bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Mindfulness‐based interventions for psychological wellbeing and quality of life in men with prostate cancer: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Nnate Daniel A. , Anyachukwu Canice C. , Igwe Sylvester E. , Abaraogu Ukachukwu O.
Published: June 2021

Objective

Mindfulness‐based interventions (MBIs) are increasingly being encouraged for managing treatment‐related symptoms but much less is known about the extent to which mindfulness is effective in relieving the psychosocial distress experienced by men with prostate cancer. A systematic review was conducted to synthesise the literature on MBIs for psychological wellbeing and quality of life improvement in men with prostate cancer.

Methods

Embase, CINAHL, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, PsycArticles and Web of Science were searched up to 7th November 2020. Included studies were assessed for quality using appropriate appraisal tools. Homogeneous study results were pooled in a meta‐analysis while narrative synthesis was used to summarise the findings from heterogeneous results. Effect size was expressed as Cohen's d (95% confidence intervals) and statistical significance (p‐value) was set at 0.05.

Results

Four studies comprising three randomised trials and one non‐randomised study met the inclusion criteria. MBIs for men with prostate cancer showed small to moderate effect for improving psychological outcomes. The pooled result of quality of life and post‐traumatic growth in study participants showed moderate (d = −0.29 [−1.29, 0.71], p = 0.57) and large (d = 0.77 [−0.33,1.88], p = 0.000) effects, respectively.

Conclusion

MBI is potentially promising for psychological outcomes, quality of life and post‐traumatic growth symptoms improvement in men with prostate cancer but recommendations cannot be made based on current evidence due to limited research and inadequate methodological rigour of published literature. Robust research is needed to draw a reliable conclusion about its sustained effect in men with advanced disease.
Longer charged amino acids favor β‐strand formation in hairpin peptides
Authors: Chang Jing‐Yuan , Li Nian‐Zhi , Wang Wei‐Ming , Liu Chih‐Ting , Yu Chen‐Hsu , Chen Yan‐Chen , Lu Daniel , Lin Pei‐Hsuan , Huang Cheng‐Hsin , Kono Orika , Yang Tzu‐Yi , Sun Yi‐Ting , Huang Pei‐Yu , Pan Yen‐Jin , Chen Ting‐Hsuan , Liu Mu‐Chun , Huang Shou‐Ling , Huang Shing‐Jong , Cheng Richard P.
Published: June 2021

Interactions between charged amino acids significantly influence the structure and function of proteins. The encoded charged amino acids Asp, Glu, Arg, and Lys have different number of hydrophobic methylenes linking the backbone to the charged functionality. It remains to be fully understood how does this difference in the number of methylenes affect protein structure stability. Protein secondary structures are the fundamental three‐dimensional building blocks of protein structures. β‐Sheet structures are particularly interesting, because these structures have been associated with a number of protein misfolding diseases. Herein, we report the effect of charged amino acid side chain length at two β‐strand positions individually on the stability of a β‐hairpin. The charged amino acids include side chains with a carboxylate, an ammonium, or a guanidinium group. The experimental peptides, fully folded reference peptides, and fully unfolded reference peptides were synthesized by solid phase peptide synthesis and analyzed by 2D NMR methods including TOCSY, DQF‐COSY, and ROESY. Sequence specific assignments were performed for all peptides. The chemical shift data were used to derive the fraction folded population and the folding free energy for the experimental peptides. Results showed that the fraction folded population increased with increasing charged amino acid side chain length. These results should be useful for developing functional peptides that adopt the β‐conformation.
Toward a sustainability assessment framework of research impacts: Contributions of a business school
Authors: Findler Florian
Published: June 2021

Business schools have the potential to become an important driver for sustainable development (SD) by broadening their research assessments beyond scientific performance. Assessment frameworks that expand the scope from academic performance to actual contributions to SD can support business schools in this regard. This article addresses the current lack of pluralistic conceptualizations of research impacts and aims to propose an assessment framework and indicators for business school research impacts on SD. It thus investigates the contributions of business school research to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through an explorative case analysis of Vienna University of Economics and Business (WU Vienna) and grounded theory's constant comparative method. In doing so, it adds value to the discussion about the societal relevance of business schools and pluralistic assessments of their research impacts. The findings illustrate that business school research impacts the economy, policy making, and education by fostering organizational and systemic change and contributes to overcoming societal and environmental challenges. The proposed framework contributes to shifting the focus of research impact assessment of business schools toward SD. It shows that business schools must holistically recognize their impacts by considering key SD impact areas, impact scope and pathways, and their actual contributions to the SDGs.
Controllable Synthesis and Enhanced Photoactivity of Two‐Dimensional Bi2WO6 Ultra‐Thin Nanosheets
Authors: Pang Ben , Liu Sicong , Tu Yan , Wang Xiong
Published: June 2021

