bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Analyse glaukombedingter Makulaveränderungen mittels optischer Kohärenztomografie
Authors: Unterlauft Jan Darius , Theilig Theresa , Hasan Somar , Böhm Michael R. , Rauscher Franziska
Published: February 2019

Hintergrund Bei den Glaukomen kommt es zu einem voranschreitenden Untergang von retinalen Ganglienzellen, was mittels optischer Kohärenztomografie (OCT) in der Region um den Sehnervenkopf und in der Makula ausgemessen werden kann. Ziel war es, den Einfluss eines Glaukoms auf die Dicke aller einzelnen mittels Spectral-Domain-OCT (SD-OCT) gemessenen Netzhautschichten zu untersuchen.

Material und Methoden SD-OCT-Messungen mit automatischer Segmentierung der Netzhautschichten wurden an beiden Augen von Glaukompatienten mit einem einseitig vorliegenden absoluten Skotom in den zentralen 10° des Gesichtsfelds und an jeweils einem Auge einer gesunden alterskorrelierten Vergleichsgruppe durchgeführt. Die bei den Glaukomaugen und den gesunden Augen gemessenen mittleren Dicken der einzelnen makulären Netzhautschichten in einem zentralen 24 × 24° großen Feld wurden miteinander verglichen.

Ergebnisse SD-OCT-Messungen wurden an 24 Augen von 12 Glaukompatienten (10 Frauen, 2 Männer) mit einem mittleren Alter von 72,3 ± 8,1 Jahren und 12 Augen von 12 gesunden Personen (9 Frauen, 3 Männer) mit einem mittleren Alter von 66,0 ± 7,6 Jahren durchgeführt. Es zeigte sich ein statistisch signifikanter Unterschied zwischen den gesunden Augen und den an einem Glaukom erkrankten Augen für die mittlere Dicke der Nervenfaserschicht, der Ganglienzellschicht, der inneren plexiformen Schicht und für die mittlere Dicke der gesamten zentralen Netzhaut mit durchschnittlich geringeren Dickenwerten bei den Glaukomaugen.

Diskussion Mittels SD-OCT kann die Netzhaut der Makula automatisch segmentiert und die einzelnen Schichten ausgemessen werden. Beim Vorliegen eines Glaukoms zeigen sich im Vergleich zum Gesunden deutlich geringere mittlere Dickenwerte der inneren Netzhautschichten, in denen die Ganglienzellen bzw. deren Axone und Dendriten liegen. Bei den äußeren Netzhautschichten fand sich kein entsprechender Unterschied in den Ergebnissen der SD-OCT-Untersuchungen.
Clinical Improvement and Cost-effectiveness of CT-guided Radiofrequency Sacroplasty (RFS) and Cement Sacroplasty (CSP) – a Prospective Randomised Comparison of Methods
Authors: Andresen Reimer , Radmer Sebastian , Andresen Julian Ramin , Wollny Mathias , Nissen Urs , Schober Hans-Christof
Published: February 2019

Introduction The objective of this study was a comparative analysis of cement augmentation by means of RFS and CSP with regard to outcome and cost-effectiveness.

Patients and Methods CT-guided cement augmentation was performed on 100 patients with a total of 168 non-dislocated insufficiency fractures, 50 patients being treated with RFS and 50 patients with CSP. Leakages were detected by CT. Pain intensity was determined on a VAS before and after the intervention. The patientsʼ self-sufficiency was assessed using the Barthel index. Patients were asked about any complications and their level of satisfaction. Costs incurred for carrying out the procedure were compared with the respective reimbursements received.

Results Both procedures were technically fully feasible. No leakages were found in the RFS group, as opposed to 8.1% asymptomatic leakages in the CSP group. The mean value for pain before intervention was 8.8 in the RFS group and 8.7 in the CSP group. On the second postoperative day, there was a significant pain reduction with a value of 2.4 for both groups, which remained more or less constant over the follow-up period. The Barthel index increased significantly from an average of 30 before the intervention to 80 on the fourth postoperative day and 70 after 24 months. No differences were found between the two procedures with regard to pain, improvement in functional status and satisfaction. Taking into account the state-wide base rate used for calculating reimbursement, 3,834.75 € remained for RFS and 5,084.32 € for CSP.

Conclusion RFS and CSP are minimally invasive procedures that achieve equally good and sustained pain reduction, leading to markedly improved self-sufficiency of the patients. With regard to possible cement leakages, RFS is the safer method. A profit can be generated with both techniques.
Metabolism of Scoparone in Experimental Animals and Humans
Authors: Juvonen Risto , Novák Filip , Emmanouilidou Eleni , Auriola Seppo , Timonen Juri , Heikkinen Aki , Küblbeck Jenni , Finel Moshe , Raunio Hannu
Published: February 2019

