized graphite flakes and n-type silicon is in a structural superlubric state (an ultra-low friction and wearless state). The S-SLG not only generates high current (~210 Am−2) and power (~7 Wm−2) densities, but also achieves a long lifetime of at least 5,000 cycles, while maintaining stable high electrical current density (~119 Am−2). No current decay and wear are observed during the experiment, indicating that the actual persistence of the S-SLG is enduring or virtually unlimited. By excluding the mechanism of friction-induced excitation in the S-SLG, we further demonstrate an electronic drift process during relative sliding using a quasi-static semiconductor finite element simulation. Our work may guide and accelerate the future use of S-SLGs in real-world applications.
SOD1 regulates ribosome biogenesis in KRAS mutant non-small cell lung cancer
Authors: Wang Xiaowen , Zhang Hong , Sapio Russell , Yang Jun , Wong Justin , Zhang Xin , Guo Jessie Y. , Pine Sharon , Van Remmen Holly , Li Hong , White Eileen , Liu Chen , Kiledjian Megerditch , Pestov Dimitri G. , Steven Zheng X. F.
Published: April 2021

SOD1 is known as the major cytoplasmic superoxide dismutase and an anticancer target. However, the role of SOD1 in cancer is not fully understood. Herein we describe the generation of an inducible Sod1 knockout in KRAS-driven NSCLC mouse model. Sod1 knockout markedly reduces tumor burden in vivo and blocks growth of KRAS mutant NSCLC cells in vitro. Intriguingly, SOD1 is enriched in the nucleus and notably in the nucleolus of NSCLC cells. The nuclear and nucleolar, not cytoplasmic, form of SOD1 is essential for lung cancer cell proliferation. Moreover, SOD1 interacts with PeBoW complex and controls its assembly necessary for pre-60S ribosomal subunit maturation. Mechanistically, SOD1 regulates co-localization of PeBoW with and processing of pre-rRNA, and maturation of cytoplasmic 60S ribosomal subunits in KRAS mutant lung cancer cells. Collectively, our study unravels a nuclear SOD1 function essential for ribosome biogenesis and proliferation in KRAS-driven lung cancer.
Diet and gut microbiome enterotype are associated at the population level in African buffalo
Authors: Couch Claire E. , Stagaman Keaton , Spaan Robert S. , Combrink Henri J. , Sharpton Thomas J. , Beechler Brianna R. , Jolles Anna E.
Published: April 2021

Studies in humans and laboratory animals link stable gut microbiome “enterotypes” with long-term diet and host health. Understanding how this paradigm manifests in wild herbivores could provide a mechanistic explanation of the relationships between microbiome dynamics, changes in dietary resources, and outcomes for host health. We identify two putative enterotypes in the African buffalo gut microbiome. The enterotype prevalent under resource-abundant dietary regimes, regardless of environmental conditions, has high richness, low between- and within-host beta diversity, and enrichment of genusRuminococcaceae-UCG-005. The second enterotype, prevalent under restricted dietary conditions, has reduced richness, elevated beta diversity, and enrichment of genusSolibacillus. Population-level gamma diversity is maintained during resource restriction by increased beta diversity between individuals, suggesting a mechanism for population-level microbiome resilience. We identify three pathogens associated with microbiome variation depending on host diet, indicating that nutritional background may impact microbiome-pathogen dynamics. Overall, this study reveals diet-driven enterotype plasticity, illustrates ecological processes that maintain microbiome diversity, and identifies potential associations between diet, enterotype, and disease.
Differential spatial computations in ventral and lateral face-selective regions are scaffolded by structural connections
Authors: Finzi Dawn , Gomez Jesse , Nordt Marisa , Rezai Alex A. , Poltoratski Sonia , Grill-Spector Kalanit
Published: April 2021

Face-processing occurs across ventral and lateral visual streams, which are involved in static and dynamic face perception, respectively. However, the nature of spatial computations across streams is unknown. Using functional MRI and population receptive field (pRF) mapping, we measured pRFs in face-selective regions. Results reveal that spatial computations by pRFs in ventral face-selective regions are concentrated around the center of gaze (fovea), but spatial computations in lateral face-selective regions extend peripherally. Diffusion MRI reveals that these differences are mirrored by a preponderance of white matter connections between ventral face-selective regions and foveal early visual cortex (EVC), while connections with lateral regions are distributed more uniformly across EVC eccentricities. These findings suggest a rethinking of spatial computations in face-selective regions, showing that they vary across ventral and lateral streams, and further propose that spatial computations in high-level regions are scaffolded by the fine-grain pattern of white matter connections from EVC.
Enhanced nonlinear interaction of polaritons via excitonic Rydberg states in monolayer WSe2
Authors: Gu Jie , Walther Valentin , Waldecker Lutz , Rhodes Daniel , Raja Archana , Hone James C. , Heinz Tony F. , Kéna-Cohen Stéphane , Pohl Thomas , Menon Vinod M.
Published: April 2021

