bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A methodology to design measurement systems when multiple model classes are plausible
Authors: Bertola Numa J. , Pai Sai G. S. , Smith Ian F. C.
Published: January 2021

The management of existing civil infrastructure is challenging due to evolving functional requirements, aging and climate change. Civil infrastructure often has hidden reserve capacity because of conservative approaches used in design and during construction. Information collected through sensor measurements has the potential to improve knowledge of structural behavior, leading to better decisions related to asset management. In this situation, the design of the monitoring system is an important task since it directly affects the quality of the information that is collected. Design of optimal measurement systems depends on the choice of behavior-model parameters to identify using monitoring data and non-parametric uncertainty sources. A model that contains a representation of these parameters as variables is called a model class. Selection of the most appropriate model class is often difficult prior to acquisition of information regarding the structural behavior, and this leads to suboptimal sensor placement. This study presents strategies to efficiently design measurement systems when multiple model classes are plausible. This methodology supports the selection of a sensor configuration that provides significant information gain for each model class using a minimum number of sensors. A full-scale bridge, The Powder Mill Bridge (USA), and an illustrative beam example are used to compare methodologies. A modification of the hierarchical algorithm for sensor placement has led to design of configurations that have fewer sensors than previously proposed strategies without compromising information gain.
Effect of the method for the elimination of inhibitors present in Miscanthus giganteus hydrolysates on ethanol production effectiveness
Authors: Kordala Natalia , Lewandowska Małgorzata , Bednarski Włodzimierz
Published: January 2021

The pretreatment of lignocellulosic material performed to improve substrate’s susceptibility to enzymatic hydrolysis is usually accompanied by reactions leading to the synthesis of compounds that inhibit the metabolic activity of microorganisms. Their toxicity is the main obstacle to the successful bioconversion of lignocellulosic hydrolysates. The identification of these inhibitors and the choice of the optimal detoxication method are crucial for the improving the efficiency of fermentation processes. Material rinsing with water after processing is a common detoxication practice. However, it generates material losses, thus affecting contents of saccharides in the fermentation medium, which may in turn trigger higher costs of lignocellulose conversion to ethanol and other products with a higher added value. A study was undertaken to determine the effect of selected methods for the detoxication of an enzymatic hydrolysate from Miscanthus giganteus on the fermentation efficiency of saccharide derivatives. The experiment conducted with Mucor rouxii DSM 1191 demonstrated the usability of the detoxication method based on the activated carbon. After 96-h fermentation of Miscanthus hydrolysates, the alcohol content in the post-reaction medium was higher by 14% than in the control experiment wherein the material was rinsed with water after pretreatment. The experiment carried out with Saccharomyces cerevisiae 7, NRRL 978 showed no positive impact of the alternative detoxication methods replacing material rinsing on the efficiency of ethanol synthesis. The highest concentration of this metabolite (2.04% (v/v)) was obtained in the experimental variant in which the mentioned operation was coupled with detoxication of hydrolysates using calcium hydroxide.
Inference and reasoning in a Bayesian knowledge-intensive CBR system
Authors: Nikpour Hoda , Aamodt Agnar
Published: January 2021

This paper presents the inference and reasoning methods in a Bayesian supported knowledge-intensive case-based reasoning (CBR) system called BNCreek. The inference and reasoning process in this system is a combination of three methods. The semantic network inference methods and the CBR method are employed to handle the difficulties of inferencing and reasoning in uncertain domains. The Bayesian network inference methods are employed to make the process more accurate. An experiment from oil well drilling as a complex and uncertain application domain is conducted. The system is evaluated against expert estimations and compared with seven other corresponding systems. The normalized discounted cumulative gain (NDCG) as a rank-based metric, the weighted error (WE), and root-square error (RSE) as the statistical metrics are employed to evaluate different aspects of the system capabilities. The results show the efficiency of the developed inference and reasoning methods.
Gesundheitsfördernde Arbeitsgestaltung im Homeoffice im Kontext der COVID-19-Pandemie
Authors: Mojtahedzadeh Natascha , Rohwer Elisabeth , Lengen Julia , Harth Volker , Mache Stefanie
Published: January 2021

Hintergrund

Die mit der COVID-19-Pandemie einhergehenden Kontaktbeschränkungen haben viele Unternehmen dazu veranlasst, ihren Beschäftigten aus Gründen des Infektionsschutzes das Arbeiten aus dem Homeoffice zu ermöglichen.

Fragestellung

In dieser Literaturübersicht wird der Frage nachgegangen, inwiefern die Ausübung der beruflichen Tätigkeit im Homeoffice gesundheitsfördernd gestaltet werden kann.

Ergebnisse

Arbeitsplätzen im Homeoffice liegen dieselben Richtlinien wie für Büro- und Bildschirmarbeitsplätze zugrunde. Um negative psychische und physische Beanspruchungsfolgen zu vermeiden, wird die ergonomische Arbeitsplatzgestaltung empfohlen. Außerdem kommt der Arbeitszeitgestaltung (Strukturierung des Arbeitstages, Einhalten von Pausen und Regenerationseinheiten und die Vermeidung von Störungen und Unterbrechungen) eine hohe Bedeutung für eine gesundheitsfördernde Arbeitsweise im Homeoffice zu.