Two‐dimensional Bi2WO6 ultra‐thin nanosheets were controllably synthesized by a cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB)‐assisted hydrothermal method. The structure, morphology, energy gap, and thickness of the samples were characterized by X‐ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), (diffuse reflection spectroscopy) DRS, and so on. The photocatalytic activity of the samples was analyzed by the degradation of rhodamine B. The photocatalytic performance of the ultrathin nanosheets was much enhanced nearly 3.5 folds higher than that of Bi2WO6 nanoparticles, which was attributed to the narrow band gap and the open sandwich structure, resulting in the improved light harvesting and the rapid separation and transfer of the photoinduced charge carriers. According to the radical trapping results, the dominant active species involving in the photocatalytic process were determined.
Advanced Transition Metal‐Based OER Electrocatalysts: Current Status, Opportunities, and Challenges
Authors: Zhang Kexin , Zou Ruqiang
Published: June 2021

Oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is an important half‐reaction involved in many electrochemical applications, such as water splitting and rechargeable metal–air batteries. However, the sluggish kinetics of its four‐electron transfer process becomes a bottleneck to the performance enhancement. Thus, rational design of electrocatalysts for OER based on thorough understanding of mechanisms and structure‐activity relationship is of vital significance. This review begins with the introduction of OER mechanisms which include conventional adsorbate evolution mechanism and lattice‐oxygen‐mediated mechanism. The reaction pathways and related intermediates are discussed in detail, and several descriptors which greatly assist in catalyst screen and optimization are summarized. Some important parameters suggested as measurement criteria for OER are also mentioned and discussed. Then, recent developments and breakthroughs in experimental achievements on transition metal‐based OER electrocatalysts are reviewed to reveal the novel design principles. Finally, some perspectives and future directions are proposed for further catalytic performance enhancement and deeper understanding of catalyst design. It is believed that iterative improvements based on the understanding of mechanisms and fundamental design principles are essential to realize the applications of efficient transition metal‐based OER electrocatalysts for electrochemical energy storage and conversion technologies.
Non‐asymptotic moment bounds for random variables rounded to non‐uniformly spaced sets
Authors: Chen Tyler
Published: June 2021

We study the effects of rounding on the moments of random variables. Specifically, given a random variable X and its rounded counterpart
, we study
for non‐negative integer k. We consider the case that the rounding function
corresponds either to (i) rounding to the nearest point in some discrete set
or (ii) rounding randomly to either the nearest larger or smaller point in this same set with probabilities proportional to the distances to these points. In both cases, we show, under reasonable assumptions on the density function of X, how to compute a constant C such that
, provided
, where
is some fixed positive piecewise linear function. Refined bounds for the absolute moments
are also given.
An EMI‐Optimized Transformer for De‐Y Flyback Converter with Low Common‐Mode Noise
Authors: Wang Tingying , Shao Chensheng , Liu Qi , Liao Liangchuang , Qian Qinsong , Ding Desheng
Published: June 2021

Y‐capacitors are widely used in flyback converters to suppress common‐mode (CM) noise to comply with the strict electromagnetic interference (EMI) standards. However, Y‐capacitors increase the leakage current between the primary and secondary side, which is not allowed in the applications with high safety requirements. In this paper, the displacement current models of two conventional De‐Y methods are quantitatively established to analyze their limitations for the flyback converter. Then, a hybrid EMI‐optimized transformer is proposed to improve the limitations. The proposed structure can completely balance the CM noise between the primary and secondary sides, making the flyback converter comply with the EMI standard under the conditions of no Y‐capacitor. Compared with the traditional methods, the proposed method has a better capability for CM noise suppression, higher universality and the same cost. Finally, the simulation and experimental results verify that the CM noise of the new transformer structure decreases about 10 dB compared with that of the conventional one. © 2021 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.
Understanding familial Alzheimer's disease: The fit‐stay‐trim mechanism of γ‐secretase
Authors: Mehra Rukmankesh , Kepp Kasper Planeta
Published: June 2021

Understanding Alzheimer's disease is a central challenge of the 21st century, as the disease affects tens of millions of people and kills a million people each year, with current drugs having modest effect. This article reviews how computational science integrating new cryo‐electron microscopy structures and biochemical and clinical data has led to a causative model of familial Alzheimer's disease (fAD). The model's basis is open and compact conformational states of the membrane protease γ‐secretase, controlled by transmembrane helix “fingers” that hold the substrate either tightly or loosely. The two states are in thermal equilibrium and lead to different amounts of long and short Aβ peptides, explaining the much‐debated Aβ42/Aβ40 ratio. Pathogenic mutations shift the equilibrium toward the open state by reducing the stability and hydrophobic packing of the enzyme‐substrate complex, which increases toxic Aβ42 and other longer peptide forms compared with Aβ40. In contrast, drugs that selectively target longer, pathogenic Aβ peptides should preferentially stabilize the compact state to reverse this tendency. The model may explain how inherited mutations cause fAD and provides a molecular roadmap for the development of γ‐secretase modulators, one of the most promising causative treatment strategies in current Alzheimer research. In summary, we showcase the power of modern multiscale computational science in integrating biochemical, protein‐structural, and clinical data to elucidate complex disease mechanisms.

