bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Fluid elastic instability and vortex induced vibration parameters in finned tube arrays with P/D ratio 1.79
Authors: Yadav Pravin Hindurao , Mohanty Dillip kumar
Published: August 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to analyze the effect of fin geometry on mechanisms of flow induced vibration. Finned tube arrays are used in a heat exchanger to increase its efficiency. Therefore, it is necessary to investigate the effect of geometric parameters of the fin fluid elastic instability and vortex shedding. In this paper, the effect of fin height, fin density and tube pitch ratio for parallel triangular tube array on fluid elastic instability and vortex shedding is analyzed.

Design/methodology/approach

Experimental analysis was carried out on a parallel triangular finned tube array with a pitch ratio of 1.79 subjected to water crossflow. The experimentation aims to study fluid elastic instability and vortex-induced vibration mechanism responsible for flow induced vibration for finned tube array. A fully flexible finned tube array of the copper tube was used with its base diameter of 19.05 mm and thickness of 2 mm. Over the tube surface, crimped fins of height 6 mm and the same material are welded spirally with fin density 8.47 mm and 2.82 mm. Experimental analysis was carried out on a test setup developed for the same. The results obtained for the finned tube array were compared with those for the plain tube array with the same base tube diameter.

Findings

For parallel triangular tube array of copper material, test results show that critical velocity increases with an increase in fin pitch density for low pitch tube array. Before the occurrence of instability, the rate of growth in tube vibrations is high for plain tubes compared to that with fin tubes. The results based on Owen’s hypothesis show vortex shedding before the occurrence of fluid elastic instability. The effect of fin geometry on vortex-induced forces is analyzed. For the tube array pattern understudy, the values of Conner’s constant K for coarse fin-tube and fine fin tube array are obtained, respectively, 6.14 and 7.25.

Originality/value

This paper fulfills the need for research on the effect of fin geometry on fluid elastic instability and Vortex shedding on a tube array subjected to water cross flow when the pitch ratio is less than two, i.e. with a low pitch ratio.
Porosity variation of elastic wave velocities in clean sandstones
Authors: Sayers Colin M. , den Boer Lennert D.
Published: August 2021

The mechanical properties of sandstones, including porosity, density and elastic moduli, can be estimated non‐destructively through elastic wave‐velocity measurements. Here, the variation of elastic wave velocity with porosity in sandstones is modelled using Maxwell's effective field theory, extended to the elasticity of heterogeneous media by Sevostianov and coworkers. Comparing measured and predicted elastic wave velocities shows that on deposition, pores in sandstones are less stiff than spherical pores, but that their stiffness increases as porosity decreases. This suggests that concavity of pores in sandstone decreases with decreasing porosity. This interpretation is confirmed by the simple model of Sevostianov and Giraud in which concave pores are represented as superspherical pores, defined by a shape parameter that allows the effect of pore concavity on elastic wave velocities to be investigated. Inversion of measured velocities for this parameter indicates that pore concavity decreases with decreasing porosity. Moreover, values of the shape parameter obtained by inverting measured P‐velocities alone are found to give a good prediction of both P‐ and S‐wave velocities, confirming the applicability of the model.
Competition shapes individual foraging and survival in a desert rodent ensemble
Authors: Manlick Philip J. , Maldonado Karin , Newsome Seth D.
Published: August 2021

Intraspecific variation, including individual diet variation, can structure populations and communities, but the causes and consequences of individual foraging strategies are often unclear.

Interactions between competition and resources are thought to dictate foraging strategies (e.g. specialization vs. generalization), but classical paradigms such as optimal foraging and niche theory offer contrasting predictions for individual consumers. Furthermore, both paradigms assume that individual foraging strategies maximize fitness, yet this prediction is rarely tested.

We used repeated stable isotope measurements (δ13C, δ15N; N = 3,509) and 6 years of capture–mark–recapture data to quantify the relationship between environmental variation, individual foraging and consumer fitness among four species of desert rodents. We tested the relative effects of intraspecific competition, interspecific competition, resource abundance and resource diversity on the foraging strategies of 349 individual animals, and then quantified apparent survival as function of individual foraging strategies.

Consistent with niche theory, individuals contracted their trophic niches and increased foraging specialization in response to both intraspecific and interspecific competition, but this effect was offset by resource availability and individuals generalized when plant biomass was high. Nevertheless, individual specialists obtained no apparent fitness benefit from trophic niche contractions as the most specialized individuals exhibited a 10% reduction in monthly survival compared to the most generalized individuals. Ultimately, this resulted in annual survival probabilities nearly 4× higher for generalists compared to specialists.

These results indicate that competition is the proximate driver of individual foraging strategies, and that diet‐mediated fitness variation regulates population and community dynamics in stochastic resource environments. Furthermore, our findings show dietary generalism is a fitness maximizing strategy, suggesting that plastic foraging strategies may play a key role in species' ability to cope with environmental change.
Implementing social network analysis to understand the socioecology of wildlife co‐occurrence and joint interactions with humans in anthropogenic environments
Authors: Balasubramaniam Krishna N. , Kaburu Stefano S. K. , Marty Pascal R. , Beisner Brianne A. , Bliss‐Moreau Eliza , Arlet Malgorzata E. , Ruppert Nadine , Ismail Ahmad , Anuar Mohd Sah Shahrul , Mohan Lalith , Rattan Sandeep , Kodandaramaiah Ullasa , McCowan Brenda
Published: August 2021

Human population expansion into wildlife habitats has increased interest in the behavioural ecology of human–wildlife interactions. To date, however, the socioecological factors that determine whether, when or where wild animals take risks by interacting with humans and anthropogenic factors still remains unclear.

