bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Construction and mechanism analysis on nanoscale thermal cloak by in-situ annealing silicon carbide film
Authors: Zhang Jian , Zhang Hao-Chun , Huang Zi-Liang , Sun Wen-Bo , Li Yi-Yi
Published: September 2021

In recent years, there is a strong interest in thermal cloaking at the nanoscale, which has been achieved by using graphene and crystalline silicon films to build the nanoscale thermal cloak according to the classical macroscopic thermal cloak model. Silicon carbide, as a representative of the third-generation semiconductor material, has splendid properties, such as the high thermal conductivity and the high wear resistance. Therefore, in the present study, we build a nanoscale thermal cloak based on silicon carbide. The cloaking performance and the perturbation of the functional area to the external temperature filed are analyzed by the ratio of thermal cloaking and the response temperature, respectively. It is demonstrated that silicon carbide can also be used to build the nanoscale thermal cloak. Besides, we explore the influence of inner and outer radius on cloaking performance. Finally, the potential mechanism of the designed nanoscale thermal cloak is investigated by calculating and analyzing the phonon density of states (PDOS) and mode participation rate (MPR) within the structure. We find that the main reason for the decrease in the thermal conductivity of the functional area is phonon localization. This study extends the preparation method of nanoscale thermal cloaks and can provide a reference for the development of other nanoscale devices.
Three-dimensional hybrid circuits: the future of neuromorphic computing hardware
Authors: Lin Peng , Xia Qiangfei
Published: September 2021

Recently there have been intensive research efforts to adopt emerging electronic devices for neuromorphic computing. However, the usage of these devices and arrays mainly was to implement parallel matrix multiplication in the two-dimensional (2D) space. This Perspective discusses the importance and implementation of three-dimensional (3D) hybrid circuits for neuromorphic computing, focusing on the integration density, data communication, and functional connectivity. We believe that 3D neuromorphic systems represent the future of artificial intelligence hardware with much-improved power efficiency and cognitive capabilities.
Daily Stressor Exposure and Daily Well-Being Among Sexual Minority and Heterosexual Adults in the United States: Results from the National Study of Daily Experiences (NSDE)
Authors: Wardecker Britney M , Surachman Agus , Matsick Jes L , Almeida David M
Published: September 2021

Background

Daily stress plays a significant role in mental and physical health. Negative mood (e.g., hopelessness) and physical symptoms (e.g., headaches) are responses often associated with daily stressors. It is theorized that some people or populations are more vulnerable or reactive to daily stressors. We propose sexual orientation as one factor that is associated with daily stress exposure and reactivity.

Purpose

To understand whether sexual minorities (SMs) differ from heterosexuals in their exposure and reactivity to general, non-sexual minority-specific stressors (e.g., arguments/disagreements, job concerns).

Methods

We used daily diary data (n = 3,323 heterosexuals [52% identified as female and 85% identified as White]; n = 98 SMs [50% identified as female and 93% identified as White]) from the National Study of Daily Experiences (NSDE). Participants completed eight consecutive evening daily diary interviews (n days = 24,773; mean days completed = 7.24) and reported daily stress exposure and daily well-being. We used multilevel modeling as an approach to examine whether sexual orientation interacted with daily stressors to predict daily negative affect and physical health.

Results

SMs tended to experience more daily stressors compared to heterosexuals; specifically, SMs reported at least one stressor on nearly half (48%) of the study days they completed, and heterosexuals reported at least one stressor on about two-fifths (41%) of the study days they completed. SMs also tended to experience more negative mood when they experienced a daily stressor compared to heterosexuals when they experienced a daily stressor.

Conclusion

We emphasize the importance of SMs’ exposure and reactivity to general daily stressors and the implications of our results for the day-to-day lives and health of SMs.
The Value of Second-Opinion Consultation in Nongynecologic Cytopathology
Authors: Bailey Gabrielle E , Graham Ashleigh , Kahler Jessica , Williamson Bonnie , Adams Christina , Maleki Zahra , Rodriguez Erika F
Published: September 2021

Objectives

The value of consultation in pathology has been well documented in surgical pathology, but there are few comprehensive studies of consultation cases in cytopathology. Here we report our experience with cytopathology consultation cases at a large academic center.

Methods

A review of consultation cases at our institution was performed by searching our laboratory information system. The contributing institution’s diagnosis was compared with that rendered by the reviewing cytopathologist to assess major and/or minor diagnostic discrepancies.

Results

In total, 928 cases were reviewed with the following distribution: fine-needle aspiration (FNA, 79.4%), exfoliative nongynecologic cytology (18.3%), and cases with both FNA and nongynecologic cytology (2.3%). There were 379 (40.8%) true consults and 549 (59.2%) confirming consults. A total of 586 (63.1%) cases were in agreement with the outside pathologist, 78 (8.4%) cases had major discrepancies, and 264 (28.4%) cases had minor discrepancies. Major discrepancies were most common for pancreas (38.5%), lymph node (11.5%), and soft tissue sites (9.0%).

