bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Quest for Curatorial Authority: Beral Madra and The First Two İstanbul Biennials
Authors: Uner Yilmaz Pinar
Published: March 2021

Since the early 1990s, large‐scale, recurring exhibitions, known as biennials, triennials, or the quinquennial exhibition Documenta, have turned into platforms that define contemporary global art. A few years before the turn of such cultural globalization, the First İstanbul Biennial in 1987 planted its roots and turned İstanbul into one of the global contemporary art hubs in the world. This paper examines the first two İstanbul Biennials both organized by Beral Madra,1 one of the prominent curators in Turkey and surveys how Madra struggled to turn these initiatives into recurring prestigious events. Through an examination of Madra’s work, the article proposes a methodological approach to examine biennials outside of the Global North. The paper surveys the conceptual, spatial, and organizational aspects of two landmark exhibitions in Istanbul and their place in the history of contemporary art in Turkey. The paper inspects the theoretical construction of these inaugural exhibitions to reveal the modernist tendencies in the conceptual framework of the First and the Second İstanbul Biennial (September 25 – November 15, 1987 and September 25 – October 31, 1989). It demonstrates the venues selected for display and examines how the formation of these exhibitions became entangled with the cultural policies. Last, it surveys the role of the Curator and how this role served as a mediator between state agencies as actors that founded or sponsored the exhibitions, and the artists, critics, visitors, who were part of the temporary museum event. It illustrates how biennials are temporary museums that are constructed through power dynamics and how the title ‘Curator’ became a hard‐earned credential in the short history of contemporary art in Turkey. The author offers this example as a template of analysis for understanding the curatorial practices in large – scale exhibitions, both in the ‘center’ and in the ‘periphery’.
Integrated analysis of miRNA‐mRNA networks reveals a strong anti‐skin cancer signature in vitiligo epidermis
Authors: Singh Archana , Gupta Aayush , Chowdhary Manish , Brahmbhatt Hemang D.
Published: March 2021

Expression of microRNAs (miRNAs) is often dysregulated in several cancers, including non‐melanoma skin cancer (NMSC). Individuals with vitiligo possess a deregulated miRnome along with a lower risk of developing NMSCs. We used data sets from our previously published studies on vitiligo epidermis to construct functional miRNA‐mRNA networks to understand the molecular basis underlying the lower incidence of NMSC observed in individuals with vitiligo. miRTarBase database was used to fetch the experimentally validated targets of differentially expressed miRNAs and two protein‐protein interaction (PPI) networks were constructed for the miRNA‐mRNA interactions (230 downregulated targets of 5 upregulated miRNAs and 47 upregulated mRNAs targeted by 12 downregulated miRNAs). Pathway enrichment analysis identified RNA biogenesis and transport as well as cell adhesion to be perturbed in vitiligo. Further, oncogenic transcription factors (OTFs) that were upregulated in publicly available squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) or basal cell carcinoma (BCC) microarray data were compared with that of vitiligo to decode skin cancer‐specific molecular signatures. We identified three significantly upregulated miRNAs, miR‐31‐5p, miR‐31‐3p and miR‐194‐3p in lesional epidermis that could negatively regulate seven oncogenic transcription factors, FOXC1, AR, SP1, YY1, GLI2, TP53 and RARA, known to be over‐expressed in SCC or BCC. Taken together, our study identified a perturbed miRNA‐regulated transcriptome, which potentially confers protection to vitiligo skin from an increased incidence of NMSC.
Predictive ‘biomarker piggybacking’: an examination of reflexive pan‐cancer screening with pan‐TRK immunohistochemistry
Authors: Sholl Lynette M , Zheng Mei , Nardi Valentina , Hornick Jason L
Published: March 2021

Aims

Tropomyosin receptor kinase (TRK)‐targeted therapies represent an important therapeutic option for patients with advanced solid tumours harbouring neurotrophin receptor kinase (NTRK) gene fusions. However, NTRK fusions are rare in common adult carcinomas, and systematic approaches to screening for these alterations are lacking. Pan‐TRK immunohistochemistry (IHC) has been proposed as one method to screen for NTRK fusion‐positive tumours. Reflexive testing strategies have been endorsed for several IHC‐based biomarkers, and thus offer a convenient and low‐cost entry point to incorporate pan‐TRK screening.

Methods and results

In this study, 447 consecutive cases of adult solid tumours undergoing mismatch repair (MMR), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) and/or programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD‐L1) testing were prospectively stained with pan‐TRK IHC. Four cases (0.9%) were pan‐TRK positive, including three (1.3% of 223) colonic adenocarcinomas, two of which were MMR‐deficient and one (1.4% of 71) was gastroesophageal carcinoma. None of 108 non‐small cell lung carcinomas showed pan‐TRK expression. NTRK gene fusion was confirmed by DNA sequencing in one MMR‐deficient colonic adenocarcinoma. In one MMR‐deficient tumour, an alternative mitogen‐activated protein kinase (MAPK) driver was identified. In the oesophageal (squamous cell) carcinoma, RNA sequencing identified relative NTRK2 transcript overexpression in the absence of a fusion. In one MMR‐proficient colonic adenocarcinoma, no MAPK drivers were identified; therefore, a falsely negative sequencing result was favored. None of the patients met clinical criteria for TRK‐targeted therapy.