We adopt a comparative approach to address this gap, using social network analysis (SNA). SNA, increasingly implemented to determine human impact on wildlife ecology, can be a powerful tool to understand how animal socioecology influences the spatiotemporal distribution of human–wildlife interactions.

For 10 groups of rhesus, long‐tailed and bonnet macaques (Macaca spp.) living in anthropogenically impacted environments in Asia, we collected data on human–macaque interactions, animal demographics, and macaque–macaque agonistic and affiliative social interactions. We constructed ‘human co‐interaction networks’ based on associations between macaques that interacted with humans within the same time and spatial locations, and social networks based on macaque–macaque allogrooming behaviour, affiliative behaviours of short duration (agonistic support, lip‐smacking, silent bare‐teeth displays and non‐sexual mounting) and proximity.

Pre‐network permutation tests revealed that, within all macaque groups, specific individuals jointly took risks by repeatedly, consistently co‐interacting with humans within and across time and space. GLMMs revealed that macaques' tendencies to co‐interact with humans was positively predicted by their tendencies to engage in short‐duration affiliative interactions and tolerance of conspecifics, although the latter varied across species (bonnets>rhesus>long‐tailed). Male macaques were more likely to co‐interact with humans than females. Neither macaques' grooming relationships nor their dominance ranks predicted their tendencies to co‐interact with humans.

Our findings suggest that, in challenging anthropogenic environments, less (compared to more) time‐consuming forms of affiliation, and additionally greater social tolerance in less ecologically flexible species with a shorter history of exposure to humans, may be key to animals' joint propensities to take risks to gain access to resources. For males, greater exploratory tendencies and less energetically demanding long‐term life‐history strategies (compared to females) may also influence such joint risk‐taking. From conservation and public health perspectives, wildlife connectedness within such co‐interaction networks may inform interventions to mitigate zoonosis, and move human–wildlife interactions from conflict towards coexistence.
Enhanced oxidative stress mediates pathological autophagy and necroptosis in cardiac myocytes in pressure overload induced heart failure in rats
Authors: Chi Rui‐Fang , Li Lu , Wang Ai‐Ling , Yang Hong , Xi Jie , Zhu Zong‐Feng , Wang Ke , Li Bao , Yang Li‐Guo , Qin Fu‐Zhong , Zhang Ce
Published: August 2021

In cardiac myocytes in vitro, hydrogen peroxide induces autophagic cell death and necroptosis. Oxidative stress, myocyte autophagy and necroptosis coexist in heart failure (HF). In this study, we tested the hypothesis that excessive oxidative stress mediates pathological autophagy and necroptosis in myocytes in pressure overload‐induced HF. HF was produced by chronic pressure overload induced by abdominal aortic constriction (AAC) in rats. Rats with AAC or sham operation were randomised to orally receive an antioxidant N‐acetylcysteine (NAC) or placebo for 4 weeks. Echocardiography was performed for the assessments of left ventricular (LV) structure and function. AAC rats exhibited decreased LV fractional shortening (FS) at 4 weeks after surgery. NAC treatment attenuated decreased LV FS in AAC rats. In AAC rats, myocardial level of 8‐hydroxydeoxyguanosine assessed by immunohistochemical staining, indicative of oxidative stress, was increased, LC3 II protein, a marker of autophagy, Beclin1 protein and Atg4b, Atg5, Atg7 and Atg12 mRNA expression were markedly increased, RIP1, RIP3 and MLKL expression, indicative of necroptosis, was increased, and all of the alterations in AAC rats were prevented by the NAC treatment. NAC treatment also attenuated myocyte cross‐sectional area and myocardial fibrosis in AAC rats. In conclusion, NAC treatment prevented the increases in oxidative stress, myocyte autophagy and necroptosis and the decrease in LV systolic function in pressure overload‐induced HF. These findings suggest that enhanced oxidative stress mediates pathological autophagy and necroptosis in myocytes, leading to LV systolic dysfunction, and antioxidants may be of value to prevent HF through the inhibition of excessive autophagy and necroptosis.
Cultural health capital and the stratification of reproduction in Czech and Spanish egg donation markets
Authors: Miner Skye A.
Published: August 2021