Conclusions

Of the cases, 8.4% had major diagnostic discrepancies between the original diagnosis and the consultation diagnosis, which is consistent with reported values in surgical pathology consultation studies. The findings support the importance of second-opinion consultation in cytopathology to guide patient care.
Religious Identity and Delinquency: Comparing Muslim, Christian and Non-Religious Adolescents in the United Kingdom
Authors: Seto Christopher H
Published: September 2021

The relationship between religion and delinquency is shaped by sociocultural context, but little research has explored the relationship for non-Christian religions outside of the United States. This study advances existing scholarship by comparing the crime and illicit substance use of 9,772 Muslim, Christian and non-religious adolescents in the United Kingdom. The Karlson, Holm, Breen (KHB) method is used to explore underlying mechanisms. Results show that Muslims engage in the least delinquency, followed by Christians, while non-religious adolescents engage in the most delinquency. Religious involvement is especially protective for Muslim adolescents. These findings refute a pervasive public perception of Muslim identity as ‘risky’. KHB results reveal that educational motivation and parental supervision underlie religious group differences in delinquency.
Hybrid Fault Diagnosis Capability Analysis of Highly Connected Graphs
Authors: Wei Yulong , Li Rong-hua , Yang Weihua
Published: September 2021

Zhu et al. introduced the $h$-edge tolerable diagnosability to measure the fault diagnosis capability of a multiprocessor system with faulty links. This kind of diagnosability is a generalization of the concept of traditional diagnosability. A graph is called a maximally connected graph if its minimum degree equals its vertex connectivity. It is well-known that many irregular networks are maximally connected graphs and the $h$-edge tolerable diagnosabilities of these networks are unknown, which is our motivation for research. In this paper, we obtain the lower bound of the $h$-edge tolerable diagnosability of a class of $t$-connected graphs and establish the $h$-edge tolerable diagnosability of a class of maximally connected graphs under the PMC model and the MM$^*$ model, which extend some results in (Hakimi, S.L. and Amin, A.T. (1974) Characterization of connection assignment of diagnosable systems. IEEE Trans. Comput., 23, 86–88), (Chang, C.P., Lai, P.L., Tan, J.J.M. and Hsu, L.H. (2004) Diagnosability of t-connected networks and product networks under the comparison diagnosis model. IEEE Trans. Comput., 53, 1582–1590) and (Lian, G., Zhou, S., Hsieh, S.Y., Liu, J., Chen, G. and Wang, Y. (2019) Performance evaluation on hybrid fault diagnosability of regular networks. Theoret. Comput. Sci., 796, 147–153).
Effective Resource Allocation and Load Balancing in Hierarchical HetNets: Toward QoS-Aware Multi-Access Edge Computing
Authors: Bonab Mohammad Jalilvand Aghdam , Kandovan Ramin Shaghaghi
Published: September 2021

Mobile edge computing (MEC) is a key feature of next-generation heterogeneous networks aimed at providing a variety of services for different applications by performing related processing tasks closer to the user equipment. In this research, we investigated on connection management approaches in multi-access edge computing systems. This paper presents joint radio resource allocation and MEC optimization in a multi-layer NOMA HetNet in order to maximize system’s energy efficiency. The continues carrier allocation and handoff decision variables, in addition to the interference incorporated in the goal function, modifies the primary optimization problem to a mixed integer nonlinear programming. Network selection is done statically based on the Analytic Hierarchy Process, and station selection is done dynamically based on the Data Envelope Analysis method. Also, an effective feedback mechanism has been designed in collaboration with the server resource manager to solve a global optimization problem in order to load balancing and meet the users quality of service constraints simultaneously. To reduce the computational complexity and to achieve a locally optimal solution, we applied variable relaxation and majorization minimization approach in which offloading decision and multi-part Markov noise analysis have been developed to model users’ preferences without the need for explicit information from the users. Based on the simulations, the proposed approach not only results in a significant increase of system’s energy efficiency but also enhances the system throughput in multiple-source scenarios.
Left ventricular basal muscle bundle in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: insights into the mechanism of left ventricular outflow tract obstruction
Authors: Xiao Minghu , Nie Changrong , Wang Jingjin , Zhu Changsheng , Sun Xin , Zhu Zhenhui , Wang Hao , Wang Shuiyun
Published: September 2021

Aims 

Many factors cause left ventricular outflow tract obstruction (LVOTO) in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). Previous studies reported that left ventricular basal muscle bundle (BMB) may be associated with LVOTO. We aimed to evaluate the role of BMB in LVOTO by echocardiography.

Methods and results 

Two hundred fifty-six patients diagnosed with HCM were recruited. The morphologic characteristics of left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) were analysed. BMB was detected in 178 (69.5%) patients by echocardiography. Patients were separated by a resting or provocative LVOT gradient ≥30 mmHg or not. Compared to patients without LVOTO, patients with LVOTO had a significantly thicker basal septum, elongated anterior mitral leaflet (AML), shorter distance between the AML-free margin and the septum or BMB (M-sept/bundle), larger angle between the plane of the mitral valvular orifice and the ascending aorta (MV-AO angle), and higher prevalence of BMB (P < 0.05). According to multivariate analysis, the independent predictors of LVOTO were the presence of BMB, a large basal septum thickness, a short M-sept/bundle, a large MV-AO angle, and a large AML [odds ratio (95% confidence interval): 5.207 (1.381–19.633), 1.386(1.141–1.683), 0.615(0.499–0.756), 1.113(1.054–1.176), and 1.343(1.076–1.677), respectively, P < 0.05]. Of the 256 included patients, 139 underwent surgical myectomy. The transthoracic echocardiography, compared with surgical specimen, showed: sensitivity 98.3%, specificity 82.3%, positive predictive value 97.6%, negative predictive value 87.5%, and accuracy 96.4% to detect BMB.

