bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Optimization based on the minimum maximal k-partial-matching problem of finite states machines with input multiplexing
Authors: Garcia-Vargas Ignacio , Senhadji-Navarro Raouf
Published: June 2022

Finite State Machines with Input Multiplexing (FSMIMs) were proposed in previous work as a technique for efficient mapping Finite State Machines (FSMs) into ROM memory. In this paper, we present new contributions to the optimization process involved in the implementation of FSMIMs in Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) devices. This process consists of two stages: (1) the simplification of the bank of input selectors of the FSMIM, and (2) the reduction of the depth of the ROM. This has a significant impact both on the number of used Look-Up Tables (LUTs) and on the number of the Embedded Memory Blocks (EMBs) required by the ROM. For the first stage, we present two approaches to optimize FSMIM implementations based on the Minimum Maximal k-Partial Matching (MMKPM) problem: one of them applies the greedy algorithm for the MMKPM problem, and the other based on a new multiobjetive variant of the MMKPM and its corresponding Integer Linear Programing formulation. We also propose a modification of the second stage, in which the characteristics of EMBs are taken into account to improve implementation results. The new optimization process significantly reduces the number of used FPGA resources with respect to the previous one. In addition, the proposed approaches achieve an adequate trade-off between the usage of EMBs and LUTs with respect to conventional FSM implementations based on ROM and to those based on LUT.
Exploring factors influencing pre-service and in-service teachers´ perception of digital competencies in the Chinese region of Anhui
Authors: Yang Li , Martínez-Abad Fernando , García-Holgado Alicia
Published: June 2022

The emergence of the Covid-19 pandemic has accelerated the wave of digital social transformation worldwide and pushed the “Accelerator Key” for the digital transformation of education in 2020. This transformation has also impacted in an all-around way in China. Taking Anhui province as a case study, this research explores socio-demographic factors influencing the digital competence level of pre- and in-service teachers of primary and secondary education in China. The quantitative methodological approach emphasizes the study subjects’ perception of their digital competencies in three factors: basic technology literacy, technical support learning, and technical support teaching. The study involved 250 pre-service teachers and 248 in-service teachers. The main findings are: (1) participants have good consciousness and attitudes towards using ICT in daily work, but their educational practice is weak; (2) in-service teachers have a digital competence level generally higher than pre-service teachers’, which might be their professional practice promote them to reflect on perceptions and attitudes regarding technological education; (3) for in-service teachers, there are significant differences between their digital competence level and age, years of teaching experience, educational background; (4) current ICT courses have no influencing on in-service teachers’ digital competence level, implying that current ICT training system may have problems. The study provides insights to improve pre-service teachers’ digital competence education in universities and develop well-designed in-service teachers’ ICT training courses.
Smart greenhouses as the path towards precision agriculture in the food-energy and water nexus: case study of Qatar
Authors: Karanisa Theodora , Achour Yasmine , Ouammi Ahmed , Sayadi Sami
Published: June 2022

Greenhouse farming is essential in increasing domestic crop production in countries with limited resources and a harsh climate like Qatar. Smart greenhouse development is even more important to overcome these limitations and achieve high levels of food security. While the main aim of greenhouses is to offer an appropriate environment for high-yield production while protecting crops from adverse climate conditions, smart greenhouses provide precise regulation and control of the microclimate variables by utilizing the latest control techniques, advanced metering and communication infrastructures, and smart management systems thus providing the optimal environment for crop development. However, due to the development of information technology, greenhouses are undergoing a big transformation. In fact, the new generation of greenhouses has gone from simple constructions to sophisticated factories that drive agricultural production at the minimum possible cost. The main objective of this paper is to present a comprehensive understanding framework of the actual greenhouse development in Qatar, so as to be able to support the transition to sustainable precision agriculture. Qatar’s greenhouse market is a dynamic sector, and it is expected to mark double-digit growth by 2025. Thus, this study may offer effective supporting information to decision and policy makers, professionals, and end-users in introducing new technologies and taking advantage of monitoring techniques, artificial intelligence, and communication infrastructure in the agriculture sector by adopting smart greenhouses, consequently enhancing the Food-Energy-Water Nexus resilience and sustainable development. Furthermore, an analysis of the actual agriculture situation in Qatar is provided by examining its potential development regarding the existing drivers and barriers. Finally, the study presents the policy measures already implemented in Qatar and analyses the future development of the local greenhouse sector in terms of sustainability and resource-saving perspective and its penetration into Qatar’s economy.
Molecular Assessment of Staphylococcus Aureus Strains in STAT3 Hyper-IgE Syndrome Patients
Authors: Schwierzeck Vera , Effner Renate , Abel Felicitas , Reiger Matthias , Notheis Gundula , Held Jürgen , Simon Valeska , Dintner Sebastian , Hoffmann Reinhard , Hagl Beate , Huebner Johannes , Mellmann Alexander , Renner Ellen D.
Published: June 2022