This article explores the ways that fertility clinics in the Czech Republic and Spain attract international fertility clients for fertility treatment involving egg donation. I draw upon a content analysis of 18 fertility clinics' advertising materials and 31 in‐depth interviews with fertility professionals in the Czech Republic and Spain, and Canadian fertility travellers to show how clinics use cultural health capital (CHC) to persist as popular destination sites for fertility travellers. I argue that the use of evidence‐based medicine and patient‐centred care combined with bioracial discourses are strategies by which clinics create a culture of fertility care that is legible to white, middle‐class, hetero travellers. My interviews with fertility patients who travelled to these sites show the ways in which CHC is interactional—I document how fertility travellers desire these specific practices that are both created for and marketed to them. By expanding the definition of CHC to show how fertility clinics market and fertility travellers expect a particular culture of fertility medicine, I elucidate the interactions between clinics and professionals that reinforce ideals of white motherhood and the stratification of reproduction.
Using visual strategies simultaneously to support students with learning disabilities in mathematics
Authors: Marita Samantha , Hord Casey , Hendricks Julie
Published: August 2021

We provide insight into how multiple visual strategies can be used simultaneously to increase access to and success with challenging mathematics at the secondary level for students with learning disabilities. Drawing on a teaching philosophy based on recognising student strengths and needs, we argue the potential benefits of using visual strategies during instruction and intervention to best meet student needs. Examples from our work with a high school student with a learning disability are presented to provide insight into how visual strategies can increase understanding and success with mathematics as it becomes more abstract at the secondary level. We urge practitioners and researchers to explore the benefits of incorporating simultaneous visual strategies into secondary mathematics learning.
Wellbeing: How we make sense of it and what this means for teachers
Authors: O’Brien Tim , Guiney Dennis
Published: August 2021

In this paper, the authors discuss their grounded research carried out with teachers about the wellbeing of teachers. They explore the importance of making the concept of wellbeing more intimate and consider hedonic and eudaimonic ways of looking at wellbeing. They present a model of layered reflection which illuminates key factors that have an impact on the wellbeing of teachers.
Autism, Intensive Interaction and the development of non‐verbal communication in a teenager diagnosed with PDD‐NOS: a case study
Authors: Mourière Amandine , Hewett Dave
Published: August 2021

In this paper, the authors report on the importance of using Intensive Interaction for the development of non‐verbal communication for people with autism. The complexity of learning non‐verbal communication means that it cannot be taught in any sense in a traditional, didactic manner. While a person may have the cognitive abilities to follow instructions and be taught the need to behave a certain way in social situations, which will not allow them to properly assimilate and understand social expectations and how to operate in social contexts. This paper suggests that the use of Intensive Interaction creates frequent opportunities for a person to take part in face‐to‐face interactions and consequently allow for the gradual development of non‐verbal communication.
Health costs of women with chronic overlapping pain conditions by opioid and complementary and integrative health use
Authors: Quinlan Taryn A. G. , Roberts Andrew W. , Frank Joseph W. , Whittington Melanie D.
Published: August 2021

Objective

To estimate differences in average annual health care expenditures of adult women with chronic overlapping pain conditions (COPCs) by pain treatment modality as follows: (1) no long‐term opioid or complementary and integrative health (CIH) use; (2) CIH only use; (3) long‐term opioid only use; and (4) long‐term opioid and CIH use.

Data source

Cross‐sectional Medical Expenditure Panel Survey data (2012–2016).

Study design

We estimated differences between average annual expenditures of adult women with COPCs by their use of long‐term opioids and CIH modalities. Generalized linear regression with a log link function was used to estimate adjusted marginal effects in annual expenditures. The distribution family was chosen based on Modified Park Tests. We controlled for pain severity, patient demographic characteristics, physical limitations, comorbidities, mental health, insurance status, physical therapy use, and census region. We also employed propensity‐score based marginal mean weighting through stratification to balance our treatment groups on observed covariates.

Data collection/extraction methods

We identified adult women (>17 years) with one or more self‐reported COPC using 3‐digit International Classification of Diseases (ICD)‐9/10‐Clinical Modification (CM) codes (N = 9169) and categorized their use of CIH and long‐term opioids.

Principal findings

Compared to women without long‐term opioid or CIH use, CIH only use was significantly associated with lower inpatient expenditures (−$947 [−$1699, −$196]; p‐value < 0.01), higher office‐based expenditures ($1345 [$944, $1746]; p‐value < 0.001), and higher patient out‐of‐pocket expenditures ($628 [$409, $848]; p‐value < 0.001). Long‐term opioid use, alone or in combination with CIH, was significantly associated with higher expenditures (p‐value < 0.05) in total and across all utilization categories compared to women without any long‐term opioid or CIH use.

Conclusions

Our results indicate that CIH treatment approaches for chronic pain have the potential to be utilized without increasing overall costs. Future research should further examine the role of CIH modalities in achieving cost‐effective pain management that reduces avoidable opioid use.
Thiopurines are superior to mesalamine for preventing postoperative recurrence in patients with Crohn's disease and two or more risk factors
Authors: Huang Zi Cheng , Yang Qing Fan , Tang Jian , Li Miao , Chao Kang , Gao Xiang
Published: August 2021

Objective

To confirm the hypothesis that thiopurines are better than mesalamine for preventing postoperative recurrence of Crohn's disease (CD) in patients with more than two risk factors.

Methods

In total 87 consecutive CD patients who underwent curative ileocolonic resection and ileocolic anastomosis were retrospectively recruited, including 43 prescribed with thiopurines and 44 with mesalamine after surgery. Four risk factors were predefined for subgroup analyses: smoking, penetrating disease, perianal disease and previous resection. End‐points included clinical (Crohn's disease activity index >200) and endoscopic recurrence (Rutgeerts score ≥i2) within 52 weeks.

