bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Bone Health, Fragility and Fractures
Authors: Wilson Helen , Calcraft Diana , Neville Cai , Lanham-New Susan , Durrant Louise R.
Published: September 2021

Achieving and maintaining skeletal health throughout the life trajectory is essential for the prevention of bone diseases such as rickets, osteomalacia and osteoporosis. Rickets and osteomalacia are usually a result of calcium and/or vitamin D deficiency, causing softening of bones and bone pain, and both conditions are treatable with calcium and vitamin D supplementation. Osteoporosis is a multifaceted disease mainly affecting older people, and its pathogenesis (and hence treatment) is more complex. Untreated osteoporosis results in fragility fractures causing morbidity and increased mortality.

Nutrition is one of many factors that influence bone mass and risk of bone disease. Developing a nutritional sciences approach is a feasible option for improving bone health.

The importance of adequate calcium and vitamin D in ensuring skeletal integrity throughout the life course has a sound evidence base. Poor vitamin D status in population groups of all ages is widespread across many countries (including affluent and non-affluent areas). Public health approaches are required to correct this given the fact that vitamin D is not just required for musculoskeletal health but also for other health outcomes.

Dietary protein may be beneficial for bone due to its effect of increasing insulin-like growth-factor-1 (IGF-1). Recent meta-analyses show that dietary protein has a beneficial role to play in bone health at all ages.

Other nutritional factors and nutrients (such as potassium, magnesium, vitamin K and acid-base balance) are also likely to have an important role in bone health, though the literature is less clear in terms of the association/relationship and more research is required.
Preconditions of Transforming the Educational Process by Applying Inclusive Education Strategies: Theoretical Background
Authors: Galkienė Alvyra , Monkevičienė Ona
Published: September 2021

The experience of the development of inclusive education strategies in various countries has been the source of various conceptions and practices, which have gradually evolved into the axis of the education policy of the late twentieth and early twenty-first century. This chapter presents an overlook of insights that are significant for the practical implementation of inclusive education and substantiated by scientific research. As the perception of inclusive education developed from meeting special educational needs in general schools (Florian. Int J Incl Educ 23(7–8): 691–704. https://doi.org/10.1080/13603116.2019.1622801, 2019) to recognising the variety of needs of all students (Meyer et al. Universal design for learning: theory and practice. CAST, 2014), the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) approach was presented to the pedagogical circles. This chapter of the book examines the fundamental aspects of the UDL approach in the context of the development of the inclusive education construct, from emphasising the Zone of Proximal Development (Vygotsky. Thought and language. MIT Press, 1962) to highlighting the processes taking place in the inclusive education ecosystem (European Agency for Special Needs and Inclusive Education. Inclusive school leadership: exploring policies across Europe. (E. Óskarsdóttir, V. Donnelly & M. Turner-Cmuchal, Eds.). Odense, Denmark. https://www.european-agency.org/sites/default/files/sisl_synthesis_report.pdf. Retrieved 16 April 2021, 2019), revealing the variety of perceptions of student uniqueness and education differentiation concepts in implementing inclusive education, and discussing the differences between the specificities of education goals and their implementation in the UDL and traditional approaches. The analysis of scientific research allowed us to distinguish the basic aspects of the UDL approach that are significant for the transformation of the traditional education system into a high-quality one based on the presumptions of success for every student and formed on the grounds of inclusive education.
Good Practice in Inclusive Education: Participatory Reinterpretation of Already Existing Elaborate Classroom Practices Under a UDL Perspective
Authors: Proyer Michelle , Kremsner Gertraud , Biewer Gottfried
Published: September 2021

This chapter presents well-established educational practices implemented at a school in Vienna with two decades of experience in school development in the context of inclusion. It elaborates on how these existing teaching practices can be interpreted from a UDL perspective. Furthermore, this chapter aims to underline the importance of engaging with teachers’ perspectives in research efforts regarding the design of learning environments. Findings point to the advantages that the emphasized consideration of localized and societal backgrounds of students could add to the purposeful application of UDL.
Wrapped NS5-branes, consistent truncations and Inönü-Wigner contractions
Authors: Cheung K. C. Matthew , Leung Rahim
Published: September 2021

Abstract

We construct consistent Kaluza-Klein truncations of type IIA supergravity on (i) Σ2 × S3 and (ii) Σ3 × S3, where Σ2 = S2/Γ, ℝ2/Γ, or ℍ2/Γ, and Σ3 = S3/Γ, ℝ3/Γ, or ℍ3/Γ, with Γ a discrete group of symmetries, corresponding to NS5-branes wrapped on Σ2 and Σ3. The resulting theories are a D = 5, $$ \mathcal{N} $$
N
= 4 gauged supergravity coupled to three vector multiplets with scalar manifold SO(1, 1) × SO(5, 3)/(SO(5) × SO(3)) and gauge group SO(2) × (SO(2) $$ {\ltimes}_{\Sigma_2} $$

