bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A three‐sample study of perfectionism and field test performance in athletes
Authors: Mallinson‐Howard Sarah H. , Madigan Daniel J. , Jowett Gareth E.
Published: August 2020

Field tests are commonly used by sport scientists for performance monitoring and evaluation. While perfectionism predicts performance in a range of contexts, it is currently unclear whether perfectionism predicts performance in such tests. To address this lack of understanding, the present study examined the relationships between perfectionism and fitness‐based field test performance across three athlete samples. After completing a measure of perfectionism (striving for perfection and negative reactions to imperfection), sample one (n = 129 student athletes) participated in a series of countermovement jumps and 20‐metre sprint trials, sample two (n = 136 student athletes) participated in an agility task, and sample three (n = 116 junior athletes) participated in the Yo‐Yo intermittent recovery test (level one). Striving for perfection predicted better sprint and Yo‐Yo test performance. Negative reactions to imperfection predicted worse sprint performance. Mini meta‐analyses of the combined data (N = 381) showed that striving for perfection was positively related to performance (r+ = .24), but negative reactions to imperfection was unrelated to performance (r+ = –.05). The present findings indicate that striving for perfection may predict better fitness‐based field test performance, while negative reactions to imperfection appears to be ambiguous.
A combined “eat me/don't eat me” strategy based on extracellular vesicles for anticancer nanomedicine
Authors: Belhadj Zakia , He Bing , Deng Hailiang , Song Siyang , Zhang Hua , Wang Xueqing , Dai Wenbing , Zhang Qiang
Published: August 2020

A long‐term and huge challenge in nanomedicine is the substantial uptake and rapid clearance mediated by the mononuclear phagocyte system (MPS), which enormously hinders the development of nanodrugs. Inspired by the natural merits of extracellular vesicles, we therefore developed a combined “eat me/don't eat me” strategy in an effort to achieve MPS escape and efficient drug delivery. Methodologically, cationized mannan‐modified extracellular vesicles derived from DC2.4 cells were administered to saturate the MPS (eat me strategy). Then, nanocarriers fused to CD47‐enriched exosomes originated from human serum were administered to evade phagocytosis by MPS (don't eat me strategy). The nanocarriers were also loaded with antitumor drugs and functionalized with a novel homing peptide to promote the tumour tissue accumulation and cancer cell uptake (eat me strategy). The concept was proven in vitro as evidenced by the reduced endocytosis of macrophages and enhanced uptake by tumour cells, whereas prolonged circulation time and increased tumour accumulation were demonstrated in vivo. Specially, the strategy induced a 123.53% increase in tumour distribution compared to conventional nanocarrier. The study both shed light on the challenge overcoming of phagocytic evasion and provided a strategy for significantly improving therapeutic outcomes, potentially permitting active drug delivery via targeted nanomedicines.
Electrophysiological findings in specific language impairment
Authors: Barman Animesh , Prabhu Prashanth , Mekhala V. G. , Vijayan Kavya , Narayanan Swapna
Published: August 2020

Objective

Specific language impairment (SLI) is a developmental disorder when a child has difficulty in producing or understanding spoken language for no apparent reason. The study attempts to carry out an in-depth review of electrphysiological findings in individuals with SLI.

Study design

Review of literature was carried out to review and critical analyse the electrophysiological findings in individuals with SLI.

Results

The results of the review showed contradicting results in this population. Some studies have reported a statistically significant difference in morphology, latency and amplitude of auditory evoked potentials (AEPs) between the children with SLI and the control group. This suggests that children with SLI may have auditory processing problems at the level of brainstem, sub-cortical and cortical areas. While few other studies showed no abnormalities in auditory processing in children with SLI, with intact waveform morphology, latency and amplitude of AEPs.

Conclusion

AEPs were observed to be more variable lacking uniformity because of the heterogeneous nature of SLI. However, further studies need to be conducted to evaluate the auditory processing abilities using auditory evoked potentials in children with SLI.
Using social semiotics and variation theory to analyse learning challenges in physics: a methodological case study
Authors: Eriksson Moa , Eriksson Urban , Linder Cedric
Published: August 2020

The aim of the paper is to create a way of extending the utility of using variation theory of learning (VTL) as an analytic tool for exploring student learning in interactive environments for highly complex disciplines such as physics that aims at obtaining additional insights and understanding of students’ learning challenges in physics drawing on a phenomenography perspective. To do this we propose an analytical combination of two perspectives—social semiotics and the VTL—using theoretical constructs from both. Here, in keeping with the phenomenographic perspective that underlies VTL, learning is taken to mean coming to experience things in distinctly new ways. As a case study, students were video recorded during a group problem-solving session while working on circular motion tutorial problems. Through the combined analytic approach, we were able to identify the students’ relevance structure as enacted as a function of what was in focal awareness and what dimensions of variation that were presented. A social semiotic multimodal transcription is used to illustrate the proposed methodology, which is made up of the semiotic systems that the students chose to use to build their discursive engagement on. As a methodology paper, and because such discussion already exists in the literature, how this kind of analytic combination can provide additional teaching insights and how these insights could be used to enhance teachers’ understanding of their students’ learning are not presented in this paper.
Study of turbulence-induced refraction of lower hybrid waves using synthetic scrape-off layer filaments
Authors: Biswas Bodhi , Gyou Baek Seung , Bonoli Paul , Shiraiwa Syun’ichi , Wallace Gregory , White Anne
Published: August 2020