Conclusions

BMB is common in HCM. BMB is a risk factor for LVOTO.
Association between work status and depression in informal caregivers: a collaborative modelling approach
Authors: O’Neill Aoife , Gallagher Stephen , Hannigan Ailish , Robinson Katie
Published: September 2021

Background

Care is regularly provided on an informal basis by family and friends and it is well established that caregivers experience high rates of depression. The majority of research on caregivers tends to focus on older, full-time caregivers, with less attention paid to working caregivers (in paid employment). The aim of this study is to explore the impact of work status on depression in caregivers.

Methods

A sample of individuals from the 2014 European Social Survey dataset, aged 18 and older, who reported being a caregiver, were investigated (n = 11 177). Differences in sociodemographic, mental and physical health and social network variables, between working and non-working caregivers, were investigated. Hierarchical logistic regression models were used to investigate associations between the caregivers’ work status and depression. This study was developed in partnership with a panel of caregivers who contributed to the conceptualization and interpretation of the statistical analysis.

Results

Findings showed that 51% of caregivers reported being in paid employment. Non-working caregivers were more likely to be female, older, widowed, have lower education levels and provide intensive caring hours. They were also more likely to report depressive symptoms than working caregivers after controlling for sociodemographic, social networks and intensity of caring (adjusted odds ratio = 1.77, 95% confidence interval = 1.54–2.03). The panel considered policies to support continued work important as a means of maintaining positive mental health for caregivers.

Conclusions

Supportive policies, such as flexible working and care leave, are recommended to allow caregivers to continue in paid work and better manage their health, caring and working responsibilities.
Psychosocial effects of the quarantine during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic on the residents of the island of Brač
Authors: Mrduljaš-Đujić Nataša , Antičević Vesna , Britvić Dolores
Published: September 2021

Background

An unprecedented health and economic crisis in small island communities during the COVID-19 pandemic indicated the importance of studying its harmful effects on residents’ mental health.

Objectives

To examine the differences in negative affectivity, perceived stressors, and social support both on the quarantined and not quarantined islands.

Methods

A web-based survey and correlational cross-sectional research design were used, based on a nonprobabilistic convenience sampling method to select 613 Croatian islands’ residents during May 2020. The participants completed the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21) and the General Information Questionnaire, data on their exposures to stressors during the COVID-19 pandemic and the perceived social support.

Results

Compared with the nonquarantined residents of other islands, the island of Brač residents scored significantly higher on the symptoms of depression (M = 11.61; t = 2.13, P < 0.05) and stress (M = 13.06; t = 3.21, P = 0.001) subscales, receiving more support from religious communities (t = 2.34, P = 0.02) and less from the physicians (t = −2.68, P = 0.01). Lower sociodemographic status was associated with higher levels of depression, anxiety, and stress.

Conclusion

The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the urgent need to protect mental health in isolated island areas specially for singles and people of low socioeconomic status.
“You Just Forge Ahead”: The Continuing Challenges of Disaster Preparedness and Response in Long-Term Care
Authors: Peterson Lindsay J , Dobbs Debra , June Joseph , Dosa David M , Hyer Kathryn
Published: September 2021

Background and Objectives

Protecting nursing home and assisted living community residents during disasters continues to be a challenge. The present study explores the experiences of long-term care facilities in Florida that were exposed to Hurricane Irma in 2017.

Research Design and Methods

We used an abductive approach, combining induction and deduction. Interviews and focus groups beginning in May 2018 were conducted by telephone and in person with 89 administrative staff members representing 100 facilities (30 nursing homes and 70 assisted living communities). Analyses identified themes and subthemes. Findings were further analyzed using the social ecological model to better understand the preparedness and response of nursing homes and assisted living communities to Hurricane Irma.

Results

3 main themes were identified including: (1) importance of collaborative relationships in anticipating needs and planning to shelter in place or evacuate; (2) efforts required to maintain safety and stability during an unprecedented event; and (3) effects, repercussions, and recommendations for change following the disaster.

