bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Spatiotemporal distributions of two sympatric sawsharks (Pristiophorus cirratus and P. nudipinnis) in south-eastern Australian waters
Authors: Raoult V. , Peddemors V. , Rowling K. , Williamson J. E.
Published: March 2020

Sawsharks are one of the least well-known groups of sharks globally, yet they are caught in large numbers in south-eastern Australia. In this study we assessed spatiotemporal patterns of distribution of two co-occurring species of sawsharks, namely the common sawshark (Pristiophorus cirratus) and the southern sawshark (Pristiophorus nudipinnis), to guide future research in this area. To identify where the animals may occur in greater numbers, this study used the major commercial fishery datasets in the region, containing nearly 180000 catch records from 1990 to 2017. Several general patterns were evident. Sawsharks occurred at shallower and deeper depths than previously thought, and their geographical range was larger than documented in previous studies. Depth distributions of both species overlapped, but P. cirratus appeared more common in deeper water (at depths up to 500m), with peak common sawshark catch rates at ~400m. Seasonal standardised catch patterns across fishing methods suggested that migrations from deeper to shallower waters may occur in the Australasian autumn and winter. The greatest concentration of sawsharks, inferred by standardised catch rates, occurred to the east and west of Bass Strait between Tasmania and mainland Australia. Although standardised catch rates of sawsharks declined in gill-net fisheries by ~30%, primarily in the Bass Strait and Tasmania, sawsharks appear to be caught at consistent rates since the 1990s, inferring a possible resilience of these sharks to current levels of fishing pressure.
Detection of high codimensional bifurcations in variational PDEs
Authors: Kreusser L M , McLachlan R I , Offen C
Published: March 2020

We derive bifurcation test equations for A-series singularities of nonlinear functionals and, based on these equations, we propose a numerical method for detecting high codimensional bifurcations in parameter-dependent PDEs such as parameter-dependent semilinear Poisson equations. As an example, we consider a Bratu-type problem and show how high codimensional bifurcations such as the swallowtail bifurcation can be found numerically. In particular, our original contributions are (1) the use of the Infinite-Dimensional Splitting Lemma, (2) the unified and simplified treatment of all A-series bifurcations, (3) the presentation in Banach spaces, i.e. our results apply both to the PDE and its (variational) discretization, (4) further simplifications for parameter-dependent semilinear Poisson equations (both continuous and discrete), and (5) the unified treatment of the continuous problem and its discretisation.
Online Learning Design At Higher Education: An Example From Mathematics Classroom
Authors: Lubis A , Ritonga A , Hia Y , Nasution A A
Published: March 2020

The rapid increase of technological consumption in many aspects has left educational institutions a great demand to apply it, including higher education. At higher education, the lecturers generally undertake the teaching and learning process out of class. In this case, one possible approach to facilitate this distant learning is through virtual classroom (online learning). The potential use of online learning rises the needs towards how it should be designed. Thus, this paper attempts to discuss about designing online learning that can help enhance student learning and make them engage with the content. An example of classroom implementation was depicted from Mathematics course. The data were collected through an analysis of developmental study conducted at two Indonesian universities. The results of this study indicate that there are four main concerns in designing constructive online learning (1) course arrangement; (2) content appearance; (3) collaborative and interactive; and (4) well-timed response.
Critical Thinking Skills of Mathematics Prospective Teachers: An Exploration Study at Medan State University
Authors: Firdaus M , Mukhtar
Published: March 2020

This study aims to examine mathematics prospective teachers’ critical thinking skills at mathematics education program, Medan State University. This research is intended to contribute to the program to improve the professionalism of prospective mathematics teachers in critical thinking, one of the important skills in the 21st century. The results of this study will be the basis for further action in developing a learning models with reference to the current status of math prospective teachers’ critical thinking skills. In this study, data analysis was carried out through quantitative analysis. The Watson and Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal in the Indonesian version was administered for data collection. Data was collected from 165 prospective teachers during the first semester of the 2019-2020 academic year. The results showed that prospective teachers’ critical thinking grades are in average level. Therefore, further studies must be carried out to identify and overcome deficiencies, to enhance critical thinking in math prospective teacher students.
How Can We Support University of Mathematics Education Student to Learn about Design-Based Research?
Authors: Nasution A A , Mansyur A , Haris D , Suwanto F R
Published: March 2020

The industrial revolution 4.0 requires human resources who can design and make innovation in various fields including education. The design and innovation cannot be separated from the role of research. DBR as one of the research methodologies is a bridge between the innovations that are developed with the practice in formal education. Validation in a real context provides certainty that the research design can be used effectively to assess, inform, and improve activity at least in that context. However, many university student have not used DBR in educational research. The results of the questionnaire and interviews showed that many mathematics education students have no prior experience about DBR. In fact, as prospective educators, they should know DBR as a provision in designing innovative learning in for their future career. Therefore, this study aims to describe our step in course about how to support students to understand and be skilled in applying DBR. By emphasizing the student centred learning combined with context-based problems, we have succeeded in guiding students starting from strengthening DBR theory, designing learning that is appropriate to the student context, applying its design in the classroom, and finally, students can produce a valid and innovative learning design.
Bacterial Composition in Shrimp Paste of Northern Sumatra Related to Flavor and Chemical Properties
Authors: Jamilah I , Suryanto D , Priyani N , Khoiriah W N , Hartanto A , Ahmad F
Published: March 2020

