bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Insights into salvianolic acid B biosynthesis from chromosome‐scale assembly of the Salvia bowleyana genome
Authors: Zheng Xuehai , Chen Duo , Chen Binghua , Liang Limin , Huang Zhen , Fan Wenfang , Chen Jiannan , He Wenjin , Chen Huibin , Huang Luqiang , Chen Youqiang , Zhu Jinmao , Xue Ting
Published: February 2021

Salvia bowleyana is a traditional Chinese medicinal plant that is a source of nutritional supplements rich in salvianolic acid B and a potential experimental system for the exploration of salvianolic acid B biosynthesis in the Labiatae. Here, we report a high‐quality chromosome‐scale genome assembly of S. bowleyana covering 462.44 Mb, with a scaffold N50 value of 57.96 Mb and 44,044 annotated protein‐coding genes. Evolutionary analysis revealed an estimated divergence time between S. bowleyana and its close relative S. miltiorrhiza of ~3.94 million years. We also observed evidence of a whole‐genome duplication in the S. bowleyana genome. Transcriptome analysis showed that SbPAL1 (PHENYLALANINE AMMONIA‐LYASE1) is highly expressed in roots relative to stem and leaves, paralleling the location of salvianolic acid B accumulation. The laccase gene family in S. bowleyana outnumbered their counterparts in both S. miltiorrhiza and Arabidopsis thaliana, suggesting that the gene family has undergone expansion in S. bowleyana. Several laccase genes were also highly expressed in roots, where their encoded proteins may catalyze the oxidative reaction from rosmarinic acid to salvianolic acid B. These findings provide an invaluable genomic resource for understanding salvianolic acid B biosynthesis and its regulation, and will be useful for exploring the evolution of the Labiatae.
Subjective Cash Flow and Discount Rate Expectations
Authors: DE LA O RICARDO , MYERS SEAN
Published: February 2021

Why do stock prices vary? Using survey forecasts, we find that cash flow growth expectations explain most movements in the S&P 500 price‐dividend and price‐earnings ratios, accounting for at least 93% and 63% of their variation. These expectations comove strongly with price ratios, even when price ratios do not predict future cash flow growth. In comparison, return expectations have low volatility and small comovement with price ratios. Short‐term, rather than long‐term, expectations account for most price ratio variation. We propose an asset pricing model with beliefs about earnings growth reversal that accurately replicates these cash flow growth expectations and dynamics.
Pregnancy outcome after first trimester exposure to domperidone—An observational cohort study
Authors: Hishinuma Kayoko , Yamane Ritsuko , Yokoo Ikuko , Arimoto Takahide , Takahashi Kunihiko , Goto Mikako , Saito Yoshiyuki , Nakajima Ken , Murashima Atsuko , Hayashi Masahiro
Published: February 2021

Aim

To assess the teratogenic risk of domperidone by comparing the incidence of major malformation with domperidone to a control.

Methods

Pregnancy outcome data were obtained for women at two Japanese facilities that provide counseling on drug use during pregnancy between April 1988 and December 2017. The incidence of major malformation was calculated among infants born to women taking domperidone (n = 519), nonteratogenic drugs (control, n = 1673), or metoclopramide (reference, n = 241) during the first trimester of pregnancy. Using the control group as reference, the crude odds ratio (OR) of the incidence of major malformation in the domperidone and metoclopramide groups was calculated using univariable logistic regression analysis. Adjusted OR was also calculated using multivariable logistic regression analysis adjusted for various other factors.

Results

The incidence of major malformation was 2.9% (14/485, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.6–4.8) in the domperidone group, 1.7% (27/1554, 95%CI: 1.1–2.5) in the control group, and 3.6% (8/224, 95%CI: 1.6–6.9) in the metoclopramide group. The adjusted multivariable logistic regression analysis showed no significant difference in incidence between the control and domperidone groups (adjusted OR: 1.86 [95%CI: 0.73–4.70], p = 0.191) or between the control and metoclopramide groups (adjusted OR: 2.20 [95%CI: 0.69–6.98], p = 0.183).

Conclusions

This observational cohort study showed that domperidone exposure during the first trimester was not associated with increased risk of major malformation in infants. These results may help alleviate the anxiety of patients who took domperidone during pregnancy.
Interregional fiscal transfers resulting from central government debt: New insights and consequences for political economy
Authors: Jennes Geert
Published: February 2021

The political geography of central government debt has hardly been investigated. We propose a method for calculating implicit interregional transfers stemming from central government debt.

We apply this method to Belgium over the 1970‐2016 period. The share of poorer Francophone Belgium in debt‐financed central governmentspendingwas persistently larger than its share in central governmentrevenueused to pay the resulting interest bills. The opposite holds for richer Flanders. Also, a primary deficit inone particular yearleads to an interest bill ineach of the following yearsas long as debt caused by that primary deficit is not repaid. All the above caused debt‐related transfers from Flanders to Francophone Belgium of over 7% of Flemish GDP during many years.

Interregional interest transfers may also be large in the many other democracies suffering from both high central government debt and considerable geographic income disparities.

The size of these transfers mayin turn explainthe size and persistence of central government deficits. This is also because poorer, less densely populated regions such as Francophone Belgium tend to be overrepresented within central governments. This strengthens their ability to cause deficits.