Turbulence-induced refraction effects to lower hybrid (LH) wave propagation and current drive are studied using synthetic scrape-off layer (SOL) blob/filament fields. A synthetic 3D, field-following, blob turbulence model is implemented in the ray-tracing/Fokker-Planck (RTFP) codes GENRAY/CQL3D. In Alcator C-Mod, the blob field is shown to significantly affect LH ray-trajectories, leading to increased on-axis damping and smoother current profiles. This effect depends on the average blob size and amplitude. In addition, the diffusion of ray-trajectories in phase-space caused by turbulence increases the robustness of the RTFP model. A modified

N

|

|

launch spectrum, acting as a proxy for parametric decay instability (PDI) effects, is included in simulations with the blob model. A synergy between the modified launch spectrum and turbulence-induced refraction results in synthetic hard x-ray profiles that agree with experiment. Lastly, the blob model is used to predict the effect of SOL turbulence on DIII-D high-field side (HFS) LH launch. Assuming low turbulence amplitude in the HFS SOL (∼5%), turbulence-induced refraction is predicted to have little effect on current drive efficiency.
Transient non-classical transport in the hollow cathode plume I: measurements of time-varying electron collision frequency
Authors: Georgin Marcel P , Jorns Benjamin A , Gallimore Alec D
Published: August 2020

Electrostatic probes are employed to measure the time-variations in electron collision frequency due to a large-scale, low-frequency, plasma instability in a high-current hollow cathode plasma discharge (plume mode oscillation). Time-resolved measurements of ion acoustic turbulence are used to infer the effective collision frequency on the timescale of this underlying wave. Through a direct comparison, it is shown that the observed variation in the electron collision frequency cannot be described by classical collisional processes, i.e. Coulomb and neutral collisions, but rather is well represented by the changes in the anomalous collision frequency due to the turbulence.
Effect of pressure sensitivity on spherical indentation response of shape memory alloys
Authors: Anuja J , Venkitachalam Narayan , Narasimhan R
Published: August 2020

Instrumented indentation has proved to be an invaluable tool to determine the small volume mechanical behaviour of shape memory alloys (SMAs). Multi-axial experiments show that SMAs can exhibit pressure sensitive martensite phase transformation, which manifests in terms of tension-compression asymmetry of the associated stress and strain. Since high magnitude of pressure can prevail during indentation, the spherical indentation response of SMAs is investigated in this work by using a constitutive model that captures the above behaviour. Finite element (FE) simulations are first performed at two temperatures (close to A

s
and above A

f
) and corresponding to different values of pressure sensitivity parameter γ
1 for a Ni-Ti SMA. It is found that the indentation load and mean contact pressure enhance at a given depth, while the residual depth at complete unloading (for temperature below A

f
) reduces with increase in γ
1. Further, the transformation zone size at a fixed load drops dramatically with increase in pressure sensitivity index. An expanding cavity model (ECM) is also developed to predict the mean contact pressure for a pressure sensitive SMA and validated against FE simulations as well as available experimental data.
Equivalent Mechanical Model for Conducting Polypyrrole Actuator
Authors: Chen Jinyou , Tian Sukun
Published: August 2020

Conducting polypyrrole actuators are widely used in sensors and bionic robots because of their high conductivity, flexibility and biocompatibility. Based on the theory of cantilever beam, the equivalent mechanical model of conducting polypyrrole actuator is built, and the bending characteristics of different length actuators under different voltage are studied by using the bending characteristics test system of polypyrrole actuator, and the functional relationship between voltage and bending displacement. By lifting the weight with the actuator, it is verified that the free end of the actuator can withstand the force.
Localization of a leading robotic fish using a pressure sensor array on its following vehicle
Authors: Yen Wei-Kuo , Huang Chen-Fen , Chang Hong-Ruei , Guo Jenhwa
Published: August 2020

The tail-flapping propulsion of a robotic fish forms a hydrodynamic pressure field that depends primarily on the flapping frequency and amplitude. In a two-robot aligned group, the tail of the front robot generates an oscillating pressure that is detectable by its follower. This paper proposes a position estimator for the follower to locate the position of the leading robotic fish. The position estimator uses the hydrodynamic pressure measured on a sensor array installed on the forefront of the following vehicle body. We derive a potential flow model to describe the pressure field of the leader in the presence of the follower. Using this pressure field model, we further derive an observability measure which is used to determine the relative positions of the leader and follower for which the position estimator will produce a reliable estimate. The position estimator employs the Levenberg–Marquardt algorithm, due to the nonlinearity of the pressure model. Results from the observability analysis show that a satisfactory estimation of the leader position is achieved when the leader is located directly ahead, on the starboard-bow, or the port-bow of the follower, similar to the formation pattern generally found in a school of fish. The observability analysis also shows that poor estimation is obtained when the leader is abeam of the follower. Tank experiments confirm the observability analysis and also demonstrate the use of the position estimator for feedback control by the follower.
Continental-scale patterns of extracellular enzyme activity in the subsoil: an overlooked reservoir of microbial activity
Authors: Dove Nicholas C , Arogyaswamy Keshav , Billings Sharon A , Botthoff Jon K , Carey Chelsea J , Cisco Caitlin , DeForest Jared L , Fairbanks Dawson , Fierer Noah , Gallery Rachel E , Kaye Jason P , Lohse Kathleen A , Maltz Mia R , Mayorga Emilio , Pett-Ridge Jennifer , Yang Wendy H , Hart Stephen C , Aronson Emma L
Published: August 2020

