bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Microfacies analysis and depositional environments of the Middle Eocene (Bartonian) Qurn Formation along Qattamiya—Ain Sokhna district, Egypt
Authors: Abd El-Moghny Mohamed W. , Afifi Atef A.
Published: February 2022

The exposed Middle Eocene (Bartonian) Qurn Formation along Qattamiya—Ain Sokhna district is measured, sampled and microscopically investigated. Besides, the vertical distribution of the chemical oxides and strontium (Sr) has been determined to identify their petrographic, geochemical characteristics and interpret their depositional environments. The facies analysis (lithofacies, microfacies, and biofacies) of the studied rocks revealed the recognition of three microfacies associations: (1) restricted lagoon facies association (FT1–FT3), (2) open lagoon facies association (FT4–FT7), and (3) shoal facies association (FT8–FT9). Lithofacies and microfacies analysis of Middle Eocene rocks along Qattamiya—Ain Sokhna district reflect carbonate inner ramp regime ranging from restricted lagoon to shoal buildup depositional conditions. These identified inner ramp microfacies are changed eastward to mid-ramp, while they are represented westward by tidal flat and shallow lagoonal facies. The vertical distribution of both CaO and MgO revealed that MgO is related mainly to the dolomitization process rather than primary deposition. The vertical distribution of Sr in the studied carbonate samples matches with that of SiO2, thus may be related to the warm environmental conditions.
Is ‘Anthropocene’ a Suitable Chronostratigraphic Term?
Authors: Luciano Eugenio
Published: February 2022

Over the past two decades, the term ‘Anthropocene’ has ignited widespread academic and public interest. Since 2009, the term has been considered on stratigraphic grounds by the Anthropocene Working Group (AWG). The AWG has been championing a chronostratigraphic definition of the Anthropocene by advancing a proposal to formally recognize the unit as a post-Holocene epoch/series on the Geologic Time Scale and International Chronostratigraphic Chart. The proposal (i.e., the Anthropocene Hypothesis) has ignited debates among human, social, and natural scientists alike. One line of critique against the proposal concerns the chronostratigraphic suitability of the term ‘Anthropocene.’ This type of criticism holds that the term is inconsistent with the standard naming practices of the chronostratigraphic series; that it is inconsistent with other epochs of the Cenozoic era; that its etymology is faulty in several respects; and/or that its informal nature should be emphasized stylistically (e.g., with quotation marks or by writing the term with a lower case initial). The present contribution reviews this criticism and discusses it in the context of (chrono)stratigraphic classification and nomenclature to assess whether ‘Anthropocene’ is a suitable chronostratigraphic term. To do so, the analysis comments on and discusses guidelines, recommendations, and suggestions drafted by the International Stratigraphic Guide, which represents an international framework of reference for stratigraphic classification and nomenclature. Based on the underlying philosophy and recommendation of the Guide, there seem to be reasons to consider the ‘Anthropocene’ a suitable term in the context of chronostratigraphic nomenclature.
Mohave Rattlesnake (Crotalus scutulatus) Identification Revisited
Authors: Cardwell Michael D. , Massey Daniel J. , Smelski Geoffrey , Wüster Wolfgang
Published: February 2022

Crotalus scutulatus (Mohave rattlesnake) is a clinically significant pit viper broadly distributed across much of the arid southwestern United States and mainland Mexico. Identification of C scutulatus is a concern among emergency medical service and emergency department personnel owing to its reputation for severe envenomations and difficulty in visually differentiating between C scutulatus and other species, primarily Crotalus atrox (western diamond-backed rattlesnake). We contrast distinctive characteristics of C scutulatus, C atrox, and 3 other sympatric species: Crotalus molossus, Crotalus ornatus, and Crotalus viridis (western and eastern black-tailed rattlesnakes and prairie rattlesnake, respectively). Greenish coloration eliminates C atrox but does not confirm C scutulatus. Obvious coarse and fine speckling of the dorsal pattern and a pale postocular stripe intersecting the mouth characterize C atrox. Dorsal speckling is insignificant or absent in the other species, whereas the pale postocular stripe passes above the mouth in C scutulatus and C viridis and is absent in C molossus and C ornatus. Tails boldly ringed with alternating black and white or contrasting shades of gray are shared by C atrox and C scutulatus, respectively, but a lack of boldly ringed tails characterizes the other species. The proximal rattle segment is yellow and black, or entirely yellow, in C scutulatus but black in the others. The most reliable visual identifications are based on evaluations of multiple traits, all of which are variable to some extent. Traits such as tail ring width and the size and number of crown scales have frequently been overemphasized in the past.
Patrimony and Law in Renaissance Italy
Authors: Kuehn Thomas
Published: February 2022

Family was a central feature of social life in Italian cities. In the Renaissance, jurists, humanists, and moralists began to theorize on the relations between people and property that formed the 'substance' of the family and what held it together over the years. Family property was a bundle of shared rights. This was most evident when brothers shared a household and enterprise, but it also faced overlapping claims from children and wives which the paterfamilias had to recognize. Thomas Kuehn explores patrimony in legal thought, and how property was inherited, managed and shared in Renaissance Italy. Managing a patrimony was not a simple task. This led to a complex and active conceptualization of shared rights, and a conscious application of devices in the law that could override liabilities and preserve the group, or carve out distinct shares for each member. This wide-ranging volume charts the ever-present conflicts that arose and were a constant feature of family life.
Electricity Capacity Markets
Authors: Aagaard Todd S. , Kleit Andrew N.
Published: February 2022

