bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Aspern Papers and Other Tales, 1884–1888
Authors: James Henry
Published: March 2022

The Cambridge Edition of the Complete Fiction of Henry James provides, for the first time, a scholarly edition of a major writer whose work continues to be read, quoted, adapted and studied. The nine tales in this volume, published between 1884 and 1888, include 'The Aspern Papers', set in Venice and featuring a devious scholar attempting to steal the letters of an American poet from his former lover, and 'The Liar,' on the world of painters and their models. These tales exemplify James's continuing interest in the art of short fiction during a period which saw him responding to the stimulations of French naturalism and successfully reworking the international theme that had made him famous at the end of the 1870s. Extensive explanatory notes enable modern readers to understand the tales' historical, cultural and literary references.
U.S. Dairy Farm Transition and Exits, 1987–2017
Authors: Son Miyeon , Richard Jessica , Lambert Dayton M.
Published: March 2022

This analysis examines aggregate structural changes in the United States dairy industry, 1987–2017. We estimate the likelihood of operation changes in herd size, entry, or exits for each of the lower 48 states using a semiparametric Markov process model. Small- and medium-sized dairy longevity correlates with higher dairy margins and productivity improvements. An increase in consumer expenditures on dairy products is associated with smaller operation exits. Industry dynamics exhibit a persistent trend toward consolidation in most states. The exit probability for each state and all size classes has increased significantly for most states since 2002.
Adolescent Medical Decisionmaking Rights: Reconciling Medicine and Law
Authors: Coleman Doriane Lambelet , Rosoff Philip M.
Published: March 2022

Dennis Lindberg came into his aunt’s care when he was in the 4th grade because his parents struggled with drug addiction and could not provide for him. At thirteen, he was baptized in his aunt’s faith as a Jehovah’s Witness. Just days after he turned fourteen, on November 6, he was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

The prognosis was that Dennis had a 75% chance of cure with standard oncology treatment. Consistent with the requirements of his new faith, however, Dennis told his doctors, “I do not want to be treated if the requirement is that I would have to take a blood transfusion.” His aunt, whose custodial rights seem not to have included medical decisionmaking, was adamant that “[t]his is Dennis’s decision.”

The hospital social worker assigned to Dennis’s case assured his aunt that “having just turned 14, [he] could be considered mature enough to make his own decisions.” But hospital psychologists declined to evaluate Dennis’s maturity because they did “not have the tools for such an assessment.” Established hospital policy described the failure to provide a minor with necessary, life-saving care as medical neglect. Hospital ethicists advised that Dennis’s autonomy interests were outweighed by the benefits associated with treatment. And, standard oncology practice norms are that doctors should push back against minors’ lifesaving treatment refusals. Still, Dennis’s doctor agreed with his social worker and aunt, saying, “We owe respect to a 14-year-old[.]” In this view, he was supported by colleagues on staff and by hospital counsel.

A county judge got the case only at the eleventh hour, on an emergency motion filed by Dennis’s parents and Child Protective Services for a declaration of dependency and to compel the necessary transfusion. Although Dennis was degrading rapidly, his doctor testified that if a transfusion were ordered that day, Dennis still had a 70% chance of survival. The judge had no background in the applicable law and no time to research the issues; nevertheless, he denied the motion concluding, “It is time to do what Dennis has decided.” “Seven hours later, at 6 p.m., on Nov. 28, Dennis died.”1
A physics-based description and modelling of the wall-pressure fluctuations on a serrated trailing edge
Authors: Lima Pereira Lourenço Tércio , Avallone Francesco , Ragni Daniele , Scarano Fulvio
Published: March 2022

A physical description of the flow mechanisms that govern the distribution of the wall-pressure fluctuations over the surface of a serrated trailing edge is proposed. Three main mechanisms that define the variation of turbulent pressure fluctuations across the serrated edge are discussed and semi-empirical models are formulated accordingly. It is shown that the intensity of the wall-pressure fluctuations increases at the tips under the effect of an increased convective velocity as a result of sidewise momentum diffusion. Furthermore, the change of impedance across the edge causes a local reduction of the pressure fluctuations in the vicinity of the trailing edge. Finally, aerodynamic loading over the serrations due to the non-symmetric flow created at different angles of attack establishes secondary flow patterns that induce higher wall-pressure fluctuations over the serration edges. The latter effect is present only for serrations under high aerodynamic loading, while the former ones are observed under any conditions. Semi-empirical models are formulated for predicting the variation of the wall-pressure fluctuations over the serration surface based on the three physical mechanisms described. These models are calibrated and compared against experiments conducted on a symmetric airfoil model at high Reynolds numbers.
Stability of gravity-driven particle-laden flows – roles of shear-induced migration and normal stresses
Authors: Dhas Darish Jeswin , Roy Anubhab
Published: March 2022

