bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Does FERPA bar schools from disclosing NIL deals to 3rd parties?
Authors: Romano Robert J.
Published: March 2022

College athletics underwent a substantial change in 2021, after a number of states enacted laws permitting student‐athletes to legally monetize their name, image, and likeness without the fear of losing their athletics scholarship or eligibility. Bipartisan bills were drafted and passed, somewhat hurriedly, because state legislatures didn't want to lose out on the perceived recruiting advantages that their in‐state colleges and universities would receive from having such laws on the books.
Support students, profession through mentoring, professional development
Authors: Hope Joan
Published: March 2022

Soraira Urquiza loves the behind‐the‐scenes aspect of being a registrar. “We do a lot of the work no one ever thinks about,” said Urquiza, Registrar at the American Film Institute Conservatory. “You order a transcript, and there it is,” she added.
Clinical signs, MRI findings and long‐term outcomes of foraminal and far lateral thoracolumbar intervertebral disc herniations in dogs
Authors: Silva Sara , Guevar Julien , José‐López Roberto , De Decker Steven , Brocal Josep , de la Fuente Cristian , Durand Alexane , Forterre Franck , Olby Natasha , Gutierrez‐Quintana Rodrigo
Published: March 2022

Background

As they have been seldomly described in the veterinary literature, the aims of this retrospective study were to describe the clinical presentation, MRI findings and long‐term outcome after medical or surgical treatment of dogs presenting with foraminal and far lateral thoracolumbar intervertebral disc herniations.

Methods

Retrospective multicentre study of dogs diagnosed with foraminal and far lateral thoracolumbar intervertebral disc herniations between 2009 and 2020 in seven referral hospitals.

Results

Thirty‐seven dogs were included. Dachshunds and mixed breeds were most affected. Median age at presentation and duration of clinical signs were 6 years and 14 days, respectively. Pain was the most frequent clinical finding (92%), particularly on spinal palpation and/or hip manipulation, followed by pelvic limb lameness (71%). Eighty‐seven percent of herniations occurred at L5‐L6 or L6‐L7. A good to excellent outcome was seen in 95% of surgically and 90% of medically treated dogs.

Conclusion

Although much less frequently recognised than herniation affecting the vertebral canal, foraminal and far lateral thoracolumbar intervertebral disc herniations should be considered in the differential diagnosis list of chondrodystrophic dogs presenting with pain and pelvic limb lameness. Most dogs had a good to excellent outcome following medical or surgical treatment.
Anaesthetic management in adult fallow deer undergoing orthopaedic surgery
Authors: Mansour Christelle , Hout Nermine El , Hassoun Roy
Published: March 2022

Bambi, an adult female captive fallow deer (Dama dama), was presented to Beirut Pet Hospital in March 2021 for left metacarpal fracture. Bambi appeared to be exceptionally tolerant to physical restraint, so examination and preparation were performed carefully in a quiet room to avoid stress‐induced hyperthermia. Bambi was injected with butorphanol–medetomidine combination intravenously, followed by induction with diazepam and ketamine. Surgical anaesthesia and analgesia were maintained under isoflurane and a continuous rate infusion of fentanyl. Fracture reduction was employed followed by internal fixation, and the anaesthetic protocol was effective at maintaining deep anaesthesia and controlling pain allowing a good recovery. Limited data are found in the literature describing deer species undergoing orthopaedic surgeries under general anaesthesia. This case report represents an effective anaesthetic protocol that could be considered in cervids admitted to the veterinary clinics for orthopaedic surgeries.
Echelon analysis and its software for spatial lattice data
Authors: Kurihara Koji , Ishioka Fumio
Published: March 2022

In this study, we explore the use of echelon analysis and its software named EcheScan for spatial lattice data. EcheScan is developed as a web application via an internet browser in R language and Shiny server for echelon analysis. The technique of echelon is proposed to analyze the topological structure for spatial lattice data. The echelon tree provides a dendrogram representation. Regional features, such as hierarchical spatial data structure and hotspots clusters, are shown in an echelon dendrogram. In addition, we introduce the conception of echelon with the values and neighbors for lattice data. We also explain the use of EcheScan for one‐ and two‐dimensional regular lattice data. Furthermore, coronavirus disease 2019 death data corresponding to 50 US states are illustrated using EcheScan as an example of geospatial lattice data.

This article is categorized under:

Statistical Learning and Exploratory Methods of the Data Sciences > Exploratory Data Analysis

Statistical Learning and Exploratory Methods of the Data Sciences > Clustering and Classification

Data: Types and Structure > Image and Spatial Data
Educated Romania—Focusing on Inclusive Policymaking After 30 Years of Shifting Reforms in the Romanian Education System
Authors: Deca Ligia , Santa Robert
Published: March 2022