We recommend more fiscal decentralisation or at least smaller central government deficits.
A novel lightweight deep convolutional neural network for early detection of oral cancer
Authors: Jubair Fahed , Al‐karadsheh Omar , Malamos Dimitrios , Al Mahdi Samara , Saad Yusser , Hassona Yazan
Published: February 2021

Objectives

To develop a lightweight deep convolutional neural network (CNN) for binary classification of oral lesions into benign and malignant or potentially malignant using standard real‐time clinical images.

Methods

A small deep CNN, that uses a pretrained EfficientNet‐B0 as a lightweight transfer learning model, was proposed. A data set of 716 clinical images was used to train and test the proposed model. Accuracy, specificity, sensitivity, receiver operating characteristics (ROC) and area under curve (AUC) were used to evaluate performance. Bootstrapping with 120 repetitions was used to calculate arithmetic means and 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

Results

The proposed CNN model achieved an accuracy of 85.0% (95% CI: 81.0%–90.0%), a specificity of 84.5% (95% CI: 78.9%–91.5%), a sensitivity of 86.7% (95% CI: 80.4%–93.3%) and an AUC of 0.928 (95% CI: 0.88–0.96).

Conclusions

Deep CNNs can be an effective method to build low‐budget embedded vision devices with limited computation power and memory capacity for diagnosis of oral cancer. Artificial intelligence (AI) can improve the quality and reach of oral cancer screening and early detection.
Against Mother's Day and Employee Appreciation Day and Other Representations of Oppressive Expectations as Opportunities for Excellence and Beneficence
Authors: Martin Adrienne M.
Published: February 2021

Appreciation and gratitude get good press: They are central virtues in many religious and secular ethical frameworks, core in positive psychology research, and they come highly recommended by the self‐improvement set. Generally, appreciation and gratitude feature as good things, in popular consciousness. Of course, on an Aristotelian model, the belief that these are virtues implies they are something people can get right or wrong. This paper examines bad appreciation and bad gratitude, characterizing forms of appreciation and gratitude at the center of some major social norms and practices, and demonstrating that they mask familiar oppressive expectations and power relations.
Application of unsupervised machine learning to identify areas of blood product wastage in transfusion medicine
Authors: Xiang Richard F. , Quinn Jason G. , Watson Stephanie , Kumar‐Misir Andrew , Cheng Calvino
Published: February 2021

Background

Wastage of blood products can be a significant cost to blood banks. However, the cause of wastage is often complex and makes it difficult to determine wastage‐associated factors. Machine learning techniques may be useful tools to investigate these complex associations. We investigated whether unsupervised machine learning can identify patterns associated with wastage in our blood bank.

Materials and methods

Data on red blood cells, platelets and frozen products were obtained from the laboratory information system of the Central Zone Blood Transfusion Services at Nova Scotia Health Authority. A total of 879 532 transactions were analysed by association rule mining, a type of machine learning algorithm. Associations with lift scores greater than 25 and with clinical relevance were flagged for further examination.

Results

Association rule mining returned a total of 3355 associations related to wastage. Several notable associations were identified. For example, certain wards were associated with wastage due to thawing unused frozen products. Other examples included association between smaller blood banks and evening work shifts with product wastage due to excess time outside the laboratory or returning products with high temperatures.

Conclusion

This paper demonstrates the effective use of unsupervised machine learning for the purpose of investigating wastage in a large blood bank. The use of association rule mining was able to identify wastage factors, which can help guide quality improvement initiatives. This technique can be automated to provide rapid analysis of complex associations contributing to wastage and could be utilized in modern blood banks.
Flow Distortion Into the Core Engine for an Installed Variable Pitch Fan in Reverse Thrust Mode
Authors: Rajendran David John , Pachidis Vassilios
Published: February 2021

The flow distortion at core engine entry for a variable pitch fan (VPF) in reverse thrust mode is described from a realistic flow field obtained using an integrated airframe-engine model. The model includes the VPF, core entry splitter, complete bypass nozzle flow path wrapped in a nacelle, and installed to an airframe in landing configuration through a pylon. A moving ground plane to mimic the rolling runway is included. 3D Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) solutions are generated at two combinations of VPF stagger angle and rotational speed settings for the entire aircraft landing run from 140 to 20 knots. The internal reverse thrust flow field is characterized by bypass nozzle lip separation, pylon wake, and recirculation of flow turned back from the VPF. A portion of the reverse stream flow turns 180 deg with separation at the splitter leading edge to feed the core engine. The core engine feed flow exhibits circumferential and radial nonuniformities that depend on the reverse flow development at different landing speeds. The temporal dependence of the distorted flow features is also explored by an unsteady Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes (URANS) analysis. Total pressure and swirl angle distortion descriptors, as defined by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) S-16 committee, and, total pressure loss into the core engine are described for the core feed flow at different operating conditions and landing speeds. It is observed that the radial intensity of total pressure distortion is critical to core engine operation, while the circumferential intensity is within acceptable limits. Therefore, the baseline sharp splitter edge is replaced by two larger rounded splitter edges of radii, ∼0.1x and ∼0.2x times the core duct height. This was found to reduce the radial intensity of total pressure distortion to acceptable levels. The description of the installed core feed flow distortion, as described in this study, is necessary to ascertain stable core engine operation, which powers the VPF in reverse thrust mode.
Impact of Additive Manufacturing on Internal Cooling Channels With Varying Diameters and Build Directions
Authors: Wildgoose Alexander J. , Thole Karen A. , Sanders Paul , Wang Lieke
Published: February 2021

