bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Microstrip-line-fed inverted L-shaped circularly polarized antenna for C-band applications
Authors: Srivastava Karunesh , Mishra Brijesh , Singh Rajeev
Published: April 2021

A circularly polarized stub-matched inverted L-shaped antenna for C-band applications is presented in this communication. Antenna parameters of inverted L-shape on the radiating patch and slits, notch, square strips and stub on the ground plane and the effect of these are analyzed. The proposed optimized antenna (A5: 0.54λ0 × 0.54λ0 × 0.02λ0 mm3) is selected among antennas (A1 – A5) with 5.1 GHz design frequency after simulation through high-frequency structure simulator (HFSS). Circular polarization is obtained by introducing stub/perturbation on the ground plane. By introducing stub, the highest measured (S11 < − 10 dB) impedance bandwidth of 50.9% (3.48 – 5.86 GHz) is observed amongst the reported and compared bandwidths. Peak gain of 5.32 dBi and 3 dB axial ratio bandwidth of 16.2% (4.71 – 5.54 GHz) is reported in the present work. An antenna is useful in the entire downlink frequency (3.7 – 4.2 GHz) of the C band.
Studienwahlmotive von Bewerberinnen und Bewerbern auf ein Lehramtsstudium und auf andere Studiengänge
Authors: Göller Robin , Besser Michael
Published: April 2021

Zusammenfassung. Studienwahlmotive von Lehramtsstudentinnen und -studenten sind in den vergangenen Jahren vermehrt in den Fokus von Forschungsvorhaben gerückt und erweisen sich als wichtiger Prädiktor für Studienerfolg und den Aufbau professioneller Kompetenzen. Dabei zeigt sich insbesondere das Erwartungs-Wert-Modell der Motivation als geeignete theoretische Grundlage zur Klassifikation und Operationalisierung verschiedener Studienwahlmotive. Zudem tragen die Betrachtung von Motivprofilen und Vergleiche verschiedener Lehramtsstudiengänge sowie verschiedener Länder zum besseren Verständnis von Studienwahlentscheidungen bei. Studiengangübergreifende Vergleiche, die über Lehramtsstudiengänge hinausgehen und Studienwahlmotive mittels reliabler Fragebogenskalen erfassen, sind jedoch kaum zu finden. Für den vorliegenden Beitrag wurde deshalb durch Adaption bestehender Instrumente ein Fragebogen zur studiengangübergreifenden Erhebung von Studienwahlmotiven entwickelt und von 690 Bewerberinnen und Bewerbern auf insgesamt 13 verschiedene Studiengänge bearbeitet. Es zeigt sich, dass sich die sechs Studienwahlmotive fachliche Fähigkeitsüberzeugung, fachliches Interesse, berufliches Interesse, gesellschaftlicher Wert des Studiums, persönliche Nützlichkeit und geringe Schwierigkeit des Studiums auch studiengangübergreifend reliabel (Cronbachs α > .69) erfassen lassen und dass sich Bewerberinnen und Bewerber auf verschiedene Studiengänge signifikant in diesen Studienwahlmotiven unterscheiden ( p ≤ 0.003). Insbesondere zeigt sich, dass das Studienwahlmotiv Fachinteresse bei Bewerberinnen und Bewerbern auf ein Lehramtsstudium niedriger als in anderen Studienganggruppen ausfällt (Cohens d = –0.45), und dass alle anderen erhobenen Studienwahlmotive bei Bewerberinnen und Bewerbern auf ein Lehramtsstudium am höchsten ausgeprägt sind – mit großen Effekten bei beruflichem Interesse ( d = 1.39) und der persönlichen Nützlichkeit ( d = 1.07) sowie mittleren Effekten in der fachlichen Fähigkeitsüberzeugung ( d = 0.56) und dem gesellschaftlichen Wert des Studiums ( d = 0.47). Eine personenzentrierte Betrachtung von Studienwahlmotiven über Motivprofile verdeutlicht darüber hinaus, dass für die Entscheidung für ein Lehramtsstudium vor allem das Zusammenspiel verschiedener (nicht nur inhaltlich fachlich begründeter) Studienwahlmotive relevant ist, wohingegen in einigen nicht lehramtsspezifischen Studiengängen insbesondere fachliche Interessen überwiegen. Die Ergebnisse werden mit Blick auf bisherige Forschungsergebnisse und ihre mögliche Relevanz für die praktische Ausgestaltung von universitären Lehrveranstaltungen diskutiert.
Coherent Satellite Monitoring of the Water Cycle Over the Amazon. Part 2: Total Water Storage Change and River Discharge Estimation
Authors: Pellet victor , Aires Filipe , Yamazaki Dai
Published: April 2021

In companion paper 1, the SAtellite Water Cycle (SAWC) satellite data set integration approach was presented. SAWC accounts for (1) the closure of the water budget at the sub‐basin scale by (2) using upstream/downstream dependencies. Here, the SAWC database is used to reconstruct a missing water component. The total water storage change (dS) can be reconstructed prior to the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) period. In terms of seasonal and interannual variations, SAWC provides long‐term dS estimates that are highly consistent with the GRACE estimate (2002–2015). When compared to the extent of inundation, correlation of anomalies reaches 0.6 over sub‐basins presenting large floodplain. A strong relationship (correlation of 0.7) exists between the monthly dS and the El Niño index. The river discharge R can also be estimated using the SAWC approach during the GRACE period. A scheme was developed to estimate R continuously along the river through the indirect interpolation of discharge station measurements by using satellite estimates of dS, precipitation P, and evaporation E. These R estimates along the river were evaluated with 80 independent measurements and had a correlation of 0.86 and a Kling‐Gupta efficiency index of 0.71. A comprehensive monthly river discharge estimate was proposed for the first time across the Amazon basin over 13 years (2002–2015) at a 0.25° resolution. The SAWC framework is a pure observation tool for integrating a large range of satellite estimates, potentially facilitating the assimilation of such data into land surface models.
A Better Way to Understand Drought
Authors: Thompson Elizabeth
Published: April 2021

