bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Mycorrhizal technologies for an agriculture of the middle
Authors: Oviatt Peter , Rillig Matthias C.
Published: December 2020

Across industrial societies, midsize farms are in decline. A future of sustainable agriculture will require more than industrial and cottage farmers. We show that emergent mycorrhizal science is well‐suited to support applications for an “agriculture of the middle,” and note two obstacles to the development of more integrated mycorrhizal technologies: an overreliance on commercial inoculants (industrial agriculture) and a tendency to treat soil biology as a black box (cottage agriculture). In this paper, we aim to provoke conversation among policy makers, research funders, and corporate executives on the development of mycorrhizal technologies for an agriculture of the middle.
Flonicamid and knockdown of inward rectifier potassium channel gene CsKir2B adversely affect the feeding and development of Chilo suppressalis
Authors: Meng Xiangkun , Wu Zhaolu , Yang Xuemei , Qian Kun , Zhang Nan , Jiang Heng , Yin Xingcan , Guan Daojie , Zheng Yang , Wang Jianjun
Published: December 2020

BACKGROUND

The selective insecticide flonicamid shows highly insecticidal activities against piercing‐sucking insects and has been widely used for the control of Hemipteran insect pests, whereas its effects on Lepidopteran insect pests remain largely unknown. Recently, inward rectifier potassium (Kir) channel has been verified to be a target of flonicamid, however, functional characterization of Lepidopteran Kir genes is still lacking.

RESULTS

Flonicamid shows no insecticidal toxicity against Chilo suppressalis larvae. However, the feeding and growth of larvae were reversibly inhibited by flonicamid (50–1200 mg L−1). Flonicamid treatment also remarkably reduced and delayed the pupation and eclosion of Chilo suppressalis. Additionally, five distinct Kir channel genes (CsKir1, CsKir2A, CsKir2B, CsKir3A and CsKir3B) were cloned from Chilo suppressalis. Expression profiles analysis revealed that CsKir2A was predominately expressed in the hindgut of larvae, whereas CsKir2B had high expressions in the Malpighian tubules and hindgut. RNA interference (RNAi)‐mediated knockdown of CsKir2B significantly reduced the growth and increased the mortalities of larvae, whereas silencing of CsKir2A had no obvious effects on Chilo suppressalis.

CONCLUSION

Flonicamid exhibits adverse effects on the growth and development of Chilo suppressalis. CsKir2B might be involved in the feeding behavior of Chilo suppressalis. These results provide valuable information on the effects of flonicamid on non‐target insects as well as the function of insect Kir channels, and are helpful in developing new insecticide targeting insect Kir channels. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry
Functional analysis of a carboxylesterase gene involved in beta‐cypermethrin and phoxim resistance in Plutella xylostella (L.)
Authors: Li Ran , Zhu Bin , Shan Jinqiong , Li Linhong , Liang Pei , Gao Xiwu
Published: December 2020

BACKGROUND

Carboxylesterases (CarEs) are associated with detoxification of xenobiotics, including insecticides, in organism bodies. Overexpression of CarE genes is considered to have an important role in insecticide resistance in insects, however its involvement in multi‐insecticide resistance has rarely been reported. This study aimed to assess the function of a CarE gene (PxαE8) in resistance to five insecticides in Plutella xylostella.

RESULTS

Relative expression of PxαE8 in three multi‐insecticide‐resistant Plutella xylostella populations, GD‐2017, GD‐2019 and HN, was14.8‐, 19.5‐ and 28.0‐fold higher than that in the susceptible population. Exposure to lethal concentrations associated with 25% mortality (LC25) of beta‐cypermethrin, chlorantraniliprole, metaflumizone, phoxim and tebufenozide could induce the specific activity of CarEs and increase the relative expression of PxαE8. By contrast, knockdown of PxαE8 expression dramatically reduced the activity of CarEs and increased the resistance of P. xylostella (GD‐2019) larvae to beta‐cypermethrin and phoxim by 47.4% and 45.5%, respectively. Further, a transgenic line of Drosophila melanogaster overexpressing PxαE8 was constructed and the bioassay results showed that the tolerance of transgenic Drosophila to beta‐cypermethrin and phoxim was 3.93‐ and 3.98‐fold higher than that of the untransgenic line.

CONCLUSION

These results provide evidence that overexpression of PxαE8 is involved in resistance, at least to beta‐cypermethrin and phoxim, in multi‐insecticide‐resistant P. xylostella populations, which could help in further understanding the molecular mechanisms of multi‐insecticide resistance in this pest. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry
Identifying anticholinergic burden in frail older people
Authors: Mehdizadeh David , McInerney Ciarán D. , Petty Duncan
Published: December 2020

Anticholinergic medicines are routinely prescribed to manage a variety of clinical conditions, but are potentially inappropriate in the treatment of older people, especially those living with frailty. Here, the authors describe how their AC‐FRAIL tool can assist practices to identify frail older people within a practice population who are at greatest risk from anticholinergic burden.
Siponimod for treating secondary progressive multiple sclerosis
Authors: Chaplin Steve
Published: December 2020

Siponimod (Mayzent) is a sphingosine‐1‐phosphate receptor modulator for the treatment of secondary progressive multiple sclerosis. This article discusses its properties, place in therapy, efficacy and adverse effects.
Bring students to the table to boost campus assessment initiatives
Authors: McCarthy Claudine
Published: December 2020

