bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Facile one-pot solvothermal approach to produce inorganic binary TiO2@NiTiO3 and ternary Au-TiO2@NiTiO3 yellow nano-pigment for environmental and energy use
Authors: Ben Saber Nesrine , Mezni Amine , Alrooqi Arwa , Altalhi Tariq
Published: April 2021

Abstarct

Hybrid titanium dioxide (TiO2) nickel titanate (NiTiO3) perovskite nanomaterials (TiO2@NiTiO3) and gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) supported on hybrid titania@nickel titanate (Au-TiO2@NiTiO3) were successfully synthesized using a modified solvothermal wet chemical procedure. A pigment yellow powders were obtained with high crystallinity as characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD). TiO2 exhibits the anatase phase despite the calcination at 600 °C and NiTiO3 was found as expected to be in the ilmenite structure while gold retains the cubic structure. As will be shown below, the calcination treatments prove that the crystalline phase of the sample is very sensitive to the heat treatment. The obtained binary and ternary nanocomposites exhibit good optical response with interesting energy gap. The optical property of the nanocomposites was exploited for photocatalytic application against dyes molecules. The hybrid nanomaterial shows efficient photocatalytic activity compared to bare TiO2. Au/TiO2@NiTiO3 shows superior photocatalytic efficiency contrasted to TiO2 and to hybrid TiO2@NiTiO3 that make it a promising photocatalyst for diverse applications counting photovoltaic devices and solar cells.
Stress corrosion cracking and fracture behaviors of gaseous-hydrogenated Titanium alloy Ti-6321 during slow strain rate tests
Authors: Xu Yali , Li Longteng , Yin Yanchao , Zhang Binbin , Jiang Peng
Published: April 2021

The stress corrosion cracking (SCC) behavior of gaseous-hydrogenated near-alpha titanium alloy Ti-6321 in the range of 20 ∼ 210 wppm (ppm by weight) was investigated using slow strain rate test (SSRT). Optical Microscopy (OM), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), as well as Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), were utilized to observe the microstructures of raw materials, fracture surfaces, cross-sectional areas of fracture surfaces, and the microstructures after deformation; Electron Backscattered Diffraction (EBSD) method was used to analyze the grain orientations so as to analyze the fracture behavior. The results showed that the Ti-6321 alloy revealed no SCC susceptibility in this range, and the material exhibited softening effect when hydrogen content was 65wppm and a hardening effect when hydrogen content exceeded 65wppm. With the increase of hydrogen concentration, the elongation increased because the mobility of dislocations and the nucleation of twins were simultaneously enhanced by hydrogen. In addition, microvoids’ growth and nucleation were inhibited by hydrogen in the matrix.
Magnetic proximity effect in two-dimensional van der Waals heterostructure
Authors: Bora M , Deb P
Published: April 2021

The evolution of low-dimensional materials has frequently revolutionized new intriguing physical standards and suggests a unique approach to scientifically design a novel device. However, scaling down of spin-electronic devices entails in-depth knowledge and precise control on engineering interfacial structures, which unveils the exciting opportunity. To reveal exotic quantum phases, atomically thin two-dimensional van der Waals material, embraces control and tuning of various physical states by coupling with peripheral perturbation such as pressure, photon, gating, Moire pattern and proximity effect. Herein, we discuss the physical property of a pristine material which can be converted via proximity effects to attain intrinsic spin-dependent properties from its adjacent material like magnetic, topological or spin–orbit phenomena. Realizing magnetic proximity effect in atomically thin vdW heterostructure not only balance the traditional techniques of designing quality spin interface by doping, defects or surface modification, but also can overcome their restrictions for modelling and fabricate novel spin-related devices in nanoscale phases. The proximitized van der Waals heterostructure systems unveil properties, which cannot be realized in any integral component of considered heterostructure system. These proximitized van der Waals material provide an ideal platform for exploring new physical phenomena, which delivers a broader framework for employing novel materials and investigate nanoscale phases in spintronics and valleytronics.
MXene-based electromagnetic wave response
Authors: Tang Xinfeng , Zhou Min
Published: April 2021

Recently, MXenes stand out as an attractive type of two-dimensional layered material. Their unique deformable surface terminations and rich chemical compositions endow MXenes with adjustable and customizable characteristics, resulting in excellent linear/non-linear electromagnetic wave responses and versatile applications. In order to get more insights in this area, here, we make a comprehensive summarization of the interactions according to the response principles between MXenes and electromagnetic waves, such as absorption, scattering, emission, transmission, resonance, etc. The latest progress of corresponding applications is also introduced in detail, including photothermal conversion, photo-/photoelectro-catalysis, electromagnetic interference shielding, photoluminescence, tumor therapy, transparent electrode, photodetector, surface-enhanced Raman scattering, plasmonic absorption, saturated absorption, etc. Finally, the challenges and opportunities are discussed to look forward to the beautiful future of MXenes and MXene-based electromagnetic wave responses.
Spherical convolutions on molecular graphs for protein model quality assessment
Authors: Igashov Ilia , Pavlichenko Nikita , Grudinin Sergei
Published: April 2021

