bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Multi-level Governance in Refugee Housing and Integration Policy: a Model of Best Practice in Leverkusen
Authors: Auslender Eli
Published: July 2021

This paper will explore a model of best practice, the Leverkusen Model, as well as its impact on both the city and the refugees it serves by utilising key stakeholder interviews, civil servants, non-profits, and Syrian refugees living in Leverkusen. The core argument to be presented here is that the dynamic fluidity of the Leverkusen Model, where three bodies (government, Caritas, and the Refugee Council) collaborate to manage the governance responsibilities, allows for more expedited refugee integration into society. This paper utilises an analytical model of multi-level governance to demonstrate its functional processes and show why it can be considered a model of best practice. Started in 2002, the Leverkusen Model of refugee housing has not only saved the city thousands of euros per year in costs associated with refugee housing, but has aided in the cultivation of a very direct, fluid connection between government, civil society, and the refugees themselves. Leverkusen employs a different and novel governance structure of housing for refugees: with direct consultations with Caritas, the largest non-profit in Germany, as well as others, refugees who arrive in Leverkusen are allowed to search for private, decentralised housing from the moment they arrive, regardless of protection status granted by the German government. This paper fills a gap in the existing literature by addressing the adaptation of multi-level governance and collaborative governance in local refugee housing and integration management.
Progress and perspectives in dielectric energy storage ceramics
Authors: Li Dongxu , Zeng Xiaojun , Li Zhipeng , Shen Zong-Yang , Hao Hua , Luo Wenqin , Wang Xingcai , Song Fusheng , Wang Zhumei , Li Yueming
Published: July 2021

Dielectric ceramic capacitors, with the advantages of high power density, fast charge-discharge capability, excellent fatigue endurance, and good high temperature stability, have been acknowledged to be promising candidates for solid-state pulse power systems. This review investigates the energy storage performances of linear dielectric, relaxor ferroelectric, and antiferroelectric from the viewpoint of chemical modification, macro/microstructural design, and electrical property optimization. Research progress of ceramic bulks and films for Pb-based and/or Pb-free systems is summarized. Finally, we propose the perspectives on the development of energy storage ceramics for pulse power capacitors in the future.
Teaching geriatric medicine through gamification: a tool for enhancing postgraduate education in geriatric medicine
Authors: Schlögl Mathias , Roller-Wirnsberger Regina Elisabeth , Hernes Susanne Sørensen , Perkisas Stany , Bakken Marit Stordal , Miot Stéphanie , Balci Cafer , Dani Melanie , Pajulammi Hanna , Piaggi Paolo , Drenth-van Maanen Clara , Singler Katrin
Published: July 2021

Background

Polypharmacy is becoming increasingly common and all doctors must be prepared to manage it competently.

Aims

The aim of this project is to evaluate the feasibility and use of a novel gamification-based teaching intervention on polypharmacy among doctors undergoing advanced geriatric training. Among others, one of the learning goals for the students was to be able to describe the adherence to medication.

Methods

Electronic questionnaire sent to students of the third session “evidence-based medicine in geriatrics” of advanced postgraduate course in geriatrics of the European Academy for Medicine of Ageing.

Results

Most students reported issues with forgetting doses and remembering sufficiently to establish a medication routine due to busy schedules as well as social influences around medication taking. Reflecting on the challenges of the game, most students reported that their own prescribing practice was likely to change.

Discussion and conclusion

The current model of learning appears to be a feasible approach for postgraduate medical education or in other areas of healthcare such as nursing or physiotherapy. Learning through action and reflection promotes deeper thinking and can lead to behavioral change, in this case thus enhancing the attitudes and understanding regarding pharmacological issues associated with ageing. Recommendations for future research in medical education about medication adherence are outlined.
Europe, public debts, and safe assets: the scope for a European Debt Agency
Authors: Amato Massimo , Belloni Everardo , Falbo Paolo , Gobbi Lucio
Published: July 2021

The Covid-19 crisis has radically changed the game for world and EU-economies, and urged for a reappraisal of the guidelines for a healthy management of public expenditure. This requires a deep rethinking of the role of public debt in modern capitalistic economies and of efficient, equitable and politically viable ways of financing it. This paper outlines the main operating framework of a Debt Agency tasked with the management of the Eurozone sovereign debts and the creation of a truly European safe asset. The framework leverages on the potential irredeemable nature of sovereign debts in order to build a common bond. By structurally filtering liquidity risk, the Debt Agency can price the Member States’ funding costs by referring only to their credit risk, as defined by EU agreed rules. The common bond issued by the Debt Agency thus avoids mutualisation by design; hence, it can be directly bought by the ECB. Due to its structural intertemporal sustainability, the Debt Agency’s framework delineated in this paper can serve as a benchmark for institutional and political decisions. In this perspective, a counterfactual exercise has been conducted in order to evaluate the future potential impact of the Debt Agency as well as the past distortions in market pricing of Member States’ fundamental risk due to market mispricing of the liquidity risk.
Molecular Phenomic Approaches to Deconvolving the Systemic Effects of SARS-CoV-2 Infection and Post-acute COVID-19 Syndrome
Authors: Nicholson Jeremy K.
Published: July 2021

