bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Immersion and invariance‐based extended state observer design for a class of nonlinear systems
Authors: Hosseini‐Pishrobat Mehran , Keighobadi Jafar , Pirastehzad Armin , Javad Yazdanpanah Mohammad
Published: May 2021

This article presents a novel geometric framework for the design of extended state observers (ESOs) using the immersion and invariance (I&I) method. The ESO design problem of a class of uncertain lower‐triangular nonlinear systems is considered for joint state and total disturbance observation. This problem is formulated as designing a dynamical system, as the observer, along with an appropriately defined manifold in the system‐observer extended state‐space. The ESO convergence translates into the attractivity of this manifold; that is, the convergence of the system‐observer trajectories to a small boundary layer around the manifold. The design of both reduced‐order and full‐order ESOs is studied using the I&I formulation. Moreover, an optimization method based on linear matrix inequalities is proposed to establish the convergence of ESOs. It is shown that the I&I‐based method leads to a unifying framework for the design and analysis of ESOs with linear, nonlinear, and time‐varying gains. Detailed simulations are provided to show the efficacy of the proposed ESOs.
Ultrathin Diamond Nanofilms—Development, Challenges, and Applications
Authors: Handschuh‐Wang Stephan , Wang Tao , Tang Yongbing
Published: May 2021

Diamond is a highly attractive material for ample applications in material science, engineering, chemistry, and biology because of its favorable properties. The advent of conductive diamond coatings and the steady demand for miniaturization in a plethora of economic and scientific fields resulted in the impetus for interdisciplinary research to develop intricate deposition techniques for thin (≤1000 nm) and ultra‐thin (≤100 nm) diamond films on non‐diamond substrates. By virtue of the lowered thickness, diamond coatings feature high optical transparency in UV–IR range. Combined with their semi‐conductivity and mechanical robustness, they are promising candidates for solar cells, optical devices, transparent electrodes, and photochemical applications. In this review, the difficulty of (ultra‐thin) diamond film development and production, introduction of important stepping stones for thin diamond synthesis, and summarization of the main nucleation procedures for diamond film synthesis are elucidated. Thereafter, applications of thin diamond coatings are highlighted with a focus on applications relying on ultrathin diamond coatings, and the excellent properties of the diamond exploited in said applications are discussed, thus guiding the reader and enabling the reader to quickly get acquainted with the research field of ultrathin diamond coatings.
Development and Characterization of Edible Films from Chachafruto (Erythrina edulis Triana) Starch
Authors: Sandoval Jorge Leonardo Sandoval , Fonseca Pablo Emilio Rodríguez , Arévalo Aníbal Orlando Herrera , Sira Elevina Eduviges Pérez , Ricci Julien , Dufour Dominique
Published: May 2021

This research aims to develop biofilms based on starch isolated from chachafruto (Erythrina edulis) grown in Colombia. The physicochemical, functional, and morphometric properties of chachafruto starch are characterized. Edible biofilms are developed using chachafruto starch, glycerol, oil, and Tween 80. The films are characterized in terms of their physical, mechanical, and barrier properties. The data show a high starch yield of 28.59% with high purity (95.92%) and 0.21% phosphorous, and 14.14% amylose content. Chachafruto starch granules have a bimodal distribution of circular and oval shapes; longitudinal sizes varied from 25.86 to 119.82 µm, and transverse sizes ranged from 40.14 to 45.86 µm. The gelatinization pasting temperature (PT), peak viscosity (PV), and final viscosity (cool paste viscosity, CPV) of starch were 74.7°C, 2602, and 3171 cP, respectively. The addition of oil (0.1%, 0.2%, and 0.3%) and Tween 80 (0.4%) increase the moisture content of the starch and decrease the water vapor permeability (WVP) of the film. Additionally, the oil significantly reduces the tensile strength and elongation at break but has no effect on the percent elongation. The data show that chachafruto seeds are a potential new and unconventional source of starch that shows feasibility for applications in starch‐based edible films.
Resurgence in the O(4) sigma model
Authors: Abbott Michael C. , Bajnok Zoltán , Balog János , Hegedűs Árpád , Sadeghian Saeedeh
Published: May 2021

Abstract

We analyze the free energy of the integrable two dimensional O(4) sigma model in a magnetic field. We use Volin’s method to extract high number (2000) of perturbative coefficients with very high precision. The factorial growth of these coefficients are regulated by switching to the Borel transform, where we perform several asymptotic analysis. High precision data allowed to identify Stokes constants and alien derivatives with exact expressions. These reveal a nice resurgence structure which enables to formulate the first few terms of the ambiguity free trans-series. We check these results against the direct numerical solution of the exact integral equation and find complete agreement.
Dynamic transmission conditions for linear hyperbolic systems on networks
Authors: Kramar Fijavž Marjeta , Mugnolo Delio , Nicaise Serge
Published: May 2021

We study evolution equations on networks that can be modeled by means of hyperbolic systems. We extend our previous findings in Kramar et al. (Linear hyperbolic systems on networks. arXiv:2003.08281, 2020) by discussing well-posedness under rather general transmission conditions that might be either of stationary or dynamic type—or a combination of both. Our results rely upon semigroup theory and elementary linear algebra. We also discuss qualitative properties of solutions.
On Quiver Grassmannians and Orbit Closures for Gen-Finite Modules
Authors: Pressland Matthew , Sauter Julia
Published: May 2021