⋉

Σ
2

ℝ4) which depends on the curvature of Σ2, and a D = 4, $$ \mathcal{N} $$
N
= 2 gauged supergravity coupled to one vector multiplet and two hypermultiplets with scalar manifold SU(1, 1)/U(1) × G2(2)/SO(4) and gauge group ℝ+ × ℝ+ for truncations (i) and (ii) respectively. Instead of carrying out the truncations at the 10-dimensional level, we show that they can be obtained directly by performing Inönü-Wigner contractions on the 5 and 4-dimensional gauged supergravity theories that come from consistent truncations of 11-dimensional supergravity associated with M5-branes wrapping Σ2 and Σ3. This suggests the existence of a broader class of lower-dimensional gauged supergravity theories related by group contractions that have a 10 or 11-dimensional origin.
Flavor invariants and renormalization-group equations in the leptonic sector with massive Majorana neutrinos
Authors: Wang Yilin , Yu Bingrong , Zhou Shun
Published: September 2021

Abstract

In the present paper, we carry out a systematic study of the flavor invariants and their renormalization-group equations (RGEs) in the leptonic sector with three generations of charged leptons and massive Majorana neutrinos. First, following the approach of the Hilbert series from the invariant theory, we show that there are 34 basic flavor invariants in the generating set, among which 19 invariants are CP-even and the others are CP-odd. Any flavor invariants can be expressed as the polynomials of those 34 basic invariants in the generating set. Second, we explicitly construct all the basic invariants and derive their RGEs, which form a closed system of differential equations as they should. The numerical solutions to the RGEs of the basic flavor invariants have also been found. Furthermore, we demonstrate how to extract physical observables from the basic invariants. Our study is helpful for understanding the algebraic structure of flavor invariants in the leptonic sector, and also provides a novel way to explore leptonic flavor structures.
Analysis of chemical compounds’ content in different varieties of carrots, including qualification and quantification of sugars, organic acids, minerals, and bioactive compounds by UPLC
Authors: Yusuf Emel , Tkacz Karolina , Turkiewicz Igor Piotr , Wojdyło Aneta , Nowicka Paulina
Published: September 2021

Twelve carrot varieties in different colours and sizes were investigated for chemical properties (dry matter, ash, pectins, titratable acidity, and pH), contents of vitamin C, sugar, organic acids, mineral (sodium, potassium, calcium, iron, and magnesium), and anti-oxidant activities (ABTS, FRAP, and ORAC). Moreover, total polyphenolics and total tetraterpenoids of colourful carrot varieties were presented. According to the study, sucrose was the dominant sugar and isocitric acid was the most common organic acid in carrot samples. In the case of mineral content, potassium, sodium, calcium, magnesium, and iron were identified, while copper was not identified in carrots. Additionally, most of the analyzed carrots were a good source of pectins (average—1.3%), except for mini-orange carrot. Purple-coloured carrot samples demonstrated the highest results for total sugar (11.2 g/100 g fm), total organic acid (2.8 g/100 g fm), total polyphenolic contents (224.4 mg/100 g fm), and anti-oxidant activities (17.1 mmol Trolox equivalents/100 g dm). In turn, the lowest results were observed in normal yellow carrot for total polyphenols (7.3 mg/100 g fm), and anti-oxidant activities (2.5 mmol Trolox equivalents/100 g dm); besides, the lowest total tetraterpenoids were determined in micro-white carrot—0.2 mg/100 g fm.
Direct velocity measurements in high-temperature non-ideal vapor flows
Authors: Gallarini Simone , Cozzi Fabio , Spinelli Andrea , Guardone Alberto
Published: September 2021

Direct velocity measurements in a non-ideal expanding flow of a high temperature organic vapor were performed for the first time using the laser Doppler velocimetry technique. To this purpose, a novel seeding system for insemination of high-temperature vapors was specifically conceived, designed, and implemented. Comparisons with indirectly measured velocity, namely inferred from pressure and temperature measurements, are also provided. Nozzle flows of hexamethyldisiloxane (MM, C$$_6$$

6

H$$_{18}$$

18

OSi$$_2$$

2

) at temperature up to $$220\,^\circ \mathrm {C}$$

220

∘

C

and pressure up to 10 bar were taken as representative of non-ideal compressible-fluid flows. The relative high temperature, high pressure and the need of avoiding contamination pose strong constraints on the choice of both seeding system design and tracer particle, which is solid. A liquid suspension of tracer particles in hexamethyldisiloxane is injected through an atomizing nozzle in a high-temperature settling chamber ahead of the test section. The spray droplets evaporate, while the particles are entrained in the flow to be traced. Three different test cases are presented: a subsonic compressible nozzle flow with a large uniform region at Mach number 0.7, a high velocity gradient supersonic flow at Mach number 1.4 and a near-zero velocity gradient flow at Mach number 1.7. Temperature, pressure and direct velocity measurements are performed to characterize the flow. Measured velocity is compared with both computational fluid dynamics (CFD) calculations and velocity computed from pressure and temperature measurements. In both cases, the thermodynamic model applied was a state-of-the-art Helmoltz energy equation of state. A maximum velocity deviation of 6.6% was found for both CFD simulations and computed velocity.

Graphical abstract
Optical coherence tomography angiography of central serous chorioretinopathy: quantitative evaluation of the vascular pattern and capillary flow density
Authors: Roberta Farci , Arturo Carta , Maurizio Fossarello
Published: September 2021

Background

This study aimed to evaluate the vascular pattern and capillary flow density (CFD) map on optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) images of patients affected by central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC).