The use of additive manufacturing (AM) processes, such as direct metal laser sintering, provides the design freedom required to incorporate complex cooling schemes in gas turbine components. Additively manufactured turbine components have a range of cooling feature sizes and, because of the inherent three-dimensionality, a wide range of build angles. Previous studies have shown that AM built directions influence internal channel surface roughness that, in turn, augment heat transfer and pressure loss. This study investigates the impact of AM on channel feature size and builds direction relative to tolerance, surface roughness, pressure losses, and convective cooling. Multiple AM coupons were built from Inconel 718 consisting of channels with different diameters and a variety of build directions. An experimental rig was used to measure pressure drop to calculate friction factor and was used to impose a constant surface temperature boundary condition to collect Nusselt number over a range of Reynolds numbers. Significant variations in surface roughness and geometric deviations from the design intent were observed for distinct build directions and channel sizes. These differences led to notable impacts in friction factor and Nusselt number augmentations, which were a strong function of build angle.
SARS-CoV-2 Causes Severe Epithelial Inflammation and Barrier Dysfunction
Authors: Deinhardt-Emmer Stefanie , Böttcher Sarah , Häring Clio , Giebeler Liane , Henke Andreas , Zell Roland , Jungwirth Johannes , Jordan Paul M. , Werz Oliver , Hornung Franziska , Brandt Christian , Marquet Mike , Mosig Alexander S. , Pletz Mathias W. , Schacke Michael , Rödel Jürgen , Heller Regine , Nietzsche Sandor , Löffler Bettina , Ehrhardt Christina
Published: February 2021

SARS-CoV-2 challenges health care systems and societies worldwide in unprecedented ways. Although numerous new studies have been conducted, research to better understand the molecular pathogen-host interactions are urgently needed.
Successful use of immunotherapy to treat advanced cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma in recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa
Authors: Duong Tony , Wong Debra , Barrett Alexander , Price Harper
Published: February 2021

Recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (RDEB) is a multisystem inherited disorder associated with fragile skin, blister formation and poor wound healing. Patients with RDEB are at significantly increased risk of recurrent and aggressive cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) and because of their disease complexity, conventional therapies may not be possible. Recent advances in cancer immunotherapy have led to the successful use of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in melanoma and other malignancies. However, the effects of ICIs in patients with cSCC and RDEB are currently unknown. A 30-year-old woman with RDEB and multiple unresectable cSCCs was found to have high tumour mutational burden and PD-L1 (programmed cell death-ligand 1) expression. She was started on an ICI, which yielded disease control and was well tolerated. Furthermore, her RDEB wounds improved. This case demonstrates successful use of immunotherapy for advanced cSCC in RDEB, a disease that is often challenging to treat with local therapies.
Posterior pole retinal breaks causing posterior pole retinal detachment in a middle-aged man with retinal vasculitis and moderate myopia
Authors: Parameswarappa Deepika Chennapura , Vithalani Nidhi Mahendra , Rani Padmaja Kumari
Published: February 2021

A 38-year-old man presented with sudden decreased vision in the right eye 3 years ago due to vitreous haemorrhage. During follow-up, right eye fundus showed evidence of vasculitis, non-perfusion areas and neovascularisation elsewhere. Systemic evaluation findings of positive Mantoux test, QuantiFERON Gold test and right apical pleuroparenchymal fibrosis observed on high-resolution CT of the chest were suggestive of postinfection probable tubercular aetiology. He was treated with oral steroids, antitubercular therapy, intravitreal bevacizumab and anterior retinal cryopexy, leading to resolution of vasculitis and vitreous haemorrhage. Later he developed peripheral retinal flap and posterior retinal breaks at 8-month and 11-month follow-up, respectively, which were managed by barrage laser. He maintained a stable visual acuity of 20/20, N6 for the next 2 years. He then presented with sudden decreased vision in the right eye (20/50, N10). Right eye fundus showed posterior pole retinal detachment with lifting of previously barraged posterior retinal breaks. He underwent vitreoretinal surgery with gas tamponade. Recent 1-month postoperative visit showed successful retinal reattachment and visual recovery of 20/20, N6.
Skull base chondroblastoma presenting as a deep lobe parotid tumour
Authors: Linton Stefan , Vinoo Akshay , Cadden Fergal , Mani Navin
Published: February 2021

Chondroblastomas are rare, benign cartilage-producing primary bone tumours that account for 1% of all primary bone tumours. They are usually seen in young adult males and affect long tubulous bones such as the femur or humerus. Occurrences in non-tubular flat bones such as the craniofacial skeleton do occur but are seen in older adults. With only around 100 cases reported in the English literature, ‘Temporal Bone Chondroblastomas’ can present a diagnostic challenge for both surgeon and histopathologist. Clinical presentation can be subtle and patients may have longstanding symptoms due to compression of surrounding structures. Imaging in the form of contrast CT and/or MRI is recommended to assess size, proximity to neurovascular structures and plan operative approach. Definitive treatment is surgical excision, with radiotherapy reserved for recurrence or unfit surgical patients. Long-term follow-up is recommended for surveillance due to high recurrence rates. We present our experience managing this rare entity.
Ethics of vaccine refusal
Authors: Kowalik Michael
Published: February 2021