Scoparone, a major constituent of the Chinese herbal medicine Yin Chen Hao, expresses beneficial effects in experimental models of various diseases. The intrinsic doses and effects of scoparone are dependent on its metabolism, both in humans and animals. We evaluated in detail the metabolism of scoparone in human, mouse, rat, pig, dog, and rabbit liver microsomes in vitro and in humans in vivo. Oxidation of scoparone to isoscopoletin via 6-O-demethylation was the major metabolic pathway in liver microsomes from humans, mouse, rat, pig and dog, whereas 7-O-demethylation to scopoletin was the main reaction in rabbit. The scoparone oxidation rates in liver microsomes were 0.8 – 1.2 µmol/(min*g protein) in mouse, pig, and rabbit, 0.2 – 0.4 µmol/(min*g protein) in man and dog, and less than 0.1 µmol/(min*g) in rat. In liver microsomes of all species, isoscopoletin was oxidized to 3-[4-methoxy-ρ-(3, 6)-benzoquinone]-2-propenoate and esculetin, which was formed also in the oxidation of scopoletin. Human CYP2A13 exhibited the highest rate of isoscopoletin and scopoletin oxidation, followed by CYP1A1 and CYP1A2. Glucuronidation of isoscopoletin and scopoletin was catalyzed by the human UGT1A1, UGT1A6, UGT1A7, UGT1A8, UGT1A9, UGT1A10, and UGT2B17. Dog was most similar to man in scoparone metabolism. Isoscopoletin glucuronide and sulfate conjugates were the major scoparone in vivo metabolites in humans, and they were completely excreted within 24 h in urine. Scoparone and its metabolites did not activate key nuclear receptors regulating CYP and UGT enzymes. These results outline comprehensively the metabolic pathways of scoparone in man and key preclinical animal species.
Adenosine-Assisted Management of Intracranial Aneurysm
Authors: Thakore Bhoomika , Goraksha Shwetal , Monteiro Joseph N.
Published: February 2019

Cerebral aneurysms can be complex and variable in size, position, and morphology, resulting in difficult surgical exposure and secure clip placement. They have a high mortality rate when ruptured, and though endovascular techniques have emerged to tackle this, surgical clip ligation remains the preferred modality for some aneurysms. Various techniques that help the surgeon dissect the aneurysmal dome and apply the clip are temporary clip ligation of proximal vessels, deep hypothermic circulatory arrest, and balloon suction decompression. All of them require significant logistics and result in increased morbidity and mortality. Adenosine is a suitable alternative for inducing a temporary flow arrest, causing a short period of controlled hypotension. Its rapid onset and offset property along with low incidence of adverse events makes it an ideal agent in this regard. We present here a review on its use, contraindications, safety profile, and future applications.
Survivorship and Functional Outcomes of Cementless versus Cemented Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Meta-Analysis
Authors: Newman Jared M. , Sodhi Nipun , Dekis Joanne C. , Khlopas Anton , Piuzzi Nicolas S. , Sultan Assem A. , Levin Jay M. , Mont Michael A.
Published: February 2019

The purpose of this meta-analysis was to assess the evidence supporting the use of cementless versus cemented total knee arthroplasties (TKAs). Specifically, we evaluated (1) all-cause survivorship, (2) aseptic survivorship, and (3) functional outcomes (Knee Society Scores [KSS], Oxford Knee Scores, Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index [WOMAC] scores, and ranges of motion [ROMs]). A literature search was performed for studies that evaluated cementless versus cemented TKAs published between 2000 and 2017. Selected studies included three randomized controlled trials, three retrospective observational studies, and one prospective observational study that met the following criteria: (1) primary TKAs, (2) compared cementless and cemented TKAs, (3) implant survivorship that described the causes of failure, and (4) at least one functional outcome. To compare the two cohorts, pooled odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were used to calculate tibial and femoral implant survivorship, and pooled mean differences (MD) and 95% CI calculated the functional scores and ROMs. Based on pooled data from the few number of studies, cementless TKAs had a better all-cause survivorship (OR = 0.37; 95% CI, 0.15–0.92) and tended to have a better aseptic survivorship (OR = 0.44; 95% CI, 0.17–1.14). However, this is likely due to the 83.3% weight of the single cementless study potentially influencing the analysis. There were no differences in terms of KSS knee (MD = 1.03; 95% CI, −1.13–3.20) or function scores (MD = 5.36; 95% CI, –3.75–14.51), Oxford knee scores (MD = 0.36; 95% CI, –3.84–4.56), or WOMAC scores (MD = 0.62; 95% CI, –0.87–2.11). Moreover, there was no difference in ROMs (MD = 1.47; 95% CI, –0.11–3.05). Cementless TKA had a better all-cause survivorship when compared with cemented fixation, and similar functional outcomes were demonstrated. However, these findings are based on only a few number of studies (n = 7). Therefore, additional prospective, randomized control trials need to be performed to best compare cementless versus cemented outcomes.
Therapeutic Targeting of Neutrophil Extracellular Traps in Atherogenic Inflammation
Authors: Van Avondt Kristof , Maegdefessel Lars , Soehnlein Oliver
Published: February 2019