Hyper-IgE syndromes (HIES) are a group of inborn errors of immunity (IEI) caused by monogenic defects such as in the gene STAT3 (STAT3-HIES). Patients suffering from HIES show an increased susceptibility to Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) including skin abscesses and pulmonary infections. To assess if the underlying immune defect of STAT3-HIES patients influences the resistance patterns, pathogenicity factors or strain types of S. aureus. We characterized eleven S. aureus strains isolated from STAT3-HIES patients (n = 4) by whole genome sequencing (WGS) to determine presence of resistance and virulence genes. Additionally, we used multi-locus sequence typing (MLST) and protein A (spa) typing to classify these isolates. Bacterial isolates collected from this cohort of STAT3-HIES patients were identified as common spa types in Germany. Only one of the isolates was classified as methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA). For one STAT3 patient WGS illustrated that infection and colonization occurred with different S. aureus isolates rather than one particular clone. The identified S. aureus carriage profile on a molecular level suggests that S. aureus strain type in STAT3-HIES patients is determined by local epidemiology rather than the underlying immune defect highlighting the importance of microbiological assessment prior to antibiotic treatment.
Puesta en escena y proxémica en Dido y Eneas de Cristóbal de Morales Guerrero
Authors: Carmona Tierno Juan Manuel
Published: June 2022

This article offers a proxemic interpretation of Dido y Eneas, a Spanish Golden Age play written by Cristóbal de Morales Guerrero. It is a mythological work of which the plot is based on the protagonist’s psychological confrontation between desire, staying in Carthage with queen Dido, and duty, heading to Italy to begin the Roman lineage. Such forces are represented by two supernatural characters, goddess Venus and Creusa, Aeneas’ murdered wife transformed into a hellish spirit, respectively, who enter and exit the stage by spectacular means and employing special machinery. The use of these devices creates a strongly semanticised opposition according to which the top of the stage acquires a positive meaning and the bottom a negative one. In this context, it is perceived that Creusa tends to move upwards, whereas Venus does so downwards. These dynamics can be understood from both an axiological and dramatic view in the sense that the duty of sailing to Italy is the only reliable force since it is decreed by gods and, because of this, it will end up prevailing over desire, for Aeneas will indeed abandon Dido.
Older Patients with Acute Myeloid Leukemia Deserve Individualized Treatment
Authors: de Leeuw David C. , Ossenkoppele Gert J. , Janssen Jeroen J. W. M.
Published: June 2022

Purpose of Review

Treatment of elderly patients with acute myeloid leukemia is a known challenge for hematologists due to patient diversity, heterogeneous disease biology, and a rapidly evolving treatment landscape. Here, we highlight the importance of determining fitness, review the latest therapeutic developments, and discuss clinical scenarios to provide guidance on individualized treatment for older AML patients.

Recent Findings

Several factors, like age, performance status, and comorbidities, play a role in fitness and are associated with outcome. Comorbidity scoring systems and geriatric assessments are tools to help physicians select the most appropriate treatment for each patient. The addition of venetoclax, targeted therapy with IDH1/2 and FLT3 inhibitors, and enhanced formulas of existing drugs like CPX-351 and oral azacitidine have improved responses and outcomes.

New drugs and combination therapies have increased the therapeutic options for elderly AML patients but determination of fitness and disease biology is essential to select patient-tailored treatments.
Case reports: chemoradiotherapy for locally advanced neuroendocrine carcinoma of the gallbladder
Authors: Takeda Yuma , Kobayashi Noritoshi , Kessoku Takaomi , Okubo Naoki , Suzuki Akihiro , Tokuhisa Motohiko , Miwa Haruo , Udaka Naoko , Ichikawa Yasushi
Published: June 2022

Neuroendocrine carcinoma (NEC) is a rare subtype of malignant gallbladder tumor. Although surgical resection is the only potentially curative therapy for gallbladder NEC, most cases are surgically unresectable because of advanced stage disease and/or biologically aggressive behavior. The standard palliative treatment for malignant gallbladder tumors is chemotherapy; however, the efficacy of chemoradiotherapy in the treatment of gallbladder tumors is controversial. Here, we report a case of gallbladder NEC that showed a durable response to chemoradiotherapy. A 68-year-old Japanese man presented with a huge gallbladder tumor with liver and duodenal invasion. Pathological findings revealed poorly differentiated NEC of the gallbladder. After seven cycles of chemotherapy comprising cisplatin and irinotecan, computed tomography (CT) revealed remarkable tumor shrinkage, but an enlarged portal lymph node. The patient was treated with 50.4 Gy in 28 fractions with two cycles of cisplatin and etoposide. After chemoradiotherapy, the enlarged lymph node also decreased in size. Maximum standardized uptake value of fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography/CT(FDG-PET/CT) changed from 8.2 to physiological accumulation. We defined this condition as a complete response on both enhanced CT and FDG-PET/CT; therefore, we did not perform systemic treatment and only observed his condition. This patient remained healthy with no recurrence at 3 years after chemoradiotherapy.
Access to Sexual Health Services and Support for People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities: an Australian Cross-sector Survey
Authors: Frawley Patsie , Wilson N.J. , David Jennifer , O’Shea Amie , Areskoug Josefsson K.
Published: June 2022

Introduction

People with intellectual and developmental disabilities under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) have the right to access sexual health services including information, education, and support. Little is known about the capacity of sexual health professionals to provide these services.

Methods

Using an observational research design, this study utilised a descriptive survey tool (PASH–Ext) that also encompassed a standardised measure, with a cross-sectional purposive sample of 52 Australian sexual health professionals. Data was collected in 2020.