Proponents of vaccine mandates typically claim that everyone who can be vaccinated has a moral or ethical obligation to do so for the sake of those who cannot be vaccinated, or in the interest of public health. I evaluate several previously undertheorised premises implicit to the ‘obligation to vaccinate’ type of arguments and show that the general conclusion is false: there is neither a moral obligation to vaccinate nor a sound ethical basis to mandate vaccination under any circumstances, even for hypothetical vaccines that are medically risk-free. Agent autonomy with respect to self-constitution has absolute normative priority over reduction or elimination of the associated risks to life. In practical terms, mandatory vaccination amounts to discrimination against healthy, innate biological characteristics, which goes against the established ethical norms and is also defeasible a priori.
Systematic review of interventions to improve gender equity in graduate medicine
Authors: Lydon Sinéad , O'Dowd Emily , Walsh Chloe , O'Dea Angela , Byrne Dara , Murphy Andrew W , O'Connor Paul
Published: February 2021

Women are substantially underrepresented in senior and leadership positions in medicine and experience gendered challenges in their work settings. This systematic review aimed to synthesise research that has evaluated interventions for improving gender equity in medicine. English language electronic searches were conducted across MEDLINE, CINAHL, Academic Search Complete, PsycINFO and Web of Science. Reference list screening was also undertaken. Peer-reviewed studies published between 2000 and March 2020 that evaluated interventions to improve gender equity, or the experiences of women, in academic or clinical medicine were reviewed. Dual reviewer data extraction on setting, participants, type of intervention, measurement and outcomes was completed. Methodological rigour and strength of findings were evaluated. In total, 34 studies were included. Interventions were typically focused on equipping the woman (82.4%), that is, delivering professional development activities for women. Fewer focused on changing cultures (20.6%), ensuring equal opportunities (23.5%) or increasing the visibility or valuing of women (23.5%). Outcomes were largely positive (87.3%) but measurement typically relied on subjective, self-report data (69.1%). Few interventions were implemented in clinical settings (17.6%). Weak methodological rigour and a low strength of findings was observed. There has been a focus to-date on interventions which Equip the Woman. Interventions addressing systems and culture change require further research consideration. However, institutions cannot wait on high quality research evidence to emerge to take action on gender equity. Data collated suggest a number of recommendations pertaining to research on, and the implementation of, interventions to improve gender equity in academic and clinical settings.
Healthcare worker protection against epidemic viral respiratory disease
Authors: Scantling-Birch Yarrow , Newton Richard , Naveed Hasan , Rajak Saul , Bhutta Mahmood F
Published: February 2021

Lower respiratory infections are often caused or precipitated by viruses and are a leading cause of global morbidity and mortality. Mutations in these viral genomes can produce highly infectious strains that transmit across species and have the potential to initiate epidemic, or pandemic, human viral respiratory disease. Transmission between humans primarily occurs via the airborne route and is accelerated by our increasingly interconnected and globalised society. To this date, there have been four major human viral respiratory outbreaks in the 21st century. Healthcare workers (HCWs) are at particular risk during respiratory epidemics or pandemics. This is due to crowded working environments where social distancing, or wearing respiratory personal protective equipment for prolonged periods, might prove difficult, or performing medical procedures that increase exposure to virus-laden aerosols, or bodily fluids. This review aims to summarise the evidence and approaches to occupational risk and protection of HCWs during epidemic or pandemic respiratory viral disease.
An estimation of the harm of menthol cigarettes in the United States from 1980 to 2018
Authors: Le Thuy TT , Mendez David
Published: February 2021

Background

Menthol cigarettes are thought to encourage smoking initiation among youths and young adults and make it more difficult for smokers to quit, thus increasing cigarette harm. However, no study to date has quantified the damage that menthol cigarettes have caused the US population.

Objective

To estimate the excess smoking prevalence, smoking initiation, and mortality in the US from 1980 through 2018 that can be attributed to menthol cigarettes.

Methods

Using a well-established simulation model of smoking prevalence and health effects and data from the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), we first reproduced the overall US adult smoking prevalence between 1980 and 2018 (pseudo-R2=0.98) and associated mortality. Then we re-ran the model, assuming that menthol cigarettes were not present in the market over the same period. Finally, we compared both scenarios to quantify the public health harm attributable to menthol over the 1980–2018 period.

Results

From 1980 to 2018, we found that menthol cigarettes were responsible for slowing down the decline in smoking prevalence by 2.6 percentage points (13.7% vs 11.1% in 2018). Our results also show that menthol cigarettes were responsible for 10.1 million extra smokers, 3 million life years lost and 378 000 premature deaths during that period.

Conclusions

With millions of excess smoking initiators and thousands of smoking-related deaths due to mentholated cigarettes from 1980 through 2018, our results indicate that these products have had a significant detrimental impact on the public’s health and could continue to pose a substantial health risk. Our findings can assist the Food and Drug Administration in evaluating potential regulatory actions for mentholated tobacco products.
Folic acid ameliorates neonatal isolation-induced autistic like behaviors in rats: epigenetic modifications of BDNF and GFAP promotors
Authors: Ahmed Omyma G. , Shehata Ghaydaa A. , Ali Rasha M. , Makboul Rania , Abd Allah Eman S.H. , Abd el-Rady Nessren M.
Published: February 2021

The current study investigated the role of epigenetic dysregulation of brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) genes and oxidative stress as possible mechanisms of autistic-like behaviors in neonatal isolation model in rats and the impact of folic acid administration on these parameters. Forty Wistar albino pups were used as follows: control, folic acid administered, isolated, and isolated folic acid treated groups. Isolated pups were separated from their mothers for 90 min daily from postnatal day (PND) 1 to 11. Pups (isolated or control) received either the vehicle or folic acid (4 mg/kg/day) orally from PND 1 to 29. Behavioral tests were done from PND 30 to 35. Oxidative stress markers and antioxidant defense in the frontal cortex homogenate were determined. DNA methylation of BDNF and GFAP genes was determined by qPCR. Histopathological examination was carried out. Neonatal isolation produced autistic-like behaviors that were associated with BDNF and GFAP hypomethylation, increased oxidative stress, increased inflammatory cell infiltration, and structural changes in the frontal cortex. Folic acid administration concurrently with isolation reduced neonatal isolation-induced autistic-like behaviors, decreased oxidative stress, regained BDNF and GFAP gene methylation, and ameliorated structural changes in the frontal cortices of isolated folic acid treated rats.