Processing information on three-dimensional (3D) objects requires methods stable to rigid-body transformations, in particular rotations, of the input data. In image processing tasks, convolutional neural networks achieve this property using rotation-equivariant operations. However, contrary to images, graphs generally have irregular topology. This makes it challenging to define a rotation-equivariant convolution operation on these structures. In this work, we propose spherical graph convolutional network that processes 3D models of proteins represented as molecular graphs. In a protein molecule, individual amino acids have common topological elements. This allows us to unambiguously associate each amino acid with a local coordinate system and construct rotation-equivariant spherical filters that operate on angular information between graph nodes. Within the framework of the protein model quality assessment problem, we demonstrate that the proposed spherical convolution method significantly improves the quality of model assessment compared to the standard message-passing approach. It is also comparable to state-of-the-art methods, as we demonstrate on critical assessment of structure prediction benchmarks. The proposed technique operates only on geometric features of protein 3D models. This makes it universal and applicable to any other geometric-learning task where the graph structure allows constructing local coordinate systems. The method is available at https://team.inria.fr/nano-d/software/s-gcn/.
Theories and models of supercapacitors with recent advancements: impact and interpretations
Authors: Bharti  , Kumar Ashwani , Ahmed Gulzar , Gupta Meenal , Bocchetta Patrizia , Adalati Ravikant , Chandra Ramesh , Kumar Yogesh
Published: April 2021

Supercapacitors provide remarkable eco-friendly advancement in energy conversion and storage with a huge potential to control the future economy of the entire world. Currently, industries focus on the design and engineering aspects of supercapacitors with high performance (high energy), flexibility (by the use of composite polymer based electrolytes), high voltage (ionic liquid) and low cost. The paper reviews the modelling techniques like Empirical modelling, Dissipation transmission line models, Continuum models, Atomistic models, Quantum models, Simplified analytical models etc. proposed for the theoretical study of Supercapacitors and discusses their limitations in studying all the aspects of Supercapacitors. It also reviews the various software packages available for Supercapacitor (SC) modelling and discusses their advantages and disadvantages. The paper also reviews the Experimental advancements in the field of electric double layer capacitors (EDLCs), pseudo capacitors and hybrid/asymmetric supercapacitors and discusses the commercial progress of supercapacitors as well.
Estimation under matrix quadratic loss and matrix superharmonicity
Authors: Matsuda T , Strawderman W E
Published: April 2021

We investigate estimation of a normal mean matrix under the matrix quadratic loss. Improved estimation under the matrix quadratic loss implies improved estimation of any linear combination of the columns under the quadratic loss. First, an unbiased estimate of risk is derived and the Efron–Morris estimator is shown to be minimax. Next, a notion of matrix superharmonicity for matrix-variate functions is introduced and shown to have properties analogous to those of the usual superharmonic functions, which may be of independent interest. Then, it is shown that the generalized Bayes estimator with respect to a matrix superharmonic prior is minimax. We also provide a class of matrix superharmonic priors that includes the previously proposed generalization of Stein’s prior. Numerical results demonstrate that matrix superharmonic priors work well for low-rank matrices.
The contribution of testing in the fight against COVID-19: evidence from Italy
Authors: De Matteis Alessandro , Turkmen Ceylan Fethiye B , Adrianopoli Marina , Ertek Sibel
Published: April 2021

Background

In response to the epidemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), a few countries have rolled out widespread testing of the population, while in other countries only people requiring hospital admission are being screened. After an extensive testing strategy during the initial few weeks in the early phase of the epidemic, the Italian Ministry of Health made its testing policy more stringent. In this study we assess the contribution of the testing policy containing the spread of the COVID-19 epidemic in Northern Italy.

Methods

The analysis is focused on the evolution of the epidemic and related health intervention in four regions where ∼80% of the national death toll due to COVID-19 has occurred. The assumed under-estimation of asymptomatic cases has led us to make use of the number of deaths due to the epidemic to analyze the effectiveness of testing. The analysis is conducted through an autoregressive time-series approach where we use official data from the Ministry of Health.

Results

The results of the analysis confirm a negative relationship between the number of tests carried out and the progression of the epidemic. In particular, results reveal that the tests are particularly effective in breaking the chain of transmission when they are implemented at the early stages of the spread of the virus.

Conclusions

A large-scale testing policy is recommended as a critical contribution to effectively contain the epidemic. In addition, it is highly recommended to set up all necessary measures to enable the quick scale-up of testing capacity whenever required.
Pegylated Interferon-ɑ (IFN-ɑ) Enhances the Inhibitory Effect of Natural Killer Cells on Regulatory T Cells via IFN-γ in Chronic Hepatitis B
Authors: Yuan Wei , Huang Da , Wu Di , Chen Yuying , Ma Ke , Han Meifang , Luo Xiaoping , Yan Weiming , Ning Qin
Published: April 2021

