bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Enhancing Linear Accelerator and X-ray Free Electron Laser Brightness with Tailored Laser-Electron Interactions
Authors: Carbajo Sergio , Tang Jingyi , Lemons Randy , Liu Wei , Vetter Sharon , Maxwell Timothy , Decker Franz-Josef , Lutman Alberto , Marcus Gabriel , Moeller Stefan , Huang Zhirong , Ratner Daniel
Published: February 2021

we will review spatio-temporally tailored laser-electron interactions that enhance linear accelerator and free electron laser brightness to advance ultrafast X-ray spectroscopies.
Generation of Ultrashort Bias-Free Photocurrent Pulses by Intra-Band Free-Carrier Oscillations Driven by Intense Few-Cycle Laser Pulses in Wide-Band-Gap Crystals
Authors: Gruzdev Vitaly , Sergaeva Olga
Published: February 2021

Analysis of free-carrier oscillations driven by an intense few-cycle laser pulse suggests generation of femtosecond pulse of photocurrent in dielectric and semiconductor crystals at zero external bias. Parametric scaling of peak photocurrent magnitude is reported.
The Critical Opalescence under the Focusing of Shock Waves in Water
Authors: Andreev S.N. , Artem’ev K.V. , Kazantsev S.Y.
Published: February 2021

We show that appearance of a bright luminous area at a certain distance from the water vessel walls, irradiated by powerful pulse of a non-chain HF laser is due to the effect of critical opalescence.
Investigation of joint electron-nuclear dynamics in H2 using time-dependent multiconfiguration method
Authors: Li Yang , Sato Takeshi , Ishikawa Kenichi L.
Published: February 2021

We developed and numerical implemented a time-dependent multiconfiguration method which is well suitable for the study of coupled electronic and nuclear motion in molecules. Here we apply it to strong-field laser-driven H2.
Electron-phonon coupling in few layer WS2 measured by pump-degenerate four-wave mixing
Authors: Avenoso Joseph P. , Zahn Daniela , Gundlach Lars
Published: February 2021

Femtosecond pump-degenerate four-wave mixing is employed to measure the ultrafast phonon response triggered by electronic excitation in few layer WS2. 2LA(M) and low wavenumber modes facilitate electron-phonon coupling on the picosecond time-scale after excitation..
Out-of-Equilibrium Two-Phonon Absorption Processes in Gallium Arsenide
Authors: Cinquanta E. , Gatto L. , Devetta M. , Crippa G. , Stagira S. , Vozzi C.
Published: February 2021

Although Gallium Arsenide (GaAs) is one of the most studied semiconductors, its hot carrier and hot phonon dynamics are still debated. Here, we report two-phonon out-of-equilibrium absorption processes in the transient THz response of GaAs.
Control of signal coherence in an incoherently pumped fiber optical parametric oscillator
Authors: Qiu Yi , Du Shuxin , Xu Yiqing
Published: February 2021

We report a numerical study of an incoherently pumped fiber optical parametric oscillator. Following the convection-induced phase-locking mechanism, we show that the oscillating sideband can be grown into a higher degree coherence.
Efficient multi-cycle terahertz generation via difference frequency generation of a multiple-lines source
Authors: Tian Wenlong , Olgun Halil T. , Wang Lu , Cirmi Giovanni , Hua Yi , Schimpf Damian N. , Çankaya Hüseyin , Pergament Mikhail , Hemmer Michael , Matlis Nicholas , Kärtner Franz X.
Published: February 2021

We demonstrated efficient multi-cycle terahertz generation centered at 0.5 THz with periodically poled lithium niobate crystals via difference frequency generation with a multiple-frequency-line source. At 130 mJ/cm2 pump fluence, the internal optical-to-THz conversion efficiency reaches 0.3%.
Attosecond Dynamical Franz-Keldysh Effect in Core Excitons
Authors: Lucchini Matteo , Sato Shunsuke A. , Lucarelli Giacinto D. , Moio Bruno , Inzani Giacomo , Borrego-Varillas Rocío , Frassetto Fabio , Poletto Luca , Huebener Hannes , De Giovannini Umberto , Rubio Ángel , Nisoli Mauro
Published: February 2021

Sub-cycle MgF2 core-exciton dynamics was studied by attosecond reflection spectroscopy. We found that the interplay between the crystal and the core-exciton strongly alters the ultrafast material response, introducing a delay as big as 1 femtosecond.
Attosecond Vacuum-Ultraviolet Photoconductive Switching in Dielectrics
Authors: Golyari K. , Ossiander M. , Scharl K. , Lehnert L. , Siegrist F. , Zimin D. , Weidman M. , Floss I. , Smejkal V. , Lemell C. , Burgdörfer J. , Schultze M. , Krausz F.
Published: February 2021

We demonstrate a Petahertz bandwidth single-photon photoconductive switch by populating the conduction band in dielectrics with attosecond vacuum-ultraviolet (VUV) light pulses. Femtosecond pulse-driven currents reveal intra- and inter-band conduction band carrier dynamics.
Theory of Subcycle Linear Momentum Transfer in Strong-Field Tunneling Ionization
Authors: Ni Hongcheng , Brennecke Simon , Gao Xiang , He Pei-Lun , Donsa Stefan , Březinová Iva , He Feng , Wu Jian , Lein Manfred , Tong Xiao-Min , Burgdörfer Joachim
Published: February 2021

