bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Drying microclimates threaten persistence of natural and translocated populations of threatened frogs
Authors: Hoffmann Emily P. , Williams Kim , Hipsey Matthew R. , Mitchell Nicola J.
Published: October 2020

Defining species habitat requirements is essential for effective conservation management through revealing agents of population decline and identifying critical habitat for conservation actions, such as translocations. Here we studied the habitat-associations of two threatened terrestrial-breeding frog species from southwestern Australia, Geocrinia alba and Geocrinia vitellina, to investigate if fine-scale habitat variables explain why populations occur in discrete patches, why G. alba is declining, and why translocation attempts have had mixed outcomes. We compared habitat variables at sites where the species are present, to variables at immediately adjacent sites where frogs are absent, and at sites where G. alba is locally extinct. Dry season soil moisture was the most important predictor of frog abundance for both species, and explained why G. alba had become extinct from some areas. Sites where G. alba were present were also positively associated with moss cover, and negatively with bare ground and soil conductivity. Modelling frog abundance based exclusively on dry season soil moisture predicted recent translocation successes with high accuracy. Hence, considering dry season soil moisture when selecting future translocation sites should increase the probability of population establishment. We propose that a regional drying trend is the most likely cause for G. alba declines and that both species are at risk of further habitat and range contraction due to further projected regional declines in rainfall and groundwater levels. More broadly, our study highlights that conservation areas in drying climates may not provide adequate protection and may require interventions to preserve critical habitat.
A Progressive Loss of phosphoSer138-Profilin Aligns with Symptomatic Course in the R6/2 Mouse Model of Huntington’s Disease: Possible Sex-Dependent Signaling
Authors: Baharani Akanksha , Wei Zelan , Roesler William J. , Mousseau Darrell D.
Published: October 2020

The R6/2 transgenic mouse model of Huntington’s disease (HD) carries several copies of exon1 of the huntingtin gene that contains a highly pathogenic 120 CAG-repeat expansion. We used kinome analysis to screen for kinase activity patterns in neural tissues from wildtype (WT) and R6/2 mice at a pre-symptomatic (e.g., embryonic) and symptomatic (e.g., between 3 and 10 weeks postnatal) time points. We identified changes in several signaling cascades, for example, the Akt/FoxO3/CDK2, mTOR/ULK1, and RAF/MEK/CREB pathways. We also identified the Rho-Rac GTPase cascade that contributes to cytoskeleton organization through modulation of the actin-binding proteins, cofilin and profilin. Immunoblotting revealed higher levels of phosphoSer138-profilin in embryonic R6/2 mouse samples (cf. WT mice) that diminish progressively and significantly over the postnatal, symptomatic course of the disease. We detected sex- and genotype-dependent patterns in the phosphorylation of actin-regulators such a ROCK2, PAK, LIMK1, cofilin, and SSH1L, yet none of these aligned consistently with the changing levels of phosphoSer138-profilin. This could be reflecting an imbalance in the sequential influences these regulators are known to exert on actin signaling. The translational potential of these observations was inferred from preliminary observations of changes in LIMK-cofilin signaling and loss of neurite integrity in neural stem cells derived from an HD patient (versus a healthy control). Our observations suggest that a pre-symptomatic, neurodevelopmental onset of change in the phosphorylation of Ser138-profilin, potentially downstream of distinct signaling changes in male and female mice, could be contributing to cytoskeletal phenotypes in the R6/2 mouse model of HD pathology.
Volatile Organic Compounds as Insect Repellents and Plant Elicitors: an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Strategy for Glasshouse Whitefly (Trialeurodes vaporariorum)
Authors: Conboy Niall J.A. , McDaniel Thomas , George David , Ormerod Adam , Edwards Martin , Donohoe Paul , Gatehouse Angharad M. R , Tosh Colin R.
Published: October 2020

The glasshouse whitefly (Trialeurodes vaporariorum Westwood) is a polyphagous arthropod pest that is of particular detriment to glasshouse grown tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) across temperate regions of the world. Control of whiteflies with synthetic pesticides has resulted in the evolution of resistant genotypes and a reduction in natural enemies, thus highlighting the need for environmentally sound control strategies. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) offer an environmentally benign alternative to synthetic chemical sprays and this study explored the use of VOCs as insect repellents and plant defence elicitors to control whiteflies on tomato in a commercial glasshouse setting. Limonene in the form of a volatile dispenser system was found to successfully repel whitefly from the target crop and increased fruit yield by 32% during a heavy whitefly infestation. Analysis of tomato herbivore induced plant volatiles (HIPVs) led us to select methyl salicylate (MeSA) as the plant elicitor and application of MeSA to un-infested tomato plants was found to successfully reduce whitefly population development and increase yield by 11%, although this difference was marginally statistically significant. Combination of these two methods was also effective but whitefly abundance in combined plots was similar to the standalone limonene treatment across the course of the experiment. All of the VOC based control methods we used had a negative impact on whitefly performance, with more pronounced effects during the first few weeks of infestation. In subsequent laboratory experiments, we found elevated peroxidase (POD) activity and a significant increase in TPX1 and PR1 transcripts in MeSA treated plants. This led us to deduce that MeSA immediately induced plant defences, rather than priming them. We did however see evidence for residual priming, as plants treated with MeSA and infested with whiteflies produced significantly higher levels of POD activity than whitefly infestation alone. Despite the fact that our treatments failed to synergise, our methods can be optimised further, and the effectiveness of the standalone treatments is promising for future studies. In particular, our repellent limonene dispensers were extremely effective at deterring whiteflies and offer a low economic cost and easy to implement whitefly control option. The methods we have used here could be incorporated into current integrated pest management (IPM) systems, a sustainable approach to pest control which will be central to our efforts to manage whitefly populations under glass in the future.
Power from indirect pain: a historical phenomenology of medical pain management
Authors: Sik Domonkos
Published: October 2020

