bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Impact of COVID-19 on Water Quality Index of river Yamuna in Himalayan and upper segment: analysis of monsoon and post-monsoon season
Authors: Sharma Shiwani , Gupta AnuShri
Published: April 2022

Rivers are the lifeline of every living being, be it humans or animals. Clean water is essential for everyone. However, increased urbanization and rapid industrialization have led to rising pollution level in rivers. COVID-19 on the contrary has changed the entire ecosystem. Limited industrial activities, reduced people movement during COVID times has led to improvement in environment, be it atmosphere or hydrosphere. Present work aims to study the impact of COVID-19 on water quality index of river Yamuna as it traverses from Himalayan segment to Upper segment. Five sites are chosen between a stretch of 60+ km, and samples are collected during monsoon and post-monsoon seasons. Physico-chemical parameters (pH, Turbidity, Sulphate, Phosphate, Fluoride, Chloride, Total Hardness, Calcium, Magnesium, Dissolved Oxygen, BOD, COD, Alkalinity), water quality index and Pearson correlation coefficient were calculated for all chosen sites. Since the study was initiated during COVID, initial results show the impact of reduced industrial and urban activities in improving the overall water quality.
Introduction to Medieval Theology
Authors: Van Nieuwenhove Rik
Published: April 2022

This classic book, now in a second, expanded edition, is an invitation to think along with major theologians and spiritual authors, men and women from the time of St Augustine to the end of the fourteenth century, who profoundly challenge our (post-)modern assumptions. Medieval theology was radically theocentric, Trinitarian, Scriptural, and sacramental, yet it also operated with a rich notion of human understanding. In a post-modern setting, when modern views on 'autonomous reason' are increasingly questioned, it is fruitful to re-engage with pre-modern thinkers who did not share our modern and post-modern presuppositions. Their different perspective does not antiquate their thought; on the contrary, it makes them profoundly challenging and enriching for theology today. This survey introduces readers to key theologians of the period and explores themes of the relationship between faith and reason; the mystery of the Trinity; soteriology; Christian love; and the transcendent thrust of medieval thought.
What is the SKA-Low sensitivity for your favourite radio source?
Authors: Sokolowski M. , Tingay S. J. , Davidson D. B. , Wayth R. B. , Ung D. , Broderick J. , Juswardy B. , Kovaleva M. , Macario G. , Pupillo G. , Sutinjo A.
Published: April 2022

The Square Kilometre Array (SKA) will be the largest radio astronomy observatory ever built, providing unprecedented sensitivity over a very broad frequency band from 50 MHz to 15.3 GHz. The SKA’s low frequency component (SKA-Low), which will observe in the 50–350 MHz band, will be built at the Murchison Radio-astronomy Observatory (MRO) in Western Australia. It will consist of 512 stations each composed of 256 dual-polarised antennas, and the sensitivity of an individual station is pivotal to the performance of the entire SKA-Low telescope. The answer to the question in the title is, it depends. The sensitivity of a low frequency array, such as an SKA-Low station, depends strongly on the pointing direction of the digitally formed station beam and the local sidereal time (LST), and is different for the two orthogonal polarisations of the antennas. The accurate prediction of the SKA-Low sensitivity in an arbitrary direction in the sky is crucial for future observation planning. Here, we present a sensitivity calculator for the SKA-Low radio telescope, using a database of pre-computed sensitivity values for two realisations of an SKA-Low station architecture. One realisation uses the log-periodic antennas selected for SKA-Low. The second uses a known benchmark, in the form of the bowtie dipoles of the Murchison Widefield Array. Prototype stations of both types were deployed at the MRO in 2019, and since then have been collecting commissioning and verification data. These data were used to measure the sensitivity of the stations at several frequencies and over at least 24 h intervals, and were compared to the predictions described in this paper. The sensitivity values stored in theSQLitedatabase were pre-computed for the X, Y, and Stokes I polarisations in 10 MHz frequency steps,$\scriptsize{1/2}$hour LST intervals, and$5^\circ$resolution in pointing directions. The database allows users to quickly and easily estimate the sensitivity of SKA-Low for arbitrary observing parameters (your favourite object) using interactive web-based or command line interfaces. The sensitivity can be calculated using publicly available web interface (http://sensitivity.skalow.link) or a command linepythonpackage (https://github.com/marcinsokolowski/station_beam), which can also be used to calculate the sensitivity for arbitrary pointing directions, frequencies, and times without interpolations.
A Cross‐Cutting Approach for Relating Anthropocene, Environmental Injustice and Sacrifice Zones
Authors: Gayo Eugenia M. , Muñoz Ariel A. , Maldonado Antonio , Lavergne Céline , Francois Jean Pierre , Rodríguez Delia , Klock‐Barría Karin , Sheppard Paul R. , Aguilera‐Betti Isabella , Alonso‐Hernández Carlos , Mena‐Carrasco Marcelo , Urquiza Anahí , Gallardo Laura
Published: April 2022

The Anthropocene is an uneven phenomenon. Accelerated shifts in the functioning of the Earth System are mainly driven by the production and consumption of wealthy economies. Social, environmental and health costs of such industrialization, however, bear on low‐income communities inhabiting severely degraded territories by polluting activities (i.e., sacrifice zones). How global, national and local socio‐economic and governance processes have interacted in perpetuating socio‐environmental inequalities in these territories has been rarely explored. Here, we develop an historical quantitative approach integrating a novel chemostratigraphic record, data on policy making, and socio‐economic trends to evaluate the feedback relationship between environmental injustice and Anthropocene in sacrifice zones. We specifically outline a case study for the Puchuncaví valley ‐one of the most emblematic sacrifice zones from Chile‐. We verify an ever‐growing burden of heavy metals and metalloids over the past five decades paced by the staggering expansion of local industrial activities, which has ultimately been spurred by national and transnational market forces. Local poverty levels have declined concomitantly, but this path toward social equality is marginal as costs of pollution have grown through time. Indeed, national and international pollution control actions appear insufficient in mitigating the cumulative impact brought by highly toxic elements. Thus, our sub‐decadal reconstruction for pollution trends over the past 136 years from a sediment record, emerges as a science‐based tool for informing the discussion on Anthropocene governance. Furthermore, it helps to advance in the assessment of environmental inequality in societal models that prioritize economic growth to the detriment of socio‐environmental security.
Influence of Convective Heating Over the Maritime Continent on the West Antarctic Climate
Authors: Chen Jiaxin , Hu Xiaoming , Yang Song , Lin Shuheng , Li Zhenning
Published: April 2022

