bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Bayesian estimation of the latent dimension and communities in stochastic blockmodels
Authors: Passino Francesco Sanna , Heard Nicholas A.
Published: May 2020

Spectral embedding of adjacency or Laplacian matrices of undirected graphs is a common technique for representing a network in a lower dimensional latent space, with optimal theoretical guarantees. The embedding can be used to estimate the community structure of the network, with strong consistency results in the stochastic blockmodel framework. One of the main practical limitations of standard algorithms for community detection from spectral embeddings is that the number of communities and the latent dimension of the embedding must be specified in advance. In this article, a novel Bayesian model for simultaneous and automatic selection of the appropriate dimension of the latent space and the number of blocks is proposed. Extensions to directed and bipartite graphs are discussed. The model is tested on simulated and real world network data, showing promising performance for recovering latent community structure.
What Bergson should have said about special relativity
Authors: Kügler Peter
Published: May 2020

The debate between Einstein and Bergson is a salient episode in the history of modern physics and a telling example of the interaction between science and philosophy. This paper initially discusses five reasons why Bergson criticised Einstein for giving up absolute time. The most important one was Bergson’s commitment to an intuitionist, anti-Kantian metaphysics informed by common sense. Apart from that, he knew that the theory of special relativity permits “duration” (durée) in the form of the passage of proper time, to which Bergson referred as “real time”. Neither static eternalism (which excludes temporal passage) nor dynamic eternalism (which, like the former, claims the existence of the future) are acceptable from Bergson’s philosophical perspective, which acknowledges the role of temporal experience and everyday thinking in addition to science and metaphysics. He understood temporal passage as creation of new existence, anticipating what later became known as the growing block theory of time. The pointy relativistic variant of this theory, which divides the universe into blocks of growing past light cones, does justice to large parts of his philosophy, including the distinction between the actual and the virtual. Supporters of Bergson’s account of duration should adopt this theory of time.
Anesthetic management in a patient with arthrogryposis multiplex congenita. Comparison of two anesthetic management approaches. A case report
Authors: Medina Ángela-María Ríos , Salazar Juliana Caicedo
Published: May 2020

ABSTRACT

Introduction:

Arthrogryposis multiplex congenita (AMC) is a group of musculoskeletal disorders characterized by congenital joint contractures. Patients with AMC often require anesthetic care to undergo correction of musculoskeletal deformities, and their peri-operative care can be challenging for anesthesiologists.

Case report:

We present the case of an infant with AMC, who underwent a two-stage surgical correction of lower limbs deformities. The main concerns were the possibility of a difficult airway management, the risk of hyperthermia and the challenge of achieving adequate pain control in an aggressive reconstructive surgical procedure. For each surgery, two different regional anesthesia strategies were conducted.

Discussion:

There are several anesthetic considerations for patients with AMC. We highlight the importance of being prepared for a potential difficult airway, risk of malignant hyperthermia, cardiorespiratory problems and difficult regional blockade. In this case, we had a careful airway evaluation, perioperative body temperature monitoring, total intravenous anesthesia, and the use of ultrasound guided regional anesthesia all of which ensured the safe care of this patient. The addition of pre-emptive and continuous regional-analgesia significantly improved the post-operative course.

Conclusion:

Is important for the anesthesiologist to understand the pathophysiology and potential risks of complications in patients with AMC in order to provide them with safe and optimal anesthetic care. Adequate pre-emptive pain management aided by ultrasound guided continuous regional techniques represents an excellent option that may help improving postoperative results.

Highlights:
Postoperative hypothermia and associate factors at Debre Berhan comprehensive specialized hospital 2019: A cross sectional study
Authors: Allene Mengesha Dessie
Published: May 2020

ABSTRACT

Background:

Hypothermia is a core body temperature less than 36 °C (96.8 °F). It is a common incident in the immediate postoperative period. Postoperative hypothermia is associated with prolong hospital, post-anesthetic care unit or intensive care unit (ICU) stay, surgical site infection, postoperative blood transfusions, pressure ulcers, decrease patient comfort and satisfaction, subjective discomfort and mortality, cardiovascular complications, and increase cost. In an effort to decrease the occurrence of postoperative hypothermia, it would be helpful to identify and correct significant associated factors.

Objective:

The objective of this study was to determine the incidence of postoperative hypothermia and identify associated factors.

Method:

A Hospital based cross-sectional study was undertaken. All postoperative (N = 410) patients that underwent scheduled or emergency surgery were included. Tympanic membrane temperature was measured before surgery and on arrival at recovery room. Analysis was done using SPSS version 22.00 and binary logistic regression was utilized to identify associated factors.

Result:

The incidence of postoperative hypothermia immediately at recovery room was 130 (31.71%). From these, 57 (43.85%) and 73 (56.15%) were mild and moderate respectively with no severe hypothermia noticed. The multivariate logistic regression indicated that age >50 [(AOR = 4.91; 95% CI, 1.23; 8.98)], ASA II [AOR = 4.02; 95% CI (1.53–9.56)], ASA III [AOR = 6.04; 95% CI (2.04–15.05)], major surgical procedures [AOR = 3.03; 95% CI (1.27–8.79)], general anesthesia [AOR = 6.32; 95% CI (2.41–13.03)] and coexisting disease [AOR = 3.12; 95% CI (1.02–8.27)] were are significantly associated with postoperative hypothermia.