In this paper, we study the role of shear-induced migration and particle-induced normal stresses in the formation and stability of a particle-laden, gravity-driven shallow flow. We first examine the modification of the base-state Nusselt flow due to the underlying microstructure, how shear-induced migration leads to viscosity stratification. We inspect the development of the base state via the boundary layer formation in the ‘shallow’ limit and find a reduction in entrance length with increasing bulk particle concentration and an increase in entrance length with increasing Péclet number ($Pe_p = \dot {\gamma } a^2 / D_0$, where $\dot{\gamma}$ is the average shear rate, a is the particle size and $D_0$ is the single particle diffusivity). A linear stability analysis is then performed on the fully developed state to identify two modes of instability typically found in gravity-driven falling films – the long-wave surface and the short-wave shear modes. We find that when the associated Péclet number is $Pe_p \ll 1$, increasing bulk particle volume fraction delays the onset of instability for both the surface mode and shear mode. However, with $Pe_p = {O}(1)$, we find an enhancement in both modes of instability. We also find that, beyond a critical Péclet number, for a fixed particle volume fraction, the surface mode is unstable even in the absence of fluid inertia. The enhanced destabilisation is attributed to the combined effects of base-state viscosity stratification and momentum forcing via particle concentration perturbations. We also show that the physics behind the enhancement of instability is independent of the choice of the constitutive model used to describe the dynamics of the particle phase, provided the chosen model has elements of shear-induced migration.
Numerical study on the interaction between a shock wave and porous foam and the mitigation mechanism of porous foam filling a straight tube on a blast wave
Authors: Sugiyama Yuta , Homae Tomotaka , Matsumura Tomoharu , Wakabayashi Kunihiko
Published: March 2022

This study validated a two-phase compressible flow model considering elasto-plastic porous foams. The numerical data were compared with the previous experimental results in terms of the interaction between the planar shock wave and the porous foams and the mitigation effect of a porous foam filling a straight tube on a blast wave. The porous foams in the shock tube interacted with a planar shock wave. The drag between the shocked air and the foams reduced the shock wave strength. Moreover, the flexible foam was significantly deformed by the shock wave. The validation results confirmed good agreement and consistency between the numerical and experimental data. The mitigation effect on the blast wave caused by a high explosive, where the main parameter for comparison was the location of a rigid porous foam layer inside the straight tube, was investigated. In the first case, the porous foam plate was placed on the floor, whereas in the second case, the porous foam plates were placed on the floor, sidewalls and ceiling. The total energy transferred between the porous foam and the shocked air was computed to quantitatively understand the mitigation mechanism of the porous foam on the blast wave. The heat transfer was a dominant factor for the energy transfer from the shocked air to the porous foams. The second case further mitigated the blast wave outside, and the increment of the interface area of the air/porous foam greatly affected the blast wave mitigation.
Marine outlet glacier dynamics, steady states and steady-state stability
Authors: Sergienko O. V.
Published: March 2022

Laterally confined marine outlet glaciers exhibit a diverse range of behaviours. This study investigates time-evolving and steady configurations of such glaciers. Using simplified analytic models, it determines conditions for steady states, their stability and expressions for the rate of the calving-front migration for three widely used calving rules. It also investigates the effects of ice mélange when it is present. The results show that ice flux at the terminus is an implicit function of ice thickness that depends on the glacier geometric and dynamic parameters. As a consequence, stability of steady-state configurations is determined by a complex combination of these parameters, specifics of the calving rule and the details of mélange stress conditions. The derived expressions of the rate of terminus migration suggest a non-linear feedback between the migration rate and the calving-front position. A close agreement between the obtained analytic expressions and numerical simulations suggests that these expressions can be used to gain insights into the observed behaviour of the glaciers and also to use observations to improve understanding of calving conditions.
CONSERVATION THEOREMS ON SEMI-CLASSICAL ARITHMETIC
Authors: FUJIWARA MAKOTO , KURAHASHI TAISHI
Published: March 2022

We systematically study conservation theorems on theories of semi-classical arithmetic, which lie in-between classical arithmetic
$\mathsf {PA}$
and intuitionistic arithmetic
$\mathsf {HA}$
. Using a generalized negative translation, we first provide a structured proof of the fact that
$\mathsf {PA}$
is
$\Pi _{k+2}$
-conservative over
$\mathsf {HA} + {\Sigma _k}\text {-}\mathrm {LEM}$
where
${\Sigma _k}\text {-}\mathrm {LEM}$
is the axiom scheme of the law-of-excluded-middle restricted to formulas in
$\Sigma _k$
. In addition, we show that this conservation theorem is optimal in the sense that for any semi-classical arithmetic T, if
$\mathsf {PA}$
is
$\Pi _{k+2}$
-conservative over T, then
${T}$
proves
${\Sigma _k}\text {-}\mathrm {LEM}$
. In the same manner, we also characterize conservation theorems for other well-studied classes of formulas by fragments of classical axioms or rules. This reveals the entire structure of conservation theorems with respect to the arithmetical hierarchy of classical principles.
Network analysis of tail-biting in pigs – the impact of missed biting events on centrality parameters
Authors: Wilder T. , Krieter J. , Kemper N. , Büttner K.
Published: March 2022