Conclusion

The clinical impact of pan‐TRK IHC ‘piggybacking’ on existing reflexive testing strategies in surgical pathology appears negligible. Carcinomas may rarely show high‐level pan‐TRK expression in the absence of an underlying NTRK fusion event.
HISTORICAL FUTURES
Authors: SIMON ZOLTÁN BOLDIZSÁR , TAMM MAREK
Published: March 2021

This article outlines the agenda of a collective research project that aims to explore modalities of historical futures that constitute our current historical condition. To present the collective work adequately, we have teamed up with History and Theory and initiated a long‐term serial publishing experiment. In the coming years, each issue of the journal will feature contributions to this research endeavor. In our project‐opening piece, we briefly introduce the experiment and the premises of the collective research agenda. We begin by recounting the many ways in which increasingly towering novel future prospects have begun to capture the scholarly world's attention across disciplinary boundaries. We then introduce the notion of historical futures. Crediting theoretical inspirations and paying intellectual debts to conceptual relatives, we define “historical futures” as the plurality of transitional relations between apprehensions of the past and anticipated futures. At the core of the article, we formulate our call for a collective investigation of modalities of historical futures and sketch three basic sets of concerns that the explorative works in this experiment may address: kinds of transitions from past to futures, kinds of anticipatory practices, and kinds of registers as interpretive tools that position such practices on a variety of spectrums between two poles (for instance, a value register with the poles of catastrophic and redemptive futures). Finally, we close with a brief note about the necessity of collective endeavors.
4. EVENTS GETTING AHEAD OF THEMSELVES: RETHINKING THE TEMPORALITY OF EXPECTATIONS
Authors: JUNG THEO
Published: March 2021

Whereas most theoretical and historiographical accounts of the event have focused on its present and past dimensions, this article addresses the relatively underexplored phenomenon of the future event. As temporal junctures, events often already elicit effects before they come to pass, and even if they never do. Building on foundational work on the relation between experience and expectation by Hans‐Georg Gadamer and Reinhart Koselleck as well as on current historiographical debates on “past futures,” I develop a threefold typology of the future event, distinguishing between the assumption of the routine event, the expectation of the relative event, and the adumbration of the radical event. Engaging with case studies like the year 2000, the ambivalent character of so‐called media events, and ongoing debates about a possible climate collapse and the COVID‐19 pandemic, I show how reconsidering the complex temporalities of the future event can shed new light on the ways in which past societies made their futures present.
THE ENDURING PUBLIC STRUGGLE TO CONSTRUCT, CONTROL, AND CHALLENGE HISTORICAL MEMORIES
Authors: Kramer Lloyd
Published: March 2021

Sumit Guha's History and Collective Memory in South Asia, 1200–2000 develops important arguments about the public significance of historical knowledge and the essential role of historians in public life. All societies need collective memories to sustain their cultural identities, as Guha shows in this wide‐ranging account of how such memories have been constructed in South Asian societies since the thirteenth century. The knowledge of historical experts is increasingly challenged or derided by contemporary social groups and political activists, who circulate their own historical narratives via new networks of communication. Political uses of historical knowledge are not new, however, as Guha shows in detailed accounts of how Hindu, Muslim, and British imperial regimes all used historical narratives to justify their own power. He also explains how other social groups challenged official historical narratives with their own popular stories about the past. This book contributes to recent work in global intellectual history by comparing similarities in the historical practices of premodern Europe and South Asia, discussing the cross‐cultural exchanges in colonial‐era institutions, and describing postcolonial challenges to European ideas. Guha thus offers an insightful analysis of how social and political forces influence and respond to the cloistered institutions that produce historical knowledge and construct collective memories. He concludes that evidence‐based historical narratives must be continually defended amid current public assaults on historical knowledge in both South Asia and the United States. More generally, Guha's book suggests the need for ongoing analysis of how public events, social conflicts, and new communication systems can reshape or discredit the work of historical experts.
Functional longevity in five rabbit lines founded on different criteria: Comparison at foundation and at fixed times after selection
Authors: EL Nagar Ayman G. , Baselga Manuel , Mínguez Carlos , Santacreu María A. , Sánchez Juan Pablo
Published: March 2021