Methods

In this retrospective cohort study, OCTA (AngioVue RTVue XR Avanti, Optovue) 3 × 3 mm macula scans of both eyes of patients with CSC were taken at baseline; the images were segmented and compared with OCTA scans of fellow eyes without CSC as well as age-matched healthy subjects. OCTA images were processed by quantitative textural analysis (ImageJ software) to provide an objective grading of choroidal capillary alterations. The texture of OCTA images was examined by the autocorrelation method.

Results

In eyes with CSC (40 eyes), we found six different morphological patterns of the choriocapillaris layer vasculature (CCL), likely corresponding to different grades of OCT choroidal hyporeflectivity and OCTA reduction of the decorrelation signal. Moreover, the OCTA capillary flow density map revealed capillary depletion in the superficial capillary plexus (p value = 0.0023), in the deep vascular network (p value =  < 0.0001), and in the CCL (p value = 0.0001). Such findings were not observed in healthy subjects (13 eyes).

Conclusions

OCTA in CSC is a useful tool that allows the identification of the clinical type of CSC by means of specific CCL patterns. Moreover, CFD depletion is observed in association with the inner retinal layers, pointing to an involvement of the inner blood retinal barrier in CSC. According to our results, it is plausible that the patterns observed herein may correlate to the different clinical subtypes of the disease.
Administrative transformation and managerial growth: a longitudinal analysis of changes in the non-academic workforce at Australian universities
Authors: Croucher Gwilym , Woelert Peter
Published: September 2021

One fundamental aspect of organizational transformation in higher education is the change to the profile of universities’ non-academic workforce. Key staffing trends identified in recent studies conducted in a variety of national settings include an increase in the proportion of non-academic staff at universities and a shift toward more highly qualified and remunerated non-academic roles. This paper examines the extent to which these trends have played out at Australian universities over the period 1997 to 2017. Drawing on unpublished sets of staffing data, the analyses show that while the proportion of non-academic positions at Australian universities has remained largely stable, there has been a striking and uniform growth in management-rank positions, concurrent with a substantial decline in lower-level and less expensive support roles. This has some significant implications, in particular the growth in more complex “corporate” structures, the relatively fewer staff to support academic work, and the increase in the relative costs associated with maintaining the non-academic workforce at Australian universities.
Genome-Wide Identification and Expression Analysis of AP2/EREBP Transcription Factors in Litchi (Litchi chinensis Sonn.)
Authors: Men Jia-li , Li Fang , Sun Jin-hua , Wang Guo , Li Huan-ling , Wang Shu-jun , Xu Yun , Wang Jia-bao
Published: September 2021

APETALA2/ethylene response element binding proteins (AP2/EREBP) are a vital type of TF involved in plant organ development and embryogenesis. In this study we identified 202 Litchi AP2/EREBP TFs from the litchi genome. They were classified into four subfamilies by phylogenetic clustering, including AP2s (20), ERFs (112), DREBs (64), and RAVs (6). Analysis of conserved domains, motifs, gene structure, and genome localization were carried out to investigate the evolutionary features of litchi AP2/EREBPs. Over 35% of DREBs and ERFs involved in the expansion of litchi AP2/EREBPs resulted from tandem duplication. The majority of genomic organizations were conservative, except those of the AP2 subfamily, which had no intron and contained less conservative motif numbers. The expression profiles of litchi AP2/EREBPs in ten tissues were investigated using RNA-Seq data and fifty-nine showed tissue-specific expressions. Their expression patterns were confirmed by qRT-PCR with eight tissues-specificity genes. Six genes related to embryogenesis were identified using the map of orthologous gene interaction between Arabidopsis and litchi. This paper is a comprehensive report on the characteristics of the litchi AP2/EREBP gene superfamily. It will serve to further explore the regulatory mechanisms of AP2/EREBP TFs in the litchi somatic embryogenesis and provide information for litchi molecular breeding.
The Inner Louis Vuitton Circle: Arts-Based Research into Russian Luxury
Authors: Tams Svenja , Biehl Brigitte , Eliseev Nikolay
Published: September 2021

Studying luxury and conspicuous consumption in international settings presents unique challenges. Many aspects of luxury and conspicuous consumption cannot easily be put into words because they involve desires, aesthetics, and emotions, as well as taken-for-granted assumptions about social distinction and inequality. Drawing on Nicolai Eliseev’s artistic inquiry into luxury consumption in Russia, this article proposes arts-based inquiry as a suitable method for examining embodied and aesthetic knowing about luxury and conspicuous consumption, in particular in intercultural settings. The article illustrates these ideas through a series of sketches and a final artwork, by which Eliseev inquired into his experiences and tacit knowledge. The artwork incorporates a cut-up Louis Vuitton bag and references to luxury brands such as Cartier, Vertu, and Dom Perignon. The artistic form expresses the dividing effects and emotions of luxury consumption in Russian social and economic life. The article contributes to an understanding of aesthetic creation as both a method of inquiry and also a practice of resistance and innovation in relation to fashion discourses. Thus, it illustrates the potential of arts-based research methods in intercultural studies of luxury, and the social sciences more broadly.
Canadian Health Personnel Attitudes Toward Refugee Claimants’ Entitlement to Health Care
Authors: Rousseau Cécile , Rummens Joanna Anneke , Frounfelker Rochelle L. , Yebenes Monica Ruiz Casares , Cleveland Janet
Published: September 2021

