bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effects of Ginsenoside Rg3 on Inhibiting Differentiation, Adipogenesis, and ER Stress-Mediated Cell Death in Brown Adipocytes
Authors: Kim Seung-Nam , Kim Dae Hee , Lee Hyuek Jong , Lim Joon Seo , Lee Ju-Hee , Park Sung Yun , Koh Young Jun
Published: March 2021

Objectives. Ginsenoside Rg3 (Rg3), a main active component of Panax ginseng, has various therapeutic properties in literatures, and it has been studied for its potential use in obesity control due to its antiadipogenic effects in white adipocytes. However, little is known about its effects on brown adipocytes. Methods. The mechanisms through which Rg3 inhibits differentiation, adipogenesis, and ER stress-mediated cell death in mouse primary brown adipocytes (MPBAs) are explored. Results. Rg3 significantly induced cytotoxicity in differentiated MPBAs but not in undifferentiated MPBAs. Rg3 treatment downregulated the expression of differentiation and adipogenesis markers and the level of perilipin in MPBAs while upregulating the expression of lipolytic Kruppel-like factor genes. Rg3 also induced lipolysis and efflux of triglycerides from MPBAs and subsequently increased proinflammatory cytokine levels. Notably, Rg3 treatment resulted in elevation of ER stress and proapoptotic markers in MPBAs. Conclusions. Our results demonstrate that Rg3 is able to selectively exert cytotoxicity in differentiated MPBAs while leaving undifferentiated MPBAs intact, resulting in the induction of ER stress and subsequent cell death in MPBAs via regulation of various genes related to adipocyte differentiation, adipogenesis, lipolysis, and inflammation. These results indicate that further studies on the potential therapeutic applications of Rg3 are warranted.
The Application of Integrated Assisted History Matching and Embedded Discrete Fracture Model Workflow for Well Spacing Optimization in Shale Gas Reservoirs with Complex Natural Fractures
Authors: Li Qiwei , Wu Jianfa , Chang Cheng , Yang Hongzhi , Liu Chuxi , Yu Wei , Sepehrnoori Kamy , Miao Jijun
Published: March 2021

An appropriate well spacing plan is critical for the economic development of shale gas reservoirs. The biggest challenge for well spacing optimization is interpreting the subsurface uncertainties associated with hydraulic and natural fractures. Another challenge is the existence of complex natural fractures. This work applied an integrated well spacing optimization workflow in shale gas reservoirs of the Sichuan Basin in China with both hydraulic and natural fractures. The workflow consists of five components: data preparation, reservoir simulation, estimated ultimate recovery (EUR) analysis, economic calculation, and well spacing optimization. Firstly, the multiple realizations of thirteen uncertain parameters of matrix and fractures, including matrix permeability and porosity, three relative permeability parameters, hydraulic fracture height, half-length, width, conductivity, water saturation, and natural fracture number, length, and conductivity, were captured by the assisted history matching (AHM). The fractures were modeled by the embedded discrete fracture model (EDFM) accurately and efficiently. Then, 84 AHM solutions combining with five well spacing scenarios from 517 ft to 1550 ft would generate 420 simulation cases. After reservoir simulation of these 420 cases, we forecasted the long-term gas production for each well spacing scenario. Gas EUR degradation and well interference would imply the critical well spacing. The net present value (NPV) for all scenarios would be calculated and trained by

K

-nearest neighbors (KNN) proxy to better understand the relationship between well spacing and NPV. In this study, the optimum well spacing was determined as 793 ft, corresponding with a maximum NPV of 18 million USD, with the contribution of hydraulic fractures and natural fractures.
Diagnosis of Giant Cell Tumor of the Tendon Sheath Using Multiecho Gradient‐Echo Sequence: the “Superblooming Artifact”
Authors: Gaeta Michele , Cicero Giuseppe , Fiorillo Luca , Vinci Sergio , Blandino Alfredo , Cervino Gabriele , Cicciù Marco , Minutoli Fabio
Published: March 2021

Giant cell tumor of the tendon sheath is a tumor, which affects mainly the hands of people aged 30 to 50 years with a female prevalence. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is essential for diagnosis and treatment planning. The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of multiecho gradient‐echoes (MeGE) sequence in detecting hemosiderin which is the hallmark of this tumor. MRIs were performed in a sample of 11 patients with a mean age of 45. With the proposed protocol, all readers were able to detect the susceptibility artifacts due to the presence of hemosiderin. MeGE sequence allows to highlight the presence of hemosiderin, and the use of 3 echo times (ET) (8, 16, and 24 ms) is suggested.
Developing a Model for Safety Risk Assessment under Uncertainty for the Manufacturing Industry: A Case Study of Pole Factory Hazards in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Authors: Ahmed Aref , Alkahtani Mohammed , El-Tamimi Abdulaziz M. , Kaid Husam , Abidi Mustufa Haider
Published: March 2021