We study the subcycle phase (or time) resolved linear momentum transfer to an atom accessible by an attoclock protocol. We demonstrate an interplay between nonadia-batic and nondipole effects in strong-field tunneling ionization [1].
Long-term-stable Thulium-doped Fiber CPA with >100W average power and >1GW peak power
Authors: Gaida Christian , Stutzki Fabian , Gebhardt Martin , Heuermann Tobias , Breitkopf Sven , Eidam Tino , Rothhardt Jan , Limpert Jens
Published: February 2021

We present the first thulium-doped fiber CPA delivering >100 W average-power and simultaneously >1 GW of peak-power with >228 µJ energy and <120 fs duration at 1940 nm center wavelength. It shows an excellent long-term power stability <0.5% RMS over >48 hours.
Ultra-broadband laser seed for SEL-100 PW laser facility
Authors: Shao Beijie , Li Yanyan , Li Wenkai , Peng Yujie , Wang Pengfei , Qian Junyu , Leng Yuxin , Li Ruxin
Published: February 2021

We demonstrate an ultra-broadband laser seed at 910 nm for SEL-100 PW laser systems. This high-quality laser source is based on cascaded optical parametric amplification (OPA) and second harmonic generation (SHG).
Femtosecond nanoscopy with high harmonics
Authors: Zayko Sergey , Kfir Ofer , Heigl Michael , Lohmann Michael , Sivis Murat , Albrecht Manfred , Ropers Claus
Published: February 2021

We present the first nanoscale imaging of femtosecond phenomena using high-harmonic radiation that combines these extreme scales. Capturing the ultrafast spin dynamics in real-space reveals simultaneously local demagnetization and nonlocal phenomena at the domain boundaries.
Persistent intraband quantum beats and femtosecond hole relaxation in a single charged CdSe/ZnSe quantum dot
Authors: Henzler P. , Erbe M. , Traum C. , Holtkemper M. , Reiter D. E. , Kuhn T. , Seletskiy D. V. , Leitenstorfer A.
Published: February 2021

Quantum beats between excited electron states in a quantum dot are detected by femtosecond induced absorption into biexcitonic levels and manipulated by pump-probe polarizations. Hot intraband coherence persists for 100 ps despite femtosecond hole relaxation.
Integrated Attosecond Time-Domain Spectroscopy
Authors: Ritzkowsky F. , Bionta M. R. , Turchetti M. , Yang Y. , Putnam W. P. , Berggren K. K. , Kärtner F. X. , Keathley P. D.
Published: February 2021

Optical-field emission from nanostructures is used to sample few-fJ, broadband electric field transients in the time domain. The measured field transients reveal the plasmonic dynamics of the nanoantenna in situ.
Radio-frequency controlled electron pulses for time-resolved LEED
Authors: Epp Dennis , Möller Marcel , Ropers Claus
Published: February 2021

We demonstrate radio-frequency compression and streaking of low-energy electron pulses for ultrafast diffraction from surfaces with few-ps time resolution.
Sub 5-cycle pulse generation from mode-locked Cr:ZnS laser using mid-IR resonant SWCNTs
Authors: Okazaki Daiki , Morichika Ikki , Kauppinen Esko I. , Zhang Qiang , Anisimov Anton , Varjos Ilkka , Chiashi Shohei , Maruyama Shigeo , Ashihara Satoshi
Published: February 2021

We demonstrate the excellent saturable absorption of single-walled carbon nanotubes with resonance around 2.4 µm, realizing 36-fs oscillation in a Cr:ZnS oscillator. Introducing a two-stage single pass amplifier, the output exceeds 100 nJ.
Time delays from one-photon transitions in the continuum
Authors: Fuchs Jaco , Douguet Nicolas , Donsa Stefan , Martin Fernando , Burgdörfer Joachim , Argenti Luca , Cattaneo Laura , Keller Ursula
Published: February 2021

We retrieve time delays from one-photon transitions in the electronic contin-uum. This enables a quantification of the angular momentum contribution to the photoion-ization time delay.
Dephasing and revival of an attosecond electron wave packet in silane caused by coupled electron-nuclear dynamics
Authors: Matselyukh D. T. , Despré V. , Golubev N. V. , Svoboda V. , Kuleff A. I. , Wörner H. J.
Published: February 2021

Soft-X-ray attosecond transient absorption spectroscopy has been performed on silane (SiH4), capturing dephasing and revival of Rydberg-valence electronic wavepackets with periods of 1.32-1.39 fs. The experimental results are confirmed with fully quantum dynamics simulations.
Tumor hepatitis B virus RNA identifies a clinically and molecularly distinct subset of hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Lim Huat Chye , Gordan John D.
Published: February 2021

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection contributes to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) initiation and is associated with worse outcomes. Many prior studies of HBV-related HCC have not accounted for potential heterogeneity among HBV-related tumors by assessing whether HBV activity is present in tumor tissue. Here, we measured tumor HBV RNA, a proxy for viral activity, and investigated the association between HBV RNA status and several clinicogenomic characteristics. We obtained clinical, mutation, RNA-Seq and survival data for 439 HCC tumors from The Cancer Genome Atlas and International Cancer Genome Consortium. Tumors were classified as HBV RNA positive if they harbored >1 HBV RNA read per million human reads. We investigated the association between HBV RNA status and nonsynonymous somatic mutations, gene set expression, homologous recombination deficiency (HRD) score and mutation-specific survival. HBV RNA positive status was associated with higher nonsynonymous mutation rates of multiple genes, includingTP53andCDKN2A, while HBV RNA negative status was associated with higher nonsynonymousBAP1mutation rate. HBV RNA positive status was also associated with increased transcription of genes involved in multiple DNA damage repair pathways, genes upregulated byMYCand mTORC1, and genes overexpressed in several HCC subclasses associated with a proliferative phenotype. Further, HBV RNA positive status was associated with increased three-biomarker HRD score (22.2 for HBV RNA+ vs. 16.0 for HBV RNA-). Finally, HBV RNA status was associated with multiple mutation-specific survival differences, including decreased survival for HBV RNA positive patients with nonsynonymousKEAP1mutations compared to those without (hazard ratio 4.26). HCC tumors harboring genomic evidence of HBV activity therefore constitute a distinct HCC subset characterized by specific differences in nonsynonymous mutations, gene set expression, three-biomarker HRD score and mutation-specific survival.
Learning poly-synaptic paths with traveling waves
Authors: Ito Yoshiki , Toyoizumi Taro
Published: February 2021

