bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Waif Gopher Tortoise Survival and Site Fidelity Following Translocation
Authors: McKee Rebecca K. , Buhlmann Kurt A. , Moore Clinton T. , Hepinstall‐Cymerman Jeffrey , Tuberville Tracey D.
Published: February 2021

Gopher tortoises (Gopherus polyphemus) are among the most commonly translocated reptiles. Waif tortoises are animals frequently of unknown origin that have been displaced from the wild and often held in human possession for various reasons and durations. Although there are risks associated with any translocation, waif tortoises are generally excluded from translocation projects because of heightened concerns of introducing pathogens and uncertainty about the post‐release survival of these individuals. If these risks could be managed, waif tortoises could have conservation value because they can provide the needed numbers to stabilize populations. In the early 1990s, the discovery of an isolated population of gopher tortoises (≤15 individuals) near Aiken, South Carolina, USA, prioritized establishment of the Aiken Gopher Tortoise Heritage Preserve (AGTHP). Because of the population's need for augmentation and the site's isolation from other tortoise populations, the AGTHP provided the opportunity to evaluate the post‐release survival of translocated waif tortoises without compromising a viable population. Since 2006, >260 waif tortoises have been introduced to the preserve. Using a Cormack‐Jolly‐Seber modeling framework to analyze release records and capture histories from trapping efforts in 2017 and 2018, we estimated the long‐term apparent survival and site fidelity of this population composed largely of waif tortoises. We estimated annual apparent survival probabilities to be high (≥0.90) for subadult, adult male, and adult female tortoises, and these rates were similar to those reported for wild‐to‐wild translocated gopher tortoises and those from unmanipulated populations. Of the tortoises recaptured within the boundaries of the preserve, 75% were located within 400 m of their release location. These results suggest that waif tortoises could be an important resource in reducing the extirpation risk of isolated populations. © 2021 The Wildlife Society.
Homogeneous Composite Nonwoven Support for High Temperature‐Resistant Separation Membranes
Authors: Xu Xianlin , Liu Qiannan , Zheng Wei , Zhao Zhongming , Shi Lei , Wang Xiaoyin , Zhuang Xupin
Published: February 2021

High temperature‐resistant separation membranes are widely considered in various fields. However, incompetent support layer limits the performance of high temperature‐resistant membranes severely. In this work, a homogeneous composite nonwoven support (HCNS) is developed by wet‐laid and hot‐pressing technology using undrawn polyethylene terephthalate fibers as bonding fibers. The significance of hot‐pressing parameters on the performances of the HCNS is investigated, and quadratic regression models are established. The HCNS exhibits a smooth surface (roughness of 118 nm) and a porous structure (porosity of 21.06% and pore size of 6.548 µm) with a mechanical property (tensile index of 45.80 N m g−1). The ultrafiltration membranes supported by the HCNS are prepared from poly(phthalazine ether sulfone ketone), which demonstrates high permeance, high rejection rate, and long‐term stability at raised operation temperature, thereby suggesting the potential application of HCNS in high‐temperature filtration.
Surgical management of paratesticular rhabdomyosarcoma: A consensus opinion from the Children's Oncology Group, European paediatric Soft tissue sarcoma Study Group, and the Cooperative Weichteilsarkom Studiengruppe
Authors: Rogers Timothy N. , Seitz Guido , Fuchs Jörg , Martelli Helene , Dasgupta Roshni , Routh Jonathan C. , Hawkins Douglas S. , Koscielniak Ewa , Bisogno Gianni , Rodeberg David A.
Published: February 2021

The treatment of paratesticular rhabdomyosarcoma (PT‐RMS) has varied over time and by cooperative group. The International Soft Tissue Sarcoma Database Consortium (INSTRuCT) is a collaboration of the Children's Oncology Group (COG) Soft Tissue Sarcoma Committee, European pediatric Soft tissue sarcoma Study Group (EpSSG), and the Cooperative Weichteilsarkom Studiengruppe (CWS). The INSTRuCT surgical committee has been given charge of the development of internationally applicable consensus guidelines for the surgical treatment of rhabdomyosarcoma. This clinical consensus opinion document addresses accepted principles and areas of controversy, such as scrotal violation and retroperitoneal nodal evaluation, providing an evidence‐based guideline for the surgical treatment for PT‐RMS.
Isolation and Identification of Cytotoxic and Antimalarial Constituents from Artemisia moorcroftiana
Authors: Bhat Khursheed A. , Naseer Syed , Gani Ifshana , Jameel Salman , Amin Henna , Bhat Showkat Ahmad , Gupta Ajai P.
Published: February 2021