With social network analysis, group structures of animals can be studied. However, underlying behavioural observations face problems of missing events or deviations between observers. The current study analysed the robustness of node-level network parameters based on tail-biting observations in pigs affected by missed events. Real observations of one observer were used as a gold standard to build true networks and to compare two sets of erroneous networks to them. The first set consisted of networks from different observers of the same data basis. The second set consisted of networks with a fixed error rate (random samples of the gold standard). The stability of the ranking order was used as an indication of accuracy (range 0–1; ≥0.49 good accuracy; ≥0.81 very good accuracy). Comparing observers with true networks yielded overall bad accuracy scores. Generally, outgoing network parameters (active: biting) provided better accuracy scores than ingoing network parameters (passive: being bitten). The results of sampled networks showed decreasing accuracy scores with increasing error rates. At the same error rate, longer observation periods yielded better accuracy scores. For sampled networks, differences between outgoing and ingoing network parameters were more distinct and local parameters (direct contacts) provided better accuracy scores than global parameters (direct and indirect contacts). Overall, sampled networks with 3/10 missed events yielded good to very good accuracy. As networks with more observations handle missed events better, studies of behavioural observations always need to evaluate the required accuracy and feasible workload. The current study gives insights in the accurate estimation of behavioural observations.
ENT symptoms of mask-wearing in the coronavirus disease 2019 era
Authors: Koseoglu S , Cakıcı K , Demirtaş M , Gokdogan O , Ucuncu H
Published: March 2022

Objective

Analysis of the otorhinolaryngological problems caused by mask-wearing in the coronavirus disease 2019 era.

Methods

A survey with 26 questions was sent by e-mail to 576 individuals.

Results

The most frequently worn masks were three-layer surgical ear loop masks (n = 434, 80.1 per cent), followed by N95 or filtering facepiece code 2 masks (n = 58, 10.7 per cent), and cloth masks (n = 50, 9.2 per cent). The most bothersome symptoms caused by mask-wearing were difficulty in nasal breathing (n = 227, 41.8 per cent), nasal itching and pain (n = 93, 17.2 per cent), earache (n = 88, 16.2 per cent), difficulty in expressing oneself (n = 73, 13.5 per cent), difficulty in understanding speech (n = 56, 10.3 per cent), and ear itching (n = 5, 0.9 per cent).

Conclusion

The problems associated with mask-wearing may result in avoidance of wearing them. Thus, there is a need for new methods that will reduce the problems related to mask-wearing, to increase their use in the community.
DOES GOD EXIST?
Authors: Johnson David Kyle
Published: March 2022

In ‘Do Souls Exist?’ and ‘Does Free Will Exist?’ I laid out the reasons most philosophers doubt the existence of souls and free will. Here, in ‘Does God Exist?’, to complete the trilogy, I will lay out the reasons most philosophers doubt the existence of God: the best arguments for God fail, the most well-known argument against God succeeds, and philosophers are not keen to take things on faith.
A HAPPY IMMORALIST: THE CASE OF RICHARD RICH
Authors: Cahn Steven M.
Published: March 2022

Many philosophers, past and present, have been loath to admit the possibility of a happy immoralist. Here is a historical case featured in the play and film A Man for All Seasons.
Infringement Actions 2.0: How to Protect EU Values before the Court of Justice
Authors: Bonelli Matteo
Published: March 2022

Infringement actions and EU values – constitutional backsliding in Hungary and Poland – the role of the Court of Justice – judicial independence and Article 19 TEU – the Charter of Fundamental Rights – the toolkit to protect EU values – political and judicial mechanisms – a bottom-up approach
Minutes of History:Talk and Its Written Incarnations
Authors: Gibson David R.
Published: March 2022

Meeting minutes (and similar records) provide a cherished window into the internal workings of important bodies, but scholars usually have little option but to trust their veridicality. However, the production of a record of talk as it happens is a difficult task, especially when talk is animated and turn-taking unregimented. I compare recordings of four National Security Council meetings secretly made by Presidents Kennedy and Nixon with minutes and notes taken by NSC principals and staff members. While minute-taking practices differed in level of detail, all minute-takers engaged in processes of preservation, deletion, and transformation as they sought to distill and disambiguate. Moreover, the need to omit some talk made it possible to suppress certain kinds of content, such as evidence of internal disagreement. The loose relationship between talk and its written incarnation is consequential for lay actors, such as subordinates who rely on minutes for insight into their superiors’ wishes and mindsets; for scholars tempted to read minutes as an accurate account of what transpired; and, potentially, for other sorts of investigators looking to apportion responsibility for misbehavior and bad outcomes.
Psychosocial Safety Climate
Authors: Formazin Maren , Ertel Michael , Kersten Norbert , Nübling Matthias
Published: March 2022

Zusammenfassung. Zur Erfassung von „Psychosocial Safety Climate“ (PSC) als spezifischer Komponente des Organisationsklimas, die sich auf die Grundsätze und Praktiken zum Schutz der Gesundheit der Beschäftigten bezieht, liegt bisher im deutschen Sprachraum keine validierte Fragebogenversion vor, obwohl dies für ein Screening im Rahmen der Gefährdungsbeurteilung psychischer Belastung hilfreich wäre. In der vorliegenden Studie mit N = 1 762 Beschäftigten aus 16 Organisationen erfolgte – auf Basis qualitativer Vorarbeiten – eine entsprechende Validierung. Im Ergebnis konfirmatorischer Faktorenanalysen und linearer Regressionsanalysen unter Berücksichtigung der Mehrebenenstruktur der Daten wird deutlich, dass dem Instrument eine zweifaktorielle Struktur – Geschäftsleitung vs. Organisation als Ganzes – zugrunde liegt und sich erwartungskonforme Assoziationen zu weiteren psychosozialen Arbeitsbedingungen sowie arbeits- und gesundheitsbezogenen Zielgrößen wie Burnout und Arbeitszufriedenheit zeigen. Somit steht nun eine Version des PSC-Fragebogens auch für den deutschen Sprachraum zur Verfügung, die sowohl für die Forschung als auch in der betrieblichen Praxis eingesetzt werden kann.
Understanding the Changing Nature of Marine Cold‐Spells
Authors: Wang Yuxin , Kajtar Jules B. , Alexander Lisa V. , Pilo Gabriela S. , Holbrook Neil J.
Published: March 2022