Many occupational injuries occur in the manufacturing industry due to hazardous events. The available studies and statistics on occupational safety in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia demonstrate the need for improving the work environment by introducing effective techniques for analyzing and assessing safety risks to control the most hazardous events. This study aims to develop a general model for assessing safety risks by integrating Monte Carlo simulation (MCS) and fuzzy set theory (FST) to overcome the uncertainty and unavailability of data on the severity and likelihood of hazards. MCS uses the ModelRisk software for modeling hazards that exhibit randomness and uncertainty and have historical data. In contrast, FST uses a Matlab code to assess expert judgment about hazards featuring epistemic uncertainty or unavailable historical data. The Al-Babtain Pole Factory in Riyadh was selected as a case study in the manufacturing environment to prove the applicability and effectiveness of the developed model. From the 371 hazards identified using the Occupational Health and Safety Assessment Series 18001, only five were analyzed using the two model techniques. The likelihood and severity of these five hazards were collected and analyzed to obtain the risk levels. A list of hazards and their processing priorities were then produced. According to the risk values calculated using both techniques, Hazard5 was found to be the most hazardous event, followed by Hazard1. The results of the proposed model demonstrated the distributions, statistics, percentiles, and risk limits for the selected hazards. These outputs support decision-making and increase the effectiveness and flexibility of safety risk assessments, which means that the proposed model is reliable and applicable for SRA under uncertainty and data unavailability in the manufacturing industry.
[Retracted] Association between Tumor Prognosis Marker Visfatin and Proinflammatory Cytokines in Hypertensive Patients
Authors: Parimelazhagan Ramya , Umapathy Dhamodharan , Sivakamasundari Inmozhi Ramu , Sethupathy Subramaniam , Ali Daoud , Kunka Mohanram Ramkumar , Namasivayan Nalini
Published: March 2021

Visfatin has been reported as a risk factor and a potential diagnostic marker in cancer. It is an adipokine, secreted by visceral fat and associated with the pathogenesis of arterial hypertension. We investigated the circulatory levels of visfatin in hypertensive patients with hypertriglyceridemia, which are the risk factors for various cancers and its association with proinflammatory cytokines. A total of 81 (male/female: 33/48) subjects with or without hypertension were enrolled for this study. Group 1 was normotensive, Group 2 hypertensive, and Group 3 with hypertension with hypertriglyceridemia. Data on anthropometric and biochemical data were recorded. Plasma visfatin levels were measured using an ELISA kit. The plasma inflammatory cytokines were estimated using a multiplex bead‐based assay. The results revealed that the hypertension with hypertriglyceridemia group has the highest levels of visfatin compared to the hypertension and control groups with a significant difference (p < 0.001). Besides, circulatory visfatin showed the strongest possible correlation with proinflammatory cytokines among hypertensive patients with hypertriglyceridemia. We found a positive correlation between visfatin and diastolic blood pressure as well as high‐density lipoproteins. In conclusion, the outcomes of the present study demonstrate that plasma visfatin levels were found to be elevated in hypertensive patients with hypertriglyceridemia and associated with proinflammatory cytokines. Since hypertension has been documented as the most common comorbidity observed in cancer patients, visfatin may be a novel potential therapeutic target for hypertension in cancer patients and survivors.
UCPSO: A Uniform Initialized Particle Swarm Optimization Algorithm with Cosine Inertia Weight
Authors: Zhang Jian , Sheng Jianan , Lu Jiawei , Shen Ling
Published: March 2021

The particle swarm optimization algorithm (PSO) is a meta‐heuristic algorithm with swarm intelligence. It has the advantages of easy implementation, high convergence accuracy, and fast convergence speed. However, PSO suffers from falling into a local optimum or premature convergence, and a better performance of PSO is desired. Some methods adopt improvements in PSO parameters, particle initialization, or topological structure to enhance the global search ability and performance of PSO. These methods contribute to solving the problems above. Inspired by them, this paper proposes a variant of PSO with competitive performance called UCPSO. UCPSO combines three effective improvements: a cosine inertia weight, uniform initialization, and a rank‐based strategy. The cosine inertia weight is an inertia weight in the form of a variable‐period cosine function. It adopts a multistage strategy to balance exploration and exploitation. Uniform initialization can prevent the aggregation of initial particles. It distributes initial particles uniformly to avoid being trapped in a local optimum. A rank‐based strategy is employed to adjust an individual particle’s inertia weight. It enhances the swarm’s capabilities of exploration and exploitation at the same time. Comparative experiments are conducted to validate the effectiveness of the three improvements. Experiments show that the UCPSO improvements can effectively improve global search ability and performance.
Bag‐1L Protects against Cell Apoptosis in an In Vitro Model of Lung Ischemia‐Reperfusion Injury through the C‐Terminal “Bag” Domain
Authors: Lv Ji-ling , Shi Li-na , Zhai Cong-ying , Wang Ge-jin , Qu Yan
Published: March 2021

Bcl‐2‐associated athanogene 1 (Bag‐1) is a multifunctional and antiapoptotic protein that binds to the antiapoptosis regulator Bcl‐2 and promotes cell survival. To investigate the protective function of Bag‐1, we examined the effects of Bag‐1L, one isoform of Bag‐1, in an in vitro cell culture model of lung ischemia‐reperfusion injury (LIRI) generated by treatment of A549 cells with hypoxia/reoxygenation. Overexpression of full‐length Bag‐1L increased the viability of A549 cells and reduced cell apoptosis in response to 6 h of hypoxia/reoxygenation treatment. Furthermore, Bag‐1L overexpression enhanced the heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) and Bcl‐2 protein levels, increased the phosphorylation of AKT, decreased Bax and cleaved caspase‐3 levels, and was able to overcome cell cycle arrest. These effects were not observed in A549 cells overexpressing a truncated form of Bag‐1L lacking the “Bag domain,” denoted Bag‐1L△C. The “Bag domain” is the C‐terminal 47 amino acids. Taken together, the results of this study suggest that Bag‐1L overexpression can protect against oxidative stress and apoptosis in an in vitro LIRI model, with a dependence on the Bag domain.
Anna Amelina, Helma Lutz: Gender and Migration: Transnational and Intersectional Prospects
Authors:   Odjel za sociologiju Sveučilišta u Zadru, Zadar, Hrvatska, Šarić Marija
Published: March 2021

