bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Coarse Geometry of Topological Groups
Authors: Rosendal Christian
Published: December 2021

This book provides a general framework for doing geometric group theory for many non-locally-compact topological transformation groups that arise in mathematical practice, including homeomorphism and diffeomorphism groups of manifolds, isometry groups of separable metric spaces and automorphism groups of countable structures. Using Roe's framework of coarse structures and spaces, the author defines a natural coarse geometric structure on all topological groups. This structure is accessible to investigation, especially in the case of Polish groups, and often has an explicit description, generalising well-known structures in familiar cases including finitely generated discrete groups, compactly generated locally compact groups and Banach spaces. In most cases, the coarse geometric structure is metrisable and may even be refined to a canonical quasimetric structure on the group. The book contains many worked examples and sufficient introductory material to be accessible to beginning graduate students. An appendix outlines several open problems in this young and rich theory.
Third Factors in Language Variation and Change
Authors: Van Gelderen Elly
Published: December 2021

In this pioneering study, a world-renowned generative syntactician explores the impact of phenomena known as 'third factors' on syntactic change. Generative syntax has in recent times incorporated third factors – factors not specific to the language faculty – into its framework, including minimal search, labelling, determinacy and economy. Van Gelderen's study applies these principles to language change, arguing that change is a cyclical process, and that third factor principles must combine with linguistic information to fully account for the cyclical development of 'optimal' language structures. Third Factor Principles also account for language variation around that-trace phenomena, CP-deletion, and the presence of expletives and Verb-second. By linking insights from recent theoretical advances in generative syntax to phenomena from language variation and change, this book provides a unique perspective, making it essential reading for academic researchers and students in syntactic theory and historical linguistics.
International Law and Weapons Review
Authors: Jevglevskaja Natalia
Published: December 2021

International law requires that, before any new weapon is developed, purchased or modified, the legality of its use must be determined. This book offers the first comprehensive and systemic analysis of the law mandating such assessments – Article 36 of the 1977 Additional Protocol I to the Geneva Conventions. Underpinned by empirical research, the book explores the challenges the weapons review authorities are facing when examining emerging military technology, such as autonomous weapons systems and (autonomous) cyber capabilities. It argues that Article 36 is sufficiently broad to cover a wide range of military systems and offers States the necessary flexibility to adopt a process that best suits their organisational demands. While sending a clear signal that law should not simply follow technological developments, but rather steer them, the provision has its limits, however, which are shaped and defined by the interpretative decisions made by States.
Analysis and optimisation design on damping orifice of oleo-pneumatic landing gear
Authors: Gan S. , Fang X. , Wei X.
Published: December 2021

This paper investigates the feasibility of improving the aircraft landing performance by design the damping orifice parameters of the landing gear using lattice Boltzmann method coupled with the response surface method. The LBM is utilised to simulate characteristics of the damping orifice after model validation. The numerical model of the landing gear using simulated damping force is validated by single landing gear drop test. Based on the numerical model and the response surface functions, the sensitivity analysis and the optimisation design are performed. The maximum error of mean velocity simulated using LBM with experimental data is 7.07% for sharp-edged orifices. Moreover, the numerical model predicts the landing responses adequately, the maximum error with drop test data is 2.51%. The max overloading of the aircraft decreases by 5.44% after optimisation, which proves that this method is feasible to design the damping orifice for good landing performance.
Concentration of selected elements in the hair of Madagascar girls in relation to nutritional status and place of residence
Authors: Zielińska-Dawidziak Magdalena , Czlapka-Matyasik Magdalena , Wojciechowska Zofia , Proch Jędrzej , Niedzielski Przemysław
Published: December 2021

Although the children malnutrition in Madagascar and the environmental pollution of this country has been widely discussed, there is no research on the differences in toxic elements accumulation in human body in dependence on nutritional status of Malagasy. Nine elements concentration (Al, As, Cd, Cr, Hg, Ni, Pb, Sn and Sb) was determined in scalp hair of 103 schoolgirls (8–15 years old), living in two areas: urban – close to Antananarivo (UR) and rural Berevo region (RU). Samples were analysed by an inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometer. The nutritional status was evaluated by Cole’s index. Underweight was related to higher accumulation of Al, Cd and Cr in the hair girls, and more common among girls living in RU than UR region (42 %v. 28 %). Two-factor ANOVA showed differences in the Al and Cr content in the girls’ hair depending both on their place of residence and nutritional status. This indicates additional consequence of malnutrition to the girls development and health.
Unlawful Occupiers, Eviction and the National State of Disaster: Considering South Africa's Emergency Legislation and Jurisprudence During COVID-19
Authors: Dube Felix , du Plessis Anél
Published: December 2021

This article analyses how emergency regulations protected persons living in urban poverty, particularly unlawful occupiers, from eviction during the COVID-19 pandemic in South Africa. It is set against the socio-economic and environmental effects of unlawful occupiers being forced onto the streets through evictions. It examines the judicial interpretation and application of the COVID-19 regulations on the prohibition of the eviction of unlawful occupiers, together with remedies for compensation for demolished dwellings. Ultimately, the article shows that the regulatory and judicial responses to the pandemic were pro-poor and sought to protect human dignity, the right to life, and the right to an environment that is not detrimental to human health and well-being. The responses safeguarded access to housing at a time when many vulnerable people could have been rendered homeless by eviction and the demolition of their dwellings.
Coercing Mobility: Territory and Displacement in the Politics of Southeast Asian Muslim Movements
Authors: Gedacht Joshua , Malhi Amrita
Published: December 2021

