bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Parallel machines scheduling with time-dependent deterioration, using meta-heuristic algorithms
Authors: Kalaki Juybari Jaber , Kalaki Juybari Somayyeh , Hasanzadeh Reza
Published: February 2021

In this paper, we consider the identical parallel machines scheduling problem with exponential time-dependent deterioration. The meaning of time-dependent deterioration is that the processing time of a job is not a constant and depends on the scheduled activities. In other words, when a job is processed later, it needs more processing time compared to the jobs processed earlier. The main purpose is to minimize the makespan. To reach this aim, we developed a mixed integer programming formulation for the problem. We solved problem in small scale using GAMS software, while due to the fact that in larger scales the aforesaid case is a complex and intricate optimized problem which is NP-hard, it is not possible to solve it by standard calculating techniques (in logical calculating times); we applied the meta-heuristic genetic algorithm, simulating annealing and artificial immune system, and their performance has been evaluated. In the end, we showed that solving the problem in small scale, with the meta-heuristic algorithms (GA, SA, and AIS) equals the optimal solution (GAMS), And on a large scale, at a time of approximately equal solution, meta-heuristic algorithm simulating annealing, provides a more optimal solution.
Clustering Using Student t Mixture Copulas
Authors: Massing Till
Published: February 2021

Tewari et al. (Parametric characterization of multimodal distributions with non-Gaussian modes, pp 286–292, 2011) introduced Gaussian mixture copula models (GMCM) for clustering problems which do not assume normality of the mixture components as Gaussian mixture models (GMM) do. In this paper, we propose Studenttmixture copula models (SMCM) as an extension of GMCMs. GMCMs require weak assumptions, yielding a flexible fit and a powerful cluster tool. Our SMCM extension offers, in a natural way, even more flexibility than the GMCM approach. We discuss estimation issues and compare Expectation-Maximization (EM)-based with numerical simplex optimization methods. We illustrate the SMCM as a tool for image segmentation.
Re-engineering The Clinical Research Enterprise in Response to COVID-19: The Clinical Translational Science Award (CTSA) experience and proposed playbook for future pandemics
Authors: Coller Barry S. , Buse John B. , Kimberly Robert P. , Powderly William G. , Zand Martin S.
Published: February 2021

The 2020 COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on the clinical research enterprises at the 60 Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA) Hubs throughout the nation. There was simultaneously a need to expand research to obtain crucial data about disease prognosis and therapy and enormous limitations on conducting research as localities and institutions limited travel and person-to-person contact. These imperatives resulted in major changes in the way research was conducted, including expediting Institutional Review Board review, shifting to remote interactions with participants, centralizing decision-making in prioritizing research protocols, establishing biobanks, adopting novel informatics platforms, and distributing study drugs in unconventional ways. National CTSA Steering Committee meetings provided an opportunity to share best practices and develop the idea of capturing the CTSA program experiences in a series of papers. Here we bring together the recommendations from those papers in a list of specific actions that research sites can take to strengthen operations and prepare for similar future public health emergencies. Most importantly, creative innovations developed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic deserve serious consideration for adoption as new standards, thus converting the painful trauma of the pandemic into “post-traumatic growth” that makes the clinical research enterprise stronger, more resilient, and more effective.
Feasibility of a virtual Facebook community platform for engagement on health research
Authors: Patten Christi A. , Balls-Berry Joyce (Joy) E. , Cohen Elisia L. , Brockman Tabetha A. , Valdez Soto Miguel , West Ian W. , Cha Jinhee , Zavala Rocha Maria G. , Eder Milton (Mickey)
Published: February 2021

Introduction:

Community engagement is important for advancing Clinical and Translational Science (CTS), but face-to-face engagement has limited reach and scale. We examined the feasibility of a novel virtual Facebook community platform for public engagement on health research statewide in Minnesota.

Methods:

The Facebook platform, MN Research Link, was evaluated from June 19, 2019 to June 30, 2020. Facebook advertisements and boosts were used to recruit followers. Content, based on prior formative work, included health research information and interactive postings (e.g., live interviews with researchers). Standard metrics obtained from Facebook analytics included participation (followers), content reach (views), and engagement (likes, shares, comments, clicks).

Results:

During the 12-month period, we acquired 1406 followers (31% rural residents), with a retention of followers of 99.7%. Mean number of views per month was 9379.83 (Mdn = 2791, range 724–41,510). Engagement metrics indicated a mean of 535.2 likes, shares, comments, and/or clicks per month (Mdn = 296.5, range 55–1535). The page continued to acquire new followers, but a slight decrease in engagement was observed in the final months after state COVID-19 mitigation strategies were implemented.

Conclusion:

As the complexity of CTS continues to grow, along with social distancing measures resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, the availability of virtual digital platforms to reach and engage community stakeholders in conversations about health and research has increasing importance. Preliminary findings from this program evaluation indicate that a Facebook community platform is feasible to engage Minnesota residents in conversations around health and research topics. Future work will evaluate its potential for reach, scale, and sustainability.
CTSA pharmacies: Contribution to research and public health during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: MacArthur Robert B. , Bentur Ohad S. , MacArthur Ian C. , Bartoo Anna S. , Capozzi Donna L. , Christensen Jason A. , Johnson Amber L. , Patel Kuldip , Coller Barry S.
Published: February 2021

Introduction:

In March 2020, academic medical center (AMC) pharmacies were compelled to implement practice changes in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. These changes were described by survey data collected by the Clinical and Translational Science Awards (CTSA) program which were interpreted by a multi-institutional team of AMC pharmacists and physician investigators.