New models should consider drought a process, not merely a product, and should factor in the huge variety of causes, effects, and feedbacks that play out in the real world.
Extended haplotype-phasing of long-read de novo genome assemblies using Hi-C
Authors: Kronenberg Zev N. , Rhie Arang , Koren Sergey , Concepcion Gregory T. , Peluso Paul , Munson Katherine M. , Porubsky David , Kuhn Kristen , Mueller Kathryn A. , Low Wai Yee , Hiendleder Stefan , Fedrigo Olivier , Liachko Ivan , Hall Richard J. , Phillippy Adam M. , Eichler Evan E. , Williams John L. , Smith Timothy P. L. , Jarvis Erich D. , Sullivan Shawn T. , Kingan Sarah B.
Published: April 2021

Haplotype-resolved genome assemblies are important for understanding how combinations of variants impact phenotypes. To date, these assemblies have been best created with complex protocols, such as cultured cells that contain a single-haplotype (haploid) genome, single cells where haplotypes are separated, or co-sequencing of parental genomes in a trio-based approach. These approaches are impractical in most situations. To address this issue, we present FALCON-Phase, a phasing tool that uses ultra-long-range Hi-C chromatin interaction data to extend phase blocks of partially-phased diploid assembles to chromosome or scaffold scale. FALCON-Phase uses the inherent phasing information in Hi-C reads, skipping variant calling, and reduces the computational complexity of phasing. Our method is validated on three benchmark datasets generated as part of the Vertebrate Genomes Project (VGP), including human, cow, and zebra finch, for which high-quality, fully haplotype-resolved assemblies are available using the trio-based approach. FALCON-Phase is accurate without having parental data and performance is better in samples with higher heterozygosity. For cow and zebra finch the accuracy is 97% compared to 80–91% for human. FALCON-Phase is applicable to any draft assembly that contains long primary contigs and phased associate contigs.
The effect of anime character’s facial expressions and eye blinking on donation behavior
Authors: Takagi Hisashi , Terada Kazunori
Published: April 2021

Studies of the use of artificial agents and robots to solicit donations from people have suggested that the design of the agents must consider facial expressions. However, there has not been sufficient evidence to generalize the finding that the emotions conveyed by agents’ facial expressions can induce donations. In the present study, we conducted an experiment with an animated character that has intermediate realism and a different appearance from those in previous studies to replicate the finding that facial expressions represented by changes in the shapes of the eyes and mouth cause people to become more prosocial and to test whether we can extend this finding to the emotional expressions presented by changes in the dynamic properties of eyes. In the experiment, participants ($$n=100$$n=100) played a hypothetical dictator game with an avatar that expressed its emotions by changing the shapes of its eyes, eyebrows and mouth and by changing the frequency of eye blinking. The results showed that the emotions expressed by changes in the shape of the facial parts contributed to eliciting a higher donation amount, consistent with previous studies. However, we could not find an additive effect of the emotional expression shown by eye blinking. The results suggest that, regardless of appearance, emotional expression is useful in the design of a virtual agent’s face, but it might not be necessary to consider the dynamic properties of the eyes.
Finite element analysis of femoral neck strains during stair ascent and descent
Authors: Deng Chen , Gillette Jason C. , Derrick Timothy R.
Published: April 2021

For older population, a better understanding of the hip joint loading environment is needed for the prevention of hip pain, and the reduction of the stress fractures and fall risks. Using the motion analysis and inverse dynamics methods, combined with musculoskeletal modelling, static optimization, and finite element (FE) femur model, the difference of femoral neck strains between stair ascent vs. descent, young vs. older populations was compared. A two-way repeated-measures MANOVA was applied to test the effect of age and stair direction on the femoral neck strains. The strains at the femoral neck cross-section were greater for stair descent than ascent for both age groups (mostly P = 0.001 to 0006) but there was no difference between age groups. In this study, femoral neck strains represented bone loading environment in more direct ways than joint reaction forces/moments or joint contact forces, the risk of hip pain, falls and stress fractures might be greater during stair descent than ascent. Possible preventative methods to reduce these risks should be developed in the future studies.
The use of pulse pressure variation for predicting impairment of microcirculatory blood flow
Authors: Behem Christoph R. , Graessler Michael F. , Friedheim Till , Kluttig Rahel , Pinnschmidt Hans O. , Duprée Anna , Debus E. Sebastian , Reuter Daniel A. , Wipper Sabine H. , Trepte Constantin J. C.
Published: April 2021

