bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Gusseisen, Gummi, Bodenproben ‐ Referenzstandards für die analytische Chemie
Authors: Recknagel Sebastian
Published: November 2021

Nur mit Referenzmaterialien lässt sich überprüfen, ob Analysenmethoden zuverlässig und Messergebnisse richtig sind. Die Nachfrage nach Materialien mit zertifizierten Gehalten an Kohlenstoff, Schwermetallen oder anderen Analyten steigt. Eine Ursache: neue Grenzwerte und auch Reach.
Sparse multivariate regression with missing values and its application to the prediction of material properties
Authors: Teramoto Keisuke , Hirose Kei
Published: November 2021

In the field of materials science and engineering, statistical analysis and machine learning techniques have recently been used to predict multiple material properties from an experimental design. These material properties correspond to response variables in the multivariate regression model. In this study, we conduct a penalized maximum likelihood procedure to estimate model parameters, including the regression coefficients and covariance matrix of response variables. In particular, we employ ‐regularization to achieve a sparse estimation of The regression coefficients and inverse covariance matrix of response variables. In some cases, there may be a relatively large number of missing values in the response variables, owing to the difficulty of collecting data on material properties. We therefore propose a method that incorporates a correlation structure among the response variables into a statistical model to improve the prediction accuracy under the situation with missing values. The expectation maximization algorithm is also constructed, which enables application to a dataset with missing values in the responses. We apply our proposed procedure to real data consisting of 22 material properties.
Development and testing of the situational judgement test to measure safety performance of healthcare professionals: An explorative cross‐sectional study
Authors: Heier Lina , Gambashidze Nikoloz , Hammerschmidt Judith , Riouchi Donia , Geiser Franziska , Ernstmann Nicole
Published: November 2021

Aim

To measure safety performance, situational judgement test, which is a method composed of job‐related situations, can be used. This study aimed to develop and test its psychometric properties by measuring the safety performance of healthcare professionals in German hospitals.

Design

An explorative cross‐sectional study.

Methods

A team of researchers, nurses and physicians developed seven items, which focus on different safety areas. Descriptive statistics were calculated for each item. Cronbach's alpha was calculated as an indication of internal consistency. Spearman's correlation between the items was evaluated as analysis of construct validity. A cross‐sectional survey with healthcare professionals in three German hospitals was conducted to test the developed instrument.

Results

A total of 168 healthcare professionals participated (response rate: 39.1%). 70.2% were women, and 38.7%, 33.9%, 15.5% and 11.3% were registered nurses, nurses in training, physicians and other healthcare professionals respectively. The situational judgement test demonstrated an acceptable psychometric performance.
Metabolic tumor constitution is superior to tumor regression grading for evaluating response to neoadjuvant therapy of esophageal adenocarcinoma patients
Authors: Buck Achim , Prade Verena M , Kunzke Thomas , Feuchtinger Annette , Kröll Dino , Feith Marcus , Dislich Bastian , Balluff Benjamin , Langer Rupert , Walch Axel
Published: November 2021

The response to neoadjuvant therapy can vary widely between individual patients. Histopathological tumor regression grading (TRG) is a strong factor for treatment response and survival prognosis of esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) patients following neoadjuvant treatment and surgery. However, TRG systems are usually based on the estimation of residual tumor but do not consider stromal or metabolic changes after treatment. Spatial metabolomics analysis is a powerful tool for molecular tissue phenotyping but has not been used so far in the context of neoadjuvant treatment of esophageal cancer. We used imaging mass spectrometry to assess the potential of spatial metabolomics on tumor and stroma tissue for evaluating therapy response of neoadjuvant‐treated EAC patients. With an accuracy of 89.7%, the binary classifier trained on spatial tumor metabolite data proved to be superior for stratifying patients when compared with histopathological response assessment, which had an accuracy of 70.5%. Sensitivities and specificities for the poor and favorable survival patient groups ranged from 84.9% to 93.3% using the metabolic classifier and from 62.2% to 78.1% using TRG. The tumor classifier was the only significant prognostic factor (HR 3.38, 95% CI 1.40–8.12, p = 0.007) when adjusted for clinicopathological parameters such as TRG (HR 1.01, 95% CI 0.67–1.53, p = 0.968) or stromal classifier (HR 1.86, 95% CI 0.81–4.25, p = 0.143). The classifier even allowed us to further stratify patients within the TRG1–3 categories. The underlying mechanisms of response to treatment have been figured out through network analysis. In summary, metabolic response evaluation outperformed histopathological response evaluation in our study with regard to prognostic stratification. This finding indicates that the metabolic constitution of the tumor may have a greater impact on patient survival than the quantity of residual tumor cells or the stroma. © 2021 The Authors. The Journal of Pathology published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. on behalf of The Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland.
Entering the plasma agriculture field: An attempt to standardize protocols for plasma treatment of seeds
Authors: Waskow Alexandra , Avino Fabio , Howling Alan , Furno Ivo
Published: November 2021

Plasma treatments are currently being assessed as a seed processing technology for agricultural purposes. There is sufficient information as a proof‐of‐concept, but a lack of standardization in the methodology prevents a convincing evaluation of plasma treatment on seeds. It would be helpful to coordinate research efforts to make the entry for newcomers into this interdisciplinary field less overwhelming and to aid in transferring this technology into the industry by establishing a common protocol. This review presents the parameters used in the seed preparation, the plasma treatment of the seed, and the seed posttreatment. This summary of the plasma and biological parameters is intended to raise awareness about questions that need to be addressed to properly record protocol details and reproduce results for the plasma treatment of seeds.
Higher fibrotic content of endometriotic lesions is associated with diminished prostaglandin E2 signaling
Authors: Huang Qingqing , Liu Xishi , Guo Sun‐Wei
Published: November 2021

Purpose

While the prevailing view holds that the prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) signaling plays a vital role in endometriosis, PGE2 also is known to be anti‐fibrotic. We investigated the immunostaining of COX‐2, EP2, and EP4, along with fibrotic content in ovarian endometrioma (OE) and deep endometriosis (DE) lesions, and in OE lesions from adolescent and adult patients. In addition, we evaluated the effect of substrate stiffness on the expression of COX‐2, EP2, and EP4 in endometrial stromal cells.