Romanian education policy was notoriously plagued by instability and a tendency to escape the normal policymaking cycle via top-down highly politicised reforms. After almost three decades, a new initiative by the President of Romania attempts to promote a more inclusive style of policymaking that would ensure wider societal support to upcoming educational reforms. The purpose of this article is to set the background to the wider discussion on Romanian higher education, placing it inside the context of the countryï¿½s efforts to reform its schools and universities via the Educated Romania project, on which the authors had the privilege of working. It aims to create a long-term, structured vision on which to centre future education reforms and to correct some of the imbalances that have emerged in Romanian education over the past few decades. The conclusion also analyses the chances of its survival in the current Romanian political and administrative status-quo.
How to Cope with GDPR for Graduate Tracking: A Discussion at the Intersection of Law and Policy and Two Solutions
Authors: Proteasa Viorel , Vertes-Olteanu Andreea
Published: March 2022

Research on higher education, and not only, has used data collected for administrative purposes—register data, to answer various policy-relevant questions. The employability of university graduates is one of such questions, which have been pending, especially in those countries whose higher education massified in the last decades. The promise of register data relies on its objective nature and apparent low cost: researchers are basically processing data that is collected for administrative purposes. In spite of these advantages, register data is still underused. Data protection restrictions, especially the alignment to the General Data Protection Regulation, are reported to temper the thrust towards making administrative data available as micro-data for secondary use. We consider that the policy dialogue would benefit from a transdisciplinary exploration of the solutions found in the EU to counter such reservations to the use of register for research. We propose an analysis at the intersection of policy studies and law of two solutions found in the EU to make register data available to researchers. We attempt to address two related questions: how are the processes designed? How is the GDPR compliance put into practice? We used structured observations of primary and secondary literature to collect our data. Our aim is to enrich the debate surrounding register data as a basis for policy-relevant research and, pragmatically, to indicate policy solutions that can be easily adjusted to national contexts in the EU and put on the table of decision-makers.
Losing Ground: Romanian Higher Education Since 2006 in Comparative Perspective
Authors: Usher Alex , Williams Jonathan
Published: March 2022

This article uses a new global data set on higher education enrolments and finance covering 56 countries and well over 90% of the global higher education sector by enrolment, in order to examine the Romanian experience in higher education since 2006 in both a regional and a global comparative perspective. These comparisons highlight a few key facts about Romanian higher education, in particular: how different the institutional typology is compared to others in the region, how unprecedented the collapse in enrolments in the years after 2009, and how few resources, either public or private, the country invests in higher education compared to either a continental or global standard. The implications of these facts for Romanias future economic growth are briefly discussed.
Performance-Based Funding—The Romanian Experience of the Last Five Years (2016–2020)
Authors: Păunescu Mihai , Gheba Andreea , Jitaru Gabriela
Published: March 2022

Performance-based funding has a long experience of debates and implementation in Romania, distinguishing three main stages of refinement in its implementation, starting with 2002. The actual form is similar starting with 2016, an important share of Romanian higher education funding for teaching activities in public universities (26.5%) being distributed according to quality indicators (applied by field of study). Given that the main objective of this mechanism is to reward performance, as well as to assure a more transparent and predictable resource allocation, the aim of this paper is to identify how this allocation mechanism actually worked over the past five years. The performance-based criteria employed in the supplementary funding component cover four main categories: teaching/learning, scientific research/artistic creation, international orientation, regional orientation & social equity. According to the national funding allocation mechanism, each quality indicator is assigned a share of the total funding, with the final distribution being determined by each institutions performance score relative to the others in the same scientific field. The paper unfolds the evolution of this systems implementation in the five years since its adoption (2016–2020) and presents the main results of a preliminary analysis. We also explore the extent to which certain characteristics of universities, such as their size or their dominant field of study, impact the resulting distribution of funds. This paper results may enrich and contribute to the larger national and international debate on performance-based funding and quality assurance in higher education.
Access to Higher Education: Losing Precious Human Resources Before the Start Line
Authors: Hâj Cezar Mihai , Ţucă Petrişor Laurenţiu
Published: March 2022

In the last five years in Romania, a series of measures and policies have been adopted that aimed to increase the enrolment and participation of Romanian citizens in higher education. However, we are still witnessing a decline in the number of students even though Romania has the lowest proportion of graduates (30–34 years) with a higher education diploma in the EU. Through this paper, we will follow the educational path of students in final grades in upper secondary education to analyse how many of them graduated from the national baccalaureate exam and later became students. The data come from the interconnection of two important databases from the Romanian education system, the National Student Register (RMUR) and the Integrated Information System of Education in Romania (SIIIR). Access to higher education must be viewed not only from the perspective of the admissions process but also from the perspective of generational losses that have a direct impact on the human resources eligible for higher education. Thus, we will insist on analysing the “losses” of human capital registered in the national education system in the last year of study in pre-university education, looking at the same time at the characteristics of students who manage to enter higher education. The current analysis is based on the work done within the project “Quality in higher education: internationalization and databases for the development of Romanian education” (code POCU/472/6/8/126766/21.11.2018, implemented by the Executive Agency for Higher Education, Research, Development and Innovation Funding (UEFISCDI) in partnership with the Ministry of Education (ME).
The Impact of Social Scholarships and of Reserved Places for Graduates from Rural High Schools in Improving Access to Higher Education and Academic Performance
Authors: Cismaru Diana-Maria , Corbu Nicoleta , Frunzaru Valeriu , Hâj Cezar Mihai , Ştefăniţă Oana
Published: March 2022

