bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Wrestling with Spirits: A Medieval Internal Jewish Debate on the Nature of Biblical Angels and its Arabic and Latin Sources
Authors: Schwartz Yossef
Published: December 2020

The article’s point of departure is a debate that took place in about 1290 between Zeraḥyah b. Isaac Ḥen and Hillel b. Samuel, two Jewish-Italian thinkers, that presents us with a surprisingly great variety of Arab, Jewish, and Latin-Christian exegetical and cosmological approaches regarding angelic nature. Zeraḥyah, following the dominant attitude among Arab, Muslim, and Jewish philosophers, strives to interpret the biblical angel-figure either naturalistically or allegorically. Conversely, Hillel cleaves more closely to Christian scholastic conceptions, adhering to the biblical narrative in the literal sense. The struggle between Jacob and the angel (Gen 32) posed one of the most challenging cases, presenting the interpreter with a situation in which an angel did not only appear but was also engaged in bodily contact. In the case of Hillel, his dual commitment as a Jewish Maimonidean heavily influenced by Latin Scholasticism led to the development of a highly unique solution.
Analogism vs. Anomalism in Jewish Linguistic Thought. The 18th-Century Controversy between Zalman Hanau and Jacob Emden
Authors: Wormser Yehonatan
Published: December 2020

This article presents an analysis of the controversy between two 18th-century leading figures: Rabbi Zalman Hanau and Rabbi Jacob Emden. The stances expressed in this controversy, which was held over changes in the traditional prayer versions suggested by Hanau, reveal opposing fundamental attitudes of the two rivals towards basic questions concerning the origin of Hebrew and its linguistic essence. It is being suggested that this controversy resembles the ancient linguistic dispute between the analogist school and anomalist school in Greek and Latin linguistics, even though these two 18th-century figures were not familiar with it.
Sinicizing Islam: Translating the Gulistan of Saʿdi in Modern China
Authors: Jabbari Alexander , Tsai Tiffany Yun-Chu
Published: December 2020

This article examines the translation and domestication of an important piece of Persian didactic literature, the Gulistan of Saʿdi, into modern Chinese. We address all of the Chinese translations of this text, focusing on Yang Wanbao’s translation published in 2000. Yang transforms the text according to the imperatives of the Chinese state, altering the homoerotic scenes of the original and rendering Sufi Islamic concepts into a Confucian or Buddhist idiom. The result is a translation that serves as a significant text for the Jahriyya Sufi order in China, but also an articulation of Chinese Islam countenanced by the People’s Republic.
A checklist of trichodinid species (Ciliophora: Trichodinidae) on tilapia fishes (Cichlidae), with new records from Mexico and the first data from Argentina
Authors: ISLAS-ORTEGA ALMA G. , MARCOTEGUI PAULA S. , BASSON LINDA , AGUILAR-AGUILAR ROGELIO
Published: December 2020

Tilapia is the common name for a wide spectrum of cichlid fishes usually selected for aquaculture activities. However, some aspects of the natural history of these fishes, such as the diversity of certain ectoparasitic protistan groups remain understudied. In order to understand the diversity of ciliates of the family Trichodinidae parasitizing tilapia around the world, a database with all available accounts was assembled. This information, along with records derived from our own recent research, allowed us to generate a checklist containing all the records for tilapia-Trichodinidae associations. The checklist is presented as a host-parasite list containing 44 nominal taxa from 29 countries on four continents, and it also presents the first data from Argentina, where tilapia culture is still an incipient, but growing activity. The observed high species richness of trichodinids is probably derived from a set of specific taxa for tilapia, along with an important component of species acquired from the new environments where tilapia have been introduced. Data presented here could be used along with existing information of metazoan parasites to build a general view about diseases that affect tilapia.
Seasonal Sensitivity of the Cross-Equatorial Hadley Cell Response to Extratropical Thermal Forcings
Authors: Hwang Yen-Ting , Chung Po-Chun
Published: December 2020

This study explores the seasonal sensitivity of tropical circulation responses to an idealized extratropical thermal forcing using the Community Atmosphere Model version 5 coupled to a slab ocean. The thermal heating over the Southern Ocean is held constant, and the tropical responses in each month of the year are investigated. An anomalous cross-equatorial cell and a southward tropical rain belt shift occur every month. The anomalous cross-equatorial cell has a strong influence on the strengths of the Hadley cell and the subtropical jet in the winter hemisphere; in contrast, it has nearly no impact on the Hadley cell and the subtropical jet strengths in the summer hemisphere. The seasonal variation of the anomalous cross-equatorial cell is small ( of the annual mean change), and could be understood via the energetic and the sea surface temperature gradient perspectives. Both perspectives point to the seasonality of the anomalous ocean heat uptake within the deep tropics as the key factor explaining the weak seasonality of the anomalous cross-equatorial cell. We propose a hypothesis explaining about 75% of this seasonal variation via the climatological position of the ITCZ relative to the anomalous cross-equatorial cell. The results suggest a modest seasonality in tropical precipitation and circulation responses to extratropical forcing. Also, such seasonality may be partly predicted by the climatological seasonal cycle of the tropical circulations.
Compatible Fossil Fuel CO2 Emissions in the CMIP6 Earth System Models’ Historical and Shared Socioeconomic Pathway Experiments of the Twenty-First Century
Authors: Liddicoat Spencer K. , Wiltshire Andy J. , Jones Chris D. , Arora Vivek K. , Brovkin Victor , Cadule Patricia , Hajima Tomohiro , Lawrence David M. , Pongratz Julia , Schwinger Jörg , Séférian Roland , Tjiputra Jerry F. , Ziehn Tilo
Published: December 2020

