bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Architectural Proportion from an Empirical Standpoint
Authors: Proietti Tiziana , Gepshtein Sergei
Published: December 2021

Proportion has long been central to theories of design and architecture before its role was questioned in the mid–twentieth century. In spite of this scrutiny, no definitive conclusion has been reached on the question of how proportion affects experience of the built environment. Here, an architect and a scientist attack this question from an empirical standpoint. They argue that, as a starting point, it is important to understand under which conditions proportions are perceptible by the flesh–and–blood person who moves freely through the built environment and observes it under various distances and angles. The authors begin by surveying the work of two forerunners of empirical study of proportion: The Russian architect and educator Nikolai Ladovsky, whose “psychotechnical” approach was inspired by scientific psychology, and the Dutch architect Hans van der Laan, who developed the theory of plastic number concerned with proportions of three–dimensional objects, and whose approach was strikingly similar to scientific approaches. Following an analysis of informal studies by Ladovsky and Van der Laan, the authors examine implications of such studies for education in architecture and interior design, and then describe two approaches to investigating architectural proportion formally, by methods of sensory psychophysics.
The politics of preservation: oral history, socio‐legal studies, and praxis
Authors: BRYSON ANNA
Published: December 2021

Oral history is a surprisingly under‐utilized resource in socio‐legal studies. This article explores some of the theoretical and experiential reasons for this deficiency. It begins with an overview of both fields to date, including instances of intellectual collaboration. It then considers tensions between qualitative and oral history interviews under the overlapping themes of preservation, accountability, and agency. The concluding section develops these theoretical arguments in light of ongoing ‘real‐world’ work in transitional justice. I argue in favour of a flexible, pragmatic, and imaginative response to the politics of oral history preservation and a more critical approach to the relationship between oral history, law, and politics. This is designed to encourage the collection and preservation of material that is otherwise side‐stepped, censored, or destroyed. Such an approach would yield benefits not only for the vexed process of ‘dealing with the past’ in post‐conflict societies but for socio‐legal scholarship more generally.
Longitudinal Effects of the “Acting White” Accusation and Racial Identity Development Among Black College Students
Authors: Durkee Myles I. , Perkins Tiani R. , Smith Richard E.
Published: December 2021

The “acting White” accusation (AWA) is a type of cultural invalidation that undermines the racial authenticity of Black youths. This study examines how the AWA and racial identity (RI) influence one another longitudinally during the transition to college for Black students. Findings were moderated by gender. For Black males, a negative feedback loop emerged for RI centrality where AWA experiences predicted lower centrality, which then predicted more AWA experiences over a 2‐year period. Additionally, AWA experiences in high school predicted lower RI private regard for Black males and lower RI public regard for Black females during the first year of college. Implications and policy recommendations to address forms of cultural oppression such as the AWA are further discussed.
How Small Policy Changes Can Transform the Implementation of Physical Activity Minutes in Kentucky Public Schools: A White Paper
Authors: Kearns Nancy E.
Published: December 2021

As obesity and physical inactivity rates continue to rise in the United States, Kentucky ranks third in childhood obesity rates (10‐17 year olds) and 50th in physical inactivity. The public school environment is a logical place to examine practices and closely discern how time is spent. Federal legislation over the past 50 years has largely dictated the emphasis and priority of our public education system and how schools are funded and assessed. Recently, new federal legislation, the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) of 2015, moved more power, flexibility, and accountability to the states allowing for additional funding opportunities surrounding not just reading and mathematics standardized test scores. Kentucky made promising steps toward including a well‐rounded education in their accountability plan, however; ultimately removed those measures in their revised submission to the US Education Department. We must reexamine our current priorities and policies based on evidence‐based best practices regarding health, physical activity, and academic achievement. This report outlines history, issues, and policy solutions which will move Kentucky's youth toward better opportunities for quality physical activity in our public schools within our current resources.
GEOCHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF ORDOVICIAN OILS FROM THE TUOPUTAI REGION, NORTHERN TARIM BASIN, NW CHINA: SOURCE ROCK CORRELATION
Authors: Cheng Bin , Liu Hua , Wu Xian , Wang Shen , Wu Zepeng
Published: December 2021

Molecular and stable carbon isotope compositions of 46 Ordovician crude oil samples from wells in the Tuoputai region of the northern Tarim Basin were investigated using GC–MS, MRM GC–MS and IRMS to determine their genetic relationships and to identify possible source rocks. Thirty‐three source rock samples from outcrops and cores were also investigated. The oil samples varied from light to heavy crudes and showed very narrow δ13C value ranges for the whole oil, saturated and aromatic fractions. The majority of the oils displayed very similar molecular compositions with relatively high concentrations of n‐alkanes and isoprenoids and low concentrations of terpenoids and steroids. Comparison of the compositions of these crude oils strongly suggested their genetic affinity, while maturity parameters indicated maturity variations from the peak to the late oil generation stages. The samples also showed the characteristics of mixtures of biodegraded and fresh oil charges.