LC‐MS guided technique was applied for the detection and target separation of constituents of Artemisia moorcroftiana. Artemisinin together with fourteen other natural products viz; deoxyartemisinin, gorgonolide, 1‐β,10‐α‐dihydroxy‐1,10‐deoxygorgonolide, yangambin, epi‐yangambin, casticin, ergostanediene‐3‐ol, undecanol, artabsinolide diepoxide, campsterol, stigmasterol, artabsinolide A, artabsinolide C and 8,11‐diethylpentadec‐14‐en‐2‐one were isolated from the aerial parts of Artemisia moorcroftiana Wall. The isolated molecules were subjected to MTT cytotoxicity screening against a panel of four different human cancer cell lines to check their cytotoxic potential. Casticin was found as the most potent cytotoxic isolate. In addition the phytochemical investigation has resulted into the isolation of known antimalarial constituents like artemisinin, casticin, gorgonolide and deoxygorgonolide which has confirmed the folklure claims associated with Artemisia moorcroftiana wherein it is reported to be used as an effective remedy for the treatment of malaria.
Study on the Isotope fractionation of Zinc in Complexation with Macrocyclic Polyethers
Authors: Fujii Toshiyuki , Kato Chizu , Mahan Brandon , Moynier Frédéric
Published: February 2021

Isotope fractionation of Zn was studied via liquid‐liquid extraction with aqueous phase of ZnCl2/HCl and organic phase of crown ethers(CEs), including benzo15‐crown‐5(B15C5), benzo‐18‐crown‐6(B18C6) and Dicyclohexano‐24‐crown‐8(DC24C8)/1,2‐ dichloroethane. The isotope enrichment factor (ϵ66), expressed in permil notation, of the isotope pair 66Zn−64Zn was found to be between −0.24 and −0.52 ‰ in the order of enrichment: B15C5≥B18C6>DC24C8. The magnitude of ϵ66was well explained by theoretical isotope fractionation factors obtained by density functional theory method for zinc chloride and ZnCl2/CE model molecules, and a thermochemical description that correlates ϵ66 with the differences in Gibbs free energy(ΔG) of the exchange reaction, here termed δΔG, based on the mass differences of Zn isotopes involved. Finally, results suggest that ϵ66 may be used as a diagnostic and metric of Zn metabolic derangement, such as in porphyrias.
Symmetric reduction of high-multiplicity one-loop integrals and maximal cuts
Authors: Jehu Guy R.
Published: February 2021

Abstract

We derive useful reduction formulae which express one-loop Feynman integrals with a large number of external momenta in terms of lower-point integrals carrying easily derivable kinematic coefficients which are symmetric in the external momenta. These formulae apply for integrals with at least two more external legs than the dimension of the external momenta, and are presented in terms of two possible bases: one composed of a subset of descendant integrals with one fewer external legs, the other composed of the complete set of minimally-descendant integrals with just one more leg than the dimension of external momenta. In 3+1 dimensions, particularly compact representations of kinematic invariants can be computed, which easily lend themselves to spinor-helicity or trace representations. The reduction formulae have a close relationship with D-dimensional unitarity cuts, and thus provide a path towards computing full (all-ϵ) expressions for scattering amplitudes at arbitrary multiplicity.
Hayden-Preskill decoding from noisy Hawking radiation
Authors: Bao Ning , Kikuchi Yuta
Published: February 2021

Abstract

In the Hayden-Preskill thought experiment, the Hawking radiation emitted before a quantum state is thrown into the black hole is used along with the radiation collected later for the purpose of decoding the quantum state. A natural question is how the recoverability is affected if the stored early radiation is damaged or subject to decoherence, and/or the decoding protocol is imperfectly performed. We study the recoverability in the thought experiment in the presence of decoherence or noise in the storage of early radiation.
Antiviral activities and applications of ribosomally synthesized and post-translationally modified peptides (RiPPs)
Authors: Fu Yuxin , Jaarsma Ate H. , Kuipers Oscar P.
Published: February 2021

The emergence and re-emergence of viral epidemics and the risks of antiviral drug resistance are a serious threat to global public health. New options to supplement or replace currently used drugs for antiviral therapy are urgently needed. The research in the field of ribosomally synthesized and post-translationally modified peptides (RiPPs) has been booming in the last few decades, in particular in view of their strong antimicrobial activities and high stability. The RiPPs with antiviral activity, especially those against enveloped viruses, are now also gaining more interest. RiPPs have a number of advantages over small molecule drugs in terms of specificity and affinity for targets, and over protein-based drugs in terms of cellular penetrability, stability and size. Moreover, the great engineering potential of RiPPs provides an efficient way to optimize them as potent antiviral drugs candidates. These intrinsic advantages underscore the good therapeutic prospects of RiPPs in viral treatment. With the aim to highlight the underrated antiviral potential of RiPPs and explore their development as antiviral drugs, we review the current literature describing the antiviral activities and mechanisms of action of RiPPs, discussing the ongoing efforts to improve their antiviral potential and demonstrate their suitability as antiviral therapeutics. We propose that antiviral RiPPs may overcome the limits of peptide-based antiviral therapy, providing an innovative option for the treatment of viral disease.
Measures of prefrontal functional near-infrared spectroscopy in visuomotor learning
Authors: Tinga Angelica M. , Clim Maria-Alena , de Back Tycho T. , Louwerse Max M.
Published: February 2021

Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) is a promising technique for non-invasively assessing cortical brain activity during learning. This technique is safe, portable, and, compared to other imaging techniques, relatively robust to head motion, ocular and muscular artifacts and environmental noise. Moreover, the spatial resolution of fNIRS is superior to electroencephalography (EEG), a more commonly applied technique for measuring brain activity non-invasively during learning. Outcomes from fNIRS measures during learning might therefore be both sensitive to learning and to feedback on learning, in a different way than EEG. However, few studies have examined fNIRS outcomes in learning and no study to date additionally examined the effects of feedback. To address this apparent gap in the literature, the current study examined prefrontal cortex activity measured through fNIRS during visuomotor learning and how this measure is affected by task feedback. Activity in the prefrontal cortex decreased over the course of learning while being unaffected by task feedback. The findings demonstrate that fNIRS in the prefrontal cortex is valuable for assessing visuomotor learning and that this measure is robust to task feedback. The current study highlights the potential of fNIRS in assessing learning even under different task feedback conditions.
Improved in vivo PET imaging of the adenosine A2A receptor in the brain using [18F]FLUDA, a deuterated radiotracer with high metabolic stability
Authors: Lai Thu Hang , Toussaint Magali , Teodoro Rodrigo , Dukić-Stefanović Sladjana , Gündel Daniel , Ludwig Friedrich-Alexander , Wenzel Barbara , Schröder Susann , Sattler Bernhard , Moldovan Rareş-Petru , Falkenburger Björn H. , Sabri Osama , Deuther-Conrad Winnie , Brust Peter
Published: February 2021

Purpose

The adenosine A2A receptor has emerged as a therapeutic target for multiple diseases, and thus the non-invasive imaging of the expression or occupancy of the A2A receptor has potential to contribute to diagnosis and drug development. We aimed at the development of a metabolically stable A2A receptor radiotracer and report herein the preclinical evaluation of [18F]FLUDA, a deuterated isotopologue of [18F]FESCH.

Methods

[18F]FLUDA was synthesized by a two-step one-pot approach and evaluated in vitro by autoradiographic studies as well as in vivo by metabolism and dynamic PET/MRI studies in mice and piglets under baseline and blocking conditions. A single-dose toxicity study was performed in rats.

Results

[18F]FLUDA was obtained with a radiochemical yield of 19% and molar activities of 72–180 GBq/μmol. Autoradiography proved A2A receptor–specific accumulation of [18F]FLUDA in the striatum of a mouse and pig brain. In vivo evaluation in mice revealed improved stability of [18F]FLUDA compared to that of [18F]FESCH, resulting in the absence of brain-penetrant radiometabolites. Furthermore, the radiometabolites detected in piglets are expected to have a low tendency for brain penetration. PET/MRI studies confirmed high specific binding of [18F]FLUDA towards striatal A2A receptor with a maximum specific-to-non-specific binding ratio in mice of 8.3. The toxicity study revealed no adverse effects of FLUDA up to 30 μg/kg, ~ 4000-fold the dose applied in human PET studies using [18F]FLUDA.

Conclusions

The new radiotracer [18F]FLUDA is suitable to detect the availability of the A2A receptor in the brain with high target specificity. It is regarded ready for human application.
Open conversion in laparoscopic cholecystectomy and bile duct exploration: subspecialisation safely reduces the conversion rates
Authors: Nassar Ahmad H. M. , Zanati Hisham El , Ng Hwei J. , Khan Khurram S. , Wood Colin
Published: February 2021

Background

Open conversion rates during laparoscopic cholecystectomy vary depending on many factors. Surgeon experience and operative difficulty influence the decision to convert on the grounds of patient safety but occasionally due to technical factors. We aim to evaluate the difficulties leading to conversion, the strategies used to minimise this event and how subspecialisation influenced conversion rates over time.

Methods

Prospectively collected data from 5738 laparoscopic cholecystectomies performed by a single surgeon over 28 years was analysed. Routine intraoperative cholangiography and common bile duct exploration when indicated are utilised. Patients undergoing conversion, fundus first dissection or subtotal cholecystectomy were identified and the causes and outcomes compared to those in the literature.

Results

28 patients underwent conversion to open cholecystectomy (0.49%). Morbidity was relatively high (33%). 16 of the 28 patients (57%) had undergone bile duct exploration. The most common causes of conversion in our series were dense adhesions (9/28, 32%) and impacted bile duct stones (7/28, 25%). 173 patients underwent fundus first cholecystectomy (FFC) (3%) and 6 subtotal cholecystectomy (0.1%). Morbidity was 17.3% for the FFC and no complications were encountered in the subtotal cholecystectomy patients. These salvage techniques have reduced our conversion rate from a potential 3.5% to 0.49%.

Conclusion

Although open conversion should not be seen as a failure, it carries a high morbidity and should only be performed when other strategies have failed. Subspecialisation and a high emergency case volume together with FFC and subtotal cholecystectomy as salvage strategies can reduce conversion and its morbidity in difficult cholecystectomies.
Verification of randomized consensus algorithms under round-rigid adversaries
Authors: Bertrand Nathalie , Konnov Igor , Lazić Marijana , Widder Josef
Published: February 2021