We present the compatible CO2 emissions from fossil fuel (FF) burning and industry, calculated from the historical and Shared Socioeconomic Pathway (SSP) experiments of nine Earth system models (ESMs) participating in phase 6 of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP6). The multimodel mean FF emissions match the historical record well and are close to the data-based estimate of cumulative emissions (394 ± 59 GtC vs 400 ± 20 GtC, respectively). Only two models fall inside the observed uncertainty range; while two exceed the upper bound, five fall slightly below the lower bound, due primarily to the plateau in CO2 concentration in the 1940s. The ESMs’ diagnosed FF emission rates are consistent with those generated by the integrated assessment models (IAMs) from which the SSPs’ CO2 concentration pathways were constructed; the simpler IAMs’ emissions lie within the ESMs’ spread for seven of the eight SSP experiments, the other being only marginally lower, providing confidence in the relationship between the IAMs’ FF emission rates and concentration pathways. The ESMs require fossil fuel emissions to reduce to zero and subsequently become negative in SSP1-1.9, SSP1-2.6, SSP4-3.4, and SSP5-3.4over. We also present the ocean and land carbon cycle responses of the ESMs in the historical and SSP scenarios. The models’ ocean carbon cycle responses are in close agreement, but there is considerable spread in their land carbon cycle responses. Land-use and land-cover change emissions have a strong influence over the magnitude of diagnosed fossil fuel emissions, with the suggestion of an inverse relationship between the two.
A vibration analysis strategy for quantitative fracture healing assessment of an internally fixated femur with mass-loading effect of soft tissue
Authors: Vien Benjamin Steven , Chiu Wing Kong , Russ Matthias , Fitzgerald Mark
Published: December 2020

Vibration analysis methods have been studied to evaluate bone stiffness as a quantifiable mechanical parameter that associates with the degree of fracture healing. However, the effects of soft tissue on the bone frequency response still remain as significant challenges in successfully implementing vibration analysis-based methods as an effective clinical assessment tool. This study presents a computational investigation on the mass-loading effect of soft tissue on a fractured femur bone fixated with an intramedullary nail. An oblique fracture is modelled by a 3 mm osteotomised region, where its elastic modulus is varied from 0% to 100% of the pristine bone elastic modulus to simulate the stages of fracture bone healing. The findings indicate that the first-order torsional and second-order bending modal frequencies change significantly as the fracture region regains stiffness and the significant increase in third-order bending mode amplitude suggests the fracture stiffness has recovered over 1% of the pristine bone stiffness. Furthermore, mass-loading soft tissue does not affect the torsional mode and has negligible effects on the second-order bending modes. An additional inertia strategy is employed to determine a bone healing parameter relating to the femur stiffness by utilising the torsional modal frequency. A normalised torsional flexibility scoring procedure is then devised to evaluate the healing stages of an internally fixated femur. The subsequent results serve as an important pre-requisite to develop a quantifiable bone union measure and for future efficacy testing.
FGF-23 from erythroblasts promotes hematopoietic progenitor mobilization
Authors: Ishii Shinichi , Suzuki Tomohide , Wakahashi Kanako , Asada Noboru , Kawano Yuko , Kawano Hiroki , Sada Akiko , Minagawa Kentaro , Nakamura Yukio , Mizuno Seiya , Takahashi Satoru , Matsui Toshimitsu , Katayama Yoshio
Published: December 2020

Fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF-23) hormone is produced by bone-embedded osteocytes and regulates phosphate homeostasis in kidneys. We found that administration of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) to mice induced a rapid, substantial increase in FGF-23 messenger RNA in bone marrow (BM) cells. This increase originated mainly from CD45−Ter119+CD71+ erythroblasts. FGF-23 protein in BM extracellular fluid was markedly increased during G-CSF–induced hematopoietic progenitor cell (HPC) mobilization, but remained stable in the blood, with no change in the phosphate level. Consistent with the BM hypoxia induced by G-CSF, low oxygen concentration induced FGF-23 release from human erythroblast HUDEP-2 cells in vitro. The efficient mobilization induced by G-CSF decreased drastically in both FGF-23−/− and chimeric mice with FGF-23 deficiency, only in hematopoietic cells, but increased in osteocyte-specific FGF-23−/− mice. This finding suggests that erythroblast-derived, but not bone-derived, FGF-23 is needed to release HPCs from BM into the circulation. Mechanistically, FGF-23 did not influence CXCL-12 binding to CXCR-4 on progenitors but interfered with their transwell migration toward CXCL-12, which was canceled by FGF receptor inhibitors. These results suggest that BM erythroblasts facilitate G-CSF–induced HPC mobilization via FGF-23 production as an intrinsic suppressor of chemoattraction.
Venetoclax and dexamethasone synergize with inotuzumab ozogamicin–induced DNA damage signaling in B-lineage ALL
Authors: Kirchhoff Hanna , Karsli Uemran , Schoenherr Caroline , Battmer Karin , Erschow Sergej , Talbot Steven R. , Steinemann Doris , Heuser Michael , Heidenreich Olaf , Hilfiker-Kleiner Denise , Ganser Arnold , Eder Matthias , Scherr Michaela
Published: December 2020