Results

Just over half of the participants reported having received training in their preservice education to work with people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, of these 60% held the view that people with intellectual and developmental disabilities would not feel embarrassed receiving sexual health information and support.

Conclusion

The study found that training is both important to the professionals’ preparedness to work with people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and that these professionals advocate for the continuation of this training in pre-service courses and additional training in post service education for sexual health workers.

Policy Implications

To progressively realise Article 25 of the UNCRPD signatory, countries need to ensure sexual health services are accessible to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. This study recommends that sexual health policy addresses equity of access for people with intellectual and developmental disability by ensuring all staff are prepared and supported to provide these services.
Radical artifactualism
Authors: de Oliveira Guilherme Sanches
Published: June 2022

A powerful idea put forward in the recent philosophy of science literature is that scientific models are best understood as instruments, tools or, more generally, artifacts. This idea has thus far been developed in combination with the more traditional representational approach: accordingly, current artifactualist accounts treat models asrepresentationaltools. But artifactualism and representationalism are independent views, and adopting one does not require acceptance of the other. This paper argues that a leaner version of artifactualism, free of representationalist assumptions, is both desirable and viable. Taking seriously the idea that models are artifacts can help us philosophically to make sense of how and why scientific modeling works even without reference to representation.
Monte Carlo method for fractional-order differentiation extended to higher orders
Authors: Leonenko Nikolai , Podlubny Igor
Published: June 2022

In this work the Monte Carlo method, introduced recently by the authors for orders of differentiation between zero and one, is further extended to differentiation of orders higher than one. Two approaches have been developed on this way. The first approach is based on interpreting the coefficients of the Grünwald–Letnikov fractional differences as so called signed probabilities, which in the case of orders higher than one can be negative or positive. We demonstrate how this situation can be processed and used for computations. The second approach uses the Monte Carlo method for orders between zero and one and the semi-group property of fractional-order differences. Both methods have been implemented in MATLAB and illustrated by several examples of fractional-order differentiation of several functions that typically appear in applications. Computational results of both methods were in mutual agreement and conform with the exact fractional-order derivatives of the functions used in the examples.
The Role of Regional Anesthesia in the Development of Chronic Pain: a Review of Literature
Authors: Kukreja Promil , Paul Lauren Mason , Sellers Alethia R. , Nagi Peter , Kalagara Hari
Published: June 2022

Purpose of Review

The acute management of pain using regional anesthesia techniques may prevent the development of persistent postsurgical pain (PPP), ultimately improving patient outcomes and enhancing overall quality of life in postsurgical patients. The purpose of this review is to describe the current literature regarding the role of regional anesthesia techniques in the perioperative setting to address and prevent PPP.

Recent Findings

Data was collected and analyzed using results from randomized controlled studies stratified into categories based on different surgical subspecialties. Conclusions were drawn from each surgical category regarding the role of regional anesthesia and/or local analgesia in acute and chronic pain management on the long-term results seen in the studies analyzed.

Preoperative consultations and optimized perioperative analgesia using regional anesthesia and local analgesia play a fundamental role preventing and treating postoperative pain after many types of surgery by managing pain in the acute setting to mitigate the future development of PPP. Additional studies in different surgical subspecialties are needed to confirm the role regional anesthesia plays in chronic postsurgical pain (CPSP) prevention.
Design and Analysis of Electromagnetic Quasi-zero Stiffness Vibration Isolator
Authors: MengTong Wang , Pan Su , ShuYong Liu , Kai Chai , BoXiang Wang , Jinfang Lu
Published: June 2022

Introduction

To improve the low frequency isolation capability of vibration isolation system, a kind of electromagnetic quasi-zero-stiffness (QZS) vibration isolator was designed.

Materials and methods

The negative stiffness electromagnetic spring paralleled with the linear positive stiffness spring to achieve the state of QZS. The nonlinear dynamic model of vibration isolator was established. Through the combination of theoretical formula and simulation analysis, the electromagnetic force expression was obtained. The amplitude-frequency responsecharacteristics and force transmissibility was solved by harmonic balance method, and the effects of system parameters on amplitude - frequency characteristics and transmissibility was analyzed.

Conclusion

The results show that the new isolator has better performance than the linear system, and the decreased damping ratio and excitation amplitude make the effects of vibration isolation of system superior.
Synergy of stochastics and inelasticity at multiple scales: novel Bayesian applications in stochastic upscaling and fracture size and scale effects
Authors: Ibrahimbegovic Adnan , Matthies Hermann G. , Dobrilla Simona , Karavelić Emir , Nava Rosa Adela Mejia , Nguyen Cong Uy , Sarfaraz M. Sadiq , Stanić Andjelka , Vondřejc Jaroslav
Published: June 2022

