bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Iron Overload in Functional Hyperandrogenism: In a Randomized Trial, Bloodletting Does Not Improve Metabolic Outcomes
Authors: Ortiz-Flores Andrés E , Martínez-García María Ángeles , Nattero-Chávez Lía , Álvarez-Blasco Francisco , Fernández-Durán Elena , Quintero-Tobar Alejandra , Escobar-Morreale Héctor F , Luque-Ramírez Manuel
Published: January 2021

Context

Functional hyperandrogenism may be associated with a mild increase in body iron stores. Iron depletion exerts a beneficial effect on metabolic endpoints in other iron overload states.

Objectives

(i) To determine the effect of iron depletion on the insulin sensitivity and frequency of abnormal glucose tolerance in patients with functional hyperandrogenism submitted to standard therapy with combined oral contraceptives (COC). ii) To assess the overall safety of this intervention.

Design

Randomized, parallel, open-label, clinical trial.

Setting

Academic hospital.

Patients

Adult women with polycystic ovary syndrome or idiopathic hyperandrogenism.

Intervention

After a 3-month run-in period of treatment with 35 μg ethinylestradiol plus 2 mg cyproterone acetate, participants were randomized (1:1) to 3 scheduled bloodlettings or observation for another 9 months.

Main outcome measures

Changes in insulin sensitivity index and frequency of prediabetes/diabetes, and percentage of women in whom bloodletting resulted in plasma hemoglobin <120 g/L and/or hematocrit <0.36.

Results

From 2015 to 2019, 33 women were included by intention-to-treat. During the follow-up, insulin sensitivity did not change in the whole group of women or between study arms [mean of the differences (MD): 0.0 (95%CI: −1.6 to 1.6)]. Women in the experimental arm showed a similar odds of having prediabetes/diabetes than women submitted to observation [odds ratio: 0.981 (95%CI: 0.712 to 1.351)]. After bloodletting, 4 (21.1%) and 2 women (10.5%) in the experimental arm had hemoglobin (Hb) levels <120 g/L and hematocrit (Hct) values <0.36, respectively, but none showed Hb <110 g/L or Hct <0.34.

Conclusions

Scheduled bloodletting does not improve insulin sensitivity in women with functional hyperandrogenism on COC.
Exposure to Propylthiouracil in the First Trimester of Pregnancy and Birth Defects: A Study at a Single Institution
Authors: Yoshihara Ai , Noh Jaeduk Yoshimura , Watanabe Natsuko , Fukushita Miho , Matsumoto Masako , Suzuki Nami , Hoshiyama Ayako , Suzuki Ai , Mitsumatsu Takako , Kinoshita Aya , Mikura Kentaro , Yoshimura Ran , Sugino Kiminori , Ito Koichi
Published: January 2021

Context

Medical treatment of Graves disease during the first trimester has been the subject of controversy ever since treatment with an antithyroid drug during the first trimester was reported to possibly be associated with an increased risk of birth defects in newborns.

Objective

We investigated whether the incidence of birth defects among newborns born to mothers with Graves disease (GD) treated with propylthiouracil (PTU) during the first trimester of pregnancy was higher than in a control group that was not exposed to any medication.

Methods

We reviewed the cases of 1913 women with GD who gave birth between January 1, 2015, and May 31, 2019. Detailed information concerning the outcome of pregnancy and the presence of birth defects was collected at the first visit after the delivery and again 1 year after delivery. We classified the mothers and infants into 3 groups according to the treatment the mother had received for GD in the first trimester of pregnancy: a group in which the mothers had been treated with PTU alone (PTU group), a group in which the mothers had not been treated with any medication (control group), and a group in which the mothers had received some other medical treatment, such as thiamazole, potassium iodide, or 2 or more drugs (other treatment group).

Results

The incidence of malformed infant births was 5.5% (30/541 infants) in the PTU group and 5.7% (27/ 475 infants) in the control group. There were no specific birth defects in the PTU group, and there were no significant differences between PTU dosages or maternal thyroid function according to whether mothers had delivered a child with a birth defect.

Conclusion

The results of our retrospective study showed that treatment with PTU during the first trimester of pregnancy did not increase the incidence of birth defects among newborns.
Synthetic Studies toward Aplysiasecosterol A: Concise Synthesis of the Tricyclic Core and Its Reactions for Introduction of the D Ring Fragment
Authors: Ohyoshi Takayuki , Tano Hikaru , Kigoshi Hideo
Published: January 2021

Aplysiasecosterol A, a 9,11-secosteroid, has a unique tricyclic γ-diketone skeleton including a hemiacetal. The concise and efficient synthesis of the tricyclic core was developed by using pseudo-desymmetrizing acetalization and acyl radical cyclization. Toward the total synthesis, an efficient method for the introduction of the D ring fragment was developed by using an organocuprate.
“Um em um milhão': Uma jornada de uma mulher de cor pós-colonial na academia branca
Authors: Farias Priscila Brito
Published: January 2021

Esta resenha tem por objetivo apresentar fragmentos do percurso acadêmico da professora de “cor” Heidi Saﬁa Mirza, publicizado no terceiro capítulo do livro Inside the Ivory Tower: Narratives of women of colour surviving and thriving in British academia, também inspirar outras mulheres “de cor” em seus percursos universitários.
Vestígios da memória de Antonio José Nunes Garcia: A trajetória e o esquecimento de um jornalista, professor e literato negro do século XIX (1813-1894)
Authors: Camilo Vandelir
Published: January 2021