Chemical stabilization of microbial-derived products such as extracellular enzymes (EE) onto mineral surfaces has gained attention as a possibly important mechanism leading to the persistence of soil organic carbon (SOC). While the controls on EE activities and their stabilization in the surface soil are reasonably well-understood, how these activities change with soil depth and possibly diverge from those at the soil surface due to distinct physical, chemical, and biotic conditions remains unclear. We assessed EE activity to a depth of 1 m (10 cm increments) in 19 soil profiles across the Critical Zone Observatory Network, which represents a wide range of climates, soil orders, and vegetation types. For all EEs, activities per mass of soil correlated positively with microbial biomass (MB) and SOC, and all three of these variables decreased logarithmically with depth (p < 0.05). Across all sites, over half of the potential EE activities per mass soil consistently occurred below 20 cm for all measured EEs. Activities per unit MB or SOC were substantially higher at depth (soils below 20 cm accounted for 80% of whole-profile EE activity), suggesting an accumulation of stabilized (i.e. mineral sorbed) EEs in subsoil horizons. The pronounced enzyme stabilization in subsurface horizons was corroborated by mixed-effects models that showed a significant, positive relationship between clay concentration and MB-normalized EE activities in the subsoil. Furthermore, the negative relationships between soil C, N, and P and C-, N-, and P-acquiring EEs found in the surface soil decoupled below 20 cm, which could have also been caused by EE stabilization. This finding suggests that EEs may not reflect soil nutrient availabilities deeper in the soil profile. Taken together, our results suggest that deeper soil horizons hold a significant reservoir of EEs, and that the controls of subsoil EEs differ from their surface soil counterparts.
Gaussian polymer chains in a harmonic potential: the path integral approach
Authors: Paradezhenko G V , Gascoigne C , Brilliantov N V
Published: August 2020

We study conformations of the Gaussian polymer chains in d-dimensional space in the presence of an external field with the harmonic potential. We apply a path integral approach to derive an explicit expression for the probability distribution function of the gyration radius. We calculate this function using Monte Carlo simulations and show that our numerical and theoretical results are in a good agreement for different values of the external field.
DFT investigation of electronic and elastic properties of α -CdP2
Authors: Rajpurohit S , Kabra K , Sharma G
Published: August 2020

The energy bands, density of states, charge density, Mulliken population, equation of state and elastic properties ofα-CdP2have been studied. Exchange correlation functional PBEsol is utilized in this study. The optimized equilibrium lattice parameters of the conventional cell have been obtained. The present investigation indicates the existence of an indirect band gap of 1.76 eV inα-CdP2crystal. Elastic calculations show the mechanical stability of the alpha phase of CdP2crystal. This work provides an analysis of directional Young’s modulus and linear compressibility forα-CdP2. The study of the elastic anisotropy parameters shows that the alpha phase has a definite elastic anisotropy. The calculated Debye temperature ofα-CdP2is 288.1 K.
Production of ultrafine-grained spherical β-WC-W2C-Co microparticles by electro discharge erosion of WC-15Co alloy in glycerol and their solutions
Authors: Dvornik Maksim , Mikhailenko Elena , Nikolenko Sergey , Vlasova Nuria , Skiruta Andrey
Published: August 2020

The present work is devoted to the study of the production of ultrafine-grained (UFG) spherical microparticles by electro discharge erosion (EDE) of the WC-15Co cemented carbide in glycerol, distilled water, and their solutions. Energy costs, productivity, particle size distribution, and morphological and chemical compositions of the obtained powders were studied. It was found that energy cost is reduced by 2.2 times when glycerol was used instead of water. The use of water reduces carbon content from 5.2% to 1.4%. The use of glycerol and its aqueous solutions reduces carbon loss and increases its content in the obtained powders from 3.2% to 6.1%. During SE, cobalt, carbon, and tungsten evaporate from spherical particles and crystallize in the form of ultrafine particles, which subsequently remain in suspension after sedimentation of spherical particles. Mass fractions of sedimented spherical particle fractions ranged from 75% to 82%. Cobalt and carbon content in the spherical particles obtained in glycerol decrease from 15% to 10% and from 5.2% t to 3.1% respectively. The particles consist of rounded carbide grains (β-WC and W2C) with a diameter of up to 500 nm, the space between which is filled with cobalt. Microhardness of the particles increased from 12.1 GPa (initial alloy) to 15.6 (EDE in water)—23.7 GPa (EDE in glycerol).
Recent advances in metal organic frameworks and their composites for batteries
Authors: Xu Yuxia , Li Qing , Pang Huan
Published: August 2020

