bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Molecular Dynamics Study of the Mechanical Properties of Ionic Copolymers during Tension–Recovery Deformation
Authors: Ma Mengze , Fu Yao
Published: November 2020

Polymer electrolytes have attracted ever‐increasing attention in the field of energy storage and conversion due to their significantly improved safety features and processability compared with liquid electrolytes and inorganic solid electrolytes. The mechanical integrity of ionic copolymers is one of the most important properties that need to be considered in the development of polymer electrolytes. In this study, the uniaxial tension–recovery studies are conducted in single‐ion diblock copolymers via coarse‐grained molecular dynamics simulation, where the fraction of the charged block is varied to form spherical, cylindrical, and lamellar morphologies. It is found that the dynamic hysteresis loss and permanent displacement have strong dependence on the fraction of the charged block and charge ratio. The change in the radius of gyration greatly varies for the different morphology. Furthermore, the charged copolymers are subjected to more changes in bond orientation during tension and also preserve more changes at recovery. It is likely that the charged monomers and counterions contribute to the stronger crosslinking effect in charged copolymers, reducing chain slippage and hysteresis loss.
MetaPASS: A Web Application for Analyzing the Biological Activity Spectrum of Organic Compounds Taking into Account their Biotransformation
Authors: Rudik Anastasia , Dmitriev Alexander , Lagunin Alexey , Filimonov Dmitry , Poroikov Vladimir
Published: November 2020

Most drug‐like compounds can interact with several pharmacological targets and exhibit complex biological activity spectra. Analysis of these spectra helps find and optimize new pharmaceutical agents or identify new uses for approved and investigational drugs (drug repurposing). Since most pharmaceuticals usually undergo biotransformation in the human body, it is reasonable during drug discovery to take into account biological activity spectra of metabolites. A new freely available MetaPASS web application (http://www.way2drug.com/metapass) has been developed for analyzing the probable biological activity spectra of drug‐like organic compounds taking into account their metabolites ‐ integrated activity profile. To obtain an integrated biological activity profile, one can create a biotransformation network for any compound or analyze known networks for more than 950 compounds from ChEBML and DrugBank. Biological activity profile prediction is based on the PASS Refined software that predicts 1,333 biological activities with an average accuracy (IAP, calculated by leave‐one‐out cross‐validation procedure) exceeded 0.97.
Evaluation of hepatic steatosis before liver transplantation in ex vivo by volumetric quantitative PDFF‐MRI
Authors: Chen Gen , Jiang Jipin , Wang Xinqiang , Yang Min , Xie Yalong , Guo Hui , Tang Hao , Zhou Lifen , Hu Daoyu , Kamel Ihab R. , Chen Zhishui , Li Zhen
Published: November 2020

Purpose

Over the last two decades, extended criteria have promoted an increased number of donor livers available for liver transplantation. But posttransplant graft loss is still a major concern. Macrovesicular hepatic steatosis (MHS) is recognized as the most significant prognostic histologic parameter in predicting posttransplant graft loss. We aimed to evaluate the utility of ex vivo volumetric quantitative MRI for quantifying MHS before liver transplantation using proton density fat‐fraction (PDFF‐MRI) histogram analysis.

Methods

PDFF‐MRI was performed at 3.0T in 40 livers. We obtained histogram parameters of whole‐liver volume of interest, including the mean, median, 5th, 10th, 25th, 75th, 90th, and 95th percentile PDFF; skewness; kurtosis; entropy; and volume.

Results

Livers from 40 cadaveric donors were included, and histologic ex vivo fat quantification was available for 33 livers. Ten livers had MHS and 23 had normal fat content. The MHS group had higher mean, median, 5th, 10th, 25th, 75th, 90th, and 95th percentile PDFF, and entropy than the group with normal fat content (P < .05). Median PDFF had greater area under the curve value than other parameters. Mean PDFF showed an excellent correlation with entropy and a moderate correlation with MHS quantification on histology.

Conclusions

Ex vivo volumetric quantitative PDFF‐MRI histogram analysis is a very useful and noninvasive method to detect MHS before liver transplantation. Median PDFF was the best predictor of the presence of MHS. Entropy is a very promising parameter.
A cover‐based contact detection approach for irregular convex polygons in discontinuous deformation analysis
Authors: Zhuang Xiaoying , Zheng Fei , Zheng Hong , Jiao Yu‐Yong , Rabczuk Timon , Wriggers Peter
Published: November 2020

Irregular polygon shapes (eg, with small edges or small angles) are usually encountered in the contact simulation of discrete block systems. Treatment of irregular polygons in contact detection process has critical effects on the robustness and efficiency of the discontinuous computation approach. The present work proposes a cover‐based strategy to detect and solve contacts of irregular convex polygons in a robust and efficient way. Contact constraints of two polygons are represented by vertex‐edge and edge‐vertex contact covers in 2D. Two loops, namely vertex‐edge loop and edge‐vertex loop, and two filter criteria, namely the entrance filter criterion and the distance filter criterion, are used to establish the potential contact cover list of two neighbor polygons. The initial active and closed contact covers are chosen based on block configuration at the beginning of the step and they are then updated in the open‐close iteration process using proposed criteria. This strategy is implemented in discontinuous deformation analysis. The robustness of the proposed cover‐based approach and the conventional type‐based approach in handling contact of irregular blocks is verified first. Then, the contact analysis efficiency of the cover‐based approach with different contact tolerances is evaluated. This cover‐based method can be extended to 3D case for efficient and robust contact analysis of irregular polyhedral blocks.
Continuing care for patients affected by urologic chronic pelvic pain in the era of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus‐2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) pandemic
Authors: Giannantoni Antonella , Rubilotta Emanuele , Balzarro Matteo , Gubbiotti Marilena
Published: November 2020