Schlussfolgerung

Wichtige Bausteine für gesundheitsfördernde Arbeitsgestaltung sind die zeitliche, räumliche und insbesondere mentale Trennung von Arbeits- und Privatleben. Bei der gesundheitsfördernden Arbeitsplatzgestaltung im Homeoffice sind Beschäftigte und ihre individuellen Bedürfnisse zu berücksichtigen. Die Verantwortung der Realisierung gesundheitsfördernder Arbeitsgestaltung liegt durch die ad-hoc-Umstellung in der Pandemie jedoch zumeist allein bei den Beschäftigten.
Mechanical properties and permeability of red mud-blast furnace slag-based geopolymer concrete
Authors: Liang Xiangzhou , Ji Yongsheng
Published: January 2021

Red mud, a by-product of alumina production, has a great impact on the environment due to its high alkalinity. In this paper, two-part geopolymer mortar was synthesized by combining red mud and blast furnace slag (BFS) to obtain optimized compressive strength and flexural strength for construction materials. Geopolymer concrete was prepared with the cementitious material in the concrete replaced by geopolymer mortar. Mechanical properties, permeability and microscopic properties of geopolymer concrete were measured. The results showed that the compressive strength grade of concrete prepared with geopolymer concrete can reach 54.43 MPa indicating that the geopolymer concrete can be used as materials for load-bearing members in structures. Due to lower total porosity and better pore structure, the permeability resistance of geopolymer concrete was significantly better than ordinary concrete. Microscopic analysis indicated that a large amount of aluminosilicate reaction products was generated in a geopolymer by the reaction of OH− with the aluminosilicate components in red mud and BFS in a strongly alkaline environment. The surface [SiO4]4− and [AlO4]4− tetrahedrons form chemical bonds through dehydroxylation, which is the direct reason for their high strength and determines their excellent physical and chemical properties.
Synthesis, characterization, biological screening and determination of stability constants of N,N′-Bis[1-(4-chlorophenyl)ethylidene]ethane-1,2-diamine
Authors: Aslam Muhammad , Gulzar Asad , Mehmood Rashad , Noreen Zahra , Asad Ghania , Shafqat Syed Salman , Faizan Muhammad , Irshad Misbah
Published: January 2021

A Schiff base ligand, N,N′-bis[1-(4-chlorophenyl)ethylidene]ethane-1,2-diamine (SBL), was synthesized by condensation of 4-chloroacetophenone with ethylenediamine in methanol in the presence of H2SO4 as catalyst. The structure of SBL was elucidated by spectroscopic (1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, IR and MS) and elemental analyses, and also confirmed by XRD. The SBL was used to prepare metal complexes 1-2 with Pb+2 and Cd+2, respectively. The structures of the complexes were elucidated by IR, MS and elemental analyses. On the basis of electronic spectra and magnetic moment data, octahedral geometry was proposed for the synthesized complexes 1-2. The conductivity data showed the non-electrolytic nature of the complexes 1-2. The SBL and complexes 1-2 were subjected to measure their biological potential against Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis and Escherichia coli bacteria. SBL showed non-significant anti-bacterial potential whereas complexes showed moderate potential as compared to standard impinium. In the toxicity with brine shrimp larvae, complexes showed more toxic effect than the SBL. In the experiments to determine the stability constants of SBL with CuCl2, Cu(OAc)2, CoCl2 and Co(NO3)2; SBL showed highest stability constants with Cu(OAc)2 which is 1.550 × 107 at 1:1 (L:M) and second highest with Co(NO3)2 which is 6.861 × 106 at 3:2 (L:M).
The Problems of Genocide
Authors: Moses A. Dirk
Published: January 2021

Genocide is not only a problem of mass death, but also of how, as a relatively new idea and law, it organizes and distorts thinking about civilian destruction. Taking the normative perspective of civilian immunity from military attack, A. Dirk Moses argues that the implicit hierarchy of international criminal law, atop which sits genocide as the 'crime of crimes', blinds us to other types of humanly caused civilian death, like bombing cities, and the 'collateral damage' of missile and drone strikes. Talk of genocide, then, can function ideologically to detract from systematic violence against civilians perpetrated by governments of all types. The Problems of Genocide contends that this violence is the consequence of 'permanent security' imperatives: the striving of states, and armed groups seeking to found states, to make themselves invulnerable to threats.
The Problem of Nature in Hegel'sPhilosophy of Right
Authors: Lumsden Simon
Published: January 2021

The notion of being-at-home-in-otherness is the distinctive way of thinking of freedom that Hegel develops in his social and political thought. When I am at one with myself in social and political structures (institutions, rights and the state) they are not external powers to which I am subjected but are rather constitutive of my self-relation, that is my self-conception is mediated andexpandedthrough those objective structures. How successfully Hegel may achieve being-at-home-in-otherness with regard to these objective structures of right in thePhilosophy of Rightis arguable. What is at issue in this paper is however to argue that there is a blind spot in the text with regard to nature. In Ethical Life the rational subject's passions and inclinations are brought into the subject such that she is ‘with herself’ in them; with regard to external nature no such reconciliation is achieved or even attempted. In Abstract Right external nature is effectively dominated by and subsumed into the will and it is never something in which one is with oneself. It remains outside the model of freedom that Hegel develops in thePhilosophy of Right. There is something troubling about this formulation, since it excludes nature from freedom, but also something accurate, as it reflects the unresolved attitude of moderns to the natural world.
SHAFTESBURY ON SELFISHNESS AND PARTISANSHIP
Authors: Gill Michael B.
Published: January 2021