Dynamic parameters of preload have been widely recommended to guide fluid therapy based on the principle of fluid responsiveness and with regard to cardiac output. An equally important aspect is however to also avoid volume-overload. This accounts particularly when capillary leakage is present and volume-overload will promote impairment of microcirculatory blood flow. The aim of this study was to evaluate, whether an impairment of intestinal microcirculation caused by volume-load potentially can be predicted using pulse pressure variation in an experimental model of ischemia/reperfusion injury. The study was designed as a prospective explorative large animal pilot study. The study was performed in 8 anesthetized domestic pigs (German landrace). Ischemia/reperfusion was induced during aortic surgery. 6 h after ischemia/reperfusion-injury measurements were performed during 4 consecutive volume-loading-steps, each consisting of 6 ml kg−1 bodyweight−1. Mean microcirculatory blood flow (mean Flux) of the ileum was measured using direct laser-speckle-contrast-imaging. Receiver operating characteristic analysis was performed to determine the ability of pulse pressure variation to predict a decrease in microcirculation. A reduction of ≥ 10% mean Flux was considered a relevant decrease. After ischemia–reperfusion, volume-loading-steps led to a significant increase of cardiac output as well as mean arterial pressure, while pulse pressure variation and mean Flux were significantly reduced (Pairwise comparison ischemia/reperfusion-injury vs. volume loading step no. 4): cardiac output (l min−1) 1.68 (1.02–2.35) versus 2.84 (2.15–3.53), p = 0.002, mean arterial pressure (mmHg) 29.89 (21.65–38.12) versus 52.34 (43.55–61.14), p < 0.001, pulse pressure variation (%) 24.84 (17.45–32.22) versus 9.59 (1.68–17.49), p = 0.004, mean Flux (p.u.) 414.95 (295.18–534.72) versus 327.21 (206.95–447.48), p = 0.006. Receiver operating characteristic analysis revealed an area under the curve of 0.88 (CI 95% 0.73–1.00; p value < 0.001) for pulse pressure variation for predicting a decrease of microcirculatory blood flow. The results of our study show that pulse pressure variation does have the potential to predict decreases of intestinal microcirculatory blood flow due to volume-load after ischemia/reperfusion-injury. This should encourage further translational research and might help to prevent microcirculatory impairment due to excessive fluid resuscitation and to guide fluid therapy in the future.
Methotrexate reduces circulating Th17 cells and impairs plasmablast and memory B cell expansions following pneumococcal conjugate immunization in RA patients
Authors: Nived Per , Pettersson Åsa , Jönsson Göran , Bengtsson Anders A. , Settergren Bo , Skattum Lillemor , Johansson Åsa , Kapetanovic Meliha C.
Published: April 2021

Methotrexate (MTX) impairs antibody response after pneumococcal vaccination. We aimed to investigate differences in phenotypes of circulating B and T cells after pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients on MTX (MTX group), RA without disease-modifying drugs (0DMARD), and controls (HC). MTX group (n = 11), 0DMARD (n = 12) and HC (n = 13) were studied. Blood samples were collected: before MTX, ≥ 4 weeks on stable MTX dose (prevaccination), and 7 days postvaccination (MTX group), and pre- and 7 days postvaccination (0DMARD and HC). Phenotypes of B- and T cell subsets were determined using flow cytometry. Serotype-specific IgG were quantified using multiplex bead assay, pre- and 4–6 weeks postvaccination. Concentrations of plasmablasts and switched memory B cells increased after PCV in HC (both p = 0.03) and the 0DMARD group (p = 0.01 and p = 0.02), but not in the MTX group. Postimmunization plasmablasts were lower in MTX group, compared to the 0DMARD group and HC (p = 0.002 and p < 0.001). Th17 cells decreased after MTX start (p = 0.02), and increased in HC after immunization (p = 0.01). Postimmunization plasmablasts correlated with mean antibody response ratio in all RA patients (R = 0.57, p = 0.035). Methotrexate reduced Th17 cells and blocked activation of plasmablasts and switched memory B cells following polysaccharide-protein conjugate antigen challenge in RA.
Disentangling age-dependent DNA methylation: deterministic, stochastic, and nonlinear
Authors: Vershinina O. , Bacalini M. G. , Zaikin A. , Franceschi C. , Ivanchenko M.
Published: April 2021

DNA methylation variability arises due to concurrent genetic and environmental influences. Each of them is a mixture of regular and noisy sources, whose relative contribution has not been satisfactorily understood yet. We conduct a systematic assessment of the age-dependent methylation by the signal-to-noise ratio and identify a wealth of “deterministic” CpG probes (about 90%), whose methylation variability likely originates due to genetic and general environmental factors. The remaining 10% of “stochastic” CpG probes are arguably governed by the biological noise or incidental environmental factors. Investigating the mathematical functional relationship between methylation levels and variability, we find that in about 90% of the age-associated differentially methylated positions, the variability changes as the square of the methylation level, whereas in the most of the remaining cases the dependence is linear. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the methylation level itself in more than 15% cases varies nonlinearly with age (according to the power law), in contrast to the previously assumed linear changes. Our findings present ample evidence of the ubiquity of strong DNA methylation regulation, resulting in the individual age-dependent and nonlinear methylation trajectories, whose divergence explains the cross-sectional variability. It may also serve a basis for constructing novel nonlinear epigenetic clocks.
Baseline elevated serum angiopoietin-2 predicts long-term non-regression of liver fibrosis after direct-acting antiviral therapy for hepatitis C
Authors: Kawagishi Naoki , Suda Goki , Kimura Megumi , Maehara Osamu , Yamada Ren , Tokuchi Yoshimasa , Kubo Akinori , Kitagataya Takashi , Shigesawa Taku , Suzuki Kazuharu , Ohara Masatsugu , Nakai Masato , Sho Takuya , Natsuizaka Mitsuteru , Morikawa Kenichi , Ogawa Koji , Kudo Yusuke , Nishida Mutsumi , Sakamoto Naoya
Published: April 2021

