bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Dynamic coherent perfect absorption in nonlinear metasurfaces
Authors: Alaee Rasoul , Vaddi Yaswant , Boyd Robert W.
Published: October 2020

In this Letter, we propose a tunable coherent perfect absorber based on ultrathin nonlinear metasurfaces. A nonlinear metasurface is made of plasmonic nanoantennas coupled to an epsilon-near-zero material with a large optical nonlinearity. The coherent perfect absorption is achieved by controlling the relative phases of the input beams. Here, we show that the optical response of the nonlinear metasurface can be tuned from a complete to a partial absorption by changing the intensity of the pump beam. The proposed nonlinear metasurface can be used to design optically tunable thermal emitters, modulators, and sensors.
Soliton blockade in bidirectional microresonators
Authors: Fan Zhiwei , Skryabin Dmitry V.
Published: October 2020

We report a method to control, disrupt, and restore a regime of
unidirectional soliton generation in a bidirectionally pumped ring
microresonator. This control, i.e., the soliton blockade, is achieved
by tuning the pump frequency of the counterrotating field. The
blockade effect is correlated with the emergence of a dark–bright
nonlinear resonance of cw states.
Carrier-envelope offset stable, coherently combined ytterbium-doped fiber CPA delivering 1  kW of average power
Authors: Shestaev E. , Hädrich S. , Walther N. , Eidam T. , Klenke A. , Seres I. , Bengery Z. , Jójárt P. , Várallyay Z. , Börzsönyi Á. , Limpert J.
Published: October 2020

We present a carrier-envelope offset (CEO) stable ytterbium-doped fiber chirped-pulse amplification system employing the technology of coherent beam combining and delivering more than 1 kW of average power at a pulse repetition rate of 80 MHz. The CEO stability of the system is 220 mrad rms, characterized out-of-loop with an f-to-2f interferometer in a frequency offset range of 10 Hz to 20 MHz. The high-power amplification system boosts the average power of the CEO stable oscillator by five orders of magnitude while increasing the phase noise by only 100 mrad. No evidence of CEO noise deterioration due to coherent beam combining is found. Low-frequency CEO fluctuations at the chirped-pulse amplifier are suppressed by a “slow loop” feedback. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first demonstration of a coherently combined laser system delivering an outstanding average power and high CEO stability at the same time.
White-lighting and WDM-VLC system using transmission gratings and an engineered diffuser
Authors: Li Chung-Yi , Lu Hai-Han , Tsai Wen-Shing , Feng Chao-Yu , Chou Cing-Ru , Chen Yi-Hao , Nainggolan Agustina
Published: October 2020

A white-lighting and wavelength-division-multiplexing (WDM)-visible light communication (VLC) system with over 20 m of free-space distance and 3 m of lighting distance is demonstrated via a red/green/blue (R/G/B) triple-source polarization-multiplexing scheme, transmission gratings, and an engineered diffuser with a double-convex lens. Integrating four-level pulse amplitude modulation (PAM4) with a triple-source polarization-multiplexing scheme, the aggregate transmission rate is noticeably enhanced to 300 Gb/s [

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-polarizations)]. White-light is produced by multiplexing the R/G/B lights with two transmission gratings and separated by demultiplexing them using the other two transmission gratings. By adopting an engineered diffuser with a double-convex lens, the white-light is diffused over 3 m of free-space distance to provide general white-light illumination (

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). This demonstrated white-lighting and WDM-VLC system meets a high aggregate transmission rate with a qualified indoor lighting target. It opens up a new category for lighting and communication.
‘Dear Netflix…’: Informal local intermediaries on the periphery of the global VOD market
Authors: Szczepanik Petr
Published: October 2020

Academic discussion of Netflix has already highlighted the labour of localization that the global service has had to carry out or contract in order to operate smoothly across borders. But not much has been said about independent local players who help to align the service with local audiences, doing so often without any authorization or recognition, and who are still looking for a place in the new distribution ecosystem. Employing the perspective of valuation studies, this article discusses the changing business model of a Czech video-on-demand (VOD) directory, Filmtoro, as an example of a new type of local intermediary contributing to the social construction of the global VOD market.
Effects of sevoflurane inhalation anesthesia on IL-6, TNF-Î± and MMP-9 expression and hemodynamics in elderly patients undergoing lobectomy for lung cancer
Authors: Chen Xinyu , Li Minjie , Zheng Rujie , Huang Qinfeng , Li Yanzhen , Zhu Yu , Chen Zhiwei , Lin Jianqing
Published: October 2020