Neutrophils and neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) have a robust relationship with atherothrombotic disease risk, which led to the idea that interfering with the release of NETs therapeutically would ameliorate atherosclerosis. In human studies, acute coronary events and the pro-thrombotic state cause markedly elevated levels of circulating deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and chromatin, suggesting that DNase I might produce cardiovascular benefit. DNase I reproduced the phenotype of peptidylarginine deiminase 4 (PAD4) deficiency and showed a significant benefit for atherothrombotic disease in experimental mouse models. However, the mechanisms of benefit remain unclear. Insights into the mechanisms underlying NET release and atherogenic inflammation have come from transgenic mouse studies. In particular, the importance of neutrophil NET formation in promoting atherothrombotic disease has been shown and linked to profound pro-inflammatory and pro-thrombotic effects, complement activation and endothelial dysfunction. Recent studies have shown that myeloid deficiency of PAD4 leads to diminished NET formation, which in turn protects against atherosclerosis burden, propagation of its thrombotic complications and notably macrophage inflammation in plaques. In addition, oxidative stress and neutrophil cholesterol accumulation have emerged as important factors driving NET release, likely involving mitochondrial reactive oxidants and neutrophil inflammasome activation. Further elucidation of the mechanisms linking hyperlipidaemia to the release of NETs may lead to the development of new therapeutics specifically targeting atherogenic inflammation, with likely benefit for cardiovascular diseases.
Ferroelectrically mediated optical absorption in short-period (LaMnO3)2/BaTiO3/(SrMnO3)2 superlattices: A viewpoint from first-principles
Authors: Chen Li-Yong , Wang Su-Fang , Zhang Jian-Min
Published: February 2019

We study the magnetoelectric property and optical absorption for the short-period [001]-oriented (LaMnO3)2/BaTiO3/(SrMnO3)2 superlattices using the first-principle method. By performing the spin-orbit coupling calculations with more effective Perdew-Burke-Ernzerhof functional modified for solid potentials, we demonstrate the electrically controlled spin-flip at the interface. Furthermore, the infrared absorption of the superlattices is significantly improved, depending on the electric polarization of the BaTiO3 layer. The results provide a potential design for pursuing the ferroelectric field effect control of magnetism and optical response.
Frontiers of magnetic force microscopy
Authors: Kazakova O. , Puttock R. , Barton C. , Corte-León H. , Jaafar M. , Neu V. , Asenjo A.
Published: February 2019

Since it was first demonstrated in 1987, magnetic force microscopy (MFM) has become a truly widespread and commonly used characterization technique that has been applied to a variety of research and industrial applications. Some of the main advantages of the method includes its high spatial resolution (typically ∼50 nm), ability to work in variable temperature and applied magnetic fields, versatility, and simplicity in operation, all without almost any need for sample preparation. However, for most commercial systems, the technique has historically provided only qualitative information, and the number of available modes was typically limited, thus not reflecting the experimental demands. Additionally, the range of samples under study was largely restricted to “classic” ferromagnetic samples (typically, thin films or patterned nanostructures). Throughout this Perspective article, the recent progress and development of MFM is described, followed by a summary of the current state-of-the-art techniques and objects for study. Finally, the future of this fascinating field is discussed in the context of emerging instrumental and material developments. Aspects including quantitative MFM, the accurate interpretation of the MFM images, new instrumentation, probe-engineering alternatives, and applications of MFM to new (often interdisciplinary) areas of the materials science, physics, and biology will be discussed. We first describe the physical principles of MFM, specifically paying attention to common artifacts frequently occurring in MFM measurements; then, we present a comprehensive review of the recent developments in the MFM modes, instrumentation, and the main application areas; finally, the importance of the technique is speculated upon for emerging or anticipated to emerge fields including skyrmions, 2D-materials, and topological insulators.
Investigations on the hohlraum radiation in the first shaped laser pulse implosion experiment at the SGIII laser facility
Authors: Li Chuanying , Wu Changshu , Huang Tianxuan , Dai Zhensheng , Li Xin , Ge Fengjun , Jiang Wei , Yang Pin , Zheng Wudi , Zou Shiyang
Published: February 2019

The first 0.1 MJ scale shaped pulse implosion experiment was performed at the Shenguang-III laser facility in 2016. The hohlraum radiation of three representative shots with troughs of 1.0 ns, 1.5 ns, and 2.5 ns is analysed using the two-dimensional code LARED with the multi-group radiation transfer model. It is found that the simulated multi-angle radiation temperatures are generally in good agreement with the measurements within ∼3%. However, our simulations underestimate the peak radiation temperature at 64° by ∼6% for the shot with the 2.5 ns trough, due to the much smaller laser entrance hole in our calculations. In addition, we simulate the time-integrated M-band (2–4 keV) x-ray image at the view angle of 20° for the shot with the 1.0 ns trough. The simulated laser spot positions are consistent with the measurement. But the relative brightness between the inner beams and the outer beams is larger than the experimental result, which may be caused by the overestimation of the plasma density at the edge of the bubbles in our simulation. With the bubble contribution approximately removed, the simulated relative brightness between the inner beams and the outer beams approaches the experimental result.
Investigation of glass forming ability in the Zr-rich part of the Zr-Fe-Al ternary system
Authors: Tabeshian Ali , Mao Huahai , Arnberg Lars , Aune Ragnhild E.
Published: February 2019

