bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
KEEPING JUSTICE (LARGELY) OUT OF CHARITY: PLURALISM AND THE DIVISION OF LABOR BETWEEN CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS AND THE STATE
Authors: Halliday Daniel , Harding Matthew
Published: January 2021

Justice can be pursued by the state, or through voluntary charity. This paper seeks to contribute to the debate about the appropriate division of labor between government and charitable agencies by developing a positive account of the charity sector's moral foundations. The account given here is grounded in a legal conception of charity, as a set of subsidies and privileges designed to cultivate a wide variety of activities aimed at enhancing civic virtue and autonomy. Among other things, this implies that a charity sector oriented largely around the pursuit of justice will come at a moral cost to a liberal society, at least when the state is in a position to take the greater share of the responsibility. So, a positive account of charity provides at least a pro tanto reason for preferring a division of labor in which the state takes a greater share of the responsibility for pursuing justice. As well as developing and defending this conception in its own right, we apply it in offering some criticisms and enhancements of existing views about the division of labor.
How to Observe Small Biological Objects in Low Voltage Electron
Microscope
Authors: Nebesářová Jana , Vancová Marie
Published: January 2021

Extended abstract of a paper presented at MC 2007, 33rd DGE Conference
in Saarbrücken, Germany, September 2 – September 7, 2007
ShantytownMexico:TheDemocraticOpening inCiudadNezahualcóyotl, 1969–1976
Authors: Yee David
Published: January 2021

The article analyzes political conflict in Mexico through a powerful social movement that erupted in the massive shantytown of Ciudad Nezahualcóyotl between 1969 and 1973. In the summer of 1969, after decades of abysmal living conditions, the residents of Ciudad Nezahualcóyotl (Neza) launched a payment strike to demand the federal government expropriate the land from private land developers, with the intent to gain urban infrastructure and formal property titles. The rebellion that plunged Ciudad Neza into a state of perpetual strife reflects a juncture in Mexican history when the urban shantytown emerged as a distinct and influential site for mass politics. This article historicizes Mexico's urban shantytown as a political space where the ruling party's entrenched clientelism contended with embryonic forms of local democracy. Revealing numerous contradictions, this case study is emblematic of how the urban periphery was a precursor to the vibrant yet incomplete democratization that would come to define national politics in Mexico and much of Latin America in the 1980s.
The Need for Urban‐Resolving Climate Modeling Across Scales
Authors: Sharma Ashish , Wuebbles Donald J. , Kotamarthi Rao
Published: January 2021

Increasing urbanization, evolving urban landscapes, and growing populations require an accurate representation of urban areas and urban processes at microscale, regional, and global scales and their feedback across the scales. Important urban processes should be represented in climate models, and current approaches used are discussed. We discuss strategies for urban‐resolving climate research to capture the effect of climate on urban regions and the non‐linear urban processes on climate. Advancing urban‐resolving climate modeling will take us closer to capabilities that can truly capture relevant natural and human components.
New Constraints on Global Geochemical Cycling During Oceanic Anoxic Event 2 (Late Cretaceous) From a 6‐Million‐year Long Molybdenum‐Isotope Record
Authors: Dickson Alexander J. , Jenkyns Hugh C. , Idiz Erdem , Sweere Tim C. , Murphy Melissa J. , van den Boorn Sander H. J. M. , Ruhl Micha , Eldrett James S. , Porcelli Donald
Published: January 2021

Intervals of extreme warmth are predicted to drive a decrease in the oxygen content of the oceans. This prediction has been tested for the acme of short (<1 million years) episodes of significant marine anoxia in the Phanerozoic geological record known as Oceanic Anoxic Events (OAEs). However, there is a paucity of data spanning prolonged multimillion‐year intervals of geological time before and after OAEs. We present a Mo‐isotope record from limestones and marlstones of the Eagle Ford Group, South Texas, which was deposited in the southern Cretaceous Western Interior Seaway of North America during a 6‐million‐year period encompassing OAE 2 (Late Cenomanian–early Turonian: ∼94 Ma). Mo‐isotope compositions from deposits that formed in euxinic (sulfidic) conditions before OAE 2 allow the paleo‐seawater composition to be constrained to 1.1%–1.9%. This range of values overlaps previous estimates of up to ∼1.5% for the peak of OAE 2 determined from similarly sulfidic sediments deposited in the restricted proto‐North Atlantic Ocean. Mo‐isotopes thus varied by less than a few tenths of per mil across one of the most extreme intervals of global deoxygenation in the Late Phanerozoic. Rather than a limited change in oceanic deoxygenation, we suggest that the new data reflect changes to global iron cycling linked to basalt‐seawater interaction, terrestrial weathering and expanded partially oxygenated shallow shelf‐seas that played a key role in the burial of isotopically light molybdenum, thus acting as a counterbalance to its removal into sulfidic sediments.
Our Place in the Food Security Chain
Authors: Goss Heather
Published: January 2021

In our February issue of Eos, we look at what role geoscientists have in ensuring everyone in our communities has a meal on the table.
Conceptual disorganization and redistribution of resting-state cortical hubs in untreated first-episode psychosis: A 7T study
Authors: Dey Avyarthana , Dempster Kara , MacKinley Michael , Jeon Peter , Das Tushar , Khan Ali , Gati Joe , Palaniyappan Lena
Published: January 2021