Randomized fault-tolerant distributed algorithms pose a number of challenges for automated verification: (i) parameterization in the number of processes and faults, (ii) randomized choices and probabilistic properties, and (iii) an unbounded number of asynchronous rounds. This combination makes verification hard. Challenge (i) was recently addressed in the framework of threshold automata. We extend threshold automata to model randomized consensus algorithms that perform an unbounded number of asynchronous rounds. For non-probabilistic properties, we show that it is necessary and sufficient to verify these properties under round-rigid schedules, that is, schedules where processes enter round ronly after all processes finished round$$r-1$$r-1. For almost-sure termination, we analyze these algorithms under round-rigid adversaries, that is, fair adversaries that only generate round-rigid schedules. This allows us to do compositional and inductive reasoning that reduces verification of the asynchronous multi-round algorithms to model checking of a one-round threshold automaton. We apply this framework and automatically verify the following classic algorithms: Ben-Or’s and Bracha’s seminal consensus algorithms for crashes and Byzantine faults, 2-set agreement for crash faults, and RS-Bosco for the Byzantine case.
Anthropogenic and geogenic influences on peri-urban aquifers in semi-arid regions: insights from a case study in northeast Jaipur, Rajasthan, India
Authors: Frommen Theresa , Groeschke Maike , Nölscher Maximilian , Koeniger Paul , Schneider Michael
Published: February 2021

Rapid urbanization has exerted considerable pressure on groundwater resources in Jaipur, India. Peri-urban areas are particularly affected as the public supply infrastructure often does not reach this fast-growing fringe, which often lacks a planning strategy, leading to an informal water supply based on groundwater. At the same time, the hills and historic reservoirs located in these areas are important for groundwater recharge and, therefore, critical for sustainable groundwater-resource management. To understand the local hydrogeology and the role of anthropogenic influences, a 2-year field study was carried out in northeastern Jaipur. The aim was to develop a conceptual model on which a management concept can be built. The study comprised hydrochemical and stable isotope analyses of water samples, depth-to-water measurements, a leveling survey and geophysical investigations. The study revealed that the groundwater from both the Proterozoic hard rock and the overlying Quaternary alluvial aquifer generally does not meet the Indian drinking water thresholds for nitrate concentration and/or total dissolved solids (TDS). While anthropogenic activities are the main source of quantity problems (declining groundwater levels through overabstraction), the biggest quality problems (nitrate up to 550 mg/L and TDS >500 mg/L) are most likely of geogenic origin and only enhanced by anthropogenic impacts. Quantity and quality aspects improve significantly in areas influenced by recharge from the historic reservoirs, leading to the conclusion that artificial recharge structures may be the way forward to improving community water supply and that groundwater protection should be given priority in these areas.
Hydrogenative-PHIP polarized metabolites for biological studies
Authors: Reineri Francesca , Cavallari Eleonora , Carrera Carla , Aime Silvio
Published: February 2021

ParaHydrogen induced polarization (PHIP) is an efficient and cost-effective hyperpolarization method, but its application to biological investigations has been hampered, so far, due to chemical challenges. PHIP is obtained by means of the addition of hydrogen, enriched in the para-spin isomer, to an unsaturated substrate. Both hydrogen atoms must be transferred to the same substrate, in a pairwise manner, by a suitable hydrogenation catalyst; therefore, a de-hydrogenated precursor of the target molecule is necessary. This has strongly limited the number of parahydrogen polarized substrates. The non-hydrogenative approach brilliantly circumvents this central issue, but has not been translated to in-vivo yet. Recent advancements in hydrogenative PHIP (h-PHIP) considerably widened the possibility to hyperpolarize metabolites and, in this review, we will focus on substrates that have been obtained by means of this method and used in vivo. Attention will also be paid to the requirements that must be met and on the issues that have still to be tackled to obtain further improvements and to push PHIP substrates in biological applications.
Reliable distribution of computational load in robot teams
Authors: Valkov Ivan , Trinder Phil , Chechina Natalia
Published: February 2021

Modern multi-robot systems often need to solve computationally intensive tasks but operate with limited compute resources and in the presence of failures. Cooperating to share computational tasks between robots at the edge reduces execution time. We introduce and evaluate a new computation load management technology for teams of robots: Reliable Autonomous Mobile Programs (RAMPs). RAMPs use information about the computational resources available in the team and a cost model to decide where to execute. RAMPs are implemented in ROS on a collection of Raspberry Pi-based robots. The performance of RAMPs is evaluated using route planning, a typical computationally-intensive robotics application. A systematic study of RAMPs demonstrates a high likelihood of optimal or near-optimal distribution and hence efficient resource utilisation. RAMPs successfully complete in the presence of simultaneous, or successive, robot failures and network failures, while preserving near-optimal distribution.
Give more data, awareness and control to individual citizens, and they will help COVID-19 containment
Authors: Nanni Mirco , Andrienko Gennady , Barabási Albert-László , Boldrini Chiara , Bonchi Francesco , Cattuto Ciro , Chiaromonte Francesca , Comandé Giovanni , Conti Marco , Coté Mark , Dignum Frank , Dignum Virginia , Domingo-Ferrer Josep , Ferragina Paolo , Giannotti Fosca , Guidotti Riccardo , Helbing Dirk , Kaski Kimmo , Kertesz Janos , Lehmann Sune , Lepri Bruno , Lukowicz Paul , Matwin Stan , Jiménez David Megías , Monreale Anna , Morik Katharina , Oliver Nuria , Passarella Andrea , Passerini Andrea , Pedreschi Dino , Pentland Alex , Pianesi Fabio , Pratesi Francesca , Rinzivillo Salvatore , Ruggieri Salvatore , Siebes Arno , Torra Vicenc , Trasarti Roberto , Hoven Jeroen van den , Vespignani Alessandro
Published: February 2021

