bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Some further results on the nonlocal p-Laplacian type problems
Authors: Zhang Chao , Zhang Xia
Published: August 2020

We study the existence of entropy solutions by assuming the right-hand side function f to be an integrable function for some elliptic nonlocal p-Laplacian type problems. Moreover, the existence of weak solutions for the corresponding parabolic cases is also established. The main aim of this paper is to provide some positive answers for the two questions proposed by Chipot and de Oliveira (Math. Ann., 2019, 375, 283-306).
Subject 01: exemplary Indigenous masculinity in Cold War genetics
Authors: DENT ROSANNA
Published: August 2020

In 1962 a team of scientists conducted their first joint fieldwork in a Xavante village in Central Brazil. Recycling long-standing notions that living Indigenous people represented human prehistory, the scientists saw Indigenous people as useful subjects of study not only due to their closeness to nature, but also due to their sociocultural and political realities. The geneticists’ vision crystalized around one subject – the famous chief Apöwẽ. Through Apöwẽ, the geneticists fixated on what they perceived as the political prowess, impressive physique, and masculine reproductive aptitude of Xavante men. These constructions of charismatic masculinity came at the expense of recognizing how profoundly colonial expansion into Mato Grosso had destabilized Xavante communities, stripping them of their land and introducing epidemic disease. The geneticists’ theorizing prefigured debates to come in sociobiology, and set up an enduring research programme that Apöwẽ continues to animate even four decades after his death.
MARRIAGE AND EMPIRE: CONSOLIDATION IN POST-LIBERATION ETHIOPIA (1941–74)
Authors: Debele Serawit B.
Published: August 2020

This article deals with marriage as mobilized by the Ethiopian Empire as part of its consolidation processes after 1941. It particularly concentrates on post-liberation anxiety and how the Ethiopian Empire envisioned tackling this disquiet by reforming marriage. Within the context of (re)building the empire, policies, laws, and discourses around monogamous marriage instilled normative ideas to produce the imperial subjects — procreative and productive — that a modernizing empire required. Sex was articulated within the confines of a heterosexual union, not only as a legitimate act but also as a responsibility of couples who were accountable for the consolidation of the empire. Sexual relations out of marriage were condemned as a source of degeneracy and the ensuing danger that confronted the empire. New laws were introduced to legislate sex to tackle the unease the empire felt about non-normative sex and associated pleasure(s). What started out as a battle against the Italian legacy continued more forcefully in the 1950s and 1960s with the rise of ‘new problems’ that educated young women and men posed. The article relies on a range of sources such as policy, legal, religious, and travel documents; newspapers; and novels, as well as self-help books produced between the 1940s and 1960s.
Intentionality, evil, God, and necessity
Authors: HOROWITZ AMIR
Published: August 2020

In an article in this issue, Kenneth Pearce suggests a novel solution to the ‘logical problem of evil’. That is, he defends the consistency of the obtaining of evil with the existence of an omnipotent and good creator. The basic idea of Pearce's solution to the logical problem of evil is that according to the teleological theory of intentionality, which is self-consistent and consistent with the claim that God exists, some evil is necessary for the existence of created minds, and this evil is outweighed by the good that is involved in the existence of created minds. The present article argues that this suggestion fails to solve the problem.
The Blair Education Bill: A Lost Opportunity in American Public Education
Authors: Jenkins Jeffery A. , Peck Justin
Published: August 2020

Through the 1880s, Senator Henry Blair (R-NH) spearheaded an effort to erode local control of education by turning Congress into a source of funds and oversight for state-level primary and secondary schools. The Blair Bill won support from an interregional, interracial, bipartisan coalition. It passed in the Senate on three separate occasions, was endorsed by presidents, and was a frequent topic of discussion among party elites. Yet in 1890 the bill failed for the last time, and local control would go largely unchanged until the 1965 Elementary and Secondary Education Act. In this article we explore the decade-long battle surrounding Blair's proposal. Our analysis focuses on this lost opportunity as a way of highlighting the coalitional and institutional dynamics that work to prevent reform in an otherwise favorable environment. In this way, we contribute to a large literature on the uneven course of American state development.
Do Liturgical Vestments Have Gender?
Authors: Leslie Thomas M.
Published: August 2020

This article questions whether traditional Christian liturgical vesture has any intrinsic gendered identity. Vestments are worn by the clergy of various denominations, including in traditions where women are ordained into all orders. For some early female clergy, there was a discomfort about wearing garments traditionally associated solely with male figures, and even today certain vestment manufacturers distinguish between the type of products available for female clergy and for male clergy, or target select gendered clientele. This brief cross-disciplinary examination, of some scriptural, historic and socio-cultural understandings of vesture, concludes that, despite some seeming modern misconceptions to the contrary, vestments are inherently non-gendered, and that they appear predominantly to have been regarded as such at various stages of history. This is consistent with the liturgical understanding that vesture is not meant to be a statement of personal identity, but a symbol of ritual function and office within the gathered assembly.
Revelation and Reason: Theological Epistemology in John Macquarrie’s Thought
Authors: Burge Stephen R.
Published: August 2020