The article aims at reconstructing how pain is used in contemporary societies in the process of engraving power. Firstly, a social phenomenological analysis of pain is conducted: Husserl’s and Merleau-Ponty’s ideas are used for clarifying the experience of pain itself; Elaine Scarry’s analyses are overviewed in order to reconstruct how pain contributes to the establishing of power. Secondly, this complex approach is applied in early modern context: the parallel processes of the decline of a transcendental and the emergence of a medical interpretation of pain is introduced, along with the marginalization of violence. Thirdly, the era characterized by the triumph of medical pain management is analysed: it is argued that the constitutive role of pain in establishing power does not cease to exist with the emergence of technologies of discursive governance (Foucault); it is an open question, what sort of power is engraved through pain understood in strictly medical frames.
Social dignity for marginalized people in public healthcare: an interpretive review and building blocks for a non-ideal theory
Authors: Schmidt Jante , Trappenburg Margo , Tonkens Evelien
Published: October 2020

Jacobson (Social Science & Medicine 64:292–302, 2007) finds two distinct meanings of “dignity” in the literature on dignity and health: (1) intrinsic human dignity and (2) social dignity constituted through interactions with caregivers. Especially the latter has been central in empirical health research and warrants further exploration. This article focuses on the social dignity of people marginalized by mental illness, substance abuse and comparable conditions in extramural settings. 35 studies published between 2007 and 2017 have addressed this issue, most of them identifying norms for social dignity: civilized interactions, non-stigmatizing treatment, treatment as unique individuals, being taken seriously, maintaining a positive identity, experiencing independence, relating to others, and participating in daily life. We argue that these norms belong to ideal theory, whereas we agree with Robeyns (Social Theory and Practice 34:341–362, 2008) and others that improving practice is better served by non-ideal theory. Towards this end, we derive from the literature four building blocks for a non-ideal theory of dignity: (1) avoid violations of dignity rather than seeking to promote it; (2) dignity is not a goal to be reached; it requires ongoing effort; (3) promoting dignity is a balancing act; contradictory norms can make it impossible to realize; and (4) dignity can be undermined by organizational and discursive constraints.
Features and applications of a field imaging chlorophyll fluorometer to measure stress in agricultural plants
Authors: Linn Alexander I. , Zeller Alexander K. , Pfündel Erhard E. , Gerhards Roland
Published: October 2020

Most non-destructive methods for plant stress detection do not measure the primary stress response but reactions of processes downstream of primary events. For instance, the chlorophyll fluorescence ratio Fv/Fm, which indicates the maximum quantum yield of photosystem II, can be employed to monitor stress originating elsewhere in the plant cell. This article describes the properties of a sensor to quantify herbicide and pathogen stress in agricultural plants for field applications by the Fv/Fm parameter. This dedicated sensor is highly mobile and measures images of pulse amplitude modulated (PAM) chlorophyll fluorescence. Special physical properties of the sensor are reported, and the range of its field applications is defined. In addition, detection of herbicide resistant weeds by employing an Fv/Fm-based classifier is described. The PAM-imaging sensor introduced here can provide in-field estimation of herbicide sensitivity in crops and weeds after herbicide treatment before any damage becomes visible. Limitations of the system and the use of a classifier to differentiate between stressed and non-stressed plants based on sensor data are presented. It is concluded that stress detection by the Fv/Fm parameter is suitable as an expert tool for decision making in crop management.
New powers for Dispositionalism
Authors: Giannini Giacomo
Published: October 2020

Establishing Dispositionalism as a viable theory of modality requires the successful fulfilment of two tasks: (i) showing that all modal truths can be derived from truths about actual powers, and (ii) offering a suitable metaphysics of powers. These two tasks are intertwined: difficulties in one can affect the chances of success in the other. In this paper, I generalise an objection to Dispositionalism by Jessica Leech and argue that the theory in its present form is ill-suited to account for de re truths about merely possible entities. I argue that such difficulty is rooted in a problem in the metaphysics of powers. In particular, I contend that the well-known tension between two key principle of powers ontology, namely Directedness (all powers are “for” their manifestation) and Independence (some powers might fail to bring about their manifestation) has received an unsatisfactory solution so far, and that it is this unsatisfactory solution concerning the status of “unmanifested manifestations” that makes it hard for Dispositionalism to account for mere possibilia. I develop a novel account of the status of unmanifested manifestations and an overall metaphysics of powers which allows to better respond to Leech's objection and handle mere possibilia. The central idea of the proposal is that unmanifested manifestations are akin to mere logical existents, and are best characterised as non-essentially non-located entities.
Contact Angles in Two-Phase Flow Images
Authors: Khanamiri Hamid Hosseinzade , Slotte Per Arne , Berg Carl Fredrik
Published: October 2020

