bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Nevertheless, partisanship persisted: fake news warnings help briefly, but bias returns with time
Authors: Grady Rebecca Hofstein , Ditto Peter H. , Loftus Elizabeth F.
Published: July 2021

Politically oriented “fake news”—false stories or headlines created to support or attack a political position or person—is increasingly being shared and believed on social media. Many online platforms have taken steps to address this by adding a warning label to articles identified as false, but past research has shown mixed evidence for the effectiveness of such labels, and many prior studies have looked only at either short-term impacts or non-political information. This study tested three versions of fake news labels with 541 online participants in a two-wave study. A warning that came before a false headline was initially very effective in both discouraging belief in false headlines generally and eliminating a partisan congruency effect (the tendency to believe politically congenial information more readily than politically uncongenial information). In the follow-up survey two weeks later, however, we found both high levels of belief in the articles and the re-emergence of a partisan congruency effect in all warning conditions, even though participants had known just two weeks ago the items were false. The new pre-warning before the headline showed some small improvements over other types, but did not stop people from believing the article once seen again without a warning. This finding suggests that warnings do have an important immediate impact and may work well in the short term, though the durability of that protection is limited.
Acute and 28-days subacute toxicity studies of Gαq-RGS2 signaling inhibitor
Authors: Beladiya Jayesh V. , Mehta Anita A.
Published: July 2021

Background

The aim of study was to evaluate the single oral dose and 28 day repeated oral administration toxicity profile of the synthetic compound Gαq-RGS2 signaling inhibitor, (1-(5-chloro-2-hydroxyphenyl)-3-(4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-1 H-1,2,4-triazol-5(4 H)-one) as per OECD guideline 425 (2008a) and 407 (2008b), respectively.

Results

In acute toxicity study, a single oral dose administration of Gαq-RGS2 signaling inhibitor did not show any mortality at doses of 5, 50, 300 and 2000 mg/kg within 24 h and 14 days. The treatment of Gαq-RGS2 signaling inhibitor at dose 10 and 100 mg/kg for 28 days did not show any mortality, significant changes in the increase of body weight, various organ damage markers, hematological parameters, relative organ/body weight ratio and microscopic anatomical texture of essential organs as compared to vehicle and normal control.

Conclusions

A single oral administration of Gαq-RGS2 signaling inhibitor up to dose of 2000 mg/kg in mice and repeated administration of Gαq-RGS2 signaling inhibitor at higher dose 100 mg/kg for 28 days in the rats is safe.
Effect of Abelmoschus ficulneus (L.) Wight & Arn. on immunomodulation: in vivo experimental animal models
Authors: Dashputre Neelam Laxman , Bandawane Deepti D.
Published: July 2021

Background

Abelmoschus ficulneus (L.) Wight & Arn. (Malvaceae) commonly known as herb in the Ayurveda, Indian traditional medicine system. Herb is reported as a Rasayana that has the potential to produce immunomodulatory effects. In the present study, the immunomodulatory effect of aqueous (AEAF) and ethanolic (EEAF) leaves extract of A. ficulneus (L.) Wight & Arn. in different experimental animal models were evaluated.

Results

Acute oral toxicity shows that both extracts have wide range of safety as per OECD 420 guidelines. Quantitative and qualitative analysis was evaluated by performing preliminary phytochemical screening, thin layer chromatography and high-performance thin layer chromatography developed for simultaneous quantification of flavonoids (quercetin) in both the extracts. Oral administration of A. ficulneus L. extracts showed a significant increase in the primary and secondary humoral antibody responses against cyclophosamide (100 mg/kg) induced immunosuppression, by significantly increasing (p < 0.05) the hemagglutinating antibody titre at dose of 200 mg/kg/p.o. and also significantly (p < 0.05) potentiated delayed type hypersensitivity reaction induced by sheep red blood cells. There was a significant (p < 0.05) increase in the phagocytic index, percentage neutrophil adhesion and significantly prevented the mortality induced by bovine Pasteurella multocida in mice when compared with control group. Result findings shows that both the extracts have ability to inhibit immunosuppression induced by cyclophosamide.

Conclusion

Study finding shows that AEAF and EEAF (at dose 200 mg/kg) extracts exerts immunostimulatory effects on specific and nonspecific immune system thus chemical constituents of herbal extracts may have applications as an effective immunotherapeutic agent and its potential application in the treatment of immune-related diseases.
Synthesis, characterization, and antibacterial studies of pipemidic acid metal complexes
Authors: Siddiqi Ahsan Zamir , Mirza Agha Zeeshan
Published: July 2021

Background

Pipemidic acid, like other quinolones, is susceptible against different organisms in vitro, and it was proved to be a preferred choice for certain indications. Previous studies reveal that concurrent administration of essential and trace elements with quinolones decreases gastrointestinal absorption, causing therapeutic failure. To study the probable interaction of pipemidic acid with essential and trace elements present in the human body, pipemidic acid has been reacted with magnesium, calcium, chromium, manganese, iron, cobalt, nickel, copper, zinc, and cadmium, the complexes formed.

Results

The compounds were characterized by the melting point, conductance studies, IR, UV, 1H-NMR, CHN, and atomic absorption analysis.