This article is categorized under:

Structure and Mechanism > Computational Biochemistry and Biophysics

Data Science > Chemoinformatics
Holographic correlators at finite temperature
Authors: Alday Luis F. , Koloğlu Murat , Zhiboedov Alexander
Published: June 2021

Abstract

We consider weakly-coupled QFT in AdS at finite temperature. We compute the holographic thermal two-point function of scalar operators in the boundary theory. We present analytic expressions for leading corrections due to local quartic interactions in the bulk, with an arbitrary number of derivatives and for any number of spacetime dimensions. The solutions are fixed by judiciously picking an ansatz and imposing consistency conditions. The conditions include analyticity properties, consistency with the operator product expansion, and the Kubo-Martin-Schwinger condition. For the case without any derivatives we show agreement with an explicit diagrammatic computation. The structure of the answer is suggestive of a thermal Mellin amplitude. Additionally, we derive a simple dispersion relation for thermal two-point functions which reconstructs the function from its discontinuity.
Implementierung kompetenzbasierter Lehre und Prüfungen in die Frauenheilkunde im Rahmen der neuen ärztlichen Approbationsordnung 2020
Authors: Recker Florian , Dohmen Sara , Riedel Fabian , Egger Eva , Weiss Martin , Stope Matthias , Mustea Alexander
Published: June 2021

Aktuell wird der Nationale Kompetenzbasierte Lernzielkatalog Medizin auf Grundlage des „Masterplan Medizinstudium 2020“ weiterentwickelt. Er soll mit Inkrafttreten der neuen Ärztlichen Approbationsordnung verpflichtend an allen medizinischen Fakultäten umgesetzt werden. Im Mittelpunkt steht die Frage, welche Kompetenzen der ärztliche Nachwuchs im Rahmen des Kerncurriculums ihres Medizinstudiums erwerben sollte. In diesem Rahmen sollen auch neue kompetenzbasierte Lehrformate in das Medizinstudium integriert werden. Ein essenzieller Bestandteil sind dabei neue Prüfungsformate, die das aktuelle Format der Multiple-Choice-Questions (MCQ) in Zukunft ablösen werden.
Behind the scenes of a learning agri-food value chain: lessons from action research
Authors: Braun Charis Linda , Bitsch Vera , Häring Anna Maria
Published: June 2021

The development of sustainable agri-food systems requires not only new academic knowledge, but also concrete social and organizational change in practice. This article reflects on the action research process that supported and explored the learning process in an emerging agri-food value chain in the Berlin-Brandenburg region in eastern Germany. The action research study involved value chain actors, academic researchers, and process facilitators in a learning network. By framing the network’s learning and problem solving processes in concepts of organizational learning, lessons were drawn for researchers and value chain developers. The results underline the importance of process facilitation in a learning value chain to create a social space, in which the actors in the value chain can interact and find a common basis for collaboration. In the learning process, facilitators used an iterative design to consistently align learning activities with the needs of practitioners to ensure practical relevance. To establish new practices and partnerships, value chain actors challenged existing routines and developed new ideas and visions, while at the same time improving established practices within their organizations and along the entire value chain.
Pd Nanoparticles Stabilized on the Cross-Linked Melamine-Based SBA-15 as a Catalyst for the Mizoroki–Heck Reaction
Authors: Nuri Ayat , Bezaatpour Abolfazl , Amiri Mandana , Vucetic Nemanja , Mikkola Jyri-Pekka , Murzin Dmitry Yu.
Published: June 2021

Mesoporous SBA-15 silicate with a high surface area was prepared by a hydrothermal method, successively modified by organic melamine ligands and then used for deposition of Pd nanoparticles onto it. The synthesized materials were characterized with infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), nitrogen physisorption, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) coupled with energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and inductively coupled plasma (ICP-OES). The catalyst was effectively used in the Mizoroki–Heck coupling reaction of various reactants in the presence of an organic base giving the desired products in a short reaction time and with small catalysts loadings. The reaction parameters such as the base type, amounts of catalyst, solvents, and the temperature were optimized. The catalyst was easily recovered and reused at least seven times without significant activity losses.

Graphic Abstract
CXCL2-CXCR2 axis mediates αV integrin-dependent peritoneal metastasis of colon cancer cells
Authors: Lepsenyi Mattias , Algethami Nader , Al-Haidari Amr A. , Algaber Anwar , Syk Ingvar , Rahman Milladur , Thorlacius Henrik
Published: June 2021