The enhancement of rabbit female functional longevity, that is the ability to avoid voluntary culling, is a paramount aspect for the sustainability of meat rabbit production; this trait represents a direct indicator of female robustness. The objective of our study was to compare the functional longevity of five rabbit lines at their foundation and at fixed times during their selection processes. Four of them are maternal lines (A, V, H and LP) selected for litter size at weaning. The fifth line is the paternal line R, founded and selected for post‐weaning daily gain from 28 to 63 days. The comparison at foundation involved the complete data set (from March 1980 to March 2013; records of 15,670 does) and pedigree (19,405 animals). Latter comparisons were made when all lines shared the same environmental and management conditions, from March 1997 to September 1998 and from March 2011 to September 2012. In these second comparisons, the same model as that used in the comparison at foundation was used, but now the additive effect was excluded, only data from the corresponding periods were considered. At their foundation, lines V, H and LP showed larger functional longevity than lines A and R, being LP line that with the longest productive life. In the latter comparisons, lines A and R still showing the lowest functional longevities. However, as the selection process evolves, the differences between these two lines and the others were reduced. It could be concluded that the average longevity of a population greatly depends on the criteria followed for its foundation. In addition, along the selection for litter size, the differences of longevity between lines tend to decrease, this is due to an unintended selection for functional longevity, since only offspring from females reaching three parturitions are selected as breeding animals for the next generation.
Prevalence of psychotropic and opioid prescribing among hospice beneficiaries in the United States, 2014–2016
Authors: Gerlach Lauren B. , Kales Helen C. , Kim Hyungjin Myra , Zhang Lan , Strominger Julie , Covinsky Kenneth , Teno Joan , Bynum Julie P. W. , Maust Donovan T.
Published: March 2021

Background/Objectives

Psychotropic and opioid medications are routinely prescribed for symptom management in hospice, but national estimates of prescribing are lacking. Changes in Medicare hospice payment in 2014 provide the first opportunity to examine psychotropic and opioid prescribing among hospice beneficiaries, and the factors associated with use of specific medication classes.

Design

Cross‐sectional analysis of a 20% sample of traditional and managed Medicare with Part D enrolled in hospice, 2014–2016.

Setting

Beneficiaries enrolled in the Medicare hospice benefit.

Participants

Medicare beneficiaries ≥65 newly enrolled in hospice between July 1, 2014 and December 31, 2016 (N = 554,022).

Main outcome

Prevalence of psychotropic and opioid medication prescribing by class and factors associated with prescribing.

Results

70.3% of hospice beneficiaries were prescribed a psychotropic and 63.3% were prescribed an opioid. The most common psychotropic classes prescribed were: benzodiazepines (60.6%), antipsychotics (38.3%), antidepressants (18.4%), and antiepileptics (10.2%). Lorazepam (56.4%), morphine (52.8%), and haloperidol (28.6%) were received by the most beneficiaries. Prevalence of any psychotropic and opioid prescription was highest among beneficiaries who were female (76.7%), non‐Hispanic white (76.6%), and those with cancer (78.9%). Compared to white beneficiaries, non‐Hispanic black beneficiaries were less likely to receive nearly every class of medication, with significantly lower odds of receiving opioids (64.1% vs 57.9%; AOR 0.75, 95% CI 0.72–0.77) and benzodiazepines (61.6% vs 52.2%; AOR 0.66, 95% CI 0.64–0.68). Differences were seen across hospice diagnosis; those with cancer were more likely to receive opioids, benzodiazepines, and antipsychotics but less likely to receive antidepressants and antiepileptics.

Conclusions

Psychotropic and opioid medications are frequently prescribed in hospice. Observed variations in prescribing across race and ethnicity may reflect disparities in prescribing as well as patient preferences for care. Further work is important to understand factors driving prescribing given limited studies surrounding medication prescribing in hospice.
Effects of physicochemical and structural properties of single and double feedstuffs derived from different botanic sources on in vitro starch digestion and glucose release kinetics
Authors: Zhong Qingzhen , Li Mingye , Atiba Emmanuel M. , Yin Yulin , Yang Qian , Zhang Lin , Sun Zewei
Published: March 2021

Starch is the largest constituent in animal diets. The aims of this study were as follows: (a) to assess the variability of basic physicochemical properties and in vitro starch digestion of starchy feedstuffs and investigate relationship between physicochemical properties and starch digestion of the feedstuffs, and (b) to explore the effects of different sources of starchy feedstuffs on starch digestion and glucose release. In this study, we determined the inherent molecular structure and granular structure of starch and chemical compositions of seven starchy feedstuffs, as well as starch digestion in single feedstuff and different feedstuffs combined with corn. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) results revealed significant difference between granule shape and size of starch of different feedstuffs. Fourier transforms infrared (FTIR) spectra for barley and wheat had lower (p < 0.05) absorbance band at areas A_860 and A_928 than other feedstuffs, yet rice starch had the lowest value for ratio (R) (1047/1022). Moreover, digestion rate ranged from 0.0157/min for resistant starch (sorghum) to 0.029/min for rapidly starch (broken rice). The principle component analysis (PCA) showed that predicted glycaemic index (pGI) was positively related to A_1022, glucose and rapidly (RDS) content and negatively related to A_995, A_1047, R (1047/1022), resistant starch (RS) and amylose content. Most of the feedstufss with corn combination had no effect on rate of starch digestion. In addition, different starchy feeds and corn combination changed the rate of starch digestion, when barley, however, sorghum combined with corn seemed to affect rate of starch digestion. To sum up, different sources differed in basic physicochemical and structural properties, which would influence the digestion rate of starch and the release of glucose. Combination of different feedstuffs particular sorghum with corn has interactive effect on starch digestion and the release of glucose.
Rural residency as a risk factor for severe maternal morbidity
Authors: Hansen Anna C. , Slavova Svetla , O'Brien John M.
Published: March 2021

Purpose

The goal of this study was to evaluate how rural/urban status and other risk factors alter women's odds of severe maternal morbidity (SMM) at delivery.