Conclusion

The results suggested oxygen atoms present at carbonyl and carboxylic group render the bidentate6 property to the pipemidic acid. The antimicrobial activity of the compounds was determined by the disk diffusion method, and both standard and complexes show no antibacterial activity against the clinical isolates.
The Subsident Gulf: Refiguring Climate Change in Jesmyn Ward’s Bois Sauvage
Authors: McKisson Kelly
Published: July 2021

This article focuses on figures of subsidence in Jesmyn Ward’s novels of Bois Sauvage. Subsidence not only describes an actual process of sinking land in the US Gulf Coast bioregion but also refigures how those who study climate change can understand and address its material effects. A focus on subsidence makes visible the sometimes-invisible infrastructure of the ground, and analysis scaled to the figure of subsidence forces a reorientation of vision—away from rising sea levels and toward the destabilizing loss of land. From this perspective, Ward’s fiction identifies histories of colonial engineering, extraction, and displacement as key ecological dangers. Unsettling national narratives of the Gulf Coast, Ward’s subsident figurations connect issues of environmental emergency to structures of environmental racism, which unevenly enhance the precarity of certain communities by diminishing the ecological infrastructures of their lands. This article argues that literary fiction can produce new understandings of situated environmental challenges and can pose particular obligations for environmental justice.
20-hydroxyecdysone (20E) signaling regulates amnioserosa morphogenesis during Drosophila dorsal closure: EcR modulates gene expression in a complex with the AP-1 subunit, Jun
Authors: Yoo Byoungjoo , Kim Hae-yoon , Chen Xi , Shen Weiping , Jang Ji Sun , Stein Shaianne N. , Cormier Olga , Pereira Lionel , Shih Claire R. Y. , Krieger Charles , Reed Bruce , Harden Nicholas , Wang Simon J. H.
Published: July 2021

Steroid hormones influence diverse biological processes throughout the animal life cycle, including metabolism, stress resistance, reproduction, and lifespan. In insects, the steroid hormone, 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E), is the central hormone regulator of molting and metamorphosis, and plays roles in tissue morphogenesis. For example, amnioserosa contraction, which is a major driving force in Drosophila dorsal closure (DC), is defective in embryos mutant for 20E biosynthesis. Here, we show that 20E signaling modulates the transcription of several DC participants in the amnioserosa and other dorsal tissues during late embryonic development, including zipper, which encodes for non-muscle myosin. Canonical ecdysone signaling typically involves the binding of Ecdysone receptor (EcR) and Ultraspiracle heterodimers to ecdysone-response elements (EcREs) within the promoters of responsive genes to drive expression. During DC, however, we provide evidence that 20E signaling instead acts in parallel to the JNK cascade via a direct interaction between EcR and the AP-1 transcription factor subunit, Jun, which together binds to genomic regions containing AP-1 binding sites but no EcREs to control gene expression. Our work demonstrates a novel mode of action for 20E signaling in Drosophila that likely functions beyond DC, and may provide further insights into mammalian steroid hormone receptor interactions with AP-1.
Polyploid cardiomyocytes: implications for heart regeneration
Authors: Kirillova Anna , Han Lu , Liu Honghai , Kühn Bernhard
Published: July 2021

Terminally differentiated cells are generally thought to have arrived at their final form and function. Many terminally differentiated cell types are polyploid, i.e. they have multiple copies of the normally diploid genome. Mammalian heart muscle cells, termed cardiomyocytes, are one such example of polyploid cells. Terminally differentiated cardiomyocytes are bi- or multi-nucleated, or have polyploid nuclei. Recent mechanistic studies of polyploid cardiomyocytes indicate that they can limit cellular proliferation and, hence, heart regeneration. In this short Spotlight, we present the mechanisms generating bi- and multi-nucleated cardiomyocytes, and the mechanisms generating polyploid nuclei. Our aim is to develop hypotheses about how these mechanisms might relate to cardiomyocyte proliferation and cardiac regeneration. We also discuss how these new findings could be applied to advance cardiac regeneration research, and how they relate to studies of other polyploid cells, such as cancer cells.
Molecular insight into how γ-TuRC makes microtubules
Authors: Thawani Akanksha , Petry Sabine
Published: July 2021

As one of four filament types, microtubules are a core component of the cytoskeleton and are essential for cell function. Yet how microtubules are nucleated from their building blocks, the αβ-tubulin heterodimer, has remained a fundamental open question since the discovery of tubulin 50 years ago. Recent structural studies have shed light on how γ-tubulin and the γ-tubulin complex proteins (GCPs) GCP2 to GCP6 form the γ-tubulin ring complex (γ-TuRC). In parallel, functional and single-molecule studies have informed on how the γ-TuRC nucleates microtubules in real time, how this process is regulated in the cell and how it compares to other modes of nucleation. Another recent surprise has been the identification of a second essential nucleation factor, which turns out to be the well-characterized microtubule polymerase XMAP215 (also known as CKAP5, a homolog of chTOG, Stu2 and Alp14). This discovery helps to explain why the observed nucleation activity of the γ-TuRC in vitro is relatively low. Taken together, research in recent years has afforded important insight into how microtubules are made in the cell and provides a basis for an exciting era in the cytoskeleton field.
Conserved cholesterol-related activities of Dispatched 1 drive Sonic hedgehog shedding from the cell membrane
Authors: Ehring Kristina , Manikowski Dominique , Goretzko Jonas , Froese Jurij , Gude Fabian , Jakobs Petra , Rescher Ursula , Kirchhefer Uwe , Grobe Kay
Published: July 2021