Methods

Immunohistochemistry analysis of COX‐2, EP2, and EP4, along with the quantification of lesional fibrosis, was conducted for OE and DE lesion samples and also OE lesion samples from adolescent and adult patients. The effect of substrate rigidity on fibroblast‐to‐myofibroblast transdifferentiation (FMT) and the expression of COX‐2, EP2, and EP4, with or without TGF‐β1 stimulation, were investigated.

Results

The immunostaining of COX‐2, EP2, and EP4 was substantially reduced in endometriotic lesions as lesions became more fibrotic. Both TGF‐β1 stimulation and stiff substrates induced FMT and reduced the expression of COX‐2, EP2, and EP4.

Conclusions

Since fibrosis is a common feature of endometriosis, our results thus cast doubts on the use of therapeutics that suppresses the PGE2 signaling pathway, either by inhibiting COX‐2 or EP2/EP4.
CAR-NK Cells from Engineered Pluripotent Stem Cells: Off-the-shelf Therapeutics for all Patients
Authors: Lu Shi-Jiang , Feng Qiang
Published: November 2021

Clinical success of adoptive cell therapy with chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells for treating hematological malignancies has revolutionized the field of cellular immunotherapy. However, due to the nature of utilizing autologous T cells, affordability and availability are major hurdles, in addition to scientific challenges relating to CAR-T therapy optimization. Natural killer (NK) cell is a specialized immune effector cell type that recognizes and kills targets without human leukocyte antigen (HLA) restriction and prior sensitization. CAR-NK cells do not cause graft vs host disease and can be obtained from unrelated donors as well as pluripotent stem cells (PSC), representing an ideal off-the-shelf therapeutics readily available for patients. Furthermore, unlike cytotoxic T cells, NK cells specifically target and eliminate cancer stem cells, which are the cells causing relapse and metastasis. PSCs can be genetically manipulated and engineered with CARs at the pluripotent stage, which allows the establishment of permanent, stable, and clonal PSC-CAR lines for the manufacture of unlimited homogenous CAR-NK cells. Multiple master PSC-CAR cell banks targeting a variety of antigens for cancer, viral infection, and autoimmune diseases provide inexhaustible cell sources for all patients. Development of a next-generation 3D bioreactor platform for PSC expansion and NK cell production overcomes major barriers related to cost and scalability for CAR-NK product.
Cell‐Derived Biogenetic Gold Nanoparticles for Sensitizing Radiotherapy and Boosting Immune Response against Cancer
Authors: Qin Xianya , Yang Conglian , Xu Hongbo , Zhang Runzan , Zhang Dan , Tu Jingyao , Guo Yuanyuan , Niu Boning , Kong Li , Zhang Zhiping
Published: November 2021

The biosynthesis of nanomedicine has gained enormous attention and exhibited promising prospects, while the underlying mechanism and advantage remain not fully understood. Here, a cell‐reactor based on tumor cells is developed to obtain biogenetic gold nanoparticles (Au@MC38) for sensitizing radiotherapy and boosting immune responses. It demonstrates that the intracellular biomineralization and exocytosis process of Au@MC38 can be regulated by the cellular metabolites level and other factors, such as glutathione and reactive oxygen species (ROS), autophagy, and UV irradiation. The elucidation of mechanisms may promote the understanding of interaction principles between nanoparticles and biosystems in the process of biosynthesis. Combined with radiotherapy, Au@MC38 strengthens the radiation‐induced DNA damage and ROS generation, thus aggravating cell apoptosis and necrosis. Benefiting from homologous targeting and transcytosis effect, Au@MC38 demonstrates good tumor distribution. Local radiation‐induced immunogenic cell death initiates an effective immune response. Especially, CD8a+ dendritic cells are significantly increased in mice that received combinatorial treatment. This radio‐sensitization strategy has demonstrated the effective inhibition on primary and metastatic tumors, and achieved satisfactory survival benefit in combinatorial with immune checkpoint blockade. Thus, this bio‐inspired synthetic strategy may impulse the development of biosynthesis and its therapeutic applications, contributing to a non‐invasive and efficient modality for nanomedicine exploitation.
FERPA and disclosures of COVID‐19 data on campus: A case study
Authors: Lyerly Eric
Published: November 2021

The COVID‐19 pandemic has created major compliance challenges for institutions of higher education, including in the area of student privacy. At various times during the pandemic, postsecondary institutions have been panned for their lack of transparency over COVID‐19 infection rates on campus. For example, there were reports in August 2020 that the University of Alabama instructed faculty members to keep quiet about students who tested positive for COVID‐19. That same month, the University of North Carolina was criticized for refusing to reveal rates of campus infection to its student newspaper.
Linear functional equations and their solutions in generalized Orlicz spaces
Authors: Morawiec Janusz , Zürcher Thomas
Published: November 2021