Network-level dysconnectivity has been studied in positive and negative symptoms of schizophrenia. Conceptual disorganization (CD) is a symptom subtype that predicts impaired real-world functioning in psychosis. Systematic reviews have reported aberrant connectivity in formal thought disorder, a construct related to CD. However, no studies have investigated whole-brain functional correlates of CD in psychosis. We sought to investigate brain regions explaining the severity of CD in patients with first-episode psychosis (FEPs) compared with healthy controls (HCs). We computed whole-brain binarized degree centrality maps of 31 FEPs, 25 HCs, and characterized the patterns of network connectivity in the 2 groups. In FEPs, we related these findings to the severity of CD. We also studied the effect of positive and negative symptoms on altered network connectivity. Compared to HCs, reduced centrality of a right superior temporal gyrus (rSTG) cluster was observed in the FEPs. In patients exhibiting high CD, increased centrality of a medial superior parietal (mSPL) cluster was observed, compared to patients exhibiting low CD. This cluster was strongly correlated with CD scores but not with other symptom scores. Our observations are congruent with previous findings of reduced but not increased centrality. We observed increased centrality of mSPL suggesting that cortical reorganization occurs to provide alternate routes for information transfer. These findings provide insight into the underlying neural processes mediating the presentation of symptoms in untreated FEP. Longitudinal tracking of the symptom course will be useful to assess the mechanisms underlying these compensatory changes.
Onchocerca volvulus bivalent subunit vaccine induces protective immunity in genetically diverse collaborative cross recombinant inbred intercross mice
Authors: Ryan Nathan M. , Hess Jessica A. , de Villena Fernando Pardo-Manuel , Leiby Benjamin E. , Shimada Ayako , Yu Lei , Yarmahmoodi Amir , Petrovsky Nikolai , Zhan Bin , Bottazzi Maria Elena , Makepeace Benjamin L. , Lustigman Sara , Abraham David
Published: January 2021

This study tests the hypothesis that anOnchocerca volvulusvaccine, consisting of two recombinant antigens (Ov-103 andOv-RAL-2) formulated with the combination-adjuvant Advax-2, can induce protective immunity in genetically diverse Collaborative Cross recombinant inbred intercross mice (CC-RIX). CC-RIX lines were immunized with theO. volvulusvaccine and challenged with third-stage larvae. Equal and significant reductions in parasite survival were observed in 7 of 8 CC-RIX lines. Innate protective immunity was seen in the single CC-RIX line that did not demonstrate protective adaptive immunity. Analysis of a wide array of immune factors showed that each line of mice have a unique set of immune responses to vaccination and challenge suggesting that the vaccine is polyfunctional, inducing different equally-protective sets of immune responses based on the genetic background of the immunized host. Vaccine efficacy in genetically diverse mice suggests that it will also be effective in genetically complex human populations.
Predicting the central 10 degrees visual field in glaucoma by applying a deep learning algorithm to optical coherence tomography images
Authors: Asano Shotaro , Asaoka Ryo , Murata Hiroshi , Hashimoto Yohei , Miki Atsuya , Mori Kazuhiko , Ikeda Yoko , Kanamoto Takashi , Yamagami Junkichi , Inoue Kenji
Published: January 2021

We aimed to develop a model to predict visual field (VF) in the central 10 degrees in patients with glaucoma, by training a convolutional neural network (CNN) with optical coherence tomography (OCT) images and adjusting the values with Humphrey Field Analyzer (HFA) 24–2 test. The training dataset included 558 eyes from 312 glaucoma patients and 90 eyes from 46 normal subjects. The testing dataset included 105 eyes from 72 glaucoma patients. All eyes were analyzed by the HFA 10-2 test and OCT; eyes in the testing dataset were additionally analyzed by the HFA 24-2 test. During CNN model training, the total deviation (TD) values of the HFA 10-2 test point were predicted from the combined OCT-measured macular retinal layers’ thicknesses. Then, the predicted TD values were corrected using the TD values of the innermost four points from the HFA 24-2 test. Mean absolute error derived from the CNN models ranged between 9.4 and 9.5 B. These values reduced to 5.5 dB on average, when the data were corrected using the HFA 24-2 test. In conclusion, HFA 10-2 test results can be predicted with a OCT images using a trained CNN model with adjustment using HFA 24-2 test.
Network pharmacology integrated molecular docking reveals the bioactive components and potential targets of Morinda officinalis–Lycium barbarum coupled-herbs against oligoasthenozoospermia
Authors: Bai Xue , Tang Yibo , Li Qiang , Chen Yafei , Liu Dan , Liu Guimin , Fan Xiaolei , Ma Ru , Wang Shuyan , Li Lingru , Zhou Kailin , Zheng Yanfei , Liu Zhenquan
Published: January 2021

Oligoasthenozoospermia (OA) is one of the most common types of male infertility affecting sperm count and sperm motility. Unfortunately, it is difficult for existing drugs to fundamentally improve the sperm quality of OA patients, because the pathological mechanism of OA has not been fully elucidated yet.Morinda officinalis–Lycium barbarumcoupled-herbs (MOLBCH), as traditional Chinese Medicines, has been widely used for treating OA over thousands of years, but its molecular mechanism is still unclear. For this purpose, we adopted a comprehensive approach integrated network pharmacology and molecular docking to reveal the bioactive components and potential targets of MOLBCH against OA. The results showed that MOLBCH alleviated apoptosis, promoted male reproductive function, and reduced oxidant stress in the treatment of OA. Ohioensin-A, quercetin, beta-sitosterol and sitosterol were the key bioactive components. Androgen receptor (AR), Estrogen receptor (ESR1), Mitogen-activated protein kinase 3 (MAPK3), RAC-alpha serine/threonine-protein kinase (AKT1), Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) were the core potential targets. PI3K/Akt signaling pathway, prostate cancer, AGE-RAGE signaling pathway in diabetic complications were the most representative pathways. Moreover, molecular docking was performed to validate the strong binding interactions between the obtained core components and targets. These observations provide deeper insight into the pathogenesis of OA and can be used to design new drugs and develop new therapeutic instructions to treat OA.
Changes in melon plant phytochemistry impair Aphis gossypii growth and weight under elevated CO2
Authors: Moreno-Delafuente Ana , Morales Ignacio , Garzo Elisa , Fereres Alberto , Viñuela Elisa , Medina Pilar
Published: January 2021