Traveling waves are commonly observed across the brain. While previous studies have suggested the role of traveling waves in learning, the mechanism remains unclear. We adopted a computational approach to investigate the effect of traveling waves on synaptic plasticity. Our results indicate that traveling waves facilitate the learning of poly-synaptic network paths when combined with a reward-dependent local synaptic plasticity rule. We also demonstrate that traveling waves expedite finding the shortest paths and learning nonlinear input/output mapping, such as exclusive or (XOR) function.
VER/VEGF receptors regulate AMPA receptor surface levels and glutamatergic behavior
Authors: Luth Eric S. , Hodul Molly , Rennich Bethany J. , Riccio Carmino , Hofer Julia , Markoja Kaitlin , Juo Peter
Published: February 2021

Several intracellular trafficking pathways contribute to the regulation of AMPA receptor (AMPAR) levels at synapses and the control of synaptic strength. While much has been learned about these intracellular trafficking pathways, a major challenge is to understand how extracellular factors, such as growth factors, neuropeptides and hormones, impinge on specific AMPAR trafficking pathways to alter synaptic function and behavior. Here, we identify the secreted ligand PVF-1 and its cognate VEGF receptor homologs, VER-1 and VER-4, as regulators of glutamate signaling inC.elegans. Loss of function mutations inver-1,ver-4, orpvf-1, result in decreased cell surface levels of the AMPAR GLR-1 and defects in glutamatergic behavior. Rescue experiments indicate that PVF-1 is expressed and released from muscle, whereas the VERs function in GLR-1-expressing neurons to regulate surface levels of GLR-1 and glutamatergic behavior. Additionally,ver-4is unable to rescue glutamatergic behavior in the absence ofpvf-1, suggesting that VER function requires endogenous PVF-1. Inducible expression of apvf-1rescuing transgene suggests that PVF-1 can function in the mature nervous system to regulate GLR-1 signaling. Genetic double mutant analysis suggests that the VERs act together with the VPS-35/retromer recycling complex to promote cell surface levels of GLR-1. Our data support a genetic model whereby PVF-1/VER signaling acts with retromer to promote recycling and cell surface levels of GLR-1 to control behavior.
Paracoccidioimycosis and white individuals: Susceptibility and biogeographic aspects in an important endemic area in Brazil
Authors: Zeminian de Oliveira Luciana Bonome , Della Coletta Amanda Manoel , Gardizani Taiane Priscila , Barrozo Ligia Vizeu , Miot Hélio Amante , De Faveri Julio , Dias-Melicio Luciane Alarcão
Published: February 2021

Paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) is a neglected mycosis most commonly occurring in Latin America. The etiologic agents are thermo dimorphic fungi of the genus Paracoccidioides, and cause an important granulomatous response in affected tissues. The Botucatu Medical School, from São Paulo State University (UNESP), is a PCM study pole, located in São Paulo State Midwest region, which is classified as a hyperendemic area in the Southeast region in Brazil. This study aimed to perform a retrospective epidemiological, geographical, and clinical analysis by the information available in medical records. It was listed as socio-demographic data along with clinical characteristics from patients diagnosed and treated during a 10-year period in Botucatu, totaling 177 patients with Paracoccidioidomycosis confirmed by the histopathological test. It was observed that the main clinical presentation was the chronic type (76,3%), most commonly identified in white male individuals over the age of 29 years old, smokers, and alcoholics, providing evidences for the first time that white individuals were more affected by the disease, in comparison to non-white individuals that may be more resistant to infection. This data opens new avenues for study within ancestry, resistance and susceptibility in paracoccidioidomycosis.
Data structure set-trie for storing and querying sets: Theoretical and empirical analysis
Authors: Savnik Iztok , Akulich Mikita , Krnc Matjaž , Škrekovski Riste
Published: February 2021

Set containment operations form an important tool in various fields such as information retrieval, AI systems, object-relational databases, and Internet applications. In the paper, a set-trie data structure for storing sets is considered, along with the efficient algorithms for the corresponding set containment operations. We present the mathematical and empirical study of the set-trie. In the mathematical study, the relevant upper-bounds on the efficiency of its expected performance are established by utilizing a natural probabilistic model. In the empirical study, we give insight into how different distributions of input data impact the efficiency of set-trie. Using the correct parameters for those randomly generated datasets, we expose the key sources of the input sensitivity of set-trie. Finally, the empirical comparison of set-trie with the inverted index is based on the real-world datasets containing sets of low cardinality. The comparison shows that the running time of set-trie consistently outperforms the inverted index by orders of magnitude.
Doppelganger-based training: Imitating our virtual self to accelerate interpersonal skills learning
Authors: Kleinlogel Emmanuelle P. , Curdy Marion , Rodrigues João , Sandi Carmen , Schmid Mast Marianne
Published: February 2021