As ações em busca de liberdade e cidadania protagonizadas por sujeitos negros livres, em meados do século XIX, são o pano de fundo da construção deste artigo, cujo fio condutor é a trajetória intelectual de Antonio José Nunes Garcia, jornalista, professor primário, escritor, abolicionista e monarquista negro do Rio de Janeiro. O artigo baseia-se na análise de materiais diversos – jornais, imagens e documentos pessoais e de associações políticas, seja no Império, seja no início da República –, problematizando as políticas de apagamento da memória social de negros intelectuais dos oitocentos em favor de uma imagem exclusiva do negro como desagenciado no período supracitado.
O negro é rei: 1° Festival Mundial de Artes Negras em Dacar, 1966
Authors: Oliveira Maybel Sulamita
Published: January 2021

Este artigo tem como objetivo analisar as relações culturais e políticas travadas a partir do 1° Festival Mundial de Artes Negras, realizado em 1966, no Senegal. O festival internacional organizado com total apoio do presidente Léopold Sédar Senghor, buscava apresentar a negritude como um caminho político possível. Dito isto, primeiramente o artigo realiza uma discussão sobre o conceito de negritude e seus possíveis usos e sentidos na realização do festival, e no segundo momento aborda a participação brasileira no evento.
Entrevista de Kassandra da Silva Muniz
Authors: Sá Almair Morais de , Marinho Anderson H. F. , Fermino Annelizi
Published: January 2021

Kassandra da Silva Muniz é professora do Departamento de Letras da Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto. Possui pós-doutorado em Linguística Aplicada pela Universidade de Brasília, doutorado e mestrado em Linguística pela Universidade Estadual de Campinas e graduação em Letras pela Universidade de Pernambuco. Tem experiência profissional e pesquisa desenvolvida nos seguintes temas: Pragmática e estudos culturais, Filosofia da linguagem, Humor, Formação de Professores, Educação das relações étnico-raiais, Linguística Aplicada/ Linguagem e identidades, Literaturas africanas e afro-brasileiras, Manifestações afro-culturais na América Latina e Políticas linguísticas.
A Theory for Measures of Tail Risk
Authors: Liu Fangda , Wang Ruodu
Published: January 2021

The notion of “tail risk” has been a crucial consideration in modern risk management and financial regulation, as very well documented in the recent regulatory documents. To achieve a comprehensive understanding of the tail risk, we carry out an axiomatic study for risk measures that quantify the tail risk, that is, the behaviour of a risk beyond a certain quantile. Such risk measures are referred to as tail risk measures in this paper. The two popular classes of regulatory risk measures in banking and insurance, value at risk (VaR) and expected shortfall, are prominent, yet elementary, examples of tail risk measures. We establish a connection between a tail risk measure and a corresponding law-invariant risk measure, called its generator, and investigate their joint properties. A tail risk measure inherits many properties from its generator, but not subadditivity or convexity; nevertheless, a tail risk measure is coherent if and only if its generator is coherent. We explore further relevant issues on tail risk measures, such as bounds, distortion risk measures, risk aggregation, elicitability, and dual representations. In particular, there is no elicitable tail convex risk measure other than the essential supremum, and under a continuity condition, the only elicitable and positively homogeneous monetary tail risk measures are the VaRs.
RECONFIGURAÇÃO DO ESTADO E O NOVO ORDENAMENTO LEGAL E POLÍTICAS PARA O ENSINO MÉDIO NO BRASIL NO PERÍODO DE 1995-2015.
Authors: Morais Edima Verônica
Published: January 2021

Este trabalho busca trazer um estudo comparado entre as políticas desenvolvidas no Brasil para a Educação Profissional, que tem como público alvo a juventude, durante os Governos de Fernando Henrique Cardoso, de Luís Inácio (Lula) da Silva e do Governo da Presidente Dilma Roussef. Nesse sentido, buscamos compreender em que medida as ações desenvolvidas por estes governos através dos programas implementados durante as referidas gestões contribuíram de fato para o fortalecimento e melhoria na qualidade do ensino médio e de como a qualificação profissional em certa medida atende as demandas de formação da juventude trabalhadora. Importante salientar que compreender a trajetória que as políticas públicas para o Ensino Médio percorreu ao longo dos últimos anos é fundamental para entendermos o que está acontecendo neste momento no Brasil.
APRESENTAÇÃO
Authors: Frigotto Gaudêncio , Ramos Marise Nogueira
Published: January 2021

A revista e-Mosaicos traz a público Dossiê Temático II sobre ensino médio composto por quatorze artigos que analisam diferentes aspectos e modalidades deste nível de ensino na atualidade. Um balanço da produção acadêmica sobre a educação pública nos diferentes níveis evidencia-nos um aumento significativo de publicações sobre ensino médio e educação profissional integrada à educação básica.
A CIÊNCIA COMO FORÇA PRODUTIVA E A CRISE DO CAPITAL
Authors: Rocha Rafael
Published: January 2021