In the Introduction to his Treatise of Human Nature, David Hume credits “my Lord Shaftesbury” as one of the “philosophers in England, who have begun to put the science of man on a new footing.” I describe aspects of Shaftesbury’s philosophy that justify the credit Hume gives him. I focus on Shaftesbury’s refutation of psychological egoism, his examination of partiality, and his views on how to promote impartial virtue. I also discuss Shaftesbury’s political commitments, and raise questions about recent interpretations that have taken his Characteristicks to be a polemic, partisan text.
THE PROTECTION OF THE RICH AGAINST THE POOR: THE POLITICS OF ADAM SMITH’S POLITICAL ECONOMY
Authors: Harris James A.
Published: January 2021

My point of departure in this essay is Smith’s definition of government. “Civil government,” he writes, “so far as it is instituted for the security of property, is in reality instituted for the defence of the rich against the poor, or of those who have some property against those who have none at all.” First I unpack Smith’s definition of government as the protection of the rich against the poor. I argue that, on Smith’s view, this is always part of what government is for. I then turn to the question of what, according to Smith, our governors can do to protect the wealth of the rich from the resentment of the poor. I consider, and reject, the idea that Smith might conceive of education as a means of alleviating the resentment of the poor at their poverty. I then describe how, in his lectures on jurisprudence, Smith refines and develops Hume’s taxonomy of the opinions upon which all government rests. The sense of allegiance to government, according to Smith, is shaped by instinctive deference to natural forms of authority as well as by rational, Whiggish considerations of utility. I argue that it is the principle of authority that provides the feelings of loyalty upon which government chiefly rests. It follows, I suggest, that to the extent that Smith looked to government to protect the property of the rich against the poor, and thereby to maintain the peace and stability of society at large, he cannot have sought to lessen the hold on ordinary people of natural sentiments of deference. In addition, I consider the implications of Smith’s theory of government for the question of his general attitude toward poverty. I argue against the view that Smith has recognizably “liberal,” progressive views of how the poor should be treated. Instead, I locate Smith in the political culture of the Whiggism of his day.
Cosmology, astrobiology and the RNA world: just add quintessential water
Authors: Johnson Keith
Published: January 2021

Laboratory generation of water nanoclusters from amorphous ice and strong terahertz (THz) radiation from water nanoclusters ejected from water vapour into a vacuum suggest the possibility of water nanoclusters ejected into interstellar space from abundant amorphous ice-coated cosmic dust produced by supernovae explosions. Water nanoclusters (section ‘Water nanoclusters’) offer a hypothetical scenario connecting major mysteries of our Universe: dark matter (section ‘Baryonic dark matter’), dark energy (section ‘Dark energy’), cosmology (section ‘Cosmology’), astrobiology (section ‘Astrobiology’) and the RNA world (section ‘The RNA world’) as the origin of life on Earth and habitable exoplanets. Despite their expected low density in space compared to hydrogen, their quantum-entangled diffuse Rydberg electronic states make cosmic water nanoclusters a candidate for baryonic dark matter that can also absorb, via the microscopic dynamical Casimir effect, the virtual photons of zero-point-energy vacuum fluctuations above the nanocluster cut-off vibrational frequencies, leaving only vacuum fluctuations below these frequencies to be gravitationally active, thus leading to a possible common origin of dark matter and dark energy. This picture includes novel explanations of the small cosmological constant, the coincidence of energy and matter densities, possible contributions of the red-shifted THz radiation from cosmic water nanoclusters at redshiftz≅ 10 to the cosmic microwave background (CMB) spectrum, the Hubble constant crisis, the role of water as a known coolant for rapid early star formation and ultimately, how life may have originated from RNA protocells on Earth and exoplanets and moons in the habitable zones of developed solar systems. Together, they lead to a cyclic universe cosmology – based on the proposed equivalence of cosmic water nanoclusters to a quintessence scalar field – instead of a multiverse based on cosmic inflation theory. Recent CMB birefringence measurements may support quintessence. Finally, from the quantum chemistry of water nanoclusters interacting with prebiotic organic molecules, amino acids and RNA protocells on early Earth and habitable exoplanets, this scenario is consistent with the anthropic principle that our Universe must have those properties which allow life, as we know it – based on water, to develop at the present stage of its history.
CME-EKG 67/Antworten: Arrhythmie bei Belastung
Authors: Molitor Nadine , Brunckhorst Corinna B.
Published: January 2021

Zusammenfassung. Ventrikuläre Tachykardien sind potenziell lebensbedrohliche Herzrhythmusstörungen mit einer Herzfrequenz >100 Schläge/min und einem Ursprungsort der Arrhythmie unterhalb des Hisbündels im spezifischen Reizleitungssystem oder im ventrikulären Myokard. Die Morphologie im Oberflächen-EKG kann bereits Hinweise auf den zugrundeliegenden Mechanismus und die damit assoziierte Grunderkrankung liefern. Der jeweilige Pathomechanismus ist entscheidend für die weiterführende Therapie. Dieser Artikel soll einen Einblick in die verschiedenen Ursachen und Therapieoptionen sowie die Differenzialdiagnose der ventrikulären Tachykardien geben.
Decreased phenol sulfotransferase activities associated with hyperserotonemia in autism spectrum disorders
Authors: Pagan Cécile , Benabou Marion , Leblond Claire , Cliquet Freddy , Mathieu Alexandre , Lemière Nathalie , Goubran-Botros Hany , Delorme Richard , Leboyer Marion , Callebert Jacques , Bourgeron Thomas , Launay Jean-Marie
Published: January 2021