Peritoneal metastasis is an insidious aspect of colorectal cancer. The aim of the present study was to define mechanisms regulating colon cancer cell adhesion and spread to peritoneal wounds after abdominal surgery. Mice was laparotomized and injected intraperitoneally with CT-26 colon carcinoma cells and metastatic noduli in the peritoneal cavity was quantified after treatment with a CXCR2 antagonist or integrin-αV-antibody. CT-26 cells expressed cell surface chemokine receptors CXCR2, CXCR3, CXCR4 and CXCR5. Stimulation with the CXCR2 ligand, CXCL2, dose-dependently increased proliferation and migration of CT-26 cells in vitro. The CXCR2 antagonist, SB225002, dose-dependently decreased CXCL2-induced proliferation and migration of colon cancer cells in vitro. Intraperitoneal administration of CT-26 colon cancer cells resulted in wide-spread growth of metastatic nodules at the peritoneal surface of laparotomized animals. Laparotomy increased gene expression of CXCL2 at the incisional line. Pretreatment with CXCR2 antagonist reduced metastatic nodules by 70%. Moreover, stimulation with CXCL2 increased CT-26 cell adhesion to extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins in a CXCR2-dependent manner. CT-26 cells expressed the αV, β1 and β3 integrin subunits and immunoneutralization of αV abolished CXCL2-triggered adhesion of CT-26 to vitronectin, fibronectin and fibrinogen. Finally, inhibition of the αV integrin significantly attenuated the number of carcinomatosis nodules by 69% in laparotomized mice. These results were validated by use of the human colon cancer cell line HT-29 in vitro. Our data show that colon cancer cell adhesion and growth on peritoneal wound sites is mediated by a CXCL2-CXCR2 signaling axis and αV integrin-dependent adhesion to ECM proteins.
A Case for Electron-Astrophysics
Authors: Verscharen Daniel , Wicks Robert T. , Alexandrova Olga , Bruno Roberto , Burgess David , Chen Christopher H. K. , D’Amicis Raffaella , De Keyser Johan , de Wit Thierry Dudok , Franci Luca , He Jiansen , Henri Pierre , Kasahara Satoshi , Khotyaintsev Yuri , Klein Kristopher G. , Lavraud Benoit , Maruca Bennett A. , Maksimovic Milan , Plaschke Ferdinand , Poedts Stefaan , Reynolds Christopher S. , Roberts Owen , Sahraoui Fouad , Saito Shinji , Salem Chadi S. , Saur Joachim , Servidio Sergio , Stawarz Julia E. , Štverák Štěpán , Told Daniel
Published: June 2021

The smallest characteristic scales, at which electron dynamics determines the plasma behaviour, are the next frontier in space and astrophysical plasma research. The analysis of astrophysical processes at these scales lies at the heart of the research theme of electron-astrophysics. Electron scales are the ultimate bottleneck for dissipation of plasma turbulence, which is a fundamental process not understood in the electron-kinetic regime. In addition, plasma electrons often play an important role for the spatial transfer of thermal energy due to the high heat flux associated with their velocity distribution. The regulation of this electron heat flux is likewise not understood. By focussing on these and other fundamental electron processes, the research theme of electron-astrophysics links outstanding science questions of great importance to the fields of space physics, astrophysics, and laboratory plasma physics. In this White Paper, submitted to ESA in response to the Voyage 2050 call, we review a selection of these outstanding questions, discuss their importance, and present a roadmap for answering them through novel space-mission concepts.
Implementation, relevance, and virtual adaptation of neuro-oncological tumor boards during the COVID-19 pandemic: a nationwide provider survey
Authors: Schäfer Niklas , Bumes Elisabeth , Eberle Fabian , Fox Viola , Gessler Florian , Giordano Frank A. , Konczalla Juergen , Onken Julia , Ottenhausen Malte , Scherer Moritz , Schneider Matthias , Vatter Hartmut , Herrlinger Ulrich , Schuss Patrick
Published: June 2021

Purpose

Neuro-oncology tumor boards (NTBs) hold an established function in cancer care as multidisciplinary tumor boards. However, NTBs predominantly exist at academic and/or specialized centers. In addition to increasing centralization throughout the healthcare system, changes due to the COVID-19 pandemic have arguably resulted in advantages by conducting clinical meetings virtually. We therefore asked about the experience and acceptance of (virtualized) NTBs and their potential benefits.

Methods

A survey questionnaire was developed and distributed via a web-based platform. Specialized neuro-oncological centers in Germany were identified based on the number of brain tumor cases treated in the respective institution per year. Only one representative per center was invited to participate in the survey. Questions targeted the structure/organization of NTBs as well as changes due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Results

A total of 65/97 institutions participated in the survey (response rate 67%). In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, regular conventions of NTBs were maintained by the respective centers and multi-specialty participation remained high. NTBs were considered valuable by respondents in achieving the most optimal therapy for the affected patient and in maintaining/encouraging interdisciplinary debate/exchange. The settings of NTBs have been adapted during the pandemic with the increased use of virtual technology. Virtual NTBs were found to be beneficial, yet administrative support is lacking in some places.

Conclusions

Virtual implementation of NTBs was feasible and accepted in the centers surveyed. Therefore, successful implementation offers new avenues and may be pursued for networking between centers, thereby increasing coverage of neuro-oncology care.
Impacts of highly automated vehicles on travel demand: macroscopic modeling methods and some results
Authors: Sonnleitner Jörg , Friedrich Markus , Richter Emely
Published: June 2021

Automated vehicles (AV) will change transport supply and influence travel demand. To evaluate those changes, existing travel demand models need to be extended. This paper presents ways of integrating characteristics of AV into traditional macroscopic travel demand models based on the four-step algorithm. It discusses two model extensions. The first extension allows incorporating impacts of AV on traffic flow performance by assigning specific passenger car unit factors that depend on roadway type and the capabilities of the vehicles. The second extension enables travel demand models to calculate demand changes caused by a different perception of travel time as the active driving time is reduced. The presented methods are applied to a use case of a regional macroscopic travel demand model. The basic assumption is that AV are considered highly but not fully automated and still require a driver for parts of the trip. Model results indicate that first-generation AV, probably being rather cautious, may decrease traffic performance. Further developed AV will improve performance on some parts of the network. Together with a reduction in active driving time, cars will become even more attractive, resulting in a modal shift towards car. Both circumstances lead to an increase in time spent and distance traveled.
Investigation of Two Immiscible Liquids Wetting at Elevated Temperature: Interaction Between Liquid FeMn Alloy and Liquid Slag
Authors: Bao Sarina , Tangstad Merete , Tang Kai , Einarsrud Kristian Etienne , Syvertsen Martin , Onsøien Morten , Kudyba Artur , Bublik Sergey
Published: June 2021