Neste artigo, parte do terceiro capítulo da minha dissertação de mestrado, realizada sob orientação dos professores Theotonio dos Santos e Aluisio Bevilaqua discuto como, subsumida às relações capitalistas, a ciência se torna cativa do processo de valorização de capital. As implicações desse processo não se resumem à sua mercantilização na medida em que a produção científica vai além das esferas de busca e reprodução de conhecimento, mas diz respeito à reprodução da sociedade em geral. A ciência e educação não são apenas mercadorias, mas força produtivas e parte constitutiva da força de trabalho, respectivamente. Ambas ganham centralidade nesta nova fase da revolução industrial, disparada a partir da aplicação da inteligência artificial na automação da produção. À medida que o trabalho científico se torna a principal força produtiva social, incide a crise da erosão do tempo de trabalho como paradigma de mensuração de valor.
DO ESCRAVISMO AO CAPITALISMO: O CARÁTER DA DEPENDÊNCIA DURANTE A TRANSIÇÃO (1850-1930)
Authors: Pimentel Pedro
Published: January 2021

Partindo da noção de escravismo colonial como modo de produção particular à formação sócio-histórica brasileira, objetivamos analisar o caráter da dependência durante a transição ao capitalismo. Neste sentido, observando a definição de Ruy Mauro Marini de que a dependência é uma relação de subordinação econômica entre Estados-nação independentes no plano político, examinaremos os mecanismos pelos quais a sociedade brasileira se “moderniza” na segunda metade do século XIX. Em especial, dois aspectos serão abordados: a expansão da plantagem cafeeira na Província de São Paulo e as primeiras investidas industrialistas na cidade do Rio de Janeiro.
EMPRESARIAMENTO DA EDUCAÇÃO DE NOVO TIPO: MERCANTILIZAÇÃO, MERCADORIZAÇÃO E SUBSUNÇÃO DA EDUCAÇÃO AO EMPRESARIADO
Authors: Motta Vânia , Andrade Maria Carolina
Published: January 2021

O artigo versa sobre o empresariamento da educação de novo tipo, em vista do progressivo protagonismo assumido por frações empresariais na educação brasileira nos últimos trinta anos. Tal protagonismo robustece a trincheira de poder junto ao Estado ampliado por meio dos aparelhos privados de hegemonia e opera a supremacia burguesa no âmbito da educação. Considerando a irrompível organicidade entre estrutura e superestrutura e as particularidades da formação econômico-social brasileira, definimos duas dimensões centrais desse processo, quais sejam a capitalização da/na educação (cujos aspectos principais são a mercantilização e a mercadorização) e a subsunção da educação ao empresariado. Apontamos implicações desse processo para a educação brasileira, como o aumento da precarização e da expropriação do processo formativo, discutindo suas funcionalidades no âmbito da reprodução ampliada do capital.
EEUU: EL PROBLEMA ECONÓMICO ESTRUCTURAL EL PROGRAMA DE TRUMP Y LOS CONFLICTOS INTER-IMPERIALES
Authors: Valenzuela José
Published: January 2021

Analisa-se no presente texto os EUA, o problema econômico estrutural, o programa de Trump e os conflitos interimperiais. As questões que o orientam são muito claras: o capitalismo americano será capaz de resolver os problemas que produz? Quais podem ser as possibilidades de Trump em relação a estes problemas? Em um plano mais geral é possível afirmar haver duas orientações que são coerentes entre si e apontam para uma estratégica específica: manter-se como potência mundial. Mas deverá se acentuar nos próximos anos e, muito prováveis.
O CONTEXTO HISTÓRICO DA PRODUÇÃO INTELECTUAL DE CELSO FURTADO: APONTAMENTOS SOBRE DESENVOLVIMENTO E SUBDESENVOLVIMENTO
Authors: Paranhos Michelle
Published: January 2021

ResumoEste ensaio pretende situar historicamente a produção intelectual de Celso Furtado, buscando apreendê-la no contexto das transformações engendradas após 1945, com o fim da Segunda Guerra Mundial. O texto encontra-se estruturado em quatro tópicos, nos quais são abordados os marcos históricos e elementos teórico-metodológicos importantes para a compreensão das teorizações de Furtado. O primeiro tópico discute a relevância da teoria furtadiana e a sua “produção para a ação”; o segundo identifica as origens da ideologia do desenvolvimento e apresenta a interpretação de Furtado em torno do modelo neoclássico; o terceiro tópico aborda o enraizamento da ideologia do desenvolvimento na América Latina tendo como foco as contradições sociais internas da região; por fim, o quarto tópico retoma aspectos do debate político-intelectual brasileiro nos anos 1950, destacando a influência das interpretações dualistas-etapistas da sociedade e da economia em suas três principais vertentes – a do Partido Comunista Brasileiro (PCB), do Instituto Superior de Estudos Brasileiros (ISEB) e da CEPAL, da qual Furtado foi um dos principais expoentes.
Knife-edge interferogram analysis for corrosive wear propagation at sharp edges
Authors: Wang Zhikun , Lee ChaBum
Published: January 2021