Initially created as afterthoughts to competitive electricity markets, capacity markets were intended to enhance system reliability. They have evolved into massive, highly controversial, and poorly understood billion-dollar institutions. Electricity Capacity Markets examines the rationales for creating capacity markets, how capacity markets work, and how well these markets are meeting their objectives. This book will appeal to energy experts and non-experts alike, across a range of disciplines, including economics, business, engineering, public policy, and law. Capacity markets are an important and provocative topic on their own, but they also offer an interesting case study of how well our energy systems are meeting the needs of our increasingly complex society. The challenges facing capacity markets – harnessing market forces for social good, creating networks that manage complexity, and achieving sustainability – are very much core challenges for our twenty-first century advanced industrial society.
The Expertise of Perception
Authors: Tanaka James W. , Philibert Victoria
Published: February 2022

How does experience change the way we perceive the world? This Element explores the interaction between perception and experience by studying perceptual experts, people who specialize in recognizing objects such as birds, automobiles, dogs. It proposes perceptual expertise promotes a downward shift in object recognition where experts recognize objects in their domain of expertise at a more specific level than novices. To support this claim, it examines the recognition abilities and brain mechanisms of real-world experts. It discusses the acquisition of expertise by tracing the cognitive and neural changes that occur as a novice becomes an expert through training and experience. Next, it looks “under the hood” of expertise and examines the perceptual features that experts bring to bear to facilitate their fast, accurate, and specific recognition. The final section considers the future of human expertise as deep learning models and artificial intelligence compete with human experts in medical diagnosis.
Commemorating by Marching: Memorialization and Resistance Practices of the Srebrenica Genocide
Authors: Luitjens Marije R. , Schoorel Esther G. M.
Published: February 2022

Using the case-study of the Marš Mira, a peace march to commemorate the Srebrenica genocide of July 1995, this article explores how practices of memorialization of genocide and resistance against denial of genocide intersect, in order to gain more insight into the challenges post-conflict societies face. The march retraces the steps that the Bosniak men and boys took while fleeing the Serb army after the fall of the Srebrenica enclave. It is a powerful means of commemorating the genocide and, as such, highlights the importance of space within memorialization. Simultaneously, walking the march serves as an act of resistance to Serb narratives of denial. We argue that resistance against genocide denial and memorialization of the genocide are intricately interwoven in the incentives of Bosniaks participating in the annual Marš Mira, and that they manifest themselves in the use of the landscape in which the march takes place. Through an analysis of four incentives for walking the Marš Mira, we shed light on the challenges that Serb denialism poses to the ability of the Bosniak community to deal with the past of the Srebrenica genocide.
Mysticism, Rationalism, and Criticism: Rabbi Jacob Emden as an Early Modern Critic and Printer
Authors: Morsel-Eisenberg Tamara
Published: February 2022

Rabbi Jacob Emden (1697–1779) was an important rabbi and scholar in the area of Hamburg. One of his works, Mitpaḥat Sefarim (“Book Cloth,” Altona, 1768), is a critique of the Zohar (“Book of Splendor”), a canonical Jewish mystical text attributed to the ancient scholar Rabbi Shimon bar Yoḥai (ca. 2nd cent. CE). In Mitpaḥat Sefarim, Emden casts doubt upon the Zohar’s provenance, authorship, and age. This critique has led some to identify Emden with the early beginnings of the Haskalah, the Jewish Enlightenment, as an opponent of mysticism. However, Emden took mystical sources very seriously, both in the spiritual realm, and, as this article shows, even in his writings on religious law. This article examines the perceived contradiction in Emden’s thinking, and proposes a view of Emden as an early modern printer and critic with a unique perspective, rather than a confused precursor of modern ideas.
Surgeon educator perspectives of implementing a national undergraduate curriculum in otolaryngology
Authors: Hall A , Jones H , Hannan A
Published: February 2022

Objective

The General Medical Council will be implementing a national medical licensing assessment for all UK medical students by 2024–25. Surgeon educator perceptions on a national undergraduate curriculum in otolaryngology were reviewed accordingly.

Method

A mixed methods study was undertaken within a UK school of surgery assessing ENT surgeon educators. Perspectives on teaching content, quality and student experience were assessed with degree of agreement assessed (Likert scoring). Associated qualitative focus group sessions underwent detailed thematic analysis according to grounded theory.

Results

A response rate of 50 per cent was achieved involving 21 participants working across 14 hospitals. These showed strong agreement that implementation of a national curriculum would improve the standard of teaching delivered at a personal, institutional and national level. Further themes were identified relating to the personal, institutional and specialty related factors influencing practical delivery.

Conclusion

A series of practical recommendations are made to potentially assist the implementation of a national ENT curriculum.
Teaching about the senses in antiquity: exploring the ancient world of scents through recreating ancient perfumes
Authors: Diemke Justine
Published: February 2022

This article presents the results of a student experiment conducted at the University of Hamburg as part of a course about scents and smells in antiquity. In the experiment, students produced their own versions of ancient perfumes. Located at the intersection of the humanities and the sciences, this project aimed to bring ancient olfactory spaces to life for the students by reconstructing and manufacturing ancient fragrances as authentically as possible. As a source for the fragrance recipes, we used the work of the physician Dioscorides, whose writing provides information on the ingredients and procedures used in the ancient manufacture of perfumes. This article illuminates the added value of such experiments by encouraging the integration of experimental archaeology into teaching processes.
An Improved Scheme for Correcting Remote Spectral Surface Reflectance Simultaneously for Terrestrial BRDF and Water‐Surface Sunglint in Coastal Environments
Authors: Greenberg Evan , Thompson David R. , Jensen Daniel , Townsend Philip A. , Queally Natalie , Chlus Adam , Fichot Cédric G. , Harringmeyer Joshua P. , Simard Marc
Published: February 2022