Bitumen extracts from Cambrian and Ordovician source rocks were studied in detail. The oil compositions suggested a marine marl source deposited in anoxic, hypersaline conditions with significant bacterial and algal organic matter inputs. The distributions of C26–C28 triaromatic steroids, tricyclic terpanes and regular steranes appear to have been greatly influenced by thermal maturation, making them unreliable for correlating the oils and the source rocks. In contrast, dinosteranes and triaromatic dinosteroids seem not to have been affected by maturation and were more useful for correlation studies. They indicated that there was no or little genetic relationship between the Cambrian – Lower Ordovician source rocks and the oils, but in general suggested a possible Middle – Upper Ordovician source for the oil accumulations in the Tuoputai field. However, the occurrence of triaromatic dinosteroids in oil from well TP28XCX may also suggest a minor contribution from Cambrian – Lower Ordovician source rocks.
Resection of vaginal septum using endoscopic‐guided sealing devices in female dogs: 8 cases (2015–2018)
Authors: Nicoli S. , Caccamo R.
Published: December 2021

Objectives

Vestibulovaginal septal remnants are congenital anomalies that are often concurrent with ectopic ureters in bitches. During endoscopic laser ablation of the ectopic ureter, the vaginal septum should be cut in the same surgical session. However, sometimes, the septal length and thickness make the procedure extremely long and challenging with lasers. This study aimed to describe the use of sealing devices for septal cuts.

Materials and Methods

We searched medical records for female dogs presented for ectopic ureters with endoscopic laser ablation that had a vaginal septum equal or longer than 4 cm in length that were treated using vesseal‐sealing devices.

Results

Medical records of 37 patients were retrieved. Of those, 8 patients were eligible for inclusion in the case series. Weight of included dogs ranged from 10 to 27 kg, and age ranged from 3 to 60 months. Three of these patients had the septum resected using the LigaSure™ device, and five of them using the ENSEAL® device. The median time of septum resection using the vessel‐sealing devices was 100 seconds (range 60 to 130s). No obvious complications were detected when using the described technique.

Clinical Significance

The sealing devices used by the authors allowed a rapid and uneventful resection of the vaginal septum in the cases described herein.
Assessments of right ventricular strain using cardiac magnetic resonance imaging following kidney transplantation
Authors: Cai Sean , Mahmood Tahrin , Hashi Abdulaziz Ahmed , Prasad Ramesh , Connelly Philip W. , Connelly Kim A. , Wald Ron , Deva Djeven P. , Yan Andrew T.
Published: December 2021

Although kidney transplantation (KT) has been shown to ameliorate adverse left ventricular (LV) remodelling associated with end stage kidney disease, its effects on the right ventricle have not been well studied. Recently, strain imaging has been shown to be a sensitive measure of early subclinical myocardial dysfunction. Using cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), we examined the effects of KT on right ventricular (RV) strain parameters. In a cohort of 81 patients (39 patients underwent KT and 42 patients remained on dialysis as control group), cardiac MRI studies were obtained at baseline and at 1 year follow‐up. There were no significant differences in RV strain values between the groups at baseline. After 1 year, RV strain values did not significantly change in patients who received KT, and changes in RV strain over 1 year were not significantly different between the KT and the dialysis groups. Given the previously demonstrated improvement in LV strain post‐KT, the current study suggests that RV and LV remodelling post‐KT may have different mechanisms. Further studies elucidating the effects of KT on RV remodelling are needed.
Assessment of published literature regarding skin of color in Pediatric Dermatology
Authors: Sun Mary D. , Wilson Britney N. , Weitzman Sarah , Ren Jennifer , Murrell Dedee F. , Murase Jenny E.
Published: December 2021

We sought to analyze the existence of skin of color (SOC)‐related literature in Pediatric Dermatology. To do so, we applied criteria developed by Wilson et al (Assessment of skin of color and diversity and inclusion content of dermatologic published literature: an analysis and call to action. Int J Women Dermatol. 2021;15:26) to categorize SOC articles. We found that Pediatric Dermatology published 28.4% SOC articles in the last three years, higher than the average (16.8%) found across surveyed dermatology journals. Our findings demonstrate opportunity for improvement through the implementation of keyword standardization and continued prioritization of SOC‐related content.
Operations (management) warp speed: Rapid deployment of hospital‐focused predictive/prescriptive analytics for the COVID‐19 pandemic
Authors: Shi Pengyi , Helm Jonathan E. , Chen Christopher , Lim Jeff , Parker Rodney P. , Tinsley Troy , Cecil Jacob
Published: December 2021