Marine cold‐spell (MCS) metrics—such as frequency and intensity—are decreasing globally, while marine heatwave (MHW) metrics are increasing due to sea surface temperature (SST) warming. However, the concomitant changes in MHW and MCS metrics, and whether SST warming can similarly explain the decreasing MCS metrics remain unclear. Here, we provide a comparative global assessment of these changes based on satellite SST observations over 1982–2020. Across the globe, we find distinct differences in mean MHW and MCS metrics. Furthermore, decreasing trends in MCS metrics are not necessarily aligned with increasing trends in MHW metrics. While differences in intensity trends are mainly explained by SST variance trends, differences in trends of annual days are less clear. Overall, decreasing MCS days and intensities are found to be largely driven by warming SST, rather than SST variance changes. Therefore, it is expected that MCS days and intensity will continue diminishing under global warming.
Evaluation of Simulated Cloud Diurnal Variation in CMIP6 Climate Models
Authors: Chen Guoxing , Wang Wei‐Chyung , Bao Qing , Li Jiandong
Published: March 2022

Cloud diurnal variation (CDV) affects cloud radiative effects significantly as clouds reflect shortwave radiation only during the daytime but trap outgoing longwave radiation in both daytime and nighttime. Meanwhile, CDV also rectifies atmospheric variations of longer time scales via interactions with other physical and dynamic processes. These make CDV a valuable aspect for diagnosing climate model performance. Here, we evaluate the accuracy of simulated CDV in state‐of‐the‐art global climate models (GCMs) by comparing CDV in the historical simulation of 32 GCMs from 20 institutes participating the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 (CMIP6) with observations from the International Satellite and Cloud Climatology Project‐H product. While good agreement is found over the oceans, significant biases exist over land (notably deserts and plateaus), where the models simulate excessive nighttime clouds and insufficient daytime clouds and miss the observed peak of cloud fraction in the early afternoon. These biases persist throughout the year. It is illustrated that correcting the CDV biases tends to reduce the known model biases of smaller shortwave cloud radiative effect over the midlatitude Africa‐Europe‐Asia continent, South America, and vast ocean areas. Inter‐model comparisons show that the CDV biases vary significantly among models from different institutes and present similar characteristics among models from the same institutes, and suggests that the biases are more likely to be attributed to deficiencies in cloud‐related physical parameterizations rather than the model treatment of resolution, ocean, and chemistry. The improvement of CMIP6 models against their CMIP5 counterparts in simulating CDV is also discussed.
Effects of Climate and Anthropogenic Drivers on Surface Water Area in the Southeastern United States
Authors: Gaines Mollie D. , Tulbure Mirela G. , Perin Vinicius
Published: March 2022

Surface water is the most readily accessible water resource and provides an array of ecosystem services, but its availability and access are stressed by changes in climate, land cover, and population size. Understanding drivers of surface water dynamics in space and time is key to better managing our water resources. However, few studies estimating changes in surface water account for climate and anthropogenic drivers both independently and together. We used 19 years (2000–2018) of the newly developed Dynamic Surface Water Extent Landsat Science Product in concert with time series of precipitation, temperature, land cover, and population size to statistically model maximum seasonal percent surface water area as a function of climate and anthropogenic drivers in the southeastern United States. We fitted three statistical models (linear mixed effects, random forests, and mixed effects random forests) and three groups of explanatory variables (climate, anthropogenic, and their combination) to assess the accuracy of estimating percent surface water area at the watershed scale with different drivers. We found that anthropogenic drivers accounted for approximately 37% more of the variance in the percent surface water area than the climate variables. The combination of variables in the mixed effects random forest model produced the smallest mean percent errors (mean −0.17%) and the highest explained variance (R2 0.99). Our results indicate that anthropogenic drivers have greater influence when estimating percent surface water area than climate drivers, suggesting that water management practices and land‐use policies can be highly effective tools in controlling surface water variations in the Southeast.
Hypothalamic control of energy expenditure and thermogenesis
Authors: Tran Le Trung , Park Sohee , Kim Seul Ki , Lee Jin Sun , Kim Ki Woo , Kwon Obin
Published: March 2022