Conclusion and recommendation:

The incidence of postoperative hypothermia in recovery room was high. Age greater than 50 years old, high ASA physical status, operation done under general anesthesia, major operations and coexisting disease were strongly associated with postoperative hypothermia. All perioperative surgical team should participate to reduce the occurrence of postoperative hypothermia with early prediction and diagnosis for better outcome of patient.

Highlights:
The Role of Testosterone in Amplifying the Effect of a Phosphodiesterase Type 5 Inhibitor After Pelvic Irradiation
Authors: Lee Dong Sup , Sohn Dong Wan
Published: May 2020

Background

After radiotherapy, the risk of hypogonadism increases, and the incidence of erectile dysfunction increases with time.

Aim

We investigated the effect of testosterone and a phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor (PDE5I) on erectile tissue after radiotherapy.

Methods

12 male Wistar rats were assigned to each of 5 groups (group C: control; group R: radiation; group RPT: radiation, testosterone, and a PDE5I; group RP: radiation and a PDE5I; and group RT: radiation and testosterone). A 12.5 Gy/fraction dose was administered to the rectum in groups R, RPT, RP, and RT. Udenafil (20 mg/kg) was administered daily via nasogastric tubes in group RPT and group RP for 4 weeks starting 1 day after radiotherapy. Testosterone enanthate (25 mg/kg, IM) was administered immediately after radiotherapy in group RT and group RPT. 6 rats from each group were used to evaluate endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS), and NOX2, and cavernosal pressure was evaluated in the other 6 rats in each group.

Outcome

Testosterone enhanced the effect of PDE5I on penile tissue after radiotherapy by amplifying the nitric oxide synthase activity.

Results

eNOS mRNA expression increased in response to either testosterone replacement or PDE5I administration after radiotherapy. nNOS mRNA expression did not significantly increase in response to testosterone replacement, but testosterone significantly enhanced the effect of PDE5I on nNOS mRNA expression. Testosterone significantly amplified the effect of PDE5I on both eNOS and nNOS protein expression. Both testosterone and PDE5I reduced NOX2 protein expression. The intracavernosal pressure during electrical stimulation showed that testosterone alone did not significantly enhance erectile function.

Clinical Translation

Clinicians should consider both hypoxic tissue damage and hypogonadism during and after radiation, and the combination of testosterone and PDE5I could be more beneficial for preserving erectile tissue than either individual treatment.

Strengths & Limitations

This study describes the role of testosterone in amplifying the effect of a PDE5I on pelvic radiotherapy-induced hypogonadism. However, we did not show the time-dependent effects of testosterone and PDE5I.

Conclusions

Despite the fact that the intracavernosal pressure during electrical stimulation did not significantly increase with testosterone replacement after radiotherapy, important changes in nitric oxide synthase activity and superoxide regulation might have amplifying effects on erectile tissue. Therefore, we recommend that physicians monitor testosterone levels and should not hesitate to combine testosterone and PDE5I in cases of radiation-induced hypogonadism if testosterone replacement is not contraindicated.
A Systematic Review of the Psychometric Properties of Multidimensional Trait Perfectionism Self-Report Measures
Authors: Lo Alice , Hunt Caroline , Abbott Maree J.
Published: May 2020

Different and evolving conceptualisations of perfectionism have led to the development of numerous perfectionism measures in an attempt to capture the true representations of the construct. It is, therefore, important to ensure that these instruments are valid and reliable. The present systematic review examined the literature for the psychometric properties of the most commonly used general multidimensional trait perfectionism self-report measures. Relevant studies were identified by a systematic electronic search of academic databases. A total of 349 studies were identified, with 38 of these meeting inclusion criteria. The psychometric properties presented in each of these studies were subjected to assessment using a standardised protocol. All studies were evaluated by two reviewers independently. Results indicated that while none of the included measures demonstrated adequacy across all of the nine psychometric properties assessed, most were found to possess adequate internal consistency and construct validity. The absence of evidence to support adequate measurement properties over a number of domains for the measures included in this review may be attributed to the criteria of adequacy used, with some appearing overly strict and less relevant to perfectionism measures. Clinical and research relevance of the present findings and directions for future research are discussed.
Just the Facts: How to assess a patient with constant significant vertigo and nystagmus in the emergency department
Authors: Johns Peter , Rosenberg Hans
Published: May 2020

A 43-year-old female presents to the emergency department (ED) after she woke up with the sensation that the room was spinning and vomited three times at home. She continues to have significant vertigo when she presents to the ED 4 hours later. Her symptoms are worsened by head movement. She has noticed some unsteadiness but is able to walk unaided. When you examine her, she has left-beating horizontal nystagmus with a slight rotatory component to the left.
EXCLUSIVITY AND COSMOPOLITANISM: MULTI-ETHNIC CIVIL SOCIETY IN INTERWAR HONG KONG
Authors: KONG VIVIAN
Published: May 2020