The Sonic hedgehog (Shh) pathway controls embryonic development and tissue homeostasis after birth. Long-standing questions about this pathway include how the dual-lipidated, firmly plasma membrane-associated Shh ligand is released from producing cells to signal to distant target cells and how the resistance–nodulation–division transporter Dispatched 1 (Disp, also known as Disp1) regulates this process. Here, we show that inactivation of Disp in Shh-expressing human cells impairs proteolytic Shh release from its lipidated terminal peptides, a process called ectodomain shedding. We also show that cholesterol export from Disp-deficient cells is reduced, that these cells contain increased cholesterol amounts in the plasma membrane, and that Shh shedding from Disp-deficient cells is restored by pharmacological membrane cholesterol extraction and by overexpression of transgenic Disp or the structurally related protein Patched 1 (Ptc, also known as Ptch1; a putative cholesterol transporter). These data suggest that Disp can regulate Shh function via controlled cell surface shedding and that membrane cholesterol-related molecular mechanisms shared by Disp and Ptc exercise such sheddase control.

This article has an associated First Person interview with the first author of the paper.
Interactions between developmental and adult acclimation have distinct consequences for heat tolerance and heat stress recovery
Authors: Willot Quentin , Loos Ben , Terblanche John S.
Published: July 2021

Developmental and adult thermal acclimation can have distinct, even opposite, effects on adult heat resistance in ectotherms. Yet, their relative contribution to heat-hardiness of ectotherms remains unclear despite the broad ecological implications thereof. Furthermore, the deterministic relationship between heat knockdown and recovery from heat stress is poorly understood but significant for establishing causal links between climate variability and population dynamics. Here, using Drosophila melanogaster in a full-factorial experimental design, we assessed the heat tolerance of flies in static stress assays, and document how developmental and adult acclimation interact with a distinct pattern to promote survival to heat stress in adults. We show that warmer adult acclimation is the initial factor enhancing survival to constant stressful high temperatures in flies, but also that the interaction between adult and developmental acclimation becomes gradually more important to ensure survival as the stress persists. This provides an important framework revealing the dynamic interplay between these two forms of acclimation that ultimately enhance thermal tolerance as a function of stress duration. Furthermore, by investigating recovery rates post-stress, we also show that the process of heat-hardening and recovery post-heat knockdown are likely to be based on set of (at least partially) divergent mechanisms. This could bear ecological significance as a trade-off may exist between increasing thermal tolerance and maximizing recovery rates post-stress, constraining population responses when exposed to variable and stressful climatic conditions.
Energy Expenditure of a Male and Female Tennis Player during Association of Tennis Professionals/Women’s Tennis Association and Grand Slam Events Measured by Doubly Labeled Water
Authors: ELLIS DANIEL G. , SPEAKMAN JOHN , HAMBLY CATHERINE , MORTON JAMES P. , CLOSE GRAEME L. , LEWINDON DAN , DONOVAN TIMOTHY F.
Published: July 2021

Understanding the total energy expenditure (TEE) for competition and training in sport are vital to ensure suitable nutritional strategies. This study assessed TEE of a world class male and female tennis player during competition at the highest level. Participants: Career high ranking, Female: Women’s Tennis Association top 10; Male: Association of Tennis Professionals top 15.

Methods

Doubly labeled water assessed TEE during a 17-d period analyzed by days 1 to 7 (P1) and 7–17 (P2) which included a Women’s Tennis Association/Association of Tennis Professionals tournament and culminated at the Wimbledon Championships. Daily training and match loads were assessed using a 10-point Borg scale multiplied by time. Match data were provided by video analysis and player tracking technology.

Results

The TEE during P1 for the female player was 3383 kcal·d−1 (63.5 kcal·kg−1) fat-free mass (FFM) with 362 points played over 241 min in three matches covering a distance of 2569 m, with an additional 875 min training. During P2, TEE was 3824 kcal·d−1 (71.7 kcal·kg−1) FFM with 706 points played over 519 min during five matches, covering a distance of 7357 m with an additional 795 min training. The TEE during P1 for the male player was 3712 kcal·d−1 (56.3 kcal·kg−1) FFM with 133 points played over 88 min during one match covering 1125 m, with an additional 795 min training. During P2, TEE was 5520 kcal·d−1 (83.7 kcal·kg−1) FFM with 891 points played over 734 min during five matches, covering 10,043 m, with an additional 350 min training.

Conclusions

This novel data positions elite tennis, played at the highest level, as a highly energetic demanding sport, highlighting that nutritional strategies should ensure sufficient energy availability during competition schedules.
Motor Competence and Health-related Fitness of School-Age Children: A Two-Year Latent Transition Analysis
Authors: JAAKKOLA TIMO , YLI-PIIPARI SAMI , HUHTINIEMI MIKKO , SALIN KASPER , HAKONEN HARTO , GRÅSTÉN ARTO
Published: July 2021

Purpose

The aims of this study were twofold: 1) to identify latent physical performance profiles of motor competence (MC) and cardiorespiratory (CF) and muscular fitness (MF) among school-age children and 2) explore transition probabilities in physical performance profiles over a 2-yr period.