The immunomodulatory role of natural killer (NK) cells has been recognized recently, but its effects on CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) during chronic hepatitis B (CHB) infection and treatment remain unclear. A total of 116 nucleos(t)ide analogue (NA)-treated CHB patients were included. An inverse correlation between the peripheral frequencies of NK cells and Tregs was found in NA suppressed patients following pegylated interferon-ɑ (PegIFN-ɑ)–based treatment. Furthermore, NK cells suppressed the proliferation and differentiation of Tregs through secreting IFN-γ as was evidenced in the circulation of NA-treated CHB patients as well as in liver of HBV-carrier mouse model. Additionally, the inhibition could be enhanced by PegIFN-ɑ treatment, which was correlated to more vigorous HBV-specific T-cell responses and marked reduction in HBsAg. Our study reveals a novel immunomodulatory mechanism of NK cells and provides a theoretical basis for PegIFN-ɑ as an immunotherapy agent in treating patients with CHB.
Metabolic Profiles of 5F-MDMB-PICA in Human Urine, Serum and Hair Samples Using LC–Q Exactive HF-MS
Authors: Qin Shiyang , Xin Guobin , Wei Juanna , He Genye , Yuan Zengping , Liu Hua , Zhang Xu , Wang Yuanfeng , Zhang Wenfang , Lu Jianghai
Published: April 2021

In 2020, 5F-MDMB-PICA (5F-MDMB-2201) was one of the most common synthetic cannabinoids (SCs) identified in drugs seized by the Beijing Drug Control Agency, and it was categorized as Schedule II by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime in March 2020. It is difficult to detect 5F-MDMB-PICA in biological matrices due to its fast metabolic rate in vivo. In this work, 5F-MDMB-PICA metabolic profiles were investigated by liquid chromatography--quadrupole exactive high field orbitrap mass spectrometer (LC-Q Exactive HF MS), with accurate mass measurements in human urine, serum and pubic hair. To obtain intact metabolites, solid-phase extraction for urine and serum and direct ultrasonic extraction for pubic hair were applied to clean the samples without enzymatic hydrolysis. The differences in 5F-MDMB-PICA metabolism in the three different matrices were compared for the first time to determine the best detection biomarkers for monitoring 5F-MDMB-PICA misuse. Urine samples were determined to be the preferred biological material for identifying 5F-MDMB-PICA abuse. Forty-seven intact metabolites were detected in human urine, the ester hydrolyzed with glucuronidated metabolite in urine samples can be used as the primary biomarker to identify drug misuse. Fifteen metabolites were found in serum samples. Ester hydrolysis was considered to be the major metabolic pathway, and a large number of metabolites were involved with it. Zero metabolites apart from the parent drug were detected in pubic hair samples. Twenty-eight new metabolites and their metabolic pathways were characterized and tentatively identified by LC–QE-HF-MS, and a new potential biomarker (M5 ester hydrolysis + propionic acid) was also identified.
Furuncular Myiasis by Dermatobia hominis (Diptera: Oestridae) in Wild Jaguars in the Amazon Rainforest
Authors: Soares Matheus Mickael Mota , Barros Luana Machado , Bôlla Daniela Aparecida Savariz , Almeida Marlus Queiroz , Souza Diego da Costa , Souza de Araujo Jucileide , Sacheto Michelle Cristina , da Silva Davi Anderson Tamborini , Fonseca Rogério
Published: April 2021

Two individuals of the jaguar, Panthera onca (L.), were captured near the municipality of Presidente Figueiredo, Brazilian Amazon, during the years of 2017 and 2018. The jaguars presented furuncular myiasis caused by the human botfly Dermatobia hominis (L.) on the rear thighs and tail. This is the first record of infestation of D. hominis in P. onca in the Amazon region.
Editors’ Introduction to The Oxford Handbook of Comparative Health Law
Authors: Hervey Tamara K. , Orentlicher David
Published: April 2021

This introductory chapter provides an overview of The Oxford Handbook of Comparative Health Law. Why compare health laws? Situated at the interfaces between human rights, dignity, autonomy, and solidarity, and between multinational business activity, state regulation, and the most private of individual decision-making, health law is perhaps unique in its capacity to provoke a range of responses to how law should constrain and facilitate human activity. Scholars, legislators, and judges grappling with critical questions—such as how to finance healthcare, how to regulate the pharmaceutical industry, and how to protect against threats to public health that can quickly cross national borders—can learn from the successes and failures of the different approaches taken in different countries. The chapter then outlines the scope of the Handbook, which brings together the existing and emerging body of research in health law, with a key focus on the United States–European comparative perspective.
Contextual Approaches to Human Resource Management
Authors: Parry Emma , Morley Michael J. , Brewster Chris
Published: April 2021

This introductory chapter explains the origins of The Oxford Handbook of Contextual Approaches to Human Resource Management and outlines some of the underlying motivations for its development. In order to set the scene, the chapter discusses aspects of the development of academic interest in the field of contextual human resource management and establishes the need for a move away from the emphasis on the universalistic approach to HRM. The chapter also presents a multilevel perspective on context encompassing the macro, meso and micro levels. This is followed by an explanation of the structure of the handbook and an overview of each chapter, and their contributions to this text.
Human Resource Management in the African Context
Authors: Horwitz Frank M. , Ronnie Linda
Published: April 2021