Although the level of tertiary education attainment as a share of the population aged 30 to 34 increased in Romania up to 26.3% in 2017, it is still modest in comparison with the EU average (39.9% in 2017) (Eurostat, 2021). Therefore, while the rate of young people exposed to the risk of poverty and exclusion increased in the last decade in Romania, there is a need to evaluate the support measures for students from disadvantaged categories. The paper presents the results of two impact studies for two public policies, social scholarships and reserved places for graduates from rural high schools. In order to find out to which extent the two public policies fulfil their aims in supporting students from vulnerable social categories to graduate higher education, a mix of quantitative and qualitative methods has been used. The quantitative analysis used data extracted from two national databases for higher education and data collected by a survey to which about half of the Romanian universities responded. The data for qualitative analysis were collected by face-to-face interviews (with professors in management positions and students beneficiary of the two policies) from eight universities with different profiles, located in five regions of Romania. The results of the quantitative analysis revealed that the social scholarships policy fulfils its objectives of improving academic performance and increasing the chances of graduation for beneficiaries. The results of the qualitative analysis revealed a high level of satisfaction of beneficiaries with both policies and a positive evaluation of both policies by the management of universities.
The Socio-Economic Challenges in Access to Romanian Higher Education. Student Perception and Funding Policy Directions
Authors: Dervis Oana-Alexandra , Trifan Elena , Jitaru Gabriela
Published: March 2022

Access to education, specifically in relation to socio-economic background, is one of the enduring issues in educational research. The theme is particularly salient for the Romanian case from a policy perspective, given the increase in social polarisation specific to the post-communist transition and its effect on access to higher education. Recent reforms in university funding have started to address this issue, with the inclusion of several mechanisms that allocate financial resources according to university efforts towards social equity. The main objective of our research is to provide an overview of the policies concerning the inclusion of students from low socio-economic backgrounds and assess the degree to which progress has been made towards reaching current national targets regarding access to higher education. We argue that although significant improvements have been made at the level of policy initiative, more precise targeting is needed in order to meet labour market demands, given that most current efforts are directed either at fresh high school graduates or at diminishing the dropout rate. These efforts, even if 100% successful, will not prove sufficient given current demographic trends. Therefore, we consider another potential avenue for increasing student numbers, suggesting that an orientation towards non-traditional students (adult students) might be beneficial. With this in mind, in the second half of the paper, we explore the main characteristics and trends concerning Romanian mature students using the results from the EUROSTUDENT VI and EUROSTUDENT VII studies, with the goal of formulating policy proposals that aim to unlock the potential of this demographic.
Doctoral Studies in Romania: Thriving or Surviving?
Authors: Iftimescu Simona , Stîngu Mihaela , Lupescu Delia
Published: March 2022

This paper explores the specificities of doctoral studies, focusing on students’ well-being. It is part of an ongoing research project analysing doctoral studies in Romania, focusing on three main themes: access, participation and completion. The multiple facets of the doctoral studies within the Bologna Process—seen at a crossroad between EHEA and ERA, and as a cornerstone of the ‘knowledge-based society’—reflect onto the various roles assigned to doctoral candidates: students, emerging researchers, teaching and research assistants. While the doctoral cycle tends to prioritise the development of research and academic skills, it appears to be lacking appropriate support mechanisms for students. In order to better understand these mechanisms, the paper is structured on three levels: current context, practices and the students’ perspective. This latter level explores internal and external factors of success—among others: motivation, personal/professional development, academic identity, doctoral supervision, research guidance, financial support, career counselling, and societal role. To do so, the paper draws upon a mixed methodology, using data collected from workshops with relevant stakeholders and a questionnaire addressed to Ph.D. students. By superimposing these layers, our paper aims to provide an overview of the current state of doctoral studies in Romania, with a focus on the well-being of doctoral students. Finally, it attempts to shape several proposals for improving both the practices and the policy framework of doctoral studies in Romania while taking into account the future of higher education and research in Europe, as well as European good-practice examples.
Measuring Students’ Perception of COVID-19 Impact on Higher Education Through the National Student Survey in Romania
Authors: Deaconu Stefan-Marius , Olah Roland
Published: March 2022

The article presents the first National Student Survey (NSS-RO) results. The questionnaire was opened to all Romanian students between November 2020 and January 2021 and involved 23,796 respondents from 76 higher education institutions. Initially designed to be a tool to improve the quality of higher education, given the epidemiological context created with the Covid-19 pandemic, it expanded with one section to measure students’ perception of its impact on higher education. This work intends to establish a correlation between student dropout intention during the Covid-19 pandemic and the direct support received from higher education institutions regarding material resources, such as tablets, laptops, or other similar tools. Secondly, it analyses the students’ perception of the transition into emergency remote education. We measured in this sense their opinion on how easily they accessed mainly online educational resources, the information received, and the teachers’ performance during classes. These results provide one of the first steps towards understanding the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the Romanian higher education system. The massive interference provoked a giant leap in digitalisation and significantly changed how universities apply Student-Centred Learning (SCL) practices. Also, this study contributes to the area of national student surveys.
Romanian Universities: The Use of Educational Marketing to Strengthen Internationalization of Higher Education
Authors: Fiţ Cristina Ramona , Panţir Cristian Andrei , Cheregi Bianca-Florentina
Published: March 2022