The main goal of this review is to provide a thorough scientific understanding of the interplay between stochastics and mechanics, by classifying what can be achieved by representing mechanical system parameters in terms of deterministic values (homogenization) versus random variables or random fields (stochastic upscaling). The latter is of special interest for novel Bayesian applications capable of successfully handling the phenomena of fracture in both the quasi-static and the dynamic evolution of heterogeneous solids where no scale separation is present, which we refer to as stochastic upscaling. We seek to quantify the sensitivity of these phenomena with respect to the size-effect (changes in characteristic system dimension) and to the scale-effect (changes in characteristic time evolution). The challenge is to provide an answer as to why a system that is big does not break under quasi-static loads in the same way as a small system, even when both are built of the same material, and further extend this to inelasticity and fracture under dynamic loads. We plan to illustrate the crucial role of fine-scale heterogeneities and to develop the ground-breaking concept of stochastic upscaling that can capture their influence on instability and dynamic fracture at the system macro-scale. The stochastic upscaling is the key to size and scale laws in the proposed multi-scale approach, which can reach beyond homogenization to properly account for epistemic uncertainties of system parameters and the stochastic nature of dynamical fracture.
Revisiting the antidepressant-like effects of desipramine in male and female adult rats: sex disparities in neurochemical correlates
Authors: Ledesma-Corvi Sandra , García-Fuster M. Julia
Published: June 2022

Background

The preclinical antidepressant-like characterization of desipramine relied almost exclusively in male rodents, with only a few contradictory reports done in females. Given that most experiments assessed a single dose and/or timepoint of analysis after-treatment, this study evaluated potential sex-differences in the length of the antidepressant-like response induced by different doses of desipramine as well as the molecular underpinnings driving the different responses by sex.

Methods

Male and female Sprague–Dawley rats were treated (i.p.) with 3 pulses of desipramine (5, 10 or 20 mg/kg) or vehicle (0.9% NaCl) within 24 h. The antidepressant-like effects were evaluated in the forced-swim test 1-h, 1- and 3-day post-treatment. The rate of cell proliferation and the regulation of key neuroplasticity markers (FADD, Cdk5, p35, p25) involved in antidepressant-like responses in the hippocampus were evaluated 1-h, 1-day and 5-day post-treatment.

Results

Desipramine induced similar antidepressant-like effects in male and female rats (effective doses of 10 and 20 mg/kg, with effects that lasted up to 1-day post-treatment), without altering the rate of cell proliferation. However, some sex-differences emerged when evaluating neuroplasticity markers in the hippocampus, while no changes were observed for female rats, desipramine regulated FADD, Cdk-5 and p25 in males in a way that suggested neuroprotective actions.

Conclusions

Our findings imply that while desipramine induced similar antidepressant-like responses for male and female rats, some differences emerged in the regulation of certain neuroplasticity markers, suggesting that distinctive molecular mechanisms might be participating in the therapeutic response of desipramine for both sexes.
Outcome of pediatric chronic myeloid leukemia with management focusing on the monitoring of BCR-ABL fusion gene transcript levels
Authors: Al-Ghemlas Ibrahim , Al-Daama Saad , Aqueel Hawazin , Siddiqui Khawar , El-Solh Hassan , Omer Hala , AlRajeh Loloah , Al-Seraihy Amal , Alahmari Ali , AlSaedi Hawazen , AlAnazi Awatif , Ayas Mouhab
Published: June 2022

Background and objective:

Clinical, laboratory and outcome data were reviewed for pediatric patients who were diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) and managed at two tertiary care hospitals in Saudi Arabia, between January 2011 and December 2017 to assess the response to tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) focusing on the monitoring of BCR-ABL fusion gene transcript levels and to look at the overall outcome.

Methods:

CML patients were identified based on the cytogenetic and molecular results.

Results:

Twelve pediatric patients diagnosed with CML at a median age of 8.4 year; treated with TKI as first-line therapy, 11 (91.7%) patients were started with imatinib (first-generation TKI), while one received dasatinib (second-generation TKI) due to his three-way Philadelphia chromosome sensitivity. Eight patients (72.7%) starting on imatinib were switched to dasatinib (six patients due to drug resistance, and two patients due to intolerance of Imatinib) and two patients (25%) of whom had already achieved major molecular response (MMR) on Imatinib. Response rate to imatinib in terms of achieving MMR as first-line therapy was achieved in five out of 11 patients (45.5%) and only three of them continued to maintain their MMR. Six out of eight patients who were switched to dasatinib achieved MMR. Two patients underwent hematopoietic stem cell transplant (SCT): one due to blast crisis and one due to the side effects of TKI. With a median follow-up time of 78 months (range, 40.5–108), all of our patients were alive at last update.

Conclusion:

We report an excellent outcome with an overall survival (OS) of 100% at 5-year and disease- free survival (DFS) of 91.7% (8.0%). All our patients achieved MMR and only one patient had loss of MMR on follow-up. Eight patients (66.7%) achieved complete molecular response (CMR).
Administratively Adrift
Authors: Bass Scott A.
Published: June 2022

The multiple crises of 2020–21 have presented both challenges and opportunities for change in four-year residential colleges and universities. Evidence indicates that the historic structure of administrative and student services is increasingly mismatched to the needs of a diverse and stressed student body born in a digital age. Inspired by his leadership in a university-wide initiative that focused on how students' interactions with both academic and professional staff affect their success and well-being, Scott A. Bass presents fresh insights on the inner workings of traditional nonprofit four-year degree residential institutions. The book describes the influences of history, tradition, and internal and external pressures on the American university, highlighting its evolution to its staid and fragmented structure; it distills voices of students, faculty, and staff; and it explores how successful organizations outside of higher education deliver services, with potential applicability for the academy's ability to meet students where they are.
Creating Consent in an Illiberal Order
Authors: Watkins Jessica
Published: June 2022