This introductory article explores the recent turn in Asian history towards work that foregrounds mobility, circulation, and cosmopolitan connections, decentring colonial territoriality and postcolonial geo-bodies as the primary units of historical analysis. In it, and to frame our own special issue on Muslim movements in Southeast Asia, we point out that some of this mobility was coerced via projects of state territorialisation that actively displaced select, targeted Muslim actors whose presence in the polity was deemed problematic by states seeking to consolidate their power. Echoes of this displacement can be traced in the politics of the Muslim movements that these actors created, as we argue in this article and throughout the special issue.
“Motorcycle Ambulance” Policy to Promote Health and Sustainable Development in Large Cities
Authors: Apiratwarakul Korakot , Suzuki Takaaki , Celebi Ismet , Tiamkao Somsak , Bhudhisawasdi Vajarabhongsa , Pearkao Chatkhane , Ienghong Kamonwon
Published: December 2021

Introduction:

Motorcycles can be considered a new form of smart vehicle when taking into account their small and modern structure and due to the fact that nowadays, they are used in the new role of ambulance to rapidly reach emergency patients in large cities with traffic congestion. However, there is no study regarding the measuring of access time for motorcycle ambulances (motorlances) in large cities of Thailand.

Study Objective:

This study aims to compare access times to patients between motorlances and conventional ambulances, including analysis of the use of automated external defibrillators (AEDs) installed on motorlances to contribute to the sustainable development of public health policies.

Methods:

A cross-sectional study was conducted on all motorlance operations in Emergency Medical Services (EMS) at Srinagarind Hospital, Thailand from January 2019 through December 2020. Data were recorded using a national standard operation record form for Thailand.

Results:

Two hundred seventy-one motorlance operations were examined over a two-year period. A total of 52.4% (N = 142) of the patients were male. The average times from dispatch to vehicle (motorlance and traditional ambulance) being en route (activation time) for motorlance and ambulance in afternoon shift were 0.59 minutes and 1.45 minutes, respectively (P = .004). The average motorlance response time in the afternoon shift was 6.12 minutes, and ambulance response time was 9.10 minutes at the same shift. Almost all of the motorlance operations (97.8%) were found to have no access to AED equipment installed in public areas. The average time from dispatch to AED arrival on scene (AED access time) was 5.02 minutes.

Conclusion:

The response time of motorlances was shorter than a conventional ambulance, and the use of AEDs on a motorlance can increase the chances of survival for patients with cardiac arrest outside the hospital in public places where AEDs are not available.
Genome-wide DNA methylation profiling in nonagenarians suggests an effect of PM20D1 in late onset Alzheimer’s disease
Authors: Coto-Vílchez Carolina , Martínez-Magaña José J. , Mora-Villalobos Lara , Valerio Daniel , Genis-Mendoza Alma D. , Silverman Jeremy M. , Nicolini Humberto , Raventós Henriette , Chavarria-Soley Gabriela
Published: December 2021

Background

The aim of this study is to identify differentially methylated regions (DMRs) in the genomes of a sample of cognitively healthy individuals and a sample of individuals with LOAD, all of them nonagenarians from Costa Rica.

Methods

In this study, we compared whole blood DNA methylation profiles of 32 individuals: 21 cognitively healthy and 11 with LOAD, using the Infinium MethylationEPIC BeadChip. First, we calculated the epigenetic age of the participants based on Horvath’s epigenetic clock. DMRcate and Bumphunter were used to identify DMRs. After in silico and knowledge-based filtering of the DMRs, we performed a methylation quantitative loci (mQTL) analysis (rs708727 and rs960603).

Results

On average, the epigenetic age was 73 years in both groups, which represents a difference of over 20 years between epigenetic and chronological age in both affected and unaffected individuals. Methylation analysis revealed 11 DMRs between groups, which contain six genes and two pseudogenes. These genes are involved in cell cycle regulation, embryogenesis, synthesis of ceramides, and migration of interneurons to the cerebral cortex. One of the six genes is PM20D1, for which altered expression has been reported in LOAD. After genotyping previously reported mQTL SNPs for the gene, we found that average methylation in the PM20D1 DMR differs between genotypes for rs708727, but not for rs960603.

Conclusions

This work supports the possible role of PM20D1 in protection against AD, by showing differential methylation in blood of affected and unaffected nonagenarians. Our results also support the influence of genetic factors on PM20D1 methylation levels.
HOW TO JUSTIFY MANDATORY ELECTORAL QUOTAS: A POLITICAL EGALITARIAN APPROACH
Authors: Mráz Attila
Published: December 2021

This paper offers a novel substantive justification for mandatory electoral quotas—e.g., gender or racial quotas—and a new methodological approach to their justification. Substantively, I argue for a political egalitarian account of electoral quotas. Methodologically, based on this account and a political egalitarian grounding of political participatory rights, I offer an alternative to the External Restriction Approach to the justification of electoral quotas. The External Restriction Approach sees electoral quotas as at best justified restrictions on political participatory rights. I argue for the Internal Restriction Approach instead, which can justify electoral quotas by specifying the pro tanto scope of political participatory rights rather than by justifying restrictions on the pro tanto scope of these rights. On this approach, adequately set electoral quotas do not even conflict with and are not balanced against political participatory rights, while electoral quotas—when justified—are pro tanto required rather than merely permitted.
Strengthening the primary health care response to COVID-19: an operational tool for policymakers
Authors: Johansen Anne S. , Shriwise Amanda , Lopez-Acuna Daniel , Vracko Pia
Published: December 2021

Aims:

The aim of this paper is to introduce an operational checklist to serve as a tool for policymakers in the WHO European Region to strengthen primary health care (PHC) services and address the COVID-19 pandemic more effectively and to present the results from piloting the tool in Armenia.