We show that endomorphism rings of cogenerators in the module category of a finite-dimensional algebra A admit a canonical tilting module, whose tilted algebra B is related to A by a recollement. Let M be a gen-finite A-module, meaning there are only finitely many indecomposable modules generated by M. Using the canonical tilts of endomorphism algebras of suitable cogenerators associated to M, and the resulting recollements, we construct desingularisations of the orbit closure and quiver Grassmannians of M, thus generalising all results from previous work of Crawley-Boevey and the second author in 2017. We provide dual versions of the key results, in order to also treat cogen-finite modules.
Obviousness around the clock
Authors: Breitmoser Yves , Schweighofer-Kodritsch Sebastian
Published: May 2021

Li (Am Econ Rev 107(11):3257–3287, 2017) introduces a theoretical notion of obviousness of a dominant strategy, to be used as a refinement in mechanism design. This notion is supported by experimental evidence that bidding is closer to dominance in the dynamic ascending-clock auction than the static second-price auction (private values), noting that dominance is theoretically obvious in the former but not the latter. We replicate his experimental study and add three intermediate auction formats that decompose the designs’ differences to quantify the cumulative effects of (1) simply seeing an ascending-price clock (after bid submission), (2) bidding dynamically on the clock, and (3) getting (theoretically irrelevant) drop-out information about other bidders. The theory predicts dominance to become obvious through (2), dynamic bidding. We find no significant behavioral effect of (2), however, while the feedback effects (1) and (3) are highly significant. We conclude that behavioral differences between second-price and ascending-clock auctions offer rather limited support for the theory of obviousness and that framing has surprisingly large potential in mechanism design.
THEZA: TeraHertz Exploration and Zooming-in for Astrophysics
Authors: Gurvits Leonid I. , Paragi Zsolt , Casasola Viviana , Conway John , Davelaar Jordy , Falcke Heino , Fender Rob , Frey Sándor , Fromm Christian M. , Miró Cristina García , Garrett Michael A. , Giroletti Marcello , Goddi Ciriaco , Gómez José-Luis , van der Gucht Jeffrey , Guirado José Carlos , Haiman Zoltán , Helmich Frank , Humphreys Elizabeth , Impellizzeri Violette , Kramer Michael , Lindqvist Michael , Linz Hendrik , Liuzzo Elisabetta , Lobanov Andrei P. , Mizuno Yosuke , Rezzolla Luciano , Roelofs Freek , Ros Eduardo , Rygl Kazi L.J. , Savolainen Tuomas , Schuster Karl , Venturi Tiziana , Wiedner Martina C. , Zensus J. Anton
Published: May 2021

This paper presents the ESA Voyage 2050 White Paper for a concept of TeraHertz Exploration and Zooming-in for Astrophysics (THEZA). It addresses the science case and some implementation issues of a space-borne radio interferometric system for ultra-sharp imaging of celestial radio sources at the level of angular resolution down to (sub-) microarcseconds. THEZA focuses at millimetre and sub-millimetre wavelengths (frequencies above $\sim $
∼
300 GHz), but allows for science operations at longer wavelengths too. The THEZA concept science rationale is focused on the physics of spacetime in the vicinity of supermassive black holes as the leading science driver. The main aim of the concept is to facilitate a major leap by providing researchers with orders of magnitude improvements in the resolution and dynamic range in direct imaging studies of the most exotic objects in the Universe, black holes. The concept will open up a sizeable range of hitherto unreachable parameters of observational astrophysics. It unifies two major lines of development of space-borne radio astronomy of the past decades: Space VLBI (Very Long Baseline Interferometry) and mm- and sub-mm astrophysical studies with “single dish” instruments. It also builds upon the recent success of the Earth-based Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) – the first-ever direct image of a shadow of the super-massive black hole in the centre of the galaxy M87. As an amalgam of these three major areas of modern observational astrophysics, THEZA aims at facilitating a breakthrough in high-resolution high image quality studies in the millimetre and sub-millimetre domain of the electromagnetic spectrum.
The Steiner cycle and path cover problem on interval graphs
Authors: Ćustić Ante , Lendl Stefan
Published: May 2021

The Steiner path problem is a common generalization of the Steiner tree and the Hamiltonian path problem, in which we have to decide if for a given graph there exists a path visiting a fixed set of terminals. In the Steiner cycle problem we look for a cycle visiting all terminals instead of a path. The Steiner path cover problem is an optimization variant of the Steiner path problem generalizing the path cover problem, in which one has to cover all terminals with a minimum number of paths. We study those problems for the special class of interval graphs. We present linear time algorithms for both the Steiner path cover problem and the Steiner cycle problem on interval graphs given as endpoint sorted lists. The main contribution is a lemma showing that backward steps to non-Steiner intervals are never necessary. Furthermore, we show how to integrate this modification to the deferred-query technique of Chang et al. to obtain the linear running times.
On the transcendental undercurrents of phenomenology: the case of the living body
Authors: Heinämaa Sara
Published: May 2021

Today the phenomenological concept of the lived body figures centrally in several philosophical and special scientific debates. In these wide and widening fields, the concept is used with multiple different meanings. In order to clarify and delineate the debates, this paper provides an explication of the phenomenological-transcendental methods. It argues that these methods help us remove the most fundamental ambiguities of the concept of embodiment by distinguishing between the main constituents of the lived body and by illuminating their mutual relations.
Correction to: The Intercultural Dialogue Index (ICDI): An Index for Assessing Intercultural Relations
Authors: Mansouri Fethi , Elias Amanuel
Published: May 2021