Middle Eastern police forces have a reputation for carrying out repression and surveillance on behalf of authoritarian regimes, despite frequently under enforcing the law. But what is their role in co-creating and sustaining social order? In this book, Jessica Watkins focuses on the development of the Jordanian police institution to demonstrate that rather than being primarily concerned with law enforcement, the police are first and foremost concerned with order. In Jordan, social order combines the influence of longstanding tribal practices with regime efforts to promote neoliberal economic policies alongside a sense of civic duty amongst citizens. Rather than focusing on the 'high policing' of offences deemed to threaten state security, Watkins explores the 'low policing' of interpersonal disputes including assault, theft, murder, traffic accidents, and domestic abuse to shed light on the varied strategies of power deployed by the police alongside other societal actors to procure hegemonic 'consent'.
Linear Multivariable Control Systems
Authors: Bhattacharyya Shankar P. , Keel Lee H.
Published: June 2022

This rigorous yet accessible textbook provides broad and systematic coverage of linear multivariable control systems, including several new approaches to design. In addition to standard state space theory, it provides a new measurement-based approach to linear systems, including a generalization of Thevenin's Theorem, a new single-input single-output approach to multivariable control, and analytical design of PID controllers developed by the authors. Each result is rigorously proved and combined with specific control systems applications, such as the servomechanism problem, the fragility of high order controllers, multivariable control, and PID controllers. Illustrative examples solved using MATLAB and SIMULINK, with easily reusable programming scripts, are included throughout. Numerous end-of-chapter homework problems enhance understanding. Based on course-tested material, this textbook is ideal for a single or two-semester graduate course on linear multivariable control systems in aerospace, chemical, electrical and mechanical engineering.
Guidance for Materials 4.0 to interact with a digital twin
Authors: Cogswell Daniel , Paramatmuni Chaitanya , Scotti Lucia , Moffat James
Published: June 2022

The rapid development of new infrastructure programmes requires an accelerated deployment of new materials in new environments. Materials 4.0 is crucial to achieve these goals. The application of digital to the field of materials has been at the forefront of research for many years, but there does not exist a unified means to describe a framework for this area creating pockets of development. This is confounded by the broader expectations of a digital twin (DT) as the possible answer to all these problems. The issue being that there is no accepted definition of a component DT, and what information it should contain and how it can be implemented across the product lifecycle exist. Within this position paper, a clear distinction is made between the “manufacturing DT” and the “component DT”; the former being the starting boundary conditions of the latter. In order to achieve this, we also discuss the introduction of a digital thread as a key concept in passing data through manufacturing and into service. The stages of how to define a framework around the development of DTs from a materials perspective is given, which acknowledges the difference between creating new understanding within academia and the application of this knowledge on a per-component basis in industry. A number of challenges are identified to the broad application of a component DT; all lead to uncertainty in properties and locations, resolving these requires judgments to be made in the provision of safety-dependent materials property data.
Virus transmission by aerosol transport during short conversations
Authors: Singhal Rohit , Ravichandran S. , Govindarajan Rama , Diwan Sourabh S.
Published: June 2022

The SARS-CoV-2 is transmitted not only through coughing, but also through breathing, speaking or singing. We perform direct numerical simulations of the turbulent transport of potentially infectious aerosols in short conversations, involving repetitive phrases separated by quiescent intervals. We estimate that buoyancy effects due to droplet evaporation are small, and neglect them. A two-way conversation is shown to significantly reduce the aerosol exposure compared with a relative monologue by one person and relative silence of the other. This is because of the ‘cancelling’ effect produced by the two interacting speech jets. Unequal conversation is shown to significantly increase the infection risk to the person who talks less. Interestingly, a small height difference is worse for infection spread, due to reduced interference between the speech jets, than two faces at the same level. For small axial separation, speech jets show large oscillations and reach the other person intermittently. We suggest a range of lateral separations between two people to minimize transmission risk. A realistic estimate of the infection probability is provided by including exposure through the eyes and mouth, in addition to the more common method of using inhaled virions alone. We expect that our results will provide useful inputs to epidemiological models and to disease management.
THE WEAK VOPĚNKA PRINCIPLE FOR DEFINABLE CLASSES OF STRUCTURES
Authors: BAGARIA JOAN , WILSON TREVOR M.
Published: June 2022

We give a level-by-level analysis of the Weak Vopěnka Principle for definable classes of relational structures (
$\mathrm {WVP}$
), in accordance with the complexity of their definition, and we determine the large-cardinal strength of each level. Thus, in particular, we show that
$\mathrm {WVP}$
for
$\Sigma _2$
-definable classes is equivalent to the existence of a strong cardinal. The main theorem (Theorem 5.11) shows, more generally, that
$\mathrm {WVP}$
for
$\Sigma _n$
-definable classes is equivalent to the existence of a
$\Sigma _n$
-strong cardinal (Definition 5.1). Hence,
$\mathrm {WVP}$
is equivalent to the existence of a
$\Sigma _n$
-strong cardinal for all
$n<\omega $
.
LIFTING HOMEOMORPHISMS AND FINITE ABELIAN BRANCHED COVERS OF THE 2-SPHERE
Authors: CHEN HAIMIAO
Published: June 2022