Aims

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus‐2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) pandemic poses a challenge to treatment of patients with urologic chronic pelvic pain (UCPP), who are at risk to be postponed in the priority of care. We investigated pain, catastrophizing, and psychological status in UCPP patients during SARS‐CoV‐2 by means of Skype telephone calls.

Methods

A total of 28 UCPP patients underwent Skype video consultations. Pain intensity was assessed with Pain Numerical Rating Scale (PNRS). Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS) and Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS‐21) were used to assess catastrophizing and psychological status.

Results

During SARS‐CoV‐2, UCPP patients showed higher intensity of pain than before (mean ± SD PNRS score: 7.25 ± 0.9 vs. 5.4 ± 0.7; p < .0001), with pain exacerbation in 75%; they showed higher PCS and DASS‐21 scores as compared to before the pandemic (mean ± SD PCS total score: 32.4 ± 1.2 vs. 23.7 ± 3.5; mean ± SD DASS‐21 total score: 42.03 ± 4.5 vs. 34.4 ± 2.2; p < .001 and p < .001, respectively).

Conclusion

During SARS‐CoV‐2 pandemic UCPP patients presented with high intensity of pain, marked catastrophizing thoughts and severe alteration of the psychological status. These observations impose the need not to postpone assessment and treatment of these patients during the pandemic. Remote visits with video telephone calls are a simple way of continuing care in UCPP patients.
Event‐triggered control of nonlinear positive semi‐Markovian jump systems with randomly occurring actuator faults
Authors: Zhang Suhuan , Zhang Junfeng , Cai Xiushan , Li Shuo
Published: November 2020

This article is concerned with the event‐triggered nonfragile reliable control of nonlinear positive semi‐Markovian jump systems with randomly occurring faults. The randomly occurring actuator fault, describing the phenomenon of the actuator fault appearing in a random way, is assumed to obey a semi‐Markovian process different from the jump process of the systems. The nonlinear function is located in a sector. Using a stochastic copositive Lyapunov function integrated with linear programming, an event‐triggered control strategy is employed to deal with the stochastic stabilization of the underlying systems, where the transition rates satisfy a polytopic uncertain condition. Nonfragile reliable controllers with additive and multiplicative perturbations are proposed for the considered systems, respectively. Compared with existing results, the obtained approach establishes a more general fault description and proposes a more practicable control design. Finally, the novelties of the proposed approach are verified via two examples.
Clinical features of odontogenic infection requiring extraoral drainage in elderly patients. A single‐institution retrospective study
Authors: Yoshizumi Junko , Anzai Hiromasa , Mitate Eiji , Obayashi Yuko , Mori Shihomi , Yokoo Yoshinobu , Hashimoto Kenichiro , Hiraki Akimitsu
Published: November 2020

Elderly people are thought to be more vulnerable to microbial infections because of age‐related changes in the immune system and poorer nutritional status. Furthermore, comorbidities such as diabetes mellitus and medications can influence infection severity and response to treatment. To know more about the characteristics of odontogenic infections in the elderly patients, we compared the clinical characteristics between patients aged <75 years (control group; n = 22) and those aged ≥75 years (elderly group; n = 9), who underwent extraoral surgical drainage for odontogenic infection at our hospital's Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery from 2011 to 2016. The following features were more common in the elderly group than in the control group: hypertension, incisor as the causative tooth, submental space as the site of the abscess, periapical periodontitis as the initial inflammation, and Staphylococci as the isolated bacterium. The elderly group also had lower body mass index, serum albumin level and PNI than the control group, implying poorer nutritional status. There were no significant differences in the duration of hospitalization between the groups. Since comorbidities and malnutrition are still seen to be risk factors in the elderly, we should take care of them paying attention to not only to inflammatory markers, but also to nutrition markers and systemic conditions.
Clinical investigation of oral cancer in adolescent and young adult generation
Authors: Yoshioka Yukio , Sakaue Taishi , Matsui Kensaku , Tsushima Koji , Obayashi Fumitaka , Hamada Atsuko , Yamasaki Sachiko , Hamana Tomoaki , Sumi Kensaku , Kanda Taku , Koizumi Koichi , Tani Ryouji , Hayashido Yasutaka , Sasahara Hisako , Ito Yoku , Sado Tomohiro , Ishida Yasutaka , Okamoto Kosei , Kobayashi Masashi , Sakamoto Akihiko , Myoken Yoshinari , Toratani Shigeaki , Okamoto Tetsuji
Published: November 2020

Purpose

To determine the clinical and therapeutic characteristics in adolescent and young adult (AYA) generation with oral cancer.