While recent work has shown that interwar Asian civic associational culture was becoming more plural than previously understood, scholars focus mostly on transnational networks and neglect local associations co-existing in the colonial urban space. We also know little about how internationalist and liberal ideals interacted with notions of racial and national exclusion prevalent in the wider society. To overcome this, this article examines local organizations alongside transnational networks in interwar Hong Kong to understand fully how global trends in the interwar period affected colonial civic culture. Drawing on Freemasonry, Rotary, the League of Fellowship, and the Kowloon Residents’ Association, I discuss the aspirations of multi-racial urbanites in interwar Hong Kong and their limits. I argue that, while internationalism and colonial hierarchies allowed solidarity to be forged amongst multi-racial urbanites and encouraged their civic engagements, racism embedded in the society, rising nationalism, and constitutional constraints put limitations on their aspirations.
INDIAN RIVERS, ‘PRODUCTIVE WORKS’, AND THE EMERGENCE OF LARGE DAMS IN NINETEENTH-CENTURY MADRAS
Authors: RAMESH ADITYA
Published: May 2020

The nineteenth century witnessed a major expansion in the construction of public works including canals, roads, and railways across the British empire. The question that colonial governments faced during the nineteenth century was on how to finance public works. Focusing specifically on irrigation works and the rivers of southern India, this article shows how different experiments were attempted, including raising capital and labour from local communities as well as corporate investment in irrigation works through London capital markets. The article argues that by the latter part of the nineteenth century, a definitive answer had emerged, i.e. irrigation projects on rivers would be financed through state debt. An enormous body of scholarship in Britain and India debated the relationship between public works and public debt. This article rethinks this scholarship as a technological and environmental history. The article argues that colonial modes of raising capital were dependent on speculating on Indian rivers. Historiography wise, in contrast to scholarship which takes for granted the role of the state in building large dams, it suggests that the emergence of the state as the builder of large dams was part of a more fundamental relationship between rivers, technology, and colonial capital that emerged in the nineteenth century.
Turbulent from the Start: Revisiting Military Politics in Pre-Baʿth Syria
Authors: Bou Nassif Hicham
Published: May 2020

This article reconsiders military politics in Syria prior to the 1963 Baʿthi power grab in light of new sources. I undermine the presumptions that Baʿthi tactics of sectarian favoritism in the armed forces were unprecedented in post-independence Syria. I make the following arguments: first, attempts by the Sunni power elite to tame Syrian minorities were part of a broad sequence of events that spanned several regimes and informed politics in the Syrian officer corps; second, the various military strongmen who ruled Damascus intermittently from 1949 until 1963 distrusted minority officers and relied mainly on fellow Sunnis to exert control in the armed forces; and third, the combination of minority marginalization in Syrian politics and Sunni preferentialism inside the armed forces bred enmity and polarized sectarian relations in the officer corps.
The alleged tension between the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration and state sovereignty: ‘Much Ado about Nothing’?
Authors: Capone Francesca
Published: May 2020

In a landmark effort to finally acknowledge the necessity to jointly respond to the global phenomenon of large movements of refugees and migrants, the process initiated in 2016 with the approval of the New York Declaration for Refugees and Migrants eventually led to the adoption of two UN Global Compacts, respectively the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM) and the Global Compact on Refugees (GCR). Despite the enthusiastic support shown at first by the international community, the GCM negotiations have been more controversial and ultimately shaken by the clamorous withdrawals of several states. The main argument used by the withdrawing governments to justify the sudden refusal to adopt the GCM was based on the claim that the document − although non-binding − undermines the ‘sovereign right’ of the state. Such a claim, given the centrality that the principle of state sovereignty has acquired since the Peace of Westphalia, deserves to be further analysed from an international law perspective by resorting to the ‘sovereignty test’ developed by Schrijver. The present work, after briefly introducing the main tenets of the GCM, applies the ‘sovereignty test’ to the GCM to dissect the alleged tension between state sovereignty on the one hand and the shared approach to international migration envisaged by the pact on the other. This article’s ultimate goal is to prove that the GCM does not aim to restrain state sovereignty; rather, it strives to remind states of existing international commitments already undertaken at the regional and global level.
BEPS principal purpose test and customary international law
Authors: Mosquera Valderrama Irma Johanna
Published: May 2020

The overall aim of this article is to analyse the principal purpose test as an emerging rule of customary international tax law. By means of the principal purpose test, the tax administration can deny the tax treaty benefit if one of the principal purposes of the action undertaken by the taxpayer was to obtain a benefit. This principal purpose test has been developed by the OECD with the political support of the G20 as one of the actions to tackle Base Erosion and Profit Shifting by multinationals (BEPS Project). At the time of writing, 137 jurisdictions including non-OECD, non-G-20 countries have committed to the implementation of the principal purpose test in their current and future tax treaties. Based on the analysis of the objective element (state practice) and subjective element (accepted as law), there are indications that this principal purpose test can emerge as a principle of customary international law. In the past, international tax law scholars addressed the customary international law regarding the OECD/UN tax treaty Models, the OECD Harmful Tax Practices, and the arm’s length principle. However, current international tax developments, including the BEPS Project, call for an analysis of the main elements of customary international law in respect of the principal purpose test, a general anti-avoidance rule that by its own nature, is often general, vague, and imprecise. Therefore, the findings of this article can be useful for generating new areas of research by international public law, international law, and international tax law experts.
‘One Size Fits All’ – A Default Policy that is Serving No One Well
Authors: Wolf Alison
Published: May 2020

