bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Treatment of primary and metastatic breast and pancreatic tumors upon intravenous delivery of a PRDM14‐specific chimeric siRNA/nanocarrier complex
Authors: Taniguchi Hiroaki , Natori Yukikazu , Miyagi Yohei , Hayashi Kotaro , Nagamura Fumitaka , Kataoka Kazunori , Imai Kohzoh
Published: March 2021

PRDM14 is highly expressed in several cancers but is not detected in normal tissues. It confers cancer stem cell‐like properties, including chemoresistance and distant metastasis, to cancer cells. Herein, we aimed to develop a highly effective therapy against advanced stage cancer based on intravenously delivered PRDM14‐targeted siRNA. First, we examined PRDM14 expression and gene amplification in breast and pancreatic tumors and cell lines. PRDM14 was expressed in breast cancer, including the triple‐negative subtype, and pancreatic cancer. PRDM14 was amplified in 23.8% of patients with PRDM14+ breast cancer. Next, we investigated the inoculated tumor growth and distant metastasis following PRDM14 depletion by administering mice with PRDM14‐specific chimeric siRNA combined with a novel branched PEGylated poly‐L‐ornithine (PLO)‐based intravenous drug delivery system, designated PRDM14 unit polyion complex (uPIC) (n = 6/group). Inhibition of PRDM14 expression with PRDM14 uPIC by systemic intravenous injection effectively reduced tumor size and metastasis in vivo, thereby improving survival. Finally, pharmacokinetic/toxicokinetic analyses were performed on PRDM14 uPIC, which was intravenously administered to rats (n = 10‐15/group) and cynomolgus monkeys (n = 3‐5/group), twice weekly for 4 weeks. This revealed that PRDM14 uPIC was relatively nontoxic and the siRNA exposure in serum was greater than that predicted by the administered dose ratio when delivered as a uPIC. Taken together, our study indicated that PRDM14 uPIC is highly effective in suppressing malignant features of solid cancers and does not cause severe toxicity, making it a promising therapeutic agent for cancer treatment.
Electromembrane extraction‐high‐performance liquid chromatography‐ultraviolet detection of phenobarbital and phenytoin in human plasma, saliva, and urine
Authors: Dolatabadi Roshanak , Mohammadi Ali , Nojavan Saeed , Yaripour Saeid , Tafakhori Abbas , Shirangi Mehrnoosh
Published: March 2021

The current article is focused on introduction and validation of electro‐membrane extraction along with a high‐performance liquid chromatography combined with UV detector for the identification of the antiepileptic drugs phenytoin (PT) and phenobarbital (PB) in plasma, saliva, and urine. In addition, 3D‐printing was utilized to fabricate the designed caps required for fixing the electrodes in the prepared setup, giving us a high potential in device fabrication with various dimensions. To arrive at the highest extraction of PB and PT, the parameters impacting the extraction efficiency of electromembrane extraction for example, supported liquid membrane composition, sample solution pH, applied voltage, extraction time along with effect of graphene oxide are examined in detail. In optimized experimental conditions, the calibration plots were obtained to be linear on the concentration range of 25–500 ng/L with the detection limit and quantitation limit of 7.5 and 25 ng/L for both of PB and PT. Relative standard deviations of <9.9% and <9.1% were found for PB and PT, respectively and the enrichment factor for the presented method was computed to be 25.4 and 44.7 for PB and PT, respectively. The proposed method was satisfactorily employed in determination of PB and PT in plasma, urine and saliva.
Medication adherence and complementary therapy usage in inflammatory bowel disease patients during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic
Authors: Barnes Alex , Andrews Jane , Spizzo Paul , Mountifield Réme
Published: March 2021

Background and Aim

Medication nonadherence is common in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and has been associated with worse outcomes. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic led to significant consumer and medical concern regarding the possible risks of immunosuppressive medications during the pandemic. This study aimed to examine medication adherence and complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) usage during the COVID‐19 pandemic.

Methods

An online survey was sent to patients from two tertiary IBD units. The survey included medication nonadherence attributed to the COVID‐19 pandemic, complementary therapy, and IBD medication use. Validated measures of IBD disease activity, medication adherence, and beliefs about medicines were obtained.

Results

Of 262 respondents (median age of 46, 58% female) 14 (5%) patients reported self‐initiated missed doses or dose reduction of IBD medications directly attributed to the COVID‐19 pandemic. Positive associations with medication nonadherence included current corticosteroid requirement (P = 0.022), higher disease activity scores (P = 0.026), and higher concern about medicines score (P = 0.04). CAM usage was common, aimed at treating mental health in most cases, and infrequently attributed to the COVID‐19 pandemic.