Assume that $$\Omega \subset \mathbb {R}^k$$

Ω
⊂

R

k

is an open set, V is a real separable Banach space and $$f_1,\ldots ,f_N :\Omega \rightarrow \Omega $$

f
1

,
…
,

f
N

:
Ω
→
Ω

, $$g_1,\ldots , g_N:\Omega \rightarrow \mathbb {R}$$

g
1

,
…
,

g
N

:
Ω
→
R

, $$h_0:\Omega \rightarrow V$$

h
0

:
Ω
→
V

are given functions. We are interested in the existence and uniqueness of solutions $$\varphi :\Omega \rightarrow V$$

φ
:
Ω
→
V

of the linear equation $$\varphi =\sum _{k=1}^{N}g_k\cdot (\varphi \circ f_k)+h_0$$

φ
=

∑

k
=
1

N

g
k

·

(
φ
∘

f
k

)

+

h
0

in generalized Orlicz spaces.
The Schlaining quartz-stibnite deposit, Eastern Alps, Austria: constraints from conventional and infrared microthermometry and isotope and crush-leach analyses of fluid inclusions
Authors: Sośnicka Marta , de Graaf Stefan , Morteani Giulio , Banks David A. , Niedermann Samuel , Stoltnow Malte , Lüders Volker
Published: November 2021

Stibnite was mined until the end of the twentieth century in the Schlaining ore district, Austria, near the easternmost border of the Eastern Alps where windows of Penninic ophiolites and metasediments are exposed below Austroalpine tectonic units. In Early Miocene, structurally controlled small vein and metasomatic stibnite-quartz deposits were formed in Penninic Mesozoic calcareous marbles and calcite schists. Fluid inclusion studies identified two fluids involved in the mineralization: (i) a low-salinity, low-CO2 metamorphic fluid that precipitated quartz at approximately 240 °C and (ii) a stibnite-forming ore fluid that had a meteoric origin. There is no evidence of boiling or that the fluids mixed during mineralization. The ore components Sb and H2S were leached by fluid/rock interaction from buried rock units. Stibnite mineralization occurred by cooling the ore fluid to below 300 °C, at less than 2000 m depth. Quartz precipitated at slightly lower temperatures, approximately contemporaneous with stibnite. Fluid migration and ore deposition are probably related to high heat flow during the exhumation of the Rechnitz Window in response to Neogene extension and/or shallow Early Miocene andesitic magmatism. The study emphasizes that data obtained from the analyses of gangue minerals alone cannot routinely be used to infer the origin and depositional conditions of the associated ore minerals.
Bayesian analysis of mixture autoregressive models covering the complete parameter space
Authors: Ravagli Davide , Boshnakov Georgi N.
Published: November 2021

Mixture autoregressive (MAR) models provide a flexible way to model time series with predictive distributions which depend on the recent history of the process and are able to accommodate asymmetry and multimodality. Bayesian inference for such models offers the additional advantage of incorporating the uncertainty in the estimated models into the predictions. We introduce a new way of sampling from the posterior distribution of the parameters of MAR models which allows for covering the complete parameter space of the models, unlike previous approaches. We also propose a relabelling algorithm to deal a posteriori with label switching. We apply our new method to simulated and real datasets, discuss the accuracy and performance of our new method, as well as its advantages over previous studies. The idea of density forecasting using MCMC output is also introduced.
NOD2 and reproduction-associated NOD-like receptors have been lost during the evolution of pangolins
Authors: Salova Margarita , Sipos Wolfgang , Tschachler Erwin , Eckhart Leopold
Published: November 2021

NOD-like receptors (NLRs) are sensors of pathogen-associated molecular patterns with critical roles in the control of immune responses and programmed cell death. Recent studies have revealed inter-species differences in mammalian innate immune genes and a particular degeneration of nucleic acid sensing pathways in pangolins, which are currently investigated as potential hosts for zoonotic pathogens. Here, we used comparative genomics to determine which NLR genes are conserved or lost in pangolins and related mammals. We show that NOD2, which is implicated in sensing bacterial muramyl dipeptide and viral RNA, is a pseudogene in pangolins, but not in any other mammalian species investigated. NLRC4 and NAIP are absent in pangolins and canine carnivorans, suggesting convergent loss of cytoplasmic sensing of bacterial flagellin in these taxa. Among NLR family pyrin domain containing proteins (NLRPs), skin barrier-related NLRP10 has been lost in pangolins after the evolutionary divergence from Carnivora. Strikingly, pangolins lack all NLRPs associated with reproduction (germ cells and embryonic development) in other mammals, i.e., NLRP2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 11, 13, and 14. Taken together, our study shows a massive degeneration of NLR genes in pangolins and suggests that these endangered mammals may have unique adaptations of innate immunity and reproductive cell biology.
β2-Adrenoceptor Activation Stimulates IL-6 Production via PKA, ERK1/2, Src, and Beta-Arrestin2 Signaling Pathways in Human Bronchial Epithelia
Authors: Zhang Rui-Gang , Niu Ya , Pan Ke-Wu , Pang Hao , Chen Chun-Ling , Yip Chung-Yin , Ko Wing-Hung
Published: November 2021

Objective

β2-Adrenoceptor agonists are widely used to treat asthma because of their bronchial-dilation effects. We previously reported that isoprenaline, via the apical and basolateral β2-adrenoceptor, induced Cl− secretion by activating cyclic AMP (cAMP)-dependent pathways in human bronchial epithelia. Despite these results, whether and how the β2-adrenoceptor-mediated cAMP-dependent pathway contributes to pro-inflammatory cytokine release in human bronchial epithelia remains poorly understood.