This article will analyse the rather uniform ways in which developed countries, and notably those of Europe, have moved from systems in which tiny numbers of young people attended university to systems of mass and still expanding higher education. Although there are some surface differences between countries in organisation and levels of participation, these have actually decreased in recent decades, and convergence is continuing. This convergence reflects a general move towards a dominant model of tertiary education which gives priority and prestige to academic certification. The economic and policy drivers have been very similar. In the first instance, a changing labour market and growing middle class expanded demand for tertiary provision. Governments then became convinced that expanding higher education was an effective supply-side policy to promote growth and productivity, and an effective way to promote social mobility and equality; and so educational expansion and spending were privileged. However, in recent years, there has been a growing mismatch between the labour market and tertiary provision, which it is very hard to correct, partly because of politicians’ beliefs but also because the ‘signalling’ function of academic education has become paramount, and families quite rationally pursue high-prestige (but zero-sum) options for their children. Although there may be some degree of self-correction in the system, this is by no means assured and governments need to consider, actively, how to promote attractive alternatives to university study.
Addressing Horizontal and Vertical Gaps in Educational Systems
Authors: Schoenfeld Alan H.
Published: May 2020

Students are often ill-prepared for the leap in expectations within disciplines when they make the transition from secondary to university-level instruction. Moreover, another equally large challenge exacerbates these vertical disciplinary gaps. At all levels, instruction takes place largely in disciplinary silos – in language and literature, history, mathematics, science, and so on. Learning goals in these silos are often phrased in very different language, e.g. ‘becoming a reader’ (or writer) in language arts, ‘inquiry’ in science, and ‘problem solving’ in mathematics. Such horizontal gaps result in instruction being far less coherent from the student’s perspective than it might be. The Teaching for Robust Understanding framework, known as TRU, may provide a means of addressing both kinds of gap. TRU focuses on the nature of learning environments that support the development of students as powerful learners. Through the lens of the TRU framework one can see commonalities across disciplines and across grade levels, and shape instructional practices accordingly. Within any particular discipline, treating students as active sense makers and arranging learning environments to provide opportunities for active sense making may help to bridge the gap between secondary and higher education.
Industrially processed v. home-prepared dishes: what economic benefit for the consumer?
Authors: Tharrey Marion , Drogué Sophie , Privet Lisa , Perignon Marlène , Dubois Christophe , Darmon Nicole
Published: May 2020

Objective:

To cope with the pressure of modern life, consumer demand for convenience foods has increased in the last decades. The current study set out to compare the costs of buying industrially processed dishes and of preparing them at home.

Design:

Direct purchase costs of industrially processed dishes frequently consumed in France (n 19) and of the ingredients needed for their home-prepared counterparts (n 86) were collected from four major food retailers’ websites in Montpellier, France. Mean prices and energy density were calculated for four portions. Costs related to energy used by cooking appliances and time spent preparing dishes were further estimated.

Setting:

Montpellier, France.

Participants:

Not applicable.

Results:

Based on the costs of ingredients and energy used for cooking, dishes prepared at home cost less (–0·60 € per four portions, P < 0.001) than industrially processed dishes, but when the cost of time was taken into account, the industrially processed dishes were much cheaper (–5·34 € per four portions, P < 0.001) than their home-prepared counterparts. There was no difference in energy density between industrially processed and home-prepared dishes.

Conclusions:

Our findings suggest that industrially processed dishes are more profitable to consumers when the cost of time for preparing dishes at home is valued. Given the ever greater demands of everyday life, more account should be taken of the additional cost to consumers of the time they spend preparing meals at home.
Risk, uncertainty and the market: a rethinking of Islamic and Western finance
Authors: D'Alvia Daniele
Published: May 2020

This paper aims at providing an account of the Islamic conception ofGhararin contrast to the current Western conceptualisation of risk, using the respective financial legal frameworks of both as the criterion. One of the more decisive stakes of the difference in approach between the Islamic and contemporary Western legal orders today concern the regulation of financial markets; specifically, the definitions of risk and uncertainty – crucial characteristics of modern economies – can be understood as preferentially related to specific features of Islamic law. In the end, according to Knight, money-creation processes are centred on uncertainty. Without uncertainty, there is no profit. This is why, although different at first sight, Islamic finance with its understanding of permissibleGhararand Western finance with its uncertainty-aversion trend have become more resilient, especially since the financial crisis (2007–2010).
Messaging Mask Wearing During the COVID-19 Crisis: Ideological Differences
Authors: Utych Stephen M.
Published: May 2020

As the U.S. Government works to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus, messaging is important in getting individuals to comply with public health recommendations, especially as the response from the public seems to be polarized along partisan and ideological lines. Using a recent Centers for Disease Control recommendation of wearing facemasks, I use Regulatory Focus Theory to predict that conservatives will be more responsive to messages related to promotion, while liberals are more responsive to messages related to prevention. Using a pre-registered experimental design, I find no evidence that prevention messages influence attitudes toward mask wearing. Promotion messages, however, cause conservatives to become less supportive of mask wearing, in contrast to theoretical predictions. These findings suggest that, related to messaging about mask wearing, strong ideological differences do not emerge related to the focus of the message.
Die körperdysmorphe Störung: Diagnostik, Behandlung und Herausforderungen in der hausärztlichen Praxis
Authors: Watzke Birgit , Rufer Michael , Drüge Marie
Published: May 2020