Backgrounds:

PHC has the potential to play a fundamental role in countries’ responses to COVID-19. However, this potential remains unrealized in many countries. To assist countries, the WHO Regional Office for Europe developed a guidance document – Strengthening the Health Systems Response to COVID-19: Adapting Primary Health Care Services to more Effectively Address COVID-19 – that identifies strategic actions countries can take to strengthen their PHC response to the pandemic. Based on this guidance document, an operational checklist was developed to serve as a tool for policymakers to operationalize the recommended actions.

Methods:

The operational checklist was developed by transforming key points in the guidance document into questions in order to identify potentially modifiable factors to strengthen PHC in response to COVID-19. The operational checklist was then piloted in Armenia in June 2020 as part of a WHO mission to provide technical advice on strengthening Armenia’s PHC response to COVID-19. Two WHO experts performed semi-structured, face-to-face interviews with nine key informants (both facility managers and clinical staff) in three PHC facilities (two in a rural and one in an urban area). The data collected were analyzed to identify underlying challenges limiting PHC providers’ ability to effectively and efficiently respond to COVID-19 and maintain essential health services.

Findings:

The paper finds that making adjustments only to health services delivery will be insufficient to address most of the challenges identified by PHC providers in the context of COVID-19 in Armenia. In particular, strategic responses to the pandemic were missed, due, in part, to the absence of COVID-19 management teams at the facility level. Furthermore, the absence of PHC experts in Armenia’s national pandemic response team meant that health system issues identified at the facility level could not easily be communicated to or addressed by policymakers. The checklist therefore helps policymakers identify critical challenges – at both the facility and health system level – that need to be addressed to strengthen the PHC response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Sensitivity to Injustice of Politicians and Voters
Authors: Reinhaus David , Jelich Holger , Tschuschke Volker , Wolgast Anett
Published: December 2021

Abstract. This explorative study compares the sensitivity to injustice of 116 Members of the German National Parliament and 998 German citizens eligible to vote, from the perspective of a victim, an observer, a beneficiary, and a perpetrator. Politicians were found to have a significantly higher observer, beneficiary, and perpetrator sensitivity and a significantly lower victim sensitivity than voters. These results fit with the findings that observer and perpetrator sensitivity usually correlates positively with political engagement and beneficiary sensitivity, whereas victim sensitivity correlates negatively with political commitment.
Carbon Ion Fluxes at Mars: First Results of Tailward Flows From MAVEN‐STATIC
Authors: Pickett N. B. , McFadden J. P. , Fowler C. M. , Hanley K. G. , Benna M.
Published: December 2021

Characterizing C+ ions in the Martian ionosphere is important for understanding the history of the Martian atmosphere and surface due to its place in understanding carbon escape. Measuring minor ions, like C+, which are close in mass to major atmospheric ions, in this case O+, is difficult, requiring fitting algorithms and accurate background subtraction. Accurate measurement of these species is essential for understanding chemistry and transport in the ionosphere. In this paper, we use data from the Mars Atmospheric and Volatile EvolutioN SupraThermal And Thermal Ion Composition (MAVEN‐STATIC) sensor to report the first C+ fluxes measured in the Martian magnetotail. We will describe a multistep method of background subtraction as well as fitting routines that are used to extract C+ fluxes from a 40‐orbit subset of STATIC data. Our results show tailward fluxes in both optical shadow and the adjacent sunlit magnetotail at high altitudes (3,000 km) and Mars‐ward at low altitudes (2,000 km) in shadow. These local flux values are similar to estimates of neutral carbon fluxes from photochemical escape. However, total carbon loss comparisons will require a more comprehensive study of integrated C+ loss over a larger data set from the Martian magnetotail.
Identification of Controlling Geomagnetic and Solar Wind Factors for Magnetospheric Chorus Intensity Using Feature Selection Techniques
Authors: Guo Yingjie , Ni Binbin , Fu Song , Wang Dedong , Shprits Y. Y. , Zhelavskaya I. S. , Feng Minghang , Guo Deyu
Published: December 2021