Various bacterial species may be involved in the process of shrimp paste or Terasi fermentation which affects the flavor and aroma of the product. This study investigated the culturable bacterial isolates from each terasi with favored and unfavored taste along with its chemical properties. Four shrimp pastes were collected as representative samples from Northern Sumatra namely Asahan, Tanjung Pura, Tanjung Balai, and Langsa. The method of sample selection was purposive random sampling.The hedonic test was performed by 30 panelists to differentiate the favored and unfavored shrimp pastes. Bacteria were isolated from Terasi with the highest score for taste and aroma using Nutrient Agar medium + 10% NaCl and several cultures were heated at 800C for 15 min for isolated Bacillus spp. The shrimp pastes were tested for their chemical characteristics in percentage (%) e.g water content, carbohydrate, total fat, protein and salt content (NaCl). The hedonic test results showed that the shrimp paste originated from Langsa (Aceh) produced the highest score for taste (80.6%), aroma (81.1%) and the aroma of fresh shrimp paste (71.4%).The chemical characteristics of Northen Sumatra shrimp paste were, water content ranging from 29-34%, carbohydrate 0.89-2.91%, total fat 1.97-2.39%, protein 25-38%, and salt content 9.83-24%. Seven bacterial isolates were obtained from Langsa shrimp paste coded as IW1, IW2, IW3 and IW4 and three suspected Bacillus coded as B1, B2, and B3.
Learning Management System (LMS) Based On Moodle To Improve Students Learning Activity
Authors: Simanullang N H S , Rajagukguk J
Published: March 2020

Learning Management System (LMS) is an application software that used to help in the online learning process. Moodle is one of the most popular LMS applications and is very appropriate for online learning study. Moodle has various features that are able to support student activities online. Some learning activities supported by moodle are (1) Videos; (2) Discussion forums; (3) Chat; (4) Materials; and (5) Quiz. This research is a quasi-experiment research that is research conducted to see the effect a treatment of the sample in this research is students. The aims of this research is to look at student learning activities that are learned in online using by LMS based Moodle applications.
Fast state tomography with optimal error bounds
Authors: Guţă M , Kahn J , Kueng R , Tropp J A
Published: March 2020

Projected least squares is an intuitive and numerically cheap technique for quantum state tomography: compute the least-squares estimator and project it onto the space of states. The main result of this paper equips this point estimator with rigorous, non-asymptotic convergence guarantees expressed in terms of the trace distance. The estimator’s sample complexity is comparable to the strongest convergence guarantees available in the literature and—in the case of the uniform POVM—saturates fundamental lower bounds. Numerical simulations support these competitive features.
Kinetics of drug release profile from maleic anhydride-grafted-chitosan film
Authors: Timotius Daniel , Kusumastuti Yuni , Imani Nadya Alfa Cahaya , Rochmadi  , Putri Nur Rofiqoh Eviana , Rahayu Suprihastuti Sri , Wirawan Sang Kompiang , Ikawati Muthi
Published: March 2020

A modified functional group of chitosan film was successfully prepared. Maleic anhydride (MA) was used to introduce carboxylic functional groups into chitosan film to enhance the drug loading capacity of the film and also control the drug release. The experiment was carried out by adding various amounts of MA into a chitosan solution, followed by loading the drug into the mixed solution. The drug release study was conducted by immersing the chitosan film in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) solution (pH 7.4) as a body fluid model. This study was carried out in purpose to study the release kinetics of a drug from the modified chitosan film. Hence, the drug release data obtained were correlated with three mathematical models of drug release kinetics: Higuchi’s model, Peppas’ Model, and First-order model. Finally, the results revealed that the modified chitosan film exhibited a controlled release profile. Among the three mathematical models, the drug release profile from the modified chitosan film was best fitted with the First-order model.
Perturbations of elliptic operators in 1-sided chord-arc domains. Part II: Non-symmetric operators and Carleson measure estimates
Authors: Cavero Juan , Hofmann Steve , Martell José María , Toro Tatiana
Published: March 2020

We generalize to the setting of 1-sided chord-arc domains, that is, to domains satisfying the interior Corkscrew and Harnack Chain conditions (these are respectively scale-invariant/quantitative versions of the openness and path-connectedness) and which have an Ahlfors regular boundary, a result of Kenig-Kirchheim-Pipher-Toro, in which Carleson measure estimates for bounded solutions of the equation

L
u
=
−
div
⁡
(
A
∇
u
)
=
0

Lu=-\operatorname {div}(A\nabla u) = 0

with

A
A

being a real (not necessarily symmetric) uniformly elliptic matrix imply that the corresponding elliptic measure belongs to the Muckenhoupt

A
∞

A_\infty

class with respect to surface measure on the boundary. We present two applications of this result. In the first one we extend a perturbation result recently proved by Cavero-Hofmann-Martell presenting a simpler proof and allowing non-symmetric coefficients. Second, we prove that if an operator

L
L

as above has locally Lipschitz coefficients satisfying certain Carleson measure condition, then