In recent years, new types of rechargeable and discharge batteries (including lithium ion batteries, sodium ion batteries, lithium sulfur batteries, lithium oxygen batteries, etc.) have been favored by researchers for their excellent theoretical capacity, low cost and broad development prospects. Metal organic frameworks (MOFs) are considered to be promising porous materials in the field of batteries due to their high specific surface area, abundant cavity structure, adjustable bore diameter and inorganic-organic hybrid properties. Herein, we mainly introduce the latest progress in the synthesis of pure MOFs and their composites (MOF composites, MOF derivatives) and their applications in different batteries. Finally, the scientific challenges and possible progress directions of pure MOFs and complex nanostructures derived from MOF as templates in battery applications are outlined. We hope this review will play a certain role in promoting the future development of MOFs in the field of electrical storage.
Large air quality and human health impacts due to Amazon forest and vegetation fires
Authors: Butt Edward W , Conibear Luke , Reddington Carly L , Darbyshire Eoghan , Morgan William T , Coe Hugh , Artaxo Paulo , Brito Joel , Knote Christoph , Spracklen Dominick V
Published: August 2020

Vegetation fires across the tropics emit fine particulate matter (PM2.5) to the atmosphere, degrading regional air quality and impacting human health. Extensive vegetation fires occur regularly across the Amazon basin, but there have been no detailed assessments of the impacts on air quality or human health. We used updated exposure-response relationships and a regional climate-chemistry model, evaluated against a comprehensive set of observational data, to provide the first in-depth assessment of the potential public health benefits due to fire prevention across the Amazon Basin. We focused on 2012, a year with emissions similar to the 11-year average (2008 to 2018). Vegetation fires contributed >80% of simulated dry season mean surface PM2.5 in the western Amazon region particularly in Bolivia and Brazilian states of Rondônia, Acre, and Mato Grosso. We estimate that the prevention of vegetation fires would have averted 16 800 (95UI: 16 300–17 400) premature deaths and 641 000 (95UI: 551 900–741 300) disability adjusted life years (DALYs) across South America, with 26% of the avoided health burden located within the Amazon Basin. The health benefits of fire prevention in the Amazon are comparable to those found in Equatorial Asia.
Characterizing local noise in QAOA circuits
Authors: Marshall Jeffrey , Wudarski Filip , Hadfield Stuart , Hogg Tad
Published: August 2020

Recently Xue et al (2019 arXiv:1909.02196) demonstrated numerically that QAOA performance varies as a power law in the amount of noise under certain physical noise models. In this short note, we provide a deeper analysis of the origin of this behavior. In particular, we provide an approximate closed form equation for the fidelity and expected cost in terms of the noise rate, system size, and circuit depth. As an application, we show these equations accurately model the trade off between larger circuits which attain better expected cost values, at the expense of greater degradation due to noise.
Automorphic Galois representations and the inverse Galois problem for certain groups of type 𝐷ₘ
Authors: Zenteno Adrián
Published: August 2020

Let

m
m

be an integer greater than three and

ℓ
\ell

be an odd prime. In this paper we prove that at least one of the following groups:

P

Ω

2
m

±

(

F

ℓ
s

)

\mathrm {P}\Omega ^\pm _{2m}(\mathbb {F}_{\ell ^s})

,

P
S
O

2
m

±

(

F

ℓ
s

)

\mathrm {PSO}^\pm _{2m}(\mathbb {F}_{\ell ^s})

,

P
O

2
m

±

(

F

ℓ
s

)

\mathrm {PO}_{2m}^\pm (\mathbb {F}_{\ell ^s})

, or

P
G
O

2
m

±

(

F

ℓ
s

)

\mathrm {PGO}^\pm _{2m}(\mathbb {F}_{\ell ^s})

is a Galois group of

Q

\mathbb {Q}

for infinitely many integers

s
>
0

s > 0

. This is achieved by making use of a slight modification of a group theory result of Khare, Larsen, and Savin, and previous results of the author on the images of the Galois representations attached to cuspidal automorphic representations of

G
L

2
m

(

A

Q

)

\mathrm {GL}_{2m}(\mathbb {A}_\mathbb {Q})

.
Completely coarse maps are ℝ-linear
Authors: Braga Bruno , Chávez-Domínguez Javier
Published: August 2020

A map between operator spaces is called completely coarse if the sequence of its amplifications is equi-coarse. We prove that all completely coarse maps must be

R

{\mathbb {R}}

-linear. On the opposite direction of this result, we introduce a notion of embeddability between operator spaces and show that this notion is strictly weaker than complete

R

{\mathbb {R}}

-isomorphic embeddability (in particular, weaker than complete

C

{\mathbb {C}}

-isomorphic embeddability). Although weaker, this notion is strong enough for some applications. For instance, we show that if an infinite dimensional operator space

X
X

embeds in this weaker sense into Pisier’s operator space

O
H

\mathrm {OH}

, then

X
X

must be completely isomorphic to

O
H

\mathrm {OH}

.
Degrees of symmetric Grothendieck polynomials and Castelnuovo-Mumford regularity
Authors: Rajchgot Jenna , Ren Yi , Robichaux Colleen , St. Dizier Avery , Weigandt Anna
Published: August 2020