This paper presents a novel noncontact measurement and inspection
method based on knife-edge diffraction theory for corrosive wear
propagation monitoring at a sharp edge. The degree of corrosion on the
sharp edge was quantitatively traced in process by knife-edge
interferometry (KEI). The measurement system consists of a laser
diode, an avalanche photodiode, and a linear stage for scanning. KEI
utilizes the interferometric fringes projected on the measurement
plane when the light is incident on a sharp edge. The corrosion
propagation on sharp edges was characterized by analyzing the
difference in the two interferometric fringes obtained from the
control and measurement groups. By using the cross-correlation
algorithm, the corrosion conditions on sharp edges were quantitatively
quantified into two factors: lag and similarity for edge loss and edge
roughness, respectively. The KEI sensor noise level was estimated at
0.03% in full scale. The computational approach to knife-edge
diffraction was validated by experimental validation, and the
computational error was evaluated at less than 1%. Two sets of razor
blades for measurement and control groups were used. As a result, the
lag will be increased at an edge loss ratio of 1.007/µm due to the
corrosive wear, while the similarity will be decreased at a ratio of

5.4
×

10

−
4

/

µ

m

with respect to edge roughness
change. Experimental results showed a good agreement with
computational results.
Hydrophobic-substrate based water-microdroplet manipulation through the long-range photovoltaic interaction from a distant LiNbO3:Fe crystal
Authors: Gao Zuoxuan , Mi Yuhang , Wang Mengtong , Liu Xiaohu , Zhang Xiong , Gao Kaifang , Shi Lihong , Mugisha E. R. , Chen Hongjian , Yan Wenbo
Published: January 2021

Development of photovoltaic water-microdroplet manipulation using LN:Fe crystals has to meet the requirement of the hybrid and heating-avoided design of biological lab-on-chips. To fulfill this, we demonstrate a successful manipulation of a water microdroplet on a hydrophobic substrate by utilizing the long-range photovoltaic interaction from a distant LN:Fe crystal (see Visualization 1). The maximal manipulation distance (MMD) is found to be dependent on the laser-illumination intensity at the LN:Fe crystal and it can be tuned up to a sub-centimeter level (∼4 mm). Basing on the two-center model of light-induced charge transport in the LN:Fe crystal, we establish an analytic model to describe the force balance during the microdroplet manipulation under a long-range photovoltaic interaction. Either shortening the manipulation distance or increasing the illumination intensity can enhance the photovoltaic interaction and increase the velocity of the microdroplet being manipulated. An abrupt shape change followed by a fast repelling movement of the water microdroplet is observed under a strong photovoltaic interaction (see Visualization 2).
Four different mechanisms for switching cell polarity
Authors: Tostevin Filipe , Wigbers Manon , Søgaard-Andersen Lotte , Gerland Ulrich
Published: January 2021

The mechanisms and design principles of regulatory systems establishing stable polarized protein patterns within cells are well studied. However, cells can also dynamically control their cell polarity. Here, we ask how an upstream signaling system can switch the orientation of a polarized pattern. We use a mathematical model of a core polarity system based on three proteins as the basis to study different mechanisms of signal-induced polarity switching. The analysis of this model reveals four general classes of switching mechanisms with qualitatively distinct behaviors: the transient oscillator switch, the reset switch, the prime-release switch, and the push switch. Each of these regulatory mechanisms effectively implements the function of a spatial toggle switch, however with different characteristics in their nonlinear and stochastic dynamics. We identify these characteristics and also discuss experimental signatures of each type of switching mechanism.
Modeling the structure of the frameshift-stimulatory pseudoknot in SARS-CoV-2 reveals multiple possible conformers
Authors: Omar Sara Ibrahim , Zhao Meng , Sekar Rohith Vedhthaanth , Moghadam Sahar Arbabi , Tuszynski Jack A. , Woodside Michael T.
Published: January 2021

The coronavirus causing the COVID-19 pandemic, SARS-CoV-2, uses −1 programmed ribosomal frameshifting (−1 PRF) to control the relative expression of viral proteins. As modulating −1 PRF can inhibit viral replication, the RNA pseudoknot stimulating −1 PRF may be a fruitful target for therapeutics treating COVID-19. We modeled the unusual 3-stem structure of the stimulatory pseudoknot of SARS-CoV-2 computationally, using multiple blind structural prediction tools followed by μs-long molecular dynamics simulations. The results were compared for consistency with nuclease-protection assays and single-molecule force spectroscopy measurements of the SARS-CoV-1 pseudoknot, to determine the most likely conformations. We found several possible conformations for the SARS-CoV-2 pseudoknot, all having an extended stem 3 but with different packing of stems 1 and 2. Several conformations featured rarely-seen threading of a single strand through junctions formed between two helices. These structural models may help interpret future experiments and support efforts to discover ligands inhibiting −1 PRF in SARS-CoV-2.
A rare coding mutation in the MAST2 gene causes venous thrombosis in a French family with unexplained thrombophilia: The Breizh MAST2 Arg89Gln variant
Authors: Morange Pierre-Emmanuel , Peiretti Franck , Gourhant Lenaick , Proust Carole , Soukarieh Omar , Pulcrano-Nicolas Anne-Sophie , Saripella Ganapathi-Varma , Stefanucci Luca , Lacroix Romaric , Ibrahim-Kosta Manal , Lemarié Catherine A. , Frontini Mattia , Alessi Marie-Christine , Trégouët David-Alexandre , Couturaud Francis
Published: January 2021