Methods

We retrospectively studied AYA patients with oral cancer, aged 16‐40 years who visited our department between 1 April 1997 and 31 December 2017, focusing on clinical characteristics including sex, age distribution, tumor site, pathological classification, stage, treatment, treatment outcome, and social rehabilitation.

Results

Forty‐two patients of AYA generation (19 males and 23 females), accounting for five. Seven percent of all oral cancer patients (740), were included. Most were aged 35‐39 (median, 30.9) years. The most frequent site of tumor occurrence was the tongue (n = 29) and the most common histological type was squamous cell carcinoma (n = 30). Most patients had T2N0 cancer based on the TNM classification, and early stage II. Thirty‐nine patients underwent radical treatment, comprising 14 cases of surgery, six of chemo‐radiation therapy, four of surgery with chemotherapy, and two of surgery with radiation therapy. Conversely, nine patients underwent radical radiation therapy, comprising five cases of internal radiation therapy and four of chemo‐radiation therapy. The 5‐year overall survival rate in AYA patients with oral cancer (79.67%) was statistically superior to that in the older‐age group (68.48%) (P = .034). Seven deaths were reported because of distant metastasis in cancer types with relatively poor prognosis.

Conclusion

In this clinical investigation, treatment outcomes of AYA patients were mostly favorable. Most AYA patients with oral cancer recovered fully after radical treatment and achieved social reintegration.
Gen Z entering the workforce: RestructuringHRpolicies and practices for fostering the task performance and organizational commitment
Authors: Aggarwal Arun , Sadhna Priyanka , Gupta Sahil , Mittal Amit , Rastogi Sanjay
Published: November 2020

Generation Z, the youngest generation is steadily entering the workforce with an entirely unique perspective on careers and workplace norms. Employers need to embrace this generation cohort and use their strengths while providing meaningful work. In this regard, the paper aims to examine the influence of HR policies and practices on Generation Z, toward job satisfaction using the attraction‐selection‐attrition (ASA) theory and self‐determination theory (SDT). Incorporating structural equation modeling, on a sample of 493 Generation Z employees, this paper came up with findings that flexible work practices, reward and recognition, compensation and benefits, feedback‐seeking behavior and volunteering work positively influence Gen Z. In addition, this paper also reveals that job satisfaction mediates the relationship between HR practices, task performance, and affective organizational commitment. The paper is a novel attempt to sensitize the employers to look beyond the surface by orchestrating a new model for meeting Gen Z expectations. The implications of these findings for theory and practice, as well as its limitations and future directions, conclude the paper.
Does additional monitoring status increase the reporting of adverse drug reactions? An interrupted time series analysis of EudraVigilance data
Authors: Segec Andrej , Slattery Jim , Morales Daniel R. , Januskiene Justina , Kurz Xavier , Arlett Peter
Published: November 2020

Purpose

To evaluate the impact of including a medicine in the list of medicinal products subject to additional monitoring (AM) on the reporting of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) in the european economic area (EEA).

Methods

Interrupted time series using the monthly number of EEA ADR reports in EudraVigilance during 12 months before and after the addition to AM list. The main outcome was the change (%) in reporting of ADRs with step change as the a priori impact model. Further time series analysis was performed using Joinpoint Regression.

Results

The analysis included 11 active substances. No significant immediate (step change) increase of reporting was identified for any product at time of addition to AM list. We identified a significant gradual increase of ADR reporting after addition to AM list (slope change) for two out of five new products—boceprevir (10% per month, 95% confidence interval (CI) 3%–18%) and denosumab‐Xgeva (13% per month, 95% CI 4%–22%). No change was identified for Prolia, another denosumab‐containing product not subject to AM. No significant increase was identified for any product included in the AM list due to the requirement to conduct a PASS. Conversely, a gradual decrease in reporting was identified for natalizumab (−5% per month; 95% CI −10% to −1%), rivaroxaban (−5%; −8 to −3%), and varenicline (−16%; −21 to −10%). The results were corroborated by the Joinpoint analyses, which yielded similar results.

Conclusions

We identified limited evidence that reporting of ADRs increased modestly and gradually for some new products and not for products with PASS requirement.
Influence of substituent and push‐pull effect on the chemical shifts of the carbon in bridging bond of 1‐furyl/thienyl‐2‐arylethylene
Authors: Cao Chao‐tun , Yan Lu , Cao Chenzhong , Qu Junyan
Published: November 2020

Sixty‐six samples of 1‐furyl/thienyl‐2‐arylethylene model compounds XCHCHArY (abbreviated XEBY) were synthesized. The nuclear magnetic resonance spectra (NMR) of model compounds were determined. The chemical shift δC(X) and δC(Y) of the carbon atoms in bridging bond CHCH which connected to the X group and the ArY group, respectively, were confirmed with the two‐dimensional NMR method. The effect of substituent on the δC(X) and δC(Y) was studied, meanwhile, the push‐pull effect of substituent on ΔδC = δC(Y) − δC(X) and δC(Y/X) = δC(Y)/δC(X) were discussed. The results show the following: (a) Both the δC(X) and δC(Y) are affected by excited‐state substituent constant
of group X, Hammett constant σ(Y), and excited‐state substituent constant
of group Y. The effect of σ(Y) on the δC(X) is positive, whereas that on the δC(Y) is negative. That is to say, the σ(Y) of group Y has an alternative influence on the δC(X) and δC(Y). (b) Compared with furyl, there is a p‐d effect formed by the 3d orbit of S atom and the p electron of the π system in thienyl, which increase the chemical shift of the carbon atoms in bridging bond. (c) The push‐pull effect between substituent X and Y is not only affected by the σ parameter but also related to the
parameter, which results from the combined effect of the two parameters σ and
. The observation of this paper provides a new perspective in understanding the push‐pull effect of substituent.
Design of controllers with distributed central pattern generator architecture for adaptive oscillations
Authors: Wu Andy , Iwasaki Tetsuya
Published: November 2020