Adult patients with relapsed B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (BCP-ALL) have a dismal prognosis. To improve pharmacotherapy, we analyzed induction of apoptosis by venetoclax and inotuzumab ozogamicin in terms of cytotoxicity and mode of action. Flow cytometry–based analyses of mitochondrial outer membrane permeabilization (MOMP) and ataxia telangiectasia mutated activation demonstrate rapid induction of MOMP by venetoclax and DNA damage signaling by inotuzumab ozogamicin, respectively. In primary ALL samples and patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models, venetoclax and inotuzumab ozogamicin cooperated and synergized in combination with dexamethasone in vitro in all tested samples of ALL. In murine PDX models, inotuzumab ozogamicin, but not venetoclax, induced complete remission in a dose-dependent manner but constantly failed to achieve relapse-free survival. In contrast, combination therapy with venetoclax, dexamethasone, and inotuzumab ozogamicin induced long-term leukemia-free survival and treatment-free survival in all 3 ALL-PDX models tested. These data demonstrate synergistic and highly efficient pharmacotherapy in preclinical models that qualify for evaluation in clinical trials.
Impact of COVID-19 on pediatric emergencies and hospitalizations in Singapore
Authors: Chong Shu-Ling , Soo Jenifer Shui Lian , Allen John Carson , Ganapathy Sashikumar , Lee Khai Pin , Tyebally Arif , Yung Chee Fu , Thoon Koh Cheng , Ng Yong Hong , Oh Jean Yin , Teoh Oon Hoe , Mok Yee Hui , Chan Yoke Hwee
Published: December 2020

Background

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has impacted the provision of health services in all specialties. We aim to study the impact of COVID-19 on the utilization of pediatric hospital services including emergency department (ED) attendances, hospitalizations, diagnostic categories and resource utilization in Singapore.

Methods

We performed a retrospective review of ED attendances and hospital admissions among children < 18 years old from January 1st to August 8th 2020 in a major pediatric hospital in Singapore. Data were analyzed in the following time periods: Pre-lockdown (divided by the change in Disease Outbreak Response System Condition (DORSCON) level), during-lockdown and post-lockdown. We presented the data using proportions and percentage change in mean counts per day with the corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

Results

We attended to 58,367 children with a mean age of 5.1 years (standard deviation, SD 4.6). The mean ED attendance decreased by 331 children/day during lockdown compared to baseline (p < 0.001), attributed largely to a drop in respiratory (% change − 87.9, 95% CI − 89.3 to − 86.3,p < 0.001) and gastrointestinal infections (% change − 72.4, 95%CI − 75.9 to − 68.4,p < 0.001). Trauma-related diagnoses decreased at a slower rate across the same periods (% change − 40.0, 95%CI − 44.3 to − 35.3,p < 0.001). We saw 226 children with child abuse, with a greater proportion of total attendance seen post-lockdown (79, 0.6%) compared to baseline (36, 0.2%) (p < 0.001). In terms of ED resource utilization, there was a decrease in the overall mean number of procedures performed per day during the lockdown compared to baseline, driven largely by a reduction in blood investigations (% change − 73.9, 95%CI − 75.9 to − 71.7,p < 0.001).

Conclusions

We highlighted a significant decrease in infection-related presentations likely attributed to the lockdown and showed that the relative proportion of trauma-related attendances increased. By describing the impact of COVID-19 on health services, we report important trends that may provide guidance when planning resources for future pandemics.
Contextual factors of self-regulation in children and adolescents with chronic diseases – a qualitative analysis
Authors: Höhn Cindy , Metzner Gloria , Waldeck Edith , Glattacker Manuela
Published: December 2020

Background

In recent decades, the prevalence of chronic diseases in children and adolescents has increased significantly. Contextual factors play a central role in the self-regulation of chronic diseases. They influence illness and treatment representations, disease management, and health outcomes. While previous studies have investigated the influence of contextual factors on children’s beliefs about their illness, little is known about subjective contextual factors of treatment representations of children and adolescents with chronic diseases, especially in the context of rehabilitation. Therefore, the aim of this qualitative analysis was to examine the contextual factors reported by chronically ill children and adolescents in relation to their treatment representations. Furthermore, we aimed to assign the identified themes to classifications of environmental and personal contextual factors in the context of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF).

Methods

Between July and September 2018, semi-structured interviews were conducted with N = 13 children and adolescents in rehabilitation to explore their rehab-related treatment representations and associated contextual factors. The interviews started with an open narrative question about expectations and beliefs about rehabilitation, followed by further detailed questions. The interviews were recorded on audio tape, transcribed, and analysed using thematic content analysis.