Results

There were no significant differences in clinical (37.2% vs 54.5%, P = 0.105) and endoscopic recurrence (55.8% vs 75.0%, P = 0.060) between the thiopurines and mesalamine groups by week 52. In the subgroup analysis of patients with two or more risk factors, clinical (35.7% vs 81.8%, P = 0.042) and endoscopic recurrence (64.3% vs 100%, P= 0.046) were less frequent in the thiopurine group than the mesalamine group. With one additional risk factor, the risk of endoscopic recurrence in the thiopurines group increased by 2.201‐fold (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.178‐4.115), adjusted for treatment intervention. While the risk of clinical and endoscopic recurrence in patients treated with mesalamine increased by 3.383‐fold and 5.884‐fold (95% CI 1.260‐9.081 and 1.598‐21.662). Three patients treated with thiopurines withdrew for adverse events.

Conclusions

Thiopurines may be superior to mesalamine for preventing postoperative recurrence of CD in patients with two or more risk factors. Caution is needed in light of the adverse events caused by thiopurines.
Simulating mergers in a vertical supply chain with bargaining
Authors: Sheu Gloria , Taragin Charles
Published: August 2021

We model a two‐level supply chain where Nash bargaining occurs upstream and firms compete in a logit setting downstream, either via Bertrand price setting or an auction. The parameters can be calibrated with a discrete set of data on prices, margins, and market shares, facilitating use by antitrust practitioners. We perform numerical simulations to identify cases where modelling the full vertical structure is important and where harm is likely. We also examine the thwarted Anthem/Cigna merger and show how the model weighs the various arguments made by the government and the defendants.
A novel lncRNA‐miRNA‐mRNA competing endogenous RNA regulatory network in lung adenocarcinoma and kidney renal papillary cell carcinoma
Authors: Zhou Qiwei , Li Diangeng , Zheng Hongying , He Zheng , Qian Feng , Wu Xiaotian , Yin Zhiwei , Bao Peng Tao , Jin Meiling
Published: August 2021

Background

GPRIN1 may be a novel tumor regulator, but its role and mechanism in tumors are still unclear.

Methods

First, a pan‐cancer correlation analysis was conducted on the expression and prognosis of GPRIN1 based on the data downloaded from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. Second, the Starbase database was used to predict the upstream miRNAs and lncRNAs of GPRIN1, and the expression analysis, survival analysis, and correlation analysis were performed to screen the microRNA (miRNAs)/long non‐coding RNAs (lncRNAs) that had a correlation with kidney renal papillary cell carcinoma (KIRP) or lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). Third, the CIBERSORT algorithm was employed to calculate the proportion of various types of immune cells, and then the R packages were used for evaluating the relation between GPRIN1 expression and tumor immune cell infiltration as well as between GPRIN1 and the immune cell biomarker. Finally, the correlation analysis was made on GPRIN1 and immune checkpoints (CD274, CTLA4, and PDCD1).

Results

The pan‐cancer analysis suggested that GPRIN1 was up‐expressed in KIRP and LUAD, and it correlated with poor prognosis. LINC00894/MMP25‐AS1/SNHG1/LINC02298/MIR193BHG‐miR‐140‐3p was likely to be the most promising upstream regulation pathway of GPRIN1. Upexpression of LINC00894/MMP25‐AS1/SNHG1/LINC02298/MIR193BHG and downexpression of miR‐140‐3p were found relevant with poor outcomes of KIRP and LUAD. GPRIN1 expression was significantly correlated with tumor immune cell infiltration, immune cell biomarkers, and immune checkpoints.

Conclusions

The competitive endogenous (ceRNA) of miR‐140‐3p‐GPRIN1 axis and its upstream lncRNAs are closely related to KIRP and LUAD, and might affect the prognosis and therapeutic effect of KIRP and LUAD.
Genetic reduction of mTOR extends lifespan in a mouse model of Hutchinson‐Gilford Progeria syndrome
Authors: Cabral Wayne A. , Tavarez Urraca L. , Beeram Indeevar , Yeritsyan Diana , Boku Yoseph D. , Eckhaus Michael A. , Nazarian Ara , Erdos Michael R. , Collins Francis S.
Published: August 2021

Hutchinson‐Gilford progeria syndrome (HGPS) is a rare accelerated aging disorder most notably characterized by cardiovascular disease and premature death from myocardial infarction or stroke. The majority of cases are caused by a de novo single nucleotide mutation in the LMNA gene that activates a cryptic splice donor site, resulting in production of a toxic form of lamin A with a 50 amino acid internal deletion, termed progerin. We previously reported the generation of a transgenic murine model of progeria carrying a human BAC harboring the common mutation, G608G, which in the single‐copy state develops features of HGPS that are limited to the vascular system. Here, we report the phenotype of mice bred to carry two copies of the BAC, which more completely recapitulate the phenotypic features of HGPS in skin, adipose, skeletal, and vascular tissues. We further show that genetic reduction of the mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) significantly extends lifespan in these mice, providing a rationale for pharmacologic inhibition of the mTOR pathway in the treatment of HGPS.
Bargaining power and risk from substitutability between products attributes the case of specialty eggs in Canada
Authors: Atozou Baoubadi , Tamini Lota D. , Doyon Maurice
Published: August 2021