In this work, we calculate contact angles in X-ray tomography images of two-phase flow in order to investigate the wettability. Triangulated surfaces, generated using the images, are smoothed to calculate the contact angles. As expected, the angles have a spread rather than being a constant value. We attempt to shed light on sources of the spread by addressing the overlooked mesh corrections prior to smoothing, poorly resolved image features, cluster-based analysis, and local variations of contact angles. We verify the smoothing algorithm by analytical examples with known contact angle and curvature. According to the analytical cases, point-wise and average contact angles, average mean curvature and surface area converge to the analytical values with increased voxel grid resolution. Analytical examples show that these parameters can reliably be calculated for fluid–fluid surfaces composed of roughly 3000 vertices or more equivalent to 1000 pixel2. In an experimental image, by looking into individual interfaces and clusters, we show that contact angles are underestimated for wetting fluid clusters where the fluid–fluid surface is resolved with less than roughly 500 vertices. However, for the fluid–fluid surfaces with at least a few thousand vertices, the mean and standard deviation of angles converge to similar values. Further investigation of local variations of angles along three-phase lines for large clusters revealed that a source of angle variations is anomalies in the solid surface. However, in the places least influenced by such noise, we observed that angles tend to be larger when the line is convex and smaller when the line is concave. We believe this pattern may indicate the significance of line energy in the free energy of the two-phase flow systems.
The Use of 360° Video by International Humanitarian Aid Organizations to Spread Social Messages and Increase Engagement
Authors: García-Orosa Berta , Pérez-Seijo Sara
Published: October 2020

The article analyses 360° video production in international humanitarian aid nonprofit organizations from 2015 to 2019 as 360° video storytelling is one of the latest innovations in organizational digital communication. Through a content analysis and interviews, a specific use of the 360° video format for particular issues or campaigns in order to bring a distant reality to the organization’s audience has been detected. Thus, putting the users in the shoes of “the other” seems to be the objective pursued. NGOs may soon begin to understand long-term interactivity and engagement not just as action and reaction between organization and receiver (almost non-existent to date), but above all as the receiver’s behaviour, which they may strive to orient towards one of the organization’s end goals, depending on the communication strategy set by the organization’s director. With this objective, common to entities from other sectors, they could be moving towards an innovative conceptualization of engagement.
Addressing Unintentional Exclusion of Vulnerable and Mobile Households in Traditional Surveys in Kathmandu, Dhaka, and Hanoi: a Mixed-Methods Feasibility Study
Authors: Thomson Dana R. , Bhattarai Radheshyam , Khanal Sudeepa , Manandhar Shraddha , Dhungel Rajeev , Gajurel Subash , Hicks Joseph Paul , Duc Duong Minh , Ferdoush Junnatul , Ferdous Tarana , Urmy Nushrat Jahan , Shawon Riffat Ara , Long Khuong Quynh , Poudel Ak Narayan , Cartwright Chris , Wallace Hilary , Ensor Tim , Baral Sushil , Mashreky Saidur , Huque Rumana , Van Minh Hoang , Elsey Helen
Published: October 2020

The methods used in low- and middle-income countries’ (LMICs) household surveys have not changed in four decades; however, LMIC societies have changed substantially and now face unprecedented rates of urbanization and urbanization of poverty. This mismatch may result in unintentional exclusion of vulnerable and mobile urban populations. We compare three survey method innovations with standard survey methods in Kathmandu, Dhaka, and Hanoi and summarize feasibility of our innovative methods in terms of time, cost, skill requirements, and experiences. We used descriptive statistics and regression techniques to compare respondent characteristics in samples drawn with innovative versus standard survey designs and household definitions, adjusting for sample probability weights and clustering. Feasibility of innovative methods was evaluated using a thematic framework analysis of focus group discussions with survey field staff, and via survey planner budgets. We found that a common household definition excluded single adults (46.9%) and migrant-headed households (6.7%), as well as non-married (8.5%), unemployed (10.5%), disabled (9.3%), and studying adults (14.3%). Further, standard two-stage sampling resulted in fewer single adult and non-family households than an innovative area-microcensus design; however, two-stage sampling resulted in more tent and shack dwellers. Our survey innovations provided good value for money, and field staff experiences were neutral or positive. Staff recommended streamlining field tools and pairing technical and survey content experts during fieldwork. This evidence of exclusion of vulnerable and mobile urban populations in LMIC household surveys is deeply concerning and underscores the need to modernize survey methods and practices.
Konzepte und Implikationen der verminderten Schuldfähigkeit
Authors: Kröber Hans-Ludwig
Published: October 2020