Global spectroscopic missions, such as NASA’s Surface Biology and Geology, will observe coastal environments and must account for the optical properties of both land and sea. Specifically, they must consider reflectance effects that arise from interactions between surface structures and variable observing geometries that are unique to terrestrial and aquatic domains. Over vegetated surfaces, Bidirectional Reflectance Distribution Function (BDRF) effects must be corrected to consistently map vegetation properties. At the water surface interface, sunglint effects must be corrected to estimate water column and benthic properties. Current analyses focus on vegetation or aquatic domains and do not easily address environments with mixed water and vegetation cover. Wetland environments within global spectroscopic data sets will pose a challenge to correction methods when scientific applications in coastal regions require continuous reflectance correction over both surface types. Here, we present the first simultaneous treatment of terrestrial BRDF and aquatic sunglint in a wetland environment. We evaluate existing vegetation‐BRDF correction methods and pair them with sunglint correction of aquatic pixels. We test multiple sunglint correction strategies to produce continuous corrected products over both vegetation and water surfaces. We show that the addition of sunglint correction in wetland environments significantly reduces error between overlapping image regions. Comparisons between airborne and in situ data demonstrate sub‐percent error in remote estimates of water‐leaving reflectance. Our results demonstrate the importance of both BRDF and sunglint corrections in wetland environments. A unified treatment will be critical for global‐scale hyperspectral spectroscopy missions.
RIOX1-demethylated cGAS regulates ionizing radiation-elicited DNA repair
Authors: Xiao Yanxuan , Li Jingyi , Liao Xiaoyu , He Yumin , He Tao , Yang Cuiping , Jiang Lu , Jeon So Mi , Lee Jong-Ho , Chen Yongbin , Liu Rui , Chen Qianming
Published: February 2022

Exposure to radiation causes DNA damage; hence, continuous surveillance and timely DNA repair are important for genome stability. Epigenetic modifications alter the chromatin architecture, thereby affecting the efficiency of DNA repair. However, how epigenetic modifiers coordinate with the DNA repair machinery to modulate cellular radiosensitivity is relatively unknown. Here, we report that loss of the demethylase ribosomal oxygenase 1 (RIOX1) restores cell proliferation and reduces cell death after exposure to ionizing radiation. Furthermore, RIOX1 depletion enhances homologous recombination (HR) repair but not nonhomologous end-joining (NHEJ) repair in irradiated bone marrow cells and oral mucosal epithelial cells. Mechanistic study demonstrates that RIOX1 removes monomethylation at K491 of cyclic GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS) to release cGAS from its interaction with the methyl-lysine reader protein SAGA complex-associated factor 29 (SGF29), which subsequently enables cGAS to interact with poly(ADP-ribosyl)ated poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase 1 (PARP1) at DNA break sites, thereby blocking PARP1-mediated recruitment of Timeless. High expression of RIOX1 maintains cGAS K491me at a low level, which impedes HR repair and reduces cellular tolerance to ionizing radiation. This study highlights a novel RIOX1-dependent mechanism involved in the non-immune function of cGAS that is essential for the regulation of ionizing radiation-elicited HR repair.
SF3B4 promotes ovarian cancer progression by regulating alternative splicing of RAD52
Authors: Diao Yuchao , Li Yingwei , Wang Zixiang , Wang Shourong , Li Peng , Kong Beihua
Published: February 2022

Many studies have proven that splicing factors are crucial for human malignant tumor development. However, as a classical splicing factor, the expression of SF3B4 is not clear, and its biological function needs to be further clarified in ovarian cancer (OC). We determined that SF3B4 was obviously upregulated and its high expression was associated with poor prognosis in OC patients. In vitro and in vivo assays suggested that SF3B4 overexpression promoted OC cell proliferation and mobility, and downregulation of SF3B4 had the opposite effect. Further studies found that miR-509–3p decreased SF3B4 mRNA expression by binding to the 3’ -UTR of SF3B4 directly. Importantly, we revealed that RAD52 was a potential target of SF3B4 through alternative splicing events analysis. Loss of SF3B4 led to decreased expression of RAD52, owing to intron 8 retention and generation of premature termination codons. Moreover, decreased expression of RAD52 partially counteracted the tumor-promoting effect of SF3B4 overexpression. In conclusion, our results suggested that SF3B4, negatively regulated by miR-509–3p, promoted OC progression through effective splicing of RAD52. Therefore, SF3B4 may be a promising biomarker and effective therapeutic target for OC.
Cellular fractionation reveals transcriptome responses of human fibroblasts to UV-C irradiation
Authors: Liu Jiena , Wu Zhenzhen , He Jin , Wang Yuming
Published: February 2022