In the present study, the CALPHAD (CALculation of PHAse Diagrams) methodology and thermodynamic data were used to calculate the equilibrium phase diagram of the Zr-Fe-Al system. Furthermore, the information for the enthalpy of mixing (ΔHmix) and the atomic radius of the constituent elements, in terms of the generalized topological instability factor (λ), were combined with the ternary phase diagram to predict compositions with high Glass Forming Ability (GFA). Compositions with a Zr content ranging from 67 to 73 at. % were proposed and later produced by rapid cooling using suction casting. The obtained results revealed that 12 out of the initial 14 compositions were successfully made into glassy structures with a critical diameter ranging from 0.5 to 2.5 mm. The achieved results show good agreement between the predictions made and the experimental results, and the corresponding λ value obtained for the highest GFA was used to identify the optimum area of interest for producing Zr-Fe-Al metallic glasses. It is believed that the proposed computational approach can be used as a guideline to predict glass forming areas/compositions in even other systems.
Atmospheric operation of original electron emission device and generation of reactive species
Authors: Iwamatsu Tadashi , Tsutsui Ai , Yamaji Hiroyuki
Published: February 2019

We developed herein an original electron emission device that can stably operate in the atmosphere. The important features of the device are that the energy of electrons is as extremely small as several eV, the emission current in the atmosphere is as large as several μA/cm2, and the durability is of several hundred hours. These characteristics are obtained by an original device structure based on a 1 μm-thick Ag nanoparticle/polymer composite layer. The electron emission device does not require a strong electric field in the space between the emitter and the collector as required for discharge or plasma. The physical mechanism of electron emission is a mixture of field emission according to the Fowler–Nordheim plot and electron emission caused by breakdown. The energy of the emitted electrons depends on the applied voltage and can be controlled. The electrons emitted from the device can generate various ions and radicals.
The instrument for electrochemical noise measurement of chemical power sources
Authors: Astafev Evgeny
Published: February 2019

Instrumentation for the electrochemical noise measurement of chemical power sources is considered in this work. A high resolution NM-5 instrument based on a 32 bit “analog to digital” converter is tested with different objects—a passive resistor and RC-circuits as well as with several electrochemical systems—lithium batteries and hydrogen-air fuel cells. The possibility of low thermal noise measurement down to the level of 1 Ω by application of this instrument is shown.
A large-size horn antenna for X-band high power microwave radiations
Authors: Ju Jinchuan , Zhang Wei , Zhou Yunxiao , Zhang Jun
Published: February 2019

We present a comprehensive study on designing a large-size horn antenna for radiating gigawatt-level high power microwaves (HPMs) in X-band. The horn taper angle and aperture dielectric window were optimized to achieve high power capacity, low reflection, and small mechanical deformation. It was particularly found that the HPM radiation patterns depend sensitively on the aperture dielectric plate thickness due to double reflections obeying Fresnel theorem. Theoretical analysis suggests that the optimal thickness should be chosen around integral times of half effective microwave wavelength in the dielectric.
A novel L-band metamaterial relativistic Cherenkov oscillator with high conversion efficiency
Authors: Dai Ouzhixiong , He Juntao , Ling Junpu , Wang Lei , Deng Bingfang , Xu Weili
Published: February 2019

A novel all-metal metamaterial slow wave structure (MSWS) which suits high-power microwave sources was proposed in our previous work. Recently, an experiment on the transmission characteristics of the MSWS was carried out. The experiment results show that the MSWS can transmit electromagnetic waves in the 1.40–1.60 GHz frequency band, while the same size circular waveguide TM01 mode has a cutoff frequency of 2.4 GHz. The experiment proved that the MSWS has the advantage of miniaturization. Then, based on the transmission characteristic experiment, a novel L-band relativistic Cherenkov oscillator with miniaturization and high conversion efficiency is proposed. By introducing a new coupled output structure and adjusting the MSWS period at both ends of the output structure, the electromagnetic field is better matched between the MSWS and the output coupler, and the conversion efficiency is increased from the previous 29.2% to 55.8%, with an average output power of 460 MW. Through the analysis of the electric field distribution at the main frequency of the generated microwave, it is determined that the working mechanism of the device is the Cherenkov mechanism.
Mid-infrared quantum cascade laser spectroscopy of the Ar–NO complex: Fine and hyperfine structure
Authors: Liu Zhuang , Luo Wei , Duan Chuanxi
Published: February 2019