Book review Gender and Migration: Transnational and Intersectional Prospects
ZFTATranslocations Constitute Ependymoma Chromatin Remodeling and Transcription Factors
Authors: Kupp Robert , Ruff Lisa , Terranova Sabrina , Nathan Erica , Ballereau Stephane , Stark Rory , Sekhar Reddy Chilamakuri Chandra , Hoffmann Nadin , Wickham-Rahrmann Katherine , Widdess Marcus , Arabzade Amir , Zhao Yanhua , Varadharajan Srinidhi , Zheng Tuyu , Murugesan Mohankumar , Pfister Stefan M. , Kawauchi Daisuke , Pajtler Kristian W. , Deneen Benjamin , Mack Stephen C. , Masih Katherine E. , Gryder Berkley E. , Khan Javed , Gilbertson Richard J.
Published: March 2021

ZFTA (C11orf95)—a gene of unknown function—partners with a variety of transcriptional coactivators in translocations that drive supratentorial ependymoma, a frequently lethal brain tumor. Understanding the function of ZFTA is key to developing therapies that inhibit these fusion proteins. Here, using a combination of transcriptomics, chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing, and proteomics, we interrogated a series of deletion-mutant genes to identify a tripartite transformation mechanism of ZFTA-containing fusions, including: spontaneous nuclear translocation, extensive chromatin binding, and SWI/SNF, SAGA, and NuA4/Tip60 HAT chromatin modifier complex recruitment. Thereby, ZFTA tethers fusion proteins across the genome, modifying chromatin to an active state and enabling its partner transcriptional coactivators to promote promiscuous expression of a transforming transcriptome. Using mouse models, we validate further those elements of ZFTA-fusion proteins that are critical for transformation—including ZFTA zinc fingers and partner gene transactivation domains—thereby unmasking vulnerabilities for therapeutic targeting.

Significance:

Ependymomas are hard-to-treat brain tumors driven by translocations between ZFTA and a variety of transcriptional coactivators. We dissect the transforming mechanism of these fusion proteins and identify protein domains indispensable for tumorigenesis, thereby providing insights into the molecular basis of ependymoma tumorigenesis and vulnerabilities for therapeutic targeting.

This article is highlighted in the In This Issue feature, p. 2113
The Effectiveness of Next-Generation Sequencing-Based Preimplantation Genetic Testing for Balanced Translocation Couples
Authors: Liu Hongfang , Mao Bin , Xu Xiaojuan , Liu Lin , Ma Xiaoling , Zhang Xuehong
Published: March 2021

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of next-generation sequencing (NGS)-based preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) for balanced translocation carriers to identify normal/balanced blastocysts and to measure pregnancy outcomes following euploid embryo transfer. We enrolled 75 couples with a balanced translocation who underwent 83 PGT cycles (58 cycles for carriers with reciprocal translocations and 25 cycles for carriers with Robertsonian translocations) and 388 blastocysts were diagnosed. Moreover, we transferred single euploid blastocysts through frozen embryo transfer and calculated the biochemical pregnancy, clinical pregnancy, miscarriage, and ongoing pregnancy rates per embryo transfer cycle. Despite a mean maternal age of 29.8 years and mean of 4.34 embryos biopsied, there was a 32.8% chance of recording no chromosomally normal/balanced embryos for reciprocal translocation carriers. The proportion of normal/balanced embryos was significantly higher (44.1 vs. 27.8%) in Robertsonian translocation carriers than in reciprocal translocation carriers. Female carriers had a significantly lower (23.3 vs. 42.4%, 34.7 vs. 54.7%, respectively) percentage of normal/balanced embryos than male carriers, regardless of the translocation. After transfering single blastocysts, we obtained a 64.4% clinical pregnancy rate per transfer, and the clinical miscarriage rate was 5.7%. Amniocentesis results showed that all karyotypes of the fetuses were consistent with PGT results. The clinical outcomes are probably not influenced by the type of translocation, maternal age, and blastocyst morphology following the transfer of euploid blastocysts. Therefore, we conclude that NGS-based PGT is an efficient method for analyzing balanced translocation carriers, and aneuploidy screening had good clinical outcomes.
Reduced Jumping to Conclusion Bias after Experimentally Induced Enhancement of Subjective Body Boundaries in Psychosis
Authors: Lyons Naomi , Dietrich Detlef E. , Graser Johannes , Juckel Georg , Koßmann Christian , Krauß Harald , Müller Bernhard , Michalak Johannes
Published: March 2021