Methods:

The CTSA program surveyed 60 AMC pharmacy departments. The survey included event timing, impact on pharmacy services, and corrective actions taken.

Results:

Almost all departments (98.4%) reported at least one disruption. Shortages of personal protective equipment (PPE) were common (91.5%) as were drug shortages (66.0%). To manage drug shortages, drug prioritization protocols were utilized, new drug supply vendors were identified (79.3%), and onsite compounding was initiated. PPE shortages were managed by incorporating the risk mitigation strategies recommended by FDA and others. Research pharmacists supported new clinical research initiatives at most institutions (84.0%), introduced use of virtual site visits, and shipped investigational drugs directly to patients. Some pharmacies formulated novel investigational products for clinical trial use. Those AMC pharmacies within networked health systems assisted partner rural and inner-city hospitals by sourcing commercial and investigational drugs to alleviate local disease outbreaks and shortages in underserved populations. Pharmacy-based vaccination practice was expanded to include a wider range of pediatric and adult vaccines.

Conclusion:

The COVID-19 pandemic radically altered hospital pharmacy practice. By adopting innovative methods and adapting to regulatory imperatives, pharmacies at CTSA sites played an extremely important role supporting continuity of care and collaborating on critical clinical research initiatives.
Ergodic cocycles of IDPFT systems and non-singular Gaussian actions
Authors: DANILENKO ALEXANDRE I. , LEMAŃCZYK MARIUSZ
Published: February 2021

It is proved that each Gaussian cocycle over a mildly mixing Gaussian transformation is either a Gaussian coboundary or sharply weak mixing. The class of non-singular infinite direct productsTof transformations$T_n$,$n\in \mathbb N$, of finite type is studied. It is shown that if$T_n$is mildly mixing,$n\in \mathbb N$, the sequence of Radon–Nikodym derivatives of$T_n$is asymptotically translation quasi-invariant andTis conservative then the Maharam extension ofTis sharply weak mixing. This technique provides a new approach to the non-singular Gaussian transformations studied recently by Arano, Isono and Marrakchi.
Surveillance quality correlates with surgical site infection rates in knee and hip arthroplasty and colorectal surgeries: A call to action to adjust reporting of SSI rates
Authors: Atkinson Andrew , Eisenring Marie-Christine , Troillet Nicolas , Kuster Stefan P. , Widmer Andreas , Zwahlen Marcel , Marschall Jonas
Published: February 2021

Objective:

The incidence of surgical site infections may be underreported if the data are not routinely validated for accuracy. Our goal was to investigate the communicated SSI rate from a large network of Swiss hospitals compared with the results from on-site surveillance quality audits.

Design:

Retrospective cohort study.

Patients:

In total, 81,957 knee and hip prosthetic arthroplasties from 125 hospitals and 33,315 colorectal surgeries from 110 hospitals were included in the study.

Methods:

Hospitals had at least 2 external audits to assess the surveillance quality. The 50-point standardized score per audit summarizes quantitative and qualitative information from both structured interviews and a random selection of patient records. We calculated the mean National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) risk index adjusted infection rates in both surgery groups.

Results:

The median NHSN adjusted infection rate per hospital was 1.0% (interquartile range [IQR], 0.6%–1.5%) with median audit score of 37 (IQR, 33–42) for knee and hip arthroplasty, and 12.7% (IQR, 9.0%–16.6%), with median audit score 38 (IQR, 35–42) for colorectal surgeries. We observed a wide range of SSI rates and surveillance quality, with discernible clustering for public and private hospitals, and both lower infection rates and audit scores for private hospitals. Infection rates increased with audit scores for knee and hip arthroplasty (P value for the slope = .002), and this was also the case for planned (P = .002), and unplanned (P = .02) colorectal surgeries.

Conclusions:

Surveillance systems without routine evaluation of validity may underestimate the true incidence of SSIs. Audit quality should be taken into account when interpreting SSI rates, perhaps by adjusting infection rates for those hospitals with lower audit scores.
Some mathematical appreciations in the physical sciences
Authors: Mahony John
Published: February 2021

According to reports in the media, there is a dearth of practical examples that students of mathematics en route to their qualification can feast upon, at either sixth form level or an undergraduate level. Despite these alleged shortages, it is this author’s opinion that there are numerous examples that can be drawn from the literature and it is the purpose of this article to address the issue by providing examples from the realms of antenna reflector theory and the use therein of conic sections. Some students will be familiar with conic sections and others might not, but the numerous instances of their manifestation in the real world would suggest that they are a force to be reckoned with, and this is certainly true from a mathematical perspective.
Ubiquitous cousins and parental slides
Authors: Crilly Tony , Fletcher Colin R.
Published: February 2021

In a previous article [1] we examined the concept of blood relations in a family tree and we used mathematics to highlight and simplify the descriptions involved, such as child, parent, great-uncle, second cousin, third cousin once removed.
A low-carbohydrate dietary pattern characterised by high animal fat and protein during the first trimester is associated with an increased risk of gestational diabetes mellitus in Chinese women: a prospective cohort study
Authors: Dong Hongli , Sun Hong , Cai Congjie , Pang Xinxin , Bai Dan , Lan Xi , Zhang Yiqi , Zhang Ju , Zeng Guo
Published: February 2021