SARS COV-2 infection causes acute and frequently severe respiratory disease with associated multi-organ damage and systemic disturbances in many biochemical pathways. Metabolic phenotyping provides deep insights into the complex immunopathological problems that drive the resulting COVID-19 disease and is also a source of novel metrics for assessing patient recovery. A multiplatform metabolic phenotyping approach to studying the pathology and systemic metabolic sequelae of COVID-19 is considered here, together with a framework for assessing post-acute COVID-19 Syndrome (PACS) that is a major long-term health consequence for many patients. The sudden emergence of the disease presents a biological discovery challenge as we try to understand the pathological mechanisms of the disease and develop effective mitigation strategies. This requires technologies to measure objectively the extent and sub-phenotypes of the disease at the molecular level. Spectroscopic methods can reveal metabolic sub-phenotypes and new biomarkers that can be monitored during the acute disease phase and beyond. This approach is scalable and translatable to other pathologies and provides as an exemplar strategy for the investigation of other emergent zoonotic diseases with complex immunological drivers, multi-system involvements and diverse persistent symptoms.
A commonly overlooked cause of vertigo: Cervical spondylosis
Authors: Al Amin A. S.M. , Rahman Abdur , Ataullah A. H.M. , Lozada-Martinez Ivan David , Ziauddin Md , Rahman Moshiur
Published: July 2021

ABSTRACT

Vertigo can be classified in many ways. Commonly it is classified as either central or peripheral vertigo. Central vertigo is related to brain lesions mostly, whereas peripheral lesions are mainly related to the involvement of the vestibulocochlear system. The main differentiating point between central and peripheral vertigo is the presence of vestibulocochlear signs and symptoms. There is an important cause of recurrent vertigo, “cervical spondylosis” that is commonly overlooked. For the management of cervical spondylosis, a multidisciplinary team is needed, which includes an orthopedic surgeon, otorhinolaryngologist, neurologists, physiotherapists, neurosurgeons, psychiatrist, occupational therapist, and social worker.
Sensational Science, Archaic Hominin Genetics, and Amplified Inductive Risk
Authors: Havstad Joyce C.
Published: July 2021

More than a decade of exacting scientific research involving paleontological fragments and ancient DNA has lately produced a series of pronouncements about a purportedly novel population of archaic hominins dubbed “the Denisova.” The science involved in these matters is both technically stunning and, socially, at times a bit reckless. Here I discuss the responsibilities which scientists incur when they make inductively risky pronouncements about the different relative contributions by Denisovans to genomes of members of apparent subpopulations of current humans (i.e., the so-called “races”). This science is sensational: it is science which empirically speculates, to the public delight’s and entertainment, about scintillating topics such as when humans evolved, where we came from, and who else we were having sex with during our early hominin history. An initial characterization of sensational science emerges from my discussion of the case, as well as a diagnosis of an interactive phenomenon termed amplified inductive risk.
Examining Legal Scholarship in Australia: A Case Study
Authors: Sheehy Benedict , Dumay John
Published: July 2021

Legal scholarship in Australia is under-researched. Without detailed empirical investigation, it is difficult to understand the characteristics of the scholarship in terms of topics and method/approach. Legal scholarship, like all scholarship, claims to make a contribution to knowledge. To understand and evaluate the scholarship, this article adopts an empirical method. Using a case study approach and citation counts, the article provides an analysis of all the articles published by a leading law review over ten years: 2008–2018. The article identifies the types and methods of legal scholarship in the journal and examines a sample of its most highly cited articles. The study then evaluates the impact of this scholarship with recommendations for the future.
THE EARLY KURGAN PERIOD IN RABATI, GEORGIA: THE CULTURAL SEQUENCE AND A NEW SUITE OF RADIOCARBON DATES
Authors: Bedianashvili Giorgi , Jamieson Andrew , Sagona Claudia
Published: July 2021

This paper reports on radiocarbon (14C) results from the recent archaeological investigations in the ancient frontier fortress of Rabati, in southwest Georgia, a collaborative research project involving archaeologists from the Georgian National Museum and the University of Melbourne. From the first three excavation seasons spanning 2016, 2018, and 2019, it became clear that significant Bedeni phase deposits capped most of the summit of the site. Levels with their distinctive vessels and a range of contemporary, local domestic wares, pits and some traces of architecture seal underlying Early Bronze Age strata. The Early Bronze Age levels include massive architecture rarely seen in Kura-Araxes settlements. Some finds can only be described as unique and extraordinary while others suggest that the core population was stable with long-held traditions, yet open to new influences infiltrating this highland site during the subsequent Early Kurgan (Martkopi-Bedeni) period. We discuss the key discoveries at Rabati relative to the 14C readings from the site within the wider setting of contemporary sites in the Caucasus.
Theoretical substitutions between dairy products and all-cause and cause-specific mortality. Results from the Danish diet, cancer and health cohort
Authors: Laursen Anne Sofie D. , Thomsen Anne L. , Beck Anne , Overvad Kim , Jakobsen Marianne U.
Published: July 2021