Rare variants outside the classical coagulation cascade might cause inherited thrombosis. We aimed to identify the variant(s) causing venous thromboembolism (VTE) in a family with multiple relatives affected with unprovoked VTE and no thrombophilia defects. We identified by whole exome sequencing an extremely rare Arg to Gln variant (Arg89Gln) in the Microtubule Associated Serine/Threonine Kinase 2 (MAST2) gene that segregates with VTE in the family. Free-tissue factor pathway inhibitor (f-TFPI) plasma levels were significantly decreased in affected family members compared to healthy relatives. Conversely, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) levels were significantly higher in affected members than in healthy relatives. RNA sequencing analysis of RNA interference experimental data conducted in endothelial cells revealed that, of the 13,387 detected expressed genes, 2,354 have their level of expression modified by MAST2 knockdown, including SERPINE1 coding for PAI-1 and TFPI. In HEK293 cells overexpressing the MAST2 Gln89 variant, TFPI and SERPINE1 promoter activities were respectively lower and higher than in cells overexpressing the MAST2 wild type. This study identifies a novel thrombophilia-causing Arg89Gln variant in the MAST2 gene that is here proposed as a new molecular player in the etiology of VTE by interfering with hemostatic balance of endothelial cells.
Regional simulation of soil organic carbon dynamics for dry farmland in Northeast China using the CENTURY model
Authors: Zhang Feng , Wang Shihang , Zhao Mingsong , Qin Falv , Liu Xiaoyu
Published: January 2021

Soil organic carbon content has a significant impact on soil fertility and grain yield, making it an important factor affecting agricultural production and food security. Dry farmland, the main type of cropland in China, has a lower soil organic carbon content than that of paddy soil, and it may have a significant carbon sequestration potential. Therefore, in this study we applied the CENTURY model to explore the temporal and spatial changes of soil organic carbon (SOC) in Jilin Province from 1985 to 2015. Dry farmland soil polygons were extracted from soil and land use layers (at the 1:1,000,000 scale). Spatial overlay analysis was also used to extract 1282 soil polygons from dry farmland. Modelled results for SOC dynamics in the dry farmland, in conjunction with those from the Yushu field-validation site, indicated a good level of performance. From 1985 to 2015, soil organic carbon density (SOCD) of dry farmland decreased from 34.36 Mg C ha−1 to 33.50 Mg C ha−1 in general, having a rate of deterioration of 0.03 Mg C ha−1 per year. Also, SOC loss was 4.89 Tg from dry farmland soils in the province, with a deterioration rate of 0.16 Tg C per year. 35.96% of the dry farmland its SOCD increased but 64.04% of the area released carbon. Moreover, SOC dynamics recorded significant differences between different soil groups. The method of coupling the CENTURY model with a detailed soil database can simulate temporal and spatial variations of SOC at a regional scale, and it can be used as a precise simulation method for dry farmland SOC dynamics.
Associations between culture of health and employee engagement in social enterprises: A cross-sectional study
Authors: Nekula Patrick , Koob Clemens
Published: January 2021

Introduction

The aging of staff and skill shortage are major challenges for social enterprises. Nurturing a workplace culture of health and fostering employee engagement could be starting points to combat these challenges. The associations between these two factors have received comparatively little attention from the scientific community, in particular with regard to social enterprises. Hence, this study aims to examine those associations, drawing on the job demands-resources theory and the social-ecological workplace culture of health model. It is hypothesized that employees’ self-rated health acts as a mediator in the relationship between culture of health and employee engagement and that health as personal value works as a moderator.

Method

The study used the Workplace Culture of Health scale to measure culture of health in social enterprises and UWES-9 to assess employee engagement. Data was collected administering a quantitative online survey among employees of social enterprises in Germany. The dataset for analyses comprised N = 172 employees in total. Data analyses included Pearson’s correlations, regression analysis, as well as mediation, moderation and moderated mediation analyses.

Results

Culture of health is a predictor of employee engagement in social enterprises. The analyses demonstrate a moderate association between culture of health and employee engagement. Indications were found that employees’ self-rated health acts as a mediator and that health as personal value acts as a moderator between culture of health and employee engagement in social enterprises.

Discussion

This study suggests that fostering a culture of health in social enterprises does not only have a positive effect on employee health, but also on employee engagement. This applies in particular when employees attribute great value to their health, which is to be expected even more in future. Hence, nurturing a culture of health becomes a pivotal management task in social enterprises. Moreover, a comprehensive assessment of the benefits of health promotion programs in social enterprises should not only consider their health-related outcomes, but also factor in their impact on employee engagement.
Recovery patterns and physics of the network
Authors: Ermagun Alireza , Tajik Nazanin
Published: January 2021