Energy expenditure and energy intake need to be balanced to maintain proper energy homeostasis. Energy homeostasis is tightly regulated by the central nervous system, and the hypothalamus is the primary center for the regulation of energy balance. The hypothalamus exerts its effect through both humoral and neuronal mechanisms, and each hypothalamic area has a distinct role in the regulation of energy expenditure. Recent studies have advanced the understanding of the molecular regulation of energy expenditure and thermogenesis in the hypothalamus with targeted manipulation techniques of the mouse genome and neuronal function. In this review, we elucidate recent progress in understanding the mechanism of how the hypothalamus affects basal metabolism, modulates physical activity, and adapts to environmental temperature and food intake changes.
Microalgae-based oral microcarriers for gut microbiota homeostasis and intestinal protection in cancer radiotherapy
Authors: Zhang Dongxiao , Zhong Danni , Ouyang Jiang , He Jian , Qi Yuchen , Chen Wei , Zhang Xingcai , Tao Wei , Zhou Min
Published: March 2022

Protecting the whole small intestine from radiation-induced intestinal injury during the radiotherapy of abdominal or pelvic solid tumors remains an unmet clinical need. Amifostine is a promising selective radioprotector for normal tissues. However, its oral application in intestinal radioprotection remains challenging. Herein, we use microalgaSpirulina platensisas a microcarrier of Amifostine to construct an oral delivery system. The system shows comprehensive drug accumulation and effective radioprotection in the whole small intestine that is significantly superior to free drug and its enteric capsule, preventing the radiation-induced intestine injury and prolonging the survival without influencing the tumor regression. It also shows benefits on the gut microbiota homeostasis and long-term safety. Based on a readily available natural microcarrier, this work presents a convenient oral delivery system to achieve effective radioprotection for the whole small intestine, providing a competitive strategy with great clinical translation potential.
Scientific multi-agent reinforcement learning for wall-models of turbulent flows
Authors: Bae H. Jane , Koumoutsakos Petros
Published: March 2022

The predictive capabilities of turbulent flow simulations, critical for aerodynamic design and weather prediction, hinge on the choice of turbulence models. The abundance of data from experiments and simulations and the advent of machine learning have provided a boost to turbulence modeling efforts. However, simulations of turbulent flows remain hindered by the inability of heuristics and supervised learning to model the near-wall dynamics. We address this challenge by introducing scientific multi-agent reinforcement learning (SciMARL) for the discovery of wall models for large-eddy simulations (LES). In SciMARL, discretization points act also as cooperating agents that learn to supply the LES closure model. The agents self-learn using limited data and generalize to extreme Reynolds numbers and previously unseen geometries. The present simulations reduce by several orders of magnitude the computational cost over fully-resolved simulations while reproducing key flow quantities. We believe that SciMARL creates unprecedented capabilities for the simulation of turbulent flows.
Dual-gated single-molecule field-effect transistors beyond Moore’s law
Authors: Meng Linan , Xin Na , Hu Chen , Sabea Hassan Al , Zhang Miao , Jiang Hongyu , Ji Yiru , Jia Chuancheng , Yan Zhuang , Zhang Qinghua , Gu Lin , He Xiaoyan , Selvanathan Pramila , Norel Lucie , Rigaut Stéphane , Guo Hong , Meng Sheng , Guo Xuefeng
Published: March 2022

As conventional silicon-based transistors are fast approaching the physical limit, it is essential to seek alternative candidates, which should be compatible with or even replace microelectronics in the future. Here, we report a robust solid-state single-molecule field-effect transistor architecture using graphene source/drain electrodes and a metal back-gate electrode. The transistor is constructed by a single dinuclear ruthenium-diarylethene (Ru-DAE) complex, acting as the conducting channel, connecting covalently with nanogapped graphene electrodes, providing field-effect behaviors with a maximum on/off ratio exceeding three orders of magnitude. Use of ultrathin high-k metal oxides as the dielectric layers is key in successfully achieving such a high performance. Additionally, Ru-DAE preserves its intrinsic photoisomerisation property, which enables a reversible photoswitching function. Both experimental and theoretical results demonstrate these distinct dual-gated behaviors consistently at the single-molecule level, which helps to develop the different technology for creation of practical ultraminiaturised functional electrical circuits beyond Moore’s law.
Agent-based modelling of reactive vaccination of workplaces and schools against COVID-19
Authors: Faucher Benjamin , Assab Rania , Roux Jonathan , Levy-Bruhl Daniel , Tran Kiem Cécile , Cauchemez Simon , Zanetti Laura , Colizza Vittoria , Boëlle Pierre-Yves , Poletto Chiara
Published: March 2022

With vaccination against COVID-19 stalled in some countries, increasing vaccine accessibility and distribution could help keep transmission under control. Here, we study the impact of reactive vaccination targeting schools and workplaces where cases are detected, with an agent-based model accounting for COVID-19 natural history, vaccine characteristics, demographics, behavioural changes and social distancing. In most scenarios, reactive vaccination leads to a higher reduction in cases compared with non-reactive strategies using the same number of doses. The reactive strategy could however be less effective than a moderate/high pace mass vaccination program if initial vaccination coverage is high or disease incidence is low, because few people would be vaccinated around each case. In case of flare-ups, reactive vaccination could better mitigate spread if it is implemented quickly, is supported by enhanced test-trace-isolate and triggers an increased vaccine uptake. These results provide key information to plan an adaptive vaccination rollout.
The Oligodendrocyte Transcription Factor 2 OLIG2 regulates transcriptional repression during myelinogenesis in rodents
Authors: Zhang Kunkun , Chen Shaoxuan , Yang Qihua , Guo Shuanghui , Chen Qiang , Liu Zhixiong , Li Li , Jiang Mengyun , Li Hongda , Hu Jin , Pan Xu , Deng Wenbo , Xiao Naian , Wang Bo , Wang Zhan-xiang , Zhang Liang , Mo Wei
Published: March 2022