Methods

The present sample comprised 1148 (583 girls, 565 boys) elementary school students (baseline M
age = 11.27 ± 0.32), and data were collected annually (equal intervals) over a period of 2 yr which resulted in a total of three measurements. The measures used were the throwing–catching combination test, 5-leaps and two-legged jumps from side-to-side test (MC), 20-meter shuttle run test (CF), and curl-up and push-up tests (MF). Latent transition analysis was used to identify and track physical performance profiles derived from the measurements of MC, CF, and MF scores.

Results

The key findings were: 1) three physical performance profiles were identified: (a) low (28% of the sample; lowest level in each category), (b) moderate (43% of the sample; higher MC, CF, and MF than low), (c) high (29% of the sample; highest MF); 2) the number of physical performance profiles and probability to belong to a given profile were stable across time; 3) the highest transition probability was found in the high group, where some students had transitioned to the moderate group at T2; and 4) girls were most likely to belong to the low group.

Conclusions

Results demonstrated that children’s physical performance profiles are stable from late childhood to early adolescence. This study suggests that the early elementary school years are essential for the development of children’s MC and health-related fitness.
Four-Second Power Cycling Training Increases Maximal Anaerobic Power, Peak Oxygen Consumption, and Total Blood Volume
Authors: SATIROGLU REMZI , LALANDE SOPHIE , HONG SUNGMO , NAGEL MERCEDES J. , COYLE EDWARD F.
Published: July 2021

Introduction

High-intensity interval training is an effective tool to improve cardiovascular fitness and maximal anaerobic power. Different methods of high-intensity interval training have been studied but the effects of repeated maximal effort cycling with very short exercise time (i.e., 4 s) and short recovery time (15–30 s) might suit individuals with limited time to exercise.

Purpose

We examined the effects of training at near maximal anaerobic power during cycling (PC) on maximal anaerobic power, peak oxygen consumption (V˙O2peak), and total blood volume in 11 young healthy individuals (age: 21.3 ± 0.5 yr) (six men, five women).

Methods

Participants trained three times a week for 8 wk performing a PC program consisting of 30 bouts of 4 s at an all-out intensity (i.e., 2 min of exercise per session). The cardiovascular stress progressively increased over the weeks by decreasing the recovery time between sprints (30–24 s to 15 s), and thus, total session time decreased from 17 to <10 min.

Results

Power cycling elicited a 13.2% increase in V˙O2peak (Pre: 2.86 ± 0.18 L·min−1, Post: 3.24 ± 0.21 L·min−1; P = 0.003) and a 7.6% increase in total blood volume (Pre: 5139 ± 199 mL, Post: 5529 ± 342 mL; P < 0.05). Concurrently, maximal anaerobic power increased by 17.2% (Pre: 860 ± 53 W, Post: 1,009 ± 71 W; P < 0.001).

Conclusions

A PC training program employing 30 bouts of 4 s duration for a total of 2 min of exercise, resulting in a total session time of less than 10 min in the last weeks, is effective for improving total blood volume, V˙O2peak and maximal anaerobic power in young healthy individuals over 8 wk. These observations require reconsideration of the minimal amount of exercise needed to significantly increase both maximal aerobic and anaerobic power.
Development of Children’s Actual and Perceived Motor Competence, Cardiorespiratory Fitness, Physical Activity, and BMI
Authors: KOLUNSARKA IIRIS , GRÅSTEN ARTO , HUHTINIEMI MIKKO , JAAKKOLA TIMO
Published: July 2021

Purpose

To examine synergistic associations between developmental trajectories of motor competence, perceived motor competence, cardiorespiratory fitness, moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), and body mass index (BMI) from late childhood to adolescence.

Methods

In this 3-yr follow-up study, motor competence, perceived motor competence, cardiorespiratory fitness, MVPA, and BMI were assessed in 1167 Finnish school-age children (girls = 583, boys = 565; M
age = 11.27 ± 0.33). Moderate-to-vigorous physical activity was measured using hip-mounted accelerometers. Developmental trajectories were analyzed using latent growth curve modeling.

Results

The development of motor competence, cardiorespiratory fitness, and BMI was positive over time, whereas the development of perceived motor competence and physical activity was negative. The development of BMI was inversely associated with the development of cardiorespiratory fitness and physical activity.

Conclusions

In the transition from late childhood to adolescence, motor competence, cardiorespiratory fitness, and BMI increased, and perceived motor competence and physical activity decreased. However, individual variance in the developmental trajectories was significant. Moreover, children with a greater increase in BMI showed a greater decrease in cardiorespiratory fitness and physical activity from late childhood to adolescence.
Generalized Equations for Predicting Percent Body Fat from Anthropometric Measures Using a Criterion Five-Compartment Model
Authors: CICONE ZACKARY S. , NICKERSON BRETT S. , CHOI YOUN-JENG , HOLMES CLIFTON J. , HORNIKEL BJOERN , FEDEWA MICHAEL V. , ESCO MICHAEL R.
Published: July 2021

Introduction

Anthropometric-based equations are used to estimate percent body fat (%BF) when laboratory methods are impractical or not available. However, because these equations are often derived from two-compartment models, they are prone to error because of the assumptions regarding fat-free mass composition. The purpose of this study was to develop a new anthropometric-based equation for the prediction of %BF, using a five-compartment (5C) model as the criterion measure.

