bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Multi-scale image analysis and prediction of visual field defects after selective amygdalohippocampectomy
Authors: David Bastian , Eberle Jasmine , Delev Daniel , Gaubatz Jennifer , Prillwitz Conrad C. , Wagner Jan , Schoene-Bake Jan-Christoph , Luechters Guido , Radbruch Alexander , Wabbels Bettina , Schramm Johannes , Weber Bernd , Surges Rainer , Elger Christian E. , Rüber Theodor
Published: January 2021

Selective amygdalohippocampectomy is an effective treatment for patients with therapy-refractory temporal lobe epilepsy but may cause visual field defect (VFD). Here, we aimed to describe tissue-specific pre- and postoperative imaging correlates of the VFD severity using whole-brain analyses from voxel- to network-level. Twenty-eight patients with temporal lobe epilepsy underwent pre- and postoperative MRI (T1-MPRAGE and Diffusion Tensor Imaging) as well as kinetic perimetry according to Goldmann standard. We probed for whole-brain gray matter (GM) and white matter (WM) correlates of VFD using voxel-based morphometry and tract-based spatial statistics, respectively. We furthermore reconstructed individual structural connectomes and conducted local and global network analyses. Two clusters in the bihemispheric middle temporal gyri indicated a postsurgical GM volume decrease with increasing VFD severity (FWE-corrected p < 0.05). A single WM cluster showed a fractional anisotropy decrease with increasing severity of VFD in the ipsilesional optic radiation (FWE-corrected p < 0.05). Furthermore, patients with (vs. without) VFD showed a higher number of postoperative local connectivity changes. Neither in the GM, WM, nor in network metrics we found preoperative correlates of VFD severity. Still, in an explorative analysis, an artificial neural network meta-classifier could predict the occurrence of VFD based on presurgical connectomes above chance level.
Predicting adult neuroscience intensive care unit admission from emergency department triage using a retrospective, tabular-free text machine learning approach
Authors: Klang Eyal , Kummer Benjamin R. , Dangayach Neha S. , Zhong Amy , Kia M. Arash , Timsina Prem , Cossentino Ian , Costa Anthony B. , Levin Matthew A. , Oermann Eric K.
Published: January 2021

Early admission to the neurosciences intensive care unit (NSICU) is associated with improved patient outcomes. Natural language processing offers new possibilities for mining free text in electronic health record data. We sought to develop a machine learning model using both tabular and free text data to identify patients requiring NSICU admission shortly after arrival to the emergency department (ED). We conducted a single-center, retrospective cohort study of adult patients at the Mount Sinai Hospital, an academic medical center in New York City. All patients presenting to our institutional ED between January 2014 and December 2018 were included. Structured (tabular) demographic, clinical, bed movement record data, and free text data from triage notes were extracted from our institutional data warehouse. A machine learning model was trained to predict likelihood of NSICU admission at 30 min from arrival to the ED. We identified 412,858 patients presenting to the ED over the study period, of whom 1900 (0.5%) were admitted to the NSICU. The daily median number of ED presentations was 231 (IQR 200–256) and the median time from ED presentation to the decision for NSICU admission was 169 min (IQR 80–324). A model trained only with text data had an area under the receiver-operating curve (AUC) of 0.90 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.87–0.91). A structured data-only model had an AUC of 0.92 (95% CI 0.91–0.94). A combined model trained on structured and text data had an AUC of 0.93 (95% CI 0.92–0.95). At a false positive rate of 1:100 (99% specificity), the combined model was 58% sensitive for identifying NSICU admission. A machine learning model using structured and free text data can predict NSICU admission soon after ED arrival. This may potentially improve ED and NSICU resource allocation. Further studies should validate our findings.
SHP2 blockade enhances anti-tumor immunity via tumor cell intrinsic and extrinsic mechanisms
Authors: Wang Ye , Mohseni Morvarid , Grauel Angelo , Diez Javier Estrada , Guan Wei , Liang Simon , Choi Jiyoung Elizabeth , Pu Minying , Chen Dongshu , Laszewski Tyler , Schwartz Stephanie , Gu Jane , Mansur Leandra , Burks Tyler , Brodeur Lauren , Velazquez Roberto , Kovats Steve , Pant Bhavesh , Buruzula Giri , Deng Emily , Chen Julie T. , Sari-Sarraf Farid , Dornelas Christina , Varadarajan Malini , Yu Haiyan , Liu Chen , Lim Joanne , Hao Huai-Xiang , Jiang Xiaomo , Malamas Anthony , LaMarche Matthew J. , Geyer Felipe Correa , McLaughlin Margaret , Costa Carlotta , Wagner Joel , Ruddy David , Jayaraman Pushpa , Kirkpatrick Nathaniel D. , Zhang Pu , Iartchouk Oleg , Aardalen Kimberly , Cremasco Viviana , Dranoff Glenn , Engelman Jeffrey A. , Silver Serena , Wang Hongyun , Hastings William D. , Goldoni Silvia
Published: January 2021