A daily intake of dairy products is recommended in many countries in order to maintain optimal health throughout life. However, evidence regarding the association between intake of individual dairy products and mortality is limited. We therfore, explored associations between intake of different dairy products and all-cause and cause-specific mortality using specified theoretical substitution analyses. We analysed data from 55 775 Danish men and women aged 50–64 years between 1993 and 1997. Information about dairy product intake at baseline was collected using a validated food frequency questionnaire. Information about vital status and causes of death was obtained through national registers. Measures of associations were calculated using Cox proportional hazards regression. During a median follow-up of 19·0 years, 11 586 participants died. For all-cause mortality, we observed that the intake of low-fat milk, whole-fat milk or low-fat yogurt products in place of cheese was associated with a higher rate of death (hazard ratios between 1·03 and 1·12 per serving/d substituted). The same pattern was present for CVD mortality. For cancer mortality, whole-fat milk and low-fat yogurt products in place of cheese were also associated with a higher rate of death for men while for women, whole-fat milk in place of buttermilk was associated with a higher cancer mortality rate. The results appeared robust in several sensitivity analyses. Our results suggest that intake of low-fat milk, whole-fat milk or low-fat yogurt products in place of cheese is associated with a higher rate of all-cause and cause-specific mortality.
Personal Information as Symmetry Breaker in Disagreements
Authors: Machuca Diego E.
Published: July 2021

When involved in a disagreement, a common reaction is to tell oneself that, given that the information about one's own epistemic standing is clearly superior in both amount and quality to the information about one's opponent's epistemic standing, one is justified in one's confidence that one's view is correct. In line with this natural reaction to disagreement, some contributors to the debate on its epistemic significance have claimed that one can stick to one's guns by relying in part on information about one's first-order evidence and the functioning of one's cognitive capacities. In this article, I argue that such a manoeuvre to settle controversies encounters the problem that both disputants can make use of it, the problem that one may be wrong about one's current conscious experience, and the problem that it is a live possibility that many of one's beliefs are the product of epistemically distorting factors. I also argue that, even if we grant that personal information is reliable, when it comes to real-life rather than idealized disagreements, the extent of the unpossessed information about one's opponent's epistemic standing provides a reason for doubting that personal information can function as a symmetry breaker.
Exploring the plant environmental DNA diversity in soil from two sites on Deception Island (Antarctica, South Shetland Islands) using metabarcoding
Authors: Carvalho-Silva Micheline , Rosa Luiz Henrique , Pinto Otávio H.B. , Da Silva Thamar Holanda , Henriques Diego Knop , Convey Peter , Câmara Paulo E.A.S.
Published: July 2021

The few Antarctic studies to date to have applied metabarcoding in Antarctica have primarily focused on microorganisms. In this study, for the first time, we apply high-throughput sequencing of environmental DNA to investigate the diversity of Embryophyta (Viridiplantae) DNA present in soil samples from two contrasting locations on Deception Island. The first was a relatively undisturbed site within an Antarctic Specially Protected Area at Crater Lake, and the second was a heavily human-impacted site in Whalers Bay. In samples obtained at Crater Lake, 84% of DNA reads represented fungi, 14% represented Chlorophyta and 2% represented Streptophyta, while at Whalers Bay, 79% of reads represented fungi, 20% represented Chlorophyta and < 1% represented Streptophyta, with ~1% of reads being unassigned. Among the Embryophyta we found 16 plant operational taxonomic units from three Divisions, including one Marchantiophyta, eight Bryophyta and seven Magnoliophyta. Sequences of six taxa were detected at both sampling sites, eight only at Whalers Bay and two only at Crater Lake. All of the Magnoliophyta sequences (flowering plants) represent species that are exotic to Antarctica, with most being plausibly linked to human food sources originating from local national research operator and tourism facilities.
Investigation of 10-port coupled fed slotted MIMO antenna system for 5G mobile handset
Authors: Kumar D. Rajesh , Babu G. Venkat , Narayan K.G. Sujanth , Raju N.
Published: July 2021

A dual-band 10-port multiple input multiple output (MIMO) antenna array for 5G smartphone is proposed. Each antenna in the MIMO system can work from 3.4 to 3.6 GHz and 5 to 6 GHz with 10 dB (2:1 VSWR) impedance bandwidth. Nevertheless, for a 3:1 VSWR, the antenna operates from 3.3 to 3.8 GHz and 4.67 to 6.24 GHz. The MIMO system is formed by making 10 seven-shaped coupled fed slot antenna elements excited at two different resonant modes and integrated into the system circuit board. By implementing the spatial and polarization diversity techniques, high isolation better than 28 dB between any pair of antenna elements is achieved. The proposed 10-port MIMO antenna array is fabricated and measured. Significant radiation efficiency is obtained, ranging from 65 to 82% for both bands. The antenna gain in the required operating band is substantial, around 3–3.8 dBi. Further, the MIMO parameters such as envelope correlation co-efficient, channel capacity, and total active reflection co-efficient are calculated. The antenna's robustness is estimated by analyzing the user hand effects and specific absorption rate (SAR). The measured results are well agreed with the simulated results.
The Utrecht-Management of Identity Commitments Scale (U-MICS)
Authors: Sorgente Angela , Iannello Nicolò M. , Musso Pasquale , Inguglia Cristiano , Lanz Margherita , Antonietti Alessandro , Villani Daniela
Published: July 2021