We aimed to examine the association between low-carbohydrate diet (LCD) scores during the first trimester and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) risk in a Chinese population. A total of 1455 women were included in 2017. Dietary information during the first trimester was collected by 24-h dietary recalls for 3 d. The overall, animal and plant LCD scores, which indicated adherence to different low-carbohydrate dietary patterns, were calculated. GDM was diagnosed based on the results of a 75-g, 2-h oral glucose tolerance test at 24–28 weeks gestation. Log-binomial models were used to estimate relative risks (RR) and 95 % CI. The results showed that the multivariable-adjusted RR of GDM from the lowest to the highest quartiles of the overall LCD score were 1·00 (reference), 1·15 (95 % CI 0·92, 1·42), 1·30 (95 % CI 1·06, 1·60) and 1·24 (95 % CI 1·01, 1·52) (P= 0·026 for trend). Multivariable-adjusted RR (95 % CI) of GDM from the lowest to the highest quartiles of the animal LCD score were 1·00 (reference), 1·20 (95 % CI 0·96, 1·50), 1·41 (95 % CI 1·14, 1·73) and 1·29 (95 % CI 1·04, 1·59) (P= 0·002 for trend). After additional adjustment for gestational weight gain before GDM diagnosis, the association of the overall LCD score with GDM risk was non-significant, while the association of animal LCD score with GDM risk remained significant. In conclusion, a low-carbohydrate dietary pattern characterised by high animal fat and protein during the first trimester is associated with an increased risk of GDM in Chinese women.
Ediacaran algal cysts from the Doushantuo Formation, South China
Authors: Moczydłowska Małgorzata , Liu Pengju
Published: February 2021

Early-middle Ediacaran organic-walled microfossils from the Doushantuo Formation studied in several sections in the Yangtze Gorges area, South China, show ornamented cyst-like vesicles of very high diversity. These microfossils are diagenetically permineralized and observed in petrographic thin-sections of chert nodules. Exquisitely preserved specimens belonging to seven species of Appendisphaera, Mengeosphaera, Tanarium, Urasphaera and Tianzhushania contain either single or multiple spheroidal internal bodies inside the vesicles. These structures indicate reproductive stages, endocyst and dividing cells, respectively, and are preserved at early to late ontogenetic stages in the same taxa. This new evidence supports the algal affiliations for the studied taxa and refutes previous suggestions of Tianzhushania being animal embryo or holozoan. The first record of a late developmental stage of a completely preserved specimen of T. spinosa observed in thin-section demonstrates the interior of vesicles with clusters of identical cells but without any cavity that is diagnostic for recognizing algal cysts vs animal diapause cysts. Various lines of evidence to infer biological affinities of these microfossils – morphology, reproductive characters, spatial arrangement of cells, and biochemical properties of the vesicle wall – are collectively characteristic of algal clades. Recognizing the biological affinities of these microfossils is key to understanding whether animals capable of producing such morphologically complex diapause cysts had an early Ediacaran fossil record (633–610 Ma), or the microfossils were non-animal holozoans or algae as argued herein for Tianzhushania spinosa and other studied microfossils.
Peritonsillar abscess drainage: using oropharyngeal endoscopy as a therapeutic adjunct and training tool
Authors: Sawhney A , Bidaye R , Khanna A
Published: February 2021

Background

Peritonsillar abscess, or quinsy, is one of the most common emergency presentations to ENT departments, and is the most common deep tissue infection of the head and neck. In the UK, junior members of the ENT team are regularly required to independently assess, diagnose and treat patients with peritonsillar aspiration or incision and drainage.

Issue

Inexperienced practitioners can stumble at several obstacles: poor access due to trismus; poor lighting; difficulty in learning the therapeutic procedure; and difficulty in accurately documenting findings and treatment.

Solution

To counter these and other difficulties, the authors describe the routine use of video endoscopy as a training tool and therapeutic adjunct in the management of quinsy.
Perverse Reasons
Authors: Orsi Francesco
Published: February 2021

For an agent to be motivated by a normatively perverse reason is to be motivated by a normative or evaluative thought as such which, if true, would count as such against the action that it motivates the agent to perform, or against the attitude that it motivates the agent to take. For example, that an action is morally wrong or prudentially bad counts, as such, against performing the action. When the thought that an action is morally wrong or prudentially bad (bad for me) motivates me as such to perform the action, my motivating reason is normatively perverse. If being motivated by normatively perverse reasons is possible, then what, if anything, is wrong about it? I present and reject some accounts of what may be wrong about normative perversity (wrong reasons, malfunctioning attitudes, practical irrationality, instability, evaluative ignorance). In the course of this discussion some desiderata emerge. Then I defend the suggestion that normative perversion is socially undesirable, in that it undermines certain valuable interpersonal and intrapersonal relations. Entering and maintaining these relations is constitutive of valuing people as beings to whom reasonable justification is owed. I show how this account satisfies the desiderata.
Leveraging individual differences to understand grounded procedures
Authors: Fetterman Adam K. , Robinson Michael D. , Meier Brian P.
Published: February 2021

We applaud the goals and execution of the target article, but note that individual differences do not receive much attention. This is a shortcoming because individual differences can play a vital role in theory testing. In our commentary, we describe programs of research of this type and also apply similar thinking to the mechanisms proposed in the target article.
Body ownership as a proxy for individual and social separation and connection
Authors: Scattolin Marina , Panasiti Maria Serena , Aglioti Salvatore Maria
Published: February 2021