A correction to this paper has been published: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11205-021-02652-4
Correction to: Hydrothermal liquefaction of wood chips under supercritical and subcritical water reaction conditions
Authors: Shimizu Naoto , Zeng Bingyao , Kushima Keisuke
Published: May 2021

A correction to this paper has been published: https://doi.org/10.1007/s42452-021-04649-7
American Survivors
Authors: Wake Naoko
Published: May 2021

American Survivors is a fresh and moving historical account of U.S. survivors of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki atomic bombings, breaking new ground not only in the study of World War II but also in the public understanding of nuclear weaponry. A truly trans-Pacific history, American Survivors challenges the dualistic distinction between Americans-as-victors and Japanese-as-victims often assumed by scholars of the nuclear war. Using more than 130 oral histories of Japanese American and Korean American survivors, their family members, community activists, and physicians - most of which appear here for the first time - Naoko Wake reveals a cross-national history of war, illness, immigration, gender, family, and community from intimately personal perspectives. American Survivors brings to light the history of Hiroshima and Nagasaki that connects, as much as separates, people across time and national boundaries.
From heavy cannabis use to psychosis: is it time to take action?
Authors: Johnson-Ferguson L. , Di Forti M.
Published: May 2021

Cannabis is one of the most widely used recreational drugs among people with clinical psychosis, after nicotine and alcohol. There has been a debate in psychiatry about whether or not we can infer a cause-and-effect relationship between the use of cannabis and psychotic disorders. In this editorial, we first present and critically discuss the evidence to date of the association between heavy cannabis use and psychosis. We argue that while the biological mechanisms underlying individual susceptibility to develop a psychotic disorder following heavy cannabis use are still unknown, heavy cannabis use remains the most modifiable risk factor for the onset of psychotic disorders and for its clinical and functional outcome. This demands a clear move towards both primary and secondary prevention intervention to reduce the impact of heavy cannabis use on the incidence and prevalence of psychotic disorders.
Palliedaphichnium gondwanicumnew ichnogenus new ichnospecies, a millipede trace fossil from paleosols of the upper Permian Gondwana sequence of India
Authors: Agnihotri Deepa , Genise Jorge F. , Saxena Anju , Srivastava A.K.
Published: May 2021

The new invertebrate trace fossil from paleosols of the Bijori Formation,Palliedaphichnium gondwanicumnew ichnogenus new ichnospecies, which belongs to an upper Permian Gondwana sequence of India, makes a significant contribution to the meager records of invertebrate trace fossils from Permian and Indian paleosols. This trace fossil attributed to Diplopoda and composed of tunnels and chambers filled with pellets is also an important addition to the scarce record of Permian millipedes. The abundance of plant remains in the same paleosol indicates that these millipedes probably fed on leaf litter as other fossil and extant representatives. Chambers and abundant pellets in burrows indicate adverse conditions on the surface, at least seasonally. This finding contributes to the emerging scenario of invertebrate ichnofaunas from paleosols and points to a successive dominance of millipedes during the Paleozoic, crayfishes and earthworms in the Mesozoic, and insects in the Cenozoic.

UUID:http://zoobank.org/4378c739-9bd1-4382-b084-e2176045e209
The global magnitude and implications of legal and illegal wildlife trade in China
Authors: Jiao Yunbo , Lee Tien Ming
Published: May 2021

China is one of the largest consumer markets in the international legal and illegal wildlife trade. An increasing demand for wildlife and wildlife products is threatening biodiversity, both within China and in other countries where wildlife destined for the Chinese market is being sourced. We analysed official data on legal imports of CITES-listed species in five vertebrate classes (mammals, reptiles, amphibians, birds and fish), and on enforcement seizures of illegally traded wildlife, during 1997–2016. This is the first study that collates and analyses publicly available data on China's legal and illegal wildlife trade and considers a broad range of species. Specifically, we estimated the scale and scope of the legal and illegal wildlife trade, quantified the diversity of species involved, and identified the major trading partners, hotspots and routes associated with illegal trade. Our findings show that substantial quantities of wildlife have been extracted globally for the Chinese market: during 1997–2016 over 11.5 million whole-organism equivalents and 5 million kg of derivatives of legally traded wildlife, plus over 130,000 illegally traded animals (alive and dead) and a substantial amount of animal body parts and products, were imported into China. Although measures to reduce demand and alleviate poverty are crucial to curb unsustainable and illegal wildlife trade in the longer term, China's wildlife regulators and enforcers must take urgent measures to disrupt the supply chains from source to market.
The Characteristics of EMIC Waves in the Magnetosphere Based on the Van Allen Probes and Arase Observations
Authors: Jun Chae‐Woo , Miyoshi Yoshizumi , Kurita Satoshi , Yue Chao , Bortnik Jacob , Lyons Larry , Nakamura Satoko , Shoji Masafumi , Imajo Shun , Kletzing Craig , Kasahara Yoshiya , Kasaba Yasumasa , Matsuda Shoya , Tsuchiya Fuminori , Kumamoto Atsushi , Matsuoka Ayako , Shinohara Iku
Published: May 2021