Introduction: A disturbed sense of self is frequently discussed as an etiological factor for delusion symptoms in psychosis. Phenomenological approaches to psychopathology posit that lacking the sense that the self is localized within one’s bodily boundaries (disembodiment) is one of the core features of the disturbed self in psychosis. The present study examines this idea by experimentally manipulating the sense of bodily boundaries. Methods: Seventy-three patients with psychosis were randomly assigned to either a 10-min, guided self-massage in the experimental group (EG) to enhance the sense of bodily boundaries or a control group (CG), which massaged a fabric ring. Effects on an implicit measure (jumping to conclusion bias; JTC) and an explicit measure (Brief State Paranoia Checklist; BSPC) of delusion processes were assessed. The JTC measures the tendency to make a decision with little evidence available, and the BSPC explicitly measures the approval of paranoid beliefs. Results: Patients in the EG showed a lower JTC (M = 4.11 draws before decision) than the CG (M = 2.43; Cohen’s d = 0.64). No significant difference in the BSPC was observed. Discussion/Conclusion: Our results indicate that enhancing the sense of body boundaries through a self-massage can reduce an implicit bias associated with delusional ideation and correspondingly support the idea that disembodiment might be a relevant factor in the formation of psychotic symptoms.
Livros e televisão: correlações
Authors:   Universidade de São Paulo. Escola de Artes, Ciências e Humanidades, Reimão Sandra
Published: March 2021

A autora, nessa obra, relata sua preocupação dominante – possíveis correlações entre o universo dos livros e o dos demais meios de comunicação de massa. Os estudos aqui publicados comungam dois pontos de vista aparentemente, e apenas aparentemente, contraditórios. O primeiro deles é que, a partir do século XX, os meios eletrônicos de comunicação de massa somam-se à produção impressa como instrumentos de informação, educação e cultura. Os textos aqui reunidos partilham também da crença que, em que pese a complementaridade entre os diversos meios de comunicação, “o impresso continua indispensável para quem quer ser responsável sobre sua informação, ter uma atitude ativa diante da cultura”, citando o historiador francês Albert Labarre.
Office Blood Pressure Range and Cardiovascular Events in Patients With Hypertension: A Nationwide Cohort Study in South Korea
Authors: Kwon Chang Hee , Kim Woohyeun , Shin Jeong‐Hun , Lee Chan Joo , Kim Hyeon‐Chang , Kang Si‐Hyuck , Jung Mi‐Hyang , Kim Dae‐Hee , Lee Ju‐Hee , Kim Hack Lyoung , Kim Hyue Mee , Cho In Jeong , Cho Iksung , Kang Dae Ryong , Lee Hae‐Young , Chung Wook‐Jin , Ihm Sang‐Hyun , Kim Kwang Il , Cho Eun Joo , Sohn Il‐Suk , Park Sungha , Shin Jinho , Ryu Sung Kee , Kang Seok‐Min , Cho Myeong‐Chan , Kim Ju Han , Lee Jun Hyeok , Kim Jang‐Young , Pyun Wook Bum , Sung Ki‐Chul
Published: March 2021

Background

It is unclear what office blood pressure (BP) is the optimal treatment target range in patients with hypertension.

Methods and Results

Using the Korean National Health Insurance Service database, we extracted the data on 479 359 patients with hypertension with available BP measurements and no history of cardiovascular events from 2002 to 2011. The study end point was major cardiovascular events (MACE), a composite of cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, or stroke. This cohort study evaluated the association of BP levels (<120/<70, 120–129/70–79, 130–139/80–89, 140–149/90–99, and ≥150/≥100 mm Hg) with MACE. During a median follow‐up of 9 years, 55 401 MACE were documented in our cohort. The risk of MACE was the lowest (adjusted hazard ratio [HR], 0.79; 95% CI, 0.76–0.84) at BP level of <120/<70 mm Hg, and was the highest (HR, 1.32; 95% CI, 1.29–1.36) at ≥150/≥100 mm Hg in comparison with 130 to 139/80 to 89 mm Hg. These results were consistent in all age groups and both sexes. Among patients treated with antihypertensive medication (n=237 592, 49.5%), in comparison with a BP level of 130 to 139/80 to 89 mm Hg, the risk of MACE was significantly higher in patients with elevated BP (≥140/≥90 mm Hg), but not significantly lower in patients with BP of <130/<80 mm Hg. Low BP <120/70 mm Hg was associated with increased risk of all‐cause or cardiovascular death in all age groups.

Conclusions

BP level is significantly correlated with the risk of MACE in all Korean patients with hypertension. However, there were no additional benefits for MACE amongst those treated for hypertension with BP <120/70 mm Hg.
Seize the Means of Carbon Removal: The Political Economy of Direct Air Capture
Authors: Malm Andreas , Carton Wim
Published: March 2021

The left must confront the politics of removing carbon from the atmosphere – a topic rapidly making its way to the top of the climate agenda. We here examine the technology of direct air capture, tracing its intellectual origins and laying bare the political economy of its current manifestations. We find a space crowded with ideology-laden metaphors, ample fossil-capital entanglements and bold visions for a new, ethereal frontier of capital accumulation. These diversions must be cut short if a technology with the capacity to help repair at least some climate damage is to be of any use. Only socialising the means of removal will allow this to happen.
The Historical Role of African Churches in the Healing Systems in Mbeya Region from the 1980s to the Present
Authors: Ngoya Ashura Jackson
Published: March 2021