Lee and Schwartz procedures of separation offer a much needed interpretation of the literature on moral cleansing. However, body ownership as a grounded mechanism of separation and connection has been neglected. We argue that embodiment may be employed to connect the self to desirable aspects of cognitive and emotional interactions and disembodiment to disconnect from undesirable elements.
A not-so proximate account of cleansing behavior
Authors: Sigger Jonathan , Dickins Thomas E.
Published: February 2021

In this commentary we outline perceptual control theory and suggest this as a fruitful way for Lee and Schwarz (L&S) to fully embody their account of cleansing behavior. Moreover, we take issue with the command control approach that L&S have taken seeing this as an unnecessary cognitive commitment within an embodied model of cleansing behavior.
A multiple perspective view of personhood in dementia
Authors: Hennelly Niamh , O'Shea Eamon
Published: February 2021

Personhood has been a key influence on the development of person-centred care models in dementia. However, there is ambiguity around the concept and interpretation of personhood, and what it means in practical terms for the delivery of care to people with dementia. This study examines the conceptualisation of personhood within the formal care system for people with dementia in Ireland. A multiple perspective study design examines the experiences of personhood in dementia from the perspectives of people with dementia, family carers and a range of formal carers. Semi-structured interviews with participants were conducted in both community and long-term care settings. Interpretative phenomenological analysis is used to examine the data. A total of 31 participants were interviewed: eight people with dementia, eight family carers and 15 formal carers. There is general consensus on the core elements of personhood among all participants: interests and preferences; lifecourse experiences; social interaction; family; and place. However, there is ambiguity among family carers and formal carers in the interpretation of changes to personhood as the disease progresses. Interpersonal and structural barriers to supporting personhood are identified by all participants. The findings provide guidance on the traits of personhood-enhancing care, including effective communication skills, and the potential of health and social care reform to support the core elements of personhood among people with dementia.
Estimating seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies using three self-reported symptoms: development of a prediction model based on data from Ischgl, Austria
Authors: Lehmann Jens , Giesinger Johannes M. , Rumpold Gerhard , Borena Wegene , Knabl Ludwig , Falkensammer Barbara , Ower Cornelia , Sacher Magdalena , von Laer Dorothee , Sperner-Unterweger Barbara , Holzner Bernhard
Published: February 2021

We report the development of a regression model to predict the prevalence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) antibodies on a population level based on self-reported symptoms. We assessed participant-reported symptoms in the past 12 weeks, as well as the presence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies during a study conducted in April 2020 in Ischgl, Austria. We conducted multivariate binary logistic regression to predict seroprevalence in the sample. Participants (n = 451) were on average 47.4 years old (s.d. 16.8) and 52.5% female. SARS-CoV-2 antibodies were found in n = 197 (43.7%) participants. In the multivariate analysis, three significant predictors were included and the odds ratios (OR) for the most predictive categories were cough (OR 3.34, CI 1.70–6.58), gustatory/olfactory alterations (OR 13.78, CI 5.90–32.17) and limb pain (OR 2.55, CI 1.20–6.50). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.773 (95% CI 0.727–0.820). Our regression model may be used to estimate the seroprevalence on a population level and a web application is being developed to facilitate the use of the model.
The immediate haemodynamic response and right and left cardiac remodelling after percutaneous transcatheter closure of secundum atrial septal defect in children: a longitudinal cohort study
Authors: Sezer Sadettin , Özyurt Abdullah , Narin Nazmi , Pamukcu Özge , Sunkak Süleyman , Argun Mustafa , Baykan Ali , Üzüm Kazım
Published: February 2021

Objective:

We aimed to assess the immediate haemodynamic response and the timing of cardiac remodelling in paediatric secundum atrial septal defect patients who underwent percutaneous transcatheter closure.

Methods:

In this longitudinal cohort study with 41 paediatric secundum ASD patients who underwent PTC with Amplatzer Occluder device were assessed for immediate post-interventional haemodynamic response measured by catheterisation and was evaluated for right and left cardiac remodelling during a follow-up period of 12 months by transthoracic echocardiography. SPSS 20.0 was used for statistical analyses of pre- and post-interventional invasive haemodynamic parameters of the patients, and pre- and post-interventional TTE data compared with the values of the control group consisted of 39 healthy children.

Results:

The mean diameter of ASD was 13.9 ± 4.7 mm. PTC intervention in all patients completed with 100% success and 0% complication rates. All invasive haemodynamic data, except the ratio of pulmonary resistance to systemic resistance, significantly reduced after PTC (p < 0.05). TTE and PW Doppler revealed that right and left cardiac remodelling started as soon as the post-interventional 24th hour and completed in the 12th month.