Elevated CO2(eCO2) modifies plant primary and secondary metabolism that subsequently impacts herbivore insect performance due to changes in its nutritional requirements. This laboratory study evaluated interactions betweenAphis gossypiiGlover (Hemiptera: Aphididae) and melon (Cucumis meloL., Cucurbitaceae), previously acclimated two or six weeks to different CO2levels, eCO2(700 ppm) or ambient CO2(400 ppm). Under eCO2, melon plants decreased nitrogen foliar concentration and increased carbon to nitrogen ratio, independently of acclimation period, significantly reducing the content of some amino acids (alanine, asparagine, glycine, isoleucine, lysine, serine, threonine, and valine) and increasing the carbohydrate (sucrose) content in melon leaves. The dilution in some essential amino acids for aphid nutrition could have aggravated the reduction inA. gossypiipopulation growth reared on melon previously acclimated two weeks to eCO2, as well as the loss of aphid body mass from two successive generations ofA. gossypiireared under eCO2on plants previously acclimated two or six weeks to eCO2. The response to eCO2of phloem feeders, such as aphids, is actually variable, but this study highlights a negative response ofA. gossypiito this climate change driver. Potential implications on control of this pest in a global change scenario are discussed.
A new SYBR Green real-time PCR to detect SARS-CoV-2
Authors: Marinowic D. R. , Zanirati G. , Rodrigues F. V. F. , Grahl M. V. C. , Alcará A. M. , Machado D. C. , Da Costa J. C.
Published: January 2021

Phylogenetic analysis has demonstrated that the etiologic agent of the 2020 pandemic outbreak is a betacoronavirus named SARS-CoV-2. For public health interventions, a diagnostic test with high sensitivity and specificity is required. The gold standard protocol for diagnosis by the Word Health Organization (WHO) is RT-PCR. To detect low viral loads and perform large-scale screening, a low-cost diagnostic test is necessary. Here, we developed a cost-effective test capable of detecting SARS-CoV-2. We validated an auxiliary protocol for molecular diagnosis with the SYBR Green RT-PCR methodology to successfully screen negative cases of SARS-CoV-2. Our results revealed a set of primers with high specificity and no homology with other viruses from the Coronovideae family or human respiratory tract pathogenic viruses, presenting with complementarity only for rhinoviruses/enteroviruses and Legionella spp. Optimization of the annealing temperature and polymerization time led to a high specificity in the PCR products. We have developed a more affordable and swift methodology for negative SARS-CoV-2 screening. This methodology can be applied on a large scale to soften panic and economic burden through guidance for isolation strategies.
The root endophytic bacterial community of Ricinus communis L. resembles the seeds community more than the rhizosphere bacteria independent of soil water content
Authors: Hereira-Pacheco Stephanie E. , Navarro-Noya Yendi E. , Dendooven Luc
Published: January 2021

Rhizosphere and root endophytic bacteria are crucial for plant development, but the question remains if their composition is similar and how environmental conditions, such as water content, affect their resemblance. Ricinus communis L., a highly drought resistant plant, was used to study how varying soil water content affected the bacterial community in uncultivated, non-rhizosphere and rhizosphere soil, and in its roots. Additionally, the bacterial community structure was determined in the seeds of R. communis at the onset of the experiment. Plants were cultivated in soil at three different watering regimes, i.e. 50% water holding capacity (WHC) or adjusted to 50% WHC every two weeks or every month. Reducing the soil water content strongly reduced plant and root dry biomass and plant development, but had little effect on the bacterial community structure. The bacterial community structure was affected significantly by cultivation of R. communis and showed large variations over time. After 6 months, the root endophytic bacterial community resembled that in the seeds more than in the rhizosphere. It was found that water content had only a limited effect on the bacterial community structure and the different bacterial groups, but R. communis affected the bacterial community profoundly.
In vitro optoacoustic flow cytometry with light scattering referencing
Authors: Seeger Markus , Stiel Andre C. , Ntziachristos Vasilis
Published: January 2021

Morphological and functional optoacoustic imaging is enhanced by dedicated transgene reporters, in analogy to fluorescence methods. The development of optoacoustic reporters using protein engineering and directed evolution would be accelerated by high-throughput in-flow screening for intracellular, genetically encoded, optoacoustic contrast. However, accurate characterization of such contrast is impeded because the optoacoustic signals depend on the cell’s size and position in the flow chamber. We report herein an optoacoustic flow cytometer (OA-FCM) capable of precise measurement of intracellular optoacoustic signals of genetically-encoded chromoproteins in flow. The novel system records light-scattering as a reference for the detected optoacoustic signals in order to account for cell size and position, as well as excitation light flux in the focal volume, which we use to reference the detected optoacoustic signals to enhance the system’s precision. The OA-FCM was calibrated using micrometer-sized particles to showcase the ability to assess in-flow objects in the size range of single-cells. We demonstrate the capabilities of our OA-FCM to identify sub-populations in a mixture of two E. coli stocks expressing different reporter-proteins with a precision of over 90%. High-throughput screening of optoacoustic labels could pave the way for identifying genetically encoded optoacoustic reporters by transferring working concepts of the fluorescence field such as directed evolution and activated cell sorting.
The impact of tinnitus distress on cognition
Authors: Neff P. , Simões J. , Psatha S. , Nyamaa A. , Boecking B. , Rausch L. , Dettling-Papargyris J. , Funk C. , Brueggemann P. , Mazurek B.
Published: January 2021