Die psychiatrische Feststellung einer überdauernd erheblich verminderten Schuldfähigkeit im Sinne von §21 StGB erfordert eine begründete Zuordnung zum Rechtsbegriff der „schweren seelischen Abartigkeit“ und auch einer dadurch beeinflussten motivationalen Steuerungsfähigkeit. Die psychiatrischen Konzepte, die sich im Verlauf der letzten 200 Jahre zur Frage der strafrechtlichen Verantwortlichkeit entwickelt haben, sind aber nicht reine Psychopathologie, sondern haben rechtspolitische Implikationen. So war die Einführung der „erheblich verminderten“ Schuldfähigkeit damit verknüpft, eine Handhabe für eine unbefristete Freiheitsentziehung sozial Devianter, möglicherweise psychisch Gestörter zu bekommen, die gefährlich, manchmal nur lästig sind. Es stellt sich anhand der Argumente für und gegen das Konstrukt einer verminderten Schuldfähigkeit die Frage, ob es einen Bereich jenseits von psychischer Gesundheit und psychischer Krankheit gibt, der geeignet ist, die Fähigkeiten einer Person zu verantwortlichem Handeln erheblich zu beinträchtigen. Dargestellt werden die forensisch-psychiatrischen Lösungsversuche dieses Problems, v. a. seit der Großen Strafrechtsreform 1975. Um zu verhindern, dass sozial abweichendes Verhalten mit dem Ziel einer prophylaktischen unbefristeten Freiheitsentziehung psychiatrisiert wird, sollte das Konzept der verminderten Schuldfähigkeit eng sein und wirklich psychiatrisch relevante Sachverhalte erfassen.
Tadalafil Alone or in Combination with Tamsulosin for the Management for LUTS/BPH and ED
Authors: Sebastianelli A. , Spatafora P. , Morselli S. , Vignozzi L. , Serni S. , McVary K. T. , Kaplan S. , Gravas S. , Chapple C. , Gacci Mauro
Published: October 2020

Purpose of Review

Aim of our systematic review is to evaluate and summarize the efficacy and safety of tadalafil alone or in combination with tamsulosin for the management of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS)/benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and erectile dysfunction (ED).

Recent Findings

Daily tadalafil, in particular 5 mg, according to retrieved studies, appears to be both safe and effective in treating LUTS/BPH and ED, compared with placebo or tamsulosin. The combination of daily tadalafil 5 mg and tamsulosin 0.4 mg allows a better improvement of LUTS compared with both the monotherapies, even if with an increased, but acceptable and tolerated, adverse events rate. After discontinuation of tamsulosin or tadalafil in patients previously treated with their combination, the improvement of LUTS retains significance compared with baseline.

Tadalafil 5 mg should be considered a primary treatment option for patients with LUTS/BPH and ED. Evidence highlight an excellent tolerability, safety, and effectiveness profile, both alone or in combination with tamsulosin 0.4 mg. A better efficacy on LUTS relief has been observed for combination therapy, preserving also sexual function. The further switch to monotherapy allows to preserve LUTS relief, but tadalafil only is able to retain ED improvement. Our results support the evidence for a more and more tailored and modular LUTS treatment.
An experimental-numeric approach to manufacture semiconductor wafer using thick copper front metallization
Authors: Calabretta Michele , Sitta Alessandro , Oliveri Salvatore Massimo , Sequenzia Gaetano
Published: October 2020

The presented work investigates about the deformation of semiconductor device induced by electrochemical deposited thick copper films. It enhances thermal and electric performances allowing to use copper interconnections without formations of intermetallic layers at the interfaces with consequent reliability improvement. Nevertheless, the induced deformation strongly affects manufacturability, criticizing the integration between different process steps. Experiment based on phase-shift Moiré principle has been performed to better understand the relation between warpage and temperature. Finite element model has been developed to reproduce the phenomenon in order to address the design and the process integration optimizing workability, electrical performances and reliability.
Complications of chronic total occlusion percutaneous coronary intervention
Authors: Karacsonyi J. , Vemmou E. , Nikolakopoulos I. D. , Ungi I. , Rangan B. V. , Brilakis E. S.
Published: October 2020

Chronic total occlusion percutaneous coronary interventions can be highly complex and are associated with an increased risk of complications, such as perforation, acute vessel closure (which can lead to rapid haemodynamic compromise if it involves the donor vessel), and equipment loss or entrapment. Awareness of the potential complications and meticulous attention to equipment position and patient monitoring can help minimise the risk of complications and allow prompt treatment should they occur.
Untapping the Health Enhancing Potential of Vigorous Intermittent Lifestyle Physical Activity (VILPA): Rationale, Scoping Review, and a 4-Pillar Research Framework
Authors: Stamatakis Emmanuel , Huang Bo-Huei , Maher Carol , Thøgersen-Ntoumani Cecilie , Stathi Afroditi , Dempsey Paddy C. , Johnson Nathan , Holtermann Andreas , Chau Josephine Y. , Sherrington Catherine , Daley Amanda J. , Hamer Mark , Murphy Marie H. , Tudor-Locke Catrine , Gibala Martin J.
Published: October 2020