Objective of current research was to investigate the effect of sevoflurane inhalation anesthesia on hemodynamics and inflammatory response in elderly patients with lung cancer lobectomy. Methods: A total of 168 patients with lung cancer who underwent lobectomy in our hospital from January 2019 to December 2019 were selected as the study subjects. The patients were divided into an observation group and control group according to the anesthesia program. In the control group, 1 mg/kg propofol intravenous pump induced anesthesia was maintained at 6mg/kg/h. In the observation group, 8% sevoflurane was used to induce anesthesia and 2% sevoflurane was used to maintain anesthesia. Mean artery pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR) and blood oxygen saturation (SpO2) were monitored at the beginning of single-lung ventilation (t1), when single-lung ventilation was changed to double-lung ventilation (t2), and at 30 minutes after double-lung ventilation (t3), respectively. Serum levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor (TNF-Î±), and matrix metalloproteinases (MMP-9) were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit. Assess the patient's adverse reactions. Results: At time t1 and time t2, there was no significant difference in the three hemodynamic indicators between the two groups (P>0.05). However, at t3, both MAP and HR in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group, while SpO2 was significantly higher than those in the control group (P<0.05). At t1 and t2, there was no significant difference in IL-6 and TNF- levels between the two groups, but at t3, IL-6 and TNF-Î± levels in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group (P<0.05). Compared with the control group, serum MMP-9 level was significantly decreased in the whole t1 to t3 stage (P<0.05). The incidence of complications in the observation group was significantly higher than that in the control group. It was calculated that Sevoflurane can significantly improve hemodynamics and inflammatory response in elderly patients with lung cancer lobectomy, but the incidence of complications is high.
Serum AFU, GGT and TK1 levels in PHC patients and their correlation with clinicopathology and diagnostic value
Authors: Gong Genqiang , Zheng Kang , Xue Shunhe , Hou Jianfeng , Zhang Qing
Published: October 2020

To investigate the expression level and clinical significance of fucosidase (AFU), glutamyltranspeptidase (GGT), and thymidine kinase 1 (TK1) in the serum of patients with primary liver cancer (PHC). A total of 135 PHC patients in Baoji Central Hospital from September 2014 to February 2018 were selected as a research group (RG), while 127 healthy subjects were collected as a control group (CG). Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect the AFU, GGT, and TK1 concentrations in serum of the two groups, and the diagnostic value of combined detection of the three for PHC was analyzed. AFU, GGT, and TK1 concentrations in serum of the RG were dramatically higher than those of the CG (P< 0.050). ROC curve analysis showed that the sensitivity of AFU, GGT, and TK1 in the single diagnosis of PHC was 88.00, 94.00, and 66.00% respectively, and the specificity was 68.00, 54.00, and 66.00% respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of the combined diagnosis of PHC were 76.00 and 90.00%, respectively. AFU, GGT, and TK1 concentrations were different in the presence or absence of liver cirrhosis, TNM stage, and tissue type (P< 0.050). AFU, GGT, and TK1 concentrations in PHC patients were dramatically higher than those in healthy people. Combined detection of the three has good diagnostic value for PHC.
Diabetes up-regulated collagen IV and laminin Î±5 genes in mRNA and protein levels in seminiferous tubules of C57BL/6 adult mice
Authors: Khordad Elnaz , Nikravesh Mohammad Reza , Jalali Mehdi , Fazel Ali Reza , Sankian Mojtaba , Alipour Fatemeh
Published: October 2020

Diabetes is a disease associated with impairment of the male reproductive system that causes complications such as decreased testosterone, the diameter of the seminiferous tubule, libido, and fertility. Extracellular matrix (ECM) molecules are involved in testicular development and spermatogenesis. Laminin and collagen are key proteins in seminiferous tubule basement membrane and play an important role in spermatogenesis. The present study was conducted to investigate the effect of diabetes on collagen IV and laminin Î±5 changes in mice testis. In this experimental study, 40 mice (C57BL/6) were divided randomly into 4 groups: 1) Control group: without intervention, 2) Diabetic group: treated mice with 50 mg/kg streptozotocin (STZ), 3) Diabetic + Insulin group: treated mice with STZ and insulin, and 4) Sham group: received citrate buffer. After 35 days, the left testes of all specimens were used for Real-Time PCR while their right testes were applied for immunohistochemical study and Periodic acid–Schiff (PAS) staining. This study showed that gene expression and immunoreactivity of laminin Î±5 and collagen IV were significantly increased in diabetic mice compared to other groups (P<0.05). Also, PAS staining showed the thickness of seminiferous tubule basement membrane in the Diabetic group compared to other group increased significantly (p<0.05). In Diabetic + Insulin compared to Diabetic group, gene expression, the intensity of immunoreactivity and thickness of seminiferous tubule basement membrane decreased significantly (P<0.05). Our findings indicated that diabetes causes up-regulation of collagen IV and laminin Î±5 in mRNA and protein levels in the seminiferous tubule basement membrane and may cause disorder in spermatogenesis in mice.
Effects of Dengzhan Shengmai Capsule combined with butylphthalide soft capsule on oxidative stress indexes and serum Hcy and CRP levels in patients with vascular dementia
Authors: Ma Yan , Sun Wenping
Published: October 2020