OLIG2 is a transcription factor that activates the expression of myelin-associated genes in the oligodendrocyte-lineage cells. However, the mechanisms of myelin gene inactivation are unclear. Here, we uncover a non-canonical function of OLIG2 in transcriptional repression to modulate myelinogenesis by functionally interacting with tri-methyltransferase SETDB1. Immunoprecipitation and chromatin-immunoprecipitation assays show that OLIG2 recruits SETDB1 for H3K9me3 modification on the Sox11 gene, which leads to the inhibition of Sox11 expression during the differentiation of oligodendrocytes progenitor cells (OPCs) into immature oligodendrocytes (iOLs). Tissue-specific depletion of Setdb1 in mice results in the hypomyelination during development and remyelination defects in the injured rodents. Knockdown of Sox11 by siRNA in rat primary OPCs or depletion of Sox11 in the oligodendrocyte lineage in mice could rescue the hypomyelination phenotype caused by the loss of OLIG2. In summary, our work demonstrates that the OLIG2-SETDB1 complex can mediate transcriptional repression in OPCs, affecting myelination.
Selective photocatalytic CO2 reduction in aerobic environment by microporous Pd-porphyrin-based polymers coated hollow TiO2
Authors: Ma Yajuan , Yi Xiaoxuan , Wang Shaolei , Li Tao , Tan Bien , Chen Chuncheng , Majima Tetsuro , Waclawik Eric R. , Zhu Huaiyong , Wang Jingyu
Published: March 2022

Direct photocatalytic CO2reduction from primary sources, such as flue gas and air, into fuels, is highly desired, but the thermodynamically favored O2reduction almost completely impedes this process. Herein, we report on the efficacy of a composite photocatalyst prepared by hyper-crosslinking porphyrin-based polymers on hollow TiO2surface and subsequent coordinating with Pd(II). Such composite exhibits high resistance against O2inhibition, leading to 12% conversion yield of CO2from air after 2-h UV-visible light irradiation. In contrast, the CO2reduction over Pd/TiO2without the polymer is severely inhibited by the presence of O2( ≥ 0.2 %). This study presents a feasible strategy, building Pd(II) sites into CO2-adsorptive polymers on hollow TiO2surface, for realizing CO2reduction with H2O in an aerobic environment by the high CO2/O2adsorption selectivity of polymers and efficient charge separation for CO2reduction and H2O oxidation on Pd(II) sites and hollow TiO2, respectively.
The primate gut mycobiome-bacteriome interface is impacted by environmental and subsistence factors
Authors: Sharma Ashok K. , Davison Sam , Pafco Barbora , Clayton Jonathan B. , Rothman Jessica M. , McLennan Matthew R. , Cibot Marie , Fuh Terence , Vodicka Roman , Robinson Carolyn Jost , Petrzelkova Klara , Gomez Andres
Published: March 2022

The gut microbiome of primates is known to be influenced by both host genetic background and subsistence strategy. However, these inferences have been made mainly based on adaptations in bacterial composition - the bacteriome and have commonly overlooked the fungal fraction - the mycobiome. To further understand the factors that shape the gut mycobiome of primates and mycobiome-bacteriome interactions, we sequenced 16 S rRNA and ITS2 markers in fecal samples of four different nonhuman primate species and three human groups under different subsistence patterns (n = 149). The results show that gut mycobiome composition in primates is still largely unknown but highly plastic and weakly structured by primate phylogeny, compared with the bacteriome. We find significant gut mycobiome overlap between captive apes and human populations living under industrialized subsistence contexts; this is in contrast with contemporary hunter-gatherers and agriculturalists, who share more mycobiome traits with diverse wild-ranging nonhuman primates. In addition, mycobiome-bacteriome interactions were specific to each population, revealing that individual, lifestyle and intrinsic ecological factors affect structural correspondence, number, and kind of interactions between gut bacteria and fungi in primates. Our findings indicate a dominant effect of ecological niche, environmental factors, and diet over the phylogenetic background of the host, in shaping gut mycobiome composition and mycobiome-bacteriome interactions in primates.
Does temporal irregularity drive prediction failure in schizophrenia? temporal modelling of ERPs
Authors: Karanikolaou Maria , Limanowski Jakub , Northoff Georg
Published: March 2022