This chapter provides a critical overview of the evolving human resource management (HRM) research context, labor market developments, insights regarding cross-cultural diversity, human resource practices, issues pertaining to the efficacy of adoption of Western and East Asian international HRM, and employment relations in African countries. Given the influence of multinational corporations on the diffusion and development of HRM in African countries, issues pertaining to their influence are critically evaluated. Even with the increasing focus on the Chinese–African HRM nexus, studies on African management or HRM are often country specific, occasionally comparative, and variously suggest that HRM practices follow the convergence perspective, “cross-convergence” perspective, or divergence perspectives. There are still unexplored issues relating to African management or HRM, and new findings could reshape the research agenda, HRM policy, and practice. Though often country or regionally focused, there is evidence of increasing research on HRM issues and mergers and acquisitions, impacts of privatization on HRM, knowledge appropriation, emerging market multinational corporation HRM policy and practice, diversity and cross-cultural management, HIV/AIDS policy implementation issues, sustainable development and corporate social responsibility, and impacts of the institutional and regulatory environment on HRM and employment relations.
The Performance Lens
Authors: Boselie Paul , Schott Carina
Published: April 2021

This chapter makes three important contributions to the literature on the relationship between human resource management (HRM) and public-sector performance. First, the chapter presents a nuanced Harvard model that is developed by blending contemporary general HRM insights with public administration and public management literature. This refined model is more meaningful for the specific context of the public sector because it highlights multiple stakeholder interests, situational factors, and mediating factors (HRM policy choices and HRM outcomes), as well as long-term consequences from a public-sector context perspective. Second, the chapter presents an overview of studies on HRM and public-sector performance. This overview summarizes what is already known about the added value of HRM in a public-sector context. Third, on the basis of this literature review, the chapter identifies five important gaps in the literature, thereby providing a research agenda for future research.
Incrementalism and Its Alternatives
Authors: Wegrich Kai
Published: April 2021

This chapter discusses how a classic perspective of public policy and public administration, incrementalism, contributes to questions of the politics of time. It argues that the contribution of incrementalism is not limited to emphasizing the advantages of small-scale and stepwise policy or institutional changes compared to comprehensive reform strategies. Beyond this, the chapter shows how contributions from diverse fields, ranging from comparative politics and behavioral insights to urban planning, develop the concept of incrementalism, and how these approaches can enrich debates on policy and institutional change. In particular, the common image of incrementalism as subservient to existing power structures is challenged. Linking the varieties of incrementalism to questions of politics of time helps to develop these insights.
Copy Rites
Authors: Vajjhala Rachana
Published: April 2021

This chapter considers two contemporary versions of The Rite of Spring: Xavier Le Roy’s Le Sacre du Printemps and Jérôme Bel’s self-titled production. Because there is relatively extensive documentation of Nijinsky’s original choreography for the Rite, so-called reconstructions are widely known and available. But Le Roy and Bel seek to reimagine the ballet completely. Le Roy loosely “conducts” the score as it is piped out of speakers placed among the audience, thus inverting the traditional spatial and artistic dimensions of theatrical space. Bel drastically denudes his Rite, with naked dancers, a nearly bare stage, and a flimsy monophonic rendition of the gargantuan score. He embarks on a subcutaneous exploration of a dance performance to discover its most basic constituent parts. In reworking the ballet’s “original” materials, these artists expose some basic assumptions about music and dance as media, both as performance acts and as objects of study.
Segregated Landscapes in South Africa, 1800–1994
Authors: Weinberg Tara
Published: April 2021

This chapter investigates the origins of the segregation in South Africa and analyzes how a white minority established political and economic hegemony over the country’s black majority. It recounts the establishment of the apartheid government in 1948, which intensified the processes of exclusion and segregation under colonialism and white rule. It also looks at historical work that highlights important facets of the history of land segregation and keeps sight of the power dynamics and violence that accompanied centuries of segregation in South Africa. This chapter looks at several streams of scholarship around land segregation, including the intersection of gender and land. It examines debates on South Africa’s highly segregated land system and massive landownership inequalities.
Transnational Space Law
Authors: Madders Kevin J.
Published: April 2021

This chapter applies the transnational law approach to the space field. It introduces the space-Earth relationship in society and law from ancient times and how this altered with revolutions in thought, science, and technology. It then describes how German wartime and postwar strategic developments culminated in the turning point Sputnik represented for geopolitics, science, and space norms formation. A transnational space science community arose, while a process of superpower Cold War diplomacy at the United Nations and outside it arrived at understandings amplified in the 1967 Outer Space Treaty. This and the other UN space treaties, along with subsequent UN consensus principles, are reviewed, with discussion also of why the 1979 Moon Agreement failed to gain critical mass. The chapter identifies transnational regimes, forms of space cooperation, the centrality of space policy, and the status of national space lawmaking. Space debris and congestion as well as the potential for unilateralism are among current challenges as the “New Space” era opens. Such challenges engage us all, space activities being the province of all humankind.
With, Within, and Beyond the State: The Promise and Limits of Transnational Legal Ordering
Authors: Shaffer Gregory , Halliday Terence
Published: April 2021