SHP2 is a ubiquitous tyrosine phosphatase involved in regulating both tumor and immune cell signaling. In this study, we discovered a novel immune modulatory function of SHP2. Targeting this protein with allosteric SHP2 inhibitors promoted anti-tumor immunity, including enhancing T cell cytotoxic function and immune-mediated tumor regression. Knockout of SHP2 using CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing showed that targeting SHP2 in cancer cells contributes to this immune response. Inhibition of SHP2 activity augmented tumor intrinsic IFNγ signaling resulting in enhanced chemoattractant cytokine release and cytotoxic T cell recruitment, as well as increased expression of MHC Class I and PD-L1 on the cancer cell surface. Furthermore, SHP2 inhibition diminished the differentiation and inhibitory function of immune suppressive myeloid cells in the tumor microenvironment. SHP2 inhibition enhanced responses to anti-PD-1 blockade in syngeneic mouse models. Overall, our study reveals novel functions of SHP2 in tumor immunity and proposes that targeting SHP2 is a promising strategy for cancer immunotherapy.
Cellular dynamics of the SecA ATPase at the single molecule level
Authors: Seinen Anne-Bart , Spakman Dian , van Oijen Antoine M. , Driessen Arnold J. M.
Published: January 2021

In bacteria, the SecA ATPase provides the driving force for protein secretion via the SecYEG translocon. While the dynamic interplay between SecA and SecYEG in translocation is widely appreciated, it is not clear how SecA associates with the translocon in the crowded cellular environment. We use super-resolution microscopy to directly visualize the dynamics of SecA in Escherichia coli at the single-molecule level. We find that SecA is predominantly associated with and evenly distributed along the cytoplasmic membrane as a homodimer, with only a minor cytosolic fraction. SecA moves along the cell membrane as three distinct but interconvertible diffusional populations: (1) A state loosely associated with the membrane, (2) an integral membrane form, and (3) a temporarily immobile form. Disruption of the proton-motive-force, which is essential for protein secretion, re-localizes a significant portion of SecA to the cytoplasm and results in the transient location of SecA at specific locations at the membrane. The data support a model in which SecA diffuses along the membrane surface to gain access to the SecYEG translocon.
Characterization of a library of vitamin A-functionalized polymethacrylate-based nanoparticles for siRNA delivery
Authors: Klemm Paul , Huschke Sophie , Rodewald Marko , Ehteshamzad Nadia , Behnke Mira , Wang Xinyue , Cinar Gizem , Nischang Ivo , Hoeppener Stephanie , Weber Christine , Press Adrian T. , Höppener Christiane , Meyer Tobias , Deckert Volker , Schmitt Michael , Popp Jürgen , Bauer Michael , Schubert Stephanie
Published: January 2021

A 60-membered library of vitamin A-functionalized P(MMA-stat-DMAEMA)-b-PPEGMA block copolymers was synthesized by RAFT polymerization. From these, nanoparticles containing genetic material were formulated and fully characterized.
Analysis of manufacturing cost and market niches for Cu2ZnSnS4(CZTS) solar cells
Authors: Wang Ao , Chang Nathan L. , Sun Kaiwen , Xue Chaowei , Egan Renate J. , Li Jianjun , Yan Chang , Huang Jialiang , Rong Hui , Ramsden Charles , Hao Xiaojing
Published: January 2021

The manufacturing costs of CZTS with different substrates, major cost drivers, and cost reduction strategies are analyzed. Potential market niches of CZTS products and techno-economic requirements for CZTS commercialization are explored.
Hepatic endoplasmic reticulum calcium fluxes: effect of free fatty acids and KATP channel involvement
Authors: Al-Rawi Rawan , Wang Xudong , McCormick Kenneth
Published: January 2021

As a common sequel to obesity, plasma and intracellular free fatty acid (FFA) concentrations are elevated and, as a consequence, manifold disturbances in metabolism may ensue. Biochemical processes in the cytosol and organelles, such as mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum (ER), can be disturbed. In the ER, the maintenance of a high calcium gradient is indispensable for viability. In sarcoplasmic reticulum, selective FFA can induce ER stress by disrupting luminal calcium homeostasis; however, there are limited studies in hepatic microsomes. Our studies found that FFA has a noxious effect on rat hepatic microsomal calcium flux, and the extent of which depended on the number of double bonds and charge. Furthermore, insofar as the FFA had no effect on microsomal calcium efflux, their inhibitory action primarily involves calcium influx. Finally, other cationic channels have been found in hepatic ER, and evidence is presented of their interaction with the Ca2+ ATPase pump.
The role of EMT-related lncRNA in the process of triple-negative breast cancer metastasis
Authors: Zhang Haomeng , Wang Jiao , Yin Yulong , Meng Qingjie , Lyu Yonggang
Published: January 2021

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is the most malignant and fatal subtype of breast cancer, which has characterized by negativity expression of ER, PR, and HER2. Metastasis is the main factor affecting the prognosis of TNBC, and the process of metastasis is related to abnormal activation of epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT). Recent studies have shown that long non-coding RNA (LncRNA) plays an important role in regulating the metastasis and invasion of TNBC. Therefore, based on the metastasis-related EMT signaling pathway, great efforts have confirmed that LncRNA is involved in the molecular mechanism of TNBC metastasis, which will provide new strategies to improve the treatment and prognosis of TNBC. In this review, we summarized many signal pathways related to EMT involved in the transfer process. The advances from the most recent studies of lncRNAs in the EMT-related signal pathways of TNBC metastasis. We also discussed the clinical research, application, and challenges of LncRNA in TNBC.
A penalty approach to the infinite horizon LQR optimal control problem for the linearized Boussinesq system
Authors: Le Balc’h Kévin , Tucsnak Marius
Published: January 2021