Discussion and Implications

Preparing for and managing disasters in nursing homes and assisted living communities involves actions within multiple environments beyond the residents and facilities where they live. Among these, community-level relationships are critical.
Distinct shifts in site-specific glycosylation pattern of SARS-CoV-2 spike proteins associated with arising mutations in the D614G and Alpha variants
Authors: Kuo Chu-Wei , Yang Tzu-Jing , Chien Yu-Chun , Yu Pei-Yu , Hsu Shang-Te Danny , Khoo Kay-Hooi
Published: September 2021

Extensive glycosylation of the spike protein of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 virus not only shields the major part of it from host immune responses, but glycans at specific sites also act on its conformation dynamics and contribute to efficient host receptor binding, and hence infectivity. As variants of concern arise during the course of the coronavirus disease of 2019 pandemic, it is unclear if mutations accumulated within the spike protein would affect its site-specific glycosylation pattern. The Alpha variant derived from the D614G lineage is distinguished from others by having deletion mutations located right within an immunogenic supersite of the spike N-terminal domain (NTD) that make it refractory to most neutralizing antibodies directed against this domain. Despite maintaining an overall similar structural conformation, our mass spectrometry-based site-specific glycosylation analyses of similarly produced spike proteins with and without the D614G and Alpha variant mutations reveal a significant shift in the processing state of N-glycans on one specific NTD site. Its conversion to a higher proportion of complex type structures is indicative of altered spatial accessibility attributable to mutations specific to the Alpha variant that may impact its transmissibility. This and other more subtle changes in glycosylation features detected at other sites provide crucial missing information otherwise not apparent in the available cryogenic electron microscopy-derived structures of the spike protein variants.
Extended Collective Licencing in the DSM Directive ‒ An Opportunity to Make Art. 17 DSM Directive Work?
Authors: Rauer Nils , Bibi Alexander
Published: September 2021

Digital content is the core asset and currency of the internet. However, there is a common and well-founded perception that those who create this content do not participate in the revenue generated online as they ought to. Adequate protection by way of a modern and concise copyright regime is rightly deemed to be the answer to this dilemma. Accordingly, the legislator has made several attempts to keep pace with the technological developments of the last two decades. Still, it remains a struggle. The latest legislative amendment within European copyright law has created a very interesting tool kit. New liabilities and licensing obligations for major service providers come hand in hand with the opportunity to obtain extended collective licenses. Deploying these tools in a sensible and dovetailed way could be highly rewarding. The following article looks more closely into this opportunity.
Containment, Health, and Social Policies in the Time of COVID-19 – Determinants and Outcomes of Initial Responses across 120 Countries
Authors: Wang Julia Shu-Huah , Peng Chenhong , Luo Hao , Zhang Jinbao , Oh Hans
Published: September 2021

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has triggered an unprecedented number of policy responses around the world across multiple policy domains. While governments have combined containment and health policies with social policies (CHSPs) during the initial phase of the pandemic in various ways, the current literature offers little knowledge of the patterns of these combinations and their determinants and outcomes. This paper fills this gap by investigating CHSP combinations across ≥120 countries. We further examined whether the CHSP response was determined by political regimes or compensation hypotheses—serving the purposes of responding to pre-existing economic downturns, inequality or social unrest. We also investigated the associations between CHSP responses and mobility, virus infection and unemployment. Using policy data from the Oxford COVID-19 Government Response Tracker, results from sequence analysis indicated that governments’ CHSP responses could be clustered into five categories: high social policies (SPs), middle SPs, containment and health (CH) leading SPs, low SPs and gradual high SPs. We used multinomial regression models to investigate determinants of CHSP responses. We found that CHSP responses did not differ by political regimes, and CHSP combinations were not driven by compensation hypotheses. Instead, gross domestic product per capita and government effectiveness were the key drivers for high levels of policy responses. We also found that low SP responses were associated with fewer mobility changes. Taken together, our findings suggest that lower-income countries required more support and resources in order for them to adopt necessary CH and SP responses.
Exploring protective factors through positive psychology and salutogenesis in Danish families with type 2 diabetes
Authors: Meldgaard Julie , Jespersen Louise Norman , Andersen Tue Helms , Grabowski Dan
Published: September 2021

People with type 2 diabetes (T2D) live with several challenges, which may enhance the risk of poor mental and physical health. However, despite living with a chronic illness, some individuals manage to achieve a life with positivity and well-being. The objective of this study is to explore the potential of Positive Psychology and Salutogenesis when analyzing how families with one or more members with T2D experience having resources leading to thriving. Data consist of 18 semi-structured family interviews with 38 participants. Data were analyzed using systematic text condensation with the concepts of sense of coherence and upward/downward spirals as the analytical framework. The analysis revealed three overall findings: (i) T2D is perceived as manageable due to general optimism despite living with a chronic illness; (ii) establishing supportive social relations means having the opportunity to share the burden of diabetes; and (iii) achieving an open dialogue and communicating the difficulties of diabetes without straining surroundings with negative illness communication. The three overall findings may reinforce each other in an upward spiral and enhance the sense of coherence. These findings have implications for diabetes management research and our understanding of psychological health in chronic illness. The overall goal is to help people with diabetes create meaning with their illness and make use of their social environment through dialogue and communication in order to increase positivity, optimism and mental health.
Long-term Antibiotic Treatment in Pouchitis—Patterns of Use and Safety
Authors: Bar Nir , Avraham Yoav , Dubinsky Vadim , Cohen Nathaniel A , Weiss Guy A , Banon Lian , Tulchinsky Hagit , Maharshak Nitsan , Gophna Uri , Dotan Iris
Published: September 2021

Introduction

Pouchitis, often developing after colectomy and ileal pouch-anal anastomosis for ulcerative colitis, is highly responsive to antibiotics. Ciprofloxacin and/or metronidazole are commonly used, often for prolonged periods. We report patterns of antibiotic use, adverse events, and resistant infections in patients with pouchitis with long-term antibiotic treatment.