Novelty: Neonatal isolation induces “autistic-like” behavior and these behaviors are reversed by folic acid supplementation. Neonatal isolation induces DNA hypomethylation of BDNF and GFAP, increased oxidative stress markers, and neuroinflammation. All of these changes were reversed by daily folic acid supplementation.
Tectonic history of the Grenville-age Trenton Prong inlier, Central Appalachians, USA: evidence from SHRIMP U–Pb geochronology
Authors: Volkert Richard A. , Aleinikoff John N.
Published: February 2021

New zircon U–Pb geochronologic data from the Grenville-age Trenton Prong provide information on the age of magmatism, timing of metamorphism, and post-metamorphic history of the inlier. Diorite gneiss (1318 ± 13 Ma) of the Colonial Lake Suite temporally correlates to magmatic arc sequences that formed along the eastern margin of Laurentia at <1.4 Ga. Metasedimentary gneisses yielded detrital zircon ages of ca. 1319–1133 Ma and ca. 1370–1207, consistent with sediment derived from a similar local source of Laurentian affinity. A small population of zircon (either detrital or igneous in origin) in one sample yielded ages of ca. 1074–1037 Ma. Possible interpretations for their formation are explored. Ca. 1060 Ma overgrowths on zircon in the northern part of the inlier constrain the timing of granulite-facies metamorphism to the Ottawan phase of the Grenvillian Orogeny. The undeformed Assunpink Creek Granite (1041 ± 6 Ma) intruded country rocks as small bodies of late-orogenic syenogranite. It provides a minimum age for amphibolite-facies metamorphism and Ottawan orogenesis elsewhere in the inlier. Regionally, zircon rim ages of ca. 1010–960 Ma record continued thermal activity during the Rigolet phase of the orogen that resulted in migmatization of paragneiss at ca. 1004 Ma and juxtaposition of upper- and mid-crustal rocks during orogenic collapse. The lithologic ages and tectonic history of the Trenton Prong correlate to those in other Appalachian Mesoproterozoic inliers and parts of the Canadian Grenville Province, confirming it is not an exotic terrane that was accreted to eastern Laurentia during Grenvillian orogenesis.
Effect of casein kinase 1α inhibition on autophagy flux and the AKT/phospho-β-catenin (S552) axis in HCT116, a RAS-mutated colorectal cancer cell line
Authors: Behrouj Hamid , Seghatoleslam Atefeh , Mokarram Pooneh , Ghavami Saeid
Published: February 2021

The Wnt/β-catenin pathway, which interferes with cell proliferation, differentiation, and autophagy, is commonly dysregulated in colorectal cancer (CRC). Mutation of the RAS oncogene is the most prevalent genetic alteration in CRC and has been linked to activation of protein kinase B (AKT) signaling. Phosphorylation of β-catenin at Ser 552 by AKT contributes to β-catenin stability, transcriptional activity, and increase of cell proliferation. Casein kinase 1 alpha (CK1α) is an enzyme that simultaneously regulates Wnt/β-catenin and AKT. The link of the AKT and Wnt pathway to autophagy in RAS-mutated CRC cells has not well identified. Therefore, we investigated how pharmacological CK1α inhibition (D4476) is involved in regulation of autophagy, Wnt/β-catenin, and AKT pathways in RAS-mutated CRC cell lines. qRT-PCR and immunoblotting experiments revealed that phospho-AKT (S473) and phospho-β-catenin (S552) are constitutively increased in RAS-mutated CRC cell lines, in parallel with augmented CK1α expression. The results also showed that D4476 significantly reduced the AKT/phospho-β-catenin (S552) axis concomitantly with autophagy flux inhibition in RAS-mutated CRC cells. Furthermore, D4476 significantly induced apoptosis in RAS-mutated CRC cells. In conclusion, our results indicate that CK1α inhibition reduces autophagy flux and promotes apoptosis by interfering with the AKT/phospho-β-catenin (S552) axis in RAS-mutated CRC cells.
The biology of invasive alien plants in Canada.14.Celastrus orbiculatusThunb.
Authors: McKenzie-Gopsill A. , MacDonald A.N.
Published: February 2021