With the European Universities Initiative underway, the COVID-19 pandemic and various national or European strategies reaching their initially designated timeline, 2021 is a good moment to take stock of how Romania fulfilled its commitments regarding internationalization. One of the key dimensions of internationalization of higher education, both in Romania and global terms, is marketing and promotion, especially if one looks at the institutional efforts to attract talent. The article aims to show how Romanian universities use educational marketing to promote their study programs offer, in order to attract both international students and national students in the context of a steep student population decrease. The paper addresses two main research questions: How do universities use media and other mechanisms to promote their educational offer globally? Which are the main strengths allowing Romanian higher education to better attract international students? The article presents the main findings of the SWOT analysis for the Romanian higher education system, with information from 47 public universities. It compares the current findings with those from a similar SWOT analysis performed in 2015, while also putting forward a cost-benefit analysis of attracting international students and developing internationalization of higher education. The paper also underlines several areas where universities can focus their efforts in attracting international students (such as the www.studyinromania.gov.ro portal) and policy recommendations based on the data analyzed
Holomorphic anomalies, fourfolds and fluxes
Authors: Lee Seung-Joo , Lerche Wolfgang , Lockhart Guglielmo , Weigand Timo
Published: March 2022

Abstract

We investigate holomorphic anomalies of partition functions underlying string compactifications on Calabi-Yau fourfolds with background fluxes. For elliptic fourfolds the partition functions have an alternative interpretation as elliptic genera of N = 1 supersymmetric string theories in four dimensions, or as generating functions for relative, genus zero Gromov-Witten invariants of fourfolds with fluxes. We derive the holomorphic anomaly equations by starting from the BCOV formalism of topological strings, and translating them into geometrical terms. The result can be recast into modular and elliptic anomaly equations. As a new feature, as compared to threefolds, we find an extra contribution which is given by a gravitational descendant invariant. This leads to linear terms in the anomaly equations, which support an algebra of derivatives mapping between partition functions of the various flux sectors. These geometric features are mirrored by certain properties of quasi-Jacobi forms. We also offer an interpretation of the physics from the viewpoint of the worldsheet theory, and comment on holomorphic anomalies at genus one.
Crystal bases and three-dimensional 𝒩 = 4 Coulomb branches
Authors: Santilli Leonardo , Tierz Miguel
Published: March 2022

We establish and develop a correspondence between certain crystal bases (Kashiwara crystals) and the Coulomb branch of three-dimensional 𝒩 = 4 gauge theories. The result holds for simply-laced, non-simply laced and affine quivers. Two equivalent derivations are given in the non-simply laced case, either by application of the axiomatic rules or by folding a simply-laced quiver. We also study the effect of turning on real masses and the ensuing simplification of the crystal. We present a multitude of explicit examples of the equivalence. Finally, we put forward a correspondence between infinite crystals and Hilbert spaces of theories with isolated vacua.
Color-kinematics duality, double copy and the unitarity method for higher-derivative QCD and quadratic gravity
Authors: Menezes Gabriel
Published: March 2022

Abstract

Here we discuss color-kinematics duality for higher-derivative QCD-like amplitudes. We explicitly show that the duality still holds in this case and it can be instrumental in constructing the associated quadratic-gravity amplitudes by using the double-copy prescription. This allows one to drastically simplify calculations. We also evaluate some tree-level Compton scattering amplitudes in higher-derivative Yang-Mills and quadratic gravity coupled with matter. Furthermore, we illustrate the application of generalized unitarity method for both cases by studying a specific one-loop amplitude.
Higher-dimensional symmetry of AdS2×S2 correlators
Authors: Abl Theresa , Heslop Paul , Lipstein Arthur E.
Published: March 2022

Abstract

It was recently shown that IIB supergravity on AdS5×S5 enjoys 10d conformal symmetry and that superstring theory on this background can be described using a 10d scalar effective field theory. In this paper we adapt these two complementary approaches to correlators of hypermultiplets in AdS2×S2. In particular, we show that 4-point correlators of 1/2-BPS operators in the 1d boundary can be computed using 4d conformal symmetry and a 4d effective action in the bulk. The 4d conformal symmetry is realised by acting with Casimirs of SU(1, 1|2), and is generically broken by higher derivative corrections. We point out similar structure underlying α′ corrections to IIB supergravity in AdS5×S5. In particular, while the α′3 corrections can be written in terms of a sixth order Casimir acting on a 10d conformal block, similar structure does not appear in higher-order corrections. We note however that a specific combination of higher derivative corrections can give rise to Witten diagrams with higher dimensional symmetry at the integrand level, with breaking then arising from the measure.
Generalizations of the double-copy: the KLT bootstrap
Authors: Chi Huan-Hang , Elvang Henriette , Herderschee Aidan , Jones Callum R. T. , Paranjape Shruti
Published: March 2022