At the onset of the COVID‐19 pandemic, hospitals were in dire need of data‐driven analytics to provide support for critical, expensive, and complex decisions. Yet, the majority of analytics being developed were targeted at state‐ and national‐level policy decisions, with little availability of actionable information to support tactical and operational decision‐making and execution at the hospital level. To fill this gap, we developed a multi‐method framework leveraging a parsimonious design philosophy that allows for rapid deployment of high‐impact predictive and prescriptive analytics in a time‐sensitive, dynamic, data‐limited environment, such as a novel pandemic. The product of this research is a workload prediction and decision support tool to provide mission‐critical, actionable information for individual hospitals. Our framework forecasts time‐varying patient workload and demand for critical resources by integrating disease progression models, tailored to data availability during different stages of the pandemic, with a stochastic network model of patient movements among units within individual hospitals. Both components employ adaptive tuning to account for hospital‐dependent, time‐varying parameters that provide consistently accurate predictions by dynamically learning the impact of latent changes in system dynamics. Our decision support system is designed to be portable and easily implementable across hospital data systems for expeditious expansion and deployment. This work was contextually grounded in close collaboration with IU Health, the largest health system in Indiana, which has 18 hospitals serving over one million residents. Our initial prototype was implemented in April 2020 and has supported managerial decisions, from the operational to the strategic, across multiple functionalities at IU Health.
Enhanced interoceptive attention mediates the relationship between mindfulness training and the reduction of negative mood
Authors: Wu Qiong , Mao Xinrui , Luo Wei , Fan Jin , Liu Xinghua , Wu Yanhong
Published: December 2021

Although accumulating evidence has revealed the effect of mindfulness training on the reduction of general stress and the improvement of mental well‐being, the underlying mechanism remains unclear. In this study, we investigated whether interoceptive attention to respiratory signals plays a role. Healthy adults were randomly assigned to either receive an 8‐week mindfulness training (n = 29) or inactive control (n = 28). The pre‐ and post‐training self‐reported states of negative mood were assessed together with an objective measure of interoceptive attention to respiration. Compared to the control group, mindfulness training led to a decrease in the level of negative mood and an increase in interoceptive sensitivity. Mediation analysis further showed that the effect of mindfulness training on the reduction of negative mood was fully mediated by increased interoceptive sensitivity. These results suggest that mindfulness training effectively alleviates negative mood by enhancing interoceptive attention to respiratory signals.
Art and Irreconciliation, or Cubist Ruptures of Soviet Postwar Aesthetics
Authors: CHUNIKHIN KIRILL
Published: December 2021

Introducing previously neglected primary sources and suggesting an alternative approach to researching history of art during the Cold War, in this article, I rethink Soviet Thaw‐ and post‐Thaw fate of cubism. In doing so, I acknowledge the movement's major constituting role within Soviet art discourse. In a first step, I analyze an unknown strategy of apology of cubism designed by seminal Kulturträgers Igor Golomstock and Andrei Sinyavsky. This is to challenge dominant scholarly accounts paying overly attention to Soviet negative criticism of cubism while ignoring the actual complexity of debates within the allegedly monolithic totalitarian discourse. Analyzing results of the apology, I argue that the attempt to rehabilitate cubism caused an intensification of negative criticism characteristic of novel anti‐modernist patterns such as by Mikhail Lifshitz, a prominent Soviet philosopher. This re‐actualization of debates on cubism had both domestic and transnational premises. Ultimately, situating Soviet discussions of cubism within relevant European debates on modernist art, I nuance interpretations of Soviet art discourse as that of an isolationist.
The cultural origins of Jewish nationalism: Early Zionism and the weight of the pre‐modern tradition
Authors: Conforti Yitzhak
Published: December 2021

This article offers a new perspective on the early stages of Zionism, adopting the ethno‐symbolic approach to the study of nationalism. Scholars who follow this approach assert that in order to achieve a complete understanding of nationalism, we must address its cultural pre‐modern dimension. I argue that in the case study of Jewish nationalism presented here, this approach offers us a more nuanced understanding of early Zionism. First, the article explores the formation of the Zionist conception of the Jewish past and shows that this developed in the second half of the nineteenth century before the inception of political Zionism. Second, the article demonstrates that political Zionism was deeply connected with cultural issues. Two key issues that generated much internal debate and conflict during the early years of the Zionist movement are presented as examples: the schism between ‘East’ and ‘West’, and the debate over ‘the people versus the land’. Exploring these political conflicts from a cultural perspective highlights the strong connection between the Zionist movement and the pre‐modern Jewish past.
Nussbaum-Type Neural Network-Based Control of Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation With Input Saturation and Muscle Fatigue
Authors: Rui Chen , Li Jie , Chen Yinhe , Zhang Qing , Yang Ruzhou , de Queiroz Marcio
Published: December 2021

Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) is a promising technique to actuate the human musculoskeletal system in the presence of neurological impairments. The closed-loop control of NMES systems is nontrivial due to their inherent uncertain nonlinearity. In this paper, we propose a Nussbaum-type neural network (NN)-based controller for the lower leg limb NMES systems. The control accounts for model uncertainties and external disturbances in the system and, for the first time, provides a solution with rigorous stability analysis to the adaptive NMES tracking problem with input saturation and muscle fatigue. The proposed controller guarantees a uniformly ultimately bounded (UUB) tracking for the knee-joint angular position. To evaluate the control performance, a simulation study is taken, where the performance comparison with a NN controller inspired by Ge et al. (2004, “Adaptive Neural Control of Nonlinear Time-Delay Systems With Unknown Virtual Control Coefficients,” IEEE Trans. Syst., Man, Cybern.-Part B, 34(1), pp. 499–516) is given. The simulation results show a good tracking performance of the proposed controller regardless of the time-varying muscle fatigue and moderate input saturation. The adaptation mechanism of the Nussbaum-type gain and the controller's robustness to the muscle fatigue and input saturation are discussed in details along with the simulations.
Impingement Cooling by Multiple Asymmetric Orifice Jets
Authors: Zhang C. Y. , Liu Y. Y. , Bhaiyat T. I. , Schekman S. W. , Lu T. J. , Kim T.
Published: December 2021