Hyperserotonemia is the most replicated biochemical abnormality associated with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). However, previous studies of serotonin synthesis, catabolism, and transport have not elucidated the mechanisms underlying this hyperserotonemia. Here we investigated serotonin sulfation by phenol sulfotransferases (PST) in blood samples from 97 individuals with ASD and their first-degree relatives (138 parents and 56 siblings), compared with 106 controls. We report a deficient activity of both PST isoforms (M and P) in platelets from individuals with ASD (35% and 78% of patients, respectively), confirmed in autoptic tissues (9 pineal gland samples from individuals with ASD—an important source of serotonin). Platelet PST-M deficiency was strongly associated with hyperserotonemia in individuals with ASD. We then explore genetic or pharmacologic modulation of PST activities in mice: variations of PST activities were associated with marked variations of blood serotonin, demonstrating the influence of the sulfation pathway on serotonemia. We also conducted in 1645 individuals an extensive study of SULT1A genes, encoding PST and mapping at highly polymorphic 16p11.2 locus, which did not reveal an association between copy number or single nucleotide variations and PST activity, blood serotonin or the risk of ASD. In contrast, our broader assessment of sulfation metabolism in ASD showed impairments of other sulfation-related markers, including inorganic sulfate, heparan-sulfate, and heparin sulfate-sulfotransferase. Our study proposes for the first time a compelling mechanism for hyperserotonemia, in a context of global impairment of sulfation metabolism in ASD.
CD36 deficiency affects depressive-like behaviors possibly by modifying gut microbiota and the inflammasome pathway in mice
Authors: Bai Shunjie , Wang Wei , Wang Ting , Li Juan , Zhang Shuxiao , Chen Zhi , Qi Xunzhong , Chen Jianjun , Cheng Ke , Xie Peng
Published: January 2021

Both inflammatory processes and gut microbiota have been implicated in the pathophysiology of depressive disorders. The class B scavenger receptor CD36 is involved in the cytotoxicity associated with inflammation. However, its role in depression has not yet been examined. In this study, we investigated whether CD36 affects depression by modulating the microbiota-gut-inflammasome-brain axis. We used CD36−/−(knockout) mice subjected to chronic social defeat stress, and measured the expression of CD36 in these depressed mice and in patients with depression. The hippocampus of CD36−/−mice was used to investigate changes in the NLRP3 inflammasome signaling pathway. The 16S rRNA gene sequence-based approach was used to compare the cecal microbial communities in CD36−/−and WT mice. The CD36 deficiency in CD36−/−mice alleviated chronic stress-induced depression-like behaviors. CD36 was upregulated in depressed mice as well as in depressed patients. Furthermore, the NLRP3 inflammasome signaling pathway was downregulated in the hippocampus of CD36−/−mice. The Simpson Diversity Index revealed increased cecal bacterial alpha-diversity in the CD36−/−mice. Among genera,Bacteroides,Rikenella, andAlloprevotellawere significantly more abundant in the CD36−/−mice, whereasAllobaculumwas less abundant, consistent with the attenuated inflammation in the hippocampus of CD36−/−mice. Our findings suggest that CD36 deficiency changes the gut microbiota composition, which in turn may impact depressive-like behaviors by affecting the inflammasome pathway.
Emotional visual mismatch negativity: a joint investigation of social and non-social dimensions in adults with autism
Authors: Kovarski Klara , Charpentier Judith , Roux Sylvie , Batty Magali , Houy-Durand Emmanuelle , Gomot Marie
Published: January 2021

Unusual behaviors and brain activity to socio-emotional stimuli have been reported in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Atypical reactivity to change and intolerance of uncertainty are also present, but little is known on their possible impact on facial expression processing in autism. The visual mismatch negativity (vMMN) is an electrophysiological response automatically elicited by changing events such as deviant emotional faces presented among regular neutral faces. While vMMN has been found altered in ASD in response to low-level changes in simple stimuli, no study has investigated this response to visual social stimuli. Here two deviant expressions were presented, neutral and angry, embedded in a sequence of repetitive neutral stimuli. vMMN peak analyses were performed for latency and amplitude in early and late time windows. The ASD group presented smaller amplitude of the late vMMN to both neutral and emotional deviants compared to the typically developed adults (TD) group, and only the TD group presented a sustained activity related to emotional change (i.e., angry deviant). Source reconstruction of the vMMNs further revealed that any change processing elicited a reduced activity in ASD group compared to TD in the saliency network, while the specific processing emotional change elicited activity in the temporal region and in the insula. This study confirms atypical change processing in ASD and points to a specific difficulty in the processing of emotional changes, potentially playing a crucial role in social interaction deficits. Nevertheless, these results require to be further replicated with a greater sample size and generalized to other emotional expressions.
Transcranial direct current stimulation induces long-term potentiation-like plasticity in the human visual cortex
Authors: Frase Lukas , Mertens Lydia , Krahl Arno , Bhatia Kriti , Feige Bernd , Heinrich Sven P. , Vestring Stefan , Nissen Christoph , Domschke Katharina , Bach Michael , Normann Claus
Published: January 2021