The Maritime Continent (MC) is regarded as an important heat source region and the impact of MC heating on the West Antarctic climate which is largely controlled by the Amundsen Sea Low (ASL) is unknown. This study is focused on the impact of intensified convective heating over the MC on the variation of the ASL in the austral fall. It is observed that enhanced MC heating is linked to deepening of the eastern ASL, a feature reproduced successfully by a model experiment in which additional heating is introduced to the MC. The intensified MC heating generates anticyclonic anomalies that result in a Rossby wave source in the upper troposphere to the south of MC. Then the Rossby wave originated from the new source propagates southeastward and deepens the eastern ASL. Additional model experiments prove that the response of ASL to MC heating is stronger than that to central Pacific cooling.
Ground‐Based Observation of a TGF Occurring Between Opposite Polarity Strokes of a Bipolar Cloud‐To‐Ground Lightning Flash
Authors: Kereszy I. , Rakov V. A. , Ding Z. , Dwyer J. R.
Published: April 2022

We present the ground‐based observation of a terrestrial gamma‐ray flash (TGF) that occurred between positive (second) and negative (third) strokes of a five‐stroke bipolar cloud‐to‐ground lightning flash. Those two strokes shared the same channel to ground at a distance of 200 m or so from the Lightning Observatory in Gainesville (LOG), Florida. Earlier TGF observations at ground level in Florida (a total of four) were either associated with the initial continuous current (ICC) of rocket‐triggered lightning flashes or occurred during the relatively steady current following the return‐stroke current peak in natural lightning flashes; that is, in the presence of current‐carrying channel to ground. The TGF presented here occurred in a different context: at the early (in‐cloud) stage of negative leader entering the remnants of the channel previously created by the positive stroke. The TGF had a duration of 35 μs and consisted of 18 pulses with amplitudes ranging from 114 to 912 keV. The overall flash context in which the TGF occurred was as follows. The first (143‐kA) stroke was negative and terminated on ground 1.4 km from LOG, the second (12‐kA) stroke was positive and forged a new path to ground about 200 m from LOG, and the third (28‐kA) stroke (TGF producer) was negative and followed the path of the second (positive) stroke. The fourth (43‐kA) stroke was negative and created a new termination on ground about 900 m from LOG, and the fifth (4.5‐kA) stroke was also negative and followed the fourth‐stroke channel.
Mechanisms of Reduced Mid‐Holocene Precipitation in Arid Central Asia as Simulated by PMIP3/4 Models
Authors: Wang Tao , Xu Hongna , Jiang Dabang , Yao Junqiang
Published: April 2022

We investigated the precipitation changes in mid‐latitude arid central Asia (ACA, including Central Asia and Xinjiang) and the related mechanisms in the mid‐Holocene using the output from the Paleoclimate Modeling Intercomparison Project phases 3 and 4 (PMIP3/4). The annual precipitation in ACA was decreased in the mid‐Holocene compared with the preindustrial period, consistent in direction with reconstruction records. Such change was mainly due to deficient winter and spring (December‐May) precipitation in the mid‐Holocene. The decrease in incoming solar radiation in the mid‐Holocene winter and spring caused stronger surface and tropospheric cooling in the northern low latitudes. It reduced the meridional temperature gradient in the troposphere, thereby weakening the westerly winds and related transport of water vapor. More importantly, the cooling weakened the local water cycle in ACA. Finally, the precipitation decreased over almost all of ACA. In the mid‐Holocene summer (June‐August), the meridional temperature gradient and related westerly winds were also reduced. It was mainly caused by stronger surface and tropospheric warming in the northern mid‐ to high latitudes. The stronger warming was due to increased summer incoming solar radiation in the mid‐Holocene. This process differed from that occurred in winter and spring. Therefore, the water vapor transport was weakened, and the summer precipitation was deficient in northern ACA. At the same time, strengthened descending motions contributed to the decrease in summer precipitation in most parts of Central Asia. On the contrary, intensified ascending motions increased summer precipitation in southeastern Xinjiang.
Energy Exchanges in Saturn's Polar Regions From Cassini Observations: Eddy‐Zonal Flow Interactions
Authors: Read Peter L. , Antuñano Arrate , Cabanes Simon , Colyer Greg , Gaztelurrutia Teresa del Río , Sanchez‐Lavega Agustin
Published: April 2022