Conclusions

Even in the setting of low COVID‐19 prevalence, the pandemic reduced IBD medication adherence in 1 in 20 patients. This reduced adherence was co‐associated with increased disease activity and corticosteroid use. Understanding the underlying beliefs driving suboptimal IBD medication adherence is critical to prevent avoidable adverse IBD outcomes.
Investigations of Dianhydro‐D‐glucitol adsorbed on AuNPs surface: In silico and in vitro approach based on anticancer activity studies against A549 lung cancer cell lines
Authors: V. Shyni , D. R. Leenaraj , Joseph Lynnette , Sajan D.
Published: March 2021

The adsorption behavior of a lung cancer agent, Dianhydro‐D‐glucitol (DIS) on gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) was studied using surface‐enhanced Raman scattering techniques. The stabilized geometry, inter‐ and intra‐molecular hydrogen bond, and harmonic vibrational wavenumbers of DIS and DIS adsorbed on AuNPs (DISA) surface have been investigated with the help of the density functional theory (DFT) method. The stability of the molecules arising from stereoelectronic interactions, leading to its bioactivity, has been confirmed using natural bond orbital (NBO) analysis, which was further substantiated by the narrow HOMO LUMO energy gap obtained for DISA, from frontier molecular orbital analysis as well as electronic spectral analysis. The molecular electrostatic potential analysis along with local and global reactivity descriptors predicts the reactive site of the molecules. Molecular docking study was performed to obtain information about protein‐ligand reactions for DIS and DISA, with different cancer proteins. This study enlightens the potential of SERS agents for targeted drug delivery and photothermal. The in vitro cytotoxic effects of DPH and DPHA molecules on lung cancer cell lines were analyzed using the MTT assay and the SERS method.
Impact of bedrest on cardiovascular events and complications associated with temporary pacemakers in patients waiting for permanent pacemaker implantation
Authors: Hama Tomoaki , Morita Norishige , Ushijima Akiko , Ueno Akira , Iida Takayuki , Ikari Yuji , Kobayashi Yoshinori
Published: March 2021

Background

Patients with a temporary pacemaker (TPM) for bradycardias are required to maintain bedrest until permanent pacemakers (PPMs) are implanted because of the development of Adams–Stokes syndrome, worsening heart failure, or complications associated with TPMs is anticipated. However, bedrest may be detrimental in patients because it leads to disuse syndrome. This study examined whether bedrest could decrease the incidence of cardiovascular events or complications associated with TPMs in patients waiting for PPM implantation.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective cohort study on 88 patients who had emergency hospitalization for the treatment of bradycardias, and a TPM was inserted during the waiting period before PPM implantation. We divided patients into two groups according to whether they underwent bedrest (Bedrest Group) or not (Ambulation Group) during the period that patients were supported with TPM. We evaluated whether bedrest was a predictor of adverse events using a logistic regression analysis.

Results

Adverse events occurred in 31 patients (35%). In the univariate analysis, there was no significant difference in the incidence of adverse events between the Bedrest and Ambulation Groups (39% vs. 29%). In the logistic regression analysis, bedrest was not a predictor of adverse events (odds ratio, 1.40; 95% confidence interval, 0.53‐3.68, P = .497).

Conclusions

In patients with TPMs for bradyarrhythmias during the waiting period for PPM implantations, bedrest might not prevent adverse events, such as cardiovascular events and complications associated with TPMs.
The glucoamylase from Aspergillus wentii: Purification and characterization
Authors: Lago Munira C. , dos Santos Fabiane C. , Bueno Paulo S. A. , de Oliveira Marco A. S. , Barbosa‐Tessmann Ione P.
Published: March 2021

This study describes for the first time the purification and characterization of a glucoamylase from Aspergillus wentii (strain PG18), a species of the Aspergillus genus Cremei section. Maximum enzyme production (∼3.5 U/ml) was obtained in submerged culture (72 h) with starch as the carbon source, at 25°C, and with orbital agitation (100 rpm). The enzyme was purified with one‐step molecular exclusion chromatography. The 86 kDa purified enzyme hydrolyzed starch in a zymogram and had activity against p‐nitrophenyl α‐
d‐glucopyranoside. The optimal enzyme pH and temperature were 5.0 and 60°C (at pH 5.0), respectively. The Tm of the purified enzyme was 60°C, at pH 7.0. The purified glucoamylase had a KM for starch of 1.4 mg/ml and a Vmax of 0.057 mg/min of hydrolyzed starch. Molybdenum activated the purified enzyme, and sodium dodecyl sulfate inhibited it. A thin layer chromatography analysis revealed glucose as the enzyme's main starch hydrolysis product. An enzyme's peptide sequence was obtained by mass spectrometry and used to retrieve a glucoamylase within the annotated genome of A. wentii v1.0. An in silico structural model revealed a N‐terminal glycosyl hydrolases family 15 (GH15) domain, which is ligated by a linker to a C‐terminal carbohydrate‐binding module (CBM) from the CBM20 family.
Postharvest factors affect under‐skin browning in ‘Honey Gold’ mango fruit
Authors: Li Guoqin , Joyce Daryl C , Marques Jose R , Hofman Peter J , Macnish Andrew J , Gupta Madan L , San Anh T
Published: March 2021

BACKGROUND

Under‐Skin Browning (USB) is a physiological skin disorder that significantly reduces quality of ‘Honey Gold’ mango (HG) fruit. Relationships between potential causative factors (vibration, holding temperature, sap) and expression factors (enzymes activities, phenolic concentration, anatomy) were investigated.