Methods

A sample of healthy adults (52.2% female; age, 18 to 69 yr; body mass index, 15.7 to 49.5 kg·m−2) completed hydrostatic weighing, dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry, and bioimpedance spectroscopy measurements for calculation of 5C %BF (%BF5C), as well as skinfolds and circumferences. %BF5C was regressed on anthropometric measures using hierarchical variable selection in a random sample of subjects (n = 279). The resulting equation was cross-validated in the remaining participants (n = 78). New model performance was also compared with several common anthropometric-based equations.

Results

The new equation [%BFNew = 6.083 + (0.143 × SSnew) − (12.058 × sex) − (0.150 × age) − (0.233 × body mass index) + (0.256 × waist) + (0.162 × sex × age)] explained a significant proportion of variance in %BF5C (R2
= 0.775, SEE = 4.0%). Predictors included sum of skinfolds (SSnew, midaxillary, triceps, and thigh) and waist circumference. The new equation cross-validated well against %BF5C when compared with other existing equations, producing a large intraclass correlation coefficient (0.90), small mean bias and limits of agreement (0.4% ± 8.6%), and small measures of error (SEE = 2.5%).

Conclusions

%BFNew improved on previous anthropometric-based equations, providing better overall agreement and less error in %BF estimation. The equation described in this study may provide an accurate estimate of %BF5C in healthy adults when measurement is not practical.
Utilitarian Aggregation with Heterogeneous Beliefs
Authors: Billot Antoine , Qu Xiangyu
Published: July 2021

The utilitarian aggregation rule requires social utility and beliefs to be a convex combination of individual utilities and beliefs, respectively. Since, in the case of belief heterogeneity, the standard Pareto condition is incompatible with such a separate aggregation, a new condition, called the belief-proof Pareto condition, is proposed to alleviate occurrences of spurious agreement by restricting unanimity to beliefs that can be considered reasonable by society. Then, we show, in the Anscombe-Aumann and the Savage framework, that the belief-proof Pareto condition is equivalent to separate aggregation of individual beliefs and tastes. (JEL D11, D71, D83)
Classification of small ruminant lentivirus subtype A2, subgroups 1 and 2 based on whole genome comparisons and complex recombination patterns
Authors: Dickey Aaron M. , Smith Timothy P. L. , Clawson Michael L. , Heaton Michael P. , Workman Aspen M.
Published: July 2021

Background: Small ruminant lentiviruses (SRLVs) cause a multisystemic chronic wasting disease in sheep across much of the world. SRLV subtype A2 is prevalent in North America and further classified into multiple subgroups based on variation in the group antigens gene (gag) and envelope (env) genes. In sheep, the ovine transmembrane protein 154 (TMEM154) gene is associated with SRLV susceptibility. Ewes with at least one copy of TMEM154 encoding a full-length protein with glutamate at position 35 (E35; haplotypes 2 and 3), are highly susceptible to SRLV infection while ewes with any combination of TMEM154 haplotypes which encodes lysine (K35; haplotype 1), or truncated proteins (haplotypes 4 and 6) are several times less so. A2 subgroups 1 and 2 are associated with host TMEM154 genotypes; subgroup 1 with the K35/K35 genotype and subgroup 2 with the E35/E35 genotype.

Methods:  Sequence variation within and among full-length assemblies of SRLV subtype A2 subgroups 1 and 2 was analyzed to identify genome-scale recombination patterns and subgroup-specific variants.

Results:  Consensus viral genomes were assembled from 23 infected sheep, including animals of assorted TMEM154 genotypes comprised of haplotypes 1, 2, or 3. Viral genome analysis identified viral subgroups 1 and 2 among the samples, and revealed additional sub-structure within subgroup 2 based on models predicting complex patterns of recombination between the two subgroups in several genomes. Animals with evidence of dual subgroup infection also possessed the most diverse quasi-species and the most highly recombined consensus genomes. After accounting for recombination, 413 subgroup diagnostic single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were identified.

Conclusions:  The viral subgroup framework developed to classify SRLV consensus genomes along a continuum of recombination suggests that animals with the TMEM154 E35/K35 genotype may represent a reservoir for producing viral genomes representing recombination between A2 subgroups 1 and 2.
The imperative to find the courage to redesign the biomedical research enterprise
Authors: Bielekova Bibiana , Brownlee Shannon
Published: July 2021

Medical research aims to improve health for everyone. While its advances are undeniable, the pace and cost of the progress are not optimal. For example, independent analyses concluded that at least half of the published biomedical research findings are irreproducible, and most scientific papers are never read or cited. This paper examines biomedical research holistically, as a system of incentives that shape the behavior of scientists, administrators, publishers, and funders, and are detrimental to medical progress. We identify opportunities to change and improve those incentives by altering the way research output is disseminated and evaluated, and recommend transparent, data-driven measures of methodological rigor, reproducibility, and societal value of scientific discoveries. Embracing these opportunities would maximize our investments in biomedical research and optimize its value to human health, while simultaneously increasing freedom, creativity, and satisfaction of the scientific workforce.
What are the most important unanswered research questions on rapid review methodology? A James Lind Alliance research methodology Priority Setting Partnership: the Priority III study protocol
Authors: Beecher Claire , Toomey Elaine , Maeso Beccy , Whiting Caroline , Stewart Derek C. , Worrall Andrew , Elliott Jim , Smith Maureen , Tierney Theresa , Blackwood Bronagh , Maguire Teresa , Kampman Melissa , Ling Benny , Gravel Christopher , Gill Catherine , Healy Patricia , Houghton Catherine , Booth Andrew , Garritty Chantelle , Thomas James , Tricco Andrea C. , Burke Nikita N. , Keenan Ciara , Westmore Matthew , Devane Declan
Published: July 2021