The rapid dynamics of COVID-19 calls for quick and effective tracking of virus transmission chains and early detection of outbreaks, especially in the “phase 2” of the pandemic, when lockdown and other restriction measures are progressively withdrawn, in order to avoid or minimize contagion resurgence. For this purpose, contact-tracing apps are being proposed for large scale adoption by many countries. A centralized approach, where data sensed by the app are all sent to a nation-wide server, raises concerns about citizens’ privacy and needlessly strong digital surveillance, thus alerting us to the need to minimize personal data collection and avoiding location tracking. We advocate the conceptual advantage of a decentralized approach, where both contact and location data are collected exclusively in individual citizens’ “personal data stores”, to be shared separately and selectively (e.g., with a backend system, but possibly also with other citizens), voluntarily, only when the citizen has tested positive for COVID-19, and with a privacy preserving level of granularity. This approach better protects the personal sphere of citizens and affords multiple benefits: it allows for detailed information gathering for infected people in a privacy-preserving fashion; and, in turn this enables both contact tracing, and, the early detection of outbreak hotspots on more finely-granulated geographic scale. The decentralized approach is also scalable to large populations, in that only the data of positive patients need be handled at a central level. Our recommendation is two-fold. First to extend existing decentralized architectures with a light touch, in order to manage the collection of location data locally on the device, and allow the user to share spatio-temporal aggregates—if and when they want and for specific aims—with health authorities, for instance. Second, we favour a longer-term pursuit of realizing a Personal Data Store vision, giving users the opportunity to contribute to collective good in the measure they want, enhancing self-awareness, and cultivating collective efforts for rebuilding society.
Sharing (mis) information on social networking sites. An exploration of the norms for distributing content authored by others
Authors: Marin Lavinia
Published: February 2021

This article explores the norms that govern regular users’ acts of sharing content on social networking sites. Many debates on how to counteract misinformation on Social Networking Sites focus on the epistemic norms of testimony, implicitly assuming that the users’ acts of sharing should fall under the same norms as those for posting original content. I challenge this assumption by proposing a non-epistemic interpretation of (mis) information sharing on social networking sites which I construe as infrastructures for forms of life found online. Misinformation sharing belongs more in the realm of rumour spreading and gossiping rather than in the information-giving language games. However, the norms for sharing cannot be fixed in advance, as these emerge at the interaction between the platforms’ explicit rules, local norms established by user practices, and a meta-norm of sociality. This unpredictability does not leave us with a normative void as an important user responsibility still remains, namely that of making the context of the sharing gesture explicit. If users will clarify how their gestures of sharing are meant to be interpreted by others, they will implicitly assume responsibility for possible misunderstandings based on omissions, and the harms of shared misinformation can be diminished.
Influence of VEGF-A, VEGFR-1-3, and neuropilin 1-2 on progression-free: and overall survival in WHO grade II and III meningioma patients
Authors: Bernatz Simon , Monden Daniel , Gessler Florian , Radic Tijana , Hattingen Elke , Senft Christian , Seifert Volker , Ronellenfitsch Michael W. , Plate Karl H. , Harter Patrick N. , Baumgarten Peter
Published: February 2021

Higher grade meningiomas tend to recur. We aimed to evaluate protein levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-A with the VEGF-receptors 1-3 and the co-receptors Neuropilin (NRP)-1 and -2 in WHO grade II and III meningiomas to elucidate the rationale for targeted treatments. We investigated 232 specimens of 147 patients suffering from cranial meningioma, including recurrent tumors. Immunohistochemistry for VEGF-A, VEGFR-1-3, and NRP-1/-2 was performed on tissue micro arrays. We applied a semiquantitative score (staining intensity x frequency). VEGF-A, VEGFR-1-3, and NRP-1 were heterogeneously expressed. NRP-2 was mainly absent. We demonstrated a significant increase of VEGF-A levels on tumor cells in WHO grade III meningiomas (p = 0.0098). We found a positive correlation between expression levels of VEGF-A and VEGFR-1 on tumor cells and vessels (p < 0.0001). In addition, there was a positive correlation of VEGF-A and VEGFR-3 expression on tumor vessels (p = 0.0034). VEGFR-2 expression was positively associated with progression-free survival (p = 0.0340). VEGF-A on tumor cells was negatively correlated with overall survival (p = 0.0084). The VEGF-A-driven system of tumor angiogenesis might still present a suitable target for adjuvant therapy in malignant meningioma disease. However, its role in malignant tumor progression may not be as crucial as expected. The value of comprehensive testing of the ligand and all receptors prior to administration of anti-angiogenic therapy needs to be evaluated in clinical trials.
CQMUH-011 Inhibits LPS-Induced Microglia Activation and Ameliorates Brain Ischemic Injury in Mice
Authors: Liu Hailin , Hu Xiangnan , Jiang Rong , Cai Jianghui , Lin Qiao , Fan Zhiguo , Zhao Pan , Wang Song , Zou Chunqiao , Du Weimin , Dong Zhi , Liu Yingju
Published: February 2021