Celastrus orbiculatus Thunb. is an invasive alien liana native to northern regions of Japan, Korea, China, and Russia. Since its intentional North American introduction in the 1870s, it is now found across eastern Canada and the United States. Through an extensive adventitious root system and twining growth habit, C. orbiculatus smothers and girdles surrounding vegetation, drastically altering the environment and ecosystem processes. C. orbiculatus continues to be distributed as an ornamental. In addition, birds and small mammals consume its prolific fruit and facilitate novel introductions. C. orbiculatus is susceptible to glyphosate and triclopyr. Once established, however, management intensity is compounded by its extensive root system and continual resprouting and root-suckering. The climatic requirements across eastern Canada, ease of dispersal, and rapid growth suggest that C. orbiculatus will continue to spread across its introduced range.
$$K^{+}\Lambda $$ photoproduction at forward angles and low momentum transfer
Authors: Alef S. , Bauer P. , Bayadilov D. , Beck R. , Bella A. , Bieling J. , Braghieri A. , Cole P. L. , Elsner D. , Di Salvo R. , Fantini A. , Freyermuth O. , Frommberger F. , Ghio F. , Goertz S. , Gridnev A. , Hammann D. , Hannappel J. , Jude T. C. , Kohl K. , Kozlenko N. , Lapik A. , Levi Sandri P. , Lisin V. , Mandaglio G. , Messi F. , Messi R. , Moricciani D. , Nedorezov V. , Nikonov V. A. , Novinskiy D. , Pedroni P. , Polonskiy A. , Reitz B.-E. , Romaniuk M. , Sarantsev A. V. , Scheluchin G. , Schmieden H. , Stuglev A. , Sumachev V. , Vegna V. , Tarakanov V. , Zimmermann T.
Published: February 2021

$$\gamma p \rightarrow K^{+} \Lambda $$

γ
p
→

K
+

Λ

differential cross sections and recoil polarisation data from threshold for extremely forward angles are presented. The measurements were performed at the BGOOD experiment at ELSA, utilising the high angular and momentum resolution forward spectrometer for charged particle identification. The high statistics and forward angle acceptance enables the extraction of the cross section as the minimum momentum transfer to the recoiling hyperon is approached.
Use of a generalized energy Mover’s distance in the search for rare phenomena at colliders
Authors: Crispim Romão M. , Castro N. F. , Milhano J. G. , Pedro R. , Vale T.
Published: February 2021

In this paper, we expand on the previously proposed concept of energy Mover’s distance. The resulting observables are shown to provide a way of identifying rare processes in proton–proton collider experiments. It is shown that different processes are grouped together differently and that this can contribute to the improvement of experimental analyses. The $$t{\bar{t}}Z$$

t

t

¯

Z

production at the Large Hadron Collider is used as a benchmark to illustrate the applicability of the method. Furthermore, we study the use of these observables as new features which can be used in the training of deep neural networks.
A phenomenological analysis on isospin-violating decay of X(3872)
Authors: Wu Qi , Chen Dian-Yong , Matsuki Takayuki
Published: February 2021

In a molecular scenario, we investigate the isospin-breaking hidden charm decay processes of X(3872), i.e., $$X(3872) \rightarrow \pi ^+ \pi ^- J/\psi $$

X

(
3872
)

→

π
+

π
-

J
/
ψ

, $$X(3872) \rightarrow \pi ^+ \pi ^- \pi ^0 J/\psi $$

X

(
3872
)

→

π
+

π
-

π
0

J
/
ψ

, and $$X(3872)\rightarrow \pi ^0\chi _{cJ}$$

X

(
3872
)

→

π
0

χ

cJ

. We assume that the source of the strong isospin violation comes from the different coupling strengths of X(3872) to its charged components $$D^{*+} D^-$$

D

∗
+

D
-

and neutral components $$D^{*0 } {\bar{D}}^0$$

D

∗
0

D

¯

0

as well as the interference between the charged meson loops and neutral meson loops. The former effect could fix our parameters by using the measurement of the ratio $$\Gamma [X(3872) \rightarrow \pi ^+ \pi ^- \pi ^0 J/\psi ]/\Gamma [X(3872) \rightarrow \pi ^+ \pi ^- J/\psi ]$$

Γ

[
X

(
3872
)

→

π
+

π
-

π
0

J
/
ψ
]

/
Γ

[
X

(
3872
)

→

π
+

π
-

J
/
ψ
]

. With the determined parameter range, we find that the estimated ratio $$\Gamma [X(3872) \rightarrow \pi ^0 \chi _{c1}/\Gamma [X(3872) \rightarrow \pi ^+ \pi ^- J/\psi ]$$

Γ
[
X

(
3872
)

→

π
0

χ

c
1

/
Γ

[
X

(
3872
)

→

π
+

π
-

J
/
ψ
]

is well consistent with the experimental measurement from the BESIII collaboration. Moreover, the partial width ratio of $$\pi ^0 \chi _{cJ}$$

π
0

χ

cJ

for $$J=0,1,2$$

J
=
0
,
1
,
2

is estimated to be $$1.77{-}1.65:1:1.09{-}1.43$$

1.77
-
1.65
:
1
:
1.09
-
1.43

, which could be tested by further precise measurements of BESIII and Belle II.
Bounds on warm dark matter from Schwarzschild primordial black holes
Authors: Auffinger Jérémy , Masina Isabella , Orlando Giorgio
Published: February 2021

We consider light dark matter candidates originated from the evaporation of Schwarzschild primordial black holes, with masses in the range $$10^{-5}$$

10

-
5

–$$10^9$$

10
9

g. These candidates are beyond standard model particles with negligible couplings to the other particles, so that they interact only gravitationally. Belonging to the category of warm dark matter, they nevertheless spoil structure formation, with a softer impact for increasing values of the candidate spin. Requiring such candidates to fully account for the observed dark matter, we find that the scenario of black hole domination is ruled out for all spin values up to 2. For the scenario of radiation domination, we derive upper limits on the parameter $$\beta $$
β
(the primordial black hole energy density at formation over the radiation one), which are less stringent the higher the candidate spin is.
Improving diffusion-based recommendation in online rating systems
Authors: Zhou Lei , Cui Xiaohua , Zeng An , Fan Ying , Di Zengru
Published: February 2021