This experiment was aimed to investigate the effect of Dengzhan Shengmai capsule combined with butylphthalide soft capsule on oxidative stress indexes and serum homocysteine (Hcy) and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels in patients with vascular dementia (VD). From July 2017 to July 2019, 123 patients with VD in our hospital were selected as the research object, and each patient was assigned a random number according to the order of treatment. Among them, No. 1 to 41 were the control group A, No. 42 to 82 were the control group B, and No. 83 to 123 were the research group. Control group A was given butylphthalide soft capsules, control group B was Dengzhanshengmai capsules, and the research group was given Dengzhanshengmai capsules combined with butylphthalide softgels. Comparison of clinical efficacy, the incidence of adverse reactions, and improvement of symptoms [Montreal Cognitive Assessment Scale (MocA) score, Vascular Dementia TCM Syndrome Differentiation Scale (SDSVD) score], vascular endothelial function [NO, endothelin 1 (ET-1)], oxidative stress [lipid peroxide (LPO), superoxide dismutase (SOD), C Dialdehyde (MDA)], endoplasmic reticulum stress response (Hcy, CRP) related indicators before and after treatment in three groups. Results showed that the total effective rate of treatment in the study group was higher than that in the control groups A and B, the difference was statistically significant (p<0.05). In symptom improvement, the MoCA score of the study group was higher than that of the control groups A and B after the treatment course, and the SDSVD score was lower than that of the control groups A and B (p<0.05); In the vascular endothelial function section, after the course of treatment, the serum NO level in the study group was higher than that in the control groups A and B, and the ET-1 level was lower than that in the control groups A and B (p<0.05). In oxidative stress experiment, after the course of treatment in the study group, the serum LPO and MDA levels were lower than those in the control groups A and B, and the SOD levels were higher than those in the control groups A and B (p<0.05).  Endoplasmic reticulum stress response results showed that after the course of treatment in the study group, the serum Hcy and CRP levels were lower than those in the control groups A and B (p<0.05). In adverse reactions section, there was no significant difference in the incidence of adverse reactions among the three groups (p>0.05). Dengzhan Shengmai Capsule combined with butylphthalide soft capsule is the first treatment for VD, with definite curative effect, which can effectively reduce the damage of vascular endothelial function and inhibit oxidative stress response, antagonize the endoplasmic reticulum stress response, thereby further alleviating dementia symptoms and improving cognitive function.
Urtica dioica agglutinin (a plant lectin) has a caspase-dependent apoptosis induction effect on the acute lymphoblastic leukemia cell line
Authors: Rashidbaghan Azam , Mostafaie Ali , Yazdani Yaghoub , Mansouri Kamran
Published: October 2020

Urtica dioica agglutinin (UDA) is a very small plant lectin with anti-prostatic activity. In this study, we investigated the effect of UDA on proliferation and apoptosis induction in human acute lymphoid leukemia (ALL) cell lines. The effect of UDA on Jurkat and Raji cell proliferation was examined by MTS assay. Distribution of cell cycle phases was determined by PI staining and apoptosis was examined with annexin V/PI and western blot. Results showed UDA treatment reduced cell proliferation in cells by inducing apoptosis. PI staining was associated with a higher percentage of the cell population in sub G1. Caspase-8 and caspase-9 dependent apoptosis occurred in Jurkat cells. Generally, UDA treatment resulted in cell death in ALL cell lines and induced apoptosis in the T-ALL cell line, Jurkat, through extrinsic and intrinsic pathways. These results may be considered as a guide to working on UDA as an anti-leukemic drug in the future.
Investigating the changes in the levels of HbA1c, blood fat and insulin sensitivity in elder patients with type II diabetes mellitus due to combined medication of pioglitazone and melbine and single-use of pioglitazone
Authors: Sun Yuanyuan , Yu Qigui , Xie Jun
Published: October 2020

This study was founded for the purpose investigate the differences in effects of combined medication of pioglitazone and melbine and single-use of pioglitazone on the levels of hba1c, blood fat and insulin sensitivity of elder patients with type II diabetes mellitus (T2DM), to provide clinical reference and guidance for the treatment of T2DM in elder patients. For this purpose, we selected a total of 120 elder patients with T2DM who visited the clinic or were admitted to this hospital between July 2016 and July 2017 and divided them into the observation group and the control group (n=60 for each group). For the control group, they only took pioglitazone for treatment, while those in the observation additionally took melbine for treatment. Then, we observed the levels of FPG, 2hPG, HbA1c, blood fat, FINS, 2hINS and HOMA-IR. Results showed that after treatment, significant decreases were seen in levels of FPG, 2hPG and HbA1c in patients of two groups compared to the levels before treatment, and the levels in the observation group decreased more evidently than those in the control group (p<0.05); besides, the levels of total glyceride, total cholesterol and LDL-C were all significantly lower than those before treatment, with an elevated HDL-C, and those levels of TG, TC and LDL-C in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group; the level of HDL-C was higher than the control group (p<0.05). Similar decreases were identified in the levels of FINS, 2hFINS and HOMA-IR after treatment (p<0.05), and the levels in the observation group were also significantly lower than those in the control group (p<0.05). In the observation group, the incidence rate of adverse reactions was 10% (6/60), while in the control group was 8.33% (5/60), but the difference between the two groups showed no statistical significance (p>0.05). It is concluded that combined medication of pioglitazone and melbine can effectively reduce the levels of plasma glucose, blood fat and the HOMA-IR, with an elevated sensitivity to insulin, but no severe adverse reactions, manifesting a promising safety in long-term administration. It is worthy of being promoted in clinical practice.
COVID-19 Forced Social Distancing and Isolation: A Multi-Perspective Experience
Authors: Janz Bruce , Kaznina Eka , Jihyun Kim , Ammann Claudia , Kohlberg David , Mamali Cătălin
Published: October 2020