Background: The value of rapid reviews in informing health care decisions is more evident since the onset of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. While systematic reviews can be completed rapidly, rapid reviews are usually a type of evidence synthesis in which components of the systematic review process may be simplified or omitted to produce information more efficiently within constraints of time, expertise, funding or any combination thereof. There is an absence of high-quality evidence underpinning some decisions about how we plan, do and share rapid reviews. We will conduct a modified James Lind Alliance Priority Setting Partnership to determine the top 10 unanswered research questions about how we plan, do and share rapid reviews in collaboration with patients, public, reviewers, researchers, clinicians, policymakers and funders.

Methods: An international steering group consisting of key stakeholder perspectives (patients, the public, reviewers, researchers, clinicians, policymakers and funders) will facilitate broad reach, recruitment and participation across stakeholder groups. An initial online survey will identify stakeholders’ perceptions of research uncertainties about how we plan, do and share rapid reviews. Responses will be categorised to generate a long list of questions. The list will be checked against systematic reviews published within the past three years to identify if the question is unanswered. A second online stakeholder survey will rank the long list in order of priority. Finally, a virtual consensus workshop of key stakeholders will agree on the top 10 unanswered questions.

Discussion: Research prioritisation is an important means for minimising research waste and ensuring that research resources are targeted towards answering the most important questions. Identifying the top 10 rapid review methodology research priorities will help target research to improve how we plan, do and share rapid reviews and ultimately enhance the use of high-quality synthesised evidence to inform health care policy and practice.
Early- and mid-career transitions to research leadership in Africa
Authors: Mtwisha Linda , Jackson Jose , Mitchel Alison , de-Graft Aikins Ama , Kebirungi Harriet , Outtara Karim , Viney Clare
Published: July 2021

This article examines the early-and mid-career transition to research leadership in Africa. Much of the available African literature on research leadership indicate several challenges related to poor conceptualisations of career transitions and gaps in the availability of research training. Qualitative data were collected using individual interviews (n=24) and focus groups (n=27) to identify key transition points of early career researchers (ECRs) and mid-career researchers (MCRs) in selected African countries. The qualitative data was complemented with quantitative survey questionnaires (n=250) and a triangulation approach was adopted to analyse the results. The findings were themed into different categories describing the common career paths, stages and challenges of research leaders. The latter part of the findings present a discussion on development approaches to attract and retain researchers in African universities. By focusing on the African continent, this study contributes to the current body of literature on research leadership in the Global South.
Applying big data to planning food production in conditions of uncertainty
Authors: Ivano Yaroslav , Asalhanov Petr , Bendik Nadezhda
Published: July 2021

The article considers the use of Big Data technology for planning food production in conditions of uncertainty. The use of a large amount of diverse information allows us to solve various classes of problems of forecasting and planning the production and sale of food products. The conceptual scheme of using of big data technology by agricultural producers is given on the example of the Irkutsk region and groups of solved extreme problems with examples are considered. Data sources and users are described. The current Big Data platforms are presented.
Implementing the flipped classroom model in teaching a translation module in Vietnam
Authors: Nguyen Nhat Quang , Lee Kean Wah , Szabo Csaba Zoltan , Nguyen Dung Ngoc Phuong
Published: July 2021

This study provided a novel flipped classroom model with a detailed combination of in-class and out-of-class activities to teach a Vietnamese-English Translation module. The study aimed to (1) provide an in-depth insight into how the model was actually implemented in a specific scenario to make the teaching-learning process more interesting and meaningful, and (2) investigate the effectiveness of the flipped classroom model towards learners’ translation performance through various assessments. 39 English-majored juniors at Banking University of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam participated in the study during the second semester of the 2018-2019 academic year. The study implemented a case-study mixed method design, applying assessment analysis and content analysis of one specific learning scenario to clarify how the flipped learning model contributed to the training process. Results show that a careful design of the flipped model contributed to the relevant literature on how to implement flipped learning in actual classroom settings, but also effectively improved learners’ performance in translation studies.
Regular Matroids Have Polynomial Extension Complexity
Authors: Aprile Manuel , Fiorini Samuel
Published: July 2021

We prove that the extension complexity of the independence polytope of every regular matroid on [Formula: see text] elements is [Formula: see text]. Past results of Wong and Martin on extended formulations of the spanning tree polytope of a graph imply a [Formula: see text] bound for the special case of (co)graphic matroids. However, the case of a general regular matroid was open, despite recent attempts. We also consider the extension complexity of circuit dominants of regular matroids, for which we give a [Formula: see text] bound.
Perception of hotel industry partner towards the vocational high school students’ internship performance
Authors: Samsiwihati Samsiwihati , Achsan Bambang Nur , Santoso Budi
Published: July 2021