Our theoretical framework provides a way to assess empirically how legal norms interact at the transnational, national, and local levels in terms of their construction, conveyance, and practice. For us, the term “transnational” thus does not suggest the disappearance of the state, the withdrawal of the state as a major actor, or processes autonomous of state law, as contended by others. Rather, the term “transnational” has three core attributes. First, it highlights that states (through state officials) are just one among many actors engaged in transnational legal ordering. Second, it points to the ways transnational legal ordering transcends and often transforms states through their participation in transnational legal processes. Third, it underscores that one needs to assess the interaction of state and nonstate actors at different levels of social organization, including international organizations and transnational networks, national institutions, and local practice, to understand transnational legal ordering.
Transnational Legal Education
Authors: Darian-Smith Eve
Published: April 2021

Transnational legal education is increasingly understood as important to teaching law within the context of a global political economy and global flow of goods, people, services, and legal concepts. Transnational legal education has been driven by the need for primarily elite lawyers, often working in global law firms, to serve expanding capitalist needs. This shift in legal services has accompanied the decentralization of state power and correlative privatization and deregulation of legal norms over the past forty years. However, what is often not explicitly stated by those supporting transnational legal education is that its pedagogy, and the material practices of transnational law, intrinsically involve the concept of legal pluralism. This chapter strives to place the concept of legal pluralism front and center into the conversation on transnational legal education and in so doing highlight that all legal processes (at subnational, national, and transnational levels) are relational, dynamic, and deeply imbricated in culturally contingent contexts and diverse worldviews. The lessons learnt about legal pluralism in the teaching of transnational law are thus relevant and applicable to all kinds of legal education, be it explicitly engaged with legal practices operating beyond national borders or not.
Comic Culture
Authors: Alfie Fabian
Published: April 2021

The comic pervaded the culture around Dante, offering him a model of literature that he explored throughout his life. For centuries, medieval literary theorists had defined literature as a subset of ethics, with tragic literature communicating the praise of the virtuous, and comic literature conveying the blame of the sinful. The definitions of comic and satiric literatures overlapped such that the two genres could not be fully distinguished from each other. Comic elements appear throughout Dante’s literature, from his lyric poems to the derision of the Italian dialects in De vulgari eloquentia. Nowhere is the influence of comic literature clearer than when dealing with his masterpiece, the Commedia. From the invectives in Inferno to the tirades against ecclesiastical corruption in Paradiso, the author of the Commedia is committed to decrying the flaws of the sinful.
Reading
Authors: Carruthers Mary
Published: April 2021

Focused on canto I of Inferno and the frame narrative of the Vita Nova, this essay examines the medieval cultural traditions and techniques involved in careful reading. These derive from two bodies of traditional education, ancient Greco-Roman and early Judeo-Christian. These were enhanced by reforms from the twelfth century, many disseminated from the abbey of St Victor by Augustinians and other monastic orders, and later by friars including St Bonaventure. Reading, remembering, and imagining are interdependent activities in the practices of contemplative thinking. Such reading has three characteristics. It is forcefully engaged and intense, not detached and objective. It is frequent, in the sense of being often re-visited, for creative meditation begins with something familiar and expands on it. And it is profoundly social. Medieval meditational reading is a set of continuing conversations, not intended to close off interpretation but to stimulate fruitful reflection and contemplation.
Florence and Rome
Authors: Milani Giuliano
Published: April 2021

In more than one way, Dante’s trajectory goes from Florence to Rome. In Par. XXXI, he describes the movement of his life as a journey ‘from Florence to a people just and sane’, which he compares to Rome. This itinerary finds a correspondence in the evolution of his political thinking. Dante begins confronting politics as a Guelph, within the horizon of his own city-commune, and comes to a view—shared by some Ghibellines—in which universal empire is the only legitimate power. This chapter discusses the coherence of this trajectory by analyzing some passages of Dante’s works in which Florence and Rome are mentioned together, drawing out some of the tensions and contradictions.
Arabidopsis NF-YCs play dual roles in repressing brassinosteroid biosynthesis and signaling during light-regulated hypocotyl elongation
Authors: Zhang Wenbin , Tang Yang , Hu Yilong , Yang Yuhua , Cai Jiajia , Liu Hailun , Zhang Chunyu , Liu Xu , Hou Xingliang
Published: April 2021

Light functions as the primary environmental stimulus and brassinosteroids (BRs) as important endogenous growth regulators throughout the plant lifecycle. Photomorphogenesis involves a series of vital developmental processes that require the suppression of BR-mediated seedling growth, but the mechanism underlying the light-controlled regulation of the BR pathway remains unclear. Here, we reveal that nuclear factor YC proteins (NF-YCs) function as essential repressors of the BR pathway during light-controlled hypocotyl growth in Arabidopsis thaliana. In the light, NF-YCs inhibit BR biosynthesis by directly targeting the promoter of the BR biosynthesis gene BR6ox2 and repressing its transcription. NF-YCs also interact with BIN2, a critical repressor of BR signaling, and facilitate its stabilization by promoting its Tyr200 autophosphorylation, thus inhibiting the BR signaling pathway. Consistently, loss-of-function mutants of NF-YCs show etiolated growth and constitutive BR responses, even in the light. Our findings uncover a dual role of NF-YCs in repressing BR biosynthesis and signaling, providing mechanistic insights into how light antagonizes the BR pathway to ensure photomorphogenic growth in Arabidopsis.
Time of the day prioritizes the pool of translating mRNAs in response to heat stress
Authors: Bonnot Titouan , Nagel Dawn H.
Published: April 2021