The article is combined of six chapters authored by these who voiced their experiences with social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemics in various contexts, but mostly centered on psychological, sociological, and ethical aspects. Authors, mostly psychologists and philosophers, were invited to describe their perspectives on the sense and practice of social distancing in times of pandemics. Their reflections seek to demonstrate various perspectives related to subjects’ novel self-experience, social situatedness, and their dealing with conventions and habits altered through the pandemics. As “the owl of Minerva takes its flight only when the shades of night are gathering” (Hegel), there is no conclusion in this article. It rather encourages other authors to reflect on the nearly global, still lasting phenomenon.
Type II singularities on complete non-compact Yamabe flow
Authors: Choi Beomjun , Daskalopoulos Panagiota , King John
Published: October 2020

This work concerns with the existence and detailed asymptotic analysis of type II singularities for solutions to complete non-compact conformally flat Yamabe flow with cylindrical behavior at infinity. We provide the specific blow-up rate of
the maximum curvature and show that the solution converges, after blowing-up around the curvature maximum points, to a rotationally symmetric steady soliton. It is the first time that the steady soliton is shown to be a finite time singularity model of the Yamabe flow.
Recent advances in the catalytic applications of GO/rGO for green organic synthesis
Authors: Sachdeva Harshita
Published: October 2020

Graphene is considered a promising catalyst candidate due to its 2D nature, single-atom thickness, zero bandgap and very high surface to volume ratio. Further, graphene oxide (GO) has been used as a catalytic support material for metal/metal oxide nanoparticles due to its tunable electrical properties. In addition, its high chemical stability and ultrahigh thermal conductivity may possibly promote high loading of catalytically active sites. This review article focuses on the recent progress in the catalytic applications of GO especially (i) as catalytic-support material (GO/reduced graphene oxide supported metal/metal oxide nanohybrids) for the green synthesis of biologically relevant molecules, (ii) for metal-free catalysis and (iii) for electrocatalysis, with special focus on graphene contribution to catalytic efficiency. The critical overview and future perspectives are also discussed.
Solidarity, critique and techno-science: Evaluating Rorty’s pragmatism, Freire’s critical pedagogy and Vattimo’s philosophical hermeneutics
Authors: Cruickshank Justin
Published: October 2020

The critique of metaphysics can often entail a critique of liberalism. Rorty sought a revolutionary paradigm shift in philosophy and the broader humanities, by linking the rejection of metaphysics to a justification for liberal democracy and reformism. He believed that the recognition of socio-historical contingency concerning interpretations of fundamental values and of truth, combined with a humanities education, would create a sense of solidarity that would motivate reforms. Freire argues that a dialogic form of education is as important as the humanities’ content. For Freire, people liberated by a critical education based on dialogue rather than a passive reception of information, can develop a radical critique of capitalism. Vattimo argues that while Heidegger saw techno-science as being the final phase in metaphysical domination, the contemporary development of information and communications technology creates a ‘Babel-like’ pluralism that undermines the ‘violence’ of metaphysic’s totalising thought. This can allow for the development of a post-metaphysical ‘weak communism’ that improves social justice. Rorty and Freire help to show that it is education, rather than technological developments, that can motivate a post-metaphysical politics of solidarity, and Vattimo and Freire are correct to argue that replacing reformism with radical critique is needed for social justice, although Vattimo’s weak communism only provides limited social justice.
Synthesis of Ag decorated Zn-Co/TiO2 nanocomposites
Authors: Reddy Katlakanti Mohan , Goswami Kajal
Published: October 2020

Nanocomposites plays a very significant role in the catalysis and photocatalysis. Our aim is to synthesize multiphase nanocomposite material with advanced catalytic properties that are useful in the energy and environmental applications. Nano silver (Ag0) decorated Zinc-Cobalt/Titania composite (Ag decorated Zn-Co/TiO2, AZCT) with nonporous in nature as well as single grain size of 10–15 nm with beautiful morphological in nature. The material has multiphase crystalline in nature predicted from the powdered X-ray diffraction studies (PXRD) and FT-IR analysis, which illustrate the multiphase crystalline powder with high surface area of nanoporous in nature. The synthesized nanocomposite material is labelled as AZCT.
Surgery during pregnancy – results of a German questionnaire
Authors: Fritze-Büttner Frauke , Toth Bettina , Bühren Astrid , Schlosser Katja , Schierholz Stefanie , Rumpel Beatrix , Helm Paul C. , Bauer Ulrike M. M. , Niethard Maya , Prediger Sarah , Götzky Kristina , Jähne Joachim
Published: October 2020

Objectives

Worldwide, not only the number of female medical students, but also of female surgeons increases. Simultaneously, younger generations take a closer look to their work-life balance. With this in mind, it seems necessary to evaluate the expectations of female surgeons in particular with respect to pregnancy during their surgical career.

Methods

Therefore, a nationwide survey was conducted in Germany from July to December 2016 under the auspices of the German Society of Surgery as well as the Professional Board of German Surgeons. The questionnaire involved 2,294 female surgeons and 1,843 complete records were evaluated.