Abstract. The current study proposed the adaptation of the Utrecht-Management of Identity Commitments Scale (U-MICS) to the religious domain as an instrument to measure both individuals’ religious identity formation processes (when a variable-centered approach is adopted) and religious identity statuses (when a person-centered approach is adopted). The scale has been tested on a sample of 727 Italian participants aged 13–65 years, by collecting evidence of score structure, convergent, and criterion-related validity. Regarding the score structure validity, we confirmed that religious identity formation consists of three processes (commitment, in-depth exploration, reconsideration of commitment) and that, by using these scores, individuals can be placed into five different religious identity clusters (achievement, diffusion, foreclosure, moratorium, searching moratorium). As to the convergent and criterion-related validity, we tested the relationship that the three factors (religious identity formation processes) and the five clusters (religious identity statuses) have with religiousness and subjective well-being, respectively. Results indicate that the instrument is a promising tool to measure religious identity. Future studies should test this scale in other countries and with people from diverse religious traditions.
A New Depositional Framework for Massive Iron Formations After the Great Oxidation Event
Authors: Eyster Athena , Brengman Latisha A. , Nichols Claire I. O. , Levitt Zoe , Wilcots Julia , Bergmann Kristin D.
Published: July 2021

The oldest recognized proxies for low atmospheric oxygen are massive iron‐rich deposits. Following the rise of oxygen ∼2.4 billion years ago (Ga), massive iron formations (IFs) largely disappear from the geologic record, only to reappear in a pulse ∼1.88 Ga, which has been attributed to sea‐level transgressions, changing ocean chemistry triggered by intense volcanism, or lowered atmospheric oxygen levels. The North American Gogebic Range is one of the rare records of this pulse and even more uniquely has exposures of both volcanics and IF, providing an ideal field locality to investigate triggers for this pulse of IF. To determine the environmental context and key factors driving IF deposition after the initial rise in oxygen, we made detailed observations of the stratigraphy and facies relationships and present updated mapping relationships of the Gogebic Range Ironwood Iron Formation and the Emperor Volcanics. This work expands existing mine datasets and logs to constrain variations in stratigraphy. Our results are the first to quantitatively constrain thickness variations along the entire Gogebic Range and tie them to syn‐sedimentary faulting along listric normal faults and half grabens. Furthermore, our dataset suggests that initiation of intense syn‐basinal volcanism linked to a large igneous province does not coincide with initial iron deposition, thus cannot be invoked as a causal trigger. Finally, the possibility of iron deposition in a shallow‐water environment suggests that the post‐GOE IF pulse may not reflect global marine transgressions, but instead a chemocline shallowing due to changing global atmospheric oxygen.
Sensitivity of Water Balance in the Qaidam Basin to the Mid‐Pliocene Climate
Authors: Wang Xun , Schmidt Benjamin , Otto Marco , Ehlers Todd A. , Mutz Sebastian G. , Botsyun Svetlana , Scherer Dieter
Published: July 2021

The Qaidam Basin (QB) in the northeastern Tibetan Plateau held a megalake system during the Pliocene. Today, the lower elevations in the basin are hyperarid. To understand to what extent the climate plays a role in the maintenance of the megalake system during the Pliocene, we applied the Weather Research and Forecasting model for dynamical downscaling of ECHAM5 global climate simulations for the present day and the mid‐Pliocene. When imposing the mid‐Pliocene climate on the QB with its modern land surface settings, the annual water balance (), that is, the change in terrestrial water storage within the QB, increases. This positive imbalance ofinduced solely by the changes in the large‐scale climate state would lead to a readjustment of lake extent, until a new equilibrium state is reached, where loss due to evaporation over lake areas compensates for the input by runoff and precipitation. Atmospheric water transport (AWT) analysis at each border of the QB reveals that this imbalance ofis caused by stronger moisture influx across the western border in winter, spring, and autumn and weaker moisture out‐flux across the eastern border in summer. These changes in AWT are associated with the strengthening of the midlatitude westerlies in all seasons, except for summer, and the intensification of the East Asian Summer Monsoon. Given that the mid‐Pliocene climate is an analog to the projected warm climate of the near future, our study contributes to a better understanding of climate change impacts in central Asia.
Observational Evidence of the Excitation of Magnetosonic Waves by an He++ Ion Ring Distribution
Authors: Claudepierre S. G. , Liu X. , Chen L. , Takahashi K.
Published: July 2021

We report plasma wave observations of equatorial magnetosonic waves at integer harmonics of the local gyrofrequency of doubly ionized helium (). The waves were observed by Van Allen Probe A on 08 Feb 2014 when the spacecraft was in the afternoon magnetic local time sector near inside of the plasmasphere. Analysis of the complementary in‐situ energetic ion measurements (1–300 keV) reveals the presence of a helium ion ring distribution centered near 30 keV. Theoretical linear growth rate calculations suggest that the local plasma and field conditions can support the excitation of the magnetosonic waves from the unstable ring distribution. This represents the first report of the generation of magnetosonic equatorial noise via a ring distribution in energetic ions in the near‐Earth space plasma environment.
Soil Thermophysical Properties Near the InSight Lander Derived From 50 Sols of Radiometer Measurements
Authors: Piqueux Sylvain , Müller Nils , Grott Matthias , Siegler Matthew , Millour Ehouarn , Forget Francois , Lemmon Mark , Golombek Matthew , Williams Nathan , Grant John , Warner Nicholas , Ansan Veronique , Daubar Ingrid , Knollenberg Jörg , Maki Justin , Spiga Aymeric , Banfield Don , Spohn Tilman , Smrekar Susan , Banerdt Bruce
Published: July 2021