Methods

This study used 48,608 Kentucky resident delivery hospitalization records from 2017. We used multiple logistic regression with interaction terms to evaluate the moderating effect of rural/urban residence with other risk factors. We reported adjusted odds ratios (aORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) as measures for association with the outcome of SMM at delivery.

Findings

The percentage of delivery hospitalizations with SMM was higher for women with rural (2.4%) versus metro (1.1%) or metro‐adjacent (1.5%) residence (p < .001). Rural status moderated the effect of anemia on SMM. The aOR for SMM for women with anemia versus those without was 8.56 (CI: 4.89–14.97) in rural areas, two times higher than in metro areas (aOR 3.87; CI: 3.09–4.86). Kentucky Appalachian region (aOR 1.90; CI: 1.46–2.47), Black race (aOR 1.30; CI: 1.02–1.66), history of cesarean section (aOR 1.28; CI: 1.07–1.52), hypertension (aOR 10.55; CI: 5.67–19.62), and opioid use (aOR 1.72; CI: 1.19–2.47) were significantly associated with SMM.

Conclusion

Rural women in Kentucky are at an increased risk for SMM. Quality and safety programming should specifically address the needs of isolated subpopulations. Women living in rural areas are more likely to experience SMM given an anemia diagnosis. The underlying cause and clinical management of anemia may differ between rural and urban areas.
Host resistance to Bacillus thuringiensis is linked to altered bacterial community within a specialist insect herbivore
Authors: Paddock Kyle J. , Pereira Adriano E. , Finke Deborah L. , Ericsson Aaron C. , Hibbard Bruce E. , Shelby Kent S.
Published: March 2021

Evolution of resistance to transgenic crops producing toxins from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) threatens the sustainability of the technology. Examination of resistance mechanisms has largely focused on characterization of mutations in proteins serving as Bt toxin binding sites. However, insect microbial communities have the potential to provide host resistance to pesticides in a myriad of ways. Previous findings suggest the killing mechanism of Bt relies on enteric bacteria becoming pathogenic in the disrupted gut environment of the insect following Bt intoxication. Thus, here we hypothesized that resistance to Bt would alter the microbiome composition of the insect. Previous studies have manipulated the microbiome of susceptible insects and monitored their response to Bt. In our study, we characterized the associated bacterial communities of Bt‐resistant and ‐susceptible western corn rootworms, a widespread pest of maize in the United States. We found resistant insects harbor a bacterial community that is less rich and distinct from susceptible insects. After feeding on Bt‐expressing maize, susceptible insects exhibited dysbiosis of the associated bacterial community, whereas the community within resistant insects remained relatively unchanged. These results suggest resistance to Bt produces alterations in the microbiome of the western corn rootworm that may contribute to resistance. We further demonstrated that by itself, feeding on Bt toxin‐expressing seedlings caused a shift in the microbiota. This work provides a broader picture of the effect stressors have on microbiome composition, and the potential heritable changes induced as a result of intense selection.
Solipsistic sentience
Authors: Taylor Jordan C. V.
Published: March 2021

This article examines the nature of affective states across biological taxa. It argues that affect constitutes a primary form of consciousness. Creatures capable of affect are sentient of their bodily states and can behave in ways intended to maintain or restore them to a homeostatic range. After reviewing and critiquing neurobiological and philosophical theories of the evolution of consciousness, this article argues that some possible creatures are limited to self‐directed affective states, even if those creatures are capable of exteroception. Such creatures enjoysolipsistic sentience: awareness of their own selves and bodily demands, but unawareness of their exogenous environments.
Getting to Education to Get to Health: A Culture of Health Intervention in Orange, New Jersey
Authors: McCaffrey Katherine T. , Fullilove Mindy Thomson
Published: March 2021

In this essay, we tackle the challenge of adapting the dominant way we think about health in the United States—through an individualistic, technocratic, biomedical lens—to address social problems rooted in structural inequality. As scholar activists, the authors participated in a coalition effort to improve community health in a postindustrial New Jersey city. Adopting a social determinants of health perspective, we describe efforts to move discourse away from wellness and toward a deeper understanding of the role of education and learning in building a "culture of health." The essay discusses how this structural analysis of health competed with much more narrow cultural understandings of education and health rooted in a pervasive wellness ideology. Coalition success hinged on correctly identifying the obstacles to health and learning in the community as understood by community members: violence emerged as a pressing obstacle that impeded both learning and health. Once we clarified a shared understanding of health as learning and a common understanding of violence as the most immediate obstacle to health as learning—our coalition was energized and made progress.
The role of autoimmunity in the pathophysiology of type 2 diabetes: Looking at the other side of the moon
Authors: Koufakis Theocharis , Dimitriadis George , Metallidis Symeon , Zebekakis Pantelis , Kotsa Kalliopi
Published: March 2021