Methods

We investigated β2-adrenoceptor-mediated signaling pathways involved in the production of two pro-inflammatory cytokines, interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-8, in 16HBE14o- human bronchial epithelia. The effects of isoprenaline or formoterol were assessed in the presence of protein kinase A (PKA), exchange protein directly activated by cAMP (EPAC), Src, and extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK)1/2 inhibitors. The involvement of β-arrestin2 was examined using siRNA knockdown.

Results

Isoprenaline and formoterol (both β2 agonists) induced IL-6, but not IL-8, release, which could be inhibited by ICI 118,551 (β2 antagonist). The PKA-specific inhibitor, H89, partially inhibited IL-6 release. Another intracellular cAMP receptor, EPAC, was not involved in IL-6 release. Isoprenaline-mediated IL-6 secretion was attenuated by dasatinib, a Src inhibitor, and PD98059, an ERK1/2 inhibitor. Isoprenaline treatment also led to ERK1/2 phosphorylation. In addition, knockdown of β-arrestin2 by siRNA specifically suppressed cytokine release when a high concentration of isoprenaline (1 mM) was used.

Conclusion

Our results suggest that activation of the β2-adrenoceptor in 16HBE14o- cells stimulated the PKA/Src/ERK1/2 and/or β-arrestin2 signaling pathways, leading to IL-6 release. Therefore, our data reveal that β2-adrenoceptor signaling plays a role in the immune regulation of human airway epithelia.
Approximate Minimum Selection with Unreliable Comparisons
Authors: Leucci Stefano , Liu Chih-Hung
Published: November 2021

We consider the approximate minimum selection problem in presence of independent random comparison faults. This problem asks to select one of the smallest k elements in a linearly-ordered collection of n elements by only performing unreliable pairwise comparisons: whenever two elements are compared, there is a small probability that the wrong comparison outcome is observed. We design a randomized algorithm that solves this problem with a success probability of at least $$1-q$$

1
-
q

for $$q \in (0, \frac{n-k}{n})$$

q
∈
(
0
,

n
-
k

n

)

and any $$k \in [1, n-1]$$

k
∈
[
1
,
n
-
1
]

using $$O\big ( \frac{n}{k} \big \lceil \log \frac{1}{q} \big \rceil \big )$$

O

(

n
k

⌈

log

1
q

⌉

)

comparisons in expectation (if $$k \ge n$$

k
≥
n

or $$q \ge \frac{n-k}{n}$$

q
≥

n
-
k

n

the problem becomes trivial). Then, we prove that the expected number of comparisons needed by any algorithm that succeeds with probability at least $$1-q$$

1
-
q

must be $${\varOmega }(\frac{n}{k}\log \frac{1}{q})$$

Ω
(

n
k

log

1
q

)

whenever q is bounded away from $$\frac{n-k}{n}$$

n
-
k

n

, thus implying that the expected number of comparisons performed by our algorithm is asymptotically optimal in this range. Moreover, we show that the approximate minimum selection problem can be solved using $$O( (\frac{n}{k} + \log \log \frac{1}{q}) \log \frac{1}{q})$$

O
(

(

n
k

+
log
log

1
q

)

log

1
q

)

comparisons in the worst case, which is optimal when q is bounded away from $$\frac{n-k}{n}$$

n
-
k

n

and $$k = O\big ( \frac{n}{\log \log \frac{1}{q}}\big )$$

k
=
O

(

n

log
log

1
q

)

.
Intraoperative dynamics of workflow disruptions and surgeons' technical performance failures: insights from a simulated operating room
Authors: Koch Amelie , Kullmann Aljoscha , Stefan Philipp , Weinmann Tobias , Baumbach Sebastian F. , Lazarovici Marc , Weigl Matthias
Published: November 2021

Introduction

Flow disruptions (FD) in the operating room (OR) have been found to adversely affect the levels of stress and cognitive workload of the surgical team. It has been concluded that frequent disruptions also lead to impaired technical performance and subsequently pose a risk to patient safety. However, respective studies are scarce. We therefore aimed to determine if surgical performance failures increase after disruptive events during a complete surgical intervention.

Methods

We set up a mixed-reality-based OR simulation study within a full-team scenario. Eleven orthopaedic surgeons performed a vertebroplasty procedure from incision to closure. Simulations were audio- and videotaped and key surgical instrument movements were automatically tracked to determine performance failures, i.e. injury of critical tissue. Flow disruptions were identified through retrospective video observation and evaluated according to duration, severity, source, and initiation. We applied a multilevel binary logistic regression model to determine the relationship between FDs and technical performance failures. For this purpose, we compared FDs in one-minute intervals before performance failures with intervals without subsequent performance failures.

Results

Average simulation duration was 30:02 min (SD = 10:48 min). In 11 simulated cases, 114 flow disruption events were observed with a mean hourly rate of 20.4 (SD = 5.6) and substantial variation across FD sources. Overall, 53 performance failures were recorded. We observed no relationship between FDs and likelihood of immediate performance failures: Adjusted odds ratio = 1.03 (95% CI 0.46–2.30). Likewise, no evidence could be found for different source types of FDs.