When assessment staff at Howard University sought to expand the institution's culture of assessment, they set their sights on inviting students to the table to serve as partners instead of just as participants.
Amino Acid Specific Nonenzymatic Montmorillonite‐Promoted RNA Polymerization
Authors: Namani Trishool , Snyder Savannah , Eagan James M. , Bevilacqua Philip C. , Wesdemiotis Chrys , Sahai Nita
Published: December 2020

Understanding prebiotic RNA synthesis is essential to both the RNA world and RNA‐protein co‐evolution theories of the origin of life. Nonenzymatic templated RNA synthesis occurs in solution or by montmorillonite clay heterogenous catalysis but the high magnesium concentrations required are deleterious to protocell membranes. Here, we explore a multicomponent environmental system consisting of amino acids, RNA mononucleotides and montmorillonite at various Mg2+ concentrations. We show that specific alpha amino acids, especially those that were prebiotically most relevant, act as prebiotic coenzymes and further enhance montmorillonite‐catalyzed polymerization in a cooperative mechanism to produce even longer RNA oligomers. Significantly, and different from template‐directed nonenzymatic RNA polymerization by primer extension, added Mg2+ is not required for montmorillonite‐catalyzed polymerization, especially as enhanced by specific amino acids. Thus amino acid specific montmorillonite‐catalyzed RNA polymerization is compatible with protocell membranes and could occur in a wider variety of geochemical environments of various Mg2+ concentrations.
Pregnant women with SARS‐CoV‐2 infection are at higher risk of death and pneumonia: propensity score matched analysis of a nationwide prospective cohort (COV19Mx)
Authors: Martinez‐Portilla R. J. , Sotiriadis A. , Chatzakis C. , Torres‐Torres J. , Espino y Sosa S. , Sandoval‐Mandujano K. , Castro‐Bernabe D. A. , Medina‐Jimenez V. , Monarrez‐Martin J. C. , Figueras F. , Poon L. C.
Published: December 2020

Objective

There are limited, unmatched data reporting low complication rates in pregnant women with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19). The aim of this study was to compare COVID‐19‐related outcomes between pregnant and non‐pregnant women after adjusting for potential risk factors for severe outcomes.

Methods

Data were obtained from the COVID‐19 National Data Registry of Mexico, which is an ongoing prospective cohort of people of any age with clinically suspected severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) infection and admitted to 475 monitoring hospitals. This study included pregnant and non‐pregnant women of reproductive age (15–45 years) with COVID‐19 confirmed by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. To adjust for underlying risk factors, propensity score matching was conducted for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, smoking, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, obesity, diabetes, chronic renal disease, immunosuppression, age, language, nationality and level of health insurance. The primary outcome was death. Secondary outcomes were pneumonia, intubation and intensive care unit (ICU) admission.

Results

The cohort comprised 5183 pregnant and 175 905 non‐pregnant women with COVID‐19. The crude (unmatched) rates of death, pneumonia, intubation and ICU admission in pregnant compared with non‐pregnant women were 1.5% vs 1.5%, 9.9% vs 6.5%, 8.1% vs 9.9% and 13.0% vs 6.9%, respectively. After propensity score matching (5183 pregnant and 5183 non‐pregnant matched women), pregnant women had a higher odds of death (odds ratio (OR), 1.84; 95% CI, 1.26–2.69), pneumonia (OR, 1.86; 95% CI, 1.60–2.16) and ICU admission (OR, 1.86; 95% CI, 1.41–2.45) than non‐pregnant women, but similar odds of intubation (OR, 0.93; 95% CI, 0.70–1.25).

Conclusion

After adjusting for background demographic and medical factors, pregnancy is a risk factor for death, pneumonia and ICU admission in SARS‐CoV‐2‐infected women of reproductive age. Copyright © 2020 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Supervised machine learning enables non-invasive lesion characterization in primary prostate cancer with [68Ga]Ga-PSMA-11 PET/MRI
Authors: Papp L. , Spielvogel C. P. , Grubmüller B. , Grahovac M. , Krajnc D. , Ecsedi B. , Sareshgi R. A.M. , Mohamad D. , Hamboeck M. , Rausch I. , Mitterhauser M. , Wadsak W. , Haug A. R. , Kenner L. , Mazal P. , Susani M. , Hartenbach S. , Baltzer P. , Helbich T. H. , Kramer G. , Shariat S.F. , Beyer T. , Hartenbach M. , Hacker M.
Published: December 2020

Purpose

Risk classification of primary prostate cancer in clinical routine is mainly based on prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels, Gleason scores from biopsy samples, and tumor-nodes-metastasis (TNM) staging. This study aimed to investigate the diagnostic performance of positron emission tomography/magnetic resonance imaging (PET/MRI) in vivo models for predicting low-vs-high lesion risk (LH) as well as biochemical recurrence (BCR) and overall patient risk (OPR) with machine learning.

Methods

Fifty-two patients who underwent multi-parametric dual-tracer [18F]FMC and [68Ga]Ga-PSMA-11 PET/MRI as well as radical prostatectomy between 2014 and 2015 were included as part of a single-center pilot to a randomized prospective trial (NCT02659527). Radiomics in combination with ensemble machine learning was applied including the [68Ga]Ga-PSMA-11 PET, the apparent diffusion coefficient, and the transverse relaxation time-weighted MRI scans of each patient to establish a low-vs-high risk lesion prediction model (MLH). Furthermore, MBCR and MOPR predictive model schemes were built by combining MLH, PSA, and clinical stage values of patients. Performance evaluation of the established models was performed with 1000-fold Monte Carlo (MC) cross-validation. Results were additionally compared to conventional [68Ga]Ga-PSMA-11 standardized uptake value (SUV) analyses.