The circadian clock helps organisms to anticipate and coordinate gene regulatory responses to changes in environmental stimuli. Under growth limiting temperatures, the time of the day modulates the accumulation of polyadenylated mRNAs. In response to heat stress, plants will conserve energy and selectively translate mRNAs. How the clock and/or the time of the day regulates polyadenylated mRNAs bound by ribosomes in response to heat stress is unknown. In-depth analysis of Arabidopsis thaliana translating mRNAs found that the time of the day gates the response of approximately one-third of the circadian-regulated heat-responsive translatome. Specifically, the time of the day and heat stress interact to prioritize the pool of mRNAs in cue to be translated. For a subset of mRNAs, we observed a stronger gated response during the day, and preferentially before the peak of expression. We propose previously overlooked transcription factors (TFs) as regulatory nodes and show that the clock plays a role in the temperature response for select TFs. When the stress was removed, the redefined priorities for translation recovered within 1 h, though slower recovery was observed for abiotic stress regulators. Through hierarchical network connections between clock genes and prioritized TFs, our work provides a framework to target key nodes underlying heat stress tolerance throughout the day.
AUTOMATED QC FOR INTERVENTIONAL SYSTEMS AND MAMMOGRAPHY SYSTEMS
Authors: Visanuyanont Tanny , Gluchowski Paula , Hillberg Emanuel , Moberg Tomas , Svalkvist Angelica
Published: April 2021

Quality control (QC) of X-ray equipment is an important task for patient safety. Periodic QC should not take long to perform, especially in a stressful clinical environment where downtime should be minimised. DOSESTAT-QC® is a new quick QC software with automatic image analysis that has been developed into a quality-assured and user-friendly tool for daily use. Trained X-ray personnel can easily perform the QC with selected image phantoms and immediately approve the results onsite before the equipment is used clinically. Image analysis includes visibility of contrast detail groups, homogeneity, signal-to-noise ratio and contrast-to-noise ratio. In the event of unapproved QC, a message is automatically sent to medical physicists and/or medical engineers. The results are stored over time and are available for trend analysis. The present paper describes the DOSESTAT-QC® software and its application in QC of interventional X-ray systems and mammography systems.
Changing school start times: impact on sleep in primary and secondary school students
Authors: Meltzer Lisa J , Wahlstrom Kyla L , Plog Amy E , Strand Matthew J
Published: April 2021

Study Objectives

To examine the impact of changing school start times on sleep for primary (elementary school: ES) and secondary (middle and high school: MS/HS) students.

Methods

Students (grades 3–12) and parents (grades K-12) were surveyed annually, before and for 2 years after school start time changes (ES: 60 min earlier, MS: 40–60 min later; HS: 70 min later). Student sleep and daytime sleepiness were measured with school-administered student surveys and parent-proxy online surveys.

Results

Approximately 28,000 students annually completed surveys (~55% White, ~21% free/reduced lunch [FRL]). One-year post-change, weekday bedtimes and wake times were slightly earlier for ES students, with an 11-min decrease in sleep duration. MS and HS students reported slightly later weekday bedtimes, significantly later wake times, and significantly longer sleep duration (MS: 29 min; HS: 45 min). The percent of ES students reporting sufficient sleep duration, poor sleep quality, or daytime sleepiness did not change, but the percent of MS and HS students reporting sufficient sleep duration significantly increased and clinically significant daytime sleepiness decreased. All results were maintained at the 2-year follow-up. Benefits of later start times were similar across racial and free/reduced lunch groups.

Conclusions

This is the first large scale, longitudinal, and representative study to concurrently examine the impact of changing school start times across students in primary/secondary school. Findings suggest a minimal impact of earlier start times on ES students’ sleep or daytime sleepiness, while further supporting the significant benefits of delaying MS and HS start times on student sleep and daytime sleepiness.
Herpes Zoster (Shingles) Patient-Centered Wound Outcomes: A Literature Review
Authors: Bolton Laura L. , Faller Nancy , Kirsner Robert S.
Published: April 2021

GENERAL PURPOSE

To present a comprehensive review of patient-centered outcomes of topical or systemic interventions applied to those with shingles or postherpetic neuralgia to inform clinical practice and identify related research needs.

TARGET AUDIENCE

This continuing education activity is intended for physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and nurses with an interest in skin and wound care.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES/OUTCOMES

After participating in this educational activity, the participant will be able to:

1. Explain the importance of early diagnosis and treatment of herpes zoster (HZ).

2. Identify interventions that have resulted in documented improvement of validated patient-centered outcomes in patients with HZ or postherpetic neuralgia.