Abstract

We formulate a new program to generalize the double-copy of tree amplitudes. The approach exploits the link between the identity element of the “KLT algebra” and the KLT kernel, and we demonstrate how this leads to a set of KLT bootstrap equations that the double-copy kernel has to satisfy in addition to locality constraints. We solve the KLT bootstrap equations perturbatively to find the most general higher-derivative corrections to the 4- and 5-point field theory KLT kernel. The new kernel generalizes the string KLT kernel and its associated monodromy relations. It admits new color-structures in the effective theories it double-copies. It provides distinct generalized KK and BCJ relations for the left and right single-color theories and is in that sense a ‘heterotic’-type double-copy. We illustrate the generalized double-copy in detail for 4d Yang-Mills theory with higher-derivative corrections that produce dilaton-axion-gravity with local operators up order ∇10R4. Finally, we initiate a search for new double-copy kernels.
A tale of (M)2 twists
Authors: Couzens Christopher
Published: March 2022

Abstract

We study the parameter space of magnetically charged AdS2×$$ {\mathbbm{WCP}}_{\left[{n}_{-}{n}_{+}\right]}^1 $$

WCP

n
−

n
+

1

solutions in 4d U(1)4 gauged STU supergravity. We show that both twist and anti-twist solutions are realised and give constraints for their existence in terms of the magnetic charges of the solution. We provide infinite families of both classes of solution in terms of their magnetic charges and weights of the orbifold. As a byproduct of our analysis we obtain a closed form expression for the free-energy of the 4-charge magnetic solution in terms of the magnetic charges and weights n±. We also show that the AdS2 solution is the near-horizon of an asymptotically AdS4 black hole which can be found in the literature.
On epsilon factorized differential equations for elliptic Feynman integrals
Authors: Frellesvig Hjalte
Published: March 2022

Abstract

In this paper we develop and demonstrate a method to obtain epsilon factorized differential equations for elliptic Feynman integrals. This method works by choosing an integral basis with the property that the period matrix obtained by integrating the basis over a complete set of integration cycles is diagonal. The method is a generalization of a similar method known to work for polylogarithmic Feynman integrals. We demonstrate the method explicitly for a number of Feynman integral families with an elliptic highest sector.
Subcellular progression of mesenchymal transition identified by two discrete synchronous cell lines derived from the same glioblastoma
Authors: Kim Sojin , Park Soo-Ji , Chowdhury Tamrin , Hong Jeong-Im , Ahn Jinhee , Jeong Tae Yeong , Yu Hyeon Jong , Shin Young-Kyoung , Ku Ja-Lok , Park Jong Bae , Hur Junho K. , Lee Hwajin , Kim Kyoungmi , Park Chul‑Kee
Published: March 2022

Glioblastomas (GBM) exhibit intratumoral heterogeneity of various oncogenic evolutional processes. We have successfully isolated and established two distinct cancer cell lines with different morphological and biological characteristics that were derived from the same tissue sample of a GBM. When we compared their genomic and transcriptomic characteristics, each cell line harbored distinct mutation clusters while sharing core driver mutations. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that one cell line was undergoing a mesenchymal transition process, unlike the other cell line. Furthermore, we could identify four tumor samples containing our cell line-like clusters from the publicly available single-cell RNA-seq data, and in a set of paired longitudinal GBM samples, we could confirm three pairs where the recurrent sample was enriched in the genes specific to our cell line undergoing mesenchymal transition. The present study provides direct evidence and a valuable source for investigating the ongoing process of subcellular mesenchymal transition in GBM, which has prognostic and therapeutic implications.
Transcriptional and post-transcriptional control of epithelial-mesenchymal plasticity: why so many regulators?
Authors: Migault Melodie , Sapkota Sunil , Bracken Cameron P.
Published: March 2022

The dynamic transition between epithelial-like and mesenchymal-like cell states has been a focus for extensive investigation for decades, reflective of the importance of Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition (EMT) through development, in the adult, and the contributing role EMT has to pathologies including metastasis and fibrosis. Not surprisingly, regulation of the complex genetic networks that underlie EMT have been attributed to multiple transcription factors and microRNAs. What is surprising, however, are the sheer number of different regulators (hundreds of transcription factors and microRNAs) for which critical roles have been described. This review seeks not to collate these studies, but to provide a perspective on the fundamental question of whether it is really feasible that so many regulators play important roles and if so, what does this tell us about EMT and more generally, the genetic machinery that controls complex biological processes.
S100A16 promotes acute kidney injury by activating HRD1-induced ubiquitination and degradation of GSK3β and CK1α
Authors: Sun Yifei , Fan Ya , Wang Zheng , Li Min , Su Dongming , Liu Yun , Liang Xiubin
Published: March 2022

