bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Joint speed feedback improves myoelectric prosthesis adaptation after perturbed reaches in non amputees
Authors: Earley Eric J. , Johnson Reva E. , Sensinger Jonathon W. , Hargrove Levi J.
Published: March 2021

Accurate control of human limbs involves both feedforward and feedback signals. For prosthetic arms, feedforward control is commonly accomplished by recording myoelectric signals from the residual limb to predict the user’s intent, but augmented feedback signals are not explicitly provided in commercial devices. Previous studies have demonstrated inconsistent results when artificial feedback was provided in the presence of vision; some studies showed benefits, while others did not. We hypothesized that negligible benefits in past studies may have been due to artificial feedback with low precision compared to vision, which results in heavy reliance on vision during reaching tasks. Furthermore, we anticipated more reliable benefits from artificial feedback when providing information that vision estimates with high uncertainty (e.g. joint speed). In this study, we test an artificial sensory feedback system providing joint speed information and how it impacts performance and adaptation during a hybrid positional-and-myoelectric ballistic reaching task. We found that overall reaching errors were reduced after perturbed control, but did not significantly improve steady-state reaches. Furthermore, we found that feedback about the joint speed of the myoelectric prosthesis control improved the adaptation rate of biological limb movements, which may have resulted from high prosthesis control noise and strategic overreaching with the positional control and underreaching with the myoelectric control. These results provide insights into the relevant factors influencing the improvements conferred by artificial sensory feedback.
Entropy-driven binding of gut bacterial β-glucuronidase inhibitors ameliorates irinotecan-induced toxicity
Authors: Lin Hsien-Ya , Chen Chia-Yu , Lin Ting-Chien , Yeh Lun-Fu , Hsieh Wei-Che , Gao Shijay , Burnouf Pierre-Alain , Chen Bing-Mae , Hsieh Tung-Ju , Dashnyam Punsaldulam , Kuo Yen-Hsi , Tu Zhijay , Roffler Steve R. , Lin Chun-Hung
Published: March 2021

Irinotecan inhibits cell proliferation and thus is used for the primary treatment of colorectal cancer. Metabolism of irinotecan involves incorporation of β-glucuronic acid to facilitate excretion. During transit of the glucuronidated product through the gastrointestinal tract, an induced upregulation of gut microbial β-glucuronidase (GUS) activity may cause severe diarrhea and thus force many patients to stop treatment. We herein report the development of uronic isofagomine (UIFG) derivatives that act as general, potent inhibitors of bacterial GUSs, especially those of Escherichia coli and Clostridium perfringens. The best inhibitor, C6-nonyl UIFG, is 23,300-fold more selective for E. coli GUS than for human GUS (Ki = 0.0045 and 105 μM, respectively). Structural evidence indicated that the loss of coordinated water molecules, with the consequent increase in entropy, contributes to the high affinity and selectivity for bacterial GUSs. The inhibitors also effectively reduced irinotecan-induced diarrhea in mice without damaging intestinal epithelial cells.
Aging effect on the co-crystallization behavior of the donor and acceptor crystals in aqueous dispersions
Authors: Takeda Masaki , Matsui Jun , Masuhara Akito
Published: March 2021

CT co-crystals and “phase-separated” crystals were prepared separately by the mixing of donor and acceptor crystal dispersions.
A novel nano-lanthanum complex: synthesis, characterization and application as a macrofuran chemosensor in pharmaceutical, biological and environmental samples
Authors: Sheta Sheta M. , Abd-Elzaher Mohkles M. , El-Sheikh Said M.
Published: March 2021

A novel chemosensor based on a novel nano-lanthanum complex for detection of macrofurans as an antibiotic widely used for the treatment of urinary tract infections.
An injectable double-crosslinking iodinated composite hydrogel as a potential radioprotective spacer with durable imaging function
Authors: Wang Cheng , Wu Lingyun , Li Wenxiang , Fei Junhao , Xu Jiaqi , Chen Si , Yan Senxiang , Wang Xu
Published: March 2021

Hydrogel spacers make prostate cancer radiotherapy safer and more effective.
Antibody recruiting molecules (ARMs): synthetic immunotherapeutics to fight cancer
Authors: Achilli Silvia , Berthet Nathalie , Renaudet Olivier
Published: March 2021

Antibody-recruiting molecules (ARMs) are one of the most promising tools to redirect the immune response towards cancer cells.
Dynamics of the charging-induced imaging instability in transmission electron microscopy
Authors: Wang Linhai , Liu Dongdong , Zhang Fan , Zhang Zhenyu , Cui Junfeng , Jia Zhenghao , Yu Zhibin , Lv Yiqiang , Liu Wei
Published: March 2021

It is the first time to clarify a positive charging on grid samples with low conductivity, and quantitatively studied the image drifting dynamics induced by charging via in situ transmission electron microscopy (TEM) imaging.
Nanochannel-based heterometallic {ZnIIHoIII}–organic framework with high catalytic activity for the chemical fixation of CO2
Authors: Zhang Tao , Chen Hongtai , Lv Hongxiao , Li Qiaoling , Zhang Xiutang
Published: March 2021