Results

Participants raised six themes associated with their rehab-related treatment representations that were interpreted as contextual factors: the living situation before rehabilitation, the idea of rehabilitation, previous solution attempts, rehab pre-experiences, information that the children and adolescents received from the clinic or sought themselves, and the assumed attitudes of their parents concerning rehabilitation. All the themes could be assigned to the classification of environmental and personal factors in the context of the ICF for children and youth.

Conclusions

Although contextual factors have an important impact on self-regulation, little attention is paid to their investigation. Personal and environmental factors probably influence patients’ treatment representations in terms of expectations and concerns as well as emotions regarding the treatment. Considering contextual factors could lead to the more appropriate allocation of medical care and the better customisation of treatment.
Potentially adaptive SARS-CoV-2 mutations discovered with novel spatiotemporal and explainable AI models
Authors: Garvin Michael R. , T. Prates Erica , Pavicic Mirko , Jones Piet , Amos B. Kirtley , Geiger Armin , Shah Manesh B. , Streich Jared , Felipe Machado Gazolla Joao Gabriel , Kainer David , Cliff Ashley , Romero Jonathon , Keith Nathan , Brown James B. , Jacobson Daniel
Published: December 2020

Background

A mechanistic understanding of the spread of SARS-CoV-2 and diligent tracking of ongoing mutagenesis are of key importance to plan robust strategies for confining its transmission. Large numbers of available sequences and their dates of transmission provide an unprecedented opportunity to analyze evolutionary adaptation in novel ways. Addition of high-resolution structural information can reveal the functional basis of these processes at the molecular level. Integrated systems biology-directed analyses of these data layers afford valuable insights to build a global understanding of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Results

Here we identify globally distributed haplotypes from 15,789 SARS-CoV-2 genomes and model their success based on their duration, dispersal, and frequency in the host population. Our models identify mutations that are likely compensatory adaptive changes that allowed for rapid expansion of the virus. Functional predictions from structural analyses indicate that, contrary to previous reports, the Asp614Gly mutation in the spike glycoprotein (S) likely reduced transmission and the subsequent Pro323Leu mutation in the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase led to the precipitous spread of the virus. Our model also suggests that two mutations in the nsp13 helicase allowed for the adaptation of the virus to the Pacific Northwest of the USA. Finally, our explainable artificial intelligence algorithm identified a mutational hotspot in the sequence of S that also displays a signature of positive selection and may have implications for tissue or cell-specific expression of the virus.

Conclusions

These results provide valuable insights for the development of drugs and surveillance strategies to combat the current and future pandemics.
Defining the Optimal Total Number of Chemotherapy Courses in Younger Patients With Acute Myeloid Leukemia: A Comparison of Three Versus Four Courses
Authors: Burnett Alan K. , Russell Nigel H. , Hills Robert K. , Knapper Stephen , Freeman Sylvie , Huntly Brian , Clark Richard E. , Thomas Ian F. , Kjeldsen Lars , McMullin Mary Frances , Drummond Mark , Kell Jonathan , Spearing Ruth
Published: December 2020

PURPOSE

The optimum number of treatment courses for younger patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is uncertain. The United Kingdom National Cancer Research Institute AML17 trial randomly assigned patients who were not high risk to a total of three versus four courses.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Patients received two induction courses based on daunorubicin and cytarabine (Ara-C), usually with gemtuzumab ozogamicin. Following remission, 1,017 patients were randomly assigned to a third course, MACE (amsacrine, Ara-C, and etoposide), plus a fourth course of MidAc (mitoxantrone and Ara-C) and following an amendment to one or two courses of high-dose Ara-C. Primary end points were cumulative incidence of relapse (CIR), relapse-free survival (RFS), and overall survival (OS). Outcomes were correlated with patient characteristics, mutations, cytogenetics, induction treatments, and measurable residual disease (MRD) postinduction.

RESULTS

In logrank analyses, CIR and RFS at 5 years were improved in recipients of four courses (50% v 58%: hazard ratio [HR] 0.81 [0.69-0.97], P = .02 and 43% v 36%: HR 0.83 [0.71-0.98], P = .03, respectively). While OS was not significantly better (63% v 57%: HR 0.84 [0.69-1.03], P = .09), the noninferiority of three courses to four courses was not established. The impact on relapse was only significant when the fourth course was Ara-C. In exploratory analyses, although MRD impacted survival, a fourth course had no effect in either MRD-positive or MRD-negative patients. A fourth course was beneficial in patients who lacked a mutation of FLT3 or NPM1, had < 3 mutations in other genes, or had a presenting WBC of < 10 × 109 L−1.