Methods

In a cohort of patients following pouch surgery, a retrospective nested case-control analysis was performed between 2010 and 2017. Ultra-long-term use, defined as the top 10% of users, was compared with the remaining users. Patterns of antibiotic use, adverse events, and resistant infections were analyzed.

Results

The cohort included 205 patients with UC, of whom 167 (81.5%) used antibiotics for pouchitis, predominantly ciprofloxacin. The long-term antibiotic use rate was 18% and 42% at 5 and 20 years postsurgery, respectively. Mean antibiotic use of at least 1, 3, and 6 months/year was noted in 54 (26.3%), 31 (15.1%), and 14 (6.8%) patients, respectively. Twenty-two (13.2%) and 4 (2.4%) patients reported mild and severe (transient) adverse events, respectively, without mortalities, tendinopathies or arrhythmias. Adverse event rates for ciprofloxacin and metronidazole were 1per 10,000 and 6 per 10,000 use-days, respectively. Longer, but not ultra-long antibiotic use, was associated with mild adverse events. There was no association between antibiotic use and resistant infections. Thirteen (6.3%) patients required ileostomy procedures—more commonly in the ultra-long-term antibiotic users.

Conclusions

Patients with pouchitis may require prolonged antibiotic treatment, reflecting clinical benefit and favorable safety profile. Few adverse events and resistant infections were observed with long-term antibiotics use. However, resistant microbial strains selection, which are potentially transmittable, warrants consideration of different therapeutic alternatives.
Incidence and risk factors for pneumomediastinum in COVID-19 patients in the intensive care unit
Authors: Özdemir Servet , Bilgi Deniz Özel , Hergünsel Gülsüm Oya , Çitak Necati
Published: September 2021

OBJECTIVES

The incidence of pneumomediastinum (PNMD), its causes of development and its effect on prognosis in the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) are not clear.

METHODS

Between March 2020 and December 2020, 427 patients with real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction-confirmed COVID-19 admitted to the intensive care unit were analysed retrospectively. Using receiver operating characteristic analysis, the area under the curve (AUC) for initial invasive mechanical ventilation (MV) variables such as initial peak inspiratory pressure (PIP), PaO2/FiO2 (P/F ratio), tidal volume, compliance and positive end-expiratory pressure was evaluated regarding PNMD development.

RESULTS

The incidence of PNMD was 5.6% (n = 24). PNMD development rate was 2.7% in non-invasive MV and 6.2% in MV [odds ratio (OR) 2.352, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.541–10.232; P = 0.400]. In the multivariate analysis, the independent risk factors affecting the development of PNMD were PIP (OR 1.238, 95% CI 1.091–1.378; P < 0.001) and P/F ratio (OR 0.982, 95% CI 0.971–0.994; P = 0.004). P/F ratio (AUC 0.815, 95% CI 0.771–0.854), PIP (AUC 0.780, 95% CI 0.734–0.822), compliance (AUC 0.735, 95% CI 0.677–0.774) and positive end-expiratory pressure (AUC 0.718, 95% CI 0.668–0.764) were the best predictors for PNMD development. Regarding the multivariate analysis, independent risk factors affecting mortality were detected as age (OR 1.015, 95% CI 0.999–1.031; P = 0.04), comorbidity (OR 1.940, 95% CI 1.100–3.419; P = 0.02), mode of breathing (OR 48.345, 95% CI 14.666–159.360; P < 0.001), PNMD (OR 5.234, 95% CI 1.379–19.857; P = 0.01), positive end-expiratory pressure (OR 1.305, 95% CI 1.062–1.603; P = 0.01) and tidal volume (OR 0.995, 95% CI 0.992–0.998; P = 0.004).

CONCLUSIONS

PNMD development was associated with the initial P/F ratio and PIP. Therefore, it was considered to be related to both the patient and barotrauma. PNMD is a poor prognostic factor for COVID-19.
s, p-Harmonic Approximation of Functions of LeastWs,l-Seminorm
Authors: Bucur Claudia , Dipierro Serena , Lombardini Luca , Mazón José M , Valdinoci Enrico
Published: September 2021

We investigate the convergence as $p\searrow 1$ of the minimizers of the $W^{s,p}$-energy for $s\in (0,1)$ and $p\in (1,\infty )$ to those of the $W^{s,1}$-energy, both in the pointwise sense and by means of $\Gamma $-convergence. We also address the convergence of the corresponding Euler–Lagrange equations and the equivalence between minimizers and weak solutions. As ancillary results, we study some regularity issues regarding minimizers of the $W^{s,1}$-energy.
Alliance Participation, Treaty Depth, and Military Spending
Authors: Alley Joshua
Published: September 2021