This paper presents a historical analysis of health care services through African churches in Mbeya Region, Tanzania from the 1980s to the present. In particular, it examines the influence of African churches in healing diseases spiritually. It analyses the changes in health care services in Mbeya Region, and the dominance of African churches in health services. It also shows how health care services are provided, and the successes and challenges related to health care services in African churches. Methodologically, the paper is based on a careful analysis of oral interviews, archival documents and secondary data. It argues that African churches emerged in Mbeya in the 1920s in response to the historical churches that operated in the region from the 1890s. The paper notes that diseases have been a significant factor throughout African history. Controlling disease was an important aspect of change in different historical periods. Unfortunately, historians have rarely paid attention to the involvement of African churches in health care services. This paper covers the strategies used by African churches in health care services, such as preaching on healing methods from the Bible. Through healing services, leaders of African churches are able to transform their own lives, but not all individuals are healed. This paper makes a contribution to the historiography of Africa by identifying the role of African churches in healing systems.
Proto-Indo-European ‘fox’ and the reconstruction of an athematic ḱ-stem
Authors: Palmér Axel I. , Jakob Anthony , Thorsø Rasmus , van Sluis Paulus , Swanenvleugel Cid , Kroonen Guus
Published: March 2021

This paper presents a detailed etymological analysis of words for ‘fox’ in Indo-European (IE) languages. We argue that most IE ‘fox’-words go back to two distinct PIE stems: *h₂lō̆p-eḱ- ‘fox’ and *ulp-i- ‘wildcat, fox’. We provide a revised analysis of the etymology and relationship among the various Indo-Iranian ‘fox’-words, and we argue that Baltic preserves remnants of the ḱ-suffix found in Greek, Armenian, and Indo-Iranian. Additionally, we describe how *h₂lō̆p-eḱ- was borrowed from Indo-Iranian into Uralic and we outline the relationship among the reflexes of this word in various Uralic languages. Finally, we reconstruct the paradigm of *h₂lō̆p-eḱ- as a unique type of hysterodynamic stem, which nonetheless has close parallels in PIE. We observe that a similar ḱ-suffix is found in PIE adjectives and animal names.
Historiography of the Other: Global History and the Indigenous Pasts of Taiwan
Authors: Jenco Leigh , Tremml-Werner Birgit
Published: March 2021

This article argues that Taiwan’s distinctive historical position—at the centre of multiple overlapping colonial jurisdictions and historiographical traditions—furnishes an important opportunity to consider how indigenous pasts and experiences themselves played a role in disrupting or redirecting historical narratives of global connection. It examines texts by Ming travellers Chen Di (Dongfan ji, 1603) and Zhang Xie (Dong Xi yang kao, 1603); Dominican writers, including Jacinto Esquivel (1632); and later histories of early modern Japanese expansion and the dissemination of the Sinkan Manuscripts (Murakami, 1897, 1933). What all these foreign observers of Taiwan had in common was their struggle to integrate Taiwanese indigenous pasts into their existing grids of historical knowledge. By focusing on this ‘historiography of the other’, the article challenges commonplace assumptions regarding pre-modern foreign relations and indigenous forms of social organisation, showing how Taiwan can play a role in challenging operating foci of global history.
A new species of Podosphaera sect. Sphaerotheca subsect. Sphaerotheca from India—first report of powdery mildew causing wilting and ultimately death of leaves of Filipendula vestita
Authors: YADAV SANJAY , VERMA SANJEET KUMAR , SINGH RAGHVENDRA
Published: March 2021

Podosphaera filipendulensis, a new teleomorph of powdery mildew was discovered on living leaves of Filipendula vestita (Rosaceae). It is the first species of powdery mildew that causes wilting and ultimately death of apical infected leaves of F. vestita. It is described, illustrated and compared with other Podosphaera species reported on Rosaceae and a key to all species reported on Rosaceae is provided. The phylogeny of this species has been inferred from internal transcribed spacer (ITS) rDNA sequence data. Phylogenetically, P. filipendulensis is close to P. ferruginea var. ferruginea and P. macularis but differs in having larger chasmothecia, smaller peridium cells, shorter, narrower and aseptate appendages, 8-spored asci and smaller ascospores.
A cryptic new species of hummingbird of the Campylopterus largipennis complex (Aves: Trochilidae)
Authors: LOPES LEONARDO ESTEVES , VASCONCELOS MARCELO FERREIRA DE , GONZAGA LUIZ PEDREIRA
Published: March 2021

A new species of Campylopterus sabrewing is described from eastern Brazilian tropical dry forests occurring below 900 m asl. Its holotype (MZUSP 99024) is an adult female from Sítio Duboca (16°43’19’’S, 43°58’20’’W, elevation 840 m), municipality of Montes Claros, state of Minas Gerais. A taxonomic revision based on more than 1,000 museum specimens revealed that the new taxon, together with C. largipennis, C. diamantinensis and C. obscurus (with C. aequatorialis considered as a subjective junior synonym) should be ranked as species. We provide a key to permit easy identification of the four species. The new species is very similar to the parapatric C. diamantinensis of high altitude “campos rupestres” above 1,000 m asl, differing from it by its smaller size and longer light tail tips, as well as by sternum measurements. Given the several threats faced by the habitat to which the new species is endemic, we propose to consider it as Vulnerable under the IUCN criteria.
A new Indian record and morphological variation for Eulimnadia khoratensis Rogers et al., 2016 (Crustacea: Branchiopoda: Spinicaudata)
Authors: PADHYE SAMEER M. , KULKARNI MIHIR R.
Published: March 2021