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is increasingly used as a form of noninvasive brain stimulation to treat psychiatric disorders; however, its mechanism of action remains unclear. Prolonged visual stimulation (PVS) can enhance evoked EEG potentials (visually evoked potentials, VEPs) and has been proposed as a tool to examine long-term potentiation (LTP) in humans. The objective of the current study was to induce and analyze VEP plasticity and examine whether tDCS could either modulate or mimic plasticity changes induced by PVS. Thirty-eight healthy participants received tDCS, PVS, either treatment combined or neither treatment, with stimulation sessions being separated by one week. One session consisted of a baseline VEP measurement, one stimulation block, and six test VEP measurements. For PVS, a checkerboard reversal pattern was presented, and for tDCS, a constant current of 1 mA was applied via each bioccipital anodal target electrode for 10 min (Fig. S1). Both stimulation types decreased amplitudes of C1 compared to no stimulation (F = 10.1; p = 0.002) and led to a significantly smaller increase (PVS) or even decrease (tDCS) in N1 compared to no stimulation (F = 4.7; p = 0.034). While all stimulation types increased P1 amplitudes, the linear mixed effects model did not detect a significant difference between active stimulation and no stimulation. Combined stimulation induced sustained plastic modulation of C1 and N1 but with a smaller effect size than what would be expected for an additive effect. The results demonstrate that tDCS can directly induce LTP-like plasticity in the human cortex and suggest a mechanism of action of tDCS relying on the restoration of dysregulated synaptic plasticity in psychiatric disorders such as depression and schizophrenia.
Stable habituation deficits in the early stage of psychosis: a 2-year follow-up study
Authors: Avery Suzanne N. , McHugo Maureen , Armstrong Kristan , Blackford Jennifer Urbano , Woodward Neil D. , Heckers Stephan
Published: January 2021

Neural habituation, the decrease in brain response to repeated stimuli, is a fundamental, highly conserved mechanism that acts as an essential filter for our complex sensory environment. Convergent evidence indicates neural habituation is disrupted in both early and chronic stages of schizophrenia, with deficits co-occurring in brain regions that show inhibitory dysfunction. As inhibitory deficits have been proposed to contribute to the onset and progression of illness, habituation may be an important treatment target. However, a crucial first step is clarifying whether habituation deficits progress with illness. In the present study, we measured neural habituation in 138 participants (70 early psychosis patients (<2 years of illness), 68 healthy controls), with 108 participants assessed longitudinally at both baseline and 2-year follow-up. At follow-up, all early psychosis patients met criteria for a schizophrenia spectrum disorder (i.e., schizophreniform disorder, schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder). Habituation slopes (i.e., rate of fMRI signal change) to repeated images were computed for the anterior hippocampus, occipital cortex, and the fusiform face area. Habituation slopes were entered into a linear mixed model to test for effects of group and time by region. We found that early psychosis patients showed habituation deficits relative to healthy control participants across brain regions, and that these deficits were maintained, but did not worsen, over two years. These results suggest a stable period of habituation deficits in the early stage of schizophrenia.
Incidence of relapsed/refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) including CNS relapse in a population-based cohort of 4243 patients in Sweden
Authors: Harrysson Sara , Eloranta Sandra , Ekberg Sara , Enblad Gunilla , Jerkeman Mats , Wahlin Bjorn E. , Andersson Per-Ola , Smedby Karin E.
Published: January 2021

We performed a national population-based study of all patients diagnosed with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) in Sweden in 2007–2014 to assess treatment intent and risk of relapsed/refractory disease, including central nervous system (CNS) relapse, in the presence of competing risks. Overall, 84% of patients started treatment with curative intent (anthracycline-based) (n = 3550, median age 69 years), whereas 14% did not (n = 594, median age 84 years) (for 2% the intent was uncertain). Patients treated with curative intent had a 5-year OS of 65.3% (95% CI: 63.7–66.9). The median OS among non-curatively treated patients was 2.9 months. The 5-year cumulative incidence of relapsed/refractory disease in curative patients was 23.1% (95% CI: 21.7–24.6, n = 847). The 2-year cumulative incidence of CNS relapse was 3.0% (95% CI: 2.5–3.6, n = 118) overall, and 8.0% (95% CI: 6.0–10.6, n = 48) among patients with high CNS-IPI (4–6), when considering other relapse locations and death as competing events. The incidence of relapsed/refractory DLBCL overall and in the CNS was lower than in previous reports, still one in seven patients was not considered fit enough to start standard immunochemotherapy at diagnosis. These results are important for quantification of groups of DLBCL patients with poor prognosis requiring completely different types of interventions.
Adiponectin signalling in bone homeostasis, with age and in disease
Authors: Lewis Jonathan W. , Edwards James R. , Naylor Amy J. , McGettrick Helen M.
Published: January 2021

Adiponectin is the most abundant circulating adipokine and is primarily involved in glucose metabolism and insulin resistance. Within the bone, osteoblasts and osteoclasts express the adiponectin receptors, however, there are conflicting reports on the effects of adiponectin on bone formation and turnover. Many studies have shown a pro-osteogenic role for adiponectin in in vivo murine models and in vitro: with increased osteoblast differentiation and activity, alongside lower levels of osteoclastogenesis. However, human studies often demonstrate an inverse relationship between adiponectin concentration and bone activity. Moreover, the presence of multiple isoforms of adiponectin and multiple receptor subtypes has the potential to lead to more complex signalling and functional consequences. As such, we still do not fully understand the importance of the adiponectin signalling pathway in regulating bone homeostasis and repair in health, with age and in disease. In this review, we explore our current understanding of adiponectin bioactivity in the bone; the significance of its different isoforms; and how adiponectin biology is altered in disease. Ultimately, furthering our understanding of adiponectin regulation of bone biology is key to developing pharmacological and non-pharmacological (lifestyle) interventions that target adiponectin signalling to boost bone growth and repair in healthy ageing, following injury or in disease.
Hepatitis B virus particles activate B cells through the TLR2–MyD88–mTOR axis
Authors: Li Qian , Wang Jun , Islam Heba , Kirschning Carsten , Lu Hongzhou , Hoffmann Daniel , Dittmer Ulf , Lu Mengji
Published: January 2021