Efforts to unravel the pathophysiological mechanisms of type 2 diabetes (T2D) have been traditionally trapped into a metabolic perspective. However, T2D is a phenotypically and pathophysiologically heterogenous disorder, and the need for a tailored approach in its management is becoming increasingly evident. There is emerging evidence that irregular immune responses contribute to the development of hyperglycemia in T2D and, inversely, that insulin resistance is a component of the pathogenesis of autoimmune diabetes. Nevertheless, it has not yet been fully elucidated to what extent the presence of conventional autoimmune markers, such as autoantibodies, in subjects with T2D might affect the natural history of the disease and particularly each response to various treatments. The challenge for future research in the field is the discovery of novel genetic, molecular, or phenotypical indicators that would enable the characterization of specific subpopulations of people with T2D who would benefit most from the addition of immunomodulatory therapies to standard glucose‐lowering treatment. This narrative review aims to discuss the plausible mechanisms through which the immune system might be implicated in the development of metabolic disturbances in T2D and obesity and explore a potential role of immunotherapy in the future management of the disorder and its complications.
From “business‐like” to businesses: Agencification, corporatization, and civil service reform under the Thatcher administration
Authors: Cooper Christine , Tweedie Jonathan , Andrew Jane , Baker Max
Published: March 2021

This paper sets out an archival account of events leading up to the mass agencification of the British civil service by the Thatcher administration (1979–1990). This account holds lessons for contemporary understandings of the ideological roots and institutional structures of corporatization. When Thatcher came to power in 1979, she wanted to make government “efficient” through the adoption of “business‐like” practices. We show that this project was grounded in her Methodist upbringing and the emerging neoliberal economic theories of Friedrich Hayek and Milton Friedman. Thatcher's efforts to instill a “market mentality” were met with stubborn resistance from a bloc of Ministers and senior civil servants. We find that Thatcher used agencification to break this resistance. Agencification removed Ministerial control over service delivery and saw “business‐like” managers placed in charge of the newly created agencies. This curtailed the workings of democracy. Like Thatcher's agencification, corporatization today imperils democracy in pursuit of “efficiency.”
A systematic review of event‐related potentials as outcome measures of attention bias modification
Authors: Carlson Joshua M.
Published: March 2021

Attention bias modification (ABM) was initially developed with the goal of reducing attentional bias to threat—and subsequently anxious symptoms—in individuals with heightened anxiety. Although controversial, ABM appears to be generally effective in achieving this goal. Yet, the primary outcome measure of ABM (i.e., the reaction time‐based differences score) has poor reliability and temporal resolution, which limits the inferences that can be drawn. In contrast, event‐related potentials (ERPs) have superior reliability as well as temporal resolution and may therefore be better outcome measures of ABM. In this review, I systematically assess the research using ERPs as outcome measures in ABM protocols. I focus on the extent to which the ERPs modified by ABM represent earlier or later stages of information processing. In addition, I explore the extent to which ABM produces near and/or far transfer of learning effects on ERP measures. The reviewed literature suggests that ERPs are promising outcome measures of ABM. ABM modulates the effects of affective stimuli on posterior visually evoked ERPs (i.e., P1) as well as ERPs at anterior electrodes (i.e., P2, N2, and ERN). Based on the state of the field, several directions for future research are identified.
Success probability for selectively neutral invading species in the line model with a random fitness landscape
Authors: Farhang‐Sardroodi Suzan , Komarova Natalia L. , Michelen Marcus , Pemantle Robin
Published: March 2021

We consider a spatial (line) model for invasion of a population by a single mutant with a stochastically selectively neutral fitness landscape, independent from the fitness landscape for nonmutants. This model is similar to those considered earlier. We show that the probability of mutant fixation in a population of size , starting from a single mutant, is greater than , which would be the case if there were no variation in fitness whatsoever. In the small variation regime, we recover precise asymptotics for the success probability of the mutant. This demonstrates that the introduction of randomness provides an advantage to minority mutations in this model, and shows that the advantage increases with the system size. We further demonstrate that the mutants have an advantage in this setting only because they are better at exploiting unusually favorable environments when they arise, and not because they are any better at exploiting pockets of favorability in an environment that is selectively neutral overall.
Intimacy, home, and emotions in the era of the pandemic
Authors: Durnová Anna , Mohammadi Elaheh
Published: March 2021

While much of the sociological scholarship on intimacy has been understood in the normative sense of foregrounding and supporting human closeness, this article points to the role intimacy has as a sociological concept to better understand regulatory ties between the subject and the institution. While subject and institution are treated by modernity as distinct entities, separated by the boundary between private and the public, the article elucidates their mutual engagements by reviewing the work on intimacy in the sociology of emotions. Discussing the scholarship on intimacy from this perspective enables us to understand private suffering as a social problem linked to the collective recognition of subjective feelings. To illustrate the point, the article briefly reflects the public discourse on home upended by world‐wide stay‐at‐home orders to contain the spread of coronavirus disease 2019. While this article neither analyzes these orders, nor judges their legitimacy, it takes the particular situation as a chance to review the sociological discussion on the emotional boundaries of home, foregrounding the concept of intimacy. Intimacy is presented as a key sociological category for understanding collective recognition of people's emotions, which impacts the way emotions are seen as relevant and legitimate in public discussions of social problems.
Presumed neuroprotective therapies prescribed by veterinary ophthalmologists for canine degenerative retinal and optic nerve diseases
Authors: Hopper Ryan G. , Montiani‐Ferreira Fabiano , da Silva Pereira Jorge , Fritz Michele C. , Ruggiero Vickie J. , Sapienza John S. , Kato Kumiko , Komáromy András M.
Published: March 2021

Objective

To investigate veterinary ophthalmologists’ use of presumed neuroprotective therapies for degenerative retinal and optic nerve diseases in dogs.