Results

Of the analyzed answers, 62% of the women (n=781) were operating during pregnancy. The joy of surgery (91.6%), followed by team spirit (57.1%), were the main motivations to perform operations while pregnant. Operative activity decreased from 30.8% in the first 3 months of pregnancy to 21.5% during the last three months. Regarding the possible complaints, e.g., leg edema, back pain, premature labor and vaginal bleeding, there were no significant differences between the women with or without activity in the operating room. Sick leave due to pregnancy (1–10 days) was stated by 40.4% of respondents.

Conclusion

Despite strong legal regulations for pregnant surgeons, the survey showed that most female surgeons are eager to operate despite their pregnancy. The results also demonstrate no significant differences regarding complications during pregnancy- or pregnant-dependent absence from work. Hospitals and surgical departments are asked to establish proper working conditions for pregnant surgeons and pregnancy should not be an obstacle for a career in surgery.
Modeling advanced security aspects of key exchange and secure channel protocols
Authors: Günther Felix
Published: October 2020

Secure connections are at the heart of today’s Internet infrastructure, protecting the confidentiality, authenticity, and integrity of communication. Achieving these security goals is the responsibility of cryptographic schemes, more specifically two main building blocks of secure connections. First, a key exchange protocol is run to establish a shared secret key between two parties over a, potentially, insecure connection. Then, a secure channel protocol uses that shared key to securely transport the actual data to be exchanged. While security notions for classical designs of these components are well-established, recently developed and standardized major Internet security protocols like Google’s QUIC protocol and the Transport Layer Security (TLS) protocol version 1.3 introduce novel features for which supporting security theory is lacking.

In my dissertation [20], which this article summarizes, I studied these novel and advanced design aspects, introducing enhanced security models and analyzing the security of deployed protocols. For key exchange protocols, my thesis introduces a new model for multi-stage key exchange to capture that recent designs for secure connections establish several cryptographic keys for various purposes and with differing levels of security. It further introduces a formalism for key confirmation, reflecting a long-established practical design criteria which however was lacking a comprehensive formal treatment so far. For secure channels, my thesis captures the cryptographic subtleties of streaming data transmission through a revised security model and approaches novel concepts to frequently update key material for enhanced security through a multi-key channel notion. These models are then applied to study (and confirm) the security of the QUIC and TLS 1.3 protocol designs.
A sharp upper bound for the size of Lusztig series
Authors: Bessenrodt Christine , Zalesski Alexandre
Published: October 2020

The paper is concerned with the character theory of finite groups of Lie type.
The irreducible characters of a group G of Lie type are partitioned in Lusztig series.
We provide a simple formula for an upper bound of the maximal size of a Lusztig series for classical groups with connected center; this is expressed for each group G in terms of its Lie rank and defining characteristic.
When G is specified as

G
⁢

(
q
)

{G(q)}

and q is large enough, we determine explicitly the maximum of the sizes of the Lusztig series of G.
Game-Based Mechanical Engineering Teaching and Learning - A Review
Authors: Menandro Fernando César Meira , Arnab Sylvester
Published: October 2020

The usual approach to engineering education, though appropriate for some students, in general lacks adaptability for different learning needs. Game-based learning is an attempt to provide adaptable learner-centered education. This paper presents a review of the published works on game-based applications for Mechanical Engineering teaching and learning from the past five decades. A comprehensive review was performed, and more than 200 papers were screened, evaluating the gamification approach, educational objectives, and Mechanical Engineering curriculum. Bloom’s taxonomy was used to identify cognitive learning outcomes for each of the games studied. There was also an attempt to establish Mechanical Engineering topics for an efficient curriculum and a correspondence of each game analyzed with the specific topic. The references found are presented according to Mechanical Engineering knowledge topic and cognitive learning outcome. Suggestions for further research on the field are made. The main ones include the need to formalize the educational objectives and development goals of the games, since most of the games studied did no such formalization, as well as the development and design strategies adopted to achieve such goals, a recently growing field of study.
Chemogenetic Manipulation of Dopamine Neurons Dictates Cocaine Potency at Distal Dopamine Transporters
Authors: Brodnik Zachary D. , Xu Wei , Batra Aashita , Lewandowski Stacia I. , Ruiz Christina M. , Mortensen Ole V. , Kortagere Sandhya , Mahler Stephen V. , España Rodrigo A.
Published: October 2020