Host immune control plays a pivotal role in resolving primary hepatitis-B-virus (HBV) infections. The complex interaction between HBV and host immune cells, however, remains unclear. In this study, the transcriptional profiling of specimens from animals infected with woodchuck hepatitis virus (WHV) indicated TLR2 mRNA accumulation as most strongly impacted during WHV infection resolution as compared to other mRNAs. Analysis of blood transcriptional modules demonstrated that monocytes and B-cells were the predominantly activated cell types in animals that showed resolution of infection, which was similar to the response of TLR2-stimulated PBMCs. Further investigation of TLR2-stimulated B-cells pointed at interactions between activated TLR signaling, Akt-mTOR, and glucose metabolic pathways. Moreover, analysis of B-cells from Tlr2−/−, Trif−/−, Myd88−/−, and Trif/Myd88−/− mice challenged with HBV particles indicated B-cell function and glucose metabolism alterations is TLR2-MyD88-mTOR axis dependent. Overall, our study implicates B-cell TLR2 activation in HBV infection resolution.
Earliest Olduvai hominins exploited unstable environments ~ 2 million years ago
Authors: Mercader Julio , Akuku Pam , Boivin Nicole , Bugumba Revocatus , Bushozi Pastory , Camacho Alfredo , Carter Tristan , Clarke Siobhán , Cueva-Temprana Arturo , Durkin Paul , Favreau Julien , Fella Kelvin , Haberle Simon , Hubbard Stephen , Inwood Jamie , Itambu Makarius , Koromo Samson , Lee Patrick , Mohammed Abdallah , Mwambwiga Aloyce , Olesilau Lucas , Patalano Robert , Roberts Patrick , Rule Susan , Saladie Palmira , Siljedal Gunnar , Soto María , Umbsaar Jonathan , Petraglia Michael
Published: January 2021

Rapid environmental change is a catalyst for human evolution, driving dietary innovations, habitat diversification, and dispersal. However, there is a dearth of information to assess hominin adaptions to changing physiography during key evolutionary stages such as the early Pleistocene. Here we report a multiproxy dataset from Ewass Oldupa, in the Western Plio-Pleistocene rift basin of Olduvai Gorge (now Oldupai), Tanzania, to address this lacuna and offer an ecological perspective on human adaptability two million years ago. Oldupai’s earliest hominins sequentially inhabited the floodplains of sinuous channels, then river-influenced contexts, which now comprises the oldest palaeolake setting documented regionally. Early Oldowan tools reveal a homogenous technology to utilise diverse, rapidly changing environments that ranged from fern meadows to woodland mosaics, naturally burned landscapes, to lakeside woodland/palm groves as well as hyper-xeric steppes. Hominins periodically used emerging landscapes and disturbance biomes multiple times over 235,000 years, thus predating by more than 180,000 years the earliest known hominins and Oldowan industries from the Eastern side of the basin.
Catalytically potent and selective clusterzymes for modulation of neuroinflammation through single-atom substitutions
Authors: Liu Haile , Li Yonghui , Sun Si , Xin Qi , Liu Shuhu , Mu Xiaoyu , Yuan Xun , Chen Ke , Wang Hao , Varga Kalman , Mi Wenbo , Yang Jiang , Zhang Xiao-Dong
Published: January 2021

Emerging artificial enzymes with reprogrammed and augmented catalytic activity and substrate selectivity have long been pursued with sustained efforts. The majority of current candidates have rather poor catalytic activity compared with natural molecules. To tackle this limitation, we design artificial enzymes based on a structurally well-defined Au25 cluster, namely clusterzymes, which are endowed with intrinsic high catalytic activity and selectivity driven by single-atom substitutions with modulated bond lengths. Au24Cu1 and Au24Cd1 clusterzymes exhibit 137 and 160 times higher antioxidant capacities than natural trolox, respectively. Meanwhile, the clusterzymes demonstrate preferential enzyme-mimicking catalytic activities, with Au25, Au24Cu1 and Au24Cd1 displaying compelling selectivity in glutathione peroxidase-like (GPx-like), catalase-like (CAT-like) and superoxide dismutase-like (SOD-like) activities, respectively. Au24Cu1 decreases peroxide in injured brain via catalytic reactions, while Au24Cd1 preferentially uses superoxide and nitrogenous signal molecules as substrates, and significantly decreases inflammation factors, indicative of an important role in mitigating neuroinflammation.
Optimal COVID-19 quarantine and testing strategies
Authors: Wells Chad R. , Townsend Jeffrey P. , Pandey Abhishek , Moghadas Seyed M. , Krieger Gary , Singer Burton , McDonald Robert H. , Fitzpatrick Meagan C. , Galvani Alison P.
Published: January 2021