While cells activate a multifaceted DNA damage response to remove transcription-blocking DNA lesions, mechanisms to regulate genome-wide reduction of RNA synthesis and the paradoxical continuous loading of RNAP II at initiation sites are still poorly understood. Uncovering how dramatic changes to the transcriptional program contribute to TC-NER (transcription-coupled nucleotide excision repair) is important in DNA repair research. However, the functional significance of transcriptome dynamics and the mechanisms of chromatin attachment for thousands of unstudied human lncRNAs remain unclear. To address these questions, we examined UV-induced gene expression regulation in human fibroblasts by performing RNA-seq with fractionated chromatin-associated and cytoplasmic transcripts. This approach allowed us to separate the synthesis of nascent transcripts from the accumulation of mature RNAs. In addition to documenting the subcellular locations of coding transcripts, our results also provide a high-resolution view of the transcription activities of noncoding RNAs in response to cellular stress. At the same time, the data showed that vast majority of genes exhibit large changes in chromatin-associated nascent transcripts without corresponding changes in cytoplasmic mRNA levels. Distinct from protein-coding genes that transcripts with shorter length prefer to be recovered first, repression of lncRNA transcription after UV exposure is inactivated first on noncoding transcripts with longer length. This work provides an updated framework for cellular RNA organization in response to stress and may provide useful information in understanding how cells respond to transcription-blocking DNA damage.
M1 macrophage-derived exosomes and their key molecule lncRNA HOTTIP suppress head and neck squamous cell carcinoma progression by upregulating the TLR5/NF-κB pathway
Authors: Jiang Huaili , Zhou Lei , Shen Na , Ning Xianhui , Wu Daquan , Jiang Kanglun , Huang Xinsheng
Published: February 2022

Exosomes serve as a crucial mode of communication between tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) and cancer cells. This study attempted to explore the function of M1-derived exosomes and clarify their specific mechanism in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Moreover, the functional roles of M1-derived exosomes and their key molecule long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) HOXA transcript at the distal tip (HOTTIP) in HNSCC were investigated by conducting a series of in vitro and in vivo experiments. The dual-luciferase test was utilized to clarify the binding capacities between HOTTIP/mRNA and miRNAs. Accordingly, HOTTIP was found to be upregulated in M1-derived exosomes. Meanwhile, the in vitro experiments indicated that M1 exosomes suppressed proliferation, migration and invasion but induced apoptosis of cancer cells. This function was noted to be enhanced by HOTTIP-overexpressed M1 exosomes but was weakened by HOTTIP-knockdown ones, indicating that HOTTIP serves as a key molecule in M1 exosomes. Therefore, the function of HOTTIP in cancer cells was explored, for which overexpression of HOTTIP was found to inhibit proliferation, migration and invasion but induced apoptosis of cancer cells in vitro. A mechanism study further showed that M1 exosomes and HOTTIP activated the TLR5/NF-κB signaling pathway by competitively sponging miR-19a-3p and miR-19b-3p. Furthermore, cancer cells expressing HOTTIP were noted to induce the polarization of both local M1 and M2 macrophages; however, M1 exosomes were observed to reprogram local TAMs into M1 macrophages. More importantly, both cancer cells expressing HOTTIP and M1 exosomes reeducated circulating monocytes to express the M1 phenotype. The corresponding data demonstrated that the M1 exosomal lncRNA HOTTIP suppresses HNSCC progression by upregulating the TLR5/NF-κB signaling pathway through competitively sponging miR-19a-3p and miR-19b-3p. In particular, M1 exosomes and HOTTIP induce the polarization of M1 in circulating monocytes, thus providing novel insight into HNSCC immunotherapy.
Aberrantly expressed Wnt5a in nurse-like cells drives resistance to Venetoclax in chronic lymphocytic leukemia
Authors: Guo Yao , Pei Hanzhong , Lu Bo , Zhang Dengyang , Zhao Yuming , Wu Fuqun , Sun Honghua , Huang Junbin , Li Peng , Yi Chenju , Zhu Chengming , Pan Yihang , Wu Shunjie , Chen Chun , Xu Xiaojun , Chen Yun
Published: February 2022

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is characterized by the accumulation of neoplastic B lymphocytes with high levels of Wnt5a in the plasma. Currently, the cell source of Wnt5a remains controversial. The receptor of Wnt5a is ROR1, whose expression is associated with disease progression and resistance to venetoclax, a BCL-2 inhibitor approved for the treatment of CLL. In this study, we found that the levels of Wnt5a in the plasma of CLL patients were positively correlated with absolute monocyte counts, but not lymphocyte counts. We cultured monocyte-derived nurse-like cells (NLCs) from patients with CLL, and detected Wnt5a expressed in NLCs. Flow cytometry and transwell assays showed that the antibody neutralizing Wnt5a inhibited the enhanced survival and migration in CLL cells co-cultured with NLCs. Furthermore, we performed a drug screening with CLL cells cultured with or without NLCs with a library containing 133 FDA-approved oncology drugs by using high-throughput flow cytometry. We observed a significant resistance to venetoclax in CLL cells co-cultured with NLCs. Immunoblot revealed the activation of NF-κB with enhanced expression of MCL-1 and BCL-XL in CLL cells co-cultured with NLCs. Neutralizing Wnt5a or blocking NF-κB pathway significantly decreased the expression of MCL-1 and BCL-XL, which leads to enhanced sensitivity to venetoclax in CLL cells co-cultured with NLCs. In conclusion, our data showed that NLCs could be one of the sources of Wnt5a detected in patients with CLL, and Wnt5a-induced NF-κB activation in the CLL microenvironment results in resistance to venetoclax in CLL cells.
Inter-element miscibility driven stabilization of ordered pseudo-binary alloy
Authors: Matsumoto Kenshi , Sato Ryota , Tatetsu Yasutomi , Takahata Ryo , Yamazoe Seiji , Yamauchi Miho , Inagaki Yuji , Horibe Yoichi , Kudo Masaki , Toriyama Takaaki , Auchi Mitsunari , Haruta Mitsutaka , Kurata Hiroki , Teranishi Toshiharu
Published: February 2022