Health care personnel attitudes toward refugee claimant entitlement to health care are influenced by multilevel factors including institutional and societal culture. Although individual attitudes may be modified through training, macro- and meso-issues require system-level interventions. This paper analyzes the role of individual-, institutional-, and city-level factors in shaping attitudes toward refugee claimants’ access to health care among Canadian health care personnel. A total of 4207 health care personnel in 16 institutions located in Montreal and Toronto completed an online survey on attitudes regarding health care access for refugee claimants. We used multilevel logistic regression analysis to identify individual-, institutional-, and city-level predictors of endorsing access to care. Participants who had prior contact with refugee claimants had greater odds of endorsing access to care than those who did not (OR 1.13; 95% CI 1.05, 1.21). Attitudes varied with occupation: social workers had the highest probability of endorsing equal access to health care (.83; 95% CI .77, .89) followed by physicians (.77; 95% CI .71, .82). An estimated 7.97% of the individual variation in endorsement of equal access to health care was attributable to differences between institutions, but this association was no longer statistically significant after adjusting for city residence. Results indicate that the contexts in which health care professionals live and work are important when understanding opinions on access to health care for vulnerable populations. They suggest that institutional interventions promoting a collective mission to care for vulnerable populations may improve access to health care for precarious status migrants.
Cadmium: An Emerging Role in Adipose Tissue Dysfunction
Authors: Attia Sarra Mohammed , Varadharajan Kavitha , Shanmugakonar Muralitharan , Das Sandra Concepcion , Al-Naemi Hamda A.
Published: September 2021

Cadmium (Cd) is a toxic heavy metal that is widespread in the environment due to the substantial anthropogenic inputs from the agriculture and industrial sectors. The toxic impact of Cd adversely affects human health and is linked with endocrine disruption, carcinogenicity, diabetes-related diseases, and metabolic disorder. One of the main characterizations of Cd is bioaccumulation where its half-life reaches 40 years with an unknown biological role. Several organs were found to be targets for Cd accumulation such as the liver, kidneys, and adipose tissue. Adipose tissue (AT) is a dynamic organ that plays a significant role in the body’s homeostasis through the maintenance of energy storage. Another vital function for AT is the secretion of adipokines which provides a metabolic cross-talk with the whole body’s organs. Cd is found to adversely impact the function of AT. This includes the disruption of adipogenesis, lipogenesis, and lipolysis. As a consequence, dysfunctional AT has disruptive patterns of adipokines secretions. The main adipokines produced from AT are leptin and adiponectin. Both were found to be significantly declined under the Cd exposure. Additionally, adipose tissue macrophages can produce either anti-inflammatory markers or pro-inflammatory markers depending on the local AT condition. Cadmium exposure was reported to upregulate pro-inflammatory markers and downregulate anti-inflammatory markers. However, the exact mechanisms of Cd’s adverse role on AT structure, function, and secretion patterns of adipokines are not totally clarified. Therefore, in this review, we present the current findings related to Cd detrimental effects on adipose tissues.
Dynamics of Multiphase Flows
Authors: Zhu Chao , Fan Liang-Shih , Yu Zhao
Published: September 2021

Understand multiphase flows using multidisciplinary knowledge in physical principles, modelling theories, and engineering practices. This essential text methodically introduces the important concepts, governing mechanisms, and state-of-the-art theories, using numerous real-world applications, examples, and problems. Covers all major types of multiphase flows, including gas-solid, gas-liquid (sprays or bubbling), liquid-solid, and gas-solid-liquid flows. Introduces the volume-time-averaged transport theorems and associated Lagrangian-trajectory modelling and Eulerian-Eulerian multi-fluid modelling. Explains typical computational techniques, measurement methods and four representative subjects of multiphase flow systems. Suitable as a reference for engineering students, researchers, and practitioners, this text explores and applies fundamental theories to the analysis of system performance using a case-based approach.
One-point statistics for turbulent pipe flow up to
Authors: Pirozzoli Sergio , Romero Joshua , Fatica Massimiliano , Verzicco Roberto , Orlandi Paolo
Published: September 2021

We study turbulent flows in a smooth straight pipe of circular cross-section up to friction Reynolds number

$({\textit {Re}}_{\tau }) \approx 6000$

using direct numerical simulation (DNS) of the Navier–Stokes equations. The DNS results highlight systematic deviations from Prandtl friction law, amounting to approximately

$2\,\%$

, which would extrapolate to approximately

$4\,\%$

at extreme Reynolds numbers. Data fitting of the DNS friction coefficient yields an estimated von Kármán constant