Conclusions:

This study with a very high interventional success rate can be counted as the first example of research on the haemodynamic response and timing of cardiac remodelling after PTC of secundum ASD in children. We suggest that future multicentric studies with larger cohorts and a comprehensive methodology like ours with longer follow-up periods would better serve to further assess the cardiac remodelling in children after PTC of secundum ASD.
Critical Allusion and Critical Assessment: Berlioz's and Reyer's Reviews of Bizet in the Journal des débats
Authors: Wright Lesley A.
Published: February 2021

Respected as one of four ‘feuilles de qualité’ in nineteenth-century France, the Journal des débats politiques et littéraires published articles by some of the most talented writers/critics of its time. In ‘feuilletons’, large articles that ran across the bottom of the first and second pages, these authors gave perceptive critiques in high-quality prose and provided their readers with relief from the political news discussed on the page above. In January 1858 literary critic Hippolyte Rigault asserted that modern criticism communicated not just through forthright judgements but also through innuendo and nuance. A sophisticated readership could then be expected to take up the task of understanding the allusions and filling in the blanks. Like Rigault, Hector Berlioz (music critic of the Débats from 1835 to 1863) and Ernest Reyer (from 1866 to 1898) used both text and subtext to convey their assessments. This study, with the goal of examining how shades of approval and disapproval could be alluded to or directly revealed, traces how they wrote about their younger contemporary Georges Bizet in the years following Rigault's article.
A 1.5–40 GHz frequency modulated continuous wave radar receiver front-end
Authors: Sakalas Mantas , Joram Niko , Ellinger Frank
Published: February 2021

This study presents an ultra-wideband receiver front-end, designed for a reconfigurable frequency modulated continuous wave radar in a 130 nm SiGe BiCMOS technology. A variety of innovative circuit components and design techniques were employed to achieve the ultra-wide bandwidth, low noise figure (NF), good linearity, and circuit ruggedness to high input power levels. The designed front-end is capable of achieving 1.5–40 GHz bandwidth, 30 dB conversion gain, a double sideband NF of 6–10.7 dB, input return loss better than 7.5 dB and an input referred 1 dB compression point of −23 dBm. The front-end withstands continuous wave power levels of at least 25 and 20 dBm at low band and high band inputs respectively. At 3 V supply voltage, the DC power consumption amounts to 302 mW when the low band is active and 352 mW for the high band case, whereas the total IC size is $3.08\, {\rm nm{^2}}$.
The role of ageing in the wish to be dead: disentangling age, period and cohort effects in suicide ideation in European population
Authors: Cabello M. , Rico-Uribe L. A. , Martinez-Ávila J. C. , Sánchez-Niubò A. , Caballero F. F. , Borges G. , Mellor-Marsá B. , Haro J. M. , Prina M. , Koskinen S. , Ayuso-Mateos J. L.
Published: February 2021

Aims

To investigate potential age, period and birth cohort effects in the prevalence of suicide ideation in European ageing population.

Methods

A total of 50 782 community-dwelling adults (aged + 50) from 20 different European countries were collected in the Survey Health Ageing and Retirement study. A multilevel logistic regression model of repeated measures was modelled to assess the effects of age and other variables, including the variability of observations over three levels: birth cohort groups, time period assessment and individual differences.

Results

The larger effect of variability was attributed to individual-level factors (57.8%). Youngest-old people (65–79 years) showed lower suicide ideation than middle-aged people (50–64 years). No significative differences were found for suicide ideation between middle-aged people and oldest-old (80 + years). Only 0.85% and 0.13% of the total variability of suicide ideation accounted for birth cohort and period effects, respectively. Cohorts born between 1941 and 1944 possessed the lowest estimates of suicide ideation. Conversely, suicide ideation started to rise with post-War generations and reached a significant level for people born from 1953–1957 to 1961–1964. Regarding the time period, participants assessed in 2006–2007 showed a lower likelihood of suicide ideation. The rest of the cohorts and period groups did not show any significant effect on the prevalence of suicide ideation.

Conclusions

Our results suggest that age and suicide ideation relationship is not linear in middle and older age. The European Baby boomers born from 50s to mid-60s might report higher suicide ideation than their ancestors. This scenario would imply a greater need for mental healthcare services for older people in the future.
An Exactly Mass Conserving and Pointwise Divergence Free Velocity Method: Application to Compositional Buoyancy Driven Flow Problems in Geodynamics
Authors: Sime Nathan , Maljaars Jakob M. , Wilson Cian R. , van Keken Peter E.
Published: February 2021

Tracer methods are widespread in computational geodynamics for modeling the advection of chemical data. However, they present certain numerical challenges, especially when used over long periods of simulation time. We address two of these in this work: the necessity for mass conservation of chemical composition fields and the need for the velocity field to be pointwise divergence free to avoid gaps in tracer coverage. We do this by implementing the hybrid discontinuous Galerkin (HDG) finite element (FE) method combined with a mass conserving constrained projection of the tracer data. To demonstrate the efficacy of this system, we compare it to other common FE formulations of the Stokes system and projections of the chemical composition. We provide a reference of the numerical properties and error convergence rates which should be observed by using these various discretization schemes. This serves as a tool for verification of existing or new implementations. We summarize these data in a reproduction of a published Rayleigh‐Taylor instability benchmark, demonstrating the importance of careful choices of appropriate and compatible discretization methods for all aspects of geodynamics simulations.
The First Observation of N+ Electromagnetic Ion Cyclotron Waves
Authors: Bashir M. Fraz , Ilie Raluca
Published: February 2021

Observations from past space missions report on the significant abundance of N+, in addition to those of O+, outflowing from the terrestrial ionosphere and populating the near‐Earth region. However, instruments on board current space missions lack the mass resolution to distinguish between the two, and often the role of N+ in regulating the magnetosphere dynamics, is lumped together with that of O+ ions. For instance, our understanding regarding the role of electromagnetic ion cyclotron (EMIC) waves in controlling the loss and acceleration of radiation belt electrons and ring current ions has been based on the contribution of He+ and O+ ions only. We report the first observations by Van Allen Probes of linearly polarized N+ EMIC waves, which confirm the presence of N+ in the terrestrial magnetosphere, and open up new avenues to particle energization, loss, and transport mechanisms, based on the altered magnetospheric plasma composition.
The Interplay Between Ambipolar Electric Field and Coulomb Collisions in the Solar Wind Acceleration Region
Authors: Berčič L. , Landi S. , Maksimović M.
Published: February 2021