We give an explicit formula for the degree of the Grothendieck polynomial of a Grassmannian permutation and a closely related formula for the Castelnuovo-Mumford regularity of the Schubert determinantal ideal of a Grassmannian permutation. We then provide a counterexample to a conjecture of Kummini-Lakshmibai-Sastry-Seshadri on a formula for regularities of standard open patches of particular Grassmannian Schubert varieties and show that our work gives rise to an alternate explicit formula in these cases. We end with a new conjecture on the regularities of standard open patches of arbitrary Grassmannian Schubert varieties.
The maximal generalised roundness of finite metric spaces
Authors: Robertson Gavin
Published: August 2020

A useful tool for computing the maximal generalised roundness of a finite metric space is a formula of Sánchez. Using well-known properties of the classical Cayley-Menger and Gramian matrices, we provide two simplifications of Sánchez’s formula that in particular do not require the calculation of any matrix inverses. To demonstrate the usefulness of these two new formulas we provide a simpler proof of Murugan’s classification of the subsets of the Hamming cube that have maximal generalised roundness greater than

1
1

.
The Millipede-Predation Behavior of Promecognathus and Exceptional Cyanide Tolerance in Promecognathus and Metrius (Coleoptera: Carabidae)
Authors: Weary Brandt P , Will Kipling W
Published: August 2020

Promecognathus (Carabidae) includes beetles that are specialist predators whose prey are polydesmidan millipedes that produce highly toxic hydrogen cyanide and benzaldehyde as a defense, and it is unknown how Promecognathus overcomes these chemicals. We observed Promecognathus laevissimus (Dejean, 1829) and P. crassus (LeConte, 1868) in the laboratory and found that they did not use behaviors to avoid the chemical defenses of their prey, Xystocheir dissecta (Wood, 1867) (Polydesmida: Xystodesmidae). We tested benzaldehyde as a feeding deterrent and found noticeable deterrence in all carabid beetles tested except Promecognathus species and Metrius contractus (Eschscholtz, 1829). A total of 18 carabid species were exposed to cyanide vapors in an enclosed chamber for 10 min to determine their relative tolerances. Promecognathus and M. contractus were unaffected by HCN exposures 7–15 times greater than quantities that knocked down all other species. Promecognathus laevissimus and M. contractus were then exposed to high levels of HCN for 2 h, and while individuals of M. contractus succumbed, all P. laevissimus were still moving after 2 h. It is possible that Promecognathus evolved a high tolerance to cyanide as part of a suite of adaptations related to millipede predation. However, we have no plausible explanation for the high tolerance in Metrius, for which there is no evidence of millipede feeding. This is the first documented case of predatory insects that exhibit high tolerance and potential resistance to cyanide. Possibly, these beetles have a detoxification mechanism that is not cyanide specific, as their tolerance level far exceeds any dose they would encounter in their natural habitat.
Virtual geriatric clinics and the COVID-19 catalyst: a rapid review
Authors: Murphy Robert P , Dennehy Karen A , Costello Maria M , Murphy Evelyn P , Judge Conor S , O’Donnell Martin J , Canavan Michelle D
Published: August 2020

Background

During the current COVID-19 health crisis virtual geriatric clinics have become increasingly utilised to complete outpatient consultations, although concerns exist about feasibility of such virtual consultations for older people. The aim of this rapid review is to describe the satisfaction, clinic productivity, clinical benefit, and costs associated with the virtual geriatric clinic model of care.

Methods

A rapid review of PubMed, MEDLINE and CINAHL databases was conducted up to April 2020. Two independent reviewers extracted the information. Four subdomains were focused on: satisfaction with the virtual geriatric clinic, clinic productivity, clinical benefit to patients, costs and any challenges associated with the virtual clinic process.

Results

Nine studies with 975 patients met our inclusion criteria. All were observational studies. Seven studies reported patients were satisfied with the virtual geriatric clinic model of care. Productivity outcomes included reports of cost-effectiveness, savings on transport, and improved waiting list metrics. Clinical benefits included successful polypharmacy reviews, and reductions in acute hospitalisation rates. Varying challenges were reported for both clinicians and patients in eight of the nine studies. Hearing impairments and difficulty with technology added to anxieties experienced by patients. Physicians missed the added value of a thorough physical examination and had concerns about confidentiality.

Conclusion

Virtual geriatric clinics demonstrate evidence of productivity, benefit to patients, cost effectiveness and patient satisfaction with the treatment provided. In the current suboptimal pandemic climate, virtual geriatric clinics may allow Geriatricians to continue to provide an outpatient service, despite the encountered inherent challenges.
CO2 starvation experiments provide support for the carbon-limited hypothesis on the evolution of CAM-like behaviour inIsoëtes
Authors: Suissa Jacob S , Green Walton A
Published: August 2020

Background and Aims

Crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM) is an adaptation to increase water use efficiency in dry environments. Similar biochemical patterns occur in the aquatic lycophyte genus Isoëtes. It has long been assumed and accepted that CAM-like behaviour in these aquatic plants is an adaptation to low daytime carbon levels in aquatic ecosystems, but this has never been directly tested.