We performed a comprehensive statistical study of electromagnetic ion cyclotron (EMIC) waves observed by the Van Allen Probes and Exploration of energization and Radiation in Geospace satellite (ERG/Arase). From 2017 to 2018, we identified and categorized EMIC wave events with respect to wavebands (H+ and He+ EMIC waves) and relative locations from the plasmasphere (inside and outside the plasmasphere). We found that H+ EMIC waves in the morning sector at L > 8 are predominantly observed with a mixture of linear and right‐handed polarity and higher wave normal angles during quiet geomagnetic conditions. Both H+ and He+ EMIC waves observed in the noon sector at L ∼ 4–6 have left‐handed polarity and lower wave normal angles at |MLAT| < 20° during the recovery phase of a storm with moderate solar wind pressure. In the afternoon sector (12–18 MLT), He+ EMIC waves are dominantly observed with strongly enhanced wave power at L ∼ 6–8 during the storm main phase, while in the dusk sector (17–21 MLT) they have lower wave normal angles with linear polarity at L > 8 during geomagnetic quiet conditions. Based on distinct characteristics at different EMIC wave occurrence regions, we suggest that EMIC waves in the magnetosphere can be generated by different free energy sources. Possible sources include the freshly injected particles from the plasma sheet, adiabatic heating by dayside magnetospheric compressions, suprathermal proton heating by magnetosonic waves, and off‐equatorial sources.
Regional Patterns and Physical Controls of Streamflow Generation Across the Conterminous United States
Authors: Wu Shuyue , Zhao Jianshi , Wang Hao , Sivapalan Murugesu
Published: May 2021

This study unveils regional patterns of dominant streamflow generation mechanisms across the conterminous United States and identifies their climatic and physiographic controls. Six signatures describing the characteristics of rainfall‐stormflow responses and the characteristics of base flow response are extracted from continuous rainfall‐streamflow time series for 432 US catchments. These study catchments are classified into eight classes based on similarities of the six signatures, and dominant streamflow generation mechanisms for each class are inferred based on the magnitudes of the six signatures. This catchment classification reveals geographically coherent regional patterns across the conterminous United States. Catchment climatic and physiographic characteristics most relevant to this catchment classification are identified using techniques such as correlation analysis and random forest modeling. The most relevant characteristics are climate aridity, median event rainfall volume, topographic slope, soil permeability, rock type, and vegetation density, which are found to be the main controlling factors governing the dominant streamflow generation mechanisms. The linkages between the inferred dominant streamflow generation mechanisms and specific combinations of the climatic and catchment physiographic characteristics identified above are synthesized in a conceptual diagram, as an extension of the classical Dunne diagram. The new findings, while largely consistent with the results of previous empirical and modeling studies, add rich process detail to the transferable understanding of regional patterns of dominant streamflow generation mechanisms and their climatic and physiographic controls.
Comparison of the major cell populations among osteoarthritis, Kashin–Beck disease and healthy chondrocytes by single-cell RNA-seq analysis
Authors: Wang Xi , Ning Yujie , Zhang Pan , Poulet Blandine , Huang Ruitian , Gong Yi , Hu Minhan , Li Cheng , Zhou Rong , Lammi Mikko J. , Guo Xiong
Published: May 2021

Chondrocytes are the key target cells of the cartilage degeneration that occurs in Kashin–Beck disease (KBD) and osteoarthritis (OA). However, the heterogeneity of articular cartilage cell types present in KBD and OA patients and healthy controls is still unknown, which has prevented the study of the pathophysiology of the mechanisms underlying the roles of different populations of chondrocytes in the processes leading to KBD and OA. Here, we aimed to identify the transcriptional programmes and all major cell populations in patients with KBD, patients with OA and healthy controls to identify the markers that discriminate among chondrocytes in these three groups. Single-cell RNA sequencing was performed to identify chondrocyte populations and their gene signatures in KBD, OA and healthy cells to investigate their differences as related to the pathogenetic mechanisms of these two osteochondral diseases. We performed immunohistochemistry and quantitative reverse-transcription PCR (qRT-PCR) assays to validate the markers for chondrocyte population. Ten clusters were labelled by cell type according to the expression of previously described markers, and one novel population was identified according to the expression of a new set of markers. The homeostatic and mitochondrial chondrocyte populations, which were identified by the expression of the unknown markers MT1X and MT2A and MT-ND1 and MT-ATP6, were markedly expanded in KBD. The regulatory chondrocyte population, identified by the expression of CHI3L1, was markedly expanded in OA. Our study allows us to better understand the heterogeneity of chondrocytes in KBD and OA and provides new evidence of differences in the pathogenetic mechanisms between these two diseases.
Comparison of the incidence of periprocedural myocardial infarction between percutaneous coronary intervention with versus without rotational atherectomy using propensity score-matching
Authors: Mizuno Yusuke , Sakakura Kenichi , Jinnouchi Hiroyuki , Taniguchi Yousuke , Tsukui Takunori , Yamamoto Kei , Seguchi Masaru , Wada Hiroshi , Fujita Hideo
Published: May 2021