Procedures

An online survey was sent to 663 board‐certified veterinary ophthalmologists who were Diplomates of the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists (ACVO), Asian College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists (AiCVO), Latin American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists (Colegio Latinoamericano de Oftalmólogos Veterinarios, CLOVE), or European College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists (ECVO). The survey was created using Qualtrics® software and focused on the prescription of presumed neuroprotective treatments for canine glaucoma, sudden acquired retinal degeneration syndrome (SARDS), progressive retinal atrophy (PRA), and retinal detachment (RD).

Results

A total of 165 completed surveys were received, representing an overall response rate of 25%, which was comparable across the four specialty colleges. Of all respondents, 140/165 (85%) prescribed some form of presumed neuroprotective therapies at least once in the last five years: 114/165 (69%) for glaucoma, 51/165 (31%) for SARDS, 116/165 (70%) for PRA, and 50/165 (30%) for RD. The three most recommended neuroprotective reagents were the commercial Ocu‐GLO™ Vision Supplement for animals, amlodipine, and human eye supplements.

Conclusions

Despite lack of published clinical efficacy data, the majority of surveyed board‐certified veterinary ophthalmologists previously prescribed a presumed neuroprotective therapy at least once in the last five years in dogs with degenerative retinal and optic nerve diseases.
Orthopedic and ultrasonographic examination findings in 128 shoulders of 64 ultra‐endurance Alaskan sled dogs
Authors: von Pfeil Dirsko J. F. , Davis Michael S. , Liska William D. , George Clinton , Secrest Scott
Published: March 2021

Objective

To determine the location and periarticular shoulder‐muscle‐abnormalities detected via orthopedic examinations and ultrasonography in ultra‐endurance Alaskan sled‐dogs, returned from an ultra‐endurance sled‐dog‐race prior to finishing it.

Study Design

Prospective clinical study.

Sample Population

Sixty‐four dogs (128 shoulders).

Methods

Dogs were classified based on clinical evidence of shoulder pain (SP versus control). Orthopedic examination findings, shoulder‐abduction‐angles (SAA; before‐ and during‐anesthesia), and ultrasonographic findings were recorded. Relationships between orthopedic and ultrasonographic abnormalities were compared.

Results

Pain was elicited on 55/128 shoulders; 73 shoulders were pain‐free. The most common painful structures included the biceps‐tendon (BT; 30%), triceps‐muscle (28%), and infraspinatus‐muscle (25%). SAA ranged between 25° and 75° among groups, including pain‐free shoulders in dogs without lameness. SAA was greater when dogs were anesthetized (46.3° ± 14.0° vs. 47.8° ± 12.0°;p= .03), especially in SP (mean increase of 3.49° ± 8.85°) compared to control (0.03° ± 7.71°,p= .009). Overall, 103 ultrasonographic abnormalities were detected (SP: 44; control: 59). The most common ultrasonographic abnormality was fluid surrounding the biceps tendon, similarly distributed between groups (SP: 39/44; control: 57/59). Most chronic ultrasonographic abnormalities affected the BT (15/103 abnormalities). No associations were detected between ultrasonographic abnormalities and clinical findings.

Conclusion

Shoulder abduction varied greatly and reached up to 75° in normal joints. Ultrasonographic shoulder‐muscle abnormalities were common but did not seem associated with clinical findings.

Clinical significance

Interpretation of shoulder abduction warrants caution, and the presence of fluid around the BT may reflect a physiologic adaptation to racing, rather than a pathologic change in ultra‐endurance Alaskan sled‐dogs.
Cold War Triangle
Authors: Loeckx Renilde
Published: March 2021

A small group of scientists were doggedly working in the field of antiviral treatments when the AIDS epidemic struck. Faced with one of the grand challenges of modern biology of the twentieth century, scientists worked across the political divide of the Cold War to produce a new class of antivirals. Their molecules were developed by a Californian start-up together with teams of scientists at the Rega Institute of KU Leuven and the Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry (IOCB) of the Academy of Sciences in Prague. These molecules became the cornerstone of the blockbuster drugs now used to combat and prevent HIV. Cold War Triangle gives an insight into the human face of science as it recounts the extraordinary story of scientists in East and West who overcame ideological barriers and worked together for the benefit of humanity.
Heat Effects in Lubricating Films
Authors: Hagg A. C.
Published: March 2021

Heat effects in lubricating films are analyzed on the basis of simple shear of the lubricant, Reynolds logarithmic formula relating lubricant viscosity and temperature, and an equation relating the heat generation and heat flow in the film. The film-temperature dependence on velocity is determined, and the result is used to obtain the shearing stress and shearing rates. The formulas thus derived are useful in analyzing the performance of oil-film bearings. Experiments have been carried out with measurement of shaft- and bearing-surface temperatures, as well as friction; the tests support the analytical results. An approximate means for judging the importance of film heating in a given case in terms of velocity and lubricant viscosity is suggested.
U.S. faculty job market tanks
Authors: Langin Katie
Published: March 2021