CONCLUSION

Although a fourth course of high-dose Ara-C reduced CIR and improved RFS, it did not result in a significant OS benefit. Subsets including those with favorable cytogenetics, those lacking a mutation of FLT3 or NPM1, or those with < 3 other mutations may derive survival benefit.
Ciona embryonic tail bending is driven by asymmetrical notochord contractility and coordinated by epithelial proliferation
Authors: Lu Qiongxuan , Gao Yuan , Fu Yuanyuan , Peng Hongzhe , Shi Wenjie , Li Bo , Lv Zhiyi , Feng Xi-Qiao , Dong Bo
Published: December 2020

Ventral bending of the embryonic tail within the chorion is an evolutionarily conserved morphogenetic event in both invertebrates and vertebrates. However, the complexity of the anatomical structure of vertebrate embryos makes it difficult to experimentally identify the mechanisms underlying embryonic folding. This study investigated the mechanisms underlying embryonic tail bending in chordates. To further understand the mechanical role of each tissue, we also developed a physical model with experimentally measured parameters to simulate embryonic tail bending. Actomyosin asymmetrically accumulated at the ventral side of the notochord, and cell proliferation of the dorsal tail epidermis was faster than that in the ventral counterpart during embryonic tail bending. Genetic disruption of actomyosin activity and inhibition of cell proliferation dorsally caused abnormal tail bending, indicating that both asymmetrical actomyosin contractility in the notochord and the discrepancy of epidermis cell proliferation are required for tail bending. In addition, asymmetrical notochord contractility was sufficient to drive embryonic tail bending, whereas differential epidermis proliferation was a passive response to mechanical forces. These findings showed that asymmetrical notochord contractility coordinates with differential epidermis proliferation mechanisms to drive embryonic tail bending.

This article has an associated ‘The people behind the papers’ interview.
Coordinated assembly and release of adhesions builds apical junctional belts during de novo polarisation of an epithelial tube
Authors: Symonds Andrew C. , Buckley Clare E. , Williams Charlotte A. , Clarke Jonathan D. W.
Published: December 2020

Using the zebrafish neural tube as a model, we uncover the in vivo mechanisms allowing the generation of two opposing apical epithelial surfaces within the centre of an initially unpolarised, solid organ. We show that Mpp5a and Rab11a play a dual role in coordinating the generation of ipsilateral junctional belts whilst simultaneously releasing contralateral adhesions across the centre of the tissue. We show that Mpp5a- and Rab11a-mediated resolution of cell-cell adhesions are both necessary for midline lumen opening and contribute to later maintenance of epithelial organisation. We propose that these roles for both Mpp5a and Rab11a operate through the transmembrane protein Crumbs. In light of a recent conflicting publication, we also clarify that the junction-remodelling role of Mpp5a is not specific to dividing cells.
CD301 mediates fusion in IL-4-driven multinucleated giant cell formation
Authors: Brooks Patricia J. , Wang Yongqiang , Magalhaes Marco A. , Glogauer Michael , McCulloch Christopher A.
Published: December 2020

Multinucleated giant cells (MGCs) are prominent in foreign body granulomas, infectious and inflammatory processes, and auto-immune, neoplastic and genetic disorders, but the molecular determinants that specify the formation and function of these cells are not defined. Here, using tandem mass tag-mass spectrometry, we identified a differentially upregulated protein, C-type lectin domain family 10 member (herein denoted CD301, also known as CLEC10A), that was strongly upregulated in mouse RAW264.7 macrophages and primary murine macrophages undergoing interleukin (IL-4)-induced MGC formation. CD301+ MGCs were identified in biopsy specimens of human inflammatory lesions. Function-inhibiting CD301 antibodies or CRISPR/Cas9 deletion of the two mouse CD301 genes (Mgl1 and Mgl2) inhibited IL-4-induced binding of N-acetylgalactosamine-coated beads by 4-fold and reduced MGC formation by 2.3-fold (P<0.05). IL-4-driven fusion and MGC formation were restored by re-expression of CD301 in the knockout cells. We conclude that in monocytes, IL-4 increases CD301 expression, which mediates intercellular adhesion and fusion processes that are required for the formation of MGCs.

This article has an associated First Person interview with the first author of the paper.
Notch in mechanotransduction – from molecular mechanosensitivity to tissue mechanostasis
Authors: Stassen Oscar M. J. A. , Ristori Tommaso , Sahlgren Cecilia M.
Published: December 2020

Tissue development and homeostasis are controlled by mechanical cues. Perturbation of the mechanical equilibrium triggers restoration of mechanostasis through changes in cell behavior, while defects in these restorative mechanisms lead to mechanopathologies, for example, osteoporosis, myopathies, fibrosis or cardiovascular disease. Therefore, sensing mechanical cues and integrating them with the biomolecular cell fate machinery is essential for the maintenance of health. The Notch signaling pathway regulates cell and tissue fate in nearly all tissues. Notch activation is directly and indirectly mechanosensitive, and regulation of Notch signaling, and consequently cell fate, is integral to the cellular response to mechanical cues. Fully understanding the dynamic relationship between molecular signaling, tissue mechanics and tissue remodeling is challenging. To address this challenge, engineered microtissues and computational models play an increasingly large role. In this Review, we propose that Notch takes on the role of a ‘mechanostat’, maintaining the mechanical equilibrium of tissues. We discuss the reciprocal role of Notch in the regulation of tissue mechanics, with an emphasis on cardiovascular tissues, and the potential of computational and engineering approaches to unravel the complex dynamic relationship between mechanics and signaling in the maintenance of cell and tissue mechanostasis.
Developmental and reproductive physiology of small mammals at high altitude: challenges and evolutionary innovations
Authors: Robertson Cayleih E. , Wilsterman Kathryn
Published: December 2020