For COVID-19, it is vital to understand if quarantines shorter than 14 days can be equally effective with judiciously deployed testing. Here, we develop a mathematical model that quantifies the probability of post-quarantine transmission incorporating testing into travel quarantine, quarantine of traced contacts with an unknown time of infection, and quarantine of cases with a known time of exposure. We find that testing on exit (or entry and exit) can reduce the duration of a 14-day quarantine by 50%, while testing on entry shortens quarantine by at most one day. In a real-world test of our theory applied to offshore oil rig employees, 47 positives were obtained with testing on entry and exit to quarantine, of which 16 had tested negative at entry; preventing an expected nine offshore transmission events that each could have led to outbreaks. We show that appropriately timed testing can make shorter quarantines effective.
Retraction Note: The melanocortin signaling cAMP axis accelerates repair and reduces mutagenesis of platinum-induced DNA damage
Authors: Jarrett Stuart G. , Carter Katharine M. , Shelton Brent J. , D’Orazio John A.
Published: January 2021

Editor's Note: this Article has been retracted; the Retraction Note is available at https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-80467-y.
Author Correction: Divergence across mitochondrial genomes of sympatric members of the Schistosoma indicum group and clues into the evolution of Schistosoma spindale
Authors: Jones Ben P. , Norman Billie F. , Borrett Hannah E. , Attwood Stephen W. , Mondal Mohammed M. H. , Walker Anthony J. , Webster Joanne P. , Rajapakse R. P. V. Jayanthe , Lawton Scott P.
Published: January 2021

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.
Testing the reversible insertion of magnesium in a cation-deficient manganese oxy-spinel through a concentration cell
Authors: Medina Alejandro , Rodríguez Ana I. , Pérez-Vicente Carlos , Alcántara Ricardo
Published: January 2021

A new electrochemical procedure to explore the intercalation of magnesium using a concentration cell with two cubic spinels Mg1−xMn2O4.
Challenges in the use of hydrogen for maritime applications
Authors: Van Hoecke Laurens , Laffineur Ludovic , Campe Roy , Perreault Patrice , Verbruggen Sammy W. , Lenaerts Silvia
Published: January 2021

Hydrogen is reviewed as a possible new marine fuel, with emphasis on the challenges concerning sustainable production, on board use and safety and specifically the challenges concerning hydrogen storage.
Mixed lead source precursors for producing light absorption layers of perovskite solar cells
Authors: Xie Honggang , Zheng Bo , Gao Can , Xu Jiannan , Zhang Jiejing , Gao Chunxiao , Liu Xizhe
Published: January 2021

Lead thiocyanate is incorporated into lead acetate precursors for improving the efficiency and stability of perovskite solar cells.
Metal-free multicomponent approach for the synthesis of propargylamine: a review
Authors: Ghosh Sujit , Biswas Kinkar
Published: January 2021

Metal-free propargylamines synthesis via multicomponent reactions.
Efficient access to 3′-O-phosphoramidite derivatives of tRNA relatedN6-threonylcarbamoyladenosine (t6A) and 2-methylthio-N6-threonylcarbamoyladenosine (ms2t6A)
Authors: Debiec Katarzyna , Sochacka Elzbieta
Published: January 2021

A new convenient method of ureido linkage formation int6A/ms2t6Anucleosides greatly enhances the availability of phosphoramidite monomers for the chemical synthesis of modified tRNA fragments.
Trifluoromethanesulfonyl azide as a bifunctional reagent for metal-free azidotrifluoromethylation of unactivated alkenes
Authors: Huang Hong-Gui , Li Weishuang , Zhong Dayou , Wang Hu-Chong , Zhao Jing , Liu Wen-Bo
Published: January 2021

A two-component and metal-free azidotrifluoromethylation of alkenes is realized using readily synthesized trifluoromethanesulfonyl azide (N3SO2CF3) as a bifunctional reagent for both CF3and N3groups.
Electrofuels from excess renewable electricity at high variable renewable shares: cost, greenhouse gas abatement, carbon use and competition
Authors: Millinger Markus , Tafarte Philip , Jordan Matthias , Hahn Alena , Meisel Kathleen , Thrän Daniela
Published: January 2021

Renewable transport fuels stem either from renewable electricity or biomass. We perform a model-based systems analysis of the usage of electricity, biomass and carbon for fuel production, focusing on greenhouse gas abatement and cost.
Selective hydrogen bonding controls temperature response of layer-by-layer upper critical solution temperature micellar assemblies
Authors: Aliakseyeu Aliaksei , Albright Victoria , Yarbrough Danielle , Hernandez Samantha , Zhou Qing , Ankner John F. , Sukhishvili Svetlana A.
Published: January 2021

pH tuning of hydrogen-bonding interactions between polymers within layer-by-layer films controls temperature-triggered pyrene release.
Stabilizing liquid drops in nonequilibrium shapes by the interfacial crosslinking of nanoparticles
Authors: Khan Mohd A. , Haase Martin F.
Published: January 2021

We show that the Plateau–Rayleigh instability can be suppressed by the interfacial self-assembly and crosslinking of nanoparticles, potentially introducing a new approach for additive manufacturing.
A hierarchical porous carbon-nanotube skeleton for sensing films with ultrahigh sensitivity, stretchability, and mechanical compliance
Authors: Han Xiao , Zhang Hongbo , Xiao Wei , Han Xiaolong , He Aihua , Nie Huarong
Published: January 2021

A hierarchical porous CNT skeleton with macroporous, microporous, and hollow-fiber configurations provides a strain sensor with ultrahigh sensitivity, stretchability and compliance.
Highly porous Mn3O4 nanosheets with in situ coated carbon enabling fully screen-printed planar supercapacitors with remarkable volumetric performance
Authors: Peng Zhongyou , Huang Jun , He Qichang , Tan Licheng , Chen Yiwang
Published: January 2021