$k \approx 0.387$

, which nicely fits the mean velocity profile, and which supports universality of canonical wall-bounded flows. The same constant also applies to the pipe centreline velocity, thus providing support for the claim that the asymptotic state of pipe flow at extreme Reynolds numbers should be plug flow. At the Reynolds numbers under scrutiny, no evidence for saturation of the logarithmic growth of the inner peak of the axial velocity variance is found. Although no outer peak of the velocity variance directly emerges in our DNS, we provide strong evidence that it should appear at

${\textit {Re}}_{\tau } \gtrsim 10^4$

, as a result of turbulence production exceeding dissipation over a large part of the outer wall layer, thus invalidating the classical equilibrium hypothesis.
Added-mass force on elliptic airfoils
Authors: Limacher Eric J.
Published: September 2021

Herein, exact algebraic expressions for the non-circulatory (added-mass) forces on elliptic airfoils are derived for any two-dimensional motion – including simultaneous rectilinear acceleration and rotation – embedded in a steady free-stream flow. Despite the lengthy history of the added-mass concept and its widespread application to cylinders of various cross-sections, such closed-form expressions for elliptic cylinders, in terms of kinematic and geometric parameters alone, have remained absent from the literature until now. Inspection of the derived equations reveals that for pure pitching about a point on the chord-line, increasing thickness always decreases the added-mass force magnitude. For any given motion of the chord-line, the difference in force between thick and thin airfoils is proportional to the square of the thickness, although this difference may be positive or negative for the general three-degree-of-freedom case. In the special case of zero thickness and small pitch angles, Theodorsen's added-mass lift force on rigid thin airfoils is recovered; for large pitch angles, an exact generalization of Theodorsen's expression, applicable to the chord-normal direction, is given.
Major depressive disorder: a possible typisation according to serotonin, inflammation, and metabolic syndrome
Authors: Silić Ante , Vukojević Jakša , Peitl Vjekoslav , De Hert Marc , Karlović Dalibor
Published: September 2021

Objective:

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is closely related to obesity, inflammation, and insulin resistance, all together being etiologically linked to metabolic syndrome (MetS) development. The depressive disorder has a neuroendocrinological component, co-influencing the MetS, while MetS is characterised by increased cytokine levels, which are known to cause a depressed mood. This study aimed to establish biological subtypes of the depressive disorder based on researched clinical, laboratory, and anthropometric variables.

Methods:

We performed a cross-sectional study on a sample of 293 subjects (145 suffering from a depressive disorder and 148 healthy controls). Results were analysed with multivariate statistical methods as well as with cluster and discriminant analysis. In order to classify depressive disorder on the grounds of laboratory, anthropometric, and clinical parameters, we performed cluster analysis, which resulted in three clusters.

Results:

The first cluster is characterised by low platelet serotonin, high cortisol levels, high blood glucose levels, high triglycerides levels, high Hamilton Depression Rating Scale score, high waist circumference, high C-Reactive Protein values, and a high number of previous depressive episodes, was named Combined (Metabolic) depression. The inflammatory depression cluster is defined with average platelet serotonin values, normal cortisol, and all other parameter levels, except for increased IL-6 levels. The serotoninergic depression cluster is characterised by markedly low platelet serotonin, and all other parameters are within the normal range.

Conclusions:

From a biological point of view, depressive disorder is not uniform, and as such, these findings suggest potential clinically useful and generalisable biological subtypes of depressive disorder.
Rare sugars: metabolic impacts and mechanisms of action: a scoping review
Authors: Smith Alison , Avery Amanda , Ford Rebecca , Yang Qian , Goux Aurélie , Mukherjee Indraneil , Neville David C. A. , Jethwa Preeti
Published: September 2021

Food manufacturers are under increasing pressure to limit the amount of free sugars in their products. Many have reformulated products to replace sucrose, glucose and fructose with alternative sweeteners, but some of these have been associated with additional health concerns. Rare sugars are ‘monosaccharides and their derivatives that hardly exist in nature’, and there is increasing evidence that they could have health benefits. This review aimed to scope the existing literature in order to identify the most commonly researched rare sugars, to ascertain their proposed health benefits, mechanisms of action and potential uses and to highlight knowledge gaps. A process of iterative database searching identified fifty-five relevant articles. The reported effects of rare sugars were noted, along with details of the research methodologies conducted. Our results indicated that the most common rare sugars investigated ared-psicose andd-tagatose, with the potential health benefits divided into three topics: glycaemic control, body composition and CVD. All the rare sugars investigated have the potential to suppress postprandial elevation of blood glucose and improve glycaemic control in both human and animal models. Some animal studies have suggested that certain rare sugars may also improve lipid profiles, alter the gut microbiome and reduce pro-inflammatory cytokine expression. The present review demonstrates that rare sugars could play a role in reducing the development of obesity, type 2 diabetes and/or CVD. However, understanding of the mechanisms by which rare sugars may exert their effects is limited, and their effectiveness when used in reformulated products is unknown.
Effect of agitation speed on the density of bacteria Photorhabdus luminescens and the population dynamics of nematodes Heterorhabditis megidis in liquid culture
Authors: Tumialis D. , Mazurkiewicz A. , Skrzecz I.
Published: September 2021