3. Recognize the average per patient medical costs of HZ in the US.

BACKGROUND

One in three people endure herpes zoster (HZ; also known as shingles) during their lifetime, experiencing pain, secondary infections, postherpetic neuralgia, reduced quality of life, and considerable patient costs. These patient burdens remain to be reviewed.

OBJECTIVE

To perform a comprehensive review of patient-centered outcomes of topical or systemic interventions applied to those with shingles or postherpetic neuralgia to inform clinical practice and identify related research needs.

DATA SOURCES

The PubMed database was searched with supplementary Google Scholar searches for Medical Subject Headings “shingles” or “post-herpetic neuralgia” to find clinical studies documenting validated patient-centered outcomes: pain, secondary infection, healing, function, depression, social isolation, treatment costs, or quality of life. Six representative case studies were examined.

DATA SELECTION

Pertinent original and derivative clinical study references were included. Preclinical studies, reviews, or studies of non-HZ conditions were excluded.

DATA EXTRACTION

Two authors tabulated clinical efficacy evidence for interventions affecting patient-centered outcomes.

DATA SYNTHESIS

Evidence supported efficacy for systemic antiviral or topical anesthetic interventions improving pain, healing, sleep, vision, or quality of life for those with HZ or postherpetic neuralgia. Patient cases reported improved pain and/or sleep using occlusive dressings. Treatment costs and secondary infections were reported only in cases or cohort studies.

CONCLUSIONS

Randomized clinical research focused on medications improving patient pain, healing, sleep, or vision outcomes. Research is needed measuring outcomes of adding occlusive dressings to optimal care and effects on secondary infections and treatment costs.
Peripartum optimization and coordination of collaborative care practice: a critical role for the obstetric anesthesiologist in combating maternal morbidity and mortality
Authors: Gitterman Anna , Klaus Joseph , Williams Kayode , Murphy Jamie
Published: April 2021

Purpose of review

Antenatal anesthesia clinics remain uncommon despite the rising incidence of maternal morbidity and mortality in the United States. The purpose of the present review is to outline the major considerations and challenges surrounding antenatal anesthetic evaluation.

Recent findings

Data from the general surgical population would suggest a mortality benefit associated with preoperative anesthesia evaluation, although no such data exists in the obstetric population.

Robust systems for case ascertainment and referral are needed. Recent publications on obstetric comorbidity indices may provide useful tools to ascertain high-risk parturients for a referral to antenatal obstetric anesthesiology clinics and higher levels of maternal care. Major obstetric organizations have identified and laid out criteria for maternal level of care. Anesthesiology resources also play a role in these designations and can help triage patients to facilities with appropriate resources.

Obstetric anesthesiologists have a critical role not only in preoperative patient optimization but also in coordinating multidisciplinary care for optimal patient outcomes.
Endocrine emergencies in anesthesia
Authors: Fernandez-Robles Claudia , Carr Zyad J. , Oprea Adriana D.
Published: April 2021

Purpose of review

An increasing number of patients with endocrine disorders will present to the operating rooms. In this review, we outline the common endocrine disorders that the anesthesiologist may face in the perioperative time span, review the controversies in optimal management, as well as summarize the recent literature for the management of these complex patients.

Recent findings

Perioperative management of pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma has been facilitated by improved medical management and the adoption of minimally invasive surgical techniques. An improved understanding of the sequelae of carcinoid syndrome has resulted in safer perioperative management. Perioperative glycemic management requires a fundamental understanding of perioperative fluid resuscitation and adverse events associated with the new generation oral hyperglycemic agents to prevent avoidable complications.

Endocrine disorders will commonly present in the perioperative time period and the anesthesiologist plays a critical role in achieving good operative outcomes.
Anesthetic management for robotic hysterectomy in obese women
Authors: Yurashevich Mary , Habib Ashraf S.
Published: April 2021

Purpose of review

Obesity is a major health epidemic, with the prevalence reaching ∼40% in the United States in recent years. It is associated with increased risk of hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, stroke, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and gynecologic conditions requiring surgery. Those comorbidities, in addition to the physiologic changes associated with obesity, lead to increased risk of perioperative complications. The purpose of this review is to highlight the anesthetic considerations for robotic assisted hysterectomy in obese patients.

Recent findings

In the general gynecologic population, minimally invasive surgery is associated with less postoperative fever, pain, hospital length of stay, total cost of care and an earlier return to normal function. This also applies to robotic surgery in obese patients, which is on the rise. The physiologic changes of obesity bring different anesthetic challenges, including airway management and intraoperative ventilation. Vascular access and intraoperative blood pressure monitoring can also be challenging and require modifications. Optimizing analgesia with a focus on opioid-sparing strategies is crucial due to the increased prevalence of OSA in this patient population.

Anesthesia for obese patients undergoing robotic hysterectomy is challenging and must take into consideration the anatomic and physiologic changes associated with obesity.
Hallux Sesamoid Injury Characteristics in Young Athletes Presented to the Sports Medicine Clinic
Authors: Sugimoto Dai , Gearhart Marina G. , Kobelski Greggory P. , Quinn Bridget J. , Geminiani Ellen T. , Stracciolini Andrea
Published: April 2021

Objective:

To investigate clinical diagnoses, sports participation, and return to sport timeline associated with hallux sesamoid injuries with sex comparisons.