An infinite number of crystal structures in a multicomponent alloy with a specific atomic ratio can be devised, although only thermodynamically-stable phases can be formed. Here, we experimentally show the first example of a layer-structured pseudo-binary alloy, theoretically called Z3-FePd3. This Z3 structure is achieved by adding a small amount of In, which is immiscible with Fe but miscible with Pd and consists of an alternate L10 (CuAu-type)-PdFePd trilayer and Pd–In ordered alloy monolayer along the c axis. First-principles calculations strongly support that the specific inter-element miscibility of In atoms stabilizes the thermodynamically-unstable Z3-FePd3 phase without significantly changing the original density of states of the Z3-FePd3 phase. Our results demonstrate that the specific inter-element miscibility can switch stable structures and manipulate the material nature with a slight composition change.
Modeling comparative cost-effectiveness of SARS-CoV-2 vaccine dose fractionation in India
Authors: Du Zhanwei , Wang Lin , Pandey Abhishek , Lim Wey Wen , Chinazzi Matteo , Piontti Ana Pastore y. , Lau Eric H. Y. , Wu Peng , Malani Anup , Cobey Sarah , Cowling Benjamin J.
Published: February 2022

Given global Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine shortages and inequity of vaccine distributions, fractionation of vaccine doses might be an effective strategy for reducing public health and economic burden, notwithstanding the emergence of new variants of concern. In this study, we developed a multi-scale model incorporating population-level transmission and individual-level vaccination to estimate the costs of hospitalization and vaccination and the economic benefits of reducing COVID-19 deaths due to dose-fractionation strategies in India. We used large-scale survey data of the willingness to pay together with data of vaccine and hospital admission costs to build the model. We found that fractional doses of vaccines could be an economically viable vaccination strategy compared to alternatives of either full-dose vaccination or no vaccination. Dose-sparing strategies could save a large number of lives, even with the emergence of new variants with higher transmissibility.
Domestic dogs (Canis familiaris) grieve over the loss of a conspecific
Authors: Uccheddu Stefania , Ronconi Lucia , Albertini Mariangela , Coren Stanley , Da Graça Pereira Gonçalo , De Cataldo Loriana , Haverbeke Anouck , Mills Daniel Simon , Pierantoni Ludovica , Riemer Stefanie , Testoni Ines , Pirrone Federica
Published: February 2022

Behavioural reactions towards a dead conspecific have been observed rarely in wild canids and there is no documented scientific evidence of grief in pet dogs. A quantitative analysis of grief-related responses in both dogs and owners was conducted, using the validated online Mourning Dog Questionnaire. The survey was completed by 426 Italian adults who had owned at least two dogs, one of whom died while the other was still alive. This research aims to explore whether, how and what a dog may experience over the loss of a companion dog. Multiple logistic regression indicates that both a friendly or parental relationship between two dogs but also the fact that dogs used to share food and the owner’s grief and anger are principal predictors of negative behavioural changes. According to dog owners’ answers, the surviving dog after the death of the companion dog changed both in terms of activities (“playing”, “sleeping”, and “eating”) and emotions (fearfulness), which occurred as a function of the quality of the relationship between the two animals. By contrast, the time the two dogs had spent together had no effect on the behaviours of surviving dog. Owner perceptions about their dog’s reactions and emotions were not related to the memory or suffering of the event that tended to diminish over time. These findings indicate that a dog may show grief-related behavioural and emotional patterns when a close conspecific dies, with aspects of the latter possibly related to the owner’s emotional status.
Improving the efficiency and effectiveness of an industrial SARS-CoV-2 diagnostic facility
Authors: Douthwaite Julie A. , Brown Christopher A. , Ferdinand John R. , Sharma Rahul , Elliott Jane , Taylor Molly A. , Malintan Nancy T. , Duvoisin Hannah , Hill Thomas , Delpuech Oona , Orton Alexandra L. , Pitt Haidee , Kuenzi Fred , Fish Simon , Nicholls David J. , Cuthbert Anna , Richards Ian , Ratcliffe Giles , Upadhyay Abhishek , Marklew Abigail , Hewitt Craig , Ross-Thriepland Douglas , Brankin Christopher , Chodorge Matthieu , Browne Gareth , Mander Palwinder K. , DeWildt Ruud M. , Weaver Shane , Smee Penny A. , van Kempen Joost , Bartlett Jon G. , Allen Paula M. , Koppe Emma L. , Ashby Charlotte A. , Phipps Julian D. , Mehta Nalini , Brierley David J. , Tew David G. , Leveridge Melanie V. , Baddeley Stuart M. , Goodfellow Ian G. , Green Clive , Abell Chris , Neely Andy , Waddell Ian , Rees Steve , Maxwell Patrick H. , Pangalos Menelas N. , Howes Rob , Clark Roger
Published: February 2022