As COVID-19 upends university finances, postdocs worry about their future.
Supplemental Material: Curation and analysis of global sedimentary geochemical data to inform Earth history
Authors: Mehra Akshay
Published: March 2021

(i) table of valid lithologies; (ii) map depicting sample locations; (iii) crossplot illustrating analytical uncertainty; (iv) flowchart of the proposed workflow; (v) histograms showing the effects of progressive filtering, the distribution of spatial and age scales, and proximity and probability values; and (vi) results of parameters sensitivity tests.
Properties of slag geopolymer concrete modified with fly ash and silica fume
Authors: Elyamany Hafez E. , Abd Elmoaty Abd Elmoaty M. , Diab Abdul Rahman A.
Published: March 2021

This research focused on the role of fly ash and silica fume on slag geopolymer concrete through investigating workability (slump, and slump loss), initial setting time, final setting time, and mechanical properties of slag geopolymer concrete (S-GPC) (compressive strength, splitting tensile strength, modulus of elasticity) in addition to scanning electron microscope (SEM) and X-ray analysis. The considered variables included fly ash content as a replacement of ground granulated blast furnace slag (GS) (0%, 10%, 20%, 30%, and 40%), presence of silica fume as a replacement for slag, concentration of sodium hydroxide, NaOH, (molarity: 10, 16, and 18 mol/L), additional water content (7.5%, 11%, 14%, and 20%), and curing type (thermal, air, and water curing). S-GPC yielded rapid stiffening and high slump loss with high mechanical properties. The use of silica fume or fly ash or a mix of both enhanced workability, decreased rate of slump loss, and delayed setting time. The ACI 318 equation overestimates splitting tensile strength of FS-GPC.
Predicting dipole orientations in spontelectric methyl formate
Authors: Kexel Christian , Solov’yov Andrey V.
Published: March 2021

Capturing intermolecular interactions accurately is essential for describing, e.g., morphology of molecular matter on the nanoscale. When it reveals characteristics which are not directly accessible through experiments or ab initio theories, a model here becomes eminently beneficial. In laboratory astrochemistry, the intense study of ices has led i.a. to the exploration of the spontelectric state of nanofilms. Despite its success in biophysics or biochemistry and despite its predictive power, molecular modeling has however not yet been widely deployed for solid-state astrochemistry. In this article, therefore a pertinent hitherto unaddressed problem is tackled by means of the classical molecular-dynamics method, namely the unknown distribution of relative dipole orientations in spontelectric cis-methyl formate (MF). In doing so, from ab initio data, a molecular model is derived which confirms for the first time the anomalous temperature-dependent polarization of MF. These insights thus represent a further step toward understanding spontelectric behavior. Moreover, unprecedented first-principles predictions are reported regarding the ground-state geometry of the MF trimer and tetramer. In conjunction with the study of the binding to carbonaceous substrates, these additional findings can help to exemplarily elucidate molecular ice formation in astrochemical settings.

Graphic Abstract
A simple characterization of doubly twisted spacetimes
Authors: Mantica Carlo Alberto , Molinari Luca Guido
Published: March 2021

In this note, we characterize [Formula: see text] doubly twisted spacetimes in terms of “doubly torqued” vector fields. They extend Bang–Yen Chen’s characterization of twisted and generalized Robertson–Walker spacetimes with torqued and concircular vector fields. The result is a simple classification of [Formula: see text] doubly-twisted, doubly-warped, twisted and generalized Robertson–Walker spacetimes.
2-Class groups of cyclotomic towers of imaginary biquadratic fields and applications
Authors: Chems-Eddin Mohamed Mahmoud , Müller Katharina
Published: March 2021

Let [Formula: see text] be an odd positive square-free integer. In this paper, we shall investigate the structure of the [Formula: see text]-class group of the cyclotomic [Formula: see text]-extension of the imaginary biquadratic number field [Formula: see text] if [Formula: see text] is of specifiic form. Furthermore, we deduce the structure of the [Formula: see text]-class group of the cyclotomic [Formula: see text]-extension of [Formula: see text].
Extreme Storm Xavier in 2013: A European Disaster with a Focus on Poland
Authors: Rucińska Dorota , Ribeiro Rodrigo Rudge Ramos
Published: March 2021

This paper shows occurrence of extra-tropical storms and damages (1990–2019), and the social and economic effects of Storm Xavier in 2013 in four countries of Europe: Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Poland. The focus of the analysis is on Poland, in order to indicate some major lessons for the future. This study shows long experiences and solutions of countries with winter storms with regards to Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRR&M). The methodology is based on secondary data analyzing collected by international institution, Polish institutions, media information, review of reports and research articles which brings together the results of numerous case studies over the years and highlights the winter storm management issues that were key across them. Examples of activities that minimize the impact of this kind of hazard are suggested. The paper is intended to provide support for professional managers and officials who are tasked with reducing losses from winter storms. This paper aims to emphasize on winter storms in Poland because it is expected of society safety improvement with the Sendai Framework for DRR (2015–2030) and implements the multi-hazard management of DRR in Poland also using experiences of winter storms.
Hedging and machine learning driven crude oil data analysis using a refined Barndorff-Nielsen and Shephard model
Authors: Shoshi Humayra , SenGupta Indranil
Published: March 2021