The robust, double-walled, honeycomb material {[ZnHo(TDP)(H2O)]·2DMF·4H2O}n exhibits an excellent catalytic performance in the chemical fixation of CO2 and the efficient detection of Fe(iii) ions in aqueous solution.
Extending the π-conjugated molecules on TiO2 for the selective photocatalytic aerobic oxidation of sulfides triggered by visible light
Authors: Li Hui , Li Xia , Lang Xianjun
Published: March 2021

The assembly of TiO2 surface with 1-hydroxy-2-naphthoic acid can give rise to an apparent red-shift of its absorption band, and subsequently engender the selective aerobic oxidation of sulfides triggered by visible light.
High-throughput image segmentation and machine learning approaches in the plant sciences across multiple scales
Authors: Buckner Eli , Tong Haonan , Ottley Chanae , Williams Cranos
Published: March 2021

Agriculture has benefited greatly from the rise of big data and high-performance computing. The acquisition and analysis of data across biological scales have resulted in strategies modeling inter- actions between plant genotype and environment, models of root architecture that provide insight into resource utilization, and the elucidation of cell-to-cell communication mechanisms that are instrumental in plant development. Image segmentation and machine learning approaches for interpreting plant image data are among many of the computational methodologies that have evolved to address challenging agricultural and biological problems. These approaches have led to contributions such as the accelerated identification of gene that modulate stress responses in plants and automated high-throughput phenotyping for early detection of plant diseases. The continued acquisition of high throughput imaging across multiple biological scales provides opportunities to further push the boundaries of our understandings quicker than ever before. In this review, we explore the current state of the art methodologies in plant image segmentation and machine learning at the agricultural, organ, and cellular scales in plants. We show how the methodologies for segmentation and classification differ due to the diversity of physical characteristics found at these different scales. We also discuss the hardware technologies most commonly used at these different scales, the types of quantitative metrics that can be extracted from these images, and how the biological mechanisms by which plants respond to abiotic/biotic stresses or genotypic modifications can be extracted from these approaches.
FRAC: a flexible resource allocation for vehicular cloud system
Authors: Pradhan Srikanta , Tripathy Somanath
Published: March 2021

Vehicular cloud computing (VCC) is a promising technology for the intelligent transport system. It provides a better quality of transport and vehicular services that will increase the safety and comfort of drivers and passengers. A group of vehicles creates VCC and offers vehicular services for its users in the absence of infrastructure to support the system. The vehicles having computing, storage, communication, and sensing devices can share these resources with other vehicles. VCC creates a resource pool by aggregating all the shared resources of nearby vehicles. The major challenge for VCC is to manage the resources from different vehicles in a resource pool and to allocate necessary resources to its user on‐demand. The authors propose a semi‐Markov decision process based resource allocation method for the VCC system called flexible resource allocation for vehicular cloud system to manage and allocate the resources. The proposed method finds optimal resource allocation strategies for different states of the VCC system and maximises the long‐term expected reward under different parameter settings.
Impact of the calibration of the halo mass function on galaxy cluster number count cosmology
Authors: Artis Emmanuel , Melin Jean-Baptiste , Bartlett James G. , Murray Calum
Published: March 2021

The halo mass function (HMF) is a critical element in cosmological analyses of galaxy cluster catalogs. We quantify the impact of uncertainties in HMF parameters on cosmological constraints from cluster catalogs similar to those from Planck, those expected from the Euclid, Roman, and Rubin surveys, and from a hypothetical larger future survey. We analyze simulated catalogs in each case, gradually loosening priors on HMF parameters to evaluate the degradation in cosmological constraints. While current uncertainties on HMF parameters do not substantially impact Planck-like surveys, we find that they can significantly degrade the cosmological constraints for a Euclid-like survey. Consequently, the current precision on the HMF is not sufficient for Euclid, Roman, Rubin or possible larger surveys. Future experiments will have to properly account for uncertainties in HMF parameters, and it will be necessary to improve the precision of HMF fits to avoid weakening constraints on cosmological parameters.
Spatially-resolved proteomics and transcriptomics: An emerging digital spatial profiling approach for tumor microenvironment
Authors: Wang Nan , Wang Rongshui , Zhang Xue , Li Xia , Liang Yan , Ding Zhiyong
Published: March 2021

Digital spatial profiling (DSP) is an emerging powerful technology for proteomics and transcriptomics analyses in a spatially resolved manner for formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) samples developed by nanoString Technologies. DSP applies several advanced technologies, including high-throughput readout technologies (digital optical barcodes by nCounter instruments or next generation sequencing (NGS)), programmable digital micromirror device (DMD) technology, and microfluidic sampling technologies into traditional immunohistochemistry (IHC) and RNA in situ hybridization (ISH) approaches, creating an innovative tool for discovery, translational research, and clinical uses. Since its launch in 2019, DSP has been rapidly adopted, especially in immuno-oncology and tumor microenvironment research areas, and has revealed valuable information that was inaccessible before. In this article, we report the successful setup and validation of the first DSP technology platform in China. Both DSP spatial protein and RNA profiling approaches were validated using FFPE colorectal cancer tissues. Regions of interest (ROIs) were selected in the areas enriched with tumor cells, stroma/immune cells, or normal epithelial cells, and multiplex spatial profiling of both proteins and RNAs were performed. DSP spatial profiling data were processed and normalized accordingly, validating the high quality and consistency of the data. Unsupervised hierarchical clustering as well as principal component analysis (PCA) grouped tumor, stroma/immune cells, and normal epithelial cells into distinct clusters, indicating that the DSP approach effectively captured the spatially resolved proteomics and transcriptomics profiles of different compartments within the tumor microenvironment. In summary, the results confirmed the expected sensitivity and robustness of the DSP approach in profiling both proteins and RNAs in a spatially resolved manner. As a novel technology in highly complex spatial analyses, DSP endows refined analytical power from the tumor microenvironment perspective with the potential of scaling up to more analyzable targets at relatively low cell input levels. We expect that the DSP technology will greatly advance a wide range of biomedical research, especially in immuno-oncology and tumor microenvironment research areas.
Active teachers’ perceptions on the most suitable resources for teaching history
Authors: Guerrero-Romera Catalina , Sánchez-Ibáñez Raquel , Escribano-Miralles Ainoa , Vivas-Moreno Verónica
Published: March 2021