Saturn's polar regions (polewards of ∼63° planetocentric latitude) are strongly dynamically active with zonal jets, polar cyclones and the intriguing north polar hexagon (NPH) wave. Here we analyze measurements of horizontal winds, previously obtained from Cassini images by Antuñano et al. (2015), https://doi.org/10.1002/2014je004709, to determine the spatial and spectral exchanges of kinetic energy (KE) between zonal mean zonal jets and nonaxisymmetric eddies in Saturn's polar regions. Eddies of most resolved scales generally feed KE into the eastward and westward zonal mean jets at rates between 4.3 × 10−5 and 1.4 × 10−4 W kg−1. In particular, the north polar jet (at 76°N) was being energized at a rate of ∼10−4 W kg−1, dominated by the contribution due to the zonal wavenumber m = 6 NPH wave itself. This implies that the hexagon was not being driven at this time through a barotropic instability of the north polar jet, but may suggest a significant role for baroclinic instabilities, convection or other internal energy sources for this feature. The south polar zonal mean jet KE was also being sustained by eddies in that latitude band across a wide range of m. In contrast, results indicate that the north polar vortex may have been weakly barotropically unstable at this time with eddies of low m gaining KE at the expense of the axisymmetric cyclone. However, the southern axisymmetric polar cyclone was gaining KE from non‐axisymmetric components at this time, including m = 2 and its harmonics, as the elliptical distortion of the vortex may have been decaying.
Reticulon 2 promotes gastric cancer metastasis via activating endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ efflux-mediated ERK signalling
Authors: Song Shushu , Liu Bo , Zeng Xiaoqing , Wu Yingying , Chen Hao , Wu Hao , Gu Jianxin , Gao Xiaodong , Ruan Yuanyuan , Wang Hongshan
Published: April 2022

Gastric cancer ranks fourth for mortality globally among various malignant tumours, and invasion and metastasis are the major reason leading to its poor prognosis. Recently, accumulating studies revealed the role of reticulon proteins in cell growth and transmigration. However, the expression and biological function of reticulon proteins in human gastric cancer remain largely unclear. Herein, we explored the potential role of reticulon 2 (RTN2) in the progression of gastric cancer. Tissue microarray was used to determine the expression levels of RTN2 in 267 gastric cancer patients by immunohistochemistry. Gastric cancer cell lines were utilised to examine the influences of RTN2 on cellular migration and invasion abilities, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and signalling pathway. In vivo studies were also performed to detect the effect of RTN2 on tumour metastasis. We found that RTN2 expression was notably upregulated in tumour tissues compared to pericarcinomatous tissues. High RTN2 expression was positively correlated with patients’ age, vessel invasion, tumour invasion depth, lymph node metastasis and TNM stage. Besides, high RTN2 staining intensity was associated with adverse survival which was further identified as an independent prognostic factor for gastric cancer patients by multivariate analysis. And the predictive accuracy was also improved when incorporated RTN2 into the TNM-staging system. RTN2 could promote the proliferation, migration and invasion of gastric cancer cells in vitro and lung metastasis in vivo. Mechanistically, RTN2 interacted with IP3R, and activated ERK signalling pathway via facilitating Ca2+ release from the endoplasmic reticulum, and subsequently drove EMT in gastric cancer cells. These results proposed RTN2 as a novel promotor and potential molecular target for gastric cancer therapies.
The nuclear receptor REV-ERBα is implicated in the alteration of β-cell autophagy and survival under diabetogenic conditions
Authors: Brown Matthew R. , Laouteouet Damien , Delobel Morgane , Villard Orianne , Broca Christophe , Bertrand Gyslaine , Wojtusciszyn Anne , Dalle Stéphane , Ravier Magalie A. , Matveyenko Aleksey V. , Costes Safia
Published: April 2022

Pancreatic β-cell failure in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is associated with impaired regulation of autophagy which controls β-cell development, function, and survival through clearance of misfolded proteins and damaged organelles. However, the mechanisms responsible for defective autophagy in T2DM β-cells remain unknown. Since recent studies identified circadian clock transcriptional repressor REV-ERBα as a novel regulator of autophagy in cancer, in this study we set out to test whether REV-ERBα-mediated inhibition of autophagy contributes to the β-cell failure in T2DM. Our study provides evidence that common diabetogenic stressors (e.g., glucotoxicity and cytokine-mediated inflammation) augment β-cell REV-ERBα expression and impair β-cell autophagy and survival. Notably, pharmacological activation of REV-ERBα was shown to phenocopy effects of diabetogenic stressors on the β-cell through inhibition of autophagic flux, survival, and insulin secretion. In contrast, negative modulation of REV-ERBα was shown to provide partial protection from inflammation and glucotoxicity-induced β-cell failure. Finally, using bioinformatic approaches, we provide further supporting evidence for augmented REV-ERBα activity in T2DM human islets associated with impaired transcriptional regulation of autophagy and protein degradation pathways. In conclusion, our study reveals a previously unexplored causative relationship between REV-ERBα expression, inhibition of autophagy, and β-cell failure in T2DM.
EGFR/MET promotes hepatocellular carcinoma metastasis by stabilizing tumor cells and resisting to RTKs inhibitors in circulating tumor microemboli
Authors: Song Shouyang , Yu Zhen , You Yajing , Liu Chenxi , Xie Xiaoyu , Lv Huanran , Xiao Feng , Zhu Qiang , Qin Chengyong
Published: April 2022

The receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) family is well-recognized as vital targets for the treatment of hepatocarcinoma cancer (HCC) clinically, whereas the survival benefit of target therapy sorafenib is not satisfactory for liver cancer patients due to metastasis. EGFR and MET are two molecules of the RTK family that were related to the survival time of liver cancer patients and resistance to targeted therapy in clinical reports. However, the mechanism and clinical therapeutic value of EGFR/MET in HCC metastasis are still not completely clarified. The study confirmed that EGFR/MET was highly expressed in HCC cells and tissues and the phosphorylation was stable after metastasis. The expression of EGFR/MET was up-regulated in circulating tumor microemboli (CTM) to accelerate IL-8 production and resistance to the lethal effect of leukocytes. Meanwhile, highly expressed EGFR/MET effectively regulated the Ras/MAPK pathway and stabilized suspended HCC cells by facilitating proliferation and inhibiting apoptosis. Moreover, EGFR/MET promoted phosphorylation of hetero-RTKs, which was dependent on high-energy phosphoric acid compounds rather than their direct interactions. In conclusion, highly expressed EGFR/MET could be used in CTM identification and suitable for preventing metastasis of HCC in clinical practice.
Suppressive effects of umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomal miR-15a-5p on the progression of cholangiocarcinoma by inhibiting CHEK1 expression
Authors: Li Nuo , Wang Baoming
Published: April 2022