High-altitude environments, characterized by low oxygen levels and low ambient temperatures, have been repeatedly colonized by small altricial mammals. These species inhabit mountainous regions year-round, enduring chronic cold and hypoxia. The adaptations that allow small mammals to thrive at altitude have been well studied in non-reproducing adults; however, our knowledge of adaptations specific to earlier life stages and reproductive females is extremely limited. In lowland natives, chronic hypoxia during gestation affects maternal physiology and placental function, ultimately limiting fetal growth. During post-natal development, hypoxia and cold further limit growth both directly by acting on neonatal physiology and indirectly via impacts on maternal milk production and care. Although lowland natives can survive brief sojourns to even extreme high altitude as adults, reproductive success in these environments is very low, and lowland young rarely survive to sexual maturity in chronic cold and hypoxia. Here, we review the limits to maternal and offspring physiology – both pre-natal and post-natal – that highland-adapted species have overcome, with a focus on recent studies on high-altitude populations of the North American deer mouse (Peromyscus maniculatus). We conclude that a combination of maternal and developmental adaptations were likely to have been critical steps in the evolutionary history of high-altitude native mammals.
The response of the copepod Acartia tonsa to the hydrodynamic cues of small-scale, dissipative eddies in turbulence
Authors: Elmi Dorsa , Webster Donald R. , Fields David M.
Published: December 2020

This study quantifies the behavioral response of a marine copepod (Acartia tonsa) to individual, small-scale, dissipative vortices that are ubiquitous in turbulence. Vortex structures were created in the laboratory using a physical model of a Burgers vortex with characteristics corresponding to typical dissipative vortices that copepods are likely to encounter in the turbulent cascade. To examine the directional response of copepods, vortices were generated with the vortex axis aligned in either horizontal or vertical directions. Tomographic particle image velocimetry was used to measure the volumetric velocity field of the vortex. Three-dimensional copepod trajectories were digitally reconstructed and overlaid on the vortex flow field to quantify A. tonsa’s swimming kinematics relative to the velocity field and to provide insight to the copepod behavioral response to hydrodynamic cues. The data show significant changes in swimming kinematics and an increase in relative swimming velocity and hop frequency with increasing vortex strength. Furthermore, in moderate-to-strong vortices, A. tonsa moved at elevated speed in the same direction as the swirling flow and followed spiral trajectories around the vortex, which would retain the copepod within the feature and increase encounter rates with other similarly behaving Acartia. While changes in swimming kinematics depended on vortex intensity, orientation of the vortex axis showed minimal significant effect. Hop and escape jump densities were largest in the vortex core, which is spatially coincident with the peak in vorticity suggesting that vorticity is the hydrodynamic cue that evokes these behaviors.
Dependence of radiomic features on pixel size affects the diagnostic performance of radiomic signature for the invasiveness of pulmonary ground-glass nodule
Authors: Tao Guangyu , Yin Lekang , Shi Dejun , Ye Jianding , Lu Zhenghai , Zhou Zhen , Yu Yizhou , Ye Xiaodan , Yu Hong
Published: December 2020

Objective:

To investigate the effect of reducing pixel size on the consistency of radiomic features and the diagnostic performance of the downstream radiomic signatures for the invasiveness for pulmonary ground-glass nodules (GGNs) on CTs.

Methods:

We retrospectively collected the clinical data of 182 patients with GGNs on high resolution CT (HRCT). The CT images of different pixel sizes (0.8mm, 0.4mm, 0.18 mm) were obtained by reconstructing the single HRCT scan using three combinations of field of view and matrix size. For each pixel size setting, radiomic features were extracted for all GGNs and radiomic signatures for the invasiveness of GGNs were built through two modeling pipelines for comparison.

Results:

The study finally extracted 788 radiomic features. 87% radiomic features demonstrated inter pixel size variation. By either modeling pipeline, the radiomic signature under small pixel size performed significantly better than those under middle or large pixel sizes in predicting the invasiveness of GGNs (p’s value <0.05 by Delong test). With the independent modeling pipeline, the three pixel size bounded radiomic signatures shared almost no common features.

Conclusions:

Reducing pixel size could cause inconsistency in most radiomic features and improve the diagnostic performance of the downstream radiomic signatures. Particularly, super HRCTs with small pixel size resulted in more accurate radiomic signatures for the invasiveness of GGNs.

Advances in knowledge:

The dependence of radiomic features on pixel size will affect the performance of the downstream radiomic signatures. The future radiomic studies should consider this effect of pixel size.
Breast cancer abutting the pectoralis major muscle on breast MRI: what are the clinical implications?
Authors: Myers Kelly S , Stern Erica , Ambinder Emily B , Oluyemi Eniola T
Published: December 2020

Objectives:

Defining the posterior extent of breast cancer prior to surgery has clinical implications. However, there are limited data available to guide the interpretation of breast cancers seen on MRI that abut the pectoralis muscle but lack associated muscle enhancement.

Methods:

In this retrospective study of breast MRIs performed between May 2008 and July 2019, 43 female patients demonstrated breast cancers abutting the pectoralis muscle without enhancement of the muscle itself. Imaging features of the cancers as well as pathologic and clinical outcomes were recorded. Statistical analyses of associations between imaging findings and clinical outcomes were performed using Fisher’s exact test, logistic regression, a Mann–Whitney U test and/or Student’s t-test.