Conclusion

Our study advances previous methodological approaches through the utilisation of a mixed-reality simulation environment, automated surgical performance assessments, and expert-rated observations of FD events. Our data do not support the common assumption that FDs adversely affect technical performance. Yet, future studies should focus on the determining factors, mechanisms, and dynamics underlying our findings.
Neuroenhancement of surgeons during robotic suturing
Authors: Patel Ronak , Suwa Yusuke , Kinross James , von Roon Alexander , Woods Adam J. , Darzi Ara , Singh Harsimrat , Leff Daniel Richard
Published: November 2021

Background

The initial phases of robotic surgical skills acquisition are associated with poor technical performance, such as low knot-tensile strength (KTS). Transcranial direct-current stimulation (tDCS) can improve force and accuracy in motor tasks but research in surgery is limited to open and laparoscopic tasks in students. More recently, robotic surgery has gained traction and is now the most common approach for certain procedures (e.g. prostatectomy). Early-phase robotic suturing performance is dependent on prefrontal cortex (PFC) activation, and this study aimed to determine whether performance can be improved with prefrontal tDCS.

Methods

Fifteen surgical residents were randomized to either active then sham tDCS or sham then active tDCS, in two counterbalanced sessions in a double-blind crossover study. Within each session, participants performed a robotic suturing task repeated in three blocks: pre-, intra- and post-tDCS. During the intra-tDCS block, participants were randomized to either active tDCS (2 mA for 15 min) to the PFC or sham tDCS. Primary outcome measures of technical quality included KTS and error scores.

Results

Significantly faster completion times were observed longitudinally, regardless of active (p < 0.001) or sham stimulation (p < 0.001). KTS was greater following active compared to sham stimulation (median: active = 44.35 N vs. sham = 27.12 N,p < 0.001). A significant reduction in error scores from “pre-” to “post-” (p = 0.029) were only observed in the active group.

Conclusion

tDCS could reduce error and enhance KTS during robotic suturing and warrants further exploration as an adjunct to robotic surgical training.
Cancer-associated fibroblasts-derived HAPLN1 promotes tumour invasion through extracellular matrix remodeling in gastric cancer
Authors: Zhang Tiancheng , Li Xiang , He Yani , Wang Yaohui , Shen Jiajia , Wang Shoulin , You Qiang , Zhai Jing , Shen Lizong
Published: November 2021

Background

Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are the most principal cells of depositing and remodeling extracellular matrix (ECM) within solid tumours. Both CAFs and ECM have been demonstrated to play critical roles in tumour development. However, the functional roles of CAFs-associated ECM or ECM remodeling in the pathogenesis of gastric cancer remain unclear.

Methods

Bioinformatics analysis of the differentially expressed genes between CAFs and corresponding normal fibroblasts (NFs) in gastric cancer was performed. The clinical relevance of hyaluronan and proteoglycan link protein 1 (HAPLN1) was investigated using TCGA data and human gastric cancer specimens. Spheroid cell invasion assay and nude mouse xenograft model were introduced to assay cell invasion. Second harmonic generation (SHG) was used to image and analyze the changes of collagen fibers in ECM.

Results

HAPLN1 was identified as the most significantly up-regulated gene in CAFs of gastric cancer, and higher HAPLN1 levels were associated with shorter overall survival. HAPLN1 was prominently produced by CAFs, and its levels were correlated positively with tumor T staging (P < 0.0001), lymph node metastasis (P = 0.0006) and TNM stage (P = 0.0063). Mechanically, gastric cancer cells activate fibroblasts to up-regulate HAPLN1 expression via activation of TGF-β1/Smad2/3 signaling, which in turn promotes tumour migration and invasion. Importantly, SHG assays with mouse xenograft models and human samples further demonstrated CAFs-derived HAPLN1 increased tumour invasiveness through ECM remodeling.

Conclusions

This study sheds light on the role of CAFs-derived HAPLN1 in the pathogenesis of gastric cancer, and provides insights for the development of novel strategies for prevention and treatment of gastric carcinoma.
Graphic modeling in Distributed Autonomous and Asynchronous Automata (DA3)
Authors: Daszczuk Wiktor B.
Published: November 2021

Automated verification of distributed systems becomes very important in distributed computing. The graphical insight into the system in the early and late stages of the project is essential. In the design phase, the visual input helps to articulate the collaborative distributed components clearly. The formal verification gives evidence of correctness or malfunction, but in the latter case, graphical simulation of counterexample helps for better understanding design errors. For these purposes, we invented Distributed Autonomous and Asynchronous Automata (DA3), which have the same semantics as the formal verification base—Integrated Model of Distributed Systems (IMDS). The IMDS model reflects the natural characteristics of distributed systems: unicasting, locality, autonomy, and asynchrony. Distributed automata have all of these features because they share the same semantics as IMDS. In formalism, the unified system definition has two views: the server view of the cooperating distributed nodes and the agent view of the migrating agents performing distributed computations. The automata have two formally equivalent forms that reflect two views: Server DA3 for observing servers exchanging messages, and Agent DA3 for tracking agents, which visit individual servers in their progress of distributed calculations. We present the DA3 formulation based on the IMDS formalism and their application to design and verify distributed systems in the Dedan environment. DA3 formalism is compared with other concepts of distributed automata known from the literature.
Führen in der Krise – organisationales Krisenmanagement während der COVID-19-Pandemie („coronavirus disease 2019“) am Beispiel der Lebenshilfe Tirol
Authors: Riedel Priya-Lena , Kulcar Vanesse , Kreh Alexander , Reiter Martin , Juen Barbara
Published: November 2021

Hintergrund

Die COVID-19-Pandemie („coronavirus disease 2019“) stellt im Gesundheitsbereich eine Herausforderung dar. Die Kenntnis organisationaler Schutz- und Risikofaktoren ist zentral zur Aufrechterhaltung des psychosozialen Wohlbefindens der Mitarbeitenden sowie der Versorgung von Klient:innen.