Design:

Descriptive epidemiology study.

Setting:

Sports medicine clinics at a tertiary-level pediatric medical center.

Patients:

Six hundred eighty-three young athletes (546 women and 137 men).

Independent Variables:

Sex (women vs men).

Main Outcome Measures:

Clinical diagnoses, participating sports, and injury timeline.

Results:

The most common diagnosis was sesamoiditis (62.6%). The top 3 primary sports were dance (34.6%), running (13.7%), and soccer (11.7%). When stratified by sex, dance (40.1%), running (13.6%), and soccer (10.7%) were the top primary sports for women while running (19.4%), soccer (18.5%), and basketball (11.3%) were the leading diagnoses for male athletes. The mean time between injury occurrence and first clinic visit was 135.5 ± 229.3 days. The mean time between the first clinic visit and return to sport was 104.3 ± 128.2 days. Comparison by sex showed that women had a longer mean time than men (women: 111.5 ± 132.5 days, men: 67.2 ± 96.3 days, P = 0.001). The mean time from injury occurrence to return to sport was 235.2 ± 281.0 days. Women showed a longer mean timeline for return to sport compared with men (women: 245.2 ± 288.2 days, men: 179.3 ± 231.9 days, P = 0.014).

Conclusion:

Sesamoiditis was the most common diagnosis, and dance, running, and soccer were top 3 sports. The most salient finding was that women taking almost twice as long to return the sport or activity compared with men, which likely stems from delay of reporting symptom onset to clinics.
Nonoperative Management of Posterior Shoulder Instability: What Are the Long-Term Clinical Outcomes?
Authors: Lee Julia , Woodmass Jarret M. , Bernard Christopher D. , Leland Devin P. , Keyt Lucas K. , Krych Aaron J. , Dahm Diane L. , Camp Christopher L.
Published: April 2021

Objective:

To report the injury characteristics, radiographic findings, and long-term outcomes of nonoperative management for posterior shoulder instability (PSI).

Design:

A retrospective review of 143 patients with PSI using a large geographic database.

Setting:

Single county between January 1994 and July 2012.

Patients:

A clinical history and diagnosis of PSI, one confirmatory imaging study to support the diagnosis, and a minimum of 5 years follow-up were required for inclusion. Patients with seizure disorders, anterior-only instability, multidirectional instability, and superior labrum from anterior to posterior diagnosis were excluded.

Interventions:

Patients with PSI were managed nonoperatively or operatively.

Main Outcome Measures:

Pain, recurrent instability, and progression into glenohumeral osteoarthritis at long-term follow-up.

Results:

One hundred fifteen patients were identified. Thirty-seven (32%) underwent nonoperative management. Twenty (54%) patients were diagnosed with posterior subluxation, 3 (8%) with a single dislocation, and 7 (19%) with multiple dislocations. Symptomatic progression of glenohumeral arthritis was observed in 8% (3) of patients. Pain improved in 46% (17) of patients and worsened in 19% (7). Recurrent instability and progression to osteoarthritis occurred in 15% (3/20) of patients with a traumatic instability event compared with 0% of atraumatic patients after nonoperative management (P = 0.234). Pain at follow-up was more common in nonoperative than operative patients (P = 0.017).

Conclusions:

Nonoperative management is a viable option for many patients with posterior shoulder instability; however, many may continue to have posterior shoulder pain.
Use of the Independent Medical Spotter in Identifying Head Injuries in Division I Football Players
Authors: Norton Adam A. , Wilson John J.
Published: April 2021

Objective:

Sport-related concussion (SRC) is a known risk of contact sports and strategies to minimize risk have been used. We aimed to determine if an independent medical spotter (IMS) identified more SRCs than would otherwise be detected by trained sideline medical staff (SMS).

Design:

Prospective review of SRCs during competition in the 2019 season and retrospective review of SRCs in the 2015 to 2018 seasons, which also used an IMS.

Setting:

Division I football games (home and away) of a Big 10 Conference institution.

Participants:

All football team members who participated in competition.

Independent Variables:

Occurrence of SRC during competition and whether the IMS or SMS directly visualized the injury.

Main Outcome Measures:

The total number of SRCs that occurred during competition in the 2015 to 2019 football seasons and whom observed the SRC—SMS or IMS—or if a student athlete reported symptoms after competition.

Results:

Over the 5-year study period, 24 SRCs occurred during competition. Of those, 19 (79.2%) were observed by SMS, 2 (8.3%) by the IMS, and 3 (12.5%) were reported to SMS after competition ended.

Conclusions:

Most SRCs are accurately identified by SMS, but a small number were apparent only to the IMS who seemed to add sensitivity in detecting a SRC. Instances remain in which SRC recognition and diagnosis were delayed despite trained SMS and IMS.

Clinical Relevance:

An IMS allows for a small-added player protection benefit using different vantage points to identify potential SRCs during competition.