The rovibrational spectrum of the Ar–NO open-shell complex has been measured in the 5.3 µm region using distributed feed-back quantum lasers to probe the direct absorption in a slit-jet supersonic expansion. Five P-subbands, namely, P′←P″:1/2←3/2,1/2←1/2,3/2←1/2,5/2←3/2, and 7/2←5/2, are observed, with J up to 15.5. The hyperfine structure due to the nuclei spin of 14N (I = 1) can be partially resolved in the P′←P″:1/2←3/2,1/2←1/2, and 3/2←1/2 subbands. The fine structure of the observed spectrum is analyzed using a modified semi-rigid rotor Hamiltonian [W. M. Fawzy and J. T. Hougen, J. Mol. Spectrosc. 137, 154–165 (1989)] and an empirical Hamiltonian [Y. Kim and H. Meyer, Int. Rev. Phys. Chem. 20, 219–282 (2001)] separately. The hyperfine structure can be simulated successfully by including hyperfine terms to the semi-rigid rotor Hamiltonian. A linear J-dependence of the angle between the inertial a-axis of the complex and the intramolecular axis of the NO subunit is also introduced in order to model the strong structure relaxation effect in the P = 1/2 state.
Phase-locking particle image velocimetry measurement of unsteady flow behaviors: Online dynamic mode decomposition using field-programmable gate array
Authors: Deng Yifan , Wang Peng , Liu Yingzheng
Published: February 2019

A novel online dynamic mode decomposition (DMD) approach using a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), which takes full advantage of the DMD to extract multiple unsteady events and the FPGA system for signal sampling and fast computation, was developed for phase-locking particle image velocimetry (PIV) measurements of unsteady flow behaviors. The turbulent separated and reattaching flow around a finite blunt plate with a length-to-height-ratio L/D = 6.0 was examined to demonstrate this novel approach. The wall-pressure field and the velocity field were measured using arrayed microphones and the conventional planar PIV setup, respectively. Offline DMD analysis of the wall-pressure fluctuation field was first used to identify the dominant modes corresponding to the energetically unsteady events. For each mode, the eigenmode and its mode coefficient reflected the spatial footprint pattern and temporal strength of the unsteady event, respectively. Next, trained machine learning of the mode coefficient was used to establish a phase prediction strategy. Finally, in the online analysis, the relevant eigenmode was cast into the FPGA device to serve as the reference mode for reconstruction with the sampled wall-pressure data, determining the phase signal to fire the PIV setup. High-resolution spatiotemporal evolutions of the dominant flow structures (i.e., the flapping separation bubble, the impinging leading-edge vortex, and the trailing-edge vortex street) were separately assembled. Further measurements demonstrated a clear panoramic view of the synchronous behavior of the enlarging separation bubble and the impinging leading-edge vortex. The proposed online FPGA-DMD approach can serve as a sophisticated strategy for phase-locking PIV measurements of unsteady flow behaviors.
Social inclusion as a tool to improve rural health
Authors: McIntosh Kate , Kenny Amanda , Masood Mohd , Dickson-Swift Virginia
Published: February 2019

Health inequalities between metropolitan and rural areas persist despite a range of interventions over recent years. Social inclusion is often linked to health outcomes, yet few studies examine social inclusion across different geographic areas. In this study, a set of indicators of social inclusion were drawn together and sourced data were aligned to these indicators, which are readily available to primary health practitioners and population health planners. Through this process, a useful framework that provides a nuanced understanding to guide primary health policy and practice has been produced. Using Victoria as an example, 11 domains of social inclusion were explored using population data across 79 local government areas. Analysis highlighted significant differences in several indicators, with rural and regional local government areas ranking higher on measures of social participation, trust and social resources. The use of a diversity of data sources provided information on the social, economic, and education issues of an area, along with relational factors such as safety, trust, community resources and civic participation. A social inclusion lens can inform action to address the rural–urban primary health divide by determining and exploring the social inclusion characteristics of communities.
Ethics of medical research in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander populations
Authors: Bobba Samantha
Published: February 2019

Conducting ethical health research in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander populations requires an understanding of their unique cultural values and the historical context. The assimilation of Indigenous people with the broader community through colonial policies such as the dispossession of land and forcible removal of children from their families in the Stolen Generation, deprived entire communities of their liberty. Poorly designed research protocols can perpetuate discriminatory values, reinforce negative stereotypes and stigmas and lead to further mistrust between the Indigenous community and healthcare professionals. The manuscript offers a fresh perspective and an up-to-date literature review on the ethical implications of conducting health research in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
Accurate molecular polarizabilities with coupled cluster theory and machine learning
Authors: Wilkins David M. , Grisafi Andrea , Yang Yang , Lao Ka Un , DiStasio Robert A. , Ceriotti Michele
Published: February 2019

The molecular dipole polarizability describes the tendency of a molecule to change its dipole moment in response to an applied electric field. This quantity governs key intra- and intermolecular interactions, such as induction and dispersion; plays a vital role in determining the spectroscopic signatures of molecules; and is an essential ingredient in polarizable force fields. Compared with other ground-state properties, an accurate prediction of the molecular polarizability is considerably more difficult, as this response quantity is quite sensitive to the underlying electronic structure description. In this work, we present highly accurate quantum mechanical calculations of the static dipole polarizability tensors of 7,211 small organic molecules computed using linear response coupled cluster singles and doubles theory (LR-CCSD). Using a symmetry-adapted machine-learning approach, we demonstrate that it is possible to predict the LR-CCSD molecular polarizabilities of these small molecules with an error that is an order of magnitude smaller than that of hybrid density functional theory (DFT) at a negligible computational cost. The resultant model is robust and transferable, yielding molecular polarizabilities for a diverse set of 52 larger molecules (including challenging conjugated systems, carbohydrates, small drugs, amino acids, nucleobases, and hydrocarbon isomers) at an accuracy that exceeds that of hybrid DFT. The atom-centered decomposition implicit in our machine-learning approach offers some insight into the shortcomings of DFT in the prediction of this fundamental quantity of interest.
Recruitment of APOL1 kidney disease risk variants to lipid droplets attenuates cell toxicity
Authors: Chun Justin , Zhang Jia-Yue , Wilkins Maris S. , Subramanian Balajikarthick , Riella Cristian , Magraner Jose M. , Alper Seth L. , Friedman David J. , Pollak Martin R.
Published: February 2019