ω
L

∈

A
∞

\omega _L\in A_\infty

if and only if

ω

L
⊤

∈

A
∞

\omega _{L^\top }\in A_\infty

. As a consequence, we can remove one of the main assumptions in the non-symmetric case of a result of Hofmann-Martell-Toro and show that if the coefficients satisfy a slightly stronger Carleson measure condition the membership of the elliptic measure associated with

L
L

to the class

A
∞

A_\infty

yields that the domain is indeed a chord-arc domain.
The recent colonization history of the most widespread Podocarpus tree species in Afromontane forests
Authors: Migliore Jérémy , Lézine Anne-Marie , Hardy Olivier J
Published: March 2020

Background and Aims

Afromontane forests host a unique biodiversity distributed in isolated high-elevation habitats within a matrix of rain forests or savannahs, yet they share a remarkable flora that raises questions about past connectivity between currently isolated forests. Here, we focused on the Podocarpus latifolius–P. milanjianus complex (Podocarpaceae), the most widely distributed conifers throughout sub-Saharan African highlands, to infer its demographic history from genetic data.

Methods

We sequenced the whole plastid genome, mitochondrial DNA regions and nuclear ribosomal DNA of 88 samples from Cameroon to Angola in western Central Africa and from Kenya to the Cape region in eastern and southern Africa to reconstruct time-calibrated phylogenies and perform demographic inferences.

Key Results

We show that P. latifolius and P. milanjianus form a single species, whose lineages diverged during the Pleistocene, mostly between approx, 200 000 and 300 000 years BP, after which they underwent a wide range expansion leading to their current distributions. Confronting phylogenomic and palaeoecological data, we argue that the species originated in East Africa and reached the highlands of the Atlantic side of Africa through two probable latitudinal migration corridors: a northern one towards the Cameroon volcanic line, and a southern one towards Angola. Although the species is now rare in large parts of its range, no demographic decline was detected, probably because it occurred too recently to have left a genetic signature in our DNA sequences.

Conclusions

Despite the ancient and highly fluctuating history of podocarps in Africa revealed by palaeobotanical records, the extended distribution of current P. latifolius/milanjianus lineages is shown to result from a more recent history, mostly during the mid-late Pleistocene, when Afromontane forests were once far more widespread and continuous.
CYD Tetravalent Dengue Vaccine Performance by Baseline Immune Profile (Monotypic/Multitypic) in Dengue-Seropositive Individuals
Authors: DiazGranados Carlos A , Langevin Edith , Bonaparte Matthew , Sridhar Saranya , Machabert Tifany , Dayan Gustavo , Forrat Rémi , Savarino Stephen
Published: March 2020

Background

The immune profile of dengue-experienced individuals is a determinant of dengue reinfection severity risk. Individuals with a single prior dengue infection (monotypic) are at highest risk for severe disease, while individuals with ≥ 2 prior dengue infections (multitypic) are at lower risk. The tetravalent dengue vaccine (CYD-TDV) has shown efficacy in the prevention of dengue in individuals with prior dengue infection. We estimated efficacy in individuals with monotypic or multitypic immune profiles.

Methods

Participants enrolled in the immunogenicity subsets of 2 randomized placebo-controlled phase 3 studies (CYD14, NCT01373281; CYD15, NCT01374516) were classified as either monotypic or multitypic, based on measured baseline dengue plaque reduction neutralization test. Vaccine efficacy (VE) against symptomatic virologically confirmed dengue (VCD) was assessed over 25 months and against VCD hospitalization over 6 years.

Results

Of 3927 participants in the immunogenicity subsets, 496 and 257 in the CYD-TDV and placebo groups, respectively, were classified as monotypic immune, and 1227 and 612, respectively, as multitypic immune. VE against symptomatic VCD was 77.4% (95% CI, 56.4%–88.2%) for monotypic and 89.2% (95% CI, 71.5%–95.9%) for multitypic profiles, with corresponding absolute risk reductions (ARRs) of 4.48% (95% CI, 2.32%–6.65%) for monotypics and 1.67% (95% CI, .89%–2.46%) for multitypics. VE against hospitalized VCD was 75.3% (95% CI, 42.7%–90.2%) in monotypics and 81.2% (95% CI, 21.7%–96.8%) in multitypics, with ARRs of 0.95% (95% CI, .37%–1.53%) for monotypics and 0.18% (95% CI, .02%–.34%) for multitypics.

Conclusions

CYD-TDV benefits individuals with monotypic and multitypic immune profiles. Larger public health benefit is expected to derive from the protection of individuals with a monotypic immune profile.
Identification of Umbre Orthobunyavirus as a Novel Zoonotic Virus Responsible for Lethal Encephalitis in 2 French Patients with Hypogammaglobulinemia
Authors: Pérot Philippe , Bielle Franck , Bigot Thomas , Foulongne Vincent , Bolloré Karine , Chrétien Delphine , Gil Patricia , Gutiérrez Serafín , L’Ambert Grégory , Mokhtari Karima , Hellert Jan , Flamand Marie , Tamietti Carole , Coulpier Muriel , Huard de Verneuil Anne , Temmam Sarah , Couderc Thérèse , De Sousa Cunha Edouard , Boluda Susana , Plu Isabelle , Delisle Marie Bernadette , Bonneville Fabrice , Brassat David , Fieschi Claire , Malphettes Marion , Duyckaerts Charles , Mathon Bertrand , Demeret Sophie , Seilhean Danielle , Eloit Marc
Published: March 2020

Background

Human encephalitis represents a medical challenge from a diagnostic and therapeutic point of view. We investigated the cause of 2 fatal cases of encephalitis of unknown origin in immunocompromised patients.