Interpersonal skills require mastering a wide range of competencies such as communication and adaptation to different situations. Effective training includes the use of videos in which role models perform the desired behaviours such that trainees can learn through behavioural mimicry. However, new technologies allow new ways of designing training. In the present study, given that virtual reality is emerging as a valuable training setting, we compare two different demonstration conditions within virtual reality by investigating the extent to which the use of doppelgangers as role models can boost trainees’ interpersonal skills development as compared to a role model that does not resemble the trainees. We also assess trainees’ level of self-efficacy and gender as potential moderators in this relationship. Participants delivered a speech in front of a virtual audience twice. Before delivering their second speech, they watched a role model giving a speech in front of the same audience. The role model was either their doppelganger or an avatar of the same gender depending on the condition they were randomly assigned to. Results showed that the doppelganger-based training was the most beneficial for male trainees low in self-efficacy. These findings have important implications for training design, suggesting that doppelganger-based training might be effective only for a specific subset of trainees.
Coupling analysis of contra-rotating fan interstage pressure pulsation and blade vibration based on wavelet reconstruction
Authors: Zhang Xinzhe , Dai Chen , Jin Zunlong , Dykas Sławomir , Zhang Guojie
Published: February 2021

In recent years, the flow characteristics research of the interstage region in counter-rotating axial fans in terms of fluid dynamics has attracted much attention. Especially, the dynamic relationship between interstage pressure pulsation and blade vibration in counter-rotating axial fans has not yet been clarified. This paper performs the signal processing method of wavelet decomposition and reconstruction in time-frequency analysis process. Under different flow conditions, weak-coupling numerical simulation program is employed to analyze the fluid-structure coupling interaction between interstage pressure pulsations and blade vibrations in counter-rotating axial fans. The results indicate that the fluid-structure coupling interaction field in the interstage of counter-rotating axial fans mainly excites the first-order vibration of the second-stage blade. At the same time, the consistency between the pulsation frequency and the vibration frequency of the airflow reflects the good coupling property. Two stage blades cut the airflow to cause field changes and airflow pulsation, and then, airflow pulsation causes blades deformation and produces vibrations of the same frequency at the blade. The deformation of the blades, in turn, causes the flow field changes. Rotating stall, vortex movement and breakdown produced low-frequency airflow pulsation and vortex vibration of the blade.
Insomnia symptoms and biomarkers of monocyte activation, systemic inflammation, and coagulation in HIV: Veterans Aging Cohort Study
Authors: Polanka Brittanny M. , Kundu Suman , So-Armah Kaku A. , Freiberg Matthew S. , Gupta Samir K. , Zapolski Tamika C. B. , Hirsh Adam T. , Bedimo Roger J. , Budoff Matthew J. , Butt Adeel A. , Chang Chung-Chou H. , Gottlieb Stephen S. , Marconi Vincent C. , Womack Julie A. , Stewart Jesse C.
Published: February 2021

Background

Insomnia may be a risk factor for cardiovascular disease in HIV (HIV-CVD); however, mechanisms have yet to be elucidated.

Methods

We examined cross-sectional associations of insomnia symptoms with biological mechanisms of HIV-CVD (immune activation, systemic inflammation, and coagulation) among 1,542 people with HIV from the Veterans Aging Cohort Study (VACS) Biomarker Cohort. Past-month insomnia symptoms were assessed by the item, “Difficulty falling or staying asleep?,” with the following response options: “I do not have this symptom” or “I have this symptom and…” “it doesn’t bother me,” “it bothers me a little,” “it bothers me,” “it bothers me a lot.” Circulating levels of the monocyte activation marker soluble CD14 (sCD14), inflammatory marker interleukin-6 (IL-6), and coagulation marker D-dimer were determined from blood specimens. Demographic- and fully-adjusted (CVD risk factors, potential confounders, HIV-related factors) regression models were constructed, with log-transformed biomarker variables as the outcomes. We present the exponentiated regression coefficient (exp[b]) and its 95% confidence interval (CI).

Results

We observed no significant associations between insomnia symptoms and sCD14 or IL-6. For D-dimer, veterans in the “Bothers a Lot” group had, on average, 17% higher D-dimer than veterans in the “No Difficulty Falling or Staying Asleep” group in the demographic-adjusted model (exp[b] = 1.17, 95%CI= 1.01–1.37,p= .04). This association was nonsignificant in the fully-adjusted model (exp[b] = 1.09, 95%CI= 0.94–1.26,p= .27).

Conclusion

We observed little evidence of relationships between insomnia symptoms and markers of biological mechanisms of HIV-CVD. Other mechanisms may be responsible for the insomnia-CVD relationship in HIV; however, future studies with comprehensive assessments of insomnia symptoms are warranted.
Smoking cessation and counseling: A mixed methods study of pediatricians and parents
Authors: Simoneau Tregony , Hollenbach Jessica P. , Langton Christine R. , Kuo Chia-Ling , Cloutier Michelle M.
Published: February 2021

Objective

Pediatric providers play an important role in parental and youth smoking cessation. The goal of this study was to understand smoking cessation attitudes of parents and the behaviors, confidence and self-efficacy of pediatricians related to providing smoking cessation counseling to parents and youth.