This study presents impingement cooling from a flat plate by multiple asymmetric jets. Such jets are discharged through blunt-edge inline orifice holes with a thickness-to-diameter ratio of t/Dj = 0.5 and a jet-to-jet spacing of T/Dj = 4.0, at the Reynolds number of 20,000. First, fluidic features are established both in free exit and with impingement, at varying short target spacing (e.g., H/Dj ≤ 4.0). Second, thermal characteristics of the jet impingement are elucidated. Results demonstrate that, due to a skewed incidence of the coolant stream upstream of concave orifice holes, the resulting multiple orifice jets are asymmetric and skewed relative to the orifice axis. These results mimic multiple fluidically inclined jets. However, asymmetric entrainment that takes place causes faster mixing with the surrounding fluid at rest as well as faster decay of momentum. This shows more effective cooling from a flat plate for the relatively short H/Dj range than conventional symmetric orifice and nozzle jets.
Ni3Si2 nanowires for efficient electron field emission and limitations of the Fowler–Nordheim model
Authors: Belkadi Amina , Zeng Emma , Isakovic A. F.
Published: December 2021

This article reports on top-down nanofabricated Ni3Si2 nanowires and tests of their electron field emission capabilities. The results include low turn-on electric field, EON, moderate work function, Φ, and the field enhancement factor, β, customizable through nanofabrication. The article also reports on the issues ahead in the field of nanowires-based electron mission, as there are quantitative limitations of the applicability of the Fowler–Nordheim model, which will become increasingly apparent as we continue to optimize the field emission of electrons. To this end, we suggest adding the studies of surface-to-volume ratio effects of the nanowires as another standard for comparison in order to lead to the input form of the density of states as quantum effects becoming more prominent.
Hanbury Brown and Twiss effect demonstrated for sound waves from a waterfall: An experimental, numerical, and analytical study
Authors: Vistnes Arnt Inge , Bergli Joakim
Published: December 2021

Hanbury Brown and Twiss determined the angular size of a visible light source (the star Sirius) by studying how the cross-correlation in intensity fluctuation recorded by two detectors changes with the distance between the detectors. We find that this principle works equally well for sound waves from a waterfall. This is remarkable, since sound is a completely different kind of wave from the HBT case. The frequency of the waves differs by a factor ∼1012 and the wavelength as well as the angular extension of the source seen from the observer's position differ by a factor ∼107. Our analysis is based on the general properties of broadband waves. We start with broadband waves at the amplitude level (not at intensity level) and demonstrate a HBT-like effect. We follow up with an explanation and demonstrations showing how the effect also manifests itself at the intensity level, providing a bridge to the original HBT work. We use the same reasoning in our numeric and analytical treatments, as well as in the experimental work, with identical results. The presentation is simple enough to be introduced even for second year bachelor students. Computer programs (in Matlab), including software for time-resolved frequency analysis, as well as original sound files are available from the authors.
The energetics of uniquely human subsistence strategies
Authors: Kraft Thomas S. , Venkataraman Vivek V. , Wallace Ian J. , Crittenden Alyssa N. , Holowka Nicholas B. , Stieglitz Jonathan , Harris Jacob , Raichlen David A. , Wood Brian , Gurven Michael , Pontzer Herman
Published: December 2021

Efficiency leads to leisure

Humans are animals—merely another lineage of great apes. However, we have diverged in significant ways from our ape cousins and we are perennially interested in how this happened. Kraft
et al
. looked at energy intake and expenditure in modern hunter-gatherer societies and great apes. They found that we do not spend less energy while foraging or farming, but we do acquire more energy and at a faster rate than our ape cousins. This difference may have allowed our ancestors to spend more time in contexts that facilitated social learning and cultural development. —SNV
Stereodivergent atom-transfer radical cyclization by engineered cytochromes P450
Authors: Zhou Qi , Chin Michael , Fu Yue , Liu Peng , Yang Yang
Published: December 2021

Radical cyclization made easy

Metalloenzymes contain metal cofactors that can sometimes be exploited to catalyze reactions distinct from their natural function. Drawing on inspiration from heme-based radical polymerizations, Zhou
et al
. screened a panel of metalloproteins for candidates that could catalyze an atom-transfer radical cyclization, producing a lactam from an amide substrate bearing bromoalkyl and alkene functional groups (see the Perspective by Zhang and Dydio). Cytochrome P-450 derivatives were effective catalysts, and a series of enzyme variants were generated by directed evolution to access the full range of enantiomer and diastereomer products for model substrates. Such biocatalysts are valuable additions to the synthetic chemistry toolkit and reiterate the potential of metalloenzymes in catalyzing useful unnatural reactions. —MAF
Early lab studies shed light on Omicron’s behavior
Authors: Vogel Gretchen , Kupferschmidt Kai
Published: December 2021