RESULTS

USB incidence was 2.6–3.6‐fold higher in ripe HG fruit vibrated for 3–18 h at 12 °C to simulate transport damage and held then at 12 °C for 8 days compared to control fruit held under the same conditions. USB severity of fruit lightly abraded with sand paper to simulate physical damage and artificially induce USB was higher in fruit held at 10 °C than at 6–8 °C or 12–13 °C for 6–8 days. Compared to non‐affected skin, USB‐affected tissue had a 7.4% increase in total phenolics concentration. However, polyphenol oxidase (PPO) and peroxidase (POD) activities decreased by 19%. Anatomical similarities were observed between USB symptoms and sapburn caused by spurt sap or terpinolene (a major sap component) to abraded skin areas. Incidence of sapburn was higher in abraded fruit held at 12 °C than at 20 °C.

CONCLUSION

Holding HG mango fruit at 10 °C can intensify USB. Activities of PPO and POD appear not to be regulatory factors in USB expression in HG. Sap components may be involved in USB expression under conducive postharvest conditions. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.
Contrast‐Enhanced Ultrasound for Evaluation of Pleural Effusion
Authors: Safai Zadeh Ehsan , Görg Christian , Dietrich Christoph F. , Görlach Jannis , Alhyari Amjad , Trenker Corinna
Published: March 2021

B‐mode ultrasound (B‐US) is the standard imaging modality to evaluate pleural effusion. The value of B‐US for assessing the malignancy of a pleural effusion (PE) is limited. For this purpose, computed tomography (CT) and thoracoscopy are the methods of choice to evaluate an effusion. The aim of this Pictorial Essay is to demonstrate contrast‐enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) as a method in addition to B‐US and CT for the evaluation of PE taking into account the clinical background. The characteristic patterns of pleural pathologies, effusion morphology, and associated lung parenchymal consolidations are presented.
Delayed Tracheal Perforation Following Total Thyroidectomy
Authors: Stevens Madelyn N. , Bolduan Alyssa , Gelbard Alexander
Published: March 2021

Delayed tracheal rupture following total thyroidectomy (TT) is rare and represents a potential airway emergency. A 34‐year‐old female with Felty Syndrome underwent TT for Hashimoto's thyroiditis. On post‐operative day 10, she presented with subcutaneous emphysema and an anterolateral tracheal perforation on CT scan. Urgent operative exploration revealed transmural tracheal necrosis and a 5 mm perforation. This was oversewn with non‐absorbable suture and a strap muscle flap rotated over the defect to promote healing. Repeat direct laryngoscopy at 72 hours revealed healing tissue. Tracheal necrosis and perforation following TT constitutes a potential airway emergency and should be promptly explored and repaired. Laryngoscope, 132:17–19, 2022
Induced matchings in strongly biconvex graphs and some algebraic applications
Authors: Saeedi Madani Sara , Kiani Dariush
Published: March 2021

In this paper, motivated by a question posed by H. de Alba and D. T. Hoang, we introduce strongly biconvex graphs as a subclass of weakly chordal and bipartite graphs. We give a linear time algorithm to find an induced matching for such graphs and we prove that this algorithm indeed gives a maximum induced matching. Applying this algorithm, we provide a strongly biconvex graph whose (monomial) edge ideal does not admit a unique extremal Betti number. Using this constructed graph, we provide an infinite family of the so‐called closed graphs (also known as proper interval graphs) whose binomial edge ideals do not have a unique extremal Betti number. This, in particular, answers the aforementioned question.
Modeling of fractional‐order COVID‐19 epidemic model with quarantine and social distancing
Authors: Farman Muhammad , Aslam Muhammad , Akgül Ali , Ahmad Aqeel
Published: March 2021

Different countries of the world are facing a serious pandemic of corona virus disease (COVID‐19). One of the most typical treatments for COVID‐19 is social distancing, which includes lockdown; it will help to decrease the number of contacts for undiagnosed individuals. The main aim of this article is to construct and evaluate a fractional‐order COVID‐19 epidemic model with quarantine and social distancing. Laplace homotopy analysis method is used for a system of fractional differential equation (FDEs) with Caputo and Atangana–Baleanu–Caputo (ABC) fractional derivative. By applying the ABC and Caputo derivative, the numerical solution for fractional‐order COVID‐19 epidemic model is achieved. The uniqueness and existence of the solution is checked by Picard–Lindelof's method. The proposed fractional model is demonstrated by numerical simulation which is useful for the government to control the spread of disease in a practical way.
Existence of global steady subsonic Euler flows with collision through 2D infinitely long nozzles
Authors: Han Fangyu , Tan Zhong
Published: March 2021