Currently, surgical extraction is the main therapy for cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) patients, but it’s highly susceptible to postsurgical complications and recurrence rate. Thus, we identified the suppressing roles of exosomal miR-15a-5p from umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (UCMSCs) in the EMT and metastasis of CCA. The microarray dataset GSE265566 was employed to determine the expression of CHEK1 in CCA tissues. The relationship of miR-15a-5p with CHEK1 was analyzed using bioinformatics tools and dual-luciferase reporter assay. The particle size of HUCMSCs-exo was detected by scanning electron microscopy and nanoparticle tracking analysis. The cellular and tumorous phenotypes were assessed through flow cytometry, CCK-8 assay, Transwell assay and the in vivo tumor xenograft experiments. CHEK1 was predicated to be markedly elevated in CCA. miR-15a-5p targeted CHEK1 and downregulated the expression of CHEK1. HUCMSCs-exo activated cell apoptosis but repressed the proliferative, invasive, and migratory potentials of CCA cells. After miR-15a-5p was silenced, HUCMSCs-exo presented an opposite effect in regulating CCA. Overexpression of miR-15a-5p promoted apoptosis but suppressed malignancy and tumorigenicity of CCA cells as well as EMT through downregulating CHEK1. Our data suggested that miR-15a-5p in HUCMSCs-exo suppresses EMT and metastasis of CCA through targeting downregulation of CHEK1.
Dynamic nucleosome organization after fertilization reveals regulatory factors for mouse zygotic genome activation
Authors: Wang Chenfei , Chen Chuan , Liu Xiaoyu , Li Chong , Wu Qiu , Chen Xiaolan , Yang Lingyue , Kou Xiaochen , Zhao Yanhong , Wang Hong , Gao Yawei , Zhang Yong , Gao Shaorong
Published: April 2022

Chromatin remodeling is essential for epigenome reprogramming after fertilization. However, the underlying mechanisms of chromatin remodeling remain to be explored. Here, we investigated the dynamic changes in nucleosome occupancy and positioning in pronucleus-stage zygotes using ultra low-input MNase-seq. We observed distinct features of inheritance and reconstruction of nucleosome positioning in both paternal and maternal genomes. Genome-wide de novo nucleosome occupancy in the paternal genome was observed as early as 1 h after the injection of sperm into ooplasm. The nucleosome positioning pattern was continually rebuilt to form nucleosome-depleted regions (NDRs) at promoters and transcription factor (TF) binding sites with differential dynamics in paternal and maternal genomes. NDRs formed more quickly on the promoters of genes involved in zygotic genome activation (ZGA), and this formation is closely linked to histone acetylation, but not transcription elongation or DNA replication. Importantly, we found that NDR establishment on the binding motifs of specific TFs might be associated with their potential pioneer functions in ZGA. Further investigations suggested that the predicted factors MLX and RFX1 played important roles in regulating minor and major ZGA, respectively. Our data not only elucidate the nucleosome positioning dynamics in both male and female pronuclei following fertilization, but also provide an efficient method for identifying key transcription regulators during development.
Suppressed phonon conduction by geometrically induced evolution of transport characteristics from Brownian motion into Lévy flight
Authors: Kim Yongjoon , Kodama Takashi , Kim Yoonjin , Kim Brian S. Y. , Ko Changhyun , Lim Jongwoo , Park Woosung
Published: April 2022

Despite extensive research on quasi-ballistic phonon transport, anomalous phonon transport is still observed in numerous nanostructures. Herein, we investigate the transport characteristics of two sets of samples: straight beams and nanoladders comprising two straight beams orthogonally connected with bridges. A combination of experiments and analysis with a Boltzmann transport model suggests that the boundary scattering within the bridges considerably dictates the distribution of phonon mean free paths, despite its negligible contribution to the net heat flux. Statistical analysis of those boundary scatterings shows that phonons with large axial angles are filtered into bridges, creating dead spaces in the line-of-sight channels. Such redistribution induces Lévy walk conduction along the line-of-sight channels, causing the remaining phonons within the bridges to exhibit Brownian motion. Phonon conduction in the nanoladders is suppressed below that of the straight beams with equivalent cross-sectional areas due to trapped phonons within the bridges. Our work reveals the origin of unusual thermal conductivity suppression at the nanoscale, suggesting a method to modulate phonon conduction via systematic nanostructuring.
Understanding of cell death induced by the constituents of Taxus yunnanensis wood
Authors: Akao Yukihiro , Terazawa Riyako , Sugito Nobuhiko , Heishima Kazuki , Morikawa Kohei , Ito Yuko , Narui Ryoko , Hamaguchi Reo , Nobukawa Takahiro
Published: April 2022