Abstract

Excessive microglial activation-mediated neuroinflammation is closely involved in the pathogenesis of several neurological diseases. CQMUH-011, as a novel adamantane sulfonamide compound, has been shown anti-inflammatory properties in activated macrophages (RAW264.7). However, the role of CQMUH-011 in microglial activation-induced neuroinflammation and neuroprotective properties has yet to be elucidated. In the present study, we investigated the potential effects and mechanisms of CQMUH-011 on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated primary microglia in vitro and transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (t-MCAO)–induced acute cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury in vivo. The results demonstrated that CQMUH-011 significantly suppressed the production of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interleukin (IL)-1β by LPS-stimulated primary microglia. In addition, CQMUH-011 inhibited the proliferation of activated microglia by arresting the cell cycle at the G1/S phase accompanied by downregulating the expression of cell cycle regulatory proteins such as proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and cyclin D1. CQMUH-011 was seen to induce apoptosis in activated microglia by regulating the expression of Bax and Bcl-2. Furthermore, CQMUH-011 markedly attenuated the protein expression of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88) as well as the phosphorylation levels of nuclear factor-kappa (NF-κB) subunit p65, inhibitory kappa B-alpha (IκBα), and mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) such as extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and p38 kinases. In vivo, CQMUH-011 administration significantly improved neurological function and infarct volume, and ameliorated the inflammatory cytokines and microglia amount around the injury site of mice. In conclusion, these results suggested that CQMUH-011 has a notable anti-inflammatory effect and protects mice from I/R injure. Thus, CQMUH-011 may be a candidate drug for the treatment of cerebral ischemia patients.
Calibration and Uncertainty Estimation for Water Content Measurement in Solids
Authors: Aro Rudolf , Ayoub Mohamed Wajdi Ben , Leito Ivo , Georgin Éric , Savanier Benoit
Published: February 2021

In the field of water content measurement, the calibration of coulometric methods (e.g., coulometric Karl Fischer titration or evolved water vapor analysis) is often overlooked. However, as coulometric water content measurement methods are used to calibrate secondary methods, their results must be obtained with the highest degree of confidence. The utility of calibrating such instruments has been recently demonstrated. Both single and multiple point calibration methods have been suggested. This work compares these calibration methods for the evolved water vapor analysis technique. Two uncertainty estimation approaches (Kragten’s spreadsheet and M-CARE software tool) were compared as well, both based on the ISO GUM method.
Social Media Adoption, Usage And Impact In Business-To-Business (B2B) Context: A State-Of-The-Art Literature Review
Authors: Dwivedi Yogesh K. , Ismagilova Elvira , Rana Nripendra P. , Raman Ramakrishnan
Published: February 2021

Social media plays an important part in the digital transformation of businesses. This research provides a comprehensive analysis of the use of social media by business-to-business (B2B) companies. The current study focuses on the number of aspects of social media such as the effect of social media, social media tools, social media use, adoption of social media use and its barriers, social media strategies, and measuring the effectiveness of use of social media. This research provides a valuable synthesis of the relevant literature on social media in B2B context by analysing, performing weight analysis and discussing the key findings from existing research on social media. The findings of this study can be used as an informative framework on social media for both, academic and practitioners.
Energetics of stochastic BCM type synaptic plasticity and storing of accurate information
Authors: Karbowski Jan
Published: February 2021

Excitatory synaptic signaling in cortical circuits is thought to be metabolically expensive. Two fundamental brain functions, learning and memory, are associated with long-term synaptic plasticity, but we know very little about energetics of these slow biophysical processes. This study investigates the energy requirement of information storing in plastic synapses for an extended version of BCM plasticity with a decay term, stochastic noise, and nonlinear dependence of neuron’s firing rate on synaptic current (adaptation). It is shown that synaptic weights in this model exhibit bistability. In order to analyze the system analytically, it is reduced to a simple dynamic mean-field for a population averaged plastic synaptic current. Next, using the concepts of nonequilibrium thermodynamics, we derive the energy rate (entropy production rate) for plastic synapses and a corresponding Fisher information for coding presynaptic input. That energy, which is of chemical origin, is primarily used for battling fluctuations in the synaptic weights and presynaptic firing rates, and it increases steeply with synaptic weights, and more uniformly though nonlinearly with presynaptic firing. At the onset of synaptic bistability, Fisher information and memory lifetime both increase sharply, by a few orders of magnitude, but the plasticity energy rate changes only mildly. This implies that a huge gain in the precision of stored information does not have to cost large amounts of metabolic energy, which suggests that synaptic information is not directly limited by energy consumption. Interestingly, for very weak synaptic noise, such a limit on synaptic coding accuracy is imposed instead by a derivative of the plasticity energy rate with respect to the mean presynaptic firing, and this relationship has a general character that is independent of the plasticity type. An estimate for primate neocortex reveals that a relative metabolic cost of BCM type synaptic plasticity, as a fraction of neuronal cost related to fast synaptic transmission and spiking, can vary from negligible to substantial, depending on the synaptic noise level and presynaptic firing.
Synthetic image data augmentation for fibre layup inspection processes: Techniques to enhance the data set
Authors: Meister Sebastian , Möller Nantwin , Stüve Jan , Groves Roger M.
Published: February 2021