Significance

Specific APOL1 variants are a strong risk factor for human kidney disease. Previous reports examining the intracellular localization of the APOL1 protein in kidney and glomerular podocytes have yielded inconsistent results. Here we demonstrate differential localization of wild-type and risk variant APOL1 polypeptides, with the wild type localizing predominantly to lipid droplets and risk variant forms localizing predominantly to the endoplasmic reticulum. We further demonstrate that the localization of risk variant APOL1 modulates cytotoxic effects, and that perturbations increasing lipid droplet localization of risk variant polypeptides decrease this cytotoxicity. These findings have significant implications for understanding the disease mechanism of APOL1-associated kidney disease and for development of new therapeutic approaches.
Managing St John's - working for the greater good.
Authors: Munro D.
Published: February 2019

This chapter relates the success story of St John's Co-Cathedral in Valetta, Malta which went from a dilapidated state to a level of development deserving its historic status. It is indicated that having a vision was the crucial aspect to St John's success, besides the issue of a holistic approach, in which capital works and daily management must be in sync. St John's introduced the 'pay or pray' system, with the money from entry fees contributing to the restoration of the church-museum.
Environmental enrichment to improve behaviour in farm animals.
Authors: Orihuela A. , Mota-Rojas D. , Velarde A. , Strappini-Asteggiano A. , Vega L. T. de la , Borderas-Tordesillas F. , Alonso-Spilsbury M.
Published: February 2019

Domestic animals under close confinement conditions frequently display abnormal behaviour, particularly if they are unable to escape from, or adapt to this situation. With the increased interest in domestic farm animal welfare from both the political and societal agendas, environmental enrichment (EE) is becoming an interesting solution, offering an alternative not only to optimize the welfare of the animals but to improve the animals' performance. In general, the development of more intensive production systems and specialized techniques has provided benefits in terms of productivity, but at the expense of the behavioural needs and welfare of kept animals. In intensive farming, welfare concerns are still often related to barren environments and crowded conditions. Producers need to balance the requirements to improve welfare conditions on the farm with practical considerations. This paper provides a review of the scientific literature, focusing on recent advances on the welfare-relevant consequences of EE on harmful social behaviours due to intensively farmed confinement in pigs, laying hens and dairy calves, including a discussion with regard to their relevance and suitability.
On the permeability of columnar dendritic networks in solidifying metals
Authors: Tiryakioğlu Murat
Published: February 2019

Equations in the literature developed to estimate the permeability of columnar dendritic networks have been evaluated by using datasets from solidifying metals with data at low solid fractions. Analysis has shown that these equations provide generally poor fits to the experimental data regardless of the direction of the flow of liquid. New semi-empirical equations that provide much better fits to data in the entire range of solid fractions have been introduced in this study.
YAP and TAZ limit cytoskeletal and focal adhesion maturation to enable persistent cell motility
Authors: Mason Devon E. , Collins Joseph M. , Dawahare James H. , Nguyen Trung Dung , Lin Yang , Voytik-Harbin Sherry L. , Zorlutuna Pinar , Yoder Mervin C. , Boerckel Joel D.
Published: February 2019

Cell migration initiates by traction generation through reciprocal actomyosin tension and focal adhesion reinforcement, but continued motility requires adaptive cytoskeletal remodeling and adhesion release. Here, we asked whether de novo gene expression contributes to this cytoskeletal feedback. We found that global inhibition of transcription or translation does not impair initial cell polarization or migration initiation, but causes eventual migratory arrest through excessive cytoskeletal tension and over-maturation of focal adhesions, tethering cells to their matrix. The transcriptional coactivators YAP and TAZ mediate this feedback response, modulating cell mechanics by limiting cytoskeletal and focal adhesion maturation to enable persistent cell motility and 3D vasculogenesis. Motile arrest after YAP/TAZ ablation was partially rescued by depletion of the YAP/TAZ-dependent myosin phosphatase regulator, NUAK2, or by inhibition of Rho-ROCK-myosin II. Together, these data establish a transcriptional feedback axis necessary to maintain a responsive cytoskeletal equilibrium and persistent migration.
Spanish Language in Chicana/o Literature
Authors: Rosales Jesús
Published: February 2019