We completely determine finite abelian regular branched covers of the 2-sphere
$S^{2}$
with the property that each homeomorphism of
$S^{2}$
preserving the branching set can be lifted.
Preemergence and postemergence spiny amaranth (Amaranthus spinosus) and common lambsquarters (Chenopodium album) control in lettuce on organic soils
Authors: Odero D. Calvin , Wright Alan L.
Published: June 2022

Successful weed management, particularly use of chemical control, is very important for commercial lettuce production on organic soils in the Everglades Agricultural Area in south Florida. Field experiments were conducted in 2016 and 2017 to determine the efficacy of herbicides (pronamide, bensulide, imazethapyr, or oxyfluorfen) applied preemergence (PRE) either alone or followed by a postemergence (POST) application of imazethapyr for weed control and lettuce (romaine and iceberg) yield. Preemergence-applied oxyfluorfen (0.56 kg ha−1) resulted in significant lettuce injury, including stand loss, while PRE applications of pronamide (4.44 kg ha−1), bensulide (5.6 and 10.1 kg ha−1), or imazethapyr (0.035 g ha−1) resulted in transient lettuce injury and no significant stand loss. Similarly, PRE-applied pronamide, bensulide, and imazethapyr followed by POST-applied imazethapyr did not result in significant lettuce stand loss or injury. When contrasted as a group, PRE-applied herbicides followed by a POST application of imazethapyr provided better spiny amaranth and common lambsquarters control compared with PRE-applied herbicides or POST-applied imazethapyr-only treatments. Lettuce yield was highest with PRE herbicides followed by POST imazethapyr compared with PRE herbicides or POST-applied imazethapyr-only treatments, indicating a yield benefit of having a PRE followed by POST herbicide weed control program in lettuce grown on organic soils. However, oxyfluorfen is not an option for lettuce on organic soils because of unacceptable stand reduction and crop injury. Whether to apply pronamide, bensulide, or imazethapyr PRE followed by a POST application of imazethapyr for broadleaf weed control in lettuce on organic soils depends on the species present, cost, and ease of application.
A Song of Wind and Ice: Increased Frequency of Marine Cold‐Spells in Southwestern Patagonia and Their Possible Effects on Giant Kelp Forests
Authors: Mora‐Soto A. , Aguirre C. , Iriarte J. L. , Palacios M. , Macaya E. C. , Macias‐Fauria M.
Published: June 2022

In contrast to other coastal regions of the world, the giant kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera) ecosystem in southwestern Patagonia has been persistent in area and associated biodiversity in the last decades. In this ecoregion, sea surface temperature (SST) records have consistently remained below the upper thermal threshold for kelp survival, however, no studies have analyzed the spatiotemporal variability of SSTs and their anomalies across the geographical diversity of the southwestern Patagonian coastline. We explored the geographical distribution of extreme warm and cold events in this region from latitudes 47°–56°S in a range of ∼1,000 km, identifying the dates and spatial distribution of marine heatwaves (MHWs) and marine cold‐spells (MCSs) from 1982 to 2020. Results show that a peak in the number of MHWs occurred in the great El Niño year of 1998. Additionally, the 2014–2019 period has had more severe and extreme MCSs than the previous decades. We discuss the origin of these events with a focus on three main processes: (a) geographically constrained cold events caused by glacier melting, (b) regional cold events caused by extreme winds linked to the position of the polar front, and (c) extensive SST anomalies linked to planetary‐scale events such as El Niño and La Niña. Overall, those processes were conductive to counteract global warming trends locally/regionally, highlighting southwestern Patagonia as a possible climatic refugium for the giant kelp ecosystem. Despite this, the effects of freshwater inputs and storm turbulence on the exposed coasts facing the Southern Ocean may cause new kinds of stress on this ecosystem.
Histone demethylase KDM4C is a functional dependency in JAK2-mutated neoplasms
Authors: Ernst Philipp , Schnöder Tina M. , Huber Nicolas , Perner Florian , Jayavelu Ashok Kumar , Eifert Theresa , Hsu Chen-Jen , Tubío-Santamaría Nuria , Crodel Carl C. , Ungelenk Martin , Hübner Christian A. , Clement Joachim H. , Hochhaus Andreas , Heidel Florian H.
Published: June 2022

Mutations of the JAK2 gene are frequent aberrations in the aging hematopoietic system and in myeloid neoplasms. While JAK-inhibitors efficiently reduce hyperinflammation induced by the constitutively active mutated JAK2 kinase, the malignant clone and abundance of mutated cells remains rather unaffected. Here, we sought to assess for genetic vulnerabilities of JAK2-mutated clones. We identified lysine-specific demethylase KDM4C as a selective genetic dependency that persists upon JAK-inhibitor treatment. Genetic inactivation of KDM4C in human and murine JAK2-mutated cells resulted in loss of cell competition and reduced proliferation. These findings led to reduced disease penetrance and improved survival in xenograft models of human JAK2-mutated cells. KDM4C deleted cells showed alterations in target histone residue methylation and target gene expression, resulting in induction of cellular senescence. In summary, these data establish KDM4C as a specific dependency and therapeutic target in JAK2-mutated cells that is essential for oncogenic signaling and prevents induction of senescence.
Changes in adiponectin:leptin ratio among older adults with obesity following a 12-month exercise and diet intervention
Authors: Senkus Katelyn E. , Crowe-White Kristi M. , Bolland Anneliese C. , Locher Julie L. , Ard Jamy D.
Published: June 2022