This research is motivated by the fact that there are still many graduates of the hotel expertise vocational school who have not been employed in the hotel industry because the competencies possessed by the graduates are not in line with the market needs. This study aims to: (1) describe the students’ performance in the internship program of SMKN 1 Sewon; (2) analyze perceptions of the partner hotel industry on the internship performance of SMK 1 Sewon Bantul students. This research method used a qualitative descriptive approach. The research subjects consisted of seven hotel industries in Yogyakarta. The data sources used primary and secondary sources. Primary data sources were obtained from interviews. Secondary sources were obtained from literature, observation, and documentation. The sampling technique used purposive sampling. The data validity used triangulation, and the data analysis used a qualitative approach by Milles and Huberman. The results of the study concluded that: (1) the performance of internship in the hotel expertise program of SMKN 1 Sewon Bantul was in the excellent category; (2) The perception of the hotel industry partners on the internship performance of SMKN 1 Sewon Bantul students was very good. It was shown by the summary of the results obtained by the assessment in the category of very good with an average of 96.00%. It means that the hotel managers perceive the performance of intern students are categorized as very good and good starting from appearance, speech, mastery of competence, attendance, completing tasks, obeying an order, communication, using tools or facilities, and completing tasks according to procedures and on time.
Effect of surface morphology on macroscale and microscale optical properties of layered InSe grown by molecular beam epitaxy
Authors: Avdienko P. S. , Sedova I. V. , Firsov D. D. , Komkov O. S. , Rakhlin M. V. , Galimov A. I. , Davydov V. Yu. , Sorokin S. V.
Published: July 2021

This paper reports the results on the microphotoluminescence (µPL) and photoreflectance (PR) spectroscopy studies of InSe thin film grown by molecular beam epitaxy on GaAs(001) substrate. The specific surface morphology of the InSe/GaAs(001) layer consisting of a number of randomly oriented nanoplatelets with the average thickness of 40–200 nm leads to a difference in optical properties measured on the macroscale (PR) and microscale (µPL). The highest energy peak at 1.348 eV observed in the µPL spectra at low excitation densities was attributed to the recombination of localized excitons in

ε

-InSe.
Tunable terahertz dual-band perfect absorber based on the combined InSb resonator structures for temperature sensing
Authors: Luo Hao , Wang Xi , Qian Hang
Published: July 2021

In this paper, a tunable perfect absorber (PA) based on a combined InSb resonator structure is proposed and investigated numerically in the terahertz (THz) region, which can serve as a dual-band temperature sensor. The unit cell of the proposed PA consists only of the combined InSb ring-disk-shaped resonator structures adhered on a continuous gold film and dielectric substrate. The permittivity of the InSb material is highly dependent on the variation of the external temperature. Numerical simulation results indicate that the proposed PA at a temperature of 290 K can achieve absorbance of 99.4% and 98.7% at 1.598 THz and 1.926 THz, respectively. The two absorption peaks are mainly attributed to the excitation of fundamental dipolar resonance modes caused by the ring-shaped and disk-shaped structures, separately. The absorption properties of the proposed PA can be adjusted by varying the structure parameters. Furthermore, the proposed dual-band PA can function as a temperature sensor with sensitivities of about 8.54 GHz/K and 16.25 GHz/K, respectively. Due to its excellent performance, the proposed dual-band PA could find many potential applications of thermal emitting, sensing, and detecting in the THz regime.
Dual-focusing behavior of a one-dimensional quadratically chirped Pearcey-Gaussian beam
Authors: Zang Feng , Liu Lifeng , Deng Fusheng , Liu Yanhong , Dong Lijuan , Shi Yunlong
Published: July 2021

In this paper, we provide analytical solutions describing the dynamic behavior of the Pearcey-Gaussian beams propagating in free space. Based on the analytical solutions, explicit expressions governing the focusing distances of the Pearcey-Gaussian beams are found and verified by numerical simulations. For the linearly chirped Pearcey-Gaussian beam, it exhibits a uni-focusing behavior during propagation. Particularly, the focusing distance is independent on the linear chirp parameter and remains z
f
 = 2 unchanged. Of particular interest is that the quadratically chirped Pearcey-Gaussian beam focuses twice when the quadratic chirp parameter β < 0. The first and the second focusing distances are determined by zf1 = 2/(1 − 4β) and zf2 = −1/(2β), respectively. Furthermore, we numerically investigate the peak powers at the different focusing positions and find that as β increases, the peak powers at zf1 and zf2 linearly decrease. It is expected that the characteristics can be used for manipulating the focusing distances and the peak powers to generate an optical beam with high peak power by adjusting the chirp parameter β.
Detecting the temperature of ethanol based on Fano resonance spectra obtained using a metal-insulator-metal waveguide with SiO2 branches
Authors: Zhu Jun , Jin Guangming
Published: July 2021