In this paper, we consider the infinite time horizon LQR optimal control problem for the linearized Boussinesq system. The goal is to justify the approximation by penalization of the free divergence condition in this context. We establish convergence results for optimal controls, optimal solutions and Riccati operators when the penalization parameter goes to zero. These results are obtained under two different assumptions. The first one treats the linearization around a sufficiently small stationary state and an arbitrary control operator (possibly of finite rank), while the second one does no longer require the smallness of the stationary state but requires to consider controls distributed in a subdomain and depending on the space variable.
Normality and Its Verification as a Basic Prerequisite for the Application of VaR
Authors: Chutka Jan , Vagner Ladislav
Published: January 2021

If we start to deal with the topics of investing or trading in the financial markets, sooner or later we will encounter the topic of risk. Risk is one of the basic input variables in assessing the suitability and profitability of an investment and therefore there are a number of procedures and methods for its quantification. In our article, we address the issue of portfolio risk quantification through the VaR method and verification of its basic assumption, namely the normal distribution of values. The aim of the article is to compile an overview of procedures and methods for verifying the normal distribution and compare their specifics. In the first chapter of our paper, we focused on the definition of risk, its types. The second chapter focuses on methods of risk quantification and description of individual methods. In the third chapter, we will describe in detail the possibilities of verifying the normality of the distribution of values. In the last chapter, we will briefly interpret the information obtained and identified the advantages, disadvantages and other specifics of individual methods of verifying the normal distribution. We consider the aim of the article to be fulfilled and we believe that it will be a valuable contribution in this area of research.
Non-profit organization’s endowment as a source of financing to improve its sustainability
Authors: Rebetak Filip , Bartosova Viera
Published: January 2021

Non-profit organizations are an important part of the economy and are needed to fulfill many beneficiary roles that neither market, nor state would fill. Non-profit organizations in Slovakia became important after the 1989 Velvet revolution, the dissolution of the Czechoslovakia and creation of the free and democratic Slovak Republic. Ever since them, non-profit played a role in everyday life of people in Slovakia. Non-profit organizations exist with the aim of providing generally beneficiary services without the aim of making profit for their founders – which is what makes them distinct from for profit businesses. However, non-profit organizations need funding for their operations in the same way as any other organizations. They need to pay their bills, salaries, purchase materials, services, etc. Because of their non-profit nature, the sources of financing for these costs are different. The aim of this paper was to look at the endowment of non-profit organizations and its investment as a source of non-profit financing and the current situation in Slovakia regarding it use. We analysed financial statements of foundations available through Finstat.sk database. We found that the use of investing the endowment for self-financing of non-profit organizations is almost non-existent in conditions of Slovak non-profit sector, with only 13,7% of organizations having any long-term financial assets and only 3,9% having any substantial gains from them. Further, we proposed a framework for possible use of the endowment as a source of funding for more non-profit organizations in order to improve the financial situation and sustainability of the non-profit sector.
Current Needs of Business Owners and Managers, Business Schools’ View
Authors: Mantulenko V.V. , Aleshkova D.V.
Published: January 2021

This article investigates actual training programs of leading Russian business schools for entrepreneurs, managers, and business owners. The aim of this research is to analyze current trends in the Russian business education and compare them with experts’ forecast and opinions about the orientation of Russian entrepreneurship to general management issues (complex, integrated consideration of business processes, cultural and value based approaches to business management). The main research methods are analysis, systematization, and generalization. Based on the results of this research work, the authors make a conclusion about the presence of a new development stage of Russian entrepreneurship characterized by new tasks and requirements, urgent needs and skills in demand.
Sustainability of passenger transport as a precondition for fulfilling the 4.0 company concept – analysis of trends in the Czech Republic
Authors: Hinke Jana , Komorousová Veronika
Published: January 2021

Strengthening public transport can significantly contribute to transport sustainability, in particular to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. This article primarily aims to analyse the long-term trend in the production of carbon dioxide by individual types of transport throughout the Czech Republic and to compare the performance of public passenger transport and passenger car transport. The analysis concludes that the performance of public passenger transport by land in the Czech Republic has not been increasing over a long period; on the contrary, individual transport has been strengthening. There has been an increasing trend in CO2 emissions from transport for a long period. Thus, the development of subsidies in the public transport clearly shows that to fund public passenger transport is in the public interest.
IoT - Tool of Society 4.0 - Literary Review
Authors: Černá Marie , Vallišová Lucie
Published: January 2021

Society 4.0 and its tools influence significantly current human activities. Approach of people to use of information have changed, information technologies became part of our daily life. Data are shared and processed using different processing procedures than were used 20 years ago. It has many impacts on lives of individuals and interpersonal relations. This contribution deals with the issue of Internet of Things (IoT) as the tool enabling people more efficient information management. The objective of this contribution is to outline the significance of IoT and provide the overview of this technology. The contribution is based on the literature research and contains bibliometric analysis confirming the IoT significance for current and future human activities.
Methodology for Calculating the Reproduction Value of Buildings
Authors: Hromada Eduard , Schneiderová Heralová Renáta , Dlask Petr , Krulický Tomáš
Published: January 2021