Results:

The pectoralis major muscle was pathologically invaded by carcinoma in 4/43 (9.3%). There was no significant association between pectoralis muscle invasion and any MR imaging feature of the breast cancer. Tumors causing deformation of the muscle contour by MRI, tumors larger in size, tumors with a larger extent abutting the muscle and tumors in which the imaging feature abutting the muscle was a mass or non-mass enhancement (rather than a spicule) were more commonly seen in patients with muscle invasion, although these did not reach statistical significance (p > 0.05).

Conclusion:

In this study, a lack of pectoralis muscle enhancement by MRI did not exclude pathologic muscle invasion by breast cancers abutting the muscle.

Advances in knowledge:

Knowledge of the likelihood of pectoralis muscle involvement for breast cancers abutting the pectoralis muscle on MRI may guide accurate interpretation and definition of the posterior extent of disease.
ДОВЕРИЕ КАК СПОСОБ ПРЕОДОЛЕНИЯ КРИЗИСА НА ПРИМЕРЕ КОВИД-19
Authors: Gurieva Svetlana Dzakhotovna , Klipova Natalia Vladimirovna
Published: December 2020

В кризисных ситуациях люди ведут себя по-разному. Различие в таких ситуациях обусловлены не только индивидуальными особенностями людей, но и культурными различиями в разных странах. Но особое место среди культурных различий занимает вопрос доверия.Существуют разные определения доверия в зависимости от области знаний, но для этой статьи под доверием понимается личное отношение к другим. Ф. Фукуяма изучал вопросы доверия в культурно-историческом контексте и разработал модели появления доверия в разных странах.В любой культуре доверие является важным компонентом. Э. Мейер считает, что именно культура является основополагающим аспектом в кросс-культурном взаимодействии людей, а не индивидуальные особенности личности. Э. Мейер для описания культурных различий в разных странах использует модель кросс-культурного взаимодействия, в котором одним из показателей является доверие.Уровень доверия в обществе является одним из способов эффективного преодоления кризиса. Кризисная ситуация развивается и состоит из этапов от зарождения до затухания. На примере Ковид-19 в кризисных ситуациях одни и те же предпринимаемые меры правительствами разных странах могут иметь разные последствия. Но при наличии доверия эти меры могут быть наиболее эффективными.
On the paradigm of modern education
Authors: Repnikova Valentina , Garnov Andrey , Bykova O.
Published: December 2020

Digitalization, the transition to a knowledge economy, requires a restructuring of the education system. The existing education system does not meet the realities of the country's development, but it also contributes to the modernization of technologies, the definition of a high status among the country's economic leaders. Adaptation of education to the changing conditions of the world economic system is required. Additional education can make the transformation of the education system smoother without jeopardizing national technological development, accelerating these changes and becoming an instrument for meeting the demands of labor market professionals.

Economic changes in the context of the transformation of a knowledge-based society require restructuring the education system, creating new professional skills and training specialists who can acquire and use new knowledge in rapidly changing situations.
Financial Impact of COVID-19: Stock Market Volatility and US Cash Crisis
Authors: Ubaydullaeva Umidahon Mardonovna , Tolstikova Viktoriya Andreevna
Published: December 2020

This article examines the financial implications of COVID-19 in the United States. The author examines the problems faced by financial institutions in America and tries to answer two questions. First, is the current level of volatility in the US “normal”? Second, will COVID-19 and low oil prices lead to a cash crisis in the country? To answer the questions posed, the main indexes and indicators of the stock market are assessed. Also, the author analyzes the behavior of companies and how they "adapt" to new realities. Particular attention is paid to the Federal Reserve System, which is trying to help companies get out of a difficult situation.
Más y nuevos destellos de Vico en periódicos españoles durante la Restauración (1885-1902): de la regencia de María Cristina al comienzo del reinado de Alfonso XIII. [Adenda V a El espejo de la época.
Authors: Sevilla José M.
Published: December 2020

: Continuación de los anteriores trabajos añadidos al estudio sobre la recepción de Vico en la prensa española del siglo XIX. Esta quinta entrega recorre en la historia y en la cultura de España, a partir de la muerte del rey Alfonso XII, la continuación de la Restauración monárquica con la regencia de María Cristina desde 1885 hasta el advenimiento del reinado de Alfonso XIII en 1902.
Razón vital y raíces de la cultura. El encuentro de una filosofía de la vida a través de las ruinas. (A propósito de una lectura de José M. Sevilla y el pensamiento sureño).
Authors: Ramírez Torres Guillermo
Published: December 2020

Desde estas líneas queremos abordar la cuestión de las ruinas como paradigma del pensar filosófico meridional y su papel fundamental en la conformación de la cultura entendida desde una perspectiva óntico-epistémica (carácter radical, condición liminal o aspecto estético de las ruinas). Para ello, planteamos una lectura comparativa entre varios textos del filósofo español José Manuel Sevilla Fernández relativos al pensamiento sureño y la reivindicación del logos viquiano
INFORMATIONAL PHASE OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF EQUIPMENT FOR ANALYSIS OF DIRECT SHEAR AND PRE-COMPACTION OF THE SOIL
Authors: Duarte Abreu Maico Danúbio , Krewer Daiane Aparecida , Rosa Douglas Silva da , Milech Fábio Brongar , Machado Antônio Lilles Tavares , Machado Roberto Lilles Tavares
Published: December 2020