Measurements from the InSight lander radiometer acquired after landing are used to characterize the thermophysical properties of the Martian soil in Homestead hollow. This data set is unique as it stems from a high measurement cadence fixed platform studying a simple well‐characterized surface, and it benefits from the environmental characterization provided by other instruments. We focus on observations acquired before the arrival of a regional dust storm (near Sol 50), on the furthest observed patch of soil (i.e., ∼3.5 m away from the edge of the lander deck) where temperatures are least impacted by the presence of the lander and where the soil has been least disrupted during landing. Diurnal temperature cycles are fit using a homogenous soil configuration with a thermal inertia of 183 ± 25 J m−2 K−1 s−1/2and an albedo of 0.16, corresponding to very fine to fine sand with the vast majority of particles smaller than 140 μm. A pre‐landing assessment leveraging orbital thermal infrared data is consistent with these results, but our analysis of the full diurnal temperature cycle acquired from the ground further indicates that near surface layers with different thermophysical properties must be thin (i.e., typically within the top few mm) and deep layering with different thermophysical properties must be at least below ∼4 cm. The low thermal inertia value indicates limited soil cementation within the upper one or two skin depths (i.e., ∼4–8 cm and more), with cement volumes <<1%, which is challenging to reconcile with visible images of overhangs in pits.
Novel Antarctic yeast adapts to cold by switching energy metabolism and increasing small RNA synthesis
Authors: Touchette D , Altshuler I , Gostinčar C , Zalar P , Raymond-Bouchard I , Zajc J , McKay C P , Gunde-Cimerman N , Whyte L G
Published: July 2021

The novel extremophilic yeast Rhodotorula frigidialcoholis, formerly R. JG1b, was isolated from ice-cemented permafrost in University Valley (Antarctic), one of coldest and driest environments on Earth. Phenotypic and phylogenetic analyses classified R. frigidialcoholis as a novel species. To characterize its cold-adaptive strategies, we performed mRNA and sRNA transcriptomic analyses, phenotypic profiling, and assessed ethanol production at 0 and 23 °C. Downregulation of the ETC and citrate cycle genes, overexpression of fermentation and pentose phosphate pathways genes, growth without reduction of tetrazolium dye, and our discovery of ethanol production at 0 °C indicate that R. frigidialcoholis induces a metabolic switch from respiration to ethanol fermentation as adaptation in Antarctic permafrost. This is the first report of microbial ethanol fermentation utilized as the major energy pathway in response to cold and the coldest temperature reported for natural ethanol production. R. frigidialcoholis increased its diversity and abundance of sRNAs when grown at 0 versus 23 °C. This was consistent with increase in transcription of Dicer, a key protein for sRNA processing. Our results strongly imply that post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression and mRNA silencing may be a novel evolutionary fungal adaptation in the cryosphere.
Afatinib induces pro-survival autophagy and increases sensitivity to apoptosis in stem-like HNSCC cells
Authors: Liu Xianfang , Suo Huiyuan , Zhou Shengli , Hou Zhenxing , Bu Mingqiang , Liu Xiuxiu , Xu Wei
Published: July 2021

Afatinib, a second-generation tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI), exerts its antitumor effects in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) by inducing intrinsic apoptosis through suppression of mTORC1. However, the detailed mechanism and biological significance of afatinib-induced autophagy in HNSCC remains unclear. In the present study, we demonstrated that afatinib induced mTORC1 suppression-mediated autophagy in HNSCC cells. Further mechanistic investigation revealed that afatinib stimulated REDD1-TSC1 signaling, giving rise to mTORC1 inactivation and subsequent autophagy. Moreover, ROS generation elicited by afatinib was responsible for the induction of the REDD1-TSC1-mTORC1 axis. In addition, pharmacological or genetic inhibition of autophagy sensitized HNSCC cells to afatinib-induced apoptosis, demonstrating that afatinib activated pro-survival autophagy in HNSCC cells. Importantly, in vitro and in vivo assays showed that afatinib caused enhanced apoptosis but weaker autophagy in stem-like HNSCC cells constructed by CDH1 knockdown. This suggested that blocking autophagy has the potential to serve as a promising strategy to target HNSCC stem cells. In conclusion, our findings suggested that the combination treatment with afatinib and autophagy inhibitors has the potential to eradicate HNSCC cells, especially cancer stem cells in clinical therapy.
Highly accurate protein structure prediction for the human proteome
Authors: Tunyasuvunakool Kathryn , Adler Jonas , Wu Zachary , Green Tim , Zielinski Michal , Žídek Augustin , Bridgland Alex , Cowie Andrew , Meyer Clemens , Laydon Agata , Velankar Sameer , Kleywegt Gerard J. , Bateman Alex , Evans Richard , Pritzel Alexander , Figurnov Michael , Ronneberger Olaf , Bates Russ , Kohl Simon A. A. , Potapenko Anna , Ballard Andrew J. , Romera-Paredes Bernardino , Nikolov Stanislav , Jain Rishub , Clancy Ellen , Reiman David , Petersen Stig , Senior Andrew W. , Kavukcuoglu Koray , Birney Ewan , Kohli Pushmeet , Jumper John , Hassabis Demis
Published: July 2021