Recently revised public health guidelines acknowledge the health benefits of regular intermittent bouts of vigorous intensity incidental physical activity done as part of daily living, such as carrying shopping bags, walking uphill, and stair climbing. Despite this recognition and the advantages such lifestyle physical activity has over continuous vigorous intensity structured exercise, a scoping review we conducted revealed that current research in this area is, at best, rudimentary. Key gaps include the absence of an empirically-derived dose specification (e.g., minimum duration of lifestyle physical activity required to achieve absolute or relative vigorous intensity), lack of acceptable measurement standards, limited understanding of acute and chronic (adaptive) effects of intermittent vigorous bouts on health, and paucity of essential information necessary to develop feasible and scalable interventions (e.g., acceptability of this kind of physical activity by the public). To encourage collaboration and research agenda alignment among groups interested in this field, we propose a research framework to further understanding of vigorous intermittent lifestyle physical activity (VILPA). This framework comprises four pillars aimed at the development of: (a) an empirical definition of VILPA, (b) methods to reliably and accurately measure VILPA, (c) approaches to examine the short and long-term dose–response effects of VILPA, and (d) scalable and acceptable behavioural VILPA-promoting interventions.

Graphic Abstract
Fuzzy data envelopment analysis in the presence of undesirable outputs with ideal points
Authors: Ebrahimnejad Ali , Amani Naser
Published: October 2020

Data envelopment analysis (DEA) is a prominent technique for evaluating relative efficiency of a set of entities called decision making units (DMUs) with homogeneous structures. In order to implement a comprehensive assessment, undesirable factors should be included in the efficiency analysis. The present study endeavors to propose a novel approach for solving DEA model in the presence of undesirable outputs in which all input/output data are represented by triangular fuzzy numbers. To this end, two virtual fuzzy DMUs called fuzzy ideal DMU (FIDMU) and fuzzy anti-ideal DMU (FADMU) are introduced into proposed fuzzy DEA framework. Then, a lexicographic approach is used to find the best and the worst fuzzy efficiencies of FIDMU and FADMU, respectively. Moreover, the resulting fuzzy efficiencies are used to measure the best and worst fuzzy relative efficiencies of DMUs to construct a fuzzy relative closeness index. To address the overall assessment, a new approach is proposed for ranking fuzzy relative closeness indexes based on which the DMUs are ranked. The developed framework greatly reduces the complexity of computation compared with commonly used existing methods in the literature. To validate the proposed methodology and proposed ranking method, a numerical example is illustrated and compared the results with an existing approach.
Gold Nanozymes: From Concept to Biomedical Applications
Authors: Lou-Franco Javier , Das Bhaskar , Elliott Christopher , Cao Cuong
Published: October 2020

In recent years, gold nanoparticles have demonstrated excellent enzyme-mimicking activities which resemble those of peroxidase, oxidase, catalase, superoxide dismutase or reductase. This, merged with their ease of synthesis, tunability, biocompatibility and low cost, makes them excellent candidates when compared with biological enzymes for applications in biomedicine or biochemical analyses. Herein, over 200 research papers have been systematically reviewed to present the recent progress on the fundamentals of gold nanozymes and their potential applications. The review reveals that the morphology and surface chemistry of the nanoparticles play an important role in their catalytic properties, as well as external parameters such as pH or temperature. Yet, real applications often require specific biorecognition elements to be immobilized onto the nanozymes, leading to unexpected positive or negative effects on their activity. Thus, rational design of efficient nanozymes remains a challenge of paramount importance. Different implementation paths have already been explored, including the application of peroxidase-like nanozymes for the development of clinical diagnostics or the regulation of oxidative stress within cells via their catalase and superoxide dismutase activities. The review also indicates that it is essential to understand how external parameters may boost or inhibit each of these activities, as more than one of them could coexist. Likewise, further toxicity studies are required to ensure the applicability of gold nanozymes in vivo. Current challenges and future prospects of gold nanozymes are discussed in this review, whose significance can be anticipated in a diverse range of fields beyond biomedicine, such as food safety, environmental analyses or the chemical industry.
Remotely Activated Nanoparticles for Anticancer Therapy
Authors: Racca Luisa , Cauda Valentina
Published: October 2020

Cancer has nowadays become one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Conventional anticancer approaches are associated with different limitations. Therefore, innovative methodologies are being investigated, and several researchers propose the use of remotely activated nanoparticles to trigger cancer cell death. The idea is to conjugate two different components, i.e., an external physical input and nanoparticles. Both are given in a harmless dose that once combined together act synergistically to therapeutically treat the cell or tissue of interest, thus also limiting the negative outcomes for the surrounding tissues. Tuning both the properties of the nanomaterial and the involved triggering stimulus, it is possible furthermore to achieve not only a therapeutic effect, but also a powerful platform for imaging at the same time, obtaining a nano-theranostic application. In the present review, we highlight the role of nanoparticles as therapeutic or theranostic tools, thus excluding the cases where a molecular drug is activated. We thus present many examples where the highly cytotoxic power only derives from the active interaction between different physical inputs and nanoparticles. We perform a special focus on mechanical waves responding nanoparticles, in which remotely activated nanoparticles directly become therapeutic agents without the need of the administration of chemotherapeutics or sonosensitizing drugs.
MOF-Derived CoSe2@N-Doped Carbon Matrix Confined in Hollow Mesoporous Carbon Nanospheres as High-Performance Anodes for Potassium-Ion Batteries
Authors: Yang Su Hyun , Park Seung-Keun , Kang Yun Chan
Published: October 2020