John Macquarrie’s contribution to Anglican systematic theology has been long acknowledged and his impact is still being felt both within and outside Anglicanism. His existentialist theology, with its roots in German philosophy, as well as Christian mysticism, can at times seem quite distant from ‘traditional’ Anglican theology, but when his way of engaging in theological reflection is examined closely, his epistemology does not appear to be as remote from the ‘traditional’ Anglican hermeneutic of Scripture, tradition reason as it might seem at first sight. This article will argue that Macquarrie’s epistemology is rooted in the Anglican three-fold hermeneutic inherited from Richard Hooker, albeit in a way that is adapted for the modern age. In some respects, Macquarrie’s hermeneutic is a development of Hooker’s ‘three-legged stool’, but a ‘stool’ that has been heavily renovated in light of, and in response to, the existentialist crisis seen in continental philosophy from Søren Kierkegaard onwards. Macquarrie offers a resolution to the tension between individual and corporate identities, and his epistemology may offer Anglican thought a means of negotiating some controversial contemporary theological issues.
Interannual Variability of Lower Equatorial Intermediate Current Response to ENSO in the Western Pacific
Authors: Ma Qiang , Wang Jianing , Wang Fan , Zhang Dongxiao , Zhang Zhixiang , Lyu Yilong
Published: August 2020

The ocean currents of the tropical Pacific Ocean vary with El Niño‐Southern Oscillation (ENSO) cycles. A mooring time series obtained during 2014–2018 in the western Pacific reveal that interannual variability extends to Lower Equatorial Intermediate Current (LEIC). The LEIC velocity anomalies are significantly correlated with the Niño‐3.4 index at an 11‐month lag. Monthly velocity data from the global ocean physical reanalysis product and from a linear continuously stratified ocean model during 1993–2018 capture the 2015–2016 signal and are used to identify the underlying mechanism. During El Niño (La Niña) events, the direct wind forcing in the central tropical Pacific and the reflection of Kelvin waves in the eastern Pacific during the first autumn‐winter period contribute comparably to an eastward (westward) current anomaly in the western Pacific during the second autumn‐winter period. This process is achieved mainly through the generation of the second baroclinic mode and off‐equatorial westward‐propagating downwelling (upwelling) Rossby waves.
The first evidence for Late Pleistocene dogs in Italy
Authors: Boschin Francesco , Bernardini Federico , Pilli Elena , Vai Stefania , Zanolli Clément , Tagliacozzo Antonio , Fico Rosario , Fedi Mariaelena , Corny Julien , Dreossi Diego , Lari Martina , Modi Alessandra , Vergata Chiara , Tuniz Claudio , Moroni Adriana , Boscato Paolo , Caramelli David , Ronchitelli Annamaria
Published: August 2020

The identification of the earliest dogs is challenging because of the absence and/or mosaic pattern of morphological diagnostic features in the initial phases of the domestication process. Furthermore, the natural occurrence of some of these characters in Late Pleistocene wolf populations and the time it took from the onset of traits related to domestication to their prevalence remain indefinite. For these reasons, the spatiotemporal context of the early domestication of dogs is hotly debated. Our combined molecular and morphological analyses of fossil canid remains from the sites of Grotta Paglicci and Grotta Romanelli, in southern Italy, attest of the presence of dogs at least 14,000 calibrated years before present. This unambiguously documents one of the earliest occurrence of domesticates in the Upper Palaeolithic of Europe and in the Mediterranean. The genetic affinity between the Palaeolithic dogs from southern Italy and contemporaneous ones found in Germany also suggest that these animals were an important common adjunct during the Late Glacial, when strong cultural diversification occurred between the Mediterranean world and European areas north of the Alps. Additionally, aDNA analyses indicate that this Upper Palaeolithic dog lineage from Italy may have contributed to the genetic diversity of living dogs.
Whole genome analysis reveals aneuploidies in early pregnancy loss in the horse
Authors: Shilton Charlotte A. , Kahler Anne , Davis Brian W. , Crabtree James R. , Crowhurst James , McGladdery Andrew J. , Wathes D. Claire , Raudsepp Terje , de Mestre Amanda M.
Published: August 2020

The first 8 weeks of pregnancy is a critical time, with the majority of pregnancy losses occurring during this period. Abnormal chromosome number (aneuploidy) is a common finding in human miscarriage, yet is rarely reported in domestic animals. Equine early pregnancy loss (EPL) has no diagnosis in over 80% of cases. The aim of this study was to characterise aneuploidies associated with equine EPL. Genomic DNA from clinical cases of spontaneous miscarriage (EPLs; 14–65 days of gestation) and healthy control placentae (various gestational ages) were assessed using a high density genotyping array. Aneuploidy was detected in 12/55 EPLs (21.8%), and 0/15 healthy control placentae. Whole genome sequencing (30X) and digital droplet PCR (ddPCR) validated results. The majority of these aneuploidies have never been reported in live born equines, supporting their embryonic/fetal lethality. Aneuploidies were detected in both placental and fetal compartments. Rodents are currently used to study how maternal ageing impacts aneuploidy risk, however the differences in reproductive biology is a limitation of this model. We present the first evidence of aneuploidy in naturally occurring equine EPLs at a similar rate to human miscarriage. We therefore suggest the horse as an alternative to rodent models to study mechanisms resulting in aneuploid pregnancies.
A chimeric mouse model to study human iPSC-derived neurons: the case of a truncating SHANK3 mutation
Authors: Vitrac Aline , Pons Stéphanie , Balkota Marta , Lemière Nathalie , Raïs Célia , Bourgeois Jean-Pierre , Maskos Uwe , Bourgeron Thomas , Cloëz-Tayarani Isabelle
Published: August 2020