We previously revealed that Angiopoietin-2 (Ang2) predicts non-regression of liver fibrosis based on liver stiffness measurement (LSM) at 24 weeks after anti-hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment. In this study, we extended the observational period to 96 weeks to investigate the factors associated with non-regression after treatment with direct-acting-antivirals (DAAs). Patients treated with DAAs who underwent transient elastography at baseline and 24 and 96 weeks after DAA therapy were included. Baseline and post-treatment serum Ang2 levels were measured. Liver fibrosis stages were defined based on LSM. Multivariate regression was used to evaluate factors associated with non-regression of liver fibrosis between various time points. In total, 110 patients were included. Of these, 11% showed non-regression of LSM-based fibrosis stage at 96 weeks after DAA therapy. In multivariate analysis, advanced liver fibrosis stage and high baseline Ang2 levels were significantly associated with non-regression at 96 weeks. In patients with advanced liver fibrosis (F3/4), baseline Ang2 levels were associated with non-regression of liver fibrosis stage. Between SVR24 and SVR96, post-treatment Ang2 levels and controlled attenuation parameter values at SVR24 were significantly associated with non-regression of liver fibrosis stage in patients with F3/4. Thus, serum Ang2 levels are an important target for monitoring and therapy.
A novel prognostic biomarker LCP2 correlates with metastatic melanoma-infiltrating CD8+ T cells
Authors: Wang Zijun , Peng Mou
Published: April 2021

Lymphocyte cytosolic protein 2 (LCP2) is one of the SLP-76 family of adapters, which are critical intermediates in signal cascades downstream of several receptors. LCP2 regulates immunoreceptor signaling (such as T-cell receptors) and is also required for integrin signaling in neutrophils and platelets. However, the role of LCP2 in the tumor microenvironment is still unknown. In this study, we found a significant increase of mRNA and protein expression of LCP2 in metastatic skin cutaneous melanoma compared to normal skin. The upregulation of LCP2 was associated with good overall survival of patients with metastatic skin cutaneous melanoma, who received pharmacotherapy and radiation. GSEA signaling pathways analysis showed that LCP2 was involved in multiple pathways of immune response and correlation analysis revealed LCP2 was positively correlated with molecules in TCR signaling and 11 immune checkpoints, while LCP2 negatively correlated with 2 immune checkpoints in the metastatic skin cutaneous melanoma. According to the different expressions of LCP2, high LCP2 expression was positively correlated with more tumor-infiltrating CD8+ T cells. Furthermore, Kaplan–Meier plot indicated that LCP2 acted as a prognostic biomarker for progression-free survival of patients with metastatic skin cutaneous melanoma receiving anti-PD1 immunotherapy. In conclusion, our results integrated both the expression and function of LCP2 in melanoma using multiple tools, shedding light on the potential role of LCP2 in melanoma, and suggesting LCP2 serves as a prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target in anti-tumor immunity.
Selective deletion of SHIP-1 in hematopoietic cells in mice leads to severe lung inflammation involving ILC2 cells
Authors: Ye Xujun , Zhang Fengrui , Zhou Li , Wei Yadong , Zhang Li , Wang Lihui , Tang Haiying , Chen Zi , Kerr William G. , Zheng Tao , Zhu Zhou
Published: April 2021

Src homology 2 domain–containing inositol 5-phosphatase 1 (SHIP-1) regulates the intracellular levels of phosphotidylinositol-3, 4, 5-trisphosphate, a phosphoinositide 3–kinase (PI3K) product. Emerging evidence suggests that the PI3K pathway is involved in allergic inflammation in the lung. Germline or induced whole-body deletion of SHIP-1 in mice led to spontaneous type 2-dominated pulmonary inflammation, demonstrating that SHIP-1 is essential for lung homeostasis. However, the mechanisms by which SHIP-1 regulates lung inflammation and the responsible cell types are still unclear. Deletion of SHIP-1 selectively in B cells, T cells, dendritic cells (DC) or macrophages did not lead to spontaneous allergic inflammation in mice, suggesting that innate immune cells, particularly group 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2 cells) may play an important role in this process. We tested this idea using mice with deletion of SHIP-1 in the hematopoietic cell lineage and examined the changes in ILC2 cells. Conditional deletion of SHIP-1 in hematopoietic cells in Tek-Cre/SHIP-1 mice resulted in spontaneous pulmonary inflammation with features of type 2 immune responses and airway remodeling like those seen in mice with global deletion of SHIP-1. Furthermore, when compared to wild-type control mice, Tek-Cre/SHIP-1 mice displayed a significant increase in the number of IL-5/IL-13 producing ILC2 cells in the lung at baseline and after stimulation by allergen Papain. These findings provide some hints that PI3K signaling may play a role in ILC2 cell development at baseline and in response to allergen stimulation. SHIP-1 is required for maintaining lung homeostasis potentially by restraining ILC2 cells and type 2 inflammation.
Hunting for vital nodes in complex networks using local information
Authors: Dong Zhihao , Chen Yuanzhu , Tricco Terrence S. , Li Cheng , Hu Ting
Published: April 2021