Ziel

Das Ziel dieser qualitativen Untersuchung von Führungspersonal und Mitarbeiter:innen ist die Identifikation von spezifischen Schutz- und Belastungsfaktoren bei der Begleitung von Menschen mit Beeinträchtigung. Auf dieser Basis sollen Rückschlüsse auf notwendige Anpassungen der Führung in Krisensituationen möglich werden.

Methodik

Zwischen Oktober und Dezember 2020 wurden online-basierte Expert:inneninterviews (n = 11) mit Mitarbeiter:innen der Lebenshilfe Tirol durchgeführt. Durch Anwendung der Grounded Theory wurde ein Modell zur Erklärung des Erlebens von Gesundheitspersonal sowie den Kontextfaktoren und Bewältigungsstrategien in der Behindertenbetreuung erstellt.

Ergebnisse

Das Stresserleben während der COVID-19-Pandemie war durch Unsicherheit und Überforderung charakterisiert, welche durch die Neuartigkeit der Situation, einem Übermaß an Informationen sowie veränderte Arbeitsbedingungen unter verringerter Partizipation hervorgerufen wurden. Positives Erleben war mit Sinnerfülltheit sowie flachen Hierarchien und der Identifikation mit der Organisation assoziiert. Durch eine Anpassung des Führungsverhaltens, der durch flache Hierarchien gekennzeichneten Organisation, hin zu direktiven Entscheidungen konnte erfolgreich auf die Pandemie reagiert werden.

Diskussion

Die Ergebnisse dieser Untersuchung weisen auf veränderte Anforderungen an das Führungsverhalten und einen Bedarf an verstärkter direktiver Führung während Krisen hin. Dabei erwiesen sich dezentrale Strukturen und ein laufender Dialog mit Mitarbeiter:innen, Klient:innen und Angehörigen als zentrale Resilienzfaktoren. Nur durch ausreichende Kommunikation und Inkludierung der Mitarbeiter:innen kann der Wechsel im Führungsstil akzeptiert werden.
A Perspective to Control Laser-Induced Periodic Surface Structure Formation at Glancing-Incident Femtosecond Laser-Processed Surfaces
Authors: Jelinek Alexander , Pfeifenberger Manuel J. , Pippan Reinhard , Kiener Daniel
Published: November 2021

The favorable combination of high material removal rate and low influence on the material beneath the ultra-short pulsed laser-processed surface are of particular advantage for sample preparation. This is especially true at the micrometer scale or for the pre-preparation for a subsequent focused ion beam milling process. Specific surface features, the laser-induced periodic surface structures, are generated on femtosecond laser-irradiated surfaces in most cases, which pose an issue for surface-sensitive mechanical testing or microstructural investigations. This work strives for an approach to enhance the surface quality of glancing-incident laser-processed surfaces on the model material copper with two distinctly different grain sizes. A new generalized perspective is presented, in which optimized parameter selection serves to counteract the formation of the laser-induced periodic surface structures, enabling, for example, grain orientation mapping directly on femtosecond laser processed surfaces.
People and Plants in Nunatsiavut (Labrador, Canada): Examining Plants as a Foundational Aspect of Culture in the Subarctic
Authors: Norton C. H. , Cuerrier A. , Hermanutz L.
Published: November 2021

This paper emphasizes the cultural value of plants in Nunatsiavut (Labrador, Canada), a self–governing Inuit region in the Subarctic. Via interviews with community members, we describe the links between plant usage and culture to understand the direct ways that plants are utilized for food, construction, gardening, and medicine, and to then link these uses to deeper cultural significance among three communities in Nunatsiavut (Hopedale, Postville, and Rigolet). Many plants were common amongst communities with a total of 66 taxa identified. About 75% of taxa were reported in at least two communities, corresponding to 95% of all responses. Edible plants were the most common reported usage, with emphasis on berry–producing taxa such as blueberry shrubs. Our study shows that a diversity of plants (i) support cultural activities; (ii) act as markers for historical events; (iii) highlight intergenerational exchange and valuing of plant knowledge; (iv) express the deep awareness that people have for their local environment; and (v) a medium for the expression of traditional values. The similarities in the plant responses among the communities suggest a shared body of plant knowledge. Our study supports the great cultural importance of plants in northern communities.
Coercive inequalities in higher-dimensional anisotropic heisenberg group
Authors: Bou Dagher Esther , Zegarliński Bogusław
Published: November 2021

In the setting of higher-dimensional anisotropic Heisenberg group, we compute the fundamental solution for the sub-Laplacian, and we prove Poincaré and $$\beta $$
β
-Logarithmic Sobolev inequalities for measures as a function of this fundamental solution.
Probabilistic screening and behavior of solar cells under Gaussian parametric uncertainty using polynomial chaos representation model
Authors: Samadhiya Akshit , Namrata Kumari
Published: November 2021