The goal of the current work is to develop a methodology to study the wetting behaviour of two immiscible liquids at high temperatures, and to investigate the parameters which influence the wetting properties. The wetting behaviour between synthetic FeMn alloy and synthetic slag has been investigated using the sessile drop technique. Two experimental procedures were implemented under both Ar and CO atmospheres: (a) FeMn alloy and slag placed next to each other on a graphite substrate; and (b) one droplet dropped on top of the other. FactSage is applied to calculate reactions and their equilibrium. The current work presents and demonstrates the suggested methodologies. The results indicate that the wetting between slag and FeMn alloy is relatively stable at temperatures up to 100 K above their melting points, regardless of the droplet size and atmosphere. MnO reduction is accelerated at higher temperature, especially in CO, thus increasing the wetting between FeMn alloy and slag, eventually fusing together. At even higher temperature, slag separates from FeMn alloy due to changing chemical composition during non-equilibrium MnO reduction.
Neurological disease caused by Oropouche virus in northern Brazil: should it be included in the scope of clinical neurological diseases?
Authors: Chiang Jannifer O. , Azevedo Rafael S. , Justino Maria C. A. , Matos Haroldo J. , Cabeça Hideraldo L. S. , Silva Sandro P. , Henriques Daniele F. , Silva Eliana V. P. , Andrade Gabriela S. S. , Vasconcelos Pedro FC. , Martins Lívia C. , Azevedo Raimunda S. S.
Published: June 2021

We describe two neurological cases of Oropouche virus infection in northern Brazil, where the virus is endemic but neglected as a pathogen. This study reiterates the necessity of developing protocols for diagnosing infections and training medical personnel to recognize the pathogenicity of Oropouche virus in neurological infections.
The Pattern of Help-Seeking Behavior Among Patients With Sexual Dysfunctions Attending in Psychiatry Outpatient Department in a Tertiary Care Hospital of Bangladesh
Authors: Acharjee Panchanan , Mullick Mohammad Sayadul Islam
Published: June 2021

Introduction

Identifying the possible pattern of help-seeking can explain the gap between care need and actual use of care.

Aim

To know the patterns of help-seeking behavior among patients with sexual dysfunction in the context of a developing country.

Methods

This was a cross-sectional, qualitative study using criterion sampling among the diagnosed patients of sexual dysfunction attending the psychiatry outpatient department. Based on data saturation, 18 in-depth interviews were done. For method triangulation, 1 key informant interview, 1 informal interview, and 1 focus group discussion were performed. Data were analyzed manually using the thematic analysis method.

Main Outcome Measure

Using an interview guideline, face to face interview was performed and the participants reported their pattern of help-seeking regarding their sexual problems.

Results

The majority of the participants were male, within 20–35 years of age range, literate, and from an urban background. Premature ejaculation and female sexual interest/arousal disorder were the most common disorders. After the identification of the problems, help-seeking was done mostly from close and intimate relationships, although a few of the participants choose a self-search strategy. The complementary and alternative medicine approach was mostly used where traditional healers played a major role. The biomedical approach was the last to seek help and most of the participants visited the dermatology and venereology department. Self-help techniques and internet use were found as emerging ways to seek help.

Conclusion

Sex education is necessary to improve general awareness because surrounding people were found as the primary source of information. Acharjee P, Mullick MSI. The Pattern of Help-Seeking Behavior Among Patients With Sexual Dysfunctions Attending in Psychiatry Outpatient Department in a Tertiary Care Hospital of Bangladesh. Sex Med 2021;9:100381.
Jan Tinbergen (1903–1994) and the Rise of Economic Expertise
Authors: Dekker Erwin
Published: June 2021

Jan Tinbergen was the first Nobel Prize winner in Economics and one of the most influential economists of the 20th century. This book argues that his crucial contribution is the theory of economic policy and the legitimation of economic expertise in service of the state. It traces his youthful socialist ideals which found political direction in the Plan-socialist movement of the 1930s for which he developed new economic models to combat the Great Depression. After World War II he was able to synthesize that work into a theory of economic policy which not only provided a lasting framework for economic policy around the world, but also secured a permanent place for economic experts close to government. The book then turns to an examination of his attempt to repeat this achievement in the development projects in the Global South and at the international level for the United Nations.
Writing Europe, 500-1450
Authors: Seiler Annina , Matos Debora , Younge George , Fulton Helen , Maniaci Marilena , Watson Matilda , Togni Nadia , Stokes Peter A. , Shaw Philip A. , Bremmer Rolf H. , Brookes Stewart , Tsonkova Svetlana
Published: June 2021