Zusammenfassung. Die körperdysmorphe Störung (KDS) (Punktprävalenz: 1,7–2,4 %) ist durch eine übermässige Beschäftigung mit einem oder mehreren subjektiv wahrgenommenen Makel(n) des Aussehens gekennzeichnet, durch die Betroffene aufgrund von Vermeidungsverhalten und zeitaufwändigen Ritualen eine hohe Krankheitslast sowie häufig Sekundärproblematiken (u.a. Depression, Suizidalität) aufweisen. Das Störungsbild geht oftmals mit ausgeprägter Scham einher und ist somit mit Herausforderungen in der Diagnostik verbunden, weshalb Indikationsstellung und Fachbehandlung (First-line-Behandlung: Kognitive Verhaltenstherapie) meist erst mit grosser Latenz erfolgen. Hausärztinnen und Hausärzte können aufgrund des oft langjährigen Vertrauensverhältnisses zu ihren Patientinnen und Patienten bei der Diagnostik und Behandlung eine Schlüsselrolle einnehmen. Ein gezieltes Screening, eine aktive und gleichzeitig umsichtige Gesprächsführung sowie das Wissen um Behandlungsoptionen und Besonderheiten des Erkrankungsbildes (u.a. schwankende Krankheitseinsicht, Wunsch nach plastisch-chirurgischen Massnahmen) ist notwendig. Der Beitrag gibt vor diesem Hintergrund einen Überblick zu Klinik, Diagnostik und Therapie und schliesst mit spezifischen Herausforderungen sowie praktischen Empfehlungen für die hausärztliche Praxis.
CME: Endogener Hyperkortisolismus (endogenes Cushingsyndrom)
Authors: Fischli Stefan
Published: May 2020

Zusammenfassung. Das endogene Cushingsyndrom (eCS) ist eine seltene Erkrankung mit einer initial häufig unspezifischen Klinik. Unbehandelt ist das eCS mit einer deutlich erhöhten Morbidität und Mortalität assoziiert. Dieser Artikel stellt einen aktuellen Überblick über Ursachen, Klinik und Abklärung des eCS dar. Ein besonderer Schwerpunkt liegt dabei auf der Diagnostik des Hyperkortisolismus mittels Screening-Tests.
CME-Labor 62: Wie beurteile ich den Nutzen eines Labortests? Beispiel der D-Dimere
Authors: Nagler Michael
Published: May 2020

Zusammenfassung. Mehrmals täglich sind Ärztinnen und Ärzte mit der Verordnung oder Beurteilung von Laborwerten konfrontiert. Dabei stellt sich die Frage nach dem Nutzen des Testergebnisses für die individuelle Patientin/den individuellen Patienten. Wie soll der richtige Test unter all denjenigen ausgewählt werden, die grosse Laboratorien anbieten? Dieser Artikel soll eine Anleitung für Ärztinnen und Ärzte bieten, den Nutzen von Labortests abzuschätzen. Mit Hilfe des Beispiels der D-Dimere diskutieren wir das Ziel der Bestimmung von Laborwerten, stellen die Risiken von Labortests für individuelle Patienten dar, und illustrieren deren Rolle im Behandlungsprozess. Darüber hinaus diskutieren wir Kriterien zur Beurteilung von diagnostischen Studien.
Spectroscopy of short-lived radioactive molecules
Authors: Garcia Ruiz R. F. , Berger R. , Billowes J. , Binnersley C. L. , Bissell M. L. , Breier A. A. , Brinson A. J. , Chrysalidis K. , Cocolios T. E. , Cooper B. S. , Flanagan K. T. , Giesen T. F. , de Groote R. P. , Franchoo S. , Gustafsson F. P. , Isaev T. A. , Koszorús Á. , Neyens G. , Perrett H. A. , Ricketts C. M. , Rothe S. , Schweikhard L. , Vernon A. R. , Wendt K. D. A. , Wienholtz F. , Wilkins S. G. , Yang X. F.
Published: May 2020

Molecular spectroscopy offers opportunities for the exploration of the fundamental laws of nature and the search for new particle physics beyond the standard model1–4. Radioactive molecules—in which one or more of the atoms possesses a radioactive nucleus—can contain heavy and deformed nuclei, offering high sensitivity for investigating parity- and time-reversal-violation effects5,6. Radium monofluoride, RaF, is of particular interest because it is predicted to have an electronic structure appropriate for laser cooling6, thus paving the way for its use in high-precision spectroscopic studies. Furthermore, the effects of symmetry-violating nuclear moments are strongly enhanced5,7–9 in molecules containing octupole-deformed radium isotopes10,11. However, the study of RaF has been impeded by the lack of stable isotopes of radium. Here we present an experimental approach to studying short-lived radioactive molecules, which allows us to measure molecules with lifetimes of just tens of milliseconds. Energetically low-lying electronic states were measured for different isotopically pure RaF molecules using collinear resonance ionisation at the ISOLDE ion-beam facility at CERN. Our results provide evidence of the existence of a suitable laser-cooling scheme for these molecules and represent a key step towards high-precision studies in these systems. Our findings will enable further studies of short-lived radioactive molecules for fundamental physics research.
SRPK1 acetylation modulates alternative splicing to regulate cisplatin resistance in breast cancer cells
Authors: Wang Cheng , Zhou Zhihong , Subhramanyam Charannya Sozheesvari , Cao Qiong , Heng Zealyn Shi Lin , Liu Wen , Fu Xiangdong , Hu Qidong
Published: May 2020