Spanish-language Chicano literary production is rich in tradition and scope. This article intends to provide a brief comprehensive summary of the Chicano literary representation of some of the most important writers and works written in Spanish. Most critics of Chicano literature will agree the Mexican American or Chicano had its symbolic birth in 1848, at the end of the Mexican-American War. It is important, however, to begin by talking about this as a literary tradition that predates the war: Spanish colonization and Mexican independence from Spain are important in establishing an essential foundation for this literature. Representative Chicano literature in Spanish will be highlighted from the 19th, 20th, and 21st centuries, with those from the second half of the 20th (1965 to 1990s) receiving more emphasis. It is during this period that Spanish-language Chicano literature offered its most important contributions: not only in the number of texts produced but more importantly in how this literature reflected the social and cultural manifestation of the Chicano ethos. (Note that the term “Mexican American literature” will be used to describe work leading up to the Chicano Movement, approximately 1965; “Chicano literature” will be used to identify the Chicano’s new post-1965 political and social consciousness.)
Religious Frames: Falun Gong in China
Authors: Li Junpeng
Published: February 2019

The crackdown on Falun Gong by the Chinese Communist Party demonstrates the unintended consequences of the deep penetration of politics into religious affairs in an authoritarian regime. Falun Gong emerged in China in the early 1990s as a state-sanctioned health practice, or qigong. Initially it focused on treating physical diseases and promoting general health, and therefore received recognition from the state, which has granted legal status to only the five institutional religions while relentlessly suppressing secret religious societies. Qigong, however, has contained spiritual elements since its inception. In the mid-1990s, Falun Gong began to reveal and highlight its spiritual teachings. While this differentiation strategy brought it a huge following, it sent alarming signals to the ruling Communist Party. As the state sought to curb its influences, Falun Gong responded with open defiance. In particular, its tenets of truthfulness, compassion, and forbearance encouraged the practitioners to launch a “truth clarification” campaign, targeting local political authorities and media outlets. The campaign achieved moderate initial success, but Falun Gong’s persistent and coordinated efforts to demonstrate its “apolitical” nature convinced the state that it was indeed a politically subversive force. Falun Gong’s political defiance culminated in a large, 13-hour sit-in protest near the central government compound in Beijing. Three months later, the state officially banned Falun Gong and mobilized its entire security and propaganda apparatus to eliminate Falun Gong in China.
Religious Regulation in Poland
Authors: Golebiowska Ewa A. , Gancheva Silviya
Published: February 2019

It is a truism to say that most Poles are Catholic. Yet, there is also a large number of other churches and religious organizations that are currently registered with the Polish state, although they are very small in the number of adherents they boast. In comparison with other churches and religious organizations, the Catholic Church is a uniquely important social and political actor today and has played an important role in Poland’s over millennium-long history. A brief review of the history of the Catholic Church in Polish society and politics helps illustrate how the Catholic Church has come to play the role it plays in present-day Poland. At present, its relationship to the Polish state is formally outlined in the Constitution, several statutes concerning religion, the country’s criminal code, and an international agreement with the Vatican known as the concordat. Three issues—religious education in public schools, the relationship between the Church and state finances, and the Church’s openness to new religious movements—illustrate how the Catholic Church and state in Poland interact in practice. More informally, religious expression in the country’s public square provides further insight into the relationship between church and state in Poland.
Terrorism and Religion: An Overview
Authors: Henne Peter
Published: February 2019

The terrorist attacks of 9/11—in which al-Qaeda operatives flew airplanes into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon and attempted to crash an additional plane into the Capitol Building in Washington, DC—highlighted for many the role religion could play in terrorism. Al-Qaeda, an Islamist terrorist network striving to undermine U.S. influence in Muslim countries, combined a global religious ideology with brutal violence in a way that caught the attention of policymakers and scholars. Since then, academics have been attempting to analyze and understand how religion and terrorism intersect.

Scholars have debated whether religion is a distinctive aspect of contemporary terrorism or is secondary in importance to other factors, such as nationalism and rational calculations. Some scholars take a critical approach to the topic, pointing to normative concerns with the study of religion and terrorism, and disparate other scholars have analyzed how religion and terrorism relate to a vast array of topics from public opinion to political repression.

After surveying the literature, it is difficult to question the distinctiveness of religious terrorism. Yet it also appears that terrorism does not arise inevitably from religious beliefs, nor is it unique to Islam. Moreover, religion seems to be connected to the transnational nature of contemporary terrorism. One particularly useful approach moving forward may be to draw on the relational approach to contentious politics that scholars such as Charles Tilly have formulated.