Methods

A mixed methods study was conducted in a convenience sample of families (n = 1,549) and pediatric primary care clinicians (n = 95) in Connecticut using surveys and focus groups from April, 2016 to January, 2017.

Results

The smoking rate (cigarettes or electronic cigarettes) among all households surveyed was 21%. Interest in quitting smoking was high (71%) and did not differ based on smoking amount, duration, type of community of residence (urban, rural, etc), or race/ethnicity. For example, compared to participants who smoked for <10 years, those who smoked ≥20 years had a similar interest in quitting (OR = 1.12; 95% CI: 0.85–1.48). Ninety percent of clinicians surveyed asked parents about their smoking behavior at least annually but 36% offered no smoking cessation counseling services or referral. Clinicians almost always reported counseling youth about the dangers of nicotine and tobacco use (99%), were more confident about counseling youth than parents (p<0.01) and reported low self-efficacy about smoking cessation and prevention counseling of parents and youth. Ninety-three percent of clinicians opined that electronic cigarettes were equally or more dangerous than cigarettes but 34% never counseled youth about the dangers of electronic cigarettes.

Conclusions

Clinicians frequently screen parents about their smoking behaviors, but rarely provide smoking cessation counseling and express low confidence in this activity. Clinicians are more confident counseling youth than parents. Clinicians also recognize the dangers of electronic cigarettes, yet they infrequently counsel youth about these dangers.
Independent predictors of insulin resistance in Brazilian adolescents: Results of the study of cardiovascular risk in adolescents–Brazil
Authors: Siqueira de Andrade Maria Izabel , Oliveira Juliana Souza , Leal Vanessa Sá , Cabral Poliana Coelho , Lira Pedro Israel Cabral de
Published: February 2021

Considering the current changes in dietary patterns and the increasing prevalence of excess weight throughout the world, several studies have reported insulin resistance, which is a key driver of many chronic diseases, to be an important public health problem in all age groups. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to identify the prevalence and independent predictors of insulin resistance in Brazilian adolescents. A cross-sectional study was conducted with a probabilistic, representative sample of Brazilian adolescents (n = 37,023) who participated in the Study of Cardiovascular Risk in Adolescents. Data were collected on demographic, socioeconomic, lifestyle, anthropometric, and biochemical characteristics as well as antioxidant micronutrient intake (vitamins A, C, E, zinc, and selenium). Insulin resistance was determined using the Homeostatic Model Assessment for Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR) and classified based on the 75th percentile of the sample distribution. Insulin resistance was detected in 27% of the adolescents and was more prevalent among those aged 12 to 14 years (PR: 1.26 [95%CI: 1.13;1.41]), those residing in the southern and south-eastern regions of the country (PR: 1.47 [95%CI: 1.27;1.70]), those who were physically inactive (PR: 1.12 [95%CI: 1.02;1.23]), and those did not consume alcohol (PR: 1.50 [95%CI: 1.13;1.99]). The prevalence of insulin resistance was 2.5-fold higher among individuals with severe obesity (PR: 2.49 [95%CI: 2.07;3.00]). Waist circumference indicative of cardiovascular risk and high serum triglyceride levels increased the likelihood of insulin resistance (PR: 1.37 [95%CI: 1.19;1.59] and 1.60 [95%CI: 1.45;1.78], respectively). The prevalence of the outcome was higher among adolescents in the lower quartiles of vitamin E intake (p<0.05). In the present study, the prevalence of insulin resistance was high among Brazilian adolescents and we identified sociodemographic, lifestyle, anthropometric, biochemical, and dietary predictors of this outcome.
Prevalence and associated risk factors of gastritis among patients visiting Saint Paul Hospital Millennium Medical College, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Authors: Feyisa Zelalem Tadese , Woldeamanuel Berhanu Teshome
Published: February 2021

Background

The health of individuals is not only the absence of disease checked medically, but also encompasses social and psychological aspects. Any departure from the state of physiological, psychological, or social well-being was affected by different factors. However, all contributory factors were not equally responsible for affecting disease. This study was undertaken as a search for the relative effects of sociocultural and individual behavioral factors contributing to acute and chronic gastritis patients visiting Saint Paul Hospital Millennium Medical College (SPHMMC).

Methods

A cross-sectional study was carried out on 364 patients visited SPHMMC in the study. Primary data were collected through an interview schedule tool with an exit approach by validating questions pertaining to sociocultural and individual behavioral factors. The status of gastritis was measured as whether patients had Helicobacter Pylori infection, signs and symptoms indicated gastritis that occurred, and persisted for less than a month, greater than a month, or none of the signs and symptoms. Descriptive statistics, bivariate analysis, and multivariable ordinal logistic regression model were used to identify the predictors of gastritis severity. P-value ≤ 0.05 was declared as an indicator of statistically significant.

Results

The prevalence of gastritis in the study area was 78.8%. Specifically, 48.9% and 29.9% had acute and chronic gastritis, respectively. The study found that low income and taking medicinal drugs was slightly significantly contributed to higher gastritis status; however, being younger age was slightly significantly contributed to lower gastritis status. Furthermore, the results indicated that eating spiced foods (Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) = 1.508; 95% CI: 1.046, 2.174), lack of physical exercise regularly (AOR = 1.780; 95% CI: 1.001, 3.168), stress (AOR = 2.168; 95% CI: 1.379, 3.4066), and substance use (AOR = 1.478; 95% CI: 1.093, 1.999) were significantly contributed to higher gastritis status.