The pathogenesis of acute kidney injury (AKI) is associated with the activation of multiple signaling pathways, including Wnt/β-catenin signaling. However, the mechanism of Wnt/β-catenin pathway activation in renal interstitial fibroblasts during AKI is unclear. S100 calcium-binding protein A16 (S100A16), a new member of calcium-binding protein S100 family, is a multi-functional signaling factor involved in various pathogenies, including tumors, glycolipid metabolism disorder, and chronic kidney disease (CKD). We investigated the potential participation of S100A16 in Wnt/β-catenin pathway activation during AKI by subjecting wild-type (WT) and S100A16 knockout (S100A16+/−) mice to the ischemia–reperfusion injury (IRI), and revealed S100A16 upregulation in this model, in which knockout of S100A16 impeded the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway activation and recovered the expression of downstream hepatocyte growth factor (HGF). We also found that S100A16 was highly expressed in Platelet-derived growth factor receptor beta (PDGFRβ) positive renal fibroblasts in vivo. Consistently, in rat renal interstitial fibroblasts (NRK-49F cells), both hypoxia/reoxygenation and S100A16 overexpression exacerbated fibroblasts apoptosis and inhibited HGF secretion; whereas S100A16 knockdown or Wnt/β-catenin pathway inhibitor ICG-001 reversed these changes. Mechanistically, we showed that S100A16 promoted Wnt/β-catenin signaling activation via the ubiquitylation and degradation of β-catenin complex members, glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK3β) and casein kinase 1α (CK1α), mediated by E3 ubiquitin ligase, the HMG-CoA reductase degradation protein 1 (HRD1). Our study identified the S100A16 as a key regulator in the activation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway in AKI.
First clinical experience with a novel, mobile cone-beam CT system for treatment quality assurance in brachytherapy
Authors: Karius Andre , Strnad Vratislav , Lotter Michael , Kreppner Stephan , Bert Christoph
Published: March 2022

Background and purpose

On-site cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) has gained in importance in adaptive brachytherapy during recent years. Besides treatment planning, there is increased need particularly for image-guidance during interventional procedures and for image-guided treatment quality assurance (QA). For this purpose, an innovative CBCT device was rolled out at our hospital as the first site worldwide. We present the first clinical images and experiences.

Materials and methods

The novel CBCT system is constructed of a 121 cm diameter ring gantry, and features a 43.2 × 43.2 cm2 flat-panel detector, wireless remote-control via tablet-PC, and battery-powered maneuverability. Within the first months of clinical operation, we performed CBCT-based treatment QA for a total of 26 patients (8 with breast, 16 with cervix, and 2 with vaginal cancer). CBCT scans were analyzed regarding potential movements of implanted applicators in-situ during the brachytherapy course.

Results

With the presented device, treatment QA was feasible for the majority of patients. The CBCT scans of breast patients showed sufficient contrast between implanted catheters and tissue. For gynecologic patients, a distinct visualization of applicators was achieved in general. However, reasonable differentiations of organic soft tissues were not feasible.

Conclusion

The CBCT system allowed basic treatment QA measures for breast and gynecologic patients. For image-guidance during interventional brachytherapy procedures, the current image quality is not adequate. Substantial performance enhancements are required for intraoperative image-guidance.
An SDP-based approach for computing the stability number of a graph
Authors: Gaar Elisabeth , Siebenhofer Melanie , Wiegele Angelika
Published: March 2022

Finding the stability number of a graph, i.e., the maximum number of vertices of which no two are adjacent, is a well known NP-hard combinatorial optimization problem. Since this problem has several applications in real life, there is need to find efficient algorithms to solve this problem. Recently, Gaar and Rendl enhanced semidefinite programming approaches to tighten the upper bound given by the Lovász theta function. This is done by carefully selecting some so-called exact subgraph constraints (ESC) and adding them to the semidefinite program of computing the Lovász theta function. First, we provide two new relaxations that allow to compute the bounds faster without substantial loss of the quality of the bounds. One of these two relaxations is based on including violated facets of the polytope representing the ESCs, the other one adds separating hyperplanes for that polytope. Furthermore, we implement a branch and bound (B&B) algorithm using these tightened relaxations in our bounding routine. We compare the efficiency of our B&B algorithm using the different upper bounds. It turns out that already the bounds of Gaar and Rendl drastically reduce the number of nodes to be explored in the B&B tree as compared to the Lovász theta bound. However, this comes with a high computational cost. Our new relaxations improve the run time of the overall B&B algorithm, while keeping the number of nodes in the B&B tree small.
A mobile app for the treatment of female mixed and urgency incontinence: a cost-effectiveness analysis in Sweden
Authors: Ekersund J. , Samuelsson E. , Lindholm L. , Sjöström M.
Published: March 2022

Introduction and hypothesis

A previous randomized controlled trial (RCT) demonstrated that the app Tät II, for self-management of mixed urinary incontinence (MUI) and urgency urinary incontinence (UUI), yielded significant, clinically relevant improvements in symptom severity and quality of life (QoL) compared with a control group. We aimed to assess the cost-effectiveness of Tät II.

Methods

A cost–utility analysis with a 1-year societal perspective was carried out, comparing Tät II with an information app. Data were collected alongside an RCT: 122 community-dwelling women aged ≥18 years with MUI or UUI ≥2 times/week were randomized to 3 months of Tät II treatment focused on pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) and bladder training (BT;n= 60), or to an information app (n= 62). Self-assessed data from validated questionnaires were collected at baseline and at 3-month and 1-year follow-ups. Costs for assessment, treatment delivery, incontinence aids, laundry, and time for PFMT and BT were included. We calculated quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) using the International Consultation on Incontinence Modular Questionnaire Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms Quality of Life. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) between the groups was our primary outcome. Sensitivity analyses were performed.