Methods

Untargeted metatranscriptomics was applied on the brain tissue of 2 patients to search for pathogens (viruses, bacteria, fungi, or protozoans) without a prior hypothesis.

Results

Umbre arbovirus, an orthobunyavirus never previously identified in humans, was found in 2 patients. In situ hybridization and reverse transcriptase–quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) showed that Umbre virus infected neurons and replicated at high titers. The virus was not detected in cerebrospinal fluid by RT-qPCR. Viral sequences related to Koongol virus, another orthobunyavirus close to Umbre virus, were found in Culex pipiens mosquitoes captured in the south of France where the patients had spent some time before the onset of symptoms, demonstrating the presence of the same clade of arboviruses in Europe and their potential public health impact. A serological survey conducted in the same area did not identify individuals positive for Umbre virus. The absence of seropositivity in the population may not reflect the actual risk of disease transmission in immunocompromised individuals.

Conclusions

Umbre arbovirus can cause encephalitis in immunocompromised humans and is present in Europe.
Bipolar Rivalry in the Early Digital Age
Authors: Xuetong Yan
Published: March 2020

The year 2019 saw the curtain rise on a US–China bipolar rivalry quite different from the Cold War US–Soviet bipolarity. The fundamental difference between the current bipolar rivalry and that during the Cold War is that ideology is no longer the main engine driving international competition, but rather the new digital dimension of strategic competition that is emerging between the United States and China. Technological advancement over the past 15 years has led world history’s entry into the early digital age. The development of digital technology has created new ways of protecting national security, of accumulating national wealth, and of obtaining international support. Cybersecurity is becoming the core of national security and the share of digital economy in major powers’ gross domestic product dramatically increases. For the leading powers, strategic competition in cyberspace in this early digital age outstrips to a crucial extent that within physical geographic boundaries. This article observes that Cold War mentality and digital mentality will have mixed impact on foreign policy-making in the digital age, and that interactions between the nations whose foreign policy is simultaneously influenced by both mentalities will shape the emerging international order into one of uneasy peace, where there is no direct war and few proxy wars. It will rather be a scenario reflecting the dark side of globalization and downside of global governance, evident in the violation of agreements, double dealing, cyber-attacks, and technology decoupling between states. Although further digital advancement will indeed change international politics in ever more aspects, US–China bipolar configuration will nevertheless remain in place for at least for two decades, or perhaps longer.
A tale of two islands: evidence for impaired stress response and altered immune functions in an insular pit viper following ecological disturbance
Authors: Sandfoss Mark R , Claunch Natalie M , Stacy Nicole I , Romagosa Christina M , Lillywhite Harvey B
Published: March 2020

The frequency and intensity of ecological perturbations affecting wild animal populations is expected to increase in the future with animals facing numerous global threats. Seahorse Key is a continental island off mainland Florida that has historically been a major rookery for several species of waterbirds. As a result of an unknown disturbance, the entire rookery abandoned Seahorse Key in April 2015 and shifted nesting activities to nearby Snake Key, resulting in an influx of food resources in the form of fish carrion to resident Florida cottonmouth snakes (Agkistrodon conanti), while snakes on Seahorse Key experienced a drastic reduction in food resources. Our objective was to assess plasma corticosterone concentrations, corticosterone negative feedback using dexamethasone, blood glucose, body condition, packed cell volume, natural antibody agglutination, white blood cell counts and ratios and erythrocyte sedimentation rate to characterize the long-term effects of differential resource availability in these two snake populations 3 years after this major ecological disturbance. We collected blood samples at three time points from cottonmouths on Seahorse Key (n = 6 individuals) and Snake Key (n = 13 individuals) in fall 2018. In due consideration of the small sample size, our study shows evidence that 3 years after the shift in waterbird nesting Seahorse Key cottonmouths exhibit a dampened acute stress response and presumptive impaired innate immune functions relative to cottonmouths on Snake Key. These results highlight the context-dependent nature of biomarkers and implicate the significant decrease in food resources on Seahorse Key in altering hormonal stress responses and innate immune functions, possibly leading to unknown long-term downstream effects. This study assessed the response of a wild population of pit viper to ecological disturbance in situ with the aim to improve our understanding of how animals cope with such perturbations and improve our capacity to make informed decisions for conservation.
Regulation of Janus Kinase 2 by an Inflammatory Bowel Disease Causal Non-coding Single Nucleotide Polymorphism
Authors: Cardinale Christopher J , March Michael E , Lin Xiang , Liu Yichuan , Spruce Lynn A , Bradfield Jonathan P , Wei Zhi , Seeholzer Steven H , Grant Struan F A , Hakonarson Hakon
Published: March 2020

Background and Aims

Among the >240 genetic loci described to date which confer susceptibility to inflammatory bowel disease, a small subset have been fine-mapped to an individual, non-coding single nucleotide polymorphism [SNP]. To illustrate a model mechanism by which a presumed-causal non-coding SNP can function, we analysed rs1887428, located in the promoter region of the Janus kinase 2 [JAK2] gene.