Complex networks in the real world are often with heterogeneous degree distributions. The structure and function of nodes can vary significantly, with vital nodes playing a crucial role in information spread and other spreading phenomena. Identifying and taking action on vital nodes enables change to the network’s structure and function more efficiently. Previous work either redefines metrics used to measure the nodes’ importance or focuses on developing algorithms to efficiently find vital nodes. These approaches typically rely on global knowledge of the network and assume that the structure of the network does not change over time, both of which are difficult to achieve in the real world. In this paper, we propose a localized strategy that can find vital nodes without global knowledge of the network. Our joint nomination (JN) strategy selects a random set of nodes along with a set of nodes connected to those nodes, and together they nominate the vital node set. Experiments are conducted on 12 network datasets that include synthetic and real-world networks, and undirected and directed networks. Results show that average degree of the identified node set is about 3–8 times higher than that of the full node set, and higher-degree nodes take larger proportions in the degree distribution of the identified vital node set. Removal of vital nodes increases the average shortest path length by 20–70% over the original network, or about 8–15% longer than the other decentralized strategies. Immunization based on JN is more efficient than other strategies, consuming around 12–40% less immunization resources to raise the epidemic threshold to $$\tau \sim 0.1$$

τ
∼
0.1

. Susceptible-infected-recovered simulations on networks with 30% vital nodes removed using JN delays the arrival time of infection peak significantly and reduce the total infection scale to 15%. The proposed strategy can effectively identify vital nodes using only local information and is feasible to implement in the real world to cope with time-critical scenarios such as the sudden outbreak of COVID-19.
Unraveling the stability landscape of mutations in the SARS-CoV-2 receptor-binding domain
Authors: Smaoui Mohamed Raef , Yahyaoui Hamdi
Published: April 2021

The interaction between the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein and the ACE2 enzyme is believed to be the entry point of the virus into various cells in the body, including the lungs, heart, liver, and kidneys. The current focus of several therapeutic design efforts explores attempts at affecting the binding potential between the two proteins to limit the activity of the virus and disease progression. In this work, we analyze the stability of the spike protein under all possible single-point mutations in the RBD and computationally explore mutations that can affect the binding with the ACE2 enzyme. We unravel the mutation landscape of the receptor region and assess the toxicity potential of single and multi-point mutations, generating insights for future vaccine efforts on mutations that might further stabilize the spike protein and increase its infectivity. We developed a tool, called SpikeMutator, to construct full atomic protein structures of the mutant spike proteins and shared a database of 3800 single-point mutant structures. We analyzed the recent 65,000 reported spike sequences across the globe and observed the emergence of stable multi-point mutant structures. Using the landscape, we searched through 7.5 million possible 2-point mutation combinations and report that the (R355D K424E) mutation produces one of the strongest spike proteins that therapeutic efforts should investigate for the sake of developing effective vaccines.
Nanaomycin K inhibited epithelial mesenchymal transition and tumor growth in bladder cancer cells in vitro and in vivo
Authors: Kitagawa Koichi , Shigemura Katsumi , Ishii Aya , Nakashima Takuji , Matsuo Hirotaka , Takahashi Yoko , Omura Satoshi , Nakanishi Jun , Fujisawa Masato
Published: April 2021

Nanaomycin K, derived from Streptomyces rosa subsp. notoensis OS-3966T, has been discovered to have inhibitory bioactivity on epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT), an important mechanism of cancer cell invasion and migration. In this study, we examined the anti-EMT and anti-tumor effect of nanaomycin K in bladder cancer, where EMT has important roles in progression. We treated two bladder cancer lines, non-muscle-invasive KK47 and muscle-invasive T24, with nanaomycin K to determine the effects on cell proliferation, apoptosis and expression of EMT markers in vitro. Wound-healing assays were performed to assess cell invasion and migration. We conducted an in vivo xenograft study in which mice were inoculated with bladder cancer cells and treated with intratumoral administration of nanaomycin K to investigate its anti-tumor and EMT inhibition effects. As the results, nanaomycin K (50 µg/mL) significantly inhibited cell proliferation in KK47 (p < 0.01) and T24 (p < 0.01) in the presence of TGF-β, which is an EMT-inducer. Nanaomycin K (50 µg/mL) also significantly inhibited cell migration in KK47 (p < 0.01) and T24 (p < 0.01), and induced apoptosis in both cell lines in the presence of TGF-β (p < 0.01). Nanaomycin K increased the expression of E-cadherin and inhibited the expression of N-cadherin and vimentin in both cell lines. Nanaomycin K also decreased expression of Snail, Slug, phospho-p38 and phospho-SAPK/JNK especially in T24. Intratumoral administration of nanaomycin K significantly inhibited tumor growth in both KK47 and T24 cells at high dose (1.0 mg/body) (p = 0.009 and p = 0.003, respectively) with no obvious adverse events. In addition, nanaomycin K reversed EMT and significantly inhibited the expression of Ki-67 especially in T24. In conclusion, we demonstrated that nanaomycin K had significant anti-EMT and anti-tumor effects in bladder cancer cells, suggesting that nanaomycin K may be a therapeutic candidate for bladder cancer treatment.
Dynamic aqueous transformations of lithium cobalt oxide nanoparticle induce distinct oxidative stress responses ofB. subtilis
Authors: Gari Metti K. , Lemke Paul , Lu Kelly H. , Laudadio Elizabeth D. , Henke Austin H. , Green Curtis M. , Pho Thomas , Hoang Khoi Nguyen L. , Murphy Catherine J. , Hamers Robert J. , Feng Z. Vivian
Published: April 2021

Lithium cobalt oxide (LiCoO2), an example of nanoscale transition metal oxide and a widely commercialized cathode material in lithium ion batteries, has been shown to induce oxidative stress and generate intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) in model organisms.
Thermally activated processes in an organic long-persistent luminescence system
Authors: Jinnai Kazuya , Nishimura Naohiro , Adachi Chihaya , Kabe Ryota
Published: April 2021