How does alliance participation affect military spending? Some argue that alliance membership increases military expenditures, while others contend that it produces spending cuts. I argue that deep formal defense cooperation modifies the impact of alliance participation on military expenditures and can explain increases and decreases in spending by small alliance members. Security-seeking junior members of deep alliances usually decrease military spending because these treaties are more credible. Joining shallow alliances often increases junior alliance member military spending, however. I test the argument by creating a latent measure of alliance treaty depth and using it to predict differences in how alliance participation affects military spending. The research design generates new empirical evidence linking alliance participation and percentage changes in state military spending from 1919 to 2007. I find that deeper alliance treaties tend to decrease military spending by junior alliance members, and shallow alliances often increase military spending. These results help scholars and policymakers better understand a central question about alliance politics that has been debated in scholarship for decades.
Etizolam Blood Concentrations in 191 Forensic Cases in Ontario, Canada (2019–2020)
Authors: Watts Christena , Martin Teri L
Published: September 2021

Although not used clinically in North America, etizolam has been identified in forensic samples as an illicit ‘designer’ benzodiazepine. As a central nervous system depressant, analysis for etizolam has probative value in both death investigations and forensic cases where incapacitation or human psychomotor performance is relevant. This report examines toxicological findings and demographic data in a series of authentic forensic cases analyzed between November 2019 and December 2020 in which etizolam was quantified by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry analysis. Blood concentrations were determined in 191 individuals aged 1–75 years. In living individuals (i.e., impaired driving and sexual assaults), etizolam concentrations ranged from <5 to 767 ng/mL which overlapped with the range of <5 to 260 ng/mL reported in death investigations. In all but one case, other drugs were detected in combination with etizolam. Fentanyl was the most common co-occurring drug and was present in 164 cases (86%). Additional case details are provided for cases of forensic interest: two deaths involving children <3 years of age, two deaths involving body packing and an individual arrested for drug-impaired driving with, to our knowledge, the highest reported etizolam concentration to date.
SKAP interacts with Aurora B to guide end-on capture of spindle microtubules via phase separation
Authors: Zhang Manjuan , Yang Fengrui , Wang Wenwen , Zohbi Najdat , Wang Xiwei , Wang Dongmei , Zhuang Xiaoxuan , Dou Zhen , Liu Dan , Song Xiaoyu , Green Hadiyah-Nicole , Liu Xing , Yao Xuebiao
Published: September 2021

Chromosome segregation in mitosis is orchestrated by the dynamic interactions between the kinetochore and spindle microtubules. Our recent studies show that mitotic motor CENP-E cooperates with SKAP and forms a link between kinetochore core MIS13 complex and spindle microtubule plus-ends to achieve accurate chromosome alignment in mitosis. However, it remains elusive how SKAP regulates kinetochore attachment from lateral association to end-on attachment during metaphase alignment. Here, we identify a novel interaction between Aurora B and SKAP that orchestrates accurate interaction between the kinetochore and dynamic spindle microtubules. Interestingly, SKAP spontaneously phase-separates in vitro via weak, multivalent interactions into droplets with fast internal dynamics. SKAP and Aurora B form heterogeneous coacervates in vitro, which recapitulate the dynamics and behavior of SKAP comets in vivo. Importantly, SKAP interaction with Aurora B via phase separation is essential for accurate chromosome segregation and alignment. Based on those findings, we reason that SKAP–Aurora B interaction via phase separation constitutes a dynamic pool of Aurora B activity during the lateral to end-on conversion of kinetochore–microtubule attachments to achieve faithful cell division.
Multi-Year Mass-Trapping With Autocidal Gravid Ovitraps has Limited Influence on Insecticide Susceptibility in Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) From Puerto Rico
Authors: Hemme Ryan R , Smith Eric A , Felix Gilberto , White Bradley J , Diaz-Garcia Marta I , Rodriguez Damaris , Ruiz-Valcarcel Jose , Acevedo Veronica , Amador Manuel , Barrera Roberto
Published: September 2021

Mass-trapping has been used to control outbreaks of Aedes aegypti (Linnaeus) (Diptera: Culicidae) in Puerto Rico since 2011. We investigated the effect of multi-year, insecticide-free mass trapping had on the insecticide susceptibility profile of Ae. aegypti. Eggs collected in southern Puerto Rico were used to generate F1 populations that were tested for susceptibility to permethrin, sumethrin, bifenthrin, deltamethrin, and malathion according to CDC bottle bioassays protocols. All populations of Ae. aegypti were resistant to the synthetic pyrethroids and mosquitoes from two locations were partially resistant to malathion. Population genetic analysis, using a double digest restriction sites associated DNA sequencing (ddRADseq) approach, indicated a large amount of migration between study sites effectively homogenizing the mosquito populations. Mass-trapping using noninsecticidal autocidal gravid ovitraps did not restore susceptibility to five active ingredients that are found in commercial insecticides. Migration between communities was high and would have brought outside alleles, including resistant alleles to the treatment communities. Further investigation suggests that household use of commercially available insecticide products may continue to select for resistance in absence of public health space spraying of insecticides.
Distribution of amniotic stem cells in human term amnion membrane
Authors: Koike Nobuyuki , Sugimoto Jun , Okabe Motonori , Arai Kenichi , Nogami Makiko , Okudera Hiroshi , Yoshida Toshiko
Published: September 2021