Based on the transmission characteristics of surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs) in sub-wavelength structures, this paper proposes a metal-insulator-metal (MIM) waveguide structure composed of a main waveguide with glass (SiO2) branches (WWGB) coupled with an elliptical split-ring resonance cavity (ESRRC). WWGB has a broadband continuous transmission spectrum, while ESRRC has a narrow-band discrete transmission spectrum. The coupling and interference between the two can generate excited dual-Fano resonance, with sensitivities and figures of merits (FOM) of 800 nm/RIU, 1150 nm/RIU, and 9.88, 104.55, respectively. After adding SiO2 branches to both sides of the main waveguide, the FOM are enhanced to 28.57 and 127.78, representing increases of 189% and 22.15%, respectively. This structure can be applied as a temperature sensor. After filling the cavity of the to-be-tested material with 75% ethanol, as the temperature increases, the Fano resonance wavelength to drift, therefore, the corresponding temperature can be calculated by the Fano resonance wavelength. Experiments show that the proposed MIM waveguide has a maximum sensitivity of 1406.25 nm/RIU, an FOM of 156.25, and a temperature sensitivity of 0.45 nm/℃. Ultimately, the results demonstrate that incorporating SiO2 branches enhances the sensing characteristics of the MIM waveguide, after adding ethanol, the MIM can be applied to temperature sensors, with a high sensitivity of 1406.25 nm/RIU, thereby providing a new design strategy for producing high-performance waveguides.
Boosting the output power of large-aperture lasers by breaking their circular symmetry
Authors: Brejnak A. , Gębski M. , Sokół A. K. , Marciniak M. , Wasiak M. , Muszalski J. , Lott J. A. , Fischer I. , Czyszanowski T.
Published: July 2021

Breaking the spatial symmetry in optical systems has become a key approach to the study of nonlinear dynamics, wave chaos, and non-Hermitian physics. Moreover, it enables tailoring of the spatiotemporal properties of such systems. Breaking the circular symmetry of lasers yields a more uniform light intensity profile within the optical aperture and makes uniform the spectral distribution of the optical states (modes). Those effects are known to enhance spontaneous as well as stimulated emission and consequently suppress undesired nonradiative recombination in the active region, but their importance for laser emission is not fully understood so far. In this paper, using the example of vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers, we show that intentionally deformed optical apertures induce a more uniform light intensity distribution within the optical aperture, related to wave chaos, and a higher density of optical states, enhancing stimulated emission as predicted by quantum electrodynamics theory. These two phenomena contribute to increasing the optical output power by more than 60% and quantum efficiency by more than 10%. The results of this study are of significant importance for a variety of lasers, showing a clear link between the fundamentals of their operation and quantum electrodynamics and providing a general, robust method of enhancing emitted power for high-power broad-area lasers.
Enhancing high-order harmonic generation by controlling the diffusion of the electron wave packet
Authors: Severt T. , Troß J. , Kolliopoulos G. , Ben-Itzhak I. , Trallero-Herrero C. A.
Published: July 2021

We experimentally study the enhancement of high-order harmonic generation (HHG) driven by synthesized

ω
−
3
ω

laser fields, where we control whether the ionization rate or the electron wave packet’s diffusion is the dominant enhancement mechanism. When minimizing the electron wave packet’s diffusion, the excursion times of the corresponding electron trajectories are reduced by a factor of 2 or more. This result is important for imaging techniques that use the returning electron wave packet to probe the remaining ion. Furthermore, we achieve a

10
×

to

3800
×

enhancement of the harmonic yield driven by the bichromatic fields relative to that of an optimized single-color field, showing that the bichromatic fields improve HHG’s capability as a light source. We also measure that the two-color field’s harmonics have half the divergence angle compared to their single-color counterpart, suggesting that the “short” electron trajectories play a more prominent role compared to their “long” trajectory counterparts, thus improving the wavefront of the emerging harmonic beam.
Narrowband photonic quantum entanglement with counterpropagating domain engineering
Authors: Liu Yi-Chen , Guo Dong-Jie , Yang Ran , Sun Chang-Wei , Duan Jia-Chen , Gong Yan-Xiao , Xie Zhenda , Zhu Shi-Ning
Published: July 2021

Narrowband photonic entanglement is a crucial resource for long-distance quantum communication and quantum information processing, including quantum memories. We demonstrate the first polarization entanglement with 7.1 GHz inherent bandwidth by counterpropagating domain engineering, which is also confirmed by Hong–Ou–Mandel interference with 155-ps base-to-base dip width and

(
97.1
±
0.59
)
%

high visibility. The entanglement is harnessed with 18.5-standard-deviations Bell inequality violation, and further characterized with state tomography of

(
95.71
±
0.61
)
%

fidelity. Such narrowband entanglement sets a cornerstone for practical quantum information applications.
Very large group delay in VHF band using coupled high temperature superconducting resonators
Authors: Zheng Tianning , Wei Bin , Lei Fuchuan , Cao Bisong
Published: July 2021

Storing a very high frequency (VHF) band (30–300 MHz) electromagnetic wave has many potential applications, such as phase modulation, buffering, and radio frequency memory. It can be effectively achieved by applying coupled resonator-based electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) due to its slow light effect. However, the wavelength in the VHF band is too long to design resonators, and the group delay is limited by the high resistive loss of metal. The practical application of EIT in the VHF band is still a big challenge. In this work, we propose and experimentally demonstrate EIT response in a high-temperature superconducting (HTS) microwave circuit with coupled-resonator-induced transparency. The chip size of the HTS circuit is only

34
  
mm
×
20
  
mm

with a very low transparency frequency of 198.55 MHz. In addition, we implement very large group delay higher than 12.3 μs and 16.2 μs with working temperatures of 65 K and 50 K separately, which is much longer than the previous reported works on slow wave. The fabricated circuit is planar with working temperature about 65 K, and thus can be easily integrated into other microwave devices under the cryogenic conditions provided by a commercial portable Stirling cryocooler. Our proposed method paves a way for studying EIT in the microwave region due to the high quality factor of the HTS resonator, which has great potential use for radio-frequency memory in the future.