The paper presents a hierarchical polynomial chaos expansion-based probabilistic approach to analyze the single diode solar cell model under Gaussian parametric uncertainty. It is important to analyze single diode solar cell model response under random events or factors due to uncertainty propagation. The optimal values of five electrical parameters associated with the single diode model are estimated using six deterministic optimization techniques through the root-mean-square minimization approach. Values corresponding to the best objective function response are further utilized to describe the probabilistic design space of each random electrical parameter under uncertainty. Adequate samples of each parameter corresponding Gaussian uncertain distribution are generated using Latin hypercube sampling. Furthermore, a multistage probabilistic approach is adopted to evaluate the model response using low-cost polynomial chaos series expansion and perform global sensitivity analysis under specified Gaussian distribution. Coefficients of polynomial basis functions are calculated using least square and least angle regression techniques. Unlike the highly non-linear and complex single diode representation of solar cells, the polynomial chaos expansion model provides a low computational burden and reduced complexity. To ensure reproducibility, probabilistic output response computed using proposed polynomial chaos expansion model is compared with the true model response. Finally, a multidimensional sensitivity analysis is performed through Sobol decomposition of polynomial chaos series representation to quantify the contribution of each parameter to the variance of the probabilistic response. The validation and assessment result shows that the output probabilistic response of the solar cell under Gaussian parametric uncertainty correlates to a Rayleigh probability distribution function. Output response is characterized by a mean value of 0.0060 and 0.0760 for RTC France and Solarex MSX83 solar cells, respectively. The standard deviation of $$ \pm $$
±
0.0034 and $$ \pm $$
±
0.0052 was observed in the probabilistic response for RTC France and Solarex MSX83 solar cells, respectively.
Between colonial medicine and global health: protein malnutrition and UNICEF milk in the Belgian Congo
Authors: Coghe Samuël
Published: November 2021

During the last decades of colonial rule, Belgian colonial authorities, health agencies and researchers intensely engaged with kwashiorkor, a severe syndrome that was deemed widespread among young children in some parts of the Belgian Congo and Ruanda-Urundi and chiefly attributed to protein malnutrition. To fight kwashiorkor, the Belgian government, in the early 1950s, set up a joint milk distribution campaign with the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund, Food and Agriculture Organization and World Health Organization, the first of its kind in colonial Africa. Placing this campaign in the context of mounting international and inter-imperial concern about kwashiorkor and other nutritional problems in Africa and across the globe, this article explores its rationales, mechanisms and consequences, and in particular, how the campaign was shaped and publicised by FORÉAMI, one of the main health providers on the ground. It not only contributes to the history of European colonial medicine and nutritional policies, but also opens new perspectives on international health collaboration during late colonialism. It argues that Belgian authorities were wary of international interference in colonial policies, but that especially FORÉAMI also viewed and used the campaign as an opportunity to display its ‘mastery’ in rural and infant healthcare and control the narrative on Belgium’s colonial medicine.
ADEQUATE ASSURANCE OF PERFORMANCE UNDER THE UN CONVENTION ON CONTRACTS FOR THE INTERNATIONAL SALE OF GOODS AND THE UNIFORM COMMERCIAL CODE
Authors: Kryla-Cudna Katarzyna
Published: November 2021

This article compares and contrasts the doctrine of adequate assurance of performance under the US Uniform Commercial Code (the UCC) and the UN Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods (the CISG). The article argues that, in the context of the CISG, the mechanism of adequate assurance found in the UCC is a faux ami. Despite some similarities, the doctrine of adequate assurance regulated in the CISG is distinct and serves different functions to its UCC counterpart.
THE IMPLICATIONS OF THE WTO TOBACCO PLAIN PACKAGING DISPUTES FOR PUBLIC HEALTH MEASURES
Authors: Mitchell Andrew David , Samlidis Theodore
Published: November 2021

Australia became the first country to introduce standardised or plain packaging laws for tobacco products in 2011. However, they immediately came under direct and indirect challenge from the tobacco industry in various domestic and international fora, including at the World Trade Organization (WTO). The WTO-consistency of Australia's measures was not settled until June 2020, when the Appellate Body upheld two WTO panels’ earlier findings that Australia had acted consistently with its obligations under certain WTO agreements. This article critically analyses the Appellate Body's key findings and their implications for implementing other public health measures. It is shown that these implications are multifaceted, have political, practical and legal dimensions and are likely to reach beyond the WTO dispute resolution system's bounds into other international trade and investment law contexts.
The Landscape of Węgajty Theatre
Authors: BIERNAT JUSTYNA
Published: November 2021

The alternative culture in Poland formed between the late 1970s and the second half of the 1990s. In this period many artists were moving from cities into the countryside in order to find space for independent and experimental art. Among these new settlers were Erdmute and Wacław Sobaszek, who made their home in a small rural settlement of Węgajty in the 1980s. The Sobaszeks converted an abandoned farm into a stage and soon their undertaking became one of the most prominent alternative theatres in Poland. This article explores intersections of the Sobaszeks's art and rural landscape through the lens of humanistic geography, anthropology and philosophy. The purpose of the article is to reveal a deep attachment of the artists to local, rural space and to examine how it shapes their performances and community building. In the article, the Węgajty Theatre is recognized as ‘landscape theatre’, a term which attempts to emphasize a bond between the theatre and the natural environment.
Fine Structure of Microseismic Glacial Stick‐Slip
Authors: Gräff Dominik , Köpfli Manuela , Lipovsky Bradley Paul , Selvadurai Paul Antony , Farinotti Daniel , Walter Fabian
Published: November 2021