The objective of this article is to analyze teachers’ assessment of various resources used to teach history. The research methodology is of a quantitative nature with a non-experimental design using a questionnaire with a Likert scale. The non-probabilistic sample comprises 332 history teachers in Primary and Secondary Education in Spain. The analyses carried out are descriptive and inferential. The results indicate that the surveyed teachers value better the resources that imply a greater involvement of the students in the teaching of history and therefore more active methodologies. Specifically, the most valued resources were heritage, artistic productions and museums and, the least valued, video games, textbooks, and applications of historical content for mobile devices and tablets. The study concludes that heritage is a growing educational resource among teachers and shows that teachers are moving away from their perception of resources, which involve a more traditional methodology of teaching history.
A microwave method to remotely assess the abdominal fat thickness
Authors: Lee Jongheon , Park Andrew J. , Tanabe Yuji , Poon Ada S. Y. , Kim Sanghoek
Published: March 2021

We introduce a method to measure the fat thickness by harnessing the physics of destructive interference. At certain frequencies, when the fat thickness equals a quarter wavelength, the amplitude of the reflected wave is minimized due to the destructive interference. Therefore, by observing the frequency where the reflection is minimized, we are able to deduce the fat thickness. This work demonstrates that this simple method can operate not only on a planar tissue model but also on a cylindrical model as well as the Zubal human phantom model. Finally, we experimentally demonstrate the estimation of the fat thickness for the planar tissue model with a broadband antenna. This method for assessing one’s abdominal fatness can allow continuous self-monitoring due to its low cost and simple measurement procedure.
Transscrotal stimulation of the testes and epididymides improves urethral sperm collection in domestic cats
Authors: Prochowska S. , Niżański W.
Published: March 2021

Urethral catheterisation after medetomidine administration is the method of choice for semen collection in cats, but it yields variable results. This study tested whether scrotal manual stimulation can improve urethral sperm collection in domestic cats. The study was performed on 20 male cats, from which two urethral semen samples were collected, one before and one after 2 min of transscrotal finger massage of the testes and epididymides. Both sperm samples were assessed for total sperm count and motility using computer-aided sperm analysis, viability and morphology (eosin–nigrosin staining). The transscrotal manual stimulation allowed a significantly higher number of spermatozoa to be obtained (P = 0.0015). Viability was similar before and after the stimulation (median 92% and 90.5%), whereas the number of motile (median 60% and 70%) and morphologically normal (median 17% and 30.5%) spermatozoa was higher in the second sample (P = 0.03 and P = 0.002 respectively), which confirms that transscrotal massage induced the expulsion of a fresh pool of spermatozoa into the urethra. Transscrotal stimulation of the testes and epididymides significantly improves urethral semen collection in domestic cats and can be easily introduced into clinical practice.
Conditional exponence
Authors: Stump Gregory T.
Published: March 2021

In inferential-realizational theories of
morphology, the content realized by the application of a rule of
exponence is customarily assumed to be invariant across the range of
contexts in which that rule applies. Yet, there are morphomic
exponents whose content is sensitive to context; Breton verb
inflection presents striking examples of exponents of this sort. I
argue that the patterns of context dependency presented by such
exponents are an effect of the phenomenon of rule combination, by
which simple rules of morphology may combine to form more complex
rules. Some rule combinations involve ordinary rule composition; the
properties of a combination of this sort are deducible from those of
its component rules. Other rule combinations are supplementational;
a combination of this sort possesses one or more properties that are
not deducible from those of its component rules. As I show, the
Breton examples of conditional exponence involve supplementational
rule combination. I elucidate this claim formally and discuss its
wider implications for morphological theory.
My favorite morphome
Authors: Hoberman Robert D.
Published: March 2021

Arabic has a suffix, glossed here as AT, that is
a clear and simple example of a morphome. It most frequently and
productively marks feminine gender in singular nouns and adjectives,
but in fact it has diverse morphological, syntactic, and semantic
functions that cannot be unified. That all these functions are
expressed by a single element AT, rather than a clutch of
accidentally homophonous suffixes, is proven by the fact that AT, in
all its functions, has two allomorphs, /at/ and /ah/, with identical
distributional patterns no matter which function it is an exponent
of. Because AT is not unifiable on the function side and not simplex
on the form side, it is a purely morphological entity, a
morphome.
In further pursuit of the adjective
Authors: Haag Marcia
Published: March 2021