This article introduces a systematic method for designing a distributed nonlinear controller to achieve multiple distinct gaits, each of which is characterized by a prescribed oscillation profile and velocity, for a class of locomotion systems. We base the controller on the central pattern generator (CPG), a neural circuit which governs repetitive motions, such as walking and swimming, in most animals. First, we establish a general method for designing a nonlinear CPG‐inspired controller to assign a single gait for a linear plant; we show that this problem reduces to an eigenstructure assignment problem for which a solution has recently become available. We then extend the design to an adaptive, structured controller that can adjust the gait in response to variations in the environment. The essential problem becomes a controller design to satisfy different eigenstructure conditions for different plants; a computationally tractable formulation is provided for this problem. We provide two numerical examples using a link‐chain model as a plant representative of animals that move through undulatory motions, such as leeches or eels, to demonstrate the efficacy of this theory. In the first example, we employ an analytical condition for eigenstructure assignment to design an unstructured controller that assigns a single gait for the link‐chain model. The second example searches for a structured controller to assign two different gaits that can be switched using a higher level command.
Chromatin accessibility in canine stromal cells and its implications for canine somatic cell reprogramming
Authors: Questa Maria , Moshref Maryam , Jimenez Robert J. , Lopez-Cervantes Veronica , Crawford Charles K. , Settles Matthew L. , Ross Pablo J. , Kol Amir
Published: November 2020

Naturally occurring disease in pet dogs is an untapped and unique resource for stem cell-based regenerative medicine translational research, given the many similarities and complexity such disease shares with their human counterparts. Canine-specific regulators of somatic cell reprogramming and pluripotency maintenance are poorly understood. While retroviral delivery of the four Yamanaka factors successfully reprogrammed canine embryonic fibroblasts, adult stromal cells remained resistant to reprogramming in spite of effective viral transduction and transgene expression. We hypothesized that adult stromal cells fail to reprogram due to an epigenetic barrier. Here, we performed assay for transposase-accessible chromatin using sequencing (ATAC-seq) on canine stromal and pluripotent stem cells, analyzing 51 samples in total, and establishing the global landscape of chromatin accessibility before and after reprogramming to induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC). We also studied adult stromal cells that do not yield iPSC colonies to identify potential reprogramming barriers. ATAC-seq analysis identified distinct cell type clustering patterns and chromatin remodeling during embryonic fibroblast reprogramming. Compared with embryonic fibroblasts, adult stromal cells had a chromatin accessibility landscape that reflects phenotypic differentiation and somatic cell-fate stability. We ultimately identified 76 candidate genes and several transcription factor binding motifs that may be impeding somatic cell reprogramming to iPSC, and could be targeted for inhibition or activation, in order to improve the process in canines. These results provide a vast resource for better understanding of pluripotency regulators in dogs and provide an unbiased rationale for novel canine-specific reprogramming approaches.
Microwave‐Assisted Tandem Kornblum Oxidation and Biginelli Reaction for the Synthesis of Dihydropyrimidones
Authors: Malik Asif A. , Dangroo Nisar A. , Ara Tabassum
Published: November 2020

A simple and straightforward approach for the synthesis of dihydropyrimidones via sequential Kornblum oxidation/Biginelli reaction has been developed. The protocol involves an in situ oxidation of benzyl halides which serve as a carbonyl equivalents followed by cyclocondensation with (thio) urea and ethylacetoacetate to furnish dihydropyrimidones under catalyst and base free conditions in a one‐pot tandem manner under microwave irradiation. Further, the product purification using aqueous recrystallization avoids large quantities of volatile and a toxic organic solvent usually required for work‐up and very less time required for this process makes the method environmental‐ and nature‐friendly.
Metal Free Sulfonic Acid Functionalized Carbon Catalyst for Green and Mechanochemical Synthesis of Perimidines
Authors: Sahiba Nusrat , Sethiya Ayushi , Soni Jay , Agarwal Shikha
Published: November 2020

A new and scalable mechanochemical approach has been developed for the synthesis of perimidine derivatives using an efficient and recyclable catalyst, carbon sulfonic acid under metal‐free conditions. A wide variety of aldehydes displayed cyclo‐condensation reaction with 1,8‐diaminonaphthalene in EtOH under ambient reaction conditionsviagrind‐stone technique to produce substituted perimidines in excellent yields (95–99 %) in a very short reaction time. This method has interesting features like single‐step synthesis, high functional group tolerance, transition‐metal free synthesis, high atom‐economy, recyclable catalyst, no need of tedious purification process, gram‐scale synthesis, high green chemistry matrix (Eco‐score and E‐factor) that make this protocol green and eco‐friendly.
Substituent‐Dependent Absorption Spectra, Electrochemical and Antiproliferative Activity Studies of Some 3‐(4‐(Benzyloxy)phenyl)‐5‐(4‐methoxyphenyl)‐1‐(substitutedphenyl)formazans
Authors: Turkoglu Gulsen , Akkoç Senem
Published: November 2020