Tinnitus is the chronic perception of a phantom sound with different levels of related distress. Past research has elucidated interactions of tinnitus distress with audiological, affective and further clinical variables. The influence of tinnitus distress on cognition is underinvestigated. Our study aims at investigating specific influences of tinnitus distress and further associated predictors on cognition in a cohort of n = 146 out-ward clinical tinnitus patients. Age, educational level, hearing loss, Tinnitus Questionnaire (TQ) score, tinnitus duration, speech in noise (SIN), stress, anxiety and depression, and psychological well-being were included as predictors of a machine learning regression approach (elastic net) in three models with scores of a multiple choice vocabulary test (MWT-B), or two trail-making tests (TMT-A and TMT-B), as dependent variables. TQ scores predicted lower MWT-B scores and higher TMT-B test completion time. Stress, emotional, and psychological variables were not found to be relevant predictors in all models with the exception of small positive influences of SIN and depression on TMT-B. Effect sizes were small to medium for all models and predictors. Results are indicative of specific influence of tinnitus distress on cognitive performance, especially on general or crystallized intelligence and executive functions. More research is needed at the delicate intersection of tinnitus distress and cognitive skills needed in daily functioning.
Overcoming limitations in the availability of swabs systems used for SARS-CoV-2 laboratory diagnostics
Authors: Nairz Manfred , Bellmann-Weiler Rosa , Ladstätter Miriam , Schüllner Falko , Zimmermann Martina , Koller Anna-Maria , Blunder Silvia , Naschberger Helene , Klotz Werner , Herold Manfred , Kerndler Sylvia , Jeske Martina , Haschka David , Petzer Verena , Schroll Andrea , Sonnweber Thomas , Tancevski Ivan , Fritsche Gernot , de Araujo Mariana E. G. , Stasyk Taras , Huber Lukas A. , Griesmacher Andrea , Theurl Igor , Weiss Günter
Published: January 2021

The diagnosis of COVID-19 relies on the direct detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in respiratory specimens by RT-PCR. The pandemic spread of the disease caused an imbalance between demand and supply of materials and reagents needed for diagnostic purposes including swab sets. In a comparative effectiveness study, we conducted serial follow-up swabs in hospitalized laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 patients. We assessed the diagnostic performance of an in-house system developed according to recommendations by the US CDC. In a total of 96 serial swabs, we found significant differences in the accuracy of the different swab systems to generate a positive result in SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR, ranging from around 50 to 80%. Of note, an in-house swab system was superior to most commercially available sets as reflected by significantly lower Ct values of viral genes. Thus, a simple combination of broadly available materials may enable diagnostic laboratories to bypass global limitations in the supply of swab sets.
Electrosynthesis of polydopamine-ethanolamine films for the development of immunosensing interfaces
Authors: Almeida Luís C. , Frade Tânia , Correia Rui D. , Niu Yu , Jin Gang , Correia Jorge P. , Viana Ana S.
Published: January 2021

We report a straightforward and reproducible electrochemical approach to develop polydopamine-ethanolamine (ePDA-ETA) films to be used as immunosensing interfaces. ETA is strongly attached to polydopamine films during the potentiodynamic electropolymerization of dopamine. The great advantage of the electrochemical methods is to generate the oxidized species (quinones), which can readily react with ETA amine groups present in solution, with the subsequent incorporation of this molecule in the polymer. The presence of ETA and its effect on the electrosynthesis of polydopamine was accessed by cyclic voltammetry, ellipsometry, atomic force microscopy, FTIR and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The adhesive and biocompatible films enable a facile protein linkage, are resilient to flow assays, and display intrinsic anti-fouling properties to block non-specific protein interactions, as monitored by real-time surface plasmon resonance, and confirmed by ellipsometry. Immunoglobulin G (IgG) and Anti-IgG were used in this work as model proteins for the affinity sensor. By using the one-step methodology (ePDA-ETA), the lower amount of immobilized biorecognition element, IgG, compared to that deposited on ePDA or on ETA post-modified film (ePDA/ETA), allied to the presence of ETA, improved the antibody-antigen affinity interaction. The great potential of the developed platform is its versatility to be used with any target biorecognition molecules, allowing both optical and electrochemical detection.
Cognitive underpinnings of multidimensional Japanese literacy and its impact on higher-level language skills
Authors: Otsuka Sadao , Murai Toshiya
Published: January 2021