Methods

We utilized comparative affinity purification-mass spectrometry, DNA–protein binding assays, CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing, transcriptome sequencing and methylome quantitative trait locus methods to characterize the role of this SNP.

Results

We determined that the risk allele of rs1887428 is bound by the transcription factor [TF] RBPJ, while the protective allele is bound by the homeobox TF CUX1. While rs188748 only has a very modest influence on JAK2 expression, this effect was amplified downstream through the expression of pathway member STAT5B and epigenetic modification of the JAK2 locus.

Conclusion

Despite the absence of a consensus TF-binding motif or expression quantitative trait locus, we have used improved methods to characterize a putatively causal SNP to yield insight into inflammatory bowel disease mechanisms.

Podcast

This article has an associated podcast which can be accessed at https://academic.oup.com/ecco-jcc/pages/podcast
Water Loss and Desiccation Tolerance of the Two Yearly Generations of Adult and Nymphal Kudzu Bugs,Megacopta cribraria(Hemiptera: Plataspidae)
Authors: Benk Gokhan , Thompson Patrick J , Hu Xing P , Appel Arthur G
Published: March 2020

Water loss rate, percentage total body water content (%TBW), cuticular permeability (CP), and desiccation tolerance were investigated in adult and immature stages of the invasive kudzu bug, Megacopta cribraria (Fab.) (Hemiptera: Plataspidae), a serious soybean pest and an urban nuisance. Adults and all five nymphal instars were weighed prior to and 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 24 h after desiccated at 30 ± 1°C and 0–2% RH. Both % initial mass and %TBW loss increased linearly with time of desiccation. Rates of loss ranged from approximately 1–7%/h. Mortality occurred at 10 h after desiccation. Desiccation tolerance (%TBW lost at death) ranged between 25.6% for first-generation adult females and 75% for first-generation fifth-instar nymphs. First-generation first-instar nymphs had significantly greater %TBW (88.9%) than the other generations and instars, whereas second-generation fifth instars had the lowest %TBW (62.4%). The CP value of first-generation adult females (12.3 ± 1.6 µg cm−1 h−1 mmHg−1) was the greatest across generations. First-generation first instars had the greatest mass loss (111.11 mg/g) among all instars and generations, whereas overwintered second-generation adult females had the lowest mass loss (18.39) across generations. This study demonstrated that desiccation stress differentially affected the survival of adult and nymphal kudzu bugs and may imply that environmental stress can affect the relative abundance of this species in the fields and around homes.
The Republic of Ghana and Bilateral Investment Treaties: A Burgeoning Expert?
Authors: Avayiwoe Gracious
Published: March 2020

In this note, I categorize and review the bilateral investment treaties (BITs) concluded by the Republic of Ghana. I identify the current status of Ghana in the BIT sphere as being that of neither a novice nor a fully-fledged expert. The country is, nevertheless, progressively exhibiting some level of innovation and negotiation influence. Notwithstanding, all generations of its BITs remain very broad in scope, and, also, share laconic and vaguely-worded provisions. Furthermore, contemporary models of international investment agreements (IIAs) as contained in Ghana’s latest BIT—the earlier generations having lacked such innovations—is not as robust as those in emerging IIAs of Africa. Towards sustainability and systemic coherence of the BITs and the new African IIA paradigm, Ghana, certainly, needs to reform its existing BITs and reorient its future investment treaty practice. In the interim, I propose the Pan-African Investment Code (PAIC) as the benchmark.
On Higher Special Elements ofp-adic Representations
Authors: Burns David , Sano Takamichi , Tsoi Kwok-Wing
Published: March 2020

As a natural generalisation of the notion of “higher rank Euler system”, we develop a theory of “higher special elements” in the exterior power biduals of the Galois cohomology of $p$-adic representations. We show, in particular, that such elements encode detailed information about the structure of Galois cohomology groups and are related by families of congruences involving natural height pairings on cohomology. As a first concrete application of the approach, we use it to refine, and extend, a variety of existing results and conjectures concerning the values of derivatives of Dirichlet $L$-series.
Folk Religion and the Medical Engineering of Rural Black Laborers
Authors: Drake Jamil W
Published: March 2020

In the study of American religion, scholars use the category folk to illuminate the religious worlds of populations on the margins of society. The category has been deployed to valorize the unique cultures of populations while extending the meaning and function of religion beyond conventional markers. Judith Weisenfeld’s religio-racial concept underscores how different state bureaucracies played an important role in the daily religious worlds of Black laypeople. This article applies Weisenfeld’s contribution to American religion by demonstrating that the folk category also sheds light on the agency of state actors and networks. Using the 1931 Macon County, Alabama, venereal disease program, I will argue that the folk category was part of the state’s biomedical campaign to regulate the daily religious cultures of the Black poor.
Red Squads and Black Radicals: Reading Agency in the Archive
Authors: Johnson Sylvester
Published: March 2020