The article deals with the description of the methodology for calculating the reproduction value of buildings. It is a mathematical model that uses data obtained from a statistical survey and calculates the total reproduction value of buildings from a large data set. The model works with many variable inputs that describe the valued building. These include, for example, the use of the building, the enclosed space of the building, the floor area of the building, the building material of the supporting structures of the building, the age of the building, the technical condition of the building, the year the building was acquired and others. Based on the results, the model was calibrated and its parameters optimized to achieve the most accurate values.
Business valuation in times of crisis
Authors: Krulicky Tomas , Horak Jakub , Skulcova Kristyna
Published: January 2021

Business valuation is very important and complex process, mainly in the current global situation. To determine the company value, we will base our calculations on an analysis of the internal environment of the company, which is affected by macroeconomic and microeconomic influences. The aim of this paper is to determine the value of a selected company using FCFF in an environment of negative and unplanned interventions in the economy. The main source for determining the value of the company is data obtained from the financial statements and annual reports of the limited liability company Pepco, s.r.o. from the period of 2013-2018. The method applied to the selected company is the discounted cash flow method, which is one of the most popular and most frequently used earnings methods. In the first years before the company became known on the Czech market, the value of the FCFF was more often than not in negative numbers. This also affected the value of the business. During next years, with the stable growth of the company, the value of the company also grew. We can expect that due to the global problem of COVID-19, the value of the company will decrease in 2020, but it will not have a very significant effect on its overall value.
The applicability of FCFF method evaluating an enterprise of Real Estate segment
Authors: Vrbka Jaromír , Vitková Pavla
Published: January 2021

The article aims at evaluating a specific enterprise of the Real Estate segment using FCFF (Free Cash Flow to Firm) method. This technique determines the company’s value through free cash flows. Enterprise valuation presents a distinct discipline requiring appraiser’s deep understanding not only of the evaluated enterprise but also other external decisive influences. The theoretical part focuses on calculation procedures using The CAPM (Capital Asset Pricing Model) model quantifying separate variables that determine discount rates. The suggested technique deals with specific financial data of the company and is applicable in evaluating small and medium-sized enterprises.
Conflict between the Accounting Act and Czech Accounting Standards in land
Authors: Kabourkova Kristina
Published: January 2021

The paper deals with the analysis of existing Czech accounting procedures in the case of land accounting. The method of process analysis is used, where the currently valid methodological procedures are examined. The strengths and weaknesses of this methodology are defined. It is found that the accounting and valuation of land according to Czech Accounting Standards is in conflict with the Accounting Act, according to which accounting data should provide a true picture of the status and value of the entity’s assets. The purchase price of the land is entered into bookkeeping and any decrease or increase in value is never accounted for again. In the case of forest land, the value of the land and the value of the plants grown on it are not accounted for separately. The accounting therefore does not provide users with true and current information. The good thing is that these accounting policies do not burden the accounting entity in any way. Furthermore, a proposal for new methodological procedures is presented. According to them, it would be possible to update the accounting data depending on the condition of the land and the development of market prices. Based on an expert opinion, a significant increase or decrease in the current value of the land would be accounted for. In the case of a forest, it would be possible to use analytical accounts to account separately for the condition of the land and the condition of the forest foliage. These new procedures would make it possible to reflect in bookkeeping the actual state of the entity’s assets. However, the disadvantage is the higher financial and time demand. Subsequently, the advantages and disadvantages of the currently effective and proposed methodology are compared.
RLC score (R status, lymphovascular invasion, C-reactive protein) predicts survival following radical cystectomy for muscle-invasive bladder cancer
Authors: Struck Julian Peter , Hupe Marie Christine , Heinisch Annika , Ozimek Tomasz , Hennig Martin Johannes Peter , Klee Melanie , von Klot Christoph , Kalogirou Charis , Kuczyk Markus A. , Merseburger Axel S. , Kramer Mario W.
Published: January 2021

Background CRP-based scoring systems were found to correlate with survival in patients with urooncologic diseases. Our retrospective single-centre study aimed to confirm CRP as a prognostic parameter in patients with bladder cancer (BCa) undergoing radical cystectomy (RC) and, based on the findings, to develop our own outcome score for muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) patients undergoing RC in order to identify patients with a high risk of mortality.

Material and methods A total of 254 patients who underwent RC at Hanover Medical School between 1996 and 2007 were reviewed with a follow-up until autumn 2013. The clinicopathologic parameters assessed included age, co-morbidities, pre-/postoperative serum levels of CRP, leukocytes, haemoglobin, creatinine, urinary diversion, tumour grading, staging, lymph node status, lymph node density (LND), lymphovascular invasion (LVI), metastases, and resection margin status. The Chi-square test was used for univariate analyses. Kaplan-Meier estimates and the log-rank test were used for survival analyses. Regarding outcome, overall survival (OS) was assessed.