Complications such as slow flow are frequently observed in percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with rotational atherectomy (RA). However, it remains unclear whether the high incidence of slow flow results in the high incidence of periprocedural myocardial infarction (PMI), reflecting real myocardial damage. The aim of this study was to compare the incidence of PMI between PCI with versus without RA using propensity score-matching. We included 1350 elective PCI cases, which were divided into the RA group (n = 203) and the non-RA group (n = 1147). After propensity score matching, the matched RA group (n = 190) and the matched non-RA group (n = 190) were generated. The primary interest was to compare the incidence of PMI between the matched RA and non-RA groups. Before propensity score matching, the incidence of slow flow and PMI was greater in the RA group than in the non-RA group. After matching, the incidence of slow flow was still greater in the matched RA group than in the matched non-RA group (16.8% vs. 9.5%, p = 0.048). However, the incidence of PMI was similar between the matched RA and matched non-RA group (7.4% vs. 5.3%, p = 0.528, standardized difference: 0.086). In conclusion, although use of RA was associated with greater risk of slow flow, use of RA was not associated with PMI after a propensity score-matched analysis. The fact that RA did not increase the risk of myocardial damage in complex lesions would have an impact on revascularization strategy for severely calcified coronary lesions.
Acid ceramidase controls apoptosis and increases autophagy in human melanoma cells treated with doxorubicin
Authors: Lai Michele , Amato Rachele , La Rocca Veronica , Bilgin Mesut , Freer Giulia , Spezia Piergiorgio , Quaranta Paola , Piomelli Daniele , Pistello Mauro
Published: May 2021

Acid ceramidase (AC) is a lysosomal hydrolase encoded by the ASAH1 gene, which cleaves ceramides into sphingosine and fatty acid. AC is expressed at high levels in most human melanoma cell lines and may confer resistance against chemotherapeutic agents. One such agent, doxorubicin, was shown to increase ceramide levels in melanoma cells. Ceramides contribute to the regulation of autophagy and apoptosis. Here we investigated the impact of AC ablation via CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing on the response of A375 melanoma cells to doxorubicin. We found that doxorubicin activates the autophagic response in wild-type A375 cells, which effectively resist apoptotic cell death. In striking contrast, doxorubicin fails to stimulate autophagy in A375 AC-null cells, which rapidly undergo apoptosis when exposed to the drug. The present work highlights changes that affect melanoma cells during incubation with doxorubicin, in A375 melanoma cells lacking AC. We found that the remarkable reduction in recovery rate after doxorubicin treatment is strictly associated with the impairment of autophagy, that forces the AC-inhibited cells into apoptotic path.
Skyrmion crystals in centrosymmetric itinerant magnets without horizontal mirror plane
Authors: Yambe Ryota , Hayami Satoru
Published: May 2021

We theoretically investigate a new stabilization mechanism of a skyrmion crystal (SkX) in centrosymmetric itinerant magnets with magnetic anisotropy. By considering a trigonal crystal system without the horizontal mirror plane, we derive an effective spin model with an anisotropic Ruderman–Kittel–Kasuya–Yosida (RKKY) interaction for a multi-band periodic Anderson model. We find that the anisotropic RKKY interaction gives rise to two distinct SkXs with different skyrmion numbers of one and two depending on a magnetic field. We also clarify that a phase arising from the multiple-Q spin density waves becomes a control parameter for a field-induced topological phase transition between the SkXs. The mechanism will be useful not only for understanding the SkXs, such as that in Gd$$_2$$

2

PdSi$$_3$$

3

, but also for exploring further skyrmion-hosting materials in trigonal itinerant magnets.
RNA interference of an orthologue of Dicer of Meloidogyne incognita alludes to the gene’s importance in nematode development
Authors: Iqbal Sadia , Jones Michael G. K. , Fosu-Nyarko John
Published: May 2021

Dicers and dicer-like enzymes play an essential role in small RNA processing in eukaryotes. Nematodes are thought to encode one dicer, DCR-1; only that for Caenorhabditis spp. is well-characterised. Using genomic sequences of eight root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.), we identified putative coding sequences typical of eukaryotic DICERS. We noted that the primary and secondary structures of DICERS they encode were different for different Meloidogyne species and even for isolates of the same species, suggesting paralogy for the gene. One of the genes for M. incognita (Midcr-1.1) expressed in eggs, juvenile stage 2 and adults, with the highest expression in the adult females. All the Meloidogyne DICERS had seven major domains typical of those for Caenorhabditis spp. and humans with very similar protein folding. RNAi of Midcr-1.1 in J2s using seven dsRNAs, each based on sequences encoding the domains, induced mild paralysis but measurable knockdown was detected in J2s treated with five of the dsRNAs. For four of the dsRNAs, the RNAi effect lasted and reduced the nematode’s infectivity. Also, host plant delivery of dsRNAs complementary to coding sequences of the Dicer Dimerisation domain impaired development, reducing nematode infection by 71%. These results confirm the importance of the gene to nematode health.
Toward understanding COVID-19 pneumonia: a deep-learning-based approach for severity analysis and monitoring the disease
Authors: Zandehshahvar Mohammadreza , van Assen Marly , Maleki Hossein , Kiarashi Yashar , De Cecco Carlo N. , Adibi Ali
Published: May 2021

We report a new approach using artificial intelligence (AI) to study and classify the severity of COVID-19 using 1208 chest X-rays (CXRs) of 396 COVID-19 patients obtained through the course of the disease at Emory Healthcare affiliated hospitals (Atlanta, GA, USA). Using a two-stage transfer learning technique to train a convolutional neural network (CNN), we show that the algorithm is able to classify four classes of disease severity (normal, mild, moderate, and severe) with the average Area Under the Curve (AUC) of 0.93. In addition, we show that the outputs of different layers of the CNN under dominant filters provide valuable insight about the subtle patterns in the CXRs, which can improve the accuracy in the reading of CXRs by a radiologist. Finally, we show that our approach can be used for studying the disease progression in a single patient and its influencing factors. The results suggest that our technique can form the foundation of a more concrete clinical model to predict the evolution of COVID-19 severity and the efficacy of different treatments for each patient through using CXRs and clinical data in the early stages of the disease. This use of AI to assess the severity and possibly predicting the future stages of the disease early on, will be essential in dealing with the upcoming waves of COVID-19 and optimizing resource allocation and treatment.
Evidence for the importance of land use, site characteristics and vegetation composition for rooting in European Alps
Authors: Tasser Erich , Gamper Sonja , Walde Janette , Obojes Nikolaus , Tappeiner Ulrike
Published: May 2021