Conclusions

The findings suggested that women should take enough rest and sleep well, men refrain from involvement in any risky behaviors, young people and those who earn low income per month should equip with knowledge and understanding on how to practice good health behaviors, eating foods on time, avoiding eating spiced food frequently, doing physical exercise regularly, and taking medicinal drugs according to physician advice are recommended.
Carbon fixation and rhodopsin systems in microbial mats from hypersaline lakes Brava and Tebenquiche, Salar de Atacama, Chile
Authors: Kurth Daniel , Elias Dario , Rasuk María Cecilia , Contreras Manuel , Farías María Eugenia
Published: February 2021

In this work, molecular diversity of two hypersaline microbial mats was compared by Whole Genome Shotgun (WGS) sequencing of environmental DNA from the mats. Brava and Tebenquiche are lakes in the Salar de Atacama, Chile, where microbial communities are growing in extreme conditions, including high salinity, high solar irradiance, and high levels of toxic metals and metaloids. Evaporation creates hypersaline conditions in these lakes and mineral precipitation is a characteristic geomicrobiological feature of these benthic ecosystems. The mat from Brava was more rich and diverse, with a higher number of different taxa and with species more evenly distributed. At the phylum level, Proteobacteria, Cyanobacteria, Chloroflexi, Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes were the most abundant, including ~75% of total sequences. At the genus level, the most abundant sequences were affilitated to anoxygenic phototropic and cyanobacterial genera. In Tebenquiche mats, Proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes covered ~70% of the sequences, and 13% of the sequences were affiliated toSalinibactergenus, thus addressing the lower diversity. Regardless of the differences at the taxonomic level, functionally the two mats were similar. Thus, similar roles could be fulfilled by different organisms. Carbon fixation through the Wood-Ljungdahl pathway was well represented in these datasets, and also in other mats from Andean lakes. In spite of presenting less taxonomic diversity, Tebenquiche mats showed increased abundance and variety of rhodopsin genes. Comparison with other metagenomes allowed identifying xantorhodopsins as hallmark genes not only from Brava and Tebenquiche mats, but also for other mats developing at high altitudes in similar environmental conditions.
Psychological distress among health service providers during COVID-19 pandemic in Nepal
Authors: Kafle Khagendra , Shrestha Dhan Bahadur , Baniya Abinash , Lamichhane Sandesh , Shahi Manoj , Gurung Bipana , Tandan Partiksha , Ghimire Amrita , Budhathoki Pravash
Published: February 2021

Background

COVID-19 pandemic has provoked a wide variety of psychological problems such as anxiety, depression, and panic disorders, especially among health service providers. Due to a greater risk of exposure to the virus, increased working hours, and fear of infecting their families, health service providers are more vulnerable to emotional distress than the general population during this pandemic. This online survey attempts to assess the psychological impact of COVID-19 and its associated variables among healthcare workers in Nepal.

Materials and methods

For data collection purposes, Covid-19 Peritraumatic Distress Index (CPDI) Questionnaire, was used whose content validity was verified by Shanghai mental health center. Data for the survey were collected from 11 to 24 October 2020 which was extracted to Microsoft Excel-13 and analyzed.

Results

A total of 254 health care workers from different provinces of the country participated in this study with a mean age of 26.01(± 4.46) years. A majority 46.9% (n = 119) of the participants were not distressed (score ≤28) while 46.5% (n = 118) were mild to moderately distressed (score >28 to ≤51) and 6.7% (n = 17) were severely distressed (score ≥52) due to the current COVID-19 pandemic. Female participants (p = 0.004) and participants who were doctors by profession (p = 0.001) experienced significantly more distress.

Conclusions

COVID-19 pandemic has heightened the psychological distress amongst health care service providers. The findings from the present study may highlight the need for constructing and implementing appropriate plans and policies by relevant stakeholders that will help to mitigate the distress among health service providers in the current pandemic so that we can have an efficient frontline health workforce to tackle this worse situation.
Spatial dependence in the rank-size distribution of cities – weak but not negligible
Authors: Bergs Rolf
Published: February 2021

Power law distributions characterise several natural and social phenomena. Zipf’s law for cities is one of those. The study views the question of whether that global regularity is independent of different spatial distributions of cities. For that purpose, a typical Zipfian rank-size distribution of cities is generated with random numbers. This distribution is then cast into two different settings of spatial coordinates. For the estimation, the variables rank and size are supplemented by considerations of spatial dependence within a spatial econometric approach. Results suggest that distance potentially matters. This finding is further corroborated by four country analyses even though estimates reveal only modest effects.
Comparative transcriptome analysis of leaves during early stages of chilling stress in two different chilling-tolerant brown-fiber cotton cultivars
Authors: Tang Shouwu , Xian Yajie , Wang Fei , Luo Cheng , Song Wu , Xie Shuangquan , Chen Xifeng , Cao Aiping , Li Hongbin , Liu Haifeng
Published: February 2021