Given the real need for advances in studies such as the relationship of soil-machine dynamics, it is clear that there are almost no innovative systems developed to attend this demand. The design of agricultural machinery and equipment can be facilitated by having information and mechanisms that allow the prediction of the mechanized-set behavior in real work situation, especially regarding the traction effort demanded by the tractor, due to the energy demand of the equipment that interact directly with the soil. Obtaining this information usually requires high-cost imported laboratory equipment. Thus, the objective of this work was to obtain the design specifications for the development of a direct shear and soil pre-compaction analysis equipment with low manufacturing cost. The Phases Methodology was used to obtain the necessary parameters, in the informational phase of the desirable aspects for each design requirement. Through a step-by-step analysis, it was possible to obtain customers’ needs, together with the establishment of the desired criteria, and the design requirements for the new product development was generated. The use of the Phases Model allowed the transformation of customers’ requirements into the design requirements, enabling hierarchization by degree of importance and thus enabling the execution of future steps.
Flavia Cantatore (coord.), Il Tempietto di Bramante nel monastero di San Pietro in Montorio, Roma, Quasar 2017
Authors: Narváez Carme
Published: December 2020

Ressenya del llibre: Flavia Cantatore (coord.), Il Tempietto di Bramante nel monastero di San Pietro in Montorio, Roma, Quasar 2017.
Glycosylation generates an efficacious and immunogenic vaccine against H7N9 influenza virus
Authors: Kim Jin Il , Park Sehee , Bae Joon-Yong , Lee Sunmi , Kim Jeonghun , Kim Gayeong , Yoo Kirim , Heo Jun , Kim Yong Seok , Shin Jae Soo , Park Mee Sook , Park Man-Seong
Published: December 2020

Zoonotic avian influenza viruses pose severe health threats to humans. Of several viral subtypes reported, the low pathogenic avian influenza H7N9 virus has since February 2013 caused more than 1,500 cases of human infection with an almost 40% case-fatality rate. Vaccination of poultry appears to reduce human infections. However, the emergence of highly pathogenic strains has increased concerns about H7N9 pandemics. To develop an efficacious H7N9 human vaccine, we designed vaccine viruses by changing the patterns of N-linked glycosylation (NLG) on the viral hemagglutinin (HA) protein based on evolutionary patterns of H7 HA NLG changes. Notably, a virus in which 2 NLG modifications were added to HA showed higher growth rates in cell culture and elicited more cross-reactive antibodies than did other vaccine viruses with no change in the viral antigenicity. Developed into an inactivated vaccine formulation, the vaccine virus with 2 HA NLG additions exhibited much better protective efficacy against lethal viral challenge in mice than did a vaccine candidate with wild-type (WT) HA by reducing viral replication in the lungs. In a ferret model, the 2 NLG-added vaccine viruses also induced hemagglutination-inhibiting antibodies and significantly suppressed viral replication in the upper and lower respiratory tracts compared with the WT HA vaccines. In a mode of action study, the HA NLG modification appeared to increase HA protein contents incorporated into viral particles, which would be successfully translated to improve vaccine efficacy. These results suggest the strong potential of HA NLG modifications in designing avian influenza vaccines.
Americans’ perceptions of privacy and surveillance in the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Zhang Baobao , Kreps Sarah , McMurry Nina , McCain R. Miles
Published: December 2020

Objective

To study the U.S. public’s attitudes toward surveillance measures aimed at curbing the spread of COVID-19, particularly smartphone applications (apps) that supplement traditional contact tracing.

Method

We deployed a survey of approximately 2,000 American adults to measure support for nine COVID-19 surveillance measures. We assessed attitudes toward contact tracing apps by manipulating six different attributes of a hypothetical app through a conjoint analysis experiment.

Results

A smaller percentage of respondents support the government encouraging everyone to download and use contact tracing apps (42%) compared with other surveillance measures such as enforcing temperature checks (62%), expanding traditional contact tracing (57%), carrying out centralized quarantine (49%), deploying electronic device monitoring (44%), or implementing immunity passes (44%). Despite partisan differences on a range of surveillance measures, support for the government encouraging digital contact tracing is indistinguishable between Democrats (47%) and Republicans (46%), although more Republicans oppose the policy (39%) compared to Democrats (27%). Of the app features we tested in our conjoint analysis experiment, only one had statistically significant effects on the self-reported likelihood of downloading the app: decentralized data architecture increased the likelihood by 5.4 percentage points.

Conclusion

Support for public health surveillance policies to curb the spread of COVID-19 is relatively low in the U.S. Contact tracing apps that use decentralized data storage, compared with those that use centralized data storage, are more accepted by the public. While respondents’ support for expanding traditional contact tracing is greater than their support for the government encouraging the public to download and use contact tracing apps, there are smaller partisan differences in support for the latter policy.