Medieval Europe was characterized by a sophisticated market for the production, exchange and sale of written texts. This volume brings together papers on a range of topics, centred on manuscript studies and textual criticism, which explore these issues from a pan-European perspective. They examine the prolonged and varied processes through which Europe's different parts entered into modern reading, writing and communicative practices, drawing on a range of approaches and perspectives; they consider material culture, multilingualism in texts and books, book history, readers, audience and scribes across the Middle Ages. Dr Aidan Conti teaches in the Department of Linguistic, Literary and Aesthetic Studies, University of Bergen; Dr Orietta Da Rold teaches in the Faculty of English, University of Cambridge; Dr Philip Shaw teaches at the School of English, University of Leicester. Contributors: Rolf H. Bremmer Jr, Stewart Brookes, Aidan Conti, Orietta Da Rold, Helen Fulton, Marilena Maniaci, Debora Matos, Annina Seiler, Peter A. Stokes, Nadia Togni, Svetlana Tsonkova, Matilda Watson, George Younge.
Trust and Public Health Emergency Events: A Mixed-Methods Systematic Review
Authors: Sopory Pradeep , Novak Julie M. , Day Ashleigh M. , Eckert Stine , Wilkins Lee , Padgett Donyale R. , Noyes Jane P. , Allen Tomas , Alexander Nyka , Vanderford Marsha L. , Gamhewage Gaya M.
Published: June 2021

The systematic review examined the phenomenon of trust during public health emergency events. The literature reviewed was field studies done with people directly affected or likely to be affected by such events and included quantitative, qualitative, mixed-method, and case study primary studies in English (N= 38) as well as Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, and Spanish (all non-EnglishN= 30). Studies were mostly from high- and middle-income countries, and the event most covered was infectious disease. Findings from individual studies were first synthesized within methods and evaluated for certainty/confidence, and then synthesized across methods. The final set of 11 findings synthesized across methods identified a set of activities for enhancing trust and showed that it is a multi-faceted and dynamic concept.
‘Quod grata lavacra nitescunt’: Roman Villa Baths as Markers of Elite Competition in Continental North-Western Europe
Authors: Maréchal Sadi
Published: June 2021

This article examines how villa baths in the north-western Roman empire can help us understand how rural regions were incorporated in the Roman cultural sphere despite the absence of cities and secondary agglomerations. Whereas in the first phase of Roman rule the addition of private baths to a villa could be interpreted as a marker of a Roman way of life, the ever larger and more luxurious bathhouses of the second and third centuriesadcan only be understood in the context of intra-elite competition, revealing a real concern for displaying wealth and underlining social status, but also for leaving a family legacy. Here, a case-study in the rural north-west examines the role of baths in the self-representation of elites, the consolidation of elite peer interaction networks, the creation of social exclusion, and the inclusion of new ideas into local cultures.
Effects of Ventenata dubia removal on rangelands of northeast Wyoming
Authors: Hart Marshall , Mealor Brian A.
Published: June 2021

Ventenata [Ventenata dubia (Leers) Coss.] is one of several annual grass invaders of the western United States. Ventenata dubia is documented reducing the forage availability for livestock and wildlife as well as lowering biodiversity in the Great Basin. This species has recently spread to the Great Plains, where it could bring these impacts with it. We attempt to answer questions on whether or not conservation practices, in this case removal of V. dubia with herbicide, result in recovery of forage resources and biodiversity. We answer these questions by measuring biomass, cover, and nutrient content 1-yr posttreatment at 9 sites in Sheridan County, WY, conducted in two years. Perennial grasses have higher crude protein and total digestible nutrients than V. dubia, and removal of V. dubia resulted in a positive perennial grass response both years. Further, the differences in pattern of growth between perennial and annual species, with annual grasses quickly senescing early in the year, make perennial grasses a more dependable forage base with higher available nutrients. Interestingly, total biomass and nutrient mass did not change after V. dubia removal due to equal replacement with perennial grasses. Species richness and diversity were unaffected by removal of V. dubia. Our results suggest that managing invasive annual grasses, particularly V. dubia, in the Northern Great Plains can improve forage resources for livestock and wildlife while maintaining species diversity. Therefore, proactive monitoring and management efforts to prevent spread should be prioritized in this region.
Comprehension of complex sentences with misleading cues in monolingual and bilingual children
Authors: Ostadghafour Sarvenaz , Bialystok Ellen
Published: June 2021

Bilingual children typically perform more poorly than monolingual children on linguistic tasks but better than monolingual children on cognitive tasks requiring executive function. The present study examined performance on complex linguistic tasks that also required executive functioning for their solution. One hundred 4-year-olds from linguistically diverse backgrounds (36 monolinguals, 64 bilinguals) performed two linguistic tasks in which misleading information needed to be ignored to select the correct answer. Data were analyzed both categorically by comparing the performance of children assigned to monolingual and bilingual groups and continuously in terms of degree of bilingual experience across the entire sample. In the categorical analyses, bilingual children were more accurate than monolingual children in understanding the meaning of spoken sentences in the presence of distraction in both tasks, and continuous analyses showed that performance was calibrated to degree of bilingualism in one of the tasks, with higher levels of bilingualism being associated with better performance. The interpretation is that attentional control built up through bilingual experience compensates for lower levels of language proficiency in performing these complex linguistic tasks. The study also endorses the use of continuous assessments of bilingualism rather than categorical assignment to groups to obtain more nuanced results.
Post-operative course of pulmonary artery pressure after complete atrioventricular canal defect repair
Authors: Pierre Louis Marie Emeline , Bhutta Adnan , Holloway Adrian , Gaskin Peter
Published: June 2021