Liquid culture is the most scalable technology for the industrial production of entomopathogenic nematodes. Variability of the recovery after inoculation into cultures of Photorhabdus luminescens remains a persistent problem in the mass production of Heterorhabditis sp. In order to enhance infective juvenile (IJ) recovery and improve nematode population management, we analysed the correlation between the nematode Heterorhabditis megidis (strain KV – 136) development in liquid cultures, the density of bacteria of P. luminescens and the culture agitation speed. Analyses focused on the impact of different agitation speeds (160 rpm and 200 rpm) on the dynamics of population growth of H. megidis in liquid cultures at constant biotic and abiotic parameters (initial dose of nematodes introduced to the culture 2300 IJs/ml, temperature 25°C, the number of bacterial colonies 0.3 × 107/ml). The performed experiments showed that the agitation speed of 200 rpm favourably affected the density of bacteria of P. luminescens (24.14 × 107/ml). High density of bacteria at this agitation speed resulted in an earlier (on the fifth day of the culture) maximum increase in the number of hermaphroditic individuals (1239.6 H/ml) than in the culture at an agitation speed of 160 rpm.
A Newly Identified Impairment in Both Vision and Hearing Increases the Risk of Deterioration in Both Communication and Cognitive Performance
Authors: Guthrie Dawn M. , Williams Nicole , Campos Jennifer , Mick Paul , Orange Joseph B. , Pichora-Fuller M. Kathleen , Savundranayagam Marie Y. , Wittich Walter , Phillips Natalie A.
Published: September 2021

Vision and hearing impairments are highly prevalent in adults 65 years of age and older. There is a need to understand their association with multiple health-related outcomes. We analyzed data from the Resident Assessment Instrument for Home Care (RAI-HC). Home care clients were followed for up to 5 years and categorized into seven unique cohorts based on whether or not they developed new vision and/or hearing impairments. An absolute standardized difference (stdiff) of at least 0.2 was considered statistically meaningful. Most clients (at least 60%) were female and 34.9 per cent developed a new sensory impairment. Those with a new concurrent vison and hearing impairment were more likely than those with no sensory impairments to experience a deterioration in receptive communication (stdiff = 0.68) and in cognitive performance (stdiff = 0.49). After multivariate adjustment, they had a twofold increased odds (adjusted odds ratio [OR] = 2.1; 95% confidence interval [CI]:1,87, 2.35) of deterioration in cognitive performance. Changes in sensory functioning are common and have important effects on multiple health-related outcomes.
Metric monads
Authors: Rosický Jiří
Published: September 2021

We develop universal algebra over an enriched category and relate it to finitary enriched monads over . Using it, we deduce recent results about ordered universal algebra where inequations are used instead of equations. Then we apply it to metric universal algebra where quantitative equations are used instead of equations. This contributes to understanding of finitary monads on the category of metric spaces.
On the number of Hadamard matrices via anti-concentration
Authors: Ferber Asaf , Jain Vishesh , Zhao Yufei
Published: September 2021

Many problems in combinatorial linear algebra require upper bounds on the number of solutions to an underdetermined system of linear equations $Ax = b$, where the coordinates of the vector x are restricted to take values in some small subset (e.g. $\{\pm 1\}$) of the underlying field. The classical ways of bounding this quantity are to use either a rank bound observation due to Odlyzko or a vector anti-concentration inequality due to Halász. The former gives a stronger conclusion except when the number of equations is significantly smaller than the number of variables; even in such situations, the hypotheses of Halász’s inequality are quite hard to verify in practice. In this paper, using a novel approach to the anti-concentration problem for vector sums, we obtain new Halász-type inequalities that beat the Odlyzko bound even in settings where the number of equations is comparable to the number of variables. In addition to being stronger, our inequalities have hypotheses that are considerably easier to verify. We present two applications of our inequalities to combinatorial (random) matrix theory: (i) we obtain the first non-trivial upper bound on the number of $n\times n$ Hadamard matrices and (ii) we improve a recent bound of Deneanu and Vu on the probability of normality of a random $\{\pm 1\}$ matrix.
Trust, financial literacy, and financial market participation
Authors: Fisch Jill E. , Seligman Jason S.
Published: September 2021

Willingness to participate in financial markets is important for financial well-being, including the accumulation of retirement savings through self-directed pension programs. We consider the roles of two key factors, trust and financial literacy in financial market participation. We find both are strongly related to participation. Although trust is more uniformly correlated with increases in financial market participation, the relationship between financial literacy and engagement is u-shaped, with increases in financial literacy first associated with reductions and subsequently with increases in the levels of participation. Our findings suggest trust and financial literacy play different roles and that each is related to investment behaviors in important ways.
Public knowledge and opinion of epigenetics and epigenetic concepts
Authors: Lynch Fiona , Lewis Sharon , Macciocca Ivan , Craig Jeffrey M.
Published: September 2021