Organic long-persistent luminescence (OLPL) was achieved through photo-induced charge separation, charge accumulation, and emission from charge recombination. The presence of thermal activation processes in the OLPL system was confirmed.
Co-immobilized recombinant glycosyltransferases efficiently convert rebaudioside A to M in cascade
Authors: Wang Zhenyang , Liu Wenbin , Liu Wei , Ma Yuanyuan , Li Yatong , Wang Baoqi , Wei Xiaozhen , Liu Zhiming , Song Hao
Published: April 2021

Biotransformation of Reb A to Reb D and Reb M by recombinant glycosyltransferases immobilized on chitosan beads.
Wax and wax-like materials – the what, where, and how in heritage collections
Authors: Analytical Methods Committee AMCTB No. 103
Published: April 2021

Often wax-containing objects suffer degradation: analytical chemistry provides the key to designing appropriate conservation strategies and materials for such objects in heritage collections.
Thermally driven formation of polyphenolic carbonized nanogels with high anticoagulant activity from polysaccharides
Authors: Mao Ju-Yi , Unnikrishnan Binesh , Chu Han-Wei , Harroun Scott G. , Chen Yet-Ran , Wu An-Tai , Chang Huan-Tsung , Lin Han-Jia , Huang Chih-Ching
Published: April 2021

Dry heating of sodium alginate to form graphene-like nanosheet-embedded carbonized nanogels. The nanogels with polyphenolic structures exhibit ultrastrong anticoagulant ability through the inhibition of various coagulation factors.
Complex formation of silver(i) ions with a glucosinolate derivative: structural and mechanistic insights into myrosinase-mimicking C–S bond cleavage
Authors: Alba Laurenzo D. V. , Hatanaka Tsubasa , Franco Francisco C. , Nojiri Masaki , Noel Marissa G. , Funahashi Yasuhiro
Published: April 2021

The first structurally characterized d-block metal complex with a glucosinolate derivative contributed to clarifying the precise inorganic reaction of its hydrolytic decomposition mimicking the enzymatic degradation.
Crystal structure and magnetic properties of the magnetically isolated zigzag chain in KGaCu(PO4)2
Authors: Chen Xiao-Hui , Guo Run-Ze , Huang Ya-Xi , Pan Yuanming , Mi Jin-Xiao
Published: April 2021

KGaCu(PO4)2 contains a one-dimensional (1D) magnetically isolated S = 1/2 zigzag chain, similar to the dimerized chain as observed in those below spin-Peierls (SP) transition.
Radical-initiated P,P-metathesis reactions of diphosphanes: evidence from experimental and computational studies
Authors: Branfoot Callum , Young Tom A. , Wass Duncan F. , Pringle Paul G.
Published: April 2021

The mechanism by which P,P-exchange reactions can occur rapidly under ambient conditions has been investigated and the experimental evidence, combined with computational studies, support a radical process.
Synthetic, spectroscopic, structural, and electrochemical investigations of ferricenium derivatives with weakly coordinating anions: ion pairing, substituent, and solvent effects
Authors: Khan Firoz Shah Tuglak , Waldbusser Amy L. , Carrasco Maria C. , Pourhadi Hadi , Hematian Shabnam
Published: April 2021

The effects of ion-pairing, substitution, and media on the redox behavior and ground state electronic structure of a series of ferricenium derivatives are reported.
Dietary supplementation with Bacillus subtilis and xylo-oligosaccharides improves growth performance and intestinal morphology and alters intestinal microbiota and metabolites in weaned piglets
Authors: Ding Hao , Zhao Xichen , Azad Md. Abul Kalam , Ma Cui , Gao Qiankun , He Jianhua , Kong Xiangfeng
Published: April 2021

The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation with Bacillus subtilis (BS) and xylo-oligosaccharides (XOS) on growth performance, intestinal morphology, intestinal microbial community, and metabolites of weaned piglets.
A decatungstate-based ionic liquid exhibiting a very low dielectric constant suitable for acting as a solvent and a catalyst for the oxidation of organic substrates
Authors: Martinetto Yohan , Pégot Bruce , Roch-Marchal Catherine , Haouas Mohamed , Cottyn-Boitte Betty , Camerel Franck , Jeftic Jelena , Morineau Denis , Magnier Emmanuel , Floquet Sébastien
Published: April 2021

The use of a POM-based ionic liquid both as an efficient solvent and as a catalyst for the oxidation of organic substrates.
Distinctive detection of Fe2+ and Fe3+ by biosurfactant capped silver nanoparticles via naked eye colorimetric sensing
Authors: Dayanidhi Kalaivani , Sheik Eusuff Noorjahan
Published: April 2021

Distinctive detection of Fe2+ and Fe3+via naked eye colorimetic sensing.
Prediction of band gap for 2D hybrid organic–inorganic perovskites by using machine learning through molecular graphics descriptors
Authors: Wan Zhongyu , Wang Quan-De , Liu Dongchang , Liang Jinhu
Published: April 2021

Molecular graphics descriptors are used to predict the band gap of 2D perovskites.
Linking molecular structure to plant conditions: advanced analysis of a systematic set of mini-plant scale low density polyethylenes
Authors: Zentel Kristina Maria , Eselem Bungu Paul Severin , Pasch Harald , Busch Markus
Published: April 2021

Two sample sets of low density polyethylene (LDPE) were investigated and differentiated via comprehensive analysis of their microstructures with specific emphasis on branching.
Dual-wavelength visible photodetector based on vertical (In,Ga)N nanowires grown by molecular beam epitaxy
Authors: Zhang Jianya , Zhou Min , Wu Dongmin , Bian Lifeng , Zhao Yukun , Qin Hua , Yang Wenxian , Wu Yuanyuan , Xing Zhiwei , Lu Shulong
Published: April 2021