The ethanol extract from the wood ofTaxus Yunnanensis(TY) induced apoptosis in all cancer cell lines tested, which was mainly due to activation of an extrinsic pathway in human colon cancer DLD-1 cells. The extrinsic pathway was activated by the upregulation of the expression levels of Fas and TRAIL/DR5, which led to the activation of caspase-8. Of note, the machinery of this increase in expression was promoted by the upregulation of MIR32a expression, which silenced MIR34a-targeting E2F3 transcription factor. Furthermore, ectopic expression of MIR32a or siR-E2F3 silencingE2F3increased Fas and TRAIL/DR5 expression. Thus, the extract activated the extrinsic pathway through the MIR34a/E2F3 axis, resulting in the autocrine and paracrine release of TRAIL, and upregulated expression of death receptors Fas and DR5 in the treated DLD-1 cells, which were functionally validated by Fas immunocytochemistry, and using anti-Fas and anti-TRAIL antibodies, respectively. In vivo, TY showed significant anti-tumor effects on xenografted and syngeneic model mice. The extract may also aid in chemoprevention by selectively making marked tumor cells susceptible to the tumor immunosurveillance system.
The demographic and geographic impact of the COVID pandemic in Bulgaria and Eastern Europe in 2020
Authors: Rangachev Antoni , Marinov Georgi K. , Mladenov Mladen
Published: April 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic followed a unique trajectory in Eastern Europe compared to other heavily affected regions, with most countries there only experiencing a major surge of cases and deaths towards the end of 2020 after a relatively uneventful first half of the year. However, the consequences of that surge have not received as much attention as the situation in Western countries. Bulgaria, even though it has been one of the most heavily affected countries, has been one of those neglected cases. We use mortality and mobility data from Eurostat, official governmental and other sources to examine the development and impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in Bulgaria and other European countries. We find a very high level of excess mortality in Eastern European countries measured by several metrics including excess mortality rate (EMR), P-scores, potential years of life lost (PYLL) and its age standardised version (ASYR), and working years of life lost (WYLL). By the last three metrics Eastern Europe emerges as the hardest hit region by the pandemic in Europe in 2020. With a record EMR at ~0.27% and a strikingly large and mostly unique to it mortality rate in the working age (15–64 years) demographics, Bulgaria emerges as one of the most affected countries in Eastern Europe. The high excess mortality in Bulgaria correlates with insufficient intensity of testing, with delayed imposition of “lockdown” measures, and with high prevalence of cardiovascular diseases. We also find major geographic and demographic disparities within the country, with considerably lower mortality observed in major cities relative to more remote areas (likely due to disparities in the availability of medical resources). Analysis of the course of the epidemic revealed that individual mobility measures were predictive of the eventual decline in cases and deaths. However, while mobility declined as a result of the imposition of a lockdown, it already trended downwards before such measures were introduced, which resulted in a reduction of deaths independent of the effect of restrictions. Large excess mortality and high numbers of potential years of life lost are observed as a result of the COVID pandemic in Bulgaria, as well as in several other countries in Eastern Europe. Significant delays in the imposition of stringent mobility-reducing measures combined with a lack of medical resources likely caused a substantial loss of life, including in the working age population.
Assessing the toxicological interaction effects of imidacloprid, thiamethoxam, and chlorpyrifos on Bombus terrestris based on the combination index
Authors: Zhang Yongkui , Zeng Dongqiang , Li Lu , Hong Xiuchun , Li-Byarlay Hongmei , Luo Shudong
Published: April 2022

In modern agricultural production, a variety of pesticides are widely used to protect crops against pests. However, extensive residues of these pesticides in the soil, water, and pollen have negatively affected the health of nontarget organisms, especially among pollinators such as bumblebees. As an important pollinator, the bumblebee plays a vital role in agricultural production and the maintenance of ecosystem diversity. Previous research has focused on the effects of a single pesticide on pollinating insects; however, the synergistic effects of multiple agents on bumblebees have been not studied in detail. Imidacloprid, thiamethoxam, and chlorpyrifos are three of common pesticides known for severe effects on bumblebee health. It is still unknown what synergistic effects of these pesticides on pollinators. In our test, the individual and combined toxicities of chlorpyrifos, thiamethoxam, and imidacloprid to bumblebees after 48 h of oral administration were documented by the equivalent linear equation method. Our results showed that the toxicity of each single pesticide exposure, from high to low, was imidacloprid, thiamethoxam, and chlorpyrifos. All binary and ternary combinations showed synergistic or additive effects. Therefore, our research not only shows that the mixed toxicity of insecticides has a significant effect on bumblebees, but also provides scientific guidelines for assessing the safety risks to bumblebees of these three insecticide compounds. In assessing the risk to pollinating insects, the toxicity levels of laboratory experiments are much lower than the actual toxicity in the field.
89Zr-PET imaging to predict tumor uptake of 177Lu-NNV003 anti-CD37 radioimmunotherapy in mouse models of B cell lymphoma
Authors: Giesen Danique , Hooge Marjolijn N. Lub-de , Nijland Marcel , Heyerdahl Helen , Dahle Jostein , de Vries Elisabeth G. E. , Pool Martin
Published: April 2022

[177Lu]Lu-DOTA-NNV003, a radioimmunoconjugate targeting CD37, is developed as novel radioimmunotherapy (RIT) treatment for patients with B cell non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL). Since patients are at risk for developing hematological toxicities due to CD37 expression on normal B cells, we aimed to develop 89Zr-labeled NNV003 for positron emission tomography (PET) imaging as a surrogate tool to predict [177Lu]Lu-DOTA-NNV003 RIT whole-body distribution and tumor uptake. NNV003 antibody was first radiolabeled with 89Zr. [89Zr]Zr-N-sucDf-NNV003 tumor uptake was evaluated by PET imaging of mice bearing human CD37-expressing REC1 B cell NHL or RAMOS Burkitt’s lymphoma xenograft tumors followed by ex vivo analysis. Finally, CD37-targeting of [89Zr]Zr-N-sucDf-NNV003 and [177Lu]Lu-DOTA-NNV003 RIT were compared. [89Zr]Zr-N-sucDf-NNV003 accumulated in REC1 tumors over time, which was not observed for non-specific, 111In-labeled IgG control molecule. In RAMOS tumor-bearing mice, [89Zr]Zr-N-sucDf-NNV003 tumor uptake was higher than [111In]In-DTPA-IgG at all tested tracer protein doses (10 µg, 25 µg and 100 µg; P < 0.01), further confirming [89Zr]Zr-N-sucDf-NNV003 tumor uptake is CD37-mediated. [89Zr]Zr-N-sucDf-NNV003 and [177Lu]Lu-DOTA-NNV003 RIT showed similar ex vivo biodistribution and tumor uptake in the RAMOS tumor model. In conclusion, [89Zr]Zr-N-sucDf-NNV003 PET imaging can serve to accurately predict CD37-targeting of [177Lu]Lu-DOTA-NNV003. To enable clinical implementation, we established a good manufacturing practice (GMP)-compliant production process for [89Zr]Zr-N-sucDf-NNV003.
Static and fatigue tensile properties of carbon/glass hybrid fiber-reinforced epoxy composites
Authors: Naito Kimiyoshi
Published: April 2022