This study aimed to identify the cognitive underpinnings of Japanese kanji abilities and clarify the contributions of kanji acquisition to the development of higher-level language skills based on a three-dimensional view of kanji abilities encompassing reading accuracy, writing accuracy, and semantic comprehension. First, a series of regression analyses was used to identify the multifactorial models of each dimension of Japanese kanji acquisition. These models suggest that, among basic cognitive skills, naming speed, visuospatial processing, and syntactic processing underpin kanji abilities in a dimension-specific manner, whereas phonological processing is a common factor. Second, although all the dimensions of kanji abilities predicted acquired verbal knowledge equally, writing skills on the text level, measured as idea density, were only predicted by the writing dimension (indirectly via acquired knowledge). Our findings represent the first evidence of the dimension-specific relationships of the three dimensions of Japanese kanji abilities with their cognitive predictors, as well as with higher-level language skills. They suggest the importance of handwriting acquisition during school years for the development of language skills through to adulthood. Finally, taking the seminal “Nun study,” which suggests that higher idea density is protective against dementia, into account, we propose a theoretical framework for the lifelong trajectory of literacy acquisition.
Accurate dating of stalagmites from low seasonal contrast tropical Pacific climate using Sr 2D maps, fabrics and annual hydrological cycles
Authors: Faraji Mohammadali , Borsato Andrea , Frisia Silvia , Hellstrom John C. , Lorrey Andrew , Hartland Adam , Greig Alan , Mattey David P.
Published: January 2021

Tropical Pacific stalagmites are commonly affected by dating uncertainties because of their low U concentration and/or elevated initial230Th content. This poses problems in establishing reliable trends and periodicities for droughts and pluvial episodes in a region vulnerable to climate change. Here we constrain the chronology of a Cook Islands stalagmite using synchrotron µXRF two-dimensional mapping of Sr concentrations coupled with growth laminae optical imaging constrained by in situ monitoring. Unidimensional LA-ICP-MS-generated Mg, Sr, Ba and Na variability series were anchored to the 2D Sr and optical maps. The annual hydrological significance of Mg, Sr, Ba and Na was tested by principal component analysis, which revealed that Mg and Na are related to dry-season, wind-transported marine aerosols, similar to the host-rock derived Sr and Ba signatures. Trace element annual banding was then used to generate a calendar-year master chronology with a dating uncertainty maximum of ± 15 years over 336 years. Our approach demonstrates that accurate chronologies and coupled hydroclimate proxies can be obtained from speleothems formed in tropical settings where low seasonality and problematic U–Th dating would discourage the use of high-resolution climate proxies datasets.
Episodic-like memory of rats as retrospective retrieval of incidentally encoded locations and involvement of the retrosplenial cortex
Authors: Sato Nobuya
Published: January 2021

To examine episodic memory in rats, we trained rats to perform two tasks and tested them for memory of past self-behavior without making them expect to be asked about the memory later when encoding. One of the trained tasks was a delayed matching-to-position task in which the rats were required to remember the location of a presented lever. The other was a tone discrimination task in which the rats were required to discriminate between two pure tones. After learning both tasks, the rats were unexpectedly asked the location of the pressed lever after responding to the cue tone in probe trials during test sessions. The rats demonstrated a response bias that suggests that they have the ability to retrospectively recollect their self-behavior, i.e., episodic memory. We next made excitotoxic lesions in the retrosplenial cortex (RSC) and investigated the effects of the lesions on the unexpected recollection. In the rats with lesions of the RSC, the response bias disappeared. This suggests that the RSC has a role in retrospectively answering unexpected questions about self-behavior.
A new method for measuring treadmill belt velocity fluctuations: effects of treadmill type, body mass and locomotion speed
Authors: Willwacher Steffen , Oberländer Kai Daniel , Mai Patrick , Mählich Daniela , Kurz Markus , Koopmann Till , Fohrmann Dominik , Kantarev Artur , Kersting Uwe Gustav
Published: January 2021

Treadmills are essential to the study of human and animal locomotion as well as for applied diagnostics in both sports and medicine. The quantification of relevant biomechanical and physiological variables requires a precise regulation of treadmill belt velocity (TBV). Here, we present a novel method for time-efficient tracking of TBV using standard 3D motion capture technology. Further, we analyzed TBV fluctuations of four different treadmills as seven participants walked and ran at target speeds ranging from 1.0 to 4.5 m/s. Using the novel method, we show that TBV regulation differs between treadmill types, and that certain features of TBV regulation are affected by the subjects’ body mass and their locomotion speed. With higher body mass, the TBV reductions in the braking phase of stance became higher, even though this relationship differed between locomotion speeds and treadmill type (significant body mass × speed × treadmill type interaction). Average belt speeds varied between about 98 and 103% of the target speed. For three of the four treadmills, TBV reduction during the stance phase of running was more intense (> 5% target speed) and occurred earlier (before 50% of stance phase) unlike the typical overground center of mass velocity patterns reported in the literature. Overall, the results of this study emphasize the importance of monitoring TBV during locomotor research and applied diagnostics. We provide a novel method that is freely accessible on Matlab’s file exchange server (“getBeltVelocity.m”) allowing TBV tracking to become standard practice in locomotion research.
Algorithms for the selection of fluorescent reporters
Authors: Vaidyanathan Prashant , Appleton Evan , Tran David , Vahid Alexander , Church George , Densmore Douglas
Published: January 2021

Molecular biologists rely on the use of fluorescent probes to take measurements of their model systems. These fluorophores fall into various classes (e.g. fluorescent dyes, fluorescent proteins, etc.), but they all share some general properties (such as excitation and emission spectra, brightness) and require similar equipment for data acquisition. Selecting an ideal set of fluorophores for a particular measurement technology or vice versa is a multidimensional problem that is difficult to solve with ad hoc methods due to the enormous solution space of possible fluorophore panels. Choosing sub-optimal fluorophore panels can result in unreliable or erroneous measurements of biochemical properties in model systems. Here, we describe a set of algorithms, implemented in an open-source software tool, for solving these problems efficiently to arrive at fluorophore panels optimized for maximal signal and minimal bleed-through.
Amplitude death and restoration in networks of oscillators with random-walk diffusion
Authors: Clusella Pau , Miguel M. Carmen , Pastor-Satorras Romualdo
Published: January 2021