Plant rooting strongly affects most hydrological, biogeochemical and ecological processes in terrestrial ecosystems, as it presents the main pathway for carbon, water and nutrient transfer from soil to the atmosphere and is a key factor in stabilizing the soil layer. Few studies have actually investigated the link between phytosociological and structural vegetation composition and diversity in soil rooting parameters. Our study provides a comprehensive evaluation of plant cover and diversity effects on rooting parameters dependent on different land-use types along a north–south transect in the Eastern Alps. We conducted field studies of root biomass, rooting density and rooting depth for the six main land-use types: intensively and lightly used hay meadows, pastures, arable land, agriculturally unused grasslands and forests. The variation in rooting parameters was explained by different aspects of species and functional richness, species and functional composition, functional traits, abundance of key species and site variables depending on the land-use types. Our results showed that different characteristics of biodiversity explained the variance in root parameters (mass, density and depth) to a high degree (determination coefficient R2 values varied between 0.621 and 0.891). All rooting parameters increased with increasing plant species richness, as well as with a higher diversity of plant functional traits. The inclusion of site parameters significantly increased the explained variance, while we could not find evidence for key species and their abundance to provide additional explanatory power. Allowing the effects to vary depending on land-use types turned out to be a necessity supporting the importance of considering land-use types for rooting. The findings indicate that vegetation composition has a clear relationship with rooting parameters across different habitats in the European Alps. As the effect of plant composition differs with respect to the land-use type, rooting can be monitored by land management to achieve the desired benefits. For example, intensified rooting through extensive management decreases erosion risk and increases carbon uptake.
Federal and state cooperation necessary but not sufficient for effective regional mental health systems: insights from systems modelling and simulation
Authors: Occhipinti Jo-An , Skinner Adam , Carter Samantha , Heath Jacinta , Lawson Kenny , McGill Katherine , McClure Rod , Hickie Ian B.
Published: May 2021

For more than a decade, suicide rates in Australia have shown no improvement despite significant investment in reforms to support regionally driven initiatives. Further recommended reforms by the Productivity Commission call for Federal and State and Territory Government funding for mental health to be pooled and new Regional Commissioning Authorities established to take responsibility for efficient and effective allocation of ‘taxpayer money.’ This study explores the sufficiency of this recommendation in preventing ongoing policy resistance. A system dynamics model of pathways between psychological distress, the mental health care system, suicidal behaviour and their drivers was developed, tested, and validated for a large, geographically diverse region of New South Wales; the Hunter New England and Central Coast Primary Health Network (PHN). Multi-objective optimisation was used to explore potential discordance in the best-performing programs and initiatives (simulated from 2021 to 2031) across mental health outcomes between the two state-governed Local Health Districts (LHDs) and the federally governed PHN. Impacts on suicide deaths, mental health-related emergency department presentations, and service disengagement were explored. A combination of family psychoeducation, post-attempt aftercare, and safety planning, and social connectedness programs minimises the number of suicides across the PHN and in the Hunter New England LHD (13.5% reduction; 95% interval, 12.3–14.9%), and performs well in the Central Coast LHD (14.8% reduction, 13.5–16.3%), suggesting that aligned strategic decision making between the PHN and LHDs would deliver substantial impacts on suicide. Results also highlighted a marked trade-off between minimising suicide deaths versus minimising service disengagement. This is explained in part by the additional demand placed on services of intensive suicide prevention programs leading to increases in service disengagement as wait times for specialist community based mental health services and dissatisfaction with quality of care increases. Competing priorities between the PHN and LHDs (each seeking to optimise the different outcomes they are responsible for) can undermine the optimal impact of investments for suicide prevention. Systems modelling provides essential regional decision analysis infrastructure to facilitate coordinated federal and state investments for optimal impacts.
Enterocytes, fibroblasts and myeloid cells synergize in anti-bacterial and anti-viral pathways with IL22 as the central cytokine
Authors: Klooster Jean Paul ten , Bol-Schoenmakers Marianne , van Summeren Kitty , van Vliet Arno L. W. , de Haan Cornelis A. M. , van Kuppeveld Frank J. M. , Verkoeijen Saertje , Pieters Raymond
Published: May 2021