In this paper, a refined Barndorff-Nielsen and Shephard (BN-S) model is implemented to find an optimal hedging strategy for commodity markets. The refinement of the BN-S model is obtained with various machine and deep learning algorithms. The refinement leads to the extraction of a deterministic parameter from the empirical data set. The problem is transformed to an appropriate classification problem with a couple of different approaches — the volatility approach and the duration approach. The analysis is implemented to the Bakken crude oil data and the aforementioned deterministic parameter is obtained for a wide range of data sets. With the implementation of this parameter in the refined model, the resulting model performs much better than the classical BN-S model.
Graduate Education in Statistics and Data Science: The Why, When, Where, Who, and What
Authors: Aerts Marc , Molenberghs Geert , Thas Olivier
Published: March 2021

Organizing a graduate program in statistics and data science raises many questions, offering a variety of opportunities while presenting a multitude of choices. The call for graduate programs in statistics and data science is overwhelming. How does it align with other (future) study programs at the secondary and postsecondary levels? What could or should be the natural home for data science in academia? Who meets the entry criteria, and who does not? Which strategic choices inevitably play a prominent role when developing a curriculum? We share our views on the why, when, where, who and what.
Higher protein intake during resistance training does not potentiate strength, but modulates gut microbiota, in middle-aged adults: a randomized control trial
Authors: McKenna Colleen F. , Salvador Amadeo F. , Hughes Riley L. , Scaroni Susannah E. , Alamilla Rafael A. , Askow Andrew T. , Paluska Scott A. , Dilger Anna C. , Holscher Hannah D. , De Lisio Michael , Khan Naiman A. , Burd Nicholas A.
Published: March 2021

Our research evaluates the efficacy of higher in comparison with moderate animal-based protein intake on resistance exercise training-induced muscle strength, clinical biomarkers, and gut microbiota in middle-aged adults through a dietary counseling-controlled intervention. Higher protein intake did not potentiate training adaptations, nor did the intervention effect disease biomarkers. Both diet and exercise modified gut microbiota composition. Collectively, moderate amounts of high-quality, animal-based protein is sufficient to promote resistance exercise adaptations at the onset of aging.
Validation of Normal P-Wave Parameters in a Large Unselected Pediatric Population of North-Western Romania: Results of the CARDIOPED Project
Authors: Cismaru Gabriel , Lazea Cecilia , Mureşan Lucian , Gusetu Gabriel , Rosu Radu , Pop Dana , Zdrenghea Dumitru , Farcaş Anca Daniela , Căinap Simona Sorana
Published: March 2021

Aims. Reference values of the P-wave on 12 lead electrocardiograms are lacking for children and adolescents in Eastern Europe. Hence, the present study is aimed at determining the standard values of the P-wave in children and adolescents based on ECG data from the CARDIOPED project, a large-scale general population of children who participated in a screening program in Transylvania, Romania. Methods and Results. A total of 22,411 ECGs of participants aged 6 to 18 years old from a school-based ECG screening were obtained between February 2015 and December 2015 in Transylvania, Romania. Three pediatric cardiologists manually reviewed each ECG. P-wave duration, voltage, axis, and correlation with gender and age were analyzed. The mean P-wave duration was88±10.7 ms, with a maximum duration of 128 ms. P-wave showed a positive correlation with age but did not differ between sexes. There was a positive correlation between the P-wave duration and the heart rate, but not with the body max index. The mean P-wave axis was40.4±31.1, and the mean P-wave amplitude was0.12±0.03 mV. Conclusion. In this study on many pediatric subjects, we have provided normal limits for the P-wave in Romanian children aged 6-18 years. Our findings are useful for creating interpretation guidelines for pediatric ECG.
An Uncommon Cause of Dysphagia: Postpneumonectomy Syndrome
Authors: Rego Erica , Abdelmeguid Ahmed , Wang Yuqi (Kevin) , Dewan Karuna
Published: March 2021

Objective. Dysphagia after pneumonectomy is uncommon but concerning. The purpose of this paper is to present a case of dysphonia secondary to postpneumonectomy syndrome. Case Report. A 66-year-old female with stage IIIa adenocarcinoma of the lung was treated with a left pneumonectomy. Three years later, she presented with severe dysphagia, dyspnea, and dysphonia. Esophagram demonstrated severely deviated esophagus to the left of midline, attributed to prior left-sided pneumonectomy, without clear evidence of any external compression. Chest CT scan showed associated leftward mediastinal shift. This patient was treated with voice therapy and an exclusion diet, as the patient elected not to have surgery. Conclusion. This is the first reported case of dysphonia accompanying severe dysphagia following left pneumonectomy. While postpneumonectomy syndrome is rare, a high degree of clinical suspicion is recommended when treating patients with history of pneumonectomy.