We have reported the effect of electron donating and withdrawing substituents on absorption and electrochemical properties of formazan derivatives as well as antiproliferative activity. New formazans F2 and F4 bearing electron donating subunits have been synthesized, and characterized via elemental analysis and various spectroscopic techniques. The substituent effects and solvatochromic of formazan derivatives F2–F5 having different substituents on 1‐phenyl ring in eleven solvents were investigated by absorption spectroscopy. Whilst their absorption bands are only slightly dependent on the polarities of solvents, the considerable alteration was detected by modifying the electronic characteristic and positions of the substituents. Then, the antiproliferative activity of all compounds was investigated in four cancer cell lines using MTT and XTT assay methods. The IC50 values of F2 and F4, having electron donating methoxy and methyl subunits were obtained in the ranges of 10.60 and 21.53 μM in DLD‐1 and HepG2 cell lines. Our study demonstrates that F2 and F4 are more active than the positive control drug used.
Temperature‐Responsive Janus Particles as Microsurfactants for On‐Demand Coalescence of Emulsions
Authors: Hwang Yoon‐Ho , Jeon Kyounghee , Ryu Sang A , Kim Dong‐Pyo , Lee Hyomin
Published: November 2020

A new strategy that utilizes temperature‐responsive wax‐based Janus particles as microsurfactants to simultaneously achieve enhanced emulsion stability, as well as, on‐demand coalescence of emulsion droplets is presented. The dumbbell structure with different surface wetting properties on each side of the Janus particle enables the particles to strongly adsorb at the liquid–liquid interface, leading to excellent stability against coalescence for both water‐in‐oil (W/O) and oil‐in‐water (O/W) emulsions. Moreover, these Janus microparticles are composed of a hydrophilic acrylate resin and a hydrophobic wax compartment which transitions from a frozen to an oil‐soluble molten state above the melting point. This allows the particle‐adsorbed droplets to coalesce above a designated temperature, depending on the type of wax material used. It is envisioned that the excellent emulsion stability and the tunable and rapid response to local temperature enabled by the wax‐based Janus particle offers new and exciting opportunities in the advancing technologies including micro‐reactors and drug delivery systems to name a few.
Overlapping mechanisms of lncRNA and expanded microsatellite RNA
Authors: Johnson Sara J. , Cooper Thomas A.
Published: November 2020

RNA has major regulatory roles in a wide range of biological processes and a surge of RNA research has led to the classification of numerous functional RNA species. One example is long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) that are structurally complex transcripts >200 nucleotides (nt) in length and lacking a canonical open reading frame (ORF). Despite a general lack of sequence conservation and low expression levels, many lncRNAs have been shown to have functionality in diverse biological processes as well as in mechanisms of disease. In parallel with the growing understanding of lncRNA functions, there is a growing subset of microsatellite expansion disorders in which the primary mechanism of pathogenesis is an RNA gain of function arising from RNA transcripts from the mutant allele. Microsatellite expansion disorders are caused by an expansion of short (3–10 nt) repeats located within coding genes. Expanded repeat‐containing RNA mediates toxicity through multiple mechanisms, the details of which remain only partially understood. The purpose of this review is to highlight the links between functional mechanisms of lncRNAs and the potential pathogenic mechanisms of expanded microsatellite RNA. These shared mechanisms include protein sequestration, peptide translation, micro‐RNA (miRNA) processing, and miRNA sequestration. Recognizing the parallels between the normal functions of lncRNAs and the negative impact of expanded microsatellite RNA on biological processes can provide reciprocal understanding to the roles of both RNA species.

This article is categorized under:

RNA Interactions with Proteins and Other Molecules > Protein‐RNA Interactions: Functional Implications

RNA in Disease and Development > RNA in Disease
Single particle operators and their correlators in free $$ \mathcal{N} $$ = 4 SYM
Authors: Aprile F. , Drummond J. M. , Heslop P. , Paul H. , Sanfilippo F. , Santagata M. , Stewart A.
Published: November 2020

Abstract

We consider a set of half-BPS operators in $$ \mathcal{N} $$
N
= 4 super Yang-Mills theory which are appropriate for describing single-particle states of superstring theory on AdS5× S5. These single-particle operators are defined to have vanishing two-point functions with all multi-trace operators and therefore correspond to admixtures of single- and multi-traces. We find explicit formulae for all single-particle operators and for their two-point function normalisation. We show that single-particle U(N) operators belong to the SU(N) subspace, thus for length greater than one they are simply the SU(N) single-particle operators. Then, we point out that at large N, as the length of the operator increases, the single-particle operator naturally interpolates between the single-trace and the S3 giant graviton. At finite N, the multi-particle basis, obtained by taking products of the single-particle operators, gives a new basis for all half-BPS states, and this new basis naturally cuts off when the length of any of the single-particle operators exceeds the number of colours. From the two-point function orthogonality we prove a multipoint orthogonality theorem which implies vanishing of all near-extremal correlators. We then compute all maximally and next-to-maximally extremal free correlators, and we discuss features of the correlators when the extremality is lowered. Finally, we describe a half-BPS projection of the operator product expansion on the multi-particle basis which provides an alternative construction of four- and higher-point functions in the free theory.
Isolation of a gene cluster from Armillaria gallica for the synthesis of armillyl orsellinate–type sesquiterpenoids
Authors: Engels Benedikt , Heinig Uwe , McElroy Christopher , Meusinger Reinhard , Grothe Torsten , Stadler Marc , Jennewein Stefan
Published: November 2020