Systems composed of reactive particles diffusing in a network display emergent dynamics. While Fick’s diffusion can lead to Turing patterns, other diffusion schemes might display more complex phenomena. Here we study the death and restoration of collective oscillations in networks of oscillators coupled by random-walk diffusion, which modifies both the original unstable fixed point and the stable limit-cycle, making them topology-dependent. By means of numerical simulations we show that, in some cases, the diffusion-induced heterogeneity stabilizes the initially unstable fixed point via a Hopf bifurcation. Further increasing the coupling strength can moreover restore the oscillations. A numerical stability analysis indicates that this phenomenology corresponds to a case of amplitude death, where the inhomogeneous stabilized solution arises from the interplay of random walk diffusion and heterogeneous topology. Our results are relevant in the fields of epidemic spreading or ecological dispersion, where random walk diffusion is more prevalent.
Direct measurements of atomic oxygen in the mesosphere and lower thermosphere using terahertz heterodyne spectroscopy
Authors: Richter Heiko , Buchbender Christof , Güsten Rolf , Higgins Ronan , Klein Bernd , Stutzki Jürgen , Wiesemeyer Helmut , Hübers Heinz-Wilhelm
Published: January 2021

Atomic oxygen is a main component of the mesosphere and lower thermosphere of the Earth, where it governs photochemistry and energy balance and is a tracer for dynamical motions. However, its concentration is extremely difficult to measure with remote sensing techniques since atomic oxygen has few optically active transitions. Current indirect methods involve photochemical models and the results are not always in agreement, particularly when obtained with different instruments. Here we present direct measurements—independent of photochemical models—of the ground state 3P1 → 3P2 fine-structure transition of atomic oxygen at 4.7448 THz using the German Receiver for Astronomy at Terahertz Frequencies (GREAT) on board the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA). We find that our measurements of the concentration of atomic oxygen agree well with atmospheric models informed by satellite observations. We suggest that this direct observation method may be more accurate than existing indirect methods that rely on photochemical models.
A “sandwich” cell culture platform with NIR-responsive dynamic stiffness to modulate macrophage phenotypes
Authors: Yuan Peiqi , Luo Yilun , Luo Yu , Ma Lie
Published: January 2021

A “sandwich” cell culture platform with the ability to be rapidly transformed from lower stiffness to higher stiffness under near-infrared (NIR) irradiation and to induce the phenotypic transformation from M2 to M1 sequentially.
Supramolecular chirality in the crystals of mononuclear and polymeric cobalt(ii) complexes with enantiopure and racemic N-thiophosphorylated thioureas
Authors: Kataeva Olga , Metlushka Kirill , Ivshin Kamil , Yamaleeva Zilya , Zinnatullin Ruzal , Nikitina Kristina , Badeeva Elena , Khrizanforova Vera , Budnikova Yulia , Naumann Marco , Wellm Christoph , Alfonsov Alexey , Kataev Vladislav , Büchner Bernd , Knupfer Martin
Published: January 2021

The control of stereochemistry in Co(ii) complexes was provided by additional pyridine and pyrazine ligands. 1D and 2D supramolecular homochiral arrangements in racemic crystals of mononuclear complexes are transferred to their polymeric counterparts.
Bridging the thermodynamics and kinetics of temperature-induced morphology evolution in polymer/fullerene organic solar cell bulk heterojunction
Authors: Levitsky Artem , Schneider Sebastian Alexander , Rabkin Eugen , Toney Michael F. , Frey Gitti L.
Published: January 2021

Organic solar cell morphology evolution through distinct and consecutive spinodal decomposition and nucleation and growth mechanisms.
Substitution of copper atoms into defect-rich molybdenum sulfides and their electrocatalytic activity
Authors: Wang Zixing , Kannan Harikishan , Su Tonghui , Swaminathan Jayashree , Shirodkar Sharmila N. , Robles Hernandez Francisco C. , Benavides Hector Calderon , Vajtai Robert , Yakobson Boris I. , Meiyazhagan Ashokkumar , Ajayan Pulickel M.
Published: January 2021

Colloidal technique was used to synthesize copper atom substituted molybdenum sulfides and used as a catalyst. The derived materials were characterized using several analytical methods and revalidated using DFT calculations.
Ternary NiTiO3@g-C3N4–Au nanofibers with a synergistic Z-scheme core@shell interface and dispersive Schottky contact surface for enhanced solar photocatalytic activity
Authors: Liu Jie , Li Xinghua , Han Chaohan , Zhou Xuejiao , Li Xiaowei , Liang Yuan , Liu Shuai , Shao Changlu , Liu Yichun
Published: January 2021

Ternary photocatalyst NiTiO3@g-C3N4–Au nanofibers were designed with synergistical Z-scheme and Schottky heterojunctions for synergistically enhanced solar light photocatalytic activity reactions.
Preparation of an (inorganic/organic) hybrid hydrogel from a peptide oligomer and a tubular aluminosilicate nanofiber
Authors: Mukai Masaru , Takahara Mari , Takada Akihiko , Takahara Astushi
Published: January 2021