A dual-wavelength (blue/red) photodetector based on vertical (In,Ga)N nanowires and graphene has been fabricated successfully, which is promising for wide applications. The rise time of the response can reach 3.5 ms.
Asymmetric synthesis, structures, and chiroptical properties of helical cycloparaphenylenes
Authors: Nogami Juntaro , Nagashima Yuki , Miyamoto Kazunori , Muranaka Atsuya , Uchiyama Masanobu , Tanaka Ken
Published: April 2021

The perfectly diastereo- and enantiocontrolled catalytic synthesis of a cycloparaphenylene with four helical and two planar chiralities showing good chiroptical responses was achieved by the rhodium-catalyzed alkyne cyclotrimerization.
Catalysts for CO2reforming of CH4: a review
Authors: Li Meijia , Sun Zhuxing , Hu Yun Hang
Published: April 2021

This work provides a comprehensive review on the design principles and performance of catalysts for dry reforming of methane (DRM). Supported and solid solution catalysts are discussed with an emphasis on the most advanced development.
Low in-plane atomic density phosphorene anodes for lithium-/sodium-ion batteries
Authors: Li Chunmei , He Linxin , Li Xinxin , Luo Jianglei , Zhu Xin , Chen Zhiqian , Xu Maowen
Published: April 2021

β-P and γ-P with low in-plane atomic density are confirmed to be good alternatives to α-P for LIB or SIB anodes. Furthermore, conversions from α-P to β-P and from β-P to γ-P are predicted to be feasible.
Tuning the optical properties in CsPbBr3 quantum dot-doped glass by modulation of its network topology
Authors: Xu Zhousu , Chen Tao , Zhang Duoduo , Zheng Guojun , Wang Zhuo , Ma Zhijun , Yan Jinhua , Wang Xianwei , Liu Xiaofeng , Qiu Jianrong
Published: April 2021

By modulating the glass network topology, the photoluminescence intensity of CsPbBr3 QD-doped glasses can be enhanced by 8 times and the nonlinear absorption response can change from saturable absorption to reverse saturable absorption.
Examining the Role of Physical Activity on Word Learning in School-Aged Children
Authors: Pruitt Madison , Morini Giovanna
Published: April 2021

Purpose

Previous studies show that there is increased brain activity after exercise, leading to improved word recall in adults. The aim of this study was to examine whether different types of exercise (i.e., aerobic vs. anaerobic) may also lead to improved performance during vocabulary learning in children.

Method

A total of 48 participants (24 in Experiment 1 and 24 in Experiment 2) between the ages of 6 and 12 years completed a word learning task. Training of words took place in a
resting
and in an
exercise
condition using a within-subject design. In the resting measure, children were taught names of novel objects and then colored for 3 min before being tested on their ability to recognize the words. In the exercise condition, the same steps were followed, but instead of coloring, children engaged in 3 min of either aerobic exercise (i.e., swimming in Experiment 1) or anaerobic exercise (i.e., a CrossFit-like workout in Experiment 2).

Results

In Experiment 1, accuracy of word recognition was significantly higher for words that were trained in the aerobic exercise compared to the resting condition. In Experiment 2, there was no significant difference in performance between the anaerobic exercise and resting conditions.

Conclusions

These findings suggest that previously identified benefits of exercise on language abilities in adults also extend to school-aged children. However, not all types of physical activity lead to this boost in performance, as only aerobic (but not anaerobic) exercise improved children's ability to acquire new word–object relations.

Supplemental Material

https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.14462187
The effect of chemical treatment on the mechanical and thermal properties of composite materials based on clay reinforced with sawdust
Authors: Mouissa Fadhila , Benyahia Azzedine , Djehiche Mokhtar , Belmokre Kamel , Deghfel Nadir , Redjem Ali , Rahmouni Zine El Abidine
Published: April 2021

This study investigates the effect of the chemical treatment of sawdust on the mechanical and thermal properties of a clay composite reinforced with sawdust in variable mass proportions: 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2 and 2.5%, intended for use as brick in rural houses in desert areas. The sawdust was chemically treated with 5 wt% NaOH and 0.01 wt% KMnO4solutions. The mechanical test results of the reinforced composite with alkali-treated sawdust show an increase in flexural and compression strength, reaching a maximum value of 0.89 and 4.85 MPa, respectively. However, the thermal test results show a significant decrease in the thermal conductivity of the sawdust-reinforced composite. The best result recorded is that of untreated sawdust, which has a value of 0.37 (W.m−1.K−1) compared to the one reinforced with treated sawdust.
Des « certificats de virginité » aux hyménoplasties en France
Authors: Fortier Corinne
Published: April 2021

« Dans la République, on ne peut pas exiger des certificats de virginité pour se marier ; dans la République, on ne doit jamais accepter que les lois de la religion puissent être supérieures aux lois de la République », telle est la déclaration en février 2020 du président Emmanuel Macron. Mais quel est donc le statut de ces certificats de virginité, est-il véritablement religieux ? Pourquoi se focaliser sur les « certificats de virginité » sans jamais évoquer la pratique concomitante de la réfection d’hymen ? N’existe-t-il pas une diversité de pratiques chirurgicales participant du processus de revirginisation telle que la nymphoplastie ou la vaginoplastie ; l’hyménoplastie ne serait-elle que la pointe émergée de l’iceberg ?
Polish interest groups facing democratic backsliding
Authors: Pospieszna Paulina , Vetulani-Cęgiel Agnieszka
Published: April 2021