IL22 is an important cytokine involved in the intestinal defense mechanisms against microbiome. By using ileum-derived organoids, we show that the expression of anti-microbial peptides (AMPs) and anti-viral peptides (AVPs) can be induced by IL22. In addition, we identified a bacterial and a viral route, both leading to IL22 production by T cells, but via different pathways. Bacterial products, such as LPS, induce enterocyte-secreted SAA1, which triggers the secretion of IL6 in fibroblasts, and subsequently IL22 in T cells. This IL22 induction can then be enhanced by macrophage-derived TNFα in two ways: by enhancing the responsiveness of T cells to IL6 and by increasing the expression of IL6 by fibroblasts. Viral infections of intestinal cells induce IFNβ1 and subsequently IL7. IFNβ1 can induce the expression of IL6 in fibroblasts and the combined activity of IL6 and IL7 can then induce IL22 expression in T cells. We also show that IL22 reduces the expression of viral entry receptors (e.g. ACE2, TMPRSS2, DPP4, CD46 and TNFRSF14), increases the expression of anti-viral proteins (e.g. RSAD2, AOS, ISG20 and Mx1) and, consequently, reduces the viral infection of neighboring cells. Overall, our data indicates that IL22 contributes to the innate responses against both bacteria and viruses.
Ageing and population shrinking: implications for sustainability in the urban century
Authors: Jarzebski Marcin Pawel , Elmqvist Thomas , Gasparatos Alexandros , Fukushi Kensuke , Eckersten Sofia , Haase Dagmar , Goodness Julie , Khoshkar Sara , Saito Osamu , Takeuchi Kazuhiko , Theorell Töres , Dong Nannan , Kasuga Fumiko , Watanabe Ryugo , Sioen Giles Bruno , Yokohari Makoto , Pu Jian
Published: May 2021

Population ageing and shrinking are demographic phenomena with far-reaching implications for sustainability in the current context of extensive and rapid urbanization. This Perspective rationalizes their interface by (a) identifying the challenges and opportunities that ageing and shrinking urban populations will have for implementing the sustainable development goals (SDGs), and (b) discussing some emerging interventions to capitalise on the opportunities and reduce the challenges to achieving sustainability. We argue that a diverse set of context-specific technological, socioeconomic, institutional and governance interventions would be needed to leverage effectively the opportunities and minimize the risks posed by ageing and shrinking urban populations for long-term sustainability.
The multifaceted nature of antimicrobial peptides: current synthetic chemistry approaches and future directions
Authors: Gan Bee Ha , Gaynord Josephine , Rowe Sam M. , Deingruber Tomas , Spring David R.
Published: May 2021

This review discusses the diversity of structure and physicochemical properties of antimicrobial peptides and their derivatives, various chemical synthetic strategies that have been applied in their development, and how this links to their activity.
Helical electronic transitions of spiroconjugated molecules
Authors: Garner Marc H. , Corminboeuf Clemence
Published: May 2021

The π–π* transitions of disubstituted spiropentadiene become helical due to mixing of its two perpendicular π-systems. The helicity is symmetry-protected and gives rise to experimentally observable effects, such as optical activity.
A catalytic triplex DNAzyme for porphyrin metalation
Authors: Zheng Xiong , Yang Mujing , Yang Tong , Chang Yun , Peng Shuzhen , Xu Qiuda , Wang Dandan , Zhou Xiaoshun , Shao Yong
Published: May 2021

DNA with a triplex structure can serve as a DNAzyme to catalyze porphyrin metalation by increasing the porphyrin's basicity.
Interaction, bond formation or reaction between a dimethylamino group and an adjacent alkene or aldehyde group in aromatic systems controlled by remote molecular constraints
Authors: Bristow Jonathan C. , Cliff Stacey V. A. , Yang Songjie , Wallis John D.
Published: May 2021

Control of the spacing between a dimethylamino group and a polarised alkene by remote constraints determines if the groups make a n–π* interaction, form a Me2N–C bond or a (MeN)CH2–C bond initiated by the tertiary amino effect.
Lanosterol reduces the aggregation propensity of ultraviolet-damaged human γD-crystallins: a molecular dynamics study
Authors: Zhou Hong , Li Youyun , Yang Ying , Liu Shengtang , Yang Zaixing
Published: May 2021

Lanosterol can stabilize the structure of ultraviolet-damaged human γD-crystallins (e.g., tryptophans were photo-oxidized to kynurenines), particularly its N-td, thus reducing its aggregation propensity.
Molecular modelling of compounds used for corrosion inhibition studies: a review
Authors: Ebenso Eno E. , Verma Chandrabhan , Olasunkanmi Lukman O. , Akpan Ekemini D. , Verma Dakeshwar Kumar , Lgaz Hassane , Guo Lei , Kaya Savas , Quraishi M. A.
Published: May 2021

This perspective review features, among others, the use of DFT, QSAR modeling, artificial neural network (ANN) modeling, molecular dynamics simulations and Monte Carlo simulations in modelling organic corrosion inhibitors. It is a compendium of studies on the subject.
Comment on ‘Structural characterization, reactivity and vibrational properties of silver clusters: a new global minimum for Ag16’ by P. L. Rodríguez-Kessler, A. R. Rodríguez-Domínguez, D. MacLeod Carey and A. Muñoz-Castro, Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2020, 22, 27255, DOI: D0CP04018E
Authors: Nhat Pham Vu , Si Nguyen Thanh , Duong Long Van , Nguyen Minh Tho
Published: May 2021

Structural evolution of silver clusters from Ag12 to Ag16.
Rapid umpolung Michael addition of isatin N,N′-cyclic azomethine imine 1,3-dipoles with chalcones
Authors: Yue Guizhou , Jiang Dan , Dou Zhengjie , Li Sicheng , Feng Juhua , Zhang Li , Chen Huabao , Yang Chunping , Yin Zhongqiong , Song Xu , Liang Xiaoxia , Wang Xianxiang , Lu Cuifen
Published: May 2021