The Osage language is shown to have a lexical
category Adjective based primarily on morphological and secondarily
on syntactic evidence. The hypothesis with the most currency is that
Siouan predicates are either active or stative verbs, and that given
the lack of distinguishing morphology, adjectives cannot be
classified as separate from stative verbs. I show that Osage treats
adjectives differently from stative verbs in compound formation, in
noun phrase modification, as clausal predicates, and in the
exponence of Scale. The number of predicates that could be thus
classified as adjectives seems to be larger than those in some other
Siouan languages such as Hocąk and Lakota.
Trajectory of children’s verb formation in Hebrew as a heritage
language
Authors: Kaufman Dorit
Published: March 2021

The trajectory of language shift and attrition
in the Israeli immigrant community in the United States represents a
complex interaction between Hebrew, a revitalized language of
heritage, and English, a language that is highly pervasive in the
Israeli urban landscape. The language of the children whose Hebrew
is still developing at the onset of contact with English attests to
morphological interaction and innovative lexical constructions that
are unprecedented in monolingual language development for Hebrew or
English. Analysis of longitudinal, narrative, and innovative verb
formation data in children’s Hebrew language oral production
confirms the vulnerability of derivational morphology and verb
formation in Hebrew and the increasing diffusion of English lexical
formation devices as proficiency in Hebrew declines.
Tracing a selfie
Authors: Huang Yi-Wen
Published: March 2021

This teaching report focuses on effectiveness of teaching pedagogies of the word formation process to Navajo
students at a two-year college in the American Southwest. The activities used to teach the concepts of word formation are
illustrated/described. The purpose of using authentic examples including songs from popular culture is to make students aware that
these linguistic concepts are related to their everyday lives and in the hope that they can utilize these concepts and integrate
real-life examples in their future teaching career. A feedback form was administered to collect the students’ views toward the
pedagogies including activities in an introductory Linguistics class.
Study of scintillation light collection, production and propagation in a 4 tonne dual-phase LArTPC
Authors: Aimard B. , Aizawa L. , Alt C. , Asaadi J. , Auger M. , Aushev V. , Autiero D. , Balaceanu A. , Balik G. , Balleyguier L. , Bechetoille E. , Belver D. , Blebea-Apostu A.M. , Bolognesi S. , Bordoni S. , Bourgeois N. , Bourguille B. , Bremer J. , Brown G. , Brunetti L. , Brunetti G. , Caiulo D. , Calin M. , Calvo E. , Campanelli M. , Cankocak K. , Cantini C. , Carlus B. , Cautisanu B.M. , Chalifour M. , Chappuis A. , Charitonidis N. , Chatterjee A. , Chiriacescuf A. , Chiu P. , Conforti S. , Cotte P. , Crivelli P. , Cuesta C. , Dawson J. , De Bonis I. , De La Taille C. , Delbart A. , Di Luise S. , Doizon F. , Drancourt C. , Duchesneau D. , Dulucq F. , Duval F. , Emery S. , Ereditato A. , Falcone A. , Fusshoeller K. , Gallego-Ros A. , Galymov V. , Geffroy N. , Gendotti A. , Gherghel-Lascu A. , Gil-Botella I. , Girerd C. , Gomoiu M.C. , Gorodetzky P. , Hamada E. , Hanni R. , Hasegawa T. , Holin A. , Horikawa S. , Ikeno M. , Jiménez S. , Jipa A. , Karolak M. , Karyotakis Y. , Kasai S. , Kasami K. , Kishishita T. , Konari H. , Kreslo I. , Kryn D. , Kunzé P. , Kurokawa M. , Kuromori Y. , Lastoria C. , Lazanu I. , Lehmann-Miotto G. , Leyton M. , Lira N. , Loo K. , Lorca D. , Lutz P. , Lux T. , Maalampi J. , Maire G. , Maki M. , Manenti L. , Margineanu R.M. , Marteau J. , Martin-Chassard G. , Mathez H. , Mazzucato E. , Misitano G. , Mladenov D. , Molina Bueno L. , Mosu T.S. , Mu W. , Murphy S. , Nakayoshi K. , Narita S. , Navas-Nicolás D. , Negishi K. , Nessi M. , Niculescu-Oglinzanu M. , Noto F. , Noury A. , Onishchuk Y. , Palomares C. , Parvu M. , Patzak T. , Penichot Y. , Pennacchio E. , Periale L. , Pessard H. , Pietropaolo F. , Pugnere D. , Radics B. , Redondo D. , Regenfus C. , Remoto A. , Resnati F. , Ristea O. , Rubbia A. , Saftoiu A. , Sakashita K. , Sanchez F. , Santos C. , Scarpelli A. , Schloesser C. , Sendai K. , Sergiampietri F. , Shahsavarani S. , Shoji M. , Sinclair J. , Soto-Oton J. , Stanca D.I. , Stefan D. , Sulej R. , Tanaka M. , Toboaru V. , Tonazzo A. , Tromeur W. , Trzaska W.H. , Uchida T. , Urda L. , Vannucci F. , Vasseur G. , Verdugo A. , Viant T. , Vihonen S. , Vilalte S. , Weber M. , Wu S. , Yu J. , Zambelli L. , Zito M.
Published: March 2021