‘Imogolite’, a tubular inorganic nanotube surface, was modified with a peptide oligomer to prepare a hybrid hydrogel.
In vivo acute toxicity and mutagenic analysis of crude saponins from Chenopodium quinoa Willd husks
Authors: Lin Bingjie , Qi Xiao , Fang Lei , Zhao Lei , Zhang Ruoyu , Jing Jinjin , Zhang Shujie , Yang Xiushi , Hou Zhaohua , Xue Peng
Published: January 2021

As a functional food factor, quinoa saponins are valuable as additives and in medical care, pharmaceutical development, cosmetics and other fields.
Enhancing the biological activity of polyoxometalate–peptide nano-fibrils by spacer design
Authors: Tagliavini Valeria , Honisch Claudia , Serratì Simona , Azzariti Amalia , Bonchio Marcella , Ruzza Paolo , Carraro Mauro
Published: January 2021

The introduction of a tailored hydrophilic/anionic spacer in an Anderson–Evans polyoxometalate, bis-conjugated with demobensin-1 peptide, fosters self-assembly into fibrillary nanostructures and an unprecedented cancer cell targeting ability.
A metal chelation strategy suppressing chemical reduction between PEDOT and polyethylenimine for a printable low-work function electrode in organic solar cells
Authors: Yang Mengyuan , Qin Fei , Wang Wen , Liu Tiefeng , Sun Lulu , Xie Cong , Dong Xinyun , Lu Xin , Zhou Yinhua
Published: January 2021

Zinc ion chelation on PEIE can effectively suppress the chemical reaction between PEIE and PEDOT:PSS. PEDOT:PSS/PEI-Zn is an efficient electron-collecting electrode for organic solar cells.
Type Ic supernovae from the (intermediate) Palomar Transient Factory
Authors: Barbarino C. , Sollerman J. , Taddia F. , Fremling C. , Karamehmetoglu E. , Arcavi I. , Gal-Yam A. , Laher R. , Schulze S. , Wozniak P. , Yan Lin
Published: January 2021

Context.Type Ic supernovae represent the explosions of the most stripped massive stars, but their progenitors and explosion mechanisms remain unclear. Larger samples of observed supernovae can help characterize the population of these transients.

Aims.We present an analysis of 44 spectroscopically normal Type Ic supernovae, with focus on the light curves. The photometric data were obtained over 7 years with the Palomar Transient Factory and its continuation, the intermediate Palomar Transient Factory. This is the first homogeneous and large sample of SNe Ic from an untargeted survey, and we aim to estimate explosion parameters for the sample.

Methods.We present K-correctedBgrizlight curves of these SNe, obtained through photometry on template-subtracted images. We performed an analysis on the shape of ther-band light curves and confirmed the correlation between the rise parameter Δm−10and the decline parameter Δm15. Peakr-band absolute magnitudes have an average of −17.71 ± 0.85 mag. To derive the explosion epochs, we fit ther-band lightcurves to a template derived from a well-sampled light curve. We computed the bolometric light curves usingrandgband data,g − rcolors and bolometric corrections. Bolometric light curves and Fe IIλ5169 velocities at peak were used to fit to the Arnett semianalytic model in order to estimate the ejecta massMej, the explosion energyEKand the mass of radioactive nickelM(56Ni) for each SN.

Results.Including 41 SNe, we find average values of ⟨Mej⟩ = 4.50 ± 0.79 M⊙, ⟨EK⟩ = 1.79 ± 0.29 × 1051erg, and ⟨M56Ni⟩ = 0.19 ± 0.03 M⊙. The explosion-parameter distributions are comparable to those available in the literature, but our large sample also includes some transients with narrow and very broad light curves leading to more extreme ejecta masses values.
Toward realistic binaural auralizations – perceptual comparison between measurement and simulation-based auralizations and the real room for a classroom scenario
Authors: Blau Matthias , Budnik Armin , Fallahi Mina , Steffens Henning , Ewert Stephan D. , van de Par Steven
Published: January 2021

In order to make full use of their potential to replace experiments in real rooms, auralizations must be as realistic as possible. Recently, it has been shown that for speech, head-tracked binaural auralizations based onmeasuredbinaural room impulse responses (BRIRs) can be so realistic, that they become indistinguishable (or nearly so) from the real room [1, 2]. In the present contribution, perceptual comparisons between the auralized and the real room are reported for auralizations based both onmeasuredandsimulatedBRIRs. In the experiment, subjects sitting in the real room rated the agreement between the real and the auralized room with respect to a number of attributes. The results indicate that for most attributes, the agreement between the auralized and the real room can be very convincing (better than 7.5 on a nine-point scale). This was not only observed for auralizations based on measured BRIRs, but also for those based on simulated BRIRs. In the scenario considered here, the use of individual head-related impulse responses (HRIRs) does not seem to offer any benefit over using HRIRs from a head-and-torso-simulator.
An alternative approach in finding the stationary queue length distribution of a queueing system with negative customers
Authors: Koh Siew Khew , Chin Ching Herny , Tan Yi Fei , Ng Tan Ching
Published: January 2021

A single-server queueing system with negative customers is considered in this paper. One positive customer will be removed from the head of the queue if any negative customer is present. The distribution of the interarrival time for the positive customer is assumed to have a rate that tends to a constant as time t tends to infinity. An alternative approach will be proposed to derive a set of equations to find the stationary probabilities. The stationary probabilities will then be used to find the stationary queue length distribution. Numerical examples will be presented and compared to the results found using the analytical method and simulation procedure. The advantage of using the proposed alternative approach will be discussed in this paper.
A model of a production-repair inventory system with time-varying demand and quality-dependent recovery channels
Authors: Yeo Ivan
Published: January 2021