Using over‐5‐year EMFISIS wave measurements from Van Allen Probes, we present a detailed survey to identify the controlling factors among the geomagnetic indices and solar wind parameters for the 1‐min root mean square amplitudes of lower band chorus (LBC) and upper band chorus (UBC). A set of important features are automatically determined by feature selection techniques, namely, Random Forest and Maximum Relevancy Minimum Redundancy. Our analysis results indicate the AE index with zero‐time‐delay dominates the intensity evolution of LBC and UBC, consistent with the evidence that chorus waves prefer to occur and amplify during enhanced substorm periods. Regarding solar wind parameters, solar wind speed and IMF Bz are identified as the controlling factors for chorus wave intensity. Using the combination of all these important features, a predictive neural network model of chorus wave intensity is established to reconstruct the temporal variations of chorus wave intensity, for which application of Random Forest produces the overall best performance.
Examination of Radiation Belt Dynamics During Substorm Clusters: Activity Drivers and Dependencies of Trapped Flux Enhancements
Authors: Rodger Craig J. , Hendry Aaron T. , Clilverd Mark A. , Forsyth Colin , Morley Steven K.
Published: December 2021

Dynamical variations of radiation belt trapped electron fluxes are examined to better understand the variability of enhancements linked to substorm clusters. Analysis is undertaken using the Substorm Onsets and Phases from Indices of the Electrojet substorm cluster algorithm for event detection. Observations from low earth orbit are complemented by additional measurements from medium earth orbit to allow a major expansion in the energy range considered, from medium energy energetic electrons up to ultra‐relativistic electrons. The number of substorms identified inside a cluster does not depend strongly on solar wind drivers or geomagnetic indices either before, during, or after the cluster start time. Clusters of substorms linked to moderate (100 nT < AE ≤ 300 nT) or strong AE (AE ≥ 300 nT) disturbances are associated with radiation belt flux enhancements, including up to ultra‐relativistic energies by the strongest substorms (as measured by strong southward Bz and high AE). These clusters reliably occur during times of high speed solar winds streams with associated increased magnetospheric convection. However, substorm clusters associated with quiet AE disturbances (AE ≤ 100 nT) lead to no significant chorus whistler mode intensity enhancements, or increases in energetic, relativistic, or ultra‐relativistic electron flux in the outer radiation belts. In these cases the solar wind speed is low, and the geomagnetic Kp index indicates a lack of magnetospheric convection. Our study clearly indicates that clusters of substorms occurring outside of high speed wind streams are not by themselves sufficient to drive acceleration, which may be due to the lack of pre‐cluster convection.
Maximizing the Accuracy of Double Probe Electric Field Measurements Near Perigee: The Case of the Van Allen Probes Instruments
Authors: Lejosne Solène , Bonnell John W. , Wygant John R. , Mozer Forrest S.
Published: December 2021

The Van Allen Probes spacecraft flew through the inner radiation belt and the plasmasphere, probing the extremely dynamic coupling between the thermosphere, the ionosphere and the subauroral magnetosphere. Examining the electrodynamics of this region using Van Allen Probes data required that the ∼1 mV/m electric field (E‐field) of interest be measured in a region where the E‐field due to spacecraft motion was ∼100 mV/m. This means that the E‐field, the magnetic field, and the spacecraft velocity had to be measured to better than 1%. The instruments on board the Van Allen Probes have achieved this accuracy, delivering reliable near equatorial E‐field measurements even below three Earth radii. The objective of this commentary is to summarize the methodology developed over the years to maximize the accuracy and scientific return of these double probe E‐field measurements below L = 3.
Trauma and posttraumatic stress disorder modulate polygenic predictors of hippocampal and amygdala volume
Authors: Zheng Yuanchao , Garrett Melanie E. , Sun Delin , Clarke-Rubright Emily K. , Haswell Courtney C. , Maihofer Adam X. , Elman Jeremy A. , Franz Carol E. , Lyons Michael J. , Kremen William S. , Peverill Matthew , Sambrook Kelly , McLaughlin Katie A. , Davenport Nicholas D. , Disner Seth , Sponheim Scott R. , Andrew Elpiniki , Korgaonkar Mayuresh , Bryant Richard , Varkevisser Tim , Geuze Elbert , Coleman Jonathan , Beckham Jean C. , Kimbrel Nathan A. , Sullivan Danielle , Miller Mark , Hayes Jasmeet , Verfaellie Mieke , Wolf Erika , Salat David , Spielberg Jeffrey M. , Milberg William , McGlinchey Regina , Dennis Emily L. , Thompson Paul M. , Medland Sarah , Jahanshad Neda , Nievergelt Caroline M. , Ashley-Koch Allison E. , Logue Mark W. , Morey Rajendra A.
Published: December 2021

The volume of subcortical structures represents a reliable, quantitative, and objective phenotype that captures genetic effects, environmental effects such as trauma, and disease effects such as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Trauma and PTSD represent potent exposures that may interact with genetic markers to influence brain structure and function. Genetic variants, associated with subcortical volumes in two large normative discovery samples, were used to compute polygenic scores (PGS) for the volume of seven subcortical structures. These were applied to a target sample enriched for childhood trauma and PTSD. Subcortical volume PGS from the discovery sample were strongly associated in our trauma/PTSD enriched sample (n = 7580) with respective subcortical volumes of the hippocampus (p = 1.10 × 10−20), thalamus (p = 7.46 × 10−10), caudate (p = 1.97 × 10−18), putamen (p = 1.7 × 10−12), and nucleus accumbens (p = 1.99 × 10−7). We found a significant association between the hippocampal volume PGS and hippocampal volume in control subjects from our sample, but was absent in individuals with PTSD (GxE; (beta = −0.10,p = 0.027)). This significant GxE (PGS × PTSD) relationship persisted (p < 1 × 10−19) in four out of five threshold peaks (0.024, 0.133, 0.487, 0.730, and 0.889) used to calculate hippocampal volume PGSs. We detected similar GxE (G × ChildTrauma) relationships in the amygdala for exposure to childhood trauma (rs4702973;p = 2.16 × 10−7) or PTSD (rs10861272;p = 1.78 × 10−6) in theCHST11gene. The hippocampus and amygdala are pivotal brain structures in mediating PTSD symptomatology. Trauma exposure and PTSD modulate the effect of polygenic markers on hippocampal volume (GxE) and the amygdala volume PGS is associated with PTSD risk, which supports the role of amygdala volume as a risk factor for PTSD.
Outcrossing rates in an experimentally admixed population of self-compatible and self-incompatible Arabidopsis lyrata
Authors: Steinecke Christina , Gorman Courtney E. , Stift Marc , Dorken Marcel E.
Published: December 2021