Results

The area under the receiver operator characteristic curve (AUC) of the MLH model (0.86) was higher than the AUC of the [68Ga]Ga-PSMA-11 SUVmax analysis (0.80). MC cross-validation revealed 89% and 91% accuracies with 0.90 and 0.94 AUCs for the MBCR and MOPR models respectively, while standard routine analysis based on PSA, biopsy Gleason score, and TNM staging resulted in 69% and 70% accuracies to predict BCR and OPR respectively.

Conclusion

Our results demonstrate the potential to enhance risk classification in primary prostate cancer patients built on PET/MRI radiomics and machine learning without biopsy sampling.
Made to Measure: The Ethics of Routine Measurement for Healthcare Improvement
Authors: Mitchell Polly , Cribb Alan , Entwistle Vikki
Published: December 2020

This paper analyses the ethics of routine measurement for healthcare improvement. Routine measurement is an increasingly central part of healthcare system design and is taken to be necessary for successful healthcare improvement efforts. It is widely recognised that the effectiveness of routine measurement in bringing about improvement is limited—it often produces only modest effects or fails to generate anticipated improvements at all. We seek to show that these concerns do not exhaust the ethics of routine measurement. Even if routine measurement does lead to healthcare improvements, it has associated ethical costs which are not necessarily justified by its benefits. We argue that the practice of routine measurement changes the function of the healthcare system, resulting in an unintended and ethically significant transformation of the sector. It is difficult to determine whether such changes are justified or offset by the benefits of routine measurement because there may be no shared understanding of what is ‘good’ in healthcare by which to compare the benefits of routine measurement with the goods that are precluded by it. We counsel that the practice of routine measurement should proceed with caution and should be recognised to be an ethically significant choice, rather than an inevitability.
A Note on the Usefulness of Constrained Fourth-Order Latent Differential Equation Models in the Case of Small T
Authors: Hardt Katinka , Boker Steven M. , Bergeman Cindy S.
Published: December 2020

Constrained fourth-order latent differential equation (FOLDE) models have been proposed (e.g., Boker et al. 2020) as alternative to second-order latent differential equation (SOLDE) models to estimate second-order linear differential equation systems such as the damped linear oscillator model. When, however, only a relatively small number of measurement occasions T are available (i.e., T = 50), the recommendation of which model to use is not clear (Boker et al. 2020). Based on a data set, which consists of T = 56 observations of daily stress for N = 44 individuals, we illustrate that FOLDE can help to choose an embedding dimension, even in the case of a small T. This is of great importance, as parameter estimates depend on the embedding dimension as well as on the latent differential equations model. Consequently, the wavelength as quantity of potential substantive interest may vary considerably. We extend the modeling approaches used in past research by including multiple subjects, by accounting for individual differences in equilibrium, and by including multiple instead of one single observed indicator.
Taxonomic revision of Phyllanthus (Phyllanthaceae) in Madagascar and the Comoro Islands IV: subgenus Anisonemoides section Pseudogomphidium and incertae sedis
Authors: Ralimanana Hélène , Cable Stuart
Published: December 2020

This paper is the fourth part of the taxonomic revision of the genus Phyllanthus in Madagascar and the Comoro Islands. Here we treat Pseudogomphidium Ralim. & Cable sect. nov. consisting of nine species that we misplaced in the subgenus Gomphidium (Baill.) G.L.Webster in our previous paper. Two species are new to science: Phyllanthus razakamalalae Ralim. & Cable, sp. nov. and P. ankirindrensis Ralim. & Cable, sp. nov. We also treat three unplaced species: P. analamerae Leandri, P. coluteoides Müll.Arg. and P. vergens Baill. An identification key, descriptions, distribution maps and IUCN Red List assessments are provided.
Characterization of SRM plumes with alumina particulate in subscale testing
Authors: Saile Dominik , Allofs Dirk , Kühl Viktor , Steffens Lars , Gülhan Ali , Beversdorff Manfred , Förster Wolfgang , Willert Chris , Carlotti Stefania , Maggi Filippo , Liljedahl Mattias , Wingborg Niklas , Langener Tobias , van den Eynde Jeroen
Published: December 2020

The current paper provides an outline and first results of the ESA-EMAP project. This project pursues activities regarding the experimental modeling of alumina particulates in solid boosters (EMAP). The issue regards the particles residing in the atmosphere after the passage of a launch vehicle with solid rocket propulsion, which might contribute to local and overall ozone depletion. The question is to what extent since the particle size distribution left behind is essentially unclear. For this reason, the ESA-EMAP investigations focus on the characterization of the solid exhaust plume properties for well-defined combustion chamber conditions. Thus, details of the rocket motor assembly, of the developed solid propellant grains, and of first measurement results are provided. The paper presents technical findings concerning the rocket motors and reveals aspects to the feasibility of the applied measurement techniques.
Sorption of potential ionic pollutants on oil shale and its non-series composite sorbents
Authors: Molnár M. , Földényi R. , Horváth O.
Published: December 2020