The reinforcing efficacy of cocaine is largely determined by its capacity to inhibit the dopamine transporter (DAT), and emerging evidence suggests that differences in cocaine potency are linked to several symptoms of cocaine use disorder. Despite this evidence, the neural processes that govern cocaine potencyin vivoremain unclear. In male rats, we used chemogenetics with intra-VTA microinfusions of the agonist clozapine-n-oxide to bidirectionally modulate dopamine neurons. Usingex vivofast scan cyclic voltammetry, pharmacological probes of the DAT, biochemical assessments of DAT membrane availability and phosphorylation, and cocaine self-administration, we tested the effects of chemogenetic manipulations on cocaine potency at distal DATs in the nucleus accumbens as well as the behavioral economics of cocaine self-administration. We discovered that chemogenetic manipulation of dopamine neurons produced rapid, bidirectional modulation of cocaine potency at DATs in the nucleus accumbens. We then provided evidence that changes in cocaine potency are associated with alterations in DAT affinity for cocaine and demonstrated that this change in affinity coincides with DAT conformation biases and changes in DAT phosphorylation state. Finally, we showed that chemogenetic manipulation of dopamine neurons alters cocaine consumption in a manner consistent with changes in cocaine potency at distal DATs. Based on the spatial and temporal constraints inherent to our experimental design, we posit that changes in cocaine potency are driven by alterations in dopamine neuron activity. When considered together, these observations provide a novel mechanism through which GPCRs regulate cocaine's pharmacological and behavioral effects.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTDifferences in the pharmacological effects of cocaine are believed to influence the development and progression of cocaine use disorder. However, the biological and physiological processes that determine sensitivity to cocaine remain unclear. In this work, we use a combination of chemogenetics, fast scan cyclic voltammetry, pharmacology, biochemistry, and cocaine self-administration with economic demand analysis to demonstrate a novel mechanism by which cocaine potency is determinedin vivo. These studies identify a novel process by which the pharmacodynamics of cocaine are derivedin vivo, and thus this work has widespread implications for understanding the mechanisms that regulate cocaine consumption across stages of addiction.
Dissecting the Role of GABA Neurons in the VTAversusSNr in Opioid Reward
Authors: Galaj Ewa , Han Xiao , Shen Hui , Jordan Chloe J. , He Yi , Humburg Bree , Bi Guo-Hua , Xi Zheng-Xiong
Published: October 2020

Opioid reward has traditionally been thought to be mediated by GABA-induced disinhibition of dopamine (DA) neurons in the VTA. However, direct behavioral evidence supporting this hypothesis is still lacking. In this study, we found that the μ opioid receptor (MOR) gene,Oprm1, is highly expressed in GABA neurons, with ∼50% of GABA neurons in the substantia nigra pars reticulata (SNr), ∼30% in the VTA, and ∼70% in the tail of the VTA (also called the rostromedial tegmental nucleus) in male rats. NoOprm1mRNA was detected in midbrain DA neurons. We then found that optogenetic inhibition of VTA DA neurons reduced intravenous heroin self-administration, whereas activation of these neurons produced robust optical intracranial self-stimulation in DAT-Cre mice, supporting an important role of DA neurons in opioid reward. Unexpectedly, pharmacological blockade of MORs in the SNr was more effective than in the VTA in reducing heroin reward. Optogenetic activation of VTA GABA neurons caused place aversion and inhibited cocaine, but not heroin, self-administration, whereas optogenetic activation of SNr GABA neurons caused a robust increase in heroin self-administration with an extinction pattern, suggesting a compensatory response in drug intake due to reduced heroin reward. In addition, activation of SNr GABA neurons attenuated heroin-primed, but not cue-induced, reinstatement of drug-seeking behavior, whereas inhibition of SNr GABA neurons produced optical intracranial self-stimulation and place preference. Together, these findings suggest that MORs on GABA neurons in the SNr play more important roles in opioid reward and relapse than MORs on VTA GABA neurons.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTOpioid reward has long been believed to be mediated by inhibition of GABA interneurons in the VTA that subsequently leads to disinhibition of DA neurons. In this study, we found that more μ opioid receptors (MORs) are expressed in GABA neurons in the neighboring SNr than in the VTA, and that pharmacological blockade of MORs in the SNr is more effective in reducing heroin reward than blockade of MORs in the VTA. Furthermore, optogenetic activation of VTA GABA neurons inhibited cocaine, but not heroin, self-administration, whereas activation of SNr GABA neurons inhibited heroin reward and relapse. These findings suggest that opioid reward is more likely mediated by stimulation of MORs in GABA afferents from other brain regions than in VTA GABA neurons.
MeCP2 Levels Regulate the 3D Structure of Heterochromatic Foci in Mouse Neurons
Authors: Ito-Ishida Aya , Baker Steven A. , Sillitoe Roy V. , Sun Yaling , Zhou Jian , Ono Yukiteru , Iwakiri Junichi , Yuzaki Michisuke , Zoghbi Huda Y.
Published: October 2020