The field of epigenetics is currently one of the most rapidly expanding in biology and has resulted in increasing public interest in its applications to human health. Epigenetics provides a promising avenue for both targeted individual intervention and public health messaging. However, to develop effective strategies for engagement, it is important to understand the public’s understanding of the relevant concepts. While there has been some research exploring the public’s understanding of genetic and environmental susceptibility to disease, limited research exists on public opinion and understanding of epigenetics and epigenetic concepts. Using an online questionnaire, this study investigated the Australian public’s understanding, views, and opinions of epigenetics and related concepts, including the concepts of the developmental origins of health and disease (DOHaD) and the first 1000 days. Over 600 questionnaires were completed, with 391 included in the analysis. The survey included questions on knowledge of epigenetics and perceptions of epigenetic concepts for self and for children. Data were analyzed using predominately descriptive statistics, with free-text responses scored based on concordance with predetermined definitions. While participants’ recognition of epigenetic terms and phrases was high, their understanding was limited. The DOHaD theory was more accurately understood than the first 1000 days or epigenetics itself. Female participants without children were more likely to recognize the term epigenetics, while age also had an impact. This research provides a solid foundation for further detailed investigation of these themes, all of which will be important data to help inform future public health messages regarding epigenetic concepts.
Formalism and anti-formalism in the Chinese Communist Party’s governance project
Authors: Seppänen Samuli
Published: September 2021

This article argues that the governance project of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) oscillates between rule-based formalism and anti-formalist scepticism about rule-based governance. In this dichotomy, anti-formalist arguments support CCP leaders’ efforts to maintain and increase the Party’s influence over the judiciary and other state organs, which is a key justification for the Party’s power. Formalist language, in contrast, supports Party leaders’ attempts to constrain lower-level cadres’ uses of power within the Party. Formalist language is particularly prominent in the writings of Party ideologues on the interpretation of the Party’s internal regulations, including the CCP Constitution. At the same time, Party ideology also provides for various anti-formalist arguments about rule-based governance within and outside the Party. Paradoxical as it may be, the Party leadership seeks to exert rule-transcending political leadership through formal rules. While the focus of this article is on China, it argues that other illiberal regimes may also be studied in terms of similar, potentially incoherent approaches to rule-based governance.
The Constitution of the Philippines and transformative constitutionalism
Authors: Chopra Surabhi
Published: September 2021

This article examines the 1987 Constitution of the Philippines’ provisions on social and economic rights and welfare. It considers how the 1987 Constitution fits within the post-liberal paradigm of ‘transformative’ constitutional texts that emerged during democratic transitions in the 1980s and 1990s. It then analyses how the Supreme Court of the Philippines responded to the constitutional call for egalitarian socio-economic reform in the first fifteen years after the People Power revolution. The article highlights how the 1987 Constitution envisions far-reaching, progressive socio-economic change, and incorporates both social and economic rights as well as open-ended policy goals in this regard. The article argues that this hybrid approach to distributive justice creates a distinctive set of interpretive challenges for the judiciary. It then argues that the Philippine Supreme Court’s approach to these provisions in the years following the transition to democracy was perfunctory and somewhat inchoate. The court affirmed its jurisdiction over these provisions, but did not develop meaningful standards or principles in relation to them. The article points out that transformative constitutional texts place difficult demands on the judiciary in relation to social and economic rights. They prompt the judiciary into unfamiliar domains. At the same time, institutional legitimacy – including legitimacy on questions of distributive justice – requires judges to sustain the sense of a cogent boundary between constitutional law and politics. The article argues that these challenges were heightened in the Philippines by the textual ambiguity of the 1987 Constitution as well as the relative dearth of jurisprudential resources at the time. It concludes by considering the implications of the Philippines experience for the design of transformative constitutions.
Quartz Crystallinity Index of Arabian Sands and Sandstones
Authors: Radwan Omar A. , Humphrey John D. , Al‐Ramadan Khalid A.
Published: September 2021

Although quartz crystallinity index (QCI) was developed more than four decades ago, it remains a relatively new tool used in provenance studies. This study examines QCI values of Arabian sands (Quaternary sands from Nafud, Dahna, and AlRub'AlKhali deserts), and Arabian sandstones (Paleozoic and Mesozoic sandstones from northern and central Arabia). QCI values of sandstones range from 8.2 to 9.8. For Quaternary occurrences, QCI values of Nafud sands range from 7.4 to 9.5, Dahna sands range from 7.9 to 9.4, and AlRub'AlKhali sands range from 8.8 to 9.4. The data confirm that Arabian sands are derived mainly from early Paleozoic sandstones, with subordinate contributions from late Paleozoic and Mesozoic sandstones. They also highlight the role that sediment homogenization plays in narrowing QCI values of AlRub'AlKhali sands. Highest and lowest QCI values raise questions about the role of chert in controlling of QCI values of Arabian sands and sandstones. Arabian sandstones of Late Ordovician, Late Devonian, Late Permian, Late Triassic, and Cretaceous age possess the highest QCI values (>9.5). These time intervals coincide with lower abundances of siliceous sponges, and therefore fewer potential sources of chertification/silicification. Cambrian sandstones and Quaternary sands possess the lowest QCI values (<8.5). This coincides with the fact that both are of eolian origin, environments, which usually contain large quantities of quartz‐rich dust that are documented to be a primary source of silica for chert formation. Therefore, we propose that the presence of chert is responsible for the extreme values of QCI in Arabian sands and sandstones.
Impacts of Variations in Caspian Sea Surface Area on Catchment‐Scale and Large‐Scale Climate
Authors: Koriche Sifan A. , Nandini‐Weiss Sri D. , Prange Matthias , Singarayer Joy S. , Arpe Klaus , Cloke Hannah L. , Schulz Michael , Bakker Pepijn , Leroy Suzanne A. G. , Coe Michael
Published: September 2021