In a progressively interconnected world, the loss of system resilience has consequences for human health, the economy, and the environment. Research has exploited the science of networks to explain the resilience of complex systems against random attacks, malicious attacks, and the localized attacks induced by natural disasters or mass attacks. Little is known about the elucidation of system recovery by the network topology. This study adds to the knowledge of network resilience by examining the nexus of recoverability and network topology. We establish a new paradigm for identifying the recovery behavior of networks and introduce the recoverability measure. Results indicate that the recovery response behavior and the recoverability measure are the function of both size and topology of networks. In small sized networks, the return to recovery exhibits homogeneous recovery behavior over topology, while the return shape is dispersed with an increase in the size of network. A network becomes more recoverable as connectivity measures of the network increase, and less recoverable as accessibility measures of network increase. Overall, the results not only offer guidance on designing recoverable networks, but also depict the recovery nature of networks deliberately following a disruption. Our recovery behavior and recoverability measure has been tested on 16 distinct network topologies. The relevant recovery behavior can be generalized based on our definition for any network topology recovering deliberately.
The efficacy of different seed priming agents for promoting sorghum germination under salt stress
Authors: Chen Xiaofei , Zhang Ruidong , Xing Yifan , Jiang Bing , Li Bang , Xu Xiaoxue , Zhou Yufei
Published: January 2021

Sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] seed germination is sensitive to salinity, and seed priming is an effective method for alleviating the negative effects of salt stress on seed germination. However, few studies have compared the effects of different priming agents on sorghum germination under salt stress. In this study, we quantified the effects of priming with distilled water (HP), sodium chloride (NaCl), potassium chloride (KCl), calcium chloride (CaCl2), and polyethylene glycol (PEG) on sorghum seed germination under 150 mM NaCl stress. The germination potential, germination rate, germination index, vigor index, root length, shoot length, root fresh weight, shoot fresh weight, root dry weight, and shoot dry weight were significantly reduced by salt stress. Different priming treatments alleviated the germination inhibition caused by salt stress to varying degrees, and 50 mM CaCl2 was the most effective treatment. In addition, the mitigation effect of priming was stronger on root traits than on shoot traits. Mitigation efficacy was closely related to both the type of agent and the concentration of the solution. Principal component analysis showed that all concentrations of CaCl2 had higher scores and were clearly distinguished from other treatments based on their positive effects on all germination traits. The effects of the other agents varied with concentration. The priming treatments were divided into three categories based on their priming efficacy, and the 50, 100, and 150 mM CaCl2 treatments were placed in the first category. The 150 mM KCl, 10% PEG, HP, 150 mM NaCl, 30% PEG, and 50 mM KCl treatments were placed in the second category, and the 100 mM NaCl, 100 mM KCl, 20% PEG, and 50 mM NaCl treatments were least effective and were placed in the third category. Choosing appropriate priming agents and methods for future research and applications can ensure that crop seeds germinate healthily under saline conditions.
Improving precise point positioning performance based on Prophet model
Authors: Liao Shujian , Yang Chenbo , Li Dengao
Published: January 2021

Precision point positioning (PPP) is widely used in maritime navigation and other scenarios because it does not require a reference station. In PPP, the satellite clock bias (SCB) cannot be eliminated by differential, thus leading to an increase in positioning error. The prediction accuracy of SCB has become one of the key factors restricting positioning accuracy. Although International GNSS Service (IGS) provides the ultra-rapid ephemeris prediction part (IGU-P), its quality and real-time performance can not meet the practical application. In order to improve the accuracy of PPP, this paper proposes to use the Prophet model to predict SCB. Specifically, SCB sequence is read from the observation part in the ultra-rapid ephemeris (IGU-O) released by IGS. Next, the SCB sequence between adjacent epochs are subtracted to obtain the corresponding SCB single difference sequence. Then using the Prophet model to predict SCB single difference sequence. Finally, the prediction result is substituted into the PPP positioning observation equation to obtain the positioning result. This paper uses the final ephemeris (IGF) published by IGS as a benchmark and compares the experimental results with IGU-P. For the selected four satellites, compared with the results of the IGU-P, the accuracy of SCB prediction of the model in this paper is improved by about 50.3%, 61.7%, 60.4%, and 48.8%. In terms of PPP positioning results, we use Real-time kinematic (RTK) measurements as a benchmark in this paper. Positioning accuracy has increased by 26%, 35%, and 19% in the N, E, and U directions, respectively. The results show that the Prophet model can improve the performance of PPP.
Myogenin is required for assembly of the transcription machinery on muscle genes during skeletal muscle differentiation
Authors: Adhikari Abhinav , Kim William , Davie Judith
Published: January 2021

Skeletal muscle gene expression is governed by the myogenic regulatory family (MRF) which includes MyoD (MYOD1) and myogenin (MYOG). MYOD1 and MYOG are known to regulate an overlapping set of muscle genes, but MYOD1 cannot compensate for the absence of MYOG in vivo. In vitro, late muscle genes have been shown to be bound by both factors, but require MYOG for activation. The molecular basis for this requirement was unclear. We show here that MYOG is required for the recruitment of TBP and RNAPII to muscle gene promoters, indicating that MYOG is essential in assembling the transcription machinery. Genes regulated by MYOD1 and MYOG include genes required for muscle fusion, myomaker and myomerger, and we show that myomaker is fully dependent on activation by MYOG. We also sought to determine the role of MYOD1 in MYOG dependent gene activation and unexpectedly found that MYOG is required to maintain Myod1 expression. However, we also found that exogenous MYOD1 was unable to compensate for the loss of Myog and activate muscle gene expression. Thus, our results show that MYOD1 and MYOG act in a feed forward loop to maintain each other’s expression and also show that it is MYOG, and not MYOD1, that is required to load TBP and activate gene expression on late muscle gene promoters bound by both factors.
Multi-energy conversion based on game theory in the industrial interconnection
Authors: He Jianjia , Wu Xiumeng , Li Junxiang , He Shengxue
Published: January 2021