The screen-printed p-Mn3O4@C PSC exhibits remarkable energy density and power density, as well as outstanding cycling stability and integration capability.
Journal of Materials Chemistry A and Materials Advances Editor’s choice web collection: “Recent advances in hydrothermal materials synthesis”
Authors: Unterlass Miriam M.
Published: January 2021

Miriam M. Unterlass introduces a Journal of Materials Chemistry/Materials Advances Editor’s choice web collection on recent advances in hydrothermal materials synthesis (https://rsc.li/hydrothermal).
On the reflection of time-domain acoustic spherical waves by a sinusoidal diffraction grating
Authors: Gao Guochao , Cristini Paul , Favretto-Cristini Nathalie , Deumié Carole
Published: January 2021

This work reports on some results obtained from numerical simulations of time-domain acoustic wave propagation in the presence of a periodically rough interface. Emphasis is put on the structure of the reflected signals in the presence of a sinusoidal grating. More specifically, we investigate the effect of the frequency bandwidth of the emitted signal and the effect of the incident wavefront sphericity on the signals reflected from the rough interface and associated with the different diffraction orders.
Effect of environment on functional traits of co-occurring water beetles
Authors: Sheth Sayali D. , Padhye Anand D. , Ghate Hemant V.
Published: January 2021

We investigated trait-environment relationships of co-occurring aquatic Coleoptera specifically true water beetles in anthropogenic ponds from the Western Ghats, India for the first time. Our objectives were to: (1) identify species assemblages; (2) study species traits; (3) study trait-environment relationships of co-occurring species. We analysed 132 samples collected using standardised quantitative method during the years 2016 and 2017. We found 16 significant assemblages using Fager's index, where most of the pairs have body size ratio of 1.3 or more. For example,Laccophilus parvulus and Hydaticus satoipair has body size ratio of 3.98, and both are predators, indicating that body size is a function of food size. Moreover, factor analysis revealed three major swimming categories of studied beetles, namely fast swimmers, maneuverers and poor swimmers. Further, the RLQ analysis, and combined approach of RLQ and fourth-corner analysis showed that environmental variables affected species traits. For instance, odonate nymphs and submerged vegetation were positively associated with fast swimmers likeLaccophilusinefficiensandHydaticus satoi. The assemblage of congenersHydroglyphus inconstansandH. flammulatuscan be predator-mediated as these beetles showed negative association with odonate nymphs as well as competitive to obtain resource by showing positive association with chironomid larvae. Therefore, the traits studied were important for ecological performances of species in ponds. This study has also highlighted the importance of anthropogenic ponds in the Western Ghats as biodiversity refuges of ecologically unique and evolutionary old major extant lineages of water beetles.
Legal Issues of Teleworking
Authors: Sládek Pavel , Sigmund Tomáš
Published: January 2021

Teleworking is a specific type of work where the employee works outside their usual place of work. A characteristic of this activity is the reduction of the need to commute to their employer's workplace and the performance of work during fixed working hours. The following prerequisites are important for real telework: a computer. The worker is in a different place than the employer or the customer. Communication takes place at a distance via telecommunication networks. Instead of a fixed time regime, teleworking allows the employee to individually optimize the performance of their work according to their own needs in terms of time and place (the workplace is most often home). We use the method of identification, analysis, comparison and synthesis of various legal regulations for teleworking all around the world. In teleworking, the powers of the employer and its employees are not equal. That is why it is necessary to create national laws that will better protect the rights of teleworkers.
Keywords: teleworking; home office; homeworking; European Framework Agreement on Telework; telecommunication networks
Relationship Between Organizational Culture, Employee Satisfaction and Organizational Commitment
Authors: Jigjiddorj Sarantuya , Zanabazar Altanchimeg , Jambal Tsolmon , Semjid Buyankhishig
Published: January 2021

Organizational culture is an important human resource management issue that affects the success and sustainability of a company. In organizational settings, culture describes what is unique about an organization, as expressed by the shared beliefs and values established by the founders and communicated through different ways. This shapes employees´ perceptions and behaviour, as well as the principles that apply to members of an organization.

Job satisfaction refers to an employee´s feelings about their job and is frequently studied in relation to organizational culture and other variables, such as job commitment, performance and organizational commitment.

Organizational commitment refers to whether an employee wishes to continue working for an organization or leave it. Employees tend to be attracted to those organizations with a culture that values their work and focuses on organizational wellbeing. There is a positive relationship between organizational culture, job satisfaction and the organizational commitment of employees.
Academic Entrepreneurship Education: Does Gender Matter?
Authors: Justus Xenia
Published: January 2021

Academic entrepreneurship education aims to train and raise awareness amongst students about entrepreneurial activity, thereby increasing the number of academic start-ups and spin-offs. However, as yet, there are very few findings on the gender-specific differences amongst potential entrepreneurs. Building on the current state of research, gender-specific differences in the form of various different components of entrepreneurial competence are examined. This study focuses in particular on (1) entrepreneurial knowledge, (2) domain-specific interest in entrepreneurship, (3) interest in leadership roles, and (4) entrepreneurial and (5) intrapreneurial intention. Based on an online survey of 281 students of a German and Czech university, the mean differences show that there are statistically significant lower values for female students than for male students for all the variables investigated, that is with exception to intrapreneurial intention. These findings underline the need for targeted promotion of female entrepreneurship within the context of academic entrepreneurship education.