The Caspian Sea (CS) is the largest inland lake in the world. Large variations in sea level and surface area occurred in the past and are projected for the future. The potential impacts on regional and large‐scale hydroclimate are not well understood. Here, we examine the impact of CS area on climate within its catchment and across the northern hemisphere, for the first time with a fully coupled climate model. The Community Earth System Model (CESM1.2.2) is used to simulate the climate of four scenarios: (a) larger than present CS area, (b) current area, (c) smaller than present area, and (d) no‐CS scenario. The results reveal large changes in the regional atmospheric water budget. Evaporation (e) over the sea increases with increasing area, while precipitation (P) increases over the south‐west CS with increasing area. P‐E over the CS catchment decreases as CS surface area increases, indicating a dominant negative lake‐evaporation feedback. A larger CS reduces summer surface air temperatures and increases winter temperatures. The impacts extend eastwards, where summer precipitation is enhanced over central Asia and the north‐western Pacific experiences warming with reduced winter sea ice. Our results also indicate weakening of the 500‐hPa troughs over the northern Pacific with larger CS area. We find a thermal response triggers a southward shift of the upper troposphere jet stream during summer. Our findings establish that changing CS area results in climate impacts of such scope that CS area variations should be incorporated into climate model simulations, including palaeo and future scenarios.
Oxygen Isotope Compositions of Cellulose in Earlywood of Larix cajanderi Determined by Water Source Rather Than Leaf Water Enrichment in a Permafrost Ecosystem, Eastern Siberia
Authors: Fan R. , Shimada H. , Tei S. , Maximov T. C. , Sugimoto A.
Published: September 2021

The oxygen isotopic composition of tree‐ring cellulose (δ18Ocell) has been widely used to reconstruct historical environmental changes; however, the control factors on δ18Ocell have not been fully constrained—especially in high latitudes. To evaluate the influence of metabolic processes and related environmental factors on δ18Ocell, we analyzed the δ18O values of soil water (1998–2015), stem water (1997–2016), leaf water (3 days in each 2014 and 2015), and tree‐ring cellulose (1981–2016), on a dominant larch species (Larix cajanderi) in an eastern Siberian boreal forest. We determined that the δ18O variability of water sources is dependent on the precipitation, and the 18O enrichment in leaf water is determined by relative humidity. These findings suggest that both water source uptake and leaf water enrichment processes can affect the δ18O values of oxygen‐containing compounds in larch trees in the study site. However, the δ18Ocell (one of the end oxygen‐containing products) was found dependent on water sources on which was related to the amount of summer rainfall in the previous year. This finding significantly differs from that of studies in other areas, which infer the positive correlation between δ18Ocell and leaf water enrichment rather than precipitation or water sources. These differences are predominantly due to the specific conditions of high‐latitude areas, such as the large seasonal δ18O difference in precipitation, the existence of permafrost, and the low growth rate. Our findings contribute toward the development of tree‐ring paleoclimate reconstructions—especially in eastern Siberia.
The long non-coding RNA SAMMSON is essential for uveal melanoma cell survival
Authors: Dewaele Shanna , Delhaye Louis , De Paepe Boel , de Bony Eric James , De Wilde Jilke , Vanderheyden Katrien , Anckaert Jasper , Yigit Nurten , Nuytens Justine , Vanden Eynde Eveline , Smet Joél , Verschoore Maxime , Nemati Fariba , Decaudin Didier , Rodrigues Manuel , Zhao Peihua , Jochemsen Aart , Leucci Eleonora , Vandesompele Jo , Van Dorpe Jo , Marine Jean-Christophe , Van Coster Rudy , Eyckerman Sven , Mestdagh Pieter
Published: September 2021

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) can exhibit cell-type and cancer-type specific expression profiles, making them highly attractive as therapeutic targets. Pan-cancer RNA sequencing data revealed broad expression of the SAMMSON lncRNA in uveal melanoma (UM), the most common primary intraocular malignancy in adults. Currently, there are no effective treatments for UM patients with metastatic disease, resulting in a median survival time of 6–12 months. We aimed to investigate the therapeutic potential of SAMMSON inhibition in UM. Antisense oligonucleotide (ASO)-mediated SAMMSON inhibition impaired the growth and viability of a genetically diverse panel of uveal melanoma cell lines. These effects were accompanied by an induction of apoptosis and were recapitulated in two uveal melanoma patient derived xenograft (PDX) models through subcutaneous ASO delivery. SAMMSON pulldown revealed several candidate interaction partners, including various proteins involved in mitochondrial translation. Consequently, inhibition of SAMMSON impaired global, mitochondrial and cytosolic protein translation levels and mitochondrial function in uveal melanoma cells. The present study demonstrates that SAMMSON expression is essential for uveal melanoma cell survival. ASO-mediated silencing of SAMMSON may provide an effective treatment strategy to treat primary and metastatic uveal melanoma patients.