The transition to self-compatibility from self-incompatibility is often associated with high rates of self-fertilization, which can restrict gene flow among populations and cause reproductive isolation of self-compatible (SC) lineages. Secondary contact between SC and self-incompatible (SI) lineages might re-establish gene flow if SC lineages remain capable of outcrossing. By contrast, intrinsic features of SC plants that reinforce high rates of self-fertilization could maintain evolutionary divergence between lineages. Arabidopsis lyrata subsp. lyrata is characterized by multiple origins of self-compatibility and high rates of self-fertilization in SC-dominated populations. It is unclear whether these high rates of selfing by SC plants have intrinsic or extrinsic causes. We estimated outcrossing rates and examined patterns of pollinator movement for 38 SC and 40 SI maternal parents sampled from an admixed array of 1509 plants sourced from six SC and six SI populations grown under uniform density. Although plants from SI populations had higher outcrossing rates (mean tm = 0.78 ± 0.05 SE) than plants from SC populations (mean tm = 0.56 ± 0.06 SE), outcrossing rates among SC plants were substantially higher than previous estimates from natural populations. Patterns of pollinator movement appeared to contribute to lower outcrossing rates for SC plants; we estimated that 40% of floral visits were geitonogamous (between flowers of the same plant). The relatively high rates of outcrossing for SC plants under standardized conditions indicate that selfing rates in natural SC populations of A. lyrata are facultative and driven by extrinsic features of A. lyrata, including patterns of pollinator movement.
Cpxm2 as a novel candidate for cardiac hypertrophy and failure in hypertension
Authors: Grabowski Katja , Herlan Laura , Witten Anika , Qadri Fatimunnisa , Eisenreich Andreas , Lindner Diana , Schädlich Martin , Schulz Angela , Subrova Jana , Mhatre Ketaki Nitin , Primessnig Uwe , Plehm Ralph , van Linthout Sophie , Escher Felicitas , Bader Michael , Stoll Monika , Westermann Dirk , Heinzel Frank R. , Kreutz Reinhold
Published: December 2021

Treatment of hypertension-mediated cardiac damage with left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy (LVH) and heart failure remains challenging. To identify novel targets, we performed comparative transcriptome analysis between genetic models derived from stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRSP). Here, we identified carboxypeptidase X 2 (Cpxm2) as a genetic locus affecting LV mass. Analysis of isolated rat cardiomyocytes and cardiofibroblasts indicated Cpxm2 expression and intrinsic upregulation in genetic hypertension. Immunostaining indicated that CPXM2 associates with the t-tubule network of cardiomyocytes. The functional role of Cpxm2 was further investigated in Cpxm2-deficient (KO) and wild-type (WT) mice exposed to deoxycorticosterone acetate (DOCA). WT and KO animals developed severe and similar systolic hypertension in response to DOCA. WT mice developed severe LV damage, including increases in LV masses and diameters, impairment of LV systolic and diastolic function and reduced ejection fraction. These changes were significantly ameliorated or even normalized (i.e., ejection fraction) in KO-DOCA animals. LV transcriptome analysis showed a molecular cardiac hypertrophy/remodeling signature in WT but not KO mice with significant upregulation of 1234 transcripts, including Cpxm2, in response to DOCA. Analysis of endomyocardial biopsies from patients with cardiac hypertrophy indicated significant upregulation of CPXM2 expression. These data support further translational investigation of CPXM2.
Kaposi’s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus T cell responses in HIV seronegative individuals from rural Uganda
Authors: Nalwoga Angela , Roshan Romin , Moore Kyle , Marshall Vickie , Miley Wendell , Labo Nazzarena , Nakibuule Marjorie , Cose Stephen , Rochford Rosemary , Newton Robert , Whitby Denise
Published: December 2021