Melleolides and armillyl orsellinates are protoilludene-type aryl esters that are synthesized exclusively by parasitic fungi of the globally distributed genusArmillaria(Agaricomycetes, Physalacriaceae). Several of these compounds show potent antimicrobial and cytotoxic activities, making them promising leads for the development of new antibiotics or drugs for the treatment of cancer. We recently cloned and characterized theArmillaria gallicagenePro1encoding protoilludene synthase, a sesquiterpene cyclase catalyzing the pathway-committing step to all protoilludene-type aryl esters. Fungal enzymes representing secondary metabolic pathways are sometimes encoded by gene clusters, so we hypothesized that the missing steps in the pathway to melleolides and armillyl orsellinates might be identified by cloning the genes surroundingPro1. Here we report the isolation of anA. gallicagene cluster encoding protoilludene synthase and four cytochrome P450 monooxygenases. Heterologous expression and functional analysis resulted in the identification of protoilludene-8α-hydroxylase, which catalyzes the first committed step in the armillyl orsellinate pathway. This confirms that ∆-6-protoilludene is a precursor for the synthesis of both melleolides and armillyl orsellinates, but the two pathways already branch at the level of the first oxygenation step. Our results provide insight into the synthesis of these valuable natural products and pave the way for their production by metabolic engineering.

Key points

• Protoilludene-type aryl esters are bioactive metabolites produced by Armillaria spp.

• The pathway-committing step to these compounds is catalyzed by protoilludene synthase.

• We characterized CYP-type enzymes in the cluster and identified novel intermediates.
Nephrocytes are part of the spectrum of filtration epithelial diversity
Authors: Miyaki Takayuki , Kawasaki Yuto , Matsumoto Akira , Kakuta Soichiro , Sakai Tatsuo , Ichimura Koichiro
Published: November 2020

The excretory system produces urine by ultrafiltration via a filtration epithelium. Podocytes are widely found as filtration epithelial cells in eucoelomates. In some animal taxa, including insects and crustaceans, nephrocytes serve to separate toxic substances from the body fluid, in addition to podocytes. Drosophila nephrocytes have been recently utilized as a model system to study podocyte function and disease. However, functionality and cellular architecture are strikingly different between Drosophila nephrocytes and eucoelomate podocytes, and the phylogenetic relationship between these cells remains enigmatic. In this study, using focused-ion beam-scanning electron microscopy (FIB-SEM) tomography, we revealed three-dimensional architecture of decapod nephrocytes with unprecedented accuracy—they filled an enormous gap, which can be called “missing link,” in the evolutionary diversity of podocytes and nephrocytes. Thus, we concluded that nephrocytes are part of the spectrum of filtration epithelial diversity in animal phylogeny.
In vitro blood compatibility evaluation method: incubating while rotating hemodialyzers filled with fresh human blood
Authors: Kamata Kinue , Hatanaka Yoshihiro , Tanaka Hiromi , Inoue Satoru , Tokimizu Yusuke , Tanba Sayuri , Kishikawa Yuki , Koizumi Toshinori
Published: November 2020

One of the often-used methods for in vitro evaluation of the blood compatibility of hemodialysis membranes is the circulation of human blood through a miniaturized hemodialyzer. The use of a rather small amount of human blood in its evaluation is one advantage of this method. However, because it is manufactured by a different process than actual ones, a miniaturized hemodialyzer membrane cannot always preserve the properties of actual hemodialyzers. To address this problem, we established a new experimental method that uses a relatively small amount of human blood and actual dialyzers. In this method, a test hemodialyzer and a control hemodialyzer filled with human blood obtained from the same donor is slowly rotated to prevent spontaneous blood cell sedimentation for 4 h at 37 °C. By use of this method, we were able to compare blood compatibility between a polysulfone (PS) membrane and a vitamin E (VE)-bonded PS membrane in terms of their relative antithrombotic, antioxidative, and anti-inflammatory properties. Consistent with many previous reports, the results clearly showed that compared with the PS membrane, VE-bonded PS membrane is more blood compatible. These findings suggest that our method is applicable, at least to in vitro blood compatibility evaluation of PS type dialysis membranes.
Socio-Sexual Experiences and Access to Healthcare Among Informal PrEP Users in the Netherlands
Authors: van Dijk Mart , de Wit John B. F. , Kamps Rebecca , Guadamuz Thomas E. , Martinez Joel E. , Jonas Kai J.
Published: November 2020