Huge amounts of anthropogenic environmental pollutants appearing in nature mean an emerging problem. Oil shale is a convenient candidate, wherewith these contaminations can be removed from our natural environment, taking into account its sorption ability and low price. However, oil shale has a crumbling nature, which restricts its facile usage. Hence, oil shale was transformed into more handleable forms, using binding materials. Two oil shale composite forms were prepared by applying sodium alginate and agar. A cationic and an anionic chemicals, benzyltriethylammonium chloride and sodium 2,3-diisopropylnaphthalene-1-sulfonate, respectively, were used as model pollutants, and their sorptions on these newly prepared composites were studied. Sorption properties of oil shale powder and oil shale composites were compared. In the composite materials, oil shale properly sorbed the model pollutants (the binding material did not cover the sorption sites); furthermore, oil shale composites had significantly higher removal efficiency compared to that of the oil shale powder: 208 ± 15.6 (oil shale–agar) and 171 ± 22.8 (oil shale–alginate) vs 140 ± 11.1 µmol/g for the cationic compound; 151 ± 1.6 (oil shale–agar) and 165 ± 7.6 (oil shale–alginate) vs 81.5 ± 2.6 µmol/g for the anionic compound. Results of diffusion models for the two composites show that the opposite charges of the solutes largely influence the rate of their diffusion, owing to the interaction between the solute and the composite material. These results indicate that oil shale and its composites are applicable candidates as sorbents, from which the most effective one can be chosen by considering the chemical properties of the actual pollutant to be removed.
Epistemic Self-Trust: It's Personal
Authors: Dormandy Katherine
Published: December 2020

What is epistemic self-trust? There is a tension in the way in which prominent accounts answer this question. Many construe epistemic trust in oneself as no more than reliance on our sub-personal cognitive faculties. Yet many accounts – often the same ones – construe epistemic trust in others as a normatively laden attitude directed at persons whom we expect to care about our epistemic needs. Is epistemic self-trust really so different from epistemic trust in others? I argue that it is not. We certainly do rely on our cognitive faculties to achieve epistemic ends; but I argue that we also have the normatively rich sort of epistemic trust in ourselves. Moreover, there is a theoretical need for this normatively rich notion of epistemic self-trust: positing it yields the best account of how we secure important epistemic goods, including knowledge and recognition as knowers. I argue this by giving an account of epistemic trust in others and showing that it can be generalized to epistemic trust in oneself.
Researching U.S. Federal Law: a Primer
Authors: Zubrow Marcia Singal
Published: December 2020

This article is designed for law librarians based outside the United States. The paper, written by Marcia Zubrow, provides basic information about the United States legal system and its sources. This background foundation to the article is important in understanding how to effectively use the two major U.S. databases, Lexis and Westlaw. The author describes the contents of the two databases within the context of the background information. Search techniques, including advance searching strategies, are described.
High‐Density Magnetospheric He+ at the Dayside Magnetopause and Its Effect on Magnetic Reconnection
Authors: Fuselier S. A. , Haaland S. , Tenfjord P. , Paschmann G. , Toledo‐Redondo S. , Malaspina D. , Kim M. J. , Trattner K. J. , Petrinec S. M. , Giles B. L. , Goldstein J. , Burch J. L. , Strangeway R. J.
Published: December 2020

Observations from the Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) mission are used to quantify the maximum effect of magnetospheric H+ and He+ on dayside magnetopause reconnection. A data base of current‐sheet crossings from the first 2 years of the MMS mission is used to identify magnetopause crossings with the highest He+ concentrations. While all of these magnetopause crossings exhibit evidence of plasmaspheric plume material, only half of the crossings are directly associated with plasmaspheric plumes. The He+ density varies dramatically within the magnetosphere adjacent to the magnetopause, with density variations of an order of magnitude on timescales as short as 10 s, the time resolution of the composition instrument on MMS. Plasma wave observations are used to determine the total electron density, and composition measurements are used to determine the mass density in the magnetosheath and magnetosphere. These mass densities are then used with the magnetic field observations to determine the theoretical reduction in the reconnection rate at the magnetopause. The presence of high‐density plasmaspheric plume material at the magnetopause causes transient reductions in the reconnection rate of up to ∼40%.
Synchronization of Earthquake Cycles of Adjacent Segments on Oceanic Transform Faults Revealed by Numerical Simulation in the Framework of Rate‐and‐State Friction
Authors: Wei Meng , Shi Pengcheng
Published: December 2020

Synchronization behavior of large earthquakes (rupture of nearby faults close in time for many cycles) has been reported in many fault systems. The general idea is that the faults in the system have similar repeating intervals and are positively coupled through stress interaction. However, many details of such synchronization remain unknown. Here, we built a numerical model in the framework of rate‐and‐state friction to simulate earthquake cycles on the west Gofar fault, East Pacific Rise. Our model consists of two seismic patches separated by a barrier patch, which are constrained by seismic observations. We varied the parameters in the barrier to understand its role on earthquake synchronization. First, we found that when the barrier is relatively weak, synchronization can be achieved by afterslip or post‐seismic creep in the barrier patch. Second, static stress transfer can lead to synchronization, opposite to the suggestion by Scholz (2010, https://doi.org/10.1785/0120090309), which was based on results from a spring‐slider model using rate‐and‐state friction. Third, the width of the barrier is more important than its strength. When the barrier is narrow enough (no more than half the width of the seismic patch in our model), the system can achieve synchronization even with a very strong barrier. Fourth, for certain simulations, the interaction between the two seismic patches promotes partial rupture in the seismic patches and leads to complex behavior: the system switches from synchronized to unsynchronized over 10–20 cycles.
Lateral Structural Variation of the Lithosphere‐Asthenosphere System in the Northeastern to Eastern Iranian Plateau and Its Tectonic Implications
Authors: Wu Zimu , Chen Ling , Talebian Morteza , Wang Xu , Jiang Mingming , Ai Yinshuang , Lan Haiqiang , Gao Yifan , Khatib Mohammad Mahdi , Hou Guangbing , Chung Sun‐Lin , Liang Xiaofeng , Zhao Liang , Naimi‐Ghassabian Nasser , Xiao Wenjiao , Zhu Rixiang
Published: December 2020