In this paper, we study the global existence of steady subsonic flows with collision, where the collision is caused by a confluence of two semi‐infinitely incoming flows that are nonmiscible steady subsonic irrotational Euler flows come from two different infinitely nozzles. First, we prove that when the total flux of two incoming flows is less that the critical mass flux, there exists a unique global smooth subsonic flow with collision. Meanwhile, the interface between two flows is a smooth free interface, which is determined uniquely by the mass fluxes of incoming flows. Second, by using the blowup argument, we establish the asymptotic behaviors for the stream function. Finally, we prove that the position of free interface can be determined uniquely by the mass fluxes of incoming flows. Moreover, we establish the monotonicity of the relation between the position of free interface and the mass fluxes of incoming flows.
Global large, smooth solutions of the 2D surface quasi‐geostrophic equations
Authors: Zhang Huali , Li Jinlu
Published: March 2021

In this paper, we prove the global regularity of smooth solutions to 2D surface quasi‐geostrophic (SQG) equations with supercritical dissipation for a class of large initial data, where the velocity and temperature can be arbitrarily large in spaces
and
. This result can be seen as an improvement work of Liu et al (2019) for it's without any smallness hypothesis of the
norm of the initial data.
Chromosomal analysis for embryos from balanced chromosomal rearrangement carriers using next generation sequencing
Authors: Ma Xiaoling , Xu Xiaojuan , Mao Bin , Liu Hongfang , Li Hongxing , Liu Kun , Song Dexiao , Xue Shilong , Wang Naihui
Published: March 2021

We aimed to use next generation sequencing (NGS) to investigate chromosomal abnormalities in blastocyst trophectoderm (TE) samples, and reproductive outcomes with the different types of chromosomal rearrangements (CR) and for each sex of CR carrier. A total of 1189 blastocyst TE samples were evaluated using NGS to detect chromosomal unbalanced translocations as well as aneuploidy, including blastocytes from 637 blastocysts from carriers of balanced CR and 552 blastocysts from carriers of normal chromosomes. The optimal embryos had lower chromosomal abnormality rates compared to the poor‐quality embryos. The experimental group had significantly reduced rates of normal embryos and euploidy, and higher rates of total abnormalities, aneuploidy and unbalanced chromosomal aberrations. Carriers of reciprocal translocations had a reduced rate of normal embryos and an increased percentage of embryos with total abnormalities and unbalanced chromosomal aberrations compared with carriers of Robertsonian translocations. Couples with female carriers of chromosomal abnormalities had significantly reduced rates of normal embryos and euploidy, and a higher percentage of embryos with total abnormalities, aneuploidy, and unbalanced chromosomal aberrations compared with couples of male carriers. Our preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) study identified higher rates of chromosomal abnormalities, including chromosomal unbalanced translocations and aneuploidy, in blastocysts from CR carriers, especially from the female carriers, in a Chinese population. The PGT cycles successfully improved clinical outcomes by increasing the fertilization rate and reducing the early spontaneous abortion rate compared with the in vitro fertilization and intracytoplasmic sperm injection cycles, especially for CR carriers.
Remembering José
Authors: Chabner Bruce A.
Published: March 2021

In memory of José Baselga
Cross‐linking, mechanical, dynamical, and EMI absorption shielding effectiveness of NBR based composites filled with combination on ferrite and carbon based fillers
Authors: Kruželák Ján , Kvasničáková Andrea , Bochkarev Evgeny Sergeevich , Tuzhikov Oleg Olegovich , Gořalík Marek , Vilčáková Jarmila , Hudec Ivan
Published: March 2021

In the current study, manganese‐zinc ferrite in a concentration scale ranging from 100 to 500 phr was incorporated into acrylonitrile‐butadiene rubber having the constant amount of carbon black (20 phr) or carbon nanotubes (5 phr). The work was focused on the investigation of fillers combination on curing process, physical‐mechanical, and dynamic characteristics of composites. The electromagnetic interference absorption shielding efficiency of composites was subsequently investigated at low frequencies. The results revealed that composites filled with a combination of ferrite and CB are able to efficiently shield electromagnetic radiation in the tested frequency range 1 MHz to 3 GHz, while electromagnetic interference absorption shielding performance of CNT/ferrite composites was insufficient. The reason can be attributed to the outstanding increase of electrical conductivity of composites filled with combination of ferrite and CNT. As the best absorption shielding material can be considered the CB/ferrite composite containing 100 phr of ferrite, as it exhibited the widest absorption frequency bandwidth at return loss of −10 and −20 dB. The presence of ferrite in composites resulted in the decrease of cross‐link density, modification of curing characteristics and physical‐mechanical properties, and no significant influence on glass transition temperature.
Geriatric Activation Program Pellenberg, a novel physiotherapy program for hospitalized patients on a geriatric rehabilitation ward
Authors: van Dijk Margaretha , Allegaert Patsy , Locus Marlies , Deschodt Mieke , Verheyden Geert , Tournoy Jos , Flamaing Johan
Published: March 2021

Background and Purpose

Regaining functional independence and independent living is challenging in hospitalized geriatric patients. Different from community dwelling and institutionalized older people, geriatric patients on rehabilitation wards generally receive more frequent and structured physiotherapy with the primary aim to discharge them to their home or place of residence. There is a paucity of evidence concerning the structure and components of physiotherapy programs to improve functional performance in this particular group. In this paper, we describe how we developed the Geriatric Activation Program Pellenberg (GAPP) based on patients' needs and available literature.