T cell responses to Kaposi’s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) are likely essential in the control of KSHV infection and protection from associated disease, but remain poorly characterised. KSHV prevalence in rural Uganda is high at >90%. Here we investigate IFN- γ T cell responses to the KSHV proteome in HIV-negative individuals from a rural Ugandan population. We use an ex-vivo IFN- γ ELISpot assay with overlapping peptide pools spanning 83 KSHV open reading frames (ORF) on peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from 116 individuals. KSHV-specific T cell IFN- γ responses are of low intensity and heterogeneous, with no evidence of immune dominance; by contrast, IFN- γ responses to Epstein–Barr virus, Cytomegalovirus and influenza peptides are frequent and intense. Individuals with KSHV DNA in PBMC have higher IFN- γ responses to ORF73 (p = 0.02) and lower responses to K8.1 (p = 0.004) when compared with those without KSHV DNA. In summary, we demonstrate low intensity, heterogeneous T cell responses to KSHV in immune-competent individuals.
The first true millipede—1306 legs long
Authors: Marek Paul E. , Buzatto Bruno A. , Shear William A. , Means Jackson C. , Black Dennis G. , Harvey Mark S. , Rodriguez Juanita
Published: December 2021

The name “millipede” translates to a thousand feet (from mille “thousand” and pes “foot”). However, no millipede has ever been described with more than 750 legs. We discovered a new record-setting species of millipede with 1,306 legs, Eumillipes persephone, from Western Australia. This diminutive animal (0.95 mm wide, 95.7 mm long) has 330 segments, a cone-shaped head with enormous antennae, and a beak for feeding. A distant relative of the previous record holder, Illacme plenipes from California, it belongs to a different order, the Polyzoniida. Discovered 60 m below ground in a drill hole created for mineral exploration, E. persephone possesses troglomorphic features; it lacks eyes and pigmentation, and it has a greatly elongated body—features that stand in stark contrast to its closest surface-dwelling relatives in Australia and all other members of its order. Using phylogenomics, we found that super-elongation (> 180 segments) evolved repeatedly in the millipede class Diplopoda. The striking morphological similarity between E. persephone and I. plenipes is a result of convergent evolution, probably for locomotion in similar soil habitats. Discovered in the resource-rich Goldfields-Esperance region and threatened by encroaching surface mining, documentation of this species and conservation of its habitat are of critical importance.
Genetically-predicted prefrontal DRD4 gene expression modulates differentiated brain responses to food cues in adolescent girls and boys
Authors: Portella Andre K. , Papantoni Afroditi , Joseph Antoneta T. , Chen Liuyi , Lee Richard S. , Silveira Patricia P. , Dube Laurette , Carnell Susan
Published: December 2021

The dopamine receptor 4 (DRD4) in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) acts to modulate behaviours including cognitive control and motivation, and has been implicated in behavioral inhibition and responsivity to food cues. Adolescence is a sensitive period for the development of habitual eating behaviors and obesity risk, with potential mediation by development of the PFC. We previously found that genetic variations influencing DRD4 function or expression were associated with measures of laboratory and real-world eating behavior in girls and boys. Here we investigated brain responses to high energy–density (ED) and low-ED food cues using an fMRI task conducted in the satiated state. We used the gene-based association method PrediXcan to estimate tissue-specific DRD4 gene expression in prefrontal brain areas from individual genotypes. Among girls, those with lower vs. higher predicted prefrontal DRD4 expression showed lesser activation to high-ED and low-ED vs. non-food cues in a distributed network of regions implicated in attention and sensorimotor processing including middle frontal gyrus, and lesser activation to low-ED vs non-food cues in key regions implicated in valuation including orbitofrontal cortex and ventromedial PFC. In contrast, males with lower vs. higher predicted prefrontal DRD4 expression showed minimal differences in food cue response, namely relatively greater activation to high-ED and low-ED vs. non-food cues in the inferior parietal lobule. Our data suggest sex-specific effects of prefrontal DRD4 on brain food responsiveness in adolescence, with modulation of distributed regions relevant to cognitive control and motivation observable in female adolescents.
Distance sampling surveys reveal 17 million vertebrates directly killed by the 2020’s wildfires in the Pantanal, Brazil
Authors: Tomas Walfrido Moraes , Berlinck Christian Niel , Chiaravalloti Rafael Morais , Faggioni Gabriel Paganini , Strüssmann Christine , Libonati Renata , Abrahão Carlos Roberto , do Valle Alvarenga Gabriela , de Faria Bacellar Ana Elisa , de Queiroz Batista Flávia Regina , Bornato Thainan Silva , Camilo André Restel , Castedo Judite , Fernando Adriana Maria Espinóza , de Freitas Gabriel Oliveira , Garcia Carolina Martins , Gonçalves Henrique Santos , de Freitas Guilherme Mariella Butti , Layme Viviane Maria Guedes , Lustosa Ana Paula Gomes , De Oliveira Ailton Carneiro , da Rosa Oliveira Maxwell , de Matos Martins Pereira Alexandre , Rodrigues Julia Abrantes , Semedo Thiago Borges Fernandes , de Souza Rafael Augusto Ducel , Tortato Fernando Rodrigo , Viana Diego Francis Passos , Vicente-Silva Luciana , Morato Ronaldo
Published: December 2021