Network diffusion processes play an important role in solving the information overload problem. It has been shown that the diffusion-based recommendation methods have the advantage to generate both accurate and diverse recommendation items for online users. Despite that, numerous existing works consider the rating information as link weight or threshold to retain the useful links, few studies use the rating information to evaluate the recommendation results. In this paper, we measure the average rating of the recommended products, finding that diffusion-based recommendation methods have the risk of recommending low-rated products to users. In addition, we use the rating information to improve the network-based recommendation algorithms. The idea is to aggregate the diffusion results on multiple user-item bipartite networks each of which contains only links of certain ratings. By tuning the parameters, we find that the new method can sacrifice slightly the recommendation accuracy for improving the average rating of the recommended products.
Exponential growth constants for spanning forests on Archimedean lattices: Values and comparisons of upper bounds
Authors: Chang Shu-Chiuan , Shrock Robert
Published: February 2021

We compare our upper bounds on the exponential growth constant [Formula: see text] characterizing the asymptotic behavior of spanning forests on Archimedean lattices [Formula: see text] with recently derived upper bounds.Our upper bounds on [Formula: see text], which are very close to the respective values of [Formula: see text] that we have calculated, are shown to be significantly better for these lattices than the new upper bounds.
Dynamics of a Food Chain Model with Two Infected Predators
Authors: Meng Xin-You , Qin Ni-Ni , Huo Hai-Feng
Published: February 2021

In this paper, the dynamics of a three-species food chain model with two predators infected by an infectious disease is investigated. The positivity and boundedness of the system, the existence of the equilibria and the basic reproductive number are given. Sufficient conditions for the local stability of all equilibria are obtained by analyzing the corresponding characteristic equations. By constructing suitable Lyapunov functions and taking the geometric approach, the global stability of all equilibria is proved. According to the center manifold theory, this model undergoes the phenomenon of backward and forward bifurcations in a certain range of the basic reproductive number [Formula: see text]. By taking the disease transmission coefficient of predator as bifurcation parameter, Hopf bifurcation emerges in the neighborhood of the endemic equilibrium. Furthermore, the optimal control of the disease is discussed by the Pontryagin’s maximum principle. Various simulations are given to support the analytical results.
Oscillatory Behaviors of Delayed p53 Regulatory Network with microRNA 192 in DNA Damage Response
Authors: Gao Chunyan , Chen Fangqi
Published: February 2021

This study develops a general model of delayed p53 regulatory network in the DNA damage response by introducing microRNA 192-mediated positive feedback loop based on the existing research work. Through theoretical analysis and numerical simulation, we find that the delay as a bifurcation parameter can drive the p53-Mdm2 module to undergo a supercritical Hopf bifurcation, thereby producing oscillation behavior. Moreover, we demonstrate how the positive feedback loop formed by p53* and microRNA 192 (miR-192) with the feature of double-negative regulation produces oscillations. Further, a comparison is given to demonstrate that microRNA 192-mediated positive feedback loop affects the robustness of system oscillations. In addition, we show that ataxia telangiectasia mutated kinase (ATM), once activated by DNA damage, makes p53* undergo two Hopf bifurcations. These results reveal that both time delay and miR-192 play tumor suppressing roles by promoting p53 oscillation or high level expression, which will provide a perspective for promoting the development of anti-cancer drugs by targeting miR-192 and time delay.
Pseudo-Hopf Bifurcation for a Class of 3D Filippov Linear Systems
Authors: Islas José Manuel , Castillo Juan , Aguirre-Hernandez Baltazar , Verduzco Fernando
Published: February 2021

We consider a nongeneric family of 3D Filippov linear systems with a discontinuity plane that have two parallel tangency lines, such that the region between them is the sliding region. We are interested in finding under what conditions the family has a crossing limit cycle, when the sliding region changes its stability. We call this phenomenon the pseudo-Hopf bifurcation. This class of systems is motivated by piecewise-linear control systems which have not yet been treated in the context of crossing limit cycles.
Asymptotic Analysis of Bifurcations in Feedforward Networks
Authors: Levasseur Tyler , Palacios Antonio
Published: February 2021

A feedforward network is a unidirectionally coupled chain of dynamical systems in which the first cell is coupled to itself, and each successive cell is coupled to the next one. Feedforward networks have gained considerable interest because of their potential to enhance signal amplification and to manipulate the frequency of oscillations. Indeed, it has been shown that the growth rate of the bifurcation undergone by the final cell is much larger than the expected square root growth rate associated with the standard Hopf bifurcation. In this paper, we present a new approach to studying this growth rate phenomenon. We employ a two-time-scale analysis and asymptotic approximations to detect behavior associated with the growth rate phenomenon that has not been previously observed. In particular, we show that the Hopf bifurcation is not the only bifurcation capable of exhibiting this large growth rate behavior. Using asymptotic methods we show that it is not a special property of the Hopf bifurcation that allows for this accelerated growth rate; it is a combination of the unidirectional coupling and the higher-degree nonlinearities that cause this effect. Furthermore, we show that this large growth rate need not persist away from the bifurcation. In fact, the growth rate is asymptotic to the standard square root growth rate as the bifurcation parameter increases.
Gluon shadowing and nuclear entanglement entropy
Authors: Castorina Paolo , Iorio Alfredo , Lanteri Daniele , Lukeš Petr
Published: February 2021