Eulimnadia Packard, 1874 is the most species rich and widely distributed genus within the Limnadiidae (Reed et al. 2015). Species identification relies primarily on egg morphology as adult morphological characters show high variability, sometimes within the same populations and hence of little use (Rabet, 2010; Rogers et al. 2012). Seven species are currently known from the Indian subcontinent (sensu Rogers & Padhye 2015) and SE Asia (Rogers et al. 2016). Of these, four species, viz. E. compressa (Baird, 1860), E. michaeli Nayar & Nair, 1968 and E. indocylindrova Durga Prasad and Simhachalam, 2004, E. azisi Babu and Nandan, 2010 are known from peninsular India (Padhye et al. 2015; Rogers & Padhye, 2015), although, much of this region remains unstudied (Padhye pers. obs.). With this background, we present a new Indian record of E. khoratensis Rogers, Dadseepai and Sanoamuang, 2016 from the Western region of Maharashtra state, India, extending its distribution a few thousand kilometers westwards.
1. Why Should We Try to Be Sustainable?
Authors: Nye Howard
Published: March 2021

Why should we refrain from doing things that, taken collectively, are environmentally destructive, if our individual acts seem almost certain to make no difference? According to the expected consequences approach, we should refrain from doing these things because our individual acts have small risks of causing great harm, which outweigh the expected benefits of performing them. Several authors have argued convincingly that this provides a plausible account of our moral reasons to do things like vote for policies that will reduce our countries’ greenhouse gas emissions, adopt plant-based diets, and otherwise reduce our individual emissions. But this approach has recently been challenged by authors like Benward Gesang and Julia Nefsky. Gesang contends that it may be genuinely impossible for our individual emissions to make a morally relevant difference. Nefsky argues more generally that the expected consequences approach cannot adequately explain our reasons not do things if there is no precise fact of the matter about whether their outcomes are harmful. In the following chapter, author Howard Nye defends the expected consequences approach against these objections. Nye contends that Gesang has shown at most that our emissions could have metaphysically indeterministic effects that lack precise objective chances. He argues, moreover, that the expected consequences approach can draw upon existing extensions to cases of indeterminism and imprecise probabilities to deliver the result that we have the same moral reasons to reduce our emissions in Gesang’s scenario as in deterministic scenarios. Nye also shows how the expected consequences approach can draw upon these extensions to handle Nefsky’s concern about the absence of precise facts concerning whether the outcomes of certain acts are harmful. The author concludes that the expected consequences approach provides a fully adequate account of our moral reasons to take both political and personal action to reduce our ecological footprints.
8. Inspiration from Goethe’s Tender Empiricism
Authors: Korenblat Joshua
Published: March 2021

Science, humanities and design might seem like unrelated fields. Yet, information designers, who unpack complex data involving real-world issues, can benefit from the ability to synthesize these seemingly disparate practices. To learn more integrated, humanistic approaches to data visualization, we might look to a time when science and the arts were less divided. The following chapter focuses on poet-scientist Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, the Romantic-era polymath. Goethe called his scientific method ‘tender empiricism’, a complementary practice to analytical empiricism. Goethe believed in portraying the same phenomena under subtle, changing conditions. While observing, collecting and visualizing, he also searched for what might be missing. A plant, for example, is not a collection of parts; it also portrays the process of growth even in static form. For Goethe, observational discoveries can change the inquiring mind. In contrast to data visualization practice today, which often focuses on summaries and abstract charts, Goethe believed that authentic, insightful truth dwells in real-world details. The second half of the chapter illustrates how Goethe’s ‘tender empiricism’ can be applied to design pedagogy. These case studies show how a Goethean ecological approach can be used to model a more ethical way of working with data.
14. Sustainability, Living Labs and Repair
Authors: Cohen Hart , Sidoti Francesca , Gill Alison , Mellick Lopes Abby , Hatfield Maryella , Allen Jonathon
Published: March 2021

The year 2020 started with a massive bushfire crisis in south eastern Australia, resulting in disruption to many communities, the loss of lives and businesses, an estimated loss of a billion animals and the dirtiest air on the planet in the cities of Sydney, Newcastle and Canberra. With record-high temperatures and a punishing draught lasting several years, the Australian bush was primed to explode into flames. With lightning strikes in national parks, the spontaneous eruptions of bushfire spread from the north coast to the south and inland towards the alpine regions of New South Wales and Victoria. With the very hot year of 2019 affecting other parts of the planet in 2020, the Antarctic Peninsula reached a record 65 degrees Fahrenheit. The chapter that follows reflects the new progressive politics of climate change that emerged in 2019 with large mass demonstrations taking place in Australia and around the world and examines the critical role of universities in the mitigation of climate catastrophe. The following interventions are variably focused on the concept of ‘Living Labs’ where thinking is developed within a problem-solving ethos. The three contributions here offer ways to think about sustainability with specific reference to waste recovery, environmental awareness in urban settings and the contribution that a ‘repair’ mentality can make to a shared and re-cycled economy. With a clear-eyed recommendation that mitigation of climate change starts locally, the premise of the paper is that people can work with what is available as local solutions to specific problems. The impact of this approach can be essential to people who sense the impending catastrophe and who may have experienced the crisis directly through compromises in their health outcomes, the experience of trauma and the loss of property and livelihoods, though through no fault of their own. The links through the Western Sydney University campus, common ground to the authors to both its small bushland outpost and further to the local community it serves, suggest that the boundaries of the campus are permeable – and that Living Labs are both a means and metaphor for thinking about how the campus opens learning and knowledge creation about sustainability for its students, staff and community constituents.
Thermal imaging of freezing drizzle droplets: pressure release events as a source of secondary ice particles
Authors: Kleinheins Judith , Kiselev Alexei , Keinert Alice , Kind Matthias , Leisner Thomas
Published: March 2021