Some data hint the new variant may be milder—but most scientists reserve judgment
Whole-Genome Analysis-Based Phylogeographic Investigation of Streptococcus pneumoniae Serotype 19A Sequence Type 320 Isolates in Japan
Authors: Nakano Satoshi , Fujisawa Takao , Chang Bin , Ito Yutaka , Akeda Hideki , Fujita Jiro , Matsumura Yasufumi , Yamamoto Masaki , Suga Shigeru , Oishi Kazunori , Nagao Miki , Ohnishi Makoto
Published: December 2021

After the introduction of the seven-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, the global spread of multidrug-resistant serotype 19A-sequence type 320 (ST320) strains of
Streptococcus pneumoniae
became a public health concern. In Japan, the main genotype of serotype 19A was ST3111, and the identification rate of ST320 was low.
Drug Combinations as a First Line of Defense against Coronaviruses and Other Emerging Viruses
Authors: White Judith M. , Schiffer Joshua T. , Bender Ignacio Rachel A. , Xu Shuang , Kainov Denis , Ianevski Aleksandr , Aittokallio Tero , Frieman Matthew , Olinger Gene G. , Polyak Stephen J.
Published: December 2021

The world was unprepared for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and remains ill-equipped for future pandemics. While unprecedented strides have been made developing vaccines and treatments for COVID-19, there remains a need for highly effective and widely available regimens for ambulatory use for novel coronaviruses and other viral pathogens.
Rittmann’s heritage: A philosophical approach for current research
Authors: Musumeci Daniele , De Benedetti Arnaldo Angelo , Branca Stefano , Ingaliso Luigi
Published: December 2021

We present an interdisciplinary study between philosophy and science that uses a historical case to show some aspects of scientific research. The case in question is that of Alfred F. Rittmann (1893–1980), known as one of the central figures of twentieth-century volcanology. After outlining Rittmann’s scientific background and hypotheses, we briefly examine the set of his theories using Thomas Kuhn’s model of the development of science. We highlight the methodology of multiple working hypotheses and how they contributed to defining his geoscientific paradigm, namely, magmatological tectonics. Rittmann worked on his paradigm throughout his life, even making little-known criticisms on plate tectonics. We present some of them, contextualizing them in twentieth-century as well as current research. His use of multiple working hypotheses, along with his drive to search for synthetic visions between different models, could be a stimulating and pluralistic approach to unsolved geoscientific questions.
Revisiting hotspots and continental breakup—Updating the classical three-arm model
Authors: Stein Carol A. , Stein Seth , Gallahue Molly M. , Elling Reece P.
Published: December 2021

Classic models proposed that continental rifting begins at hotspots—domal uplifts with associated magmatism—from which three rift arms extend. Rift arms from different hotspots link up to form new plate boundaries, along which the continent breaks up, generating a new ocean basin and leaving failed arms, termed aulacogens, within the continent. In subsequent studies, hotspots became increasingly viewed as manifestations of deeper upwellings or plumes, which were the primary cause of continental rifting. We revisited this conceptual model and found that it remains useful, though some aspects require updates based on subsequent results. First, the rift arms are often parts of boundaries of transient microplates accommodating motion between the major plates. The microplates form as continents break up, and they are ultimately incorporated into one of the major plates, leaving identifiable fossil features on land and/or offshore. Second, much of the magmatism associated with rifting is preserved either at depth, in underplated layers, or offshore. Third, many structures formed during rifting survive at the resulting passive continental margins, so study of one can yield insight into the other. Fourth, hotspots play at most a secondary role in continental breakup, because most of the associated volcanism reflects plate divergence, so three-arm junction points may not reflect localized upwelling of a deep mantle plume.
Supplemental Material: Minerals Matter: Science, Technology, and Society
Authors: Dutrow Barbara L.
Published: December 2021

Animation flies through the mineral structure of analcime, a mineral with ionic to superionic conductivity. Structure is represented by a ball (showing atoms) and stick (showing bonds) model. The beginning view is a “surface cell” perpendicular to the channel axis looking down <111> to view the pseudo-trigonal representation. Channel axes is 273 Angstroms wide. First image is about 23 times the channel width or 1288 unit cells. Courtesy of David Palmer, CrystalMaker.
Evaluation of the Cost of Ecosystem Services of Urban Landscapes (by the Example of Moscow)
Authors: Semenyuk O. V. , Stoma G. V. , Bodrov K. S.
Published: December 2021