On 11th March 2020, the UK government announced plans for the scaling of COVID-19 testing, and on 27th March 2020 it was announced that a new alliance of private sector and academic collaborative laboratories were being created to generate the testing capacity required. The Cambridge COVID-19 Testing Centre (CCTC) was established during April 2020 through collaboration between AstraZeneca, GlaxoSmithKline, and the University of Cambridge, with Charles River Laboratories joining the collaboration at the end of July 2020. The CCTC lab operation focussed on the optimised use of automation, introduction of novel technologies and process modelling to enable a testing capacity of 22,000 tests per day. Here we describe the optimisation of the laboratory process through the continued exploitation of internal performance metrics, while introducing new technologies including the Heat Inactivation of clinical samples upon receipt into the laboratory and a Direct to PCR protocol that removed the requirement for the RNA extraction step. We anticipate that these methods will have value in driving continued efficiency and effectiveness within all large scale viral diagnostic testing laboratories.
Design and implementation of compact dual-band conformal antenna for leadless cardiac pacemaker system
Authors: Sharma Deepti , Kanaujia Binod Kumar , Kaim Vikrant , Mittra Raj , Arya Ravi Kumar , Matekovits Ladislau
Published: February 2022

The leadless cardiac pacemaker is a pioneering device for heart patients. Its rising success requires the design of compact implantable antennas. In this paper, we describe a circularly polarized Hilbert curve inspired loop antenna. The proposed antenna works in the WMTS (Wireless Medical Telemetry Services) 1.4 GHz and ISM (Industrial, Scientific, and Medical) 2.45 GHz bands. High dielectric constant material Rogers RT/Duroid 6010 LM ($${\epsilon }_{r}$$

ϵ
r

=10) and fractal geometry helps to design the antenna with a small footprint of 9.1 mm3 (6 mm × 6 mm × 0.254 mm). The designed antenna has a conformal shape that fits inside a leadless pacemaker’s capsule is surrounded by IC models and battery, which are tightly packed in the device enclosure. Subsequently, the integrated prototype is simulated deep inside at the center of the multi-layer canonical heart model. To verify experimentally, we have put dummy electronics (IC and battery) inside the 3D printed pacemaker’s capsule and surfaced the fabricated conformal antenna around the inner curved body of the TCP (Transcatheter Pacing) capsule. Furthermore, we have tested the TCP capsule by inserting it in a ballistic gel phantom and minced pork. The measured impedance bandwidths at 1.4 GHz and 2.45 GHz are 250 MHz and 430 MHz, whereas measured gains are − 33.2 dBi, and − 28.5 dBi, respectively.
Unsupervised topological learning approach of crystal nucleation
Authors: Becker Sébastien , Devijver Emilie , Molinier Rémi , Jakse Noël
Published: February 2022

Nucleation phenomena commonly observed in our every day life are of fundamental, technological and societal importance in many areas, but some of their most intimate mechanisms remain however to be unravelled. Crystal nucleation, the early stages where the liquid-to-solid transition occurs upon undercooling, initiates at the atomic level on nanometre length and sub-picoseconds time scales and involves complex multidimensional mechanisms with local symmetry breaking that can hardly be observed experimentally in the very details. To reveal their structural features in simulations without a priori, an unsupervised learning approach founded on topological descriptors loaned from persistent homology concepts is proposed. Applied here to monatomic metals, it shows that both translational and orientational ordering always come into play simultaneously as a result of the strong bonding when homogeneous nucleation starts in regions with low five-fold symmetry. It also reveals the specificity of the nucleation pathways depending on the element considered, with features beyond the hypothesis of Classical Nucleation Theory.
Cycling area can be a confounder and effect modifier of the association between helmet use and cyclists’ risk of death after a crash
Authors: Molina-Soberanes Daniel , Martínez-Ruiz Virginia , Gordo Daniel Águila , Martín-delosReyes Luis Miguel , Rivera-Izquierdo Mario , Lardelli-Claret Pablo
Published: February 2022

The effect of helmet use on reducing the risk of death in cyclists appears to be distorted by some variables (potential confounders, effect modifiers, or both). Our aim was to provide evidence for or against the hypothesis that cycling area may act as a confounder and effect modifier of the association between helmet use and risk of death of cyclists involved in road crashes. Data were analysed for 24,605 cyclists involved in road crashes in Spain. A multiple imputation procedure was used to mitigate the effect of missing values. We used multilevel Poisson regression with province as the group level to estimate the crude association between helmet use and risk of death, and also three adjusted analyses: (1) for cycling area only, (2) for the remaining variables which may act as confounders, and (3) for all variables. Incidence–density ratios (IDR) and their 95% confidence intervals were calculated. Crude IDR was 1.10, but stratifying by cycling area disclosed a protective, differential effect of helmet use: IDR = 0.67 in urban areas, IDR = 0.34 on open roads. Adjusting for all variables except cycling area yielded similar results in both strata, albeit with a smaller difference between them. Adjusting for cycling area only yielded a strong association (IDR = 0.42), which was slightly lower in the adjusted analysis for all variables (IDR = 0.45). Cycling area can act as a confounder and also appears to act as an effect modifier (albeit to a lesser extent) of the risk of cyclists’ death after a crash.
Semiconductor-based surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS): from active materials to performance improvement
Authors: Wang Xuejiao , Zhang Erjin , Shi Huimin , Tao Yufeng , Ren Xudong
Published: February 2022

We review the recent progress in semiconductor-based SERS. We mainly discuss the enhancement mechanism, SERS-active materials for semiconductors, and potential strategies to improve the SERS performance.
Fourier transformation liquid chromatography: increasing sensitivity by a factor of 50
Authors: Matz Markus , Botha Carlo , Beskers Timo , Wilhelm Manfred
Published: February 2022