Methods

We searched the literature on physiotherapy interventions focusing on the core components for improvement of functional performance: strength, balance, function, (gait)speed, coordination, and endurance training. Based on physiotherapist staffing and physiotherapy time allocated to each patient, we organized the practical, daily delivery of the program.

Results

GAPP is a 5‐day program, repeated weekly, delivered by physiotherapists and physiotherapy students. Each day, one or a combination of two to three different core components of functional performance is trained intensively in 45‐min sessions. A set of standard exercises is constantly adjusted to each patients' capacity. On day 5, there is a mix of these core elements in a group session (e.g., chair‐dance, table tennis, karate) and the Berg Balance Scale is completed to evaluate progress.

Conclusion

GAPP is a multicomponent physiotherapy program for hospitalized patients on a geriatric rehabilitation ward, aimed at improving functional performance.
A combined first‐ and second‐order approach for model predictive control
Authors: Deng Haoyang , Ohtsuka Toshiyuki
Published: March 2021

This article presents a simple iterative method that combines first‐ and second‐order approaches for linear model predictive control (MPC). Approximate value functions requiring only first‐order derivatives and incorporating fixed second‐order information are employed, which leads to a method that splits the MPC problem into subproblems along the prediction horizon, and only the states and costates (Lagrange multipliers corresponding to the state equations) are exchanged between consecutive subproblems during iteration. The convergence is guaranteed under the framework of the majorization minimization principle. For efficient implementation, practical details are discussed, and the performance was assessed against both first‐ and second‐order methods with two numerical experiments. The results indicate that the proposed method can obtain a moderately accurate solution with a small number of cheap iterations.
A comparison of Gaussian processes and neural networks for computer model emulation and calibration
Authors: Myren Samuel , Lawrence Earl
Published: March 2021

The Department of Energy relies on complex physics simulations for prediction in domains like cosmology, nuclear theory, and materials science. These simulations are often extremely computationally intensive, with some requiring days or weeks for a single simulation. In order to assure their accuracy, these models are calibrated against observational data in order to estimate inputs and systematic biases. Because of their great computational complexity, this process typically requires the construction of an emulator, a fast approximation to the simulation. In this paper, two emulator approaches are compared: Gaussian process regression and neural networks. Their emulation accuracy and calibration performance on three real problems of Department of Energy interest is considered. On these problems, the Gaussian process emulator tends to be more accurate with narrower, but still well‐calibrated uncertainty estimates. The neural network emulator is accurate, but tends to have large uncertainty on its predictions. As a result, calibration with the Gaussian process emulator produces more constrained posteriors that still perform well in prediction.
Introduction: Framing Exclusion from Services
Authors: Draulans Veerle , Lamura Giovanni
Published: March 2021

This part presents three specific examples of how old-age social exclusion can take place in the field of service provision. These contributions refer to the key areas of care, transportation and information communication technology (ICT) based solutions, which represent some of the sub-domains of service-related exclusion in later life that are most frequently cited in the literature (Walsh et al. 2017; ROSEnet Services Working Group 2020). Given the current demographic trends, the availability of suitable services has become crucial to ensure social cohesion and inclusiveness. Governments, be it on national or community levels, social profit organisations and commercial companies offer a huge variety of services aimed at making people’s lives easier and more comfortable. In order to better contextualise the contributions presented in this part, this chapter will provide an overview of old-age service exclusion in general, highlighting in particular macro- and micro-level considerations. It will then briefly introduce each contribution.
Reversed Mobilities as a Means to Combat Older People’s Exclusion from Services: Insights from Two Alpine Territories in France and Italy
Authors: Cholat Florent , Daconto Luca
Published: March 2021

Older people’s social exclusion in mountain areas is often the result of service inaccessibility. Mountain territories are indeed partly characterised by a low availability of services and high transport constraints. In this environment, older people, with a lower capacity for mobility (such as impaired or not autonomous individuals), require a set of reversed mobilities, where the mobility of relatives, caregivers or shops ensures, at least indirectly, their access to relevant services. This chapter aims to stress how reversed mobilities may promote older people’s inclusion in mountain areas and contribute to a better understanding of exclusion from services. In particular, we will emphasise: (1) the interaction between different factors in constructing service inaccessibility as an exclusionary process in the lives of mountain dwelling older people; (2) the key role played by reversed mobilities in combatting older people’s experience of exclusion from services in mountain areas, as well as the environmental, economic and social costs and “new” inequalities that might be associated with this form of adaptation. Our analysis is underpinned by a focus on two European Alpine territories (Isère, France; Bergamo, Italy) as exploratory examples. The extension of our arguments to other socio-cultural contexts is also considered.
Introduction: Framing Economic Exclusion
Authors: Ogg Jim , Myck Michal
Published: March 2021