Methods

To test this hypothesis, populations of Isoëtes engelmannii and I. tuckermanii were grown in climate-controlled chambers and starved of atmospheric CO2 during the day while pH was measured for 24 h.

Key Results

We demonstrate that terrestrial plants exposed to low atmospheric CO2 display diel acidity cycles similar to those in both xerophytic CAM plants and submerged Isoëtes.

Conclusions

Daytime CO2 starvation induces CAM-like nocturnal acid accumulation in terrestrial Isoëtes, substantiating the hypothesis that carbon starvation is a selective pressure for this physiological behaviour.
CABEAN: a software for the control of asynchronous Boolean networks
Authors: Su Cui , Pang Jun
Published: August 2020

Direct cell reprogramming, also called transdifferentiation, has great potential for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. Boolean networks, a popular modelling framework for gene regulatory networks, make it possible to identify intervention targets for direct cell reprogramming with computational methods. In this work, we present our software, CABEAN, for the control of asynchronous Boolean networks. CABEAN identifies efficacious nodes, whose perturbations can drive the dynamics of a network from a source attractor (the initial cell type) to a target attractor (the desired cell type). CABEAN provides several control methods integrating practical constraints. Thus, it has the ability to provide a rich set of control sets, such that biologists can select suitable ones for validation based on specific experimental settings.

Availability and implementation

The executable binary and the user guide of the software are publicly available at https://satoss.uni.lu/software/CABEAN/.
REscan: inferring repeat expansions and structural variation in paired-end short read sequencing data
Authors: McLaughlin Russell Lewis
Published: August 2020

Motivation

Repeat expansions are an important class of genetic variation in neurological diseases. However, the identification of novel repeat expansions using conventional sequencing methods is a challenge due to their typical lengths relative to short sequence reads and difficulty in producing accurate and unique alignments for repetitive sequence. However, this latter property can be harnessed in paired-end sequencing data to infer the possible locations of repeat expansions and other structural variation.

Results

This article presents REscan, a command-line utility that infers repeat expansion loci from paired-end short read sequencing data by reporting the proportion of reads orientated towards a locus that do not have an adequately mapped mate. A high REscan statistic relative to a population of data suggests a repeat expansion locus for experimental follow-up. This approach is validated using genome sequence data for 259 cases of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, of which 24 are positive for a large repeat expansion in C9orf72, showing that REscan statistics readily discriminate repeat expansion carriers from non-carriers.

Availabilityand implementation

C source code at https://github.com/rlmcl/rescan (GNU General Public Licence v3).
Ibuprofen, a Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug, is a Potent Inhibitor of the Human Sweet Taste Receptor
Authors: Nakagita Tomoya , Taketani Chiaki , Narukawa Masataka , Hirokawa Takatsugu , Kobayashi Takuya , Misaka Takumi
Published: August 2020

A sweet taste receptor is composed of heterodimeric G-protein-coupled receptors T1R2 and T1R3. Although there are many sweet tastants, only a few compounds have been reported as negative allosteric modulators (NAMs), such as lactisole, its structural derivative 2,4-DP, and gymnemic acid. In this study, candidates for NAMs of the sweet taste receptor were explored, focusing on the structural motif of lactisole. Ibuprofen, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), has an α-methylacetic acid moiety, and this structure is also shared by lactisole and 2,4-DP. When ibuprofen was applied together with 1 mM aspartame to the cells that stably expressed the sweet taste receptor, it inhibited the receptor activity in a dose-dependent manner. The IC50 value of ibuprofen against the human sweet taste receptor was calculated as approximately 12 μM, and it was almost equal to that of 2,4-DP, which is known as the most potent NAM for the receptor to date. On the other hand, when the inhibitory activities of other profens were examined, naproxen also showed relatively potent NAM activity against the receptor. The results from both mutant analysis for the transmembrane domain (TMD) of T1R3 and docking simulation strongly suggest that ibuprofen and naproxen interact with T1R3-TMD, similar to lactisole and 2,4-DP. However, although 2,4-DP and ibuprofen had almost the same inhibitory activities, these activities were acquired by filling different spaces of the ligand pocket of T1R3-TMD; this knowledge could lead to the rational design of a novel NAM against the sweet taste receptor.
Empiric Antibacterial Therapy and Community-onset Bacterial Coinfection in Patients Hospitalized With Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19): A Multi-hospital Cohort Study
Authors: Vaughn Valerie M , Gandhi Tejal N , Petty Lindsay A , Patel Payal K , Prescott Hallie C , Malani Anurag N , Ratz David , McLaughlin Elizabeth , Chopra Vineet , Flanders Scott A
Published: August 2020

Background

Antibacterials may be initiated out of concern for bacterial coinfection in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). We determined prevalence and predictors of empiric antibacterial therapy and community-onset bacterial coinfections in hospitalized patients with COVID-19.

Methods

A randomly sampled cohort of 1705 patients hospitalized with COVID-19 in 38 Michigan hospitals between 3/13/2020 and 6/18/2020. Data were collected on early (within 2 days of hospitalization) empiric antibacterial therapy and community-onset bacterial coinfections (positive microbiologic test ≤3 days). Poisson generalized estimating equation models were used to assess predictors.