Anthropogenic factors have significantly influenced the frequency, duration, and intensity of meteorological drought in many regions of the globe, and the increased frequency of wildfires is among the most visible consequences of human-induced climate change. Despite the fire role in determining biodiversity outcomes in different ecosystems, wildfires can cause negative impacts on wildlife. We conducted ground surveys along line transects to estimate the first-order impact of the 2020 wildfires on vertebrates in the Pantanal wetland, Brazil. We adopted the distance sampling technique to estimate the densities and the number of dead vertebrates in the 39,030 square kilometers affected by fire. Our estimates indicate that at least 16.952 million vertebrates were killed immediately by the fires in the Pantanal, demonstrating the impact of such an event in wet savanna ecosystems. The Pantanal case also reminds us that the cumulative impact of widespread burning would be catastrophic, as fire recurrence may lead to the impoverishment of ecosystems and the disruption of their functioning. To overcome this unsustainable scenario, it is necessary to establish proper biomass fuel management to avoid cumulative impacts caused by fire over biodiversity and ecosystem services.
Accelerated synthesis of energetic precursor cage compounds using confined volume systems
Authors: Brown Hilary M. , Doppalapudi Karan R. , Fedick Patrick W.
Published: December 2021

Confined volume systems, such as microdroplets, Leidenfrost droplets, or thin films, can accelerate chemical reactions. Acceleration occurs due to the evaporation of solvent, the increase in reactant concentration, and the higher surface-to-volume ratios amongst other phenomena. Performing reactions in confined volume systems derived from mass spectrometry ionization sources or Leidenfrost droplets allows for reaction conditions to be changed quickly for rapid screening in a time efficient and cost-saving manner. Compared to solution phase reactions, confined volume systems also reduce waste by screening reaction conditions in smaller volumes prior to scaling. Herein, the condensation of glyoxal with benzylamine (BA) to form hexabenzylhexaazaisowurtzitane (HBIW), an intermediate to the highly desired energetic compound 2,4,6,8,10,12-hexanitro-2,4,6,8,10,12-hexaazaisowurtzitane (CL-20), was explored. Five confined volume systems were compared to evaluate which technique was ideal for forming this complex cage structure. Substituted amines were also explored as BA replacements to screen alternative cage structure intermediates and evaluate how these accelerated techniques could apply to novel reactions, discover alternative reagents to form the cage compound, and improve synthetic routes for the preparation of CL-20. Ultimately, reaction acceleration is ideal for predicting the success of novel reactions prior to scaling up and determining if the expected products form, all while saving time and reducing costs. Acceleration factors and conversion ratios for each reaction were assessed by comparing the amount of product formed to the traditional bulk solution phase synthesis.
Antinociceptive activities of a novel diarylpentanoid analogue, 2-benzoyl-6-(3-bromo-4-hydroxybenzylidene)cyclohexen-1-ol, and its possible mechanisms of action in mice
Authors: Ong Hui Ming , Azmi Ahmad Farhan Ahmad , Leong Sze Wei , Abas Faridah , Perimal Enoch Kumar , Farouk Ahmad Akira Omar , Israf Daud Ahmad , Sulaiman Mohd Roslan
Published: December 2021

A novel synthetic compound from the 2-benzoyl-6-benzylidenecyclohexanone analogue, namely 2-benzoyl-6-(3-bromo-4-hydroxybenzylidene)cyclohexen-1-ol (BBHC), showed pronounced nitric oxide inhibition in IFN-γ/LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells. Based on this previous finding, our present study aimed to investigate the antinociceptive effects of BBHC via chemical and thermal stimuli in vivo. The investigation of the antinociceptive activity of BBHC (0.1, 0.3, 1.0 and 3.0 mg/kg, i.p.) was initiated with 3 preliminary screening tests, then BBHC was subjected to investigate its possible involvement with excitatory neurotransmitters and opioid receptors. The potential acute toxicity of BBHC administration was also studied. Administration of BBHC significantly inhibited acetic acid-induced abdominal constrictions, formalin-induced paw licking activity and developed notable increment in the latency time. BBHC’s ability to suppress capsaicin- and glutamate-induced paw licking activities, as well as to antagonise the effect of naloxone, had indicated the possible involvement of its antinociception with TRPV1, glutamate and opioid receptors, respectively. The antinociceptive activities of BBHC was not related to any sedative action and no evidence of acute toxic effect was detected. The present study showed that BBHC possessed significant peripheral and central antinociceptive activities via chemical- and thermal-induced nociceptive murine models without any locomotor alteration and acute toxicity.
Association between albumin infusion and outcomes in patients with acute kidney injury and septic shock
Authors: Ge Chenglong , Peng Qianyi , Chen Wei , Li Wenchao , Zhang Lina , Ai Yuhang
Published: December 2021

Septic shock with acute kidney injury (AKI) is common in critically ill patients. Our aim was to evaluate the association between albumin infusion and outcomes in patients with septic shock and AKI. Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care (MIMIC)-III was used to identify patients with septic shock and AKI. Propensity score matching (PSM) was employed to balance the baseline differences. Cox proportional hazards model, Wilcoxon rank-sum test, and logistic regression were utilized to determine the associations of albumin infusion with mortality, length of stay, and recovery of kidney function, respectively. A total of 2861 septic shock patients with AKI were studied, including 891 with albumin infusion, and 1970 without albumin infusion. After PSM, 749 pairs of patients were matched. Albumin infusion was associated with improved 28-day survival (HR 0.72; 95% CI 0.59–0.86; P = 0.002), but it was not difference in 90-day mortality between groups (HR 0.94; 95% CI 0.79–1.12; P = 0.474). Albumin infusion was not associated with the renal function recovery (HR 0.91; 95% CI 0.73–1.13; P = 0.393) in either population. Nevertheless, subgroup analysis showed that albumin infusion was distinctly associated with reduced 28-day mortality in patients with age > 60 years. The results need to be validated in more randomized controlled trials.
Explainable artificial intelligence (XAI) for exploring spatial variability of lung and bronchus cancer (LBC) mortality rates in the contiguous USA
Authors: Ahmed Zia U. , Sun Kang , Shelly Michael , Mu Lina
Published: December 2021