The static and fatigue tensile properties of high-strength polyacrylonitrile (PAN)-based carbon (IMS60) and electronic (E)-class glass (E-glass) hybrid fiber-reinforced epoxy matrix composites (HFRPs) were investigated. The fiber orientations of the HFRP specimens were set to unidirectional with [(0(IMS60))/(0(E-glass))]S (subscript S means symmetry and [(0(IMS60))/(0(E-glass))/(0(E-glass))/(0(IMS60))]), [(0(E-glass))/(0(IMS60))]S, [(0(E-glass))/(0(IMS60))2]S, [(0(E-glass))/(0(IMS60))3]S, [(0(E-glass))/(0(IMS60))5]S, [(0(E-glass))2/(0(IMS60))]S, [(0(E-glass))3/(0(IMS60))]S, and [(0(E-glass))5/(0(IMS60))]S. Under static loading for the [(0(IMS60))/(0(E-glass))]S, [(0(E-glass))/(0(IMS60))]S, [(0(E-glass))/(0(IMS60))2]S, [(0(E-glass))/(0(IMS60))3]S, and [(0(E-glass))/(0(IMS60))5]S HFRP specimens, the stress applied to the specimen was almost linearly proportional to the strain until failure. However, the tensile stress–strain curves of the [(0(E-glass))2/(0(IMS60))]S, [(0(E-glass))3/(0(IMS60))]S, and [(0(E-glass))5/(0(IMS60))]S HFRP specimens had a complicated shape (jagged trace). The Weibull statistical distributions of the tensile strength values were also examined. The Weibull moduli for the [(0(E-glass))/(0(IMS60))]S, [(0(E-glass))/(0(IMS60))2]S, [(0(E-glass))/(0(IMS60))3]S, [(0(E-glass))/(0(IMS60))5]S, [(0(E-glass))2/(0(IMS60))]S, [(0(E-glass))3/(0(IMS60))]S, and [(0(E-glass))5/(0(IMS60))]S HFRP specimens were higher than those for the mono carbon fiber-reinforced epoxy (CFRP) and glass fiber-reinforced epoxy (GFRP) specimens. Under fatigue loading, the fatigue properties of the HFRP specimens showed CFRP-dominant behaviour at high stress levels and GFRP-dominant behaviour at low stress levels. The fatigue properties of the HFRP specimens increased with increasing volume fraction of CFRP in the following order: ([(0(E-glass))/(0(IMS60))5]S > [(0(E-glass))/(0(IMS60))3]S > [(0(E-glass))/(0(IMS60))2]S > [(0(IMS60))/(0(E-glass))]S > [(0(E-glass))/(0(IMS60))]S > [(0(E-glass))2/(0(IMS60))]S > [(0(E-glass))3/(0(IMS60))]S > [(0(E-glass))5/(0(IMS60))]S).
Complementary feeding pattern and its determinants among mothers in selected primary health centers in the urban metropolis of Ekiti State, Nigeria
Authors: Esan Deborah Tolulope , Adegbilero-Iwari Oluwaseun Eniola , Hussaini Aishat , Adetunji Aderonke Julienne
Published: April 2022

The incidence of malnutrition in the first two years of life has been directly linked with inappropriate complementary feeding practices along with high infectious disease levels. This study was therefore aimed to assess the complementary feeding pattern among mothers of children aged zero to two years in selected health centres in Ado Ekiti, the capital of Ekiti State, Nigeria. The study was cross-sectional in design. One hundred and thirty-five mothers were selected from two health centres within Ado-Ekiti for this study. A semi-structured interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to collect information from the mothers. The questionnaire included questions that assessed the mothers’ socio-demographic characteristics and complementary feeding pattern. Most (62.5%) infants were introduced to complementary foods at 3–5 months old and water (43.3%) at 3 months of age. The main food item given to the infants on commencement of complementary feeding was formula food (45.9%) followed by fermented cereal gruel (37%). The timing of introduction for different food items revealed that in contrast to the use of fermented cereal gruel (23.8%), fewer children were introduced to iron-rich foods (15.1%) and fruits (11%) at 6 months to a year old. Mother’s knowledge of ideal age for the introduction of complementary feeding ($${\chi }^{2}=$$

χ

2

=

20.547; p < 0.001) associated significantly with the age of introduction of complementary feeding. More than three-fifth (62.5%) of the respondents had commenced complementary feeding to their infants between 3 and 5 months while an excess of two-fifth (43.3%) of the respondents started giving their children water to drink at 3 months of age. Nurses and nutritionists in primary health care centers should take the lead role in educating mothers about the need for exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months of life and appropriate complementary feeding for ages 6–24 months.
Development of a novel green coating process with laser
Authors: Zhong Chongliang , Backes Gerhard , Johann Lukas Martin , Kittel Jochen , Schopphoven Thomas , Küppers Wolfgang
Published: April 2022