The Iranian plateau is a natural laboratory for deciphering the lithospheric deformation and deep dynamics in response to the Neo‐Tethyan subduction and subsequent Arabia‐Eurasia continental collision. Here we used S‐wave receiver function data from a dense seismic array to construct the structural image of the lithosphere‐asthenosphere system across the northeastern to eastern Iranian plateau. The lithosphere‐asthenosphere boundary (LAB) is consistently imaged, being relatively flat at 80–90 km depth in eastern Iran, but deepening northward to ∼120 km depth beneath the Kopeh Dagh‐Turan platform boundary with an overall “root‐like” shape in northeastern Iran. A shallower (<45 km) and a deeper Moho (∼50–55 km) are also observed beneath eastern and northeastern Iran, respectively, suggesting similar crustal deformation to mantle lithosphere but different patterns laterally. Moreover, a strong positive velocity discontinuity (PVD) is detected at ∼170 km depth beneath eastern Iran, possibly representing the base of an asthenospheric low‐velocity layer (LVL). Waveform modeling reveals large velocity contrasts of ∼4%–6% over a depth range of less than 30 and 20 km, respectively, across the LAB and the asthenospheric PVD. Combining our new results with geological and petrological constraints, we deduced that the asthenospheric LVL contains a small amount of melt, with sharp boundaries separating from the nearly melt‐free lithosphere above (LAB) and deeper mantle below (PVD). The observed structural variations of the lithosphere‐asthenosphere system across the study region may result from the complex lithospheric deformation in response to the Arabia‐Eurasia collision and effects of multiple tectono‐thermal events associated with the earlier Neo‐Tethyan subduction.
Snow on Arctic Sea Ice in a Warming Climate as Simulated in CESM
Authors: Webster M. A. , DuVivier A. K. , Holland M. M. , Bailey D. A.
Published: December 2020

Earth system models are valuable tools for understanding how the Arctic snow‐ice system and the feedbacks therein may respond to a warming climate. In this analysis, we investigate snow on Arctic sea ice to better understand how snow conditions may change under different forcing scenarios. First, we use in situ, airborne, and satellite observations to assess the realism of the Community Earth System Model (CESM) in simulating snow on Arctic sea ice. CESM versions one and two are evaluated, with V1 being the Large Ensemble experiment (CESM1‐LE) and V2 being configured with low‐ and high‐top atmospheric components. The assessment shows CESM2 underestimates snow depth and produces overly uniform snow distributions, whereas CESM1‐LE produces a highly variable, excessively‐thick snow cover. Observations indicate that snow in CESM2 accumulates too slowly in autumn, too quickly in winter‐spring, and melts too soon and rapidly in late spring. The 1950–2050 trends in annual mean snow depths are markedly smaller in CESM2 (−0.8 cm decade−1) than in CESM1‐LE (−3.6 cm decade−1) due to CESM2 having less snow overall. A perennial, thick sea‐ice cover, cool summers, and excessive summer snowfall facilitate a thicker, longer‐lasting snow cover in CESM1‐LE. Under the SSP5‐8.5 forcing scenario, CESM2 shows that, compared to present‐day, snow on Arctic sea ice will: (1) undergo enhanced, earlier spring melt, (2) accumulate less in summer‐autumn, (3) sublimate more, and (4) facilitate marginally more snow‐ice formation. CESM2 also reveals that summers with snow‐free ice can occur ∼30–60 years before an ice‐free central Arctic, which may promote faster sea‐ice melt.
Coherent suppression of backscattering in optical microresonators
Authors: Svela Andreas Ø. , Silver Jonathan M. , Del Bino Leonardo , Zhang Shuangyou , Woodley Michael T. M. , Vanner Michael R. , Del’Haye Pascal
Published: December 2020

As light propagates along a waveguide, a fraction of the field can be reflected by Rayleigh scatterers. In high-quality-factor whispering-gallery-mode microresonators, this intrinsic backscattering is primarily caused by either surface or bulk material imperfections. For several types of microresonator-based experiments and applications, minimal backscattering in the cavity is of critical importance, and thus, the ability to suppress backscattering is essential. We demonstrate that the introduction of an additional scatterer into the near field of a high-quality-factor microresonator can coherently suppress the amount of backscattering in the microresonator by more than 30 dB. The method relies on controlling the scatterer position such that the intrinsic and scatterer-induced backpropagating fields destructively interfere. This technique is useful in microresonator applications where backscattering is currently limiting the performance of devices, such as ring-laser gyroscopes and dual frequency combs, which both suffer from injection locking. Moreover, these findings are of interest for integrated photonic circuits in which back reflections could negatively impact the stability of laser sources or other components.
Distinct ecotypes within a natural haloarchaeal population enable adaptation to changing environmental conditions without causing population sweeps
Authors: Viver Tomeu , Conrad Roth E , Orellana Luis H , Urdiain Mercedes , González-Pastor José E , Hatt Janet K , Amann Rudolf , Antón Josefa , Konstantinidis Konstantinos T , Rosselló-Móra Ramon
Published: December 2020