The solar wind protons are accelerated to supersonic velocities within the distance of 10 solar radii from the Sun, as a consequence of a complex physical mechanism including particle kinetic effects as well as the field‐particle energy and momentum exchange. We use a numerical kinetic model of the solar wind, accounting for Coulomb collisions (BiCoP), and model a solar wind accelerated only by the ambipolar electrostatic filed (E) arising due to the difference in mass between electron and proton, and assuring quasi‐neutrality and zero current. We study the effect E, which was found to be on the order of Dreicer electric field (ED) (Dreicer, 1959), has on the resulting electron velocity distribution functions. The strahl electron radial evolution is represented by means of its pitch‐angle width (PAW), and the strahl parallel temperature (Ts,‖). A continuous transition between collisional and weakly collisional regime results in broader PAW, compared to the single‐exobase prediction imposed by the exospheric models. Collisions were found to scatter strahl electrons below 250 eV, which in turn has an effect on the measured Ts,‖. A slight increase was found in Ts,‖ with radial distance, and was stronger for the more collisional run. We estimate that the coronal electron temperature inferred from the observations of Ts,‖ in the solar wind, would be overestimated for between 8% and 15%.
Birkeland Current Boundary Flows Associated With Field Line Resonances
Authors: Fenrich F. R. , Rankin R. , Sydorenko D. , Archer W. E. , Knudsen D. J.
Published: February 2021

Strong zonal flows greater than 1,000 m/s have recently been identified by Swarm in the midnight sector of the winter hemisphere auroral zone. These flows are typically observed between upward and downward field aligned current pairs and therefore are referred to as Birkeland current boundary flows (BCBFs). The Swarm observations also identify ion heating and upflows associated with the fast zonal flows. BCBFs and the resulting ion heating and upflows play an important role in thermosphere‐ionosphere‐magnetosphere coupling given their high occurrence rate in the quiet time nightside auroral zone. This paper utilizes Super Dual Auroral Radar Network (SuperDARN) high‐resolution fits to line‐of‐sight data to investigate two known BCBF events. The large (>2,000 m/s) BCBFs observed with Swarm A and B are found to be collocated with the location of field line resonances (FLRs) with periods of approximately 20–30 min. The SuperDARN high‐resolution fits determine FLR peak flow velocities of 400–700 m/s. When the FLR velocities are superimposed upon the background ionospheric convection of 400–600 m/s, this yields total east‐west velocities of 800–1,300 m/s near the time and location of the BCBF events. The peak flows of the field line resonances are shown to be bounded by pairs of upward and downward field aligned current similar to the BCBFs. The observations suggest a causal relationship between BCBFs and FLRs.
An Encounter With the Ion and Electron Diffusion Regions at a Flapping and Twisted Tail Current Sheet
Authors: Farrugia C. J. , Rogers A. J. , Torbert R. B. , Genestreti K. J. , Nakamura T. K. M. , Lavraud B. , Montag P. , Egedal J. , Payne D. , Keesee A. , Ahmadi N. , Ergun R. , Reiff P. , Argall M. , Matsui H. , Wilson L. B. , Lugaz N. , Burch J. L. , Russell C. T. , Fuselier S. A. , Dors I.
Published: February 2021

We analyze data returned by the Magnetospheric Multiscale mission (MMS) constellation during a rapid (∼1.5 s) traversal of a flapping and reconnecting current sheet (CS) in the near‐Earth magnetotail (X ∼−20 RE). The CS was highly tilted, with its normal pointing strongly duskward. Its extreme thinness was confirmed by a curvature analysis of the magnetic field lines. The event was associated with a guide field of 8% of the reconnecting components. From the pitch angle distributions of low‐energy electrons we infer a crossing earthward of the X‐line. Traveling practically normal to the CS, MMS encountered an ion diffusion region (IDR) in which was embedded an electron diffusion region (EDR). IDR signatures included breaking of the ion frozen‐in condition in the presence of Hall B and E fields. EDR signatures included a strong out‐of‐plane current associated with a superAlfvénic electron jet, positive energy transfer, and a temperature anisotropy (Te∥ > Te⊥) which disappeared at the field reversal. Derived scale sizes normal to the CS are: ∼6.9 de (EDR) and ∼0.4 di (IDR; 40 and 100 km). We estimate the average dimensionless reconnection rate as 0.077 ± 0.050. The observations and inferences are supported by particle‐in‐cell (PIC) numerical simulations. We find very good agreement in the reconnection rates. We also discuss the effects of asymmetries in the density, temperature and magnetic field strength on the Hall fields and length of the outflow jets. The event is associated with a substorm onset which began 7 min after the MMS observations.
Variations in the Seismogenic Thickness of East Africa
Authors: Craig T. J. , Jackson J. A.
Published: February 2021