Schizophrenia subjects often suffer from a failure to properly predict incoming inputs; most notably, some patients exhibit impaired prediction of the sensory consequences of their own actions. The mechanisms underlying this deficit remain unclear, though. One possible mechanism could consist in aberrant predictive processing, as schizophrenic patients show relatively less attenuated neuronal activity to self-produced tones, than healthy controls. Here, we tested the hypothesis that this aberrant predictive mechanism would manifest itself in the temporal irregularity of neuronal signals. For that purpose, we here introduce an event-related potential (ERP) study model analysis that consists of an EEG real-time model equation, eeg(t) and a frequency Laplace transformed Transfer Function (TF) equation, eeg(s). Combining circuit analysis with control and cable theory, we estimate the temporal model representations of auditory ERPs to reveal neural mechanisms that make predictions about self-generated sensations. We use data from 49 schizophrenic patients (SZ) and 32 healthy control (HC) subjects in an auditory ‘prediction’ paradigm; i.e., who either pressed a button to deliver a sound tone (epoch a), or just heard the tone without button press (epoch b). Our results show significantly higher degrees of temporal irregularity or imprecision between different trials of the ERP from the Cz electrode (N100, P200) in SZ compared to HC (Levene’s test, p < 0.0001) as indexed by altered latency, lower similarity/correlation of single trial time courses (using dynamic time warping), and longer settling times to reach steady state in the intertrial interval. Using machine learning, SZ vs HC could be highly accurately classified (92%) based on the temporal parameters of their ERPs’ TF models, using as features the poles of the TF rational functions. Together, our findings show temporal irregularity or imprecision between single trials to be abnormally increased in SZ. This may indicate a general impairment of SZ, related to precisely predicting the sensory consequences of one’s actions.
Baseline mapping of Oropouche virology, epidemiology, therapeutics, and vaccine research and development
Authors: Files Megan A. , Hansen Clairissa A. , Herrera Vanessa C. , Schindewolf Craig , Barrett Alan D. T. , Beasley David W. C. , Bourne Nigel , Milligan Gregg N.
Published: March 2022

Oropouche virus (OROV) is an arthropod-borne orthobunyavirus found in South America and causes Oropouche fever, a febrile infection similar to dengue. It is the second most prevalent arthropod-borne viral disease in South America after dengue. Over 500,000 cases have been diagnosed since the virus was first discovered in 1955; however, this is likely a significant underestimate given the limited availability of diagnostics. No fatalities have been reported to date, however, up to 60% of cases have a recurrent phase of disease within one month of recovery from the primary disease course. The main arthropod vector is the biting midgeCulicoides paraensis, which has a geographic range as far north as the United States and demonstrates the potential for OROV to geographically expand. The transmission cycle is incompletely understood and vertebrate hosts include both non-human primates and birds further supporting the potential ability of the virus to spread. A number of candidate antivirals have been evaluated against OROV in vitro but none showed antiviral activity. Surprisingly, there is only one report in the literature on candidate vaccines. We suggest that OROV is an undervalued pathogen much like chikungunya, Schmallenberg, and Zika viruses were before they emerged. Overall, OROV is an important emerging disease that has been under-investigated and has the potential to cause large epidemics in the future. Further research, in particular candidate vaccines, is needed for this important pathogen.
Structure and mechanism of a methyltransferase ribozyme
Authors: Deng Jie , Wilson Timothy J. , Wang Jia , Peng Xuemei , Li Mengxiao , Lin Xiaowei , Liao Wenjian , Lilley David M. J. , Huang Lin
Published: March 2022

Known ribozymes in contemporary biology perform a limited range of chemical catalysis, but in vitro selection has generated species that catalyze a broader range of chemistry; yet, there have been few structural and mechanistic studies of selected ribozymes. A ribozyme has recently been selected that can catalyze a site-specific methyl transfer reaction. We have solved the crystal structure of this ribozyme at a resolution of 2.3 Å, showing how the RNA folds to generate a very specific binding site for the methyl donor substrate. The structure immediately suggests a catalytic mechanism involving a combination of proximity and orientation and nucleobase-mediated general acid catalysis. The mechanism is supported by the pH dependence of the rate of catalysis. A selected methyltransferase ribozyme can thus use a relatively sophisticated catalytic mechanism, broadening the range of known RNA-catalyzed chemistry.
Estimating the generation interval from the incidence rate, the optimal quarantine duration and the efficiency of fast switching periodic protocols for COVID-19
Authors: Lippiello Eugenio , Petrillo Giuseppe , de Arcangelis Lucilla
Published: March 2022

The transmissibility of an infectious disease is usually quantified in terms of the reproduction number $$R_t$$

R
t

representing, at a given time, the average number of secondary cases caused by an infected individual. Recent studies have enlightened the central role played by w(z), the distribution of generation times z, namely the time between successive infections in a transmission chain. In standard approaches this quantity is usually substituted by the distribution of serial intervals, which is obtained by contact tracing after measuring the time between onset of symptoms in successive cases. Unfortunately, this substitution can cause important biases in the estimate of $$R_t$$

R
t

. Here we present a novel method which allows us to simultaneously obtain the optimal functional form of w(z) together with the daily evolution of $$R_t$$

R
t

, over the course of an epidemic. The method uses, as unique information, the daily series of incidence rate and thus overcomes biases present in standard approaches. We apply our method to one year of data from COVID-19 officially reported cases in the 21 Italian regions, since the first confirmed case on February 2020. We find that w(z) has mean value $${\overline{z}} \simeq 6$$

z
¯

≃
6

days with a standard deviation $$\sigma \simeq 1$$

σ
≃
1

day, for all Italian regions, and these values are stable even if one considers only the first 10 days of data recording. This indicates that an estimate of the most relevant transmission parameters can be already available in the early stage of a pandemic. We use this information to obtain the optimal quarantine duration and to demonstrate that, in the case of COVID-19, post-lockdown mitigation policies, such as fast periodic switching and/or alternating quarantine, can be very efficient.
Prevalence, intensity and endemicity of intestinal schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminthiasis and its associated factors among school-aged children in Southern Ethiopia
Authors: Zerdo Zerihun , Bastiaens Hilde , Anthierens Sibyl , Massebo Fekadu , Masne Matewos , Biresaw Gelila , Shewangizaw Misgun , Tunje Abayneh , Chisha Yilma , Yohannes Tsegaye , Van Geertruyden Jean-Pierre
Published: March 2022