In this work, a novel vacuum-assisted strategy is proposed to homogenously form Metal–organic frameworks within hollow mesoporous carbon nanospheres (HMCSs) via a solid-state reaction. The method is applied to synthesize an ultrafine CoSe2 nanocrystal@N-doped carbon matrix confined within HMCSs (denoted as CoSe2@NC/HMCS) for use as advanced anodes in high-performance potassium-ion batteries (KIBs). The approach involves a solvent-free thermal treatment to form a Co-based zeolitic imidazolate framework (ZIF-67) within the HMCS templates under vacuum conditions and the subsequent selenization. Thermal treatment under vacuum facilitates the infiltration of the cobalt precursor and organic linker into the HMCS and simultaneously transforms them into stable ZIF-67 particles without any solvents. During the subsequent selenization process, the “dual confinement system”, composed of both the N-doped carbon matrix derived from the organic linker and the small-sized pores of HMCS, can effectively suppress the overgrowth of CoSe2 nanocrystals. Thus, the resulting uniquely structured composite exhibits a stable cycling performance (442 mAh g−1 at 0.1 A g−1 after 120 cycles) and excellent rate capability (263 mAh g−1 at 2.0 A g−1) as the anode material for KIBs.
Putting the Biophysical (Back) in Economics: A Taxonomic Review of Modeling the Earth-Bound Economy
Authors: Sherwood John , Carbajales-Dale Michael , Haney Becky Roselius
Published: October 2020

Economists rarely model the economy as explicitly bound by earth’s ecological systems. Modeling the dynamic interactions of both human and non-human systems is admittedly a challenging task, as it requires expertise from multiple disciplines. Within the last 10 years, a wide variety of research papers have been published that include some biophysical aspects in a model of the economy. These papers all have one thing in common: the model of the economy includes physical and/or energetic exchanges, as well as monetary exchange. This theme is what defines the emerging sub-discipline of biophysical economics, BPE. BPE models of the economy originate from a variety of disciplines, and thus BPE research articles are published across a wide spectrum of academic journals. As inter-disciplinary researchers ourselves, we want to understand what BPE modeling approaches have been used so far. In this paper, we examine and classify over one hundred published articles that use biophysical models of the economy. Although BPE modeling approaches are quite varied, grouping the research by common characteristics reveals several active research areas. We highlight recent papers that are helpful examples of the most popular BPE modeling strategies. Gaps also exist. Several modeling approaches have not been used in published works yet. We identify which of those gaps could be promising avenues for future research. We conclude by suggesting which BPE modeling approach might be particularly appropriate for a variety of research questions.
Description of membrane systems with time Petri nets: promoters/inhibitors, membrane dissolution, and priorities
Authors: Battyányi Péter , Vaszil György
Published: October 2020

We continue the investigations of the connection between membrane systems and time Petri nets by extending the examined class of systems from simple symbol-object membrane systems to more complex cases: rules with promoters/inhibitors, membrane dissolution, and priority relation on the rules. By constructing the simulating time Petri net, we retain one of the main characteristics of the Petri net model; namely, the firings of the transitions can take place in any order, and there is no need to introduce maximal parallelism in the Petri net semantics. Instead, we substantially exploit the gain in computational strength obtained by the introduction of the timing feature for Petri nets.
Comparison of Cardiorespiratory and Metabolic Responses Between Kettlebell Half Marathon and Treadmill Running at the Same Average Oxygen Consumption: A Case Study
Authors: Greco Davide , Calanni Luca , Cerullo Giuseppe , Negro Massimo , D’Antona Giuseppe
Published: October 2020

Purposes

In kettlebell sport (KS) half marathon, the lift of the kettlebell is required for the highest number of repetitions in 30 min. No data are available on cardiorespiratory and metabolic responses during this exercise routine. The aim of the study was to evaluate cardiopulmonary and metabolic responses to KS half marathon compared to 30 min treadmill running, chosen as a reference paradigm of aerobic exercise, at the same average oxygen consumption (VO2).

Methods

A male elite KS athlete was enrolled in two trials separated by 7 days of rest. In the first trial, one-hand long-cycle KS exercise with a 1/3 body weight kettlebell was performed for 30 min (kettlebell half marathon, KT); in the second trial, 30 min treadmill running (TR) was performed at the same average VO2 measured in the first trial (speed 9–10 km/h at 1° uphill inclination). Metabolic and cardiopulmonary assessments [respiratory exchange ratio (RER), tidal volume (TV), breathing frequency (f), minute ventilation (VE)], blood lactate (BL) kinetics, heart rate (HR), and blood pressure (BP) were measured in both experimental sessions.

Results

The average VO2 was 33.3 mL/min/kg in KT and 30.6 mL/min/kg in TR. The subject achieved RERpeak 1.17, RERmean 0.98, HRpeak 172 bpm (94% HRmax), HRmean 86% of HRmax, BPpeak 220/100 mmHg in KT, BLpeak 7.2 mmol/L (during trial) in KT and RERpeak 1.13, RERmean 0.89, HRpeak 142 bpm (78% HRmax), HRmean 70% of HRmax, BPpeak 160/80 mmHg, BLpeak 3.5 mmol/L (4 min after trial) mmol/L in TR.