Chilling stress generates significant inhibition of normal growth and development of cotton plants and lead to severe reduction of fiber quality and yield. Currently, little is known for the molecular mechanism of brown-fiber cotton (BFC) to respond to chilling stress. Herein, RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq)-based comparative analysis of leaves under 4°C treatment in two different-tolerant BFC cultivars, chilling-sensitive (CS) XC20 and chilling-tolerant (CT) Z1612, was performed to investigate the response mechanism. A total of 72650 unigenes were identified with eight commonly used databases. Venn diagram analysis identified 1194 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) with significant up-regulation in all comparison groups. Furthermore, enrichment analyses of COG and KEGG, as well as qRT-PCR validation, indicated that 279 genes were discovered as up-regulated DEGs (UDEGs) with constant significant increased expression in CT cultivar Z1612 groups at the dimensions of both each comparison group and treatment time, locating in the enriched pathways of signal transduction, protein and carbohydrate metabolism, and cell component. Moreover, the comprehensive analyses of gene expression, physiological index and intracellular metabolite detections, and ascorbate antioxidative metabolism measurement validated the functional contributions of these identified candidate genes and pathways to chilling stress. Together, this study for the first time report the candidate key genes and metabolic pathways responding to chilling stress in BFC, and provide the effective reference for understanding the regulatory mechanism of low temperature adaptation in cotton.
Aerosol emission of adolescents voices during speaking, singing and shouting
Authors: Mürbe Dirk , Kriegel Martin , Lange Julia , Schumann Lukas , Hartmann Anne , Fleischer Mario
Published: February 2021

Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, singing activities for children and young people have been strictly regulated with far-reaching consequences for music education in schools and ensemble and choir singing in some places. This is also due to the fact, that there has been no reliable data available on aerosol emissions from adolescents speaking, singing, and shouting. By utilizing a laser particle counter in cleanroom conditions we show, that adolescents emit fewer aerosol particles during singing than what has been known so far for adults. In our data, the emission rates ranged from 16 P/s to 267 P/s for speaking, 141 P/s to 1240 P/s for singing, and 683 P/s to 4332 P/s for shouting. The data advocate an adaptation of existing risk management strategies and rules of conduct for groups of singing adolescents, like gatherings in an educational context, e.g. singing lessons or choir rehearsals.
Neuron-specific enolase level as a predictor of neurological outcome in near-hanging patients: A retrospective multicenter study
Authors: Lee Dongwook , Cho Yongil , Ko Yujin , Heo Nam Hun , Kang Hyung Goo , Han Sangsoo
Published: February 2021

Objectives

Neuron-specific enolase (NSE) is frequently used to predict neurological outcomes in patients with hypoxic brain injury. Hanging can cause hypoxic brain damage, and survivors can suffer from neurological deficits that may impair daily activities. Here, we investigated the utility of the initial serum NSE level as a predictor of neurological outcomes in near-hanging patients with decreased consciousness.

Methods

This retrospective multicenter study was conducted in patients who visited the emergency department due to near-hanging injury from October 2013 to February 2019 at three university hospitals in Korea. They were divided into two groups according to the presence of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. The neurological outcome was determined using the Cerebral Performance Category (CPC) measured at the time of discharge. Multivariate analysis was performed to determine whether initial serum NSE is an independent predictor of neurological outcome.

Results

Of the 70 patients included in the study, 44 showed a poor neurological outcome (CPC score = 3–5). Among the 52 patients with cardiac arrest, only 10 (19.2%) were discharged with good neurological outcome (CPC score = 1–2). In the whole cohort, a high serum NSE level was a significant predictor of poor neurological outcome (odds ratio [OR], 1.343; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.003–1.800, p = 0.048). Among the patients with cardiac arrest, a high serum NSE level was a significant predictor of poor neurological outcome (OR, 1.138; 95% CI, 1.009–1.284, p = 0.036).

Conclusions

In near-hanging patients, a high initial serum NSE level is an independent predictor of poor neurological outcome.
A set of shuttle plasmids for gene expression in Acinetobacter baumannii
Authors: Jie Jing , Chu Xiao , Li Dan , Luo Zhaoqing
Published: February 2021

Infections caused by the emerging opportunistic bacterial pathogen Acinetobacter baumannii are occurring at increasingly alarming rates, and such increase in incidence is further compounded by the development of wide spread multidrug-resistant strains. Yet, our understanding of its pathogenesis and biology remains limited which can be attributed in part to the scarce of tools for molecular genetic analysis of this bacterium. Plasmids based on pWH1277 originally isolated from Acinetobacter calcoaceticus are the only vehicles currently available for ectopic gene expression in Acinetobacter species, which restricts experiments that require simultaneous analysis of multiple genes. Here, we found that plasmids of the IncQ group are able to replicate in A. baumannii and can stably co-reside with derivatives of pWH1277. Furthermore, we have constructed a series of four plasmids that allow inducible expression of Flag-tagged proteins in A. baumannii by arabinose or isopropyl β-d-1-thiogalactopyranoside. Together with constructs previously developed, these plasmids will accommodate the need in genetic analysis of this increasingly important pathogen.
Heavy metal music as communal intervention: Experiences and challenges in the context of the metal-academia dyad in Jaén, Spain
Authors: Martínez Susana González , Varas-Díaz Nelson
Published: February 2021

In this article we aim to address the complex interrelation between metal music and academia through a case study design and analysis. The case study examined is an academic conference held during the past seven years at the University of Jaén, located in Jaén, a province in the south of Spain. This sociocultural project, entitled the ‘Rock and Metal Encounter’ (RME), has taken place in a context of frequent out-migration, with a precarious rural economy, and poor communication networks. There a small metal scene has resisted a precarious setting characterized by restrictive public policies towards music and culture. The RME has combined two lines of action; a purely academic one, through the diffusion of studies on metal music; and a social one, in which community intervention components have been interspersed with the aim of promoting social cohesion and cultural development among Jaén’s metal scene. In light of this experience, we discuss the potential use of metal music as a form of community intervention to foster the cultural development of small music scenes in disadvantaged settings, and the university’s role in this process. We also explore resistance and tensions faced by the incursion of metal music as a community intervention practice in this particular academic setting.
Heavy metal justice? Calibrating the economic and aesthetic accreditation of the heavy metal genre in the pages of Rolling Stone 1980–91: Part one 1980–851
Authors: Brown Andy R.
Published: February 2021