Amnion membrane studies related to miscarriage have been conducted in the field of obstetrics and gynecology. However, the distribution of stem cells within the amnion and the differences in the properties of each type of stem cells are still not well understood. We address this gap in knowledge in the present study where we morphologically classified the amnion membrane, and we clarified the distribution of stem cells here to identify functionally different amniotic membrane–derived stem cells. The amnion can be divided into a site that is continuous with the umbilical cord (region A), a site that adheres to the placenta (region B), and a site that is located opposite the placenta (region C). We found that human amnion epithelial stem cells (HAECs) that strongly express stem cell markers were abundant in area A. HAEC not only expressesed stem cell-specific surface markers TRA-1-60, Tra-1-81, SSEA4, SSEA3, but was also OCT-3/4 positive and had alkaline phosphatase activity. Human amniotic mesenchymal stem cells expressed KLF-A, OCTA, Oct3/4, c-MYC and Sox2 which is transcription factor. Especially, in regions A and B they have expressed CD73, and the higher expression of BCRP which is drug excretion transporter protein than the other parts. These data suggest that different types of stem cells may have existed in different area. The understanding the relation with characteristics of the stem cells in each area and function would allow for the efficient harvest of suitable HAE and HAM stem cells as using tool for regenerative medicine.
Toward Open Research: A Narrative Review of the Challenges and Opportunities for Open Humanities
Authors: Longley Arthur Paul , Hearn Lydia
Published: September 2021

Open research represents a new set of principles and methodologies for greater cooperation, transparent sharing of findings, and access to and re-use of research data, materials or outputs, making knowledge more freely available to wider audiences for societal benefit. Yet, the future success of the international move toward open research will be dependent on key stakeholders addressing current barriers to increase uptake, effectiveness, and sustainability. This article builds on “An Agenda for Open Science in Communication,” raising dialog around the need for a broader view of open research as opposed to open science through a deeper understanding of specific challenges faced by the humanities. It reviews how the multifaceted nature of humanities research outputs make open communication formats more complex and costly. While new avenues are emerging to advance open research, there is a need for more collaborative, coordinated efforts to better connect humanities scholars with the communities they serve.
The impact of glitches on young pulsar rotational evolution
Authors: Lower M E , Johnston S , Dunn L , Shannon R M , Bailes M , Dai S , Kerr M , Manchester R N , Melatos A , Oswald L S , Parthasarathy A , Sobey C , Weltevrede P
Published: September 2021

We report on a timing programme of 74 young pulsars that have been observed by the Parkes 64-m radio telescope over the past decade. Using modern Bayesian timing techniques, we have measured the properties of 124 glitches in 52 of these pulsars, of which 74 are new. We demonstrate that the glitch sample is complete to fractional increases in spin frequency greater than $\Delta \nu ^{90{{\ \rm per\ cent}}}_{\mathrm{ g}}/\nu \approx 8.1 \times 10^{-9}$ . We measure values of the braking index, n, in 33 pulsars. In most of these pulsars, their rotational evolution is dominated by episodes of spin-down with n > 10, punctuated by step changes in the spin-down rate at the time of a large glitch. The step changes are such that, averaged over the glitches, the long-term n is small. We find a near one-to-one relationship between the interglitch value of n and the change in spin-down of the previous glitch divided by the interglitch time interval. We discuss the results in the context of a range of physical models.
Intracluster light properties in a fossil cluster at z = 0.47
Authors: Yoo Jaewon , Ko Jongwan , Kim Jae-Woo , Kim Hyowon
Published: September 2021

Galaxy clusters contain a diffuse stellar component outside the cluster’s galaxies, which is observed as faint intracluster light (ICL). Using Gemini/GMOS-N deep imaging and multiobject spectroscopy of a massive fossil cluster at a redshift of z = 0.47, RX J105453.3+552102 (J1054), we improve the observational constraints on the formation mechanism of the ICL. We extract the ICL surface brightness and colour profiles out to 155 kpc from the brightest cluster galaxy (BCG) with a detection limit of 28.7 mag arcsec−2 (1σ, 4.8 × 4.8arcsec2; i band). The colour of the diffuse light is similar to that of the BCG and central bright galaxies out to ∼ 70 kpc, becoming slightly bluer toward the outside. We find that the ICL distribution shows better agreement with the spatial distribution of member galaxies than with the BCG-dominated cluster luminosity distribution. We report the ICL fraction of J1054 as $15.07 \pm 4.57 {{\ \rm per\ cent}}$ in the range of 60 ∼ 155 kpc from the BCG, which appears to be higher than the ICL fraction-redshift trend in previous studies. Our findings suggest that intracluster stars seems not to be explained by one dominant production mechanism. However, a significant fraction of the ICL of J1054 may have been generated from the outskirts of infalling/satellite galaxies more recently rather than by the BCG at the early stage of the cluster.
The RNA chaperone StpA enables fast RNA refolding by destabilization of mutually exclusive base pairs within competing secondary structure elements
Authors: Hohmann Katharina F , Blümler Anja , Heckel Alexander , Fürtig Boris
Published: September 2021