Results The multivariate analysis excluding lymph node (LN)-positive and metastatic patients at time of RC showed a significant association of R status (R; p < 0.001), LVI (L; p = 0.021) and preoperative CRP level > 5 mg/l (C; p = 0.008) with OS. Based on these parameters, the RLC score was developed. The median OS in the intermediate, high-risk and very high-risk groups according to the RLC score was 62, 22, and 6.5 months, respectively. The score had a high predictive accuracy of 0.752.

Conclusion The RLC score identifies BCa patients at a higher risk of overall mortality after RC. Overall, our study supports the role of CRP in prognostic score models for BCa.
Wearables, Physical Activity, and Exercise Testing in Liver Disease
Authors: Dunn Michael A. , Kappus Matthew R. , Bloomer Pamela M. , Duarte-Rojo Andres , Josbeno Deborah A. , Jakicic John M.
Published: January 2021

Physical inactivity is a major cause of deterioration in all forms of advanced liver disease. It is especially important as a driver of the components of the metabolic syndrome, with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease rapidly becoming the dominant cause of liver-related death worldwide. Growing realization of the health benefits of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity has captured the interest of persons who desire to improve their health, including those at risk for chronic liver injury. They are increasingly adopting wearable activity trackers to measure the activity that they seek to improve. Improved physical activity is the key lifestyle behavior that can improve cardiorespiratory fitness, which is most accurately measured with cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET). CPET is showing promise to identify risk and predict outcomes in transplant hepatology. Team effort among engaged patients, social support networks, and clinicians supported by web-based connectivity is needed to fully exploit the benefits of physical activity tracking.
Leveraging Real-World Data for the Selection of Relevant Eligibility Criteria for the Implementation of Electronic Recruitment Support in Clinical Trials
Authors: Melzer Georg , Maiwald Tim , Prokosch Hans-Ulrich , Ganslandt Thomas
Published: January 2021

Background Even though clinical trials are indispensable for medical research, they are frequently impaired by delayed or incomplete patient recruitment, resulting in cost overruns or aborted studies. Study protocols based on real-world data with precisely expressed eligibility criteria and realistic cohort estimations are crucial for successful study execution. The increasing availability of routine clinical data in electronic health records (EHRs) provides the opportunity to also support patient recruitment during the prescreening phase. While solutions for electronic recruitment support have been published, to our knowledge, no method for the prioritization of eligibility criteria in this context has been explored.

Methods In the context of the Electronic Health Records for Clinical Research (EHR4CR) project, we examined the eligibility criteria of the KATHERINE trial. Criteria were extracted from the study protocol, deduplicated, and decomposed. A paper chart review and data warehouse query were executed to retrieve clinical data for the resulting set of simplified criteria separately from both sources. Criteria were scored according to disease specificity, data availability, and discriminatory power based on their content and the clinical dataset.

Results The study protocol contained 35 eligibility criteria, which after simplification yielded 70 atomic criteria. For a cohort of 106 patients with breast cancer and neoadjuvant treatment, 47.9% of data elements were captured through paper chart review, with the data warehouse query yielding 26.9% of data elements. Score application resulted in a prioritized subset of 17 criteria, which yielded a sensitivity of 1.00 and specificity 0.57 on EHR data (paper charts, 1.00 and 0.80) compared with actual recruitment in the trial.

Conclusion It is possible to prioritize clinical trial eligibility criteria based on real-world data to optimize prescreening of patients on a selected subset of relevant and available criteria and reduce implementation efforts for recruitment support. The performance could be further improved by increasing EHR data coverage.
Engaging contested community issues
Authors: Dollar Natalie J.
Published: January 2021

This article presents an analysis of dialogue as an alternative to debate and argument for engaging contested community
issues. Treating dialogue as a communication practice, I draw on ethnography of communication, cultural communication theory, and cultural
discourse analysis to describe and interpret how participants practiced community dialogue as a communication event comprised of sequences
of listening and verbally responding. When topics and identities were elaborated upon and socially negotiated through personal communication
in the form of narratives and emotional responses, participants reported effective dialogue. These sequences were dialogic moments partially
due to the dialectical tension between Americans’ once predictable civic routine of public expression of individual’s beliefs and the
process of dialogue featured in our War and Peace dialogue workshop.
The Georgian Legion of World War I
Authors: Fritschen Jeannot
Published: January 2021

The Georgian Legion of World War I represented one of the most peculiar and informative implementations of Germany’s grand scheme to win the war by revolution and, eventually, to replace enemy imperial rule. While the topic is only scarcely known in research, abundant sources exist to tell the unfortunate story of hundreds of refugees turned into soldiers by Georgian nationalists and German officers. The endeavour was later assessed as widely unsuccessful by its participants and by historians, but its true value can only be uncovered by embedding the legion into its wider context, as an integral component of Germany’s “programme for revolution”, as well as by drawing parallels to similar undertakings. This article furthermore aims to discuss the origins of the idea for the initiative and to draw conclusions about its seeming failure, while providing an alternative perspective on the project. By discussing its implementation and motives, the analysis of the legion can deliver insight on the underlying motives of German wartime foreign policy and on the collaboration of nationalist actors as agents of German imperialism, while being simultaneous promoters of their genuine revolutionary cause.
Observation of two-dimensional superconductivity in an ultrathin iron–arsenic superconductor
Authors: Zhang Chi , Hu Tao , Wang Teng , Wu Yufeng , Yu Aobo , Chu Jianan , Zhang Han , Zhang Xuefu , Xiao Hong , Peng Wei , Di Zengfeng , Qiao Shan , Mu Gang
Published: January 2021