In this paper, we study an inventory system over an infinite planning horizon where a time-varying demand is satisfied by process cycles that consist of a production batch followed by a recovery batch. Our model considers three types of inventory—returned items, serviceable items, and raw material. Furthermore, our model considers two recovery channels—recovery into serviceable items and recovery into raw material. Serviceable items are thus sourced from two inputs—direct recovery and production from raw material. These raw materials can be salvaged from returned items, as well as bought from external sources whenever required. We propose an expression for the unit time total cost as well as a numerical method to find the optimal policy. The properties of the model are studied through numerical experiments, in particular, the feasible situations where hybrid policies are better than pure policies.
Roland R. Wauer (1942–2020): Neonatologe, Wissenschaftler, Lehrer und
Visionär
Authors: Hammer Hannes , Weigel Heidi , Proquitté Hans , Reichert Jörg , Roehr Charles Christoph , Rüdiger Mario
Published: January 2021

Wir trauern um Professor Dr. med. Roland R. Wauer, langjähriger Direktor der
Klinik für Neonatologie, Campus Charité Mitte der
Universitätsmedizin Berlin, unseren Lehrer, Mentor und Freund.
Ist Fliegen oder Tauchen riskant für CI-Träger? – Untersuchungen in einer Druckkammer
Authors: Nolte Antonia , Meyer Moritz , Luers Jan-Christoffer , Fürstenberg Dirk , Klussmann Jens Peter , Lang-Roth Ruth , Jansen Stefanie
Published: January 2021

Hintergrund Verglichen mit dem Zugewinn an Lebensqualität, den viele Patienten durch ein Cochlea-Implantat (CI) erfahren, bringt das CI nur wenige Einschränkungen im täglichen Leben mit sich. Doch kann man mit einem CI auch Tauchen und Fliegen? Halten das operierte Ohr sowie das Implantat selbst den ausgeprägten Druckveränderungen stand? Bisher gibt es keine klaren Empfehlungen und sehr wenig Literatur über die Risiken des Gerätetauchens sowie des Fliegens mit CI.

Material und Methoden In einer hypo-/hyperbaren Druckkammer wurden Menschen mit einem CI einem Druckprofil mit Phasen des Druckanstiegs sowie Phasen des Druckabfalls ausgesetzt, sodass zunächst ein Flug und dann ein Tauchgang simuliert wurden. Sowohl vor als auch nach der Druckkammermessung erfolgten eine Ohrmikroskopie sowie eine Messung der Impedanzen des Cochlea-Implantats. Zusätzlich füllte jeder Patient einen symptombezogenen Fragebogen vor sowie nach der Druckkammermessung aus.

Ergebnisse In der Druckkammer wurden insgesamt 17 CI-implantierte Ohren bei 11 Probanden untersucht. Zwei Drittel der Probanden gaben an, während der Untersuchung leichte Beschwerden gehabt zu haben. Bei einem Probanden musste die Messung aufgrund von Schmerzen abgebrochen werden. Sieben Patienten zeigten im Anschluss an die Druckexposition eine Hammergefäßinjektion in der Ohrmikroskopie. Bei keinem der Patienten kam es nach der Untersuchung zu einer subjektiven Hörverschlechterung. Es kam zu keiner relevanten Änderung der Impedanzen des CI-Implantats.

Schlussfolgerung Die Exposition mit Unter- und Überdruck bei Patienten mit Cochlea-Implantaten ergab in der objektiven Überprüfung der Impedanzen keine wesentliche Abweichung der Impedanzen, sodass keine erneute Anpassung notwendig war. Allerdings zeigten sich leichtgradige Barotraumata sowie subjektive, leichte Beschwerden. Weitere Studien sind erforderlich, um eine adäquate Risikoeinschätzung zur Druckexposition bei CI-Trägern geben zu können.
Combined chemotherapy and endoscopic ultrasound-guided intratumoral 32P implantation for locally advanced pancreatic adenocarcinoma: a pilot study
Authors: Naidu Jeevinesh , Bartholomeusz Dylan , Zobel Joshua , Safaeian Romina , Hsieh William , Crouch Benjamin , Ho Karen , Calnan Deborah , Singhal Nimit , Ruszkiewicz Andrew , Chen John W. , Tan Chuan Ping , Dolan Paul , Nguyen Nam Q.
Published: January 2021

Background This study evaluated clinical outcomes of combined chemotherapy and endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided intratumoral radioactive phosphorus-32 (32P) implantation in locally advanced pancreatic adenocarcinoma (LAPC).

Methods Consecutive patients with newly diagnosed LAPC were recruited over 20 months. Baseline computed tomography and 18F-2-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose (18FDG) positron emission tomography–computed tomography were performed and repeated after 12 weeks to assess treatment response. Following two cycles of conventional chemotherapy, patients underwent EUS-guided 32P implantation followed by six chemotherapy cycles.

Results 12 patients with LAPC (median age 69 years [interquartile range 61.5–73.3]; 8 male) completed treatment. Technical success was 100 % with no procedural complications. At 12 weeks, median reduction in tumor volume was 8.2 cm3 (95 % confidence interval 4.95–10.85; P = 0.003), with minimal or no 18FDG uptake in nine patients (75 %). Tumor downstaging was achieved in six patients (50 %), leading to successful resection in five (42 %), including four R0 resections (80 %).

Conclusions EUS-guided 32P implantation was feasible, well tolerated, and resulted in a 42 % surgical resection rate. Further evaluation in a larger randomized multicenter trial is warranted.