Abstract—

The cost of park-recreational, residential, and residential-transport urban landscapes of Moscow has been estimated taking into account land use and the relationships between ecosystem services and ecological functions and properties of individual landscape components. On the basis of the methodology previously proposed by the authors, a wide range of ecosystem services of urban landscapes, mainly associated with soils and their ecological state, has been assessed. The cost of ecosystem services provided by the soil in urban landscapes is 20–30 times higher in comparison with that of green spaces, and some soil services can be considered invaluable because of the difficulty of renewing this natural resource. The cost of ecosystem services of undisturbed soils of park and recreational landscapes is 1.5–2 times higher than that of anthropogenically transformed soils of residential and residential-transport urban territories. The main contribution to the overall cost of ecosystem services of soils in urban landscapes is due to the following services: carbon sequestration, preservation of the genetic material of biota, and filtration and accumulation of chemical elements in the ecosystem. These services can be considered as promising in the monetization of ecosystem services in urban landscapes. The decline in the cost of ecosystem services from park and recreational landscapes to residential and residential-transport landscapes is largely determined by the deterioration of the ecological state of soils. The benefits provided by the natural block of landscapes are comparable to or greater than those of the cultural (human-created) block. In relation to the all-Russia assessment of ecosystem services, a specific feature of urban areas is a significant share (on average, 25%) of the cultural block in the total cost of ecosystem services and a decrease in the cost of regulatory services by about 30%. The results of the economic assessment of ecosystem services of urban landscapes indicate an underestimation of the value of natural components, a significant contribution of soil to the natural block, the need to search for simplified integral indicators of its state, and the presence of cost calculation problems. The methodological approaches and provisional results of this study can be used in urban planning with the aim to preserve the soil cover of urban landscapes and optimize their functioning.
An engineered oncolytic vaccinia virus encoding a single-chain variable fragment against TIGIT induces effective antitumor immunity and synergizes with PD-1 or LAG-3 blockade
Authors: Zuo Shuguang , Wei Min , Xu Tiancheng , Kong Lingkai , He Bohao , Wang Shiqun , Wang Shibing , Wu Junhua , Dong Jie , Wei Jiwu
Published: December 2021

Background

In addition to directly lysing tumors, oncolytic viruses also induce antitumor immunity by recruiting and activating immune cells in the local tumor microenvironment. However, the activation of the immune cells induced by oncolytic viruses is always accompanied by high-level expression of immune checkpoints in these cells, which may reduce the efficacy of the oncolytic viruses. The aim of this study is to arm the oncolytic vaccinia virus (VV) with immune checkpoint blockade to enhance its antitumor efficacy.

Methods

Through homologous recombination with the parental VV, an engineered VV-scFv-TIGIT was produced, which encodes a single-chain variable fragment (scFv) targeting T-cell immunoglobulin and ITIM domain (TIGIT). The antitumor efficacy of the VV-scFv-TIGIT was explored in several subcutaneous and ascites tumor models. The antitumor efficacy of VV-scFv-TIGIT combined with programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) or lymphocyte-activation gene 3 (LAG-3) blockade was also investigated.

Results

The VV-scFv-TIGIT effectively replicated in tumor cells and lysed them, and prompt the infected tumor cells to secret the functional scFv-TIGIT. Compared with control VV, intratumoral injection of VV-scFv-TIGIT in several mouse subcutaneous tumor models showed superior antitumor efficacy, accompanied by more T cell infiltration and a higher degree of CD8+T cells activation. Intraperitoneal injection of VV-scFv-TIGIT in a mouse model of malignant ascites also significantly improved T cell infiltration and CD8+T cell activation, resulting in more than 90% of the tumor-bearing mice being cured. Furthermore, the antitumor immune response induced by VV-scFv-TIGIT was dependent on CD8+T cells which mediated a long-term immunological memory and a systemic antitumor immunity against the same tumor. Finally, the additional combination of PD-1 or LAG-3 blockade further enhanced the antitumor efficacy of VV-scFv-TIGIT, increasing the complete response rate of tumor-bearing mice.

Conclusions

Oncolytic virotherapy using engineered VV-scFv-TIGIT was an effective strategy for cancer immunotherapy. Administration of VV-scFv-TIGIT caused a profound reshaping of the suppressive tumor microenvironment from ‘cold’ to ‘hot’ status. VV-scFv-TIGIT also synergized with PD-1 or LAG-3 blockade to achieve a complete response to tumors with poor response to VV or immune checkpoint blockade monotherapy.
Efficacy, safety, and biomarker analysis of Camrelizumab in Previously Treated Recurrent or Metastatic Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma (CAPTAIN study)
Authors: Yang Yunpeng , Zhou Ting , Chen Xiaozhong , Li Jingao , Pan Jianji , He Xiaohui , Lin Lizhu , Shi Ying-rui , Feng Weineng , Xiong Jianping , Yang Kunyu , Yu Qitao , Zhang Qunling , Hu Desheng , Sun Yan , Hu Guangyuan , Li Ping , Shen Liangfang , Lin Qin , Zhang Ben , Qu Xiao , Zou Jianjun , Zhang Li , Fang Wenfeng , Zhao Yuanyuan
Published: December 2021

Background

This study aimed to evaluate the antitumor activity of camrelizumab, an antiprogrammed cell death-1 antibody, in pretreated recurrent or metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) and to explore predictive biomarkers.

Methods

Patients with recurrent (not amenable to locally curative treatment) or metastatic NPC who had failed at least two lines of chemotherapy were eligible to receive camrelizumab (200 mg intravenously every 2 weeks) for 2 years or until disease progression, intolerable adverse events, withdrawal of consents, or investigator decision. The primary endpoint was objective response rate (ORR) assessed by an independent review committee (IRC). Programmed cell death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression was assessed by immunohistochemistry. Other immune-related biomarkers including major histocompatibility complex class I and major histocompatibility complex class II (MHC-II) were assessed by multiplex immunofluorescence staining.