Cisplatin and other platinum-based compounds are frequently used to treat breast cancer, but their utility is severely compromised by drug resistance. Many genes dictating drug responsiveness are subject to pre-mRNA alternative splicing which is regulated by key kinases such as the serine-arginine protein kinase 1 (SRPK1). However, its contribution to drug resistance remains controversial. In this study, we have identified that Tip60-mediated acetylation of SRPK1 is closely associated with chemotherapy sensitivity. In breast cancer cells, cisplatin induced SRPK1 acetylation but in the corresponding resistant cells, it reduced acetylation yet increased phosphorylation and kinase activity of SRPK1, favouring the splicing of some anti-apoptotic variants. Significantly, the cisplatin-resistant cells could be re-sensitized by enhancing SRPK1 acetylation or inhibiting its kinase activity. Hence, our study reveals a key role of SRPK1 in the development of cisplatin resistance in breast cancer cells and suggests a potential therapeutic avenue for overcoming chemotherapy resistance.
Nitrite modulates aminoglycoside tolerance by inhibiting cytochrome heme-copper oxidase in bacteria
Authors: Zhang Yongting , Guo Kailun , Meng Qiu , Gao Haichun
Published: May 2020

As a bacteriostatic agent, nitrite has been used in food preservation for centuries. When used in combination with antibiotics, nitrite is reported to work either cooperatively or antagonistically. However, the mechanism underlying these effects remains largely unknown. Here we show that nitrite mediates tolerance to aminoglycosides in both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria, but has little interaction with other types of antibiotics. Nitrite directly and mainly inhibits cytochrome heme-copper oxidases (HCOs), and by doing so, the membrane potential is compromised, blocking uptake of aminoglycosides. In contrast, reduced respiration (oxygen consumption rate) resulting from nitrite inhibition is not critical for aminoglycoside tolerance. While our data indicate that nitrite is a promising antimicrobial agent targeting HCOs, cautions should be taken when used with other antibiotics, aminoglycosides in particular.
Rh(iii)-catalyzed, hydrazine-directed C–H functionalization with 1-alkynylcyclobutanols: a new strategy for 1H-indazoles
Authors: Zhang Lei , Chen Junyu , Chen Xiahe , Zheng Xiangyun , Zhou Jian , Zhong Tianshuo , Chen Zhiwei , Yang Yun-Fang , Jiang Xinpeng , She Yuan-Bin , Yu Chuanming
Published: May 2020

Rh(iii)-catalyzed coupling of phenylhydrazines with 1-alkynylcyclobutanols was realized through a hydrazine-directed C–H functionalization and [4+1] annulation pathway.
Transition-metal mediated carbon–sulfur bond activation and transformations: an update
Authors: Lou Jiang , Wang Quannan , Wu Ping , Wang Hongmei , Zhou Yong-Gui , Yu Zhengkun
Published: May 2020

This review summarizes the advances in transition-metal-catalyzed cross-couplingviacarbon–sulfur bond activation and cleavage since late 2012 as an update of the critical review published in early 2013 (Chem. Soc. Rev., 2013,42, 599–621).
Calixarene-mediated assembly of water-soluble C60-attached ultrathin graphite hybrids for efficient activation of reactive oxygen species to treat neuroblastoma cells
Authors: Mo Jingxin , Li Meiying , Chen Xianjue , Li Qinghua
Published: May 2020

Water-soluble hybrid of C60 on ultrathin graphite enables efficient activation of reactive oxygen species for enhanced phototoxicity to neuroblastoma cells.
The force of MOFs: the potential of switchable metal–organic frameworks as solvent stimulated actuators
Authors: Freund Pascal , Senkovska Irena , Zheng Bin , Bon Volodymyr , Krause Beate , Maurin Guillaume , Kaskel Stefan
Published: May 2020

The force exerted by flexible metal–organic framework through expansion was experimentally evaluated for MIL-53(Al).
High-resolution light-activated electrochemistry on amorphous silicon-based photoelectrodes
Authors: Gautam Shreedhar , Gonçales Vinicius R. , Colombo Rafael N. P. , Tang Wenxian , Córdoba de Torresi Susana I. , Reece Peter J. , Tilley Richard D. , Gooding J. Justin
Published: May 2020

The spatial resolution of silicon photoelectrochemistry is improved to 500 nm by using amorphous silicon, 60 times improvement as compared to crystalline silicon.
Unprecedented multiphonon vibronic transitions of erbium ions on copper nanoparticle-containing tellurite glasses
Authors: Machado Tamires Martinhão , Falci Rodrigo Ferreira , Andrade Gustavo Fernandes Souza , Bell Maria José Valenzuela , Pereira da Silva Maurício Antonio
Published: May 2020

Erbium-doped tellurite glass containing copper nanoparticles showed multi-band emission of one particular transition (4I9/2 →4I15/2, at 980 nm) due to electron-lattice coupling.
Non-specific DNA-driven quinary interactions promote structural transitions in proteins
Authors: Gopi Soundhararajan , Naganathan Athi N.
Published: May 2020

We show strong evidence for the long-range electrostatic potential of DNA to influence the conformational status and distribution of states accessible to a protein chain well before the binding event.
Microhydration of protonated biomolecular building blocks: protonated pyrimidine
Authors: Chatterjee Kuntal , Dopfer Otto
Published: May 2020