Methyl-CpG binding protein 2 (MeCP2) is a nuclear protein critical for normal brain function, and both depletion and overexpression of MeCP2 lead to severe neurodevelopmental disease, Rett syndrome (RTT) andMECP2multiplication disorder, respectively. However, the molecular mechanism by which abnormal MeCP2 dosage causes neuronal dysfunction remains unclear. As MeCP2 expression is nearly equivalent to that of core histones and because it binds DNA throughout the genome, one possible function of MeCP2 is to regulate the 3D structure of chromatin. Here, to examine whether and how MeCP2 levels impact chromatin structure, we used high-resolution confocal and electron microscopy and examined heterochromatic foci of neurons in mice. Using models of RTT andMECP2triplication syndrome, we found that the heterochromatin structure was significantly affected by the alteration in MeCP2 levels. Analysis of mice expressing either MeCP2-R270X or MeCP2-G273X, which have nonsense mutations in the upstream and downstream regions of the AT-hook 2 domain, respectively, showed that the magnitude of heterochromatin changes was tightly correlated with the phenotypic severity. Postnatal alteration in MeCP2 levels also induced significant changes in the heterochromatin structure, which underscored importance of correct MeCP2 dosage in mature neurons. Finally, functional analysis of MeCP2-overexpressing mice showed that the behavioral and transcriptomic alterations in these mice correlated significantly with the MeCP2 levels and occurred in parallel with the heterochromatin changes. Taken together, our findings demonstrate the essential role of MeCP2 in regulating the 3D structure of neuronal chromatin, which may serve as a potential mechanism that drives pathogenesis of MeCP2-related disorders.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTNeuronal function is critically dependent on methyl-CpG binding protein 2 (MeCP2), a nuclear protein abundantly expressed in neurons. The importance of MeCP2 is underscored by the severe childhood neurologic disorders, Rett syndrome (RTT) andMECP2multiplication disorders, which are caused by depletion and overabundance of MeCP2, respectively. To clarify the molecular function of MeCP2 and to understand the pathogenesis ofMECP2-related disorders, we performed detailed structural analyses of neuronal nuclei by using mouse models and high-resolution microscopy. We show that the level of MeCP2 critically regulates 3D structure of heterochromatic foci, and this is mediated in part by the AT-hook 2 domain of MeCP2. Our results demonstrate that one primary function of MeCP2 is to regulate chromatin structure.
Multivariate Lesion-Behavior Mapping of General Cognitive Ability and Its Psychometric Constituents
Authors: Bowren Mark , Adolphs Ralph , Bruss Joel , Manzel Kenneth , Corbetta Maurizio , Tranel Daniel , Boes Aaron D.
Published: October 2020

General cognitive ability, or general intelligence (g), is central to cognitive science, yet the processes that constitute it remain unknown, in good part because most prior work has relied on correlational methods. Large-scale behavioral and neuroanatomical data from neurologic patients with focal brain lesions can be leveraged to advance our understanding of the key mechanisms of g, as this approach allows inference on the independence of cognitive processes along with elucidation of their respective neuroanatomical substrates. We analyzed behavioral and neuroanatomical data from 402 humans (212 males; 190 females) with chronic, focal brain lesions. Structural equation models (SEMs) demonstrated a psychometric isomorphism between g and working memory in our sample (which we refer to as g/Gwm), but not between g and other cognitive abilities. Multivariate lesion-behavior mapping analyses indicated that g and working memory localize most critically to a site of converging white matter tracts deep to the left temporo-parietal junction. Tractography analyses demonstrated that the regions in the lesion-behavior map of g/Gwm were primarily associated with the arcuate fasciculus. The anatomic findings were validated in an independent cohort of acute stroke patients (n= 101) using model-based predictions of cognitive deficits generated from the Iowa cohort lesion-behavior maps. The neuroanatomical localization of g/Gwm provided the strongest prediction of observed g in the new cohort (r= 0.42,p< 0.001), supporting the anatomic specificity of our findings. These results provide converging behavioral and anatomic evidence that working memory is a key mechanism contributing to domain-general cognition.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTGeneral cognitive ability (g) is thought to play an important role in individual differences in adaptive behavior, yet its core processes remain unknown, in large part because of difficulties in making causal inferences from correlated data. Using data from patients with focal brain damage, we demonstrate that there is a strong psychometric correspondence between g and working memory – the ability to maintain and control mental information, and that the critical neuroanatomical substrates of g and working memory include the arcuate fasciculus. This work provides converging behavioral and neuroanatomical evidence that working memory is a key mechanism contributing to domain-general cognition.
China’s Unhappy Police
Authors: Scoggins Suzanne E. , O’Brien Kevin J.
Published: October 2020

Facing heavy caseloads, administrative drudgery, and low pay, China’s street-level police are frustrated. Front-line officers from six cities report that discontent encourages shirking, corruption, and waste. Grievances and feelings of powerlessness have not been reduced by recent reforms, and give us cause to rethink the image of police as effective arms of a highly securitized state.
The Resource Boom in China’s Resource-Rich Provinces
Authors: Yu Hong , Zheng Yongnian
Published: October 2020

State-owned enterprises’ unchecked resource exploitation and the Chinese state’s GDP-dominated mentality have played pivotal roles in causing and perpetuating social and environmental problems in the country’s resource-rich provinces. The authors propose a “resource curse theory with Chinese characteristics” to analyze the role of the state and the impacts of state-owned enterprises.
Flesh Searches in China
Authors: Gorman Patrick
Published: October 2020

This article explores the relationship between netizens and the Chinese Communist Party by investigating examples of “flesh searches” targeting corrupt officials. Case studies link the initiative of netizens and the reaction of the Chinese state to the pattern of management of social space in contemporary China.
Exploring the Narrative Implications of Emerging Topics in The Legend of Zelda
Authors: Bradford Wesley J.
Published: October 2020