Using human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC), recent studies have shown that the events underlying autism spectrum disorders (ASD) can occur during neonatal development. We previously analyzed the iPSC-derived pyramidal cortical neurons of a subset of patients with ASD carrying de novo heterozygous mutations in postsynaptic SHANK3 protein, in culture. We reported altered spinogenesis of those neurons. The transplantation of human iPSC-derived neuronal precursors into mouse brain represents a novel option for in vivo analysis of mutations affecting the human brain. In this study, we transplanted the neuronal precursor cells (NPC) into the cortex of newborn mice to analyze their integration and maturation at early stages of development and studied axonal projections of transplanted human neurons into adult mouse brain. We then co-transplanted NPC from a control individual and from a patient carrying a de novo heterozygous SHANK3 mutation. We observed a reduction in cell soma size of selective neuronal categories and in axonal projections at 30 days post-transplantation. In contrast to previous in vitro studies, we did not observe any alteration in spinogenesis at this early age. The humanized chimeric mouse models offer the means to analyze ASD-associated mutations further and provide the opportunity to visualize phenotypes in vivo.
A panel of anti-influenza virus nucleoprotein antibodies selected from phage-displayed synthetic antibody libraries with rapid diagnostic capability to distinguish diverse influenza virus subtypes
Authors: Yu Chung-Ming , Chen Ing-Chien , Tung Chao-Ping , Peng Hung-Pin , Jian Jhih-Wei , Chiu Yi-Kai , Tsou Yueh-Liang , Chen Hong-Sen , Huang Yi-Jen , Hsiao Wesley Wei-Wen , Wang Yong Alison , Yang An-Suei
Published: August 2020

Immunoassays based on sandwich immuno-complexes of capture and detection antibodies simultaneously binding to the target analytes have been powerful technologies in molecular analyses. Recent developments in single molecule detection technologies enable the detection limit of the sandwich immunoassays approaching femtomolar (10–15 M), driving the needs of developing sensitive and specific antibodies for ever-increasingly broad applications in detecting and quantifying biomarkers. The key components underlying the sandwich immunoassays are antibody-based affinity reagents, for which the conventional sources are mono- or poly-clonal antibodies from immunized animals. The downsides of the animal-based antibodies as affinity reagents arise from the requirement of months of development timespan and limited choices of antibody candidates due to immunodominance of humoral immune responses in animals. Hence, developing animal antibodies capable of distinguishing highly related antigens could be challenging. To overcome the limitation imposed by the animal immune systems, we developed an in vitro methodology based on phage-displayed synthetic antibody libraries for diverse antibodies as affinity reagents against closely related influenza virus nucleoprotein (NP) subtypes, aiming to differentiating avian influenza virus (H5N1) from seasonal influenza viruses (H1N1 and H3N2), for which the NPs are closely related by 90–94% in terms of pairwise amino acid sequence identity. We applied the methodology to attain, within four weeks, a panel of IgGs with distinguishable specificities against a group of representative NPs with pairwise amino acid sequence identities up to more than 90%, and the antibodies derived from the antibody libraries without further affinity refinement had comparable affinity of mouse antibodies to the NPs with the detection limit less than 1 nM of viral NP from lysed virus with sandwich ELISA. The panel of IgGs were capable of rapidly distinguishing infections due to virulent avian influenza virus from infections of seasonal flu, in responding to a probable emergency scenario where avian influenza virus would be transmissible among humans overlapping with the seasonal influenza infections. The results indicate that the in vitro antibody development methodology enables developing diagnostic antibodies that would not otherwise be available from animal-based antibody technologies.
Nonstationary El Niño teleconnection on the post-summer upwelling off Vietnam
Authors: Wang You-Lin , Wu Chau-Ron
Published: August 2020

Summer upwelling has often been observed off Vietnam in the South China Sea (SCS). Occasional disappearance of the upwelling has attracted much attention because it modulates the regional climate and harms surrounding fisheries. Fluctuations of the East Asian monsoon associated with El Niño are considered responsible for the weakened or abolished upwelling. However, analyses of observations performed in the present study were equivocal in terms of the dominant influence of El Niño. Based on long-term sea surface temperature data, we demonstrated that weak upwelling off Vietnam occurs more frequently during periods of accelerated global warming compared to warming hiatus periods. Warming signals in the Indian Ocean vanished relatively quickly during the hiatus period. The accompanying easterly anomalies south of the anomalous anticyclone (AAC) in the northwestern Pacific were also weakened, reducing the impact of the El Niño teleconnection on the SCS summer monsoon and thus preserving the regular post-summer upwelling off Vietnam during warming hiatus periods.
Signaling via the p75 neurotrophin receptor facilitates amyloid-β-induced dendritic spine pathology
Authors: Patnaik Abhisarika , Zagrebelsky Marta , Korte Martin , Holz Andreas
Published: August 2020