To turn liquid chromatography into a Fourier transformation technique a continuous sinusoidal sample concentration profile is developed, which increases the sensitivity. The analytes can be characterized by evaluating the phase angle and magnitude.
A coumarin-based reversible two-photon fluorescence probe for imaging glutathione near N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptors
Authors: Kwon Nahyun , Lim Chang Su , Lee Dayoung , Ko Gyeongju , Ha Jeongsun , Cho Moonyeon , Swamy K. M. K. , Lee Eun-Young , Lee Dong Joon , Nam Sang-Jip , Zhou Xin , Kim Hwan Myung , Yoon Juyoung
Published: February 2022

In this article, we report coumarin derivative 1 bearing cyanoacrylamide and ifenprodil moieties as the first reversible fluorescent probe that can monitor GSH near NMDA receptors.
Ultrafast separation of multiexcitons within core/shell quantum dot hybrid systems
Authors: Trinh Phuong Thao , Hasenstab Sina , Braun Markus , Wachtveitl Josef
Published: February 2022

The electron transfer (ET) processes in methylene blue-quantum dot (CdTe and CdTe/CdSe) complexes were investigated spectroscopically. Photon flux dependent transient absorption experiments show the separation of multiexcitons for the accelerated ET.
Looking at platinum carbonyl nanoclusters as superatoms
Authors: Wei Jianyu , Marchal Rémi , Astruc Didier , Kahlal Samia , Halet Jean-François , Saillard Jean-Yves
Published: February 2022

Although the chemistry of carbonyl-protected platinum nanoclusters is well established, their bonding mode remains poorly understood.
Regio- and stereoselective synthesis of functionalized and fused heterocycles from Morita–Baylis–Hillman adducts of dicyclopentadienone
Authors: Suresh Alati , Lal Sohan , Namboothiri Irishi N. N.
Published: February 2022

Morita–Baylis–Hillman acetates and bromides undergo [3 + 3] annulation with binucleophiles and the products on retro-Diels–Alder reaction deliver cyclopentenone-fused heterocycles.
Solar driven efficient direct conversion of methane to multicarbon oxygenates
Authors: Feng Guanghui , Zhao Yonghui , Ma Cuijie , Chen Wei , Li Tong , Zhao Xiaoju , Li Guihua , Dong Xiao , Song Yanfang , Wei Wei , Sun Yuhan
Published: February 2022

A reduced graphene oxide/titanium dioxide composite with abundant oxygen vacancies shows high photocatalytic activity of direct methane conversion to multicarbon oxygenates using only water vapor as an oxidant under mild conditions.
KEu2In3B12S13: a novel type of thioborate featuring B12S12 cluster and unique In6S6 12-membered ring
Authors: Han Shan-Shan , Xu Qian-Ting , Liu Wenlong , Guo Sheng-Ping
Published: February 2022

A novel thioborate KEu2In3B12S13 features {[In3B12S30]32–}∞ polyanionic framework built by B12S12 clusters and [In6S6]6+ 12-membered rings. Its structural chemistry, optical/magnetic properties, and theoretical calculations are studied.
Conceptual Framework Behind the Development of a Level of Confidence Tool: The Pediatric Videofluoroscopic Swallow Study Value Scale
Authors: Smith Leann Schow , Barkmeier-Kraemer Julie M.
Published: February 2022

Purpose:

The videofluoroscopic swallow study (VFSS) is the most commonly used instrumental procedure for evaluating swallowing in pediatric populations suspected of having dysphagia. Assessment and interpretation of a VFSS in pediatric populations is frequently challenged by testing-specific factors that can raise concerns regarding the representativeness of swallow events observed during testing compared to daily feeding/swallowing physiology. When VFSS findings do not represent typical swallowing patterns, treatment recommendations can result in suboptimal outcomes. To address this current challenge to pediatric VFSS interpretation and associated treatment recommendations, the pediatric VFSS Value Scale (pVFSS Value Scale) was developed within a tertiary regional pediatric medical center. This clinical focus article summarizes the initial scale development phases and resulting conceptual framework for rating clinical testing factors that influence a clinician's level of confidence regarding pediatric VFSS findings. Future goals for scientific evaluation and clinical utilization of this new rating scale are also reported.

Conclusions:

The pVFSS Value Scale was developed to assist clinicians with interpretation of pediatric VFSS assessment outcomes and to efficiently communicate factors influencing impressions and treatment recommendations with team members and caregivers. This clinical concept article summarizes potential uses of this tool to inform treatment planning as well as future clinical research to evaluate its psychometrics and clinical utility.
3D magnetic-field morphology of the Perseus molecular cloud
Authors: Tahani M. , Lupypciw W. , Glover J. , Plume R. , West J. L. , Kothes R. , Inutsuka S. , Lee M.-Y. , Robishaw T. , Knee L. B. G. , Brown J. C. , Doi Y. , Grenier I. A. , Haverkorn M.
Published: February 2022

Context.Despite recent observational and theoretical advances in mapping the magnetic fields associated with molecular clouds, their three-dimensional (3D) morphology remains unresolved. Multi-wavelength and multi-scale observations will allow us to paint a comprehensive picture of the magnetic fields of these star-forming regions.

Aims.We reconstructed the 3D magnetic field morphology associated with the Perseus molecular cloud and compared it with predictions of cloud-formation models. These cloud-formation models predict a bending of magnetic fields associated with filamentary molecular clouds. We compared the orientation and direction of this field bending with our 3D magnetic-field view of the Perseus cloud.