In the aerospace industry, the Automated Fiber Placement process is an established method for producing composite parts. Nowadays the required visual inspection, subsequent to this process, typically takes up to 50% of the total manufacturing time and the inspection quality strongly depends on the inspector. A Deep Learning based classification of manufacturing defects is a possibility to improve the process efficiency and accuracy. However, these techniques require several hundreds or thousands of training data samples. Acquiring this huge amount of data is difficult and time consuming in a real world manufacturing process. Thus, an approach for augmenting a smaller number of defect images for the training of a neural network classifier is presented. Five traditional methods and eight deep learning approaches are theoretically assessed according to the literature. The selected conditional Deep Convolutional Generative Adversarial Network and Geometrical Transformation techniques are investigated in detail, with regard to the diversity and realism of the synthetic images. Between 22 and 166 laser line scan sensor images per defect class from six common fiber placement inspection cases are utilised for tests. The GAN-Train GAN-Test method was applied for the validation. The studies demonstrated that a conditional Deep Convolutional Generative Adversarial Network combined with a previous Geometrical Transformation is well suited to generate a large realistic data set from less than 50 actual input images. The presented network architecture and the associated training weights can serve as a basis for applying the demonstrated approach to other fibre layup inspection images.
A Hilbert Space Approach to Fractional Differential Equations
Authors: Diethelm Kai , Kitzing Konrad , Picard Rainer , Siegmund Stefan , Trostorff Sascha , Waurick Marcus
Published: February 2021

We study fractional differential equations of Riemann–Liouville and Caputo type in Hilbert spaces. Using exponentially weighted spaces of functions defined on $${\mathbb {R}}$$
R
, we define fractional operators by means of a functional calculus using the Fourier transform. Main tools are extrapolation- and interpolation spaces. Main results are the existence and uniqueness of solutions and the causality of solution operators for non-linear fractional differential equations.
Asymptotic Behaviour of the Empirical Distance Covariance for Dependent Data
Authors: Kroll Marius
Published: February 2021

We give two asymptotic results for the empirical distance covariance on separable metric spaces without any iid assumption on the samples. In particular, we show the almost sure convergence of the empirical distance covariance for any measure with finite first moments, provided that the samples form a strictly stationary and ergodic process. We further give a result concerning the asymptotic distribution of the empirical distance covariance under the assumption of absolute regularity of the samples and extend these results to certain types of pseudometric spaces. In the process, we derive a general theorem concerning the asymptotic distribution of degenerate V-statistics of order 2 under a strong mixing condition.
Assessing the comparability of teacher-related constructs in TIMSS 2015 across 46 education systems: an alignment optimization approach
Authors: Glassow Leah Natasha , Rolfe Victoria , Hansen Kajsa Yang
Published: February 2021

Research related to the “teacher characteristics” dimension of teacher quality has proven inconclusive and weakly related to student success, and addressing the teaching contexts may be crucial for furthering this line of inquiry. International large-scale assessments are well positioned to undertake such questions due to their systematic sampling of students, schools, and education systems. However, researchers are frequently prohibited from answering such questions due to measurement invariance related issues. This study uses the traditional multiple group confirmatory factor analysis (MGCFA) and an alignment optimization method to examine measurement invariance in several constructs from the teacher questionnaires in the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) 2015 across 46 education systems. Constructs included mathematics teacher’sJob satisfaction,School emphasis on academic success,School condition and resources,Safe and orderly school, and teacher’sSelf-efficacy.The MGCFA results show that just three constructs achieve invariance at the metric level. However, an alignment optimization method is applied, and results show that all five constructs fall within the threshold of acceptable measurement non-invariance. This study therefore presents an argument that they can be validly compared across education systems, and a subsequent comparison of latent factor means compares differences across the groups. Future research may utilize the estimated factor means from the aligned models in order to further investigate the role of teacher characteristics and contexts in student outcomes.
Using a Continuous Measure of Genderedness to Assess Sex Differences in the Attitudes of the Political Elite
Authors: Lönnqvist Jan Erik , Ilmarinen Ville-Juhani
Published: February 2021

We investigated the attitudes of the 11,410 candidates in the Finnish 2017 municipal elections who had responded to a Voting Advice Application. Women candidates were, both in terms of economic and social attitudes, more progressive than men. Building on the gender diagnosticity approach, we used responses to the attitude items to construct a dimensional measure of political genderedness; i.e., a measure of the femininity–masculinity of the individual’s political attitudes. We used this measure to investigate the magnitude of sex differences across parties and the determinants of these differences. Sex differences were larger in parties with more economically right-oriented, socially conservative, well-off, and male candidates. Moreover, these differences were caused by men in these parties being different from other candidates. A similar methodology, in which a continuous measure of genderedness is used to assess sex differences, could be used in other domains of research on political behavior.
Political Obligations and Public Goods
Authors: Taylor Isaac
Published: February 2021