Complete atrioventricular canal defect is a CHD associated with intra-cardiac shunting of blood, which can lead to irreversible changes in pulmonary vascular resistance and pulmonary artery hypertension if unrepaired. Patients with Trisomy 21 are at risk for early development of pulmonary artery hypertension if left uncorrected.1,2

Objectives:

The purpose of this study is to describe the evolution of pulmonary artery hypertension after repair of complete atrioventricular canal defect and to determine the time to normalisation of pulmonary artery pressure in both patients with and without Trisomy 21.

Methods:

This is a single centre, retrospective analysis of patients with complete atrioventricular canal defect admitted for surgical repair at the University of Maryland Medical Center from 2005 to 2015. T-test or Mann–Whitney test and Chi-Square or Fisher’s exact tests were used to compare the two groups (patients with Trisomy 21 and those without). Repeated measures of analysis of variance and serial measurement analysis were performed.

Results:

Twenty-nine patients meeting the inclusion criteria underwent repair of complete atrioventricular defects during the study period. The right ventricular pressure estimate remained elevated over time and did not show a significant difference between the two groups. Right ventricular to systolic blood pressure ratios for all patients remained > 0.5 over the time periods assessed.

Conclusions:

Our study suggests that in patients with complete atrioventricular canal defects, the right ventricular pressure remains elevated and does not normalise on echocardiograms performed up to one year after surgery, suggesting a sustained elevation in pulmonary vascular resistance.
Newman's Detachment
Authors: Ledingham Angus
Published: June 2021

Scholarly accounts of John Henry Newman's writings often emphasize passages where he describes the impossibility of persons adopting an objective view of their own perspectives and commitments. Newman seems, in this respect, quite at odds with nineteenth-century valorizations of detachment. “Newman's Detachment” seeks to modify this consensus. Focusing onCertain Difficulties Felt by Anglicans in Catholic Teaching(1850) andApologia Pro Vita Sua(1864), this essay uncovers Newman's distanced and provisional attitude toward belief. His surprising affinity with modern liberal detachment becomes particularly clear when he uses rhetorical tactics such as self-quotation to establish a stance of detachment from his past life and, in particular, from the beliefs that he held before his conversion to Catholicism. Newman's dramatized impartiality proves to be all the more complex because his life-writings are structured around competing strains of objectivity: his abstraction from his past self, that is, leaves his present commitments vulnerable to a countervailing style of detachment embodied by that very self.
LABOR MARKET DYNAMICS UNDER TECHNOLOGY SHOCKS: THE ROLE OF SUBSISTENCE CONSUMPTION
Authors: Choi Sangyup , Shim Myungkyu
Published: June 2021

This paper establishes new stylized facts about labor market dynamics in developing economies, which are distinct from those in advanced economies, and then proposes a simple model to explain them. We first show that the response of hours worked and employment to a technology shock—identified by a structural VAR model with either short-run or long-run restrictions—is substantially smaller in developing economies. We then present compelling empirical evidence that several structural factors related to the relevance of subsistence consumption across countries can jointly account for the relative volatility of employment to output and that of consumption to output. We argue that a standard real business cycle (RBC) model augmented with subsistence consumption can explain the several salient features of business cycle fluctuations in developing economies, especially their distinct labor market dynamics under technology shocks.
Ku/Ka band diplexer based on thin-film technology for small ground-segment user terminals
Authors: Moscato Stefano , Cannone Giandomenico , Oldoni Matteo , Tiradossi Davide , Pelliccia Luca , Jankovic Petar , De Paolis Fabrizio
Published: June 2021

This paper describes the outcome of the “Small user TErminal multi band DIplexer” project where the goal is the validation of novel SMD-compliant planar diplexer. The real application scenario concerns an integrated multi-band radio terminal for ground-segment satellite links. The advantageous and novel approach involves the simultaneous use of three different well-established concepts: a microstrip low-pass filter, a substrate integrated waveguide high-pass filter, and the thin-film technology as manufacturing process. The proposed topology applied to a planar alumina-based design guarantees a 15 × 11.1 mm2 footprint and the best integration with surface mountable soldering process over standard PCB technology. Achieved performance and resilience to environmental toughness are suitable for consumer-oriented satellite links or man-pack applications. The designed component targets the Ku 10.7–12.75 (RX) and Ka 27.5–30 (TX) GHz bands but the layout can be easily tuned across the spectrum. The described solution has been manufactured and validated. Thermal cycling and mechanical tests have been carried out to prove the high technology readiness level of the proposed device.
Psychobiological risk factors for suicidal thoughts and behaviors in adolescence: a consideration of the role of puberty
Authors: Ho Tiffany C. , Gifuni Anthony J. , Gotlib Ian H.
Published: June 2021