Supply managementpolicy covers conventional egg production in Canada and uses production costs to determine producer prices. The context differs for specialty eggs since graders and farmers individually negotiate the price premiums. Because specialty egg production, such as cage‐free or organic production, involves important fixed‐cost farm investment, it is of interest to assess potential bargaining power in the value chain, especially given the significant commitments from Canadian retail stores and fast food restaurants to move exclusively to cage‐free eggs in the coming years. This article develops a theoretical model of joint profit maximization and price adjustment under risk. Due to data availability, a reduced version of the proposed model is used to empirically test the bargaining power along the value chain for specialty eggs. Although the estimations concentrate on the bargaining power of producers, other actors in the value chain are considered. The results show that the bargaining power of downstream actors is greater than that of producers in most provinces and for most specialty eggs.
Neutralization of SARS‐CoV‐2 requires antibodies against conformational receptor‐binding domain epitopes
Authors: Gattinger Pia , Niespodziana Katarzyna , Stiasny Karin , Sahanic Sabina , Tulaeva Inna , Borochova Kristina , Dorofeeva Yulia , Schlederer Thomas , Sonnweber Thomas , Hofer Gerhard , Kiss Renata , Kratzer Bernhard , Trapin Doris , Tauber Peter A. , Rottal Arno , Körmöczi Ulrike , Feichter Melanie , Weber Milena , Focke‐Tejkl Margarete , Löffler‐Ragg Judith , Mühl Bernhard , Kropfmüller Anna , Keller Walter , Stolz Frank , Henning Rainer , Tancevski Ivan , Puchhammer‐Stöckl Elisabeth , Pickl Winfried F. , Valenta Rudolf
Published: August 2021

Background

The determinants of successful humoral immune response to the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) are of critical importance for the design of effective vaccines and the evaluation of the degree of protective immunity conferred by exposure to the virus. As novel variants emerge, understanding their likelihood of suppression by population antibody repertoires has become increasingly important.

Methods

In this study, we analyzed the SARS‐CoV‐2 polyclonal antibody response in a large population of clinically well‐characterized patients after mild and severe COVID‐19 using a panel of microarrayed structurally folded and unfolded SARS‐CoV‐2 proteins, as well as sequential peptides, spanning the surface spike protein (S) and the receptor‐binding domain (RBD) of the virus.

Results

S‐ and RBD‐specific antibody responses were dominated by immunoglobulin G (IgG), mainly IgG1, and directed against structurally folded S and RBD and three distinct peptide epitopes in S2. The virus neutralization activity of patients´ sera was highly correlated with IgG antibodies specific for conformational but not sequential RBD epitopes and their ability to prevent RBD binding to its human receptor angiotensin‐converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). Twenty percent of patients selectively lacked RBD‐specific IgG. Only immunization with folded, but not with unfolded RBD, induced antibodies against conformational epitopes with high virus‐neutralizing activity. Conformational RBD epitopes required for protection do not seem to be altered in the currently emerging virus variants.

Conclusion

These results are fundamental for estimating the protective activity of antibody responses after natural infection or vaccination and for the design of vaccines, which can induce high levels of SARS‐CoV‐2–neutralizing antibodies conferring sterilizing immunity.
Musculature of the male abdominal segments and terminalia of Tachina nupta Rondani (Diptera: Tachinidae)
Authors: Ovtshinnikova Olga G. , Sorokina Vera S.
Published: August 2021

The abdominal and pregenital segments and genitalia were studied in males of Tachina nupta Rondani, 1859. The examined species is very similar in the structure of the sclerites and muscles of their terminal segments to Calliphora erythrocephala Meigen, 1826 previously studied by R. Salzer. Despite the same set of pregenital muscles, a completely membranous tergite VI was found in Tachina in contrast to Calliphora. The discovery of membranous tergite VI in Tachina nupta indicates that it was not included in the syntergosternite VII +VIII. The membranous tergite VI, as well as the reduced set of muscles of the phallapodeme (absence of muscles of postgonites) in Tachina compared with Calliphora, indicates the result of apomorphic reduction in Tachina. Descriptions and figures of the genital sclerites and muscles of Tachina nupta are given.
Understanding the right to health in the context of collective rights to self‐determination
Authors: Litalien Éliot
Published: August 2021

The obligations set by the individual right to health are likely to conflict, at least if states are its addressee, with the obligations set by the collective rights to self‐determination that certain sub‐state communities have (or should be recognized). In this paper, I argue that conceiving of the right to health and of collective rights to self‐determination as both aiming at the promotion of individual agency might help us alleviate this particular problem. To do so, I first explain how we can conceive of the right to health and of collective rights to self‐determination as protecting crucial aspects of individuals' agency. It is because both health and the capacity to participate in particular collectives are important ways in which our agency is enabled. I then argue that this conception of the purpose of those rights offers a principle to guide our practical deliberation when the protection of health and the protection of collective self‐determination seem to conflict. Finally, I specify how I think this principle might guide us when it comes to understanding the obligations that the right to health sets for the state towards members of self‐determining sub‐state communities, both in terms of the provision of healthcare goods and services and the provision of the underlying determinants of health.
SMIM: A unified framework of survival sensitivity analysis using multiple imputation and martingale
Authors: Yang Shu , Zhang Yilong , Liu Guanghan Frank , Guan Qian
Published: August 2021