Given the genre name heavy metal can be traced to a negative adjective that emerges out of 70s rock journalism and which reflects a widespread dissensus among rock critics about its value and impact on North American rock music, how are we to explain the gradual or cumulative shift away from this majority aesthetic disapprobation, in the 1980–85 period, towards a widespread economic accreditation, particularly in the pages of leading rock magazine, Rolling Stone? Is it simply a belated recognition of the longevity of the genre and its resurgent popularity with majority audiences? If so, how are we to explain the subsequent shift, clearly evident in the Rolling Stone coverage in the 1986–91 period, from economic to aesthetic approbation of selective bands, particularly those identified with a thrash metal underground, which is nevertheless seen to emerge from within the genre or to be an aesthetic development of some of its key musical features, while rejecting others? Drawing on a comprehensive survey, composed of album reviews, lead or feature articles and interviews, drawn from the Rolling Stone archive, my research reports, in Part One of this article, a definite shift in the critical reception of heavy metal to economic accreditation in the 1980–85 period, based not only on the genre’s persistence and sustained economic success but also its ability to appeal beyond its core metal audience and therefore challenge the dominant rock and pop aesthetic. For some critics this means that a selective set of popular bands, such as AC/DC, the Scorpions and Def Leppard, can be afforded a degree of aesthetic approbation, even the status of ‘artists’. But this praise also leads to the Great Metal Question: can they now seek to move beyond the musical and lyrical conventions of heavy metal in order to appeal to a wider audience beyond their core fanbase?
Euskararen i(ra)kaskuntza-prozesuak: hezkuntza eta hizkuntza teknologiak
Authors: Camacho Abel , Iruskieta Mikel
Published: February 2021

Ingurune digitalean bizi arren, bi arazo ezberdin izan ditzakegu: bat, teknologiaren eraldaketa azkarra edota egokitu gabekoa izatea eta, bi, euskara eta antzeko baliabide mugatuetako hiz- kuntzetan behar diren teknologiak ez sortzea edota erabilgarri ez egotea.Artikulu honetan, euskara ikasteko, irakasteko eta ikertzeko prozesuetan teknologiak testuinguru mul- timodal eta aberats honetan zer-nolako ekarpenak egin ditzakeen aztertu nahi dugu. Horretarako, tek- nologia-motak kontuan hartuta, ikasleek nahiz irakasleek dituzten erronkak eta aukerak deskribatzen saiatuko gara, horiei erantzuteko hainbat aplikazioren azalpen eta adibide emanez. Horrez gain, erronka horietan ditugun gabeziei erantzuteko, norberak, komunitateak eta hizkuntzaren garapenerako azpiegi- turek helduen euskararen irakaskuntzan izan dezakeen garrantzia nabarmenduko dugu.
Anatomy of a Peace Educator: Her Work and Workplace
Authors:   Bogazici University, Gursel-Bilgin Gulistan , Flinders David ,   Indiana University
Published: February 2021

This article reports a case study that examined the peace education practice of a 5th and 6th grade teacher at an independent, non-profit school in the Mid-western United States. The study used Paulo Freire’s (1970) conception of dialogue as its conceptual framework. After describing the study’s context and methods, we present data focusing on the teacher’s background and development as a peace educator, her teaching practices, and her relationships with her students, school and local community. We discuss Michelle’s interdisciplinary approach to peace education linked with her personal background and her use of dialogue as dynamic, fluid, and relational. Our analyses also prompted emergent themes for which we used curriculum theory to capture forms of integration between the personal and political dimensions of peace education, based on which, we propose an “integrated peace education.”
Cellular Mechanics and Therapeutic Resistance of the Cancer Relapse
Authors: Moawad Emad Y.
Published: February 2021

The aims of this study are to investigate the variation in the mechanical behaviour of the primary cancer from cancer relapse, and measuring the therapeutic resistance acquired by cancer relapse. A431-cultured cells were irradiated for 7 months until 85 Gy. Then, a selected single cell was left to grow as stable A431-R cell line. 106 cells of A431 cells and 106 of A431-R cells suspended in 100 μL of medium were injected into subcutaneous tissues on the right thigh of athymic mice to generate tumor xenografts models of primary cancer (A431-P) and cancer relapse (A431-R). Radiotherapy of a low-dose of 30Gy was applied on xenoimplanted tumors after one week from inoculation. A mock process was performed on untreated groups of mice for controls. Tumor size was monitored starting from inoculation and tumor growth was measured along 42 days. Rates of mitosis and apoptosis and the histologic grade (HG) that characterize the tumor response were determined as described in earlier studies. Alterations induced on tumor HG in the treated models were 100% identical to the energy of the applied doses. The differences in response energy between cancer relapse and primary cancer irrespectively of the treatment (untreated vs. treated) or origin of the cells (A431-P vs. A431-R) in all phases of tumor responses (growth, shrinkage or regrowth) were 100% identical to the total differences in the administered regimens applied on those groups during those phases. Cancer relapse is characterized by a delay in growth before second line therapy for its relatively lower rate of mitosis compared by the primary cancer inducing a corresponding delay in the early detection. The therapeutic resistance of the cancer relapse is equivalent to the energy of the doses which have been delivered in the prior therapies, and requires increasing the administered dose by an amount equivalent to that resistance.