The 3×1×1 m3 demonstrator is a dual phase liquid argon time projection chamber that has recorded cosmic rays events in 2017 at CERN. The light signal in these detectors is crucial to provide precise timing capabilities. The performance of the photon detection system, composed of five PMTs, are discussed. The collected scintillation and electroluminescence light created by passing particles has been studied in various detector conditions. In particular, the scintillation light production and propagation processes have been analyzed and compared to simulations, improving the understanding of some liquid argon properties.
Mitigation of CO2 emissions from international shipping through national allocation
Authors: Selin Henrik , Zhang Yiqi , Dunn Rebecca , Selin Noelle E , Lau Alexis K H
Published: March 2021

Neither international treaties nor domestic policies control carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from international shipping. To enhance mitigation, a new multilateral mechanism could allocate these emissions to national carbon budgets, where different options could be used based on the location of industry actors and ships. We analyze five allocation options, showing that a clear majority of CO2 emissions would be distributed to ten countries under each option; however, the top ten countries vary across allocation options and the amount of CO2 emissions allotted to individual countries could increase their carbon budgets thousand-fold or more. We further examine how the different objectives, principles for decision-making, and geographical coverage of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the International Maritime Organization influence the design and implementation of an allocation mechanism under each of these two bodies. We find that the allocation mechanism that best meets criteria related to effectiveness and equity would be one in which emissions are assigned to countries of ship owners, and which operates under the UNFCCC.
The influence of hydroclimate and management on forest regrowth across the western U.S
Authors: Hoylman Zachary H , Jencso Kelsey , Archer Vince , Efta James (Andy) , Holden Zachary A , Ballantyne Ashley P , Johnson Marie
Published: March 2021

Forests are subject to a range of management practices but it is unclear which produce the most rapid rates of regrowth across heterogeneous moisture gradients produced by regional climate and complex terrain. We analyzed recovery rates of satellite derived net primary productivity (NPP) over 27 years for 26 069 individual silvicultural treatments (stands) across the western U.S. at a 30 m resolution. Rates of NPP recovery and forest regrowth were on average 116% higher in wet landscapes with lower annual climatic water deficits (8.59 ± 5.07 gC m−2 yr−2, median ± inter-quartile range) when compared to dry landscapes (3.97 ± 2.67 gC m−2 yr−2). This extensive spatial analysis indicates that hydroclimate is a dominant driver of forest regrowth and that responses can be highly nonlinear depending upon local climate conditions. Differences in silvicultural treatment also strongly controlled rates of regrowth within hydroclimatic settings; microclimates produced by shelterwood treatments maximized regrowth in dry landscapes whereas regrowth following clearcutting was among the fastest in wet landscapes due to enhanced energy availability. Conversely, commercial thinning regrowth rates were insensitive to hydroclimate and relatively consistent across the western U.S. Planting had a differential effect on forest structure and rates of regrowth across hydroclimate with negative effects in wet environments and positive effects in dry environments. In aggregate, this study provides a novel remote sensing approach for characterizing forest regrowth dynamics across climatic gradients and the common treatment options employed.
Injection and Atomization of Diesel Fuel and Rapeseed Oil in Diesel Engine
Authors: Markov Vladimir , Devyanin Sergey , Sa Bowen , Neverov Vsevolod
Published: March 2021

A comparative analysis of properties of petroleum diesel fuel and rapeseed oil is carried out. Numerical studies of the influence of fuel properties on the injection process of fuel are carried out by using ANSYS Fluent. The steady flow of these fuels in the flow channel of an injector nozzle for a 4-stroke turbocharged diesel engine D-245.12S (with cylinder bore-to-stroke ratio 11/12.5) was simulated at the maximum injector needle lift of 0.32 mm. The flow characteristics of petroleum diesel fuel and rapeseed oil - mass fuel consumption, injection velocity, turbulent kinetic energy at the nozzle hole outlet, and the total volume concentration of fuel vapors in the nozzle hole were obtained. The relationship between the turbulent kinetic energy at the nozzle hole outlet and the parameters of the fuel spray fineness is studied. Numerical studies of the relationship between the spray cone angle and the turbulent kinetic energy at the nozzle hole outlet were carried out. A correlation between fuel spraying parameters and the turbulent kinetic energy at the nozzle hole outlet was proposed.
The evolution of economic models of the Arctic regions - from a resource model to an innovative socially oriented one
Authors: Detter Gennady , Tukkel Iosif , Serebryakova Ruslana
Published: March 2021

The study was conducted with the aim of developing scientifically sound methodological foundations for managing the formation of regional innovation systems in the Arctic countries as a tool to help overcome traditional geographic and economic determinism, stimulating economic growth and development by expanding the basic factors that determine the development of the macro-region. As a result of the study, patterns of the spatial development of innovation ecosystems have been identified. They determine the thesis of the invariant condition for the sustainable development of the Arctic regions. The Arctic regions, considered only as raw materials appendages, inefficiently use their potential, do not achieve the economic growth that could have been achieved in the case of innovative development of the territories, and as a result they get backward industry. The study made it possible to identify the prerequisites and key factors for the creation and development of effective innovation ecosystems.
The Arctic as a potential space for Great Power Competition
Authors: Nikulin Maksim
Published: March 2021