The multi-energy conversion system (MCS) plays an important role in improving the utilization of energy resources and realizing the energy transition. With the application of the new generation of information technologies, the new MCS can realize real-time information interaction, multi-energy collaboration, and real-time demand response, in which energy suppliers can intelligently motivate consumers' energy use behavior. In this paper, an MCS coupled with a cloud platform is proposed to address information explosion and data security issues. Due to the development of Internet technology, the increasing energy data, and the serious energy coupling, it is difficult for traditional optimization methods to deal with the interaction between participants of the MCS. Therefore, the non-cooperative game is used to formulate the interactions between participants with the aim of maximizing the energy suppliers' profit and minimizing the customers' cost. It is proved that the game model is an ordinary game with one Nash equilibrium. The simulation was performed with a gradient projection algorithm and the results show that the proposed MCS improves energy utilization efficiency through energy conversion while ensuring consumer satisfaction, and benefits both the customers and suppliers by reducing the energy consumption cost and the peak load demand, which effectively improve the supply quality and enrich the energy consumption patterns.
Intra-host changes in Kaposi sarcoma-associated herpesvirus genomes in Ugandan adults with Kaposi sarcoma
Authors: Santiago Jan Clement , Goldman Jason D. , Zhao Hong , Pankow Alec P. , Okuku Fred , Schmitt Michael W. , Chen Lennie H. , Hill C. Alexander , Casper Corey , Phipps Warren T. , Mullins James I.
Published: January 2021

Intra-host tumor virus variants may influence the pathogenesis and treatment responses of some virally-associated cancers. However, the intra-host variability of Kaposi sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV), the etiologic agent of Kaposi sarcoma (KS), has to date been explored with sequencing technologies that possibly introduce more errors than that which occurs in the viral population, and these studies have only studied variable regions. Here, full-length KSHV genomes in tumors and/or oral swabs from 9 Ugandan adults with HIV-associated KS were characterized. Furthermore, we used deep, short-read sequencing using duplex unique molecular identifiers (dUMI)–random double-stranded oligonucleotides that barcode individual DNA molecules before library amplification. This allowed suppression of PCR and sequencing errors to ~10−9/base as well as afforded accurate determination of KSHV genome numbers sequenced in each sample. KSHV genomes were assembled de novo, and rearrangements observed were confirmed by PCR and Sanger sequencing. 131-kb KSHV genome sequences, excluding major repeat regions, were successfully obtained from 23 clinical specimens, averaging 2.3x104 reads/base. Strikingly, KSHV genomes were virtually identical within individuals at the point mutational level. The intra-host heterogeneity that was observed was confined to tumor-associated KSHV mutations and genome rearrangements, all impacting protein-coding sequences. Although it is unclear whether these changes were important to tumorigenesis or occurred as a result of genomic instability in tumors, similar changes were observed across individuals. These included inactivation of the K8.1 gene in tumors of 3 individuals and retention of a region around the first major internal repeat (IR1) in all instances of genomic deletions and rearrangements. Notably, the same breakpoint junctions were found in distinct tumors within single individuals, suggesting metastatic spread of rearranged KSHV genomes. These findings define KSHV intra-host heterogeneity in vivo with greater precision than has been possible in the past and suggest the possibility that aberrant KSHV genomes may contribute to aspects of KS tumorigenesis. Furthermore, study of KSHV with use of dUMI provides a proof of concept for utilizing this technique for detailed study of other virus populations in vivo.
K18-hACE2 mice develop respiratory disease resembling severe COVID-19
Authors: Yinda Claude Kwe , Port Julia R. , Bushmaker Trenton , Offei Owusu Irene , Purushotham Jyothi N. , Avanzato Victoria A. , Fischer Robert J. , Schulz Jonathan E. , Holbrook Myndi G. , Hebner Madison J. , Rosenke Rebecca , Thomas Tina , Marzi Andrea , Best Sonja M. , de Wit Emmie , Shaia Carl , van Doremalen Neeltje , Munster Vincent J.
Published: January 2021

SARS-CoV-2 emerged in late 2019 and resulted in the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Several animal models have been rapidly developed that recapitulate the asymptomatic to moderate disease spectrum. Now, there is a direct need for additional small animal models to study the pathogenesis of severe COVID-19 and for fast-tracked medical countermeasure development. Here, we show that transgenic mice expressing the human SARS-CoV-2 receptor (angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 [hACE2]) under a cytokeratin 18 promoter (K18) are susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 and that infection resulted in a dose-dependent lethal disease course. After inoculation with either 104 TCID50 or 105 TCID50, the SARS-CoV-2 infection resulted in rapid weight loss in both groups and uniform lethality in the 105 TCID50 group. High levels of viral RNA shedding were observed from the upper and lower respiratory tract and intermittent shedding was observed from the intestinal tract. Inoculation with SARS-CoV-2 resulted in upper and lower respiratory tract infection with high infectious virus titers in nasal turbinates, trachea and lungs. The observed interstitial pneumonia and pulmonary pathology, with SARS-CoV-2 replication evident in pneumocytes, were similar to that reported in severe cases of COVID-19. SARS-CoV-2 infection resulted in macrophage and lymphocyte infiltration in the lungs and upregulation of Th1 and proinflammatory cytokines/chemokines. Extrapulmonary replication of SARS-CoV-2 was observed in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus of several animals at 7 DPI but not at 3 DPI. The rapid inflammatory response and observed pathology bears resemblance to COVID-19. Additionally, we demonstrate that a mild disease course can be simulated by low dose infection with 102 TCID50 SARS-CoV-2, resulting in minimal clinical manifestation and near uniform survival. Taken together, these data support future application of this model to studies of pathogenesis and medical countermeasure development.
In vivo nanoscale analysis of the dynamic synergistic interaction of Bacillus thuringiensis Cry11Aa and Cyt1Aa toxins in Aedes aegypti
Authors: López-Molina Samira , do Nascimento Nathaly Alexandre , Silva-Filha Maria Helena Neves Lobo , Guerrero Adán , Sánchez Jorge , Pacheco Sabino , Gill Sarjeet S. , Soberón Mario , Bravo Alejandra
Published: January 2021