The principle of fairness is a moral principle which states that individuals are under an obligation to contribute towards beneficial cooperative projects. It has been appealed to in arguing that citizens are obligated to pay for public goods that their government supplies. Yet the principle has faced a number of powerful objections, most notably those of Robert Nozick. In responding to some of these objections, proponents of the principle have placed a number of conditions on its application. However, by doing so, they have reduced the number of public goods that the principle can explain obligations to contribute towards, and consequently limited its relevance to questions of political obligation. I argue here that a more permissive version of the principle, with fewer conditions on its application, will perform equally well in responding to Nozick's objections. This opens up the possibility of a theory of political obligation that relies more heavily on the principle of fairness than has previously been thought possible.
Mine Drainage Residual Additions to Lake Sediments Alter Phosphorus and Trace Metal Distributions
Authors: Tang Zepei , Nairn Robert W.
Published: February 2021

A greenhouse microcosm study investigated the impacts of recovered iron oxyhydroxide mine drainage residuals (MDRs) on phosphorus (P) and trace metal distributions at the sediment layer/water column interface in Grand Lake o’ the Cherokees, a large reservoir receiving waters impacted by both historic mining and current agricultural land uses. Each mesocosm included 5 kg of lake sediment and 20 L of on-site groundwater. Three treatments were examined in triplicate: control (C) with no additions, low MDR (LM) with 0.3 kg added MDR, and high MDR (HM) with 0.9 kg added MDR. In the first 10 days, aqueous soluble reactive phosphorous (SRP) concentrations decreased likely due to colonizing biomass uptake with no significant differences among the three treatments. LM and HM treatments showed delayed peaks in dissolved oxygen (DO) and lesser peaks in chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) concentrations compared to the C treatment, indicating MDR addition may suppress biomass growth. During days 11 to 138, the C treatment demonstrated increasing pH, decreasing ORP, and biomass decay resulting in significantly increased SRP concentrations. In LM and HM treatments, sufficient P sorption by the MDR maintained low SRP concentrations. Although the MDRs are derived from metal-rich mine waters, all aqueous concentrations were below both hardness-adjusted acute and chronic criteria, except for Pb with regard to the chronic criterion. Metal concentrations in sediments were below the Tri-State Mining District (TSMD)–specific Sediment Quality Guidelines (SQGs). MDR additions may serve as stable long-term P sinks to prevent P release from dead biomass, decrease internal P cycling rates, and mitigate eutrophication, with limited concern for trace metal release.
Sensitive quantitative analysis of psilocin and psilocybin in hair samples from suspected users and their distribution in seized hallucinogenic mushrooms
Authors: Zhou Liying , Xiang Ping , Wen Di , Shen Baohua , Wang Xin , Li Le , Deng Hongxiao , Chen Hang , Yan Hui , Shen Min , Shi Yan , Liu Wanhui
Published: February 2021

Purpose

In this study, we developed a very sensitive method for quantitative analysis of psilocin and psilocybin in hair samples of magic mushroom consumers.

Methods

The analyses were performed with pretreatments of samples, followed by ultra-high pressure liquid chromatography (LC) connected to a Q-Trap type tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS). For LC, mobile phase (A) consisted of 0.1% formic acid in water, and mobile phase (B) was acetonitrile for gradient elution using a Acquity™ UPLC HSS T3 column. For MS/MS, electrospray ionization measurements in positive selected reaction monitoring mode were used.

Results

The calibration curves were linear from 5 to 500 pg/mg (r > 0.99) and no selectivity problems occurred. The limit of detection was 1 pg/mg, and the lower limit of quantitation was 5 pg/mg. The ranges of the matrix effects and recovery rates were 90.4–107% and 76.0–102%, respectively.

Conclusions

The concentrations of psilocin in two authentic hair were 161 and 150 pg/mg, respectively, and psilocybin was not detected from both samples. This method was also used to analyze the distribution of psilocin and psilocybin in seven hallucinogenic mushrooms. To our knowledge, this is the first demonstration of psilocin concentrations in hair samples of hallucinogenic mushroom consumers, and also our method is most sensitive for quantitative analysis of psilocin and psilocybin in hair samples.
Gambling Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic Among Online Casino Gamblers: An Empirical Study Using Behavioral Tracking Data
Authors: Auer Michael , Griffiths Mark D.
Published: February 2021

Gambling, like many other leisure activities, has been greatly affected by the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The present study investigated the behavior of a sample of online casino gamblers before and after the COVID-19 pandemic was announced in March 2020. The authors were given access to behavioral tracking data of a representative sample of 133,286 online casino gamblers by a large European online gambling operator with several online casino Swedish licenses. Online casino gambling activity utilizing daily cross-sectional data was examined over a 5-month period from January 1 to May 31 (2020). Results indicated that the (i) number of active online casino gamblers significantly increased over time, (ii) mean average amount of money bet by online casino gamblers daily significantly decreased over time, (iii) mean average daily bet by online casino gamblers at both the 90th and 99th percentiles significantly decreased over time, and (iv) mean average daily bet by online casino gamblers at the 10th and 25th percentiles significantly increased over time. The analysis also indicated that the number of high-risk players significantly decreased during the 5-month study period. While many different groups have claimed that gambling and problem gambling would increase during the pandemic due to more time being spent at home, evidence from the present study suggests that this is not the case because gambling intensity decreased, at least among Swedish gamblers.