Economic exclusion is a multidimensional concept that has particular relevance in the context of ageing populations and globalised economies. Sustaining adequate incomes in old age and protecting older citizens from poverty are major challenges for governments and policy makers and they have been amplified in the face of the economic consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. Over the past few decades most countries have made adjustments to their pension systems and other welfare related policies that concern older citizens, and these reforms have already had and will continue to have a differential impact on economic exclusion. For some, extending the working life and pushing back the legal age of retirement can be a safeguard against inadequate incomes in old age, while for others who are excluded from the labour market, or who are working in low paid jobs, economic exclusion remains a reality. The labour market implications of the pandemic are likely to exacerbate this risk for those whose situation was already fragile before the crisis.
Introduction: Framing Exclusion Interrelationships
Authors: Dahlberg Lena
Published: March 2021

Multidimensionality is a key feature of social exclusion, that is, exclusion concerns different life domains, and disadvantages in one domain can be interrelated with disadvantages in other domains. Interrelationships across social exclusion domains have implications not only for the experience of the individual, but also for policy, since cutbacks or interventions addressing one domain may have additional effects on one or several other domains. In this chapter, interrelationships that can arise between different domains and the four chapters examining such interrelations within this section are introduced.
Introduction
Authors: Huntjens Patrick
Published: March 2021

The nature of the social, environmental, and economic problems we face today requires a new social contract, a Natural Social Contract. A Natural Social Contract does justice to a human being’s natural state (human life is group life) and to the natural position of humankind and society within a larger ecosystem, that of planet Earth. The Natural Social Contract regards society as a social-ecological system, focusing on people as members of a community and as part of a natural ecosystem. It emphasizes long-term sustainability and general welfare by combining human and nature, and recalibrating our unfettered approach to unlimited economic growth, overconsumption, and over-individualization. The end result, I argue, is for the benefit of ourselves, our planet, and future generations.

If you are concerned about our society and our planet, and keeping both healthy for future generations, then this book is written for you. And if you have an interest in the systemic changes required to fundamentally shift our social, economic, ecological, and institutional perspectives, this book is for you too. Together, we can promote a sustainable, healthy, and just society and achieve change on the ground. This book offers a way forward.
Sustainability Transition: Quest for a New Social Contract
Authors: Huntjens Patrick
Published: March 2021

This chapter will provide an overview of the necessity and nature of the sustainability transition, starting with the paradox of prosperity (Sect. 2.1), the ecological boundaries of our planet (Sect. 2.2) and how this relates to a broad range of security and justice issues (Sect. 2.3). Following this, the chapter provides a brief description of the nature of the sustainability transition (Sect. 2.4), and concludes with an argumentation to be more explicit on what comes after the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the UN 2030 Agenda (Sect. 2.5).
Measuring and assessing contributions to sustainable development
Authors: Lemke Claudia
Published: March 2021

Measurement and assessment of sustainable development must be executed to reduce the risk of failure in the transition to sustainability. The old axiom “what gets measured gets managed” (e.g. Parris & Kates, 2003) or its reverse “what is not measured often gets ignored” (e.g. Giljum, Burger, Hinterberger, Lutter & Bruckner, 2011) prevails. Measurement and assessment address both the descriptive-analytical and the transformational mode of sustainable development (see Section 2.1; Wiek et al., 2012): They generate and structure information to serve decision making (Waas et al., 2014).
Constraints on quasinormal modes and bounds for critical points from pole-skipping
Authors: Abbasi Navid , Kaminski Matthias
Published: March 2021

Abstract

We consider a holographic thermal state and perturb it by a scalar operator whose associated real-time Green’s function has only gapped poles. These gapped poles correspond to the non-hydrodynamic quasinormal modes of a massive scalar perturbation around a Schwarzschild black brane. Relations between pole-skipping points, critical points and quasinormal modes in general emerge when the mass of the scalar and hence the dual operator dimension is varied. First, this novel analysis reveals a relation between the location of a mode in the infinite tower of quasinormal modes and the number of pole-skipping points constraining its dispersion relation at imaginary momenta. Second, for the first time, we consider the radii of convergence of the derivative expansions about the gapped quasinormal modes. These convergence radii turn out to be bounded from above by the set of all pole-skipping points. Furthermore, a transition between two distinct classes of critical points occurs at a particular value for the conformal dimension, implying close relations between critical points and pole-skipping points in one of those two classes. We show numerically that all of our results are also true for gapped modes of vector and tensor operators.
Heterotic complex structure moduli stabilization for elliptically fibered Calabi-Yau manifolds
Authors: Cui Wei , Karkheiran Mohsen
Published: March 2021

Abstract

Holomorphicity of vector bundles can stabilize complex structure moduli of a Calabi-Yau threefold in N = 1 supersymmetric heterotic compactifications. In principle, the Atiyah class determines the stabilized moduli. In this paper, we study how this mechanism works in the context of elliptically fibered Calabi-Yau manifolds where the complex structure moduli space contains two kinds of moduli, those from the base and those from the fibration. Defining the bundle with spectral data, we find three types of situations when bundles’ holomorphicity depends on algebraic cycles exist only for special loci in the complex structure moduli, which allows us to stabilize both of these two moduli. We present concrete examples for each type and develop practical tools to analyze the stabilized moduli. Finally, by checking the holomorphicity of the four-flux and/or local Higgs bundle data in F-theory, we briefly study the dual complex structure moduli stabilization scenarios.
Two-loop matching of renormalizable operators: general considerations and applications
Authors: Bahl Henning , Sobolev Ivan
Published: March 2021