The musical palette and gameplay format of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is significantly different from earlier games in the Legend of Zelda series. The unique narrative organization of this game interacts with the different musical style to suggest a new mode of storytelling within the franchise. This article examines the narrative structure of Breath of the Wild, then groups various contrasting musical elements into emerging topics that are key elements within the game’s narrative structure. In particular, the mechanistic topic is tied to ancient technology, while a contrasting nature topic denotes the living creatures of the gameworld. These topical cues give players important information about their in-game surroundings by linking locations, characters, and events through a completely player-driven narrative discourse.
“Wear People’s Faces”
Authors: Smith Jeremy W.
Published: October 2020

This article discusses fan adaptations of music from The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask (2000), arguing that the creators of these adaptations pick up on semiotic meaning in the game’s original music and maintain this meaning while changing some structural features of the music to place the original pieces into new stylistic and generic contexts. The musical meaning in the works is sometimes subtle, but it can be determined through a combination of semiotic and hermeneutic methods. In both the original soundtrack and the adaptations, the meaning of the music is also tied to the in-game narrative context associated with it, which is often sad or anxious in emotional character. Remaking the music into adaptations helps fans of the game contextualize the meaning in new ways and understand how it relates to their own social and emotional circumstances. The adaptations help fans with “world building” and “organizing social life.”1

After an overview of Majora’s Mask that situates it within Nintendo’s corpus, the Zelda series and its fandom, and composer Koji Kondo’s oeuvre, the article discusses and analyzes multiple adaptations of three specific pieces from the game: “Clock Town,” “Song of Healing,” and “Stone Tower Temple.” The adaptations discussed include amateur remixes and mashups, professional studio productions, covers in different genres, and a full-length opera by composer M. Bulteau. When making this new content, creators “wear people’s faces” (like the protagonist Link does with masks in the game) by taking on the emotional meaning of the works and putting it into new contexts that imitate, but do not replicate, the original music.
How to transfer a coupon-based event into a hedonic shopping experience? Retail branding implications based on the glamour shopping days
Authors: Kelemen Zita , Nagy Péter , Kemény Ildikó
Published: October 2020

The paper examines the motivational drivers behind the participation of Hungarian consumers on a special shopping event, also known as Glamour Days. The study encompasses a variety of related conceptualizations such as hedonic/utilitarian shopping values, self-gifting as well as impulsive buying practices. After the introduction of relevant consumer behaviour concepts and theoretical frameworks, the paper presents a qualitative research on adult and adolescent female consumers’ shopping experiences during Glamour Days. By building on phenomenological methodology, this study also portrays the ways this shopping event has changed consumer society within an originally strongly utilitarian attitude driven Hungarian culture. The phenomenological interview results highlight differences within the motivational drivers of pleasure-oriented shopping for the two age groups. For teenagers, the main motivation was related to the utilitarian aspect due to their financial dependence and the special opportunity to stand out of their peer group by joining an event that is exclusively held for adult women. On the other hand, adult women are motivated by combined hedonic and utilitarian values manifested in self-gifting and impulse buying within an effectively planned and managed shopping trip. Based on the results, retail specific strategies are provided along with future research directions.
The integration of social media into corporate processes
Authors: Bányai Edit
Published: October 2020

The primary aim of this paper is to give a comprehensive overview of social media marketing solutions which can be used by companies. Many authors and researchers dealing with specialised subjects examine certain areas of this topic — and, in particular, with the influence of the social media on marketing communication. An overview of current literature and practical solutions enabled us to create a framework usable in the corporate sphere for creating a social media marketing strategy and for measuring the efficiency of social media activity. The framework helps companies to identify which social media solutions are worth taking advantage of to support their business processes, how they are able to measure the effectiveness of social media and it also provides a basis for the identification of additional research directions.
Dynamic provisioning as an automatic stabilizer of the financial instability
Authors: Kapounek Svatopluk , Kašparovská Vlasta
Published: October 2020

The pro-cyclical effect of provision is generally agreed and widely discussed in the context of the current financial crisis. The new model of the dynamic provisions applied in Spain showed countercyclical effects on the credit and business cycle. We simulate development of the dynamic provisions during the financial crisis and discuss the possible consequences. We apply a panel data model of the past credit cycle to calibrate the parameters following the same approach as in the Spanish dynamic provision. Our contribution is in the application of dynamic provisions on the banking systems for the V4 countries.
Is the exchange rate a factor of bank liquidity changes? Study of the Czech Republic
Authors: Kašparovská Vlasta , Laštůvková Jana , Střelec Luboš
Published: October 2020

The effect of the exchange rate is often discussed in connection with economic performance, net export and inflation rate. Within the context of current discussions, we aim to examine the influence of the CZK/EUR exchange rate on changes in liquid assets in the Czech banking sector. The scope of our examination also covers the effects of GDP, CPI, one-month PRIBOR rate and the effects of ten-year government bond yield. The selected period is 2003–2014; monthly data taken from the CNB ARAD database is used. To verify the effect of the monitored variables on liquid assets in the Czech banking sector, we employed the regression analysis methods applied on financial and economic time series. The results show the effect of the CZK/EUR exchange rate and PRIBOR on changes in the liquid assets of Czech banks. The paper analyzes the identified causes and connections, and discusses possible consequences.