Scholarly accounts of racial formation have regularly focused on the role of state actors or non-state oppressive subjects administering racial systems against a dominated population. Challenges or resistance to state racialization practices by dissenting communities, on the other hand, have not received commensurate engagement, particularly at the level of race-making. Judith Weisenfeld demonstrates in New World A-Coming that African American religious movements such as the Moorish Science Temple of America and the Peace Mission were not merely protesting a racial system but also inventing new racial subjectivities. This account of Black radical agency is deeply consequential for understanding the religious dimensions of Black radical politics and the agential architecture of racialization. In this article, I apply Weisenfeld’s method of mapping radical agency from the underside of state archives. The focus is on the Southern Christian Leadership Conference’s Chicago campaign of 1966 and the Poor People’s Campaign (PPC) that culminated in the summer of 1968. I argue that Black radical activists, despite being targeted by counterintelligence operations of law enforcement, nevertheless transformed the politics of race and power with lasting consequences by exceeding in specific ways the efforts of state actors to destroy Black liberation projects. The archival records of state entities themselves render the import of Black agency. This implies, among other things, that scholarship on Black religion and racialization broadly must shift significantly to account for a central argument of Weisenfeld’s book: dominated peoples have been agents of racial histories and not merely objects of racial governance.
Multicentre study of thein vitroactivity of ceftolozane/tazobactam and other commonly used antibiotics againstPseudomonas aeruginosaisolates from patients in the UK
Authors: Alvarez-Buylla Adela , Allen Mike , Betts Dan , Bennett Sean , Monahan Irene , Planche Tim ,   INVICTUS study group, Auckland Cressida , Bowker Karen , Chesterfield Helen , Dall’antonia Martino , Diggle Mathew , El Sakka Noha , Elamin Wael , Hussain Abid , Lambourne Jon , Perry John , Planche Timothy , Pryzbylo Michael , Wilson Peter , Wootton Mandy
Published: March 2020

Objectives

To evaluate the in vitro activity of ceftolozane/tazobactam and other commonly used antipseudomonal antibiotics against geographically spread Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates in the UK using disc susceptibility testing.

Methods

The in vitro activity of ceftolozane/tazobactam and nine other commonly used antipseudomonal antibiotics was evaluated. Isolates were collected between January 2015 and April 2018. Susceptibility results were interpreted using EUCAST 2018 criteria.

Results

Overall, 1326 clinical isolates from 14 centres in the UK were tested. The majority of the isolates were collected from non-cystic fibrosis (non-CF) patients (n = 1123, 85.0%). In addition, 199 cystic fibrosis (CF) isolates were collected from 10 centres. Overall susceptibility to ceftolozane/tazobactam was 89.3% (n = 1181), which included 128 CF and 1053 non-CF isolates. The other antibacterial agents with the highest susceptibility were tobramycin (92.4%, n = 1221) and piperacillin/tazobactam (90.7%, n = 1199). Susceptibility to all antibacterial agents was lower for CF isolates. Piperacillin/tazobactam was the most active of the antibacterial agents tested, followed by ceftolozane/tazobactam (70.4% and 64.3%, respectively), and <60% of CF isolates were susceptible to ceftazidime and the carbapenems. The reason for the higher rates of susceptibility to piperacillin/tazobactam and lower susceptibility to ceftazidime compared with other studies is unclear.

Conclusions

The data presented here support the need to investigate the place of ceftolozane/tazobactam as a treatment option in the management of pseudomonal infections, particularly in patients with CF. The results highlight the importance of routine testing of new antibacterial agents and of making the data available to clinicians to make appropriate and informed treatment choices.
Three Spectrophotometric Methods for Quantitative Analysis of Duloxetine in Presence of its Toxic Impurity: 1-Naphthol
Authors: Naguib Ibrahim A , Abdelhamid Nessreen S , Anwar Basma H , Magdy Maimana A
Published: March 2020

Background

Duloxetine hydrochloride (DUL) is a drug used to treat depression and anxiety. 1-Naphthol is a potential toxic impurity of DUL, as it causes hepatotoxicity in humans, and it is harmful to aquatic life.

Objective

Three simple, selective, rapid, accurate and precise methods were developed and validated according to International Conference on Harmonization (ICH) guidelines with respect to linearity, accuracy, precision and selectivity for analysis of duloxetine hydrochloride (DUL) in the presence of its potential toxic impurity 1-Naphthol in different laboratory-prepared mixtures and pharmaceutical formulations.

Methods

Method (A) is the first derivative of the ratio spectra spectrophotometric (1DD) method which allows determination of DUL at 251 nm and 1-Naphthol at 305.2 nm without interference from each other. Method B (dual wavelength) means that two different wavelengths were chosen to each drug, where the absorbance difference at these two wavelengths is equal to zero to the second drug. The chosen two wavelengths for DUL were 221.4 nm and 235.6, where the absorbance difference for 1-naphthol at these two wavelengths was equal to zero. While the chosen wavelengths for 1-naphthol were 247.8 nm and 297 nm, where the absorbance difference for DUL at these two wavelengths was equal to zero. Method (C) is the mean centering of ratio spectra spectrophotometric (MCR) method, which depends on measuring the mean centered values of ratio spectra of both DUL and 1-Naphthol at 226 nm.

Results

These methods were validated and agreed with the requirements of ICH guidelines with respect to linearity, accuracy, precision and selectivity.