At the turn of the 20th and 21st centuries, the Arctic Ocean experienced a short reduction in both the extent and the amount of sea ice. These events, triggered by a global rise in temperature, have opened the door to more active use of new sea shipping routes and the possibilities of extraction of natural resources from deposits previously inaccessible. Such changes led to an increase in the activity of states both belonging to the Arctic region and outside it. The result of these processes was a gradual increase in rivalry between the key actors in the Arctic region. The author analyzes how the state of relations between the great powers affects the Arctic region. Using the example of relations between US and Russia, which are key in the Arctic, it is shown that, despite the growing rivalry between the two states, they least of all affect the Russian-American relations in this region. Against this background, there is growing and interesting another great power to this region - the PRC. In contrast to the Russian Federation and the United States, China uses a non-confrontational path in its activities in the Arctic region, advocates the preservation of peace and stability in it. As a result, the rivalry of states in the northern latitudes can be called a semblance of a Cold War on a regional scale.
Influence of Intellectual Infrastructure of Technological Development on the Personnel Management System at Industrial Enterprise
Authors: Miller Alexander , Yakovleva Elena
Published: March 2021

At industrial enterprises the problem of the human resources quality in the field of its compliance with the increased requirements due to innovative development of digital technologies is becoming more and more relevant. This circumstance necessitates a deep rethinking of the management priorities based on innovative development of digital technologies at domestic industrial enterprises. At the same time, managerial interest in the intellectualization of employees as a reproduction process built into the innovation activity increases. Using infrastructure-reproduction approach, the concept of intellectual infrastructure for technological development at industrial enterprises is formed. Its content and purposeful influence on transformation processes and improvement of the personnel management system are revealed. As the central target of such improvement, the management organization of employees’ intellectual resources is defined. Its values are determined by the interrelated components of human resources that form the intellectual potential of the personnel. The result is aimed at practical improvement of personnel management at modern industrial enterprises. Methods of system analysis, scientific modeling, as well as economic and statistical ones are used.
New traveling wave rational form exact solutions for strain wave equation in micro structured solids
Authors: Joseph Subin P
Published: March 2021

Strain wave equation is a fourth order non-linear partial differential equation that arises in the study of non-dissipative strain wave propagation in micro structured solids. This equation also represents the dynamics of several physical phenomena. This equation can also be consider as a generalization of Boussinesq equation with dual dispersion. In this paper, a general strain wave equation is considered and obtained several new exact solutions. A variant of F-expansion method is applied to obtain the required solutions. The available traveling wave exact solutions are primarily obtained by integrating the resulting fourth order ordinary differential equation twice. But, in this paper, we show that there exist several traveling wave solutions to strain wave equation which cannot be derived using the existing methods. Several families of new exact solutions in rational function form are derived using this novel method, without performing the initial integration.
Quantification of N-terminal amyloid-β isoforms reveals isomers are the most abundant form of the amyloid-β peptide in sporadic Alzheimer’s disease
Authors: Mukherjee Soumya , Perez Keyla A , Lago Larissa C , Klatt Stephan , McLean Catriona A , Birchall Ian E , Barnham Kevin J , Masters Colin L , Roberts Blaine R
Published: March 2021

Plaques that characterize Alzheimer’s disease accumulate over 20 years as a result of decreased clearance of amyloid-β peptides. Such long-lived peptides are subjected to multiple post-translational modifications, in particular isomerization. Using liquid chromatography ion mobility separations mass spectrometry, we characterized the most common isomerized amyloid-β peptides present in the temporal cortex of sporadic Alzheimer’s disease brains. Quantitative assessment of amyloid-β N-terminus revealed that > 80% of aspartates (Asp-1 and Asp-7) in the N-terminus was isomerized, making isomerization the most dominant post-translational modification of amyloid-β in Alzheimer’s disease brain. Total amyloid-β1–15 was ∼85% isomerized at Asp-1 and/or Asp-7 residues, with only 15% unmodified amyloid-β1–15 left in Alzheimer’s disease. While amyloid-β4–15 the next most abundant N-terminus found in Alzheimer’s disease brain, was only ∼50% isomerized at Asp-7 in Alzheimer’s disease. Further investigations into different biochemically defined amyloid-β-pools indicated a distinct pattern of accumulation of extensively isomerized amyloid-β in the insoluble fibrillar plaque and membrane-associated pools, while the extent of isomerization was lower in peripheral membrane/vesicular and soluble pools. This pattern correlated with the accumulation of aggregation-prone amyloid-β42 in Alzheimer’s disease brains. Isomerization significantly alters the structure of the amyloid-β peptide, which not only has implications for its degradation, but also for oligomer assembly, and the binding of therapeutic antibodies that directly target the N-terminus, where these modifications are located.
Sex differences in transaortic flow rate and association with all-cause mortality in patients with severe aortic stenosis
Authors: Saeed Sahrai , Vamvakidou Anastasia , Zidros Spyridon , Papasozomenos George , Lysne Vegard , Khattar Rajdeep S. , Senior Roxy
Published: March 2021

Aims

It is not known whether transaortic flow rate (FR) in aortic stenosis (AS) differs between men and women, and whether the commonly used cut-off of 200 mL/s is prognostic in females. We aimed to explore sex differences in the determinants of FR, and determine the best sex-specific cut-offs for prediction of all-cause mortality.