Protein structures can provide invaluable information, both for reasoning about biological processes and for enabling interventions such as structure-based drug development or targeted mutagenesis. After decades of effort, 17% of the total residues in human protein sequences are covered by an experimentally determined structure1. Here we markedly expand the structural coverage of the proteome by applying the state-of-the-art machine learning method, AlphaFold2, at a scale that covers almost the entire human proteome (98.5% of human proteins). The resulting dataset covers 58% of residues with a confident prediction, of which a subset (36% of all residues) have very high confidence. We introduce several metrics developed by building on the AlphaFold model and use them to interpret the dataset, identifying strong multi-domain predictions as well as regions that are likely to be disordered. Finally, we provide some case studies to illustrate how high-quality predictions could be used to generate biological hypotheses. We are making our predictions freely available to the community and anticipate that routine large-scale and high-accuracy structure prediction will become an important tool that will allow new questions to be addressed from a structural perspective.
Phylogenetic analysis of the 5ʹ untranslated region of HCV from cirrhotic patients in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
Authors: Ullah Amin , Rehman Irshad Ur , Ahmad Jamshaid , Odenthal Margaret , Ahmad Saad , Nadeem Tariq , Ali Qurban , Rizwan Muhammad , Khan Muhammad Ajmal , Hassan Said , Ahsan Hina , Ahmad Bashir
Published: July 2021

Hepatitis C virus (HCV), a small, single-stranded RNA virus with a 9.6 kb genome, is one of the most common causes of liver diseases. Sequencing of the 5ʹ untranslated region (UTR) is usually used for HCV genotyping, but it is less important in numerous subtypes due to its scarce sequence variations. This study aimed to identify genotypes using the 5ʹ UTR of HCV from cirrhotic patients of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP). Serum RNA samples (44) were screened by real time PCR to determine the HCV viral load. Nested PCR was performed to identify cDNA and the 5ʹ UTR. The HCV 5′ UTR was sequenced using the Sanger method. MEGA-7 software was used to analyze evolutionary relatedness. After 5ʹ UTR sequencing, 26 samples (59%) were identified as genotype 3, and 2 samples (6%) were identified as genotypes 1, 2 and 4. The most predominant genotype was 3a, and genotype 4 was rarely reported in the phylogenetic tree. Analysis of the HCV 5ʹ UTR is an efficient alternative method for confirmation of various genotypes. Phylogenetic analysis showed that genotype 3 was dominant in the area of KP, Pakistan.
Clinically applicable artificial intelligence system for dental diagnosis with CBCT
Authors: Ezhov Matvey , Gusarev Maxim , Golitsyna Maria , Yates Julian M. , Kushnerev Evgeny , Tamimi Dania , Aksoy Secil , Shumilov Eugene , Sanders Alex , Orhan Kaan
Published: July 2021

In this study, a novel AI system based on deep learning methods was evaluated to determine its real-time performance of CBCT imaging diagnosis of anatomical landmarks, pathologies, clinical effectiveness, and safety when used by dentists in a clinical setting. The system consists of 5 modules: ROI-localization-module (segmentation of teeth and jaws), tooth-localization and numeration-module, periodontitis-module, caries-localization-module, and periapical-lesion-localization-module. These modules use CNN based on state-of-the-art architectures. In total, 1346 CBCT scans were used to train the modules. After annotation and model development, the AI system was tested for diagnostic capabilities of the Diagnocat AI system. 24 dentists participated in the clinical evaluation of the system. 30 CBCT scans were examined by two groups of dentists, where one group was aided by Diagnocat and the other was unaided. The results for the overall sensitivity and specificity for aided and unaided groups were calculated as an aggregate of all conditions. The sensitivity values for aided and unaided groups were 0.8537 and 0.7672 while specificity was 0.9672 and 0.9616 respectively. There was a statistically significant difference between the groups (p = 0.032). This study showed that the proposed AI system significantly improved the diagnostic capabilities of dentists.
Long-term effects of malnutrition on severity of COVID-19
Authors: Kurtz Alec , Grant Kenneth , Marano Rachel , Arrieta Antonio , Grant Kenneth , Feaster William , Steele Caroline , Ehwerhemuepha Louis
Published: July 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic is a public health crisis that has the potential to exacerbate worldwide malnutrition. This study examines whether patients with a history of malnutrition are predisposed to severe COVID-19. To do so, data on 103,099 COVID-19 inpatient encounters from 56 hospitals in the United States between March 2020 and June 2020 were retrieved from the Cerner COVID-19 Dataset. Patients with a history of malnutrition between 2015 and 2019 were identified, and a random intercept logistic regression models for pediatric and adult patients were built controlling for patient demographics, socioeconomic status, admission vital signs, and related comorbidities. Statistical interactions between malnutrition and patient age were significant in both the pediatric [log-odds and 95% confidence interval: 0.094 (0.012, 0.175)] and adult [− 0.014 (− 0.021, − 0.006] models. These interactions, together with the main effect terms of malnutrition and age, imply higher odds for severe COVID-19 for children between 6 and 17 years with history of malnutrition. Even higher odds of severe COVID-19 exist for adults (with history of malnutrition) between 18 and 79 years. These results indicate that the long-term effect of malnutrition predisposes patients to severe COVID-19 in an age-dependent way.
Flow pumping by external periodic shear applied to a soft interface
Authors: Nezamipour Shima , Najafi Ali
Published: July 2021

Flow pumping in viscous fluids is of prime importance in micro-fluidic applications. Here we show that a single colloidal particle in front of a soft wall, manipulated by external means like an optical tweezer, can pump the ambient viscous fluid. The particle, moving back and forth parallel to the soft wall, can produce an averaged net flow in a direction perpendicular to the wall. Using a perturbative scheme, we present the results. Analysis show that this flow in terms of capillary number, scales as $${\text {Ca}}^2$$