Conclusions

The results indicate the ability of developed methods to be used for routine quality control analysis of DUL in bulk and pharmaceutical formulations in the presence of its potential impurity 1-Naphthol.
A mass balance method for measuring condensed water content in gas reservoirs
Authors: Xiao Qianhua , Wang Zhiyuan , Liao Zuocai , Ma Yongxin , Huang Xiaoliang , Yu Xinan , Ren Xingming
Published: March 2020

The accurate measurement of condensed water content in gas reservoirs is critical for the effective development of gas reservoirs. In this study, a more accurate and faster method for measuring the condensed water content in gas reservoirs was developed by using a high-temperature and high-pressure PVT device combined with the law of conservation of matter. A condensed water content test was subsequently conducted in the Dong Fang X (DF13) gas reservoir as an example to investigate the variation of condensed water content in gas reservoirs with different temperature and pressure. The results indicate that the condensed water content decreases with the increase in pressure, demonstrating a good exponential relationship, and vice versa. Based on the test results, a comprehensive prediction model for the variation of condensed water content in different sand bodies of the DF13 reservoirs with temperature and pressure was established, which could predict the precipitation of condensed water, thereby laying a solid foundation for the design of waterproof and water control strategies of the DF13 gas reservoir.
Geochemical characteristics and depositional environment of the Shahejie Formation in the Binnan Oilfield, China
Authors: Zuo Xiaochun , Li Cunlei , Zhang Jinliang , Ma Guiyang , Chen Panpan
Published: March 2020

Trace elements in sedimentary rocks are highly sensitive to palaeoaquatic environmental changes in a sedimentary environment, making them an effective means for studying the paleoclimate and paleoenvironment during the deposition of sediments. The trace elements and major elements of mudstone cores sampled in the Binnan Oilfield in China were tested by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP–MS). Strontium (Sr), barium (Ba), vanadium (V), nickel (Ni) and boron (B), which are all sensitive to the sedimentary environment, were selected as discriminant indicators, and the sedimentary environment of the Shahejie Formation in the Binnan Oilfield was studied by combining with sedimentary indicators. The results show that the equivalent B content and the Sr/Ba ratio discriminate the research area for salt water and freshwater sedimentary environments. The V/(V + Ni) ratio is between 0.65 and 0.81, meaning that this area has a highly reductive sedimentary stratum. The trend of the Rb/Sr curve indicates that the paleoclimate of the Shahejie Formation changed from dry to humid and then back to dry.
The South Kensington Museum’s purchase of the Altarpiece of St George
Authors: Montero Tortajada Encarna
Published: March 2020

Documents relating to the acquisition by the South Kensington Museum in London of the Altarpiece of St George in 1864 offer (beyond their obvious relevance for studies of International Gothic painting in Valencia) a clear view of the competitive environment in which collections were shaped and curated in this great institution, then recently founded and dedicated to the education of the public taste. The role of the antiques trade in transactions of this type was important, for it was there that the purchase and sale of high-quality artistic pieces of uncertain origin was managed. Moreover, the new perception and increasing appreciation of Hispanic medieval art in Europe in the mid-1800s emerge clearly from this acquisition.
Mps1 dimerization and multisite interactions with Ndc80 complex enable responsive spindle assembly checkpoint signaling
Authors: Gui Ping , Sedzro Divine M , Yuan Xiao , Liu Sikai , Hei Mohan , Tian Wei , Zohbi Najdat , Wang Fangwei , Yao Yihan , Aikhionbare Felix O , Gao Xinjiao , Wang Dongmei , Yao Xuebiao , Dou Zhen
Published: March 2020

Error-free mitosis depends on accurate chromosome attachment to spindle microtubules, which is monitored by the spindle assembly checkpoint (SAC) signaling. As an upstream factor of SAC, the precise and dynamic kinetochore localization of Mps1 kinase is critical for initiating and silencing SAC signaling. However, the underlying molecular mechanism remains elusive. Here, we demonstrated that the multisite interactions between Mps1 and Ndc80 complex (Ndc80C) govern Mps1 kinetochore targeting. Importantly, we identified direct interaction between Mps1 tetratricopeptide repeat domain and Ndc80C. We further identified that Mps1 C-terminal fragment, which contains the protein kinase domain and C-tail, enhances Mps1 kinetochore localization. Mechanistically, Mps1 C-terminal fragment mediates its dimerization. Perturbation of C-tail attenuates the kinetochore targeting and activity of Mps1, leading to aberrant mitosis due to compromised SAC function. Taken together, our study highlights the importance of Mps1 dimerization and multisite interactions with Ndc80C in enabling responsive SAC signaling.
Constraining the reionization history using deep learning from 21-cm tomography with the Square Kilometre Array
Authors: Mangena Tumelo , Hassan Sultan , Santos Mario G
Published: March 2020