Synapse and dendritic spine loss induced by amyloid-β oligomers is one of the main hallmarks of the early phases of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and is directly correlated with the cognitive decline typical of this pathology. The p75 neurotrophin receptor (p75NTR) binds amyloid-β oligomers in the nM range. While it was shown that µM concentrations of amyloid-β mediate cell death, the role and intracellular signaling of p75NTR for dendritic spine pathology induced by sublethal concentrations of amyloid-β has not been analyzed. We describe here p75NTR as a crucial binding partner in mediating effects of soluble amyloid-β oligomers on dendritic spine density and structure in non-apoptotic hippocampal neurons. Removing or over-expressing p75NTR in neurons rescues or exacerbates the typical loss of dendritic spines and their structural alterations observed upon treatment with nM concentrations of amyloid-β oligomers. Moreover, we show that binding of amyloid-β oligomers to p75NTR activates the RhoA/ROCK signaling cascade resulting in the fast stabilization of the actin spinoskeleton. Our results describe a role for p75NTR and downstream signaling events triggered by binding of amyloid-β oligomers and causing dendritic spine pathology. These observations further our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying one of the main early neuropathological hallmarks of AD.
Thyroid cancer diagnosis by Raman spectroscopy
Authors: Sbroscia Marco , Di Gioacchino Michael , Ascenzi Paolo , Crucitti Pierfilippo , di Masi Alessandra , Giovannoni Isabella , Longo Filippo , Mariotti Davide , Naciu Anda Mihaela , Palermo Andrea , Taffon Chiara , Verri Martina , Sodo Armida , Crescenzi Anna , Ricci Maria Antonietta
Published: August 2020

Over the last 50 years, the incidence of human thyroid cancer disease has seen a significative increment. This comes along with an even higher increment of surgery, since, according to the international guidelines, patients are sometimes addressed to surgery also when the fine needle aspiration gives undetermined cytological diagnosis. As a matter of fact, only 30% of the thyroid glands removed for diagnostic purpose have a post surgical histological report of malignancy: this implies that about 70% of the patients have suffered an unnecessary thyroid removal. Here we show that Raman spectroscopy investigation of thyroid tissues provides reliable cancer diagnosis. Healthy tissues are consistently distinguished from cancerous ones with an accuracy of $$\sim $$
∼
90%, and the three cancer typology with highest incidence are clearly identified. More importantly, Raman investigation has evidenced alterations suggesting an early stage of transition of adenoma tissues into cancerous ones. These results suggest that Raman spectroscopy may overcome the limits of current diagnostic tools.
A fully open-source framework for deep learning protein real-valued distances
Authors: Adhikari Badri
Published: August 2020

As deep learning algorithms drive the progress in protein structure prediction, a lot remains to be studied at this merging superhighway of deep learning and protein structure prediction. Recent findings show that inter-residue distance prediction, a more granular version of the well-known contact prediction problem, is a key to predicting accurate models. However, deep learning methods that predict these distances are still in the early stages of their development. To advance these methods and develop other novel methods, a need exists for a small and representative dataset packaged for faster development and testing. In this work, we introduce protein distance net (PDNET), a framework that consists of one such representative dataset along with the scripts for training and testing deep learning methods. The framework also includes all the scripts that were used to curate the dataset, and generate the input features and distance maps. Deep learning models can also be trained and tested in a web browser using free platforms such as Google Colab. We discuss how PDNET can be used to predict contacts, distance intervals, and real-valued distances.
Myeloid-derived suppressor cell depletion therapy targets IL-17A-expressing mammary carcinomas
Authors: Dawod Bassel , Liu Jinghua , Gebremeskel Simon , Yan Chi , Sappong Antonia , Johnston Brent , Hoskin David W. , Marshall Jean S. , Wang Jun
Published: August 2020

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an invasive subtype of breast cancer but paradoxically associated with increased tumor-infiltrating leukocytes. The molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying TNBC immunobiology are incompletely understood. Interleukin (IL)-17A is a pro-inflammatory cytokine that has both pro- and anti-tumor effects and found in 40–80% of TNBC samples. We report here that IL-17A mRNA and protein are detectable in some human TNBC cell lines and further upregulated by IL-23 and LPS stimulation. Furthermore, the impact of tumor-derived IL-17A in host immune response and tumor growth was examined using murine TNBC 4T1 mammary carcinoma cells transduced with an adenoviral vector expressing IL-17A (AdIL-17A) or control vector (Addl). Compared to Addl-transduction, AdIL-17A-transduction enhanced 4T1 tumor growth and lung metastasis in vivo, which was associated with a marked expansion of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs). However, AdIL-17A-transduction also induced strong organ-specific and time-dependent immune activation indicated by dynamic changes of NK cells, B cells, CD4, and CD8 T cells in peripheral blood, lung, and tumor site, as well as the plasma levels of IFNγ. Such findings highlight that tumor-associated IL-17A induces concurrent immune activation and immune suppression. Administration of anti-Gr1 or anti-G-CSF antibody effectively depleted MDSCs in vivo, markedly reducing the growth of AdIL-17A-transduced 4T1 tumors, and eliminating lung metastasis. Collectively, our study demonstrates that MDSC depletion is an effective and practical approach for treating IL-17A-enriched mammary carcinomas.
Optical coherence tomography angiographic findings of lamellar macular hole: comparisons between tractional and degenerative subtypes
Authors: Yeo Joon Hyung , Oh Richul , Lee Joo Yong , Kim June-Gone , Yoon Young Hee , Kim Yoon Jeon
Published: August 2020