Results

Of 1705 patients with COVID-19, 56.6% were prescribed early empiric antibacterial therapy; 3.5% (59/1705) had a confirmed community-onset bacterial infection. Across hospitals, early empiric antibacterial use varied from 27% to 84%. Patients were more likely to receive early empiric antibacterial therapy if they were older (adjusted rate ratio [ARR]: 1.04 [1.00–1.08] per 10 years); had a lower body mass index (ARR: 0.99 [0.99–1.00] per kg/m2), more severe illness (eg, severe sepsis; ARR: 1.16 [1.07–1.27]), a lobar infiltrate (ARR: 1.21 [1.04–1.42]); or were admitted to a for-profit hospital (ARR: 1.30 [1.15–1.47]). Over time, COVID-19 test turnaround time (returned ≤1 day in March [54.2%, 461/850] vs April [85.2%, 628/737], P < .001) and empiric antibacterial use (ARR: 0.71 [0.63–0.81] April vs March) decreased.

Conclusions

The prevalence of confirmed community-onset bacterial coinfections was low. Despite this, half of patients received early empiric antibacterial therapy. Antibacterial use varied widely by hospital. Reducing COVID-19 test turnaround time and supporting stewardship could improve antibacterial use.
Timescale and colony-dependent relationships between environmental conditions and plasma oxidative markers in a long-lived bat species
Authors: Beaulieu Michaël , Touzalin Frédéric , Dool Serena E , Teeling Emma C , Puechmaille Sébastien J
Published: August 2020

To increase the applicability and success of physiological approaches in conservation plans, conservation physiology should be based on ecologically relevant relationships between physiological markers and environmental variation that can only be obtained from wild populations. Given their integrative and multifaceted aspects, markers of oxidative status have recently been considered in conservation physiology, but still need to be validated across environmental conditions and locations. Here, we examined whether inter-annual variation in two oxidative markers, plasma antioxidant capacity and plasma hydroperoxides, followed inter-annual variation in temperature anomalies and associated vegetation changes in four colonies of long-lived greater mouse-eared bats (Myotis myotis) monitored over five consecutive years. We found that the plasma antioxidant capacity of bats decreased while plasma hydroperoxide concentrations increased with increasing temperature anomalies occurring in the two weeks before blood sampling. Moreover, the antioxidant defences of these bats reflected vegetation indices, which themselves reflected the thermal conditions experienced by bats in their foraging habitat. Variation in oxidative markers therefore appears to be due to variation in thermoregulatory costs and to indirect changes in foraging costs. Overall, these results validate the use of markers of oxidative status in conservation physiology to monitor thermal perturbations recently experienced by animals in their natural habitat. However, even though oxidative markers varied in the same direction in all four bat colonies across years, the amplitude of their response differed. If these different physiological responses reflect different performances (e.g. productivity, survival rate) between colonies, this implies that, if necessary, conservation measures may need to be applied at the local scale.
Parallel Lives: Shakespeare and the Debate Over Emotional Involvement
Authors: Hall James
Published: August 2020

The decades around 1600 saw a Europe-wide vogue for artists, writers, orators, and actors to fully identify with their sitters, subjects, or characters, the practice often being justified with the Horatian dictum, ‘If you want me to cry, mourn first yourself’ (Russell and Winterbottom 1972: 282 [Ars 101]). Among the more extreme manifestations are the young sculptor Gian Lorenzo Bernini, who in 1617 burnt himself while preparing to carve the martyrdom of St Lawrence on a gridiron, and the French actor Montdory, famous for full-throttle mad scenes, who in 1637 suffered a paralytic stroke to the tongue and right arm while acting Herod (Bernini 1713: 15; Bernini 2011: 103; Wiley 1960: 103–6).1 The philosopher and heretic Tommaso Campanella (1568–1639) cited Horace’s dictum in his treatise of rhetoric (Campanella 1954: 751, 763), adding yawning to the roster of expressions — ‘if you want me to yawn, yawn first yourself…’. When Campanella was in the Inquisition’s prison, he became notorious for mimicking people’s physiognomy, sometimes only on the basis of a verbal description, claiming it enabled him to read their mind. He would grimace as he imagined he possessed their features and even hair, so that visitors thought he was suffering the permanent affects of torture, or was insane (Campanella 2007: 116–17; Gaffarel 1629: 266–70). The purpose of this essay is two-fold. I want to historicize this ‘baroque’ fashion, arguing that the rediscovery of Aristotle’s Poetics helped put what I term sympathetic mimicry centre stage. I will also analyse four relevant scenes from Shakespeare — three of which centre on portrait painting — in which the issue of sympathetic mimicry is explored in various ways. I shall argue that Shakespeare exhibited both fascination and scepticism for this classical technique and the raw power it unleashes, and that he particularly associated it with painters.
Optimal P2Y12 inhibition in older adults with acute coronary syndromes: a network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Authors: Montalto Claudio , Morici Nuccia , Munafò Andrea Raffaele , Mangieri Antonio , Mandurino-Mirizzi Alessandro , D’Ascenzo Fabrizio , Oreglia Jacopo , Latib Azeem , Porto Italo , Colombo Antonio , Savonitto Stefano , De Servi Stefano , Crimi Gabriele
Published: August 2020

Aims

Dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) with a P2Y12 inhibitor on top of aspirin is the cornerstone of therapy after acute coronary syndromes (ACS). Nonetheless, the safest and most efficacious P2Y12 for older patients who are both at high ischaemic and bleeding risk remains uncertain. We aimed to examine the effect of available P2Y12 inhibitors on ischaemic and bleeding endpoints in older adults with ACS.