Suicide is the second leading cause of death among adolescents. While clinicians and researchers have begun to recognize the importance of considering multidimensional factors in understanding risk for suicidal thoughts and behaviors (STBs) during this developmental period, the role of puberty has been largely ignored. In this review, we contend that the hormonal events that occur during puberty have significant effects on the organization and development of brain systems implicated in the regulation of social stressors, including amygdala, hippocampus, striatum, medial prefrontal cortex, orbitofrontal cortex, and anterior cingulate cortex. Guided by previous experimental work in adults, we also propose that the influence of pubertal hormones and social stressors on neural systems related to risk for STBs is especially critical to consider in adolescents with a neurobiological sensitivity to hormonal changes. Furthermore, facets of the pubertal transition, such as pubertal timing, warrant deeper investigation and may help us gain a more comprehensive understanding of sex differences in the neurobiological and psychosocial mechanisms underlying adolescent STBs. Ultimately, advancing our understanding of the pubertal processes that contribute to suicide risk will improve early detection and facilitate the development of more effective, sex-specific, psychiatric interventions for adolescents.
The Dickkopf1 and FOXM1 positive feedback loop promotes tumor growth in pancreatic and esophageal cancers
Authors: Kimura Hirokazu , Sada Ryota , Takada Naoki , Harada Akikazu , Doki Yuichiro , Eguchi Hidetoshi , Yamamoto Hideki , Kikuchi Akira
Published: June 2021

Dickkopf1 (DKK1) is overexpressed in various cancers and promotes cancer cell proliferation by binding to cytoskeleton-associated protein 4 (CKAP4). However, the mechanisms underlying DKK1 expression are poorly understood. RNA sequence analysis revealed that expression of the transcription factor forkhead box M1 (FOXM1) and its target genes concordantly fluctuated with expression of DKK1 in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) cells. DKK1 knockdown decreased FOXM1 expression and vice versa in PDAC and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) cells. Inhibition of either the DKK1-CKAP4-AKT pathway or the ERK pathway suppressed FOXM1 expression, and simultaneous inhibition of both pathways showed synergistic effects. A FOXM1 binding site was identified in the 5ʹ-untranslated region of the DKK1 gene, and its depletion decreased DKK1 expression and cancer cell proliferation. Clinicopathological and database analysis revealed that PDAC and ESCC patients who simultaneously express DKK1 and FOXM1 have a poorer prognosis. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that expression of both DKK1 and FOXM1 is the independent prognostic factor in ESCC patients. Although it has been reported that FOXM1 enhances Wnt signaling, FOXM1 induced DKK1 expression independently of Wnt signaling in PDAC and ESCC cells. These results suggest that DKK1 and FOXM1 create a positive feedback loop to promote cancer cell proliferation.
IMiDs uniquely synergize with TKIs to upregulate apoptosis of Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia cells expressing a dominant-negative IKZF1 isoform
Authors: Harama Daisuke , Yahata Takashi , Kagami Keiko , Abe Masako , Ando Norie , Kasai Shin , Tamai Minori , Akahane Koshi , Inukai Takeshi , Kiyokawa Nobutaka , Ibrahim Abd Aziz , Ando Kiyoshi , Sugita Kanji
Published: June 2021

The long-term prognosis of Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Ph + ALL) is still unsatisfactory even after the emergence of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) against chimeric BCR-ABL, and this is associated with the high incidence of genetic alterations of Ikaros family zinc finger 1 (IKZF1), most frequently the hemi-allelic loss of exons 4–7 expressing a dominant-negative isoform Ik6. We found that lenalidomide (LEN), a representative of immunomodulatory drugs (IMiDs), which have been long used for the treatment of multiple myeloma, specifically induced accumulation of Ik6 with the disappearance of functional isoforms within 24 h (i.e., abrupt and complete shut-down of the IKZF1 activity) in Ik6-positive Ph+ALL cells in a neddylation-dependent manner. The functional IKZF3 isoforms expression was also abruptly and markedly downregulated. The LEN treatment specifically suppressed proliferation of Ik6-positive-Ph+ALL cells by inducing cell cycle arrest via downregulation of cyclins D3 and E and CDK2, and of importance, markedly upregulated their apoptosis in synergy with the TKI imatinib (IM). Apoptosis of IM-resistant Ph+ALL cells with T315I mutation of BCR-ABL was also upregulated by LEN in the presence of the newly developed TKI ponatinib. Analyses of flow cytometry, western blot, and oligonucleotide array revealed that apoptosis was caspase-/p53-dependent and associated with upregulation of pro-apoptotic Bax/Bim, enhanced dephosphorylation of BCR-ABL/Akt, and downregulation of oncogenic helicase genes HILLS, CDC6, and MCMs4 and 8. Further, the synergism of LEN with IM was clearly documented as a significant prolongation of survival in the xenograft mice model. Because this synergism was further potentiated in vitro by dexamethasone, a key drug for ALL treatment, the strategy of repositioning IMiDs for the treatment of Ik6-positive Ph+ALL patients certainly shed new light on an outpatient-based treatment option for achieving their long-term durable remission and higher QOL, particularly for those who are not tolerable to intensified therapeutic approaches.