Microbial communities thriving in hypersaline brines of solar salterns are highly resistant and resilient to environmental changes, and salinity is a major factor that deterministically influences community structure. Here, we demonstrate that this resilience occurs even after rapid osmotic shocks caused by a threefold change in salinity (a reduction from 34 to 12% salts) leading to massive amounts of archaeal cell lysis. Specifically, our temporal metagenomic datasets identified two co-occurring ecotypes within the most dominant archaeal population of the brines Haloquadratum walsbyi that exhibited different salt concentration preferences. The dominant ecotype was generally more abundant and occurred in high-salt conditions (34%); the low abundance ecotype always co-occurred but was enriched at salinities around 20% or lower and carried unique gene content related to solute transport and gene regulation. Despite their apparent distinct ecological preferences, the ecotypes did not outcompete each other presumably due to weak functional differentiation between them. Further, the osmotic shock selected for a temporal increase in taxonomic and functional diversity at both the Hqr. walsbyi population and whole-community levels supporting the specialization-disturbance hypothesis, that is, the expectation that disturbance favors generalists. Altogether, our results provide new insights into how intraspecies diversity is maintained in light of substantial gene-content differences and major environmental perturbations.
Quorum sensing provides a molecular mechanism for evolution to tune and maintain investment in cooperation
Authors: Bruger Eric L , Snyder Daniel J , Cooper Vaughn S , Waters Christopher M
Published: December 2020

As selection frequently favors noncooperating defectors in mixed populations with cooperators, mechanisms that promote cooperation stability clearly exist. One potential mechanism is bacterial cell-to-cell communication, quorum sensing (QS), which can allow cooperators to prevent invasion by defectors. However, the impact of QS on widespread maintenance of cooperation in well-mixed conditions has not been experimentally demonstrated over extended evolutionary timescales. Here, we use wild-type (WT) Vibrio campbellii that regulates cooperation with QS and an unconditional cooperating (UC) mutant to examine the evolutionary origins and dynamics of novel defectors during a long-term evolution experiment. We found that UC lineages were completely outcompeted by defectors, whereas functioning QS enabled the maintenance of cooperative variants in most WT populations. Sequencing evolved populations revealed multiple luxR mutations that swept the UC lineages. However, the evolution of mutant lineages with reduced levels of bioluminescence (dims) occurred in many WT lineages. These dim variants also decreased other cooperative phenotypes regulated by QS, including protease production, indicating they result from changes to QS regulation. This diminished investment phenotype optimizes a tradeoff between cooperative input and growth output and suggests that decreasing the cost of QS could be a favorable strategy for maintaining the cooperative behaviors it regulates.
Schistosoma mansoni eggs induce Wnt/β-catenin signaling and activate the protooncogene c-Jun in human and hamster colon
Authors: Weglage Jakob , Wolters Friederike , Hehr Laura , Lichtenberger Jakob , Wulz Celina , Hempel Felix , Baier Anne , Quack Thomas , Köhler Kernt , Longerich Thomas , Schramm Gabriele , Irungbam Karuna , Mueller Heike , von Buelow Verena , Tschuschner Annette , Odenthal Margarete , Drebber Uta , Arousy Maha El , Ramalho Leandra N. Z. , Bankov Katrin , Wild Peter , Pons-Kühnemann Jörn , Tschammer Jonas , Grevelding Christoph G. , Roeb Elke , Roderfeld Martin
Published: December 2020

Schistosomiasis (bilharzia) is a neglected tropical disease caused by parasitic flatworms of the genus Schistosoma, with considerable morbidity in parts of the Middle East, South America, Southeast Asia, in sub-Saharan Africa, and particularly also in Europe. The WHO describes an increasing global health burden with more than 290 million people threatened by the disease and a potential to spread into regions with temperate climates like Corsica, France. The aim of our study was to investigate the influence of S. mansoni infection on colorectal carcinogenic signaling pathways in vivo and in vitro. S. mansoni infection, soluble egg antigens (SEA) and the Interleukin-4-inducing principle from S. mansoni eggs induce Wnt/β-catenin signaling and the protooncogene c-Jun as well as downstream factor Cyclin D1 and markers for DNA-damage, such as Parp1 and γH2a.x in enterocytes. The presence of these characteristic hallmarks of colorectal carcinogenesis was confirmed in colon biopsies from S. mansoni-infected patients demonstrating the clinical relevance of our findings. For the first time it was shown that S. mansoni SEA may be involved in the induction of colorectal carcinoma-associated signaling pathways.
Photo-triggered Zn2+ release for the regulation of zinc enzymes
Authors: Zhang Minjie , Jia Yongguang , Gao Meng , Ren Li , Tang Ben Zhong
Published: December 2020

A photo-triggered Zn2+ release system was developed based on HBTH–Zn–TAT NPs, which showed an excellent light-dependent “on–off” performance for Zn2+ release and the precise regulation of extra- and intracellular zinc enzyme activities.
A simple and sensitive approach for the electrochemical determination of amaranth by a Pd/GO nanomaterial-modified screen-printed electrode
Authors: Tajik Somayeh , Beitollahi Hadi , Jang Ho Won , Shokouhimehr Mohammadreza
Published: December 2020