We investigated the microvascular changes in eyes with lamellar macular holes (LMHs) using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA), compare them between two subtypes of LMH. Tractional and degenerative LMH were differentiated based on the morphological characteristics of OCT. In OCTA images, foveal and parafoveal vessel density (VD) in the superficial and deep capillary plexus (SCP, DCP) and foveal avascular zone (FAZ) area were measured. Eyes that underwent vitrectomy for LMH were included in subgroup analysis. We analysed 63 LMH (42 tractional and 21 degenerative) eyes and 63 control eyes. Compared with degenerative LMH, tractional LMH had better BCVA (p = 0.010), smaller FAZ area (p = 0.001), and higher foveal VD in the SCP (p = 0.130) and DCP (p = 0.002). In degenerative LMH, better BCVA was associated with greater foveal VD in the SCP (p = 0.040) and DCP (p = 0.005), and parafoveal VD in the SCP (p = 0.006). In subgroup analysis, only the tractional LMH group showed significant increases in foveal and parafoveal VDs in the SCP after vitrectomy (p = 0.001 and p = 0.026, respectively). Significant differences in microvascular changes were noted between tractional and degenerative LMH, suggesting that two subtypes are distinct pathogenetic entities.
Ice thickness and volume changes across the Southern Alps, New Zealand, from the little ice age to present
Authors: Carrivick Jonathan L. , James William H. M. , Grimes Michael , Sutherland Jenna L. , Lorrey Andrew M.
Published: August 2020

Rapid changes observed today in mountain glaciers need to be put into a longer-term context to understand global sea-level contributions, regional climate-glacier systems and local landscape evolution. In this study we determined volume changes for 400 mountain glaciers across the Southern Alps, New Zealand for three time periods; pre-industrial “Little Ice Age (LIA)” to 1978, 1978 to 2009 and 2009 to 2019. At least 60 km3 ± 12 km3 or between 41 and 62% of the LIA total ice volume has been lost. The rate of mass loss has nearly doubled from − 0.4 m w.e year−1 during 1,600 to 1978 to − 0.7 m w.e year−1 at present. In comparison Patagonia has lost just 11% of it’s LIA volume. Glacier ice in the Southern Alps has become restricted to higher elevations and to large debris-covered ablation tongues terminating in lakes. The accelerating rate of ice loss reflects regional-specific climate conditions and suggests that peak glacial meltwater production is imminent if not already passed, which has profound implications for water resources and riverine habitats.
Rapid prototyping of 3D Organic Electrochemical Transistors by composite photocurable resin
Authors: Bertana Valentina , Scordo Giorgio , Parmeggiani Matteo , Scaltrito Luciano , Ferrero Sergio , Gomez Manuel Gomez , Cocuzza Matteo , Vurro Davide , D’Angelo Pasquale , Iannotta Salvatore , Pirri Candido F. , Marasso Simone L.
Published: August 2020

Rapid Prototyping (RP) promises to induce a revolutionary impact on how the objects can be produced and used in industrial manufacturing as well as in everyday life. Over the time a standard technique as the 3D Stereolithography (SL) has become a fundamental technology for RP and Additive Manufacturing (AM), since it enables the fabrication of the 3D objects from a cost-effective photocurable resin. Efforts to obtain devices more complex than just a mere aesthetic simulacre, have been spent with uncertain results. The multidisciplinary nature of such manufacturing technique furtherly hinders the route to the fabrication of complex devices. A good knowledge of the bases of material science and engineering is required to deal with SL technological, characterization and testing aspects. In this framework, our study aims to reveal a new approach to obtain RP of complex devices, namely Organic Electro-Chemical Transistors (OECTs), by SL technique exploiting a resin composite based on the conductive poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS) and the photo curable Poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA). A comprehensive study is presented, starting from the optimization of composite resin and characterization of its electrochemical properties, up to the 3D OECTs printing and testing. Relevant performances in biosensing for dopamine (DA) detection using the 3D OECTs are reported and discussed too.
One-pot simultaneous production and sustainable purification of fibrinolytic protease from Bacillus cereus using natural deep eutectic solvents
Authors: Rathnasamy Senthil Kumar , Durai Aadhavan , Vigneshkumar A. A. , Purushothaman C. , Rajendran Devi Sri , Chandramouliswaran K.
Published: August 2020

The present study report for the first time on the one-pot production and purification of fibrinolytic protease from Bacillus cereus by extractive fermentation using natural deep eutectic solvents (NADES). Cheese whey was chosen as a sustainable low-cost production alternative yielding a significantly high amount of protease (185.7 U/mg). Five natural deep eutectic solvents with menthol as hydrogen bond donor and sugar molecules as corresponding hydrogen bond acceptors were synthesized and their association was confirmed with H1 NMR. Thermophysical investigation of the synthetic NADES was accomplished as a function of temperature to define their extraction ability. Response surface methodology based optimization of concentration of NADES (77.5% w/w), Na2SO4 (14% w/v) and cheese whey (1% w/w) were accomplished for extractive fermentation. Further, preparative purification using size exclusion chromatography was used to quantify the amount of enzyme obtained in the extraction phase (190 U/ml). On subsequent purification with an anion exchange column, the maximum purity fold (21.2) with enzyme activity (2,607.8 U/ml) was attained. The optimal pH (8.0), temperature (50 °C) were determined and the in-vitro fibrinolytic activity has been confirmed using a fibrin plate assay.
Different effects of fluoride and phosphate anions on TiO2 photocatalysis (rutile)
Authors: Zhao Jianjun , Liu Shengwei , Zhang Xiao , Xu Yiming
Published: August 2020