The protonation site and evolution of the hydration network in microsolvated protonated pyrimidine clusters, H+Pym–(H2O)n with n = 1–4, has been explored by infrared spectroscopy and density functional theory calculations.
3d metallaelectrocatalysis for resource economical syntheses
Authors: Gandeepan Parthasarathy , Finger Lars H. , Meyer Tjark H. , Ackermann Lutz
Published: May 2020

This review summarizes key developments in 3d metallaelectrocatalysis in the context of resource economy in molecular syntheses.
Effect of temperature on B(C6F5)3-catalysed reduction of germanium alkoxides by hydrosilanes – a new route to germanium nanoparticles
Authors: Rubinsztajn Slawomir , Mizerska Urszula , Zakrzewska Joanna , Uznanski Pawel , Cypryk Marek , Fortuniak Witold
Published: May 2020

The reaction of Ge(OBu)4 with PhMe2SiH in the presence of B(C6F5)3 carried out at temperatures above 100 °C provides a simple one-pot method for Ge NPs synthesis under mild conditions.
3D-Printed glycerol microfluidic fuel cell
Authors: Guima Katia-Emiko , Coelho Pedro-Henrique L. , Trindade Magno A. G. , Martins Cauê Alves
Published: May 2020

3D-Printed microfluidic fuel cell.
Sulfated tungstate/dioxygen: a new catalytic system for oxysulfonylation of styrenes to form β-keto sulfones
Authors: Wagh Ganesh D. , Autade Snehalata B. , Kulkarni Raghavendra V. , Akamanchi Krishnacharya G.
Published: May 2020

A new green cat./O2 oxidation system is mild, safe, heterogeneous, simple to make, stable, noncorrosive, produces N2 as by product, and has an easy to recover–reuse catalyst and wide substrate scope.
Synthesis of new fluorescent pyrylium dyes and study of their interaction withN-protected amino acids
Authors: Beltrán Alicia , Burguete M. Isabel , Galindo Francisco , Luis Santiago V.
Published: May 2020

Six new fluorescent styrylpyrylium dyes have been synthesized and the collisional quenching taking place upon their interaction withZ-protected amino acids has been studied.
Palladium catalyzed asymmetric allylic alkylation of isoquinolinedione derivatives in the preparation of quaternary carbon stereocenters
Authors: Li Ying-Xian , Cheng Cheng , Tang Lei , Yang Yuan-Yong
Published: May 2020

A highly enantioselective allylic alkylation of isoquinolinedione derivatives under palladium catalysis was developed in the preparation of quaternary carbon stereocenters.
Copper(i)-catalyzed highly enantioselective [3 + 3]-cycloaddition of γ-alkyl enoldiazoacetates with nitrones
Authors: Dong Kuiyong , Xu Xinfang , Doyle Michael P.
Published: May 2020

Chiral copper(i) catalysts are preferred over chiral dirhodium(ii) catalysts for [3 + 3]-cycloaddition reactions of γ-alkyl-substituted enoldiazoacetates compounds with nitrones.
How do chemical patterns affect equilibrium droplet shapes?
Authors: Wu Yanchen , Wang Fei , Ma Shaoping , Selzer Michael , Nestler Britta
Published: May 2020

Droplet shapes on a series of chemically patterned surfaces can be analytically predicted by a versatile and robust free-energy minimization model.
Carrot ‘antifreeze’ protein has an irregular ice-binding site that confers weak freezing point depression but strong inhibition of ice recrystallization
Authors: Wang Yannan , Graham Laurie A. , Han Zhifu , Eves Robert , Gruneberg Audrey K. , Campbell Robert L. , Zhang Heqiao , Davies Peter L.
Published: May 2020

Ice-binding proteins (IBPs) are found in many biological kingdoms where they protect organisms from freezing damage as antifreeze agents or inhibitors of ice recrystallization. Here, the crystal structure of recombinant IBP from carrot (Daucus carota) has been solved to a resolution of 2.3 Å. As predicted, the protein is a structural homologue of a plant polygalacturonase-inhibiting protein forming a curved solenoid structure with a leucine-rich repeat motif. Unexpectedly, close examination of its surface did not reveal any large regions of flat, regularly spaced hydrophobic residues that characterize the ice-binding sites (IBSs) of potent antifreeze proteins from freeze-resistant fish and insects. An IBS was defined by site-directed mutagenesis of residues on the convex surface of the carrot solenoid. This imperfect site is reminiscent of the irregular IBS of grass ‘antifreeze’ protein. Like the grass protein, the carrot IBP has weak freezing point depression activity but is extremely active at nanomolar concentrations in inhibiting ice recrystallization. Ice crystals formed in the presence of both plant proteins grow slowly and evenly in all directions. We suggest that this slow, controlled ice growth is desirable for freeze tolerance. The fact that two plant IBPs have evolved very different protein structures to affect ice in a similar manner suggests this pattern of weak freezing point depression and strong ice recrystallization inhibition helps their host to tolerate freezing rather than to resist it.
Structural and biochemical evidence of the glucose 6-phosphate-allosteric site of maize C4-phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase: its importance in the overall enzyme kinetics
Authors: Muñoz-Clares Rosario A. , González-Segura Lilian , Juárez-Díaz Javier Andrés , Mújica-Jiménez Carlos
Published: May 2020