Ca

2

.
Photo-selective shading screens as a cover for production of purple lettuce
Authors: Amaro de Sales Ramon , Chaves de Oliveira Evandro , Buzatto Eduardo , Ferreira de Almeida Robson , Alves de Lima Marcus José , da Silva Berilli Sávio , Lana Aguiar Ronilda , Lovo Mario , Prucoli Posse Robson , Casagrande dos Santos Joana , Zancanella Quartezani Waylson , Amaro de Salles Rodrigo , Cunha Siman Felipe
Published: July 2021

Photo-selective shading screens are emerging practices that aim to combine crop physical protection with different solar radiation filtration to achieve desired physiological responses. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effect of photo-selective shading screens on the growth and physiology of purple lettuce for two transplanting seasons in tropical climate in Brazil. A 2 × 4 factorial arrangement was used, being considered the first factor, the transplanting season (spring and fall), and the second factor is the three 35% shading photo-selective shading screens (red, black and silver) and full sun control. The experimental design was a randomized complete block with four replications. The variables studied were: total fresh matter, total dry matter, leaf number, stem diameter, stem length, leaf area, SPAD chlorophyll index, nitrogen balance indexes, chlorophyll, flavonoids and anthocyanins. The photo-selective shading screens influenced the microclimate and the growth variables of purple lettuce, mainly when these plants were sown in the fall. Planting lettuce during spring may result in lower yields due to the higher investment of plants in secondary metabolites to defend against abiotic stress. According to the results, photo-selective shading screens are an appropriate agronomic technique to reduce phenolic compounds and improve lettuce cultivation conditions and can be implemented within protected cultivation practices to improve crop performance.
Identification of tumor microenvironment-related prognostic genes in colorectal cancer based on bioinformatic methods
Authors: Liu Yi , Cheng Long , Li Chao , Zhang Chen , Wang Lei , Zhang Jiantao
Published: July 2021

Colorectal cancer (CRC) ranks fourth among the deadliest cancers globally, and the progression is highly affected by the tumor microenvironment (TME). This study explores the relationship between TME and colorectal cancer prognosis and identifies prognostic genes related to the CRC microenvironment. We collected the gene expression data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and calculated the scores of stromal/immune cells and their relations to clinical outcomes in colorectal cancer by the ESTIMATE algorithm. Lower immune scores were significantly related to the malignant progression of CRC (metastasis, p = 0.001). We screened 292 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) by dividing CRC cases into high and low stromal/immune score groups. Functional enrichment analyses and protein–protein interaction (PPI) networks illustrated that these DEGs were closely involved in immune response, cytokine–cytokine receptor interaction, and chemokine signaling pathway. Six DEGs (FABP4, MEOX2, MMP12, ERMN, TNFAIP6, and CHST11) with prognostic value were identified by survival analysis and validated in two independent cohorts (GSE17538 and GSE161158). The six DEGs were significantly related to immune cell infiltration levels based on the Tumor Immune Estimation Resource (TIMER). The results might contribute to discovering new diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers and new treatment targets for colorectal cancer.
A facile, inexpensive and green electrochemical sensor for sensitive detection of imidacloprid residue in rice using activated electrodes
Authors: Lv Yitao , Sun Jingming , Qiao Sen , Zhang Min , Li Juxiu
Published: July 2021

SWV curves of 20.0 μM IDP on GCEs activated by techniques of CV, CP and CA, respectively.
Induced half-metallic characteristics and enhanced magnetic anisotropy in the two-dimensional Janus V2I3Br3 monolayer by graphyne adsorption
Authors: Sun Nan , Wang Xiaocha , Mi Wenbo
Published: July 2021

The heterointerface can induce half-metallic characteristics and enhance perpendicular magnetic anisotropy of the γ-GY/V2I3Br3 heterostructure.
A structure activity relationship for ring closure reactions in unsaturated alkylperoxy radicals
Authors: Vereecken L. , Vu G. , Wahner A. , Kiendler-Scharr A. , Nguyen H. M. T.
Published: July 2021

The ring closure in unsaturated alkyl peroxy radicals can be a competitive process in the atmospheric oxidation of biogenic organic compounds.
Fluorescent kinase inhibitors as probes in cancer
Authors: Usama Syed Muhammad , Zhao Bosheng , Burgess Kevin
Published: July 2021

Fluorescent dyes attached to kinase inhibitors (KIs) can be used to probe kinasesin vitro, in cells, andin vivo.
Low-temperature-synthesized Mn-doped Bi2Fe4O9 as an efficient electrode material for supercapacitor applications
Authors: Kuzhandaivel Hemalatha , Selvaraj Yogapriya , Franklin Manik Clinton , Manickam Sornalatha , Sivalingam Nallathambi Karthick
Published: July 2021

Manganese-doped Bi2Fe4O9, a new material synthesized at a low temperature with a micro-rectangular-shaped particles, is used for supercapacitor applications.
Direct N-glycosylation of tosyl and nosyl carbamates with trichloroacetimidate donors
Authors: Khanam Ariza , Mandal Pintu Kumar
Published: July 2021