Censored survival data are common in clinical trial studies. We propose a unified framework for sensitivity analysis to censoring at random in survival data using multiple imputation and martingale, called SMIM. The proposed framework adopts the δ‐adjusted and control‐based models, indexed by the sensitivity parameter, entailing censoring at random and a wide collection of censoring not at random assumptions. Also, it targets a broad class of treatment effect estimands defined as functionals of treatment‐specific survival functions, taking into account missing data due to censoring. Multiple imputation facilitates the use of simple full‐sample estimation; however, the standard Rubin's combining rule may overestimate the variance for inference in the sensitivity analysis framework. We decompose the multiple imputation estimator into a martingale series based on the sequential construction of the estimator and propose the wild bootstrap inference by resampling the martingale series. The new bootstrap inference has a theoretical guarantee for consistency and is computationally efficient compared to the nonparametric bootstrap counterpart. We evaluate the finite‐sample performance of the proposed SMIM through simulation and an application on an HIV clinical trial.
Families' digital media use: Intentions, rules and activities
Authors: Eichen Lars , Hackl‐Wimmer Sigrid , Eglmaier Marina Tanja Waltraud , Lackner Helmut Karl , Paechter Manuela , Rettenbacher Karoline , Rominger Christian , Walter‐Laager Catherine
Published: August 2021

Since digital media such as smartphones, tablets or laptops are available in almost every household in industrialised countries, parents are challenged to integrate them into their everyday family life. To gain more information on parents' mediation of digital media, the relationships between their educational intentions, objectives and their children's use of digital media were investigated in consideration of the children's age. Overall, 150 Austrian parents with children aged one year and a half to six years participated in the study (two groups were formed based on the age of the children: toddlers and preschool children). They filled in a questionnaire on their intentions and rules for their children's use of media. Moreover, the parents provided information concerning their objectives for digital media use and the kind of activities for which their children use interactive digital toys or passive digital media. Results show that parents' intentions of their children's media use is mainly to gain time for household chores or work. Whereas the age of the children does not seem to be of great importance to parents concerning the media regulation, the results for the objectives and activities parents want their children to do with digital media do indeed differ between the two age‐groups.

Practitioner notes

What is already known about this topic

Average households in industrialised countries are well equipped with digital media technologies.

Digital media increasingly become a part of young children's living environment.

Parents find it necessary to prevent their children from potential negative effects of digital media use and try to implement rules eg, concerning the time spent with media or content restrictions.

What this paper adds

Parents' intentions for their children's digital media use as well as the rules they apply for the use of digital media do not differ between toddlers and preschool children.

Parents' objectives for their children's use of digital media as well as why and for which purpose their children should use interactive digital toys and passive digital media differs between toddlers and preschool children.

Implications for practice and/or policy

Support is needed for parents on digital media use with toddlers together.

Awareness for digital media use in connection to the rules and objectives needs to be created.
Inhibition of the Arp2/3 complex represses human lung myofibroblast differentiation and attenuates bleomycin‐induced pulmonary fibrosis
Authors: Mergault Coralie , Lisée Fanny , Tiroille Victor , Magnien Mélia , Parent Christelle , Lenga Mabonda Woodys , Sizaret Damien , Jaillet Madeleine , Crestani Bruno , Marchand‐Adam Sylvain , Plantier Laurent
Published: August 2021

Background and Purpose

The Arp2/3 multiprotein complex regulates branched polymerisation of the actin cytoskeleton and may contribute to collagen synthesis and fibrogenesis in the lung.

Experimental Approach

Expression of Arp2/3 components was assessed in human lung fibroblasts and in the bleomycin‐induced pulmonary fibrosis model in mice. The Arp2/3 complex was repressed with the allosteric inhibitor CK666 and with interfering RNAs targeting the ARP2, ARP3 and ARPC2 subunits (siARP2, siARP3 and siARPC2) in CCD‐16Lu human lung fibroblasts in vitro. Mice received daily intraperitoneal injections of CK666 from the 7th to the 14th day after tracheal bleomycin instillation.

Key Results

Expression of Arp2/3 complex subunits mRNAs was increased in fibroblasts treated with TGF‐β1 and in the lungs of bleomycin‐treated mice compared with controls. In vitro, CK666 and siARPC2 inhibited cell growth and TGF‐β1‐induced α‐smooth muscle actin (ACTA2) and collagen‐1 (COL1) expression. CK666 also decreased ACTA2 and COL1 expression in unstimulated cells. CK666 reduced Akt phosphorylation and repressed phospho‐GSK3β, β‐catenin and MRTF‐A levels in unstimulated fibroblasts. In vivo, CK666 reduced levels of both procollagen‐1 and insoluble collagen in bleomycin‐treated mice.