At the same amounts adsorbed on Pt/rutile, fluoride was approximately 3 times more active than phosphate. A radical mechanism is proposed.
Active biodegradable packaging films modified with grape seeds lignin
Authors: Vostrejs Pavel , Adamcová Dana , Vaverková Magdalena Daria , Enev Vojtech , Kalina Michal , Machovsky Michal , Šourková Markéta , Marova Ivana , Kovalcik Adriana
Published: August 2020

Biodegradable packaging materials represent one possible solution for how to reduce the negative environmental impact of plastics.
Kenaf fibre treatment and its impact on the static, dynamic, hydrophobicity and barrier properties of sustainable polystyrene biocomposites
Authors: Moustafa Hesham , El-Wakil Abd El-Aziz A. , Nour Mohamed T. , Youssef Ahmed M.
Published: August 2020

Natural fibre-polymer adhesion can be improved by treating the fibre surface or polymer.
Abnormal toughness characteristics and fracture model in simulated welding HAZ of 5%Ni Steel
Authors: Min Ding
Published: August 2020

The toughness property of the coarse grained heat affected zone had become much worse since the large heat input welding was applied in HSLA for improving welding efficiency and reducing welding costs. Unlike previous investigations of the decreasing fracture toughness with heating time, the toughness of coarse grained heat affected zone increases in long heating time. Based on microstructure and mechanical properties, very remarkable impact toughness was obtained when the t8/5 was 80 s: toughness of 171 J. The toughness improvement initiates not from inclusions but directly from the microstructure of substrate. The microstructure type and inclusion level will compete to dominate the toughness of the 5% Ni steel.
Victor Georgievitch Veselago (1929–2018)
Authors: Guenneau Sébastien
Published: August 2020

Victor Veselago (1929–2018) est un physicien russe spécialiste des ondes électromagnétiques. Il a publié en 1968 un article fondateur de la théorie des métamatériaux dans lequel il décrit les propriétés électromagnétiques de matériaux ayant des permittivités et perméabilités négatives. Ses travaux seront popularisés plusieurs décennies plus tard par le développement des métamatériaux par John Pendry.
Histoire de la Télémétrie laser terre-lune
Authors: Chabé Julien , Bourgoin Adrien , Rambaux Nicolas
Published: August 2020

Fin des années 1950, sous l’initiative de R.H. Dicke, la mesure télémétrique Terre-Lune fut initialement pensée pour tester la théorie de la Relativité Générale (RG) au travers de la variation de la constante gravitationnelle et du principe de Mach. Plus tard, K. Nordtvedt démontra qu’une telle expérience permettrait également de tester profondément la RG à travers un effet qui porte aujourd’hui son nom : l’effet Nordtvedt. Au fur et à mesure des développements technologiques, la télémétrie laser a permis de tester bien d’autres aspects fondamentaux de la théorie. En outre, elle a permis d’en apprendre davantage sur la physique du système Terre-Lune et constitue aujourd’hui un outil géophysique à part entière.
Accuracy of Trained Physicians is Inferior to Deep Learning-Based Algorithm for Determining Angles in Ultrasound of the Newborn Hip
Authors: Oelen David , Kaiser Pascal , Baumann Thomas , Schmid Raoul , Bühler Christof , Munkhuu Bayalag , Essig Stefan
Published: August 2020

Purpose Sonographic diagnosis of developmental dysplasia of the hip allows treatment with a flexion-abduction orthosis preventing hip luxation. Accurate determination of alpha and beta angles according to Graf is crucial for correct diagnosis. It is unclear if algorithms could predict the angles. We aimed to compare the accuracy for users and automation reporting root mean squared errors (RMSE).

Materials and Methods We used 303 306 ultrasound images of newborn hips collected between 2009 and 2016 in screening consultations. Trained physicians labelled every second image with alpha and beta angles during the consultations. A random subset of images was labeled with time and precision under lab conditions as ground truth. Automation predicted the two angles using a convolutional neural network (CNN). The analysis was focused on the alpha angle.

Results Three methods were implemented, each with a different abstraction of the problem: (1) CNNs that directly learn the angles without any post-processing steps; (2) CNNs that return the relevant landmarks in the image to identify the angles; (3) CNNs that return the base line, bony roof line, and the cartilage roof line which are necessary to calculate the angles. The RMSE between physicians and ground truth were found to be 7.1° for alpha. The best CNN architecture was (2) landmark detection. The RMSE between landmark detection and ground truth was 3.9° for alpha.