Acidic sulphonamide reactants act as both catalysts and nucleophiles to afford the desired N-glycofuranosyl sulfonamides stereoselectively.
Spiral- and meridian-patterned spheres self-assembled from block copolymer/homopolymer binary systems
Authors: Xu Wenheng , Xu Zhanwen , Cai Chunhua , Lin Jiaping , Gao Liang , Qi Huimin , Lin Shaoliang
Published: July 2021

Spiral spheres are self-assembled from a binary system of rod-coil block copolymers and homopolymers, and a spiral-to-meridian pattern transition achieved by increasing temperature is attributed to a tighter packing of the block copolymers.
Silicon compounds as stoichiometric coupling reagents for direct amidation
Authors: Davies Joshua J. , Christopher Braddock D. , Lickiss Paul D.
Published: July 2021

This review covers all the reported use of stoichiometric silicon reagents for direct amidation of carboxylic acids with amines, commencing with the first example in 1969 up until April 2021.
Polymer ligand binding to surface-immobilized gold nanoparticles: a fluorescence-based study on the adsorption kinetics
Authors: Sindram Julian , Karg Matthias
Published: July 2021

We investigate the binding kinetics of polystyrene ligands to gold nanoparticles immobilized on glass substrates. The influence of the molecular weight of the ligand on the kinetics is quantified.
First-Line Health Care Providers' Reported Knowledge of and Referrals to Speech-Language Pathologists for Clients With Mild Traumatic Brain Injury
Authors: Knollman-Porter Kelly , Brown Jessica A. , Wallace Tracey , Spitz Shelby
Published: July 2021

Purpose

People with mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) may experience deficits in cognition or communication that go unnoticed by first-line health care providers (FHPs). Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) assess and treat these domains yet are often underrepresented on mTBI multidisciplinary teams. This study's aim was to evaluate FHPs' reported knowledge of and referral practices to SLPs for individuals across the life span with mTBI.

Method

Physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, nurses, and athletic trainers (n= 126) completed an online survey, including two Likert scale questions and one free response question relating to SLPs' role in mTBI.

Results

More than half of FHPs rate their knowledge of the SLP's role in mTBI management as low (somewhat knowledgeable, 29%; not very knowledgeable, 23%). Similarly, nearly two thirds of FHPs indicated rarely (19%) or never (44%), referring to SLPs for management of patients with mTBI. The majority of FHPs' open responses on the role of the SLP in mTBI management were incomplete, with many including domains that were not relevant to an SLP's role in the management of mTBI (e.g., dysphagia). Within the article, we provide results overall and according to individual profession.

Conclusions

Results suggest a majority of FHPs lack knowledge in the role of the SLP in the management of mTBI, which may underpin the low referral patterns reported by FHPs for SLP services. Future educational efforts for FHPs regarding the role of SLPs in mTBI care are necessary.
A 3.9 µm Ho3+:BaY2F8 laser directly pumped by laser diodes
Authors: Ma Chaoqun , Zhang Ying , Guo Jiawei , Cai He , Han Juhong , Rong Kepeng , An Guofei , Li Haoyu , Tan Lijuan , Wang You
Published: July 2021

This study reports a mid‐infrared Ho3+:BaY2F8 laser directly pumped by laser diodes (LDs). A finite element method (FEM) was used to calculate the temperature and thermal stress distributions inside the Ho3+:BYF crystal. The damage conditions have been evaluated on the basis of the experimental results. Using 889 nm LDs with the repetition frequency and pulse duration of 13 Hz and 100 μs, respectively, an output pulse energy of 1.05 mJ at 3.9 μm for the pump pulse energy of 336.8 mJ was achieved. The study might be useful for constructing a compact and robust mid‐infrared laser.
Local alignments of parsec-scale AGN radiojets
Authors: Mandarakas N. , Blinov D. , Casadio C. , Pelgrims V. , Kiehlmann S. , Pavlidou V. , Tassis K.
Published: July 2021

Context. Coherence in the characteristics of neighboring sources in the 2D and 3D space may suggest the existence of large-scale cosmic structures that are useful for cosmological studies. Numerous works have been conducted to detect such features in global scales as well as in confined areas of the sky. However, their results are often contradictory and their interpretation remains controversial.

Aims. We investigate the potential alignment of parsec-scale radio jets in localized regions of the coordinate-redshift space.

Methods. We used data from the Astrogeo VLBI FITS image database to deduce jet directions of radio sources. We performed the search for statistical alignments between nearby sources and explore the impact of instrumental biases.

Results. We unveil four regions for which the alignment between jet directions deviates from randomness at a significance level of more than 5σ. We find that this effect is unlikely to be due to instrumental systematics. Intriguingly, their locations coincide with other known large-scale cosmic structures or regions of alignment.

Conclusions. If the alignments found here are the result of physical processes, the discovered regions may designate some of the largest structures known to date.
Substantiation of the theoretical and methodological approach to planning the work of rolling stock in the conditions of Eastern Siberia
Authors: Vakhrushev Sergey , Trofimova Liudmila
Published: July 2021

The substantiation of the theoretical and methodological approach was carried out as a result of identifying probabilistic indicators that affect the planned performance of the rolling stock and determine the properties of the types of activities for the maintenance and repair of rolling stock, the transportation of goods by transport units that provide the main production of oil and gas in Eastern Siberia. The work of special equipment is taken into account. The specificity of road, transport, climatic, seasonal conditions is taken into account when planning the production and labor intensity of each unit of rolling stock, presented as a set of parts, and assemblies.