Corrosion causes costs of about 3–4% of each country’s gross domestic product, and due to the climate change, the corrosion rates on infrastructure are likely to increase furtherly in the future1,2. For corrosion protection, hard chrome plating (HCP) is commercially used since the early 20th3. Yet the biggest drawback concerns environmental protection, since toxic and carcinogenic hexavalent chromium Cr6+ is used. As an alternative, thermal spray (TS) is increasingly used since the last 20 years. Nevertheless, the coatings are technologically constrained in regard to high porosity, low material efficiency and poor bonding to the base material. Therefore, the demand for an environmental friendly and economical process that produces high-quality coatings is increasingly coming into the research focus. With laser, dense, metallurgically bonded and therefore well-adhering coatings with high material efficiency of > 90% can be produced from a large number of metallic alloys without the need to use environmentally harmful chemicals or noise emissions. However, the typical area coating rate of < 0.4 m2/h is significantly lower than that of TS of about 10 m2/h4,5, and is too small for coating large-scale components. In this regard, a novel coating process with laser was developed in this work. By decoupling the melding of powder from the coating speed, the coating speed of < 2 m/min in conventional laser coating can be increased to > 500 m/min. Defect-free layers that metallurgically bond to the base material with a thickness of 50–250 µm and a material efficiency of > 90% can be achieved. According to the results, an area coating rate up to 20 m2/h is achievable. The pioneer work of applications in offshore and automobile sectors show, this process is already providing beneficial for the industry.
Copper dendrite stabilized NiFe(OH)x electrocatalyst for durable alkaline hydrogen evolution over 1000 h
Authors: Shang Guangming , Liu Yu , Li Yajiao , Qiao Wei , Wang Chao , Li Yaru , Zhang Dongsheng , Sapountzi Foteini , Li Yongwang , Niemantsverdriet Hans , Rümmeli Mark H , Su Ren
Published: April 2022

In situ generated Cu dendrites stabilize the NiFe(OH)x electrocatalyst for HER of over 1000 h in alkaline electrolyte.
Catalytic asymmetric amination of azlactones with azobenzenes
Authors: Ke Chaoqi , Cao Qiuhui , Luo Yao , Liu Xiaohua , Feng Xiaoming
Published: April 2022

Asymmetric electrophilic amination of azobenzenes with azlactones was achieved with broad substrate scope in high yield and ee.
Structure of water-in-salt and water-in-bisalt electrolytes
Authors: González Miguel Angel , Akiba Hiroshi , Borodin Oleg , Cuello Gabriel Julio , Hennet Louis , Kohara Shinji , Maginn Edward J. , Mangin-Thro Lucile , Yamamuro Osamu , Zhang Yong , Price David L. , Saboungi Marie-Louise
Published: April 2022

We report results for the structures of “water-in-salt” and “water-in-bisalt” electrolytes obtained with high-energy X-ray diffraction and polarized and unpolarized neutron diffraction, compared with two sets of Molecular Dynamics simulations.
Metal-freeS-arylation of 5-mercaptotetrazoles and 2-mercaptopyridine with unsymmetrical diaryliodonium salts
Authors: Saikia Raktim Abha , Hazarika Nitumoni , Biswakarma Nishant , Chandra Deka Ramesh , Thakur Ashim Jyoti
Published: April 2022

S-arylation of heterocyclic thiols (tetrazole-5-thiols and pyridine-2-thiol) has been achieved with unsymmetrical iodonium salts under metal-free conditions, affording a diverse range of di(hetero)aryl thioethers.
Multi-component self-assembled molecular-electronic films: towards new high-performance thermoelectric systems
Authors: Bennett Troy L. R. , Alshammari Majed , Au-Yong Sophie , Almutlg Ahmad , Wang Xintai , Wilkinson Luke A. , Albrecht Tim , Jarvis Samuel P. , Cohen Lesley F. , Ismael Ali , Lambert Colin J. , Robinson Benjamin J. , Long Nicholas J.
Published: April 2022

Through an experimental and theoretical study, cross-plane thermoelectricity in Self-Assembled Monolayers (SAMs) was enhanced by adding extra molecular layers, presenting a new strategy towards the design of high thermoelectric materials.
HADES RV Programme with HARPS-N at TNG
Authors: Pinamonti M. , Sozzetti A. , Maldonado J. , Affer L. , Micela G. , Bonomo A. S. , Lanza A. F. , Perger M. , Ribas I. , González Hernández J. I. , Bignamini A. , Claudi R. , Covino E. , Damasso M. , Desidera S. , Giacobbe P. , González-Álvarez E. , Herrero E. , Leto G. , Maggio A. , Molinari E. , Morales J. C. , Pagano I. , Petralia A. , Piotto G. , Poretti E. , Rebolo R. , Scandariato G. , Suárez Mascareño A. , Toledo-Padrón B. , Zanmar Sánchez R.
Published: April 2022

Aims. We present the complete Bayesian statistical analysis of the HArps-n red Dwarf Exoplanet Survey (HADES), which monitored the radial velocities of a large sample of M dwarfs with HARPS-N at TNG over the last 6 yr.

Methods. The targets were selected in a narrow range of spectral types from M0 to M3, 0.3 M⊙ < M★ < 0.71 M⊙, in order to study the planetary population around a well-defined class of host stars. We take advantage of Bayesian statistics to derive an accurate estimate of the detectability function of the survey. Our analysis also includes the application of a Gaussian Process approach to take into account stellar-activity-induced radial velocity variations and improve the detection limits around the most-observed and most-active targets. The Markov chain Monte Carlo and Gaussian process technique we apply in this analysis has proven very effective in the study of M-dwarf planetary systems, helping the detection of most of the HADES planets.