Conclusion and Implications

Expression of the Arp2/3 complex was increased in profibrotic environments in vitro and in vivo. Inhibition of the Arp2/3 complex repressed ACTA2 and COL1 expression and repressed an Akt/phospho‐GSK3β/β‐catenin/MRTF‐A pathway in lung fibroblasts. CK666 exerted antifibrotic properties in the lung in vivo. Inhibition of the Arp2/3 complex could represent an interesting new therapy for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and other fibrotic interstitial lung diseases.
Interplay between base‐salt relief, progradational sediment loading and salt tectonics in the Nordkapp Basin, Barents Sea – Part II
Authors: Hassaan Muhammad , Faleide Jan Inge , Gabrielsen Roy Helge , Tsikalas Filippos , Grimstad Silje
Published: August 2021

Reprocessed, regional, 2D seismic reflection profiles, 3D seismic volumes and well data (exploration and shallow boreholes), combined with 2D structural restorations and 1D backstripping were used to study the post‐salt evolution of the Nordkapp Basin in Barents Sea. The post‐salt evolution took place above a pre‐salt basement and basin configuration affected by multiple rift events that influenced the depositional facies and thickness of Pennsylvanian‐lower Permian‐layered evaporite sequence. Initially, regional mid‐late Permian extension reactivated pre‐salt Carboniferous faults, caused minor normal faulting in the Permian strata and triggered slight salt mobilization towards structural highs. The main phase of salt mobilization occurred during earliest Triassic when thick and rapidly prograding sediments entered from the east into the Nordkapp Basin. In the early‐mid‐Triassic, the change in the direction of progradation and sediment entry‐points shifted to the NW led to rotation of the earlier‐formed mini‐basins and shift of dominant salt evacuation direction to the south. The prograding sediment influx direction, sediment transport velocity and thickness influenced the dynamics of the early to late passive diapirism, salt expulsion and depletion along the strike of the basin. The basin topography resulting from salt highs and mini‐basin lows strongly affected the Triassic progradational fairways and determined the distinct sediment routing patterns. Minor rejuvenation of the salt structures and rotation of the mini‐basins took place at the Triassic–Jurassic transition, due to far‐field stresses caused by the evolving Novaya Zemlya fold‐and‐thrust belt to the east. This rejuvenation influenced the sediment dispersal routings and caused formation of dwarf secondary mini‐basins. The second and main rejuvenation phase took place during likely early‐mid‐Eocene when propagated far‐field stresses from the transpressional Eurekan/Spitsbergen orogeny to the NW inverted pre‐salt normal faults, reactivated the structural highs and rejuvenated the salt structures. The studied processes and study outcomes can be applicable to other evaporite‐dominated basins worldwide.
Modelling the role of dynamic topography and eustasy in the evolution of the Great Artesian Basin
Authors: Braz Carmen , Zahirovic Sabin , Salles Tristan , Flament Nicolas , Harrington Lauren , Müller R. Dietmar
Published: August 2021

Widespread flooding of the Australian continent during the Early Cretaceous, referred to as the Eromanga Sea, deposited extensive shallow marine sediments throughout the Great Artesian Basin (GAB). This event had been considered ‘out of sync’ with eustatic sea level and was instead solely attributed to dynamic subsidence associated with Australia's passage over eastern Gondwanan subducted material. However, mantle convection models previously used to explain this event have since been shown to overestimate dynamic topography amplitude by a factor of two compared with residual topography estimates. Previous models were also based on a Cretaceous eustatic sea level peak at ca. 90 Ma in conventional eustatic sea level curves; however, more recent estimates of global sea level from ocean basin volume (OBV) suggest this peak may have occurred earlier at ca. 120 Ma. Our work links time‐dependent erosion and deposition with dynamic topography and eustasy to test their contribution to basin development using the landscape evolution code pyBadlands. Our results show that the lower amplitude estimates of dynamic topography derived from pseudo‐compressible mantle flow models better reflect the Cretaceous vertical motions of the Australian continent (ca. 100 m) compared with their incompressible counterparts (ca. 200–400 m). Additionally, our models include the Neogene north‐eastward tilting of Australia, elusive in most previously published geodynamic models. In conjunction with an OBV‐derived sea level curve, our preferred landscape evolution model broadly matches the Cretaceous inundation patterns and first‐order sedimentary sequences in the GAB. The results highlight that the Early Cretaceous inundation of the Australian continent is likely a combination of high global sea levels and the regional effects of dynamic subsidence. Our work provides a framework for a new generation of evolving paleogeographic models at continental scales, while also providing key insights into the viability of existing sea level curves and dynamic topography estimates for reproducing topographic and basin evolution.
The biology and evolution of spider venoms
Authors: Lüddecke Tim , Herzig Volker , von Reumont Björn M. , Vilcinskas Andreas
Published: August 2021