This article’s approaches religious terrorism as violence or the threat of violence motivated by religion that intends to effect political change. This article will thus focus on how acts of violence that fall within the above definition relate to “religious imperatives,” and what the effects of these connections are. Charles Tilly’s approach to political violence, which conceptualizes terrorism as one manifestation of the range of political violence types, extends from brawls and riots to full-scale civil war. As a result, insights into how religion affects related forms of political violence can inform our understanding of religion and terrorism. Terrorism can also be understood as a nonstate phenomenon. Although states can commit terroristic acts, terrorism as a distinct tactic involves nonstate actors. State behavior—particularly religious repression—can have significant impact on the incidence and severity of religious terrorism in a country, however.
Liberalism and Religion
Authors: Sikka Sonia
Published: February 2019

There are many versions of liberalism, but it would be uncontroversial to say that they agree in placing a premium on individual liberty. As a political paradigm, liberalism is committed to protecting the freedom of persons to live and think as they choose without interference from the state, provided they do no harm to others. This fundamental commitment underlies the classical liberal arguments for religious liberty and toleration articulated by John Locke and J. S. Mill. It forms the basis for legal provisions guaranteeing freedom of religious belief, worship, and expression in liberal democratic nations, as well as the principle of non-establishment, which prohibits the state from favoring any religion or from favoring religion over nonbelief. The formulation of these two principles, religious freedom and nonestablishment, requires that the spheres of the secular and the sacred be distinguished in order to institute a particular relation between them. Questions have been raised about the validity and universality of this distinction, as well as its implications for the place of religion within political life. In contemporary political theory, the topic of public reason has been especially prominent, the point of contention being whether and how religious discourse may be allowed in political reasoning.

Balancing religious freedom against other fundamental liberal rights poses another difficulty in cases where the beliefs and practices of religious individuals and communities come into conflict with general laws or compromise equality, another central liberal value. Sometimes social and political judgments about such cases seem to apply a double standard to the religious practices of certain minorities, moreover, and to reflect an element of cultural racism. This is arguably true of attitudes and decisions in Western countries regarding the hijab and other types of veils worn by Muslim women. Applying liberal principles for regulating religion in a fashion that is genuinely neutral and impartial remains a challenge. Indeed, some argue that there is no way of defining “religion” for the requisite purposes without privileging certain forms of it. If so, liberal efforts to protect religious freedom may end up enforcing varieties of religious establishment.
Religious Regulation: The Regulation of All Religion in a Country
Authors: Fox Jonathan
Published: February 2019

Countries can regulate both the majority religion and minority religions. Although most countries do both, the motivations and dynamics of these two types of regulation are distinct. The regulation, restriction, or control by a government of all religion in a country, including the majority religion, can take multiple forms. These include regulating (1) religion’s role in politics, (2) religious institutions and clergy, (3) religious practices, and (4) other aspects of religion. At least one form of religious regulation is engaged in by 95.5% of governments, and religious regulation is becoming more common over time. Regulating, restricting, and controlling religion is the norm worldwide regardless of world region, government type, and majority religion.

Multiple motivations exist for regulating, restricting, and controlling majority religions. (1) Some countries have secular or anti-religious national ideologies. (2) Some countries support religion, but countries that support a religion often also want to influence and control that religion. In fact, control is a nearly inevitable consequence of support. (3) Politicians often fear religion’s potential political power and seek to keep it in check. (4) Autocratic governments often seek to restrict any aspect of civil culture they cannot control, and this includes religion. On the other hand, regulation is costly. It requires resources that can be used elsewhere, so regulating religion represents a decision to use resources despite these costs.
Characteristics, Mechanisms, and Health Implications of Exercise-Induced Hypoalgesia
Authors: Ellingson Laura D. , Black Christopher D.
Published: February 2019

Exercise is known to exert an influence on pain. Specifically, sensitivity to pain decreases both during and following a single bout of exercise—a phenomenon that has been termed exercise-induced hypoalgesia (EIH). EIH has been shown to occur following a variety of types of exercise including aerobic, dynamic resistance, as well as intermittent and continuous isometric exercise, and with a variety of types of pain stimuli including pressure, thermal, and electrical, among others. Depending upon the type of exercise, the intensity and duration of the exercise bout may affect the magnitude of EIH observed. EIH also may be influenced by presence of chronic pain. In individuals with chronic pain conditions, exercise can have both hypo- and hyperalgesic effects, again depending on the specifics of the exercise stimulus itself.

The mechanisms underlying EIH have not been definitively established. However, a number of potentially viable mechanisms have been examined including: release of stress mediators such as adrenocorticotrophic hormone and growth hormone (GH), stimulation of the endogenous opioid system, interactions between the pain modulatory system and the cardiovascular system resulting from shared neurological pathways, activation of the endocannabinoid (eCB) system, and engagement of supraspinal pain inhibitory mechanisms via conditioned pain modulation (CPM). There is also some evidence that psychosocial factors, including pain-related beliefs like catastrophizing and expectation, may influence EIH.

Research in EIH has several important implications for research and practice. In healthy adults, reduced sensitivity to pain is a salient benefit of exercise and EIH responses may play a role in exercise adherence. For chronic pain patients, research on EIH has the potential to uncover mechanisms related to maintenance of chronic pain. Improving our understanding of how and why hyperalgesia occurs following exercise in these patients can aid in understanding central nervous system mechanisms of disease maintenance and ultimately may help to avoid symptom exacerbation with exercise. However, there remain practical and mechanistic questions to be examined. Translating reductions in pain sensitivity that occur with exercise under controlled laboratory conditions to situations that are more naturalistic will be an important next step for promoting physical activity as a treatment for pain.