The freezing process of a supercooled water droplet freely falling through air is a remarkably dynamic and eventful process. During freezing from the outside in, the volume increase of liquid water upon solidification leads to a pressure rise inside the droplet. The pressure is released in various ways, e.g. by cracking or by complete fragmentation of the ice shell. These processes may be the source of secondary ice particles that are emitted during droplet freezing. In this study, the surface temperature of freezing drizzle-sized water droplets was measured with a high-resolution infrared thermography system, while recording the changes in shape and structure of the droplet by a high-speed video camera. The droplets were levitated in an electrodynamic trap under controlled conditions with respect to temperature, humidity and airflow velocity. Measurement of the surface temperature during freezing allowed for determination of the absolute pressure inside the liquid core. During the freezing of a droplet the pressure rise is interrupted many times by rapid pressure release events, each being a possible source of secondary ice. Pressure release events were three times more frequent for droplets freezing under free-fall conditions compared to droplets freezing in stagnant air. Naturally occurring sea salt content (< 100 mg/L) does not inhibit the pressure buildup inside freezing drizzle droplets.
Understanding Thermal Behavior of Poly(ethylene glycol)-block-poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) Hydrogel Using Two-Dimensional Correlation Infrared Spectroscopy
Authors: Park Yeonju , Kim Minkyoung , Noda Isao , Jung Young Mee
Published: March 2021

In this study, one of the thermoresponsive polymers, block copolymer consisting of poly(ethylene glycol) and poly( N-isopropylacylamide), was investigated using Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, principal component analysis (PCA), and two-dimensional correlation spectroscopy (2D-COS). The apparent trend of the spectral changes in the temperature-dependent FT-IR spectra of poly(ethylene glycol)- block-poly( N-isopropylacylamide) (PEG- b-PNiPAAm) hydrogel during the heating process looks similar to that during the cooling process. The results of the PCA and 2D-COS, however, clearly indicate an irreversible phase transition mechanism of PEG- b-PNiPAAm hydrogel during the heating and cooling processes. It has been also shown that PEG affects the phase transition mechanism of PEG- b-PNiPAAm hydrogel, especially during the heating process. Consequently, we can successfully determine the phase transition temperature and the mechanism of PEG- b-PNiPAAm hydrogel during the heating and cooling processes using PCA and 2D-COS, respectively.
Physical diseases and elderly suicide in rural China: A case–control psychological autopsy study
Authors: Wang Guojun , Jia Cunxian , Ma Zhenyu , Zhou Liang
Published: March 2021

Objectives:

Physical diseases are well-established risk factor for suicide, particularly among older adults. However, little is known about the underlying mechanism of the association. This study aimed to describe the prevalence of physical diseases and their influences on the elderly in rural China and to examine the underlying mechanisms of the relationship between physical diseases and suicide.

Methods:

This matched case–control psychological autopsy study was conducted from June 2014 to September 2015. Consecutive suicide cases (242) among people aged 60 years or above were identified in three Chinese provinces. The suicide cases were 1:1 matched with living comparisons based on age, gender and residential area. Two informants for each participant were interviewed to collect data on their demographic characteristics, the severity index of physical diseases, depressive symptoms, feelings of hopelessness, mental disorders and social support.

Results:

A significant difference was found between suicide cases and living comparisons regarding the prevalence of physical diseases (83.5% vs 66.5%, p < 0.001) and their severity (11.3 ± 6.2 vs 6.7 ± 5.3, p < 0.001). Independent risks of suicide included the following: not currently married (OR = 2.81, 95% CI = [1.04, 7.62]), mental disorders (OR = 7.18, 95% CI = [1.83, 28.13]), depressive symptoms (OR = 1.15, 95% CI = [1.05, 1.26]) and feelings of hopelessness (OR = 1.51, 95% CI = [1.20, 1.90]). The structural equation model indicated that the relationship between the severity index of physical diseases and suicide was mediated by depressive symptoms, feelings of hopelessness and mental disorders.

Conclusion:

The severity and number of physical diseases were found to be correlated with suicide among the elderly in rural China, after controlling for demographic characteristics. Physical diseases elevate one’s suicide risk by increasing depressive symptoms, feelings of hopelessness and mental disorders. Efforts for suicide prevention should be integrated with strategies to treat physical diseases along with psychological interventions.
Working Conditions and Special Educators’ Reading Instruction for Students With Emotional and Behavioral Disorders
Authors: Mathews Hannah Morris , Lillis Jennifer L. , Bettini Elizabeth , Peyton David J. , Pua Daisy , Oblath Rachel , Jones Nathan D. , Smith Stephen W. , Sutton Rachel
Published: March 2021