The insecticidal Cry11Aa and Cyt1Aa proteins are produced byBacillus thuringiensisas crystal inclusions. They work synergistically inducing high toxicity against mosquito larvae. It was proposed that these crystal inclusions are rapidly solubilized and activated in the gut lumen, followed by pore formation in midgut cells killing the larvae. In addition, Cyt1Aa functions as a Cry11Aa binding receptor, inducing Cry11Aa oligomerization and membrane insertion. Here, we used fluorescent labeled crystals, protoxins or activated toxins forin vivolocalization at nano-scale resolution. We show that after larvae were fed solubilized proteins, these proteins were not accumulated inside the gut and larvae were not killed. In contrast, if larvae were fed soluble non-toxic mutant proteins, these proteins were found inside the gut bound to gut-microvilli. Only feeding with crystal inclusions resulted in high larval mortality, suggesting that they have a role for an optimal intoxication process. At the macroscopic level, Cry11Aa completely degraded the gastriccaecastructure and, in the presence of Cyt1Aa, this effect was observed at lower toxin-concentrations and at shorter periods. The labeled Cry11Aa crystal protein, after midgut processing, binds to the gastriccaecaand posterior midgut regions, and also to anterior and medium regions where it is internalized in ordered “net like” structures, leading finally to cell break down. During synergism both Cry11Aa and Cyt1Aa toxins showed a dynamic layered array at the surface of apical microvilli, where Cry11Aa is localized in the lower layer closer to the cell cytoplasm, and Cyt1Aa is layered over Cry11Aa. This array depends on the pore formation activity of Cry11Aa, since the non-toxic mutant Cry11Aa-E97A, which is unable to oligomerize, inverted this array. Internalization of Cry11Aa was also observed during synergism. These data indicate that the mechanism of action of Cry11Aa is more complex than previously anticipated, and may involve additional steps besides pore-formation activity.
Ecdótica, interpretación y fuentes: la edición de los Salmos penitenciales de Diego de Valera
Authors: Tomassetti Isabella
Published: January 2021

Los Salmos penitenciales de Diego de Valera constituyen un largo poema transmitido por el cancionero SA10a (Salamanca, Biblioteca General Histórica, ms. 2763). Al tener este texto una tradición monotestimonial, resulta más bien difícil detectar eventuales errores o trivializaciones que se inferirían del cotejo entre distintos manuscritos. Aun así, el poema presenta lugares textuales de gran interés para cuya interpretación ha sido muy útil acudir a la Vulgata. La fuente bíblica del poema de Valera, aunque sometida a un ejercicio de reescritura en clave cortesana, se ha revelado de hecho una importante herramienta para editar el texto castellano.
La interacción transnacional de la sociedad civil centroamericana frente a la violencia juvenil
Authors: Martín Álvarez Alberto , Torre Oropeza Verónica de la
Published: January 2021

RESUMEN: La violencia juvenil es uno de los problemas sociales más importantes en Guatemala, Honduras y El Salvador. La expansión de las pandillas juveniles ha sido enfrentada por los gobiernos de estas naciones por medio de la adopción de medidas represivas. Las operaciones policiales masivas y la legislación antibandas han sido las principales herramientas utilizadas para tratar de detener el auge de la violencia juvenil, mientras que las medidas preventivas han sido dejadas de lado. Sin embargo, después de cuatro años de implementación de estos planes, los resultados son escasos en términos de un descenso de los niveles de crimen en estas sociedades. Todo ello ha provocado la politización y transnacionalización de las organizaciones que tratan el asunto de la violencia juvenil. Junto a ello, el hecho de que estas políticas hayan sido desarrolladas al mismo tiempo en los tres países ha ayudado a fortalecer lazos entre estas organizaciones. ABSTRACT: Youth violence is one of the most important social problems in Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador. The expansion of the youth gangs has been confronted by the governments of these nations through the adoption of repressive measures. Massive police operations and anti-gang legislation have been the main tools used in the three countries to try to stop the rise of youth violence, while preventive measures has been left aside. However, after four years of implementation of these plans, the results are scarce in terms of a decrease in the levels of crime in these societies. All this facts have provoked the politization and transnationalization of the organizations that are dealing with the issue of the youth violence.