3,3-Disubstituted oxindoles were prepared rapidly in moderate to excellent yields with promising dr values by the t-BuONa-promoted Michael addition.
A dual band spin-selective transmission metasurface and its wavefront manipulation
Authors: Yue Zhen , Zheng Chenglong , Li Jie , Li Jitao , Liu Jingyu , Wang Guocui , Chen Mingyang , Xu Hang , Tan Qi , Zhang Haijian , Zhang Yating , Zhang Yan , Yao Jianquan
Published: May 2021

A spin-selective focusing metasurface composed of chiral meta-atoms.
A new type of zinc ion hybrid supercapacitor based on 2D materials
Authors: Zhang Dan , Li Le , Deng Jianping , Guo Shaobo , Pang Haixia , Lu Jiufu , Xia Donghui , Ji Xiaohui
Published: May 2021

We review the recent research progress in 2D materials and their composites in the pursuit of zinc ion hybrid supercapacitors, focusing on the possible charge storage mechanism of zinc ion hybrid supercapacitors.
Stroke Recurrence and Its Relationship With Language Abilities
Authors: Goldberg Emily B. , Meier Erin L. , Sheppard Shannon M. , Breining Bonnie L. , Hillis Argye E.
Published: May 2021

Purpose

Many factors influence poststroke language recovery, yet little is known about the influence of previous stroke(s) on language after left hemisphere stroke. In this prospective longitudinal study, we investigated the role of prior stroke on language abilities following an acute left hemisphere ischemic stroke, while controlling for demographic and stroke-related factors, and examined if earlier stroke impacted language recovery at a chronic time point.

Method

Participants (
n
= 122) with acute left hemisphere ischemic stroke completed language evaluation and clinical neuroimaging. They were divided into two groups: single stroke (SS;
n
= 79) or recurrent stroke (RS;
n
= 43). A subset of participants (
n
= 31) completed chronic-stage re-evaluation. Factors studied included age, education, diabetes and hypertension diagnoses, lesion volume and broad location, group status, aphasia prevalence, and language scores.

Results

Groups did not differ in language performance across time points. The only significant group differences were that participants with RS were older, had smaller acute lesions, and were less educated. Stroke group membership (SS vs. RS) was not associated with language performance at either time point. In patients with prior stroke, large acute lesion volumes were associated with acute language performance, whereas both large acute and chronic volumes influenced recovery.

Conclusions

History of prior stroke in itself may not significantly influence language impairment after an additional acute left hemisphere stroke, unless it contributes substantially to the total volume of infarcted brain tissue. Chronic and acute lesion volumes should be accounted for in studies investigating poststroke language performance and recovery.

Supplemental Material

https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.14669715
Merging stellar and intermediate-mass black holes in dense clusters: implications for LIGO, LISA, and the next generation of gravitational wave detectors
Authors: Arca Sedda Manuel , Amaro Seoane Pau , Chen Xian
Published: May 2021

Context.The next generation of gravitational wave (GW) observatories would enable the detection of intermediate-mass black holes (IMBHs), an elusive type of BH expected to reside in the centres of massive clusters, dwarf galaxies, and possibly the accretion discs of active galactic nuclei. Intermediate-mass ratio inspirals (IMRIs), which are composed of an IMBH and a compact stellar object, constitute one promising source of GWs detectable by this new generation of instruments.

Aims.We study the formation and evolution of IMRIs triggered by interactions between two stellar BHs and an IMBH inhabiting the centre of a dense star cluster, with the aim of placing constraints on the formation rate and detectability of IMRIs.

Methods.We exploit directN-body models varying the IMBH mass, the stellar BH mass spectrum, and the star cluster properties. Our simulations take into account the host cluster gravitational field and general relativistic effects via post-Newtonian terms up to order 2.5. These simulations are coupled with a semi-analytic procedure to characterise the evolution of the remnant IMBH after the IMRI phase.

Results.Generally, the IMRI formation probability attains values of ∼5−50%, with larger values corresponding to larger IMBH masses. Merging IMRIs tend to map out the stellar BH mass spectrum, suggesting that IMRIs could be used to unravel the role of dynamics in shaping BH populations in star clusters harbouring an IMBH. After the IMRI phase, an initially almost maximal(almost non-rotating) IMBH tends to significantly decrease(increase) its spin. Under the assumption that IMBHs grow mostly via repeated IMRIs, we show that only sufficiently massive (Mseed > 300 M⊙) IMBH seeds can grow up toMIMBH > 103 M⊙in dense globular clusters (GCs). Assuming that these seeds form at a redshift ofz ∼ 2−6, we find that around 1−5% of them would reach typical masses of ∼500−1500 M⊙at redshiftz = 0 and would exhibit low spins, generallySIMBH < 0.2. Measuring the mass and spin of IMBHs involved in IMRIs could help to unravel their formation mechanism. We show that LISA can detect IMBHs in Milky Way GCs with a signal-to-noise ratioS/N = 10−100, or in the Large Magellanic Cloud, for which we get aS/N = 8−40. More generally, we provide the IMRI merger rate for different detectors, namely LIGO (ΓLIGO = 0.003−1.6 yr−1), LISA (ΓLISA = 0.02−60 yr−1), ET (ΓET = 1−600 yr−1), and DECIGO (ΓDECIGO = 6−3000 yr−1).

Conclusions.Our simulations explore one possible channel for IMBH growth, namely via merging with stellar BHs in dense clusters. We find that the mass and spin of the IMRI components and the merger remnant encode crucial information about the mechanisms that regulate IMBH formation. Our analysis suggests that the future synergy among GW detectors will enable us to fully unravel IMBH formation and evolution.