Methods.We used previous line-of-sight and plane-of-sky magnetic field observations as well as Galactic magnetic field models to reconstruct the complete 3D magnetic field vectors and morphology associated with the Perseus cloud.

Results.We approximated the 3D magnetic field morphology of the cloud as a concave arc that points in the decreasing longitude direction in the plane of the sky (from our point of view). This field morphology preserves a memory of the Galactic magnetic field. In order to compare this morphology to cloud-formation model predictions, we assume that the cloud retains a memory of its most recent interaction. After incorporating velocity observations, we find that the line-of-sight magnetic field observations are consistent with predictions of shock-cloud-interaction models.

Conclusions.To our knowledge, this is the first time that the 3D magnetic fields of a molecular cloud have been reconstructed. We find the 3D magnetic field morphology of the Perseus cloud to be consistent with the predictions of the shock-cloud-interaction model that describes the formation mechanism of filamentary molecular clouds.
Strong spiral arms drive secular growth of pseudo bulges in disk galaxies
Authors: Yu Si-Yue , Xu Dewang , Ho Luis C. , Wang Jing , Kao Wei-Bo
Published: February 2022

Spiral-driven instabilities may drive gas inflow to enhance central star formation in disk galaxies. We investigate this hypothesis using the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) in a sample of 2779 nearby unbarred star-forming main sequence spiral galaxies. The strength of spiral arms is quantified by their average Fourier amplitude relative to the axisymmetric disk. The star formation properties in the central 1–3 kpc region were derived from the SDSS spectra. We show that galaxies with stronger spiral arms not only tend to have more intense central specific star formation rates (sSFRs), larger Balmer absorption line indices, and lower 4000 Å break strengths, but also have enhanced central sSFRs relative to the sSFR measured for the whole galaxy. This link is independent of redshift, stellar mass, surface density, and concentration. There is a lack of evidence for strong spiral arms being associated with a significant fraction of starburst or post-starburst galaxies, implying that the spiral-induced central star formation is likely continuous rather than bursty. We also show that stronger spiral arms tend to have an increasing fraction of pseudo bulges, a relatively unchanged fraction of star-forming classical bulges, and a decreasing fraction of quenched classical bulges. Moreover, the concentration of galaxies hosting pseudo bulges mildly increases with stronger spiral arms, implying that spirals help pseudo bulges grow. The connection between spirals and bulge type is partly attributed to the suppression of spirals by classical bulges and partly to the enhanced central star formation driven by spirals. We explain our results in the context of a scenario where spiral arms transport cold gas inward to trigger continuous central star formation, which facilitates the buildup of pseudo bulges. Spiral arms thus play a role in the secular evolution of disk galaxies.
The Impact of Nuclear Physics Uncertainties on Interpreting Kilonova Light Curves
Authors: Zhu Yonglin , Barnes Jennifer , Lund K. A. , Sprouse T. M , Vassh N. , McLaughlin G. C , Mumpower M. R , Surman R.
Published: February 2022

Recently, analysis of the optical counterpart AT2017gfo to the gravitational wave-detected neutron star merger GW170817 has suggested a promising resolution of a long-standing debate on neutron star mergers as a source of some of the heaviest elements. However, making quantitative progress in these areas requires an accounting of the uncertainties in different aspects of physics, which is input into simulations of merging compact objects and their associated phenomena, remarkably rapid neutron capture nucleosynthesis. We investigate the uncertainties from the nuclear inputs to rapid neutron capture nucleosynthesis calculations combining different theoretical nuclear mass models, spontaneous fission rates, and fission daughter product distributions on top of the experimental nuclear data. We report that such nuclear physics uncertainties typically generate at least one order of magnitude uncertainty in the nuclear heating, which leads to uncertainties in the bolometric luminosity and the inferred mass of r-process material from the kilonova light curve.
New capability for indirect neutron capture measurements: The DICER instrument at LANSCE
Authors: Stamatopoulos A. , Koehler P. , Matyskin A. , Bond E. M. , Bredeweg T.A. , Couture A. , Di Giovine B. , Fassbender M.E. , Hayes-Sterbenz A. C. , Keksis A. L. , Parsons K. , Rusev G. , Ullmann J. , Vermeulen C.
Published: February 2022

The Device for Indirect Capture on Radionuclides (DICER) implements a new indirect technique for (n,γ) studies in which the neutron capture rate is determined from analysis of resonance neutron transmission data. The DICER instrument and associated radionuclide production at the Isotope Production Facility (IPF), both at the Los Alamos Neutron Science Center (LANSCE), as well radioactive sample fabrication, have been under development in the last few years. First measurements on a radioactive sample (88Zr, t½=83.4 days), which was recently reported to have an extremely large thermal neutron capture cross section and resonance integral [1, 2], are planned for the winter of 2021. A performance overview, brief details on the 88Zr fabrication and proof of good operation results will be presented.
Can we distinguish quark stars from neutron stars with measurements of global properties?
Authors: Li Ang
Published: February 2022

The phase state of the dense stellar matter is an exciting topic in the area of nuclear astrophysics. It may be probed by observed properties of neutron stars from, for example, the currently operating satellites (NICER, Neutron star Interior Composition Explorer) and the gravitational-wave laser interferometers (Advanced LIGO, Virgo, and KAGRA). Based on our recent constrained parameter spaces of the equation of states of neutron stars and quark stars from LIGO/Virgo and NICER, we discuss the important role of an even-accurate determination of the stellar radius for distinguishing possible quark stars from neutron stars and our understanding of the QCD phase transition at finite density.