Two-dimensional (2D) superconductors supply important platforms for exploring new quantum physics and high-T

c
superconductivity. The intrinsic superconducting properties in the 2D iron–arsenic superconductors are still unknown owing to the difficulties in the preparation of ultrathin samples. Here we report the fabrication and physical investigations of the high quality single-crystalline ultrathin films of the iron–arsenic superconductor KCa2Fe4As4F2. For the sample with the thickness of 2.6–5 nm (1–2 unit cells), a sharp superconducting transition at around 30 K (onset point) is observed. Compare with the bulk material, the ultrathin sample reveals a relatively lower T

c
, wider transition width, higher anisotropy, broader flux liquid region under the in-plane field, and smaller thermal activated energy with a 2D feature. Moreover, the angle dependent upper critical field follows the Tinkham model, demonstrating the two-dimensional superconductivity in ultrathin KCa2Fe4As4F2. The significant dimensionality effect observed here is markedly different from those observed in cuprate superconductors.
Hot deformation behaviours and spheroidization mechanisms of Ti-5322 alloy during hot compression
Authors: Wang Andong , Mao Yongquan , Chen Caifeng , Zhang Luxiang , Ni Lei
Published: January 2021

The hot deformation behavior of Ti-5322 alloy are researched at compression temperatures range of 750–1050 °C and strain rate range of 0.01–10 s−1, to optimize its hot workability. Processing map analysis and microstructure observations reveal that the optimal processing parameters of Ti-5322 alloy are temperatures of 750–825 °C and strain rates of 0.01–0.05 s−1, and temperatures of 925–975 °C and strain rates of 0.01–1 s−1. The peak efficiency of power dissipation can reach 40% owing to the transformation from α phase to β phase, spheroidization behavior and dynamic recrystallization of the β phase. The dynamic recrystallization was the primary form of microstructure evolution above 900 °C, while the spheroidization of α phase below 900 °C. The spheroidization of α lamellae can be attributed to the instability of subgrain boundaries appeared in the α phase during hot deformation. The β phase wadges into the α/α subgrain boundary and α/β interface migration induced the α phase spheroidization. In addition, three instability domains are detected in the processing maps, which confirmed by the presence of microstructures with wedge cracking and adiabatic shear bands.
Intermediate C*-algebras of Cartan embeddings
Authors: Brown Jonathan , Exel Ruy , Fuller Adam , Pitts David , Reznikoff Sarah
Published: January 2021

Let

A
A

be a C

∗

^*

-algebra and let

D
D

be a Cartan subalgebra of

A
A

. We study the following question: if

B
B

is a C

∗

^*

-algebra such that

D
⊆
B
⊆
A

D \subseteq B \subseteq A

, is

D
D

a Cartan subalgebra of

B
B

? We give a positive answer in two cases: the case when there is a faithful conditional expectation from

A
A

onto

B
B

, and the case when

A
A

is nuclear and

D
D

is a C

∗

^*

-diagonal of

A
A

. In both cases there is a one-to-one correspondence between the intermediate C

∗

^*

-algebras

B
B

, and a class of open subgroupoids of the groupoid

G
G

, where

Σ
→
G

\Sigma \rightarrow G

is the twist associated with the embedding

D
⊆
A

D \subseteq A

.
Outcomes after non-operative management of perforated diverticular disease: a population-based cohort study
Authors: Adiamah A , Ban L , Otete H , Crooks C J , West J , Humes D J
Published: January 2021

Background

The management of perforated diverticular disease has changed in the past 10 years with a move towards less surgical intervention. This population-based cohort study aimed to define the risk of death and readmission following non-operative management of perforated diverticular disease.

Methods

Patients diagnosed with perforated diverticular disease and managed without surgery were identified from the linked Clinical Practice Research Datalink and Hospital Episode Statistics data from 2000 to 2013. The outcomes were 1-year case fatality, readmissions, and surgery at readmission.

Results

In total, 880 patients with perforated diverticular disease were managed without surgery, comprising 523 women (59.4 per cent). The 1-year case fatality rate was 33.2 per cent (293 of 880). The majority of deaths occurred in the first 90 days after the index admission, with a 90-day case fatality rate of 28.8 per cent. The 90-day survival rate varied by age, and was 97.2 per cent among those aged less than 65 years, compared with 85.0 per cent for those aged between 65 and 74 years, and 47.7 per cent in those at least 75 years old. Of 767 patients discharged from hospital, 250 (32.6 per cent) were readmitted (47 elective, 6.1 per cent; 203 emergency, 26.5 per cent) during a median of 1.6 (i.q.r. 0.1–3.9) years of follow-up, with similar proportions in each age category. In the first year of follow-up, only 5.1 per cent of patients required surgery, of whom 16 of 767 (2.1 per cent) required elective and 23 (3.0 per cent) emergency operation.