In bacteria RNA gene regulatory elements refold dependent on environmental clues between two or more long-lived conformational states each associated with a distinct regulatory state. The refolding kinetics are strongly temperature-dependent and especially at lower temperatures they reach timescales that are biologically not accessible. To overcome this problem, RNA chaperones have evolved. However, the precise molecular mechanism of how these proteins accelerate RNA refolding reactions remains enigmatic. Here we show how the RNA chaperone StpA of Escherichia coli leads to an acceleration of a bistable RNA’s refolding kinetics through the selective destabilization of key base pairing interactions. We find in laser assisted real-time NMR experiments on photocaged bistable RNAs that the RNA chaperone leads to a two-fold increase in refolding rates at low temperatures due to reduced stability of ground state conformations. Further, we can show that upon interaction with StpA, base pairing interactions in the bistable RNA are modulated to favor refolding through the dominant pseudoknotted transition pathway. Our results shed light on the molecular mechanism of the interaction between RNA chaperones and bistable RNAs and are the first step into a functional classification of chaperones dependent on their biophysical mode of operation.
TGF-β promotes microtube formation in glioblastoma through thrombospondin 1
Authors: Joseph Justin V , Magaut Capucine R , Storevik Simon , Geraldo Luiz H , Mathivet Thomas , Latif Md Abdul , Rudewicz Justine , Guyon Joris , Gambaretti Matteo , Haukas Frida , Trones Amalie , Rømo Ystaas Lars A , Hossain Jubayer A , Ninzima Sandra , Cuvellier Sylvain , Zhou Wenjing , Tomar Tushar , Klink Barbara , Rane Lalit , Irving Bronwyn K , Marrison Joanne , O’Toole Peter , Wurdak Heiko , Wang Jian , Di Zhang , Birkeland Even , Berven Frode S , Winkler Frank , Kruyt Frank A E , Bikfalvi Andreas , Bjerkvig Rolf , Daubon Thomas , Miletic Hrvoje
Published: September 2021

Background

Microtubes (MTs), cytoplasmic extensions of glioma cells, are important cell communication structures promoting invasion and treatment resistance through network formation. MTs are abundant in chemoresistant gliomas, in particular, glioblastomas (GBMs), while they are uncommon in chemosensitive IDH-mutant and 1p/19q co-deleted oligodendrogliomas. The aim of this study was to identify potential signaling pathways involved in MT formation.

Methods

Bioinformatics analysis of TCGA was performed to analyze differences between GBM and oligodendroglioma. Patient-derived GBM stem cell lines were used to investigate MT formation under transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) stimulation and inhibition in vitro and in vivo in an orthotopic xenograft model. RNA sequencing and proteomics were performed to detect commonalities and differences between GBM cell lines stimulated with TGF-β.

Results

Analysis of TCGA data showed that the TGF-β pathway is highly activated in GBMs compared to oligodendroglial tumors. We demonstrated that TGF-β1 stimulation of GBM cell lines promotes enhanced MT formation and communication via calcium signaling. Inhibition of the TGF-β pathway significantly reduced MT formation and its associated invasion in vitro and in vivo. Downstream of TGF-β, we identified thrombospondin 1 (TSP1) as a potential mediator of MT formation in GBM through SMAD activation. TSP1 was upregulated upon TGF-β stimulation and enhanced MT formation, which was inhibited by TSP1 shRNAs in vitro and in vivo.

Conclusion

TGF-β and its downstream mediator TSP1 are important mediators of the MT network in GBM and blocking this pathway could potentially help to break the complex MT-driven invasion/resistance network.
Application of a Serial Antigen-Based Testing Strategy for Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 and Student Adherence in a University Setting: Wisconsin, October–November 2020
Authors: Bigouette John Paul , Ford Laura , Pray Ian , Langolf Kimberly , Kahrs Juliana , Zochert Tara , Tate Jacqueline E , Gieryn Douglas , Kirking Hannah L , Westergaard Ryan , Killerby Marie E
Published: September 2021

Background

Serial severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) testing has been implemented at institutions of higher education (IHEs) and other settings. Testing strategies can include algorithms specifying confirmatory reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) testing after an antigen test. It is unknown how testing strategies perform detecting SARS-CoV-2, including individual adherence to serial testing requirements.

Methods

Student serial testing adherence was defined as completing ≥80% of weekly tests from October 5, 2020 to November 14, 2020 and evaluated using logistic regression. Medical records were reviewed for all positive antigen test encounters and 10% of daily negative antigen test encounters during October 19–November 30, 2020. Results were used to estimate the proportion of individuals requiring only antigen tests, requiring and completing RT-PCR testing, and associated costs of tests.

Results

Two thirds (66.5%; 1166 of 1754) of eligible on-campus students adhered to weekly testing; female students were more adherent (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 2.07; 95% confidence interval, 1.66–2.59) than male students. Of all antigen test encounters, 11.5% (1409 of 12 305) reported >1 COVID-19 symptoms. Of non-COVID-19-exposed antigen test encounters, 88% (10 386 of 11 769) did not require confirmatory RT-PCR testing. Only 28% (390 of 1387) of testing encounters had an associated recommended confirmatory RT-PCR test performed. We estimated the testing strategy captured 61% (235 of 389) of predicted RT-PCR-positive specimens.

Conclusions

At this IHE, most students voluntarily adhered to serial testing. The majority of antigen test results did not require confirmatory RT-PCR testing, but when required, most students did not obtain it. Including strategies to increase the proportion of individuals obtaining indicated confirmatory testing might improve the testing program’s performance.