Democratic backsliding in Central and Eastern European countries is on the rise. Independent judiciaries, other institutions of liberal democracy, as well as civil liberties and media freedom are being undermined, coupled with the human rights and dignity of certain groups being curtailed or even violated. In these difficult political and legal circumstances, non-state actors, such as interest groups, face many challenges. The goal of this research is to explore how interest groups in Poland perceive their position, what tactics they use in order to influence public policies and decision-makers, and whether they search for networking strategies in order to strengthen their position vis-à-vis the government. By placing our research in the Polish context, we fill the gap in the current literature on the situation of interest groups that face democratic backsliding. We base our analyses on new survey data collected from Polish interest groups in 2017–2018, conducted within the Comparative Interest Group Survey.
Uniform breaking of liquid-jets by modulated laser heating
Authors: Zhao Yu , Wan Dongmei , Chen Xiaoliang , Chao Xing , Xu Haitao
Published: April 2021

We report a theoretical and experimental study of the breaking of liquid jets under external periodic heating by laser pulses. In this case, jet breaking is controlled by the competition between the growth of the initial disturbances, which possess a wide wavenumber spectrum and result in the classical Rayleigh–Plateau (RP) unstable modes, and the growth of the disturbance caused by the surface tension perturbation corresponding to the periodic temperature modulation by pulsed laser heating, which appears as the thermocapillary (TC) unstable modes driven by the Marangoni flow. Our linear stability analysis shows that both the RP modes and the TC modes obey the same dispersion relation. We obtain analytical results on the range of the laser pulsing frequency that produces uniform jet breaking, at which the principal TC mode dominates the RP modes and the jet breaks at exactly the laser heating frequency, and the resulting liquid drops are uniform in size. Our theoretical prediction agrees well with experimental observations. In the uniform jet breaking range, our stability analysis also gives the growth rates of the TC modes and the jet breakup length, both of which are supported by experimental measurements. In the experiments, we also observed the growth of higher-order modes, which can again be explained quantitatively by our stability analysis.
Loss of resilience preceded transformations of pre-Hispanic Pueblo societies
Authors: Scheffer Marten , van Nes Egbert H. , Bird Darcy , Bocinsky R. Kyle , Kohler Timothy A.
Published: April 2021

Significance

Collapse of civilizations remains one of the most enigmatic phenomena in human history. In this paper we provide quantitative evidence that loss of resilience systematically preceded collapses. We take advantage of unique time series documenting both construction activity and climate conditions for pre-Columbian societies of the southwestern United States on an annual basis over a period of eight centuries. These data cover five transformations encompassing shifts to novel constellations of beliefs, social practices, and styles of art and architecture. The remarkable high-resolution time series allowed us to quantify the dynamics of social fragility using numerical techniques for probing resilience. Our results demonstrate that all but one of these transformations happened after decades of rising social instability.
Klein–Nishina Effect and the Cosmic Ray Electron Spectrum
Authors: Fang Kun , Bi Xiao-Jun , Lin Su-Jie , Yuan Qiang
Published: April 2021

Radiative energy losses are very important in regulating the cosmic ray electron and/or positron (CRE) spectrum during their propagation in the Milky Way. Particularly, the Klein–Nishina (KN) effect of the inverse Compton scattering (ICS) results in less efficient energy losses of high-energy electrons, which is expected to leave imprints on the propagated electron spectrum. It has been proposed that the hardening of CRE spectra around 50 GeV observed by Fermi-LAT, AMS-02, and DAMPE could be due to the KN effect. We show in this work that the transition from the Thomson regime to the KN regime of the ICS is actually quite smooth compared with the approximate treatment adopted in some previous works. As a result, the observed spectral hardening of CREs cannot be explained by the KN effect. It means that an additional hardening of the primary electrons spectrum is needed. We also provide a parameterized form for the accurate calculation of the ICS energy-loss rate in a wide energy range.
Local-global active contour model based on tensor-based representation for 3D ultrasound vessel segmentation
Authors: Dong Jiahui , Ai Danni , Fan Jingfan , Deng Qiaoling , Song Hong , Cheng Zhigang , Liang Ping , Wang Yongtian , Yang Jian
Published: April 2021

Three-dimensional (3D) vessel segmentation can provide full spatial information about an anatomic structure to help physicians gain increased understanding of vascular structures, which plays an utmost role in many medical image-processing and analysis applications. The purpose of this paper aims to develop a 3D vessel-segmentation method that can improve segmentation accuracy in 3D ultrasound (US) images. We propose a 3D tensor-based active contour model method for accurate 3D vessel segmentation. With our method, the contrast-independent multiscale bottom-hat tensor representation and local-global information are captured. This strategy ensures the effective extraction of the boundaries of vessels from inhomogeneous and homogeneous regions without being affected by the noise and low-contrast of the 3D US images. Experimental results in clinical 3D US and public 3D Multiphoton Microscopy datasets are used for quantitative and qualitative comparison with several state-of-the-art vessel segmentation methods. Clinical experiments demonstrate that our method can achieve a smoother and more accurate boundary of the vessel object than competing methods. The mean SE, SP and ACC of the proposed method are: 0.7768 ± 0.0597, 0.9978 ± 0.0013 and 0.9971 ± 0.0015 respectively. Experiments on the public dataset show that our method can segment complex vessels in different medical images with noise and low- contrast.