Conclusion

Non-operative management of perforated diverticulitis in those aged less than 65 years is feasible and safe. Reintervention rates following conservative management were low across all age categories.
Transanal versus conventional total mesorectal excision for rectal cancer using the IDEAL framework for implementation
Authors: Robertson R L , Karimuddin A , Phang T , Raval M , Brown C
Published: January 2021

Background

Transanal total mesorectal excision (TaTME) is an innovative technique for distal rectal cancer dissection. It has been shown to have similar short-term outcomes to conventional open and laparoscopic total mesorectal excision (cTME), but recent studies have raised concern about increased morbidity and local recurrence rates. The aim of this study was to assess outcomes after TaTME versus cTME for rectal cancer.

Methods

TaTME was implemented in 2014 using IDEAL principles in a single institution. The institution maintains databases for all patients undergoing rectal cancer surgery. This retrospective review compared data collected from all patients who had TaTME with those from a propensity-matched cohort of patients who underwent cTME. The primary outcome was a composite pathological measure combining margin status and quality of total mesorectal excision (TME). Short-term clinical and survival outcomes were also measured.

Results

Propensity matching created 109 matched pairs for analysis. Nine patients (8.3 per cent) undergoing TaTME had positive margins and/or incomplete TME, compared with 11 (10.5 per cent) undergoing cTME (P = 0.65). There were no significant differences in morbidity between the TaTME and cTME groups, including number of anastomotic leaks (13.8 versus 18.3 per cent; P = 0.37). The estimated 3-year local recurrence-free survival rate was 96.3 per cent in both groups (P = 0.39). Estimated 3-year overall (93.6 per cent for TaTME versus 94.5 per cent for cTME; P = 0.09) and disease-free (88.1 versus 76.1 per cent; P = 0.90) survival rates were similar.

Conclusion

TaTME provided similar outcomes to cTME for rectal cancer with the application of IDEAL principles.
Inducibility, but not stability, of atrial fibrillation is increased by NOX2 overexpression in mice
Authors: Mighiu Alexandra S , Recalde Alice , Ziberna Klemen , Carnicer Ricardo , Tomek Jakub , Bub Gil , Brewer Alison C , Verheule Sander , Shah Ajay M , Simon Jillian N , Casadei Barbara
Published: January 2021

Aims

Gp91-containing NADPH oxidases (NOX2) are a significant source of myocardial superoxide production. An increase in NOX2 activity accompanies atrial fibrillation (AF) induction and electrical remodelling in animal models and predicts incident AF in humans; however, a direct causal role for NOX2 in AF has not been demonstrated. Accordingly, we investigated whether myocardial NOX2 overexpression in mice (NOX2-Tg) is sufficient to generate a favourable substrate for AF and further assessed the effects of atorvastatin, an inhibitor of NOX2, on atrial superoxide production and AF susceptibility.

Methods and results

NOX2-Tg mice showed a 2- to 2.5-fold higher atrial protein content of NOX2 compared with wild-type (WT) controls, which was associated with a significant (twofold) increase in NADPH-stimulated superoxide production (2-hydroxyethidium by HPLC) in left and right atrial tissue homogenates (P = 0.004 and P = 0.019, respectively). AF susceptibility assessed in vivo by transoesophageal atrial burst stimulation was modestly increased in NOX2-Tg compared with WT (probability of AF induction: 88% vs. 69%, respectively; P = 0.037), in the absence of significant alterations in AF duration, surface ECG parameters, and LV mass or function. Mechanistic studies did not support a role for NOX2 in promoting electrical or structural remodelling, as high-resolution optical mapping of atrial tissues showed no differences in action potential duration and conduction velocity between genotypes. In addition, we did not observe any genotype difference in markers of fibrosis and inflammation, including atrial collagen content and Col1a1, Il-1β, Il-6, and Mcp-1 mRNA. Similarly, NOX2 overexpression did not have consistent effects on RyR2 Ca2+ leak nor did it affect PKA or CaMKII-mediated RyR2 phosphorylation. Finally, treatment with atorvastatin significantly inhibited atrial superoxide production in NOX2-Tg but had no effect on AF induction in either genotype.

Conclusion

Together, these data indicate that while atrial NOX2 overexpression may contribute to atrial arrhythmogenesis, NOX2-derived superoxide production does not affect the electrical and structural properties of the atrial myocardium.
GENETIC ANALYSIS OF RESISTANCE TO BENZIMIDAZOLES IN PHYSARUM: DIFFERENTIAL EXPRESSION OF β-TUBULIN GENES
Authors: Burland Timothy G , Schedl Tim , Gull Keith , Dove William F
Published: January 2021