Methods and results

Between 2010 and 2017, a total of 1564 symptomatic patients (mean age 76 ± 13 years, 51% men) with severe AS were prospectively included. Mean follow-up was 35 ± 22 months. The prevalence of cardiovascular disease was significantly higher in men than women (63% vs. 42%, P < 0.001). Men had higher left ventricular mass and lower left ventricular ejection fraction compared to women (both P < 0.001). Men were more likely to undergo an aortic valve intervention (AVI) (54% vs. 45%, P = 0.001), while the death rates were similar (42.0% in men and 40.6% in women, P = 0.580). A total of 779 (49.8%) patients underwent an AVI in which 145 (18.6%) died. In a multivariate Cox regression analysis, each 10 mL/s decrease in FR was associated with a 7% increase in hazard ratio (HR) for all-cause mortality (HR 1.07; 95% CI 1.03–1.11, P < 0.001). The best cut-off value of FR for prediction of all-cause mortality was 179 mL/s in women and 209 mL/s in men.

Conclusion

Transaortic FR was lower in women than men. In the group undergoing AVI, lower FR was associated with increased risk of all-cause mortality, and the optimal cut-off for prediction of all-cause mortality was lower in women than men.
Midwives providing maternal health services to poor women in the private sector: is it a financially feasible model?
Authors: Mumtaz Zubia
Published: March 2021

Governments in many low- and middle-income countries have increasingly turned to the private sector to address the gap in skilled birth attendance in rural areas. They draw on limited, but emerging evidence that the poor also seek private healthcare services. A question not addressed in this policy and strategy is: Can poor women pay the fees required for private-sector maternity care providers to financially sustain their practices? This article examined the financial viability of private-sector midwifery practices established to provide skilled birth services to Afghan refugee women in Baluchistan, Pakistan. An international non-governmental organization established 45 midwifery practices as part of a poverty alleviation project aimed at providing market-based solutions for female poverty. A retrospective micro-cost analysis was conducted on a sample of 11 practices. In-depth interviews were conducted with 33 stakeholders to explore the midwives’ experiences of operating private practices, and the facilitators and barriers they experienced. The single midwife-practices saw a mean of 8.7 ANC patients (range 1–19), attended 2.9 births (range 0–10) and provided care to 1.6 postnatal patients (range 0–7). The average net income of the 11 practices in May 2014 was US$81, but the median was just US$12. To contextualize these incomes, the midwives earned, on average, 25% of Pakistan’s minimum monthly living wage. The financial analysis showed only 3 out of 11 sampled practices could be considered financially viable. The qualitative data revealed that even in practices with reasonable client volumes, the patients’ inability to pay was the critical factor in the midwife practices’ low net incomes. The research provides empirical evidence of a potential pitfall of private funding models in resource-poor settings where providers rely on impoverished clients to pay user-fees. Such financial models essentially shift the government’s responsibility to provide safe childbirth services onto providers who can least afford to offer such care.
Proportionality and procedure of monetary policy-making
Authors: Egidy Stefanie
Published: March 2021

In a highly controversial decision, the German Federal Constitutional Court (FCC) decided that the Public Sector Purchase Program (PSPP) of the European Central Bank (ECB) was ultra vires because it violated the principle of proportionality. The FCC took a procedural approach to proportionality, finding that the ECB had failed to substantiate its balancing assessment. Therefore, the Court considered itself unable to review whether PSPP was substantively proportionate, but announced that it might do so in a future case. The judgment raises the fundamental question of how courts should review monetary policy. The article begins by exploring the role of central banks between independence and accountability. Then, it analyzes, in three steps, what role the principle of proportionality should play in the realm of monetary policy. First, I argue that a traditional substantive balancing test as part of proportionality review is not applicable to monetary policy decisions and highlight the pitfalls of the FCC’s approach. Second, I claim that the imposed procedural “duty to substantiate” is not suitable to promote the democratic accountability of the ECB. Third, I contend that, therefore, the PSPP ruling creates an impetus for strengthening the ECB’s supranational accountability. I suggest that improving the monetary dialogue with the EU Parliament and establishing a comprehensive transparency regime for the ECB could further this goal. Ultimately, I propose that a narrow reading of the PSPP ruling could reconcile the current conflict between the FCC and the ECB and still provide a sufficient level of judicial accountability for the ECB’s monetary policy-making.
Bnei Noah: History, Theory, and Practice
Authors: Polonsky Pinchas , Akhiezer Golda
Published: March 2021

The concept of Bnei Noah originated in ancient times. Throughout history it has remained purely theoretical, however, in recent times, we are witnessing tentative steps towards its practical implementation. The Bnei Noah is an emerging movement in a variety of countries. As such, Noahism now has practical halakhic and social implications. Our research focuses on changes in perception of Bnei Noah in the context of modern Judaism and the state of Israel. This is a first attempt to explore the characteristics, tendencies, and motivations of the contemporary Noahide movement.
H3K27M andTERTpromoter mutations are poor prognostic factors in surgical cases of adult thalamic high-grade glioma
Authors: Osada Yoshinari , Saito Ryuta , Shibahara Ichiyo , Sasaki Keisuke , Shoji Takuhiro , Kanamori Masayuki , Sonoda Yukihiko , Kumabe Toshihiro , Watanabe Mika , Tominaga Teiji
Published: March 2021

Background

Thalamic high-grade gliomas (HGGs) are rare tumors with a dismal prognosis. H3K27M and telomerase reverse transcriptase promoter (TERTp) mutations reportedly contribute to poor prognoses in HGG cases. We investigated the outcomes of surgically treated adult thalamic HGGs to evaluate the prognostic significance of H3K27M and TERTp mutations.