Background

Excess adiposity is characterized by alterations in adipokine secretion such that circulating leptin concentrations are increased with reductions in adiponectin. An emerging biomarker for the assessment of this adipose tissue (AT) dysfunction is the adiponectin:leptin (AL) ratio. A low AL ratio may be suggestive of dysfunctional AT and, consequently, a heightened cardiometabolic disease risk. This ancillary study investigated the relationship between the AL ratio and cardiometabolic health among community-dwelling older adults with obesity, as well as the effects of a 12-month exercise and diet intervention on changes in the AL ratio.

Methods

Participants (n = 163, 70.2 ± 4.7 years, 38.0% male) were randomized to the exercise only group, exercise + nutrient-dense weight maintenance group (exercise + weight maintenance), or exercise + nutrient-dense caloric restriction of 500 kcal/d group (exercise + intentional weight loss) (clinicaltrials.gov #NCT00955903). Total and regional adiposity as determined by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), anthropometrics, and cardiometabolic biomarkers were assessed at baseline and 12 months.

Results

The AL ratio was significantly (p < 0.05) inversely correlated with body mass index, waist circumference, measures of adiposity, and insulin among all participants at baseline. Among females only, significant positive and inverse correlations were also observed between this ratio and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and the inflammatory biomarkers high sensitivity C-reactive protein and interleukin-6, respectively. While controlling for biological sex, a significant time by intervention group interaction effect (p < 0.05) was observed such that the AL ratio significantly increased from baseline to study completion among participants in the exercise + weight maintenance group and exercise + intentional weight loss group. Post hoc analysis revealed that the exercise + intentional weight loss group exhibited a significantly greater AL ratio at study completion compared to other groups (p < 0.05 all).

Conclusions

Results are in support of the AL ratio as a measure of AT dysfunction among older adults. Furthermore, results suggest that a 12-month exercise and diet intervention with intentional weight loss assists in improving the AL ratio in this population.
Harnessing solar power: photoautotrophy supplements the diet of a low-light dwelling sponge
Authors: Hudspith Meggie , de Goeij Jasper M , Streekstra Mischa , Kornder Niklas A , Bougoure Jeremy , Guagliardo Paul , Campana Sara , van der Wel Nicole N , Muyzer Gerard , Rix Laura
Published: June 2022

The ability of organisms to combine autotrophy and heterotrophy gives rise to one of the most successful nutritional strategies on Earth: mixotrophy. Sponges are integral members of shallow-water ecosystems and many host photosynthetic symbionts, but studies on mixotrophic sponges have focused primarily on species residing in high-light environments. Here, we quantify the contribution of photoautotrophy to the respiratory demand and total carbon diet of the sponge Chondrilla caribensis, which hosts symbiotic cyanobacteria and lives in low-light environments. Although the sponge is net heterotrophic at 20 m water depth, photosynthetically fixed carbon potentially provides up to 52% of the holobiont’s respiratory demand. When considering the total mixotrophic diet, photoautotrophy contributed an estimated 7% to total daily carbon uptake. Visualization of inorganic 13C- and 15N-incorporation using nanoscale secondary ion mass spectrometry (NanoSIMS) at the single-cell level confirmed that a portion of nutrients assimilated by the prokaryotic community was translocated to host cells. Photoautotrophy can thus provide an important supplemental source of carbon for sponges, even in low-light habitats. This trophic plasticity may represent a widespread strategy for net heterotrophic sponges hosting photosymbionts, enabling the host to buffer against periods of nutritional stress.
Hierarchical micro/nanostructured silver hollow fiber boosts electroreduction of carbon dioxide
Authors: Li Shoujie , Chen Wei , Dong Xiao , Zhu Chang , Chen Aohui , Song Yanfang , Li Guihua , Wei Wei , Sun Yuhan
Published: June 2022

Efficient conversion of CO2 to commodity chemicals by sustainable way is of great significance for achieving carbon neutrality. Although considerable progress has been made in CO2 utilization, highly efficient CO2 conversion with high space velocity under mild conditions remains a challenge. Here, we report a hierarchical micro/nanostructured silver hollow fiber electrode that reduces CO2 to CO with a faradaic efficiency of 93% and a current density of 1.26 A · cm−2 at a potential of −0.83 V vs. RHE. Exceeding 50% conversions of as high as 31,000 mL · gcat−1 · h−1 CO2 are achieved at ambient temperature and pressure. Electrochemical results and time-resolved operando Raman spectra demonstrate that enhanced three-phase interface reactions and oriented mass transfers synergistically boost CO production.
Towards artificial general intelligence via a multimodal foundation model
Authors: Fei Nanyi , Lu Zhiwu , Gao Yizhao , Yang Guoxing , Huo Yuqi , Wen Jingyuan , Lu Haoyu , Song Ruihua , Gao Xin , Xiang Tao , Sun Hao , Wen Ji-Rong
Published: June 2022