Abstract

Low-energy effective field theories (EFT) encode information about the physics at high energies — i.e., the high-energy theory (HET). To extract this information the EFT and the HET have to be matched to each other. At the one-loop level, general results for the matching of renormalizable operators have already been obtained in the literature. In the present paper, we take a step towards a better understanding of renormalizable operator matching at the two-loop level: focusing on the diagrammatic method, we discuss in detail the various contributions to two-loop matching conditions and compare different approaches to derive them. Moreover, we discuss which observables are best suited for the derivation of matching conditions. As a concrete application, we calculate the $$ \mathcal{O}\left({\alpha}_t{\alpha}_s\right) $$
O

α
t

α
s

and $$ \mathcal{O}\left({\alpha}_t^2\right) $$
O

α
t
2

matching conditions of the scalar four-point couplings between the Standard Model (SM) and the Two-Higgs-Doublet Model (THDM) as well as the THDM and the Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model (MSSM). We use the derived formulas to improve the prediction of the SM-like Higgs mass in the MSSM using the THDM as EFT.
Characterization and elimination of linkage-drag associated with Fusarium wilt race 3 resistance genes
Authors: Chitwood-Brown Jessica , Vallad Gary E. , Lee Tong Geon , Hutton Samuel F.
Published: March 2021

Key message

Reducing the size of the I-3 introgression resulted in eliminating linkage-drag contributing to increased sensitivity to bacterial spot and reduced fruit size. The I-7 gene was determined to have no effect on bacterial spot or fruit size, and germplasm is now available with both the reduced I-3 introgression and I-7.

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) production is increasingly threatened by Fusarium wilt race 3 (Fol3) caused by the soilborne fungus, Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici. Although host resistance based on the I-3 gene is the most effective management strategy, I-3 is associated with detrimental traits including reduced fruit size and increased bacterial spot sensitivity. Previous research demonstrated the association with bacterial spot is not due to the I-3 gene, itself, and we hypothesize that reducing the size of the I-3 introgression will remedy this association. Cultivars with I-7, an additional Fol3 resistance gene, are available but are not widely used commercially, and it is unclear whether I-7 also has negative horticultural associations. To characterize the effect of I-3 on fruit size, segregating populations were developed and evaluated, revealing that the large I-3 introgression decreased fruit size by approximately 21%. We reduced the I-3 introgression from 5 to 140 kb through successive recombinant screening and crossing efforts. The reduced I-3 introgression and I-7 were then separately backcrossed into elite Florida breeding lines and evaluated for effects on bacterial spot sensitivity and fruit size across multiple seasons. The reduced I-3 introgression resulted in significantly less bacterial spot and larger fruit size than the large introgression, and it had no effect on these horticultural characteristics compared with Fol3 susceptibility. I-7 was also found to have no effect on these traits compared to Fol3 susceptibility. Together, these efforts support the development of superior Fol3-resistant cultivars and more durable resistance against this pathogen.
Heart rate recovery is useful for evaluating the recovery of exercise tolerance in patients with heart failure and atrial fibrillation
Authors: Tanaka Seiya , Miyamoto Taro , Mori Yusuke , Harada Takashi , Tasaki Hiromi
Published: March 2021

This study aimed to examine the factors that contribute to improvement of exercise tolerance in patients with heart failure (HF) and atrial fibrillation (AF) following cardiac rehabilitation. Our hypothesis is that parasympathetic values are important for recovering exercise tolerance in those patients. We included 84 consecutive patients with HF and AF (mean age: 69 ± 15 years, 80% men). All of the patients underwent a cardiopulmonary exercise test and had pre and post 5 month cardiac rehabilitation assessed. After 155 ± 11 days and 44 ± 8 sessions, 73 patients (86%) showed an increase in peak oxygen uptake (VO2) and VO2 at the anaerobic threshold. In univariate linear regression analysis, the % change in heart rate recovery, plasma B-type natriuretic peptide levels, resting heart rate, and the minute ventilation /carbon dioxide output slope were significantly related to that of peak VO2 (p < 0.01, p = 0.03, p = 0.02, p < 0.01, respectively). Stepwise multivariate linear regression analysis showed that the % change in heart rate recovery was independently related to that of peak VO2 (p < 0.05). Our results suggest that heart rate recovery is closely associated with recovery of exercise tolerance in patients with HF and AF after CR.
Has the development of cancer biomarkers to guide treatment improved health outcomes?
Authors: D′Avó Luís Ana Beatriz , Seo Mikyung Kelly
Published: March 2021