Spiders are diverse, predatory arthropods that have inhabited Earth for around 400 million years. They are well known for their complex venom systems that are used to overpower their prey. Spider venoms contain many proteins and peptides with highly specific and potent activities suitable for biomedical or agrochemical applications, but the key role of venoms as an evolutionary innovation is often overlooked, even though this has enabled spiders to emerge as one of the most successful animal lineages. In this review, we discuss these neglected biological aspects of spider venoms. We focus on the morphology of spider venom systems, their major components, biochemical and chemical plasticity, as well as ecological and evolutionary trends. We argue that the effectiveness of spider venoms is due to their unprecedented complexity, with diverse components working synergistically to increase the overall potency. The analysis of spider venoms is difficult to standardize because they are dynamic systems, fine‐tuned and modified by factors such as sex, life‐history stage and biological role. Finally, we summarize the mechanisms that drive spider venom evolution and highlight the need for genome‐based studies to reconstruct the evolutionary history and physiological networks of spider venom compounds with more certainty.
PMA induces the differentiation of monocytes into immunosuppressive MDSCs
Authors: Wang Haozhou , Ji JiaWei , Zhuang Yuan , Zhou Xiaoguang , Zhao Yong , Zhang Xiaodong
Published: August 2021

The induction of immune tolerance without the use of immunosuppressive drugs is a crucial problem in organ transplantation. The use of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) as a cell-based adjuvant immunosuppressive therapy is a bright clinical prospect in organ transplantation. MDSCs with stable immunosuppressive activities can be used to treat immune-related diseases. In this study, macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) was used to promote myeloid progenitor cell differentiation, and phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) was added to induce MDSCs at the later stage of induction in vitro. Cell phenotypes were detected by flow cytometry and mRNA was detected by real-time–polymerase chain reaction (RT–PCR). A mouse skin transplantation model was used to investigate the cell inhibitory function. The combination of PMA and M-CSF induced the differentiation of myeloid-derived monocytes into MDSCs. MDSCs were found to induce immune tolerance by inhibiting the proliferation and activation of T cells, promoting cytokine secretion and inducing T cell transformation to regulatory T cells (Treg). PMA significantly up-regulated the expression of Arg-1 and the Arg-1 protein expression in MDSCs and arginase 1 (Arg-1) inhibitor nor-NOHA reversed the MDSC immunosuppressive activity, indicating the involvement of the Arg-1 pathway in MDSC-mediated immunosuppression. M-CSF + PMA-induced MDSCs also significantly prolonged the survival time of skin grafts in mice, showing that MDSCs exert immunosuppressive effects in vivo. We describe a novel scheme to induce immunosuppressive MDSCs in vitro. MDSCs induced by M-CSF with PMA showed stable immunosuppression. MDSCs induced by this protocol may benefit patients with organ transplantation through immune regulation.
One hundred years of allergic contact dermatitis due to oxidized terpenes: What we can learn from old research on turpentine allergy
Authors: Karlberg Ann‐Therese , Lepoittevin Jean‐Pierre
Published: August 2021

Although in recent years the focus on sensitizing terpene oxidation products has been on oxidized limonene and linalool, the autoxidation of terpenes in relation to allergic contact dermatitis is not new and dates back to the early part of the 20th century with the use of turpentine causing occupational contact dermatitis in painters. This review is written in a way as to allow us to get closer to the work of the scientists in earlier days, to participate in the successes, and also to observe the weak points. The researchers concluded that the main culprit in Scandinavian turpentine was Δ3‐carene hydroperoxides. This explains its high sensitizing effect compared with French turpentine which is of the Iberian type with no or only traces of Δ3‐carene. Historical exposure to turpentine showed that ending the industrial exposure stopped the occupational skin sensitization. Patch test studies demonstrated that monoterpene hydroperoxides, far from being an obsolete source of contact allergy solely related to turpentine, is a common cause of contact allergy in the population. A hundred years of extensive chemical and clinical studies worldwide should be sufficient to meet the evidence requirement regarding allergic contact dermatitis caused by terpenes.
Conservation translocations for amphibian species threatened by chytrid fungus: A review, conceptual framework, and recommendations
Authors: Scheele Ben C. , Hollanders Matthijs , Hoffmann Emily P. , Newell David A. , Lindenmayer David B. , McFadden Michael , Gilbert Deon J. , Grogan Laura F.
Published: August 2021

Emerging infectious diseases are an increasingly prominent threat to biodiversity. However, traditional methods in conservation generally have limited efficacy in the face of disease threats. Ironically, although unintentional human movement of species has facilitated the spread of pathogens, intentional conservation translocations are a promising approach to combatting disease threats under certain circumstances. Here, we summarize two decades of published literature on translocations of Australian frogs threatened by chytridiomycosis—a fungal disease that has caused amphibian declines and extinctions globally. We identify key motivations, considerations, and factors associated with outcomes, including the role of chytridiomycosis in failures. In an effort to improve success, we then propose a conceptual framework for determining when conservation translocations may be both feasible and beneficial, with a focus on understanding mechanisms favoring host persistence. Lastly, we build on our findings from the review and the conceptual framework to develop a set of recommendations to guide practitioners aiming to translocate amphibians as a conservation strategy in the face of chytridiomycosis. Although diseases pose a unique set of challenges for managing declining species in the wild, we argue that progress is likely with careful and well‐informed adaptive management experiments to refine reintroduction and translocation efforts.