Conclusion The accuracy of physicians in their daily routine is inferior to deep learning-based algorithms for determining angles in ultrasound of the newborn hip. Similar methods could be used to support physicians.
Glucagon and Liver Fat are Downregulated in Response to Very
Low-calorie Diet in Patients with Obesity and Type-2 Diabetes
Authors: Haas Stephan L. , Löfgren Patrik , Stål Per , Hoffstedt Johan
Published: August 2020

Background and Study Aims In patients with obesity and type-2
diabetes, short-time very low-calorie diet may ameliorate hyperglycemia and
hepatic steatosis. Whether this also implies the glucose-regulating hormone
glucagon remains to be elucidated. This study investigated the effects of a
very low-calorie diet on plasma levels of glucagon and liver fat in obese
patients with type-2 diabetes.

Patients and Methods Ten obese patients with type-2 diabetes, 6 men
and 4 women, were included. At baseline, fasting plasma glucagon, insulin
and glucose were determined, and liver fat and stiffness evaluated by
transient elastography. The subjects were then prescribed a very low-calorie
diet of maximum 800 kcal/day for 7 weeks and reexamined
after 7 weeks and 12 months.

Results At baseline, BMI was
42±4 kg/m2 and fasting glucose
10.6±3.4 mmol/l. All patients had hepatic steatosis.
Plasma glucagon was strongly related to liver fat
(r2=0.52, p=0.018). After 7 weeks of very
low-calorie diet, plasma glucagon was significantly decreased by nearly
30% (p=0.004) along with reductions of BMI
(p<0.0001), glucose (p=0.02), insulin (p=0.03),
liver fat (p=0.007) and liver stiffness (p=0.05). At 12
months follow-up, both glucagon and liver fat increased and were not
different to basal levels, despite persistent reductions of BMI
(p<0.002) and glucose (p=0.008).

Conclusion In obese type-2 diabetic subjects, plasma glucagon and
liver fat are correlated and similarly affected by a very low-calorie diet,
supporting a role of hepatic steatosis in glucagon metabolism.
Effects of randomization of characteristic times on spiral wave generation in a simple cellular automaton model of excitable media
Authors: Vangelista Vincent , Amjad-Ali Karl , Kwon Minhyeok , Acioli Paulo H.
Published: August 2020

Spiral waves are self-repeating waves that can form in excitable media, propagating outward from their center in a spiral pattern. Spiral waves have been observed in different natural phenomena and have been linked to medical conditions such as epilepsy and atrial fibrillation. We used a simple cellular automaton model to study propagation in excitable media, with a particular focus on understanding spiral wave behavior. The main ingredients of this cellular automaton model are an excitation condition and characteristic excitation and refractory periods. The literature shows that fixed excitation and refractory periods together with specific initial conditions generate stationary and stable spiral waves. In the present work, we allowed the activation and refractory periods to fluctuate uniformly over a range of values. Under these conditions, this very simplistic model can recreate the meandering and breakup of spiral waves that were observed in more elaborate models in the literature.
Electrofishing as a potential threat to the growth and metabolism of three submerged macrophytes
Authors: Wu Ai-Ping , Ye Shi-Yun , Wang Yan-Hong , Cao Te , Liu Li , Zhong Wen , Qi Liang-Yu , Deng Qiu-Yue , Hu Chu-Ting
Published: August 2020

Electric fields (EFs) are widely used in human activities, and all organisms are potentially affected by EFs. The effects of an EF on terrestrial plants, seeds and water animals are well documented, whereas the effects of an EF on aquatic macrophytes remain unknown. We wanted to determine the effects of an EF, generated by backpack electrofishing equipment, on the growth and metabolism of three submerged plants (Vallisneria natans, Myriophyllum spicatum and Potamogeton maackianus). The results showed that the shoot heights, shoot dry weights, root dry weights, root:shoot ratios and contents of soluble proteins and soluble carbohydrates of the three tested submerged plants were influenced by the EF, and these effects were significantly different among the study plants. Thus, our results indicated that submerged macrophytes might be suppressed by EFs released by electrofishing. Accordingly, we highlight that the growth, development and metabolism of submerged macrophytes might be inhibited by EFs, although the results were obtained from a simulated experiment, and more extensive field experiments are needed.
Celery.
Authors: Smith Richard
Published: August 2020

This chapter focuses on the various morphological and developmental characteristics of celery (Apium graveolens). Information on the production, nutrition, irrigation and harvesting of celery are presented and the various biotic (pests and diseases) and abiotic stress actors affecting celery production are highlighted.
Narrative review of non-pharmaceutical behavioural measures for the prevention of COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) based on the Health-EDRM framework
Authors: Yang Chan Emily Ying , Shahzada Tayyab Salim , Sham Tiffany Sze Tung , Dubois Caroline , Huang Zhe , Liu Sida , Ho Janice Ying-en , Hung Kevin K C , Kwok Kin On , Shaw Rajib
Published: August 2020

Introduction

Non-pharmaceutical measures to facilitate a response to the COVID-19 pandemic, a disease caused by novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, are urgently needed. Using the World Health Organization (WHO) health emergency and disaster risk management (health-EDRM) framework, behavioural measures for droplet-borne communicable diseases and their enabling and limiting factors at various implementation levels were evaluated.