Frictional instabilities exist in many geological settings, including glaciers and tectonic plate boundaries. However, investigations of suggested analogies between stick‐slip “icequakes” and earthquake faulting have been hampered by the noisy, melt‐prone and inaccessible nature of glacial environments. Here, we reveal details of stick‐slip events beneath an Alpine glacier using seismic sensors within a few meters of a seismically active bed region. We present evidence that widely detected stick‐slip events, which are measurable at the ice surface, are in fact dynamic ruptures over many smaller asperities, whose individual seismic failures are usually too small to be recorded at the surface. Characteristic recurrence times of such multi‐asperity ruptures and their sizes suggest an analogy to Parkfield earthquakes on the San Andreas Fault, questioning traditional glacier sliding theories. Although several trillion times smaller, glacial seismic sources presented here may therefore be ideal for studying earthquake faulting due to much higher event rates.
Zinc Isotopes of the Mariana and Ryukyu Arc‐Related Lavas Reveal Recycling of Forearc Serpentinites Into the Subarc Mantle
Authors: Chen Zuxing , Chen Jiubin , Zeng Zhigang , Soh Tamehe Landry , Zhang Ting , Zhang Yuxiang , Yin Xuebo , Wang Xiaoyuan , Chen Shuai , Shuai Wangcai
Published: November 2021

Mantle source heterogeneity of arc‐related magmas was traditionally thought to be predominantly affected by slab‐derived components. However, the role of forearc serpentinites in causing subarc mantle heterogeneity remains poorly constrained. Here, we present the first Zn isotope data for lavas from the Mariana and Ryukyu subduction zones. Notably, the δ66Zn values of basaltic lavas from the Mariana arc (0.16–0.18‰) and southern Okinawa Trough (0.15–0.17‰) are generally lower (∼0.10‰) than those of the mid‐ocean ridge basalts (MORB) (0.27 ± 0.05‰). Since mantle melting and magmatic differentiation respectively induce heavy Zn isotope enrichment in primary and evolved magmas, while melt extraction yields the limited Zn isotope fractionation in the mantle, lavas with low δ66Zn values thus potentially indicate the addition of subducted components. The negative correlation between the δ66Zn values and the Ba/La ratios of the basaltic lavas suggests the involvement of isotopically light fluids in their mantle sources. Forearc serpentinites are typically characterized by extremely light Zn isotope compositions. Such forearc materials were likely dragged downward to subarc depths and released isotopically light Zn in fluids to modify the overlying mantle wedge, thereby producing low δ66Zn values in arc‐related magmas. Beyond subarc depths, forearc serpentinites are broken down completely, so light Zn isotope fluids are absent. Accordingly, the basalts from the middle Mariana and Okinawa Trough display MORB‐like δ66Zn values. Collectively, Zn isotope provides new insights into the role of the recycling of forearc serpentinites in generating chemical heterogeneity in the mantle source of subduction‐related magmas.
Unusual Cross‐Shelf Transport Driven by the Changes of Wind Pattern in a Marginal Sea
Authors: Yao Zhigang , Chen Ke , Ding Yang , Lin Xiaopei , Bao Xianwen , Qiao Lulu
Published: November 2021

The traditional understanding of the regional circulation in the Northwest Pacific marginal seas is that the Korean Coastal Current flows southward, following the isobaths of 20–50 m. However, an unusual tongue‐shaped structure of cold water is observed in satellite SST data in January 2017, indicating a possible offshore spread of cold coastal water into the middle Southern Yellow Sea (SYS). Additional observations, including in situ hydrographic data as well as direct current measurement, also suggest this cross‐shelf transport of the Korean Coastal Water in January 2017. Our analysis shows that this flow breaks through the isobaths at ∼37°N, moves southward between 50–75 m, and eventually veers anti‐cyclonically at ∼35°N to join the western slope of the SYS. This circulation pattern is further supported by heat budget analysis. Diagnosis of potential vorticity (PV) reveals that the elevated negative PV anomaly imposed by surface wind stress favors this unusual cross‐shelf transport. The change of wind pattern, although under a deceasing wind speed condition, plays an important role. This work provides an alternative view of the wintertime circulation pattern and motivates future studies of the variability of the coastal currents over interannual and longer time scales in the SYS.
Effects of Atmospheric Attenuation on the Lightning Spectrum
Authors: Wan Ruibin , Yuan Ping , An Tingting , Liu Guorong , Wang Xuejuan , Wang Wangsheng , Huang Xin , Deng Hong
Published: November 2021

Spectrum carries important information reflecting atomic and molecular processes inside a light source. Accurate spectral diagnosis is vital in revealing the microscopic physical mechanism of the lightning discharge process. Spectral correction was applied considering the influence of atmospheric attenuation, grating efficiency, and camera response on the observed spectrum, thereby solving the problems of atmospheric attenuation in long‐distance lightning spectrum observations. Based on the restored spectrum, the temperature of the lightning return stroke channel was calculated by the ionic and atomic lines respectively. The result showed that corrected temperature at the initial stage of the return stroke, calculated by the ionic line, could reach up to 40,000 K, which was about 10,000 K higher than the values directly obtained from the observed spectrum. Atmospheric attenuation of the atomic spectral line in the near‐infrared band is relatively weak; therefore, atmospheric attenuation was inferred to have a relatively less effect on the channel temperature that was calculated by the atomic spectral lines. This work provided the attenuation ratio of the characteristic lines in lightning spectra with distance, and can used for more precisely quantitative investigation on the physical characteristics of the lightning process. It also has application value for improving the spectral diagnostic techniques on celestial body and other natural luminous process.