Relying on previous results, that link entanglement entropy and parton distribution functions in deep inelastic scattering, and focusing on the small Bjorken scaling region we present here indications that gluon shadowing might indeed be explained as due to a depletion of the entanglement entropy, between observed and unobserved degrees of freedom, per nucleon within a nucleus, with respect to the free nucleon. We apply to gluon shadowing the general Page approach to the calculation of the entanglement entropy in bipartite systems, giving physical motivations of the results.
Forward–backward multiplicity correlation and event-by-event multiplicity fluctuation in nucleus–nucleus collisions at 200A GeV
Authors: Manna Sanjib Kumar , Mukhopadhyay Amitabha , Mali Provash
Published: February 2021

Correlation among singly charged particles emitted in the forward and backward pseudo-rapidity cones is measured in [Formula: see text]O-Ag/Br and [Formula: see text]S-Ag/Br interactions at an incident energy of [Formula: see text] GeV/nucleon. Event-by-event fluctuations in the charged particle multiplicities and their pseudo-rapidity values are also investigated in terms of some known statistical measures. Evidences of short-ranged particle correlation and cluster formation in the pseudo-rapidity space are found from our analysis. A microscopic transport model based on the Ultra-relativistic Quantum Molecular Dynamics could not match the experimental results. The differences between experimental observation and corresponding simulation could neither be accounted for even when a Bose–Einstein type of correlation effect is implemented into the simulated data.
DG structure on the length 4 big from small construction
Authors: VandeBogert Keller
Published: February 2021

The big from small construction was introduced by Kustin and Miller in [A. Kustin and M. Miller, Constructing big Gorenstein ideals from small ones, J. Algebra 85 (1983) 303–322] and can be used to construct resolutions of tightly double linked Gorenstein ideals. In this paper, we expand on the DG-algebra techniques introduced in [A. Kustin, Use DG methods to build a matrix factorization, preprint (2019), arXiv:1905.11435] and construct a DG [Formula: see text]-algebra structure on the length [Formula: see text] big from small construction. The techniques employed involve the construction of a morphism from a Tate-like complex to an acyclic DG [Formula: see text]-algebra exhibiting Poincaré duality. This induces homomorphisms which, after suitable modifications, satisfy a list of identities that end up perfectly encapsulating the required associativity and DG axioms of the desired product structure for the big from small construction.
∗-Almost super-homogeneous ideals in ∗-h-local domains
Authors: Xing Shiqi , Anderson D. D. , Zafrullah Muhammad
Published: February 2021

In this paper, we introduce ∗-almost independent rings of Krull type (∗-almost IRKTs) and ∗-almost generalized Krull domains (∗-almost GKDs) in the general theory of almost factoriality, neither of which need be integrally closed. This fills a gap left in [D. D. Anderson and M. Zafrullah, On∗-Semi-Homogeneous Integral Domains, Advances in Commutative Algebra (Springer, Singapore, 2019)]. We characterize them by ∗-almost super-SH domains, where a domain [Formula: see text] is called a ∗-almost super-SH domain if every nonzero proper principal ideal of [Formula: see text] is a ∗-product of ∗-almost super-homogeneous ideals. We prove that (1) a domain [Formula: see text] is a ∗-almost IRKT if and only if [Formula: see text] is a ∗-almost super-SH domain, (2) a domain is a ∗-almost GKD if and only if [Formula: see text] is a type 1 ∗-almost super-SH domain and (3) a domain [Formula: see text] is a ∗-almost IRKT and an AGCD-domain if and only if [Formula: see text] is a ∗-afg-SH domain. Further, we characterize them by their integral closures. For example, we prove that a domain [Formula: see text] is an almost IRKT if and only if [Formula: see text] is a root extension with [Formula: see text] [Formula: see text]-linked under [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] is an IRKT. Examples are given to illustrate the new concepts.
Couroupita guianensis Induced Facial Synthesis of Silver and Gold Nanoparticles and its Antimicrobial Property on Impregnated Cotton Fabric
Authors: Nalini S. P. Kamala , Vijayaraghavan K. , Balaji R.
Published: February 2021

This paper explores the novel approach towards bio-reduction using Couroupita guianensis flower extract as a reducing and stabilizing agent in the synthesis of silver and gold nanoparticles. The experiments were conducted at a constant temperature of [Formula: see text]C. The surface plasmon resonance band of silver and gold nanoparticles occurred at 420[Formula: see text]nm and 540[Formula: see text]nm, respectively. The investigation proved that the formation of silver nanoparticle started within 7[Formula: see text]min and it was completed at end of 6[Formula: see text]h, while in the case of gold nanoparticles the reaction completed in 5.30[Formula: see text]h. The characterization of the formed nanoparticles was performed using transmission electron microscope, zeta potential and x-ray diffraction studies. The size of the silver and gold nanoparticles ranged between 10[Formula: see text]nm and 18[Formula: see text]nm and 5[Formula: see text]nm and 28[Formula: see text]nm, respectively. The effectiveness of cotton fabric impregnated with silver and gold nanoparticles was tested against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus.
The weight distribution of some irreducible cyclic codes
Authors: Liu Yang , Zhang Yang , Kong Zisen
Published: February 2021

In this paper, the weight distribution of the irreducible cyclic codes over [Formula: see text] with length [Formula: see text] and dimension [Formula: see text] is settled for a few special cases. These irreducible cyclic codes have two weights or three weights or four weights.