Strong optical nonlinearities play a central role in realizing quantum photonic technologies. Exciton-polaritons, which result from the hybridization of material excitations and cavity photons, are an attractive candidate to realize such nonlinearities. While the interaction between ground state excitons generates a notable optical nonlinearity, the strength of such interactions is generally not sufficient to reach the regime of quantum nonlinear optics. Excited states, however, feature enhanced interactions and therefore hold promise for accessing the quantum domain of single-photon nonlinearities. Here we demonstrate the formation of exciton-polaritons using excited excitonic states in monolayer tungsten diselenide (WSe2) embedded in a microcavity. The realized excited-state polaritons exhibit an enhanced nonlinear response ∼$${g}_{{pol}-{pol}}^{2s} \sim 46.4\pm 13.9\,\mu {eV}\mu {m}^{2}$$

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which is ∼4.6 times that for the ground-state exciton. The demonstration of enhanced nonlinear response from excited exciton-polaritons presents the potential of generating strong exciton-polariton interactions, a necessary building block for solid-state quantum photonic technologies.
Selenoprotein W ensures physiological bone remodeling by preventing hyperactivity of osteoclasts
Authors: Kim Hyunsoo , Lee Kyunghee , Kim Jin Man , Kim Mi Yeong , Kim Jae-Ryong , Lee Han-Woong , Chung Youn Wook , Shin Hong-In , Kim Taesoo , Park Eui-Soon , Rho Jaerang , Lee Seoung Hoon , Kim Nacksung , Lee Soo Young , Choi Yongwon , Jeong Daewon
Published: April 2021

Selenoproteins containing selenium in the form of selenocysteine are critical for bone remodeling. However, their underlying mechanism of action is not fully understood. Herein, we report the identification of selenoprotein W (SELENOW) through large-scale mRNA profiling of receptor activator of nuclear factor (NF)-κΒ ligand (RANKL)-induced osteoclast differentiation, as a protein that is downregulated via RANKL/RANK/tumour necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 6/p38 signaling. RNA-sequencing analysis revealed that SELENOW regulates osteoclastogenic genes.SELENOWoverexpression enhances osteoclastogenesis in vitro via nuclear translocation of NF-κB and nuclear factor of activated T-cells cytoplasmic 1 mediated by 14-3-3γ, whereas its deficiency suppresses osteoclast formation.SELENOW-deficient andSELENOW-overexpressing mice exhibit high bone mass phenotype and osteoporosis, respectively. EctopicSELENOWexpression stimulates cell-cell fusion critical for osteoclast maturation as well as bone resorption. Thus, RANKL-dependent repression ofSELENOWregulates osteoclast differentiation and blocks osteoporosis caused by overactive osteoclasts. These findings demonstrate a biological link between selenium and bone metabolism.
An optimised GAS-pharyngeal cell biofilm model
Authors: Vyas Heema K. N. , McArthur Jason D. , Sanderson-Smith Martina L.
Published: April 2021

Group A Streptococcus (GAS) causes 700 million infections and accounts for half a million deaths per year. Biofilm formation has been implicated in both pharyngeal and dermal GAS infections. In vitro, plate-based assays have shown that several GAS M-types form biofilms, and multiple GAS virulence factors have been linked to biofilm formation. Although the contributions of these plate-based studies have been valuable, most have failed to mimic the host environment, with many studies utilising abiotic surfaces. GAS is a human specific pathogen, and colonisation and subsequent biofilm formation is likely facilitated by distinct interactions with host tissue surfaces. As such, a host cell-GAS model has been optimised to support and grow GAS biofilms of a variety of GAS M-types. Improvements and adjustments to the crystal violet biofilm biomass assay have also been tailored to reproducibly detect delicate GAS biofilms. We propose 72 h as an optimal growth period for yielding detectable biofilm biomass. GAS biofilms formed are robust and durable, and can be reproducibly assessed via staining/washing intensive assays such as crystal violet with the aid of methanol fixation prior to staining. Lastly, SEM imaging of GAS biofilms formed by this model revealed GAS cocci chains arranged into three-dimensional aggregated structures with EPS matrix material. Taken together, we outline an efficacious GAS biofilm pharyngeal cell model that can support long-term GAS biofilm formation, with biofilms formed closely resembling those seen in vivo.