Results. From the detectability function we can calculate the occurrence rate of small-mass planets around early-M dwarfs, either taking into account only the 11 already published HADES planets or adding the five new planetary candidates discovered in this analysis, and compare them with the previous estimates of planet occurrence around M-dwarf or solar-type stars: considering only the confirmed planets, we find the highest frequency for low-mass planets (1 M⊕ < mp sin i < 10 M⊕) with periods 10 d < P < 100 d, ${f_{{\rm{occ}}}} = 0.85_{ - 0.21}^{ + 0.46}$, while for short-period planets (1 d < P < 10 d) we find a frequency of ${f_{{\rm{occ}}}} = 0.10_{ - 0.03}^{ + 0.10}$, significantly lower than for later-M dwarfs; if instead we also take into account the new candidates, we observe the same general behaviours, but with consistently higher frequencies of low-mass planets. We also present new estimates of the occurrence rates of long-period giant planets and temperate planets inside the habitable zone of early-M dwarfs: in particular we find that the frequency of habitable planets could be as low as η⊕ < 0.23. These results, and their comparison with other surveys focused on different stellar types, confirm the central role that stellar mass plays in the formation and evolution of planetary systems.
TRAPUM discovery of 13 new pulsars in NGC 1851 using MeerKAT
Authors: Ridolfi A. , Freire P. C. C. , Gautam T. , Ransom S. M. , Barr E. D. , Buchner S. , Burgay M. , Abbate F. , Venkatraman Krishnan V. , Vleeschower L. , Possenti A. , Stappers B. W. , Kramer M. , Chen W. , Padmanabh P. V. , Champion D. J. , Bailes M. , Levin L. , Keane E. F. , Breton R. P. , Bezuidenhout M. , Grießmeier J.-M. , Künkel L. , Men Y. , Camilo F. , Geyer M. , Hugo B. V. , Jameson A. , Parthasarathy A. , Serylak M.
Published: April 2022

We report the discovery of 13 new pulsars in the globular cluster NGC 1851 by the TRAPUM Large Survey Project using the MeerKAT radio telescope. The discoveries consist of six isolated millisecond pulsars (MSPs) and seven binary pulsars, of which six are MSPs and one is mildly recycled. For all the pulsars, we present the basic kinematic, astrometric, and orbital parameters, where applicable, as well as their polarimetric properties, when these are measurable. Two of the binary MSPs (PSR J0514−4002D and PSR J0514−4002E) are in wide and extremely eccentric (e > 0.7) orbits with a heavy white dwarf and a neutron star as their companion, respectively. With these discoveries, NGC 1851 is now tied with M28 as the cluster with the third largest number of known pulsars (14). Its pulsar population shows remarkable similarities with that of M28, Terzan 5, and other clusters with comparable structural parameters. The newly found pulsars are all located in the innermost regions of NGC 1851 and will likely enable, among other things, detailed studies of the cluster structure and dynamics.
Januskinase-Inhibitoren: Next-Generation-Therapie der Uveitis
Authors: El-Shabrawi Yosuf , Rath Thomas , Heiligenhaus Arnd
Published: April 2022

Viele PatientInnen mit visusgefährdender nicht infektiöser Uveitis bedürfen, um eine Remission ihrer Uveitis zu erreichen, einer Behandlung mit DMARDs. Obwohl herkömmliche DMARD-Therapien
in einem großen Teil dieser PatientInnen eine hochpotente Therapie darstellen, ist in einzelnen Fällen aufgrund eines unzureichenden Ansprechens oder unerwünschter Wirkungen ein
Therapiewechsel erforderlich. Januskinase-Inhibitoren (JAKI) sind in der Rheumatologie, Gastroenterologie und Dermatologie bereits für mehrere autoimmune Erkrankungen zugelassen. Nun steht
ein Zulassungsprozess für ausgewählte Uveitisentitäten an. Wirkmechanismus: JAKI üben ihre Wirkung über die Hemmung der Phosphorylierung von Transmembranproteinen, den Januskinasen aus. Dies
führt zu einer fehlenden Aktivierung von Transkriptionsfaktoren und damit zur verminderten Zytokinexpression und Entzündungshemmung. JAKI stellen in der Rheumatologie, Gastroenterologie und
Dermatologie einen äußerst effektiven neuen therapeutischen Ansatz dar. Sie sind zur Behandlung bei rheumatoider Arthritis, Psoriasis-Arthritis, ankylosierender Spondylitis, Colitis ulcerosa
und dem atopischen Ekzem bereits zugelassen. In bisherigen Vergleichsstudien zu etablierten Biologika konnte teilweise ein besseres therapeutisches Ansprechen beschrieben werden. Aus
publizierten Fallberichten wurde auch bei Uveitispatienten, die auf klassische und biologische DMARDs unzureichend ansprachen, eine Kortisoneinsparung und Reizfreiheit erzielt.
Zulassungsstudien bei JIA-assoziierter und ANA-positiver anteriorer Uveitis sind im Prozess. Zusammenfassend stellen JAKI eine innovative Therapieoption bei Patienten mit nicht infektiöser
Uveitis dar, bei denen Kontraindikationen gegen die Verwendung oder ein unzureichender Effekt von DMARDs bestehen.
Corneal Oedema: Aetiology, Diagnostic Testing, and Treatment
Authors: Zander Daniel Bernhard , Jiang Jana , Reinhard Thomas , Wacker Katrin
Published: April 2022

Corneal oedema results from an underlying pathology, which can be diverse in origin, and may be mechanical, dystrophic, or inflammatory, and affect any layer of the cornea. Diagnostic tools
such as Scheimpflug imaging and anterior segment optical coherence tomography have standardised quantification of corneal oedema and have become important aids in clinical practice. Timely
diagnosis and treatment are key to preventing irreversible damage to the corneal ultrastructure, such as anterior corneal fibrosis or endothelial cell damage. The oedema usually resolves
quickly when the underlying cause has been addressed. Symptomatic treatment using hyperosmolar agents has failed to show any benefits in oedema resolution or improvement in visual acuity
compared to placebo. In contrast, rho-associated protein kinase (ROCK) inhibitors offer a promising option for medical treatment in cases of endothelial dysfunction, but their safety and
efficacy must be further validated in large scale clinical trials. Until then, endothelial or penetrating keratoplasties remain the mainstay treatment where structural changes to the cornea
have occurred.