It is essential to develop easy-to-use sensors towards a better monitoring of food additives so that human health can be positively influenced.
Hexamethylenetetramine-based ionic liquid/MIL-101(Cr) metal–organic framework composite: a novel and versatile tool for the preparation of pyrido[2,3-d:5,6-d′]dipyrimidines
Authors: Mirhosseini-Eshkevari Boshra , Ghasemzadeh Mohammad Ali , Esnaashari Manzarbanoo , Ganjali Saeed Taghvaei
Published: December 2020

In this study, HMTA-BAIL@MIL-101(Cr) was prepared as a novel catalyst for the synthesis of dipyrimidine derivtives by the reaction of barbituric acids, 6-aminouracil/6-amino-1,3-dimethyl uracil, and arylaldehydes under solvent-free conditions.
Revealing a masked Verwey transition in nanoparticles of coexisting Fe-oxide phases
Authors: González-Alonso David , González Jesús , Gavilán Helena , Fock Jeppe , Zeng Lunjie , Witte Kerstin , Bender Philipp , Barquín Luis Fernández , Johansson Christer
Published: December 2020

We provide direct evidence of a Verwey transition in a nanoparticle ensemble of mixed iron-oxide phases via temperature-dependent Raman spectroscopy.
Recent advances in the synthesis and applications of mordenite zeolite – review
Authors: Narayanan S. , Tamizhdurai P. , Mangesh V. L. , Ragupathi C. , Santhana krishnan P. , Ramesh A.
Published: December 2020

Among the many industrially important zeolites, mordenite is found to be interesting because of its unique and exceptional physical and chemical properties.
Synthesis of substituted 3,4-dihydroquinazolinones via a metal free Leuckart–Wallach type reaction
Authors: Bokale-Shivale Suvarna , Amin Mohammad A. , Sawant Rajiv T. , Stevens Marc Y. , Turanli Lewend , Hallberg Adam , Waghmode Suresh B. , Odell Luke R.
Published: December 2020

A novel cascade cyclization/Leuckart–Wallach type strategy to prepare biologically important 3,4-dihydroquinazolinones is presented.
A deep eutectic solvent strategy to form defect-rich N, S, and O tridoped carbon/Co9S8 hybrid materials for a pH-universal hydrogen evolution reaction
Authors: Mou Hongyu , Xue Zhimin , Zhang Baolong , Lan Xue , Mu Tiancheng
Published: December 2020

This ultrathin structure can be attributed to the decomposition of thiourea in the DES during the pyrolysis process, a large amount of gas (such as NH3, CO2, etc.) to strip the product.
Sulfonatocalix[4]arene-based light-harvesting amphiphilic supramolecular assemblies for sensing sulfites in cells
Authors: Liu Zhixue , Sun Xiaohan , Dai Xianyin , Li Jingjing , Li Peiyu , Liu Yu
Published: December 2020

Highly efficient light-harvesting amphiphilic supramolecular assemblies were reported for detecting sulfites in living cells, which showed obvious signal amplification, with an antenna effect of up to 28.1.
Highly compliant and low strain hysteresis sensory electronic skins based on solution processable hybrid hydrogels
Authors: Wang Mingcheng , Zhou Hongwei , Jin Xilang , Liu Hanbin , Ma Aijie , Yan Hanbing , Chen Lin , Chen Weixing
Published: December 2020

Hydrogels with compliance and low hysteresis are developed. Based on the hybrid hydrogels, sensory electronic skins with outstanding recyclability and sensitivity are fabricated.
A new two‐stage method for single image rain removal
Authors: Zhu Jian , Liu Peiyu , Luo Yu , Ling Jie , Wu Enhua
Published: December 2020

Compared with video de‐raining, single image de‐raining is more technically difficult due to the lack of temporally redundant information. This paper proposes a new two‐stage method for single image de‐raining. In the first stage, the authors develop an effective two‐step model to detect the rain streaks by taking pixel intensity, and direction of rain streaks as priors. In the second stage, the rain repair process is performed at the patch level. The authors first define a way to search for similar patches of each patch, and then group the similar patches together to form a matrix. Finally, a low‐rank matrix completion technique is utilized to recover the rain‐stained pixels based on the rain map obtained from the first stage. Compared with several state‐of‐the‐art methods, authors' proposed method is competitive in terms of the abilities of removing rain streaks, and preserving image details.
Fractional‐order generalized Laguerre moments and moment invariants for grey‐scale image analysis
Authors: Benouini Rachid , Batioua Imad , Zenkouar Khalid , Najah Said
Published: December 2020

Here, a new set of fractional‐order moments, named fractional‐order generalized Laguerre moments (FGLM), is introduced. These proposed moments are defined on the Cartesian coordinate system and their basis functions are represented by the fractional‐order generalized Laguerre polynomials. Contrary to the classical Chebyshev, Legendre and Gegenbauer moments, which provide only global feature, our proposed FGLM have the ability to extract both global and local features. Moreover, a new set of rotation, scale and translation invariants of the FGLM, is derived and introduced for image classification and invariant pattern recognition. Just as important, we have presented a systematic parameter selection method for finding the optimal fractional parameter values with respect to pattern recognition applications. Finally, several recursive methods for reducing the computation time of our proposed invariants are also provided in this study. Therefore, to demonstrate the performance of the introduced fractional‐order moments and moment invariants, a number of experimental analysis are performed in terms of global and local features extraction, robustness to noise, invariance to geometric deformations, object recognition and computational speed. The presented theoretical and experimental results clearly show that the proposed fractional‐order moments and their corresponding invariants could be extremely useful in the field of image analysis.
On the issue of using intuitionistic fuzzy sets for describing the expediency of solving optimization problems by genetic algorithms with given parameters
Authors: Agibalov O , Blinovskaya T , Ventsov N
Published: December 2020