Sources of data

Keyword search was conducted in PubMed, Google Scholar, Embase, Medline, Science Direct, WHO and CDC online publication databases. Using the Oxford Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine review criteria, 10 bottom-up, non-pharmaceutical prevention measures from 104 English-language articles, which published between January 2000 and May 2020, were identified and examined.

Areas of agreement

Evidence-guided behavioural measures against transmission of COVID-19 in global at-risk communities were identified, including regular handwashing, wearing face masks and avoiding crowds and gatherings.

Areas of concern

Strong evidence-based systematic behavioural studies for COVID-19 prevention are lacking.

Growing points

Very limited research publications are available for non-pharmaceutical measures to facilitate pandemic response.

Areas timely for research

Research with strong implementation feasibility that targets resource-poor settings with low baseline health-EDRM capacity is urgently needed.
Political fragmentation, rural-to-urban migration and urban growth patterns in western Eurasia, 800–1800
Authors: Cox Gary W , Figueroa Valentin
Published: August 2020

Prominent scholars argue that Europe’s political fragmentation improved the security of property rights, thereby promoting growth. We explore a complementary mechanism: urban fragmentation—the proliferation of self-governing cities—helped emancipate labor, and freer labor promoted both faster and more correlated town growth. To test these hypotheses, we first show that polities with more self-governing cities offered more protection to runaway serfs against lordly recapture. We then show that more fragmented areas exhibited both faster and more correlated urban growth. While both the property rights and labor freedom mechanisms predict faster growth, only the latter predicts more highly correlated growth.
The diminishing status of international law in the decisions of the Israeli Supreme Court concerning the Occupied Territories
Authors: Hostovsky Brandes Tamar
Published: August 2020

This article examines the attitude of the Supreme Court of Israel towards international law in the past decade, focusing on cases concerning the Occupied Territories. It compares the decisions of the past decade to those of the preceding decade, which were characterized as developing a “jurisprudence inspired by international law.” The article argues that the status of international law in decisions that regard the Occupied Territories has, overall, declined. While the international law of occupation still operates, officially, as the governing law in the Occupied Territories, the emphasis on compliance with the norms of international law in the Court’s decisions has decreased. Instead of relying on international law, the Court has increased its reliance on Israeli administrative law, and, in recent years, on Israeli constitutional law. As a result, the distinction between the Occupied Territories and Israel is blurred. The article argues that this shift is consistent with a deliberate eradication of the distinction between Israel and the Occupied Territories by the legislator and the government. While the article does not argue that the Court intentionally supports this eradication, it does argue that it facilitates it.
The Missing Link: Monetary Policy and The Labor Share
Authors: Cantore Cristiano , Ferroni Filippo , León-Ledesma Miguel
Published: August 2020

The textbook New Keynesian (NK) model implies that the labor share is procyclical conditional on a monetary policy shock. We present evidence that a monetary policy tightening robustly increased the labor share and decreased real wages during the Great Moderation period in the United States, the Euro Area, the United Kingdom, Australia, and Canada. We show that this is inconsistent not only with the basic NK model, but also with medium-scale NK models commonly used for monetary policy analysis and where it is possible to break the direct link between the labor share and the inverse markup. Our results imply that either NK models are unable to separate the dynamics of the labor share from the markup or markups do not respond in the way NK models predict.
Dietary Supplements: Knowledge and Adverse Event Reporting Practices of Department of Defense Health Care Providers
Authors: Rittenhouse Melissa , Scott Jonathan , Deuster Patricia
Published: August 2020

Introduction

The purpose of the study was to assess the knowledge of dietary supplements (DS) and adverse event (AE) reporting practices of the Department of Defense health care providers. AEs related to use of DS are not uncommon. However, it is estimated that less than 2% of AEs are reported. This is problematic given the Food and Drug Administration relies on AE reports to identify and ultimately remove unsafe products from the market. Inadequate reporting of AE puts all DS users at risk.

Materials and Methods

Cross-sectional design was used. Electronic surveys were sent to the Department of Defense health care professionals (HCPs) and Emergency Medicine (EM) physicians asking questions about practices regarding DS and AE knowledge and reporting behaviors. The surveys were open for 5 months. During this period of time, HCPs received three email reminders following the initial email to enhance participation. The computer package IBM SPSS version 25 software (IBM Corp. Released 2017. IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 21.0, Armonk, New York) was used for statistical analysis. Frequency distributions of the responses were analyzed.

Results

Of the 1,700 surveyed, 270 HCPs and 68 EM physicians completed the surveys. At least 39% of HCPs reported never receiving formal DS training. Seventy-two percent of HCPs reported asking their patients about the use of DS. However, when asked if they knew where to report an AE, only 40% of HCPs knew where to report an AE and only 38% knew how to report an AE. Of the EM physicians, only 38% asked their patients about DS. However, a majority (78%) reported that they had encountered an AE. EM physicians also reported they lacked knowledge regarding where (87%) and how (87%) to report AE.

Conclusions

It is clear that physician and nonphysician HCPs would benefit from additional training about DS and how and where to report suspected AE. Providing regular training on risks, common AE, and how and where to report an AE would help fill the knowledge gap in the ever-changing DS industry. Addressing these issues and coming up with a solution to integrating AE reporting into clinical care could improve health care practices and increase AE reporting to the Food and Drug Administration, which would have a beneficial impact on patient care, public safety, and mission readiness.