The well‐established variation in the depth of earthquakes along both branches of the East African Rift System offers an opportunity to probe the controls on the depth‐extent of seismogenesis, and the length‐scales over which this may vary. We present an updated compilation of well‐determined earthquake depths from teleseismic and regional seismic data for the East African Rift System, combined with a summary of the depth distribution of smaller‐magnitude microseismicity from 13 local network deployments. Moderate‐to‐large magnitude (Mw > 5) earthquakes, unrelated to the movement of magmatic fluids, beneath Afar, the Main Ethiopian Rift, and the northernmost sections of the Eastern Branch, are confined to the upper crust. Seismicity along the Western Branch, and the southern‐most sections of the Eastern Branch extends deeper, into the lower crust, in places to depths close to the local Moho. Along the Eastern Branch, in northern Tanzania, the transition between these two regimes occurs over a distance of ≤40 km, requiring a change to a higher temperature cutoff for the deeper earthquakes; an effect that must be compositional in origin. This compositional variation in the lower crust is most likely related to the degree of hydration. Earthquakes deep within the lower crust are therefore likely to be a proxy for an anhydrous crustal composition.
Discharge Estimation From Dense Arrays of Pressure Transducers
Authors: Harlan M. E. , Gleason C. J. , Altenau E. H. , Butman D. , Carter T. , Chu V. W. , Cooley S. W. , Dolan W. D. , Durand M. T. , Eidam E. , Fayne J. V. , Feng D. , Ishitsuka Y. , Kuhn C. , Kyzivat E. D. , Langhorst T. , Minear J. T. , Pavelsky T. M. , Peters D. L. , Pietroniro A. , Pitcher L. H. , Smith L. C.
Published: February 2021

In situ river discharge estimation is a critical component of studying rivers. A dominant method for establishing discharge monitoring in situ is a temporary gauge, which uses a rating curve to relate stage to discharge. However, this approach is constrained by cost and the time to develop the stage‐discharge rating curve, as rating curves rely on numerous flow measurements at high and low stages. Here, we offer a novel alternative approach to traditional temporary gauges: estimating Discharge via Arrays of Pressure Transducers (DAPT). DAPT uses a Bayesian discharge algorithm developed for the upcoming Surface Water Ocean Topography satellite (SWOT) to estimate in situ discharge from automated water surface elevation measurements. We conducted sensitivity tests over 4,954 model runs on five gauged rivers and conclude that the DAPT method can robustly reproduce discharge with an average Nash‐Sutcliffe Efficiency (NSE) of 0.79 and Kling‐Gupta Efficiency of 0.78. Further, we find that the DAPT method estimates discharge similarly to an idealized temporary gauge created from the same input data (NSE differences of less than 0.1), and that results improve significantly with accurate priors. Finally, we test the DAPT method in nine poorly gauged rivers in a realistic and complex field setting in the Peace‐Athabasca Delta, and show that the DAPT method largely outperforms a temporary gauge in this time and budget constrained setting. We therefore recommend DAPT as an effective tool for in situ discharge estimation in cases where there is not enough time or resources to develop a temporary gauge.
A Bad Time for Mars Time
Authors: Benningfield Damond
Published: February 2021

Thanks to COVID-19, mission control for the Perseverance Mars rover will look emptier than previous missions, and fewer scientists and engineers will follow the rover’s schedule.
Neurotrophin receptor activation rescues cognitive and synaptic abnormalities caused by hemizygosity of the psychiatric risk gene Cacna1c
Authors: Tigaret Cezar M. , Lin Tzu-Ching E. , Morrell Edward R. , Sykes Lucy , Moon Anna L. , O’Donovan Michael C. , Owen Michael J. , Wilkinson Lawrence S. , Jones Matthew W. , Thomas Kerrie L. , Hall Jeremy
Published: February 2021

Genetic variation in CACNA1C, which encodes the alpha-1 subunit of CaV1.2 L-type voltage-gated calcium channels, is strongly linked to risk for psychiatric disorders including schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. To translate genetics to neurobiological mechanisms and rational therapeutic targets, we investigated the impact of mutations of one copy of Cacna1c on rat cognitive, synaptic and circuit phenotypes implicated by patient studies. We show that rats hemizygous for Cacna1c harbour marked impairments in learning to disregard non-salient stimuli, a behavioural change previously associated with psychosis. This behavioural deficit is accompanied by dys-coordinated network oscillations during learning, pathway-selective disruption of hippocampal synaptic plasticity, attenuated Ca2+ signalling in dendritic spines and decreased signalling through the Extracellular-signal Regulated Kinase (ERK) pathway. Activation of the ERK pathway by a small-molecule agonist of TrkB/TrkC neurotrophin receptors rescued both behavioural and synaptic plasticity deficits in Cacna1c+/− rats. These results map a route through which genetic variation in CACNA1C can disrupt experience-dependent synaptic signalling and circuit activity, culminating in cognitive alterations associated with psychiatric disorders. Our findings highlight targeted activation of neurotrophin signalling pathways with BDNF mimetic drugs as a genetically informed therapeutic approach for rescuing behavioural abnormalities in psychiatric disorder.
Recommendations from the European Commission Initiative on Breast Cancer for multigene testing to guide the use of adjuvant chemotherapy in patients with early breast cancer, hormone receptor positive, HER-2 negative
Authors: Giorgi Rossi Paolo , Lebeau Annette , Canelo-Aybar Carlos , Saz-Parkinson Zuleika , Quinn Cecily , Langendam Miranda , Mcgarrigle Helen , Warman Sue , Rigau David , Alonso-Coello Pablo , Broeders Mireille , Graewingholt Axel , Posso Margarita , Duffy Stephen , Schünemann Holger J. ,   the ECIBC Contributor Group, Autelitano Mariangela , Borisch Bettina , Castells Xavier , Colzani Edoardo , Daneš Jan , Fitzpatrick Patricia , Giordano Livia , Hofvind Solveig , Ioannidou-Mouzaka Lydia , Knox Susan , Nystrom Lennarth , Parmelli Elena , Perez Elsa , Torresin Alberto , Van Engen Ruben , Van Landsveld-Verhoeven Cary , Young Ken
Published: February 2021