Results

Between August 14, 2018, and December 30, 2019, a total of 156 patients were enrolled. The IRC-assessed ORR was 28.2% (95% CI 21.3% to 36.0%). The median progression-free survival was 3.7 months (95% CI 2.0 to 4.1) per IRC, and the median overall survival was 17.4 months (95% CI 15.2 to 21.9). The ORRs were 35.2% (95% CI 25.3% to 46.1%) vs 19.4% (95% CI 10.4% to 31.4%) in patients with tumor PD-L1 expression of ≥10% and<10%, respectively. Patients with durable clinical benefit (DCB), which was defined as complete response, partial response or stable disease of ≥18 weeks, had higher density of MHC-II+ cell in stroma than patients without DCB (median 868.1 (IQR 413.4–2854.0) cells/mm2vs median 552.4 (IQR 258.4 to 1242.1) cells/mm2). MHC-II+ cell density did not correlate with PD-L1 expression, and a composite of high stromal MHC-II+ cell density and tumor PD-L1 expression further enriched patients who could benefit from camrelizumab.

Conclusions

Camrelizumab had clinically meaningful antitumor activity in patients with recurrent or metastatic NPC. The composition of both MHC-II+ cell density and PD-L1 expression could result in better patient selection.
Neurointerventional management of cerebrovascular trauma
Authors: Lauzier David C , Chatterjee Arindam R , Kansagra Akash P
Published: December 2021

Traumatic cerebrovascular injuries following blunt or penetrating trauma are common and carry a high risk of permanent disability or death. Proper screening, diagnosis, and treatment of these lesions is essential to improve patient outcomes. Advances in imaging continue to improve the accuracy of non-invasive diagnosis of these injuries while new clinical data provide better evidence for optimal management, whether medical or invasive. Here, we review screening, diagnosis, and treatment of traumatic cerebrovascular injuries.
Population genetic structure and dispersal ofPinus occidentalisin the Dominican Republic by chloroplastic SSR, with implications for its conservation, management, and reforestation
Authors: Rodríguez de Francisco Luis E. , Carreras-De León Rosanna , Navarro Cerrillo Rafael M. , Paulino-Gervacio Liz A. , Rey María-Dolores , del Orbe Matos Diego , Perdomo Omar Paíno , Jorrín Novo Jesús V.
Published: December 2021

Pinus occidentalis Swartz is the dominant species of forest ecosystems in the Dominican Republic, located between 200 and 3000 m above sea level, with extensive and overexploited natural populations. However, over the years, various restoration plans have been performed, which could affect the genetic structure of P. occidentalis. Despite being the species with the highest occurrence in the Dominican forests, there is no existing information on the genetic structure and molecular characterization among natural populations with limited information on both phenological and productive characterization. In this study, the genetic structure, diversity, and gene flow of the five P. occidentalis natural populations of the Dominican Republic were determined using microsatellite markers. A total of 145 individuals were genotyped with eight polymorphic chloroplastic microsatellites, producing an average of 41 haplotypes with high genetic diversity across populations (HE = 0.90). Significant population genetic structure was found between populations (FST = 0.123). These results reflect the impact of reforestation programs on natural populations and diluting the natural genetic signature. Analysis of population genetic data are, therefore, crucial for the breeding and conservation programs of P. occidentalis in the country.
Delta-tocotrienol enhances the anti-tumor effects of interferon alpha through reactive oxygen species and Erk/MAPK signaling pathways in hepatocellular carcinoma cells
Authors: Lucci Alvaro , Vera Marina C. , Comanzo Carla G. , Lorenzetti Florencia , Ferretti Anabela C. , Ceballos María Paula , Quiroga Ariel D. , Alvarez María de Luján , Carrillo María Cristina
Published: December 2021

The complexity of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) signaling and the failure of pharmacological therapeutics reveal the significance of establishing new anti-cancer strategies. Interferon alpha (IFN-α) has been used as adjuvant therapy for reducing HCC recurrence and improving survival. Delta-tocotrienol (δ-tocotrienol), a natural unsaturated isoform of vitamin E, is a promising candidate for cancer treatment. In this study, we evaluated whether the combination of δ-tocotrienol with IFN-α displays significant advantages in the treatment of HCC cells. Results showed that the combination significantly decreased cell viability, migration and invasion of HCC cells compared with single therapies. Combining δ-tocotrienol and IFN-α enhanced the decrease in proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) 7 and MMP-9. The combination also produced an enhancement of apoptosis together with increased Bax/Bcl-xL ratio and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. δ-tocotrienol induced Notch1 activation and changes in Erk and p38 MAPK signaling status. Blocking experiments confirmed that ROS and Erk are involved, at least in part, in the anti-cancer effects of the combined treatment. In conclusion, the combination of δ-tocotrienol with IFN-α therapy showed promising results for HCC cell treatment, which makes the combination of cytokine-based immunotherapy with natural products a potential strategy against liver cancer.
Least-squares fitting applied to nuclear mass formulas. Solution by the Gauss–Seidel method
Authors: Mohammed-Azizi B. , Mouloudj H.
Published: December 2021