The aim of this qualitative study was to explore the experiences of informal PrEP users regarding access to PrEP and PrEP-related healthcare, community responses, sexual behavior and well-being. We interviewed 30 men who have sex with men (MSM) in semi-structured online interviews between March and August 2018. Interviews were analyzed using interpretive description. Informal PrEP users were well informed about the use of PrEP, but sometimes did not make use of renal testing. Participants reported a lack of PrEP knowledge among healthcare providers, which limited their access to PrEP and put them at risk, as they received incorrect information. Although some participants reported negative reactions from potential sex partners, most received positive reactions and were sometimes seen as more desirable sex partners. PrEP healthcare services should not only be accessible to formal PrEP users, but also to PrEP users who procure PrEP informally.
Effect of carboxymethylated cellulose nanofibril concentration regime upon material forming on mechanical properties in films and filaments
Authors: Håkansson Karl M. O.
Published: November 2020

It is predicted that the forest and materials from the forest will play an important role to enable the transformation from our linear present to a circular and sustainable future. Therefore, there is a need to understand the materials that can be extracted from the forest, and how to use them in an efficient manner. Here, carboxymethylated cellulose nanofibrils (CNF) from the forest are used to produce films and filaments with the aim to preserve the impressive mechanical properties of a single CNF in a macro-scale material. The mechanical properties of both the films (tensile strength of 231 MPa) and filaments (tensile strength of 645 MPa) are demonstrated to be maximized when the starting suspension is in a flowing state. This is a new insight with regards to filament spinning of CNF, and it is here argued that the three main factors contributing to the mechanical properties of the filaments are (1) the possibility to produce a self-supporting filament from a suspension, (2) the CNF alignment inside the filament and (3) the spatial homogeneity of the starting suspension. The results in this study could possibly also apply to other nanomaterials such as carbon nanotubes and silk protein fibrils, which are predicted to play a large part in future high performing applications.

Graphic abstract
Current limitations in cyberbullying detection: On evaluation criteria, reproducibility, and data scarcity
Authors: Emmery Chris , Verhoeven Ben , De Pauw Guy , Jacobs Gilles , Van Hee Cynthia , Lefever Els , Desmet Bart , Hoste Véronique , Daelemans Walter
Published: November 2020

The detection of online cyberbullying has seen an increase in societal importance, popularity in research, and available open data. Nevertheless, while computational power and affordability of resources continue to increase, the access restrictions on high-quality data limit the applicability of state-of-the-art techniques. Consequently, much of the recent research uses small, heterogeneous datasets, without a thorough evaluation of applicability. In this paper, we further illustrate these issues, as we (i) evaluate many publicly available resources for this task and demonstrate difficulties with data collection. These predominantly yield small datasets that fail to capture the required complex social dynamics and impede direct comparison of progress. We (ii) conduct an extensive set of experiments that indicate a general lack of cross-domain generalization of classifiers trained on these sources, and openly provide this framework to replicate and extend our evaluation criteria. Finally, we (iii) present an effective crowdsourcing method: simulating real-life bullying scenarios in a lab setting generates plausible data that can be effectively used to enrich real data. This largely circumvents the restrictions on data that can be collected, and increases classifier performance. We believe these contributions can aid in improving the empirical practices of future research in the field.
An overview of teacher training programs in educational robotics: characteristics, best practices and recommendations
Authors: Schina Despoina , Esteve-González Vanessa , Usart Mireia
Published: November 2020

The emergence of Educational Robotics (ER) and its rapid spread across all levels of education in recent years has drawn attention to the need for further training in this discipline. In this study we discuss the panorama of teacher training research in ER and make recommendations for institutions that intend to implement ER teacher training programs. We explore three databases that include publications in ER teacher training and select 38 publications for analysis. We discuss these publications with special emphasis on requirements, durations, trainer and trainee profiles, pedagogical approaches and best practices. Our main findings are the lack of uniformity regarding the duration and requirements of training programs and the fact that information on trainer and trainee profiles is not always documented. ER teacher training programs are often not founded on theory. When they are based on pedagogical principles, however, these are usually constructivism/constructionism, inquiry-based learning or project-based learning. The most prominent best practices for ER teacher training fall into five categories: collaboration, materials, pedagogy, practice and feedback/support. Our recommendations will help to improve the content, structure and implementation of future ER teacher training programs and the reliability and generalizability of research results and design.
Big data and big techs: understanding the value of information in platform capitalism
Authors: Marciano Alain , Nicita Antonio , Ramello Giovanni Battista
Published: November 2020

One of the major challenges that result from the digital transformation occurring in our societies bears on its impact on the organization and regulation of the economy. This leads to a dramatic change to the economic institutions of capitalism—into what could be defined as platform capitalism—that rests on a fundamental dilemma between ‘decentralization’ on the one side and ‘concentration’ on the other. This is the main puzzle that the emergence of a big data driven economy is actually offering to law and economics scholars and to policy makers. This paper introduces to some of the major aspects of this dilemma.
Compensation as a means to justice? Sexual violence survivors’ views on the tort law option in Iceland
Authors: Antonsdóttir Hildur Fjóla
Published: November 2020