The fundamental goal of artificial intelligence (AI) is to mimic the core cognitive activities of human. Despite tremendous success in the AI research, most of existing methods have only single-cognitive ability. To overcome this limitation and take a solid step towards artificial general intelligence (AGI), we develop a foundation model pre-trained with huge multimodal data, which can be quickly adapted for various downstream cognitive tasks. To achieve this goal, we propose to pre-train our foundation model by self-supervised learning with weak semantic correlation data crawled from the Internet and show that promising results can be obtained on a wide range of downstream tasks. Particularly, with the developed model-interpretability tools, we demonstrate that strong imagination ability is now possessed by our foundation model. We believe that our work makes a transformative stride towards AGI, from our common practice of “weak or narrow AI” to that of “strong or generalized AI”.
Genome-wide association analysis and replication in 810,625 individuals with varicose veins
Authors: Ahmed Waheed-Ul-Rahman , Kleeman Sam , Ng Michael , Wang Wei , Auton Adam ,   23andMe Research Team, Agee Michelle , Aslibekyan Stella , Bell Robert K. , Bryc Katarzyna , Clark Sarah K. , Elson Sarah L. , Fletez-Brant Kipper , Fontanillas Pierre , Furlotte Nicholas A. , Gandhi Pooja M. , Heilbron Karl , Hicks Barry , Hinds David A. , Huber Karen E. , Jewett Ethan M. , Jiang Yunxuan , Kleinman Aaron , Lin Keng-Han , Litterman Nadia K. , Luff Marie K. , McCreight Jennifer C. , McIntyre Matthew H. , McManus Kimberly F. , Mountain Joanna L. , Mozaffari Sahar V. , Nandakumar Priyanka , Noblin Elizabeth S. , Northover Carrie A. M. , O’Connell Jared , Petrakovitz Aaron A. , Pitts Steven J. , Poznik G. David , Sathirapongsasuti J. Fah , Shastri Anjali J. , Shelton Janie F. , Shringarpure Suyash , Tian Chao , Tung Joyce Y. , Tunney Robert J. , Vacic Vladimir , Wang Xin , Zare Amir S. , Lee Regent , Handa Ashok , Zondervan Krina T. , Wiberg Akira , Furniss Dominic
Published: June 2022

Varicose veins affect one-third of Western society, with a significant subset of patients developing venous ulceration, costing $14.9 billion annually in the USA. Current management consists of either compression stockings, or surgical ablation for more advanced disease. Most varicose veins patients report a positive family history, and heritability is ~17%. We describe the largest two-stage genome-wide association study of varicose veins in 401,656 individuals from UK Biobank, and replication in 408,969 individuals from 23andMe (total 135,514 cases and 675,111 controls). Forty-nine signals at 46 susceptibility loci were discovered. We map 237 genes to these loci, several of which are biologically plausible and tractable to therapeutic targeting. Pathway analysis identified enrichment in extracellular matrix biology, inflammation, (lymph)angiogenesis, vascular smooth muscle cell migration, and apoptosis. Using a polygenic risk score (PRS) derived in an independent cohort, we demonstrate its predictive utility and correlation with varicose veins surgery.
Nonlinear two-level dynamics of quantum time crystals
Authors: Autti S. , Heikkinen P. J. , Nissinen J. , Mäkinen J. T. , Volovik G. E. , Zavyalov V. V. , Eltsov V. B.
Published: June 2022

A time crystal is a macroscopic quantum system in periodic motion in its ground state. In our experiments, two coupled time crystals consisting of spin-wave quasiparticles (magnons) form a macroscopic two-level system. The two levels evolve in time as determined intrinsically by a nonlinear feedback, allowing us to construct spontaneous two-level dynamics. In the course of a level crossing, magnons move from the ground level to the excited level driven by the Landau-Zener effect, combined with Rabi population oscillations. We demonstrate that magnon time crystals allow access to every aspect and detail of quantum-coherent interactions in a single run of the experiment. Our work opens an outlook for the detection of surface-bound Majorana fermions in the underlying superfluid system, and invites technological exploitation of coherent magnon phenomena – potentially even at room temperature.
Transient expression of an adenine base editor corrects the Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome mutation and improves the skin phenotype in mice
Authors: Whisenant Daniel , Lim Kayeong , Revêchon Gwladys , Yao Haidong , Bergo Martin O. , Machtel Piotr , Kim Jin-Soo , Eriksson Maria
Published: June 2022

Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome (HGPS) is a rare premature ageing disorder caused by a point mutation in the LMNA gene (LMNA c.1824 C > T), resulting in the production of a detrimental protein called progerin. Adenine base editors recently emerged with a promising potential for HGPS gene therapy. However adeno-associated viral vector systems currently used in gene editing raise concerns, and the long-term effects of heterogeneous mutation correction in highly proliferative tissues like the skin are unknown. Here we use a non-integrative transient lentiviral vector system, expressing an adenine base editor to correct the HGPS mutation in the skin of HGPS mice. Transient adenine base editor expression corrected the mutation in 20.8-24.1% of the skin cells. Four weeks post delivery, the HGPS skin phenotype was improved and clusters of progerin-negative keratinocytes were detected, indicating that the mutation was corrected in both progenitor and differentiated skin cells. These results demonstrate that transient non-integrative viral vector mediated adenine base editor expression is a plausible approach for future gene-editing therapies.