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed 25 adult patients with thalamic HGG who underwent maximum surgical resection from January 1997 to March 2020. The histological and molecular characteristics, progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS) of the patients were compared. For molecular characteristics, target sequencing was used to determine the H3F3A, HIST1H3B, and TERTp mutations.

Results

H3K27M mutations were detected in 12/25 (48.0%) patients. TERTp mutations were not detected in H3K27M-mutant gliomas but were detected in 8/13 (61.5%) of H3 wild-type gliomas. Although it was not significant, H3K27M-mutant gliomas tended to have a shorter PFS (6.7 vs 13.1 months; P = .2928) and OS (22.8 vs 24.4 months; P = .2875) than H3 wild-type gliomas. Moreover, the prognosis of TERTp-mutant gliomas was as poor as that of H3K27M-mutant gliomas. Contrary, 5 gliomas harboring both H3 and TERTp wild-type showed a better median PFS (59.2 vs 6.4 months; P = .0456) and OS (71.8 vs 24.4 months; P = .1168) than those harboring H3K27M or TERTp mutations.

Conclusions

TERTp-mutant gliomas included in the H3 wild-type glioma group limited patient survival as they exhibited an aggressive course similar to H3K27M-mutant gliomas. Comprehensive molecular work-up for the H3 wild-type cases may further confirm this finding.
Receptor-driven invasion profiles in diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma
Authors: Karki Anju , Berlow Noah E , Kim Jin-Ah , Hulleman Esther , Liu Qianqian , Michalek Joel E , Keller Charles
Published: March 2021

Background

Diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) is a devastating pediatric cancer with unmet clinical need. DIPG is invasive in nature, where tumor cells interweave into the fiber nerve tracts of the pons making the tumor unresectable. Accordingly, novel approaches in combating the disease are of utmost importance and receptor-driven cell invasion in the context of DIPG is under-researched area. Here, we investigated the impact on cell invasion mediated by PLEXINB1, PLEXINB2, platelet growth factor receptor (PDGFR)α, PDGFRβ, epithelial growth factor receptor (EGFR), activin receptor 1 (ACVR1), chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4), and NOTCH1.

Methods

We used previously published RNA-sequencing data to measure gene expression of selected receptors in DIPG tumor tissue versus matched normal tissue controls (n = 18). We assessed protein expression of the corresponding genes using DIPG cell culture models. Then, we performed cell viability and cell invasion assays of DIPG cells stimulated with chemoattractants/ligands.

Results

RNA-sequencing data showed increased gene expression of receptor genes such as PLEXINB2, PDGFRα, EGFR, ACVR1, CXCR4, and NOTCH1 in DIPG tumors compared to the control tissues. Representative DIPG cell lines demonstrated correspondingly increased protein expression levels of these genes. Cell viability assays showed minimal effects of growth factors/chemokines on tumor cell growth in most instances. Recombinant SEMA4C, SEM4D, PDGF-AA, PDGF-BB, ACVA, CXCL12, and DLL4 ligand stimulation altered invasion in DIPG cells.

Conclusions

We show that no single growth factor-ligand pair universally induces DIPG cell invasion. However, our results reveal a potential to create a composite of cytokines or anti-cytokines to modulate DIPG cell invasion.
Gender Differences in Methamphetamine Use Initiation and Trajectory of Use Among People Who Use Methamphetamine in a Mexico-US Border City
Authors: Loza Oralia , Guevara Priscilla , Hernandez Amir
Published: March 2021

Introduction:

Methamphetamine (meth) is a stimulant increasing in use and its prevalence has not yet been determined on the Mexico-US border. Few studies highlight gender differences in meth use, trajectory, and initiation by gender. Ciudad Juárez, Mexico, across the border from El Paso, TX, has an established stimulant using population and lies on drug trafficking route. This study assessed gender differences in drug and meth use patterns among people meth people use meth.

Materials and Methods:

This cross-sectional study included 150 people with recent meth use, age 21 years or older, and living in Ciudad Juárez. Measures collected included sociodemographic characteristics, cross-border mobility, drug, and meth use characteristics. Statistically (P<0.05) and marginally (P<0.10) significant gender differences were determined using appropriate bivariate tests.

Results:

The sample included 45 cisgender women, 5 transgender women, and 100 cisgender men with a mean age of 30.9 years. Men had significantly higher rates of snorting meth by nose in powder or rock forms, while trans/women more frequently using meth in pill form. Men had higher rates of crossing the border for work, with meth, and to obtain meth. Trans/women reported higher rates of acquiring meth from their main sexual partner and initiating meth use in Mexico.

Discussion:

There are gender differences in patterns of meth use and initiation.

Conclusions:

A sample of people who use meth in the general population can be achieved. These findings point to a need for evidence-based meth use reduction treatment programs that are culturally appropriate and tailored for gender.