Working conditions may be an important lever to support special educators’ reading instruction for students with emotional and behavioral disorders (EBD). Thus, we explored how working conditions relate to the quality of special educators’ reading instruction in upper-elementary, self-contained classes for students with EBD. Using mixed methods to examine video observations of reading instruction and varied data sources on working conditions, we found that special educators who provided stronger instruction had a partner coleading their program, and consistent paraprofessionals, with time and support for training. Partners and paraprofessionals, together, protected special educators’ instruction time. Other conditions (i.e., material resources, role differentiation, role conceptions, planning time) emerged as potentially important, but evidence was less robust. Results indicate partners and paraprofessionals may be important forms of collegial support. These findings have important implications for improving the quality of instruction in self-contained settings for students with EBD.
FFT-based selective harmonic current control of AC filter capacitors for audible noise analysis
Authors: Han Jingang , Sun Shuoshuo , Zheng Shouzhi , Gao Yang , Wang Yide , Tang TianHao
Published: March 2021

With the development of High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) and ultra HVDC, a growing number of high voltage film filter capacitors have been installed for harmonic suppression. But the capacitors generate severe audible noise in the converters, which has become more and more serious. Then it is important to imitate the practical working situation of capacitors for the research of noise characteristics to improve the capacitive performance in lab. In this paper, a FFT-based harmonic current control method is proposed for audible noise analysis of AC filter capacitor. Firstly, mathematical model of the Harmonic Current Injection System (HCIS) is built based on MATLAB. Then a Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) harmonics detection method is analyzed and used to detect the amplitude and phase of each harmonic considering a number of harmonic currents flowing through AC filter capacitors. Since the amplitude and phase spectrum of capacitor current are obtained, the Proportional Integral (PI) regulator is applied to adjust the specified harmonic amplitude to achieve zero-error control. Then accurate harmonic current can be injected to the tested capacitor and it will help to acquire the noise characteristics of the tested plant. At last, the simulation and experimental results validate the proposed strategy.
A real-time HIL control system on rotary inverted pendulum hardware platform based on double deep Q-network
Authors: Dai Yanyan , Lee KiDong , Lee SukGyu
Published: March 2021

For real applications, rotary inverted pendulum systems have been known as the basic model in nonlinear control systems. If researchers have no deep understanding of control, it is difficult to control a rotary inverted pendulum platform using classic control engineering models, as shown in section 2.1. Therefore, without classic control theory, this paper controls the platform by training and testing reinforcement learning algorithm. Many recent achievements in reinforcement learning (RL) have become possible, but there is a lack of research to quickly test high-frequency RL algorithms using real hardware environment. In this paper, we propose a real-time Hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) control system to train and test the deep reinforcement learning algorithm from simulation to real hardware implementation. The Double Deep Q-Network (DDQN) with prioritized experience replay reinforcement learning algorithm, without a deep understanding of classical control engineering, is used to implement the agent. For the real experiment, to swing up the rotary inverted pendulum and make the pendulum smoothly move, we define 21 actions to swing up and balance the pendulum. Comparing Deep Q-Network (DQN), the DDQN with prioritized experience replay algorithm removes the overestimate of Q value and decreases the training time. Finally, this paper shows the experiment results with comparisons of classic control theory and different reinforcement learning algorithms.
The Promise of Science, Knowledge Mobilization, and Rapid Learning Systems for COVID-19 Recovery
Authors: McMahon Meghan , Creatore Marisa I. , Thompson Erin , Lay Andrea Morgan , Hoffman Steven J. , Finegood Diane T. , Glazier Richard H.
Published: March 2021

The health, economic, and social crises created by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic have been global in scope and inequitable in impact. The global road to recovery can be enhanced with robust, relevant, and timely scientific evidence. This commentary seeks to illustrate the power of science, scientific collaboration, and innovative research funding programs to inform pandemic recovery and inspire transformational changes for a more equitable, resilient, and sustainable future. Specifically, this commentary provides an introduction to the United Nations (UN) Research Roadmap for the COVID-19 Recovery that was published in November 2020. It introduces 5 scoping reviews that helped inform the UN Research Roadmap and that are now available open access within this series of special papers, and it provides an overview of an innovative research funding program that facilitated rapid mobilization and collaboration to produce the scoping reviews. The publication of the scoping reviews in this journal series will help complement and amplify the UN Research Roadmap by furthering knowledge mobilization efforts and informing COVID-19 recovery around the world, to ensure a more equitable, resilient, and sustainable postpandemic future.
The psychological experiences of Lebanese ground zero front-line nurses during the most recent COVID-19 outbreak post Beirut blast: A qualitative study
Authors: Fawaz Mirna , Itani Mohammad
Published: March 2021

Background:

For the past 2 months the number of COVID-19 cases in Lebanon has been on the rise, while frontline nurses after the Beirut Blast of August 4th have been practicing through limited resources and a challenging context.

Aim:

This paper aims at exploring the psychological experiences of Lebanese frontline nurses serving at ground zero hospital during the current COVID-19 outbreak.

Setting:

This study was carried out in three main ground-zero hospitals in Beirut which are receiving COVID-19 cases.

Method:

This study have employed a phenomenological exploratory qualitative research design, where virtual interviews were conducted with 18 frontline nurses during the second week of January 2021.

Results:

Thematic analysis of the data expressed by the frontline nurses working in the approached ground-zero hospitals gave rise to five themes, namely ‘helplessness and impending doom’, ‘increased mortality rates and depressive mood’, ‘fear of death and obsessive thinking’, ‘flashbacks, panic, and incompetence’, and ‘public recklessness, governmental responsibility, and anger‘.

Conclusion:

The frontline nurses working at ground zero hospitals in Beirut are facing significant psychological challenges that should be mediated by the government and health policymakers in order to safeguard the quality of care and avoid higher mortality rates.