Conclusion

Data indicate that a KS half marathon determines much higher cardiopulmonary and metabolic responses to treadmill running performed at similar VO2.
Origin of Myofibroblasts in Lung Fibrosis
Authors: Hung CF
Published: October 2020

Purpose of Review

In this brief review, we will highlight important observational and experimental data in the literature that address the origin of scar-forming cells in lung fibrosis.

Recent Findings

Several cellular sources of activated scar-forming cells (myofibroblasts) have been postulated including alveolar epithelial cells; circulating fibrocytes; and lung stromal cell subpopulations including resident fibroblasts, pericytes, and resident mesenchymal stem cells. Recent advances in lineage-tracing models, however, fail to provide experimental evidence for epithelial and fibrocyte origins of lung myofibroblasts. Resident mesenchymal cells of the lung, which include various cell types including resident fibroblasts, pericytes, and resident mesenchymal stem cells, appear to be important sources of myofibroblasts in murine models of lung injury and fibrosis.

Lung myofibroblasts likely originate from multiple sources of lung-resident mesenchymal cells. Their relative contributions may vary depending on the type of injury. Although lineage-tracing experiments have failed to show significant contribution from epithelial cells or fibrocytes, they may play important functional roles in myofibroblast activation through paracrine signaling.
The Making of Empire in Bronze Age Anatolia
Authors: Glatz Claudia
Published: October 2020

In this book, Claudia Glatz reconsiders the concept of empire and the processes of imperial making and undoing of the Hittite network in Late Bronze Age Anatolia. Using an array of archaeological, iconographic, and textual sources, she offers a fresh account of one of the earliest, well-attested imperialist polities of the ancient Near East. Glatz critically examines the complexity and ever – transforming nature of imperial relationships, and the practices through which Hittite elites and administrators aimed to bind disparate communities and achieve a measure of sovereignty in particular places and landscapes. She also tracks the ambiguities inherent in these practices  -- what they did or did not achieve, how they were resisted, and how they were subtly negotiated in different regional and cultural contexts.
Modeling intent and destination prediction within a Bayesian framework: Predictive touch as a usecase
Authors: Gan Runze , Liang Jiaming , Ahmad Bashar I. , Godsill Simon
Published: October 2020

In various scenarios, the motion of a tracked object, for example, a pointing apparatus, pedestrian, animal, vehicle, and others, is driven by achieving a premeditated goal such as reaching a destination. This is albeit the various possible trajectories to this endpoint. This paper presents a generic Bayesian framework that utilizes stochastic models that can capture the influence of intent (viz., destination) on the object behavior. It leads to simple algorithms to infer, as early as possible, the intended endpoint from noisy sensory observations, with relatively low computational and training data requirements. This framework is introduced in the context of the novel predictive touch technology for intelligent user interfaces and touchless interactions. It can determine, early in the interaction task or pointing gesture, the interface item the user intends to select on the display (e.g., touchscreen) and accordingly simplify as well as expedite the selection task. This is shown to significantly improve the usability of displays in vehicles, especially under the influence of perturbations due to road and driving conditions, and enable intuitive contact-free interactions. Data collected in instrumented vehicles are shown to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed intent prediction approach.
Djamel Ameziane v. U.S.A., Report No. 29/20, Case 12.865 Merits, (Inter-Am. Comm'n H.R.)
Authors: Cerna Christina M.
Published: October 2020

On April 22, 2020, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (Commission) issued its first decision on one of the Guantanamo detainees, Djamel Ameziane, an Algerian Muslim who was held at Guantanamo for almost 12 years until he was deported to Algeria in 2013, in violation, inter alia, of the principle of non-refoulement. The case was brought on Mr. Ameziane's behalf by the Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR) and the Center for Justice and International Law (CEJIL), and the decision is very comprehensive and carefully written, as is to be expected of a decision totaling 70 pages. Although the United States became a party to the UN Covenant on Civil and Political Rights in 1992, it never accepted the first Optional Protocol, which gives individuals the right to bring complaints against the United States before the U.N. Human Rights Committee; consequently, the only international body to which an individual can bring a complaint against the United States for a violation of international human rights law is the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, a principal organ of the Organization of American States (OAS).
AROUND RUBIN’S “THEORIES OF LINEAR ORDER”
Authors: TANOVIĆ PREDRAG , MOCONJA SLAVKO , ILIĆ DEJAN
Published: October 2020

Let $\mathcal M=(M,<,\ldots)$ be a linearly ordered first-order structure and T its complete theory. We investigate conditions for T that could guarantee that $\mathcal M$ is not much more complex than some colored orders (linear orders with added unary predicates). Motivated by Rubin’s work [5], we label three conditions expressing properties of types of T and/or automorphisms of models of T. We prove several results which indicate the “geometric” simplicity of definable sets in models of theories satisfying these conditions. For example, we prove that the strongest condition characterizes, up to definitional equivalence (inter-definability), theories of colored orders expanded by equivalence relations with convex classes.
Identification of a new P450s gene (AccCYP4AV1) and its roles in abiotic stress resistance in the Apis cerana cerana Fabricius
Authors: Zhang Weixing , Wang Hongfang , Liu Zhenguo , Wang Ying , Xu Baohua
Published: October 2020