Results

The mean age was 58.3 (SD = 9.6) years. Annual overall costs were €738.42 in the treatment group and €605.82 in the control group; annual QALY gains were 0.0152 and 0.0037 respectively. The base case ICER was €11,770.52; ICERs in the sensitivity analyses ranged from €−9,303.78 to €22,307.67.

Conclusions

The app Tät II is a cost-effective treatment method for women with MUI and UUI.
Green function estimates on complements of low-dimensional uniformly rectifiable sets
Authors: David Guy , Feneuil Joseph , Mayboroda Svitlana
Published: March 2022

It has been recently established in David and Mayboroda (Approximation of green functions and domains with uniformly rectifiable boundaries of all dimensions. arXiv:2010.09793) that on uniformly rectifiable sets the Green function is almost affine in the weak sense, and moreover, in some scenarios such Green function estimates are equivalent to the uniform rectifiability of a set. The present paper tackles a strong analogue of these results, starting with the “flagship" degenerate operators on sets with lower dimensional boundaries. We consider the elliptic operators $$L_{\beta ,\gamma } =- {\text {div}}D^{d+1+\gamma -n} \nabla $$

L

β
,
γ

=
-
div

D

d
+
1
+
γ
-
n

∇

associated to a domain $$\Omega \subset {\mathbb {R}}^n$$

Ω
⊂

R

n

with a uniformly rectifiable boundary $$\Gamma $$
Γ
of dimension $$d < n-1$$

d
<
n
-
1

, the now usual distance to the boundary $$D = D_\beta $$

D
=

D
β

given by $$D_\beta (X)^{-\beta } = \int _{\Gamma } |X-y|^{-d-\beta } d\sigma (y)$$

D
β

(
X
)

-
β

=

∫
Γ

|
X
-
y
|

-
d
-
β

d
σ

(
y
)

for $$X \in \Omega $$

X
∈
Ω

, where $$\beta >0$$

β
>
0

and $$\gamma \in (-1,1)$$

γ
∈
(
-
1
,
1
)

. In this paper we show that the Green function G for $$L_{\beta ,\gamma }$$

L

β
,
γ

, with pole at infinity, is well approximated by multiples of $$D^{1-\gamma }$$

D

1
-
γ

, in the sense that the function $$\big | D\nabla \big (\ln \big ( \frac{G}{D^{1-\gamma }} \big )\big )\big |^2$$

|

D
∇

(

ln

(

G

D

1
-
γ

)

)

|

2

satisfies a Carleson measure estimate on $$\Omega $$
Ω
. We underline that the strong and the weak results are different in nature and, of course, at the level of the proofs: the latter extensively used compactness arguments, while the present paper relies on some intricate integration by parts and the properties of the “magical" distance function from David et al. (Duke Math J, to appear).
Differential effects of the translocator protein 18 kDa (TSPO) ligand etifoxine and the benzodiazepine alprazolam on startle response to predictable threat in a NPU-threat task after acute and short-term treatment
Authors: Brunner Lisa-Marie , Maurer Franziska , Weber Kevin , Weigl Johannes , Milenkovic Vladimir M. , Rupprecht Rainer , Nothdurfter Caroline , Mühlberger Andreas
Published: March 2022

Rationale

Benzodiazepines have been extensively investigated in experimental settings especially after single administration, which mostly revealed effects on unpredictable threat (U-threat) rather than predictable threat (P-threat). Given the need for pharmacological alternatives with a preferable side-effect profile and to better represent clinical conditions, research should cover also other anxiolytics and longer application times.

Objectives

The present study compared the acute and short-term effects of the translocator protein 18 kDa (TSPO) ligand etifoxine and the benzodiazepine alprazolam on P-threat and U-threat while controlling for sedation.

Methods

Sixty healthy male volunteers, aged between 18 and 55 years, were randomly assigned to receive a daily dose of either 150 mg etifoxine, 1.5 mg alprazolam, or placebo for 5 days. On days 1 and 5 of intake, they performed a NPU-threat task including neutral (N), predictable (P), and unpredictable (U) conditions, while startle responsivity and self-reports were studied. Sedative effects were assessed using a continuous performance test.

Results

Neither alprazolam nor etifoxine affected startle responsivity to U-threat on any of the testing days. While etifoxine reduced the startle response to P-threat on day 1 of treatment for transformed data, a contrary effect of alprazolam was found for raw values. No effects on self-reports and no evidence of sedation could be observed for either drug.