Physarum displays two vegetative cell types, uninucleate myxamoebae and multinucleate plasmodia. Mutant myxamoebae of Physarum resistant to the antitubulin drug methylbenzimidazole-2-yl-carbamate (MBC) were isolated. All mutants tested were cross-resistant to other benzimidazoles but not to cycloheximide or emetine. Genetic analysis showed that mutation to MBC resistance can occur at any one of four unlinked loci, benA, benB, benC or benD. MBC resistance of benB and benD mutants was expressed in plasmodia, but benA and benC mutant plasmodia were MBC sensitive, suggesting that benA and benC encode myxamoeba-specific products. Myxamoebae carrying the recessive benD210 mutation express a β-tubulin with noval electrophoretic mobility, in addition to a β-tubulin with wild-type mobility. This and other evidence indicates that benD is a structural gene for β-tubulin, and that at least two β-tubulin genes are expressed in myxamoebae. Comparisons of the β-tubulins of wildtype and benD210 strains by gel electrophoresis revealed that, of the three (or more) β-tubulin genes expressed in Physarum, one, benD, is expressed in both myxamoebae and plasmodia, one is expressed specifically in myxamoebae and one is expressed specifically in plasmodia. However, mutation in only one gene, benD, is sufficient to confer MBC resistance on both myxamoebae and plasmodia.
GENETICS OF THE TUBULIN GENE FAMILIES OF PHYSARUM
Authors: Schedl Tim , Owens Judi , Dove William F , Burland Timothy G
Published: January 2021

The organization of the α- and β-tubulin gene families in Physarum was investigated by Mendelian analysis. Restriction endonuclease-generated DNA fragments homologous to α- and β-tubulin show length polymorphisms that can be used as markers for genetic mapping. Analysis of meiotic assortment among progeny of heterozygotes allowed α- and β-tubulin sequence loci to be defined. There are four unlinked α-tubulin sequence loci (altA, altB, altC and altD) and at least three unlinked β-tubulin sequence loci (betA, betB and betC). The α-tubulin loci are not linked to the β-tubulin loci. —Segregation of tubulin sequence loci with respect to ben mutations that confer resistance to antitubulin benzimidazole drugs was used to investigate whether any members of the α- or β-tubulin gene families are allelic to ben loci. The β-tubulin sequence locus betB is allelic to the resistance locus benD, the betA locus is probably allelic to benA and the α-tubulin sequence locus altC may be allelic to benC. The molecular implications of benzimidazole resistance phenotypes when only one of the expressed β-tubulin gene family members mutates to drug resistance are discussed in relation to tubulin function.
GENETIC ANALYSIS OF NATURAL POPULATIONS OF DROSOPHILA MELANOGASTER IN JAPAN. II. THE MEASUREMENT OF FITNESS AND FITNESS COMPONENTS IN HOMOZYGOUS LINES
Authors: Yamazaki Tsuneyuki , Hirose Yasuko
Published: January 2021

Fifty lethal-free, sterility-free isogenic lines of Drosophila melanogaster that were randomly sampled from a natural population were tested for net fitness and other components of fitness by competition with D. hydei. Larval viability and developmental time were also measured using the balanced marker method. Distribution patterns of these fitness components were similar, but correlation between the fitness components varied depending on the combinations used. The highest correlations were obtained between net fitness and productivity (rp = 0.6987, rg = 0.9269). The correlation between net fitness and total larval viability was much lower (rp = 0.1473 and rg = 0.2171). These results indicate that measuring net fitness, not just a component of fitness, is necessary for the good understanding of the genetic structures of natural populations.
REGULATION OF REPRESSIBLE ACID PHOSPHATASE BY CYCLIC AMP IN SACCHAROMYCES CEREVISIAE
Authors: Matsumoto Kunihiro , Uno Isao , Ishikawa Tatsuo
Published: January 2021

One of the cyr1 mutants (cyr1-2) in yeast produced low levels of adenylate cyclase and cyclic AMP at 25° and was unable to derepress acid phosphatase. Addition of cyclic AMP to the cyr1-2 cultures elevated the level of repressible acid phosphatase activity. The bcy1 mutation, which suppresses the cyr1-2 mutation by allowing activity of a cyclic AMP-independent protein kinase, also allows acid phosphatase synthesis without restoring adenylate cyclase activity. The CYR3 mutant had structurally altered cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase and was unable to derepress acid phosphatase. The cyr1 locus was different from pho2, pho4 and pho81, which were known to regulate acid phosphatase synthesis. Mutants carrying cyr1-2 and pho80, PHO81c, PHO82 or pho85 mutations, which confer constitutive synthesis of repressible acid phosphatase, produced acid phosphatase. The cyr1-2 mutant produced significantly low levels of invertase and α- d-glucosidase. These results indicated that cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase exerts its function in the synthesis of repressible acid phosphatase and other enzymes.
MARGINAL OVERDOMINANCE IN DROSOPHILA
Authors: Wills Christopher
Published: January 2021

A reanalysis of Drosophila viability data was undertaken to determine the role of genotype-environment interactions in the maintenance of polymorphism. Between-replicate variances of viabilities in chromosomal homozygotes and heterozygotes with the same mean fitnesses were compared, with the expectation that if the heterozygote variance were on the average greater, conditional overdominance would be prevalent; if it were less, partial dominance would be prevalent; and if it were the same, marginal overdominance of the type considered by Wallace (1968) would be the prevalent type of variation. In fact, heterozygote variance was slightly less. The work of Dempster (1955) and of Gillespie and Langley (1974) is cited to show that this situation can still lead to balanced polymorphisms. Their general model for genetic variation in populations, consistent with the viability data, is reinforced.