Background

Predicting the risk of recurrence and response to chemotherapy in women with early breast cancer is crucial to optimise adjuvant treatment. Despite the common practice of using multigene tests to predict recurrence, existing recommendations are inconsistent. Our aim was to formulate healthcare recommendations for the question “Should multigene tests be used in women who have early invasive breast cancer, hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative, to guide the use of adjuvant chemotherapy?”

Methods

The European Commission Initiative on Breast Cancer (ECIBC) Guidelines Development Group (GDG), a multidisciplinary guideline panel including experts and three patients, developed recommendations informed by systematic reviews of the evidence. Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) Evidence to Decision frameworks were used. Four multigene tests were evaluated: the 21-gene recurrence score (21-RS), the 70-gene signature (70-GS), the PAM50 risk of recurrence score (PAM50-RORS), and the 12-gene molecular score (12-MS).

Results

Five studies (2 marker-based design RCTs, two treatment interaction design RCTs and 1 pooled individual data analysis from observational studies) were included; no eligible studies on PAM50-RORS or 12-MS were identified and the GDG did not formulate recommendations for these tests.

Conclusions

The ECIBC GDG suggests the use of the 21-RS for lymph node-negative women (conditional recommendation, very low certainty of evidence), recognising that benefits are probably larger in women at high risk of recurrence based on clinical characteristics. The ECIBC GDG suggests the use of the 70-GS for women at high clinical risk (conditional recommendation, low certainty of evidence), and recommends not using 70-GS in women at low clinical risk (strong recommendation, low certainty of evidence).
Publisher Correction: Functional characterization of Schistosoma mansoni fucosyltransferases in Nicotiana benthamiana plants
Authors: van Noort Kim , Nguyen Dieu‑Linh , Kriechbaumer Verena , Hawes Chris , Hokke Cornelis H. , Schots Arjen , Wilbers Ruud H. P.
Published: February 2021

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.
Detecting nitrile-containing small molecules by infrared photothermal microscopy
Authors: Tai Fangfang , Koike Kota , Kawagoe Hiroyuki , Ando Jun , Kumamoto Yasuaki , Smith Nicholas I. , Sodeoka Mikiko , Fujita Katsumasa
Published: February 2021

We demonstrated IR photothermal imaging of trifluoromethoxy carbonyl cyanide phenylhydrazone (FCCP) in cells. The result indicates that a nitrile group can be used as a vibrational tag to image target molecules.
Catalytic combustion of methyl butanoate over HZSM-5 zeolites
Authors: Zhai Yitong , Feng Beibei , Meng Qinghui , Ao Chengcheng , Qian Siyu , Zhang Lidong
Published: February 2021

A catalytic combustion mechanism of methyl butanoate over HZSM-5 was proposed and validated by experimental data and theoretical calculations.
Tetra-arylborate lipophilic anions as targeting groups
Authors: Gaddale Devanna Kishore K. , Gawel Justyna M. , Prime Tracy A. , Cvetko Filip , Benincá Cristiane , Caldwell Stuart T. , Negoda Alexander , Harrison Andrew , James Andrew M. , Pavlov Evgeny V. , Murphy Michael P. , Hartley Richard C.
Published: February 2021

TPB lipophilic anions deliver cargoes to lysosomes and are excluded from mitochondria.
Increase of tyrosinase activity at the wound site in zebrafish imaged by a new fluorescent probe
Authors: Chai Ziyin , Shang Jizhen , Shi Wen , Li Xiaohua , Ma Huimin
Published: February 2021

Wounds in zebrafish display higher tyrosinase activity observed with a long wavelength fluorescent probe.
Hollow porous nitrogen-doped carbon embedded with ultrafine Co nanoparticles boosting lithium-ion storage
Authors: Zhong Ping , Wang Kun , Wang Xingchao , Lu Zhenjiang , Xie Jing , Cao Yali
Published: February 2021

Hollow porous nitrogen-doped carbon embedded with ultrafine Co nanoparticles (Co@NC) was synthesized by a facile self-template strategy, which exhibited excellent cycling stability and remarkable rate performance.
Phenolic-enabled nanotechnology: versatile particle engineering for biomedicine
Authors: Wu Di , Zhou Jiajing , Creyer Matthew N. , Yim Wonjun , Chen Zhong , Messersmith Phillip B. , Jokerst Jesse V.
Published: February 2021

Phenolics are readily accessible molecules with versatile reactivity and good biocompatibility—they have catalyzed research into phenolic-enabled nanotechnology thus providing a powerful toolkit for on-demand particle engineering in biomedicine.
C–H bond activation in light alkanes: a theoretical perspective
Authors: Wang Yalan , Hu Ping , Yang Jia , Zhu Yi-An , Chen De
Published: February 2021

This review describes the recent progress in computational catalysis that has addressed the C–H bond activation of light alkanes.