Methods and results

Randomized clinical trials that reported separately the results of adults older >70 years for at least the primary endpoint [composite of death, myocardial infarction (MI), and stroke]. Seven studies (14 485 patients-years) were included. Network meta-analysis showed that prasugrel was associated with similar occurrence of the primary endpoint and of a secondary ischaemic endpoint (composite of MI and stroke) and was most likely the best treatment [Surface Under the Cumulative Ranking curve Analysis (SUCRA) 54.5 and 59.8, respectively]. With regards to major bleedings, clopidogrel showed the highest likelihood of event reduction (SUCRA 70.1%), while ticagrelor of stent thrombosis (SUCRA 55.6%). Our meta-regression with a fixed proportion of patients managed invasively of 100% confirmed these trends with increasing SUCRA.

Conclusion

Among older subjects with ACS, DAPT should be balanced upon ischaemic and bleeding risks as prasugrel is associated with the highest probability of reduction of ischaemic events and clopidogrel of bleedings. Ticagrelor had highest SUCRA for stent thrombosis reduction but seems suboptimal in older adults.
Brugada syndrome and arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy: overlapping disorders of the connexome?
Authors: Ben-Haim Yael , Asimaki Angeliki , Behr Elijah R
Published: August 2020

Arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy (ACM) and Brugada syndrome (BrS) are inherited diseases characterized by an increased risk for arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death. Possible overlap between the two was suggested soon after the description of BrS. Since then, various studies focusing on different aspects have been published pointing to similar findings in the two diseases. More recent findings on the structure of the cardiac cell–cell junctions may unite the pathophysiology of both diseases and give further evidence to the theory that they may in part be variants of the same disease spectrum. In this review, we aim to summarize the studies indicating the pathophysiological, genetic, structural, and electrophysiological overlap between ACM and BrS.
3. Costs Information to the Client and Funding Options
Authors: Macgregor Lucilla , Peacey Charlotte , Ridsdale Georgina
Published: August 2020

Legal representatives are obliged to give clients the best information possible about the likely costs of pursuing and ultimately resolving disputes, and to discuss with the client the best way of funding the action. This funding advice is inextricably linked to a legal representative’s professional conduct duties highlighted in the Handbook. This chapter focuses on the information clients need to know about costs in accordance with the Handbook’s Principles and its Chapter 1 on Client Care in the Code, as well as the different types of funding options available that may or may not be offered to a client. This chapter considers important recent changes in the application of costs and funding options in litigation.
7. Pre-Action Substantive Matters
Authors: Macgregor Lucilla , Peacey Charlotte , Ridsdale Georgina
Published: August 2020

The role of a student or practitioner in the dispute resolution (or litigation) department is to assist in the procedural and theoretical aspects of a client’s case. These latter aspects can include consideration of matters that can determine where an action proceeds and whether it is capable of proceeding. This chapter deals with issues that may be considered either before seeing a client on a new matter, at the first meeting, or, more commonly, after receiving detailed instructions and reflecting on the overall issues in the case. It considers jurisdiction and governing law; the capacity to sue or be sued; limitation; the legal components of an action; and remedies.
16. Disclosure and Inspection
Authors: Macgregor Lucilla , Peacey Charlotte , Ridsdale Georgina
Published: August 2020

This chapter considers the definition of ‘disclosure’, its purpose, its extent, and the process whereby it is implemented. It also looks at other types of disclosure and the times at which such disclosure may take place—some of which may be before litigation has been commenced. The formal provisions for disclosure are contained in the Civil Procedure Rules 31 and the accompanying Practice Direction. The formal disclosure rules apply to cases in the fast track and the multi-track. They do not automatically apply to the small claims track. Disclosure has been much in the legal press recently, and the new draft disclosure rules are discussed.
19. Trial, Settlement, and Appeals
Authors: Macgregor Lucilla , Peacey Charlotte , Ridsdale Georgina
Published: August 2020

Although a large percentage of civil cases are settled well in advance of trial, it remains important for legal representatives look to the possibility of running a case to trial. This chapter focuses on fast-track and multi-track cases that proceed to trial. It covers professional conduct issues; procedural and administrative preparation for trial; the day of the trial; judgment and appeals. It also discusses settlement without trial.
20. Assessment of Costs Proceedings
Authors: Macgregor Lucilla , Peacey Charlotte , Ridsdale Georgina
Published: August 2020

This chapter focuses on the practical considerations and procedures involved in assessing costs once the litigation is concluded. The client must understand that, despite receiving a costs order in his favour, agreeing a liability to pay, or being ordered to pay costs, if the amount of costs cannot be agreed between the parties, then further proceedings and costs are incurred before a resolution is secured. The chapter covers detailed assessments of costs. It discusses the procedures for the assessment of costs and costs-only proceedings.