Limited attention has been paid to the potential of tort law to address the harm of sexual violence. Based on interviews with 35 victim-survivors of sexual violence in Iceland, this study asks: How do victim-survivors understand monetary compensation? How can tort law meet victim-survivors’ justice interests? The findings suggest that in addition to the financial risk involved, most participants had ambivalent views towards pursuing and receiving monetary compensation. Many thought that, given their often extensive pecuniary and non-pecuniary losses, it was only fair to receive compensation; but at the same time, they did not want to accept ‘dirty money’ they considered that pursuing monetary compensation could undermine their credibility, and monetary compensation only partially aligned with their ideas about justice. The findings are interpreted in the context of tort law theory, taboo trade-offs and survivor-centred justice. It is suggested that state intervention is needed to better meet victim-survivors’ justice interests.
Discipline-specific feedback literacies: A framework for curriculum design
Authors: Winstone Naomi E. , Balloo Kieran , Carless David
Published: November 2020

Feedback literacy is an important graduate attribute that supports students’ future work capacities. This study aimed to develop a framework through which discipline-specific feedback literacies, as a set of socially situated skills, can be developed within core curricula. The framework is developed through a content analysis of National Qualifications Frameworks from six countries and UK Subject Benchmark Statements for multiple disciplines, analysis of indicative subject content for a range of disciplines and consultation with subject-matter experts. Whilst most of the benchmark statements incorporate the development of feedback literacy skills related to ‘making judgements’, attributes relating to ‘appreciating feedback’ and ‘taking action based on feedback’ are less prevalent. Skills related to ‘managing the affective challenges of feedback’ are most prevalent in documentation for applied disciplines. The resulting empirically guided curriculum design framework showcases how integrating the development of discipline-specific feedback literacies can be enacted through authentic learning activities and assessment tasks. In terms of implications for practice, the framework represents in concrete terms how discipline-specific feedback literacies can be integrated within higher education curricula. The findings also have implications for policy: by positioning discipline-specific feedback literacies as graduate outcomes, we believe they should be integrated within national qualifications frameworks as crucial skills to be developed through higher education courses. Finally, from a theoretical perspective, we advance conceptions of feedback literacy through a sociocultural approach and propose new directions for research that seek to reconceptualise a singular concept of feedback literacy as multiple feedback literacies that unfold in distinctive ways across disciplines.
Exploring the use of IoT Data for Heightened Situational Awareness in Centralised Monitoring Control Rooms
Authors: Horita Flávio , Baptista João , de Albuquerque João Porto
Published: November 2020

This paper traces the expansion of a network of IoT sensors to improve the effectiveness of a centralised control room in Brazil in anticipating natural hazards. This centralised model relies on using IoT data by highly qualified experts replacing previous smaller local structures. We draw on the notion of Situational Awareness to carry out the study. Results show that although the operators were not always familiar with the characteristics of locations, the use of IoT data heightened their situational awareness in the centralised control room by improving perception and comprehension. However, they still relied on local knowledge and learned experiences to support projection and anticipation of risks. The study highlights that although data analytics systems are capable of expanding operators’ perception of local elements, they must be complemented by local richer forms of information, needed to anticipate risks and make critical decisions with major impact on local population.
Conversational robo advisors as surrogates of trust: onboarding experience, firm perception, and consumer financial decision making
Authors: Hildebrand Christian , Bergner Anouk
Published: November 2020

The current research demonstrates how conversational robo advisors as opposed to static, non-conversational robo advisors alter perceptions of trust, the evaluation of a financial services firm, and consumer financial decision making. We develop and empirically test a novel conceptualization of conversational robo advisors building on prior work in human-to-human communication and interpersonal psychology, showing that conversational robo advisors cause greater levels of affective trust compared to non-conversational robo advisors and evoke a more benevolent evaluation of a financial services firm. We demonstrate that this increase in affective trust not only affects firm perception (in terms of benevolence attributions or a more positively-valenced onboarding experience), but has important implications for investor behavior, such as greater recommendation acceptance and an increase in asset allocation toward conversational robo advisors. These findings have important implications for research on trust formation between humans and machines, the effective design of conversational robo advisors, and public policy in the digital economy.
Effect of Temperature, Time, and Cooling Rate on the Mineralogy, Morphology, and Reducibility of Iron Ore Sinter Analogues
Authors: Harvey Tobin , Pownceby Mark I. , Chen Jeff , Webster Nathan A. S. , Nguyen Thi Bang Tuyen , Matthews Leanne , O’Dea Damien , Honeyands Tom
Published: November 2020

Analogue sinter tablets were produced at temperatures between 1250°C and 1320°C, with a range of hold times and cooling rates. Platy silico-ferrite of calcium and aluminum (SFCA) morphology was identified in samples produced at 1250°C using reflected light microscopy; however, quantitative x-ray diffraction (XRD) identified the presence of the SFCA phase, with no SFCA-I detected. This proves that the platy SFCA morphology common in analysis by reflected light microscopy cannot be attributed to the SFCA-I mineral without further analysis. Micro-XRD and electron probe micro-analysis (EPMA) were carried out on an area of platy SFCA confirming this result. The sinter analogue tablets were reduced in a 30% CO, 70% N2 gas mixture at 900°C in a tube furnace thermo-gravimetric analyzer. The degree of reduction of the tablets in this study was found to be controlled by the porosity of the samples, rather than by the morphology or mineralogy of the bonding phase.