Upcoming 21-cm surveys with the SKA1-LOW telescope will enable imaging of the neutral hydrogen distribution on cosmological scales in the early Universe. These surveys are expected to generate huge imaging data sets that will encode more information than the power spectrum. This provides an alternative unique way to constrain the reionization history, which might break the degeneracy in the power spectral analysis. Using convolutional neural networks, we create a fast estimator of the neutral fraction from the 21-cm maps that are produced by our large seminumerical simulation. Our estimator is able to efficiently recover the neutral fraction ($x_{\rm H\,{\small I}}$) at several redshifts with a high accuracy of 99 per cent as quantified by the coefficient of determination R2. Adding the instrumental effects from the SKA design slightly increases the loss function, but nevertheless we are still able to recover the neutral fraction with a similar high accuracy of 98 per cent, which is only 1 per cent less. While a weak dependence on redshift is observed, the accuracy increases rapidly with decreasing neutral fraction. This is due to the fact that the instrumental noise increases towards high redshift where the Universe is highly neutral. Our results show the promise of directly using 21cm-tomography to constrain the reionization history in a model-independent way, complementing similar efforts, such as those of the optical depth measurements from the cosmic microwave background observations by Planck.
Contrapunto Fugato: A First Step Toward Composing in the Mind
Authors: Schubert Peter
Published: March 2020

Jessie Ann Owens marshaled evidence of a stage in Renaissance compositional process that did not use writing; Julie Cumming believes it was composers’ training as choirboys, which included improvisation, that enabled them to do this; and I propose that what they were doing was contrapunto pensado, Lusitano’s “thought-out” counterpoint, a category lying between on-the-spot improvisation and composition. This article details strategies for “composing in the mind” as it might have applied to a particular technique that singer/improvisers learned early on (after note-names, intervals, and rhythmic notation), called contrapunto fugato. It consists of singing a freely invented line containing repetitions of a motive against a cantus firmus (CF) in long equal values. Although this technique is easy to describe, no one has investigated the difficulties that are involved in repeating a motive against a CF. I will show what needs to be thought out beforehand (pensado) and what needs to be held in the mind so that the result can be sung immediately or written down later. The strategies that I “reverse engineer” from Lusitano’s examples give concrete reality to this ephemeral practice and offer a useful tool for our own pedagogy, for thinking about Renaissance music, and for refining our concept of improvisation. Lusitano’s examples are supplemented by examples by Banchieri and Ortiz.
A Prospective Cohort Study of Neural Progenitor Cell-Sparing Radiation Therapy Plus Temozolomide for Newly Diagnosed Patients With Glioblastoma
Authors: Gui Chengcheng , Vannorsdall Tracy D , Kleinberg Lawrence R , Assadi Ryan , Moore Joseph A , Hu Chen , Quiñones-Hinojosa Alfredo , Redmond Kristin J
Published: March 2020

BACKGROUND

In treating glioblastoma, irradiation of the neural progenitor cell (NPC) niches is controversial. Lower hippocampal doses may limit neurocognitive toxicity, but higher doses to the subventricular zones (SVZ) may improve survival.

OBJECTIVE

To prospectively evaluate the impact of limiting radiation dose to the NPC niches on tumor progression, survival, and cognition in patients with glioblastoma.

METHODS

Patients with glioblastoma received resection followed by standard chemoradiation. Radiation dose to the NPC niches, including the bilateral hippocampi and SVZ, was minimized without compromising tumor coverage. The primary outcome was tumor progression in the spared NPC niches. Follow-up magnetic resonance imaging was obtained bimonthly. Neurocognitive testing was performed before treatment and at 6- and 12-mo follow-up. Cox regression evaluated predictors of overall and progression-free survival. Linear regression evaluated predictors of neurocognitive decline.

RESULTS

A total of 30 patients enrolled prospectively. The median age was 58 yr. Median mean doses to the hippocampi and SVZ were 49.1 and 41.8 gray (Gy) ipsilaterally, and 16.5 and 19.9 Gy contralaterally. Median times to death and tumor progression were 16.0 and 7.6 mo, and were not significantly different compared to a matched historical control. No patients experienced tumor progression in the spared NPC-containing regions. Overall survival was associated with neurocognitive function (P ≤ .03) but not dose to the NPC niches. Higher doses to the hippocampi and SVZ predicted greater decline in verbal memory (P ≤ .01).

CONCLUSION

In treating glioblastoma, limiting dose to the NPC niches may reduce cognitive toxicity while maintaining clinical outcomes. Further studies are needed to confirm these results.
Formation of dynamically transversely trapping surfaces and the stretched hoop conjecture
Authors: Yoshino Hirotaka , Izumi Keisuke , Shiromizu Tetsuya , Tomikawa Yoshimune
Published: March 2020

A dynamically transversely trapping surface (DTTS) is a new concept for an extension of a photon sphere that appropriately represents a strong gravity region and has close analogy with a trapped surface. We study formation of a marginally DTTS in time-symmetric, conformally flat initial data with two black holes, with a spindle-shaped source, and with a ring-shaped source, and clarify that $\mathcal{C}\lesssim 6\pi GM$ describes the condition for the DTTS formation well, where $\mathcal{C}$ is the circumference and $M$ is the mass of the system. This indicates that an understanding analogous to the hoop conjecture for the horizon formation is possible. Exploring the ring system further, we find configurations where a marginally DTTS with the torus topology forms inside a marginally DTTS with the spherical topology, without being hidden by an apparent horizon. There also exist configurations where a marginally trapped surface with the torus topology forms inside a marginally trapped surface with the spherical topology, showing a further similarity between DTTSs and trapped surfaces.