In this paper, a numerical method optimizing the coefficients of the semi empirical mass formula or those of similar mass formulas is presented. The optimization is based on the least-squares adjustments method and leads to the resolution of a linear system which is solved by iterations according to the Gauss–Seidel scheme. The steps of the algorithm are given in detail. In practice, the method is very simple to implement and is able to treat large data in a very fast way. In fact, although this method has been illustrated here by specific examples, it can be applied without difficulty to any experimental or statistical data of the same type, i.e. those leading to linear system characterized by symmetric and positive-definite matrices.
A New System with a Self-Excited Fully-Quadratic Strange Attractor and Its Twin Strange Repeller
Authors: Ramesh Arthanari , Hussain Iqtadar , Natiq Hayder , Mehrabbeik Mahtab , Jafari Sajad , Rajagopal Karthikeyan
Published: December 2021

In nonlinear dynamics, the study of chaotic systems has attracted the attention of many researchers around the world due to the exciting and peculiar properties of such systems. In this regard, the present paper introduces a new system with a self-excited strange attractor and its twin strange repeller. The unique characteristic of the presented system is that the system variables are all in their quadratic forms; therefore, the proposed system is called a fully-quadratic system. This paper also elaborates on the study of the bifurcation diagram, the interpretation of Lyapunov exponents, the representation of basin of attraction, and the calculation of connecting curves as the employed method for investigating the system’s dynamics. The investigation of 2D bifurcation diagrams and Lyapunov exponents indicated in this paper can better recognize the system’s dynamics since they are plotted considering simultaneous changes of two parameters. Moreover, the connecting curves of the proposed system are calculated.

The system’s connecting curves help identify the system’s different behaviors by providing general information about the nature of the flows.
Stability of Equilibrium Prices in a Dynamic Duopoly Bertrand Game with Asymmetric Information and Cluster Spillovers
Authors: Long Jianjun , Zhao Hua
Published: December 2021

Bounded rationality, asymmetric information and spillover effects are widespread in the economic market, and had been studied extensively in oligopoly games, but few references discussed incomplete information in a duopoly market with rationality expectations. Considering the positive externalities brought by the spillover effect between enterprises in a cluster, a duopoly Bertrand game with bounded rationality and asymmetric information is proposed in this paper. In our model, a firm with private information, high or low marginal cost, is introduced. Interestingly, our theoretical analysis reveals that: (1) In a dynamic duopoly Bertrand game with perfect rationality and asymmetric information, the equilibrium price is positively correlated with product substitution rate and the probability of a high marginal cost, while it is negatively correlated with the cluster spillover. (2) In a dynamic duopoly Bertrand game with asymmetric information and adaptive expectation adopted by both firms, the Nash equilibrium prices are always asymptotically stable. (3) In a dynamic duopoly Bertrand game with heterogenous expectation and asymmetric information, where two firms use adaptive expectation and boundedly rational expectation respectively, the Nash equilibrium prices are locally stable under certain conditions. Furthermore, results indicate that, high product substitution rate or large probability of high marginal cost for firm 2 with private information may make the market price unstable, bifurcating or even falling into chaos, while high technology spillover is conducive to stabilize the market by contrast. It is also shown that the chaos can be controlled by a hybrid control strategy with the state variables feedback and parameter variation. Our research has an important theoretical and practical significance to the price competition in oligopoly markets.
Graph Theory-Based Brain Network Connectivity Analysis and Classification of Alzheimer’s Disease
Authors: Thushara A. , Amma C. Ushadevi , John Ansamma
Published: December 2021

Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is basically a progressive neurodegenerative disorder associated with abnormal brain networks that affect millions of elderly people and degrades their quality of life. The abnormalities in brain networks are due to the disruption of White Matter (WM) fiber tracts that connect the brain regions. Diffusion-Weighted Imaging (DWI) captures the brain’s WM integrity. Here, the correlation betwixt the WM degeneration and also AD is investigated by utilizing graph theory as well as Machine Learning (ML) algorithms. By using the DW image obtained from Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) database, the brain graph of each subject is constructed. The features extracted from the brain graph form the basis to differentiate between Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI), Control Normal (CN) and AD subjects. Performance evaluation is done using binary and multiclass classification algorithms and obtained an accuracy that outperforms the current top-notch DWI-based studies.
Effective Recruitment of Engineers From Other Companies: Whether to Pull Individuals or Teams?
Authors: Fujiwara Ayano , Watanabe Toshiya
Published: December 2021

This study empirically analyzes effective conditions for cross-border “learning by hiring” in the electronics industry. Many previous studies have indicated that the mobility of engineers serves as a conduit for knowledge diffusion and that knowledge is more likely transferred when the geographical distance is short, that is, when the conduit is short. However, the relationship between conduit thickness and density and the knowledge spillover effect has only rarely discussed. The findings of this study suggest that it is more effective to hire multiple people simultaneously for learning by hiring from companies in other countries.