Cytochrome P450 monooxygenases (P450s) play significant roles in protecting organisms from abiotic stress damage. Here, we report the sequence and characterization of a P450s gene (AccCYP4AV1), isolated from Apis cerana cerana Fabricius. The open reading frame of AccCYP4AV1 is 1506 base pairs long and encodes a predicted protein of 501 amino acids and 57.84 kDa, with an isoelectric point of 8.67. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) analysis indicated that AccCYP4AV1 is more highly expressed in the midgut than in other tissues. In addition, the highest expression occurs in newly emerged adult workers, followed by the first instar of the larval stage. In addition, the expression of the AccCYP4AV1 was upregulated by low temperature (4 °C), ultraviolet radiation, hydrogen peroxide, paraquat, and dichlorvos treatments. In contrast, AccCYP4AV1 transcription was downregulated by other abiotic stress conditions: exposure to increased temperature (44 °C), deltamethrin, cadmium chloride, and mercury (II) chloride. Moreover, when AccCYP4AV1 was knocked-down by RNA interference, the results suggested that multiple antioxidant genes (AccsHSP22.6, AccSOD2, AccTpx1, and AccTpx4) were downregulated and antioxidant genes AccGSTO1 and AccTrx1 were upregulated. The activity levels of peroxidase and catalase were upregulated in the AccCYP4AV1-knocked-down samples, compared with those in the control groups. These findings suggest that the AccCYP4AV1 protein might be involved in the defense against abiotic stress damage.
Bimodal magmatism produced by delamination: geochemical evidence from late Palaeozoic volcanic rocks from the Yili Block, Western Tianshan, Northwestern China
Authors: Chen Genwen , Liu Rui , Deng Teng , Wang Lixing
Published: October 2020

The Western Tianshan orogenic belt is essential for understanding the evolution of the Central Asian orogenic belt. However, no agreement exists among geologists about its tectonic environment during the Late Palaeozoic. The volcanic rocks of the Yishijilike and Wulang Formation in the Yili Block, Western Tianshan, formed in the Late Carboniferous to Early Permian, mainly consist of a bimodal suite of basalts – basaltic andesites and rhyolites, with only some intermediate rocks. Mafic rocks are slightly enriched in light rare earth elements (LREE) and depleted in Nb, Ta, Zr and Hf, suggesting a subduction-modiﬁed depleted mantle source. Some mafic samples in the Early Permian bimodal volcanic rocks have high Ti contents with relatively high concentrations of Nb and high field strength elements (HFSE) and low contents of heavy rare earth elements (HREE). These rocks are similar to the continental flood basalts, which suggests that they formed from an asthenospheric mantle. This paper indicates that mafic members were created by the partial melting of the asthenospheric mantle material and subduction-modiﬁed lithospheric mantle mixture. Some rhyolites and dacites in the Wulang formation were enriched in Ga, Nb, Zr, Ce and Y and depleted in Sr and Eu. Additionally, they showed fractionation of rare earth elements (REE) with negative Eu anomalies, which is indicative of an A-type affinity of felsic rocks. The genesis of mafic members and an A-type affinity of felsic members indicate that the Late Carboniferous – Early Permian magmatism in the Western Tianshan area formed as a result of an extensional setting. This study also reveals bimodal magmatism produced by delamination in an extensional tectonic setting.
NAE-resolution: A new resolution refutation technique to prove not-all-equal unsatisfiability
Authors: Kleine Büning Hans , Wojciechowski P. , Subramani K.
Published: October 2020

In this paper, we analyze Boolean formulas in conjunctive normal form (CNF) from the perspective of read-once resolution (ROR) refutation schemes. A read-once (resolution) refutation is one in which each clause is used at most once. Derived clauses can be used as many times as they are deduced. However, clauses in the original formula can only be used as part of one derivation. It is well known that ROR is not complete; that is, there exist unsatisfiable formulas for which no ROR exists. Likewise, the problem of checking if a 3CNF formula has a read-once refutation is NP-complete. This paper is concerned with a variant of satisfiability called not-all-equal satisfiability (NAE-satisfiability). A CNF formula is NAE-satisfiable if it has a satisfying assignment in which at least one literal in each clause is set to false. It is well known that the problem of checking NAE-satisfiability is NP-complete. Clearly, the class of CNF formulas which are NAE-satisfiable is a proper subset of satisfiable CNF formulas. It follows that traditional resolution cannot always find a proof of NAE-unsatisfiability. Thus, traditional resolution is not a sound procedure for checking NAE-satisfiability. In this paper, we introduce a variant of resolution called NAE-resolution which is a sound and complete procedure for checking NAE-satisfiability in CNF formulas. The focus of this paper is on a variant of NAE-resolution called read-once NAE-resolution in which each clause (input or derived) can be part of at most one NAE-resolution step. Our principal result is that read-once NAE-resolution is a sound and complete procedure for 2CNF formulas. Furthermore, we provide an algorithm to determine the smallest such NAE-resolution in polynomial time. This is in stark contrast to the corresponding problem concerning 2CNF formulas and ROR refutations. We also show that the problem of checking whether a 3CNF formula has a read-once NAE-resolution is NP-complete.