Conclusions

None of the anxiolytic substances had an impact on startle potentiation to U-threat even after several days of intake. The effects of the anxiolytics on startle responsivity to P-threat as well as implications for future studies are discussed.
Electrochemical sensing of macromolecules based on molecularly imprinted polymers: challenges, successful strategies, and opportunities
Authors: Mazzotta Elisabetta , Di Giulio Tiziano , Malitesta Cosimino
Published: March 2022

Looking at the literature focused on molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) for protein, it soon becomes apparent that a remarkable increase in scientific interest and exploration of new applications has been recorded in the last several years, from 42 documents in 2011 to 128 just 10 years later, in 2021 (Scopus, December 2021). Such a rapid threefold increase in the number of works in this field is evidence that the imprinting of macromolecules no longer represents a distant dream of optimistic imprinters, as it was perceived until only a few years ago, but is rapidly becoming an ever more promising and reliable technology, due to the significant achievements in the field. The present critical review aims to summarize some of them, evidencing the aspects that have contributed to the success of the most widely used strategies in the field. At the same time, limitations and drawbacks of less frequently used approaches are critically discussed. Particular focus is given to the use of a MIP for protein in the assembly of electrochemical sensors. Sensor design indeed represents one of the most active application fields of imprinting technology, with electrochemical MIP sensors providing the broadest spectrum of protein analytes among the different sensor configurations.

Graphical abstract
Molecular characterisation of an atypical coconut-like odour in cocoa
Authors: Porcelli Caterina , Steinhaus Martin
Published: March 2022

Parallel application of an aroma extract dilution analysis (AEDA) to the volatiles isolated from a sample of fermented cocoa with an atypically pronounced coconut note and to the volatiles isolated from a reference cocoa sample revealed coconut-like smelling compounds δ-octalactone, δ-2-octenolactone, γ-nonalactone, γ-decalactone, δ-decalactone, and δ-2-decenolactone as potential causative odorants. Quantitation of these six compounds and calculation of odour activity values as ratios of the concentrations to the odour threshold values suggested δ-2-decenolactone as the crucial compound. Chiral analysis showed the presence of pure (R)-δ-2-decenolactone, commonly referred to as massoia lactone. Its key role for the coconut note was finally demonstrated in a spiking experiment: the addition of (R)-δ-2-decenolactone to the reference cocoa in an amount corresponding to the concentration difference between the two samples was able to provoke a coconut note in an intensity comparable to the one in the atypically smelling cocoa. To avoid an undesired coconut note caused by (R)-δ-2-decenolactone in the final products, the chocolate industry may consider its odour threshold value, that is 100 µg/kg, as a potential limit for the acceptance of fermented cocoa in the incoming goods inspection.
Bi-Hamiltonian Recursion, Liu–Pandharipande Relations, and Vanishing Terms of the Second Dubrovin–Zhang Bracket
Authors: Iglesias Francisco Hernández , Shadrin Sergey
Published: March 2022

The Dubrovin–Zhang hierarchy is a Hamiltonian infinite-dimensional integrable system associated to a semi-simple cohomological field theory or, alternatively, to a semi-simple Dubrovin–Frobenius manifold. Under an extra assumption of homogeneity, Dubrovin and Zhang conjectured that there exists a second Poisson bracket that endows their hierarchy with a bi-Hamiltonian structure. More precisely, they gave a construction for the second bracket, but the polynomiality of its coefficients in the dispersion parameter expansion is yet to be proved. In this paper we use the bi-Hamiltonian recursion and a set of relations in the tautological rings of the moduli spaces of curves derived by Liu and Pandharipande in order to analyze the second Poisson bracket of Dubrovin and Zhang. We give a new proof of a theorem of Dubrovin and Zhang that the coefficients of the dispersion parameter expansion of the second bracket are rational functions with prescribed singularities. We also prove that all terms in the expansion of the second bracket in the dispersion parameter that cannot be realized by polynomials because they have negative degree do vanish, thus partly confirming the conjecture of Dubrovin and Zhang.
Sharp decreases in survival probabilities in the long-finned pilot whales in Strait of Gibraltar
Authors: Pons Miquel , De Stephanis Renaud , Verborgh Philippe , Genovart Meritxell
Published: March 2022

The Strait of Gibraltar has some of the highest maritime activity in the world. Its populations of cetaceans are threatened by noise, chemical pollution, and collisions by the many boats crossing the strait. One of the greatest threats identified in cetaceans in the Mediterranean are epizootics that severely affect the most sensitive vital rate in long-lived species: adult survival. By a multi-event analysis of a 16-year database of long-finned pilot whale photo identification capture–recapture data, we analysed adult survival in the Strait of Gibraltar’s resident population and evaluated the possible effects of epizootics on this vital rate. We identified the large effect of a morbillivirus epizootic that occurred in 2006–2007, but we also revealed a second collapse in survival in 2011, probably due to another morbillivirus epizootic. These episodes seem to affect sexes differently, with females being less affected than males. Interestingly, the morbillivirus epizootic not only sharply decreased survival after the episode, but the effect extended over time, probably showing post-epizootic sequelae. These disease outbreaks have increased during the last decades worldwide and could be linked to anthropogenic threats such as organochlorine contamination. This may explain the high frequency of epizootics in the Gibraltar area. We warn about the conservation status of this long-finned pilot whale population and recommend the application of measures to reduce contamination on this nutrient-rich area to improve conditions for many marine species inhabiting this area.