Machine learning (ML) has demonstrated promise in predicting mortality; however, understanding spatial variation in risk factor contributions to mortality rate requires explainability. We applied explainable artificial intelligence (XAI) on a stack-ensemble machine learning model framework to explore and visualize the spatial distribution of the contributions of known risk factors to lung and bronchus cancer (LBC) mortality rates in the conterminous United States. We used five base-learners—generalized linear model (GLM), random forest (RF), Gradient boosting machine (GBM), extreme Gradient boosting machine (XGBoost), and Deep Neural Network (DNN) for developing stack-ensemble models. Then we applied several model-agnostic approaches to interpret and visualize the stack ensemble model's output in global and local scales (at the county level). The stack ensemble generally performs better than all the base learners and three spatial regression models. A permutation-based feature importance technique ranked smoking prevalence as the most important predictor, followed by poverty and elevation. However, the impact of these risk factors on LBC mortality rates varies spatially. This is the first study to use ensemble machine learning with explainable algorithms to explore and visualize the spatial heterogeneity of the relationships between LBC mortality and risk factors in the contiguous USA.
Effects of seaweed extracts on in vitro rumen fermentation characteristics, methane production, and microbial abundance
Authors: Choi Youyoung , Lee Shin Ja , Kim Hyun Sang , Eom Jun Sik , Jo Seong Uk , Guan Le Luo , Seo Jakyeom , Kim Hanbeen , Lee Sang Suk , Lee Sung Sill
Published: December 2021

Several seaweed extracts have been reported to have potential antimethanogenic effects in ruminants. In this study, the effect of three brown seaweed species (Undaria pinnatifida, UPIN; Sargassum fusiforme, SFUS; and Sargassum fulvellum, SFUL) on rumen fermentation characteristics, total gas, methane (CH4), carbon dioxide (CO2) production, and microbial populations were investigated using an in vitro batch culture system. Seaweed extract and its metabolites, total flavonoid and polyphenol contents were identified and compared. For the in vitro batch, 0.25 mg∙mL−1 of each seaweed extract were used in 6, 12, 24, 36 and 48 h of incubation. Seaweed extract supplementation decreased CH4 yield and its proportion to total gas production after 12, 24, and 48 h of incubation, while total gas production were not significantly different. Total volatile fatty acid and molar proportion of propionate increased with SFUS and SFUL supplementation after 24 h of incubation, whereas UPIN was not affected. Additionally, SFUS increased the absolute abundance of total bacteria, ciliate protozoa, fungi, methanogenic archaea, and Fibrobacter succinogenes. The relative proportions of Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens, Butyrivibrio proteoclasticus, and Prevotella ruminicola were lower with seaweed extract supplementation, whereas Anaerovibrio lipolytica increased. Thus, seaweed extracts can decrease CH4 production, and alter the abundance of rumen microbial populations.
Systematic review and meta-analysis of modified facelift incision versus modified Blair incision in parotidectomy
Authors: Lee Yi-Chan , Liao Wei-Chih , Yang Shih-Wei , Luo Cheng-Ming , Tsai Yao-Te , Tsai Ming-Shao , Lee Yi-Hsuan , Hsin Li-Jen
Published: December 2021

Surgical removal is the treatment of choice for many neoplasms of the parotid gland. This meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the differences between parotidectomy using a modified facelift incision (MFI) and parotidectomy using a modified Blair incision (MBI). A systematic search of the available literature in PubMed, Embase and the Cochrane Library was performed. Studies of adult patients who underwent open parotidectomy with presumed benign parotid neoplasms based on preoperative examinations were reviewed. The surgical outcomes of the MFI and MBI groups were collected. Intraoperative and postoperative parameters, including operative time, tumor size, cosmetic satisfaction, and incidences of facial palsy, Frey’s syndrome and salivary complications, were compared. Dichotomous data and continuous data were analyzed by calculating the risk difference (RD) and the mean difference (MD) with the 95% confidence interval (CI), respectively. Seven studies were included in the final analysis. The pooled analysis demonstrated that the cosmetic satisfaction score was significantly higher in the MFI group (MD = 1.66; 95% CI 0.87–2.46). The operative duration in the MFI group was significantly longer than that in the MBI group (MD = 0.07; 95% CI 0.00–0.14). The MFI group exhibited a smaller tumor size (MD = − 2.27; 95% CI − 4.25 to − 0.30) and a lower incidence of Frey’s syndrome (RD = − 0.18; 95% CI − 0.27 to − 0.10). The incidence of postoperative temporary facial palsy (RD = − 0.05; 95% CI − 0.12 to 0.03), permanent facial palsy (RD = − 0.01; 95% CI − 0.06 to 0.03) and salivary complications (RD = − 0.00; 95% CI − 0.05 to 0.05) was comparable between the two groups. Based on these results, MFI may be a feasible technique for improving the cosmetic results of patients who need parotidectomy when oncological safety can be ensured.