During the last decade, testing the patient’s biomarker status prior to the administration of corresponding co-dependent therapies has been emerging in clinical practice. These biomarker-guided therapies have promoted the promise of more personalized medicine, with the prescription of the right treatment to the right patient, while avoiding expensive ineffective drugs and adverse drug reactions. Cancer treatments have especially taken advantage of this technology. We assess how the introduction of biomarker tests guiding cancer therapy have affected the premature mortality and survival of cancer patients in Norway. Our findings suggest that, in general, cancer patients have benefited from both biomarker testing and more cancer drugs. Furthermore, we find that the total effect of biomarker testing on 3-year survival decreases as the number of drugs available increases, suggesting that the matching of patients with the appropriate treatment is better when fewer drugs are available.
First blood: the endothelial origins of hematopoietic progenitors
Authors: Canu Giovanni , Ruhrberg Christiana
Published: March 2021

Hematopoiesis in vertebrate embryos occurs in temporally and spatially overlapping waves in close proximity to blood vascular endothelial cells. Initially, yolk sac hematopoiesis produces primitive erythrocytes, megakaryocytes, and macrophages. Thereafter, sequential waves of definitive hematopoiesis arise from yolk sac and intraembryonic hemogenic endothelia through an endothelial-to-hematopoietic transition (EHT). During EHT, the endothelial and hematopoietic transcriptional programs are tightly co-regulated to orchestrate a shift in cell identity. In the yolk sac, EHT generates erythro-myeloid progenitors, which upon migration to the liver differentiate into fetal blood cells, including erythrocytes and tissue-resident macrophages. In the dorsal aorta, EHT produces hematopoietic stem cells, which engraft the fetal liver and then the bone marrow to sustain adult hematopoiesis. Recent studies have defined the relationship between the developing vascular and hematopoietic systems in animal models, including molecular mechanisms that drive the hemato-endothelial transcription program for EHT. Moreover, human pluripotent stem cells have enabled modeling of fetal human hematopoiesis and have begun to generate cell types of clinical interest for regenerative medicine.
A game-theoretic multi-stakeholder model for cost allocation in urban consolidation centres
Authors: Ciardiello Francesco , Genovese Andrea , Luo Shucheng , Sgalambro Antonino
Published: March 2021

Recently, many European local authorities have set up Urban Consolidation Centres (UCC) for dealing with challenges arising from the environmental and social impacts of logistical activities in urban contexts through shipment synchronisation and carrier coordination policies. However, the number of successful UCC projects led by local authorities in Europe is low, with most of the UCCs failing to achieve financial sustainability after the initial experimental phase, which is often heavily supported by public funds. In order to propose mechanisms that could favour the economic and financial sustainability of UCC systems, this research develops an adaptation of game-theoretic approaches to the problems of responsibility and cost allocation among stakeholders participating in a UCC delivery network. A solution based on the Shapley Value concept is employed to derive cost allocations; applications of the model to a real-world scenario are evaluated. An extensive sensitivity analysis shows that the proposed cost allocation rules can provide alternative arrangements, based on extended responsibility concepts, which can alleviate the burden on local authorities for the set up of UCCs. As such, results provide useful policy and practice implications on how to safeguard UCCs’ viability under different scenarios, including the outsourcing of the last-mile deliveries.
Validation of dispersion model designated for the coke production industry
Authors: Żeliński Jacek , Kaleta Dorota , Telenga-Kopyczyńska Jolanta
Published: March 2021

In the practical application of air protection, diverse dispersion models are used to calculate the concentration of contaminants in the air. They usually involve a universal character, which typically makes them sufficient for use in almost all conditions, with the exception of those clearly deviating from the average. This is especially relevant to industrial objects of large areas, introducing a great amount of heat and mechanical energy into the air. For such cases, the standard models can be extended in order to adapt them to the unusual local diffusion conditions. Next, to be applied in practice, they must have undergone validation to document the correctness of its operation. The article describes the process of validation of the air quality assessment model containing extended procedures to incorporate special factors affecting atmospheric dispersion in a coke industry. The set of statistical indicators, obtained on the basis of SF6 field experiment, evaluate its performance. The short comparison with some popular models of general-purpose character and an assessment of the suitability of individual indicators for validation purposes are also presented.
Coupling a Detailed Transport Model to the Integrated Assessment Model REMIND
Authors: Rottoli Marianna , Dirnaichner Alois , Kyle Page , Baumstark Lavinia , Pietzcker Robert , Luderer Gunnar
Published: March 2021

The transport sector is a crucial bottleneck in the decarbonization challenge. To study the sector’s decarbonization potential in the wider systems perspective, we couple a large-scale integrated assessment model, Regionalized Model of INvestments and Development (REMIND), to a detailed transport model, Energy Demand Generator-Transport (EDGE-T). This approach allows the analysis of mobility futures in the context of long-term and global energy sector transformations, at a high level of modal and technological granularity and internal consistency. The runtime of the coupled system increases by ~ 15–20% compared with a REMIND standalone application, and first convergence tests are promising. To illustrate the capabilities of our modeling approach, we focus on a reference pathway for Europe. Preliminary results indicate that transport service demands grow in the next decades for both passenger and freight transport. Transport system emissions are expected to decrease in the same time range, due to a shift towards electric drivetrains, advanced vehicles, more efficient modes as well as a slight increase in the share of biofuels.