The paper analyses a possible option for preparing data on the results of the genetic algorithm for transfer to another subject area. It was shown that the complexity of modern target functions requires the development of new approaches to determining the parameters of search procedures. A set of experiments, each stage of which consisted of performing 100 runs of the genetic algorithm on a CPU or GPU architecture, which determines the optimal solution of the Ackley’s function within a given time interval, was carried out. After the specified time interval expired, the operation of the algorithm was correctly completed by fixing the results obtained at the final iteration. The values of the absolute error were set to Δ={0.5, 0.15, 0.1, 0.05}. For each error value the number of algorithm runs, as a result of which the deviation was greater than Δ, was determined. On the basis of the experiment carried out, fuzzy estimates of the inexpediency of searching for the optimum of the Ackley’s function by the genetic algorithm on the CPU architecture in a time from 100 ms ...1800 ms were determined. The possibility of using intuitionistic fuzzy sets for describing the expediency of solving optimization problems by genetic algorithms with given parameters was shown.
1-D convolutional neural network based on the inner ear principle to automatically assess human’s emotional state
Authors: Iskhakova A.O. , Wolf D.A. , Galin R.R. , Mamchenko M.V.
Published: December 2020

The article proposes an original convolutional neural network (CNN) for solving the problem of the automatic voice-based assessment of a person’s emotional state. Key principles of such CNNs, and state-of-theart approaches to their design are described. A model of one-dimensional (1-D) CNN based on the human’s inner ear structure is presented. According to the given classification estimates, the proposed CNN model is regarded to be not worse than the known analogues. The linguistic robustness of the given CNN is confirmed; its key advantages in intelligent socio-cyberphysical systems is discussed. The applicability of the developed CNN for solving the problem of voice-based identification of human’s destructive emotions is characterized by the probability of 72.75%.
Finite elements for problems of the elasticity theory with the discontinuous stress approximation
Authors: Lukashevich A , Lukashevich N , Kobelev E
Published: December 2020

The paper deals with the development of the finite element models on the basis of stress approximation. At present, the displacementbased finite element method is mainly used for engineering calculations. Finite element formulations in stresses are not so widely spread, but in some cases these formulations can be more effective in particular with respect to the calculating stresses and also obtaining a two-sided estimate of the exact solution of the problem. The finite element models based on the approximation of discontinuous stress fields and the use of the penalty function method to satisfy the equilibrium equations are considered. It is shown that the continuity of both normal and tangential stresses only on the adjacent sides of the finite elements contributes to the expansion of the class of statically admissible stress fields. At the same time, the consistent approximation is provided, both of the main part of the functional of additional energy, and its penalty part. The necessary matrix relations for rectangular and triangular finite elements are obtained. The effectiveness of the developed models is illustrated by numerical studies. The calculation results were compared with the solution on the FEM in displacements, as well as with the results obtained using other schemes of approximating the stresses in the finite element. It is shown that the model of discontinuous stress approximations gives the bottom convergence of the solution, both in stresses and in displacements. At the same time, the accuracy on the stresses here is much higher than in the displacement-based FEM or when using conventional stress approximation schemes.
Russian experience of using digital technologies and legal risks of AI
Authors: Trikoz Elena , Gulyaeva Elena , Belyaev Konstantin
Published: December 2020

The aim of the present article is to analyze the Russian experience of using digital technologies in law and legal risks of artificial intelligence (AI). The result of the present research is the author’s conclusion on the necessity of the practical implementation of legal provisions in this area, and their judicial enforcement in federal subjects with the aim of compliance with international standards of human rights. The authors concluded that in the Russian Federation, there is no normative and technical regulation of the process of destruction of personal data, which creates serious problems for operators. The research methodology based on general scientific and private scientific methods of cognition (the dialectical method, methods of analysis and synthesis, deduction and induction, comparative legal and historical legal methods). Moreover, the range of legislative and law enforcement problems in the field of using AI technology is very extensive. For this reason, the authors of the article used the methodology for collecting data on legislative acts and legal regulation in the field under research. A number of federal and regional legal acts were analyzed using systemic-structural and formal-dogmatic methods, including the research of their practical orientation and effectiveness for modern challenges.
Algorithm of ensuring confidential data security of the cloud medical information system
Authors: Babenko L , Shumilin A , Alekseev D
Published: December 2020

The objectives of the study are to develop and assess the effectiveness of the structure of a cloud platform for storing, processing and organizing medical data, determining a method of protection, in particular, ensuring confidentiality when transferring and storing examination results. The proposed method for protecting a medical information system involves the use of an original DICOM file and subsequently a converted PNG image, which is subjected to a pixel encryption algorithm. An algorithm based on chaos theory is used to encrypt the image. The capabilities of chaos systems can significantly increase productivity. Hierarchical division of data streams into levels and standardization of data transmission protocols, as well as their storage formats, allow to form a universal, flexible and reliable medical information system. The proposed architecture has the ability to integrate into existing medical systems. In the course of the work, it was found that the considered protection method is an effective way to ensure the confidentiality of medical system data.