Preventive chemotherapy (PC), the main strategy recommended by the World Health Organization to eliminate soil-transmitted helminthiasis (STH) and schistosomiasis (SCH), should be strengthened through identification of the remaining SCH transmission foci and evaluating its impact to get a lesson. This study was aimed to assess the prevalence of STH/SCH infections, the intensity of infections, and factors associated with STH infection among school-aged children (SAC) in Uba Debretsehay and Dara Mallo districts (previously not known to be endemic for SCH) in southern Ethiopia, October to December 2019. Structured interview questionnaire was used to collect household data, anthropometric measurements were taken and stool samples collected from 2079 children were diagnosed using the Kato-Katz technique. Generalize mixed-effects logistic regression models were used to assess the association of STH infections with potential predictors. A P-value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. The prevalence ofSchistosoma mansoniin the Dara Mallo district was 34.3% (95%CI 30.9–37.9%). Light, moderate, and heavyS. mansoniinfections were 15.2%, 10.9%, and 8.2% respectively. The overall prevalence of any STH infection was 33.2% with a 95% confidence interval (CI) of 31.1–35.3%. The intensity of infections was light (20.9%, 11.3% & 5.3%), moderate (1.1%, 0.1% & 0.4%) and heavy (0.3%, 0% & 0%) for hookworm, whipworm and roundworms respectively. The overall moderate-to-heavy intensity of infection among the total diagnosed children was 2% (41/2079). STH infection was higher among male SAC with Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) of 1.7 (95%CI 1.4–2.1); occupation of the household head other than farmer or housewife (AOR = 0.5; 95%CI 0.3–0.8), middle [AOR = 1.1; 95%CI 1.0–1.3] or high [AOR = 0.7; 95%CI 0.5–0.9] socioeconomic status. Dara Mallo district was moderate endemic forS. mansoni; and it needs sub-district level mapping and initiating a deworming campaign. Both districts remained moderate endemic for STH. Evidence-based strategies supplementing existing interventions with the main focus of the identified factors is important to realize the set targets.
Global gene expression responses of Atlantic salmon skin to Moritella viscosa
Authors: Eslamloo Khalil , Kumar Surendra , Xue Xi , Parrish Kathleen S. , Purcell Sara L. , Fast Mark D. , Rise Matthew L.
Published: March 2022

Moritella viscosa is a Gram-negative pathogen that causes large, chronic ulcers, known as winter-ulcer disease, in the skin of several fish species including Atlantic salmon. We used a bath challenge approach to profile the transcriptome responses of M. viscosa-infected Atlantic salmon skin at the lesion (Mv-At) and away from the lesion (Mv-Aw) sites. M. viscosa infection was confirmed through RNA-based qPCR assays. RNA-Seq identified 5212 and 2911 transcripts differentially expressed in the Mv-At compared to no-infection control and Mv-Aw groups, respectively. Also, there were 563 differentially expressed transcripts when comparing the Mv-Aw to control samples. Our results suggest that M. viscosa caused massive and strong, but largely infection site-focused, transcriptome dysregulations in Atlantic salmon skin, and its effects beyond the skin lesion site were comparably subtle. The M. viscosa-induced transcripts of Atlantic salmon were mainly involved in innate and adaptive immune response-related pathways, whereas the suppressed transcripts by this pathogen were largely connected to developmental and cellular processes. As validated by qPCR, M. viscosa dysregulated transcripts encoding receptors, signal transducers, transcription factors and immune effectors playing roles in TLR- and IFN-dependent pathways as well as immunoregulation, antigen presentation and T-cell development. This study broadened the current understanding of molecular pathways underlying M. viscosa-triggered responses of Atlantic salmon, and identified biomarkers that may assist to diagnose and combat this pathogen.
Pigeon egg white protein-based transparent durable hydrogel via monodisperse ionic surfactant-mediated protein condensation
Authors: Zhou Xinlian , Chen Zaozao , Nojima Tatsuya
Published: March 2022

The thermal gelation property of proteins is useful in creating protein-based materials. The gelation of protein solution often proceeds by the random aggregation of denatured proteins, and the protein-based gels are typically brittle or opaque, or both. Improvement in the mechanical and optical properties of protein-based materials are required for them to be practical and functional. This study investigated pigeon egg white, which is semitransparent in its thermally gelled state, as a protein source for creating hydrogel materials. The protein thermal gelation process was initiated from the orderly condensed state of proteins complexed with monodisperse ionic surfactants to suppress random aggregation. The resultant gel showed transparency in the visible light region and was not destroyed at 99% compression under 17.8 MPa compressive stress, 350-fold higher than the compressive fracture strength of typical boiled pigeon egg white. These results showed that durable transparent hydrogels could be fabricated by the rational combination of natural proteins and surfactants.