Activation of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPC) enzymes by glucose 6-phosphate (G6P) and other phospho-sugars is of major physiological relevance. Previous kinetic, site-directed mutagenesis and crystallographic results are consistent with allosteric activation, but the existence of a G6P-allosteric site was questioned and competitive activation—in which G6P would bind to the active site eliciting the same positive homotropic effect as the substrate phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP)—was proposed. Here, we report the crystal structure of the PEPC-C4 isozyme from Zea mays with G6P well bound into the previously proposed allosteric site, unambiguously confirming its existence. To test its functionality, Asp239—which participates in a web of interactions of the protein with G6P—was changed to alanine. The D239A variant was not activated by G6P but, on the contrary, inhibited. Inhibition was also observed in the wild-type enzyme at concentrations of G6P higher than those producing activation, and probably arises from G6P binding to the active site in competition with PEP. The lower activity and cooperativity for the substrate PEP, lower activation by glycine and diminished response to malate of the D239A variant suggest that the heterotropic allosteric activation effects of free-PEP are also abolished in this variant. Together, our findings are consistent with both the existence of the G6P-allosteric site and its essentiality for the activation of PEPC enzymes by phosphorylated compounds. Furthermore, our findings suggest a central role of the G6P-allosteric site in the overall kinetics of these enzymes even in the absence of G6P or other phospho-sugars, because of its involvement in activation by free-PEP.
Up-regulation of miR-34c-5p inhibits nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells by mediating NOTCH1
Authors: Xu Xin , Yan Haomin , Zhang Le , Liu Jing , Huang Yu , Cheng Haoyu
Published: May 2020

Objective: To explore the correlation between miR-34c-5p and NOTCH1 in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Materials and methods: qPCR was employed to quantify miR-34c-5p and NOTCH1 mRNA in NPC, and Western blot to detect NOTCH1. MiR-34c-5p mimics/inhibitor and NOTCH1 siRNA were constructed to analyze the role of miR-34c-5p/NOTCH1 on the biological function of NPC cells. Results: NPC cells showed lower miR-34c-5p expression and higher NOTCH1 expression than normal cells, and up-regulating miR-34c-5p or inhibiting NOTCH1 could strongly suppress the epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT), proliferation, invasion and migration of NPC cells, and induce apoptosis in them. Up-regulating miR-34c-5p could inhibit NOTCH1, and miR-34c-5p was negatively correlated with NOTCH1. Rescue experiment results revealed that NOTCH1 up-regulation could counteract the changes of cell process induced by increased miR-34c-5p. Conclusion: MiR-34c-5p inhibits the growth of NPC by down-regulating NOTCH1, so up-regulating miR-34c-5p or down-regulating NOTCH1 may become the potential direction of NPC treatment.
Structural insight into the type-specific epitope of porcine circovirus type 3
Authors: Bi Mingfang , Li Xiangdong , Zhai Weifeng , Yin Bo , Tian Kegong , Mo Xiaobing
Published: May 2020

The recently identified pathogenic Porcine circovirus type 3 (PCV3) may threaten to reduce the pig population dramatically worldwide. In our previous study, a PCV3-specific monoclonal antibody (mAb-1H11) was successfully applied in immune-histochemistry staining and ELISA, which specifically recognize PCV3 capsid protein in PCV3-positive pig tissues. In the present study, we expressed and purified the soluble sole capsid protein of PCV3. The purified capsid protein was capable of self-assembly into virus-like-particles (VLPs), which is validated by transmission electron microscopy and dynamic light scattering assays. Moreover, the epitope of mAb-1H11 was identified in the CD-loop region (a.a. 72-79) on the VLP surface, which is confirmed by PCV2-PCV3 epitope swapping assay. For the first time, we determined the cryo-EM structure of PCV3-VLP at 8.5 Å resolution that reveals the detailed structural information of PCV3-VLP. In our cryo-EM structure, PCV3-VLP is composed of 60 capsid protein subunits assembled with T = 1 icosahedral symmetry. Consistent to our bio-dot Western blot assay, the structural comparison between PCV3 and PCV2 revealed significant structural differences in the surface-exposed loops, including the CD-loop (a.a. 72-79) and the EF-loop (a.a. 109-131). Our work provides a structural framework for engineering future PCV3 vaccine and diagnosis kits development.
Dispersion effects in on‐state resistance of lateral Ga2O3 MOSFETs at 300 V switching
Authors: Böcker J. , Tetzner K. , Heucke S. , Hilt O. , Bahat‐Treidel E. , Dieckerhoff S. , Würfl J.
Published: May 2020

Static characterisation and fast switching processes of lateral β‐Ga2O3 metal oxide semiconductor field‐effect transistors (MOSFETs) are presented. The investigated transistors with 10 mm gate width and 6 µm gate drain distance achieve on‐state resistances of 5 Ω and saturation currents above 2.4 A. Hard switching in a double pulse test setup with an inductive load results in voltage slopes up to 65 V/ns at 300 V input voltage. After longer blocking times and higher DC voltages, a strong dynamic increase in on‐state resistance occurs. Switching with an ohmic load and different load currents reveals only minor influence of the hot electron mechanism during the hard turn on. However, a clear influence of the turn‐on gate drive voltage on the dynamic increase is observed, indicating a shift of the transfer characteristic due to charge trapping in the gate region.